Part 3 (1/2)
The man threw an arm across his companion's shoulder ”Don't worry, kid,” he said ”You're not a murderer even if you did kill Dopey Charlie, which I hope you did You're a benefactor of the human race
I have known Charles for years He should have been killed long since
Furthermore, as you shot in self defence no jury would convict you
I fear, however, that you didn't kill hi as you ithin earshot of the barn--dead men don't scream, you know”
”How did you know my name?” asked the youth
”I don't,” replied the man
”But you called me 'Kid' and that's lad that the darkness hid his smile of amusement He knew The Oskaloosa Kid well, and he knew hi with a pock htning had revealed, upon the contrary, a slender boy with se dark eyes
”Ah,” he said, ”so you are The Oskaloosa Kid! I ahted, sir, to make your acquaintance Pere If James were here I should ask hiht drink to our evity of our friendshi+p”
”I ae,” 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 h at first he had been inclined to draay in so the dark road The storm had settled now into a steady rain with infrequent flashes of lightning and peals of thunder There had been no further indications of pursuit; but Bridge argued that The Sky Pilot, being ith the wisdo of the fox, would doubtless sur away fro it would be safe to assu 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 reputation of never countenancing akills; 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 tre 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 looht of the road a flash of lightning revealed the outlines of a building a hundred yards fro fence which bordered the Squibbs' farm and separated it froe, ”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 warer a silk hat that The Oskaloosa Kid is a ation and the two turned in through the gateway, stepping over the fallen gate andstructure in the distance A clu to the alht
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 behouse of Squibbs The purr of a rapidly ht rose, fell, swerved to the right and to the left
”Soe
”I suppose it is Jaested The Oskaloosa Kid They both laughed
”Gad!” cried Bridge, as the car topped the hill and plunged doard toward theht 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 di car with lowered top Just as the led with the report of a pistol from the tonneau and the watchers upon the verandah saw a dark bulk hurled from the car, which sped on with undiminished speed, clie 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 forth of the slight figure ”Let e 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 hastened ahead, mounted the few steps to the verandah, crossed it and pushed open the sagging door Behind hie as the youth entered the dark interior A half dozen steps he took when his foot struck against a soft and yielding ain his equilibriu beneath 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, tre, back
”What is it? What's the e, hom The Kid had collided in his precipitate retreat
”O-o-o!” groaned The Kid, shuddering ”It's dead! It's dead!”