children of the whirlwind-第29节

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ryand　I'm　not　giving　you　half　enough。〃

That　provided　Larry　with　the　opening　he　had　desired。　〃You　can　make　it　up　to　me。〃

〃How？〃

〃By　helping　me　out　with　a　proposition　of　my　own。　To　come　straight　to　the　point；　it's　Maggie。〃

〃Maggie？〃

〃I　guess　you　know　how　I　feel　there。　She's　got　a　wrong　set　of　ideas；　and　she's　fixed　in　themand　you　know　how　high…spirited　she　is。　She's　out　in　the　world　now；　trying　to　put　something　crooked　over　which　she　thinks　is　big。　I　know　what　it　is。　I　want　to　stop　her；　and　change　her。　That's　my　big　aimto　change　her。　The　only　way　I　can　at　this　moment　stop　what　she　is　now　doing　is　by　exposing　her。　And　mighty　few　people　with　a　wrong　twist　are　ever　set　right　by　merely　being　exposed。〃

〃I　guess　you're　right　there；　Larry。〃

〃What　I　want　is　a　chance　to　try　another　method　on　Maggie。　If　she's　handled　right　I　think　she　may　turn　out　a　very　different　person　from　what　she　seems　to　besomething　that　may　surprise　both　of　us。〃

Hunt　nodded。　〃That　was　why　I　painted　her　picture。　Since　I　first　saw　her　I've　been　interested　in　how　she　was　going　to　come　out。　She　might　become　anything。　But　where　do　I　fit　in？〃

〃She's　flying　in　high　company。　It　occurred　to　me　that；　when　you　got　back　to　your　own　world；　you　might　meet　her；　and　in　your　surprise　you　might　speak　to　her　in　a　manner　which　would　be　equivalent　in　its　effect　to　an　intentional　exposure。　I　wanted　to　put　you　on　your　guard　and　to　ask　you　to　treat　her　as　a　stranger。〃

〃That's　promised。　I　won't　know　her。〃

〃Don't　promise　till　you　know　the　rest。〃

〃What　else　is　there　to　know？〃

〃Who　the　sucker　is　they're　trying　to　trim。〃　Larry　regarded　the　other　steadily。　〃You　know　him。　He's　Dick　Sherwood。〃

〃Dick　Sherwood！〃　exploded　Hunt。　〃Are　you　sure　about　that？〃

〃I　was　with　Maggie　the　other　night　when　Dick　came　to　have　supper　with　her；　he　didn't　see　me。　Besides；　Dick　has　told　me　about　her。〃

〃How　did　they　ever　get　hold　of　Dick？〃

〃Dick's　the　easiest　kind　of　fish　for　two　such　smooth　men　as　Barney　and　Old　Jimmie　when　they've　got　a　clever；　good…looking　girl　as　bait；　and　when　they　know　how　to　use　her。　He's　generous；　easily　impressed；　thinks　he　is　a　wise　man　of　the　world　and　is　really　very　gullible。〃

〃Have　they　got　him　hooked？〃

〃Hard　and　fast。　It　won't　be　his　fault　if　they　don't　land　him。〃

The　painter　gazed　at　Larry　with　a　hard　look。　Then　he　demanded　abruptly：

〃Show　Miss　Sherwood　that　picture　of　Maggie　I　painted？〃

〃No。　I　had　my　reasons。〃

〃What　you　going　to　do　with　it？〃

〃Keep　it；　and　pay　you　your　top　price　for　it　when　I've　got　the　money。〃

〃H'm！　Told　Miss　Sherwood　what's　doing　about　Dick？〃

〃No。〃

〃Why　not？〃

〃I　thought　of　doing　it；　then　I　decided　against　it。　For　the　same　reason　I　just　gave　youthat　it　might　lead　to　exposure；　and　that　exposure　would　defeat　my　plans。〃

〃You　seem　to　be　forgetting　that　your　plan　leaves　Dick　in　danger。　Dick　deserves　some　consideration。〃

