The Secret Toll

by Paul Thorne and Mabel Thorne

  CHAPTER XV--THE MASK OF DEATH

  Humphrey's visit marked a turning point in the mysterious case of the"Friends of the Poor." His famous photograph was published in the_Times_ and created a considerable stir. Fortunately, in the newspaperreproduction only the prominent features were discernible, and as atForrester's request the reporter had omitted any reference to theperplexing details which he had discovered, these possible cluesremained unknown to the police and public. All the newspapers showed atendency to ridicule and censure the police for their misdirectedactivity, which aroused the department to redoubled efforts in thesolution of the case. This was further accentuated by pressure broughtto bear upon the chief of police, and even the mayor himself, by variouscivic associations which had become alarmed at the inability of thepolice to protect wealthy citizens from this terrible menace.

  A small army of detectives was assigned to the case, and as Greenexpressed it, "You can't turn a corner without steppin' on some bull'stoes." Police activity was largely expended in the form of espionageupon persons who had in any way been connected with the case, andcareful investigation of all people who lived in the vicinity of the oaktree. Green reported to Forrester that a man who was unquestionably adetective was keeping the Forrester estate under surveillance, andForrester discovered that a detective was steadily on guard at the tree.

  That the "Friends of the Poor" were undaunted by this display of policeaction, and were prepared to flaunt their power in the very faces of thepolice, was shown by the fact that one morning the detective who hadbeen on watch at the tree the night before was found dead. The policesurgeon stated it to be a clear case of asphyxiation, although how sucha thing had been accomplished in the open air he was not prepared tosay. This tragedy, however, terminated all efforts of the police to keepan open watch over the tree, for it was evident that the mysteriousforce which was at work could not be reached in this way.

  On the same day Green had come to Forrester in a state of greatdejection. The detective had found one of the familiar wrapping papernotes pinned to his chair in the pergola, which read:

  _To_ _Detective Green and Robert Forrester_:

  You have but ten days to live.

  _Friends of the Poor._

  Following the death of the detective at the tree, the negress, Lucy, wasarrested on suspicion, and Forrester learned from the newspapers thatthe police had thoroughly ransacked her home in a search forincriminating evidence, but without results. Forrester was impressed,when he read this report, by the fact that Lucy persistently refused togive any information regarding herself. As had been the situation at thetime of the reputed murder of her husband, there was absolutely noevidence against her, and the police were forced to release her. ToForrester, however, she still held her position as a possible thoughpuzzling element in the case.

  Forrester also read with indignation that detectives had visited MarySturtevant, closely questioning everyone in her household. Not a breathof suspicion was raised against her as a result of this investigation,which pleased Forrester, though it still further bewildered him in hissurmises regarding the girl. What chance had he in unearthing somethingwhich a direct police investigation could not disclose? Forrester hadnot seen Mary Sturtevant for some days, but this incident impelled himto call on her, so early in the evening he took his roadster and droveover to the girl's house.

  Mary Sturtevant's apparent coldness toward him at their recent meetingshad worried Forrester, and he was greatly relieved when her greeting wasmore cordial than ever and she showed every indication of pleasure atseeing him.

  "Robert," she said, as he drew his chair close to hers and sat down, "Ihad about come to the conclusion that you had taken my advice and goneaway."

  "You know," replied Forrester, "that I will not leave here until thiscase is solved--unless you promise to go with me."

  "That is impossible," she returned. "I am in no danger--not even fromthe police," and she glanced at him with one of her old mischievoussmiles. Then added, gravely, "But you are risking your life every daythat you remain here."

  "Mary," protested Forrester, "your attitude in this matter isinexplicable. Won't you confide in me and let me help you?"

  "Some day, Robert," she declared, earnestly, "I shall probably be ableto explain to you; but please for the present, say no more about it."

  While absolutely certain of his own feelings toward her, Forrester wasstill doubtful about her attitude toward him. The fact that shecontinued to use his given name when they were alone encouraged him.Beyond that, however, she gave little or no evidence of how she felttoward him. Forrester was unwilling, therefore, to risk offending her byfurther talk upon a subject which she so urgently requested him to drop.He turned the conversation to other matters in which they were mutuallyinterested.

  At ten o'clock Forrester rose to go, and the girl accompanied him to thefoot of the steps. There she held out her hand and as he took it, shesaid, pleadingly, "Please, Robert, won't you go away for a littlewhile?"

  Forrester leaned over and touched his lips to her hand.

  "No," he returned shortly, and jumped into his car.

  As he drove along Jasper lane Forrester was startled to hear a sharpreport behind him. It echoed through the still woods and for a moment hethought that someone had fired a shot at him, but the immediate jarringof his car signified that one of the rear tires had blown out. Hestopped the car, shut off the engine, and after adjusting the spotlightso that he could see to work, threw his coat into the car and startedthe job of changing tires.

  He had nearly completed the task when he was suddenly seized in a stronggrip and something placed over his face!

  Though taken at a disadvantage, and aware, from the peculiar odor whichassailed his nostrils, that his opponent was endeavoring to render himunconscious by some sort of gas or drug, Forrester did not give up hopebut fought back courageously. His arms had been pinioned at his sides,however, and he found it impossible to do more than struggle in thegrasp of his attacker. Realizing that he must soon lose consciousness,Forrester made a supreme effort and succeeded in wrenching his armsfree. His first thought being to get air, he grasped at the object overhis face in an effort to pull it away. It was too late, for he alreadyfelt faint and weak and could not exert the necessary strength.

