the drums of jeopardy-第38节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


could　not　quite　make　him　out　pathologically。　　Perhaps　she　had　been
treating　him　as　shell…shocked　when　there　was　nothing　at　all　the
matter　with　his　nerves。

Presently　Kuroki　came　in　with　a　yellow　envelope；　which　he　laid　at
the　side　of　Cutty's　plate。

〃Telegrams！〃　exploded　Cutty。　　〃Hang　it；　I　don't　want　any　telegrams！〃

〃Open　it　and　have　it　over　with；〃　suggested　Kitty。

〃If　you　don't　mind。〃

It　was　the　worst　kind　of　news　…　a　summons　to　Washington　for
conference。　　Which　signified　that　the　Government's　plans　were
completed　and　that　shortly　he　would　be　on　his　way　to　Piraeus。

A　fine　muddle！　　Hawksley　in　no　condition　to　send　upon　his　way；
Kitty's　affair　unsettled；　the　emeralds　still　in　camera　obscura；
Karlov　at　liberty　with　his　infernal　schemes；　and　Stefani　Gregor
his　prisoner。　　Wild　horses；　pulling　him　two　ways。　　A　word；　and
Karlov　would　come　to　the　end　of　his　rope　suddenly。　　But　if　he
issued　that　word　the　whole　fabric　he　had　erected　so　painstakingly
would　blow　away　like　cardboard。　　If　those　emeralds　turned　up　in
the　possession　of　any　man　but　himself　the　ensuing　complications
would　be　appalling。　　For　he　himself　would　be　forced　to　tell　what
he　knew　about　the　stones：　Hawksley　would　be　thrust　conspicuously
into　the　limelight；　and　sooner　or　later　some　wild　anarch　would
kill　him。　　Known；　Hawksley　would　not　have　one　chance　in　a
thousand。　　Kitty　would　be　dragged　into　the　light　and　harassed
and　his　own　attitude　toward　her　misunderstood。　　All　these　things；
if　he　acted　upon　his　oath。　　Nevertheless；　he　determined　to　risk
suspension　of　operations　until　he　returned　from　Washington。　　There
was　one　sound　plank　to　cling　to。　　He　had　first…hand　information
that　anarchistic　elements　would　remain　in　their　noisome　cellars
until　May　first。　　If　he　were　not　ordered　abroad　until　after　that；
no　harm　would　follow　his　suspension　of　operations。

〃Bad　news？〃　asked　Kitty；　anxiously。

〃Aggravating　rather　than　bad。　　I　am　called　to　Washington。　　May　be
gone　four　or　five　days。　　Official　business。　　Leaves　things　here　a
bit　in　the　air。〃

〃I'll　stay　as　long　as　you　need　me；〃　said　Miss　Frances。

〃I'd　rather　a　man　now。　　You've　been　a　brick。　　You　need　rest。　　I've
a　chap　in　mind。　　He'll　make　our　friend　here　toe　the　mark。　　A
physical　instructor；　ex…pugilist；　knows　all　about　broken　heads。〃

〃I　say；　that's　ripping！〃　cried　Hawksley。　　〃Give　me　your　man；　and
I'll　be　off　your　hands　within　a　week。　　The　sooner　you　stop　fussing
over　me　the　sooner　the　crack　in　my　head　will　cease　to　bother　me。

〃Kuroki　will　cook　for　you　and　Ryan　will　put　you　through　the　necessary
stunts。　　The　roof；　when　the　weather　permits；　makes　a　good　exercising
ground。　　If　you'll　excuse　me　I'll　do　some　telephoning。　　Kuroki；　pack
my　bag　for　a　five…day　trip　to　Washington。　　I'll　take　you　down　to　the
office；　Kitty。〃

〃I　don't　fancy　I　ever　will　quite　understand　you；〃　said　Hawksley；
leaning　back　in　his　chair；　listlessly。　　〃Honestly；　now；　you'd　be
perfectly　justified　in　bundling　me　off　to　some　hotel。　　I　have　funds。
Why　all　this　pother　about　me？〃

