children of the whirlwind-第16节

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One　may　break　the　speed　laws　in　New　York　if　one　has　the　speed；　and　if　one　has　the　ability　to　get　away　with　it。　This　car　had　both。　Never　before　had　Larry　driven　so　rapidly　within　New　York　City　limits；　he　knew　this；　that　any　trailing　taxicab　would　be　lost　behind。　At　Two…　Hundred…and…Forty…Fifth　Street　the　car　swung　into　Van　Cortland　Park；　and　switched　off　all　lights。　Two　minutes　later　they　halted　in　a　dark　stretch　of　one　of　the　by…roads　of　the　Park。

〃We'll　be　stopping　only　a　minute；　sir；　to　put　on　our　right　number　plates；〃　the　man　opened　the　door　to　explain。

Within　the　minute　they　were　away　again；　now　proceeding　more　leisurely；　in　the　easy　manner　of　a　private　car　going　about　its　private　business　though　the　interior　of　the　car　was　discreetly　dark　and　Larry　huddled　discreetly　into　a　corner。　Thus　they　drove　over　the　Grand　Boulevards　and　recrossed　the　Harlem　River　and　presently　drew　up　in　front　of　a　great　apartment　house　in　Park　Avenue。

The　man　opened　the　door。　〃Walk　right　in；　sir；　as　though　you　belong　here。　The　doorman　and　the　elevatorman　are　prepared。〃

They　might　be　prepared；　but　Larry　certainly　was　not；　and　he　shot　up　the　elevator　to　the　top　floor　with　mounting　bewilderment。　The　man　unlocked　the　door　of　an　apartment；　ushered　Larry　in；　took　his　wet　hat；　then　ushered　the　dazed　Larry　through　the　corner　of　a　dim…lit　drawing…　room　and　through　another　door。

〃You　are　to　wait　here；　sir；〃　said　the　man；　and　quietly　withdrew。

Larry　looked　about　him。　He　took　in　but　a　few　details；　but　he　knew　enough　about　the　better　fittings　of　life　to　realize　that　he　was　in　the　presence　of　both　money　and　the　best　of　taste。　He　noted　the　log　fire　in　the　broad　fireplace；　comfortable　chairs；　the　imported　rugs　on　the　gleaming　floor；　the　shelves　of　books　which　climbed　to　the　ceiling；　a　quaint　writing…desk　in　one　corner　which　seemed　to　belong　to　another　country　and　another　century；　but　which　was　perfectly　at　home　in　this　room。

On　the　desk　he　saw　standing　a　leather…framed　photograph　which　seemed　familiar。　He　crossed　and　picked　it　up。　Indeed　it　was　familiar！　It　was　a　photograph　of　Hunt：　of　Hunt；　not　in　the　shabby；　shapeless　garments　he　wore　down　at　the　Duchess's；　but　Hunt　accoutered　as　might　be　a　man　accustomed　to　such　a　room　as　thisthough　in　this　picture　there　was　the　same　strong　chin；　the　same　belligerent　good…natured　eyes。

Now　how　and　where　did　that　impecunious；　rough…neck　painter　fit　into

But　the　dazed　question　Larry　was　asking　was　interrupted　by　a　voice　from　the　doorthe　thick　voice　of　a　man：

〃Who　the　hell　'r'　you？〃

Larry　whirled　about。　In　the　doorway　stood　a　tall；　bellicose　young　gentleman　of　perhaps　twenty…four　or　five；　in　evening　dress；　flushed　of　face；　holding　unsteadily　to　the　door…jamb。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　said　Larry。

〃'N'　what　the　hell　you　doin'　here？〃　continued　the　belligerent　young　gentleman。

〃I'd　be　obliged　to　you　if　you　could　tell　me；〃　said　Larry。

〃Tryin'　to　stall；　'r'　you；〃　declared　the　young　gentleman　with　a　scowling　profundity。　〃No　go。　Got　to　come　out　your　corner　'n'　fight。　'N'　I'm　goin'　lick　you。〃

