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The Bittermeads Mystery
by E。 R。 Punshon
CONTENTS
I THE LONE PASSENGER
II THE FIGHT IN THE WOODS
III A COINCIDENCE
IV A WOMAN WEEPS
V A WOMAN AND A MAN
VI A DISCOVERY
VII QUESTION AND ANSWER
VIII CAPTIVITY CAPTURE
IX THE ATTIC 0F MYSTERY
X THE NEW GARDENER
XI THE PROBLEM
XII AN AVOWAL
XIII INVISIBLE WRITING
XIV LOVE…MAKING AT NIGHT
XV THE SOUND OF A SHOT
XVI IN THE WOOD
XVII A DECLARATION
XVIII ROBERT DUNN'S ENEMY
XIX THE VISIT TO WRESTE ABBEY
XX ELLA'S WARNING
XXI DOUBTS AND FEARS
XXII PLOTS AND PLANS
XXIII COUNTER PLANS
XXIV AN APHORISM
XXV THE UNEXPECTED
XXVI A RACE AGAINST TIME
XXVII FLIGHT AND PURSUIT
XXVIII BACK AT BITTEBMEADS
XXIX THE ATTIC
XXX SOME EXPLANATIONS
XXXI CONCLUSION
CHAPTER I
THE LONE PASSENGER
That evening the down train from London deposited at the little
country station of Ramsdon but a single passenger； a man of middle
height； shabbily dressed； with broad shoulders and long arms and a
most unusual breadth and depth of chest。
Of his face one could see little； for it was covered by a thick
growth of dark curly hair； beard； moustache and whiskers； all
overgrown and ill…tended； and as he came with a somewhat slow and
ungainly walk along the platform； the lad stationed at the gate to
collect tickets grinned amusedly and called to one of the porters
near：
〃Look at this； Bill； here's the monkey…man escaped and come back
along of us。〃
It was a reference to a travelling circus that had lately visited
the place and exhibited a young chimpanzee advertised as 〃the
monkey…man；〃 and Bill guffawed appreciatively。
The stranger was quite close and heard plainly； for indeed the youth
at the gate had made no special attempt to speak softly。
The boy was still laughing as he held out his hand for the ticket；
and the stranger gave it to him with one hand and at the same time
shot out a long arm； caught the boy … a well…grown lad of sixteen
… by the middle and； with as little apparent effort as though
lifting a baby； swung him into the air to the top of the gate…post；
where he left him clinging with arms and legs six feet from the
ground。
〃Hi； what are you a…doing of？〃 shouted the porter； running up； as
the amazed and frightened youth； clinging to his gate…post； emitted
a dismal howl。
〃Teaching a cheeky boy manners；〃 retorted the stranger with an angry
look and in a very gruff and harsh voice。 〃Do you want to go on
top of the other post to make a pair？〃
The porter drew back hurriedly。
〃You be off；〃 he ordered as he retreated。 〃We don't want none of
your sort about here。〃
〃I certainly have no intention of staying；〃 retorted the other as
gruffly as before。 〃But I think you'll remember Bobbie Dunn next
time I come this way。〃
〃Let me down； please let me down；〃 wailed the boy； clinging
desperately to the gate…post on whose top he had been so
unceremoniously deposited； and Dunn laughed and walked away； leaving
the porter to rescue his youthful colleague and to cuff his ears
soundly as soon as he had done so； by way of a relief to his feelings。
〃That will learn you to be a bit civil to folk； I hope；〃 said the
porter severely。 〃But that there chap must have an amazing strong
arm；〃 he added thoughtfully。 〃Lifting you up there all the same as
you was a bunch of radishes。〃
For some distance after leaving the station； Dunn walked on slowly。
He seemed to know the way well or else to be careless of the
direction he took； for he walked along deep in thought with his eyes
fixed on the ground and not looking in the least where he was going。
Abruptly； a small child appeared out of the darkness and spoke to
him； and he started violently and in a very nervous manner。
〃What was that？ What did you say； kiddy？〃 he asked； recovering
himself instantly and speaking this time not in the gruff and harsh
tones he had used before but in a singularly winning and pleasant
voice； cultivated and gentle； that was in odd contrast with his
rough and battered appearance。 〃The time； was that what you wanted
to know？〃
〃Yes； sir； please； sir；〃 answered the child； who had shrunk back in
alarm at the violent start Dunn had given； but now seemed reassured
by his gentle and pleasant voice。 〃The right time；〃 the little one
added almost instantly and with much emphasis on the 〃right。〃
Dunn gravely gave the required imformation with the assurance that
to the best of his belief it was 〃right；〃 and the child thanked him
and scampered off。
Resuming his way； Dunn shook his head with an air of grave
dissatisfaction。
〃Nerves all to pieces；〃 he muttered。 〃That won't do。 Hang it all；
the job's no worse than following a wounded tiger into the jungle；
and I've done that before now。 Only then； of course； one knew what
to expect； whereas now … And I was a silly ass to lose my temper
with that boy at the station。 You aren't making a very brilliant
start； Bobby； my boy。〃
By this time he had left the little town behind him and he was
walking along a very lonely and dark road。
On one side was a plantation of young trees； on the other there was
the open ground； covered with furze bush； of the village common。
Where the plantation ended stood a low； two…storied house of medium
size； with a veranda stretching its full length in front。 It stood
back from the road some distance and appeared to be surrounded by a
large garden。
At the gate Dunn halted and struck a match as if to light a pipe；
and by the flickering flame of this match the name 〃Bittermeads；〃
painted on the gate became visible。
〃Here it is； then；〃 he muttered。 〃I wonder … 〃
Without completing the sentence he slipped through the gate； which
was not quite closed； and entered the garden； where he crouched
down in the shadow of some bushes that grew by the side of the
gravel path leading to the house； and seemed to compose himself
for a long vigil。
An hour passed； and another。 Nothing had happened … he had seen
nothing； heard nothing； save for the passing of an occasional
vehicle or pedestrian on the road； and he himself had never stirred
or moved； so that he seemed one with the night and one with the
shadows where he crouched； and a pair of field…mice that had come
from the common opposite went to and fro about their busy occupations
at his feet without paying him the least attention。
Another hour passed； and at last there began to be signs of life
about the house。
A light shone in one window and in another； and vanished； and soon
the door opened and there appeared two people on the threshold；
clearly visible in the light of a strong incandescent gas…burner
just within the hall。
The watcher in the garden moved a little to get a clearer view。
In the paroxysm of terror at this sudden coming to life of what
they had believed to be a part of the bushes； the two little
field…mice scampered away； and Dunn bit his lip with annoyance；
for he knew well that some of those he had had traf