Cutty　smiled。　　〃When　I　tackle　anything　I　like　to　carry　it　through。
I　want　to　put　you　on　your　train。〃

〃To　be　reasonably　sure　that　I　shan't　come　back？〃

〃Precisely〃　…　but　without　smiling。　　With　a　vague　yet　inclusive　nod
Cutty　hurried　off。

〃It　is　because　he　is　such　a　thorough　sportsman。　　Mr。　Hawksley；〃　Kitty
explained。　　〃Having　accepted　certain　obligations　he　cannot　abrogate
them　off。　hand。〃

〃Did　I　bother　you　last　night？　　I　mean；　did　my　fiddling？〃

〃Mercy；　no！　　From　the　hurdy…gurdy　of　my　childhood；　down　to　Kubelik
and　his　successors；　I　have　been　more　or　less　music…mad。　　You　play
　…　wonderfully！〃　　Sudden；　inexplicable　shyness。

Hawksley　smiled。　　An　hour　or　two　with　that　old　Amati。

〃I　am　only　an　unconventional　amateur。　　You　should　hear　Stefani
Gregor　when　the　mood　is　on。　　He　puts　something　into　your　soul　that
makes　you　wish　to　go　forth　at　once　to　do　some　fine；　unselfish
act。〃

Stefani　Gregor！　　He　thought　of　the　clear　white　soul　of　the　man　who
had　surrendered　imperishable　fame　to　stand　between　him　and　the　curse
of　his　blood；　who　had　for　ten　years　stood　between　his　mother　and
the　dissolute　man　whom　irony　had　selected　for　the　part　of　father。
Ten　years　of　diplomacy；　tact；　patience。　　Stefani　Gregor！　　There　was
the　blood；　predatory　and　untamed；　and　there　was　the　spirit　which
the　old　musician　had　moulded。　　He　could　not　harm　this　girl。　　Dead
or　alive；　Stefani　Gregor　would　not　permit　it。

Hawksley　rose　slowly　and　without　further　speech　walked　to　the
corridor　door。　　He　leaned　against　the　jamb　for　a　moment；　then　went
on　to　his　bedroom。

〃I'm　afraid　that　breakfast　was　too　much　for　him；〃　the　nurse　ventured。
〃An　odd　young　man。〃

〃Very；〃　replied　Kitty；　rather　absently。　　She　was　trying　to　analyze
that　flash　of　shyness。

Meantime；　Cutty　sat　down　before　the　telephone。　　He　wanted　Kitty　out
of　town　during　his　absence。　　In　her　present　excitable　mood　he　was
afraid　to　trust　her。　　She　might　surrender　to　any　mad　impulse　that
stirred　her　fancy。　　So　he　called　up　Burlingame。　　Kitty's　chief；　and
together　they　manufactured　an　assignment　that　was　always　a　pleasant
recollection　to　Kitty。

Next；　Cutty　summoned　Professor　Billy　Ryan　to　the　wire；　argued　and
cajoled　for　ten　minutes；　and　won　his　point。　　He　was　always　dealing
in　futures　…　banking　his　favours　here　and　there　and　drawing　checks
against　them　when　needed。

Then　he　tackled　his　men　and　issued　orders　suspending　operations
temporarily。　　He　was　asked　what　they　should　do　in　case　Karlov　came
out　into　the　open。　　He　answered　in　such　an　event　not　to　molest　him
but　to　watch　and　take　note　of　those　with　whom　he　associated。　　There
were　big　things　in　the　air；　and　only　he　himself　had　hold　of　all　the
threads。　　He　relayed　this　information　to　the　actual　chief　of　the
local　service；　from　whom　he　had　borrowed　his　men。　　There　was　no
protest。　　Green　spectacles。

Quarter　to　nine　he　and　Kitty　entered　a　subway　car　and　found　a　corner
to　themselves；　while　Karlov's　agent　was　content　with　a　strap　in　the
crowded　end　of　the　car。

