pgw.piccadillyjim-第39部分

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　〃I　wish　you　hadn't　thrown　that　stuff　away；　Jim。　I　could　have　done　with　it。　I'm　feeling　nervous。〃
　〃Nonsense；　dad！　You're　all　right！　I　had　to　throw　it　away。　I'm　on　the　wagon　now；　but　how　long　I　should　have　stayed　on　with　that　smiling　up　at　me　I　don't　know。　I've　made　up　my　mind　never　to　lower　myself　to　the　level　of　the　beasts　that　perish　with　the　demon　Rum　again；　because　my　future　wife　has　strong　views　on　the　subject：　but　there's　no　sense　in　taking　chances。　Temptation　is　all　very　well；　but　you　don't　need　it　on　your　dressing…table。　It　was　a　kindly　thought　of　yours　to　place　it　there；　dad；　but〃
　〃Eh？　I　didn't　put　it　there。〃
　〃I　thought　that　sort　of　thing　came　in　your　department。　Isn't　it　the　butler's　job　to　supply　drinks　to　the　nobility　and　gentry？　Well；　it　doesn't　matter。　It　is　now　distributed　over　the　neighbouring　soil；　thus　removing　a　powerful　temptation　from　your　path。　You're　better　without　it。〃　He　looked　at　his　watch。　〃Well；　it　ought　to　be　all　right　now。〃　He　went　to　the　window。　〃There's　an　automobile　down　there。　I　suppose　it's　Jerry。　I　told　him　to　be　outside　at　one　sharp　and　it's　nearly　half…past。　I　think　you　might　be　starting；　dad。　Oh；　by　the　way；　you　had　better　tell　Ogden　that　you　represent　a　gentleman　of　the　name　of　Buck　Maginnis。　It　was　Buck　who　got　away　with　him　last　time；　and　a　firm　friendship　seems　to…have　sprung　up　between　them。　There's　nothing　like　ing　with　a　good　introduction。〃
　Mr。　Crocker　took　a　final　survey　of　himself　in　the　mirror。
　〃Gee　I　I'd　hate　to　meet　myself　on　a　lonely　road！〃
　He　opened　the　door；　and　stood　for　a　moment　listening。
　From　somewhere　down　the　passage　came　the　murmur　of　a　muffled　snore。
　〃Third　door　on　the　left；〃　said　Jimmy。　〃Threecount　'em！three。　Don't　go　getting　mixed。〃
　Mr。　Crocker　slid　into　the　outer　darkness　like　a　stout　ghost；　and　Jimmy　closed　the　door　gently　behind　him。
　Having　launched　his　indulgent　parent　safely　on　a　career　of　crime；　Jimmy　switched　off　the　light　and　returned　to　the　window。　Leaning　out；　he　gave　himself　up　for　a　moment　to　sentimental　musings。　The　night　was　very　still。　Through　the　trees　which　flanked　the　house　the　dimmed　headlights　of　what　was　presumably　Jerry　Mitchell's　hired　car　shone　faintly　like　enlarged　fire…flies。　A　boat　of　some　description　was　tooting　reflectively　far　down　the　river。　Such　was　the　seductive　influence　of　the　time　and　the　scene　that　Jimmy　might　have　remained　there　indefinitely；　weaving　dreams；　had　he　not　been　under　the　necessity　of　making　his　way　down　to　the　library。　It　was　his　task　to　close　the　French　windows　after　his　father　and　Ogden　had　passed　through；　and　he　proposed　to　remain　hid　in　the　gallery　there　until　the　time　came　for　him　to　do　this。　It　was　imperative　that　he　avoid　being　seen　by　Ogden。
　Locking　his　door　behind　him；　he　went　downstairs。　There　were　no　signs　of　life　in　the　house。　Everything　was　still。　He　found　the　staircase　leading　to　the　gallery　without　having　to　switch　on　the　lights。
　It　was　dusty　in　the　gallery；　and　a　smell　of　old　leather　enveloped　him。　He　hoped　his　father　would　not　be　long。　He　lowered　himself　cautiously　to　the　floor；　and；　resting　his　head　against　a　convenient　shelf；　began　to　wonder　how　the　interview　between　Chicago　Ed　and　his　prey　was　progressing。
