children of the whirlwind-第6节

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anting　to　see　you。　They've　got　something　big　waiting　for　you。　I　suppose　you're　all　ready　to　jump　in　and　put　it　over　with　a　wallop。〃

〃I'm　going　to　put　something　over　with　a　wallopbut　I　guess　business　will　have　to　wait　until　Barney；　Jimmie；　and　I　have　a　talk。　Can　you　spare　me　a　little　more　of　that　stew？〃

His　manner　of　speaking　was　a　quiet　announcement　to　Hunt　that　his　plans　were　for　the　present　a　closed　subject。　Hunt　felt　balked；　for　this　lean；　alert；　much…talked…of　adventurer　piqued　him　greatly；　but　he　switched　to　other　subjects；　and　during　the　rest　of　the　meal　did　most　of　the　talking。　The　Duchess　was　silent；　and　seemingly　was　concerned　only　with　her　food。　Larry　got　in　a　fair　portion　of　speech；　but　for　the　most　part　his　attention；　except　for　that　required　for　eating；　was　fixed　upon　Maggie。

How　she　had　sprung　up　since　he　had　last　seen　her！　Almost　a　woman　now　and　destined　to　be　a　beauty！　And　more　than　just　a　beauty：　she　was　colorful；　vital；　high…strung。　Before　he　had　gone　away　he　had　regarded　her　with　something　akin　to　the　negligent　affection　of　an　older　brother。　But　this　thing　which　was　already　beginning　to　surge　up　in　him　was　altogether　different；　and　he　knew　it。

As　for　Maggie；　when　she　looked　at　him；　she　flushed　and　her　eyes　grew　bright。　Larry　was　back！the　brilliant；　daring　Larry。　She　was　aware　that　she　had　been　successful　in　startling　and　gripping　his　attention。　Yes；　they　would　do　great　things　together！

When　the　dinner　was　finished　and　the　dishes　washed；　Larry　gave　voice　to　this　new　urge　that　had　so　quickly　grown　up　within　him。

〃What　do　you　say；　Maggie；　to　a　little　walk？〃

〃All　right；〃　she　replied　eagerly。

They　went　down　the　narrow　stairway　together。　On　the　landing　of　the　second　floor；　which　contained　only　Maggie's　bedroom　and　the　Duchess's　and　a　tiny　kitchen；　Maggie　started　to　leave　him　to　change　into　street　clothes；　but　he　caught　her　arm　and　said；　〃Come　on。〃　They　descended　the　next　flight　and　came　into　the　back　room　behind　the　pawnshop；　which　the　Duchess　used　as　a　combination　of　sitting…room；　office；　and　storeroom。　About　this　musty　museum　hung　or　stood　unredeemed　seamen's　jackets；　men　and　women's　evening　wear；　banjos；　guitars；　violins；　umbrellas；　and　one　huge　green　stuffed　parrot　sitting　on　top　of　the　Duchess's　safe。

〃I　wanted　to　talk；　not　walk；〃　he　said。　〃Let's　stay　here。〃

He　took　her　hands　and　looked　down　on　her　steadily。　Under　the　yellow　gaslight　her　face　gleamed　excitedly　up　into　his；　her　breath　came　quickly。

〃Well；　sir；　what　do　you　think　of　me？〃　she　demanded。　〃Have　I　changed　much？〃

〃Changed？　Why；　it's　magic；　Maggie！　I　left　you　a　schoolgirl；　you're　a　woman　now。　And　a　wonder！〃

〃You　think　so？〃　She　flushed　with　pride　and　pleasure；　and　a　wildness　of　spirit　possessed　her　and　demanded　expression　in　action。　She　freed　her　left　hand　and　slipped　it　over　Larry's　shoulder。　〃Come　onlet's　two…　step。〃

〃But；　Maggie；　I've　forgotten。〃

〃Come　on！〃

Instantly　she　was　dragging　him　over　the　scanty　floor　space。　But　after　a　moment　he　halted；　protesting。

〃These　prison　brogans　were　not　intended　by　their　builders　for　such　work。　If　you've　got　to　dance；　you'll　have　to　work　it　out　of　your　system　alone。〃

