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diff --git a/26657-h/26657-h.htm b/26657-h/26657-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fb324e7 --- /dev/null +++ b/26657-h/26657-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9321 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Motor Pirate, by G. Sidney Paternoster. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + img {border: 0;} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + ins {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + .copyright {text-align: center; font-size: 70%;} + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify;} + + .bbox {border: solid 2px; margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .unindent {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + .right {text-align: right;} + .poem {margin-left: 30%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: left;} + .poem2 {margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: left;} + .sig {margin-right: 10%; text-align: right;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align:baseline; + position: relative; + bottom: 0.33em; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: none;} + .hang1 {text-indent: -3em; margin-left: 3em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Motor Pirate, by George Sidney Paternoster + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Motor Pirate + +Author: George Sidney Paternoster + +Release Date: September 19, 2008 [EBook #26657] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOTOR PIRATE *** + + + + +Produced by Robert Cicconetti, Emmy and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">[i]</a></span></p> +<h1>The Motor Pirate</h1> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">[ii]</a></span></p> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 379px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="379" height="600" alt="Cover: The Motor Pirate" title="Cover: The Motor Pirate" /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/illo-frontis.jpg" width="500" height="360" alt="HE HAD INSISTED UPON THE TWO WOMEN DANCING FOR HIS AMUSEMENT" title="HE HAD INSISTED UPON THE TWO WOMEN DANCING FOR HIS AMUSEMENT" /> +<span class="caption">HE HAD INSISTED UPON THE TWO WOMEN DANCING FOR HIS AMUSEMENT</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[iii]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='3'><div class="figcenter" style="width: 463px;"> +<img src="images/bordertop.png" width="463" height="37" alt="Border top" title="Border top" /> +</div> +</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><div class="figcenter" style="width: 40px;"> +<img src="images/borderleft.png" width="40" height="721" alt="Border left side" title="Border left side" /> +</div></td><td align='center'><h2>THE</h2> + +<h1>MOTOR PIRATE</h1><div class="figcenter" style="width: 390px;"> +<img src="images/insidebar.png" width="390" height="33" alt="Border inside bar" title="Border inside bar" /> +</div> +<h3>By</h3> + +<h2>G. Sidney Paternoster</h2> + +<br /><br /><br /> +With a Frontispiece by Charles R. Sykes<br /><br /><br /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 166px;"> +<img src="images/emblem.png" width="166" height="200" alt="Emblem" title="Emblem" /> +</div><br /><br /><br /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 390px;"> +<img src="images/insidebar.png" width="390" height="33" alt="Border inside bar" title="Border inside bar" /> +</div> +<div class='center'> +New York <big>* * * *</big><br /> +A. Wessels Company<br /> +<big>* * * *</big> MCMVI<br /></div> + +</td><td align='right'><div class="figcenter" style="width: 40px;"> +<img src="images/borderright.png" width="40" height="721" alt="Border right side" title="Border right side" /> +</div> +</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='3'><div class="figcenter" style="width: 463px;"> +<img src="images/borderbottom.png" width="463" height="37" alt="Border bottom" title="Border bottom" /> +</div></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[iv]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class='copyright'> +<i>Copyright, 1904</i><br /> +<small><span class="smcap">By L. C. Page & Company</span></small><br /> +(INCORPORATED)<br /> +</div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='copyright'> +<i>All rights reserved</i><br /></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[v]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><small>CHAPTER</small></td><td align='right'><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>I.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Mainly About Myself</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>II.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Compton Chamberlain Outrage</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>III.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Wherein I Meet the Pirate</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_21">21</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>IV.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Concerning My Rival</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_36">36</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>V.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Colonel Dreams and I Awaken</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_48">48</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>VI.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">I Am Arrested</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_59">59</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>VII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">I Make Friends with Inspector Forrest, C.I.D</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_71">71</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>VIII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Murder</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_81">81</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>IX.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Explains a Mysterious Disappearance</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_92">92</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>X.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Describing a Ride with the Pirate</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_104">104</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>XI.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In Which the Pirate Holds up the Brighton Mail</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_113">113</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>XII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">How We Exchange Shots with the Pirate</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_123">123</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>XIII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Of the Advantages of Being Wounded</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_135">135</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>XIV.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Cloud Appears on Love's Horizon</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_145">145</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>XV.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Clue at Last</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_155">155</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>XVI.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">I Commit a Burglary</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_165">165</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>XVII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Storm</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_176">176</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[vi]</a></span>XVIII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In Which the Pirate Appears in a Frolicsome Humour</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_187">187</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>XIX.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Hot Scent</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_196">196</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>XX.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Relates How the Pirate Holds up an August Personage</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_207">207</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>XXI.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">We Plan an Ambush</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_218">218</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>XXII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Gone Away</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_228">228</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>XXIII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Saved</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_240">240</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>XXIV.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Revelations</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_249">249</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE MOTOR PIRATE</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>MAINLY ABOUT MYSELF</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'><span class='smcap'>Of</span> course every one has heard of the Motor Pirate. No +one indeed could help doing so unless he or she, as the +case may be, happened to be in some part of the world +where newspapers never penetrate; since for months his +doings were the theme of every gossip in the country, +and his exploits have filled columns of every newspaper +from the moment of his first appearance until the day +when the reign of terror he had inaugurated upon the +roads ended as suddenly and as sensationally as it had +begun. Who the owner of the pirate car was? Whence +he came? Whither he went? These are questions +which have exercised minds innumerable; but though +there have been nearly as many theories propounded as +there were brains at work propounding them, so far no +informed account of the man or his methods has been +made public.</div> + +<p>Nearly twelve months have now elapsed since he was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> +last heard of, and already a number of myths have grown +up about his mysterious personality. For instance, it +is not true, as I saw asserted in a sensational evening +paper the other day, that the Motor Pirate was in the +habit of abducting every young and attractive woman +who happened to be travelling in any of the cars he held +up. On only one occasion did he abduct a lady, and +in that case there were special circumstances with which +the public have never been made acquainted. His deeds +were quite black enough without further blackening with +printer's ink, and it would be a pity if the real Motor +Pirate were lost sight of in mythical haze such as has +gathered about the name of his great prototype, Dick +Turpin.</p> + +<p>It has occurred to me, therefore, to tell the story of his +doings—it would be impossible for any mortal man to +give an absolutely detailed account of his life and +actions—but I know more than the majority of people about +the personality of the man. Of one thing my readers +may be assured: I personally can vouch for the accuracy +of every fact which I chronicle. You see I am not a +professional historian.</p> + +<p>How it happened that I am in a position to give +hitherto unknown particulars about the Motor Pirate +will appear in the course of my narrative. Sufficient for +the moment let it be for me to say that it was purely by +chance that the opportunity was thrown in my way; +though, as it happened, it was not entirely without my own +volition that I became involved in the network of events<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> +which finally resulted in the tragedy which closed his +career. By that tragedy the world lost a brilliant thinker +and inventor, though unfortunately these great talents +were accompanied by an abnormal condition of mind, +which led the owner to utilise his invention in criminal +pursuits.</p> + +<p>It may probably seem strange that, being in possession +of facts as to the identity of this mysterious person, I did +not lay them before the police, who, at any time during +the three months of his criminal career, would have given +their ears to lay him by the heels. You may even think +it is their duty to take proceedings against me as an +accomplice. Well, I am quite prepared to answer any +question which the police, or any one else for that matter, +desires to put to me. James Sutgrove, of Sutgrove Hall, +Norfolk, is not likely to change his address. When my +poor old governor died he left me sufficient excuse, in the +shape of real estate, for remaining in the country of my +birth; though, if the necessity had arisen, I should not +have hesitated about going abroad. At twenty-five, my +age within a few weeks, a man has usually sufficient +energy to enable him to carve out a career for himself +in a new country, and I do not think I am very different +to my fellows in that respect. But the fact is, I have +nothing to fear from the police. My criminality was +less than theirs. An ordinary citizen may be forgiven +if he is blind to the meaning of things which occur under +his nose, but the police are expected to be possessed of +somewhat sharper vision. The utmost that can be urged<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +against me is, that if my eyes had been keener than those +of Scotland Yard, reinforced by the trained vision of +some hundreds of intelligent chief constables throughout +the country, I might have been able to lay my hands +upon the Motor Pirate before—but I must not anticipate +my story.</p> + +<p>One word of apology, however, before I begin. In +order to make my narrative fully intelligible I shall have +to refer to matters which may seem of a purely personal +nature. I will make these as brief as possible, but it +was entirely through such that I was brought into closer +touch with the Motor Pirate than, perhaps with one +exception, any other person in the world. If therefore +I seem to be devoting too much attention to what appears +to be merely personal interest, I trust I may be excused. +To begin, then, at the beginning.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>On the evening of March 31, 19—, I had arranged +to dine in town with a couple of friends, both of them +neighbours of mine. I am not going to mention the +name of the restaurant. It was not one of the fashionable +ones, or probably neither the cuisine nor the wines +would have been so good as they were, though both +would unquestionably have been more expensive. I +prefer, therefore, to keep the name to myself. It was +in the neighbourhood of Soho, however, and the reason +I had invited my friends was in order to disabuse their +minds of the idea that everything in that neighbourhood +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span>was of necessity cheap and nasty. I had determined +that their palates should be charmed by the dinner they +were to eat, so, in addition to sending a note to the +proprietor, I thought it as well to arrive at the restaurant +a quarter of an hour before the appointed time, in order +to make assurance doubly sure that everything was as +I desired it. Had my guests been casual acquaintances, +I must confess that I should never have taken this +trouble. But they were not. One of them was the +renowned Colonel Maitland. I never heard anything +about his war service, but I do know that as a +gastronomist his reputation is European. The cool way +he will condemn an <i>entrée</i>, presented to him by an +obsequious waiter, merely after casting a single glance +upon it, speaks volumes for his critical insight; and as +for wines—well, he can tell the vineyard and the vintage +of a claret by the scent alone. I verily believe that +were he to be served with a corked wine, the result +would be instant dissolution between his gastronomic +soul and body. Naturally I had to make some preparations, +in order that such delicate susceptibilities should +not be offended. In addition, I had a special reason for +seeking to please him. Colonel Maitland had a daughter.