within the law-第41部分

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〃You　think　that　young　Gilder　really　knows？〃　　he　questioned；　doubtfully。

〃I　don't　think　anythingyet！〃　Burke　retorted。　　〃All　I　know　is　this：　Eddie　Griggs；　the　most　valuable　crook　that　ever　worked　for　me；　has　been　murdered。〃　　The　official's　voice　was　charged　with　threatening　as　he　went　on。　　〃And　some　one；　man　or　woman；　is　going　to　pay　for　it！〃　

〃Woman？〃　　Demarest　repeated；　in　some　astonishment。

Burke's　voice　came　merciless。

〃I　mean；　Mary　Turner；〃　he　said　slowly。

Demarest　was　shocked。

〃But；　Burke；〃　he　expostulated；　〃she's　not　that　sort。〃　　The　Inspector　sneered　openly。

〃How　do　you　know　she　ain't？〃　　he　demanded。　　〃Well；　anyhow；　she's　made　a　monkey　out　of　the　Police　Department；　and；　first；　last；　and　all　the　time；　I'm　a　copper。　　。　　。　And　that　reminds　me；〃　he　went　on　with　a　resumption　of　his　usual　curt　bluntness；　〃I　want　you　to　wait　for　Mr。　Gilder　outside；　while　I　get　busy　with　the　girl　they've　brought　down　from　Mary　Turner's　flat。〃



CHAPTER　XXI。　AGGIE　AT　BAY。　

Burke；　after　the　lawyer　had　left　him；　watched　the　door　expectantly　for　the　coming　of　the　girl；　whom　he　had　ordered　brought　before　him。　　But；　when　at　last　Dan　appeared；　and　stood　aside　to　permit　her　passing　into　the　office；　the　Inspector　gasped　at　the　unexpectedness　of　the　vision。　　He　had　anticipated　the　coming　of　a　woman　of　that　world　with　which　he　was　most　familiar　in　the　exercise　of　his　professional　dutiesthe　underworld　of　criminals；　some　one　beautiful　perhaps；　but　with　the　brand　of　viciousness　marked　subtly；　yet　visibly　for　the　trained　eye　to　see。　　Then；　even　in　that　first　moment；　he　told　himself　that　he　should　have　been　prepared　for　the　unusual　in　this　instance；　since　the　girl　had　to　do　with　Mary　Turner；　and　that　disturbing　person　herself　showed　in　face　and　form　and　manner　nothing　to　suggest　aught　but　a　gentlewoman。　　And；　in　the　next　instant；　the　Inspector　forgot　his　surprise　in　a　sincere；　almost　ardent　admiration。

The　girl　was　rather　short；　but　of　a　slender　elegance　of　form　that　was　ravishing。　　She　was　gowned；　too；　with　a　chic　nicety　to　arouse　the　envy　of　all　less…fortunate　women。　　Her　costume　had　about　it　an　indubitable　air；　a　finality　of　perfection　in　its　kind。　　On　another；　it　might　have　appeared　perhaps　the　merest　trifle　garish。　But　that　fault；　if　in　fact　it　ever　existed；　was　made　into　a　virtue　by　the　correcting　innocence　of　the　girl's　face。　　It　was　a　childish　face；　childish　in　the　exquisite　smoothness　of　the　soft；　pink　skin；　childish　in　the　wondering　stare　of　the　blue　eyes；　now　so　widely　opened　in　dismay；　childish　in　the　wistful　drooping　of　the　rosebud　mouth。

The　girl　advanced　slowly；　with　a　laggard　hesitation　in　her　movements　obviously　from　fear。　　She　approached　the　desk；　from　behind　which　the　Inspector　watched；　fascinated　by　the　fresh　and　wholesome　beauty　of　this　young　creature。　　He　failed　to　observe　the　underlying　anger　beneath　the　girl's　outward　display　of　alarm。　　He　shook　off　his　first　impression　by　means　of　a　resort　to　his　customary　bluster　in　such　cases。

