children of the whirlwind-第20部分

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Fortune　favored　him。　At　length　he　reached　Eighty…Fourth　Street　and　peered　over　the　wall。　Central　Park　West　was　practically　empty　of　automobiles；　for　the　theaters　had　not　yet　discharged　their　crowds　and　no　policeman　was　in　sight。　He　vaulted　the　wall；　a　minute　later　he　was　in　a　booth　in　the　drug…store；　had　dropped　his　nickel　in　the　slot；　and　was　asking　for　Plaza　nine…double…o…one。

〃Hello；　sir！〃　responded　the　very　correct　voice　of　a　man。

〃Benvenuto　Cellini；〃　said　Larry。

〃Hold　the　wire；　sir；〃　said　the　voice。

Larry　held　the　wire；　wondering。　After　a　moment　the　same　correct　voice　asked　where　Larry　was　speaking　from。　Larry　gave　the　exact　information。

〃Stay　right　in　the　booth；　and　keep　on　talking；　say　anything　you　like；　the　wire　here　will　be　kept　open；〃　continued　the　voice。　〃We'll　not　keep　you　waiting　long；　sir。〃

The　voice　ceased。　Larry　began　to　chat　about　topics　of　the　day；　about　invented　friends　and　engagements；　well　knowing　that　his　stream　of　talk　was　not　being　heard　unless　Central　was　〃listening　in〃；　and　knowing　also　that；　to　any　one　looking　into　the　glass　door　of　his　booth；　he　was　giving　a　most　unsuspicious　appearance　of　a　busy　man。　And　while　he　talked；　his　wonder　grew。　What　was　about　to　happen？　What　was　this　Benvenuto　Cellini　business　all　about？

He　had　been　talking　for　fifteen　minutes　or　more　when　the　glass　door　of　the　booth　was　opened　from　without　and　a　man's　voice　remarked：

〃When　you　are　through；　sir；　we　will　be　going。〃

The　voice　was　the　same　he　had　heard　over　the　wire。　Larry　hung　up　and　followed　the　man　out　the　side　door；　noting　only　that　he　had　a　lean；　respectful　face。　At　the　curb　stood　a　limousine；　the　door　of　which　was　opened　by　the　man　for　Larry。　Larry　stepped　in。

〃Are　you　followed；　sir？〃　inquired　the　man。

〃I　don't　know。〃

〃We'd　better　make　certain。　If　you　are；　we'll　lose　them；　sir。　We'll　stop　somewhere　and　change　our　license　plates　again。〃

Instead　of　getting　into　the　unlighted　body　with　him；　as　Larry　had　expected；　the　man　closed　the　door；　mounted　to　the　seat　beside　the　chauffeur；　and　the　car　shot　west　and　turned　up　Riverside　Drive。

One　may　break　the　speed　laws　in　New　York　if　one　has　the　speed；　and　if　one　has　the　ability　to　get　away　with　it。　This　car　had　both。　Never　before　had　Larry　driven　so　rapidly　within　New　York　City　limits；　he　knew　this；　that　any　trailing　taxicab　would　be　lost　behind。　At　Two…　Hundred…and…Forty…Fifth　Street　the　car　swung　into　Van　Cortland　Park；　and　switched　off　all　lights。　Two　minutes　later　they　halted　in　a　dark　stretch　of　one　of　the　by…roads　of　the　Park。

〃We'll　be　stopping　only　a　minute；　sir；　to　put　on　our　right　number　plates；〃　the　man　opened　the　door　to　explain。

Within　the　minute　they　were　away　again；　now　proceeding　more　leisurely；　in　the　easy　manner　of　a　private　car　going　about　its　private　business　though　the　interior　of　the　car　was　discreetly　dark　and　Larry　huddled　discreetly　into　a　corner。　Thus　they　drove　over　the　Grand　Boulevards　and　recrossed　the　Harlem　River　and　presently　drew　up　in　front　of　a　great　apartment　house　in　Park　Avenue。

The　man　opened　the　door。　〃Walk　right　in；　sir；　as　though　you　belong　here。　The　doorman　and　the　elevatorman　are　prepared。〃

They　might　be　prepared；　but　Larry　certainly　was　not；　and　he　shot　up　the　elevator　to　the　top　floor　with　mounting　bewilderment。　The　man　unlocked　the　door　of　an　apartment；　ushered　Larry　in；　took　his　wet　hat；　then　ushered　the　dazed　Larry　through　the　corner　of　a　dim…lit　drawing…　room　and　through　another　door。

