dh.theglasskey-第21部分

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　〃Opal　told　me　you　were　a　schoolmate　of　hers；〃　he　said　as　he　took　her　hand。　He　turned　from　her　to　face　Rusty　and　Jeff。　〃'Lo；　boys；〃　he　said　carelessly。　〃I　was　hoping　I'd　see　you　some　time　soon。〃
　Rusty　said　nothing。
　Jeff's　face　became　an　ugly　mask　of　grinning　delight。　〃Me　and　you　both；〃　he　said　heartily；　〃now　that　my　knuckles　are　all　healed　up　again。　What　do　you　guess　it　is　that　makes　me　get　such　a　hell　of　a　big　kick　out　of　slugging　you？〃
　Shad　O'Rory　gently　addressed　the　apish　man　without　turning　to　look　at　him：　〃You　talk　too　much　with　your　mouth；　Jeff。　Maybe　if　you　didn't　you'd　still　have　your　own　teeth。〃
　Mrs。　Mathews　spoke　to　Opal　in　an　undertone。　Opal　shook　her　head　and　sat　down　on　the　stool　by　the　fire　again。
　Mathews；　indicating　a　wooden　chair　at　the　other　end　of　the　fireplace；　said　nervously：　〃Sit　down；　Mr。　Beaumont；　and　dry　your　feet　andand　get　warm。〃
　〃Thanks。〃　Ned　Beaumont　pulled　the　chair　out　more　directly　in　the　fire's　glow　and　sat　down。
　Shad　O'Rory　was　lighting　a　cigarette。　When　he　had　finished　he　took　it　from　between　his　lips　and　asked：　〃How　are　you　feeling；　Ned？〃
　〃Pretty　good；　Shad。〃
　〃That's　fine。〃　O'Rory　turned　his　head　a　little　to　speak　to　the　two　men　on　the　bench：　〃You　boys　can　go　back　to　town　tomorrow。〃　He　turned　back　to　Ned　Beaumont；　explaining　blandly：　〃We　were　playing　safe　as　long　as　we　didn't　know　for　sure　you　weren't　going　to　die；　but　we　don't　mind　standing　an　assault…rap。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　nodded。　〃The　chances　are　I　won't　go　to　the　trouble　of　appearing　against　you；　anyhow；　on　that；　but　don't　forget　our　friend　Jeff's　wanted　for　West's　murder。〃　His　voice　was　light；　but　into　his　eyes；　fixed　on　the　log　burning　in　the　fireplace；　came　a　brief　evil　glint。　There　was　nothing　in　his　eyes　but　mockery　when　he　moved　them　to　the　left　to　focus　on　Mathews。　〃Though　of　course　I　might　so　I　could　make　trouble　for　Mathews　for　helping　you　hide　out。〃
　Mathews　said　hastily：　〃I　didn't；　Mr。　Beaumont。　I　didn't　even　know　they　were　here　until　we　came　up　today　and　I　was　as　surprised　as〃　He　broke　off；　his　face　panicky；　and　addressed　Shad　O'Rory；　whining：　〃You　know　you　are　wele。　You　know　that；　but　the　point　I'm　trying　to　make〃his　face　was　illuminated　by　a　sudden　glad　smile〃is　that　by　helping　you　without　knowing　it　I　didn't　do　anything　I　could　be　held　legally　responsible　for。〃
　O'Rory　said　softly：　〃Yes；　you　helped　me　without　knowing　it。〃　His　notable　clear　blue…grey　eyes　looked　without　interest　at　the　newspaper…publisher。
　Mathews's　smile　lost　its　gladness；　flickered　out　entirely。　He　fidgeted　with　fingers　at　his　necktie　and　presently　evaded　O'Rory's　gaze。
　Mrs。　Mathews　spoke　to　Ned　Beaumont；　sweetly：　〃Everybody's　been　so　dull　this　evening。　It　was　simply　ghastly　until　you　came。〃
　He　looked　at　her　curiously。　Her　dark　eyes　were　bright；　soft；　inviting。　Under　his　appraising　look　she　lowered　her　head　a　little　and　pursed　her　lips　a　little；　coquettishly。　Her　lips　were　thin；　too　dark　with　rouge；　but　beautiful　in　form。　He　smiled　at　her　and；　rising；　went　over　to　her。
　Opal　Madvig　stared　at　the　floor　before　her。　Mathews；　O'Rory；　and　the　two　men　on　the　bench　watched　Ned　Beaumont　and　Mathews's　wife。
　He　asked；　〃What　makes　them　so　dull？〃　and　sat　down　on　the　floor　in　front　of　her；　cross…legged；　not　facing　her　directly；　his　back　to　the　fire；　leaning　on　a　hand　on　the　floor　behind　him；　his　face　turned　up　to　one　side　towards　her。
