within the law-第38部分

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any　threat。

〃What's　she　doing　here？〃　　he　asked。　　There　was　wrath　in　his　rough　voice；　for　he　could　not　avoid　the　surmise　that　his　shrewdly　concocted　scheme　to　entrap　this　woman　had　somehow　been　set　awry。　　〃What's　she　doing　here；　I　say？〃　　he　repeated　heavily。　　His　keen　eyes　were　darting　once　more　about　the　room；　questing　some　clue　to　this　disturbing　mystery；　so　hateful　to　his　pride。

Dick's　manner　became　that　of　the　devoted　husband　offended　by　impertinent　obtrusion。

〃You　forget　yourself；　Inspector；〃　he　said；　icily。　　〃This　is　my　wife。　　She　has　the　right　to　be　with　meher　husband！〃　

The　Inspector　grinned　sceptically。　　He　was　moved　no　more　effectively　by　Mary's　almost　hysterical　effort　to　respond　to　her　husband's　leading。

〃Why　shouldn't　I　be　here？　　Why？　　Why？　　I〃

Burke　broke　in　on　the　girl's　pitiful　histrionics　ruthlessly。　　He　was　not　in　the　least　deceived。　　He　was　aware　that　something　untoward；　as　he　deemed　it；　had　occurred。　　It　seemed　to　him；　in　fact；　that　his　finical　mechanisms　for　the　undoing　of　Mary　Turner　were　in　a　fair　way　to　be　thwarted。　　But　he　would　not　give　up　the　cause　without　a　struggle。　　Again；　he　addressed　himself　to　Dick；　disregarding　completely　the　aloof　manner　of　the　young　man。

〃Where's　your　father？〃　　he　questioned　roughly。

〃In　bed；　naturally；〃　was　the　answer。　　〃I　ask　you　again：　What　are　you　doing　here　at　this　time　of　night？〃　

Burke　shook　his　shoulders　ponderously　in　a　movement　of　impatience　over　this　prolonging　of　the　farce。

〃Oh；　call　your　father；〃　he　directed　disgustedly。

Dick　remonstrated　with　an　excellent　show　of　dignity。

〃It's　late；〃　he　objected。　　〃I'd　rather　not　disturb　him；　if　you　don't　mind。　　Really；　the　idea　is　absurd；　you　know。〃　　Suddenly；　he　smiled　very　winningly；　and　spoke　with　a　good　assumption　of　ingenuousness。

〃Inspector；〃　he　said　briskly；　〃I　see；　I'll　have　to　tell　you　the　truth。　　It's　this：　I've　persuaded　my　wife　to　go　away　with　me。　　She's　going　to　give　all　that　other　sort　of　thing　up。　　Yes；　we're　going　away　together。〃　　There　was　genuine　triumph　in　his　voice　now。　　〃So；　you　see；　we've　got　to　talk　it　over。　　Now；　then；　Inspector；　if　you'll　come　back　in　the　morning〃

The　official　grinned　sardonically。　　He　could　not　in　the　least　guess　just　what　had　in　very　deed　happened；　but　he　was　far　too　clever　a　man　to　be　bamboozled　by　Dick's　maunderings。

〃Oh；　that's　it！〃　he　exclaimed；　with　obvious　incredulity。

〃Of　course；〃　Dick　replied　bravely；　though　he　knew　that　the　Inspector　disbelieved　his　pretenses。　　Still；　for　his　own　part；　he　was　inclined　as　yet　to　be　angry　rather　than　alarmed　by　this　failure　to　impress　the　officer。　　〃You　see；　I　didn't　know〃

And　even　in　the　moment　of　his　saying；　the　white　beam　of　the　flashing　searchlight　from　the　Tower　fell　between　the　undrawn　draperies　of　the　octagonal　window。　　The　light　startled　the　Inspector　again；　as　it　had　done　once　before　that　same　night。　　His　gaze　followed　it　instinctively。　So；　within　the　second；　he　saw　the　still　form　lying　there　on　the　floorlying　where　had　been　shadows；　where　now；　for　the　passing　of　an　instant；　was　brilliant　radiance。

