children of the whirlwind-第22节

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Larry　dropped　the　subject。　In　his　old　unprincipled；　days　his　practice　had　been　much　what　he　had　suggested　to　Dick；　as　little　drink　as　possible；　and　as　few　late　nights　as　possible。　He　had　needed　all　his　wits　all　the　time。　In　this　matter　of　hilarious　late　hours；　as　in　the　matter　of　speculation；　Larry　recognized　words　alone；　however　good；　would　have　little　effect　upon　the　pleasure…loving；　friendly；　likable　Dick。　An　event；　some　big　experience；　would　be　required　to　check　him　short　and　bring　him　to　his　senses。

While　Larry　was　keeping　at　this　grind　something　was　happening　to　Larry　of　which　he　was　not　then　conscious：　something　which　was　part　of　the　big　development　in　him　that　was　in　time　to　lead　him　far。　A　confidence　man　is　essentially　a　〃sure…thing〃　gambler。　It　had　been　Larry's　practice；　before　the　law　had　tripped　him　up；　to　study　every　detail　of　an　enterprise　he　was　planning　to　undertake；　to　know　the　psychology　of　the　individuals　with　whom　he　was　dealing；　to　eliminate　every　perceivable　uncertainty：　that　was　what　had　made　almost　all　of　his　deals　〃sure　things。〃　Strip　a　clever　knave　of　all　intent　or　inclination　for　knavery；　and　leave　all　his　other　qualities　and　practices　intact　and　eager；　and　you　have　the　makings　of　a　〃sure…thing〃　business　man：a　man　who　does　not　cheat　others；　and　who　takes　precious　care　that　his　every　move　is　sound　and　forward…looking。　Aside　from　the　moral　element　involved；　the　difference　between　the　two　is　largely　a　difference　in　percentage：　say　the　difference　between　a　thousand　per　cent　profit　and　six　per　cent　profit。　The　element　of　trying　to　play　a　〃safe　thing〃　still　remains。

This　transformation　of　character；　under　the　stimulus　of　hard；　steady　work　upon　a　tangled　thing　which　contained　the　germ　of　great　constructive　possibilities　for　some　one；　was　what　was　happening　unconsciously　to　Larry。




CHAPTER　XVI


All　this　while　Maggie；　and　what　he　was　to　do　about　her；　and　how　do　it；　was　in　Larry's　mind。　Even　this　work　he　was　doing　for　Miss　Sherwood；　he　was　doing　also　for　Maggie　in　the　hope　that　in　some　unseen　way　it　might　lead　him　to　her　and　help　lead　her　to　herself。　There　were　difficulties　enough　between　them；　God　knew；　but　of　them　all　two　were　forever　presenting　themselves　as　foremost：　first；　he　did　not　dare　go　openly　to　see　her；　and；　second；　even　if　he　so　dared　he　did　not　know　where　she　was。

When　he　had　been　with　the　Sherwoods　some　three　weeks　Larry　determined　upon　a　preliminary　measure。　By　this　time　he　knew　that　the　letters　mailed　from　Chicago；　according　to　the　plan　he　had　arranged　with　Miss　Sherwood；　had　had　their　contemplated　effect。　He　knew　that　he　was　supposed　by　his　enemies　to　be　in　Chicago　or　some　other　Western　point；　and　that　New　York　was　off　its　guard　as　far　as　he　was　concerned。

His　preliminary　measure　was　to　discover；　if　possible；　Maggie's　whereabouts。　The　Duchess　seemed　to　him　the　most　likely　source　of　information。　He　dared　not　write　asking　her　for　this；　for　he　was　certain　her　mail　was　still　being　scrutinized。　The　safest　method　would　be　to　call　at　the　pawnshop　in　person；　the　police；　and　his　old　friends；　and　the　Ginger　Bucks　would　expect　anything　else　before　they　would　expect　him　to　return　to　his　grandmother's。　Of　course　he　must　use　all　precautions。

