the bittermeads mystery-第30部分

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he　drew　near　the　house。

All　was　still　and　quiet；　no　smoke　came　from　the　chimneys；　there　was
no　sign　of　life　or　movement　anywhere。　　For　a　moment　he　hesitated
and　then　made　his　way　round　to　the　back；　hoping　to　find　Mrs。
Barker　there　and　perhaps　obtain　from　her　information　as　to　the
whereabouts　of　Deede　Dawson　and　of　Ella　and　her　mother。

For　it　seemed　to　him　it　would　be　his　best　plan　to　get　the　two　women
quietly　out　of　the　way　if　he　could　possibly　do　so　before　making　any
attempt　to　deal　with　Deede　Dawson　or　letting　him　know　of　his　return。

For　the　mere　fact　that　he　was　back　again　so　soon　would　show　at　once
that　something　had　gone　seriously　wrong；　and　once　Deede　Dawson　knew
that；　he　would　be；　Rupert　well　realized；　in　a　very　desperate　and
reckless　mood　and　ripe　for　committing　any　mischief　that　he　could。

Cautiously　Rupert　opened　the　back　door　and　found　himself　in　the
stone…paved　passage　that　ran　between　the　kitchen　and　the　scullery
and　pantry。　　Everything　seemed　very　quiet　and　still；　and　there　was
no　sign　of　Mrs。　Barker　nor　any　appearance　that　she　had　been　that
morning　busy　about　her　usual　tasks。　　The　kitchen　fire　was　not
lighted；　a　pile　of　unwashed　crockery　stood　on　the　table；　there　had
apparently　been　no　attempt　to　prepare　any　meals。

Frowning　uneasily；　for　all　this　did　not　seem　to　him　of　good　omen；
Rupert　Went　quickly　on　to　the　living　rooms。

They　were　unoccupied　and　did　not　seem　to　have　been　much　used　that
day；　and　in　the　small　breakfast…room　Deede　Dawson　had　been　accustomed
to　consider　his　special　apartment；　his　favourite　little　travelling
chessboard　stood　on　the　table　with　pieces　in　position　on　it。

There　was　a　letter；　too；　he　had　begun　but　not　finished；　to　the
editor　of　a　chess…column　in　some　paper；　apparently　to　the　effect
that　a　certain　problem　〃cooked；〃　and　that　by　such　and　such　a　move
〃the　mate　for　the　first　player　that　appeared　certain　was　unexpectedly
and　instantly　transferred　in　this　dramatic　manner　into　a　mate　for
his　opponent。〃

The　words　seemed　somehow　oddly　appropriate　to　Rupert；　and　he　smiled
grimly　as　he　read　them　and　then　all　at　once　his　expression　changed
and　his　whole　attitude　became　one　of　intense　watchfulness　and
readiness。

For　his　quick　eye　had　noted　that　the　ink　on　the　nib　of　the　pen　that
this　letter　had　been　written　with；　was　not　yet　dry。

Then　Deede　Dawson　must　have　been　here　a　moment　or　two　ago　and　must
have　gone　in　a　hurry。　　That　could　only　mean　he　was　aware　of　Rupert's
return　and　was　warned　and　suspicious。　　It　is　perhaps　characteristic
of　Rupert's　passionate　and　eager　temperament　that　only　now　did　it
occur　to　him　that　he　was　quite　unarmed　and　that　without　a　weapon　of
any　kind　he　was　matching　himself　against　as　reckless　and　as
formidable　a　criminal　as　had　ever　lived。

For　want　of　anything　better　he　picked　up　the　heavy　glass　inkpot
standing　on　the　table；　emptied　the　contents　in　a　puddle　on　the　floor；
and　held　the　inkpot　itself　ready　in　his　hand。

He　listened　intently；　but　heard　no　sound　…　no　sound　at　all　in　the
whole　house；　and　this　increased　his　apprehensions；　for　he　knew　well
that　Deede　Dawson　was　a　man　always　the　most　dangerous　when　most
silent。

It　was　possible　of　course　that　he　had　fled；　but　not　likely。　　He
would　not　go；　Rupert　thought；　till　he　had　made　his　preparations
and　not　without　a　last　effort　to　take　revenge　on　those　who　had
defeated　him　and　in　this　dramatic　way　turned　the　mate　he　had
expected　to　secure　into　a　win　for　his　opponent。〃

