penrod-第2部分

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top　of　the　second：　　〃Nor　must　an　adverb　be　used　to　modif〃



Immediately　followed：　

　

〃HARoLD　RAMoREZ　THE　RoADAGENT

　　OR　WiLD　LiFE　AMoNG　THE　

　　　ROCKY　MTS。〃



And　the　subsequent　entries　in　the　book　appeared　to　have　little

concern　with　Room　6；　Ward　School　Nomber　Seventh。

　



　

CHAPTER　II　

ROMANCE



The　author　of　〃Harold　Ramorez；〃　etc。；　lit　one　of　the　hayseed

cigarettes；　seated　himself　comfortably；　with　his　back　against　the

wall　and　his　right　shoulder　just　under　the　lantern；　elevated　his

knees　to　support　the　note…book；　turned　to　a　blank　page；　and

wrote；　slowly　and　earnestly：

　

　　　〃CHAPITER　THE　SIXTH〃





He　took　a　knife　from　his　pocket；　and；　broodingly；　his　eyes

upon　the　inward　embryos　of　vision；　sharpened　his　pencil。　　After

that；　he　extended　a　foot　and　meditatively　rubbed　Duke's

back　with　the　side　of　his　shoe。　　Creation；　with　Penrod；　did　not

leap；　full…armed；　from　the　brain；　but　finally　he　began　to

produce。　　He　wrote　very　slowly　at　first；　and　then　with　increasing

rapidity；　faster　and　faster；　gathering　momentum　and　growing　more

and　more　fevered　as　he　sped；　till　at　last　the　true　fire　came；

without　which　no　lamp　of　real　literature　may　be　made　to　burn。





Mr。　Wilson　reched　for　his　gun　but　our　hero　had　him　covred　and

soon　said　Well　I　guess　you　don't　come　any　of　that　on　me　my

freind。



Well　what　makes　you　so　sure　about　it　sneered　the　other

bitting　his　lip　so　savageley　that　the　blood　ran。　　You　are　nothing

but　a　common　Roadagent　any　way　and　I　do　not　propose　to　be　bafled

by　such；　Ramorez　laughed　at　this　and　kep　Mr。　Wilson　covred　by　his

ottomatick



Soon　the　two　men　were　struggling　together　in　the　death…roes

but　soon　Mr　Wilson　got　him　bound　and　gaged　his　mouth　and　went

away　for　awhile　leavin　our　hero；　it　was　dark　and　he　writhd　at　his

bonds　writhing　on　the　floor　wile　the　rats　came　out　of　their　holes

and　bit　him　and　vernim　got　all　over　him　from　the　floor　of　that

helish　spot　but　soon　he　managed　to　push　the　gag　out　of　his　mouth

with　the　end　of　his　toungeu　and　got　all　his　bonds　off



Soon　Mr　Wilson　came　back　to　tant　him　with　his　helpless

condition　flowed　by　his　gang　of　detectives　and　they　said　Oh　look

at　Ramorez　sneering　at　his　plight　and　tanted　him　with　his

helpless　condition　because　Ramorez　had　put　the　bonds　back　sos　he

would　look　the　same　but　could　throw　them　off　him　when　he　wanted

to　Just　look　at　him　now　sneered　they。　　To　hear　him　talk　you　would

thought　he　was　hot　stuff　and　they　said　Look　at　him　now；　him　that

