children of the whirlwind-第57节

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Sparing　only　the　fraction　of　a　second　to　see　that　Barney　was　momentarily　out　of　it；　Larry　sprang　upon　Joe　Ellison　and　tried　to　break　the　deadly　grips　Joe　held　upon　Old　Jimmie。

〃Stop；　Joestop！〃　he　cried　peremptorily。　〃Your　killing　Jimmie　Carlisle　isn't　going　to　help　things！〃

Without　relaxing　his　holds；　Joe　turned　upon　this　interferer。

〃Larry　Brainard！　How'd　you　come　in　here？〃

〃I've　been　here　all　the　time。　But；　Joedon't　kill　Jimmie　Carlisle！〃

〃You　keep　outthis　is　my　business！〃　Joe　fiercely　replied。　〃If　you've　been　here　all　the　time；　then　you　know　what　he's　done　to　me；　and　what　he's　done　to　my　girl！　You　know　he　deserves　to　have　his　neck　twisted　offand　I'm　going　to　twist　it　off！〃

Larry　perceived　that　Joe's　sense　of　tremendous　injury　had　made　him　for　the　moment　a　madman　in　his　rage。　Only　the　most　powerful　appeal　had　a　chance　to　bring　him　back　to　sanity。

〃Listen；　Joelisten！〃　he　cried　desperately；　straining　to　hold　back　the　other's　furious　strength　from　its　destructive　purpose。　〃After　what's　happened；　every　one　is　bound　to　know　that　Maggie　is　your　daughter！　Understand　that；　Joe？every　one　will　know　that　Maggie　is　your　daughter！　It's　not　going　to　help　you　to　be　charged　with　murder。　And　think　of　this；　Joewhat's　it　going　to　do　to　your　daughter　to　have　her　father　a　murderer？〃

〃What's　that？〃　Joe　Ellison　asked　dazedly。

Larry　saw　that　his　point　had　penetrated　to　the　other's　reason。　So　he　drove　on；　repeating　what　he　had　said。

〃Understand　this；　Joe？every　one　will　now　know　that　Maggie　is　your　daughter！　You　simply　can't　prevent　their　knowing　that　now！　Remember　how　for　over　fifteen　years　you've　been　trying　to　do　the　best　you　could　for　her！　Do　you　now　want　to　do　the　worst　thing　you　can　do？　The　worst　thing　you　can　do　for　Maggie　is　to　make　her　father　a　murderer！〃

〃I　guess　that's　right　Larry；〃　he　said　huskily。　〃Thanks。〃

He　pushed　the　half…strangled　Jimmie　Carlisle　away　from　him。　〃You'll　get　yours　in　some　other　way！〃　he　said　grimly。

Old　Jimmie；　staggering；　caught　the　back　of　a　chair　for　support。　He　tenderly　felt　his　throat　and　blinked　at　Larry　and　Joe　and　Maggie。　He　did　not　try　to　say　anything。　In　the　meantime　Barney　had　recovered　consciousness；　had　struggled　up；　and　was　standing　near　Old　Jimmie。　Their　recognition　that　they　were　sharers　of　defeat　had　served　to　restore　something　of　the　sense　of　alliance　between　the　two。

〃Well；　anyhow；　Larry　Brainard；〃　snarled　Barney；　〃you　haven't　had　anything　to　do　with　putting　this　across！〃

It　was　Joe　Ellison　who　replied。　〃Larry　Brainard　has　had　everything　to　do　with　putting　this　across。　He's　been　beating　you　all　the　time　from　the　very　beginning；　though　you　may　not　have　known　it。　And　though　he's　seemed　to　be　out　of　things　for　the　last　few　hours；　he's　been　the　actual　power　behind　everything　that's　happened　up　to　this　minute。　So　don't　fool　yourselfLarry　Brainard　has　beaten　you　out　at　every　point！〃

A　sense　of　triumph　glowed　within　Larry　at　this。　There　had　been　a　time　when　he　had　wanted　the　animal　satisfaction　which　would　have　come　from　his　giving　violent　physical　punishment　to　these　twoparticularly　to　Barney。　But　he　had　no　desire　now　for　such　empty　vengeance。

