the gentle grafter-第14部分

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when　he's　rich。

〃Now　and　then　the　most　legitimate　business　runs　out　of　luck。　It　was
out　in　Arkansas　I　made　the　wrong　turn　at　a　cross…road；　and　drives　into
this　town　of　Peavine　by　mistake。　It　seems　I　had　already　assaulted　and
disfigured　Peavine　the　spring　of　the　year　before。　I　had　sold　600
worth　of　young　fruit　trees　thereplums；　cherries；　peaches　and　pears。
The　Peaviners　were　keeping　an　eye　on　the　country　road　and　hoping　I
might　pass　that　way　again。　I　drove　down　Main　street　as　far　as　the
Crystal　Palace　drugstore　before　I　realized　I　had　committed　ambush　upon
myself　and　my　white　horse　Bill。

〃The　Peaviners　took　me　by　surprise　and　Bill　by　the　bridle　and　began　a
conversation　that　wasn't　entirely　disassociated　with　the　subject　of
fruit　trees。　A　committee　of　'em　ran　some　trace…chains　through　the
armholes　of　my　vest；　and　escorted　me　through　their　gardens　and
orchards。

〃Their　fruit　trees　hadn't　lived　up　to　their　labels。　Most　of　'em　had
turned　out　to　be　persimmons　and　dogwoods；　with　a　grove　or　two　of
blackjacks　and　poplars。　The　only　one　that　showed　any　signs　of　bearing
anything　was　a　fine　young　cottonwood　that　had　put　forth　a　hornet's
nest　and　half　of　an　old　corset…cover。

〃The　Peaviners　protracted　our　fruitless　stroll　to　the　edge　of　town。
They　took　my　watch　and　money　on　account；　and　they　kept　Bill　and　the
wagon　as　hostages。　They　said　the　first　time　one　of　them　dogwood　trees
put　forth　an　Amsden's　June　peach　I　might　come　back　and　get　my　things。
Then　they　took　off　the　trace　chains　and　jerked　their　thumbs　in　the
direction　of　the　Rocky　Mountains；　and　I　struck　a　Lewis　and　Clark　lope
for　the　swollen　rivers　and　impenetrable　forests。

〃When　I　regained　intellectualness　I　found　myself　walking　into　an
unidentified　town　on　the　A。；　T。　&　S。　F。　railroad。　The　Peaviners　hadn't
left　anything　in　my　pockets　except　a　plug　of　chewingthey　wasn't
after　my　lifeand　that　saved　it。　I　bit　off　a　chunk　and　sits　down　on　a
pile　of　ties　by　the　track　to　recogitate　my　sensations　of　thought　and
perspicacity。

〃And　then　along　comes　a　fast　freight　which　slows　up　a　little　at　the
town；　and　off　of　it　drops　a　black　bundle　that　rolls　for　twenty　yards
in　a　cloud　of　dust　and　then　gets　up　and　begins　to　spit　soft　coal　and
interjections。　I　see　it　is　a　young　man　broad　across　the　face；　dressed
more　for　Pullmans　than　freights；　and　with　a　cheerful　kind　of　smile　in
spite　of　it　all　that　made　Phoebe　Snow's　job　look　like　a　chimney…
sweep's。

〃'Fall　off？'　says　I。

〃'Nunk；'　says　he。　'Got　off。　Arrived　at　my　destination。　What　town　is
this？'

〃'Haven't　looked　it　up　on　the　map　yet；'　says　I。　'I　got　in　about　five
minutes　before　you　did。　How　does　it　strike　you？'

〃'Hard；'　says　he；　twisting　one　of　his　arms　around。　'I　believe　that
shoulderno；　it's　all　right。'

〃He　stoops　over　to　brush　the　dust　off　his　clothes；　when　out　of　his
pocket　drops　a　fine；　nine…inch　burglar's　steel　jimmy。　He　picks　it　up
and　looks　at　me　sharp；　and　then　grins　and　holds　out　his　hand。

〃'Brother；'　says　he；　'greetings。　Didn't　I　see　you　in　Southern　Missouri
last　summer　selling　colored　sand　at　half…a…dollar　a　teaspoonful　to　put
into　lamps　to　keep　the　oil　from　exploding？'

〃'Oil；'　says　I；　'never　explodes。　It's　the　gas　that　forms　that
explodes。'　But　I　shakes　hands　with　him；　anyway。

〃'My　name's　Bill　Bassett；'　says　he　to　me；　'and　if　you'll　call　it
professional　pride　instead　of　conceit；　I'll　inform　you　that　you　have
the　pleasure　of　meeting　the　best　burglar　that　ever　set　a　gum…shoe　on
ground　drained　by　the　Mississippi　River。'

