the haunted bookshop(闹鬼的书店)-第28节
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skulking about back doors at this time of night。 He slipped inside the gate
and closed it gently behind him； taking the precaution to slip the bolt。
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The footsteps came nearer； stumbling down the uneven cobbles in the
darkness。 He stood still against the back fence。 To his amazement the
men halted outside Mifflin's gate； and he heard the latch quietly lifted。
〃It's no use；〃 said a voice〃the gate is locked。 We must find some
other way； my friend。〃
Aubrey tingled to hear the rolling； throaty 〃r〃 in the last word。 There
was no mistakingthis was the voice of his 〃friend and wellwisher〃 over
the telephone。
The other said something in German in a hoarse whisper。 Having
studied that language in college； Aubrey caught only two words Thur
and Schlussel； which he knew meant door and key。
〃Very well；〃 said the first voice。 〃That will be all right； but we must
act to…night。 The damned thing must be finished to…morrow。 Your idiotic
stupidity〃
Again followed some gargling in German； in a rapid undertone too
fluent for Aubrey's grasp。 The latch of the alley gate clicked once more；
and his hand was on his revolver； but in a moment the two had passed on
down the alley。
The young advertising agent stood against the fence in silent horror；
his heart bumping heavily。 His hands were clammy； his feet seemed to
have grown larger and taken root。 What damnable complot was this？ A
sultry wave of anger passed over him。 This bland； slick； talkative
bookseller； was he arranging some blackmailing scheme to kidnap the girl
and wring blood…money out of her father？ And in league with Germans；
too； the scoundrel！ What an asinine thing for old Chapman to send an
unprotected girl over here into the wilds of Brooklyn 。 。 。 and in the
meantime； what was he to do？ Patrol the back yard all night？ No； the
friend and wellwisher had said 〃We must find some other way。〃 Besides；
Aubrey remembered something having been said about the old terrier
sleeping in the kitchen。 He felt sure Bock would not let any German in at
night without raising the roof。 Probably the best way would be to watch
the front of the shop。 In miserable perplexity he waited several minutes
until the two Germans would be well out of earshot。 Then he unbolted
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the gate and stole up the alley on tiptoe； in the opposite direction。 It led
into Wordsworth Avenue just behind Weintraub's drug store； over the rear
of which hung the great girders and trestles of the 〃L〃 station； a kind of
Swiss chalet straddling the street on stilts。 He thought it prudent to make a
detour； so he turned east on Wordsworth Avenue until he reached Whittier
Street； then sauntered easily down Whittier for a block； spying sharply for
evidences of pursuit。 Brooklyn was putting out its lights for the night； and
all was quiet。 He turned into Hazlitt Street and so back onto Gissing；
noticing now that the Haunted Bookshop lights were off。 It was nearly
eleven o'clock： the last audience was filing out of the movie theatre； where
two workmen were already perched on ladders taking down the Tarzan
electric light sign； to substitute the illuminated lettering for the next
feature。
After some debate he decided that the best thing to do was to return to
his room at Mrs。 Schiller's； from which he could keep a sharp watch on the
front door of the bookshop。 By good fortune there was a lamp post
almost directly in front of Mifflin's house； which cast plenty of light on the
little sunken area before the door。 With his opera glasses he could see from
his bedroom whatever went on。 As he crossed the street he cast his eyes
upward at the facade of Mrs。 Schiller's house。 Two windows in the
fourth storey were lit； and the gas burned minutely in the downstairs hall；
elsewhere all was dark。 And then； as he glanced at the window of his
own chamber； where the curtain was still tucked back behind the pane； he
noticed a curious thing。 A small point of rosy light glowed； faded； and
glowed again by the window。 Someone was smoking a cigar in his room。
Aubrey continued walking in even stride； as though he had seen
nothing。 Returning down the street； on the opposite side； he verified his
first glance。 The light was still there； and he judged himself not far out in
assuming the smoker to be the friend and wellwisher or one of his gang。
He had suspected the other man in the alley of being Weintraub； but he
could not be sure。 A cautious glance through the window of the drug
store revealed Weintraub at his prescription counter。 Aubrey determined to
get even with the guttural gentleman who was waiting for him； certainly
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with no affectionate intent。 He thanked the good fortune that had led him
to stick the book cover in his overcoat pocket when leaving Mrs。 Schiller's。
Evidently； for reasons unknown； someone was very anxious to get hold of
it。
An idea occurred to him as he passed the little florist's shop； which
was just closing。 He entered and bought a dozen white carnations； and
then； as if by an afterthought； asked 〃Have you any wire？〃
The florist produced a spool of the slender； tough wire that is
sometimes used to nip the buds of expensive roses； to prevent them from
blossoming too quickly。
〃Let me have about eight feet；〃 said Aubrey。 〃I need some to…night
and I guess the hardware stores are all closed。〃
With this he returned to Mrs。 Schiller's； picking his way carefully and
close to the houses so as to be out of sight from the upstairs windows。 He
climbed the steps and unlatched the door with bated breath。 It was half…
past eleven； and he wondered how long he would have to wait for the
wellwisher to descend。
He could not help chuckling as he made his preparations； remembering
an occasion at college somewhat similar in setting though far less serious
in purpose。 First he took off his shoes； laying them carefully to one side
where he could find them again in a hurry。 Then； choosing a banister
about six feet from the bottom of the stairs he attached one end of the wire
tightly to its base and spread the slack in a large loop over two of the stair
treads。 The remaining end of the wire he passed out through the banisters；
twisting it into a small loop so that he could pull it easily。 Then he turned
out the hall gas and sat down in the dark to wait events。
He sat for a long time； in some nervousness lest the pug dog might
come prowling and find him。 He was startled by a lady in a dressing
gown perhaps Mrs。 J。 F。 Smithwho emerged from a ground…floor room
passed very close to him in the dark； and muttered upstairs。 He twitched
his noose out of the way just in time。 Presently； however； his patience
was rewarded。 He heard a door squeak above； and then the groaning of
the staircase as someone descended slowly。 He relaid his trap and waited；
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smiling to himself。 A clock somewhere in the house was chiming twelve
as the man came groping down the last flight； feeling his way in the dark。
Aubrey heard him swearing under his breath。
At the precise moment； when both his victim's feet were within the
loop； Aubrey gave the wire a gigantic tug。 The man fell like a safe；
crashing against the banisters and landing in a sprawl on the floor。 It was a
terrific fall； and shook the house。 He lay there groaning and cursing。
Barely retaining his laughter； Aubrey struck a match and held it over
the sprawling figure。 The man lay with his face twisted against one out…
spread arm； but the beard was unmistakable。 It was the assi
