hr.thecarpetbaggers-第115部分

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　Mrs。　Schwartz　reached　over　and　patted　Standhurst's　hand　fondly。　〃And　do　you　remember　Ed　Barry？〃
　〃I　certainly　do。〃　He　chuckled　and　looked　at　Jennie。　〃Ed　Barry　was　one　of　those　hard…shelled　Southern　Baptists　who　look　down　the　end　of　their　nose　at　everything　and　immediately　label　it　sin。　Well；　this　was　election　eve　and　Ed　was　running　for　governor　on　a　reform　ticket。　I　managed　to　get　him　drinking　in　the　excitement　of　it　all　and　by　midnight；　he　was　weeping　drunk。　So　without　telling　him　where　I　was　taking　him；　we　went　down　to　Aida's。　He　never　forgot　it。〃
　Standhurst　laughed；　wiping　the　tears　from　his　eyes。　〃Poor　old　Ed；　he　never　knew　what　hit　him。　He　lost　the　election　but　he　never　seemed　to　mind　it。　On　the　day　Aida　closed　down　her　place；　after　we　got　into　the　war；　he　was　downstairs　in　the　bar；　weeping　as　if　the　world　had　e　to　an　end。〃
　〃Those　were　the　good　old　days；〃　Aida　said。　〃We'll　never　see　them　again。〃
　〃Why　did　you　close　down？〃　Jennie　asked　curiously。
　〃There　were　several　reasons；〃　Aida　said　seriously；　turning　to　Jennie。　〃After　and　during　the　war；　there　was　too　much　free　petition。　It　seemed　as　if　every　girl　was　determined　to　give　it　away。　And　it　simply　became　too　difficult　to　find　girls　who　were　interested　and　dedicated　enough　in　their　work　to　measure　up　to　the　high　standards　I　wanted　to　maintain。　All　they　were　interested　in　was　being　whores。　Since　I　didn't　need　the　money；　I　closed　up。〃
　〃Aida's　a　very　wealthy　woman。　She　put　all　her　money　into　real　estate　and　apartment　houses；　here　and　in　most　of　the　big　cities　around　the　country。〃　Standhurst　looked　over　at　her。　〃Just　about　what　are　you　worth　right　now；　Aida？〃
　She　shrugged　her　shoulders。　〃About　six　million　dollars；　give　or　take　a　little；〃　she　said　casually。　〃Thanks　to　you　and　a　few　good　friends　like　you。〃
　Standhurst　grinned。　〃Now　are　you　still　determined　to　go　back　to　the　hospital？〃
　Jennie　didn't　answer。
　〃Well；　Jennie？〃　he　asked。
　Jennie　stared　at　him；　then　at　Aida。　They　were　watching　her　intently。　She　started　to　speak　but　no　words　came　to　her　lips。
　Mrs。　Schwartz　reached　over　suddenly　and　patted　her　hand　reassuringly。　〃Give　her　a　little　time　to　think　it　over；　Charlie；〃　she　said　gently。　〃It's　a　decision　a　girl　has　to　make　for　herself。〃
　There　was　a　curiously　fond　look　in　Standhurst's　eyes　as　he　smiled　at　Jennie。　〃She'll　have　to　make　up　her　mind　pretty　soon；〃　he　said　softly。　〃There　isn't　that　much　time　left。〃
　He　didn't　know　it　then；　but　there　were　exactly　two　days。
　
　He　turned　his　head　to　watch　her　as　she　came　into　his　room　two　mornings　later。　〃I　think　I'll　stay　in　bed　today；　Jennie；〃　he　said　in　a　low　voice。　Drawing　the　drapes　back　from　the　windows；　she　looked　at　him　in　the　light　that　spilled　across　the　bed。　His　face　was　white　and　the　skin　parchment…thin　over　the　bones。　He　kept　his　eyes　partly　closed；　as　if　the　light　hurt　them。
　She　crossed　to　the　side　of　the　bed　and　looked　down。　〃Do　you　want　me　to　call　the　doctor；　Charlie？〃
　〃What　could　he　do？〃　he　asked；　a　faint　line　of　perspiration　appearing　on　his　forehead。　She　picked　up　a　small　towel　from　the　bedside　table　and　wiped　his　face。　Then　she　pulled　down　the　blanket　and　lifted　his　old…fashioned　nightshirt。　Quickly　she　replaced　the　waste　pouch　and　saw　his　eyes　dart　to　the　pouch　as　she　covered　him。　She　picked　up　the　waste　bag　and　went　into　the　bathroom。
　〃Pretty　bad？〃　he　asked；　his　eyes　on　her　face；　when　she　returned。
