children of the whirlwind-第13节

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go　to　hell！〃




CHAPTER　X


For　several　days　nothing　seemed　to　be　happening；　though　Larry　had　a　sense　that　unknown　forces　were　gathering　on　distant　isothermal　lines　and　bad　weather　was　bearing　down　upon　him。　During　these　days；　trying　to　ignore　that　formless　trouble；　he　gave　himself　with　a　most　rigid　determination　to　his　new　routinethe　routine　which　he　counted　on　to　help　him　into　the　way　of　great　things。

Every　day　he　saw　Maggie；　sometimes　he　was　in　her　company　for　an　hour　or　more。　He　had　the　natural　hunger　of　a　young　man　to　talk　to　a　young　woman；　and；　moreover；　it　is　a　severe　strain　for　a　man　to　be　living　under　the　same　roof　with　the　girl　he　loves　and　not　to　be　on　terms　of　friendship　with　her。　But　Maggie　maintained　her　aloofness。　She　spoke　only　when　she　was　pressed　into　it；　and　her　speech　was　usually　no　more　than　a　〃yes〃　or　a　〃no；〃　or　a　flashing　phrase　of　disdain。

At　times　Larry　had　the　feeling　that；　for　all　her　repression；　Maggie　would　have　been　glad　to　be　more　free　with　him。　And　he　knew　enough　of　human　nature　not　to　be　too　disheartened　by　her　attitude。　Had　he　been　a　nonentity　to　her；　she　would　have　ignored　him。　Her　very　insults　were　proof　that　he　was　a　positive　personality　with　real　significance　in　her　life。　And　so　he　counseled　himself　to　have　patience　and　await　a　thawing　or　an　awaking。　Besides；　he　kept　repeating　to　himself；　there　would　be　small　chance　of　effecting　a　conversion　in　this　militant　young　orthodoxist　of　cynicism　until　he　had　proved　the　soundness　of　contrary　views　by　his　own　established　success。

And　thus　the　days　drifted　by。　But　on　the　fifth　day　after　his　interview　with　Barlow　things　began　to　happen。　First　of　all；　he　noticed　in　a　morning　paper　that　Red　Hannigan　and　Jack　Rosenfeldt；　members　of　his　old　outfit　and　suggested　by　Old　Jimmie　as　participants　in　his　proposed　new　enterprise；　had　just　been　arrested　by　Gavegan　and　Casey　on　the　charge　of　alleged　connection　with　the　sale　of　fraudulent　mining　stock。

Second；　on　his　return　at　the　end　of　the　afternoon；　he　saw　standing　before　the　house　a　taxicab　with　a　trunk　beside　the　chauffeur。　In　the　musty　museum　of　a　room　behind　the　pawnshop　he　found　Hunt　and　the　Duchess　and　Old　Jimmie　and　Barney；　and　also　Maggie；　coming　down　the　stairway；　hat　and　coat　on　and　carrying　a　suitcase。　A　sharp　pain　throbbed　through　him　as　he　recognized　the　significance　of　Maggie's　hat　and　coat　and　baggage。

〃Maggieyou're　going　away？〃　he　exclaimed。

〃Yes。〃

She　had　paused　at　the　foot　of　the　stairway；　and　at　sight　of　him　had　gone　a　little　pale　and　wide…eyed。　But　in　an　instant　she　had　recovered　her　accustomed　flair；　there　came　a　proud　lift　to　her　head；　a　flash　of　scorn　into　her　dark　eyes。

〃At　last　I'm　leaving　this　street　for　good；〃　she　said。　〃I　told　you　that　some　day　I　was　going　out　into　the　world　and　do　big　things。　The　time's　comeI'm　graduatedI'm　going　to　begin　real　work。　And　I'm　going　to　succeedyou　see！〃

〃Maggie！〃　he　breathed。　Then　impulsively　he　started　toward　her　authoritatively。　〃Maggie；　I'm　not　going　to　let　you　do　anything　of　the　sort！〃

