下载辰思小说免费APP
Red，however，suddenlystraightenedfromthedeskandstoodmotionless，listening。Hemadeaslighthissingnoisethatarrestedtheattentionoftheothersandheldtheminmovelesssilence。
"Ihearsomething，"hewhispered。Hewenttothekeyholeofthedoorleadingintothepassage。Thenhewhisperedagain，"Andit\'scomingthisway。"
Atthewords，Garsonsnappedhisfingers。Theroomwasplungedindarkness。
CHAPTERXVIII。THENOISELESSDEATH。
Therewasabsolutesilenceinthelibraryaftertheturningoftheswitchthatbroughtthepallofdarkness。Longsecondspassed，thenalittlenoise——theknobofthepassagedoorturning。Asthedoorswungopen，therecameagaspingbreathfromMary，forshesawframedinthefaintlightthatcamefromthesingleburnerinthecorridortheslenderformofherhusband，DickGilder。Inthenextinstanthehadsteppedwithintheroomandpulledtothedoorbehindhim。AndinthatsameinstantChicagoRedhadpouncedonhisvictim，thehugehandclappedtightovertheyoungman\'smouth。Evenashispowerfularmheldthenewcomerinaninescapableembrace，therecameasoundofscufflingfeetandthatwasall。Finallythebigman\'svoicecametriumphantly。
"I\'vegothim。"
"It\'sDick!"Thecrycameasawailofdespairfromthegirl。
Atthesamemoment，Garsonflashedhistorch，andthelightfellswiftlyonyoungGilder，bowedtoakneelingposturebeforethecouch，half-throttledbythestrengthofChicagoRed。Closebesidehim，Marylookeddowninwordlessdespairoverthisfinaldisasterofthenight。Therewassilenceamongthemen，allofwhomsavethecaptorhimselfweregatherednearthefireplace。
Garsonretiredastepfartherbeforehespokehiscommand，sothat，thoughheheldthetorchstill，heliketheotherswasinshadow。OnlyMarywasrevealedclearlyasshebentinalarmtowardthemanshehadmarried。Itwasborneinontheforger\'sconsciousnessthatthefaceofthewomanleaningovertheintruderwasstrongertoholdtheprisonerandtopreventanyoutcrythanthemightofChicagoRedhimself，andsohegavetheorder。
"Getaway，Red。"
Thefellowletgohisgripobedientlyenough，thoughwithatrifleofregret，sincehegloriedinhisphysicalprowess。
Thusfreedofthatstranglingembrace，Dickstumbledblindlytohisfeet。Then，mechanically，hishandwenttothelamponthetablebackofthecouch。InthesamemomentGarsonsnappedhistorchtodarkness。When，afteralittlefutilesearching，Dickfinallyfoundthecatch，andthemellowstreamedforth，heutteredanejaculationofstarkamazement，forhisgazewasrivetedonthefaceofthewomanheloved。
"GoodGod!"Itwasacryoftorturewrungfromhissoulofsouls。
Maryswayedtowardhimalittle，palpitantwithfear——fearforherself，forallofthem，mostofallforhim。
"Hush!hush!"shepantedwarningly。"Oh，Dick，youdon\'tunderstand。"
Dick\'shandwasathisthroat。Itwasnoteasyforhimtospeakyet。Hehadsufferedseverelyintheprocessofbeingthrottled，and，too，hewasintheclutchofafrightfulemotion。Tofindher，hiswife，inthisplace，insuchcompany——her，thewomanwhomheloved，whom，inspiteofeverything，hehadhonored，thewomantowhomhehadgivenhisname!Maryhere!Andthus!
