within the law-第47部分

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　as　his　glance　searched　the　face　of　the　girl　who　was　bubbling　with　mirth；　he　experienced　an　odd　warming　of　his　heart　under　the　spell　of　her　lovelinessa　loveliness　wholly　feminine；　pervasive；　wholesome。　　But；　too；　his　soul　shook　in　a　premonition　of　catastrophe；　for　there　was　mischief　in　the　beaming　eyes　of　softest　violet。　　There　was　a　demon　of　mockery　playing　in　the　curves　of　the　scarlet　lips；　as　she　smiled　so　winsomely。

All　his　apprehensions　were　verified　by　her　utterance。　It　came　in　a　most　casual　voice；　despite　the　dancing　delight　in　her　face。　　The　tones　were　drawled　in　the　matter…of…fact　fashion　of　statement　that　leads　a　listener　to　answer　without　heed　to　the　exact　import　of　the　question；　unless　very　alert；　indeed。。。。　This　is　what　she　said　in　that　so…casual　voice：

〃I'm　not　speaking　loud　enough；　am　I；　stenographer？〃　

And　that　industrious　writer　of　shorthand　notes；　absorbed　in　his　task；　answered　instantly　from　his　hidden　place　in　the　corridor。

〃No；　ma'am；　not　quite。〃

Mary　laughed　aloud；　while　Burke　sat　dumfounded。　She　rose　swiftly；　and　went　to　the　nearest　window；　and　with　a　pull　at　the　cord　sent　the　shade　flying　upward。　For　seconds；　there　was　revealed　the　busy　stenographer；　bent　over　his　pad。　　Then；　the　noise　of　the　ascending　shade；　which　had　been　hammering　on　his　consciousness；　penetrated；　and　he　looked　up。　　Realization　came；　as　he　beheld　the　woman　laughing　at　him　through　the　window。　Consternation　beset　him。　　He　knew　that；　somehow；　he　had　bungled　fatally。　　A　groan　of　distress　burst　from　him；　and　he　fled　the　place　in　ignominious　rout。

There　was　another　whose　spirit　was　equally　desirous　of　flightBurke！　Yet　once　again；　he　was　beaten　at　his　own　game；　his　cunning　made　of　no　avail　against　the　clever　interpretation　of　this　woman　whom　he　assailed。　He　had　no　defense　to　offer。　　He　did　not　care　to　meet　her　gaze　just　then；　since　he　was　learning　to　respect　her　as　one　wronged；　where　he　had　regarded　her　hitherto　merely　as　of　the　flotsam　and　jetsam　of　the　criminal　class。　So；　he　avoided　her　eyes　as　she　stood　by　the　window　regarding　him　quizzically。　　In　a　panic　of　confusion　quite　new　to　him　in　his　years　of　experience；　he　pressed　the　button　on　his　desk。

The　doorman　appeared　with　that　automatic　precision　which　made　him　valuable　in　his　position；　and　the　Inspector　hailed　the　ready　presence　with　a　feeling　of　profound　relief。

〃Dan；　take　her　back！〃　he　said；　feebly。

Mary　was　smiling　still　as　she　went　to　the　door。　　But　she　could　not　resist　the　impulse　toward　retort。

〃Oh；　yes；〃　she　said；　suavely；　〃you　were　right　on　the　level　with　me；　weren't　you；　Burke？　　Nobody　here　but　you　and　me！〃　The　words　came　in　a　sing…song　of　mockery。

The　Inspector　had　nothing　in　the　way　of　answeronly；　sat　motionless　until　the　door　closed　after　her。　Then；　left　alone；　his　sole　audible　comment　was　a　single　wordone　he　had　learned；　perhaps；　from　Aggie　Lynch：

