The show over Willie set forth9 afoot for home. A long walk lay ahead of him. This in itself was bad enough; but what lay at the end of the long walk was infinitely10 worse, as Willie's father had warned him to return immediately after the inquest, in time for milking, preferably. Before he had gone two blocks from the theater Willie had concocted13 at least three tales to account for his tardiness14, either one of which would have done credit to the imaginative powers of a Rider Haggard or a Jules Verne; but at the end of the third block he caught a glimpse of something which drove all thoughts of home from his mind and came but barely short of driving his mind out too. He was approaching the entrance to an alley15. Old trees grew in the parkway at his side. At the street corner a half block away a high flung arc swung gently from its supporting cables, casting a fair light upon the alley's mouth, and just emerging from behind the nearer fence Willie Case saw the huge bulk of a bear. Terrified, Willie jumped behind a tree; and then, fearful lest the animal might have caught sight or scent16 of him he poked17 his head cautiously around the side of the bole just in time to see the figure of a girl come out of the alley behind the bear. Willie recognized her at the first glance—she was the very girl he had seen burying the dead man in the Squibbs woods. Instantly Willie Case was transformed again into the shrewd and death defying sleuth. At a safe distance he followed the girl and the bear through one alley after another until they came out upon the road which leads south from Payson. He was across the road when she joined Bridge and his companions. When they turned toward the old mill he followed them, listening close to the rotting clapboards for any chance remark which might indicate their future plans. He heard them debating the wisdom of remaining where they were for the night or moving on to another location which they had evidently decided18 upon but no clew to which they dropped.
“The objection to remaining here,” said Bridge, “is that we can't make a fire to cook by—it would be too plainly visible from the road.”
“But I can no fin11' road by dark,” explained Giova. “It bad road by day, ver' much worse by night. Beppo no come 'cross swamp by night. No, we got stay here til morning.”
“All right,” replied Bridge, “we can eat some of this canned stuff and have our ham and coffee after we reach camp tomorrow morning, eh?”
“And now that we've gotten through Payson safely,” suggested The Oskaloosa Kid, “let's change back into our own clothes. This disguise makes me feel too conspicuous19.”
Willie Case had heard enough. His quarry20 would remain where it was over night, and a moment later Willie was racing21 toward Payson and a telephone as fast as his legs would carry him.
In an old brick structure a hundred yards below the mill where the lighting22 machinery23 of Payson had been installed before the days of the great central power plant a hundred miles away four men were smoking as they lay stretched upon the floor.
“I tell you I seen him,” asserted one of the party. “I follered this Bridge guy from town to the mill. He was got up like a Gyp; but I knew him all right, all right. This scenery of his made me tink there was something phoney doin', or I wouldn't have trailed him, an' its a good ting I done it, fer he hadn't ben there five minutes before along comes The Kid an' a skirt and pretty soon a nudder chicken wid a calf24 on a string, er mebbie it was a sheep—it was pretty husky lookin' fer a sheep though. An' I sticks aroun' a minute until I hears this here Bridge guy call the first skirt 'Miss Prim25.'”
He ceased speaking to note the effect of his words on his hearers. They were electrical. The Sky Pilot sat up straight and slapped his thigh26. Soup Face opened his mouth, letting his pipe fall out into his lap, setting fire to his ragged27 trousers. Dirty Eddie voiced a characteristic obscenity.
“So you sees,” went on Columbus Blackie, “we got a chanct to get both the dame28 and The Kid. Two of us can take her to Oakdale an' claim the reward her old man's offerin' an' de odder two can frisk de Kid, an'—an'—.”
“Dere's de swamp handy,” suggested Soup Face.
“I was tinkin' of de swamp,” said Columbus Blackie.
“Eddie and I will return Miss Prim to her bereaved30 parents,” interrupted The Sky Pilot. “You, Blackie, and Soup Face can arrange matters with The Oskaloosa Kid. I don't care for details. We will all meet in Toledo as soon as possible and split the swag. We ought to make a cleaning on this job, boes.”
“You spit a mout'ful then,” said Columbus Blackie.
They fell to discussing way and means.
“We'd better wait until they're asleep,” counseled The Sky Pilot. “Two of us can tackle this Bridge and hand him the k.o. quick. Eddie and Soup Face had better attend to that. Blackie can nab The Kid an' I'll annex31 Miss Abigail Prim. The lady with the calf we don't want. We'll tell her we're officers of the law an' that she'd better duck with her live stock an' keep her trap shut if she don't want to get mixed up with a murder trial.”
Detective Burton was at the county jail in Oakdale administering the third degree to Dopey Charlie and The General when there came a long distance telephone call for him.
“Hello!” said the voice at the other end of the line; “I'm Willie Case, an' I've found Miss Abigail Prim.”
“Again?” queried Burton.
“Really,” asserted Willie. “I know where she's goin' to be all night. I heard 'em say so. The Oskaloosie Kid's with her an' annuder guy an' the girl I seen with the dead man in Squibbs' woods an' they got a BEAR!” It was almost a shriek32. “You'd better come right away an' bring Mr. Prim. I'll meet you on the ol' Toledo road right south of Payson, an' say, do I get the whole reward?”
“You'll get whatever's coming to you, son,” replied Burton. “You say there are two men and two women—are you sure that is all?”
“And the bear,” corrected Willie.
“All right, keep quiet and wait for me,” cautioned Burton. “You'll know me by the spot light on my car—I'll have it pointed33 straight up into the air. When you see it coming get into the middle of the road and wave your hands to stop us. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” said Willie.
“And don't talk to anyone,” Burton again cautioned him.
A few minutes later Burton left Oakdale with his two lieutenants34 and a couple of the local policemen, the car turning south toward Payson and moving at ever accelerating speed as it left the town streets behind it and swung smoothly35 onto the country road.
