children of the whirlwind-第41节

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〃II　don't　think　you〃

〃I'll　be　there　in　then　minutes；〃　Larry　interrupted　the　startled　voice　and　hung　up。

He　counted　that　Maggie；　after　his　sparing　her　at　Cedar　Crest；　would　receive　him　and　treat　him　at　least　no　worse　than　an　enemy　with　whom　there　was　a　half　hour's　truce。　Sure　enough；　when　he　rang　the　bell　of　her　suite；　Maggie　herself　admitted　him　to　her　sitting…room。　She　was　taut　and　pale；　her　look　neither　friendly　nor　unfriendly。

〃Don't　you　know　the　risk　you're　running；〃　she　whispered　when　the　door　was　closed〃coming　here　like　this；　in　the　open？〃

〃The　time　has　come　for　risks；　Maggie；〃　he　announced。

〃But　you　were　safe　enough　where　you　were。　Why　take　such　risks？〃

〃For　your　sake。〃

〃My　sake？〃

〃To　take　you　away　from　these　people　you're　tied　up　with。　Take　you　away　now。〃

At　an　earlier　time　this　would　have　been　a　fuse　to　a　detonation　of　defiance　from　her。　But　now　she　said　nothing　at　all；　and　that　was　something。

〃Since　I've　come　out　into　the　open；　everything's　going　to　be　in　the　open。　Listen；　Maggie！〃　The　impulse　had　suddenly　come　upon　him；　since　his　plan　to　awaken　Maggie　by　her　psychological　reactions　had　apparently　failed；　to　tell　her　everything。　〃Listen；　Maggie！　I'm　going　to　lay　all　my　cards　on　the　table；　and　show　you　every　card　I've　played。　You　were　invited　to　come　out　to　Cedar　Crest　because　I　schemed　to　have　you　come。　And　the　reason　I　schemed　to　have　you　invited　was；　I　reasoned　that　being　received　in　such　a　frank；　generous；　unsuspecting　way；　by　a　woman　like　Miss　Sherwood；　would　make　you　sick　of　what　you　were　doing　and　you　would　drop　it　of　your　own　accord。　But　it　seems　I　reasoned　wrong。〃

〃Soyou　were　behind　that！〃　she　breathed。

〃I　was。　Though　I　couldn't　have　done　it　if　Dick　Sherwood　hadn't　been　honestly　infatuated　with　you。　But　now　I'm　through　with　working　under　cover；　through　with　indirect　methods。　From　now　on　every　play's　in　the　open；　and　it's　straight　to　the　point　with　everything。　So　get　ready。　I'm　going　to　take　you　away　from　Barney　and　Old　Jimmie。〃

The　mention　of　these　two　names　had　a　swift　and　magical　effect　upon　her。　But　instead　of　arousing　belligerency；　they　aroused　an　almost　frantic　agitation。

〃You　must　leave　at　once；　Larry。　Barney　and　my　father　were　here　before　dinner；　and　they've　just　telephoned　they　were　coming　back！〃

〃Coming　back！　That's　the　best　argument　you　could　make　for　my　staying！〃

〃But；　Larrythey　both　have　keys；　and　Barney　always　carries　a　gun！〃

〃I　stay　here；　unless　you　leave　with　me。　Listen　to　some　more；　Maggie。　I　laid　all　the　cards　on　the　table。　Do　you　know　the　kind　of　people　you're　tied　up　with？　I'll　not　say　anything　about　your　father；　for　I　guess　you　know　all　there　is　to　know。　But　Barney　Palmer！　He's　the　lowest　kind　of　crook　that　breathes。　There's　been　a　lot　of　talk　about　squealers　and　police　stools。　Well；　the　big　squealer；　the　big　stool；　is　Barney　Palmer！〃

