the bittermeads mystery-第29部分

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as　he　stood　there　watching　them　his　face　was　like　a　fiend's。

〃Walter；〃　the　general　shouted；　and　to　his　son　Rupert　he　said：　〃The
boy's　ill。〃

Walter　moved　forward　from　among　the　trees。　　He　had　a　gun　in　his
hand；　and　he　flung　it　forward　as　though　preparing　to　fire；　and　at
the　same　moment　Rupert　Dunsmore　drew　from　his　pocket　the　pistol
Deede　Dawson　had　given　him　and　fired　himself。

But　at　the　very　moment　that　he　pulled　the　trigger　the　general
struck　up　his　arm　so　that　the　bullet　flew　high　and　harmless　through
the　tops　of　the　trees。

Walter　stepped　back　again　into　the　wood；　and　Rupert　said：

〃You　don't　know　what　you　have　done；　father。〃

〃You　are　mad；　mad；〃　the　general　gasped。

His　face　was　very　pale；　and　he　trembled　a　little；　for　though　he　had
heard　many　bullets　whistle　by　his　ears；　that　had　happened　in　action
against　an　enemy；　and　was　altogether　different　from　this。　　He　put
out　his　hand　in　an　attempt　to　take　the　pistol　that　Rupert　easily
evaded。

〃Give　it　to　me；〃　he　said。　　〃I　saved　his　life；　you　might　have
killed　him。〃

〃Yes；　you　saved　him；　father；〃　Rupert　muttered；　thinking　to　himself
that　the　saving　of　Walter's　life　might　well　mean　the　loss　of　Ella's；
since　very　likely　the　failure　of　their　plots　would　be　at　once
attributed　by　the　conspirators　to　her。　　〃Father；　I　never　wrote　that
letter　you　say　you　had。　　Walter　forged　it　to　get　you　here；　where　he
meant　to　kill　us　both。　　That's　why　he　looked　like　that；　that's　why
he　had　his　gun。〃

General　Dunsmore　only　stared　blankly　at　him　for　a　moment。

〃Kill　me？　　Kill　you？　　What　for？〃　he　gasped。

〃So　that　he　might　become　Lord　Chobham　of　Wreste　Abbey　instead　of
Lord　Chobham's　poor　relation；〃　answered　Rupert。　　〃The　poison　attempt
on　uncle　which　Walter　discovered　was　first　of　all　his　own　doing；　it
was　through　him　Charley　Wright　lost　his　life。　　He　has　committed　at
least　one　other　murder。　　Today　he　meant　to　kill　both　of　us。　　Then
he　would　have　been　heir　to　the　title　and　estates；　and　when　uncle
died　he　would　have　been　Lord　Chobham。〃

〃Nonsense；　absurd；　impossible。　　You're　mad；　quite　mad；〃　the　general
stammered。　　〃Why；　he　would　have　been　hanged　at　once。〃

〃Not　if　he　could　have　fixed　the　blame　elsewhere；〃　Rupert　answered。
〃That　was　to　have　been　my　part；　it　was　carefully　arranged　to　make
it　seem　I　was　responsible　for　it　all。　　I　haven't　time　to　explain　now。
I　don't　think　he　is　coming　back。　　I　expect　he　is　only　loaded　with
small　shot；　and　he　doesn't　dare　try　a　long　range　shot　or　come　near
now　he　knows　I'm　ready　for　him。〃

〃But　it's　…　it's　impossible　…　Walter；〃　stammered　the　general。
〃Impossible。〃

〃The　impossible　so　often　happens；〃　answered　Rupert；　and　handed　his
pistol　to　him。　　〃You　must　trust　me；　father；　and　do　what　I　tell　you。
Take　this　pistol　in　case　you　are　attacked　on　the　way　home。　　You　may
be；　but　I　don't　think　it's　likely。　　Get　the　motor　out　and　go　straight
to　Wreste　Abbey。　　An　attempt　on　uncle's　life　will　be　made　tonight；
if　they　still　carry　out　their　plans；　about　dinner…time　tonight。　See
that　every　possible　precaution　is　taken。　　See　to　that　first。　　Then
send　help　as　soon　as　you　can　to　Bittermeads；　a　house　on　the
outskirts　of　Ramsdon；　any　one　there　will　tell　you　where　it　is。〃

