the dwelling place of ligh-第59章
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its hills； instead of thrilling her； as yesterday； with a sense of
dignity and power； of opportunity and emancipation； seemed a labyrinth
with many warrens where vice and crime and sorrow could hide。 In front
of the station the traffic was already crushing the snow into filth。
They passed the spot where； the night before； the carriage had stopped；
where Ditmar had bidden her good…bye。 Something stirred within her；
became a shooting pain。。。。 She asked Mr。 Tiernan what he intended to do。
〃I'm going right after the man； if he's here in the city；〃 he told her。
And they boarded a street car； which almost immediately shot into the
darkness of the subway。 Emerging at Scollay Square； and walking a few
blocks； they came to a window where guns； revolvers； and fishing tackle
were displayed； and on which was painted the name； 〃Timothy Mulally。〃
Mr。 Tiernan entered。
〃Is Tim in？〃 he inquired of one of the clerks； who nodded his head
towards the rear of the store； where a middle…aged； grey…haired Irishman
was seated at a desk under a drop light。
〃Is it you； Johnny？〃 he exclaimed； looking up。
〃It's meself；〃 said Mr。 Tiernan。 〃And this is Miss Bumpus； a young lady
friend of mine from Hampton。〃
Mr。 Mulally rose and bowed。
〃How do ye do； ma'am；〃 he said。
〃I've got a little business to do for her；〃 Mr。 Tiernan continued。 〃I
thought you might offer her a chair and let her stay here； quiet； while I
was gone。〃
〃With pleasure； ma'am；〃 Mr。 Mulally replied； pulling forward a chair with
alacrity。 〃Just sit there comfortableno one will disturb ye。〃
When； in the course of half an hour； Mr。 Tiernan returned； there was a
grim yet triumphant look in his little blue eyes； but it was not until
Janet had thanked Mr。 Mulally for his hospitality and they had reached
the sidewalk that he announced the result of his quest。
〃Well； I caught him。 It's lucky we came when we didhe was just going
out on the road again； up to Maine。 I know where Miss Lise is。〃
〃He told you！〃 exclaimed Janet。
〃He told me indeed； but it wasn't any joy to him。 He was all for
bluffing at first。 It's easy to scare the likes of him。 He was as white
as his collar before I was done with him。 He knows who I am； all right
he's heard of me in Hampton；〃 Mr。 Tiernan added； with a pardonable touch
of pride。
〃What did you say？〃 inquired Janet； curiously。
〃Say？〃 repeated Mr。 Tiernan。 〃It's not much I had to say； Miss Janet。 I
was all ready to go to Mr。 Gillmount； his boss。 I'm guessing he won't
take much pleasure on this trip。〃
She asked for no more details。
CHAPTER XIII
Once more Janet and Mr。 Tiernan descended into the subway； taking a car
going to the south and west； which finally came out of the tunnel into a
broad avenue lined with shabby shops； hotels and saloons； and long rows
of boardingand rooming…houses。 They alighted at a certain corner；
walked a little way along a street unkempt and dreary； Mr。 Tiernan
scrutinizing the numbers until he paused in front of a house with a
basement kitchen and snow…covered； sandstone steps。 Climbing these； he
pulled the bell； and they stood waiting in the twilight of a half…closed
vestibule until presently shuffling steps were heard within； the door was
cautiously opened； not more than a foot； but enough to reveal a woman in
a loose wrapper； with an untidy mass of bleached hair and a puffy face
like a fungus grown in darkness。
〃I want to see Miss Lise Bumpus；〃 Mr。 Tiernan demanded。
〃You've got the wrong place。 There ain't no one of that name here；〃 said
the woman。
〃There ain't！ All right；〃 he insisted aggressively； pushing open the
door in spite of her。 〃If you don't let this young lady see her quick；
there's trouble coming to you。〃
〃Who are you？〃 asked the woman； impudently； yet showing signs of fear。
〃Never mind who I am；〃 Mr。 Tiernan declared。 〃I know all about you； and
I know all about Duval。 If you don't want any trouble you won't make
any； and you'll take this young lady to her sister。 I'll wait here for
you； Miss Janet；〃 he added。
