登陆注册
26300900000018

第18章 ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS(2)

I've got it figured out. Second story - Chinks and chop suey; third floor -manicures and foreign mis- sions; fourth floor -poolroom. If you was think- of putting up the capital.

"Oh, no," said Gillian, I merely asked from cu- riosity. I take you by the hour. Drive 'til I tell you to stop."

Eight blocks down Broadway Gillian poked up the trap with his cane and got out. A blind man sat upon a stool on the sidewalk selling pencils. Gillian went out and stood before him.

"Excuse me," he said, " but would you mind tell- ing me what you would do if you bad a thousand dollars?"

"You got out of that cab that just drove up, didn't you? " asked the blind man.

"I did," said Gillian.

" guess you are all right," said the pencil dealer, "to ride in a cab by daylight. Take a look at that, if you like."

He drew a small book from his coat pocket and held it out. Gillian opened it and saw that it was a bank deposit book. It showed a balance of $1,785 to the blind man's credit.

Gillian returned the book and got into the cab.

"I forgot something," be said. "You may drive to the law offices of Tolman & Sharp, at - Broad- way."

Lawyer Tolman looked at him hostilely and in- quiringly through his gold-rimmed glasses.

" I beg your pardon," said Gillian, cheerfully, "but may I ask you a question? It is not an im- pertinent one, I hope. Was Miss Hayden left any- thing by my uncle's will besides the ring and the $10?"

" Nothing," said Mr. Tolman.

" I thank you very much, sir," said Gillian, and on he went to his cab. He gave the driver the ad- dress of his late uncle's home.

Miss Hayden was writing letters in the library.

She was small and slender and clothed in black. But you would have noticed her eyes. Gillian drifted in with his air of regarding the world as inconse- quent.

I've just come from old Tolman's," he explained.

They've been going over the papers down there.

They found a - Gillian searched his memory for a legal term - they found an amendment or a post- script or something to the will. It seemed that the old boy loosened up a little on second thoughts and willed you a thousand dollars. I was driving up this way and Tolman asked me to bring you the money.

Here it is. You'd better count it to see if it's right."

Gillian laid the money beside her hand on the desk.

Miss Hayden turned white. "Oh! " she said, and again "Oh !"

Gillian half turned and looked out the window.

"I suppose, of course," be said, in a low voice, that you know I love you."

"I am sorry," said Miss Hayden, taking up her money.

" There is no use? " asked Gillian, almost light- heartedly.

" I am sorry," she said again.

" May I write a note? " asked Gillian, with a smile, I-re seated himself at the big library table. She sup- plied him with paper and pen, and then went back to her secretaire.

Gillian made out his account of his expenditure of the thousand dollars i;i these words:

Paid by the black sheep, Robert Gillian, $1,000 on account of the eternal happiness, owed by Heaven to the best and dearest woman on earth."

Gillian slipped his writing into an envelope, bowed and went his way.

His cab stopped again at the offices of Tolman &

Sharp.

"I have expended the thousand dollars," he said cheerily, to Tolman of the gold glasses, " and I have come to render account of it, as I agreed. There is quite a feeling of summer in the air - do you not think so, Mr. Tolman?" He tossed a white envelope on the lawyer's table. You will find there a memo- randum, sir, of the modus operandi of the vanishing of the dollars."

Without touching the envelope, Mr. Tolman went to a door and called his partner, Sharp. Together they explored the caverns of an immense safe. Forth they dragged, as trophy of their search a big envelope sealed with wax. This they forcibly invaded, and wagged their venerable heads together over its con- tents. Then Tolman became spokesman.

"Mr. Gillian," he said, formally, "there was a codicil to your uncle's will. It was intrusted to us privately, with instructions that it be not opened until you had furnished us with a full account of your handling of the $1,000 bequest in the will. As you have fulfilled the conditions, my partner and I have read the codicil. I do not wish to encumber your understanding with its legal phraseology, but I will acquaint you with the spirit of its contents.

In the event that your disposition of the $1,000 demonstrates that you possess any of the qualifica- tions that deserve reward, much benefit will accrue to you. Mr. Sharp and I are named as the judges, and I assure you that we will do our duty strictly according to justice-with liberality.

We are not at all unfavorably disposed toward you, Mr. Gillian. But let us return to the letter of the codicil. If your disposal of the money in question has been prudent, wise, or unselflish, it is in our power to hand you over bonds to the value of $50,000, which have been placed in our hands for that purpose. But if - as our client, the late Mr. Gillian, explicitly provides - you have used this money as you have money in the past, I quote the late Mr. Gillian - in reprehensible dissipation among disreputable associates - the $50,000 is to be paid to Miriam Hayden, ward of the late Mr. Gillian, without delay.

Now, Mr. Gillian, Mr. Sharp and I will examine your account in regard to the $1,000. You submit it in writing, I believe. I hope you will repose confidence in our decision."

Mr. Tolman reached for the envelope. Gillian was a little the quicker in taking it up. He tore the account and its cover leisurely into strips and dropped them into his pocket.