</p> + +<p>I have only to mention the name of my other guest +to reveal his identity to every one with any knowledge +of the motoring world. It was Fred Winter, <i>the</i> Fred +Winter, leading light of the Automobile Club, holder +of more road records than I can count, in fact the most +enthusiastic motorist in the country. It was in consequence +of this, indeed, that he came to be my guest.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +There were few questions in regard to motoring upon +which Winter was not competent to give an opinion, +and being myself a victim to the prevailing motor-mania, +I was deeply indebted to him for many valuable tips. +By this time I had passed my novitiate, and was still +driving a neat little 9½-h.p. Clément in order to fit +myself for a more powerful and speedy car.</p> + +<p>I arrived then at the restaurant about a quarter to +eight, and having had a brief but satisfactory interview +with the proprietor, I made my way to the table I had +reserved in my favourite corner of the dining-room. +Finding I had ten minutes to spare, to kill time I ordered +a vermouth and the evening papers. The <i>Globe</i> was the +first upon the pile the waiter brought to me, and following +the example of most sane men, I skipped the parliamentary +intelligence and turned to the "By the Way" +column. I remember distinctly there was only one +amusing paragraph therein, and I was about to throw +the paper aside, with the customary lament as to the +decadence of British humour, when my attention was +arrested by a paragraph at the bottom of the next column. +The heading was "Strange Highway Robbery." This +was the paragraph:—</p> + +<p>"Our Plymouth correspondent reports a novel highway +robbery on the road between Tavistock and Plymouth. +Two gentlemen who had been for a run on +their motor to Tavistock, left the latter town about eight +o'clock last night. Their journey was uneventful until +they reached Roborough, where they were suddenly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +overtaken by a motor-car occupied by a man, who presented +a pistol at their heads, and ordered them to stop. +Thinking that the stranger merely intended to scare +them, and that the summons was only an ill-advised +piece of pleasantry, they paid no attention to the demand; +whereupon the driver of the strange car, with a well-directed +shot, so damaged the machinery of their vehicle +that they were compelled to obey. Their attacker then +demanded all the money and articles of value they had +in their possession under threat of completely wrecking +their car, and after securing his booty the highwayman +decamped. In consequence of the damage to their motor, +it was not until late at night that they reached Plymouth, +and were enabled to give particulars of the occurrence +to the police. From their description of the stranger's +vehicle, identification should not be difficult. It is a +long, low, boat-shaped car of remarkable speed, and from +the little noise it creates is probably driven by an electric +motor. As to the personal appearance of the driver, the +gentlemen who were robbed could form no opinion, for +he wore the usual leather coat affected by tourists, and +his head was completely enveloped in a hood."</p> + +<p>On reading this paragraph, my first impulse was to +lay aside the paper and indulge in a hearty laugh. My +impression was that some wag had been hoaxing either +the Plymouth correspondent or the London editor of the +<i>Globe</i>. However, my curiosity was sufficiently aroused +to lead me to take up another paper, to see if the <i>Globe</i> +was the only paper which reported the occurrence.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span></p> + +<p>The next paper on my pile was the <i>Star</i>, and the +moment I unfolded the pink sheet, I perceived that this +liveliest of evening journals was not going to be left +behind by the <i>Globe</i> in providing the public with particulars +of the latest sensation. Under the heading of +"A Motor Pirate," with descriptive headlines extending +across a couple of columns, and as attractively alliterative +as the cunning pen of a smart sub-editor could make +them, was the account of a similar incident. At first +I thought it must be the same occurrence, but a brief +perusal showed me that this impression was a wrong one. +But I will give the <i>Star</i> account in full, and I do so the +more readily, not only because it contains the first detailed +account of the man whose extraordinary audacity was +shortly to raise the interest of the public to fever pitch, +but also because it tells the story with a force and colour +of which my unpractised pen is incapable. Apologising +therefore to the editor for the liberty I have taken, I +reprint the <i>Star</i> account verbatim. I think, however, +the story deserves a new chapter.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>THE COMPTON CHAMBERLAIN OUTRAGE</h3> + + +<div class='center'> +"A MOTOR PIRATE<br /> +"TAKES TOLL OF TRAVELLERS IN THE WEST.<br /> +<br /> +"<span class="smcap">A Veiled Stranger on a Mysterious Motor flies</span><br /> +"<span class="smcap">the Black Flag near Salisbury.</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'>"<span class="smcap">On</span> receipt of the following extraordinary story from +the Central News Agency this morning, the <i>Star</i> at once +sent a representative to make inquiries on the spot. His +inquiries reveal the existence of a new terror to all who +travel by road. Following are the facts communicated +to us by the agency:—</div> + +<p>"'A daring highway robbery was committed near +Salisbury late last night. The victims were two gentlemen +who had been touring in the west country by motor. +They had intended to reach Salisbury early yesterday +evening, but were delayed by a puncture. When about +eight miles from Salisbury they were attacked by the +occupant of another car, who wrecked their vehicle, and, +after robbing them of all their valuables, decamped, leaving +them badly injured by the wayside. There they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +were discovered some time afterwards and removed to +the nearest inn at Compton Chamberlain, where they +remain under medical attendance.—<i>Central News.</i>'</p> + +<p>"The <i>Star</i> special correspondent wires:—</p> + +<div class='right'> + +"Compton Chamberlain, 12.30.<br /> +</div> + +<p>"There is no doubt but that the Motor Pirate has a +real existence. On arriving at Salisbury I at once proceeded +to make inquiries as to what was known of the +outrage, but Salisbury generally was sceptical on the +subject. I found, however, that the affair had been +reported at the county police office; and I at once drove +on here, and am now in a position to assert that this quiet +Wiltshire village has been the scene of the most astounding +robbery of modern times. It is safe to prophecy that in +a few more months Dick Turpin will be forgotten. He +has a rival in the field whose exploits will soon relegate +him into comparative obscurity.</p> + +<p>"The first visible evidence of the outrage was afforded +me about a quarter of a mile from Compton. The road +dips here slightly, and at the end of the incline a motor-car +was drawn to the side of the road, or rather the +remains of what had once been a smart Daimler of some +7 or 8 h.p. A stonebreaker was at work on an adjacent +pile of flints, and when I alighted to examine the wreck, +he nailed me with, 'Hoy, mister! Ye'd better leave +thick thur car alone. The p'lice be comin' to tek un up +zhortly.'</p> + +<p>"I gathered from him that he had been told to keep<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +an eye upon the car, but beyond having heard that the +owners had met with an accident, he knew nothing. +There was no doubt about the accident. The car was +so broken up that it looked as if it had been in collision +with an armoured train.</p> + +<div class='right'> +"Compton Chamberlain, 2.45 p.m.<br /> +</div> + +<p>"I have just succeeded in interviewing the owner of +the motor-car, a Mr. James Bradshaw, of 379, Maida +Vale. His companion was Mr. Gainsborough Roberts, +of 200, Clapham Common. Mr. Roberts is suffering +from severe concussion, and has not regained consciousness; +but fortunately Mr. Bradshaw's injuries, though +painful, are not dangerous, and he has been good enough +to give me a full account of his unique adventure. It +seems the two gentlemen had been touring in the west +country for ten days, and were on their way home. +They stopped the previous night at Exeter, leaving about +ten in the morning with the intention of reaching Salisbury +about five or six yesterday evening. They lunched +at Ilminster, and afterwards had traversed another twenty-five +miles of their journey when one of their tyres +unfortunately punctured. This was shortly after they +had passed through Wincanton. When the tyre was +mended, something went wrong with the electric ignition, +and altogether the repairs proved such a tedious job that +they could not make a fresh start until close upon lighting-up +time.</p> + +<p>"The delay had not troubled them, for the weather<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +was beautifully fine. As, however, they were very +hungry, they determined to stop at Shaftesbury for dinner +before finishing the day's run they had mapped out. +There is a particularly long hill into Shaftesbury, and +they did not reach that town until 8.30. At the hotel +they met another party of motorists, and, agreeing to dine +together, it was not until after ten that they found themselves +once more on their way, with twenty miles of a +hilly road to cover. The lateness of the hour did not +trouble them much. They had wired to Salisbury for +rooms; the night was fine and clear; a bright moon was +shining; the roads were clear of traffic, and their motor +was guaranteed to do its thirty-five miles an hour. They +thought that it would be a good opportunity to find out +what Mr. Bradshaw's car was really capable of doing on +a hilly track.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Bradshaw declares that he had never enjoyed a +run more than he did on this occasion. A brisk wind +was blowing behind them, they found there was more +downhill than up, the road was absolutely clear, and they +were able to take the declines at a pace which took the +sting out of the ascents."</p> + +<p>"So for twenty minutes they ran at full speed, and +after slowing to pass through a village, they had just put +on full speed again when Mr. Bradshaw's attention was +arrested by a curious humming sound which appeared to +arise from something behind. He was, of course, unable +to glance back, as all his faculties were engaged in driving +the car; but Mr. Roberts, whose attention was attracted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +at the same moment, informed him that another motor-car +was coming up behind. Then, to quote Mr. Bradshaw's +own words, 'Thinking the other chap was on for +a race, I did everything I knew to get every ounce out of +my motor. But,' he continued, 'though I'll swear we +were running nearer forty than thirty-five, the other +fellow swooped up and passed us as if we were standing +still.'</p> + +<p>"For the moment he thought that the stranger was +one of those American speed motors specially built for +racing on the track, but only for a moment. The strange +car slackening speed, allowed them to come alongside. +What followed may be best described in Mr. Bradshaw's +own words.</p> + +<p>"'There was only one occupant of the strange car, +and, seeing him slacken speed, I naturally thought he +wished to speak to us. So, as he came level, I shouted +to him, my exact words being, if I remember aright, +"Hallo, sir! You've got a flyer there." I fancied I +heard a chuckle from beneath his mask (he wore a hood +covering the head fitted with a mica plate in front) and +he replied, "Yes; I fancy my car is fast enough to +overtake anything that is to be found on the road." +There was something in his tone that struck me as +peculiar, but I merely attributed it to the motorist's pride +in his car. As however he said nothing further, but +continued to keep alongside, in a manner that looked +as if he were inclined to gloat over the owner of a less +speedy machine, I asked with some little irritation, "Is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +there anything I can do for you, because if not——" +He did not allow me to finish my query. "Yes, sir," +he replied promptly, "there is something I am going to +ask you to do for me," and he gave another of his infernal +chuckles.</p> + +<p>"'"Well, what is it?" I demanded, with a little +warmth.</p> + +<p>"'"I must request you to hand over all your money +and valuables to me," he replied.</p> + +<p>"'I could not believe my ears. I was so astonished +that I gave the wheel a turn that nearly landed us in +the ditch. Will you believe it? Even in that swerve +the strange car followed mine, and when I had got her +straight in the road, I heard him chuckle again. His +manner angered me beyond bearing.</p> + +<p>"'"What the deuce do you mean?" I shouted.</p> + +<p>"'"There's no need for you to lose your temper," +he answered coolly. "I must, however, trouble you to +stop that car at once."</p> + +<p>"'As he spoke he raised his hand, and I saw the barrel +of a revolver glisten in the moonlight. There seemed +to be only one way out of the predicament, for I thought +I had to deal with a madman, and I took it. I pretended +to be so alarmed that I fell over the steering wheel, and +made my car swerve again. But this time we swerved +towards, instead of away from, the stranger. I doubt +whether there was light enough for him to have read +my intention in my face, but it was obvious that he +anticipated my move, for his car shot forward with such<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +wonderful speed that the fate I intended to force upon +him befell myself. I saw his car disappearing ahead, +and the next moment I was just conscious of a shock +that sent me flying into oblivion.</p> + +<p>"'Exactly how long I remained unconscious I do not +know, but when I came to my senses I found myself +lying on the grass at the roadside, having fortunately +been thrown on the soft turf. Roberts was lying unconscious +on the road; the car was smashed to bits; our +pockets had been turned inside out, and our money, +watches, and every article of value we had about us, +taken. Needless to say, the stranger had disappeared.'</p> + +<p>"Mr. Bradshaw was not in a state to be of much +assistance to his more badly injured friend, and he was +at a complete loss as to what course to pursue, when a +trap coming from Salisbury fortunately made its appearance +on the scene. Assistance was procured, and the +two injured gentlemen were conveyed to Compton, and +medical attention quickly provided. Though much +shaken, and badly bruised, Mr. Bradshaw has sustained +comparatively little injury. Mr. Roberts, however, is +dangerously ill, and his relatives have been telegraphed for.