the drums of jeopardy-第44章

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Cutty。　　They　came　out　of　hell　…　if　you　want　to　risk　it！　　The　other
is　for　Miss　Conover；　with　Mister　Hawksley's　compliments。〃　　He　was
looking　at　Kitty　now；　his　face　drawn；　his　eyes　bloodshot。　　〃Don't
be　apprehensive。　　They　bring　evil　only　to　men。　　With　one　in　your
possession　you　will　be　happy　ever　after；　as　the　saying　goes。　　Oh；
they　are　mine　to　give；　mine　by　right　of　inheritance。　　God　knows　I
paid　for　them！〃

〃If　I　said　Mister　…　〃　began　Kitty；　her　brain　confused；　her　tongue
clumsy。

〃You　haven't　forgiven！〃　he　interrupted。　　〃A　thoroughbred　like　you；
to　hold　last　night　against　me！　　Mister　…　after　what　we　two　have
shared　together！　　Why　didn't　you　leave　me　there　to　die？〃

Cutty　observed　that　the　drama　had　resolved　itself　into　two
characters；　he　had　been　relegated　to　the　scenes。　　He　tiptoed　toward
his　study　door；　and　as　he　slipped　inside　he　knew　that　Gethsemane　was
not　an　orchard　but　a　condition　of　the　mind。　　He　tossed　the　pouch　on
his　desk；　eyed　it　ironically；　and　sat　down。　　His；　one　of　them　…　one
of　those　marvellous　emeralds　was　his！　　He　interlaced　his　fingers
and　rested　his　brow　upon　them。　　He　was　very　tired。

Kitty　missed　him　only　when　she　heard　the　latch　snap。

She　was　alone　with　Hawksley；　and　all　her　terror　returned。　　Not　to
touch　him；　not　to　console　him；　to　stand　staring　at　him　like　a　dumb
thing！

〃I　do　forgive　…　Johnny！　　But　your　world　and　my　world　…〃

〃Those　stains！　　The　wretches　hurt　you！〃

〃What？　　Where？〃　…　bewildered。

〃The　blood　on　your　waist！〃

Kitty　looked　down。　　〃That　is　not　my　blood；　Johnny。　　It　is　yours。〃

〃Mine？〃　Johnny。　　Something　in　the　way　she　said　it。　　〃Mine？〃　…　trying
to　solve　the　riddle。

〃Yes。　　It　is　where　your　cheek　rested　when　…　I　thought　you　were　dead。〃

The　sense　of　misery；　of　oppression；　of　terror；　all　fell　away
miraculously；　leaving　only　the　flower　of　glory。　　She　would　be　his
plaything　if　he　wanted　her。

Silence。

〃Kitty；　I　came　out　of　a　dark　world　…　to　find　you。　　I　loved　you　the
moment　I　entered　your　kitchen　that　night。　　But　I　did　not　know　it。
I　loved　you　the　night　you　brought　the　wallet。　　Still　I　did　not
understand。　　It　was　when　I　heard　the　lift　door　and　knew　you　had　gone
forever　that　I　understood。　　Loved　you　with　all　my　heart；　with　all
that　poor　old　Stefani　had　fashioned　out　of　muck　and　clay。　　If　you
held　my　head　to　your　heart；　if　that　is　my　blood　there　…　　Do　you；　can
you　care　a　little？〃

〃I　can　and　do　care　very　much；　Johnny。〃

Her　voice　to　his　ears　was　like　the　G　string　of　the　Amati。　　〃Will
you　go　with　me？〃

〃Anywhere。　　But　you　are　a　prince　of　some　great　Russian　house；　Johnny；
and　I　am　nobody。〃

〃What　am　I；　Kitty？　　Less　than　nobody　…　a　homeless　outcast；　with　only
you　and　Cutty。　　An　American！　　Well；　when　I'm　that　it　will　be
different；　I'll　be　somebody。　　God　forgive　me　if　I　do　not　give　it
absolute　loyalty；　this　new　country！　。。。　Never　call　me　anything　but
Johnny。〃

〃Johnny。〃　　Anywhere；　whatever　he　willed　her　to　be。

〃I'm　a　child；　Kitty。　　I　want　to　grow　up　…　if　I　can　…　to　be　an
American；　something　like　that　ripping　old　thoroughbred　yonder。〃

Cutty！　　Johnny　wanted　to　be　something　like　Cutty。　　Johnny　would　have
to　grow　up　to　be　his　own　true　self；　for　nobody　could　ever　be　like
Cutty。　　He　was　as　high　and　far　away　from　the　average　man　as　this
apartment　was　from　hers。　　Would　he　understand　her　attitude？　　Could
she　say　anything　until　it　would　be　too　late　for　him　to　interfere？
She　was　this　man's　woman。　　She　would　have　her　span　of　happiness；
come　ill；　come　good；　even　if　it　hurt　Cutty；　whom　she　loved　in　another
fashion。　　But　for　Johnny　dropping　through　that　trap　she　might　never
have　really　known；　married　Cutty；　and　been　happy。　　Happy　until　one
or　the　other　died；　never　gloriously；　never　furiously；　but　mildly
happy；　perhaps　understanding　each　other　far　better　than　Johnny　and
she　would　understand　each　other。　　The　average　woman's　lot。　　But　to
give　her　heart；　her　mind；　her　body　in　a　whirlwind　of　emotions；
absolute　surrender；　to　know　for　once　the　highest　state　of　exaltation
　…　to　love！

