登陆注册
15467900000008

第8章 CHAPTER V(1)

WHO HAD A LIEN ON IT

It was high noon at Tres Pinos. The three pines from which it gained its name, in the dusty road and hot air, seemed to smoke from their balsamic spires. There was a glare from the road, a glare from the sky, a glare from the rocks, a glare from the white canvas roofs of the few shanties and cabins which made up the village. There was even a glare from the unpainted red-wood boards of Roscommon's grocery and tavern, and a tendency of the warping floor of the veranda to curl up beneath the feet of the intruder.

A few mules, near the watering trough, had shrunk within the scant shadow of the corral.

The grocery business of Mr. Roscommon, although adequate and sufficient for the village, was not exhausting nor overtaxing to the proprietor; the refilling of the pork and flour barrel of the average miner was the work of a brief hour on Saturday nights, but the daily replenishment of the average miner with whisky was arduous and incessant. Roscommon spent more time behind his bar than his grocer's counter. Add to this the fact that a long shed-like extension or wing bore the legend, "Cosmopolitan Hotel, Board or Lodging by the Day or Week. M. Roscommon," and you got an idea of the variety of the proprietor's functions. The "hotel," however, was more directly under the charge of Mrs. Roscommon, a lady of thirty years, strong, truculent, and good-hearted.

Mr. Roscommon had early adopted the theory that most of his customers were insane, and were to be alternately bullied or placated, as the case might be. Nothing that occurred, no extravagance of speech nor act, ever ruffled his equilibrium, which was as dogged and stubborn as it was outwardly calm. When not serving liquor, or in the interval while it was being drank, he was always wiping his counter with an exceedingly dirty towel,--or indeed anything that came handy. Miners, noticing this purely perfunctory habit, occasionally supplied him slily with articles inconsistent with their service,--fragments of their shirts and underclothing, flour sacking, tow, and once with a flannel petticoat of his wife's, stolen from the line in the back-yard.

Roscommon would continue his wiping without looking up, but yet conscious of the presence of each customer. "And it's not another dhrop ye'll git, Jack Brown, until ye've wiped out the black score that stands agin ye." "And it's there ye are, darlint, and it's here's the bottle that's been lukin' for ye sins Saturday." "And fwhot hev you done with the last I sent ye, ye divil of a McCorkle, and here's me back that's bruk entoirely wid dipping intil the pork barl to giv ye the best sides, and ye spending yur last cint on a tare into Gilroy. Whist! and if it's fer foighting ye are, boys, there's an illigant bit of sod beyant the corral, and it may be meself'll come out with a shtick and be sociable."

On this particular day, however, Mr. Roscommon was not in his usual spirits, and when the clatter of horses' hoofs before the door announced the approach of strangers, he absolutely ceased wiping his counter and looked up as Dr. Guild, the President, and Secretary of the new Company strode into the shop.

同类推荐
  • 随园诗话

    随园诗话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 观自在菩萨怛嚩多唎随心陀罗尼经

    观自在菩萨怛嚩多唎随心陀罗尼经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 佛说人仙经

    佛说人仙经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 百佛名经

    百佛名经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 万病回春

    万病回春

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 超修真文明

    超修真文明

    吴良在一次空难后醒来。发现自己竟然穿越到了梦蓝星,一个另类的仙侠世界。滴滴!一辆法器炼制的出租车停在了吴良的面前。呜……一架写着‘金陵国际航班’的法宝从空中飞过。砰砰砰!吴良对着一头妖兽连开三枪,然后换上一块灵石,得意的吹了一下枪口……几年后,他从金陵炼气学院光荣的毕业了,考进了秦国最大的筑基学院。自此,梦蓝星的修真界才真正的在他面前拉开了帷幕。
  • 天涯海角,拉勾勾

