the efficiency expert-第27部分

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lars　in　pay…roll　money　that　I　was　to　have　as　my　pay　for　the　job。　Murray　told　me　that　the　guy　on　the　inside　who　wanted　the　job　done　had　been　working　some　kind　of　a　pay…roll　graft　and　he　wanted　the　records　destroyed；　and　he　also　wanted　to　get　rid　of　the　guy　that　was　hep　to　what　he　had　been　doin'。　All　that　I　had　to　do　with　it　was　go　and　crack　the　safe　and　get　the　records；　which　I　was　to　throw　in　the　river；　and　keep　the　money　for　myself；　but　the　frame…up　on　the　other　guy　was　to　send　him　a　phony　message　that　would　get　him　at　the　plant　after　I　got　through；　and　then　notify　the　police　so　they　could　catch　him　there　in　the　room　with　the　cracked　safe。

〃I　didn't　know　who　they　were　framin'　this　job　on。　　If　I　had　I　wouldn't　have　had　nothin'　to　do　with　it。

〃Well；　I　goes　to　the　plant　and　finds　a　window　in　the　basement　open　just　as　they　tells　me　it　will　be；　but　when　I　gets　on　the　first　floor　just　before　I　go　up…stairs　to　the　office；　which　is　on　the　second　floor；　I　heard　some　one　walking　around　up…stairs。　I　hid　in　the　hallway　while　he　came　down。　He　stopped　at　the　front　door　and　lighted　a　cigarette　and　then　he　went　on　out；　and　I　went　up…stairs　to　finish　the　job。

〃When　I　gets　in　Compton's　office　where　the　safe　is　I　flashes　my　light　and　the　first　thing　I　sees　is　Compton's　body　on　the　floor　beside　his　desk。　That　kind　of　stuff　ain't　in　my　line；　so　I　beats　it　out　without　crackin'　the　safe。　That's　all　I　know　about　it　until　I　sees　the　papers；　and　then　for　a　while　I　was　afraid　to　say　anything　because　this　guy　O'Donnell　has　it　in　for　me；　and　I　know　enough　about　police　methods　to　know　that　they　could　frame　up　a　good　case　of　murder　against　me。　But　after　a　while　Miss　Hudson　finds　me　and　puts　it　up　to　me　straight　that　this　guy　Torrance　hasn't　got　no　friends　except　me　and　her。

〃Of　course　she　didn't　know　how　much　I　knew；　but　I　did；　and　it's　been　worryin'　me　ever　since。　I　was　waiting；　though；　hopin'　that　something　would　turn　up　so　that　he　would　be　acquitted；　but　I　been　watchin'　the　papers　close；　and　I　seen　yesterday　that　there　wasn't　much　chance；　so　here　I　am。〃

〃You　say　that　a　man　came　down　from　Mr。　Compton's　office　just　before　you　went　up？　What　time　was　that？〃

〃It　was　about　ten　o'clock；　about　half　an　hour　before　the　cops　finds　Torrance　there。〃

〃And　then　you　went　upstairs　and　found　Mr。　Compton　dead？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃　〃You　say　this　man　that　came　downstairs　stopped　and　lighted　a　cigarette　before　he　left　the　building。　Did　you　see　his　face？〃

〃Yes；　I　did。〃

〃Would　you　recognize　him　if　you　saw　him　again？〃

〃Sure。〃

〃Look　around　the　court…room　and　see　if　you　can　find　him　here。〃

〃Sure　I　can　find　him。　　I　seen　him　when　I　first　came　in；　but　I　can't　see　his　face　because　he's　hiding　behind　the　prosecuting　attorney。〃

All　eyes　were　turned　in　the　direction　of　the　prosecuting　attorney　to　see　Bince　leap　suddenly　to　his　feet　and　lean　forward　upon　the　desk　before　him；　supported　by　a　trembling　arm　as　he　shook　his　finger　at　the　Lizard；　and　in　high…pitched　tones　screamed；　〃It's　a　lie！　It's　a　lie！〃

For　a　moment　longer　he　stood　looking　wildly　about　the　room；　and　then　with　rapid　strides　he　crossed　it　to　an　open　window；　and　before　any　one　could　interfere　he　vaulted　out；　to　fall　four　stories　to　the　cement　sidewalk　below。

For　　several　　minutes　　pandemonium　reigned　in　the　court…room。　　Elizabeth　Compton　Bince　swooned；　and　when　she　regained　consciousness　she　found　herself　in　the　arms　of　Harriet　Holden。

