the woman in the alcove-第23部分

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d　a　suppressed　oath　and　plunged　forward；　when　I　struck　against　a　closing　door。　It　flew　open　again　and　I　rushed　in；　turning　on　my　light　in　my　extreme　desperation；　when；　instead　of　hearing　the　sharp　report　of　a　pistol；　as　I　expected；　I　saw　a　second　door　fall　to　before　me；　this　time　with　a　sound　like　the　snap　of　a　spring　lock。　Finding　that　this　was　so；　and　that　all　advance　was　barred　that　way；　I　wheeled　hurriedly　back　toward　the　door　by　which　I　had　entered　the　place；　to　find　that　that　had　fallen　to　simultaneously　with　the　other；　a　single　spring　acting　for　both。　I　was　trappeda　prisoner　in　the　strangest　sort　of　passageway　or　closet；　and；　as　a　speedy　look　about　presently　assured　me；　a　prisoner　with　very　little　hope　of　immediate　escape；　for　the　doors　were　not　only　immovable；　without　even　locks　to　pick　or　panels　to　break　in；　but　the　place　was　bare　of　windows；　and　the　only　communication　which　it　could　be　said　to　have　with　the　outside　world　at　all　was　a　shaft　rising　from　the　ceiling　almost　to　the　top　of　the　house。　Whether　this　served　as　a　ventilator；　or　a　means　of　lighting　up　the　hole　when　both　doors　were　shut；　it　was　much　too　inaccessible　to　offer　any　apparent　way　of　escape。

〃Never　was　a　man　more　thoroughly　boxed　in。　As　I　realized　how　little　chance　there　was　of　any　outside　interference；　how　my　captor；　even　if　he　was　seen　leaving　the　house　by　the　officer　on　duty；　would　be　taken　for　myself　and　so　allowed　to　escape；　I　own　that　I　felt　my　position　a　hopeless　one。　But　anger　is　a　powerful　stimulant；　and　I　was　mortally　angry；　not　only　with　Sears；　but　with　myself。　So　when　I　was　done　swearing　I　took　another　look　around；　and；　finding　that　there　was　no　getting　through　the　walls；　turned　my　attention　wholly　to　the　shaft；　which　would　certainly　lead　me　out　of　the　place　if　I　could　only　find　means　to　mount　it。

〃And　how　do　you　think　I　managed　to　do　this　at　last？　A　look　at　my　bedraggled；　lime…covered　clothes　may　give　you　some　idea。　I　cut　a　passage　for　myself　up　those　perpendicular　walls　as　the　boy　did　up　the　face　of　the　natural　bridge　in　Virginia。　Do　you　remember　that　old　story　in　the　Reader？　It　came　to　me　like　an　inspiration　as　I　stood　looking　up　from　below；　and　though　I　knew　that　I　should　have　to　work　most　of　the　way　in　perfect　darkness；　I　decided　that　a　man's　life　was　worth　some　risk；　and　that　I　had　rather　fall　and　break　my　neck　while　doing　something　than　to　spend　hours　in　maddening　inactivity；　only　to　face　death　at　last　from　slow　starvation。

〃I　had　a　knife；　an　exceedingly　good　knife；　in　my　pocketand　for　the　first　few　steps　I　should　have　the　light　of　my　electric　torch。　The　difficulty　（that　is；　the　first　difficulty）　was　to　reach　the　shaft　from　the　floor　where　I　stood。　There　was　but　one　article　of　furniture　in　the　room；　and　that　was　something　between　a　table　and　a　desk。　No　chairs；　and　the　desk　was　not　high　enough　to　enable　me　to　reach　the　mouth　of　the　shaft。　If　I　could　turn　it　on　end　there　might　be　some　hope。　But　this　did　not　look　feasible。　However；　I　threw　off　my　coat　and　went　at　the　thing　with　a　vengeance；　and　whether　I　was　given　superhuman　power　or　whether　the　clumsy　thing　was　not　as　heavy　as　it　looked；　I　did　finally　succeed　in　turning　it　on　its　end　close　under　the　opening　from　which　the　shaft　rose。　The　next　thing　was　to　get　on　its　top。　That　seemed　about　as　impossible　as　climbing　the　bare　wall　itself；　but　presently　I　bethought　me　of　the　drawers；　and；　though　they　were　locked；　I　did　succeed　by　the　aid　of　my　keys　to　get　enough　of　them　open　to　make　for　myself　a　very　good　pair　of　stairs。