〃Now；　then；　my　girl；〃　he　said　roughly；　〃I　want　to　know〃

There　came　a　change；　wrought　in　the　twinkling　of　an　eye。　　The　tiny；　trimly　shod　foot　of　the　girl　rose　and　fell　in　a　wrathful　stamp。

〃How　dare　you！〃　The　clear　blue　eyes　were　become　darkened　with　anger。　　There　was　a　deepened　leaf　of　red　in　either　cheek。　　The　drooping　lips　drooped　no　longer；　but　were　bent　to　a　haughtiness　that　was　finely　impressive。

Before　the　offended　indignation　of　the　young　woman；　Burke　sat　bewildered　by　embarrassment　for　once　in　his　life；　and　quite　at　a　loss。

〃What's　that？〃　　he　said；　dubiously。

The　girl　explained　the　matter　explicitly　enough。

〃What　do　you　mean　by　this　outrage？〃　　she　stormed。　Her　voice　was　low　and　rich；　with　a　charming　roundness　that　seemed　the　very　hallmark　of　gentility。　　But；　now；　it　was　surcharged　with　an　indignant　amazement　over　the　indignity　put　upon　her　by　the　representatives　of　the　law。　Then；　abruptly；　the　blue　eyes　were　softened　in　their　fires；　as　by　the　sudden　nearness　of　tears。

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　　the　girl　repeated。　　Her　slim　form　was　tense　with　wrath。　　〃I　demand　my　instant　release。〃　　There　was　indescribable　rebuke　in　her　slow　emphasis　of　the　words。

Burke　was　impressed　in　spite　of　himself；　in　spite　of　his　accustomed　cold　indifference　to　the　feelings　of　others　as　necessity　compelled　him　to　make　investigation　of　them。　　His　harsh；　blustering　voice　softened　perceptibly；　and　he　spoke　in　a　wheedling　tone；　such　as　one　might　employ　in　the　effort　to　tranquillize　a　spoiled　child　in　a　fit　of　temper。

〃Wait　a　minute；〃　he　remonstrated。　　〃Wait　a　minute！〃　He　made　a　pacifically　courteous　gesture　toward　one　of　the　chairs；　which　stood　by　an　end　of　the　desk。　〃Sit　down；〃　he　invited；　with　an　effort　toward　cajoling。

The　scorn　of　the　girl　was　superb。　　Her　voice　came　icily；　as　she　answered：

〃I　shall　do　nothing　of　the　sort。　　Sit　down；　indeed！here！　Why；　I　have　been　arrested〃　There　came　a　break　in　the　music　of　her　tones　throbbing　resentment。　A　little　sob　crept　in；　and　broke　the　sequence　of　words。　The　dainty　face　was　vivid　with　shame。　　〃I〃　she　faltered；　〃I've　been　arrestedby　a　common　policeman！〃　

The　Inspector　seized　on　the　one　flaw　left　him　for　defense　against　her　indictment。

〃No；　no；　miss；〃　he　argued；　earnestly。　　〃Excuse　me。　It　wasn't　any　common　policemanit　was　a　detective　sergeant。〃

But　his　effort　to　placate　was　quite　in　vain。　　The　ingenuous　little　beauty　with　the　child's　face　and　the　blue　eyes　so　widely　opened　fairly　panted　in　her　revolt　against　the　ignominy　of　her　position；　and　was　not　to　be　so　easily　appeased。　　Her　voice　came　vibrant　with　disdain。　　Her　level　gaze　on　the　Inspector　was　of　a　sort　to　suggest　to　him　anxieties　over　possible　complications　here。

〃You　wait！〃　she　cried　violently。　　〃You　just　wait；　I　tell　you；　until　my　papa　hears　of　this！〃　

Burke　regarded　the　furious　girl　doubtfully。

〃Who　is　your　papa？〃　　he　asked；　with　a　bit　of　alarm　stirring　in　his　breast；　for　he　had　no　mind　to　offend　any　one　of　importance　where　there　was　no　need。

