initials only-第11部分

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　ears　than　those　within。　　Had　it　been　summer　and　the　windows　open；　both　George　and　Sweetwater　might　have　heard　every　word；　for　the　tones　were　exceptionally　rich　and　penetrating；　and　the　speaker　intent　only　on　the　impression　he　was　endeavouring　to　make　upon　his　audience。　　That　he　had　not　mistaken　his　power　in　this　direction　was　evinced　by　the　applause　which　rose　from　time　to　time　from　innumerable　hands　and　feet。　　But　this　uproar　would　be　speedily　silenced；　and　the　mellow　voice　ring　out　again；　clear　and　commanding。　　What　could　the　subject　be　to　rouse　such　enthusiasm　in　the　Associated　Brotherhood　of　the　Awl；　the　Plane　and　the　Trowel？　　There　was　a　moment　when　our　listening　friends　expected　to　be　enlightened。　　A　shutter　was　thrown　back　in　one　of　those　upper　windows；　and　the　window　hurriedly；　raised；　during　which　words　took　the　place　of　sounds　and　they　heard　enough　to　whet　their　appetite　for　more。　　But　only　that。　　The　shutter　was　speedily　restored　to　place；　and　the　window　again　closed。　　A　wise　precaution；　or　so　thought　George　if　they　wished　to　keep　their　doubtful　proceedings　secret。

A　tirade　against　the　rich　and　a　loud　call　to　battle　could　be　gleaned　from　the　few　sentences　they　had　heard。　　But　its　virulence　and　pointed　attack　was　not　that　of　the　second…rate　demagogue　or　business　agent；　but　of　a　man　whose　intellect　and　culture　rang　in　every　tone；　and　informed　each　sentence。

Sweetwater；　in　whom　satisfaction　was　fast　taking　the　place　of　impatience　and　regret；　pushed　the　window　to　before　asking　George　this　question：

〃Did　you　hear　the　voice　of　the　man　whose　action　attracted；　your　attention　outside　the　Clermont？〃

〃No。〃

〃Did　you　note　just　now　the　large　shadow　dancing　on　the　ceiling　over　the　speaker's　head？〃

〃Yes；　but　I　could　judge　nothing　from　that。〃

〃Well；　he's　a　rum　one。　　I　shan't　open　this　window　again　till　he　gives　signs　of　reaching　the　end　of　his　speech。　　It's　too　cold。〃

But　almost　immediately　he　gave　a　start　and；　pressing　George's　arm；　appeared　to　listen；　not　to　the　speech　which　was　no　longer　audible；　but　to　something　much　nearer　…　a　step　or　movement　in　the　adjoining　yard。　　At　least；　so　George　interpreted　the　quick　turn　which　this　impetuous　detective　made；　and　the　pains　he　took　to　direct　George's　attention　to　the　walk　running　under　the　window　beneath　which　they　crouched。　　Someone　was　stealing　down　upon　the　house　at　their　left；　from　the　alley　beyond。　　A　big　man；　whose　shoulder　brushed　the　window　as　he　went　by。　　George　felt　his　hand　seized　again　and　pressed　as　this　happened；　and　before　he　had　recovered　from　this　excitement；　experienced　another　quick　pressure　and　still　another　as　one；　two；　three　additional　figures　went　slipping　by。　　Then　his　hand　was　suddenly　dropped；　for　a　cry　had　shot　up　from　the　door　where　the　sentinel　stood　guard；　followed　by　a　sudden　loud　slam；　and　the　noise　of　a　shooting　bolt；　which；　proclaiming　as　it　did　that　the　invaders　were　not　friends　but　enemies　to　the　cause　which　was　being　vaunted　above；　so　excited　Sweetwater　that　he　pulled　the　window　wide　open　and　took　a　bold　look　out。　　George　followed　his　example　and　this　was　what　they　saw：

Three　men　were　standing　flat　against　the　fence　leading　from　the　shed　directly　to　the　porch。　　The　fourth　was　crouching　within　the　latter；　and　in　another　moment　they　heard　his　fist　descend　upon　the　door　inside　in　a　way　to　rouse　the　echoes。　　Meantime；　the　voice　in　the　audience　hall　above　had　ceased；　and　there　could　be　heard　instead　the　scramble　of　hurrying　feet　and　the　noise　of　overturning　benches。　　Then　a　window　flew　up　and　a　voice　called　down：

