the oakdale affair-第18部分

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〃We'll　see；〃　commented　Burton；　tersely；　and　he　sent　two　of　his　men　back　to　the　Case　farm　for　spades。　　When　they　returned　a　few　minutes'　labor　revealed　that　so　much　of　Willie's　story　was　true；　for　a　quilt　wrapped　corpse　was　presently　unearthed　and　lying　upon　the　ground　beside　its　violated　grave。　　Willie's　stock　rose　once　more　to　par。

In　an　improvised　litter　they　carried　the　dead　man　back　to　Case's　farm　where　they　left　him　after　notifying　the　coroner　by　telephone。　　Half　of　Burton's　men　were　sent　to　the　north　side　of　the　woods　and　half　to　the　road　upon　the　south　of　the　Squibbs'　farm。　　There　they　sep…　arated　and　formed　a　thin　line　of　outposts　about　the　entire　area　north　of　the　road。　　If　the　quarry　was　within　it　could　not　escape　without　being　seen。　　In　the　mean　time　Burton　telephoned　to　Oakdale　for　reinforcements；　as　it　would　require　fifty　men　at　least　to　properly　beat　the　tangled　underbrush　of　the　wood。

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In　a　clump　of　willows　beside　the　little　stream　which　winds　through　the　town　of　Payson　a　party　of　four　halted　on　the　outskirts　of　the　town。　　There　were　two　men；　two　young　women　and　a　huge　brown　bear。　　The　men　and　women　were；　obviously；　Gypsies。　　Their　clothing；　their　head…dress；　their　barbaric　ornamentation　proclaimed　the　fact　to　whoever　might　pass；　but　no　one　passed。

〃I　think；〃　said　Bridge；　〃that　we　will　just　stay　where　we　are　until　after　dark。　　We　haven't　passed　or　seen　a　human　being　since　we　left　the　cabin。　　No　one　can　know　that　we　are　here　and　if　we　stay　here　until　late　to…night　we　should　be　able　to　pass　around　Payson　unseen　and　reach　the　wood　to　the　south　of　town。　　If　we　do　meet　anyone　to…night　we'll　stop　them　and　inquire　the　way　to　Oakdale　that'll　throw　them　off　the　track。〃

The　others　acquiesced　in　his　suggestion；　but　there　were　queries　about　food　to　be　answered。　　It　seemed　that　all　were　hungry　and　that　the　bear　was　ravenous。

〃What　does　he　eat？〃　Bridge　asked　of　Giova。

〃Mos'　anything；〃　replied　the　girl。　　〃He　like　garbage　fine。　　Often　I　take　him　into　towns　late；　ver'　late　at　night　an'　he　eat　swill。　　I　do　that　to…night。　　Beppo；　he　got　to　be　fed　or　he　eat　Giova。　　I　go　feed　Beppo；　you　go　get　food　for　us；　then　we　all　meet　at　edge　of　wood　just　other　side　town　near　old　mill。〃

During　the　remainder　of　the　afternoon　and　well　after　dark　the　party　remained　hidden　in　the　willows。　　Then　Giova　started　out　with　Beppo　in　search　of　garbage　cans；　Bridge　bent　his　steps　toward　a　small　store　upon　the　outskirts　of　town　where　food　could　be　purchased；　The　Oskaloosa　Kid　having　donated　a　ten　dollar　bill　for　the　stocking　of　the　commissariat；　and　the　youth　and　the　girl　made　their　way　around　the　south　end　of　the　town　toward　the　meeting　place　beside　the　old　mill。

As　Bridge　moved　through　the　quiet　road　at　the　out…　skirts　of　the　little　town　he　let　his　mind　revert　to　the　events　of　the　past　twenty　four　hours　and　as　he　pon…　dered　each　happening　since　he　met　the　youth　in　the　dark　of　the　storm　the　preceding　night　he　asked　him…　self　why　he　had　cast　his　lot　with　these　strangers。　　In　his　years　of　vagabondage　Bridge　had　never　crossed　that　in…　visible　line　which　separates　honest　men　from　thieves　and　murderers　and　which；　once　crossed；　may　never　be　re…　crossed。　　Chance　and　necessity　had　thrown　him　often　among　such　men　and　women；　but　never　had　he　been　of　them。　　The　police　of　more　than　one　city　knew　Bridge　they　knew　him；　though；　as　a　character　and　not　as　a　criminal。　　A　dozen　times　he　had　been　arraigned　upon　suspicion；　but　as　many　times　had　he　been　released　with　a　clean　bill　of　morals　until　of　late　Bridge　had　become　al…　most　immune　from　arrest。　　The　police　who　knew　him　knew　that　he　was　straight　and　they　knew；　too；　that　he　would　give　no　information　against　another　man。　　For　this　they　admired　him　as　did　the　majority　of　the　crim…　inals　with　whom　he　had　come　in　contact　during　his　rovings。

