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！
may be grafted those essentials of a complete life。
John Hopkins sought to inject a few raisins of conversation into the
tasteless dough of existence。
〃Putting a new elevator in at the office；〃 he said； discarding the
nominative noun； 〃and the boss has turned out his whiskers。〃
〃You don't mean it！ commented Mrs。 Hopkins。
〃Mr。 Whipples；〃 continued John； 〃wore his new spring suit down to…
day。 I liked it fine It's a gray with … 〃 He stopped； suddenly stricken by a
need that made itself known to him。 〃I believe I'll walk down to the corner
and get a five…cent cigar；〃he concluded。
John Hopkins took his bat aid picked his way down the musty halls
and stairs of the flat…house
8
… Page 9…
The Voice of the City
The evening air was mild； and the streets shrill with the careless cries
of children playing games con… trolled by mysterious rhythms and phrases。
Their elders held the doorways and steps with leisurely pipe and gossip。
Paradoxically； the fire…escapes sup… ported lovers in couples who made no
attempt to fly the mounting conflagration they were there to fan。 The
corner cigar store aimed at by John Hopkins was kept by a man named
Freshmayer； who looked upon the earth as a sterile promontory。
Hopkins； unknown in the store； entered and called genially for his
〃bunch of spinach； car…fare grade。〃 This imputation deepened the
pessimism of Fresh… mayer； but be set out a brand that came perilously
near to filling the order。 Hopkins bit off the roots of his purchase； and
lighted up at the swinging gas jet。 Feeling in his pockets to make payment；
he found not a penny there。
〃Say； my friend；〃 he explained； frankly； 〃I've come out without any
change。 Hand you that nickel first time I pass。〃
Joy surged in Freshmayer's heart。 Here was cor… roboration of his
belief that the world was rotten and man a peripatetic evil。 Without a word
he rounded the end of his counter and made earnest onslaught upon his
customer。 Hopkins was no man to serve as a punching…bag for a
pessimistic tobacconist。 He quickly bestowed upon Freshmayer a
Colorado… maduro eye in return for the ardent kick that be received from
that dealer in goods for cash only。
The impetus of the enemy's attack forced the Hopkins line back to the
sidewalk。 There the con… flict raged； the pacific wooden Indian； with his
carven smile； was overturned； and those of the street who delighted in
carnage pressed round to view the zealous joust。
But then came the inevitable cop and imminent convenience for both
the attacker and attacked。 John Hopkins was a peaceful citizen； who
worked at rebuses of nights in a flat； but be was not without the
fundamental spirit of resistance that comes with the battle…rage。 He
knocked the policeman into a gro… cer's sidewalk display of goods and
gave Freshmayer a punch that caused him temporarily to regret that he had
not made it a rule to extend a five…cent line of credit to certain customers。
Then Hopkins took spiritedly to his heels down the sidewalk； closely fol…
9
… Page 10…
The Voice of the City
lowed by the cigar…dealer and the policeman； whose uniform testified to
the reason in the grocer's sign that read： 〃Eggs cheaper than anywhere else
in the city。〃
As Hopkins ran he became aware of a big； low； red； racing automobile
that kept abreast of him in the street。 This auto steered in to the side of the
sidewalk； and the man guiding it motioned to Hopkins to jump into it。 He
did so without slackening his speed； and fell into the turkey…red
upholstered seat beside the chauffeur。 The big machine； with a dimin…
uendo cough； flew away like an albatross down the avenue into which the
street emptied。
The driver of the auto sped his machine without a word。 He was
masked beyond guess in the goggles and diabolic garb of the chauffeur。
〃Much obliged； old man；〃 called Hopkins； grate… fully。 〃I guess you've
got sporting blood in you； all right； and don't admire the sight of two men
trying to soak one。 Little more and I'd have been pinched。〃
The chauffeur made no sign that he had heard。 Hopkins shrugged a
shoulder and chewed at his cigar； to which his teeth had clung grimly
through… out the melee。
Ten minutes and the auto turned into the open carriage entrance of a
noble mansion of brown stone； and stood still。 The chauffeur leaped out；
and said： 〃Come quick。 The lady； she will explain。 It is the great honor you
will have； monsieur。 Ah； that milady could call upon Armand to do this
thing！ But； no； I am only one chauffeur。〃
With vehement gestures the chauffeur conducted Hopkins into the
house。 He was ushered into a small but luxurious reception chamber。 A
lady； young； and possessing the beauty of visions； rose from a chair。 In her
eyes smouldered a becoming anger。 Her high… arched； threadlike brows
were ruffled into a delicious frown。
〃Milady；〃 said the chauffeur； bowing low； 〃I have the honor to relate to
you that I went to the house of Monsieur Long and found him to be not at
home。 As I came back I see this gentleman in combat against bow you say
… greatest odds。 He is fighting with five … ten … thirty men … gendarmes；
aussi。 Yes； milady； he what you call 'swat' one … three … eight policemans。 If
that Monsieur Long is out I say to myself this Gentleman be will serve
10
… Page 11…
The Voice of the City
milady so well； and I bring him here。〃
〃Very well； Armand；〃 said the lady； 〃you may go。〃 She turned to
Hopkins。
〃I sent my chauffeur；〃 she said； 〃to bring my cousin； Walter Long。
There is a man in this house who has treated me with insult and abuse。 I
have complained to my aunt； and she laughs at me。 Ar… mand says you are
brave。 In these prosaic days men who are both brave and chivalrous are
few。 May I count upon your assistance？〃
John Hopkins thrust the remains of his cigar into his coat pocket。 He
looked upon this winning creature and felt his first thrill of romance。 It
was a knightly love； and contained no disloyalty to the flat with the flea…
bitten terrier and the lady of his choice。 He bad married her after a picnic
of the Lady Label Stickers' Union； Lodge No。 2； on a dare and a bet of
new hats and chowder all around with his friend； Billy McManus。 This
angel who was begging him to come to her rescue was something too
heavenly for chowder； and as for hats … golden； jewelled crowns for her！
〃Say；〃 said John Hopkins； 〃just show me the guy that you've got the
grouch at。 I've neglected my talents as a scrapper heretofore； but this is my
busy night。〃
〃He is in there；〃 said the lady； pointing to a closed door。 〃Come。 Are
you sure that you do not falter or fear？〃
〃Me？〃 said John Hopkins。 〃Just give me one of those roses