the oakdale affair-第21部分
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〃Why？〃 asked Bridge。
The youth flushed； but did not reply； for there came from without a sudden augmentation of the murmur… ings of the mob。 Automobile horns screamed out upon the night。 The two heard the chugging of motors； the sound of brakes and the greetings of new arrivals。 The reinforcements had arrived from Oakdale。
A guard came to the grating of the cell door。 〃The bunch from Oakdale has come；〃 he said。 〃If I was you I'd say my prayers。 Old man Baggs is dead。 No one never had no use for him while he was alive； but the whole county's het up now over his death。 They're bound to get you； an' while I didn't count 'em all I seen about a score o' ropes。 They mean business。〃
Bridge turned toward the boy。 〃Tell the truth；〃 he said。 〃Tell this man。〃
The youth shook his head。 〃I have killed no one；〃 said he。 〃That is the truth。 Neither have you； but if they are going to murder you they can murder me too； for you stuck to me when you didn't have to； and I am go… ing to stick to you； and there is some excuse for me be… cause I have a reasonthe best reason in the world。〃
〃What is it？〃 asked Bridge。
The Oskaloosa Kid shook his head； and once more he flushed。
〃Well；〃 said the guard； with a shrug of his shoulders； 〃it's up to you guys。 If you want to hang； why hang and be damned。 We'll do the best we can 'cause it's our duty to protect you； but I guess at that hangin's too good fer you； an' we ain't a…goin' to get shot keepin' you from get… tin' it。〃
〃Thanks；〃 said Bridge。
The uproar in front of the jail had risen in volume until it was difficult for those within to make themselves heard without shouting。 The Kid sat upon his bench and buried his face in his hands。 Bridge rolled another smoke。 The sound of a shot came from the front room of the jail； immediately followed by a roar of rage from the mob and a deafening hammering upon the jail door。 A moment later this turned to the heavy booming of a battering ram and the splintering of wood。 The frail structure quivered beneath the onslaught。
The prisoners could hear the voices of the guards and the jailer raised in an attempt to reason with the unreasoning mob； and then came a final crash and the stamping of many feet upon the floor of the outer room。
Burton's car drew up before the doorway of the Prim home in Oakdale。 The great detective alighted and handed down the missing Abigail。 Then be directed that the other prisoners be taken to the county jail。
Jonas Prim and his wife awaited Abigail's return in the spacious living room at the left of the reception hall。 The banker was nervous。 He paced to and fro the length of the room。 Mrs。 Prim fanned herself vigorously although the heat was far from excessive。 They heard the motor draw up in front of the house； but they did not venture into the reception hall or out upon the porch； though for different reasons。 Mrs。 Prim because it would not have been PROPER； Jonas because he could not trust himself to meet his daughter； whom he had thought lost； in the presence of a possible crowd which might have accompanied her home。
They heard the closing of an automobile door and the sound of foot steps coming up the concrete walk。 The Prim butler was already waiting at the doorway with the doors swung wide to receive the prodigal daughter of the house of Prim。 A slender figure with bowed head ascended the steps； guided and assisted by the detective。 She did not look up at the expectant but… ler waiting for the greeting he was sure Abigail would have for him； but passed on into the reception hall。
〃Your father and Mrs。 Prim are in the living room；〃 announced the butler； stepping forward to draw aside the heavy hangings。
The girl； followed by Burton； entered the brightly lighted room。
〃I am very glad； Mr。 Prim；〃 said the latter； 〃to be able to return Miss Prim to you so quickly and un… harmed。〃
The girl looked up into the face of Jonas Prim。 The man voiced an exclamation of surprise and annoyance。 Mrs。 Prim gasped and sank upon a sofa。 The girl stood motionless； her eyes once again bent upon the floor。
〃What's the matter？〃 asked Burton。 〃What's wrong？〃
〃Everything is wrong； Mr。 Burton；〃 Jonas Prim's voice was crisp and cold。 〃This is not my daughter。〃
Burton looked his surprise and discomfiture。 He turned upon the girl。
〃What do you mean〃 he started； but she interrupted him。
〃You are going to ask what I mean by posing as Miss Prim；〃 she said。 〃I have never said that I was Miss Prim。 You took the word of an ignorant little farmer's boy and I did not deny it when I found that you intended bring… ing me to Mr。 Prim； for I wanted to see him。 I wanted to ask him to help me。 I have never met him； or his daughter either； but my father and Mr。 Prim have been friends for many years。
