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С˵£º the drums of jeopardy ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

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that¡¡wasn't¡¡over¡£

She¡¡uttered¡¡a¡¡shaky¡¡little¡¡laugh¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡would¡¡tell¡¡Cutty¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡real
drums¡¡of¡¡jeopardy¡¡weren't¡¡emeralds¡¡but¡¡the¡¡roll¡¡of¡¡warning¡¡that
prescience¡¡taps¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡spine£»¡¡the¡¡occult¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡impending¡¡danger¡£
That¡¡was¡¡why¡¡the¡¡Elevated¡¡went¡¡tumpitum¡­tump£¡¡¡tumpitum¡­tump£¡¡¡¡¡She
would¡¡tell¡¡Cutty¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡drums¡¡of¡¡fear¡£

He¡¡over¡¡there¡¡and¡¡she¡¡here£»¡¡in¡¡darkness£»¡¡both¡¡of¡¡them¡¡waiting¡¡for
something¡¡to¡¡happen£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡invisible¡¡drumsticks¡¡beating¡¡the¡¡tattoo
of¡¡fear¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡he¡¡were¡¡in¡¡her¡¡thoughts¡¡might¡¡not¡¡she¡¡be¡¡a¡¡little¡¡in
his£¿¡¡¡¡She¡¡stood¡¡up¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡would¡¡do¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡Convention¡¡in¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡like
this¡¡was¡¡nonsense¡£¡¡¡¡Hadn't¡¡he¡¡kept¡¡his¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡line¡¡scrupulously£¿

Nonchalance¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡occurred¡¡to¡¡her¡¡for¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡¡that¡¡there¡¡must
be¡¡good¡¡material¡¡in¡¡a¡¡man¡¡who¡¡could¡¡come¡¡through¡¡in¡¡a¡¡contest¡¡with
death£»¡¡nonchalant¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡would¡¡fetch¡¡him¡¡and¡¡have¡¡him¡¡here¡¡to¡¡meet
Cutty£»¡¡this¡¡rather¡¡forlorn¡¡Johnny¡¡Two¡­Hawks£»¡¡with¡¡his¡¡unshaven¡¡face£»
his¡¡black¡¡eye£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡nonchalance¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡would¡¡fetch¡¡him¡¡at¡¡once¡£
It¡¡would¡¡save¡¡a¡¡good¡¡deal¡¡of¡¡time¡£

There¡¡were¡¡but¡¡ten¡¡apartments¡¡in¡¡the¡¡building£»¡¡two¡¡on¡¡a¡¡floor¡£¡¡¡¡The
living¡¡room¡¡formed¡¡an¡¡L¡£¡¡¡¡Kitty's¡¡buttressed¡¡Gregor's¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡elevator
shaft¡¡was¡¡inside£»¡¡facing¡¡the¡¡court£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡stair¡¡head¡¡was¡¡on¡¡the
Gregor¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡elevator¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡two¡¡entrances¡¡faced¡¡each¡¡other
across¡¡the¡¡landing¡£

As¡¡Kitty¡¡opened¡¡her¡¡door¡¡to¡¡step¡¡outside¡¡she¡¡was¡¡nonplussed¡¡to¡¡see
two¡¡men¡¡issue¡¡cautiously¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Gregor¡¡door¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡moment¡¡they
espied¡¡her£»¡¡however£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡mad¡¡rush¡¡for¡¡the¡¡stair¡¡head¡£¡¡¡¡She
could¡¡hear¡¡the¡¡thud¡¡of¡¡their¡¡feet¡¡all¡¡the¡¡way¡¡down¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ground
floor£»¡¡and¡¡every¡¡footfall¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡touch¡¡her¡¡heart¡£¡¡¡¡One¡¡of¡¡them
carried¡¡a¡¡bundle¡£

She¡¡breathed¡¡quickly£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡afraid¡£¡¡¡¡Neither
man¡¡was¡¡Johnny¡¡Two¡­Hawks¡£¡¡¡¡Something¡¡dreadful¡¡had¡¡happened£»¡¡she¡¡was
sure¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡Reenforcing¡¡her¡¡sinking¡¡courage¡¡with¡¡nerve¡¡energy¡¡she
ran¡¡across¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Gregor¡¡door¡¡and¡¡knocked¡£¡¡¡¡No¡¡answer¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡knocked
again£»¡¡then¡¡she¡¡tried¡¡the¡¡door¡£¡¡¡¡Locked¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡flutter¡¡in¡¡her¡¡breast
died¡¡away£»¡¡she¡¡became¡¡quite¡¡calm¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡going¡¡to¡¡enter¡¡this
apartment¡¡by¡¡the¡¡way¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡escape¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡window¡¡he¡¡had¡¡come¡¡out
of¡¡was¡¡still¡¡up¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡had¡¡made¡¡note¡¡of¡¡this¡¡from¡¡the¡¡kitchen¡£¡¡¡¡In
returning¡¡he¡¡had¡¡stepped¡¡on¡¡to¡¡the¡¡springe¡¡of¡¡a¡¡snare¡£

