within the law-第38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！


ue　eyes　was　very　kind；　subtly　alluring。　　Yet　in　this　unbending；　there　appeared　even　more　decisively　than　hitherto　the　fine　qualities　in　bearing　of　one　delicately　nurtured。　　She　sank　down　in　a　chair　by　the　desk；　and　forthwith　spoke　with　a　simplicity　that　in　itself　was　somehow　peculiarly　potent　in　its　effect　on　the　official　who　gave　attentive　ear。

〃My　name　is　Helen　Travers　West；〃　she　announced。

Burke　started　a　little　in　his　seat；　and　regarded　the　speaker　with　a　new　deference　as　he　heard　that　name　uttered。

〃Not　the　daughter　of　the　railway　president？〃　　he　inquired。

〃Yes；〃　the　girl　admitted。　　Then；　anew；　she　displayed　a　serious　agitation　over　the　thought　of　any　possible　publicity　in　this　affair。

〃Oh；　please；　don't　tell　any　one；〃　she　begged　prettily。　The　blue　eyes　were　very　imploring；　beguiling；　too。　　The　timid　smile　that　wreathed　the　tiny　mouth　was　marvelously　winning。　　The　neatly　gloved　little　hands　were　held　outstretched；　clasped　in　supplication。　　〃Surely；　sir；　you　see　now　quite　plainly　why　it　must　never　be　known　by　any　one　in　all　the　wide；　wide　world　that　I　have　ever　been　brought　to　this　perfectly　dreadful　placethough　you　have　been　quite　nice！〃　Her　voice　dropped　to　a　note　of　musical　prayerfulness。　　The　words　were　spoken　very　softly　and　very　slowly；　with　intonations　difficult　for　a　man　to　deny。　　〃Please　let　me　go　home。〃　　She　plucked　a　minute　handkerchief　from　her　handbag；　put　it　to　her　eyes；　and　began　to　sob　quietly。

The　burly　Inspector　of　Police　was　moved　to　quick　sympathy。　　Really；　when　all　was　said　and　done；　it　was　a　shame　that　one　like　her　should　by　some　freak　of　fate　have　become　involved　in　the　sordid；　vicious　things　that　his　profession　made　it　obligatory　on　him　to　investigate。　There　was　a　considerable　hint　of　the　paternal　in　his　air　as　he　made　an　attempt　to　offer　consolation　to　the　afflicted　damsel。

〃That's　all　right；　little　lady；〃　he　exclaimed　cheerfully。　〃Now；　don't　you　be　worriednot　a　little　bit。　　Take　it　from　me；　Miss　West。。。。　Just　go　ahead；　and　tell　me　all　you　know　about　this　Turner　woman。　　Did　you　see　her　yesterday？〃　

The　girl's　sobs　ceased。　　After　a　final　dab　with　the　minute　handkerchief；　she　leaned　forward　a　little　toward　the　Inspector；　and　proceeded　to　put　a　question　to　him　with　great　eagerness。

〃Will　you　let　me　go　home　as　soon　as　I've　told　you　the　teensy　little　I　know？〃　

〃Yes；〃　Burke　agreed　promptly；　with　an　encouraging　smile。　　And　for　a　good　measure　of　reassurance；　he　added　as　one　might　to　an　alarmed　child：　〃No　one　is　going　to　hurt　you；　young　lady。〃

〃Well；　then；　you　see；　it　was　this　way；〃　began　the　brisk　explanation。　　〃Mr。　Gilder　was　calling　on　me　one　afternoon；　and　he　said　to　me　then　that　he　knew　a　very　charming　young　woman；　who〃

Here　the　speech　ended　abruptly；　and　once　again　the　handkerchief　was　brought　into　play　as　the　sobbing　broke　forth　with　increased　violence。　　Presently；　the　girl's　voice　rose　in　a　wail。

〃Oh；　this　is　dreadfuldreadful！〃　In　the　final　word；　the　wail　broke　to　a　moan。

Burke　felt　himself　vaguely　guilty　as　the　cause　of　such　suffering　on　the　part　of　one　so　young；　so　fair；　so　innocent。　As　a　culprit；　he　sought　his　best　to　afford　a　measure　of　soothing　for　this　grief　that　had　had　its　source　in　his　performance　of　duty。

〃That's　all　right；　little　lady；〃　he　urged　in　a　voice　as　nearly　mellifluous　as　he　could　contrive　with　its　mighty　volume。　　〃That's　all　right。　　I　have　to　keep　on　telling　you。　　Nobody's　going　to　hurt　younot　a　little　bit。　　Believe　me！　Why；　nobody　ever　would　want　to　hurt　you！〃　

