children of the whirlwind-第6部分

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　around　the　tables　at　lunch　and　at　tea…time　and　during　dinner　and　during　the　after…theater　supper。　I'm　supposed　to　be　there　to　sell　cigarettes；　but　I'm　really　there　to　watch　how　the　ladies　handle　their　knives　and　forks　and　behave　toward　the　men。　Isn't　it　all　awfully　clever？〃

〃Why；　Maggie！〃　he　exclaimed。

〃And　pretty　soon；　when　I've　learned　more；〃　she　continued　rapidly；　〃I'm　going　to　have　swell　clothes　of　my　ownand　be　a　ladyand　get　away　from　this　dingy；　stuffy；　dead　old　place！　I　can't　stand　for　being　buried　down　here　much　longer。　And；　oh；　Larry；　I'm　going　to　begin　to　work　with　you！〃

〃What？〃　he　blinked；　not　yet　quite　understanding。

〃You　think　I'm　not　clever　enough？　But　I　am！〃　she　protested。　〃I　tell　you　I've　learned　a　lot。　And　Barney　and　father　have　let　me　help　in　a　lot　of　thingsnothing　really　big　yet；　of　course。　They　think　I'm　going　to　be　a　wonder。　Just　to…day　father　was　saying　that　you　and　I；　teamed　upWhy；　what's　the　matter；　Larry？〃

〃You　and　Iteamed　up；〃　he　repeated　slowly。

〃Yes。　Don't　you　like　the　idea？〃

His　hands　suddenly　gripped　her　bare　shoulders。

〃There's　nothing　to　it！〃　he　exclaimed　almost　savagely。

〃What's　that？〃　she　cried；　startled。

〃I　tell　you　there's　nothing　to　it！〃

〃Youyou　think　I　can't　put　it　over？〃

〃You　can't！　And　I'm　not　going　to　have　it！〃

〃Whywhy〃

Staring；　she　drew　slowly　away　from　him。　His　face；　which　a　few　moments　before　had　been　smiling；　was　now　harsh　and　dominant　with　decision。　She　had　heard　him　spoken　of　as　〃Laughing　Larry〃；　and　also　as　〃Terrible　Larry〃　whose　aroused　will　none　could　brook。　He　looked　this　latter　person　now；　and　she　could　not　understand。

But　though　she　could　not　understand；　her　own　defiant　spirit　stormed　up　to　fight　this　unexpected　opposition。　He　didn't　believe　in　herthat　was　it！　He　didn't　think　she　was　equal　to　working　with　him！　Her　young　figure　stiffened　in　angered　pride；　and　her　mind　was　gathering　hot　phrases　to　fling　at　him　when　the　door　from　the　pawnshop　began　to　creak　open。　Instantly　Larry　turned　toward　it；　relaxed　and　yet　alert　for　anything。　Old　Jimmie　and　Barney　Palmer　entered。

〃Hello；　Larry！〃　cried　the　old　man；　crossing。　〃Welcome　to　our　city！〃

〃Hello；　Jimmie。　Hello；　Barney。〃　And　Larry　shook　hands　with　his　partners　of　other　days。

〃Gee；　Larry；　it's　good　to　see　you！〃　exclaimed　the　cunning…eyed　old　man。　〃Didn't　know　you　were　back　till　I　bumped　into　Gavegan　on　Broadway。　He　told　me；　and　so　Barney　and　I　beat　it　over　here　to　see　you。　Believe　me；　Larry；　that　flatfoot　is　certainly　sore　at　you！〃

Larry　ignored　the　last　sentence。　〃Think　it　exactly　wise　for　you　two　to　come　here？〃

〃Why　Larry；？〃

〃Gavegan；　Casey；　the　police；　may　follow；　thinking　you've　come　to　see　me　for　some　purpose。　That　outfit　may　act　upon　suspicion。〃

Jimmie　grinned　cunningly。　〃A　man　can　come　to　visit　his　own　daughter　as　often　as　he　likes。　Father　love；　Larry。〃

〃I　see；　that'll　be　your　explanation。〃　Larry's　eyes　grew　keen　at　the　new　understanding。　〃I　hadn't　thought　of　that　before；　Jimmie。　So　that's　why　you've　always　boarded　Maggie　around　in　shady　joints：　so's　you　could　meet　your　pals　and　yet　always　have　the　excuse　that　you　had　come　to　meet　your　daughter？〃

〃Partly　that；〃　smiled　Old　Jimmie　blandlyperhaps　too　blandly。　〃Suppose　we　sit　down。〃

