下载辰思小说免费APP
AtthefurtherendoftheroomShock’seyesfelluponadoor，throughthecracksofwhichalightwasshining。
"Itispossible，"saidShock，"heisinthatroom，"pointingtothedoor。
"Hardly，mydearsir，hardly。"
Butevenashespokeavoice，loudandclear，rangout。"Now，mydearfellow，gotothedeuce。Thatcomestome。"
ThereplyShockcouldnotcatch。
"Ithink，"hesaid，turningtoSmiley，"weshallfindMr。Stantoninthere。"
Ashespokehewalkedtowardthedoor。ButSmileyslippedbeforehim。
"Pardonme，mydearsir，thatisaprivateroom——somefriendsofminewhowouldgreatlydislikebeingdisturbed。IamexceedinglysorryIcannotobligeyou。"
"ImustseeMr。Stanton"，saidShock，puttinghishanduponthedoorknob。
"Mydearsir，"saidSimmons，histhinlipsdrawnbackoverhisyellowteeth，"Iregrettosayitisimpossible。IfMr。Stantonisinthere——markme，IsayIFheisinthere，whichisextremelyunlikely——butifheisinthere，hewouldbeveryunwillingtobedisturbedatthishour。However，sinceyouaresoanxious，Ishalltakehimamessage。"
AsSmileysaidthishebowedwithanairofgraciouscondescension，asifheexpectedShocktobeprofoundlyimpressedwiththisconcessiontohispersistence。ButShockwasnotatallimpressed。
"Icannotwaitlonger，"hesaid。"Itisamatteroflifeanddeath。
Imustenterthatroom。"
"Mydearsir，"saidSimmons，rubbinghishands，hissmilebecomingmoreandmoreexpansive，"thisismyhouse，thatdoorismydoor。Ifyoubreakit，Ishouldbegrievedtohavetoexactthefullpenaltyofthelaw。"
Shockhesitated。Hehadneverwillinglybrokenalawinhislife。Itwouldbeamostunfortunatebeginningforhismissioninthistown，and，afterall，whatbusinesshadhetointerfere？Ifthisyoungfoolwasdeterminedtowastehismoney，lethimdoso。
ButhethoughtofIke，andtheentreatyinhisvoiceashewhisperedouthisbrokenwords，andhethoughtofthelookofreverenceandloveonthelad’sfacethatafternoonwhenhegavehistoast，"Mymother？Godblessher！"Shock’sfacesethard。
"Imustseehim，"hesaidsimply，butwithsuchanairofdeterminationthatSimmonsweakened。
"Well，ifyouwaitafewminutes，"repliedSmiley，"Iwillseeifhewillspeaktoyou。"
ShockwaitedtillSmileyopenedthedoor，whereupon，steppingquicklyforward，hesethisfootagainstthelowerpanelandpushedthedoorwideopen。
Inasmallroom，bareoffurnitureexceptfortablesandchairsandahanginglamp，satfourmen，ofwhomShockrecognisedtwo。TheKidwasone，andMacfarrentheother。Acrossthetablefromthesesattwomen，onebyhisuniformtheInspectoroftheMountedPolice。ThefaceoftheotherhadtoShockafamiliarlook，butwherehehadseenhimhecouldnotremember。
AsShockopenedthedoorthemaninuniformstartedupwithanoath，andMacfarrenblewoutthelight。
"What’sthatfor，Macfarren？"saidTheKid。
"Shutup，youfool，"growledMacfarren。
"Whatdidyousay，sir？"enquiredTheKid，inavoicesomewhatthickandunsteady。
"Gethimoutofhere，"saidMacfarren，inalowtone。
"IwanttohaveafewwordswithMr。Stanton，"saidShock，standinginthedoorway。
"Hereyouare。Fireaway，"repliedtheboy。"Thelightisnotgood，butIcanhearinthedark。"
"Youarewanted，Mr。Stanton，veryearnestlybyafriendofyours。"
"Lethimwalkrightinifhewantsme，"repliedTheKid。
"Thathecannotdo。Heisveryill。"
"Ah！whoishe，mayIask？"enquiredStanton，strikingamatch。
Itwaspromptlyblownout。
"Iwouldn’tdothatagain，"hesaidgently。"Whoisit？"herepeated，striking。anothermatchandlightingthelamp。
