within the law- 第46部分

Burke　seized　on　her　lapse　with　avidity。

〃What　did　he　tell　you？〃　　he　questioned；　eagerly。

Now；　Mary　had　regained　her　self…command；　and　she　spoke　calmly。

〃He　told　me；〃　she　said；　without　a　particle　of　hesitation；　〃that　he　had　never　seen　one。　　Surely；　if　he　had　had　anything　of　the　sort；　he　would　have　shown　it　to　me　then。〃

〃Probably　he　did；　too！〃　Burke　rejoined；　without　the　least　suspicion　that　his　surly　utterance　touched　the　truth　exactly。　　〃Now；　see　here；〃　he　went　on；　trying　to　make　his　voice　affable；　though　with　small　success；　for　he　was　excessively　irritated　by　these　repeated　failures；　〃I　can　make　it　a　lot　easier　for　you　if　you'll　talk。　　Come　on；　now！　Who　killed　Griggs？〃　

Mary　cast　off　pretense　finally；　and　spoke　malignantly。

〃That's　for　you　to　find　out；〃　she　said；　sneering。

Burke　pressed　the　button　on　the　desk；　and；　when　the　doorman　appeared；　ordered　that　the　prisoner　be　returned　to　her　cell。

But　Mary　stood　rebellious；　and　spoke　with　a　resumption　of　her　cynical　scorn。

〃I　suppose；〃　she　said；　with　a　glance　of　contempt　toward　Demarest；　〃that　it's　useless　for　me　to　claim　my　constitutional　rights；　and　demand　to　see　a　lawyer？〃　

Burke；　too；　had　cast　off　pretense　at　last。

〃Yes；〃　he　agreed；　with　an　evil　smirk；　〃you've　guessed　it　right；　the　first　time。〃

Mary　spoke　to　the　District　Attorney。

〃I　believe；〃　she　said；　with　a　new　dignity　of　bearing；　〃that　such　is　my　constitutional　right；　is　it　not；　Mr。　Demarest？〃　

The　lawyer　sought　no　evasion　of　the　issue。　　For　that　matter；　he　was　coming　to　have　an　increasing　respect；　even　admiration；　for　this　young　woman；　who　endured　insult　and　ignominy　with　a　spirit　so　sturdy；　and　met　strategem　with　other　strategem　better　devised。　　So；　now；　he　made　his　answer　with　frank　honesty。

〃It　is　your　constitutional　right；　Miss　Turner。〃

Mary　turned　her　clear　eyes　on　the　Inspector；　and　awaited　from　that　official　a　reply　that　was　not　forthcoming。　Truth　to　tell；　Burke　was　far　from　comfortable　under　that　survey。

〃Well；　Inspector？〃　　she　inquired；　at　last。

Burke　took　refuge；　as　his　wont　was　when　too　hard　pressed；　in　a　mighty　bellow。

〃The　Constitution　don't　go　here！〃　It　was　the　best　he　could　do；　and　it　shamed　him；　for　he　knew　its　weakness。　Again；　wrath　surged　in　him；　and　it　surged　high。　He　welcomed　the　advent　of　Cassidy；　who　came　hurrying　in　with　a　grin　of　satisfaction　on　his　stolid　face。

〃Say；　Chief；〃　the　detective　said　with　animation；　in　response　to　Burke's　glance　of　inquiry；　〃we've　got　Garson。〃

Mary's　face　fell；　though　the　change　of　expression　was　almost　imperceptible。　　Only　Demarest；　a　student　of　much　experience；　observed　the　fleeting　display　of　repressed　emotion。　　When　the　Inspector　took　thought　to　look　at　her；　she　was　as　impassive　as　before。　　Yet；　he　was　minded　to　try　another　ruse　in　his　desire　to　defeat　the　intelligence　of　this　woman。　　To　this　end；　he　asked　Gilder　and　the　District　Attorney　to　withdraw；　while　he　should　have　a　private　conversation　with　the　prisoner。　As　she　listened　to　his　request；　Mary　smiled　again　in　sphinx…like　fashion；　and　there　was　still　on　her　lips　an　expression　that　caused　the　official　a　pang　of　doubt；　when；　at　last；　the　two　were　left　alone　together；　and　he　darted　a　surreptitious　glance　toward　her。　　Nevertheless；　he　pressed　on　his　device　valiantly。

