the drums of jeopardy-第36节

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author　of　that　advertisement　offering　to　buy　the　drums；　no
questions　asked？　　Very　well；　then；　if　he　would　not　tell　her　the
truth　she　would　have　to　find　it　out　herself。

Meanwhile；　Cutty　sat　on　the　edge　of　his　bed　staring　blankly　at　the
rug；　trying　to　find　a　pick…up　to　the　emotions　that　beset　him。　　One
thing　issued　clearly：　He　had　wanted　to　kiss　the　child。　　He　still
wanted　to　kiss　her。　　Why　hadn't　he？　　Unanswerable。　　It　was　still
unanswerable　even　when　the　pallor　of　dawn　began　slowly　to　absorb　the
artificial　light　of　his　bed　lamp。



CHAPTER　XXIII


When　Cutty　awoke　…　having　had　about　two　hours'　sleep　…　he　was
instantly　conscious　that　the　zest　had　gone　from　the　adventure。　　It
had　resolved　itself　into　official　business　into　which　he　had
projected　himself　gratuitously；　and　having　assumed　the　offices　of
chief　factor；　he　would　have　to　see　the　affair　through；　victim　of
his　own　greediness。　　It　did　not　serve　to　marshal　excuses。　　He　had
frankly　entered　the　affair　in　the　role　of　buccaneer；　and　here　he
was；　high　and　dry　on　the　reef。

The　drums　of　jeopardy；　so　far　as　he　was　concerned；　had　been　shot
into　the　moon　two　hundred　thousand　miles　out　of　reach。　　He　found
himself　resenting　Hawksley's　honesty　in　the　matter　of　the　customs。

But　immediately　this　sense　of　resentment　caused　him　to　chuckle。
Certainly　some　ancestor　of　his　had　been　a　Black　Bart　or　a　Galloping
Dick。

He　would　put　a　few　straight　questions　to　Hawksley；　however。　　To　have
lost　all　those　precious　stones　and　not　to　have　inquired　about　them
was　a　bit　foggy；　wasn't　normal；　human。　　Unless　…　bang　on　the　plexus
came　the　thought！　…　the　beggar　had　hidden　them　himself。　　He　had　been
exceedingly　clever　in　hiding　the　wallet。　　Come　to　think　of　it；　he
hadn't　mentioned　that；　either。　　Of　course　he　had　hidden　the　stones
　…　either　in　Gregor's　apartment　or　m　Kitty's。　　Blind　as　a　bat。　　Now
he　understood　why　Karlov　had　made　a　prisoner　of　Coles。　　The　old
buzzard　had　sensed　a　trap　and　had　countered　it。　　The　way　of　the
transgressor　was　hard。　　His　punishment　for　entertaining　a　looter's
idea　would　be　work　when　he　wanted　to　loaf　and　enjoy　himself。

Arriving　at　Hawksley's　door　he　was　confronted　by　a　spectacle　not
without　its　humorous　touch：　The　nurse　extending　a　bowl　and　Hawksley
staring　at　the
sky　beyond　the　window；　stonily。

〃But　you　must！〃　insisted　Miss　Frances。

〃Chops　or　beefsteak！〃

〃It　will　give　you　nausea。〃

〃Permit　me　to　find　out。　　Dash　it；　I'm　hungry！〃　Hawksley　declared。
〃I'm　no　fever　patient。　　A　smart　rap　on　the　head；　nothing　more　than
that。　　Healthy　food　will　draw　the　blood　down　from　there。　　Haven't
lost　anything　but　a　few　hours　of　consciousness；　and　you　treat　me
as　though　I'd　been　jolly　well　peppered　with　shrapnel　and　gassed。
Touch　that　stuff？　　Rather　not！　　Chops　or　beefsteak！〃

〃Let　him　have　it；　Miss　Frances；〃　advised　Cutty　from　the　doorway。

〃But　it's　unusual；〃　replied　the　nurse　as　a　final　protest。

〃Give　it　a　try。　　Is　he　strong　enough　to　sit　up　through　breakfast？〃

〃He's　really　not　fit。　　But　if　he　insists　on　doing　the　one　he　might
as　well　do　the　other。〃

