The Secret Toll
Page 17
CHAPTER XVII--AT THE DOORSTEP
Crushed beneath the weight of his secret knowledge of Mary Sturtevant'sseemingly close connection with the infamous band of extortioners andmurderers who were literally terrorizing the city, Forrester fell into adull routine that held him back from making any progress in the case.That a girl of her delicate refinement, superior intelligence andappealing femininity should be involved with these men whose wantonbutcheries were becoming more and more appalling, was a bewilderingconundrum. Had anyone simply stated the case to Forrester, he would haveridiculed such a suggestion, yet step by step facts had accumulatedrapidly from the day he first met her at the oak tree, culminating inthe astounding situation at the dance. The facts were so glaringlyagainst her then that he hardly dared review them.
At the time he put her handkerchief in his pocket he had had two objectsin view; to save her from the possible consequences of the discovery ofso definite a clue, and later to confront her with it and force aconfession. He had a wild idea that once he knew the whole story hecould persuade her to go away with him where the baleful hold these menapparently had on her could not follow. Remembering the coincidence ofher leaving the room with young Melville, her absence when it wasForrester's turn to dance with her, and her untruthful statementregarding her parting with Melville, Forrester saw clearly that heractivities in the affair were more than passive. Everything pointed toher as a daring accomplice.
Forrester decided that as she had repulsed all his efforts to induce herto leave, it would be better for him to stay away from her entirely andlet her work out her destiny in her own wilful way. For this reason herefused all invitations, knowing that the wide acquaintance which herletters of introduction had gained for her would inevitably result inhis meeting the girl at practically every place he went.
In spite of loud protests from Josephine, he had declined on this nightto attend one of the largest affairs of the season and was sitting inthe library with an open book laid face-down across his knee. After ashort chat earlier in the evening, Green had retired to his stationacross the lawn and Forrester attempted to read. The printed words madelittle or no impression on his perturbed mind and at length he droppedthe book. For over two hours he sat staring out through the open Frenchwindows, wholly lost in melancholy thoughts.
Suddenly Forrester was conscious that someone was looking at him throughthe open window. He started up in alarm just as Prentice strolled intothe room.
"Hello!" greeted Prentice. "Did I startle you?"
"Rather," answered Forrester, as he dropped back into his chair. "Howthe deuce did you get in?"
Prentice raised his eyebrows in surprise. "That's a strange question,"he declared. "I just walked in, of course. Why do you look soastonished?"
"Well, you see," explained Forrester, "I have a detective stationed outthere on the lawn. He is not supposed to allow anyone to slip in likethat."
"He has probably dropped off to sleep," laughed Prentice. "Or perhaps,recognizing me, did not think it necessary to interfere. Are your folksat the dance tonight, Bob?"
"Yes, and I'm a little surprised that you are not there."
"A man of my age, Bob, gets surfeited with such affairs. My wife anddaughter are there, however, and I promised to run up with the car andbring them home. In passing, it occurred to me that you might like to goalong for the ride on such a warm night. It will give me an opportunityto chat with you, too. You know it has been a long time since we had aconfidential talk over things."
"I appreciate your thoughtfulness, Prentice, but I had rather not go. Ihad quite a battle with Josephine over staying at home. If she foundthat I had actually come as far as the door after all, there would behigh jinks. You know, I seem to be settling down terribly lately."
"You've taken too large and unaccustomed a burden on your shoulders,Bob. Better drop that 'Friends of the Poor' matter. Even the police arenot getting anywhere."
"I would not have believed a few weeks ago that criminals could go sofar without detection," said Forrester.
Prentice glanced around as though he feared being overheard. Then headdressed Forrester in a low tone. "I've changed my mind about thecriminal side of this money drive. I am inclined to believe that it issomething more--something of world-wide significance." Then added, in alouder voice, "Well, I must be going on. Good-night, Bob," and he passedout of the window.
Forrester listened to his steps fade away along the terrace and then satpondering over Green's noninterference with Prentice's approach. It wasunusual and peculiar. If the detective were getting careless he was ofno further use. Happily, in this instance, it had been only Prentice,but might not one of his enemies come in on him just as easily?
Forrester jumped up and strode across the lawn to the pergola.
"Green!" he called, sharply.
The breeze whispering through the leaves and the splash of tiny waveletson the beach below were the only sounds Forrester heard. He stepped intothe pergola and struck a match. Green was in his chair, but huddled downin a loose and helpless bundle. Forrester shook him without result,though the man's labored breathing showed that he was not dead.
"My God!" cried Forrester. "I believe he has been attacked with thedeath mask!"
He ran part way to the garage before remembering that the chauffeur waswith the car and waiting several miles away to bring Mrs. Forrester andJosephine home. Green must be gotten out of the way before they arrived.Returning to the pergola Forrester placed Green's inert form over hisshoulder and carried the detective to his room over the garage. Layingthe man carefully on the bed Forrester hurried to the house totelephone.
"Yes," said the doctor, a half-hour later, "I think he will live. We gothim just in time. Peculiar thing, Mr. Forrester, how a man can beasphyxiated in the open air--yet this fellow shows every symptom ofasphyxia."