"ItisIke，"saidShock。"Heisveryill——dying，forallIknow，andhewantsyou。"
ForanswertherewasacontemptuouslaughfromtheMountedPoliceman，inwhichMacfarrenjoined。
"Rathergoodthat，"saidMacfarren。
"Excuseme，gentlemen，"saidtheboy，makingastrenuousefforttopullhimselftogether。"Ihatetoleavethisgoodcompany，butI
mustgo。IhappentopayIkewages，butheismyfriend。Hehasaskedforme，andIamgoingtohim。"
"Oh，blankitall！Don’tbeafool，"saidthepoliceman。"Ike’sallright。Hehasbeentakinganextradrink，butyoucan’tkillIke。
Waitforhalfanhour，andwe’llgodownandseehowheis。"
Theyoungladhesitated。ThestrangermadeasignaltoSmiley，andsuddenlyShockfoundhimself;pushedbackwardfromtheentrance，andthedoorslammedinhisface。
"Openthatdoor！"heheardTheKidcry。
Therewasamurmurinresponse。
"Openit，Isay，Simmons。"
Againamurmur。
"No，Iamgoing。Iwillgomyself。Ikewantsme。"Theboy’svoicewasloudandhard。
"That’smine，"thevoicecriedagain。"Letthatgoatonce！"
Therewasasoundofscufflingandoffallingchairs。WithakickShocksentthedoorflyingopen，andsawthreemenstrugglingwithStanton。Smileyhadwoundhislongarms，abouthimfrombehind，theInspectorheldhisarminafirmgripwithonehandandwiththeotherhadholdofthestranger，whohadTheKidbythethroat。
Macfarrenwasstillatthetable，evidentlygatheringupwhatlayuponit。
InaninstantShocksprangintothefray。WithasinglejerkhetoreSmileyfromhisvictimandflunghimonthefloor。Reachingforthestranger，whowaschokingTheKid，hecaughthiswristandgaveitaslightturn。WithayellofpainthestrangerturneduponhimandaimedablowatShock’sface。Catchingtheblowonhisarm，Shockseizedhisassailantbytheshoulder，jerkedhimclearofhisfeet，andflunghimfarintothecorneroftheroom。Atthisthepolicemanimmediatelygaveback。
ForafewsecondsTheKidstoodswayingunsteadily。Then，afterherecoveredhisbreathheturnedtoShockandsaid，"Ihardlyexpectedtoeverfeelgratefultoyou，butIassureyouIappreciateyourtimelyhelp。"
Thenturningtotheothers，andregaininghiswontedsmileandeasymanner，hecontinued，"Gentlemen，youaresomewhatinsistentinyourhospitality。Itisalwaysinstructive，andsometimespleasant，toextendourknowledgeofourfriends，andnowletmesaythatamoreblackguardlylotofthievesIhavenevermet，andifthisgentlemanwhohasdroppedinsoopportunelywillkindlystandatmybackforafewminutes，I
shallbedelightedtomakegoodmywordsbyslappingyourfaces"TheKid’stonewaslowandgentle，evensweet。
"Mr。Macfarren，yourvenerablebeardpreventsme。Simmons，yourgeneralsliminessprotectsyou，butasforyou，InspectorHaynes，itgivesmegreatpleasuretoexpressmyopinionofyou——thus！"
HisopenhandflashedoutashespokeandcaughtHaynesonthecheekastingingblow。
WithanoaththeInspectorjerkedouthispistolandsprangathim。
"Iarrestyou，sir，inthenameoftheQueen。Moveyourhandandyouareadeadman。"
"Sobeyou，Mr。Inspector，"drawledaquietvoiceinthedoor。
Shockturned，andtohisunspeakableamazementsawhissickfriendstandingwithhisguncoveringtheInspector。
"Onestepback，please，Mr。Inspector。Quick！Thistriggergoesmightyeasy。Now，rightwheel！"
TheInspectorhesitatedasecond。"Quick！"criedIkesharply。"Don’tyoufooltoolongobeyin’orders。Iaintusedtoit。I’mhereexercisin’apublicfunction，preventin’murder，inshort，andI’lldropyouinyourtracksifyoudon’tmoveatthenextword。Youhereme？Andifyoudon’tintendtomoveatthenextword，sayyourprayersinthisinterval。Nowthen，backuptothattableandputdownthatgun。Correct。Verynice，indeed。"