〃Well；　I　guess　you've　got　nothing　on　me；〃　Barney　growled　at　them；　〃so　I'll　be　moving　along。　Better　come；　too；　Jimmie。〃

While　he　spoke　a　figure　had　moved　from　Larry's　closet　with　the　silence　of　a　swift　shadow。　It's　thin　hand　gripped　Barney's　shoulder。

〃I　guess　_I've_　got　something　on　you！〃　it　said。

Barney　whirled。　〃Red　Hannigan！〃　he　gasped。

〃Yes；　Red　Hannigan！you　stoolyou　squealer！〃　said　Red　Hannigan。　〃I　heard　you　brag　about　being　Barlow's　stool；　and　I　heard　everything　else　you　bragged　about　to　Joe　Ellison's　girl。　I'd　bump　you　off　right　now　if　I　had　my　gat　with　me　and　if　I　had　any　chance　at　a　get…away。　But　I'll　be　looking　after　you；　and　the　gang　will　be　looking　after　you；　till　you　diethe　same　as　you　set　us　after　Larry　Brainard！　No　matter　what　else　happens　to　you；　you'll　always　have　that　as　something　extra　waiting　for　you！　And　when　the　time　comes；　we'll　get　you！〃

As　silently　as　he　had　appeared　from　the　closet；　as　silently　he　let　himself　out　of　the　room。　The　glowering　features　of　Barney　had　faded　to　a　pasty　white　while　Hannigan　had　spoken；　and　now　the　hand　which　tried　to　bring　a　handkerchief　to　his　lips　shook　so　that　he　could　hardly　find　his　face。　For　none　knew　so　well　as　Barney　Palmer　how　inescapable　was　this　thing　which　would　be　hanging　over　him　until　the　end　of　his　days。

Before　any　one　in　the　room　could　speak　there　came　a　loud　pounding　from　within　the　door　of　the　closet　Larry　and　Red　Hannigan　had　not　occupied。　〃Oh；　I'd　completely　forgotten！〃　exclaimed　Maggieand　indeed　she　had　forgotten　all　that　was　not　immediately　connected　with　the　situation　created　by　her　father's　unexpected　entrance。　She　crossed　and　unlocked　the　door；　and　Barlow　stepped　out。

〃Chief　Barlow！〃　exclaimed　the　astonished　Larry；　and　all　the　other　men　gazed　at　the　Chief　of　Detectives　with　an　equal　surprise。

〃He　is　part　of　my　frame…up；〃　Maggie　explained　at　large。　〃I　wanted　both　the　police　and　Larry's　old　friends　to　know　the　truth　at　first　hand　and　clear　him　before　I　went　away。〃

〃Wasn't　that　Red　Hannigan　who　just　spoke？〃　were　Barlow's　first　words。

〃Yes；〃　said　Larry。

Barney；　and　Old　Jimmie　as　well；　had　perked　up　at　the　appearance　of　Barlow；　as　though　at　aid　which　had　come　just　in　time。　But　Barlow　turned　upon　Barney　a　cold　police　eye。

〃I　heard　you　brag　that　you　were　my　stool。　That's　a　lie。〃

〃WhywhyChief〃　Barney　stammered。　He　had　counted　upon　help　here；　where　there　had　existed　mutually　advantageous　relations　for　so　long。

〃I　heard　you　say　you　had　my　protection。　That's　another　lie。　You've　squealed　on　a　few　people；　but　I've　never　given　you　a　thing。〃

Barney　gasped　at　this。　He　knew；　as　every　one　in　the　room　also　knew；　that　Barlow　was　lying。　But　Barlow　held　all　the　cards。　Rough　and　ruthless　police　politician　that　he　was；　he　made　it　his　business　always　to　hold　the　highest　cards。　As　sick　of　soul　as　a　man　can　be；　Barney　realized　that　Barlow　was　doing　exactly　what　Barlow　always　didwas　swinging　to　the　side　that　had　the　most　evidence　and　that　would　prove　most　advantageous　to　him。　And　Barney　realized　that　he　was　suffering　the　appointed　fate　of　all　stool…pigeons　who　are　found　out　by　their　fellow　criminals　to　be　stool…pigeons。　Such　informers　are　of　no　further　use；　and　according　to　the　police　code　they　must　be　given　punishment　so　severe　as　to　dissipate　any　unhealthy　belief　on　the　public's　part　that　there　could　ever　have　been　any　alliance　between　the　two。