It was after midnight when four men cautiously approached the old mill. There was no light nor any sign of life within as they crept silently through the doorless doorway36. Columbus Blackie was in the lead. He flashed a quick light around the interior revealing four forms stretched upon the floor, deep in slumber37. Into the blacker shadows of the far end of the room the man failed to shine his light for the first flash had shown him those whom he sought. Picking out their quarry the intruders made a sudden rush upon the sleepers38.
Bridge awoke to find two men attempting to rain murderous blows upon his head. Wiry, strong and full of the vigor39 of a clean life, he pitted against their greater numbers and cowardly attack a defense40 which was infinitely more strenuous41 than they had expected.
Columbus Blackie leaped for The Oskaloosa Kid, while The Sky Pilot seized upon Abigail Prim. No one paid any attention to Giova, nor, with the noise and confusion, did the intruders note the sudden clanking of a chain from out the black depths of the room's further end, or the splintering of a half decayed studding.
Soup Face entangling42 himself about Bridge's legs succeeded in throwing the latter to the floor while Dirty Eddie kicked viciously at the prostrate44 man's head. The Sky Pilot seized Abigail Prim about the waist and dragged her toward the doorway and though the girl fought valiantly45 to free herself her lesser46 muscles were unable to cope successfully with those of the man. Columbus Blackie found his hands full with The Oskaloosa Kid. Again and again the youth struck him in the face; but the man persisted, beating down the slim hands and striking viciously at body and head until, at last, the boy, half stunned47 though still struggling, was dragged from the room.
Simultaneously48 a series of frightful49 growls50 reverberated52 through the deserted53 mill. A huge body catapulted into the midst of the fighters. Abigail Prim screamed. “The bear!” she cried. “The bear is loose!”
Dirty Eddie was the first to feel the weight of Beppo's wrath54. His foot drawn55 back to implant56 a vicious kick in Bridge's face he paused at the girl's scream and at the same moment a huge thing reared up before him. Just for an instant he sensed the terrifying presence of some frightful creature, caught the reflected gleam of two savage57 eyes and felt the hot breath from distended58 jaws59 upon his cheek, then Beppo swung a single terrific blow which caught the man upon the side of the head to spin him across the floor and drop him in a crumpled61 heap against the wall, with a fractured skull62. Dirty Eddie was out. Soup Face, giving voice to a scream more bestial63 than human, rose to his feet and fled in the opposite direction.
Beppo paused and looked about. He discovered Bridge lying upon the floor and sniffed64 at him. The man lay perfectly65 quiet. He had heard that often times a bear will not molest66 a creature which it thinks dead. Be that as it may Beppo chanced at that moment to glance toward the doorway. There, silhouetted67 against the lesser darkness without, he saw the figures of Columbus Blackie and The Oskaloosa Kid and with a growl51 he charged them. The two were but a few paces outside the doorway when the full weight of the great bear struck Columbus Blackie between the shoulders. Down went the man and as he fell he released his hold upon the youth who immediately turned and ran for the road.
The momentum68 of the bear carried him past the body of his intended victim who, frightened but uninjured, scrambled69 to his feet and dashed toward the rear of the mill in the direction of the woods and distant swamp. Beppo, recovering from his charge, wheeled in time to catch a glimpse of his quarry after whom he made with all the awkwardness that was his birthright and with the speed of a race horse.
Columbus Blackie, casting a terrified glance rearward, saw his Nemesis70 flashing toward him, and dodged71 around a large tree. Again Beppo shot past the man while the latter, now shrieking72 for help, raced madly in a new direction.
Bridge had arisen and come out of the mill. He called aloud for The Oskaloosa Kid. Giova answered him from a small tree. “Climb!” she cried. “Climb a tree! Ever'one climb a small tree. Beppo he go mad. He keel ever'one. Run! Climb! He keel me. Beppo he got evil-eye.”
Along the road from the north came a large touring car, swinging from side to side in its speed. Its brilliant headlights illuminated73 the road far ahead. They picked out The Sky Pilot and Abigail Prim, they found The Oskaloosa Kid climbing a barbed wire fence and then with complaining brakes the car came to a sudden stop. Six men leaped from the machine and rounded up the three they had seen. Another came running toward them. It was Soup Face, so thoroughly74 terrified that he would gladly have embraced a policeman in uniform, could the latter have offered him protection.
A boy accompanied the newcomers. “There he is!” he screamed, pointing at The Oskaloosa Kid. “There he is! And you've got Miss Prim, too, and when do I get the reward?”
“Shut up!” said one of the men.
“Watch this bunch,” said Burton to one of his lieutenants, “while we go after the rest of them. There are some over by the mill. I can hear them.”
Bridge ran forward to meet Burton. “Get that girl and the kid into your machine and beat it!” he cried. “There's a bear loose here, a regular devil of a bear. You can't do a thing unless you have rifles. Have you?”
“Who are you?” asked the detective.
“He's one of the gang,” yelled Willie Case from the fancied security of the tonneau. “Seize him!” He wanted to add: “My men”; but somehow his nerve failed him at the last moment; however he had the satisfaction of thinking it.
Bridge was placed in the car with Abigail Prim, The Oskaloosa Kid, Soup Face and The Sky Pilot. Burton sent the driver back to assist in guarding them; then he with the remaining three, two of whom were armed with rifles, advanced toward the mill. Beyond it they heard the growling78 of the bear at a little distance in the wood; but the man no longer made any outcry. From a tree Giova warned them back.
“Come down!” commanded Burton, and sent her back to the car.
The driver turned his spot light upon the wood beyond the mill and presently there came slowly forward into its rays the lumbering79 bulk of a large bear. The light bewildered him and he paused, growling. His left shoulder was partially80 exposed.
“Aim for his chest, on the left side,” whispered Burton. The two men raised their rifles. There were two reports in close succession. Beppo fell forward without a sound and then rolled over on his side. Giova covered her face with her hands and sobbed81.
“He ver' bad, ugly bear,” she said brokenly; “but he all I have to love.”
