within the law-第15部分

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ful；　that　the　young　man　was　enamored　almost　at　once。　　The　fact　thrilled　Mary　to　the　depths　of　her　heart；　for　in　this　son　of　the　man　whom　she　hated　she　saw　the　instrument　of　vengeance　for　which　she　had　so　longed。　　Yet；　this　one　thing　was　so　vital　to　her　that　she　said　nothing　of　her　purposes；　not　even　to　Aggie；　though　that　observant　person　may　have　possessed　suspicions　more　or　less　near　the　truth。

It　was　some　such　suspicion　that　lay　behind　her　speech　as；　in　negligee；　she　sat　cross…legged　on　the　bed；　smoking　a　cigarette　in　a　very　knowing　way；　while　watching　Mary；　who　was　adjusting　her　hat　before　the　mirror　of　her　dressing…table；　one　pleasant　spring　morning。

〃Dollin'　up　a　whole　lot；　ain't　you？〃　　Aggie　remarked；　affably；　with　that　laxity　of　language　which　characterized　her　natural　moods。

〃I　have　a　very　important　engagement　with　Dick　Gilder；〃　Mary　replied；　tranquilly。　　She　vouchsafed　nothing　more　definite　as　to　her　intentions。

〃Nice　boy；　ain't　he？〃　　Aggie　ventured；　insinuatingly。

〃Oh；　I　suppose　so；〃　came　the　indifferent　answer　from　Mary；　as　she　tilted　the　picture　hat　to　an　angle　a　trifle　more　jaunty。

The　pseudo　cousin　sniffed。

〃You　s'pose　that；　do　you？　　Well；　anyhow；　he's　here　so　much　we　ought　to　be　chargin'　him　for　his　meal…ticket。　And　yet　I　ain't　sure　that　you　even　know　whether　he's　the　real　goods；　or　not。〃

The　fair　face　of　Mary　Turner　hardened　the　least　bit。　There　shone　an　expression　of　inscrutable　disdain　in　the　violet　eyes；　as　she　turned　to　regard　Aggie　with　a　level　glance。

〃I　know　that　he's　the　sonthe　only　son！of　Edward　Gilder。　　The　fact　is　enough　for　me。〃

The　adventuress　of　the　demure　face　shook　her　head　in　token　of　complete　bafflement。　　Her　rosy　lips　pouted　in　petulant　dissatisfaction。

〃I　don't　get　you；　Mary；〃　she　admitted；　querulously。　〃You　never　used　to　look　at　the　men。　　The　way　you　acted　when　you　first　run　round　with　me；　I　thought　you　sure　was　a　suffragette。　　And　then　you　met　this　young　Gilder　andgood…night；　nurse！〃　

The　hardness　remained　in　Mary's　face；　as　she　continued　to　regard　her　friend。　　But；　now；　there　was　something　quizzical　in　the　glance　with　which　she　accompanied　the　monosyllable：

〃Well？〃　

Again；　Aggie　shook　her　head　in　perplexity。

〃His　old　man　sends　you　up　for　a　stretch　for　something　you　didn't　doand　you　take　up　with　his　son　like〃

〃And　yet　you　don't　understand！〃　There　was　scorn　for　such　gross　stupidity　in　the　musical　voice。

Aggie　choked　a　little　from　the　cigarette　smoke；　as　she　gave　a　gasp　when　suspicion　of　the　truth　suddenly　dawned　on　her　slow　intelligence。

〃My　Gawd！〃　Her　voice　came　in　a　treble　shriek　of　apprehension。　　〃I'm　wise！〃　

〃But　you　must　understand　this；〃　Mary　went　on；　with　an　authoritative　note　in　her　voice。　　〃Whatever　may　be　between　young　Gilder　and　me　is　to　be　strictly　my　own　affair。　　It　has　absolutely　nothing　to　do　with　the　rest　of　you；　or　with　our　schemes　for　money…making。　　And；　what　is　more；　Agnes；　I　don't　want　to　talk　about　it。　But〃

〃Yes？〃　　queried　Aggie；　encouragingly；　as　the　other　paused。　　She　hopefully　awaited　further　confidences。

