within the law- 第28部分

There　followed　a　little　period　of　quiet　between　the　two。　　The　father；　from　his　desk；　stood　facing　his　son；　who　thus　denied　him　in　all　honesty　because　the　heart　so　commanded。　　The　son　rested　motionless　and　looked　with　unflinching　eyes　into　his　father's　face。　　In　the　gaze　of　each　was　a　great　affection。

〃You're　all　I　have；　my　boy；〃　the　older　man　said　at　last。　　And　now　the　big　voice　was　a　mildest　whisper　of　love。

〃Yes；　Dad；〃　came　the　answeranother　whisper；　since　it　is　hard　to　voice　the　truth　of　feeling　such　as　this。　　〃If　I　could　avoid　it；　I　wouldn't　hurt　you　for　anything　in　the　world。　　I'm　sorry；　Dad；　awfully　sorry〃　He　hesitated；　then　his　voice　rang　out　clearly。　　There　was　in　his　tone；　when　he　spoke　again；　a　recognition　of　that　loneliness　which　is　the　curse　and　the　crown　of　being：

〃But；〃　he　ended；　〃I　must　fight　this　out　by　myselffight　it　out　in　my　own　way。。。。　And　I'm　going　to　do　it！〃　



CHAPTER　XVI。　BURKE　PLOTS。　

The　butler　entered。

〃A　man　to　see　you；　sir；〃　he　said。

Gilder　made　a　gesture　of　irritation；　as　he　sank　into　the　chair　at　his　desk。

〃I　can't　see　any　one　to…night；　Thomas；〃　he　exclaimed；　sharply。

〃But　he　said　it　was　most　important；　sir；〃　the　servant　went　on。　　He　held　out　the　tray　insistently。

The　master　took　the　card　grudgingly。　　As　his　eyes　caught　the　name；　his　expression　changed　slightly。

〃Very　well；〃　he　said；　〃show　him　up。〃　　His　glance　met　the　wondering　gaze　of　his　son。

〃It's　Burke；〃　he　explained。

〃What　on　earth　can　he　wantat　this　time　of　night？〃　　Dick　exclaimed。

The　father　smiled　grimly。

〃You　may　as　well　get　used　to　visits　from　the　police。〃　　There　was　something　ghastly　in　the　effort　toward　playfulness。

A　moment　later；　Inspector　Burke　entered　the　room。

〃Oh；　you're　here；　too；〃　he　said；　as　his　eyes　fell　on　Dick。　　〃That's　good。　　I　wanted　to　see　you；　too。〃

Inspector　Burke　was；　in　fact；　much　concerned　over　the　situation　that　had　developed。　　He　was　a　man　of　undoubted　ability；　and　he　took　a　keen　professional　pride　in　his　work。　　He　possessed　the　faults　of　his　class；　was　not　too　scrupulous　where　he　saw　a　safe　opportunity　to　make　a　snug　sum　of　money　through　the　employment　of　his　official　authority；　was　ready　to　buckle　to　those　whose　influence　could　help　or　hinder　his　ambition。　　But；　in　spite　of　these　ordinary　defects；　he　was　fond　of　his　work　and　wishful　to　excel　in　it。　　Thus；　Mary　Turner　had　come　to　be　a　thorn　in　his　side。　　She　flouted　his　authority　and　sustained　her　incredible　effrontery　by　a　restraining　order　from　the　court。　　The　thing　was　outrageous　to　him；　and　he　set　himself　to　match　her　cunning。　The　fact　that　she　had　involved　Dick　Gilder　within　her　toils　made　him　the　more　anxious　to　overcome　her　in　the　strife　of　resources　between　them。　　After　much　studying；　he　had　at　last　planned　something　that；　while　it　would　not　directly　touch　Mary　herself；　would　at　least　serve　to　intimidate　her；　and　as　well　make　further　action　easier　against　her。　　It　was　in　pursuit　of　this　scheme　that　he　now　came　to　Gilder's　house；　and　the　presence　of　the　young　man　abruptly　gave　him　another　idea　that　might　benefit　him　well。　　So；　he　disregarded　Gilder's　greeting；　and　went　on　speaking　to　the　son。

〃She's　skipped！〃　he　said；　triumphantly。

Dick　made　a　step　forward。　　His　eyes　flashed；　and　there　was　anger　in　his　voice　as　he　replied：

