登陆注册
15492400000039

第39章 HOW REUBEN ALLEN "SAW LIFE" IN SAN FRANCISCO(4)

After bestowing the bottles carefully about his person, he again leaned confidentially towards Kane. "I reckon of course you know this high-toned lady, being in the way of seein' that kind o' folks. I suppose you won't mind telling me, ez a stranger. But" (he added hastily, with a deprecatory wave of his hand), "perhaps ye would."

Mr. Kane, in fact, had hesitated. He knew vaguely and by report that Madame le Blanc was the proprietress of a famous restaurant, over which she had rooms where private gambling was carried on to a great extent. It was also alleged that she was protected by a famous gambler and a somewhat notorious bully. Mr. Kane's caution suggested that he had no right to expose the reputation of his chance customer. He was silent.

The stranger's face became intensely sympathetic and apologetic.

"I see!--not another word, pard! It ain't the square thing to be givin' her away, and I oughtn't to hev asked. Well--so long! I reckon I'll jest drift back to the hotel. I ain't been in San Francisker mor' 'n three hours, and I calkilate, pard, that I've jest seen about ez square a sample of high-toned life as fellers ez haz bin here a year. Well, hastermanyanner--ez the Greasers say.

I'll be droppin' in to-morrow. My name's Reuben Allen o' Mariposa.

I know yours; it's on the sign, and it ain't Sparlow."

He cast another lingering glance around the shop, as if loath to leave it, and then slowly sauntered out of the door, pausing in the street a moment, in the glare of the red light, before he faded into darkness. Without knowing exactly why, Kane had an instinct that the stranger knew no one in San Francisco, and after leaving the shop was going into utter silence and obscurity.

A few moments later Dr. Sparlow returned to relieve his wearied partner. A pushing, active man, he listened impatiently to Kane's account of his youthful practice with Madame le Blanc, without, however, dwelling much on his methods. "You ought to have charged her more," the elder said decisively. "She'd have paid it. She only came here because she was ashamed to go to a big shop in Montgomery Street--and she won't come again."

"But she wants you to see her to-morrow," urged Kane, "and I told her you would!"

"You say it was only a superficial cut?" queried the doctor, "and you closed it? Umph! what can she want to see ME for?" He paid more attention, however, to the case of the stranger, Allen. "When he comes here again, manage to let me see him." Mr. Kane promised, yet for some indefinable reason he went home that night not quite as well satisfied with himself.

He was much more concerned the next morning when, after relieving the doctor for his regular morning visits, he was startled an hour later by the abrupt return of that gentleman. His face was marked by some excitement and anxiety, which nevertheless struggled with that sense of the ludicrous which Californians in those days imported into most situations of perplexity or catastrophe.

Putting his hands deeply into his trousers pockets, he confronted his youthful partner behind the counter.

"How much did you charge that French-woman?" he said gravely.

"Twenty-five cents," said Kane timidly.

"Well, I'd give it back and add two hundred and fifty dollars if she had never entered the shop."

"What's the matter?"

"Her head will be--and a mass of it, in a day, I reckon! Why, man, you put enough plaster on it to clothe and paper the dome of the Capitol! You drew her scalp together so that she couldn't shut her eyes without climbing up the bed-post! You mowed her hair off so that she'll have to wear a wig for the next two years--and handed it to her in a beau-ti-ful sealed package! They talk of suing me and killing you out of hand."

"She was bleeding a great deal and looked faint," said the junior partner; "I thought I ought to stop that."

"And you did--by thunder! Though it might have been better business for the shop if I'd found her a crumbling ruin here, than lathed and plastered in this fashion, over there! However," he added, with a laugh, seeing an angry light in his junior partner's eye, "SHE don't seem to mind it--the cursing all comes from THEM.

SHE rather likes your style and praises it--that's what gets me!

Did you talk to her much," he added, looking critically at his partner.

"I only told her to sit still or she'd bleed to death," said Kane curtly.

"Humph!--she jabbered something about your being 'strong' and knowing just how to handle her. Well, it can't be helped now. I think I came in time for the worst of it and have drawn their fire.

Don't do it again. The next time a woman with a cut head and long hair tackles you, fill up her scalp with lint and tannin, and pack her off to some of the big shops and make THEM pick it out." And with a good-humored nod he started off to finish his interrupted visits.

