within the law-第44部分

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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　bade　defiance　to　the　impulse。　　He　deemed　it　safer　for　all　that　he　should　say　nothingnow！。。。　And　it　is　very　easy　to　say　a　word　too　many。　　And　that　one　may　be　a　word　never　to　be　unsaidor　gainsaid。

Then；　while　still　that　curious；　dynamic　silence　endured；　Cassidy　came　briskly　into　the　office。　　By　some　magic　of　duty；　he　had　contrived　to　give　his　usually　hebetudinous　features　an　expression　of　enthusiasm。

〃Say；　Chief；〃　the　detective　said　rapidly；　〃they've　squealed！〃　

Burke　regarded　his　aide　with　an　air　intolerably　triumphant。　His　voice　came　smug：

〃Squealed；　eh？〃　　His　glance　ran　over　Garson　for　a　second；　then　made　its　inquisition　of　Mary　and　of　Dick　Gilder。　　He　did　not　give　a　look　to　Cassidy　as　he　put　his　question。　　〃Do　they　tell　the　same　story？〃　　And　then；　when　the　detective　had　answered　in　the　affirmative；　he　went　on　speaking　in　tones　ponderous　with　self…complacency；　and；　now；　his　eyes　held　sharply；　craftily；　on　the　woman。

〃I　was　right　then；　after　allright；　all　the　time！　Good　enough！〃　Of　a　sudden；　his　voice　boomed　somberly。　〃Mary　Turner；　I　want　you　for　the　murder　of〃

Garson's　rush　halted　the　sentence。　　He　had　leaped　forward。　　His　face　was　rigid。　　He　broke　on　the　Inspector's　words　with　a　gesture　of　fury。　　His　voice　came　in　a　hiss：

〃That's　a　damned　lie！。。。　　I　did　it！〃　



CHAPTER　XXIV。　ANGUISH　AND　BLISS。

Joe　Garson　had　shouted　his　confession　without　a　second　of　reflection。　　But　the　result　must　have　been　the　same　had　he　taken　years　of　thought。　　Between　him　and　her　as　the　victim　of　the　law；　there　could　be　no　hesitation　for　choice。　　Indeed；　just　now；　he　had　no　heed　to　his　own　fate。　　The　prime　necessity　was　to　save　her；　Mary；　from　the　toils　of　the　law　that　were　closing　around　her。　　For　himself；　in　the　days　to　come；　there　would　be　a　ghastly　dread；　but　there　would　never　be　regret　over　the　cost　of　saving　her。　　Perhaps；　some　other　he　might　have　let　suffer　in　his　steadnot　her！　Even；　had　he　been　innocent；　and　she　guilty　of　the　crime；　he　would　still　have　taken　the　burden　of　it　on　his　own　shoulders。　　He　had　saved　her　from　the　watershe　would　save　her　until　the　end；　as　far　as　the　power　in　him　might　lie。　　It　was　thus　that；　with　the　primitive　directness　of　his　reverential　love　for　the　girl；　he　counted　no　sacrifice　too　great　in　her　behalf。　　Joe　Garson　was　not　a　good　man；　at　the　world　esteems　goodness。　　On　the　contrary；　he　was　distinctly　an　evil　one；　a　menace　to　the　society　on　which　he　preyed　constantly。　　But　his　good　qualities；　if　few；　were　of　the　strongest　fiber；　rooted　in　the　deeps　of　him。　He　loathed　treachery。　　His　one　guiltiness　in　this　respect　had　been；　curiously　enough；　toward　Mary　herself；　in　the　scheme　of　the　burglary；　which　she　had　forbidden。　　But；　in　the　last　analysis；　here　his　deceit　had　been　designed　to　bring　affluence　to　her。　　It　was　his　abhorrence　of　treachery　among　pals　that　had　driven　him　to　the　murder　of　the　stool…pigeon　in　a　fit　of　ungovernable　passion。　He　might　have　stayed　his　hand　then；　but　for　the　gusty　rage　that　swept　him　on　to　the　crime。　　None　the　less；　had　he　spared　the　man；　his　hatred　of　the　betrayer　would　have　been　the　same。。。。　And　the　other　virtue　of　Joe　Garson　was　the　complement　of　thishis　own　loyalty；　a　loyalty　that　made　him　forget　self　utterly　where　he　loved。　　The　one　woman　who　had　ever　filled　his　heart　was　Mary；　and　for　her　his　life　were　not　too　much　to　give。

The　suddenness　of　it　all　held　Mary　voiceless　for　long　seconds。　　She　was　frozen　with　horror　of　the　event。

When；　at　last；　words　came；　they　were　a　frantic　prayer　of　protest。

〃No；　Joe！　No！　Don't　talkdon't　talk！〃　

Burke；　immensely　gratified；　went　nimbly　to　his　chair；　and　thence　surveyed　the　agitated　group　with　grisly　pleasure。

〃Joe　has　talked；〃　he　said；　significantly。

Mary；　shaken　as　she　was　by　the　fact　of　Garson's　confession；　nevertheless　retained　her　presence　of　mind　sufficiently　to　resist　with　all　her　strength。

〃He　did　it　to　protect　me；〃　she　stated；　earnestly。

The　Inspector　disdained　such　futile　argument。　　As　the　doorman　appeared　in　answer　to　the　buzzer；　he　directed　that　the　stenographer　be　summoned　at　once。

〃We'll　have　the　confession　in　due　form；〃　he　remarked；　gazing　pleasedly　on　the　three　before　him。