　Mr。　Crocker；　meanwhile；　masked　to　the　eyes；　had　crept　in　fearful　silence　to　the　door　which　Jimmy　had　indicated。　A　good　deal　of　the　gay　enthusiasm　with　which　he　had　embarked　on　this　enterprise　had　ebbed　away　from　him。　Now　that　he　had　bee　accustomed　to　the　novelty　of　finding　himself　once　more　playing　a　character　part；　his　intimate　respectability　began　to　assert　itself。　It　was　one　thing　to　play　Chicago　Ed　at　a　Broadway　theatre；　but　quite　another　to　give　a　benefit　performance　like　this。　As　he　tip…toed　along　the　passage；　the　one　thing　that　presented　itself　most　clearly　to　him　was　the　appalling　oute　of　this　act　of　his；　should　anything　go　wrong。　He　would　have　turned　back；　but　for　the　thought　that　Jimmy　was　depending　on　him　and　that　success　would　mean　Jimmy's　happiness。　Stimulated　by　this　reflection；　he　opened　Ogden's　door　inch　by　inch　and　went　in。　He　stole　softly　across　the　room。
　He　had　almost　reached　the　bed；　and　had　just　begun　to　wonder　how　on　earth；　now　that　he　was　there；　he　could　open　the　proceedings　tactfully　and　without　alarming　the　boy；　when　he　was　saved　the　trouble　of　pondering　further　on　this　problem。　A　light　flashed　out　of　the　darkness　with　the　suddenness　of　a　bursting　bomb；　and　a　voice　from　the　same　general　direction　said　〃Hands　up！〃
　When　Mr。　Crocker　had　finished　blinking　and　had　adjusted　his　eyes　to　the　glare；　he　perceived　Ogden　sitting　up　in　bed　with　a　revolver　in　his　hand。　The　revolver　was　resting　on　his　knee；　and　its　muzzle　pointed　directly　at　Mr。　Crocker's　ample　stomach。
　Exhaustive　as　had　been　the　thought　which　Jimmy's　father　had　given　to　the　possible　developments　of　his　enterprise；　this　was　a　contingency　of　which　he　had　not　dreamed。　He　was　entirely　at　a　loss。
　〃Don't　do　that！〃　he　said　huskily。　〃It　might　go　off！〃
　〃I　should　worry！〃　replied　Ogden　coldly。　〃I'm　at　the　right　end　of　it。　What　are　you　doing　here？〃　He　looked　fondly　at　the　lethal　weapon。　〃I　got　this　with　cigarette…coupons；　to　shoot　rabbits　when　we　went　to　the　country。　Here's　where　I　get　a　chance　at　something　part…human。〃
　〃Do　you　want　to　murder　me？〃
　〃Why　not？〃
　Mr。　Crocker's　make…up　was　trickling　down　his　face　in　sticky　streams。　The　mask；　however；　prevented　Ogden　from　seeing　this　peculiar　phenomenon。　He　was　gazing　interestedly　at　his　visitor。　An　idea　struck　him。
　〃Say；　did　you　e　to　kidnap　me？〃
　Mr。　Crocker　felt　the　sense　of　relief　which　he　had　sometimes　experienced　on　the　stage　when　memory　had　failed　him　during　a　scene　and　a　fellow…actor　had　thrown　him　the　line。　It　would　be　exaggerating　to　say　that　he　was　himself　again。　He　could　never　be　pletely　at　his　case　with　that　pistol　pointing　at　him；　but　he　felt　considerably　better。　He　lowered　his　voice　an　octave　or　so；　and　spoke　in　a　husky　growl。
　〃Aw；　cheese　it；　kid。　Nix　on　the　rough　stuff！〃
　〃Keep　those　hands　up！〃　advised　Ogden。
　〃Sure！　Sure！〃　growled　Mr。　Crocker。　〃Can　the　gun…play；　bo！　Say；　you've　soitanly　grown　since　de　last　time　we　got　youse！〃
　Ogden's　manner　became　magically　friendly。
　〃Are　you　one　of　Buck　Maginnis'　lot？〃　he　enquired　almost　politely。
　〃Dat's　right！〃　Mr。　Crocker　blessed　the　inspiration　which　had　prompted　Jimmy's　parting　words。　〃I'm　wit　Buck。〃
　〃Why　didn't　Buck　e　himself？〃
　〃He's　woiking　on　anudder　job！〃
　To　Mr。　Crocker's　profound　relief　Ogden　lowered　the　pistol。
　〃I'm　strong　for　Buck；〃　he　said　conversationally。　〃We're　old　pals。　Did　you　see　the　piece　in　the　paper　about　him　kidnapping　me　last　time？　I've　got　it　in　my　press…clipping　album。〃
　〃Sure；〃　said　Mr。　Crocker。
　〃Say；　listen。　If　you　take　me　now；　Buck's　got　to　e　across。　I　like　Buck；　but　I'm　not　going　to　let　myself　be　kidnapped　for　his　benefit。　It's　fifty…fifty；　or　nothing　doing。　See？〃
