the drums of jeopardy-第34章

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had　gone　drunk　on　blood。　　One　familiar　face。

Of　course　he　would　never　forget　…　at　any　rate；　not　the　girl　whose
courage　had　made　possible　this　hour。　　Those　chaps；　scared　off
temporarily；　might　have　returned。　　What　had　become　of　her？　　He　was
a1ways　seeing　her　lovely　face　in　the　shadows；　now　tender；　now
resolute；　now　mocking。　　Doubtless　he　thought　of　her　constantly
because　his　freedom　of　action　was　limited。　　He　hadn't　diversion
enough。　　Books　and　fiddling；　these　carried　him　but　halfway　through
the　boredom。　　Where　was　she？　　Daily　he　had　called　her　by　telephone；
no　answer。　　The　Jap　shook　his　head；　the　slangy　boy　in　the　lift　shook
his。

She　was　a　thoroughbred；　even　if　she　had　been　born　of　middle　…class
parentage。　　He　laughed　bitterly。　　Middle　class。　　A　homeless；
countryless　derelict；　and　he　had　the　impudence　to　revert　to
comparisons　that　no　longer　existed　in　this　topsy…turvy　old　world。
He　was　an　upstart。　　The　final　curtain　had　dropped　between　him　and
his　world；　and　he　was　still　thinking　in　the　ancient　make…up。　　Middle
class！　　He　was　no　better　than　a　troglodyte；　set　down　in　a　new
wilderness。

He　heard　the　curtain　rings　slither　on　the　pole。　　Believing　the
intruder　to　be　Kuroki　he　turned　belligerently。　　And　there　she　stood
　…　the　girl　herself！　　The　poise　of　her　reminded　him　of　the　Winged
Victory　in　the　Louvre。　　Where　there　had　been　a　cup　of　champagne　in
his　veins　circumstance　now　poured　a　magnum。

〃You！〃　he　cried。

〃What　has　happened？　　Where　are　you　going　in　those　clothes？〃　demanded
Kitty。

〃I　am　running　away　…　for　an　hour　or　so。〃

〃But　you　must　not！　　The　risks　…　after　all　the　trouble　we've　had　to
help　you！〃

〃I　shall　be　perfectly　safe；　for　you　are　going　with　me。　　Aren't　you
my　guardian　angel？　　Well；　rather！　　The　two　of　us　…　people；　lights；
shop　windows！　　Perfectly　splendiferous！　　Honestly；　now；　where's　the
harm？〃　　He　approached　her　rapidly　as　he　spoke；　and　before　the　spell
of　him　could　be　shaken　off　Kitty　found　her　hands　imprisoned　in　his。
〃Please！　　I've　been　so　damnably　bored。　　The　two　of　us　in　the　streets；
among　the　crowds！　　No　one　will　dare　touch　us。　　Can't　you　see？　　And
then　…　I　say；　this　is　ripping　！　　…　we'll　have　dinner　together　here。
I　will　play　for　you　on　the　old　Amati。　　Please！〃

The　fire　of　him　communicated　to　the　combustibles　in　Kitty's　soul。
A　wild；　reckless　irony　besieged　her。　　This　adventure　would　be
exactly　what　she　needed；　it　would　sweep　clear　the　fog　separating
one　side　of　her　brain　from　the　other。　　For　it　was　plain　enough
that　part　of　her　brain　refused　to　cooperate　with　the　other。　　A
break　in　the　trend　of　thought：　she　might　succeed　in　getting　hold
of　the　puzzle　if　she　could　drop　it　absolutely　for　a　little　while
and　then　pick　it　up　again。

She　had　not　gone　home。　　She　had　not　notified　Bernini。　　She　had
checked　her　luggage　in　the　station　parcel　room　and　come　directly
here。　　For　what？　　To　let　the　sense　of　luxury　overcome　the　hidden
repugnance　of　the　idea　of　marrying　Cutty；　divorcing　him；　and
living　on　his　money。　　To　put　herself　in　the　way　of　visible
temptation。　　What　fretted　her　so；　what　was　wearing　her　down　to
the　point　of　fatigue；　was　the　patent　imbecility　of　her　reluctance。
There　would　have　been　some　sense　of　it　if　Cutty　had　proposed　a
real　marriage。　　All　she　had　to　do　was　mumble　a　few　words；　sign
her　name　to　a　document；　live　out　West　for　a　few　months；　and　be
in　comfortable　circumstances　all　the　rest　of　her　life。　　And　she
doddered！

She　would　run　the　streets　with　Johnny　Two…Hawks；　return；　and　dine
with　him。　　Who　cared？　　Proper　or　improper；　whose　business　was　it　but
Kitty　Conover's？　　Danger？　　That　was　the　peculiar　attraction。　　She
wanted　to　rush　into　danger；　some　tense　excitement　the　strain　of
which　would　lift　her　out　of　her　mood。　　A　recurrent　touch　of　the　wild
impulsiveness　of　her　childhood。　　Hadn't　she　sometimes　flown　out　into
thunderstorms；　after　merited　punishment；　to　punish　the　mother　whom
thunder　terrorized？　　And　now　she　was　going　to　rush　into　unknown
danger　to　punish　Fate　…　like　a　silly　child！　　Nevertheless；　she　would
go　into　the　streets　with　Johnny　Two…Hawks。

