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！
cow…puncher。 And he and Honey went to town。
Lin found a job in twenty…five minutes； becoming assistant to the
apothecary in Mesa。 Established at the drug…store； he made up the simpler
prescriptions。 He had studied practical pharmacy in Boston between the
ages of thirteen and fifteen； and； besides this qualification； the
apothecary had seen him when he first came into Mesa； and liked him。 Lin
made no mistakes that he or any one ever knew of； and； as the mild
weather began； he materially increased the apothecary's business by
persuading him to send East for a soda…water fountain。 The ladies of the
town clustered around this entertaining novelty； and while sipping
vanilla and lemon bought knickknacks。 And the gentlemen of the town
discovered that whiskey with soda and strawberry syrup was delicious； and
produced just as competent effects。 A group of them were generally
standing in the shop and shaking dice to decide who should pay for the
next； while Lin administered to each glass the necessary ingredients。
Thus money began to come to him a little more steadily than had been its
wont； and he divided with the penniless Honey。
But Honey found fortune quickly； too。 Through excellent card…playing he
won a pinto from a small Mexican horse…thief who came into town from the
South； and who cried bitterly when he delivered up his pet pony to the
new owner。 The new owner； being a man of the world and agile on his feet；
was only slightly stabbed that evening as he walked to the dance…hall at
the edge of the town。 The Mexican was buried on the next day but one。
The pony stood thirteen two； and was as long as a steamboat。 He had white
eyelashes； pink nostrils； and one eye was bright blue。 If you spoke
pleasantly to him； he rose instantly on his hind…legs and tried to beat
your face。 He did not look as if he could run； and that was what made him
so valuable。 Honey travelled through the country with him； and every
gentleman who saw the pinto and heard Honey became anxious to get up a
race。 Lin always sent money for Wiggin to place； and he soon opened a
bank account； while Honey； besides his racing…bridle； bought a
silver…inlaid one； a pair of forty…dollar spurs； and a beautiful saddle
richly stamped。 Every day （when in Mesa） Honey would step into the
drug…store and inquire； 〃Lin； wher're yu' goin'？〃
But Lin never answered any more。 He merely came to the soda…water
fountain with the whiskey。 The passing of days brought a choked season of
fine sand and hard blazing sky。 Heat rose up from the ground and hung
heavily over man and beast。 Many insects sat out in the sun rattling with
joy； the little tearing river grew clear from the swollen mud； and shrank
to a succession of standing pools； and the fat； squatting cactus bloomed
everywhere into butter…colored flowers big as tulips in the sand。 There
were artesian wells in Mesa； and the water did not taste very good； but
if you drank from the standing pools where the river had been； you
repaired to the drug…store almost immediately。 A troop of wandering
players came dotting along the railroad； and； reaching Mesa； played a
brass…band up and down the street； and announced the powerful drama of
〃East Lynne。〃 Then Mr。 McLean thought of the Lynn marshes that lie
between there and Chelsea； and of the sea that must look so cool。 He
forgot them while following the painful fortunes of the Lady Isabel； but；
going to bed in the back part of the drug…store； he remembered how he
used to beat everybody swimming in the salt water。
〃I'm goin'；〃 he said。 Then he got up； and； striking the light； he
inspected his bank account。 〃I'm sure goin'；〃 he repeated； blowing the
light out； 〃and I can buy the fatted calf myself； you bet！〃 for he had
often thought of the bishop's story。 〃You bet！〃 he remarked once more in
a muffled voice； and was asleep in a minute。 The apothecary was sorry to
have him go； and Honey was deeply grieved。
〃I'd pull out with yer；〃 he said； 〃only I can do business round Yuma and
westward with the pinto。〃
For three farewell days Lin and Honey roved together in all sorts of
places； where they were welcome； and once more Lin rode a horse and was
in his native element。 Then he travelled to Deming； and so through Denver
to Omaha； where he was told that his trunk had been sold for some months。
Besides a suit of clothes for town wear； it had contained a buffalo coat
for his brothersomething scarce to see in these days。
