欧亨利aretrievedreformationWord下载.docx

欧亨利aretrievedreformationWord下载.docx

《欧亨利aretrievedreformationWord下载.docx》由会员分享，可在线阅读，更多相关《欧亨利aretrievedreformationWord下载.docx（6页珍藏版）》请在冰豆网上搜索。

saidthewarden,"

you'

llgooutinthemorning.Braceup,andmakeamanofyourself.You'

renotabadfellowatheart.Stopcrackingsafes,andlivestraight."

Ale?

saidJimmy,insurprise."

Why,Inevercrackedasafeinmylife."

Oh,no,"

laughedthewarden."

Ofcoursenot.Let'

ssee,now.HowwasityouhappenedtogetsentuponthatSpringfieldjob?

Wasitbecauseyouwouldn'

tproveanalibiforfearofcompromisingsomebodyinextremelyhigh-tonedsociety?

Orwasitsimplyacaseofameanoldjurythathaditinforyou?

It'

salwaysoneortheotherwithyouinnocentvictims."

saidJimmy,stillblanklyvirtuous."

Why,warden,IneverwasinSpringfieldinmylife!

"

Takehimback,Cronin,"

smiledthewarden,"

andfixhimupwithoutgoingclothes.Unlockhimatseveninthemorning,andlethimcometothebull-pen.Betterthinkovermyadvice,Valentine."

AtaquarterpastsevenonthenextmorningJimmystoodinthewarden'

souteroffice.Hehadonasuitofthevillainouslyfitting,ready-madeclothesandapairofthestiff,squeakyshoesthatthestatefurnishestoitsdischargedcompulsoryguests.

Theclerkhandedhimarailroadticketandthefive-dollarbillwithwhichthelawexpectedhimtorehabilitatehimselfintogoodcitizenshipandprosperity.Thewardengavehimacigar,andshookhands.Valentine,9762,waschronicledonthebooks"

PardonedbyGovernor,"

andMr.JamesValentinewalkedoutintothesunshine.

Disregardingthesongofthebirds,thewavinggreentrees,andthesmelloftheflowers,Jimmyheadedstraightforarestaurant.Therehetastedthefirstsweetjoysoflibertyintheshapeofabroiledchickenandabottleofwhitewinefollowedbyacigaragradebetterthantheonethewardenhadgivenhim.Fromtherebeproceededleisurelytothedepot.Hetossedaquarterintothehatofablindmansittingbythedoor,andboardedhistrain.Threehourssethimdowninalittletownnearthestateline.Hewenttothecafé

ofoneAlikeDolanandshookhandswithMike,whowasalonebehindthebar.

Sorrywecouldn'

tmakeitsooner,Jimmy,meboy,"

saidMike."

ButwehadthatprotestfromSpringfieldtobuckagainst,andthegovernornearlybalked.Feelingallright?

Fine,"

saidJimmy."

Gotmykey?

Hegothiskeyandwentupstairs,unlockingthedoorofaroomattherear.Everythingwasjustashehadleftit.ThereonthefloorwasstillBenPrice'

scollar-buttonthathadbeentornfromthateminentdetective'

sshirt-bandwhentheyhadoverpoweredJimmytoarresthim.

Pullingoutfromthewallafolding-bed,Jimmyslidbackapanelinthewallanddraggedoutadust-coveredsuit-case.

Heopenedthisandgazedfondlyatthefinestsetofburglar'

stoolsintheEast.Itwasacompleteset,madeofspeciallytemperedsteel,thelatestdesignindrills,punches,bracesandbits,jimmies,clamps,andaugers,withtwoorthreenovelties,inventedbyJimmyhimself,inwhichhetookpride.

Overninehundreddollarstheyhadcosthimtohavemadeat--,aplacewheretheymakesuchthingsfortheprofession.

InhalfanhourJimmywentdownstairsandthroughthecaf6.Hewasnowdressedintastefulandwell-fittingclothes,andcarriedhisdustedandcleanedsuit-caseinhishand.

Gotanythingon?

askedMikeDolan,genially.

Me?

saidJimmy,inapuzzledtone."

Idon'

tunderstand.I'

mrepresentingtheNewYorkAmalgamatedShortSnapBiscuitCrackerandFrazzledWheatCompany."

ThisstatementdelightedMiketosuchanextentthatJimmyhadtotakeaseltzer-and-milkonthespot.Henevertouched"

hard"

drinks.

AweekafterthereleaseofValentine,9762,therewasaneatjobofsafe-burglarydoneinRichmond,Indiana,withnocluetotheauthor.Ascanteighthundreddollarswasallthatwassecured.Twoweeksafterthatapatented,improved,burglar-proofsafeinLogansportwasopenedlikeacheesetothetuneoffifteenhundreddollars,currency;

securitiesandsilveruntouched.Thatbegantointeresttherogue-catchers.Thenanold-fashionedbank-safeinJeffersonCitybecameactiveandthrewoutofitscrateraneruptionofbank-notesamountingtofivethousanddollars.ThelosseswerenowhighenoughtobringthematterupintoBenPrice'

sclassofwork.Bycomparingnotes,aremarkablesimilarityinthemethodsoftheburglarieswasnoticed.BenPriceinvestigatedthescenesoftherobberies,andwasheardtoremark:

That'

sDandyJimValentine'

sautograph.He'

sresumedbusiness.Lookatthatcombinationknob--jerkedoutaseasyaspullinguparadishinwetweather.He'

sgottheonlyclampsthatcandoit.Andlookhowcleanthosetumblerswerepunchedout!

