——Are you through with your homework?

　 ——Well, ____.

A、sort of 　 B、go ahead　 C、why not 　 D、that’s OK

 

At Denver there was an inflow of passengers into the coaches on the eastbound B.&M. express. In one coach there sat a very pretty young woman dressed in graceful taste. Among the newcomers were two young men, one was handsome with a brave, open features and manner; the other a glum-faced person, heavily built and roughly dressed. The two were handcuffed (上手拷) together.

When they sat down in the only unoccupied seat opposite the girl, her glance fell upon them with a distant, swift disinterest; then with a lovely smile she held out her hand.

“Well, Mr. Easton, if you will make me speak first, I suppose I must. Don’t you ever recognize old friends when you meet them in the West?”

The younger man wakened himself sharply at the sound of her voice, seemed to struggle with a slight embarrassment which he threw off instantly, and then clasped her fingers with his left hand.

“It’s Miss Fairchild,” he said, with a smile, “I’ll ask you to excuse the other hand; “it’s otherwise engaged just at present.”

He slightly raised his right hand, bound(捆绑) at the wrist(手腕) by the shining “bracelet(手镯)” to the left one of his companion. The glad look in the girl’s eyes slowly changed to a confused horror. Difficult though it was to explain the present trouble, Easton, with a little laugh, as if amused, was struggling to speak again when the other stopped him. The glum-faced man had been watching the girl’s face with hidden glances from his keen, sharp-sighted eyes.

“You’ll excuse me for speaking, Miss, but, I see you’re familiar with the officer here. If you’ll ask him to speak a word for me when we get to the prison, he’ll do it, and it’ll make things easier for me there. He’s taking me to Leavenworth prison. It’s seven years for counterfeiting(伪造罪).”

“Oh!” said the girl, with a deep breath and returning color. “So that is what you are doing out here? An officer!”

“My dear Miss Fairchild,” said Easton, appearing quite calm, “I had to do something and...”

“And so,” said the girl, warmly, “now you are one of these fashionable Western heroes, and you ride and shoot and go into all kinds of dangers. That’s different from the Washington life. You have been missed from the old crowd.”

The girl’s eyes went back, widening a little, to rest upon the shining handcuffs.

“Don’t worry about them, Miss,” said the other man. “All officers handcuff themselves to their prisoners to keep them from getting away. Mr. Easton knows his business.”

“Will we see you again soon in Washington?” asked the girl.

“Not soon, I think,” said Easton. “My butterfly days are over, I fear.”

“I love the West,” said the girl pointlessly, “Mamma and I spent the summer in Denver….”

“Say, Mr. Officer,” said the glum-faced man in a deep voice. “This isn’t quite fair. I’m needing a drink, and haven’t had a smoke all day. Haven’t you talked long enough? Take me into the smoker now, won’t you? I’m half dead for a tobacco pipe.”

The bound travelers rose to their feet, Easton with the same slow smile on his face.

“I can’t deny a demand for tobacco,” he said, lightly. “It’s the one friend of the unfortunate. Good-bye, Miss Fairchild. Duty calls, you know.” He quickly held out his hand for a farewell.

The two men went down the passage into the smoker.

The two passengers in a seat nearby had heard most of the conversation. One of them said: “That officer’s a good sort of guy. Some of these Western fellows are all right.”

“Pretty young to hold an office like that, isn’t he?” asked the other.

“Young!” shouted the first speaker, “why — Oh! Didn’t you catch on? Say — can’t you see who is the real prisoner? did you ever know an officer to handcuff a prisoner to his right hand?”　

55. What can we learn from the passage?

A. Mr. Easton felt very delighted to greet the girl.

B. Mr. Easton didn’t recognize old friends in the West.

C. Miss Fairchild met with her old friend in a train going east.

D. The linked couple were two friends going to Leavenworth.

56. Why did the heavily-built man ask the woman to let her friend speak a word for him?

A. To save Easton from embarrassment.

B. To help Easton carry on the conversation.

C. To tell the girl their destination of this trip.　

D. To start a conversation with the pretty girl.

57. The “slow smile” on Mr. Easton’s face reflects _________.

A. he was unwilling to take the man to drink and smoke

B. he was quite sorry to leave his old friend, the pretty girl

C. he was happy to escape and a bit guilty to the other man

D. he was glad to have had a conversation with an old friend

58. The two other passengers’ conversation at the end suggests the heavily-built man is ______.

A. a prisoner　　 　 B. an officer　 　　　　 C. a friend of Easton 　 D. a conductor

59. The short story can be listed as a typical example of stories with ______.

A. arresting openings　　 　　　　　　　 B. various settings

C. strong conflicts 　　　　　　　　　　 D. surprise endings

60. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

A. Woman and Hero　　 　 　　　　　　　 B. Heart and Hands

C. An Unforgettable Trip D. Cold Handcuffs