〃He's　not　going　to　confess；〃　Mary　insisted；　with　spirit。

But　Burke　was　not　in　the　least　impressed。　　He　disregarded　her　completely；　and　spoke　mechanically　to　Garson　the　formal　warning　required　by　the　law。

〃You　are　hereby　cautioned　that　anything　you　say　may　be　used　against　you。〃　　Then；　as　the　stenographer　entered；　he　went　on　with　lively　interest。　　〃Now；　Joe！〃　

Yet　once　again；　Mary　protested；　a　little　wildly。

〃Don't　speak；　Joe！　Don't　say　a　word　till　we　can　get　a　lawyer　for　you！〃　

The　man　met　her　pleading　eyes　steadily；　and　shook　his　head　in　refusal。

〃It's　no　use；　my　girl；〃　Burke　broke　in；　harshly。　　〃I　told　you　I'd　get　you。　　I'm　going　to　try　you　and　Garson；　and　the　whole　gang　for　murderyes；　every　one　of　you。。。。　And　you；　Gilder；〃　he　continued；　lowering　on　the　young　man　who　had　defied　him　so　obstinately；　〃you'll　go　to　the　House　of　Detention　as　a　material　witness。〃　　He　turned　his　gaze　to　Garson　again；　and　spoke　authoritatively：　〃Come　on　now；　Joe！〃　

Garson　went　a　step　toward　the　desk；　and　spoke　decisively。

〃If　I　come　through；　you'll　let　her　goand　him？〃　　he　added　as　an　afterthought；　with　a　nod　toward　Dick　Gilder。

〃Oh；　Joe；　don't！〃　Mary　cried；　bitterly。　　〃We'll　spend　every　dollar　we　can　raise　to　save　you！〃　

〃Now；　it's　no　use；〃　the　Inspector　complained。　　〃You're　only　wasting　time。　　He's　said　that　he　did　it。　　That's　all　there　is　to　it。　　Now　that　we're　sure　he's　our　man；　he　hasn't　got　a　chance　in　the　world。〃

〃Well；　how　about　it？〃　　Garson　demanded；　savagely。　〃Do　they　go　clear；　if　I　come　through？〃　

〃We'll　get　the　best　lawyers　in　the　country；〃　Mary　persisted；　desperately。　　〃We'll　save　you；　Joewe'll　save　you！〃　

Garson　regarded　the　distraught　girl　with　wistful　eyes。　But　there　was　no　trace　of　yielding　in　his　voice　as　he　replied；　though　he　spoke　very　sorrowfully。

〃No；　you　can't　help　me；〃　he　said；　simply。　　〃My　time　has　come；　Mary。。。。　And　I　can　save　you　a　lot　of　trouble。〃

〃He's　right　there；〃　Burke　ejaculated。　　〃We've　got　him　cold。　　So；　what's　the　use　of　dragging　you　two　into　it？〃　

〃Then；　they　go　clear？〃　　Garson　exclaimed；　eagerly。　〃They　ain't　even　to　be　called　as　witnesses？〃　

Burke　nodded　assent。

〃You're　on！〃　he　agreed。

〃Then；　here　goes！〃　Garson　cried；　and　he　looked　expectantly　toward　the　stenographer。

The　strain　of　it　all　was　sapping　the　will　of　the　girl；　who　saw　the　man　she　so　greatly　esteemed　for　his　service　to　her　and　his　devotion　about　to　condemn　himself　to　death。　　She　grew　half…hysterical。　　Her　words　came　confusedly：

〃No；　Joe！　No；　no；　no！〃　

Again；　Garson　shook　his　head　in　absolute　refusal　of　her　plea。

〃There's　no　other　way　out；〃　he　declared；　wearily。　〃I'm　going　through　with　it。〃　　He　straightened　a　little；　and　again　looked　at　the　stenographer。　　His　voice　came　quietly；　without　any　tremulousnesss。

〃My　name　is　Joe　Garson。〃

〃Alias？〃　　Burke　suggested。

〃Alias　nothing！〃　came　the　sharp　retort。　　〃Garson's　my　monaker。　　I　shot　English　Eddie；　because　he　was　a　skunk；　and　a　stool…pigeon；　and　he　got　just　what　was　coming　to　him。〃　　Vituperation　beyond　the　mere　words　beat　in　his　voice　now。

Burke　twisted　uneasily　in　his　chair。

〃Now；　now！〃　he　objected；　severely。　　〃We　can't　take　a　confession　like　that。〃

Garson　shook　his　headspoke　with　fiercer　hatred。　〃because　he　was　a　skunk；　and　a　stool…pigeon；〃　he　repeated。　　〃Have　you　got　it？〃　　And　then；　as　the　stenographer　nodded　assent；　he　went　on；　less　violently：　〃I　croaked　him　just　as　he　was　going　to　call　the　bulls　with　a　police…whistle。　　I　used　a　gun　with　smokeless　powder。　　It　had　a　Maxim　silencer　on　it；　so　that　it　didn't　make　any　noise。〃

Garson　paused；　and　the　set　despair　of　his　features　lightened　a　little。　　Into　his　voice　came　a　tone　of　exultation　indescribably　ghastly。　　It　was　born　of　the　eternal　egotism　of　the　criminal；　fattening　vanity　in　gloating　over　his　ingenuity　for　evil。　　Garson；　despite　his　two　great　virtues；　had　the　vices　of