children of the whirlwind-第7节

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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　and　get　down　to　cases。　Jimmie；　will　you　spill　the　business　to　Larry；　or　want　me　to？〃

〃I'll　tell　him。　Listen；　Larry。〃　Maggie　pricked　up　her　ears；　the　talk　was　now　excitingly　important。　〃We've　got　our　very　greatest　game　all　planned　out。　Stock…selling　game；　going　to　unload　the　whole　thing　on　one　sucker；　and　we've　got　the　sucker　picked　out。　Besides　you　and　Barney　and　me；　there's　Red　Hannigan　and　Jack　Rosenfeldt　in　ita　classy　bunch　all　right。　And　we　think　that　for　the　woman　end　we'll　take　in　Mae　Gorham。　She's　clever　and　innocent…eyed〃

〃But　I　thought　you　were　going　to　take　me　in！〃　protested　Maggie。

〃Maggie'll　be　just　as　good　as　Mae　Gorham；〃　put　in　Barney。

〃We'll　let　that　pass；〃　said　Old　Jimmie。　〃The　main　thing；　Larry；　is　that　everything　is　ready。　It's　a　whale　of　a　business　proposition。　We've　been　waiting　for　you；　you're　all　that's　lackingthe　brainy　guy　to　sit　behind　the　scenes　and　manage　the　thing。　You've　handled　the　bunch　for　a　long　time；　and　they　want　you　to　handle　this。　For　you're　sure　a　wonder　at　business；　Larry！　None　keener。　Well；　we've　held　this　off　waiting　for　you　for　a　month。　How　about　jumping　right　in？〃

All　three　eyed　Larry。　His　lean　face　was　expressionless。　He　lit　a　cigarette；　rose　and　leaned　against　the　Duchess's　safe　on　which　stood　the　green　parrot；　and；　gaze　on　the　floor；　slowly　exhaled　smoke　through　his　nostrils。

〃Well？〃　demanded　Barney。

Larry　looked　at　the　two　men　with　quiet；　even　eyes。　〃Thanks　to　both　of　you。　It's　a　great　compliment。　But　I've　had　time　to　do　a　little　planning　myself　up　in　Sing　Sing；　and　I've　worked　out　a　game　that's　got　this　one　beat　a　mile。〃

〃Hell！〃　ejaculated　Barney　in　wrathful　disgust。　〃Jimmie；　I　told　you　we　were　wasting　time　waiting　for　him！〃

〃Hold　on　a　second；　Barney。　If　Larry's　worked　out　a　better　game；　he'll　take　us　into　it。　But；　Larry；　how　can　your　game　beat　this　one？〃

〃Because　there's　more　money　in　it。　And　because　it's　safer。〃

〃Safe！　Aw；　hell！〃　The　smouldering　jealousy　and　hatred　glared　out　of　Barney's　greenish　eyes。　〃I　always　knew　you　had　a　yellow　streak！　Something　safe！　Aw；　hell！〃

〃Don't　blow　up；　Barney。　What　is　the　new　game；　Larry？〃　queried　the　old　man。

Larry　regarded　the　two　men　steadfastly。　He　seemed　reluctant　to　speak。

〃Well？〃　prompted　Old　Jimmie。　〃Is　it　something　you　don't　want　to　let　us　in　on？〃

〃Of　course　I'll　let　you　in　on　it；　and　be　glad　to；　if　you　want　to　come　in；〃　Larry　replied　in　his　level　tone。　〃As　I　said；　I've　thought　it　all　out　and　it's　a　great　proposition。　Here's　the　game：　I'm　going　to　run　straight。〃

For　a　moment　all　three　sat　astounded　by　this　quiet　statement　from　their　leader。　Nothing　he　might　have　said　could　have　been　more　unexpected；　more　stupefying。　The　Duchess　alone　moved；　she　turned　her　head　and　held　her　sunken　eyes　upon　her　grandson。

