within the law- 第6部分

〃It　seems　to　me　that　I've　heard　something　of　the　sort　before；〃　was　Gilder's　caustic　comment。　　But　his　smile　was　still　wholly　sympathetic。　　He　took　a　curious　vicarious　delight　in　the　escapades　of　his　son；　probably　because　he　himself　had　committed　no　follies　in　his　callow　days。　　〃Why　didn't　you　cable　me？〃　　he　asked；　puzzled　at　such　restraint　on　the　part　of　his　son。

Dick　answered　with　simple　sincerity。

〃Because　it　gave　me　a　capital　excuse　for　coming　home。〃

It　was　Sarah　who　afforded　a　diversion。　　She　had　known　Dick　while　he　was　yet　a　child；　had　bought　him　candy；　had　felt　toward　him　a　maternal　liking　that　increased　rather　than　diminished　as　he　grew　to　manhood。　Now；　her　face　lighted　at　sight　of　him；　and　she　smiled　a　welcome。

〃I　see　you　have　found　him；〃　she　said；　with　a　ripple　of　laughter。

Dick　welcomed　this　interruption　of　the　graver　mood。

〃Sadie；〃　he　said；　with　a　manner　of　the　utmost　seriousness；　〃you　are　looking　finer　than　ever。　　And　how　thin　you　have　grown！〃　

The　girl；　eager　with　fond　fancies　toward　the　slender　ideal；　accepted　the　compliment　literally。

〃Oh；　Mr。　Dick！〃　she　exclaimed；　rapturously。　　〃How　much　do　you　think　I　have　lost？〃　

The　whimsical　heir　of　the　house　of　Gilder　surveyed　his　victim　critically；　then　spoke　with　judicial　solemnity。

〃About　two　ounces；　Sadie。〃

There　came　a　look　of　deep　hurt　on　Sadie's　face　at　the　flippant　jest；　which　Dick　himself　was　quick　to　note。

He　had　not　guessed　she　was　thus　acutely　sensitive　concerning　her　plumpness。　　Instantly；　he　was　all　contrition　over　his　unwitting　offense　inflicted　on　her　womanly　vanity。

〃Oh；　I'm　sorry；　Sadie；〃　he　exclaimed　penitently。　〃Please　don't　be　really　angry　with　me。　　Of　course；　I　didn't　mean〃

〃To　twit　on　facts！〃　the　secretary　interrupted；　bitterly。

〃Pooh！〃　Dick　cried；　craftily。　　〃You　aren't　plump　enough　to　be　sensitive　about　it。　　Why；　you're　just　right。〃　　There　was　something　very　boyish　about　his　manner；　as　he　caught　at　the　girl's　arm。　　A　memory　of　the　days　when　she　had　cuddled　him　caused　him　to　speak　warmly；　forgetting　the　presence　of　his　father。　　〃Now；　don't　be　angry；　Sadie。　　Just　give　me　a　little　kiss；　as　you　used　to　do。〃　　He　swept　her　into　his　arms；　and　his　lips　met　hers　in　a　hearty　caress。　　〃There！〃　he　cried。　　〃Just　to　show　there's　no　ill　feeling。〃

The　girl　was　completely　mollified；　though　in　much　embarrassment。

〃Why；　Mr。　Dick！〃　she　stammered；　in　confusion。　〃Why；　Mr。　Dick！〃　

Gilder；　who　had　watched　the　scene　in　great　astonishment；　now　interposed　to　end　it。

〃Stop；　Dick！〃　he　commanded；　crisply。　　〃You　are　actually　making　Sarah　blush。　　I　think　that's　about　enough；　son。〃

But　a　sudden　unaccustomed　gust　of　affection　swirled　in　the　breast　of　the　lad。　　Plain　Anglo…Saxon　as　he　was；　with　all　that　implies　as　to　the　avoidance　of　displays　of　emotion；　nevertheless　he　had　been　for　a　long　time　in　lands　far　from　home；　where　the　habits　of　impulsive　and　affectionate　peoples　were　radically　unlike　our　own　austerer　forms。　　So　now；　under　the　spur　of　an　impulse　suggested　by　the　dalliance　with　the　buxom　secretary；　he　grinned　widely　and　went　to　his　father。

〃A　little　kiss　never　hurts　any　one；〃　he　declared；　blithely。　Then　he　added　vivaciously：　〃Here；　I'll　show　you！〃　