</p> + +<p>"As regards the appearance of his assailant, Mr. +Bradshaw can give few particulars, save that he was clad +in a large leather motoring coat, and his face completely +hidden by a mask. The car can, on the contrary, be +easily identified. It is boat-shaped, running to a sharp, +cutting edge both in front and behind. The body is +not raised more than eighteen inches from the ground.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +The wheels are either within the body, or so sheathed +that they are completely hidden. It has apparently +seating accommodation for two persons, the seat being +placed immediately in the centre of the car. Mr. Bradshaw +is quite convinced that petrol is not the motive +force used for its propulsion, and as he cannot imagine +that an electric motor of any kind was employed; the +rapidity of motion, the perfection of the steering, the +absence of noise and vibration, are so remarkable that +he is utterly at a loss as to what build of car was driven +by the stranger."</p> + +<p>I had just finished reading this extraordinary story +when I felt a tap on the shoulder, and, looking up, saw +Colonel Maitland standing before me.</p> + +<p>"'Pon my word, Sutgrove," he remarked, "I have +never before seen any one so completely enthralled in +a newspaper in my life. I've been standing watching +you for nearly a minute."</p> + +<p>I sprang to my feet, and held out my hand.</p> + +<p>"What's the latest from Mr. Justice Jeune's division? +When you come to my years of discretion you will be +more interested in the <i>menu</i>."</p> + +<p>I laughed. "It was not the inanities of the divorce +court, Colonel," I remarked; "but the most astonishing——"</p> + +<p>He checked me with uplifted hand. "Being a +rational being," he said, "I prefer my stories with my +cigar. One should come to dinner with a calm mind."</p> + +<p>At this moment Winter entered the room, and, giving<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +a signal to the waiter, the <i>hors d'œuvre</i> were placed before +us as he seated himself at the table.</p> + +<p>When he had greeted me I had observed that Colonel +Maitland's face had worn a slightly resigned expression +that reminded me of a picture I had seen somewhere +of Christian martyrs being led to the stake. He took +a mouthful of caviar and the cloud lifted. After the +soup the dominant note of self-sacrifice had vanished +entirely. With the fish his features attained repose. +When we reached the <i>entrée</i> his face had the radiance +of a translated saint's. Then, with my mind at rest as +to the effect of my little dinner upon my chief guest, I +found time to devote a little attention to Winter. Yet, +bearing in mind the Colonel's objection to anything but +light generalities during the serious business of dinner, +I forbore to introduce the topic I was burning to discuss +with him. Not until the coffee was upon the table, and +Colonel Maitland had expressed his contentment with +the dinner, did I venture to refer to it. Then, while +our senior was dallying with an early strawberry, Winter +gave me a lead.</p> + +<p>"By the way, Sutgrove," he said, "what's this I saw +on the evening paper bills about a motor pirate?"</p> + +<p>I told him. His interest was awakened to such an +extent that he forgot to taste the glass of port which +stood before him, and which I had ordered out of compliment +to the Colonel's ideas of what was desirable.</p> + +<p>When my story was concluded Winter was silent. +Colonel Maitland, however, hazarded the remark that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +the whole narrative was "a concoction of some of those +newspaper fellows. I have been at the War Office," he +said, "so I ought to know of what they are capable."</p> + +<p>"I can scarcely imagine that any newspaper would +dare hoax its readers to such an extent," remarked +Winter.</p> + +<p>"They are capable of anything—anything," replied +the Colonel, vigorously. "I have known them on more +than one occasion to attack even my department."</p> + +<p>"That of course is scandalous," I replied warmly; +"but here the conditions are different. They are referring +to people who are able to reply if the facts are not as +stated. In your case your mouth, of course, was closed."</p> + +<p>"Umph!" growled the Colonel.</p> + +<p>"At the same time," said Winter, "it may very well +have happened that consciously or unconsciously the +papers have been made the victims of a practical joke. +To-morrow is the first of April, remember. Or even +apart from the joke theory, the event happened after +dinner, and Mr. Bradshaw may have found it necessary +to be prepared with an explanation of his accident."</p> + +<p>"But the robbery?" I objected.</p> + +<p>"A passing tramp may have thought the opportunity +too good to be neglected."</p> + +<p>"At all events," I persisted, "it is curious that two +similar accidents should have occurred the same night in +the same part of the country."</p> + +<p>"Certainly the coincidence is remarkable," answered +Winter. "But do not forget that the two occurrences<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +took place at least a hundred and thirty miles apart within +less than three hours of one another. I will swear that +no motor yet built would cover those roads inside three +hours. I know them. No, Sutgrove. The moral +seems to me to be that it is unwise for a motorman to +look upon the wine when it is red, if he wants to get +anywhere afterwards."</p> + +<p>The Colonel stretched his hand across the table and +removed the glass which stood on the table before +Winter.</p> + +<p>"My young friend," he observed, "you have, I +believe, undertaken to bring me safely home to-night?"</p> + +<p>"You need not fear," replied Winter, laughing, "it's +only the liquors supplied at country inns which drive +motor-cars into ditches."</p> + +<p>The Colonel replaced the glass with a smile and +refilled his own from the cradled bottle at his elbow.</p> + +<p>"I am merely a passenger, but you drive," he remarked. +"I think, Sutgrove, under the circumstances, +I will be responsible for the remainder of this bottle. It +is endowed with certain qualities which particularly +recommend themselves to me. It would be a sad thing +if an accident were to befall us on our journey. In times +of stress such as these one never knows when the War +Office may not require the services of a capable man."</p> + +<p>Though the Colonel spoke in jest, in the event his +words indicated with a fair amount of accuracy the +destination of the port, for while we continued to discuss +every point in the story, he sipped and sipped and nodded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +his head beatifically. I did not replenish my glass, but +when we rose the bottle was empty.</p> + +<p>"Well, Colonel, what do you say to a music hall?" +I asked.</p> + +<p>"My boy," he replied, as he patted me on the back, +"I sleep far more comfortably in my bed."</p> + +<p>I realized where the contents of the bottle had gone +by the sententiousness of my friend's phrasing, the slight +turgidity, so to speak, of his articulation.</p> + +<p>"My dear boy," he continued, "I have never known +you until this moment. You are greater than Columbus. +Any one might discover a new continent, but in these +days it needs exceptional qualities of enterprise and +endurance to discover a fresh restaurant. I am content. +Let us go home."</p> + +<p>We donned our overcoats and came into the open +air. Winter's motor was waiting at the door in charge +of a man from the <i>garage</i> where he had left it. We +stepped in.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>WHEREIN I MEET THE PIRATE</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'><span class='smcap'>We</span> were soon out of the narrow Soho street, and I +observed that the time was just half-past ten as Winter +steered us carefully through Piccadilly Circus. Colonel +Maitland occupied a seat behind while I sat beside +Winter.</div> + +<p>The car my friend drove was a magnificent 22-horse +Daimler, built to his own specification and capable of +doing considerably more than any car I had hitherto +been privileged to ride upon. Of course while passing +through the streets there was little chance of exhibiting its +capabilities. Yet even there, the way the car glided in +and out of the traffic, delicately responsive to the slightest +touch of the steering wheel, was sufficient evidence of +its quality to set the most nervous passenger at ease. As +it was as yet too early for the after theatre traffic to fill +the streets and compel us to stop every few minutes, we +followed the main road up Oxford Street as far as the +Marble Arch. There we turned to the right. Once +clear of the narrow part of the Edgeware Road, Winter +put on his second speed and a very few minutes seemed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +to have passed before we were bumping over a rough bit +of roadway by Cricklewood.</p> + +<p>"There's not much of this," said Winter, cheerily +over his shoulder to the Colonel.</p> + +<p>Our gastronomic friend merely grunted for reply, and +I should have thought him to be asleep had not the red +glow of his cigar assured me that he was still awake.</p> + +<p>Winter jammed on his third speed and the hedges +began to fly past us. We were in the country now and +were able to appreciate the fineness of the night. Indeed +it was a perfect night. The air was sharp but without +sting. The moon shone with a clear brilliance which +betokened rain in the near future. The road was clean +and dry, and there was no dust in the air except the thin +cloud which floated behind us. We passed the Welsh +Harp without a check, and not until we reached Edgeware +did Winter revert to his second speed. We ran through +the little town with only momentary slackening of pace, +and so we sped onwards until we opened the stretch of +road leading to Brockley Hill. Here Winter, seeing the +road clear ahead, jammed on his highest speed and the +wheels droned like a hive of bees as we darted towards +the incline. We were half way up the hill before +Winter found it necessary to transform his speed into +power, and we finished the ascent with ease. Then +once more the order was third speed, and we whirled +away through Elstree and passed through Radlett a bare +half hour from the time we started.</p> + +<p>Just at this time I looked back to see how Colonel<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +Maitland fared. His cigar no longer glowed, though it +was still tightly held between his teeth. His head was +bent forward, and the regular and gentle murmur which +came from his nose proclaimed that he slept. I had just +mentioned the fact to Winter, and had turned again to +assure myself that he was comfortably wrapped in his +rug, when I thought I saw on the road behind me +another car.</p> + +<p>"Hullo!" I said to Winter. "There's another chap +coming on behind us. Without lights, too!"</p> + +<p>A slight bend in the road shut out the view, however, +and made me doubt whether or no my eyes had been +deceiving me.</p> + +<p>"Pooh!" replied Winter. "We've passed nothing +on the road, and at the pace we've been travelling there's +not another car owned in this district we should not +have left miles behind us, even if it had started at the +same time as ourselves. You must have mistaken some +of the shadows from the trees. How much of that port +did you drink?"</p> + +<p>I laughed, but as we had now reached a straight +stretch of road I looked back again.</p> + +<p>"I'm right," I said. "There is another car, and by +jove! It's coming up hand over fist."</p> + +<p>"What?" shouted Winter. "What?"</p> + +<p>He clearly did not appreciate the idea of being overtaken +by any one, for he whipped on his highest speed +and jammed down the accelerator. The change was +enormous. Our powerful car, relieved from all restraint,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +simply leaped through the air. Winter gave a pleased +laugh as he steadied her with the wheel.</p> + +<p>"If the stranger can catch us now I shall believe it's +the Motor Pirate himself," he remarked in a pleased +tone, that showed how proud he was of his own car.</p> + +<p>Our progress was so exhilarating that I wanted to +shout defiance to the stranger; yet I was so fascinated +with the pace we were travelling, that I could not take +my eyes from the road which uncoiled before us.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a humming sound forced itself upon my +ear. For a moment I thought it was due to the whirr +of our own wheels. Then it struck me that the note +was a higher one. I half turned. The other car was +within a yard or two of us. In another second it was +level and, running without any visible vibration, indeed, +without any noise save the snore of the wheels as they +raced round, the stranger slackened speed and ran by +our side.</p> + +<p>Winter cast a hasty glance at the strange car, and +I saw him bite his lip with annoyance at finding his +Daimler so outpaced.</p> + +<p>One glance at the stranger was enough to tell me +with whom we had to deal. In the brilliant moonlight, +the boat-shaped car with its sharp prow, the almost +invisible wheels, the masked occupant, assured me that +the evening papers <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'has'">had</ins> not been the victims of a +hoax.</p> + +<p>"It's the Motor Pirate himself," I said to Winter, +and my voice was hoarse with excitement.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Motor Pirate be d——d!" replied Winter. What +more he would have said I do not know, for at this +moment the stranger turning his mask towards us called +out in the most urbane manner—</p> + +<p>"I must trouble you gentlemen to stop that car."</p> + +<p>Winter at the best of times is of rather a peppery +disposition, and whenever any one requires him to pull +up, his temper invariably gets the better of his manners. +His reply was an unnecessarily verbose, and needlessly +forcible negative.</p> + +<p>I heard the stranger chuckle. "I really must trouble +you to obey my wishes," he replied, with ironic courtesy. +"Otherwise I shall be compelled to do some damage to +that car of yours, a proceeding I always try to avoid if +possible."</p> + +<p>"Do what you please," was in effect Winter's luridly +adjectived answer.</p> + +<p>"If you do not pull up within thirty seconds your +fate will be upon your own heads," said the stranger, +shortly, as he laid his hand upon a lever.</p> + +<p>His car leapt away from ours, and though we were +running nearly sixty miles an hour, we might have been +standing still, he dropped us so rapidly. In fifteen +seconds he had vanished in a cloud of dust ahead.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to stop," said Winter, abruptly. He +suited the action to the word, and none too soon.</p> + +<p>Again we heard the curious drone of the strange car +as it swooped down upon us, coming to a sudden halt a +yard distant, with really beautiful precision.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What do you want?" shouted Winter, in his +gruffest tones.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad to find you have had the wisdom to do as +I desired you," said the Motor Pirate; for it was indeed +he with whom we were now face to face. "It would +have deeply grieved me to wreck so good a car as that +you have there. A Daimler, I believe?