〃But　are　you　strong　enough　to　venture　on　the　streets？〃

〃Rot！　　Dash　it　all；　I'm　no　mollycoddle！　　All　nonsense　to　keep　me
pinned　in　like　this。　　Will　you　go　with　me　…　be　my　guide？〃

〃Yes！〃　She　shot　out　the　word　and　crossed　the　Rubicon　before　reason
could　begin　to　lecture。　　Besides；　wasn't　reason　treating　her　shabbily
in　withholding　the　key　to　the　riddle？　　〃Johnny　Two…Hawks；　I　will　go
as　far　as　Harlem　if　you　want　me　to。〃

〃Johnny　Two…Hawks！〃　　He　laughed　joyously；　then　kissed　her　hands。
But　he　had　to　pay　for　this　bending　…　a　stab　that　filled　his　eyes
with　flying　sparks。　　He　must　remember；　once　out　of　doors；　not　to
stoop　quickly。　　〃I　say；　you're　the　jolliest　girl　I　ever　met！　　Just
the　two　of　us；　what？〃

〃The　way　you　speak　English　is　wonderful！〃

〃Simple　enough　to　explain。　　Had　an　English　nurse　from　the　beginning。
Spoke　English　and　Italian　before　I　spoke　Russian。〃

He　seized　the　wooden　mallet　and　beat　the　Burmese　gong　…　a　flat　piece
of　brass　cut　in　the　shape　of　a　bell。　　The　clear；　whirring　vibrations
filled　the　room。　　Long　before　these　spent　themselves　Kuroki　appeared
on　the　threshold。　　He　bobbed。

〃Kuroki；　Miss　Conover　is　dining　here　with　me　to…night。　　Seven
o'clock　sharp。　　The　best　you　have　in　the　larder。〃

〃Yes；　sair。　　You　are　going　out；　sair？〃

〃For　a　bit　of　fresh　air。〃

〃And　I　am　going　with　him；　Kuroki；〃　said　Kitty。　　Kuroki　bobbed　again。
〃Dinner　at　seven；　sair。〃　　Another　bob；　and　he　returned　to　the
kitchen；　smiling。　　The　girl　was　free　to　come　and　go；　of　course；　but
the　ancient　enemy　of　Nippon　would　not　pass　the　elevator　door。　　Let
him　find　that　out　for　himself。

When　the　elevator　arrived　the　boy　did　not　open　the　door。　　He　noted
the　derby　on　Hawksley's　head。

〃I　can　take　you　down；　Miss　Conover；　but　I　cannot　take　Mr。　Hawksley。
When　the　boss　gives　me　an　order　I　obey　it　…　if　I　possibly　can。　　On
the　day　the　boss　tells　me　you　can　go　strolling；　I'll　give　you　the
key　to　the　city。　　Until　then；　nix！　　No　use　arguing；　Mr。　Hawksley。〃

〃I　shan't　argue；〃　replied　Hawksley；　meekly。　　〃I　am　really　a　prisoner；
then？〃

〃For　your　own　good；　sir。　　Do　you　wish　to　go　down；　Miss　Conover？〃

〃No。〃

The　boy　swung　the　lever；　and　the　car　dropped　from　sight。

〃I'm　sorry；〃　said　Kitty。

Hawksley　smiled　and　laid　a　finger　on　his　lips。　　〃I　wanted　to　know；〃
he　whispered。　　〃There's　another　way　down　from　this　Matterhorn。　　Come
with　me。　　Off　the　living　room　is　a　storeroom。　　I　found　the　key　in
the　lock　the　other　day　and　investigated。　　I　still　have　the　key。　　Now；
then；　there's　a　door　that　gives　to　the　main　loft。　　At　the　other　end
is　the　stairhead。　　There　is　a　door　at　the　foot　of　the　first　flight
down。　　We　can　jolly　well　leave　this　way；　but　we　shall　have　to　return
by　the　lift。　　That　bally　young　ruffian　can't　refuse　to　carry　us　up；
y'　know！〃

Kitty　laughed。　　〃This　is　going　to　be　fun！〃

〃Rather！〃

They　groped　their　way　through　the　dim　loft　…　for　it　was　growing　dark
outside　…　and　made　the　stairhead。　　The　door　to　the　seventeenth　floor
opened；　and　they　stepped　forth　into　the　lighted　hallway。

〃Now　what？〃　asked　Kitty；　bubbling。

〃The　floor　below；　and　one　of　the　other　lifts；　what？〃　　Twenty　minutes
later　the　two　of　them；　arm　in　arm；　turned　into　Broadway。

〃This；　sir；〃　began　Kitty　with　a　gesture；　〃is　Broadway　…　America's
backyard　in　the　daytime　and　Ali　Baba's　cave　at　night。　　The　way　of
the　gilded　youth；　the　funnel　for　papa's　money；　the　chorus　lady；　the
starting　point　of　the　high　cost　of　living。　　We　New　Yorkers　despise
it　because　we　can't　afford　it。〃

