within the law- 第34部分

〃I　never　saw　a　mankilled　before！〃　she　said　again。　There　was　a　note　of　half…hysterical；　almost　childish　complaint　in　her　voice。　　She　moved　her　head　a　little；　as　if　to　look　into　the　shadows　where　*IT　lay；　then　checked　herself　violently；　and　looked　up　at　her　husband　with　the　pathetic　simplicity　of　terror。

〃You　know；　Dick；〃　she　repeated　dully；　〃I　never　saw　a　man　killed　before。〃

Before　he　could　utter　the　soothing　words　that　rose　to　his　lips；　Dick　was　interrupted　by　a　slight　sound　at　the　door。　　Instantly；　he　was　all　alert　to　meet　the　exigencies　of　the　situation。　　He　stood　by　the　couch；　bending　forward　a　little；　as　if　in　a　posture　of　intimate　fondness。　Then；　with　a　new　thought；　he　got　out　his　cigarette…case　and　lighted　a　cigarette；　after　which　he　resumed　his　former　leaning　over　the　woman　as　would　the　ardent　lover。　　He　heard　the　noise　again　presently；　now　so　near　that　he　made　sure　of　being　overheard；　so　at　once　he　spoke　with　a　forced　cheerfulness　in　his　inflection。

〃I　tell　you；　Mary；〃　he　declared；　〃everything's　going　to　be　all　right　for　you　and　me。　　It　was　bully　of　you　to　come　here　to　me　like　this。〃

The　girl　made　no　response。　　She　lived　still　in　the　nightmare　of　murderthat　nightmare　wherein　she　had　seen　Griggs　fall　dead　to　the　floor。

Dick；　in　nervous　apprehension　as　to　the　issue；　sought　to　bring　her　to　realization　of　the　new　need　that　had　come　upon　them。

〃Talk　to　me；〃　he　commanded；　very　softly。　　〃They'll　be　here　in　a　minute。　　When　they　come　in；　pretend　you　just　came　here　in　order　to　meet　me。　　Try；　Mary。　　You　must；　dearest！〃　Then；　again；　his　voice　rose　to　loudness；　as　he　continued。　　〃Why；　I've　been　trying　all　day　to　see　you。　　And；　now；　here　we　are　together；　just　as　I　was　beginning　to　get　really　discouraged。。。。　I　know　my　father　will　eventually〃

He　was　interrupted　by　the　swift　swinging　open　of　the　hallway　door。　　Burke　stood　just　within　the　library；　a　revolver　pointed　menacingly。

〃Hands　up！all　of　you！〃　The　Inspector's　voice　fairly　roared　the　command。

The　belligerent　expression　of　his　face　vanished　abruptly；　as　his　eyes　fell　on　Dick　standing　by　the　couch　and　Mary　reclining　there　in　limp　helplessness。　　His　surprise　would　have　been　ludicrous　but　for　the　seriousness　of　the　situation　to　all　concerned。　　Burke's　glance　roved　the　room　sharply；　and　he　was　quickly　convinced　that　these　two　were　in　fact　the　only　present　spoil　of　his　careful　plotting。　His　face　set　grimly；　for　the　disappointment　of　this　minute　surged　fiercely　within　him。　　He　started　to　speak；　his　eyes　lowering　as　he　regarded　the　two　before　him。

But　Dick　forestalled　him。　　He　spoke　in　a　voice　coldly　repellent。

〃What　are　you　doing　in　this　house　at　this　time　of　night？〃　　he　demanded。　　His　manner　was　one　of　stern　disapproval。　　〃I　recognize　you；　Inspector　Burke。　　But　you　must　understand　that　there　are　limits　even　to　what　you　can　do。　　It　seems　to　me；　sir；　that　you　exceed　your　authority　by　such　an　intrusion　as　this。〃

Burke；　however；　was　not　a　whit　dismayed　by　the　rebuke　and　the　air　of　rather　contemptuous　disdain　with　which　it　was　uttered。　　He　waved　his　revolver　toward　Mary；　merely　as　a　gesture　of　inquisitiveness；　without　any　threat。

〃What's　she　doing　here？〃　　he　asked。　　There　was　wrath　in　his　rough　voice；　for　he　could　not　avoid　the　surmise　that　his　shrewdly　concocted　scheme　to　entrap　this　woman　had　somehow　been　set　awry。　　〃What's　she　doing　here；　I　say？〃　　he　repeated　heavily。　　His　keen　eyes　were　darting　once　more　about　the　room；　questing　some　clue　to　this　disturbing　mystery；　so　hateful　to　his　pride。

