children of the whirlwind-第40章
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〃And all the while that Barney and my father and the police have thought you hiding some place in the West； you've been with the Sherwoods？〃
〃Yes。 And I've got to remain in hiding until something happens that will clear me。 If the police or Barney and his friends learn where I amyou can guess what will happen。〃
She nodded。
〃Hunt got me here；〃 he went on to explain。 〃I'm assisting in trying to get the Sherwood business affairs in better shape。 I might as well tell you； Maggie；〃 he added quietly； 〃that Dick Sherwood is my very good friend。〃
〃Dick Sherwood！〃 she breathed。
〃And I might as well tell you；〃 he went on； 〃that since that night at the Grantham when I heard his voice； I've known that Dick is the sucker you and Barney and Old Jimmie are trying to trim。〃
She half rose； and her voice sounded sharply： 〃Then you've got me caught in a trap！ You've told them about me？〃
〃No。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Not so loud； or we may attract attention；〃 he warned her。 〃I haven't told because you had your chance to give me away to Barney that night at the Grantham。 And you didn't give me away。〃
She sank slowly back to the bench。 〃Is that your only reason？〃
〃No；〃 he answered truthfully。 〃Exposing you would merely mean that you'd feel harder toward meand harder toward every one else。 I don't want that。〃
She pondered this a moment。 〃Thenyou're not going to tell？〃
He shook his head。 〃I don't expect to。 I want you to be free to decide what you're going to dothough I hope you'll decide not to go through with this thing you're doing。〃
She made no response。 Larry had spoken with control until now； but his next words burst from him。
〃Don't you see what a situation it's put me in； Maggietrying to play square with my friends； the Sherwoods； and trying to play square with you？〃
Again she did not answer。
〃Maggie； you're too good for what you're doingit's all a terrible mistake！〃 he cried passionately。 Then he remembered himself； and spoke with more composure。 〃Oh； I know there's not much use in talking to you nowwhile you feel as you do about yourselfand while you feel as you do about me。 But you know I love you； and want to marry you when〃 He halted。
〃When？〃 she prompted； almost involuntarily。
〃When you see things differentlyand when I can go around the world a free man； not a fugitive from Barney and his gunmen and the police。〃
Again Maggie was silent for a moment。 It was as if she were trying to press out of her mind what he had said about loving her。 Truly this was； indeed； different from their previous meetings。 Before； there had almost invariably been a defiant attitude； a dispute； a quarrel。 Now she had no desire to quarrel。
Finally she said with an effort to be that self…controlled person which she had established as her model：
〃You seem to have your chance here to put over what you boasted to me about。 You remember making good in a straight way。〃
〃Yes。 And I shall make goodif only they will let me alone。〃 He paused an instant。 〃But I have no illusions about the present；〃 he went on quietly。 〃I'm in quiet water for a time； I've got a period of safety； and I'm using this chance to put in some hard work。 But presently the police and Barney and the others will learn where I am。 Then I'll have all that fight over againonly the next time it'll be harder。〃
She was startled into a show of interest。 〃You think that's really going to happen？〃
〃It's bound to。 There's no escaping it。 If for no other reason； I myself won't be able to stand being penned up indefinitely。 Something will happen； I don't know what； which will pull me out into the open worldand then for me the deluge！〃
He made this prediction grimly。 He was not a fatalist； but it had been borne in upon him recently that this thing was inescapable。 As for him； when that time came； he was going to put up the best fight that was in him。
He caught the strained look which had come into Maggie's face； and it prompted him suddenly to lean toward her and say：
〃Maggie； do you still think I'm a stool and a squealer？〃
〃I〃
She broke off。 She had a surging impulse to go on and say something to Larry。 A great deal。 She was not conscious of what that great deal was。 She was conscious only of the impulse。 There was too great a turmoil within her； begotten by the strain of her visit on Miss Sherwood and these unexpected meetings； for any motive； impulse； or decision to emerge to even a brief supremacy。 And so； during this period when her brain would not operate； she let herself be swept on by the momentum of the forces which had previously determined her directionher pride； her self…confidence； her ambition； the alliance of fortune between her and Barney and Old Jimmie。
They were sitting in this silence when footsteps again sounded on the gravel； and a shadow blotted the arbor floor。
〃Excuse me； Larry；〃 said a man's voice。
〃Sure。 What is it； Joe？〃
Before her Maggie saw the tall； thin man in overalls； his removed broad…brimmed hat revealing his white hair； whom she had noticed a little earlier working among the flowers。 He held a bunch of the choicest pickings from the abundant rose gardens； their stems bound in maple leaves as temporary protection against their thorns。 He was gazing at Maggie； respectful； hungry admiration in his somber eyes。
〃I thought perhaps the young lady might care for these。〃 He held out the roses to her。 And then quickly； to forestall refusal： 〃I cut out more than we can use for the house。 And I'd like to have you have them。〃
〃Thank you；〃 and Maggie took the flowers。
For an instant their eyes held。 In every outward circumstance the event was a commonplacethis meeting of father and daughter； not knowing each other。 It was hardly more than a commonplace to Maggie： just a tall； white…haired gardener respectfully offering her roses。 And it was hardly more to Joe Ellison： just a tribute evoked by his hungry interest in every well…seeming girl of the approximate age of his daughter。
At the moment's end Joe Ellison had bowed and started back for his flower beds。 〃Who is that man？〃 asked Maggie； gazing after him。 〃I never saw such eyes。〃
〃We used to be pals in Sing Sing；〃 Larry replied。 He went on to give briefly some of the details of Joe Ellison's story； never dreaming how he and Maggie were entangled in that story； nor how they were to be involved in its untanglement。 Perhaps they were fortunate in this ignorance。 Within the boundaries of what they did know life already held enough of problems and complications。
Larry had just finished his condensed history when Dick Sherwood appeared and ordered them to the veranda for tea。 There were just the five of them； Miss Sherwood； Maggie； Hunt； Dick； and Larry。 Miss Sherwood was as gracious as before； and she seemingly took Maggie's strained manner and occasional confusions as further proof of her genuineness。 Dick beamed at the impression she was making upon his sister。
As for Maggie； she was living through the climax of that afternoon's strain。 And she dared not show it。 She forced herself to do her best acting； sipping her tea with a steady hand。 And what made her situation harder was that two of the party； Larry and Hunt； were treating her with the charmed deference they might accord a charming stranger； when a word from either of them might destroy the fragile edifice of her deception。
At last it was over； and all was ready for her to start back to town with Dick。 When Miss Sherwood kissed her and warmly begged her to come again soon； the very last of her control seemed to be slipping from herbut she held on。 Larry and Hunt she managed to say goodbye to in the manner of her new acquaintanceship。
〃Isn't she simply splendid！〃 exclaimed Miss Sherwood when Dick had stepped into the car and the two had started away。
Larry pretended not to have heard。 He felt precariously guilty toward this woman who had befriended him。 The next instant he had forgotten Miss Sherwood and his pulsing thoughts were all on Maggie in that speeding car。 She had been profoundly shaken by that afternoon's experience； this much he knew。 But what was going to be the real effect upon her of his carefully thought…out design？ Was it going to be such as to save her and Di
