children of the whirlwind-第8部分

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〃At　the　Ritzmore　Hotel！〃　He　stared　at　her　bewildered。　〃What　are　you　learning　there？〃

〃To　be　a　lady。〃　She　laughed　at　his　increasing　bewilderment。　〃A　real　lady；　Larry；〃　she　went　on　excitedly。　〃Oh；　it's　such　a　wonderful　idea！　Father　had　never　seemed　to　think　much　of　me　till　the　night　I　went　to　a　masquerade　ball　with　Mr。　Hunt；　and　he　and　Barney　saw　me　in　these　clothes。　They　had　never　seen　me　really　dressed　up　before；　Barney　said　it　was　an　eye…opener。　They　saw　how　I　could　be　of　big　use　to　you　all。　But　to　be　that；　I've　got　to　be　a　ladya　real　lady；　who　knows　how　to　behave　and　wear　real　clothes。　That's　what　they're　doing　now：　making　me　a　lady。〃

〃Making　you　a　lady！〃　exclaimed　Larry。　〃How？〃

〃By　putting　me　where　I　can　watch　real　ladies；　and　study　them。　Barney　cut　short　my　being　in　a　chorus；　Barney　said　a　chorus　girl　never　learned　to　pass　for　a　lady。　So　I've　been　working　in　places　where　the　swellest　women　come。　First　in　a　milliner　shop；　then　as　dresser　to　a　model　in　the　shop　of　a　swell　modiste；　always　watching　how　the　ladies　behave。　Now　I'm　at　the　Ritzmore；　and　I　carry　a　tray　of　cigarettes　around　the　tables　at　lunch　and　at　tea…time　and　during　dinner　and　during　the　after…theater　supper。　I'm　supposed　to　be　there　to　sell　cigarettes；　but　I'm　really　there　to　watch　how　the　ladies　handle　their　knives　and　forks　and　behave　toward　the　men。　Isn't　it　all　awfully　clever？〃

〃Why；　Maggie！〃　he　exclaimed。

〃And　pretty　soon；　when　I've　learned　more；〃　she　continued　rapidly；　〃I'm　going　to　have　swell　clothes　of　my　ownand　be　a　ladyand　get　away　from　this　dingy；　stuffy；　dead　old　place！　I　can't　stand　for　being　buried　down　here　much　longer。　And；　oh；　Larry；　I'm　going　to　begin　to　work　with　you！〃

〃What？〃　he　blinked；　not　yet　quite　understanding。

〃You　think　I'm　not　clever　enough？　But　I　am！〃　she　protested。　〃I　tell　you　I've　learned　a　lot。　And　Barney　and　father　have　let　me　help　in　a　lot　of　thingsnothing　really　big　yet；　of　course。　They　think　I'm　going　to　be　a　wonder。　Just　to…day　father　was　saying　that　you　and　I；　teamed　upWhy；　what's　the　matter；　Larry？〃

〃You　and　Iteamed　up；〃　he　repeated　slowly。

〃Yes。　Don't　you　like　the　idea？〃

His　hands　suddenly　gripped　her　bare　shoulders。

〃There's　nothing　to　it！〃　he　exclaimed　almost　savagely。

〃What's　that？〃　she　cried；　startled。

〃I　tell　you　there's　nothing　to　it！〃

〃Youyou　think　I　can't　put　it　over？〃

〃You　can't！　And　I'm　not　going　to　have　it！〃

〃Whywhy〃

Staring；　she　drew　slowly　away　from　him。　His　face；　which　a　few　moments　before　had　been　smiling；　was　now　harsh　and　dominant　with　decision。　She　had　heard　him　spoken　of　as　〃Laughing　Larry〃；　and　also　as　〃Terrible　Larry〃　whose　aroused　will　none　could　brook。　He　looked　this　latter　person　now；　and　she　could　not　understand。

But　though　she　could　not　understand；　her　own　defiant　spirit　stormed　up　to　fight　this　unexpected　opposition。　He　didn't　believe　in　herthat　was　it！　He　didn't　think　she　was　equal　to　working　with　him！　Her　young　figure　stiffened　in　angered　pride；　and　her　mind　was　gathering　hot　phrases　to　fling　at　him　when　the　door　from　the　pawnshop　began　to　creak　open。　Instantly　Larry　turned　toward　it；　relaxed　and　yet　alert　for　anything。　Old　Jimmie　and　Barney　Palmer　entered。

〃Hello；　Larry！〃　cried　the　old　man；　crossing。　〃Welcome　to　our　city！〃

〃Hello；　Jimmie。　Hello；　Barney。〃　And　Larry　shook　hands　with　his　partners　of　other　days。

〃Gee；　Larry；　it's　good　to　see　you！〃　exclaimed　the　cunning…eyed　old　man。　〃Didn't　know　you　were　back　till　I　bumped　into　Gavegan　on　Broadway。　He　told　me；　and　so　Barney　and　I　beat　it　over　here　to　see　you。　Believe　me；　Larry；　that　flatfoot　is　certainly　sore　at　you！〃