Ike’svoicetookonmoreandmoreofitscustomarydrawl。
"Now，twostepsforward。Right。Now，youcan——go——to——the——devil！"
Ikesteppedtothetable，tookupthepistol，andreturnedtohisplaceatthedoor，saying:
"Say，boss，thisprayermeetin’sover。Let’sgohome。"
"NotuntiltheInspectorsaysso，"saidTheKid，whohadrecoveredhimself，andwhowasnowquitesober。"Hehasthewordnow，Ikey，sodon’tinterfere。"
"Allright，Kiddie，playyourgame。You’reequivalenttoit，I
surmise。"
"Ithinkso，"saidtheKidsweetly。Then，turningtotheInspector，hecontinuedinavoiceofgentleconsideration，"Thereissomethingonyourcheek，InspectorHaynes。Youhavenotobservedit。Allowmetopointitouttoyou。"
Hemovedforwardashespoke，butShockinterposed。
"Ithinkthatisenough，Mr。Stanton，"hesaid。
"Letthematterdropnow。"
Theboyturnedquickly，andlookingsteadilyintoShock’sface，beganinaquiet，evenvoice，"Mr。——ah"
"Macgregor，"suppliedShock。
"Mr。Macgregor，youareastranger。Inthiscountryinamatterofthiskindweneverallowinterference。"
"Andyet，"saidShockinavoiceequallyquiet，"interferenceisnotunwelcomeattimes。"
"Whatyousayisquitetrue，"repliedtheboy，"and，asIhavesaid，Iamnotungratefulforyourtimelyassistance。"
"Oh，IwasthinkingofIke，"saidShockhurriedly。
"Butsurelyyouwillletthismatterdropnow。"
"Drop！"roaredtheInspector。"Blankyourimpudence！Hehascalledmeathief，andhehasslappedmyfacewhiledoingmyduty。Iwillhavethelotofyouarrestedforinterferencewithjustice。Andasforyou，Stanton，weshallsettlethisagain。"
Sosaying，theInspectormadeforthedoor。AtthedoorIkestillstoodonguard。
"Whenyouwantme，Mr。Inspector，"hesaid，"don’thaveanydelinquencyinsendin’forme。IsurmiseIcancontributesomevaluableevidenceonthepointofguns，games，andsuch。"
TheInspectorglaredathim。
"I’lltakemygun，"hesaid。
"Yourgun？Why，cert！Didyoudropitsomewheres？Perhapsifyoulookroundwhenthelight’sgoodyou’llfindit。Slimey，here，willhelpyou。I’mprettynighcertainyou’llextraditethatweaponinthemorning。Good—night。"
WithacursetheInspectorpassedout。
"Now，Ikey，"saidTheKidcoolly，"standaside，forthereisacurherethathadtheaudacitytothrottleme。"
WiththesewordshesprangpastShock，seizedthestrangerbythethroat，cuffedhimwithhisopenhand，anddragginghimtothedoorsenthimforthwithapartingkickandauimprecation。
"Now，Macfarren，"hesaid，turningtothatgentleman，whostillsatbythetable，"youhavesomemoneynotbelongingtoyou。Putitonthetable。"
Withoutamoment’shesitationMacfarrenhastilypouredforthfromhispocketpoker—chips，goldpieces，andbills。
"Iassureyou，Mr。Stanton，"hehurriedtosay，"Iwassimplyholdingthemtillthe——ahtroubleshouldbeover。"
"Thatwasmostkind，"repliedStanton。"Ihavenoveryclearremembrance，butIwasundertheimpressionthatitwasyoursuggestiontolockthedoor。"
Ashespokehesweptthemoneyintohispocket。
"Certainly，butmyonlyintentionwastokeepbutah——strangersand—
—intruders。Youknow，Mr。Stanton，Iwouldbenopartytorobbery，and，indeed，Idonotbelieve’foramomentthatanyrobberywasintended。ItwasanunfortunateeagernessonthepartofCrawleytosecurehiswinningsthatprecipitatedthetrouble。Ireallyhopeyoudonotthinkmecapableofanythingofthesort。"
Macfarren’smannerwasabject，buthistonewasevidentlysincere。
