within the law-第17部分

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〃Huh！〃　he　said；　contemptuously。　　〃I　guess　you're　stuck　on　her；　eh？〃　

At　the　words；　an　instantaneous　change　swept　over　Garson。　　Hitherto；　he　had　been　tense；　his　face　set　with　emotion；　a　man　strong　and　sullen；　with　eyes　as　clear　and　heartless　as　those　of　a　beast　in　the　wild。　　Now；　without　warning；　a　startling　transformation　was　wrought。　　His　form　stiffened　to　rigidity　after　one　lightning…swift　step　forward；　and　his　face　grayed。　　The　eyes　glowed　with　the　fires　of　a　man's　heart　in　a　spasm　of　hate。　　He　was　the　embodiment　of　rage；　as　he　spoke　huskily；　his　voice　a　whisper　that　was　yet　louder　than　any　shout。

〃Cut　that！〃　

The　eyes　of　the　two　men　locked。　　Cassidy　struggled　with　all　his　pride　against　the　dominant　fury　this　man　hurled　on　him。

〃What？〃　　he　demanded；　blusteringly。　　But　his　tone　was　weaker　than　its　wont。

〃I　mean；〃　Garson　repeated；　and　there　was　finality　in　his　accents；　a　deadly　quality　that　was　appalling；　〃I　mean；　cut　it　outnow；　here；　and　all　the　time！　It　don't　go！〃　The　voice　rose　slightly。　　The　effect　of　it　was　more　penetrant　than　a　scream。　　〃It　don't　go！。。。　Do　you　get　me？〃　

There　was　a　short　interval　of　silence；　then　the　officer's　eyes　at　last　fell。　　It　was　Aggie　who　relieved　the　tension　of　the　scene。

〃He's　got　you；〃　she　remarked；　airily。　　〃Oi；　oi！　He's　got　you！〃　

There　were　again　a　few　seconds　of　pause；　and　then　Cassidy　made　an　observation　that　revealed　in　some　measure　the　shock　of　the　experience　he　had　just　undergone。

〃You　would　have　been　a　big　man；　Joe；　if　it　hadn't　been　for　that　temper　of　yours。　　It's　got　you　into　trouble　once　or　twice　already。　　Some　time　it's　likely　to　prove　your　finish。〃

Garson　relaxed　his　immobility；　and　a　little　color　crept　into　his　cheeks。

〃That's　my　business；〃　he　responded；　dully。

〃Anyway；〃　the　officer　went　on；　with　a　new　confidence；　now　that　his　eyes　were　free　from　the　gaze　that　had　burned　into　his　soul；　〃you've　got　to　clear　out；　the　whole　gang　of　youand　do　it　quick。〃

Aggie；　who　as　a　matter　of　fact　began　to　feel　that　she　was　not　receiving　her　due　share　of　attention；　now　interposed；　moving　forward　till　her　face　was　close　to　the　detective's。

〃We　don't　scare　worth　a　cent；〃　she　snapped；　with　the　virulence　of　a　vixen。　　〃You　can't　do　anything　to　us。　We　ain't　broke　the　law。〃　　There　came　a　sudden　ripple　of　laughter；　and　the　charming　lips　curved　joyously；　as　she　added：　〃Though　perhaps　we　have　bent　it　a　bit。〃

Cassidy　sneered；　outraged　by　such　impudence　on　the　part　of　an　ex…convict。

〃Don't　make　no　difference　what　you've　done；〃　he　growled。　　〃Gee！〃　he　went　on；　with　a　heavy　sneer。　　〃But　things　are　coming　to　a　pretty　pass　when　a　gang　of　crooks　gets　to　arguing　about　their　rights。　　That's　funny；　that　is！〃　

〃Then　laugh！〃　Aggie　exclaimed；　insolently；　and　made　a　face　at　the　officer。　　〃Ha；　ha；　ha！〃　

〃Well；　you've　got　the　tip；〃　Cassidy　returned；　somewhat　disconcerted；　after　a　stolid　fashion　of　his　own。　〃It's　up　to　you　to　take　it；　that's　all。　　If　you　don't；　one　of　you　will　make　a　long　visit　with　some　people　out　of　town；　and　it'll　probably　be　Mary。　　Remember；　I'm　giving　it　to　you　straight。〃