But　swiftly　Barney　had　stepped　in　between　them；　Old　Jimmie　just　behind　him。

〃Keep　out　of　this！〃　Barney　snapped　at　Larry；　a　reddish　blaze　in　his　eyes。　〃Maggie's　going　away　and　you　can't　stop　her。　D'you　think　her　father　is　going　to　let　her　stay　down　here　any　longer；　where　you　can　spout　your　preaching　at　her！and　you　all　the　time　a　stool　and　a　squealer！〃

〃What's　that？〃　cried　Larry。

〃I　called　you　a　stool！〃　repeated　the　malignantly　exultant　Barney；　alert　for　any　move　on　the　part　of　the　suddenly　tensed　Larry。　〃And　you　are　a　stool！　Didn't　I　see　you　myself　go　into　Headquarters　with　Casey　and　Gavegan　where　you　sold　yourself　to　Chief　Barlow！〃

〃Why；　you　damned〃

Even　before　he　spoke　Larry　launched　a　furious　swing　straight　from　the　hip　at　Barney's　twisted　face。　But　Barney　had　been　expecting　exactly　that；　and　was　even　the　quicker。　He　caught　Larry's　wrist　before　it　was　fairly　started；　and　thrust　a　dull…hued　automatic　into　Larry's　stomach。

〃Behave；　damn　you；〃　gritted　Barney；　〃or　I'll　blow　your　damned　guts　out！　Nogo　ahead　and　try　to　hit　me。　I'd　like　nothing　better　than　to　kill　you；　you　rat；　and　have　a　good　plea　of　self…defense！〃

Larry　let　his　hands　unclench　and　fall　to　his　sides。　〃You've　got　the　drop　on　me；　Barneybut　you're　a　liar。〃

〃You　bet　I　got　the　drop　on　you！　And　not　only　with　my　gun。　I've　got　it　on　you　about　being　a　stool。　Everybody　knows　you　are　a　stool。　And　what's　more；　they　know　you　are　a　squealer！〃

〃A　squealer！〃　Larry　stiffened　again。

〃A　stool　and　a　squealer！〃　Barney　fairly　hurled　at　Larry　these　two　most　despised　epithets　of　his　world。　〃You've　done　your　job　swell　as　a　stool；　and　squealed　on　Red　Hannigan　and　Jack　Rosenfeldt　and　turned　them　up　for　the　police！〃

〃You　believe　I　had　anything　to　do　with　their　arrest？〃　exclaimed　Larry。

Barney　laughed　in　his　derision。

〃Of　course　we　believe　it；〃　put　in　Old　Jimmie；　his　seamed；　cunning　face　now　ruthlessly　hard。　〃And　what's　more；　we　know　it！〃

〃And　what's　still　more；〃　Barney　taunted；　〃Maggie　believes　it；　too！〃

Larry　turned　to　Maggie。　Her　face　was　now　drawn；　with　staring　eyes。

〃Maggiedo　you　believe　it？〃　he　demanded。

For　a　moment　she　neither　spoke　nor　moved。　Then　slowly　she　nodded。

〃But；　Maggie；〃　he　protested；　〃I　didn't　do　it！　Barlow　did　ask　me　to　be　a　stool；　but　I　turned　him　down！　Aside　from　that；　I　know　no　more　of　this　than　you　do！〃

〃Of　course　you'd　deny　itwe　were　waiting　for　that；〃　sneered　Barney。　〃Jimmie；　we've　wasted　enough　time　here。　Take　Maggie's　bag　and　let's　be　moving　on。〃

Old　Jimmie　picked　up　Maggie's　suitcase；　and　slipping　a　hand　through　her　arm　led　her　across　the　room。　She　did　not　even　say　good…bye　to　Hunt　or　the　Duchess；　or　even　glance　at　them；　but　went　out　silently；　her　drawn；　staring　look　on　Larry　alone。

Barney　backed　after　them；　his　automatic　still　held　in　readiness。　〃I'm　letting　you　down　damned　easy；　Brainard；〃　he　said；　hate　glittering　in　his　eyes。　〃But　there's　some　who　won't　be　so　nice！〃

With　that　he　closed　the　door。　Until　that　moment　both　Hunt　and　the　Duchess　had　said　nothing。　Now　the　Duchess　spoke　up：

