the oakdale affair-第13部分

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as　mis…　placed　the　finger…bowls。〃

The　youth　and　the　girl　forced　wan　smiles；　but　neither　spoke。　　Bridge　drew　a　pouch　of　tobacco　and　some　papers　from　an　inside　pocket。

　　　〃'I　had　the　makings　and　I　smoked

　　　　　　〃'And　wondered　over　different　things；

　　　〃'Thinkin'　as　how　this　old　world　joked

　　　　　　〃'In　callin'　only　some　men　kings

　　　〃'While　I　sat　there　a…blowin'　rings。'〃

He　paused　to　kindle　a　sliver　of　wood　at　the　stove。　　　〃In　these　parlous　times；〃　he　spoke　as　though　to　himself；　〃one　must　economize。　　They　are　taking　a　quarter　of　an　ounce　out　of　each　five　cents　worth　of　chewing；　I　am　told；　so　doubtless　each　box　must　be　five　or　six　matches　short　of　full　count。　　Even　these　papers　seem　thinner　than　of　yore　and　they　will　only　sell　one　book　to　a　customer　at　that。　　Indeed　Sherman　was　right。〃

The　youth　and　the　girl　remained　occupied　with　their　own　thoughts；　and　after　a　moment's　silence　the　vaga…　bond　resumed：

　　　〃'Me？　I　was　king　of　anywhere；

　　　　　　〃'Peggin'　away　at　nothing；　hard。　　

　　　〃'Havin'　no　pet；　particular　care；

　　　　　　〃'Havin'　no　trouble；　or　no　pard；

　　　〃'〃Just　me；〃　filled　up　my　callin'　card。'　〃Say；　do　you　know　I've　learned　to　love　this　Knibbs　per…　son。　　I　used　to　think　of　him　as　a　poor　attic　prune　grind…　ing　away　in　his　New　York　sky　parlor；　writing　his　verse　of　the　things　he　longed　for　but　had　never　known；　until；　one　day；　I　met　a　fellow　between　Victorville　and　Cajon　pass　who　knew　His　Knibbs；　and　come　to　find　out　this　Knibbs　is　a　regular　fellow。　　His　attic　covers　all　God's　coun…　try　that　is　out　of　doors　and　he　knows　the　road　from　La　Bajada　hill　to　Barstow　a　darned　sight　better　than　he　knows　Broadway。〃

There　was　no　answering　sympathy　awakened　in　either　of　his　listenersthey　remained　mute。　　Bridge　rose　and　stretched。　　He　picked　up　his　knife；　wiped　off　the　blade；　closed　it　and　slipped　it　into　a　trousers'　pocket。　　Then　he　walked　toward　the　door。　　At　the　threshold　he　paused　and　turned。　　〃'Good…bye　girls！　I'm　through；'〃　he　quoted　and　passed　out　into　the　sunlight。

Instantly　the　two　within　were　on　their　feet　and　follow…　ing　him。

〃Where　are　you　going？〃　cried　The　Oskaloosa　Kid。　　　〃You're　not　going　to　leave　us；　are　you？〃

〃Oh；　please　don't！〃　pleaded　the　girl。

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Bridge；　solemnly；　〃whether　I'm　safe　in　remaining　in　your　society　or　not。　　This　Oskaloosa　Kid　is　a　bad　proposition；　and　as　for　you；　young　lady；　I　rather　imagine　that　the　town　constable　is　looking　for　you　right　now。〃

The　girl　winced。　　〃Please　don't；〃　she　begged。　　〃I　haven't　done　anything　wicked；　honestly！　But　I　want　to　get　away　so　that　they　can't　question　me。　　I　was　in　the　car　when　they　killed　him；　but　I　had　nothing　to　do　with　it。　　It　is　just　because　of　my　father　that　I　don't　want　them　to　find　me。　It　would　break　his　heart。〃

As　the　three　stood　back　of　the　Squibbs'　summer　kitchen　Fate；　in　the　guise　of　a　rural　free　delivery　carrier　and　a　Ford；　passed　by　the　front　gate。　　A　mile　beyond　he　stopped　at　the　Case　mail　box　where　Jeb　and　his　son　Willie　were；　as　usual；　waiting　his　coming；　for　the　rural　free　delivery　man　often　carries　more　news　than　is　con…　tained　in　his　mail　sacks。

〃Mornin'　Jeb；〃　he　called；　as　he　swerved　his　light　car　from　the　road　and　drew　up　in　front　of　the　Case　gate。

〃Mornin'；　Jim！〃　returned　Mr。　Case。　　〃Nice　rain　we　had　last　night。　　What's　the　news？〃

