the gentle grafter-第13部分

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work　with　the　olive　fork　and　pie　knife；'　says　I；　'but　isn't　the　entree
nous　into　the　salons　of　the　stogie　smokers　going　to　be　harder　than　you
imagined？'

〃'If　there's　any　handicap　at　all；'　says　Andy；　'it's　our　own　refinement
and　inherent　culture。　Pittsburg　millionaires　are　a　fine　body　of　plain；
wholehearted；　unassuming；　democratic　men。

〃'They　are　rough　but　uncivil　in　their　manners；　and　though　their　ways
are　boisterous　and　unpolished；　under　it　all　they　have　a　great　deal　of
impoliteness　and　discourtesy。　Nearly　every　one　of　'em　rose　from
obscurity；'　says　Andy；　'and　they'll　live　in　it　till　the　town　gets　to
using　smoke　consumers。　If　we　act　simple　and　unaffected　and　don't　go
too　far　from　the　saloons　and　keep　making　a　noise　like　an　import　duty
on　steel　rails　we　won't　have　any　trouble　in　meeting　some　of　'em
socially。'

〃Well　Andy　and　me　drifted　about　town　three　or　four　days　getting　our
bearings。　We　got　to　knowing　several　millionaires　by　sight。

〃One　used　to　stop　his　automobile　in　front　of　our　hotel　and　have　a
quart　of　champagne　brought　out　to　him。　When　the　waiter　opened　it　he'd
turn　it　up　to　his　mouth　and　drink　it　out　of　the　bottle。　That　showed　he
used　to　be　a　glassblower　before　he　made　his　money。

〃One　evening　Andy　failed　to　come　to　the　hotel　for　dinner。　About　11
o'clock　he　came　into　my　room。

〃'Landed　one；　Jeff；'　says　he。　'Twelve　millions。　Oil；　rolling　mills；
real　estate　and　natural　gas。　He's　a　fine　man；　no　airs　about　him。　Made
all　his　money　in　the　last　five　years。　He's　got　professors　posting　him
up　now　in　educationart　and　literature　and　haberdashery　and　such
things。

〃'When　I　saw　him　he'd　just　won　a　bet　of　10；000　with　a　Steel
Corporation　man　that　there'd　be　four　suicides　in　the　Allegheny　rolling
mills　to…day。　So　everybody　in　sight　had　to　walk　up　and　have　drinks　on
him。　He　took　a　fancy　to　me　and　asked　me　to　dinner　with　him。　We　went　to
a　restaurant　in　Diamond　alley　and　sat　on　stools　and　had　a　sparkling
Moselle　and　clam　chowder　and　apple　fritters。

〃'Then　he　wanted　to　show　me　his　bachelor　apartment　on　Liberty　street。
He's　got　ten　rooms　over　a　fish　market　with　privilege　of　the　bath　on
the　next　floor　above。　He　told　me　it　cost　him　18；000　to　furnish　his
apartment；　and　I　believe　it。

〃'He's　got　40；000　worth　of　pictures　in　one　room；　and　20；000　worth　of
curios　and　antiques　in　another。　His　name's　Scudder；　and　he's　45；　and
taking　lessons　on　the　piano　and　15；000　barrels　of　oil　a　day　out　of　his
wells。'

〃'All　right；'　says　I。　'Preliminary　canter　satisfactory。　But；　kay
vooly；　voo？　What　good　is　the　art　junk　to　us？　And　the　oil？'

〃'Now；　that　man；'　says　Andy；　sitting　thoughtfully　on　the　bed；　'ain't
what　you　would　call　an　ordinary　scutt。　When　he　was　showing　me　his
cabinet　of　art　curios　his　face　lighted　up　like　the　door　of　a　coke
oven。　He　says　that　if　some　of　his　big　deals　go　through　he'll　make　J。
P。　Morgan's　collection　of　sweatshop　tapestry　and　Augusta；　Me。；
beadwork　look　like　the　contents　of　an　ostrich's　craw　thrown　on　a
screen　by　a　magic　lantern。

〃'And　then　he　showed　me　a　little　carving；'　went　on　Andy；　'that　anybody
could　see　was　a　wonderful　thing。　It　was　something　like　2；000　years
old；　he　said。　It　was　a　lotus　flower　with　a　woman's　face　in　it　carved
out　of　a　solid　piece　of　ivory。

〃Scudder　looks　it　up　in　a　catalogue　and　describes　it。　An　Egyptian
carver　named　Khafra　made　two　of　'em　for　King　Rameses　II。　about　the
year　B。C。　The　other　one　can't　be　found。　The　junkshops　and　antique　bugs
have　rubbered　all　Europe　for　it；　but　it　seems　to　be　out　of　stock。
Scudder　paid　2；000　for　the　one　he　has。'

