the bittermeads mystery-第5部分

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the　risk　of　some　blundering　fool　of　a　policeman　trying　to　arrest　me
for　assaulting　the　local　magnate。〃

Much　relieved　in　mind；　for　he　had　been　greatly　worried　by　a　fear　that
this　encounter　with　John　Clive　might　lead　to　highly　inconvenient　legal
proceedings；　he　left　the　unlucky　burglar　lying　in　the　shelter　of　the
furze　bushes　and　returned　to　the　house。

All　was　as　he　had　left　it；　the　open　window　gaped　widely；　almost
inviting　entrance；　and　he　climbed　silently　within。　　The　apartment
in　which　he　found　himself　was　apparently　the　drawing…room　and　he
felt　his　way　cautiously　and　slowly　across　it；　moving　with　infinite
care　so　as　to　avoid　making　even　the　least　noise。

Reaching　the　door；　he　opened　it　and　went　out　into　the　hall。　　All
was　dark　and　silent。　　He　permitted　himself　here　to　flash　on　his
electric　torch　for　a　moment；　and　he　saw　that　the　hall　was　spacious
and　used　as　a　lounge；　for　there　were　several　chairs　clustered　in
its　centre；　opposite　the　fireplace。　　There　were　two　or　three　doors
opening　from　it；　and　almost　opposite　where　he　stood　were　the　stairs；
a　broad　flight　leading　to　a　wide　landing　above。

Still　with　the　same　extreme　silence　and　care；　he　began　to　ascend
these　stairs　and　when　he　was　about　half…way　up　he　became　aware　of
a　faint　and　strange　sound　that　came　trembling　through　the　silence
and　stillness　of　the　night。

What　it　was　he　could　not　imagine。　　He　listened　for　a　time　and　then
resumed　his　silent　progress　with　even　more　care　than　previously；
and　only　when　he　reached　the　landing　did　he　understand　that　this
faint　and　low　sound　he　heard　was　caused　by　a　woman　weeping　very
softly　in　one　of　the　rooms　near　by。

Silently　he　crossed　the　landing　in　the　direction　whence　the　sound
seemed　to　come。　　Now；　too；　he　saw　a　thread　of　light　showing　beneath
a　door　at　a　little　distance；　and　when　he　crept　up　to　it　and　listened
he　could　hear　for　certain　that　it　was　from　within　this　room　that
there　came　the　sound　of　muffled；　passionate　weeping。

The　door　was　closed；　but　he　turned　the　handle　so　carefully　that　he
made　not　the　least　sound　and　very　cautiously　he　began　to　push　the
door　back；　the　tiniest　fraction　of　an　inch　at　a　time；　so　that　even
one　watching　closely　could　never　have　said　that　it　moved。

When；　after　a　long　time；　during　which　the　muffled　weeping　never
ceased；　he　had　it　open　an　inch　or　two；　he　leaned　forward　and　peeped
within。

It　was　a　bed…chamber；　and；　crouching　on　the　floor　near　the　fireplace；
in　front　of　a　low　arm…chair；　her　head　hidden　on　her　arms　and　resting
on　the　seat　of　the　chair；　was　the　figure　of　a　girl。　　She　had　made　no
preparations　for　retiring；　and　by　the　frock　she　wore　Dunn　recognized
her　as　the　girl　he　had　seen　on　the　veranda　bidding　good…bye　to　John
Clive。

The　sound　of　her　weeping　was　very　pitiful；　her　attitude　was　full　of
an　utter　and　poignant　despair；　there　was　something　touching　in　the
extreme　in　the　utter　abandonment　to　grief　shown　by　this　young　and
lovely　creature　who　seemed　framed　only　for　joy　and　laughter。

The　stern　features　and　hard　eyes　of　the　unseen　watcher　softened；
then　all　at　once　they　grew　like　tempered　steel　again。

For　on　the　mantlepiece；　just　above　where　the　weeping　girl　crouched；
stood　a　photograph　…　the　photograph　of　a　young　and　good…looking；
gaily…smiling　man。　　Across　it；　in　a　boyish　and　somewhat　unformed
hand；　was　written

　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Devotedly　yours；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Charley　Wright。〃

