the bittermeads mystery-第17部分

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an　opportunity　to　speak　to　Clive　unobserved。

He　thought　it　most　likely　that　Clive　would　be　drawn　towards　the
vicinity　of　Bittermeads　by　the　double　fascination　of　curiosity　and
fear；　and　he　supposed　that　if　he　waited　and　watched　in　the　woods　he
would　be　sure　presently　to　see　him。

But　though　he　remained　for　long　hidden　at　a　spot　whence　he　could
command　the　road　to　Bittermeads　from　Ramsdon　Place；　he　saw　nothing
at　all　of　Clive；　and　the　sunny　lazy　morning　was　well　advanced　when
he　was　startled　by　the　sound　of　a　gun　shot　some　distance　away。

〃A　keeper　shooting　rabbits；　I　suppose；〃　he　thought；　looking　round
just　in　time　to　see　Ella　running　through　the　wood　from　the　direction
whence　the　sound　of　the　shot　had　seemed　to　come；　and　then　vanish
again　with　a　quick　look　behind　her　into　the　heart　of　a　close…growing
spinney。



CHAPTER　XVI

IN　THE　WOOD


There　had　been　an　air　of　haste；　almost　of　furtiveness；　about　this
swift　appearance　and　more　swift　vanishing　of　Ella；　that　made　Dunn
ask　himself　uneasily　what　errand　she　could　have　been　on。

He　hesitated　for　a　moment；　half　expecting　to　see　her　return　again；
or　that　there　would　be　some　other　development；　but　he　heard　and　saw
nothing。

He　caught　no　further　glimpse　of　Ella；　whom　the　green　depths　of　the
spinney　hid　well；　and　he　heard　no　more　shots。

After　a　little；　he　left　the　spot　where　he　had　been　waiting　and　went
across　to　where　he　had　seen　her。

The　exact　spot　where　she　had　entered　the　spinney　was　marked；　for
she　had　broken　the　branch　of　a　young　tree　in　brushing　quickly　by　it；
and　a　bramble　she　had　trodden　on　had　not　yet　lifted　itself　from　the
earth　to　which　she　had　pressed　it。

By　other　signs　like　these；　plain　enough　and　easy　to　read　…　for　she
had　hurried　on　in　great　haste　and　without　care；　almost；　indeed；　as
one　who　fled　from　some　great　danger　or　from　some　dreadful　sight；
and　who　had　no　thought　to　spare　save　for　flight　alone　…　he　followed
the　way　she　had　gone　till　it　took　him　to　a　beaten　public　path　that
almost　at　once　led　over　a　stile　to　the　high　road　which　passed　in
front　of　Bittermeads。　　Along　this　beaten　path；　trodden　by　many；
Ella's　light　foot　had　left　no　perceptible　mark；　and　Dunn　made　no
attempt　to　track　her　further；　since　it　seemed　certain　that　she　had
been　simply　hurrying　back　home。

〃She　was　badly　frightened　over　something　or　another；〃　he　said　to
himself。　　〃She　never　stopped　once；　she　went　as　straight　and　quick
as　she　could。　　I　wonder　what　upset　her　like　that？〃

He　went　back　the　way　he　had　come；　and　at　the　spot　where　he　had　seen
her　enter　the　spinney　he　set　to　work　to　pick　up　her　trail　in　the
direction　whence　she　had　appeared；　for　he　thought　that　if　he　followed
it　he　might　find　out　what　had　been　the　cause　of　her　evident　alarm。

The　ground　was　much　more　open　here；　and　the　trail　correspondingly
more　difficult　to　follow；　for　often　there　was　little　but　a　trodden
blade　of　grass　to　show　where　she　had　passed；　and　sometimes；　where
the　ground　was　bare　and　hard；　there　was　no　visible　sign　left　at　all。

Once　or　twice　at　such　places　he　was　totally　at　fault；　but　by　casting
round　in　a　wide　circle　like　a　dog　scenting　his　prey　he　was　able　to
pick　up　her　tracks　again。

They　seemed　to　lead　right　into　the　depths　of　the　wood；　through　lonely
spots　that　only　the　keepers　knew；　and　where　others　seldom　came。

But　that　he　was　on　the　right　trail　he　presently　had　proof；　for　on
the　bank　of　a　lovely　and　hidden　dell　he　picked　up　a　tiny　embroidered
handkerchief　with　the　initials　〃E。　C。〃　worked　in　one　corner。

