the oakdale affair-第9部分

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Within　the　room　the　five　were　frozen　into　utter　si…　lence；　and　beyond　the　door　an　equal　quiet　prevailed　for　a　long　minute；　then　a　great　force　made　the　door　creak　and　a　weird　scratching　sounded　high　up　upon　the　old　fashioned　panelling。　　Bridge　heard　a　smothered　gasp　from　the　boy　beside　him；　followed　instantly　by　a　flash　of　flame　and　the　crack　of　a　small　caliber　automatic；　The　Oskaloosa　Kid　had　fired　through　the　door。

Bridge　seized　the　boy's　arm　and　wrenched　the　weapon　from　him。　　〃Be　careful！〃　he　cried。　　〃You'll　hurt　someone。　　　You　didn't　miss　the　girl　much　that　timeshe's　on　the　bed　right　in　front　of　the　door。〃

The　Oskaloosa　Kid　pressed　closer　to　the　man　as　though　he　sought　protection　from　the　unknown　men…　ace　without。　　The　girl　sprang　from　the　bed　and　crossed　to　the　opposite　side　of　the　room。　　A　flash　of　lightning　illumi…　nated　the　chamber　for　an　instant　and　the　roof　of　the　ve…　randah　without。　　The　girl　noted　the　latter　and　the　open　window。

〃Look！〃　she　cried。　　〃Suppose　it　went　out　of　another　window　upon　this　porch。　　It　could　get　us　so　easily　that　way！〃

〃Shut　up；　you　fool！〃　whispered　one　of　the　two　new…　comers。　　〃It　might　hear　you。〃　The　girl　subsided　into　si…　lence。

There　was　no　sound　from　the　hallway。

〃I　reckon　you　croaked　IT；〃　suggested　the　second　new…　comer；　hopefully；　but；　as　though　the　THING　without　had　heard　and　understood；　the　clanking　of　the　chain　recommenced　at　once；　but　now　it　was　retreating　along　the　hallway；　and　soon　they　heard　it　descending　the　stairs。

Sighs　of　relief　escaped　more　than　a　single　pair　of　lips。　　　〃IT　didn't　hear　me；〃　whispered　the　girl。

Bridge　laughed。　　〃We're　a　nice　lot　of　babies　seeing　things　at　night；〃　he　scoffed。

〃If　you're　so　nervy　why　don't　you　go　down　an'　see　wot　it　is？〃　asked　one　of　the　late　arrivals。

〃I　believe　I　shall；〃　replied　Bridge　and　pulled　the　bed　away　from　the　door。

Instantly　a　chorus　of　protests　arose；　the　girl　and　The　Oskaloosa　Kid　being　most　insistent。　　What　was　the　use？　What　good　could　he　accomplish？　It　might　be　nothing；　yet　on　the　other　hand　what　had　brought　death　so　hor…　ribly　to　the　cold　clay　on　the　floor　below？　At　last　their　pleas　prevailed　and　Bridge　replaced　the　bed　before　the　door。

For　two　hours　the　five　sat　about　the　room　waiting　for　daylight。　　There　could　be　no　sleep　for　any　of　them。　　Occa…　sionally　they　spoke；　usually　advancing　and　refuting　sug…　gestions　as　to　the　identity　of　the　nocturnal　prowler　be…　low…stairs。　　The　THING　seemed　to　have　retreated　again　to　the　cellar；　leaving　the　upper　floor　to　the　five　strangely　assorted　prisoners　and　the　first　floor　to　the　dead　man。

During　the　brief　intervals　of　conversation　the　girl　re…　peated　snatches　of　her　story　and　once　she　mentioned　The　Oskaloosa　Kid　as　the　murderer　of　the　unnamed　vic…　tim。　　The　two　men　who　had　come　last　pricked　up　their　ears　at　this　and　Bridge　felt　the　boy's　hand　just　touch　his　arm　as　though　in　mute　appeal　for　belief　and　protection。　　　The　man　half　smiled。

〃We　seen　The　Oskaloosa　Kid　this　evenin'〃　volun…　teered　one　of　the　newcomers。

〃You　did？〃　exclaimed　the　girl。　　〃Where？〃

〃He'd　just　pulled　off　a　job　in　Oakdale　an'　had　his　pockets　bulgin'　wid　sparklers　an'　kale。　　We　was　follerin'　him　an'　when　we　seen　your　light　up　here　we　t'ought　it　was　him。〃

