within the law- 第16部分

There　was　a　little　period　of　silence　while　the　man；　with　the　resolute　face　and　the　light　gray　eyes　that　shone　so　clearly　underneath　the　thick；　waving　silver　hair；　held　his　head　bent　downward　as　if　in　intent　thought。　　When；　finally；　he　spoke；　there　was　a　certain　quality　in　his　voice　that　caused　Aggie　to　regard　him　curiously。

〃Mary　has　been　with　him　a　good　deal　lately；〃　he　said；　half　questioningly。

〃That's　what；〃　was　the　curt　agreement。

Garson　brought　out　his　next　query　with　the　brutal　bluntness　of　his　kind；　and　yet　there　was　a　vague　suggestion　of　tenderness　in　his　tones　under　the　vulgar　words。

〃Think　she's　stuck　on　him？〃　　He　had　seated　himself　on　a　settee　opposite　the　girl；　who　did　not　trouble　on　his　account　to　assume　a　posture　more　decorous；　and　he　surveyed　her　keenly　as　he　waited　for　a　reply。

〃Why　not？〃　　Aggie　retorted。　　〃Bet　your　life　I'd　be；　if　I　had　a　chance。　　He's　a　swell　boy。　　And　his　father's　got　the　coin；　too。〃

At　this　the　man　moved　impatiently；　and　his　eyes　wandered　to　the　window。　　Again；　Aggie　studied　him　with　a　swift　glance　of　interrogation。　　Not　being　the　possessor　of　an　over…nice　sensibility　as　to　the　feelings　of　others；　she　now　spoke　briskly。

〃Joe；　if　there's　anything　on　your　mind；　shoot　it。〃

Garson　hesitated　for　a　moment；　then　decided　to　unburden　himself；　for　he　craved　precise　knowledge　in　this　matter。

〃It's　Mary；〃　he　explained；　with　some　embarrassment；　〃her　and　young　Gilder。〃

〃Well？〃　　came　the　crisp　question。

〃Well；　somehow；〃　Garson　went　on；　still　somewhat　confusedly；　〃I　can't　see　any　good　of　it；　for　her。〃

〃Why？〃　　Aggie　demanded；　in　surprise。

Garson's　manner　grew　easier；　now　that　the　subject　was　well　broached。

〃Old　man　Gilder's　got　a　big　pull；〃　he　vouchsafed；　〃and　if　he　caught　on　to　his　boy's　going　with　Mary；　he'd　be　likely　to　send　the　police　after　usstrong！　Believe　me；　I　ain't　looking　for　any　trip　up　the　river。〃

Aggie　shook　her　head；　quite　unaffected　by　the　man's　suggestion　of　possible　peril　in　the　situation。

〃We　ain't　done　nothin'　they　can　touch　us　for；〃　she　declared；　with　assurance。　　〃Mary　says　so。〃

Garson；　however；　was　unconvinced；　notwithstanding　his　deference　to　the　judgment　of　his　leader。

〃Whether　we've　done　anything；　or　whether　we　haven't；　don't　matter；〃　he　objected。　　〃Once　the　police　set　out　after　you；　they'll　get　you。　　Russia　ain't　in　it　with　some　of　the　things　I　have　seen　pulled　off　in　this　town。〃

〃Oh；　can　that　'fraid　talk！〃　Aggie　exclaimed；　roughly。　〃I　tell　you　they　can't　get　us。　　We've　got　our　fingers　crossed。〃

She　would　have　said　more；　but　a　noise　at　the　hall　door　interrupted　her；　and　she　looked　up　to　see　a　man　in　the　opening；　while　behind　him　appeared　the　maid；　protesting　angrily。

〃Never　mind　that　announcing　thing　with　me；〃　the　newcomer　rasped　to　the　expostulating　servant；　in　a　voice　that　suited　well　his　thick…set　figure；　with　the　bullet…shaped　head　and　the　bull…like　neck。　　Then　he　turned　to　the　two　in　the　drawing…room；　both　of　whom　had　now　risen　to　their　feet。

〃It's　all　right；　Fannie；〃　Aggie　said　hastily　to　the　flustered　maid。　　〃You　can　go。〃

As　the　servant；　after　an　indignant　toss　of　the　head；　departed　along　the　passage；　the　visitor　clumped　heavily　forward　and　stopped　in　the　center　of　the　room；　looking　first　at　one　and　then　the　other　of　the　two　with　a　smile　that　was　not　pleasant。　　He　was　not　at　pains　to　remove　the　derby　hat　which　he　wore　rather　far　back　on　his　head。　　By　this　single　sign；　one　might　have　recognized　Cassidy；　who　had　had　Mary　Turner　in　his　charge　on　the　occasion　of　her　ill…fated　visit　to　Edward　Gilder's　office；　four　years　before；　though　now　the　man　had　thickened　somewhat；　and　his　ruddy　face　was　grown　even　coarser。

〃Hello；　Joe！〃　he　cried；　familiarly。　　〃Hello；　Aggie！〃　

The　light…gray　eyes　of　the　forger　had　narrowed　perceptibly　as　he　recognized　the　identity　of　the　unceremonious　caller；　while　the　lines　of　his　firmly　set　mouth　took　on　an　added　fixity。

〃Well？〃　　he　demanded。　　His　voice　was　emotionless。

〃Just　a　little　friendly　call；〃　Cassidy　announced；　in　his　strident　voice。　　〃Where's　the　lady　of　the　house？〃　

〃Out。〃　　It　was　Aggie　who　spoke；　very　sharply。

〃Well；　Joe；〃　Cassidy　went　on；　without　paying　further　heed　to　the　girl　for　a　moment；　〃when　she　comes　back；　just　tell　her　it's　up　to　her　to　make　a　get…away；　and　to　make　it　quick。〃

But　Aggie　was　not　one　to　be　ignored　under　any　circumstances。　　Now；　she　spoke　with　some　acerbity　in　her　voice；　which　could　at　will　be　wondrous　soft　and　low。

〃Say！〃　she　retorted　viciously；　〃you　can't　throw　any　scare　into　us。　　You　hadn't　got　anything　on　us。　　See？〃　

Cassidy；　in　response　to　this　outburst；　favored　the　girl　with　a　long　stare；　and　there　was　hearty　amusement　in　his　tones　as　he　answered。

〃Nothing　on　you；　eh？　　Well；　well；　let's　see。〃　　He　regarded　Garson　with　a　grin。　　〃You　are　Joe　Garson；　forger。〃　　As　he　spoke；　the　detective　took　a　note…book　from　a　pocket；　found　a　page；　and　then　read：　〃First　arrested　in　1891；　for　forging　the　name　of　Edwin　Goodsell　to　a　check　for　ten　thousand　dollars。　　Again　arrested　June　19；　1893；　for　forgery。　　Arrested　in　April；　1898；　for　forging　the　signature　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；