the drums of jeopardy-第6章

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to　be　godfather　I　might　as　well　start　right　in。〃

〃The　drums　of　jeopardy；　what　a　haunting　phrase！〃

〃Haunting　stones；　too；　Kitty。　　For　picking　them　up　in　my　hands　I
went　to　bed　with　a　banged…up　leg。　　I　can't　forget　that。　　We
Occidentals　laugh　at　Orientals　and　their　superstitions。　　We　don't
believe　in　the　curse。　　And　yet；　by　George；　those　emeralds　were
accursed！〃

〃Piffle！〃　snorted　Burlingame。　　〃Mush！　　It's　greed；　pure　and　simple；
that　gives　precious　stones　their　sinister　histories。　　You'd　have
been　hit　by　that　horse　if　you　had　picked　up　nothing　more　valuable
than　a　rhinestone　buckle。　　Take　away　the　gold　lure；　and　precious
stones　wouldn't　sell　at　the　price　of　window　glass。〃

〃Is　that　so？　　How　about　me？　　It　isn't　because　a　stone　is　worth　so
much　that　makes　me　want　it。　　I　want　it　for　the　sheer　beauty；　I　want
it　for　the　tremendous　panorama　the　sight　of　it　unfolds　in　my　mind。
I　imagine　what　happened　from　the　hour　the　stone　was　mined　to　the
hour　it　came　into　my　possession。　　To　me　…　to　all　genuine　collectors
　…　the　intrinsic　value　is　nil。　　Can't　you　see？　　It　is　for　me　what
Balzac's　La　Peau　de　Chagrin　would　be　to　you　if　you　had　fallen　on　it
for　the　first　time　…　money；　love；　tragedy；　death。〃

An　interruption　came　in　the　form　of　one　of　the　office　boys。　　The
chief　was　on　the　wire　and　wanted　Cutty　at　once。

〃At　half　after　twelve；　Kitty。　　And　by　the　way；〃　added　Cutty　as　he
rose；　〃they　say　about　the　drums　that　a　beautiful　woman　is　immune　to
their　danger。〃

〃There's　your　chance；　Kitty；〃　said　Burlingame。

〃Am　I　beautiful？〃　asked　Kitty；　demurely。

〃Lord　love　the　minx！〃　shouted　Cutty。　　〃A　corner　in　Mouquin's。〃

〃Rain　or　shine。〃　　After　Cutty　had　departed　Kitty　said：　〃He's　the
most　fascinating　man　I　know。　　What　fun　it　would　be　to　jog　round　the
world　with　a　man　like　that；　who　knew　everybody　and　everything。
As　a　little　girl　I　was　violently　in　love　with　him；　but　don't　you
ever　dare　give　me　away。〃

〃You'll　probably　have　nightmare　to…night。　　And　honestly　you　ought
not　to　live　in　that　den　alone。　　But　Cutty　has　seen　things；〃
Burlingame　admitted；　〃things　no　white　man　ought　to　see。　　He's　been
shot　up；　mauled　by　animals；　marooned；　torpedoed　at　sea；　made
prisoner　by　old　Fuzzy…Wuzzy。　　An　ordinary　man　would　have　died　of
fatigue。　　Cutty　is　as　tough　and　strong　as　a　gorilla　and　as　active
as　a　cat。　　But　this　jewel　superstition　is　all　rot。　　Odd；　though；
he'll　travel　halfway　round　the　world　to　see　a　ruby　or　an　emerald。
He　says　no　true　collector　cares　a　cent　for　a　diamond。　　Says　they
are　vulgar。〃

〃Except　on　the　third　finger　of　a　lady's　left　hand；　and　then　they
are　just　perfectly　splendid！〃

〃Oho！　　Well；　when　you　get　yours　I　hope　it's　as　big　as　the
Koh…i…noor。〃

〃Thank　you！　　You　might　just　as　well　wish　a　brick　on　me！〃

Kitty　left　the　office　at　a　quarter　of　six。　　The　phrase　kept　running
through　her　head　…　the　drums　of　jeopardy。　　A　little　shiver　ran　up
her　spine。　　Money；　love；　tragedy；　death！　　This　terrible　and　wonderful
old　world；　of　which　she　had　seen　little　else　than　city　streets；
suddenly　exhibited　wide　vistas。　　She　knew　now　why　she　had　begun　to
save　…　travel。　　Just　as　soon　as　she　had　a　thousand　she　would　go
somewhere。　　A　great　longing　to　hear　native　drums　in　the　night。