〃Now；〃　he　said；　with　a　marked　softening　of　manner；　〃I'm　going　to　be　your　friend。〃

〃Are　you？〃　　Mary's　tone　was　non…committal。

〃Yes；〃　Burke　declared；　heartily。　　〃And　I　mean　it！　Give　up　the　truth　about　young　Gilder。　　I　know　he　shot　Griggs；　of　course。　　But　I'm　not　taking　any　stock　in　that　burglar　storynot　a　little　bit！　No　court　would；　either。　What　was　really　back　of　the　killing？〃　　Burke's　eyes　narrowed　cunningly。　　〃Was　he　jealous　of　Griggs？　　Well；　that's　what　he　might　do　then。　　He's　always　been　a　worthless　young　cub。　　A　rotten　deal　like　this　would　be　about　his　gait；　I　guess。。。。　Tell　me；　now：　Why　did　he　shoot　Eddie　Griggs？〃　

There　was　coarseness　a…plenty　in　the　Inspector's　pretense；　but　it　possessed　a　solitary　fundamental　virtue：　it　played　on　the　heart　of　the　woman　whom　he　questioned；　aroused　it　to　wrath　in　defense　of　her　mate。　　In　a　second；　all　poise　fled　from　this　girl　whose　soul　was　blossoming　in　the　blest　realization　that　a　man　loved　her　purely；　unselfishly。　　Her　words　came　stumblingly　in　their　haste。　Her　eyes　were　near　to　black　in　their　anger。

〃He　didn't　kill　him！　He　didn't　kill　him！〃　she　fairly　hissed。　　〃Why；　he's　the　most　wonderful　man　in　the　world。　　You　shan't　hurt　him！　Nobody　shall　hurt　him！　I'll　fight　to　the　end　of　my　life　for　Dick　Gilder！〃　

Burke　was　beaming　joyously。　　At　lasta　long　last！　his　finesse　had　won　the　victory　over　this　woman's　subtleties。

〃Well；　that's　just　what　I　thought；〃　he　said；　with　smug　content。　　〃And　now；　then；　who　did　shoot　Griggs？　　We've　got　every　one　of　the　gang。　　They're　all　crooks。　See　here；〃　he　went　on；　with　a　sudden　change　to　the　respectful　in　his　manner；　〃why　don't　you　start　fresh？　　I'll　give　you　every　chance　in　the　world。　　I'm　dead　on　the　level　with　you　this　time。〃

But　he　was　too　late。　　By　now；　Mary　had　herself　well　in　hand　again；　vastly　ashamed　of　the　short　period　of　self…betrayal　caused　by　the　official's　artifice　against　her　heart。　　As　she　listened　to　the　Inspector's　assurances；　the　mocking　expression　of　her　face　was　not　encouraging　to　that　astute　individual；　but　he　persevered　manfully。　

〃Just　you　wait；〃　he　went　on　cheerfully；　〃and　I'll　prove　to　you　that　I'm　on　the　level　about　this；　that　I'm　really　your　friend。。。。　There　was　a　letter　came　for　you　to　your　apartment。　　My　men　brought　it　down　to　me。　　I've　read　it。　　Here　it　is。　　I'll　read　it　to　you！〃　

He　picked　up　an　envelope；　which　had　been　lying　on　the　desk；　and　drew　out　the　single　sheet　of　paper　it　contained。　　Mary　watched　him；　wondering　much　more　than　her　expression　revealed　over　this　new　development。　Then；　as　she　listened；　quick　interest　touched　her　features　to　a　new　life。　　In　her　eyes　leaped　emotions　to　make　or　mar　a　life。

