the lost house-第8部分

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him！〃

Ford　felt　the　story　was　untrue。　Prothero　was　trying　to　frighten
him。　Out　of　pure　bravado　no　sane　man　would　boast　of　murder。
Butand　at　the　thought　Ford　felt　a　touch　of　real　fearwas　the　man
sane？　It　was　a　most　unpleasant　contingency。　Between　a　fight　with　an
angry　man　and　an　insane　man　the　difference　was　appreciable。　From
this　new　view…point　Ford　regarded　his　adversary　with　increased
wariness；　he　watched　him　as　he　would　a　mad　dog。　He　regretted
extremely　he　had　not　brought　his　revolver。

With　his　automatic　pistol　still　covering　Ford；　Prothero　spoke　to
Pearsall。

〃I　found　him；〃　he　recited；　as　though　testing　the　story　he　would
tell　later；　〃prowling　through　my　house　at　night。　Mistaking　him　for
a　burglar；　I　killed　him。　The　kitchen　window　will　be　found　open；
with　the　lock　broken；　showing　how　he　gained　an　entrance。　〃Why　not？〃
he　demanded。

〃Because；〃　protested　Pearsall；　in　terror；　〃the　man　outside　will
tell〃

Ford　shouted　in　genuine　relief。

Exactly　！〃　he　cried。　〃The　man　outside；　who　is　not　down　an　area　with
a　knife　in　him；　but　who　at　this　moment　is　bringing　the　police　…he
will　tell！〃

As　though　he　had　not　been　interrupted；　Prothero　continued
thoughtfully：

〃What　they　may　say　he　expected　to　find　here；　I　can　explain　away
later。　The　point　is　that　I　found　a　strange　man；　hatless；
dishevelled；　prowling　in　my　house。　I　called　on　him　to　halt；　he　ran；
I　fired；　and　unfortunately　killed　him。　An　Englishman's　home　is　his
castle；　an　English　jury〃

〃An　English　jury；〃　said　Ford　briskly；　〃is　the　last　thing　you　want
to　meet　It　isn't　a　Chicago　jury。〃

The　Jew　flung　back　his　head　as　though　Ford　had　struck　him　in　the
face。

〃Ah！〃　he　purred；　〃you　know　that；　too；　do　you？〃　The　purr　increased
to　a　snarl。　〃You　know　too　much！〃

For　Pearsall；　his　tone　seemed　to　bear　an　alarming　meaning。　He
sprang　toward　Prothero；　and　laid　both　hands　upon　his　disengaged
arm。

〃For　God's　sake；〃　he　pleaded；　〃come　away！　He　can't　hurt　you　not
alive；　but　dead；　he'll　hang　youhang　us　both。　We　must　go；　now；
this　moment。〃　He　dragged　impotently　at　the　left　arm　of　the　giant。
〃Come！〃　he　begged。

Whether　moved　by　Pearsall's　words　or　by　some　thought　of　his　own；
Prothero　nodded　in　assent。　He　addressed　himself　to　Ford。

〃I　don't　know　what　to　do　with　you；〃　he　said；　〃so　I　will　consult
with　my　friend　outside　this　door。　While　we　talk；　we　will　lock　you
in。　We　can　hear　any　move　you　make。　If　you　raise　the　window　or　call
I　will　open　the　door　and　kill　youyou　and　that　woman！〃

With　a　quick　gesture；　he　swung　to　the　door；　and　the　spring　lock
snapped。　An　instant　later　the　bolts　were　noisily　driven　home。

When　the　second　bolt　shot　into　place；　Ford　turned　and　looked　at
Miss　Dale。

This　is　a　hell　of　a　note！〃　he　said





　III

　Outside　the　locked　door　the　voices　of　the　two　men　rose　in　fierce
whispers。　But　Ford　regarded　them　not　at　all。　With　the　swiftness　of
a　squirrel　caught　in　a　cage；　he　darted　on　tiptoe　from　side　to　side
searching　the　confines　of　his　prison。　He　halted　close　to　Miss　Dale
and　pointed　at　the　windows。

〃Have　you　ever　tried　to　loosen　those　bars？〃　he　whispered。

The　girl　nodded　and；　in　pantomime　that　spoke　of　failure；　shrugged
her　shoulders。

〃What　did　you　see？〃　demanded　Ford　hopefully。

The　girl　destroyed　his　hope　with　a　shake　of　her　head　and　a　swift
smile。

〃Scissors；〃　she　said；　〃but　they　found　them　and　took　them　away。〃
Ford　pointed　at　the　open　grate。

