the drums of jeopardy-第23部分

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〃How　do　you　know？〃

〃I　am　Henderson。　　You　assigned　me　to　watch　the　apartment　in　Eightieth
through　the　night。　　I　followed　the　man　who　followed　you。　　He　saw　your
face　when　you　lit　the　pipe。　　When　the　banker　left　Miss　Conover　he　was
followed　home。　　That　established　him　in　the　affair。　　The　follower　hung
round；　and　so　did　I。　　You　appeared。　　He　took　a　chance　shot　in　the　dark。
Not　sure；　but　doing　a　bit　of　clever　guessing。〃

〃You　still　followed　him？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Where　did　he　wind　up？〃

〃A　house　in　the　warehouse　district。　　Vacant　warehouses　on　each　side。
Some　new　nest。　　I　can　lead　you　to　it；　sir；　any　time　you　wish。〃

〃Thanks。〃

Cutty　pushed　aside　the　telephone　and　returned　to　his　green　stones。
After　all；　why　worry？　　It　was　unfortunate；　of　course；　but　the
apartment　was　more　inaccessible　than　the　top　of　the　Matterhorn。
Still；　they　might　discover　what　his　real　business　was　and　interfere
seriously　with　his　future　work　on　the　other　side。　　A　ruin　in　the
warehouse　district？　　A　good　place　to　look　for　Stefani　Gregor　…　if
he　were　still　alive。

He　was。　　And　in　his　dark　room　he　cried　piteously　for　water　…　water
　…　water！



CHAPTER　XVII


A　March　day；　sunny　and　cloudless；　with　fresh；　bracing　winds。　　Green
things　pushed　up　from　the　soil；　an　eternal　something　was　happening
to　the　tips　of　the　tree　branches；　an　eternal　something　was　happening
in　young　hearts。　　A　robin　shook　the　dust　of　travel　from　his　wings
and　bathed　publicly　in　a　park　basin。

Here　and　there　under　the　ten　thousand　roofs　of　the　great　city　poets
were　busy　with　inkpots；　trying　to　say　an　old　thing　in　a　new　way。
Woe　to　the　pinched　soul　that　did　not　expand　this　day；　for　it　was
spring。　　Expansion！　　Nature　…　perhaps　she　was　relenting　a　little；
perhaps　she　saw　that　humanity　was　sliding　down　the　scale；　withering；
and　a　bit　of　extra　sunshine　would　serve　to　check　the　descension　and
breed　a　little　optimism。

Cutty's　study。　　The　sunlight；　thrown　westward；　turned　windows　and
roofs　and　towers　into　incomparable　bijoux。　　The　double　reflection
cast　a　white　light　into　the　room；　lifting　out　the　blue　and　old…rose
tints　of　the　Ispahan　rug。

Cutty　shifted　the　chrysoprase；　irresolutely　for　him。　　A　dozen
problems；　and　it　was　mighty　hard　to　decide　which　to　tackle　first。
Principally　there　was　Kitty。　　He　had　not　seen　her　in　four　days；
deeming　it　advisable　for　her　not　to　call　for　the　present。　　The
Bolshevik　agent　who　had　followed　him　from　the　banker's　might
decide；　without　the　aid　of　some　connecting　episode；　that　he　had
wasted　his　time。

It　did　not　matter　that　Kitty　herself　was　no　longer　watched　and
followed　from　her　home　to　the　office；　from　the　office　home。　　Was
Karlov　afraid　or　had　he　some　new　trick　up　his　sleeve？　　It　was　not
possible　that　he　had　given　up　Hawksley。　　He　was　probably　planning
an　attack　from　some　unexpected　angle。　　To　be　sure　that　Karlov
would　not　find　reason　to　associate　him　with　Kitty；　Cutty　had
remained　indoors　during　the　daytime　and　gone　forth　at　night　in
his　dungarees。

Problem　Two　was　quite　as　formidable。　　The　secret　agent　who　had
passed　as　a　negotiator　for　the　drums　of　jeopardy　had　disappeared。
That　had　sinister　significance。　　Karlov　did　not　intend　to　sell　the
drums；　merely　wanted　precise　information　regarding　the　man　who　had
advertised　for　them。　　If　the　secret…service　man　weakened　under
torture；　Cutty　recognized　that　his　own　usefulness　would　be　at　an
end。　　He　would　have　to　step　aside　and　let　the　great　currents　sweep
on　without　him。　　In　that　event　these　fifty…two　years　would　pile
upon　his　head；　full　measure；　for　the　only　thing　that　kept　him
vigorous　was　action；　interest。　　Without　some　great　incentive　he
would　shrivel　up　and　blow　away　…　like　some　exhumed　mummy。

