the portygee- 第19部分

〃The　ship's　in　your　hands；　Al；〃　he　had　said　to　his　grandson。　　〃Let
me　see　how　you　handle　her。〃

So；　in　spite　of　Albert's　promise；　the　Calvin　lumber　was　not
delivered　on　time。　　The　Reverend　gentleman　called　to　ask　why。　　His
manner　was　anything　but　receptive　so　far　as　excuses　were　concerned。

〃Young　man；〃　he　said　loftily；　〃I　am　accustomed　to　do　business　with
business　people。　　Did　you　or　did　you　not　promise　to　deliver　my
order　yesterday？〃

〃Why；　yes　sir；　I　promised；　but　we　couldn't　do　it。　　We〃

〃I　don't　care　to　know　why　you　didn't　do　it。　　The　fact　that　you　did
not　is　sufficient。　　Will　that　order　of　mine　be　delivered　to…day？〃

〃If　it　is　a　possible　thing；　Mr。　Calvin；　it〃

〃Pardon　me。　　Will　it　be　delivered？〃

The　Speranza　temper　was　rising。　　〃Yes；〃　said　the　owner　of　that
temper；　succinctly。

〃Does　yes　mean　yes；　in　this　case；　or　does　it　mean　what　it　meant
before？〃

〃I　have　told　you　why〃

〃Never　mind。　　Young　man；　if　that　lumber　is　not　delivered　to…day　I
shall　cancel　the　order。　　Do　you　understand？〃

Albert　swallowed　hard。　　〃I　tell　you；　Mr。　Calvin；　that　it　shall　be
delivered；〃　he　said。　　〃And　it　will　be。〃

But　delivering　it　was　not　so　easy。　　The　team　simply　could　NOT　be
taken　off　the　schoolhouse　job；　fulfillment　of　a　contract　was
involved　there。　　And　the　other　horse　had　gone　lame　and　Issachar
swore　by　all　that　was　solemn　that　the　animal　must　not　be　used。

〃Let　old　Calvin　wait　till　to…morrow；〃　said　Issy。　　〃You　can　use　the
big　team　then。　　And　Cap'n　Lote'll　be　home；　besides。〃

But　Albert　was　not　going　to　let　〃old　Calvin〃　wait。　　That　lumber　was
going　to　be　delivered；　if　he　had　to　carry　it　himself；　stick　by
stick。　　He　asked　Mr。　Price　if　an　extra　team　might　not　be　hired。

〃Ain't　none；〃　said　Issy。　　〃Besides；　where'd　your　granddad's　profits
be　if　you　spent　money　hirin'　extry　teams　to　haul　that　little　mite
of　stuff？　　I've　been　in　this　business　a　good　long　spell；　and　I　tell
you〃

He　did　not　get　a　chance　to　tell　it；　for　Albert　walked　off　and　left
him。　　At　half…past　twelve　that　afternoon　he　engaged　〃Vessie〃　Young
christened　Sylvester　Young　and　a　brother　to　the　driver　of　the
depot　wagonto　haul　the　Calvin　lumber　in　his　rickety；　fragrant　old
wagon。　　Simpson　Mullencommonly　called　〃Simp〃was　to　help　in　the
delivery。

Against　violent　protests　from　Issy；　who　declared　that　Ves　Young's
rattle…trap　wan't　fit　to　do　nothin'　but　haul　fish　heads　to　the
fertilizer　factory；　the　Calvin　beams　and　boards　were　piled　high　on
the　wagon　and　with　Ves　on　the　driver's　seat　and　Simp　perched；　like
a　disreputable　carrion　crow　on　top　of　the　load；　the　equipage
started。

〃There！〃　exclaimed　Albert；　with　satisfaction。　　〃He　can't　say　it
wasn't　delivered　this　time　according　to　promise。〃

〃Godfreys！〃　snorted　Issy；　gazing　after　the　departing　wagon。　　〃He
won't　be　able　to　say　nothin'　when　he　sees　that　git…upand　smells
it。　　Ves　carts　everything　in　that　cart　from　dead　cows　to　gurry
barrels。　　Whew！　　I'd　hate　to　have　to　set　on　that　porch　when　'twas
built　of　that　lumber。　　And；　unless　I'm　mistook；　Ves　and　Simp　had
been　havin'　a　little　somethin'　strong　to　take；　too。〃

Mr。　Price；　as　it　happened；　was　not　〃mistook。〃　　Mr。　Young　had；　as
the　South　Harniss　saying　used　to　be；　〃had　a　jug　come　down〃　on　the
train　from　Boston　that　very　morning。　　The　jug　was　under　the　seat　of
his　wagon　and　its　contents　had　already　been　sampled　by　him　and　by
Simp。　　The　journey　to　the　Calvin　cottage　was　enlivened　by　frequent
stops　for　refreshment。

