children of the whirlwind-第3节

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t　so　much　to　gain　knowledge　of　Larry　as　to　draw　her　out。

〃This　Larrywhat　sort　of　chap　is　he；　Maggie？〃　As　with　most　artists；　talking　did　not　interfere　with　Hunt's　painting。

Warm　color　slowly　tinted　Maggie's　cheeks。　〃He's　clever；〃　she　said　positively。　〃You　already　know　that。　But　I　was　only　a　girl　when　he　was　sent　away。〃

Hunt　smiled　at　her　idea　of　her　present　maturity；　implied　by　her　last　sentence。　〃But　you　lived　with　the　Duchess　for　a　year　before　he　was　sent　away。　You　must　have　seen　a　lot　of　him；　and　got　to　know　him　well。〃

〃Oh；　he　used　to　come　down　now　and　then　to　see　his　grandmotherI　was　only　fifteen　or　sixteen　thenjust　a　girl；　and　he　didn't　pay　much　attention　to　me。　Father　can　tell　you　better　just　how　smart　he　is。〃

Old　Jimmie　spoke　up　promptly。　He　knew　Hunt　was　not　a　police　stool；　and　he　liked　the　painter　as　much　as　it　was　in　him　to　like　any　man；　so　he　felt　none　of　the　reserve　or　caution　that　might　have　controlled　him　in　other　company。

〃You　bet　Larry's　smart！　Got　the　quickest　brain　of　any　con　man　in　the　businessand　him　only　about　twenty…seven　now。　Some　think　I'm　a　smooth　proposition　myself；　but　Larry　puts　it　all　over　me。　That's　why　I'm　willing　to　let　him　be　my　boss。　He's　a　wonder　at　thinking　up　new　stunts；　and　then　at　working　out　safe　new　ways　of　putting　them　across。〃

〃But　the　police　landed　him　at　last；〃　commented　Hunt。

〃Yes；　but　that　was　only　because　another　man　muffed　his　end　of　the　job。〃

The　handsome　Barney　Palmer　had　been　restless　during　Old　Jimmie's　eulogy。　〃Oh；　Larry's　all　to　the　goodbut　he's　not　the　only　party　that's　got　real　ideas。〃

〃Huh！〃　grunted　Old　Jimmie。　〃But　you'll　remember　that　we　haven't　put　over　any　big　ones　since　Larry's　been　in　stir。〃

〃That's　been　because　you　wouldn't　listen　to　any　of　my　ideas！〃　retorted　Barney。　〃And　I　handed　out　some　peaches。〃

Even　during　the　period　of　Larry's　active　reign　it　had　irked　Barney　to　accept　another　man　as　leader；　and　it　had　irked　him　even　more　during　the　interregnum　while　Larry　was　guest　of　the　State。　For　Barney　believed　in　his　own　Napoleonic　strain。

〃Don't　let　yourself　get　sore；　Barney；〃　Old　Jimmie　said　appeasingly。　〃You'll　have　plenty　of　chances　to　try　out　your　ideas　as　the　main　guy　before　you　cash　in。　You　know　the　outfit　wanted　to　lay　low　for　a　while；　anyhow。　But　we'll　be　putting　over　a　lot　of　the　big　stuff　when　Larry　gets　out。〃

Hunt　had　noted　a　quick　light　come　into　Maggie's　dark　eyes　while　her　father　praised　the　absent　leader。　He　himself　suddenly　perceived　a　new　possibility。

〃Maggie；　ever　think　about　teaming　up　with　Larry？〃　he　demanded；　with　his　audacious　keenness。

She　flushed；　and　hesitated。　He　did　not　wait　for　her　slow…coming　reply；　but　turned　to　her　father。

〃Jimmie；　did　Larry　ever　use　women　in　his　stunts？〃

〃Never。　Whenever　we　suggested　using　a　skirt；　Larry　absolutely　said　there　was　nothing　doing。　That's　one　point　where　he　was　all　wrong。　Nothing　helps　so　much；　when　the　sucker　is　at　all　sentimental；　as　a　clever；　good…looking　woman。　And　Larry'll　come　around　to　it　all　right。　He'll　see　the　sense　of　it；　now　that　he's　older　and　has　had　two　years　to　think　things　over。〃