They　did　so；　Maggie　sitting　a　little　apart　from　the　men　and　regarding　Larry　with　indignant；　questioning　eyes。　She　still　could　not　understand　his　queer　behavior　when　she　had　announced　her　intention　of　working　with　him。　Could　it　be；　as　her　father　had　said；　because　he　would　never　work　with　womennot　trusting　them？　She'd　show　him！

She　was　so　occupied　with　this　wonderment　that　she　gave　no　heed　to　the　talk　about　Larry's　experience　in　Sing　Sing　and　Old　Jimmie's　recital　of　what　had　happened　among　Larry's　friends　during　his　absence。　During　this　gossip　the　Duchess　entered　from　the　stairway；　and　without　word　to　any　one　shuffled　across　to　her　desk　in　a　corner　and　bent　silently　over　her　accounts：　just　one　more　grotesque　and　unredeemed　pledge　in　this　museum　of　antiquities　and　forgotten　pawns。

Presently　Barney　Palmer；　who　had　been　impatient　during　all　this；　broke　out　with：

〃Aw；　let's　cut　out　this　chatter　about　what　used　to　be　and　get　down　to　cases。　Jimmie；　will　you　spill　the　business　to　Larry；　or　want　me　to？〃

〃I'll　tell　him。　Listen；　Larry。〃　Maggie　pricked　up　her　ears；　the　talk　was　now　excitingly　important。　〃We've　got　our　very　greatest　game　all　planned　out。　Stock…selling　game；　going　to　unload　the　whole　thing　on　one　sucker；　and　we've　got　the　sucker　picked　out。　Besides　you　and　Barney　and　me；　there's　Red　Hannigan　and　Jack　Rosenfeldt　in　ita　classy　bunch　all　right。　And　we　think　that　for　the　woman　end　we'll　take　in　Mae　Gorham。　She's　clever　and　innocent…eyed〃

〃But　I　thought　you　were　going　to　take　me　in！〃　protested　Maggie。

〃Maggie'll　be　just　as　good　as　Mae　Gorham；〃　put　in　Barney。

〃We'll　let　that　pass；〃　said　Old　Jimmie。　〃The　main　thing；　Larry；　is　that　everything　is　ready。　It's　a　whale　of　a　business　proposition。　We've　been　waiting　for　you；　you're　all　that's　lackingthe　brainy　guy　to　sit　behind　the　scenes　and　manage　the　thing。　You've　handled　the　bunch　for　a　long　time；　and　they　want　you　to　handle　this。　For　you're　sure　a　wonder　at　business；　Larry！　None　keener。　Well；　we've　held　this　off　waiting　for　you　for　a　month。　How　about　jumping　right　in？〃

All　three　eyed　Larry。　His　lean　face　was　expressionless。　He　lit　a　cigarette；　rose　and　leaned　against　the　Duchess's　safe　on　which　stood　the　green　parrot；　and；　gaze　on　the　floor；　slowly　exhaled　smoke　through　his　nostrils。

〃Well？〃　demanded　Barney。

Larry　looked　at　the　two　men　with　quiet；　even　eyes。　〃Thanks　to　both　of　you。　It's　a　great　compliment。　But　I've　had　time　to　do　a　little　planning　myself　up　in　Sing　Sing；　and　I've　worked　out　a　game　that's　got　this　one　beat　a　mile。〃

〃Hell！〃　ejaculated　Barney　in　wrathful　disgust。　〃Jimmie；　I　told　you　we　were　wasting　time　waiting　for　him！〃

〃Hold　on　a　second；　Barney。　If　Larry's　worked　out　a　better　game；　he'll　take　us　into　it。　But；　Larry；　how　can　your　game　beat　this　one？〃

〃Because　there's　more　money　in　it。　And　because　it's　safer。〃

〃Safe！　Aw；　hell！〃　The　smouldering　jealousy　and　hatred　glared　out　of　Barney's　greenish　eyes。　〃I　always　knew　you　had　a　yellow　streak！　Something　safe！　Aw；　hell！〃

〃Don't　blow　up；　Barney。　What　is　the　new　game；　Larry？〃　queried　the　old　man。

Larry　regarded　the　two　men　steadfastly。　He　seemed　reluctant　to　speak。

〃Well？〃　prompted　Old　Jimmie。　〃Is　it　something　you　don't　want　to　let　us　in　on？〃

〃Of　course　I'll　let　you　in　on　it；　and　be　glad　to；　if　you　want　to　come　in；〃　Larry　replied　in　his　level　tone。　〃As　I　said；　I've　thought　it　all　out　and　it's　a　great　proposition。　Here's　the　game：　I'm　going　to　run　straight。〃

For　a　moment　all　three　sat　astounded　by　this　quiet　statement　from　their　leader。　Nothing　he　might　have　said　could　have　been　more　unexpected；　more　stupefying。　The　Duchess　alone　moved；　she　turned　her　head　and　held　her　sunken　eyes　upon　her　grandson。

