“Whew,” whistled the Case boy. “Gosh!” Then he scratched his head and looked admiringly at the youth. “What mought yer name be?” he asked.
“I'm The Oskaloosa Kid,” replied the youth, unable to resist the admiration1 of the other's fond gaze. “Look here!” and he fished a handful of jewelry2 from one of his side pockets; “this is some of the swag I stole last night when I robbed a house.”
Case Jr. opened his mouth and eyes so wide that there was little left of his face. “But that's nothing,” bragged3 The Kid. “I shot a man, too.”
“Last night?” whispered the boy.
“Gosh!” said the young Mr. Case, but there was that in his facial expression which brought to The Oskaloosa Kid a sudden regret that he had thus rashly confided5 in a stranger.
“Say,” said The Kid, after a moment's strained silence. “Don't tell anyone, will you? If you'll promise I'll give you a dollar,” and he hunted through his roll of bills for one of that lowly denomination6.
“All right,” agreed the Case boy. “I won't say a word—where's the dollar?”
The youth drew a bill from his roll and handed it to the other. “If you tell,” he whispered, and he bent7 close toward the other's ear and spoke8 in a menacing tone; “If you tell, I'll kill you!”
“Gosh!” said Willie Case.
At this moment Case pere and mere9 emerged from the kitchen loaded with provender10. “Here's enough an' more'n enough, I reckon,” said Jeb Case. “We got eggs, butter, bread, bacon, milk, an' a mite11 o' garden sass.”
“But we ain't goin' to charge you nothin' fer the garden sass,” interjected Mrs. Case.
“Oh,” said Jeb Case, rubbing his chin, eyeing the big roll of bills and wondering just the limit he might raise to, “I reckon 'bout14 four dollars an' six bits.”
The Oskaloosa Kid peeled a five dollar bill from his roll and proffered15 it to the farmer. “I'm ever so much obliged,” he said, “and you needn't mind about any change. I thank you so much.” With which he took the several packages and pails and turned toward the road.
“Yew gotta return them pails!” shouted Mrs. Case after him.
“Oh, of course,” replied The Kid.
“Gosh!” exclaimed Mr. Case, feelingly. “I wisht I'd asked six bits more—I mought jest as well o' got it as not. Gosh, eh?”
Back down the sticky road plodded17 The Oskaloosa Kid, his arms heavy and his heart light, for, was he not 'bringing home the bacon,' literally18 as well as figuratively. As he entered the Squibbs' gateway19 he saw the girl and Bridge standing20 upon the verandah waiting his coming, and as he approached them and they caught a nearer view of his great burden of provisions they hailed him with loud acclaim21.
“Some artist!” cried the man. “And to think that I doubted your ability to make a successful touch! Forgive me! You are the ne plus ultra, non est cumquidibus, in hoc signo vinces, only and original kind of hand-out compellers.”
“How in the world did you do it?” asked the girl, rapturously.
“Oh, it's easy when you know how,” replied The Oskaloosa Kid carelessly, as, with the help of the others, he carried the fruits of his expedition into the kitchen. Here Bridge busied himself about the stove, adding more wood to the fire and scrubbing a portion of the top plate as clean as he could get it with such crude means as he could discover about the place.
The youth he sent to the nearby brook23 for water after selecting the least dirty of the several empty tin cans lying about the floor of the summer kitchen. He warned against the use of the water from the old well and while the boy was away cut a generous portion of the bacon into long, thin strips.
Shortly after, the water coming to the boil, Bridge lowered three eggs into it, glanced at his watch, greased one of the new cleaned stove lids with a piece of bacon rind and laid out as many strips of bacon as the lid would accommodate. Instantly the room was filled with the delicious odor of frying bacon.
“M-m-m-m!” gloated The Oskaloosa Kid. “I wish I had bo—asked for more. My! but I never smelled anything so good as that in all my life. Are you going to boil only three eggs? I could eat a dozen.”
“The can'll only hold three at a time,” explained Bridge. “We'll have some more boiling while we are eating these.” He borrowed his knife from the girl, who was slicing and buttering bread with it, and turned the bacon swiftly and deftly24 with the point, then he glanced at his watch. “The three minutes are up,” he announced and, with a couple of small, flat sticks saved for the purpose from the kindling25 wood, withdrew the eggs one at a time from the can.
“But we have no cups!” exclaimed The Oskaloosa Kid, in sudden despair.
Bridge laughed. “Knock an end off your egg and the shell will answer in place of a cup. Got a knife?”
The Kid didn't. Bridge eyed him quizzically. “You must have done most of your burgling near home,” he commented.
“I'm not a burglar!” cried the youth indignantly. Somehow it was very different when this nice voiced man called him a burglar from bragging26 of the fact himself to such as The Sky Pilot's villainous company, or the awestruck, open-mouthed Willie Case whose very expression invited heroics.
