爱的力量(3)

在9762号范林丁释放一周之后，印第安那州的里土满又发生了一起保险柜被盗事件。只有区区800美元。两星期后，一家保险柜再次被盗，1500美元不翼而飞，证券和银器纹丝未动。这开始引起了侦探的注意。又过了几天，杰弗逊市银行被盗，被窃走了5000美元。现在损失的数目越来越大，因此该由本·普莱斯这样大名鼎鼎的侦探来着手侦查。在比较了所有的案件之后，普莱斯侦探发现盗窃手法如出一辙。本·普莱斯调查了这些盗窃案的现场。尔后，人们听他说道：

“That’s all Jimmy Valentine’s work. He’s resumed business. He’s got the only tools that can open any safe without leaving the slightest trace. Yes, it is Mr. Valentine.”

“这都是基米·范林丁干的。他又重操旧业了。他有非常出色的工具，可以打开任何保险柜而又不留下任何蛛丝马迹。是的，这是范林丁干的。”

Ben Price knew Jimmy’s habits. He had learned them while investigating the Springfield case.

本·普莱斯对基米的恶习了如指掌。当他在侦查春田案件时就掌握了所有这一切。

One afternoon Jimmy Valentine and his suitcase climbed out of a train in Elmore, a little town in Arkansas. Jimmy, looking like a student who had just come home from college, walked out of the station and went toward the hotel.

一天下午，基米·范林丁带着他的手提箱在阿肯色州的一个名叫爱尔摩的小镇下了火车。基米看上去就像一个刚从学校回家的大学生。他出了车站，向旅馆走去。 A young lady crossed the street, passed him at the corner and entered a door over which was the sigh “The Elmore Bank”. Jimmy Valentine looked into her eyes, forgot what he was, and became another man. She lowered her eyes and blushed slightly. Young men of Jimmy’s style and looks were scarce in Elmore.

这时，正好有一位年轻小姐穿过马路，在拐角处和他擦身而过，走进了写有“爱尔摩银行”的大门。基米·范林丁凝视着她的眼睛，忘乎所以，像换了一个人似的。她双眼低垂，脸色羞红。在爱尔摩，像基米这样风度翩翩的年轻人还是不多见的。

Jimmy called a boy that was standing on the steps of the bank as if he were one of the stockholders, and began to ask him questions about the town, giving him dimes from time to time. By and by the young lady came out, passed Jimmy again, pretending not to see him, and went on her way.

基米将站在银行台阶上的一个男孩叫了进来，活像一个股东似的，向他了解该镇的情况，不时给他几个一角的银币。过了一会儿，那个小姐走了出来，又从基米的身边走过，假装没有看见他的样子，只顾走自己的路。

“Isn’t that young lady Miss Polly Simpson?” asked Jimmy slyly.

“这不是波丽·辛普森小姐吗？”基米神情闪烁地问道。

“No,” said the boy. “She’s Annabel Adams. Her father owns this bank. What have you come to Elmore for? Is that a gold watch-chain? I’m going to get a bulldog. Have you got any more dimes?”

“不是，”那个男孩说，“她是安娜贝尔·亚当斯。她的父亲是这家银行的老板。你到爱尔摩来做什么？你这是金表链吗？我想买一条哈巴狗。你还有银币吗？”

Jimmy went to the planters’ Hotel, registered as Ralph D. Spencer, and engaged a room. He leaned on the desk and declared his intentions to the clerk. He said he had come to Elmore to start business. How was the shoe business now in the town? He had thought of the shoe business. Was it worthwhile opening a shoe-store? The clerk was impressed by the clothes and manner of Jimmy and he was ready to give the young man any information he desired.