〃But　what　are　you　going　to　do？〃　General　Dunsmore　asked。

〃I'm　going　to　find　Walter；　if　he's　still　hiding　in　the　wood　here；
as　he　may　be；〃　Rupert　answered。　　〃I　should　like　a　little　chat　with
him。〃　　For　a　moment　he　nearly　lost　his　self…control；　and　for　a
single　moment　there　showed　those　fiery　and　tempestuous　passions　he
was　keeping　now　in　such　stern　repression。　　〃Yes　a　little　talk　with
him；　just　us　two；〃　he　said。　　〃And　if　he's　cleared　out；　or　I　can't
find　him　I'm　going　straight　on　to　Bittermeads。　　There's　some　one
there　who　may　be　in　danger；　so　the　sooner　I　am　there　the　better。〃

〃But　wait　a　moment；〃　the　general　cried。　　〃Are　you　armed？〃

〃Yes；　with　my　hands；　I　shall　want　no　more　when　Walter　and　I　meet
again；〃　Rupert　answered；　and；　without　another　word；　plunged　into
the　wood　at　the　spot　where　Walter　had　vanished

At　first　the　track　of　Walter's　flying　footsteps　was　plain　enough
for　he　had　fled　full　speed；　panic　having　overtaken　him　when　he　saw
Rupert　and　his　father　together　and　understood　that　in　some　way　his
deep　conspiracy　had　failed　and　his　treachery　become　known。

For　a　little　distance；　therefore；　he　had　crashed　through　bracken
and　undergrowth；　heedless　of　all　but　the　one　need　that　was　upon　him
to　flee　away　and　escape　while　there　was　yet　time。　　But；　after　a
while；　his　first　panic　subsiding；　he　had　gone　more　carefully；　and；
as　the　weather　had　been　very　dry　of　late；　when　he　came　to　open
ground　his　footmarks　were　scarcely　visible。

In　such　spots　Rupert　could　make　but　slow　progress；　and　he　was
handicapped；　too；　by　the　fact；　that　all　the　time　he　had　to　be　on
his　guard　lest　from　some　unsuspected　quarter　his　enemy　should　come
upon　him　unawares。

For；　indeed；　this　enterprise　he　had　undertaken　in　the　flood　tide　of
his　passion　and　fierce　anger　was　dangerous　enough　since　he；　quite
weaponless；　was　following　up　a　very　desperate　armed　man　who　would
know　that　for　him　there　could　be　henceforth　no　question　of　mercy。

But　there　was　that　burning　in　Rupert's　heart　that　made　him　heedless
of　all　danger；　and　indeed；　he　who　for　mere　love　of　sport　and
adventure；　had　followed　a　wounded　tiger　into　the　jungle　and　tracked
a　buffalo　through　thick　reeds；　was　not　likely　to　draw　back　now。

Once　he　thought　he　had　succeeded；　for　he　saw　a　bush　move　and　he
rushed　at　once　upon　it。　　But　when　he　reached　it　there　was　nothing
there；　and　the　ground　about　was　hard　and　bare；　showing　no　marks　to
prove　any　one　had　lately　been　near。　　And　once　he　saw　a　movement　in
the　midst　of　some　bracken　and　caught　a　glimpse　of　what　seemed　like
Walter's　coat；　so　that　he　was　sure　he　had　him　at　last；　and　he
shouted　and　ran　forward。

But　again　no　one　was　there；　though　the　bracken　was　all　trampled　and
beaten　down。　　The　tracks　Walter　had　made　in　going　were　plain；　too；
but　Rupert　lost　them　almost　at　once　and　could　not　find　them　again；
and　when　he　came　a　little　later　to　the　further　edge　of　the　wood；　he
decided　to　waste　no　more　time；　but　to　make　his　way　direct　to
Bittermeads　so　as　at　least　to　make　sure　of　Ella's　safety。

He　told　himself　that　he　had　failed　badly　in　woodcraft　and；　indeed；
he　had　been　too　fierce　and　hot　in　his　pursuit　to　show　his　wonted
skill。

The　plan　that　had　been　in　his　mind　from　the　moment　when　he　left　his
father　was　to　take　advantage　of　the　fact　that　on　this　edge　of　the
wood　was　situated　a　farm　belonging　to　Lord　Chobham；　where　horses
were　bred　and　where　he　was　well　known。

