cabin fever-第4部分

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　the　ones　on　the　car。　I　bought　these　of　a　fellow　that　had　a　smashthey'll　do　for　the　trip。　Put　them　on；　will　you？　She's　wise　to　the　car　number；　of　course。　Put　the　plates　you　take　off　under　the　seat　cushion；　don't　leave　'em。　Be　just　as　careful　as　if　it　was　a　life…and…death　matter；　will　you？　I've　got　a　big　deal　on；　down　there；and　I　don't　want　her　spilling　the　beans　just　to　satisfy　a　grudgewhich　she　would　do　in　a　minute。　So　don't　fail　to　be　at　the　ferry；　parked　so　you　can　slide　out　easy。　Get　down　there　by　that　big　gum　sign。　I'll　find　you；　all　right。〃

〃I'll　be　there。〃　Bud　thrust　the　key　and　another　ten　dollars　into　his　pocket　and　turned　away。　　　　〃And　don't　say　anything〃

〃Do　I　look　like　an　open…faced　guy？〃

The　man　laughed。　〃Not　much；　or　I　wouldn't　have　picked　you　for　the　trip。〃　He　hurried　down　to　the　depot　platform；　for　his　train　was　already　whistling；　farther　down　the　yards。

Bud　looked　after　him；　the　corners　of　his　mouth　taking　their　normal；　upward　tilt。　It　began　to　look　as　though　luck　had　not　altogether　deserted　him；　in　spite　of　the　recent　blow　it　had　given。　He　slid　the　wrapped　number　plates　into　the　inside　pocket　of　his　overcoat；　pushed　his　hands　deep　into　his　pockets；　and　walked　up　to　the　cheap　hotel　which　had　been　his　bleak　substitute　for　a　home　during　his　trouble。　He　packed　everything　he　owned　a　big　suitcase　held　it　all　by　squeezingpaid　his　bill　at　the　office；　accepted　a　poor　cigar；　and　in　return　said；　yes；　he　was　going　to　strike　out　and　look　for　work；　and　took　the　train　for　Oakland。

A　street　car　landed　him　within　two　blocks　of　the　address　on　the　tag；　and　Bud　walked　through　thickening　fog　and　dusk　to　the　place。　Foster　had　a　good…looking　house；　he　observed。　Set　back　on　the　middle　of　two　lots；　it　was；　with　a　cement　drive　sloping　up　from　the　street　to　the　garage　backed　against　the　alley。　Under　cover　of　lighting　a　cigarette；　he　inspected　the　place　before　he　ventured　farther。　The　blinds　were　drawn　downat　least　upon　the　side　next　the　drive。　On　the　other　he　thought　he　caught　a　gleam　of　light　at　the　rear；　rather；　the　beam　that　came　from　a　gleam　of　light　in　Foster's　dining　room　or　kitchen　shining　on　the　next　house。　But　he　was　not　certain　of　it；　and　the　absolute　quiet　reassured　him　so　that　he　went　up　the　drive；　keeping　on　the　grass　border　until　he　reached　the　garage。　This；　he　told　himself；　was　just　like　a　womanraising　the　deuce　around　so　that　a　man　had　to　sneak　into　his　own　place　to　get　his　own　car　out　of　his　own　garage。　If　Foster　was　up　against　the　kind　of　deal　Bud　had　been　up　against；　he　sure　had　Bud's　sympathy；　and　he　sure　would　get　the　best　help　Bud　was　capable　of　giving　him。

The　key　fitted　the　lock；　and　Bud　went　in；　set　down　his　suitcase；　and　closed　the　door　after　him。　It　was　dark　as　a　pocket　in　there；　save　where　a　square　of　grayness　betrayed　a　window。　Bud　felt　his　way　to　the　side　of　the　car；　groped　to　the　robe　rail；　found　a　heavy；　fringed　robe；　and　curtained　the　window　until　he　could　see　no　thread　of　light　anywhere；　after　which　he　ventured　to　use　his　flashlight　until　he　had　found　the　switch　and　turned　on　the　light。

There　was　a　little　side　door　at　the　back；　and　it　was　fastened　on　the　inside　with　a　stout　hook。　Bud　thought　for　a　minute；　took　a　long　chance；　and　let　himself　out　into　the　yard；　closing　the　door　after　him。　He　walked　around　the　garage　to　the　front　and　satisfied　himself　that　the　light　inside　did　not　show。　Then　he　went　around　the　back　of　the　house　and　found　that　he　had　not　been　mistaken　about　the　light。　The　house　was　certainly　occupied；　and　like　the　neighboring　houses　seemed　concerned　only　with　the　dinner　hour　of　the　inmates。　He　went　back；　hooked　the　little　door　on　the　inside；　and　began　a　careful　inspection　of　the　car　he　was　to　drive。