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, d——n your compliments! What is it you +want?" growled Winter.</p> + +<p>"Merely any articles of jewellery and any money you +may happen to have about you," remarked the stranger, +pleasantly.</p> + +<p>I saw the moonlight glitter on the barrel of a revolver +as he spoke, and he now lifted the weapon and +pointed it towards us.</p> + +<p>"I do not wish to proceed to extremities, and, as I +gather from your speech that I am dealing with gentlemen"—really +Winter's language had fully warranted +the sarcasm—"if you will give me your word of honour +that you will hand over to me all articles of value in +your possession, I will leave your car untouched. If, on +the contrary, you decline to oblige me, I shall be under +the disagreeable necessity of ruining that very handsome +car you are driving. I do not like to hurry you, but I +am afraid I must ask you to come to a speedy decision +on the matter, for these roads in the vicinity of London +are not quite so secluded as one of my profession could +wish."</p> + +<p>He delivered this speech with an air of mock<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +politeness, which made Winter writhe. He did not, +however, reply. I think he was too angry.</p> + +<p>"Come, gentlemen! Make up your minds. Your +money or your—car!"</p> + +<p>He made a slight pause before he said the word +"car," and his fingers played with the revolver in a +manner that sent a cold shiver down my spine.</p> + +<p>"It's his turn now," I whispered to Winter. "It may +be ours presently."</p> + +<p>"Come, come, gentlemen!" said the stranger again; +"do you give me your words?"</p> + +<p>"D——n you! I suppose we must," jerked out +Winter, almost inarticulate with rage.</p> + +<p>"Each of you will dismount in turn and lay the +contents of your pockets before me here." He indicated +a level shelf, which formed apparently part of the casing +of one of the wheels. "I must insist upon seeing the +linings of your pockets; and I need hardly warn you that +it will be extremely undesirable for you to make any +movement liable to misconstruction. This toy"—he +lifted his pistol—"has a very delicate touch. Now, +gentlemen. One at a time, please, and do not wait to +discuss the question of precedence. I am quite willing +to overlook any little informality."</p> + +<p>I listened closely to his speech, but the voice was so +muffled by the mask he wore, that I felt I should be +unable to recognize it again. Only one point I was +assured upon—that the Pirate was an educated man.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile what were we to do? All sorts of wild<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +plans were darting through my brain, and I knew that +Winter's mind must be equally active. But out of the +medley no coherent scheme took shape. Winter dismounted, +and, throwing off his overcoat, advanced into +the brilliant circle of light cast by our lamps, and proceeded +to empty his pockets. He laid his note-case, his +watch and chain, and sovereign-purse upon the car in +front of the highwayman, and, in obedience to a further +command, added the diamond which shone upon his +little finger, and another which adorned his shirt-front, +to the pile. Then he resumed his place in the car, and +I passed through a similar humiliating ordeal. All the +while the stranger kept up a flow of apologies for the +inconvenience which his necessities compelled him to +occasion us. I kept silence, though I must confess the +effort was a considerable strain upon my temper. Still, +a pistol with a business man at the butt end of it, is of +considerable assistance in preventing the exhibition of +annoyance.</p> + +<p>"If the other gentleman will make haste, I shall be +the sooner able to relieve you of my unwelcome society," +the Pirate remarked, as I returned to our car after +handing over all the valuables in my possession.</p> + +<p>In the excitement, I had, until this moment, entirely +forgotten the presence of Colonel Maitland; and now, +looking closely at him, I discovered that he was still in +happy ignorance of the <i>contretemps</i> which had befallen +us. Swathed in rugs, he was propped up on the seat +behind us slumbering peacefully. A smile was upon his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +rosy face, and ever and again he smacked his lips. He +must have been dreaming of a finer vintage than ever +terrestrial vineyard produced.</p> + +<p>"What the deuce can we do?" I asked Winter.</p> + +<p>"Hullo, Colonel!" shouted my friend.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" inquired the Pirate. "Does +your friend refuse to acknowledge the compact?"</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid he can hardly be said to be a party to +it," I replied. "He has dined, and now he sleeps."</p> + +<p>"Well, you will awaken him less roughly than I +shall," was the retort.</p> + +<p>"Any one who knows Colonel Maitland is aware +that he is exceedingly annoyed if awakened from his +after-dinner nap," I urged.</p> + +<p>"Colonel Maitland? Colonel Maitland the +gourmet?"</p> + +<p>"You know him?" said Winter.</p> + +<p>The Pirate laughed pleasantly. "I have met him +on one occasion, and, as some slight return for a very +excellent dinner which he ordered, and for which—doubtless +by an oversight—he left me to pay, I will not trouble +you to awaken him on this occasion. I wish you good +evening, gentlemen."</p> + +<p>As he finished speaking he backed his car for a few +yards. His hand moved to a lever. The car turned. +He waved the hand which was disengaged, and in a +moment he was gone, attaining at once a speed, which, +until then I had thought it impossible for a motor-car +ever to achieve.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> + +<p>Both Winter and I sat stock still, gazing after the +fast disappearing car. We could not watch it for long; +as in fifteen seconds it was out of sight, and even the +dust-cloud it had raised in its progress had cleared.</p> + +<p>Then Winter turned to me and muttered a few +expletives gently in my ear. I followed his example +and we both felt better, at least I think so; for, without +rhyme or reason, Winter burst into a fit of laughter, +and I followed his example, though I cannot explain +now, any more than I could have done then, why I +laughed.</p> + +<p>When we had done laughing, Winter turned to me +and said—</p> + +<p>"Sutgrove, old fellow, would you mind punching +me? I'm not quite sure whether it is the Colonel who +is asleep or myself. I feel as if I have just awakened +from dreaming of the story those newspapers printed."</p> + +<p>"It's not much of a dream," I remarked. "I little +thought that we were to have the good fortune of so +early an introduction to the Motor Pirate, however. The +Colonel will be quite cross to think that his bottle of +port prevented the renewal of an old acquaintance."</p> + +<p>Then Winter laughed again. I think he saw the +amusing side of our adventure more clearly than I did, +for I said sharply—</p> + +<p>"Hadn't we better be getting on to St. Albans, and +giving information to the police?"</p> + +<p>"H—m—m!" he answered meditatively. "I think +perhaps we had better not."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Not?" I replied in surprise.</p> + +<p>"In the first place it is after dinner," he said.</p> + +<p>"What of that? We dined wisely."</p> + +<p>"One of us knows nothing about it." Winter jerked +his thumb in the direction of the slumbering warrior. +"We could hardly explain the reason why the Colonel +slept so soundly through the adventure. The explanation +could hardly please him, would it?"</p> + +<p>I muttered an assent.</p> + +<p>"Besides," continued Winter, "for three of us to +admit that we tamely allowed ourselves to be held up +by one man, and forced to hand over to him all our +valuables, well it—er—it hardly seems heroic, does it? +That wouldn't create a very favourable impression upon +Miss Maitland either."</p> + +<p>I was compelled to agree with him.</p> + +<p>"I think perhaps we had best keep the matter to +ourselves. I have no desire to provide another sensation +for the evening papers to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"At any rate I'm not going to sit down quietly +under my loss if you are," I responded irritably.</p> + +<p>"That's another matter altogether," replied Winter, +as he set our car in motion once more. "I did not say +that I was going to grin and bear it either."</p> + +<p>"What do you propose?" I cried eagerly.</p> + +<p>"That is a question we will discuss over a whisky +and soda, when we have deposited the Colonel safely at +home;" and he refused to say anything further.</p> + +<p>Our car was once more put at full speed, and in five<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +minutes we reached the cross-roads on the outskirts of +St. Albans, where the road to Watford makes a junction +with that on which we had come from town. Here +Winter pulled up, and, much to my surprise, dismounted +and made a careful examination of the road by the light +of our lamps.</p> + +<p>"I just want to see in which direction the fellow +went," he answered, in reply to my inquiry as to the +meaning of his action.</p> + +<p>He was still engaged on the task when we heard in +the distance the regular beat of a petrol motor approaching +us on the Watford road.</p> + +<p>"If it's another pirate, he won't get much plunder," +I remarked.</p> + +<p>"That's no pirate," replied Winter, as a couple of +lights came into view. "Cannot you recognize the +rattle of Mannering's old car? I should know it anywhere. +He will be able to tell us if any one has passed +him on the road."</p> + +<p>As soon as the new-comer came within range of his +voice, Winter hailed him.</p> + +<p>"That you, Mannering?"</p> + +<p>"Hullo, Winter! Got a puncture? Can I be of +any assistance?"</p> + +<p>Was it indeed Mannering's voice, or were my ears +deceiving me? The intonation was remarkably like +that of the stranger, who so short a time previously had +bade us stand and deliver, that I sprang to my feet with +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span>an exclamation of astonishment. My eyes at once +convinced me that my ears had played me false. There +was no mistaking Mannering's lumbering old car for the +graceful shape of the Motor Pirate's vehicle. I resumed +my seat, taking my nerves seriously to task for generating +the suspicion, if suspicion it could be called, which had +flashed across my mind. If anything further had been +needed to dispel it, the reply vouchsafed to Winter's +query as to whether he had met any one on the road +would have done so.</p> + +<p>"Met any one?" said Mannering; "I should think +I have. Met the most wonderful motor I've ever seen, +about a couple of miles back. 'Pon my soul, I'm not +sure even now whether it was not a big night bird, for +it just swooped by me with about as much noise as a +humming-top might make. It must have been travelling +eighty miles an hour at least. Reckless sort of devil the +driver must be too. He hadn't a single light. I suppose +his lamps must have been put out by the rapidity with +which he was travelling. Never had such a scare in my +life. I'd like to meet the Johnny. I'd welcome an opportunity +of telling him what I thought of his conduct."</p> + +<p>"So should I," replied Winter, grimly; "and I fancy +Sutgrove would not be averse to a meeting with him."</p> + +<p>"Why, what has he been doing?" asked Mannering.</p> + +<p>"It's too long a story to tell you now," said Winter, +as he climbed back into his seat; "but if you will come +up to my place as soon as you have put your car to bed, +I'll tell you all about it."</p> + +<p>"Right!" sang out Mannering, as we once more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +set out upon our homeward way. We had not much +further to go. In two minutes we had pulled up at +Colonel Maitland's door.</p> + +<p>I leaned back and shouted, "Here we are, Colonel," +in the slumbering warrior's ear.</p> + +<p>"Eh! What—what?" he replied, as he awakened +with a start. "When are we going to start?"</p> + +<p>"Start? Why we've brought you safely home to +your own threshold," said Winter.</p> + +<p>"'Pon my soul! I remember now," he answered. +"I just shut my eyes to keep the dust out of 'em, +and—— You will come in for a peg, of course," he +continued, as he emerged from the rugs in which he had +been enveloped.</p> + +<p>I glanced at the windows. There was only a light +in the Colonel's study. If there had been another in +the drawing-room, I should have accepted forthwith. As +it was, I merely said that I could not think of disturbing +Miss Maitland.</p> + +<p>"Pooh!" said the Colonel, with the usual callous +disregard of the mere father for his children's beauty +sleep.</p> + +<p>But he did not press the invitation. Indeed it was +with difficulty he succeeded in repressing a yawn.</p> + +<p>"I'll call to-morrow, and get a considered opinion +upon my Soho house of entertainment," I remarked, as +the Colonel opened his door, and paused at the entrance +to bid us a final good night.</p> + +<p>"Glad to see you," he replied, as he grasped my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +hand and shook it warmly. "But of one thing you +may rest assured. So long as that bin of port holds out, +your house of entertainment may count upon me as a +regular customer whenever I dine in town."</p> + +<p>"Opium isn't in it," commented Winter in a low +voice, as he set the car in motion and wheeled out of the +drive. "How he could have slept so soundly through it +all absolutely beats me."</p> + +<p>I did not reply. My attention was concentrated +upon one of the upper windows, at which I thought I +had seen a form I knew very well make a brief appearance. +But we left the window and house behind us. +Winter's place was only about a hundred yards further +up the road.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>CONCERNING MY RIVAL</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'>"<span class="smcap">Now</span>, Jim, dip your beak into that, and let me see if it +will not restore to your classic features their customary +repose."</div> + +<p>So saying, Winter handed me a stately tumbler, and +the mixture was so much to my liking that I felt an +involuntary relaxation of my facial muscles immediately I +obeyed the command. I stretched myself at length in +the easy chair which I had drawn up before the fire, and +felt able to forgive even the Motor Pirate. We +were alone in the apartment which Winter called his +study, but since the only books he read therein were +motor-catalogues, and the lounges with which the +snuggery was furnished were much more conducive to +repose than to mental exertion, I refused to acknowledge +its claim to the title. That, by the way. The fire was +burning brightly. Winter's red, rugged, honest face was +beaming with almost equal radiance. Who could help +feeling happy?</p> + +<p>Then Mannering was announced, and Mannering was +a man I had learned to passively dislike. Why, I scarcely<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +knew. I was aware of nothing against him. Indeed, +when six months previously, on my first coming to St. +Albans, I had been introduced to him, I had been rather +favourably impressed. He was a tall dark man of thirty-five, +with more than the average endowment of good +looks. He could tell a good story, had shot big game in +most parts of the world, was well-read, intelligent, +possessed unexceptionable manners, and yet—— Well, +Winter had none of his various qualifications, but I +would at any time far rather have had one friend like +Winter than a hundred like the other man.