was　going　to　do　so　much；　Oh　I　would　not　like　to　be　in　his　fix



Soon　Harold　got　mad　at　this　and　jumped　up　with　blasing

eyes　throwin　off　his　bonds　like　they　were　air　Ha　Ha　sneered

he　I　guess　you　better　not　talk　so　much　next　time。　　Soon　there

flowed　another　awful　struggle　and　siezin　his　ottomatick　back　from

Mr　Wilson　he　shot　two　of　the　detectives　through　the　heart　Bing

Bing　went　the　ottomatick　and　two　more　went　to　meet　their　Maker

only　two　detectives　left　now　and　so　he　stabbed　one　and　the

scondrel　went　to　meet　his　Maker　for　now　our　hero　was　fighting　for

his　very　life。　　It　was　dark　in　there　now　for　night　had　falen　and

a　terrible　view　met　the　eye　Blood　was　just　all　over　everything

and　the　rats　were　eatin　the　dead　men。



Soon　our　hero　manged　to　get　his　back　to　the　wall　for　he　was

fighting　for　his　very　life　now　and　shot　Mr　Wilson　through　the

abodmen　Oh　said　Mr　Wilson　you　　　（The　dashes　are

Penrod's。）



Mr　Wilson　stagerd　back　vile　oaths　soilin　his　lips　for　he　was

in　pain　Why　you　you　sneered　he　I　will　get　you　yet

you　Harold　Ramorez



The　remainin　scondrel　had　an　ax　which　he　came　near　our　heros

head　with　but　missed　him　and　ramand　stuck　in　the　wall　Our　heros

amunition　was　exhaused　what　was　he　to　do；　the　remanin　scondrel

would　soon　get　his　ax　lose　so　our　hero　sprung　forward　and　bit　him

till　his　teeth　met　in　the　flech　for　now　our　hero　was　fighting　for

his　very　life。　　At　this　the　remanin　scondrel　also　cursed　and

swore　vile　oaths。　　Oh　sneered　he　　you　Harold　Ramorez

what　did　you　bite　me　for　Yes　sneered　Mr　Wilson　also　and　he　has

shot　me　in　the　abdomen　too　the



Soon　they　were　both　cursin　and　reviln　him　together　Why

you　　　　sneered　they　what　did　you　want　to

injure　us　foryou　Harold　Ramorez　you　have　not　got　any　sence

and　you　think　you　are　so　much　but　you　are　no　better　than　anybody

else　and　you　are　a　　　　　



Soon　our　hero　could　stand　this　no　longer。　　If　you　could　learn

to　act　like　gentlmen　said　he　I　would　not　do　any　more　to　you

now　and　your　low　vile　exppresions　have　not　got　any　effect　on　me

only　to　injure　your　own　self　when　you　go　to　meet　your　Maker　Oh　I

guess　you　have　had　enogh　for　one　day　and　I　think　you　have　learned

a　lesson　and　will　not　soon　atemp　to　beard　Harold　Ramorez　again　so

with　a　tantig　laugh　he　cooly　lit　a　cigarrete　and　takin　the　keys

of　the　cell　from　Mr　Wilson　poket　went　on　out



Soon　Mr　Wilson　and　the　wonded　detective　manged　to　bind　up

their　wonds　and　got　up　off　the　floor　it　I　will　have　that

dasstads　life　now　sneered　they　if　we　have　to　swing　for　it

　　him　he　shall　not　eccape　us　again　the　low　down

　　　

　

