the major- 第7部分

〃Now　you're　all　right；〃　cried　Mack　in　triumph。　　〃Remember　your　father's　rule；　'Keep　your　head　with　your　heels。'〃　　And　Larry　did　remember！　　For　on　the　call　of　〃Time〃　he　slipped　from　Ben's　knees　and　began　to　circle　lightly　about　Mop；　smiling　upon　him　and　waiting　his　chance。　　His　chance　soon　came；　for　Mop；　thinking　that　his　enemy　had　had　about　enough　and　was　ready　to　quit；　adopted　aggressive　tactics；　and；　feinting　with　his　right；　swung　heavily　with　his　left　at　the　smiling　face。　　But　the　face　proved　elusive；　and　upon　Mop's　undefended　head　a　series　of　blows　dealt　with　savage　fury　took　all　the　heart　out　of　him。　　So　he　cried　to　the　referee　as　he　ducked　into　his　corner：

〃He's　fightin'。　　He's　fightin'。　　I'm　not　fightin'。〃

〃You'd　better　get　busy　then；〃　called　Ben　derisively　from　his　corner。　　〃Now；　Larry；　sail　into　him；〃　and　Larry　sailed　in　with　such　vehemence　that　Mop　fairly　turned　tail　and　ran　around　the　ring；　Larry　pursuing　him　amid　the　delighted　shouts　of　the　spectators。

This　ended　the　contest；　the　judges　giving　the　decision　to　Mop；　who；　though　obviously　beaten　at　the　finish；　had　showed　a　distinct　superiority　on　points。　　As　for　Larry；　the　decision　grieved　him　not　at　all。　　He　carried　home　a　face　slightly　disfigured　but　triumphant；　his　sole　comment　to　his　mother　upon　the　contest　being；　〃I　was　not　afraid　of　him　anyway；　mother；　he　could　not　make　me　run。〃

〃I　am　not　so　sure　of　this　boxing；　Lawrence；〃　she　said；　but　the　boy　caught　the　glint　in　her　eyes　and　was　well　enough　content。

In　the　late　evening　Ben；　with　Larry　and　Joe　following　him；　took　occasion　to　look　in　upon　Mop　at　the　butcher　shop。

〃Say；　Mop；〃　said　Ben　pleasantly；　〃what　do　you　think　of　Larry　now？　Would　you　say　he　was　a　coward？〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　asked　Mop；　suspecting　trouble。

〃Just　what　I　say；〃　said　Ben；　while　Larry　moved　up　within　range；　his　face　white；　his　eyes　gleaming。

〃I　ain't　saying　nothing　about　nobody；〃　replied　Mop　sullenly；　with　the　tail　of　his　eye　upon　Larry's　white　face　and　gleaming　eyes。

〃You　say　him　one　tamin　de　cedar　swamp；〃　said　Joe。

〃Would　you　say　Larry　was　a　coward？〃　repeated　Ben。

〃No；　I　wouldn't　say　nothing　of　the　sort；〃　replied　Mop　promptly。

〃Do　you　think　he　is　a　coward？〃　persisted　Ben。

〃No；〃　said　Mop；　〃I　know　he　ain't　no　coward。　　He　don't　fight　like　no　coward。〃

This　appeared　to　satisfy　Ben；　but　Larry；　moving　slightly　nearer；　took　up　the　word　for　himself。

〃And　would　you　say　my　mother　was　a　coward？〃　he　asked　in　a　tense　voice；　his　body　gathered　as　if　for　a　spring。

〃Larry；　I　wouldn't　say　nothing　about　your　mother；〃　replied　Mop　earnestly。　　〃I　think　your　mother's　a　bully　good　woman。　　She　was　awfully　good　to　my　mother　last　winter；　I　know。〃

The　spring　went　out　of　Larry's　body。　　He　backed　away　from　Mop　and　the　boys。

〃Who　said　your　mother　was　a　coward？〃　inquired　Mop　indignantly。　　〃If　anybody　says　so；　you　bring　him　to　me；　and　I'll　punch　his　head　good；　I　will。〃

Larry　looked　foolishly　at　Ben；　who　looked　foolishly　back　at　him。

〃Say；　Mop；〃　said　Larry；　a　smile　like　a　warm　light　passing　over　his　face；　〃come　on　up　and　see　my　new　rabbits。〃