〃Where's　the　poker？〃　he　demanded。

〃They　took　that；　too。　I　bent　it　trying　to　pry　the　bars。　So　they
knew。〃

The　man　gave　her　a　quick；　pleased　glance；　then　turned　his　eyes　to
the　door　that　led　into　the　room　that　looked　upon　the　street。

〃Is　that　door　locked？〃

〃No；〃　the　girl　told　him。　〃But　the　door　from　it　into　the　hall　is
fastened；　like　the　other；　with　a　spring　lock　and　two　bolts。〃

Ford　cautiously　opened　the　door　into　the　room　adjoining；　and；
except　for　a　bed　and　wash…stand；　found　it　empty。　On　tiptoe　he　ran
to　the　windows。　Sowell　Street　was　deserted。　He　returned　to　Miss
Dale；　again　closing　the　door　between　the　two　rooms。

〃The　nurse；〃　Miss　Dale　whispered；　〃when　she　is　on　duty；　leaves　that
door　open　so　that　she　can　watch　me；　when　she　goes　downstairs；　she
locks　and　bolts　the　door　from　that　room　to　the　hall。　It's　locked
now。〃

〃What's　the　nurse　like？〃

The　girl　gave　a　shudder　that　seemed　to　Ford　sufficiently
descriptive。　Her　lips　tightened　in　a　hard；　straight　line。

〃She's　not　human；〃　she　said。　〃I　begged　her　to　help　me；　appealed　to
her　in　every　way；　then　I　tried　a　dozen　times　to　get　past　her　to　the
stairs。〃

〃Well？〃

The　girl　frowned；　and　with　a　gesture　signified　her　surroundings。

〃I'm　still　here；〃　she　said。

She　bent　suddenly　forward　and；　with　her　hand　on　his　shoulder；
turned　the　man　so　that　he　faced　the　cot。

〃The　mattress　on　that　bed；〃　she　whispered；　rests　on　two　iron　rods。
They　are　loose　and　can　be　lifted。　I　planned　to　smash　the　lock；　but
the　noise　would　have　brought　Prothero。　But　you　could　defend
yourself　with　one　of　them。〃

Ford　had　already　run　to　the　cot　and　dropped　to　his　knees。　He　found
the　mattress　supported　on　strips　of　iron　resting　loosely　in　sockets
at　the　head　and　foot。　He　raised　the　one　nearer　him；　and　then；　after
a　moment　of　hesitation；　let　it　drop　into　place。

〃That's　fine！〃　he　whispered。　〃Good　as　a　crowbar。'〃　He　shook　his
head　in　sudden　indecision。　〃But　I　don't　just　know　how　to　use　it。
His　automatic　could　shoot　six　times　before　I　could　swing　that　thing
on　him　once。　And　if　I　have　it　in　my　hands　when　he　opens　the　door；
he'll　shoot；　and　he　may　hit　you。　But　if　I　leave　it　where　it　is；　he
won't　know　I　know　it's　there；　and　it　may　come　in　very　handy　later。〃

In　complete　disapproval　the　girl　shook　her　head。　Her　eyes　filled
with　concern。　〃You　must　not　fight　him；〃　she　ordered。　I　mean；　not
for　me。　You　don't　know　the　danger。　The　man's　not　sane。　He　won't
give　you　a　chance。　He's　mad。　You　have　no　right　to　risk　your　life
for　a　stranger。　I'll　not　permit　it〃

Ford　held　up　his　hand　for　silence。　With　a　jerk　of　his　head　he
signified　the　door。　〃They've　stopped　talking；〃　he　whispered。

Straining　to　hear；　the　two　leaned　forward；　but　from　the　hall　there
came　no　sound。　The　girl　raised　her　eyebrows　questioningly。

〃Have　they　gone？〃　she　breathed。

〃If　I　knew　that；〃　protested　Ford；　〃we　wouldn't　be　here！〃

In　answer　to　his　doubt　a　smart　rap；　as　though　from　the　butt　of　a
revolver；　fell　upon　the　door。　The　voice　of　Prothero　spoke　sharply：

〃You；　who　call　yourself　Grant！〃　he　shouted。

Before　answering；　Ford　drew　Miss　Dale　and　himself　away　from　the
line　of　the　door；　and　so　placed　the　girl　with　her　back　to　the　wall
that　if　the　door　opened　she　would　be　behind　it。　〃Yes；〃　he　answered。

〃Pearsall　and　I〃　called　Prothero；　〃have　decided　how　to　dispose　of
youof　both　of　you。　He　has　gone　below　to　make　preparations。　I　am
on　guard。　If　you　try　to　break　out　or　call　for　help；　I'll　shoot　you
as　I　warned　you！〃

