within the law- 第43部分

〃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；　inquiringly。

〃Oh；　that's　the　name　she　told　me；〃　the　Inspector　explained；　somewhat　shamefacedly　before　this　question　from　his　inferior。　　Then　he　chuckled；　for　he　had　sense　of　humor　sufficient　to　triumph　even　over　his　own　discomfiture　in　this　encounter。　　〃And　she　had　me　winging；　too！〃　he　confessed。　　〃Yes；　I　admit　it。〃　　He　turned　to　the　girl　admiringly。　　〃You　sure　are　immense；　little　one　immense！〃　He　smiled　somewhat　more　in　his　official　manner　of　mastery。　　〃And　now；　may　I　have　the　honor　of　asking　you　to　accept　the　escort　of　Mr。　Cassidy　to　our　gallery。〃

Aggie　sprang　to　her　feet　and　regarded　the　Inspector　with　eyes　in　which　was　now　no　innocence；　such　as　had　beguiled　him　so　recently　from　those　ingenuous　orbs。

〃Oh；　can　that　stuff！〃　she　cried；　crossly。　　〃Let's　get　down　to　business　on　the　dotand　no　frills　on　it！　Keep　to　cases！〃　

〃Now　you're　talking；〃　Burke　declared；　with　a　new　appreciation　of　the　versatility　of　this　womanwho　had　not　been　wasting　her　time　hitherto；　and　had　no　wish　to　lose　it　now。

〃You　can't　do　anything　to　us；〃　Aggie　declared；　strongly。　　There　remained　no　trace　of　the　shrinking　violet　that　had　been　Miss　Helen　Travers　West。　　Now；　she　revealed　merely　the　business　woman　engaged　in　a　fight　against　the　law；　which　was　opposed　definitely　to　her　peculiar　form　of　business。

〃You　can't　do　anything　to　me；　and　you　know　you　can't！〃　she　went　on；　with　an　almost　convincing　tranquillity　of　assertion。　　〃Why；　I'll　be　sprung　inside　an　hour。〃　　There　came　a　ripple　of　laughter　that　reminded　the　Inspector　of　the　fashion　in　which　he　had　been　overcome　by　this　woman's　wiles。　　And　she　spoke　with　a　certitude　of　conviction　that　was　rather　terrifying　to　one　who　had　just　fallen　under　the　stress　of　her　spells。

〃Why；　habeas　corpus　is　my　lawyer's　middle　name！〃　

〃On　the　level；　now；〃　the　Inspector　demanded；　quite　unmoved　by　the　final　declarations；　〃when　did　you　see　Mary　Turner　last？〃　

Aggie　resorted　anew　to　her　practices　of　deception。　Her　voice　held　the　accents　of　unimpeachable　truth；　and　her　eyes　looked　unflinchingly　into　those　of　her　questioner　as　she　answered。

〃Early　this　morning；〃　she　declared。　　〃We　slept　together　last　night；　because　I　had　the　willies。　　She　blew　the　joint　about　half…past　ten。〃

Burke　shook　his　head；　more　in　sorrow　than　in　anger。

〃What's　the　use　of　your　lying　to　me？〃　　he　remonstrated。

〃What；　me？〃　　Aggie　clamored；　with　every　evidence　of　being　deeply　wounded　by　the　charge　against　her　veracity。　〃Oh；　I　wouldn't　do　anything　like　thaton　the　level！　What　would　be　the　use？　　I　couldn't　fool　you；　Commissioner。〃

Burke　stroked　his　chin　sheepishly；　under　the　influence　of　memories　of　Miss　Helen　Travers　West。

〃So　help　me；〃　Aggie　continued　with　the　utmost　solemnity；　〃Mary　never　left　the　house　all　night。　　I'd　swear　that's　the　truth　on　a　pile　of　Bibles　a　mile　high！〃　

〃Have　to　be　higher　than　that；〃　the　Inspector　commented；　grimly。　　〃You　see；　Aggie　Lynch；　Mary　Turner　was　arrested　just　after　midnight。〃　　His　voice　deepened　and　came　blustering。　　〃Young　woman；　you'd　better　tell　all　you　know。〃

〃I　don't　know　a　thing！〃　Aggie　retorted；　sharply。　　She　faced　the　Inspector　fiercely；　quite　unabashed　by　the　fact　that　her　vigorous　offer　to　commit　perjury　had　been　of　no　avail。

Burke；　with　a　quick　movement；　drew　the　pistol　from　his　pocket　and　extended　it　toward　the　girl。

〃How　long　has　she　owned　this　gun？〃　　he　said；　threateningly。

Aggie　showed　no　trace　of　emotion　as　her　glance　ran　over　the　weapon。

〃She　didn't　own　it；〃　was　her　firm　answer。

〃Oh；　then　it's　Garson's！〃　Burke　exclaimed。

〃I　don't　know　whose　it　is；〃　Aggie　replied；　with　an　air　of　boredom　well　calculated　to　deceive。　　〃I　never　laid　eyes　on　it　till　now。〃

