the drums of jeopardy-第6章
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met； and finding some flaw discarded him as a matrimonial
possibility。 Besides； her unusual facilities to view and judge
men had shown her masculine phases the average woman would have
discovered only after the fatal knot was tied。 She did not suspect
that she was romantical。 She attributed her wariness to common
sense。
If there is one place where a pretty young woman may labour without
having to build a wall of liquid air about her to fend off amatory
advances that place is the editorial room of a great metropolitan
daily。 One must have leisure to fall in love； and only the office
boys could assemble enough idle time to call it leisure。
Her desk faced Burlingame's； and Burlingame was the dramatic editor；
a scholar and a gentleman。 He liked to hear Kitty talk； and often
he lured her into the open； and he gathered information about
theatrical folks that was outside even his wide range of knowledge。
A drizzly fog had hung over New York since morning。 Kitty was
finishing up some Sunday special。 Burlingame was reading proofs。
All day theatrical folks had been in and out of this little
ten…by…twelve cubby…hole； and now there would be quiet。
But no。 The door opened and an iron…gray head intruded。
〃Will I be in the way？〃
〃Lord； no！〃 cried Burlingame； throwing down his proofs。 〃Come along
in； Cutty。〃
The great war correspondent came in and sat down； sighing gratefully。
Cutty was a nickname； he carried and smoked … everywhere they would
permit him … the worst…looking and the worst…smelling pipe in
Christendom。 You may not realize it； but a nickname is a round…about
Anglo…Saxon way of telling a fellow you love him。 He was Cutty； but
only among his dear intimates； mind you； to the world at large； to
presidents； kings； ambassadors； generals； and capitalists he is
known by another name。 You will find it on the roster of the Royal
Geographical； on the title page of several unique books on travel；
jewels； and drums； in magazines and newspapers； on the membership
roll of the Savage in London and the Lambs in New York。 But you will
not find it in this story； because it would not be fair to set his
name against the unusual adventures that crossed his line of life
with that of the young man who wore the tobacco pouch suspended from
his neck。
Tall； bony； graceful enough except in a chair； where his angles
became conspicuous； the ruddy； weather…bitten complexion of a
deep…sea sailor； and a sailor man's blue eye； the brow of a thinker
and the mouth of a humourist。 Men often call another man handsome
when a woman knows they mean manly。 Among men Cutty was handsome。
Kitty considerately rose and gathered up her manuscript。
〃No； no； Kitty！ I'd rather talk to you than Burly； here。 You're
always reminding me of that father of yours。 Best comrade I ever
had。 You laugh just like him。 Did your mother ever tell you that
old Cutty is your godfather？〃
〃Good gracious！〃
〃Fact。 I told your dad I'd watch over you。〃
〃And a fat lot of watching you've done to date；〃 jeered Burlingame。
〃Couldn't help that。 But I can be on the job until I return to the
Balkans。〃
Kitty laughed joyously and sat down； perhaps a little thrilled。 She
had always admired Cutty from afar； shyly。 Once in a blue moon he
had in the old days appeared for tea； and he and Mrs。 Conover would
spend the balance of the afternoon discussing the lovable qualities
of Tommy Conover。 Kitty had seen him but twice during the war。
〃Every so often；〃 began Cutty； 〃I have to find listeners。 Fact。 I
used to hate crowds； listeners； but those ten days in an open boat；
a thousand miles from anywhere； made me gregarious。 I'm always
wanting company and hating to go to bed； which is bad business for
a man of fifty…two。〃 Cutty's ship had been torpedoed。
To Kitty； with his tired eyes and weather…bitten face； his bony；
gangling body； he had the appearance of a lazy man。 Actually she
knew him to be a man of tremendous vitality and endurance。 Eagles
when they roost are heavy…lidded and clumsy。 She wondered if there
was a corner on the globe he had not peered into。
For thirty years he had been following two gods … Rumour and War。
For thirty years he had been the slave of cables and telegrams。
Even now he was preparing to return to the Balkans； where the great
fire had started and where there were still some threatening embers
to watch。
Cutty was not well known in America； his reputation was European。
He played the game because he loved it； being comfortably fortified
with worldly goods。 He was a linguist of rare attainments；
specializing in the polyglot of southeastern Europe。 He came and
went like cloud shadow。 His foresight was so keen he was seldom
ordered to go here or there； he was generally on the spot when the
orders arrived。
He was interested in socialism and its bewildering ramifications；
but only as an analytical student。 He could fit himself into any
environment； interview a prime minister in the afternoon and take
potluck that night with the anarchist who was planning to blow up
the prime minister。
Burlingame； an intimate； often exposed for Kitty's delectation the
amazing and colourful facets of Cutty's diamond…brilliant mind。
Cutty wrote authoritatively on famous gems and collected drums。
He had one of the finest collections of chrysoprase in the world。
He loved these semi…precious stones because of their unmatchable；
translucent green … like the pulp of a grape。 From Burlingame
Kitty had learned that Cutty； rather indifferent to women； carried
about with him the photographs … large size … of famous professional
beauties and a case filled with polished chrysoprase。 He would lay
a photograph on a table and adorn the lovely throat with astonishing
necklaces and the head with wonderful tiaras； all the while his
brain at work with some intricate political puzzle。
And he collected drums。 The walls of his apartment … part of the
loft of a midtown office building … were covered with a most
startling assortment of drums： drums of war； of the dance； of the
temples of the feast； ancient and modern； some of them dreadful
looking objects； as Kitty had cause to remember。
Though Cutty had known her father and mother intimately； Kitty was
a comparative stranger。 He recollected seeing her perhaps a dozen
times。 She had been a shy child； not given to climbing over
visitors' knees； not the precocious offspring of the average
theatrical mother。 So in the past he had somewhat overlooked her。
Then one day recently he had dropped in to see Burlingame and had
seen Kitty instead； which accounts for his presence here this day。
Neither Kitty nor Burlingame suspected the true attraction。 The
dramatic editor accepted the advent as a peculiar compliment to
himself。 And it is to be doubted if Cutty himself realized that
there was a true magnetic pole in this cubbyhole of a room。
Kitty； however； had vivid recollections。 Actually the first strange
man she had ever met。 But not having been visible on her horizon；
except in flashes； she knew of the man only what she had read and
what Burlingame had casually offered during discussions。
〃Well； anyhow；〃 said Burlingame； complacently； 〃the war is over。
Cutty smiled indulgently。 〃That's the trouble with us chaps who
tramp round the world for news。 We can't bamboozle ourselves like
you folks who stay at home。 The war was only the first phase。
There's a mess over there； wanting something and not knowing exactly
what； those millions； milling cattle； with neither shed nor pasture。
The Lord only knows how long it will take to clarify。 Would you
mind if I smoked？〃
〃Wow！〃 cried Burlingame。
〃Not at all；〃 answered Kitty。 〃I don't see how any pipe could be
worse than Mr。 Burlingame's。〃
〃I apologize；〃 said the dramatic editor； humbly。
〃You needn't；〃 replied the girl。 She turned to the war correspondent。
〃Any new drums？〃
〃I remember that day。 You were scared half to death at my walls。〃
〃Small wonder！ I was only twelve； and I dreamed of cannibals for
weeks。〃
〃Drums！ I wonder if any living man has heard a greater variety
than I？ What a lot of them！ I have heard them ca
