earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第6部分

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　〃Not　a　word；　Roger。　Not　a　word　to　any　one。　You'll　understand。　Sometimes　the　dead　past　needs　a　bit　of　help　in　burying　its　dead。
　〃YOUR　COUSIN　DAN。〃
　Solemnly　John　Quincy　handed　the　letter　back　into　Roger's　keeping。　The　older　man　thoughtfully　tore　it　to　bits　and　tossed　them　through　the　car　window　open　beside　him。　〃Well；〃　said　John　Quincy。　〃Well　…〃　A　fitting　ment　eluded　him。
　〃Simple　enough；〃　smiled　Roger。　〃If　we　can　help　poor　old　Dan　to　sleep　better　as　easily　as　that；　we　must　do　it；　eh？〃
　〃I　…　I　suppose　so；〃　John　Quincy　agreed。
　They　had　climbed　Russian　Hill；　and　were　speeding　along　a　deserted　avenue　lined　by　imposing　mansions。　Roger　leaned　forward。　〃Go　on　to　the　corner；〃　he　said　to　the　chauffeur。　〃We　can　walk　back；〃　he　explained　to　John　Quincy。　〃Best　not　to　leave　the　car　before　the　house。　Might　excite　suspicion。〃
　Still　John　Quincy　had　no　ment　to　make。　They　alighted　at　the　corner　and　walked　slowly　back　along　the　avenue。　In　front　of　a　big　stone　house；　Roger　paused。　He　looked　carefully　in　all　directions；　then　ran　with　surprising　speed　up　the　steps。　〃e　on；〃　he　called　softly。
　John　Quincy　came。　Roger　unlocked　the　door　and　they　stepped　into　a　dark　vestibule。　Beyond　that；　darker　still；　was　a　huge　hall；　the　dim　suggestion　of　a　grand　staircase。　Here　and　there　an　article　of　furniture；　shrouded　in　white；　stood　like　a　ghost；　marooned　but　patient。　Roger　took　out　a　box　of　matches。
　〃Meant　to　bring　a　flashlight；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　clean　forgot。　Wait　here　…　I'll　hunt　those　candles　in　the　pantry。〃
　He　went　off　into　the　dark。　John　Quincy　took　a　few　cautious　steps。　He　was　about　to　sit　down　on　a　chair　…　but　it　was　like　sitting　on　the　lap　of　a　ghost。　He　changed　his　mind；　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　floor；　waited。　Quiet；　deathly　quiet。　The　black　had　swallowed　Roger；　with　not　so　much　as　a　gurgle。
　After　what　seemed　an　age；　Roger　returned；　bearing　two　lighted　candles。　One　each；　he　explained。　John　Quincy　took　his；　held　it　high。　The　flickering　yellow　flame　accentuated　the　shadows；　was　really　of　small　help。
　Roger　led　the　way　up　the　grand　staircase；　then　up　a　narrower　flight。　At　the　foot　of　still　another　flight；　in　a　stuffy　passage　on　the　third　floor；　he　halted。
　〃Here　we　are；〃　he　said。　〃This　leads　to　the　storage　room　under　the　roof。　By　gad；　I'm　getting　too　old　for　this　sort　of　thing。　I　meant　to　bring　a　chisel　to　use　on　that　lock。　I　know　where　the　tools　are　…　I'll　be　gone　only　a　minute。　You　go　on　up　and　locate　the　trunk。〃
　〃All　…　all　right；〃　answered　John　Quincy。
　Again　Roger　left　him。　John　Quincy　hesitated。　Something　about　a　deserted　house　at　midnight　to　dismay　the　stoutest　heart　…　but　nonsense！　He　was　a　grown　man。　He　smiled；　and　started　up　the　narrow　stair。　High　above　his　head　the　yellow　light　of　the　candle　flickered　on　the　brown　rafters　of　the　unfinished　store　room。
　He　reached　the　top　of　the　stairs；　and　paused。　Gloom；　gloom　everywhere。　Odd　how　floor　boards　will　creak　even　when　no　one　is　moving　over　them。　One　was　creaking　back　of　him　now。
　He　was　about　to　turn　when　a　hand　reached　from　behind　and　knocked　the　candle　out　of　his　grasp。　It　rolled　on　the　floor；　extinguished。
　This　was　downright　rude！　〃See　here；〃　cried　John　Quincy；　〃wh　…　who　are　you？〃
