the drums of jeopardy-第37章

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not　have　tarried　too　long　on　a　certain　red　night；　Cutty　would　not
now　be　stumbling　about　the　labyrinths　into　which　his　looting
instincts　had　thrust　him；　and　Kitty　Conover　would　have　jogged　along
in　the　humdrum　rut；　if　not　happy　at　least　philosophically　content
with　her　lot。



CHAPTER　XXVIII


Decision　is　always　a　mental　relief；　hesitance　a　curse。　　Kitty；
having　shifted　her　burdens　to　the　broad　shoulders　of　Cutty；　felt
as　she　reached　the　lobby　as　if　she　had　left　storm　and　stress
behind　and　entered　calm。　　She　would　marry　Cutty；　she　had　published
the　fact；　burned　her　bridges。

She　had　stepped　into　the　car；　her　heart　full　of　cold　fury。　　Now　she
began　to　find　excuses　for　Hawksley's　conduct。　　A　sick　brain；　he　was
not　really　accountable　for　his　acts。　　Her　own　folly　had　opened　the
way。　　Of　course　she　would　never　see　him　again。　　Why　should　she？
Their　lives　were　as　far　apart　as　the　Volga　and　the　Hudson。

Bernini　met　her　in　the　lobby。　　〃I've　got　a　cab　for　you；　Miss
Conover；〃　he　said　as　if　nothing　at　all　had　happened。

〃Have　you　Cutty's　address？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Then　take　me　at　once　to　a　telegraph　office。　　I　have　a　very　important
message　to　send　him。〃

〃All　right；　Miss　Conover。〃

〃Say：　'Decision　made。　　It　is　yes。'　　And　sign　it　just　Kitty。〃

Without　being　conscious　of　it　her　soul　was　still　in　the　clouds；
where　it　had　been　driven　by　the　music　of　the　fiddle；　thus；　what
she　assumed　to　be　a　normal　sequence　of　a　train　of　thought　was　only
a　sublime　impulse。　　She　would　marry　Cutty。　　More；　she　would　be　his
wife；　his　true　wife。　　For　his　tenderness；　his　generosity；　his
chivalry；　she　would　pay　him　in　kind。　　There　would　be　no　nonsense；
love　would　not　enter　into　the　bargain；　but　there　would　be　the
fragrance　of　perfect　understanding。　　That　he　was　fifty…two　and　she
was　twenty…four　no　longer　mattered。　　No　more　loneliness；　no　more
genteel　poverty；　for　such　benefits　she　was　ready　to　pay　the　score
in　full。　　A　man　she　was　genuinely　fond　of；　a　man　she　could　look　up
to；　always　depend　upon。

Was　there　such　a　thing　as　perfect　love？　　She　had　her　doubts。　　She
reasoned　that　love　was　what　a　body　decided　was　love；　the
psychological　moment　when　the　physical　attraction　became　irresistible。
Who　could　tell　before　the　fact　which　was　the　true　and　which　the　false？
Lived　there　a　woman；　herself　excepted；　who　had　not　hesitated　between
two　men　…　a　man　who　had　not　doddered　between　two　women　…　for　better
or　for　worse？　　What　did　the　average　woman　know　of　the　man；　the
average　man　know　of　the　woman　…　until　afterward？　　To　stake　all　upon
a　guess！

She　knew　Cutty。　　Under　her　own　eyes　he　had　passed　through　certain
proving　fires。　　There　would　be　no　guessing　the　manner　of　man　he　was。
He　was　fifty…two；　that　is　to　say；　the　grand　passion　had　come　and
gone。　　There　would　be　mutual　affection　and　comradeship。

True；　she　had　her　dreams；　but　she　could　lay　them　away　without　any
particular　regret。　　She　had　never　been　touched　by　the　fire　of
passion。　　Let　it　go。　　But　she　did　know　what　perfect　comradeship　was；
and　she　would　grasp　it　and　never　loose　her　hold。　　Something　out　of
life。

〃A　narrow　squeak；　Miss　Conover；〃　said　Berumi；　breaking　the　long
silence。

〃A　miss　is　as　good　as　a　mile；〃　replied　Kitty；　not　at　all　grateful
for　the　interruption。

〃We've　done　everything　we　could　to　protect　you。　　If　you　can't　see
now　…　why；　the　jig　is　up。　　A　chain　is　as　strong　as　its　weakest　link。
And　in　a　game　like　this　a　woman　is　always　the　weakest　link。〃

〃You're　quite　a　philosopher。〃

〃I　have　reason　to　be。　　I'm　married。〃

〃Am　I　expected　to　laugh？〃

〃Miss　Conover；　you're　a　wonder。　　You　come　through　these　affairs　with
a　smile；　when　you　ought　to　have　hysterics。　　I'll　bet　a　doughnut　that
when　you　see　a　mouse　you　go　and　get　it　a　piece　of　cheese。〃