〃Well；　me　and　this　Bill　Bassett　sits　on　the　ties　and　exchanges　brags
as　artists　in　kindred　lines　will　do。　It　seems　he　didn't　have　a　cent；
either；　and　we　went　into　close　caucus。　He　explained　why　an　able
burglar　sometimes　had　to　travel　on　freights　by　telling　me　that　a
servant　girl　had　played　him　false　in　Little　Rock；　and　he　was　making　a
quick　get…away。

〃'It's　part　of　my　business；'　says　Bill　Bassett；　'to　play　up　to　the
ruffles　when　I　want　to　make　a　riffle　as　Raffles。　'Tis　loves　that　makes
the　bit　go　'round。　Show　me　a　house　with　a　swag　in　it　and　a　pretty
parlor…maid；　and　you　might　as　well　call　the　silver　melted　down　and
sold；　and　me　spilling　truffles　and　that　Chateau　stuff　on　the　napkin
under　my　chin；　while　the　police　are　calling　it　an　inside　job　just
because　the　old　lady's　nephew　teaches　a　Bible　class。　I　first　make　an
impression　on　the　girl；'　says　Bill；　'and　when　she　lets　me　inside　I
make　an　impression　on　the　locks。　But　this　one　in　Little　Rock　done　me；'
says　he。　'She　saw　me　taking　a　trolley　ride　with　another　girl；　and　when
I　came　'round　on　the　night　she　was　to　leave　the　door　open　for　me　it
was　fast。　And　I　had　keys　made　for　the　doors　upstairs。　But；　no　sir。　She
had　sure　cut　off　my　locks。　She　was　a　Delilah；'　says　Bill　Bassett。

〃It　seems　that　Bill　tried　to　break　in　anyhow　with　his　jimmy；　but　the
girl　emitted　a　succession　of　bravura　noises　like　the　top…riders　of　a
tally…ho；　and　Bill　had　to　take　all　the　hurdles　between　there　and
depot。　As　he　had　no　baggage　they　tried　hard　to　check　his　departure；
but　he　made　a　train　that　was　just　pulling　out。

〃'Well；'　says　Bill　Bassett；　when　we　had　exchanged　memories　of　our　dead
lives；　'I　could　eat。　This　town　don't　look　like　it　was　kept　under　a
Yale　lock。　Suppose　we　commit　some　mild　atrocity　that　will　bring　in
temporary　expense　money。　I　don't　suppose　you've　brought　along　any　hair
tonic　or　rolled　gold　watch…chains；　or　similar　law…defying　swindles
that　you　could　sell　on　the　plaza　to　the　pikers　of　the　paretic
populace；　have　you？'

〃'No；'　says　I；　'I　left　an　elegant　line　of　Patagonian　diamond　earrings
and　rainy…day　sunbursts　in　my　valise　at　Peavine。　But　they're　to　stay
there　until　some　of　those　black…gum　trees　begin　to　glut　the　market
with　yellow　clings　and　Japanese　plums。　I　reckon　we　can't　count　on　them
unless　we　take　Luther　Burbank　in　for　a　partner。'

〃'Very　well；'　says　Bassett；　'we'll　do　the　best　we　can。　Maybe　after
dark　I'll　borrow　a　hairpin　from　some　lady；　and　open　the　Farmers　and
Drovers　Marine　Bank　with　it。'

〃While　we　were　talking；　up　pulls　a　passenger　train　to　the　depot　near
by。　A　person　in　a　high　hat　gets　off　on　the　wrong　side　of　the　train　and
comes　tripping　down　the　track　towards　us。　He　was　a　little；　fat　man
with　a　big　nose　and　rat's　eyes；　but　dressed　expensive；　and　carrying　a
hand…satchel　careful；　as　if　it　had　eggs　or　railroads　bonds　in　it。　He
passes　by　us　and　keeps　on　down　the　track；　not　appearing　to　notice　the
town。

〃'Come　on；'　says　Bill　Bassett　to　me；　starting　after　him。

〃'Where？'　I　asks。

〃'Lordy！'　says　Bill；　'had　you　forgot　you　was　in　the　desert？　Didn't　you
see　Colonel　Manna　drop　down　right　before　your　eyes？　Don't　you　hear　the
rustling　of　General　Raven's　wings？　I'm　surprised　at　you；　Elijah。'