The　present　crisis；　however；　appeared　most　unprom…　ising　to　Bridge。　　Grave　crimes　had　been　committed　in　Oakdale；　and　here　was　Bridge　conniving　in　the　escape　of　at　least　two　people　who　might　readily　be　under　po…　lice　suspicion。　　It　was　difficult　for　the　man　to　bring　him…　self　to　believe　that　either　the　youth　or　the　girl　was　in　any　way　actually　responsible　for　either　of　the　murders；　yet　it　appeared　that　the　latter　had　been　present　when　a　murder　was　committed　and　now　by　attempting　to　elude　the　police　had　become　an　accessory　after　the　fact；　since　she　possessed　knowledge　of　the　identity　of　the　actual　murderer；　while　the　boy；　by　his　own　admission；　had　committed　a　burglary。

Bridge　shook　his　head　wearily。　　Was　he　not　himself　an　accessory　after　the　fact　in　the　matter　of　two　crimes　at　least？　These　new　friends；　it　seemed；　were　about　to　topple　him　into　the　abyss　which　he　had　studiously　avoided　for　so　long　a　time。　　But　why　should　he　permit　it？　What　were　they　to　him？

A　freight　train　was　puffing　into　the　siding　at　the　Pay…　son　station。　　Bridge　could　hear　the　complaining　brakes　a　mile　away。　　It　would　be　easy　to　leave　the　town　and　his　dangerous　companions　far　behind　him；　but　even　as　the　thought　forced　its　way　into　his　mind　another　obtruded　itself　to　shoulder　aside　the　first。　　It　was　recollection　of　the　boy's　words：　〃Oh；　Bridge；　I　don't　want　to　leave　you　ever。〃

〃I　couldn't　do　it；〃　mused　Bridge。　　〃I　don't　know　just　why；　but　I　couldn't。　　That　kid　has　certainly　got　me。　　The　first　thing　someone　knows　I'll　be　starting　a　foundlings'　home。　　There　is　no　question　but　that　I　am　the　soft　mark；　and　I　wonder　why　it　iswhy　a　kid　I　never　saw　before　last　night　has　a　strangle　hold　on　my　heart　that　I　can't　shake　looseand　don't　want　to。　　Now　if　it　was　a　girl　I　could　understand　it。〃　Bridge　stopped　suddenly　in　the　middle　of　the　road。　　From　his　attitude　he　might　have　been　startled　either　by　a　surprising　noise　or　by　a　surpris…　ing　thought。　　For　a　minute　he　stood　motionless；　then　he　shook　his　head　again　and　proceeded　along　his　way　to…　ward　the　little　store；　evidently　if　he　had　heard　anything　he　was　assured　that　it　constituted　no　menace。

As　he　entered　the　store　to　make　his　purchases　a　fox…　eyed　man　saw　him　and　stepped　quickly　behind　the　huge　stove　which　had　not　as　yet　been　taken　down　for　the　summer。　　Bridge　made　his　purchases；　the　volume　of　which　required　a　large　gunny…sack　for　transportation；　and　while　he　was　thus　occupied　the　fox…eyed　man　clung　to　his　coign　of　vantage；　himself　unnoticed　by　the　pur…　chaser。　　When　Bridge　departed　the　other　followed　him；　keeping　in　the　shadow　of　the　trees　which　bordered　the　street。　　Around　the　edge　of　town　and　down　a　road　which　led　southward　the　two　went　until　Bridge　passed　through　a　broken　fence　and　halted　beside　an　abandoned　mill。　　　The　watcher　saw　his　quarry　set　down　his　burden；　seat　himself　beside　it　and　proceed　to　roll　a　cigaret；　then　he　faded　away　in　the　darkness　and　Bridge　was　alone。

Five　or　ten　minutes　later　two　slender　figures　ap…　peared　dimly　out　of　the　north。　　They　approached　timidly；　stopping　often　and　looking　first　this　way　and　then　that　and　always　listening。　　When　they　arrived　opposite　the　mill　Bridge　saw　them　and　gave　a　low　whistle。　　Immedi…　ately　the　two　passed　through　the　fence　and　approached　him。