〃'Oh；　well；'　says　I；　'this　sounds　like　the　purling　of　a　rill　to　me。　I
thought　we　came　here　to　teach　the　millionaires　business；　instead　of
learning　art　from　'em？'

〃'Be　patient；'　says　Andy；　kindly。　'Maybe　we　will　see　a　rift　in　the
smoke　ere　long。'

〃All　the　next　morning　Andy　was　out。　I　didn't　see　him　until　about　noon。
He　came　to　the　hotel　and　called　me　into　his　room　across　the　hall。　He
pulled　a　roundish　bundle　about　as　big　as　a　goose　egg　out　of　his　pocket
and　unwrapped　it。　It　was　an　ivory　carving　just　as　he　had　described　the
millionaire's　to　me。

〃'I　went　in　an　old　second　hand　store　and　pawnshop　a　while　ago；'　says
Andy；　'and　I　see　this　half　hidden　under　a　lot　of　old　daggers　and
truck。　The　pawnbroker　said　he'd　had　it　several　years　and　thinks　it　was
soaked　by　some　Arabs　or　Turks　or　some　foreign　dubs　that　used　to　live
down　by　the　river。

〃'I　offered　him　2　for　it；　and　I　must　have　looked　like　I　wanted　it；
for　he　said　it　would　be　taking　the　pumpernickel　out　of　his　children's
mouths　to　hold　any　conversation　that　did　not　lead　up　to　a　price　of
35。　I　finally　got　it　for　25。

〃'Jeff；'　goes　on　Andy；　'this　is　the　exact　counterpart　of　Scudder's
carving。　It's　absolutely　a　dead　ringer　for　it。　He'll　pay　2；000　for　it
as　quick　as　he'd　tuck　a　napkin　under　his　chin。　And　why　shouldn't　it　be
the　genuine　other　one；　anyhow；　that　the　old　gypsy　whittled　out？'

〃'Why　not；　indeed？'　says　I。　'And　how　shall　we　go　about　compelling　him
to　make　a　voluntary　purchase　of　it？'

〃Andy　had　his　plan　all　ready；　and　I'll　tell　you　how　we　carried　it　out。

〃I　got　a　pair　of　blue　spectacles；　put　on　my　black　frock　coat；　rumpled
my　hair　up　and　became　Prof。　Pickleman。　I　went　to　another　hotel；
registered；　and　sent　a　telegram　to　Scudder　to　come　to　see　me　at　once
on　important　art　business。　The　elevator　dumped　him　on　me　in　less　than
an　hour。　He　was　a　foggy　man　with　a　clarion　voice；　smelling　of
Connecticut　wrappers　and　naphtha。

〃'Hello；　Profess！'　he　shouts。　'How's　your　conduct？'

〃I　rumpled　my　hair　some　more　and　gave　him　a　blue　glass　stare。

〃'Sir；'　says　I；　'are　you　Cornelius　T。　Scudder？　Of　Pittsburg；
Pennsylvania？'

〃'I　am；'　says　he。　'Come　out　and　have　a　drink。'

〃'I've　neither　the　time　nor　the　desire；'　says　I；　'for　such　harmful　and
deleterious　amusements。　I　have　come　from　New　York；'　says　I；　'on　a
matter　of　busion　a　matter　of　art。

〃'I　learned　there　that　you　are　the　owner　of　an　Egyptian　ivory　carving
of　the　time　of　Rameses　II。；　representing　the　head　of　Queen　Isis　in　a
lotus　flower。　There　were　only　two　of　such　carvings　made。　One　has　been
lost　for　many　years。　I　recently　discovered　and　purchased　the　other　in
a　pawnin　an　obscure　museum　in　Vienna。　I　wish　to　purchase　yours。　Name
your　price。'

〃'Well；　the　great　ice　jams；　Profess！'　says　Scudder。　'Have　you　found
the　other　one？　Me　sell？　No。　I　don't　guess　Cornelius　Scudder　needs　to
sell　anything　that　he　wants　to　keep。　Have　you　got　the　carving　with
you；　Profess？'

〃I　shows　it　to　Scudder。　He　examines　it　careful　all　over。

〃'It's　the　article；'　says　he。　'It's　a　duplicate　of　mine；　every　line
and　curve　of　it。　Tell　you　what　I'll　do；'　he　says。　'I　won't　sell；　but
I'll　buy。　Give　you　2；500　for　yours。'