Jimmyneverhastodrillbutonebole.Yes,IguessIwant.Mr.Valentine.He'

11dohisbitnexttimewithoutanyshort-timeorclemencyfoolishness."

BenPriceknewJimmy'

shabits.HehadlearnedthemwhileworkinguptheSpringfieldcase.Longjumps,quickget-aways,noconfederates,andatasteforgoodsocietythesewaysbadhelpedMr.Valentinetobecomenotedasasuccessfuldodgerofretribution.ItwasgivenoutthatBenPricehadtakenupthetrailoftheelusivecracksman,andotherpeoplewithburglar-proofsafesfeltmoreatease.

OneafternoonJimmyValentineandhissuit-caseclimbedoutofthemail-hackinElmore,alittletownfivemilesofftherailroaddownintheblack-jackcountryofArkansas.Jimmy,lookinglikeanathleticyoungseniorjusthomefromcollege,wentdowntheboardside-walktowardthehotel.

Ayoungladycrossedthestreet,passedhimatthecornerandenteredadooroverwhichwasthesign"

TheElmoreBank."

JimmyValentinelookedintohereyes,forgotwhathewas,andbecameanotherman.Sheloweredhereyesandcoloredslightly.YoungmenofJimmy'

sstyleandlookswerescarceinElmore.

Jimmycollaredaboythatwasloafingonthestepsofthebankasifhewereoneofthestockholders,andbegantoquestionhimaboutthetown,feedinghimdimesatintervals.Byandbytheyoungladycameout,lookingroyallyunconsciousoftheyoungmanwiththesuit-case,andwentherway.

Isn'

tthatyoungladyMissPollySimpson?

askedJimmy,withspeciousguile.

Naw,"

saidtheboy,"

She'

sAnnabelAdams.Herpaownsthisbank.Wbat'

dyoucometoElmorefor?

Isthatagoldwatch-chain?

I'

mgoingtogetabulldog.Gotanymoredimes?

JimmywenttothePlanters'

Hotel,registeredasRalphD.Spencer,andengagedaroom.Heleanedonthedeskanddeclaredhisplatformtotheclerk.IlesaidhehadcometoElmoretolookforalocationtogointobusiness.Howwasthesboebusiness,now,inthetown?

Hehadthoughtofthesboebusiness.Wasthereanopening!

TheclerkwasimpressedbytheclothesandmannerofJimmy.He,himself,wassomethingofapatternoffashiontothetbinlygildedyouthofElmore,buthenowperceivedhisshortcomings.WhiletryingtofigureoutJimmy'

smanneroftyinghisfour-in-handhecordiallygaveinformation.

Yes,thereoughttobeagoodopeningintheshoeline.Therewasn'

tanexclusiveshoe-storeintheplace.Thedrygoodsandgeneralstoreshandledthem.Businessinalllineswasfairlygood.HopedMr.SpencerwoulddecidetolocateinElmore.Hewouldfinditapleasanttowntolivein,andthepeopleverysociable.

Mr.Spencerthoughthewouldstopoverinthetownafewdaysandlookoverthesituation.No,theclerkneedn'

tcalltheboy.Hewouldcarryuphissuit-case,himself;

itwasratherheavy.

Mr.RalphSpencer,theplicenixthatarosefromJimmyValentine'

sashes--ashesleftbytheflameofasuddenandalterativeattackoflove--remainedinElmore,andprospered.Heopenedashoe-storeandsecuredagoodrunoftrade.

Sociallyhewasalsoasuccess,andmademanyfriends.Andheaccomplishedthewishofhis,heart.HemetMissAnnabelAdams,andbecamemoreandmorecaptivatedbyhercharms.

AttheendofayearthesituationofMr.RalphSpencerwasthis:

hehadwontherespectofthecommunity,hisshoe-storewasflourishing,andheandAnnabelwereengagedtobemarriedintwoweeks.Mr.Adams,thetypical,plodding,countrybanker,approvedofSpencer.Annabel'

sprideinhimalmostequalledheraffection.HewasasmuchathomeinthefamilyofMr.AdamsandthatofAnnabel'

smarriedsisterasifhewerealreadyamember.

OnedayJimmysatdowninhisroomandwrotethisletter,whichhemailedtothesafeaddressofoneofhisoldfriendsinSt.Louis:

DEAROLDPAL:

IwantyoutobeatSullivan'

splace,inLittleRock,nextWednesdaynight,.atnineo'

clock.Iwantyoutowindupsomelittlemattersforme.And,also,Iwanttomakeyouapresentofmykitoftools.Iknowyou'

llbegladtogettbem--youcouldn'

tduplicatethelotforathousanddollars.Say,Billy,I'

vequittheoldbusiness--ayearago.I'

vegotanicestore.I'

mmakinganhonestliving,andI'

mgoingtomarrythefinestgirlonearthtwoweeksfromnow.It'

stheonlylife,Billy--thestraightone.Iwouldn'

ttouchadollarofanotherman'

smoneynowforamillion.AfterIgetmarriedI'

mgoingtoselloutandgoWest,wheretherewon'

tbesomuchdangerofhavingoldscoresbroughtupagainstme.Itellyou,Billy,she'

sanangel.Shebelievesinme;