Bridge extended a hand and patted her bowed head. In the eyes of The Oskaloosa Kid there glistened82 something perilously83 similar to tears.
In the woods back of the mill Burton and his men found the mangled84 remains85 of Columbus Blackie, and when they searched the interior of the structure they brought forth the unconscious Dirty Eddie. As the car already was taxed to the limit of its carrying capacity Burton left two of his men to march The Kid and Bridge to the Payson jail, taking the others with him to Oakdale. He was also partially influenced in this decision by the fear that mob violence would be done the principals by Oakdale's outraged87 citizens. At Payson he stopped long enough at the town jail to arrange for the reception of the two prisoners, to notify the coroner of the death of Columbus Blackie and the whereabouts of his body and to place Dirty Eddie in the hospital. He then telephoned Jonas Prim that his daughter was safe and would be returned to him in less than an hour.
By the time Bridge and The Oskaloosa Kid reached Payson the town was in an uproar88. A threatening crowd met them a block from the jail; but Burton's men were armed with rifles which they succeeded in convincing the mob they would use if their prisoners were molested89. The telephone, however, had carried the word to Oakdale; so that before Burton arrived there a dozen automobile loads of indignant citizens were racing south toward Payson.
Bridge and The Oskaloosa Kid were hustled90 into the single cell of the Payson jail. A bench ran along two sides of the room. A single barred window let out upon the yard behind the structure. The floor was littered with papers, and a single electric light bulb relieved the gloom of the unsavory place.
The Oskaloosa Kid sank, trembling, upon one of the hard benches. Bridge rolled a cigaret91. At his feet lay a copy of that day's Oakdale Tribune. A face looked up from the printed page into his eyes. He stooped and took up the paper. The entire front page was devoted92 to the various crimes which had turned peaceful Oakdale inside out in the past twenty four hours. There were reproductions of photographs of John Baggs, Reginald Paynter, Abigail Prim, Jonas Prim, and his wife, with a large cut of the Prim mansion93, a star marking the boudoir of the missing daughter of the house. As Bridge examined the various pictures an odd expression entered his eyes—it was a mixture of puzzlement, incredulity, and relief. Tossing the paper aside he turned toward The Oskaloosa Kid. They could hear the sullen94 murmur95 of the crowd in front of the jail.
“If they get any booze,” he said, “they'll take us out of here and string us up. If you've got anything to say that would tend to convince them that you did not kill Paynter I advise you to call the guard and tell the truth, for if the mob gets us they might hang us first and listen afterward—a mob is not a nice thing. Beppo was an angel of mercy by comparison with one.”
“Could you convince them that you had no part in any of these crimes?” asked the boy. “I know that you didn't; but could you prove it to a mob?”
“No,” said Bridge. “A mob is not open to reason. If they get us I shall hang, unless someone happens to think of the stake.”
“Will you tell the truth?” asked the man.
“I will go with you,” replied the boy, “and take whatever you get.”
“Why?” asked Bridge.
The youth flushed; but did not reply, for there came from without a sudden augmentation of the murmurings of the mob. Automobile horns screamed out upon the night. The two heard the chugging of motors, the sound of brakes and the greetings of new arrivals. The reinforcements had arrived from Oakdale.
A guard came to the grating of the cell door. “The bunch from Oakdale has come,” he said. “If I was you I'd say my prayers. Old man Baggs is dead. No one never had no use for him while he was alive, but the whole county's het up now over his death. They're bound to get you, an' while I didn't count 'em all I seen about a score o' ropes. They mean business.”
Bridge turned toward the boy. “Tell the truth,” he said. “Tell this man.”
The youth shook his head. “I have killed no one,” said he. “That is the truth. Neither have you; but if they are going to murder you they can murder me too, for you stuck to me when you didn't have to; and I am going to stick to you, and there is some excuse for me because I have a reason—the best reason in the world.”
“What is it?” asked Bridge.
The Oskaloosa Kid shook his head, and once more he flushed.
“Well,” said the guard, with a shrug97 of his shoulders, “it's up to you guys. If you want to hang, why hang and be damned. We'll do the best we can 'cause it's our duty to protect you; but I guess at that hangin's too good fer you, an' we ain't a-goin' to get shot keepin' you from gettin' it.”
“Thanks,” said Bridge.
The uproar in front of the jail had risen in volume until it was difficult for those within to make themselves heard without shouting. The Kid sat upon his bench and buried his face in his hands. Bridge rolled another smoke. The sound of a shot came from the front room of the jail, immediately followed by a roar of rage from the mob and a deafening98 hammering upon the jail door. A moment later this turned to the heavy booming of a battering99 ram6 and the splintering of wood. The frail100 structure quivered beneath the onslaught.
The prisoners could hear the voices of the guards and the jailer raised in an attempt to reason with the unreasoning mob, and then came a final crash and the stamping of many feet upon the floor of the outer room.
Burton's car drew up before the doorway of the Prim home in Oakdale. The great detective alighted and handed down the missing Abigail. Then he directed that the other prisoners be taken to the county jail.
Jonas Prim and his wife awaited Abigail's return in the spacious101 living room at the left of the reception hall. The banker was nervous. He paced to and fro the length of the room. Mrs. Prim fanned herself vigorously although the heat was far from excessive. They heard the motor draw up in front of the house; but they did not venture into the reception hall or out upon the porch, though for different reasons. Mrs. Prim because it would not have been PROPER; Jonas because he could not trust himself to meet his daughter, whom he had thought lost, in the presence of a possible crowd which might have accompanied her home.
They heard the closing of an automobile door and the sound of foot steps coming up the concrete walk. The Prim butler was already waiting at the doorway with the doors swung wide to receive the prodigal102 daughter of the house of Prim. A slender figure with bowed head ascended103 the steps, guided and assisted by the detective. She did not look up at the expectant butler waiting for the greeting he was sure Abigail would have for him; but passed on into the reception hall.