"Iunderstandthis，"hesaidbrokenlyatlast。"Whetheryoueverdiditbeforeornot，thistimeyouhavebrokenthelaw。"A
suddeninspirationonhisownbehalfcametohim。Forhislove\'ssake，hemustseizeonthisopportunitygivenoffatetohimformastery。Hewentonwithanewvehemenceofboldnessthatbecamehimwell。
"You\'reinmyhandsnow。Soarethesemenaswell。UnlessyoudoasIsay，Mary，I\'lljaileveryoneofthem。"
Mary\'susualquicknesswasnotlackingevennow，inthisperiodofextremity。Herretortwasgivenwithoutaparticleofhesitation。
"Youcan\'t，"sheobjectedwithconviction。"I\'mtheonlyoneyou\'veseen。"
"That\'ssoonremedied，"Dickdeclared。Heturnedtowardthehalldoorasifwiththeintentionoflightingthechandelier。
ButMarycaughthisarmpleadingly。
"Don\'t，Dick，"shebegged。"It\'s——it\'snotsafe。"
"I\'mnotafraid，"washisindignantanswer。Hewouldhavegoneon，butsheclungthecloser。Hewasreluctanttouseover-muchforceagainsttheonewhomhecherishedsofondly。
Therecameadiversionfromthemanwhohadmadethecapture，whowasmightilywonderingoverthecourseofevents，whichwaswhollyunlikeanythinginthewholeofhisownratherextensivehousebreakingexperience。
"Who\'sthis，anyhow？"ChicagoReddemanded。
Therewasaprimitivepetulanceinhisdrawlingtones。
Dickansweredwithconcisenessenough。
"I\'mherhusband。Whoareyou？"
Marycalledasoftadmonition。
"Don\'tspeak，anyofyou，"shedirected。"Youmustn\'tlethimhearyourvoices。"
Dickwasexasperatedbythispersistentidentificationofherselfwiththesecriminalsinhisfather\'shouse。
"You\'refightingmelikeacoward，"hesaidhotly。Hisvoicewasbitter。Theeyesthathadalwaysbeenwarmintheirglancesonherwerechillnow。Heturnedalittlewayfromher，asifininstinctiverepugnance。"Youaretakingadvantageofmylove。
YouthinkthatbecauseofitIcan\'tmakeamoveagainstthesemen。Now，listentome，I——"
"Iwon\'t!"Marycried。Herwordswereshrillwithmingledemotions。"There\'snothingtotalkabout，"shewentonwildly。
"Therenevercanbebetweenyouandme。"
Theyoungman\'svoicecamewithasonorousfirmnessthatwasnewtoit。Inthesemoments，thestrengthofhim，nourishedbysuffering，wasputtingforthitsflower。Hismannerwasmasterful。
"Therecanbeandtherewillbe，"hecontradicted。Heraisedhisvoicealittle，speakingintotheshadowswherewasthegroupofsilentmen。
"Youmenbackthere!"hecried。"IfIgiveyoumywordtoleteveryoneofyougofreeandpledgemyselfnevertorecognizeoneofyouagain，willyoumakeMaryherelistentome？That\'sallI
ask。Iwantafewminutestostatemycase。Givemethat。
WhetherIwinorlose，youmengofree，andI\'llforgeteverythingthathashappenedhereto-night。"TherecameamuffledguffawoflaughterfromthebigchestofChicagoRedatthisextraordinarilyingenuousproposal，whileDaceychuckledmorequietly。
Dickmadeagestureofimpatienceatthisopenderision。
"TellthemIcanbetrusted，"hebadeMarycurtly。
ItwasGarsonwhoanswered。
"Iknowthatyoucanbetrusted，"hesaid，"becauseIknowyoulo——"Hecheckedhimselfwithashiver，andoutofthedarknesshisfaceshowedwhite。
"Youmustlisten，"Dickwenton，facingagaintowardthegirl，whowastremblingbeforehim，hereyesbyturnssearchinghisexpressionordowncastinunfamiliarconfusion，whichsheherselfcouldhardlyunderstand。
"Yoursafetydependsonme，"theyoungmanwarned。"SupposeI
shouldcallforhelp？"
Garsonsteppedforwardthreateningly。
"Youwouldonlycallonce，"hesaidverygently，yetmostgrimly。
Hishandwenttothenoiselessweaponinhiscoat-pocket。
Buttheyoungman\'sanswerrevealedthefactthathe，too，wasdeterminedtotheutmost，thatheunderstoodperfectlythesituation。
"Oncewouldbequiteenough，"hesaidsimply。