Simultaneously　the　two　men　and　Maggie　stood　up。

〃The　hell　you　say！〃　grated　Barney　Palmer。

〃Larry；　you　gone　crazy？〃　cried　Old　Jimmie。

Maggie　moved　a　pace　nearer　him。　〃Going　to　go　straight？〃　she　asked　incredulously。

〃Listen；　all　of　you；〃　Larry　said　quietly。　〃No；　Jimmie；　I've　not　gone　crazy。　I'm　merely　going　a　little　sane。　You　just　said　I　was　a　wonder　at　business；　Jimmie。　I　think　I　am　myself。　I　thought　it　all　over　as　a　business　proposition。　Suppose　we　clean　up　fifty　or　a　hundred　thousand　on　a　big　deal。　We've　got　to　split　it　several　ways；　perhaps　pay　a　big　piece　to　the　police　for　protection；　perhaps　pay　a　lot　of　lawyers；　and　then　perhaps　get　sent　away　for　a　year　or　several　years；　during　which　we　don't　take　in　a　nickel。　I　figured　that　over　a　term　of　years　my　average　income　was　mighty　small。　As　a　business　man　it　seemed　to　me　that　I　was　in　a　poor　business；　with　no　future。　So　I　decided　to　get　into　a　new　business　that　had　a　future。　That's　the　size　of　it。〃

〃You're　turning　yellowthat's　the　real　size　of　it！〃　snarled　Barney　Palmer；　half　starting　toward　him。

〃Better　be　a　little　careful；　Barney；〃　Larry　warned　with　tightening　jaw。

〃You　really　mean；　Larry；〃　demanded　Old　Jimmie；　〃that　you're　going　to　drop　us　after　us　counting　on　you　and　waiting　for　you　so　long？〃

〃I'm　sorry　about　having　kept　you　waiting；　Jimmie。　But　we've　parted　definitely。〃　Then　Larry　added：　〃Unless　you　want　to　travel　my　road。〃

〃Your　road！　Never！〃　snapped　Barney。

〃And　you；　Jimmie？　〃　Larry　inquired；　his　eyes　on　Barney's　inflamed　face。

〃I　don't　see　your　proposition。　And　I'm　too　old　a　bird　to　start　something　new。　No；　thanks。　I'll　stick　to　what　I　know。〃

His　next　words；　showing　his　long　yellow　teeth；　were　spoken　slowly；　but　they　were　hard；　and　had　a　cutting　edge。　〃You've　got　a　sweet　idea　of　what's　straight；　Larry：　dropping　us　without　a　leader；　just　when　we　need　a　leader　most。〃

Larry's　composed　yet　watchful　gaze　was　still　on　Barney。　〃You're　not　really　left　in　such　a　bad　way。　Barney　here　is　ready　to　take　charge。〃

〃You　bet　I　am！〃　Barney　flamed　at　him；　his　hands　clenching。　〃And　the　bunch　won't　lose　by　the　change；　you　bet！　The　bunch　always　thought　you　were　an　aceand　I　always　knew　you　were　a　two…spot。　And　now　they'll　see　I　was　rightthat　you　were　always　yellow！〃

Larry　still　leaned　against　the　safe　in　the　same　posture　of　seeming　ease；　but　he　expected　Barney　to　strike　at　any　moment；　and　held　himself　in　readiness　for　a　flashing　fist。　Barney　had　been　hard　to　hold　in　leash　in　the　old　days；　now　that　all　ties　of　partnership　were　broken；　he　saw　in　those　small　gleaming　eyes　a　defiance　and　a　hatred　that　henceforth　had　no　reason　for　restraint。　And　he　knew　that　Barney　was　shrewd；　grimly　tenacious；　and　limitless　in　self…confidence　and　ambition。

〃And　listen　to　this；　too；　Larry　Brainard；〃　Barney's　temper　carried　him　on。　〃Don't　you　mix　in　and　try　any　preaching　on　Maggie。〃　He　half　turned　his　head　jealously。　〃Maggie；　don't　you　listen　to　any　of　this　boob's　Salvation　Army　talk！〃

Maggie　did　not　at　once　respond；　but　stood　gazing　at　the　two　confronting　figures。　To　her　they　were　an　oddly　dissimilar　pair：　Barney　in　the　smartest　clothes　that　an　over…smart　Broadway　tailor　could　create；　and　Larry　in　the　shapeless　garments　that　were　the　State's　gift　to　him　on　leaving　prison。

