within the law-第48部分

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astrophe　that　threatened。　　His　intelligence　was　too　keen　to　permit　a　belief　that　Burke's　manner　of　almost　fulsome　kindliness　hid　nothing　ominousominous　with　a　hint　of　death　for　him　in　return　for　the　death　he　had　wrought。

Then；　terror　crystallized。　　His　eyes　were　caught　by　a　figure；　the　figure　of　Cassidy；　advancing　there　in　the　corridor。　　And　with　the　detective　went　a　man　whose　gait　was　slinking；　craven。　　A　cell…door　swung　open；　the　prisoner　stepped　within；　the　door　clanged　to；　the　bolts　shot　into　their　sockets　noisily。

Garson　sat　huddled；　strickenfor　he　had　recognized　the　victim　thrust　into　the　cell　before　his　eyes。。。。　It　was　Dacey；　one　of　his　own　cronies　in　crimeDacey；　who；　the　night　before；　had　seen　him　kill　Eddie　Griggs。　There　was　something　concretely　sinister　to　Garson　in　this　fact　of　Dacey's　presence　there　in　the　cell。

Of　a　sudden；　the　forger　cried　out　raucously：

〃Say；　Inspector；　if　you've　got　anything　on　me；　II　would〃　The　cry　dropped　into　unintelligible　mumblings。

Burke　retained　his　manner　of　serene　indifference　to　the　other's　agitation。　　Still；　his　pen　hurried　over　the　paper；　and　he　did　not　trouble　to　look　up　as　he　expostulated；　half…banteringly。

〃Now；　now！　What's　the　matter　with　you；　Joe？　　I　told　you　that　I　wanted　to　ask　you　a　few　questions。　That's　all。〃

Garson　leaped　to　his　feet　again　resolutely；　then　faltered；　and　ultimately　fell　back　into　the　chair　with　a　groan；　as　the　Inspector　went　on　speaking。

〃Now；　Joe；　sit　down；　and　keep　still；　I　tell　you；　and　let　me　get　through　with　this　job。　　It　won't　take　me　more　than　a　minute　more。〃

But；　after　a　moment；　Garson's　emotion　forced　hint　to　another　appeal。

〃Say；　Inspector〃　he　began。

Then；　abruptly；　he　was　silent；　his　mouth　still　open　to　utter　the　words　that　were　now　held　back　by　horror。　Again；　he　saw　the　detective　walking　forward；　out　there　in　the　corridor。　　And　with　him；　as　before；　was　a　second　figure；　which　advanced　slinkingly。　　Garson　leaned　forward　in　his　chair；　his　head　thrust　out；　watching　in　rigid　suspense。　　Again；　even　as　before；　the　door　swung　wide；　the　prisoner　slipped　within；　the　door　clanged　shut；　the　bolts　clattered　noisily　into　their　sockets。

And；　in　the　watcher；　terror　grewfor　he　had　seen　the　face　of　Chicago　Red；　another　of　his　pals；　another　who　had　seen　him　kill　Griggs。　　For　a　time　that　seemed　to　him　long　ages　of　misery；　Garson　sat　staring　dazedly　at　the　closed　doors　of　the　tier　of　cells。　　The　peril　about　him　was　growinggrowing；　and　it　was　a　deadly　peril！　At　last；　he　licked　his　dry　lips；　and　his　voice　broke　in　a　throaty　whisper。

〃Say；　Inspector；　if　you've　got　anything　against　me；　why〃

〃Who　said　there　was　anything　against　you；　Joe？〃　　Burke　rejoined；　in　a　voice　that　was　genially　chiding。　〃What's　the　matter　with　you　to…day；　Joe？　　You　seem　nervous。〃　　Still；　the　official　kept　on　with　his　writing。

〃No；　I　ain't　nervous；〃　Garson　cried；　with　a　feverish　effort　to　appear　calm。　　〃Why；　what　makes　you　think　that？　　But　this　ain't　exactly　the　place　you'd　pick　out　as　a　pleasant　one　to　spend　the　morning。〃　　He　was　silent　for　a　little；　trying　with　all　his　strength　to　regain　his　self…control；　but　with　small　success。

