Love under Fire

  CHAPTER XXVII

  THE BODY OF LE GAIRE

  Miles had stationed a sentry just inside the front door, but he was theonly one of our men visible, nearly all of the others being at breakfastin the kitchen. I felt no need of any help however, for Le Gaire wasunarmed, and not of a nature to make serious resistance. Besides, if Iwas mistaken as to his hiding place in the house I preferred making thediscovery alone. My exploration during the night had made me familiarwith the arrangement of the front rooms, but not the extension to therear. I stopped, in the silence, at the head of the stairs, to glanceabout, and decide where I had better begin. Miss Hardy's door wasclosed, even the transom lowered, and I instantly decided not to disturbher until the very last. Yet I was soldier enough to take the otherrooms in rotation, realizing the danger of leaving an enemy in my rear.These were soon disposed of, although I made a close search,disarranging beds, delving into closets, and leaving no nook or cornerbig enough to conceal a man, unrevealed. I endeavored to accomplish allthis quietly, yet must have made some noise, for as I rolled back a bedin the third room entered, I heard the door creak and sprang to my feetto confront Billie. I hardly know which was the more startled, for thegirl staggered back, one hand thrown out.

  "You! Oh, I thought--" she drew her breath quickly.

  "You thought what?"

  "Oh, nothing--only I heard the noise, and--and wondered who it couldbe." She looked about at the confusion. "What--what are you doing?Hunting for some one?"

  "A needle in a haystack," I answered, suddenly suspicious that she mightknow something of the fugitive. "Will you help me search?"

  "I--I hardly appreciate your humor," haughtily. "Is--is it Captain LeGaire?"

  "Why do you suspect that, Miss Willifred? Is it because you imagine theman may be here?"

  "Because I know he got away; because I know your feeling toward him,your effort to take his life."

  "You know! What is all this?" so stunned I could scarcely articulate."Surely your father--"

  "I know of no reason why my father should be dragged into this affair."

  "But he was present; he surely told you what occurred."

  "He said the two of you went out to fight; that it was a dishonorableaffair. He gave me no particulars, and I asked none--I already knew whathad taken place."

  "Then you have seen Le Gaire since--is that so?"

  She turned her back toward me, and stepped into the hall. The action wasdefiant, almost insulting.

  "Miss Willifred, I insist on an answer."

  "Indeed," carelessly, "to what?"

  "To my question--have you seen Le Gaire since?"

  "I refuse to tell you."

  It was an instant before I found my voice, or could control my words.This was all most confusing, and yet the light was coming. Here was thesecret of her sudden dislike for me. Her hand was already upon the knobof her own door, and she did not so much as glance back. What could Isay? What ought I to say? Beyond doubt, uncertain as to her realfeelings toward Le Gaire, Hardy had not revealed to her the fellow'sdisgraceful action. Some way, his brief explanation had merely served toconfirm her previous opinion that the captain had been the oneinjured--such an impression she could have derived only from Le Gaire.It was equally clear I could not explain. She would scarcely believeany effort to defend myself. Why should she think me capable of adastardly act? Why believe Le Gaire's hasty lie, and refuse me even ahearing? The thought left me so indignant that for the moment I feltindifferent even to her good opinion.

  "Well, Miss Hardy," I said at last, conscious my voice trembled, "I amgoing to find this man if he is in the house, even if the search takesme to your own room."

  "Then begin there," and she stood aside, the door flung open. "It mustrequire great bravery to hunt down an unarmed man."

  "I only know you are going to regret those words when you learn thetruth. There is a mistake here, but one others must rectify. Youractions merely confirm my belief that Le Gaire sought refuge in thisbuilding. I am going to know before I withdraw my men."

  She was not quite so defiant, not quite so certain, yet she did notmove.

  "Will you tell me--has he been here?"

  "Why do you want to know?"

  I hesitated, not really knowing myself, suddenly made aware that I hadno true purpose in the search. My embarrassment confirmed her suspicion.

  "Revenge, wasn't it?" scornfully. "A desire to complete the work begunyonder. I'll answer if you wish me to. Captain Le Gaire came here to mewounded, and seeking shelter. I helped him as I would any Confederatesoldier. But he is not here now--see, the room is empty; yes, search itfor yourself."

  It was useless arguing, useless denying--the girl was in a state of mindwhich no assertions of mine could combat.

  "Then where is he now?"

  "I have no means of knowing--safely away from the house, I hope. I--Ileft him here when I went down stairs; when I came back he was gone."

  "And you say he was wounded?"

  "Certainly--you ought to know, the blow of an assassin, not a soldier."

  She looked straight at me, her cheeks red, her eyes burning withindignation. Then, as though she could bear my presence no longer, sheswept into the room, and closed the door in my face. It was an action ofsuch utter contempt that I actually staggered back, grasping the rail ofthe stair. What in the name of Heaven had gained possession of the girl?What infernal lie had been told her? By all the gods, I would find LeGaire, and choke the truth out of him. My head ached yet with the blowhe had dealt me, but this hurt worse. I had a reason now for runningthe man down. Wherever he had gone, even into the Confederate camp, Ivowed I would follow. But first the house: I could conceive of no way inwhich he could have gotten out--there was a guard in front, and I hadlocked the rear door. I went at the task deliberately, coolly,determined to overlook nothing. There was something of value at stakenow, and my mind was as busy as my hands and eyes. How did he eversucceed in getting to Billie? I had locked her door, and taken away thekey. It was not until I invaded the last room on the main floor that Isolved this riddle--the two apartments formed a suite with connectingdoor between. However he was not there now, and all that remained tosearch was the servants' ell.

