the trail of the white mule-第1部分

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The　Trail　of　the　White　Mule

by　B。　M。　Bower




CHAPTER　ONE

Casey　Ryan；　hunched　behind　the　wheel　of　a　large；　dark　blue
touring　car　with　a　kinked　front　fender　and　the　glass　gone　from
the　left　　headlight；　slid　out　from　the　halted　traffic；　shied
sharply　away　from　a　hysterically　clanging　street　car；　crossed　the
path　of　a　huge　red　truck　coming　in　from　his　right；　missed　it　with
two　inches　to　spare　and　was　halfway　down　the　block　before　the
traffic　officer　overtook　him。

The　traffic　officer　was　Irish　too；　and　bigger　than　Casey；　and
madder。　For　all　that；　Casey　offered　to　lick　the　livin'　tar　outa
him　before　accepting　a　pale；　expensive　ticket　which　he　crumbled
and　put　into　his　pocket　without　looking　at　it。

〃What　I　know　about　these　here　fancy　city　rules　ain't　sufficient
to　give　a　horn…toad　a　headachebut　it's　a　darn　sight　more'n　I
care；〃　Casey　declaimed　hotly。　　〃I　never　was　asked　what　I　thought
of　them　tin　signs　you　stick　up　on　the　end　of　a　telegraft　pole；　to
tell　folks　when　to　go　an'　when　to　quit　goin'。　　Mebby　it's　all
right　fer　these　here　city　drivers〃

〃This'll　mean　thirty　days　for　you；〃　spluttered　the　officer。　　〃I
ought　to　call　the　patrol　right　now〃

〃Get　the　undertaker　on　the　line　first！〃　　Casey　advised　him
ominously。

Traffic　was　piling　up　behind　them；　and　horns　were　honking　a
blatant　chorus　that　extended　two　blocks　up　the　street。　　The
traffic　officer　glanced　into　the　troubled　gray　eyes　of　the　Little
Woman　beside　Casey　and　took　his　foot　off　the　running　board。

〃Better　go　put　up　your　bail　and　then　forfeit　it；〃　he　advised　in　a
milder　tone。　　〃The　judge　will　probably　remember　you；　I　do；　and　my
memory　ain't　the　best　in　the　world。　　Twice　you've　been　hooked　for
speeding　through　traffic；　and　parking　by　fire…plugs　and　in　front
of　the　No　Park　signs　and　after　four；　seems　to　be　your　big　outdoor
sport。　　Forfeit　your　bail；　old　boyor　it's　thirty　days　for　you；
sure。〃

Casey　Ryan　made　bitter　retort；　but　the　traffic　cop　had　gone　to
untangle　two　furious　Fords　from　a　horse…drawn　mail　wagon；　so　he
did　not　hear。　　Which　was　good　luck　for　Casey。

〃Why　do　you　persist　in　making　trouble　for　yourself？〃　the　Little
Woman　beside　him　exclaimed。　〃It　can't　be　so　hard　to　obey　the
rules；　other　drivers　do。　　I　know　that　I　have　driven　this　car　all
over　town　without　any　trouble　whatever。〃

Casey　hogged　the　next　safety…zone　line　to　the　deep　disgust　of　a
young　movie　star　in　a　cream…and…silver　racer；　and　pulled　in　to
the　curb　just　where　he　could　not　be　passed。

〃All　right；　ma'am。　　You　can　drive；　then。〃　　He　slid　out　of　the
driver's　seat　to　the　pavement；　his　face　a　deeper　shade　of　red
than　usual。

〃For　pity's　sake；　Casey！　　Don't　be　silly；〃　his　wife　cried
sharply；　a　bit　of　panic　in　her　voice。

〃You　was　in　a　hurry　to　git　home；〃　Casey　pointed　out　to　her　with
that　mildness　of　manner　which　is　not　mild。　　〃I　was　hurryin'；
wasn't　I？〃

〃You　aren't　hurrying　nowyou're　delaying　the　traffic　again。　　Do
be　reasonable！　　You　know　it　costs　money　to　argue　with　the
police。〃

〃Police　be　damned！　　I'm　tryin'　to　please　a　woman；　an'　I'm　up　agin
a　hard　proposition。　　You　can　ask　anybody　if　I'm　the　unreasonable
one。　You　hustled　me　out　of　the　show　soon　as　the　huggin'
commenced。　　You　wouldn't　even　let　me　stay　to　see　the　first　of
Mutt　and　Jeff。　　You　said　you　was　in　a　hurry。　　I　leaves　the　show
without　seein'　the　best　part；　gits　the　car　an'　drills　through　the
traffic　tryin'　to　git　yuh　home　quick。　　Now　you're　kickin'　because
I　did　hurry。〃

