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！
of their market values。 I think he tolerated me as a kind of foreigner；
gently but firmly waiving all argument on any topic； frequently distrusting
my facts； generally my deductions； and always my ideas。 In conversation
he always appeared to descend only half way down a long moral and
intellectual staircase； and always delivered his conclusions over the
114
… Page 115…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
balusters。
I had been speaking of my friend； the Tramp。 〃There is but one way
of treating that class of impostors； it is simply to recognize the fact that the
law calls him a 'vagrant；' and makes his trade a misdemeanor。 Any
sentiment on the other side renders you particeps criminis。 I don't know
but an action would lie against you for encouraging tramps。 Now； I have
an efficacious way of dealing with these gentry。〃 He rose and took a
double…barreled fowling…piece from the chimney。 〃When a tramp
appears on my property； I warn him off。 If he persists； I fire on himas I
would on any criminal trespasser。〃
〃Fire on him？〃 I echoed in alarm。
〃YesBUT WITH POWDER ONLY！ Of course HE doesn't know
that。 But he doesn't come back。〃
It struck me for the first time that possibly many other of my friend's
arguments might be only blank cartridges； and used to frighten off other
trespassing intellects。
〃Of course； if the tramp still persisted； I would be justified in using
shot。 Last evening I had a visit from one。 He was coming over the wall。
My shot gun was efficacious； you should have seen him run！〃
It was useless to argue with so positive a mind； and I dropped the
subject。 After breakfast I strolled over the downs； my friend promising to
join me as soon as he arranged some household business。
It was a lovely； peaceful morning； not unlike the day when I first met
my friend； the Tramp。 The hush of a great benediction lay on land and
sea。 A few white sails twinkled afar； but sleepily； one or two large ships
were creeping in lazily； like my friend； the Tramp。 A voice behind me
startled me。
My host had rejoined me。 His face； however； looked a little troubled。
〃I just now learned something of importance；〃 he began。 〃It appears
that with all my precautions that Tramp has visited my kitchen； and the
servants have entertained him。 Yesterday morning； it appears； while I
was absent； he had the audacity to borrow my gun to go duck…shooting。
At the end of two or three hours he returned with two ducks andthe gun。〃
〃That was； at least； honest。〃
115
… Page 116…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
〃Yesbut！ That fool of a girl says that； as he handed back the gun； he
told her it was all right； and that he had loaded it up again to save the
master trouble。〃
I think I showed my concern in my face； for he added； hastily： 〃It was
only duck…shot； a few wouldn't hurt him！〃
Nevertheless； we both walked on in silence for a moment。 〃I thought
the gun kicked a little；〃 he said at last； musingly； 〃but the idea of Hallo！
what's this？〃
He stopped before the hollow where I had first seen my Tramp。 It
was deserted； but on the mosses there were spots of blood and fragments
of an old gown； blood…stained； as if used for bandages。 I looked at it
closely： it was the gown intended for the consumptive wife of my friend；
the Tramp。
But my host was already nervously tracking the bloodstains that on
rock； moss； and boulder were steadily leading toward the sea。 When I
overtook him at last on the shore； he was standing before a flat rock； on
which lay a bundle I recognized； tied up in a handkerchief； and a crooked
grape…vine stick。
〃He may have come here to wash his woundssalt is a styptic；〃 said
my host； who had recovered his correct precision of statement。
I said nothing； but looked toward the sea。 Whatever secret lay hid in
its breast； it kept it fast。 Whatever its calm eyes had seen that summer
night； it gave no reflection now。 It lay there passive； imperturbable； and
reticent。 But my friend； the Tramp； was gone！
116
… Page 117…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
THE MAN FROM SOLANO
He came toward me out of an opera lobby； between the acts；a figure
as remarkable as anything in the performance。 His clothes； no two
articles of which were of the same color； had the appearance of having
been purchased and put on only an hour or two before；a fact more
directly established by the clothes…dealer's ticket which still adhered to his
coat…collar； giving the number； size； and general dimensions of that
garment somewhat obtrusively to an uninterested public。 His trousers
had a straight line down each leg； as if he had been born flat but had since
developed； and there was another crease down his back； like those figures
children cut out of folded paper。 I may add that there was no
consciousness of this in his face； which was good…natured； and； but for a
certain squareness in the angle of his lower jaw； utterly uninteresting and
commonplace。
〃You disremember me；〃 he said； briefly； as he extended his hand； 〃but
I'm from Solano； in Californy。 I met you there in the spring of '57。 I
was tendin' sheep； and you was burnin' charcoal。〃 There was not the
slightest trace of any intentional rudeness in the reminder。 It was simply
a statement of fact； and as such to be accepted。
〃What I hailed ye for was only this；〃 he said； after I had shaken hands
with him。 〃I saw you a minnit ago standin' over in yon box chirpin'
with a ladya young lady； peart and pretty。 Might you be telling me her
name？〃
I gave him the name of a certain noted belle of a neighboring city； who
had lately stirred the hearts of the metropolis； and who was especially
admired by the brilliant and fascinating young Dashboard； who stood
beside me。
The Man from Solano mused for a moment； and then said； 〃Thet's so！
thet's the name！ It's the same gal！〃
〃You have met her； then？〃 I asked； in surprise。
〃Ye…es；〃 he responded； slowly： 〃I met her about fower months ago。
She'd bin makin' a tour of Californy with some friends； and I first saw her
117
… Page 118…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
aboard the cars this side of Reno。 She lost her baggage… checks； and I
found them on the floor and gave 'em back to her； and she thanked me。 I
reckon now it would be about the square thing to go over thar and sorter
recognize her。〃 He stopped a moment； and looked at us inquiringly。
〃My dear sir；〃 struck in the brilliant and fascinating Dashboard； 〃if
your hesitation proceeds from any doubt as to the propriety of your at