within the law- 第37部分

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　childish　complaint　in　her　voice。　　She　moved　her　head　a　little；　as　if　to　look　into　the　shadows　where　*IT　lay；　then　checked　herself　violently；　and　looked　up　at　her　husband　with　the　pathetic　simplicity　of　terror。

〃You　know；　Dick；〃　she　repeated　dully；　〃I　never　saw　a　man　killed　before。〃

Before　he　could　utter　the　soothing　words　that　rose　to　his　lips；　Dick　was　interrupted　by　a　slight　sound　at　the　door。　　Instantly；　he　was　all　alert　to　meet　the　exigencies　of　the　situation。　　He　stood　by　the　couch；　bending　forward　a　little；　as　if　in　a　posture　of　intimate　fondness。　Then；　with　a　new　thought；　he　got　out　his　cigarette…case　and　lighted　a　cigarette；　after　which　he　resumed　his　former　leaning　over　the　woman　as　would　the　ardent　lover。　　He　heard　the　noise　again　presently；　now　so　near　that　he　made　sure　of　being　overheard；　so　at　once　he　spoke　with　a　forced　cheerfulness　in　his　inflection。

〃I　tell　you；　Mary；〃　he　declared；　〃everything's　going　to　be　all　right　for　you　and　me。　　It　was　bully　of　you　to　come　here　to　me　like　this。〃

The　girl　made　no　response。　　She　lived　still　in　the　nightmare　of　murderthat　nightmare　wherein　she　had　seen　Griggs　fall　dead　to　the　floor。

Dick；　in　nervous　apprehension　as　to　the　issue；　sought　to　bring　her　to　realization　of　the　new　need　that　had　come　upon　them。

〃Talk　to　me；〃　he　commanded；　very　softly。　　〃They'll　be　here　in　a　minute。　　When　they　come　in；　pretend　you　just　came　here　in　order　to　meet　me。　　Try；　Mary。　　You　must；　dearest！〃　Then；　again；　his　voice　rose　to　loudness；　as　he　continued。　　〃Why；　I've　been　trying　all　day　to　see　you。　　And；　now；　here　we　are　together；　just　as　I　was　beginning　to　get　really　discouraged。。。。　I　know　my　father　will　eventually〃

He　was　interrupted　by　the　swift　swinging　open　of　the　hallway　door。　　Burke　stood　just　within　the　library；　a　revolver　pointed　menacingly。

〃Hands　up！all　of　you！〃　The　Inspector's　voice　fairly　roared　the　command。

The　belligerent　expression　of　his　face　vanished　abruptly；　as　his　eyes　fell　on　Dick　standing　by　the　couch　and　Mary　reclining　there　in　limp　helplessness。　　His　surprise　would　have　been　ludicrous　but　for　the　seriousness　of　the　situation　to　all　concerned。　　Burke's　glance　roved　the　room　sharply；　and　he　was　quickly　convinced　that　these　two　were　in　fact　the　only　present　spoil　of　his　careful　plotting。　His　face　set　grimly；　for　the　disappointment　of　this　minute　surged　fiercely　within　him。　　He　started　to　speak；　his　eyes　lowering　as　he　regarded　the　two　before　him。

But　Dick　forestalled　him。　　He　spoke　in　a　voice　coldly　repellent。

〃What　are　you　doing　in　this　house　at　this　time　of　night？〃　　he　demanded。　　His　manner　was　one　of　stern　disapproval。　　〃I　recognize　you；　Inspector　Burke。　　But　you　must　understand　that　there　are　limits　even　to　what　you　can　do。　　It　seems　to　me；　sir；　that　you　exceed　your　authority　by　such　an　intrusion　as　this。〃

Burke；　however；　was　not　a　whit　dismayed　by　the　rebuke　and　the　air　of　rather　contemptuous　disdain　with　which　it　was　uttered。　　He　waved　his　revolver　toward　Mary；　merely　as　a　gesture　of　inquisitiveness；　without　any