children of the whirlwind-第23节

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〃Here　you　are；　young　fellow；〃　he　announced。　De…mounted　'em　so　the　junk　would　be　easier　to　handle。　The　Dago　mother　you　asked　forthe　second　painting　may　be　one　you'd　like　to　have　for　your　own　private　gallery。　I'm　not　going　to　let　you　get　away　with　your　bluffand　don't　you　forget　it！　。　。　。　Duchess；　don't　you　think　he'd　better　beat　it　before　Gavegan　and　his　loving　friends　take　a　tumble　to　his　presence　and　mess　up　the　neighborhood？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　Duchess。　〃Good…night；　Larry。〃

〃Good…night；〃　said　he。

Mechanically　he　took　the　roll　of　paintings　and　slipped　it　under　his　raincoat；　mechanically　he　shook　hands；　mechanically　he　got　out　of　the　pawnshop；　mechanically　he　took　all　precautions　in　getting　out　of　the　little　rain…driven　street　and　in　getting　into　a　taxicab　which　he　captured　over　near　Cooper　Institute。　All　his　mind　was　upon　what　the　Duchess　had　told　him　and　upon　a　new　idea　which　was　throbbingly　growing　into　a　purpose。　Maggie　and　Barney　and　Old　Jimmie！　Maggie　in　a　suite　at　the　Grantham！

What　Larry　now　did；　as　he　got　into　the　taxi；　he　would　have　called　footless　and　foolhardy　an　hour　before；　and　at　any　other　hour　his　judgment　might　have　restrained　him。　But　just　now　he　seemed　controlled　by　a　force　greater　than　smooth…running　judgmenta　composite　of　many　forces：　by　sudden　jealousy；　by　a　sudden　desire　to　shield　Maggie；　by　a　sudden　desire　to　see　her。　So　as　he　stepped　into　the　taxi；　he　said：

〃The　Granthamquick！〃




CHAPTER　XVII


The　taxi　went　rocking　up　Fourth　Avenue。　But　now　that　decision　was　made　and　he　was　headed　toward　Maggie；　a　little　of　judgment　reasserted　itself。　It　would　not　be　safe　for　him　to　walk　openly　into　the　Grantham　with　a　mouthful　of　questions。　He　did　not　know　the　number　of　Maggie's　suite。　And　Maggie　might　not　be　in。　So　he　revised　his　plan　slightly。　He　called　to　his　driver：

〃Go　to　the　Claridge　first。〃

Five　minutes　later　the　taxi　was　in　Forty…Fourth　Street　and　Larry　was　stepping　out。　Fortune　favored　him　in　one　factor　perhaps　his　subconscious　mind　had　based　his　plan　upon　this　fact：　the　time　was　half…past　ten；　the　theaters　still　held　their　crowds；　the　streets　were　empty；　the　restaurants　were　practically　unoccupied。　He　was　incurring　the　minimum　of　risk。

〃Wait　for　me；〃　he　ordered　the　driver。　〃I'll　be　out　in　five　minutes。〃

In　less　than　the　half　of　the　first　of　these　minutes　Larry　had　attained　his　first　objective：　the　secluded　telephone…room　down　behind　the　grill。　It　was　unoccupied　except　for　the　telephone　girl　who　was　gazing　raptly　at　the　sorrowful；　romantic；　and　very　soiled　pages　of　〃St。　Elmo。〃　The　next　moment　she　was　gazing　at　something　elsea　five…　dollar　bill　which　Larry　had　slipped　into　the　open　book。

〃That's　to　pay　for　a　telephone　call；　just　keep　the　change；〃　he　said　rapidly。　〃You're　to　do　all　the　talking；　and　say　just　what　I　tell　you。〃

〃I　got　you；　general；〃　said　the　girl；　emerging　with　alacrity　from　romance　to　reality。　〃Shoot。〃

〃Call　up　the　Hotel　Granthamsay　you're　a　florist　with　an　order　to　deliver　some　flowers　direct　to　Miss　Margaret　Cameronand　ask　for　the　number　of　her　suiteand　keep　the　wire　open。〃