"Youwereunfortunateinyourcompany，then，Mr。Macfarren。Comeon，Ike。Wearedonewiththisgang。LuckyIwasnotquiteslewed，ormy，creditorswouldhavebeeninmourningto—morrow。Mr。Macgregor，wheredoyouputup？"
"He’swithmeto—night，"saidIke，"andamightyfortunatecircumstanceitwasforusall。Thisherebusinesshadgotbeyondmycapabilities……Someofusneedakeeper。"
"That’sme，Ikey。Yes，Iknow。Rubitin。It’sakeeperIneed。
Well，IgiveyoumywordIamdonewiththisgang。Fool！Fool！"hecontinuedbitterly，"acursedfool，Ikey。Threeyearsofitnow。"
"That’swhat，"saidIkey，leadingthewaydownthestreet。"Forthepasttwoyears，boss，youknowyou’vebeatme。ThoughIdon’tholdmyselfoutasnosortofparadox——"
"Paragon，Ikey，"saidTheKid，withagentlelaugh。Healwaysfoundhiscowboy’sEnglishamusing。
"Paragon，eh？Well，allthesame，Iaintnosortofparagon，butI
knowwheretostop，"
"Wherearewenow，Ike？Attheendoftherope，eh？"
"No，bythelivin’Gimmini！butgettin’thereonthejump，"saidIke，withgraveemphasis。
WithoutfurtherconversationtheymadetheirwaythroughthedarkstreetstilltheyreachedIke’sshack。
Thedoctorlaystillasleepinthecorner。
"Hekidnappedhim，"wasIke’sexplanationtoTheKid，noddinghisheadtowardShock。"SoI’dadvisethatyouhitchontothepreacherhereforaperiod。Givehimthejobofwindin’youup。"
"Couldyouundertakethat，doyouthink？"Therewasacurioussmileontheboy’sface，butanundertoneofseriousnessinhisvoice。
"No，"saidShockgravely，"Icouldnotundertakethat。"
"Yousee，Ike，Iamtoouncertain。Toofargone，Iguess。"
Ikewastoopuzzledtoreply。HehadakindofdimideathatinShocktherewassomehelpforhisboss，andhewasdisappointedatShock’sanswer。
ForsometimeShocksatinsilence，lookingatthefire。Hisheartwassore。Hefelthishelplessness。Thisclever，gay—heartedyoungfellow，withallhisgentlenessofmanner，wasunapproachable。Hebelongedtoanotherworld，andyetShockyearnedoverhimwithatendernessinexplicabletohimself。TheKidgavehimnoopening。
Therewasakindofgaydefianceinhisbearing，asifhehadreadShock’sheartandweredeterminedtokeephimatarm’slength。
InstinctivelyShockknewthathemustwaithisopportunity。
"Well，guesswe’dbetterturnin，"suggestedIke。"Canyoutwobunktogether？Thatbed’llholdyouboth，Iguess。"
"No，thanks，"saidShockdecidedly。"Thatisyourbed。I’llspreadmyblanketsonthefloor。"
"Inthiscountry，"saidStanton，"wegivethestrangerthebed，soyouneednotscrupletoturnIkeoutofhis。IkeandIwilltakethefloor。"
"Notthistime，"saidShockfirmly。"Iamthankfulenoughforshelter，withouttakingaman’sbed。Besides，"headded，suddenlyremembering，"Ikeneedshisbedto—night，afterhissickturn。"
"Yes，byJove！Bytheway，"exclaimedStanton，"whathappened，Ike？"
"Asuddenandunexpectedpredispositionwhichtakesmenowandthen，"turninghisbackuponShockandsolemnlywinkingatTheKid;
"butIrecoverjustasquickly，andwhenIdoI’masslickasever，andslicker。Thesehereturnsworkoffalotofbadblood，Iguess。"
DuringhisspeechhecontinuedwinkingatTheKid。Thatyounggentlemangazedathiminamazedsilence。Gradually，alightbrokeinuponhim。
"Lookhere，Ike，whatinthunderdoyoumean？"
"Isay，boss，"saidIkepersuasively，"justgoeasy。Yououghn’ttoexciteyourself。’Taintgoodforyou，and’taintgoodforme，either。Mydoctorsaysso。Iwouldn’tpersecuteyourenquiriesatthislatehourofthenight。"
Ike’sgravitywasimperturbable。