　A　bit　of　moonlight　struggled　in　through　a　far　window；　and　suddenly　between　John　Quincy　and　that　distant　light　there　loomed　the　determined　figure　of　a　man。　Something　told　the　boy　he　had　better　get　ready；　but　where　he　came　from　one　had　a　moment　or　two　for　preparation。　He　had　none　here。　A　fist　shot　out　and　found　his　face；　and　John　Quincy　Winterslip　of　Boston　went　down　amid　the　rubbish　of　a　San　Francisco　attic。　He　heard；　for　a　second；　the　crash　of　planets　in　collision；　and　then　the　clatter　of　large　feet　on　the　stairs。　After　that；　he　was　alone　with　the　debris。
　He　got　up；　thoroughly　angry；　and　began　brushing　off　the　dinner　coat　that　had　been　his　tailor's　pride。　Roger　arrived。　〃Who　was　that？〃　he　demanded　breathlessly。　〃Somebody　went　down　the　back　stairs　to　the　kitchen。　Who　was　it？〃
　〃How　should　I　know？〃　inquired　John　Quincy　with　pardonable　peevishness。　〃He　didn't　introduce　himself　to　me。〃　His　cheek　was　stinging；　he　put　his　handkerchief　to　it　and　noted　in　the　light　of　Roger's　candle　that　it　was　red　when　it　came　away。　〃He　wore　a　ring；〃　added　John　Quincy。　〃Damned　bad　taste！〃
　〃Hit　you；　eh？〃　inquired　Roger。
　〃I'll　say　he　did。〃
　〃Look！〃　Roger　cried。　He　pointed。　〃The　trunk…lock　smashed。〃　He　went　over　to　investigate。　〃And　the　box　is　gone。　Poor　old　Dan！〃
　John　Quincy　continued　to　brush　himself　off。　Poor　old　Dan's　plight　gave　him　a　vast　pain；　a　pain　which　had　nothing　to　do　with　his　throbbing　jaw。　A　fine　nerve　poor　old　Dan　had　to　ask　a　plete　stranger　to　offer　his　face　for　punishment　in　a　dusty　attic　at　midnight。　What　was　it　all　about；　anyhow？
　Roger　continued　his　search。　〃No　use；〃　he　announced。　〃The　box　is　gone；　that's　plain。　e　on；　we'll　go　down…stairs　and　look　about。　There's　your　candle　on　the　floor。〃
　John　Quincy　picked　up　the　candle　and　relighted　it　from　Roger's　flame。　Silently　they　went　below。　The　outer　door　of　the　kitchen　stood　open。　〃Left　that　way；〃　said　Roger。　〃And　see〃　…　he　pointed　to　a　window　with　a　broken　pane　…　〃that's　where　he　came　in。〃
　〃How　about　the　police？〃　suggested　John　Quincy。
　Roger　stared　at　him。　〃The　police？　I　should　say　not！　Where's　your　discretion；　my　boy？　This　is　not　a　police　matter。　I'll　have　a　new　glass　put　in　that　window　to…morrow。　e　on　…　we　might　as　well　go　home。　We've　failed。〃
　The　note　of　reproof　in　his　voice　angered　John　Quincy　anew。　They　left　the　extinguished　candles　on　a　table　in　the　hall；　and　returned　to　the　street。
　〃Well；　I'll　have　to　cable　Dan；〃　Roger　said；　as　they　walked　toward　the　corner。　〃I'm　afraid　he'll　be　terribly　upset　by　this。　It　won't　tend　to　endear　you　to　him；　either。〃
　〃I　can　struggle　along；〃　said　John　Quincy；　〃without　his　affection。〃
　〃If　you　could　only　have　held　that　fellow　till　I　came　…〃
　〃Look　here；〃　said　John　Quincy；　〃I　was　taken　unawares。　How　could　I　know　that　I　was　going　up　against　the　heavyweight　champion　in　that　attic？　He　came　at　me　out　of　the　dark　…　and　I'm　not　in　condition　…〃
　〃No　offense；　my　boy；〃　Roger　put　in。
　〃I　see　my　mistake；〃　went　on　John　Quincy。　〃I　should　have　trained　for　this　trip　out　here。　A　stiff　course　in　a　gymnasium。　But　don't　worry。　The　next　lad　that　makes　a　pass　at　me　will　find　a　different　target。　I'll　do　a　daily　three　dozen　and　I'll　take　boxing　lessons。　From　now　on　until　I　get　home；　I'll　be　expecting　the　worst。〃
　Roger　laughed。　〃That's　a　nasty　cut　on　your　cheek；〃　he　remarked。　〃We'd　better　stop　at　this　drug　store　and　have　it　dressed。〃
　A　solicitous　drug　clerk　ministered　to　John　Quincy　with　iodine；　cotton　and　court　plaster；　and　he　reentered　the　limousine　bearing　honorably　the　scar　of　battle。　The　drive　to　Nob　Hill　was　devoid　of　light　chatter。
