cwilleford.cockfighter-第24部分

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　　Three　days　passed　quickly　this　way。　On　the　morning　of　the　fourth　day；　however；　I　didn't　leave　the　hotel。　My　stomach　was　so　upset　I　didn't　even　feel　like　eating　the　scanty　〃Eye…Opener　Early…Bird　Breakfast；〃　afraid　I　couldn't　hold　it。　I　sat　in　the　lobby　waiting　apprehensively　for　the　mail。
　　There　were　two　letters　for　me；　both　of　them　special　delivery。　One　was　a　thick　brown　envelope　from　Judge　Powell；　and　the　other　was　a　flimsier　envelope　from　Jake　Mellhorn。　I　didn't　open　either　letter　until　I　reached　my　room。　My　fingers　were　damp　when　I　opened　the　thick　envelope　from　Judge　Powell　first；　but　when　I　emptied　the　envelope　onto　my　bed；　the　only　thing　I　could　see　was　the　gray…green　certified　check　from　the　Mansfield　Farmer's　Trust；　made　out　to　my　name　for　one　thousand；　five　hundred　dollars！
　　My　reaction　to　the　check　surprised　me。　I　hadn't　realized　how　much　I　had　counted　on　getting　it。　My　knees　began　to　shake　first；　and　then　my　hands。　A　moment　later　my　entire　body　was　shivering　as　though　I　had　malaria；　and　I　had　to　sit　down　quickly。　I　was　wet　from　my　hair　down　to　the　soles　of　my　feet　with　a　cold；　clammy　perspiration　that　couldn't　have　been　caused　by　anything　else　but　cold；　irrational　fear。　Of　course；　I　hadn't　allowed　my　mind　to　dwell　on　the　possibility　of　failure；　but　now　that　I　actually　had　the　money；　the　suppressed　doubts　and　fears　made　themselves　felt。　But　my　physical　reaction　didn't　last　very　long。　I　stripped　to　the　waist　and　bathed　my　upper　body　with　a　cold　washrag；　and　dried　myself　thoroughly；　before　reading　Judge　Powell's　letter。　It　was　a　long　letter；　overly　long；　typed　single　spaced　on　his　law　firm's　letterhead；　watermarked　stationery：
　　
　　Mr。　Frank　Mansfield
　　c/o　The　Jeff　Davis　Hotel
　　Jacksonville；　Florida
　　
　　Dear　Frank：
　　
　　I　handled　this　matter　personally；　following　your　desires　throughout；　feeling　you　knew　your　brother　Randall　better　than　me。　You　did。　When　I　called　on　him　and　informed　him　that　you　intended　to　break　the　will　of　your　father；　he　laughed。　If　it　hadn't　been　for　your　copious　notes；　his　laughter　would　have　surprised　me。
　　〃Is　Frank　willing　to　fight　this　in　court？〃　he　asked　me。
　　〃No；〃　I　told　him　（again　following　your　instructions）。　〃Your　brother；　Frank；　said　it　wouldn't　be　necessary。　'When　Randall　sees　that　he　is　in　an　untenable　position；　he　will　sign　a　quitclaim　deed　immediately　and　move　out。'
　　Again　your　brother　laughed　as　you　predicted。　〃Do　you　think　I'm　in　an　untenable　position；　Judge？〃　he　then　asked。
　　〃Yes；　you　are；〃　I　told　him。　〃That's　why　I　brought　a　quitclaim　deed　for　you　to　sign。〃
　　He　laughed　and　signed　the　deed。　〃in　New　York；〃　he　said；　〃you　wouldn't　have　a　chance；　Judge。〃　I　remained　silent　instead　of　reminding　him　that　the　case；　if　brought　to　a　trial；　would　be　held　in　Georgia。　〃When　does　Frank　want　me　to　leave？〃
　　〃As　soon　as　the　property　is　sold。〃
　　〃Does　Frank　have　a　buyer　in　mind？〃
　　〃He　remended　that　I　try　Wright　Gaylord　first；〃　I　said。
　　This　statement　gave　your　brother　additional　cause　for　merriment；　because　he　laughed　until　the　tears　rolled　down　his　face。
　　〃Frank　only　wants　a　profit　of　one　thousand；　five　hundred　dollars；〃　I　told　your　brother。　〃He　instructed　me　to　give　you　any　amount　over　that；　after　deducting　my　fee；　of　course。〃
　　〃That's　generous　of　Frank；〃　he　said；　〃but　there　are　some　taxes　due；　about　seven　hundred　dollars。〃
