the drums of jeopardy-第33章
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cynical。 Kitty was at this moment in rather a desperate frame of
mind。 Those two inherent characteristics； which she had fought
valiantly … love of good times and of pretty clothes … made ingress
easy for this sinister and cynical idea。 Having gained a foothold
it pressed forward boldly。 Cutty； who had everything … strength；
comeliness； wisdom； and money。 To live among all those beautiful
things； never to be lonely again； to be waited on； fussed over； made
much of； taken into the high world。 Never more to add up accounts；
to stretch five…dollar bills across the chasm of seven days。 An
old man's darling！
〃No； no； no！〃 she burst out； passionately。 She drew a hand across
her eyes。 As if that gesture could rub out an evil thought！ It is
all very well to say 〃Avaunt！〃 But if the idea will not？ 〃I
couldn't； I couldn't！ I'd be a liar and a cheat。 But he is so
nice！ If he did want me！ 。。。 No； no！ Just for comforts！ I
couldn't！ What a miserable wretch I am！〃
She caught up the copper jug and still holding the roses to her
heart； the tears streaming down her cheeks； rushed out to the kitchen
for water。 She dropped the green stems into the jug； buried her
face in the buds to cool the hot shame on her cheeks； and remembered
… what a ridiculous thing the mind was！ … that she had three shirt
waists to iron。 She set the jug on the kitchen table； where it
remained for many hours； and walked over to the range； to the
flatiron shelf。 As she reached for a flatiron her hand stopped in
midair。
A fat black wallet！ Instantly she knew who had placed it there。
That poor Johnny Two…Hawks！
Kitty lifted out the wallet from behind the flatirons。 No doubt of
it； Johnny Two…Hawks had placed it there when she had gone to the
speaking tube to summon the janitor。 Not knowing if he would ever
call for it！ Preferring that she rather than his enemies should
have it。 And without a word！ What a simple yet amazing hiding
place； and but for the need of a flatiron the wallet would have
stayed there until she moved。 Left it there； with the premonition
that he was heading into trouble。 But what if they had killed him？
How would she have explained the wallet's presence in her apartment？
Good gracious； what an escape！
Without direct consciousness she raised the flap。 She saw the edges
of money and documents； but she did not touch anything。 There was
no need。 She knew it belonged to Johnny Two…Hawks。 Of course there
was an appalling attraction。 The wallet was； figuratively； begging
to be investigated。 But resolutely she closed the flap。 Why？
Because it was as though Two…Hawks had placed the wallet in her
hands； charging her to guard it against the day he reclaimed it。
There was no outward proof that the wallet was his。 She just knew；
that was all。
Still； she examined the outside carefully。 In one corner had been
originally a monogram or a crest； effectually obliterated by the
application of fire。
Who he was and what he was； by a simple turn of the wrist。 It was
Cutty's affair now； not hers。 He had a legal right to examine the
contents。 He was an agent of the Federal Government。 The drums of
jeopardy and Stefani Gregor and Johnny Two…Hawks； all interwoven。
She had waited in vain for Cutty to mention the emeralds。 What
signified his silence？ She had indirectly apprised him of the fact
that she knew the author of that advertisement offering to purchase
the drums； no questions asked。 Who but Cutty in New York would know
about them？ The mark of the thong。 Johnny Two…Hawks had been
carrying the drums； and Karlov's men had torn them from their
victim's neck during the battle。 Was there any reason why Cutty
should not have taken her completely into his confidence？ Palaces
looted。 If Stefani Gregor had lived in a palace； why not his
protege？ Still； it was possible Cutty was holding back until he
could tell her everything。
But what to do with it？ If she called him up and made known her
discovery； Cutty would rush up as fast as a taxicab could bring him。
He had peremptorily ordered her not to come to his apartment for
the present。 But to sit here and wait； to be alone again after he
had gone！ It was not to be borne。 Orders or no orders； she would
carry the wallet to him。 He could lecture her as much as he pleased。
To…night； at least； she would lay aside her part as parlour maid
in the drama。 It would give her something to do； keep her mind
off herself。 Nothing but excitement would pull her out of this
semi…hysterical doldrum。
She hid the wallet in the pocket of her underskirt。 Already her
blood was beginning to dance。 She ran into her bedroom for two
veils； a gray automobile puggree and one of those heavy black
affairs with butterflies scattered over it； quite as effectual as
a mask。 She wound the puggree about her hat。 When the right
moment came she would discard the puggree and drop the black veil。
Her coat was of dark blue； lined with steel…gray taffeta。 Turned
inside out it would fool any man。 She wore spats。 These she would
leave behind when she made the change。
Someone might follow her as far as the Knickerbocker； but beyond
there； never。 She was sorry； but she dared not warn Bernini。 He
might object； notify Cutty； and spoil everything。
By the time she reached the street exhilaration suffused her。 The
melancholia was gone。 The sinister and cynical idea had vanished
apparently。 Apparently。 Merely it had found a hiding place and
was content to abide there for the present。 Such ideas are not
without avenues of retreat； they know the hours of attack。 Kitty
was alive to but one fact： The game of hide and seek was on again。
She was going to have some excitement。 She was going into the
night on an adventure； as children play at bears in the dark。 The
youth in her still rejected the fact that the woof and warp of this
adventure were murder and loot and pain。
En route to the Subway she never looked back。 At Forty…second Street
she detrained； walked into the Knickerbocker； entered the ladies
dressing room； turned her coat； redraped her hat； checked her
gaiters； and sought a taxi。 Within two blocks of Cutty's she
dismissed the cab and finished the journey on foot。
At the left of the lobby was an all…night apothecary's； with a door
going into the lobby。 Kitty proceeded to the elevator through this
avenue。 Number Four was down； and she stepped inside； raising her
veil。
〃You； miss？〃
〃Very important。 Take me up。〃
〃The boss is out。〃
〃No matter。 Take me up。
〃You're the doctor！〃 What a pretty girl she was。 No come…on in her
eyes； though。 〃The boss may not get back until morning。 He just
went out in his engineer's togs。 He sure wasn't expecting you。
〃Do you know where he went？〃
〃Never know。 But I'll be in this bird cage until he comes back。〃
〃I shall have to wait for him。〃
〃Up she goes！〃
As Kitty stepped out into the corridor a wave of confusion assailed
her。 She hadn't planned against Cutty's absence。 There was nothing
she could say to the nurse； and if Johnny Two…Hawks was asleep
… why； all she could do would be to curl up on a divan and await
Cutty's return。
The nurse appeared。 〃You； Miss Conover？〃
〃Yes。〃 Kitty realized at once that she must take the nurse into her
confidence。 〃I have made a really important discovery。 Did Cutty
say when he would return？〃
〃No。 I am not in his confidence to that extent。 But I do know that
you assumed unnecessary risks in coming here。〃
Kitty shrugged and produced the wallet。 〃Is Mr。 Hawksley awake？〃
〃He is。〃
〃It appears that he left this wallet in my kitchen that night。 It
might buck him up if I gave it to him。〃
The nurse； eyeing the lovely animated face； conceded that it might。
〃Come； I've been trying futilely to read him asleep； but he is
restless。 No excitement； please。〃
〃I'll try not to。 Perhaps； after all； you had better give him the
wallet。〃
〃On the contrary； that would start a series of questions I could
not answer。 Come along。〃
When Kitty saw Hawksley she gave a little gasp of astonishment。 Why；
he was positively handsome！ His dark head； sta