Problem　Three。　　How　the　deuce　was　he　going　to　fascinate　Kitty　if
he　couldn't　see　her？　　But　there　was　a　bit　of　silver　lining　here。
If　he　couldn't　see　her；　what　chance　had　Hawksley？　　The　whole　sense
and　prompting　of　this　problem　was　to　keep　Kitty　and　Hawksley　apart。
How　this　was　accomplished　was　of　no　vital　importance。　　Problem
Three；　then；　hung　fire　for　the　present。　　Funny；　how　this　idea　stuck
in　his　head；　that　Hawksley　was　a　menace　to　Kitty。　　One　of　those　fool
ideas；　probably；　but　worth　trying　out。

Problem　Four。　　That　night；　all　on　his　own；　he　would　make　an　attempt
to　enter　that　old　house　sandwiched　between　the　two　vacant　warehouses。
Through　pressure　of　authority　he　had　obtained　keys　to　both　warehouses。
There　would　be　a　trap　on　the　roof　of　that　house。　　Doubtless　it　would
be　covered　with　tin；　fairly　impregnable　if　latched　below。　　But　he
could　find　out。　　From　the　third…floor　windows　of　either　warehouse
the　drop　was　not　more　than　six　feet。　　If　anywhere　in　town　poor　old
Stefani　Gregor　would　be　in　one　of　those　rooms。　　But　to　storm　the
house　frontally；　without　being　absolutely　sure；　would　be　folly。
Gregor　would　be　killed。　　The　house　was　in　fact　an　insane　asylum；
occupied　by　super…insane　men。　　Warned；　they　were　capable　of　blowing
the　house　to　kingdom　come；　themselves　with　it。

Problem　Five　was　a　mere　vanishing　point。　　He　doubted　if　he　would
ever　see　those　emeralds。　　What　an　infernal　pity！

He　built　a　coronet　and　leaned　back；　a　wisp　of　smoke　darting　up　from
the　bowl　of　his　pipe。

〃I　say；　you　know；　but　that's　a　ripping　game　to　play！〃　drawled　a
tired　voice　over　his　shoulder。

Cutty　turned　his　head；　to　behold　Hawksley；　shaven；　pale；　and
handsome；　wrapped　in　a　bed　quilt　and　swaying　slightly。

〃What　the　deuce　are　you　doing　out　of　your　room？〃　growled　Cutty；　but
with　the　growl　of　a　friendly　dog。

Hawksley　dropped　into　a　chair　weakly。　　〃End　of　my　rope。　　Got　to　talk
to　someone。　　Go　dotty；　else。　　Questions。　　Skull　aches　with　'em。　　Want
to　know　whether　this　is　a　foretaste　of　the　life　I　have　a　right　to
live　…　or　the　beginning　of　death。　　Be　a　good　sport；　and　let's　have
it　out。〃

〃What　is　it　you　wish　to　know？〃　asked　Cutty；　gently。　　The　poor　beggar！

〃Where　I　am。　　Who　you　are。　　What　happened　to　me。　　What　is　going　to
happen　to　me；〃　rather　breathlessly。　　〃Don't　want　any　more　suspense。
Don't　want　to　look　over　my　shoulder　any　more。　　Straight　ahead。　　All
the　cards　on　the　table；　please。〃

Cutty　rose　and　pushed　the　invalid's　chair　to　a　window　and　drew　another
up　beside　it。

〃My　word；　the　top　of　the　world！　　Bally　odd　roost。〃

〃You　will　find　it　safer　here　than　you　would　on　the　shores　of　Kaspuskoi
More；〃　replied　Cutty；　gravely。　　〃The　Caspian　wouldn't　be　a　healthy　place
for　you　now。〃

With　wide　eyes　Hawksley　stared　across　the　shining；　wavering　roofs。　　A
pause。　　〃What　do　you　know？〃　he　asked；　faintly。

〃Everything。　　But　wait！〃　　Cutty　fetched　one　of　the　photographs　and　laid
it　upon　the　young　man's　knees。　　〃Know　who　this　is　…　Two…Hawks？〃

A　strained；　tense　gesture　as　Hawksley　seized　the　photograph；　then
his　chin　sank　slowly　to　his　chest。　　A　moment　later　Cutty　was
profoundly　astonished　to　see　something　sparkle　on　its　way　down　the
bed　quilt。　　Tears！