〃I　don't　believe　it。〃

The　Inspector　smiled；　unperturbed。

〃She　left　this　morning　for　Chicago；〃　he　said；　lying　with　a　manner　that　long　habit　rendered　altogether　convincing。　　〃I　told　you　she'd　go。〃　　He　turned　to　the　father；　and　spoke　with　an　air　of　boastful　good　nature。　〃Now；　all　you　have　to　do　is　to　get　this　boy　out　of　the　scrape　and　you'll　be　all　right。〃

〃If　we　only　could！〃　The　cry　came　with　deepest　earnestness　from　the　lips　of　Gilder；　but　there　was　little　hope　in　his　voice。

The　Inspector；　however；　was　confident　of　success；　and　his　tones　rang　cheerfully　as　he　answered：

〃I　guess　we　can　find　a　way　to　have　the　marriage　annulled；　or　whatever　they　do　to　marriages　that　don't　take。〃

The　brutal　assurance　of　the　man　in　thus　referring　to　things　that　were　sacred；　moved　Dick　to　wrath。

〃Don't　you　interfere；〃　he　said。　　His　words　were　spoken　softly；　but　tensely。

Nevertheless；　Burke　held　to　the　topic；　but　an　indefinable　change　in　his　manner　rendered　it　less　offensive　to　the　young　man。

〃Interfere！　Huh！〃　he　ejaculated；　grinning　broadly。　〃Why；　that's　what　I'm　paid　to　do。　　Listen　to　me；　son。　The　minute　you　begin　mixing　up　with　crooks；　you　ain't　in　a　position　to　give　orders　to　any　one。　　The　crooks　have　got　no　rights　in　the　eyes　of　the　police。　　Just　remember　that。〃

The　Inspector　spoke　the　simple　truth　as　he　knew　it　from　years　of　experience。　　The　theory　of　the　law　is　that　a　presumption　of　innocence　exists　until　the　accused　is　proven　guilty。　　But　the　police　are　out　of　sympathy　with　such　finical　methods。　　With　them；　the　crook　is　presumed　guilty　at　the　outset　of　whatever　may　be　charged　against　him。　　If　need　be；　there　will　be　proof　a…plenty　against　himof　the　sort　that　the　underworld　knows　to　its　sorrow。

But　Dick　was　not　listening。　　His　thoughts　were　again　wholly　with　the　woman　he　loved；　who；　as　the　Inspector　declared；　had　fled　from　him。

〃Where's　she　gone　in　Chicago？〃　

Burke　answered　in　his　usual　gruff　fashion；　but　with　a　note　of　kindliness　that　was　not　without　its　effect　on　Dick。

〃I'm　no　mind…reader；〃　he　said。　　〃But　she's　a　swell　little　girl；　all　right。　　I've　got　to　hand　it　to　her　for　that。　So；　she'll　probably　stop　at　the　Blackstonethat　is；　until　the　Chicago　police　are　tipped　off　that　she　is　in　town。〃

Of　a　sudden；　the　face　of　the　young　man　took　on　a　totally　different　expression。　　Where　before　had　been　anger；　now　was　a　vivid　eagerness。　　He　went　close　to　the　Inspector；　and　spoke　with　intense　seriousness。

〃Burke；〃　he　said；　pleadingly；　〃give　me　a　chance。　　I'll　leave　for　Chicago　in　the　morning。　　Give　me　twenty…four　hours　start　before　you　begin　hounding　her。〃

The　Inspector　regarded　the　speaker　searchingly。　　His　heavy　face　was　drawn　in　an　expression　of　apparent　doubt。　　Abruptly；　then；　he　smiled　acquiescence。

〃Seems　reasonable；〃　he　admitted。

But　the　father　strode　to　his　son。

〃No；　no；　Dick；〃　he　cried。　　〃You　shall　not　go！　You　shall　not　go！〃　

Burke；　however；　shook　his　head　in　remonstrance　against　Gilder's　plea。　　His　huge　voice　came　booming；　weightily　impressive。

〃Why　not？〃　　he　questioned。　　〃It's　a　fair　gamble。　　And；　besides；　I　like　the　boy's　nerve。〃

Dick　seized　on　the　admission　eagerly。

〃And　you'll　agree？〃　　he　cried。

〃Yes；　I'll　agree；〃　the　Inspector　answered。

〃Thank　you；〃　Dick　said　quietly。

But　the　father　was　not　content。　　On　the　contrary；　he　went　toward　the　two　hurriedly；　with　a　gesture　of　reproval。

〃You　shall　not　go；　Dick；〃　he　declared；　imperiously。

The　Inspector　shot　a　word　of　warning　to　Gilder　in　an　aside　that　Dick　could　not　hear。

〃Keep　still；〃　he　replied。　　〃It's　all　right。〃

Dick　went　on　speaking　with　a　seriousness　suited　to　the　magnitude　of　his　interests。

