within the law-第33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！



〃Burke　himself　did。〃

〃When？〃　　Mary　was　standing　rigid　now；　and　the　rare　color　flamed　in　her　cheeks。　　Her　eyes　were　blazing。

〃Less　than　an　hour　ago。〃　　He　had　caught　the　contagion　of　her　mood　and　vague　alarm　swept　him。

〃Where？〃　　came　the　next　question；　still　with　that　vital　insistence。

〃In　this　room。〃

〃Burke　was　here？〃　　Mary's　voice　was　suddenly　cold；　very　dangerous。　　〃What　was　he　doing　here？〃　

〃Talking　to　my　father。〃

The　seemingly　simple　answer　appeared　the　last　straw　to　the　girl's　burden　of　frenzied　suspicion。　　Her　voice　cut　fiercely　into　the　quiet　of　the　room；　imperious；　savage。

〃Joe；　turn　on　that　light！　I　want　to　see　the　face　of　every　man　in　this　room。〃

Something　fatally　significant　in　her　voice　set　Garson　a…leap　to　the　switch；　and；　in　the　same　second；　the　blaze　of　the　chandelier　flamed　brilliantly　over　all。　　The　others　stood　motionless；　blinking　in　the　sudden　radianceall　save　Griggs；　who　moved　stealthily　in　that　same　moment；　a　little　nearer　the　door　into　the　passage；　which　was　nearest　to　him。

But　Mary's　next　words　came　wholly　as　a　surprise；　seemingly　totally　irrelevant　to　this　instant　of　crisis。　　Yet　they　rang　a…throb　with　an　hysterical　anxiety。

〃Dick；〃　she　cried；　〃what　are　those　tapestries　worth？〃　　With　the　question；　she　pointed　toward　the　draperies　that　shrouded　the　great　octagonal　window。

The　young　man　was　plainly　astonished；　disconcerted　as　well　by　the　obtrusion　of　a　sordid　detail　into　the　tragedy　of　the　time。

〃Why　in　the　world　do　you？〃　　he　began；　impatiently。

Mary　stamped　her　foot　angrily　in　protest　against　the　delay。

〃Tell　mequick！〃　she　commanded。　　The　authority　in　her　voice　and　manner　was　not　to　be　gainsaid。

Dick　yielded　sullenly。

〃Oh；　two　or　three　hundred　dollars；　I　suppose；〃　he　answered。　　〃Why？〃　

〃Never　mind　that！〃　Mary　exclaimed；　violently。　　And　now　the　girl's　voice　came　stinging　like　a　whiplash。　　In　Garson's　face；　too；　was　growing　fury；　for　in　an　instant　of　illumination　he　guessed　something　of　the　truth。　Mary's　next　question　confirmed　his　raging　suspicion。

〃How　long　have　you　had　them；　Dick？〃　

By　now；　the　young　man　himself　sensed　the　fact　that　something　mysteriously　baneful　lay　behind　the　frantic　questioning　on　this　seemingly　trivial　theme。

〃Ever　since　I　can　remember；〃　he　replied；　promptly。

Mary's　voice　came　then　with　an　intonation　that　brought　enlightenment　not　only　to　Garson's　shrewd　perceptions；　but　also　to　the　heavier　intelligences　of　Dacey　and　of　Chicago　Red。

〃And　they're　not　famous　masterpieces　which　your　father　bought　recently；　from　some　dealer　who　smuggled　them　into　this　country？〃　　So　simple　were　the　words　of　her　inquiry；　but　under　them　beat　something　evil；　deadly。

The　young　man　laughed　contemptuously。

〃I　should　say　not！〃　he　declared　indignantly；　for　he　resented　the　implication　against　his　father's　honesty。

〃It's　a　trick！　Burke's　done　it！〃　Mary's　words　came　with　accusing　vehemence。

There　was　another　single　step　made　by　Griggs　toward　the　door　into　the　passage。

Mary's　eye　caught　the　movement；　and　her　lips　soundlessly　formed　the　name：

〃Griggs！〃　

The　man　strove　to　carry　off　the　situation；　though　he　knew　well　that　he　stood　in　mortal　peril。　　He　came　a　little　toward　the　girl　who　had　accused　him　of　treachery。　He　was　very　dapper　in　his　evening　clothes；　with　his　rather　handsome；　well…groomed　face　set　in　lines　of　innocence。

〃He's　lying　to　you！〃　he　cried　forcibly；　with　a　scornful　gesture　toward　Dick　Gilder。　　〃I　tell　you；　those　tapestries　are　worth　a　million　cold。〃