With a vague sense of remorse, and yet a consciousness of some injustice done him, Mr. Kane resumed his occupation with filters and funnels, and mortars and triturations. He was so gloomily preoccupied that he did not, as usual, glance out of the window, or he would have observed the mining stranger of the previous night before it. It was not until the man's bowed shoulders blocked the light of the doorway that he looked up and recognized him. Kane was in no mood to welcome his appearance. His presence, too, actively recalled the last night's adventure of which he was a witness--albeit a sympathizing one. Kane shrank from the illusions which he felt he would be sure to make. And with his present ill luck, he was by no means sure that his ministrations even to HIM had been any more successful than they had been to the Frenchwoman.

But a glance at his good-humored face and kindling eyes removed that suspicion. Nevertheless, he felt somewhat embarrassed and impatient, and perhaps could not entirely conceal it. He forgot that the rudest natures are sometimes the most delicately sensitive to slights, and the stranger had noticed his manner and began apologetically.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 空间之异世轮回

    空间之异世轮回

    雨琦跟儿子在旅行中,路上遇到山体滑坡导致汽车翻越山下失去了儿子,在偶然得到的空间里知道了儿子的魂魄会轮回到另一个异世。看她如何与灵宠穿梭在现代和异世之间帮助儿子平安的在异世里轮回,同时也收获两份不同的挚爱---亲情和感情。
  • 大小姐的平凡保镖

    大小姐的平凡保镖

    要说哪里的风景最美,坐在轮船上欣赏一望无际的大海,这就是最美的风景之一。
  • 追爱无期:狂妄爷vs冷丫头

    追爱无期:狂妄爷vs冷丫头

    “喂,少爷!”“你怎么来了?”“你,你跟我回去好不好。”那年是他第一次看见我,也是我第一次看见他。我对我自己说,他是少爷。我的,少爷。“你照顾我吗?”“我……我可以的!”“好啊。”我知道我离不开他,毕竟都这么多年了。我一直,一直都是个笨蛋。依赖他的笨蛋。
  • 墨希

    墨希

    犹如怪谈一般,无人知晓又悄然失去的某些人和事
  • 操蛋爱情

    操蛋爱情

    当梦想遭遇现实,当爱情遭遇金钱,该如何选择?在这个物欲横流的社会,什么样的爱情才算真爱情?邱秋一个公司高管,钟晴一个普通职员,两个人经历怎样的磨难,爱能否走向终点?
  • 只为与你相见

    只为与你相见

    一次意外她竟跨越千年时光,与他相逢。命运之门悄然转动,竟将他们的未来彻底改变。恶毒的诅咒,惨烈的战役……她是否能揭开古埃及的神秘面纱,扭转自己的命运?
  • 青春蜜恋

    青春蜜恋

    《青春蜜恋》讲诉人生最美好的青春年华里,蔬菜六闺蜜:凌萌(白菜)、华琀茜(韭菜)、谢芮(茄子)、蓝若雪(黄瓜)、颜筱(辣椒)、叶韵(莴笋)的早恋的爱情故事充满着喜怒哀乐!描述了闺蜜们的吃货生涯,坚强奋斗的个性,同甘共苦,有福同享的好闺密形象!
  • 魔鬼公主的爱恋

    魔鬼公主的爱恋

    女主从五岁离家,被爷爷收养,与出深入死的姐妹一起成长,为姐妹回国复仇,又会与未婚夫有怎样的火花
  • Donal Grant

    Donal Grant

    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。
  • 盗墓成瘾:爱妃别逃

    盗墓成瘾:爱妃别逃

    “皇上,娘娘扛着锄头出宫了。”“又去挖坟,算了,随她吧。”“可是娘娘这次去的是帝陵。”“什么,逮回来。”一切从一场盗墓开始,叶国前朝宝藏,引天下诸侯相争。她是景王府细作,授命盗取宝藏。从此开始一段盗宝之旅。途中发生种种诡异之事,从京都到洛城,同行的人越来越少。争夺,厮杀,阴谋,迷雾重重。看她如何周旋其中。本以为盗墓结束,便可以安定,却不想掉入更大的旋窝。待洗尽铅华,她觅一良人坐拥天下。