Still　Rupert　listened　intently；　straining　his　ears　to　catch　the
least　sound　to　hint　to　him　where　his　enemy　was；　for　he　knew　that　if
he　failed　to　discover　him　his　first　intimation　of　his　proximity
might　well　come　in　the　shape　of　the　white…hot　sting　of　a　bullet；
rending　flesh　and　bone。

Then；　too；　where　was　Ella；　and　where　was　her　mother？

There　was　something　inexpressibly　sinister　in　the　utter　quietness
of　the　house；　a　quietness　not　at　all　of　peace　and　rest　but　of　a
brooding；　angry　threat。

Still　he　could　hear　nothing；　and　he　left　the　room；　very　quickly　and
noiselessly；　and　he　made　sure　there　was　no　one　anywhere　in　any　of
these　rooms　on　the　ground　floor。

He　locked　the　front　door　and　the　back　to　make　sure　no　one　should
enter　or　leave　too　easily；　and　returned　on　tiptoe；　moving　to　and
fro　like　a　shadow　cast　by　a　changing　light；　so　swift　and　noiseless
were　his　movements。

For　a　little　he　remained　crouching　against　the　side　of　the　stairway；
listening　for　any　sound　that　might　float　down　to　him　from　above。

But　none　came　…　and　on　a　sudden；　in　one　movement；　as　it　were；　he
ran　up　the　stairs　and　crouched　down　on　the　topmost　one　so　that　any
bullet　aimed　at　him　as　he　appeared　might　perhaps　fly　overhead。

But　none　was　fired；　there　was　still　no　sound　at　all；　no　sign　that
the　house　held　any　living　creature　beside　himself。　　He　began　to
think　that　Deede　Dawson　must　have　sent　the　two　women　away　and　now
have　gone　himself。

But　there　was　the　pen　downstairs　with　ink　still　wet　upon　the　nib
to　prove　that　he　had　been　here　recently；　and　again　very　suddenly
Rupert　leaped　to　his　feet　and　ran　noiselessly　down　the　corridor
and　entered　quickly　into　Ella's　room。

He　had　not　been　in　it　since　the　night　of　his　arrival　at　Bittermeads；
but　it　appeared　to　him　extraordinarily　familiar　and　every　little
object　in　it　of　ornament　or　use　seemed　to　speak　to　him　softly　of
Ella's　gracious　presence。

Of　Ella　herself　there　was　no　sign；　but　he　noticed　that　the　tassel
at　the　end　of　the　window　blind　cord　was　moving　as　if　recently
disturbed。

The　movement　was　very　slight；　almost　imperceptible；　indeed；　but　it
existed；　and　it　proved　that　some　one　must　very　shortly　before　have
been　standing　at　the　window。　　He　moved　to　it　and　looked　out。

The　view　commanded　the　road　by　which　he　had　approached　Bittermeads；
and　he　wondered　if　Ella　had　been　standing　there　and　had　seen　his
approach；　and　then　had　concealed　herself　for　some　reason。

But；　if　so；　why　and　where　was　she　hiding？　　And　where　was　Deede
Dawson？　　And　why　was　everything　so　silent　and　so　still？

He　turned　from　the　window；　and　as　he　did　so　he　caught　a　faint　sound
in　the　passage　without。

Instantly　he　crouched　behind　the　bed；　the　heavy　glass　inkpot　that
was　his　one　weapon　poised　in　his　hand。

The　sound　did　not　come　again；　but　as　he　waited；　he　saw　the　door
begin　to　open　very　slowly；　very　quietly。

Lower　still　he　crouched；　the　inkpot　ready　to　throw；　every　nerve　taut
and　tense　for　the　leap　at　his　foe's　throat　with　which　he　meant　to
follow　it　up。　　The　door　opened　a　little　more；　very　slowly；　very
carefully。　　It　was　wide　enough　now　to　admit　of　entry；　and　through
the　opening　there　sidled；　pale　and　red…eyed；　Ella's　mother；　looking
so　frail　and　feeble　and　so　ruffled　and　disturbed　she　reminded　Rupert
irresistibly　of　a　frightened　hen。

She　edged　her　way　in　as　though　she　dared　not　open　the　door　too
widely；　and　Rupert　hesitated　in　great　perplexity　and　vexation；　for
he　saw　that　he　must　show　himself；　and　he　feared　that　she　would
announce　his　presence　by　flight　or　screams。