"It's all right," he said, smilingly. "There isn't a bit of need to bother you with this. I don't suppose you'd understand these itemized bets, anyway. I lost the thousand dollars on the races. Good-day to you, gentlemen."

Tolman & Sharp shook their beads mournfully at each other when Gillian left, for they heard him whis- tling gayly in the hallway as he waited for the ele- vator.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 夏人录

    夏人录

    “昔年,小城郊外,凌烈的北风愈盛,蓝明花在冷冽中倔强的开。他背身走进城池,长袍干净,明朗。十载光阴一眨过,天都开元,阅尽世间繁华,火树银花下惊鸿一瞥,如梦似幻,立在这方故土,不由得就想起凡人的诗:陌上人如玉,公子世无双。”“你这十年来抒的情怕是都不及此刻。”粗豪将军嘴里笑着,泪却掉了下来。“叩首命途几多舛,唯有他,配得上这满朝香火的百年惦念。”姬后冕下轻喃。——《夏人录》野史篇“夫子,野史中记的这个他,是什么人啊。”私塾内稚童拿着书卷问道。老夫子愣了一瞬,从小童手里拿过书卷,似是追思,久久没有回过神来。
  • 未之旅

    未之旅

    第七执法者青鸾最近很苦恼。第一个世界,“什么?要和主角作对?!”青鸾瞪大眼睛,天哪,就不能让她好好做个任务吗?第二个世界,“额..我把主角的光环给抢了?”青鸾表示自己真的很无奈很无辜。第三个世界,青鸾盯着面前的男子,十分认真:“我在他身上看到了几个大字!”“什么?”“无法攻略!”
  • 灵机

    灵机

    千古未有之大变局,是顺应天命,还是逆天改命?龙战于野,其血玄黄,是劫数,还是机缘?看道宫能否力挽狂澜,秦清白能否踏上争锋大道......
  • 我的青春你来设防

    我的青春你来设防

    很痞的风格,却让人笑中带着泪。剥开皮囊,灵魂都是如此的脆弱和孤独。
  • 那年夏天,我的星空绚烂

    那年夏天,我的星空绚烂

    梁山好汉柴进,穿越到三国时候,邂逅貂蝉,展开一段腥风血雨的冒险故事……解不开的三国情结,解不开的水浒梦……万万没想到,我也开始写网路小说了……为了更好地写我的纯文学,为了糊口,我的网络小说之旅,就此展开!
  • 都市酒神

    都市酒神

    没有什么事是一瓶酒不能解决的,如果有,那就两瓶!黑车司机王小胖在酒吧街邂逅美女乘客,没想到这单生意令他的人生完全改变,每次饮酒,他的身体便会出现异常。傲娇书记千金,冷艳女警,妩媚老板娘接踵而至,且看王小胖如何凭着异能,踏上人生巅峰!
  • 将军夫人发家史

    将军夫人发家史

    都市精英女一朝穿越成庶女,什么,让她嫁人做妾?想得美!姐的生活姐做主!拿着古代爹爹留下的大把遗产,风风光光战商场,历时三年,成为一方女首富。好吧,赚得盆满钵满,又让她嫁人,什么?嫁的还是个大将军!呵呵哒,得看我愿不愿意了!
  • 星玖法城:逆袭圣女

    星玖法城:逆袭圣女

    年少叛逆,性情傲娇,偶尔撒娇,甜美可爱……这便是雪千影,多种性格,自由切换。看似冷酷,实质逗比;对于自己熟悉的人,温柔对待,特别是她,雪千影,更是在意。携手同去异界,什么?是圣女?完成使命?都是什么鬼?没事,有什么关系,全都难不倒本小姐。“有我,当然难不倒你”某男凑过来,伸手一带,某女立刻被带去怀中。“喂,秀够了没,我还在呢,看看我”“媳妇儿,本君在看”其实本文有两对cp……………
  • 曼陀罗原型

    曼陀罗原型

    科技与古武共同发展的世界战争巨兽遗骸,潘多拉迷宫,混乱之域,邪恶国度,机遇与危机并存身为小人物的他,不断的从别人的嘴里抢稀有的资源在这混乱的时代只有成为最强者才有资格拥有一切曼陀罗之花绽放,无数的强者倒下他的信条:我抢到了就是我的,谁也别想拿走
  • 铭战天神

    铭战天神

    杨戬,这个令人重温的人物都不陌生吧!!~~~然而在此作品中,他将展现出与之完全不同的杨戬!面对着充满对无限的极限而挑战的特殊而神秘的欲望,况且直至能够战胜欲望!~~~那充满着能够几近促使一切都为之颠覆和无可匹敌的“觉醒神之源”最终会如何的从直至修炼成战天斗地,超出三界之外!不在五行之中的“无界”!终究会是什么样的呢?!神源之征!由此迸然而出!杨戬以及他的“同伴”们能否能够勇越巅峰!在面对未知的敌人,~~~~杨戬终究依会是怎样的?!~结果告诉自己:“只有开始”!…………