within the law- 第6部分

Gilder　displayed　signs　of　triumph。　　He　brought　his　chair　to　a　level　and　pounded　the　desk　with　a　weighty　fist。

〃There！〃　he　cried。　　〃I　knew　it。　　The　girl　wants　to　confess。　　Well；　it's　the　first　sign　of　decent　feeling　she's　shown。　　I　suppose　it　ought　to　be　encouraged。　　Probably　there　have　been　others　mixed　up　in　this。〃

Demarest　attempted　no　denial。

〃Perhaps；〃　he　admitted；　though　he　spoke　altogether　without　conviction。　　〃But；〃　he　continued　insinuatingly；　〃at　least　it　can　do　no　harm　if　you　see　her。　　I　thought　you　would　be　willing；　so　I　spoke　to　the　District　Attorney；　and　he　has　given　orders　to　bring　her　here　for　a　few　minutes　on　the　way　to　the　Grand　Central　Station。　They're　taking　her　up　to　Burnsing；　you　know。　　I　wish；　Gilder；　you　would　have　a　little　talk　with　her。　　No　harm　in　that！〃　With　the　saying；　the　lawyer　abruptly　went　out　of　the　office；　leaving　the　owner　of　the　store　fuming。



CHAPTER　IV。　KISSES　AND　KLEPTOMANIA。　

〃Hello；　Dad！〃　

After　the　attorney's　departure；　Gilder　had　been　rather　fussily　going　over　some　of　the　papers　on　his　desk。　　He　was　experiencing　a　vague　feeling　of　injury　on　account　of　the　lawyer's　ill…veiled　efforts　to　arouse　his　sympathy　in　behalf　of　the　accused　girl。　　In　the　instinct　of　strengthening　himself　against　the　possibility　of　yielding　to　what　he　deemed　weakness；　the　magnate　rehearsed　the　facts　that　justified　his　intolerance；　and；　indeed；　soon　came　to　gloating　over　the　admirable　manner　in　which　righteousness　thrives　in　the　world。　　And　it　was　then　that　an　interruption　came　in　the　utterance　of　two　words；　words　of　affection；　of　love；　cried　out　in　the　one　voice　he　most　longed　to　hearfor　the　voice　was　that　of　his　son。　　Yet；　he　did　not　look　up。　　The　thing　was　altogether　impossible！　The　boy　was　philandering；　junketing；　somewhere　on　the　Riviera。　　His　first　intimation　as　to　the　exact　place　would　come　in　the　form　of　a　cable　asking　for　money。　　Somehow；　his　feelings　had　been　unduly　stirred　that　morning；　he　had　grown　sentimental；　dreaming　of　pleasant　things。。。。　All　this　in　a　second。　　Then；　he　looked　up。　　Why；　it　was　true！　It　was　Dick's　face　there；　smiling　in　the　doorway。　　Yes；　it　was　Dick；　it　was　Dick　himself！　Gilder　sprang　to　his　feet；　his　face　suddenly　grown　younger；　radiant。

〃Dick！〃　The　big　voice　was　softened　to　exquisite　tenderness。

As　the　eyes　of　the　two　met；　the　boy　rushed　forward；　and　in　the　next　moment　the　hands　of　father　and　son　clasped　firmly。　　They　were　silent　in　the　first　emotion　of　their　greeting。　　Presently；　Gilder　spoke；　with　an　effort　toward　harshness　in　his　voice　to　mask　how　much　he　was　shaken。　　But　the　tones　rang　more　kindly　than　any　he　had　used　for　many　a　day；　tremulous　with　affection。

〃What　brought　you　back？〃　　he　demanded。

Dick；　too；　had　felt　the　tension　of　an　emotion　far　beyond　that　of　the　usual　things。　　He　was　forced　to　clear　his　throat　before　he　answered　with　that　assumption　of　nonchalance　which　he　regarded　as　befitting　the　occasion。

〃Why；　I　just　wanted　to　come　back　home；〃　he　said；　lightly。　　A　sudden　recollection　came　to　give　him　poise　in　this　time　of　emotional　disturbance；　and　he　added　hastily：　〃And；　for　the　love　of　heaven；　give　Sadie　five　dollars。　I　borrowed　it　from　her　to　pay　the　taxi'。　　You　see；　Dad；　I'm　broke。〃

