the drums of jeopardy-第35章

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So　quarters　and　dimes　and　nickels　began　to　patter　into　Cutty's
ancient　derby　hat。　　Broadway　will　always　contribute　generously　toward
a　novelty　of　this　order。　　Famous　names　were　tossed　about　in
undertones。

Entered　then　the　enemy　of　the　proletariat。　　Kitty；　being　a　New
Yorker　born；　had　had　her　weather　eye　roving。　　The　brass…buttoned
minion　of　the　law　was　always　around　when　a　bit　of　innocent　fun　was
going　on。　　As　the　policeman　reached　the　inner　rim　of　the　audience
the　last　notes　of　Handel's　〃Largo〃　were　fading　on　the　ear。

〃What's　this？〃　demanded　the　policeman。　　

〃It's　all　over；　sir；〃　answered　Kitty；　smiling。

〃Can't　have　this　on　Broadway；　miss。　　Obstruction。〃　　He　could　not
speak　gruffly　in　the　face　of　such　beauty　…　especially　with　a
Broadway　crowd　at　his　back。

〃It's　all　over。　　Just　let　me　put　this　money　in　the　blind　man's　cup。〃
Kitty　poured　her　coins　into　the　receptacle。　　At　the　same　time
Hawksley　laid　the　fiddle　in　the　blind　man's　lap。　　Then　he　turned　to
Kitty　and　boomed　a　long　Russian　phrase　at　her。　　Her　quick　wit　caught
the　intent。　　〃You　see；　he　doesn't　understand　that　this　cannot　be
done　in　New　York。　　I　couldn't　explain。〃

〃All　right；　miss；　but　don't　do　it　again。〃　　The　policeman　grinned。

〃And　please　don't　be　harsh　with　the　blind　man。　　Just　tell　him　he
mustn't　play　on　Broadway　again。　　Thank　you！'

She　linked　her　arm　in　Hawksley's；　and　they　went　on；　and　the　crowd
dissolved；　only　the　policeman　and　the　blind　man　remained；　the　one
contemplating　his　duty　and　the　other　his　vision　of　heaven。

〃What　a　lark！〃　exclaimed　Hawksley。

〃Were　you　asking　me　for　your　hat？〃

〃I　was　telling　the　bobby　to　go　to　the　devil！〃

They　laughed　like　children。

〃March　hares！〃　he　said。

〃No。　　April　fools！　　Good　heavens；　the　time！　　Twenty　minutes　to
seven。　　Our　dinner！〃

〃We'll　take　a　taxi。。。。　　Dash　it！〃

〃What's　wrong？〃

〃Not　a　bally　copper　in　my　pockets！〃

〃And　I　left　my　handbag　on　the　sideboard！　　We'll　have　to　walk。　　If
we　hurry　we　can　just　about　make　it。〃

Meantime；　there　lay　in　wait　for　them　…　this　pair　of　April　fools　…　a
taxicab。　　It　stood　snugly　against　the　curb　opposite　the　entrance　to
Cutty's　apartment。　　The　door　was　slightly　ajar。

The　driver　watched　the　south　corner；　the　three　men　inside　never　took
their　gaze　off　the　north　corner。

〃But；　I　say；　hasn't　this　been　a　jolly　lark？〃

〃If　we　had　known　we　could　have　borrowed　a　dollar　from　the　blind　man；
he'd　never　have　missed　it。〃



CHAPTER　XXVII


Champagne　in　the　glass　is　a　beautiful　thing　to　see。　　So　is　water；
the　morning　after。　　That　is　the　fault　with　frolic；　there　is　always
an　inescapable　rebound。　　The　most　violent　love　drops　into　humdrum
tolerance。　　A　pessimist　is　only　a　poor　devil　who　has　anticipated　the
inevitable；　he　has　his　headache　at　the　start。　　Mental　champagnes　have
their　aftermaths　even　as　the　juice　of　the　grape。

Hawksley　and　Kitty；　hurrying　back；　began　to　taste　lees。　　They　began
to　see　things；　too　…　menace　in　every　loiterer；　threat　in　every　alley。
They　had　had　a　glorious　lark；　somewhere　beyond　would　be　the　piper
with　an　appalling　bill。　　They　exaggerated　the　dangers；　multiplied
them；　perhaps　wisely。　　There　would　be　no　let…down　in　their　vigilance
until　they　reached　haven。　　But　this　state　of　mind　they　covered　with
smiling　masks；　banter；　bursts　of　laughter；　and　flashes　of　wit。

They　were　both　genuinely　frightened；　but　with　unselfish　fear。　　Kitty's
fear　was　not　for　herself　but　for　Johnny　Two…Hawks。　　If　anything
happened　the　blame　would　rightly　be　hers。　　With　that　head　he　wasn't
strictly　accountable　for　what　he　did；　she　was。　　A　firm　negative　on　her
part　and　he　would　never　have　left　the　apartment。　　And　his　fear　was
wholly　for　this　astonishing　girl。　　He　had　recklessly　thrust　her　into
grave　danger。　　Who　knew；　better　than　he；　the　implacable　hate　of　the
men　who　sought　to　kill　him？

