the woman in the alcove-第22部分

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resented　himself；　the　latter　broke　out：

〃I've　just　escaped　death！　I'll　tell　you　about　that　later。　What　I　want　to　tell　you　now　is　that　the　man　we　want　is　in　town。　I　saw　him　last　night；　or　his　shadow；　which　is　the　same　thing。　It　was　in　the　house　in　Eighty…sixth　Street；the　house　they　all　think　closed。　He　came　in　with　a　key　and〃

〃Wait！　You　have　him？〃

〃No。　It's　a　long　story；　sir〃

〃Tell　it！〃

The　tone　was　dry。　The　inspector　was　evidently　disappointed。

〃Don't　blame　me　till　you　hear；〃　said　the　other。　〃He　is　no　common　crook。　This　is　how　it　was：　You　wanted　the　suspect's　photograph　and　a　specimen　of　his　writing。　I　knew　no　better　place　to　look　for　them　than　in　his　own　room　in　Mr。　Fairbrother's　house。　I　accordingly　got　the　necessary　warrant　and　late　last　evening　undertook　the　job。　I　went　alone　I　was　always　an　egotistical　chap；　more's　the　pityand　with　no　further　precaution　than　a　passing　explanation　to　the　officer　I　met　at　the　corner；　I　hastened　up　the　block　to　the　rear　entrance　on　Eighty…seventh　Street。　There　are　three　doors　to　the　Fairbrother　house；　as　you　probably　know。　Two　on　Eighty…sixth　Street　（the　large　front　one　and　a　small　one　connecting　directly　with　the　turret　stairs）；　and　one　on　Eighty…seventh　Street。　It　was　to　the　latter　I　had　a　key。　I　do　not　think　any　one　saw　me　go　in。　It　was　raining；　and　such　people　as　went　by　were　more　concerned　in　keeping　their　umbrellas　properly　over　their　heads　than　in　watching　men　skulking　about　in　doorways。

〃I　got　in；　then；　all　right；　and；　being　careful　to　close　the　door　behind　me；　went　up　the　first　short　flight　of　steps　to　what　I　knew　must　be　the　main　hall。　I　had　been　given　a　plan　of　the　interior；　and　I　had　studied　it　more　or　less　before　starting　out；　but　I　knew　that　I　should　get　lost　if　I　did　not　keep　to　the　rear　staircase；　at　the　top　of　which　I　expected　to　find　the　steward's　room。　There　was　a　faint　light　in　the　house；　in　spite　of　its　closed　shutters　and　tightly…drawn　shades；　and；　having　a　certain　dread　of　using　my　torch；　knowing　my　weakness　for　pretty　things　and　how　hard　it　would　be　for　me　to　pass　so　many　fine　rooms　without　looking　in；　I　made　my　way　up　stairs；　with　no　other　guide　than　the　hand…rail。　When　I　had　reached　what　I　took　to　be　the　third　floor　I　stopped。　Finding　it　very　dark；　I　first　listeneda　natural　instinct　with　usthen　I　lit　up　and　looked　about　me。

〃I　was　in　a　large　hall；　empty　as　a　vault　and　almost　as　desolate。　Blank　doors　met　my　eyes　in　all　directions；　with　here　and　there　an　open　passageway。　I　felt　myself　in　a　maze。　I　had　no　idea　which　was　the　door　I　sought；　and　it　is　not　pleasant　to　turn　unaccustomed　knobs　in　a　shut…up　house　at　midnight；　with　the　rain　pouring　in　torrents　and　the　wind　making　pandemonium　in　a　half…dozen　great　chimneys。

〃But　it　had　to　be　done；　and　I　went　at　it　in　regular　order　till　I　came　to　a　little　narrow　one　opening　on　the　turret…stair。　This　gave　me　my　bearings。　Sears'　room　adjoined　the　staircase。　There　was　no　difficulty　in　spotting　the　exact　door　now　and；　merely　stopping　to　close　the　opening　I　had　made　to　this　little　staircase；　I　crossed　to　this　door　and　flung　it　open。　I　had　been　right　in　my　calculations。　It　was　the　steward's　room；　and　I　made　at　once　for　the　desk。〃

〃And　you　found？〃

〃Mostly　locked　drawers。　But　a　key　on　my　bunch　opened　some　of　these　and　my　knife　the　rest。　Here　are　the　specimens　of　his　handwriting　which　I　collected。　I　doubt　if　you　will　get　much　out　of　them。　I　saw　nothing　compromising　in　the　whole　room；　but　then　I　hadn't　time　to　go　through　his　trunks；　and　one　of　them　looked　very　interesting；old　as　the　hills　and〃

