children of the whirlwind-第18部分

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ripped　hands。　Then　Larry　slipped　through　the　darkened　doorway　into　whatever　might　lie　beyond。




CHAPTER　XI


A　misting　rain　was　being　swirled　about　by　a　temperish　wind　as　Larry　came　out　into　the　little　street。　Down　toward　the　river　the　one　gaslight　glowed　faintly　like　an　expiring　nebula；　all　the　little　shops　were　closed；　home　lights　gleamed　behind　the　curtained　windows　which　the　storm　had　closed；　so　that　the　street　was　now　a　little　canyon　of　uncertain　shadows。

Larry　had　not　needed　to　think　to　know　that　Gavegan　would　be　making　his　vindictive　approach　from　the　westerly　regions　where　lay　Headquarters。　So；　keeping　in　the　deeper　shadows　close　to　the　building；　Larry　took　the　eastern　course　of　the　street；　remembering　in　a　flash　a　skiff　he　had　seen　tethered　to　a　scow　moored　to　the　pier　which　stretched　like　a　pointer　finger　from　the　little　Square。　As　yet　he　had　no　plan　beyond　the　necessity　of　the　present　moment；　which　was　flight。　Could　he　but　make　that　skiff　unseen　and　cast　off；　he　would　have　time；　in　the　brief　sanctuary　which　the　black　river　would　afford　him；　to　formulate　the　wisest　procedure　his　predicament　permitted　him。

As　he　came　near　that　smothered　glow…worm　of　a　street…lamp　it　assumed　for　him　the　betraying　glare　of　a　huge　spot…light。　But　it　had　to　be　passed　to　gain　the　skiff；　and　with　collar　turned　up　and　hat…brim　pulled　down　and　head　hunched　low；　he　entered　the　dim　sphere　of　betrayal；　walked　under　its　penny's…worth　of　flame；　and　glided　toward　the　shadows　beyond；　his　eyes　straining　with　the　preternatural　keenness　of　the　hunted　at　every　stoop　and　doorway　before　him。

He　was　just　passing　out　of　the　sphere　of　mist…lightthe　lamp　being　now　at　his　back　helped　himwhen　he　saw　three　vague　figures　lurking　half　a　dozen　paces　ahead　of　him。　His　brain　registered　these　vague　figures　with　the　instantaneity　of　a　snapshot　camera　at　full　noon。　They　were　mere　shadows；　but　the　farther　of　the　three　seemed　to　be　Barney　Palmerhe　was　not　sure；　but　of　the　identity　of　the　other　two　there　was　no　doubt：　〃Little　Mick〃　and　〃Lefty　Ed；〃　both　members　high　in　the　councils　of　the　Ginger　Bucks；　and　either　of　whose　services　as　a　killer　could　be　purchased　for　a　hundred　dollars　or　a　paper　of　cocaine；　depending　upon　which　at　the　moment　there　was　felt　the　greater　need。

In　the　very　instant　that　he　saw；　Larry　doubled　about　and　ran　at　full　speed　back　up　the　street。　Two　shots　rang　out；　Larry　could　not　tell　whether　they　were　fired　by　Little　Mick　or　Lefty　Ed　or　Barney　Palmer　that　is；　if　the　third　man　really　were　Barney。　Again　two　shots　were　fired；　then　came　the　sound　of　pursuing　feet。　Luckily　not　one　of　the　bullets　had　touched　Larry；　for　the　New　York　professional　gunman　is　the　premier　bad　shot　of　all　the　world；　and　cannot　count　upon　his　marksmanship；　unless　he　can　get　his　weapon　solidly　anchored　against　his　man；　or　can　sneak　around　to　the　rear　and　pot　his　unsuspecting　victim　in　the　back。

As　Larry　neared　the　pawnshop　with　the　intention　of　making　his　escape　through　the　western　stretch　of　the　street；　he　saw　that　Old　Isaac　has　switched　on　the　lights；　and　he　also　saw　Officer　Gavegan　bearing　down　in　his　direction。　They　sighted　each　other　in　the　same　instant；　and　Gavegan　let　out　a　roar　and　started　for　him。

Caught　between　two　opposing　forces；　Larry　again　had　no　time　to　plan。　Rather；　there　was　nothing　he　could　plan；　for　only　one　way　was　open　to　him。　He　dashed　into　the　pawnshop　and　into　the　back　room。　At　the　Duchess's　desk　Hunt　was　scribbling　at　furious　speed。


〃I'm　caught；　HuntGavegan's　coming；〃　he　gasped；　and　ran　up　the　stairs；　Hunt　following　and　stuffing　his　scribblings　into　a　pocket。　As　Larry　passed　the　open　studio　door　he　saw　Casey　sitting　up。　〃Down　on　the　floor　with　you；　Casey！　Hunt；　work　over　him　to　bring　him　toand　stall　Gavegan　for　a　while　if　you　can。〃