〃But　I　do　want　to　know；〃　Mary　continued　with　some　severity；　〃what　you　meant　by　talking　in　the　public　street　yesterday　with　a　common　pickpocket。〃

Aggie's　childlike　face　changed　swiftly　its　expression　from　a　sly　eagerness　to　sullenness。

〃You　know　perfectly　well；　Mary　Turner；〃　she　cried　indignantly；　〃that　I　only　said　a　few　words　in　passin'　to　my　brother　Jim。　　And　he　ain't　no　common　pickpocket。　Hully　Gee！　He's　the　best　dip　in　the　business。〃

〃But　you　must　not　be　seen　speaking　with　him；〃　Mary　directed；　with　a　certain　air　of　command　now　become　habitual　to　her　among　the　members　of　her　clique。　　〃My　cousin；　Miss　Agnes　Lynch；　must　be　very　careful　as　to　her　associates。〃

The　volatile　Agnes　was　restored　to　good　humor　by　some　subtle　quality　in　the　utterance；　and　a　family　pride　asserted　itself。

〃He　just　stopped　me　to　say　it's　been　the　best　year　he　ever　had；〃　she　explained；　with　ostentatious　vanity。

Mary　appeared　sceptical。

〃How　can　that　be；〃　she　demanded；　〃when　the　dead　line　now　is　John　Street？〃　

〃The　dead　line！〃　Aggie　scoffed。　　A　peal　of　laughter　rang　merrily　from　her　curving　lips。

〃Why；　Jim　takes　lunch　every　day　in　the　Wall　Street　Delmonico's。　　Yes；〃　she　went　on　with　increasing　animation；　〃and　only　yesterday　he　went　down　to　Police　Headquarters；　just　for　a　little　excitement；　'cause　Jim　does　sure　hate　a　dull　life。　　Say；　he　told　me　they've　got　a　mat　at　the　door　with　'Welcome'　on　itin　letters　three　feet　high。　　Now；　whatdoyouthinkof　that！〃　Aggie　teetered　joyously；　the　while　she　inhaled　a　shockingly　large　mouthful　of　smoke。　　〃And；　oh；　yes！〃　she　continued　happily；　〃Jim；　he　lifted　a　leather　from　a　bull　who　was　standing　in　the　hallway　there　at　Headquarters！　Jim　sure　does　love　excitement。〃

Mary　lifted　her　dark　eyebrows　in　half…amused　inquiry。

〃It's　no　use；　Agnes；〃　she　declared；　though　without　entire　sincerity；　〃I　can't　quite　keep　up　with　your　thieves'　argotyour　slang；　you　know。　　Just　what　did　this　brother　of　yours　do？〃　

〃Why；　he　copped　the　copper's　kale；〃　Aggie　translated；　glibly。

Mary　threw　out　her　hands　in　a　gesture　of　dismay。

Thereupon；　the　adventuress　instantly　assumed　a　most　ladylike　and　mincing　air　which　ill　assorted　with　the　cigarette　that　she　held　between　her　lips。

〃He　gently　removed　a　leathern　wallet；〃　she　said　sedately；　〃containing　a　large　sum　of　money　from　the　coat　pocket　of　a　member　of　the　detective　force。〃　　The　elegance　of　utterance　was　inimitably　done。　　But　in　the　next　instant；　the　ordinary　vulgarity　of　enunciation　was　in　full　play　again。　　〃Oh；　Gee！〃　she　cried　gaily。　　〃He　says　Inspector　Burke's　got　a　gold　watch　that　weighs　a　ton；　an'　all　set　with　diamon's！which　was　give　to　'im　byadmirin'　friends！。。。　We　didn't　contribute。〃

〃Given　to　him；〃　Mary　corrected；　with　a　tolerant　smile。

Aggie　sniffed　once　again。

〃What　difference　does　it　make？〃　　she　demanded；　scornfully。　　〃He's　got　it；　ain't　he？〃　　And　then　she　added　with　avaricious　intensity：　〃Just　as　soon　as　I　get　time；　I'm　goin'　after　that　watchbelieve　me！〃　

