the oakdale affair-第2部分

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At　a　farm　house　the　youth　hesitated　and　was　almost　upon　the　verge　of　entering　and　asking　for　a　night's　lodg…　ing　when　a　savage　voiced　dog　shattered　the　peace　of　the　universe　and　sent　the　burglar　along　the　road　at　a　rapid　run。

A　half　mile　further　on　a　straw　stack　loomed　large　within　a　fenced　enclosure。　　The　youth　wormed　his　way　between　the　barbed　wires　determined　at　last　to　let　nothing　prevent　him　from　making　a　cozy　bed　in　the　deep　straw　beside　the　stack。　　With　courage　radiating　from　every　pore　he　strode　toward　the　stack。　　His　walk　was　almost　a　swagger；　for　thus　does　youth　dissemble　the　bravery　it　yearns　for　but　does　not　possess。　　He　al…　most　whistled　again；　but　not　quite；　since　it　seemed　an　unnecessary　provocation　to　disaster　to　call　particular　attention　to　himself　at　this　time。　　An　instant　later　he　was　extremely　glad　that　he　had　refrained；　for　as　he　ap…　proached　the　stack　a　huge　bulk　slowly　loomed　from　be…　hind　it；　and　silhouetted　against　the　moonlit　sky　he　saw　the　vast　proportions　of　a　great；　shaggy　bull。　　The　burglar　tore　the　inside　of　one　trousers'　leg　and　the　back　of　his　coat　in　his　haste　to　pass　through　the　barbed　wire　fence　onto　the　open　road。　　There　he　paused　to　mop　the　per…　spiration　from　his　forehead；　though　the　night　was　now　far　from　warm。

For　another　mile　the　now　tired　and　discouraged　house…breaker　plodded；　heavy　footed；　the　unending　road。　　Did　vain　compunction　stir　his　youthful　breast？　Did　he　regret　the　safe　respectability　of　the　plumber's　appren…　tice？　Or；　if　he　had　not　been　a　plumber's　apprentice　did　he　yearn　to　once　again　assume　the　unharried　peace　of　whatever　legitimate　calling　had　been　his　before　he　bent　his　steps　upon　the　broad　boulevard　of　sin？　We　think　he　did。

And　then　he　saw　through　the　chinks　and　apertures　in　the　half　ruined　wall　of　what　had　once　been　a　hay　barn　the　rosy　flare　of　a　genial　light　which　appeared　to　announce　in　all　but　human　terms　that　man；　red　blooded　and　hospitable；　forgathered　within。　　No　growling　dogs；　no　bulking　bulls　contested　the　short　stretch　of　weed　grown　ground　between　the　road　and　the　disintegrat…　ing　structure；　and　presently　two　wide；　brown　eyes　were　peering　through　a　crack　in　the　wall　of　the　abandoned　building。　　What　they　saw　was　a　small　fire　built　upon　the　earth　floor　in　the　center　of　the　building　and　around　the　warming　blaze　the　figures　of　six　men。　　Some　reclined　at　length　upon　old　straw；　others　squatted；　Turk　fash…　ion。　　All　were　smoking　either　disreputable　pipes　or　rolled　cigarets。　　Blear…eyed　and　foxy…eyed；　bearded　and　stub…　bled　cheeked；　young　and　old；　were　the　men　the　youth　looked　upon。　　All　were　more　or　less　dishevelled　and　filthy；　but　they　were　human。　　They　were　not　dogs；　or　bulls；　or　croaking　frogs。　　The　boy's　heart　went　out　to　them。　　Something　that　was　almost　a　sob　rose　in　his　throat；　and　then　he　turned　the　corner　of　the　building　and　stood　in　the　doorway；　the　light　from　the　fire　playing　upon　his　lithe　young　figure　clothed　in　its　torn　and　ill…　fitting　suit　and　upon　his　oval　face　and　his　laughing　brown　eyes。　　For　several　seconds　he　stood　there　looking　at　the　men　around　the　fire。　　None　of　them　had　noticed　him。

〃Tramps！〃　thought　the　youth。　　〃Regular　tramps。〃　He　wondered　that　they　had　not　seen　him；　and　then；　clear…　ing　his　throat；　he　said：　〃Hello；　tramps！〃

Six　heads　snapped　up　or　around。　　Six　pairs　of　eyes；　blear　or　foxy；　were　riveted　upon　the　boyish　figure　of　the　housebreaker。　　〃Wotinel！〃　ejaculated　a　frowzy　gentle…　man　in　a　frock　coat　and　golf　cap。　　〃Wheredju　blow　from？〃　inquired　another。　　〃'Hello；　tramps'！〃　mimicked　a　third。

