the drums of jeopardy-第28章

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Of　course　there　would　be　the　drain。　　He　could　escape；　but；　dear　Lord！
with　enough　noise　to　wake　the　dead。　　And　that　would　write　〃Finis〃　to
this　particular　adventure。　　The　quarry　and　the　emeralds　would　be
gone　before　he　could　return　with　help。　　When　everything　had　gone　so
smoothly　…　a　jolt　like　this！

A　crowded　day；　and　no　mistake；　as　full　of　individual　acts　as　a　bill
at　a　vaudeville；　trained…animal　act　last。　　Was　it　possible　that　he
had　gone　fiddle　hunting　that　morning；　netting　an　Amati　worth　ten
thousand　dollars？　　Hawksley　…　no；　he　couldn't　blame　Hawksley。　　Still；
if　this　young　Humpty…Dumpty　hadn't　been　pushed　off　his　wall　he；
Cutty；　would　not　now　be　marooned　upon　this　roof　'twixt　the　devil
and　the　deep　blue　sea。　　To　remain　here　until　sunrise　would　be
impossible；　to　slide　down　the　drain　was　equally　impossible　…　that
is；　if　he　ever　wanted　to　see　Boris　Karlov　again。　　The　way　of　the
transgressor　was　hard。

He　sat　on　his　heels　and　let　his　gaze　rove　four…square；　permitting
no　object　to　escape。　　He　saw　a　clothes　pole　leaning　against　the
chimney。　　Evidently　the　former　tenants　had　hung　up　their　laundry
here。　　There　was　no　clothesline；　however。　　Caught；　jolly　well；
blooming　well　caught！　　If　ever　this　got　abroad　he　would　be　laughed
out　of　the　game。　　He　wasn't　going　to　put　one　over　on　Uncle　Sam　after
all。　　There　might　be　some　kind　of　a　fire　escape　on　the　front　of
the　house。　　No　harm　in　taking　a　look；　it　would　serve　to　pass　the
time。

There　was　the　usual　frontal　parapet　about　three　feet　in　height。
Upturned　in　the　shadow　lay　a　gift　from　the　gods…a　battered　kitchen
chair；　probably　used　to　reach　the　clothesline　in　the　happy　days　when
the　word　〃Bolshevism〃　was　known　to　only　a　select　few　dark　angels。

Cutty　waved　a　hand　cheerfully　if　vaguely　toward　his　guiding　star；
picked　up　the　chair；　commandeered　the　clothes　pole；　and　silently
manoeuvred　to　the　wall　of　the　warehouse。　　Standing　on　the　chair　he
placed　the　tip　of　the　pole　against　the　top　of　the　upper　frame　and
pushed　the　frame　halfway　up。　　He　repeated　this　act　upon　the　obdurate
lower　half。　　He　heaved　slowly　but　with　all　his　force。　　Glory　be；
the　lower　half　went　up　far　enough　to　afford　ingress！　　He　would　eat
his　breakfast　in　the　apartment　as　usual。　　To…morrow　night　he　would
establish　his　line　of　retreat　by　fetching　a　light　rope　ladder。
There　was　sweat　at　the　roots　of　his　hair；　however；　when　he　finally
gained　the　street。　　He　was　very　tired。　　He　observed　mournfully　that
the　vigour　which　had　always　recharged　itself；　no　matter　how
recklessly　he　had　drawn　upon　it；　was　beginning　to　protest。
Fifty…two。

Well；　his　troubles　were　over　for　the　night。　　So　he　believed。
Arriving　home；　dirty　and　spent；　he　had　to　find　Kitty　asleep　on　the
divan！



CHAPTER　XXII


〃Kitty；〃　he　said；　breaking　the　tableau；　〃what　are　you　doing　here？〃

〃You've　been　hurt！　　There　is　blood　on　you！〃

〃A　trifling　cut。　　But　I'm　hurt；　nevertheless；　that　you　should　be　so
thoughtless　as　to　come　here　against　my　orders。　　It　doesn't　matter
that　Karlov　has　given　up　the　idea　of　having　you　followed。　　But　for
the　sake　of　us　all　you　must　be　made　to　understand　that　we　are
dealing　with　high　explosives　and　poison　gas。　　It's　not　what　might
happen　to　me　or　to　Uncle　Sam's　business。　　It's　you。　　Any　moment
they　may　take　it　into　their　heads　to　get　at　me　and　Hawksley　through
you。　　That's　why　we　watch　over　you。　　You　don't　want　to　see　Hawksley
done　in；　do　you？　　It's　real　tragedy；　Kitty；　and　nobody　can　guess
what　the　end　is　going　to