Aggie　assumed　her　formal　society　manner；　exaggerated　to　the　point　of　extravagance。

〃Do　come　again；　little　one；〃　she　chirruped；　caressingly。　〃I've　enjoyed　your　visit　so　much！〃　

But　Cassidy　paid　no　apparent　attention　to　her　frivolousness；　only　turned　and　went　noisily　out　of　the　drawing…room；　offering　no　return　to　her　daintily　inflected　good…afternoon。

For　her　own　part；　as　she　heard　the　outer　door　close　behind　the　detective；　Aggie's　expression　grew　vicious；　and　the　heavy　brows　drew　very　low；　until　the　level　line　almost　made　her　prettiness　vanish。

〃The　truck…horse　detective！〃　she　sneered。　　〃An　eighteen　collar；　and　a　six…and…a…half　hat！　He　sure　had　his　nerve；　trying　to　bluff　us！〃　

But　it　was　plain　that　Garson　was　of　another　mood。　There　was　anxiety　in　his　face；　as　he　stood　staring　vaguely　out　of　the　window。

〃Perhaps　it　wasn't　a　bluff；　Aggie；〃　he　suggested。

〃Well；　what　have　we　done；　I'd　like　to　know？〃　　the　girl　demanded；　confidently。　　She　took　a　cigarette　and　a　match　from　the　tabouret　beside　her；　and　stretched　her　feet　comfortably；　if　very　inelegantly；　on　a　chair　opposite。

Garson　answered　with　a　note　of　weariness　that　was　unlike　him。

〃It　ain't　what　you　have　done；〃　he　said；　quietly。　　〃It's　what　they　can　make　a　jury　think　you've　done。　　And；　once　they　set　out　to　get　youGod；　how　they　can　frame　things！　If　they　ever　start　out　after　Mary〃　He　did　not　finish　the　sentence；　but　sank　down　into　his　chair　with　a　groan　that　was　almost　of　despair。

The　girl　replied　with　a　burst　of　careless　laughter。

〃Joe；〃　she　said　gaily；　〃you're　one　grand　little　forger；　all　right；　all　right。　　But　Mary's　got　the　brains。　　Pooh；　I'll　string　along　with　her　as　far　as　she　wants　to　go。　She's　educated；　she　is。　　She　ain't　like　you　and　me；　Joe。　She　talks　like　a　lady；　and；　what's　a　damned　sight　harder；　she　acts　like　a　lady。　　I　guess　I　know。　　Wake　me　up　any　old　night　and　ask　mejust　ask　me；　that's　all。　　She's　been　tryin'　to　make　a　lady　out　of　me！〃　

The　vivaciousness　of　the　girl　distracted　the　man　for　the　moment　from　the　gloom　of　his　thoughts；　and　he　turned　to　survey　the　speaker　with　a　cynical　amusement。

〃Swell　chance！〃　he　commented；　drily。

〃Oh；　I'm　not　so　worse！　Just　you　watch　out。〃　　The　lively　girl　sprang　up；　discarded　the　cigarette；　adjusted　an　imaginary　train；　and　spoke　lispingly　in　a　society　manner　much　more　moderate　and　convincing　than　that　with　which　she　had　favored　the　retiring　Cassidy。　　Voice；　pose　and　gesture　proclaimed　at　least　the　excellent　mimic。