The　Oskaloosa　Kid　shrank　closer　to　Bridge。　　At　last　he　recognized　the　voice　of　the　speaker。　　While　he　had　known　that　the　two　were　of　The　Sky　Pilot's　band　he　had　not　been　sure　of　the　identity　of　either；　but　now　it　was　borne　in　upon　him　that　at　least　one　of　them　was　the　last　per…　son　on　earth　he　cared　to　be　cooped　up　in　a　small；　un…　lighted　room　with；　and　a　moment　later　when　one　of　the　two　rolled　a　'smoke'　and　lighted　it　he　saw　in　the　flare　of　the　flame　the　features　of　both　Dopey　Charlie　and　The　General。　　The　Oskaloosa　Kid　gasped　once　more　for　the　thousandth　time　that　night。

It　had　been　Dopey　Charlie　who　lighted　the　cigaret　and　in　the　brief　illumination　his　friend　The　General　had　grasped　the　opportunity　to　scan　the　features　of　the　other　members　of　the　party。　　Schooled　by　long　years　of　repression　he　betrayed　none　of　the　surprise　or　elation　he　felt　when　he　recognized　the　features　of　The　Oska…　loosa　Kid。

If　The　General　was　elated　The　Oskaloosa　Kid　was　at　once　relieved　and　terrified。　　Relieved　by　ocular　proof　that　he　was　not　a　murderer　and　terrified　by　the　immedi…　ate　presence　of　the　two　who　had　sought　his　life。

His　cigaret　drawing　well　Dopey　Charlie　resumed：　〃This　Oskaloosa　Kid's　a　bad　actor；〃　he　volunteered。　　〃The　little　shrimp　tried　to　croak　me；　but　he　only　creased　my　ribs。　　I'd　like　to　lay　my　mits　on　him。　　I'll　bet　there　won't　be　no　more　Oskaloosa　Kid　when　I　get　done　wit　him。〃

The　boy　drew　Bridge's　ear　down　toward　his　own　lips。　〃Let's　go；〃　he　said。　　〃I　don't　hear　anything　more　down…　stairs；　or　maybe　we　could　get　out　on　this　roof　and　slide　down　the　porch　pillars。〃

Bridge　laid　a　strong；　warm　hand　on　the　small；　cold　one　of　his　new　friend。

〃Don't　worry；　Kid；〃　he　said。　　〃I'm　for　you。〃

The　two　other　men　turned　quickly　in　the　direction　of　the　speaker。

〃Is　de　Kid　here？〃　asked　Dopey　Charlie。

〃He　is；　my　degenerate　friend；〃　replied　Bridge；　〃and　furthermore　he's　going　to　stay　here　and　be　perfectly　safe。　　Do　you　grasp　me？〃

〃Who　are　you？〃　asked　The　General。

〃That　is　a　long　story；〃　replied　Bridge；　〃but　if　you　chance　to　recall　Dink　and　Crumb　you　may　also　be　able　to　visualize　one　Billy　Burke　and　Billy　Byrne　and　his　side　partner；　Bridge。　　Yes？　Well；　I　am　the　side　partner。〃

Before　the　yeggman　could　make　reply　the　girl　spoke　up　quickly。　　〃This　man　cannot　be　The　Oskaloosa　Kid；〃　she　said。　　〃It　was　The　Oskaloosa　Kid　who　threw　me　from　the　car。〃

〃How　do　you　know　he　ain't？〃　queried　The　General。　　　〃Youse　was　knocked　out　when　these　guys　picks　you　up。　　　It's　so　dark　in　here　you　couldn't　reco'nize　no　one。　　How　do　you　know　this　here　bird　ain't　The　Oskaloosa　Kid；　eh？〃

〃I　have　heard　both　these　men　speak；〃　replied　the　girl；　〃their　voices　were　not　those　of　any　men　I　have　known。　　If　one　of　them　is　The　Oskaloosa　Kid　then　there　must　be　two　men　called　that。　　Strike　a　match　and　you　will　see　that　you　are　mistaken。〃

The　General　fumbled　in　an　inside　pocket　for　a　pack…　age　of　matches　carefully　wrapped　against　possible　dam…　age　by　rain。　　Presently　he　struck　one　and　held　the　light　in　the　direction　of　The　Kid's　face　while　he　and　the　girl　and　Dopey　Charlie　leaned　forward　to　scrutinize　the　youth's　features。

〃It's　him　all　right；〃　said　Dopey　Charlie。

〃You　bet　it　is；〃　seconded　The　General。

〃Why　he's　only　a　boy；〃　ejaculated　the　girl。　　〃The　one　who　threw　me　from　the　machine　was　a　man。〃

〃Well；　this　one　said　he　was　The　Oskaloosa　Kid；〃　per…　sisted　The　General。

〃An'　he　shot　me　up；〃　growled　Dopey　Charlie。

〃It's　too　bad　he　didn't　kill　you；〃　remarked　Bridge　pleasantly。　　〃You're　a　thief　and　probably　a　murderer　into　the　bargainyou　tried　to　kill　this　boy　just　before　he　shot　you。〃