The　girl　obeyed　promptly。　In　less　than　a　minute　she　was　reporting　to　Larry：

〃They　say　1141…1142…1143。〃

〃Ask　if　she's　in。　If　she　is；　get　her　on　the　'phone；　tell　her　long　distance　is　calling；　but　doesn't　want　to　speak　to　her　unless　she　is　alone。　You　get　it？〃

〃Sure；　brother。　This　ain't　the　first　time　I　helped　a　party　out。〃

There　was　more　jabbing　with　the　switch…board　plug；　evident　switching　at　the　other　end；　several　questions；　and　then　the　girl　asked：　〃Is　this　Miss　Margaret　Cameron？　Miss　Cameron〃　and　so　on　as　per　Larry's　instructions。

The　operator　turned　to　Larry：　〃She　says　she's　alone。〃

〃Tell　her　to　hold　the　wire　till　you　get　better　connectionsthe　storm　has　messed　up　connections　terriblyand　keep　your　own　wire　open　and　make　her　hold　her　end。〃

As　Larry　went　out　he　heard　his　instructions　being　executed　while　an　adept　hand　safely　banked　the　bill　inside　her　shirt…waist。　Within　two　minutes　his　taxi　set　him　down　at　the　Grantham；　and　knowing　that　whatever　risks　he　ran　would　be　lessened　by　his　acting　swiftly　and　without　any　suspicious　hesitation；　he　walked　straight　in　and　to　the　elevators；　in　the　manner　of　one　having　business　there；　his　collar　again　pulled　up；　his　cap　pulled　down；　and　his　face　just　then　covered　with　a　handkerchief　which　was　caring　for　a　sniffling　nose　in　a　highly　natural　manner。

With　his　heart　pounding　he　got　without　mishap　to　the　doors　numbered　1141；　1142；　and　1143。　Instinctively　he　knew　in　a　general　way　what　the　apartment　was　like：　a　set　of　rooms　of　various　character　which　the　hotel　could　rent　singly　or　throw　together　and　rent　en　suite。　But　which　of　the　three　was　the　main　entrance？　He　dared　not　hesitate；　for　the　slightest　queer　action　might　get　the　attention　of　the　floor　clerk　down　the　corridor。　So　Larry　chose　the　happy　medium　and　pressed　the　mother…　of…pearl　button　of　1142。

The　door　opened；　and　before　Larry　stood　a　large；　elderly；　imposing　woman　in　a　rigidly　formal　evening　gowna　gown　which；　by　the　way；　had　been　part　of　Miss　Grierson's　equipment　for　many　a　year　for　helping　raw　young　things　master　the　art　of　being　ladies。　Larry　surmised　at　once　that　this　was　the　〃hired　companion〃　his　grandmother　had　spoken　of。　In　other　days　Larry　had　had　experience　with　this　type　and　before　Miss　Grierson　could　bar　him　out　or　ask　a　question；　Larry　was　in　the　room　and　the　door　closed　behind　himand　he　had　entered　with　the　easiest；　most　natural；　most　polite　manner　imaginable。

〃You　were　expecting　me？〃　inquired　Larry　with　his　disarming　and　wholly　engaging　smile。

Neither　Miss　Grierson's　mind　nor　body　was　geared　for　rapid　action。　She　was　taken　aback；　and　yet　not　offended。　So　being　at　a　loss；　she　resorted　to　the　chief　item　in　her　stock　in　trade；　her　ever　dependable　dignity。

〃I　cannot　say　that　I　was。　In　fact；　sir；　I　do　not　know　who　you　are。〃

〃Miss　Cameron　knowsand　she　is　expecting　me；〃　Larry　returned　pleasantly。　His　quick　eyes　had　noted　that　this　was　a　sitting…room：　an　ornate；　patterned　affair　which　the　great　hotels　seem　to　order　in　hundred　lots。　〃Where　is　Miss　Cameron？〃

