按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
marriage came back to him and put him in a rage with the departed fool。
〃Yes； about eight。 Or six；〃 said his Excellency； justifying himself by the
past。 For he had first known Lin； the boy of nineteen； supreme in length of
limb and recklessness； breaking horses and feeling for an early mustache。
Next； when the mustache was nearly accomplished； he had mended the
boy's badly broken thigh at Drybone。 His skill （and Lin's utter health） had
wrought so swift a healing that the surgeon overflowed with the pride of
science； and over the bandages would explain the human body technically
to his wild…eyed and flattered patient。 Thus young Lin heard all about tibia；
and comminuted； and other glorious new words； and when sleepless would
rehearse them。 Then； with the bone so nearly knit that the patient might
leave the ward on crutches to sit each morning in Barker's room as a
privilege； the disobedient child of twenty…one had slipped out of the
hospital and hobbled hastily to the hog ranch； where whiskey and variety
waited for a languishing convalescent。 Here he grew gay； and was soon
carried back with the leg refractured。 Yet Barker's surgical rage was
disarmed； the patient was so forlorn over his doctor's professional chagrin。
〃I suppose it ain't no better this morning； Doc？〃 he had said； humbly；
after a new week of bed and weights。
〃Your right leg's going to be shorter。 That's all。〃
〃Oh； gosh！ I've been and spoiled your comminuted fee…mur！ Ain't I a
son…of…a…gun？〃
You could not chide such a boy as this； and in time's due course he had
85
… Page 86…
LIN McLEAN
walked jauntily out into the world with legs of equal length after all and in
his stride the slightest halt possible。 And Doctor Barker had missed the
child's conversation。 To…day his mustache was a perfected thing； and he in
the late end of his twenties。
〃He'll wake up about noon to…morrow in a dive； without a cent；〃 said
Barker。 〃Then he'll come back on a freight and begin over again。〃
At the Denver station Lin McLean passed through the shoutings and
omnibuses； and came to the beginning of Seventeenth Street； where is the
first saloon。 A customer was ordering Hot Scotch； and because he liked the
smell and had not thought of the mixture for a number of years； Lin took
Hot Scotch。 Coming out upon the pavement； he looked across and saw a
saloon opposite with brighter globes and windows more prosperous。 That
should have been his choice； lemon peel would undoubtedly be fresher
over there； and over he went at once； to begin the whole thing properly。 In
such frozen weather no drink could be more timely； and he sat； to enjoy
without haste its mellow fitness。 Once again on the pavement； he looked
along the street toward up…town beneath the crisp； cold electric lights； and
three little bootblacks gathered where he stood and cried 〃Shine？ Shine？〃
at him。 Remembering that you took the third turn to the right to get the
best dinner in Denver； Lin hit on the skilful plan of stopping at all Hot
Scotches between； but the next occurred within a few yards； and it was
across the street。 This one being attained and appreciated； he found that he
must cross back again or skip number four。 At this rate he would not be
dining in time to see much of the theatre； and he stopped to consider。 It
was a German place he had just quitted； and a huge light poured out on
him from its window； which the proprietor's father…land sentiment had
made into a show。 Lights shone among a well…set pine forest； where beery；
jovial gnomes sat on roots and reached upward to Santa Claus； he；
grinning； fat； and Teutonic； held in his right hand forever a foaming glass；
and forever in his left a string of sausages that dangled down among the
gnomes。 With his American back to this； the cow…puncher； wearing the
same serious； absent face he had not changed since he ran away from
himself at Cheyenne； considered carefully the Hot Scotch question； and
which side of the road to take and stick to； while the little bootblacks
86
… Page 87…
LIN McLEAN
found him once more and cried； 〃Shine？ Shine？〃 monotonous as snow…
birds。 He settled to stay over here with the south…side Scotches； and the
little one…note song reaching his attention； he suddenly shoved his foot at
the nearest boy； who lightly sprang away。
〃Dare you to touch him！〃 piped a snow…bird； dangerously。 They were
in short trousers； and the eldest enemy； it may be； was ten。
〃Don't hit me；〃 said Mr。 McLean 〃I'm innocent。〃
〃Well； you leave him be；〃 said one。
〃What's he layin' to kick you for； Billy？ 'Tain't yer pop； is it？〃
〃New！〃 said Billy； in scorn。 〃Father never kicked me。 Don't know who
he is。〃
〃He's a special！〃 shrilled the leading bird； sensationally。 〃He's got a
badge； and he's goin' to arrest yer。〃
Two of them hopped instantly to the safe middle of the street； and
scattered with practiced strategy； but Billy stood his ground。 〃Dare you to
arrest me！〃 said he。
〃What'll you give me not to？〃 inquired Lin； and he put his hands in his
pockets； arms akimbo。
〃Nothing； I've done nothing；〃 announced Billy； firmly。 But even in the
last syllable his voice suddenly failed； a terror filled his eyes； and he； too；
sped into the middle of the street。
〃What's he claim you lifted？〃 inquired the leader； with eagerness。 〃Tell
him you haven't been inside a store to…day。 We can prove it！〃 they
screamed to the special officer。
〃Say；〃 said the slow…spoken Lin from the pavement； 〃you're poor
judges of a badge； you fellows。〃
His tone pleased them where they stood； wide apart from each other。
Mr。 McLean also remained stationary in the bluish illumination of the
window。 〃Why； if any policeman was caught wearin' this here；〃 said he；
following his sprightly invention； 〃he'd get arrested himself。〃
This struck them extremely。 They began to draw together； Billy
lingering the last。
〃If it's your idea；〃 pursued Mr。 McLean； alluringly； as the three took
cautious steps nearer the curb； 〃that blue； clasped hands in a circle of red
87
… Page 88…
LIN McLEAN
stars gives the bearer the right to put folks in the jugwhy； I'll get
somebody else to black my boots for a dollar。〃
The three made a swift rush； fell on simultaneous knees； and clattering
their boxes down； began to spit in an industrious circle。
〃Easy！〃 wheedled Mr。 McLean； and they looked up at him； staring and
fascinated。 〃Not having three feet；〃 said the cow…puncher； always grave
and slow； 〃I can only give two this here job。〃
〃He's got a big pistol and a belt！〃 exulted the leader； who had
precociously felt beneath Lin's coat。
〃You're a smart boy；〃 said Lin； considering him； 〃and yu' find a man
out right away。 Now you stand off and tell me all about myself while they
fix the bootsand a dollar goes to the quickest through。〃
Young Billy and his tow…headed competitor flattened down； each to a
boot； with all their might； while the leader ruefully contemplated Mr。
McLean。
〃That's a Colt 。45 you've got；〃 ventured he。
〃Right again。 Some day； maybe； you'll be wearing one of your own； if
the angels don't pull yu' before you're ripe。〃
〃I'm through！〃 sang out Towhead； rising in haste。
Small Billy was struggling still； but leaped at that； the two heads
bobbing to a level together； and Mr。 McLean； looking down； saw that the
arrangement had not been a good one for the boots。
〃Will you kindly referee；〃 said he； forgivingly； to the leader； 〃and
decide which of them smears is the awfulest？〃
But the leader looked the other way and played upon a mouth…organ。
〃Well； that saves me money；〃 said Mr。 McLean； jingling his pocket。 〃I
guess you've both won。〃 He handed each of them a dollar。 〃Now；〃 he
continued； 〃I just dassent show these boots uptown； so this time it's a
dollar for the