the bittermeads mystery-第8部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃There　wasn't　no　one　in　them；〃　Dunn　answered。　　〃I　only　wanted　to
make　sure　the　young　lady　was　telling　the　truth　about　there　being
no　servants　in　the　house　to　sleep。〃

〃Did　you　look　in　all　the　attics；　then？〃　asked　Deede　Dawson。

〃Yes；〃　answered　Dunn。　　〃'There　was　one　as　was　locked；　but　I　tooked
the　liberty　of　forcing　it　just　to　make　sure。　　I　ain't　done　no　harm
to　speak　of。〃

〃You　found　one　locked；　eh？〃　said　Deede　Dawson；　and　his　smile　grew
still　more　pleasant　and　more　friendly。　　〃That　must　have　surprised
you　a　good　deal；　didn't　it？〃

〃I　thought　as　perhaps　there　was　some　one　waiting　already　to　give
the　alarm；〃　answered　Dunn。　　〃I　didn't　mind　the　old　lady；　but　I
couldn't　risk　there　being　some　one　hiding　there；　so　I　had　to　look；
but　I　ain't　done　no　damage　to　speak　of；　I　could　put　it　right　for
you　myself　in　half…an…hour；　sir；　if　you'll　let　me。〃

〃Could　you；　indeed？〃　said　Deede　Dawson。　　〃Well；　and　did　you　find
any　one　sleeping　there？〃

But　for　that　hairy　disguise　upon　his　cheeks　and　chin；　Dunn　would
almost　certainly　have　betrayed　himself；　so　dreadful　did　the　question
seem　to　him；　so　poignant　the　double　meaning　that　it　bore；　so　clear
his　memory　of　his　friend　he　had　found　there；　sleeping　indeed。

But　there　was　nothing　to　show　his　inner　agitation；　as　he　said；
shaking　his　head

〃There　wasn't　no　one　there；　any　more　than　in　the　other　attics；
nothing　but　an　old　packing…case。〃

〃And　what？〃　said　Deede　Dawson；　his　voice　so　soft　it　was　like　a
caress；　his　smile　so　sweet　it　was　a　veritable　benediction。　　〃What
was　in　that　packing…case？〃

〃Didn't　look；〃　answered　Dunn；　and　then；　with　a　sudden　change　of
manner；　as　though　all　at　once　understanding　what　previously　had
puzzled　him。　　〃Lum…me；〃　he　cried；　〃is　that　where　you　keep　the
silver？　Lor'；　and　to　think　I　never　even　troubled　to　look。〃

〃You　never　looked？〃　repeated　Deede　Dawson。

Dunn　shook　his　head　with　an　air　of　baffled　regret。　　〃Never　thought
of　it；〃　he　said。　　〃I　thought　it　was　just　lumber　like　in　the　other
attics；　and　I　might　have　got　clear　away　with　it　if　I　had　known；　as
easy　as　not。〃

His　chagrin　was　so　apparent；　his　whole　manner　so　innocent；　that
Deede　Dawson　began　to　believe　he　really　did　know　nothing。

〃Didn't　you　wonder　why　the　door　was　locked？〃　he　asked。

〃Lor'；〃　answered　Dunn；　〃if　you　stopped　to　wonder　about　everything
you　find　rummy　in　a　crib　you're　cracking；　when　would　you　ever　get
your　business　done？〃

〃So　you　didn't　look　…　in　that　packing…case？〃　　Deede　Dawson　repeated。

〃If　I　had；〃　answered　Dunn　ruefully；　〃I　shouldn't　be　here；　copped
like　this。　　I　should　have　shoved　with　the　stuff　and　not　waited　for
nothing　more。　　But　I　never　had　no　luck。〃

〃I'm　not　so　sure　of　that；〃　said　Deede　Dawson　grimly；　and　as　he　spoke
a　soft　voice　called　down　from　upstairs。

〃Is　there　any　one　there？〃　it　said。　　〃Oh；　please；　is　any　one　there？〃

〃Is　that　you；　Ella？〃　Deede　Dawson　called　back。　〃Come　down　here。〃

〃I　can't；〃　she　answered。　　〃I'm　fastened　to　a　chair。

〃I　didn't　hurt　the　young　lady；〃　Dunn　interposed　quickly。　　〃I　only
tied　her　up　as　gentle　as　I　could　to　a　chair　so　as　to　stop　her　from
interfering。〃

