the fortunes of oliver horn-第66章

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！



〃It　is　the　beginning　of　the　end；〃　he　said　to　himself。

The　tread　of　heavy　feet　was　again　heard　coming　through　the　hall。　Malachi　turned　quickly　and　a　subdued　　smile　lighted　his　wrinkled　face。

The　two　detectives　were　alone！

〃He　is　not　there；　Colonel　Clayton；〃　said　the　man　with　the　bull…dog　face；　slipping　his　pistol　into　his　hip　pocket。　〃We　went　through　the　yard　and　the　out…　houses　like　a　fine　tooth…comb　and　made　a　clean　sweep　of　the　cellar。　He　may　have　gotten　over　the　wall；　but　I　don't　think　it。　There's　a　lot　of　broken　bottles　on　top。　I'll　try　the　bedrooms　now。〃

As　the　words　fell　from　his　lips　Mrs。　Horn　rose　from　her　seat　on　the　stairs；　straight　as　a　soldier　on　guard。　The　light　from　the　lantern　illumined　her　gray　hair　and　threw　into　strong　relief　her　upraised　handthe　first　of　millions　raised　in　protest　against　the　invasion　of　the　homes　of　the　South。　The　detective　　saw　the　movement　and　a　grim　smile　came　into　his　face。

〃Unless　they'll　bring　him　out；〃　he　added；　slowly。　〃This　young　feller　knows　where　he　is。　Make　him　tell。〃

Colonel　Clayton　turned　to　Oliver。　〃Is　he　upstairs；　　Oliver？〃

〃No。〃

〃You　give　me　your　word　of　honor。　Oliver；　that　he　is　not　upstairs？〃

〃I　do。〃

〃Of　course　he'd　say　that。　Here；　I'll　know　pretty　d　quick；〃　muttered　the　detective　moving　toward　the　stairway。

The　Colonel　stepped　forward　and　barred　his　way　with　his　arm。

〃Stay　where　you　are！　You　don't　know　these　people。　　If　Oliver　says　he　is　not　upstairs　I　believe　him。　These　Horns　don't　know　how　to　lie。　Your　information　　is　wrong。　The　man　never　entered　the　house。　You　must　look　for　the　Yankee　somewhere　else。〃　Waiting　until　the　detectives　had　left　the　hall；　he　raised　his　hat；　and　with　some　show　of　feeling　said：

〃I　am　sorry；　Sallie；　that　we　had　to　upset　you　so。　When　you　and　Richard　see　this　matter　in　its　true　light　you'll　think　as　I　do。　If　these　scoundrels　are　to　be　permitted　to　come　here　and　burn　our　homes　we　want　to　know　which　side　our　friends　are　on。〃

〃You　are　the　judge　of　your　own　conduct；　John　Clayton；〃　she　answered；　calmly。　〃This　night's　work　will　follow　you　all　your　life。　Malachi；　show　Colonel　Clayton　to　the　door　and　close　it　behind　him。〃


Three　nights　later　Malachi　admitted　a　man　he　had　never　seen　before。　He　was　short　and　thick…set　and　had　a　grim；　firmly　set　jaw。　Under　the　lapel　of　his　coat　was　a　gold　shield。　He　asked　for　Mr。　Horn；　who　had　lately　been　living　in　New　York。　He　would　not　come　inside　the　drawing…room；　but　sat　in　the　hall　on　the　hair…cloth　sofa；　his　knees　apart；　his　cap　in　his　hand。

〃I'm　the　Chief　of　Police；〃　he　said　to　Oliver；　without　　rising　from　his　seat；　〃and　I　come　because　Mr。　Cobb　sent　me。　That's　between　ourselves；　remember。　You'll　have　to　get　out　of　here　at　once。　They've　got　a　yarn　started　that　you're　a　government　detective　sent　down　here　to　spot　rebel　sympathizers　and　they'll　make　it　warm　for　you。　I've　looked　into　it　and　I　know　it　ain't　so；　but　this　town's　in　no　shape　to　listen　to　anything。　Besides；　a　while　ago　one　of　my　men　found　your　friend's　uniform　in　the　cellar　where　you　hid　it　behind　the　barrels　and　the　handkerchief　all　blood；　with　your　name　on　it；　and　they've　got　you　dead　to　rights。　That'll　all　be　out　in　the　morning　papers　and　make　it　worse　for　you。　You　needn't　worry　about　HIM。　He's　all　right。　Mr。　Cobb　found　him　at　daylight　this　morning　just　where　your　nigger　left　him　and　drove　him　over　to　the　junction。　He's　with　his　regiment　　by　this　time。　Get　your　things　together　quick　as　you　can。　I'll　wait　for　you　and　see　you　safe　aboard　the　owl　train。〃

Within　the　hour　Oliver　had　turned　his　back　on　his　home　and　all　that　he　loved。




CHAPTER　XIX

THE　SETTLING　OF　THE　SHADOW



The　bruised　crocuses　never　again　lifted　their　heads　in　Kennedy　Square。

With　the　settling　of　the　shadowa　shadow　black　with　hatemen　forgot　the　perfume　of　flowers；　the　rest　and　cool　of　shady　nooks；　the　kindling　touch　of　warm　hands；　and　stood　apart　with　eyes　askance；　women　shuddered　and　grew　pale；　and　sad…faced　children　　peered　out　through　closed　blinds。

