the vanished messenger-第4节

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the　liquid　between　the　lips　of　the　young　man。　　The　voices　now　were
coming　nearer　and　nearer。　　Gerald　made　a　desperate　effort。

〃I　am　all　right；〃　he　declared。　　〃Let's　look　after　him。〃

They　groped　their　way　towards　the　unconscious　man；　Gerald　still
gripping　the　dressing…case　with　both　hands。　　There　were　no　signs
of　any　change　in　his　condition；　but　he　was　still　breathing　heavily。
Then　they　heard　a　shout　behind；　almost　in　their　ears。　　The　porter
staggered　to　his　feet。

〃It's　all　right　now；　sir！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃They've　brought　blankets
and　a　stretcher　and　brandy。　　Here's　a　doctor；　sir。〃

A　powerful…looking　man；　hatless；　and　wrapped　in　a　great　ulster；
moved　towards　them。

〃How　many　are　there　of　you？〃　he　asked；　as　he　bent　over　Mr。　Dunster。

〃Only　we　two；〃　Gerald　replied。　　〃Is　my　friend　badly　hurt？〃

〃Concussion；〃　the　doctor　announced。　　〃We'll　take　him　to　the　village。
What　about　you；　young　man？　　Your　face　is　bleeding；　I　see。〃

〃Just　a　cut；〃　Gerald　faltered；　〃nothing　else。〃

〃Lucky　chap；〃　the　doctor　remarked。　　〃Let's　get　him　to　shelter　of
some　sort。　　Come　along。　　There's　an　inn　at　the　corner　of　the　lane
there。〃

They　all　staggered　along；　Gerald　still　clutching　the　dressing…case；
and　supported　on　the　other　side　by　an　excited　and　somewhat
incoherent　villager。

〃Such　a　storm　as　never　was；〃　the　latter　volunteered。　　〃The　telegraph
wires　are　all　down　for　miles　and　miles。　　There　won't　be　no　trains
running　along　this　line　come　many　a　week；　and　as　for　trees　…　why；
it's　as　though　some　one　had　been　playing　ninepins　in　Squire
Fellowes's　park。　　When　the　morning　do　come；　for　sure　there　will　be
things　to　be　seen。　　This　way；　sir。　　Be　careful　of　the　gate。〃

They　staggered　along　down　the　lane；　climbing　once　over　a　tree
which　lay　across　the　lane　and　far　into　the　adjoining　field。　　Soon
they　were　joined　by　more　of　the　villagers；　roused　from　their　beds
by　rumours　of　terrible　happenings。　　The　little；　single…storey；
ivy…covered　inn　was　all　lit　up　and　the　door　held　firmly　open。　　They
passed　through　the　narrow　entrance　and　into　the　stone…flagged
barroom；　where　the　men　laid　down　their　stretcher。　　As　many　of　the
villagers　as　could　crowd　in　filled　the　passage。　　Gerald　sank　into
a　chair。　　The　sudden　absence　of　wind　was　almost　disconcerting。　　He
felt　himself　once　more　in　danger　of　fainting。　　He　was　only　vaguely
conscious　of　drinking　hot　milk；　poured　from　a　jug　by　a　red…faced
and　sympathetic　woman。　　Its　restorative　effect；　however；　was
immediate　and　wonderful。　　The　mist　cleared　from　before　his　eyes；
his　brain　began　to　work。　　Always　in　the　background　the　horror　and
the　shame　were　there；　the　shame　which　kept　his　hand　pressed　with
unnatural　strength　upon　the　broken　lock　of　that　dressing…case。
He　sat　a　little　apart　from　the　others　and　listened。　　Above　the
confused　murmur　of　voices　he　could　hear　the　doctor's　comment　and
brief　orders；　as　he　rose　to　his　feet　after　examining　the　unconscious
man。

〃An　ordinary　concussion；〃　he　declared。　　〃I　must　get　round　and　see
the　engine…driver　now。　　They　have　got　him　in　a　shed　by　the　embankment。
I'll　call　in　again　later　on。　　Let's　have　one　more　look　at　you；
young　man。〃

