within the law-第44部分

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y　which　her　plausible　wiles　had　beguiled　him。　　He　gave　her　a　real　respect　for　the　adroitness　with　which　she　had　deceived　himand　he　was　not　one　to　be　readily　deceived。　　So；　now；　as　the　scornful　maiden　went　out　of　the　door　under　the　escort　of　Cassidy；　Burke　bowed　gallantly　to　her　lithe　back；　and　blew　a　kiss　from　his　thick　fingertips；　in　mocking　reverence　for　her　as　an　artist　in　her　way。　　Then；　he　seated　himself；　pressed　the　desk　call…button；　and；　when　he　had　learned　that　Edward　Gilder　was　arrived；　ordered　that　the　magnate　and　the　District　Attorney　be　admitted；　and　that　the　son；　also；　be　sent　up　from　his　cell。

〃It's　a　bad　business；　sir；〃　Burke　said；　with　hearty　sympathy；　to　the　shaken　father；　after　the　formal　greetings　that　followed　the　entrance　of　the　two　men。　　〃It's　a　very　bad　business。〃

〃What　does　he　say？〃　　Gilder　questioned。　　There　was　something　pitiful　in　the　distress　of　this　man；　usually　so　strong　and　so　certain　of　his　course。　　Now；　he　was　hesitant　in　his　movements；　and　his　mellow　voice　came　more　weakly　than　its　wont。　　There　was　a　pathetic　pleading　in　the　dulled　eyes　with　which　he　regarded　the　Inspector。

〃Nothing！〃　Burke　answered。　　〃That's　why　I　sent　for　you。　　I　suppose　Mr。　Demarest　has　made　the　situation　plain　to　you。〃

Gilder　nodded；　his　face　miserable。

〃Yes；〃　he　has　explained　it　to　me；〃　he　said　in　a　lifeless　voice。　　〃It's　a　terrible　position　for　my　boy。　　But　you'll　release　him　at　once；　won't　you？〃　　Though　he　strove　to　put　confidence　into　his　words；　his　painful　doubt　was　manifest。

〃I　can't；〃　Burke　replied；　reluctantly；　but　bluntly。　　〃You　ought　not　to　expect　it；　Mr。　Gilder。〃

〃But；〃　came　the　protest；　delivered　with　much　more　spirit；　〃you　know　very　well　that　he　didn't　do　it！〃　

Burke　shook　his　head　emphatically　in　denial　of　the　allegation。

〃I　don't　know　anything　about　ityet；〃　he　contradicted。

The　face　of　the　magnate　went　white　with　fear。

〃Inspector；〃　he　cried　brokenly；　〃youdon't　mean〃

Burke　answered　with　entire　candor。

〃I　mean；　Mr。　Gilder；　that　you've　got　to　make　him　talk。　　That's　what　I　want　you　to　do；　for　all　our　sakes。　Will　you？〃　

〃I'll　do　my　best；〃　the　unhappy　man　replied；　forlornly。

A　minute　later；　Dick；　in　charge　of　an　officer；　was　brought　into　the　room。　　He　was　pale；　a　little　disheveled　from　his　hours　in　a　cell。　　He　still　wore　his　evening　clothes　of　the　night　before。　　His　face　showed　clearly　the　deepened　lines；　graven　by　the　suffering　to　which　he　had　been　subjected；　but　there　was　no　weakness　in　his　expression。　　Instead；　a　new　force　that　love　and　sorrow　had　brought　out　in　his　character　was　plainly　visible。　　The　strength　of　his　nature　was　springing　to　full　life　under　the　stimulus　of　the　ordeal　through　which　he　was　passing。

The　father　went　forward　quickly；　and　caught　Dick's　hands　in　a　mighty　grip。

〃My　boy！〃　he　murmured；　huskily。　　Then；　he　made　a　great　effort；　and　controlled　his　emotion　to　some　extent。　〃The　Inspector　tells　me；〃　he　went　on；　〃that　you've　refused　to　talkto　answer　his　questions。〃