〃You　hadn't　time？　Why　hadn't　you　time？　What　happened　to　cut　it　short？〃

〃Well；　sir；　I'll　tell　you。〃　The　tone　in　which　this　was　said　roused　me　if　it　did　not　the　inspector。　〃I　had　just　come　from　the　desk　which　had　disappointed　me；　and　was　casting　a　look　about　the　room；　which　was　as　bare　as　my　hand　of　everything　like　ornamentI　might　almost　say　comfortwhen　I　heard　a　noise　which　was　not　that　of　swishing　rain　or　even　gusty　windthese　had　not　been　absent　from　my　ears　for　a　moment。　I　didn't　like　that　noise；　it　had　a　sneakish　sound；　and　I　shut　my　light　off　in　a　hurry。　After　that　I　crept　hastily　out　of　the　room；　for　I　don't　like　a　set…to　in　a　trap。

〃It　was　darker　than　ever　now　in　the　hall；　or　so　it　seemed；　and　as　I　backed　away　I　came　upon　a　jog　in　the　wall；　behind　which　I　crept。　For　the　sound　I　had　heard　was　no　fancy。　Some　one　besides　myself　was　in　the　house；　and　that　some　one　was　coming　up　the　little　turret…stair；　striking　matches　as　he　approached。　Who　could　it　be？　A　detective　from　the　district　attorney's　office？　I　hardly　thought　so。　He　would　have　been　provided　with　something　better　than　matches　to　light　his　way。　A　burglar？　No；　not　on　the　third　floor　of　a　house　as　rich　as　this。　Some　fellow　on　the　force；　then；　who　had　seen　me　come　in　and；　by　some　trick　of　his　own；　had　managed　to　follow　me？　I　would　see。　Meantime　I　kept　my　place　behind　the　jog　and　watched；　not　knowing　which　way　the　intruder　would　go。

〃Whoever　he　was；　he　was　evidently　astonished　to　see　the　turret　door　ajar；　for　he　lit　another　match　as　he　threw　it　open　and；　though　I　failed　to　get　a　glimpse　of　his　figure；　I　succeeded　in　getting　a　very　good　one　of　his　shadow。　It　was　one　to　arouse　a　detective's　instinct　at　once。　I　did　not　say　to　myself；　this　is　the　man　I　want；　but　I　did　say；　this　is　nobody　from　headquarters；　and　I　steadied　myself　for　whatever　might　turn　up。

〃The　first　thing　that　happened　was　the　sudden　going　out　of　the　match　which　had　made　this　shadow　visible。　The　intruder　did　not　light　another。　I　heard　him　move　across　the　floor　with　the　rapid　step　of　one　who　knows　his　way　well；　and　the　next　minute　a　gas…jet　flared　up　in　the　steward's　room；　and　I　knew　that　the　man　the　whole　force　was　looking　for　had　trapped　himself。

〃You　will　agree　that　it　was　not　my　duty　to　take　him　then　and　there　without　seeing　what　he　was　after。　He　was　thought　to　be　in　the　eastern　states；　or　south　or　west；　and　he　was　here；　but　why　here？　That　is　what　I　knew　you　would　want　to　know；　and　it　was　just　what　I　wanted　to　know　myself。　So　I　kept　my　place；　which　was　good　enough；　and　just　listened；　for　I　could　not　see。

〃What　was　his　errand？　What　did　he　want　in　this　empty　house　at　midnight？　Papers　first；　and　then　clothes。　I　heard　him　at　his　desk；　I　heard　him　in　the　closet；　and　afterward　pottering　in　the　old　trunk　I　had　been　so　anxious　to　look　into　myself。　He　must　have　brought　the　key　with　him；　for　it　was　no　time　before　I　heard　him　throwing　out　the　contents　in　a　wild　search　for　something　he　wanted　in　a　great　hurry。　He　found　it　sooner　than　you　would　believe；　and　began　throwing　the　things　back；　when　something　happened。　Expectedly　or　unexpectedly；　his　eye　fell　on　some　object　which　roused　all　his　passions；　and　he　broke　into　loud　exclamations　ending　in　groans。　Finally　he　fell　to　kissing　this　object　with　a　fervor　suggesting　rage；　and　a　rage　suggesting　tenderness　carried　to　the　point　of　agony。　I　have　never　heard　the　like；　my　curiosity　was　so　aroused　that　I　was　on　the　point　of　risking　everything　for　a　look；　when　he　gave　a　sudden　snarl　and　cried　out；　loud　enough　for　me　to　hear：　'Kiss　what　I've　hated？　That　is　as　bad　as　to　kill　what　I've　loved。'　Those　were　the　words。　I　am　sure　he　said　kiss　and　I　am　sure　he　said　kill。〃

