within the law-第38章

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or　of　the　passage　and　propped　it　against　the　panel　in　such　wise　that　its　fall　must　give　warning　as　to　the　opening　of　the　door。　　His　every　action　was　performed　with　the　maximum　of　speed；　with　no　least　trace　of　flurry　or　of　nervous　haste。　　It　was　evident　that　he　followed　a　definite　program；　the　fruit　of　precise　thought　guided　by　experience。

It　seemed　to　him　that　now　everything　was　in　readiness　for　the　coming　of　his　associates　in　the　commission　of　the　crime。　　There　remained　only　to　give　them　the　signal　in　the　room　around　the　corner　where　they　waited　at　a　telephone。　　He　seated　himself　in　Gilder's　chair　at　the　desk；　and　drew　the　telephone　to　him。

〃Give　me　999　Bryant；〃　he　said。　　His　tone　was　hardly　louder　than　a　whisper；　but　spoken　with　great　distinctness。

There　was　a　little　wait。　　Then　an　answer　in　a　voice　he　knew　came　over　the　wire。

But　Garson　said　nothing　more。　　Instead；　he　picked　up　a　penholder　from　the　tray　on　the　desk；　and　began　tapping　lightly　on　the　rim　of　the　transmitter。　　It　was　a　code　message　in　Morse。　　In　the　room　around　the　corner；　the　tapping　sounded　clearly；　ticking　out　the　message　that　the　way　was　free　for　the　thieves'　coming。

When　Garson　had　made　an　end　of　the　telegraphing；　there　came　a　brief　answer　in　like　Morse；　to　which　he　returned　a　short　direction。

For　a　final　safeguard；　Garson　searched　for　and　found　the　telephone　bell…box　on　the　surbase　below　the　octagonal　window。　　It　was　the　work　of　only　a　few　seconds　to　unscrew　the　bells；　which　he　placed　on　the　desk。　　So　simply　he　made　provision　against　any　alarm　from　this　　source。　　He　then　took　his　pistol　from　his　hip…pocket；　examined　it　to　make　sure　that　the　silencer　was　properly　adjusted；　and　then　thrust　it　into　the　right　side…pocket　of　his　coat；　ready　for　instant　use　in　desperate　emergency。　Once　again；　now；　he　produced　the　electric　torch；　and　lighted　it　as　he　extinguished　the　lamp　on　the　table。

Forthwith；　Garson　went　to　the　door　into　the　hall；　opened　it；　and；　leaving　it　ajar；　made　his　way　in　silence　to　the　outer　doorway。　　Presently；　the　doors　there　were　freed　of　their　bolts　under　his　skilled　fingers；　and　one　of　them　swung　wide。　　He　had　put　out　the　torch　now；　lest　its　gleam　might　catch　the　gaze　of　some　casual　passer…by。　So　nicely　had　the　affair　been　timed　that　hardly　was　the　door　open　before　the　three　men　slipped　in；　and　stood　mute　and　motionless　in　the　hall；　while　Garson　refastened　the　doors。　　Then；　a　pencil　of　light　traced　the　length　of　the　hallway　and　Garson　walked　quickly　back　to　the　library。　　Behind　him　with　steps　as　noiseless　as　his　own　came　the　three　men　to　whom　he　had　just　given　the　message。

When　all　were　gathered　in　the　library；　Garson　shut　the　hall　door；　touched　the　button　in　the　wall　beside　it；　and　the　chandelier　threw　its　radiant　light　on　the　group。

Griggs　was　in　evening　clothes；　seeming　a　very　elegant　young　gentleman　indeed；　but　his　two　companions　were　of　grosser　type；　as　far　as　appearances　went：　one；　Dacey；　thin　and　wiry；　with　a　ferret　face；　the　other；　Chicago　Red；　a　brawny　ruffian；　whose　stolid　features　nevertheless　exhibited　something　of　half…sullen　good　nature。

〃Everything　all　right　so　far；〃　Garson　said　rapidly。　He　turned　to　Griggs　and　pointed　toward　the　heavy　hangings　that　shrouded　the　octagonal　window。　　〃Are　those　the　things　we　want？〃　　he　demanded。

〃Yes；〃　was　the　answer　of　English　Eddie。

〃Well；　then；　we've　got　to　get　busy；〃　Garson　went　on。　　His　alert；　strong　face　was　set　in　lines　of　eagerness　that　had　in　it　something　of　fierceness　now。

But；　before　he　could　add　a　direction；　he　was　halted　by　a　soft　buzzing　from　the　telephone；　which；　though　bell…less；　still　gave　this　faint　warning　of　a　call。　　For　an　instant；　he　hesitated　while　the　others　regarded　him　doubtfully。　　The　situation　offered　perplexities。　　To　give　no　attention　to　the　summons　might　be　perilous；　and　failure　to　respond　might　provoke　investigation　in　some　urgent　matter；　to　answer　it　might　easily　provide　a　larger　danger。

〃We've　got　to　take　a　chance。〃　　Garson　spoke　his　decision　curtly。　　He　went　to　the　desk　and　put　the　receiver　to　his　ear。

There　came　again　the　faint　tapping　of　some　one　at　the　other　end　of　the　line；　signaling　a　message　in　the　Morse　code。　　An　expression　of　blank　amazement；　which　grew　in　a　flash　to　deep　concern；　showed　on　Garson's　face　as　he　listened　tensely。