It　had　evidently　been　lying　there　only　a　very　short　time；　for　it
was　perfectly　clean　and　fresh；　and　he　picked　it　up　and　held　it　for
a　moment　in　his　hands；　smiling　to　himself　with　pleasure　at　its
daintiness　and　smallness；　and　yet　still　uneasily　wondering　why　she
had　come　here；　and　why　she　had　fled　away　again　so　quickly。

The　morning　was　very　fine　and　calm；　though　in　the　west　heavy　clouds
were　gathering　and　seemed　to　promise　rain　soon。　　But　overhead　the
sun　shone　brightly；　the　air　was　calm　and　warm；　and　the　little　dell
on　whose　verge　he　stood　a　very　pretty　and　pleasant　place。

A　small　stream　wandered　through　it；　the　grass　that　carpeted　it　was
green　and　soft；　near　by　a　great　oak　stood　alone　and　spread　its
majestic　branches　far　out　on　every　side　to　give　cool　shelter　from
the　summer　heat。

The　thought　occurred　to　Dunn　that　this　was　just　such　a　pretty　and
secluded　spot　as　two　lovers　might　choose　to　exchange　their　vows　in；
and　the　thought　stung　him　intolerably　as　he　wondered　whether　it　was
for　such　a　reason　that　Ella　had　come　here。

But　if　so；　why　had　she　fled　away　again　in　such　strange　haste？

He　walked　on　slowly　for　a　yard　or　two；　not　now　attempting　to　follow
Ella's　trail；　for　he　had　the　impression　that　this　was　her
destination；　and　that　she　had　gone　no　further　than　here。

All　at　once　he　caught　sight　of　the　form　of　a　man　lying　hidden　in
the　long　grass　that　nearly　covered　him　from　view　just　where　the
far…spreading　branches　of　the　great　oak　ceased　to　give　their　shade。

At　first　Dunn　thought　he　was　sleeping；　and　he　was　just　about　to
call　out　to　him　when　something　in　the　rigidity　of　the　man's　position
and　his　utter　stillness　struck　him　unpleasantly。

He　went　quickly　to　the　man's　side；　and　the　face　of　dead　John　Clive；
supine　and　still；　stared　up　at　him　from　unseeing　eyes。

He　had　been　killed　by　a　charge　of　small　shot　fired　at　such　close
quarters　that　his　breast　was　shot　nearly　in　two　and　his　clothing
and　flesh　charred　by　the　burning　powder。

But　Dunn；　standing　staring　down　at　the　dead　man；　saw　not　him；　but
Ella。　　Ella　fleeing　away　silently　and　furtively　through　the　trees
as　from　some　sight　or　scene　of　guilt　and　terror。

He　stooped　closer　over　the　dead　man。　　Death　had　been　instantaneous。
Of　course　there　could　be　no　doubt。　　From　one　hand　a　piece　of　folded
paper　had　fallen。

Dunn　picked　it　up；　and　saw　that　there　was　writing　on　it；　and　he
read　it　over　slowly。

　　〃Dear　Mr。　Clive；　…　Can　you　meet　me　as　before　by　the　oak
　　tomorrow　at　eleven？　　There　is　something　I　very　much　want　to
　　say　to　you。　…　Yours　sincerely；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃ELLA　CAYLEY。〃


Was　that；　then；　the　lure　which　had　brought　John　Clive　to　meet　his
death？　　Was　this　the　bait　that　had　made　him　disregard　the　warnings
he　had　received；　and　come　alone　to　so　quiet　and　solitary　a　spot？

Dunn　had　a　moment　of　quick　envy　of　him；　he　lay　so　quiet　and　still
in　the　warm　sunshine；　with　nothing　to　trouble　or　distress　him　any
more　for　ever。

Then；　stumblingly　and　heavily；　Dunn　turned　an　went　away；　and　his
eyes　were　very　hard；　his　bearded　face　set　like　iron。

Like　a　man　in　a　dream；　or　one　obsessed　by　some　purpose　before　which
all　other　things　faded　into　nothingness；　he　went　his　way；　the　way
Ella　had　taken　in　her　flight　…　through　the　wood；　through　the　spinney
to　the　public　foot…path；　and　then　out　on　the　road　that　led　to
Bittermeads。