〃'Since　you　won't　sell；　I　will；'　says　I。　'Large　bills；　please。　I'm　a
man　of　few　words。　I　must　return　to　New　York　to…night。　I　lecture
to…morrow　at　the　aquarium。'

〃Scudder　sends　a　check　down　and　the　hotel　cashes　it。　He　goes　off　with
his　piece　of　antiquity　and　I　hurry　back　to　Andy's　hotel；　according　to
arrangement。

〃Andy　is　walking　up　and　down　the　room　looking　at　his　watch。

〃'Well？'　he　says。

〃'Twenty…five　hundred；'　says　I。　'Cash。'

〃'We've　got　just　eleven　minutes；'　says　Andy；　'to　catch　the　B。　&　O。
westbound。　Grab　your　baggage。'

〃'What's　the　hurry；'　says　I。　'It　was　a　square　deal。　And　even　if　it　was
only　an　imitation　of　the　original　carving　it'll　take　him　some　time　to
find　it　out。　He　seemed　to　be　sure　it　was　the　genuine　article。'

〃'It　was；'　says　Andy。　'It　was　his　own。　When　I　was　looking　at　his
curios　yesterday　he　stepped　out　of　the　room　for　a　moment　and　I
pocketed　it。　Now；　will　you　pick　up　your　suit　case　and　hurry？'

〃'Then；'　says　I；　'why　was　that　story　about　finding　another　one　in　the
pawn'

〃'Oh；'　says　Andy；　'out　of　respect　for　that　conscience　of　yours。　Come
on。'〃



XI

THE　MAN　HIGHER　UP

Across　our　two　dishes　of　spaghetti；　in　a　corner　of　Provenzano's
restaurant；　Jeff　Peters　was　explaining　to　me　the　three　kinds　of　graft。

Every　winter　Jeff　comes　to　New　York　to　eat　spaghetti；　to　watch　the
shipping　in　East　River　from　the　depths　of　his　chinchilla　overcoat；　and
to　lay　in　a　supply　of　Chicago…made　clothing　at　one　of　the　Fulton
street　stores。　During　the　other　three　seasons　he　may　be　found　further
westhis　range　is　from　Spokane　to　Tampa。　In　his　profession　he　takes　a
pride　which　he　supports　and　defends　with　a　serious　and　unique
philosophy　of　ethics。　His　profession　is　no　new　one。　He　is　an
incorporated；　uncapitalized；　unlimited　asylum　for　the　reception　of　the
restless　and　unwise　dollars　of　his　fellowmen。

In　the　wilderness　of　stone　in　which　Jeff　seeks　his　annual　lonely
holiday　he　is　glad　to　palaver　of　his　many　adventures；　as　a　boy　will
whistle　after　sundown　in　a　wood。　Wherefore；　I　mark　on　my　calendar　the
time　of　his　coming；　and　open　a　question　of　privilege　at　Provenzano's
concerning　the　little　wine…stained　table　in　the　corner　between　the
rakish　rubber　plant　and　the　framed　palazzio　della　something　on　the
wall。

〃There　are　two　kinds　of　graft；〃　said　Jeff；　〃that　ought　to　be　wiped　out
by　law。　I　mean　Wall　Street　speculation；　and　burglary。〃

〃Nearly　everybody　will　agree　with　you　as　to　one　of　them；〃　said　I；　with
a　laugh。

〃Well；　burglary　ought　to　be　wiped　out；　too；〃　said　Jeff；　and　I　wondered
whether　the　laugh　had　been　redundant。

〃About　three　months　ago；〃　said　Jeff；　〃it　was　my　privilege　to　become
familiar　with　a　sample　of　each　of　the　aforesaid　branches　of
illegitimate　art。　I　was　/sine　que　grata/　with　a　member　of　the
housebreakers'　union　and　one　of　the　John　D。　Napoleons　of　finance　at
the　same　time。〃

〃Interesting　combination；'　said　I；　with　a　yawn。　〃Did　I　tell　you　I
bagged　a　duck　and　a　ground…squirrel　at　one　shot　last　week　over　in　the
Ramapos？〃　I　knew　well　how　to　draw　Jeff's　stories。

〃Let　me　tell　you　first　about　these　barnacles　that　clog　the　wheels　of
society　by　poisoning　the　springs　of　rectitude　with　their　upas…like
eye；〃　said　Jeff；　with　the　pure　gleam　of　the　muck…raker　in　his　own。

〃As　I　said；　three　months　ago　I　got　into　bad　company。　There　are　two
times　in　a　man's　life　when　he　does　thiswhen　he's　dead　broke；　and
when　he's　rich。

〃Now　and　then　the　most　legitimate　business　runs　out　of　luck。　It