Dick's　manner　became　that　of　the　devoted　husband　offended　by　impertinent　obtrusion。

〃You　forget　yourself；　Inspector；〃　he　said；　icily。　　〃This　is　my　wife。　　She　has　the　right　to　be　with　meher　husband！〃　

The　Inspector　grinned　sceptically。　　He　was　moved　no　more　effectively　by　Mary's　almost　hysterical　effort　to　respond　to　her　husband's　leading。

〃Why　shouldn't　I　be　here？　　Why？　　Why？　　I〃

Burke　broke　in　on　the　girl's　pitiful　histrionics　ruthlessly。　　He　was　not　in　the　least　deceived。　　He　was　aware　that　something　untoward；　as　he　deemed　it；　had　occurred。　　It　seemed　to　him；　in　fact；　that　his　finical　mechanisms　for　the　undoing　of　Mary　Turner　were　in　a　fair　way　to　be　thwarted。　　But　he　would　not　give　up　the　cause　without　a　struggle。　　Again；　he　addressed　himself　to　Dick；　disregarding　completely　the　aloof　manner　of　the　young　man。

〃Where's　your　father？〃　　he　questioned　roughly。

〃In　bed；　naturally；〃　was　the　answer。　　〃I　ask　you　again：　What　are　you　doing　here　at　this　time　of　night？〃　

Burke　shook　his　shoulders　ponderously　in　a　movement　of　impatience　over　this　prolonging　of　the　farce。

〃Oh；　call　your　father；〃　he　directed　disgustedly。

Dick　remonstrated　with　an　excellent　show　of　dignity。

〃It's　late；〃　he　objected。　　〃I'd　rather　not　disturb　him；　if　you　don't　mind。　　Really；　the　idea　is　absurd；　you　know。〃　　Suddenly；　he　smiled　very　winningly；　and　spoke　with　a　good　assumption　of　ingenuousness。

〃Inspector；〃　he　said　briskly；　〃I　see；　I'll　have　to　tell　you　the　truth。　　It's　this：　I've　persuaded　my　wife　to　go　away　with　me。　　She's　going　to　give　all　that　other　sort　of　thing　up。　　Yes；　we're　going　away　together。〃　　There　was　genuine　triumph　in　his　voice　now。　　〃So；　you　see；　we've　got　to　talk　it　over。　　Now；　then；　Inspector；　if　you'll　come　back　in　the　morning〃

The　official　grinned　sardonically。　　He　could　not　in　the　least　guess　just　what　had　in　very　deed　happened；　but　he　was　far　too　clever　a　man　to　be　bamboozled　by　Dick's　maunderings。

〃Oh；　that's　it！〃　he　exclaimed；　with　obvious　incredulity。

〃Of　course；〃　Dick　replied　bravely；　though　he　knew　that　the　Inspector　disbelieved　his　pretenses。　　Still；　for　his　own　part；　he　was　inclined　as　yet　to　be　angry　rather　than　alarmed　by　this　failure　to　impress　the　officer。　　〃You　see；　I　didn't　know〃

And　even　in　the　moment　of　his　saying；　the　white　beam　of　the　flashing　searchlight　from　the　Tower　fell　between　the　undrawn　draperies　of　the　octagonal　window。　　The　light　startled　the　Inspector　again；　as　it　had　done　once　before　that　same　night。　　His　gaze　followed　it　instinctively。　So；　within　the　second；　he　saw　the　still　form　lying　there　on　the　floorlying　where　had　been　shadows；　where　now；　for　the　passing　of　an　instant；　was　brilliant　radiance。

There　was　no　mistaking　that　awful；　motionless；　crumpled　posture。　　The　Inspector　knew　in　this　single　instant　of　view　that　murder　had　been　done　here。　　Even　as　the　beam　of　light　from　the　Tower　shifted　and　vanished　from　the　room；　he　leaped　to　the　switch　by　the　door；　and　turned　on　the　lights　of　the　chandelier。　　In　the　next　moment；　he　had　reached　the　door　of　the　passage　across　the　room；　and　his　whistle　sounded　shrill。　His　voice　bellowed　reinforcement　to　the　blast。

〃Cassidy！　Cassidy！〃　

As　Dick　made　a　step　toward　his　wife；　from　whom　he　had　withdrawn　a　little　in　his　colloquy　with　the　official；　Burke　voiced　his　command　viciously：