〃Of　course！〃　With　the　saying；　Edward　Gilder　roared　Gargantuan　laughter。　　In　the　burst　of　merriment；　his　pent　feelings　found　their　vent。　　He　was　still　chuckling　when　he　spoke；　sage　from　much　experience　of　ocean　travel。　　〃Poker　on　the　ship；　I　suppose。〃

The　young　man；　too；　smiled　reminiscently　as　he　answered：

〃No；　not　that；　though　I　did　have　a　little　run　in　at　Monte　Carlo。　　But　it　was　the　ship　that　finished　me；　at　that。　　You　see；　Dad；　they　hired　Captain　Kidd　and　a　bunch　of　pirates　as　stewards；　and　what　they　did　to　little　Richard　was　something　fierce。　　And　yet；　that　wasn't　the　real　trouble；　either。　　The　fact　is；　I　just　naturally　went　broke。　　Not　a　hard　thing　to　do　on　the　other　side。〃

〃Nor　on　this；〃　the　father　interjected；　dryly。

〃Anyhow；　it　doesn't　matter　much；〃　Dick　replied；　quite　unabashed。　　〃Tell　me；　Dad；　how　goes　it？〃　

Gilder　settled　himself　again　in　his　chair；　and　gazed　benignantly　on　his　son。

〃Pretty　well；〃　he　said　contentedly；　〃pretty　well；　son。　　I'm　glad　to　see　you　home　again；　my　boy。〃　　There　was　a　great　tenderness　in　the　usually　rather　cold　gray　eyes。

The　young　man　answered　promptly；　with　delight　in　his　manner　of　speech；　and　a　sincerity　that　revealed　the　underlying　merit　of　his　nature。

〃And　I'm　glad　to　be　home；　Dad；　to　be〃there　was　again　that　clearing　of　the　throat；　but　he　finished　bravely〃with　you。〃

The　father　avoided　a　threatening　display　of　emotion　by　an　abrupt　change　of　subject　to　the　trite。

〃Have　a　good　time？〃　　he　inquired　casually；　while　fumbling　with　the　papers　on　the　desk。

Dick's　face　broke　in　a　smile　of　reminiscent　happiness。

〃The　time　of　my　young　life！〃　He　paused；　and　the　smile　broadened。　　There　was　a　mighty　enthusiasm　in　his　voice　as　he　continued：　〃I　tell　you；　Dad；　it's　a　fact　that　I　did　almost　break　the　bank　at　Monte　Carlo。　　I'd　have　done　it　sure；　if　only　my　money　had　held　out。〃

〃It　seems　to　me　that　I've　heard　something　of　the　sort　before；〃　was　Gilder's　caustic　comment。　　But　his　smile　was　still　wholly　sympathetic。　　He　took　a　curious　vicarious　delight　in　the　escapades　of　his　son；　probably　because　he　himself　had　committed　no　follies　in　his　callow　days。　　〃Why　didn't　you　cable　me？〃　　he　asked；　puzzled　at　such　restraint　on　the　part　of　his　son。

Dick　answered　with　simple　sincerity。

〃Because　it　gave　me　a　capital　excuse　for　coming　home。〃

It　was　Sarah　who　afforded　a　diversion。　　She　had　known　Dick　while　he　was　yet　a　child；　had　bought　him　candy；　had　felt　toward　him　a　maternal　liking　that　increased　rather　than　diminished　as　he　grew　to　manhood。　Now；　her　face　lighted　at　sight　of　him；　and　she　smiled　a　welcome。

〃I　see　you　have　found　him；〃　she　said；　with　a　ripple　of　laughter。

Dick　welcomed　this　interruption　of　the　graver　mood。

〃Sadie；〃　he　said；　with　a　manner　of　the　utmost　seriousness；　〃you　are　looking　finer　than　ever。　　And　how　thin　you　have　grown！〃　

The　girl；　eager　with　fond　fancies　toward　the　slender　ideal；　accepted　the　compliment　literally。