CHAPTER　IV

SALVAGE


Another　and　greater　enterprise　was　diverting　Mr。　Gwynne's　attention　from　the　delinquencies　of　his　debtors；　namely：　the　entrance　of　the　National　Machine　Company　into　the　remote　and　placid　life　of　Mapleton　and　its　district。　　The　manager　of　this　company；　having　spent　an　afternoon　with　Mr。　Gwynne　in　his　store　and　having　been　impressed　by　his　charm　and　power　of　persuasive　talk；　made　him　a　proposition　that　he　should　act　as　agent　of　the　National　Machine　Company。　　The　arrangement　suggested　was　one　that　appealed　to　Mr。　Gwynne's　highly　optimistic　temperament。　　He　was　not　to　work　for　a　mere　salary；　but　was　to　purchase　outright　the　various　productions　of　the　National　Machine　Company　and　receive　a　commission　upon　all　his　sales。　　The　figures　placed　before　Mr。　Gwynne　by　the　manager　of　the　company　were　sufficiently　impressive；　indeed　so　impressive　that　Mr。　Gwynne　at　once　accepted　the　proposition；　and　the　Mapleton　branch　of　the　National　Machine　Company　became　an　established　fact。

There　was　no　longer　any　question　as　to　the　education　of　his　family。　In　another　year　when　his　boy　had　passed　his　entrance　examinations　he　would　be　able　to　send　him　to　the　high　school　in　the　neighbouring　town　of　Easton；　properly　equipped　and　relieved　of　those　handicaps　with　which　poverty　can　so　easily　wash　all　the　colour　out　of　young　life。　　A　brilliant　picture　the　father　drew　before　the　eyes　of　his　wife　of　the　educational　career　of　their　boy；　who　had　already　given　promise　of　exceptional　ability。　　But　while　she　listened；　charmed；　delighted　and　filled　with　proud　anticipation；　the　mother　with　none　the　less　painful　care　saved　her　garden　and　poultry　money；　cut　to　bare　necessity　her　household　expenses；　skimped　herself　and　her　children　in　the　matter　of　dress；　and　by　every　device　which　she　had　learned　in　the　bitter　school　of　experience　during　the　ten　years　of　her　Canadian　life；　made　such　preparation　for　the　expenses　of　her　boy's　education　as　would　render　it　unnecessary　to　call　upon　the　wealth　realised　from　the　National　Machine　Company's　business。

In　the　matter　of　providing　for　the　expense　of　his　education　Larry　himself　began　to　take　a　not　unimportant　part。　　During　the　past　two　years　he　had　gained　not　only　in　size　but　in　the　vigour　of　his　health；　and　in　almost　every　kind　of　work　on　the　farm　he　could　now　take　a　man's　place。　　His　mother　would　not　permit　him　to　give　his　time　and　strength　to　their　own　farming　operations　for　the　sufficient　reason　that　from　these　there　would　be　no　return　in　ready　money；　and　ready　money　was　absolutely　essential　to　the　success　of　her　plans。　The　boy　was　quick；　eager　and　well…mannered；　and　in　consequence　had　no　difficulty　in　finding　employment　with　the　neighbouring　farmers。　So　much　was　this　the　case　that　long　before　the　closing　of　school　in　the　early　summer　Larry　was　offered　work　for　the　whole　summer　by　their　neighbour；　Mr。　Martin；　at　one　dollar　a　day。　　He　could　hardly　believe　his　good　fortune　inasmuch　as　he　had　never　in　all　his　life　been　paid　at　a　rate　exceeding　half　that　amount。

〃I　shall　have　a　lot　of　money；　mother；〃　he　said；　〃for　my　high　school　now。　　I　wonder　how　much　it　will　cost　me　for　the　term。〃

Thereupon　his　mother　seized　the　opportunity　to　discuss　the　problem　with　him　which　she　knew　they　must　face　together。

〃Let　us　see；〃　said　his　mother。

Then　each　with　pencil　and　paper　they　drew　up　to　the　table；　but　after　the　most　careful　paring　down　of　expenses　and　the　most　optimistic　estimate　of　their　resources　consistent　with　fact；　they　made　the　rather　discouraging　discovery　that　they　were　still　fifty　dollars　short。

〃I　can't　do　it；　mother；〃　said　Larry；　in　bitter　disappointment。

〃We　shall　not　give　up　yet；〃　said　his　mother。　　〃Indeed；　I　think　with　what　we　can　make　out　of　the　farm　and　garden　and　poultry；　we　ought　to　be　able　to　manage。〃