Garsonnoddedinacceptanceofthedefeat。Itmaybe，too，thatinsomesubtlefashionheadmiredthisyouthsuddenlygrownresolute，competenttocontroladangerousevent。TherewaseventhepossibilitythatsomeinstinctoftendernesstowardMaryherselfmadehimdesirethatthisopportunityshouldbegivenforwipingouttheeffectsofmisfortunewhichfatehithertohadbroughtintoherlife。
"Youwin，"Garsonsaid，withahalf-laugh。Heturnedtotheothermenandspokeacommand。
"Yougetoverbythehalldoor，Red。Andkeepyourearsopeneverysecond。Giveustheofficeifyouhearanything。Ifwe\'rerushed，andhavetomakeaquickget-away，seethatMaryhasthefirstchance。Getthat，allofyou？"
AsChicagoRedtookuphisappointedstation，GarsonturnedtoDick。
"Makeitquick，remember。"
Hetouchedtheothertwoandmovedbacktothewallbythefireplace，asfaraspossiblefromthehusbandandwifebythecouch。
Dickspokeatonce，withahesitancythatbetrayedthedepthofhisemotion。
"Don\'tyoucareformeatall？"heaskedwistfully。
Thegirl\'sanswerwasutteredwithnervouseagernesswhichrevealedherownstressoffear。
"No，no，no!"sheexclaimed，rebelliously。
Now，however，theyoungmanhadregainedsomemeasureofreassurance。
"Iknowyoudo，Mary，"heasserted，confidently；"alittle，anyway。Why，Mary，"hewentonreproachfully，"can\'tyouseethatyou\'rethrowingawayeverythingthatmakeslifeworthwhile？
Don\'tyouseethat？"
Therewasnowordfromthegirl。Herbreastwasmovingconvulsively。Sheheldherfacesteadfastlyavertedfromthefaceofherhusband。
"Whydon\'tyouanswerme？"heinsisted。
Mary\'sreplycamewithallthecoldnessshecouldcommand。
"Thatwasnotinthebargain，"Marysaid，indifferently。
Theman\'svoicegrewtenderlywinning，persuasivewiththelongingofalover，persuasivewiththepityoftherighteousforthesinner。
"Mary，Mary!"hecried。"You\'vegottochange。Don\'tbesohard。
Givethewomaninyouachance。"
Thegirl\'sformbecamerigidasshefoughtforself-control。Thepleatouchedtothebottomofherheart，butshecouldnot，wouldnotyield。Herwordsrushedforthwithabitternessthatwasthecoverofherdistress。
"IamwhatIam，"shesaidsharply。"Ican\'tchange。Keepyourpromise，now，andlet\'sgetoutofthis。"
Herassertionwasdisregardedastotheinabilitytochange。
"Youcanchange，"Dickwentonimpetuously。"Mary，haven\'tyoueverwantedthethingsthatotherwomenhave，shelter，andcare，andthebigthingsoflife，thethingsworthwhile？They\'reallreadyforyou，now，Mary……Andwhataboutme？"Reproachleapedinhistone。"Afterall，you\'vemarriedme。Nowit\'suptoyoutogivememychancetomakegood。I\'veneveramountedtomuch。
I\'venevertriedmuch。Ishall，now，ifyouwillhaveitso，Mary；ifyou\'llhelpme。Iwillcomeoutallright，Iknowthat——sodoyou，Mary。Only，youmusthelpme。"
"Ihelpyou!"Theexclamationcamefromthegirlinanoteofincredulousastonishment。
"Yes，"Dicksaid，simply。"Ineedyou，andyouneedme。Comeawaywithme。"
"No，no!"wasthebrokenrefusal。Therewasagreatgriefclutchingatthesoulofthiswomanwhohadbroughtvengeancetoitsfullflower。Shewasgasping。"No，no!Imarriedyou，notbecauseIlovedyou，buttorepayyourfatherthewronghehaddoneme。Iwouldn\'tletmyselfeventhinkofyou，andthen——I
realizedthatIhadspoiledyourlife。"
"No，notspoiledit，Mary!Blessedit!Wemustprovethatyet。"
"Yes，spoiledit，"thewifewentonpassionately。"IfIhadunderstood，ifIcouldhavedreamedthatIcouldevercare——
Oh，Dick，Iwouldneverhavemarriedyouforanythingintheworld。"
"Butnowyoudorealize，"theyoungmansaidquietly。"Thethingisdone。Ifwemadeamistake，itisforustobringhappinessoutofthaterror。"
"Oh，can\'tyousee？"camethestrickenlament。"I\'majail-bird!"
