dh.theglasskey-第23部分

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se。　From　the　house　came　the　sound　of　another　door　slamming　in　the　rear。　The　river　was　audible　not　far　to　Ned　Beaumont's　left。　He　worked　his　way　through　underbrush　towards　it。
　A　high…pitched　sharp　whistle；　not　loud；　sounded　somewhere　behind　him。　He　floundered　through　an　area　of　soft　mud　to　a　clump　of　trees　and　turned　away　from　the　river　among　them。　The　whistle　came　again；　on　his　right。　Beyond　the　trees　were　shoulder…high　bushes。　He　went　among　them；　bending　forward　from　the　waist　for　concealment；　though　the　night's　blackness　was　all　but　plete。
　His　way　was　uphill；　up　a　hill　frequently　slippery；　always　uneven；　through　brush　that　tore　his　face　and　hands；　caught　his　clothing。　Three　times　he　fell。　He　stumbled　many　times。　The　whistle　did　not　e　again。　He　did　not　find　the　Buick。　He　did　not　find　the　road　along　which　he　had　e。
　He　dragged　his　feet　now　and　stumbled　where　there　were　no　obstructions　and　when　presently　he　had　topped　the　hill　and　was　going　down　its　other　slope　he　began　to　fall　more　often。　At　the　bottom　of　the　hill　he　found　a　road　and　turned　to　the　right　on　it。　Its　clay　stuck　to　his　feet　in　increasing　bulk　so　that　he　had　to　stop　time　after　time　to　scrape　it　off。　He　used　his　pistol　to　scrape　it　off。
　When　he　heard　a　dog　bark　behind　him　he　stopped　and　turned　drunkenly　to　look　back。　Chose　to　the　road；　fifty　feet　behind　him；　was　the　vague　outline　of　a　house　he　had　passed。　He　retraced　his　steps　and　came　to　a　tall　gate。　The　doga　shapeless　monster　in　the　nighthurled　itself　at　the　other　side　of　the　gate　and　barked　terrifically。
　Ned　Beaumont　fumbled　along　an　end　of　the　gate；　found　the　catch；　unfastened　it；　and　staggered　in。　The　dog　backed　away；　circling；　feinting　attacks　it　never　made；　filling　the　night　with　clamor。
　A　window　screeched　up　and　a　heavy　voice　called：　〃What　the　hell　are　you　doing　to　that　dog？〃
　Ned　Beaumont　laughed　weakly。　Then　he　shook　himself　and　replied　in　not　too　thin　a　voice：　〃This　is　Beaumont　of　the　District　Attorney's　office。　I　want　to　use　your　phone。　There's　a　dead　man　down　there。〃
　The　heavy　voice　roared：　〃I　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about。　Shut　up；　Jeanie！〃　The　dog　barked　three　times　with　increased　energy　and　became　silent。　〃Now　what　is　it？〃
　〃I　want　to　phone。　District　Attorney's　office。　There's　a　dead　man　down　there。〃
　The　heavy　voice　exclaimed：　〃The　hell　you　say！〃　The　window　screeched　shut。
　The　dog　began　its　barking　and　circling　and　feinting　again。　Ned　Beaumont　threw　his　muddy　pistol　at　it。　It　turned　and　ran　out　of　sight　behind　the　house。
　The　front　door　was　opened　by　a　red…faced　barrel…bodied　short　man　in　a　long　blue　night…shirt。　〃Holy　Maria；　you're　a　mess！〃　he　gasped　when　Ned　Beaumont　came　into　the　light　from　the　doorway。
　〃Phone；〃　Ned　Beaumont　said。
　The　red…faced　man　caught　him　as　he　swayed。　〃Here；〃　he　said　gruffly；　〃tell　me　who　to　call　and　what　to　say。　You　can't　do　anything。〃
　〃Phone；〃　Ned　Beaumont　said。
　The　red…faced　man　steadied　him　along　a　hallway；　opened　a　door；　said：　〃There　she　is　and　it's　a　damned　good　thing　for　you　the　old　woman　ain't　home　or　you'd　never　get　in　with　all　that　mud　on　you。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　fell　into　the　chair　in　front　of　the　telephone；　but　he　did　not　immediately　reach　for　the　telephone。　He　scowled　at　the　man　in　the　blue　night…shirt　and　said　thickly：　〃Go　out　and　shut　the　door。〃
　The　red…faced　man　had　not　e　into　the　room。　He　shut　the　door。