〃My！〃　exclaimed　one；　〃I　thought　we　never　would　get　here；　but　we　didn't　see　a　soul　on　the　road。　　Where　is　Giova？〃

〃She　hadn't　come　yet；〃　replied　Bridge；　〃and　she　may　not。　　I　don't　see　how　a　girl　can　browse　around　a　town　like　this　with　a　big　bear　at　night　and　not　be　seen；　and　if　she　is　seen　she'll　be　followedit　would　be　too　much　of　a　treat　for　the　rubes　ever　to　be　passed　upand　if　she's　followed　she　won't　come　here。　　At　least　I　hope　she　won't。〃

〃What's　that？〃　exclaimed　The　Oskaloosa　Kid。　　Each　stood　in　silence；　listening。

The　girl　shuddered。　　〃Even　now　that　I　know　what　it　is　it　makes　me　creep；〃　she　whispered；　as　the　faint　clank…　ing　of　a　distant　chain　came　to　their　ears。

〃We　ought　to　be　used　to　it　by　this　time；　Miss　Prim；〃　said　Bridge。　　〃We　heard　it　all　last　night　and　a　good　part　of　to…day。〃

The　girl　made　no　comment　upon　the　use　of　the　name　which　he　had　applied　to　her；　and　in　the　darkness　he　could　not　see　her　features；　nor　did　he　see　the　odd　ex…　pression　upon　the　boy's　face　as　he　heard　the　name　addressed　to　her。　　Was　he　thinking　of　the　nocturnal　raid　he　so　recently　had　made　upon　the　boudoir　of　Miss　Abigail　Prim？　Was　he　pondering　the　fact　that　his　pock…　ets　bulged　to　the　stolen　belongings　of　that　young　lady？　But　whatever　was　passing　in　his　mind　he　permitted　none　of　it　to　pass　his　lips。

As　the　three　stood　waiting　in　silence　Giova　came　pres…　ently　among　them；　the　beast　Beppo　lumbering　awk…　wardly　at　her　side。

〃Did　he　find　anything　to　eat？〃　asked　the　man。

〃Oh；　yes；〃　exclaimed　Giova。　　〃He　fill　up　now。　　That　mak　him　better　nature。　　Beppo　not　so　ugly　now。〃

〃Well；　I'm　glad　of　that；〃　said　Bridge。　　〃I　haven't　been　looking　forward　much　to　his　company　through　the　woods　to…nightespecially　while　he　was　hungry！〃

Giova　laughed　a　low；　musical　little　laugh。　　〃I　don'　think　he　no　hurt　you　anyway；〃　she　said。　　〃Now　he　know　you　my　frien'。〃

〃I　hope　you　are　quite　correct　in　your　surmise；〃　re…　plied　Bridge。　　〃But　even　so　I'm　not　taking　any　chances。〃

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Willie　Case　had　been　taken　to　Payson　to　testify　be…　fore　the　coroner's　jury　investigating　the　death　of　Giova's　father；　and　with　the　dollar　which　The　Oskaloosa　Kid　had　given　him　in　the　morning　burning　in　his　pocket　had　proceeded　to　indulge　in　an　orgy　of　dissipation　the　mo…　ment　that　he　had　been　freed　from　the　inquest。　　Ice　cream；　red　pop；　peanuts；　candy；　and　soda　water　may　have　diminished　his　appetite　but　not　his　pride　and　self…　satisfaction　as　he　sat　alone　and　by　night　for　the　first　time　in　a　public　eating　place。　　Willie　was　now　a　man　of　the　world；　a　bon　vivant；　as　he　ordered　ham　and　eggs　from　the　pretty　waitress　of　The　Elite　Restaurant　on　Broadway；　but　at　heart　he　was　not　happy　for　never　be…　fore　had　he　realized　what　a　great　proportion　of　his　anat…　omy　was　made　up　of　hands　and　feet。　　As　he　glanced　fearfully　at　the　former；　silhouetted　against　the　white　of　the　table　cloth；　he　flushed　scarlet；　assured　as　he　was　that　the　waitress　who　had　just　turned　away　toward　the　kitchen　with　his　order　was　convulsed　with　laughter　and　that　every　other　eye　in　the　establishment　was　glued　upon　him。　　To　assume　an　air　of　nonchalance　and　thereby　impress　and　disarm