"Butyouloveme——youdoloveme，Iknow!"Theyoungmanspokewithjoyouscertainty，forsomeinflectionofhervoicehadtoldthetruthtohisheart。Nothingelsemattered。"Butnow，tocomebacktothisholewe\'reinhere。Don\'tyouunderstand，atlast，thatyoucan\'tbeatthelaw？Ifyou\'recaughthereto-night，wherewouldyougetoff——caughtherewithagangofburglars？
Tellme，dear，whydidyoudoit？Whydidn\'tyouprotectyourself？Whydidn\'tyougotoChicagoasyouplanned？"
"What？"TherewasanewqualityinMary\'svoice。Asuddenthrobofshockmaskedinthesurfaceindifferenceofintonation。
Dickrepeatedhisquestion，unobservantofitsfirsteffect。
"Whydidn\'tyougotoChicagoasyouhadplanned？"
"Planned？Withwhom？"Theinterrogationcamewithanabruptforcethatcriedofnewsuspicions。
"Why，withBurke。"Theyoungmantriedtobepatientoverherdensityinthistimeofcrisis。
"WhotoldyouthatIhadarrangedanysuchthing？"Maryasked。
Nowthetensenessinhermannergotthehusband\'sattention，andherepliedwithasuddengravity，apprehensiveofheknewnotwhat。
"Burkehimselfdid。"
"When？"Marywasstandingrigidnow，andtherarecolorflamedinhercheeks。Hereyeswereblazing。
"Lessthananhourago。"Hehadcaughtthecontagionofhermoodandvaguealarmswepthim。
"Where？"camethenextquestion，stillwiththatvitalinsistence。
"Inthisroom。"
"Burkewashere？"Mary\'svoicewassuddenlycold，verydangerous。"Whatwashedoinghere？"
"Talkingtomyfather。"
Theseeminglysimpleanswerappearedthelaststrawtothegirl\'sburdenoffrenziedsuspicion。Hervoicecutfiercelyintothequietoftheroom，imperious，savage。
"Joe，turnonthatlight!Iwanttoseethefaceofeverymaninthisroom。"
SomethingfatallysignificantinhervoicesetGarsona-leaptotheswitch，and，inthesamesecond，theblazeofthechandelierflamedbrilliantlyoverall。Theothersstoodmotionless，blinkinginthesuddenradiance——allsaveGriggs，whomovedstealthilyinthatsamemoment，alittlenearerthedoorintothepassage，whichwasnearesttohim。
ButMary\'snextwordscamewhollyasasurprise，seeminglytotallyirrelevanttothisinstantofcrisis。Yettheyranga-throbwithanhystericalanxiety。
"Dick，"shecried，"whatarethosetapestriesworth？"Withthequestion，shepointedtowardthedraperiesthatshroudedthegreatoctagonalwindow。
Theyoungmanwasplainlyastonished，disconcertedaswellbytheobtrusionofasordiddetailintothetragedyofthetime。
"Whyintheworlddoyou——？"hebegan，impatiently。
Marystampedherfootangrilyinprotestagainstthedelay。
"Tellme——quick!"shecommanded。Theauthorityinhervoiceandmannerwasnottobegainsaid。
Dickyieldedsullenly。
"Oh，twoorthreehundreddollars，Isuppose，"heanswered。
"Why？"
"Nevermindthat!"Maryexclaimed，violently。Andnowthegirl\'svoicecamestinginglikeawhiplash。InGarson\'sface，too，wasgrowingfury，forinaninstantofilluminationheguessedsomethingofthetruth。Mary\'snextquestionconfirmedhisragingsuspicion。
"Howlonghaveyouhadthem，Dick？"
Bynow，theyoungmanhimselfsensedthefactthatsomethingmysteriouslybanefullaybehindthefranticquestioningonthisseeminglytrivialtheme。
"EversinceIcanremember，"hereplied，promptly。
Mary\'svoicecamethenwithanintonationthatbroughtenlightenmentnotonlytoGarson\'sshrewdperceptions，butalsototheheavierintelligencesofDaceyandofChicagoRed。
"Andthey\'renotfamousmasterpieceswhichyourfatherboughtrecently，fromsomedealerwhosmuggledthemintothiscountry？"
Sosimplewerethewordsofherinquiry，butunderthembeatsomethingevil，deadly。
Theyoungmanlaughedcontemptuously。
"Ishouldsaynot!"hedeclaredindignantly，forheresentedtheimplicationagainsthisfather\'shonesty。
"It\'satrick!Burke\'sdoneit!"Mary\'swordscamewithaccusingvehemence。
TherewasanothersinglestepmadebyGriggstowardthedoorintothepassage。
Mary\'seyecaughtthemovement，andherlipssoundlesslyformedthename:
"Griggs!"