〃Oh；　Mr。　Dick！〃　she　exclaimed；　rapturously。　　〃How　much　do　you　think　I　have　lost？〃　

The　whimsical　heir　of　the　house　of　Gilder　surveyed　his　victim　critically；　then　spoke　with　judicial　solemnity。

〃About　two　ounces；　Sadie。〃

There　came　a　look　of　deep　hurt　on　Sadie's　face　at　the　flippant　jest；　which　Dick　himself　was　quick　to　note。

He　had　not　guessed　she　was　thus　acutely　sensitive　concerning　her　plumpness。　　Instantly；　he　was　all　contrition　over　his　unwitting　offense　inflicted　on　her　womanly　vanity。

〃Oh；　I'm　sorry；　Sadie；〃　he　exclaimed　penitently。　〃Please　don't　be　really　angry　with　me。　　Of　course；　I　didn't　mean〃

〃To　twit　on　facts！〃　the　secretary　interrupted；　bitterly。

〃Pooh！〃　Dick　cried；　craftily。　　〃You　aren't　plump　enough　to　be　sensitive　about　it。　　Why；　you're　just　right。〃　　There　was　something　very　boyish　about　his　manner；　as　he　caught　at　the　girl's　arm。　　A　memory　of　the　days　when　she　had　cuddled　him　caused　him　to　speak　warmly；　forgetting　the　presence　of　his　father。　　〃Now；　don't　be　angry；　Sadie。　　Just　give　me　a　little　kiss；　as　you　used　to　do。〃　　He　swept　her　into　his　arms；　and　his　lips　met　hers　in　a　hearty　caress。　　〃There！〃　he　cried。　　〃Just　to　show　there's　no　ill　feeling。〃

The　girl　was　completely　mollified；　though　in　much　embarrassment。

〃Why；　Mr。　Dick！〃　she　stammered；　in　confusion。　〃Why；　Mr。　Dick！〃　

Gilder；　who　had　watched　the　scene　in　great　astonishment；　now　interposed　to　end　it。

〃Stop；　Dick！〃　he　commanded；　crisply。　　〃You　are　actually　making　Sarah　blush。　　I　think　that's　about　enough；　son。〃

But　a　sudden　unaccustomed　gust　of　affection　swirled　in　the　breast　of　the　lad。　　Plain　Anglo…Saxon　as　he　was；　with　all　that　implies　as　to　the　avoidance　of　displays　of　emotion；　nevertheless　he　had　been　for　a　long　time　in　lands　far　from　home；　where　the　habits　of　impulsive　and　affectionate　peoples　were　radically　unlike　our　own　austerer　forms。　　So　now；　under　the　spur　of　an　impulse　suggested　by　the　dalliance　with　the　buxom　secretary；　he　grinned　widely　and　went　to　his　father。

〃A　little　kiss　never　hurts　any　one；〃　he　declared；　blithely。　Then　he　added　vivaciously：　〃Here；　I'll　show　you！〃　

With　the　words；　he　clasped　his　arms　around　his　father's　neck；　and；　before　that　amazed　gentleman　could　understand　his　purpose；　he　had　kissed　soundly　first　the　one　cheek　and　then　the　other；　each　with　a　hearty；　wholesome　smack　of　filial　piety。　　This　done；　he　stood　back；　still　beaming　happily；　while　the　astounded　Sarah　tittered　bewilderedly。　　For　his　own　part；　Dick　was　quite　unashamed。　　He　loved　his　father。　　For　once；　he　had　expressed　that　fondness　in　a　primitive　fashion；　and　he　was　glad。

The　older　man　withdrew　a　step；　and　there　rested　motionless；　under　the　sway　of　an　emotion　akin　to　dismay。　He　stood　staring　intently　at　his　son　with　a　perplexity　in　his　expression　that　was　almost　ludicrous。　　When；　at　last；　he　spoke；　his　voice　was　a　rumble　of　strangely　shy　pleasure。

〃God　bless　my　soul！〃　he　exclaimed；　violently。　　Then　he　raised　a　hand；　and　rubbed　first　one　cheek；　and　after　it　its　fellow；　with　a　gentleness　that　was　significant。　　The　feeling　provoked　by　the　embrace　showed