the drums of jeopardy-第3章
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tense。 Someone had entered through the window and stumbled over the
chair！ Hawksley threw on the light。
CHAPTER II
When the day clerk arrived the night clerk sleepily informed him
that the guest in Room 214 was without baggage and had not paid in
advance。
〃Lave a call？〃
〃No。 I thought I'd put you wise。 I didn't notice that the man had
no grip until he was in the elevator。〃
〃All right。 I'll send the bell…hop captain up with a fake call to
see if the man's still there。〃
When the captain … late of the A。E。F。 in France … returned to the
office he was mildly excited。
〃Gee； there's been a whale of a scrap in Room 212。 The chambermaid
let me in。〃
〃Murder？〃 whispered the clerks in unison。
〃Murder your granny！ Naw！ Just a fight between 212 and 214；
because both of 'em have flown the roost。 But take a peek at what
I found on the table。〃
It was a case of blue velours。 The boy threw back the lid
dramatically。
〃War medals？〃
〃If they are I never piped 'em before。 They ain't French or
British。〃 The captain of the bell…boys scratched his head
ruminatively。 〃Gee； I got it！ Orders； that's what they all 'em。
Kings pay 'em out Saturdays when the pay roll is nix。 Will you pipe
the diamonds and rubies？ There's your room rents； monseer。〃
The day clerk； who considered himself a judge； was of the opinion
that there were two or three thousand dollars tied up in the
stones。 It was a police affair。 Some ambassador had been robbed；
and the Britisher and the Greek or Bulgarian were mixed up in it。
Loot。
〃I thought the war was over；〃 said the night clerk。
〃The shootin' is over； that's all；〃 said the captain of the bellboys；
sagely。
What had happened in Room 212？ A duel of wits rather than of
physical contact。 Hawksley realized instantly that here was the
crucial moment。 Caught and overpowered； he was lost。 If he shouted
for help and it came； he was lost。 Once the police took a hand in
the affair； the newspaper publicity that would follow would result
in the total ruin of all his hopes。 There was only one chance … to
finish this affair outside the hotel； in some fog…dimmed street。
There leaped into his mind； obliquely and queerly； a picture in one
of Victor Hugo's tales … Quasimodo。 And there he stood； in every
particular save the crooked back。 And on the top of this came the
recollection that he had seen the man before。。。。 The torches！ The
red torches and the hobnailed boots！
There began an odd game； a dancing match； which the young man led
adroitly； always with his thought upon the open window。 There
would be no shooting； Quasimodo would not want the police either。
Half a dozen times his fingers touched futilely the dancing master's
coat。 Bank and forth across the room； over the bed； round the stand
and chairs。 Persistently； as if he understood the young man's
manoeuvres； the squat individual kept to the window side of the room。
An inspiration brought the affair to an end。 Hawksley snatched up
the bedclothes and threw them as the ancient retiarius threw his net。
He managed to win to the lower platform of the fire escape before
Quasimodo emerged。
There was a fourteen…foot drop to the street； and the man with the
golden stubble on his chin and cheeks swung for a moment to gauge
his landing。 Quasimodo came after with the agility of an ape。
The race down the street began with about a hundred yards in between。
Down the hill they went； like phantoms。 The distance did not widen。
Bears will run amazingly fast and for a long while。 The quarry cut
into Pearl Street for a block； turned a corner； and soon vaguely
espied the Hudson River。 He made for this。
To the mind of Quasimodo this flight had but one significance … he
was dealing with an arrant coward； and he based his subsequent acts
upon this premise； forgetting that brave men run when need says must。
It would have surprised him exceedingly to learn that he was not
driving； that he was being led。 Hawksley wanted his enemy alone；
where no one would see to interfere。 Red torches and hobnailed
boots！ For once the two bloods； always more or less at war； merged
in a common purpose … to kill this beast； to grind the face of him
into pulp！ Red torches and hobnailed boots！
Presently one of the huge passenger boats； moored for the winter；
loomed up through the fog； and toward this Hawksley directed his
steps。 He made a flying leap aboard and vanished round the
deckhouse to the river side。
Quasimodo laughed as he followed。 It was as if the tobacco pouch
and the appraiser's receipt were in his own pocket； and broad rivers
made capital graveyards。 They two alone in the fog！ He whirled
round the deckhouse … and backed on his heels to get his balance。
Directly in front； in a very understandable pose； was the intended
victim； his jaw jutting； his eyelids narrowed。
Quasimodo tried desperately to reach for his pistol； but a bolt of
lightning stopped the action。 There is something peculiar about a
blow on the nose； a good blow。 The Anglo…Saxon peoples alone
possess the counterattack … a rush。 To other peoples concentration
of thought is impossible after the impact。 Instinctively Quasimodo's
hands flew to his face。 He heard a laugh； mirthless and terrible。
Before he could drop his hands from his face…blows； short and
boring； from this side and from that； over and under。 The squat
man was brave enough； simply he did not know how to fight in this
manner。 He was accustomed to the use of steel and the hobnails on
his boots。 He struck wildly； swinging his arms like a Flemish mill
in a brisk wind。
Some of his blows got home； but these provoked only sardonic laughter。
Wild with rage and pain he bored in。 He had but one chance … to get
this shadow in his gorilla…like arms。 He lacked mental flexibility。
An idea； getting into his head； stuck； it was not adjustable。 Like
an arrow sped from the bowstring； it had to fulfill its destiny。
It never occurred to him to take to his heels； to get space between
himself and this enemy he had so woefully underestimated。 Ten feet；
and he might have been able to whirl； draw his pistol； and end the
affair。
The coup de grace came suddenly： a blow that caught Quasimodo full
on the point of the jaw。 He sagged and went sprawling upon his
face。 The victor turned him over and raised a heel。。。。 No！ He
was neither Prussian nor Sudanese black。 He was white； and white
men did not stamp in the faces of fallen enemies。
But there was one thing a white man might do in such a case without
disturbing the ethical； and he proceeded about it forthwith： Draw
the devil's fangs； render him impotent for a few hours。 He
deliberately knelt on one of the outspread arms and calmly emptied
the insensible man's pockets。 He took everything … watch； money；
passport； letters； pistol； keys … rose and dropped them into the
river。 He overlooked Quasimodo's belt； however。 The Anglo…Saxon
idea was top hole。 His fists had saved his life。
CHAPTER m
Hawksley heard the panting of an engine and turned his head。 Dimly
he saw a giant bridge and a long drab train moving across it。 He
picked up the fallen man's cap and tried it on。 Not a particularly
good fit； but it would serve。 He then trotted round the deckhouse
to the street side； jumped to the wharf； and sucking the cracked
knuckles of his right hand fell into a steady dogtrot which carried
him to the station he had left so hopefully an hour and a half gone。
An accommodation train eventually deposited him in Poughkeepsie；
where he purchased a cap and a sturdy walking stick。 The stubble
on his chin and cheeks began to irritate him intensely； but he could
not rid himself of the idea that a barber's chair would be inviting
danger。 He was now tolerably certain that from one end of the
continent to the other his presence was known。 His life and his
property； they would be after both。 Even now there might be men in
this strange town seeking him。 The closer he got to New York； the
more active and wide…awake they would become。
He walked the streets； his glance constantly roving。 But apparently
no one paid the least attention to him。