Themanstrovetocarryoffthesituation，thoughheknewwellthathestoodinmortalperil。Hecamealittletowardthegirlwhohadaccusedhimoftreachery。Hewasverydapperinhiseveningclothes，withhisratherhandsome，well-groomedfacesetinlinesofinnocence。
"He\'slyingtoyou!"hecriedforcibly，withascornfulgesturetowardDickGilder。"Itellyou，thosetapestriesareworthamillioncold。"
Mary\'sanswerwasvirulentinitssuddenburstofhate。Foronce，themusicofhervoicewaslostinadiscordantcryofdetestation。
"Youstool-pigeon!YoudidthisforBurke!"
Griggssoughtstilltomaintainhisairofinnocence，andhestrovewell，sinceheknewthathefoughtforhislifeagainstthosewhomhehadoutraged。Ashespokeagain，histonesweretremulouswithsincerity——perhapsthattremulousnesswasbornchieflyoffear，yettotheearhiswordscamestoutlyenoughfortruth:
"IswearIdidn\'t!Iswearit!"
Maryregardedtheprotestingmanwithabhorrence。Theperjuredwretchshrankbeforetheloathinginhereyes。
"Youcametomeyesterday，"shesaid，withmoreofrestraintinhervoicenow，butstillwithinexorablerancor。"Youcametometoexplainthisplan。Andyoucamefromhim——fromBurke!"
"IswearIwasonthelevel。Iwastippedofftothestorybyapal，"Griggsdeclared，butatlasttheassurancewasgoneoutofhisvoice。Hefeltthehostilityofthoseabouthim。
Garsonbrokeinferociously。
"It\'saframe-up!"hesaid。Histonescameinadeadenedroarofwrath。
Ontheinstant，awarethatfurthersubterfugecouldbeofnoavail，Griggsswaggereddefiance。
"Andwhatifitistrue？"hedrawled，witharesumptionofhisaristocraticmanner，whilehiseyessweptthegroupbalefully。
Hepluckedthepolicewhistlefromhiswaistcoat-pocket，andraisedittohislips。
Hemovedtooslowly。Inthesamemomentofhisaction，Garsonhadpulledthepistolfromhispocket，hadpressedthetrigger。
Therecamenospurtofflame。Therewasnosound——saveperhapsafaintclickingnoise。Butthemanwiththewhistleathislipssuddenlyceasedmovement，stoodabsolutelystillforthespaceofabreath。Then，hetrembledhorribly，andinthenextinstantcrashedtothefloor，wherehelayrigid，dead。
"Damnyou——I\'vegotyou!"Garsonsneeredthroughclenchedteeth。
Hiseyeswerelikeballsoffire。Therewasafrightfulgrinoftriumphtwistinghismouthinthisminuteofpunishment。
Inthefirstsecondofthetragedy，Dickhadnotunderstood。
Indeed，hewasstilldazedbythesuddennessofitall。ButthefallingofGriggsbeforetheleveledweaponoftheotherman，theretolieinthatghastlyimmobility，madehimtounderstand。
HeleapedtowardGarson——wouldhavewrenchedthepistolfromtheother\'sgrasp。Inthestruggle，itfelltothefloor。
Beforeeithercouldpickitup，therecameaninterruption。Eveninthestressofthisscene，ChicagoRedhadneverrelaxedhisprofessionalcaution。Aslightnoisehadcaughthisear，hehadstooped，listening。Now，hestraightened，andcalledhiswarning。
"Somebody\'sopeningthefrontdoor!"
Garsonforgothisweaponinthisnewalarm。Hesprangtotheoctagonalwindow，evenasDicktookpossessionofthepistol。
"Thestreet\'sempty!Wemustjumpforit!"Hishatewasforgottennowinanemotionstilldeeper，andheturnedtoMary。Hisfacewasallgentlenessagain，wherejustbeforeithadbeenevilincarnate，aflamewiththelusttodestroy。"Comeon，Mary，"hecried。
AlreadyChicagoRedhadsnappedoffthelightsofthechandelier，hadsprungtothewindow，thrownopenapanelofit，andhadvanishedintothenight，withDaceyathisheels。AsGarsonwouldhavecalledouttothegirlagaininmadanxietyforhaste，hewasinterruptedbyDick:
"Shecouldn\'tmakeit，Garson，"hedeclaredcoollyandresolutely。"Yougo。It\'llbeallright，youknow。I\'lltakecareofher!"
