the oakdale affair-第15部分

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in　finding　Miss　Primher　father　has　engaged　me　for　that　purpose；　but　I　think　the　arrest　of　the　perpetrators　of　any　of　last　night's　crimes　will　put　us　well　along　on　the　trail　of　the　missing　young　lady；　as　it　is　almost　a　foregone　conclusion　that　there　is　a　connection　between　her　disappearance　and　some　of　the　occurrences　which　have　so　excited　Oakdale。　　I　do　not　mean　that　she　was　a　party　to　any　criminal　act；　but　it　is　more　than　possible　that　she　was　ab…　ducted　by　the　same　men　who　later　committed　the　other　crimes。〃

The　Cases　hung　open…mouthed　upon　his　words；　while　his　companions　wondered　at　the　loquaciousness　of　this　ordinarily　close…mouthed　man；　who；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　was　but　attempting　to　win　the　confidence　of　the　boy　on　the　chance　that　even　now　he　had　not　told　all　that　he　knew；　but　Willie　had　told　all。

Finding；　after　a　few　minutes　further　conversation；　that　he　could　glean　no　additional　information　the　de…　tective　returned　to　his　car　and　drove　west　toward　Mills…　ville　on　the　assumption　that　the　fugitives　would　seek　escape　by　the　railway　running　through　that　village。　　　Only　thus　could　he　account　for　their　turning　off　the　main　pike。　　The　latter　was　now　well　guarded　all　the　way　to　Payson；　while　the　Millsville　road　was　still　open。

No　sooner　had　he　departed　than　Willie　Case　disap…　peared；　nor　did　he　answer　at　noon　to　the　repeated　ringing　of　the　big；　farm　dinner　bell。

Half　way　between　the　Case　farm　and　Millsville　de…　tective　Burton　saw；　far　ahead　along　the　road；　two　figures　scale　a　fence　and　disappear　behind　the　fringing　black…　berry　bushes　which　grew　in　tangled　profusion　on　either　side。　　When　they　came　abreast　of　the　spot　he　ordered　the　driver　to　stop；　but　though　he　scanned　the　open　field　carefully　he　saw　no　sign　of　living　thing。

〃There　are　two　men　hiding　behind　those　bushes；〃　he　said　to　his　companions　in　a　low　whisper。　　〃One　of　you　walk　ahead　about　fifty　yards　and　the　other　go　back　the　same　distance　and　then　climb　the　fence。　　When　I　see　you　getting　over　I'll　climb　it　here。　　They　can't　get　away　from　us。〃　To　the　driver　he　said：　〃You　have　a　gun。　　If　they　make　a　break　go　after　'em。　　You　can　shoot　if　they　don't　stop　when　you　tell　'em　to。〃

The　two　men　walked　in　opposite　directions　along　the　road；　and　when　Burton　saw　them　turn　in　and　start　to　climb　the　fence　he　vaulted　over　the　panel　directly　op…　posite　the　car。　　He　had　scarcely　alighted　upon　the　other　side　when　his　eyes　fell　upon　the　disreputable　figures　of　two　tramps　stretched　out　upon　their　backs　and　snoring　audibly。　　Burton　grinned。

〃You　two　sure　can　go　to　sleep　in　a　hurry；〃　he　said。　　　One　of　the　men　opened　his　eyes　and　sat　up。　　When　he　saw　who　it　was　that　stood　over　him　he　grinned　sheep…　ishly。

〃Can't　a　guy　lie　down　fer　a　minute　in　de　bushes　wid…　out　bein'　pinched？〃　he　asked。　　The　other　man　now　sat　up　and　viewed　the　newcomer；　while　from　either　side　Bur…　ton's　companions　closed　in　on　the　three。

〃Wot's　de　noise？〃　inquired　the　second　tramp；　looking　from　one　to　another　of　the　intruders。　　〃We　ain't　done　nothin'。〃

〃Of　course　not；　Charlie；〃　Burton　assured　him　gaily。　　　〃Who　would　ever　suspect　that　you　or　The　General　would　do　anything；　but　somebody　did　something　in　Oakdale　last　night　and　I　want　to　take　you　back　there　and　have　a　nice；　long　talk　with　you。　　Put　your　hands　up！〃

〃We。〃

〃Put　'em　up！〃　snapped　Burton；　and　when　the　four　grimy　fists　had　been　elevated　he　signalled　to　his　com…　panions　to　search　the　two　men。

