children of the whirlwind-第16章
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brief sanctuary which the black river would afford him； to formulate the wisest procedure his predicament permitted him。
As he came near that smothered glow…worm of a street…lamp it assumed for him the betraying glare of a huge spot…light。 But it had to be passed to gain the skiff； and with collar turned up and hat…brim pulled down and head hunched low； he entered the dim sphere of betrayal； walked under its penny's…worth of flame； and glided toward the shadows beyond； his eyes straining with the preternatural keenness of the hunted at every stoop and doorway before him。
He was just passing out of the sphere of mist…lightthe lamp being now at his back helped himwhen he saw three vague figures lurking half a dozen paces ahead of him。 His brain registered these vague figures with the instantaneity of a snapshot camera at full noon。 They were mere shadows； but the farther of the three seemed to be Barney Palmerhe was not sure； but of the identity of the other two there was no doubt： 〃Little Mick〃 and 〃Lefty Ed；〃 both members high in the councils of the Ginger Bucks； and either of whose services as a killer could be purchased for a hundred dollars or a paper of cocaine； depending upon which at the moment there was felt the greater need。
In the very instant that he saw； Larry doubled about and ran at full speed back up the street。 Two shots rang out； Larry could not tell whether they were fired by Little Mick or Lefty Ed or Barney Palmer that is； if the third man really were Barney。 Again two shots were fired； then came the sound of pursuing feet。 Luckily not one of the bullets had touched Larry； for the New York professional gunman is the premier bad shot of all the world； and cannot count upon his marksmanship； unless he can get his weapon solidly anchored against his man； or can sneak around to the rear and pot his unsuspecting victim in the back。
As Larry neared the pawnshop with the intention of making his escape through the western stretch of the street； he saw that Old Isaac has switched on the lights； and he also saw Officer Gavegan bearing down in his direction。 They sighted each other in the same instant； and Gavegan let out a roar and started for him。
Caught between two opposing forces； Larry again had no time to plan。 Rather； there was nothing he could plan； for only one way was open to him。 He dashed into the pawnshop and into the back room。 At the Duchess's desk Hunt was scribbling at furious speed。
〃I'm caught； HuntGavegan's coming；〃 he gasped； and ran up the stairs； Hunt following and stuffing his scribblings into a pocket。 As Larry passed the open studio door he saw Casey sitting up。 〃Down on the floor with you； Casey！ Hunt； work over him to bring him toand stall Gavegan for a while if you can。〃
With that Larry sprang to a ladder at the end of the little hall； ran up it； unhooked and pushed up the trap； scrambled through upon the roof； and pushed the trap back into place。
Fortune； or rather the well…wishing wits of friends below； gave Larry a few precious moments more than he had counted on。 He was barely out on the rain…greased tin roof； with the trap down； when Gavegan came thumping up the stairs and into the studio。 At sight of the recumbent Casey； head limply on Hunt's knees； and his loose face being laved by a wet towel in Hunt's hands； Gavegan let out another roar：
〃Hell's bells！ What the hell's this mean？〃
〃I tried to nab Brainard；〃 Casey mumbled feebly； 〃and he knocked me out coldthe same as he did you； Gavegan。〃
〃Hell！〃 snorted Gavegan； his wrath increased by this reference。 〃You there〃to Hunt and the Duchess〃where'd Brainard go？ He's in this house some place！〃
〃I don't know；〃 said Hunt。
〃Yes； you do！ Leave that boob side…kick of mine sleep it off； and help me find Brainard or you'll feel my boot！〃
The big painter stood up facing the big detective and his left hand gripped the latter's wrist and his right closed upon the detective's throat just as it had closed upon the lean throat of Old Jimmie on the day of Larry's returnonly now there was nothing playful in the noose of that big hand。 He shook Gavegan as he might have shaken a pillow； with a thumb thrusting painfully in beneath Gavegan's ear。
〃I've done nothing； and that bully stuff doesn't go with me！〃 he fairly spat into Gavegan's face。 〃You talk to me like a gentleman and apologize； or I'll throw you out of the window and let your head bounce off one of its brother cobblestones below！〃
Gavegan choked out an apology； whereat Hunt flung him from him。 The detective； glowering at the other； pulled aside curtains； peered into corners； then made furious and fruitless search of the rooms below； bringing up at last at Maggie's door； which the Duchess had slipped ahead of him and locked。 When he demanded the key； the Duchess told him of Maggie's departure and her carrying the key with her。 It was a solid door； with strong lock and hinges； and two minutes of Gavegan's battering shoulders were required to make it yield entrance。 Not till he found the room empty did Gavegan think of the trap and the roof。
Larry made good use of these few extra minutes granted him。 Whatever he was to do he realized he must do it quickly。 Not for long would the forces arrayed against him be small in number； Gavegan； though beaten at the outset； would send out an alarm that would arouse the police of the cityand in their own degree the gangsters would do the same。 During his weeks of freedom Larry had unconsciously studied the layout of the neighborhood； his old instincts at work。 The subconscious knowledge thus gained was of instant value。 He hurried along the slippery roofs； taking care not to trip over the dividing walls； and came to the rear edge of a roof where he had marked a fire…escape with an unusually broad upper landing。 He could discern the faint outlines of this； and hanging to the gutter he dropped to the fire…escape； and a moment later he was down in the back yard； and yet two moments later he was over two fences and going through a rabbit's burrow of a passageway that went beneath a house into the street behind his own。
He did not pause to reconnoiter。 Time was of the essence of his safety； risks had to be taken。 He plunged out of his holearound the first corneraround the nextand thus wove in and out； working westward； till at last； on turning a corner into a lighted street； he saw possible relief in two stray taxicabs before a little East Side restaurant； one of which was just leaving。
〃Taxi！〃 he called breathlessly。
The chauffeur of the moving car swung back beside the curb and opened the door。 But even as he started to enter he saw Little Mick and Lefty Ed turn into the street behind him。 However； the brightness of this street ill…accorded with the anonymity with which their art is most safely and profitably practiced； so Larry got in without a bullet flicking at him。
〃Forty…Second Street and Broadway；〃 he called to the chauffeur as he closed the door。
The car started off。 Looking back through the little window he saw Lefty Ed enter the other taxicab； and saw Little Mick standing on the curb。 He understood。 Little Mick was to send out the alarm； while Lefty was to follow the trail。
Let Lefty follow。 At least Larry now had a few minutes to consider some plan which should look beyond the safety of the immediate moment。 He was well…dressed； albeit somewhat wet and soiled； he had money in his pockets。 What should he do？
Yes； what should he do？ The more he considered it the more ineluctable did his situation become。 By now Gavegan had sent out his alarm； within a few moments every policeman on duty would have instructions to watch for him。 He might escape for the time； at least； these allies of his one…time pals by going to a hotel and taking a room there； but to walk into a hotel would be to walk into arrest。 On the other hand； he might evade the police if he sought refuge in one of his old haunts； or perhaps with old Bronson； but then his angered pals knew of these haunts； and to enter one of them would be to offer himself freely to their vengeance。
There were other citiesbut then how was he to get to them？ He saw Manhattan for what it was to a man who was a fugitive from justice and injustice： an
