within the law- 第31部分

There　came　again　the　faint　tapping　of　some　one　at　the　other　end　of　the　line；　signaling　a　message　in　the　Morse　code。　　An　expression　of　blank　amazement；　which　grew　in　a　flash　to　deep　concern；　showed　on　Garson's　face　as　he　listened　tensely。

〃Why；　this　is　Mary　calling；〃　he　muttered。

〃Mary！〃　Griggs　cried。　　His　usual　vacuity　of　expression　was　cast　off　like　a　mask　and　alarm　twisted　his　features。　Then；　in　the　next　instant；　a　crafty　triumph　gleamed　from　his　eyes。

〃Yes；　she's　on；〃　Garson　interpreted；　a　moment　later；　as　the　tapping　ceased　for　a　little。　　He　translated　in　a　loud　whisper　as　the　irregular　ticking　noise　sounded　again。

〃I　shall　be　there　at　the　house　almost　at　once。　　I　am　sending　this　message　from　the　drug　store　around　the　corner。　　Have　some　one　open　the　door　for　me　immediately。〃

〃She's　coming　over；〃　Griggs　cried　incredulously。

〃No；　I'll　stop　her；〃　Garson　declared　firmly。

〃Right！　Stop　her；〃　Chicago　Red　vouchsafed。

But；　when；　after　tapping　a　few　words；　the　forger　paused　for　the　reply；　no　sound　came。

〃She　don't　answer；〃　he　exclaimed；　greatly　disconcerted。　He　tried　again；　still　without　result。　　At　that；　he　hung　up　the　receiver　with　a　groan。　　〃She's　gone〃

〃On　her　way　already；〃　Griggs　suggested；　and　there　was　none　to　doubt　that　it　was　so。

〃What's　she　coming　here　for？〃　　Garson　exclaimed　harshly。　　〃This　ain't　no　place　for　her！　Why；　if　anything　should　go　wrong　now〃

But　Griggs　interrupted　him　with　his　usual　breezy　cheerfulness　of　manner。

〃Oh；　nothing　can　go　wrong　now；　old　top。　　I'll　let　her　in。〃　　He　drew　a　small　torch　from　the　skirt…pocket　of　his　coat　and　crossed　to　the　hall　door；　as　Garson　nodded　assent。

〃God！　Why　did　she　have　to　come？〃　　Garson　muttered；　filled　with　forebodings。　　〃If　anything　should　go　wrong　now！〃　

He　turned　back　toward　the　door　just　as　it　opened；　and　Mary　darted　into　the　room　with　Griggs　following。　〃What　do　you　want　here？〃　　he　demanded；　with　peremptory　savageness　in　his　voice；　which　was　a　tone　he　had　never　hitherto　used　in　addressing　her。

Mary　went　swiftly　to　face　Garson　where　he　stood　by　the　desk；　while　Griggs　joined　the　other　two　men　who　stood　shuffling　about　uneasily　by　the　fireplace；　at　a　loss　over　this　intrusion　on　their　scheme。　　Mary　moved　with　a　lissome　grace　like　that　of　some　wild　creature；　but　as　she　halted　opposite　the　man　who　had　given　her　back　the　life　she　would　have　thrown　away；　there　was　only　tender　pleading　in　her　voice；　though　her　words　were　an　arraignment。

〃Joe；　you　lied　to　me。〃

〃That　can　be　settled　later；〃　the　man　snapped。　　His　jaw　was　thrust　forward　obstinately；　and　his　clear　eyes　sparkled　defiantly。

〃You　are　fools；　all　of　you！〃　Mary　cried。　　Her　eyes　darkened　and　distended　with　fear。　　They　darted　from　Garson　to　the　other　three　men；　and　back　again　in　rebuke。　〃Yes；　fools！　This　is　burglary。　　I　can't　protect　you　if　you　are　caught。　　How　can　I？　　Oh；　come！〃　She　held　out　her　hands　pleadingly　toward　Garson；　and　her　voice　dropped　to　beseeching。　　〃Joe；　Joe；　you　must　get　away　from　this　house　at　once；　all　of　you。　　Joe；　make　them　go。〃

〃It's　too　late；〃　was　the　stern　answer。　　There　was　no　least　relaxation　in　the　stubborn　lines　of　his　face。　　〃We're　here　now；　and　we'll　stay　till　the　business　is　done。〃

