CHAPTER FIFTEEN
When the Harringtons followed their butler into Denby's room, they wereappalled at what they could not see but heard without difficulty. Astrange voice, a harsh, coarse voice rapping out oaths and imprecations,a man fighting with some opponent who remained silent. While they whoowned the house stood helpless, Lambart turned on the lights.
The sudden glare showed them Denby was the silent fighter. The otherman, a heavily built fellow, seemed for the moment blinded by thelights, and stopped for a second. And it was in this second that Denbyuppercut him so that he fell with a thud to the floor.
Then they saw Denby pick up a revolver that was lying by the stranger'sside.
"What's the matter?" cried Michael, while Lambart busied himself withmaking the room tidy and replacing overturned chairs.
"This man," said Denby, still panting from his efforts, "tried to breakin, and Miss Cartwright and I got him."
"Good Lord!" Michael ejaculated.
"How splendid of you!" Alice cried. "Ethel, you're a heroine, my dear."
Taylor, who had not been put out by the blow, scrambled to his feet andwas pushed into a chair. Denby stood conveniently near with the revolvera foot from his heart.
"I never saw a more typical criminal," Michael said, severely looking atthe captive; "every earmark of it. I could pick him out of a thousand.Now, Denby, we want to hear all about it."
"He's crazy," Taylor shouted indignantly. "Don't you believe him. He'sthe crook. I'm an agent of the United States Customs and I came here toget Denby."
"That's a pretty poor bluff," Denby scoffed. "This porch climber was oneof the two who held up Monty and Miss Rutledge in the grounds to-night."
"I said they'd break in!" Alice cried, and believed her statement. "Andhow fortunate Ethel moved her room. This man looks like the sort whowouldn't stop short of murder, Michael."
"The lowest human type!" Michael cried. "Look at his eyes and ears, andnose!"
"I tell you I came to arrest him!" Taylor cried, striving to keep hisalready ruffled temper.
"Arrest that charming man?" Mrs. Harrington cried with scorn. "Wasthere ever anything so utterly absurd!"
"Absurd!" he sneered. "You won't think so when you learn who I am. Askthat girl there; she knows; she'll tell you whether I'm absurd."
Instantly they all centred their gaze on Ethel. For a second she lookedat him blankly. "I never saw the man before," she told them.
"You didn't, eh?" Taylor cried, after a pause of sheer astonishment, "Iguess you'll remember me when I serve a warrant for your sister'sarrest. It's in my pocket now with other papers that prove I'm workingfor the United States Government." He made a motion as though to getthem but found Denby's gun close under his nose.
"No you don't," Denby warned him. "You've probably got a neat littleautomatic pistol there. I know your sort."
But when he seemed about to relieve the deputy-collector of his papersTaylor shouted a loud protest.
"Very well," Denby cried. "If you had rather Mr. Harrington did, it'sall the same to me. Mr. Harrington," turning to his host, "will youplease remove whatever documents you find in his inner pocket, so thatwe may find out if what he says is true."
"Surely," Michael returned. "I like every man to have justice even ifthe electric chair yearns for him." Carefully he removed a bundle ofpapers neatly tied together. And one of them, as Ethel Cartwright saw,was the warrant made out for her sister's arrest. She wondered why Denbyhad invited inspection of them, but was not long to remain in doubt.
"Now," said Michael judicially, "we'll do the thing properly."
But before he had unfolded a single one of the papers, they weresnatched violently from his hand, and Denby, gun pointed at Taylor, wasbacking to the door. "Keep out of range, Harrington," the retreating manwarned. He cast a swift look of triumph toward Ethel. "It's all right,Miss Cartwright," he called cheerfully. "Don't worry, it's all rightnow."
As the door closed, Taylor sprang from the chair with a curse. "Grabhim, I tell you," he cried raging. "He's a crook. The Government wantshim, and they'll hold you people responsible if he gets away." He blewhis whistle loudly, and then rushed out of the door and down the halltaking the steps four at a time.
The French windows were open and out of them he ran, calling sharply forhis men. But Gibbs and Duncan were even now fiercely searching the otherwing and disturbing frightened servants above. It was not for someminutes that they made their way to their chief, and searched thegrounds as he bade them.
And even here they were frustrated. Lambart's tactical genius hadforbidden him to remove the clothes-lines he had laid to bring wanderingtramps low, and among them Duncan and Gibbs floundered with dreadfulprofanity.
There were two other men aiding them now, Ford and Hammett, who werestationed outside the grounds to watch the only road by which Denbycould escape. When Taylor was satisfied they were doing what they could,he came back into the big hall where the frightened group was awaitinghim.