It　was　a　big；　late…modeled　touring　car；　of　the　kind　that　sells　for　nearly　five　thousand　dollars。　Bud's　eyes　lightened　with　satisfaction　when　he　looked　at　it。　There　would　be　pleasure　as　well　as　profit　in　driving　this　old　girl　to　Los　Angeles；　he　told　himself。　It　fairly　made　his　mouth　water　to　look　at　her　standing　there。　He　got　in　and　slid　behind　the　wheel　and　fingered　the　gear　lever；　and　tested　the　clutch　and　the　foot　brakenot　because　he　doubted　them；　but　because　he　had　a　hankering　to　feel　their　smoothness　of　operation。　Bud　loved　a　good　car　just　as　he　had　loved　a　good　horse　in　the　years　behind　him。　Just　as　he　used　to　walk　around　a　good　horse　and　pat　its　sleek　shoulder　and　feel　the　hard　muscles　of　its　trim　legs；　so　now　he　made　love　to　this　big　car。　Let　that　old　hen　of　Foster's　crab　the　trip　south？　He　should　sa…a…ay　not！

There　did　not　seem　to　be　a　thing　that　he　could　do　to　her；　but　nevertheless　he　got　down　and；　gave　all　the　grease　cups　a　turn；　removed　the　number　plates　and　put　them　under　the　rear　seat　cushion；　inspected　the　gas　tank　and　the　oil　gauge　and　the　fanbelt　and　the　radiator；　turned　back　the　trip…mileage　to　zero　professional　driving　had　made　Bud　careful　as　a　taxi　driver　about　recording　the　mileage　of　a　triplooked　at　the　clock　set　in　the　instrument　board；　and　pondered。

What　if　the　old　lady　took　a　notion　to　drive　somewhere？　She　would　miss　the　car　and　raise　a　hullabaloo；　and　maybe　crab　the　whole　thing　in　the　start。　In　that　case；　Bud　decided　that　the　best　way　would　be　to　let　her　go。　He　could　pile　on　to　the　empty　trunk　rack　behind；　and　manage　somehow　to　get　off　with　the　car　when　she　stopped。　Still；　there　was　not　much　chance　of　her　going　out　in　the　fogand　now　that　he　listened；　he　heard　the　drip　of　rain。　No；　there　was　not　much　chance。　Foster　had　not　seemed　to　think　there　was　any　chance　of　the　car　being　in　use；　and　Foster　ought　to　know。　He　would　wait　until　about　ten…thirty；　to　play　safe；　and　then　go。

Rain　spelled　skid　chains　to　Bud。　He　looked　in　the　tool　box；　found　a　set；　and　put　them　on。　Then；　because　he　was　not　going　to　take　any　chances；　he　put　another　set；　that　he　found　hanging　up；　on　the　front　wheels。　After　that　he　turned　out　the　light；　took　down　the　robe　and　wrapped　himself　in　it；　and　laid　himself　down　on　the　rear　seat　to　wait　for　ten…thirty。

He　dozed；　and　the　next　he　knew　there　was　a　fumbling　at　the　door　in　front；　and　the　muttering　of　a　voice。　Bud　slid　noiselessly　out　of　the　car　and　under　it；　head　to　the　rear　where　he　could　crawl　out　quickly。　The　voice　sounded　like　a　man；　and　presently　the　door　opened　and　Bud　was　sure　of　it。　He　caught　a　querulous　sentence　or　two。

〃Door　left　unlockedthe　ignorant　houndGood　thing　I　don't　trust　him　too　far〃　Some　one　came　fumbling　in　and　switched　on　the　light。　〃Careless　houndtold　him　to　be　careful　never　even　put　the　robe　on　the　rail　where　it　belongsand　then　they　howl　about　the　way　they're　treated！　Want　more　wages　don't　earn　what　they　do　get〃