〃Well　wots　he？〃　demanded　Dopey　Charlie。　　〃He's　a　thiefhe　said　he　waslook　in　his　pocketsthey're　crammed　wid　swag；　an'　he's　a　gun…man；　too；　or　he　wouldn't　be　packin'　a　gat。　　I　guess　he　ain't　got　nothin'　on　me。〃

The　darkness　hid　the　scarlet　flush　which　mounted　to　the　boy's　cheeksso　hot　that　he　thought　it　must　surely　glow　redly　through　the　night。　　He　waited　in　dumb　misery　for　Bridge　to　demand　the　proof　of　his　guilt。　　Earlier　in　the　evening　he　had　flaunted　the　evidence　of　his　crime　in　the　faces　of　the　six　hobos；　but　now　he　suddenly　felt　a　great　shame　that　his　new　found　friend　should　believe　him　a　house…breaker。

But　Bridge　did　not　ask　for　any　substantiation　of　Char…　lie's　charges；　he　merely　warned　the　two　yeggmen　that　they　would　have　to　leave　the　boy　alone　and　in　the　morning；　when　the　storm　had　passed　and　daylight　had　lessened　the　unknown　danger　which　lurked　below…stairs；　betake　themselves　upon　their　way。

〃And　while　we're　here　together　in　this　room　you　two　must　sit　over　near　the　window；〃　he　concluded。　　〃You've　tried　to　kill　the　boy　once　to…night；　but　you're　not　going　to　try　it　againI'm　taking　care　of　him　now。〃

〃You　gotta　crust；　bo；〃　observed　Dopey　Charlie；　bellig…　erently。　　〃I　guess　me　an'　The　General'll　sit　where　we　damn　please；　an'　youse　can　take　it　from　me　on　the　side　that　we're　goin'　to　have　ours　out　of　The　Kid's　haul。　　If　you　tink　you're　goin'　to　cop　the　whole　cheese　you　got　another　tink　comin'。〃

〃You　are　banking；〃　replied　Bridge；　〃on　the　well　known　fact　that　I　never　carry　a　gun；　but　you　fail　to　perceive；　owing　to　the　Stygian　gloom　which　surrounds　us；　that　I　have　the　Kid's　automatic　in　my　gun　hand　and　that　the　business　end　of　it　is　carefully　aiming　in　your　direc…　tion。〃

〃Cheese　it；〃　The　General　advised　his　companion；　and　the　two　removed　themselves　to　the　opposite　side　of　the　apartment；　where　they　whispered；　grumblingly；　to　one　another。

The　girl；　the　boy；　and　Bridge　waited　as　patiently　as　they　could　for　the　coming　of　the　dawn；　talking　of　the　events　of　the　night　and　planning　against　the　future。　　　Bridge　advised　the　girl　to　return　at　once　to　her　father；　but　this　she　resolutely　refused　to　do；　admitting　with　ut…　most　candor　that　she　lacked　the　courage　to　face　her　friends　even　though　her　father　might　still　believe　in　her。

The　youth　begged　that　he　might　accompany　Bridge　upon　the　road；　pleading　that　his　mother　was　dead　and　that　he　could　not　return　home　after　his　escapade。　　And　Bridge　could　not　find　it　in　his　heart　to　refuse　him；　for　the　man　realized　that　the　boyish　waif　possessed　a　sub…　tile　attraction；　as　forceful　as　it　was　inexplicable。　　Not　since　he　had　followed　the　open　road　in　company　with　Billy　Byrne　had　Bridge　met　one　with　whom　he　might　care　to　'Pal'　before　The　Kid　crossed　his　path　on　the　dark　and　storm　swept　pike　south　of　Oakdale。

In　Byrne；　mucker；　pugilist；　and　MAN；　Bridge　had　found　a　physical　and　moral　counterpart　of　himself；　for　the　slender　Bridge　was　muscled　as　a　Greek　god；　while　the　stocky　Byrne；　metamorphosed　by　the　fire　of　a　wom…　an's　love；　possessed　all　the　chivalry　of　the　care　free　tramp　whose　vagabondage　had　never　succeeded　in　sub…　merging　the　evidences　of　his　cultural　birthright。

In　the　youth　Bridge　found　an　intellectual　equal　with　the　added　charm　of　a　physical　dependent。　　The　man　did　not　attempt　to　fathom　the　evident　appeal　of　the　other's　tacitly　acknowledged　cowardice；　he　merely　knew　that　he　would　not　have　had　the　youth　ot