〃Righto！〃　…　from　the　patient。

〃Will　you　tell　Kuroki　to　make　it　a　beefsteak　breakfast　for　four？
I　know　how　Mr。　Hawksley　feels。　　Been　through　the　same　bout。〃　　Cutty
wanted　Miss　Frances　out　of　the　room。

〃Very　well。　　Only；　I've　warned　him。〃　Miss　Frances　left；　somewhat
miffed。

〃Thanks；〃　said　Hawksley；　smiling。　　〃She　thinks　I'm　a　canary。〃

〃Whereas　you're　an　eagle。〃

〃Or　a　vulture。〃

Cutty　chew　up　a　chair。　　〃Frankly；　I　believe　a　good　breakfast　will
put　you　a　peg　up。〃

〃A　beefsteak！〃　Hawksley　stared　ecstatically　at　the　ceiling。　　〃You
see；　I'm　naturally　tough。　　Always　went　in　for　rough　sports　…　football；
rowing；　boxing。　　Poor　old　Stefani's　idea；　and　not　so　bad；　either。　　Of
course　he　was　always　worrying　about　my　hands；　but　I　always　took　great
care　to　keep　them　soft　and　pliant。　　Which　sounds　rummy；　considering
the　pounding　I　used　to　give　and　take。　　My　word；　I　used　to　go　to　bed
with　my　hands　done　up　in　ointments　like　a　professional　beauty！　　Of
course　I'm　dizzy　yet；　and　the　bally　spot　is　sore；　but　solid　food
and　some　exercise　will　have　me　off　your　hands　in　no　time。　　I　don't
fancy　being　coddled；　y'know。　　I've　been　trouble　enough。〃

〃Don't　let　that　worry　you。　　I'll　bring　some　togs　in；　flannels　and
soft　shirts。　　We're　about　the　same　height。　　Anyhow；　the　difference
won't　be　noticeable　in　flannels。　　I've　had　to　tell　Miss　Conover　a
bit　of　fiction。　　I'll　tell　you；　so　if　need　arises　you　can　back　me　up。

When　Cutty　finished　his　romance　Hawksley　frowned。　　〃All　said　and
done；　if　I'm　not　that　splendid　old　chap's　protege；　what　am　I？　　But
for　his　patience　and　kindness　I'd　have　run　true　to　the　blood。　　He
was　with　me　at　the　balancing　age；　when　a　chap　becomes　a　man　or　a
rotter。　　He　actually　gave　up　a　brilliant　career　because　of　me。　　He
is　a　great　musician；　with　that　strange　faculty　of　taking　souls　out
of　people　and　untwisting　them。　　I　have　the　gift；　too；　in　a　way；　but
there's　always　a　bit　of　the　devil　in　me　when　I　play。　　Natural　bent；
I　fancy。　　And　they've　killed　him！〃

〃No；〃　said　Cutty；　slowly。　　〃But　this　is　for　your　ear　alone：　He's
alive；　and　one　of　these　days　I'll　bring　him　to　you。　　So　buck　up。〃

〃Alive！　　Stefani　alive！〃　whispered　Hawksley。　　He　stretched　out　his
hand　rather　blindly；　and　Cutty　was　surprised　at　the　strength　of　the
grip。　　〃Makes　me　feel　choky。　　I　say；　are　all　Americans　good
Samaritans？〃

Cutty　put　this　aside　because　he　did　not　care　to　disillusion　Hawksley。
〃I　found　an　appraiser's　receipt　in　your　wallet。　　You　carried　some
fine　jewels。　　Did　you　hide　them　or　did　Karlov　get　them？　　It　struck
me　as　odd　that　you　haven't　inquired　about　them。〃　　The　change　that
came　into　Hawksley's　face　alarmed　Cutty。　　The　rich　olive　skin　became
chalky　and　the　eyes　closed。　　〃What　is　it？　　Shall　I　call　Miss　Frances？〃

〃No。〃　Hawksley　opened　his　eyes；　but　looked　dully　straight　ahead。
〃The　stones！　　I　was　trying　to　forget！　　My　God；　I　was　trying　to　forget！〃

