vera, the medium-第6部分

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of　fire。〃

〃My　niece；　Helen！〃　Hallowell　whispered　hoarsely。

〃Yes；　your　niece；〃　chanted　the　girl。　Her　voice　rose　and
thrilled。　〃And　I　see　much　gold；〃　she　cried。　〃Between　the　two
women；　heaps　of　gold。　Everywhere　I　look　I　see　gold。　And；　now；
the　other　woman；　your　sister；　is　trying　to　speak　to　you。　Listen！
She　calls　to　you；　Brother！〃

So　centered　was　the　interest　of　those　in　the　room；　so　compelling
the　sound　of　the　girl's　voice；　that；　unnoticed；　the　sliding
doors　to　the　library　were　slipped　apart。　Unobserved；　Judge
Gaylor　and　Winthrop　halted　in　the　doorway。　To　the　Judge　the
meaning　of　the　scene　was　instantly　apparent。　His　face　flushed
furiously。　Winthrop；　uncomprehending；　gazed　unconcerned　over
Gaylor's　shoulder。　The　voice　of　Vera　rose　hysterically　to　her
climax。

〃She　bids　me　tell　you；〃　Vera　cried；　〃　Tell　my　brother　　〃

Gaylor　swept　toward　her。

〃What　damned　farce　is　this？〃　he　shouted。

The　effect　of　the　interruption　was　instant　and　startling。　Mr。
Hallowell；　who；　in　the　last　few　minutes；　had　believed　he　was
listening　to　a　voice　from　the　dead；　collapsed　upon　the　shoulder
of　Rainey；　who　sprang　to　support　him。　Like　a　somnambulist
wrenched　from　sleep；　Vera　gave　a　scream　of　fright；　half　genuine；
half　assumed；　and　swayed　as　though　about　to　fall。　Vance　caught
her　in　his　arms。　He　turned　on　Gaylor；　his　cunning　red　eyes
flashing　evilly。

〃You　brute！〃　he　cried；　〃you　might　have　killed　her。〃

Between　her　sobs；　Vera；　her　head　upon　the　shoulder　of　Vance；
whispered　a　question。　As　quickly；　under　cover　of　muttered
sympathy；　Vance　answered：　〃Gaylor。　The　Judge。〃

Still　slightly　swaying；　Vera　stood　upright。　She　passed　her　hand
vaguely　before　her　eyes。　〃Where　am　I？〃　she　asked　feebly。　〃Where
am　I？〃

Gaylor　shook　his　fist　at　the　girl。

〃You　know　where　you　are！〃　he　thundered；　〃and　you　know　where
you're　going　　you're　going　to　jail！〃

In　the　hush　that　followed　Vera　drew　herself　to　her　full　height。
She　regarded　Gaylor　wonderingly；　haughtily；　as　though　he　were
some　drunken　intruder　from　the　street。

〃Are　you　speaking　to　me？〃　she　asked。

〃Yes；　to　you；〃　shouted　the　lawyer。　〃You're　an　imposter；　and　a
swindler；　and　　and　　〃

Winthrop　pushed　between　them。

〃Yes；　and　she's　a　woman；〃　he　said　briskly。　〃If　you　want　a　row；
talk　to　the　man。〃

To　this　point　the　scene　had　brought　to　Vera　no　emotion　save　the
excitement　that　is　felt　by　the　one　who　is　struggling　to　escape。
The　appearance　of　a　champion　added　a　new　interest。　Through　no
fault　of　her　own；　she　had　learned　by　experience　that　to　the　one
man　who　annoyed　her　there　always　were　six　to　spring　to　her
protection。　So　the　glance　she　covertly　turned　upon　Winthrop　was
one　less　of　gratitude　than　curiosity。

But　at　the　first　sight　of　him　the　girl　started；　her　eyes　lit
with　recognition；　her　face　flushed。　And　then；　although　the　man
was　in　no　way　regarding　her；　her　eyes　filled；　and　in
mortification　and　dismay　she　blushed　crimson。

His　anger　still　unsatisfied；　Gaylor　turned　upon　Vance。

〃And　you；〃　he　cried；　〃you're　going　to　jail　too。　I'll　drive　　〃

The　voice　of　Mr。　Hallowell；　shaken　with　pain　and　distress；　rose
feebly；　beseechingly。　〃Henry！〃　he　begged。　〃I　can't　stand　it！〃

〃Judge　Gaylor！〃　thundered　Rainey；　〃I　won't　be　responsible　if　you
keep　this　up。〃

With　an　exclamation　of　remorse；　Vera　ran　to　the　side　of　the　old
man。　With　Rainey　on　his　other　hand；　she　raised　him　upright　upon
his　feet。