Bridge made no reply, but his eyes wandered to the right hand side pocket of the boy's coat. Instantly the latter glanced guiltily downward to flush redly at the sight of several inches of pearl necklace protruding28 accusingly therefrom. The girl, a silent witness of the occurrence, was brought suddenly and painfully to a realization29 of her present position and recollection of the happenings of the preceding night. For the time she had forgotten that she was alone in the company of a tramp and a burglar—how much worse either might be she could only guess.
The breakfast, commenced so auspiciously30, continued in gloomy silence. At least the girl and The Oskaloosa Kid were silent and gloom steeped. Bridge was thoughtful but far from morose31. His spirits were unquenchable.
“I am afraid,” he said, “that I shall have to replace James. His defection is unforgivable, and he has misplaced the finger-bowls.”
The youth and the girl forced wan27 smiles; but neither spoke. Bridge drew a pouch32 of tobacco and some papers from an inside pocket.
“'I had the makings and I smoked
“'And wondered over different things,
“'Thinkin' as how this old world joked
“'In callin' only some men kings
“'While I sat there a-blowin' rings.'”
He paused to kindle33 a sliver34 of wood at the stove. “In these parlous35 times,” he spoke as though to himself, “one must economize36. They are taking a quarter of an ounce out of each five cents worth of chewing, I am told; so doubtless each box must be five or six matches short of full count. Even these papers seem thinner than of yore and they will only sell one book to a customer at that. Indeed Sherman was right.”
The youth and the girl remained occupied with their own thoughts, and after a moment's silence the vagabond resumed:
“'Me? I was king of anywhere,
“'Peggin' away at nothing, hard.
“'Havin' no pet, particular care;
“'Havin' no trouble, or no pard;
“'"Just me,” filled up my callin' card.' “Say, do you know I've learned to love this Knibbs person. I used to think of him as a poor attic37 prune38 grinding away in his New York sky parlor39, writing his verse of the things he longed for but had never known; until, one day, I met a fellow between Victorville and Cajon pass who knew His Knibbs, and come to find out this Knibbs is a regular fellow. His attic covers all God's country that is out of doors and he knows the road from La Bajada hill to Barstow a darned sight better than he knows Broadway.”
There was no answering sympathy awakened40 in either of his listeners—they remained mute. Bridge rose and stretched. He picked up his knife, wiped off the blade, closed it and slipped it into a trousers' pocket. Then he walked toward the door. At the threshold he paused and turned. “'Good-bye girls! I'm through,'” he quoted and passed out into the sunlight.
Instantly the two within were on their feet and following him.
“Where are you going?” cried The Oskaloosa Kid. “You're not going to leave us, are you?”
“Oh, please don't!” pleaded the girl.
“I don't know,” said Bridge, solemnly, “whether I'm safe in remaining in your society or not. This Oskaloosa Kid is a bad proposition; and as for you, young lady, I rather imagine that the town constable41 is looking for you right now.”
The girl winced42. “Please don't,” she begged. “I haven't done anything wicked, honestly! But I want to get away so that they can't question me. I was in the car when they killed him; but I had nothing to do with it. It is just because of my father that I don't want them to find me. It would break his heart.”
As the three stood back of the Squibbs' summer kitchen Fate, in the guise43 of a rural free delivery carrier and a Ford44, passed by the front gate. A mile beyond he stopped at the Case mail box where Jeb and his son Willie were, as usual, waiting his coming, for the rural free delivery man often carries more news than is contained in his mail sacks.
“Mornin' Jeb,” he called, as he swerved45 his light car from the road and drew up in front of the Case gate.
“Mornin', Jim!” returned Mr. Case. “Nice rain we had last night. What's the news?”
“Plenty! Plenty!” exclaimed the carrier. “Lived here nigh onto forty year, man an' boy, an' never seen such work before in all my life.”
“Ol' man Baggs's murdered last night,” announced the carrier, watching eagerly for the effect of his announcement.
“I dunno,” replied Jim. “He's up to the horspital now, an' the doc says he haint one chance in a thousand.”
“Gosh!” exclaimed Mr. Case.
“But thet ain't all,” continued Jim. “Reggie Paynter was murdered last night, too; right on the pike south of town. They threw his corpse49 outen a ottymobile.”
“By gol!” cried Jeb Case; “I hearn them devils go by last night 'bout midnight er after. 'T woke me up. They must o' ben goin' sixty mile an hour. Er say,” he stopped to scratch his head. “Mebby it was tramps. They must a ben a score on 'em round here yesterday and las' night an' agin this mornin'. I never seed so dum many bums50 in my life.”
“An' thet ain't all,” went on the carrier, ignoring the other's comments. “Oakdale's all tore up. Abbie Prim51's disappeared and Jonas Prim's house was robbed jest about the same time Ol' man Baggs 'uz murdered, er most murdered—chances is he's dead by this time anyhow. Doc said he hadn't no chance.”
“Gosh!” It was a pater-filius duet.
