第3章

"Herearetwostrangers,"saidMr.Grant,withextraordinarygravitylayingdownthecards,"andhereisa\'journey;\'thisis\'unexpectednews,\'andthistenofdiamondsmeans\'greatwealth\'toyou,whichyouseefollowstheadventofthetwostrangersandissomewayconnectedwiththem."

"Oh,indeed,"saidtheyoungladywithgreatpertnessandatossofherhead."Isupposethey\'vegotthemoneywiththem."

"No,thoughitreachesyouthroughthem,"heansweredwithunflinchingsolemnity."Waitabit,Ihaveit!Isee,I\'vemadeamistakewiththiscard.Itsignifiesajourneyoraroad.Queer!

isn\'tit,Steve?It\'sTHEROAD."

"Itisqueer,"saidRicewithequalgravity;"butit\'sso.Theroad,sure!"NeverthelesshelookedupintothelargeeyesofClementinawithacertainconfidentialairoftruthfulness.

"Yousee,ladies,"continuedthesurveyor,appealingtothemwithunabashedrigidityoffeature,"thecardsdon\'tlie!Luckilyweareinapositiontocorroboratethem.TheroadinquestionisasecretknownonlytousandsomecapitalistsinSanFrancisco.InfactevenTHEYdon\'tknowthatitisfeasibleuntilWEreporttothem.ButIdon\'tmindtellingyounow,asaslightreturnforyourcharminghospitality,thattheroadisaRAILROADfromOaklandtoTasajaraCreekofwhichwe\'vejustmadethepreliminarysurvey.

Soyouseewhatthecardsmeanisthis:You\'renotfarfromTasajaraCreek;infactwithaverylittleexpenseyourfathercouldconnectthisstreamwiththecreek,andhaveaWATERWAY

STRAIGHTTOTHERAILROADTERMINUS.That\'sthewealththecardspromise;andifyourfatherknowshowtotakeahinthecanmakehisfortune!"

Itwasimpossibletosaywhichwasthemostdominantinthefaceofthespeaker,theexpressionofassumedgravityorthetwinklingofhumorinhiseyes.Thetwogirlswithsuperiorfeminineperceptiondivinedthattherewasmuchtruthinwhathesaid,albeittheydidn\'tentirelyunderstandit,andwhattheydidunderstand——excepttheman\'sgood-humoredmotive——wasnotparticularlyinteresting.

Infacttheywereslightlydisappointed.Whathadpromisedtobeanaudaciouslyflirtatiousdeclaration,andevenamischievoussuggestionofmarriage,hadresolveditselfintosomethingabsurdlypracticalandbusiness-like.

NotsoMr.Harkutt.Hequicklyrosefromhischair,and,leaningoverthetable,withhiseyesfixedonthecardasifitreallysignifiedtherailroad,repeatedquickly:"Railroad,eh!What\'sthat?ArailroadtoTasajaraCreek?Yedon\'tmeanit!——Thatis——

itain\'taSUREthing?"

"Perfectlysure.ThemoneyisreadyinSanFrancisconow,andbythistimenextyear——"

"ArailroadtoTasajaraCreek!"continuedHarkutthurriedly."Whatpartofit?Where?"

"Attheembarcaderonaturally,"respondedGrant."Thereisn\'tbuttheoneplacefortheterminus.There\'sanoldshantytherenowbelongstosomebody."

"Why,pop!"saidPhemiewithsuddenrecollection,"ain\'tit\'LigeCurtis\'shouse?Thelandheoffered"——

"Hush!"saidherfather.

"Youknow,theonewritteninthatbitofpaper,"continuedtheinnocentPhemie.

"Hush!willyou?GodA\'mighty!areyougoin\'tomindme?Areyougoin\'tokeepupyourjabberwhenI\'mspeakin\'tothegentlemen?

Isthatyourmanners?Whatnext,Iwonder!"

Thesuddenandunexpectedpassionofthespeaker,theincomprehensiblechangeinhisvoice,andtheutterlydisproportionateexaggerationofhisattitudetowardshisdaughters,enforcedaninstantaneoussilence.Therainbegantodripaudiblyatthewindow,therushoftheriversoundeddistinctlyfromwithout,eventheshakingofthefrontpartofthedwellingbythedistantgalebecameperceptible.

Anangryflashsprangforaninstanttotheyoungassistant\'seye,butitmetthecautiousglanceofhisfriend,andtogetherbothdiscreetlysoughtthetable.Thetwogirlsaloneremainedwhiteandcollected."Willyougoonwithmyfortune,Mr.Grant?"saidPhemiequietly.

