children of the whirlwind-第47节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


think　her　way　out。

When　Maggie　was　out　of　sight　he　excused　himself　from　having　tea；　left　Hunt　and　Miss　Sherwood　upon　the　veranda；　and　sought　his　study。　But　though　he　had　neglected　his　work　the　whole　day；　he　now　gave　it　no　attention。　He　sat　at　his　desk　and　thought　of　Maggie：　tried　to　think　of　what　she　was　going　to　do。　Her　situation　was　so　complicated　with　big　elements　which　she　would　have　to　handle　that　he　could　not　foretell　just　what　her　course　would　be。　It　was　a　terrific　situation　for　a　young　woman；　who　was　after　all　just　a　very　young　girl；　to　face　alone。　But　there　was　nothing　for　him　but　to　wait　for　news　from　her。　And　she　had　not　said　even　that　she　would　ever　let　him　hear。

While　he　considered　these　matters　he　had　risen　and　paced　the　room。　Once　he　had　paused　at　a　French　window　which　opened　upon　a　side　veranda；　and　had　seen　below　him　a　few　yards　away　Joe　Ellison；　whose　interest　in　his　flowers　had　established　his　workday　from　sunrise　to　sunset。　Joe　Ellison　had　been　pulling　tiny　weeds　that　were　daring　to　attempt　to　get　a　start　in　a　rose…garden。　Larry's　mind　had　halted　a　moment　upon　Joe。　Here　at　least　was　a　contented　man：　one　who；　no　matter　what　happened；　would　remain　in　ignorance　of　possibly　great　events　which　would　intimately　concern　him。　Then　Larry　had　left　the　window　and　had　returned　to　his　thoughts　of　Maggie。

But　Larry's　thoughts　were　not　to　remain　exclusively　with　Maggie　for　long。　Shortly　after　six　Judkins　entered　and　announced　that　a　man　was　at　the　door　with　a　message。　The　man　had　refused　to　come　in；　saying　he　was　only　a　messenger　and　was　in　a　hurry；　and　had　refused　to　give　Judkins　the　message；　saying　that　it　was　verbal。　Thinking　that　some　word　had　come　from　his　grandmother；　or　possibly　even　from　Maggie；　Larry　went　out　upon　the　veranda。　Waiting　for　him　was　a　nondescript　man　he　did　not　know。

〃Mr。　Brandon；　sir？〃　asked　the　man。

〃Yes。　You　have　a　message　for　me？〃

Before　the　man　could　reply；　there　came　a　shout　from　the　shrubbery　beyond　the　drive：

〃Grab　him；　Smith！　He's　the　man！〃

Instantly　Smith's　steely　arms　were　about　Larry；　pinning　his　elbows　to　his　sides；　and　a　man　broke　from　the　shrubbery　and　hurried　toward　the　house。　Instinctively　Larry　started　to　struggle；　but　he　ceased　as　he　recognized　the　man　coming　up　the　steps。　It　was　Gavegan。　Larry　realized　that　he　had　been　shrewdly　trapped；　that　resistance　would　serve　no　end；　and　the　next　moment　handcuffs　were　upon　his　wrists。

〃Well；　Brainard；〃　gloated　Gavegan；　〃we've　landed　you　at　last！〃

〃So　it　seems；　Gavegan。〃

〃You　thought　you　was　damned　clever；　but　I　guess　you　know　now　you　ain't　one；　two；　three！〃

〃Oh；　I　knew　how　clever　you　are；　Gavegan；〃　Larry　responded　dryly；　〃and　that　you'd　get　me　sooner　or　later　if　I　hung　around。〃