〃All　right！〃

At　once；　in　the　midst　of　the　dingy　room；　humming　the　music；　she　was　doing　Carmen's　dancewild；　provocative；　alluring。　It　was　not　a　remarkable　performance　in　any　professionally　technical　sense；　but　it　had　vivid　personality；　she　was　light；　lithe；　graceful；　flashing　with　color　and　spirits。

〃Maggie！〃　he　exclaimed；　when　she　had　finished　and　stood　before　him　glowing　and　panting。　〃Good！　Where　did　you　learn　that？〃

〃In　the　chorus　of　a　cabaret　revue。〃

〃Is　that　what　you're　doing　now；　working　in　a　chorus？〃

〃No。　Barney　and　father　said　a　chorus　was　no　place　for　me。〃　She　drew　nearer。　〃Oh；　Larry；　I've　such　a　lot　to　tell　you。〃

〃Go　on。〃

〃Well〃she　cocked　her　head　impishly〃I've　been　going　to　school。〃

〃Going　to　school！　Where？〃

〃Lots　of　places。　Just　now　I'm　going　to　school　at　the　Ritzmore　Hotel。〃

〃At　the　Ritzmore　Hotel！〃　He　stared　at　her　bewildered。　〃What　are　you　learning　there？〃

〃To　be　a　lady。〃　She　laughed　at　his　increasing　bewilderment。　〃A　real　lady；　Larry；〃　she　went　on　excitedly。　〃Oh；　it's　such　a　wonderful　idea！　Father　had　never　seemed　to　think　much　of　me　till　the　night　I　went　to　a　masquerade　ball　with　Mr。　Hunt；　and　he　and　Barney　saw　me　in　these　clothes。　They　had　never　seen　me　really　dressed　up　before；　Barney　said　it　was　an　eye…opener。　They　saw　how　I　could　be　of　big　use　to　you　all。　But　to　be　that；　I've　got　to　be　a　ladya　real　lady；　who　knows　how　to　behave　and　wear　real　clothes。　That's　what　they're　doing　now：　making　me　a　lady。〃

〃Making　you　a　lady！〃　exclaimed　Larry。　〃How？〃

〃By　putting　me　where　I　can　watch　real　ladies；　and　study　them。　Barney　cut　short　my　being　in　a　chorus；　Barney　said　a　chorus　girl　never　learned　to　pass　for　a　lady。　So　I've　been　working　in　places　where　the　swellest　women　come。　First　in　a　milliner　shop；　then　as　dresser　to　a　model　in　the　shop　of　a　swell　modiste；　always　watching　how　the　ladies　behave。　Now　I'm　at　the　Ritzmore；　and　I　carry　a　tray　of　cigarettes　around　the　tables　at　lunch　and　at　tea…time　and　during　dinner　and　during　the　after…theater　supper。　I'm　supposed　to　be　there　to　sell　cigarettes；　but　I'm　really　there　to　watch　how　the　ladies　handle　their　knives　and　forks　and　behave　toward　the　men。　Isn't　it　all　awfully　clever？〃

〃Why；　Maggie！〃　he　exclaimed。

〃And　pretty　soon；　when　I've　learned　more；〃　she　continued　rapidly；　〃I'm　going　to　have　swell　clothes　of　my　ownand　be　a　ladyand　get　away　from　this　dingy；　stuffy；　dead　old　place！　I　can't　stand　for　being　buried　down　here　much　longer。　And；　oh；　Larry；　I'm　going　to　begin　to　work　with　you！〃

〃What？〃　he　blinked；　not　yet　quite　understanding。

〃You　think　I'm　not　clever　enough？　But　I　am！〃　she　protested。　〃I　tell　you　I've　learned　a　lot。　And　Barney　and　father　have　let　me　help　in　a　lot　of　thingsnothing　really　big　yet；　of　course。　They　think　I'm　going　to　be　a　wonder。　Just　to…day　father　was　saying　that　you　and　I；　teamed　upWhy；　what's　the　matter；　Larry？〃