But　his　well…meant　attempt　to　assuage　the　stricken　creature's　wo　was　futile。　　The　sobbing　continued。　　With　it　came　a　plaintive　cry；　many　times　repeated；　softly；　but　very　miserably。

〃Oh；　dear！　Oh；　dear！〃　

〃Isn't　there　something　else　you　can　tell　me　about　this　woman？〃　　Burke　inquired　in　desperation　before　the　plaintive　outburst。　　He　hoped　to　distract　her　from　such　grief　over　her　predicament。

The　girl　gave　no　least　heed　to　the　question。

〃Oh；　I'm　so　frightened！〃　she　gasped。

〃Tut；　tut！〃　the　Inspector　chided。　　〃Now；　I　tell　you　there's　nothing　at　all　for　you　to　be　afraid　of。〃

〃I'm　afraid！〃　the　girl　asserted　dismally。　　〃I'm　afraid　you　willput　mein　a　cell！〃　Her　voice　sank　to　a　murmur　hardly　audible　as　she　spoke　the　words　so　fraught　with　dread　import　to　one　of　her　refined　sensibilities。

〃Pooh！〃　Burke　returned；　gallantly。　　〃Why；　my　dear　young　lady；　nobody　in　the　world　could　think　of　you　and　a　cell　at　the　same　timeno；　indeed！〃　

Instantly；　the　girl　responded　to　this　bald　flattery。　　She　fairly　radiated　appreciation　of　the　compliment；　as　she　turned　her　eyes；　dewy　with　tears；　on　the　somewhat　flustered　Inspector。

〃Oh；　thank　you！〃　she　exclaimed；　with　naive　enjoyment。

Forthwith；　Burke　set　out　to　make　the　most　of　this　favorable　opportunity。

〃Are　you　sure　you've　told　me　all　you　know　about　this　woman？〃　　he　questioned。

〃Oh；　yes！　I've　only　seen　her　two　or　three　times；〃　came　the　ready　response。　　The　voice　changed　to　supplication；　and　again　the　clasped　hands　were　extended　beseechingly。

〃Oh；　please；　Commissioner！　Won't　you　let　me　go　home？〃　

The　use　of　a　title　higher　than　his　own　flattered　the　Inspector；　and　he　was　moved　to　graciousness。　　Besides；　it　was　obvious　that　his　police　net　in　this　instance　had　enmeshed　only　the　most　harmless　of　doves。　　He　smiled　encouragingly。

〃Well；　now；　little　lady；〃　he　said；　almost　tenderly；　〃if　I　let　you　go　now；　will　you　promise　to　let　me　know　if　you　are　able　to　think　of　anything　else　about　this　Turner　woman？〃　

〃I　willindeed；　I　will！〃　came　the　fervent　assurance。　There　was　something　almostquite　provocative　in　the　flash　of　gratitude　that　shone　forth　from　the　blue　eyes　of　the　girl　in　that　moment　of　her　superlative　relief。　　It　moved　Burke　to　a　desire　for　rehabilitation　in　her　estimation。

〃Now；　you　see；〃　he　went　on　in　his　heavy　voice；　yet　very　kindly；　and　with　a　sort　of　massive　playfulness　in　his　manner；〃　no　one　has　hurt　younot　even　a　little　bit；　after　all。　　Now；　you　run　right　home　to　your　mother。〃

The　girl　did　not　need　to　be　told　twice。　　On　the　instant；　she　sprang　up　joyously；　and　started　toward　the　door；　with　a　final　ravishing　smile　for　the　pleased　official　at　the　desk。

〃I'll　go　just　as　fast　as　ever　I　can；〃　the　musical　voice　made　assurance　blithely。

〃Give　my　compliments　to　your　father；〃　Burke　requested　courteously。　　〃And　tell　him　I'm　sorry　I　frightened　you。〃

The　girl　turned　at　the　door。。。。　After　all；　too　great　haste　might　be　indiscreet。

〃I　will；　Commissioner；〃　she　promised；　with　an　arch　smile。　　〃And　I　know　papa　will　be　so　grateful　to　you　for　all　your　kindness　to　me！〃　

