Part 31 (1/2)

”I put out my hands to get his throat, but I misjudged things. I caught him by the waist. He had on a raincoat. I could tell it by the feel of the cloth. And I couldn't get a good hold of him. While I struggled with him, he got me by the throat. He was a powerful man, a dozen times stronger than I am.

”We swayed around there for a few minutes, a few seconds--I don't know which. We didn't make any noise. I couldn't do a thing. He choked me until I thought my head would burst open.

”When he realized I was all in, he gave me a shove that made me reel down the walk a dozen steps. He didn't stop to see what I did. He ran. That is, I suppose he ran. I didn't hear him, and I didn't see him again. He disappeared--completely.”

Braceway looked at his watch. It was five minutes before train time.

”What did you do then?”

”Nothing.”

”Where did you go, then? What did you think? Speed up, George! I want to get all this before you go.”

”Yes,” said Withers, a little catch in his throat; ”I thought you ought to know about it. I--I stood there a moment, there in the rain, dazed, trying to get my breath. I'd intended going in to have it out with Enid.

But I didn't. I suppose I knew, if I did, I'd kill her. And I guess now I would have.

”You see, I hadn't the faintest notion that anything had happened to her; had hurt her, I mean. I got myself in hand. I didn't do anything. I went back to the hotel. I planned to have a last talk with her later in the day.”

”Tell me,” Braceway asked with undisguised eagerness, ”did this man wear a beard?”

”I think so. I've been thinking about that all day. I think he did, but I'm not sure.”

”But you saw the plain silhouette, the outline of his head and body!”

”Yes. He might have had a beard, and again he might not. He was heavily built, with a short, thick neck, and, in the att.i.tude he was in, foreshortened by the light being above him, a strong chin might have been magnified, might have cast a shadow like that of a beard.”

”And when you were struggling with him? How about that? Didn't you get close to his face?”

”Yes; but he was taller than I was--I don't know--I can't remember. But I think he had the beard, all right.”

”He didn't make any noise on the steps, you say. Did he have rubber shoes?”

”I don't know. My guess would be that he did.”

The conductor began to shout, ”All aboard!”

They started toward the Atlanta pullman.

”I wouldn't have told you--I can't see that any of this could affect the final result--but for the fact that something might have come up to embarra.s.s you,” Withers explained, still with the unpleasant, rattling whisper. ”It might have led you to think I hadn't been frank with you.”

He had his foot on the first step of the car. The porter was evidently anxious to get aboard and close the vestibule door.

”What do you mean?” Braceway caught him by the sleeve.

”Somehow,” Withers leaned down to whisper, ”in the struggle, I think, I dropped--I lost my watch. Somebody must have picked it up, you know.”

”d.a.m.n!” exploded Braceway angrily. ”Why didn't----”