the lost road- 第75部分

〃Yes；〃　said　the　ex…diplomat。　　〃Some　day　I　shall　be　glad　to　present
you。〃

The　Secretary　did　not　wait　for　an　introduction。　　Raising　his　eyes
to　the　ship's　rail；　he　made　a　deep　and　courtly　bow。　　With　a　gesture
worthy　of　d'Artagnan；　his　high　hat　swept　the　wharf。　　The　members
of　his　staff；　the　officers　from　the　war…ships；　the　President　of
Honduras　and　the　members　of　his　staff　endeavored　to　imitate　his
act　of　homage；　and　in　confusion　Mrs。　Everett　blushed　becomingly。

〃When　I　return　to　Washington；〃　said　the　Secretary　hastily；　〃come
and　see　me。　　You　are　too　valuable　to　lose。　　Your　career〃

Again　Everett　was　looking　at　his　wife。　　Her　distress　at　having　been
so　suddenly　drawn　into　the　lime…light　amused　him；　and　he　was
smiling。　　Then；　as　though　aware　of　the　Secretary's　meaning；　he
laughed。

〃My　dear　sir！〃　he　protested。　　His　tone　suggested　he　was　about　to
add　〃mind　your　own　business；〃　or　〃go　to　the　devil。〃

Instead　he　said：　〃I'm　not　worrying　about　my　career。　　My　career　has
just　begun。〃





THE　BOY　SCOUT




A　rule　of　the　Boy　Scouts　is　every　day　to　do　some　one　a　good　turn。
Not　because　the　copybooks　tell　you　it　deserves　another；　but　in
spite　of　that　pleasing　possibility。　　If　you　are　a　true　scout；　until
you　have　performed　your　act　of　kindness　your　day　is　dark。　　You
are　as　unhappy　as　is　the　grown…up　who　has　begun　his　day　without
shaving　or　reading　the　New　York　Sun。　　But　as　soon　as　you　have
proved　yourself　you　may；　with　a　clear　conscience；　look　the　world
in　the　face　and　untie　the　knot　in　your　kerchief。

Jimmie　Reeder　untied　the　accusing　knot　in　his　scarf　at　just　ten
minutes　past　eight　on　a　hot　August　morning　after　he　had　given　one
dime　to　his　sister　Sadie。　　With　that　she　could　either　witness　the
first…run　films　at　the　Palace；　or　by　dividing　her　fortune　patronize
two　of　the　nickel　shows　on　Lenox　Avenue。　　The　choice　Jimmie
left　to　her。　　He　was　setting　out　for　the　annual　encampment　of
the　Boy　Scouts　at　Hunter's　Island；　and　in　the　excitement　of　that
adventure　even　the　movies　ceased　to　thrill。　　But　Sadie　also　could
be　unselfish。　　With　a　heroism　of　a　camp…fire　maiden　she　made
a　gesture　which　might　have　been　interpreted　to　mean　she　was
returning　the　money。

〃I　can't；　Jimmie！〃　she　gasped。　　〃I　can't　take　it　off　you。　　You
saved　it；　and　you　ought　to　get　the　fun　of　it。〃

〃I　haven't　saved　it　yet；〃　said　Jimmie。　　〃I'm　going　to　cut　it　out
of　the　railroad　fare。　　I'm　going　to　get　off　at　City　Island　instead
of　at　Pelham　Manor　and　walk　the　difference。　　That's　ten　cents
cheaper。〃

Sadie　exclaimed　with　admiration：

〃An'　you　carryin'　that　heavy　grip！〃

〃Aw；　that's　nothin'；〃　said　the　man　of　the　family。

〃Good…by；　mother。　　So　long；　Sadie。〃

To　ward　off　further　expressions　of　gratitude　he　hurriedly　advised
Sadie　to　take　in　〃The　Curse　of　Cain〃　rather　than　〃The　Mohawk's
Last　Stand；〃　and　fled　down　the　front　steps。

He　wore　his　khaki　uniform。　　On　his　shoulders　was　his　knapsack；
from　his　hands　swung　his　suit…case；　and　between　his　heavy　stockings
and　his　〃shorts〃　his　kneecaps；　unkissed　by　the　sun；　as　yet　unscathed
by　blackberry　vines；　showed　as　white　and　fragile　as　the　wrists　of　a　girl。
As　he　moved　toward　the　〃L〃　station　at　the　corner；　Sadie　and　his　mother
waved　to　him；　in　the　street；　boys　too　small　to　be　scouts　hailed　him
enviously；　even　the　policeman　glancing　over　the　newspapers　on　the
news…stand　nodded　approval。

