CHAPTER XXVI.
The second floor of the inn where Martin and Hall lodged had once beenused as a ball-room, but this either did not pay or suit the presentproprietor who had partitioned it off into three good-sized rooms. Oneof these Martin occupied and Hall the others.
It was about nine o'clock when Blount entered Martin's room.
Sitting in front of the fire in the next apartment was Hall, musing overthe past and planning for the future--a future that looked exceedinglybright and promising.
There was no light in the room, except from the open fire; the door waspartly open. Suddenly he was aroused by Blount's entrance, and then hisattention was especially attracted by hearing his name mentioned.
The inn-keeper had done his own joiner-work and the partitions were allbut transparent, and Hall stepping softly to the partition, heard Blountvery plainly continue:
"They are all there I think--just as Golden had them the night he wasmurdered by our cunning friend Hall."
The eavesdropper started back in alarm, but could not resist thetemptation to listen to the story.
"I found 'The Knifer' easy enough in Leith, and got the papers on him,"Blount was saying. "He admitted the robbery of the papers and draft inHarley Street, and Morgan got back to-night with the diamond broker whobought the diamonds. He had a tough job, but finally persuaded him tocome, and he's down-stairs with Morgan now."
Again Hall started back in alarm. They were very close on him, and hepaused irresolutely. The story coming through the partition was rapidlydepriving him of his nerve, and happening to look through the window, hesaw a man on the opposite side of the road looking up. He was beingwaited for; they did not know he was in. How long would they wait beforecoming to his room?
Back to the partition once more he crept, and listened to Blount'sconfirmation of this idea.
"We will wait for a little while before going to his room. They were notsure down-stairs whether he had returned, and I didn't want to alarm himuntil I had seen you. However, there's no chance for him to get away.Morgan's down-stairs, O'Brien is in front, and another man at the rear."
Hemmed in completely--every avenue closed. It was clear that the chainof evidence must be complete--they were so confident, too, of gettinghim.
He went to a cupboard, took out a bottle of brandy, and poured out amoderate drink. After drinking the liquor, Hall began to pace the floor,which, unlike the partitions, was solid, and his quick nervous step madeno sound.
"Trapped! Cornered like a rat! Well, cornered rats are dangerous,gentlemen! Look out! you haven't killed it yet!"
Pausing, a little back from the window, he looked out and saw the man inthe same position. Then he resumed his walk, more like a caged tigerthan a human being.
"One down-stairs, one in front, one in the rear and this one up-stairs!Four man-hunters! Let me see!"
Stopping, he opened his trunk and took out a pair of pistols, which helaid on the table.
"Four! If it was in the open--But pshaw! What difference would one ortwo make! I'm trapped! The game is over and I've lost! Lost!" herepeated hoarsely. "Lost! Lost everything--a fortune, a good name and abeautiful wife! An hour ago it was castles! Now it's gibbets! Kate!Kate! But for her I would not mind it so much!"
His face changed for a moment and became softened, but quickly resumedits former demonical expression as he resumed his walk.
"You've trapped me--Yes! But the rope never was made to hang me! I'mprepared for that at any rate! Never! No trial! No rope! No morbidfool's curiosity!"
Stopping again, he poured out more liquor.
"The next one will be time enough," he murmured as he put it to hislips. Setting down the empty glass, he lighted his lamp, closed his doorsecurely and then, after a short search, produced a small package of thesame white powder which had ended the career of Golden. Placing a pinchof this in the glass Hall filled it to the top with liquor, placed hislamp near the window, lighted a cigar and sat down to wait for hisvisitors.
He had not long to wait--only ten minutes--but his thoughts must havecovered a great deal before the expected knock came.
"Too late!" he said, with the glass to his lips. "You will have to breakit in."
Then laying back in his chair he emptied the glass. He hardly moved, hishead sank a little to one side, the glass fell from his hand, and sothey found him.
Blount had suspected something was wrong on finding the door fastened,and did not waste a moment in breaking it down, but as the dead man hadtruly said--he was too late.
Doctor Fox was called, but said he could do nothing--the man was deadfrom prussic acid.