Consequently　it　happened　that；　just　as　Mrs。　Calvin's　gathering　of
Welfare　Workers　had　reached　the　cake　and　chocolate　stage　in　their
proceedings　and　just　as　the　Reverend　Mr。　Calvin　had　risen　by
invitation　to　say　a　few　words　of　encouragement；　the　westerly　wind
blowing　in　at　the　open　windows　bore　to　the　noses　and　ears　of　the
assembled　faithful　a　perfume　and　a　sound　neither　of　which　was
sweet。

Above　the　rattle　and　squeak　of　the　Young　wagon　turning　in　at　the
Calvin　gate　arose　the　voices　of　Vessie　and　Simp　uplifted　in　song。

〃'Here's　to　the　good　old　whiskey；　drink　'er　daown；'〃　sang　Mr。
Young。


　　　　　〃'Here's　to　the　good　old　whiskey；
　　　　　　　　　Drink　'er　daown！
　　　　　　　Here's　to　the　good　old　whiskey；
　　　　　　　It　makes　you　feel　so　frisky；
　　　　　　　　　Drink　'er'


Git　up　there；　blank　blank　ye！　　What　the　blankety　blank　you　stoppin'
here　for？　　Git　up！〃

The　horse　was　not　the　only　creature　that　got　up。　　Mrs。　Calvin　rose
from　her　chair　and　gazed　in　horror　at　the　window。　　Her　husband；
being　already　on　his　feet；　could　not　rise　but　he　broke　off　short
the　opening　sentence　of　his　〃few　words〃　and　stared　and　listened。
Each　Welfare　Worker　stared　and　listened　also。

〃Git　up；　you　blankety　blank　blank；〃　repeated　Ves　Young；　with
cheerful　enthusiasm。　　Mr。　Mullen；　from　the　top　of　the　load　of
lumber；　caroled　dreamily　on：


　　　　　〃'Here's　to　the　good　old　rum；
　　　　　　　　　Drink　'er　daown！
　　　　　　　Here's　to　the　good　old　rum；
　　　　　　　　　Drink　'er　daown！
　　　　　　　Here's　to　the　good　old　rum；
　　　　　　　Ain't　you　glad　that　you've　got　some？
　　　　　　　Drink　'er　daown！　　Drink　'er　daown！
　　　　　　　　　Drink　'er　daown！'〃


And　floating；　as　it　were；　upon　the　waves　of　melody　came　the　odor　of
the　Young　wagon；　an　odor　combining　deceased　fish　and　late　lamented
cow　and　goodness　knows　what　beside。

The　dissipated　vehicle　stopped　beneath　the　parlor　windows　of　the
Calvin　cottage。　　Mr。　Young　called　to　his　assistant。

〃Here　we　be；　Simp！〃　he　yelled。　　〃A…a…ll　ashore　that's　goin'　ashore！
Wake　up　there；　you　unmentionably　described　old　rum　barrel　and　help
unload　this　everlastingly　condemned　lumber。〃

Mr。　Calvin　rushed　to　the　window。　　〃What　does　this　mean？〃　he
demanded；　in　frothing　indignation。

Vessie　waved　at　him　reassuringly。　　〃'Sall　right；　Mr。　Calvin；〃　he
shouted。　　〃Here's　your　lumber　from　Ze…lotes　Snow　and　Co。；　South
Harniss；　Mass。；　U。　S。　A。　　'Sall　right。　　Let　'er　go；　Simp！　　Let　'er
blankety…blank　go！〃

Mr。　Mullen　responded　with　alacrity　and　a　whoop。　　A　half　dozen
boards　crashed　to　the　ground　beneath　the　parlor　windows。　　Mrs。
Calvin　rushed　to　her　husband's　side。

〃This　is　DREADFUL；　Seabury！〃　she　cried。　　〃Send　those　creatures　and
and　that　horrible　wagon　away　at　once。〃

The　Reverend　Calvin　tried　to　obey　orders。　　He　commanded　Mr。　Young
to　go　away　from　there　that　very　moment。　　Vessie　was　surprised。

〃Ain't　this　your　lumber？〃　he　demanded。

〃It　doesn't　make　any　difference　whether　it　is　or　not；　I〃

〃Didn't　you　tell　Z。　Snow　and　Co。　that　this　lumber'd　got　to　be
delivered　to…day　or　you'd　cancel　the　order？〃