Moreover；　his　strength　was　leaving　him。　　There　was　an　alarming
weakness　in　his　legs；　purely　physical。　　He　had　overdone；　and　if　need
rose　he　would　not　be　able　to　protect　her。　　Damnable　fool！　　But　she
had　known。　　That　was　the　odd　phase　of　it。　　She　hadn't　come　blindly。
What　mood　had　urged　her　to　share　the　danger　along　with　the　lark？
Somehow；　she　was　always　just　beyond　his　reach；　this　girl。　　He　would
never　forget　that　fan　popping　out　of　the　pistol；　the　egg　burning　in
the　pan。

The　apartment　was　only　three　blocks　away　when　Kitty　decided　to　drop
her　mask。　　〃I'd　give　a　good　deal　to　see　a　policeman。　　They　are　never
around　when　you　really　want　them。　　Johnny　Two…Hawks；　I'm　a　little
fool！　　You　wouldn't　have　left　the　apartment　but　for　me。　　Will　you
forgive　me？〃

〃It　is　I　who　should　ask　forgiveness。　　I　say；　how　much　farther　is　it？〃

〃Only　about　two　blocks；　but　they　may　be　long　ones。　　Let's　step　into
this　doorway　for　a　moment。　　I　see　a　taxicab。　　It　looks　to　be　standing
opposite　the　building。　　Don't　like　it。　　Suppose　we　watch　it　for　a　few
minutes？〃

Hawksley　was　grateful　for　the　respite；　and　together　they　stared　at
the　unwinking　red　eye　of　the　tail　light。　　But　no　man　approached　the
cab　or　left　it。

〃I　believe　I've　hit　upon　a　plan；〃　said　Kitty。　　〃Certainly　we　have
not　been　followed。　　In　that　event　they　would　have　had　a　dozen
chances。　　If　someone　saw　us　leave　together；　naturally　they　will
expect　us　to　return　together。　　We'll　walk　to　the　corner　of　our　block；
then　turn　east；　but　I　shall　remain　just　out　of　sight　while　you　will
go　round　the　block。　　Fifteen　minutes　should　carry　you　to　the　south
corner。　　I'll　be　on　watch　for　you。　　The　moment　you　turn　I'll　walk
toward　you。　　It　will　give　us　a　bit　of　a　handicap　in　case　that　taxi
is　a　menace。　　If　any　one　appears；　run　for　it。　　Where's　the　cane　you
had？〃

〃What　a　jolly　ass　I　am！　　I　remember　now。　　I　left　the　stick　against
the　wall　of　the　opera　house。　　Blockhead！　　With　a　stick；　now！　。。。　I'm
hopeless！〃

〃Never　mind。　　Let's　start。　　That　taxi　may　be　perfectly　honest。　　It's
our　guilty　consciences　that　are　peopling　the　shadows　with　goblins。
What　really　bothers　us　is　that　we　have　broken　our　word　to　the
kindliest　man　in　all　this　world。〃

Hawksley　wondered　if　he　could　walk　round　the　block　without　falling
down。　　He　saw　that　he　was　facing　a　physical　collapse；　hastened　by
the　knowledge　that　the　safety　of　the　girl　depended　largely　upon
himself。　　What　he　had　accepted　at　the　beginning　as　strength　had
been　nothing　more　than　exhilaration　and　nerve　energy。　　There　was　now
nothing　but　the　latter；　and　only　feeble　straws　at　that。　　Oh；　he
would　manage　somehow；　he　jolly　well　had　to；　and　there　was　a　bare
chance　of　falling　in　with　a　bobby。　　But　run？　　Honestly；　now；　how
the　devil　was　a　chap　to　run　on　a　pair　of　spools？

Arriving　at　the　appointed　spot　they　separated。　　He　waved　his　hand
airily　and　marched　off。　　If　he　fell　it　would　be　out　of　sight；　where
the　girl　could　not　see　him。　　Clever　chap　…　what？　　Damned　rotter！
For　himself　he　did　not　care。　　He　was　weary　of　this　game　of　hide　and
seek。　　But　to　have　lured　the　girl　into　it！　　When　he　turned　the
first　corner　of　his　journey　he　paused　and　leaned　against　the　wall；
his　eyes　shut。　　When　he　opened　them　the　sidewalk　and　the　street
lamps　were　normal　again。

As　soon　as　he　disappeared　a　new　plan　came　to　Kitty。　　She　put　it
into　execution　at　once；　on　the　basis　that　yonder　taxicab　was　an
enemy　machine。　　She　left　her　retreat　and　walked　boldly　down　the
street；　her　eyes　alert　for　the　least　suspicious　sign。　　If　she
could　make　the　entrance　before　they　suspected　the　trick；　she　could
obtain　help　before　Johnny　Two…Hawks　made　the　south　turn。　　She
reached　her　objective；　pushed　through　the　revolving　doors；　and
turned。　　Dimly　she　could　see　the　taxi　driver；　but　he　appeared　to
be　dozing　on　the　seat。