〃I'm　sorry！〃　cried　Cutty；　troubled　and　embarrassed。　　〃I'm　terribly
sorry！　　I　should　have　had　the　decency　to　wait　a　day　or　two。〃

〃On　the　contrary；　thank　you！〃　　Hawksley　flung　up　his　head。　　〃Nothing
in　all　God's　muddied　world　could　be　more　timely　…　the　face　of　my
mother！　　I　am　not　ashamed　of　these　tears。　　I　am　not　afraid　to　die。
I　am　not　even　afraid　to　live。　　But　all　the　things　I　loved　…　the
familiar　earth；　the　human　beings；　my　dog　…　gone。　　I　am　alone。〃

〃I'm　sorry；〃　repeated　Cutty；　a　bit　choked　up。　　This　was　honest
misery　and　it　affected　him　deeply。　　He　felt　himself　singularly　drawn。

〃I　want　to　live。　　Because　I　am　young？　　No。　　I　want　to　prove　to　the
shades　of　those　who　loved　me　that　I　am　fit　to　go　on。　　So　my　identity
is　known　to　you？〃　…　dejectedly。

〃Yes。　　You　wish　me　to　forget　what　I　know？〃

〃Will　you？〃　…　eagerly。　　〃Will　you　forget　that　I　am　anything　but　a
naked；　friendless　human　being？〃

〃Yes。　　But　your　enemies　know。〃

〃I　rather　fancy　they　will　keep　the　truth　to　themselves。　　Let　them
publish　my　identity；　and　a　hundred　havens　would　be　offered。　　Your
Government　would　protect　me。〃

〃It　is　doing　so　now；　indirectly。　　But　why　do　you　not　want　it　known？〃

〃Freedom！　　Would　I　have　it　if　known？　　Could　I　trust　anybody？　　Would
it　not　be　essentially　the　old　life　in　a　new　land？　　I　want　a　new　life
in　a　new　land。　　I　want　to　be　born　again。　　I　want　to　be　what　you
patently　are；　an　American。　　That　is　why　I　risked　life　a　hundred
times　in　coming　all　these　miles；　why　I　sit　in　this　chair　before　you；
with　the　room　rocking　because　they　battered　in　my　head。　　I　do　not
offer　a　human　wreck；　an　illiterate　mind；　in　exchange　for　citizenship。
I　bring　a　tolerably　decent　manhood。　　Try　me！　　Always　I　have　admired
you　people。　　Always　we　Russians　have。　　But　there　is　no　Russia　now　
that　I　can　ever　return　to！〃　　Hawksley's　head　drooped　again　and　his
bloodshot　eyes　closed。

Cutty　sensed　confusion；　indecision；　all　his　deductions　were　upset
in　the　face　of　this　strange　appeal。　　Russian；　born　of　an　Italian
mother　and　speaking　Oxford　English　as　if　it　were　his　birthright；　and
wanting　citizenship！　　Wasn't　ashamed　of　his　tears；　wasn't　afraid　to
die　or　to　live！　　Cutty　searched　quickly　for　a　new　handhold　to　his
antagonism；　but　he　found　only　straws。　　He　was　honest　enough　to
realize　that　he　had　built　this　antagonism　upon　a　want；　a　desire；
there　was　no　foundation　for　it。　　Downright　likeable。　　A　chap　who　had
gone　through　so　much；　who　was　in　such　a　pitiable　condition；　would
not　have　the　wit　to　manufacture　character；　camouflage　his　soul。

〃Hang　it！〃　he　said；　briskly。　　〃You　shall　have　your　chance。　　Talk　like
that　will　carry　a　man　anywhere　in　this　country。　　You　shall　stay　here
until　you　are　strong　again。　　Then　some　night　I'll　put　you　on　your
train　for　Montana。　　You　want　to　ask　questions。　　I'll　save　you　the
trouble　by　telling　you　what　I　know。〃

But　his　narrative　contained　no　mention　of　the　emeralds。　　Why？　　A　bit
conscience…stricken　because；　if　he　could；　he　was　going　to　rob　his
guest　on　the　basis　that　findings　is　keepings？　　Cutty　wasn't　ready　to
analyze　the　omission。　　Perhaps　he　wanted　Hawksley　himself　to　inquire
about　the　stones；　test　him　out。　　If　he　asked　frankly　that　would
signify　that　he　had　brought　the　stones　in　honestly；　paid　his
obligations　to　the　Customs。　　Otherwise；　smuggling；　an