Hedidnotstrike，hedidnotknowwhathewasdoing。Hisonlyideawastobatterthelifeoutofthemanbeforehim，tocrushandannihilatehimupontheinstant。Grippinghisenemyinhisenormoushands，hardandknotted，andcoveredwithastifffellofyellowhair——thehandsoftheold-timecar-boy——heswunghimwide，asahammer-throwerswingshishammer。Marcus’sfeetflippedfromtheground，hespunthroughtheairaboutMcTeagueashelplessasabundleofclothes。Allatoncetherewasasharpsnap，almostlikethereportofasmallpistol。ThenMarcusrolledoverandoveruponthegroundasMcTeaguereleasedhisgrip；hisarm，theonethedentisthadseized，bendingsuddenly，asthoughathirdjointhadformedbetweenwristandelbow。Thearmwasbroken。
　　Butbythistimeeveryonewascryingoutatonce。HeiseandRyanraninbetweenthetwomen。Selinaturnedherheadaway。Trinawaswringingherhandsandcryinginanagonyofdread：
　　“Oh，stopthem，stopthem！Don’tletthemfight。Oh，it’stooawful。“
　　“Here，here，Doc，quit。Don’tmakeafoolofyourself，“
　　criedHeise，clingingtothedentist。“That’senoughnow。
　　LISTENtome，willyou？“
　　“Oh，Mac，Mac，“criedTrina，runningtoherhusband。“Mac，dear，listen；it’sme，it’sTrina，lookatme，you——“
　　“Getholdofhisotherarm，willyou，Ryer？“pantedHeise。
　　“Quick！“
　　“Mac，Mac，“criedTrina，herarmsabouthisneck。
　　“ForGod’ssake，holdup，Doc，willyou？“shoutedtheharness-maker。“Youdon’twanttokillhim，doyou？“
　　Mrs。RyerandHeise’slamewifewerefillingtheairwiththeiroutcries。Selinawasgigglingwithhysteria。Marcus，terrified，buttoobravetorun，hadpickedupajaggedstonewithhislefthandandstoodonthedefensive。Hisswollenrightarm，fromwhichtheshirtsleevehadbeentorn，dangledathisside，thebackofthehandtwistedwherethepalmshouldhavebeen。Theshirtitselfwasamassofgrassstainsandwasspottedwiththedentist’sblood。
　　ButMcTeague，inthecentreofthegroupthatstruggledtoholdhim，wasnightomadness。Thesideofhisface，hisneck，andalltheshoulderandbreastofhisshirtwerecoveredwithblood。Hehadceasedtocryout，butkeptmutteringbetweenhisgrippedjaws，ashelaboredtotearhimselffreeoftheretaininghands：
　　“Ah，I’llkillhim！Ah，I’llkillhim！I’llkillhim！
　　Damnyou，Heise，“heexclaimedsuddenly，tryingtostriketheharness-maker，“letgoofme，willyou！“
　　Littlebylittletheypacifiedhim，orratherforhepaidbutlittleattentiontowhatwassaidtohimhisbestialfurylapsedbydegrees。Heturnedawayandletfallhisarms，drawinglongbreaths，andlookingstupidlyabouthim，nowsearchinghelplesslyupontheground，nowgazingvaguelyintothecircleoffacesabouthim。Hisearbledasthoughitwouldneverstop。
　　“Say，Doctor，“askedHeise，“what’sthebestthingtodo？“
　　“Huh？“answeredMcTeague。“What——whatdoyoumean？Whatisit？“
　　“What’llwedotostopthisbleedinghere？“
　　McTeaguedidnotanswer，butlookedintentlyattheblood-
　　stainedbosomofhisshirt。
　　“Mac，“criedTrina，herfaceclosetohis，“tellussomething——thebestthingwecandotostopyourearbleeding。“
　　“Collodium，“saidthedentist。
　　“Butwecan’tgettothatrightaway；we——“
　　“There’ssomeiceinourlunchbasket，“brokeinHeise。“Webroughtitforthebeer；andtakethenapkinsandmakeabandage。“
　　“Ice，“mutteredthedentist，“sure，ice，that’stheword。“
　　Mrs。HeiseandtheRyerswerelookingafterMarcus’sbrokenarm。Selinasatontheslopeofthegrass，gaspingandsobbing。Trinatorethenapkinsintostrips，and，crushingsomeoftheice，madeabandageforherhusband’shead。’
