children of the whirlwind-第17部分

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〃Behave；　damn　you；〃　gritted　Barney；　〃or　I'll　blow　your　damned　guts　out！　Nogo　ahead　and　try　to　hit　me。　I'd　like　nothing　better　than　to　kill　you；　you　rat；　and　have　a　good　plea　of　self…defense！〃

Larry　let　his　hands　unclench　and　fall　to　his　sides。　〃You've　got　the　drop　on　me；　Barneybut　you're　a　liar。〃

〃You　bet　I　got　the　drop　on　you！　And　not　only　with　my　gun。　I've　got　it　on　you　about　being　a　stool。　Everybody　knows　you　are　a　stool。　And　what's　more；　they　know　you　are　a　squealer！〃

〃A　squealer！〃　Larry　stiffened　again。

〃A　stool　and　a　squealer！〃　Barney　fairly　hurled　at　Larry　these　two　most　despised　epithets　of　his　world。　〃You've　done　your　job　swell　as　a　stool；　and　squealed　on　Red　Hannigan　and　Jack　Rosenfeldt　and　turned　them　up　for　the　police！〃

〃You　believe　I　had　anything　to　do　with　their　arrest？〃　exclaimed　Larry。

Barney　laughed　in　his　derision。

〃Of　course　we　believe　it；〃　put　in　Old　Jimmie；　his　seamed；　cunning　face　now　ruthlessly　hard。　〃And　what's　more；　we　know　it！〃

〃And　what's　still　more；〃　Barney　taunted；　〃Maggie　believes　it；　too！〃

Larry　turned　to　Maggie。　Her　face　was　now　drawn；　with　staring　eyes。

〃Maggiedo　you　believe　it？〃　he　demanded。

For　a　moment　she　neither　spoke　nor　moved。　Then　slowly　she　nodded。

〃But；　Maggie；〃　he　protested；　〃I　didn't　do　it！　Barlow　did　ask　me　to　be　a　stool；　but　I　turned　him　down！　Aside　from　that；　I　know　no　more　of　this　than　you　do！〃

〃Of　course　you'd　deny　itwe　were　waiting　for　that；〃　sneered　Barney。　〃Jimmie；　we've　wasted　enough　time　here。　Take　Maggie's　bag　and　let's　be　moving　on。〃

Old　Jimmie　picked　up　Maggie's　suitcase；　and　slipping　a　hand　through　her　arm　led　her　across　the　room。　She　did　not　even　say　good…bye　to　Hunt　or　the　Duchess；　or　even　glance　at　them；　but　went　out　silently；　her　drawn；　staring　look　on　Larry　alone。

Barney　backed　after　them；　his　automatic　still　held　in　readiness。　〃I'm　letting　you　down　damned　easy；　Brainard；〃　he　said；　hate　glittering　in　his　eyes。　〃But　there's　some　who　won't　be　so　nice！〃

With　that　he　closed　the　door。　Until　that　moment　both　Hunt　and　the　Duchess　had　said　nothing。　Now　the　Duchess　spoke　up：

〃I'm　glad　they've　taken　Maggie　away；　Larry。　I've　seen　the　way　you've　come　to　feel　about　her；　and　she's　not　the　right　sort　for　you。〃

But　Larry　was　still　too　dazed　by　the　way　in　which　Maggie　had　walked　out　of　his　life　to　make　any　response。

〃But　there's　a　lot　in　what　Barney　said　about　there　being　some　who　wouldn't　be　easy　on　you；〃　continued　the　Duchess。　〃That　word　had　been　brought　me　before　Barney　showed　up。　So　I　had　this　ready　for　you。〃

From　a　slit　pocket　in　her　baggy　skirt　the　Duchess　drew　out　a　pistol　and　handed　it　to　Larry。

〃What's　this　for？〃　Larry　asked。

〃I　was　told　that　word　had　gone　out　to　the　Ginger　Buck　Gang　to　get　you；〃　answered　the　Duchess。　〃Barney　has　some　secret　connection　with　the　Ginger　Bucks。　His　saying　that　you　were　a　stool　and　a　squealer　is　not　the　only　thing　he's　got　against　you；　he's　jealous　of　you　on　account　of　everythingespecially　Maggie。　So　you'll　need　that　gun。〃

〃What's　this　I've　fallen　into　the　middle　of？〃　exclaimed　Hunt。　〃A　Kentucky　feud？〃

〃It's　very　easy　to　understand　when　you　know　the　code；〃　Larry　explained　grimly。　〃Down　here　when　an　outfit　thinks　one　of　its　members　has　squealed　on　them；　it's　their　duty　to　be　always　on　the　watch　for　their　chance　to　finish　him　off。　I'm　to　be　finished　offthat's　all。〃

〃Say；　young　fellow；　the　life　of　a　straight　crook　doesn't　seem　to　be　getting　much　simpler！　Why；　man；　you　hardly　dare　to　stir　from　the　house！　What　are　you　going　to　do？〃