Mary's　answer　was　virulent　in　its　sudden　burst　of　hate。　　For　once；　the　music　of　her　voice　was　lost　in　a　discordant　cry　of　detestation。

〃You　stool…pigeon！　You　did　this　for　Burke！〃　

Griggs　sought　still　to　maintain　his　air　of　innocence；　and　he　strove　well；　since　he　knew　that　he　fought　for　his　life　against　those　whom　he　had　outraged。　　As　he　spoke　again；　his　tones　were　tremulous　with　sincerityperhaps　that　tremulousness　was　born　chiefly　of　fear；　yet　to　the　ear　his　words　came　stoutly　enough　for　truth：

〃I　swear　I　didn't！　I　swear　it！〃　

Mary　regarded　the　protesting　man　with　abhorrence。　The　perjured　wretch　shrank　before　the　loathing　in　her　eyes。

〃You　came　to　me　yesterday；〃　she　said；　with　more　of　restraint　in　her　voice　now；　but　still　with　inexorable　rancor。　〃You　came　to　me　to　explain　this　plan。　　And　you　came　from　himfrom　Burke！〃　

〃I　swear　I　was　on　the　level。　　I　was　tipped　off　to　the　story　by　a　pal；〃　Griggs　declared；　but　at　last　the　assurance　was　gone　out　of　his　voice。　　He　felt　the　hostility　of　those　about　him。

Garson　broke　in　ferociously。

〃It's　a　frame…up！〃　he　said。　　His　tones　came　in　a　deadened　roar　of　wrath。

On　the　instant；　aware　that　further　subterfuge　could　be　of　no　avail；　Griggs　swaggered　defiance。

〃And　what　if　it　is　true？〃　　he　drawled；　with　a　resumption　of　his　aristocratic　manner；　while　his　eyes　swept　the　group　balefully。　　He　plucked　the　police　whistle　from　his　waistcoat…pocket；　and　raised　it　to　his　lips。

He　moved　too　slowly。　　In　the　same　moment　of　his　action；　Garson　had　pulled　the　pistol　from　his　pocket；　had　pressed　the　trigger。　　There　came　no　spurt　of　flame。　There　was　no　soundsave　perhaps　a　faint　clicking　noise。　　But　the　man　with　the　whistle　at　his　lips　suddenly　ceased　movement；　stood　absolutely　still　for　the　space　of　a　breath。　　Then；　he　trembled　horribly；　and　in　the　next　instant　crashed　to　the　floor；　where　he　lay　rigid；　dead。

〃Damn　youI've　got　you！〃　Garson　sneered　through　clenched　teeth。　　His　eyes　were　like　balls　of　fire。　　There　was　a　frightful　grin　of　triumph　twisting　his　mouth　in　this　minute　of　punishment。

In　the　first　second　of　the　tragedy；　Dick　had　not　understood。　　Indeed；　he　was　still　dazed　by　the　suddenness　of　it　all。　　But　the　falling　of　Griggs　before　the　leveled　weapon　of　the　other　man；　there　to　lie　in　that　ghastly　immobility；　made　him　to　understand。　　He　leaped　toward　Garsonwould　have　wrenched　the　pistol　from　the　other's　grasp。　　In　the　struggle；　it　fell　to　the　floor。

Before　either　could　pick　it　up；　there　came　an　interruption。　Even　in　the　stress　of　this　scene；　Chicago　Red　had　never　relaxed　his　professional　caution。　　A　slight　noise　had　caught　his　ear；　he　had　stooped；　listening。　Now；　he　straightened；　and　called　his　warning。

〃Somebody's　opening　the　front　door！〃　

Garson　forgot　his　weapon　in　this　new　alarm。　　He　sprang　to　the　octagonal　window；　even　as　Dick　took　possession　of　the　pistol。

〃The　street's　empty！　We　must　jump　for　it！〃　His　hate　was　forgotten　now　in　an　emotion　still　deeper；　and　he　turned　to　Mary。　　His　face　was　all　gentleness　again；　where　just　before　it　had　been　evil　incarnate；　aflame　with　the　lust　to　destroy。　　〃Come　on；　Mary；〃　he　cried。

Already　Chicago　Red　had　snapped　off　the　lights　of　the　chandelier；　had　sprung　to　the　window；　thrown　open　a　panel　of　it；　and　had　vanished　into　the　night；　with　Dacey　at　his　heels。　　As　Garson　would　have　called　out　to　the　girl　again　in　mad　anxiety　for　haste；　he　was　interrupted　by　Dick：

