the drums of jeopardy-第51节

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〃So！〃　said　Karlov。

The　torturer　must　talk；　he　must　explain　the　immediate　future　to
double　the　agony。　　He　could　have　maimed　them　both；　then　trampled
them　to　death；　but　he　had　to　inform　them　of　the　fact。　　He　pointed
the　automatic　at　Cutty　because　he　considered　this　man　the　more
dangerous　of　the　two。　　He　at　once　saw　that　the　other　was　a
negligible　factor。　　He　spoke　slowly。

〃And　the　girl　shall　witness　your　agonies；〃　he　concluded。

Cutty；　bereft　of　invention；　could　only　stare。　　Death！　　He　had　faced
it　many　times；　but　always　with　a　chance。　　There　was　none　here；　and
the　absolute　knowledge　paralyzed　him。

Had　Cutty　been　alone　Kitty　would　have　rushed　at　the　madman；　but　the
sight　of　Hawksley　robbed　her　of　all　mobility。　　His　unexpected
appearance　was　to　her　the　Book　of　Revelation。　　The　blind　alley　she
had　entered　and　reentered　so　many　times　and　so　futilely　crumbled。。。。
Johnny　Two…Hawks！

As　for　Hawksley；　he　knew　he　had　but　little　time。　　The　floor　was
billowing；　he　saw　many　candles　where　he　knew　there　was　only　one。　　He
was　losing　his　senses。　　There　remained　but　a　single　idea　…　to　do　the
old　thoroughbred　one　favour　for　the　many。　　Scorning　death　…　perhaps
inviting　it　…　he　lunged　headlong　at　Karlov's　knees。

This　reckless　challenge　to　death　was　so　unexpected　that　Karlov　had
no　time　to　aim。　　He　fired　at　chance。　　The　bullet　nipped　the　left
shoulder　of　Hawksley's　coat　and　shattered　the　laths　of　the　partition
between　the　attic　and　the　servant's　quarters。　　Under　the　impact　of
the　human　catapult　Karlov　staggered　back；　desperately　striving　to
maintain　his　balance。　　He　succeeded　because　Hawksley's　senses　left
him　in　the　instant　he　struck　Karlov's　knees。　　Still；　the　episode
was　a　respite　for　Cutty；　who　dashed　at　Karlov　before　the　latter
could　set　himself　or　raise　the　smoking　automatic。

Kitty　then　witnessed　…　dimly　…　a　primordial；　titanic　conflict　which
haunted　her　dreams　for　many　nights　to　come。　　They　were　no　longer　men；
but　animals；　the　tiger　giving　combat　to　the　gorilla；　one　striking
the　quick；　terrible　blows　of　the　tiger；　the　other　seeking　always　to
come　to　grips。

The　floor　answered　under　the　step　and　rush。　　Rare　athletes；　these
two；　big　men　who　were　light　on　their　feet。　　Kitty　could　see　their
faces　occasionally　and　the　flash　of　their　bare　hands；　but　of　their
bodies　little　or　nothing。　　Nor　could　she　tell　how　the　struggle　was
going。　　Indeed　until　the　idea　came　that　they　might　be　trampling
Johnny　Two…Hawks　there　was　no　coherent　thought　in　her　head；　only
broken　things。

She　ran　to　the　soapbox　and　kicked　it　aside。　　She　saw　Hawksley　on
his　face；　motionless。　　At　least　they　should　not　trample　his　dead
body。　　She　caught　hold　of　his　arms　and　dragged　him　to　the　wall　…　to
discover　that　she　was　sobbing；　sobs　of　rage　and　despair　that　tore
at　her　breast　horribly　and　clogged　her　throat。　　She　was　a　woman　and
could　not　help；　she　could　not　help　Cutty！　　She　was　a　woman；　and　all
she　could　do　was　to　drag　aside　the　lifeless　body　of　the　man　who
had　given　Cutty　his　chance！

