the drums of jeopardy-第26部分

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Hadn't　he　himself　hiked　in　the　old　days　at　the　sight　of　a　copper？
Sure；　he　had。

A　bit　of　colour　on　the　sidewalk　attracted　his　eye；　and　he　picked　up
the　object。　　Something　those　kids　had　been　playing　with。　　A　bit　of
red　glass　out　of　a　piece　of　cheap　jewellery。　　Not　half　bad　for　a
fake。　　He　would　put　one　over　on　Maggie　when　he　turned　in　for　supper。
Certainly　this　was　the　age　of　imitation。　　You　couldn't　buy　a　brass
button　with　any　confidence。　　He　put　the　trinket　in　his　pocket　and
continued　on；　soon　to　forget　it。

At　six　he　was　off　duty。　　As　he　was　leaving　the　precinct　the　desk
sergeant　called　him　back。

〃Got　change　for　a　dollar；　an'　I'll　settle　that　pinochle　debt；〃
offered　the　sergeant。

〃I'll　take　a　look。〃　The　policeman　emptied　his　coin　pocket。

〃What's　that　yuh　got　there？〃

〃Which？〃

〃The　red　stone？〃

〃Oh；　that？　　Picked　it　up　on　the　sidewalk。　　Some　Italian　kids　dropped
it　as　they　skedaddled。〃

〃Let's　have　a　look。〃

〃Sure。〃　The　policeman　passed　over　the　stone。

〃Gee！　　That　looks　like　real　money。　　Say；　they　can　do　anything　with
glass　these　days。〃

〃They　sure　can。

A　man　in　civilian　clothes　…　a　detective　from　headquarters　…　went　up
to　the　desk。　　〃What　you　guys　got　there？〃

〃A　ruby　this　boob　picks　up　off'n　the　sidewalk；〃　said　the　sergeant；
winking　at　the　finder；　who　grinned。

〃Let's　have　a　squint　at　it。〃

The　stone　was　handed　to　him。　　The　detective　stared　at　it　carefully；
holding　it　on　his　palm　and　rocking　it　gently　under　the　desk　light。
Crimson　darts　of　flame　answered　to　this　treatment。　　He　pushed　back
his　hat。

〃Well；　you　boobs！〃　he　drawled。

〃What's　the　matter？〃

〃Matter？　　Why；　this　is　a　ruby！　　A　whale　of　a　ruby；　an'　pigeon　blood
at　that！　　I　didn't　work　in　the'　appraiser's　office　for　nothing。　　But
for　a　broken　point　…　kids　probably　tried　to　crack　it　…　it　would
stack　up　somewhere　between　three　and　four　thousand　dollars！〃

The　sergeant　and　the　policemen　barked　simultaneously：　〃What？〃

〃A　pigeon　blood。　　Where　was　it　you　found　it？〃

〃Holy　Moses！　　On　Eightieth。〃

〃Any　chance　of　finding　that　bunch　of　kids？〃

〃Not　a　chance；　not　a　chance！　　If　I　got　the　hull　district　here　there
wouldn't　be　nothin'　doin'。　　The　kids'd　be　too　scared　t'　remember
anything。　　A　pigeon…blood　ruby；　an'　I　wasn't　gonna　pick　it　up　at
first！〃

〃Lock　it　up；　sergeant；〃　ordered　the　detective。　　〃I'll　pass　the　word
to　headquarters。　　Too　big　for　a　ring。　　Probably　fallen　from　a　pin。
But　there'll　be　a　holler　in　a　few　hours。　　Lost　or　stolen；　there'll
be　some　big　noise。　　You　two　boobs！〃

〃Well；　whadda　yuh　know　about　that？〃　whined　the　policeman。　　〃An'　me
thinkin'　it　was　glass！〃

But　there　was　no　big　noise。　　No　one　had　reported　the　loss　or　theft
of　a　pigeon…blood　ruby　of　unusual　size　and　quality。