　〃I'm　sure　I　don't　know；〃　she　said；　pouting。　〃I　thought　it　was　going　to　be　fun　when　Hal　asked　me　if　I　wanted　to　e　up　here　with　him　and　Opal。　And　then；　when　we　got　here；　we　found　these〃　she　paused　a　momentsaid；　〃friends　of　Hal's；〃　with　poorly　concealed　dubietyand　went　on：　〃here　and　everybody's　been　sitting　around　hinting　at　some　secret　they've　all　got　between　them　that　I　don't　know　anything　about　and　it's　been　unbearably　stupid。　Opal's　been　as　bad　as　the　rest。　She〃
　Her　husband　said；　〃Now；　Eloise；〃　in　an　ineffectually　authoritative　tone　and；　when　she　raised　her　eyes　to　meet　his；　got　more　embarrassment　than　authority　in　his　gaze。
　〃I　don't　care；〃　she　told　him　petulantly。　〃It's　true　and　Opal　is　as　bad　as　the　rest　of　you。　Why；　you　and　she　haven't　even　talked　about　whatever　business　it　was　you　were　ing　up　here　to　discuss　in　the　first　place。　Don't　think　I'd've　stayed　here　this　long　if　it　hadn't　been　for　the　storm。　I　wouldn't。〃
　Opal　Madvig's　face　had　flushed；　but　she　did　not　raise　her　eyes。
　Eloise　Mathews　bent　her　head　down　towards　Ned　Beaumont　again　and　the　petulance　in　her　face　became　playful。　〃That's　what　you've　got　to　make　up　for；〃　she　assured　him；　〃and　that　and　not　because　you're　beautiful　is　why　I　was　so　glad　to　see　you。〃
　He　frowned　at　her　in　mock　indignation
　She　frowned　at　him。　Her　frown　was　genuine。　〃Did　your　car　really　break　down？〃　she　demanded；　〃or　did　you　e　here　to　see　them　on　the　same　dull　business　that's　making　them　so　stupidly　mysterious？　You　did。　You're　another　one　of　them。〃
　He　laughed。　He　asked：　〃It　wouldn't　make　any　difference　why　I　came　if　I　changed　my　mind　after　seeing　you；　would　it？〃
　〃Nooo〃…she　was　suspicious〃but　I'd　have　to　be　awfully　sure　you　had　changed　it。〃
　〃And　anyway；〃　he　promised　lightly；　〃I　won't　be　mysterious　about　anything。　Haven't　you　really　got　an　idea　of　what　they're　all　eating　their　hearts　out　about？〃
　〃Not　the　least；〃　she　replied　spitefully；　〃except　that　I'm　pretty　sure　it　must　be　something　very　stupid　and　probably　political。〃
　He　put　his　free　hand　up　and　patted　one　of　hers。　〃Smart　girl；　right　on　both　counts。〃　He　turned　his　head　to　look　at　O'Rory　and　Mathews。　When　his　eyes　came　back　to　hers　they　were　shiny　with　merriment。　〃Want　me　to　tell　you　about　it？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃First；〃　he　said；　〃Opal　thinks　her　father　murdered　Taylor　Henry。〃
　Opal　Madvig　made　a　horrible　strangling　noise　in　her　throat　and　sprang　up　from　the　footstool。　She　put　the　back　of　one　hand　over　her　mouth。　Her　eyes　were　open　so　wide　the　whites　showed　all　around　the　irises　and　they　were　glassy　and　dreadful。
　Rusty　lurched　to　his　feet；　his　face　florid　with　anger；　but　Jeff；　leering；　caught　the　boy's　arm。　〃Let　him　alone；〃　he　rasped　good…naturedly。　〃He's　all　right。〃　The　boy　stood　straining　against　the　apish　man's　grip　on　his　arm；　but　did　not　try　to　free　himself。
　Eloise　Mathews　sat　frozen　in　her　chair；　staring　without　prehension　at　Opal。
　Mathews　was　trembling；　a　shrunken　grey…faced　sick　man　whose　lower　lip　and　lower　eyelids　sagged。
　Shad　O'Rory　was　sitting　forward　in　his　chair；　finely　modeled　long　face　pale　and　hard；　eyes　like　blue…grey　ice；　hands　gripping　chair…arms；　feet　flat　on　the　floor。
　〃Second；〃　Ned　Beaumont　said；　his　poise　nowise　disturbed　by　the　agitation　of　the　others；　〃she〃
　〃Ned；　don't！〃　Opal　Madvig　cried。
　He　screwed　himself　around　on　the　floor　then　to　look　up　at　her。
　She　had　taken　her　hand　from　her　mouth。　Her　hands　were　knotted　together　against　her　chest。　Her　stricken　eyes；　her　whole　haggard　face；　begged　mercy　of　him。