〃Take　me　home；　Harriet；〃　she　asked；　〃take　me　away　from　this　place。　　Take　me　to　your　home。　I　do　not　want　to　go　back　to　mine　yet。〃

Half　an　hour　later；　in　accordance　with　the　judge's　charge　to　the　jury；　a　verdict　of　〃Not　guilty〃　was　rendered　in　the　case　of　the　People　of　Illinois　versus　James　Torrance；　Jr。　Mr。　Holden　and　Jimmy's　attorney　were　the　first　to　congratulate　him；　and　the　former　insisted　that　he　come　home　with　him　to　dinner。

〃I　am　sorry；〃　said　Jimmy；　〃I　should　like　to　immensely；　but　there　is　some　one　I　must　see　first。　If　I　may　I　should　like　to　come　out　later　in　the　evening　to　thank　you　and　Miss　Holden。〃

Jimmy　searched　about　the　court…room　until　he　found　the　Lizard。　　〃I　don't　know　how　to　thank　you；〃　he　said。

〃Don't　then；〃　said　the　Lizard。　〃Who　you　ought　to　thank　is　that　little　girl　who　is　sick　in　bed　up　on　the　north　side。〃

〃That's　just　where　I　am　going　now；〃　said　Jimmy。　〃Is　she　very　sick？〃

〃Pneumonia；〃　said　the　Lizard。　〃I　telephoned　her　doctor　just　before　I　came　over　here；　and　I　guess　if　you　want　to　see　her　at　all　you'd　better　hurry。〃

〃It's　not　that　had；　is　it？〃　Jimmy　said。

〃I'm　afraid　it　is；〃　said　the　Lizard。

Jimmy　lost　no　time　in　reaching　the　street　and　calling　a　taxi。　　A　nurse　admitted　him　to　the　apartment。　〃How　is　she？〃　he　asked

The　nurse　shook　her　head。

〃Can　she　see　any　one？〃

〃It　won't　make　any　difference　now；〃　said　the　nurse；　and　Jimmy　was　led　into　the　room　where　the　girl；　wasted　by　fever　and　suffering；　lay　in　a　half…comatose　condition　upon　her　narrow　bed。　Jimmy　crossed　the　room　and　laid　his　hand　upon　her　forehead　and　at　the　touch　she　opened　her　eyes　and　looked　up　at　him。　He　saw　that　she　recognized　him　and　was　trying　to　say　something；　and　he　kneeled　beside　the　bed　so　that　his　ear　might　be　closer　to　her　lips。

〃Jimmy；〃　she　whispered；　〃you　are　free？　　Tell　me。〃

He　told　her　briefly　of　what　had　happened。　〃I　am　so　happy；〃　she　murmured。　〃Oh；　Jimmy；　I　am　so　happy！〃

He　took　one　of　her　wasted　hands　in　his　own　and　carried　it　to　his　lips。　〃Not　on　the　hand；〃　she　said　faintly。　〃Just　once；　on　the　lips；　before　I　die。〃

He　gathered　her　in　his　arms　and　lifted　her　face　to　his。　〃Dear　little　girl；〃　he　said；　〃you　are　not　going　to　die。　It　is　not　as　bad　as　that。〃

She　did　not　reply；　but　only　clung　to　him　tightly；　and　against　his　cheek　he　felt　her　tears　and　a　little　choking　sob　before　she　relaxed；　and　he　laid　her　back　again　on　her　pillow。　He　thought　she　was　dead　then　and　he　called　the　nurse；　but　she　still　breathed；　though　her　eyes　were　closed。　Jimmy　sat　down　on　the　edge　of　the　bed　beside　her　and　stroked　her　hand。　After　a　while　she　roused　again　and　opened　her　eyes。

〃Jimmy；〃　she　said；　〃will　you　stay　with　me　until　I　go？〃　　The　man　could　make　no　articulate　response；　but　he　pressed　her　hand　reassuringly。　She　was　silent　again　for　some　time。　Once　more　she　whispered　faintly；　so　faintly　that　he　had　to　lean　close　to　catch　her　words：

〃Miss　Holden；〃　she　whispered；　〃she　is　agood　girl。　　It　isshewho　hiredthe　attorney　for　you。　Go　to　herJimmywhen　Iam　goneshe　lovesyou。〃　Again　there　was　a　long　pause。　〃Good…byJimmy；〃　she　whispered　at　last。

The　nurse　was　standing　at　the　foot　of　the　bed。　　She　came　and　put　her　hand　on　Jimmy's　shoulder。　〃It　is　too　bad；〃　she　said；　〃she　was　such　a　good　girl。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Jimmy；　〃I　think　she　was　the　best　little　girl　I　ever　knew。〃