He　glanced　at　the　cut　on　Gerald's　forehead；　noted　the　access　of
colour　in　his　cheeks；　and　nodded。

〃Born　to　be　hanged；　you　were；〃　he　pronounced。　　〃You've　had　a
marvellous　escape。　　I'll　be　in　again　presently。　　No　need　to　worry
about　your　friend。　　He　looks　as　though　he'd　got　a　mighty　constitution。
Light　my　lantern；　Brown。　　Two　of　you　had　better　come　with　me　to　the
shed。　　It's　no　night　for　a　man　to　be　wandering　about　alone。〃

He　departed；　and　many　of　the　villagers　with　him。　　The　landlady　sat
down　and　began　to　weep。

〃Such　a　night！　　Such　a　night！〃　she　exclaimed；　wringing　her　hands。
〃And　there's　the　doctor　talks　about　putting　the　poor　gentleman　to
bed！　　Why；　the　roof's　off　the　back　part　of　the　house；　and　not　a
bedroom　in　the　place　but　mine　and　John's；　and　the　rain　coming　in
there　in　torrents。　　Such　a　night！　　It's　the　judgment　of　the　Lord
upon　us！　　That's　what　it　is　…　the　judgment　of　the　Lord！〃

〃Judgment　of　the　fiddlesticks！〃　her　husband　growled。　　〃Can't　you
light　the　fire；　woman？　　What's　the　good　of　sitting　there　whining？〃

〃Light　the　fire；〃　she　repeated　bitterly；　〃and　the　chimney　lying　out
in　the　road！　　Do　you　want　to　suffocate　us　all；　or　is　the　beer　still
in　your　head？　　It's　your　evil　doings；　Richard　Budden；　and　others
like　you；　that　have　brought　this　upon　us。　　If　Mr。　　Wembley　would
but　come　in　and　pray！〃

Her　husband　scoffed。　　He　was　dressed　only　in　his　shirt　and　trousers；
his　hair　rough；　his　braces　hanging　down　behind。

〃Come　in　and　pray！〃　he　repeated。　　〃Not　he！　　Not　Mr。　　Wembley！　　He's
safe　tucked　up　in　his　bed；　shivering　with　fear；　I'll　bet　you。　　He's
not　getting　his　feet　wet　to　save　a　body　or　lend　a　hand　here。　　Souls
are　his　job。　　You　let　the　preacher　alone；　mother；　and　tell　us　what
we're　going　to　do　with　this　gentleman。〃

〃The　Lord　only　knows！〃　she　cried；　wringing　her　hands。

〃Can　I　hire　a　motor…car　from　anywhere　near？〃　Gerald　asked。

〃There's　motor…cars；　right　enough；〃　the　innkeeper　replied；　〃but　not
many　as　would　be　fools　enough　to　take　one　out。　　You　couldn't　see
the　road；　and　I　doubt　if　one　of　them　plaguey　things　would　stir　in
this　storm。〃

〃Such　nonsense　as　you　talk；　Richard　Budden！〃　his　wife　exclaimed
sharply。　　〃It's　twenty　minutes　past　three　of　the　clock；　and　there's
light　coming　on　us　fast。　　If　so　be　as　the　young　gentleman　knows
folks　round　about　here；　or　happens　to　live　nigh；　why　shouldn't　he
take　one　of　them　motor…cars　and　get　away　to　some　decent　place？
It'll　be　better　for　the　poor　gentleman　than　lying　here　in　a　house
smitten　by　the　Lord。〃

Gerald　rose　stiffly　to　his　feet。　　An　idea　was　forming　in　his　brain。
His　eyes　were　bright。　　He　looked　at　the　body　of　John　Dunster　upon
the　floor；　and　felt　once　more　in　his　pocket。

〃How　far　off　is　the　garage？〃　he　asked。

〃It's　right　across　the　way；〃　the　innkeeper　replied；　a　speculation
of　Neighbour　Martin's；　and　a　foolish　one　it　do　seem　to　me。　　He's　two
cars　there；　and　one　he　lets　to　the　Government　for　delivering　the
mails。〃

