children of the whirlwind-第8节

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〃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　as　I　talked　business　to　myself。　The　crooked　game　is　a　poor　business　for　a　woman　who　can　do　something　elseand　you　can　do　something　else。　I've　known　a　lot　of　women　in　the　crooked　game。　They've　all　had　a　rotten　finish；　or　are　headed　for　one。　So　forget　it；　Maggie。　There's　more　in　the　straight　game。〃

She　had　swiftly　come　to　feel　herself　stronger　and　wiser　than　her　ex…　hero。　In　her　tremendous　pride　and　confidence　of　eighteen；　she　regarded　him　almost　with　pitying　condescension。

〃Something's　softened　your　brain；　Larry。　I　know　better。　The　people　who　pretend　to　go　straight　are　just　fakes；　they're　playing　a　different　kind　of　a　smooth　game；　that's　all。　Everybody　is　out　to　get　his；　and　get　it　the　easiest　and　quickest　way　he　can。　You　know　that's　so。　And　that's　just　what　I　am　going　to　do。〃

Larry　had　once　talked　much　the　same　way；　but　it　seemed　puzzlingly　strange　just　now　to　hear　such　talk　from　a　young　girl。　Then　he　understood。

〃You　couldn't　help　having　such　ideas；　Maggie；　living　among　crooks　ever　since　you　were　a　kid。　Why；　Old　Jimmie　could　not　have　used　better　methods；　or　got　better　results；　if　he　had　set　out　consciously　to　make　you　a　crook。〃　Then　a　sudden　possibility　came　to　him。　〃D'you　suppose　he　could　always　have　had　that　planto　make　you　into　a　crook？〃　he　asked。

〃What　difference　does　that　make？〃　she　demanded　shortly。

〃A　funny　thing　for　a　father　to　do　with　his　own　child；〃　Larry　returned。　〃But　whether　Jimmie　intended　it　or　not；　that's　just　what　he's　done。〃

〃What　I　am；　I　am；〃　she　retorted　with　her　imperious　defiance。　Just　then　she　felt　that　she　hated　him；　she　quivered　with　a　desire　to　hurt　him：　he　had　so　utterly　destroyed　her　romantic　hero　and　her　romantic　dreams。　Her　hands　clenched。

〃You　talk　about　going　straightit's　all　rot！〃　she　flamed　at　him。　〃A　lot　of　men　say　they're　going　straight；　but　no　one　ever　does！　And　you　won't　either！〃

〃You　think　I　won't？〃

〃I　know　you　won't！　You　don't　know　how　to　do　any　regular　work。　And；　besides；　no　one　will　give　a　crook　a　chance。〃

She　had　unerringly　placed　her　finger　upon　his　two　great　problems；　and　Larry　knew　it；　he　had　considered　them　often　enough。

〃All　the　same；　I'm　going　to　make　good！〃　he　declared。

〃Oh；　no；　you're　not！〃

Perhaps　he　was　stirred　chiefly　by　the　sting　of　her　taunting　tongue；　by　the　blaze　of　her　dark；　disdainful　eyes；　and　perhaps　by　the　changed　feeling　toward　this　creature　whom　he　had　left　a　half…grown　girl　and　returned　to　find　a　woman。　At　any　rate；　he　crossed　and　seized　her　wrists　and　gazed　fiercely　down　upon　her。

〃I　tell　you；　I'm　going　to　go　straight；　and　I'm　going　to　make　a　success　of　it！　You'll　see！〃　And　then　he　added　dominantly：　〃What's　more；　I'm　going　to　make　you　go　straight；　too！〃

She　made　no　attempt　to　free　herself；　but　blazed　up　at　him　defiantly。　〃You'll　make　me　do　nothing。　I'm　going　to　be　just　what　I　said；　and　I'm　going　to　make　a　success　of　it。　Just　waitI'll　prove　to　you　what　I　can　do！　And　youyou'll　be　a　failure；　and　will　come　slinking　back　and　beg　us　to　take　you　in！〃