〃I　could　now　see　my　way　to　the　mouth　of　the　shaft；　but　after　that！　Taking　out　my　knife；　I　felt　the　edge。　It　was　a　good　one；　so　was　the　point；　but　was　it　good　enough　to　work　holes　in　plaster？　It　depended　somewhat　upon　the　plaster。　Had　the　masons；　in　finishing　that　shaft；　any　thought　of　the　poor　wretch　who　one　day　would　have　to　pit　his　life　against　the　hardness　of　the　final　covering？　My　first　dig　at　it　would　tell。　I　own　I　trembled　violently　at　the　prospect　of　what　that　first　test　would　mean　to　me；　and　wondered　if　the　perspiration　which　I　felt　starting　at　every　pore　was　the　result　of　the　effort　I　had　been　engaged　in　or　just　plain　fear。

〃Inspector；　I　do　not　intend　to　have　you　live　with　me　through　the　five　mortal　hours　which　followed。　I　was　enabled　to　pierce　that　plaster　with　my　knife；　and　even　to　penetrate　deep　enough　to　afford　a　place　for　the　tips　of　my　fingers　and　afterward　for　the　point　of　my　toes；　digging；　prying；　sweating；　panting；　listening；　first　for　a　sudden　opening　of　the　doors　beneath；　then　for　some　shout　or　wicked　interference　from　above　as　I　worked　my　way　up　inch　by　inch；　foot　by　foot；　to　what　might　not　be　safety　after　it　was　attained。

〃Five　hourssix。　Then　I　struck　something　which　proved　to　be　a　window；　and　when　I　realized　this　and　knew　that　with　but　one　more　effort　I　should　breathe　freely　again；　I　came　as　near　falling　as　I　had　at　any　time　before　I　began　this　terrible　climb。

〃Happily；　I　had　some　premonition　of　my　danger；　and　threw　myself　into　a　position　which　held　me　till　the　dizzy　minute　passed。　Then　I　went　calmly　on　with　my　work；　and　in　another　half…hour　had　reached　the　window；　which；　fortunately　for　me；　not　only　opened　inward；　but　was　off　the　latch。　It　was　with　a　sense　of　inexpressible　relief　that　I　clambered　through　this　window　and　for　a　brief　moment　breathed　in　the　pungent　odor　of　cedar。　But　it　could　have　been　only　for　a　moment。　It　was　three　o'clock　in　the　afternoon　before　I　found　myself　again　in　the　outer　air。　The　only　way　I　can　account　for　the　lapse　of　time　is　that　the　strain　to　which　both　body　and　nerve　had　been　subjected　was　too　much　for　even　my　hardy　body　and　that　I　fell　to　the　floor　of　the　cedar　closet　and　from　a　faint　went　into　a　sleep　that　lasted　until　two。　I　can　easily　account　for　the　last　hour　because　it　took　me　that　long　to　cut　the　thick　paneling　from　the　door　of　the　closet。　However；　I　am　here　now；　sir；　and　in　very　much　the　same　condition　in　which　I　left　that　house。　I　thought　my　first　duty　was　to　tell　you　that　I　had　seen　Hiram　Sears　in　that　house　last　night　and　put　you　on　his　track。〃

I　drew　a　long　breath；I　think　the　inspector　did。　I　had　been　almost　rigid　from　excitement；　and　I　don't　believe　he　was　quite　free　from　it　either。　But　his　voice　was　calmer　than　I　expected　when　he　finally　said：

〃I'll　remember　this。　It　was　a　good　night's　work。〃　Then　the　inspector　put　to　him　some　questions；　which　seemed　to　fix　the　fact　that　Sears　had　left　the　house　before　Sweetwater　did；　after　which　he　bade　him　send　certain　men　to　him　and　then　go　and　fix　himself　up。

I　believe　he　had　forgotten　me。　I　had　almost　forgotten　myself。



XV

SEARS　OR　WELLGOOD

Not　till　the　inspector　had　given　several　orders　was　I　again　summoned　into　his　presence。　He　smiled　as　our　eyes　met；　but　did　not　allude；　any　more　than　I　did；　to　what　had　just　passed。　Nevertheless；　we　understood　each　other。