〃Oh；　that's　it；　is　it？〃　said　Deede　Dawson；　and　seemed　a　little
amused；　as　though　the　thought　of　his　stepdaughter's　plight　pleased
him　rather　than　not。　　〃Well；　if　she　can't　come　down　here；　we'll　go
up　there。　Turn　round；　my　man；　and　go　up　the　stairs　and　keep　your
hands　over　your　head　all　the　time。　　I　shan't　hesitate　to　shoot　if
you　don't；　and　I　never　miss。〃

Dunn　was　not　inclined　to　value　his　life　at　a　very　high　price　as　he
turned　and　went　awkwardly　up　the　stairs；　still　holding　his　hands
above　his　head。

But　he　meant　to　save　it　if　he　could；　for　many　things　depended　on
it；　among　them　due　punishment　to　be　exacted　for　the　crime　he　had
discovered　this　night；　and　also；　perhaps；　for　the　humiliation　he
was　now　enduring。



CHAPTER　VIII

CAPTIVITY　CAPTIVE

Up　the　stairs；　across　the　landing；　and　down　the　passage　opposite
Dunn　went　in　silence；　shepherded　by　the　little　man　behind　whose
pistol　was　still　levelled　and　still　steady。

His　hands　held　high　in　the　air；　he　pushed　open　with　his　knee　the
door　of　the　girl's　room　and　entered；　and　she　looked　up　as　he　did
so　with　an　expression　of　pure　astonishment　at　his　attitude　of
upheld　hands　that　changed　to　one　of　comprehension　and　of　faint
amusement　as　Deede　Dawson　followed；　revolver　in　hand。

〃Oh；〃　she　murmured。　　〃Captivity　captive；　it　seems。〃

At　the　fireplace　Dunn　turned　and　found　her　looking　at　him　very
intently；　while　from　the　doorway　Deede　Dawson　surveyed　them　both；
for　once　his　eyes　appearing　to　share　in　the　smile　that　played　about
his　lips　as　though　he　found　much　satisfaction　in　what　he　saw。

〃Well；　Ella；〃　he　said。　　〃You've　been　having　adventures；　it　seems；
but　you　don't　look　too　comfortable　like　that。〃

〃Nor　do　I　feel　it；〃　she　retorted。　　〃So　please　set　me　free。〃

〃Yes；　so　I　will；〃　he　answered；　but　he　still　hesitated；　and　Dunn　had
the　idea　that　he　was　pleased　to　see　the　girl　like　this；　and　would
leave　her　so　if　he　could；　and　that　he　was　wondering　now　if　he　could
turn　her　predicament　to　his　own　advantage　in　any　way。

〃Yes；　I　will；〃　he　said　again。　　〃Your　mother　…　？〃

〃She　hasn't　wakened；〃　Ella　answered。　　〃I　don't　think　she　has　heard
anything。　　I　don't　suppose　she　will；　for　she　took　two　of　those　pills
last　night　that　Dr。　Rawson　gave　her　for　when　she　couldn't　sleep。〃

〃It's　just　as　well　she　did；〃　said　Deede　Dawson。

〃Yes；　but　please　undo　my　hands；〃　she　asked　him。　　〃The　cords　are
cutting　my　wrists　dreadfully。〃

As　she　spoke　she　glanced　at　Dunn；　standing　by　the　fireplace　and
listening　gravely　to　what　they　said；　and　Deede　Dawson　exclaimed
with　an　air　of　great　indignation〃　…

〃The　fellow　deserves　to　be　well　thrashed　for　treating　you　like　that。
I've　a　good　mind　to　do　it；　too；　before　handing　him　over　to　the
police。〃

〃But　you　haven　't　released　me　yet；〃　she　remarked。

〃Oh；　yes；　yes；〃　he　said；　starting　as　if　this　were　quite　a　new　idea。
〃I'll　release　you　at　once　…　but　I　must　watch　this　scoundrel。　　He
must　have　frightened　you　dreadfully。〃

〃Indeed　he　did　not；〃　she　answered　quickly；　again　looking　at　Dunn。
〃No；　he　didn't；〃　she　said　again　with　a　touch　of　defiance　in　her
manner　and　a　certain　slightly　lifting　her　small；　round　chin。　　〃At
least　not　much　after　just　at　first；〃　she　added。

〃I'll　loose　you；〃　Deede　Dawson　said　once　more；　and　coming　up　to　her；
he　began　to　fumble　in　a　feeble；　ineffectual　way　at　the　cords　that
secured　her　wrists。

〃Jove；　he's　tied　you　up　pretty　tight；　Ella！〃　he　said。

〃He　believes　in　doing　his　work　thoroughly；　I　suppose；〃　she　remarked；
lifting　her　eyes　to　Dunn's　with　a　look　in　them　that　was　partly
questioning　and　partly　puzzled　and　wholly　elusive。　　〃I　daresay　he
always　likes　to　do　everything　thoroughly。〃

