the bittermeads mystery-第23部分

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suspects　you？〃

〃He　suspects　every　one　always；〃　answered　Dunn。　　〃I've　been　trying
to　get　proof　to　act　on。　　I　haven't　succeeded。　　Not　yet。　　Nothing
definite。　　If　I　can't；　I　shall　act　without。　　That's　all。〃

〃If　I　told　him　even　half　of　what　you　just　said；〃　she　said；　looking
at　him。　　〃What　would　happen？〃

〃You　see；　I　trust　you；〃　he　answered　bitterly。

She　shook　her　head；　but　her　eyes　were　soft　and　tender　as　she　said：

〃It　wasn't　trust　in　me　made　you　say　all　that；　it　was　because　you
didn't　care　what　happened　after。〃

〃No；〃　he　said。　　〃But　when　I　see　you；　I　forget　everything。　　Do　you
love　me？〃

〃Why；　I've　never　even　seen　you　yet；〃　she　exclaimed　with　something
like　a　smile。　　〃I　only　know　you　as　two　eyes　over　a　tangle　of　hair
that　I　don't　believe　you　ever　either　brush　or　comb。　　Do　you　know；
sometimes　I　am　curious。〃

He　took　her　hand　and　drew　her　to　sit　beside　him　on　the　bench　under
a　tree　near　by。　　All　his　doubts　and　fears　and　suspicions　he　set　far
from　him；　and　remembered　nothing　save　that　she　was　the　woman　for
whom　yearned　all　the　depths　of　his　soul　as　by　pre…ordained　decree。
　And　she；　too；　forgot　all　else　save　that　she　had　met　her　man　…　her
man；　to　her　strange；　aloof；　mysterious；　but　dominating　all　her　life
as　though　by　primal　necessity。

When　they　parted；　it　was　with　an　agreement　to　meet　again　that
evening；　and　in　the　twilight　they　spent　a　halcyon　hour　together；
saying　little；　feeling　much。

It　was　only　when　at　last　she　had　left　him　that　he　remembered　all
that　had　passed；　that　had　happened；　that　he　knew；　suspected；　dreaded；
all　that　he　planned　and　intended　and　would　be　soon　called　upon　to　put
into　action。

〃She's　made　me　mad；〃　he　said　to　himself；　and　for　a　long　time　he　sat
there　in　the　darkness；　in　the　stillness　of　the　evening；　motionless
as　the　tree　in　whose　shade　he　sat；　plunged　in　the　most　profound　and
strange　reverie；　from　which　presently　his　quick　ear；　alert　and　keen
even　when　his　mind　was　deep　in　thought；　caught　the　light　and　careful
sound　of　an　approaching　footstep。

In　a　moment　he　was　up　and　gliding　through　the　darkness　to　meet　who
was　coming；　and　almost　at　once　a　voice　hailed　him　cautiously。

〃There　you　are；　Dunn；〃　Deede　Dawson　said。　　〃I've　been　looking　for
you　everywhere。　　Tomorrow　or　next　day　we　shall　be　able　to　strike；
everything　is　ready　at　last；　and　I'll　tell　you　now　exactly　what　we
are　going　to　do。〃

〃That's　good　news；〃　said　Dunn　softly。

〃Come　this　way；〃　Deede　Dawson　said；　and　led　Dunn　through　the
darkness　to　the　gate　that　admitted　to　the　Bittermeads　grounds　from
the　high　road。

Here　he　paused；　and　stood　for　a　long　time　in　silence；　leaning　on
the　gate　and　looking　out　across　the　road　to　the　common　beyond。
Close　beside　him　stood　Dunn；　controlling　his　impatience　as　best　he
could；　and　wondering　if　at　last　the　secret　springs　of　all　these
happenings　was　to　be　laid　bare　to　him。

But　Deede　Dawson　seemed　in　no　hurry　to　begin。　　For　a　long　time　he
remained　in　the　same　attitude；　silent　and　sombre　in　the　darkness；
and　when　at　last　he　spoke　it　was　to　utter　a　remark　that　quite　took
Dunn　by　surprise。

〃What　a　lovely　night；〃　he　said　in　low　and　pensive　tones；　very　unlike
those　he　generally　used。　　〃I　remember　when　I　was　a　boy　…　that's　a
long　time　ago。〃

Dunn　was　too　surprised　by　this　sudden　and　very　unexpected　lapse　into
sentiment　to　answer。　　Deede　Dawson　went　on　as　if　thinking　to　himself：　

〃A　long　time　…　I've　done　a　lot　…　seen　a　lot　since　then　…　too　much；
perhaps　…　I　remember　mother　told　me　once　…　poor　soul；　I　believe　she
used　to　be　rather　proud　of　me　…　〃