〃Plenty！　Plenty！〃　exclaimed　the　carrier。　　〃Lived　here　nigh　onto　forty　year；　man　an'　boy；　an'　never　seen　such　work　before　in　all　my　life。〃

〃How's　that？〃　questioned　the　farmer；　scenting　some…　thing　interesting。

〃Ol'　man　Baggs's　murdered　last　night；〃　announced　the　carrier；　watching　eagerly　for　the　effect　of　his　announce…　ment。

〃Gosh！〃　gasped　Willie　Case。　　〃Was　he　shot？〃　It　was　almost　a　scream。

〃I　dunno；〃　replied　Jim。　　〃He's　up　to　the　horspital　now；　an'　the　doc　says　he　haint　one　chance　in　a　thousand。〃

〃Gosh！〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Case。

〃But　thet　ain't　all；〃　continued　Jim。　　〃Reggie　Paynter　was　murdered　last　night；　too；　right　on　the　pike　south　of　town。　　They　threw　his　corpse　outen　a　ottymobile。〃

〃By　gol！〃　cried　Jeb　Case；　〃I　hearn　them　devils　go　by　last　night　'bout　midnight　er　after。　　'T　woke　me　up。　　They　must　o'　ben　goin'　sixty　mile　an　hour。　　Er　say；〃　he　stopped　to　scratch　his　head。　　〃Mebby　it　was　tramps。　　They　must　a　ben　a　score　on　'em　round　here　yesterday　and　las'　night　an'　agin　this　mornin'。　　I　never　seed　so　dum　many　bums　in　my　life。〃

〃An'　thet　ain't　all；〃　went　on　the　carrier；　ignoring　the　others　comments。　　〃Oakdale's　all　tore　up。　　Abbie　Prim's　disappeared　and　Jonas　Prim's　house　was　robbed　jest　about　the　same　time　Ol'　man　Baggs　'uz　murdered；　er　most　murderedchances　is　he's　dead　by　this　time　any…　how。　　Doc　said　he　hadn't　no　chance。〃

〃Gosh！〃　It　was　a　pater…filius　duet。

〃But　thet　ain't　all；〃　gloated　Jim。　　〃Two　of　the　persons　in　the　car　with　Reggie　Paynter　were　recognized；　an'　who　do　you　think　one　of　'em　was；　eh？　Why　one　of　'em　was　Abbie　Prim　an'　tother　was　a　slick　crook　from　Toledo　er　Noo　York　that's　called　The　Oskaloosie　Kid。　　By　gum；　I'll　bet　they　get　'em　in　no　time。　　Why　already　Jonas　Prim's　got　a　regular　dee…dectiff　down　from　Chicago；　an'　the　board　o'　select…men's　offered　a　re…ward　o'　fifty　dollars　fer　the　arrest　an'　conviction　of　the　perpetrators　of　these　dastardly　crimes！〃

〃Gosh！〃　cried　Willie　Case。　　〃I　know〃；　but　then　he　paused。　　If　he　told　all　he　knew　he　saw　plainly　that　either　the　carrier　or　his　father　would　profit　by　it　and　collect　the　reward。　　Fifty　dollars！！　Willie　gasped。

〃Well；〃　said　Jim；　〃I　gotta　be　on　my　way。　　Here's　the　Tribunethere　ain't　nothin'　more　fer　ye。　　So　long！　Gid…　dap！〃　and　he　was　gone。

〃I　don'　see　why　he　don't　carry　a　whip；〃　mused　Jeb　Case。　　〃A…gidappin'　to　that　there　tin　lizzie；〃　he　muttered　disgustedly；　〃jes'　like　it　was　as　good　as　a　hoss。　　But　I　mind　the　time；　the　fust　day　he　got　the　dinged　thing；　he　gets　out　an'　tries　to　lead　it　by　Lem　Smith's　threshin'　ma…　chine。〃

Jeb　Case　preferred　an　audience　worthy　his　mettle；　but　Willie　was　better　than　no　one；　yet　when　he　turned　to　note　the　effect　of　his　remarks　on　his　son；　Willie　was　no　where　to　be　seen。　　If　Jeb　had　but　known　it　his　young　hopeless　was　already　in　the　loft　of　the　hay　barn　deep　in　a　small；　red…covered　book　entitled：　〃HOW　TO　BE　A　DETECTIVE。〃

