within the law-第35节

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rs；　turn　'em　off。　　Understand？〃　

With　instant　obedience；　the　man　addressed　went　to　his　station　by　the　hall　door；　and　stood　ready　to　control　the　electric　current。

The　distracted　girl　essayed　one　last　plea。　　The　momentary　softening　of　Garson　had　given　her　new　courage。

〃Joe；　don't　do　this。〃

〃You　can't　stop　it　now；　Mary；〃　came　the　brisk　retort。　〃Too　late。　　You're　only　wasting　time；　making　it　dangerous　for　all　of　us。〃

Again　he　gave　his　attention　to　carrying　on　the　robbery。

〃Red；〃　he　ordered；　〃you　get　to　that　door。〃　　He　pointed　to　the　one　that　gave　on　the　passageway　against　which　he　had　set　the　chair　tilted。　　As　the　man　obeyed；　Garson　gave　further　instructions。

〃If　any　one　comes　in　that　way；　get　him　and　get　him　quick。　　You　understand？　　Don't　let　him　cry　out。〃

Chicago　Red　grinned　with　cheerful　acceptance　of　the　issue　in　such　an　encounter。　　He　held　up　his　huge　hand；　widely　open。

〃Not　a　chance；〃　he　declared；　proudly；　〃with　that　over　his　mug。〃　　To　avoid　possible　interruption　of　his　movements　in　an　emergency；　he　removed　the　chair　Garson　had　placed　and　set　it　to　one　side；　out　of　the　way。

〃Now；　let's　get　to　work；〃　Garson　continued　eagerly。　Mary　spoke　with　the　bitterness　of　defeat。

〃Listen；　Joe！　If　you　do　this；　I'm　through　with　you。　I　quit。〃

Garson　was　undismayed　by　the　threat。

〃If　this　goes　through；〃　he　countered；　〃we'll　all　quit。　That's　why　I'm　doing　it。　　I'm　sick　of　the　game。〃

He　turned　to　the　work　in　hand　with　increased　energy。

〃Come；　you；　Griggs　and　Red；　and　push　that　desk　down　a　bit　so　that　I　can　stand　on　it。〃　　The　two　men　bent　to　the　task；　heedless　of　Mary's　frantic　protest。

〃No！　no！　no！　no！　no；　Joe！〃　

Red；　however；　suddenly　straightened　from　the　desk　and　stood　motionless；　listening。　　He　made　a　slight　hissing　noise　that　arrested　the　attention　of　the　others　and　held　them　in　moveless　silence。

〃I　hear　something；〃　he　whispered。　　He　went　to　the　keyhole　of　the　door　leading　into　the　passage。　　Then　he　whispered　again；　〃And　it's　coming　this　way。〃

At　the　words；　Garson　snapped　his　fingers。　　The　room　was　plunged　in　darkness。



CHAPTER　XVIII。　THE　NOISELESS　DEATH。　

There　was　absolute　silence　in　the　library　after　the　turning　of　the　switch　that　brought　the　pall　of　darkness。　Long　seconds　passed；　then　a　little　noisethe　knob　of　the　passage　door　turning。　　As　the　door　swung　open；　there　came　a　gasping　breath　from　Mary；　for　she　saw　framed　in　the　faint　light　that　came　from　the　single　burner　in　the　corridor　the　slender　form　of　her　husband；　Dick　Gilder。　　In　the　next　instant　he　had　stepped　within　the　room　and　pulled　to　the　door　behind　him。　　And　in　that　same　instant　Chicago　Red　had　pounced　on　his　victim；　the　huge　hand　clapped　tight　over　the　young　man's　mouth。　　Even　as　his　powerful　arm　held　the　newcomer　in　an　inescapable　embrace；　there　came　a　sound　of　scuffling　feet　and　that　was　all。　　Finally　the　big　man's　voice　came　triumphantly。