"Well，Ibeblanked！Ibegyourpardon，Mr。Macgregor。Ike，you’reacoolone。You’vegotthenerveof"HereTheKidbegantolaugh，andShock，allunsuspectingofIke’sschemeforgettinghisbossoutoftheclutchesofhisspoilers，gazedfromtheonetotheotherwithanairofsuchabsoluteperplexitythatTheKidwentoffintoimmoderatefitsoflaughter。Ike’sgravityremainedunbroken。
"Allthesame，boss，"hesaid，"youwanttokeepaneyeonthatoutfit。They’llgeteven。ThatmanCrawleyandtheInspectoraintgoin’toresteasy。wheretheyare。Markslikewhatyouputon’emburntothebone。"
"Theycannothurtme，Ike，"saidtheKidlightly，"andIthinktheywillbeafraidtotry。ButMr。Macgregorherehasgotintotrouble。
IsnotMacfarrenachurchwarden，orsomething，inyourChurch？"
"Heisamanager，Ithink，"saidShock。"Prettymuchthesamething。"
"Well，heisamantolookoutfor。Icangetalongwithouthim，butyoucannot，canyou？Imean，hecanhurtyou。"
"No，"saidShockquietly，"hecannothurtme。Theonlymanthatcanhurtmeismyself。Noothermancan。Andbesides，"headded，pullingalittleBibleoutofhispocket，"IhaveaKeeper，asIkesaid。"
AsShockopenedthelittleBiblehebecameconsciousofasenseofmastery。Hisopportunityhadcome。
"Listentothis，"hesaid，andhereadinavoiceofassuredconviction:"TheLordisthykeeper。
TheLordshallkeeptheefromallevil。
Heshallkeepthysoul。
TheLordshallkeepthygoingoutandthycomingin。
Fromthistimeforthandforevermore。"
Heclosedthebookandputitinhispocket。
"No，"hesaid，"nomancanhurtme。"ThenturningtoIkehesaidquietly，"Ialwayssaymyprayers。Mymotherstartedmetwenty—fiveyearsago，andIhaveneverseenanyreasontoquit。"
Whilehistonewasgentleandhismannersimple，therewasalmostachallengeinhiseyes。ThefairfaceofyoungStantonflushedthroughthetan。
"Youdoyourmotherhonour，"hesaid，withquietdignity。
"Isay，"saidIkeslowly，"ifyoukindoitjustasconvenient，perhapsyou’dsay’emout。Wouldn’tdousnoharm，eh，Kiddie？"
"No，Ishouldbepleased。"
"Thankyou，"saidShock。ThenforamomenthestoodlookingfirstatIke’sgraveface，andthenatTheKid，outofwhoseblueeyesallthegay，recklessdefiancehadvanished。
"Don’timagineIthinkmyselfabitbetterthanyou，"saidShockhastily，voiceandlipquivering。
"Oh，gitout！"ejaculatedIkequickly。"Thataintsense。"
"But，"continuedShock，"perhapsIhavehadalittlebetterchance。
CertainlyIhavehadagoodmother。"
"AndI，too，"saidtheboy，inahuskyvoice。
SothethreekneeledtogetherinIke’sshack，eachwonderinghowithadcomeaboutthatitshouldseemsonaturalandeasyforhimtobeinthatattitude。
InavoicesteadyandcontrolledShockmadehisprayer。Humilityandgratitudeforallthathadbeendoneforhiminhislife，anoverwhelmingsenseofneedforthelifedemandedinthisGod—
forgettingcountry，andagreatloveandcompassionforthetwomenwithwhomhehadsostrangelybeenbroughtintosuchcloserelationswelledinhisheartandvibratedthroughhisprayer。
Ike’sfaceneverlostitsimpassivegravity。Whatevermayhavebeenhisfeelings，hegavenosignofemotion。ButtheladthatkneeledontheothersideofShockpressedhisfacedownhardintohishands，whilehisframeshookwithchoking，silentsobs。Allthatwasholiestandtenderestinhispastcamecrowdinginuponhim，insadandterriblecontrasttohispresent。
ImmediatelyaftertheprayerShockslippedoutoftheshack。
"Isay，boss，"saidIke，ashepokedthefire，"he’sawinner，ainthe？Guesshehitstheskyallright，whenhegetsontohisknees。Bythelivin’Gimmini！whenthatfellergitsa—goin’heraisesconsiderableofapromotion。"