　Just　inside　the　door　of　Roger's　house；　a　whirlwind　in　a　gay　gown　descended　upon　them。　〃Barbara！〃　Roger　said。　〃Where　did　you　e　from？〃
　〃Hello；　old　dear；〃　she　cried；　kissing　him。　〃I　motored　up　from　Burlingame。　Spending　the　night　with　you　…　I'm　sailing　on　the　President　Tyler　in　the　morning。　Is　this　John　Quincy？〃
　〃Cousin　John；〃　smiled　Roger。　〃He　deserves　a　kiss；　too。　He's　had　a　bad　evening。〃
　The　girl　moved　swiftly　toward　the　defenseless　John　Quincy。　Again　he　was　unprepared；　and　this　time　it　was　his　other　cheek　that　suffered；　though　not　unpleasantly。　〃Just　by　way　of　wele；〃　Barbara　laughed。　She　was　blonde　and　slender。　John　Quincy　thought　he　had　never　seen　so　much　energy　imprisoned　in　so　slight　a　form。　〃I　hear　you're　bound　for　the　Islands？〃　she　said。
　〃To…morrow；〃　John　Quincy　answered。　〃On　your　boat。〃
　〃Splendid！〃　she　cried。　〃When　did　you　get　in？〃
　〃John　Quincy　came　this　morning；〃　Roger　told　her。
　〃And　he's　had　a　bad　evening？〃　the　girl　said。　〃How　lucky　I　came　along。　Where　are　you　taking　us；　Roger？〃
　John　Quincy　stared。　Taking　them？　At　this　hour？
　〃I'll　be　getting　along　up…stairs；〃　he　ventured。
　〃Why；　it's　just　after　twelve；〃　said　Barbara。　〃Lots　of　places　open。　You　dance；　don't　you？　Let　me　show　you　San　Francisco。　Roger's　a　dear　old　thing　…　we'll　let　him　pay　the　checks。〃
　〃Well　…　I　…　I　…〃　stammered　John　Quincy。　His　cheek　was　throbbing　and　he　thought　longingly　of　that　bed　in　the　room　up…stairs。　What　a　place；　this　West！
　〃e　along！〃　The　girl　was　humming　a　gay　little　tune。　All　vivacity；　all　life。　Rather　pleasant　sort　at　that。　John　Quincy　took　up　his　hat。
　Roger's　chauffeur　had　lingered　a　moment　before　the　house　to　inspect　his　engine。　When　he　saw　them　ing　down　the　steps；　he　looked　as　though　he　rather　wished　he　hadn't。　But　escape　was　impossible；　he　climbed　to　his　place　behind　the　wheel。
　〃Where　to；　Barbara？〃　Roger　asked。　〃Tait's？〃
　〃Not　Tait's；〃　she　answered。　〃I've　just　e　from　there。〃
　〃What！　I　thought　you　motored　in　from　Burlingame？〃
　〃So　I　did　…　at　five。　I've　traveled　a　bit　since　then。　How　about　some　chop…suey　for　this　Boston　boy？〃
　Good　lord；　John　Quincy　thought。　Was　there　anything　in　the　world　he　wanted　less？　No　matter。　Barbara　took　him　among　the　Chinese。
　He　didn't　give　a　hang　about　the　Chinese。　Nor　the　Mexicans；　whose　restaurants　interested　the　girl　next。　At　the　moment；　he　was　unsympathetic　toward　Italy。　And　even　toward　France。　But　he　struggled　on　the　international　round；　affronting　his　digestion　with　queer　dishes；　and　dancing　thousands　of　miles　with　the　slim　Barbara　in　his　arms。　After　scrambled　eggs　at　a　place　called　Pete's　Fashion；　she　consented　to　call　it　an　evening。
　As　John　Quincy　staggered　into　Roger's　house；　the　great　clock　in　the　hall　was　striking　three。　The　girl　was　still　alert　and　sparkling。　John　Quincy　hastily　concealed　a　yawn。
　〃All　wrong　to　e　home　so　early；〃　she　cried。　〃But　we'll　have　a　dance　or　two　on　the　boat。　By　the　way；　I've　been　wanting　to　ask。　What　does　it　mean？　The　injured　cheek？〃
　〃Why　…　er　…　I　…〃　John　Quincy　remarked。　Over　the　girl's　shoulder　he　saw　Roger　violently　shaking　his　head。　〃Oh；　that；〃　said　John　Quincy；　lightly　touching　the　wound。　〃That's　where　the　West　begins。　Good　night。　I've　had　a　bully　time。〃　And　at　last　he　got　up…stairs。
　He　stood　for　a　moment　at　his　bedroom　window；　gazing　down　at　the　torchlight　procession　of　the　streets　through　this　amazing　city。　He　was　a　little　dazed。　That　soft　warm　presence　close　by　his　side　in　the　car　…　pleasant；　very　pleasant。　Remarkable　girls　out　here。　Differe