They　glared　at　each　other　silently；　angrily；　their　aroused　wills　defying　each　other。　For　a　moment　they　stood　so。　Then　somethinga　mixture　of　his　desire　to　dominate　this　defiant　young　thing　and　of　that　growing　change　in　him　toward　hersurged　madly　into　Larry's　head。　He　caught　Maggie　in　his　arms　and　kissed　her。

All　the　rigidity　went　suddenly　from　her　figure　and　she　hung　loose　in　his　embrace。　Their　gazes　held　for　a　moment。　She　went　pale；　and　quivering　all　through　she　looked　up　at　him　in　startled；　wide…eyed　silence。　As　for　Larry；　a　dizzying；　throbbing　emotion　permeated　his　whole　astonished　being。

Suddenly　she　pushed　herself　free　from　his　relaxing　arms；　and　backed　away　from　him。

〃What　did　you　do　that　for？〃　she　whispered　huskily。

But　she　did　not　wait　for　his　answer。　She　turned　and　hurried　for　the　stairway。　Three　steps　up　she　turned　again　and　gazed　down　upon　him。　Her　cheeks　were　once　more　flushed　and　her　dark　eyes　blazing。

〃It's　going　to　be　just　as　I　said！〃　she　flung　at　him。　〃I'm　going　to　succeedyou're　going　to　fail！　You　just　wait　and　see！〃

She　turned　and　ran　swiftly　up　the　stairway　and　out　of　sight。　Neither　of　them　had　been　aware　that　the　Duchess；　a　drab　figure　merged　into　a　drab　background；　had　regarded　them　fixedly　during　all　this　scene。　And　Larry　was　still　unconscious　that　the　old　eyes　were　now　watching　him　with　their　deep…set；　expressionless　fixity。

Motionless；　Larry　stood　gazing　at　where　Maggie　had　been。　Within　him　was　tumult；　he　did　not　yet　understand　the　significance　of　that　impulsive　kiss　。　。　。　He　began　to　walk　the　floor；　his　mind　and　will　now　more　in　control。　Yes；　he　was　going　to　go　straight；　he　was　going　to　make　good；　and　make　good　in　a　big　way！　And　he　was　going　to　make　Maggie　go　straight；　too。　He'd　show　her！　It　wasn't　going　to　be　easy；　but　he　had　his　big　plan　made；　and　he　had　determination；　and　he　knew　he'd　win　in　the　end。　Yes；　he'd　show　her！　。　。　。

Up　before　the　mirror　Maggie　sat　looking　intently　at　herself。　Part　of　her　consciousness　was　wondering　about　that　kiss；　and　part　kept　fiercely　repeating　that　she'd　show　himshe'd　show　himshe'd　show　him！　。　。　。

Looking　thus　into　their　futures　they　were　both　very　certain　of　themselves　and　of　the　roads　which　they　were　to　travel。




CHAPTER　VII


Larry　was　still　gazing　at　where　Maggie　had　stood；　flashing　her　defiance　at　him；　when　Hunt　came　thumping　down　the　stairway。

〃Hello；　young　fellow；　what　you　been　doing　to　Maggie？〃　demanded　the　painter。

〃Why？〃

〃Her　door　was　open　when　I　came　by　and　I　called　to　her。　She　didn't　answer；　but；　oh；　what　a　look！　What's　in　the　air？〃

And　then　Hunt　noted　the　Duchess　apart　in　her　corner。　〃I　say；　Duchess　what　were　Larry　and　Maggie　rowing　about？〃

〃Grandmother！〃　Larry　exclaimed　with　a　start。　〃I'd　forgotten　you　were　here！　You　must　have　heard　it　allgo　ahead　and　tell　him。〃

〃Tell　him　yourself；〃　returned　the　Duchess。

Larry　and　Hunt　took　chairs；　and　Larry　gave　the　gist　of　what　he　had　said　about　his　decision　to　Barney　and　Old　Jimmie　and　Maggie。　The　Duchess；　still　motionless　at　her　desk　as　she　had　been　all　during　Larry's　scene　with　Old　Jimmie　and　Barney；　and　then　his　scene　with　Maggie；　regarded　her　grandson　with　that　emotionless；　mummified　face　in　which　only　the　red…margined　eyes　showed　life　or　interest。