When　he　entered　the　garden　there；　he　saw　Ella　sitting　quietly　on　a
deck…chair　close　to　her　mother；　quietly　busy　with　some　fancy　work。

He　could　not　believe　it；　he　stood　watching　in　bewilderment；
appalled　and　wondering；　watching　her　white　hands　flashing　busily
to　and　fro；　hearing　the　soft　murmur　of　her　voice　as　now　and　then　she
addressed　some　remark　to　her　mother；　who　nodded　drowsily　in　the
sunshine　over　a　book　open　on　her　knees。

Ella　was　dressed　all　in　white；　she　had　flung　aside　her　hat；　and　the
quiet　breeze　played　in　her　fair　hair；　and　stirred　gently　a　stray
curl　that　had　escaped　across　her　broad　low　brow。

The　picture　was　one　of　gentleness　and　peace　and　an　innocence　that
thought　no　wrong；　and　yet　with　his　own　eyes　he　had　seen　her　not
an　hour　ago　fleeing　with　hurried　steps　and　fearful　looks　from　the
spot　where　lay　a　murdered　man。

Somewhat　unsteadily；　for　he　felt　so　little　master　of　himself；　it
was　as　though　he　had　no　longer　even　control　of　his　own　limbs；　Dunn
stumbled　forward；　and　Ella　looked　up　and　saw　him；　and　saw　also　that
he　was　looking　at　her　very　strangely。

She　rose　and　came　towards　him；　her　needlework　still　in　her　hands。

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　she　said　in　a　voice　of　some　concern。　　〃Are
you　ill？〃

〃No；〃　he　answered。　　〃No。　　I've　been　looking　for　Mr。　Clive。〃

〃Have　you？〃　she　said；　a　little　surprised　apparently；　but　in　no
way　flustered　or　disturbed。　　〃Did　you　find　him？〃

Dunn　did　not　answer；　for　indeed　he　could　not；　and　she　said　again：　

〃Did　you　find　him？〃

Still　he　made　no　answer；　for　it　seemed　to　him　those　four　words　were
the　most　awful　that　any　one　had　ever　uttered　since　the　beginning　of
the　world。

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　she　said　again。　　〃Is　anything　the　matter？〃

〃Oh；　no；　no；〃　he　said；　and　he　gave　himself　a　little　shake　like　a
man　wakening　from　deep　sleep　and　trying　to　remember　where　he　was。

〃Well；　then；〃　she　said。

〃I　found　Mr。　Clive；〃　he　said　hardly　and　abruptly。　　And　he　repeated
again：　〃Yes；　I　found　him。〃

They　remained　standing　close　together　and　facing　each　other；　and
he　saw　her　as　through　a　veil　of　red；　and　it　was　as　though　a　red
mist　enveloped　her；　and　where　her　shadow　lay　the　earth　was　red；　he
thought；　and　where　she　put　her　foot　it　seemed　to　him　red　tracks
remained；　and　never　before　had　he　understood　how　utterly　he　loved
her　and　must　love　her；　now　and　for　evermore。

But　he　uttered　no　sound　and　made　no　movement；　only　stood　very　still；
thinking　to　himself　how　dreadful　it　was　that　he　loved　her　so　greatly。

She　was　not　paying　him；　any　attention　now。　　A　rose　bush　was　near　by；
and　she　picked　one　of　the　flowers；　and　arranged　it　carefully　at　her
waist。

She　said；　still　looking　at　him：　

〃Do　you　know　…　I　wish　you　would　shave　yourself？〃

〃Why？〃　he　mumbled。

〃I　should　like　to　see　you；〃　she　answered。　　〃I　think　I　have　a
curiosity　to　see　you。〃

〃I　should　think　you　could　do　that　well　enough；〃　he　said　in　the　same
low；　mumbled　tones。

〃No；〃　she　answered。　　〃I　can　only　see　some　very　untidy　hair　and　a
pair　of　eyes　…　not　very　nice　eyes；　rather　frightening　eyes。　　I
should　like　to　see　the　rest　of　your　face　some　day　so　as　to　know
what　it's　like。〃

〃Perhaps　you　shall　…　some　day；〃　he　said。

〃Is　that　a　threat？〃　she　asked。　　〃It　sounded　like　one。〃

〃Perhaps；〃　he　answered。

She　laughed　lightly　and　turned　a