"We'll get your friend yet," he observed disagreeably to Mrs.Harrington. "It's bright moonlight, and my men'll nab him."
"But he's not my friend," she objected; "I had no idea he was that kindof a person."
"When I find a man like that a guest in a house like this," Taylorretorted, "I think I'm justified in calling him your friend. You'll havetime to think what to say later when you're called as a witness."
"I want to beg your pardon, Mr. Taylor," said Michael anxiously. Theidea of being cross-examined and made a fool of by a bullying counselhorrified him. He'd be a jest forever more at Meadow Brook and PipingRock. The Harringtons casually to pick up a smuggler and make him freeof their exclusive home! Never had he needed a drink to steady hisnerves as he did now!
"Well, I certainly think there is an apology due me," Taylor sneered. Hewas not one to forget an affront and Harrington had alluded to hiscriminal type in a way that rankled yet.
"But how could we know?" asked Mrs. Harrington; "he seemed perfectly allright, although I did say he might be a murderer."
"That'll come out in court," Taylor reminded her disagreeably. "If ithadn't been that my men were here to swear to me, I'd have spent thenight in one of your little one-horse jails, and he'd have got away.When I do get him he'll remember Daniel Taylor till the day he dies."
Monty, overhearing these direful threats from behind a door, and happybecause of his friend's escape, walked boldly in.
"Did you get the burglar?" he demanded airily.
"There wasn't any burglar," Alice told him.
"It was your old friend Denby that caused all the trouble," Michaelinformed him, "the old friend you introduced into my house. I tell you,Monty--"
"Don't explain," Taylor commanded. "Now," he snapped to Monty, "haveyou seen Steven Denby in the last ten minutes?"
Monty found with glee that so far from being nervous he was enjoying thescene. He only regretted that his moustache was not long enough topermit him to curl it to a fierce and martial angle. He was glad thatNora had crept into the room and was watching him.
"Isn't he in bed?" he demanded, yawning.
"You know he isn't in bed," Taylor answered. "Maybe you're his pal--inon this job with him. Come here."
Monty wished to refuse, but Taylor had a compelling manner, so headvanced with an insolent slowness.
Alice Harrington flew to his defence. "That's too absurd!" she cried."We've known Mr. Vaughan since he was a child."
"Who is this person?" Monty demanded superciliously.
"Never mind who I am," Taylor said gruffly, and started to search him.
"Don't hurt him," Nora cried, rushing to her fiance's side.
"It's all right, Nora," Monty said; submitting quietly. "He thinks he'sdoing his duty. When you're through with me," he said to Taylor, "I'lltake you to my room. You'd probably like to go through that, too."
"Here, that'll be enough from you," Taylor said frowning. "You aren'tsmart enough to be Denby's pal. Clear out--get back to the nursery
."
Nora cast a glance of vivid hatred at him, but Taylor turned his back onher.
"Do you want us any longer?" Michael asked.
"No," he was told. "You can go and leave me with this girl," pointing toEthel, who had not said a word. "I want a little talk with her."
"Please keep her out of it," Michael asked him. "I'm sure she'sabsolutely innocent in the matter."
Taylor looked at him, exasperated. "See here," he cried, "you've putenough obstacles in my way to-night as it is! Do you want to put anymore?"
"It's all right," Ethel Cartwright said quickly; "there's just somemisunderstanding. Please go!"
"All right, then," her host answered. "Come, Alice, I need a drinkbadly."
"My dear," she said affectionately, "under the circumstances you mayhave an all-night license."
He had turned to go when Lambart approached him. "I beg your pardon,sir, but can I have a word with you?"
"What is it?" Michael demanded anxiously. The news evidently affectedhim, and Taylor looked suspicious. "What's this mean?" thedeputy-surveyor asked.
"A long distance from my partner," the agitated Harrington returned. "Istand to lose nearly a million dollars if something isn't done. Excuseme, Alice--I'll use the upstairs 'phone." He hurried upstairs.
"Well," said Monty to Taylor--Nora was hanging on his arm and he felt hewould never again be afraid--"do you want me any longer?"
"I thought I sent you back to play," Taylor snarled.
Ostentatiously Monty turned his back and walked leisurely to a door.
"You are perfectly splendid," Nora exclaimed with ecstasy in her voice."I'd no idea you were so brave."
"Oh, you can never tell," Monty returned modestly.
Alice joined them in retreat. "Michael's thirst is catching," sheasserted. "I'm for some champagne, children, are you?"
"Sure," said Monty. "What's a quart amongst three?"