〃Hey！　　Whadda　yuh　mean；　blockin'　the　traffic？〃　a　domineering
voice　behind　him　bellowed。　　〃This　ain't　any　reception　hall；　and
it　ain't　no　free　auto　park　neither。〃

Another　traffic　officer　with　another　pencil　and　another　pad　of
tickets　such　as　drivers　dread　to　see　began　to　write　down　the
number　of　Casey's　car。　　This　man　did　not　argue。　　He　finished　his
work　briskly；　presented　another　notice　which　advised　Casey　Ryan
to　report　immediately　to　police　headquarters；　waved　Casey
peremptorily　to　proceed；　and　returned　to　his　little　square
platform　to　the　chorus　of　blatting　automobile　horns。

〃The　cops　in　this　town　hands　out　tickets　like　they　was　Free
Excursion　peddlers！〃　snorted　Casey；　his　eyes　a　pale　glitter
behind　his　half…closed　lids。　　〃They　can　go　around　me；　or　they　can
honk　and　be　darned　to　'em。　Git　behind　the　wheel；　ma'amCasey
Ryan's　drove　the　last　inch　he'll　ever　drive　in　this　darned　town。　
If　they　pinch　me　again；　it'll　have　to　be　fer　walkin'。〃

The　Little　Woman　looked　at　him；　pressed　her　lips　together　and
moved　behind　the　wheel。　　She　did　not　say　a　word　all　the　way　out
to　the　white　apartment　house　on　Vermont　which　held　the　four　rooms
they　called　home。　　She　parked　the　car　dexterously　in　front　and
led　the　way　to　their　apartment　（ground　floor；　front）　before　she
looked　at　me。

〃It's　coming　to　a　show…down；　Jack；〃　she　said　then　with　a　faint
smile。　　〃He's　on　probation　already　for　disobeying　traffic　rules
of　one　sort　and　other；　and　his　fines　cost　more　than　the　entire
upkeep　of　the　car。　I　think　he　really　will　have　to　go　to　jail　this
time。　　It　just　isn't　in　Casey　Ryan　to　take　orders　from　any　one；
especially　when　his　own　personal　habits　of　driving　a　car　are
concerned。〃

〃Town　life　is　getting　on　his　nerves；〃　I　tried　to　defend　Casey；
and　at　the　same　time　to　comfort　the　Little　Woman。　　〃I　didn't
think　it　would　work；　his　coming　here　to　live；　with　nothing　to　do
but　spend　money。　　This　is　the　inevitable　result　of　too　much　money
and　too　much　leisure。〃

〃It　sounds　much　better；　putting　it　that　way；〃　murmured　Mrs。
Casey。　〃I　think　you're　rightthough　he　did　behave　back　there　as
if　it　were　too　much　matrimony。　　Jack；　he's　been　looking　forward
to　your　visit。　　I'm　sorry　this　has　happened　to　spoil　it。〃

〃It　isn't　spoiled；〃　I　grinned。　〃Casey　Ryan　is；　always　and　ever
shall　be　Casey　Ryan。　　He's　running　true　to　form；　though　tamer
than　one　would　expect。　　When　do　you　think　he'll　show　up？〃

Mrs。　Casey　did　not　know。　　She　ventured　a　guess　or　two；　but　there
was　no　conviction　in　her　tone。　　With　two　nominal　arrests　in　five
minutes　chalked　against　him；　and　with　his　first　rebellion　against
the　Little　Woman　to　rankle　in　his　conscience　and　memory；　she
owned　herself　at　a　loss。

With　a　cheerfulness　that　was　only　conversation　deep；　we　waited
for　Casey　and　finally　ate　supper　without　him。　　The　evening　was
enlivened　somewhat　by　Babe's　chatter　of　kindergarten　doings；　and
was　punctuated　by　certain　pauses　while　steps　on　the　sidewalk
passed　on　or　ended　with　the　closing　of　another　door　than　the
Ryans'。　　I　fought　the　impulse　to　call　up　the　police　station；　and
I　caught　the　eyes　of　the　Little　Woman　straying　unconsciously　to
the　telephone　in　the　hall　while　she　talked　of　things　remote　from
our　inner　thoughts。　　Margaret　Ryan　is　game；　I'll　say　that。　　We
played　cribbage　for　an　hour　or　two；　and　the　Little　Woman　beat　me
until　finally　I　threw　up　my　hands　and　quit。