〃We　overtook　the　stranger　in　the　edge　of　some　woods；　and；　as　it　was
after　sun…down　and　in　a　quiet　place；　nobody　saw　us　stop　him。　Bill
takes　the　silk　hat　off　the　man's　head　and　brushes　it　with　his　sleeve
and　puts　it　back。

〃'What　does　this　mean；　sir？'　says　the　man。

〃'When　I　wore　one　of　these；'　says　Bill；　'and　felt　embarrassed；　I
always　done　that。　Not　having　one　now　I　had　to　use　yours。　I　hardly　know
how　to　begin；　sir；　in　explaining　our　business　with　you；　but　I　guess
we'll　try　your　pockets　first。'

〃Bill　Bassett　felt　in　all　of　them；　and　looked　disgusted。

〃'Not　even　a　watch；'　he　says。　'Ain't　you　ashamed　of　yourself；　you
whited　sculpture？　Going　about　dressed　like　a　head…waiter；　and　financed
like　a　Count！　You　haven't　even　got　carfare。　What　did　you　do　with　your
transfer？'

〃The　man　speaks　up　and　says　he　has　no　assets　or　valuables　of　any　sort。
But　Bassett　takes　his　hand…satchel　and　opens　it。　Out　comes　some
collars　and　socks　and　a　half　a　page　of　a　newspaper　clipped　out。　Bill
reads　the　clipping　careful；　and　holds　out　his　hand　to　the　held…up
party。

〃'Brother；'　says　he；　'greetings！　Accept　the　apologies　of　friends。　I　am
Bill　Bassett；　the　burglar。　Mr。　Peters；　you　must　make　the　acquaintance
of　Mr。　Alfred　E。　Ricks。　Shake　hands。　Mr。　Peters；'　says　Bill；　'stands
about　halfway　between　me　and　you；　Mr。　Ricks；　in　the　line　of　havoc　and
corruption。　He　always　gives　something　for　the　money　he　gets。　I'm　glad
to　meet　you；　Mr。　Ricksyou　and　Mr。　Peters。　This　is　the　first　time　I
ever　attended　a　full　gathering　of　the　National　Synod　of　Sharks
housebreaking；　swindling；　and　financiering　all　represented。　Please
examine　Mr。　Rick's　credentials；　Mr。　Peters。'

〃The　piece　of　newspaper　that　Bill　Bassett　handed　me　had　a　good　picture
of　this　Ricks　on　it。　It　was　a　Chicago　paper；　and　it　had　obloquies　of
Ricks　in　every　paragraph。　By　reading　it　over　I　harvested　the
intelligence　that　said　alleged　Ricks　had　laid　off　all　that　portion　of
the　State　of　Florida　that　lies　under　water　into　town　lots　and　sold　'em
to　alleged　innocent　investors　from　his　magnificently　furnished　offices
in　Chicago。　After　he　had　taken　in　a　hundred　thousand　or　so　dollars　one
of　these　fussy　purchasers　that　are　always　making　trouble　（I've　had　'em
actually　try　gold　watches　I've　sold　'em　with　acid）　took　a　cheap
excursion　down　to　the　land　where　it　is　always　just　before　supper　to
look　at　his　lot　and　see　if　it　didn't　need　a　new　paling　or　two　on　the
fence；　and　market　a　few　lemons　in　time　for　the　Christmas　present
trade。　He　hires　a　surveyor　to　find　his　lot　for　him。　They　run　the　line
out　and　find　the　flourishing　town　of　Paradise　Hollow；　so　advertised；
to　be　about　40　rods　and　16　poles　S。；　27　degrees　E。　of　the　middle　of
Lake　Okeechobee。　This　man's　lot　was　under　thirty…six　feet　of　water；
and；　besides；　had　been　preempted　so　long　by　the　alligators　and　gars
that　his　title　looked　fishy。

〃Naturally；　the　man　goes　back　to　Chicago　and　makes　it　as　hot　for
Alfred　E。　Ricks　as　the　morning　after　a　prediction　of　snow　by　the
weather　bureau。　Ricks　defied　the　allegation；　but　he　couldn't　deny　the
alligators。　One　morning　the　papers　came　out　with　a　column　about　it；
and　Ricks　come　out　by　the　fire…escape。　It　seems　the　alleged
authorities　had　beat　him　to　the　safe…deposit　box　where　he　kept　his
winnings；　and　Ricks　has　to　westward　ho！　with　only　feetwear　and　a　dozen
15…and…a…half　English　pokes　in　his　shopping　bag。　He　happened　to　have
some　mileage　left　in　his　book；　and　that　took　him　as　far　as　the　town　in
the　wilderness　where　he