She¡¡hurried¡¡back¡¡to¡¡her¡¡kitchen¡¡for¡¡the¡¡automatic¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡hadn't¡¡the
least¡¡idea¡¡how¡¡to¡¡manipulate¡¡it£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡was¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡afraid¡¡of¡¡it¡£
Bravely¡¡she¡¡stepped¡¡out¡¡on¡¡to¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡escape¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡reach¡¡her
objective¡¡she¡¡had¡¡to¡¡walk¡¡under¡¡the¡¡ladder¡£¡¡¡¡Danger¡¡often¡¡puts¡¡odd
irrelevancies¡¡into¡¡the¡¡human¡¡brain¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡she¡¡moved¡¡forward¡¡she
wondered¡¡if¡¡there¡¡was¡¡anything¡¡in¡¡the¡¡superstition¡¡regarding¡¡ladders¡£

When¡¡she¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡window¡¡she¡¡leaned¡¡against¡¡the¡¡brick¡¡wall¡¡and
listened¡£¡¡¡¡Silence£»¡¡an¡¡ominous¡¡silence¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡window¡¡was¡¡open£»¡¡the
curtain¡¡up¡£¡¡¡¡Within£»¡¡what£¿¡¡¡¡For¡¡as¡¡long¡¡as¡¡five¡¡minutes¡¡she¡¡waited£»
then¡¡she¡¡climbed¡¡in¡£

Now¡¡as¡¡this¡¡bedroom¡¡was¡¡a¡¡counterpart¡¡of¡¡her¡¡own¡¡she¡¡knew¡¡where¡¡the
light¡¡button¡¡would¡¡be¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡might¡¡stumble¡¡over¡¡a¡¡chair¡¡or¡¡two£»¡¡but
in¡¡the¡¡end¡¡she¡¡would¡¡find¡¡the¡¡light¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡fingers¡¡of¡¡one¡¡hand
spread¡¡out¡¡before¡¡her¡¡and¡¡the¡¡other¡¡clutching¡¡the¡¡impossible
automatic£»¡¡she¡¡succeeded¡¡in¡¡navigating¡¡the¡¡uncharted¡¡reefs¡¡of¡¡an
unfamiliar¡¡room¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡blinked¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡after¡¡throwing¡¡on¡¡the
light£»¡¡and¡¡stood¡¡with¡¡her¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡wall£»¡¡the¡¡automatic¡¡wabbling
at¡¡nothing¡¡in¡¡particular¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡room¡¡was¡¡empty¡¡so¡¡far¡¡as¡¡she¡¡could
see¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡evidence¡¡of¡¡a¡¡physical¡¡encounter£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡could¡¡not
tell¡¡whether¡¡it¡¡was¡¡due¡¡to¡¡the¡¡former¡¡or¡¡to¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡invasion¡£

Where¡¡was¡¡he£¿¡¡¡¡From¡¡where¡¡she¡¡stood¡¡she¡¡could¡¡not¡¡see¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡on
the¡¡far¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bed¡£¡¡¡¡Timidly¡¡she¡¡walked¡¡past¡¡the¡¡foot¡¡of¡¡the
bed¡¡¡­¡¡and¡¡the¡¡transient¡¡paralysis¡¡of¡¡horror¡¡laid¡¡hold¡¡of¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡She
became¡¡bereft¡¡of¡¡the¡¡power¡¡to¡¡grasp¡¡and¡¡hold£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡automatic
slipped¡¡from¡¡her¡¡fingers¡¡and¡¡thudded¡¡on¡¡the¡¡carpet¡£

On¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡lay¡¡poor¡¡Johnny¡¡Two¡­Hawks£»¡¡crumpled¡¡grotesquely£»¡¡a
streak¡¡of¡¡blood¡¡zigzagging¡¡across¡¡his¡¡forehead£»¡¡to¡¡all¡¡appearances£»
dead£¡