Bridge；　who　had　had　no　intention　of　deserting　his　help…　less　companions；　appeared　at　last　to　yield　reluctantly　to　their　pleas。　　That　indefinable　something　about　the　youth　which　appealed　strongly　to　the　protective　instinct　in　the　man；　also　assured　him　that　the　other's　mask　of　criminal…　ity　was　for　the　most　part　assumed　even　though　the　stor…　ies　of　the　two　yeggmen　and　the　loot　bulging　pockets　argued　to　the　contrary。　　There　was　the　chance；　however；　that　the　boy　had　really　taken　the　first　step　upon　the　road　toward　a　criminal　career；　and　if　such　were　the　case　Bridge　felt　morally　obligated　to　protect　his　new　found　friend　from　arrest；　secure　in　the　reflection　that　his　own　precept　and　example　would　do　more　to　lead　him　back　into　the　path　of　rectitude　than　would　any　police　magis…　trate　or　penal　institute。

For　the　girl　he　felt　a　deep　pity。　　In　the　past　he　had　had　knowledge　of　more　than　one　other　small…town　girl　led　into　wrong　doing　through　the　deadly　monotony　and　flagrant　hypocrisy　of　her　environment。　　Himself　highly　imaginative　and　keenly　sensitive；　he　realized　with　what　depth　of　horror　the　girl　anticipated　a　return　to　her　home　and　friends　after　the　childish　escapade　which　had　cul…　minated；　even　through　no　fault　of　hers；　in　criminal　tragedy　of　the　most　sordid　sort。

As　the　three　held　a　council　of　war　at　the　rear　of　the　deserted　house　they　were　startled　by　the　loud　squeaking　of　brake　bands　on　the　road　in　front。　　Bridge　ran　quickly　into　the　kitchen　and　through　to　the　front　room　where　he　saw　three　men　alighting　from　a　large　touring　car　which　had　drawn　up　before　the　sagging　gate。　　As　the　foremost　man；　big　and　broad　shouldered；　raised　his　eyes　to　the　building　Bridge　smothered　an　exclamation　of　surprise　and　chagrin；　nor　did　he　linger　to　inspect　the　other　mem…　bers　of　the　party；　but　turned　and　ran　quickly　back　to　his　companions。

〃We've　got　to　beat　it！〃　he　whispered；　〃they've　brought　Burton　himself　down　here。〃

〃Who's　Burton？〃　demanded　the　youth。

〃He's　the　best　operative　west　of　New　York　City；〃　replied　Bridge；　as　he　moved　rapidly　toward　an　out…　house　directly　in　rear　of　the　main　building。

Once　behind　the　small；　dilapidated　structure　which　had　once　probably　housed　farm　implements；　Bridge　paused　and　looked　about。　　〃They'll　search　here；〃　he　prophesied；　and　then；　〃Those　woods　look　good　to　me。〃

The　Squibbs'　woods；　growing　rank　in　the　damp　ravine　at　the　bottom　of　the　little　valley；　ran　to　within　a　hun…　dred　feet　of　the　out…building。　　Dense　undergrowth　choked　the　ground　to　a　height　of　eight　or　ten　feet　around　the　boles　of　the　close　set　trees。　　If　they　could　gain　the　seclusion　of　that　tangled　jungle　there　was　little　likelihood　of　their　being　discovered；　provided　they　were　not　seen　as　they　passed　across　the　open　space　between　their　hiding　place　and　the　wood。

〃We'd　better　make　a　break　for　it；〃　advised　Bridge；　and　a　moment　later　the　three　moved　cautiously　toward　the　wood；　keeping　the　out…house　between　themselves　and　the　farm　house。　　Almost　in　front　of　them　as　they　neared　the　wood　they　saw　a　well　defined　path　leading　into　the　thicket。　　Single…file　they　entered；　to　be　almost　instantly　hidden　from　view；　not　only　from　the　house　but　from　any　other　point　more　than　a　dozen　paces　away；　for　the　path　was　winding；　narrow　and　closely　walled　by　the　budding　verdure　of　the　new　Spring。　　Birds　sang　or　twit…　tered　about　them；　the　mat　of　dead　leaves　oozed　spongily　beneath　their　feet；　giving　forth　no　sound　as　they　passed；　save　a　faint　sucking　noise　as　a　foot　was　lifted　from　each　watery　seat。

Bridge　was　in　the　lead；　moving　steadily　forward　that　they　might　put　as　much　distance　as　possible　between　themselves　and　the　detective　should　the　latter　chance　to　explore　the　wood。　　They　had　advanced　a　few　hundred　yards　when　the　path　crossed　through　a　small　clearing　the　center　of　which　was　destitute　of　fallen　leaves。　　Here　the　path　was　beaten　into　soft　mud　and　as　Bridge　came　to　it　he　stopped　and　bent　his　gaze　incredulously　upon　the　ground。　　The　girl　and　the　youth；　halting　upon　either　side；　followed　the　direction　of　his　eyes　with　theirs。　　The　girl　gave　a