Chapiter　seventh



A　mule　train　of　heavily　laden　burros　laden　with　gold　from　the

mines　was　to　be　seen　wondering　among　the　highest　clifts　and　gorgs

of　the　Rocky　Mts　and　a　tall　man　with　a　long　silken　mustash　and　a

cartigde　belt　could　be　heard　cursin　vile　oaths　because　he　well

knew　this　was　the　lair　of　Harold　Ramorez　Why　　you

you　　　　mules　you　sneered　he　because　the　poor

mules　were　not　able　to　go　any　quicker　　you　I　will　show　you

Why　　　　　it　sneered　he　his　oaths　growing

viler　and　viler　I　will　whip　you　　　　　

you　sos　you　will　not　be　able　to　walk　for　a　week　you

you　mean　old　　　　　　　　mules　you



Scarcly　had　the　vile　words　left　his　lips　when





〃PENROD！〃



It　was　his　mother's　voice；　calling　from　the　back　porch。



Simultaneously；　the　noon　whistles　began　to　blow；　far　and

near；　and　the　romancer　in　the　sawdust…box；　summoned　prosaically

from　steep　mountain　passes　above　the　clouds；　paused　with

stubby　pencil　halfway　from　lip　to　knee。　　His　eyes　were　shining：

there　was　a　rapt　sweetness　in　his　gaze。　　As　he　wrote；　his　burden

had　grown　lighter；　thoughts　of　Mrs。　Lora　Rewbush　had　almost　left

him；　and　in　particular　as　he　recounted　（even　by　the　chaste　dash）

the　annoyed　expressions　of　Mr。　Wilson；　the　wounded　detective；　and

the　silken　moustached　mule…driver；　he　had　felt　mysteriously

relieved　concerning　the　Child　Sir　Lancelot。　　Altogether　he　looked

a　better　and　a　brighter　boy。



〃Pen…ROD！〃



The　rapt　look　faded　slowly。　　He　sighed；　but　moved　not。



〃Penrod！　　We're　having　lunch　early　just　on　your　account；　so

you'll　have　plenty　of　time　to　be　dressed　for　the　pageant。　

Hurry！〃



There　was　silence　in　Penrod's　aerie。



〃PEN…rod！〃



Mrs。　Schofields　voice　sounded　nearer；　indicating　a　threatened

approach。　　Penrod　bestirred　himself：　he　blew　out　the　lantern；　and

shouted　plaintively：



〃Well；　ain't　I　coming　fast's　I　can？〃



〃Do　hurry；〃　returned　the　voice；　withdrawing；　and　the　kitchen

door　could　be　heard　to　close。



Languidly；　Penrod　proceeded　to　set　his　house　in　order。



Replacing　his　manuscript　and　pencil　in　the　cigar…box；　he

carefully　buried　the　box　in　the　sawdust；　put　the　lantern　and

oil…can　back　in　the　soap…box；　adjusted　the　elevator　for　the

reception　of　Duke；　and；　in　no　uncertain　tone；　invited　the　devoted

animal　to　enter。



Duke　stretched　himself　amiably；　affecting　not　to　hear；　and

when　this　pretence　became　so　obvious　that　even　a　dog　could　keep

it　up　no　longer；　sat　down　in　a　corner；　facing　it；　his　back　to　his

master；　and　his　head　perpendicular；　nose　upward；　supported　by　the

convergence　of　the　two　walls。　　This；　from　a　dog；　is　the　last

word；　the　comble　of　the　immutable。　　Penrod　commanded；

stormed；　tried　gentleness；　persuaded　with　honeyed　words　and

pictured　rewards。　　Duke's　eyes　looked　backward；　otherwise　he

moved　not。　　Time　elapsed。　　Penrod　stooped　to　flattery；　finally　to

insincere　caresses；　then；　losing　patience　spouted　sudden　threats。



Duke　remained　immovable；　frozen　fast　to　his　great　gesture　of

implacable　despair。



A　footstep　sounded　on　the　threshold　of　the　store…room。



〃Penrod；　come　down　from　that　box　this　instant！〃



〃Ma'am？〃



〃Are　you　up　in　that　sawdust…box　again？〃　　As　Mrs。　Schofield

had　just　heard　her　son's　voice　issue　from　the　box；　and　also；　as

she　knew　he　was　there　anyhow；　her　question　must　have　been　put　for

oratorical　purposes　only。　　〃Because　if　you　are；〃　she　continued

promptly；　〃I'm　going　to　ask　your　papa　not　to　let　you　play　there

any〃



Penrod's　forehead；　his　eyes；　the　tops　of　his　ears；　and　most

of　his　hair；　became　visible　to　her　at　the　top　of　the　box。　　〃I

ain't　‘playing！'〃　he　said　indignantly。



〃Well；　what　ARE　you　doing？〃



〃Just　coming　down；〃　he　replied；　in　a　grieved　but　patient

tone。



〃Then　why　don't　you　COME？〃



〃I　got　Duke　here。　　I　got　to　get　him　DOWN；　haven't　I？　　You

don't　suppose　I　want　to　leave　a　poor　dog　in　here　to　starve；　do

you？〃



〃Well；　hand　him　down　over　the　side　to　me。　　Let　me〃



〃I'll　get　him　down　all　right；〃　said　Penrod。　　〃I　got　him　up

here；　and　I　guess　I　can　get　him　down！〃



〃Well　then；　DO　it！〃



〃I　will　if　you'll　let　me　alone。　　If　you'll　go　on　back　to　the

house　I　promise　to　be　there　inside　of　two　minutes。　　Honest！〃



He　put　extreme　urgency　into　this；　and　his　mother　turned

toward　the　house。　　〃If　you're　not　there　in　two　minutes〃



〃I　will　be！〃



After　her　departure；　Penrod　expended　some　finalities　of

eloquence　upon　Duke；　then　disgustedly　gathered　him　up　in　his

arms；　dumped　him　into　the　basket　and；　shouting　sternly；　〃All　in

for　the　ground　floorstep　back　there；　madamall　ready；　Jim！〃

lowered　dog　and　basket　to　the　floor　of　the　storeroom。　　Duke

sprang　out　in　tumultuous　relief；　and　bestowed　frantic

affection　upon　his　master　as　the　latter　slid　down　from　the　box。



Penrod　dusted　himself　sketchily；　experiencing　a　s