The　youth　came　slowly　toward　the　fire。　　〃I　saw　your　fire；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　thought　I'd　stop。　　I'm　a　tramp；　too；　you　know。〃

〃Oh；〃　sighed　the　elderly　person　in　the　frock　coat。　　　〃He's　a　tramp；　he　is。　　An'　does　he　think　gents　like　us　has　any　time　for　tramps？　An'　where　might　he　be　trampin'；　sonny；　without　his　maw？〃

The　youth　flushed。　　〃Oh　say！〃　he　cried；　〃you　needn't　kid　me　just　because　I'm　new　at　it。　　You　all　had　to　start　sometime。　　I've　always　longed　for　the　free　life　of　a　tramp；　and　if　you'll　let　me　go　along　with　you　for　a　little　while；　and　teach　me；　I'll　not　bother　you；　and　I'll　do　whatever　you　say。〃

The　elderly　person　frowned。　　〃Beat　it；　kid！〃　he　com…　manded。　　〃We　ain't　runnin'　no　day　nursery。　　These　you　see　here　is　all　the　real　thing。　　Maybe　we　asks　fer　a　hand…　out　now　and　then；　but　that　ain't　our　reg'lar　lay。　　You　ain't　swift　enough　to　travel　with　this　bunch；　kid；　so　you'd　better　duck。　　Why　we　gents；　here；　if　we　was　added　up　is　wanted　in　about　twenty…seven　cities　fer　about　ev…　erything　from　rollin'　a　souse　to　crackin'　a　box　and　croakin'　a　bull。　　You　gotta　do　something　before　you　can　train　wid　gents　like　us；　see？〃　The　speaker　projected　a　stubbled　jaw；　scowled　horridly　and　swept　a　flattened　palm　downward　and　backward　at　a　right　angle　to　a　hairy　arm　in　eloquent　gesture　of　finality。

The　boy　had　stood　with　his　straight；　black　eyebrows　puckered　into　a　studious　frown；　drinking　in　every　word。　　　Now　he　straightened　up。　　〃I　guess　I　made　a　mistake；〃　he　said；　apologetically。　　〃You　ain't　tramps　at　all。　　You're　thieves　and　murderers　and　things　like　that。〃　His　eyes　opened　a　bit　wider　and　his　voice　sank　to　a　whisper　as　the　words　passed　his　lips。　　〃But　you　haven't　so　much　on　me；　at　that；〃　he　went　on；　〃for　I'm　a　regular　burglar；　too；〃　and　from　the　bulging　pockets　of　his　coat　he　drew　two　handfuls　of　greenbacks　and　jewelry。　　The　eyes　of　the　six　registered　astonishment；　mixed　with　craft　and　greed。　　〃I　just　robbed　a　house　in　Oakdale；〃　explained　the　boy。　　〃I　usually　rob　one　every　night。〃

For　a　moment　his　auditors　were　too　surprised　to　voice　a　single　emotion；　but　presently　one　murmured；　soulfully：　〃Pipe　de　swag！〃　He　of　the　frock　coat；　golf　cap；　and　years　waved　a　conciliatory　hand。　　He　tried　to　look　at　the　boy's　face；　but　for　the　life　of　him　he　couldn't　raise　his　eyes　above　the　dazzling　wealth　clutched　in　the　fingers　of　those　two　small；　slim　hands。　　From　one　dangled　a　pearl　necklace　which　alone　might　have　ransomed；　if　not　a　king；　at　least　a　lesser　member　of　a　royal　family；　while　diamonds；　rubies；　sapphires；　and　emeralds　scintil…　lated　in　the　flaring　light　of　the　fire。　　Nor　was　the　fistful　of　currency　in　the　other　hand　to　be　sneezed　at。　　There　were　greenbacks；　it　is　true；　but　there　were　also　yellowbacks　with　the　reddish　gold　of　large　denominations。　　The　Sky　Pilot　sighed　a　sigh　that　was　more　than　half　gasp。

〃Can't　yuh　take　a　kid？〃　he　inquired。　　〃I　knew　youse　all　along。　　Yuh　can't　fool　an　old　bird　like　The　Sky　Pilot　eh；　boys？〃　and　he　turned　to　his　comrades　for　confirma…　tion。

〃He's　The　Oskaloosa　Kid；〃　exclaimed　one　of　the　com…　pany。　　〃I'd　know　'im　anywheres。〃

〃Pull　up　and　set　down；〃　invited　another。

The　boy　stuffed　his　loot　back　into　his　pockets　and　came　closer　to　the　fire。　　Its　warmth　felt　most　comfort…　able；　for　the　Spring　night　was　growing　chill。　　He　looked　about　him　at　the　motley　company；　some　half…spruce　in　clothing　that　suggested　a　Kuppenmarx　label　and　a　not　too　far　association　with　a　tailor's　goose；　others　in　rags；　all　but　one　unshaven　and　all　more　or　less　dirtyfor　the　open　road　is　close　to　Nature；　which　is　principally　dirt。