“Your father and Mrs. Prim are in the living room,” announced the butler, stepping forward to draw aside the heavy hangings.
The girl, followed by Burton, entered the brightly lighted room.
“I am very glad, Mr. Prim,” said the latter, “to be able to return Miss Prim to you so quickly and unharmed.”
The girl looked up into the face of Jonas Prim. The man voiced an exclamation104 of surprise and annoyance105. Mrs. Prim gasped106 and sank upon a sofa. The girl stood motionless, her eyes once again bent107 upon the floor.
“What's the matter?” asked Burton. “What's wrong?”
“Everything is wrong, Mr. Burton,” Jonas Prim's voice was crisp and cold. “This is not my daughter.”
Burton looked his surprise and discomfiture108. He turned upon the girl.
“What do you mean—” he started; but she interrupted him.
“You are going to ask what I mean by posing as Miss Prim,” she said. “I have never said that I was Miss Prim. You took the word of an ignorant little farmer's boy and I did not deny it when I found that you intended bringing me to Mr. Prim, for I wanted to see him. I wanted to ask him to help me. I have never met him, or his daughter either; but my father and Mr. Prim have been friends for many years.
“I am Hettie Penning,” she continued, addressing Jonas Prim. “My father has always admired you and from what he has told me I knew that you would listen to me and do what you could for me. I could not bear to think of going to the jail in Payson, for Payson is my home. Everybody would have known me. It would have killed my father. Then I wanted to come myself and tell you, after reading the reports and insinuations in the paper, that your daughter was not with Reginald Paynter when he was killed. She had no knowledge of the crime and as far as I know may not have yet. I have not seen her and do not know where she is; but I was present when Mr. Paynter was killed. I have known him for years and have often driven with him. He stopped me yesterday afternoon on the street in Payson and talked with me. He was sitting in a car in front of the bank. After we had talked a few minutes two men came out of the bank. Mr. Paynter introduced them to me. He said they were driving out into the country to look at a piece of property—a farm somewhere north of Oakdale—and that on the way back they were going to stop at The Crossroads Inn for dinner. He asked me if I wouldn't like to come along—he kind of dared me to, because, as you know, The Crossroads has rather a bad reputation.
“Father had gone to Toledo on business, and very foolishly I took his dare. Everything went all right until after we left The Inn, although one of the men—his companion referred to him once or twice as The Oskaloosa Kid—attempted to be too familiar with me. Mr. Paynter prevented him on each occasion, and they had words over me; but after we left the inn, where they had all drunk a great deal, this man renewed his attentions and Mr. Paynter struck him. Both of them were drunk. After that it all happened so quickly that I could scarcely follow it. The man called Oskaloosa Kid drew a revolver but did not fire, instead he seized Mr. Paynter by the coat and whirled him around and then he struck him an awful blow behind the ear with the butt109 of the weapon.
“After that the other two men seemed quite sobered. They discussed what would be the best thing to do and at last decided to throw Mr. Paynter's body out of the machine, for it was quite evident that he was dead. First they rifled his pockets, and joked as they did it, one of them saying that they weren't getting as much as they had planned on; but that a little was better than nothing. They took his watch, jewelry110, and a large roll of bills. We passed around the east side of Oakdale and came back into the Toledo road. A little way out of town they turned the machine around and ran back for about half a mile; then they turned about a second time. I don't know why they did this. They threw the body out while the machine was moving rapidly; but I was so frightened that I can't say whether it was before or after they turned about the second time.
“In front of the old Squibbs place they shot at me and threw me out; but the bullet missed me. I have not seen them since and do not know where they went. I am ready and willing to aid in their conviction; but, please Mr. Prim, won't you keep me from being sent back to Payson or to jail. I have done nothing criminal and I won't run away.”
“How about the robbery of Miss Prim's room and the murder of Old Man Baggs?” asked Burton. “Did they pull both of those off before they killed Paynter or after?”
“They had nothing to do with either unless they did them after they threw me out of the car, which must have been long after midnight,” replied the girl.
“And the rest of the gang, those that were arrested with you,” continued the detective, “how about them? All angels, I suppose.”
“There was only Bridge and the boy they called The Oskaloosa Kid, though he isn't the same one that murdered poor Mr. Paynter, and the Gypsy girl, Giova, that were with me. The others were tramps who came into the old mill and attacked us while we were asleep. I don't know who they were. The girl could have had nothing to do with any of the crimes. We came upon her this morning burying her father in the woods back of the Squibbs' place. The man died of epilepsy last night. Bridge and the boy were taking refuge from the storm at the Squibbs place when I was thrown from the car. They heard the shot and came to my rescue. I am sure they had nothing to do with—with—” she hesitated.
“Tell the truth,” commanded Burton. “It will go hard with you if you don't. What made you hesitate? You know something about those two—now out with it.”
“The boy robbed Mr. Prim's home—I saw some of the money and jewelry—but Bridge was not with him. They just happened to meet by accident during the storm and came to the Squibbs place together. They were kind to me, and I hate to tell anything that would get the boy in trouble. That is the reason I hesitated. He seemed such a nice boy! It is hard to believe that he is a criminal, and Bridge was always so considerate. He looks like a tramp; but he talks and acts like a gentleman.”
The telephone bell rang briskly, and a moment later the butler stepped into the room to say that Mr. Burton was wanted on the wire. He returned to the living room in two or three minutes.
“That clears up some of it,” he said as he entered. “The sheriff just had a message from the chief at Toledo saying that The Oskaloosa Kid is dying in a hospital there following an automobile accident. He knew he was done for and sent for the police. When they came he told them he had killed a man by the name of Paynter at Oakdale last night and the chief called up to ask what we knew about it. The Kid confessed to clear his pal86 who was only slightly injured in the smash-up. His story corroborates111 Miss Penning's in every detail, he also said that after killing112 Paynter he had shot a girl witness and thrown her from the car to prevent her squealing113.”