"Ifshe\'scaught——!"Therewasanindescribablemenaceintheforger\'shalf-utteredthreat。
"Shewon\'tbe。"ThequalityofsincerityinDick\'svoicewasmoreconvincingthananyvowmighthavebeen。
"Ifsheis，I\'llgetyou，that\'sall，"Garsonsaidgravely，asonestatingasimplefactthatcouldnotbedisputed。
Thenheglanceddownatthebodyofthemanwhomhehaddonetodeath。
"AndyoucantellthattoBurke!"hesaidviciouslytothedead。
"Youdamnedsquealer!"Therewasasupremelymalevolentcontentinhissneer。
CHAPTERXIX。WITHINTHETOILS。
ThegoingofGarsonlefttheroomdeathlystill。Dickstaredforamomentatthespaceofwindowleftuncoveredbythedraperiesnow，sincethemanhadhurriedpastthem，withoutpausingtodrawthemafterhim。Then，presently，theyoungmanturnedagaintoMary，andtookherhandinhis。Theshockoftheeventhadsomehowsteadiedhim，sinceithaddrawnhisthoughtsfromthatothermoreengrossingmoodofconcernoverthecrisisinhisownlife。Afterall，whatmatteredthedeathofthiscrook？hisfancyran。Theonethingofrealworthinalltheworldwasthelifethatremainedtobelivedbetweenhimandher……Then，violently，theselfishnessofhismoodwasmadeplaintohim。
Forthehandheheldwasshakinglikesomeslender-stalkedlilyintheclutchofthesirocco。Evenashefirstperceivedthefact，hesawthegirlstagger。Hisarmsweptaboutherinavirileprotectingembrace——justintime，orshewouldhavefallen。
Awhispercamefromherquiveringlips。Herfacewasclosetohis，elsehecouldnothavecaughttheuncertainmurmuring。Thatfacenowwasbecomeghastlypale。Thevioleteyeswerewidenedanddull。Themusclesofherfacetwitched。Sherestedsupinelyagainsthim，asifbereftofanystrengthofbodyorofsoul。
Yet，intheintensityofherutterance，thefeeblewhisperstrucklikeashriekofhorror。
"I——I——neversawanyonekilledbefore!"
Thesimple，grislytruthofthewords——wordsthathemighthavespokenaswell——stirredthemantothedeepsofhisbeing。Heshuddered，asheturnedhiseyestoavoidseeingthethingthatlaysoverynear，mercifullymergedwithintheshadowsbeyondthegentleradiancefromthesinglelamp。Withapangofinfinitepityforthewomaninhisarms，heapprehendedinsomedegreethetorturethiseventmusthaveinflictedonher。Frightfultohim，itmustintruthbevastlyworsetoher。Therewasherwomanlysensitivenesstoenhancetheinnatehideousnessofthethingthathadbeendoneherebeforetheireyes。Therewas，too，thefactthatthemurdererhimselfhadbeenthemantowhomsheowedherlife。Yes，forhim，Dickrealizedwithpoignantsympathy，thehappeningthatnightwasterribleindeed:forher，asheguessednowatlast，thetorturemustbesomethingeasilytooverwhelmallherstrength。Histouchonhergrewtenderbeyondtheordinarytendernessoflove，madegentlerbyagreatunderlyingcompassionforhermisery。
DickdrewMarytowardthecouch，therelethersinkdowninahuddledattitudeofdespair。
"Ineversawaman——killedbefore!"shesaidagain。Therewasanoteofhalf-hysterical，almostchildishcomplaintinhervoice。
Shemovedherheadalittle，asiftolookintotheshadowswhere*ITlay，thencheckedherselfviolently，andlookedupatherhusbandwiththepatheticsimplicityofterror。