“But thet ain't all,” gloated Jim. “Two of the persons in the car with Reggie Paynter were recognized, an' who do you think one of 'em was, eh? Why one of 'em was Abbie Prim an' tother was a slick crook52 from Toledo er Noo York that's called The Oskaloosie Kid. By gum, I'll bet they get 'em in no time. Why already Jonas Prim's got a regular dee-dectiff down from Chicago, an' the board o' select-men's offered a re-ward o' fifty dollars fer the arrest an' conviction of the perpetrators of these dastardly crimes!”
“Gosh!” cried Willie Case. “I know—“; but then he paused. If he told all he knew he saw plainly that either the carrier or his father would profit by it and collect the reward. Fifty dollars!! Willie gasped.
“Well,” said Jim, “I gotta be on my way. Here's the Tribune—there ain't nothin' more fer ye. So long! Giddap!” and he was gone.
“I don' see why he don't carry a whip,” mused53 Jeb Case. “A-gidappin' to that there tin lizzie,” he muttered disgustedly, “jes' like it was as good as a hoss. But I mind the time, the fust day he got the dinged thing, he gets out an' tries to lead it by Lem Smith's threshin' machine.”
Jeb Case preferred an audience worthy54 his mettle55; but Willie was better than no one, yet when he turned to note the effect of his remarks on his son, Willie was no where to be seen. If Jeb had but known it his young hopeless was already in the loft56 of the hay barn deep in a small, red-covered book entitled: “HOW TO BE A DETECTIVE.”
Bridge, who had had no intention of deserting his helpless companions, appeared at last to yield reluctantly to their pleas. That indefinable something about the youth which appealed strongly to the protective instinct in the man, also assured him that the other's mask of criminality was for the most part assumed even though the stories of the two yeggmen and the loot bulging57 pockets argued to the contrary. There was the chance, however, that the boy had really taken the first step upon the road toward a criminal career, and if such were the case Bridge felt morally obligated to protect his new found friend from arrest, secure in the reflection that his own precept58 and example would do more to lead him back into the path of rectitude than would any police magistrate59 or penal60 institute.
For the girl he felt a deep pity. In the past he had had knowledge of more than one other small-town girl led into wrong doing through the deadly monotony and flagrant hypocrisy61 of her environment. Himself highly imaginative and keenly sensitive, he realized with what depth of horror the girl anticipated a return to her home and friends after the childish escapade which had culminated62, even through no fault of hers, in criminal tragedy of the most sordid63 sort.
As the three held a council of war at the rear of the deserted64 house they were startled by the loud squeaking65 of brake bands on the road in front. Bridge ran quickly into the kitchen and through to the front room where he saw three men alighting from a large touring car which had drawn66 up before the sagging67 gate. As the foremost man, big and broad shouldered, raised his eyes to the building Bridge smothered68 an exclamation69 of surprise and chagrin71, nor did he linger to inspect the other members of the party; but turned and ran quickly back to his companions.
“We've got to beat it!” he whispered; “they've brought Burton himself down here.”
“Who's Burton?” demanded the youth.
“He's the best operative west of New York City,” replied Bridge, as he moved rapidly toward an outhouse directly in rear of the main building.
Once behind the small, dilapidated structure which had once probably housed farm implements72, Bridge paused and looked about. “They'll search here,” he prophesied73, and then; “Those woods look good to me.”
The Squibbs' woods, growing rank in the damp ravine at the bottom of the little valley, ran to within a hundred feet of the out-building. Dense74 undergrowth choked the ground to a height of eight or ten feet around the boles of the close set trees. If they could gain the seclusion75 of that tangled76 jungle there was little likelihood of their being discovered, provided they were not seen as they passed across the open space between their hiding place and the wood.
“We'd better make a break for it,” advised Bridge, and a moment later the three moved cautiously toward the wood, keeping the out-house between themselves and the farm house. Almost in front of them as they neared the wood they saw a well defined path leading into the thicket77. Single-file they entered, to be almost instantly hidden from view, not only from the house but from any other point more than a dozen paces away, for the path was winding78, narrow and closely walled by the budding verdure of the new Spring. Birds sang or twittered about them, the mat of dead leaves oozed79 spongily beneath their feet, giving forth80 no sound as they passed, save a faint sucking noise as a foot was lifted from each watery81 seat.
Bridge was in the lead, moving steadily82 forward that they might put as much distance as possible between themselves and the detective should the latter chance to explore the wood. They had advanced a few hundred yards when the path crossed through a small clearing the center of which was destitute83 of fallen leaves. Here the path was beaten into soft mud and as Bridge came to it he stopped and bent his gaze incredulously upon the ground. The girl and the youth, halting upon either side, followed the direction of his eyes with theirs. The girl gave a little, involuntary gasp48, and the boy grasped Bridge's hand as though fearful of losing him. The man turned a quizzical glance at each of them and smiled, though a bit ruefully.
“It beats me,” he said.
“What can it be?” whispered the boy.
“Oh, let's go back,” begged the girl.
“And go along to father with Burton?” asked Bridge.