〃I　can't　stand　it　any　longer；　Mrs。　Casey。　　Do　you　think　he's　in
jail；　or　just　sulking　at　a　movie　somewhere？〃　I　blurted。　　〃Forgive
my　butting　in；　but　I　wish　you'd　talk　about　it。　　You　know　you　can；
to　me。　　Casey　Ryan　is　a　friend　and　more　than　a　friend：　he's　a　pet
theory　of　mine　a　fad；　if　you　prefer　to　call　him　that。

〃I　consider　him　a　perfect　example　of　human　nature　in　its
unhampered；　unbiased　state；　going　straight　through　life　without
deviating　a　hair's　breadth　from　the　viewpoint　of　youth。　　A
fighter　and　a　castle　builder；　a　sort　of　rough…edged　Peter　Pan。　
Till　he　gums　soft　food　and　hobbles　with　a　stick　because　the　years
have　warped　his　back　and　his　legs；　Casey　Ryan　will　keep　that
indefinable；　bubbling　optimism　of　spiritual　youth。　　So　tell　me
all　about　him。　　I　want　to　know　who　has　licked；　so　far；　luxury　or
Casey　Ryan。〃

The　Little　Woman　laughed　and　picked　up　the　cards；　evening　their
edges　with　sensitive　fingers　that　had　not　been　manicured　so
beautifully　when　first　I　saw　them。

〃Well…sir；〃　she　drawled；　making　one　word　of　the　two　and　failing
to　keep　a　little　twitching　from　her　lips；　〃I　think　it's　been
about　a　tie；　so　far。　　As　a　husbandCasey's　a　darned　good
bachelor。〃　　Her　chuckle　robbed　that　statement　of　anything
approaching　criticism。　　〃Aside　from　his　insisting　on　cooking
breakfast　every　morning　and　feeding　me　in　bed；　forcing　me　to　eat
fried　eggs　and　sour…dough　hotcakes　swimming　in　butter　and
honeywhen　I　crave　grapefruit　and　thin　toast　and　one　French　lamb
chop　with　a　white　paper　frill　on　the　handle　and　garnished　with
fresh　parsleyhe's　the　soul　of　consideration。　　He　wants　four
kinds　of　jam　on　the　table　every　meal；　when　fresh　fruit　is　going
to　waste。　　He's　bullied　the　laundryman　until　the　poor　fellow's
reached　the　point　where　he　won't　stop　if　the　car's　parked　in
front　and　Casey's　liable　to　be　home；　but　aside　from　that；　Casey's
all　right。

〃After　serving　time　in　the　desert　and　rustling　my　own　wood　and
living　on　bacon　and　beans　and　sour…dough　bread；　　I'm　perfectly
willing　to　spend　the　rest　of　my　life　doing　painless　housekeeping
with　all　the　modern　built…in　features　ever　invented；　and　buying
my　bread　and　cakes　and　salads　from　the　delicatessen　around　the
corner。　　I　never　want　to　see　a　sagebush　again　as　long　as　I　live；
or　feel　the　crunch　of　gravel　under　my　feet。　　I　expect　to　die　in
French…heeled　pumps　and　embroidered　silk　stockings　and　the
finest；　silliest　silk　things　ever　put　in　a　show　window　to　tempt
the　soul　of　a　woman。　　But　it　took　just　two　weeks　and　three　days
to　drive　Casey　back　to　his　sour…dough　can。〃

〃He　craved　luxury　more　than　you　seemed　to　do；〃　I　remembered　aloud。

〃He　did；　yes。　　But　his　idea　of　luxury　is　sitting　down　in　the
kitchen　to　a　real　meal　of　beans　and　biscuits　and　all　the　known
varieties　of　jam　and　those　horrible　whitewashed　store　cookies　and
having　the　noise　of　the　phonograph　drowned　every　five　minutes　by
a　passing　street　car。　Casey　wants　four　movies　a　day；　and　he　wants
them　all　funny。　　He　brings　home　silk　shirts　with　the　stripes
fairly　shrieking　when　he　unwraps　themand　he　has　to　be　thrown
and　tied　to　get　a　collar　on　him。

〃He　will　get　up　at　any　hour　of　the　night　to　chase　after　a　fire
engine；　and　every　whipstitch　he　gets　pinched　for　doing　something
which　is　perfectly　lawful　and　right　in　the　desert　and　perfectly
awful　in　the　city。　　You　saw　him；〃　said　the　Little　Woman；
〃to…d