Even　as　the　wish　entered　her　mind　a　new　sound　entered　her　ears。　　The
Subway　car　wheels　began　to　beat　…　tumpitum…tump！　　tumpitum…tump！
Fudge！　　She　opened　her　evening　paper　and　scanned　the　fashions；　the
dramatic　news；　and　the　comics。　　Being　a　woman　she　read　the　world
news　last。　　On　the　front　page　she　saw　a　queer　story；　dated　at　Albany：
Mysterious　guests　at　a　hotel；　how　they　had　fought　and　fled　in　the
early　morning。　　There　had　been　left　behind　a　case　with　foreign　orders
incrusted　with　several　thousand　dollars'　worth　of　gems。　　Bolsheviki；
said　the　police；　just　as　they　said　auto　bandits　a　few　years　ago　when
confronted　with　something　they　could　not　understand。　　The　orders　had
been　turned　over　to　the　Federal　authorities　from　whom　it　was　learned
that　they　were　all　royal　and　demi…royal。　　Neither　of　the　two　guests
had　returned　up　to　noon；　and　one　had　fled；　leaving　even　his　hat　and
coat。　　But　there　was　nothing　to　indicate　his　identity。

〃Loot！〃　murmured　Kitty。　　〃All　the　scum　in　the　world　rising　to　the
top〃　…　quoting　Cutty。　　〃Poor　things！〃　as　she　thought　of　the　gentle
ladies　who　had　died　horribly　in　bedrooms　and　cellars。

Kitty　was　beginning　to　cast　about　for　more　congenial　quarters。
There　were　too　many　foreigners　in　the　apartments；　and　none　of　them
especially　good　housekeepers。　　Always；　nowadays；　somebody　had　a
washing　out　on　the　line；　the　odour　of　garlic　was　continuously　in
the　air；　and　there　were　noisy　children　under　foot　in　the　halls。　　The
families　she　and　her　mother　had　known　were　all　gone；　and　Kitty　was
perhaps　the　oldest　inhabitant　in　the　block。

The　living…room　windows　faced　Eightieth　Street；　bedrooms；　dining
room；　and　kitchen　looked　out　upon　the　court。　　From　the　latter　windows
one　could　step　out　upon　the　fire…escape　platform；　which　ran　round
the　three　sides　of　the　court。

Among　the　present　tenants　she　knew　but　one；　an　old　man　by　the　name
of　Gregory；　who　lived　opposite。　　The　acquaintance　had　never　ripened
into　friendship；　but　sometimes　Kitty　would　borrow　an　egg　and　he
would　borrow　some　sugar。　　In　the　summertime；　when　the　windows　were
open　at　night；　she　had　frequently　heard　the　music　of　a　violin
swimming　across　the　court。　　Polish；　Russian；　and　Hungarian　music；
always　speaking　with　a　tragic　note；　nothing　she　had　ever　heard　in
concerts。　　Once；　however；　she　had　heard　him　begin　something　from
Thais；　and　stop　in　the　middle　of　it；　and　that　convinced　her　that
he　was　a　master。　　She　was　fond　of　good　music。　　One　day　she　asked
Gregory　why　he　did　not　teach　music　instead　of　valeting　at　a　hotel。
His　answer　had　been　illuminative。　　It　was　only　his　body　that
pressed　clothes；　but　it　would　have　torn　his　soul　to　listen　daily
to　the　agonized　bow　of　the　novice。　　Kitty　was　lonely　through　pride
as　much　as　anything。　　As　for　friends；　she　had　a　regiment　of　them。
But　she　rarely　accepted　their　hospitality；　realizing　that　she　could
not　return　it。　　No　young　men　called　because　she　never　invited　them。
All　this；　however；　was　going　to　change　when　she　moved。

As　she　turned　on　the　hail　light　she　saw　an　envelope　on　the　floor。
Evidently　it　had　been　shoved　under　the　door。　　It　was　unstamped。　　She
opened　it；　and　stepped　out　of　the　humdrum　into　the　whirligig。

　　DEAR　MISS　CONOVER：
　　If　anything　should　happen　to　me　all　the　things　in　my　apartment
　　I　give　to　you　without　reservation。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　STEPHEN　GREGORY。

She　read　the　letter　a　dozen　times　to　make　sure　that　it　meant　exactly
what　it　said。　　He　might　be　ill。　　After　she　had　cooked　her　supper　she
would　run　round　and　inquire。　　The　poor　lonely　old　man！

She　went　into　the　kitchen　and　took　inventory。　　There　was　nothing
but　bacon　and　eggs　and　coffee。　　She　had　forgotten　to　order　that
morning。　　She　lit　the　gas　range　and　began　to　prepare　the　meal。　　As
she　broke　an　egg　against　the　rim　of　the　pan　the　nearby　Elevated
train　rushed　by；　drumming　tumpitum…tump！　　tumpitum…tump！　　She
laughed；　but　it　wasn't　honest　laughter。　　She　laughed　because　she
was　conscious　that　she　was　afraid　of　something。　　Impulse　drove　her
to　the　window。　　Contact　with　men　…　her　unusual　experiences　as　a
reporter　…　had　developed　her　natural　fearlessness　to　a　point　where
it　was　aggressive。　　As　she　pressed　the　tip　of　her　nose　against　the
pane；　however；　she　found　herself　gazing　squarely　into　a　pair　of
exceedingly　brilliant　dark　eyes；　and　all　the　blood　in　her　body
seemed　to　rush　violently　into　her　throat。