This　was　the　letter：　

〃I　can't　go　without　telling　you　how　sorry　I　am。　　There　won't　never　be　a　time　that　I　won't　remember　it　was　me　got　you　sent　up；　that　you　did　time　in　my　place。　　I　ain't　going　to　forgive　myself　ever；　and　I　swear　I'm　going　straight　always。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Your　true　friend；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃HELEN　MORRIS。〃　　

For　once；　Burke　showed　a　certain　delicacy。　　When　he　had　finished　the　reading；　he　said　nothing　for　a　long　minuteonly；　sat　with　his　cunning　eyes　on　the　face　of　the　woman　who　was　immobile　there　before　him。　　And；　as　he　looked　on　her　in　her　slender　elegance　of　form　and　gentlewomanly　loveliness　of　face；　a　loveliness　intelligent　and　refined　beyond　that　of　most　women；　he　felt　borne　in　on　his　consciousness　the　fact　that　here　was　one　to　be　respected。　　He　fought　against　the　impression。　　It　was　to　him　preposterous；　for　she　was　one　of　that　underworld　against　which　he　was　ruthlessly　at　war。　　Yet；　he　could　not　altogether　overcome　his　instinct　toward　a　half…reverent　admiration。。。。　And；　as　the　letter　proved；　she　had　been　innocent　at　the　outset。　　She　had　been　the　victim　of　a　mistaken　justice；　made　outcast　by　the　law　she　had　never　wronged。。。。　His　mood　of　respect　was　inevitable；　since　he　had　some　sensibilities；　though　they　were　coarsened；　and　they　sensed　vaguely　the　maelstrom　of　emotions　that　now　swirled　in　the　girl's　breast。

To　Mary　Turner；　this　was　the　wonderful　hour。　　In　it；　the　vindication　of　her　innocence　was　made　complete。　The　story　was　there　recorded　in　black　and　white　on　the　page　written　by　Helen　Morris。　　It　mattered　littleor　infinitely　much！that　it　came　too　late。　　She　had　gained　her　evil　place　in　the　world；　was　a　notorious　woman　in　fact；　was　even　now　a　prisoner　under　suspicion　of　murder。　Nevertheless；　she　felt　a　thrill　of　ecstasy　over　this　written　documentwhich　it　had　never　occurred　to　her　to　wrest　from　the　girl　at　the　time　of　the　oral　confession。　Now　that　it　had　been　proffered；　the　value　of　it　loomed　above　almost　all　things　else　in　the　world。　　It　proclaimed　undeniably　the　wrong　under　which　she　had　suffered。　　She　was　not　the　thief　the　court　had　adjudged　her。　　Now；　there's　nobody　here　but　just　you　and　me。　Come　on；　nowput　me　wise！〃　

Mary　was　again　the　resourceful　woman　who　was　glad　to　pit　her　brain　against　the　contriving　of　those　who　fought　her。　　So；　at　this　moment；　she　seemed　pliant　to　the　will　of　the　man　who　urged　her　thus　cunningly。　　Her　quick　glance　around　the　office　was　of　a　sort　to　delude　the　Inspector　into　a　belief　that　she　was　yielding　to　his　lure。

〃Are　you　sure　no　one　will　ever　know？〃　　she　asked；　timorously。

〃Nobody　but　you　and　me；〃　Burke　declared；　all　agog　with　anticipation　of　victory　at　last。　　〃I　give　you　my　word！〃　

Mary　met　the　gaze　of　the　Inspector　fully。　　In　the　same　instant；　she　flashed　on　him　a　smile　that　was　dazzling；　the　smile　of　a　woman　triumphant　in　her　mastery　of　the　situation。　　Her　face　was　radiant；　luminous　with　honest　mirth。　　There　was　something　simple　and　genuine　in　her　beauty　that　thrilled　the　man　before　her；　the　man　trying　so　vindictively　to　trap　her　to　her　own　undoing。　For　all　his　grossness；　Burke　was　of　shrewd　perceptions；　and　somewhere；　half…submerged　under　the　sordid　nature　of　his　calling；　was　a　love　of　things　esthetic；　a　responsiveness　to　the　appeals　of　beauty。　　Now；　as　his　glance　sear