The Mask: A Story of Love and Adventure

by H. B. Marriott Watson

  CHAPTER XVI

  For a person so fastidious and particular, so fond of the luxurious andthe elegant, Signor Keralio had certainly selected a queer neighborhoodfor his abode. Miles distant from the fashionable centers, far away upin the Bronx, he occupied the entire top floor of a dingy, broken downtenement. There were no other people in the house, it being in suchbad repair that no one cared to live in it, and as Keralio paid as muchas all the previous tenants combined and made no requests forimprovements, the landlord was only too glad to leave him undisturbed.It was situated at the extreme end of a blind alley and, there being noegress from the street save at one end, there was consequently littleor no traffic and, for the great part of the day and night, the silencewas as deep and unbroken as in the open country.

  With his neighbors Signor Keralio was distantly polite, but neverintimate. The district was a poor one, being settled mostly by Italianlaborers who rose and went to bed with the sun and toiled too long andtoo hard each day to bother their heads as to why such a fine gentlemanas the Signor appeared to be, should live in such squalid quarters. Noone had ever been admitted to his flat. If the baker called, he leftthe bread on the mat; if a chance peddler or book agent happened towander in, he had to talk through closed doors. The Signor was alwaysbusy and could not be disturbed. The lights often burned all nightlong, and sometimes people drove up in a taxi and went away again. Fora while the corner gossips speculated idly as to who he might be, butgradually they lost all interest. When he purchased trifles at thecorner grocery he gave out casually that he was a newspaper man and hadto work all night, and the fact that muffled sounds of hammering andmachinery in motion had been heard at all hours, only helped to makethe explanation more plausible.

  To-night, Keralio was perhaps more anxious than at any time todiscourage callers--especially should they happen to be inquisitivesecret service agents. Another few days and he would have nothing moreto fear. The presses would soon have completed their work and $500,000worth of as fine a $10 counterfeit as ever deceived a bank teller wouldbe ready for distribution. Half of them had already been run off and,as he held them up to the light and critically examined the silkenthread that ran here and there through the specially prepared paper andnoted the careful coloring, the beautifully geometrical lathe work andskilfully traced signatures, he silently congratulated himself. Herewas half a million dollars' worth of splendid currency. Detection wasabsolutely impossible. Had not Francois already succeeded in passing alot? After all had been disposed of, he could afford to take a rest.On the proceeds of this rich haul, he could live like a prince for afew years in Europe, and when that was all gone, he still had thediamonds to fall back upon. Glancing at the clock, he wondered whyHandsome did not come. He was anxious to get possession of thediamonds. It was too soon to attempt doing anything with the stonesnow. The hue and cry would be too loud. All the diamond markets wouldbe watched, if they were not already. He had a suspicion that Parkerand Steell suspected something wrong. Francois had seen the Presidentin earnest consultation with the lawyer directly after Handsome hadannounced the loss. He had not been able to hear what was said, butfrom their manner he inferred that the diamonds were the sole subjectof conversation. They did not question Handsome's identity. Thatnever entered their heads, but they doubted his story of losing thestones. They, no doubt, thought he had used the diamonds to make goodWall Street losses.

  He chuckled as he thought how admirably his scheme had worked out. Hehad hinted at Kenneth being heavily short in this street, which at onceexplained a motive for Kenneth diverting the stones to his own use.Yes, he had triumphed over them all--except one. Helen Traynor, sofar, had foiled him in everything, and the more she resisted andinsulted him, the more determined he was to drag her at his feet.Handsome, poor devil, fondly imagined he would inherit the wife as wellas the fortune. How could he guess that he, Keralio, would send abogus telegram just in time to dash the cup from his lips.

  Impatiently he strode up and down the rooms. Why was Handsome late? Afrown darkened his face. He had better not trifle with him. He mustobey without question or take the consequences. He was in no mood tobe defied.

  Suddenly, he started and listened. His alert ear had caught the soundof approaching footsteps on the stairs outside. A moment later camethree deliberate knocks on the door, a signal which indicated afriendly visitor. Quickly, Keralio went forward and withdrew the bolt.

  Francois entered, suit case in hand. Hardly before he could takebreath after the long climb, Keralio exclaimed:

  "Well, how are they going?"

  The Frenchman grinned.

  "_A merveille_! Like hot cakes. I've passed all of zem. Good work,is it not?"

  "And the real stuff?" demanded Keralio.

  "Is in here."

  The valet pointed to the leather case.

  Eagerly Keralio seized the portmanteau, and, opening it, emptied thecontents. A perfect shower of greenbacks--genuine ones this time--fellupon the floor. With shaking hands, like a miser who trembles as hehandles his hoarded gold, Keralio picked up the money by armfuls and,taking it to a table, proceeded to count it.

  "Is it all here?" he demanded suspiciously.

  The valet scowled.

  "Do you think I'm holding any back on you? _Ma foi, non_!"

  Keralio, still counting, fixed his assistant with steely, piercing eyes.

