the drums of jeopardy-第52章
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rust on the fire…escape ladder； which was on the Gregor side of
the platform； had the semblance of powdered gold。
Half an hour later she was speeding downtown to the office。 All
through the day she walked； worked； talked as one in the state of
trance。 There were periods of stupefaction which at length roused
Burlingame's curiosity。
〃Kitty； what's the matter with you？ You look dazed about something。〃
〃How do you clean a pipe？〃 she countered； irrelevantly。
〃Clean a pipe？〃 he repeated； nearly overbalancing his chair。
〃Yes。 You see； I may make up my mind to marry a man who smokes a
pipe；〃 said Kitty； desperately； eager to steer Burlingame into
another channel； 〃and certainly I ought to know how to clean one。〃
〃Kitty； I'm an old…timer。 You can't sidetrack me like this。
Something has happened。 You say you had a great time in the
country； and you come in as pale as the moon； like someone
suffering from shell shock。 Ever since Cutty came in here that
day you've been acting oddly。 You may not know it； but Cutty
asked me to send you out of town。 You've been in some kind of
danger。 What's the yarn？〃
〃So big that no newspaper will ever publish it； Burly。 If Cutty
wants to tell you some day he can。 I haven't the right to。〃
〃Did he drag you into it or did you fall into it？〃
〃I walked into it； as presently I shall walk out of it … all on my
own。
〃Better keep your eyes open。 Cutty's a stormy petrel； when he
flies there's rough weather。〃
〃What do you know about him？〃
〃Probably what he has already told you … that he is a foreign agent
of the Government。 What do you know？〃
〃Everything but one thing； and that's a problem particularly my own。〃
〃Alien stuff； I suppose。 Cutty's strong on that。 Well； mind your
step。 The boys are bringing in queer scraps about something big
going to happen May Day … no facts； just rumours。 Better shoot for
home the shortest route each night and stick round there。〃
There are certain spiritual exhilarants that nullify caution；
warning the presence of danger。 The boy with his first pay envelope；
the lover who has just been accepted； the debutante on the way to her
first ball； the impetus that urges us to rush in where angels fear
to tread。
At a quarter after five Kitty left the office for home； unaware that
the attribute designated as caution had evaporated from her system。
She proceeded toward the Subway mechanically； the result of habit。
Casually she noted two taxicabs standing near the Subway entrance。
That she noted them at all was due to the fact that Subway entrances
were not fortuitous hunting grounds for taxicabs。 Only the unusual
would have attracted her in her present condition of mind。 It takes
time and patience to weave a good web … observe any spider … time in
finding a suitable place for it； patience in the spinning。 All that
worried Karlov was the possibility of her not observing him。 If he
could place his taxicabs where they would attract her； even casually；
the main difficulty would be out of the way。 The moment she turned
her head toward the cabs he would step out into plain view。 The girl
was susceptible and adventuresome。
Kitty saw a man step out of the foremost taxicab； give some
instructions to the chauffeur； and get back into the cab；
immediately to be driven off at moderate speed。 She recognized the
man at once。 Never would she forget that squat； gorilla…like body。
Karlov！ Yonder； in that cab！ She ran to the remaining cab； wherein
she differed from angels。
〃Are you free？〃
〃Yes； miss。〃
〃See that taxi going across town？ Follow it and I will give you ten
extra fare。〃
〃You're on； miss。〃
Karlov peered through the rear window of his cab。 If she had in
tow a Federal agent the manoeuvre would fail； at a great risk to
himself。 But he would soon be able to tell whether or not she was
being followed。
As a matter of fact； she was not。 She had returned to New York a
day before she was expected。 Her unknown downtown guardian would
not turn up for duty until ordered by Cutty to do so。 She entered
the second cab with no definite plan in her head。 Karlov； the man
who wanted to kill Johnny Two…Hawks； the man who held Stefani
Gregor a prisoner！ For the present these facts were sufficient。
〃Don't get too near；〃 said Kitty through the speaking tube。 〃Just
keep the cab in sight。〃
A perfectly logical compensation。 She herself had set in motion
the machinery of this amazing adventure； it was logically right
that she should end it。 Poor dear old Cutty … to fancy he could
pull the wool over Kitty Conover's eyes！ Cutty； the most honest
man alive； had set his foot upon an unethical bypath and now found
himself among nettles。 To keep Johnny Two…Hawks prisoner in that
lofty apartment while he hunted for the drums of jeopardy！ Hadn't
he said he had seen emeralds he would steal with half a chance？
Cutty； playing at this sort of game； his conscience biting whichever
way he turned！ He had been hunting unsuccessfully for the stones
that night he had come in with his face and hands bloody。 Why
hadn't he kissed her？
Johnny Two…Hawks … bourgeois？ Utter nonsense！ Of course it did
not matter now what he was； he had dug a bridgeless chasm with that
smile。 Sometime to…morrow he and Stefani Gregor would be on their
way to Montana； and that would be the last of them both。 To…morrow
would mark the fork in the road。 But life would never again be
humdrum for Kitty Conover。
The taxicabs were bumping over cobbles； through empty streets。 It
was six by now； at that hour this locality； which she recognized as
the warehouse district； was always dead。 The deserted streets； how
ever； set in motion a slight perturbation。 Supposing Karlov grew
suspicious and turned aside from his objective？ Even as this
disturbing thought took form Karlov's taxicab stopped。 Kitty's
stopped also； but without instructions from her。 She had intended
to drive on and from the rear window observe if Karlov entered that
old red…brick house。
〃Go on！〃 she called through the tube。
The chauffeur obeyed； but he stopped again directly behind Karlov's
taxicab。 He slid off his seat and opened the door。 His face was grim。
Tumpitum…tump！ Tumpitum…tump！ She did not hear the tocsin this time；
she felt it on her spine … the drums of fear。 If they touched her！
〃Come with me； miss。 If you are sensible you will not be harmed。 If
you cut up a racket I'll have to carry you。〃
〃What does this mean？〃 faltered Kitty。
〃That we have finally got you； miss。 You can see for yourself that
there isn't any help in sight。 Better take it sensibly。 We don't
intend to hurt you。 It's somebody else we want。 There's a heavy
score against you； but we'll overlook it if you act sensibly。 You
were very clever last night； but the game depends upon the last
trick。〃
〃I'll go sensibly；〃 Kitty agreed。 They must not touch her！
Karlov did not speak as he opened the door of the house for her。
His expression was Buddha…like。
〃This way； miss；〃 said the chauffeur； affably。
〃You are an American？〃
〃Whenever it pays。〃
Presently Kitty found herself in the attic； alone。 They hadn't
touched her； so much was gained。 Poor little fool that she was！
It was fairly dark now； but overhead she could see the dim outlines
of the scuttle or trap。 The attic was empty except for a few pieces
of lumber and some soap boxes。 She determined to investigate the
trap at once； before they came again。
She placed two soap boxes on end and laid a plank across。 After
testing its stability she mounted。 She could reach the trap easily；
with plenty of leverage to spare。 She was confident that she could
draw herself up to the roof。 She sought for the hooks and liberated
them； then she placed her palms against the trap and heaved。 Not
even a creak answered her。 She pressed upward again and again。 The
trap was immovable。
Light。 She turned； to behold Kariov in the doorway； a candlestick
in his hand。 〃The scuttle is covered with cement； Miss Conover。
Nobody can get in or out。〃
Kitty got down； her knees uncertain。 If he touched her！ Oh； the
fool she had been！
〃What are y