There　was　no　mistaking　that　awful；　motionless；　crumpled　posture。　　The　Inspector　knew　in　this　single　instant　of　view　that　murder　had　been　done　here。　　Even　as　the　beam　of　light　from　the　Tower　shifted　and　vanished　from　the　room；　he　leaped　to　the　switch　by　the　door；　and　turned　on　the　lights　of　the　chandelier。　　In　the　next　moment；　he　had　reached　the　door　of　the　passage　across　the　room；　and　his　whistle　sounded　shrill。　His　voice　bellowed　reinforcement　to　the　blast。

〃Cassidy！　Cassidy！〃　

As　Dick　made　a　step　toward　his　wife；　from　whom　he　had　withdrawn　a　little　in　his　colloquy　with　the　official；　Burke　voiced　his　command　viciously：

〃Stay　where　you　areboth　of　you！〃　

Cassidy　came　rushing　in；　with　the　other　detectives。　He　was　plainly　surprised　to　find　the　room　so　nearly　empty；　where　he　had　expected　to　behold　a　gang　of　robbers。

〃Why；　what's　it　all　mean；　Chief？〃　　he　questioned。　His　peering　eyes　fell　on　Dick；　standing　beside　Mary；　and　they　rounded　in　amazement。

〃They've　got　Griggs！〃　Burke　answered。　　There　was　exceeding　rage　in　his　voice；　as　he　spoke　from　his　kneeling　posture　beside　the　body；　to　which　he　had　hurried　after　the　summons　to　his　aides。　　He　glowered　up　into　the　bewildered　face　of　the　detective。　　〃I'll　break　you　for　this；　Cassidy；〃　he　declared　fiercely。　　〃Why　didn't　you　get　here　on　the　run　when　you　heard　the　shot？〃　

〃But　there　wasn't　any　shot；〃　the　perplexed　and　alarmed　detective　expostulated。　　He　fairly　stuttered　in　the　earnestness　of　his　self…defense。　　〃I　tell　you；　Chief；　there　hasn't　been　a　sound。〃

Burke　rose　to　his　feet。　　His　heavy　face　was　set　in　its　sternest　mold。

〃You　could　drive　a　hearse　through　the　hole　they've　made　in　him；〃　he　rumbled。　　He　wheeled　on　Mary　and　Dick。　　〃So！〃　he　shouted；　〃now　it's　murder！。。。　Well；　hand　it　over。　　Where's　the　gun？〃　

Followed　a　moment's　pause。　　Then　the　Inspector　spoke　harshly　to　Cassidy。　　He　still　felt　himself　somewhat　dazed　by　this　extraordinary　event；　but　he　was　able　to　cope　with　the　situation。　　He　nodded　toward　Dick　as　he　gave　his　order：　〃Search　him！〃　

Before　the　detective　could　obey　the　direction；　Dick　took　the　revolver　from　his　pocket　where　he　had　bestowed　it；　and　held　it　out。

And　it　so　chanced　that　at　this　incriminating　crisis　for　the　son；　the　father　hastily　strode　within　the　library。　　He　had　been　aroused　by　the　Inspector's　shouting；　and　was　evidently　greatly　perturbed。　　His　usual　dignified　air　was　marred　by　a　patent　alarm。

〃What's　all　this？〃　　he　exclaimed；　as　he　halted　and　stared　doubtfully　on　the　scene　before　him。

Burke；　in　a　moment　like　this；　was　no　respecter　of　persons；　for　all　his　judicious　attentions　on　other　occasions　to　those　whose　influence　might　serve　him　well　for　benefits　received。

〃You　can　see　for　yourself；〃　he　said　grimly　to　the　dumfounded　magnate。　　Then；　he　fixed　sinister　eyes　on　the　son。　　〃So；〃　he　went　on；　with　somber　menace　in　his　voice；　〃you　did　it；　young　man。〃　　He　nodded　toward　the　detective。　　〃Well；　Cassidy；　you　can　take　'em　both　down…town。。。。　That's　all。〃

The　command　aroused　Dick　to　remonstrance　against　such　indignity　toward　the　woman　whom　he　loved。