  The hallway narrowed, and was lower by a single step, the back stairs atthe left. There was no window, and with all the doors closed, I couldsee down only a portion of the way. The hallway itself was gloomy, theshade of the rear window being closely drawn. This, with the stillnessall about, enabled me to hear the voices of the men in the kitchenbelow, and to become aware that the firing, sounding from a distancesince early morning, seemed now much closer at hand. It was notaltogether artillery any longer, but I could plainly distinguish thevolleys of musketry. What could this signify? Were the Confederatesbeing forced back? If so would the Hardy house be caught in themaelstrom of retreat? The possibility of such a result only made hastemore imperative. There were three doors at the right, and two opposite.I opened these cautiously, half expecting Le Gaire to dash out, with anyweapon he might have secured, desperate enough to fight hard. Butnothing occurred, the rooms showed no sign of having been latelyoccupied. I was at the one next to the last when a board creakedsomewhere behind me, and I wheeled about instantly, and ran back to thehead of the stairs. There was nothing visible, and a glance down thefront hall proved it also deserted--only the door of Miss Willifred'sroom stood slightly ajar. She was watching me then, fearful lest thefellow had failed to get away. This discovery added to my anxiety, andmy anger. He should not get away--not if I could prevent it--until heconfessed to her the truth. I ran back into the ell, fearful now that hehad escaped through a window, yet determined to examine that last room.There was a rag carpet along the back hall, and, in the semi-darkness, Itripped, falling heavily forward, striking the floor with a crash, myrevolver flying from my hand, and hitting the side wall. I was on myknees in an instant, thoughtless of everything except that I had comeinto contact with a body. The shock numbed me, nor could my fingersalone solve the
mystery. I sprang erect, and threw open the nearest sidedoor, permitting the light to stream in. Then I saw the man's face,upturned, lifeless--the face of Gerald Le Gaire. It seemed to me I couldnot move, could not even breathe, as I stared down at the motionlessform. Then I touched his wrist, feeling for a pulse which had ceased tobeat. A noise at my back caused me to start, and glance behind. Billiestood at the end of the narrow hall.

  "What is it? Have--have you killed him?"

  I whirled, facing her, indignant at the words, and yet understanding asswiftly the reason for her suspicions.

  "It is Captain Le Gaire. I have just found him lying here."

  "Found him! Yes, but not lying there; I heard the noise, the fall of hisbody. Is--is he dead?"

  She stood grasping the stair-rail, shrinking back from closer approach,her white face horror-stricken. I drew a quick breath, fairly quiveringunder the sting of her words.

  "Yes, he is dead, Miss Hardy," I said, knowing I must end the suspense,"but not by my hand. I tripped and fell in the darkness, causing thenoise you heard. I am going to ask you to return to your room; you canbe of no service here. I will have your father and Captain Bell help mewith the body."

  She never moved, her eyes on my face.

  "Then--then will you permit my father to come to me?"

  "Certainly--perhaps we will know then how this occurred."

  "Is that your revolver lying there?"

  I had forgotten the weapon, but perceived it now, on the floor justbeyond Le Gaire's head.

  "Yes, it was dropped when I fell," I took a step toward her. "You willgo back, will you not?"

  She seemed to shrink from my approach, and moved backward, still facingme, until she came to her own door. There she remained a moment,clinging to the knob, but as I emerged into the full light of the fronthall, she stepped into the room, and closed the door. Some way, heraction hurt me worse than any words could have done, yet I walked pastto the stairs in silence, and called to the guard below.

  Miles came up with the two Confederates, and a dozen words ofexplanation sufficed. Together we picked up the body, bore it into anear-by room, and placed it upon the bed. The man had been struck backof the ear, apparently by the butt of a revolver or the stock of a gun,the skull crushed. Death had been instantaneous; possibly he never knewwhat hit him. We examined the wound, and then looked into each others'faces utterly unable to account for the condition.

  "By Gad, I don't see how he ever got that," said Hardy. "Nor this uglycut here on the forehead. What do you make out of it, Galesworth?"

  I shook my head, thoroughly mystified.

  "I've told you all I know; he was lying there in the open when I foundhim--there was nothing he could have struck against in falling."

  "That was a blow struck him," insisted the sergeant, "either by asquare-handled pistol, or a carbine stock. I've seen that sorter thingbefore; but who the hell ever hit him?"

  No one attempted to answer. Then I said,

  "The only thing I have noticed which might be a clue is this: when Ifirst came in through the kitchen I discovered a clod of fresh clay dirton the back stairs. I supposed it had dropped from Le Gaire's boots. Butthere's no sign of yellow clay on his boots now. It must have been someone else."

  "Trailin' the poor devil," ejaculated Miles. "But who was he? An' whereis he now?"

  None attempted a guess, looking blankly into each others' faces, anddown upon the ghastly features of the dead man. We were all accustomedto death, and in terrible form, but this was different, this held ahorror all its own. I could hear the heavy breathing, we stood somotionless.

  "Major Hardy,"--and it was like sacrilege to break the silence,--"we cannever clear the mystery standing here. I've examined every room on thisfloor, and there is not so much as a rat in any of them. Whoever themurderer was, he has either got away, or is hidden on some otherfloor--is there an attic?"

  "Yes, but with no stairs; the only way to get there is by the kitchenroof. What do you propose to do?"

  "Take a moment and see if I can think it out," I said, drawing a sheetup over the dead face. "There must be some simple way to account for allthis if we can only get on the right trail. Come, gentlemen."

  We passed out together, and stopped in front of the closed door. Thefiring without was growing so much heavier that all noticed it, Bellstriding to the end of the hall, and thrusting his head out of thewindow. Still it was not close enough as yet to be alarming, and mythought was upon other things.

  "Major, I wish you would go in and speak to your daughter," I said. "Itold her you would come and tell her all you knew."

  I watched him cross to the door, knock, and enter.