Gerald　felt　in　his　pocket　and　produced　a　sovereign。

〃Give　this；〃　he　said；　〃to　any　man　you　can　find　who　will　go　across
there　and　bring　me　a　car　…　the　most　powerful　they've　got；　if　there's
any　difference。　　Tell　them　I'll　pay　well。　　This　…　my　friend　will　be
much　better　at　home　with　me　than　in　a　strange　place　when　he　comes
to　his　senses。〃

〃It's　sound　common　sense；〃　the　woman　declared。　　〃Be　off　with　you；
Richard。〃

The　man　was　looking　at　the　coin　covetously；　but　his　wife　pushed　him
away。

〃It's　not　a　sovereign　you'll　be　taking　from　the　gentleman　for　a
little　errand　like　that；〃　she　insisted　sharply。　　〃He　shall　pay　us
for　what　he's　had　when　he　goes；　and　welcome；　and　if　so　be　that　he's
willing　to　make　it　a　sovereign；　to　include　the　milk　and　the　brandy
and　the　confusion　we've　been　put　to　this　night；　well　and　good。　　It's
a　heavy　reckoning；　maybe；　but　the　night　calls　for　it。　　We'll　see
about　that　afterwards。　　Get　along　with　you；　I　say；　Richard。〃

〃I'll　be　wet　through；〃　the　man　muttered。

〃And　serve　you　right！〃　the　woman　exclaimed。　　〃If　there's　a　man　in
this　village　to…night　whose　clothes　are　dry；　it's　a　thing　for　him
to　be　ashamed　of。〃

The　innkeeper　reluctantly　departed。　　They　heard　the　roar　of　the
wind　as　the　door　was　opened　and　closed。　　The　woman　poured　out　another
glass　of　milk　and　brought　it　to　Gerald。

〃A　godless　man；　mine；〃　she　said　grimly。　　〃If　so　happen　as　Mr。　Wembley
had　come　to　these　parts　years　ago；　I'd　have　seen　myself　in　my　grave
before　I'd　have　married　a　publican。　　But　it's　too　late　now。　　We're
mostly　too　late　about　the　things　that　count　in　this　world。　　So　it's
your　friend　that's　been　stricken　down；　young　man。　　A　well…living　man；
I　hope？〃

Gerald　shivered　ever　so　slightly。　　He　drank　the　milk；　however。　　He
felt　that　he　might　need　his　strength。

〃What　train　might　you　have　been　on　the　woman　continued。　　〃There's
none　due　on　this　line　that　we　knew　of。　　David　Bass；　the
station…master；　was　here　but　two　hours　ago　and　said　he'd　finished
for　the　night；　and　praised　the　Lord　for　that。　　The　goods　trains
had　all　been　stopped　at　Ipswich；　and　the　first　passenger　train　was
not　due　till　six　o'clock。〃

Gerald　shook　his　head　with　an　affectation　of　weariness。

〃I　don't　know；〃　he　replied。　　〃I　don't　remember　anything　about　it。
We　were　hours　late；　I　think。〃

The　woman　was　looking　down　at　the　unconscious　man。　　Gerald　rose
slowly　to　his　feet　and　stood　by　her　side。　　The　face　of　Mr。　John　P。
Dunster；　even　in　unconsciousness；　had　something　in　it　of　strength
and　purpose。　　The　shape　of　his　head；　the　squareness　of　his　jaws；
the　straightness　of　his　thick　lips；　all　seemed　to　speak　of　a　hard
and　inflexible　disposition。　　His　hair　was　coal　black；　coarse；　and
without　the　slightest　sprinkling　of　grey。　　He　had　the　neck　and
throat　of　a　fighter。　　But　for　that　single；　livid；　blue　mark　across
his　forehead；　he　carried　with　him　no　signs　of　his　accident。　　He　was
a　little　inclined　to　be　stout。　　There　was　a　heavy　gold　chain
stretched　across　his　waist…coat。　　From　where　he　lay；　the　shining
handle　of　his　revolver　protruded　from　his　hip；　pocket。

〃Sakes　alive！。〃　the