</p> + +<p>I had first made his acquaintance at Colonel Maitland's +house, where I had found him on an apparently intimate +footing. Perhaps it was this very intimacy which formed +the basis for my dislike, for—there is no need to mince +matters—at this time I was jealous, horribly and unreasonably +jealous, of every male person who entered the +Colonel's house. And here, perhaps, it will be better +for me to explain how it happened that I came to be +living in a cottage on the outskirts of St. Albans in +preference to my own house in Norfolk.</p> + +<p>The change in my residence had been entirely due to +a tennis party at Cromer. There I met Evie Maitland. +She was—— No, every one can fill in the blank from +their own experience for themselves; and if they cannot, +I pity them.</p> + +<p>Fortunately I had an aunt present. She was the most +amiable of aunts, and quite devoted towards her most +dutiful nephew. With her assistance, I managed not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +only to improve my acquaintance with Miss Maitland, +but also to effect an introduction to her father. I had +only known them a week, however, before the Colonel +took his daughter back to St. Albans. I allowed an +interval of a fortnight to elapse, and then I followed. Of +course I had to be prepared with some excuse, and here +luck favoured me. Looking through the directory I +discovered that Winter, whom I knew slightly as having +been up at Camford about the same time as myself, was +also a resident in the delightful St. Alban's suburb of +St. Stephens where the Maitlands resided. I sought +out Winter. I confided my story to him. The upshot +of it all was that I took a cottage close to his house, and +not far from the Colonel's, ostensibly that under Winter's +tuition I might develop into a first-class motorist.</p> + +<p>Somehow I found that I made a great deal more +progress with my motoring than with my love-making. +Surely a more bewitching, tantalizing, provoking little +beauty than Evie Maitland never tore a man's heart to +fragments. If she was kind to me one day, she would be +still kinder to Mannering the next. But that is neither +here nor there. Anyhow, I heartily wished him out of +the way, for there was no doubt whatever that Randolph +Mannering was a much more attractive person than my +insignificant self. His mere advantage in age counted +for something; but I could have forgiven him that, had +he not made use of the years to see so much and do so +much, that he could not help appearing in the light of a +hero to a girl who was just at the worshipping age.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +And he knew so well how to get the fullest value out of +his experiences. He never paraded them, I must admit +that much in his favour. He was far too clever. An +anecdote here and there to illustrate some point in +the conversation, a modest account of some thrilling +adventure, in which he hardly ever mentioned the part +he had personally played, produced a much greater effect +than if he had gone about trumpeting the deeds he had +done and the dangers he had survived.</p> + +<p>He had, too, the advantage of a much longer acquaintance +with the Maitlands than myself. I learned from +the Colonel that Mannering had been living in a house +whose garden adjoined his own for a year before my +arrival on the scene. His life, until the Colonel had +recognized him as an acquaintance he had made at the +house of a friend some years before, had been that of +a recluse, the object of his retirement being to perfect +some mechanical invention upon which he was engaged. +He had soon developed into a friend of the family, and +I had found him firmly installed as such when I made +my appearance at St. Albans.</p> + +<p>Naturally then I was none too pleased that Winter +had proposed to take him into our confidence, but I +made no absolute objection.</p> + +<p>I sat smoking quietly while Winter told the story of +our adventure. He listened most attentively.</p> + +<p>"It's a most extraordinary story," he remarked, when +the narrative was concluded. "You are quite sure +neither of you touched any of that port?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p> + +<p>Winter turned one of his pockets inside out with an +expressive gesture.</p> + +<p>"Wine may rob a man of his wits," he replied, "but +it does not relieve him of fifty pounds in notes, six in +gold, a watch and chain worth fifty, and a diamond +which has been valued at a hundred."</p> + +<p>"The numbers of the notes should enable you to +trace the thief," said Mannering, thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>Winter laughed. "The fact is, I am such a careless +beggar. I always carry notes about with me, replenishing +my case when necessary; and really I have nothing +to tell me whether those notes I had in my possession +were the last batch I had from the bank, or odd ones +left over from previous consignments. They may have +been in my case for months."</p> + +<p>"Both Winter and I could identify our watches," +I hazarded.</p> + +<p>"Of course," replied Mannering, "if your Motor +Pirate is fool enough to attempt to pawn them you may +get the chance; but if he sells them to a receiver, they'll +go straight into the melting pot."</p> + +<p>Winter lit a cigarette and Mannering turned to me. +"What was the extent of your loss?"</p> + +<p>"Ten in gold, thirty in notes, and say thirty for my +watch. My loss is comparatively light."</p> + +<p>"You know the numbers of your notes, I suppose?" +he inquired, as he lit a cigarette in turn.</p> + +<p>"Yes," I replied, "I'm not quite so casual as +Winter."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There's some clue for the police to work upon, +then."</p> + +<p>"It might prove to be so, only Winter thinks we +show up so badly in the whole affair that he won't hear +of my giving information."</p> + +<p>"The fact is," said Winter, "Maitland slept soundly +through the whole affair, and it wouldn't be sporting to +give him away."</p> + +<p>"I see——" began Mannering.</p> + +<p>Winter deftly changed the subject. "What puzzles +me," he said, "is the kind of motor the fellow employed +to propel his car. I know of nothing at present on the +market anything like so effective. I've seen 'em all."</p> + +<p>"Your loss doesn't seem to trouble you much, +anyhow," commented Mannering.</p> + +<p>"I would willingly give a hundred times as much +for a duplicate of that motor. I should be pretty sure +to get my money back once I put it on the market."</p> + +<p>"If there's all that value in it, why should the owner +go in for highway robbery?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"That's just what I fail to understand," said Winter. +"From what I could see of it, our friend the Motor +Pirate is possessed of an ideal car, graceful in shape, +making no noise, running with a minimum of vibration +and a maximum of speed. Why, there's a fortune in it."</p> + +<p>"Of course it is quite impossible that the motive +power can be electricity?" remarked Mannering, gazing +into the fire as if he could see a solution of the mystery +therein.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Quite out of the question. Any one who has the +slightest knowledge of motoring would know it to be +impossible, even if the Pirate had devised a storage +battery which would knock Edison's latest invention +into a cocked hat. But supposing he had achieved the +feat, remember that, according to the newspaper reports, +he was at Plymouth yesterday at dusk, near Salisbury +at eleven the same evening, and holding us up on the +confines of St. Albans to night. He would be bound to +get his batteries recharged somewhere and, with a car of +such remarkable shape, how is he to do so without +exciting remark? No; electricity is quite out or the +question. I should be glad to think that the car was +an electric one. His capture would only be a matter of +a few hours."</p> + +<p>An indefinable expression, which might have been a +smile, flitted across Mannering's face.</p> + +<p>"I hope, for all our sakes, his motor is an electric +one," he said. "At all events it should not be difficult +to track a car of so singular a shape. If it were built on +the same lines as yours or mine, for instance, the owner +might go anywhere without attracting attention."</p> + +<p>"Anyhow," I broke in, "until he is captured I'm +going for a run every night with something that will +shoot within easy reach. The next time I have the +fortune to meet with him I hope I shall be in a position +to get a bit of my own back."</p> + +<p>Again a smile appeared on Mannering's face as he +exclaimed, "I almost feel inclined to follow your example.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +I have nearly forgotten how to use a pistol since I have +resided in this law-ridden land."</p> + +<p>"Surely you won't expose your experimental car to +the chance of being rammed by the Motor Pirate," +remarked Winter, chaffingly.</p> + +<p>Mannering's car was a stock joke with us. It was a +particularly cumbersome vehicle, with heaven only knows +what type of body. It might have been capable of +twenty miles an hour on the flat, but that would be the +extreme limit of its powers. "You fellows," he had +explained to us one day, "have taken to motoring for +the fun of flying along the high-roads at an illegal speed. +I have taken to it for a more utilitarian purpose. I have +my own ideas about the motor of the future, and I am +working them out down here. My old caravan is heavy, +perhaps, but I want a heavy car. It's most useful for +testing tyres, and that is one of the special points engaging +my attention. Besides, in this car I am not tempted to +get into trouble with the police. Twelve miles an hour +is quite fast enough for all my purposes."</p> + +<p>Both Winter and myself had frequently asked him +how he was progressing with his work, but as he had +never returned us any but the vaguest of answers, nor +ever invited us into the workshop which had once formed +the stables of the house where he resided, we had thought +that his story of being engaged in mechanical invention +merely an excuse for getting rid of unpleasant visitors. +I think we were both surprised when he answered +Winter's chaff quite warmly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I should not at all mind exposing my car to any +risk if I could get the opportunity to examine the Motor +Pirate's car. If the truth must be told, from what +I have seen of his car, and what you have told me, I am +rather inclined to think that whoever designed it has +forestalled me in an idea which I had thought quite my +own. I have long been working to produce a car which +would run at least a hundred miles an hour without +noise or perceptible vibration."</p> + +<p>"Couldn't you get it completed in a week?" interrupted +Winter. "We might have a most exciting chase +after our friend."</p> + +<p>Mannering shook his head. "I've been absolutely +floored on one detail, and if that fellow has solved the +problem——" Shrugging his shoulders, he rose and +held out his hand to Winter. I followed his example.</p> + +<p>"I had no idea that you had anything so important +on the stocks," remarked Winter, as he accompanied us +to the door.</p> + +<p>"Nor would you have done so until you saw the +perfect machine on the road, if it had not been for my +chagrin at seeing that car to-night. Of course I can +count upon you both to say nothing of the matter."</p> + +<p>"On condition that you do not refer to our adventure +again," said I, laughing.</p> + +<p>"Agreed," responded Mannering, as he smiled +again.</p> + +<p>We both said good night to Winter, and in spite of +our host's efforts to persuade us to stay for another peg, I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +followed Mannering out, declaring that I should never +be able to face Mrs. Winter again if I kept him up any +longer.</p> + +<p>I found Mannering standing at the gate, and I paused +beside him to glance at the sky, across which one or two +fleecy clouds were hurrying from the west. The moon, +brilliant as earlier in the evening, now hung low down +over the horizon. The breeze had freshened, and we +could hear it whispering amongst the trees.</p> + +<p>"We shall not be long without rain. If the Pirate +is still abroad he will leave tracks," said Mannering.</p> + +<p>The beauty of the night held so much of appeal to +me that I felt annoyed at the current of my thoughts +being turned back to the topic.</p> + +<p>I answered shortly. My companion took no notice +of my petulance.</p> + +<p>"You have always thought I cared nothing for +speed," he remarked, "but you were mistaken. I thought +I would keep my desires in the background until I had +succeeded in perfecting a car which I knew it would be +impossible to outpace. I could not enter into competition +with longer purses than my own, and if I had bought the +fastest car in the market somebody else would have +bought one faster. But to-night—— By Jove! How I +envy that Motor Pirate. Imagine what the possession of +that car means on a night like this, with the roads clear +from John-o'-Groat's to Land's End. Fancy flying +onwards at a speed none have ever attempted. Can you +not see the road unwinding before you like a reel of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +white ribbon, hear the sweet musical drone of the wheels +in your ears——" He stopped abruptly.</p> + +<p>He must have observed my natural amazement at the +intensity of feeling which his speech displayed, for he +observed in a lighter tone—</p> + +<p>"Not being Motor Pirates, however, the next best +thing is, I suppose, to go to bed and dream that we are." +He turned on his heel and strode away in one direction, +while I went in the direction of my own home. But I +was in no hurry to get there. The night was too +delightful.</p> + +<p>In the few hours which had elapsed since we had sat +down to dine, a change had come over the face of the +land. I could feel the presence of Spring in the air, and +all the youth in me awoke. The creatures of the earth +felt it too. In the silence of the night I could hear the +crackle of the buds as they cast off their winter coverings, +hear the whisper of the grass, which the countryman +declares is the sound of growing blades, hear the murmur +of all animate things as they rose to welcome the Springtide. +My own heart leapt up with a renewal of hope. +I stood awhile outside Colonel Maitland's door, and +breathed a prayer that it might be my fortune to protect +the fair inmate of the house from all harm through +life. I strolled slowly to my own door, but I did not +enter. Moonbeams beget love-dreams when one is still +in the twenties.</p> + +<p>Back again to the Colonel's house, back once more +to my own. In all probability I should have continued<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +my solitary sentry-go and my reverie until daybreak, +had not my thoughts been sharply recalled to earth. +On reaching my own doorway for the fifth or sixth +time I had just turned, when I saw a black shadow +on the road opposite the Maitlands' house. One glance +was enough; it was the Motor Pirate again, and I +began to count. "One—two—," the car passed me, +"three—four;" it had vanished round a turning of +the road in the direction of St. Albans.