〃I've　got　him。〃

〃It's　Dick！〃　The　cry　came　as　a　wail　of　despair　from　the　girl。

At　the　same　moment；　Garson　flashed　his　torch；　and　the　light　fell　swiftly　on　young　Gilder；　bowed　to　a　kneeling　posture　before　the　couch；　half…throttled　by　the　strength　of　Chicago　Red。　　Close　beside　him；　Mary　looked　down　in　wordless　despair　over　this　final　disaster　of　the　night。　　There　was　silence　among　the　men；　all　of　whom　save　the　captor　himself　were　gathered　near　the　fireplace。

Garson　retired　a　step　farther　before　he　spoke　his　command；　so　that；　though　he　held　the　torch　still；　he　like　the　others　was　in　shadow。　　Only　Mary　was　revealed　clearly　as　she　bent　in　alarm　toward　the　man　she　had　married。　　It　was　borne　in　on　the　forger's　consciousness　that　the　face　of　the　woman　leaning　over　the　intruder　was　stronger　to　hold　the　prisoner　and　to　prevent　any　outcry　than　the　might　of　Chicago　Red　himself；　and　so　he　gave　the　order。

〃Get　away；　Red。〃

The　fellow　let　go　his　grip　obediently　enough；　though　with　a　trifle　of　regret；　since　he　gloried　in　his　physical　prowess。

Thus　freed　of　that　strangling　embrace；　Dick　stumbled　blindly　to　his　feet。　　Then；　mechanically；　his　hand　went　to　the　lamp　on　the　table　back　of　the　couch。　　In　the　same　moment　Garson　snapped　his　torch　to　darkness。　When；　after　a　little　futile　searching；　Dick　finally　found　the　catch；　and　the　mellow　streamed　forth；　he　uttered　an　ejaculation　of　stark　amazement；　for　his　gaze　was　riveted　on　the　face　of　the　woman　he　loved。

〃Good　God！〃　It　was　a　cry　of　torture　wrung　from　his　soul　of　souls。

Mary　swayed　toward　him　a　little；　palpitant　with　fear　fear　for　herself；　for　all　of　them；　most　of　all　for　him。

〃Hush！　hush！〃　she　panted　warningly。　　〃Oh；　Dick；　you　don't　understand。〃

Dick's　hand　was　at　his　throat。　　It　was　not　easy　for　him　to　speak　yet。　　He　had　suffered　severely　in　the　process　of　being　throttled；　and；　too；　he　was　in　the　clutch　of　a　frightful　emotion。　　To　find　her；　his　wife；　in　this　place；　in　such　companyher；　the　woman　whom　he　loved；　whom；　in　spite　of　everything；　he　had　honored；　the　woman　to　whom　he　had　given　his　name！　Mary　here！　And　thus！

〃I　understand　this；〃　he　said　brokenly　at　last。　〃Whether　you　ever　did　it　before　or　not；　this　time　you　have　broken　the　law。〃　　A　sudden　inspiration　on　his　own　behalf　came　to　him。　　For　his　love's　sake；　he　must　seize　on　this　opportunity　given　of　fate　to　him　for　mastery。　He　went　on　with　a　new　vehemence　of　boldness　that　became　him　well。

〃You're　in　my　hands　now。　　So　are　these　men　as　well。　Unless　you　do　as　I　say；　Mary；　I'll　jail　every　one　of　them。〃

Mary's　usual　quickness　was　not　lacking　even　now；　in　this　period　of　extremity。　　Her　retort　was　given　without　a　particle　of　hesitation。

〃You　can't；〃　she　objected　with　conviction。　　〃I'm　the　only　one　you've　seen。〃

〃That's　soon　remedied；〃　Dick　declared。　　He　turned　toward　the　hall　door　as　if　with　the　intention　of　lighting　the　chandelier。

But　Mary　caught　his　arm　pleadingly。

〃Don't；　Dick；〃　she　begged。　　〃It'sit's　not　safe。〃

〃I'm　not　afraid；〃　was　his　indignant　answer。　　He　would　have　gone　on；　but　she　clung　the　closer。　　He　was　reluctant　to　use　over…much　force　against　the　one　whom　he　cherished　so　fondly。