Mary　went　a　step　forward。　　The　cloak　she　was　wearing　was　thrown　back　by　her　gesture　of　appeal　so　that　those　watching　saw　the　snowy　slope　of　the　shoulders　and　the　quick　rise　and　fall　of　the　gently　curving　bosom。　The　beautiful　face　within　the　framing　scarf　was　colorless　with　a　great　fear；　save　only　the　crimson　lips；　of　which　the　bow　was　bent　tremulously　as　she　spoke　her　prayer。

〃Joe；　for　my　sake！〃　

But　the　man　was　inexorable。　　He　had　set　himself　to　this　thing；　and　even　the　urging　of　the　one　person　in　the　world　for　whom　he　most　cared　was　powerless　against　his　resolve。

〃I　can't　quit　now　until　we've　got　what　we　came　here　after；〃　he　declared　roughly。

Of　a　sudden；　the　girl　made　shift　to　employ　another　sort　of　supplication。

〃But　there　are　reasons；〃　she　said；　faltering。　　A　certain　embarrassment　swept　her；　and　the　ivory　of　her　cheeks　bloomed　rosily。　　〃II　can't　have　you　rob　this　house；　this　particular　house　of　all　the　world。〃　　Her　eyes　leaped　from　the　still　obdurate　face　of　the　forger　to　the　group　of　three　back　of　him。　　Her　voice　was　shaken　with　a　great　dread　as　she　called　out　to　them。

〃Boys；　let's　get　away！　Please；　oh；　please！　Joe；　for　God's　sake！〃　Her　tone　was　a　sob。

Her　anguish　of　fear　did　not　swerve　Garson　from　his　purpose。

〃I'm　going　to　see　this　through；〃　he　said；　doggedly。

〃But；　Joe〃

〃It's　settled；　I　tell　you。〃

In　the　man's　emphasis　the　girl　realized　at　last　the　inefficacy　of　her　efforts　to　combat　his　will。　　She　seemed　to　droop　visibly　before　their　eyes。　　Her　head　sank　on　her　breast。　　Her　voice　was　husky　as　she　tried　to　speak。

〃Then〃　She　broke　off　with　a　gesture　of　despair；　and　turned　away　toward　the　door　by　which　she　had　entered。

But；　with　a　movement　of　great　swiftness；　Garson　got　in　front　of　her；　and　barred　her　going。　　For　a　few　seconds　the　two　stared　at　each　other　searchingly　as　if　learning　new　and　strange　things；　each　of　the　other。　　In　the　girl's　expression　was　an　outraged　wonder　and　a　great　terror。　　In　the　man's　was　a　half…shamed　pride；　as　if　he　exulted　in　the　strength　with　which　he　had　been　able　to　maintain　his　will　against　her　supreme　effort　to　overthrow　it。

〃You　can't　go；〃　Garson　said　sharply。　　〃You　might　be　caught。〃

〃And　if　I　were；〃　Mary　demanded　in　a　flash　of　indignation；　〃do　you　think　I'd　tell？〃　

There　came　an　abrupt　change　in　the　hard　face　of　the　man。　　Into　the　piercing　eyes　flamed　a　softer　fire　of　tenderness。　The　firm　mouth　grew　strangely　gentle　as　he　replied；　and　his　voice　was　overtoned　with　faith。

〃Of　course　not；　Mary；〃　he　said。　　〃I　know　you。　　You　would　go　up　for　life　first。〃

Then　again　his　expression　became　resolute；　and　he　spoke　imperiously。

〃Just　the　same；　you　can't　take　any　chances。　　We'll　all　get　away　in　a　minute；　and　you'll　come　with　us。〃　　He　turned　to　the　men　and　spoke　with　swift　authority。

〃Come；〃　he　said　to　Dacey；　〃you　get　to　the　light　switch　there　by　the　hall　door。　　If　you　hear　me　snap　my　fingers；　turn　'em　off。　　Understand？〃　

With　instant　obedience；　the　man　addressed　went　to　his　station　by　the　hall　door；　and　stood　ready　to　control　the　electric　current。

The　distracted　girl　essayed　one　last　plea。　　The　momentary　softening　of　Garson　had　given　her　new　courage。

〃Joe；　don't　do　this。〃

〃You　can't　stop　it　now；　Mary；〃　came　the　brisk　retort。　〃Too　late。　　You're　only　wasting　time；　making　it　dangerous　for　all　of　us。〃

Again　he　gave　his　attention　to　carrying　on　the　robbery。

〃Red；〃　he　ordered；　〃you　get　to　that　door。〃　　He　pointed　to　the　one　that　gave　on　the　passageway　against　which　he　had　set　the　chair　tilted。　　As　the　man　obeyed；　Garson　gave　further　instructions。