Mary　shook　her　head　in　denial。

〃No；　you　are　not；〃　she　said；　calmly。　　〃You　are　under　my　orders　now。　　And　as　long　as　you　are　working　with　us；　you　will　break　no　laws。〃

〃But　I　can't　see〃　Aggie　began　to　argue　with　the　petulance　of　a　spoiled　child。

Mary's　voice　came　with　a　certainty　of　conviction　born　of　fact。

〃When　you　were　working　alone；〃　she　said　gravely；　did　you　have　a　home　like　this？〃　

〃No；〃　was　the　answer；　spoken　a　little　rebelliously。

〃Or　such　clothes？　　Most　of　all；　did　you　have　safety　from　the　police？〃　

〃No；〃　Aggie　admitted；　somewhat　more　responsively。　〃But；　just　the　same；　I　can't　see〃

Mary　began　putting　on　her　gloves；　and　at　the　same　time　strove　to　give　this　remarkable　young　woman　some　insight　into　her　own　point　of　view；　though　she　knew　the　task　to　be　one　well…nigh　impossible。

〃Agnes；〃　she　said；　didactically；　〃the　richest　men　in　this　country　have　made　their　fortunes；　not　because　of　the　law；　but　in　spite　of　the　law。　　They　made　up　their　minds　what　they　wanted　to　do；　and　then　they　engaged　lawyers　clever　enough　to　show　them　how　they　could　do　it；　and　still　keep　within　the　law。　　Any　one　with　brains　can　get　rich　in　this　country　if　he　will　engage　the　right　lawyer。　　Well；　I　have　the　brainsand　Harris　is　showing　me　the　lawthe　wonderful　twisted　law　that　was　made　for　the　rich！　Since　we　keep　inside　the　law；　we　are　safe。〃

Aggie；　without　much　apprehension　of　the　exact　situation；　was　moved　to　a　dimpled　mirth　over　the　essential　humor　of　the　method　indicated。

〃Gee；　that's　funny；〃　she　cried　happily。　　〃You　an'　me　an'　Joe　Garson　handin'　it　to　'em；　an'　the　bulls　can't　touch　us！　Next　thing　you　know；　Harris　will　be　havin'　us　incorporated　as　the　American　Legal　Crime　Society。〃

〃I　shouldn't　be　in　the　least　surprised；〃　Mary　assented；　as　she　finished　buttoning　her　gloves。　　She　smiled；　but　there　was　a　hint　of　grimness　in　the　bending　of　her　lips。　　That　grimness　remained；　as　she　glanced　at　the　clock；　then　went　toward　the　door　of　the　room；　speaking　over　her　shoulder。

〃And；　now　I　must　be　off　to　a　most　important　engagement　with　Mr。　Dick　Gilder。〃



CHAPTER　VIII。　A　TIP　FROM　HEADQUARTERS。　

Presently；　when　she　had　finished　the　cigarette；　Aggie　proceeded　to　her　own　chamber　and　there　spent　a　considerable　time　in　making　a　toilette　calculated　to　set　off　to　its　full　advantage　the　slender　daintiness　of　her　form。　When　at　last　she　was　gowned　to　her　satisfaction；　she　went　into　the　drawing…room　of　the　apartment　and　gave　herself　over　to　more　cigarettes；　in　an　easy　chair；　sprawled　out　in　an　attitude　of　comfort　never　taught　in　any　finishing　school　for　young　ladies。　　She　at　the　same　time　indulged　her　tastes　in　art　and　literature　by　reading　the　jokes　and　studying　the　comic　pictures　in　an　evening　paper；　which　the　maid　brought　in　at　her　request。　　She　had　about　exhausted　this　form　of　amusement　when　the　coming　of　Joe　Garson；　who　was　usually　in　and　out　of　the　apartment　a　number　of　times　daily；　provided　a　welcome　diversion。　　After　a　casual　greeting　between　the　two；　Aggie　explained；　in　response　to　his　question；　that　Mary　had　gone　out　to　keep　an　engagement　with　Dick　Gilder。

There　was　a　little　period　of　silence　while　the　man；　with　the　resolute　face　and　the　light　gray　eyes　that　shone　so