CHAPTER VII
I MAKE FRIENDS WITH INSPECTOR FORREST, C.I.D.
"THE telegraph," said Inspector Forrest, sententiously "is even morespeedy than the Motor Pirate."
"Unless you want to send a message from Regent Street to the City," Iremarked; "in which case one would save time by employing a sloth asmessenger."
The inspector waved aside the objection as frivolous. He occupied aneasy chair opposite me; he was smoking one of my best cigars with everysign of active enjoyment; he sipped his glass of claret--he rarelytouched anything stronger, he informed me--with the air of aconnoisseur.
"We shall beat him with the telegraph," said he. "Clearly he has oneretreat where he can put up his car in safety. Probably he has more thanone. It is not impossible for him to have several. There might even be anumber of Motor Pirates, members of the same gang, but selectingdifferent parts of the country upon which to prey. The telegraph willsoon settle these points for us. When next he makes his appearance weshall be able to keep watch upon him, to note, if not the exact spot,at least in what part of the country he makes his appearance. Even if itshould be found impossible to arrest him in his progress, he is bound toleave some traces behind him which will enable us to get upon histrack."
"He does not seem to have left many behind him at present," I replied.
"No," said the inspector thoughtfully, as he rose and examined the mapspread out upon the table. "Yet there are certainly grounds forbelieving that he has gone to earth somewhere in this neighbourhood. TheHertfordshire police may have been nearer the mark than you thought whenthey arrested you."
"You don't mean to say that you still suspect me?" I cried.
"Not for one instant," he answered promptly. "The meaning I meant toconvey was that, quite unknown to you, the Motor Pirate may very well beyour near neighbour. I suppose there is no one residing near whom youwould consider a likely object of suspicion?"
There flashed across my mind the strange similarity between Mannering'svoice and the Motor Pirate's. But the notion was so absurd I was ashamedto mention it. I assured the inspector I knew of no one.
"At all events, my belief is strong enough to keep me in this districtuntil I hear something further," he declared, as he finished thecontents of his glass and glanced at his watch.
Just then I caught sight of Mannering coming up the path through thegarden towards my front door.
"You had better stay a little longer," I said to the inspector. "Here isanother man coming who may be able to give you some more details of thePirate. He has seen him, and as he has been a longer resident here thanmyself, he may be able to tell you more about the people round than Ican."
"A motorist?" he asked.
"Yes, named Mannering," I replied. "He is the man I told you about, whomI consider to be my rival, you know."
The inspector's eyes twinkled. "I shouldn't let him drive me into anymore adventures like last night's, Mr. Sutgrove," he advised. "If youwere ten years older--my age, you know--you wouldn't need the warning, About of rheumatic fever would be small consolation for the loss of thelady."
I could not reply, for at that moment Mannering entered.
"Glad to see you home again, Sutgrove," he said heartily. "I'm not theonly one either. Miss Maitland asked me to call, for after seeing you insuch bad company this morning---- Hullo! I beg your pardon, I thoughtyou were alone." He stopped suddenly on catching sight of InspectorForrest.
I introduced my guest and Mannering acknowledged the introductioneasily.
"Inspector Forrest will assure you that I have only been unfortunateenough to have been the object of our local constabulary's misplacedzeal. They took me for our mutual friend the Motor Pirate."
"Did they though? What an almighty spoof!" said Mannering. "First time Iever heard of a man being run in for robbing himself on the high-road.Beats Gilbert!"
"Mr. Sutgrove did not see the point of the joke at first," said theinspector. I saw that as he spoke he was taking note of Mannering inmuch the same way as he had taken stock of me at the police office.
Mannering appeared to be quite unconscious of his regard, for hereplied--
"Don't suppose I should have relished such a mistake myself. Anyway," hecontinued, turning to me, "you have the consolation of knowing that youare not the only victim of police enterprise. I see from the papersquite half a dozen motor pirates have been run in. They may have thereal one amongst them; but as his car has so far escaped capture, Idoubt it."
"So do I," I remarked. "And for the additional reason that I have a sortof presentiment that when his capture is brought about, I am going tohave a hand in it."
"What do you say to that, Inspector?" he answered. "Are you going toleave the job to amateurs?"
"I never said 'no' to the offer of assistance in running down acriminal," was the reply.
"I have sworn," I remarked obstinately, "that I will not rest until heis safe under lock and key."
"You had better be prepared," answered Mannering. "I should judge him tobe a bit of a fighter."
"Next time I meet him, I'll take all risks to come to close quarters," Icontinued.
"You haven't a car to do a hundred miles an hour, have you?" he said ina bantering voice.
"My plan is a simple one. I merely propose to go out for night ridesuntil he finds me," I said.
"I had some thoughts of amusing myself in the same way," he answered."But, judging from your experience this morning, the only thing likelyto happen is being arrested on suspicion."
"I'll take my chance of that," I said. "But before discussing thematter, perhaps you could tell Inspector Forrest whether there's anyspot in this neighbourhood likely to serve as a hiding-place for thePirate's car?"
A smile lit up Mannering's face. "There's the old coach-house at thebottom of the paddock next to my cottage. It has a door opening on tothe main road. There would be room, too, in my stables, if I had notfitted them up as workshops for my tyre experiments."
"Stop rotting," I said, "the inspector really means it."
He became grave instantly. "Sorry I can't suggest a likely spot," hesaid, and then for a few minutes he answered the questions the detectiveput to him as to what he had seen of the Pirate.
He could give little information of any value, and when InspectorForrest had elicited all that he could, he thanked Mannering and rose todepart. I accompanied him to the garden gate. He appeared a little lothto leave me. Twice he turned away and returned to make some objectlessremark to me. The third time he blurted out--
"About that suggestion of yours--taking night rides on the chance ofbeing held up----"
"Yes?" I said and waited.