It　was　after　nine　o'clock　when　Jimmy；　depressed　and　sorrowing；　arrived　at　the　Holden　home。　The　houseman　who　admitted　him　told　him　that　Mr。　Holden　had　been　called　out；　but　that　Miss　Holden　was　expecting　him；　and　he　ushered　Jimmy　to　the　big　living…room；　and　to　his　consternation　he　saw　that　Elizabeth　Compton　was　there　with　Harriet。　The　latter　came　forward　to　greet　him；　and　to　his　surprise　the　other　girl　followed　her。

〃I　discovered　to…day；　Mr。　Torrance；〃　she　said；　〃that　I　have　wronged　you。　However　unintentionally　it　was　the　fact　remains　that　I　might　have　done　you　a　very　great　harm　and　injustice。　I　realize　now　how　very　different　things　might　have　been　if　I　had　listened　to　you　and　believed　in　you　at　first。　Harriet　told　me　that　you　were　coming　tonight　and　I　asked　to　see　you　for　just　a　moment　to　tell　you　this　and　also　to　ask　you　if　you　would　continue　with　the　International　Machine　Company。

〃There　is　no　one　now　whom　I　feel　I　would　have　so　much　confidence　in　as　you。　I　wish　you　would　come　back　and　take　charge　for　me。　If　you　will　tell　me　that　you　will　consider　it　we　will　arrange　the　details　later。〃

If　an　archangel　had　suddenly　condescended　to　honor　him　with　an　invitation　to　assist　in　the　management　of　Heaven　Jimmy　could　not　have　been　more　surprised。　He　realized　at　what　cost　of　pride　and　self…esteem　the　offer　must　have　been　made　and　acknowledgment　of　error。　He　told　her　that　he　would　be　very　glad　to　assist　her　for　the　present；　at　least；　and　then　she　excused　herself　on　the　plea　of　nervous　exhaustion　and　went　to　her　room。

〃Do　you　know；〃　said　Harriet；　after　Elizabeth　had　gone；　〃she　really　feels　worse　over　her　past　attitude　toward　you　than　she　does　over　Harold's　death？　I　think　she　realizes　now　what　I　have　told　her　from　the　first；　that　she　never　really　loved　him。　Of　course；　her　pride　has　suffered　terribly；　but　she　will　get　over　that　quickly　enough。

〃But　do　you　know　I　have　not　had　an　opportunity　before　to　congratulate　you？　I　wish　that　I　might　have　been　there　to　have　heard　the　verdict；　but　really　you　don't　look　half　as　happy　as　I　should　think　you　would　feel。〃

〃I　am　happy　about　that；〃　said　Jimmy；　〃but　on　top　of　my　happiness　came　a　sorrow。　I　just　came　from　Edith's　apartment。　She　died　while　I　was　there。〃

Harriet　gave　a　little　cry　of　shocked　surprise。　〃Oh；　Jimmy；〃　she　cried；　laying　her　hand　upon　his　arm。　〃Oh；　Jimmy；　I　am　so　sorry！〃　It　was　the　first　time　that　she　had　ever　addressed　him　by　his　given　name；　but　there　seemed　nothing　strange　or　unusual　in　the　occurrence。

〃She　was　such　a　good　little　girl；〃　said　Harriet。

It　was　strange　that　so　many　should　use　these　same　words　in　connection　with　Edith　Hudson；　and　even　this　girl；　so　far　removed　from　the　sphere　in　which　Little　Eva　had　existed　and　who　knew　something　of　her　past；　could　yet　call　her　〃good。〃

It　gave　Jimmy　a　new　insight　into　the　sweetness　and　charity　of　Harriet　Holden's　character。　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃her　soul　and　her　heart　were　good　and　pure。〃

〃She　believed　so　in　you；〃　said　the　girl。　　〃She　thought　you　were　the　best　man　who　ever　lived。　She　told　me　that　you　were　the　only　really　good　man　she　bad　ever　known；　and　her　confidence　and　belief　in　you　were　contagious。　You　will　probably　never　know　all　that　she　did　for　you。　It　was　really　she　that　imbued　my　father　and　his　attorney　with　a　belief　in　your　innocence；　and　it　was　she　who　influenced　the　Lizard　to　take　the　stand　in　your　behalf。　Yes；　she　was　a　very　good　friend。〃

〃And　you　have　been　a　good　friend；〃　said　Jimmy。　〃In　the　face　of　the　same　circumstances　that　turned　Miss　Compton　against　me　you