登陆注册
5259400000013

第13章 CHAPTER III "STINGY GABE"(1)

"And that," said Captain Bailey, mollified by the renewed interest of his listeners, "was, 'Bully! I'll do it!'

"So he calls a meetin' of everybody interested, at his new house.

About every respectable man in town was there, includin' me. Most of the billiard-room gang was there, likewise. Jotham, of course, wa'n't invited.

"Gabe calls the meetin' to order and the minister makes a speech tellin' about the scheme. 'Our generous and public-spirited citizen, Honorable Atkinson Holway,' had offered to build a suitable clubhouse, fix it up, and donate it to the club, them and their heirs forever, Amen. 'Twas to belong to the members to do what they pleased with--no strings tied to it at all. Dues would be merely nominal, a dollar a year or some such matter. Now, who favored such a club as that?

"Well, 'most everybody did. Daniel Bassett, chronic politician, justice of the peace, and head of the 'Conservatives' at town meetin', he made a talk, and in comes him and his crew. Gaius Ellis, another chronic, who is postmaster and skipper of the 'Progressives,' had been fidgetin' in his seat, and now up he bobs and says he's for it; then every 'Progressive' jines immediate.

But the billiard-roomers; they didn't jine. They looked sort of sheepish, and set still. When Mr. Fisher begun to hint p'inted in their direction, they got up and slid outdoor. And right then I'd ought to have smelt trouble, but I didn't; had a cold in my head, I guess likely.

"Next thing was to build the new clubhouse, and Gabe went at it hammer and tongs. He had a big passel of carpenters down from the city, and inside of three months the buildin' was up, and she was a daisy, now I tell you. There was a readin' room and a meetin' room and an 'amusement room.' The amusements was crokinole and parchesi and checkers and the like of that. Also there was a gymnasium and a place where you could play the pianner and sing--till the sufferin' got acute and somebody come along and abated you.

"When I fust went inside that clubhouse I see 'twas bound to be 'Good-by, Bill,' for Jotham. His customers would shake his ratty old shanty for sartin, soon's they see them elegant new rooms. I swan, if I didn't feel sorry for the old reprobate, and, thinks I, I'll drop around and sympathize a little. Sympathy don't cost nothin', and Jotham's pretty good company.

"I found him settin' alongside the peanut roaster, watchin' a couple of patients cruelize the pool table.

"'Hello, Bailey!' says he. 'You surprise me. Ain't you 'fraid of catchin' somethin' in this ha'nt of sin? Have a chair, anyhow.

And a cigar, won't you?'

"I took the chair, but I steered off from the cigar, havin' had experience. Told him I guessed I'd use my pipe. He chuckled.

"'Fur be it from me to find fault with your judgment,' he says.

'Terbacker does smoke better'n anything else, don't it.'

"We set there and puffed for five minutes or so. Then he sort of jumped.

"'What's up?' says I.

"'Oh, nothin'!' he says. 'Bije Simmons got a ball in the pocket, that's all. Don't do that too often, Bije; I got a weak heart.

Well, Bailey,' he adds, turnin' to me, 'Gabe's club's fixed up pretty fine, ain't it?'

"'Why, yes,' I says; ''tis.'

"'Finest ever I see,' says he. 'I told him so when I was in there.'

"'What?' says I. 'You don't mean to say YOU'VE been in that clubroom?'

"'Sartin. Why not? I want to take in all the shows there is--'specially the free ones. Make a good billiard room, that clubhouse would.'

"I whistled. 'Whew!' says I. 'Didn't tell Gabe THAT, did you?'

"He nodded. 'Yup,' says he. 'I told him.'

"I whistled again. 'What answer did he make?' I asked.

"'Oh, he wa'n't enthusiastic. Seemed to cal'late I'd better shut up my head and my shop along with it, afore he knocked off one and his club knocked out t'other.'

"I pitied the old rascal; I couldn't help it.

"'Jotham,' says I, 'I ain't the wust friend you've got in South Orham, even if I don't play pool much. If I was you I'd clear out of here and start somewheres else. You can't fight all the best folks in town.'

"He didn't make no answer. Just kept on a-puffin'. I got up to go. Then he laid his hand on my sleeve.

"'Bailey,' says he, 'when Betsy Mayo was ailin', her sister's tribe was all for the Faith Cure and her husband's relations was high for patent medicine. When the Faith Curists got to workin', in would come some of the patent mediciners and give 'em the bounce. And when THEY went home for the night, the Faithers would smash all the bottles. Finally they got so busy fightin' 'mong themselves that Betsy see she was gettin' no better fast, and sent for the reg'lar doctor. HE done the curin', and got the pay.'

"'Well,' says I, 'what of it?'

"'Nothin',' says he. 'Only I've been practisin' a considerable spell. So long. Come in again some time when it's dark and the respectable element can't see you.'

"I went away thinkin' hard. And next mornin' I hunted up Gabe, and says I:

"'Mr. Holway,' I says, 'what puzzles me is how you're goin' to elect the officers for the new club. Put up a Conservative and the Progressives resign. H'ist the Progressive ensign and the Conservatives'll mutiny. As for the billiard-roomers--providin' any jine--they've never been known to vote for anybody but themselves. I can't see no light yet--nothin' but fog.'

"He winks, sly and profound. 'That's all right,' says he. 'Fisher and I have planned that. You watch!'

