within the law-第39部分

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〃I'd　dearly　love　to　have　a　photograph　of　you；　Miss　Helen　Travers　West；〃　he　said。

The　speech　aroused　the　stolid　detective　to　a　new　interest。

〃Helen　Travers　West？〃　　he　repeated；　inquiringly。

〃Oh；　that's　the　name　she　told　me；〃　the　Inspector　explained；　somewhat　shamefacedly　before　this　question　from　his　inferior。　　Then　he　chuckled；　for　he　had　sense　of　humor　sufficient　to　triumph　even　over　his　own　discomfiture　in　this　encounter。　　〃And　she　had　me　winging；　too！〃　he　confessed。　　〃Yes；　I　admit　it。〃　　He　turned　to　the　girl　admiringly。　　〃You　sure　are　immense；　little　one　immense！〃　He　smiled　somewhat　more　in　his　official　manner　of　mastery。　　〃And　now；　may　I　have　the　honor　of　asking　you　to　accept　the　escort　of　Mr。　Cassidy　to　our　gallery。〃

Aggie　sprang　to　her　feet　and　regarded　the　Inspector　with　eyes　in　which　was　now　no　innocence；　such　as　had　beguiled　him　so　recently　from　those　ingenuous　orbs。

〃Oh；　can　that　stuff！〃　she　cried；　crossly。　　〃Let's　get　down　to　business　on　the　dotand　no　frills　on　it！　Keep　to　cases！〃　

〃Now　you're　talking；〃　Burke　declared；　with　a　new　appreciation　of　the　versatility　of　this　womanwho　had　not　been　wasting　her　time　hitherto；　and　had　no　wish　to　lose　it　now。

〃You　can't　do　anything　to　us；〃　Aggie　declared；　strongly。　　There　remained　no　trace　of　the　shrinking　violet　that　had　been　Miss　Helen　Travers　West。　　Now；　she　revealed　merely　the　business　woman　engaged　in　a　fight　against　the　law；　which　was　opposed　definitely　to　her　peculiar　form　of　business。

〃You　can't　do　anything　to　me；　and　you　know　you　can't！〃　she　went　on；　with　an　almost　convincing　tranquillity　of　assertion。　　〃Why；　I'll　be　sprung　inside　an　hour。〃　　There　came　a　ripple　of　laughter　that　reminded　the　Inspector　of　the　fashion　in　which　he　had　been　overcome　by　this　woman's　wiles。　　And　she　spoke　with　a　certitude　of　conviction　that　was　rather　terrifying　to　one　who　had　just　fallen　under　the　stress　of　her　spells。

〃Why；　habeas　corpus　is　my　lawyer's　middle　name！〃　

〃On　the　level；　now；〃　the　Inspector　demanded；　quite　unmoved　by　the　final　declarations；　〃when　did　you　see　Mary　Turner　last？〃　

Aggie　resorted　anew　to　her　practices　of　deception。　Her　voice　held　the　accents　of　unimpeachable　truth；　and　her　eyes　looked　unflinchingly　into　those　of　her　questioner　as　she　answered。

〃Early　this　morning；〃　she　declared。　　〃We　slept　together　last　night；　because　I　had　the　willies。　　She　blew　the　joint　about　half…past　ten。〃

Burke　shook　his　head；　more　in　sorrow　than　in　anger。

〃What's　the　use　of　your　lying　to　me？〃　　he　remonstrated。

〃What；　me？〃　　Aggie　clamored；　with　every　evidence　of　being　deeply　wounded　by　the　charge　against　her　veracity。　〃Oh；　I　wouldn't　do　anything　like　thaton　the　level！　What　would　be　the　use？　　I　couldn't　fool　you；　Commissioner。〃

Burke　stroked　his　chin　sheepishly；　under　the　influence　of　memories　of　Miss　Helen　Travers　West。

〃So　help　me；〃　Aggie　continued　with　the　utmost　solemnity；　〃Mary　never　left　the　house　all　night。　　I'd　swear　that's　the　truth　on　a　pile　of　Bibles　a　mile　high！〃　

〃Have　to　be　higher　than　that；〃　the　Inspector　commented；　grimly。　　〃You　see；　Aggie　Lynch；　Mary　Turner　was　arrested　just　after　midnight。〃　　His　voice　deepened　and　came　blustering。　　〃Young　woman；　you'd　better　tell　all　you　know。〃

〃I　don't　know　a　thing！〃　Aggie　retorted；　sharply。　　She　faced　the　Inspector　fiercely；　quite　unabashed　by　the　fact　that　her　vigorous　offer　to　commit　perjury　had　been　of　no　avail。

Burke；　with　a　quick　movement；　drew　the　pistol　from　his　pocket　and　extended　it　toward　the　girl。

