the fortune hunter-第13部分

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‘‘You're　played　out　in　this　town。　　You've　got　to　get　a　move　on　you；　see？　　We've　been　looking　you　up；　and　you're　wanted　for　bigamy。　　But　if　you　clear　out；　you　won't　be　followed。　　You've　got　to　leave　today；　understand？　　If　you're　here　to…morrow　morning；　up　the　road　you　go。''　　The　detective　winked　and　waggled　his　thumb　meaningly　in　a　northerly　direction。

Feuerstein　was　utterly　crushed。　　He　gulped　down　the　beer　and　sat　wiping　the　sweat　from　his　face。　　‘‘I　have　done　nothing；''　he　protested　in　tragic　tones。　　‘‘Why　am　I　persecutedI；　poor；　friendless；　helpless？''

‘‘Pity　about　you；''　said　the　detective。

‘‘You'd　better　go　west　and　start　again。　　Why　not　try　honest　work？　　It's　not　so　bad；　they　say；　once　you　get　broke　in。''　　He　rose　and　shook　hands　with　Feuerstein。　　‘‘So　long；''　he　said。　　‘‘Good　luck！　　Don't　forget！''　　And　again　he　winked　and　waggled　his　thumb　in　the　direction　of　the　penitentiary。

Feuerstein　went　to　his　lodgings；　put　on　all　the　clothes　he　could　wear　without　danger　of　attracting　his　landlady's　attention；　filled　his　pockets　and　the　crown　of　his　hat　with　small　articles；　and　fled　to　Hoboken。



　IX

AN　IDYL　OF　PLAIN　PEOPLE

Hilda　had　not　spent　her　nineteen　years　in　the　glare　of　the　Spartan　publicity　in　which　the　masses　live　without　establishing　a　character。　　Just　as　she　knew　all　the　good　points　and　bad　in　all　the　people　of　that　community；　so　they　knew　all　hers；　and　therefore　knew　what　it　was　possible　for　her　to　do　and　what　impossible。　　And　if　a　baseless　lie　is　swift　of　foot　where　everybody　minutely　scrutinizes　everybody　else；　it　is　also　scant　of　breath。　　Sophie's　scandal　soon　dwindled　to　a　whisper　and　expired；　and　the　kindlier　and　probable　explanation　of　Hilda's　wan　face　and　downcast　eyes　was　generally　accepted。

Her　code　of　morals　and　her　method　of　dealing　with　moral　questions　were　those　　of　all　the　people　about　herstrict；　severe；　primitive。　　Feuerstein　was　a　cheat；　a　traitor。　　She　cast　him　out　of　her　heartcast　him　out　at　once　and　utterly　and　for　ever。　　She　could　think　of　him　only　with　shame。　　And　it　seemed　to　her　that　she　was　herself　no　longer　pureshe　had　touched　pitch；　how　could　she　be　undefiled？

She　accepted　these　conclusions　and　went　about　her　work；　too　busy　to　indulge　in　hysteria　of　remorse；　repining；　self…examination。

She　avoided　Otto；　taking　care　not　to　be　left　alone　with　him　when　he　called　on　Sundays；　and　putting　Sophie　between　him　and　her　when　he　came　up　to　them　in　the　Square。　　But　Otto　was　awaiting　his　chance；　and　when　it　came；　plunged　boldly　into　his　heart…subject　and　floundered　bravely　about。　　‘‘I　don't　like　to　see　you　so　sad；　Hilda。　　Isn't　there　any　chance　for　me？　　Can't　things　be　as　they　used　to　be？''　

Hilda　shook　her　head　sadly。　　‘‘I'm　never　going　to　marry；''　she　said。　　‘‘You　must　find　some　one　else。''

‘‘It's　you　or　nobody。　　I　said　that　when　we　were　in　school　together　andI'll　stick　to　it。''　　His　eyes　confirmed　his　words。

‘‘You　mustn't；　Otto。　　You　make　me　feel　as　if　I　were　spoiling　your　life。　　And　if　you　knew；　you　wouldn't　want　to　marry　me。''

‘‘I　don't　care。　　I　always　have；　and　I　always　will。''

‘‘I　suppose　I　ought　to　tell　you；''　she　said；　half　to　herself。　　She　turned　to　him　suddenly；　and；　with　flushed　cheeks　and　eyes　that　shifted；　burst　out：　　‘‘Otto；　he　was　a　married　man！''

‘‘But　you　didn't　know。''

‘‘It　doesn't　change　the　way　I　feel。　　You　mightany　man　mightthrow　it　up　to　me。　　And　sooner　or　later；　everybody'll　know。　　No　man　would　want　a　girl　that　had　had　a　scandal　like　that　on　her。''