〃Who's　that？　　What　do　you　want　down　there？〃

But　before　an　answer　could　be　shouted　back；　this　man　was　drawn　fiercely　inside；　and　the　scramble　was　renewed；　amid　which　George　heard　Sweetwater's　whisper　at　his　ear：

〃It's　the　police。　　The　chief　has　got　ahead　of　me。　　Was　that　the　man　we're　after　…　the　one　who　shouted　down？〃

〃No。　　Neither　was　he　the　speaker。　　The　voices　are　very　different。〃

〃We　want　the　speaker。　　If　the　boys　get　him；　we're　all　right；　but　if　they　don't　…　wait；　I　must　make　the　matter　sure。〃

And　with　a　bound　he　vaulted　through　the　window；　whistling　in　a　peculiar　way。　　George；　thus　left　quite　alone；　had　the　pleasure　of　seeing　his　sole　protector　mix　with　the　boys；　as　he　called　them；　and　ultimately　crowd　in　with　them　through　the　door　which　had　finally　been　opened　for　their　admittance。　　Then　came　a　wait；　and　then　the　quiet　re…appearance　of　the　detective　alone　and　in　no　very；　amiable　mood。

〃Well？〃　inquired　George；　somewhat　breathlessly。　　〃Do　you　want　me？　They　don't　seem　　to　be　coming　out。〃

〃No；　they've　gone　the　other　way。　　It　was　a　red　hot　anarchist　meeting；　and　no　mistake。　　They　have　arrested　one　of　the　speakers；　but　the　other　escaped。　　How；　we　have　not　yet　found　out；　but　I　think　there's　a　way　out　somewhere　by　which　he　got　the　start　of　us。　　He　was　the　man　I　wanted　you　to　see。　　Bad　luck；　Mr。　Anderson；　but　I'm　not　at　the　end　of　my　resources。　　If　you'll　have　patience　with　me　and　accompany　me　a　little　further；　I　promise　you　that　I'll　only　risk　one　more　failure。　　Will　you　be　so　good；　sir？〃



IX

THE　INCIDENT　OF　THE　PARTLY　LIFTED　SHADE

The　fellow　had　a　way　with　him；　hard　to　resist。　　Cold　as　George　was　and　exhausted　by　an　excitement　of　a　kind　to　which　he　was　wholly　unaccustomed；　he　found　himself　acceding　to　the　detective's　request；　and　after　a　quick　lunch　and　a　huge　cup　of　coffee　in　a　restaurant　which　I　wish　I　had　time　to　describe；　the　two　took　a　car　which　eventually　brought　them　into　one　of　the　oldest　quarters　of　the　Borough　of　Brooklyn。　　The　sleet　which　had　stung　their　faces　in　the　streets　of　New　York　had　been　left　behind　them　somewhere　on　the　bridge；　but　the　chill　was　not　gone　from　the　air；　and　George　felt　greatly　relieved　when　Sweetwater　paused　in　the　middle　of　a　long　block　before　a　lofty　tenement　house　of　mean　appearance；　and　signified　that　here　they　were　to　stop；　and　that　from　now　on；　mum　was　to　be　their　watchword。

George　was　relieved　I　say；　but　he　was　also　more　astonished　than　ever。　What　kind　of　haunts　were　these　for　the　cultured　gentleman　who　spent　his　evenings　at　the　Clermont？　　It　was　easy　enough　in　these　days　of　extravagant　sympathies；　to　understand　such　a　man　addressing　the　uneasy　spirits　of　lower　New　York　…　he　had　been　called　an　enthusiast；　and　an　enthusiast　is　very　often　a　social　agitator　…　but　to　trace　him　afterwards　to　a　place　like　this　was　certainly　a　surprise。　　A　tenement　　…　such　a　tenement　as　this　…　meant　home　…　home　for　himself　or　for　those　he　counted　his　friends；　and　such　a　supposition　seemed　inconceivable　to　my　poor　husband；　with　the　memory　of　the　gorgeous　parlour　of　the　Clermont　in　his　mind。　　Indeed；　he　hinted　something　of　the　kind　to　his　affable　but　strangely　reticent　companion；　but　all　the　answer　he　got　was　a　peculiar　smile　whose　humorous　twist　he　could　barely　discern　in　the　semi…darkness　of　the　open　doorway　into　which　they　had　just　plunged。