〃You　a　scout；　Jimmie？〃　he　asked。

〃No；〃　retorted　Jimmie；　for　was　not　he　also　in　uniform？　〃I'm　Santa
Claus　out　filling　Christmas　stockings。〃

The　patrolman　also　possessed　a　ready　wit。

〃Then　get　yourself　a　pair；〃　he　advised。　　〃If　a　dog　was　to　see　your
legs〃

Jimmie　escaped　the　insult　by　fleeing　up　the　steps　of　the
Elevated。


An　hour　later；　with　his　valise　in　one　hand　and　staff　in　the　other；
he　was　tramping　up　the　Boston　Post　Road　and　breathing　heavily。
The　day　was　cruelly　hot。　　Before　his　eyes；　over　an　interminable
stretch　of　asphalt；　the　heat　waves　danced　and　flickered。　　Already
the　knapsack　on　his　shoulders　pressed　upon　him　like　an　Old　Man
of　the　Sea；　the　linen　in　the　valise　had　turned　to　pig　iron；　his　pipe…
stem　legs　were　wabbling；　his　eyes　smarted　with　salt　sweat；　and　the
fingers　supporting　the　valise　belonged　to　some　other　boy；　and　were
giving　that　boy　much　pain。　　But　as　the　motor…cars　flashed　past　with
raucous　warnings；　or；　that　those　who　rode　might　better　see　the　boy
with　bare　knees；　passed　at　〃half　speed；〃　Jimmie　stiffened　his　shoulders
and　stepped　jauntily　forward。　　Even　when　the　joy…riders　mocked　with
〃Oh；　you　scout！〃　he　smiled　at　them。　　He　was　willing　to　admit　to　those
who　rode　that　the　laugh　was　on　the　one　who　walked。　　And　he　regretted
oh；　so　bitterlyhaving　left　the　train。　　He　was　indignant　that　for　his
〃one　good　turn　a　day〃　he　had　not　selected　one　less　strenuousthat；
for　instance；　he　had　not　assisted　a　frightened　old　lady　through　the
traffic。　　To　refuse　the　dime　she　might　have　offered；　as　all　true　scouts
refuse　all　tips；　would　have　been　easier　than　to　earn　it　by　walking　five
miles；　with　the　sun　at　ninety…nine　degrees；　and　carrying　excess　baggage。
Twenty　times　James　shifted　the　valise　to　the　other　hand；　twenty　times
he　let　it　drop　and　sat　upon　it。

And　then；　as　again　he　took　up　his　burden；　the　good　Samaritan　drew
near。　　He　drew　near　in　a　low　gray　racing…car　at　the　rate　of　forty　miles
an　hour；　and　within　a　hundred　feet　of　Jimmie　suddenly　stopped　and
backed　toward　him。　　The　good　Samaritan　was　a　young　man　with　white
hair。　　He　wore　a　suit　of　blue；　a　golf　cap；　the　hands　that　held　the　wheel
were　disguised　in　large　yellow　gloves。　　He　brought　the　car　to　a　halt　and
surveyed　the　dripping　figure　in　the　road　with　tired　and　uncurious　eyes。

〃You　a　Boy　Scout？〃　he　asked。

With　alacrity　for　the　twenty…first　time　Jimmie　dropped　the　valise；
forced　his　cramped　fingers　into　straight　lines；　and　saluted。

The　young　man　in　the　car　nodded　toward　the　seat　beside　him。

〃Get　in；〃　he　commanded。

When　James　sat　panting　happily　at　his　elbow　the　old　young　man；　to
Jimmie's　disappointment；　did　not　continue　to　shatter　the　speed　limit。
Instead；　he　seemed　inclined　for　conversation；　and　the　car；　growling
indignantly；　crawled。

〃I　never　saw　a　Boy　Scout　before；〃　announced　the　old　young　man。
〃Tell　me　about　it。　　First；　tell　me　what　you　do　when　you're　not
scouting。〃

Jimmie　explained　volubly。　　When　not　in　uniform　he　was　an　office
boy；　and　from　peddlers　and　beggars　guarded　the　gates　of　Carroll
and　Hastings；　stock…brokers。　　He　spoke　the　names　of　his　employers
with　awe。　　It　was　a　firm　distinguished；　conservative；　and　long
established。　　The　white…haired　young　man　seemed　to　nod　in　assent。

