From the moment she had seen his letter on Stella’s bed she had watched the young Northerner with the keenest suspicions.
The following day he pressed his love with straightforward2 earnestness.
She answered with an evasive smile.
“I appreciate the honour you pay me, Mr. Ackerman, but I’m not in love with you. I hope we shall always be friends. If your love endures it may win mine in the end—if you persist.”
“I have your permission to persist?”
“Certainly,” she answered frankly3. “I love to be loved.”
“All right,” he said with a boyish laugh. “I’m going to build my house in the fall.”
On the day following John Graham’s arrest she saw Ackerman emerge from the hotel in earnest consultation4 with the Attorney General. To her the prosecuting5 officer of the United States at that moment meant all that was vile6 and hateful in the tyranny under which the South had groaned7 since the dawn of her memory.
The moment she saw Ackerman with this man, his very name became to her accursed. Her keen intuition at once linked the letter to Stella with the murder of the Judge and the prosecution8 of the Klan. She was sure that Ackerman had been playing the hypocrite and was at heart an enemy of the South. She determined9 not only to cut his acquaintance but put him out of her mother’s house.
When the young detective received a written notice from Susie to vacate his room immediately, he took it to be a practical joke and asked to see her. She sent word by the servant that unless he moved during the day his trunk would be thrown on the sidewalk.
Ackerman left in answer to a summons from the Attorney General’s office, still puzzling his brain over the meaning of the joke. He was sure that she could not possibly know of his oath against John Graham which was a secret of the Department of Justice. He was equally sure that she could not suspect his real business in Independence. He meant to win her love first. He didn’t care what she thought of his profession afterwards.
When he returned to Mrs. Wilson’s for supper he was struck dumb by the sight of his trunk lying on the sidewalk outside the gate.
Without a word he picked it up, carried it back upstairs and threw it on the floor with a bang in front of the room that had been his.
He sat down on it and refused to stir until Susie answered in person his demand for an interview.
To avoid a scene she finally consented to meet him in the parlour.
Susie’s gray eyes were cold and her tall figure rigid10.
“In violation11 of every law that should govern the conduct of a gentleman you have forced yourself into my presence Mr. Ackerman. I trust our interview may be very brief.”
“In violation of every law of Southern hospitality, to say nothing of the rules which should govern the temper of a lady, you have thrown me out of your house without rhyme or reason. And before I go I respectfully but firmly ask, why?”
“You have pretended to be a friend of our people I find that you are an enemy—a sneak12 and a hypocrite.”
Ackerman’s cheeks blushed redder than usual; he bit his lips and finally burst into laughter.
“Is that all?”
Susie rose with dignity.
“It’s quite enough for my mother and myself.”
“But it’s not enough for me, Miss Susie. My defence against your unjust suspicions is perfect. I will make it if necessary. I trust it will not be necessary.”
“You might include in your defence an explanation of why you were corresponding with Stella Butler while you were writing love to me?”
“Who said that I wrote to Miss Butler?”
“I say it. I saw your letter in her room the day you declared your love for me.”
Ackerman was cornered. He must confess and betray Stella’s secret or keep silent and wreck13 his own hopes. His decision was instantly made.
“Miss Susie, you’ve got me. I give up. I’m not a sneak—but I am a hypocrite by profession.”
“You confess it?” Susie cried with scorn. “Yes,” he whispered. “I am a trusted detective of the United States Secret Service. I am not the enemy of your people. On the other hand, I have learned to love and sympathise with them. Perhaps my love for you has given me that point of view. Anyway, I’ve taken it. I am simply here as an officer on duty under command of his superior.”
Susie’s face softened14. She saw at once her mistake.
“And your duty led you into correspondence with Miss Butler?5’
“I regret to be compelled to answer, but it did.”
“She has aided in your work?”
“Yes. I reported to her by order of the Chief on arrival, and have been in constant communication with her at every step since.”
“Up to the hour of John Graham’s arrest?” Susie asked breathlessly.
“Yes.”
“Oh, the little fiend! I could strangle her!” the girl cried.
“I’m sorry to have to betray this confidence. But you have forced me.”
“And you are pressing the charge of murder against John Graham?”
“On the other hand, I am not. If my plans succeed, I’ll explode a bombshell in the court room the day he faces the jury.”
Susie extended her hand.
“I beg your pardon for my rudeness. Alfred will put your trunk back immediately, if you will stay.”
Ackerman mounted to his room and unpacked15 his trunk, humming a love song while Susie put on her hat and left with swift firm step to find Stella Butler.
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1
precipitated
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| v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的过去式和过去分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
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2
straightforward
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| adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的 | |
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3
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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4
consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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5
prosecuting
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| 检举、告发某人( prosecute的现在分词 )； 对某人提起公诉； 继续从事（某事物）； 担任控方律师 | |
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6
vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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7
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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8
prosecution
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| n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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11
violation
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| n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯 | |
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12
sneak
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| vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行 | |
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13
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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14
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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15
unpacked
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| v.从（包裹等）中取出（所装的东西），打开行李取出( unpack的过去式和过去分词 )；拆包；解除…的负担；吐露（心事等） | |
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