第10章

"But you called me 'Kid' and that's my name--I'm The Oskaloosa Kid."The man was glad that the darkness hid his smile of amusement.He knew The Oskaloosa Kid well, and he knew him as an ex-pug with a pock marked face, a bul-let head, and a tin ear.The flash of lightning had re-vealed, upon the contrary, a slender boy with smooth skin, an oval face, and large dark eyes.

"Ah," he said, "so you are The Oskaloosa Kid! I am delighted, sir, to make your acquaintance.Permit me to introduce myself: my name is Bridge.If James were here I should ask him to mix one of his famous cock-tails that we might drink to our mutual happiness and the longevity of our friendship.""I am glad to know you, Mr.Bridge," said the youth.

"Oh, I can't tell you how glad I am to know you.I was so lonely and so afraid," and he pressed closer to the older man whose arm still encircled his shoulder, though at first he had been inclined to draw away in some con-fusion.

Talking together the two moved on along the dark road.The storm had settled now into a steady rain with infrequent flashes of lightning and peals of thun-der.There had been no further indications of pursuit;but Bridge argued that The Sky Pilot, being wise with the wisdom of the owl and cunning with the cunning of the fox, would doubtless surmise that a fugitive would take to the first road leading away from the main artery, and that even though they heard nothing it would be safe to assume that the gang was still upon the boy's trail."And it's a bad bunch, too," he continued."I've known them all for years.The Sky Pilot has the reputa-tion of never countenancing a murder; but that is be-cause be is a sly one.His gang kills; but when they kill under The Sky Pilot they do it so cleverly that no trace of the crime remains.Their victim disappears--that is all."The boy trembled."You won't let them get me?" he pleaded, pressing closer to the man.The only response was a pressure of the arm about the shoulders of The Oskaloosa Kid.

Over a low hill they followed the muddy road and down into a dark and gloomy ravine.In a little open space to the right of the road a flash of lightning re-vealed the outlines of a building a hundred yards from the rickety and decaying fence which bordered the Squibbs' farm and separated it from the road.

"Here we are!" cried Bridge, "and spooks or no spooks we'll find a dry spot in that old ruin.There was a stove there last year and it's doubtless there yet.A good fire to dry our clothes and warm us up will fit us for a bully good sleep, and I'll wager a silk hat that The Oskaloosa Kid is a mighty sleepy kid, eh?"The boy admitted the allegation and the two turned in through the gateway, stepping over the fallen gate and moving through knee high weeds toward the for-bidding structure in the distance.A clump of trees sur-rounded the house, their shade adding to the almost ut-ter blackness of the night.

The two had reached the verandah when Bridge, turning, saw a brilliant light flaring through the night above the crest of the hill they had just topped in their descent into the ravine, or, to be more explicit, the small valley, where stood the crumbling house of Squibbs.The purr of a rapidly moving motor rose above the rain, the light rose, fell, swerved to the right and to the left.

"Someone must be in a hurry," commented Bridge.

"I suppose it is James, anxious to find you and ex-plain his absence," suggested The Oskaloosa Kid.They both laughed.

"Gad!" cried Bridge, as the car topped the hill and plunged downward toward them, "I'd hate to ride be-hind that fellow on a night like this, and over a dirt road at that!"As the car swung onto the straight road before the house a flash of lightning revealed dimly the outlines of a rapidly moving touring car with lowered top.Just as the machine came opposite the Squibbs' gate a woman's scream mingled with the report of a pistol from the ton-neau and the watchers upon the verandah saw a dark bulk hurled from the car, which sped on with undimin-ished speed, climbed the hill beyond and disappeared from view.

Bridge started on a run toward the gateway, followed by the frightened Kid.In the ditch beside the road they found in a dishevelled heap the body of a young woman.

The man lifted the still form in his arms.The youth wondered at the great strength of the slight figure."Let me help you carry her," he volunteered; but Bridge needed no assistance."Run ahead and open the door for me," he said, as he bore his burden toward the house.

Forgetful, in the excitement of the moment, of his terror of the horror ridden ruin, The Oskaloosa Kid has-tened ahead, mounted the few steps to the verandah, crossed it and pushed open the sagging door.Behind him came Bridge as the youth entered the dark interior.

A half dozen steps he took when his foot struck against a soft and yielding mass.Stumbling, he tried to regain his equilibrium only to drop full upon the thing be-neath him.One open palm, extended to ease his fall, fell upon the upturned features of a cold and clammy face.With a shriek of horror The Kid leaped to his feet and shrank, trembling, back.

"What is it? What's the matter?" cried Bridge, with whom The Kid had collided in his precipitate retreat.

"O-o-o!" groaned The Kid, shuddering."It's dead! It's dead!""What's dead?" demanded Bridge.

"There's a dead man on the floor, right ahead of us,"moaned The Kid.