〃The　lights！〃　gasped　Hawksley。

〃Wreckers'　lights。　　Behold！　　Yonder　is　a　highly　nutritious　whisky
blinking　its　bloomin'　farewell。　　Do　you　chew　gum？　　Even　if　you
don't；　in　a　few　minutes　I'll　give　you　a　cud　for　thought。　　Chewing
gum　was　invented　by　a　man　with　a　talkative　wife。　　He　missed　the
physiological　point；　however；　that　a　body　can　chew　and　talk　at　the
same　time。　　Come　on！〃

They　went　on　uptown；　Hawksley　highly　amused；　exhilarated；　but
frequently　puzzled。　　The　pungent　irony　of　her　observations　conveyed
to　him　that　under　this　gayety　was　a　current　of　extreme　bitterness。
〃I　say；　are　all　American　girls　like　you？〃

〃Heavens；　no！　　Why？〃

〃Because　I　never　met　one　like　you　before。　　Rather　stilted　…　on　their
good　behaviour；　I　fancy。〃

〃And　I　interest　you　because　I'm　not　on　my　good　behaviour？〃　Kitty
whipped　back。

〃Because　you　are　as　God　made　you　…　without　camouflage。〃

〃The　poor　innocent　young　man！　　I'm　nothing　but　camouflage　to…night。
Why　are　you　risking　your　life　in　the　street？　　Why　am　I　sharing
that　risk？　　Because　we　both　feel　bound　and　are　blindly　trying
to　break　through。　　What　do　you　know　about　me？　　Nothing。　　What　do
I　know　about　you？　　Nothing。　　But　what　do　we　care？　　Come　on；　come　on！〃

Tumpitum　…　tump！　　tumpitum　…　tump！　　drummed　the　Elevated。　　Kitty
laughed。　　The　tocsin！　　Always　something　happened　when　she　heard　it。

〃Pearls！〃　she　cried；　dragging　him　toward　a　jeweller's　window。

〃No！〃　he　said；　holding　back。　　〃I　hate　…　jewels！　　How　I　hate　them！〃
He　broke　away　from　her　and　hurried　on。

She　had　to　run　after　him。　　Had　she　hesitated　they　might　have　become
separated。　　Hated　jewels？　　No；　no！　　There　should　be　no　questions；
verbal　or　mental；　this　night。　　She　presently　forced　him　to　slow　down。
〃Not　so　fast！　　We　must　never　become　separated；〃　she　warned。　　〃Our
safety　…　such　as　it　is　…　lies　in　being　together。〃

〃I'm　an　ass。　　Perhaps　my　head　is　ratty　without　my　realizing　it。　　I
fancy　I'm　like　a　dog　that's　been　kicked；　I'm　trying　to　run　away
from　the　pain。　　What's　this　tomb？〃

〃The　Metropolitan　Opera　House。〃

As　they　were　passing　a　thin；　wailing　sound　came　to　the　ears　of　both。
Seated　with　his　back　to　the　wall　was　a　blind　fiddler　with　a　tin　cup
strapped　to　a　knee。　　He　was　out　of　bounds；　he　had　no　right　on
Broadway；　but　he　possessed　a　singular　advantage　over　the　law。　　He
could　not　be　forced　to　move　on　without　his　guide　…　if　he　were
honestly　blind。　　Hundreds　of　people　were　passing；　but　the　fiddler's
〃Last　Rose　of　Summer〃　wasn't　worth　a　cent。　　His　cup　was　empty。

〃The　poor　thing！〃　said　Kitty。

〃Wait！〃　Hawksley　approached　the　fiddler；　exchanged　a　few　words　with
him；　and　the　blind　man　surrendered　his　fiddle。

〃Give　me　your　hat！〃　cried　Kitty；　delighted。

Carefully　Hawksley　pried　loose　his　derby　and　handed　it　to　Kitty。
No　stab　of　pain；　something　to　find　that　out。　　He　turned　the
instrument；　tucked　it　under　his　chin　and　began　〃Traumerei。〃　　Kitty；
smiling；　extended　the　hat。　　Just　the　sort　of　interlude　to　make　the
adventure　memorable。　　She　knew　this　thoroughfare。　　Shortly　there
would　be　a　crowd；　and　the　fiddler's　cup　would　overflow　…　that　is；
if　the　police　did　not　interfere　too　soon。

As　for　the　owner　of　the　wretched　fiddle；　he　raised　his　head；　his
mouth　opened。　　Up　there；　somewhere；　a　door　to　heaven　had　opened。

True　to　her　expectations　a　crowd　slowly　gathered。　　The　beauty　of
the　girl　and　the　dark；　handsome　face　of　the　musician；　his　picturesque
bare　head；　were　sufficient　for　these　cynical　passers…by。　　They
understood。　　Operatic　celebrities；　having　a　little　fun　on　their　own。
So　quarters　and　dimes　and　nickels　began　to　patter　into　Cutty's
ancient　derby　hat。　　Broadwa