〃Frank'll have to get along without it；〃 he observed； philosophically；
and took the next eastbound train。
If you journey in a Pullman from Mesa to Omaha without a waistcoat； and
with a silk handkerchief knotted over the collar of your flannel shirt
instead of a tie； wearing； besides； tall； high…heeled boots； a soft； gray
hat with a splendid brim； a few people will notice you； but not the
majority。 New Mexico and Colorado are used to these things。 As Iowa； with
its immense rolling grain； encompasses you； people will stare a little
more； for you're getting near the East； where cow…punchers are not
understood。 But in those days the line of cleavage came sharp…drawn at
Chicago。 West of there was still tolerably west； but east of there was
east indeed； and the Atlantic Ocean was the next important
stopping…place。 In Lin's new train； good gloves； patent…leathers； and
silence prevailed throughout the sleeping…car； which was for Boston
without change。 Had not home memories begun impetuously to flood his
mind； he would have felt himself conspicuous。 Town clothes and
conventions had their due value with him。 But just now the boy's single…
hearted thoughts were far from any surroundings； and he was murmuring to
himself； 〃To…morrow！ tomorrow night！〃
There were ladies in that blue plush car for Boston who looked at Lin for
thirty miles at a stretch； and by the time Albany was reached the next
day one or two of them commented that he was the most attractive…looking
man they had ever seen！ Whereas； beyond his tallness； and wide…open；
jocular eyes； eyes that seemed those of a not highly conscientious wild
animal； there was nothing remarkable about young Lin except stage effect。
The conductor had been annoyed to have such a passenger； but the
cow…puncher troubled no one； and was extremely silent。 So evidently was
he a piece of the true frontier that curious and hopeful
fellow…passengers； after watching him with diversion； more than once took
a seat next to him。 He met their chatty inquiries with monosyllables so
few and so unprofitable in their quiet politeness that the passengers
soon gave him up。 At Springfield he sent a telegram to his brother at the
great dry…goods establishment that employed him。
The train began its homestretch after Worcester； and whirled and swung by
hills and ponds he began to watch for； and through stations with old
wayside names。 These flashed on Lin's eye as he sat with his hat off and
his forehead against the window； looking： Wellesley。 Then； not long
after； Riverside。 That was the Charles River； and did the picnic woods
used to be above the bridge or below？ West Newton； Newtonville； Newton。
〃Faneuil's next；〃 he said aloud in the car； as the long…forgotten
home…knowledge shone forth in his recollection。 The traveller seated near
said； 〃Beg pardon？〃 but； turning； wondered at the all…unconscious Lin；
with his forehead pressed against the glass。 The blue water flashed into
sight； and soon after they were running in the darkness between high
walls； but the cow…puncher never moved； though nothing could be seen。
When the porter announced 〃Boston；〃 he started up and followed like a
sheep in the general exodus。 Down on the platform he moved along with the
slow crowd till some one touched him； and； wheeling round； he seized both
his brother's hands and swore a good oath of joy。
There they stoodthe long； brown fellow with the silk handkerchief
knotted over his flannel shirt； greeting tremendously the spruce
civilian； who had a rope…colored mustache and bore a fainthearted
resemblance to him。 The story was plain on its face to the passers…by；
and one of the ladies who had come in the car with Lin turned twice； and
smiled gently to herself。
But Frank McLean's heart did not warm。 He felt that what he had been
afraid of was true； and he saw he was being made conspicuous。 He saw men
and women stare in the station； and he saw them staring as he and his
Western brother went through the streets。 Lin strode along； sniffing the
air of Boston； looking at all things； and making it a stretch for his
sleek companion to keep step with him。 Frank thought of the refined
friends he should have to introduce his brother to； for he had risen with
his salary； and now belonged to a small club where the paying…tellers of
banks played cards every night； and the head clerk at the Parker House
was president。 Perhaps he should not have to reveal the cow…puncher to
these shining ones。 Perhaps the co