〃Hell！〃　



CHAPTER　XXIII。　THE　CONFESSION。　

Burke　was　a　persistent　man；　and　he　had　set　himself　to　getting　the　murderer　of　Griggs。　　Foiled　in　his　efforts　thus　far　by　the　opposition　of　Mary；　he　now　gave　himself　over　to　careful　thought　as　to　a　means　of　procedure　that　might　offer　the　best　possibilities　of　success。　　His　beetling　brows　were　drawn　in　a　frown　of　perplexity　for　a　full　quarter　of　an　hour；　while　he　rested　motionless　in　his　chair；　an　unlighted　cigar　between　his　lips。　　Then；　at　last；　his　face　cleared；　a　grin　of　satisfaction　twisted　his　heavy　mouth；　and　he　smote　the　desk　joyously。

〃It's　a　cinch　it'll　get　'im！〃　he　rumbled；　in　glee。

He　pressed　the　button…call；　and　ordered　the　doorman　to　send　in　Cassidy。　　When　the　detective　appeared　a　minute　later；　he　went　directly　to　his　subject　with　a　straightforward　energy　usual　to　him　in　his　work。

〃Does　Garson　know　we've　arrested　the　Turner　girl　and　young　Gilder？〃　　And；　when　he　had　been　answered　in　the　negative：　〃Or　that　we've　got　Chicago　Red　and　Dacey　here？〃　

〃No；〃　Cassidy　replied。　　〃He　hasn't　been　spoken　to　since　we　made　the　collar。。。。　He　seems　worried；〃　the　detective　volunteered。

Burke's　broad　jowls　shook　from　the　force　with　which　he　snapped　his　jaws　together。

〃He'll　be　more　worried　before　I　get　through　with　him！〃　he　growled。　　He　regarded　Cassidy　speculatively。　〃Do　you　remember　the　Third　Degree　Inspector　Burns　worked　on　McGloin？　　Well；〃　he　went　on；　as　the　detective　nodded　assent；　〃that's　what　I'm　going　to　do　to　Garson。　　He's　got　imagination；　that　crook！　The　things　he　don't　know　about　are　the　things　he's　afraid　of。　After　he　gets　in　here；　I　want　you　to　take　his　pals　one　after　the　other；　and　lock　them　up　in　the　cells　there　in　the　corridor。　　The　shades　on　the　corridor　windows　here　will　be　up；　and　Garson　will　see　them　taken　in。　　The　fact　of　their　being　there　will　set　his　imagination　to　working　overtime；　all　right。〃

Burke　reflected　for　a　moment；　and　then　issued　the　final　directions　for　the　execution　of　his　latest　plot。

〃When　you　get　the　buzzer　from　me；　you　have　young　Gilder　and　the　Turner　woman　sent　in。　　Then；　after　a　while；　you'll　get　another　buzzer。　　When　you　hear　that；　come　right　in　here；　and　tell　me　that　the　gang　has　squealed。　　I'll　do　the　rest。　　Bring　Garson　here　in　just　five　minutes。。。。　Tell　Dan　to　come　in。〃

As　the　detective　went　out；　the　doorman　promptly　entered；　and　thereat　Burke　proceeded　with　the　further　instructions　necessary　to　the　carrying　out　of　his　scheme。

〃Take　the　chairs　out　of　the　office；　Dan；〃　he　directed；　〃except　mine　and　one　otherthat　one！〃　He　indicated　a　chair　standing　a　little　way　from　one　end　of　his　desk。　〃Now；　have　all　the　shades　up。〃　　He　chuckled　as　he　added：　〃That　Turner　woman　saved　you　the　trouble　with　one。〃

As　the　doorman　went　out　after　having　fulfilled　these　commands；　the　Inspector　lighted　the　cigar　which　he　had　retained　still　in　his　mouth；　and　then　seated　himself　in　the　chair　that　was　set　partly　facing　the　windows　opening　on　the　corridor。　　He　smiled　with　anticipatory　triumph　as　he　made　sure　that　the　whole　length　of　the　corridor　with　the　barred　doors　of　the　cells　was　plainly　visible　to　one　sitting　thus。　　With　a　final　glance　about　to　make　certain　that　all　was　in　readiness；　he　returned　to　his　chair；　and；　when　the　door　opened；　he　was；　to　all　appearances；　busily　engaged　in　writing。