But　a　new　and　chilling　thought　had　come　to　the　lad。　　He　pondered　silently；　and　as　he　pondered　his　face　became　heavily　shadowed。

〃Say；　mother；〃　he　said　suddenly；　〃we　can't　do　it。　　How　much　are　you　going　to　spend　on　your　clothes？〃

〃All　I　need；〃　said　his　mother　brightly。

〃But　how　much？〃

〃I　don't　know。〃

〃How　much　did　you　spend　last　year？〃

〃Oh；　never　mind；　Lawrence；　that　really　does　not　matter。〃

But　the　boy　insisted。　　〃Did　you　spend　thirty…one　dollars？〃　　His　mother　laughed　at　him。

〃Did　you　spend　twenty？〃

〃No。〃

〃Did　you　spend　fifteen？〃

〃I　do　not　know；〃　said　his　mother；　〃and　I　am　not　going　to　talk　about　it。　　My　clothes　and　the　girls'　clothes　will　be　all　right　for　this　year。〃

〃Mother；〃　said　Larry；　〃I　am　not　going　to　school　this　year。　　I　am　not　going　to　spend　thirty…one　dollars　for　clothes　while　you　and　the　girls　spend　nothing。　　I　am　going　to　work　first；　and　then　go　to　school。　　I　am　not　going　to　school　this　year。〃　　The　boy　rose　from　his　chair　and　stood　and　faced　his　mother　with　quivering　lips；　fighting　to　keep　back　the　tears。

Mother　reached　out　her　hand　and　drew　him　toward　her。　　〃My　darling　boy；〃　she　said　in　a　low　voice；　〃I　love　to　hear　you；　but　listen　to　me。　　Are　you　listening？　　You　must　be　educated。　　Nothing　must　interfere　with　that。　　No　suffering　is　too　great　to　be　endured　by　all　of　us。　　The　time　for　education　is　youth；　first　because　your　mind　works　more　quickly　and　retains　better　what　it　acquires；　and　second　because　it　is　a　better　investment；　and　you　will　sooner　be　able　to　pay　us　all　back　what　we　spend　now。　　So　you　will　go　to　school　this　year；　boy；　if　we　can　manage　it；　and　I　think　we　can。　Some　day；〃　she　added；　patting　him　on　the　shoulder；　and　holding　him　off　from　her；　〃when　you　are　rich　you　will　give　me　a　silk　dress。〃

〃Won't　I　just；〃　cried　the　boy　passionately；　〃and　the　girls　too；　and　everything　you　want；　and　I　will　give　you　a　good　time　yet；　mother。　You　deserve　the　best　a　woman　ever　had　and　I　will　give　it　to　you。〃

The　mother　turned　her　face　away　from　him　and　looked　out　of　the　window。　　She　saw　not　the　fields　of　growing　grain　but　a　long　vista　of　happy　days　ever　growing　in　beauty　and　in　glory　until　she　could　see　no　more　for　the　tears　that　quietly　fell。　　The　boy　dropped　on　his　knees　beside　her。

〃Oh；　mother；　mother；〃　he　said。　　〃You　have　been　wonderful　to　us　all；　and　you　have　had　an　awfully　hard　time。　　A　fellow　never　knows；　does　he？〃

〃A　hard　time？　　A　hard　time？〃　said　his　mother；　a　great　surprise　in　her　voice　and　in　her　face。　　〃No；　my　boy；　no　hard　time　for　me。　　A　dear；　dear；　lovely　time　with　you　all；　every　day；　every　day。　　Never　do　I　want　a　better　time　than　I　have　had　with　you。〃

The　event　proved　the　wisdom　of　Mrs。　Gwynne's　determination　to　put　little　faith　in　the　optimistic　confidence　of　her　husband　in　regard　to　the　profits　to　be　expected　from　the　operations　of　the　National　Machine　Company。　　A　year's　business　was　sufficient　to　demonstrate　that　the　Mapleton　branch　of　the　National　Machine　Company　was　bankrupt。　　By　every　law　of　life　it　ought　to　be　bankrupt。　　With　all　his　many　excellent　qualities　Mr。　Gwynne　possessed　certain　fatal　defects　as　a　business　man。　　With　him　the　supreme　consideration　was　simply　the　getting　rid　of　the　machines　purchased　by　him　as　rapidly　and　in　such　large　numbers　as　possible。　　He　cheerfully　ignored　the　laws　that　governed　the　elemental　item　of　profit。　　Hence　the　relentless　Nemesis