Acertainrespect,perhapsnotbeforeobservable,wassuggestedinthesurveyor\'stoneashesmilinglyreplied,"Certainly,Iwasonlywaitingforyoutoshowyourconfidenceinme,"andtookupthecards.

Mr.Harkuttcoughed."Itlooksasifthatblamedwindhadblownsuthin\'looseinthestore,"hesaidaffectedly."IreckonI\'llgoandsee."Hehesitatedamomentandthendisappearedinthepassage.Yetevenherehestoodirresolute,lookingatthecloseddoorbehindhim,andpassinghishandoverhisstillflushedface.

Presentlyheslowlyandabstractedlyascendedtheflightofsteps,enteredthesmallerpassagethatledtothebackdooroftheshopandopenedit.

Hewasatfirstalittlestartledatthehalooflightfromthestillglowingstove,whichthegreaterobscurityofthelongroomhadheightenedratherthandiminished.Thenhepassedbehindthecounter,butheretheboxofbiscuitswhichoccupiedthecentreandcastashadowoveritcompelledhimtogropevaguelyforwhathesought.Thenhestoppedsuddenly,thepaperhehadjustfounddroppingfromhisfingers,andsaidsharply,——

"Who\'sthere?"

"Me,pop."

"JohnMilton?"

"Yes,sir."

"Whatthedevilareyoudoin\'there,sir?"

"Readin\'."

Itwastrue.Theboywashalfreclininginamostdistortedpostureontwochairs,hisfigureindeepshadow,buthisbookwasraisedabovehisheadsoastocatchtheredglowofthestoveontheprintedpage.Eventhenhisfather\'sangryinterruptionscarcelydivertedhispreoccupation;heraisedhimselfinhischairmechanically,withhiseyesstillfixedonhisbook.Seeingwhichhisfatherquicklyregainedthepaper,butcontinuedhisobjurgation.

"Howdareyou?Clearofftobed,willyou!Doyouhearme?

Prettygoin\'son,"headdedasiftojustifyhisindignation.

"Sneakin\'inhereand——andlyin\'\'roundatthistimeo\'night!

Why,ifIhadn\'tcomeinhereto"——

"What?"askedtheboymechanically,catchingvaguelyattheunfinishedsentenceandstaringautomaticallyatthepaperinhisfather\'shand.

"Nothin\',sir!Gotobed,Itellyou!Willyou?Whatareyoustandin\'gawpin\'at?"continuedHarkuttfuriously.

Theboyregainedhisfeetslowlyandpassedhisfather,butnotwithoutnoticingwiththesamelistlessyetineffaceableperceptionofchildhoodthathewashurriedlyconcealingthepaperinhispocket.Withthesameyouthfulinconsequence,wonderingatthismorethanattheinterruption,whichwasnonovelevent,hewentslowlyoutoftheroom.

Harkuttlistenedtotheretreatingtreadofhisbarefeetinthepassageandthencarefullylockedthedoor.Takingthepaperfromhispocket,andborrowingtheideahehadjustobjurgatedinhisson,heturnedittowardsthedullglowofthestoveandattemptedtoreadit.Butperhapslackingthepatienceaswellasthekeenersightofyouth,hewasforcedtorelightthecandlewhichhehadleftonthecounter,andreperusedthepaper.Yes!therewascertainlynomistake!Herewastheactualdescriptionofthepropertywhichthesurveyorhadjustindicatedasthefutureterminusofthenewrailroad,andhereitwasconveyedtohim——

DanielHarkutt!Whatwasthat?Somebodyknocking?Whatdidthiscontinualinterruptionmean?Anoddsuperstitiousfearnowmingledwithhisirritation.

Thesoundappearedtocomefromthefrontshutters.Itsuddenlyoccurredtohimthatthelightmightbevisiblethroughthecrevices.Hehurriedlyextinguishedit,andwenttothedoor.

"Who\'sthere?"

"Me,——Peters.Wanttospeaktoyou."

Mr.Harkuttwithevidentreluctancedrewthebolts.Thewind,stillboisterousandbesieging,didtherest,andprecipitatelypropelledPetersthroughthecarefullyguardedopening.Buthissurpriseatfindinghimselfinthedarknessseemedtoforestallanyexplanationofhisvisit.

"Well,"hesaidwithanoddminglingofreproachandsuspicion."I

declareIsawalightherejustthisminit!That\'squeer."

"Yes,Iputitoutjustnow.Iwasgoin\'away,"repliedHarkutt,withill-disguisedimpatience.

"What!beenhereeversince?"

"No,"saidHarkuttcurtly.

"Well,Iwanttospeaktoyeabout\'Lige.Seein\'thecandleshinin\'throughthechinksIthoughthemightbestillwithye.Ifheain\'t,itlooksbad.Lightup,can\'tye!Iwanttoshowyousomething."