　　〃I'm　aware　of　the　taxes；〃　I　said。
　　〃All　right；　Judge。　You've　got　your　quitclaim　deed。　Continue　on　down　the　road　and　sell　the　property　to　Wright　Gaylord。　I'll　be　ready　to　leave　tomorrow　morning　when　you　bring　me　my　share；　if　there's　anything　left　over。〃
　　Wright　Gaylord　gave　me　a　check　the　same　afternoon　for　three　thousand；　five　hundred　dollars；　which　I　accepted　reluctantly。　Given　more　time　I　am　positive　that　your　property　would　have　sold　for　eight　or　possibly　ten　thousand　dollars。　But　the　sum　adequately　covered　your　required　one　thousand；　five　hundred　and　my　fee　of　five　hundred　dollars；　so　I　closed　the　sale　then　and　there。　You　didn't　mention　it　in　your　notes；　but　I　realize　the　astuteness　of　selling　to　Mr。　Gaylord；　although　I　doubt　if　he　did。　Upon　your　marriage　to　his　sister　you　will　automatically　get　half　your　farm　back　and　half　of　his　as　well。　Mr。　Gaylord　is　also　a　client　of　mine；　and　this　was　a　fine　point　of　legal　ethics；　but　inasmuch　as　he　is　certainly　aware　of　your　engagement　to　his　sister；　I　did　not　deem　it　necessary　to　remind　him。
　　Enclosed　is　a　certified　check　for　one　thousand；　five　hundred　dollars。　My　fee　of　five　hundred　dollars　has　been　deducted；　the　taxes　have　been　paid；　plus　stamps；　and　miscellaneous　expenses。　I　gave　your　brother　a　check　for　seven　hundred　and　sixty…eight　dollars　and　fifty　cents。　Randall　and　his　wife　left　yesterday　on　the　bus　for　Macon。
　　Mr。　Gaylord　has　already　begun　to　tear　down　your　father's　farmhouse　and　the　outlying　buildings。　He　hired　a　wrecking　crew　from　Atlanta；　and　I　saw　some　of　their　equipment　moving　through　town　yesterday。　However；　he　agreed　to　keep　your　Negro　tenant　on　the　place　if　he　wanted　to　stay；　per　your　request。　But　he　would　not　consent　to　keep　him　on　shares　because　Charley　Smith　is　too　old。　Your　main　concern；　I　believe；　was　to　maintain　a　home　for　Charley　and　his　family；　so　again；　in　lieu　of　instructions　to　the　contrary；　I　agreed　to　this　condition。
　　There　are　also　some　papers　enclosed　for　you　to　sign　on　the　places　marked　with　a　small　X　in　red　pencil。　They　have　been　predated；　including　the　power　of　attorney；　in　order　to　send　you　the　money　without　undue　delay。　Please　return　them　（after　you　have　signed　them）　as　quickly　as　possible。
　　If　your　father　were　still　alive；　I　know　he　would　want　you　to　use　your　money　wisely；　so　I　can　only　say　the　same。　〃A　rolling　stone　gathers　no　moss〃　is　an　old　saying　but　a　true　one　nevertheless。　If　I　can　help　you　further　do　not　hesitate　to　ask　me。
　　Very　truly　yours；
　　
　　BRANTLEY　POWELL
　　BP/bjAttorney…at…Law
　　
　　
　　I　didn't　mind　the　moralizing　of　the　windy　old　man；　because　he　didn't　know　what　I　planned　to　use　the　money　for；　but　I　was　irritated　because　he　had　dictated　the　letter　to　his　bigmouthed　old　maid　secretary；　Miss　Birdie　Janes。　The　small　initials；　〃bj〃　in　the　lower　left…hand　corner　of　the　letter；　meant　that　my　business　would　be　spread　all　over　the　county　by　now。　I　realized　that　it　was　a　long　letter；　and　I　appreciated　the　details；　but　the　old　man　should　have　written　the　letter　personally。　When　I　returned　to　Mansfield；　eventually；　sides　would　be　taken…some　for　Randall　and　some　for　me；　but　the　majority　would　take　Randall's　side；　even　though　I　was　legally　and　morally　right　about　taking　what　rightfully　belonged　to　me。
　　The　letter　from　Jake　Mellhorn　was　more　pressing：
　　
　　Dear　Frank；
　　