"Please don't mention the matter at the house, doctor," requestedForrester. "My mother and sister might be unnecessarily alarmed overit."
"I understand," agreed the doctor. "Mum's the word." Then, turning toWilliam, who had returned and stood in the room, he added, "Are yougoing to watch him?"
"My wife and I will take turns," replied William.
"Well, if there is a change that does not look favorable, telephone meat once. I'll be back in the morning. Good-night."
----
During the period of Green's convalescence Forrester emerged from hislethargy, passing to the other extreme. He became restless and uneasy.The doctor advised him against discussing any serious matters withGreen, stating that the man had received a mental as well as a physicalshock and that complete recovery could come only through both mental andbodily rest. Forrester remained away from Green, therefore, and findinghimself unable to concentrate upon his reading or to focus his thoughtsfor any length of time, he spent many hours walking along North Shoreroads, or discovering new bypaths through the woods.
On one of these occasions he found himself unexpectedly in the rear ofLucy's cottage. As he retained lingering suspicions of the Jamaicacolored woman it seemed to Forrester an opportune time to pay heranother visit. He walked around the end of the building through theneglected, weed-grown clearing to the door and knocked. No noisy doggreeted him this time, and in the quiet and gloomy woods the placeseemed to exhale an atmosphere of insidious mystery. He knocked twicebefore Lucy opened the door and stood as he remembered herbefore--silent, distrustfully observant, her peculiar eyes with theiroddly drooping lids vaguely suggestive of furtive evil.
"Good afternoon," Forrester greeted her, cheerfully.
"You here again?" and a scowl added to the forbidding aspect of herface.
"Yes; after more news," replied Forrester.
She smiled sneeringly, and Forrester suspected that she was now wellaware that he was not connected with a newspaper.
"Well, what sort of news do you want this time?" she snapped.
An inspiration came to Forrester. Perhaps if aroused and angered shemight l
et something slip. "Your opinion of the detectives and police,"he answered.
The effect was contrary to his anticipations. She smiled, her faceassuming a more cheerful expression than he had ever seen upon it.
"Stupid fools!" she said, briefly, emphasizing in two words of similarimport, the depth of her contempt for the representatives of the law. Itwas a revelation to Forrester, which, more than anything else,influenced some of his subsequent actions.
"What has become of your dog?" he asked. "I missed his friendlyreception."
Again her face glowered. "The police shot him," she answered. Thenadded, "I'm busy; you'd better run along," thus ending the interviewabruptly as she had before.
"I think I will," assented Forrester. "Good-bye," and he walked awayalong the path that led by the tree, conscious that the inscrutable eyesof the negress were following him in speculation.
Forrester returned home, but instead of going directly into the house hestrolled across the lawn to the pergola. There he sat down to smoke hispipe, and analyze his impressions of Lucy.
A golden glow from the late afternoon sun hung over the lake. Here andthere a sailing craft with sun-gilded sails moved lazily along beforethe gentle offshore breeze. Birds chirped in the trees at his back, andhumming insects hovered around him. Nature breathed peace andrestfulness. Only man--and woman--created the turmoil and misery thatdisturbed life's predestined course. If only human beings would realizethat when His work was done all that was needed had been accomplished,and cease their ineffectual attempts to check or alter the inevitable.Yet, while man continued to battle, man must also fight back.
Forrester's reveries were interrupted by the spluttering roar of a motorand he glanced toward the garage. William, seated in the big car, wastuning up his engine, while a man, pale, haggard and unsteady on hisfeet, trudged across the lawn toward the pergola. Forrester wassurprised to see Green up and in action.
The detective entered and sank weakly into a chair near Forrester.
"What's up, Green?" cried Forrester. "I thought you were still confinedto your bed."
"I'm goin' back to bed when I get home," replied Green. "I'm goin', Mr.Forrester; I'm through!"
"You mean you are going to leave me?" queried Forrester.
"Yes," assented Green. "I ain't got any wife or children, but I may havesome day, and I don't want to disappoint 'em by being bumped off now.Besides, it ain't dignified for a detective to be gassed off while hisback is turned--without a chance. If I _have_ to die, I'm goin' to diefightin'. So I'm goin', Mr. Forrester. That's final."
"I'm sorry, Green," admitted Forrester, earnestly. "You have becomealmost like one of the family. You have been a help, too. Some of yourideas have been tip-top, and I may yet profit by hints you have givenme. If I do, I'll not forget that bonus I promised you."
"I ain't worryin' about no bonus," returned Green, "but I am sort o'worryin' about you. Do you know what that day was that I nearly got tookoff?"
"Do you mean what day of the week or month?" inquired Forrester.
"That was the _last day_ o' the ten days them guys give us! The onlything that saved you was probably the accidental droppin' in o' thatfriend o' yours, Prentice, that night. He must've come while they wasoperatin' on me. They've been gettin' closer and and closer, Mr.Forrester, _but they're at the doorstep now_!"
Green rose to go. Forrester jumped from his chair and shook the man'shand warmly.
"One last piece o' advice," whispered Green. "Watch the girl! Maybe sheain't an actual criminal, but somebody's got a good hold on her. Whatshe knows about them people would most likely be an eye opener for you."