within the law-第23部分

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The　words　recalled　to　the　forger　weird　forebodings　that　had　been　troubling　him　throughout　the　day。

〃It's　sure　enough；〃　he　stated；　〃but　is　it　safe？〃　

Mary　looked　up　quickly。

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　　she　demanded。

Garson　walked　to　and　fro　nervously　as　he　answered。

〃S'pose　the　bulls　get　tired　of　you　putting　it　over　on　'em　and　try　some　rough　work？〃　

Mary　smiled　carelessly。

〃Don't　worry；　Joe；〃　she　advised。　　〃I　know　a　way　to　stop　it。〃

〃Well；　so　far　as　that　goes；　so　do　I；〃　the　forger　said；　with　significant　emphasis。

〃Just　what　do　you　mean　by　that？〃　　Mary　demanded；　suspiciously。

〃For　rough　work；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　this。〃　　He　took　a　magazine　pistol　from　his　pocket。　　It　was　of　an　odd　shape；　with　a　barrel　longer　than　is　usual　and　a　bell…shaped　contrivance　attached　to　the　muzzle。

〃No；　no；　Joe；〃　Mary　cried；　greatly　discomposed。　〃None　of　thatever！〃　

The　forger　smiled；　and　there　was　malignant　triumph　in　his　expression。

〃Pooh！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃Even　if　I　used　it；　they　would　never　get　on　to　me。　　See　this？〃　　He　pointed　at　the　strange　contrivance　on　the　muzzle。

Mary's　curiosity　made　her　forget　for　a　moment　her　distaste。

〃What　is　it？〃　　she　asked；　interestedly。　　〃I　have　never　seen　anything　like　that　before。〃

〃Of　course　you　haven't；〃　Garson　answered　with　much　pride。　　〃I'm　the　first　man　in　the　business　to　get　one；　and　I'll　bet　on　it。　　I　keep　up　with　the　times。〃　　For　once；　he　was　revealing　that　fundamental　egotism　which　is　the　characteristic　of　all　his　kind。　　〃That's　one　of　the　new　Maxim　silencers；〃　he　continued。　　〃With　smokeless　powder　in　the　cartridges；　and　the　silencer　on；　I　can　make　a　shot　from　my　coat…pocket；　and　you　wouldn't　even　know　it　had　been　done。　　。　　。。　　And　I'm　some　shot；　believe　me。〃

〃Impossible！〃　Mary　ejaculated。

〃No；　it　ain't；〃　the　man　asserted。　　〃Here；　wait；　I'll　show　you。〃

〃Good　gracious；　not　here！〃　Mary　exclaimed　in　alarm。　〃We　would　have　the　whole　place　down　on　us。〃

Garson　chuckled。

〃You　just　watch　that　dinky　little　vase　on　the　table　across　the　room　there。　　'Tain't　very　valuable；　is　it？〃　

〃No；〃　Mary　answered。

In　the　same　instant；　while　still　her　eyes　were　on　the　vase；　it　fell　in　a　cascade　of　shivered　glass　to　the　table　and　floor。　　She　had　heard　no　sound；　she　saw　no　smoke。　Perhaps；　there　had　been　a　faintest　clicking　noise。　　She　was　not　sure。　　She　stared　dumfounded　for　a　few　seconds；　then　turned　her　bewildered　face　toward　Garson；　who　was　grinning　in　high　enjoyment。

〃I　would'nt　have　believed　it　possible；〃　she　declared；　vastly　impressed。

〃Neat　little　thing；　ain't　it？〃　　the　man　asked；　exultantly。

〃Where　did　you　get　it？〃　　Mary　asked。

〃In　Boston；　last　week。　　And　between　you　and　me；　Mary；　it's　the　only　model；　and　it　sure　is　a　corker　for　crime。〃

The　sinister　association　of　ideas　made　Mary　shudder；　but　she　said　no　more。　　She　would　have　shuddered　again；　if　she　could　have　guessed　the　vital　part　that　pistol　was　destined　to　play。　　But　she　had　no　thought　of　any　actual　peril　to　come　from　it。　　She　might　have　thought　otherwise；　could　she　have　known　of　the　meeting　that　night　in　the　back　room　of　Blinkey's；　where　English　Eddie　and　Garson　sat　with　their　heads　close　together　over　a　table。

〃A　chance　like　this；〃　Griggs　was　saying；　〃a　chance　that　will　make　a　fortune　for　all　of　us。〃