〃Your　mother？〃　Dunn　said　wondering　greatly　to　think　this　man　should
still　have　such　memories。

But　Deede　Dawson　seemed　either　to　resent　his　tone　or　else　to　be
angry　with　himself　for　giving　way　to　such　weakness。　　In　a　voice　more
like　his　usual　one；　he　said　harshly　and　sneeringly：　

〃Oh；　yes；　I　had　a　mother　once；　just　like　everybody　else。　　Why　not？
Most　people　have　their　mothers；　though　it's　not　an　arrangement　I
should　care　to　defend。　　Now　then；　Ella　was　with　you　tonight；　you
and　she　were　alone　together　a　long　time。〃
　
〃Well；〃　growled　Dunn；　〃what　of　it？〃
　
〃Fine　girl；　isn't　she？〃　asked　Deede　Dawson；　and　laughed。
　
Dunn　did　not　speak。　　It　filled　him　with　such　loathing　to　hear　this
man　so　much　as　utter　Ella's　name；　it　was　all　he　could　do　to　keep
his　hands　motionless　by　his　side　and　not　make　use　of　them　about　the
other's　throat。
　
〃She's　been　useful；　very　useful；〃　Deede　Dawson　went　on　meditatively。
〃Her　mother　had　some　money　when　I　married　her。　　I　don't　mind　telling
you　it's　all　spent　now；　but　Ella's　a　little　fortune　in　herself。〃
　
〃I　didn't　know　we　came　to　talk　about　her；〃　said　Dunn　slowly。　　〃I
thought　you　had　something　else　to　say　to　me。〃
　
〃So　I　have；〃　Deede　Dawson　answered。　　〃That's　why　I　brought　you　here。
We　are　safe　from　eavesdroppers　here；　in　a　house　you　can　never　tell
who　is　behind　a　curtain　or　a　door。　　But　then；　Ella　is　a　part　of　my
plans；　a　very　important　part。　　Do　you　remember　I　told　you　I　might
want　you　to　take　a　second　packing…case　away　from　here　in　the　car
one　night？〃

〃Yes；　I　remember；〃　said　Dunn　slowly。　　〃I　remember。　　What　would　be
in　it？　　The　same　sort　of　thing　that　was　in　…　that　other？〃

〃Yes；〃　answered　Deede　Dawson。　　〃Much　the　same。〃

〃I　shall　want　to　see　for　myself；〃　said　Dunn。　　〃I'm　a　trustful　sort　of
person；　but　I　don't　go　driving　about　the　country　with　packing…cases
late　at　night　unless　I've　seen　for　myself　what's　inside。〃



CHAPTER　XXII

PLOTS　AND　PLAYS


〃Very　wise　of　you；〃　yawned　Deede　Dawson。　　〃That's　just　what　Ella
said　…　what's　that？〃

For　instinctively　Dunn　had　raised　his　hand；　but　he　lowered　it　again
at　once。

〃Oh；　cut　the　cackle；〃　he　said　impatiently。　　〃Tell　me　what　you　want
me　to　do；　and　make　it　plain；　very　plain；　for　I　can　tell　you　there's
a　good　deal　about　all　this　I　don't　understand；　and　I'm　not　inclined
to　trust　you　far。　　For　one　thing；　what　are　you　after　yourself？　　Where
do　you　come　in？　　What　are　you　going　to　get？　　And　there's　another
thing　I　want　to　say。　　If　you　are　thinking　of　playing　any　tricks　on
me　don't　do　it；　unless　you　are　ready　to　take　big　risks。　　There's　only
one　man　alive　who　ever　made　a　fool　of　me；　and　his　name　is　Rupert
Dunsmore；　and　I　don't　think　he's　today　what　insurance　companies　call
a　good　risk。　　Not　by　any　manner　of　means。〃　　He　paused　to　laugh
harshly。　　〃Let's　get　to　business；〃　he　said。　　〃Look　here；　how　do　I
know　you　mean　all　you　say　about　Rupert　Dunsrnore？　　What's　he　to　you？〃

〃Nothing；〃　answered　Deede　Dawson　promptly。　　〃Nothing。　　But　there's
some　one　I'm　acting　for　to　whom　he　is　a　good　deal。〃

〃Who　is　that？〃　Dunn　asked　sharply。

〃Do　you　think　I'm　going　to　tell　you？〃　retorted　the　other；　and
laughed　in　his　cold；　mirthless　manner。　　〃Perhaps　you　aren't　the
only　one　who　owes　him　a　grudge。〃