Dick；　too；　winced　under　the　pain　of　this　meeting　with　his　father　in　a　situation　so　sinister。　　But　he　was；　to　some　degree；　apathetic　from　over…much　misery。　　Now；　in　reply　to　his　father's　words；　he　only　nodded　a　quiet　assent。

〃That　wasn't　wise　under　the　circumstances；〃　the　father　remonstrated　hurriedly。　　〃However；　now；　Demarest　and　I　are　here　to　protect　your　interests；　so　that　you　can　talk　freely。〃　　He　went　on　with　a　little　catch　of　anxiety　in　his　voice。　　〃Now；　Dick；　tell　us！　Who　killed　that　man？　　We　must　know。　　Tell　me。〃

Burke　broke　in　impatiently；　with　his　blustering　fashion　of　address。

〃Where　did　you　get？〃　

But　Demarest　raised　a　restraining　hand。

〃Wait；　please！〃　he　admonished　the　Inspector。　　〃You　wait　a　bit。〃　　He　went　a　step　toward　the　young　man。　〃Give　the　boy　a　chance；〃　he　said；　and　his　voice　was　very　friendly　as　he　went　on　speaking。　　〃Dick；　I　don't　want　to　frighten　you；　but　your　position　is　really　a　dangerous　one。　　Your　only　chance　is　to　speak　with　perfect　frankness。　I　pledge　you　my　word；　I'm　telling　the　truth；　Dick。〃　　There　was　profound　concern　in　the　lawyer's　thin　face；　and　his　voice；　trained　to　oratorical　arts；　was　emotionally　persuasive。　　〃Dick；　my　boy；　I　want　you　to　forget　that　I'm　the　District　Attorney；　and　remember　only　that　I'm　an　old　friend　of　yours；　and　of　your　father's；　who　is　trying　very　hard　to　help　you。　　Surely；　you　can　trust　me。　　Now；　Dick；　tell　me：　Who　shot　Griggs？〃　

There　came　a　long　pause。　　Burke's　face　was　avid　with　desire　for　knowledge；　with　the　keen　expectancy　of　the　hunter　on　the　trail；　which　was　characteristic　of　him　in　his　professional　work。　　The　District　Attorney　himself　was　less　vitally　eager；　but　his　curiosity；　as　well　as　his　wish　to　escape　from　an　embarrassing　situation；　showed　openly　on　his　alert　countenance。　　The　heavy　features　of　the　father　were　twisting　a　little　in　nervous　spasms；　for　to　him　this　hour　was　all　anguish；　since　his　only　son　was　in　such　horrible　plight。　　Dick　alone　seemed　almost　tranquil；　though　the　outward　calm　was　belied　by　the　flickering　of　his　eyelids　and　the　occasional　involuntary　movement　of　the　lips。　　Finally　he　spoke；　in　a　cold；　weary　voice。

〃I　shot　Griggs；〃　he　said。

Demarest　realized　subtly　that　his　plea　had　failed；　but　he　made　ar　effort　to　resist　the　impression；　to　take　the　admission　at　its　face　value。

〃Why？〃　　he　demanded。

Dick's　answer　came　in　the　like　unmeaning　tones；　and　as　wearily。

〃Because　I　thought　he　was　a　burglar。〃

The　District　Attorney　was　beginning　to　feel　his　professional　pride　aroused　against　this　young　man　who　so　flagrantly　repelled　his　attempts　to　learn　the　truth　concerning　the　crime　that　had　been　committed。　　He　resorted　to　familiar　artifices　for　entangling　one　questioned。

〃Oh；　I　see！〃　he　said；　in　a　tone　of　conviction。　　〃Now；　let's　go　back　a　little。　　Burke　says　you　told　him　last　night　that　you　had　persuaded　your　wife　to　come　over　to　the　house；　and　join　you　there。　　Is　that　right？〃　

〃Yes。〃　　The　monosyllable　was　uttered　indifferently。　　　　〃And；　while　the　two　of　you　were　talking；〃　Demarest　continued　in　a　matter…of…fact　manner。　　He　did　not　conclude　the　sentence；　but　asked　instead：　〃Now；　tell　me；　Dick；　just　what　did　happen；　won't　you？〃　