All　this　tender　exchange　with　half　a　dozen　feet　between　them。　　Kitty
had　not　stirred　from　the　far　side　of　the　tea　cart；　and　he　had　not
opened　his　arms。　　She　had　given　herself　with　magnificent　abandon；
for　the　present　that　satisfied　her　instincts。　　As　for　him；　he　was
not　quite　sure　this　miracle　might　not　be　a　dream；　and　one　false　move
might　cause　her　to　vanish。

〃Johnny；　who　is　Olga？〃　The　question　was　irrepressible。　　Perhaps　it
was　the　last　shred　of　caution　binding　her。　　All　of　him　or　none　of
him。　　There　must　be　no　other　woman　intervening。

Hawksley　stiffened　in　his　chair。　　His　hands　closed　convulsively　and
his　eyes　lost　their　brightness。　　〃Johnny？〃　　Kitty　ran　round　the　tea
cart。　　〃What　is　it？〃　　She　knelt　beside　the　chair；　alarmed；　for　the
horror　had　returned　to　his　face。　　〃What　did　they　do　to　you　back
there？〃　　She　clasped　one　of　his　hands　tensely　in　hers。

〃In　my　dreams　at　night！〃　he　said；　staring　into　space。　　〃I　could　run
away　from　my　pursuers；　but　I　could　not　run　away　from　my　dreams！
Torches　and　hobnailed　boots！　。。。　　They　trampled　on　her；　and　I；　up
there　in　the　gallery　with　those　damned　emeralds　in　my　hands！　　Ah；
if　I　hadn't　gone　for　them；　if　I　hadn't　thought　of　the　extra　comforts
their　sale　would　bring！　　There　would　have　been　time　then；　Kitty。
I　had　all　the　other　jewels　in　the　pouch。　　Horses　were　ready　for　us
to　flee　on；　loyal　servants　ready　to　help　us；　but　I　thought　of　the
drums。　　A　few　more　worldly　comforts　…　with　hell　forcing　in　the
doors！

〃I　didn't　tell　her　where　I　was　going。　　When　I　came　back　it　was　to
see　her　die！　　They　saw　me；　and　yelled。　　I　ran　away。　　I　hadn't　the
courage　to　go　down　there　and　die　with　her！　　She　thought　I　was　in
that　hell　pit。　　She　went　down　there　to　die　with　me　and　died
horribly；　alone！　　Ah；　if　I　could　only　shut　it　out；　forget！　　Olga；
my　tender　young　sister；　Kitty；　the　last　one　of　my　race　I　could　love。
And　I　ran　away　like　a　yellow　dog；　like　a　yellow　dog！　　I　don't　know
where　her　grave　is；　and　I　could　not　seek　it　if　I　did！　　I　dared　not
write　Stefani；　tell　him　I　had　seen　Olga　go　down　under　Karlov's
heels；　and　then　ran　away！　。。。　　Day　by　day　to　feel　those　stones
against　my
heart！〃

Nothing　is　more　terrible　to　a　woman　than　the　sight　of　a　brave　man
weeping。　　For　she　knew　that　he　was　brave。　　The　sudden　recollection
of　the　emeralds；　a　little　more　comfort　for　himself　and　sister　if
they　were　permitted　to　escape。　　Not　a　cowardly　instinct；　not　even
a　greedy　one；　a　normal　desire　to　fortify　them　additionally　against
an　unknown　future；　and　he　had　surrendered　to　it　impulsively；　without
explaining　to　Olga　where　he　was　going。

〃Johnny；　Johnny；　you　mustn't！〃　　She　sprang　up；　seizing　his　head　and
wildly　kissing　him。　　〃You　mustn't！　　God　understands；　and　Olga。　　Oh；
you　mustn't　sob　like　that！　　You　are　tearing　my　heart　to　pieces！〃

〃I　ran　away　like　a　yellow　dog！　　I　didn't　go　down　there　and　die　with
her！〃

〃You　didn't　run　away　to…night　when　you　offered　your　life　for　my
liberty。　　Johnny；　you　mustn't！〃

Under　her　tender　ministrations　the　sobs　began　to　die　away　and　soon
resolved　into　little　catching　gasps。　　He　was　weak　and　spent　from
his　injuries；　otherwise　he　would　not　have　given　way　like　this；
discovered　to　her　what　she　had　not　known　before；　that　in　every
man；　however　strong　and　valiant　he　may　be；　there　is　a　little　child。