〃I　don't　believe　it！〃　she　cried　involuntarily。

〃It's　true！　I've　got　it　straight。　Barney　wanted　to　smash　me；　because　I'd　made　up　my　mind　to　quit　the　old　game　and　because　he　wanted　to　get　me　out　of　his　way　with　you。　So　he　framed　it　up　so　that　I　appeared　to　be　a　squealer；　and　started　the　gangmen　after　me。　And　he　put　Barlow　up　to　the　idea　of　forcing　me　to　be　a　stool；　and　then　framing　me　when　I　refused。　It　was　Barney　who　fixed　things　so　I　had　to　go　to　jail；　or　be　shot　up；　or　run　away。　It　was　Barney　Palmer　who　squealed　on　Red　Hannigan　and　Jack　Rosenfeldt；　and　who's　been　squealing　on　his　other　pals。　And　that's　the　sort　you're　stringing　along　with！〃

She　gazed　at　him　in　appalled　half　conviction。　He　remained　silent　to　let　his　truth　sink　in。

They　were　standing　so；　face　to　face；　when　a　key　grated　in　the　outer　door　of　the　little　hallway　as　on　the　occasion　of　Larry's　first　visit　here。　And　as　on　that　occasion；　Maggie　sprang　swiftly　forward　and　shot　home　the　bolt　of　the　inner　door。　Then　she　turned　and　caught　Larry's　arm。

〃It's　BarneyI　told　you　he　was　coming！〃　she　whispered。　〃Oh；　why　didn't　you　go　before？　Come　on！〃

She　tried　to　drag　him　toward　her　bedroom　door；　through　which　she　had　once　helped　him　escape。　But　this　time　he　was　not　to　be　moved。

〃I　stay　right　here；〃　he　said　to　her。

There　was　the　sound　of　a　futile　effort　to　turn　the　lock　of　the　inner　door；　then　Barney's　voice　called　out：　〃What's　the　matter；　Maggie？　Open　the　door。〃

Maggie；　still　clutching　Larry's　resisting　arm；　stood　gasping　in　wide…　eyed　consternation。

〃Open　the　door　for　them；　Maggie；〃　Larry　whispered。

〃I'll　not　do　it！〃　she　whispered　back。

〃Open　it；　or　I　will；〃　he　ordered。

Their　gazes　held　a　moment　longer　while　Barney　rattled　at　the　lock。　Then　slowly；　falteringly；　her　amazed　eyes　over　her　shoulder　upon　him；　Maggie　crossed　and　unlocked　the　door。　Barney　entered；　Old　Jimmie　just　bend　him。

〃I　say；　Maggie；　what　was　the　big　idea　in　keeping　us〃　he　was　beginning　in　a　grumbling　tone；　when　he　saw　Larry　just　beyond　her。　His　complaint　broke　off　in　mid…breath；　he　stopped　short　and　his　dark　face　twitched　with　his　surprise。

〃Larry　Brainard！〃　he　finally　exclaimed。　Old　Jimmie；　suddenly　tense；　blinked　and　said　nothing。

〃Hello；　Barney；　hello；　Jimmie；〃　Larry　greeted　his　former　allies；　putting　on　an　air　of　geniality。　〃Been　a　long　time　since　we　three　met。　Don't　stand　there　in　the　door。　Come　right　in。〃

Barney　was　keen　enough　to　see；　though　Larry's　attitude　was　careless　and　his　tone　light；　that　his　eyes　were　bright　and　hard。　Barney　moved　forward　a　couple　of　paces；　alert　for　anything；　and　Old　Jimmie　followed。　Maggie　looked　on　at　the　three　men；　her　girlish　figure　taut　and　hardly　breathing。

〃Didn't　know　you　were　in　New　York；〃　said　Barney。

〃Well；　here　I　am　all　right；〃　returned　Larry　with　his　menacing　cheerfulness。

By　now　Barney　had　recovered　from　his　first　surprise。　He　felt　it　time　to　assert　his　supremacy。

〃How　do　you　come　to　be　here　with　Maggie？〃　he　demanded　abruptly。

〃Happened　to　catch　sight　of　her　on　the　street　to…day。　Trailed　her　here　to　the　Grantham；　and　to…night　I　just　dropped　in。〃

Barney's　tone　grew　more　authoritative；　more　ugly。　〃We　told　you　long　ago　we　were　through　with　you。　So　why　did　you　come　here？〃

〃That's　easy　answered；　Barney。　The　last　time　we　were　all　together；　you'd　come　to　take　Maggie　away。　This　is　that　same　scene　reproduced　only　this　time　I've　come　to　take　Maggie　away。〃