The girl trembled and shook her head. “I would rather die,” she said, firmly. “Come, let's go on.”
The cause of their perturbation was imprinted84 deeply in the mud of the pathway—the irregular outlines of an enormous, naked, human foot—a great, uncouth85 foot that bespoke86 a monster of another world. While, still more uncanny, in view of what they had heard in the farm house during the previous night, there lay, sometimes partially87 obliterated88 by the footprints of the THING, the impress of a small, bare foot—a woman's or a child's—and over both an irregular scoring that might have been wrought89 by a dragging chain!
In the loft of his father's hay barn Willie Case delved90 deep into the small red-covered volume, HOW TO BE A DETECTIVE; but though he turned many pages and flitted to and fro from preface to conclusion he met only with disappointment. The pictures of noted91 bank burglars and confidence men aided him not one whit92, for in none of them could he descry93 the slightest resemblance to the smooth faced youth of the early morning. In fact, so totally different were the types shown in the little book that Willie was forced to scratch his head and exclaim “Gosh!” many times in an effort to reconcile the appearance of the innocent boy to the hardened, criminal faces he found portrayed94 upon the printed pages.
“But, by gol!” he exclaimed mentally, “he said he was The Oskaloosie Kid, 'n' that he shot a man last night; but what I'd like to know is how I'm goin' to shadder him from this here book. Here it says: 'If the criminal gets on a street car and then jumps off at the next corner the good detective will know that his man is aware that he is being shadowed, and will stay on the car and telephone his office at the first opportunity.' 'N'ere it sez: 'If your man gets into a carriage don't run up an' jump on the back of it; but simply hire another carriage and follow.' How in hek kin22 I foller this book?” wailed95 Willie. “They ain't no street cars 'round here. I ain't never seen a street car, 'n'as fer a carriage, I reckon he means bus, they's only one on 'em in Oakdale 'n'if they waz forty I'd like to know how in hek I'd hire one when I ain't got no money. I reckon I threw away my four-bits on this book—it don't tell a feller nothin' 'bout false whiskers, wigs96 'n' the like,” and he tossed the book disgustedly into a corner, rose and descended97 to the barnyard. Here he busied himself about some task that should have been attended to a week before, and which even now was not destined98 to be completed that day, since Willie had no more than set himself to it than his attention was distracted by the sudden appearance of a touring car being brought to a stop in front of the gate.
Instantly Willie dropped his irksome labor99 and slouched lazily toward the machine, the occupants of which were descending100 and heading for the Case front door. Jeb Case met them before they reached the porch and Willie lolled against a pillar listening eagerly to all that was said.
The most imposing101 figure among the strangers was the same whom Bridge had seen approaching the Squibbs' house a short time before. It was he who acted as spokesman for the newcomers.
“As you may know,” he said, after introducing himself, “a number of crimes were committed in and around Oakdale last night. We are searching for clews to the perpetrators, some of whom must still be in the neighborhood. Have you seen any strange or suspicious characters around lately?”
“I should say we hed,” exclaimed Jeb emphatically.
“I seen the wo'st lookin' gang o' bums come outen my hay barn this mornin' thet I ever seed in my life. They must o' ben upward of a dozen on 'em. They waz makin' fer the house when I steps in an' grabs my ol' shot gun. I hollered at 'em not to come a step nigher 'n' I guess they seed it wa'n't safe monkeyin' with me; so they skidaddled.”
“Which way did they go?” asked Burton.
“Off down the road yonder; but I don't know which way they turned at the crossin's, er ef they kept straight on toward Millsville.”
Burton asked a number of questions in an effort to fix the identity of some of the gang, warned Jeb to telephone him at Jonas Prim's if he saw anything further of the strangers, and then retraced102 his steps toward the car. Not once had Jeb mentioned the youth who had purchased supplies from him that morning, and the reason was that Jeb had not considered the young man of sufficient importance, having cataloged him mentally as an unusually early specimen103 of the summer camper with which he was more or less familiar.
Willie, on the contrary, realized the importance of their morning customer, yet just how he was to cash in on his knowledge was not yet entirely105 clear. He was already convinced that HOW TO BE A DETECTIVE would help him not at all, and with the natural suspicion of ignorance he feared to divulge106 his knowledge to the city detective for fear that the latter would find the means to cheat him out of the princely reward offered by the Oakdale village board. He thought of going at once to the Squibbs' house and placing the desperate criminals under arrest; but as fear throttled107 the idea in its infancy108 he cast about for some other plan.
Even as he stood there thinking the great detective and his companions were entering the automobile109 to drive away. In a moment they would be gone. Were they not, after all, the very men, the only men, in fact, to assist him in his dilemma110? At least he could test them out. If necessary he would divide the reward with them! Running toward the road Willie shouted to the departing sleuth. The car, moving slowly forward in low, came again to rest. Willie leaped to the running board.