〃Could　I　ask　you　a　question？〃　　he　demanded　finally；　with　more　firmness　in　his　voice。

〃What　is　it？〃　Burke　said。

Garson　cleared　his　throat　with　difficulty；　and　his　voice　was　thick。

〃I　was　just　going　to　say〃　he　began。　　Then；　he　hesitated；　and　was　silent；　at　a　loss。

〃Well；　what　is　it；　Joe？〃　　the　Inspector　prompted。

〃I　was　going　to　saythat　iswell；　if　it's　anything　about　Mary　Turner；　I　don't　know　a　thingnot　a　thing！〃　

It　was　the　thought　of　possible　peril　to　her　that　now；　in　an　instant；　had　caused　him　to　forget　his　own　mortal　danger。　　Where；　before；　he　had　been　shuddering　over　thoughts　of　the　death…house　cell　that　might　be　awaiting　him；　he　now　had　concern　only　for　the　safety　of　the　woman　he　cherished。　　And　there　was　a　great　grief　in　his　soul；　for　it　was　borne　in　on　him　that　his　own　folly；　in　disobedience　to　her　command；　had　led　up　to　the　murder　of　Griggsand　to　all　that　might　come　of　the　crime。　How　could　he　ever　make　amends　to　her？　　At　least；　he　could　be　brave　here；　for　her　sake；　if　not　for　his　own。

Burke　believed　that　his　opportunity　was　come。

〃What　made　you　think　I　wanted　to　know　anything　about　her？〃　　he　questioned。

〃Oh；　I　can't　exactly　say；〃　Garson　replied　carelessly；　in　an　attempt　to　dissimulate　his　agitation。　　〃You　were　up　to　the　house；　you　know。　　Don't　you　see？〃　

〃I　did　want　to　see　her；　that's　a　fact；〃　Burke　admitted。　He　kept　on　with　his　writing；　his　head　bent　low。　〃But　she　wasn't　at　her　flat。　　I　guess　she　must　have　taken　my　advice；　and　skipped　out。　　Clever　girl；　that！〃　

Garson　contrived　to　present　an　aspect　of　comparative　indifference。

〃Yes；〃　he　agreed。　　〃I　was　thinking　of　going　West；　myself；〃　he　ventured。

〃Oh；　were　you？〃　　Burke　exclaimed；　and；　now；　there　was　a　new　note　in　his　voice。　　His　hand　slipped　into　the　pocket　where　was　the　pistol；　and　clutched　it。　　He　stared　at　Garson　fiercely；　and　spoke　with　a　rush　of　the　words：

〃Why　did　you　kill　Eddie　Griggs？〃　

〃I　didn't　kill　him！〃　The　reply　was　quick　enough；　but　it　came　weakly。　　Again；　Garson　was　forced　to　wet　his　lips　with　a　dry　tongue；　and　to　swallow　painfully。　　〃I　tell　you；　I　didn't　kill　him！〃　he　repeated　at　last；　with　more　force。

Burke　sneered　his　disbelief。

〃You　killed　him　last　nightwith　this！〃　he　cried；　viciously。　　On　the　instant；　the　pistol　leaped　into　view；　pointed　straight　at　Garson。　　〃Why？〃　　the　Inspector　shouted。　　〃Come　on；　now！　Why？〃　

〃I　didn't；　I　tell　you！〃　Garson　was　growing　stronger；　since　at　last　the　crisis　was　upon　him。　　He　got　to　his　feet　with　lithe　swiftness　of　movement；　and　sprang　close　to　the　desk。　　He　bent　his　head　forward　challengingly；　to　meet　the　glare　of　his　accuser's　eyes。　　There　was　no　flinching　in　his　own　steely　stare。　　His　nerves　had　ceased　their　jangling　under　the　tautening　of　necessity。

〃You　did！〃　Burke　vociferated。　　He　put　his　whole　will　into　the　assertion　of　guilt；　to　batter　down　the　man's　resistance。　〃You　did；　I　tell　you！　You　did！〃　

Garson　leaned　still　further　forward；　until　his　face　was　almost　level　with　the　Inspector's。　　His　eyes　were　unclouded　now；　were　blazing。　　His　voice　came　resonant　in　its　denial。　　The　entire　pose　of　him　was　intrepid；　dauntless。

