the bittermeads mystery-第31部分

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examining　and　empty　packing…case。

With　one　quick　rush　he　crossed　the　landing　and　flung　himself　at　the
door。

It　opened　at　once；　for　it　was　not　locked；　and　within　he　saw　Deede
Dawson；　screw…driver　in　his　hand；　standing　behind　a　large
packing…case；　the　lid　of　which　he　had　apparently　that　minute
finished　fastening　down。

He　looked　up　as　Rupert　entered　thus　precipitately；　and　he　showed　no
sign　of　surprise　or　alarm。

〃You're　back　early；〃　he　said。　　〃Something　gone　wrong？〃

〃What　are　you　doing？　　What's　in　there？〃　Rupert　asked；　looking　at
the　packing…case；　his　mouth　and　lips　so　suddenly　dry　he　found　it
difficult　to　speak　at　all。

Deede　Dawson　began　to　laugh；　a　low　and　dreadful　laughter　that　had
in　it　no　trace　of　merriment　at　all；　but　only　of　mockery　and　malice。

It　was　such　laughter　as　a　devil　from　the　nethermost　pit　might　give
vent　to　when　he　saw　at　last　a　good　man　yield　to　long　temptation。

〃What's　in　there？〃　Rupert　said　again；　pointing　to　the　packing…case；
and　it　was　as　though　his　soul　swooned　within　him　for　fear　of　what
the　answer　might　be。

〃What　do　the　children　say？〃　Deede　Dawson　returned　with　his　terrible
smile。　　〃I'll　give　you　three　guesses；　isn't　it？　　See　if　you　can
guess　in　three　tries。〃

〃What's　in　there？〃　Rupert　asked　the　third　time；　and　Deede　Dawson
laid　down　the　screw…driver　with　which　he　had　just　driven　home　the
last　screw。

〃Oh；　see　for　yourself；　if　you　want　to；〃　he　said。　　〃But　you　ought　to
know。　　You　know　what　was　in　the　other　case　I　sent　away　from　here；
the　one　I　got　Ella　to　take　in　the　car　for　me？　　I　want　you　to　take
this　one　away　now；　the　sooner　it's　away　the　better。〃

〃That's　it；　is　it？〃　Rupert　muttered。

He　no　longer　doubted；　and　for　a　moment　all　things　swam　together
before　him　and　he　felt　dizzy　and　a　little　sick；　and　so　weak　he
staggered　and　nearly　fell；　but　recovered　himself　in　time。

The　sensation　passed　and　he　saw　Deede　Dawson　as　it　were　a　long　way
off；　and　between　them　the　packing…case；　huge；　monstrous；　and　evil；
like　a　thing　of　dread　from　some　other　world。　　Violent　shudderings
swept　though　him　one　after　the　other；　and　he　was　aware　that　Deede
Dawson　was　speaking　again。

〃What　did　you　say？〃　he　asked　vacantly；　when　the　other　paused。

〃You　look　ill；〃　Deede　Dawson　answered。　　〃Anything　wrong？　　Why　have
you　come　back　so　soon？　　Have　you　failed？〃

Rupert　passed　his　hand　before　his　eyes　to　clear　away　the　mist　that
hung　there　and　that　hampered　his　sight。

He　perceived　that　Deede　Dawson　held　his　right　hand　in　the　pocket
of　his　coat；　grasping　something　that　bulged　out　curiously。

He　divined　that　it　was　a　pistol；　and　that　Deede　Dawson　was　ready
to　shoot　at　any　moment；　but　that　he　wished　very　greatly　to　know
first　of　all　what　had　happened　and　why　Rupert　had　returned　so　soon
and　whether　there　was　immediate　necessity　for　flight　or　not。

That　he　was　uneasy　was　certain；　for　his　cold　eyes　showed　a
hesitation　and　a　doubt　such　as　Rupert　had　never　seen　in　them　before。

〃I'll　tell　you　what's　happened；〃　Rupert　heard　himself　saying
hoarsely。　　〃If　you'll　tell　me　what's　in　there。〃

〃A　bargain；　eh？〃　Deede　Dawson　said。　　〃It's　easy　enough。　　You　can
look　for　yourself　if　you　unscrew　the　lid；　but　then；　after　all；　why
should　we　take　all　that　trouble？〃

As　he　spoke　his　pistol　showed　in　his　hand；　and　at　once　the　heavy
glass　inkpot　Rupert　had　held　all　this　time　flew　straight　and　true；
and　with　tremendous　force；　at　Deede　Dawson's　head。