〃It　has　been　burning　me　up；　Kitty。〃

〃I　know；　I　know！　　It　is　because　you　have　a　soul　full　of　beautiful
things；　Johnny。　　God　held　you　back　from　dying　with　Olga　because
He　knew　I　needed　you。〃

〃You　will　marry　me；　knowing　that　I　did　this　thing？〃

Marry　him！　　A　door　to　some　blinding　radiance　opened；　and　she　could
not　see　for　a　little　while。　　Marry　him！　　What　a　miserable　wretch
she　was　to　think　that　he　would　want　her　otherwise！　　Johnny
Two…Hawks；　fiddling　in　front　of　the　Metropolitan　Opera　House；　to
fill　a　poor　blind　man's　cup！

〃Yes；　Johnny。　　Now；　yesterdays　never　were。　　For　us　there　is　nothing
but　to…morrows。　　Out　there；　in　the　great　country　…　where　souls　as
well　as　bodies　may　stretch　themselves　…　we'll　start　all　over　again。
You　will　be　the　cowman　and　I'll　be　the　kitchen　wench。　　As　in　the
beginning；　so　it　will　always　be　hereafter；　I'll　cook　your　bacon　and
eggs。〃

She　pulled　his　chair　round　and　pushed　it　toward　a　window；　dropped
beside　it　and　laid　her　cheek　against　his　hand。

〃Let　us　look　at　the　stars；　Johnny。　　They　know。〃　　Kuroki；　having
arrived　with　coffee　and　sandwiches；　paused　on　the　threshold；　gazed；
wheeled　right　about　face；　and　returned　to　the　kitchen。

By　and　by　Kitty　looked　up　into　Hawksley's　face。　　He　was　asleep。
She　got　up　carefully；　lightly　kissed　the　top　of　his　head　…　the
old　wound　…　and　crossed　to　Cutty's　door。　　She　must　tell　dear　old
Cutty　of　the　wonderful　happiness　that　was　going　to　be　hers。　　She
opened　the　study　door；　but　did　not　enter　at　once。　　Asleep　on　his
arms。　　Why；　he　hadn't　even　opened　that　Ali　Baba's　bag！　　Tired　out
　…　done　in；　as　Johnny　Two…Hawks　called　it　in　his　English　fashion。
She　waited；　but　as　he　did　not　stir　she　approached　with　noiseless
step。　　The　light　poured　full　upon　his　head。　　How　gray　he　was！　　A
boundless　pity　surged　over　her　that　this　tender；　valiant　knight
should　have　missed　what　first　her　mother　had　known　…　now　she
herself　…　requited　love。　　To　have　everything　in　the　world　without
that　was　to　have　nothing。　　She　would　not　wake　him；　she　would　let
him　sleep　until　Captain　Harrison　came。　　Lightly　she　touched　the
gray　head　with　her　lips　and　stole　from　the　study。

〃Oh；　Molly；　Molly！〃　Cutty　whispered　into　his　rigid　fingers。

And　so　they　were　married；　in　the　apartment；　at　the　top　of　the　world；
on　a　May　night　thick　with　stars。　　It　was　not　a　wedding；　it　was　a
marriage。　　The　world　never　knew　because　it　was　none　of　the　world's
business。　　Who　was　Kitty　Conover？　　A　nobody。　　Who　was　John　Hawksley？
Something　to　be。

Out　of　the　storm　into　the　calm；　which　is　something　of　a　reversal。
Generally　in　love　affairs　happiness　is　found　in　the　approach　to
the　marriage　contract；　the　disillusions　come　afterward。　　It　was
therefore　logical　that　Kitty　and　her　lover　should　be　happy；　as　they
had　run　the　gamut　of　test　and　fire　beforehand。

The　young　people　were　to　leave　for　the　West　soon　after　the　supper
for　three。　　At　midnight　Cutty's　ship　would　be　boring　down　the　bay。
Did　Kitty　regret；　even　a　little；　the　rice　and　old　shoes；　the
bridesmaids　and　cake；　so　dear　to　the　female　of　the　species？　　She
did　not。　　Did　she　think　occasionally　of　the　splendour　of　the　title
that　was　hers？　　She　did。　　To　her　mind　Mrs。　John　Hawksley　was
incomparably　above　and　beyond　anything　in　that　Bible　of　autocracy
　…　the　Almanach　de　Gotha。

After　supper　Cutty　brought　in　the　old　Amati。

〃Play；〃　he　said；　lighting　his　pipe。

So　Hawksley　played　…　played　as　he　never　had　played　before　and
perhaps　as　he　would　never　play　again。　　We　reach　zenith　sometimes；
but　we　never　stay　there。　　But　he　was　not　playing　to　Cutty。
Slate…blue　eyes；　two　books　with　endless　pages；　the　soul　of　this
wife　of　his。　　He　had　come　through。　　The　miracle　had　been
accomplished。　　Love。

Kitty　smiled　and　smiled；　the　doors　of　her　soul　thrown　wide　to
absorb　this　magic　message。　　Love。

Cutty　smoked　on；　with　his　eyes　closed。　　He　heard　it；　too。　　Love。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　sighin