within the law-第56章

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　of　his　class。　　Now；　he　stared　at　Burke　with　a　quizzical　grin　crooking　his　lips。

〃Say；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃I'll　bet　it's　the　first　time　a　guy　was　ever　croaked　with　one　of　them　things！　Ain't　it？〃　

The　Inspector　nodded　affirmation。　　There　was　sincere　admiration　in　his　expression；　for　he　was　ready　at　all　times　to　respect　the　personal　abilities　of　the　criminals　against　whom　he　waged　relentless　war。

〃That's　right；　Joe！〃　he　said；　with　perceptible　enthusiasm。

〃Some　class　to　that；　eh？〃　　Garson　demanded；　still　with　that　gruesome　air　of　boasting。　　〃I　got　the　gun；　and　the　Maxim…silencer　thing；　off　a　fence　in　Boston；〃　he　explained。　〃Say；　that　thing　cost　me　sixty　dollars；　and　it's　worth　every　cent　of　the　money。。。。　Why；　they'll　remember　me　as　the　first　to　spring　one　of　them　things；　won't　they？〃　

〃They　sure　will；　Joe！〃　the　Inspector　conceded。

〃Nobody　knew　I　had　it；〃　Garson　continued；　dropping　his　braggart　manner　abruptly。

At　the　words；　Mary　started；　and　her　lips　moved　as　if　she　were　about　to　speak。

Garson；　intent　on　her　always；　though　he　seemed　to　look　only　at　Burke；　observed　the　effect　on　her；　and　repeated　his　words　swiftly；　with　a　warning　emphasis　that　gave　the　girl　pause。

〃Nobody　knew　I　had　itnobody　in　the　world！〃　he　declared。　　〃And　nobody　had　anything　to　do　with　the　killing　but　me。〃

Burke　put　a　question　that　was　troubling　him　much；　concerning　the　motive　that　lay　behind　the　shooting　of　Griggs。

〃Was　there　any　bad　feeling　between　you　and　Eddie　Griggs？〃　

Garson's　reply　was　explicit。

〃Never　till　that　very　minute。　　Then；　I　learned　the　truth　about　what　he'd　framed　up　with　you。〃　　The　speaker's　voice　reverted　to　its　former　fierceness　in　recollection　of　the　treachery　of　one　whom　he　had　trusted。

〃He　was　a　stool…pigeon；　and　I　hated　his　guts！　That's　all；〃　he　concluded；　with　brutal　candor。

The　Inspector　moved　restlessly　in　his　chair。　　He　had　only　detestation　for　the　slain　man；　yet　there　was　something　morbidly　distasteful　in　the　thought　that　he　himself　had　contrived　the　situation　which　had　resulted　in　the　murder　of　his　confederate。　　It　was　only　by　an　effort　that　he　shook　off　the　vague　feeling　of　guilt。

〃Nothing　else　to　say？〃　　he　inquired。

Garson　reflected　for　a　few　seconds；　then　made　a　gesture　of　negation。

〃Nothing　else；〃　he　declared。　　〃I　croaked　him；　and　I'm　glad　I　done　it。　　He　was　a　skunk。　　That's　all；　and　it's　enough。　　And　it's　all　true；　so　help　me　God！〃　

The　Inspector　nodded　dismissal　to　the　stenographer；　with　an　air　of　relief。

〃That's　all；　Williams；〃　he　said；　heavily。　　〃He'll　sign　it　as　soon　as　you've　transcribed　the　notes。〃

Then；　as　the　stenographer　left　the　room；　Burke　turned　his　gaze　on　the　woman；　who　stood　there　in　a　posture　of　complete　dejection；　her　white；　anguished　face　downcast。　　There　was　triumph　in　the　Inspector's　voice　as　he　addressed　her；　for　his　professional　pride　was　full…fed　by　this　victory　over　his　foes。　　But　there　was；　too；　an　undertone　of　a　feeling　softer　than　pride；　more　generous；　something　akin　to　real　commiseration　for　this　unhappy　girl　who　drooped　before　him；　suffering　so　poignantly　in　the　knowledge　of　the　fate　that　awaited　the　man　who　had　saved　her；　who　had　loved　her　so　unselfishly

〃Young　woman；〃　Burke　said　briskly；　〃it's　just　like　I　told　you。　　You　can't　beat　the　law。　　Garson　thought　he　couldand　now！〃　He　broke　off；　with　a　wave　of　his　hand　toward　the　man　who　had　just　sentenced　himself　to　death　in　the　electric…chair。

〃That's　right；〃　Garson　agreed；　with　somber　intensity。　His　eyes　were　grown　clouded　again　now；　and　his　voice　dragged　leaden。　　〃That's　right；　Mary；〃　he　repeated　dully；　after　a　little　pause。　　〃You　can't　beat　the　law！〃　

There　followed　a　period　of　silence；　in　which　great　emotions　were　vibrant　from　heart　to　heart。　　Garson　was　thinking　of　Mary；　and；　with　the　thought；　into　his　misery　crept　a　little　comfort。　　At　least；　she　would　go　free。　　That　had　been　in　the　bargain　with　Burke。　　And　there　was　the　boy；　too。　　His　eyes　shot　a　single　swift　glance　toward　Dick　Gilder；　and　his　satisfaction　increased　as　he　noted　the　alert　poise　of　the　young　man's　body；　the　strained　expression　of　the　strong　face；　the　gaze　of　absorbed　yearning　with　which　he　regarded　Mary。　　There　could　be　no　doubt　concerning　the　depth　of　the　lad's　love　for　the　girl。　　Moreover；　there　were　manly　qualities　in　him　to　work　out　all　things　needful　for　her　protection　through　life。　　Already；　he　had　proved　his　devotion；　and　that　abundantly；　his　unswerving　fidelity　to　her；　and　the　force　within　him　that　made　these　worthy　in　some　measure　of　her。

