登陆注册
37916000000068

第68章 CHAPTER XIV EFFIE'S FATE(1)

Surely, but very, very slowly, the little Berry house moved on its rollers up the Hill Boulevard. Right at its heels--if a house may be said to have heels--came the "pure Colonial," under the guidance of the foreman with "progressive methods." Groups of idlers, male and female, stood about and commented. Simeon Phinney smilingly replied to their questions. Captain Sol himself seemed little interested. He spent most of his daylight time at the depot, only going to the Higginses' house for his meals. At night, after the station was closed, he sought his own dwelling, climbed over the joist and rollers, entered, retired to his room, and went to bed.

Each day also he grew more taciturn. Even with Simeon, his particular friend, he talked little.

"What IS the matter with you, Sol?" asked Mr. Phinney. "You're as glum as a tongue-tied parrot. Ain't you satisfied with the way I'm doin' your movin'? The white horse can go back again if you say so."

"I'm satisfied," grunted the depot master. "Let you know when I've got any fault to find. How soon will you get abreast the--abreast the Seabury lot?"

"Let's see," mused the building mover. "Today's the eighth. Well, I'll be there by the eleventh, SURE. Can't drag it out no longer, Sol, even if the other horse is took sick. 'Twon't do. Williams has been complainin' to the selectmen and they're beginnin' to pester me. As for that Colt and Adams foreman--whew!"

He whistled. His companion smiled grimly.

"Williams himself drops in to see me occasional," he said. "Tells me what he thinks of me, with all the trimmin's added. I cal'late he gets as good as he sends. I'm always glad to see him; he keeps me cheered up, in his way."

"Ye-es, I shouldn't wonder. Was he in to-day?"

"He was. And somethin' has pleased him, I guess. At any rate he was in better spirits. Asked me if I was goin' to move right onto that Main Street lot soon as my house got there."

"What did you say?"

"I said I was cal'latin' to. Told him I hated to get out of the high-society circles I'd been livin' in lately, but that everyone had their comedowns in this world."

"Ho, ho! that was a good one. What answer did he make to that?"

"Well, he said the 'high society' would miss me. Then he finished up with a piece of advice. 'Berry,' says he, 'don't move onto that lot TOO quick. I wouldn't if I was you.' Then he went away, chucklin'."

"Chucklin', hey? What made him so joyful?"

"Don't know"--Captain Sol's face clouded once more--"and I care less," he added brusquely.

Simeon pondered. "Have you heard from Abner Payne, Sol?" he asked.

"Has Ab answered that letter you wrote sayin' you'd swap your lot for the Main Street one?"

"No, he hasn't. I wrote him that day I told you to move me."

"Hum! that's kind of funny. You don't s'pose--"

He stopped, noticing the expression on his friend's face. The depot master was looking out through the open door of the waiting room. On the opposite side of the road, just emerging from Mr. Higgins's "general store," was Olive Edwards, the widow whose home was to be pulled down as soon as the "Colonial" reached its destination. She came out of the store and started up Main Street.

Suddenly, and as if obeying an involuntary impulse, she turned her head. Her eyes met those of Captain Sol Berry, the depot master.

For a brief instant their glance met, then Mrs. Edwards hurried on.

Sim Phinney sighed pityingly. "Looks kind of tired and worried, don't she?" he ventured. His friend did not speak.

"I say," repeated Phinney, "that Olive looks sort of worn out and--"

"Has she heard from the Omaha cousin yet?" interrupted the depot master.

"No; Mr. Hilton says not. Sol, what DO you s'pose--"

But Captain Sol had risen and gone into the ticket office. The door closed behind him. Mr. Phinney shook his head and walked out of the building. On his way back to the scene of the house moving he shook his head several times.

On the afternoon of the ninth Captain Bailey Stitt and his friend Wingate came to say good-by. Stitt was going back to Orham on the "up" train, due at 3:3O. Barzilla would return to Wellmouth and the Old Home House on the evening (the "down") train.

"Hey, Sol!" shouted Wingate, as they entered the waiting room.

"Sol! where be you?"

The depot master came out of the ticket office. "Hello, boys!" he said shortly.

"Hello, Sol!" hailed Stitt. "Barzilla and me have come to shed the farewell tear. As hirelin's of soulless corporations, meanin' the Old Home House at Wellmouth and the Ocean House at Orham, we've engaged all the shellfish along-shore and are goin' to clear out."

"Yes," chimed in his fellow "hireling," "and we thought the pleasantest place to put in our few remainin' hours--as the papers say when a feller's goin' to be hung--was with you."

"I thought so," said Captain Bailey, with a wink. "We've been havin' more or less of an argument, Sol. Remember how Barzilla made fun of Jonadab Wixon for believin' in dreams? Yes, well that was only make believe. He believes in 'em himself."

"I don't either," declared Wingate. "And I never said so. What I said was that sometimes it almost seemed as if there was somethin' IN fortune tellin' and such."

"There is," chuckled Bailey with another wink at the depot master.

"There's money in it--for the fortune tellers."

"I said--and I say again," protested Barzilla, "that I knew a case at our hotel of a servant girl named Effie, and she--"

"Oh, Heavens to Betsy! Here he goes again, I steered him in here on purpose, Sol, so's he'd get off that subject."