There　was　no　reply；　and；　after　a　little　interval；　the　lawyer　resumed　his　questioning。

〃Did　this　burglar　come　into　the　room？〃　

Dick　nodded　an　assent。

〃And　he　attacked　you？〃　

There　came　another　nod　of　affirmation。

〃And　there　was　a　struggle？〃　

〃Yes；〃　Dick　said；　and　now　there　was　resolution　in　his　answer。

〃And　you　shot　him？〃　　Demarest　asked；　smoothly。

〃Yes；〃　the　young　man　said　again。

〃Then；〃　the　lawyer　countered　on　the　instant；　〃where　did　you　get　the　revolver？〃　

Dick　started　to　answer　without　thought：

〃Why；　I　grabbed　it〃　Then；　the　significance　of　this　crashed　on　his　consciousness；　and　he　checked　the　words　trembling　on　his　lips。　　His　eyes；　which　had　been　downcast；　lifted　and　glared　on　the　questioner。　　〃So；〃　he　said　with　swift　hostility　in　his　voice；　〃so；　you're　trying　to　trap　me；　too！〃　He　shrugged　his　shoulders　in　a　way　he　had　learned　abroad。　　〃You！　And　you　talk　of　friendship。　　I　want　none　of　such　friendship。〃

Demarest；　greatly　disconcerted；　was　skilled；　nevertheless；　in　dissembling；　and　he　hid　his　chagrin　perfectly。　There　was　only　reproach　in　his　voice　as　he　answered　stoutly：

〃I　am　your　friend；　Dick。〃

But　Burke　would　be　no　longer　restrained。　　He　had　listened　with　increasing　impatience　to　the　diplomatic　efforts　of　the　District　Attorney；　which　had　ended　in　total　rout。　　Now；　he　insisted　on　employing　his　own　more　drastic；　and；　as　he　believed；　more　efficacious；　methods。　He　stood　up；　and　spoke　in　his　most　threatening　manner。

〃You　don't　want　to　take　us　for　fools；　young　man；〃　he　said；　and　his　big　tones　rumbled　harshly　through　the　room。　　〃If　you　shot　Griggs　in　mistake　for　a　burglar；　why　did　you　try　to　hide　the　fact？　　Why　did　you　pretend　to　me　that　you　and　your　wife　were　alone　in　the　roomwhen　you　had　*THAT　there　with　you；　eh？　　Why　didn't　you　call　for　help？　　Why　didn't　you　call　for　the　police；　as　any　honest　man　would　naturally　under　such　circumstances？〃　

The　arraignment　was　severely　logical。　　Dick　showed　his　appreciation　of　the　justice　of　it　in　the　whitening　of　his　face；　nor　did　he　try　to　answer　the　charges　thus　hurled　at　him。

The　father；　too；　appreciated　the　gravity　of　the　situation。　His　face　was　working；　as　if　toward　tears。

〃We're　trying　to　save　you；〃　he　pleaded；　tremulously。

Burke　persisted　in　his　vehement　system　of　attack。　Now；　he　again　brought　out　the　weapon　that　had　done　Eddie　Griggs　to　death。

〃Where'd　you　get　this　gun？〃　　he　shouted。

Dick　held　his　tranquil　pose。

〃I　won't　talk　any　more；〃　he　answered；　simply。　　〃I　must　see　my　wife　first。〃　　His　voice　became　more　aggressive。　〃I　want　to　know　what　you've　done　to　her。〃

Burke　seized　on　this　opening。

〃Did　she　kill　Griggs？〃　　he　questioned；　roughly。

For　once；　Dick　was　startled　out　of　his　calm。

〃No；　no！〃　he　cried；　desperately。

Burke　followed　up　his　advantage。

〃Then；　who　did？〃　　he　demanded；　sharply。　　〃Who　did？〃　

Now；　however；　the　young　man　had　regained　his　self…control。　　He　answered　very　quietly；　but　with　an　air　of　finality。

〃I　won't　say　any　more　until　I've　talked　with　a　lawyer　whom　I　can　trust。〃　　He　shot　a　vindictive　glance　toward　Demares