With　that　Larry　sprang　to　a　ladder　at　the　end　of　the　little　hall；　ran　up　it；　unhooked　and　pushed　up　the　trap；　scrambled　through　upon　the　roof；　and　pushed　the　trap　back　into　place。

Fortune；　or　rather　the　well…wishing　wits　of　friends　below；　gave　Larry　a　few　precious　moments　more　than　he　had　counted　on。　He　was　barely　out　on　the　rain…greased　tin　roof；　with　the　trap　down；　when　Gavegan　came　thumping　up　the　stairs　and　into　the　studio。　At　sight　of　the　recumbent　Casey；　head　limply　on　Hunt's　knees；　and　his　loose　face　being　laved　by　a　wet　towel　in　Hunt's　hands；　Gavegan　let　out　another　roar：

〃Hell's　bells！　What　the　hell's　this　mean？〃

〃I　tried　to　nab　Brainard；〃　Casey　mumbled　feebly；　〃and　he　knocked　me　out　coldthe　same　as　he　did　you；　Gavegan。〃

〃Hell！〃　snorted　Gavegan；　his　wrath　increased　by　this　reference。　〃You　there〃to　Hunt　and　the　Duchess〃where'd　Brainard　go？　He's　in　this　house　some　place！〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Hunt。

〃Yes；　you　do！　Leave　that　boob　side…kick　of　mine　sleep　it　off；　and　help　me　find　Brainard　or　you'll　feel　my　boot！〃

The　big　painter　stood　up　facing　the　big　detective　and　his　left　hand　gripped　the　latter's　wrist　and　his　right　closed　upon　the　detective's　throat　just　as　it　had　closed　upon　the　lean　throat　of　Old　Jimmie　on　the　day　of　Larry's　returnonly　now　there　was　nothing　playful　in　the　noose　of　that　big　hand。　He　shook　Gavegan　as　he　might　have　shaken　a　pillow；　with　a　thumb　thrusting　painfully　in　beneath　Gavegan's　ear。

〃I've　done　nothing；　and　that　bully　stuff　doesn't　go　with　me！〃　he　fairly　spat　into　Gavegan's　face。　〃You　talk　to　me　like　a　gentleman　and　apologize；　or　I'll　throw　you　out　of　the　window　and　let　your　head　bounce　off　one　of　its　brother　cobblestones　below！〃

Gavegan　choked　out　an　apology；　whereat　Hunt　flung　him　from　him。　The　detective；　glowering　at　the　other；　pulled　aside　curtains；　peered　into　corners；　then　made　furious　and　fruitless　search　of　the　rooms　below；　bringing　up　at　last　at　Maggie's　door；　which　the　Duchess　had　slipped　ahead　of　him　and　locked。　When　he　demanded　the　key；　the　Duchess　told　him　of　Maggie's　departure　and　her　carrying　the　key　with　her。　It　was　a　solid　door；　with　strong　lock　and　hinges；　and　two　minutes　of　Gavegan's　battering　shoulders　were　required　to　make　it　yield　entrance。　Not　till　he　found　the　room　empty　did　Gavegan　think　of　the　trap　and　the　roof。

Larry　made　good　use　of　these　few　extra　minutes　granted　him。　Whatever　he　was　to　do　he　realized　he　must　do　it　quickly。　Not　for　long　would　the　forces　arrayed　against　him　be　small　in　number；　Gavegan；　though　beaten　at　the　outset；　would　send　out　an　alarm　that　would　arouse　the　police　of　the　cityand　in　their　own　degree　the　gangsters　would　do　the　same。　During　his　weeks　of　freedom　Larry　had　unconsciously　studied　the　layout　of　the　neighborhood；　his　old　instincts　at　work。　The　subconscious　knowledge　thus　gained　was　of　instant　value。　He　hurried　along　the　slippery　roofs；　taking　care　not　to　trip　over　the　dividing　walls；　and　came　to　the　rear　edge　of　a　roof　where　he　had　marked　a　fire…escape　with　an　unusually　broad　upper　landing。　He　could　discern　the　faint　outlines　of　this；　and　hanging　to　the　gutter　he　dropped　to　the　fire…escape；　and　a　moment　later　he　was　down　in　the　back　yard；　and　yet　two　moments　later　he　was　over　two　fences　and　going　through　a　rabbit's　burrow　of　a　passageway　that　went　beneath　a　house　into　the　street　behind　his　own。

He　did　not　pause　to　reconnoiter。　Time　was　of　the　essence　of　his　safety；　risks　had　to　be　tak