</p> + +<p>Even what I had already experienced of the Pirate +had not prepared me for such an exhibition as this. +What Mannering had said about the delight of flying +along an open road at a hundred miles an hour recurred +to me. I had not deemed it possible. But I paced +the distance between the Colonel's house and the bend +where the strange car had passed out of sight. The +distance was just about two hundred yards, and it had +been covered as near as possible in four seconds. The +car must have been travelling just about a hundred +miles an hour.</p> + +<p>I went straight indoors to bed. I am not ashamed +to confess that I was not able to continue my dreams +in comfort, while pacing the road, by the consideration +of what would have happened to me had the Motor +Pirate come along just two seconds before I happened +to turn and see him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>THE COLONEL DREAMS, AND I AWAKEN</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'><span class="smcap">I slept</span> until late the next morning. I have always +been accustomed to a clear eight hours' sleep, and, as I +did not get between the sheets until about four in the +morning, I naturally did not awaken until mid-day. So +what with my tub and the necessity for shaving, my early +morning call upon the Colonel did not come off. I +suppose, as a matter of fact, I sat down to breakfast just +about the time when the gastronomic warrior was +thinking of luncheon. However, when I saw how +amply my expectation of a change in the weather had +been fulfilled, I did not regret my lengthy sleep. From +a sodden grey sky sheets of water were steadily pouring. +There was not the slightest chance of any break in the +clouds. Consequently I felt assured of finding Miss +Maitland at home if I made my call in the afternoon, and +since her father oftentimes thought it expedient to take +a little repose after luncheon in order to prepare himself +for the fatigue of dining, it was possible that I might +even be fortunate enough to secure a <i>tête-à-tête</i> with +her.</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span>I came to my breakfast, therefore, with as good a spirit +as appetite, neither being in the slightest degree affected +by the memory of the easy way in which I had been +plundered by the Motor Pirate. Of course I felt a +certain chagrin. Still, I could contemplate the adventure +with a considerable deal more equanimity than I had +managed to display the night before, though I found +that my curiosity concerning him had, if anything, +increased. I turned with eagerness to the morning +papers to see whether they could add to my knowledge +concerning him.</p> + +<p>As every one is aware, all the papers on the morning +of the first of April that year devoted columns to his +exploits. If I remember aright, the country was at that +time engaged upon two of our usual minor wars, Parliament +was in the midst of an important debate upon the +second reading of a measure to secure an extension of +the franchise, and a divorce case of more than common +interest was engaging the attention of the leading legal +lights of the law courts. But all these things received +but the scantiest notice. The war news was relegated to +the inside pages, the Parliamentary intelligence cut down +to the barest summary, the <i>cause célèbre</i> dismissed with +such a paragraph as ordinarily serves to chronicle an +unimportant police court case. The Motor Pirate had +nearly a monopoly of the space at the editorial disposal. +There was column after column about him. The +Plymouth robbery was reported in as great detail as the +Compton Chamberlain affair, while there were particulars<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +of two similar outrages committed at points between +these two places.</p> + +<p>On running my eye over the reports I saw that they +added nothing to what I already knew, and I wasted no +time in reading the leaders on the subject. I was, however, +extremely interested to find from one paper that +Winter and I had not been the only victims of the +scoundrel's rapacity on the previous evening, for a brief +telegram reported a similar occurrence a few miles from +Oxford on the London road. I at once sent my man +to purchase any of the early editions of the evening +papers which might have reached St. Albans, in the +hope that they might contain further particulars of these +operations.</p> + +<p>I had finished my breakfast, and was enjoying a +cigarette in my library, when he returned. I took +the papers from him, and the first glance at one of +them made me gasp with amazement. The news +which startled me was all in one line—"Five more +cars held up by the Motor Pirate."</p> + +<p>I am not going into details concerning these. If +you have a desire to refresh your memory all you have +to do is to turn to any newspaper of the date I have +named and you will be able to get them <i>ad nauseam</i>. +But I will venture to give a list of the places where and +the times at which the outrages took place, for I made +a list of them in the hope that, by carefully studying it +with the map, I might get some idea as to where he +might next be expected to make his appearance.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p> + +<p>I found that at five minutes past nine he stopped +a car some four miles from Oxford. Twenty minutes +later he was robbing a lonely motorist midway between +Thame and Aylesbury. Then for forty minutes he +appeared to have been idle, his next two exploits taking +place within five minutes of each other, just after ten, +in the neighbourhood of Amersham. King's Langley +was the scene of his next adventure, the time given +being about a quarter of an hour before he had overtaken +us. In addition to the particulars of these robberies +there were a host of reports from people who had seen +the Pirate car pass them on the road. But there was one +notable omission from the latter list. Not from a single +town was there any record of the Pirate having been +seen passing through it.</p> + +<p>I got a map of the district, and, after studying the +country carefully, I was fain to confess that one of two +things was certain: either the Motor Pirate had the power +to make his car invisible at will, or else he had a truly +phenomenal knowledge of the bye-roads. How he had +even managed to get to Oxford, after his exploits in the +West of England, without arrest, puzzled me. The +car was so unique in shape that it seemed bound to +excite observation. It could not have been put up at +any hotel, any more than it could have been run through +the country by daylight, without exciting remark and +its presence being chronicled. What, then, had he done +with it? The more I pondered the question the more +puzzled I became, and at the same time the more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +determined to seek a solution of the mystery. But how? +I made a dozen plans, all of which, upon consideration, +appeared so futile, that I gave up the game in despair, +and decided to see if my brain would not become clearer +after I had paid my promised visit to Colonel Maitland.</p> + +<p>I did not find Miss Maitland alone, as I expected, or +I might probably have been tempted to confide my +experience to her, and to have asked the assistance of +her woman's wit in putting me on the track of a solution +to the mystery. Mannering was with her. When I +made my appearance in the drawing-room, and found +him enjoying a <i>tête-à-tête</i>, I cursed myself for delaying +my call and thus giving him such an opportunity. My +temper was not improved either by the discovery that +they were sufficiently engrossed in conversation to have +been able very well to dispense with my presence. I +did not feel called upon to leave Mannering a clear +field, however, so I joined in the discussion, and tried +my hardest to be pleasant.</p> + +<p>Of course, there was only one possible topic of +conversation, the theme which was uttermost in every +one's mind throughout the length and breadth of the +land. It was a difficult subject for me to discuss, and +in a measure it was a difficult subject for Mannering, +inasmuch as it was hard to refrain from reference to +the personal experience we had had with the Motor +Pirate. It became increasingly difficult, when a few +minutes after my arrival Colonel Maitland joined us.</p> + +<p>"It was lucky for him he did not meet us, hey,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +Sutgrove?" said the Colonel. "You, Winter, and +myself, would soon settle a Motor Pirate, wouldn't we?"</p> + +<p>I muttered something which would pass for an assent, +while Mannering shot an amused smile in my direction.</p> + +<p>"I wonder though we saw nothing of him," continued +Maitland; "he must have been very near us +last night."</p> + +<p>"He seems to have been everywhere," I answered.</p> + +<p>"He has the ubiquity of a De Wet," said Mannering.</p> + +<p>"I hope I shall have a chance of meeting him sometime," +I continued grimly.</p> + +<p>Colonel Maitland chuckled. "Heavens! What a +fire-eater you are, Sutgrove. One might almost take you +for a sub in a cavalry regiment."</p> + +<p>I made no answer, and Miss Maitland remarked—"I +think that is very unkind of you. You spoke of the +Motor Pirate as if you owed him a grudge. I think +we all ought to be supremely thankful to him for having +made the wettest day we have had this year pass quite +pleasantly."</p> + +<p>Bear him a grudge? I should think I did, but at the +same time, I had no intention of confessing the reason, +so I said—</p> + +<p>"Then we'll drink long life and prosperity to +him the next time we have a bottle of that same +port your father approved so highly last night." Then +I turned to the Colonel, and made a clumsy attempt +to turn the subject of conversation. "Is your verdict +upon my restaurant equally favourable to-day, sir?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span></p> + +<p>Colonel Maitland's eyes twinkled. "I have nothing +to regret. As for the port with which we finished, it +seems to me the sort of stuff dreams are made of. Do +you know that the glass I drank—was it one glass or +two?—gave me the most vivid dream I have enjoyed +since my childhood?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed! Let's hear it, Colonel," I replied.</p> + +<p>"Do tell us," said his daughter, as she rose from +her seat, and put her arms coaxingly round her father's +neck. "Do tell us like a real, good, kind, old-fashioned +parent."</p> + +<p>The Colonel passed his hand lovingly over his +daughter's sunny hair.</p> + +<p>"Sutgrove and Mannering don't want to hear about +an old fellow's silly dreams," he said. "Besides, it was +all about the Motor Pirate, and I can see that Sutgrove +for one is quite sick of the subject."</p> + +<p>I was, and I wasn't, but I speedily declared that +I was not when I saw that his daughter was bent upon +hearing the story. So he started upon a prosy description +as to how the fresh air had sent him to sleep, not saying +a word about the port, and I ceased to listen to him, +preferring to devote the whole of my attention to his +daughter, who had seated herself upon a footstool at +his feet, and was looking up into his face with a pretty +affectionate glance in her deep blue eyes, enough to +set any one longing to be the recipient of similar regard. +Her form, attitude, expression, all made so deep an +impression upon me, that I have only to close my eyes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +at any time to see her just as she was then—the little +witch! She knew full well how to make the most +of her attractions, and though she has often declared +since to me that the pose was quite unpremeditated, +I could never quite believe her.</p> + +<p>However that may be, I was so fascinated in watching +her—there was one stray curl which lay like a +strand of woven gold upon her brow. Confound it! +It's all very well for the fellow who writes fiction for +a living to write about people's emotions. He is cold +himself. If he were like me, and wished to describe +his own feelings, he might find himself in the same +difficulty as myself, and give up the attempt.</p> + +<p>The Colonel's voice droned on. Suddenly I awoke +to the consciousness that he was speaking of me. I think +it was the fact of his daughter looking at me which +recalled me to attention.</p> + +<p>"Sutgrove had just looked back to see if I was +comfortable, when he saw another car on the road behind +us. We had not long passed through Radlett. You +know the straight stretch of road just past the new +Dutch barn on the left——"</p> + +<p>My attention did not wander any more, and you +may imagine my astonishment at hearing the Colonel +describe in minute detail everything which had befallen +us upon the previous evening. He could tell a story +when he liked, and on this occasion his description of +the shamefaced manner in which Winter had scrambled +out of his car, and had handed over his valuables to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +Motor Pirate, was so ludicrous that I was compelled to +laugh at the description. When my turn came to be +described, Miss Maitland and Mannering were just as +much amused, but I am afraid that my attempt to participate +in their mirth was rather forced.</p> + +<p>When the story was done, Miss Maitland rose from +her seat at her father's feet, and, putting a hand on each +of his shoulders—</p> + +<p>"You dear, delightful old fibber!" she remarked. +"I don't believe you dreamed that at all. You couldn't." +Then she wheeled round on me. "Now tell me, Mr. +Sutgrove, didn't that dream of father's really happen to +you last night?"</p> + +<p>What course was open to me but confession? I +admitted the truth of the story, and the Colonel was so +choked with merriment, that I feared lest he should be +stricken with apoplexy.</p> + +<p>"The cream of the joke," he explained, when he +recovered his powers of speech, "was that neither Winter +nor Sutgrove had the slightest idea that I was foxing. +I intended to inform them directly we were clear of +the Pirate; but when I heard them discussing the matter, +and determining to keep silence out of tenderness for +my reputation, I could not resist keeping up the joke."</p> + +<p>"I should think it was their own reputations they +were thinking about," said his daughter. "To submit +so tamely to one man is not a very heroic proceeding."</p> + +<p>I heard Mannering chuckle, and I felt mad. But +I fancy it was not Mannering's amusement, but my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +own consciousness of the truth of the criticism that +galled.</p> + +<p>Colonel Maitland came to my rescue. "I thought +they were very sensible," he said. "Even a cripple with +a gun is better than six sound Tommies unarmed."</p> + +<p>"Sensible—yes," she replied scornfully. "But there +are times when one prefers a little less sense, and a little +more—shall we say action. I am sure you would not +have obeyed so tamely?" she continued, turning to +Mannering.</p> + +<p>He smiled, and I felt as if it would give me exquisite +pleasure to catch him by the throat, and twist the smile +out of his dark, handsome face.</p> + +<p>"Really, Miss Maitland," he replied, "you flatter +me. You should not be too hard on Sutgrove. I am +sure that it was only the full comprehension of his own +helplessness which prevented him making a fight of it. +What could he have done?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, a man should always know what to do!" she +answered petulantly. "Has any one ever tried to hold +you up?"