〃But　they　were　yours？〃　Cutty　was　mystified　beyond　expression。

〃Yes；　mine；　mine；　mine！〃　…　panting。　　〃Damn　them！　　Some　day　I'll　tell
you。　　But　just　now　I　can't　toe　the　mark。　　I　was　trying　to　forget
them！　　Against　my　heart；　gnawing　into　my　soul　like　the　beetle　of　the
Spanish　Inquisition！〃　　Silence。　　〃But　they　were　future　bread　and
butter　…　for　Gregor　as　well　as　for　myself。　　They　got　them；　and　may
they　damn　Karlov　as　they　have　damned　me！　　I　had　no　chance　when　I
returned　to　Gregor's。　　They　were　on　me　instantly。　　I　put　up　a　fight；
but　I'd　come　from　a　lighted　room　and　was　practically　blind。　　Let
them　go。　　Most　of　those　stones　came　out　of　hell；　anyhow。　　Let　them
go。　　There　is　an　unknown　grave　between　those　stones　and　me。〃

The　level　despair　of　the　tone　appalled　Cutty。　　A　crime　somewhere？
There　was　still　a　bottom　to　this　affair　he　had　not　plumbed？　　He　rose；
deeply　agitated。

〃I'll　fetch　those　togs　for　you。　　Miss　Conover　will　breakfast　with　us；
and　the　sight　of　her　will　give　you　a　brace。　　I'm　sorry。　　I　had　to
ask　you。〃

〃Beefsteak　and　a　pretty　girl！　　That's　something。　　I　suppose　she　was
trapped　by　the　lift　not　running。〃　　Hawksley　was　trying　to　meet　Cutty
halfway　to　cover　up　the　tragedy。　　〃I　say；　why　the　deuce　do　you　let
her　live　where　she　does？〃

〃Because　I'm　not　legally　her　guardian。　　She　is　the　daughter　of　the
man　and　woman　I　loved　best。　　All　I　can　do　is　to　watch　over　her。　　She
lives　on　her　earnings　as　a　newspaper　writer。　　I'd　give　her　half　of
all　I　have　if　I　had　the　least　idea　she　would　accept　it。〃

〃Fond　of　her？〃

〃Fond　of　her！〃　repeated　Cutty。　　〃Why；　of　course　I'm　fond　of　her！〃
There　was　a　touch　of　indignation　in　his　tone。

〃Is　she　fond　of　you？〃

〃I　suppose　so。〃　　What　was　the　chap　driving　at？

〃Then　marry　her；〃　suggested　Hawksley　with　a　cynical　smile；　〃make　a
settlement　and　give　her　her　freedom。　　Simple　enough。　　What？〃

Cutty　stepped　back；　stunned　and　terrified。　　〃She　would　laugh　at　me！〃

〃You　never　can　tell；〃　replied　Hawksley；　maintaining　the　crooked
smile。　　The　devil　was　blazing　in　his　eyes　now。　　〃Try　it。　　It's　being
done　every　day；　even　here　in　this　big　America　of　yours。　　From　the
European　point　of　view　you　have　compromised　her　…　or　she　has
compromised　herself；　by　spending　the　night　here。　　Convention　has
been　disregarded。　　A　ripping　good　chance；　I　call　it。　　You　tell　me
she　wouldn't　accept　benefits；　and　you　want　to　help　her。　　If　she's
the　kind　I　believe　her　to　be；　even　if　she　refuses　you　she　will　not
be　angry。　　You　never　can　tell　what　woman　will　or　won't　do。〃

An　old　and　forgotten　bit　of　mental　machinery　began　to　set　up　a
ditter…datter　in　Cutty's　brain。　　Marry　Kitty？　　Make　a　settlement；
and　then　give　her　her　freedom？　　Rot！　　Girls　of　Kitty's　calibre　were
above　such　expediencies。　　He　tried　to　resurrect　his　interest　in　the
drums　of　jeopardy；　which　he　might　now　appropriate　without　having　to
shanghai　his　conscience。　　The　clitter…clatter　smothered　it；　indeed；
this　new　racket　upset　and　demoralized　the　well…ordered　machinery　of
his　thinking　apparatus　as　applied　daily。　　Marry　Kitty！

〃I'm　old　enough　to　be　her　father。〃

〃What's　that　to　do　with　it　so　long　as　convention　is　satisfied？〃

Cutty　was　so　shaken　and　confused　that　he　missed　the　tragic　irony　of
th