〃Never　mind。　　That　is　my　business；　sir。　　You〃

〃Hold　on！　　Ho…o…ld　on！　　_I_　got　a　business；　too。　　My　business　is
deliverin'　what　I'm　paid　to　deliver。　　Al　Speranzy　he　says　to　me：
'Ves；'　he　says；　'if　you　don't　deliver　that　lumber　to　old　man　Calvin
to…day　you　don't　get　no　money；　see。　　Will　you　deliver　it？'　　Says　I；
'You　bet　your　crashety…blank　life　I'll　（hic）　d'liver　it！　　What　I
say　I'll　do；　I'll　do！'　　And　I'm　deliverin'　it；　ain't　I？　　Hey？
Ain't　I？　　Well；　then；　what　the〃　　And　so　forth　and　at　length；
while　Mrs。　Calvin　collapsed　half　fainting　in　an　easy…chair；　and
horrified　Welfare　Workers　covered　their　earsand　longed　to　cover
their　noses。

The　lumber　was　delivered　that　day。　　Its　delivery　was；　from　the
viewpoint　of　Messrs。　Young　and　Mullen；　a　success。　　The　spring
meeting　of　the　Welfare　Workers　was　not　a　success。

The　following　day　Mr。　Calvin　called　at　the　office　of　Z。　Snow　and
Co。　　He　had　things　to　say　and　said　them。　　Captain　Zelotes；　who　had
returned　from　Boston；　listened。　　Then　he　called　his　grandson。

〃Tell　him　what　you've　just　told　me；　Mr。　Calvin；〃　he　said。

The　reverend　gentleman　told　it；　with　added　details。

〃And　in　my　opinion；　if　you'll　excuse　me；　Captain　Snow；〃　he　said；　in
conclusion；　〃this　young　man　knew　what　he　was　doing　when　he　sent
those　drunken　scoundrels　to　my　house。　　He　did　it　purposely；　I　am
convinced。〃

Captain　Zelotes　looked　at　him。

〃Why？〃　he　asked。

〃Why；　becausebecause　ofof　what　I　said　to　himererwhen　I
called　here　yesterday　morning。　　HeI　presume　he　took　offense　and
and　this　outrage　is　the　result。　　I　am　convinced　that〃

〃Wait　a　minute。　　What　did　you　say　for　him　to　take　offense　at？〃

〃I　demanded　that　order　should　be　delivered　as　promised。　　I　am
accustomed　to　do　business　with　business　men　and〃

〃Hold　on　just　a　minute　more；　Mr。　Calvin。　　We　don't　seem　to　be
gettin'　at　the　clam　in　this　shell　as　fast　as　we'd　ought　to。　　Al；
what　have　you　got　to　say　about　all　this　business？〃

Albert　was　white；　almost　as　white　as　when　he　fought　Sam　Thatcher；
but　as　he　stood　up　to　Sam　so　also　did　he　face　the　irate　clergyman。
He　told　of　the　latter's　visit　to　the　office；　of　the　threat　to
cancel　the　order　unless　delivery　was　promised　that　day；　of　how　his
promise　to　deliver　was　exacted；　of　his　effort　to　keep　that　promise。

〃I　HAD　to　deliver　it；　Grandfather；〃　he　said　hotly。　　〃He　had　all　but
called　me　a　liar　andand　by　George；　I　wasn't　going　to〃

His　grandfather　held　up　a　warning　hand。

〃Sshh！　　Ssh！〃　he　said。　　〃Go　on　with　your　yarn；　boy。〃

Albert　told　of　the　lame　horse；　of　his　effort　to　hire　another　team；
and　finally　how　in　desperation　he　had　engaged　Ves　Young　as　a　last
resort。　　The　captain's　face　was　serious　but　there　was　the　twinkle
under　his　heavy　brows。　　He　pulled　at　his　beard。

〃Humph！〃　he　grunted。　　〃Did　you　know　Ves　and　Simp　had　been　drinkin'
when　you　hired　'em？〃

〃Of　course　I　didn't。　　After　they　had　gone　Issy　said　he　suspected
that　they　had　been　drinking　a　little；　but　_I_　didn't　know　it。　　All
I　wanted　was　to　prove　to　HIM；〃　with　a　motion　toward　Mr。　Calvin；
〃that　I　kept　my　word。〃

Captain　Zelotes　pulled　at　his　beard。　　〃All　right；　Al；〃　he　said；
after　a　moment；　〃you　can　go。〃

Albert　went　out　of　the　private　office。　　After　he　had　gone　the
captain　turned　to　his　irate　customer。

〃I'm　sorry　this　happened；　Mr。　Calvin；〃　he　said；　〃and　if　Keeler　or　I
had　been　here　it　probably　wouldn't。　　But；〃　he　added；　〃as　far　as　I
can　see；　the　boy　did　what　he　thought　was　the　best　thing　to　do。
And；〃　the　twinkle　reappeared　in　the　gray　eyes；　〃you　sartinly　did
get　your　lumber　when　'twas　promised。〃

Mr。　Calvin　stiffened。　　He　had　his　good　points；　but　he　suffered　from
what　Laban　Keeler　once　called　〃ingrowin'　importance；〃　and　this
ailment　often　affected　his　judgment。　　Also　he　had　to　fa