the oakdale affair-第7部分

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　fear　from　a　dead　man；　and〃

He　never　finished　the　sentence。　　From　the　depths　of　the　cellar　came　the　sound　of　a　clanking　chain。　　Some…　thing　scratched　heavily　upon　the　wooden　steps。　　What…　ever　it　was　it　was　evidently　ascending；　while　behind　it　clanked　the　heavy　links　of　a　dragged　chain。

The　Oskaloosa　Kid　cast　a　wide　eyed　glance　of　terror　at　Bridge。　　His　lips　moved　in　an　attempt　to　speak；　but　fear　rendered　him　inarticulate。　　Slowly；　ponderously　the　THING　ascended　the　dark　stairs　from　the　gloom　ridden　cellar　of　the　deserted　ruin。　　Even　Bridge　paled　a　trifle。　　　The　man　upon　the　floor　appeared　to　have　met　an　un…　natural　deaththe　frightful　expression　frozen　upon　the　dead　face　might　even　indicate　something　verging　upon　the　supernatural。　　The　sound　of　the　THING　climbing　out　of　the　cellar　was　indeed　uncannyso　uncanny　that　Bridge　discovered　himself　looking　about　for　some　means　of　escape。　　His　eyes　fell　upon　the　stairway　leading　to　the　second　floor。

〃Quick！〃　he　whispered。　　〃Up　the　stairs！　You　go　first；　I'll　follow。〃

The　Kid　needed　no　second　invitation。　　With　a　bound　he　was　half　way　up　the　rickety　staircase；　but　a　glance　ahead　at　the　darkness　above　gave　him　pause　while　he　waited　for　Bridge　to　catch　up　with　him。　　Coming　more　slowly　with　his　burden　the　man　followed　the　boy；　while　from　below　the　clanking　of　the　chain　warned　them　that　the　THING　was　already　at　the　top　of　the　cellar　stairs。

〃Flash　the　lamp　down　there；〃　directed　Bridge。　　〃Let's　have　a　look　at　it；　whatever　it　is。〃

With　trembling　hands　The　Oskaloosa　Kid　directed　the　lens　over　the　edge　of　the　swaying　and　rotting　bannister；　his　finger　slipped　from　the　lighting　button　plunging　them　all　into　darkness。　　In　his　frantic　effort　to　find　the　button　and　relight　the　lamp　the　worst　occurredhe　fum…　bled　the　button　and　the　lamp　slipped　through　his　fin…　gers；　falling　over　the　bannister　to　the　floor　below。　　In…　stantly　the　sound　of　the　dragging　chain　ceased；　but　the　silence　was　even　more　horrible　than　the　noise　which　had　preceded　it。

For　a　long　minute　the　two　at　the　head　of　the　stairs　stood　in　tense　silence　listening　for　a　repetition　of　the　gruesome　sounds　from　below。　　The　youth　was　frankly　terrified；　he　made　no　effort　to　conceal　the　fact；　but　pressed　close　to　his　companion；　again　clutching　his　arm　tightly。　　Bridge　could　feel　the　trembling　of　the　slight　fig…　ure；　the　spasmodic　gripping　of　the　slender　fingers　and　hear　the　quick；　short；　irregular　breathing。　　A　sudden　im…　pulse　to　throw　a　protecting　arm　about　the　boy　seized　himan　impulse　which　he　could　not　quite　fathom；　and　one　to　which　he　could　not　respond　because　of　the　body　of　the　girl　he　carried。

He　bent　toward　the　youth。　　〃There　are　matches　in　my　coat　pocket；〃　he　whispered；　〃the　same　pocket　in　which　you　found　the　flash　lamp。　　Strike　one　and　we'll　look　for　a　room　here　where　we　can　lay　the　girl。〃

The　boy　fumbled　gropingly　in　search　of　the　matches。　　　It　was　evident　to　the　man　that　it　was　only　with　the　greatest　exertion　of　will　power　that　he　controlled　his　muscles　at　all；　but　at　last　he　succeeded　in　finding　and　striking　one。　　At　the　flare　of　the　light　there　was　a　sound　from　belowa　scratching　sound　and　the　creaking　of　boards　as　beneath　a　heavy　body；　then　came　the　clank…　ing　of　the　chain　once　more；　and　the　bannister　against　which　they　leaned　shook　as　though　a　hand　had　been　laid　upon　it　below　them。　　The　youth　stifled　a　shriek　and　simultaneously　the　match　went　out；　but　not　before　Bridge　had　seen　in　the　momentary　flare　of　light　a　par…　tially　open　door　at　the　far　end　of　the　hall　in　which　they　stood。