〃Shake　hands　with　Dopey　Charlie；〃　said　The　Sky　Pi…　lot；　whose　age　and　corpulency　appeared　to　stamp　him　with　the　hall　mark　of　authority。　　The　youth　did　as　he　was　bid；　smiling　into　the　sullen；　chalk…white　face　and　taking　the　clammy　hand　extended　toward　him。　　Was　it　a　shudder　that　passed　through　the　lithe；　young　figure　or　was　it　merely　a　subconscious　recognition　of　the　final　pass…　ing　of　the　bodily　cold　before　the　glowing　warmth　of　the　blaze？　〃And　Soup　Face；〃　continued　The　Sky　Pilot。　　A　battered　wreck　half　rose　and　extended　a　pudgy　hand。　　　Red　whiskers；　matted　in　little　tangled　wisps　which　sug…　gested　the　dried　ingredients　of　an　infinite　procession　of　semi…liquid　refreshments；　rioted　promiscuously　over　a　scarlet　countenance。

〃Pleased　to　meetcha；〃　sprayed　Soup　Face。　　It　was　a　strained　smile　which　twisted　the　rather　too　perfect　mouth　of　The　Oskaloosa　Kid；　an　appellation　which　we　must；　perforce；　accept　since　the　youth　did　not　deny　it。

Columbus　Blackie；　The　General；　and　Dirty　Eddie　were　formally　presented。　　As　Dirty　Eddie　was；　physi…　cally；　the　cleanest　member　of　the　band　the　youth　won…　dered　how　he　had　come　by　his　sobriquetthat　is；　he　wondered　until　he　heard　Dirty　Eddie　speak；　after　which　he　was　no　longer　in　doubt。　　The　Oskaloosa　Kid；　self…con…　fessed　'tramp'　and　burglar；　flushed　at　the　lurid　obscenity　of　Dirty　Eddie's　remarks。

〃Sit　down；　bo；〃　invited　Soup　Face。　　〃I　guess　you're　a　regular　all　right。　　Here；　have　a　snifter？〃　and　he　pulled　a　flask　from　his　side　pocket；　holding　it　toward　The　Os…　kaloosa　Kid。

〃Thank　you；　but；erI'm　on　the　wagon；　you　know；〃　declined　the　youth。

〃Have　a　smoke？〃　suggested　Columbus　Blackie。　　〃Here's　the　makin's。〃

The　change　in　the　attitude　of　the　men　toward　him　pleased　The　Oskaloosa　Kid　immensely。　　They　were　treat…　ing　him　as　one　of　them；　and　after　the　lonely　walk　through　the　dark　and　desolate　farm　lands　human　companionship　of　any　kind　was　to　him　as　the　proverbial　straw　to　the　man　who　rocked　the　boat　once　too　often。

Dopey　Charlie　and　The　General；　alone　of　all　the　company；　waxed　not　enthusiastic　over　the　advent　of　The　Oskaloosa　Kid　and　his　priceless　loot。　　These　two　sat　scowling　and　whispering　in　the　back…ground。　　〃Dat's　a　wrong　guy；〃　muttered　the　former　to　the　latter。　　〃He's　a　stool　pigeon　or　one　of　dese　amatoor　mugs。〃

〃It's　the　pullin'　of　that　punk　graft　that　got　my　goat；〃　replied　The　General。　　〃I　never　seen　a　punk　yet　that　didn't　try　to　make　you　think　he　was　a　wise　guy　an'　dis　stiff　don't　belong　enough　even　to　pull　a　spiel　that　would　fool　a　old　ladies'　sewin'　circle。　　I　don't　see　wot　The　Sky　Pi…　lot's　cozyin'　up　to　him　fer。〃

〃You　don't？〃　scoffed　Dopey　Charlie。　　〃Didn't　you　lamp　de　oyster　harness？　To　say　nothin'　of　de　mitful　of　rocks　and　kale。〃

〃That　'ud　be　all　right；　too；〃　replied　the　other；　〃if　we　could　put　the　guy　to　sleep；　but　The　Sky　Pilot　won't　never　stand　for　croakin'　nobody。　　He's　too　scared　of　his　neck。　　We'll　look　like　a　bunch　o'　wise　ones；　won't　we？　lettin'　a　stranger　sit　in　nowafter　last　night。　　Hell！〃　he　suddenly　exploded。　　〃Don't　you　know　that　you　an'　me　stand　to　swing　if　any　of　de　bunch　gets　gabby　in　front　of　dis　phoney　punk？〃

The　two　sat　silent　fo