within the law-第15部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ure　of　Oscar　Hemmenway　to　a　series　of　bonds　that　were　counterfeit。　　Arrested　as　the　man　back　of　the　Reilly　gang；　in　1903。　　Arrested　in　1908　for　forgery。〃

There　was　no　change　in　the　face　or　pose　of　the　man　who　listened　to　the　reading。　　When　it　was　done；　and　the　officer　looked　up　with　a　resumption　of　his　triumphant　grin；　Garson　spoke　quietly。

〃Haven't　any　records　of　convictions；　have　you？〃　

The　grin　died；　and　a　snarl　sprang　in　its　stead。

〃No；〃　he　snapped；　vindictively。　　〃But　we've　got　the　right　dope　on　you；　all　right；　Joe　Garson。〃　　He　turned　savagely　on　the　girl；　who　now　had　regained　her　usual　expression　of　demure　innocence；　but　with　her　rather　too　heavy　brows　drawn　a　little　lower　than　their　wont；　under　the　influence　of　an　emotion　otherwise　concealed。

〃And　you're　little　Aggie　Lynch；〃　Cassidy　declared；　as　he　thrust　the　note…book　back　into　his　pocket。　　〃Just　now；　you're　posing　as　Mary　Turner's　cousin。　　You　served　two　years　in　Burnsing　for　blackmail。　　You　were　arrested　in　Buffalo；　convicted；　and　served　your　stretch。　Nothing　on　you？　　Well；　well！〃　Again　there　was　triumph　in　the　officer's　chuckle。

Aggie　showed　no　least　sign　of　perturbation　in　the　face　of　this　revelation　of　her　unsavory　record。　　Only　an　expression　of　half…incredulous　wonder　and　delight　beamed　from　her　widely　opened　blue　eyes　and　was　emphasized　in　the　rounding　of　the　little　mouth。

〃Why；〃　she　cried；　and　now　there　was　softness　enough　in　the　cooing　notes；　〃my　Gawd！　It　looks　as　though　you　had　actually　been　workin'！〃　

The　sarcasm　was　without　effect　on　the　dull　sensibilities　of　the　officer。　　He　went　on　speaking　with　obvious　enjoyment　of　the　extent　to　which　his　knowledge　reached。

〃And　the　head　of　the　gang　is　Mary　Turner。　　Arrested　four　years　ago　for　robbing　the　Emporium。　　Did　her　stretch　of　three　years。〃

〃Is　that　all　you've　got　about　her？〃　　Garson　demanded；　with　such　abruptness　that　Cassidy　forgot　his　dignity　sufficiently　to　answer　with　an　unqualified　yes。

The　forger　continued　speaking　rapidly；　and　now　there　was　an　undercurrent　of　feeling　in　his　voice。

〃Nothing　in　your　record　of　her　about　her　coming　out　without　a　friend　in　the　world；　and　trying　to　go　straight？　　You　ain't　got　nothing　in　that　pretty　little　book　of　your'n　about　your　going　to　the　millinery　store　where　she　finally　got　a　job；　and　tipping　them　off　to　where　she　come　from？〃　

〃Sure；　they　was　tipped　off；〃　Cassidy　answered；　quite　unmoved。　　And　he　added；　swelling　visibly　with　importance：　〃We　got　to　protect　the　city。〃

〃Got　anything　in　that　record　of　your'n；〃　Garson　went　on　venomously；　〃about　her　getting　another　job；　and　your　following　her　up　again；　and　having　her　thrown　out？　　Got　it　there　about　the　letter　you　had　old　Gilder　write；　so　that　his　influence　would　get　her　canned？〃　

〃Oh；　we　had　her　right　the　first　time；〃　Cassidy　admitted；　complacently。

Then；　the　bitterness　of　Garson's　soul　was　revealed　by　the　fierceness　in　his　voice　as　he　replied。

〃You　did　not！　She　was　railroaded　for　a　job　she　never　done。　　She　went　in　honest；　and　she　came　out　honest。〃

The　detective　indulged　himself　in　a　cackle　of　sneering　merriment。

〃And　that's　why　she's　here　now　with　a　gang　of　crooks；〃　he　retorted。

Garson　met　the　implication　fairly。

〃Where　else　should　she　be？〃　　he　demanded；　violently。　〃You　ain't　got　nothing　in　that　record　about　my　jumping　into　the　river　after　her？〃　　The　forger's　voice　deepened　and　trembled　with　the　intensity　of　his　emotion；　which　was　now　grown　so　strong　that　any　who　listened　and　looked　might　guess　something　of　the　truth　as　to　his　feeling　toward　this　woman　of　whom　he　spoke。　　〃That's　where　I　found　hera　girl　that　never　done　nobody　any　harm；　starving　because　you　police　wouldn't　give　her　a　chance　to　work。　　In　the　river　because　she　wouldn't　take　the　only　other　way　that　was　left　her　to　make　a　living；　because　she　was　keeping　straight！。。。　Have　you　got　any　of　that　in　your　book？〃　