〃Maggie；〃　he　repeated；　〃don't　you　listen　to　this　boob's　talk！〃

〃I'll　do　just　as　I　please；　Barney。〃

〃But　you're　going　to　come　our　way？〃　he　demanded。

〃Of　course。〃

He　turned　back　to　Larry。　〃You　hear　that？　You　leave　Maggie　alone！〃

Larry　did　not　answer；　though　his　temper　was　rising。　He　looked　over　Barney's　head　at　Maggie's　father。

〃Jimmie；〃　he　remarked　in　his　same　even　voice；　〃anything　more　you'd　like　to　say？〃

〃I'm　through。〃

〃Then；〃　said　Larry；　〃better　lead　your　new　commander…in…chief　out　of　here；　or　I'll　carry　him　out　and　spank　him。〃

〃What's　that？〃　snarled　Barney。

〃Get　out！〃　Larry　ordered；　in　a　voice　suddenly　like　steel。

Barney's　fist　swung　viciously　at　Larry's　head。　It　did　not　land；　because　Larry's　head　was　elsewhere。　Larry　did　not　take　advantage　of　the　opening　to　strike　back；　but　as　the　fist　flashed　by　he　seized　the　wrist；　and　in　the　same　instant　he　seized　the　other　wrist。　The　next　moment　he　held　Barney　helpless　in　a　twisting；　torturing　grip　that　he　had　learned　from　one　of　his　non…Christian　friends　at　the　Y。M。C。A。

〃Barneyare　you　going　to　walk　out；　or　shall　I　kick　you　out？〃

Barney's　answer　came　after　a　moment　through　gritted　teeth：　〃I'll　walk　outbut　I'll　get　you　for　this！〃

〃I　know　you'll　try；　Barney。　And　I　know　you'll　try　to　get　me　behind　my　back。〃　Larry　loosed　his　grip。　〃Good…night。〃

Barney　backed　glowering　to　the　door；　and　Old　Jimmie；　his　gray　face　an　expressionless　mask；　silently　followed　him　out。

All　this　while　the　Duchess　had　looked　on；　motionless　in　her　corner；　a　dingy；　forgotten　part　of　the　dingy　backgroundno　more　noticeable　than　one　of　her　own　dusty；　bizarre　pledges。




CHAPTER　VI


For　a　moment　after　the　door　had　closed　upon　Barney　and　Old　Jimmie；　Larry　stood　gazing　at　it。　Then　he　turned　to　Maggie。

She　was　standing　slenderly　upright。　Her　head　was　imperiously　high；　her　black　eyes　defiant。　Neither　spoke　at　once。　More　than　before　was　he　impressed　by　her　present　and　her　potential　beauty。　Till　this　night　he　had　thought　of　her　only　casually；　as　merely　a　young　girl；　he　was　not　now　consciously　in　love　with　herher　young　woman…hood　had　burst　upon　him　too　suddenly　for　such　a　consciousnessbut　a　warm　tingling　went　through　him　as　he　gazed　at　her　imperious；　self…confident　youth。　Part　of　his　mind　was　thinking　much　the　same　thought　that　Hunt　had　considered　a　few　hours　earlier：　here　were　the　makings　of　a　magnificent　adventuress。

〃Maggie；〃　he　mused；　〃you　didn't　get　your　looks　from　your　father。　You　must　have　had　a　fine…looking　mother。〃

〃I　don't　knowI　never　saw　her；〃　she　returned　shortly。

〃Poor　kid；〃　Larry　mused　on〃and　with　only　Old　Jimmie　for　a　father。〃　She　did　not　know　what　to　say。　For　a　long　time　she　had　dreamed　of　this　man　as　her　hero；　she　had　dreamed　of　splendid　adventures　with　him　in　which　she　should　win　his　praise。　And　nowand　now

He　switched　to　another　subject。

〃So　you　have　decided　to　string　along　with　your　father　and　Barney？〃

〃I　have。〃

〃Don't　you　do　it；　Maggie。〃

〃Don't　you　preach；　Larry。〃

〃I'm　not　preaching。　I'm　just　talking　business　to　you。　The　same　a