He　avoided　it　only　by　the　extreme　rapidity　with　which　he　dropped
behind　the　packing…case；　and　it　flew　over　his　head　and　crashed
against　the　centre　panel　of　a　big　wardrobe　that　stood　in　one
corner　of　the　room；　splitting　the　panel　it　struck　from　top　to
bottom。

Following　it；　Rupert　hurled　himself　forward　with　one　great　spring；
but　agile　as　a　cat　that　leaps　away　from　the　mastiff's　teeth；　Deede
Dawson　slipped　from　his　grasp　to　the　other　side　of　the　room。　　In
doing　so　he　knocked　his　arm　against　the　corner　of　the　packing…case；
so　that　his　revolver　fell　to　the　ground。

With　a　shout　Rupert　stooped　and　seized　it；　and　straightened　himself
to　see　that　Deede　Dawson　had　already　another　revolver　in　his　hand
　…　a　second　one　that　he　had　drawn　from　an　inner　pocket。

They　remained　very　still；　watching　each　other　intently；　neither
eager　to　fire；　since　both　wished　first　to　make　the　other　speak。　　For
Rupert　desired　very　greatly　that　Deede　Dawson　should　tell　him　where
Ella　was；　and　Deede　Dawson　needed　that　Rupert　should　explain　what
had　gone　wrong；　and　how　imminent　and　great　was　the　danger　that
therefore　most　likely　threatened　him。

Each　knew；　too；　that　the　slightest　movement　he　made　would　set　the
other　shooting；　and　each　realized　that　in　that　close　and　narrow
space　any　exchange　of　shots　must　almost　of　necessity　mean　the　death
of　both；　since　both　were　cool　and　deadly　marksmen；　well　accustomed
to　the　use　of　the　revolver。

Deede　Dawson　was　the　first　to　speak。

〃Well；　what　next？〃　he　said。　　〃If　that　inkpot　of　yours　had　hit　me　it
would　pretty　well　have　knocked　my　brains　out；　and　if　I　hadn't　hit
my　elbow　against　the　corner　of　the　packing…case　I　would　have　had　you
shot　through　with　holes　like　a　sieve　by　now。　　So　far　the　score's
even。　　Let's　chat　a　bit；　and　see　if　we　can't　come　to　some　arrangement。
Look；　I'll　show　I　trust　you；〃

As　he　spoke　he　laid　down；　much　to　Rupert's　surprise；　and　to　his
equal　suspicion；　his　revolver　on　the　top　of　a　moth…eaten　roll　of
old　carpet　that　leaned　against　the　wall　near　where　he　was　standing。

〃You　see；　I　trust　you；〃　he　said　once　more。

〃Take　your　pistol　up　again；〃　answered　Rupert　grimly。　　〃I　do　not
trust　you。〃

〃Ah；　that's　a　pity。〃　Deede　Dawson　smiled；　making　no　effort　to　do　as
the　other　said。　　〃You　see；　we　are　both　good　shots；　and　if　we　start
blazing　away　at　each　other　up　here　we　shall　both　be　leaking　pretty
badly　before　long。　　That's　a　prospect　that　has　no　attraction　for　me；
I　don't　know　if　it　has　for　you。　　But　there　are　things　I　can　tell　you
that　might　be　interesting；　and　things　you　can　tell　me　I　want　to　know。
Why　not　exchange　a　little　information；　and　then　separate　calmly；
rather　than　indulge　in　pistol　practice　that　can　only　mean　the　death
of　us　both？　　For　if　your　first　bullet　goes　though　my　brain　I　swear
my　first　will　be　in　your　heart。〃

〃Likely　enough；〃　agreed　Rupert；　〃but　worth　while　perhaps。〃

〃Oh；　that's　fanaticism；〃　Deede　Dawson　answered。　　〃Flattering　perhaps
to　me；　but　not　quite　reasonable；　eh？〃

〃There's　only　one　thing　I　want　to　know　from　you；〃　Rupert　said　slowly。

〃Then　why　not　ask　it；　why　not　agree　to　the　little　arrangement　I
suggest；　eh？　　Eh；　Rupert　Dunsmore？〃

〃You　know　me；　then？〃

〃Oh；　long　enough。〃

〃Where　is　Ella？〃

Deede　Dawson　laughed　again。

〃That's　a　thing　I　know　and　you　don't；〃　he　said。　　〃Well；　she's　safe
away　in　London　by　this　time。〃