Once again the telephone bell rang, long and insistently114. The butler almost ran into the room. “Payson wants you, sir,” he cried to Burton, “in a hurry, sir, it's a matter of life and death, sir!”
Burton sprang to the phone. When he left it he only stopped at the doorway of the living room long enough to call in: “A mob has the two prisoners at Payson and are about to lynch them, and, my God, they're innocent. We all know now who killed Paynter and I have known since morning who murdered Baggs, and it wasn't either of those men; but they've found Miss Prim's jewelry on the fellow called Bridge and they've gone crazy—they say he murdered her and the young one did for Paynter. I'm going to Payson,” and dashed from the house.
“Wait,” cried Jonas Prim, “I'm going with you,” and without waiting to find a hat he ran quickly after the detective. Once in the car he leaned forward urging the driver to greater speed.
“God in heaven!” he almost cried, “the fools are going to kill the only man who can tell me anything about Abigail.”
With oaths and threats the mob, brainless and heartless, cowardly, bestial, filled with the lust115 for blood, pushed and jammed into the narrow corridor before the cell door where the two prisoners awaited their fate. The single guard was brushed away. A dozen men wielding116 three railroad ties battered117 upon the grating of the door, swinging the ties far back and then in unison118 bringing them heavily forward against the puny119 iron.
“We're goin' to hang you higher 'n' Haman, you damned kidnappers121 an' murderers,” yelled a man in the crowd.
“Why don't you give us a chance?” asked Bridge in an even tone, unaltered by fear or excitement. “You've nothing on us. As a matter of fact we are both innocent—”
“Oh, shut your damned mouth,” interrupted another of the crowd.
Bridge shrugged122 his shoulders and turned toward the youth who stood very white but very straight in a far corner of the cell. The man noticed the bulging123 pockets of the ill fitting coat; and, for the first time that night, his heart stood still in the face of fear; but not for himself.
He crossed to the youth's side and put his arm around the slender figure. “There's no use arguing with them,” he said. “They've made up their minds, or what they think are minds, that we're guilty; but principally they're out for a sensation. They want to see something die, and we're it. I doubt if anything could stop them now; they'd think we'd cheated them if we suddenly proved beyond doubt that we were innocent.”
The boy pressed close to the man. “God help me to be brave,” he said, “as brave as you are. We'll go together, Bridge, and on the other side you'll learn something that'll surprise you. I believe there is 'another side,' don't you, Bridge?”
“I've never thought much about it,” said Bridge; “but at a time like this I rather hope so—I'd like to come back and haunt this bunch of rat brained rubes.”
His arm slipped down the other's coat and his hand passed quickly behind the boy from one side to the other; then the door gave and the leaders of the mob were upon them. A gawky farmer seized the boy and struck him cruelly across the mouth. It was Jeb Case.
“You beast!” cried Bridge. “Can't you see that that—that's—only a child? If I don't live long enough to give you yours here, I'll come back and haunt you to your grave.”
“Eh?” ejaculated Jeb Case; but his sallow face turned white, and after that he was less rough with his prisoner.
The two were dragged roughly from the jail. The great crowd which had now gathered fought to get a close view of them, to get hold of them, to strike them, to revile125 them; but the leaders kept the others back lest all be robbed of the treat which they had planned. Through town they haled them and out along the road toward Oakdale. There was some talk of taking them to the scene of Paynter's supposed murder; but wiser heads counselled against it lest the sheriff come with a posse of deputies and spoil their fun.
Beneath a great tree they halted them, and two ropes were thrown over a stout126 branch. One of the leaders started to search them; and when he drew his hands out of Bridge's side pockets his eyes went wide, and he gave a cry of elation127 which drew excited inquiries128 from all sides.
“By gum!” he cried, “I reckon we ain't made no mistake here, boys. Look ahere!” and he displayed two handsful of money and jewelry.
“Thet's Abbie Prim's stuff,” cried one.
The boy beside Bridge turned wide eyes upon the man. “Where did you get it?” he cried. “Oh, Bridge, why did you do it? Now they will kill you,” and he turned to the crowd. “Oh, please listen to me,” he begged. “He didn't steal those things. Nobody stole them. They are mine. They have always belonged to me. He took them out of my pocket at the jail because he thought that I had stolen them and he wanted to take the guilt124 upon himself; but they were not stolen, I tell you—they are mine! they are mine! they are mine!”
Another new expression came into Bridge's eyes as he listened to the boy's words; but he only shook his head. It was too late, and Bridge knew it.
Men were adjusting ropes about their necks. “Before you hang us,” said Bridge quietly, “would you mind explaining just what we're being hanged for—it's sort of comforting to know, you see.”
“Thet's right,” spoke up one of the crowd. “Thet's fair. We want to do things fair and square. Tell 'em the charges, an' then ask 'em ef they got anything to say afore they're hung.”
This appealed to the crowd—the last statements of the doomed129 men might add another thrill to the evening's entertainment.
“Well,” said the man who had searched them. “There might o' been some doubts about you before, but they aint none now. You're bein' hung fer abductin' of an' most likely murderin' Miss Abigail Prim.”
The boy screamed and tried to interrupt; but Jeb Case placed a heavy and soiled hand over his mouth. The spokesman continued. “This slicker admitted he was The Oskaloosa Kid, 'n' thet he robbed a house an' shot a man las' night; 'n' they ain't no tellin' what more he's ben up to. He tole Jeb Case's Willie 'bout43 it; an' bragged130 on it, by gum. 'Nenny way we know Paynter and Abigail Prim was last seed with this here Oskaloosa Kid, durn him.”
“Thanks,” said Bridge politely, “and now may I make my final statement before going to meet my maker131?”
“You won't interrupt me?”
“Naw, go on.”
