the dwelling place of ligh-第43章

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sound　of　a　bell　made　her　jump。　　Mr。　Tiernan　had　returned。

〃She's　gone　with　him；〃　said　Janet；　not　as　a　question；　but　as　one　stating
a　fact。

Mr。　Tiernan　nodded。

〃They　took　the　nine…thirty…six　for　Boston　yesterday　morning。　　Eddy
Colahan　was　at　the　depot。〃

Janet　rose。　　〃Thank　you；〃　she　said　simply。

〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃　he　asked。

〃I'm　going　to　Boston；〃　she　answered。　　〃I'm　going　to　find　out　where　she
is。〃

〃Then　it's　me　that's　going　with　you；〃　he　announced。

〃Oh　no；　Mr。　Tiernan！〃　she　protested。　　〃I　couldn't　let　you　do　that。〃

〃And　why　not？〃　he　demanded。　　〃I've　got　a　little　business　there　myself。
I'm　proud　to　go　with　you。　　It's　your　sister　you　want；　isn't　it？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Well；　what　would　you　be　doing　by　yourselfa　young　lady？　　How　will　you
find　your　sister？〃

〃Do　you　think　you　can　find　her？〃

〃Sure　I　can　find　her；〃　he　proclaimed；　confidently。　　He　had　evidently　made
up　his　mind　that　casual　treatment　was　what　the　affair　demanded。　　〃Haven't
I　good　friends　in　Boston？〃　　By　friendship　he　swayed　his　world：　nor　was　he
completely　unknownthough　he　did　not　say　soto　certain　influential
members　of　his　race　of　the　Boston　police　department。　　Pulling　out　a　large
nickel　watch　and　observing　that　they　had　just　time　to　catch　the　train；　he
locked　up　his　shop；　and　they　set　out　together　for　the　station。　　Mr。
Tiernan　led　the　way；　for　the　path　was　narrow。　　The　dry　snow　squeaked
under　his　feet。

After　escorting　her　to　a　seat　on　the　train；　he　tactfully　retired　to　the
smoking　car；　not　to　rejoin　her　until　they　were　on　the　trestle　spanning
the　Charles　River　by　the　North　Station。　　All　the　way　to　Boston　she　had
sat　gazing　out　of　the　window　at　the　blinding　whiteness　of　the　fields；
incapable　of　rousing　herself　to　the　necessity　of　thought；　to　a　degree　of
feeling　commensurate　with　the　situation。　　She　did　not　know　what　she　would
say　to　Lise　if　she　should　find　her；　and　in　spite　of　Mr。　Tiernan's
expressed　confidence；　the　chances　of　success　seemed　remote。　　When　the
train　began　to　thread　the　crowded　suburbs；　the　city；　spreading　out　over
its　hills；　instead　of　thrilling　her；　as　yesterday；　with　a　sense　of
dignity　and　power；　of　opportunity　and　emancipation；　seemed　a　labyrinth
with　many　warrens　where　vice　and　crime　and　sorrow　could　hide。　　In　front
of　the　station　the　traffic　was　already　crushing　the　snow　into　filth。
They　passed　the　spot　where；　the　night　before；　the　carriage　had　stopped；
where　Ditmar　had　bidden　her　good…bye。　　Something　stirred　within　her；
became　a　shooting　pain。。。。　　She　asked　Mr。　Tiernan　what　he　intended　to　do。

〃I'm　going　right　after　the　man；　if　he's　here　in　the　city；〃　he　told　her。
And　they　boarded　a　street　car；　which　almost　immediately　shot　into　the
darkness　of　the　subway。　　Emerging　at　Scollay　Square；　and　walking　a　few
blocks；　they　came　to　a　window　where　guns；　revolvers；　and　fishing　tackle
were　displayed；　and　on　which　was　painted　the　name；　〃Timothy　Mulally。〃
Mr。　Tiernan　entered。

〃Is　Tim　in？〃　he　inquired　of　one　of　the　clerks；　who　nodded　his　head
towards　the　rear　of　the　store；　where　a　middle…aged；　grey…haired　Irishman
was　seated　at　a　desk　under　a　drop　light。

〃Is　it　you；　Johnny？〃　he　exclaimed；　looking　up。

〃It's　meself；〃　said　Mr。　Tiernan。　　〃And　this　is　Miss　Bumpus；　a　young　lady
friend　of　mine　from　Hampton。〃

Mr。　Mulally　rose　and　bowed。

〃How　do　ye　do；　ma'am；〃　he　said。

〃I've　got　a　little　business　to　do　for　her；〃　Mr。　Tiernan　continued。　　〃I
thought　you　might　offer　her　a　chair　and　let　her　stay　here；　quiet；　while　I
was　gone。〃

〃With　pleasure；　ma'am；〃　Mr。　Mulally　replied；　pulling　forward　a　chair　with
alacrity。　　〃Just　sit　there　comfortableno　one　will　disturb　ye。〃