〃And　I　warn　you；〃　shouted　Ford；　〃if　this　lady　and　I　do　not
instantly　leave　this　house；　or　if　any　harm　comes　to　her；　you　will
hang　for　it！〃　Prothero　laughed　jeeringly。

〃Who　will　hang　me？〃　he　mocked。

〃My　friends；〃　retorted　Ford。　〃They　know　I　am　in　this　house。　They
know　WHY　I　am　here。　Unless　they　see　Miss　Dale　and　myself　walk　out
of　it　in　safety；　they　will　never　let　you　leave　it。　Don't　be　a　fool；
Prothero！〃　he　shouted。　〃You　know　I　am　telling　the　truth。　You　know
your　only　chance　for　mercy　is　to　open　that　door　and　let　us　go
free。〃

For　over　a　minute　Ford　waited；　but　from　the　hall　there　was　no
answer。

After　another　minute　of　silence；　Ford　turned　and　gazed　inquiringly
at　Miss　Dale。

〃Prothero！〃　he　called。

Again　for　a　full　minute　he　waited　and　again　called；　and　then；　as
there　still　was　no　reply；　he　struck　the　door　sharply　with　his
knuckles。　On　the　instant　the　voice　of　the　Jew　rang　forth　in　an
angry　bellow。

〃Keep　away　from　that　door！〃　he　commanded。

Ford　turned　to　Miss　Dale　and　bent　his　head　close　to　hers。

〃Now；　why　the　devil　didn't　he　answer？〃　he　whispered。　〃Was　it
because　he　wasn't　there；　or　is　he　planning　to　steal　away　and　wants
us　to　think　that　even　if　he　does　not　answer；　he's　still　outside？〃
The　girl　nodded　eagerly。

〃This　is　it；〃　she　whispered。　〃My　uncle　is　a　coward　or　rather　he　is
very　wise；　and　has　left　the　house。　And　Prothero　means　to　follow；
but　he　wants　us　to　think　he's　still　on　guard。　If　we　only　KNEW！〃　she
exclaimed。

As　though　in　answer　to　her　thought；　the　voice　of　Prothero　called　to
them。

〃Don't　speak　to　me　again；〃　he　warned。　〃If　you　do；　I'll　not　answer；
or　I'll　shoot！〃

Flattened　against　the　wall；　close　to　the　hinges　of　the　door；　Ford
replied　flippantly　and　defiantly：

〃That　makes　conversation　difficult；　doesn't　it？〃　he　called。

There　was　a　bursting　report；　and　a　bullet　splintered　the　panel　of
the　door；　flattened　itself　against　the　fireplace；　and　fell　tinkling
into　the　grate。

〃I　hope　I　hit　you！〃　roared　the　Jew。

Ford　pressed　his　lips　tightly　together。　Whatever　happy　retort　may
have　risen　to　them　was　forever　lost。　For　an　exchange　of　repartee；
the　moment　did　not　seem　propitious。

〃Perhaps　now；〃　jeered　Prothero；　〃you'll　believe　I'm　in　earnest！〃

Ford　still　resisted　any　temptation　to　reply。　He　grinned
apologetically　at　the　girl　and　shrugged　his　shoulders。　Her　face　was
white；　but　it　was　white　from　excitement；　not　from　fear。

〃What　did　I　tell　you？〃　she　whispered。　〃He　IS　madquite　mad！〃

Ford　glanced　at　the　bullet…hole　in　the　panel　of　the　door。　It　was　on
a　line　with　his　heart。　He　looked　at　Miss　Dale；　her　shoulder　was　on
a　level　with　his　own；　and　her　eyes　were　following　his。

〃In　case　he　does　that　again；〃　said　Ford；　〃we　would　be　more
comfortable　sitting　down。〃

With　their　shoulders　against　the　wall；　the　two　young　people　sank　to
the　floor。　The　position　seemed　to　appeal　to　them　as　humorous；　and；
when　their　eyes　met；　they　smiled。

〃To　a　spectator；〃　whispered　Ford　encouragingly；　〃we　MIGHT　appear　to
be　getting　the　worst　of　this。　But；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　every
minute　Cuthbert　does　not　come　means　that　the　next　minute　may　bring
him。〃

〃You　don't　believe　he　was　hurt？〃　asked　the　girl。

〃No；〃　said　Ford。　〃I　believe　Prothero　found　him；　and　I　believe　there
may　have　been　a　fight。　But　you　heard　what　Pearsall　said：　'The　man
outside