children of the whirlwind-第26节

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〃You　can't　start　a　sensation　with　one　painting；〃　Mr。　Graham　remarked　dryly。

This　had　been　the　very　remark　Larry　had　adroitly　been　trying　to　draw　from　the　dealer。

〃Why；　that's　so！〃　he　exclaimed。　And　then　as　if　the　thought　had　only　that　moment　come　to　him：　〃Why　not　have　an　exhibition　of　paintings　done　in　his　new　manner？　He's　got　a　studio　full　of　things　just　as　characteristic　as　this　one。〃

Larry　caught　the　gleam　which　came　into　the　dealer's　eyes。　It　was　instantly　masked。

〃Too　late　in　the　spring　for　a　picture　show。　Couldn't　put　on　an　exhibition　before　next　season。〃

〃But　why　not　have　a　private　pre…exhibition　showing？〃　Larry　argued　〃with　special　invitations　sent　to　a　small；　carefully　chosen　list；　putting　it　over　strong　to　them　that　you　were　offering　them　the　chance　of　a　first　and　exclusive　view　of　something　very　remarkable。　Most　of　them　will　feel　flattered　and　will　come。　And　that　will　start　talk　and　stir　up　interest　in　your　public　exhibition　in　the　fall。　That's　the　idea！〃

Again　there　was　the　gleam；　quickly　masked；　in　the　dealer's　eyes。　But　Larry　got　it。

〃How　do　I　know　this　picture　here　isn't　just　an　accident？the　only　one　of　the　sort　Mr。　Hunt　has　ever　painted；　or　ever　will　paint？〃　cautiously　inquired　Mr。　Graham。　〃You　said　you　had　a　second　picture。　May　I　see　it？〃

Larry　hesitated。　But　he　believed　he　had　the　dealer　almost　〃sold〃；　a　little　more　and　Mr。　Graham　would　be　convinced。　So　he　brought　in　Maggie's　portrait。　The　dealer　looked　it　over　with　a　face　which　he　tried　to　keep　expressionless。

〃How　much　is　this　one？〃　he　asked　at　length。

〃It　is　not　for　sale。〃

〃It　will　bring　more　money　than　the　other。　It's　a　more　interesting　subject。〃

〃That's　why　I'm　keeping　it；〃　said　Larry。　〃I　think　you'll　admit；　Mr。　Graham；　that　this　proves　that　Mr。　Hunt　is　not　now　painting　accidents。〃

〃You're　right。〃　The　mask　suddenly　dropped　from　Mr。　Graham's　face；　he　was　no　longer　merely　an　art　merchant；　he　was　also　an　art　enthusiast。　〃Hunt　has　struck　something　bold　and　fresh；　and　I　think　I　can　put　him　over。　I'll　try　that　scheme　you　mentioned。　Tell　me　where　I　can　find　him　and　I'll　see　him　at　once。〃

〃That　picture　has　got　to　be　sold　before　I　give　you　his　address。　No　use　seeing　him　until　then；　he'd　laugh　at　you；　and　not　listen　to　anything。　He's　sore　at　the　world；　thinks　it　doesn't　understand　him。　An　actual　sale　would　be　the　only　argument　that　would　have　weight　with　him。〃

〃All　rightI'll　buy　the　picture　myself。　Hunt　and　I　have　had　a　falling　out；　and　I'd　like　him　to　have　proof　that　I　believe　in　him。〃　Again　Mr。　Graham　was　the　art　merchant。　〃Though；　of　course；　I　can't　pay　the　five　thousand　you　ask。　Hunt's　new　manner　may　catch　on；　and　it　may　not。　It's　a　big　gamble。〃

〃What　will　you　pay？〃

〃What　you　paid　for　itthree　thousand。〃

〃That's　an　awful　drop　from　what　I　expected。　When　can　you　pay　it？〃

〃I'll　send　you　my　check　by　an　assistant　as　soon　as　I　get　back　to　my　place。〃

〃I　told　you　I　was　squeezed　financiallyso　the　picture　is　yours。　I'll　send　you　Mr。　Hunt's　present　address　when　I　receive　your　check。　Make　it　payable　to　'cash。'〃