Some　of　these　horses　were　sure　to　be　out　in　the　fields；　and　it　would
be　easy　for　him；　wasting　no　time　in　explanation；　to　catch　one　of　them；
mount　bare…backed　and　ride　through　the　New　Plantation　…　the　New
Plantation　was　a　hundred　years　old；　but　still　kept　that　name　…　over
the　brow　of　the　hill　beyond；　swim　the　canal　in　the　valley；　and　so
straight　across…country　to　Ramsdon。

Riding　thus　direct　he　would　save　time　and　distance；　and　arrive　more
quickly　than　by　going　the　necessary　distance　to　secure　a　motor…car
which　would　have　also　to　take　a　much　more　circuitous　route。

He　jumped　the　hedge；　therefore；　that　lay　at　the　wood's　edge　and
slid　down　the　steep　bank　into　the　sunken　road　beyond　where　he　found
himself　standing　in　front　of　Walter；　who　held　in　his　hands　a　gun
levelled　straight　at　Rupert's　heart。

〃I　could　have　shot　you　time　after　time　in　there　you　know；〃　he　said
quietly。　　〃From　behind　that　bush　and　from　out　of　the　bracken；　too。
I　don't　know　why　I　didn't。　　I　suppose　it　wasn't　worth　while；　now
I　shall　never　be　Lord　Chobham。〃

He　flung　down　his　gun　as　he　spoke　and　sprang　on　a　bicycle　that　he
had　held　leaning　against　his　legs。

Quickly　he　sped　away；　leaving　Rupert　standing　staring　after　him；
realizing　that　his　life　had　hung　upon　the　bending　of　Walter's　finger；
and　that　Walter；　with　at　least　two　cold…blooded　murders　to　his
account；　or　little　more　to　hope　for　in　this　world　or　the　next；　had
now　inexplicably　spared　him　for　whose　destruction；　of　life　and　honour
alike；　he　had　a　little　before　been　laying　such　elaborate；　hellish
plans。

With　a　gesture　of　his　hands　that　proved　he　failed　to　understand；
Rupert　ran　on　and　crossed　a　field　to　where　he　saw　some　horses
grazing。

One　he　knew　immediately　for　one　of　his　father's　mares；　and　he　knew
her　also　for　an　animal　of　speed　and　endurance。

The　mare　knew　him；　too；　and　suffered　him　to　mount　her　without
difficulty；　and　without　a　soul　on　the　farm　being　aware　of　what　was
happening　and　without　having　to　waste　any　precious　time　on
explanations　or　declaring　his　identity；　Rupert　rode　away；　sitting
the　mare　bare…backed；　through　the　New　Plantation　towards　Bittermeads；
where　he　hoped；　arriving　unexpectedly；　to　be　able　to　save　Ella
before　the　danger　he　was　sure　threatened　her　came　to　a　head。

Of　one　thing　he　was　certain。　　Deede　Dawson　would　never　do　what　his
companion　in　villainy　had　just　done；　he　would　spare　no　one；　fierce；
malignant　and　evil　to　the　last；　his　one　thought　if　he　knew　they　had
and　vengeance　approached　would　be　to　do　what　harm　he　could　before
the　end。



CHAPTER　XXVIII

BACK　AT　BITTERMEADS


When；　riding　fast；　Rupert　Dunsmore　came　in　sight　of　Bittermeads　he
experienced　a　feeling　of　extreme　relief。　　Though　what　he　had　feared
he　did　not　quite　know；　for　he　did　not　see　that　any　alarm　could　have
reached　here　yet　or　any　hint　come　to　Deede　Dawson　of　the　failure　of
all　his　plotting。

Even　if　Walter　had　had　the　idea　of　returning　to　give　his　accomplice
warning；　he　could　not　have　come　by　the　road　on　his　bicycle　as　quickly
as　Rupert　had　ridden　across　country。　　And　that　Walter　would　spend
either　time　or　thought　on　Deede　Dawson　did　not　appear　in　any　way
probable。

To　Rupert；　therefore；　it　seemed　certain　that　Deede　Dawson　could　know
nothing　as　yet。　　But　all　the　same　it　was　an　immense　relief　to　see
the　house　again　and　to　know　that　in　a　few　moments　he　would　be　there。

He　tied　up　the　mare　to　a　convenient　tree；　and　with　eyes　that　were
quick　and　alert　and　every　nerve　and　muscle　ready　for　all　emergencies；
he　drew　near　the　house。

All　was　still　and　quiet；　no　smoke　came　from　the　chimneys；　there