There　came　a　diversion　from　the　man　who　had　made　the　capture；　who　was　mightily　wondering　over　the　course　of　events；　which　was　wholly　unlike　anything　in　the　whole　of　his　own　rather　extensive　housebreaking　experience。

〃Who's　this；　anyhow？〃　　Chicago　Red　demanded。

There　was　a　primitive　petulance　in　his　drawling　tones。

Dick　answered　with　conciseness　enough。

〃I'm　her　husband。　　Who　are　you？〃　

Mary　called　a　soft　admonition。

〃Don't　speak；　any　of　you；〃　she　directed。　　〃You　mustn't　let　him　hear　your　voices。〃

Dick　was　exasperated　by　this　persistent　identification　of　herself　with　these　criminals　in　his　father's　house。

〃You're　fighting　me　like　a　coward；〃　he　said　hotly。　His　voice　was　bitter。　　The　eyes　that　had　always　been　warm　in　their　glances　on　her　were　chill　now。　　He　turned　a　little　way　from　her；　as　if　in　instinctive　repugnance。　　〃You　are　taking　advantage　of　my　love。　　You　think　that　because　of　it　I　can't　make　a　move　against　these　men。　　Now；　listen　to　me；　I〃

〃I　won't！〃　Mary　cried。　　Her　words　were　shrill　with　mingled　emotions。　　〃There's　nothing　to　talk　about；〃　she　went　on　wildly。　　〃There　never　can　be　between　you　and　me。〃

The　young　man's　voice　came　with　a　sonorous　firmness　that　was　new　to　it。　　In　these　moments；　the　strength　of　him；　nourished　by　suffering；　was　putting　forth　its　flower。　His　manner　was　masterful。

〃There　can　be　and　there　will　be；〃　he　contradicted。　He　raised　his　voice　a　little；　speaking　into　the　shadows　where　was　the　group　of　silent　men。

〃You　men　back　there！〃　he　cried。　　〃If　I　give　you　my　word　to　let　every　one　of　you　go　free　and　pledge　myself　never　to　recognize　one　of　you　again；　will　you　make　Mary　here　listen　to　me？　　That's　all　I　ask。　　I　want　a　few　minutes　to　state　my　case。　　Give　me　that。　　Whether　I　win　or　lose；　you　men　go　free；　and　I'll　forget　everything　that　has　happened　here　to…night。〃　　There　came　a　muffled　guffaw　of　laughter　from　the　big　chest　of　Chicago　Red　at　this　extraordinarily　ingenuous　proposal；　while　Dacey　chuckled　more　quietly。

Dick　made　a　gesture　of　impatience　at　this　open　derision。

〃Tell　them　I　can　be　trusted；〃　he　bade　Mary　curtly。

It　was　Garson　who　answered。

〃I　know　that　you　can　be　trusted；〃　he　said；　〃because　I　know　you　lo〃　He　checked　himself　with　a　shiver；　and　out　of　the　darkness　his　face　showed　white。

〃You　must　listen；〃　Dick　went　on；　facing　again　toward　the　girl；　who　was　trembling　before　him；　her　eyes　by　turns　searching　his　expression　or　downcast　in　unfamiliar　confusion；　which　she　herself　could　hardly　understand。

〃Your　safety　depends　on　me；〃　the　young　man　warned。　〃Suppose　I　should　call　for　help？〃　

Garson　stepped　forward　threateningly。

〃You　would　only　call　once；〃　he　said　very　gently；　yet　most　grimly。　　His　hand　went　to　the　noiseless　weapon　in　his　coat…pocket。

But　the　young　man's　answer　revealed　the　fact　that　he；　too；　was　determined　to　the　utmost；　that　he　understood　perfectly　the　situation。

〃Once　would　be　quite　enough；〃　he　said　simply。

Garson　nodded　in　acceptance　of　the　defeat。　　It　may　be；　too；　that　in　some　subtle　fashion　he　admired　this　youth　suddenly　grown　resolute；　competent　to　control　a　dangerous　event。　　There　was　even　the　possibility　that　some　instinct　of　tenderness　toward　Mary　h