　Ned　Beaumont　picked　up　the　receiver；　leaned　forward　so　that　he　was　propped　against　the　table　by　his　elbows　on　it；　and　called　Paul　Madvig's　number。　Half　a　dozen　times　while　he　waited　his　eyelids　closed；　but　each　time　he　forced　them　open　again　and　when；　at　last；　he　spoke　into　the　telephone　it　was　clearly。
　〃'Lo；　PaulNed。　。　。　。　Never　mind　that。　Listen　to　me。　Mathews's　mitted　suicide　at　his　place　on　the　river　and　didn't　leave　a　will。　。　Listen　to　me。　This　is　important。　With　a　lot　of　debts　and　no　will　naming　an　executor　it'll　be　up　to　the　courts　to　appoint　somebody　to　administer　the　estate。　Get　that？　。　。　。　Yes。　See　that　it　es　up　before　the　right　judgePhelps；　sayand　we　can　keep　the　Observer　out　of　the　fightexcept　on　our　sidetill　after　election。　Got　that？　。　。　。　All　right；　all　right；　now　listen。　That's　only　part　of　it。　This　is　what's　got　to　be　done　now。　The　Observer　is　loaded　with　dynamite　for　the　morning。　You've　got　to　stop　it。　I'd　say　get　Phelps　out　of　bed　and　get　an　injunction　out　of　himanything　to　stop　it　till　you　can　show　the　Observer's　hired　men　where　they　stand　now　that　the　paper's　going　to　be　bossed　for　a　month　or　so　by　our　friends。
　I　can't　tell　you　now；　Paul；　but　it's　dynamite　and　you've　got　to　keep　it　from　going　on　sale。　Get　Phelps　out　of　bed　and　go　down　and　look　at　it　yourselves。　You've　got　maybe　three　hours　before　it's　out　on　the　streets。
　That's　right。　。　。　。　What？　。　。　。　Opal？　Oh；　she's　all　right。　She's　with　me。　。　。　。　Yes；　I'll　bring　her　home。　。　。　。　And　will　you　phone　the　county　people　about　Mathews？　I'm　going　back　there　now。　Right。〃
　He　laid　the　receiver　on　the　table　and　stood　up；　staggered　to　the　door；　got　it　open　after　the　second　attempt；　and　fell　out　into　the　hallway；　where　the　wall　kept　him　from　tumbling　down　on　the　floor。
　The　red…faced　man　came　hurrying　to　him。　〃Just　lean　on　me；　brother；　and　I'll　make　you　fortable。　I　got　a　blanket　spread　over　the　davenport　so　we　won't　have　to　worry　about　the　mud　and〃
　Ned　Beaumont　said：　〃I　want　to　borrow　a　car。　I've　got　to　go　back　to　Mathews's。〃
　〃Is　it　him　that's　dead？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　The　red…faced　man　raised　his　eyebrows　and　made　a　squeaky　whistling　sound。
　〃Will　you　lend　me　the　car？〃　Ned　Beaumont　demanded。
　〃My　God；　brother；　be　reasonable！　How　could　you　drive　a　car？〃
　Ned　Beaumont　backed　away　from　the　other；　unsteadily。　〃I'll　walk；〃　he　said。
　The　red…faced　man　glared　at　him。　〃You　won't　neither。　If　you'll　keep　your　hair　on　till　I　get　my　pants　I'll　drive　you　back；　though　likely　enough　you'll　die　on　me　on　the　way。〃
　Opal　Madvig　and　Eloise　Mathews　were　together　in　the　large　ground…floor　room　when　Ned　Beaumont　was　carried　rather　than　led　into　it　by　the　red…faced　man。　The　men　had　e　in　without　knocking。　The　two　girls　were　standing　close　together；　wide…eyed；　startled。
　Ned　Beaumont　pulled　himself　out　of　his　panion's　arms　and　looked　dully　around　the　room。　〃Where's　Shad？〃　he　mumbled。
　Opal　answered　him：　〃He's　gone。　All　of　them　have　gone。〃
　〃All　right；〃　he　said；　speaking　difficultly。　〃I　want　to　talk　to　you　alone。〃
　Eloise　Mathews　ran　over　to　him。　〃You　killed　him！〃　she　cried。
　He　giggled　idiotically　and　tried　to　put　his　arms　around　her。
　She　screamed；　struck　him　in　the　face　with　an　open　hand。
　He　fell　straight　back　without　bending。　The　red…faced　man　tried　to　catch　him；　but　could　not。　He　did　not　move　at　all　after　he　struck　the　floor。
　
　
　
　
　VII。The　Henchmen
　
　
　1
　