〃Here's　Garson；　Chief；〃　Cassidy　announced。

〃Hello；　Joe！〃　Burke　exclaimed；　with　a　seeming　of　careless　friendliness；　as　the　detective　went　out；　and　Garson　stood　motionless　just　within　the　door。

〃Sit　down；　a　minute；　won't　you？〃　　the　Inspector　continued；　affably。　　He　did　not　look　up　from　his　writing　as　he　spoke。

Garson's　usually　strong　face　was　showing　weak　with　fear。　　His　chin；　which　was　commonly　very　firm；　moved　a　little　from　uneasy　twitchings　of　his　lips。　　His　clear　eyes　were　slightly　clouded　to　a　look　of　apprehension；　as　they　roved　the　room　furtively。　　He　made　no　answer　to　the　Inspector's　greeting　for　a　few　moments；　but　remained　standing　without　movement；　poised　alertly　as　if　sensing　some　concealed　peril。　　Finally；　however；　his　anxiety　found　expression　in　words。　　His　tone　was　pregnant　with　alarm；　though　he　strove　to　make　it　merely　complaining。

〃Say；　what　am　I　arrested　for？〃　　he　protested。　　〃I　ain't　done　anything。〃

Even　now；　Burke　did　not　look　up；　and　his　pen　continued　to　hurry　over　the　paper。

〃Who　told　you　you　were　arrested？〃　　he　remarked；　cheerfully；　in　his　blandest　voice。

Garson　uttered　an　ejaculation　of　disgust。

〃I　don't　have　to　be　told；〃　he　retorted；　huffily。　　〃I'm　no　college　president；　but；　when　a　cop　grabs　me　and　brings　me　down　here；　I've　got　sense　enough　to　know　I'm　pinched。〃

The　Inspector　did　not　interrupt　his　work；　but　answered　with　the　utmost　good　nature。

〃Is　that　what　they　did　to　you；　Joe？　　I'll　have　to　speak　to　Cassidy　about　that。　　Now；　just　you　sit　down；　Joe；　won't　you？　　I　want　to　have　a　little　talk　with　you。　I'll　be　through　here　in　a　second。〃　　He　went　on　with　the　writing。

Garson　moved　forward　slightly；　to　the　single　chair　near　the　end　of　the　desk；　and　there　seated　himself　mechanically。　His　face　thus　was　turned　toward　the　windows　that　gave　on　the　corridor；　and　his　eyes　grew　yet　more　clouded　as　they　rested　on　the　grim　doors　of　the　cells。　　He　writhed　in　his　chair；　and　his　gaze　jumped　from　the　cells　to　the　impassive　figure　of　the　man　at　the　desk。　　Now；　the　forger's　nervousness　increased　momently　it　swept　beyond　his　control。　　Of　a　sudden；　he　sprang　up；　and　stepped　close　to　the　Inspector。

〃Say；〃　he　said；　in　a　husky　voice；　〃I'd　likeI'd　like　to　have　a　lawyer。〃

〃What's　the　matter　with　you；　Joe？〃　　the　Inspector　returned；　always　with　that　imperturbable　air；　and　without　raising　his　head　from　the　work　that　so　engrossed　his　attention。　〃You　know；　you're　not　arrested；　Joe。　　Maybe；　you　never　will　be。　　Now；　for　the　love　of　Mike；　keep　still；　and　let　me　finish　this　letter。〃

Slowly；　very　hesitatingly；　Garson　went　back　to　the　chair；　and　sank　down　on　it　in　a　limp　attitude　of　dejection　wholly　unlike　his　customary　postures　of　strength。　Again；　his　fear…fascinated　eyes　went　to　the　row　of　cells　that　stood　silently　menacing　on　the　other　side　of　the　corridor　beyond　the　windows。　　His　face　was　tinged　with　gray。　　A　physical　sickness　was　creeping　stealthily　on　him；　as　his　thoughts　held　insistently　to　the　catastrophe　that　threatened。　　His　intelligence　was　too　keen　to　permit　a　belief　that　Burke's　manner　of　a