〃Do　you　want　the　truth？　　Well；　I'll　tell　it　to　you。　　You　have　all
kept　me　on　the　outer　edge　of　this　affair；　and　I've　been　trying　to
find　out　why。　　I　have　the　reportorial　instinct；　as　they　say。　　I
inherited　it　from　my　father。　　You　put　a　strange　weapon　in　my　hands；
you　tell　me　it　is　deadly；　but　you　don't　tell　me　which　end　is　deadly。
Do　you　know　who　this　Russian　is？〃

〃Honestly；　I　don't。〃

〃Does　Cutty？〃

〃I　don't　know　that；　either。〃

〃Did　you　ever　hear　of　a　pair　of　emeralds　called　the　drums　of
jeopardy？〃

〃Nope。　　But　I　do　know　if　you　continue　these　stunts　you'll　head　the
whole　game　into　the　ditch。〃

〃You　may　set　your　mind　at　ease。　　I'm　going　to　marry　Cutty。　　I　shall
not　go　to　the　apartment　again　until　Hawksley；　as　he　is　called；　is
gone。〃

〃Well；　well；　that's　good　news！　　But　let　me　put　you　wise　to　one　fact；
Miss　Conover：　you　have　picked　some　man！　　I'm　not　much　of　a　scholar；
but　knowing　him　as　I　do　I'm　always　wondering　why　they　made　Faith；
Hope；　and　Charity　in　female　form。　　But　this　night's　work　was　bad
business。　　They　know　where　the　Russian　is　now；　and　if　the　game　lasts
long　enough　they'll　reach　the　chief；　find　out　who　he　is；　and　that'll
put　the　kibosh　on　his　usefulness　here　and　abroad。　　Well；　here's　home；
and　no　more　lecture　from　me。〃

〃Sorry　I've　been　so　much　trouble。〃

〃Perhaps　we　ought　to　have　shown　you　which　end　shoots。〃

〃Good…night。〃

If　Kitty　had　any　doubt　as　to　the　wisdom　of　her　decision；　the　cold；
gloomy　rooms　of　her　apartment　dissipated　them。　　She　wandered　through
the　rooms；　musing；　calling　back　animated　scenes。　　What　would　the
spirit　of　her　mother　say？　　Had　she　doddered　between　Conover　and
Cutty？　　Perhaps。　　But　she　had　been　one　of　the　happy　few　who　had
guessed　right。　　Singular　thought：　her　mother　would　have　been　happy
with　Cutty；　too。

Oh；　the　relief　of　knowing　what　the　future　was　going　to　be！　　She
took　off　her　hat　and　tossed　it　upon　the　table。　　The　good　things
of　life；　and　a　good　comrade。

Food。　　The　larder　would　be　empty　and　there　was　her　breakfast　to
consider。　　She　passed　out　into　the　kitchen；　wrote　out　a　list　of
necessities；　and　put　it　on　the　dumb　waiter。　　Now　for　the　dishes
she　had　so　hurriedly　left。　　She　rolled　up　her　sleeves；　put　on　the
apron；　and　fell　to　the　task。　　After　such　a　night　…　dish…washing！
She　laughed。　　It　was　a　funny　old　world。

Pauses。　　Perhaps　she　should　have　gone　to　a　hotel；　away　from　all
familiar　objects。　　Those　flatirons　intermittently　pulled　her　eyes
round。　　Her　fancy　played　tricks　with　her　whenever　her　glance　touched
the　window。　　Faces　peering　in。　　In　a　burst　of　impatience　she　dropped
the　dish　towel；　hurried　to　the　window；　and　threw　it　up。　　Black
emptiness！　。。。　Cutty；　crossing　the　platform　with　Hawksley　on　his
shoulders。　　She　saw　that；　and　it　comforted　her。

She　finished　her　work　and　started　for　bed。　　But　first　she　entered
the　guest　room　and　turned　on　the　lights。　　Olga。　　She　had　intended
to　ask　him　who　Olga　was。

A　great　pity。　　They　might　have　been　friends。　　The　back　of　her　hand
went　to　her　lips　but　did　not　touch　them。　　She　could　not　rub　away
those　burning　kisses　…　that　is；　not　with　the　back　of　her　hand。
Vividly　she　saw　him　fiddling　bareheaded　in　front　of　the　Metropolitan
Opera　House。　　It　seemed；　though；　that　it　had　happened　years　ago。　　A
great　pity。　　The　charm　of　that　frolic　would　abide　with　her　as　long
as　she　lived。　　A　brave　man；　too。　　Hadn't　he　left　her　with　a　gay　wave
of　the　hand；　not　knowing；　for　want　of　strength；　if　he　could　make　the
detour　of　the　block？　　That　took　courage。　　His　journey　halfway　across
the　world　had　taken　courage。　　Yet　he　could　so　basely　disillusion　her。
It　was　not　the　kiss；　it　was　the　smile。　　She　had　seen　that　smile
before；　born　of　evil。　　If　only　he　had　spoken！

