within the law-第32部分

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n　the　table　back　of　the　couch。　　In　the　same　moment　Garson　snapped　his　torch　to　darkness。　When；　after　a　little　futile　searching；　Dick　finally　found　the　catch；　and　the　mellow　streamed　forth；　he　uttered　an　ejaculation　of　stark　amazement；　for　his　gaze　was　riveted　on　the　face　of　the　woman　he　loved。

〃Good　God！〃　It　was　a　cry　of　torture　wrung　from　his　soul　of　souls。

Mary　swayed　toward　him　a　little；　palpitant　with　fear　fear　for　herself；　for　all　of　them；　most　of　all　for　him。

〃Hush！　hush！〃　she　panted　warningly。　　〃Oh；　Dick；　you　don't　understand。〃

Dick's　hand　was　at　his　throat。　　It　was　not　easy　for　him　to　speak　yet。　　He　had　suffered　severely　in　the　process　of　being　throttled；　and；　too；　he　was　in　the　clutch　of　a　frightful　emotion。　　To　find　her；　his　wife；　in　this　place；　in　such　companyher；　the　woman　whom　he　loved；　whom；　in　spite　of　everything；　he　had　honored；　the　woman　to　whom　he　had　given　his　name！　Mary　here！　And　thus！

〃I　understand　this；〃　he　said　brokenly　at　last。　〃Whether　you　ever　did　it　before　or　not；　this　time　you　have　broken　the　law。〃　　A　sudden　inspiration　on　his　own　behalf　came　to　him。　　For　his　love's　sake；　he　must　seize　on　this　opportunity　given　of　fate　to　him　for　mastery。　He　went　on　with　a　new　vehemence　of　boldness　that　became　him　well。

〃You're　in　my　hands　now。　　So　are　these　men　as　well。　Unless　you　do　as　I　say；　Mary；　I'll　jail　every　one　of　them。〃

Mary's　usual　quickness　was　not　lacking　even　now；　in　this　period　of　extremity。　　Her　retort　was　given　without　a　particle　of　hesitation。

〃You　can't；〃　she　objected　with　conviction。　　〃I'm　the　only　one　you've　seen。〃

〃That's　soon　remedied；〃　Dick　declared。　　He　turned　toward　the　hall　door　as　if　with　the　intention　of　lighting　the　chandelier。

But　Mary　caught　his　arm　pleadingly。

〃Don't；　Dick；〃　she　begged。　　〃It'sit's　not　safe。〃

〃I'm　not　afraid；〃　was　his　indignant　answer。　　He　would　have　gone　on；　but　she　clung　the　closer。　　He　was　reluctant　to　use　over…much　force　against　the　one　whom　he　cherished　so　fondly。

There　came　a　diversion　from　the　man　who　had　made　the　capture；　who　was　mightily　wondering　over　the　course　of　events；　which　was　wholly　unlike　anything　in　the　whole　of　his　own　rather　extensive　housebreaking　experience。

〃Who's　this；　anyhow？〃　　Chicago　Red　demanded。

There　was　a　primitive　petulance　in　his　drawling　tones。

Dick　answered　with　conciseness　enough。

〃I'm　her　husband。　　Who　are　you？〃　

Mary　called　a　soft　admonition。

〃Don't　speak；　any　of　you；〃　she　directed。　　〃You　mustn't　let　him　hear　your　voices。〃

Dick　was　exasperated　by　this　persistent　identification　of　herself　with　these　criminals　in　his　father's　house。

〃You're　fighting　me　like　a　coward；〃　he　said　hotly。　His　voice　was　bitter。　　The　eyes　that　had　always　been　warm　in　their　glances　on　her　were　chill　now。　　He　turned　a　little　way　from　her；　as　if　in　instinctive　repugnance。　　〃You　are　taking　advantage　of　my　love。　　You　think　that　because　of　it　I　can't　make　a　move　against　these　men。　　Now；　listen　to　me；　I〃

〃I　won't！〃　Mary　cried。　　Her　words　were　shrill　with　mingled　emotions。　　〃There's　nothing　to　talk　about；〃　she　went　on　wildly。　　〃There　never　can　be　between　you　and　me。〃

The　young　man's　voice　came　with　a　sonorous　firmness　that　was　new　to　it。　　In　these　moments；　the　strength　of　him；　nourished　by　suffering；　was　putting　forth　its　flower。　His　manner　was　masterful。

〃There　can　be　and　there　will　be；〃　he　contradicted。　He　raised　his　voice　a　little；　speaking　into　the　shadows　where　was　the　group　of　silent　men。

