children of the whirlwind-第12节

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〃You'll　soon　be　cuttin'　out　your　line　of　comedy。〃　Gavegan　slipped　his　left　arm　through　Larry's　right。　〃You're　comin'　along　with　me；　and　you'd　better　come　quiet。〃

Larry　stiffened。　〃Come　where？〃

〃Headquarters。〃

〃I　haven't　done　a　thing；　Gavegan；　and　you　know　it！　What　do　you　want　me　for？〃

〃Me　and　the　Chief　had　a　little　talk　about　you；〃　leered　Gavegan。　〃And　now　the　Chief　wants　to　have　a　little　personal　talk　with　you。　He　asked　me　to　round　you　up　and　bring　you　in。〃

〃I've　done　nothing；　and　I'll　not　go！〃　Larry　cried　hotly。

〃Oh；　yes；　you　will！〃　Gavegan　withdrew　his　right　hand　from　his　coat　pocket　where　it　had　been　resting　in　readiness。　In　the　hand；　its　thong　about　his　wrist；　was　a　short　leather…covered　object　filled　with　lead。　〃I've　got　my　orders；　and　you'll　come　peaceably；　orBut　I'd　just　as　soon　you'd　resist；　for　I　owe　you　something　for　the　punch　you　slipped　over　on　me　the　other　night。〃

Larry；　taut　with　the　desire　to　strike；　gazed　for　a　moment　into　the　glowering　face　of　the　detective。　Gavegan；　gripping　his　right　arm；　with　that　bone…crushing　slug…shot　itching　for　instant　use；　was　apparently　master　in　the　present　circumstances。　But　before　Larry's　quick　mind　had　decided　upon　a　course；　the　door　of　the　pawnshop　opened　and　closed；　and　a　voice　said　sharply：

〃Nothing　doing　on　that　rough　stuff；　Gavegan！〃　The　speaker　was　now　on　Larry's　left　side；　a　heavy…faced　man　in　a　black　derby。　〃Larry；　better　be　a　nice　boy　and　come　with　us。〃

〃Oh；　it's　you；　Casey！〃　said　Larry。　〃If　you　say　I've　got　to　go；　I'll　gofor　you're　one　white　copper；　even　if　you　do　have　Gavegan　for　a　partner。　Come　on。　What're　we　standing　here　for？〃

The　trio　made　their　way　out　of　the　narrow　street；　and　after　some　fifteen　minutes　of　walking　through　the　twisting　byways　of　that　part　of　the　city；　they　passed　through　the　granite　doorway　at　Headquarters　and　entered　the　office　of　Deputy　Commissioner　Barlow；　Chief　of　the　Detective　Bureau。　Barlow　was　talking　over　the　telephone　in　a　growling　staccato；　and　the　three　men　sat　down。　After　a　moment　Barlow　banged　the　receiver　upon　its　hook；　and　turned　upon　them。　He　had　a　clenched；　driving　face；　with　small；　commanding　eyes。　It　was　his　boast　that　he　got　results；　that　it　was　his　policy　to　make　people　do　what　you　told　'em。　He　had　no　other　code。

〃Well；　Brainard；〃　he　snapped；　〃here　you　are　again。　What　you　up　to　now？〃

〃Going　to　try　the　straight　game；　Chief；〃　returned　Larry。

〃Don't　try　to　put　that　old　bunk　over　on　me！〃

〃It's　not　bunk；　Chief。　It's　the　real　stuff。〃

〃Cut　it　out；　I　say！　Don't　you　suppose　I　had　a　clever　bird　like　you　picked　up　the　minute　you　landed　in　the　city；　and　have　had　you　covered　ever　since？　And　if　you　are　going　straight；　what　about　the　session　you　had　with　Barney　Palmer　and　Old　Jimmie　Carlisle　the　very　night　you　blew　in？　And　I'm　on　to　this　bluff　of　your　going　to　that　business　institute。　So　come　across；　Brainard！　I've　got　your　every　move　covered！〃