The　heavenly　magic　of　that　fiddle！　　It　made　her　sad。　　Genius；　the
ability　to　play　with　souls；　soothe；　tantalize；　lift　up；　and　then　to
smile　at　her　like　that！

She　shut　down　the　curtain　upon　these　cogitations　and　summoned　Cutty；
visualized　his　handsome　head；　shot　with　gray；　the　humour　of　his
smile。　　She　did　care　for　him；　no　doubt　of　that。　　She　couldn't　have
sent　that　telegram　else。　　Cutty　…　name　of　a　pipe；　as　the　Frenchmen
said！　　All　at　once　she　rocked　with　laughter。　　She　was　going　to　marry
a　man　whose　given　name　she　could　not　recall！　　Henry；　George；　John；
William？　　For　the　life　of　her　she　could　not　remember。

And　with　this　laughter　still　bubbling　in　a　softer　note　she　got　into
bed；　twisted　about　from　side　to　side；　from　this　pillow　to　that；　the
tired　body　seeking　perfect　relaxation。

A　broken　melody　entered　her　head。　　Sleepily　she　sought　one　channel
of　thought　after　another　to　escape；　still　the　melody　persisted。　　As
her　consciousness　dodged　hither　and　thither　the　bars　and　measures
joined。。。。　　She　sat　up；　chilled；　bewildered。　　That　Tschaikowsky
waltz！　　She　could　hear　it　as　clearly　as　if　Johnny　Two…Hawks　and　the
Amati　were　in　the　very　room。　　She　grew　afraid。　　Of　what？　　She　did
not　know。

And　while　she　sat　there　in　bed　threshing　out　this　fear　to　find　the
grain；　Cutty　was　tramping　the　streets　of　Washington；　her　telegram
crumpled　in　his　hand。　　From　time　to　time　he　would　open　it　and　reread
it　under　a　street　lamp。

To　marry　her　and　then　to　cheat　her。　　It　wasn't　humanly　possible　to
marry　her　and　then　to　let　her　go。　　He　thought　of　those　warm；　soft
arms　round　his　neck；　the　absolute　trust　of　that　embrace。　　Molly's
girl。　　No；　he　could　not　do　it。　　He　would　have　to　back　down；　tell
her　he　could　not　put　the　bargain　through；　invent　some　other　scheme。

The　idea　had　been　repugnant　to　her。　　It　had　taken　her　a　week　to
fight　it　out。　　It　was　a　little　beyond　his　reach；　however；　why　the
idea　should　have　been　repugnant　to　her。　　It　entailed　nothing　beyond
a　bit　of　mummery。　　The　repugnance　was　not　due　to　religious　training。
The　Conover　household；　as　he　recalled　it；　had　been　rather　lax　in
that　respect。　　Why；　then；　should　Kitty　have　hesitated？

He　thought　of　Hawksley；　and　swore。　　But　for　Hawksley's　suggestion
no　muddle　like　this　would　have　occurred。　　Devil　take　him　and　his
infernal　green　stones！

Cutty　suddenly　remembered　his　train。　　He　looked　at　his　watch　and
saw　that　his　lower　berth　was　well　on　the　way　to　Baltimore。　　Always
and　eternally　he　was　missing　something。



CHAPTER　XXIX


Not　unusually；　when　we　burn　our　bridges；　we　have　in　the　back　of　our
minds　the　dim　hope　that　there　may　be　a　shallow　ford　somewhere。　　Thus；
bridges　should　not　be　burned　impulsively；　there　may　be　no　ford。

The　idea　of　retreat　pushed　forward　in　Kitty's　mind　the　moment　she
awoke；　but　she　pressed　it　back　in　shame。　　She　had　given　her　word；
and　she　would　stand　by　it。　　

The　night　had　been　a　series　of　wild　impulses。　　She　had　not　sent　that
telegram　to　Cutty　as　the　result　of　her　deliberations　in　the　country。
Impulse；　a　flash；　and　the　thing　was　done；　her　bridges　burned。　　To
crush　Johnny　Two…Hawks；　fill　his　cup　with　chagrin；　she　had　told　him
she　was　going　to　marry　Cutty。　　That　was　the　milk　in　the　cocoanut。
Morning　has　a　way　of　showing　up　night…gold　for　what　it　is　…　tinsel。
Kitty　saw　the　stage　of　last　night's　drama　dismantled。　　If　there　was
a　shallow　ford；　she　would　never　lower　her　pride　to　seek　it。　　She
had　told　Two…Hawks；　sent　that　wire　to　Cutty；　broke　the　news　to
Bernini。

But　did　she　really　want　to　go　back？　　Not　to　know　her　own　mind；　to
swing　back　and　forth　like　a　pendulum！　　Was　it　because　she　feared
that；　having　married　Cutty；　she　might　actually　fall　in　love　with
some　other　man　later？　　She　could　still　go　throug