It　was　this　photograph　that　had　caught　Dunn's　eyes。　　Both　it　and
the　writing　and　the　signature　he　recognized；　and　his　look　was　very
stern；　his　eyes　as　cold　as　death　itself；　as　slowly；　slowly　he　pushed
back　the　door　of　the　room　another　inch　or　so。



CHAPTER　V

A　WOMAN　AND　A　MAN


The　girl　stirred。　　It　was　as　though　some　knowledge　of　the　slow
opening　of　the　door　had　penetrated　to　her　consciousness　before　as
yet　she　actually　saw　or　heard　anything。

She　rose　to　her　feet；　drying　her　eyes　with　her　handkerchief；　and
as　she　was　moving　to　a　drawer　near　to　get　a　clean　one　her　glance
fell　on　the　partially…open　door。

〃I　thought　I　shut　it；〃　she　said　aloud　in　a　puzzled　manner。

She　crossed　the　floor　to　the　door　and　closed　it　with　a　push　from
her　hand　and　in　the　passage　outside　Dunn　stood　still；　not　certain
what　to　do　next。

But　for　that　photograph　he　might　have　gone　quietly　away；　giving　up
the　reckless　plan　that　had　formed　itself　so　suddenly　in　his　mind
while　he　watched　the　burglar　at　work。

That　photograph；　however；　with　its　suggestion　that　he　stood　indeed
on　the　brink　of　the　solution　of　the　mystery；　seemed　a　summons　to
him　to　go　on。　　It　was　as　though　a　voice　from　the　dead　called　him　to
continue　on　his　task　to　punish　and　to　save；　and　slowly；　very　slowly；
with　an　infinite　caution；　he　turned　again　the　handle　of　the　door
and　still　very　slowly；　still　with　the　same　infinite　caution；　he
pushed　back　the　door　the　merest　fraction　of　an　inch　at　a　time　so
that　not　even　one　watching　could　have　said　that　it　moved。

When　he　had　it　once　more　so　far　open　that　he　could　see　within；　he
bent　forward　to　look。　　The　girl　was　beginning　her　preparations　for
the　night　now。　　She　had　assumed　a　long；　comfortable…looking
dressing…gown　and；　standing　in　front　of　the　mirror；　she　had　just
finished　brushing　her　hair　and　was　beginning　to　fasten　it　up　in　a
long　plait。　　He　could　see　her　face　in　the　mirror；　her　deep；　sad
eyes；　swollen　with　crying；　her　cheeks　still　tear…stained；　her　mouth
yet　quivering　with　barely…repressed　emotion。

He　was　still　watching　her　when；　as　if　growing　uneasy；　she　turned
her　head　and　glanced　over　her　shoulder；　and　though　he　moved　back
so　quickly　that　she　did　not　catch　sight　of　him；　she　saw　that　the
door　was　open　once　more。

〃What　can　be　the　matter　with　the　door？〃　she　exclaimed　aloud；　and
she　crossed　the　room　towards　it　with　a　quick　and　somewhat　impatient
movement。

But　this　time；　instead　of　closing　it；　she　pulled　it　open　and　found
herself　face　to　face　with　Dunn。

He　did　not　speak　or　move；　and　she　stood　staring　at　him　blankly。
Slowly　her　mouth　opened　as　though　to　utter　a　cry　that；　however；
could　not　rise　above　her　fluttering　throat。　　Her　face　had　taken　on
the　pallor　of　death；　her　great　eyes　showed　the　awful　fear　she　felt。

Still　without　speaking；　Dunn　stepped　forward　into　the　room　and；
closing　the　door；　stood　with　his　back　to　it。

She　shrank　away　and　put　her　hand　upon　a　chair；　but　for　the　support
of　which　she　must　certainly　have　fallen；　for　her　limbs　were
trembling　so　violently　they　gave　her　little　support。

〃Don't　hurt　me；〃　she　panted。

In　truth　he　presented　a　strange　and　terrifying　appearance。　　The
unkempt　hair　that　covered　his　face　and　through　which　his　keen　eyes
glowed　like　fire；　gave　him　an　unusual　and　formidable　aspect。　　In
one　hand　he　held　the　ugly…looking　jemmy　he　had　taken　from　the
burglar；　and　the　new　clothes　he　had　donned；　ill…fitting　and　soiled；
served　to　accentuate　the　ungainliness　of　his　form。