〃You　are　to　wait　here；　sir；〃　said　the　man；　and　quietly　withdrew。

Larry　looked　about　him。　He　took　in　but　a　few　details；　but　he　knew　enough　about　the　better　fittings　of　life　to　realize　that　he　was　in　the　presence　of　both　money　and　the　best　of　taste。　He　noted　the　log　fire　in　the　broad　fireplace；　comfortable　chairs；　the　imported　rugs　on　the　gleaming　floor；　the　shelves　of　books　which　climbed　to　the　ceiling；　a　quaint　writing…desk　in　one　corner　which　seemed　to　belong　to　another　country　and　another　century；　but　which　was　perfectly　at　home　in　this　room。

On　the　desk　he　saw　standing　a　leather…framed　photograph　which　seemed　familiar。　He　crossed　and　picked　it　up。　Indeed　it　was　familiar！　It　was　a　photograph　of　Hunt：　of　Hunt；　not　in　the　shabby；　shapeless　garments　he　wore　down　at　the　Duchess's；　but　Hunt　accoutered　as　might　be　a　man　accustomed　to　such　a　room　as　thisthough　in　this　picture　there　was　the　same　strong　chin；　the　same　belligerent　good…natured　eyes。

Now　how　and　where　did　that　impecunious；　rough…neck　painter　fit　into

But　the　dazed　question　Larry　was　asking　was　interrupted　by　a　voice　from　the　doorthe　thick　voice　of　a　man：

〃Who　the　hell　'r'　you？〃

Larry　whirled　about。　In　the　doorway　stood　a　tall；　bellicose　young　gentleman　of　perhaps　twenty…four　or　five；　in　evening　dress；　flushed　of　face；　holding　unsteadily　to　the　door…jamb。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　said　Larry。

〃'N'　what　the　hell　you　doin'　here？〃　continued　the　belligerent　young　gentleman。

〃I'd　be　obliged　to　you　if　you　could　tell　me；〃　said　Larry。

〃Tryin'　to　stall；　'r'　you；〃　declared　the　young　gentleman　with　a　scowling　profundity。　〃No　go。　Got　to　come　out　your　corner　'n'　fight。　'N'　I'm　goin'　lick　you。〃

The　young　man　crossed　unsteadily　to　Larry　and　took　a　fighting　pose。

〃Put　'em　up！〃　he　ordered。

This　was　certainly　a　night　of　strange　adventure；　thought　Larry。　His　wild　escapehis　coming　to　this　unknown　placeand　now　this　befuddled　young　fellow　intent　upon　battle　with　him。

〃Let's　fight　to…morrow；〃　Larry　suggested　soothingly。

〃Put　'em　up！〃　ordered　the　other。　〃If　you　don't　know　what　you're　doin'　here；　I'll　show　you　what　you're　doin'　here！〃

But　he　was　not　to　show　Larry；　for　while　he　was　uttering　his　last　words；　trying　to　steady　himself　in　a　crouch　for　the　delivery　of　a　blow；　a　voice　sounded　sharply　from　the　doorwaya　woman's　voice：

〃Dick！〃

The　young　man　slowly　turned。　But　Larry　had　seen　her　first。　He　had　no　chance　to　take　her　in；　that　first　moment；　beyond　noting　that　she　was　slender　and　young　and　exquisitely　gowned；　for　she　swept　straight　across　to　them。

〃Dick；　you're　drunk　again！〃　she　exclaimed。

〃Wrong；　sis；〃　he　corrected　in　an　injured　tone。　〃It's　same　drunk。〃

〃Dick；　you　go　to　bed！〃

〃Now；　sis〃

〃You　go　to　bed！〃

The　young　man　wavered　before　her　commanding　gaze。　〃Jus's　you　say　jus's　you　say；〃　he　mumbled；　and　went　unsteadily　toward　the　door。

The　young　woman　watched　him　out；　and　then　turned　her　troubled　face　back　to　Larry。　〃I'm　sorry　Dick　behaved　to　you　as　he　did。〃

And　then　before　Larry　could　make　answer；　her　clouded　look　was　gone。　〃So　you're　here　at　last；　Mr。　Brainard。〃　She　held　her　hand　out；　smiling　a　smile　that　by　some　magic　seemed　to　envelop　him　within　an　immediate　friendship。

〃I'm　Miss　Sherwood。〃　He　noted　that　the　slender；　tapering　hand　had　almost　a　man's　strength　of　grip。　〃You　needn't　tell　me　anything　about　yourself；〃　she　added；　〃for　I　already　know　a　lotall　I　need　to　know：　about　youand　about　Maggie　Carlisle。　You　see　an　hour　ago　a　messenger　brought　me　a　long　letter　he'd　written　about　you。〃　And　she　nodded　to　the　photograph　Larry　was　still　holding。

〃Youyou　know　him？〃　Larry　stammered。

She　answered　with　a　whimsical　smile：　〃Yes。　Isn't　he　a　grand；　foolish　old　dear？　He's　such　a　roistering；　braggin