within the law-第48章
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ing smile for the pleased official at the desk。
〃I'll go just as fast as ever I can；〃 the musical voice made assurance blithely。
〃Give my compliments to your father；〃 Burke requested courteously。 〃And tell him I'm sorry I frightened you。〃
The girl turned at the door。。。。 After all； too great haste might be indiscreet。
〃I will； Commissioner；〃 she promised； with an arch smile。 〃And I know papa will be so grateful to you for all your kindness to me！〃
It was at this critical moment that Cassidy entered from the opposite side of the office。 As his eyes fell on the girl at the door across from him； his stolid face lighted in a grin。 And； in that same instant of recognition between the two； the color went out of the girl's face。 The little red lips snapped together in a line of supreme disgust against this vicissitude of fate after all her manoeuverings in the face of the enemy。 She stood motionless in wordless dismay； impotent before this disaster forced on her by untoward chance。
〃Hello； Aggie！〃 the detective remarked； with a smirk； while the Inspector stared from one to the other with rounded eyes of wonder； and his jaw dropped from the stark surprise of this new development。
The girl returned deliberately to the chair she had occupied through the interview with the Inspector； and dropped into it weakly。 Her form rested there limply now； and the blue eyes stared disconsolately at the blank wall before her。 She realized that fate had decreed defeat for her in the game。 It was after a minute of silence in which the two men sat staring that at last she spoke with a savage wrath against the pit into which she had fallen after her arduous efforts。
〃Ain't that the damnedest luck！〃
For a little interval still； Burke turned his glances from the girl to Cassidy； and then back again to the girl； who sat immobile with her blue eyes steadfastly fixed on the wall。 The police official was； in truth； totally bewildered。 Here was inexplicable mystery。 Finally； he addressed the detective curtly。
〃Cassidy； do you know this woman？〃
〃Sure； I do！〃 came the placid answer。 He went on to explain with the direct brevity of his kind。 〃She's little Aggie Lynchcon' woman； from Buffalotwo years for blackmaildid her time at Burnsing。〃
With this succinct narrative concerning the girl who sat mute and motionless in the chair with her eyes fast on the wall； Cassidy relapsed into silence； during which he stared rather perplexedly at his chief； who seemed to be in the throes of unusual emotion。 As the detective expressed it in his own vernacular： For the first time in his experience； the Inspector appeared to be actually 〃rattled。〃
For a little time； there was silence； the while Burke sat staring at the averted face of the girl。 His expression was that of one who has just undergone a soul…stirring shock。 Then； presently； he set his features grimly； rose from his chair； and walked to a position directly in the front of the girl； who still refused to look in his direction。
〃Young woman〃 he began； severely。 Then； of a sudden he laughed。 〃You picked the right business； all right； all right！〃 he said； with a certain enthusiasm。 He laughed aloud until his eyes were only slits； and his ample paunch trembled vehemently。
〃Well；〃 he went on； at last； 〃I certainly have to hand it to you； kid。 You're a beaut'！〃
Aggie sniffed vehemently in rebuke of the gross partiality of fate in his behalf。
〃Just as I had him goin'！〃 she said bitterly； as if in self…communion； without shifting her gaze from the blank surface of the wall。
Now； however； Burke was reminded once again of his official duties； and he turned quickly to the attentive Cassidy。
〃Have you got a picture of this young woman？〃 he asked brusquely。 And when Cassidy had replied in the negative； he again faced the adventuress with a mocking grinin which mockery； too； was a fair fragment for himself； who had been so thoroughly within her toils of blandishment。
〃I'd dearly love to have a photograph of you； Miss Helen Travers West；〃 he said。
The speech aroused the stolid detective to a new interest。
〃Helen Travers West？〃 he repeated； inquiringly。
〃Oh； that's the name she told me；〃 the Inspector explained； somewhat shamefacedly before this question from his inferior。 Then he chuckled； for he had sense of humor sufficient to triumph even over his own discomfiture in this encounter。 〃And she had me winging； too！〃 he confessed。 〃Yes； I admit it。〃 He turned to the girl admiringly。 〃You sure are immense； little one immense！〃 He smiled somewhat more in his official manner of mastery。 〃And now； may I have the honor of asking you to accept the escort of Mr。 Cassidy to our gallery。〃
Aggie sprang to her feet and regarded the Inspector with eyes in which was now no innocence； such as had beguiled him so recently from those ingenuous orbs。
〃Oh； can that stuff！〃 she cried； crossly。 〃Let's get down to business on the dotand no frills on it！ Keep to cases！〃
〃Now you're talking；〃 Burke declared； with a new appreciation of the versatility of this womanwho had not been wasting her time hitherto； and had no wish to lose it now。
〃You can't do anything to us；〃 Aggie declared； strongly。 There remained no trace of the shrinking violet that had been Miss Helen Travers West。 Now； she revealed merely the business woman engaged in a fight against the law； which was opposed definitely to her peculiar form of business。
〃You can't do anything to me； and you know you can't！〃 she went on； with an almost convincing tranquillity of assertion。 〃Why； I'll be sprung inside an hour。〃 There came a ripple of laughter that reminded the Inspector of the fashion in which he had been overcome by this woman's wiles。 And she spoke with a certitude of conviction that was rather terrifying to one who had just fallen under the stress of her spells。
〃Why； habeas corpus is my lawyer's middle name！〃
〃On the level； now；〃 the Inspector demanded； quite unmoved by the final declarations； 〃when did you see Mary Turner last？〃
Aggie resorted anew to her practices of deception。 Her voice held the accents of unimpeachable truth； and her eyes looked unflinchingly into those of her questioner as she answered。
〃Early this morning；〃 she declared。 〃We slept together last night； because I had the willies。 She blew the joint about half…past ten。〃
Burke shook his head； more in sorrow than in anger。
〃What's the use of your lying to me？〃 he remonstrated。
〃What； me？〃 Aggie clamored； with every evidence of being deeply wounded by the charge against her veracity。 〃Oh； I wouldn't do anything like thaton the level！ What would be the use？ I couldn't fool you； Commissioner。〃
Burke stroked his chin sheepishly； under the influence of memories of Miss Helen Travers West。
〃So help me；〃 Aggie continued with the utmost solemnity； 〃Mary never left the house all night。 I'd swear that's the truth on a pile of Bibles a mile high！〃
〃Have to be higher than that；〃 the Inspector commented； grimly。 〃You see； Aggie Lynch； Mary Turner was arrested just after midnight。〃 His voice deepened and came blustering。 〃Young woman； you'd better tell all you know。〃
〃I don't know a thing！〃 Aggie retorted； sharply。 She faced the Inspector fiercely； quite unabashed by the fact that her vigorous offer to commit perjury had been of no avail。
Burke； with a quick movement； drew the pistol from his pocket and extended it toward the girl。
〃How long has she owned this gun？〃 he said； threateningly。
Aggie showed no trace of emotion as her glance ran over the weapon。
〃She didn't own it；〃 was her firm answer。
〃Oh； then it's Garson's！〃 Burke exclaimed。
〃I don't know whose it is；〃 Aggie replied； with an air of boredom well calculated to deceive。 〃I never laid eyes on it till now。〃
The Inspector's tone abruptly took on a somber coloring； with an underlying menace。
〃English Eddie was killed with this gun last night；〃 he said。 〃Now； who did it？〃 His broad face was sinister。 〃Come on； now！ Who did it？〃
Aggie became flippant； seemingly unimpressed by the Inspector's savageness。
〃How should I know？〃 she drawled。 〃What do you think I ama fortune…teller？〃
〃You
