Part 12 (1/2)
The boy cowered ”I didn't come fer to watch you,” he whioin' to be a dee-tectiff, an' I'asped and stammered: ”But not you I'm lookin' for another murderer”
For the first tiirl's lips
”What other murderer?” she asked ”Who has been ht,” said Willie Case ossip inald Paynter was ail Prih they do say as she had a hand in it, bein' seen with Paynter an' The Oskaloosie Kid jest afore the murder”
As the boy's tale reached the ears of the three hidden in the underbrush Bridge glanced quickly at his companions He saw the boy's horror-stricken expression follow the announceirl flush cri, Willie Case proceeded with his story He told of the co and of seeing so the confession of robbery and killing in Oakdale the night before Bridge looked down at the youth beside hiround Then Willie told of the arrival of the great detective, of the reward that had been offered and of his decision to win it and becole stroke As he reached the end of his narrative he leaned close to the girl, whispering in her ear the while his furtive gaze wandered toward the spot where the three lay concealed
Bridge shrugged his shoulders as the palpable inference of that cunning glance was borne in upon him The boy's voice had risen despite his efforts to hold it to a lohisper for ith the exciteirl with the knife he had little or no control of himself, yet it was evident that he did not realize that practically every word he had spoken had reached the ears of the three in hiding and that his final precaution as he divulged the inforirl was prompted by an excess of tiirl widened in surprise and fear as she learned that three watchers lay concealed at the verge of the clearing She bent a long, searching look in the direction indicated by the boy and then turned her eyes quickly toward the hut as though to su into the clearing His pleasant 'Goodhim
”What you want?” she snapped
”I want you and this young e, his voice now suddenly stern ”We have been watching you and followed you froht;” Bridge nodded toward the quilt enveloped thing upon the ground; ”and we suspect that you had an accoly upon Willie Case The youth trembled and stammered
”I never seen her afore,” he cried ”I don' know nothin' about it
Honest I don't” But the girl did not quail
”You get out,” she commanded ”You a bad et out or I call Beppo He keel you He eat you”
”Coet at the root of this thing Your young friend accusesa murderer, does he? And he tells about murders in Oakdale that I have not even heard of It seee himself of these affairs Look at him and look at me Notice his ears, his chin, his forehead, or rather the places where his chin and forehead should be, and then look once ht be a murderer and which a detective? I ask you
”And as for yourself I find you here in the depths of the wood digging a lonely grave for a human corpse I ask myself: was this man murdered?
but I do not say that he was murdered I wait for an explanation froh I cannot say as irl looked straight into Bridge's eyes for a fullto read his inmost soul
”I do not know this boy,” she said ”That is the truth He was spying on me, and when I found him he told me that you and your co there watching me You tell me the truth, all the truth, and I will tell you the truth I have nothing to fear If you do not tell me the truth I shall know it Will you?”
”I will,” replied Bridge, and then turning toward the brush he called: ”Coirl, dishevelled and fearful, crawled forth into sight Willie Case's eyes ide as they fell upon the Oskaloosa Kid
Quickly and siht, for he saw that by enlisting her syht find an avenue of escape for his coht hide until escape was possible ”And then,” he said in conclusion, ”when the searchers arrived we followed the foot prints of yourself and the bear until we cae's companions and Willie Case looked their surprise at his irl only nodded her head as she had occasionally during his narrative
”I believe you,” said the girl ”It is not easy to deceive Giova Now I tell you This here,” she pointed toward the dead ht; but always good to Giova Good to no one else but Beppo He afraid Beppo Even our people drive us out he, my father, so bad man We wander 'round country mak leetle money when Beppo dance; o las'
night look for him Soo there I find heem dead He have fits, six, seven year He die fit
Beppo stay guard heee man Beppo come too I bury heeo ith Beppo Why tell people he dead Who care? Mak lot trouble for Giova whose heart already ache plenty No one love heem, only Beppo and Giova No one love Giova, only Beppo; but soe, strong bear--fierce bear--ogly bear Even Giova who love Beppo is afraid Beppo Beppo devil bear! Beppo got evil eye
”Well,” said Bridge, ”I guess, Giova, that you and we are in the sa so very bad but it would be e to have to explain to the police e have done,” here he glanced at The Oskaloosa Kid and the girl standing beside the youth
”Suppose we form a defensive alliance, eh? We'll help you and you help us What do you say?”
”All right,” acquiesced Giova; ”but e do with this?” and she jerked her thumb toward Willie Case
”If he don't behave we'll feed hie