CHAPTER¡¡VII


Twice¡¡before¡¡in¡¡her¡¡life¡¡Kitty¡¡had¡¡looked¡¡upon¡¡death¡¡by¡¡violence£»
and¡¡it¡¡required¡¡only¡¡this¡¡present¡¡picture¡¡to¡¡convince¡¡her¡¡that¡¡she
would¡¡never¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡gaze¡¡upon¡¡it¡¡callously£»¡¡without¡¡pity¡¡and
terror¡£¡¡¡¡Newspaper¡¡life¡¡¡­¡¡at¡¡least¡¡the¡¡reportorial¡¡side¡¡of¡¡it¡¡¡­¡¡has
an¡¡odd¡¡effect¡¡upon¡¡men¡¡and¡¡women£»¡¡it¡¡sharpens¡¡their¡¡tragical
instincts¡¡and¡¡perceptions¡¡and¡¡dulls¡¡eternally¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡tenderness
and¡¡sentimentality¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡natural¡¡for¡¡Kitty¡¡to¡¡possess¡¡the¡¡keenest
perceptions¡¡of¡¡tragedy£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡taken¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡reportorial
field¡¡in¡¡time¡¡to¡¡preserve¡¡all¡¡her¡¡tenderness¡¡and¡¡romanticism¡£
Otherwise¡¡she¡¡would¡¡have¡¡seen¡¡in¡¡that¡¡crumpled¡¡object¡¡with¡¡the
sinister¡¡daub¡¡of¡¡blood¡¡on¡¡the¡¡forehead¡¡merely¡¡a¡¡story£»¡¡and¡¡would
have¡¡approached¡¡it¡¡from¡¡that¡¡angle¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡was¡¡he¡¡dead£¿¡¡¡¡She¡¡literally
forced¡¡her¡¡steps¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡body¡¡and¡¡stared¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡dropped¡¡to¡¡her
knees¡¡because¡¡they¡¡were¡¡threatening¡¡to¡¡buckle¡¡in¡¡one¡¡of¡¡those
flashes¡¡of¡¡physical¡¡incoordination¡¡to¡¡which¡¡the¡¡strongest¡¡will¡¡must
bow¡¡occasionally¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡afraid¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tragedy£»¡¡but¡¡she
feared¡¡the¡¡great¡¡surging¡¡pity¡¡that¡¡was¡¡striving¡¡to¡¡express¡¡itself
in¡¡sobs£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡if¡¡she¡¡surrendered¡¡she¡¡would¡¡forthwith
become¡¡hysterical¡¡for¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡and¡¡incompetent¡¡to
carry¡¡out¡¡the¡¡plan¡¡in¡¡her¡¡head¡£

A¡¡strong£»¡¡healthy¡¡young¡¡man¡¡done¡¡to¡¡death¡¡in¡¡this¡¡fashion¡¡only¡¡a¡¡few
minutes¡¡after¡¡he¡¡had¡¡left¡¡her¡¡kitchen£¡¡¡¡¡Somehow¡¡she¡¡could¡¡not¡¡look
upon¡¡him¡¡as¡¡a¡¡stranger¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡had¡¡given¡¡him¡¡food£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡talked¡¡to
him£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡even¡¡laughed¡¡with¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡not¡¡like¡¡those¡¡dead¡¡she
had¡¡seen¡¡in¡¡her¡¡reportorial¡¡days¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡orbit¡¡and¡¡Johnny¡¡Two¡­Hawks'
had¡¡indeterminately¡¡touched£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡known¡¡old¡¡Gregory£»¡¡or¡¡Gregor£»
who¡¡had¡¡been¡¡this¡¡unfortunate¡¡young¡¡man's¡¡friend¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡he¡¡had¡¡hoped
they¡¡might¡¡never¡¡meet¡¡again£¡

The¡¡murderous¡¡scoundrels¡¡had¡¡been¡¡watching¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡must¡¡have¡¡entered
the¡¡apartment¡¡shortly¡¡after¡¡he¡¡had¡¡entered¡¡hers¡£¡¡¡¡Conceivably¡¡they
would¡¡have¡¡Gregor's¡¡key¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡they¡¡had¡¡watched¡¡and¡¡waited£»¡¡striking
him¡¡down¡¡it¡¡may¡¡have¡¡been¡¡at¡¡the¡¡very¡¡moment¡¡he¡¡had¡¡crossed¡¡the
sill¡¡of¡¡the¡¡window¡£