〃Lean　on　me；〃　begged　the　girl　breathlessly。　〃I'm　very　strong。
Lean　on　me。〃

Mr。　Hallowell　shook　his　head。　〃No；　child；〃　he　protested；　〃not
you。〃　He　turned　to　his　old　friend。　〃You　help　me；　Henry；〃　he
begged。

With　the　authority　of　the　medical　man；　Rainey　waved　Vance　into
the　bedroom。　〃Close　those　windows；〃　he　ordered。　〃You　help　me！〃
he　commanded　of　Gaylor。　〃Put　your　arm　under　him。〃

Mr。　Hallowell；　protesting　feebly　and　leaning　heavily　upon　the
two　men；　stumbled　into　the　bedroom　；　and　the　door　was　shut
behind　him。

For　a　moment　the　girl　and　the　man　stood　in　silence；　and　then；　as
though　suddenly　conscious　of　her　presence；　Winthrop　turned　and
smiled。

The　girl　did　not　answer　his　smile。　From　under　the　shadow　of　the
picture　hat　and　the　ostrich　feathers　her　eyes　regarded　him
searchingly；　watchfully。

For　the　first　time；　Winthrop　had　the　chance　to　observe　her。　He
saw　that　she　was　very　young；　that　her　clothes　cruelly　disguised
her；　that　she　was　only　a　child　masquerading　as　a　brigand；　that
her　face　was　distractingly　lovely。　Having　noted　this；　the　fact
that　she　had　driven　several　grown　men　to　abuse　and　vituperation
struck　him　as　being　extremely　humorous；　nor　did　he　try　to
conceal　his　amusement。　But　the　watchfulness　in　the　eyes　of　the
girl　did　not　relax。

〃I'm　afraid　I　interfered　with　your　seance；〃　said　the　District
Attorney。

The　girl　regarded　him　warily；　like　a　fencer　fixing　her　eyes　on
those　of　her　opponent。　There　was　a　pause　which　lasted　so　long
that　had　the　silence　continued　it　would　have　been　rude。　〃Well；〃
the　girl　returned　at　last；　timidly；　〃that's　what　the　city
expects　you　to　do；　is　it　not？〃

Winthrop　laughed。　〃How　did　you　know　who　I　was？〃　he　asked；　and
then　added　quickly；　〃Of　course；　you're　a　mind　reader。〃

For　the　first　time　the　girl　smiled。　Winthrop　found　it　a　charming
smile；　wistful　and　confiding。

〃I　don't　have　to　ask　the　spirit　world；〃　she　said；　〃to　tell　me
who　is　District　Attorney　of　New　York。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　District　Attorney；　〃yes；　I　suppose　you　have　to
be　pretty　well　acquainted　with　some　of　the　laws　　those　about
mediums？〃

〃If　you　knew　as　much　about　other　laws；〃　began　Vera；　〃as　I　do
about　the　law　　〃　She　broke　off　and　again　smiled　upon　him。

〃Then　you　probably　know；〃　said　Winthrop；　〃that　what　our　excited
friend　said　to　you　just　now　is　legally　quite　true？〃

The　smile　passed　from　the　face　of　the　girl。　She　looked　at　the
young　man　with　fine　disdain；　as　a　great　lady　might　reprove　with
a　glance　the　man　who　snapped　a　camera　at　her。　〃Yes？〃　she　asked。
〃Well；　what　are　you　going　to　do　about　it　　arrest　me？〃　Mocking
him；　in　a　burlesque　of　melodrama；　she　held　out　her　arms。　〃Don't
put　the　handcuffs　on　me；〃　she　begged。

Winthrop　found　her　impudence　amusing；　and；　with　the　charm　of　her
novelty；　he　was　conscious　of　a　growing　conviction　that；
somewhere；　they　had　met　before；　that　already　at　a　crisis　she　had
come　into　his　life。

〃I　won't　arrest　you；〃　he　said　with　a　puzzled　smile；　〃on　one
condition。〃

〃Ah！〃　mocked　Vera；　〃he　is　generous。〃

〃And　the　condition　is；〃　Winthrop　went　on　seriously；　〃that　you
tell　me　where　we　met　before？〃

The　girl's　expression　became　instantly　mask…like。　To　learn　if　he
suspected　where　it　was　that　they　had　met；　she　searched　his　face
quickly。　She　was　reassured　that　of　the　event　he　had　no　real
recollection。