    天涯海角,拉勾勾

    【锦书轩】让你爱上文字的香气。★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆天涯海角,他们的距离其实很远。一个远在天尽头,一个远在海之角;又或着,它们很近,不用到天边不用到海角,只是一个转头的回望,就能发现天涯海角。大学时代的故事青春且暧昧。如果来得及说爱有期限,短短的八年不过是弹指一挥间。从相识到别离,从别离到重逢,八年,只不过是一个分水岭。一个让人变的成熟与睿智的“黄金分割线”。八年前,你从天涯来,我来自海角,嘻嘻闹闹的美好时光,只是一张让爱情萌发的温床。滋生的爱情单纯却敏感,来不及开口说爱你,天涯海角分隔了你我最初暧昧的距离。八年过去,当夏海角重新回来,尚天涯的心里是否八年如一日的始终被她占据?而八年的时间,她的心是否如他一样坚如磐石?哪怕八年前,两个人未曾开口说爱,如今的坚持只为了那个曾经的心动相守至今?天涯海角,拉勾勾。说好爱,时间和距离永远都不是借口……
  • 摄鬼组

    摄鬼组

    本书感谢墨星免费小说封面支持,百度搜索“墨星封面”第一个就是!“夜深深,路漫漫,一个人,慌在欢,黄泉里路,阴阳口,入鬼门,莫在念,自有因果报。”几年前听了这顺口溜,我有点慎得慌。几年后这句顺口溜却成了我泡妞泡鬼泡僵尸常用的语句。怎奈鬼怪智商底,自己颜值高,开着后宫谈感情,光天化日耍流氓,暮然回首,我已脱离纯洁一去不复返!!!友情提示:本小说纯属虚构,但不排除巧合的可能,为了您的安全,请勿随意尝试本书咒语和宣传本书虚构内容,否则本书作者恕不负责!!!!
  • 花千骨之愿得久情

    花千骨之愿得久情

    多情自古伤离别,更那堪,冷落清秋节!“或许你我的缘,在两千年前就已注定,可我是神界公主,你是仙界王子。而第二世,你为无情的长留上仙,我为单纯痴情的少女,终是把前世的账还清。现在,你我都可以重新作出选择。”两世情缘,三世花开,爱情之花永存!
  • 不败武修

    不败武修

    在这个世界,想要保护自己,那么唯有一条出路,那就是自己的实力够强。冷语,昔日的天才,如今的废材,却因为得到了一枚神秘的圆珠以及一身神秘血液,成为盖世强者,踏上绝颠!手掌为天,手背为地,只手定乾坤!
  • 蛮荒兽王

    蛮荒兽王

    人类从精灵那里学会魔法,近千年来一直压制着兽人,直至斗气的出现,斗皇萧隐带领兽人向人类发生反攻,却陷入一个精心策划的阴谋,惨烈的兽人之战不过是大陆硝烟的冰山一角。
  • 夜少的专属宠妻

    夜少的专属宠妻

    一夜错乱,她从此被腹黑霸道的夜少盯上。她揉着酸疼的腰,说好的温柔呢……
  • 神之选召

    神之选召

    柒月家族,回归吧。在圣者的世界里,我们一同逍遥。
  • 太平仙宝

    太平仙宝

    三千大道诸般法,五楼城下授长生。上到苍穹摘日月,下入幽冥问鬼神。少年王通,自幼孤苦,儿伴惨死后遵其嘱咐努力活下去。群星降世,仙门大开,藩王争霸天下,三千大道,旁门无数,天地若洪炉,众生如蝼蚁,王通势要离经叛道,逆行而上,杀出个朗朗乾坤。
  • 中国网络传播研究2010(第四辑)

    中国网络传播研究2010(第四辑)

    《中国网络传播研究》的创办旨在为研究中国网络传播的学者提供学术讨论的平台,倡导具有科学性和创新价值的传播研究,彰显网络传播研究对传播学的理论贡献,促进传播学者与其他学科的对话。《中国网络传播研究》鼓励以经验性方法研究中国网络传播的基本问题,倡导多学科、全球化视野的传播学术研究,亦致力于为社会提供有价值的相关科学认知。本书是2010年第4辑。