Notwithstanding their knowledge of the man and his crimes, all wereshocked at the sudden termination of their pursuit, and none thought ofretiring. Although nearly eleven o'clock, Carden returned to HanleyHall, Martin accompanying him.
Owing to the preparations for the marriage, hasty as they were,everything was astir at the Hall, and Carden gravely told the story ofthe suicide.
As may be imagined, the story created great surprise and horror, and ofthe entire party Kate was apparently the least moved. She sat veryquiet, and said but little; never addressing Martin, who also remainedvery quiet, and was beginning to believe himself mistaken regardingKate's feelings toward the dead man.
However, he had a duty still to perform, and when Carden had finished hetook from his pocket the stolen papers, and addressed Kate:
"These, Miss Stafford," he said, "are your property and Fred's--yoursmore than his. They are your uncle's will, and the other papers I spokeof, representing property to the value of--well, certainly over onehundred thousand pounds, besides a draft of twelve thousand pounds whichyou can obtain within a few days. All this is divided between yourselfand Fred, with something in your favor."
Surprise was again general, except on Kate's part, and more than oneregarded her curiously.
"Why, Kate," exclaimed Miss Fleming, "you appear to have becomeaccustomed to these Croesus surprises!"
Mr. Stafford, agreeably astonished by this sudden access of wealth, alsoremarked that she took the matter very coolly; but Kate did not respondto either remark, except to say she was tired out and must leave them.
Martin, Carden and Mr. Stafford left early next morning to attend theinquest, which was quickly and quietly disposed of, and then returned toHanley Hall in time for luncheon, where Miss Fleming and Mr. Staffordtook the principal parts in carrying on the conversation.
Martin and Kate, seated side by side, exchanged but few words, and thoseof only the commonest civility and in a cold, repellant manner on thepart of Kate.
That this had been noticed by more than one, was apparent when, afterluncheon, Carden joined Martin in the library, and the latter said, withan almost plainly forced calmness:
"Fred, now that those papers have been recovered, I can't see thatthere's any use in my lingering here. You know all I've got, except afew hundred pounds in London, is either banked or invested in New York,and I've just read this article (extending the paper) which seems toindicate that something of a panic exists there now, with possibly worseto follow. So I'll take a run up to London, I think, and if this reportis confirmed, go back to New York. I'll stop and let you know on my wayto Liverpool if it's true."
Carden barely glanced at the article, and handed back the paper with adismal smile.
"Yes," he said, "I understand. It's a good excuse, but I'm hanged if Ican understand it! It's not like Kate--especially after what you've toldme of the affair at Naas--and yet to-day she acted worse than a totalstranger. Her mother, Jennie and myself noticed it."
"Never mind, Fred! I'm off now to London. You can account for myabsence as best you can; but, at the risk of being set down for a boor,I will avoid another meeting until coming back on my way to Liverpool."
"Ah! You are _going_ in any event!"
"Yes--it is better--much better, Fred!"
And so it was arranged. Martin was to leave at once, agreeing to returnnext day to Hanley
Hall, whence Carden would accompany him to Liverpool.
Martin went to pack up some papers and a few articles of wearingapparel, while Carden went to inform the Staffords of Martin'sintentions and the reason of his hasty departure. He found Miss Flemingalone in the drawing-room at the piano, and to her, in telling ofMartin's intentions, said more than he would have to any of the family.
"Oh, yes!" she said. "It's quite plain--but don't you think, Fred, youought to go with him to London? He might not come back at all, youknow!"
"You are right, Jennie! I'll go with him." And when Martin came down afew minutes later, he found Carden prepared to accompany him and gladlyacquiesced in the arrangement.
It was not until evening that Mr. and Mrs. Stafford learned of thedeparture of the young men, and the supposed cause, and they expressedgreat concern at the possibility of any misfortune happening to Martin;but to Kate it was then an old story, for Miss Fleming had been drummingit into her ears all the afternoon, never failing to broadly hint atwhat she unhesitatingly pronounced to be the real cause--"Kate's crueltyto Mr. Martin."
Kate endured it patiently and in silence--which caused Miss Fleming tosay she was disgusted with such obstinacy, and then leave her in peace.
Harry Blount, the Detective; Or, The Martin Mystery Solved Page 26