But　he　could　not　possibly　get　away　without　her　knowledge；　and
besides；　she　might　be　able　to　give　him　useful　information。

He　stood　up　quickly；　with　his　finger　to　his　lips。　　〃Hush！〃　he　said。
〃Not　a　sound　…　not　a　sound。〃　　The　warning　seemed　unnecessary；　for
Mrs。　Dawson　appeared　too　paralysed　with　fear　to　utter　even　the
faintest　cry　as　she　dropped　tremblingly　on　the　nearest　chair。

〃Hush！　　Hush！〃　he　said。　　〃Where　is　Ella？〃

〃I　…　I　don't　know；〃　quavered　Mrs。　Dawson。

〃When　did　you　see　her　last？〃

〃A　little　while　ago；〃　Mrs。　Dawson　faltered。　　She　went　upstairs。
She　didn't　come　down；　so　I　thought　I　would　try　to　find　her。〃

〃Where's　Deede　Dawson？〃　Rupert　asked。

〃I　…　I　don't　know；〃　she　quavered　again。

〃When　did　you　see　him　last？〃

〃I　…　I　…　a　little　while　ago；〃　she　faltered。　　〃He　went　upstairs　…　he
didn't　come　down　again。　　I　thought　I　would　try　to　find　her　…　him　…　I
was　so　frightened　when　they　didn't　either　of　them　come　down　again。

It　was　evident　she　was　far　too　confused　and　upset　to　give　any　useful
information　of　any　nature；　even　if　she　knew　anything。

〃Deede's　been　so　strange；〃　she　said。　　〃And　Ella　too。　　I　think　it's
very　hard　on　me　…　dreams；　too。　　He　said　he　wanted　her　to　help　him
get　a　packing…case　ready　he　had　to　send　away　somewhere。　　I　don't
know　where。　　I　don't　think　Ella　wanted　to　…　〃

〃A　packing…case？〃　Rupert　muttered。　　〃What　for？〃

〃It's　what　they　came　upstairs　to　do；〃　Mrs。　Dawson　said。　　〃And　…　and
　…　〃　　She　began　to　cry　feebly。　　〃It's　my　nerves；〃　she　said。　　〃He's
looked　so　strange　at　us　all　day　…　and　neither　of　them　has　come　down
again。〃



CHAPTER　XXIX

THE　ATTIC


It　was　evident　that　more　had　occurred　to　make　Mrs。　Dawson　afraid
that　she　would；　or　perhaps　could；　say。

〃Wait　here；〃　Rupert　said　to　her。　　〃Don't　stir。〃　　The　command　seemed
superfluous；　for　she　had　not　at　that　moment　the　appearance　of　still
possessing　the　power　to　move。　　Without　speaking　again；　Rupert　left
the　room　and　went　quickly　to　the　foot　of　the　narrow　stairs　that　led
to　the　attics　above。

He　listened；　crouching　there；　and　heard　nothing；　and　a　cold　fear
came　to　him　that　perhaps　Deede　Dawson　had　done　up　above　what　he
wished　to　do　and　then　effected　his　escape　while　he　himself　had　been
lingering　in　Ella's　room。

Adopting　his　plan　of　a　rapid　rush　to　disconcert　the　aim　of　any　one
who　might　be　about　to　fire　at　him；　he　made　a　swift　dash　up　the
stairs　and　on　the　topmost　one　crouched　down　again　and　waited。

But　still　nothing　happened；　all　was　very　quiet；　and　the　door　of　one
attic；　the　one　which　had　been　assigned　to　him　as　a　bed…chamber；　was
wide　open　so　that　he　could　see　into　it　and　see　that　it　was　unoccupied。

But　the　doors　of　both　the　others　were　closed；　and　as　he　looked　he
made　out　in　the　gloom；　for　this　landing　by　the　attic　was　very
badly…lighted　by　a　small　and　awkwardly…placed　skylight；　a　scattered
dozen　or　so　of　hairpins；　and　a　tortoiseshell　comb　such　as　he　had
seen　sometimes　in　Ella's　hair；　lying　on　the　floor　near　the　door　of
the　larger　of　the　two　attics；　the　one　in　which　he　remembered　well
he　had　found　Deede　Dawson　on　a　certain　night　busy　measuring　and
examining　and　empty　packing…case。

With　one　quick　rush　he　crossed　the　landing　an