When；　in　the　course　of　half　an　hour；　Mr。　Tiernan　returned；　there　was　a
grim　yet　triumphant　look　in　his　little　blue　eyes；　but　it　was　not　until
Janet　had　thanked　Mr。　Mulally　for　his　hospitality　and　they　had　reached
the　sidewalk　that　he　announced　the　result　of　his　quest。

〃Well；　I　caught　him。　　It's　lucky　we　came　when　we　didhe　was　just　going
out　on　the　road　again；　up　to　Maine。　　I　know　where　Miss　Lise　is。〃

〃He　told　you！〃　exclaimed　Janet。

〃He　told　me　indeed；　but　it　wasn't　any　joy　to　him。　　He　was　all　for
bluffing　at　first。　　It's　easy　to　scare　the　likes　of　him。　　He　was　as　white
as　his　collar　before　I　was　done　with　him。　　He　knows　who　I　am；　all　right
he's　heard　of　me　in　Hampton；〃　Mr。　Tiernan　added；　with　a　pardonable　touch
of　pride。

〃What　did　you　say？〃　inquired　Janet；　curiously。

〃Say？〃　repeated　Mr。　Tiernan。　　〃It's　not　much　I　had　to　say；　Miss　Janet。　　I
was　all　ready　to　go　to　Mr。　Gillmount；　his　boss。　　I'm　guessing　he　won't
take　much　pleasure　on　this　trip。〃

She　asked　for　no　more　details。




CHAPTER　XIII

Once　more　Janet　and　Mr。　Tiernan　descended　into　the　subway；　taking　a　car
going　to　the　south　and　west；　which　finally　came　out　of　the　tunnel　into　a
broad　avenue　lined　with　shabby　shops；　hotels　and　saloons；　and　long　rows
of　boardingand　rooming…houses。　　They　alighted　at　a　certain　corner；
walked　a　little　way　along　a　street　unkempt　and　dreary；　Mr。　Tiernan
scrutinizing　the　numbers　until　he　paused　in　front　of　a　house　with　a
basement　kitchen　and　snow…covered；　sandstone　steps。　　Climbing　these；　he
pulled　the　bell；　and　they　stood　waiting　in　the　twilight　of　a　half…closed
vestibule　until　presently　shuffling　steps　were　heard　within；　the　door　was
cautiously　opened；　not　more　than　a　foot；　but　enough　to　reveal　a　woman　in
a　loose　wrapper；　with　an　untidy　mass　of　bleached　hair　and　a　puffy　face
like　a　fungus　grown　in　darkness。

〃I　want　to　see　Miss　Lise　Bumpus；〃　Mr。　Tiernan　demanded。

〃You've　got　the　wrong　place。　　There　ain't　no　one　of　that　name　here；〃　said
the　woman。

〃There　ain't！　　All　right；〃　he　insisted　aggressively；　pushing　open　the
door　in　spite　of　her。　　〃If　you　don't　let　this　young　lady　see　her　quick；
there's　trouble　coming　to　you。〃

〃Who　are　you？〃　asked　the　woman；　impudently；　yet　showing　signs　of　fear。

〃Never　mind　who　I　am；〃　Mr。　Tiernan　declared。　　〃I　know　all　about　you；　and
I　know　all　about　Duval。　　If　you　don't　want　any　trouble　you　won't　make
any；　and　you'll　take　this　young　lady　to　her　sister。　　I'll　wait　here　for
you；　Miss　Janet；〃　he　added。

〃I　don't　know　nothing　about　hershe　rented　my　room　that's　all　I　know；〃
the　woman　replied　sullenly。　　〃If　you　mean　that　couple　that　came　here
yesterday〃

She　turned　and　led　the　way　upstairs；　mounting　slowly；　and　Janet　followed；
nauseated　and　almost　overcome　by　the　foul　odours　of　dead　cigarette　smoke
which；　mingling　with　the　smell　of　cooking　cabbage　rising　from　below；
seemed　the　very　essence　and　reek　of　hitherto　unimagined　evil。　　A　terror
seized　her　such　as　she　had　never　known　before；　an　almost　overwhelming
impulse　to　turn　and　regain　the　air　and　sunlight　of　the　day。　　In　the　dark
hallway　of　the　second　story　the　woman　knocked　at　the　door　of　a　front
room。

〃She's　in　there；　unless　she's　gone　out。〃　　And　indeed　a　voice　was　heard
petulantly　demanding　what　was　wantedLise's　voice！　　Janet　hesitated；　her
hand　on　the　knob；　her　body　fallen　against　the　panels。　　Then；　as　she
pushed　open　the　door；　the　smell　of　cigarette　smoke　grew　stronger；　and　she
found　herself　in　a　large　bedroom；　the　details　of　which　were　instantly
photographed　on　her　mindthe　dingy　claret…red　walls；　the　crayon　over　the
mantel　of　a　buxom　lady　in　a　decollete　costume　of　the　'90's；　the　outspread
fan　concealing　the　fireplace；　the　soiled　lace　curtains。　　The　bed　was
unmade；　and　on　the　table　beside　two　empty　beer　bottles　and　glasses　and
the　remains　of　a　box　of　candysuggestive　of　a　Sunday　purchase　at　a　drug
storeshe　recognized　Lise's　vanity　case。　　The　effect　of　all　this；
integrated　at　a　glance；　was　a　paralyzing　horror。　　Janet　could　not　speak。
She　remained　gazing　at　Lise；　who　paid　no　attention　to　her　entrance；　but
stood　with　her　back　turned　before　an　old…fashioned　bureau　with　a　marble
top　and　raised　sides。　　She　was　dressed；　and　engaged　in　adjusting　her　hat。
It　was　not　until　Janet　pronounced　her　name　that　she　turned　swiftly。