〃Going　to　go　around　my　business；　always　with　the　pleasant　anticipation　of　a　bullet　in　my　back　when　some　fellow　thinks　it　safe　for　him　to　shoot。〃

The　three　of　them　discussed　this　latest　development　over　their　dinner；　which　they　had　together　up　in　Hunt's　studio。　But　despite　all　their　talk　of　his　danger；　a　very　real　and　near　danger；　Larry's　mind　was　more　upon　Maggie　who　had　thus　suddenly　been　wrenched　out　of　his　life。　He　remembered　her　excited；　boastful　talk　of　their　first　evening。　Her　period　of　schooling　was　indeed　now　over；　she　was　now　committed　to　her　rosily　imagined　adventure；　in　which　she　saw　herself　as　a　splendid　lady。　And　with　Barney　Palmer　as　her　guiding　influence！　。　。　。

Dinner　had　been　finished　and　Hunt　was　trying　to　give　Larry　such　cheer　as　〃Buck　up；　young　fellowyou　know　the　worstthere's　nothing　else　that　can　happen；〃　when　the　lie　direct　was　given　to　his　phrases　by　heavy　steps　running　up　the　stairway　and　the　opening　and　closing　of　the　door。　There　stood　Officer　Casey；　heaving　for　breath。

Instinctively　Larry　drew　his　pistol。　〃Casey！　What're　you　here　for？〃

〃Get　rid　of　that　gatdon't　be　found　with　a　gun　on；〃　ordered　Casey。　〃And　beat　it。　You've　got　less　than　five　minutes　to　make　your　get…　away。〃

〃My　get…away！　What's　up？〃

〃You　haven't　come　across　as　the　Chief　ordered　you　to；　and　he's　out　to　give　you　just　what　he　said　he　would；〃　Casey　said　rapidly；　his　speech　broken　by　panting。　〃There's　been　a　stick…up；　with　assault　that　may　be　changed　to　attempted　manslaughter；　and　the　Chief　has　three　men　who　swear　you're　the　guilty　party。　It's　a　sure…fire　case　against　you；　Larryand　it'll　mean　five　to　ten　years　if　you're　caught。　Gavegan　and　I　got　the　order　to　arrest　you。　I've　beat　Gavegan　to　it　so's　to　tip　you　off；　but　he's　only　a　few　minutes　behind。　Hurry；　Larry！　Onlyonly〃

Casey　paused；　gasping　for　his　wind。

〃Only　what；　Casey？〃

〃Only　alibi　me；　Larry；　by　slipping　over　a　haymaker　on　me　like　you　did　on　Gavegan。　So's　I　can　say　I　tried　to　get　you；　but　you　were　too　quick　and　knocked　me　cold。　Quick！　Only　not　too　hardI　know　how　to　play　possum。〃

Larry　handed　the　pistol　to　Hunt。　〃Casey；　you're　a　real　scout！　Thanks！〃　He　grasped　Casey's　hand；　then　swiftly　relaxed　his　grip。　〃Ready？〃

〃Fire；〃　said　Casey。

Larry　held　his　open　left　hand　close　to　Casey's　jaw；　and　drove　his　right　fist　into　his　palm　with　a　thudding　smack。　Casey　went　sprawling　to　the　floor；　and　lay　there　loosely；　with　mouth　agape；　in　perfect　simulation　of　a　man　who　has　been　knocked　out。

Larry　turned　quickly。　〃You　two　will　testify　that　I　beat　Casey　up　and　then　made　my　escape？〃

〃Sure；　I'll　testify　to　anything　for　the　sake　of　a　good　old　goat　like　Casey！〃　cried　Hunt。　〃But　hurry；　boybeat　it！〃

The　Duchess　held　out　Larry's　hat　to　him；　and　thrust　into　his　coat　pocket　a　roll　of　bills　which　had　come　from　her　capacious　skirt。　〃Hurry；　Larryand　be　carefulfor　you're　all　I've　got。〃

Impulsively　Larry　stooped　and　kissed　the　thin；　shriveled　lips　of　his　grandmotherthe　first　kiss　he　had　ever　given　her。　Then　he　turned　and　ran　down　the　stairway；　Hunt　just　behind　him。　He　turned　out　the　light　in　the　back　room；　and　called　to　Old　Isaac　to　darken　the　pawnshop　proper。　He　was　going　forth　with　two　forces　in　arms　against　him；　the　police　and　his　pals；　and　he　had　no　desire　to　be　a　shining　mark　for　either　or　both　by　stepping　through　a　lighted　doorway。

〃Larry；　my　son；　you're　all　right！〃　said　Hunt；　gripping　his　hand　in　the　darkness。　〃Listen；　boy：　if　ever　you're　trapped　and　can　get　to　a　telephone；　call　Plaza　nine…double…o…one　and　say　'Benvenuto　Cellini。'〃

〃All　right。〃

〃Remember；　you're　to　say　'Benvenuto　Cellini；'　and　the　telephone　is　Plaza　nine…double…o…one。　Luck　to　you！〃　Again　they　gripped　hands