The　Inspector's　tone　abruptly　took　on　a　somber　coloring；　with　an　underlying　menace。

〃English　Eddie　was　killed　with　this　gun　last　night；〃　he　said。　　〃Now；　who　did　it？〃　　His　broad　face　was　sinister。　　〃Come　on；　now！　Who　did　it？〃　

Aggie　became　flippant；　seemingly　unimpressed　by　the　Inspector's　savageness。

〃How　should　I　know？〃　　she　drawled。　　〃What　do　you　think　I　ama　fortune…teller？〃　

〃You'd　better　come　through；〃　Burke　reiterated。　　Then　his　manner　changed　to　wheedling。　　〃If　you're　the　wise　kid　I　think　you　are；　you　will。〃

Aggie　waxed　very　petulant　over　this　insistence。

〃I　tell　you；　I　don't　know　anything！　Say；　what　are　you　trying　to　hand　me；　anyway？〃　

Burke　scowled　on　the　girl　portentously；　and　shook　his　head。

〃Now；　it　won't　do；　I　tell　you；　Aggie　Lynch。　　I'm　wise。　　You　listen　to　me。〃　　Once　more　his　manner　turned　to　the　cajoling。　　〃You　tell　me　what　you　know；　and　I'll　see　you　make　a　clean　get…away；　and　I'll　slip　you　a　nice　little　piece　of　money；　too。〃

The　girl's　face　changed　with　startling　swiftness。　　She　regarded　the　Inspector　shrewdly；　a　crafty　glint　in　her　eyes。

〃Let　me　get　this　straight；〃　she　said。　　〃If　I　tell　you　what　I　know　about　Mary　Turner　and　Joe　Garson；　I　get　away？〃　

〃Clean！〃　Burke　ejaculated；　eagerly。

〃And　you'll　slip　me　some　coin；　too？〃　

〃That's　it！〃　came　the　hasty　assurance。　　〃Now；　what　do　you　say？〃　

The　small　figure　grew　tense。　　The　delicate；　childish　face　was　suddenly　distorted　with　rage；　a　rage　black　and　venomous。　　The　blue　eyes　were　blazing。　　The　voice　came　thin　and　piercing。

〃I　say；　you're　a　great　big　stiff！　What　do　you　think　I　am？〃　　she　stormed　at　the　discomfited　Inspector；　while　Cassidy　looked　on　in　some　enjoyment　at　beholding　his　superior　being　worsted。　　Aggie　wheeled　on　the　detective。　〃Say；　take　me　out　of　here；〃　she　cried　in　a　voice　surcharged　with　disgust。　　〃I'd　rather　be　in　the　cooler　than　here　with　him！〃　

Now　Burke's　tone　was　dangerous。

〃You'll　tell；〃　he　growled；　〃or　you'll　go　up　the　river　for　a　stretch。〃

〃I　don't　know　anything；〃　the　girl　retorted；　spiritedly　And；　if　I　did；　I　wouldn't　tellnot　in　a　million　years！〃　She　thrust　her　head　forward　challengingly　as　she　faced　the　Inspector；　and　her　expression　was　resolute。　　〃Now；　then；〃　she　ended；　〃send　me　upif　you　can！〃　

〃Take　her　away；〃　Burke　snapped　to　the　detective。

Aggie　went　toward　Cassidy　without　any　sign　of　reluctance。

〃Yes；　do；　please！〃　she　exclaimed　with　a　sneer。　　〃And　do　it　in　a　hurry。　　Being　in　the　room　with　him　makes　me　sick！　She　turned　to　stare　at　the　Inspector　with　eyes　that　were　very　clear　and　very　hard。　　In　this　moment；　there　was　nothing　childish　in　their　gaze。

〃Thought　I'd　squeal；　did　you？〃　　she　said；　evenly。　Yes；　I　will〃the　red　lips　bent　to　a　smile　of　supreme　scorn〃like　hell！〃　



CHAPTER　XXII。　THE　TRAP　THAT　FAILED。　

Burke；　despite　his　quality　of　heaviness；　was　blest　with　a　keen　sense　of　humor；　against　which　at　times　his　professional　labors　strove　mutinously。　　In　the　present　instance；　he　had　failed　utterly　to　obtain　any　information　of　value　from　the　girl　whom　he　had　just　been　examining。　On　the　contrary；　he　had　been　befooled　outrageously　by　a　female　criminal；　in　a　manner　to　wound　deeply　his　professional　pride。　　Nevertheless；　he　bore　no　grudge　against　the　adventuress。　　His　sense　of　the　absurd　served　him　well；　and　he　took　a　lively　enjoyment　in　recalling　the　method　by　which　her　plausible　wiles　had　beguiled　him。　　He　gave　her　a　real　respect　for　the　adroitness　with　wh