the oakdale affair-第16部分

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〃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　Paynter　was　murdered　an'　ol'　man　Baggs　an'　Abigail　Prim's　missin'。　　Like　es　not　she's　been　murdered　too；　though　they　do　say　as　she　had　a　hand　in　it；　bein'　seen　with　Paynter　an'　The　Oskaloosie　Kid　jest　afore　the　murder。〃

As　the　boy's　tale　reached　the　ears　of　the　three　hidden　in　the　underbrush　Bridge　glanced　quickly　at　his　com…　panions。　　He　saw　the　boy's　horror…stricken　expression　fol…　low　the　announcement　of　the　name　of　the　murdered　Paynter；　and　he　saw　the　girl　flush　crimson。

Without　urging；　Willie　Case　proceeded　with　his　story。　He　told　of　the　coming　of　The　Oskaloosa　Kid　to　his　father's　farm　that　morning　and　of　seeing　some　of　the　loot　and　hearing　the　confession　of　robbery　and　killing　in　Oakdale　the　night　before。　　Bridge　looked　down　at　the　youth　beside　him；　but　the　other's　face　was　averted　and　his　eyes　upon　the　ground。　　Then　Willie　told　of　the　arrival　of　the　great　detective；　of　the　reward　that　had　been　of…　fered　and　of　his　decision　to　win　it　and　become　rich　and　famous　in　a　single　stroke。　　As　he　reached　the　end　of　his　narrative　he　leaned　close　to　the　girl；　whispering　in　her　ear　the　while　his　furtive　gaze　wandered　toward　the　spot　where　the　three　lay　concealed。

Bridge　shrugged　his　shoulders　as　the　palpable　infer…　ence　of　that　cunning　glance　was　borne　in　upon　him。　　　The　boy's　voice　had　risen　despite　his　efforts　to　hold　it　to　a　low　whisper　for　what　with　the　excitement　of　the　ad…　venture　and　his　terror　of　the　girl　with　the　knife　he　had　little　or　no　control　of　himself；　yet　it　was　evident　that　he　did　not　realize　that　practically　every　word　he　had　spoken　had　reached　the　ears　of　the　three　in　hiding　and　that　his　final　precaution　as　he　divulged　the　information　to　the　girl　was　prompted　by　an　excess　of　timidity　and　secretiveness。

The　eyes　of　the　girl　widened　in　surprise　and　fear　as　she　learned　that　three　watchers　lay　concealed　at　the　verge　of　the　clearing。　　She　bent　a　long；　searching　look　in　the　direction　indicated　by　the　boy　and　then　turned　her　eyes　quickly　toward　the　hut　as　though　to　summon　aid。　　At　the　same　moment　Bridge　stepped　from　hiding　into　the　clearing。　　His　pleasant　'Good　morning！'　brought　the　girl　around；　facing　him。

〃What　you　want？〃　she　snapped。

〃I　want　you　and　this　young　man；〃　said　Bridge；　his　voice　now　suddenly　stern。　　〃We　have　been　watching　you　and　followed　you　from　the　Squibbs　house。　　We　found　the　dead　man　there　last　night；〃　Bridge　nodded　toward　the　quilt　enveloped　thing　upon　the　ground；　〃and　we　sus…　pect　that　you　had　an　accomplice。〃　Here　he　frowned　meaningly　upon　Willie　Case。　　The　youth　trembled　and　stammered。

〃I　never　seen　her　afore；〃　he　cried。　　〃I　don'　know　nothin'　about　it。　　Honest　I　don't。〃　But　the　girl　did　not　quail。

〃You　get　out；〃　she　commanded。　　〃You　a　bad　man。　　Kill；　steal。　　He　know；　he　tell　me。　　You　get　out　or　I　call　Beppo。　　　He　keel　you。　　He　eat　you。〃

〃Come；　come；　now；　my　dear；〃　urged　Bridge；　〃be　calm。　　　Let　us　get　at　the　root　of　this　thing。　　Your　young　friend　accuses　me　of　being　a　murderer；　does　he？　And　he　tells　about　murders　in　Oakdale　that　I　have　not　even　heard　of。　It　seems　to　me　that　he　must　have　some　guilty　knowl…　edge　himself　of　these　affairs。　　Look　at　him　and　look　at　me。　Notice　his　ears；　his　chin；　his　forehead；　or　rather　the　places　where　his　chin　and　forehead　should　be；　and　then　look　once　more　at　me。　　Which　of　us　might　be　a　murderer　and　which　a　detective？　I　ask　you。