〃And　I'm　giving　it　to　him；〃　argued　Larry。　〃I'm　thinking　of　him　as　much　as　of　Maggie。　Or　almost　as　much。　His　sister　and　friends　have　pulled　him　out　of　a　lot　of　scrapes。　He's　not　a　bit　wiser　or　better　for　that　kind　of　help。　And　it's　not　going　to　do　him　any　good　whatever　to　have　some　one　step　in　and　take　care　of　him　again。　He's　been　a　good　friend　to　me；　but　he's　a　dear　fool。　I　want　to　handle　this　so　he'll　get　a　jolt　that　will　waken　him　upmake　him　take　his　responsibilities　more　seriouslymake　him　able　to　take　care　of　himself。〃

〃Huh！〃　grunted　Hunt。　〃You've　certainly　picked　out　a　few　man…sized　jobs　for　yourself：　to　make　a　success　of　the　straight　life　for　yourselfto　come　out　ahead　of　the　police　and　your　old　palsto　make　Maggie　love　the　Ten　Commandmentsto　put　me　acrossto　make　Dick　into　a　level…　headed　citizen。　Any　other　little　item　you'd　like　to　take　on？〃

Larry　ignored　the　irony　of　the　question。　〃Some　of　those　things　I'm　going　to　do；〃　he　said　confidently。　〃And　any　I　see　I'm　going　to　fail　in；　I'll　get　warning　to　the　people　involved。　But　to　come　back　to　your　promise：　are　you　willing　to　give　your　promise　now　that　you　know　all　the　facts？〃

Hunt　pulled　for　a　long　moment　at　his　pipe。　Then　he　said　almost　gruffly：

〃I　guess　you've　guessed　that　Isabel　Sherwood　is　about　the　most　important　person　in　the　world　to　me？〃

That　was　the　nearest　Hunt　had　ever　come　to　telling　that　he　loved　Miss　Sherwood。　Larry　nodded。

〃I'm　in　bad　there　already。　Suppose　your　foot　slips　and　everything　about　Dick　goes　wrong。　What'll　be　my　situation　when　she　learns　I've　known　all　along　and　have　just　stood　by　quietly　and　let　things　happen？　See　what　I'll　be　letting　myself　in　for？〃

〃I　do；〃　said　Larry；　his　spirits　sinking。　〃And　of　course　I　can　understand　your　decision　not　to　give　your　promise。〃

〃Who　said　I　wouldn't　give　my　promise？〃　demanded　Hunt。　〃Of　course　I　give　my　promise！　All　I　said　was　that　the　weather　bureau　of　my　bad　toe　predicts　that　there's　likely　to　be　a　storm　because　of　thisand　I　want　you　to　use　your　brain；　son；　I　want　you　to　use　your　brain！〃

He　upreared　his　big；　shag…haired　figure　and　gripped　Larry's　hand。　〃You're　all　right；　Larryand　here's　wishing　you　luck！　Now　get　to　hell　out　of　here　before　Gavegan　and　Casey　drop　in　for　a　cup　of　tea；　or　your　old　friends　begin　target　practice　with　their　hip　artillery。　I　want　a　little　quiet　in　which　to　finish　my　packing。

〃And　say；　son；〃　he　added；　as　he　pushed　Larry　through　the　door；　〃don't　fall　dead　at　the　sight　of　me　when　you　see　me　next；　for　I'm　likely　to　be　walking　around　inside　all　the　finery　and　vanity　of　Fifth　Avenue。〃




CHAPTER　XXI


Larry　came　down　the　stairway　from　Hunt's　studio　in　a　mood　of　high　elation。　Through　Hunt's　promise　of　cooperation　he　had　at　least　made　a　start　in　his　unformed　plan　regarding　Maggie。　Somehow；　he'd　work　out　and　put　across　the　rest　of　it。

Then　Hunt's　prediction　of　the　trouble　that　might　rise　through　his　silence　recurred　to　Larry。　Indeed；　that　was　a　delicate　situation！　containing　all　kinds　of　possible　disasters　for　himself　as　well　as　for　Hunt。　He　would　have　to　be　most　watchful；　most　careful；　or　he　would　find　himself　entangled　in　worse　circumstances　than　at　present。