Incidentally　he　was　prompted　to　this　method　by　his　desire　to　see　his　grandmother　and　Hunt。　He　had　an　idea　or　two　which　he　had　been　mulling　over　that　concerned　the　artist。

He　chose　a　night　when　a　steady；　blowing　rain　had　driven　all　but　limousined　and　most　necessitous　traffic　from　the　streets。　The　rain　was　excuse　for　a　long　raincoat　with　high　collar　which　buttoned　under　his　nose；　and　a　cap　which　pulled　down　to　his　eyes；　and　an　umbrella　which　masked　him　from　every　direct　glance。　Thus　abetted　and　equipped　he　came；　after　a　taxi　ride　and　a　walk；　into　his　grandmother's　street。　It　was　as　seemingly　deserted　as　on　that　tumultuous　night　when　he　had　left　it；　and　on　this　occasion　no　figures　sprang　out　of　the　cover　of　shadows；　shooting　and　cursing。　He　had　calculated　correctly　and　unmolested　he　gained　the　pawnshop　door；　passed　the　solemn…eyed；　incurious　Isaac；　and　entered　the　room　behind。

His　grandmother　sat　over　her　accounts　at　her　desk　in　a　corner　among　her　curios。　Hunt；　smoking　a　black　pipe；　was　using　his　tireless　right　hand　in　a　rapid　sketch　of　her：　another　of　those　swift；　few…stroked；　vivid　character　notes　which　were　about　his　studio　by　the　hundreds。　The　Duchess　saw　Larry　first；　and　she　greeted　him　in　the　same　unsurprised；　emotionless　manner　as　on　the　night　he　had　come　back　from　Sing　Sing。

〃Good…evening；　Larry；〃　said　she。

〃Good…evening；　grandmother；〃　he　returned。

Hunt　came　to　his　feet；　knocking　over　a　chair　in　so　doing；　and　gripped　Larry's　hand。　〃Hellohere's　our　wandering　boy　to…night！　How　are　you；　son？〃

〃First…rate；　you　old　paint…slinger。　And　you？〃

〃Hitting　all　twelve　cylinders　and　taking　everything　on　high！　But　say；　listen；　youngster：　how　about　your　copper　friends　and　those　gun…toting　schoolmates　of　yours？〃

〃Missed　them　so　far。〃

〃Better　keep　on　missing　'em。〃　Hunt　regarded　him　intently　for　a　moment；　then　asked　abruptly：　〃Never　heard　one　way　or　anotherbut　did　you　use　that　telephone　number　I　gave　you？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Miss　Sherwood　take　care　of　you？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Still　there？〃

〃Yes。〃

Again　Hunt　was　silent　for　a　moment。　Larry　expected　questions　about　Miss　Sherwood；　for　he　knew　the　quality　of　the　painter's　interest。　But　Hunt　seemed　quite　as　determined　to　avoid　any　personal　question　relating　to　Miss　Sherwood　as　she　had　been　about　personal　questions　relating　to　him；　for　his　next　remark　was：

〃Young　fellow；　still　keeping　all　those　commandments　you　wrote　for　yourself？〃

〃So　far；　my　bucko。〃

〃Keep　on　keeping　'em；　and　write　yourself　a　few　more；　and　you'll　have　a　brand…new　decalogue。　And　we'll　have　a　little　Moses　of　our　own。　But　in　the　meantime；　son；　what's　the　great　idea　of　coming　down　here？〃

〃For　one　thing；　I　came　to　ask　for　a　couple　of　your　paintings。〃

〃My　paintings！〃　Hunt　regarded　the　other　suspiciously。　〃What　the　hell　you　want　my　paintings　for？〃

〃They　might　make　good　towels　if　I　can　scrape　the　paint　off。〃

〃Aw；　cut　out　the　vaudeville　stuff！　I　asked　you　what　you　wanted　my　paintings　for？　Give　me　a　straight　answer！〃