〃What's　that？〃　snapped　Barney。

Larry's　voice　threw　off　its　assumed　geniality；　and　became　drivingly　hard。　〃And　to　get　Maggie　to　come；　I've　been　telling　her　the　kind　of　a　bird　you　are；　Barney　Palmer！　Oh；　I've　got　the　straight　dope　on　you！　I've　been　telling　her　how　you　framed　me；　and　were　able　to　frame　me　because　you　are　Chief　Barlow's　stool。〃

Barney　went　as　near　white　as　it　was　possible　for　him　to　become；　and　his　mouth　sagged。　〃　Whatwhat〃　he　stammered。

〃I've　been　telling　her　that　you　are　the　one　who　really　squealed　on　Red　Hannigan　and　Jack　Rosenfeldt。〃

〃You're　a　damned　liar！〃　Barney　burst　out；　and　instantly　from　beneath　his　left　arm　he　whipped　an　automatic　which　he　thrust　against　Larry's　stomach。　〃Take　that　back；　damn　you；　or　I'll　blow　you　straight　to　hell！〃

〃Barney！Larry！〃　interjected　Maggie　in　sickened　fright。

〃This　is　nothing　to　worry　over；　Maggie；〃　Larry　said。　He　looked　back　at　Barney。　〃Oh；　I　knew　you　would　flash　a　gun　on　me　at　some　stage　of　the　game。　But　you're　not　going　to　shoot。〃

〃You'll　see；　if　you　don't　take　that　back！〃

Larry　realized　that　his　hot　blood　had　driven　him　into　an　enterprise　of　daring；　in　which　only　bluff　and　the　playing　of　his　highest　cards　could　help　him　through。

〃You　don't　think　I　was　such　a　fool　as　to　walk　into　this　place　without　taking　precautions；〃　he　said　contemptuously。　〃You　won't　shoot；　Barney；　because　since　I　knew　I　might　meet　you　and　you'd　pull　a　gun；　I　had　myself　searched　by　two　friends　just　before　I　came　up　here。　They'll　testify　I　was　not　armed。　They　know　you；　and　know　you　so　well　that　they'll　be　able　to　identify　the　thing　in　your　hand　as　your　gun。　So　no　matter　what　Maggie　and　Jimmie　may　testify；　the　verdict　will　be　cold…　blooded　murder　and　the　electric　chair　will　be　your　finish。　And　that's　why　I　know　you　won't　shoot。　So　you　might　as　well　put　the　gun　away。〃

Barney　neither　spoke　nor　moved。

〃I've　called　your　bluff；　Barney；〃　Larry　said　sharply。　〃Put　that　gun　away；　or　I'll　take　it　from　you！〃

Barney's　glare　wavered。　The　pistol　sank　from　its　position。　With　a　lightning…swift　motion　Larry　wrenched　it　from　Barney's　hand。

〃Guess　I'd　better　have　it；　after　all；〃　he　said；　slipping　it　into　a　pocket。　〃Keep　you　out　of　temptation。〃

And　then　in　a　subdued　voice　that　was　steely　with　menace：　〃I'm　too　busy　to　attend　to　you　now；　Barneybut；　by　God；　I'm　going　to　square　things　with　you　for　the　dirt　you've　done　me；　and　I'm　going　to　show　you　up　for　a　stool　and　a　squealer！〃　He　wheeled　on　Old　Jimmie。　〃And　the　only　reason　I'll　be　easy　with　you；　Jimmie　Carlisle；　is　because　you　are　Maggie's　fatherthough　you're　the　rottenest　thing　as　a　father　God　ever　let　breathe！〃

Old　Jimmie　shrank　slightly　before　Larry's　glower；　and　his　little　eyes　gleamed　with　the　fear　of　a　rat　that　is　cornered。　But　he　said　nothing。

Larry　turned　his　back　upon　the　two　men。　〃We're　through　with　this　bunch；　Maggie。　Put　on　a　hat　and　a　wrap；　and　let's　go。　We　can　send　for　your　things。〃

〃No　you　don't；　Maggie；〃　snarled　Barney；　before