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！
Gurley was taking her afternoon snore on a couch； so that left me pretty
much alone。
〃In passing by Arthur's study I looked in； and saw his bunch of keys
hanging in the drawer of his desk； where he'd forgotten 'em。 Well； I guess
we're all to the Mrs。 Bluebeard now and then； ain't we； Lynn？ I made up
my mind I'd have a look at that memento he kept so secret。 Not that I
cared what it was it was just curiosity。
〃While I was opening the drawer I imagined one or two things it might
be。 I thought it might be a dried rosebud she'd dropped down to him from
a balcony； or maybe a picture of her he'd cut out of a magazine； she being
so high up in the world。
〃I opened the drawer； and there was the rosewood casket about the size
of a gent's collar box。 I found the little key in the bunch that fitted it； and
unlocked it and raised the lid。
〃I took one look at that memento； and then I went to my room and
packed my trunk。 I threw a few things into my grip； gave my hair a flirt or
two with a side…comb； put on my hat； and went in and gave the old lady's
153
… Page 154…
The Voice of the City
foot a kick。 I'd tried awfully hard to use proper and correct language while
I was there for Arthur's sake； and I had the habit down pat； but it left me
then。
〃Stop sawing gourds；〃 says I； 〃and sit up and take notice。 The ghost's
about to walk。 I'm going away from here； and I owe you eight dollars。 The
expressman will call for my trunk。'
〃I handed her the money。
〃'Dear me； Miss Crosby！' says she。 'Is any… thing wrong？ I thought you
were pleased here。 Dear me； young women are so hard to understand； and
so different from what you expect 'em to be。'
〃'You're damn right；' says I。 'Some of 'em are。 But you can't say that
about men。 When you know one man you know 'em all！ That settles the
human… race question。'
〃And then I caught the four…thirty…eight； soft… coal unlimited； and here
I am。〃
〃You didn't tell me what was in the box； Lee；〃 said Miss D'armande；
anxiously。
〃One of those yellow silk garters that I used to kick off my leg into the
audience during that old vaudeville swing act of mine。 Is there any of the
cocktail left； Lynn？〃
154