Bud；　twisting　his　head；　saw　a　pair　of　slippered　feet　beside　the　running　board。　The　owner　of　the　slippers　was　folding　the　robe　and　laying　it　over　the　rail；　and　grumbling　to　himself　all　the　while。　〃Have　to　come　out　in　the　raindaren't　trust　him　an　inch　just　like　him　to　go　off　and　leave　the　door　unlocked〃　With　a　last　grunt　or　two　the　mumbling　ceased。　The　light　was　switched　off；　and　Bud　heard　the　doors　pulled　shut；　and　the　rattle　of　the　padlock　and　chain。　He　waited　another　minute　and　crawled　out。

〃Might　have　told　me　there　was　a　father…in…law　in　the　outfit；〃　he　grumbled　to　himself。　〃Big　a　butt…in　as　Marie's　mother；　at　that。　Huh。　Never　saw　my　suit　case；　never　noticed　the　different　numbers；　never　got　next　to　the　chainshuh！　Regular　old　he…hen；　and　I　sure　don't　blame　Foster　for　wanting　to　tie　a　can　to　the　bunch。〃

Very　cautiously　he　turned　his　flashlight　on　the　face　of　the　automobile　clock。　The　hour　hand　stood　a　little　past　ten；　and　Bud　decided　he　had　better　go。　He　would　have　to　fill　the　gas　tank；　and　get　more　oil；　and　he　wanted　to　test　the　air　in　his　tires。　No　stops　after　they　started；　said　Foster；　Bud　had　set　his　heart　on　showing　Foster　something　in　the　way　of　getting　a　car　over　the　road。

Father…in…law　would　holler　if　he　heard　the　car；　but　Bud　did　not　intend　that　father…in…law　should　hear　it。　He　would　much　rather　run　the　gauntlet　of　that　driveway　then　wait　in　the　dark　any　longer。　He　remembered　the　slope　down　to　the　street；　and　grinned　contentedly。　He　would　give　father…in…law　a　chance　to　throw　a　fit；　next　morning。

He　set　his　suit　case　in　the　tonneau；　went　out　of　the　little　door；　edged　around　to　the　front　and　very；　very　cautiously　he　unlocked　the　big　doors　and　set　them　open。　He　went　in　and　felt　the　front　wheels；　judged　that　they　were　set　straight；　felt　around　the　interior　until　his　fingers　touched　a　block　of　wood　and　stepped　off　the　approximate　length　of　the　car　in　front　of　the　garage；　allowing　for　the　swing　of　the　doors；　and　placed　the　block　there。　Then　he　went　back；　eased　off　the　emergency　brake；　grabbed　a　good　handhold　and　strained　forward。

The　chains　hindered；　but　the　floor　sloped　to　the　front　a　trifle；　which　helped。　In　a　moment　he　had　the　satisfaction　of　feeling　the　big　car　give；　then　roll　slowly　ahead。　The　front　wheels　dipped　down　over　the　threshold；　and　Bud　stepped　upon　the　running　board；　took　the　wheel；　and　by　instinct　more　than　by　sight　guided　her　through　the　doorway　without　a　scratch。　She　rolled　forward　like　a　black　shadow　until　a　wheel　jarred　against　the　block；　whereupon　he　set　the　emergency　brake　and　got　off；　breathing　free　once　more。　He　picked　up　the　block　and　carried　it　back；　quietly　closed　the　big　doors　and　locked　them；　taking　time　to　do　it　silently。　Then；　in　a　glow　of　satisfaction　with　his　work；　he　climbed　slowly　into　the　car；　settled　down　luxuriously　in　the　driver's　seat；　eased　off　the　brake；　and　with　a　little　lurch　of　his　body　forward　started　the　car　rolling　down　the　driveway。

There　was　a　risk；　of　course；　in　coasting　out　on　to　the　street　with　no　lights；　but　he　took　it　cheerfully；　planning　to　dodge　if　he　saw　the　lights　of　another　car　coming。　It　pleased　him　to　remember　that　the　street　inclined　toward　the　bay。　He　rolled　past　the　house　without　a　betraying　sound；　dipped　over　the　curb　to　the　asphalt；　swung　the　car　townward；　and　coasted　nearly　half　a　block　with　the　ignition　switch　on　before　he　pushed　up　the　throttle；　let　in　his　clutch；　and　got　the　answering　chug…chug　of　the　engine。　With　the　lights　on　full　he　went　purring　down　the　street　in　the　misty　fog；　pleased　with　himself　and　his　mission。



CHAPTER　FOUR。　HEAD　SOUTH　AND　KEEP　GOING

At　a　lunch　wagon　down　near　the　water　front；