Kitty's　lip　quivered。　　〃Cutty；　if　you　talk　like　that　to　me　I　shall
cry。〃

〃Good　Lord；　what　about？〃　…　bewildered。

〃About　everything。　　I've　been　on　the　verge　of　hysterics　all　day。〃

〃Kitty；　you　poor　child；　what's　happened？〃

〃Nothing　…　everything。　　Lonesome。　　When　I　saw　all　those　mothers　and
wives　and　sisters　and　sweethearts　on　the　curb　to…day；　watching　their
boys　march　by；　it　hit　me　hard。　　I　was　alone。　　Nobody。　　So　please
don't　be　cross　with　me。　　I'm　on　the　ragged　edge。　　Silly；　I　know。
But　we　women　often　go　to　pieces　over　nothing；　without　any　logical
reason。　　Ready　to　face　murder　and　battle　and　sudden　death；　and　then
to　blow　up；　as　you　men　say　it；　over　nothing。　　I　had　to　move；　go
somewhere；　do　something；　so　I　　came　here。　　But　I　came　on　…　what　do
you　call　it？　…　official　business。　　Here！〃　She　offered　him　the
wallet。

〃What's　this？〃

〃Belongs　to　Johnny　Two…Hawks。　　He　hid　it　that　night　behind　my
flatirons　on　the　range。　　Why；　Cutty；　he's　rich！〃

〃Did　he　show　the　contents？〃

〃Only　the　money　and　the　bonds。　　He　said　if　he　had　died　the　money
and　bonds　would　have　been　mine。

〃Providing　Gregor　was　also　dead。〃　　Cutty　looked　into　the　wallet；　but
disturbed　nothing。　　〃I　imagine　these　funds　are　actually　Gregor's。〃

〃He　told　me　to　give　the　wallet　to　you。　　And　so　I　waited。　　I　fell
asleep。　　So　please　don't　scold　me。〃

〃I'm　a　brute！　　But　it's　because　you've　become　so　much　to　me　that
I　was　angry。　　You're　Tommy　and　Molly's　girl；　and　I've　got　to　watch
out　for　you　until　you　reach　some　kind　of　a　port。〃

〃Thank　you　for　the　flowers。　　You'll　never　know　just　what　they　did
for　me。　　There　was　somebody　who　gave　me　a　thought。〃

〃Kitty；　I　honestly　don't　get　you。　　A　beauty　like　you；　lonesome！〃

〃That's　it。　　I　am　pretty。　　Why　should　I　deny　it？　　If　I'd　been　homely
I　shouldn't　have　been　ashamed　to　invite　my　friends　to　my　shabby　home。
I　shouldn't　have　cold　shouldered　everybody　through　false　pride。　　But
where　have　you　been；　and　what　have　you　been　doing？〃

〃Official　business。　　But　I　just　missed　being　a　fine　jackass。　　I'll
look　into　the　wallet　after　I've　cleaned　up。　　I'm　a　mess　of　gore　and
dust。　　Is　it　interesting　stuff？〃　dreading　her　answer。

〃The　wallet？　　I　did　not　look　into　it。　　I　had　no　right。〃

〃Ah！　　Well；　I'll　be　back　in　two　jigs。

He　hurried　off；　relieved　to　learn　that　the　secret　was　still　beyond
Kitty's　knowledge。　　Of　course　Hawksley　wouldn't　carry　anything　in
the　wallet　by　which　his　true　identity　might　be　made　known。　　Still；
there　would　be　stuff　to　excite　her　interest　and　suspicion。　　Hawksley
had　shown　her　some　of　that　three　hundred　thousand　probably。　　What
a　game！

He　would　say　nothing　about　his　own　adventures　and　discoveries。　　He
worked　on　the　theory　that　the　best　time　to　tell　about　something　was
after　it　had　become　a　fact。　　But　no　theory　is　perfect；　and　in　this
instance　his　reticence　was　going　to　cost　him　intolerable　agony　in
the　near　future。

Within　a　quarter　of　an　hour　he　was　back　in　the　living　room。　　Kitty
was　out　of　sight；　probably　had　curled　up　on　the　divan　again。　　He
would　not　disturb　her。　　Hawksley's　wallet！　　He　drew　a　chair　under
the　reading　lamp　and　explored　the　wallet。　　Money　and　bonds　he　rather
expected；　but　the　customs　appraiser's　receipt　was　like　a　buffet。
The　emeralds　belonged　honorably　to　his　guest！　　All　his　own　plans
were　knocked　galley…west　by　this　discovery。

An　odd　sense　of　indignation　blazed　up　in　him；　as　though　someone　had
imposed　upon　him。　　The　sport　was　gone；　the　fun　of　the　thing；　it
became　merely　official　business。　　To　appropriate　a　pair　of　smuggled
emeralds　was　a　first…class　sporting　proposition；　with　a　humorous
twist。　　As　it　stood　now；　he　would　be　picking　Hawksley's　pocket；　and
he　wasn't　rogue　enough　for　that。　　Hang　the　luck！

Emeralds；　rubies；　sapphires；　pearls；　and　diamonds！　　No　doubt　many　of
them　with　histories　…　in　a　bag　hung　to　his　neck　…　and　all　these
thousands　of　miles！　　Not　since　the　advent　of　the　Gaekwar　of　Baroda
into　San　Francisco；　in　1910；　had　so　many　fine　stones　passed　through
that　port　of　entry。