Tableau！



CHAPTER　V


Kitty　gasped；　but　she　did　not　cry　out。　　The　five　days'　growth　of
blondish　stubble；　the　discoloured　eye　…　for　all　the　orb　itself　was
brilliant　…　and　the　hawky　nose　combined　to　send　through　her　the
first　great　thrill　of　danger　she　had　ever　known。

Slowly　she　backed　away　from　the　window。　　The　man　outside　immediately
extended　his　hands　with　a　gesture　that　a　child　would　have　understood。
Supplication。　　Kitty　paused；　naturally。　　But　did　the　man　mean　it？
Might　it　not　be　some　trick　to　lure　her　into　opening　the　window？　　And
what　was　he　doing　outside　there　anyhow？　　Her　mind；　freed　from　the
initial　hypnosis　of　the　encounter；　began　to　work　quickly。　　If　she　ran
from　the　kitchen　to　call　for　help　he　might　be　gone　when　she　returned；
only　to　come　back　when　she　was　again　alone。

Once　more　the　man　executed　that　gesture；　his　palms　upward。　　It　was
Latin；　she　was　aware　of　that；　for　she　was　always　encountering　it　in
the　halls。　　Another　gesture。　　She　understood　this　also。　　The　tips
of　the　fingers　bunched　and　dabbed　at　the　lips。　　She　had　seen　Italian
children　make　the　gesture　and　cry：　〃Ho　fame！〃　　Hungry。　　But　she　could
not　let　him　into　the　kitchen。　　Still；　if　he　were　honestly　hungry
　…　She　had　it！

In　the　kitchen…table　drawer　was　an　imitation　revolver　…　press　the
trigger；　and　a　fluted　fan　was　revealed　…　a　dance　favour　she　had
received　during　the　winter。

She　plucked　it　out　of　the　drawer　and　walked　bravely　to　the　window；
which　she　threw　up。

〃What　do　you　want？　　What　are　you　doing　out　there　on　the　fire　escape？〃
she　instantly　demanded　to　know。

〃My　word；　I　am　hungry！　　I　was　looking　out　of　the　window　across　the
way　and　saw　you　preparing　your　dinner。　　A　bit　of　bread　and　a　glass
of　milk。　　Would　you　mind；　I　wonder？〃

〃Why　didn't　you　come　to　the　door　then？　　What　window？〃　　Kitty　was
resolute；　once　she　embarked　upon　an　enterprise。

〃That　one。〃

〃Where　is　Mr。　Gregory？〃　　Kitty　recalled　that　odd　letter。

〃Gregory？　　I　should　very　much　like　to　know。　　I　have　come　many　miles
to　see　him。　　He　sent　me　a　duplicate　key。　　There　was　not　even　a　crust
in　the　cupboard。〃

Gregory　away？　　That　letter！　　Something　had　happened　to　that　poor；
kindly　old　man。　　〃Why　did　you　not　seek　some　restaurant？　　Or　have　you
no　money？〃

〃I　have　plenty。　　I　was　afraid　that　I　might　not　be　able　conveniently
to　return。　　I　am　a　stranger。　　My　actions　might　be　viewed　with
suspicion。〃

〃Indeed！　　Describe　Mr。　Gregory。〃

Not　of　the　clinging　kind；　evidently；　he　thought。　　A　raving　beauty
　…　Diana　domesticated！

〃It　is　four　years　since　I　saw　him。　　He　was　then　gray；　dapper；　and
erect。　　A　mole　on　his　chin；　which　he　rubs　when　he　talks。　　He　is　a
valet　in　one　of　the　fashionable　hotels。　　He　is　…　or　was　…　the　only
true　friend　I　have　in　New　York。〃

〃Was？　　What　do　you　mean？〃

〃I'm　afraid　something　has　happened　to　him。　　I　found　his　bedroom
things　tossed　about。〃

〃What　could　possibly　happen　to　a　harmless　old　man　like　Mr。　Gregory？〃

〃Pardon　me；　but　your　egg　is　burning　！〃

Kitty　wheeled　and　lifted　off　the　pan；　choking　in　the　smother　of　smoke。
She　came　right…about　face　swiftly　enough。　　The　man　had　not　moved；　and
that　decided　her。

〃Come　in。　　I　will　give　you　something　to　eat。　　Sit　in　that　chair　by
the　window；　and　be　careful　not　to　stir　from　it。　　I'm　a　good　shot；〃
lied　Kitty；　truculently。　　〃Frankly；　I　do　not　like　the　looks　of　this。〃

〃I　do　look　like　a　burglar；　what？〃　　He　sat　down　in　the　chair　meekly。
Food　and　a　human　being　to　talk　to！　　A　lovely；　self…reliant　American
girl；　able　to　take　care　of　herself。　　Magnificent　eyes　…　slate　blue；
with　thick；　velvety　black　lashes。　　Ir