〃You　men　back　there！〃　he　cried。　　〃If　I　give　you　my　word　to　let　every　one　of　you　go　free　and　pledge　myself　never　to　recognize　one　of　you　again；　will　you　make　Mary　here　listen　to　me？　　That's　all　I　ask。　　I　want　a　few　minutes　to　state　my　case。　　Give　me　that。　　Whether　I　win　or　lose；　you　men　go　free；　and　I'll　forget　everything　that　has　happened　here　to…night。〃　　There　came　a　muffled　guffaw　of　laughter　from　the　big　chest　of　Chicago　Red　at　this　extraordinarily　ingenuous　proposal；　while　Dacey　chuckled　more　quietly。

Dick　made　a　gesture　of　impatience　at　this　open　derision。

〃Tell　them　I　can　be　trusted；〃　he　bade　Mary　curtly。

It　was　Garson　who　answered。

〃I　know　that　you　can　be　trusted；〃　he　said；　〃because　I　know　you　lo〃　He　checked　himself　with　a　shiver；　and　out　of　the　darkness　his　face　showed　white。

〃You　must　listen；〃　Dick　went　on；　facing　again　toward　the　girl；　who　was　trembling　before　him；　her　eyes　by　turns　searching　his　expression　or　downcast　in　unfamiliar　confusion；　which　she　herself　could　hardly　understand。

〃Your　safety　depends　on　me；〃　the　young　man　warned。　〃Suppose　I　should　call　for　help？〃　

Garson　stepped　forward　threateningly。

〃You　would　only　call　once；〃　he　said　very　gently；　yet　most　grimly。　　His　hand　went　to　the　noiseless　weapon　in　his　coat…pocket。

But　the　young　man's　answer　revealed　the　fact　that　he；　too；　was　determined　to　the　utmost；　that　he　understood　perfectly　the　situation。

〃Once　would　be　quite　enough；〃　he　said　simply。

Garson　nodded　in　acceptance　of　the　defeat。　　It　may　be；　too；　that　in　some　subtle　fashion　he　admired　this　youth　suddenly　grown　resolute；　competent　to　control　a　dangerous　event。　　There　was　even　the　possibility　that　some　instinct　of　tenderness　toward　Mary　herself　made　him　desire　that　this　opportunity　should　be　given　for　wiping　out　the　effects　of　misfortune　which　fate　hitherto　had　brought　into　her　life。

〃You　win；〃　Garson　said；　with　a　half…laugh。　　He　turned　to　the　other　men　and　spoke　a　command。

〃You　get　over　by　the　hall　door；　Red。　　And　keep　your　ears　open　every　second。　　Give　us　the　office　if　you　hear　anything。　　If　we're　rushed；　and　have　to　make　a　quick　get…away；　see　that　Mary　has　the　first　chance。　　Get　that；　all　of　you？〃　

As　Chicago　Red　took　up　his　appointed　station；　Garson　turned　to　Dick。

〃Make　it　quick；　remember。〃

He　touched　the　other　two　and　moved　back　to　the　wall　by　the　fireplace；　as　far　as　possible　from　the　husband　and　wife　by　the　couch。

Dick　spoke　at　once；　with　a　hesitancy　that　betrayed　the　depth　of　his　emotion。

〃Don't　you　care　for　me　at　all？〃　　he　asked　wistfully。

The　girl's　answer　was　uttered　with　nervous　eagerness　which　revealed　her　own　stress　of　fear。

〃No；　no；　no！〃　she　exclaimed；　rebelliously。

Now；　however；　the　young　man　had　regained　some　measure　of　reassurance。

〃I　know　you　do；　Mary；〃　he　asserted；　confidently；　〃a　little；　anyway。　　Why；　Mary；〃　he　went　on　reproachfully；　〃can't　you　see　that　you're　throwing　away　everything　that　makes　life　worth　while？　　Don't　you　see　that？〃　

There　was　no　word　from　the　girl。　　Her　breast　was　moving　convulsively。　　She　held　her　face　steadfastly　averted　from　the　face　of　her　husband。

〃Why　don't　you　answer　me？〃　　he　insisted。

Mary's　reply　came　with　all　the　coldness　she　could　command。

〃That　was　not　in　the　bargain；〃　Mary　said；　indifferently。

The　man's　voice　grew　tenderly　winning；　persuasive　with　the　longing　of　a　lover；　persuasive　with　the　pity　of　the　righteous　for　the　sinner。

〃Mary；　Mary！〃　he　cried。　　〃You've　got　to　change。　Don't　be　so　hard。　　Give　the　woman　in　you　a　chance。〃