But　why　hadn't　Hawksley　inquired　about　them？　　Stoic　indifference？
A　good　loser？　　How　had　he　got　through　the　customs　without　a　lot　of
publicity？　　The　Russian　consul　of　the　old　regime　probably；　and　an
appraiser　who　was　a　good　sport。　　To　have　come　safely　to　his
destination；　and　then　to　have　lost　out！　　The　magnificent　careless
generosity　of　putting　the　wallet　behind　Kitty's　flatirons；　to　be
hers　if　he　didn't　pull　through！　　Why；　this　fiddling　derelict　was
a　man！　　Stood　up　and　fought　Karlov　with　his　bare　fists；　wasn't
ashamed　to　weep　over　his　mother's　photograph；　and　fiddled　like
Heifetz。　　All　right。　　This　Johnny　Two…Hawks；　as　Kitty　persisted　in
calling　him；　was　going　to　reach　his　Montana　ranch。　　His　friend　Cutty
would　take　it　upon　himself　to　see　to　that。

It　struck　him　that　after　all　he　would　have　to　play　the　game　as　he
had　planned　it。　　Those　gems　falling　into　the　hands　of　the　Federal
agents　would　surely　bring　to　light　Hawksley's　identity；　and　Hawksley
should　have　his　chance。

Cutty　then　came　upon　the　will。　　Somehow　the　pathos　of　it　went　deep
into　his　heart。　　The　poor　devil！　…　a　will　that　hadn't　been　witnessed；
the　handwriting　the　same　as　that　on　the　passport。　　If　he　had　fallen
into　the　hands　of　the　police　they　would　have　justifiably　locked　him
up　as　a　murder　suspect。　　Two…Hawks！　　It　was　a　small　world。　　He
returned　the　contents　to　the　wallet；　leaving　out　the　will；　however。
This　he　thrust　into　a　drawer。

〃Coffee？〃　said　Kitty　at　his　elbow。

〃Kitty？　　I'd　forgotten　you！　　I　thought　I　smelt　coffee。　　Just　what　I
wanted；　too；　only　I　hadn't　brains　enough　left　to　think　of　it。　　Smells
better　than　anything　Kuroki　makes。。。。　　Tastes　better；　too。　　You're
going　to　make　some　lucky　duffer　a　fine　wife。〃

〃Is　there　anything　you　can　tell　me；　Cutty？〃

〃A　whole　lot；　Kitty；　only　I'm　twenty　years　too　old。〃

〃I　mean　the　wallet。　　Who　is　he？〃

Cutty　drained　the　cup　slowly。　　A　good　coherent　lie；　to　appease
Kitty's　curiosity；　half　a　truth；　something　hard　to　nail。　　He　set
down　the　empty　cup；　building。　　By　the　time　he　had　filled　his　pipe
and　lit　it　he　was　ready。

Something　bored　up　through　the　subconscious；　however　…　a　query。　　Why
hadn't　he　told　her　the　plain　truth　at　the　start？　　Wasn't　on　account
of　the　drums。　　He　hadn't　kept　her　in　the　dark　because　of　the　drums。
He　could　have　trusted　her　with　that　part　of　it　…　his　tentative
piracy。　　That　to　divulge　Hawksley's　identity　would　be　a　menace　to
her　peace　of　mind　now　appeared　ridiculous；　and　yet　he　had　worked
forward　from　this　assumption。　　No　answer　to　the　query。　　Generally
he　thought　clearly　enough；　but　somewhere　along　this　route　he　had
made　a　muddle　of　things　and　couldn't　find　the　spot。　　The　only　point
clearly　defined　was　that　he　should　wish　to　keep　her　out　of　the
affair　because　there　were　elements　of　positive　danger。　　But　somewhere
inside　of　him　was　a　question　asking　for　recognition；　and　it　eluded
him。　　Nothing　could　be　solved　until　this　question　got　out　of　the　fog。
Even　now　he　might　risk　the　whole　truth；　but　the　lie　he　had　woven
appeared　too　good　to　waste。

Human　frailty。　　The　most　accomplished　human　being　is　the　finished
liar。　　Never　to　forget　a　detail；　to　remember　step　by　step　the
windings；　over　a　ticklish　road。　　And　Cutty；　for　all　his　wide
newspaper　experience；　was　a　poor　liar　because　he　had　been　brought
up　on　facts。　　Perhaps　his　lie　might　have　passed　had　he　not　been　so
fagged。　　The　physical　labours　of　the　night　had　dulled　his
perceptions。

〃Ab；　but　that　tastes　good！〃　…　as　he　blew　forth　a　wavering　ring　of
smoke。

〃It　ought　to　have　at　least　one　merit；〃　replied　Kitty；　wrinkling　her
nose。　　What　a　fine　profile　Cutty　had！　　〃Now；　who　and　what　is　he？
I'm　dying　to　know。〃

〃An　odd　story；　probably　hundreds　li