〃I've　already　come　across；　Chief；〃　replied　Larry；　trying　to　keep　his　temper　in　the　face　of　the　other's　bullying　manner。　〃I　told　Barney　and　Old　Jimmie　that　I　was　through　with　the　old　game；　and　through　with　them　as　pals　at　the　old　gamethat's　all　there　was　to　that　meeting。　I'm　going　to　that　business　institute　for　the　same　reason　that　every　other　person　goes　thereto　learn。　That's　all　there　is　to　the　whole　business；　Chief：　I'm　going　to　go　straight。〃

Chief　Barlow；　hunched　forward；　his　undershot　jaw　clenched　on　a　cigar　stub；　regarded　Larry　steadily　with　his　beady；　autocratic　eyes。　Barlow　was　trained　to　penetrate　to　the　inside　of　men's　minds；　and　he　recognized　that　Larry　was　in　earnest。

〃You　mean　you　think　you　are　going　to　go　straight；〃　Barlow　remarked　slowly　and　meaningly。

〃I　know　I　am　going　to　go　straight；〃　Larry　returned　evenly；　meeting　squarely　the　gaze　of　the　Chief　of　Detectives。

〃Do　you　realize；　young　man；〃　Barlow　continued　in　the　same　measured；　significant　tone；　〃that　whether　you　go　straight；　and　how　you　go　straight；　depends　pretty　much　on　me？〃

〃Mind　making　that　a　little　clearer；　Chief？〃

〃I'll　show　you　part　of　my　handjust　remember　that　I'm　holding　back　my　high　cards。　I　don't　believe　you're　going　to　go　straight；　so　we'll　start　with　the　proposition　that　you're　not　going　to　run　straight　and　work　on　from　there。　You're　clever；　BrainardI　hand　you　that；　and　all　the　classy　crooks　trust　you。　That's　why　I　had　picked　you　out　for　what　I　wanted　long　before　you　left　stir。　Brainard；　you're　wise　enough　to　know　that　some　of　our　best　pinches　come　from　tips　handed　us　from　the　inside。　Brainard〃the　slow　voice　had　now　become　incisive；　mandatory　〃you're　not　going　to　go　straight。　You're　going　to　string　along　with　Barney　and　Old　Jimmie　and　the　rest　of　the　bunchwe'll　protect　you　and　you're　going　to　slip　us　tips　when　something　big　is　about　to　be　pulled　off。〃

Larry；　experienced　with　police　methods　though　he　was；　could　hardly　believe　this　thing　which　was　being　proposed　to　him；　Larry　Brainard。　But　he　controlled　himself。

〃If　I　get　you；　Chief；　you　are　suggesting　that　I　become　a　police　stool？〃

〃Exactly。　We'll　never　tip　your　hand。　And　any　little　thing　you　pull　off　on　your　own　we'll　not　bother　you　about。　And；　besides；　we'll　slip　you　a　little　dough　regular　on　the　quiet。〃

〃And　all　you　want　me　to　do　in　exchange；〃　Larry　asked　quietly；　〃is　to　hand　up　my　pals？〃

〃That's　all。〃

Larry　found　it　required　his　all　of　strength　to　control　himself；　but　he　did。

〃There　are　only　three　small　objections　to　your　proposition；　Chief。〃

〃Yes？〃

〃The　first　is；　I　shall　not　be　a　stool。〃

〃What's　that？〃

〃And　the　second　is；　I　wouldn't　squeal　on　a　pal　to　you　even　if　I　were　a　crook。　And　the　third　is　what　I　said　in　the　beginning：　I'm　not　going　to　be　a　crook。〃

Barlow's　squat；　powerful　figure　arose　menacingly。　Casey　also　stood　up。

〃I　tell　you　you　ARE　going　to　be　a　crook！〃　Barlow's　big　fist　crashed　down　on　his　desk　in　a　tremendous　exclamation　point。　〃And　you're　going　to　work　for　me　exactly　as　I　tell　you！〃

〃I　have　already　given　you　my　final　word；〃　said　Larry。

〃Youyou〃　Barlow　almost　choked　at　this　quiet　defiance。　His　face　turned　red；　his　breath　came　in　a　fluttering　snarl；　his　powerful　shoulders　hunched　up　as　if　he　were　about　to　strike。　But　he　held　back　his　physical　blows。