Detective Burton was too old a hand to ignore even the most seemingly impossible of aids. He laid a kindly112 hand on Willie's shoulder. “You bet you do,” he replied heartily113, “and what's more I'll add another fifty to it. What do you know?”
“I seen the murderer this mornin',” Willie was gasping114 with excitement and elation115. Already the one hundred dollars was as good as his. One hundred dollars! Willie “Goshed!” mentally even as he told his tale. “He come to our house an' bought some vittles an' stuff. Paw didn't know who he wuz; but when Paw went inside he told me he was The Oskaloosie Kid 'n' thet he robbed a house last night and killed a man, 'n' he had a whole pocket full o' money, 'n' he said he'd kill me ef I told.”
Detective Burton could scarce restrain a smile as he listened to this wildly improbable tale, yet his professional instinct was too keen to permit him to cast aside as worthless the faintest evidence until he had proven it to be worthless. He stepped from the car again and motioning to Willie to follow him returned to the Case yard where Jeb was already coming toward the gate, having noted the interest which his son was arousing among the occupants of the car. Willie pulled at the detective's sleeve. “Don't tell Paw about the reward,” he begged; “he'll keep it all hisself.”
Burton reassured116 the boy with a smile and a nod, and then as he neared Jeb he asked him if a young man had been at his place that morning asking for food.
“Sure,” replied Jeb; “but he didn't 'mount to nothin'. One o' these here summer camper pests. He paid fer all he got. Had a roll o' bills 's big as ye fist. Little feller he were, not much older 'n' Willie.”
“Did you know that he told your son that he was The Oskaloosa Kid and that he had robbed a house and killed a man last night?”
“Huh?” exclaimed Jeb. Then he turned and cast one awful look at Willie—a look large with menace.
“Honest, Paw,” pleaded the boy. “I was a-scairt to tell you, 'cause he said he'd kill me ef I told.”
Jeb scratched his head. “Yew know what you'll get ef you're lyin' to me,” he threatened.
“I believe he's telling the truth,” said detective Burton. “Where is the man now?” he asked Willie.
“Down to the Squibbs' place,” and Willie jerked a dirty thumb toward the east.
“Not now,” said Burton; “we just came from there; but there has been someone there this morning, for there is still a fire in the kitchen range. Does anyone live there?”
“I should say not,” said Willie emphatically; “the place is haunted.”
“Thet's right,” interjected Jeb. “Thet's what they do say, an' this here Oskaloosie Kid said they heered things las' night an' seed a dead man on the floor, didn't he M'randy?” M'randy nodded her head.
“But I don't take no stock in what Willie's ben tellin' ye,” she continued, “'n' ef his paw don't lick him I will. I told him tell I'm good an' tired o' talkin' thet one liar104 'round a place wuz all I could stand,” and she cast a meaning glance at her husband.
“Honest, Maw, I ain't a-lyin',” insisted Willie. “Wot do you suppose he give me this fer, if it wasn't to keep me from talkin',” and the boy drew a crumpled117 one dollar bill from his pocket. It was worth the dollar to escape a thrashing.
“'N' thet ain't all he had neither,” he said. “Beside all them bills he showed me a whole pocket full o' jewlry, 'n' he had a string o' things thet I don't know jest what you call 'em; but they looked like they was made outen the inside o' clam70 shells only they was all round like marbles.”
Detective Burton raised his eyebrows119. “Miss Prim's pearl necklace,” he commented to the man at his side. The other nodded. “Don't punish your son, Mrs. Case,” he said to the woman. “I believe he has discovered a great deal that will help us in locating the man we want. Of course I am interested principally in finding Miss Prim—her father has engaged me for that purpose; but I think the arrest of the perpetrators of any of last night's crimes will put us well along on the trail of the missing young lady, as it is almost a foregone conclusion that there is a connection between her disappearance121 and some of the occurrences which have so excited Oakdale. I do not mean that she was a party to any criminal act; but it is more than possible that she was abducted122 by the same men who later committed the other crimes.”
The Cases hung open-mouthed upon his words, while his companions wondered at the loquaciousness123 of this ordinarily close-mouthed man, who, as a matter of fact, was but attempting to win the confidence of the boy on the chance that even now he had not told all that he knew; but Willie had told all.
Finding, after a few minutes further conversation, that he could glean124 no additional information the detective returned to his car and drove west toward Millsville on the assumption that the fugitives125 would seek escape by the railway running through that village. Only thus could he account for their turning off the main pike. The latter was now well guarded all the way to Payson; while the Millsville road was still open.
No sooner had he departed than Willie Case disappeared, nor did he answer at noon to the repeated ringing of the big, farm dinner bell.
Half way between the Case farm and Millsville detective Burton saw, far ahead along the road, two figures scale a fence and disappear behind the fringing blackberry bushes which grew in tangled profusion126 on either side. When they came abreast127 of the spot he ordered the driver to stop; but though he scanned the open field carefully he saw no sign of living thing.