　　Glad　to　see　you're　getting　sense　enough　to　know　that　the　Melihorn　Black　is　the　best　gamecock　in　the　world；　bar　none！！！　And　you're　lucky　you　wired　me　just　when　you　did。　I　just　brought　in　twenty…two　cocks；　but　if　you　only　want　a　dozen　country…walked　roosters；　you　can　have　the　best　of　the　lot；　which　is　plenty　damned　good！！！　I　can　ship　you　six　Aces；　two　to　three　years　old。　The　other　six　are　brothers；　five　months　past　staghood；　but　all　are　guaranteed　dead　game；　and　they'll　cut　for　you　or　your　money　back。　As　you　know；　I　ship　them　wormed；　in　wooden　coops；　but　they'll　need　watering　upon　arrival。　Don't　trust　the　damned　express　pany　to　water　birds　en　route…they'll　steal　the　cracked　corn　out　of　the　coops　and　make　popcorn　out　of　it。　As　a　special　price…TO　YOU　ONLY！！！　One　dozen　Mellhorn　Blacks　for　only　seven　hundred　dollars。　That's　much　less　than　seventy…five　apiece。　Let　me　know　by　return　wire；　because　I　can　sell　them　anywhere　for　one　hundred　to　one　hundred　and　twenty…five　dollars　each。
　　
　　For　a　good　season；
　　JAKE　MELLHORN
　　
　　
　　An　outlay　of　seven　hundred　dollars；　although　it　was　an　exceptionally　fair　price　for　Ace　Mellhorns；　would　make　a　deep　dent　in　my　one　thousand；　five　hundred　dollars；　but　I　had　little　choice。　I　had　to　have　them；　or　others　just　as　good。　Another　five　hundred　to　Ed　Middleton；　seventy…five　dollars　for　the　truck；　and　I'd　be　down　to　only　two　hundred　and　twenty…five。　Luckily；　I　had　feed　at　Ocala　left　over　from　last　year；　and　the　older　Flint　corn　is；　the　better　it　is　for　feeding。　And　within　two　weeks　I　could　win　some　money　at　the　Ocala　cockpit。　At　least　two；　or　possibly　three；　birds　could　be　conditioned　for　battle　by　that　time。
　　After　packing　and　checking　out　of　the　hotel；　I　cashed　the　check　at　the　bank。　I　wired　seven　hundred　dollars　to　Jake　Melihorn　immediately　with　instructions　to　ship　the　cocks　to　my　farm。　I　mailed　the　signed　papers　back　to　Judge　Powell　special　delivery；　and　headed　for　the　used　car　lot　to　buy　the　staked…out　pickup　truck。
　　Within　two　hours；　I　was　driving　out　of　Jacksonville。　The　cocker's　supplies　from　Doc　Riordan　were　in　the　truck　bed；　along　with　my　suitcase　and　gaff　case；　covered　by　a　tarp。　The　remainder　of　my　money；　in　tens　and　twenties；　was　pinned　inside　my　jacket　pocket　with　a　safety　pin。
　　As　I　turned　onto　Highway　17　I　thought　suddenly　of　Bernice　Hungerford。　She　had　been　in　my　thoughts　several　times　during　the　last　three　days；　especially　late　at　night　when　I　had　been　trying　to　sleep；　with　hunger　pangs　burning　my　stomach。　In　fact；　I　had　considered　seriously　going　out　to　her　house　and　chiseling　a　free　meal。　But　I　had　felt　too　guilty　to　go。　Leaving　a　broken　guitar　on　her　front　porch　hadn't　been　a　brilliant　idea。
　　There　was　a　filling　station　ahead；　and　I　pulled　onto　the　ramp　and　pointed　to　the　regular　pump。
　　〃How　many；　sir？〃
　　I　pulled　a　finger　across　my　throat。
　　〃Filler　up？　Yes；　sir。〃
　　While　I　was　still　looking　at　the　large　city　map　inside　the　station；　the　attendant　interrupted　me　to　ask　if　everything　was　all　right　under　the　hood。　The　question　was　so　stupid　I　must　have　looked　surprised；　because　he　blushed　with　embarrassment　and　checked　beneath　the　hood　without　waiting　for　a　reply。　How　else　can　a　man　discover　whether　oil　and　water　are　needed　unless　he　looks？
　　I　traced　the　map　and　found　Bernice's　street。　Her　house　was　about　three　miles　out　of　my　way。　I　didn't　really　owe　her　anything；　but　I　knew　my　conscience　would　be　eased　if　I　repaid　the　woman　the　thirty　dollars　she　had　advanced　me　when　I　had　needed　it。　I　turned　around；