within the law-第41章
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〃Burke himself did。〃
〃When？〃 Mary was standing rigid now； and the rare color flamed in her cheeks。 Her eyes were blazing。
〃Less than an hour ago。〃 He had caught the contagion of her mood and vague alarm swept him。
〃Where？〃 came the next question； still with that vital insistence。
〃In this room。〃
〃Burke was here？〃 Mary's voice was suddenly cold； very dangerous。 〃What was he doing here？〃
〃Talking to my father。〃
The seemingly simple answer appeared the last straw to the girl's burden of frenzied suspicion。 Her voice cut fiercely into the quiet of the room； imperious； savage。
〃Joe； turn on that light！ I want to see the face of every man in this room。〃
Something fatally significant in her voice set Garson a…leap to the switch； and； in the same second； the blaze of the chandelier flamed brilliantly over all。 The others stood motionless； blinking in the sudden radianceall save Griggs； who moved stealthily in that same moment； a little nearer the door into the passage； which was nearest to him。
But Mary's next words came wholly as a surprise； seemingly totally irrelevant to this instant of crisis。 Yet they rang a…throb with an hysterical anxiety。
〃Dick；〃 she cried； 〃what are those tapestries worth？〃 With the question； she pointed toward the draperies that shrouded the great octagonal window。
The young man was plainly astonished； disconcerted as well by the obtrusion of a sordid detail into the tragedy of the time。
〃Why in the world do you？〃 he began； impatiently。
Mary stamped her foot angrily in protest against the delay。
〃Tell mequick！〃 she commanded。 The authority in her voice and manner was not to be gainsaid。
Dick yielded sullenly。
〃Oh； two or three hundred dollars； I suppose；〃 he answered。 〃Why？〃
〃Never mind that！〃 Mary exclaimed； violently。 And now the girl's voice came stinging like a whiplash。 In Garson's face； too； was growing fury； for in an instant of illumination he guessed something of the truth。 Mary's next question confirmed his raging suspicion。
〃How long have you had them； Dick？〃
By now； the young man himself sensed the fact that something mysteriously baneful lay behind the frantic questioning on this seemingly trivial theme。
〃Ever since I can remember；〃 he replied； promptly。
Mary's voice came then with an intonation that brought enlightenment not only to Garson's shrewd perceptions； but also to the heavier intelligences of Dacey and of Chicago Red。
〃And they're not famous masterpieces which your father bought recently； from some dealer who smuggled them into this country？〃 So simple were the words of her inquiry； but under them beat something evil； deadly。
The young man laughed contemptuously。
〃I should say not！〃 he declared indignantly； for he resented the implication against his father's honesty。
〃It's a trick！ Burke's done it！〃 Mary's words came with accusing vehemence。
There was another single step made by Griggs toward the door into the passage。
Mary's eye caught the movement； and her lips soundlessly formed the name：
〃Griggs！〃
The man strove to carry off the situation； though he knew well that he stood in mortal peril。 He came a little toward the girl who had accused him of treachery。 He was very dapper in his evening clothes； with his rather handsome； well…groomed face set in lines of innocence。
〃He's lying to you！〃 he cried forcibly； with a scornful gesture toward Dick Gilder。 〃I tell you； those tapestries are worth a million cold。〃
Mary's answer was virulent in its sudden burst of hate。 For once； the music of her voice was lost in a discordant cry of detestation。
〃You stool…pigeon！ You did this for Burke！〃
Griggs sought still to maintain his air of innocence； and he strove well； since he knew that he fought for his life against those whom he had outraged。 As he spoke again； his tones were tremulous with sincerityperhaps that tremulousness was born chiefly of fear； yet to the ear his words came stoutly enough for truth：
〃I swear I didn't！ I swear it！〃
Mary regarded the protesting man with abhorrence。 The perjured wretch shrank before the loathing in her eyes。
〃You came to me yesterday；〃 she said； with more of restraint in her voice now； but still with inexorable rancor。 〃You came to me to explain this plan。 And you came from himfrom Burke！〃
〃I swear I was on the level。 I was tipped off to the story by a pal；〃 Griggs declared； but at last the assurance was gone out of his voice。 He felt the hostility of those about him。
Garson broke in ferociously。
〃It's a frame…up！〃 he said。 His tones came in a deadened roar of wrath。
On the instant； aware that further subterfuge could be of no avail； Griggs swaggered defiance。
〃And what if it is true？〃 he drawled； with a resumption of his aristocratic manner； while his eyes swept the group balefully。 He plucked the police whistle from his waistcoat…pocket； and raised it to his lips。
He moved too slowly。 In the same moment of his action； Garson had pulled the pistol from his pocket； had pressed the trigger。 There came no spurt of flame。 There was no soundsave perhaps a faint clicking noise。 But the man with the whistle at his lips suddenly ceased movement； stood absolutely still for the space of a breath。 Then； he trembled horribly； and in the next instant crashed to the floor； where he lay rigid； dead。
〃Damn youI've got you！〃 Garson sneered through clenched teeth。 His eyes were like balls of fire。 There was a frightful grin of triumph twisting his mouth in this minute of punishment。
In the first second of the tragedy； Dick had not understood。 Indeed； he was still dazed by the suddenness of it all。 But the falling of Griggs before the leveled weapon of the other man； there to lie in that ghastly immobility； made him to understand。 He leaped toward Garsonwould have wrenched the pistol from the other's grasp。 In the struggle； it fell to the floor。
Before either could pick it up； there came an interruption。 Even in the stress of this scene； Chicago Red had never relaxed his professional caution。 A slight noise had caught his ear； he had stooped； listening。 Now； he straightened； and called his warning。
〃Somebody's opening the front door！〃
Garson forgot his weapon in this new alarm。 He sprang to the octagonal window； even as Dick took possession of the pistol。
〃The street's empty！ We must jump for it！〃 His hate was forgotten now in an emotion still deeper； and he turned to Mary。 His face was all gentleness again； where just before it had been evil incarnate； aflame with the lust to destroy。 〃Come on； Mary；〃 he cried。
Already Chicago Red had snapped off the lights of the chandelier； had sprung to the window； thrown open a panel of it； and had vanished into the night； with Dacey at his heels。 As Garson would have called out to the girl again in mad anxiety for haste； he was interrupted by Dick：
〃She couldn't make it； Garson；〃 he declared coolly and resolutely。 〃You go。 It'll be all right； you know。 I'll take care of her！〃
〃If she's caught！〃 There was an indescribable menace in the forger's half…uttered threat。
〃She won't be。〃 The quality of sincerity in Dick's voice was more convincing than any vow might have been。
〃If she is； I'll get you； that's all；〃 Garson said gravely； as one stating a simple fact that could not be disputed。
Then he glanced down at the body of the man whom he had done to death。
〃And you can tell that to Burke！〃 he said viciously to the dead。 〃You damned squealer！〃 There was a supremely malevolent content in his sneer。
CHAPTER XIX。 WITHIN THE TOILS。
The going of Garson left the room deathly still。 Dick stared for a moment at the space of window left uncovered by the draperies now； since the man had hurried past them； without pausing to draw them after him。 Then； presently； the young man turned again to Mary； and took her hand in his。 The shock of the event had somehow steadied him； since it had drawn his thoughts from that other more engrossing mood of concern over the crisis in his own life。 After all； what mattered the death of this crook？ his fancy ran。 The one thing of real worth in all the world was the life that remained to be l