〃That's　likely　enough；　but　I　want　to　know　where　I'm　standing；〃　said
Dunn。　　〃Is　this　unknown　person　you　say　you　are　acting　for　anxious
to　bring　about　Rupert　Dunsmore's　death？〃

〃I'm　not　answering　any　questions；　so　you　needn't　ask　them；〃　replied
Deede　Dawson。

〃But　I　will　tell　you　that　there's　something　big　going　on。　　Or　I
shouldn't　be　in　it；　I　don't　use　my　brains　on　small　things；　you　know。
If　it　comes　off　all　right；　I　…　〃　　He　paused；　and　for　once　a　thrill
of　genuine　emotion　sounded　in　his　voice。　　〃Thousands；〃　he　said
abruptly。　　〃Yes；　and　more　…　more。　　But　there's　an　obstacle　…　Rupert
Dunsmore。　　It's　your　place　to　remove　him。　　That　'11　suit　you；　and
it'll　mean　good　pay；　as　much　as　you　like　to　ask　for　in　reason。　　And
Ella；　if　you　want　her。　　The　girl　won't　be　any　use　to　me　when　this
is　over；　and　you　can　have　her　if　you　like。　　I　don't　think　she'll
object　from　what　I　can　see　…　not　that　it　would　matter　if　she　did。
So　there　you　are。　　Put　Rupert　Dunsmore　out　of　the　way　and　it'll　be
the　best　day's　work　you've　ever　done；　and　you　shall　have　Ella　into
the　bargain　…　if　you　claim　her。　　Makeweight。〃

He　began　to　laugh　again　and　Dunn　laughed；　too；　for　while　he　was　not
sure　what　it　was　that　amused　Deede　Dawson；　there　were　certain
aspects　of　all　this　that　bore　for　him　a　very　curious　and　ironic
humour。

〃All　right；〃　he　said。　　〃You　bring　me　face　to　face　with　Rupert
Dunsmore　and　you　won't　have　to　grumble　about　the　result；　for　I
swear　only　one　of　us　will　go　away　alive。　　But　how　are　you　going　to
do　it？〃

〃I've　my　plan；　and　it's　simple　enough；〃　answered　Deede　Dawson。
〃Though　I　can　tell　you　it　took　some　working　out。　　But　the　simplest
problem　is　always　the　best；　whether　in　life　or　in　chess。〃　　Again　he
indulged　in　a　low　and　guarded　outburst　of　his　thin；　mirthless
laughter　before　he　continued：　　〃I　suppose　you　know　Rupert　Dunsmore
is　one　of　those　restless　people　who　are　never　content　except　when
wandering　about　in　some　out　of　the　way　place　or　another；　as　often
as　not　no　one　having　the　least　idea　of　his　whereabouts。　　Then　he
turns　up　unexpectedly；　only　to　disappear　again　when　the　whim　takes
him。　　Lately　he　has　been　away　on　one　of　these　trips；　but　I　happen
to　know　he　is　coming　back　almost　at　once　…　what's　the　matter？〃

〃I　was　only　wondering　how　you　knew　that；〃　answered　Dunn；　who　had
given　a　sudden　start。

〃Oh；　I　know；　never　mind　how；〃　Deede　Dawson　said。　　〃I　know　that
tomorrow　afternoon　at　four　o'clock　he　will　be　waiting　by　the　side
of　Brook　Bourne　Spring　in　Ottom's　Wood；　near　General　Dunsmore's
place。　　Which　is　as　out　of　the　way　and　quiet　and　lonely　a　spot　as
you　could　wish　for。〃

〃And　you　have　information　that　he　will　be　there？〃　Dunn　said
incredulously。　　〃How　can　you　possibly　be　sure　of　that？〃

〃Never　mind　how；〃　answered　Deede　Dawson。　　〃I　am　sure。　　That's　enough。
My　information　is　certain。〃

〃Oh；　it　is；　is　it？　　〃Dunn　muttered。　　〃You　are　a　wonderful　man；　Mr。
Dawson。　　You　know　everything　…　or　nearly　everything。　　You　are　sure
of　everything　…　or　nearly　everything　…　but　suppose　he　changes　his
mind　at　the　last　moment　and　doesn't　come　after　all？〃

〃He　won't；〃　answered　Deede　Dawson。　　〃You　be　there　and　you'll　find
him　there　all　right。〃

〃Well；　perhaps；〃　said　Dunn　slowly。　　〃But　what　I　want　to　know　is　why
you　are　so　sure？　　There's　a　good　deal　hangs　on　your　being　right；
you　know。〃

〃I　only　wish　I　was　as　certain　of　everything　else；〃　Deede　Dawson　said。

〃Oh；　all　right；〃　exc