〃This　is　very　interesting。　Go　on　with　your　story。　Why　didn't　you　collar　him　while　he　was　in　this　mood？　You　would　have　won　by　the　surprise。

〃I　had　no　pistol；　sir；　and　he　had。　I　heard　him　cock　it。　I　thought　he　was　going　to　take　his　own　life；　and　held　my　breath　for　the　report。　But　nothing　like　that　was　in　his　mind。　Instead；　he　laid　the　pistol　down　and　deliberately　tore　in　two　the　object　of　his　anger。　Then　with　a　smothered　curse　he　made　for　the　door　and　turret　staircase。

〃I　was　for　following；　but　not　till　I　had　seen　what　he　had　destroyed　in　such　an　excess　of　feeling。　I　thought　I　knew；　but　I　wanted　to　feel　sure。　So；　before　risking　myself　in　the　turret；　I　crept　to　the　room　he　had　left　and　felt　about　on　the　floor　till　I　came　upon　these。〃

〃A　torn　photograph！　Mrs。　Fairbrother's！〃

〃Yes。　Have　you　not　heard　how　he　loved　her？　A　foolish　passion；　but　evidently　sincere　and〃

〃Never　mind　comments；　Sweetwater。　Stick　to　facts。〃

〃I　will；　sir。　They　are　interesting　enough。　After　I　had　picked　up　these　scraps　I　stole　back　to　the　turret　staircase。　And　here　I　made　my　first　break。　I　stumbled　in　the　darkness；　and　the　man　below　heard　me；　for　the　pistol　clicked　again。　I　did　not　like　this；　and　had　some　thoughts　of　backing　out　of　my　job。　But　I　didn't。　I　merely　waited　till　I　heard　his　step　again；　then　I　followed。

〃But　very　warily　this　time。　It　was　not　an　agreeable　venture。　It　was　like　descending　into　a　well　with　possible　death　at　the　bottom。　I　could　see　nothing　and　presently　could　hear　nothing　but　the　almost　imperceptible　sliding　of　my　own　fingers　down　the　curve　of　the　wall；　which　was　all　I　had　to　guide　me。　Had　he　stopped　midway；　and　would　my　first　intimation　of　his　presence　be　the　touch　of　cold　steel　or　the　flinging　around　me　of　two　murderous　arms？　I　had　met　with　no　break　in　the　smooth　surface　of　the　wall；　so　could　not　have　reached　the　second　story。　When　I　should　get　there　the　question　would　be　whether　to　leave　the　staircase　and　seek　him　in　the　mazes　of　its　great　rooms；　or　to　keep　on　down　to　the　parlor　floor　and　so　to　the　street；　whither　he　was　possibly　bound。　I　own　that　I　was　almost　tempted　to　turn　on　my　light　and　have　done　with　it；　but　I　remembered　of　how　little　use　I　should　be　to　you　lying　in　this　well　of　a　stairway　with　a　bullet　in　me；　and　so　I　managed　to　compose　myself　and　go　on　as　I　had　begun。　Next　instant　my　fingers　slipped　round　the　edge　of　an　opening；　and　I　knew　that　the　moment　of　decision　had　come。　Realizing　that　no　one　can　move　so　softly　that　he　will　not　give　away　his　presence　in　some　way；　I　paused　for　the　sound　which　I　knew　must　come；　and　when　a　click　rose　from　the　depths　of　the　hall　before　me　I　plunged　into　that　hall　and　thus　into　the　house　proper。

〃Here　it　was　not　so　dark；　yet　I　could　make　out　none　of　the　objects　I　now　and　then　ran　against。　I　passed　a　mirror　（I　hardly　know　how　I　knew　it　to　be　such）；　and　in　that　mirror　I　seemed　to　see　the　ghost　of　a　ghost　flit　by　and　vanish。　It　was　too　much。　I　muttered　a　suppressed　oath　and　plunged　forward；　when　I　struck　against　a　closing　door。　It　flew　open　again　an