the oakdale affair-第8部分

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Bridge　felt　the　youth　close　beside　him　as　he　bent　above　the　girl　upon　the　bed。

〃Is　she　dead？〃　the　lad　whispered。

〃No；〃　replied　Bridge；　〃and　I　doubt　if　she's　badly　hurt。〃　His　hands　ran　quickly　over　her　limbs；　bending　and　twisting　them　gently；　be　unbuttoned　her　waist；　getting　the　boy　to　strike　and　hold　another　match　while　he　ex…　amined　the　victim　for　signs　of　a　bullet　wound。

〃I　can't　find　a　scratch　on　her；〃　be　said　at　last。　　〃She's　suffering　from　shock　alone；　as　far　as　I　can　judge。　　Say；　she's　pretty；　isn't　she？〃

The　youth　drew　himself　rather　stiffly　erect。　　〃Her　fea…　tures　are　rather　coarse；　I　think；〃　he　replied。　　There　was　a　peculiar　quality　to　the　tone　which　caused　Bridge　to　turn　a　quick　look　at　the　boy's　face；　just　as　the　match　flick…　ered　and　went　out。　　The　darkness　hid　the　expression　upon　Bridge's　face；　but　his　conviction　that　the　girl　was　pretty　was　unaltered。　　The　light　of　the　match　had　re…　vealed　an　oval　face　surrounded　by　dark；　dishevelled　tresses；　red；　full　lips；　and　large；　dark　eyes。

Further　discussion　of　the　young　woman　was　discour…　aged　by　a　repetition　of　the　clanking　of　the　chain　with…　out。　　Now　it　was　receding　along　the　hallway　toward　the　stairs　and　presently；　to　the　infinite　relief　of　The　Os…　kaloosa　Kid；　the　two　heard　it　descending　to　the　lower　floor。

〃What　was　it；　do　you　think？〃　asked　the　boy；　his　voice　still　trembling　upon　the　verge　of　hysteria。

〃I　don't　know；〃　replied　Bridge。　　〃I've　never　been　a　be…　liever　in　ghosts　and　I'm　not　now；　but　I'll　admit　that　it　takes　a　whole　lot　of〃

He　did　not　finish　the　sentence　for　a　moan　from　the　bed　diverted　his　attention　to　the　injured　girl；　toward　whom　he　now　turned。　　As　they　listened　for　a　repetition　of　the　sound　there　came　anotherthat　of　the　creaking　of　the　old　bed　slats　as　the　girl　moved　upon　the　mildewed　mattress。　　Dimly；　through　the　darkness；　Bridge　saw　that　the　victim　of　the　recent　murderous　assault　was　attempt…　ing　to　sit　up。　　He　moved　closer　and　leaned　above　her。

〃I　wouldn't　exert　myself；〃　he　said。　　〃You've　just　suf…　fered　an　accident；　and　it's　better　that　you　remain　quiet。〃

〃Who　are　you？〃　asked　the　girl；　a　note　of　suppressed　terror　in　her　voice。　　〃You　are　not？〃

〃I　am　no　one　you　know；〃　replied　Bridge。　　〃My　friend　and　I　chanced　to　be　near　when　you　fell　from　the　car〃　with　that　innate　refinement　which　always　belied　his　vo…　cation　and　his　rags　Bridge　chose　not　to　embarrass　the　girl　by　a　too　intimate　knowledge　of　the　thing　which　had　befallen　her；　preferring　to　leave　to　her　own　volition　the　making　of　any　explanation　she　saw　fit；　or　of　none　〃and　we　carried　you　in　here　out　of　the　storm。〃

The　girl　was　silent　for　a　moment。　　〃Where　is　'here'？〃　she　asked　presently。　　〃They　drove　so　fast　and　it　was　so　dark　that　I　had　no　idea　where　we　were；　though　I　know　that　we　left　the　turnpike。〃

〃We　are　at　the　old　Squibbs　place；〃　replied　the　man。　　　He　could　see　that　the　girl　was　running　one　hand　gin…　gerly　over　her　head　and　face；　so　that　her　next　question　did　not　surprise　him。

〃Am　I　badly　wounded？〃　she　asked。　　〃Do　you　think　that　I　am　going　to　die？〃　The　tremor　in　her　voice　was　pathetic　it　was　the　voice　of　a　frightened　and　wondering　child。　　　Bridge　heard　the　boy　behind　him　move　impulsively　for…　ward　and　saw　him　kneel　on　the　bed　beside　the　girl。

〃You　are　not　badly　hurt；〃　volunteered　The　Oskaloosa　Kid。　　〃Bridge　couldn't　find　a　mark　on　youthe　bullet　must　have　missed　you。〃