‘‘I　would；''　he　said；　‘‘and　I　do。　　And　it　isn't　a　scandal。''

Some　one　joined　them　and　he　had　no　chance　to　continue　until　the　following　Sunday；　when　Heiligs　and　Brauners　went　together　to　the　Bronx　for　a　half…holiday。　　They　could　not　set　out　until　their　shops　closed；　at　half…past　twelve；　and　they　had　to　be　back　at　five　to　reopen　for　the　Sunday　supper　customers。　　They　lunched　under　the　trees　in　the　yard　of　a　German　inn；　and　a　merry　party　they　were。

Hilda　forgot　to　keep　up　her　pretense　that　her　healing　wounds　were　not　healing　and　never　would　heal。　　She　teased　Otto　and　even　flirted　with　him。　　This　elevated　her　father　and　his　mother　to　hilarity。　　They　were　two　very　sensible　young…old　people；　with　a　keen　sense　of　humorthe　experience　of　age　added　to　the　simplicity　and　gaiety　of　youth。

You　would　have　paused　to　admire　and　envy　had　you　passed　that　way　and　looked　in　under　the　trees；　as　they　clinked　glasses　and　called　one　to　another　and　went　off　into　gales　of　mirth　over　nothing　at　all。　　What　laughter　is　so　gay　as　laughter　at　nothing　at　all？　　Any　one　must　laugh　when　there　is　something　to　laugh　at；　but　to　laugh　just　because　one　must　have　an　outlet　for　bubbling　spirits　there's　the　test　of　happiness！

After　luncheon　they　wandered　into　the　woods　and　soon　Otto　and　Hilda　found　themselves　alone；　seated　by　a　little　waterfall；　which　in　a　quiet；　sentimental　voice　suggested　that　low　tones　were　the　proper　tones　to　use　in　that　place。

‘‘We've　known　each　other　always；　Hilda；''　said　Otto。　　‘‘And　we　know　all　about　each　other。　　Why　notdear？''

She　did　not　speak　for　several　minutes。

‘‘You　know　I　haven't　any　heart　to　give　you；''　she　answered　at　last。

Otto　did　not　know　anything　of　the　kind；　but　he　knew　she　thought　so；　and　he　was　too　intelligent　to　dispute；　when　time　would　settle　the　questionand；　he　felt　sure；　would　settle　it　right。　　So　he　reached　out　and　took　her　hand　and　said：　　‘‘I'll　risk　that。''

And　they　sat　watching　the　waterfall　and　listening　to　it；　and　they　were　happy　in　a　serious；　tranquil　way。　　It　filled　him　with　awe　to　think　that　he　had　at　last　won　her。　　As　for　her；　she　was　looking　forward；　without　illusions；　without　regrets；　to　a　life　of　work　and　content　beside　this　strong；　loyal；　manly　man　who　protested　little；　but　never　failed　her　or　any　one　else。

On　the　way　home　in　the　train　she　told　her　mother；　and　her　mother　told　her　father。　　He；　then　and　there；　to　the　great　delight　and　pleasure　of　the　others　in　the　car；　rose　up　and　embraced　and　kissed　first　his　daughter；　then　Otto　and　then　Otto's　　mother。　　And　every　once　in　a　while　he　beamed　down　the　line　of　his　party　and　said：　　‘‘This　is　a　happy　day！''

And　he　made　them　all　come　into　the　sitting…room　back　of　the　shop。　　‘‘Wait　here；''　he　commanded。　　‘‘No　one　must　move！''

He　went　down　to　the　cellar；　presently　to　reappear　with　a　dusty　bottle　of　Johannisberger　Cabinet。　　He　pointed　proudly　to　the　seal。　　‘‘Bronze！''　he　exclaimed。　　‘‘It　is　wine　like　gold。　　It　must　be　drunk　slowly。''　　He　drew　the　cork　and　poured　the　wine　with　great　ceremony；　and　they　all　drank　with　much　touching　of　glasses　and　bowing　and　exchanging　of　good　wishes；　now　in　German；　now　in　English；　again　in　both。　　And　the　last　toast；　the　one　drunk　with　the　greatest　enthusiasm；　was　Brauner's　favorite　famous　‘‘Arbeit　und　Liebe　und　Heim！''

From　that　time　forth　Hilda　began　to　look　at　Otto　from　a　different　point　of　　view。　　And　everything　depends　on　point　of　view。