〃And　I　tell　you；　I　didn't！〃　

There　passed　many　seconds；　while　the　two　men　battled　in　silence；　will　warring　against　will。　。。。　In　the　end；　it　was　the　murderer　who　triumphed。

Suddenly；　Burke　dropped　the　pistol　into　his　pocket；　and　lolled　back　in　his　chair。　　His　gaze　fell　away　from　the　man　confronting　him。　　In　the　same　instant；　the　rigidity　of　Garson's　form　relaxed；　and　he　straightened　slowly。　A　tide　of　secret　joy　swept　through　him；　as　he　realized　his　victory。　　But　his　outward　expression　remained　unchanged。

〃Oh；　well；〃　Burke　exclaimed　amiably；　〃I　didn't　really　think　you　did；　but　I　wasn't　sure；　so　I　had　to　take　a　chance。　　You　understand；　don't　you；　Joe？〃　

〃Sure；　I　understand；〃　Garson　replied；　with　an　amiability　equal　to　the　Inspector's　own。

Burke's　manner　continued　very　amicable　as　he　went　on　speaking。

〃You　see；　Joe；　anyhow；　we've　got　the　right　party　safe　enough。　　You　can　bet　on　that！〃　

Garson　resisted　the　lure。

〃If　you　don't　want　me〃　he　began　suggestively；　and　he　turned　toward　the　door　to　the　outer　hall。　　〃Why；　if　you　don't　want　me；　I'llget　along。〃

〃Oh；　what's　the　hurry；　Joe？〃　　Burke　retorted；　with　the　effect　of　stopping　the　other　short。　　He　pressed　the　buzzer　as　the　agreed　signal　to　Cassidy。　　〃Where　did　you　say　Mary　Turner　was　last　night？〃　

At　the　question；　all　Garson's　fears　for　the　woman　rushed　back　on　him　with　appalling　force。　　Of　what　avail　his　safety；　if　she　were　still　in　peril？

〃I　don't　know　where　she　was；〃　he　exclaimed；　doubtfully。　　He　realized　his　blunder　even　as　the　words　left　his　lips；　and　sought　to　correct　it　as　best　he　might。　　〃Why；　yes；　I　do；　too；〃　he　went　on；　as　if　assailed　by　sudden　memory。　　〃I　dropped　into　her　place　kind　of　late；　and　they　said　she'd　gone　to　bedheadache；　I　guess。。。。　Yes；　she　was　home；　of　course。　　She　didn't　go　out　of　the　house；　all　night。〃　　His　insistence　on　the　point　was　of　itself　suspicious；　but　eagerness　to　protect　her　stultified　his　wits。

Burke　sat　grim　and　silent；　offering　no　comment　on　the　lie。

〃Know　anything　about　young　Gilder？〃　　he　demanded。　〃Happen　to　know　where　he　is　now？〃　　He　arose　and　came　around　the　desk；　so　that　he　stood　close　to　Garson；　at　whom　he　glowered。

〃Not　a　thing！〃　was　the　earnest　answer。　　But　the　speaker's　fear　rose　swiftly；　for　the　linking　of　these　names　was　significantfrightfully　significant！

The　inner　door　opened；　and　Mary　Turner　entered　the　office。　　Garson　with　difficulty　suppressed　the　cry　of　distress　that　rose　to　his　lips。　　For　a　few　moments；　the　silence　was　unbroken。　　Then；　presently；　Burke；　by　a　gesture；　directed　the　girl　to　advance　toward　the　center　of　the　room。　　As　she　obeyed；　he　himself　went　a　little　toward　the　door；　and；　when　it　opened　again；　and　Dick　Gilder　appeared；　he　interposed　to　check　the　young　man's　rush　forward　as　his　gaze　fell　on　his　bride；　who　stood　regarding　him　with　sad　eyes。

Garson　stared　mutely　at　the　burly　man　in　uniform　who　held　their　destinies　in　the　hollow　of　a　hand。　　His　lips　parted　as　if　he　were　about　to　speak。　　Then；　he