The　frightened　girl　was　not　even　sure　that　he　was　human；　and　she
shrank　yet　further　away　from　him　till　she　sank　down　upon　the　bed；
dizzy　with　fear　and　almost　swooning。

As　yet　he　had　not　spoken；　for　his　eyes　had　gone　to　the　mantlepiece
on　which　he　saw　that　the　photograph　signed　with　the　name　〃Charley
Wright；〃　did　not　now　stand　upright；　but　had　fallen　forward　on　its
face　so　that　one　could　no　longer　see　what　it　represented。

It　must　have　fallen　just　as　he　entered　the　room　and　this　seemed　to
him　an　omen；　though　whether　of　good　or　ill；　he　did　not　know。

〃Who　are　you　？〃　the　girl　stammered。　　〃What　do　you　want？〃

He　looked　at　her　moodily　and　still　without　answering；　though　in　his
bright　and　keen　eyes　a　strange　light　burned。

She　was　lovely；　he　thought；　of　that　there　could　be　no　question。
But　her　beauty　made　to　him　small　appeal；　for　he　was　wondering　what
kind　of　soul　lay　behind　those　perfect　features；　that　smooth　and
delicate　skin；　those　luminous　eyes。　　Yet　his　eyes　were　still　hard
and　it　was　in　his　roughest；　gruffest　tones　that　he　said：　

〃You　needn't　be　afraid；　I　won't　hurt　you。〃

〃I'll　give　you　everything　I　have；〃　she　panted；　〃if　only　you'll　go
away。〃

〃Not　so　fast　as　all　that；〃　he　answered；　coolly；　for　indeed　he　had
not　taken　so　mad　a　risk　in　order　to　go　away　again　if　he　could　help
it。　　〃Who　is　there　in　the　house　besides　you？〃

〃Only　mother；〃　she　answered；　looking　up　at　him　very　pleadingly　as
if　in　hopes　that　he　must　relent　when　he　saw　her　in　distress。
〃Please；　won't　you　take　what　you　want　and　go　away？　　Please　don't
disturb　mother；　it　would　nearly　kill　her。〃

〃I'm　not　going　to　hurt　either　you　or　your　mother　if　you'll　be
sensible；〃　he　said　irritably；　for；　unreasonably　enough；　the　extreme
fear　she　showed　and　her　pleading　tones　annoyed　him。　　He　had　a
feeling　that　he　would　like　to　shake　her；　it　was　so　absurd　of　her
to　look　at　him　as　though　she　expected　him　to　gobble　her　up　in　a
mouthful。

She　seemed　a　little　reassured。

〃Mother　will　be　so　dreadfully　frightened；〃　she　repeated；　〃I'll　give
you　everything　there　is　in　the　house　if　only　you'll　go　at　once。〃

〃I　can　take　everything　I　want　without　your　giving　it　me；〃　he
retorted。　　〃How　do　I　know　you're　telling　the　truth　when　you　say
there's　no　one　else　in　the　house？　　How　many　servants　have　you？〃

〃None；〃　she　answered。　　〃There's　a　woman　comes　every　day；　but　she
doesn't　sleep　here。〃

〃Do　you　live　all　alone　here　with　your　mother？〃　he　asked；　watching
her　keenly。

〃There's　my　stepfather；〃　she　answered。　　〃But　he's　not　here　tonight。〃

〃Oh；　is　he　away？〃　Dunn　asked；　his　expression　almost　one　of
disappointment。

The　girl；　whose　first　extreme　fear　had　passed　and　who　was　watching
him　as　keenly　as　he　watched　her；　noticed　this　manner　of
disappointment；　and　could　not　help　wondering　what　sort　of　burglar
it　was　who　was　not　pleased　to　hear　that　the　man　of　the　house　was
away；　and　that　he　had　only　two　women　to　deal　with。

And　it　appeared　to　her　that　he　seemed　not　only　disappointed；　but
rather　at　a　loss　what　to　do　next。

As　in　truth　he　was；　for　that　the　stepfather　should　be　away；　and　this
girl　and　her　mother　all　alone；　was；　perhaps；　the　one　possibility　that
he　had　never　considered。

She　noticed；　too；　that　he　did　not　pay　any　attention　to　her　jewellery；
which　was　lying　close　to　his　hand　on　the　toilet…table；　and