　　Thepartyresolveditselfintotwogroups；theRyersandMrs。HeisebendingoverMarcus，whiletheharness-makerandTrinacameandwentaboutMcTeague，sittingontheground，hisshirt，amereblurofredandwhite，detachingitselfviolentlyfromthebackgroundofpale-greengrass。Betweenthetwogroupswasthetornandtrampledbitofturf，thewrestlingring；thepicnicbaskets，togetherwithemptybeerbottles，brokenegg-shells，anddiscardedsardinetins，werescatteredhereandthere。InthemiddleoftheimprovisedwrestlingringthesleeveofMarcus’sshirtflutteredoccasionallyintheseabreeze。
　　NobodywaspayinganyattentiontoSelina。Allatonceshebegantogigglehystericallyagain，thencriedoutwithapealoflaughter：
　　“Oh，whatawayforourpicnictoend！“
　　CHAPTER12
　　“Now，then，Maria，“saidZerkow，hiscracked，strainedvoicejustrisingaboveawhisper，hitchinghischairclosertothetable，“now，then，mygirl，let’shaveitalloveragain。Tellusaboutthegoldplate——theservice。Beginwith，’Therewereoverahundredpiecesandeveryoneofthemgold。’“
　　“Idon’tknowwhatyou’retalkingabout，Zerkow，“answeredMaria。“Thereneverwasnogoldplate，nogoldservice。I
　　guessyoumusthavedreamedit。“
　　Mariaandthered-headedPolishJewhadbeenmarriedaboutamonthaftertheMcTeague’spicnicwhichhadendedinsuchlamentablefashion。ZerkowhadtakenMariahometohiswretchedhovelinthealleybackoftheflat，andtheflathadbeenobligedtogetanothermaidofallwork。Timepassed，amonth，sixmonths，awholeyearwentby。AtlengthMariagavebirthtoachild，awretched，sicklychild，withnotevenstrengthenoughnorwitsenoughtocry。AtthetimeofitsbirthMariawasoutofhermind，andcontinuedinastateofdementiafornearlytendays。
　　Sherecoveredjustintimetomakethearrangementsforthebaby’sburial。NeitherZerkownorMariawasmuchaffectedbyeitherthebirthorthedeathofthislittlechild。
　　Zerkowhadwelcomeditwithpronounceddisfavor，sinceithadamouthtobefedandwantstobeprovidedfor。Mariawasoutofherheadsomuchofthetimethatshecouldscarcelyrememberhowitlookedwhenalive。Thechildwasamereincidentintheirlives，athingthathadcomeundesiredandhadgoneunregretted。Ithadnotevenaname；
　　astrange，hybridlittlebeing，comeandgonewithinafortnight’stime，yetcombininginitspunylittlebodythebloodoftheHebrew，thePole，andtheSpaniard。
　　Butthebirthofthischildhadpeculiarconsequences。
　　Mariacameoutofherdementia，andinafewdaysthehouseholdsettleditselfagaintoitssordidregimeandMariawentaboutherdutiesasusual。Thenoneevening，aboutaweekafterthechild’sburial，ZerkowhadaskedMariatotellhimthestoryofthefamousserviceofgoldplateforthehundredthtime。
　　Zerkowhadcometobelieveinthisstoryinfallibly。HewasimmovablypersuadedthatatonetimeMariaorMaria’speoplehadpossessedthesehundredgoldendishes。Inhispervertedmindthehallucinationhaddevelopedstillfurther。Notonlyhadthatserviceofgoldplateonceexisted，butitexistednow，entire，intact；notasingleburnishedgoldenpieceofitwasmissing。Itwassomewhere，somebodyhadit，lockedawayinthatleathertrunkwithitsquiltedliningandroundbrasslocks。Itwastobesearchedforandsecured，tobefoughtfor，tobegainedatallhazards。