As　a　matter　of　fact　Larry's　capture；　which　was　as　unspectacular　as　his　escape　had　been　strenuous；　was　the　consequence　of　no　cleverness　at　all。　Larry　had　said　to　Barney　Palmer　the　night　before　that　he　knew　who　Barney's　sucker　was；　and　Barney　had　passed　this　information　along　to　Chief　Barlow。　〃Follow　every　clue；　luck　may　be　with　you　and　one　of　the　clues　may　turn　up　what　you　want〃：this　is　in　substance　an　unwritten　rule　of　routine　procedure　which　effects　those　magnificent　police　solutions　which　are　presented　as　more　mysterious　than　the　original　mysteryfor　it　is　well　for　the　public　to　believe　that　its　police　officers　are　unfailingly　more　clever　than　its　criminals。　Barlow　had　done　some　routine　thinking：　if　Larry　Brainard　knew　Dick　Sherwood　was　the　sucker；　then　watching　Dick　Sherwood　might　possibly　reveal　the　whereabouts　of　Larry　Brainard。　Barlow　had　passed　this　tip　along　to　Gavegan。　Gavegan　had　grumbled　to　himself　that　it　was　only　a　thousand　to　one　shot；　but　luck　had　been　with　him；　and　his　long　shot　had　won。

Miss　Sherwood；　Hunt　behind　her；　had　been　drawn　by　the　sound　of　voices　around　to　the　side　of　the　veranda　where　stood　the　four　men。　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　she　now　sharply　demanded　of　Gavegan。

〃Don't　like　to　make　any　unpleasant　scene；　Miss　Sherwood；　but　I've　gotta　tell　you　that　this　so…called　Brandon　is　a　well…known　crook。〃　Gavegan　enjoyed　few　things　more　than　astounding　people　with　unpleasant　facts。　〃His　real　name　is　Brainard；　he's　done　time；　and　now　he's　wanted　by　the　New　York　police　for　a　tough　job　he　pulled。〃

〃I　knew　all　that　long　ago；〃　said　Miss　Sherwood。

〃Ehwhat？〃　stammered　Gavegan。

〃Mr。　Brainard　told　me　all　that　the　first　time　I　saw　him。〃

〃Hello；　Gavegan；〃　said　Hunt；　stepping　forward。

〃Well；　I'll　beif　you　ain't　that　crazy〃　Again　the　ability　to　express　himself　coherently　and　with　restraint　failed　Gavegan。　〃If　you　ain't　that　painter　that　lived　down　at　the　Duchess's！〃

〃Right；　Gaveganas　a　detective　always　should　be。　And　Larry　Brainard　was　then；　and　is　now；　my　friend。〃

Miss　Sherwood　again　spoke　up　sharply。　〃Mr。　Gaveganif　that　is　your　nameyou　will　please　take　those　foolish　things　off　Mr。　Brainard's　wrists。〃

Gavegan　had　been　cheated　out　of　creating　a　sensation。　That　discomfiture　perhaps　made　him　even　more　dogged　than　he　was　by　nature。

〃Sorry；　Miss；　but　he's　charged　with　having　committed　a　crime　and　is　a　fugitive　from　justice；　and　I　can't。〃

〃I'll　be　his　security。　Take　them　off。〃

〃Sorry　to　refuse　you　again；　Miss。　But　he's　a　dangerous　mangot　away　once　before。　My　orders　is　to　take　no　risks　that'll　give　him　another　chance　for　a　get…away。〃

Miss　Sherwood　turned　to　Larry。　〃I'll　go　into　town　with　you；　and　so　will　Mr。　Hunt。　I'll　see　that　you　get　bail　and　a　good　lawyer。〃

〃Thank　you；　Miss　Sherwood；〃　Larry　said。　〃Gavegan；　I　guess　we're　ready　to　start。〃

〃Not　just　yet；　Brainard。　Sorry；　Miss　Sherwood；　but　we've　got　a　search　warrant　for　your　place。　We　just　want　to　have　a　look　at　the　room　Brainard　used。　No　telling　what　kind　of　crooked　stuff　he's　been　up　to。　And　to　make　the　search　warrant　O。K。　I　had　it　issued　in　this　county　and　brought　along　a　county　officer　to　serve　it。　Show　it　to　the　lady；　Smith。〃

〃I　have　no　desire　to　see　it；　Mr。　Gavegan。　I　have　more　interest　in　watching　you　while　you　go　through　my　things。〃　And　giving　Gavegan　a　look　which　made　an　unaccustomed　flush　run　up　that　officer's　thick　neck　and　redden　his　square　face；　she　led　the　way　into　Larry's　study。　〃This　is　the　room　where　Mr。　Brainard　works；〃　she　said。　〃Through　that　door　is　his　bedroom。　Everything　here　except　his　clothing　is　my　property。　I　shall　hold　you　rigidly　responsible　for　any　disorder　you　may　create　or　any　damage　you　may　do。　Now　you　may　go　ahead。〃