〃That's　your　ultimatum？〃

〃If　you　care　to　call　it　soyes。〃

〃Then　here's　mine！　I　told　you　I　was　holding　back　my　high　cards。　Either　you　do　as　I　say；　and　work　with　Gavegan　and　Casey；　or　you'll　not　be　able　to　hold　a　job　in　New　York！　My　men　will　see　to　that。　And　here's　another　high　card。　You　do　as　I've　said；　or　I'll　hang　some　charge　on　you；　one　that'll　stick；　and　back　up　the　river　you'll　go　for　another　stretch！　There's　an　ultimatum　for　you　to　think　about！〃

It　certainly　was。　Larry　gazed　into　the　harsh；　glaring　face；　set　in　fierce　determination。　He　knew　that　Barlow；　as　part　of　his　policy；　loved　to　break　down　the　spirit　of　criminals；　and　he　knew　that　nothing　so　roused　Barlow　as　opposition　from　a　man　he　considered　in　his　power。　Close　beside　the　Chief　he　saw　the　gloating；　malignant　face　of　Gavegan；　Casey；　who　had　been　restless　since　the　beginning　of　the　scene；　had　moved　to　the　window　and　was　gazing　down　into　Center　Street。

For　a　moment　Larry　did　not　reply。　Barlow　mistook　Larry's　silence　for　wavering；　or　the　beginning　of　an　inclination　to　yield。

〃You　turn　that　over　in　your　noodle；〃　Barlow　drove　on。　〃You're　going　to　go　crooked；　anyhow；　so　you　might　as　well　go　crooked　in　the　only　way　that's　safe　for　you。　I'm　going　to　have　Gavegan　and　Casey　watch　you；　and　if　in　the　next　few　days　you　don't　begin　to　string　along　with　Barney　and　Old　Jimmie　and　that　bunch；　and　if　you　don't　get　me　word　that　your　answer　to　my　proposition　is　'yes；'　hell's　going　to　fall　on　you！　Now　get　out　of　here！〃

Larry　got　out。　He　was　liquid　lava　of　rage　inside；　but　he　had　had　enough　to　do　with　police　power　to　know　that　it　would　help　him　not　at　all　to　permit　an　eruption　against　a　police　official　while　he　was　in　the　very　heart　of　the　police　stronghold。

He　walked　back　toward　his　own　street　in　a　fury；　beneath　which　was　subconsciously　an　element　of　uneasiness：　an　uneasiness　which　would　have　been　instantly　roused　to　caution　had　he　known　that　Barney　Palmer　had　this　hour　and　more　been　following　him　in　a　taxicab；　and　that　across　the　street　from　the　car's　window　Barney's　sharp　face　had　watched　him　enter　Police　Headquarters　and　had　watched　him　emerge。

Home　reached；　Larry　briefly　recounted　his　experience　at　Headquarters　to　Hunt　and　the　Duchess。　The　painter　whistled；　the　Duchess　blinked　and　said　nothing　at　all。

〃Maggie　was　more　right　than　she　knew　when　she　first　said　you　were　facing　a　tough　proposition！〃　exclaimed　Hunt。　〃Believe　me；　young　fellow；　you're　certainly　up　against　it！〃

〃Can　you　beat　it　for　irony！〃　said　Larry；　pacing　the　floor。　〃A　man　wants　to　go　straight。　His　pals　ask　him　to　be　a　crook；　and　are　sore　because　he　won't　be　a　crook。　The　police　ask　him　to　be　a　crook；　and　threaten　him　because　he　doesn't　want　to　be　a　crook。　Some　situation！〃

〃Some　situation！〃　repeated　Hunt。　〃What're　you　going　to　do？〃

〃Do？〃　Larry　halted；　his　face　set　with　defiant　determination。　〃I'm　going　to　keep　on　doing　exactly　what　I've　been　doing！　And　they　can　all　go　to　hell！〃




CHAPTER　X


For　several　days　nothing　seemed　to　be　happening；　though　Larry　h