〃Stay　where　you　areboth　of　you！〃　

Cassidy　came　rushing　in；　with　the　other　detectives。　He　was　plainly　surprised　to　find　the　room　so　nearly　empty；　where　he　had　expected　to　behold　a　gang　of　robbers。

〃Why；　what's　it　all　mean；　Chief？〃　　he　questioned。　His　peering　eyes　fell　on　Dick；　standing　beside　Mary；　and　they　rounded　in　amazement。

〃They've　got　Griggs！〃　Burke　answered。　　There　was　exceeding　rage　in　his　voice；　as　he　spoke　from　his　kneeling　posture　beside　the　body；　to　which　he　had　hurried　after　the　summons　to　his　aides。　　He　glowered　up　into　the　bewildered　face　of　the　detective。　　〃I'll　break　you　for　this；　Cassidy；〃　he　declared　fiercely。　　〃Why　didn't　you　get　here　on　the　run　when　you　heard　the　shot？〃　

〃But　there　wasn't　any　shot；〃　the　perplexed　and　alarmed　detective　expostulated。　　He　fairly　stuttered　in　the　earnestness　of　his　self…defense。　　〃I　tell　you；　Chief；　there　hasn't　been　a　sound。〃

Burke　rose　to　his　feet。　　His　heavy　face　was　set　in　its　sternest　mold。

〃You　could　drive　a　hearse　through　the　hole　they've　made　in　him；〃　he　rumbled。　　He　wheeled　on　Mary　and　Dick。　　〃So！〃　he　shouted；　〃now　it's　murder！。。。　Well；　hand　it　over。　　Where's　the　gun？〃　

Followed　a　moment's　pause。　　Then　the　Inspector　spoke　harshly　to　Cassidy。　　He　still　felt　himself　somewhat　dazed　by　this　extraordinary　event；　but　he　was　able　to　cope　with　the　situation。　　He　nodded　toward　Dick　as　he　gave　his　order：　〃Search　him！〃　

Before　the　detective　could　obey　the　direction；　Dick　took　the　revolver　from　his　pocket　where　he　had　bestowed　it；　and　held　it　out。

And　it　so　chanced　that　at　this　incriminating　crisis　for　the　son；　the　father　hastily　strode　within　the　library。　　He　had　been　aroused　by　the　Inspector's　shouting；　and　was　evidently　greatly　perturbed。　　His　usual　dignified　air　was　marred　by　a　patent　alarm。

〃What's　all　this？〃　　he　exclaimed；　as　he　halted　and　stared　doubtfully　on　the　scene　before　him。

Burke；　in　a　moment　like　this；　was　no　respecter　of　persons；　for　all　his　judicious　attentions　on　other　occasions　to　those　whose　influence　might　serve　him　well　for　benefits　received。

〃You　can　see　for　yourself；〃　he　said　grimly　to　the　dumfounded　magnate。　　Then；　he　fixed　sinister　eyes　on　the　son。　　〃So；〃　he　went　on；　with　somber　menace　in　his　voice；　〃you　did　it；　young　man。〃　　He　nodded　toward　the　detective。　　〃Well；　Cassidy；　you　can　take　'em　both　down…town。。。。　That's　all。〃

The　command　aroused　Dick　to　remonstrance　against　such　indignity　toward　the　woman　whom　he　loved。

〃Not　her！〃　he　cried；　imploringly。　　〃You　don't　want　her；　Inspector！　This　is　all　wrong！〃　

Now；　at　last；　Mary　interposed　with　a　new　spirit。　　She　had　regained；　in　some　measure　at　least；　her　poise。　　She　was　speaking　again　with　that　mental　clarity　which　was　distinctive　in　her。

〃Dick；〃　she　advised　quietly；　but　with　underlying　urgency　in　her　gently　spoken　words；　〃don't　talk；　please。〃

Burke　laughed　harshly。

〃What　do　you　expect？〃　　he　inquired　truculently。　　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　the　thing's　simple　enough；　young　man。　Either　you　killed　Griggs；　or　she　did。〃

The　Inspector；　with　his　charge；　made　a　careless　gesture　toward　the　corpse　of　the　murdered　stool…pigeon。　For　the　first　time；　Edward　Gilder；　as　his　glance　unconsciously　followed　the　officer's　movement；　looked　and　saw　the　ghastly　inanimate　heap　of　flesh　and　bone　that　had　once　been　a　man。　　He　fairly　reeled　at　the　gruesome　spectacle；　then　fumbled　with　an　outstretched　hand　as　he　moved　stumblingly　until　he　laid　hold　on　a