　〃I　get　you；　kid。〃
　〃Well；　if　that's　understood；　all　right。　Give　me　a　minute　to　get　some　clothes　on；　and　I'll　be　with　you。〃
　〃Don't　make　a　noise；〃　said　Mr。　Crocker。
　〃Who's　making　any　noise？　Say；　how　did　you　get　in　here？〃
　〃T'roo　de　libery　windows。〃
　〃I　always　knew　some　yegg　would　stroll　in　that　way。　It　beats　me　why　they　didn't　have　bars　fixed　on　them。〃
　〃Dere's　a　buzz…wagon　outside；　waitin'。〃
　〃You　do　it　in　style；　don't　you？〃　observed　Ogden；　pulling　on　his　shirt。　〃Who's　working　this　with　you？　Any　one　I　know？〃
　〃Naw。　A　new　guy。〃
　〃Oh？　Say；　I　don't　remember　you；　if　it　es　to　that。〃
　〃You　don't？〃　said　Mr。　Crocker　a　little　disposed。
　〃Well；　maybe　I　wouldn't；　with　that　mask　on　you。　Which　of　them　are　you？〃
　〃Chicago　Ed。's　my　monaker。〃
　〃I　don't　remember　any　Chicago　Ed。〃
　〃Well；　you　will　after　dis！〃　said　Mr。　Crocker；　happily　inspired。
　Ogden　was　eyeing　him　with　sudden　suspicion。
　〃Take　that　mask　off　and　let's　have　a　look　at　you。〃
　〃Nothing　doin'。〃　　How　am　I　to　know　you're　on　the　level？
　Mr。　Crocker　played　a　daring　card。
　〃All　right；〃　he　said；　making　a　move　towards　the　door。　〃It's　up　to　youse。　If　you　t'ink　I'm　not　on　de　level；　I'll　beat　it。〃
　〃Here；　stop　a　minute；〃　said　Ogden　hastily；　unwilling　that　a　promising　business　deal　should　be　abandoned　in　this　summary　manner。　〃I'm　not　saying　anything　against　you。　There's　no　need　to　fly　off　the　handle　like　that。〃
　〃I'll　tell　Buck　I　couldn't　get　you；〃　said　Mr。　Crocker；　moving　another　step。
　〃Here；　stop！　What's　the　matter　with　you？〃
　〃Are　youse　in'　wit　me？〃
　〃Sure；　if　you　get　the　conditions。　Buck's　got　to　slip　me　half　of　whatever　he　gets　out　of　this。〃
　〃Dat's　right。　Buck'll　slip　youse　half　of　anyt'ing　he　gets。〃
　〃All　right；　then。　Wait　till　I've　got　this　shoe　on；　and　let's　start。　Now　I'm　ready。〃
　〃Beat　it　quietly。〃
　〃What　did　you　think　I　was　going　to　do？　Sing？〃
　〃Step　dis　way！〃　said　Mr。　Crocker　jocosely。
　They　left　the　room　cautiously。　Mr。　Crocker　for　a　moment　had　a　sense　of　something　missing。　He　had　reached　the　stairs　before　he　realised　what　it　was。　Then　it　dawned　upon　him　that　what　was　lacking　was　the　applause。　The　scene　had　deserved　a　round。
　Jimmy；　vigilant　in　the　gallery；　heard　the　library　door　open　softly　and；　peering　over　the　rail；　perceived　two　dim　forms　in　the　darkness。　One　was　large；　the　other　small。　They　crossed　the　room　together。
　Whispered　words　reached　him。
　〃I　thought　you　said　you　came　in　this　way。〃
　〃Sure。〃
　〃Then　why's　the　shutter　closed？〃
　〃I　fixed　it　after　I　was　in。〃
　There　was　a　faint　scraping　sound；　followed　by　a　click。　The　darkness　of　the　room　was　relieved　by　moonlight。　The　figures　passed　through。　Jimmy　ran　down　from　the　gallery；　and　closed　the　windows　softly。　He　had　just　fastened　the　shutters；　when　from　the　passage　outside　there　came　the　unmistakeable　sound　of　a　footstep。
　
　CHAPTER　XXII
　IN　THE　LIBRARY
　
　JIMMY'S　first　emotion　on　hearing　the　footstep　was　the　crude　instinct　of　self…preservation。　All　that　he　was　able　to　think　of　at　the　moment　was　the　fact　that　he　was　in　a　questionable　position　and　one　which　would　require　a　good　deal　of　explaining　away　if　he　were　found；　and　his　only　sensation　was　a　strong　desire　to　avoid　discovery。　He　made　a　silent；　scrambling　leap　for　the　gallery　stairs；　and　reached　their　shelter　just　as　the　door　opened。　He　stood　there；　rigid；　waiting　to　be　challenged；　but　apparently　he　had　moved　in　time；　fo