"Youknow，Dick，"sherepeateddully，"Ineversawamankilledbefore。"
Beforehecouldutterthesoothingwordsthatrosetohislips，Dickwasinterruptedbyaslightsoundatthedoor。Instantly，hewasallalerttomeettheexigenciesofthesituation。Hestoodbythecouch，bendingforwardalittle，asifinapostureofintimatefondness。Then，withanewthought，hegotouthiscigarette-caseandlightedacigarette，afterwhichheresumedhisformerleaningoverthewomanaswouldtheardentlover。Heheardthenoiseagainpresently，nowsonearthathemadesureofbeingoverheard，soatoncehespokewithaforcedcheerfulnessinhisinflection。
"Itellyou，Mary，"hedeclared，"everything\'sgoingtobeallrightforyouandme。Itwasbullyofyoutocomeheretomelikethis。"
Thegirlmadenoresponse。Shelivedstillinthenightmareofmurder——thatnightmarewhereinshehadseenGriggsfalldeadtothefloor。
Dick，innervousapprehensionastotheissue，soughttobringhertorealizationofthenewneedthathadcomeuponthem。
"Talktome，"hecommanded，verysoftly。"They\'llbehereinaminute。Whentheycomein，pretendyoujustcamehereinordertomeetme。Try，Mary。Youmust，dearest!"Then，again，hisvoicerosetoloudness，ashecontinued。"Why，I\'vebeentryingalldaytoseeyou。And，now，herewearetogether，justasI
wasbeginningtogetreallydiscouraged……Iknowmyfatherwilleventually——"
Hewasinterruptedbytheswiftswingingopenofthehallwaydoor。Burkestoodjustwithinthelibrary，arevolverpointedmenacingly。
"Handsup!——allofyou!"TheInspector\'svoicefairlyroaredthecommand。
Thebelligerentexpressionofhisfacevanishedabruptly，ashiseyesfellonDickstandingbythecouchandMaryrecliningthereinlimphelplessness。Hissurprisewouldhavebeenludicrousbutfortheseriousnessofthesituationtoallconcerned。Burke\'sglancerovedtheroomsharply，andhewasquicklyconvincedthatthesetwowereinfacttheonlypresentspoilofhiscarefulplotting。Hisfacesetgrimly，forthedisappointmentofthisminutesurgedfiercelywithinhim。Hestartedtospeak，hiseyesloweringasheregardedthetwobeforehim。
ButDickforestalledhim。Hespokeinavoicecoldlyrepellent。
"Whatareyoudoinginthishouseatthistimeofnight？"hedemanded。Hismannerwasoneofsterndisapproval。"Irecognizeyou，InspectorBurke。Butyoumustunderstandthattherearelimitseventowhatyoucando。Itseemstome，sir，thatyouexceedyourauthoritybysuchanintrusionasthis。"
Burke，however，wasnotawhitdismayedbytherebukeandtheairofrathercontemptuousdisdainwithwhichitwasuttered。HewavedhisrevolvertowardMary，merelyasagestureofinquisitiveness，withoutanythreat。
"What\'sshedoinghere？"heasked。Therewaswrathinhisroughvoice，forhecouldnotavoidthesurmisethathisshrewdlyconcoctedschemetoentrapthiswomanhadsomehowbeensetawry。
"What\'sshedoinghere，Isay？"herepeatedheavily。Hiskeeneyesweredartingoncemoreabouttheroom，questingsomecluetothisdisturbingmystery，sohatefultohispride。
Dick\'smannerbecamethatofthedevotedhusbandoffendedbyimpertinentobtrusion。
"Youforgetyourself，Inspector，"hesaid，icily。"Thisismywife。Shehastherighttobewithme——herhusband!"