When　Mr。　Graham　had　gone　with　the　Italian　motherit　was　then　the　very　end　of　the　afternoonLarry　wondered　if　his　plan　to　draw　Hunt　out　of　his　hermitage　was　going　to　succeed；　and　wondered　what　would　be　the　result；　if　any；　upon　the　relationship　between　Hunt　and　Miss　Sherwood　if　Hunt　should　come　openly　back　into　his　world　an　acclaimed　success；　and　come　with　the　changed　attitude　toward　every　one　and　every　thing　that　recognition　bestows。

But　something　was　to　make　Larry　wonder　even　more　a　few　minutes　later。　Dick；　that　habitual　late　riser；　had　had　to　hurry　away　that　morning　without　speaking　to　him。　Now；　when　he　came　home　toward　six　o'clock；　Dick　shouted　cheerily　from　the　hallway：

〃Ahoy！　Where　you　anchored；　Captain　Nemo？〃

Larry　did　not　answer。　He　sat　over　his　papers　as　one　frozen。　He　knew　now　whose　had　been　the　elusively　familiar　voice　he　had　heard　outside　Maggie's　door。　It　was　Dick　Sherwood's。

Dick　paused　without　to　take　some　messages　from　Judkins；　and　Larry's　mind　raced　feverishly。　Dick　Sherwood　was　the　victim　Maggie　and　Barney　and　Old　Jimmie　were　so　cautiously　and　elaborately　trying　to　trim！　It　seemed　an　impossible　coincidence。　But　no；　not　impossible；　after　all。　Their　net　had　been　spread　for　just　such　game：　a　young　man；　impressionable；　pleasure…loving；　with　plenty　of　money；　and　with　no　strings　tied　to　his　spending　of　it。　That　Barney　should　have　made　his　acquaintance　was　easily　explained；　to　establish　acquaintance　with　such　persons　as　Dick　was　Barney's　specialty。　What　more　natural　than　that　the　high…spirited；　irresponsible　Dick　should　fall　into　this　trap？or　indeed　that　he　should　have　been　picked　out　in　advance　as　the　ideal　victim　and　have　been　drawn　into　it？

〃Hello；　there！〃　grumbled　Dick；　entering。　〃Why　didn't　you　answer　a　shipmate's　hail？〃

〃I　heard　you；　but　just　then　I　was　adding　a　column　of　figures；　and　I　knew　you'd　look　in。〃

At　that　moment　Larry　noted　the　portrait　of　Maggie；　looking　up　from　the　chair　beside　him。　With　a　swiftness　which　he　tried　to　disguise　into　a　mechanical　action；　he　seized　the　painting　and　rolled　it　up；　face　inside。

〃What's　that　you've　got？〃　demanded　Dick。

〃Just　a　little　daub　of　my　own。〃

〃So　you　paint；　too。　What　else　can　you　do？　Let's　have　a　look。〃

〃It's　too　rotten。　I'd　rather　let　you　see　something　elsethough　all　my　stuff　is　bad。〃

〃You　wouldn't　do　any　little　thing；　would　you；　to　brighten　this　tiredest　hour　in　the　day　of　a　tired　business　man；〃　complained　Dick。　〃I've　really　been　a　business　man　to…day；　Captain。　Worked　like　the　devilor　an　angelwhichever　works　the　harder。〃

He　lit　a　cigarette　and　settled　with　a　sigh　on　the　corner　of　Larry's　desk。　Larry　regarded　him　with　a　stranger　and　more　contradicting　mixture　of　feelings　than　he　had　ever　thought　to　contain：　solicitude　for　Dickjealousy　of　himand　the　instinct　to　protect　Maggie。　This　last　seemed　to　Larry　grotesquely　absurd　the　instant　it　seethed　up　in　him；　but　there　the　instinct　was：　was　Dick　treating　Maggie　right？

〃How　was　the　show　last　night；　Dick？〃

〃Punk！〃

〃I　thought　you　said　you　were　to　see　'The　Jest。'　I've　heard　it's　one　of　the　best　things　for　years。〃