〃That's　rather　difficult；　isn't　it；〃　she　continued　lightly；
〃when　you　consider　I've　been　giving　exhibitions　of　mind　readings
for　the　last　six　weeks　on　Broadway；　and　in　the　homes　of　people
you　probably　know？〃

〃No；〃　Winthrop　exclaimed　eagerly；　〃it　wasn't　in　a　theatre；　and
it　wasn't　in　a　private　house。　It　was　　〃　he　shook　his　head
helplessly；　and　looked　at　her　for　assistance。　〃You　don't　know；
do　you？〃

The　girl　regarded　him　steadily。　〃How　should　I？〃　she　said。　And
then；　as　though　decided　upon　a　course　of　action　of　the　wisdom　of
which　she　was　uncertain；　she　laughed　uneasily。

〃But　the　spirits　would　know；〃　she　said。　〃I　might　ask　them。〃

〃Do！〃　cried　Winthrop；　delightedly。　〃How　much　would　that　be？〃

As　though　to　reprove　his　flippancy；　the　girl　frowned。　With　a
nervous　tremor；　which　this　time　seemed　genuine　enough；　she　threw
back　her　head；　closed　her　eyes；　and　laid　her　arm　across　her
forehead。

Winthrop；　unobserved；　watched　her　with　a　smile；　partly　of
amusement；　partly　on　account　of　her　beauty；　of　admiration。

〃I　see　　a　court　room；〃　said　the　girl。　〃It　is　very　mean　and
bare。　It　is　somewhere　up　the　State；　in　a　small　town。　Outside；
there　are　trees；　and　the　sun　is　shining；　and　people　are　walking
in　a　public　park。　Inside；　in　the　prisoner's　dock；　there　is　a
girl。　She　has　been　arrested　　for　theft。　She　has　pleaded
guilty！　And　I　see　　that　she　has　been　very　ill　　that　she　is
faint　from　shame　　and　fear　　and　lack　of　food。　And　there　is　a
young　lawyer。　He　is　defending　her；　he　is　asking　the　judge　to　be
merciful；　because　this　is　her　first　offence；　because　she　stole
the　cloak　to　get　money　to　take　her　where　she　had　been　promised
work。　Because　this　is　his　first　case。〃

Winthrop　gave　a　gasp　of　disbelief。

〃You　don't　mean　to　tell　me　　〃　he　cried。

〃Hush！〃　commanded　the　girl。　〃And　he　persuades　the　judge　to　let
her　go；〃　she　continued　quickly；　her　voice　shaking；　〃and　he　and
the　girl　walk　out　of　the　court　house　together。　And　he　talks　to
her　kindly；　and　gives　her　money　to　pay　her　way　to　the　people　who
have　promised　her　work。〃

Vera　dropped　her　arm；　and　stepping　back；　faced　Winthrop。　Through
her　tears　her　eyes　were　flashing　proudly；　gratefully；　the
feeling　that　shook　her　made　her　voice　vibrate。　The　girl　seemed
proud　of　her　tears；　proud　of　her　debt　of　gratitude。

〃And　I've　never　forgotten　you；〃　she　said；　her　voice　eager　and
trembling；　〃and　what　you　did　for　me。　And　I've　watched　you　come
to　this　city；　and　fight　it；　and　fight　it；　until　you　made　them
put　you　where　you　are。〃　She　stopped　to　control　her　voice；　and
smiled　at　him。　〃And　that's　why　I　knew　you　were　District
Attorney；〃　she　said；　〃and　please　　〃　she　fumbled　in　the　mesh
purse　at　her　waist　and　taking　a　bill　from　it；　threw　it　upon　the
table。　〃And　please；　there's　the　money　I　owe　you；　and　　and　　I
thank　you　　and　goodbye。〃　She　turned　and　almost　ran　from　him
toward　the　door　to　the　hall。

〃Stop！〃　cried　Winthrop。

Poised　for　flight；　the　girl　halted；　and　looked　back。

〃When　can　I　see　you　again？〃　said　the　man。　The　tone　made　it　less
a　question　than　a　command。

In　a　manner　as　determined　as　his　own；　the　girl　shook　her　head。

〃No！〃　she　said。

〃I　must！〃　returned　the　man。

Again　the　girl　shook　her　head；　definitely；　finally。

〃It　won't　help　you　in　your　work；〃　she　pleaded；　〃to　come　to　see
me。〃

〃I　must！〃　repeated　Winthrop　simply。

The　eyes　of　the　girl　met　his；　appealingly；　defiantly。

〃You'll　be　sorry；〃　said　the　girl。

Winthrop　laughed　an　eager；　boyish　laugh。　When　he　spoke　the
tenseness　in　his　voice　h