〃It　sounds　good；〃　Garson　admitted；　wistfully。

〃It　is　good；〃　the　other　declared　with　an　oath。　　〃Why；　if　this　goes　through；　we're　set　up　for　life。　　We　can　quit；　all　of　us。〃

〃Yes；〃　Garson　agreed；　〃we　can　quit；　all　of　us。〃　　There　was　avarice　in　his　voice。

The　tempter　was　sure　that　the　battle　was　won；　and　smiled　contentedly。

〃Well；〃　he　urged；　〃what　do　you　say？〃　

〃How　would　we　split　it？〃　　It　was　plain　that　Garson　had　given　over　the　struggle　against　greed。　　After　all；　Mary　was　only　a　woman；　despite　her　cleverness；　and　with　all　a　woman's　timidity。　　Here　was　sport　for　men。

〃Three　ways　would　be　right；〃　Griggs　answered。　　〃One　to　me；　one　to　you　and　one　to　be　divided　up　among　the　others。〃

Garson　brought　his　fist　down　on　the　table　with　a　force　that　made　the　glasses　jingle。

〃You're　on；〃　he　said；　strongly。

〃Fine！〃　Griggs　declared；　and　the　two　men　shook　hands。　　〃Now；　I'll　get〃

〃Get　nothing！〃　Garson　interrupted。　　〃I'll　get　my　own　men。　　Chicago　Red　is　in　town。　　So　is　Dacey；　with　perhaps　a　couple　of　others　of　the　right　sort。　　I'll　get　them　to　meet　you　at　Blinkey's　at　two　to…morrow　afternoon；　and；　if　it　looks　right；　we'll　turn　the　trick　to…morrow　night。〃

〃That's　the　stuff；〃　Griggs　agreed；　greatly　pleased。

But　a　sudden　shadow　fell　on　the　face　of　Garson。　　He　bent　closer　to　his　companion；　and　spoke　with　a　fierce　intensity　that　brooked　no　denial。

〃She　must　never　know。〃

Griggs　nodded　understandingly。

〃Of　course；〃　he　answered。　　〃I　give　you　my　word　that　I'll　never　tell　her。　　And　you　know　you　can　trust　me；　Joe。〃

〃Yes；〃　the　forger　replied　somberly；　〃I　know　I　can　trust　you。〃　　But　the　shadow　did　not　lift　from　his　face。



CHAPTER　XIV。　A　WEDDING　ANNOUNCEMENT。　

Mary　dismissed　Garson　presently；　and　betook　herself　to　her　bedroom　for　a　nap。　　The　day　had　been　a　trying　one；　and；　though　her　superb　health　could　endure　much；　she　felt　that　both　prudence　and　comfort　required　that　she　should　recruit　her　energies　while　there　was　opportunity。　　She　was　not　in　the　least　surprised　that　Dick　had　not　yet　returned；　though　he　had　mentioned　half　an　hour。　　At　the　best；　there　were　many　things　that　might　detain　him；　his　father's　absence　from　the　office；　difficulties　in　making　arrangements　for　his　projected　honeymoon　trip　abroadwhich　would　never　occuror　the　like。　　At　the　worst；　there　was　a　chance　of　finding　his　father　promptly；　and　of　that　father　as　promptly　taking　steps　to　prevent　the　son　from　ever　again　seeing　the　woman　who　had　so　indiscreetly　married　him。　　Yet；　somehow；　Mary　could　not　believe　that　her　husband　would　yield　to　such　paternal　coercion。　　Rather；　she　was　sure　that　he　would　prove　loyal　to　her　whom　he　loved；　through　every　trouble。　　At　the　thought　a　certain　wistfulness　pervaded　her；　and　a　poignant　regret　that　this　particular　man　should　have　been　the　one　chosen　of　fate　to　be　entangled　within　her　mesh　of　revenge。　　There　throbbed　in　her　a　heart…tormenting　realization　that　there　were　in　life　possibilities　infinitely　more　splendid　than　the　joy　of　vengeance。　　She　would　not　confess　the　truth　even　to　her　inmost　soul；　but　the　truth　was　there；　and　set　her　a…tremble　with　vague　fears。　　Nevertheless；　because　she　was　in　perfect　health；　and　was　much　fatigued；　her　introspection　did　not　avail　to　keep　her　awake；　and　within　three　minutes　from　the　time　she　lay　down　she　was　blissfully　unconscious　of　all　things；　both　the　evil　and　the　good；　revenge　and　love。

She　had　slept；　perhaps；　a　half…hour；　when　Fannie　awakened　her。

〃It's　a　man　named　Burke；〃　she　explained；　as　her　mistress　lay　blinking。　　〃And　there's　another　man　with　him。　　They　said　they　must　see　you。〃