〃I've　used　this　young　lady　who　seems　to　have　been　Jimmie　Carlisle's　daughter　and　now　seems　to　be　the　daughter　of　this　old…timer　Joe　Ellison；　for　a　little　private　sleuthing　on　my　own　hook；〃　Barlow　went　onfor　it　was　the　instinct　of　the　man　to　claim　the　conception　and　leadership　of　any　idea　in　whose　development　he　had　a　part。　He　spoke　in　a　brusque　toneas　why　should　he　not；　since　he　was　addressing　an　audience　he　lumped　together　as　just　so　many　crooks？　〃Through　this　little　stunt　I　pulled　to…night；　I've　got　on　to　your　curves；　Barney　Palmer。　And　yours；　too；　Jimmie　Carlisle。　And　I'm　going　to　run　the　pair　of　you　in。〃

This　was　too　much　for　Barney　Palmer。　Even　though　he　knew　that　his　position　as　a　stool；　who　was　known　to　be　a　stool；　was　without　hope　whatever；　he　went　utterly　to　pieces。

〃For　God's　sake；　Chief；〃　he　burst　out　frantically；　〃you're　not　going　to　treat　me　like　that！　You　could　get　me　out　of　this　easy！　Think　of　all　I've　done　for　you！　For　God's　sake；　Chieffor　God's　sake〃

〃Shut　up！〃　ordered　Barlow；　doubling　a　big　fist。

Chokingly　Barney　obeyed。　Old　Jimmie；　coward　though　he　was；　and　lacking　entirely　Barney's　quality　of　a　bravo；　had　accepted　the　situation　with　the　twitching　calm　of　one　to　whom　the　worst　has　often　happened。　〃Shut　up；〃　repeated　Barlow；　〃and　get　it　fixed　in　your　beans　that　I'm　going　to　run　you　two　in。〃

〃Run　them　in　because　of　this　Sherwood　affair？〃　asked　Larry。

〃Surest　thing　you　know。　I've　got　all　the　evidence　I　seed。〃

〃But〃　Larry　was　beginning　protestingly；　when　the　doorbell　rang　again。　Maggie　opened　the　door；　and　there　entered　Miss　Sherwood；　with　Hunt　just　behind　her；　and　Dick　just　behind　him；　and　Casey　and　Gavegan　following　these　three。　All　in　the　room　were　surprised　at　this　invasion　with　the　sole　exception　of　Joe　Ellison。

〃When　Mr。　Dick　spoke　over　the　'phone　about　your　coming；〃　he　said　to　Miss　Sherwood；　〃I　asked　you　not　to　do　it。〃

Barlow　was　prompt　to　speak；　and　the　sudden　change　in　his　voice　would　have　been　amazing　to　those　who　do　not　know　how　the　little　great　men　of　the　Police　Department；　and　other　little　great　men；　can　alter　their　tones。　He　had　recognized　Miss　Sherwood　at　once；　as　would　any　one　else　at　all　acquainted　with　influential　New　York。

〃Miss　Sherwood；　I　believe；〃　he　said；　essaying　a　slight　bow。

〃Yes。　Though　I　fear　I　have　not　the　pleasure　of　knowing　you。〃

〃Deputy　Barlow；　head　of　the　Detective　Bureau　of　the　Police　Department；〃　he　informed　her。　〃Entirely　at　your　service。〃

〃Just　what　is　going　on　here？〃　she　queried。　〃I　know　a　part　of　what　has　happened〃she　was　addressing　herself　particularly　to　Maggie　and　Larry〃for　Dick　telephoned　me　about　seven；　and　I　came　right　into　town。　He　told　me　everything　he　knewwhich　threw　a　different　light　on