〃That's　a　lie；　for　her　mother's　here　still；〃　answered　Rupert；　even
though　his　heart　leapt　merely　to　hear　the　words。

〃Unbelieving　Thomas；〃　smiled　the　other。　　〃Well；　then；　she　is　where
she　is；　and　that　you　can　find　out　for　yourself。　　But　I'll　make
another　suggestion。　　We　are　both　good　shots；　and　if　we　start　to　fire
we　shall　kill　each　other。　　I　am　certain　of　killing　you；　but　I　shan't
escape　myself。　　Well；　then；　why　not　toss　for　it？　　Equal　chances　for
both；　and　certain　safety　for　one。　　Will　you　toss　me；　the　one　who
loses　to　give　up　his　pistol　to　the　other？

〃It　seems　to　me　a　good　idea；〃　Deede　Dawson　argued。　　〃Here　we　are
watching　each　other　like　cats；　and　knowing　that　the　least　movement
of　either　will　start　the　other　off；　and　both　of　us　pulling　trigger
as　hard　as　we　can。　　My　idea　would　mean　a　chance　for　one。　　Well；
let's　try　another　way；　the　best　shot　to　win。　　You　don't　trust　me；
but　I　will　you。〃

Leaving　his　pistol　lying　where　he　had　put　it　down；　he　crossed　the
attic；　and　with　a　pencil　he　took　from　his　pocket　drew　a　circle　on
the　panel　of　the　wardrobe　door　that　Rupert　had　split　with　the
inkpot　he　had　thrown。

In　the　centre　of　the　circle　he　marked　a　dot；　and　turned　smilingly
to　the　frowning　and　suspicious　Rupert。

〃There　you　are；〃　he　said；　and　made　another　circle　near　the　first
one。　　〃Now　you　put　a　bullet　into　the　middle　of　this　circle　and　I'll
put　one　afterwards　through　the　second　circle；　and　the　one　who　is
nearest　to　the　dots　I've　marked；　wins。　　What　have　you　to　say　to　that？
Seems　to　me　better　than　our　killing　each　other。　　Isn't　it？〃

〃I　think　you're　playing　the　fool　for　some　reason　of　your　own；〃
answered　Rupert。　　〃There's　only　one　thing　I　want　to　know　from　you。
Where　is　Ella？〃

〃Let　me　know　how　you　can　shoot；〃　answered　Deede　Dawson；　〃and　I'll
tell　you；　by　all　that's　holy；　I　will。〃

Rupert　hesitated。　　He　did　not　understand　all　this；　he　could　not
imagine　what　motive　was　in　Deede　Dawson's　mind；　though　it　was
certainly　true　enough　that　once　they　began　shooting　at　each　other
neither　man　was　at　all　likely　to　survive；　for　Rupert　knew　he　would
not　miss　and　he　did　not　think　Deede　Dawson　would　either。

Above　all；　there　was　the　one　thing　he　wished　to　know；　the　one
consideration　that　weighed　with　him　above　all　others　…　what　had
become　of　Ella？　　And　this　time　there　had　been　in　Deede　Dawson's
voice　an　accent　of　twisted　and　malign　sincerity　that　seemed　to
say　he　really　would　be　willing　to　tell　the　truth　about　her　if
Rupert　would　gratify　his　whim　about　this　sort　of　shooting…match
that　he　was　suggesting。

The　purpose　of　it　Rupert　could　not　understand；　but　it　did　not　seem
to　him　there　would　be　any　risk　of　harm　in　agreeing；　for　Deede
Dawson　was　standing　so　far　away　from　his　own　weapon　he　could　not
well　be　contemplating　any　immediate　mischief　or　treachery。

It　did　occur　to　him　that　the　pistol　he　held　might　be　loaded　in　one
chamber　only　and　that　Deede　Dawson　might　be　scheming　to　induce　him
to　throw　away　his　solitary　cartridge。

But　a　glance　reassured　him　on　that　point。

〃Let　me　see　how　you　can　shoot；〃　Deede　Dawson　repeated；　leaning
carelessly　with　folded　arms　against　the　wall　a　little　distance　away。
〃And　I　promise　you　I'll　tell　you　where　Ella　is。〃

Rupert　lifted　his　pistol　and　was　indeed　on　the　very　point　of　firing
when　he　caught　a　glimpse　of　such　evil　triumph　and　delight　in　Deede
Dawson's　cold　eyes　that　he　hesitated　and　lowered　the　weapon；　and　at
the　same　time；