It　was　at　this　critical　moment　that　Cassidy　entered　from　the　opposite　side　of　the　office。　　As　his　eyes　fell　on　the　girl　at　the　door　across　from　him；　his　stolid　face　lighted　in　a　grin。　　And；　in　that　same　instant　of　recognition　between　the　two；　the　color　went　out　of　the　girl's　face。　　The　little　red　lips　snapped　together　in　a　line　of　supreme　disgust　against　this　vicissitude　of　fate　after　all　her　manoeuverings　in　the　face　of　the　enemy。　　She　stood　motionless　in　wordless　dismay；　impotent　before　this　disaster　forced　on　her　by　untoward　chance。

〃Hello；　Aggie！〃　the　detective　remarked；　with　a　smirk；　while　the　Inspector　stared　from　one　to　the　other　with　rounded　eyes　of　wonder；　and　his　jaw　dropped　from　the　stark　surprise　of　this　new　development。

The　girl　returned　deliberately　to　the　chair　she　had　occupied　through　the　interview　with　the　Inspector；　and　dropped　into　it　weakly。　　Her　form　rested　there　limply　now；　and　the　blue　eyes　stared　disconsolately　at　the　blank　wall　before　her。　　She　realized　that　fate　had　decreed　defeat　for　her　in　the　game。　　It　was　after　a　minute　of　silence　in　which　the　two　men　sat　staring　that　at　last　she　spoke　with　a　savage　wrath　against　the　pit　into　which　she　had　fallen　after　her　arduous　efforts。

〃Ain't　that　the　damnedest　luck！〃　

For　a　little　interval　still；　Burke　turned　his　glances　from　the　girl　to　Cassidy；　and　then　back　again　to　the　girl；　who　sat　immobile　with　her　blue　eyes　steadfastly　fixed　on　the　wall。　　The　police　official　was；　in　truth；　totally　bewildered。　　Here　was　inexplicable　mystery。　Finally；　he　addressed　the　detective　curtly。

〃Cassidy；　do　you　know　this　woman？〃　

〃Sure；　I　do！〃　came　the　placid　answer。　　He　went　on　to　explain　with　the　direct　brevity　of　his　kind。　　〃She's　little　Aggie　Lynchcon'　woman；　from　Buffalotwo　years　for　blackmaildid　her　time　at　Burnsing。〃

With　this　succinct　narrative　concerning　the　girl　who　sat　mute　and　motionless　in　the　chair　with　her　eyes　fast　on　the　wall；　Cassidy　relapsed　into　silence；　during　which　he　stared　rather　perplexedly　at　his　chief；　who　seemed　to　be　in　the　throes　of　unusual　emotion。　　As　the　detective　expressed　it　in　his　own　vernacular：　For　the　first　time　in　his　experience；　the　Inspector　appeared　to　be　actually　〃rattled。〃

For　a　little　time；　there　was　silence；　the　while　Burke　sat　staring　at　the　averted　face　of　the　girl。　　His　expression　was　that　of　one　who　has　just　undergone　a　soul…stirring　shock。　　Then；　presently；　he　set　his　features　grimly；　rose　from　his　chair；　and　walked　to　a　position　directly　in　the　front　of　the　girl；　who　still　refused　to　look　in　his　direction。

〃Young　woman〃　he　began；　severely。　　Then；　of　a　sudden　he　laughed。　　〃You　picked　the　right　business；　all　right；　all　right！〃　he　said；　with　a　certain　enthusiasm。　He　laughed　aloud　until　his　eyes　were　only　slits；　and　his　ample　paunch　trembled　vehemently。

〃Well；〃　he　went　on；　at　last；　〃I　certainly　have　to　hand　it　to　you；　kid。　　You're　a　beaut'！〃　

Aggie　sniffed　vehemently　in　rebuke　of　the　gross　partiality　of　fate　in　his　behalf。

〃Just　as　I　had　him　goin'！〃　she　said　bitterly；　as　if　in　self…communion；　without　shifting　her　gaze　from　the　blank　surface　of　the　wall。

Now；　however；　Burke　was　reminded　once　again　of　his　official　duties；　and　he　turned　quickly　to　the　attentive　Cassidy。

〃Have　you　got　a　picture　of　this　young　woman？〃　　he　asked　brusquely。　　And　when　Cassidy　had　replied　in　the　negative；　he　again　faced　the　adventuress　with　a　mocking　grinin　which　mockery；　too；　was　a　fair　fragment　for　himself；　who　had　been　so　thoroughly　within　her　toils　of　blandishment。

〃I'd　dearly　love　to　have　a　photograph　of　you；　Miss　Helen　Travers　West；〃　he　said。

The　speech　aroused　the　stolid　detective　to　a　new　interest。

〃Helen　Travers　West？〃　　he　repeated