Taylor watched them depart, sneeringly. He hated the idle rich with theintensity of a man who has longed to be of them and knows he cannot. Thelook he flung at Miss Cartwright was not pleasant.
"What did you mean by telling them upstairs that you had never seen mebefore?" he cried vindictively.
"You said under no circumstances was I to mention your name."
He looked a trifle disconcerted at this simple explanation. He was in amood for punishment, and rebuke.
"Yes," he admitted, "but--"
"You said it was imperative your identity should not be disclosed," thegirl reminded him.
"I suppose that's true in a way," he conceded; "but when you saw mewanting to prove who I was, why didn't you help?"
"I was afraid to do anything but follow your instructions," she saidearnestly. "I remembered that you swore you'd put my sister in prison ifI even said I'd ever seen you before."
"Well, then, we won't say any more about it," he returned ungraciously."How did you find Denby had the necklace?"
"I got into his room and caught him," she explained. "He had it in hishand."
"Yes, yes!" he cried impatiently; "go on."
"And when the lights went out and there was a shot, I screamed, andnaturally I couldn't see what happened in the dark. I thought you hadkilled him and I was frightened."
Taylor frowned. He did not like to remember that directly the flash ofhis gun had disclosed his position Denby had sprung on him like an arrowand knocked him down. Denby had scored two knock-downs in one night, andnone had ever done that before. There was a swelling on his jaw andthree teeth were loosened. Denby should pay for that, he swore.
While he was thinking these vengeful thoughts, Duncan hurried in throughthe French windows.
"Say, Chief," he shouted, "Denby didn't leave the house. He's up in hisroom now."
"How do you know?" Taylor cried eagerly.
"Gibbs climbed up on the roof of the pagoda; he can see the room fromthere and Denby's in it now."
"Now we've got him sure," his chief cried gleefully.
"And Harrington's with him," Duncan added excitedly.
"What!" Taylor ejaculated, stopping short on his way to the stairs. Thetwo men talking together spelled collusion to him, and opened upcomplications to which he had hardly given a thought.
"Gibbs said they were talking together," his subordinate continued.
"I was right at first," Taylor exclaimed; "I thought that might be thegame, but he fooled me so that I would have sworn he was innocent.Denby's smuggling the necklace through for Harrington. Jim, this is abig job, get out there to make sure he don't escape by the balcony. Haveyour gun handy," he warned; "I've got mine." He looked over to Ethel,whose face betrayed the anguish which she was enduring. "And I'll getthe drop on him this time."
"No, no," she cried, "you mustn't!"
"You knew all the time he was back in his room and you've been trying tofool me--you're stuck on him."
"No, no, you're wrong," she said desperately.
"Am I?" he retorted; "then I'll give you the chance to prove it. Sendfor Denby and ask him what he did with the necklace, and where it isnow. Tell him I suspect you, and that he's got to tell you the truth,but you won't turn him over to me. Talk as if you two were alone, butI'll be there behind that screen listening." He took out his revolverand pointed to it meaningly. "If you tip him off or give him theslightest warning or signal, I'll arrest you both, anyway. Wrong, am I?"he sneered. "We'll see; and if you try to fool me again, you and yoursister will have plenty of time to think it over in Auburn. Now send forhim."
There was a big screen of tapestry in one corner of the hall near thestairs. Behind this he had little difficulty in hiding himself.
The girl watched him in terror. It seemed she must either offer the manshe loved bound and helpless to his enemies, or else by warning him andaiding him in escape, see him shot before her eyes. There seemed here noway out with Taylor watching her every look and movement from hishiding-place.
She stretched out her tremulous hand to grasp the table for support andclutched instead the silver cigarette-box, the same she had offeredearlier to Denby. Her deep dejection was banished for she saw here achance to defeat her enemy by a ruse of which he could not know.Watching her, Taylor saw her returning courage, and congratulated her.She knew, he thought, that her only chance was to play the square gamewith him now.
"Well," he called from his concealment, "why don't you send for him?"
"I'm going to!" she answered, walking to the bell and then coming backto the table. "You'll see you've been all wrong about me."
"I guess not," he snarled, adjusting the screen so as better to be ableto see her from between its folds. He noticed that Lambart passing closeto him as he answered the bell had no suspicion of his presence.
"Mr. Denby's in his room," she told the man, "please say I'm alone hereand wish to speak to him at once."
"Yes, madam," Lambart said, and a few seconds later could be heardknocking at a distant door.
"I can see you perfectly," Taylor warned her. "When Denby comes in, stayright where you are and don't move, or else I'll--" He stopped shortwhen Lambart descended the staircase.
"Mr. Denby will be with you immediately," the butler said, and left thehall.
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