active service- 第7部分

〃　Yes；　no　doubt；　no　doubt。　The　young　ladies　have　still　quite　medieval　ideas。　They　don't　understand。　They　still　prefer　lovers　to　languish。〃

〃　At　any　rate；　sir；　I　don't　see　that　your　heart　is　sure　enough　broken。　You　seem　to　take　it　very　easy。　〃

〃　Broken！　〃　cried　Coleman。　〃　Easy？　Man；　my　heart　is　in　fragments。　Bring　me　another　small　bottle。〃







CHAPTER　VI。

Six　weeks　later；　Coleman　went　to　the　office　of　the　proprietor　of　the　Eclipse。　Coleman　was　one　of　those　smooth…shaven　old…young　men　who　wear　upon　some　occasions　a　singular　air　of　temperance　and　purity。　At　these　times；　his　features　lost　their　quality　of　worldly　shrewdness　and　endless　suspicion　and　bloomed　as　the　face　of　some　innocent　boy。　It　then　would　be　hard　to　tell　that　he　had　ever　encountered　even　such　a　crime　as　a　lie　or　a　cigarette。　As　he　walked　into　the　　proprietor's　office　he　was　a　perfect　semblance　of　a　fine；　inexperienced　youth。　People　usually　concluded　this　change　was　due　to　a　Turkish　bath　or　some　other　expedient　of　recuperation；　but　it　was　due　probably　to　the　power　of　a　physical　characteristic。

〃　Boss　in　？　〃　said　Coleman。

〃　Yeh；〃　said　the　secretary；　jerking　his　thumb　toward　an　inner　door。　In　his　private　office；　Sturgeon　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　table　dangling　one　leg　and　dreamily　surveying　the　wall。　As　Coleman　entered　he　looked　up　quickly。　〃Rufus；〃　he　cried；　〃　you're　just　the　man　I　wanted　to　see。　I've　got　a　scheme。　A　great　scheme。〃　He　slid　from　the　table　and　began　to　pace　briskly　to　and　fro；　his　hands　deep　in　his　trousers'　pockets；　his　chin　sunk　in　his　collar；　his　light　blue　eyes　afire　with　interest。　〃　Now　listen。　This　is　immense。　The　Eclipse　enlists　a　battalion　of　men　to　go　to　　Cuba　and　fight　the　Spaniards　under　its　own　flag…the　Eclipse　flag。　Collect　trained　officers　from　here　and　there…enlist　every　young　devil　we　see…drill　'embest　rifles…loads　of　ammunition…　provisions…staff　of　doctors　and　nurses　…a　couple　of　dynamite　guns…everything　complete　best　in　the　world。　Now；　isn't　that　great　？　What's　the　matter　with　that　now　？　Eh？　Eh？　Isn't　that　great？　It's　great；　isn't　it？　Eh？　Why；　my　boy；　we'll　free…〃

Coleman　did　not　seem　to　ignite。　〃　I　have　been　arrested　four　or　five　times　already　on　fool　matters　connected　with　the　newspaper　business；〃　he　observed；　gloomily；　〃　but　I've　never　yet　been　hung。　I　think　your　scheme　is　a　beauty。〃

Sturgeon　paused　in　astonishment。　〃　Why；　what　happens　to　be　the　matter　with　you　？　What　are　you　kicking　about　？　〃

Coleman　made　a　slow　gesture。　〃　I'm　tired；〃　he　answered。　〃　I　need　a　vacation。〃

〃Vacation！〃　cried　Sturgeon。　〃Why　don't　you　take　one　then　？　〃

〃　That's　what　I've　come　to　see　you　about。　I've　had　a　pretty　heavy　strain　on　me　for　three　years　now；　and　I　want　to　get　a　little　rest。〃

〃　Well；　who　in　thunder　has　been　keeping　you　from　it？　It　hasn't　been　me。〃

〃　I　know　it　hasn't　been　you；　but；　of　course；　I　wanted　the　paper　to　go　and　I　wanted　to　have　my　share　in　its　success；　but　now　that　everything　is　all　right　I　think　I　might　go　away　for　a　time　if　you　don't　mind。〃

〃　Mind！　〃　exclaimed　Sturgeon　falling　into　his　chair　and　reaching　for　his　check　book。　〃Where　do　you　want　to　go？　How　long　do　you　want　to　be　gone？　How　much　money　do　you　want　？〃

〃　I　don't　want　very　much。　And　as　for　where　I　want　to　go；　I　thought　I　might　like　to　go　to　Greece　for　a　while。〃