Beneath　them　the　stairs　creaked　now　and　the　chain　thumped　slowly　from　one　to　another　as　it　was　dragged　upward　toward　them。

〃Quick！〃　called　Bridge。　　〃Straight　down　the　hall　and　into　the　room　at　the　end。〃　The　man　was　puzzled。　　He　could　not　have　been　said　to　have　been　actually　afraid；　and　yet　the　terror　of　the　boy　was　so　intense；　so　real；　that　it　could　scarce　but　have　had　its　suggestive　effect　upon　the　other；　and；　too；　there　was　an　uncanny　element　of　the　supernatural　in　what　they　had　seen　and　heard　in　the　deserted　housethe　dead　man　on　the　floor　below；　the　inexplicable　clanking　of　a　chain　by　some　unseen　THING　from　the　depth　of　the　cellar　upward　toward　them；　and；　to　heighten　the　effect　of　these；　there　were　the　grim　stor…　ies　of　unsolved　tragedy　and　crime。　　All　in　all　Bridge　could　not　have　denied　that　he　was　glad　of　the　room　at　the　end　of　the　hall　with　its　suggestion　of　safety　in　the　door　which　might　be　closed　against　the　horrors　of　the　hall　and　the　Stygian　gloom　below　stairs。

The　Oskaloosa　Kid　was　staggering　ahead　of　him；　scarce　able　to　hold　his　body　erect　upon　his　shaking　kneeshis　gait　seemed　pitifully　slow　to　the　unarmed　man　carrying　the　unconscious　girl　and　listening　to　the　chain　dragging　ever　nearer　and　nearer　behind；　but　at　last　they　reached　the　doorway　and　passed　through　it　into　the　room。

〃Close　the　door；〃　directed　Bridge　as　he　crossed　toward　the　center　of　the　room　to　lay　his　burden　upon　the　floor；　but　there　was　no　response　to　his　instructionsonly　a　gasp　and　the　sound　of　a　body　slumping　to　the　rotting　boards。　　　With　an　exclamation　of　chagrin　the　man　dropped　the　girl　and　swung　quickly　toward　the　door。　　Halfway　down　the　hall　he　could　hear　the　chain　rattling　over　loose　plank…　ing；　the　THING；　whatever　it　might　be；　was　close　upon　them。　　Bridge　slammed…to　the　door　and　with　a　shoulder　against　it　drew　a　match　from　his　pocket　and　lighted　it。　　　Although　his　clothing　was　soggy　with　rain　he　knew　that　his　matches　would　still　be　dry；　for　this　pocket　and　its　flap　he　had　ingeniously　lined　with　waterproof　material　from　a　discarded　slicker　he　had　foundyears　of　tramp…　ing　having　taught　him　the　discomforts　of　a　fireless　camp。

In　the　resultant　light　the　man　saw　with　a　quick　glance　a　large　room　furnished　with　an　old　walnut　bed；　dresser；　and　commode；　two　lightless　windows　opened　at　the　far　end　toward　the　road；　Bridge　assumed；　and　there　was　no　door　other　than　that　against　which　he　leaned。　　In　the　last　flicker　of　the　match　the　man　scanned　the　door　itself　for　a　lock　and；　to　his　relief；　discovered　a　boltold　and　rusty　it　was；　but　it　still　moved　in　its　sleeve。　　An　in…　stant　later　it　was　shotjust　as　the　sound　of　the　dragging　chain　ceased　outside。　　Near　the　door　was　the　great　bed；　and　this　Bridge　dragged　before　it　as　an　additional　bar…　ricade；　then；　bearing　nothing　more　from　the　hallway；　he　turned　his　attention　to　the　two　unconscious　forms　up…　on　the　floor。　　Unhesitatingly　he　went　to　the　boy　first　though　had　he　questioned　himself　he　could　not　have　told　why；　for　the　youth；　undoubtedly；　had　only　swooned；　while　the　girl　had　been　the　victim　of　a　murderous　assault　and　might　even　be　at　the　point　of　death。

What　was　the　appeal　to　the　man　in　the　pseudo　Oska…　loosa　Kid？　He　had　scarce　seen　the　boy's　face；　yet　the　terrified　figure　had　aroused　within　him；　strongly；　the　protective　instinct。　　Doubtless　it　was　the　call　of　youth　and　weakness　which　find；　always；　an　answering　assur…　ance　in　the　strength　of　a　strong　man。

