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Just at the crowded hour one night, the door opened and a man entered with the quiet blue uniform and peaked cap of the mine police.
一天晚上，人们正在欢呼畅饮，忽然门开了，走进一个人来，身穿一套朴素的蓝制服，头戴一顶煤铁矿警察的尖顶帽子。
This was a special body raised by the railways and colliery owners to supplement the efforts of the ordinary civil police,
这是一个由铁路局和矿主们组建的特殊机构，用以补充普通警察的不足，
who were perfectly helpless in the face of the organized ruffianism which terrorized the district.
因为矿区内，到处是一片恐怖，不断发生有组织的暴行，面对这种情况，普通警察完全束手无策。
There was a hush as he entered, and many a curious glance was cast at him;
这个警察一进门，大家顿时安静下来，许多人好奇地看着他，
but the relations between policemen and criminals are peculiar in some parts of the States,
不过在美国各州，警察和罪犯之间的关系是很特殊的，
and McGinty himself, standing behind his counter, showed no surprisewhen the policeman enrolled himself among his customers.
因此，麦金蒂站在柜台后面，对这个警察混在他的顾客中，毫不感到惊奇。
"A straight whisky; for the night is bitter," said the police officer. "I don't think we have met before, Councillor?"
"今晚天气太冷了，来点纯威士忌酒，"警官说道，"参议员先生，我们以前没见过面吧？"
"You'll be the new captain?" said McGinty.
"你是新来的队长吗？"麦金蒂问道。
"That's so. We're looking to you, Councillor, and to the other leading citizens, to help us in upholding law and order in this township. Captain Marvin is my name."
"不错，我们是来拜访你的，参议员先生，还有其他的首领，请你们协助我们在本镇维护法律。我的名字叫马文，是煤铁矿警察队长。"
"We'd do better without you, Captain Marvin," said McGinty coldly; "for we have our own police of the township, and no need for any imported goods.
"我们这里很好，用不着你们来维持，马文队长，"麦金蒂冷冷地说道，"我们镇上有自己的警察，用不着什么进口货。
What are you but the paid tool of the capitalists, hired by them to club or shoot your poorer fellow citizen?"
你们不过是资本家花钱雇来的爪牙，除了用棍棒或枪支来对付穷苦老百姓之外．还能干什么？"
"Well, well, we won't argue about that," said the police officer goodhumouredly.
"好，好，我们不用争论这个，"警官和平地说道。
"I expect we all do our duty same as we see it; but we can't all see it the same."
"希望我们大家都各按己见同样尽自己的责任。不过我们的看法还不能完全一致。"
He had drunk off his glass and had turned to go, when his eyes fell upon the face of Jack McMurdo, who was scowling at his elbow.
他喝完了酒，转身要走，忽然眼光落到杰克·麦克默多的脸上，麦克默多正站在近处怒视着他。
"Hullo! Hullo!" he cried, looking him up and down. "Here's an old acquaintance!"
"喂！喂！"马文队长上下打量了麦克默多一番，大声喊道，"这里有一个老相识了。"
McMurdo shrank away from him. "I was never a friend to you nor any other cursed copper in my life," said he.
麦克默多从他身旁走开，说道："我生来就没有和你交过朋友，也没有和什么别的万恶的警察做过朋友。"
"An acquaintance isn't always a friend," said the police captain, grinning. "You're Jack McMurdo of Chicago, right enough, and don't you deny it!"
"一个相识往往不是一个朋友，"警察队长咧嘴笑道，"你是芝加哥的杰克·麦克默多，一点也不错，你不要抵赖。"
McMurdo shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not denying it," said he. "D'ye think I'm ashamed of my own name?"
麦克默多耸了耸肩膀。"我用不着抵赖，"麦克默多说道，"你以为我为自己的名字感到羞愧么？"
"You've got good cause to be, anyhow."
"不管怎样，你干了些好事！"
"What the devil d'you mean by that?" he roared with his fists clenched.
"你说这话究竟是什么意思？"麦克默多握紧拳头，怒吼道。
"No, no, Jack, bluster won't do with me. I was an officer in Chicago before ever I came to this darned coal bunker, and I know a Chicago crook when I see one."
"不，不，杰克，你不要对我这么怒气冲冲。我到这该死的煤矿以前，是芝加哥的一个警官，芝加哥的恶棍无赖，我一看就认识。"
McMurdo's face fell. "Don't tell me that you're Marvin of the Chicago Central!" he cried.
麦克默多把脸沉下来，喝道："用不着告诉我你是芝加哥警察总署的马文！"
"Just the same old Teddy Marvin, at your service. We haven't forgotten the shooting of Jonas Pinto up there."
"正是这同一个老特德·马文听候您的吩咐。我们还没有忘记那里发生过枪杀乔纳斯·平托的事。"
"I never shot him."
"我没有枪杀他。"
"Did you not? That's good impartial evidence, ain't it?
"你没有吗？那不是有确凿的证据吗？
Well, his death came in uncommon handy for you, or they would have had you for shoving the queer.
好，那人一死对你可有很大好处，不然，他们早就因使用伪币罪把你逮捕入狱了。
Well, we can let that be bygones; for, between you and me -- and perhaps I'm going further than my duty in saying it
得了，我们可以让这些事过去吧。因为，这只有你知我知，也许我说得过头了，说了些份外的事，
they could get no clear case against you, and Chicago's open to you tomorrow."
他们找不到对你不利的有力事实，明天芝加哥的大门就又为你敞开了。"
"I'm very well where I am."
"我随便住在哪儿都可以。"
"Well, I've given you the pointer, and you're a sulky dog not to thank me for it."
"喂，我给你透露了消息，可是你却象一条发怒的狗一样，也不知道谢我一声。"
"Well, I suppose you mean well, and I do thank you," said McMurdo in no very gracious manner.
"好，我想你也许是出于好意，我真应该感谢你。"麦克默多不十分恭敬地说道。
"It's mum with me so long as I see you living on the straight," said the captain.
"只要你老老实实做人，我就不声张出去，"警察队长说道。
"But, by the Lord! if you get off after this, it's another story! So good-night to you–and good-night, Councillor."
"可是，皇天在上，如果以后你不走正道，那就另当别论了！祝你晚安，也祝你晚安，参议员先生。"
He left the barroom; but not before he had created a local hero. McMurdo's deeds in far Chicago had been whispered before.
马文离开了酒吧间，这事不久就使麦克默多成了当地的英雄。因为人们早就暗中议论过麦克默多在遥远的芝加哥的事迹了。
He had put off all questions with a smile, as one who did not wish to have greatness thrust upon him.
麦克默多平常对人们的询问总是一笑置之，就好像怕人家硬给自己加上伟大的英名似的。
But now the thing was officially confirmed. The bar loafers crowded round him and shook him heartily by the hand.
可是现在这件事被正式证实了。酒吧间里那些无业游民都向麦克默多聚拢来，亲切地和他握手。
He was free of the community from that time on.
从此以后，麦克默多在这帮人中便无所顾忌了。
He could drink hard and show little trace of it; but that evening, had his mate Scanlan not been at hand tolead him home, the feted hero would surely have spent his night under the bar.
他酒量很大，而且不显酒意，可是，那晚要不是斯坎伦搀扶他回家，这位颇负盛誉的英雄就只好在酒吧间里过夜了。