As　he　came　down　into　the　little　back　room；　his　grandmother　was　sitting　over　her　interminable　accounts；　each　of　which　represented　a　little　profit　to　herself；　some　a　little　relief　to　many；　some　a　tragedy　to　a　few；　and　many　of　which　were　in　code；　for　these　represented　transactions　of　a　character　which　no　pawnshop；　particularly　one　reputed　to　be　a　fence；　wishes　ever　to　have　understood　by　those　presumptive　busy…bodies；　the　police。　When　Larry　had　first　entered；　she　had　merely　given　him　an　unsurprised　〃good…evening〃　and　permitted　him　to　pass　on。　But　now；　as　he　told　her　good…night　and　turned　to　leave；　she　said　in　her　thin；　monotonous　voice：

〃Sit　down　for　a　minute；　Larry。　I　want　to　talk　to　you。〃

Larry　obeyed。　〃Yes；　grandmother。〃

But　the　Duchess　did　not　at　once　speak。　She　held　her　red…rimmed；　unblinking　eyes　on　him　steadily。　Larry　waited　patiently。　Though　she　was　so　composed；　so　self…contained；　Larry　knew　her　well　enough　to　know　that　what　was　passing　in　her　mind　was　something　of　deep　importance；　at　least　to　her。

At　length　she　spoke。　〃You　saw　Maggie　that　night　you　hurried　away　from　here？〃

〃Yes；　grandmother。　Have　you　heard　from　her　since　the？or　from　Barney　or　Old　Jimmie？〃

The　Duchess　shook　her　head。　〃Do　you　mind　telling　me　what　happened　that　nightand　what　Maggie's　doing？〃

Larry　told　her　of　the　scene　in　Maggie's　suite　at　the　Grantham；　told　of　the　plan　in　which　Maggie　was　involved　and　of　his　own　added　predicament。　This　last　the　Duchess　seemingly　ignored。

〃Just　about　what　I　supposed　she　was　doing；〃　she　said。　〃And　you　tried　again　to　get　her　to　give　it　up？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃And　she　refused？〃

〃Yes。〃　And　he　added：　〃Refused　more　emphatically　than　before。〃

The　Duchess　studied　him　a　long　moment。　Then：　〃You're　not　trying　to　make　her　give　that　up　just　because　you　think　she's　worth　saving。　You　like　her　a　lot；　Larry？〃

〃I　love　her；〃　Larry　admitted。

〃I'm　sorry　about　that；　Larry。〃　There　was　real　emotion　in　the　old　voice　now。　〃I've　told　you　that　you're　all　I've　got　left。　And　now　that　you've　at　last　started　right；　I　want　everything　to　go　right　with　you。　Everything！　And　Maggie　will　never　help　things　go　right　with　you。　Your　love　for　her　can　only　mean　misery　and　misfortune。　You　can't　change　her。〃

Larry　came　out　with　the　questions　he　had　asked　himself　so　frequently　these　last　days。　〃But　why　did　her　manner　change　so　when　she　heard　Barney　and　the　others？　Why　did　she　help　me　escape？〃

〃That　was　because；　deep　down；　she　really　loves　you。　That's　the　worst　part　of　it：　you　both　love　each　other。〃　The　Duchess　slowly　nodded　her　head。　〃You　both　love　each　other。　If　it　wasn't　for　that　I　wouldn't　care　what　you　tried　to　do。　But　I　tell　you　again　you　can't　change　her。　She's　too　sure　of　herself。　She'll　always　try　to　make　you　go　_her　way_and　if　you　don't；　you'll　never　get　a　smile　from　her。　And　because　you　love　each　other；　I'm　afraid　you'll　give　in　and　go　her　way。　That's　what　I'm　afraid　of。　Won't　you　just　cut　her　out　of　your　life；　Larry？〃

It　had　been　a　prodigiously　long　speech　for　the　Duchess。　And　Larry　realized　that　the　emotion　behind　it　was　a　thousand　times　what　showed　in　the　thin　voice　of　the　bent；　gestureless　figure。

〃For　your　sake　I'm　sorry；　grandmother。　But　I　c