As　a　matter　of　fact；　one　of　the　three　men　in　the　taxi　recognized
Kitty；　but　too　late　to　intercept　her。　　Her　manoeuvre　had　confused
him　temporarily。　　And　while　he　and　his　companions　were　debating；
Kitty　had　time　to　summon　Cutty's　man　from　Elevator　Four。

〃Step　into　the　car！〃　he　roughly　ordered；　after　she　had　given　him　a
gist　of　her　suspicions。　　He　turned　off　the　lights；　stepped　out；　and
shut　the　gates　with　a　furious　bang。　　〃And　stick　to　the　corner！　　I'll
attend　to　the　other　fool。〃

He　rushed　into　the　street；　his　automatic　ready；　eyed　the　taxicab
speculatively；　wheeled　suddenly；　and　ran　south　at　a　dog…trot。　　He
rounded　the　south　corner；　but　he　did　not　see　Hawksley　anywhere。　　The
dog…trot　became　a　dead　run。　　As　he　wheeled　round　the　corner　of　the
parallel　street　he　almost　bumped　into　Hawksley；　who　had　a　policeman
in　tow。

〃Officer；〃　said　the　man　with　the　boy's　face；　〃this　is　Federal
business。　　Aliens。　　Come　along。　　There　may　be　trouble。　　If　there
should　be　any　shooting　don't　bother　with　the　atmosphere。　　Pick　out
a　real　target。〃

〃Anarchists？〃

〃About　the　size　of　it。〃

〃Miss　Conover？〃　asked　Hawksley。

〃Safe。　　No　thanks　to　you；　though。　　I'd　like　to　knock　your　block　off；
if　you　want　to　know！〃

〃Do　it！　　Damned　little　use　to　me；〃　declared　Hawksley；　sagging。

〃Here；　what's　the　matter　with　you？〃　cried　the　policeman；　throwing
his　arm　round　Hawksley。

〃They　nearly　killed　him　a　few　days　gone。　　A　crack　on　the　bean；　but
he　wasn't　satisfied。　　Help　him　along。　　I'll　be　hiking　back。〃

But　the　taxicab　was　gone。

Before　Cutty's　lieutenant　opened　the　gate　to　the　apartment　he　spoke
to　Hawksley。　　〃The　boss　is　doing　everything　he　can　to　put　you
through；　sir。　　Miss　Conover's　wit　saved　you。　　For　if　you　hadn't
separated　they'd　have　nailed　you。　　I've　been　running　round　like　a
chicken　with　its　head　cut　off。　　I　forgot　that　door　on　the
seventeenth　floor。　　I　tell　you　honestly；　you've　been　playing　with
death。　　It　wasn't　fair　to　Miss　Conover。〃

〃It　was　my　fault；〃　volunteered　Kitty。

〃Mine；〃　protested　Hawksley。

〃Well；　they　know　where　you　roost　now；　for　a　fact。　　You've　spilled
the　beans。　　I'm　sorry　I　lost　my　temper。　　The　devil　fly　away　with
you　both！〃　　The　boy　laughed。　　〃You're　game；　anyhow。　　But　darn　it
all；　if　anything　had　happened　to　you　the　boss　would　never　have
forgiven　me。　　He's　the　whitest　old　scout　God　ever　put　the　breath
of　life　into。　　He's　always　doing　something　for　somebody。　　He'd　give
you　the　block　if　you　had　the　gall　to　ask　for　it。　　Play　the　game
fifty…fifty　with　him　and　you'll　land　on　both　feet。　　And　you；　Miss
Conover；　must　not　come　here　again。〃

〃I　promise。〃

〃I'll　tell　you　a　little　secret。　　It　was　the　boss　who　sent　you　out
of　town。　　He　was　afraid　you'd　do　something　like　this。　　When　you　are
ready　to　go　home　you'll　find　Tony　Bernini　downstairs。　　Sore　as　a
crab；　too；　I'll　bet。〃

〃I'll　be　glad　to　go　home　with　him；〃　said　Kitty；　thoroughly　chastened
in　spirit。

〃That's　all　for　to…night。〃

Kitty　and　Hawksley　stepped　out　into　the　corridor；　the　problem　they
had　sought　to　shake　off　reestablished　in　their　thoughts；　added　too；
if　anything。

〃How　do　you　feel？〃

〃Top…hole；〃　lied　Hawksley。　　〃My　word；　though；　I　wobbled　a　bit　going
round　that　block。　　I　almost　kissed　the　hobby。　　I　say；　he　thought　I'd
been　tilting　a　few。　　But　it　was　a　lark！〃

〃Dinner　is　served；〃　announced　Kuroki　at　their　elbows。　　His　expression
was　coldly　bland。

〃Dinner！〃　cried　Hawksley；　brightening。　　〃What　does　the　American
soldier　say？〃

〃Eats！〃　answered　Kitty。

All　tension　vanished　in　the　double　laughter　that　followed。　　They
approach