TherewasaperemptorinessinhistonethatstruckHarkuttdisagreeably,butobservingthathewascarryingsomethinginhishand,hesomewhatnervouslyre-litthecandleandfacedhim.

Petershadahatinhishand.Itwas\'Lige\'s!

"\'Boutanhourafterwefellerslefthere,"saidPeters,"Iheardtherattlin\'ofhoofsontheroad,andthenitseemedtostopjustbymyhouse.Iwentoutwithalantern,and,darnmyskin!iftherewarn\'t\'Lige\'shoss,thesaddleempty,and\'Ligenowhere!I

lookedroundandcalledhim——butnothingweretobeseen.Thinkin\'

hemighthaveslippedoff——tho\'ezageneralruledrunkenmendon\'t,andheisagoodrider——Ifolloweddowntheroad,lookin\'

forhim.Ikeptonfollerin\'itdowntoyourrun,halfamilebelow."

"But,"beganHarkutt,withaquicknervouslaugh,"youdon\'treckonthatbecauseofthathe"——

"Holdon!"saidPeters,grimlyproducingarevolverfromhisside-

pocketwiththestockandbarrelcloggedandstreakedwithmud."I

foundTHATtoo,——andlook!onebarreldischarged!And,"headdedhurriedly,asapproachingaclimax,"lookye,——whatInat\'rallytookforwetfromtherain——insidethathat——was——blood!"

"Nonsense!"saidHarkutt,puttingthehatasidewithanewfastidiousness."Youdon\'tthink"——

"Ithink,"saidPeters,loweringhisvoice,"Ithink,byGod!HE\'S

BINANDDONEIT!"

"No!"

"Sure!Oh,it\'sallverywellforBillingsandtherestofthatconceitedcrowdtosneerandslingtheirideasof\'Ligegen\'rallyastheydidjessnowhere,——butI\'dlike\'emtoseeTHAT."ItwasdifficulttotellifMr.Peters\'triumphantdelightinconfutinghislatecompanions\'theorieshadnotevenusurpedinhismindtheimportanceofthenewshebrought,asithadofanyhumansympathywithit.

"Lookhere,"returnedHarkuttearnestly,yetwithasingularlyclearedbrowandamorenaturalmanner."YououghttotakethemthingsovertoSquireKerby\'s,rightoff,andshow\'emtohim.Youkintellhimhowyouleft\'Ligehere,andsaythatIcanprovebymydaughterthathewentawayabouttenminutesafter,——atleast,notmorethanfifteen."Likeallunprofessionalhumanity,Mr.

Harkutthadanexaggeratedconceptionofthemajestyofunimportantdetailintheeyeofthelaw."I\'dgowithyoumyself,"headdedquickly,"butI\'vegotcompany——strangers——here."

"Howdidhelookwhenheleft,——kinderwild?"suggestedPeters.

Harkutthadbeguntofeeltheprudenceofpresentreticence.

"Well,"hesaid,cautiously,"YOUsawhowhelooked."

"Youwasn\'troughwithhim?——thatmighthavesenthimoff,youknow,"saidPeters.

"No,"saidHarkutt,forgettinghimselfinaquickindignation,"no,Inotonlytreatedhimtoanotherdrink,butgavehim"——hestoppedsuddenlyandawkwardly.

"Eh?"saidPeters.

"Somegoodadvice,——youknow,"saidHarkutt,hastily."Butcome,you\'dbetterhurryovertothesquire\'s.YouknowYOU\'VEmadethediscovery;YOURevidenceisimportant,andthere\'salawthatobligesyoutogiveinformationatonce."

Theexcitementofdiscoveryandthetriumphoverhisdisputantsbeingspent,Peters,aftertheSidonfashion,evidentlydidnotrelishactivityasaduty."Youknow,"hesaiddubiously,"hemightn\'tbedead,afterall."

Harkuttbecameatrifledistant."Youknowyourownopinionofthething,"herepliedafterapause."You\'vecircumstantialevidenceenoughtoseethesquire,andsetotherstoworkonit;and,"headdedsignificantly,"you\'vedoneyoursharethen,andcanwipeyourhandsofit,eh?"

"That\'sso,"saidPeters,eagerly."I\'lljustrunovertothesquire."

"Andonaccountofthewomenfolks,youknow,andthestrangershere,I\'llsaynothin\'aboutitto-night,"addedHarkutt.

Petersnoddedhishead,andtakingupthehatoftheunfortunateElijahwithacertainhesitation,asifhefearedithadalreadylostitsdramaticintensityasawitness,disappearedintothestormanddarknessagain.Alurkinggustofwindlyinginambushsomewhereseemedtoswoopdownonhimasiftopreventfurtherindecisionandwhirlhimawayinthedirectionofthejustice\'shouse;andMr.Harkuttshutthedoor,boltedit,andwalkedaimlesslybacktothecounter.