“All right! You damn fools have made up your minds to hang us. I doubt if anything I can say to you will alter your determination for the reason that if all the brains in this crowd were collected in one individual he still wouldn't have enough with which to weigh the most obvious evidence intelligently, but I shall present the evidence, and you can tell some intelligent people about it tomorrow.
“In the first place it is impossible that I murdered Abigail Prim, and in the second place my companion is not The Oskaloosa Kid and was not with Mr. Paynter last night. The reason I could not have murdered Miss Prim is because Miss Prim is not dead. These jewels were not stolen from Miss Prim, she took them herself from her own home. This boy whom you are about to hang is not a boy at all—it is Miss Prim, herself. I guessed her secret a few minutes ago and was convinced when she cried that the jewels and money were her own. I don't know why she wishes to conceal133 her identity; but I can't stand by and see her lynched without trying to save her.”
The crowd scoffed134 in incredulity. “There are some women here,” said Bridge. “Turn her over to them. They'll tell you, at least that she is not a man.”
Some voices were raised in protest, saying that it was a ruse135 to escape, while others urged that the women take the youth. Jeb Case stepped toward the subject of dispute. “I'll settle it durned quick,” he announced and reached forth to seize the slim figure. With a sudden wrench136 Bridge tore himself loose from his captors and leaped toward the farmer, his right flew straight out from the shoulder and Jeb Case went down with a broken jaw60. Almost simultaneously a car sped around a curve from the north and stopped suddenly in rear of the mob. Two men leaped out and shouldered their way through. One was the detective, Burton; the other was Jonas Prim.
“Where are they?” cried the latter. “God help you if you've killed either of them, for one of them must know what became of Abigail.”
He pushed his way up until he faced the prisoners. The Oskaloosa Kid gave him a single look of surprise and then sprang toward him with outstretched arms.
“Oh, daddy, daddy!” she cried, “don't let them kill him.”
The crowd melted away from the immediate12 vicinity of the prisoners. None seemed anxious to appear in the forefront as a possible leader of a mob that had so nearly lynched the only daughter of Jonas Prim. Burton slipped the noose137 from about the girl's neck and then turned toward her companion. In the light from the automobile lamps the man's face was distinctly visible to the detective for the first time that night, and as Burton looked upon it he stepped back with an exclamation of surprise.
“You?” he almost shouted. “Gad, man! where have you been? Your father's spent twenty thousand dollars trying to find you.”
Bridge shook his head. “I'm sorry, Dick,” he said, “but I'm afraid it's too late. The open road's gotten into my blood, and there's only one thing that—well—” he shook his head and smiled ruefully—“but there ain't a chance.” His eyes travelled to the slim figure sitting so straight in the rear seat of Jonas Prim's car.
Suddenly the little head turned in his direction. “Hurry, Bridge,” admonished138 The Oskaloosa Kid, “you're coming home with us.”
The man stepped toward the car, shaking his head. “Oh, no, Miss Prim,” he said, “I can't do that. Here's your 'swag.'” And he smiled as he passed over her jewels and money.
Mr. Prim's eyes widened; he looked suspiciously at Bridge. Abigail laughed merrily. “I stole them myself, Dad,” she explained, “and then Mr. Bridge took them from me in the jail to make the mob think he had stolen them and not I—he didn't know then that I was a girl, did you?”
“It was in the jail that I first guessed; but I didn't quite realize who you were until you said that the jewels were yours—then I knew. The picture in the paper gave me the first inkling that you were a girl, for you looked so much like the one of Miss Prim. Then I commenced to recall little things, until I wondered that I hadn't known from the first that you were a girl; but you made a bully139 boy!” and they both laughed. “And now good-by, and may God bless you!” His voice trembled ever so little, and he extended his hand. The girl drew back.
“I want you to come with us,” she said. “I want Father to know you and to know how you have cared for me. Won't you come—for me?”
“I couldn't refuse, if you put it that way,” replied Bridge; and he climbed into the car. As the machine started off a boy leaped to the running-board.
“Hey!” he yelled, “where's my reward? I want my reward. I'm Willie Case.”
“Oh!” exclaimed Bridge. “I gave your reward to your father—maybe he'll split it with you. Go ask him.” And the car moved off.
“You see,” said Burton, with a wry140 smile, “how simple is the detective's job. Willie is a natural-born detective. He got everything wrong from A to Izzard, yet if it hadn't been for Willie we might not have cleared up the mystery so soon.”
“It isn't all cleared up yet,” said Jonas Prim. “Who murdered Baggs?”
“Two yeggs known as Dopey Charlie and the General,” replied Burton. “They are in the jail at Oakdale; but they don't know yet that I know they are guilty. They think they are being held merely as suspects in the case of your daughter's disappearance141, whereas I have known since morning that they were implicated142 in the killing of Baggs; for after I got them in the car I went behind the bushes where we discovered them and dug up everything that was missing from Baggs' house, as nearly as is known—currency, gold and bonds.”
“Good!” exclaimed Mr. Prim.
On the trip back to Oakdale, Abigail Prim cuddled in the back seat beside her father, told him all that she could think to tell of Bridge and his goodness to her.
“But the man didn't know you were a girl,” suggested Mr. Prim.
“There were two other girls with us, both very pretty,” replied Abigail, “and he was as courteous143 and kindly144 to them as a man could be to a woman. I don't care anything about his clothes, Daddy; Bridge is a gentleman born and raised—anyone could tell it after half an hour with him.”
Bridge sat on the front seat with the driver and one of Burton's men, while Burton, sitting in the back seat next to the girl, could not but overhear her conversation.
“You are right,” he said. “Bridge, as you call him, is a gentleman. He comes of one of the finest families of Virginia and one of the wealthiest. You need have no hesitancy, Mr. Prim, in inviting145 him into your home.”
For a while the three sat in silence; and then Jonas Prim turned to his daughter. “Gail,” he said, “before we get home I wish you'd tell me why you did this thing. I think you'd rather tell me before we see Mrs. P.”
