Some Buried Caesar

"Of course. I know every foot of it, this is where I was born. I can find my way in the dark all right. I was about half- way along the windbreak when I saw a glimmer of a flash- light ahead, and I got careless and started to trot, because I wanted to get closer to find out if it was Clyde, and I stepped into a hole and tumbled and made a lot of noise. The flashlight was turned towards me, and Clyde's voice called, and I saw it was no use and answered him. He came back to me, and Bronson was with him, carrying a club, a length of sapling. Clyde was furious. I demanded to know what he was going to do, and that made him more furious. He said… oh, it doesn't matter what he said. He made me promise to go back home and go to bed-"

"Again without divulging his campaign."

"Yes. He wouldn't tell me. I came back home as I had promised I would. If only I hadn't! If only-"

"I doubt if it would have mattered. You have enough dis- tress, Miss Osgood, without trying to borrow. But you haven't told me yet why you think Mr. Bronson murdered your brother."

"Why… he was there. He went to Pratt's with him. He's the kind of man who would do anything vile-"

"Nonsense. You had no sleep last night. Your mind isn't working even on the lowest level. Do you know when Bron- son got back here?"

"No. I was on the veranda until Dad came-"

"Then there's a job for you. You'll be better doing some- thing. Find out from the servants if anyone saw him return, and let me know. It may save some time." Wolfe pushed his lips out, and in again. "I should think Mr. Bronson would be a little apprehensive about your disclosing his presence at Pratt's last night. Have you any idea why he isn't?"

'Yes I have. He… he spoke to me this morning. He said he had left Clyde at the end of the windbreak, where the fence is that bounds our property, and come back here and sat out by the tennis court and smoked. He said he thought my father was mistaken, that the bull had killed Clyde, and that everyone else would think so. He showed me the receipt Clyde had signed and given him, and said he supposed I wouldn't want Clyde's memory blackened by such a thing coming out, and that he was willing to give me a chance to repay him the money before going to my father about it, provided I would save him the annoyance of being questioned about last night by forgetting that I had seen him with Clyde."