Nothing　more　formidable　than　knives；　dope；　and　a　needle　were　found　upon　them。

〃Say；〃　drawled　Dopey　Charlie。　　〃We　knows　wot　we　knows；　but　hones'　to　gawd　we　didn't　have　nothin'　to　do　wid　it。　　We　knows　the　guy　that　pulled　it　offwe　spent　las'　night　wid　him　an'　his　pal　an'　a　skoit。　　He　creased　me；　here；〃　and　Charlie　unbuttoned　his　clothing　and　ex…　posed　to　view　the　bloody　scratch　of　The　Oskaloosa　Kid's　bullet。　　〃On　de　level；　Burton；　we　wern't　in　on　it。　　　Dis　guy　was　at　dat　Squibbs'　place　wen　we　pulls　in　dere　outen　de　rain。　　He　has　a　pocket　full　o'　kale　an'　sparklers　an'　tings；　and　he　goes　fer　to　shoot　me　up　wen　I　tries　to　get　away。〃

〃Who　was　he？〃　asked　Burton。

〃He　called　hisself　de　Oskaloosa　Kid；〃　replied　Charlie。　　　〃A　guy　called　Bridge　was　wid　him。　　You　know　him？〃

〃I've　heard　of　him；　but　he's　straight；〃　replied　Burton。　　　〃Who　was　the　skirt？〃

〃I　dunno；〃　said　Charlie；　〃but　she　was　gassin'　'bout　her　pals　croakin'　a　guy　an'　trunin'　'im　outten　a　gas　wagon；　an'　dis　Oskaloosa　Kid　he　croaks　some　old　guy　in　Oak…　dale　las'　night。　　Mebby　he　ain't　a　bad　'un　though！〃

〃Where　are　they　now？〃　asked　Burton。

〃We　got　away　from　'em　at　the　Squibbs'　place　this　mornin'；〃　said　Charlie。

〃Well；〃　said　Burton；　〃you　boes　come　along　with　me。　　　If　you　ain't　done　nothing　the　worst　you'll　get'll　be　three　squares　and　a　place　to　sleep　for　a　few　days。　　I　want　you　where　I　can　lay　my　hands　on　you　when　I　need　a　couple　of　witnesses；〃　and　he　herded　them　over　the　fence　and　into　the　machine。　　As　he　himself　was　about　to　step　in　he　felt　suddenly　of　his　breast　pocket。

〃What's　the　matter？〃　asked　one　of　his　companions。

〃I've　lost　my　note　book；〃　replied　Burton；　〃it　must　have　dropped　out　of　my　pocket　when　I　jumped　the　fence。　　Just　wait　a　minute　while　I　go　look　for　it；〃　and　be　returned　to　the　fence；　vaulted　it　and　disappeared　be…　hind　the　bushes。

It　was　fully　five　minutes　before　he　returned　but　when　he　did　there　was　a　look　of　satisfaction　on　his　face。

〃Find　it？〃　asked　his　principal　lieutenant。

〃Yep；〃　replied　Burton。　　〃I　wouldn't　have　lost　it　for　anything。〃

Bridge　and　his　companions　had　made　their　way　along　the　wooded　path　for　perhaps　a　quarter　of　a　mile　when　the　man　halted　and　drew　back　behind　the　foliage　of　a　flowering　bush。　　With　raised　finger　he　motioned　the　oth…　ers　to　silence　and　then　pointed　through　the　branches　ahead。　　The　boy　and　the　girl；　tense　with　excitement；　peered　past　the　man　into　a　clearing　in　which　stood　a　log　shack；　mud　plastered；　but　it　was　not　the　hovel　which　held　their　mute　attentionit　was　rather　the　figure　of　a　girl；　bare　headed　and　bare　footed；　who　toiled　stub…　bornly　with　an　old　spade　at　a　long；　narrow　excavation。

All　too　suggestive　in　itself　was　the　shape　of　the　hole　the　girl　was　digging；　there　was　no　need　of　the　silent　proof　of　its　purpose　which　lay　beside　her　to　tell　the　watchers　that　she　worked　alone　in　the　midst　of　the　for…　est　solitude　upon　a　human　grave。　　The　thing　wrapped　in　an　old　quilt　lay　silently　waiting　for　the　making　of　its　last　bed。

And　as　the　three　watched　her　other　eyes　watched　them　and　the　digging　girlwide；　awestruck　eyes；　filled　with　a　great　terror；　yet　now　and　again　half　closing　in　the　shrewd　expression　of　cunning　that　is　a　hall　mark　of　crafty　ignorance。

And　as　they　watched；　their　over…wrought　nerves　sud…　denly　shuddered　to　the　grewsome　clanking　of　a　chain　from　the　dark　interior　of　the　hovel。