"I wish I had a good fast car at my disposal," he continued earnestly;"but the Yard would never run to it."
I felt a pleasant thrill run through me. It would be good to have hiscompanionship and assistance in working out my self-imposed vow.
"If you can make use of it, I will see that the best car money can buyis placed at your disposal," I replied eagerly.
He took my hand and shook it warmly. "I'll see what my chief says," hereplied. "When can I see you again?"
"I shall be leaving here at eight and returning well--between ten andeleven."
"Expect me about midnight," he said, and without another word orbackward glance he stepped out in the direction of St. Albans.
I returned to Mannering, who did not, however, favour me with a verylengthy visit. Possibly he found my manner rather cool, but the factwas, that try as I would to curb my feelings, I could not but resentsomething of an air of proprietorship which I thought appeared in histone when referring to Miss Maitland.
When he had departed, I got out all the catalogues of motor-cars I couldlay my hands upon, and studied them until it was time to dress fordinner. Several times I thought of breaking the appointment, for I knewI should have to give some explanation of my arrest, and how to do sowithout appearing an egregious ass I did not know. Finally I determined,if the opportunity were
afforded me, to tell the exact truth, at leastto the only person whose opinion I cared about.
I was glad afterwards that I had not sent my excuses, for I was luckyenough to find Miss Maitland alone in the drawing-room when I arrived.It seemed, too, as if she had determined to make amends for the mentaltorture she had unwittingly caused me the previous evening. So ithappened that when she questioned me as to how I managed to get intosuch a predicament, I told her as clearly as I could of the state of myfeelings. It was a blundering, halting statement I made, of that I amcertain, and before I had completed it Colonel Maitland's entry closedmy mouth. But I think she understood, for there was a little flush onher cheek when we went into dinner which had not been there when Igreeted her, and a pretty air of seriousness in the glances she bestowedupon me, which I had never noticed before.
As far as the Colonel was concerned, he did not worry me for anyexplanations. He was bent on enlarging my knowledge of gastronomy, andhaving a new cook, he was much too deeply interested in the _menu_ tospare any thoughts for my erratic movements. I am afraid, though, histeaching was wasted on me; for while I managed to reply to hisconversation, I had not the slightest idea what I was eating. Myprincipal longing was to get the meal over in order that I might finishthe conversation which had opened so auspiciously. The opportunity wasnot afforded me on that occasion, however, but the evening did not passwithout my obtaining a glimmering of hope.
When Miss Maitland rose I asked her, in a voice which was low enough notto reach her father's ear, whether she would answer me one question.
"What is it?" she said, and her face flushed a little as she came to thedoor.
"Is there any one else?" I asked, my hand on the knob.
"What right have you to ask?" she answered.
"No right, I only ask it of your mercy," I replied.
She hesitated, then with flushed cheeks and a soft whispered "No one,"she escaped through the door.
Over the port I took my new-found courage in both hands, and asked theColonel's consent to my suit. I gained it. He even expressed the hopethat I should succeed, but he warned me at the same time that I must notdepend upon him for any assistance. He declared himself to be clay inthe hands of his daughter.
"Evie always had her own way from the cradle," he declared, "and alwayswill have her own way. If I were to say that I thought you would makeher a good husband, I'm not sure whether she would not consider it asufficient excuse to accept Mannering straight away. Personally I shouldmuch prefer you, but there's no counting on a woman's tastes, either inmen or wines. And Evie is a perfect woman, God bless her!"
I drained my glass to the toast and made an excuse to get away to thedrawing-room. But I did not see her alone again that evening. Winter andhis wife had walked over. Mannering did not put in an appearance, andhis absence was something to be thankful for; and when I held her handin mine as I bade her good night, I said--
"You have told me there is no one else. Is there any hope for me?"
She made no pretence of misunderstanding my meaning. She looked at mesaucily, her lips parted lightly, her eyes brimming with laughter.
"Come and ask me when--when you have caught the Motor Pirate," she said,and with that answer I was fain to be content.
Thus it happened that I found myself fully committed to the work whichwas at that time engaging the attention of the whole of the policethroughout the land. I welcomed the task. Luck might be on my side,especially if my new friend the detective inspector's assistance provedto be available.
And as regards assurance on this point, I had not long to wait before mymind was at ease. I found him awaiting me at my garden gate when Ireturned home. I invited him in so eagerly that he smiled.
"There's no need to ask if you are still as keen on this job as you werethis afternoon," he said, as he entered my snuggery.
"Keener than ever," I asseverated.
"Then I hope between us we may be successful in running our man toground."
"Have you heard anything further?" I inquired, anxiously.
"Nothing of the slightest value. A number of people have been throughour hands, but of the Pirate--not a sign."
"Perhaps we shall get a clue in the morning," I hazarded.
"At present," he declared, "there's not a shred of a clue to work upon.Of course at any moment information may come to hand. He may endeavourto dispose of some of his plunder, or he may reappear, but untilthen----"
"What do you suggest?" I asked.
"I shall stay and thoroughly explore this district until I hearsomething further," he answered.
"I am thinking of going into town in the morning, to see if a morepowerful car than the one I possess at present is to be obtained," Itold him later. "I am hoping to get one capable of doing fifty or evensixty miles an hour at a pinch, so as to be prepared for emergencies.Meanwhile, if you like to make this house your headquarters, I shall bedelighted to put you up."
"Do you really mean that, Mr. Sutgrove?" he asked.
"Of course I do," I replied.
He hesitated a moment, then he accepted my invitation. Luck was on myside after all.
The Motor Pirate Page 7