〃You！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃What　thewhat　brought　you　here？〃

〃Oh；　Lise！〃　Janet　repeated。

〃How　did　you　get　here？〃　Lise　demanded；　coming　toward　her。　　〃Who　told　you
where　I　was？　　What　business　have　you　got　sleuthing　'round　after　me　like
this？〃

For　a　moment　Janet　was　speechless　once　more；　astounded　that　Lise　could
preserve　her　effrontery　in　such　an　atmosphere；　could　be　insensible　to　the
evils　lurking　in　this　houseevils　so　real　to　Janet　that　she　seemed
actually　to　feel　them　brushing　against　her。

〃Lise；　come　away　from　here；〃　she　pleaded；　〃come　home　with　me！〃

〃Home！〃　said　Lise；　defiantly；　and　laughed。　　〃What　do　you　take　me　for？
Why　would　I　be　going　home　when　I've　been　trying　to　break　away　for　two
years？　　I　ain't　so　dippy　as　thatnot　me！　　Go　home　like　a　good　little
girl　and　march　back　to　the　Bagatelle　and　ask　'em　to　give　me　another　show
standing　behind　a　counter　all　day。　　Nix！　　No　home　sweet　home　for　me！　　I'm
all　for　easy　street　when　it　comes　to　a　home　like　that。〃

Heartless；　terrific　as　the　repudiation　was；　it　struck　a　self…convicting；
almost　sympathetic　note　in　Janet。　　She　herself　had　revolted　against　the
monotony　and　sordidness　of　that　existence　　She　herself　！　　She　dared　not
complete　the　thought；　now。

〃But　this！〃　she　exclaimed。

〃What's　the　matter　with　it？〃　Lise　demanded。　　〃It　ain't　Commonwealth
Avenue；　but　it's　got　Fillmore　Street　beat　a　mile。　　There　ain't　no
whistles　hereto　get　you　out　of　bed　at　six　a。m。；　for　one　thing。　　There
ain't　no　geezers；　like　Walters；　to　nag　you　'round　all　day　long。　　What's
the　matter　with　it？〃

Something　in　Lise's　voice　roused　Janet's　spirit　to　battle。

〃What's　the　matter　with　it？〃　she　cried。　　〃It's　hellthat's　the　matter
with　it。　　Can't　you　see　it？　　Can't　you　feel　it？　　You　don't　know　what　it
means；　or　you'd　come　home　with　me。〃

〃I　guess　I　know　what　it　means　as　well　as　you　do；〃　said　Lise；　sullenly。
〃We've　all　got　to　croak　sometime；　and　I'd　rather　croak　this　way　than　be
smothered　up　in　Hampton。　　I'll　get　a　run　for　my　money；　anyway。〃

〃No；　you　don't　know　what　it　means；〃　Janet　repeated；　〃or　you　wouldn't　talk
like　that。　　Do　you　think　this　man　will　support　you；　stick　to　you？　　He
won't；　he'll　desert　you；　and　you'll　have　to　go　on　the　streets。〃

A　dangerous　light　grew　in　Lise's　eyes。

〃He's　as　good　as　any　other　man；　he's　as　good　as　Ditmar；〃　she　said。
〃They're　all　the　same；　to　girls　like　us。〃

Janet's　heart　caught；　it　seemed　to　stop　beating。　　Was　this　a　hazard　on
Lise's　part；　or　did　she　speak　from　knowledge？　　And　yet　what　did　it　matter
whether　Lise　knew　or　only　suspected；　if　her　words　were　true；　if　men　were
all　alike？　　Had　she　been　a　dupe　as　well　as　Lise？　and　was　the　only
difference　between　them　now　the　fact　that　Lise　was　able；　without
illusion；　to　see　things　as　they　were；　to　accept　the　consequences；　while
she；　Janet；　had　beheld　visions　and　dreamed　dreams？　was　there　any　real
choice　between　the　luxurious　hotel　to　which　Ditmar　had　taken　her　and　this
detestable　house？　　Suddenly；　seemingly　by　chance；　her　eyes　fell　on　the
box　of　drug…store　candy　from　which　the　cheap　red　ribbon　had　been　torn；
and　by　some　odd　association　of　ideas　it　suggested　and　epitomized　Lise's
Sunday　excursion　with　a　mama　hideous　travesty　on　the　journey　of　wonders
she　herself　had　taken。　　Had　that　been　heaven；　and　this　of　Lise's；
hell