Her¡¡hand¡¡shook¡¡so¡¡idiotically¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡impossible¡¡for¡¡a¡¡time¡¡to
tell¡¡if¡¡the¡¡man's¡¡heart¡¡was¡¡beating¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡at¡¡once¡¡a¡¡wave¡¡of¡¡hot
fury¡¡rushed¡¡over¡¡her¡¡¡­¡¡fury¡¡at¡¡the¡¡cowardliness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡assault¡¡¡­¡¡and
the¡¡vertigo¡¡passed¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡laid¡¡her¡¡palm¡¡firmly¡¡over¡¡Johnny¡¡Two¡­Hawks'
heart¡£¡¡¡¡Alive£¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡alive£¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡straightened¡¡his¡¡body¡¡and¡¡put¡¡a
pillow¡¡under¡¡his¡¡head¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡she¡¡sought¡¡water¡¡and¡¡towels¡£

There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡cut¡¡on¡¡his¡¡forehead£»¡¡only¡¡blood£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡his
head¡¡had¡¡been¡¡cruelly¡¡beaten¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡alive£»¡¡but¡¡without¡¡immediate
aid¡¡he¡¡might¡¡die¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡poor¡¡young¡¡man£¡

There¡¡were¡¡two¡¡physicians¡¡in¡¡the¡¡block£»¡¡one¡¡or¡¡the¡¡other¡¡would¡¡be
in¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡ran¡¡to¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¡to¡¡find¡¡it¡¡locked¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡had¡¡forgotten¡£
Next¡¡she¡¡found¡¡the¡¡telephone¡¡wire¡¡cut¡¡and¡¡the¡¡speaking¡¡tube¡¡battered
and¡¡inutile¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡would¡¡have¡¡to¡¡return¡¡to¡¡her¡¡own¡¡apartment
to¡¡summon¡¡help¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡dared¡¡not¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡light¡¡on¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡scoundrels
might¡¡possibly¡¡return£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡light¡¡would¡¡warn¡¡them¡¡that¡¡their
victim¡¡had¡¡been¡¡discovered£»¡¡and¡¡naturally¡¡they¡¡would¡¡wish¡¡to
ascertain¡¡whether¡¡or¡¡not¡¡they¡¡had¡¡succeeded¡¡in¡¡their¡¡murderous
assault¡£

As¡¡she¡¡was¡¡passing¡¡the¡¡first¡­landing¡¡windows¡¡she¡¡saw¡¡Cutty¡¡emerging
from¡¡the¡¡elevator¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡flew¡¡across¡¡the¡¡fire¡­escape¡¡platform¡¡with
the¡¡resilient¡¡step¡¡of¡¡one¡¡crossing¡¡thin¡¡ice¡£

Probably¡¡the¡¡most¡¡astonished¡¡man¡¡in¡¡New¡¡York¡¡was¡¡the¡¡war
correspondent¡¡when¡¡the¡¡door¡¡opened¡¡and¡¡a¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡arms¡¡were¡¡flung
about¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡voice¡¡smothered¡¡in¡¡the¡¡lapel¡¡of¡¡his¡¡coat¡¡cried£º
¡¨Oh£»¡¡Cutty£»¡¡I¡¡never¡¡was¡¡so¡¡glad¡¡to¡¡see¡¡any¡¡one£¡¡¨

¡¨What¡¡in¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡¡­¡¡¡¨

¡¨Come£¡¡¡¡¡We'll¡¡handle¡¡this¡¡ourselves¡£¡¡¡¡Hurry£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡She¡¡dragged¡¡him¡¡along
by¡¡the¡¡sleeve¡£

¡¨But¡¡¡­¡¡¡¨

¡¨It¡¡is¡¡life¡¡and¡¡death£¡¡¡¡¡No¡¡talk¡¡now£¡¡¨

Cutty£»¡¡immaculate¡¡in¡¡his¡¡evening¡¡clothes£»¡¡very¡¡much¡¡perturbed£»¡¡went
along¡¡after¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡she¡¡passed¡¡through¡¡the¡¡kitchen¡¡window¡¡and
beckoned¡¡him¡¡to¡¡follow¡¡he¡¡demurred¡£

¡¨Kitty£»¡¡what¡¡the¡¡deuce¡¡is¡¡going¡¡on¡¡here£¿¡¨

¡¨I'll¡¡answer¡¡your¡¡questions¡¡when¡¡we¡¡get¡¡him¡¡into¡¡my¡¡apartment¡£¡¡¡¡They
tried¡¡to¡¡murder¡¡him£»¡¡left¡¡him¡¡there¡¡to¡¡die£¡¡¨

Cutty¡¡possessed¡¡a¡¡great¡¡art£»¡¡an¡¡art¡¡highly¡¡de

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