Harry Blount, the Detective; Or, The Martin Mystery Solved
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CHAPTER VIII.
It was with great reluctance Martin left Hanley Hall on the morningafter his visit with Blount, and equally reluctant were the Staffords topart with him.
On arriving in London he found Blount awaiting him at the station.
"What's up?" he asked.
"Nothing. Everything's down, including your friend Carden, who is lyingsick at the Bridge Hotel. He arrived last night. Better go to him."
"Carden here! By George! I must be off!" and hailing a cab Martinhurried away and was soon at his destination.
He found his friend in an easy chair near the window, looking pale andweak.
"Fred, old man! How are you? What's the matter?" exclaimed Martin,shaking both his hands warmly.
"Fred" was a dark handsome fellow of about five and twenty, whose facebeamed with pleasure on beholding Martin.
"Oh, Dick! I'm so glad you came! How did you find me? I want to gethome as quick as possible, and you must come down with me."
He had begun speaking in such a strange tone and closed so weak andwearily that Martin became alarmed.
"All right, Fred," he said. "Shall we start now? There's a fast train intwenty minutes."
"Yes, let us go at once--my luggage can wait."
It was just 3 o'clock when they arrived at Hanley Hall, and twentyminutes later Martin was on his way back--glad to get away.
There was great rejoicing over Carden's return, and much pity for hisillness. That was perfectly natural and proper, but it made Martin sickat heart as he watched Kate hovering about his friend, anticipating hisevery wish and showing in every act the greatest affection for him. Awoman looking on would not have been at all alarmed at this exhibitionof affection--but then, Martin was only a man, and he went back toLondon with a heavy heart. He was mistaken, so he told himself as hewent back in the train, it was only gratitude she felt for him.
At Bow Street he found a note saying Blount wished to see him, and heleft one in return asking Blount to call at his hotel. He had hardlyreached his rooms when Blount's card was presented to him and thatgentleman ushered in.
Martin was in a bad, and for him, unusual mood, and Blount noticed itimmediately.
"Have you any special engagement to-night?" asked Martin.
"No. I'm free except for that fellow, Hall."
"Hang Hall!" growled Martin, as he rang for an attendant.
"With all my heart!" rejoined Blount.
"I'm morally certain he deserves it, but hang _me_ if it will be easy toprove it!"
"A bottle of brandy and a half dozen soda," said Martin, to theattendant who came in answer to his call.
"Now tell me what you've done, Blount! Here, have a cigar before youbegin."
Blount looked at him curiously, took the cigar, and quietly detailed allthat he had learned in the last two days.
Martin listened attentively, or appeared to, and when his visitorfinished, pushed over the bottle of brandy.
"Help yourself, Blount," he said, and then filled his own glass, butmade no remark regarding the story he had just heard. As a matter offact his thoughts were away off in Hanley Hall. The detective, however,knew nothing about that, and somewhat piqued by his indifference, asked:
"Have you given up the matter, Mr. Martin?"
Martin looked at him inquiringly.
"I mean the recovery of your papers."
Martin apparently tried to pull himself together.
"Look here, Blount," he said, "I'm not right! You've been telling mesomething and I've been thinking of something else. Give me that brandyand tell me it all over again."
Blount passed over the bottle and Martin took a large tumbler full neat.It seemed to pull him together, and Blount, quick to appreciate thesituation, repeated his story. When he had finished, Martin hadapparently gathered his wits together. He pondered for a few minutes,and when he spoke Blount saw he was all business again.
"Blount, I am convinced that you are correct in regard to this man. I ammyself anxious you should find him, for I believe when you fasten themurder of Golden on him I will obtain the papers I am looking for. Ihave not only not given up the case, but I will double what I offered atfirst for their recovery!"
Blount's sharp eyes grew brighter, but before he could speak Martincontinued:
"This man has got about two days' start of you. It is for you now toclose every port against him. I mean see that he cannot enter any city,either by rail or river, without your knowledge and his movementsreported to you. Spare no expense! And now let us quit the subject foran hour or two. I am out of sorts. I can't talk any more about thisthing!"
"All right," assented his companion, cheerily. "Let's hear somethingabout life in Australia, or shall I spin you a yarn of police life?"
They sat and talked until late in the night, and when Blount left hecarried a check for L100, "to cover immediate expenses."
When he called next morning Blount found Martin had entirely recoveredfrom his nervousness, as he called it.
"I have covered every point, I think," said Blount, "and now all we cando, at least for the present, is to hunt for the original of the face inthe locket."
Day after day passed without word from the foreign police or thediscovery of a face resembling that in the locket. At Martin's request,Blount had been relieved from all other duty, and they now traveledabout together.
On the morning of the tenth day after the disappearance of Hall, Martinwas standing on the steps of the hotel, waiting for Blount, when hesuddenly caught sight of Mr. Stafford picking his way between the throngof wagons and cabs toward him.
"Bless my soul!" exclaimed the old gentleman, "it's as much as one'slife is worth to cross here!"
"It is a dangerous spot," responded Martin, warmly returning the cordialgreeting of Mr. Stafford. "How is Fred getting along?"
"He is improving. We have the right tonic for him I believe, but he isanxious to see you, and as I had to come to town, I was charged to bringyou back with me. Ah! Here comes our friend. Good-morning, Mr. Blount."
Blount looked somewhat excited. In his hand he carried a telegraphenvelope which he handed to Martin.
"By the way, Mr. Blount, I have just heard from Mr. Hall. He is at theRoyal Hotel, in Dublin. If not too late you can communicate with himthere. And now, Mr. Martin, I must be off, but I shall expect you to beready to go with me at one o'clock. Good-morning, gentlemen!"
While Mr. Stafford had been talking, Martin was reading the followingfrom a Dublin detective:
"Your party is at Royal Hotel. Is about buying property in Kildare."
He had caught what Mr. Stafford had said and looked at Blount inamazement. The latter looked staggered.
"Well, this beats all!" he exclaimed. "Here we've been looking all overthe civilized world and just as we find him, the fellow sends us wordhimself! Either we are all wrong about him, or he's the cheekiest caseI've yet met."
"Why, Blount, where are your wits? Don't you see, he has managed todispose of the diamonds somehow, and has gone to Ireland to carry outhis story. You must get after him at once and trace him back."
"Right you are! I must be growing stupid--but I'll be off at once!"
"Wait a moment! You can't get away until to-night. Better send your mana telegram to watch him closely. Then come back to my rooms--it may be along hunt, and money does as much as brains sometimes."
"I have sent the telegram," said Blount. "He is at this moment under thebest pair of eyes in Europe."
Two hours later Blount started on his long chase, and when Mr. Staffordcalled he found Martin all prepared to accompany him.