The　young　man　crossed　unsteadily　to　Larry　and　took　a　fighting　pose。

〃Put　'em　up！〃　he　ordered。

This　was　certainly　a　night　of　strange　adventure；　thought　Larry。　His　wild　escapehis　coming　to　this　unknown　placeand　now　this　befuddled　young　fellow　intent　upon　battle　with　him。

〃Let's　fight　to…morrow；〃　Larry　suggested　soothingly。

〃Put　'em　up！〃　ordered　the　other。　〃If　you　don't　know　what　you're　doin'　here；　I'll　show　you　what　you're　doin'　here！〃

But　he　was　not　to　show　Larry；　for　while　he　was　uttering　his　last　words；　trying　to　steady　himself　in　a　crouch　for　the　delivery　of　a　blow；　a　voice　sounded　sharply　from　the　doorwaya　woman's　voice：

〃Dick！〃

The　young　man　slowly　turned。　But　Larry　had　seen　her　first。　He　had　no　chance　to　take　her　in；　that　first　moment；　beyond　noting　that　she　was　slender　and　young　and　exquisitely　gowned；　for　she　swept　straight　across　to　them。

〃Dick；　you're　drunk　again！〃　she　exclaimed。

〃Wrong；　sis；〃　he　corrected　in　an　injured　tone。　〃It's　same　drunk。〃

〃Dick；　you　go　to　bed！〃

〃Now；　sis〃

〃You　go　to　bed！〃

The　young　man　wavered　before　her　commanding　gaze。　〃Jus's　you　say　jus's　you　say；〃　he　mumbled；　and　went　unsteadily　toward　the　door。

The　young　woman　watched　him　out；　and　then　turned　her　troubled　face　back　to　Larry。　〃I'm　sorry　Dick　behaved　to　you　as　he　did。〃

And　then　before　Larry　could　make　answer；　her　clouded　look　was　gone。　〃So　you're　here　at　last；　Mr。　Brainard。〃　She　held　her　hand　out；　smiling　a　smile　that　by　some　magic　seemed　to　envelop　him　within　an　immediate　friendship。

〃I'm　Miss　Sherwood。〃　He　noted　that　the　slender；　tapering　hand　had　almost　a　man's　strength　of　grip。　〃You　needn't　tell　me　anything　about　yourself；〃　she　added；　〃for　I　already　know　a　lotall　I　need　to　know：　about　youand　about　Maggie　Carlisle。　You　see　an　hour　ago　a　messenger　brought　me　a　long　letter　he'd　written　about　you。〃　And　she　nodded　to　the　photograph　Larry　was　still　holding。

〃Youyou　know　him？〃　Larry　stammered。

She　answered　with　a　whimsical　smile：　〃Yes。　Isn't　he　a　grand；　foolish　old　dear？　He's　such　a　roistering；　bragging　personage　that　I've　named　him　Benvenuto　Cellinithough　he's　neither　liar　nor　thief。　He　must　have　told　you　what　I　called　him。〃

So　that　explained　this　password　of　〃Benvenuto　Cellini〃！　〃No；　he　didn't　explain　anything。　There　was　no　time。〃

〃I　don't　know　where　he　is；〃　she　continued；　〃please　don't　tell　me。　I　don't　want　to　know　until　he　wants　me　to　know。〃

Larry　had　been　making　a　swift　appraisal　of　her。　She　was　perhaps　thirty；　fair；　with　golden…brown　hair　held　in　place　by　a　large　comb　of　wrought　gold；　with　violet…blue　eyes；　wearing　a　low…cut　gown　of　violet　chiffon　velvet　and　dull　gold　shoes。　Larry's　instinct　told　him　that　here　was　a　patrician；　a　thoroughbred：　with　poise；　with　a　knowledge　of　the　world；　with　whimsical　humor；　with　a　kindly　understanding　of　people；　with　steel　in　her；　and　with　a　smiling　readiness　for　almost　any　situation。