〃Why；　this　is　Mary　calling；〃　he　muttered。

〃Mary！〃　Griggs　cried。　　His　usual　vacuity　of　expression　was　cast　off　like　a　mask　and　alarm　twisted　his　features。　Then；　in　the　next　instant；　a　crafty　triumph　gleamed　from　his　eyes。

〃Yes；　she's　on；〃　Garson　interpreted；　a　moment　later；　as　the　tapping　ceased　for　a　little。　　He　translated　in　a　loud　whisper　as　the　irregular　ticking　noise　sounded　again。

〃I　shall　be　there　at　the　house　almost　at　once。　　I　am　sending　this　message　from　the　drug　store　around　the　corner。　　Have　some　one　open　the　door　for　me　immediately。〃

〃She's　coming　over；〃　Griggs　cried　incredulously。

〃No；　I'll　stop　her；〃　Garson　declared　firmly。

〃Right！　Stop　her；〃　Chicago　Red　vouchsafed。

But；　when；　after　tapping　a　few　words；　the　forger　paused　for　the　reply；　no　sound　came。

〃She　don't　answer；〃　he　exclaimed；　greatly　disconcerted。　He　tried　again；　still　without　result。　　At　that；　he　hung　up　the　receiver　with　a　groan。　　〃She's　gone〃

〃On　her　way　already；〃　Griggs　suggested；　and　there　was　none　to　doubt　that　it　was　so。

〃What's　she　coming　here　for？〃　　Garson　exclaimed　harshly。　　〃This　ain't　no　place　for　her！　Why；　if　anything　should　go　wrong　now〃

But　Griggs　interrupted　him　with　his　usual　breezy　cheerfulness　of　manner。

〃Oh；　nothing　can　go　wrong　now；　old　top。　　I'll　let　her　in。〃　　He　drew　a　small　torch　from　the　skirt…pocket　of　his　coat　and　crossed　to　the　hall　door；　as　Garson　nodded　assent。

〃God！　Why　did　she　have　to　come？〃　　Garson　muttered；　filled　with　forebodings。　　〃If　anything　should　go　wrong　now！〃　

He　turned　back　toward　the　door　just　as　it　opened；　and　Mary　darted　into　the　room　with　Griggs　following。　〃What　do　you　want　here？〃　　he　demanded；　with　peremptory　savageness　in　his　voice；　which　was　a　tone　he　had　never　hitherto　used　in　addressing　her。

Mary　went　swiftly　to　face　Garson　where　he　stood　by　the　desk；　while　Griggs　joined　the　other　two　men　who　stood　shuffling　about　uneasily　by　the　fireplace；　at　a　loss　over　this　intrusion　on　their　scheme。　　Mary　moved　with　a　lissome　grace　like　that　of　some　wild　creature；　but　as　she　halted　opposite　the　man　who　had　given　her　back　the　life　she　would　have　thrown　away；　there　was　only　tender　pleading　in　her　voice；　though　her　words　were　an　arraignment。

〃Joe；　you　lied　to　me。〃

〃That　can　be　settled　later；〃　the　man　snapped。　　His　jaw　was　thrust　forward　obstinately；　and　his　clear　eyes　sparkled　defiantly。

〃You　are　fools；　all　of　you！〃　Mary　cried。　　Her　eyes　darkened　and　distended　with　fear。　　They　darted　from　Garson　to　the　other　three　men；　and　back　again　in　rebuke。　〃Yes；　fools！　This　is　burglary。　　I　can't　protect　you　if　you　are　caught。　　How　can　I？　　Oh；　come！〃　She　held　out　her　hands　pleadingly　toward　Garson；　and　her　voice　dropped　to　beseeching。　　〃Joe；　Joe；　you　must　get　away　from　this　house　at　once；　all　of　you。　　Joe；　make　them　go。〃

〃It's　too　late；〃　was　the　stern　answer。　　There　was　no　least　relaxation　in　the　stubborn　lines　of　his　face。　　〃We're　here　now；　and　we'll　stay　till　the　business　is　done。〃

Mary　went　a　step　forward。　　The　cloak　she　was　wearing　was　thrown　back　by　her　gesture　of　appeal　so　that　those　watching　saw　the　snowy　slope　of　the　shoulders　and　the　quick　rise　and　fall　of　the　gently　curving　bosom。　The　beautiful　face　within　the　framing　scarf　was　colorless　with　a　great　fear；　save　only　the　crimson　lips；　of　which　the　bow　was　bent　tremulously　as　she　spoke　her　prayer。

〃Joe；　for　my　sake！〃　

But　the　man　was　inexorable。　　He　had　set　himself　to　this　thing；　and　even　the　urging　of　the　one　person　in　the　world　for　whom　he　most　cared　was　powerless　against　his　resolve。

〃I　can't　quit　now　until　we've　got　what　we　came　here　after；〃　he　declared　roughly。

Of　a　sudden；　the　girl　made　shift　to　employ　another　sort　of　supplication。

〃But　there　are　reasons；〃　she　said；　faltering。　　A　certain　embarrassment　swept　her；　and　the　ivory　of　her　cheeks　bloomed　rosily。　　〃II　can't　have　you　rob　this　house；　this　particular　house　of　all　the　world。〃　　Her　eyes　leaped　from　the　still　o