</p> + +<p>"Well, yes," he answered. "Once when I was +out in the west of the States, some of the regulation +bands tried the game on a train in which I was travelling. +But then, you see, the conductor in the railway-car in +which I happened to be seated had a six-shooter. So +had I. The other passengers got as near the floor as +they possibly could when the shooting began. I was +in pretty good practice in those days, don't you know,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +so the other chaps didn't get much of a look in. We +took the four they left behind them when they bolted +on to the next station with us. Three of them were +buried there, if I remember aright."</p> + +<p>"There," said Miss Maitland, with an unmistakable +look of admiration in her eyes; "I knew you were +different."</p> + +<p>"But then I was armed. If I had not been, I should +have been on the floor with the other passengers."</p> + +<p>In reply she merely gave him one glance. Mannering +returned it with one equally eloquent. I rose, and stalked +to the window. To me Mannering's championship +was an aggravation which I could not bear. Harder +still was it for me to observe the understanding which +obviously existed between him and Miss Maitland. +Hitherto I had imagined that I had as good a chance +of winning her love as he had. But at this moment +I felt that my hopes had been shattered.</p> + +<p>I think if I had remained a moment longer in the +room, I should have been unable to restrain an impulse +to knock some of the self-sufficiency out of my rival. +I left.</p> + +<p>Colonel Maitland followed me out, and I heard him +ask me to dine with him on the following day to wipe +off the score he owed me.</p> + +<p>Without thinking, I accepted. Then I went out +into the rain.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>I AM ARRESTED</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'><span class='smcap'>As</span> I went away from the Maitlands' house I looked +neither to the right hand nor to the left. Where I went, +whether I trudged along the high road or tramped across +country, I have not to-day the slightest idea. I was so +enveloped in my own misery, that I was absolutely blind +to all external objects. I could think of nothing but my +dead hopes. So onward I went, stumbling and splashing +through the mud, cursing Mannering, cursing the Motor +Pirate, above all cursing myself for my own pusillanimity. +Why had I listened to Winter? Why should I have +allowed myself to be persuaded to play the part of coward, +merely that Winter's car should have been saved from +injury?</div> + +<p>For a long while my thoughts were as aimless as +my progress, but gradually out of the incoherence one +idea crystallized. It was not an idea to be proud of. +My bitterness of heart produced the natural result, that +was all—a burning desire to be revenged upon somebody. +I contemplated revenging myself upon everybody +who had anything to do with my discomfiture, upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +Mannering, upon Colonel Maitland, upon the Motor +Pirate. Finally my choice settled upon the person of the +Pirate as the most suitable object; for, next to myself, he +was primarily responsible for my having made so contemptible +a figure.</p> + +<p>Of course the decision was absurd. Decisions that +are the outcome of any strong emotion usually are. But +it fulfilled a useful purpose. It gave my mind something +else to feed upon than contemplation of my own +unhappiness. It brought me to myself.</p> + +<p>To-day I can laugh when I recall the childishness +of my actions, the outcome of the unreasoned promptings +of my puerile jealousy. For when I came to the +conclusion to avenge my sufferings upon the Motor +Pirate, I suddenly became aware that it was pitch dark; +that I was in the middle of a field; that I was soaked to +the skin; that the rain was still falling heavily; and +that I had not the slightest idea where I was. However, +I added one more to the acts of folly I committed that +day: I solemnly held up my hands to the dripping +heavens and registered my vow of revenge. Then I +pushed on again, but with my physical faculties on the +alert to discover where I was.</p> + +<p>I began, too, to feel the discomfort of my position, +and became sensible of a sneaking wish to be before a +comfortable fire. I crossed two or three fields, and +eventually coming to a road I followed it, and, after +paddling through the mud half a mile further, I struck +a village, and in the village an inn.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> + +<p>When I opened the door and walked into the cheerful +lamplight of the bar-parlour, the half-dozen occupants +of the cosy little room stared at me with astonishment. +Well they might. I caught a glimpse of my reflection +in the glass behind the bottles—if you have ever seen a +corpse fished up by the drags from a river bed, you will +be able to form some idea of the appearance I presented—so +that I did not resent their stare. In fact, I was +not in a condition to be able to pay much attention to +the curious glances of the villagers. The warmth of +the room together with the sudden cessation of exertion +were for the moment too much for me, and it was as +much as I could do to stagger to the nearest chair.</p> + +<p>Fortunately the landlord was a man with some +modicum of common sense. I am quite sure that I +should have been unceremoniously ejected from nine +public houses out of ten. But mine host of the White +Horse—I learned afterwards that he had been whip to +a well-known hunt in the West country—was able to +distinguish between fatigue and drunkenness, and he +came at once to my assistance. I heard him speak to +me, but I was totally unable to respond. For a while +indeed I must have verged upon unconsciousness, for the +next thing of which I became aware was of a glass at +my lips containing something sweet and strong.</p> + +<p>I sipped. Then I drank. My consciousness returned. +In a couple of minutes I could sit upright. +The landlord was beaming at me with benevolent +interest.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Take another sup, sir," he said. "There's nothing +like maraschino and gin when one is a bit overwrought. +I've known many a gentleman in my part of the +country who would take nothing else, after a hard day +to hounds, to brace him up for those long ten miles +home."</p> + +<p>I took another sup, and a good one. Then my +powers of speech returning, I asked where I was. I +found I had not wandered nearly so far as I expected. +I was barely six miles from my home—at King's +Langley; but this fact was no criterion of the distance +I must have traversed in my mad frenzy, for I saw by +the clock that the hour was ten. It was about five when +I left Colonel Maitland's house, so that I had been +pressing onward for five hours in as wild a night as +any on which I have ever been abroad.</p> + +<p>I leaned back in my chair with the object of resting +a few minutes before starting homewards. But, whether +owing to the spirit I had swallowed, or to the heavy +exertion I had undergone, or merely because of my intense +mental fatigue, I felt drowsiness overcoming me so +rapidly that I perceived it would never do for me to give +way to it. Pulling myself together I rose to my feet, at +the same time thrusting my hand into my pocket for +the money to pay for my drink. The mere act of +rising, however, was almost too much for me. My +body felt as stiff as if I had been beaten all over. Only +to move was absolute physical pain. I looked at the +landlord.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'm afraid I am more knocked up than I thought. +Can you manage a hot bath and a bed for me to-night?" +I asked.</p> + +<p>He glanced at me curiously, and, after a moment's +consideration, he replied—</p> + +<p>"I'll see what the missus'll say."</p> + +<p>Luckily "the missus" said "Yes," so ten minutes +later I was sluicing hot water over my aching limbs with +a stable sponge in the bath which, I suspect, did duty on +ordinary occasions for the family washing. Whatever it +was, it did excellently well for my purpose. Gradually +a delicious feeling of relaxation stole over me. I tumbled +between the sheets and was asleep even before my host +entered my room to take away my soaked clothing to be +dried.</p> + +<p>My sleep might have lasted one second. In point of +fact I slept until nine o'clock the next morning, and +should have continued to sleep if I had not felt a hand +on my arm shaking me, and heard a voice bidding me +arise. Fancying I was at home, and that my man was +calling me, I said, "All right, Wilson," and turned over +for another snooze.</p> + +<p>"Now then, get up out of that!" said the voice. +"None of your shamming! We are not to be put off +that way."</p> + +<p>It was not Wilson's voice. Wondering what was +happening, I sat up in bed and rubbed my eyes sleepily.</p> + +<p>"What the deuce——!" I began. Then I stopped +suddenly. A couple of constables in uniform stood at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +the bedside, and I gathered that it was the voice of the +sergeant which had so rudely disturbed my slumbers.</p> + +<p>"What do you want?" I demanded.</p> + +<p>"You know well enough," replied the sergeant. +"You make haste and dress yourself and come along +with us."</p> + +<p>I thought my senses had deserted me.</p> + +<p>"What in the name of good fortune for?" I +asked.</p> + +<p>"You're not going to kid us, my good feller," he +answered. Adding facetiously, "If we puts a name to it +and calls it piracy on the 'igh road, I wonder what you'll +'ave to say to it, remembering, of course, that anything +you do say will be taken down and used in evidence +against you."</p> + +<p>Then all that had happened flashed across my mind; +my strange appearance and arrival at the inn; my +peculiar manner; my possession of plenty of money; +the curious glances of the village folk; the fact that +somewhere in the vicinity the Motor Pirate had last +been seen. Under the circumstances, nothing could +be more likely than that the bucolic intelligence should +jump to the conclusion that I was the famous criminal. +To me, however, the idea seemed so absurd that I fell +into hearty laughter. My merriment seemed to annoy +the sergeant, for he declared crossly that if I did not +dress quickly, he would find himself under the necessity +of taking me away as I was.</p> + +<p>I thought it expedient to temporize, and as a result<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +of a little diplomacy, in which one of the coins from my +pocket found another resting-place, I obtained permission +to breakfast before I left.</p> + +<p>I made a hearty meal, the landlord attending upon +my wants. I was glad to see that he, at least, had no +hand in thrusting upon me the indignity of being +arrested. He explained as much, telling my captors they +were making idiots of themselves. As he seemed trustworthy, +I gave him Winter's address, with instructions +to wire to him, telling him of my predicament, and +asking him to come to my assistance.</p> + +<p>Necessarily I gave the instructions in the presence of +the policemen, and directly I had done so I could see that +their cocksureness was shaken. They became more polite +in their attitude, and the sergeant took the trouble to explain +that he was acting under instructions, and had no +option but to insist upon my accompanying him to +Watford.</p> + +<p>Into Watford I went accordingly. I am not going to +dwell in any detail upon the incidents of the journey; I +am naturally of a retiring disposition, and every circumstance +attending my progress was in the nature of an outrage +upon my diffidence. For instance, upon my departure +from the inn, the whole of the population from King's +Langley, so far as I could judge, had gathered about the +door of the White Horse to give me a send-off. The +crowd was in no sense a hostile one. The majority of its +component parts, especially the more youthful units, +seemed indeed to view me with admiration not unmixed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +with envy. Only one yokel expressed disbelief in my +identity.</p> + +<p>"Ee ain't no pirut," he declared with unconcealed +disdain, as he spat into the gutter. "Anybody can see he's +only a toff."</p> + +<p>I scarcely knew whether to be pleased with his conclusion +or angry that he should find my personal appearance +so unimpressive; and before I could make up my +mind on the subject, I was seated in the trap provided for +us and driven away seated between the two constables.</p> + +<p>Our entry into Watford was still more in the nature +of a triumph. Long before we reached the county police +office I was wild enough, at being made such an exhibition +of, to have given ten years of my life for the chance of +punching the head of any one of the throng of gaping onlookers. +Then, as a culminating blow to my pride, who +should we meet at a point in the High Street where it +was impossible to avoid recognition, but my rival Mannering +in his trumpery old motor-car, accompanied by—above +all persons in the world, the one I least desired to see—Miss +Maitland.</p> + +<p>I ground my teeth with rage, and as I alighted and +followed the sergeant into the police station, I wished that +I were the Motor Pirate in reality.</p> + +<p>When I reached the presence of the officer in charge +of the station I just managed to control my temper, though +I fancy there must have been traces of my rage still visible +in my voice as I demanded to know why a peaceable +citizen should be subjected to such ignominy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span></p> + +<p>The inspector in reply merely asked me for my name +and address.</p> + +<p>Before meeting Miss Maitland I had cherished the +hope that my identity would not be disclosed, but now +I had no further reason for desiring to conceal it, I gave +both at once.</p> + +<p>The inspector quietly made a note of them, while +another man in plain clothes, who was standing gazing +out of the window, suddenly turned on me with the +inquiry—</p> + +<p>"How comes it, Mr. Sutgrove, that living at St. +Albans you should choose to spend the night at a little inn +at King's Langley?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose I am at liberty to sleep where I like?" I +retorted.</p> + +<p>"Perfectly so," replied the stranger. "You will have +no difficulty, I presume, in proving your identity?"</p> + +<p>"Not the slightest," I said. "In fact I have already +wired to a friend of mine—Mr. Winter, of Hailscombe, +St. Albans—to come here for the purpose."</p> + +<p>"I know Mr. Winter very well," said the inspector.</p> + +<p>The stranger looked at me keenly, and when his +scrutiny was completed he fell to whistling a bar of +Chopin's <i>Marche Funèbre</i>. Then he turned to his colleague +in uniform.</p> + +<p>"It's no go," he said. "This is not our man." +Again he turned to me. "I am Inspector Forrest of +Scotland Yard, detailed for special duty in connection with +this Motor Pirate affair. Unfortunately I did not reach<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +Watford until after arrangements had been made to bring +you here, or—— I hope you will not take it amiss if +we detain you until Mr. Winter's arrival."</p> + +<p>This gave me the opening I had been wishing for, and +I took it. I said a lot more than I can recall now, though +I can remember a good deal. Most of it was to the effect +that I would make somebody pay dearly for the annoyance +to which I had been subjected.</p> + +<p>Inspector Forrest listened patiently to me until I had +finished.