"Sure enough, they had. The minister was mighty popular, so, when 'twas out that he was candidate to be fust president of the club, all hands was satisfied. Two vice presidents was named--one bein' Bassett and t'other Ellis. Secretary was a leadin' Conservative; treasurer a head Progressive. Officers and crew was happy and mutiny sunk ten fathoms. ONLY none of the billiard-room gang had jined, and they was the fish we was really tryin' for.

"'Twas next March afore one of 'em did come into the net, though we'd have on all kinds of bait--suppers and free ice cream Saturday nights, and the like of that. And meantime things had been happenin'.

同类推荐
  • 送元仓曹归广陵

    送元仓曹归广陵

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 黄龙慧南禅师语录

    黄龙慧南禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 书科尔沁忠亲王大沽之败

    书科尔沁忠亲王大沽之败

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 金莲正宗记

    金莲正宗记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Freelands

    The Freelands

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 1号甜妻:影帝宠入骨

    1号甜妻:影帝宠入骨

    她,家里的小公主,却只钟情于他;他,国际影帝,L国金融主宰,人前花花公子,直到遇见了她,她是他最美丽的遇见与救赎。遇到他之前,她天真烂漫,无忧无虑;遇到他之后,她的世界都是他。遇到她之前,他性情冷淡,手段果决,不知情为何物;遇到她之后,他拼尽全力去宠她。经年后,节目主持人问楚风御:“请楚先生用一句话来形容你与楚太太的爱情。”楚风御:“她予我爱与温暖,我回她爱与守护。”本以为是日久生情,殊不知一见就已钟情。她用她的真诚之心打动他,他用他的余生来守护她。【男女主身心干净,甜宠,结局1V1】
  • 乡镇财政基础知识

    乡镇财政基础知识

    乡镇财政是最基层的一级财政,在巩固乡镇基层政权建设、提供农村基本公共服务、落实强农惠农政策、促进地方和谐发展等方面承担着重要责任。近年来,随着我省公共财政体系建设的深入推进和城乡社会公共事业的快速发展,特别是农村公共服务范围的不断扩大,各级财政投入“三农”的资金大幅增长,乡镇财政资金管理和监督的任务日益加重,乡镇财政的基础地位和作用越来越重要。
  • 谈判的语言艺术

    谈判的语言艺术

    合作而非对抗,是符合大众利益的现实选择。不同的利益诉求助长了谈判技巧对各方的需求,本书从战略高度总结谈判技巧,从战术层面详解谈判陷阱,理路清晰,深受好评。
  • 请别说不爱我

    请别说不爱我

    5年前的一场误会,一场无奈,我离开他,放弃心中的眷恋。5年之后再次相遇,心中依然无法割舍,这时候才知道,什么样的爱情,才是细水长流。什么样的爱情,才会让我此生不渝。沈如熙,这个念念不忘的名字,在5年之后,会是怎么样在心间回旋?如果时光会老去,也许也难以泯灭那时的海誓山盟。
  • 我被封印三十七年

    我被封印三十七年

    前期玩梗较多,不喜快喷别忍着…反派:书上说的果然不错,正义可能会迟到。可是正义你是睡着了吧,主角能不能快点动手,给我个痛快啊…物是人非,归来仍是少年。 山河破碎,何处为家。 人彷徨,血未凉,不若一战,何妨?
  • 黑金棺材

    黑金棺材

    青壮男子离奇惨死,京城命案疑云层层;武林世家横生祸节,风流少侠惨遭暗算。蒙面怪客杀人灭口,痴情玉女勇护情郎。年轻捕快奉命调查,血身义子误中圈套。月夜蒹葭劫大牢,孤身犯险入龙潭。京城名妓设陷阱,三更马车走险道。密室锦帐催春情,红衣女郎夜求欢。白眉假道析隐情,禁宫病帝赐毒酒。妃子争宠,“猎物”遭殃;天子夺权,臣子命亡。不如做个闲云野鹤,胜过发财升官。
  • 天地星尊

    天地星尊

    天载万物,命掌乾坤星耀之途,舍我其谁万道光芒耀仙路,唯我踏上一将枯
  • 银幕时代

    银幕时代

    2006年,陈惜融合了11年后一个落魄导演的灵魂,面对着那院线制改革后混沌初开的大陆票仓。中国市场的黄金岁月正迎面扑来……当华语电影抹去商业国籍,却带着文化基因,在世界纵横驰骋……这是他们的银幕时代,这也是我们的银幕时代。(大陆娱乐,不喜勿入)
  • 名作故事

    名作故事

    无数事实、经验和理性已经证明:好故事可以影响人的一生。而以我们之见,所谓好故事,在内容上讲述的应是做人与处世的道理,在形式上也应听得进、记得住、讲得出、传得开,而且不会因时代的变迁而失去她的本质特征和艺术光彩。为了让更多的读者走进好故事,阅读好故事,欣赏好故事,珍藏好故事,传播好故事,我们特编选了一套“故事会5元精品系列”以飨之。其选择标准主要有以下三点:一、在《故事会》杂志上发表的作品。二、有过目不忘的艺术感染力。三、有恒久的趣味,对今天的读者仍有启迪作用。愿好故事伴随你的一生!
  • 大逆之门

    大逆之门

    让每一个心怀善念的人过最土豪的日子,再把每一个心怀恶念的人送进地狱。法到底是约束好人还是坏人?尊法的人为什么反而处处受制?开一扇门,逆世道而行。以大凶之手段行大善之事。我念为天意,我怒为天威。