Cassidy；　who　had　been　scowling　in　the　face　of　this　arraignment；　suddenly　gave　vent　to　a　croaking　laugh　of　derision。

〃Huh！〃　he　said；　contemptuously。　　〃I　guess　you're　stuck　on　her；　eh？〃　

At　the　words；　an　instantaneous　change　swept　over　Garson。　　Hitherto；　he　had　been　tense；　his　face　set　with　emotion；　a　man　strong　and　sullen；　with　eyes　as　clear　and　heartless　as　those　of　a　beast　in　the　wild。　　Now；　without　warning；　a　startling　transformation　was　wrought。　　His　form　stiffened　to　rigidity　after　one　lightning…swift　step　forward；　and　his　face　grayed。　　The　eyes　glowed　with　the　fires　of　a　man's　heart　in　a　spasm　of　hate。　　He　was　the　embodiment　of　rage；　as　he　spoke　huskily；　his　voice　a　whisper　that　was　yet　louder　than　any　shout。

〃Cut　that！〃　

The　eyes　of　the　two　men　locked。　　Cassidy　struggled　with　all　his　pride　against　the　dominant　fury　this　man　hurled　on　him。

〃What？〃　　he　demanded；　blusteringly。　　But　his　tone　was　weaker　than　its　wont。

〃I　mean；〃　Garson　repeated；　and　there　was　finality　in　his　accents；　a　deadly　quality　that　was　appalling；　〃I　mean；　cut　it　outnow；　here；　and　all　the　time！　It　don't　go！〃　The　voice　rose　slightly。　　The　effect　of　it　was　more　penetrant　than　a　scream。　　〃It　don't　go！。。。　Do　you　get　me？〃　

There　was　a　short　interval　of　silence；　then　the　officer's　eyes　at　last　fell。　　It　was　Aggie　who　relieved　the　tension　of　the　scene。

〃He's　got　you；〃　she　remarked；　airily。　　〃Oi；　oi！　He's　got　you！〃　

There　were　again　a　few　seconds　of　pause；　and　then　Cassidy　made　an　observation　that　revealed　in　some　measure　the　shock　of　the　experience　he　had　just　undergone。

〃You　would　have　been　a　big　man；　Joe；　if　it　hadn't　been　for　that　temper　of　yours。　　It's　got　you　into　trouble　once　or　twice　already。　　Some　time　it's　likely　to　prove　your　finish。〃

Garson　relaxed　his　immobility；　and　a　little　color　crept　into　his　cheeks。

〃That's　my　business；〃　he　responded；　dully。

〃Anyway；〃　the　officer　went　on；　with　a　new　confidence；　now　that　his　eyes　were　free　from　the　gaze　that　had　burned　into　his　soul；　〃you've　got　to　clear　out；　the　whole　gang　of　youand　do　it　quick。〃

Aggie；　who　as　a　matter　of　fact　began　to　feel　that　she　was　not　receiving　her　due　share　of　attention；　now　interposed；　moving　forward　till　her　face　was　close　to　the　detective's。

〃We　don't　scare　worth　a　cent；〃　she　snapped；　with　the　virulence　of　a　vixen。　　〃You　can't　do　anything　to　us。　We　ain't　broke　the　law。〃　　There　came　a　sudden　ripple　of　laughter；　and　the　charming　lips　curved　joyously；　as　she　added：　〃Though　perhaps　we　have　bent　it　a　bit。〃

Cassidy　sneered；　outraged　by　such　impudence　on　the　part　of　an　ex…convict。

〃Don't　make　no　difference　what　you've　done；〃　he　growled。　　〃Gee！〃　he　went　on；　with　a　heavy　sneer。　　〃But　things　are　coming　to　a　pretty　pass　when　a　gang　of　crooks　gets　to　arguing　about　their　rights。　　That's　funny；　that　is！〃　

〃Then　laugh！〃　Aggie　exclaimed；　insolently；　and　made　a　face　at　the　officer。　　〃Ha；　ha；　ha！〃　