〃Oh；　I　guess　the　show's　all　right。　But　the　company　was　poor。　My　company；　I　mean。　The　person　I　wanted　to　see　couldn't　come。〃

〃Hope　you　had　a　supper　party　that　made　up　for　the　disappointment；〃　pursued　Larry；　adroitly　trying　to　lead　him　on。

〃I　sure　had　that；　Captain！〃

Dick　slid　to　a　chair　beside　Larry；　dropped　a　hand　on　Larry's　knee；　and　said　in　a　lowered　tone：

〃Captain；　I've　recently　met　a　new　girland　believe　me；　she's　a　knock…　out！〃

〃Better　keep　clear　of　those　show　girls；　Dick。〃

〃Never　again！　The　last　one　cured　me　for　life。　Miss　CameronMaggie　Cameron；　how's　that　for　a　name？is　no　Broadway　girl；　Captain。　She's　not　even　a　New　York　girl。〃

〃No？〃

〃She's　from　some　place　out　West。　Father　owned　several　big　ranches。　She　says　that　explains　her　crudeness。　Her　crude？　I　should　say　not！　They　don't　grow　better　manners　right　here　in　New　York。　And　she's　pretty；　and　clever；　and　utterly　naive　about　everything　in　New　York。　Though　I　must　say；〃　Dick　added；　〃that　I'm　not　so　keen　about　her　cousin　and　her　uncle。　I'd　met　the　cousin　a　few　times　the　last　year　or　two　around　town；　he　belongs　here。　The　two　are　the　sort　of　poor　stock　that　crops　out　in　every　good　family。　They've　got　one　merit；　though：　they　don't　try　to　impose　on　her　too　much。〃

〃What　is　your　Miss　Cameron　doing　in　New　York？〃

〃Having　her　first　look　at　the　town　before　going　to　some　resort　for　the　summer；　perhaps　taking　a　cottage　somewhere。　I　say；　Captain〃leaning　closer〃I　wish　you　didn't　feel　you　had　to　stick　around　this　apartment　so　tight。　I'd　like　to　take　you　out　and　introduce　you　to　her。〃

Larry　could　imagine　the　resulting　scene　if　ever　this　innocently　proposed　introduction　were　given。

〃I　guess　that　for　the　present　I'll　have　to　depend　upon　your　reports；　Dick。〃

〃Well；　you　can　take　it　from　me　that　she's　just　about　all　right！〃

It　was　Larry's　strange　instinct　to　protect　Maggie　that　prompted　his　next　remark：

〃You're　not　just　out　joy…riding；　are　you；　Dick？〃

Dick　flushed。　〃Nothing　of　that　sort。　She's　not　that　kind　of　girl。　BesidesI　think　it's　the　real　thing；　Captain。〃

The　honest　look　in　Dick's　eyes；　even　more　than　his　words；　quieted　Larry's　fear　for　Maggie。　Presently　Dick　walked　out　leaving　Larry　yet　another　problem　added　to　his　life。　He　could　not　let　anything　happen　to　Maggie。　He　could　not　let　anything　happen　to　Dick。　He　had　to　protect　each；　he　had　to　do　something。　Yet　what　could　he　do？

Yes；　this　certainly　was　a　problem！　He　paced　the　room；　another　victim　of　the　ancient　predicament　of　divided　and　antagonistic　duty。




CHAPTER　XIX


The　night　of　Larry's　unexpected　call　upon　her　at　the　Grantham；　Maggie　had　pulled　herself　together　and　aided　by　the　imposing　Miss　Grierson　had　done　her　best　as　ingenue　hostess　to　her　pseudo…cousin；　Barney；　and　her　pseudo…uncle；　Old　Jimmie；　and　to　their　quarry；　Dick　Sherwood；　whom　they　were　so　cautiously　stalking。　But　when　Dick　had　gone；　and　when　Miss　Grierson　had　withdrawn　to　permit　her　charge　a　little　visit　with　her　relatives；　Barney　had　been　prompt　with　his　dissatisfaction。

〃What　was　the　matter　with　you　to…night；　Maggie？〃　he　demanded。　〃You