CHAPTER　XIX


Kitty　came　home　at　nine　that　night；　dreadfully　tired。　　She　had　that
day　been　rocked　by　so　many　emotions。　　She　had　viewed　the　parade　from
the　windows　of　a　theatrical　agency；　and　she　had　cheered　and　cried
like　everybody　else。　　Her　eyes　still　smarted；　and　her　throat　betrayed
her　every　time　she　recalled　what　she　had　seen。　　Those　boys！

Loneliness。　　She　had　dined　downtown；　and　on　the　way　home　the　shadow
had　stalked　beside　her。　　Loneliness。　　Never　before　had　these　rooms
seemed　so　empty；　empty。　　If　God　had　only　given　her　a　brother　and　he
had　marched　in　that　glorious　parade；　what　fun　they　two　would　be
having　at　this　moment！　　Empty　rooms；　not　even　a　pet。

Loneliness。　　She　had　been　a　silly　little　fool　to　stand　so　aloof；
just　because　she　was　poor　and　lived　in　a　faded　locality。　　She　mocked
herself。　　Poor　but　proud；　like　the　shopgirl　in　the　movies。　　Denied
herself　companionship　because　she　was　ashamed　of　her　genteel　poverty。
And　now　she　was　paying　for　it。　　Silly　little　fool！　　It　wasn't　as　if
she　did　not　know　how　to　make　and　keep　friends。　　She　knew　she　had
attractions。　　Just　a　senseless　false　pride。　　The　best　friends　in　the
world；　after　a　series　of　rebuffs；　would　drop　away。　　Her　mother's
friends　never　called　any　more；　because　of　her　aloofness。　　She　had
only　a　few　girl　friends；　and　even　these　no　doubt　were　beginning　to
think　her　uppish。

She　did　not　take　off　her　hat　and　coat。　　She　wandered　through　the
empty　rooms；　undecided。　　If　she　went　to　a　movie　the　rooms　would　be
just　as　lonely　when　she　returned。　　Companionship。　　The　urge　of　it
was　so　strong　that　there　was　a　temptation　to　call　up　someone；　even
someone　she　had　rebuffed。　　She　was　in　the　mood　to　confess　everything
and　to　make　an　honest　attempt　to　start　all　over　again　…　to　accept
friendship　and　let　pride　go　hang。　　Impulsively　she　started　for　the
telephone；　when　the　doorbell　rang。

Immediately　the　sense　of　loneliness　fell　away。　　Another　chapter　in
the　great　game　of　hide　and　seek　that　had　kept　her　from　brooding
until　to…night？　　The　doorbell　carried　a　new　message　these　days。
Nine　o'clock。　　Who　could　be　calling　at　that　hour？　　She　had　forgotten
to　advise　Cutty　of　the　fact　that　someone　had　gone　through　the
apartment。　　She　could　not　positively　assert　the　fact。　　Those　articles
in　her　bureau　she　herself　might　have　disturbed。　　She　might　have　taken
a　handkerchief　in　a　hurry；　hunted　for　something　under　the　lingerie
impatiently。　　Still　she　could　not　rid　herself　of　the　feeling　that
alien　hands　had　been　rifling　her　belongings。　　Not　Bernini；　decidedly。

Remembering　Cutty's　advice　about　opening　the　door　with　her　foot
against　it；　she　peered　out。　　No　emissary　of　Bolshevisim　here。　　A
weary　little　messenger　boy　with　a　long　box　in　his　arms　called　her
name。

〃Miz　Conover？〃

〃Yes。〃

The　boy　thrust　the　box　into　her　hands　and　clumped　to　the　stairhead。
Kitty　slammed　the　door　and　ran　into　the　living　room；　tearing　open
the　box　as　she　ran。　　Roses　from　Cutty；　she　knew　it。　　The　old　darling！
Just　when　she　was　on　the　verge　of　breaking　down　and　crying！　　She　let
the　box　fall　to　the　floor　and　cuddled　the　flowers　to　her　heart；　her
eyes　filling。　　Cutty。

One　of　those　ideas　which　sometime　or　another　spring　into　the　minds
of　all　pretty　women　who　are　poor　sprang　into　hers　…　an　idea　such　as
an　honest　woman　might　muse　over；　only　to　reject。　　Sinister　and
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