Old　Jimmie　nodded；　showing　his　yellow　teeth　in　a　sly　grin。　〃You　said　something　a　second　ago：　Maggie　and　Larry！　They'll　make　a　wonder　of　a　team！　I　mean　that　she'll　work　under　him　with　the　rest　of　us。　I've　been　thinking　about　it　a　long　while。　Mebbe　you　haven't　guessed　it；　but　we've　been　coaching　her　for　the　part；　and　she's　just　about　ripe。　She's　got　the　looks；　and　we　can　dress　her　right　for　whatever　job's　on　hand。　Oh；　Larry'll　put　over　some　great　things　with　Maggie！〃

If　Hunt　felt　that　there　was　anything　cynically　unpaternal　in　this　father　planning　for　his　daughter　a　career　of　crime；　he　gave　no　sign　of　it。　His　attention　was　just　then　all　on　Maggie。　He　saw　her　eyes　grow　yet　more　bright　at　these　last　sentences　of　her　father：　bright　with　the　vision　of　approaching　adventure。

〃The　idea　suits　you；　Maggie？〃　he　asked。

〃Sure。　It'll　be　greatfor　Larry　is　a　wonder！〃

Barney　Palmer　suddenly　rose；　his　face　twisted　with　anger。　〃I'm　all　fed　up　on　this　Larry；　Larry；　Larry！　Come　on；　Jimmie。　Let's　get　uptown。〃

Wise　Old　Jimmie　saw　that　Barney　was　near　an　outburst。　〃All　right；　Barney；　all　right；〃　he　said　promptly。　〃Not　much　use　waiting　any　longer；　anyhow。　If　Larry　comes；　we'll　fix　it　with　the　Duchess　to　meet　him　tomorrow。〃

〃Then　so…long；　Maggie；〃　Barney　flung　at　her；　and　that　swagger　ex…jockey；　gambler；　and　clever　manipulator　of　the　confidence　of　people　with　money；　slashed　aside　the　shabby　burlap　curtains　with　his　wisp　of　a　bamboo　walking…stick；　and　strode　out　of　the　room。

〃Good…night；　daughter；〃　and　Old　Jimmie　crossed　and　kissed　her。　She　kissed　him　backa　perfunctory　kiss。　Maggie　had　never　paused　to　think　the　matter　out；　but　for　some　reason　she　felt　little　real　affection　for　her　father；　though　of　course　she　admired　his　astuteness。　Perhaps　her　unconscious　lack　of　love　was　due　in　part　to　the　fact　that　she　had　never　lived　with　him。　Ever　since　she　remembered　he　had　boarded　her　out；　here　and　there；　as　he　was　now　boarding　her　at　the　Duchess'sand　had　only　come　to　visit　her　at　intervals；　sometimes　intervals　that　stretched　into　months。

〃Barney　is　rather　sweet　on　you；〃　remarked　Hunt　after　the　two　were　gone。

〃I　know　he　is；〃　conceded　Maggie　in　a　matter…of…fact　way。

〃And　he　seems　jealous　of　Larryboth　regarding　you；　and　regarding　the　bunch。〃

〃He　thinks　he　can　run　the　bunch　just　as　well　as　Larry。　Barney's　clever　all　right；　and　has　plenty　of　nervebut　he's　not　in　Larry's　class。　Not　by　a　million　miles！〃

Hunt　perceived　that　this　daring；　world…defying；　embryonically　beautiful　model　of　his　had　idealized　the　homecoming　nephew　of　the　Duchess　into　her　especial　hero。　Hunt　said　no　more；　but　painted　rapidly。　Night　had　fallen　outside；　and　long　since　he　had　switched　on　the　electric　lights。　He　seemed　not　at　all　finicky　in　this　matter　of　light；　he　had　no　supposedly　indispensable　north　light；　and　midday　or　midnight　were　almost　equally　apt　to　find　him　slashing　with　brush　or　scratching　with　crayon。