With　the　words；　he　clasped　his　arms　around　his　father's　neck；　and；　before　that　amazed　gentleman　could　understand　his　purpose；　he　had　kissed　soundly　first　the　one　cheek　and　then　the　other；　each　with　a　hearty；　wholesome　smack　of　filial　piety。　　This　done；　he　stood　back；　still　beaming　happily；　while　the　astounded　Sarah　tittered　bewilderedly。　　For　his　own　part；　Dick　was　quite　unashamed。　　He　loved　his　father。　　For　once；　he　had　expressed　that　fondness　in　a　primitive　fashion；　and　he　was　glad。

The　older　man　withdrew　a　step；　and　there　rested　motionless；　under　the　sway　of　an　emotion　akin　to　dismay。　He　stood　staring　intently　at　his　son　with　a　perplexity　in　his　expression　that　was　almost　ludicrous。　　When；　at　last；　he　spoke；　his　voice　was　a　rumble　of　strangely　shy　pleasure。

〃God　bless　my　soul！〃　he　exclaimed；　violently。　　Then　he　raised　a　hand；　and　rubbed　first　one　cheek；　and　after　it　its　fellow；　with　a　gentleness　that　was　significant。　　The　feeling　provoked　by　the　embrace　showed　plainly　in　his　next　words。　　〃Why；　that's　the　first　time　you　have　kissed　me；　Dick；　since　you　were　a　little　boy。　　God　bless　my　soul！〃　he　repeated。　　And　now　there　was　a　note　of　jubilation。

The　son；　somewhat　disturbed　by　this　emotion　he　had　aroused；　nevertheless　answered　frankly　with　the　expression　of　his　own　feeling；　as　he　advanced　and　laid　a　hand　on　his　father's　shoulder。

〃The　fact　is；　Dad；〃　he　said　quietly；　with　a　smile　that　was　good　to　see；　〃I　am　awfully　glad　to　see　you　again。〃

〃Are　you；　son？〃　　the　father　cried　happily。　　Then；　abruptly　his　manner　changed；　for　he　felt　himself　perilously　close　to　the　maudlin　in　this　new　yielding　to　sentimentality。　Such　kisses　of　tenderness；　however　agreeable　in　themselves；　were　hardly　fitting　to　one　of　his　dignity。　〃You　clear　out　of　here；　boy；〃　he　commanded；　brusquely。　〃I'm　a　working　man。　　But　here；　wait　a　minute；〃　he　added。　　He　brought　forth　from　a　pocket　a　neat　sheaf　of　banknotes；　which　he　held　out。　　〃There's　carfare　for　you；〃　he　said　with　a　chuckle。　　〃And　now　clear　out。　　I'll　see　you　at　dinner。〃

Dick　bestowed　the　money　in　his　pocket；　and　again　turned　toward　the　door。

〃You　can　always　get　rid　of　me　on　the　same　terms；〃　he　remarked　slyly。　　And　then　the　young　man　gave　evidence　that　he；　too；　had　some　of　his　father's　ability　in　things　financial。　　For；　in　the　doorway　he　turned　with　a　final　speech；　which　was　uttered　in　splendid　disregard　for　the　packet　of　money　he　had　just　receivedperhaps；　rather；　in　a　splendid　regard　for　it。　　〃Oh；　Dad；　please　don't　forget　to　give　Sadie　that　five　dollars　I　borrowed　from　her　for　the　taxi'。〃　　And　with　that　impertinent　reminder　he　was　gone。

The　owner　of　the　store　returned　to　his　labors　with　a　new　zest；　for　the　meeting　with　his　son　had　put　him　in　high　spirits。　　Perhaps　it　might　have　been　better　for　Mary　Turner　had　she　come　to　him　just　then；　while　he　was　yet　in　this　softened　mood。　　But　fate　had　ordained　that　other　events　should　restore　him　to　his　usual　harder　self　before　their　interview。　　The　effect　was；　indeed；　presently　accomplished　by　the　advent　of　Smithson　into　the　office。　　He　entered　with　an　expression　of　discomfiture　on　his　rather　vacuous　countenance。　　He　walked　almost　nimbly　to　the　desk　and　spoke　with　evident　distress；　as　his　employer　looked　up　interrogatively。

〃McCracken　has　detainederalady；　sir；〃　he　said；　feebly。　　〃She　has　been　searched；　and　we　have　found　about　a　hundred　dollars　worth　of　laces　on　her。〃

〃Well？〃　　Gilder　demanded；　impatiently。　　Such　affairs　were　too　common　in　the　store　to　make　necessary　this　intrusion　of　the　matter　on　him。　　〃Why　did　you　come　to　me　about　it？〃　　His　staff　knew　just　what　to　do　with　shoplifters。

