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！
one day。
〃We're seein' the country； anyway；〃 said Honey。
〃Seein' hell；〃 said Lin； 〃and there's more of it above ground than I
thought。〃
〃What'll we do？〃 Honey inquired。
〃Have to walk for a joba good…payin' job；〃 responded the hopeful
cow…puncher。 And he and Honey went to town。
Lin found a job in twenty…five minutes； becoming assistant to the
apothecary in Mesa。 Established at the drug…store； he made up the simpler
prescriptions。 He had studied practical pharmacy in Boston between the
ages of thirteen and fifteen； and； besides this qualification； the apothecary
had seen him when he first came into Mesa； and liked him。 Lin made no
mistakes that he or any one ever knew of； and； as the mild weather began；
he materially increased the apothecary's business by persuading him to
send East for a soda…water fountain。 The ladies of the town clustered
around this entertaining novelty； and while sipping vanilla and lemon
bought knickknacks。 And the gentlemen of the town discovered that
whiskey with soda and strawberry syrup was delicious； and produced just
as competent effects。 A group of them were generally standing in the shop
and shaking dice to decide who should pay for the next； while Lin
administered to each glass the necessary ingredients。 Thus money began to
come to him a little more steadily than had been its wont； and he divided
with the penniless Honey。
But Honey found fortune quickly； too。 Through excellent card…playing
19
… Page 20…
LIN McLEAN
he won a pinto from a small Mexican horse…thief who came into town
from the South； and who cried bitterly when he delivered up his pet pony
to the new owner。 The new owner； being a man of the world and agile on
his feet； was only slightly stabbed that evening as he walked to the dance…
hall at the edge of the town。 The Mexican was buried on the next day but
one。
The pony stood thirteen two； and was as long as a steamboat。 He had
white eyelashes； pink nostrils； and one eye was bright blue。 If you spoke
pleasantly to him； he rose instantly on his hind…legs and tried to beat your
face。 He did not look as if he could run； and that was what made him so
valuable。 Honey travelled through the country with him； and every
gentleman who saw the pinto and heard Honey became anxious to get up a
race。 Lin always sent money for Wiggin to place； and he soon opened a
bank account； while Honey； besides his racing…bridle； bought a silver…
inlaid one； a pair of forty…dollar spurs； and a beautiful saddle richly
stamped。 Every day （when in Mesa） Honey would step into the drug…store
and inquire； 〃Lin； wher're yu' goin'？〃
But Lin never answered any more。 He merely came to the soda…water
fountain with the whiskey。 The passing of days brought a choked season of
fine sand and hard blazing sky。 Heat rose up from the ground and hung
heavily over man and beast。 Many insects sat out in the sun rattling with
joy； the little tearing river grew clear from the swollen mud； and shrank to
a succession of standing pools； and the fat； squatting cactus bloomed
everywhere into butter…colored flowers big as tulips in the sand。 There
were artesian wells in Mesa； and the water did not taste very good； but if
you drank from the standing pools where the river had been； you repaired
to the drug…store almost immediately。 A troop of wandering players came
dotting along the railroad； and； reaching Mesa； played a brass…band up and
down the street； and announced the powerful drama of 〃East Lynne。〃 Then
Mr。 McLean thought of the Lynn marshes that lie between there and
Chelsea； and of the sea that must look so cool。 He forgot them while
following the painful fortunes of the Lady Isabel； but； going to bed in the
back part of the drug…store； he remembered how he used to beat everybody
swimming in the salt water。
20
… Page 21…
LIN McLEAN
〃I'm goin'；〃 he said。 Then he got up； and； striking the light； he
inspected his bank account。 〃I'm sure goin'；〃 he repeated； blowing the light
out； 〃and I can buy the fatted calf myself； you bet！〃 for he had often
thought of the bishop's story。 〃You bet！〃 he remarked once more in a
muffled voice； and was asleep in a minute。 The apothecary was sorry to
have him go； and Honey was deeply grieved。
〃I'd pull out with yer；〃 he said； 〃only I can do business round Yuma
and westward with the pinto。〃
For three farewell days Lin and Honey roved together in all sorts of
places； where they were welcome； and once more Lin rode a horse and
was in his native element。 Then he travelled to Deming； and so through
Denver to Omaha； where he was told that his trunk had been sold for some
months。 Besides a suit of clothes for town wear； it had contained a buffalo
coat for his brothersomething scarce to see in these days。
〃Frank'll have to get along without it；〃 he observed； philosophically；
and took the next eastbound train。
If you journey in a Pullman from Mesa to Omaha without a waistcoat；
and with a silk handkerchief knotted over the collar of your flannel shirt
instead of a tie； wearing； besides； tall； high…heeled boots； a soft； gray hat
with a splendid brim； a few people will notice you； but not the majority。
New Mexico and Colorado are used to these things。 As Iowa； with its
immense rolling grain； encompasses you； people will stare a little more；
for you're getting near the East； where cow…punchers are not understood。
But in those days the line of cleavage came sharp…drawn at Chicago。 West
of there was still tolerably west； but east of there was east indeed； and the
Atlantic Ocean was the next important stopping…place。 In Lin's new train；
good gloves； patent…leathers； and silence prevailed throughout the
sleeping…car； which was for Boston without change。 Had not home
memories begun impetuously to flood his mind； he would have felt
himself conspicuous。 Town clothes and conventions had their due value
with him。 But just now the boy's single… hearted thoughts were far from
any surroundings； and he was murmuring to himself； 〃To…morrow！
tomorrow nigh