〃You　give　me　your　word；　Inspector；〃　he　said；　〃that　you　won't　notify　the　police　in　Chicago　until　I've　been　there　twenty…four　hours？〃　

〃You're　on；〃　Burke　replied　genially。　　〃They　won't　get　a　whisper　out　of　me　until　the　time　is　up。〃　　He　swung　about　to　face　the　father；　and　there　was　a　complete　change　in　his　manner。　　〃Now；　then；　Mr。　Gilder；〃　he　said　briskly；　〃I　want　to　talk　to　you　about　another　little　matter〃

Dick　caught　the　suggestion；　and　interrupted　quickly。

〃Then　I'll　go。〃　　He　smiled　rather　wanly　at　his　father。　　〃You　know；　Dad；　I'm　sorry；　but　I've　got　to　do　what　I　think　is　the　right　thing。〃

Burke　helped　to　save　the　situation　from　the　growing　tenseness。

〃Sure；〃　he　cried　heartily；　〃sure　you　have。　　That's　the　best　any　of　us　can　do。〃　　He　watched　keenly　as　the　young　man　went　out　of　the　room。　　It　was　not　until　the　door　was　closed　after　Dick　that　he　spoke。　　Then　he　dropped　to　a　seat　on　the　couch；　and　proceeded　to　make　his　confidences　to　the　magnate。

〃He'll　go　to　Chicago　in　the　morning；　you　think；　don't　you？〃　

〃Certainly；〃　Gilder　answered。　　〃But　I　don't　like　it。〃

Burke　slapped　his　leg　with　an　enthusiasm　that　might　have　broken　a　weaker　member。

〃Best　thing　that　could　have　happened！〃　he　vociferated。　And　then；　as　Gilder　regarded　him　in　astonishment；　he　added；　chuckling：　〃You　see；　he　won't　find　her　there。〃

〃Why　do　you　think　that？〃　　Gilder　demanded；　greatly　puzzled。

Burke　permitted　himself　the　luxury　of　laughing　appreciatively　a　moment　more　before　making　his　exclamation。　　Then　he　said　quietly：

〃Because　she　didn't　go　there。〃

〃Where　did　she　go；　then？〃　　Gilder　queried　wholly　at　a　loss。

Once　again　the　officer　chuckled。　　It　was　evident　that　he　was　well　pleased　with　his　own　ingenuity。

〃Nowhere　yet；〃　he　said　at　last。　　〃But；　just　about　the　time　he's　starting　for　the　West　I'll　have　her　down　at　Headquarters。　　Demarest　will　have　her　indicted　before　noon。　　She'll　go　for　trial　in　the　afternoon。　　And　to…morrow　night　she'll　be　sleeping　up　the　river。。。。　That's　where　she　is　going。〃

Gilder　stood　motionless　for　a　moment。　　After　all；　he　was　an　ordinary　citizen；　quite　unfamiliar　with　the　recondite　methods　familiar　to　the　police。

〃But；〃　he　said；　wonderingly；　〃you　can't　do　that。〃

The　Inspector　laughed；　a　laugh　of　disingenuous　amusement；　for　he　understood　perfectly　the　lack　of　comprehension　on　the　part　of　his　hearer。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　and　his　voice　sank　into　a　modest　rumble　that　was　none　the　less　still　thunderous。　　〃Perhaps　I　can't！〃　And　then　he　beamed　broadly；　his　whole　face　smiling　blandly　on　the　man　who　doubted　his　power。　〃Perhaps　I　can't；〃　he　repeated。　　Then　the　chuckle　came　again；　and　he　added　emphatically：　〃But　I　will！〃　Suddenly；　his　heavy　face　grew　hard。　　His　alert　eyes　shone　fiercely；　with　a　flash　of　fire　that　was　known　to　every　patrolman　who　had　ever　reported　to　the　desk　when　he　was　lieutenant。　　His　heavy　jaw　shot　forward　aggressively　as　he　spoke。

〃Think　I'm　going　to　let　that　girl　make　a　joke　of　the　Police　Department？　　Why；　I'm　here　to　get　herto　stop　her　anyhow。　　Her　gang　is　going　to　break　into　your　house　to…night。〃

〃What？〃　　Gilder　demanded。　　〃You　mean；　she's　coming　here　as　a　thief？〃　

〃Not　exactly；〃　Inspector　Burke　confessed；　〃but　her　pals　are　coming　to　try　to　pull　off　something　right　here。　She　wouldn't　come；　not　if　I　know　her。　　She's　too　c