〃I'm　glad　they've　taken　Maggie　away；　Larry。　I've　seen　the　way　you've　come　to　feel　about　her；　and　she's　not　the　right　sort　for　you。〃

But　Larry　was　still　too　dazed　by　the　way　in　which　Maggie　had　walked　out　of　his　life　to　make　any　response。

〃But　there's　a　lot　in　what　Barney　said　about　there　being　some　who　wouldn't　be　easy　on　you；〃　continued　the　Duchess。　〃That　word　had　been　brought　me　before　Barney　showed　up。　So　I　had　this　ready　for　you。〃

From　a　slit　pocket　in　her　baggy　skirt　the　Duchess　drew　out　a　pistol　and　handed　it　to　Larry。

〃What's　this　for？〃　Larry　asked。

〃I　was　told　that　word　had　gone　out　to　the　Ginger　Buck　Gang　to　get　you；〃　answered　the　Duchess。　〃Barney　has　some　secret　connection　with　the　Ginger　Bucks。　His　saying　that　you　were　a　stool　and　a　squealer　is　not　the　only　thing　he's　got　against　you；　he's　jealous　of　you　on　account　of　everythingespecially　Maggie。　So　you'll　need　that　gun。〃

〃What's　this　I've　fallen　into　the　middle　of？〃　exclaimed　Hunt。　〃A　Kentucky　feud？〃

〃It's　very　easy　to　understand　when　you　know　the　code；〃　Larry　explained　grimly。　〃Down　here　when　an　outfit　thinks　one　of　its　members　has　squealed　on　them；　it's　their　duty　to　be　always　on　the　watch　for　their　chance　to　finish　him　off。　I'm　to　be　finished　offthat's　all。〃

〃Say；　young　fellow；　the　life　of　a　straight　crook　doesn't　seem　to　be　getting　much　simpler！　Why；　man；　you　hardly　dare　to　stir　from　the　house！　What　are　you　going　to　do？〃

〃Going　to　go　around　my　business；　always　with　the　pleasant　anticipation　of　a　bullet　in　my　back　when　some　fellow　thinks　it　safe　for　him　to　shoot。〃

The　three　of　them　discussed　this　latest　development　over　their　dinner；　which　they　had　together　up　in　Hunt's　studio。　But　despite　all　their　talk　of　his　danger；　a　very　real　and　near　danger；　Larry's　mind　was　more　upon　Maggie　who　had　thus　suddenly　been　wrenched　out　of　his　life。　He　remembered　her　excited；　boastful　talk　of　their　first　evening。　Her　period　of　schooling　was　indeed　now　over；　she　was　now　committed　to　her　rosily　imagined　adventure；　in　which　she　saw　herself　as　a　splendid　lady。　And　with　Barney　Palmer　as　her　guiding　influence！　。　。　。

Dinner　had　been　finished　and　Hunt　was　trying　to　give　Larry　such　cheer　as　〃Buck　up；　young　fellowyou　know　the　worstthere's　nothing　else　that　can　happen；〃　when　the　lie　direct　was　given　to　his　phrases　by　heavy　steps　running　up　the　stairway　and　the　opening　and　closing　of　the　door。　There　stood　Officer　Casey；　heaving　for　breath。

Instinctively　Larry　drew　his　pistol。　〃Casey！　What're　you　here　for？〃

〃Get　rid　of　that　gatdon't　be　found　with　a　gun　on；〃　ordered　Casey。　〃And　beat　it。　You've　got　less　than　five　minutes　to　make　your　get…　away。〃

〃My　get…away！　What's　up？〃

〃You　haven't　come　across　as　the　Chief　ordered　you　to；　and　he's　out　to　give　you　just　what　he　said　he　would；〃　Casey　said　rapidly；　his　speech　broken　by　panting。　〃There's　been　a　stick…up；　with　assault　that　may　be　changed　to　attempted　manslaughter；　and　the　Chief　has　three　men　who　swear　you're　the　guilty　party。　It's　a　sure…fire　case　against　you；　Larryand　it'll　mean　five　to　ten　years　if　you're　caught。　Gavegan　and　I　got　the　order　to　arrest　you。　I've　beat　Gavegan　to　it　so's　to　tip　you　off；　but　he'