〃Do　you　know　them？〃　demanded　Jimmie　suspiciously。　　〃Are　you　a
customer　of　ours？〃

〃I　know　them；〃　said　the　young　man。　　〃They　are　customers　of　mine。〃

Jimmie　wondered　in　what　way　Carroll　and　Hastings　were　customers
of　the　white…haired　young　man。　　Judging　him　by　his　outer　garments；
Jimmie　guessed　he　was　a　Fifth　Avenue　tailor；　he　might　be　even　a
haberdasher。　　Jimmie　continued。　　He　lived；　he　explained；　with　his
mother　at　One　Hundred　and　Forty…sixth　Street；　Sadie；　his　sister；
attended　the　public　school；　he　helped　support　them　both；　and　he
now　was　about　to　enjoy　a　well…earned　vacation　camping　out　on
Hunter's　Island；　where　he　would　cook　his　own　meals；　and；　if　the
mosquitoes　permitted；　sleep　in　a　tent。

〃And　you　like　that？〃　demanded　the　young　man。　　〃You　call　that　fun？〃

〃Sure！〃　protested　Jimmie。　　〃Don't　you　go　camping　out？〃

〃I　go　camping　out；〃　said　the　good　Samaritan；　〃whenever　I　leave
New　York。〃

Jimmie　had　not　for　three　years　lived　in　Wall　Street　not　to
understand　that　the　young　man　spoke　in　metaphor。

〃You　don't　look；〃　objected　the　young　man　critically；　〃as　though
you　were　built　for　the　strenuous　life。〃

Jimmie　glanced　guiltily　at　his　white　knees。

〃You　ought　ter　see　me　two　weeks　from　now；〃　he　protested。　　〃I　get　all
sunburnt　and　hard…
…hard　as　anything！〃

The　young　man　was　incredulous。

〃You　were　near　getting　sunstruck　when　I　picked　you　up；〃　he
laughed。　　〃If　you're　going　to　Hunter's　Island；　why　didn't　you　go
to　Pelham　Manor？〃

〃That's　right！〃　assented　Jimmie　eagerly。　　〃But　I　wanted　to　save
the　ten　cents　so's　to　send　Sadie　to　the　movies。　　So　I　walked。〃

The　young　man　looked　his　embarrassment。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　he　murmured。

But　Jimmie　did　not　hear　him。　　From　the　back　of　the　car　he　was
dragging　excitedly　at　the　hated　suit…case。

〃Stop！〃　he　commanded。　　〃I　got　ter　get　out。　　I　got　ter　walk。〃

The　young　man　showed　his　surprise。

〃Walk！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃What　is　ita　bet？〃

Jimmie　dropped　the　valise　and　followed　it　into　the　roadway。　　It
took　some　time　to　explain　to　the　young　man。　　First；　he　had　to　be
told　about　the　scout　law　and　the　one　good　turn　a　day；　and　that　it
must　involve　some　personal　sacrifice。　　And；　as　Jimmie　pointed　out；
changing　from　a　slow　suburban　train　to　a　racing…car　could　not　be
listed　as　a　sacrifice。　　He　had　not　earned　the　money；　Jimmie　argued；
he　had　only　avoided　paying　it　to　the　railroad。　　If　he　did　not　walk
he　would　be　obtaining　the　gratitude　of　Sadie　by　a　falsehood。
Therefore；　he　must　walk。

〃Not　at　all；〃　protested　the　young　man。　　〃You've　got　it　wrong。　　What
good　will　it　do　your　sister　to　have　you　sunstruck？　I　think　you　are
sunstruck。　　You're　crazy　with　the　heat。　　You　get　in　here；　and　we'll
talk　it　over　as　we　go　along。〃

Hastily　Jimmie　backed　away。　　〃I'd　rather　walk；〃　he　said。

The　young　man　shifted　his　legs　irritably。

〃Then　how'll　this　suit　you？〃　he　called。　　〃We'll　declare　that　first　'one
good　turn'　a　failure　and　start　afresh。　　Do　me　a　good　turn。〃

Jimmie　halted　in　his　tracks　and　looked　back　suspiciously。

〃I'm　going　to　Hunter's　Island　Inn；〃　called　the　young　man；　〃and　I've
lost　my　way。　　You　get　in　here　and　guide　me。　　That'll　be　doing　me
a　good　turn。〃

On　either　side　of　the　road；　blotting　out　the　landscape；　giant
hands　picked　out　in　electric…light　bulbs　pointed　the　way　to
Hunter's　Island　Inn。　　Jimmie　grinned　and　nodded　toward　them。

〃Much　obliged；〃　he　called。　　〃I　got　ter　walk。〃　　Turning　his　back
upon　temptation；　he　waddled　forward　into　the　flickering　heat
waves。


The　young　man　did　not　attempt　to　pursue。　　At　the　side　of　the　road；
under　the　shade　of　a　giant　elm；　he　had　br