07-the wife of a king-第4部分

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and　did　not　know。　Even　the　women　could　not　place　her；　and　they　knew

every　good　dancer　in　the　camp。　Many　took　her　for　one　of　the　official

clique；　indulging　in　a　silly　escapade。　Not　a　few　asserted　she　would

disappear　before　the　unmasking。　Others　were　equally　positive　that

she　was　the　woman…reporter　of　the　Kansas　City　Star；　come　to　write　them

up　at　ninety　dollars　per　column。　And　the　men　at　the　scales　worked

busily。

　　At　one　o'clock　every　couple　took　to　the　floor。　The　unmasking　began

amid　laughter　and　delight；　like　that　of　carefree　children。　There　was

no　end　of　Oh's　and　Ah's　as　mask　after　mask　was　lifted。　The

scintillating　'Aurora　Borealis'　became　the　brawny　negress　whose　income

from　washing　the　community's　clothes　ran　at　about　five　hundred　a

month。　The　twin　'Sun…Dogs'　discovered　mustaches　on　their　upper　lips；

and　were　recognized　as　brother　Fraction…Kings　of　El　Dorado。　In　one

of　the　most　prominent　sets；　and　the　slowest　in　uncovering；　was　Cal

Galbraith　with　the　'Spirit　of　the　Pole。'　Opposite　him　was　Jack

Harrington　and　the　'Russian　Princess。'　The　rest　had　discovered

themselves；　yet　the　'Greek　Dancer'　was　still　missing。　All　eyes　were

upon　the　group。　Cal　Galbraith；　in　response　to　their　cries；　lifted

his　partner's　mask。　Freda's　wonderful　face　and　brilliant　eyes

flashed　out　upon　them。　A　roar　went　up；　to　be　squelched　suddenly　in　the

new　and　absorbing　mystery　of　the　'Russian　Princess。'　Her　face　was

still　hidden；　and　Jack　Harrington　was　struggling　with　her。　The　dancers

tittered　on　the　tiptoes　of　expectancy。　He　crushed　her　dainty　costume

roughly；　and　then…　and　then　the　revelers　exploded。　The　joke　was　on

them。　They　had　danced　all　night　with　a　tabooed　native　woman。

　　But　those　that　knew；　and　they　were　many；　ceased　abruptly；　and　a　hush

fell　upon　the　room。　Cal　Galbraith　crossed　over　with　great　strides；

angrily；　and　spoke　to　Madeline　in　polyglot　Chinook。　But　she　retained

her　composure；　apparently　oblivious　to　the　fact　that　she　was　the

cynosure　of　all　eyes；　and　answered　him　in　English。　She　showed

neither　fright　nor　anger；　and　Malemute　Kid　chuckled　at　her　well…bred

equanimity。　The　King　felt　baffled；　defeated；　his　common　Siwash　wife

had　passed　beyond　him。

　　'Come！'　he　said　finally。　'Come　on　home。'

　　'I　beg　pardon；'　she　replied；　'I　have　agreed　to　go　to　supper　with　Mr。

Harrington。　Besides；　there's　no　end　of　dances　promised。'

　　Harrington　extended　his　arm　to　lead　her　away。　He　evinced　not　the

slightest　disinclination　toward　showing　his　back；　but　Malemute　Kid　had

by　this　time　edged　in　closer。　The　Circle　City　King　was　stunned。

Twice　his　hand　dropped　to　his　belt；　and　twice　the　Kid　gathered　himself

to　spring；　but　the　retreating　couple　passed　through　the　supper…room

door　where　canned　oysters　were　spread　at　five　dollars　the　plate。　The

crowd　sighed　audibly；　broke　up　into　couples；　and　followed　them。

Freda　pouted　and　went　in　with　Cal　Galbraith；　but　she　had　a　good

heart　and　a　sure　tongue；　and　she　spoiled　his　oysters　for　him。　What　she

said　is　of　no　importance；　but　his　face　went　red　and　white　at

intervals；　and　he　swore　repeatedly　and　savagely　at　himself。

　　The　supper…room　was　filled　with　a　pandemonium　of　voices；　which

ceased　suddenly　as　Cal　Galbraith　stepped　over　to　his　wife's　table。

Since　the　unmasking　considerable　weights　of　dust　had　been　placed　as　to

the　outcome。　Everybody　watched　with　breathless　interest。

Harrington's　blue　eyes　were　steady；　but　under　the　overhanging

tablecloth　a　Smith　&　Wesson　balanced　on　his　knee。　Madeline　looked

up；　casually；　with　little　interest。

　　'May…　may　I　have　the　next　round　dance　with　you？'　the　King　stuttered。

　　The　wife　of　the　King　glanced　at　her　card　and　inclined　her　head。