Within　the　Square　itself；　along　paths　that　had　once　echoed　to　the　tread　of　slippered　feet；　armed　sentries　paced；　their　sharp　challenges　breaking　the　stillness　of　the　night。　Outside　its　wrecked　fences　strange　men　in　stranger　uniforms　strode　in　and　out　of　the　joyless　houses；　tired　pickets　stacked　their　arias　on　the　unswept　　piazzas；　and　panting　horses　nibbled　the　bark　from　the　withered　trees；　rank　weeds　choked　the　gardens；　　dishevelled　vines　clung　to　the　porches；　and　doors　that　had　always　swung　wide　to　the　gentle　tap　of　loving　fingers　were　opened　timidly　to　the　blow　of　the　sword…hilt。

Kennedy　Square　became　a　tradition。

Some　civilizations　die　slowly。　This　one　was　shattered　　in　a　day　by　a　paving…stone　in　the　hands　of　a　thug。




CHAPTER　XX

THE　STONE　MUGS



Frederick　Stone；　N。A。；　member　of　the　Stone　Mugs；　late　war　correspondent　and　special　artist　on　the　spot；　paused　before　the　cheerful　blaze　of　his　studio　fire；　shaking　the　wet　snow　from　his　feet。　He　had　tramped　across　Washington　Square　in　drifts　that　were　over　his　shoe…tops；　mounted　the　three　flights　of　steps　to　his　cosey　rooms；　and　was　at　the　moment　　expressing　his　views　on　the　weather；　in　terms　more　forcible　than　polite；　to　our　very　old　friend；　Jack　　Bedford；　the　famous　marine…painter。　Bedford；　on　hearing　　the　sound　of　Fred's　footsteps；　had　strolled　in　from　his　own　studio；　in　the　same　building；　and　had　thrown　himself　into　a　big　arm…chair；　where　he　was　sitting　hunched　up；　his　knees　almost　touching　his　chin；　his　round　head　covered　by　a　skull…cap　that　showed　above　the　chair…back。

〃Nice　weather　for　ducks；　Jack；　isn't　it？　Can't　see　how　anybody　can　get　here　to…night；〃　cried　Fred；　striking　the　mantel　with　his　wet　cap；　and　scattering　the　rain…drops　over　the　hearth。　〃Just　passed　a　Broadway　stage　stuck　in　a　hole　as　I　came　by　the　New　York　Hotel。　Been　there　an　hour；　they　told　me。〃

〃Shouldn't　wonder。　Whose　night　is　it；　Fred？〃　asked　Jack；　stretching　out　one　leg　in　the　direction　of　the　cheery　blaze。

〃Horn's。〃

〃What's　he　going　to　do？〃

〃Give　it　up。　Ask　me　an　easy　one。　Said　he　wanted　a　thirty　by　forty。　There　it　is　on　the　easel；〃　and　Fred　moved　a　chair　out　of　his　way；　hung　his　wet　coat　and　hat　on　a　peg　behind　the　door；　and　started　to　clear　up　a　tangle　of　artillery　harness　that　littered　the　floor。

〃Thirty　by　forty；　eh；〃　grunted　Jack；　from　the　depths　of　his　chair。　〃Thunder　and　Mars！　Is　the　beggar　going　to　paint　a　panorama？　Thought　that　canvas　was　for　a　new　cavalry　charge　of　yours！〃　He　had　lowered　the　other　leg　now；　making　a　double…　barrelled　gun　of　the　pair。

〃No；　it's　Horn's。　He's　going　to　paint　one　of　the　fellows　to…night。〃

〃In　costume？〃　Jack's　head　was　now　so　low　in　the　chair　that　his　eyes　could　draw　a　bead　along　his　legs　to　the　fire。

〃Yes；　as　an　old　Burgomaster；　or　something　with　a　ruff；〃　and　he　kicked　an　army　blanket　into　a　corner　as　he　spoke。　〃There's　the　ruff　hanging　on　that　pair　of　foils；　Waller　sent　it　over。〃　Then　his　merry　eyes　fell　on　Jack's　sprawled…out　figure；　his　feet　almost　in　the　gratea　favorite　attitude　of　his　neighbor's　when　tired　out　with　the　day's　work；　comfortable　perhaps；　but　especially　objectionable　at　the　moment。

〃Hereget　up；　you　old　stick…in…the…mud。　Don't　sit　there；　doubled　up　like　a　government　mule；〃　he　laughed。　（The　army　lingo　still　showed　itself　once　in　a　while　in　Fred's　speech。）　〃Help　me　get　this　room　ready　or　I'll　whale　you　with　this；〃　and　he　waved　one　end　of　a　trace　over　his　head。　〃If　the　fellows　are　coming　they'll　be　here　in　half　an　hour。　Shove　back　that　easel　and　bring　in　that　beerit's　outside　the　door　in　a　box。　I'll　get　out　the　tobacco　and　pipes。〃

Jack　stretched　both　arms　above　his　head；　emitted　a　yawn　that　could　be　heard　in　his　room　below；　and　sprang　to　his　feet。

Fred；　by　this　time；　had　taken　down　from　a　closet　a　tin　box　of　crackers；　unwrapped　a　yellow　cheese；　and　was　trimming　its　raw　edges　with　a　palette　knife。　Then　they　both　moved　out　a　big　table　from　the　inner　room　to　the　larger　one；　and；　while　Jack　placed　the　eatables　on　its　bare　top；　Fred　mounted　a　chair；　and　began　lighting　a　circle　of　gas…jets　that　hung　from　the　ceiling　of　the　skylight。　The　war…painter　was　host　to…　night；　and　the　task　of　arranging　the　rooms　for　the　comfort　of　his　fellow…members　consequently