When　I　was　again　seated；　he　took　up　the　conversation　where　we　had　left　it。

〃The　description　I　was　just　about　to　read　to　you；〃　he　went　on；　〃will　you　listen　to　it　now？〃

〃Gladly；〃　said　I；　〃it　is　Wellgood's；　I　believe。〃

He　did　not　answer　save　by　a　curious　glance　from　under　his　brows；　but；　taking　the　paper　again　from　his　desk；　went　on　reading：

〃A　man　of　fifty…five　looking　like　one　of　sixty。　Medium　height；　insignificant　features；　head　bald　save　for　a　ring　of　scanty　dark　hair。　No　beard；　a　heavy　nose；　long　mouth　and　sleepy　half…shut　eyes　capable　of　shooting　strange　glances。　Nothing　distinctive　in　face　or　figure　save　the　depth　of　his　wrinkles　and　a　scarcely　observable　stoop　in　his　right　shoulder。　Do　you　see　Wellgood　in　that？〃　he　suddenly　asked。

〃I　have　only　the　faintest　recollection　of　his　appearance；〃　was　my　doubtful　reply。　〃But　the　impression　I　get　from　this　description　is　not　exactly　the　one　I　received　of　that　waiter　in　the　momentary　glimpse　I　got　of　him。〃

〃So　others　have　told　me　before；'　he　remarked；　looking　very　disappointed。　〃The　description　is　of　Sears　given　me　by　a　man　who　knew　him　well；　and　if　we　could　fit　the　description　of　the　one　to　that　of　the　other；　we　should　have　it　easy。　But　the　few　persons　who　have　seen　Wellgood　differ　greatly　in　their　remembrance　of　his　features；　and　even　of　his　coloring。　It　is　astonishing　how　superficially　most　people　see　a　man；　even　when　they　are　thrown　into　daily　contact　with　him。　Mr。　Jones　says　the　man's　eyes　are　gray；　his　hair　a　wig　and　dark；　his　nose　pudgy；　and　his　face　without　much　expression。　His　land…lady；　that　his　eyes　are　blue；　his　hair；　whether　wig　or　not；　a　dusty　auburn；　and　his　look　quick　and　piercing；a　look　which　always　made　her　afraid。　His　nose　she　don't　remember。　Both　agree；　or　rather　all　agree；　that　he　wore　no　beardSears　did；　but　a　beard　can　be　easily　taken　offand　all　of　them　declare　that　they　would　know　him　instantly　if　they　saw　him。　And　so　the　matter　stands。　Even　you　can　give　me　no　definite　description；one；　I　mean；　as　satisfactory　or　unsatisfactory　as　this　of　Sears。〃

I　shook　my　head。　Like　the　others；　I　felt　that　I　should　know　him　if　I　saw　him；　but　I　could　go　no　further　than　that。　There　seemed　to　be　so　little　that　was　distinctive　about　the　man。

The　inspector；　hoping；　perhaps；　that　all　this　would　serve　to　rouse　my　memory；　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　put　the　best　face　he　could　on　the　matter。

〃Well；　well；〃　said　he；　〃we　shall　have　to　be　patient。　A　day　may　make　all　the　difference　possible　in　our　outlook。　If　we　can　lay　hands　on　either　of　these　men〃

He　seemed　to　realize　he　had　said　a　word　too　much；　for　he　instantly　changed　the　subject　by　asking　if　I　had　succeeded　in　getting　a　sample　of　Miss　Grey's　writing。　I　was　forced　to　say　no；　that　everything　had　been　very　carefully　put　away。　〃But　I　do　not　know　what　moment　I　may　come　upon　it；〃　I　added。　〃I　do　not　forget　its　importance　in　this　investigation。〃

〃Very　good。　Those　lines　handed　up　to　Mrs。　Fairbrother　from　the　walk　outside　are　the　second　most　valuable　clue　we　possess。〃

I　did　not　ask　him　what　the　first　was。　I　knew。　It　was　the　stiletto。

〃Strange　that　no　one　has　testified　to　that　handwriting；〃　I　remarked。

He　looked　at　me　in　surprise。

〃Fifty　persons　have　sent　in　samples　of　writing　which　they　think　like　it；〃　he　observed。　〃Often　of　persons　who　never　heard　of　the　Fairbrothers。　We　have　been　bothered　greatly　with　the　business。　You　know　little　of　the　difficulties　the　poli