“It was Sam Benham, Daddy,” whispered the girl. “I couldn't marry him. I'd rather die, and so I ran away. I was going to be a tramp; but I had no idea a tramp's existence was so adventurous146. You won't make me marry him, Daddy, will you? I wouldn't be happy, Daddy.”
“I should say not, Gail; you can be an old maid all your life if you want to.”
“But I don't want to—I only want to choose my own husband,” replied Abigail.
Mrs. Prim met them all in the living-room. At sight of Abigail in the ill-fitting man's clothing she raised her hands in holy horror; but she couldn't see Bridge at all, until Burton found an opportunity to draw her to one side and whisper something in her ear, after which she was graciousness personified to the dusky Bridge, insisting that he spend a fortnight with them to recuperate2.
Between them, Burton and Jonas Prim fitted Bridge out as he had not been dressed in years, and with the feel of fresh linen147 and pressed clothing, even if ill fitting, a sensation of comfort and ease pervaded148 him which the man would not have thought possible from such a source an hour before.
He smiled ruefully as Burton looked him over. “I venture to say,” he drawled, “that there are other things in the world besides the open road.”
Burton smiled.
It was midnight when the Prims149 and their guests arose from the table. Hettie Penning was with them, and everyone present had been sworn to secrecy150 about her share in the tragedy of the previous night. On the morrow she would return to Payson and no one there the wiser; but first she had Burton send to the jail for Giova, who was being held as a witness, and Giova promised to come and work for the Pennings.
At last Bridge stole a few minutes alone with Abigail, or, to be more strictly151 a truthful152 historian, Abigail outgeneraled the others of the company and drew Bridge out upon the veranda153.
“Tell me,” demanded the girl, “why you were so kind to me when you thought me a worthless little scamp of a boy who had robbed some one's home.”
“I couldn't have told you a few hours ago,” said Bridge. “I used to wonder myself why I should feel toward a boy as I felt toward you,—it was inexplicable,—and then when I knew that you were a girl, I understood, for I knew that I loved you and had loved you from the moment that we met there in the dark and the rain beside the Road to Anywhere.”
“Isn't it wonderful?” murmured the girl, and she had other things in her heart to murmur; but a man's lips smothered154 hers as Bridge gathered her into his arms and strained her to him.
Partial list of correctioins made in the previous reproofing:
PAGE PARA. LINE ORIGINAL CHANGED TO
15 4 2 it's warmth its warmth
15 5 13 promisculously promiscuously156
16 1 3 appelation appellation157
19 3 it's scope its scope
21 6 by with seasons by seasons
25 1 8 Prim manage Prim menage
25 2 20 then, suspicious, then, suspicions,
28 12 even his even this
34 6 1 it's quality its quality
37 3 10 have any- have any
38 4 4 tin tear. tin ear.
39 2 6 Squibbs farm Squibbs' farm
40 2 2 his absence, his absence,”
47 5 1 sudden, clanking sudden clanking
47 8 3 its the thing it's the thing
48 5 2 was moment's was a moment's
59 9 4 bird aint bird ain't
71 2 dead Squibbs dead Squibb
74 1 2 tend during tent during
75 7 3 Squibbs house Squibbs' house
76 1 6 Squibbs home. Squibbs' home.
76 8 4 business, thats business, that's
78 1 1 Squibbs place Squibbs' place
78 2 1 Squibbs place!” Squibbs' place!”
84 6 1 Squibb's summer Squibbs' summer
85 6 1 thet aint thet ain't
85 7 5 on em on 'em
85 8 1 An' thet aint An' thet ain't
85 10 1 But thet aint But thet ain't
85 10 3 of em of 'em
85 10 3 of em of 'em
86 2 2 there aint there ain't
87 5 others' mask other's mask
88 6 1 Squibbs woods Squibbs' woods
91 2 “They aint “They ain't
91 3 I aint I ain't
91 2 3 Squibbs house Squibbs' house
91 6 aint got ain't got
92 6 it wa'nt safe it wa'n't safe
92 4 10 Squibbs house Squibbs' house
94 2 1 to nothin. to nothin'.
94 8 1 Squibbs place,” Squibbs' place,”
97 4 2 “We aint “We ain't
98 1 8 Squibbs place Squibbs' place
98 3 1 hiself de hisself de
98 5 4 he aint he ain't
98 7 1 Squibbs place Squibbs' place
98 8 2 you aint you ain't
113 3 6 cough aint cough ain't
113 3 6 its 'it,' it's 'it,'
113 4 1 I aint I ain't
114 2 6 Squibb's place Squibbs' place
114 2 13 simply wont simply won't
116 6 3 few minutes few minutes'
116 7 5 Squibb's farm Squibbs' farm
121 4 she wont she won't
121 5 wont.” won't.”
128 7 4 can knab can nab
134 2 2 an upraor. an uproar.
136 8 5 we aint we ain't
139 2 8 had all drank had all drunk
141 3 9 Squibb's place. Squibbs' place.