“There are two men hiding behind those bushes,” he said to his companions in a low whisper. “One of you walk ahead about fifty yards and the other go back the same distance and then climb the fence. When I see you getting over I'll climb it here. They can't get away from us.” To the driver he said: “You have a gun. If they make a break go after 'em. You can shoot if they don't stop when you tell 'em to.”
The two men walked in opposite directions along the road, and when Burton saw them turn in and start to climb the fence he vaulted128 over the panel directly opposite the car. He had scarcely alighted upon the other side when his eyes fell upon the disreputable figures of two tramps stretched out upon their backs and snoring audibly. Burton grinned.
“You two sure can go to sleep in a hurry,” he said. One of the men opened his eyes and sat up. When he saw who it was that stood over him he grinned sheepishly.
“Can't a guy lie down fer a minute in de bushes widout bein' pinched?” he asked. The other man now sat up and viewed the newcomer, while from either side Burton's companions closed in on the three.
“Wot's de noise?” inquired the second tramp, looking from one to another of the intruders. “We ain't done nothin'.”
“Of course not, Charlie,” Burton assured him gaily129. “Who would ever suspect that you or The General would do anything; but somebody did something in Oakdale last night and I want to take you back there and have a nice, long talk with you. Put your hands up!”
“We—.”
“Put 'em up!” snapped Burton, and when the four grimy fists had been elevated he signalled to his companions to search the two men.
Nothing more formidable than knives, dope, and a needle were found upon them.
“Say,” drawled Dopey Charlie. “We knows wot we knows; but hones' to gawd we didn't have nothin' to do wid it. We knows the guy that pulled it off—we spent las' night wid him an' his pal120 an' a skoit. He creased130 me, here,” and Charlie unbuttoned his clothing and exposed to view the bloody131 scratch of The Oskaloosa Kid's bullet. “On de level, Burton, we wern't in on it. Dis guy was at dat Squibbs' place wen we pulls in dere outen de rain. He has a pocket full o' kale an' sparklers an' tings, and he goes fer to shoot me up wen I tries to get away.”
“Who was he?” asked Burton.
“He called hisself de Oskaloosa Kid,” replied Charlie. “A guy called Bridge was wid him. You know him?”
“I've heard of him; but he's straight,” replied Burton. “Who was the skirt?”
“I dunno,” said Charlie; “but she was gassin' 'bout her pals132 croakin' a guy an' turnin' 'im outten a gas wagon133, an' dis Oskaloosa Kid he croaks134 some old guy in Oakdale las' night. Mebby he ain't a bad 'un though!”
“Where are they now?” asked Burton.
“We got away from 'em at the Squibbs' place this mornin',” said Charlie.
“Well,” said Burton, “you boes come along with me. If you ain't done nothing the worst you'll get'll be three squares and a place to sleep for a few days. I want you where I can lay my hands on you when I need a couple of witnesses,” and he herded135 them over the fence and into the machine. As he himself was about to step in he felt suddenly of his breast pocket.
“What's the matter?” asked one of his companions.
“I've lost my note book,” replied Burton; “it must have dropped out of my pocket when I jumped the fence. Just wait a minute while I go look for it,” and he returned to the fence, vaulted it and disappeared behind the bushes.
It was fully13 five minutes before he returned but when he did there was a look of satisfaction on his face.
“Find it?” asked his principal lieutenant136.
“Yep,” replied Burton. “I wouldn't have lost it for anything.”
Bridge and his companions had made their way along the wooded path for perhaps a quarter of a mile when the man halted and drew back behind the foliage137 of a flowering bush. With raised finger he motioned the others to silence and then pointed138 through the branches ahead. The boy and the girl, tense with excitement, peered past the man into a clearing in which stood a log shack139, mud plastered; but it was not the hovel which held their mute attention—it was rather the figure of a girl, bare headed and bare footed, who toiled140 stubbornly with an old spade at a long, narrow excavation141.
All too suggestive in itself was the shape of the hole the girl was digging; there was no need of the silent proof of its purpose which lay beside her to tell the watchers that she worked alone in the midst of the forest solitude142 upon a human grave. The thing wrapped in an old quilt lay silently waiting for the making of its last bed.
And as the three watched her other eyes watched them and the digging girl—wide, awestruck eyes, filled with a great terror, yet now and again half closing in the shrewd expression of cunning that is a hall mark of crafty143 ignorance.
And as they watched, their over-wrought nerves suddenly shuddered144 to the grewsome clanking of a chain from the dark interior of the hovel.
The youth, holding tight to Bridge's sleeve, strove to pull him away.
“Let's go back,” he whispered in a voice that trembled so that he could scarce control it.
“Yes, please,” urged the girl. “Here is another path leading toward the north. We must be close to a road. Let's get away from here.”