〃And　as　for　yourself。　　I　find　you　here　in　the　depths　of　the　wood　digging　a　lonely　grave　for　a　human　corpse。　　　I　ask　myself：　was　this　man　murdered？　but　I　do　not　say　that　he　was　murdered。　　I　wait　for　an　explanation　from　you；　for　you　do　not　look　a　murderer；　though　I　cannot　say　as　much　for　your　desperate　companion。〃

The　girl　looked　straight　into　Bridge's　eyes　for　a　full　minute　before　she　replied　as　though　endeavoring　to　read　his　inmost　soul。

〃I　do　not　know　this　boy；〃　she　said。　　〃That　is　the　truth。　　　He　was　spying　on　me；　and　when　I　found　him　he　told　me　that　you　and　your　companions　were　thieves　and　murderers　and　that　you　were　hiding　there　watching　me。　　　You　tell　me　the　truth；　all　the　truth；　and　I　will　tell　you　the　truth。　　I　have　nothing　to　fear。　　If　you　do　not　tell　me　the　truth　I　shall　know　it。　　Will　you？〃

〃I　will；〃　replied　Bridge；　and　then　turning　toward　the　brush　he　called：　〃Come　here！〃　and　presently　a　boy　and　a　girl；　dishevelled　and　fearful；　crawled　forth　into　sight。　　　Willie　Case's　eyes　went　wide　as　they　fell　upon　the　Oskaloosa　Kid。

Quickly　and　simply　Bridge　told　the　girl　the　story　of　the　past　night；　for　he　saw　that　by　enlisting　her　sym…　pathy　he　might　find　an　avenue　of　escape　for　his　com…　panions；　or　at　least　a　haven　of　refuge　where　they　might　hide　until　escape　was　possible。　　〃And　then；〃　he　said　in　conclusion；　〃when　the　searchers　arrived　we　followed　the　foot　prints　of　yourself　and　the　bear　until　we　came　upon　you　digging　this　grave。〃

Bridge's　companions　and　Willie　Case　looked　their　sur…　prise　at　his　mention　of　a　bear；　but　the　gypsy　girl　only　nodded　her　head　as　she　had　occasionally　during　his　nar…　rative。

〃I　believe　you；〃　said　the　girl。　　〃It　is　not　easy　to　de…　ceive　Giova。　　Now　I　tell　you。　　This　here；〃　she　pointed　toward　the　dead　man；　〃he　my　father。　　He　bad　man。　　　Steal；　kill；　drink；　fight；　but　always　good　to　Giova。　　Good　to　no　one　else　but　Beppo。　　He　afraid　Beppo。　　Even　our　people　drive　us　out　he；　my　father；　so　bad　man。　　We　wan…　der　'round　country　mak　leetle　money　when　Beppo　dance；　mak　lot　money　when　HE　steal。　　Two　days　he　no　come　home。　　I　go　las'　night　look　for　him。　　Sometimes　he　too　drunk　come　home　he　sleep　Squeebs。　　I　go　there。　　I　find　heem　dead。　　He　have　fits；　six；　seven　year。　　He　die　fit。　　　Beppo　stay　guard　heem。　　I　carry　heem　home。　　Giova　strong；　he　no　very　large　man。　　Beppo　come　too。　　I　bury　heem。　　No　one　know　we　leeve　here。　　Pretty　soon　I　go　way　with　Beppo。　　Why　tell　people　he　dead。　　Who　care？　Mak　lot　trouble　for　Giova　whose　heart　already　ache　plenty。　　No　one　love　heem；　only　Beppo　and　Giova。　　No　one　love　Giova；　only　Beppo；　but　some　day　Beppo　he　keel　Giova　now　HE　is　dead；　for　Beppo　vera　large；　strong　bearfierce　bearogly　bear。　　Even　Giova　who　love　Bep…　po　is　afraid　Beppo。　　Beppo　devil　bear！　Beppo　got　evil　eye。

〃Well；〃　said　Bridge；　〃I　guess；　Giova；　that　you　and　we　are　in　the　same　boat。　　We　haven't　any　of　us　done　any…　thing　so　very　bad　but　it　would　be　embarrassing　to　have　to　explain　to　the　police　what　we　have　done；〃　here　he　glanced　at　The　Oskaloosa　Kid　and　the　girl　standing　beside　the　youth。　　〃Suppose　we　form　a　defensive　alli…　ance；　eh？　We'll　help　you　and　you　help　us。　　What　do　you　say？〃

〃All　right；〃　acquiesced　Giova；　〃but　what　we　do　with　this？〃　and　she　jerked　her　thumb　toward　Willie　Case。

