CHAPTER X.
THE DIAMOND MERCHANT.
It was midnight before the motor boys were deposited on the walk infront of their hotel in Catskill. A team and two-seated wagon hadbrought them, and they had not left the vicinity of the road at thefoot of the mountain until they had driven around for an hour, madeinquiries concerning two men on motor cycles, given a description ofthe sailor, and passed word that the men were thieves and were to bearrested and held if found.
Matt, according to agreement, paid the driver who had brought them toCatskill five dollars for his services.
Before going to bed Matt gathered a little information concerning thevillage of Purling. He learned that it was six miles from Cairo, andthat Cairo was on the railroad and could be reached by a morning train.
But the train would not serve. By proceeding to the village in thatway, the boys would not be able to arrive before noon, and, accordingto the note in the sailor's cap, they were expected at the generalstore by ten o'clock.
"We'll hire an automobile," said Matt, "and a driver that knows themountains. I guess we'd better speak for the machine to-night."
At the same place where they had secured the motor cycles theyarranged for a touring car and a driver who knew the country, but thearrangement was not effected until they had deposited three hundreddollars as a guaranty that the motor cycles would be returned, or theowner indemnified for their loss.
"Three hundred plunks gone where the woodbine twineth," mournedMcGlory, as they were going to bed, "and all because we're helping toturn a trick for Tsan Ti. Good business--I don't think."
"This Grattan," said Matt, "is probably lying low somewhere nearPurling. If he isn't, he wouldn't be making it so hard for his palto get at him. The sailor will be there, and he won't get to seeGrattan without the letter. We'll catch the fellow, and we may catchGrattan--say nothing of the possibility of recovering the Eye ofBuddha."
"We'll draw a blank in the matter of that idol's eye, pard, you take itfrom me. But there's a chance of our putting a fancy kibosh on Bunceand getting back the go-devil machines. Still, there's also a splendidchance for a fall down. Listen. The _Hottentot_ man examines the notein his cap. He sees it's not the few lines he got from Grattan, but alot of 'con' talk from the mandarin. That leaves One Eye in the air,but gives him a line on _us_. What'll happen? I wish I knew."
"The sailor may not look at the letter in his hat until he gets toPurling, so----"
"Don't think it, pard. That would be too much luck to come at a timewhen we're hocussed crisscross and both ways."
By seven the boys were up, had overhauled their grips, and got intofresh clothes, and were sitting down to breakfast at the first call. Byseven-thirty the touring car was at the door for them, freshly groomedand shining like a new dollar.
It was a sixty horse-power machine, and a family carryall for thepersonal use of the proprietor of the garage. Not having been used forhackabout purposes, the car was more dependable than one that had beenhammered about over the rough roads by anybody who could tell the sparkplug from the magneto and had five dollars an hour to pay for a junket.
The proprietor, who was a good fellow at heart and wanted to doeverything possible to help the boys recover the stolen motor cycles,made this concession. So, with Matt in the driver's seat, the nativewho knew the way beside him, and McGlory with the tonneau all tohimself, the touring car flashed out of Catskill Landing and took tothe hills.
Of the drive Motor Matt made that morning, the driver on his leftentertained the most enthusiastic recollections. Never had he seen acar handled so cleverly; and when the car balked--which the best ofcars will do now and then--the way the king of the motor boys locatedthe difficulty and adjusted it was something to think about.
At nine-thirty the touring car landed its passengers in front of thegeneral store. Two men were sunning themselves on the bench in front,and a sleeping dog looked up lazily, snapped at a fly, and then went tosleep again.
"Where's Mr. Pryne?" asked Matt, stepping up to the two men on thebench.
"I'm Pryne," answered one of the two, measuring Matt with an expectantlight in his faded blue eyes.
"Look at this," said Matt, and presented the letter from Grattan.
The man, who was roughly dressed and certainly had nothing to do withthe store, studied the writing carefully.
"This is all right," he remarked; "_all_ right, but"--and his eyestraveled doubtfully over McGlory--"only one was expected."