〃He　was　holding　me　over　the　edge　of　the　car　when　he　fired。〃　The　girl's　voice　reflected　the　physical　shudder　which　ran　through　her　frame　at　the　recollection。　　〃Then　he　threw　me　out　almost　simultaneously。　　I　suppose　he　thought　that　he　could　not　miss　at　such　close　range。〃　For　a　time　she　was　silent　again；　sitting　stiffly　erect。　　　Bridge　could　feel　rather　than　see　wide；　tense　eyes　star…　ing　out　through　the　darkness　upon　scenes；　horrible　per…　haps；　that　were　invisible　to　him　and　the　Kid。

Suddenly　the　girl　turned　and　threw　herself　face　down…　ward　upon　the　bed。　　〃O；　God！〃　she　moaned。　　〃Father！　Father！　It　will　kill　youno　one　will　believe　methey　will　think　that　I　am　bad。　　I　didn't　do　it！　I　didn't　do　it！　I've　been　a　silly　little　fool；　but　I　have　never　been　a　bad　girland…andI　had　nothing　to　do　with　that　awful　thing　that　happened　to…night。〃

Bridge　and　the　boy　realized　that　she　was　not　talking　to　themthat　for　the　moment　she　had　lost　sight　of　their　presenceshe　was　talking　to　that　father　whose　heart　would　be　breaking　with　the　breaking　of　the　new　day；　trying　to　convince　him　that　his　little　girl　had　done　no　wrong。

Again　she　sat　up；　and　when　she　spoke　there　was　no　tremor　in　her　voice。

〃I　may　die；〃　she　said。　　〃I　want　to　die。　　I　do　not　see　how　I　can　go　on　living　after　last　night；　but　if　I　do　die　I　want　my　father　to　know　that　I　had　nothing　to　do　with　it　and　that　they　tried　to　kill　me　because　I　wouldn't　promise　to　keep　still。　　It　was　the　little　one　who　murdered　himthe　one　they　called　'Jimmie'　and　'The　Oskaloosa　Kid。'　The　big　one　drove　the　carhis　name　was　'Terry。'　After　they　killed　him　I　tried　to　jump　outI　had　been　sitting　in　front　with　Terryand　then　they　dragged　me　over　into　the　tonneau　and　laterthe　Oskaloosa　Kid　tried　to　kill　me　too；　and　threw　me　out。〃

Bridge　heard　the　boy　at　his　side　gulp。　　The　girl　went　on。

〃To…morrow　you　will　know　about　the　murderevery…　one　will　know　about　it；　and　I　will　be　missed；　and　there　will　be　people　who　saw　me　in　the　car　with　them；　for　someone　must　have　seen　me。　　Oh；　I　can't　face　it！　I　want　to　die。　　I　will　die！　I　come　of　a　good　family。　　My　father　is　a　prominent　man。　　I　can't　go　back　and　stand　the　dis…　grace　and　see　him　suffer；　as　he　will　suffer；　for　I　was　all　he　hadhis　only　child。　　I　can't　bear　to　tell　you　my　name　you　will　know　it　soon　enoughbut　please　find　some　way　to　let　my　father　know　all　that　I　have　told　youI　swear　that　it　is　the　truthby　the　memory　of　my　dead　mother；　I　swear　it！〃

Bridge　laid　a　hand　upon　the　girl's　shoulder。　　〃If　you　are　telling　us　the　truth；〃　he　said；　〃you　have　only　a　silly　escapade　with　strange　men　upon　your　conscience。　　You　must　not　talk　of　dying　nowyour　duty　is　to　your　father。　If　you　take　your　own　life　it　will　be　a　tacit　admission　of　guilt　and　will　only　serve　to　double　the　burden　of　sorrow　and　ignominy　which　your　father　is　bound　to　feel　when　this　thing　becomes　public；　as　it　certainly　must　if　a　mur…　der　has　been　done。　　The　only　way　in　which　you　can　atone　for　your　error　is　to　go　back　and　face　the　conse…　quences　with　himdo　not　throw　it　all　upon　him；　that　would　be　cowardly。〃

The　girl　did　not　reply；　but　that　the　man's　words　had　impressed　her　seemed　evident。　　For　a　while　each　was　occupied　with　his　own　thoughts；　which　were　presently　disturbed　by　the　sound　of　footsteps　upon　the　floor　be…　lowthe　muffled　scraping　of　many　feet　followed　a　mo…　ment　later　by　an　exclamation　and　an　oath；　the　words　coming　distinctly　through　the　loose　and　splintered　floor…　ing。