〃Let's　have　all　your　keys；　Brainard；〃　Gavegan　choked　out。

Larry　handed　them　over。　With　Miss　Sherwood；　Hunt；　and　Larry　looking　silently　on；　the　two　men　began　their　examination。　They　began　with　the　papers　on　Larry's　desk　and　in　its　drawers；　and　in　all　his　life　Gavegan　had　not　been　so　considerate　in　a　search　as　he　now　was　with　Miss　Sherwood's　blue　eyes　coldly　upon　him。　They　unlocked　cabinets；　scrutinized　their　contents；　shook　out　books；　examined　the　backs　of　pictures；　took　up　rugs；　then　passed　into　Larry's　bedroom。　Miss　Sherwood　made　no　move　to　follow　the　officers　into　that　more　intimate　apartment；　and　the　other　two　watchers　remained　with　her。

A　minute　passed。　Then　Gavegan　reentered；　a　puzzled；　half…triumphant　look　on　his　red　face；　holding　out　a　square　of　paint…covered　canvas。

〃Found　this　thing　in　Brainard's　chiffonier。　What　the　heI　mean　what's　it　doing　out　here？〃

There　was　not　an　instant's　doubt　as　to　what　the　thing　was。　Larry　started；　and　Hunt　started；　and　Miss　Sherwood　started。　But　it　was　Miss　Sherwood　who　first　spoke。

〃Why；　it's　a　portrait　of　Miss　Cameron；　in　costume！　And　painted　by　Mr。　Hunt！〃　In　amazement　she　turned　first　upon　Larry　and　upon　Hunt。　〃When　did　you　ever　paint　her　portrait；　when　you　did　not　meet　Miss　Cameron　till　you　met　her　here？　And；　Mr。　Brainard；　how　do　you　come　to　possess　Miss　Cameron's　portrait？〃

It　was　Gavegan　who　spoke　up　promptly；　and　not　either　of　the　two　suddenly　discomfited　men。　And　Gavegan　instantly　sensed　in　the　situation　a　chance　to　get　even　for　the　humiliation　his　self…esteem　had　just　suffered。

〃Miss　Cameron　nothing！　Her　real　name　is　Maggie　Carlisle；　and　she　used　to　live　at　a　dump　of　a　pawnshop　down　on　the　East　Side　run　by　Brainard's　grandmother。　Brainard　knew　her　there；　and　so　did　Mr。　Hunt。〃

〃Butbut〃　gasped　Miss　Sherwood〃she's　been　coming　out　here　as　Maggie　Cameron！〃

〃I　tell　you　your　Maggie　Cameron　is　Maggie　Carlisle！〃　said　Gavegan　gloatingly。　〃I've　known　her　for　years。　Her　father　is　Old　Jimmie　Carlisle；　a　notorious　crook。　And　she's　mixed　up　right　now　with　her　father　and　some　others　in　a　crooked　game。　And　Brainard　here　used　to　be　sweet　on　her；　and　probably　still　is；　and　if　he's　been　letting　her　come　here；　without　telling　you　who　she　iswell；　I　guess　you　know　the　answer。　Didn't　I　tell　you；　Miss；　that　give　me　a　chance　and　I'd　turn　up　something　against　this　guy　Brainard！〃

Miss　Sherwood's　face　was　white；　but　set　with　grim　accusation　that　was　only　waiting　to　pronounce　swift　judgment。　〃Mr。　Hunt；　is　it　true　that　Miss　Cameron　is　this　Maggie　Carlisle　the　officer　mentions；　and　that　you　knew　it　all　the　while？〃

〃Yes〃　began　the　painter。

〃Don't　blame　him；　Miss　Sherwood；〃　Larry　interrupted。　〃He　didn't　tell　you　because　I　begged　him　not　to　as　a　favor　to　me。　Blame　me　for　everything。〃

Her　judgment　upon　Hunt　was　pronounced　with　cold　finality；　her　eyes　s