the drums of jeopardy-第59章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the head？〃
〃Haven't any； no legs； I'm nothing at all but a bit of my own
imagination。 How do you feel？〃
〃Like the aftermath of an Irish wake。〃 Then Cutty's battered face
assumed an expression that was meant to typify gravity。 〃John；〃 he
aid； 〃I've bad news for you。〃
John。 A glow went over the young man's aching body。 John。 What
could that signify except that he had passed into the eternal
friendship of this old thoroughbred？ John。
〃About Stefani？〃
〃Stefani is dead。 He died speaking your mother's name。〃
Hawksley's head sank； his chin touched his chest。 He spoke without
looking up。 〃Something told me I would never see him alive again。
Old Stefani！ If there is any good in me it will be his handiwork。
〃I say；〃 he added； his eyes now seeking Cutty's； 〃you called me
John。 Will you carry on？〃
〃Keep an eye on you？ So long as you may need me。〃
〃I come from a lawless race。 Stefani had to fight。 Even now I'm
afraid sometimes。 God knows I want to be all he tried to make me。〃
〃You're all right； John。 You've reached haven； the storms hereafter
will be outside。 Besides； Stefani will always be with you。 You'll
never pick up that old Amati without feeling Stefani near。 Can
you stand？〃
〃Between the two of you； perhaps。〃
With Kitty on one side and Cutty on the other Hawksley managed the
descent tolerably well。 Often a foot dragged。 How strong she was；
this girl！ No hysterics； no confusion； after all that racket； with
death … or something worse … reaching out toward her； calmly telling
him that there was another step； warning him not to bear too heavily
on Cutty！ Holding him up physically and morally； these two； now all
he had in life to care for。 Yesterday； unknown to him； this night；
bound by hoops of steel。 The girl had forgiven him； he knew it by
the touch of her arm。。。。 Old Stefani！ A sob escaped him。 Their
arms tightened。
〃No； I was thinking of Stefani。 Rather hard … to die all alone
… because he loved me。〃
Kitty longed to be alone。 There were still many unshed tears … some
for Cutty； some for Stefani Gregor； some for Johnny Two…Hawks； and
some for herself。
In the limousine Cutty sat in the middle； Kitty on his left and
Hawksley on his right； his arms round them both。 Presently
Hawksley's head touched his shoulder and rested there； a little
later Kitty did likewise。 His children！ Lord； he was going to
have a tremendous interest in life； after all！ He smiled with
kindly irony at the back of the chauffeur。 His children； these
two； and he knew as he planned their future that they were thinking
over and round but not of him； which is the way of youth。
At the apartment Cutty decided to let Hawksley sit in an easy chair
in the living room until Captain Harrison arrived。 Kuroki was
ordered to prepare a supper； which would be served on the tea cart；
set at Hawksley's knees。 Kitty … because it was impossible for her
to remain inactive … set the linen and silver。 She was in and out
of the room； ill at ease； angry； frightened； bitter； avoiding
Hawksley's imploring eyes because she was not sure of her own。
She was sure of one thing； however。 All the nonsense was out of her
head。 To…morrow she would be returning to the regular job。 She
would have a page from the Arabian Nights to look upon in the days
to come。 She understood； though it twisted her heart dreadfully： she
was in the eyes of this man a plaything； a pretty woman he had met
in passing。 If she had saved his life he had in turn saved hers；
they were quits。 She did not blame him for his point of view。 He
had come from the top of the world； where women were either ornaments
or playthings； while she and hers had always struggled to maintain
equilibrium in the middle stratum。 Cutty could give him friendship；
but she could not because she was a woman； young and pretty。
Love him？ Well； she would get over it。 It might be only the glamour
of the adventure they had shared。 Anyhow； she wouldn't die of it。
Cutty hadn't。 Of course it hurt； she was a silly little fool； and
