The Tracer of Lost Persons

by Robert W. Chambers

  CHAPTER XIII

  Gatewood, in the telephone booth, waited impatiently for Mr. Keen; andafter a few moments the Tracer of Lost Persons' agreeable voice soundedin the receiver.

  "It's about Mr. Kerns," began Gatewood; "I want to see him happy, andthe idiot won't be. Now, Mr. Keen, you know what happiness you and hebrought to me! You know what sort of an idle, selfish, aimless,meaningless life you saved me from? I want you to do the same for Mr.Kerns. I want to ask you to take up his case at once. Besides, I've abet on it. Could you attend to it at once?"

  "To-night?" asked the Tracer, laughing.

  "Why--ah--well, of course, that would be impossible. I suppose--"

  "My profession is to overcome the impossible, Mr. Gatewood. Where is Mr.Kerns?"

  "Here, in this club, defying me and drinking cocktails. He won't getmarried, and I want you to make him do it."

  "Where is he spending the evening?" asked the Tracer, laughing again.

  "Why, he's been stopping at the Danforth Lees' in Eighty-third Streetuntil the workmen at the club here finish putting new paper on hiswalls. The Lees are out of town. He left his suit case at their houseand he's going up to get it and catch the 12.10 train for Boston."

  "He goes from the Lenox Club to the residence of Mr. W. Danforth Lee,East Eighty-third Street, to get a suit case," repeated the Tracer. "Isthat correct?"

  "Yes."

  "What is in the suit case?"

  "Samples of that new marble he's quarrying in Georgia."

  "Is it an old suit case? Has it Mr. Kerns's initials on it?"

  "Hold the wire; I'll find out."

  And Gatewood left the telephone and walked into the great lounging room,where Kerns sat twirling his stick and smiling to himself.

  "All over, dear friend?" inquired Kerns, starting to rise. "I've ordereda corking dinner."

  "Wait!" returned Gatewood ominously. "What sort of a suit case is thatone you're going after?"

  "What sort? Oh, just an ordinary--"

  "Is it old or new?"

  "Brand new. Why?"

  "Is your name on it?"

  "No; why? Would that thicken the plot, dear friend? Or is the Tracerfoiled, ha! ha!"

  Gatewood turned on his heel, went back to the telephone, and, carefullyshutting the door of the booth, took up the receiver.

  "It's a new suit case, Mr. Keen," he said; "no initials on it--just anordinary case."

  "Mr. Lee's residence is 38 East Eighty-third Street, between Madison andFifth, I believe."

  "Yes," replied Gatewood.

  "And the family are out of town?"

  "Yes."

  "Is there a caretaker there?"

  "No; Mr. Kerns camped there. When he leaves to-night he will send thekey to the Burglar Alarm Company."

  "Very well. Please hold the wire for a while."

  For ten full minutes Gatewood sat gleefully cuddling the receiveragainst his ear. His faith in Mr. Keen was naturally boundless; hebelieved that whatever the Tracer attempted could not result in failure.He desired nothing in the world so ardently as to see Kerns safelymarried. His own happiness may have been the motive power which had sethim in action in behalf of his friend--that and a certain indefinabledesire to practice a species of heavenly revenge, of gratefulretaliation upon the prime mover and _collaborateur_, if not the soleauthor, of his own wedded bliss. Kerns had made him happy.

  "And I'm hanged if I don't pay him off and make him happy, too!"muttered Gatewood. "Does he think I'm going to sit still and see him gotearing and gyrating about town with no responsibility, no moral checkto his evolutions, no wholesome home duties to limit his acrobatics, nowife to clip his wings? It's time he had somebody to report to; time heassumed moral burdens and spiritual responsibilities. A man is just ashappy when he is certain where he is going to sleep. A man can find justas much enjoyment in life when he feels it his duty to account for hismovements. I don't care whether Kerns is comparatively happy ornot--there's nothing either sacred or holy in that kind of happiness,and I'm not going to endure the sort of life he likes any longer!"

  Immersed in moral reflections, inspired by affectionate obligations toviolently inflict happiness upon Kerns, the minutes passed veryagreeably until the amused voice of the Tracer of Lost Persons soundedagain in the receiver.

  "Mr. Gatewood?"

  "Yes, I am here, Mr. Keen."

  "Do you really think it best for Mr. Kerns to fall in love?"

  "I do, certainly!" replied Gatewood with emphasis.

  "Because," continued the Tracer of Lost Persons, "I see little chancefor him to do otherwise if I take up this case. Fate itself, in theshape of a young lady, is already on the way here in a railroad train."

  "Good! Good!" exclaimed Gatewood. "Don't let him escape, Mr. Keen! I begof you to take up his case! I urge you most seriously to do so. Mr.Kerns is now exactly what I was a year ago--an utterly useless member ofthe community--a typical bachelor who lives at his clubs, shirking theduties of a decent citizen."

  "_Ex_actly," said the Tracer. "Do you insist that I take this case? ThatI attempt to trace and find for Mr. Kerns a sort of happiness he himselfhas never found?"

  "I implore you to do so, Mr. Keen."

  "_Ex_actly. If I do--if I carry it out as it has been arranged--orrather as the case seems to have already arranged itself, for it israther a simple matter, I fancy--I do not exactly see how Mr. Kerns canavoid experiencing a--ahem--a tender sentiment for the very charmingyoung lady whom I--and chance--have designed for him as a partnerthrough life."

  "Excellent! Splendid!" shouted Gatewood through the telephone. "Can I doanything to aid you in this?"

  "Yes," replied the Tracer, laughing. "If you can keep him amused for anhour or two before he goes after his suit case it might make it easierfor me. This young lady is due to arrive in New York at eight o'clock--aclient of mine--coming to consult me. Her presence plays an importantpart in Mr. Kerns's future. I wish you to detain Mr. Kerns until she isready to receive him. But of this he must know nothing. Good-by, Mr.Gatewood, and would you be kind enough to present my compliments to Mrs.Gatewood?"

  "Indeed I will! We never can forget what you have done for us. Good-by."

  "Good-by, Mr. Gatewood. Try to keep Mr. Kerns amused for two or threehours. Of course, if you can't do this, there are other methods I mayemploy--a dozen other plans already partly outlined in my mind; but thepresent plan, which accident and coincidence make so easy, is likely towork itself out to your entire satisfaction within a few hours. We arealready weaving a web around Mr. Kerns; we already have taken exclusivecharge of his future movements after he leaves the Lenox Club. I do notbelieve he can escape us, or his charming destiny. Good night!"

  Gatewood, enchanted, hung up the receiver. Song broke softly from hislips as he started in search of Kerns; his step was springy,buoyant--sort of subdued and modest prance.

  "Now," he said to himself, "Tommy must take out his papers. The time isended when he can issue letters of marque to himself, hoist sail, squareaway, and go cruising all over this metropolis at his own sweet will."