〃I　sha'n't　tell　you；〃　came　the　petulant　retort　from　the　girl。　　Her　ivory　forehead　was　wrinkled　charmingly　in　a　little　frown　of　obstinacy。　　〃Why；〃　she　went　on；　displaying　new　symptoms　of　distress　over　another　appalling　idea　that　flashed　on　her　in　this　moment；　〃you　would　probably　give　my　name　to　the　reporters。〃　　Once　again　the　rosebud　mouth　drooped　into　curves　of　sorrow；　of　a　great　self…pity。　　〃If　it　ever　got　into　the　newspapers；　my　family　would　die　of　shame！〃　

The　pathos　of　her　fear　pierced　through　the　hardened　crust　of　the　police　official。　　He　spoke　apologetically。

〃Now；　the　easiest　way　out　for　both　of　us；〃　he　suggested；　〃is　for　you　to　tell　me　just　who　you　are。　　You　see；　young　lady；　you　were　found　in　the　house　of　a　notorious　crook。〃

The　haughtiness　of　the　girl　waxed。　　It　seemed　as　if　she　grew　an　inch　taller　in　her　scorn　of　the　Inspector's　saying。

〃How　perfectly　absurd！〃　she　exclaimed；　scathingly。　〃I　was　calling　on　Miss　Mary　Turner！〃　

〃How　did　you　come　to　meet　her；　anyhow？〃　　Burke　inquired。　　He　still　held　his　big　voice　to　a　softer　modulation　than　that　to　which　it　was　habituated。

Yet；　the　disdain　of　the　girl　seemed　only　to　increase　momently。　　She　showed　plainly　that　she　regarded　this　brass…buttoned　official　as　one　unbearably　insolent　in　his　demeanor　toward　her。　　Nevertheless；　she　condescended　to　reply；　with　an　exaggeration　of　the　aristocratic　drawl　to　indicate　her　displeasure。

〃I　was　introduced　to　Miss　Turner；〃　she　explained；　〃by　Mr。　Richard　Gilder。　　Perhaps　you　have　heard　of　his　father；　the　owner　of　the　Emporium。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　I've　heard　of　his　father；　and　of　him；　too；〃　Burke　admitted；　placatingly。

But　the　girl　relaxed　not　a　whit　in　her　attitude　of　offense。

〃Then；〃　she　went　on　severely；　〃you　must　see　at　once　that　you　are　entirely　mistaken　in　this　matter。〃　　Her　blue　eyes　widened　further　as　she　stared　accusingly　at　the　Inspector；　who　betrayed　evidences　of　perplexity；　and　hesitated　for　an　answer。　　Then；　the　doll…like；　charming　face　took　on　a　softer　look；　which　had　in　it　a　suggestion　of　appeal。

〃Don't　you　see　it？〃　　she　demanded。

〃Well；　no；〃　Burke　rejoined　uneasily；　〃not　exactly；　I　don't！〃　In　the　presence　of　this　delicate　and　graceful　femininity；　he　experienced　a　sudden；　novel　distaste　for　his　usual　sledge…hammer　methods　of　attack　in　interrogation。　Yet；　his　duty　required　that　he　should　continue　his　questioning。　　He　found　himself　in　fact　between　the　devil　and　the　deep　seathough　this　particular　devil　appeared　rather　as　an　angel　of　light。

Now；　at　his　somewhat　feeble　remark　in　reply　to　her　query；　the　childish　face　grew　as　hard　as　its　curving　contours　would　permit。

〃Sir！〃　she　cried　indignantly。　　Her　little　head　was　thrown　back　in　scornful　reproof；　and　she　turned　a　shoulder　toward　the　official　contemptuously。

〃Now；　now！〃　Burke　exclaimed　in　remonstrance。　After　all；　he　could　not　be　brutal　with　this　guileless　maiden。　　He　must；　however；　make　the　situation　clear　to　her；　lest　she　think　him　a　beastwhich　would　never　do！

〃You　see；　young　lady；〃　he　went　on　with　a　gentleness　of　voice　and　manner　that　would　have　been　inconceivable　to　Dacey　and　Chicago　Red；　〃you　see；　the　fact　is　that；　even　if　you　were　introduced　to　this　Mary　Turner　by　young　Mr。　Gilder；　this　same　Mary　Turner　herself　is　an　ex…convict；　and　s