The　youth；　holding　tight　to　Bridge's　sleeve；　strove　to　pull　him　away。

〃Let's　go　back；〃　he　whispered　in　a　voice　that　trembled　so　that　he　could　scarce　control　it。

〃Yes；　please；〃　urged　the　girl。　　〃Here　is　another　path　leading　toward　the　north。　　We　must　be　close　to　a　road。　　　Let's　get　away　from　here。〃

The　digger　paused　and　raised　her　head；　listening；　as　though　she　had　caught　the　faint；　whispered　note　of　hu…　man　voices。　　She　was　a　black　haired　girl　of　nineteen　or　twenty；　dressed　in　a　motley　of　flowered　calico　and　silk；　with　strings　of　gold　and　silver　coins　looped　around　her　olive　neck。　　Her　bare　arms　were　encircled　by　bracelets　some　cheap　and　gaudy；　others　well　wrought　from　gold　and　silver。　　From　her　ears　depended　ornaments　fash…　ioned　from　gold　coins。　　Her　whole　appearance　was　bar…　baric；　her　occupation　cast　a　sinister　haze　about　her；　and　yet　her　eyes　seemed　fashioned　for　laughter　and　her　lips　for　kissing。

The　watchers　remained　motionless　as　the　girl　peered　first　in　one　direction　and　then　in　another；　seeking　an　ex…　planation　of　the　sounds　which　had　disturbed　her。　　Her　brows　were　contracted　into　a　scowl　of　apprehension　which　remained　even　after　she　returned　to　her　labors；　and　that　she　was　ill　at　ease　was　further　evidenced　by　the　frequent　pauses　she　made　to　cast　quick　glances　to…　ward　the　dense　tanglewood　surrounding　the　clearing。

At　last　the　grave　was　dug。　　The　girl　climbed　out　and　stood　looking　down　upon　the　quilt　wrapped　thing　at　her　feet。　　For　a　moment　she　stood　there　as　silent　and　motionless　as　the　dead。　　Only　the　twittering　of　birds　dis…　turbed　the　quiet　of　the　wood。　　Bridge　felt　a　soft　hand　slipped　into　his　and　slender　fingers　grip　his　own；　He　turned　his　eyes　to　see　the　boy　at　his　side　gazing　with　wide　eyes　and　trembling　lips　at　the　tableau　within　the　clearing。　　Involuntarily　the　man's　hand　closed　tightly　upon　the　youth's。

And　as　they　stood　thus　the　silence　was　shattered　by　a　loud　and　human　sneeze　from　the　thicket　not　fifty　feet　from　where　they　stood。　　Instantly　the　girl　in　the　clearing　was　electrified　into　action。　　Like　a　tigress　charging　those　who　stalked　her　she　leaped　swiftly　across　the　clearing　toward　the　point　from　which　the　disturbance　had　come。　　　There　was　an　answering　commotion　in　the　underbrush　as　the　girl　crashed　through；　a　slender　knife　gleaming　in　her　hand。

Bridge　and　his　companions　heard　the　sounds　of　a　swift　and　short　pursuit　followed　by　voices；　one　master…　ful；　the　other　frightened　and　whimpering；　and　a　moment　afterward　the　girl　reappeared　dragging　a　boy　with　her　a　wide…eyed；　terrified；　country　boy　who　begged　and　blubbered　to　no　avail。

Beside　the　dead　man　the　girl　halted　and　then　turned　on　her　captive。　　In　her　right　hand　she　still　held　the　menacing　blade。

〃What　you　do　there　watching　me　for？〃　she　demanded。　　　〃Tell　me　the　truth；　or　I　kill　you；〃　and　she　half　raised　the　knife　that　he　might　profit　in　his　decision　by　this　most　potent　of　arguments。

The　boy　cowered。　　〃I　didn't　come　fer　to　watch　you；〃　he　whimpered。　　〃I'm　lookin'　for　somebody　else。　　I'm　goin'　to　be　a　dee…tectiff；　an'　I'm　shadderin'　a　murderer；　and　he　gasped　and　stammered：　〃But　not　you。　　I'm　lookin'　for　another　murderer。〃

For　the　first　time　the　watchers　saw　a　faint　smile　touch　the　girl's　lips。

〃What　other　murderer？〃　she　asked。　　〃Who　has　been　murdered？〃

〃Two　an'　mebby　three　in　Oakdale　last　night；〃　said　Willie　Case　more　glibly　now　that　a　chance　for　dissemi…　nating　gossip　momentarily　outweighed　his　own　fears。　　　〃Reginald　Paynt