〃If　he　don't　behave　we'll　feed　him　to　Beppo；〃　sug…　gested　Bridge。

Willie　shook　in　his　boots；　figuratively　speaking；　for　in　reality　he　shook　upon　his　bare　feet。　　〃Lemme　go；〃　he　wailed；　〃an'　I　won't　tell　nobody　nothin'。〃

〃No；〃　said　Bridge；　〃you　don't　go　until　we're　safely　out　of　here。　　I　wouldn't　trust　that　vanishing　chin　of　yours　as　far　as　I　could　throw　Beppo　by　the　tail。〃

〃Wait！〃　exclaimed　The　Oskaloosa　Kid。　　〃I　have　it！〃

〃What　have　you？〃　asked　Bridge。

〃Listen！〃　cried　the　boy　excitedly。　　〃This　boy　has　been　offered　a　hundred　dollars　for　information　leading　to　the　arrest　and　conviction　of　the　men　who　robbed　and　mur…　dered　in　Oakdale　last　night。　　I'll　give　him　a　hundred　dollars　if　he'll　go　away　and　say　nothing　about　us。〃

〃Look　here；　son；〃　said　Bridge；　〃every　time　you　open　your　mouth　you　put　your　foot　in　it。　　The　less　you　adver…　tise　the　fact　that　you　have　a　hundred　dollars　the　better　off　you'll　be。　　I　don't　know　how　you　come　by　so　much　wealth；　but　in　view　of　several　things　which　occurred　last　night　I　should　not　be　crazy；　were　I　you；　to　have　to　make　a　true　income　tax　return。　　Somehow　I　have　faith　in　you；　but　I　doubt　if　any　minion　of　the　law　would　be　similarly　impressed。〃

The　Oskaloosa　Kid　appeared　hurt　and　crestfallen。　　　Giova　shot　a　suspicious　glance　at　him。　　The　other　girl　in…　voluntarily　drew　away。　　Bridge　noted　the　act　and　shook　his　head。　　〃No；〃　he　said；　〃we　mustn't　judge　one　another　hastily；　Miss　Prim；　and　I　take　it　you　are　Miss　Prim？〃　The　girl　made　a　half　gesture　of　denial；　started　to　speak；　hesitated　and　then　resumed。　　〃I　would　rather　not　say　who　I　am；　please；〃　she　said。

〃Well；〃　said　the　man；　〃let's　take　one　another　at　face　value　for　a　while；　without　digging　too　deep　into　the　past；　and　now　for　our　plans。　　This　wood　will　be　searched；　but　I　don't　see　how　we　are　to　get　out　of　it　before　dark　as　the　roads　are　doubtless　pretty　well　patrolled；　or　at　least　every　farmer　is　on　the　lookout　for　suspicious　strangers。　　　So　we　might　as　well　make　the　best　of　it　here　for　the　rest　of　the　day。　　I　think　we're　reasonably　safe　for　the　time　beingif　we　keep　Willie　with　us。〃

Willie　had　been　an　interested　auditor　of　all　that　passed　between　his　captors。　　He　was　obviously　terrified；　but　his　terror　did　not　prevent　him　from　absorbing　all　that　he　heard；　nor　from　planning　how　he　might　utilize　the　information。　　He　saw　not　only　one　reward　but　sev…　eral　and　a　glorious　publicity　which　far　transcended　the　most　sanguine　of　his　former　dreams。　　He　saw　his　picture　not　only　in　the　Oakdale　Tribune　but　in　the　newspapers　of　every　city　of　the　country。　　Assuming　a　stern　and　arro…　gant　expression；　or　rather　what　he　thought　to　be　such；　he　posed；　mentally；　for　the　newspaper　cameramen；　and　such　is　the　power　of　association　of　ideas　that　he　was　presently　strolling　nonchalantly　before　a　battery　of　mo…　tion　picture　machines。　　〃Gee！〃　he　murmured；　〃wont　the　other　fellers　be　sore！　I　s'ppose　Pinkerton'll　send　for　me　'bout　the　first　thing　'n'　offer　me　twenty　fi'　dollars　a　week；　er　mebbie　more　'n　thet。　　Gol　durn；　ef　I　don't　hold　out　fer　thirty！　Gee！〃　Words；　thoughts　even；　failed　him。

As　the　others　planned　they　rather　neglected　Willie　and　when　they　came　to　assisting　Giova　in　lowering　her　father　into　the　grave　and　covering　him　over　with　earth　they　quite　forgot　Willie　entirely。　　It　was　The　Oskaloosa　Kid　who　first　thought　of　him。　　〃Where's　the　boy？〃　he　cried　suddenly。　　The　others　looked　quickly　about　the　clearing；　but　no　Willie　was　to　be　seen。

Bridge　shook　his　head　ruefully。　　〃We'l