　　Mariamustknowwhereitwas；bydintofquestioning，Zerkowwouldsurelygettheinformationfromher。Someday，ifonlyhewaspersistent，hewouldhitupontherightcombinationofquestions，therightsuggestionthatwoulddisentangleMaria’sconfusedrecollections。Mariawouldtellhimwherethethingwaskept，wasconcealed，wasburied，andhewouldgotothatplaceandsecureit，andallthatwonderfulgoldwouldbehisforeverandforever。ThisserviceofplatehadcometobeZerkow’smania。
　　Onthisparticularevening，aboutaweekafterthechild’sburial，inthewretchedbackroomoftheJunkshop，ZerkowhadmadeMariasitdowntothetableoppositehim——
　　thewhiskeybottleandtheredglasstumblerwithitsbrokenbasebetweenthem——andhadsaid：
　　“Now，then，Maria，tellusthatstoryofthegolddishesagain。“
　　Mariastaredathim，anexpressionofperplexitycomingintoherface。
　　“Whatgolddishes？“saidshe。
　　“TheonesyourpeopleusedtoowninCentralAmerica。Comeon，Maria，begin，begin。“TheJewcranedhimselfforward，hisleanfingersclawingeagerlyathislips。
　　“Whatgoldplate？“saidMaria，frowningathimasshedrankherwhiskey。“Whatgoldplate？Idon’knowwhatyou’retalkingabout，Zerkow。“
　　Zerkowsatbackinhischair，staringather。
　　“Why，yourpeople’sgolddishes，whattheyusedtoeatoffof。You’vetoldmeaboutitahundredtimes。“
　　“You’recrazy，Zerkow，“saidMaria。“Pushthebottlehere，willyou？“
　　“Come，now，“insistedZerkow，sweatingwithdesire，“come，now，mygirl，don’tbeafool；let’shaveit，let’shaveit。
　　Beginnow，’Thereweremore’nahundredpieces，andeveryoneof’emgold。’Oh，YOUknow；comeon，comeon。“
　　“Idon’tremembernothingofthekind，“protestedMaria，reachingforthebottle。Zerkowsnatcheditfromher。
　　“Youfool！“hewheezed，tryingtoraisehisbrokenvoicetoashout。“Youfool！Don’tyoudaretryan’cheatME，orI’llDOforyou。Youknowaboutthegoldplate，andyouknowwhereitis。“Suddenlyhepitchedhisvoiceattheprolongedraspingshoutwithwhichhemadehisstreetcry。
　　Herosetohisfeet，hislong，prehensilefingerscurledintofists。Hewasmenacing，terribleinhisrage。HeleanedoverMaria，hisfistsinherface。
　　“Ibelieveyou’vegotit！“heyelled。“Ibelieveyou’vegotit，an’arehidingitfromme。Whereisit，whereisit？Isithere？“herolledhiseyeswildlyabouttheroom。
　　“Hey？hey？“hewenton，shakingMariabytheshoulders。
　　“Whereisit？Isithere？Tellmewhereitis。Tellme，orI’lldoforyou！“
　　“Itain’there，“criedMaria，wrenchingfromhim。“Itain’tanywhere。Whatgoldplate？Whatareyoutalkingabout？I
　　don’tremembernothingaboutnogoldplateatall。“
　　No，Mariadidnotremember。Thetroubleandturmoilofhermindconsequentuponthebirthofherchildseemedtohavereadjustedherdisorderedideasuponthispoint。Hermaniahadcometoacrisis，whichinsubsidinghadclearedherbrainofitsoneillusion。Shedidnotremember。Oritwaspossiblethatthegoldplateshehadoncerememberedhadhadsomefoundationinfact，thatherrecitalofitssplendorshadbeentruth，soundandsane。ItwaspossiblethatnowherFORGETFULNESSofitwassomeformofbraintrouble，arelicofthedementiaofchildbirth。AtalleventsMariadidnotremember；theideaofthegoldplatehadpassedentirelyoutofhermind，anditwasnowZerkowwholaboredunderitshallucination。ItwasnowZerkow，therakerofthecity’smuckheap，thesearcheraftergold，thatsawthatwonderfulserviceintheeyeofhispervertedmind。Itwashewhocouldnowdescribeitinalanguagealmosteloquent。