　〃Pretty　bad。〃
　〃I　know；〃　he　whispered。　〃I　looked　before　you　came　in。　It　was　as　black　as　the　hubs　of　hell。〃
　She　slipped　an　arm　behind　him　and　held　him　up　as　she　straightened　his　pillow。　She　let　him　sink　back　gently。　〃I　don't　know。　Some　mornings　I've　seen　it　worse。〃
　〃Don't　kid　me。〃　He　closed　his　eyes　for　a　moment；　then　opened　them。　〃I　got　a　hunch　today's　the　day；〃　he　whispered；　his　eyes　on　her　face。
　〃You'll　feel　better　after　I　get　some　orange　juice　into　you。〃
　〃The　hell　with　that；〃　he　whispered　vehemently。　〃Who　ever　heard　of　going　to　hell　on　orange　juice？　Get　me　some　champagne！〃
　Silently　she　put　down　the　orange　juice　and　picked　up　a　tall　glass。　She　filled　it　with　cubes　from　the　Thermos　bucket　and　poured　the　champagne　over　it。　Putting　the　glass　straw　into　the　glass；　she　held　it　for　him。
　〃I　can　still　hold　my　own　drink；〃　he　said。
　The　teletype　in　the　corner　of　the　room　began　to　chatter。　She　walked　over　to　look　at　it。　〃What　is　it？〃
　〃Some　speech　Landon　made　at　a　Republican　dinner　last　night。〃
　〃Turn　it　off；〃　he　said　testily。
　He　held　out　the　glass　to　her　and　she　took　it　and　put　it　back　on　the　table。　The　telephone　began　to　ring。　She　picked　it　up。　〃It's　the　feature　editor　in　L。A。；〃　she　said。　〃He's　returning　the　call　you　made　to　him　yesterday。〃
　〃Tell　him　I　want　Dick　Tracy　for　the　paper　out　here。〃　She　nodded　and　repeated　the　message　into　the　telephone　and　hung　up。　She　turned　back　and　saw　his　face　was　covered　with　perspiration　again。
　〃Your　son　Charles　made　me　promise　to　call　him　if　I　thought　it　was　necessary。〃
　〃Don't；〃　he　snapped。　〃Who　needs　him　here　to　gloat　over　me？　The　son　of　a　bitch　has　been　waiting　around　for　years　for　me　to　kick　off。　He　wants　to　get　his　hands　on　the　papers。〃　He　chuckled　soundlessly。　〃I'll　bet　the　damn　fool　has　the　papers　e　out　for　Roosevelt　the　day　after　the　funeral。〃
　A　spasm　of　pain　shot　through　him　and　he　sat　up　suddenly；　almost　bolt　upright；　in　the　bed。　〃Oh；　Jesus！〃　he　said；　clutching　at　his　belly。　Instantly；　her　arm　was　around　his　shoulders；　supporting　him；　while　with　her　other　hand；　she　reached　for　a　syrette　of　morphine。　〃Not　yet；　Jennie；　please。〃
　She　looked　at　him　for　a　moment；　then　put　the　syrette　back　on　the　table。　〃All　right；〃　she　said。　〃Tell　me　when。〃
　He　sank　back　against　the　pillow　and　she　wiped　his　face　again。　He　closed　his　eyes　and　lay　quietly　for　a　moment。　Then　he　opened　them　and　there　was　a　look　of　terror　in　them　she　had　never　seen　before。　〃I　feel　like　I'm　choking！〃　he　said；　sitting　up；　his　hand　over　his　mouth。
　Quickly；　without　turning　around；　she　reached　for　the　drain　pan　on　the　table　behind　her　and　held　it　under　his　mouth。　He　coughed　and　heaved　and　brought　up　a　black　brackish　bile。　She　put　down　the　pan　and　wiped　his　mouth　and　chin　and　let　him　sink　to　the　pillow　again。
　He　looked　up　at　her　through　tear…filled　eyes；　trying　to　smile。　〃Christ；〃　he　whispered　hoarsely。　〃That　tasted　like　my　own　piss！〃
　She　didn't　answer　and　he　closed　his　eyes　wearily。　She　could　see　him　shiver　under　the　onslaught　of　the　pain。　After　a　few　minutes；　he　spoke　without　opening　his　eyes。　〃You　know；　Jennie；〃　he　whispered；　〃I　thought　the　sweetest　agony　I'd　ever　know　was　ing。　But　going's　got　it　beat　a　million　miles。〃
　He　opened　his　eyes　and　looked　at　her。　The　terror　was　gone　from　them　and　a　deep；　wise　calm　had　taken　its　place。　He　smiled　slowly。　〃All　right；　Jennie；〃　he　whispered；　looking　into　her　eyes。　〃Now！〃