The digger paused and raised her head, listening, as though she had caught the faint, whispered note of human voices. She was a black haired girl of nineteen or twenty, dressed in a motley of flowered calico and silk, with strings145 of gold and silver coins looped around her olive neck. Her bare arms were encircled by bracelets—some cheap and gaudy146, others well wrought from gold and silver. From her ears depended ornaments147 fashioned from gold coins. Her whole appearance was barbaric, her occupation cast a sinister148 haze149 about her; and yet her eyes seemed fashioned for laughter and her lips for kissing.
The watchers remained motionless as the girl peered first in one direction and then in another, seeking an explanation of the sounds which had disturbed her. Her brows were contracted into a scowl150 of apprehension151 which remained even after she returned to her labors152, and that she was ill at ease was further evidenced by the frequent pauses she made to cast quick glances toward the dense tanglewood surrounding the clearing.
At last the grave was dug. The girl climbed out and stood looking down upon the quilt wrapped thing at her feet. For a moment she stood there as silent and motionless as the dead. Only the twittering of birds disturbed the quiet of the wood. Bridge felt a soft hand slipped into his and slender fingers grip his own. He turned his eyes to see the boy at his side gazing with wide eyes and trembling lips at the tableau153 within the clearing. Involuntarily the man's hand closed tightly upon the youth's.
And as they stood thus the silence was shattered by a loud and human sneeze from the thicket not fifty feet from where they stood. Instantly the girl in the clearing was electrified154 into action. Like a tigress charging those who stalked her she leaped swiftly across the clearing toward the point from which the disturbance155 had come. There was an answering commotion156 in the underbrush as the girl crashed through, a slender knife gleaming in her hand.
Bridge and his companions heard the sounds of a swift and short pursuit followed by voices, one masterful, the other frightened and whimpering; and a moment afterward157 the girl reappeared dragging a boy with her—a wide-eyed, terrified, country boy who begged and blubbered to no avail.
Beside the dead man the girl halted and then turned on her captive. In her right hand she still held the menacing blade.
“What you do there watching me for?” she demanded. “Tell me the truth, or I kill you,” and she half raised the knife that he might profit in his decision by this most potent158 of arguments.
The boy cowered159. “I didn't come fer to watch you,” he whimpered. “I'm lookin' for somebody else. I'm goin' to be a dee-tectiff, an' I'm shadderin' a murderer;” and he gasped and stammered160: “But not you. I'm lookin' for another murderer.”
For the first time the watchers saw a faint smile touch the girl's lips.
“What other murderer?” she asked. “Who has been murdered?”
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收听单词发音
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1
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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2
jewelry
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| n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝 | |
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3
bragged
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| v.自夸，吹嘘( brag的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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4
tersely
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| adv. 简捷地, 简要地 | |
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5
confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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6
denomination
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| n.命名，取名，(度量衡、货币等的)单位 | |
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7
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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8
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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9
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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10
provender
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| n.刍草；秣料 | |
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11
mite
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| n.极小的东西；小铜币 | |
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12
awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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13
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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14
bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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15
proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16
fervently
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| adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地 | |
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17
plodded
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| v.沉重缓慢地走（路）( plod的过去式和过去分词 )；努力从事；沉闷地苦干；缓慢进行（尤指艰难枯燥的工作） | |
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18
literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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19
gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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20
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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21
acclaim
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| v.向…欢呼，公认；n.欢呼，喝彩，称赞 | |
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22
kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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23
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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24
deftly
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| adv.灵巧地，熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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25
kindling
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| n. 点火, 可燃物 动词kindle的现在分词形式 | |
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26
bragging
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| v.自夸，吹嘘( brag的现在分词 )；大话 | |
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27
wan
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| (wide area network)广域网 | |
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28
protruding
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸 | |
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29
realization
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| n.实现；认识到，深刻了解 | |
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30
auspiciously
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| adv.吉利； 繁荣昌盛； 前途顺利； 吉祥 | |
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31
morose
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| adj.脾气坏的，不高兴的 | |
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32
pouch
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| n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件 | |
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33
kindle
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| v.点燃，着火 | |
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34
sliver
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| n.裂片，细片，梳毛；v.纵切，切成长片，剖开 | |
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35
parlous
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| adj.危险的，不确定的，难对付的 | |
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36
economize
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| v.节约，节省 | |
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37
attic
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| n.顶楼，屋顶室 | |
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38
prune
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| n.酶干；vt.修剪，砍掉，削减；vi.删除 | |
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39
parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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40
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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41
constable
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| n.(英国)警察，警官 | |
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42
winced
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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43
guise
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| n.外表，伪装的姿态 | |
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44
Ford
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| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
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45
swerved
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| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
scenting
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| vt.闻到（scent的现在分词形式） | |
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47
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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48
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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49
corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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50
bums
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| n. 游荡者，流浪汉，懒鬼，闹饮，屁股 adj. 没有价值的，不灵光的，不合理的 vt. 令人失望，乞讨 vi. 混日子，以乞讨为生 | |
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51
prim
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| adj.拘泥形式的，一本正经的；n.循规蹈矩，整洁；adv.循规蹈矩地，整洁地 | |
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52
crook
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| v.使弯曲；n.小偷，骗子，贼；弯曲(处) | |
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53
mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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54
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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55
mettle
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| n.勇气，精神 | |
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56
loft
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| n.阁楼，顶楼 | |
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57
bulging
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| 膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱 | |
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58
precept
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| n.戒律；格言 | |
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59
magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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60
penal
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| adj.刑罚的；刑法上的 | |
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61
hypocrisy
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| n.伪善，虚伪 | |
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62
culminated
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| v.达到极点( culminate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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63
sordid
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| adj.肮脏的，不干净的，卑鄙的，暗淡的 | |
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64
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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65
squeaking
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| v.短促地尖叫( squeak的现在分词 )；吱吱叫；告密；充当告密者 | |
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66
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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67
sagging
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| 下垂[沉，陷]，松垂，垂度 | |
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68
smothered
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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69
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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70