"Don't worry about that, Mr. Pryne," answered Matt genially; "thischap," and he lowered his voice to a whisper, "is a pal."
"There's another one to go," murmured Pryne.
Matt was startled; then, thinking the other one was the sailor, hebraced himself for short, sharp work. "Where is the other one, Pryne?"
"Here," and Pryne indicated the other man who had been sitting with himon the bench.
Matt gave more careful attention to this other individual. He was aHebrew--one glance was sufficient to decide that. Also, he was ornatelyclad, wearing many large diamonds and making a fulsome display ofheavy gold watch chain. The Jew pushed forward with a wink and aningratiating smile.
"Goldstein is der name," said he, thrusting out a hand. "I'm derman from New York, yes, der"--and he whispered the rest in Matt'sear--"diamond merchant. You know for vat I come."
A thrill ran through the king of the motor boys. No, he did not know"for vat" the diamond merchant had come, but he guessed that it was topurchase the Eye of Buddha. The mandarin's story was being borne out byevery fresh development.
"We're a little ahead of time," observed Pryne, "but I guess it won'tmake no difference."
"Not the least," replied Matt. "I don't believe it will be necessaryfor me to take my pal along, so I'll just give him a few instructionsabout the motor car and we'll be going. This way, Joe," and Matt tookMcGlory to one side for a brief talk.
"What you going to do when you reach where you're going, with all thatgang against you?" whispered the cowboy. "The outfit would be more thana handful for the two of us--and here you're cutting me out of the gameright at the start."
"No," whispered Matt, "I'm not cutting you out of the game. You've gotthe most important part to play. Listen. Find a constable, if you cando it in a hurry, and pick up two or three more men and follow us. Doit carefully, so that Pryne won't suspect. Also tell the driver ofthe car to look out for the one-eyed sailor. If he comes here at teno'clock, tell the driver to have him captured and held--and the otherman, too, if they both come. That's your programme, Joe, and everythingdepends on you."
The cowboy's eyes began to glitter and snap as the gist and vitalimportance of his pard's instructions drifted through his mind.
"You know you can bank on me, Matt," he answered. "But don't move toofast--make a delay. I've got a lot to do, and you're liable to get sofar ahead I'll lose track of you."
"I'll delay matters as much as I can."
Matt returned to Goldstein.
"Where's Pryne?" he queried, observing, with a qualm, that the guidehad vanished.
"He is gone for der team," replied Goldstein. "I am sorry," he added,jumping to another subject, "that der price of precious stones is comedown. Fancy prices don't rule no more for such luxuries."
"You'll have to pay something for this treasure from the temple ofHonam if you get it," answered Matt.
"I will do all that is in reason, yes, but der chances vas great, and Itake them."
"Haven't Grattan and I taken chances, Goldstein?" returned Matt sharply.
"You have, yes. Well, we shall see, we shall see."
Goldstein was carrying a small satchel which he kept in handcontinually, whether he was sitting down or standing up.
"I come prepared to talk business," he said, with a sly grin, directinghis glance at the satchel. "My orders was to wait here until Bunce issarrived with der letter. I had a letter myself," he laughed.
At this juncture Pryne drove around the corner of the building and drewup at th
e platform in front of the store.
"Jump in, gents," said he. "It won't be long till I snake you out to myplace."
Matt and Goldstein climbed into the back seat. Under the seat was a bagof ground feed. As Pryne was driving out of town, Matt drew his knifefrom his pocket, opened the blade, and dropped a hand over the back ofthe seat.
A jab or two with the knife made a hole in the bag. The wagon wasan old one, and the boards in the bottom of the box had wide cracksbetween them. Looking back casually, Matt saw that a fine trail of"middlings" was leaking into the road.
"That will do the trick," he thought exultantly. "My cowboy pard can bedepended on to attend to the rest."
Motor Matt's Mandarin; or, Turning a Trick for Tsan Ti Page 10