TheInspectorgrinnedsceptically。HewasmovednomoreeffectivelybyMary\'salmosthystericalefforttorespondtoherhusband\'sleading。
"Whyshouldn\'tIbehere？Why？Why？I——"
Burkebrokeinonthegirl\'spitifulhistrionicsruthlessly。Hewasnotintheleastdeceived。Hewasawarethatsomethinguntoward，ashedeemedit，hadoccurred。Itseemedtohim，infact，thathisfinicalmechanismsfortheundoingofMaryTurnerwereinafairwaytobethwarted。Buthewouldnotgiveupthecausewithoutastruggle。Again，headdressedhimselftoDick，disregardingcompletelythealoofmanneroftheyoungman。
"Where\'syourfather？"hequestionedroughly。
"Inbed，naturally，"wastheanswer。"Iaskyouagain:Whatareyoudoinghereatthistimeofnight？"
Burkeshookhisshouldersponderouslyinamovementofimpatienceoverthisprolongingofthefarce。
"Oh，callyourfather，"hedirecteddisgustedly。
Dickremonstratedwithanexcellentshowofdignity。
"It\'slate，"heobjected。"I\'drathernotdisturbhim，ifyoudon\'tmind。Really，theideaisabsurd，youknow。"Suddenly，hesmiledverywinningly，andspokewithagoodassumptionofingenuousness。
"Inspector，"hesaidbriskly，"Isee，I\'llhavetotellyouthetruth。It\'sthis:I\'vepersuadedmywifetogoawaywithme。
She\'sgoingtogiveallthatothersortofthingup。Yes，we\'regoingawaytogether。"Therewasgenuinetriumphinhisvoicenow。"So，yousee，we\'vegottotalkitover。Now，then，Inspector，ifyou\'llcomebackinthemorning——"
Theofficialgrinnedsardonically。Hecouldnotintheleastguessjustwhathadinverydeedhappened，buthewasfartoocleveramantobebamboozledbyDick\'smaunderings。
"Oh，that\'sit!"heexclaimed，withobviousincredulity。
"Ofcourse，"Dickrepliedbravely，thoughheknewthattheInspectordisbelievedhispretenses。Still，forhisownpart，hewasinclinedasyettobeangryratherthanalarmedbythisfailuretoimpresstheofficer。"Yousee，Ididn\'tknow——"
Andeveninthemomentofhissaying，thewhitebeamoftheflashingsearchlightfromtheTowerfellbetweentheundrawndraperiesoftheoctagonalwindow。ThelightstartledtheInspectoragain，asithaddoneoncebeforethatsamenight。Hisgazefolloweditinstinctively。So，withinthesecond，hesawthestillformlyingthereonthefloor——lyingwherehadbeenshadows，wherenow，forthepassingofaninstant，wasbrilliantradiance。
Therewasnomistakingthatawful，motionless，crumpledposture。
TheInspectorknewinthissingleinstantofviewthatmurderhadbeendonehere。EvenasthebeamoflightfromtheTowershiftedandvanishedfromtheroom，heleapedtotheswitchbythedoor，andturnedonthelightsofthechandelier。Inthenextmoment，hehadreachedthedoorofthepassageacrosstheroom，andhiswhistlesoundedshrill。Hisvoicebellowedreinforcementtotheblast。
"Cassidy!Cassidy!"
AsDickmadeasteptowardhiswife，fromwhomhehadwithdrawnalittleinhiscolloquywiththeofficial，Burkevoicedhiscommandviciously:
"Staywhereyouare——bothofyou!"
Cassidycamerushingin，withtheotherdetectives。Hewasplainlysurprisedtofindtheroomsonearlyempty，wherehehadexpectedtobeholdagangofrobbers。
"Why，what\'sitallmean，Chief？"hequestioned。HispeeringeyesfellonDick，standingbesideMary，andtheyroundedinamazement。
"They\'vegotGriggs!"Burkeanswered。Therewasexceedingrageinhisvoice，ashespokefromhiskneelingposturebesidethebody，towhichhehadhurriedafterthesummonstohisaides。Hegloweredupintothebewilderedfaceofthedetective。"I\'llbreakyouforthis，Cassidy，"hedeclaredfiercely。"Whydidn\'tyougethereontherunwhenyouheardtheshot？"
"Buttherewasn\'tanyshot，"theperplexedandalarmeddetectiveexpostulated。Hefairlystutteredintheearnestnessofhisself-defense。"Itellyou，Chief，therehasn\'tbeenasound。"
Burkerosetohisfeet。Hisheavyfacewassetinitssternestmold。
"Youcoulddriveahearsethroughtheholethey\'vemadeinhim，"
herumbled。HewheeledonMaryandDick。"So!"heshouted，"nowit\'smurder!……Well，handitover。Where\'sthegun？"
Followedamoment\'spause。ThentheInspectorspokeharshlytoCassidy。Hestillfelthimselfsomewhatdazedbythisextraordinaryevent，buthewasabletocopewiththesituation。
HenoddedtowardDickashegavehisorder:"Searchhim!"
Beforethedetectivecouldobeythedirection，Dicktooktherevolverfromhispocketwherehehadbestowedit，andhelditout。