Simultaneously　the　two　men　and　Maggie　stood　up。

〃The　hell　you　say！〃　grated　Barney　Palmer。

〃Larry；　you　gone　crazy？〃　cried　Old　Jimmie。

Maggie　moved　a　pace　nearer　him。　〃Going　to　go　straight？〃　she　asked　incredulously。

〃Listen；　all　of　you；〃　Larry　said　quietly。　〃No；　Jimmie；　I've　not　gone　crazy。　I'm　merely　going　a　little　sane。　You　just　said　I　was　a　wonder　at　business；　Jimmie。　I　think　I　am　myself。　I　thought　it　all　over　as　a　business　proposition。　Suppose　we　clean　up　fifty　or　a　hundred　thousand　on　a　big　deal。　We've　got　to　split　it　several　ways；　perhaps　pay　a　big　piece　to　the　police　for　protection；　perhaps　pay　a　lot　of　lawyers；　and　then　perhaps　get　sent　away　for　a　year　or　several　years；　during　which　we　don't　take　in　a　nickel。　I　figured　that　over　a　term　of　years　my　average　income　was　mighty　small。　As　a　business　man　it　seemed　to　me　that　I　was　in　a　poor　business；　with　no　future。　So　I　decided　to　get　into　a　new　business　that　had　a　future。　That's　the　size　of　it。〃

〃You're　turning　yellowthat's　the　real　size　of　it！〃　snarled　Barney　Palmer；　half　starting　toward　him。

〃Better　be　a　little　careful；　Barney；〃　Larry　warned　with　tightening　jaw。

〃You　really　mean；　Larry；〃　demanded　Old　Jimmie；　〃that　you're　going　to　drop　us　after　us　counting　on　you　and　waiting　for　you　so　long？〃

〃I'm　sorry　about　having　kept　you　waiting；　Jimmie。　But　we've　parted　definitely。〃　Then　Larry　added：　〃Unless　you　want　to　travel　my　road。〃

〃Your　road！　Never！〃　snapped　Barney。

〃And　you；　Jimmie？　〃　Larry　inquired；　his　eyes　on　Barney's　inflamed　face。

〃I　don't　see　your　proposition。　And　I'm　too　old　a　bird　to　start　something　new。　No；　thanks。　I'll　stick　to　what　I　know。〃

His　next　words；　showing　his　long　yellow　teeth；　were　spoken　slowly；　but　they　were　hard；　and　had　a　cutting　edge。　〃You've　got　a　sweet　idea　of　what's　straight；　Larry：　dropping　us　without　a　leader；　just　when　we　need　a　leader　most。〃

Larry's　composed　yet　watchful　gaze　was　still　on　Barney。　〃You're　not　really　left　in　such　a　bad　way。　Barney　here　is　ready　to　take　charge。〃

〃You　bet　I　am！〃　Barney　flamed　at　him；　his　hands　clenching。　〃And　the　bunch　won't　lose　by　the　change；　you　bet！　The　bunch　always　thought　you　were　an　aceand　I　always　knew　you　were　a　two…spot。　And　now　they'll　see　I　was　rightthat　you　were　always　yellow！〃

Larry　still　leaned　against　the　safe　in　the　same　posture　of　seeming　ease；　but　he　expected　Barney　to　strike　at　any　moment；　and　held　himself　in　readiness　for　a　flashing　fist。　Barney　had　been　hard　to　hold　in　leash　in　the　old　days；　now　that　all　ties　of　partnership　were　broken；　he　saw　in　those　small　gleaming　eyes　a　defiance　and　a　hatred　that　henceforth　had　no　reason　for　restraint。　And　he　knew　that　Barney　was　shrewd；　grimly　tenacious；　and　limitless　in　self…confidence　and　ambition。

〃And　listen　to　this；　too；　Larry　Brainard；〃　Barney's　temper　carried　him　on。　〃Don't　you　mix　in　and　try　any　preaching　on　Maggie。〃　He　half　turned　his　head　jealously。　〃Maggie；　don't　you　listen　to　any　of　this　boob's　Salvation　Army　talk！〃

Maggie　did　not　at　once　respond；　but　stood　gazing　at　the　two　confronting　figures。　To　her　they　were　an　oddly　dissimilar　pair：　Barney　in　the　smartest　clothes　that　an　over…smart　Broadway　tailor　could　create；　and　Larry　in　the　shapeless　garments　that　were　the　State's　gift　to　him　on　leaving　prison。

〃Maggie；〃　he　repeated；　〃don't　you　listen　to　this　boob'