Thenthe　house　in　which　Schwartz　and　Heilig　had　their　shop　was　burned。　　And　when　their　safe　was　drawn　from　the　ruins；　they　found　that　their　insurance　had　expired　four　days　before　the　fire。　　It　was　Schwartz's　business　to　look　after　the　insurance；　but　Otto　had　never　before　failed　to　oversee。　　His　mind　had　been　in　such　confusion　that　he　had　forgotten。

He　stared　at　the　papers；　stunned　by　the　disaster。　　Schwartz　wrung　his　hands　and　burst　into　tears。　　‘‘I　saw　that　you　were　in　trouble；''　he　wailed；　‘‘and　that　upset　me。　　It's　my　fault。　　I've　ruined　us　both。''

There　was　nothing　left　of　their　business　or　capital；　nothing　but　seven　hundred　dollars　in　debts　to　the　importers　of　whom　they　bought。

Heilig　shook　off　his　stupor　after　a　few　　minutes。　　‘‘No　matter；''　he　said。　　‘‘What's　past　is　past。''

He　went　straightway　over　to　Second　Avenue　to　the　shop　of　Geishener；　the　largest　delicatessen　dealer　in　New　York。

‘‘I've　been　burned　out；''　he　explained。　　‘‘I　must　get　something　to　do。''

Geishener　offered　him　a　place　at　eleven　dollars　a　week。　　‘‘I'll　begin　in　the　morning；''　said　Otto。　　Then　he　went　to　Paul　Brauner。

‘‘When　will　you　open　up　again？''　asked　Brauner。

‘‘Not　for　a　long　time；　several　years。　　Everything's　gone　and　I've　taken　a　place　with　Geishener。　　I　came　to　say　thatthat　I　can't　marry　your　daughter。''

Brauner　did　not　know　what　answer　to　make。　　He　liked　Otto　and　had　confidence　in　him。　　But　the　masses　of　the　people　build　their　little　fortunes　as　coral　insects　build　their　islands。　　And　Hilda　was　getting　　alongwhy；　she　would　be　twenty　in　four　months。　　‘‘I　don't　know。　　I　don't　know。''　Brauner　rubbed　his　head　in　embarrassment　and　perplexity。　　‘‘It's　badvery　bad。　　And　everything　was　running　so　smoothly。''

Hilda　came　in。　　Both　men　looked　at　her　guiltily。　　‘‘What　is　it？''　she　asked。　　And　if　they　had　not　been　mere　men　they　would　have　noticed　a　change　in　her　face；　a　great　change；　very　wonderful　and　beautiful　to　see。

‘‘I　came　to　release　you；''　said　Otto。

‘‘I've　got　nothing　leftand　a　lot　of　debts。　　I''

‘‘YesI　know；''　interrupted　Hilda。　　She　went　up　to　him　and　put　her　arm　round　his　neck。　　‘‘We'll　have　to　begin　at　the　bottom；''　she　said　with　a　gentle；　cheerful　smile。

Brauner　pretended　that　he　heard　some　one　calling　him　from　the　shop。　　‘‘Yes　　right　away！''　he　shouted。　　And　when　he　was　alone　in　the　shop　he　wiped　his　eyes；　not　before　a　large　tear　had　blistered　the　top　sheet　of　a　pile　of　wrapping　paper。

‘‘I　know　you　don't　care　for　me　asas''　Otto　was　standing　uneasily；　his　eyes　down　and　his　face　red。　　‘‘It　was　hard　enough　for　you　before。　　NowI　couldn't　let　you　do　itdear。''

‘‘You　can't　get　rid　of　me　so　easily；''　she　said。　　‘‘I　know　I'm　getting　along　and　I　won't　be　an　old　maid。''

He　paid　no　attention　to　her　raillery。　　‘‘I　haven't　got　anything　to　ask　you　to　share；''　he　went　on。　　‘‘I've　been　working　ever　since　I　was　elevenand　that's　fourteen　yearsto　get　what　I　had。　　And　it's　all　gone。　　It'll　take　several　years　to　pay　off　my　debts；　and　mother　must　be　supported。　　NoI've　got　to　give　it　up。''

‘‘Won't　you　marry　me；　Otto？''　She　put　her　arms　round　his　neck。

His　lips　trembled　and　his　voice　broke。　　‘‘I　can'tlet　you　do　it；　Hilda。''

‘‘Very　well。''　　She　pretended　to　sigh。

‘‘But　you　must　come　back　this　evening。　　I　want　to　ask　you　again。''

‘‘Yes；　I'll　come。　　But　you　can't　change　me。''

He　went；　and　she　sat　at　the　tabl