〃I don't know nothing about hershe rented my room that's all I know；〃
the woman replied sullenly。 〃If you mean that couple that came here
yesterday〃
She turned and led the way upstairs； mounting slowly； and Janet followed；
nauseated and almost overcome by the foul odours of dead cigarette smoke
which； mingling with the smell of cooking cabbage rising from below；
seemed the very essence and reek of hitherto unimagined evil。 A terror
seized her such as she had never known before； an almost overwhelming
impulse to turn and regain the air and sunlight of the day。 In the dark
hallway of the second story the woman knocked at the door of a front
room。
〃She's in there； unless she's gone out。〃 And indeed a voice was heard
petulantly demanding what was wantedLise's voice！ Janet hesitated； her
hand on the knob； her body fallen against the panels。 Then； as she
pushed open the door； the smell of cigarette smoke grew stronger； and she
found herself in a large bedroom； the details of which were instantly
photographed on her mindthe dingy claret…red walls； the crayon over the
mantel of a buxom lady in a decollete costume of the '90's； the outspread
fan concealing the fireplace； the soiled lace curtains。 The bed was
unmade； and on the table beside two empty beer bottles and glasses and
the remains of a box of candysuggestive of a Sunday purchase at a drug
storeshe recognized Lise's vanity case。 The effect of all this；
integrated at a glance； was a paralyzing horror。 Janet could not speak。
She remained gazing at Lise； who paid no attention to her entrance； but
stood with her back turned before an old…fashioned bureau with a marble
top and raised sides。 She was dressed； and engaged in adjusting her hat。
It was not until Janet pronounced her name that she turned swiftly。
〃You！〃 she exclaimed。 〃What thewhat brought you here？〃
〃Oh； Lise！〃 Janet repeated。
〃How did you get here？〃 Lise demanded； coming toward her。 〃Who told you
where I was？ What business have you got sleuthing 'round after me like
this？〃
For a moment Janet was speechless once more； astounded that Lise could
preserve her effrontery in such an atmosphere； could be insensible to the
evils lurking in this houseevils so real to Janet that she seemed
actually to feel them brushing against her。
〃Lise； come away from here；〃 she pleaded； 〃come home with me！〃
〃Home！〃 said Lise； defiantly； and laughed。 〃What do you take me for？
Why would I be going home when I've been trying to break away for two
years？ I ain't so dippy as thatnot me！ Go home like a good little
girl and march back to the Bagatelle and ask 'em to give me another show
standing behind a counter all day。 Nix！ No home sweet home for me！ I'm
all for easy street when it comes to a home like that。〃
Heartless； terrific as the repudiation was； it struck a self…convicting；
almost sympathetic note in Janet。 She herself had revolted against the
monotony and sordidness of that existence She herself ！ She dared not
complete the thought； now。
〃But this！〃 she exclaimed。
〃What's the matter with it？〃 Lise demanded。 〃It ain't Commonwealth
Avenue； but it's got Fillmore Street beat a mile。 There ain't no
whistles hereto get you out of bed at six a。m。； for one thing。 There
ain't no geezers； like Walters； to nag you 'round all day long。 What's
the matter with it？〃
Something in Lise's voice roused Janet's spirit to battle。
〃What's the matter with it？〃 she cried。 〃It's hellthat's the matter
with it。 Can't you see it？ Can't you feel it？ You don't know what it
means； or you'd come home with me。〃
〃I guess I know what it means as well as you do；〃 said Lise； sullenly。
〃We've all got to croak sometime； and I'd rather croak this way than be
smothered up in Hampton。 I'll get a run for my money； anyway。〃
〃No； you don't know what it means；〃 Janet repeated； 〃or you wouldn't talk
like that。 Do you think this man will support you； stick to you？ He
won't； he'll desert you； and you'll have to go on the streets。〃
A dangerous light grew in Lise's eyes。
〃He's as good as any other man； he's as good as Ditmar；〃 she