"Commotion，Ikey，"saidTheKidgently。"Yes，Ibelievehehitsthesky——andhesaysheneedsaKeeper。"
"Well，"saidIkesolemnly，"Ihavealingerin’suspicionthatyou’recorrect，butifheneedsaKeeper，whataboutus？"
XIII
THEPRESIDENTOFGUY’S，LONDON
Dr。BurtonwasneverquiteclearastohowhehadfoundhimselfintheearlymorningontheLoonLaketrail，withamanwhomhehadneverseenbefore，norhow，afterhehaddiscoveredhimselfinthatposition，hehadbeenpersuadedtocontinuehisjourney，muchlesstotakeupwithsuchenthusiasmthetreatmentofthecasestowhichhehadbeensummonedbythatsamestranger。Indeed，hedidnotcometoaclearconsciousnessofhissayingsanddoingsuntilhefoundhimselfseatedatamostcomfortablebreakfastinthehouseoftheOldProspector，withthissamestrangegentlemansittingoppositehim。Eventhen，beforereachingasolutionoftheproblemastohowhehadarrivedatthatparticularplaceandinthatparticularcompany，tohisamazementhefoundhimselfinterestedinthediscussionofthecasesonhand。
WiththeOldProspectorhehadlittledifficulty。Inflammatoryrheumatism，withacomplicationofpneumonia;initselfnotnecessarilyfatal，orevendangerous，butwithamanoftheOldProspector’sageandhabitsoflifethiscomplicationmightanymomentbecomeserious。Heleftsomemedicine，orderednourishingfood，perfectrestandquiet，andwasabouttodepart。
"HowsoonshallIbeup，doctor？"enquiredtheOldProspector。
"Iwouldn’tworry。"
"Aweek？"
"Aweek！Ifyouareonyourlegsinamonthyoumaybethankful。"
"Doctor，"saidtheOldProspectorinatoneofquietresolution，"itisvitallyimportantthat。Ishouldbeonmyjourneysoonerthanamonth。Mybusinessadmitsofnodelay。"
"Well，"saidthedoctorinhiscourteous，gentletone，"ifyoumoveyouwilllikelydie。"
"IshallcertainlydieifIdonot。"
ForoncetheOldProspectorbrokethroughhiswontedphilosophiccalm。Hisvoicetrembled，andhiseyesglitteredinhisexcitement。
"Well，well，"saidthedoctorsoothingly，notingthesesymptoms，"waitaweekorso。Followthedirectionscarefully，andweshallsee。"
"Ishallwaitaweek，doctor，butnolonger。IntendaysIshallbeonthetrail。"
"Well，well，"repeatedthedoctor，lookingkeenlyintotheoldman’sface，"wewon’tworryaboutitforaweek。"
"No;foraweekIamcontent。"
LeavingtheOldProspector’sshackShockconductedthedoctortothelittleroomatthebackoftheStoppingPlacewherelittlePatsylay。Atthedoortheyweremetbythemother，vociferouswithlamentations，prayers，blessings，andentreaties。Withintheroom，seatedbesidethebed，wasCarroll，gloomyandtaciturn。
Thedoctordrewbacktheblindandletinthemorninglight。ItshowedpoorlittlePatsy，paleandwasted，hisangelicfacesurroundedwithagoldenaureoleofyellowcurlsthatfloatedacrossthewhitepillow。Thedoctorwasstartledandmoved。
"Whatisthis？"hecried。"Whatisthematter？"
"Justanaccident，doctor，"saidMrs。Carrollvolubly。"Itwasablowhegot。"
"Istruckhimwidachair，"saidCarrollbitterly。
"Whisht，now，darlin’。You’renottobeblamin’yourselfatall，atall。Sure，youdidn’tmanetodoit。Andwhat’sabitofdiscoosionbetweenmen？ThelittlePatsy，thebravelittleheartthatheis，runintohelphisdad，sohedid！"AndMrs。Carrollcontinuedwithadescriptionwhichbecamemoreandmoreincoherentandmoreandmorebrokenwithsobsandtears。
"It’sawonderhedidn’tkillhim，"saidthedoctor。