〃How　do　you　do；　Mrs。　Jones！　So　good　of　you　to　call！。。。　My　dear　Miss　Smith；　this　is　indeed　a　pleasure。〃　　She　seated　herself　again；　quite　primly　now；　and　moved　her　hands　over　the　tabouret　appropriately　to　her　words。　　〃One　lump；　or　two？。。。　Yes；　I　just　love　bridge。　　No；　I　don't　play；〃　she　continued；　simpering；　〃but；　just　the　same；　I　love　it。〃　　With　this　absurd　ending；　Aggie　again　arranged　her　feet　according　to　her　liking　on　the　opposite　chair。　　〃That's　the　kind　of　stuff　she's　had　me　doing；〃　she　rattled　on　in　her　coarser　voice；　〃and　believe　me；　Joe；　it's　damned　near　killing　me。　　But　all　the　same；〃　she　hurried　on；　with　a　swift　revulsion　of　mood　to　the　former　serious　topic；　〃I'm　for　Mary　strong！　You　stick　to　her；　Joe；　and　you'll　wear　diamon's。。。。　And　that　reminds　me！　I　wish　she'd　let　me　wear　mine；　but　she　won't。　　She　says　they're　vulgar　for　an　innocent　country　girl　like　her　cousin；　Agnes　Lynch。　　Ain't　that　fierce？。。。　How　can　anything　be　vulgar　that's　worth　a　hundred　and　fifty　a　carat？〃　



CHAPTER　IX。　A　LEGAL　DOCUMENT。　

Mary　Turner　spent　less　than　an　hour　in　that　mysteriously　important　engagement　with　Dick　Gilder；　of　which　she　had　spoken　to　Aggie。　　After　separating　from　the　young　man；　she　went　alone　down　Broadway；　walking　the　few　blocks　of　distance　to　Sigismund　Harris's　office。　　On　a　corner；　her　attention　was　caught　by　the　forlorn　face　of　a　girl　crossing　into　the　side　street。　　A　closer　glance　showed　that　the　privation　of　the　gaunt　features　was　emphasized　by　the　scant　garments；　almost　in　tatters。　　Instantly；　Mary's　quick　sympathies　were　aroused；　the　more　particularly　since　the　wretched　child　seemed　of　about　the　age　she　herself　had　been　when　her　great　suffering　had　befallen。　　So；　turning　aside；　she　soon　caught　up　with　the　girl　and　spoke　an　inquiry。

It　was　the　familiar　story；　a　father　out　of　work；　a　sick　mother；　a　brood　of　hungry　children。　　Some　confused　words　of　distress　revealed　the　fact　that　the　wobegone　girl　was　even　then　fighting　the　final　battle　of　purity　against　starvation。　　That　she　still　fought　on　in　such　case　proved　enough　as　to　her　decency　of　nature；　wholesome　despite　squalid　surroundings。　　Mary's　heart　was　deeply　moved；　and　her　words　of　comfort　came　with　a　simple　sincerity　that　was　like　new　life　to　the　sorely　beset　waif。　　She　promised　to　interest　herself　in　securing　employment　for　the　father；　such　care　as　the　mother　and　children　might　need；　along　with　a　proper　situation　for　the　girl　herself。　　In　evidence　of　her　purpose；　she　took　her　engagement…book　from　her　bag；　and　set　down　the　street　and　number　of　the　East　Side　tenement　where　the　family　possessed　the　one　room　that　mocked　the　word　home；　and　she　gave　a　banknote　to　the　girl　to　serve　the　immediate　needs。

When　she　went　back　to　resume　her　progress　down　Broadway；　Mary　felt　herself　vastly　cheered　by　the　warm　glow　within；　which　is　the　reward　of　a　kindly　act；　gratefully　received。　　And；　on　this　particular　morning；　she　craved　such　assuagement　of　her　spirit；　for　the　conscience　that；　in　spite　of　all　her　misdeeds；　still　lived　was　struggling　within　her。　　In　her　revolt　against　a　world　that　had　wantonly　inflicted　on　her　the　worst　torments；　Mary　Turner　had　thought　that　she　might　safely　disregard　those　principles　in　which　she　had　been　so　carefully　reared。　　She　had　believed　that　by　the　deliberate　adoption　of　a　life　of　guile　within　limits　allowed　by　the　law；　she　would　find　solace　for　her　wants；　while　feeling　that　thus　she　avenged　herself　in　some　slight　measure　for　the　indignities　she　had　undergone　unjustly。　　Yet；　as　the　days　passed；　days　of　success　as　far　as　her　scheming　was　concerned；　this　brilliant　woman；　who　had　tried　to　deem　herself　unscrupulous；　found　that　lawlessness　within　the　law　failed　t