　He　studied　her　gravely　awhile。　Through　window　and　wall　came　the　sound　of　rain　dashing　against　the　building　in　wild　gusts　and　between　gusts　the　bustling　of　the　near…by　river。　His　eyes；　studying　her；　were　cool；　deliberate。　Presently　he　spoke　to　her　in　a　voice　kind　enough　but　aloof：　〃Isn't　that　why　you're　here？〃
　〃Please　don't；〃　she　said　hoarsely。
　He　moved　his　lips　in　a　thin　smile　that　his　eyes　had　nothing　to　do　with　and　asked：　〃Nobody's　supposed　to　go　around　talking　about　it　except　you　and　your　father's　other　enemies？〃
　She　put　her　handsfists…down　at　her　sides；　raised　her　face　angrily；　and　said　in　a　hard　ringing　voice：　〃He　did　murder　Taylor。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　leaned　back　against　his　hand　again　and　looked　up　at　Eloise　Mathews。　〃That's　what　I　was　telling　you；〃　he　drawled。　〃Thinking　that；　she　went　to　your　husband　after　she　saw　the　junk　he　printed　this　morning。　Of　course　he　didn't　think　Paul　had　done　any　killing：　he's　just　in　a　tough　spotwith　his　mortgages　held　by　the　State　Central；　which　is　owned　by　Shad's　candidate　for　the　Senateand　he　has　to　do　what　he's　told。　What　she〃
　Mathews　interrupted　him。　The　publisher's　voice　was　thin　and　desperate。　〃Now　you　stop　that；　Beaumont。　You〃
　O'Rory　interrupted　Mathews。　O'Rory's　voice　was　quiet；　musical。　〃Let　him　talk；　Mathews；〃　he　said。　〃Let　him　say　his　say。〃
　〃Thanks；　Shad；〃　Ned　Beaumont　said　carelessly；　not　looking　around；　and　went　on：　〃She　went　to　your　husband　to　have　him　confirm　her　suspicion；　but　he　couldn't　give　her　anything　that　would　do　that　unless　he　lied　to　her。　He　doesn't　know　anything。　He's　simply　throwing　mud　wherever　Shad　tells　him　to　throw　it。　But　here's　what　he　can　do　and　does。　He　can　print　in　tomorrow's　paper　the　story　about　her　ing　in　and　telling　him　she　believes　her　father　killed　her　lover。　That'll　be　a　lovely　wallop。　'Opal　Madvig　Accuses　Father　of　Murder；　Boss's　Daughter　Says　He　Killed　Senator's　Son！'　Can't　you　see　that　in　black　ink　all　across　the　front　of　the　Observer？〃
　Eloise　Mathews；　her　eyes　large；　her　face　white；　was　listening　breathlessly；　bending　forward；　her　face　above　his。　Wind…flung　rain　beat　walls　and　windows。　Rusty　filled　and　emptied　his　lungs　with　a　long　sighing　breath。
　Ned　Beaumont　put　the　tip　of　his　tongue　between　smiling　lips；　withdrew　it；　and　said：　〃That's　why　he　brought　her　up　here；　to　keep　her　under　cover　till　the　story　breaks。　Maybe　he　knew　Shad　and　the　boys　were　here；　maybe　not。　It　doesn't　make　any　difference。　He's　getting　her　off　where　nobody　can　find　out　what　she's　done　till　the　papers　are　out。　I　don't　mean　that　he'd've　brought　her　here；　or　would　hold　her　here；　against　her　will　that　wouldn't　be　very　bright　of　him　the　way　things　stack　up　nowbut　none　of　that's　necessary。　She's　willing　to　go　to　any　lengths　to　ruin　her　father。〃
　Opal　Madvig　said；　in　a　whisper；　but　distinctly：　〃He　did　kill　him。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　sat　up　straight　and　looked　at　her。　He　looked　solemnly　at　her　for　a　moment；　then　smiled；　shook　his　head　in　a　gesture　of　amused　resignation；　and　leaned　back　on　his　elbows。
　Eloise　Mathews　was　staring　with　dark　eyes　wherein　wonder　was　predominant　at　her　husband。　He　had　sat　down。　His　head　was　bowed。　His　hands　hid　his　face。
　Shad　O'Rory　recrossed　his　legs　and　took　out　a　cigarette。　〃Through？〃　he　asked　mildly。
　Ned　Beaumont's　back　was　to　O'Rory。　He　did　not　turn　to　reply：　〃You'd　hardly　believe　how　through　I　am。〃　His　voice　was　level；　but　his　face　was　sud