"You never neither. You said--"

The depot master held up his hand. "Don't both talk at once," he commanded. "Set down and be peaceful, can't you. That's right.

What about this Effie, Barzilla?"

"Now look here!" protested Stitt.

"Shut up, Bailey! Who was Effie, Barzilla?"

"She was third assistant roustabout and table girl at the Old Home House," said Wingate triumphantly. "Got another cigar, Sol?

Thanks. Yes, this Effie had never worked out afore and she was greener'n a mess of spinach; but she was kind of pretty to look at and--"

同类推荐
  • 简·爱

    简·爱

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 金刚顶瑜伽降三世成就极深密门

    金刚顶瑜伽降三世成就极深密门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 金璧故事

    金璧故事

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 春日重至南徐旧居

    春日重至南徐旧居

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 蚍蜉传

    蚍蜉传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 噩梦传说

    噩梦传说

    本文属于长篇冒险类小说.若人类终日被噩梦所纠缠,那么梦世界中两座祭坛的平衡将会被打破,噩梦祭坛的力量也必然会与日俱增。二十年前,狡猾的噩梦神派厄运师去蛊惑现实世界中的国王,使他变成了一位不折不扣的暴君,目的无非就是让人们过上水深火热的生活,抑制神族美梦祭坛的力量,这样,它就可以利用魔族的铁骑踏碎其余五大种族,掠夺其秘典,重塑梦的世界。随后,噩梦神劈开了一道异世裂口,他打算把梦魇和绝望带给现实世界中的每一个人,不料神族唯一的幸存者萨拉公主,为了拯救人类而与神族秘典融为一体,那一刻,她使用秘典中的强大力量在现实世界释放了一道巨大的魔法结界,把异世裂口和魔物通通困在了里面。然而。。。。
  • 为爱而狂

    为爱而狂

    [花雨授权]为了给失散多年的孪生姐姐打抱不平,她们约定互换身份一年。凭着坚韧的个性和机智替姐姐摆平了一切阻力,但当她再次回到自己的生活圈时,却发现自己已回不到从前,她该继续爱那个不该爱的人?还是……
  • 零基础养成系统

    零基础养成系统

    碌碌无为的他,碰到了一个养成系统,不得不拼命学习,再回首,他已经是……
  • 霍少总想和我炒CP

    霍少总想和我炒CP

    【重生娱乐圈新晋女神VS影帝兼隐形豪门大佬】充当活体血库十多年,一朝重生,林芸熙怼渣爹,斗心机妹,只身勇闯娱乐圈,誓要成为大佬合伙人。怎料热搜来的太凶猛,影帝、鲜肉都要和她炒CP。“西域CP,最有风情!”“跳水女孩,永不服输!”“甜心女孩,永远在线!”……影帝大佬霍延煜一把将她压到墙上,“CP炒的挺热?和我组!”她仰头,“你要蹭我热度?”大佬咬牙切齿,“这CP只能和我炒,否则……立马公开关系!”林芸熙欲哭无泪,原本只想当他合伙人,谁知,一入霍门深似海,合伙变合法……她的森林……啊啊啊……心好痛都怪夜色太美,他太好看!霍狗绝对是红颜霍水!
  • 极品闹鬼系统

    极品闹鬼系统

    偶然得到极品闹鬼系统,结果抽到一只女鬼……从此我的生活发生了质的变化,成熟知性的美女老师,青春靓丽的极品校花,高高在上的白富美御姐,人人迷恋的美艳明星,一个个争抢着投怀送抱……一朝系统在手,看我拳打南山女鬼,脚踢北岭僵尸,出任CEO,迎娶白富美,华丽丽走向人生巅峰!书友群:487739080,欢迎大家加入。
  • 易烊千玺我爱你

    易烊千玺我爱你

    本文主写易烊千玺,所以,王俊凯和王源是配角(小螃蟹and小汤圆不要怪我,千纸鹤请顶我)(这是梦梦第2次写书了)
  • 十亿级投资人

    十亿级投资人

    由于父辈关系,入赘李家,意外获得预知未来的能力,获得气运加身的他促进产业发展,孵化产业群,引领华国成为第一强国。全球购置岛屿、陆地版块。建造商业帝国核心。成为全球产业霸主。
  • 学弟似乎是小奶狗

    学弟似乎是小奶狗

    方梓把刚刚的语音听了一遍又一遍,这个声音太可了!好奶啊!!方梓点着语音长按把语音收藏了。“学姐?你刚刚在干嘛?”方梓连忙回头,看见容熙笑意满满的盯着自己,不知道是不是她的错觉,她看见了容熙眼中的一抹深情。“学姐,你刚刚是不是把我的语音收藏了?”容熙见证了刚刚方梓的行为,心里柔成一片,阿梓怎么可以这么可爱。姐弟恋表面高冷女主vs伪装奶狗男主
  • 恰拾怿少年

    恰拾怿少年

    转眼间大学就要毕业了,利用闲余时间写写自己22岁前的回忆录,算是自己的毕业礼物吧。
  • 那些记忆里的旧时光

    那些记忆里的旧时光

    关于成长历程中遇到的磨难,以及无人理解的感受