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ir； and； when the door opened； he was； to all appearances； busily engaged in writing。
〃Here's Garson； Chief；〃 Cassidy announced。
〃Hello； Joe！〃 Burke exclaimed； with a seeming of careless friendliness； as the detective went out； and Garson stood motionless just within the door。
〃Sit down； a minute； won't you？〃 the Inspector continued； affably。 He did not look up from his writing as he spoke。
Garson's usually strong face was showing weak with fear。 His chin； which was commonly very firm； moved a little from uneasy twitchings of his lips。 His clear eyes were slightly clouded to a look of apprehension； as they roved the room furtively。 He made no answer to the Inspector's greeting for a few moments； but remained standing without movement； poised alertly as if sensing some concealed peril。 Finally； however； his anxiety found expression in words。 His tone was pregnant with alarm； though he strove to make it merely complaining。
〃Say； what am I arrested for？〃 he protested。 〃I ain't done anything。〃
Even now； Burke did not look up； and his pen continued to hurry over the paper。
〃Who told you you were arrested？〃 he remarked； cheerfully； in his blandest voice。
Garson uttered an ejaculation of disgust。
〃I don't have to be told；〃 he retorted； huffily。 〃I'm no college president； but； when a cop grabs me and brings me down here； I've got sense enough to know I'm pinched。〃
The Inspector did not interrupt his work； but answered with the utmost good nature。
〃Is that what they did to you； Joe？ I'll have to speak to Cassidy about that。 Now； just you sit down； Joe； won't you？ I want to have a little talk with you。 I'll be through here in a second。〃 He went on with the writing。
Garson moved forward slightly； to the single chair near the end of the desk； and there seated himself mechanically。 His face thus was turned toward the windows that gave on the corridor； and his eyes grew yet more clouded as they rested on the grim doors of the cells。 He writhed in his chair； and his gaze jumped from the cells to the impassive figure of the man at the desk。 Now； the forger's nervousness increased momently it swept beyond his control。 Of a sudden； he sprang up； and stepped close to the Inspector。
〃Say；〃 he said； in a husky voice； 〃I'd likeI'd like to have a lawyer。〃
〃What's the matter with you； Joe？〃 the Inspector returned； always with that imperturbable air； and without raising his head from the work that so engrossed his attention。 〃You know； you're not arrested； Joe。 Maybe； you never will be。 Now； for the love of Mike； keep still； and let me finish this letter。〃
Slowly； very hesitatingly； Garson went back to the chair； and sank down on it in a limp attitude of dejection wholly unlike his customary postures of strength。 Again； his fear…fascinated eyes went to the row of cells that stood silently menacing on the other side of the corridor beyond the windows。 His face was tinged with gray。 A physical sickness was creeping stealthily on him； as his thoughts held insistently to the catastrophe that threatened。 His intelligence was too keen to permit a belief that Burke's manner of almost fulsome kindliness hid nothing ominousominous with a hint of death for him in return for the death he had wrought。
Then； terror crystallized。 His eyes were caught by a figure； the figure of Cassidy； advancing there in the corridor。 And with the detective went a man whose gait was slinking； craven。 A cell…door swung open； the prisoner stepped within； the door clanged to； the bolts shot into their sockets noisily。
Garson sat huddled； strickenfor he had recognized the victim thrust into the cell before his eyes。。。。 It was Dacey； one of his own cronies in crimeDacey； who； the night before； had seen him kill Eddie Griggs。 There was something concretely sinister to Garson in this fact of Dacey's presence there in the cell。
Of a sudden； the forger cried out raucously：
〃Say； Inspector； if you've got anything on me； II would〃 The cry dropped into unintelligible mumblings。
Burke retained his manner of serene indifference to the other's agitation。 Still； his pen hurried over the paper； and he did not trouble to look up as he expostulated； half…banteringly。
〃Now； now！ What's the matter with you； Joe？ I told you that I wanted to ask you a few questions。 That's all。〃
Garson leaped to his feet again resolutely； then faltered； and ultimately fell back into the chair with a groan； as the Inspector went on speaking。
〃Now； Joe； sit down； and keep still； I tell you； and let me get through with this job。 It won't take me more than a minute more。〃
But； after a moment； Garson's emotion forced hint to another appeal。
〃Say； Inspector〃 he began。
Then； abruptly； he was silent； his mouth still open to utter the words that were now held back by horror。 Again； he saw the detective walking forward； out there in the corridor。 And with him； as before； was a second figure； which advanced slinkingly。 Garson leaned forward in his chair； his head thrust out； watching in rigid suspense。 Again； even as before； the door swung wide； the prisoner slipped within； the door clanged shut； the bolts clattered noisily into their sockets。
And； in the watcher； terror grewfor he had seen the face of Chicago Red； another of his pals； another who had seen him kill Griggs。 For a time that seemed to him long ages of misery； Garson sat staring dazedly at the closed doors of the tier of cells。 The peril about him was growinggrowing； and it was a deadly peril！ At last； he licked his dry lips； and his voice broke in a throaty whisper。
〃Say； Inspector； if you've got anything against me； why〃
〃Who said there was anything against you； Joe？〃 Burke rejoined； in a voice that was genially chiding。 〃What's the matter with you to…day； Joe？ You seem nervous。〃 Still； the official kept on with his writing。
〃No； I ain't nervous；〃 Garson cried； with a feverish effort to appear calm。 〃Why； what makes you think that？ But this ain't exactly the place you'd pick out as a pleasant one to spend the morning。〃 He was silent for a little； trying with all his strength to regain his self…control； but with small success。
〃Could I ask you a question？〃 he demanded finally； with more firmness in his voice。
〃What is it？〃 Burke said。
Garson cleared his throat with difficulty； and his voice was thick。
〃I was just going to say〃 he began。 Then； he hesitated； and was silent； at a loss。
〃Well； what is it； Joe？〃 the Inspector prompted。
〃I was going to saythat iswell； if it's anything about Mary Turner； I don't know a thingnot a thing！〃
It was the thought of possible peril to her that now； in an instant； had caused him to forget his own mortal danger。 Where； before； he had been shuddering over thoughts of the death…house cell that might be awaiting him； he now had concern only for the safety of the woman he cherished。 And there was a great grief in his soul； for it was borne in on him that his own folly； in disobedience to her command； had led up to the murder of Griggsand to all that might come of the crime。 How could he ever make amends to her？ At least； he could be brave here； for her sake； if not for his own。
Burke