Madeline Payne, the Detective's Daughter
Page 36
CHAPTER XXXV.
"THOU SHALT NOT SERVE TWO MASTERS" SET AT NAUGHT.
Meanwhile, as they steamed into the village, which was the destinationof both, Mr. Jarvis soliloquized, as he caressed his wallet pocket:
"I know who will butter my bread. Davlin is as slippery as an eel, andwill end in trouble. Dr. Vaughan is a man of his word, and I don'tneed his bond. I'm sure of one thousand, if not of five. And I neverwas over fond of this gentleman gambler."
It may be remarked that Davlin was a man pretty well known by thepolice and detectives. A gambler riding the top wave of success mighthave found more favor in the eyes of Jarvis. But he knew, because ofhis previous investigations, that Davlin was not "flush" at that time.
Clarence kept carefully out of sight when the train reached thevillage. Springing lightly to the ground, on the opposite side fromthe platform, he walked swiftly away, unnoticed in the darkness. Oncemore he crossed the field and knocked at the door of Hagar's cottage,and this time it was Hagar who admitted him.
Eagerly he listened, while the old woman told him how very fast Corawas recovering now; how they had got Miss Arthur and Percy back intothe house; and how very careful both Cora and Lucian were to treatthem politely. Madeline had not confided to Hagar the story of Olive,and the old woman knew no more of Edward Percy than that he was, asshe termed it, "a handsome hypocrite."
Clarence questioned Hagar closely. Had they made any attempt to findthe one who took the papers?
"No," Hagar replied; "they had said that Celine Leroque had stolenmoney and jewels, but they had not said one word about any papers."
Last of all, she told him how, fearing that Henry was becoming toorestive, and fearing, also, the effect of too much of the Professor'smedicine upon the somewhat enfeebled system of the prisoner, she hadmade known to Henry the fact that he was working in the cause of hisyoung lady. On learning this, and having it proved to hissatisfaction, for he was at first inclined to be skeptical, he hadbeen much delighted, and had since carried out the orders of Madelineas transmitted through Hagar.
Their conversation lasted a full hour, and then, having learned allthat could be learned from that source, and having delivered all ofthe messages sent by Madeline, he bade the old woman a kindgood-night, and retraced his steps across the field and back to thevillage.
* * * * *
When the night train halted at Bellair, Jarvis seated himself in thesmoking-car, feeling quite self-satisfied. When the train moved on, helighted a very black cigar, and began to contemplate the situation.
"Well, how do we stand now?"
As the voice of Clarence Vaughan fell upon his ear, Jarvis boundedfrom his seat like an india rubber ball and stared wildly at the youngman who had dropped down into the seat beside him as if from theceiling.
"Well, you are a rum one," said he, at last. "Might I ask where youcame from?"
"From the ladies' carriage."
"Oh!" with the air of having made a discovery. "So you ride out of thecity in a smoking-car for the purpose of riding back in the ladies'carriage?"
Clarence laughed again, settled himself comfortably in his seat andtook out his cigar case. "Not exactly," proceeding to light a weed. "Iam on pretty much the same business that you are, to-night." Then,taking a big puff, "I have been to Bellair, like yourself."
"The deuce you have!"
"Yes; how did your business prosper?"
Jarvis eyed him sharply. "Perhaps you know already."
"Perhaps I do. You have not got to look for stolen diamonds, haveyou?"
Jarvis laughed derisively.
"Or stolen money?" pursued Clarence.
Jarvis shrugged his shoulders.
"Or stolen--_papers_?"
Jarvis began to look foxy.
"Or a runaway young woman?"
Jarvis thought furiously for a moment; then turning square upon hisinterlocutor, said, significantly: "So there are stolen papers?"
Clarence smiled, but said nothing.
"And," pursued Jarvis, "when one loses one's papers, say deeds, ora--marriage certificate, one naturally thinks of hunting the recordsfor proofs that such papers existed."
"And that is your work?"
Jarvis nodded.
"Take you out of the city?"
"Only a few miles."
Clarence reflected for a time, and then said: "You can do your work,but report all discoveries _to me_."
Jarvis assented, and they continued to talk of the matter in handuntil the city was reached. Then, having made an appointment for thecoming day, and agreed to let the work of shadowing the gambler or,rather, his business, remain a "private spec." to Jarvis, theyseparated.
Thoroughly wearied, Clarence sought his bachelor apartments and therepose he so much needed.
Early the next day he was up, and after paying a visit to his patient,he turned his steps, or the steps of his horse, in the direction ofthe villa.
He found Madeline sitting up, feeling much better, and lookingaltogether lovely. Drawing their chairs near together in front of thecrackling grate fire, the three discussed the result of the journey toBellair. Having first related the news imparted by Hagar, Dr. Vaughanturned to Madeline and asked:
"What is your theory, sister mine, in regard to this change at Oakley?Why have they turned about and taken up Miss Arthur and her _fiance_with such sudden affection. Have you guessed?"
The girl smiled up at him as she replied: "Certainly; have not you?"
"You incorrigible little lawyer! Yes, but give us yours first."
"Why," said Madeline with a light laugh, "I suppose they have beensuspecting the wrong party. They think that I was an emissary of Mr.Percy's."
"Undoubtedly that is the truth," assented Clarence.
"And," added Madeline, "believing the documents in his possession, itis easy to understand that they prefer having the gentleman under thesame roof with themselves."
"True; now, the question that interests us is, how long will it bebefore they find out their mistake?"
"I think," said the girl, reflectively, "that their game will becovert, not open, attack, from the fact that they have kept the lossof the papers so carefully from the servants. If this is true, theywill move cautiously, and aim to convince the man that they do notsuspect him."
Clarence nodded.
"You see the necessity for action, do you not?" Madeline said, after asilence. "I must make my next move within a few days."
"I don't fancy that we need fear any new developments that will bedangerous to our cause just yet."
Then he told them of his meeting with the detective, and its results,adding: "You see, Jarvis can withhold his reports to suit ourconvenience, and you can grow strong, feeling secure."
Meantime, Jarvis set about his task of record hunting. He wasenergetic and resolute as a sleuth hound on the scent; so he soon madeone or two discoveries.
One day, very cleverly gotten upon as a dapper lawyer, he dropped inat the office of Messrs. Lord & Myers, bankers. Mr. Lord was an oldman with a shrewd, twinkling eye; and as the sham lawyer had selectedhis time wisely, he found the old banker alone.
They were closeted in close converse for nearly half an hour, at theend of which time, the dapper lawyer took his departure, lookingrather downcast; and Mr. Lord, with his little eyes brighter thanever, sat down and penned a letter to his friend and brother banker,Mr. Allyne, of Baltimore.