By　this　time；　Mary　was　wide…awake；　for　the　name　of　Burke；　the　Police　Inspector；　was　enough　to　startle　her　out　of　drowsiness。

〃Bring　them　in；　in　five　minutes；〃　she　directed。

She　got　up；　slipped　into　a　tea…gown；　bathed　her　eyes　in　cologne；　dressed　her　hair　a　little；　and　went　into　the　drawing…room；　where　the　two　men　had　been　waiting　for　something　more　than　a　quarter　of　an　hourto　the　violent　indignation　of　both。

〃Oh；　here　you　are；　at　last！〃　the　big；　burly　man　cried　as　she　entered。　　The　whole　air　of　him；　though　he　was　in　civilian's　clothes；　proclaimed　the　policeman。

〃Yes；　Inspector；〃　Mary　replied　pleasantly；　as　she　advanced　into　the　room。　　She　gave　a　glance　toward　the　other　visitor；　who　was　of　a　slenderer　form；　with　a　thin；　keen　face；　and　recognized　him　instantly　as　Demarest；　who　had　taken　part　against　her　as　the　lawyer　for　the　store　at　the　time　of　her　trial；　and　who　was　now　holding　the　office　of　District　Attorney。　　She　went　to　the　chair　at　the　desk；　and　seated　herself　in　a　leisurely　fashion　that　increased　the　indignation　of　the　fuming　Inspector。　　She　did　not　trouble　to　ask　her　self…invited　guests　to　sit。

〃To　whom　do　I　owe　the　pleasure　of　this　visit；　Inspector？〃　　she　remarked　coolly。　　It　was　noticeable　that　she　said　whom　and　not　what；　as　if　she　understood　perfectly　that　the　influence　of　some　person　brought　him　on　this　errand。

〃I　have　come　to　have　a　few　quiet　words　with　you；〃　the　Inspector　declared；　in　a　mighty　voice　that　set　the　globes　of　the　chandeliers　a…quiver。　　Mary　disregarded　him；　and　turned　to　the　other　man。

〃How　do　you　do；　Mr。　Demarest？〃　　she　said；　evenly。　〃It's　four　years　since　we　met；　and　they've　made　you　District　Attorney　since　then。　　Allow　me　to　congratulate　you。〃

Demarest's　keen　face　took　on　an　expression　of　perplexity。

〃I'm　puzzled；〃　he　confessed。　　〃There　is　something　familiar；　somehow；　about　you；　and　yet〃　He　scrutinized　appreciatively　the　loveliness　of　the　girl　with　her　classically　beautiful　face；　that　was　still　individual　in　its　charm；　the　slim　graces　of　the　tall；　lissome　form。　　〃I　should　have　remembered　you。　　I　don't　understand　it。〃

〃Can't　you　guess？〃　　Mary　questioned；　somberly。　〃Search　your　memory；　Mr。　Demarest。〃

Of　a　sudden；　the　face　of　the　District　Attorney　lightened。

〃Why；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃you　areit　can't　beyesyou　are　the　girl；　you're　the　Mary　Turner　whom　Ioh；　I　know　you　now。〃

There　was　an　enigmatic　smile　bending　the　scarlet　lips　as　she　answered。

〃I'm　the　girl　you　mean；　Mr。　Demarest；　but；　for　the　rest；　you　don't　know　menot　at　all！〃　

The　burly　figure　of　the　Inspector　of　Police；　which　had　loomed　motionless　during　this　colloquy；　now　advanced　a　step；　and　the　big　voice　boomed　threatening。　It　was　very　rough　and　weighted　with　authority。

〃Young　woman；〃　Burke　said；　peremptorily；　〃the　Twentieth　Century　Limited　leaves　Grand　Central　Station　at　four　o'clock。　　It　arrives　in　Chicago　at　eight…fifty…five　to…morrow　morning。〃　　He　pulled　a　massive　gold　watch　from　his　waistcoat　pocket；　glanced　at　it；　thrust　it　back；　and　concluded　ponderously：　〃You　will　just　about　have　time　to　catch　that　train。〃

Mary　regarded　the　stockily　built　officer　with　a　half…amused　contempt；　which　she　was　at　no　pains　to　conceal。

〃Working　for　the　New　York　Central　now？〃　　she　asked　blandly。

The　gibe　made　the　Inspector　furious。

〃I'm　working　for　the　good　of　New　York　City；〃　he　answered　venomously。

Mary　let　a　ripple　of　cadenced　laughter　escape　her