　Senator　Henry　put　his　napkin　on　the　table　and　stood　up。　Rising；　he　seemed　taller　than　he　was　and　younger。　His　somewhat　small　head；　under　its　thin　covering　of　grey　hair；　was　remarkably　symmetrical。　Aging　muscles　sagged　in　his　patrician　face；　accentuating　its　vertical　lines；　but　slackness　had　not　vet　reached　his　lips；　nor　was　it　apparent　that　the　years　had　in　any　way　touched　his　eyes：　they　were　a　greenish　grey；　deepset；　not　large　but　brilliant；　and　their　lids　were　firm。　He　spoke　with　studied　grave　courtesy：　〃You'll　forgive　me　if　I　carry　Paul　off　upstairs　for　a　little　while？〃
　His　daughter　replied：　〃Yes；　if　you'll　leave　me　Mr。　Beaumont　and　if　you'll　promise　not　to　stay　up　there　all　evening。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　smiled　politely；　inclining　his　head。
　He　and　Janet　Henry　went　into　a　white…walled　room　where　coal　burned　sluggishly　in　a　grate　under　a　white　mantelpiece　and　put　somber　red　gleams　on　the　mahogany　furniture。
　She　turned　on　a　lamp　beside　the　piano　and　sat　down　there　with　her　back　to　the　keyboard；　her　head　between　Ned　Beaumont　and　the　lamp。　Her　blond　hair　caught　lamplight　and　held　it　in　a　nimbus　around　her　head。　Her　black　gown　was　of　some　suèdelike　material　that　reflected　no　light　and　she　wore　no　jewelry。
　Ned　Beaumont　leaned　over　to　knock　ash　from　his　cigar　down　on　the　burning　coal。　A　dark　pearl　in　his　shirt…bosom；　twinkling　in　the　fire's　glow　as　he　moved；　was　like　a　red　eye　winking。　When　he　straightened；　he　asked：　〃You'll　play　something？〃
　〃Yes；　if　you　wishthough　I　don't　play　exceptionally　wellbut　later。　I'd　like　to　talk　to　you　now　while　I've　an　opportunity。〃　Her　hands　were　together　in　her　lap。　Her　arms；　held　straight；　forced　her　shoulders　up　and　in　towards　her　neck。
　Ned　Beaumont　nodded　politely；　but　did　not　say　anything。　He　left　the　fireplace　and　sat　not　far　from　her　on　a　sofa　with　lyre　ends。　Though　he　was　attentive；　there　was　no　curiosity　in　his　mien。
　Turning　on　the　piano…bench　to　face　him　directly；　she　asked：　〃How　is　Opal？〃　Her　voice　was　low；　intimate。
　His　voice　was　casual：　〃Perfectly　all　right　as　far　as　I　know；　though　I　haven't　seen　her　since　last　week。〃　He　lifted　his　cigar　half　a　foot　towards　his　mouth；　lowered　it；　and　as　if　the　question　had　just　e　to　his　mind　asked：　〃Why？〃
　She　opened　her　brown　eyes　wide。　〃Isn't　she　in　bed　with　a　nervous　break…down？〃
　〃Oh；　that！〃　he　said　carelessly；　smiling。　〃Didn't　Paul　tell　you？〃
　〃Yes；　he　told　me　she　was　in　bed　with　a　nervous　break…down。〃　She　stared　at　him；　perplexed。　〃He　told　me　that。〃
　Ned　Beaumont's　smile　became　gentle。　〃I　suppose　he's　sensitive　about　it；〃　he　said　slowly；　looking　at　his　cigar。　Then　he　looked　up　at　her　and　moved　his　shoulders　a　little。　〃There's　nothing　the　matter　with　her　that　way。　It's　simply　that　she　got　the　foolish　idea　that　he　had　killed　your　brother　andstill　more　foolishlywas　going　around　talking　about　it。　Well；　Paul　couldn't　have　his　daughter　running　around　accusing　him　of　murder；　so　he　had　to　keep　her　home　till　she　gets　the　notion　out　of　her　head。〃
　〃You　mean　she's〃　she　hesitated：　her　eyes　were　bright　〃she's…wella　prisoner？〃
　〃You　make　it　sound　melodramatic；〃　he　protested　carelessly。　〃She's　only　a　child。　Isn't　making　children　stay　in　their　rooms　one　of　the　usual　ways　of　disciplining　them？〃
　Janet　Henry　replied　hastily：　〃Oh；　yes！　Only〃　She　looked　at　her　hands　in　her　lap；　up　at　his　face　again。　〃But　why　did　she　think　that？〃
　Ned　Beaumont's　voice　was　tepid　as　his　smile。　〃Who　doesn't？〃　he　asked。
　She　put　her　hands　on　the　edge　of　the　piano…bench　beside　her　and　leaned　forw