  "No, Francois, I think you know me too well for that. You know I neverforget a service; you also know I never forgive anyone who crosses mywill."

  The valet shrugged his shoulders. In an injured tone he asked:

  "What's all ze talk about? I work well for you. I do your dirty work,_n'est ce pas_? I never complain--I am faithful. What more would youhave?"

  "Why should you complain? You get your share," rejoined his chiefsternly.

  The valet was silent and Keralio went on:

  "A few days more and we'll be rid of all the new stuff. Then we'lltake down the presses and carry away the parts, piece by piece. Whenwe're ready to leave this hole, there won't be a shred of evidenceleft. Have you heard any news from our man in Washington? What arethe secret service men doing?"

  "Ze alarm is given. Zey have spotted several of ze bills. Half adozen of ze cleverest sleuths in ze country have been put on our trail.Zey will not succeed. Ze scent is cold. We've got zem completelydoped."

  Keralio looked anxious.

  "Is there any danger of them having shadowed you and followed you here?"

  "No--_mon cher, pas le mains du monde_. It took me three hours to comehere from ze Pennsylvania station--such a crazy in and out route I gaveze chauffeur. If they succeed in following such a labyrinth as that,they deserve to get us."

  Keralio smiled and pointed to a bottle of brandy on the table.Approvingly, he said:

  "Good boy! There, take a drink and a cigar----"

  After the valet had refreshed himself, he again confronted his chief.

  "What else _a votre service_?"

  Keralio pointed carelessly to a seat. In a commanding tone, he said:

  "Yes--I have more work for you. Sit down. I will tell you."

  The valet took a chair and waited. Keralio looked at him meditativelyfor a moment. Then suddenly he asked:

  "When did you leave the house?"

  "This afternoon at three o'clock."

  "When did Mrs. Traynor return from Philadelphia?"

  "Yesterday--furious at the hoax played upon her? Miss Dorothy isperfectly well----"

  Keralio smiled.

  "Of course. I sent that telegram."

  The valet grinned. Admiringly, he exclaimed:

  "You are admirable! _Quel homme, mon dieu, quel homme_!"

  Paying no heed to the compliment, Keralio went on:

  "What did Handsome say?"

  "He is puzzled himself and can't understand. Everyone's up in the air.They think it is a discharged maid who did it for spite."

  "The next time Mrs. Tr
aynor receives a sudden message about her baby itwill not be a hoax."

  The valet looked up in surprise.

  "What do you mean?"

  Keralio did not answer the question immediately, but sat nervouslytwisting his fingers, a moody sullen look in his pale saturnine face.At last, breaking the heavy silence, he said:

  "That woman insulted me. You saw it. You were there----"

  The valet nodded.

  "You mean she put you out--ah, _oui_, she has a _diable_ of a temperwhen angry."

  Keralio nodded.

  "Yes--that I can never forgive. She shall ask my pardon on her knees.I will break her spirit, humiliate her pride. I have been taxing mybrain how to do it. At last I have hit on a plan--one that cannot failand you shall help me."

  "In what way _s'il vous plait_?"

  Bending forward, his black eyes flashing, Keralio said earnestly:

  "That woman is devoted to only two beings in this world--her husbandand her baby. Sooner or later, perhaps only in a few days, she willdiscover that Handsome is an impostor. He is such a fool that exposureis inevitable. The blow will almost kill her. Above all, it willhumiliate her pride to know that unwittingly she has allowed thatdrunken brute, that poor counterfeit of her husband, to caress andfondle her. Next in her affections comes her baby. If any dangerthreatened the child, she would stop at nothing, she would make anysacrifice to ward off the danger. I propose to bring about just thatsituation----"

  The valet half started up from his chair. Hardened and callous as hewas in crime, he was hardly prepared to go to that extreme.

  "Death?" he exclaimed, horror stricken, "you would kill ze child?"

  "No fool--not kill the child. I'll kidnap it--that's all. We'll bringthe child here and, then I'll write the mother, telling her where it isand to come to it, but warning her that if she values the child's life,she must tell no one, and must come here unaccompanied. Once she ishere, I will take care of the rest. Do you understand?"

  The valet breathed more freely.

  "So you will that I----"

  His chief nodded.

  "Precisely. You'll take the flyer to Philadelphia. Say you come fromthe mother. They'll have no suspicion. Take the child and come hereat once. Understand?"

  "_Oui_, monsieur."

  Keralio rose. In commanding tones, he said:

  "Then go at once."

  The valet went to get his hat. As he approached the door Keraliohalted him and said:

  "What's Handsome doing--keeping sober?"

  "He has to, for I lock up all ze liquor. He lives like a lord, buyingswell clothes, riding in ze automobile. Last night he lost at ze club$10,000 he had drew from ze bank."

  Keralio gave a low whistle.

  "The deuce he did! Living high, eh? Well--that's all right. Let himenjoy it. His gay life won't last long--only just as long as it suitsmy purpose."

  "Hush! Not a word--here he is!"