Karlov　for　once　had　outthought　Cutty。　　He　had　withdrawn　his　watchers；
confident　that　after　a　day　or　so　his　unknown　opponent　would　withdraw
his。　　During　the　lull　Karlov　matured　his　plans；　then　resumed
operations；　calculating　that　he　would　have　some　forty…odd　hours'
leeway。

His　agent　was　clever。　　He　had　followed　Kitty　from　Eightieth　Street
to　the　Knickerbocker　Hotel。　　There　he　had　lost　her。　　He　had　loitered
on　the　sidewalk　until　midnight；　and　was　then　convinced　that　the　girl
had　slipped　by。　　So　he　had　returned　to　Eightieth　Street；　but　as　late
as　five　in　the　morning　she　had　not　returned。

This　agent　had　followed　the　banker　after　his　visit　to　Kitty。　　He　had
watched　the　banker's　house；　seen　Cutty　arrive　and　depart。　　Taking　a
chance　shot　in　the　dark；　he　had　followed　Cutty　to　the　office
building；　learned　that　Cutty　was　the　owner　and　lived　in　the　loft。
As　Kitty　had　not　returned　home　by　five　he　proceeded　to　take　a　second
chance　shot　in　the　dark；　stationing　himself　across　the　street　from
the　entrance　to　the　office　building；　thereby　solving　the　riddle
uppermost　in　Karlov's　mind。　　He　had　found　the　man　in　the　dress　suit。

〃Cutty；　I'm　sorry　I　was　such　a　booby　last　night。　　But　it　was　the　best
thing　that　could　have　happened。　　The　pentupness　of　it　was　simply
killing　me。　　I　hadn't　any　one　to　come　to　but　you　…　any　one　who　would
understand。　　I　don't　know　of　any　man　who　has　a　better　right　to　kiss
me。　　I　know。　　You　were　just　trying　to　buck　me　up。〃

Clitter…clatter！　　Clitter…clatter！　　Cutty　stared　hard　at　the　cement
floor。　　Marry　her；　settle　a　sum　on　her；　and　give　her　her　freedom。
Molly's　girl。　　Give　her　a　chance　to　play。　　He　turned。

〃Kitty；　do　you　trust　me？〃

〃Of　all　the　foolish　questions！〃　　She　pressed　his　arm。　　〃Why　shouldn't
I　trust　you？〃

〃Will　you　marry　me？　　Wait！　　Let　me　make　clear　to　you　what　I　have　in
mind。　　I'm　all　alone。　　I　loved　your　mother。　　It　breaks　my　heart　that
while　I　have　everything　in　the　way　of　luxuries　you　have　nothing。　　I
can't　settle　a　sum　on　you　…　an　income。　　The　world　wouldn't
understand。　　Your　friends　would　be　asking　questions　among　themselves。
This　telegram　from　Washington　means　but　one　thing：　that　in　a　few
weeks　I　shall　be　on　my　way　to　the　East。　　I　shall　be　mighty　unhappy
if　I　have　to　go　leaving　you　in　the　rut。　　This　is　my　idea：　marry　me
an　hour　or　so　before　the　ship　sails。　　I　will　leave　you　a　comfortable
income。　　Lord　knows　how　long　I　shall　be　gone。　　Well；　I　won't　write。
After　a　year　you　can　regain　your　freedom　on　the　grounds　of　desertion。
Simple　as　falling　off　a　log。　　It's　the　one　logical　way　I　can　help
you。　　Will　you？〃

Station　after　station　flashed　by。　　Kitty　continued　stare　through　the
window　across　the　way。　　by　and　by　she　turned　her　face　toward　him；　her
eyes　shining　with　tears。

〃Cutty；　there　is　going　to　be　a　nice　place　in　heaven　for　you　some　day。
I　understand。　　I　believe　Mother　understands；　too。　　Am　I　selfish？　　I
can't　say　No　to　you　and　I　can't　say　Yes。　　Yet　I　should　be　a　liar　if
I　did　not　say　that　everything　in　me　leaps　toward　the　idea。　　It　is
both　hateful　and　fascinating。　　Common　sense　says　Yes；　and　something
else　in　me　says　No。　　I　like　dainty　things；　dainty　surroundings。