Presently　the　Duchess　entered。　No　word　was　spoken。　The　Duchess；　noteworthy　for　her　mastery　of　silence；　sank　into　a　chair；　a　bent　and　shrunken　image；　nothing　seemingly　alive　about　her　but　her　faintly　gleaming；　deep…set　eyes。　Several　minutes　passed；　then　Hunt　lifted　the　canvas　from　the　easel　and　stood　it　against　the　wall。

〃That's　all　for　to…day；　Maggie；〃　he　announced；　pushing　the　easel　to　one　side。　〃Duchess；　you　and　this　wild　young　thing　spread　the　banquet…　table　while　I　wash　up。〃

He　disappeared　into　a　corner　shut　off　by　burlap　curtains。　From　within　there　issued　the　sound　of　splashing　water　and　the　sputtering　roar　of　snatches　of　the　Toreador's　song　in　a　very　big　and　very　bad　baritone。

Maggie　put　out　a　hand；　and　kept　the　Duchess　from　rising。　〃Sit　still　I'll　fix　the　table。〃

Silently　the　Duchess　acquiesced。　Maggie　had　never　felt　any　tenderness　toward　this　strange；　silent　woman　with　whom　she　had　lived　for　three　years；　but　it　was　perhaps　an　indication　of　qualities　within　Maggie；　whose　existence　she　herself　never　even　guessed；　that　she　instinctively　pushed　the　old　woman　aside　from　tasks　which　involved　any　physical　effort。　Maggie　now　swung　the　back　of　a　laundry　bench　up　to　form　a　table…top；　and　upon　it　proceeded　to　spread　a　cloth　and　arrange　a　medley　of　chipped　dishes。　As　she　moved　swiftly　and　deftly　about；　the　Duchess　watching　her　with　immobile　features；　these　two　made　a　strangely　contrasting　pair：　one　seemingly　spent　and　at　life's　grayest　end；　the　other　electric　with　vitality　and　giving　off　the　essence　of　life's　unknown　adventures。

Hunt　stepped　out　between　the　curtains；　pulling　on　his　coat。　〃You'll　find　that　chow　in　my　fireless　cooker　will　beat　the　Ritz；〃　he　boasted。　〃The　tenderest；　fattest　kind　of　a　fatted　calf　for　the　returned　prodigal。〃

Maggie　started。　〃The　prodigal！　You　meanLarry　is　coming？〃

〃Sure；〃　grinned　Hunt。　〃That's　why　we　celebrate。〃

Maggie　wheeled　upon　the　Duchess。　〃Is　Larry　really　coming？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　old　woman。

〃Butbut　why　the　uncertainty　about　when　he　was　coming　back？　Father　and　Barney　thought　he　was　due　to　get　out　yesterday。〃

〃Just　a　mistake　we　all　made　about　his　release。　His　time　was　up　this　afternoon。〃

〃But　you　told　Barney　and　my　father　you　hadn't　heard　from　him。〃

〃I　had　heard；〃　said　the　Duchess　in　her　flat　tone。　〃If　they　want　to　see　him　they　can　see　him　to…morrow。〃

〃Whenwhen　will　he　be　here？〃

〃Any　minute；〃　said　the　Duchess。

Without　a　word　Maggie　whirled　about　and　the　next　moment　she　was　in　her　room　on　the　floor　below。　She　did　not　know　what　prompted　her；　but　she　had　a　frantic　desire　to　get　out　of　this　plain　shirt…waist　and　skirt　and　into　something　that　would　be　striking。　She　considered　her　scanty　wardrobe；　her　father　had　recently　spoken　of　handsome　gowns　and　furnishings；　but　as　yet　these　existed　only　in　his　words；　and　the　pseudo…evening　gowns　which　she　had　worn　to　restaurant　dances　with　Barney　she　knew　to　be　cheap　and　uneffective。

Suddenly　she　remembered　the　things　Hunt　had　given　her；　or　had　loaned　her；　the　evening　four　months　earlier　when　he　had　taken　her　to　an　artists'　masquerade　ballthough　to　her　it　had　been　a　bitter　disappointment　when　Hunt　had　carried　her　away　before　the　unmasking　at　twelve　o'clock。　She　tore　off　the　offending