〃All　righthere's　your　straight　answer：　I　want　your　paintings　to　sell　them。〃

〃Sell　my　paintings！　Say；　are　you　trying　to　say　something　still　funnier？〃

〃I　want　them　to　sell　them。　Remember　I　once　told　you　that　I　could　sell　themthat　I　could　sell　anything。　Let　me　have　them；　and　then　just　see。〃

〃You'd　sure　have　to　be　able　to　sell　anything　to　sell　them！〃　A　challenging　glint　had　come　into　Hunt's　eyes。　〃Young　fellow；　you're　so　damned　fresh　that　if　you　had　any　dough　I'd　bet　you　five　thousand；　any　odds　you　like；　that　you　couldn't　even　GIVE　one　of　the　things　away！〃

〃Loan　me　five　thousand；〃　Larry　returned　evenly；　〃and　I'll　cover　the　bet　with　even　moneyit　being　understood　that　I'm　to　sell　the　picture　at　a　price　not　less　than　the　highest　price　you　ever　received　for　one　of　your　'pretty　pictures'　which　you　delight　to　curse　and　which　made　your　fortune。　Now　bring　down　your　picturesor　shut　up！〃

Hunt's　jaw　set。　〃Young　fellow；　I　take　that　bet！　And　I'll　not　let　you　off；　eitheryou'll　have　to　pay　it！　Which　pictures　do　you　want？〃

〃That　young　Italian　woman　sitting　on　the　curb　nursing　her　babyand　any　other　picture　you　want　to　put　with　it。〃

Hunt　went　clumping　up　the　stairway。　When　he　was　out　of　earshot；　the　Duchess　remarked　quietly：

〃What　did　you　really　come　for；　Larry？〃

Larry　was　somewhat　taken　aback　by　his　grandmother's　penetration；　but　he　did　not　try　to　evade　the　question　nor　the　steady　gaze　of　the　old　eyes。

〃I　thought　you　might　know　where　Maggie　is；　and　I　came　to　ask。〃

〃That's　what　I　thought。〃

〃Do　you　know　where　she　is？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Where　is　she？〃

The　old　eyes　were　still　steady　upon　him。　〃I　don't　know　that　I　should　tell　you。　I　want　you　to　get　onand　the　less　you　have　to　do　with　Maggie；　the　better　for　you。〃

〃I'd　like　to　know；　grandmother。〃

The　Duchess　considered　for　a　long　space。　〃After　all；　you're　of　age　and　you've　got　to　decide　what's　best　for　yourself。　I'll　tell　you。　Maggie　was　here　the　other　daydressed　simpleto　get　some　letters　she'd　forgotten　to　take　and　which　I　couldn't　find。　We　had　a　talk。　Maggie　is　living　at　the　Grantham　under　the　name　of　Margaret　Cameron。　She　has　a　suite　there。〃

〃A　suite　at　the　Grantham！〃　exclaimed　Larry；　astounded。　〃Why；　the　Grantham　is　in　the　same　class　with　the　Ritzmore；　where　she　used　to　workor　the　Plaza！　A　suite　at　the　Grantham！〃

And　then　Larry　gave　a　twitching　start。　〃At　the　Granthamalone？〃

〃Not　aloneno。　But　it's　not　what　just　came　into　your　mind。　It's　a　woman　that's　with　her；　a　hired　companion。　And　they're　doing　everything　on　a　swell　scale。〃

〃What's　Maggie　up　to？〃

〃She　didn't　tell　me；　except　to　say　that　the　plan　was　a　big　one。　She　was　all　excited　over　it。　If　you　want　to　know　just　what　it　is；　ask　Barney　Palmer　and　Old　Jimmie。〃

〃Barney　and　Old　Jimmie！〃　ejaculated　Larry。　And　then：　〃Barney　and　Old　Jimmieand　a　suite　at　the　Grantham！〃

At　that　moment　Hunt　came　back　down　the　stairway；　carrying　a　roll　wrapped　in　brown　paper。

〃Here　you　are；　young　fellow；〃　he　announced。　De…mounted　'em　so　the　junk　would　be　easier　to　handle。　The　Dago　mother　you