〃Pipe　the　stiff；〃　exclaimed　a　voice　which　The　Oska…　loosa　Kid　recognized　immediately　as　that　of　Soup　Face。　　

〃The　Kid　musta　croaked　him；〃　said　another。　　

A　laugh　followed　this　evidently　witty　sally。　　

〃The　guy　probably　lamped　the　swag　an'　died　of　heart　failure；〃　suggested　another。

The　men　were　still　laughing　when　the　sound　of　a　clanking　chain　echoed　dismally　from　the　cellar。　　In…　stantly　silence　fell　upon　the　newcomers　upon　the　first　floor；　followed　by　a〃Wotinel's　that？〃　Two　of　the　men　had　approached　the　staircase　and　started　to　ascend　it。　　　Slowly　the　uncanny　clanking　drew　closer　to　the　first　floor。　　The　girl　on　the　bed　turned　toward　Bridge。

〃What　is　it？〃　she　gasped。

〃We　don't　know；〃　replied　the　man。　　〃It　followed　us　up　here；　or　rather　it　chased　us　up；　and　then　went　down　again　just　before　you　regained　consciousness。　　I　imagine　we　shall　hear　some　interesting　developments　from　be…　low。〃

〃It's　The　Sky　Pilot　and　his　gang；〃　whispered　The　Os…　kaloosa　Kid。

〃It's　The　Oskaloosa　Kid；〃　came　a　voice　from　below。

〃But　wot　was　that　light　upstairs　then？〃　queried　an…　other。

〃An'　wot　croaked　this　guy　here？〃　asked　a　third。　　〃It　wasn't　nothin'　nicedid　you　get　the　expression　on　his　mug　an'　the　red　foam　on　his　lips？　I　tell　youse　there's　something　in　this　house　beside　human　bein's。　　I　know　the　jointits　hantedthey's　spooks　in　it。　　Gawd！　there　it　is　now；〃　as　the　clanking　rose　to　the　head　of　the　cellar　stairs；　and　those　above　heard　a　sudden　rush　of　foot…　steps　as　the　men　broke　for　the　open　airall　but　the　two　upon　the　stairway。　　They　had　remained　too　long　and　now；　their　retreat　cut　off；　they　scrambled；　cursing　and　screaming；　to　the　second　floor。

Along　the　hallway　they　rushed　to　the　closed　door　at　the　endthe　door　of　the　room　in　which　the　three　lis…　tened　breathlesslyhurling　themselves　against　it　in　vio…　lent　effort　to　gain　admission。

〃Who　are　you　and　what　do　you　want？〃　cried　Bridge。

〃Let　us　in！　Let　us　in！〃　screamed　two　voices。　　〃Fer　God's　sake　let　us　in。　　Can't　you　hear　IT？　It'll　be　comin'　up　here　in　a　minute。〃

The　sound　of　the　dragging　chain　could　be　heard　at　in…　tervals　upon　the　floor　below。　　It　seemed　to　the　tense　lis…　teners　above　to　pause　beside　the　dead　man　as　though　hovering　in　gloating　exultation　above　its　gruesome　prey　and　then　it　moved　again；　this　time　toward　the　stairway　where　they　all　heard　it　ascending　with　a　creepy　slow…　ness　which　wrought　more　terribly　upon　tense　nerves　than　would　a　sudden　rush。

〃The　mills　of　the　Gods　grind　slowly；〃　quoted　Bridge。

〃Oh；　don't！〃　pleaded　The　Oskaloosa　Kid。

〃Let　us　in；〃　screamed　the　men　without。　　〃Fer　the　luv　o'　Mike　have　a　heart！　Don't　leave　us　out　here！　IT's　comin'！　IT's　comin'！〃

〃Oh；　let　the　poor　things　in；〃　pleaded　the　girl　on　the　bed。　　She　was；　herself；　trembling　with　terror。

〃No　funny　business；　now；　if　I　let　you　in；〃　commanded　Bridge。

〃On　the　square；〃　came　the　quick　and　earnest　reply。

The　THING　had　reached　the　head　of　the　stairs　when　Bridge　dragged　the　bed　aside　and　drew　the　bolt。　　In…　stantly　two　figures　hurled　themselves　into　the　room　but　turned　immediately　to　help　Bridge　resecure　the　door…　way。

Just　as　it　had　done　before；　when　Bridge　and　The　Oskaloosa　Kid　had　taken　refuge　there　with　the　girl；　the　THING　moved　down　the　hallway　to　the　closed　door。　　　The　dragging　chain　marked　each　foot　of　its　advance。　　If　it　made　other　sounds　they　were　drowned　by　the　clanking　of　the　links　over　the　time　roughened　flooring。

Within　the