Sturgeon　had　been　writing　a　check。　He　poised　his　pen　in　the　air　and　began　to　laugh。　〃　That's　a　queer　place　to　go　for　a　rest。　Why；　the　biggest　war　of　modern　timesa　war　that　may　involve　all　Europe…is　likely　to　start　there　at　any　moment。　You　are　not　likely　to　get　any　rest　in　Greece。〃

〃　I　know　that；〃　answered　Coleman。　〃　I　know　there　is　likely　to　be　a　war　there。　But　I　think　that　is　exactly　what　would　rest　me。　I　would　like　to　report　the　war。〃

〃You　are　a　queer　bird；〃　answered　Sturgeon　deeply　fascinated　with　this　new　idea。　He　had　apparently　forgotten　his　vision　of　a　Cuban　volunteer　battalion。　〃　War　correspondence　is　about　the　most　original　medium　for　a　rest　I　ever　heard　of。〃

〃Oh；　it　may　seem　funny；　but　really；　any　change　will　be　good　for　me　now。　I've　been　whacking　at　this　old　Sunday　edition　until　I'm　sick　of　it；　and　some；。　times　I　wish　the　Eclipse　was　in　hell。〃

That's　all　right；〃　laughed　the　proprietor　of　the　Eclipse。　〃　But　I　still　don't　see　how　you　'are　going　to　get　any　vacation　out　of　a　war　that　will　upset　the　whole　of　Europe。　But　that's　your　affair。　If　you　want　to　become　the　chief　correspondent　in　the　field　in　case　of　any　such　war；　why；　of　course；　I　would　be　glad　to　have　you。　I　couldn't　get　anybody　better。　But　I　don't　see　where　your　vacation　comes　in。〃

〃　I'll　take　care　of　that；〃　answered　Coleman。　〃　When　I　take　a　vacation　I　want　to　take　it　my　own　way；　and　I　think　this　will　be　a　vacation　because　it　will　be　different　…don't　you　see…different　？　〃

〃　No；　I　don't　see　any　sense　in　it；　but　if　you　think　that　is　the　way　that　suits　you；　why；　go　ahead。　How　much　money　do　you　want　？　〃

〃　I　don't　want　much。　just　enough　to　see　me　through　nicely。〃

Sturgeon　scribbled　on　his　check　book　and　then　ripped　a　check　from　it。　〃　Here's　a　thousand　dollars。　Will　that　do　you　to　start　with？　〃

〃　That's　plenty。〃

〃When　do　you　want　to　start　？　〃

〃　To…morrow。〃

〃Oh；〃　said　Sturgeon。　〃　You're　in　a　hurry。〃　This　impetuous　manner　of　exit　from　business　seemed　to　appeal　to　him。　〃　To…morrow；〃　he　repeated　smiling。　In　reality　he　was　some　kind　of　a　poet　using　his　millions　romantically；　spending　wildly　on　a　sentiment　that　might　be　with　beauty　or　without　beauty；　according　to　the　momentary　vacillation。　The　vaguely…defined　desperation　in　Coleman's　last　announcement　appeared　to　delight　him。　He　grinned　and　placed　the　points　of　his　fingers　together　stretching　out　his　legs　in　a　careful　attitude　of　indifference　which　might　even　mean　disapproval。　〃　To…morrow；〃　he　murmured　teasingly。

〃　By　jiminy；〃　exclaimed　Coleman；　ignoring　the　other　man's　mood；　〃　I'm　sick　of　the　whole　business。　I've　got　out　a　Sunday　paper　once　a　week　for　three　years　and　I　feel　absolutely　incapable　of　getting　out　another　edition。　It　would　be　all　right　if　we　were　running　on　ordinary　lines；　but　when　each　issue　is　more　or　less　of　an　attempt　to　beat　the　previous　issue；　it　becomes　rather　wearing；　you　know。　If　I　can't　get　a　vacation　now　I　take　one　later　in　a　lunatic　asylum。〃

〃　Why；　I'm　not　objecting　to　your　having　a　vacation。　I'm　simply　marvelling　at　the　kind　of　vacation　you　want　to　take。　And　'to…morrow；'　too；　eh　？　〃　〃　Well；　it　suits　me；〃　muttered　Coleman；　sulkily。

〃　Well；　if　it　suits　you；　that's　enough。　Here's　your　check。　Clear　out　now　and　don't　let　me　see　you　again　until　you　are　thoroughly　rested；　even　if　it　takes　a　year。〃　He　arose　and　stood　smiling。　He　was　mightily　pleased　with　himself。　He　liked　to　　perform　in　this　way。　He　was　almost　seraphic　as　he　thrust　the　　check　for　a　thousand　dollars　toward　Coleman。