〃She　couldn't　make　it；　Garson；〃　he　declared　coolly　and　resolutely。　　〃You　go。　　It'll　be　all　right；　you　know。　I'll　take　care　of　her！〃　

〃If　she's　caught！〃　There　was　an　indescribable　menace　in　the　forger's　half…uttered　threat。

〃She　won't　be。〃　　The　quality　of　sincerity　in　Dick's　voice　was　more　convincing　than　any　vow　might　have　been。

〃If　she　is；　I'll　get　you；　that's　all；〃　Garson　said　gravely；　as　one　stating　a　simple　fact　that　could　not　be　disputed。

Then　he　glanced　down　at　the　body　of　the　man　whom　he　had　done　to　death。

〃And　you　can　tell　that　to　Burke！〃　he　said　viciously　to　the　dead。　　〃You　damned　squealer！〃　There　was　a　supremely　malevolent　content　in　his　sneer。



CHAPTER　XIX。　WITHIN　THE　TOILS。　

The　going　of　Garson　left　the　room　deathly　still。　Dick　stared　for　a　moment　at　the　space　of　window　left　uncovered　by　the　draperies　now；　since　the　man　had　hurried　past　them；　without　pausing　to　draw　them　after　him。　Then；　presently；　the　young　man　turned　again　to　Mary；　and　took　her　hand　in　his。　　The　shock　of　the　event　had　somehow　steadied　him；　since　it　had　drawn　his　thoughts　from　that　other　more　engrossing　mood　of　concern　over　the　crisis　in　his　own　life。　　After　all；　what　mattered　the　death　of　this　crook？　　his　fancy　ran。　　The　one　thing　of　real　worth　in　all　the　world　was　the　life　that　remained　to　be　lived　between　him　and　her。。。。　Then；　violently；　the　selfishness　of　his　mood　was　made　plain　to　him。　　For　the　hand　he　held　was　shaking　like　some　slender…stalked　lily　in　the　clutch　of　the　sirocco。　　Even　as　he　first　perceived　the　fact；　he　saw　the　girl　stagger。　　His　arm　swept　about　her　in　a　virile　protecting　embracejust　in　time；　or　she　would　have　fallen。

A　whisper　came　from　her　quivering　lips。　　Her　face　was　close　to　his；　else　he　could　not　have　caught　the　uncertain　murmuring。　　That　face　now　was　become　ghastly　pale。　　The　violet　eyes　were　widened　and　dull。　　The　muscles　of　her　face　twitched。　　She　rested　supinely　against　him；　as　if　bereft　of　any　strength　of　body　or　of　soul。　　Yet；　in　the　intensity　of　her　utterance；　the　feeble　whisper　struck　like　a　shriek　of　horror。

〃IInever　saw　any　one　killed　before！〃　

The　simple；　grisly　truth　of　the　wordswords　that　he　might　have　spoken　as　wellstirred　the　man　to　the　deeps　of　his　being。　　He　shuddered；　as　he　turned　his　eyes　to　avoid　seeing　the　thing　that　lay　so　very　near；　mercifully　merged　within　the　shadows　beyond　the　gentle　radiance　from　the　single　lamp。　　With　a　pang　of　infinite　pity　for　the　woman　in　his　arms；　he　apprehended　in　some　degree　the　torture　this　event　must　have　inflicted　on　her。　Frightful　to　him；　it　must　in　truth　be　vastly　worse　to　her。　There　was　her　womanly　sensitiveness　to　enhance　the　innate　hideousness　of　the　thing　that　had　been　done　here　before　their　eyes。　　There　was；　too；　the　fact　that　the　murderer　himself　had　been　the　man　to　whom　she　owed　her　life。　　Yes；　for　him；　Dick　realized　with　poignant　sympathy；　the　happening　that　night　was　terrible　indeed：　for　her；　as　he　guessed　now　at　last；　the　torture　must　be　something　easily　to　overwhelm　all　her　strength。　　His　touch　on　her　grew　tender　beyond　the　ordinary　tenderness　of　love；　made　gentler　by　a　great　underlying　compassion　for　her　misery。

Dick　drew　Mary　toward　the　couch；　there　let　her　sink　down　in　a　huddled　attitude　of　despair。

〃I　never　saw　a　mankilled　before！〃　she　said　again。　There　was　a　note　of　half…hysterical；　almost　ch