  Then he dimly heard several explosions like pistol shots and everythingbecame blank.

  ----

  Forrester slowly opened his eyes and stared straight ahead for a minuteor two, trying to recollect what had happened and where he was. He wasin bed, but the room, so far as he could see in the dim light of adistant, shaded lamp, was unfamiliar.

  "Oh, Robert," cried a voice, "are you all right? How do you feel? Speakto me!"

  Languidly he turned his head and recognized Mary Sturtevant sitting bythe bedside. Then he discovered that one of his hands was held tightlyin both of hers.

  "What has happened?" he queried, weakly.

  "You met with an accident," she answered. "The doctor said we got therejust in time. You must not talk about it now, or ask any questions."

  She dropped his hand, and jumping up, hurried across the room. In amoment she returned with a glass, and holding his head up with one hand,placed the glass at his lips.

  "Drink this," she ordered.

  Forrester drank a little from the glass and then she let his head dropgently back on the pillow and sat down beside him. He watched herdreamily for a moment or two, finally dropping off to sleep.

  When Forrester again awoke the bright morning sun was streaming inthrough a window at the foot of his bed. The first thing he saw was thebig colored man, Joshua, rocking in a chair near the window and crooningto himself. Forrester tried to sit up, but found that he was very weak.His effort attracted the attention of the negro.

  "Yo' jes' lie still, Boss. Dem's mah orders."

  "Hello, Joshua!" said Forrester, and was surprised at the feebleness ofhis voice when he tried to speak. "What
are you doing here?"

  "Ah belong heah, Boss. Dis am Mistah Bradbury's house."

  Forrester was puzzled. He knew that "Mr. Bradbury's house" was whereMary Sturtevant lived.

  "How did I get here, Joshua?" he inquired.

  "Ah guess de hants done got yo', Boss. Mah Missey an' me done fine yo'layin' in de road in front of dat tree wif a rubber t'ing in yo' han'."

  "A rubber thing?" exclaimed Forrester. "What do you mean?"

  "Ah dunno what it is, Boss."

  "Where is it now?" asked Forrester.

  "We-all done got it downstairs, Boss. Ah'll get it and show yo'."

  Joshua left the room. He returned presently with a large, circular pieceof rubber which he placed in Forrester's hands. Forrester examined itcarefully. He found that it was flexible, somewhat oval in form, andconcave. At the back a piece of light rubber tubing, about one foot inlength, was attached. Forrester placed the rubber over his face for amoment and found that its form made it fit like a mask. He withdrew ithastily when he heard an exclamation at his side. It was MarySturtevant, and as Forrester glanced up he saw her looking at him withstartled eyes.

  "Joshua!" she cried, turning to the negro, "how did Mr. Forrester getthat?"

  "Ah done brung it to him, mam."

  The girl seized the piece of rubber from Forrester and handing it toJoshua, directed, "Take it away instantly, Joshua. Put it in my room."

  "Yassum!" and Joshua darted out of the room, mumbling to himself.

  The events of the night came back to Forrester quite clearly now.

  "Was that the thing my assailant used on me last night?" he asked,looking up at the girl.

  "Yes," she returned, "but you mustn't talk about it."

  "But I want to talk about it," he exclaimed. "And I want it forevidence!"

  "Robert," she said seriously, "you must not tell a soul about whathappened last night, or refer to that piece of rubber. It is absolutelyvital that you do this for me. Please promise."

  "I'll consider it," he said, "if you will tell me the whole story ofwhat happened."

  "I am willing to tell you that," she returned, "but first you must haveyour breakfast. I can tell you the story while you are eating. It isvery short."

  She left the room, returning in a few minutes with a tray. Afterassisting Forrester to sit up in bed, and arranging the pillows at hisback, she placed the tray in his lap. As he ate, she explained to himwhat had happened.

  "After you left, I stood on the steps listening to the hum of yourengine as you drove away. I was worried, Robert, to think of yourrecklessness in driving around alone at night under the presentcircumstances. Suddenly, I heard a report like a pistol shot, and as Icould no longer hear the sound of your engine, I feared that somethinghad happened to you.

  "Calling Joshua, we ran along the road in the direction you had taken.We soon saw the lights of your car, and I could see that two men werestruggling in the road. I knew that one of them must be you. I havealways carried my little automatic with me since I came to live in thislonely neighborhood. Taking it out, I fired several shots in the air asI ran. That frightened the man who was attacking you and he fled.

  "Joshua carried you back to the house, and I telephoned for a doctor.The doctor said that an attempt had been made to asphyxiate you. If wehad been a minute or two later he could not have saved you."

  "My God!" cried Forrester, receiving a shocking revelation. "The'Friends of the Poor'! That is how their victims have been killed! Howdid you get that mask of death, Mary?"

  "You had seized it with a deathlike grip. The doctor could hardly get itout of your hands. When the man fled he had to break the tubing to carrythe rest of the apparatus away."

  "What a wonderful piece of evidence!" exclaimed Forrester.

  "Yes," admitted the girl, "but against whom will you use it?"