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gone？ Even as she expressed the query she smelt burning tobacco。
She ran out into the kitchen； to behold Cutty seated in a chair
calmly smoking his infamous pipe！
〃And I thought you were gone！ What did you say to that policeman？〃
〃I hypnotized him； Kitty。〃
〃The newspaper？〃
〃No。 Just looked into his eye and made a few passes with my hands。〃
〃Of course； if you believe you ought not to tell me … 〃 said Kitty；
which is the way all women start their wheedling。
Cutty looked into the bowl of his pipe。
〃Kitty； when you throw a cobble into a pond； what happens？ A splash。
But did you ever notice the way the ripples have of running on and
on； until they touch the farthest shore？〃
〃Yes。 And this is a ripple from some big stone cast into the pond
of southeastern Europe。 I understand。〃
〃That's just the difficulty。 If you understood nothing it would be
much easier for me。 But you know just enough to want to follow up
on your own hook。 I know nothing definitely； I have only suspicions。
I calmed that policeman by showing him a blanket police power issued
by the commissioner。 I want you to pack up and move out of this
neighbourhood。 It's not congenial to you。〃
〃I'm afraid I can't afford to move until May。〃
〃I'll take care of that gladly； to get you out of this garlicky
ruin。〃
〃No； Cutty； I'm going to stay here until the lease is up。〃
〃Gee…whiz！ The Irish are all alike；〃 cried the war correspondent；
hopelessly。 〃Petticoat or pantaloon； always looking for trouble。〃
〃No； Cutty； simply we don't run away from it。 And there's just as
much Irish in you as there is in me。〃
〃Sure！ And for thirty years I've gone hunting for trouble； and
never failed to find it。 I don't like this affair； Kitty； and
because I don't I'm going to risk my Samson locks in your lily…white
hands。 I am going to tell you two things： I am a secret foreign
agent of the United States Government。 Now don't light up that way。
Dark alleys and secret papers and beautiful adventuresses and
bang…bang have nothing at all to do with my job。 There isn't a
grain of romance in it。 Ostensibly I am a war correspondent。 I
have handled all the big events in Serbia and Bulgaria and Greece
and southwestern Russia。 Boiled down； I am a census taker of
undesirables。 Socialist； anarchist and Bolshevik … I photograph them
in my mental 'fillums' and transmit to Washington。 Thus； when Feodor
Slopeski lands at Ellis Island with the idea of blowing up New York；
he is returned with thanks。 I didn't ask for the job； it was thrust
upon me because of my knowledge of the foreign tongues。 I accepted
it because I am a loyal American citizen。〃
〃And you left me because you' didn't know who might be at the door！〃
〃Precisely。 I am known in lower New York under another name。 I'm a
rabid internationalist。 Down with everything！ I don't go out much
these days； keep under cover as much as I can。 Once recognized； my
value would be nil。 In a flannel shirt I'm a dangerous codger。〃
〃And Gregor and this poor young man are in some way mixed up with
internationalism！〃
〃Victims； probably。〃
〃What is the other thing you wish to tell me？〃
〃Because your eyes are slate blue like your mother's。 I loved your
mother； Kitty；〃 said Cutty； blinking into his pipe。 〃And the
singular fact is； your father knew but your mother never did。 I
was never able to tell your mother after your father died。 Their
bodies were separated； but not their spirits。〃
Kitty nodded。 So that was it？ Poor Cutty！
〃I make this confession because I want you to understand my attitude
toward you。 I am going to elect myself as your special guardian so
long as I'm in New York。 From now on； when I ask you to do
something； understand that I believe it best for you。 If my
suspicions are correct we are not dealing with fools but with madmen。
The most dangerous human being； Kitty； is an honest man with a
half…baked or crooked idea； and that's what this world pother；
Bolshevism； is … honest men with crooked ideas； carrying the torch
of anarchism and believing it enlightenment。 What makes them tear
down things？ Every beautiful building is only a monument to their
former wretchedness； and so they annihilate。 None of them actually
knows what he wants。 A thousand will…o'…the…wisps in front of
them； and all alike。 A thousand years to throw off the shackles；
and they expect Utopia in ten minutes！ It makes you want to weep。
Socialism … the brotherhood of man … is a beautiful thing
theoretically； but it is like some plays … they read well but do not
act。 Lopping off heads； believing them to be ideas！〃
〃The poor things！〃
〃That's it。 Though I betray them I pity them。 Democracy； slowly
and surely。 As prickly with faults as a cactus pear； but every year
there are less prickles。 We don't stand still or retrogress； we
keep going on and up。 Take this town。 Think of It to…day and
compare it with the town your father knew。 There's the bell。 I
imagine that will be Harrison。 If we can move this chap will you
go to a hotel for the night？〃
〃I'm going to stay here； Cutty。 That's final。〃
Cutty sighed。
CHAPTER IX
At the precinct station the squat man gave a name and an address to
the bored sergeant at the desk； passed out a cigar； lit one himself；
expressed some innocuous opinions upon one or two topics of the day；
and walked leisurely out of the precinct。 He wanted to laugh。 These
pigheads had never thought to question his presence in the backyard
of the house in Seventy…ninth Street。 It was the way he had carried
himself。 Those years in New York； prior to the war； had not been
wasted。 The brass…buttoned fools！
Serenely unconscious that he was at liberty by explicit orders；
because the Department of Justice did not care to trap a werewolf
before ascertaining where the pack was and what the kill； he
proceeded leisurely to the corner； turned； and broke into a run；
which carried him to a drug store in Eightieth Street。 Here he was
joined by two men； apparently coal heavers by the look of their
hands and faces。
〃They will take him to a hospital。 Find where； then notify me。
Remember； this is your business； and woe to you if you fail。 Where
is it？〃 One of the men extended an object wrapped in ordinary
grocer's paper。
〃Ha！ That's good。 I shall enjoy myself presently。 Remember：
telephone me the moment you learn where they take him。 He is still
alive； bunglers！ And you came away empty…handed。〃
〃There was nothing on him。 We searched。〃
〃He has hidden them in one of those rooms。 I'll attend to that
later。 Watch the hospital for an hour or so； then telephone for
information regarding his condition。 Is that motor for me？ Very
good。 Remember！〃
Inside the taxicab the squat man patted the object on his knees；
and chuckled from time to time audibly。 It would be worth all that
journey； all he had gone through since dawn that morning。 Stefani
Gregor！ After these seven long years … the man who had betrayed
him！ To reach into his breast and squeeze his heart as one might
squeeze a bit of cheese！ Many things to tell； many pictures to
paint。 He rode far down