She　knelt；　turning　Hawksley　over　on　his　back。　　There　was　a　slight
gash　on　one　grimy　cheek；　possibly　caused　by　contact　with　the　latchets
of　Karlov's　boots。　　She　raised　the　handsome　head；　pressed　it　to　her
bosom；　and　began　to　sway　her　body　from　side　to　side。　　Tumult。　　The
Federal　agents　were　throwing　their　bodies　against　the　door　repeatedly。
In　the　semi…darkness　Cutty　fought　for　his　life。　　But　Kitty　neither
heard　nor　saw。　　The　world　had　suddenly　contracted；　there　was　only
this　beautiful　head　in　her　arms；　beyond　and　about；　nothing。

Cutty　felt　his　strength　ebbing；　soon　he　would　not　be　able　to　wrench
himself　loose　from　those　terrible　arms。　　He　knew　all　the　phases　of
the　fighting　game。　　Chivalry　and　fair　play　had　no　part　in　this
contest。　　Clear　light；　to　observe　what　his　blows　were　accomplishing；
a　minute　or　two　of　clear　light！　　Half　the　time　his　blows　glanced。
The　next　time　those　arms　wound　about　him；　that　would　be　the　end。
He　was　growing　tired；　winded；　he　had　not　gone　into　battle　fresh。　　He
knew　that　many　of　his　blows　had　gone　home。　　Any　ordinary　man　would
have　dropped；　but　Karlov　came　on　again　and　again。

And　all　the　while　Karlov　was　not　fighting　Cutty；　he　was　endeavouring
to　remove　him。　　He　was　an　obstacle。　　What　Karlov　wanted　was　that
head　the　girl　was　holding　in　her　arms；　to　grind　his　heel　into　it。
Had　Cutty　stepped　aside　Karlov　would　have　rushed　for　the　other　man。

〃Kitty；　the　door；　the　door！〃　Cutty　shouted　in　despair；　taking　a
terrible　kick　on　the　thigh。　　〃The　door！〃

Kitty　did　not　stir。

A　panel　in　the　door　crushed　in。　　The　sole　of　a　boot　appeared　and
vanished。　　Then　an　arm　reached　in；　groping；　touched　the　plank　propped
under　the　door　knob；　wrenched　and　tugged　until　it　fell。　　Immediately
the　attic　became　filled　with　men。　　It　was　time。　　Karlov　had　Cutty　in
his　arms。

This　turn　in　the　affair　roused　Kitty。　　Presently　she　saw　men　in　a
snarl；　heaving　and　billowing；　with　a　sudden　subsidence。　　The　snarl
untangled　itself；　men　began　to　step　back　and　produce　pocketlamps。
Kitty　saw　Cutty's　face；　battered　and　bloody；　appear　and　disappear
in　a　flash。　　She　saw　Karlov's；　too；　as　he　was　pulled　to　his　feet；
his　hands　manacled。　　Again　she　saw　Cutty。　　With　shaking　hand　he　was
trying　to　attach　the　loose　end　of　his　collar　to　the　button。　　The
absurdity　of　it！

〃Take　him　away。　　But　don't　be　rough　with　him。　　He's　only　a　poor
devil　of　a　madman；〃　said　Cutty。

Karlov　turned　and　calmly　spat　into　Cutty's　face。　　A　dozen　fists　were
raised；　but　Cutty　intervened。

〃No！　　Let　him　be。　　Just　take　him　away　and　lock　him　up。　　He's　a
rough　road　to　travel。　　And　hustle　a　comfortable　car　for　me　to　go
home　in。　　Not　a　word　to　the　newspapers。　　This　isn't　a　popular　raid。〃

As　soon　as　the　attic　was　cleared　Cutty　limped　over　to　Molly　Conover's
daughter。　　The　poor　innocent！　　The　way　she　was　holding　that　head　was
an　illumination。　　With　a　reassuring　smile　…　an　effort；　for　his　lips
were　puffed　and　burning　…　he　knelt　and　put　his　hand　on　Hawksley's　heart。

