按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
thought of the loving…cup and the pawn…shop。 I planted it there。 It was
a trick； a test。 I thought if you saw it in a pawn…shop you would believe I
no longer cared for you； and that I was very poor。 If you passed it by；
then I would know you yourself had stopped caring； but if you asked
about it； if you inquired for me； then I would know you came to me of
your own wish； because you…〃
Lee shook his head。
〃You don't have to tell me；〃 he said gently； 〃why I came。 I've a cab
outside。 You will get in it；〃 he commanded； 〃and we will rescue our
cup。 I always told you they would look well together over an open
fireplace。〃
THE MIRACLE OF LAS PALMAS
This is the story of a gallant officer who loved his profession；
his regiment； his country； but above all； whiskey； of his
miraculous conversion to total abstinence； and of the humble
instrument that worked the miracle。 At the time it was worked；
a battalion of the Thirty…third Infantry had been left behind to
guard the Zone； and was occupying impromptu barracks on the hill
above Las Palmas。 That was when Las Palmas was one of the four
thousand stations along the forty miles of the Panama Railroad。
When the railroad was 〃reconstructed〃 the name of Las Palmas did
not appear on the new time…table； and when this story appears
Las Palmas will be eighty feet under water。 So if any one wishes
to dispute the miracle he will have to conduct his investigation
in a diving…bell。
On this particular evening young Major Aintree； in command of the
battalion； had gone up the line to Panama to dine at the Hotel
Tivoli； and had dined well。 To prevent his doing this a paternal
government had ordered that at the Tivoli no alcoholic liquors
may be sold； but only two hundred yards from the hotel； outside
the zone of temperance； lies Panama and Angelina's； and during
the dinner； between the Tivoli and Angelina's； the Jamaican
waiter…boys ran relay races。
After the dinner； the Jamaican waiter…boys proving too slow； the
dinner…party in a body adjourned to Angelina's； and when later；
Major Aintree moved across the street to the night train to Las
Palmas； he moved unsteadily。
Young Standish of the Canal Zone police； who； though but twenty…
six； was a full corporal； was for that night on duty as 〃train
guard；〃 and was waiting at the rear steps of the last car。 As
Aintree approached the steps he saw indistinctly a boyish figure
in khaki； and； mistaking it for one of his own men； he clasped
the handrail for support； and halted frowning。
Observing the condition of the officer the policeman also frowned；
but in deference to the uniform； slowly and with reluctance raised
his hand to his sombrero。 The reluctance was more apparent than
the salute。 It was less of a salute than an impertinence。
Partly out of regard for his rank； partly from temper； chiefly
from whiskey； Aintree saw scarlet。
〃When you s'lute your s'perior officer；〃 he shouted； 〃you s'lute him
quick。 You unnerstan'； you s'lute him quick！ S'lute me again；〃 he
commanded； 〃and s'lute me damn quick。〃
Standish remained motionless。 As is the habit of policemen over
all the world； his thumbs were stuck in his belt。 He answered
without offense； in tones matter…of…fact and calm。
〃You are not my superior officer；〃 he said。
It was the calmness that irritated Aintree。 His eyes sought for
the infantryman's cap and found a sombrero。
〃You damned leatherneck；〃 he began； 〃I'll report〃
〃I'm not a marine； either；〃 interrupted Standish。 〃I'm a policeman。
Move on；〃 he ordered； 〃you're keeping these people waiting。〃
Others of the dinner…party formed a flying wedge around Aintree
and crowded him up the steps and into a seat and sat upon him。
Ten minutes later； when Standish made his rounds of the cars；
Aintree saw him approaching。 He had a vague recollection that
he had been insulted； and by a policeman。
〃You！〃 he called； and so loudly that all in the car turned； 〃I'm
going to report you； going to report you for insolence。 What's
your name？〃
Looking neither at Aintree nor at the faces turned toward him；
Standish replied as though Aintree had asked him what time it was。
〃Standish；〃 he said； 〃corporal； shield number 226； on train
guard。〃 He continued down the aisle。
〃I'll remember you；〃 Aintree shouted。
But in the hot； glaring dawn of the morning after； Aintree forgot。
It was Standish who remembered。
The men of the Zone police are hand…picked。 They have been
soldiers； marines； cowboys； sheriffs； 〃Black Hussars〃 of the
Pennsylvania State constabulary； rough riders with Roosevelt；
mounted police in Canada； irregular horse in South Africa； they
form one of the best…organized； best…disciplined； most efficient；
most picturesque semi…military bodies in the world。 Standish
joined them from the Philippine constabulary in which he had
been a second lieutenant。 There are several like him in the
Zone police； and in England they would be called gentlemen
rankers。 On the Isthmus； because of his youth； his fellow
policemen called Standish 〃Kid。〃 And smart as each of them was；
each of them admitted the Kid wore his uniform with a difference。
With him it always looked as though it had come freshly ironed
from the Colon laundry； his leather leggings shone like
meerschaum pipes； the brim of his sombrero rested impudently on
the bridge of his nose。
〃He's been an officer；〃 they used to say in extenuation。 〃You can
tell when he salutes。 He shows the back of his hand。〃 Secretly；
they were proud of him。 Standish came of a long chain of soldiers；
and that the weakest link in the chain had proved to be himself was
a sorrow no one else but himself could fathom。 Since he was three
years old he had been trained to be a soldier； as carefully； with the
same singleness of purpose； as the crown prince is trained to be a
king。 And when； after three happy； glorious years at West Point；
he was found not clever enough to pass the examinations and was
dropped； he did not curse the gods and die； but began again to work
his way up。 He was determined he still would wear shoulder…straps。
He owed it to his ancestors。 It was the tradition of his family； the one
thing he wanted； it was his religion。 He would get into the army
even if by the side door； if only after many years of rough and
patient service。 He knew that some day； through his record；
through the opportunity of a war； he would come into his
inheritance。 Meanwhile he officered his soul； disciplined his
body； and daily tried to learn the lesson that he who hopes to
control others must first control himself。
He allowed himself but one dissipation； one excess。 That was
to hate Major Aintree； commanding the Thirty…third Infantry。 Of
all the world could give； Aintree possessed everything that
Standish considered the most to be desired。 He was a graduate of
West Point； he had seen service in Cuba； in the Boxer business；
and in the Philippines。 For an act of conspicuous courage at
Batangas； he had received the medal of honor。 He had had the
luck of the devil。 Wherever he held command turned out to be the