  From the landing outside came the sound of a heavy body lurching. Thencame the noise of someone groping for the handle, followed by a furiouspounding on the wooden panels.

  "Open up there, will you!" shouted a hoarse voice.

  "Drunk, as usual!" said Keralio contemptuously.

  He suddenly threw the door open and the gambler, burly and unsteady onhis legs, almost fell in. He was in evening dress, his collar and tierumpled, his hair unkempt. His face was flushed, his eyes bloodshot.Reeling in, he hiccoughed:

  "What'n h--ll do you live so far up town for? I thought I'd never gethere. Say, this is the end of the world, ain't it? Jumping off place,eh? Stopped several times on the way to get a drink. My cabby nearlygot lost. Been driving me round for three hours trying to locate theblooming house. Charged me $5. Hell of a good business, ain't it.Tain't on the level to treat an old pal that way. Y'oughter be ashamedo' yourself."

  "I'm more ashamed of you--for making such a beast of yourself,"rejoined Keralio angrily. "Stop your cursed noise or you'll have thepolice on top of us!"

  Without ceremony, he pushed the newcomer into a seat and made a gestureto Francois to go. The valet went toward the door.

  "Remember," said Keralio warningly. "There must be no blundering. Iwant the child brought here----"

  "_Oui_, monsieur--it shall be as you say."

  The door closed and Keralio turned quietly to the miner. Sternly, andin a manner that brooked no nonsense, he demanded:

  "Did you bring the diamonds?"

  Handsome grinned, and pointed to his waist.

  "I've got 'em all right!" With another hiccough, he added: "Butthere's no hurry, old sport. Let's have a drink before we get talkingbusiness."

  In two rapid strides Keralio was up to him. Fiercely he said:

  "Give me the stones--give me them I say. We've no time for your d----dfooling. Hand them over. Come----"

  For a moment the gambler just sat and looked at his master. A giant inphysical strength compared with the slightly built foreigner, he couldhave overpowered him as a child might crush an egg-shell, but he lackedthe mentality, the magnetism of the Italian. He was cowed, dominatedby the stronger mind. Grumbling, he began to fumble at his waist:

  "I don't see what's the hurry."

  "But I see," exclaimed Keralio, his eyes growing larger, as he alreadysaw the colossal stones glittering in his hand.

  The next instant Handsome had slid his hand under his waistcoat andunbuckled a belt he wore next his shirt. Unfastening a pocket andtaking out the contents, he growled:

  "Here they are! I'm glad to get rid of the d----d things."

  With a cry of exultant joy Keralio took hold of the stones and, goingto the window, greedily feasted his eyes on them. Report had notexaggerated the value and extraordinary beauty of the gems. They wereworth more than a million.

  "What do I get out of it?" whined the gambler.

  Keralio regarded him with contempt. Dryly he said:

  "You get out of it that you're not sitting in the electric chair formurdering your twin brother. You get out of it that you're playing therole of the millionaire, basking in the smiles of your brother'scharming wife, and making a drunken beast of yourself--that's what youget out of it. Isn't it enough?"

  Handsome winced. Keralio had a direct way of saying things to whichthere was no answer possible.

  "All right," he grumbled, "I'm not kicking."

  "No--I wouldn't if I were you."

  Changing the topic, Keralio carelessly lit a cigarette and, between thepuffs, asked:

  "How's your wife?"

  "My wife? You mean his wife?"

  Keralio smiled.

  "Yours--for the time being."

  Handsome scowled.

  "It isn't so easy as I thought," he replied. "I don't know if shesuspects something's wrong or not, but ever since that evening she wascalled to Philadelphia she avoids me like the pest. I can see in herface that she's puzzled. 'It's my husband, and yet not myhusband'--that's what she's thinking all the time. I can guess herthoughts by the expression on her face."

  Keralio shrugged his shoulders.

  "That's your own fault. I gave you the opportunity. You failed toprofit by it. You got drunk the first night you arrived. KennethTraynor was a temperate man. Is it no wonder you excited wonder andtalk? Then you were stupid under questioning and gave equivocalanswers. Your explanation to Parker about the diamonds was more thanunfortunate; it was idiotic. His suspicions were at once aroused. Hemay yet give us trouble before we have time to get rid of the stones.Finding the wife eluded you, you began to stay out late at night. Youcaroused, you drank hard, you gambled--all of which follies yourbrother never committed. In other words, you are a fool."

  The miner pointed to the diamonds which still lay on the table.Sulkily he asked:

  "Is that all you wanted?"

  Keralio put the gems away in his pocket, and pointed to the stacks ofnewly printed counterfeit money that lay in stacks all over the floor.

 
"No, you can help me make up bundles of this stuff."

  Handsome opened wide his eyes at sight of the crisp currency. Greedilyhe exclaimed:

  "Say--that's some money! Ain't they beauties?"

  Keralio made an impatient gesture and, taking off his coat, made agesture to his companion to do likewise.

  "Come--there's no time to talk. We must get rid of it all beforemorning. For all I know the detectives may be watching the house now."