Then　his　manner　changed　abruptly。　〃　Hold　on　a　minute。　I　must　think　a　little　about　this　thing　if　you　are　going　to　manage　the　correspondence。　Of　course　it　will　be　a　long　and　bloody　war。〃

〃You　bet。〃

〃The　big　chance　is　that　all　Europe　will　be　dragged　into　it。　Of　course　then　you　would　have　to　come　out　of　Greece　and　take　up　abetter　position…say　Vienna。〃

〃No；　I　wouldn't　care　to　do　that；〃　said　Coleman　positively。　〃I　just　want　to　take　care　of　the　Greek　end　of　it。〃

〃　It　will　be　an　idiotic　way　to　take　a　vacation；〃　observed　Sturgeon。

〃　Well；　it　suits　me；〃　muttered　Coleman　again。　〃　I　tell　you　what　it　is…〃　he　added　suddenly。　〃I've　got　some　private　reasons…　see　？　〃

Sturgeon　was　radiant　with　joy。　〃　Private　reasons。〃　He　was　charmed　by　the　sombre　pain　in　Coleman's　eyes　and　his　own　ability　to　eject　it。　〃Good。　Go　now　and　be　blowed。　I　will　cable　final　instruction　to　meet　you　in　London。　As　soon　as　you　get　to　Greece；　cable　me　an　account　of　the　situation　there　and　we　will　arrange　our　plans。〃　He　began　to　laugh。　〃　Private　reasons。　Come　out　to　dinner　with　me。〃

〃　I　can't　very　well；〃　said　Coleman。　〃　If　I　go　tomorrow；　I've　got　to　pack…〃

But　here　the　real　tyrant　appeared；　emerging　suddenly　from　behind　the　curtain　of　sentiment；　appearing　like　a　red　devil　in　a　pantomine。　〃　You　can't　？　〃　snapped　Sturgeon。　〃　Nonsense〃

CHAPTER　VII。

SWEEPING　out　from　between　two　remote；　half…submerged　dunes　on　which　stood　slender　sentry　light。　houses；　the　steamer　began　to　roll　with　a　gentle　insinuating　motion。　Passengers　in　their　staterooms　saw　at　rhythmical　intervals　the　spray　racing　fleetly　past　the　portholes。　The　waves　grappled　hurriedly　at　the　sides　of　the　great　flying　steamer　and　boiled　discomfited　astern　in　a　turmoil　of　green　and　white。　From　the　tops　of　the　enormous　funnels　streamed　level　masses　of　smoke　which　were　immediately　torn　to　nothing　by　the　headlong　wind。　Meanwhile　as　the　steamer　rushed　into　the　northeast；　men　in　caps　and　ulsters　comfortably　paraded　the　decks　and　stewards　arranged　deck　chairs　for　the　reception　of　various　women　who　were　coming　from　their　cabins　with　rugs。

In　the　smoking　room；　old　voyagers　were　settling　down　comfortably　while　new　voyagers　were　regarding　them　with　a　diffident　respect。　Among　the　passengers　Coleman　found　a　number　of　people　whom　he　knew；　including　a　wholesale　wine　merchant；　a　Chicago　railway　magnate　and　a　New　York　millionaire。　They　lived　practically　in　the　smoking　room。　Necessity　drove　them　from　time　to　time　to　the　salon；　or　to　their　berths。　Once　indeed　the　millionaire　was　absent；　from　the　group　while　penning　a　short　note　to　his　wife。

When　the　Irish　coast　was　sighted　Coleman　came　on　deck　to　look　at　it。　A　tall　young　woman　immediately　halted　in　her　walk　until　he　had　stepped　up　to　her。　〃　Well；　of　all　ungallant　men；　Rufus　Coleman；　you　are　the　star；〃　she　cried　laughing　and　held　out　her　hand。

〃　Awfully　sorry；　I'm　sure；〃　he　murmured。　〃　Been　playing　poker　in　the　smoking　room　all　voyage。　Didn't　have　a　look　at　the　passenger　list　until　just　now。　Why　didn't　you　send　me　word？〃　These　lies　were　told　so　modestly　and　sincerely　that　when　the　girl　flashed　her；　brilliant　eyes　full　upon　their　author　there　was　a　mixt　of　admiration　in　the　indignation。

〃　Send　you　a　card　〃　I　don't　believe　you　can　read；　　else　you　would　have　known　I　was　to　sail　on　this　steamer。　If　I　hadn't　been　ill　until　to…day　you　would　have　seen　me　in　the　salon。　I　open　at　the　Folly　Theatre　next　week。　Dear　ol'　Lunnon；　y'　know。〃

〃　Of　course；　I　knew　you　were　going