〃If　any　one　comes　in　that　way；　get　him　and　get　him　quick。　　You　understand？　　Don't　let　him　cry　out。〃

Chicago　Red　grinned　with　cheerful　acceptance　of　the　issue　in　such　an　encounter。　　He　held　up　his　huge　hand；　widely　open。

〃Not　a　chance；〃　he　declared；　proudly；　〃with　that　over　his　mug。〃　　To　avoid　possible　interruption　of　his　movements　in　an　emergency；　he　removed　the　chair　Garson　had　placed　and　set　it　to　one　side；　out　of　the　way。

〃Now；　let's　get　to　work；〃　Garson　continued　eagerly。　Mary　spoke　with　the　bitterness　of　defeat。

〃Listen；　Joe！　If　you　do　this；　I'm　through　with　you。　I　quit。〃

Garson　was　undismayed　by　the　threat。

〃If　this　goes　through；〃　he　countered；　〃we'll　all　quit。　That's　why　I'm　doing　it。　　I'm　sick　of　the　game。〃

He　turned　to　the　work　in　hand　with　increased　energy。

〃Come；　you；　Griggs　and　Red；　and　push　that　desk　down　a　bit　so　that　I　can　stand　on　it。〃　　The　two　men　bent　to　the　task；　heedless　of　Mary's　frantic　protest。

〃No！　no！　no！　no！　no；　Joe！〃　

Red；　however；　suddenly　straightened　from　the　desk　and　stood　motionless；　listening。　　He　made　a　slight　hissing　noise　that　arrested　the　attention　of　the　others　and　held　them　in　moveless　silence。

〃I　hear　something；〃　he　whispered。　　He　went　to　the　keyhole　of　the　door　leading　into　the　passage。　　Then　he　whispered　again；　〃And　it's　coming　this　way。〃

At　the　words；　Garson　snapped　his　fingers。　　The　room　was　plunged　in　darkness。



CHAPTER　XVIII。　THE　NOISELESS　DEATH。　

There　was　absolute　silence　in　the　library　after　the　turning　of　the　switch　that　brought　the　pall　of　darkness。　Long　seconds　passed；　then　a　little　noisethe　knob　of　the　passage　door　turning。　　As　the　door　swung　open；　there　came　a　gasping　breath　from　Mary；　for　she　saw　framed　in　the　faint　light　that　came　from　the　single　burner　in　the　corridor　the　slender　form　of　her　husband；　Dick　Gilder。　　In　the　next　instant　he　had　stepped　within　the　room　and　pulled　to　the　door　behind　him。　　And　in　that　same　instant　Chicago　Red　had　pounced　on　his　victim；　the　huge　hand　clapped　tight　over　the　young　man's　mouth。　　Even　as　his　powerful　arm　held　the　newcomer　in　an　inescapable　embrace；　there　came　a　sound　of　scuffling　feet　and　that　was　all。　　Finally　the　big　man's　voice　came　triumphantly。

〃I've　got　him。〃

〃It's　Dick！〃　The　cry　came　as　a　wail　of　despair　from　the　girl。

At　the　same　moment；　Garson　flashed　his　torch；　and　the　light　fell　swiftly　on　young　Gilder；　bowed　to　a　kneeling　posture　before　the　couch；　half…throttled　by　the　strength　of　Chicago　Red。　　Close　beside　him；　Mary　looked　down　in　wordless　despair　over　this　final　disaster　of　the　night。　　There　was　silence　among　the　men；　all　of　whom　save　the　captor　himself　were　gathered　near　the　fireplace。

Garson　retired　a　step　farther　before　he　spoke　his　command；　so　that；　though　he　held　the　torch　still；　he　like　the　others　was　in　shadow。　　Only　Mary　was　revealed　clearly　as　she　bent　in　alarm　toward　the　man　she　had　married。　　It　was　borne　in　on　the　forger's　consciousness　that　the　face　of　the　woman　leaning　over　the　intruder　was　stronger　to　hold　the　prisoner　and　to　prevent　any　outcry　than　the　might　of　Chicago　Red　himself；　and　so　he　gave　the　order。

〃Get　away；　Red。〃

The　fellow　let　go　his　grip　obediently　enough；　though　with　a　trifle　of　regret；　since　he　gloried　in　his　physical　prowess。

Thus　freed　of　that　strangling　embrace；　Dick　stumbled　blindly　to　his　feet。　　Then；　mechanically；　his　hand　went　to　the　lamp　on　the　table　back　of　the　couch。　　In　the　same　moment　Garson　snapped　his　torch　to　darkne