As　Bridge　groped　toward　the　spot　where　the　boy　had　fallen　his　eyes；　now　become　accustomed　to　the　dark…　ness　of　the　room；　saw　that　the　youth　was　sitting　up。　　　〃Well？〃　he　asked。　　〃Feeling　better？〃

〃Where　is　it？　Oh；　God！　Where　is　it？〃　cried　the　boy。　　　〃It　will　come　in　here　and　kill　us　as　it　killed　thatthat　down　stairs。〃

〃It　can't　get　in；〃　Bridge　assured　him。　　〃I've　locked　the　door　and　pushed　the　bed　in　front　of　it。　　Gad！　I　feel　like　an　old　maid　looking　under　the　bed　for　burglars。〃

From　the　hall　came　a　sudden　clanking　of　the　chain　accompanied　by　a　loud　pounding　upon　the　bare　floor。　　　With　a　scream　the　youth　leaped　to　his　feet　and　almost　threw　himself　upon　Bridge。　　His　arms　were　about　the　man's　neck；　his　face　buried　in　his　shoulder。

〃Oh；　don'tdon't　let　it　get　me！〃　he　cried。

〃Brace　up；　son；〃　Bridge　admonished　him。　　〃Didn't　I　tell　you　that　it　can't　get　in？〃

〃How　do　you　know　it　can't　get　in？〃　whimpered　the　youth。　　〃It's　the　thing　that　murdered　the　man　down　stairs　it's　the　thing　that　murdered　the　Squibbsright　here　in　this　room。　　It　got　in　to　themwhat　is　to　prevent　its　get…　ting　in　to　us。　　What　are　doors　to　such　a　THING？〃

〃Come！　come！　now；〃　Bridge　tried　to　soothe　him。　　〃You　have　a　case　of　nerves。　　Lie　down　here　on　this　bed　and　try　to　sleep。　　Nothing　shall　harm　you；　and　when　you　wake　up　it　will　be　morning　and　you'll　laugh　at　your　fears。〃

〃Lie　on　THAT　bed！〃　The　voice　was　almost　a　shriek。　　　〃That　is　the　bed　the　Squibbs　were　murdered　inthe　old　man　and　his　wife。　　No　one　would　have　it；　and　so　it　has　remained　here　all　these　years。　　I　would　rather　die　than　touch　the　thing。　　Their　blood　is　still　upon　it。〃

〃I　wish；〃　said　Bridge　a　trifle　sternly；　〃that　you　would　try　to　control　yourself　a　bit。　　Hysteria　won't　help　us　any。　　　Here　we　are；　and　we've　to　make　the　best　of　it。　　Besides　we　must　look　after　this　young　womanshe　may　be　dy…　ing；　and　we　haven't　done　a　thing　to　help　her。〃

The　boy；　evidently　shamed；　released　his　hold　upon　Bridge　and　moved　away。　　〃I　am　sorry；〃　he　said。　　〃I'll　try　to　do　better；　but；　Oh！　I　was　so　frightened。　　You　can…　not　imagine　how　frightened　I　was。〃

〃I　had　imagined；〃　said　Bridge；　〃from　what　I　had　heard　of　him　that　it　would　be　a　rather　difficult　thing　to　frighten　The　Oskaloosa　Kidyou　have；　you　know；　rather　a　reputation　for　fearlessness。〃

The　darkness　hid　the　scarlet　flush　which　mantled　The　Kid's　face。　　There　was　a　moment's　silence　as　Bridge　crossed　to　where　the　young　woman　still　lay　upon　the　floor　where　he　had　deposited　her。　　Then　The　Kid　spoke。　　　〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　said；　〃that　I　made　a　fool　of　myself。　　You　have　been　so　brave；　and　I　have　not　helped　at　all。　　I　shall　do　better　now。〃

〃Good；〃　said　Bridge；　and　stooped　to　raise　the　young　woman　in　his　arms　and　deposit　her　upon　the　bed。　　　Then　he　struck　another　match　and　leaned　close　to　ex…　amine　her。　　The　flare　of　the　sulphur　illuminated　the　room　and　shot　two　rectangles　of　light　against　the　outer　black…　ness　where　the　unglazed　windows　stared　vacantly　upon　the　road　beyond；　bringing　to　a　sudden　halt　a　little　com…　pany　of　muddy　and　bedraggled　men　who　slipped；　curs…　ing；　along　the　slimy　way。

Bridge　felt　the　youth　close　beside　him　as　he　bent　above　the　girl　upon　the　bed。

〃Is　she　dead？〃　the　lad　whispered。

〃No；〃　replied　Bridge；　〃and　I　doubt　if　she's　badly　hurt。〃　His　hands　ran　quickly　o