Larry　ignored　the　last　sentence。　〃Think　it　exactly　wise　for　you　two　to　come　here？〃

〃Why　Larry；？〃

〃Gavegan；　Casey；　the　police；　may　follow；　thinking　you've　come　to　see　me　for　some　purpose。　That　outfit　may　act　upon　suspicion。〃

Jimmie　grinned　cunningly。　〃A　man　can　come　to　visit　his　own　daughter　as　often　as　he　likes。　Father　love；　Larry。〃

〃I　see；　that'll　be　your　explanation。〃　Larry's　eyes　grew　keen　at　the　new　understanding。　〃I　hadn't　thought　of　that　before；　Jimmie。　So　that's　why　you've　always　boarded　Maggie　around　in　shady　joints：　so's　you　could　meet　your　pals　and　yet　always　have　the　excuse　that　you　had　come　to　meet　your　daughter？〃

〃Partly　that；〃　smiled　Old　Jimmie　blandlyperhaps　too　blandly。　〃Suppose　we　sit　down。〃

They　did　so；　Maggie　sitting　a　little　apart　from　the　men　and　regarding　Larry　with　indignant；　questioning　eyes。　She　still　could　not　understand　his　queer　behavior　when　she　had　announced　her　intention　of　working　with　him。　Could　it　be；　as　her　father　had　said；　because　he　would　never　work　with　womennot　trusting　them？　She'd　show　him！

She　was　so　occupied　with　this　wonderment　that　she　gave　no　heed　to　the　talk　about　Larry's　experience　in　Sing　Sing　and　Old　Jimmie's　recital　of　what　had　happened　among　Larry's　friends　during　his　absence。　During　this　gossip　the　Duchess　entered　from　the　stairway；　and　without　word　to　any　one　shuffled　across　to　her　desk　in　a　corner　and　bent　silently　over　her　accounts：　just　one　more　grotesque　and　unredeemed　pledge　in　this　museum　of　antiquities　and　forgotten　pawns。

Presently　Barney　Palmer；　who　had　been　impatient　during　all　this；　broke　out　with：

〃Aw；　let's　cut　out　this　chatter　about　what　used　to　be　and　get　down　to　cases。　Jimmie；　will　you　spill　the　business　to　Larry；　or　want　me　to？〃

〃I'll　tell　him。　Listen；　Larry。〃　Maggie　pricked　up　her　ears；　the　talk　was　now　excitingly　important。　〃We've　got　our　very　greatest　game　all　planned　out。　Stock…selling　game；　going　to　unload　the　whole　thing　on　one　sucker；　and　we've　got　the　sucker　picked　out。　Besides　you　and　Barney　and　me；　there's　Red　Hannigan　and　Jack　Rosenfeldt　in　ita　classy　bunch　all　right。　And　we　think　that　for　the　woman　end　we'll　take　in　Mae　Gorham。　She's　clever　and　innocent…eyed〃

〃But　I　thought　you　were　going　to　take　me　in！〃　protested　Maggie。

〃Maggie'll　be　just　as　good　as　Mae　Gorham；〃　put　in　Barney。

〃We'll　let　that　pass；〃　said　Old　Jimmie。　〃The　main　thing；　Larry；　is　that　everything　is　ready。　It's　a　whale　of　a　business　proposition。　We've　been　waiting　for　you；　you're　all　that's　lackingthe　brainy　guy　to　sit　behind　the　scenes　and　manage　the　thing。　You've　handled　the　bunch　for　a　long　time；　and　they　want　you　to　handle　this。　For　you're　sure　a　wonder　at　business；　Larry！　None　keener。　Well；　we've　held　this　off　waiting　for　you　for　a　month。　How　about　jumping　right　in？〃

All　three　eyed　Larry。　His　lean　face　was　expressionless。　He　lit　a　cigarette；　rose　and　leaned　against　the　Duchess's　safe　on　which　stood　the　green　parrot；　and；　gaze　on　the　floor；　slowly　exhaled　smoke　through　his　nostrils。

〃Well？〃　demanded　Barney。

Larry　looked　at　the　two　men　with　quiet；　even　eyes。　〃Thanks　to　both　of　you。　It's　a　great　compliment。　But　I've　had　time　to　do　a　little　planning　myself　up　in　Sing　Sing；　and　I've　worked　out　a　game　that's　got　this　one　beat　a　mile。〃

〃Hell！〃　ejaculated　Barney　in　wrathful　disgust。　〃Jimmie；　I　told　you　we　were　wasting　time　waiting　for　him！〃

〃Hold　on　a　second；　Barney。　If　Larry's　worked　out　a　better　game；　he'll　take　us　into　it。　But；　Larry；　how　can　your　game　beat　this　one？〃

〃Because　there's　more　money　in　it。　And　because　it's　safer。〃

〃Safe！　Aw；　hell！〃　The　smouldering　jealou