〃I　think　no　one　will　find　youat　least　for　the　present；〃　her　pleasantly　modulated　voice　continued。　〃There　are　so　many　things　I　want　to　talk　over　with　you。　Perhaps　I　can　help　about　Maggie。　I　hope　you　don't　mind　my　talking　about　her。〃　Larry　could　not　imagine　any　one　taking　offense　at　anything　this　brilliant　apparition　might　possibly　say。　〃But　we'll　put　off　our　talk　until　to…morrow。　It's　late；　and　you're　wet　and　cold；　and　besides；　my　aunt　is　having　one　of　her　bad　spells　and　thinks　she　needs　me。　Judkins　will　see　to　you。　Good…night。〃

〃Good…night；〃　said　Larry。

She　moved　gracefully　outalmost　floated；　Larry　would　have　said。　The　next　moment　the　man　was　with　him　who　had　been　his　escort　here；　and　led　Larry　into　a　spacious　bedroom　with　bath　attached。　Ten　minutes　later　Judkins　made　his　exit；　carrying　Larry's　outer　clothes；　and　another　ten　minutes　later；　after　a　hot　bath；　and　garbed　in　silk　pajamas　which　Judkins　had　produced；　Larry　was　in　the　softest　and　freshest　bed　that　had　ever　held　him。

But　sleep　did　not　come　to　Larry　for　a　long　time。　He　lay　wondering　about　this　golden…haired；　poiseful　Miss　Sherwood。　She　was　undoubtedly　the　woman　in　the　back　of　Hunt's　life。　And　he　wondered　about　Huntwho　he　really　waswhat　had　really　driven　him　into　this　strange　exile。　And　he　wondered　about　Maggiewhat　she　might　be　doingwhat　from　this　strange　new　vantage…point　he　might　do　for　her　and　with　her。　And　he　wondered　how　his　own　complex　situation　was　going　to　work　itself　out。

And　still　wondering；　Larry　at　length　fell　asleep。




CHAPTER　XII


When　Larry　awoke　the　next　morning；　he　blinked　for　several　bewildered　moments　about　his　bedroom；　so　unlike　his　cell　at　Sing　Sing　and　so　unlike　Hunt's　helter…skelter　studio　down　at　the　Duchess's　which　he　had　shared；　before　he　realized　that　this　big；　airy　chamber　and　this　miracle　of　a　bed　on　which　he　lay　were　realities　and　not　a　mere　continuation　of　a　dream　of　fantastic　and　body…flattering　wealth。

Then　his　mind　turned　back　a　page　in　the　book　of　his　life　and　he　lay　considering　the　events　of　the　previous　evening：　the　scene　with　Barney　and　Old　Jimmie　and　Maggie；　their　all　denouncing　him　as　a　police　stool…　pigeon　and　a　squealer；　and　Maggie's　defiant　departure　to　begin　her　long…dreamed…of　career　as　a　leading…woman　and　perhaps　star　in　what　she　saw　as　great　and　thrilling　adventures；　his　own　enforced　and　frenzied　flight；　his　strange　method　of　reaching　this　splendid　apartment；　his　meeting　with　the　handsome；　drink…befuddled　young　man　in　evening　clothes；　his　meeting　with　the　exquisitely　gowned　patrician　Miss　Sherwood；　who　had　received　him　with　the　poise　and　frank　friendliness　of　a　democratic　queen；　and　had　immediately　ordered　him　off　to　bed。

Strange；　all　of　these　things！　But　they　were　all　realities。　And　in　this　new　set　of　circumstances　which　had　come　into　being　in　a　night；　what　was　he　to　do？

He　recalled　that　Miss　Sherwood　had　said　that　she　and　he　would　have　their　talk　that　morning。　He　pulled　his　watch　from　under　his　pillow。　It　was　past　nine　o'clock。　He　looked　about　him　for　clothes；　but　saw　only　a　bathrobe。　Then　he　remembered　Judkins　carrying　off　his　rain…soaked　garments；　with　〃Ring　for　me　when　you　wake　up；　sir。〃

Larry　found　an　electric　bell　button　dangling　over　the　top　of　his　bed　by　a　silken　cord。　He　pushed　the　button　and　waited。　With