〃Not　her！〃　he　cried；　imploringly。　　〃You　don't　want　her；　Inspector！　This　is　all　wrong！〃　

Now；　at　last；　Mary　interposed　with　a　new　spirit。　　She　had　regained；　in　some　measure　at　least；　her　poise。　　She　was　speaking　again　with　that　mental　clarity　which　was　distinctive　in　her。

〃Dick；〃　she　advised　quietly；　but　with　underlying　urgency　in　her　gently　spoken　words；　〃don't　talk；　please。〃

Burke　laughed　harshly。

〃What　do　you　expect？〃　　he　inquired　truculently。　　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　the　thing's　simple　enough；　young　man。　Either　you　killed　Griggs；　or　she　did。〃

The　Inspector；　with　his　charge；　made　a　careless　gesture　toward　the　corpse　of　the　murdered　stool…pigeon。　For　the　first　time；　Edward　Gilder；　as　his　glance　unconsciously　followed　the　officer's　movement；　looked　and　saw　the　ghastly　inanimate　heap　of　flesh　and　bone　that　had　once　been　a　man。　　He　fairly　reeled　at　the　gruesome　spectacle；　then　fumbled　with　an　outstretched　hand　as　he　moved　stumblingly　until　he　laid　hold　on　a　chair；　into　which　he　sank　helplessly。　　It　suddenly　smote　upon　his　consciousness　that　he　felt　very　old　and　broken。　　He　marveled　dully　over　the　sensationit　was　wholly　new　to　him。　　Then；　soon；　from　a　long　way　off；　he　heard　the　strident　voice　of　the　Inspector　remorselessly　continuing　in　the　vile；　the　impossible　accusation。。。。　And　that　grotesque　accusation　was　hurled　against　his　only　sonthe　boy　whom　he　so　loved。　　The　thing　was　monstrous；　a　thing　incredible。　　This　whole　seeming　was　no　more　than　a　chimera　of　the　night；　a　phantom　of　bad　dreams；　with　no　truth　under　it。。。。　Yet；　the　stern　voice　of　the　official　came　with　a　strange　semblance　of　reality。

〃Either　you　killed　him；〃　the　voice　repeated　gratingly；　〃or　she　did。　　Well；　then；　young　man；　did　she　kill　him？〃　

〃Good　God；　no！〃　Dick　shouted；　aghast。

〃Then；　it　was　you！〃　Such　was　the　Inspector's　summary　of　the　case。

Mary's　words　came　frantically。　　Once　again；　she　was　become　desperate　over　the　course　of　events　in　this　night　of　fearful　happenings。

〃No；　no！　He　didn't！〃　

Burke's　rasping　voice　reiterated　the　accusation　with　a　certain　complacency　in　the　inevitability　of　the　dilemma。

〃One　of　you　killed　Griggs。　　Which　one　of　you　did　it？〃　　He　scowled　at　Dick。　　〃Did　she　kill　him？〃　

Again；　the　husband's　cry　came　with　the　fierceness　of　despair　over　the　fate　of　the　woman。

〃I　told　you；　no！〃　

The　Inspector；　always　savagely　impressive　now　in　voice　and　look　and　gesture；　faced　the　girl　with　saturnine　persistence。

〃Well；　then；〃　he　blustered；　〃did　he　kill　him？〃　

The　nod　of　his　head　was　toward　Dick。　　Then；　as　she　remained　silent：　〃I'm　talking　to　you！〃　he　snapped。　〃Did　he　kill　him？〃　

The　reply　came　with　a　soft　distinctness　that　was　like　a　crash　of　destiny。

〃Yes。〃

Dick　turned　to　his　wife　in　reproachful　amazement。

〃Mary！〃　he　cried；　incredulously。　　This　betrayal　was　something　inconceivable　from　her；　since　he　believed　that　now　at　last　he　knew　her　heart。

Burke；　however；　as　usual；　paid　no　heed　to　the　niceties　of　sentiment。　　They　had　small　place　in　his　concerns　as　an　official　of　police。　　His　sole　ambition　just　now　was　to　fix　the