〃An　adventure！　　certainly　an　adventure！〃　flashed　through　poor　George's　mind；　as　he　peered；　in　great　curiosity　down　the　long　hall　before　him；　into　a　dismal　rear；　opening　into　a　still　more　dismal　court。　　It　was　truly　a　novel　experience　for　a　business　man　whose　philanthropy　was　carried　on　entirely　by　proxy　…　that　is；　by　his　wife。　　Should　he　be　expected　to　penetrate　into　those　dark；　ill…smelling　recesses；　or　would　he　be　led　up　the　long　flights　of　naked　stairs；　so　feebly　illuminated　that　they　gave　the　impression　of　extending　indefinitely　into　dimmer　and　dimmer　heights　of　decay　and　desolation？

Sweetwater　seemed　to　decide　for　the　rear；　for　leaving　George；　he　stepped　down　the　hall　into　the　court　beyond；　where　George　could　see　him　casting　inquiring　glances　up　at　the　walls　above　him。　　Another　tenement；　similar　to　the　one　whose　rear　end　he　was　contemplating；　towered　behind　but　he　paid　no　attention　to　that。　　He　was　satisfied　with　the　look　he　had　given　and　came　quickly　back；　joining　George　at　the　foot　of　the　staircase；　up　which　he　silently　led　the　way。

It　was　a　rude；　none…too…well…cared…for　building；　but　it　seemed　respectable　enough　and　very　quiet；　considering　the　mass　of　people　it　accommodated。　　There　were　marks　of　poverty　everywhere；　but　no　squalor。　　One　flight　…　two　flights　…　three　…　and　then　George's　guide　stopped；　and；　looking　back　at　him；　made　a　gesture。　　It　appeared　to　be　one　of　caution；　but　when　the　two　came　together　at　the　top　of　the　staircase；　Sweetwater　spoke　quite　naturally　as　he　pointed　out　a　door　in　their　rear：

〃That's　the　room。　　We'll　keep　a　sharp　watch　and　when　any　man；　no　matter　what　his　dress　or　appearance　comes　up　these　stairs　and　turns　that　way；　give　him　a　sharp　look。　　You　understand？〃

〃Yes；　but…〃

〃Oh；　he　hasn't　come　in　yet。　　I　took　pains　to　find　that　out。　　You　saw　me　go　into　the　court　and　look　up。　　That　was　to　see　if　his　window　was　lighted。　　Well；　it　wasn't。〃

George　felt　non…plussed。

〃But　surely；〃　said　he；　〃the　gentleman　named　Brotherson　doesn't　live　here。〃

〃The　inventor　does。〃

〃Oh！〃

〃And　…　but　I　will　explain　later。〃

The　suppressed　excitement　contained　in　these　words　made　George　stare。　　Indeed；　he　had　been　wondering　for　some　time　at　the　manner　of　the　detective　which　showed　a　curious　mixture　of　several　opposing　emotions。　　Now；　the　fellow　was　actually　in　a　tremble　of　hope　or　impatience；　…　and；　not　content　with　listening；　he　peered　every　few　minutes　down　the　well　of　the　staircase；　and　when　he　was　not　doing　that；　tramped　from　end　to　end　of　the　narrow　passage…way　separating　the　head　of　the　stairs　from　the　door　he　had　pointed　out；　like　one　to　whom　minutes　were　hours。　　All　this　time　he　seemed　to　forget　George　who　certainly　had　as　much　reason　as　himself　for　finding　the　time　long。　　But　when；　after　some　half　hour　of　this　tedium　and　suspense；　there　rose　from　below　the　faint　clatter　of　ascending　footsteps；　he　remembered　his　meek　companion　and　beckoning　him　to　one　side；　began　a　studied　conversation　with　him；　showing　him　a　note…book　in　which　he　had　written　such　phrases　as　these：

Don't　look　up　till　he　is　fairly　in　range　with　the　light。

There's　nothing　to　fear；　he　doesn't　know　either　of　us。

If　it　is　a　face　you　have　seen　before；　…　if　it　is　the　one　we　are　expecting　to　see；　pull　your　necktie　straight。　　It's　a　little　on　one　side。

These　rather　startling　injunctions　were　read　by　George；　with　no　very　perceptibl