At　once；　Smithson　became　apologetic；　while　refusing　to　retreat。

〃I'm　very　sorry；　sir；〃　he　said　haltingly；　〃but　I　thought　it　wiser；　sir；　toerto　bring　the　matter　to　your　personal　attention。〃

〃Quite　unnecessary；　Smithson；〃　Gilder　returned；　with　asperity。　　〃You　know　my　views　on　the　subject　of　property。　Tell　McCracken　to　have　the　thief　arrested。〃

Smithson　cleared　his　throat　doubtfully；　and　in　his　stress　of　feeling　he　even　relaxed　a　trifle　that　majestical　erectness　of　carriage　that　had　made　him　so　valuable　as　a　floor…walker。

〃She's　not　exactly　aera　thief；〃　he　ventured。

〃You　are　trifling；　Smithson；〃　the　owner　of　the　store　exclaimed；　in　high　exasperation。　　〃Not　a　thief！　And　you　caught　her　with　a　hundred　dollars　worth　of　laces　that　she　hadn't　bought。　　Not　a　thief！　What　in　heaven's　name　do　you　call　her；　then？〃　

〃A　kleptomaniac；〃　Smithson　explained；　retaining　his　manner　of　mild　insistence。　　〃You　see；　sir；　it's　this　way。　The　lady　happens　to　be　the　wife　of　J。　W。　Gaskell；　the　banker；　you　know。〃

Yes；　Gilder　did　know。　　The　mention　of　the　name　was　like　a　spell　in　the　effect　it　wrought　on　the　attitude　of　the　irritated　owner　of　the　store。　　Instantly；　his　expression　changed。　　While　before　his　features　had　been　set　grimly；　while　his　eyes　had　flashed　wrathfully；　there　was　now　only　annoyance　over　an　event　markedly　unfortunate。

〃How　extremely　awkward！〃　he　cried；　and　there　was　a　very　real　concern　in　his　voice。　　He　regarded　Smithson　kindly；　whereat　that　rather　puling　gentleman　once　again　assumed　his　martial　bearing。　　〃You　were　quite　right　in　coming　to　me。〃　　For　a　moment　he　was　silent；　plunged　in　thought。　　Finally　he　spoke　with　the　decisiveness　characteristic　of　him。　　〃Of　course；　there's　nothing　we　can　do。　　Just　put　the　stuff　back　on　the　counter；　and　let　her　go。〃

But　Smithson　had　not　yet　wholly　unburdened　himself。　Instead　of　immediately　leaving　the　room　in　pursuance　of　the　succinct　instructions　given　him；　he　again　cleared　his　throat　nervously；　and　made　known　a　further　aggravating　factor　in　the　situation。

〃She's　very　angry；　Mr。　Gilder；〃　he　announced；　timidly。　〃Sheershe　demands　aneran　apology。〃

The　owner　of　the　store　half…rose　from　his　chair；　then　threw　himself　back　with　an　exclamation　of　disgust。　　He　again　ejaculated　the　words　with　which　he　had　greeted　his　son's　unexpected　kisses；　but　now　there　was　a　vast　difference　in　the　intonation。

〃God　bless　my　soul！〃　he　cried。　　From　his　expression；　it　was　clear　that　a　pious　aspiration　was　farthest　from　his　thought。　　On　the　contrary！　Again；　he　fell　silent；　considering　the　situation　which　Smithson　had　presented；　and；　as　he　reflected；　his　frown　betrayed　the　emotion　natural　enough　under　the　circumstances。　　At　last；　however；　he　mastered　his　irritation　to　some　degree；　and　spoke　his　command　briefly。　　〃Well；　Smithson；　apologize　to　her。　It　can't　be　helped。〃　　Then　his　face　lighted　with　a　sardonic　amusement。　　〃And；　Smithson；〃　he　went　on　with　a　sort　of　elephantine　playfulness；　〃I　shall　take　it　as　a　personal　favor　if　you　will　tactfully　advise　the　lady　that　the　goods　at　Altman　and　Stern's　are　really　even　finer　than　ours。〃

When　Smithson　had　left　the　office；　Gilder　turned　to　his　secretary。

〃Take　this；〃　he　directed；　and　he　forthwith　dictated　the　following　letter　to　the　husband　of　the　lady　who　was　not　a　thief；　as　Smithson　had　so　painstakingly　pointed　out：

〃J。　W。　GASKELL；　ESQ。；　　　　　　　　　　　〃Central　National　Bank；　New　York。

〃MY　DEAR　Mr。　GASKELL：　I　feel　that　I　should　be　doi