　Her　eyes　still　fastened　to　his；　she　reached　behind　her　for　a　syrette。　Automatically　she　found　the　sunken　vein　and　squeezed　the　syrette　dry。　She　picked　up　another。　He　smiled　again　as　he　saw　it　in　her　hand。　〃Thanks；　Jennie；〃　he　whispered。
　She　bent　forward　and　kissed　the　pale；　damp　forehead。　〃Good…by；　Charlie。〃
　He　leaned　back　against　the　pillow　and　closed　his　eyes　as　she　plunged　the　second　syrette　into　his　arm。　Soon　there　were　six　empty　syrettes　lying　on　the　cover　of　the　bed　beside　him。　She　sat　there　very　quietly；　her　fingers　on　his　pulse；　as　the　beat　grew　fainter　and　fainter。　At　last；　it　stopped　pletely。　She　stared　down　at　him　for　a　moment；　then　pressed　down　the　lids　over　his　eyes　and　drew　the　cover　over　his　face。
　She　got　to　her　feet；　putting　the　syrettes　into　her　uniform　pocket　as　she　wearily　crossed　the　room　and　picked　up　the　telephone。
　The　butler　met　her　in　the　hallway　as　she　was　going　to　her　room。　He　had　an　envelope　in　his　hand。　〃Mr。　Standhurst　asked　me　to　give　this　to　you；　Miss　Denton。　He　gave　it　to　me　before　you　came　on　duty　this　morning。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Judson。〃　She　closed　the　door　behind　her　and　tore　open　the　envelope　as　she　crossed　the　room。　Enclosed　were　five　thousand…dollar　bills　and　a　small　note　in　his　scratchy　handwriting。
　
　DEAR　JENNIE；
　By　now　you　must　understand　the　reason　I　wanted　you　to　stay　with　me。　One　thing　I　could　never　understand　is　that　false　mercy　so　many　proclaim　while　prolonging　the　agony　of　approaching　death。
　Enclosed　find　your　severance　pay。　You　may　use　it　as　you　will　…　to　provide　for　a　rainy　day　while　you　continue　to　waste　your　life　in　the　generally　unrewarding　care　of　others；　or；　if　you've　half　the　intelligence　I　give　you　credit　for　and　are　half　the　woman　I　think；　you'll　use　it　as　tuition　to　Aida's　school；　which　for　the　sake　of　a　better　name　I　shall　call　Standhurst　College；　and　go　on　from　there　to　a　more　luxurious　manner　of　living。
　With　gratitude　and　affection；　I　remain；
　 Sincerely；　
　 C。　STANDHURST
　Still　holding　the　note　in　her　hand；　she　went　to　the　closet　and　took　down　her　valise。　She　placed　it　on　the　bed　and　slowly　began　to　pack。　Less　than　an　hour　later；　she　left　the　cab　and　hurried　up　the　steps　into　the　church；　adjusting　the　scarf　she　wore　around　her　throat　over　her　head。　She　genuflected　at　the　back　of　the　church　and　hurried　down　the　aisle　to　the　altar；　turning　left　toward　the　statue　of　the　Virgin。
　She　knelt　and　clasped　her　hands　as　she　bowed　her　head　for　a　moment。　Then　she　turned　and　took　a　candle　from　the　rack　and　held　a　burning　taper　to　it　before　placing　it　among　the　other　candles　beneath　the　statue。　Again　she　bowed　her　head　and　knelt　for　a　moment；　then　turned　and　hurried　back　up　the　aisle。　At　the　door；　she　dipped　her　fingers　into　the　Holy　Fount　and　blessed　herself；　then　opened　her　purse　and　pressed　a　bill　into　the　slot　of　the　collection　box。
　That　night；　the　rector　had　a　very　pleasant　surprise。　There；　in　the　collection　box；　amidst　all　the　silver　and　copper　coins；　was　a　neatly　folded　thousand…dollar　bill。
　
　The　gray　Rolls…Royce　was　parked　in　the　driveway　of　the　old　house　on　Dalehurst　Avenue　in　Westwood　as　Jennie　pulled　up　in　a　cab。　She　got　out　and　paid　the　driver；　then　went　to　the　door　and　put　her　valise　down　as　she　pressed　the　bell。
　From　somewhere　in　the　house；　a　chime　sounded。　A　moment　later；　the　door　opened　and　a　maid　said；　〃This　way；　please；　miss。〃
　Aida　was　seated　on　the　couch；　a　tray　of　tea　and　cookies　on　the　table　before　her。　〃You　can　put　the