The　girl's　form　became　rigid　as　she　fought　for　self…control。　　The　plea　touched　to　the　bottom　of　her　heart；　but　she　could　not；　would　not　yield。　　Her　words　rushed　forth　with　a　bitterness　that　was　the　cover　of　her　distress。

〃I　am　what　I　am；〃　she　said　sharply。　　〃I　can't　change。　Keep　your　promise；　now；　and　let's　get　out　of　this。〃

Her　assertion　was　disregarded　as　to　the　inability　to　change。

〃You　can　change；〃　Dick　went　on　impetuously。　〃Mary；　haven't　you　ever　wanted　the　things　that　other　women　have；　shelter；　and　care；　and　the　big　things　of　life；　the　things　worth　while？　　They're　all　ready　for　you；　now；　Mary。。。。　And　what　about　me？〃　　Reproach　leaped　in　his　tone。　　〃After　all；　you've　married　me。　　Now　it's　up　to　you　to　give　me　my　chance　to　make　good。　　I've　never　amounted　to　much。　　I've　never　tried　much。　　I　shall；　now；　if　you　will　have　it　so；　Mary；　if　you'll　help　me。　　I　will　come　out　all　right；　I　know　thatso　do　you；　Mary。　　Only；　you　must　help　me。〃

〃I　help　you！〃　The　exclamation　came　from　the　girl　in　a　note　of　incredulous　astonishment。

〃Yes；〃　Dick　said；　simply。　　〃I　need　you；　and　you　need　me。　　Come　away　with　me。〃

〃No；　no！〃　was　the　broken　refusal。　　There　was　a　great　grief　clutching　at　the　soul　of　this　woman　who　had　brought　vengeance　to　its　full　flower。　　She　was　gasping。　〃No；　no！　I　married　you；　not　because　I　loved　you；　but　to　repay　your　father　the　wrong　he　had　done　me。　　I　wouldn't　let　myself　even　think　of　you；　and　thenI　realized　that　I　had　spoiled　your　life。〃

〃No；　not　spoiled　it；　Mary！　Blessed　it！　We　must　prove　that　yet。〃

〃Yes；　spoiled　it；〃　the　wife　went　on　passionately。　　〃If　I　had　understood；　if　I　could　have　dreamed　that　I　could　ever　care　Oh；　Dick；　I　would　never　have　married　you　for　anything　in　the　world。〃

〃But　now　you　do　realize；〃　the　young　man　said　quietly。　〃The　thing　is　done。　　If　we　made　a　mistake；　it　is　for　us　to　bring　happiness　out　of　that　error。〃

〃Oh；　can't　you　see？〃　　came　the　stricken　lament。　　〃I'm　a　jail…bird！〃　

〃But　you　love　meyou　do　love　me；　I　know！〃　The　young　man　spoke　with　joyous　certainty；　for　some　inflection　of　her　voice　had　told　the　truth　to　his　heart。　Nothing　else　mattered。　　〃But　now；　to　come　back　to　this　hole　we're　in　here。　　Don't　you　understand；　at　last；　that　you　can't　beat　the　law？　　If　you're　caught　here　to…night；　where　would　you　get　offcaught　here　with　a　gang　of　burglars？　　Tell　me；　dear；　why　did　you　do　it？　　Why　didn't　you　protect　yourself？　　Why　didn't　you　go　to　Chicago　as　you　planned？〃　

〃What？〃　　There　was　a　new　quality　in　Mary's　voice。　A　sudden　throb　of　shock　masked　in　the　surface　indifference　of　intonation。

Dick　repeated　his　question；　unobservant　of　its　first　effect。

〃Why　didn't　you　go　to　Chicago　as　you　had　planned？〃　

〃Planned？　　With　whom？〃　　The　interrogation　came　with　an　abrupt　force　that　cried　of　new　suspicions。

〃Why；　with　Burke。〃　　The　young　man　tried　to　be　patient　over　her　density　in　this　time　of　crisis。

〃Who　told　you　that　I　had　arranged　any　such　thing？〃　　Mary　asked。　　Now　the　tenseness　in　her　manner　got　the　husband's　attention；　and　he　replied　with　a　sudden　gravity；　apprehensive　of　he　knew　not　what。

〃Burke　himself　did。〃

〃When？〃　　Mary　was　standing　rigid　now；　and　the　rare　color　flamed　in　her　cheeks。　　Her　eyes　were　blazing。

〃Less　than　an　hour　ago。〃　　He　had　caught　the　co