〃Well；　you've　got　the　tip；〃　Cassidy　returned；　somewhat　disconcerted；　after　a　stolid　fashion　of　his　own。　〃It's　up　to　you　to　take　it；　that's　all。　　If　you　don't；　one　of　you　will　make　a　long　visit　with　some　people　out　of　town；　and　it'll　probably　be　Mary。　　Remember；　I'm　giving　it　to　you　straight。〃

Aggie　assumed　her　formal　society　manner；　exaggerated　to　the　point　of　extravagance。

〃Do　come　again；　little　one；〃　she　chirruped；　caressingly。　〃I've　enjoyed　your　visit　so　much！〃　

But　Cassidy　paid　no　apparent　attention　to　her　frivolousness；　only　turned　and　went　noisily　out　of　the　drawing…room；　offering　no　return　to　her　daintily　inflected　good…afternoon。

For　her　own　part；　as　she　heard　the　outer　door　close　behind　the　detective；　Aggie's　expression　grew　vicious；　and　the　heavy　brows　drew　very　low；　until　the　level　line　almost　made　her　prettiness　vanish。

〃The　truck…horse　detective！〃　she　sneered。　　〃An　eighteen　collar；　and　a　six…and…a…half　hat！　He　sure　had　his　nerve；　trying　to　bluff　us！〃　

But　it　was　plain　that　Garson　was　of　another　mood。　There　was　anxiety　in　his　face；　as　he　stood　staring　vaguely　out　of　the　window。

〃Perhaps　it　wasn't　a　bluff；　Aggie；〃　he　suggested。

〃Well；　what　have　we　done；　I'd　like　to　know？〃　　the　girl　demanded；　confidently。　　She　took　a　cigarette　and　a　match　from　the　tabouret　beside　her；　and　stretched　her　feet　comfortably；　if　very　inelegantly；　on　a　chair　opposite。

Garson　answered　with　a　note　of　weariness　that　was　unlike　him。

〃It　ain't　what　you　have　done；〃　he　said；　quietly。　　〃It's　what　they　can　make　a　jury　think　you've　done。　　And；　once　they　set　out　to　get　youGod；　how　they　can　frame　things！　If　they　ever　start　out　after　Mary〃　He　did　not　finish　the　sentence；　but　sank　down　into　his　chair　with　a　groan　that　was　almost　of　despair。

The　girl　replied　with　a　burst　of　careless　laughter。

〃Joe；〃　she　said　gaily；　〃you're　one　grand　little　forger；　all　right；　all　right。　　But　Mary's　got　the　brains。　　Pooh；　I'll　string　along　with　her　as　far　as　she　wants　to　go。　She's　educated；　she　is。　　She　ain't　like　you　and　me；　Joe。　She　talks　like　a　lady；　and；　what's　a　damned　sight　harder；　she　acts　like　a　lady。　　I　guess　I　know。　　Wake　me　up　any　old　night　and　ask　mejust　ask　me；　that's　all。　　She's　been　tryin'　to　make　a　lady　out　of　me！〃　

The　vivaciousness　of　the　girl　distracted　the　man　for　the　moment　from　the　gloom　of　his　thoughts；　and　he　turned　to　survey　the　speaker　with　a　cynical　amusement。

〃Swell　chance！〃　he　commented；　drily。

〃Oh；　I'm　not　so　worse！　Just　you　watch　out。〃　　The　lively　girl　sprang　up；　discarded　the　cigarette；　adjusted　an　imaginary　train；　and　spoke　lispingly　in　a　society　manner　much　more　moderate　and　convincing　than　that　with　which　she　had　favored　the　retiring　Cassidy。　　Voice；　pose　and　gesture　proclaimed　at　least　the　excellent　mimic。

〃How　do　you　do；　Mrs。　Jones！　So　good　of　you　to　call！。。。　My　dear　Miss　Smith；　this　is　indeed　a　pleasure。〃　　She　seated　herself　again；　quite　primly　now；　and　moved　her　hands　over　the　tabouret　appropriately　to　her　words。　　〃One　lump；　or　two？。。。　Yes；　I　just　love　bridge。　　No；　I　don't　play；〃　she　continued；　simpering；　〃but；　just　the　same；　I　love　it。〃　　With　this　absurd　ending；　Aggie　again　arranged　her　feet　according　to　her　liking　on　the　opposite　chair。　　〃That's　the　kind　of　stuff　she's　had　me　doing；〃　she　rattled　on　in　her　coarser　voice；　〃and　believe　me；　Joe；　it's　damned　near　killing　me。　　But　all　the　same；〃　she　hurried　on；　with　a　swift　revulsion　of　mood　to　the　former　serious　topic；　〃I'm　for　Mary　strong！　You　stick　to　h