〃In　the　next　room；〃　nodding　at　the　connecting　door。　〃She　is　engaged。　Telephoning。　A　long…distance　call。　I'm　quite　sure　she　is　not　expecting　you；〃　Miss　Grierson　went　on　to　explain　ponderously　and　elaborately；　but　with　politeness；　for　this　young　man　was　handsome　and　pleasant　and　well…bred　and　might　prove　to　be　some　one　of　real　importance。　〃We　were　to　have　had　a　theater　party　with　supper　afterwards；　but　owing　to　Miss　Cameron's　indisposition　we　did　not　go　to　the　theater。　But　she　insisted　on　keeping　the　engagement　for　the　supper；　but　changing　it　to　here。　Besides　herself　and　myself；　there　are　to　be　only　her　uncle；　her　cousin；　and　just　one　guest。　That　is　why　I　am　so　certain；　sir；　she　is　not　expecting　you。〃

〃But　you　see；〃　smiled　Larry；　〃I　am　that　one　guest。〃

Miss　Grierson　shook　her　carefully　coiffured　transformation。　〃I've　met　the　guest　who　is　coming；　and　I　certainly　have　not　met　you。〃

〃Then　she　must　have　asked　two　of　us。　Anyhow；　I'll　just　speak　to　her；　and　if　I'm　mistaken　and　de　trop；　I'll　withdraw。〃　And　ere　Miss　Grierson　could　even　stir　up　an　intention　to　intervene　further；　this　well…　mannered　young　man　had　smiled　his　disarming　smile　and　bowed　to　her　and　had　passed　through　the　door；　closing　it　behind　him。

He　halted；　the　knob　in　his　hand。　Maggie　was　standing　sidewise　to　him；　holding　a　telephone　in　her　hand；　its　receiver　at　her　ear。　She　must　have　supposed　that　it　was　Miss　Grierson　who　had　so　quietly　entered；　for　she　did　not　look　around。

〃Yes；　I'm　still　waiting；〃　she　was　saying　impatiently。　〃Can't　you　ever　get　that　connection？〃

Larry　had　seen　Maggie　only　in　the　plain　dark　suit　which　she　had　worn　to　her　daily　business　of　selling　cigarettes　at　the　Ritzmore；　and　once；　on　the　night　of　his　return　from　Sing　Sing；　in　that　stage　gypsy　costume；　which　though　effective　was　cheap　and　impromptu　and　did　not　at　all　lift　her　out　of　the　environment　of　the　Duchess's　ancient　and　grimy　house。　But　Larry　was　so　startled　by　this　changed　Maggie　that　for　the　moment　he　could　not　have　moved　from　the　door　even　had　he　so　desired。　She　was　accoutered　in　the　smartest　of　filmy　evening　gowns；　with　the　short　skirt　which　was　then　the　mode；　with　high…heeled　silver　slippers；　her　rounded　arms　and　shoulders　and　bosom　bare；　her　abundant　black　hair　piled　high　in　careful　carelessness。　The　gown　was　cerise　in　color；　and　from　her　forearm　hung　a　great　fan　of　green　plumes。　In　all　the　hotels　and　theaters　of　New　York　one　could　hardly　have　come　upon　a　figure　that　night　more　striking　in　its　finished　and　fresh　young　womanhood。　Larry　trembled　all　over；　his　heart　tried　to　throb　madly　up　out　of　his　throat。

At　length　he　spoke。　And　all　he　was　able　to　say　was：

〃Maggie。〃

She　whirled　about；　and　telephone　and　receiver　almost　fell　from　her　hands。　She　went　pale；　and　stared　at　him；　her　mouth　agape；　her　dark　eyes　wide。

〃La…Larry！〃　she　whispered。

〃Maggie！〃　he　said　again。

〃La…Larry！　I　thought　you　were　in　Chicago。〃

〃I'm　here　now；　Maggieespecially　to　see　you。〃　He　did　not　know　it；　but　his　voice　was　husky。　He　noted　that　she　was　still　holding　the　telephone　and　receiver。　〃It　was　I　who　put　in　that　long…distance　call。　But　I　came　instead。　So　you　mig