all that。 Once he was in Montana he would be sending for his Olga。
There wasn't the least doubt in her mind that if ever autocracy
returned to power； he'd be casting aside his American citizenship；
his chaps and sombrero； for the old regalia。 Well … truculently to
the world at large … why not？
So she avoided Hawksley's gaze； sensing the sustained persistence
of it。 But； oh； to be alone； alone； alone！
Cutty washed the patient's hands and face and patched up the cut on
the cheek； interlarding his chatter with trench idioms； banter；
jokes。 Underneath； though； he was chuckling。 He was the hero of
this tale； he had done all the thrilling stunts； carried limp bodies
across fire escapes in the rain； climbed roofs； eluded newspaper
reporters； fought with his bare fists； rescued the girl。。。。 All
with one foot in the grave！ Fifty…two； gray haired … with a prospect
of rheumatism on the morrow … and putting it over like a debonair
movie idol！
Hawksley met these pleasantries halfway by grousing about being
babied when there was nothing the matter with him but his head； his
body； and his legs。
Why didn't she look at him？ What was the meaning of this persistent
avoidance？ She must have forgiven last night。 She was too much of
a thoroughbred to harbour ill feeling over that。 Why didn't she
look at him？
The telephone called Cutty from the room。
Kitty went into the dining room for an extra pair of salt cellars
and delayed her return until she heard Cutty coming back。
〃Karlov is dead；〃 he announced。 〃Started a fight in the taxi； got
out； and was making for safety when one of the boys shot him。 He
hadn't the jewels on him； John。 I'm afraid they are gone； unless he
hid them somewhere in that … What's the matter； Kitty？〃
For Kitty had dropped the salt cellars and pressed her hands against
her bosom； her face colourless。
Hawksley； terrified； tried to get up。
〃No； no！ Nothing is the matter with me but my head。。。。 To think I
could forget！ Good … heavens！〃 She prolonged the words drolly。
〃Wait。〃
She turned her back to them。 When she faced them again she extended
a palm upon which lay a leather tobacco pouch； cracked and parched
and blistered by the reactions of rain and sun。
〃Think of my forgetting them！ I found them this morning。 Where do
you suppose？ On a step of the fire…escape ladder。〃
〃Well； I'll be tinker…dammed！〃 said Cutty。
〃I've reasoned it out；〃 went on Kitty； breathlessly； looking at
Cutty； 〃When the anarchist tore them from Mr。 Hawksley's neck； he
threw them out of the window。 The room was dark； his companion
could not see。 Later he intended； no doubt； to go into the court
and recover them and cheat his master。 I was looking out of the
window； when I noticed a brilliant flash of purple； then another
of green。 The pouch was open； the stones about to trickle out。
I dared not leave them in the apartment or tell anybody until you
came home。 So I carried them with me to the office。 The drums；
Cutty！ The drums！ Tumpitum…tump！ Look！〃
She poured the stones upon the white linen tablecloth。 A thousand
fires！
〃The wonderful things！〃 she gasped。 〃Oh； the wonderful things！
I don't blame you； Cutty。 They would tempt an angel。 The drums of
jeopardy； and that I should find them！〃
〃Lord！〃 said Cutty； in an awed whisper。 Green stones！ The
magnificent rubies and sapphires and diamonds vanished； he could
see nothing but the exquisite emeralds。 He picked up one … still
warm with Kitty's pulsing life … and toyed with it。 Actually； the
drums！ And all this time they had been inviting the first comer
to appropriate them。 Money； love； tragedy； death； history； pageants；
lovely women； murder and loot！ All these days on the step of the
fire…escape ladder！ He must have one of them； positively he must。
Could he prevail upon Hawksley to sell one？ Had he carried them
through sentiment？
He turned to broach the suggestion of purchase； but remained mute。
Hawksley's head was sunk upon his chest； his arms hung limply at
the sides of his chair。
〃He is fainting！〃 cried Kitty； her love outweighin