clam
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| n.蛤，蛤肉 | |
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71
chagrin
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| n.懊恼；气愤；委屈 | |
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72
implements
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| n.工具( implement的名词复数 )；家具；手段；[法律]履行（契约等）v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 )；执行；贯彻；使生效 | |
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73
prophesied
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| v.预告，预言( prophesy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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74
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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75
seclusion
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| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
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76
tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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77
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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78
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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79
oozed
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| v.（浓液等）慢慢地冒出，渗出( ooze的过去式和过去分词 )；使（液体）缓缓流出；（浓液）渗出，慢慢流出 | |
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80
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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81
watery
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| adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的 | |
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82
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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83
destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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84
imprinted
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| v.盖印（imprint的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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85
uncouth
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| adj.无教养的，粗鲁的 | |
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86
bespoke
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| adj.（产品）订做的；专做订货的v.预定( bespeak的过去式 )；订（货）；证明；预先请求 | |
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87
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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88
obliterated
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| v.除去( obliterate的过去式和过去分词 )；涂去；擦掉；彻底破坏或毁灭 | |
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89
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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90
delved
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| v.深入探究，钻研( delve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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91
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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92
whit
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| n.一点，丝毫 | |
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93
descry
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| v.远远看到；发现；责备 | |
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94
portrayed
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| v.画像( portray的过去式和过去分词 )；描述；描绘；描画 | |
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95
wailed
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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96
wigs
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| n.假发，法官帽( wig的名词复数 ) | |
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97
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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98
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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99
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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100
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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101
imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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102
retraced
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| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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103
specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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104
liar
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| n.说谎的人 | |
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105
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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106
divulge
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| v.泄漏(秘密等)；宣布，公布 | |
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107
throttled
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| v.扼杀( throttle的过去式和过去分词 )；勒死；使窒息；压制 | |
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108
infancy
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| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
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109
automobile
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| n.汽车，机动车 | |
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110
dilemma
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| n.困境，进退两难的局面 | |
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111
hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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112
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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113
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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114
gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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115
elation
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| n.兴高采烈，洋洋得意 | |
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116
reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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117
crumpled
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| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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118
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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119
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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120
pal
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| n.朋友，伙伴，同志；vi.结为友 | |
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121
disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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122
abducted
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| 劫持，诱拐( abduct的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（肢体等）外展 | |
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123
loquaciousness
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| n.loquacious（多话的）的变形 | |
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124
glean
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| v.收集(消息、资料、情报等) | |
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125
fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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126
profusion
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| n.挥霍；丰富 | |
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127
abreast
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| adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地 | |
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128
vaulted
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| adj.拱状的 | |
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129
gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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130
creased
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| （使…）起折痕，弄皱( crease的过去式和过去分词 )； （皮肤）皱起，使起皱纹； 皱皱巴巴 | |
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131
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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132
pals
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| n.朋友( pal的名词复数 )；老兄；小子；（对男子的不友好的称呼）家伙 | |
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133
wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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134
croaks
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| v.呱呱地叫( croak的第三人称单数 )；用粗的声音说 | |
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135
herded
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| 群集，纠结( herd的过去式和过去分词 )； 放牧； （使）向…移动 | |
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136
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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137
foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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138
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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139
shack
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| adj.简陋的小屋，窝棚 | |
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140
toiled
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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141
excavation
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| n.挖掘，发掘；被挖掘之地 | |
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142
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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143
crafty
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| adj.狡猾的，诡诈的 | |
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144
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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145
strings
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| n.弦 | |
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146
gaudy
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| adj.华而不实的；俗丽的 | |
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147
ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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148
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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149
haze
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| n.霾，烟雾；懵懂，迷糊；vi.(over)变模糊 | |
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150
scowl
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| vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容 | |
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151
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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152
labors
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| v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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153
tableau
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| n.画面，活人画（舞台上活人扮的静态画面） | |
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154
electrified
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| v.使电气化( electrify的过去式和过去分词 )；使兴奋 | |
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155
disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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156
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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157
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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158
potent
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| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
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159
cowered
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的过去式 ) | |
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160
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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