〃So　you're　going　to　go　straight；　eh？〃　queried　Hunt。　The　big　painter　sat　with　his　long　legs　sprawling　in　front　of　him；　a　black　pipe　in　his　mouth；　and　looked　at　Larry　skeptically。　〃You　certainly　did　hand　a　jolt　to　your　friends　who'd　been　counting　on　you。　And　yet　you're　sore　because　they　were　sore　at　you　and　didn't　believe　in　you。〃

〃Did　I　say　that　I　was　sore？〃　queried　Larry。

〃No；　but　you're　acting　it。　And　you're　sore　at　Maggie　because　she　didn't　believe　that　you　could　make　good　or　that　you'd　stick　it　out。　Well；　I　don't　believe　you　will　either。〃

〃You're　a　great　painter；　Hunt；　and　a　great　cookbut　I　don't　give　a　damn　what　you　believe。〃

〃Keep　your　shirt　on；　young　fellow；〃　Hunt　responded；　puffing　imperturbably。　〃I　say　I　believe　you　won't　win　outbut　that's　not　saying　I　don't　want　you　to　win　out。　If　that's　what　you　want　to　do；　go　to　it；　and　may　luck　be　with　you；　and　may　the　devil　stay　in　hell。　The　morals　of　other　people　are　out　of　my　linenone　of　my　business。　I'm　a　painter；　and　it's　my　business　to　paint　people　as　I　find　them。　But　Maggie　certainly　did　put　her　finger　on　the　tough　spot　in　your　proposition：　for　a　crook　to　find　a　job　and　win　the　confidence　of　people。　It's　up　grade　all　the　way；　and　it　takes　ten　men's　nerve　to　stick　it　out　to　the　top。　Yep；　Maggie　was　sure　right！〃

And　then　the　Duchess　broke　her　accustomed　silence　with　her　thin　croak：

〃Never　you　mind　Maggie！　She　thinks　she　knows　everything；　but　she　doesn't　know　anything。〃

Larry　looked　in　surprise　at　his　grandmother。　There　was　a　flash　in　her　old　eyes；　but　the　next　moment　the　spark　was　gone。

〃Sure　you're　up　against　itbut　I'll　be　rooting　for　you。〃　Hunt　was　grinning。　〃But　say；　young　fellow；　what　made　you　decide　to　vote　the　other　ticket？〃

Larry　was　trained　at　reading　faces；　and　in　the　rough…hewn；　grinning　features　of　Hunt　he　read　good…fellowship。　Larry　swiftly　responded　in　kind；　for　from　the　moment　he　had　pulled　the　mask　of　being　a　fool　from　the　painter　and　shown　him　to　be　a　real　artist；　he　had　felt　drawn　toward　this　impecunious　swashbuckler　of　the　arts。　So　he　now　repeated　the　business　motives　which　he　had　presented　to　Barney　and　Old　Jimmie。　As　Larry　talked　he　became　more　spontaneous；　and　after　a　time　he　was　telling　of　the　effect　upon　him　of　seeing　various　shrewd　men　locked　up　and　unexercised　in　prison。　And　presently　his　reminiscence　settled　upon　one　prison　acquaintance：　a　man　past　middle　age；　clever　in　his　generation；　who　had　already　done　some　fifteen　years　of　a　long　sentence。　He　was；　said　Larry；　grim　and　he　rarely　spoke；　but　a　close；　wordless　friendship　had　developed　between　them。　Only　once；　in　an　unusually　relaxed　mood；　had　the　old　convict　spoken　of　himself；　but　what　he　had　then　said　had　had　a　greater　part　in　rousing　Larry　to　his　new　decision　than　the　words　of　any　other　man。

〃It　was　a　queer　story　Joe　let　out；〃　continued　Larry。　〃Before　he　was　sent　away　he　had　a