Fromaslow,deliberateandcautiousman,heseemedtohavechangedwithinanhourtoanirresoluteandcapriciousone.Hetookthepaperfromhispocket,and,unlockingthemoneydrawerofhiscounter,foldedintoasmallcompassthatwhichnowseemedtobethelasttestamentofElijahCurtis,andplaceditinarecess.

Thenhewenttothebackdoorandpaused,thenreturned,reopenedthemoneydrawer,tookoutthepaperandagainbuttoneditinhishippocket,standingbythestoveandstaringabstractedlyatthedullglowofthefire.Heevenwentthroughthemechanicalprocessofrakingdowntheashes,——solelytogaintimeandasanexcusefordelayingsomeothernecessaryaction.

Hewasthinkingwhatheshoulddo.Hadthequestionofhisrighttoretainandmakeuseofthatpaperbeensquarelyofferedtohimanhourago,hewouldwithoutdoubthavedecidedthatheoughtnottokeepit.Evennow,lookingatitasanabstractprinciple,hedidnotdeceivehimselfintheleast.ButNaturehasthereprehensiblehabitofnotpresentingthesequestionstoussquarelyandfairly,anditisremarkablethatinmostofouroffendingtheabstractprincipleisneverthedirectissue.Mr.

Harkuttwasconsciousofhavingbeenunwillinglyledstepbystepintoadifficult,nottosaydishonest,situation,andagainsthisownseeking.HehadneveraskedElijahtosellhimtheproperty;

hehaddistinctlydeclinedit;ithadevenbeenforceduponhimassecurityforthepittancehesofreelygavehim.Thisproved(tohimself)thathehimselfwashonest;itwasonlythecircumstancesthatwerequeer.OfcourseifElijahhadlived,he,Harkutt,mighthavetriedtodrivesomebargainwithhimbeforethenewsoftherailroadsurveycameout——forTHATwasonlybusiness.ButnowthatElijahwasdead,whowouldbeapennytheworseorbetterbuthimselfifhechosetoconsiderthewholethingasaluckyspeculation,andhisgiftoffivedollarsasthepricehepaidforit?Nobodycouldthinkthathehadcalculatedupon\'Lige\'ssuicide,anymorethanthatthepropertywouldbecomevaluable.Infactifitcametothat,if\'LigehadreallycontemplatedkillinghimselfasahopelessbankruptaftertakingHarkutt\'smoneyasaloan,itwasaswindleonhis——Harkutt\'s——good-nature.Heworkedhimselfintoarage,whichhefeltwasinnatelyvirtuous,atthistyrannyofcoldprincipleoverhisownwarm-heartedinstincts,butifitcametotheLAW,he\'dstandbylawandnotsentiment.He\'djustletthem——bywhichhevaguelymeanttheworld,Tasajara,andpossiblyhisownconscience——seethathewasn\'tasentimentalfool,andhe\'dfreezeontothatpaperandthatproperty!

Onlyheoughttohavespokenoutbefore.Heoughttohavetoldthesurveyoratoncethatheownedtheland.Heoughttohavesaid:

"Why,that\'smyland.Iboughtitofthatdrunken\'LigeCurtisforasongandoutofcharity."Yes,thatwastheonlyrealtrouble,andthatcamefromhisowngoodness,hisownextravagantsenseofjusticeandright,——hisowncursedgood-nature.Yet,onsecondthoughts,hedidn\'tknowwhyhewasobligedtotellthesurveyor.

Timeenoughwhenthecompanywantedtobuytheland.Assoonasitwassettledthat\'Ligewasdeadhe\'dopenlyclaimtheproperty.

Butwhatifhewasn\'tdead?ortheycouldn\'tfindhisbody?orhehadonlydisappeared?Hisplain,matter-of-factfacecontractedanddarkened.Ofcoursehecouldn\'taskthecompanytowaitforhimtosettlethatpoint.Hehadthepowertodisposeofthepropertyunderthatpaper,and——heshoulddoit.If\'Ligeturnedup,thatwasanothermatter,andheand\'Ligecouldarrangeitbetweenthem.Hewasquitefirmhere,andoddlyenoughquiterelievedingettingridofwhatappearedonlyasimplequestionofdetail.Heneversuspectedthathewascontemplatingtheoneirretrievablestep,andsummarilydismissingthewholeethicalquestion.

Heturnedawayfromthestove,openedthebackdoor,andwalkedwithamoredeterminedstepthroughthepassagetothesitting-