〃Done　in；　Kitty；　that's　all。〃

〃He　isn't　dead？〃

〃Lord；　no！　　He　had　nine　lives；　this　chap；　and　only　one　of　'em
missing　to　date。　　But　I　had　no　right　to　let　him　come。　　I　thought　he
was　fairly　fit；　but　he　wasn't。　　Saved　my　life；　though。　　Kitty；　your
Johnny　Two…Hawks　is　a　real　man；　how　real　I　did　not　know　until
to…night。　　He　has　earned　his　American　citizenship。　　Fights　like　he
fiddles　…　on　all　four　strings。　　All　our　troubles　are　at　an　end；　so
buck　up。〃

〃Alive？　　He　is　alive？〃

The　wild　joy　in　her　voice！　　〃Yes；　ma'am；　and　we　two　can　regularly
thank　him　for　being　alive　also。　　That　lunge　gave　me　my　chance。　　He's
only　stunned。　　Perhaps　he'll　need　a　nurse　again。　　Anyhow；　he'll　be
coming　round　in　a　minute　or　two。　　I'll　wager　the　first　thing　he
does　is　to　smile。　　I　should。〃

Suddenly　Kitty　grew　strangely　shy。　　She　became　conscious　of　her
anomalous　position。　　She　had　promised　to　marry　Cutty；　promised
herself　that　she　would　be　his　true　wife　…　and　here　she　was；　holding
another　man's　head　to　her　heart　as　if　it　were　the　most　precious
head　in　all　the　world。　　She　could　not　put　that　head　upon　the　floor
at　once；　that　would　be　a　confession　of　her　embarrassment；　and　yet
she　could　not　continue　to　hold　Hawksley　while　Cutty　eyed　her　with
semi…humorous　concern。　　Cutty　was　merciful；　however。　　〃Let　me　hold
him　while　you　make　a　pillow　out　of　your　coat。〃　　After　he　had　laid
Hawksley's　head　on　the　coat　he　said：　〃He'll　come　about　quicker　this
way。　　We've　had　some　excitement；　haven't　we？〃

〃I　don't　want　any　more；　Cutty；　never　any　more。　　I've　been　a　silly；
romantic　fool！〃

〃Not　silly；　only　glorious。〃

〃Your　poor　face！〃

〃Banged　up？　　Well；　honestly；　it　feels　as　it　looks；　Kitty；　this　chap
was　going　to　give　himself　up　in　exchange　for　you。　　Not　a　word　of
protest；　not　a　question。　　All　he　said　was：　'I　am　ready。'　　That's　why
I'm　always　going　to　be　on　his　side。〃

〃He　did　that　…　for　me？〃

〃For　you。　　Did　it　never　occur　to　you　that　you're　the　sort　folks
always　want　to　do　things　for　if　you'll　let　them？〃

〃God　bless　you；　Cutty！〃

〃He's　always　blessing　me；　Kitty。　　He　blessed　me　with　your　mother's
friendship；　now　yours。　　Kitty；　I'm　going　to　jilt　you。〃

〃Jilt　me？〃　…　her　heart　leaping。

〃Yes；　ma'am。　　We　can't　go　through　with　that　mummery。　　We　aren't
built　that　way。　　I'll　figure　it　out　in　some　other　fashion。　　But
marriage　is　a　sacred　contract；　and　this　farce　would　have　left　a
scar　on　your　honest　mind。　　You'd　have　to　tell　some　man。　　Your　kind
can't　go　through　life　without　being　loved。　　Would　he　understand？
I　wonder。　　He'll　be　human　or　you　wouldn't　fall　in　love　with　him；
and　always　he'll　be　pondering　and　bedevilling　himself　with　queer
ideas　…　because　he'll　be　human。　　Of　course　there's　a　loophole
…　you　can　sue　me　for　breach　of　promise。〃

〃Please；　Cutty；　don't　laugh！　　You're　one　of　those　men　they　call
Greathearts。　　And　now　I'm　going　to　tell　you　something。　　It　wasn't
going　to　be　a　farce。　　I　intended　to　become　your　true　wife；　Cutty；
make　you　as　happy　as　I　could。〃

Cutty　patted　her　hand　and　got　up。　　Lord；　how　bruised　and　sore　his
old　body　was！　。。。　His　true　wife！　　She　might　have　been　his　if　he　had
not　missed　that　train。　　But　for　this　hour；　hot　with　life；　she　might
never　have　d