146 1 its sort of it's sort of
146 2 3 nings entertainment ning's entertainment
146 4 5 aint no tellin' ain't no tellin'
146 7 1 “You wont “You won't
151 2 4 wont make won't make
152 1 2 Nettie Penning Hettie Penning
The End
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1
recuperates
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| v.恢复（健康、体力等），复原( recuperate的第三人称单数 ) | |
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2
recuperate
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| v.恢复 | |
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3
elite
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| n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的 | |
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4
dimes
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| n.（美国、加拿大的）10分铸币( dime的名词复数 ) | |
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5
melodrama
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| n.音乐剧；情节剧 | |
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6
ram
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| (random access memory)随机存取存储器 | |
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psychic
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| n.对超自然力敏感的人；adj.有超自然力的 | |
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8
feats
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| 功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 ) | |
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9
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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10
infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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11
fin
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| n.鳍；(飞机的)安定翼 | |
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12
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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13
concocted
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| v.将（尤指通常不相配合的）成分混合成某物( concoct的过去式和过去分词 )；调制；编造；捏造 | |
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14
tardiness
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| n.缓慢；迟延；拖拉 | |
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15
alley
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| n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路 | |
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16
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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17
poked
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| v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 )；戳出；拨弄；与（某人）性交 | |
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18
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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19
conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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20
quarry
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| n.采石场；v.采石；费力地找 | |
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21
racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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22
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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23
machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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24
calf
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| n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮 | |
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25
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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26
thigh
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| n.大腿；股骨 | |
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27
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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28
dame
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| n.女士 | |
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29
queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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30
bereaved
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| adj.刚刚丧失亲人的v.使失去（希望、生命等）( bereave的过去式和过去分词)；（尤指死亡）使丧失（亲人、朋友等）；使孤寂；抢走（财物） | |
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31
annex
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| vt.兼并，吞并；n.附属建筑物 | |
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32
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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33
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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34
lieutenants
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| n.陆军中尉( lieutenant的名词复数 )；副职官员；空军；仅低于…官阶的官员 | |
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35
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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36
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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37
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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38
sleepers
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| n.卧铺（通常以复数形式出现）；卧车( sleeper的名词复数 )；轨枕；睡觉（呈某种状态）的人；小耳环 | |
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39
vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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40
defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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41
strenuous
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| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
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42
entangling
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| v.使某人（某物/自己）缠绕，纠缠于（某物中），使某人（自己）陷入（困难或复杂的环境中）( entangle的现在分词 ) | |
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43
bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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44
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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45
valiantly
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| adv.勇敢地，英勇地；雄赳赳 | |
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46
lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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47
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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48
simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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49
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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50
growls
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的第三人称单数 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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51
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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52
reverberated
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| 回响，回荡( reverberate的过去式和过去分词 )； 使反响，使回荡，使反射 | |
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53
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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54
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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55
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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56
implant
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| vt.注入，植入，灌输 | |
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57
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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58
distended
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| v.（使）膨胀，肿胀( distend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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60
jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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61
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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62
skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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63
bestial
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| adj.残忍的；野蛮的 | |
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64
sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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65
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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66
molest
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| vt.骚扰，干扰，调戏 | |
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67
silhouetted
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| 显出轮廓的，显示影像的 | |
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68
momentum
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| n.动力，冲力，势头；动量 | |
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69
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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70
nemesis
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| n.给以报应者，复仇者，难以对付的敌手 | |
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71
dodged
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| v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 )；回避 | |
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72
shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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73
illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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74
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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75
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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76
shrilled
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| （声音）尖锐的，刺耳的，高频率的( shrill的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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77
automobile
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| n.汽车，机动车 | |
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78
growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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79
lumbering
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| n.采伐林木 | |
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80
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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81
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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82
glistened
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| v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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83
perilously
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| adv.充满危险地，危机四伏地 | |
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84
mangled
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| vt.乱砍（mangle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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85
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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86
pal
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| n.朋友，伙伴，同志；vi.结为友 | |
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87
outraged
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| a.震惊的，义愤填膺的 | |
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88
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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89
molested
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| v.骚扰( molest的过去式和过去分词 )；干扰；调戏；猥亵 | |
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90
hustled
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| 催促（hustle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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91
cigaret
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| n.（cigarette）香烟，纸烟，卷烟 | |
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92
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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93
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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94
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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95
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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96
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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97
shrug
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| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
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98
deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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99
battering
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| n.用坏，损坏v.连续猛击( batter的现在分词 ) | |
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100
frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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101
spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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102
prodigal
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| adj.浪费的，挥霍的，放荡的 | |
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103
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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104
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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105
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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106
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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107
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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108
discomfiture
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| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
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109
butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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110
jewelry
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| n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝 | |
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111
corroborates
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| v.证实，支持（某种说法、信仰、理论等）( corroborate的第三人称单数 ) | |
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112
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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113
squealing
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| v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的现在分词 ) | |
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114
insistently
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| ad.坚持地 | |
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115
lust
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| n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
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116
wielding
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| 手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的现在分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响） | |
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117
battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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118
unison
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| n.步调一致，行动一致 | |
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119
puny
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| adj.微不足道的，弱小的 | |
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120
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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121
kidnappers
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| n.拐子，绑匪( kidnapper的名词复数 ) | |
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122
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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123
bulging
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| 膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱 | |
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124
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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125
revile
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| v.辱骂，谩骂 | |
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127
elation
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| n.兴高采烈，洋洋得意 | |
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128
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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129
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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130
bragged
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| v.自夸，吹嘘( brag的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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131
maker
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| n.制造者，制造商 | |
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132
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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133
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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134
scoffed
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| 嘲笑，嘲弄( scoff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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135
ruse
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| n.诡计，计策；诡计 | |
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136
wrench
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| v.猛拧；挣脱；使扭伤；n.扳手；痛苦，难受 | |
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137
noose
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| n.绳套，绞索（刑）；v.用套索捉；使落入圈套；处以绞刑 | |
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138
admonished
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| v.劝告( admonish的过去式和过去分词 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责 | |
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139
bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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140
wry
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| adj.讽刺的；扭曲的 | |
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141
disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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142
implicated
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| adj.密切关联的；牵涉其中的 | |
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143
courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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144
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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145
inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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146
adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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147
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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148
pervaded
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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149
prims
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| v.（使）一本正经（prim的第三人称单数形式） | |
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150
secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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151
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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152
truthful
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| adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的 | |
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153
veranda
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| n.走廊；阳台 | |
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154
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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155
eminent
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| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
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156
promiscuously
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| adv.杂乱地，混杂地 | |
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157
appellation
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| n.名称，称呼 | |
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158
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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159
gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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160
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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161
measles
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| n.麻疹，风疹，包虫病，痧子 | |
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