Garson　felt　no　least　pang　of　jealousy。　　Though　he　loved　the　woman　with　the　single　love　of　his　life；　he　had　never；　somehow；　hoped　aught　for　himself。　　There　was　even　something　almost　of　the　paternal　in　the　purity　of　his　love；　as　if；　indeed；　by　the　fact　of　restoring　her　to　life　he　had　taken　on　himself　the　responsibility　of　a　parent。　　He　knew　that　the　boy　worshiped　her；　would　do　his　best　for　her；　that　this　best　would　suffice　for　her　happiness　in　time。　　Garson；　with　the　instinct　of　love；　guessed　that　Mary　had　in　truth　given　her　heart　all　unaware　to　the　husband　whom　she　had　first　lured　only　for　the　lust　of　revenge。　　Garson　nodded　his　head　in　a　melancholy　satisfaction。　　His　life　was　done：　hers　was　just　beginning；　now。。。。　But　she　would　remember　him　oh；　yes；　always！　Mary　was　loyal。

The　man　checked　the　trend　of　his　thoughts　by　a　mighty　effort　of　will。　　He　must　not　grow　maudlin　here。　He　spoke　again　to　Mary；　with　a　certain　dignity。

〃No；　you　can't　beat　the　law！〃　He　hesitated　a　little；　then　went　on；　with　a　certain　curious　embarrassment。　〃And　this　same　old　law　says　a　woman　must　stick　to　her　man。〃

The　girl's　eyes　met　his　with　passionate　sorrow　in　their　misty　deeps。　　Garson　gave　a　significant　glance　toward　Dick　Gilder；　then　his　gaze　returned　to　her。　　There　was　a　smoldering　despair　in　that　look。　　There　were；　as　well；　an　entreaty　and　a　command。

〃So；〃　he　went　on；　〃you　must　go　along　with　him；　Mary。。　　。　　。　　Won't　you？　　It's　the　best　thing　to　do。〃

The　girl　could　not　answer。　　There　was　a　clutch　on　her　throat　just　then；　which　would　not　relax　at　the　call　of　her　will。

The　tension　of　a　moment　grew；　became　pervasive。　Burke；　accustomed　as　he　was　to　scenes　of　dramatic　violence；　now　experienced　an　altogether　unfamiliar　thrill。　As　for　Garson；　once　again　the　surge　of　feeling　threatened　to　overwhelm　his　self…control。　　He　must　not　break　down！　For　Mary's　sake；　he　must　show　himself　stoical；　quite　undisturbed　in　this　supreme　hour。

Of　a　sudden；　an　inspiration　came　to　him；　a　means　to　snap　the　tension；　to　create　a　diversion　wholly　efficacious。　He　would　turn　to　his　boasting　again；　would　call　upon　his　vanity；　which　he　knew　well　as　his　chief　foible；　and　make　it　serve　as　the　foil　against　his　love。　　He　strove　manfully　to　throw　off　the　softer　mood。　　In　a　measure；　at　least；　he　won　the　fightthough　always；　under　the　rush　of　this　vaunting；　there　throbbed　the　anguish　of　his　heart。

〃You　want　to　cut　out　worrying　about　me；〃　he　counseled；　bravely。　　〃Why；　I　ain't　worrying　any；　myselfnot　a　little　bit！　You　see；　it's　something　new　I've　pulled　off。　　Nobody　ever　put　over　anything　like　it　before。〃

He　faced　Burke　with　a　grin　of　gloating　again。

〃I'll　bet　there'll　be　a　lot　of　stuff　in　the　newspapers　about　this；　and　my　picture；　too；　in　most　of　'em！　What？〃　

The　man's　manner　imposed　on　Burke；　though　Mary　felt　the　torment　that　his　vainglorying　was　meant　to　mask。

〃Say；〃　Garson　continued　to　the　Inspector；　〃if　the　reporters　want　any　pictures　of　me；　could　I　have　some　new　ones　taken？　　The　one　you've　got　of　me　in　the　Gallery　is　over　ten　years　old。　　I've　taken　off　my　beard　since　then。　　Can　I　have　a　new　one？〃　　He　put　the　question　with　an　eagerness　that　seemed　all　sincere。

Burke　answered　with　a　fine　feeling　of　generosity。

〃Sure；　you　can；　Joe！　I'll　send　you　up　to　the　Gallery　right　now。〃

〃Immense！〃　Garson　cried；　boisterously。　　He　moved　toward　Dick　Gilder；　walking　with　a　faint　suggestion　of　swagger　to　cover　the　nervous　tremor　that　had　seized　him。

〃So　long；　young　fellow！〃　he　exclaimed；　and　held　out　his　hand。　　〃You've　been　on　the　square；　and　I　guess　you　always　will　be。〃

Dick　had　no　scruple　in　clasping　that　extended　hand　very　warmly　in　his　own。　　He　had　no　feeling　of　repulsion　against　this　man　who　had　committed