〃I am Hettie Penning；〃 she continued； addressing Jonas Prim。 〃My father has always admired you and from what he has told me I knew that you would listen to me and do what you could for me。 I could not bear to think of going to the jail in Payson； for Payson is my home。 Everybody would have known me。 It would have killed my father。 Then I wanted to come myself and tell you； after reading the reports and insinuations in the paper； that your daughter was not with Reginald Payn… ter when he was killed。 She had no knowledge of the crime and as far as I know may not have yet。 I have not seen her and do not know where she is； but I was present when Mr。 Paynter was killed。 I have known him for years and have often driven with him。 He stopped me yesterday afternoon on the street in Payson and talked with me。 He was sitting in a car in front of the bank。 After we had talked a few minutes two men came out of the bank。 Mr。 Paynter introduced them to me。 He said they were driving out into the country to look at a piece of propertya farm somewhere north of Oakdale and that on the way back they were going to stop at The Crossroads Inn for dinner。 He asked me if I wouldn't like to come alonghe kind of dared me to； because； as you know； The Crossroads has rather a bad reputation。
〃Father had gone to Toledo on business； and very foolishly I took his dare。 Everything went all right un… til after we left The Inn； although one of the menhis companion referred to him once or twice as The Oska… loosa Kidattempted to be too familiar with me。 Mr。 Paynter prevented him on each occasion； and they had words over me； but after we left the inn； where they had all drunk a great deal； this man renewed his atten… tions and Mr。 Paynter struck him。 Both of them were drunk。 After that it all happened so quickly that I could scarcely follow it。 The man called Oskaloosa Kid drew a revolver but did not fire； instead he seized Mr。 Paynter by the coat and whirled him around and then he struck him an awful blow behind the ear with the butt of the weapon。
〃After that the other two men seemed quite sobered。 They discussed what would be the best thing to do and at last decided to throw Mr。 Paynter's body out of the machine； for it was quite evident that he was dead。 First they rifled his pockets； and joked as they did it； one of them saying that they weren't getting as much as they had planned on； but that a little was better than noth… ing。 They took his watch； jewelry； and a large roll of bills。 We passed around the east side of Oakdale and came back into the Toledo road。 A little way out of town they turned the machine around and ran back for about half a mile； then they turned about a second time。 I don't know why they did this。 They threw the body out while the machine was moving rapidly； but I was so frightened that I can't say whether it was before or after they turned about the second time。
〃In front of the old Squibbs place they shot at me and threw me out； but the bullet missed me。 I have not seen them since and do not know where they went。 I am ready and willing to aid in their conviction； but； please Mr。 Prim； won't you keep me from being sent back to Payson or to jail。 I have done nothing criminal and I won't run away。〃
〃How about the robbery of Miss Prim's room and the murder of Old Man Baggs？〃 asked Burton。 〃Did they pull both of those off before they killed Paynter or af… ter？〃
〃They had nothing to do with either unless they did them after they threw me out of the car； which must have been long after midnight；〃 replied the girl。
〃And the rest of the gang； those that were arrested with you；〃 continued the detective； 〃how about them？ All angels； I suppose。〃
〃There was only Bridge and the boy they called The Oskaloosa Kid； though he isn't the same one that mur… dered poor Mr。 Paynter； and the Gypsy girl； Giova； that were with me。 The others were tramps who came into the old mill and attacked us while we were asleep。 I don't know who they were。 The girl could have had nothing to do with any of the crimes。 We came upon her this morning burying her father in the woods back of the Squibbs' place。 The man died of epilepsy last night。 Bridge and the boy were taking refuge from the storm at the Squibbs place when I was thrown from the car。 They heard the shot and came to my rescue。 I am sure they had nothing to do withwith〃 she hesi… tated。
〃Tell the truth；〃 commanded Burton。 〃It will go hard with you if you don't。 What made you hesitate？ You know something about those twonow out with it。〃
〃The boy robbed Mr。 Prim's homeI saw some of the money and jewelrybut Bridge was not with him。 They just happened to meet by accident during the storm and came to the Squibbs place together。 They were kind to me； and I hate to tell anything that would get the boy in trouble。 That is the reason I hesitated。 He seemed such a nice boy！ It is hard to believe that he is a criminal； and Bridge was always so considerate。 He looks like a tramp； but he talks and acts like a gentle… man。〃
The telephone bell rang briskly； and a moment later the butler stepped into the room to say that Mr。 Burton was wanted on the wire。 He returned to the living room in two or three minutes。
〃That clears up some of it；〃 he said as be entered。 〃The sheriff just had a message from the chief at Toledo saying that The Oskaloosa Kid is dying in a hospital there following an automobile