〃You　and　Iteamed　up；〃　he　repeated　slowly。

〃Yes。　Don't　you　like　the　idea？〃

His　hands　suddenly　gripped　her　bare　shoulders。

〃There's　nothing　to　it！〃　he　exclaimed　almost　savagely。

〃What's　that？〃　she　cried；　startled。

〃I　tell　you　there's　nothing　to　it！〃

〃Youyou　think　I　can't　put　it　over？〃

〃You　can't！　And　I'm　not　going　to　have　it！〃

〃Whywhy〃

Staring；　she　drew　slowly　away　from　him。　His　face；　which　a　few　moments　before　had　been　smiling；　was　now　harsh　and　dominant　with　decision。　She　had　heard　him　spoken　of　as　〃Laughing　Larry〃；　and　also　as　〃Terrible　Larry〃　whose　aroused　will　none　could　brook。　He　looked　this　latter　person　now；　and　she　could　not　understand。

But　though　she　could　not　understand；　her　own　defiant　spirit　stormed　up　to　fight　this　unexpected　opposition。　He　didn't　believe　in　herthat　was　it！　He　didn't　think　she　was　equal　to　working　with　him！　Her　young　figure　stiffened　in　angered　pride；　and　her　mind　was　gathering　hot　phrases　to　fling　at　him　when　the　door　from　the　pawnshop　began　to　creak　open。　Instantly　Larry　turned　toward　it；　relaxed　and　yet　alert　for　anything。　Old　Jimmie　and　Barney　Palmer　entered。

〃Hello；　Larry！〃　cried　the　old　man；　crossing。　〃Welcome　to　our　city！〃

〃Hello；　Jimmie。　Hello；　Barney。〃　And　Larry　shook　hands　with　his　partners　of　other　days。

〃Gee；　Larry；　it's　good　to　see　you！〃　exclaimed　the　cunning…eyed　old　man。　〃Didn't　know　you　were　back　till　I　bumped　into　Gavegan　on　Broadway。　He　told　me；　and　so　Barney　and　I　beat　it　over　here　to　see　you。　Believe　me；　Larry；　that　flatfoot　is　certainly　sore　at　you！〃

Larry　ignored　the　last　sentence。　〃Think　it　exactly　wise　for　you　two　to　come　here？〃

〃Why　Larry；？〃

〃Gavegan；　Casey；　the　police；　may　follow；　thinking　you've　come　to　see　me　for　some　purpose。　That　outfit　may　act　upon　suspicion。〃

Jimmie　grinned　cunningly。　〃A　man　can　come　to　visit　his　own　daughter　as　often　as　he　likes。　Father　love；　Larry。〃

〃I　see；　that'll　be　your　explanation。〃　Larry's　eyes　grew　keen　at　the　new　understanding。　〃I　hadn't　thought　of　that　before；　Jimmie。　So　that's　why　you've　always　boarded　Maggie　around　in　shady　joints：　so's　you　could　meet　your　pals　and　yet　always　have　the　excuse　that　you　had　come　to　meet　your　daughter？〃

〃Partly　that；〃　smiled　Old　Jimmie　blandlyperhaps　too　blandly。　〃Suppose　we　sit　down。〃

They　did　so；　Maggie　sitting　a　little　apart　from　the　men　and　regarding　Larry　with　indignant；　questioning　eyes。　She　still　could　not　understand　his　queer　behavior　when　she　had　announced　her　intention　of　working　with　him。　Could　it　be；　as　her　father　had　said；　because　he　would　never　work　with　womennot　trusting　them？　She'd　show　him！

She　was　so　occupied　with　this　wonderment　that　she　gave　no　heed　to　the　talk　about　Larry's　experience　in　Sing　Sing　and　Old　Jimmie's　recital　of　what　had　happened　among　Larry's　friends　during　his　absence。　During　this　gossip　the　Duchess　entered　from　the　stairway；　and　without　word　to　any　one　shuffled　across　to　her　desk　in　a　corner　and　bent　silently　over　her　accounts：　just　one　more　grotesque　and　unredeemed　pledge　in　this　museum　of　antiquities　and　forgotten　pawns。

Presently　Barney　Palmer；　who　had　been　impatient　during　all　this；　broke　out　with：

〃Aw；　let's　cut　out　this　chatter　about　what　used　to　be