〃How　long　has　she　owned　this　gun？〃　　he　said；　threateningly。

Aggie　showed　no　trace　of　emotion　as　her　glance　ran　over　the　weapon。

〃She　didn't　own　it；〃　was　her　firm　answer。

〃Oh；　then　it's　Garson's！〃　Burke　exclaimed。

〃I　don't　know　whose　it　is；〃　Aggie　replied；　with　an　air　of　boredom　well　calculated　to　deceive。　　〃I　never　laid　eyes　on　it　till　now。〃

The　Inspector's　tone　abruptly　took　on　a　somber　coloring；　with　an　underlying　menace。

〃English　Eddie　was　killed　with　this　gun　last　night；〃　he　said。　　〃Now；　who　did　it？〃　　His　broad　face　was　sinister。　　〃Come　on；　now！　Who　did　it？〃　

Aggie　became　flippant；　seemingly　unimpressed　by　the　Inspector's　savageness。

〃How　should　I　know？〃　　she　drawled。　　〃What　do　you　think　I　ama　fortune…teller？〃　

〃You'd　better　come　through；〃　Burke　reiterated。　　Then　his　manner　changed　to　wheedling。　　〃If　you're　the　wise　kid　I　think　you　are；　you　will。〃

Aggie　waxed　very　petulant　over　this　insistence。

〃I　tell　you；　I　don't　know　anything！　Say；　what　are　you　trying　to　hand　me；　anyway？〃　

Burke　scowled　on　the　girl　portentously；　and　shook　his　head。

〃Now；　it　won't　do；　I　tell　you；　Aggie　Lynch。　　I'm　wise。　　You　listen　to　me。〃　　Once　more　his　manner　turned　to　the　cajoling。　　〃You　tell　me　what　you　know；　and　I'll　see　you　make　a　clean　get…away；　and　I'll　slip　you　a　nice　little　piece　of　money；　too。〃

The　girl's　face　changed　with　startling　swiftness。　　She　regarded　the　Inspector　shrewdly；　a　crafty　glint　in　her　eyes。

〃Let　me　get　this　straight；〃　she　said。　　〃If　I　tell　you　what　I　know　about　Mary　Turner　and　Joe　Garson；　I　get　away？〃　

〃Clean！〃　Burke　ejaculated；　eagerly。

〃And　you'll　slip　me　some　coin；　too？〃　

〃That's　it！〃　came　the　hasty　assurance。　　〃Now；　what　do　you　say？〃　

The　small　figure　grew　tense。　　The　delicate；　childish　face　was　suddenly　distorted　with　rage；　a　rage　black　and　venomous。　　The　blue　eyes　were　blazing。　　The　voice　came　thin　and　piercing。

〃I　say；　you're　a　great　big　stiff！　What　do　you　think　I　am？〃　　she　stormed　at　the　discomfited　Inspector；　while　Cassidy　looked　on　in　some　enjoyment　at　beholding　his　superior　being　worsted。　　Aggie　wheeled　on　the　detective。　〃Say；　take　me　out　of　here；〃　she　cried　in　a　voice　surcharged　with　disgust。　　〃I'd　rather　be　in　the　cooler　than　here　with　him！〃　

Now　Burke's　tone　was　dangerous。

〃You'll　tell；〃　he　growled；　〃or　you'll　go　up　the　river　for　a　stretch。〃

〃I　don't　know　anything；〃　the　girl　retorted；　spiritedly　And；　if　I　did；　I　wouldn't　tellnot　in　a　million　years！〃　She　thrust　her　head　forward　challengingly　as　she　faced　the　Inspector；　and　her　expression　was　resolute。　　〃Now；　then；〃　she　ended；　〃send　me　upif　you　can！〃　

〃Take　her　away；〃　Burke　snapped　to　the　detective。

Aggie　went　toward　Cassidy　without　any　sign　of　reluctance。

〃Yes；　do；　please！〃　she　exclaimed　with　a　sneer。　　〃And　do　it　in　a　hurry。　　Being　in　the　room　with　him　makes　me　sick！　She　turned　to　stare　at　the　Inspector　with　eyes　that　were　very　clear　and　very　hard。　　In　this　moment；　there　was　nothing　childish　in　their　gaze。

〃Thought　I'd　squeal；　did　you？〃　　she　said；　evenly。　Yes；　I　will〃the　red　lips　bent　to　a　smile　of　supreme　scorn〃like　hell！〃　



CHAPTER　XXII。　THE　TRAP　THAT　FAILED。　

Burke；　despite　his　quality　of　heaviness；　was　blest　with　a　keen　sense　of　humor；　against　which　at　times　his　professional　labors　strove　mutinously。　　In　the　present　instance；　he　had　failed　utterly　to　obtain　any　information　of　value　from　the　girl　whom　he　had　just　been　examining。　On　the　contrary；　he　had　been　befooled　outrageously　by　a　female　criminal；　in　a　manner　to　wound　deeply　his　professional　pride。　　Nevertheless；　he　bore　no　grudge　against　the　adventuress。　　His　sense　of　the　absurd　served　him　well；　and　he　took　a　lively　enjoyment　in　recalling　the　method　by　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　sini