〃Seems　so；〃　said　Deede　Dawson；　giving　up　his　fumbling　and
ineffectual　efforts　to　release　her。

He　stepped　back　and　stood　behind　her　chair；　looking　from　her　to　Dunn
and　back　again；　and　once　more　Dunn　was　conscious　of　an　impression
that　he　wished　to　make　use　for　his　own　purposes　of　the　girl's
position；　but　that　he　did　not　know　how　to　do　so。

〃You　are　a　nice　scoundrel；〃　said　Deede　Dawson　suddenly；　with　an
indignation　that　seemed　to　Dunn　largely　assumed。　　〃Treating　a　girl
like　this。　　Ella；　what　would　you　like　done　to　him？　　He　deserves
shooting。　　Shall　I　put　a　bullet　through　him　for　you？〃

〃He　might　have　treated　me　worse；　I　suppose；〃

said　Ella　quietly。　　〃And　if　you　would　be　less　indignant　with　him；
you　might　be　more　help　to　me。　　There　are　scissors　on　the　table
somewhere。

〃I'll　get　them；〃　Deede　Dawson　said。　　〃I'11　get　them；〃　he　repeated；
as　though　now　at　last　finally　making　up　his　mind。

He　took　the　scissors　from　the　toilet…table　where　they　lay　before
the　looking…glass　and　cut　the　cords　by　which　Ella　was　secured。

With　a　sigh　of　relief　she　straightened　herself　from　the　confined
position　in　which　she　had　been　held　and　began　to　rub　her　wrists；
which　were　slightly　inflamed　where　the　cords　had　bruised　her　soft
skin。

〃Like　to　tie　him　up　that　way　now？〃　asked　Deede　Dawson。　　〃You　shall
if　you　like。〃

She　turned　and　looked　full　at　Dunn　and　he　looked　back　at　her　with
eyes　as　steady　and　as　calm　as　her　own。

Again　she　showed　that　faint　doubt　and　wonder　which　had　flickered
through　her　level　gaze　before　as　though　she　felt　that　there　was
more　in　all　this　than　was　apparent；　and　did　not　wish　to　condemn　him
utterly　without　a　hearing。

But　it　was　plain　also　that　she　did　not　wish　to　say　too　much　before
her　stepfather　and　she　answered　carelessly

〃I　don't　think　I　could　tie　him　tight　enough；　besides；　he　looks
ridiculous　enough　like　that　with　his　hands　up　in　the　air。〃

It　was　her　revenge　for　what　he　had　made　her　suffer。　　He　felt　himself
flush　and　he　knew　that　she　knew　that　her　little　barbed　shaft　had
struck　home。

〃Well；　go　and　look　through　his　pockets；〃　Deede　Dawson　said。　　〃And
see　if　he's　got　a　revolver。　　Don't　be　frightened；　if　he　lowers　his
hands　he'll　be　a　dead　man　before　he　knows　it。〃

〃He　has　a　pistol；〃　she　said。　　〃He　showed　it　me；　it's　in　his　coat
pocket。〃

〃Better　get　it　then；〃　Deede　Dawson　told　her。　　She　obeyed　and　brought
him　the　weapon；　and　he　nodded　with　satisfaction　as　he　put　it　in　his
own　pocket。

〃I　think　we　might　let　you　put　your　hands　down　now；〃　he　remarked；
and　Dunn　gladly　availed　himself　of　the　permission；　for　every　muscle
in　his　arms　was　aching　badly。

He　remained　standing　by　the　wall　while　Deede　Dawson；　seating　himself
on　the　chair　to　which　Ella　had　been　bound；　rested　his　chin　on　his
left　hand　and；　with　the　pistol　still　ready　in　his　right；　regarded
Dunn　with　a　steady　questioning　gaze。

Ella　was　standing　near　the　bed。　　She　had　poured　a　few　drops　of
eau…de…Cologne　on　her　wrists　and　was　rubbing　them　softly；　and　for
ever　after　the　poignant　pleasant　odour　of　the　scent　has　remained
associated　in　Robert　Dunn's　mind　with　the　strange　events　of　that
night　so　that　always　even　the　merest　whiff　of　it　conjures　up　before
his　mind　a　picture　of　that　room　with　himself　silent　by　the
fireplace　and　Ella　silent　by　the　bed　and　Deede　Dawson；　pistol　in
hand；　seated　between　them；　as　silent　also　as　they；　and　very　watchful。

Ella　appeared　fully　taken　up　with　her　occupation