</p> + +<p>"Come, come, Mr. Sutgrove!" he said then. "You +must not bear any malice. Surely you must admit that +appearances were not altogether in your favour," and he +detailed to me the information which had led to my +arrest. "You see," he said in conclusion, "that practically +we had no option in the matter."</p> + +<p>I dissented from his view. He said a word to the +inspector in uniform, who left us alone in the room. +Then he came close to me and remarked in a confidential +tone.</p> + +<p>"The fact is, our friend, who has just left us, has +been too precipitate. You can make things exceedingly +unpleasant for him if you like; but frankly, is it worth +while? Think it over a little, bearing in mind that if we +are to get hold of the Motor Pirate, we must take the +chance of capturing the wrong man, since there is no +description of him obtainable. You will not be the only +one, I'll swear."</p> + +<p>Since I had relieved my mind I felt better. Besides<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +I was rather attracted by the personality of the man who +was speaking to me. He did not at all fulfil my idea of +a detective. He was a tall, slight, stiffly built man, +with a pleasant open face and an agreeable manner. I +saw, too, that I had only my own folly to blame for the +predicament in which I now found myself.</p> + +<p>In another ten minutes he was smoking one of my +cigars and we were chatting confidentially. Before +twenty had elapsed, I had confided to him not only Winter's +and my own experience with the Motor Pirate, but +also the chain of events which had led to my spending the +night at the inn. He was exceedingly sympathetic and +quite grave throughout, though he appeared more interested +in the encounter with the Pirate than in the +account of my mental tortures. However, when I told +him of my vow, he brightened up and asked me if I was +still determined to keep it.</p> + +<p>I had just assured him that I would willingly spend +the rest of my life in the quest, when the other inspector +entered the room and with him Winter. The latter came +straight across to me and held out his hand, and never in +my life was I so glad to see his honest face and beaming +smile.</p> + +<p>"What have you been up to now, Sutgrove?" he +remarked. "Not emulating the deeds of the Motor +Pirate?"</p> + +<p>"The police have somehow arrived at the conclusion +that I am that distinguished person himself," I replied +ruefully.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span></p> + +<p>He roared with laughter. It was infectious. There +was no help for it. The two inspectors joined in the +merriment, and the last of my anger was borne away on +the flood.</p> + +<p>There was of course no question of my further detention. +In a few minutes I was seated beside Winter in his +car, and we were making the mud fly as we dashed +towards St. Albans.</p> + +<p>Inspector Forrest accompanied us. I had promised to +find him some lunch if he would do so, and to drive him +back afterwards, and he was glad of the opportunity of +obtaining from us such particulars as we could furnish +him with concerning the person of whom he was in +search.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>I MAKE FRIENDS WITH INSPECTOR FORREST, C.I.D.</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'>"<span class='smcap'>The</span> telegraph," said Inspector Forrest, sententiously +"is even more speedy than the Motor Pirate."</div> + +<p>"Unless you want to send a message from Regent +Street to the City," I remarked; "in which case one +would save time by employing a sloth as messenger."</p> + +<p>The inspector waved aside the objection as frivolous. +He occupied an easy chair opposite me; he was smoking +one of my best cigars with every sign of active enjoyment; +he sipped his glass of claret—he rarely touched +anything stronger, he informed me—with the air of a +connoisseur.</p> + +<p>"We shall beat him with the telegraph," said he. +"Clearly he has one retreat where he can put up his car +in safety. Probably he has more than one. It is not +impossible for him to have several. There might even +be a number of Motor Pirates, members of the same +gang, but selecting different parts of the country upon +which to prey. The telegraph will soon settle these +points for us. When next he makes his appearance we +shall be able to keep watch upon him, to note, if not the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +exact spot, at least in what part of the country he makes +his appearance. Even if it should be found impossible +to arrest him in his progress, he is bound to leave some +traces behind him which will enable us to get upon +his track."</p> + +<p>"He does not seem to have left many behind him +at present," I replied.</p> + +<p>"No," said the inspector thoughtfully, as he rose and +examined the map spread out upon the table. "Yet +there are certainly grounds for believing that he has gone +to earth somewhere in this neighbourhood. The Hertfordshire +police may have been nearer the mark than you +thought when they arrested you."</p> + +<p>"You don't mean to say that you still suspect me?" +I cried.</p> + +<p>"Not for one instant," he answered promptly. +"The meaning I meant to convey was that, quite unknown +to you, the Motor Pirate may very well be your +near neighbour. I suppose there is no one residing +near whom you would consider a likely object of +suspicion?"</p> + +<p>There flashed across my mind the strange similarity +between Mannering's voice and the Motor Pirate's. +But the notion was so absurd I was ashamed to mention +it. I assured the inspector I knew of no one.</p> + +<p>"At all events, my belief is strong enough to keep +me in this district until I hear something further," he +declared, as he finished the contents of his glass and +glanced at his watch.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></p> + +<p>Just then I caught sight of Mannering coming up +the path through the garden towards my front door.</p> + +<p>"You had better stay a little longer," I said to the +inspector. "Here is another man coming who may be +able to give you some more details of the Pirate. He +has seen him, and as he has been a longer resident here +than myself, he may be able to tell you more about the +people round than I can."</p> + +<p>"A motorist?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, named Mannering," I replied. "He is the +man I told you about, whom I consider to be my rival, +you know."</p> + +<p>The inspector's eyes twinkled. "I shouldn't let him +drive me into any more adventures like last night's, +Mr. Sutgrove," he advised. "If you were ten years older—my +age, you know—you wouldn't need the warning, +A bout of rheumatic fever would be small consolation +for the loss of the lady."</p> + +<p>I could not reply, for at that moment Mannering +entered.</p> + +<p>"Glad to see you home again, Sutgrove," he said +heartily. "I'm not the only one either. Miss Maitland +asked me to call, for after seeing you in such bad +company this morning—— Hullo! I beg your pardon, +I thought you were alone." He stopped suddenly on +catching sight of Inspector Forrest.</p> + +<p>I introduced my guest and Mannering acknowledged +the introduction easily.</p> + +<p>"Inspector Forrest will assure you that I have only<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +been unfortunate enough to have been the object of our +local constabulary's misplaced zeal. They took me for +our mutual friend the Motor Pirate."</p> + +<p>"Did they though? What an almighty spoof!" +said Mannering. "First time I ever heard of a man +being run in for robbing himself on the high-road. +Beats Gilbert!"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Sutgrove did not see the point of the joke at +first," said the inspector. I saw that as he spoke he was +taking note of Mannering in much the same way as he +had taken stock of me at the police office.</p> + +<p>Mannering appeared to be quite unconscious of his +regard, for he replied—</p> + +<p>"Don't suppose I should have relished such a mistake +myself. Anyway," he continued, turning to me, "you +have the consolation of knowing that you are not the +only victim of police enterprise. I see from the papers +quite half a dozen motor pirates have been run in. +They may have the real one amongst them; but as his +car has so far escaped capture, I doubt it."</p> + +<p>"So do I," I remarked. "And for the additional +reason that I have a sort of presentiment that when his +capture is brought about, I am going to have a hand in it."</p> + +<p>"What do you say to that, Inspector?" he answered. +"Are you going to leave the job to amateurs?"</p> + +<p>"I never said 'no' to the offer of assistance in +running down a criminal," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"I have sworn," I remarked obstinately, "that I +will not rest until he is safe under lock and key."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You had better be prepared," answered Mannering. +"I should judge him to be a bit of a fighter."</p> + +<p>"Next time I meet him, I'll take all risks to come +to close quarters," I continued.</p> + +<p>"You haven't a car to do a hundred miles an hour, +have you?" he said in a bantering voice.</p> + +<p>"My plan is a simple one. I merely propose to go +out for night rides until he finds me," I said.</p> + +<p>"I had some thoughts of amusing myself in the +same way," he answered. "But, judging from your +experience this morning, the only thing likely to happen +is being arrested on suspicion."</p> + +<p>"I'll take my chance of that," I said. "But before +discussing the matter, perhaps you could tell Inspector +Forrest whether there's any spot in this neighbourhood +likely to serve as a hiding-place for the Pirate's car?"</p> + +<p>A smile lit up Mannering's face. "There's the old +coach-house at the bottom of the paddock next to my +cottage. It has a door opening on to the main road. +There would be room, too, in my stables, if I had not +fitted them up as workshops for my tyre experiments."</p> + +<p>"Stop rotting," I said, "the inspector really means it."</p> + +<p>He became grave instantly. "Sorry I can't suggest +a likely spot," he said, and then for a few minutes he +answered the questions the detective put to him as to +what he had seen of the Pirate.</p> + +<p>He could give little information of any value, and +when Inspector Forrest had elicited all that he could, he +thanked Mannering and rose to depart. I accompanied<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +him to the garden gate. He appeared a little loth to leave +me. Twice he turned away and returned to make some +objectless remark to me. The third time he blurted out—</p> + +<p>"About that suggestion of yours—taking night rides +on the chance of being held up——"</p> + +<p>"Yes?" I said and waited.</p> + +<p>"I wish I had a good fast car at my disposal," he <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'continue'">continued</ins> +earnestly; "but the Yard would never run to it."</p> + +<p>I felt a pleasant thrill run through me. It would be +good to have his companionship and assistance in working +out my self-imposed vow.</p> + +<p>"If you can make use of it, I will see that the best car +money can buy is placed at your disposal," I replied eagerly.</p> + +<p>He took my hand and shook it warmly. "I'll see +what my chief says," he replied. "When can I see +you again?"</p> + +<p>"I shall be leaving here at eight and returning well—between +ten and eleven."</p> + +<p>"Expect me about midnight," he said, and without +another word or backward glance he stepped out in the +direction of St. Albans.</p> + +<p>I returned to Mannering, who did not, however, +favour me with a very lengthy visit. Possibly he found +my manner rather cool, but the fact was, that try as +I would to curb my feelings, I could not but resent +something of an air of proprietorship which I thought +appeared in his tone when referring to Miss Maitland.</p> + +<p>When he had departed, I got out all the catalogues +of motor-cars I could lay my hands upon, and studied<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +them until it was time to dress for dinner. Several +times I thought of breaking the appointment, for I knew +I should have to give some explanation of my arrest, +and how to do so without appearing an egregious ass +I did not know. Finally I determined, if the opportunity +were afforded me, to tell the exact truth, at least to the +only person whose opinion I cared about.</p> + +<p>I was glad afterwards that I had not sent my excuses, +for I was lucky enough 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 mental +torture she had unwittingly caused me the previous +evening. So it happened that when she questioned me +as to how I managed to get into such a predicament, +I told her as clearly as I could of the state of my feelings. +It was a blundering, halting statement I made, of that +I am certain, and before I had completed it Colonel +Maitland's entry closed my mouth. But I think she +understood, for there was a little flush on her cheek +when we went into dinner which had not been there +when I greeted her, and a pretty air of seriousness in +the glances she bestowed upon me, which I had never +noticed before.</p> + +<p>As far as the Colonel was concerned, he did not +worry me for any explanations. He was bent on +enlarging my knowledge of gastronomy, and having a +new cook, he was much too deeply interested in the +<i>menu</i> to spare any thoughts for my erratic movements. +I am afraid, though, his teaching was wasted on me; for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +while I managed to reply to his conversation, I had not +the slightest idea what I was eating. My principal +longing was to get the meal over in order that I might +finish the conversation which had opened so auspiciously. +The opportunity was not afforded me on that occasion, +however, but the evening did not pass without my +obtaining a glimmering of hope.</p> + +<p>When Miss Maitland rose I asked her, in a voice +which was low enough not to reach her father's ear, +whether she would answer me one question.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" she said, and her face flushed a little +as she came to the door.</p> + +<p>"Is there any one else?" I asked, my hand on the knob.</p> + +<p>"What right have you to ask?" she answered.</p> + +<p>"No right, I only ask it of your mercy," I replied.</p> + +<p>She hesitated, then with flushed cheeks and a soft +whispered "No one," she escaped through the door.</p> + +<p>Over the port I took my new-found courage in both +hands, and asked the Colonel's consent to my suit. I +gained it. He even expressed the hope that I should +succeed, but he warned me at the same time that I must +not depend upon him for any assistance. He declared +himself to be clay in the hands of his daughter.</p> + +<p>"Evie always had her own way from the cradle," +he declared, "and always will have her own way. If +I were to say that I thought you would make her a good +husband, I'm not sure whether she would not consider +it a sufficient excuse to accept Mannering straight away. +Personally I should much prefer you, but there's no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +counting on a woman's tastes, either in men or wines. +And Evie is a perfect woman, God bless her!"</p> + +<p>I drained my glass to the toast and made an excuse +to get away to the drawing-room. But I did not see +her alone again that evening. Winter and his wife had +walked over. Mannering did not put in an appearance, +and his absence was something to be thankful for; and when +I held her hand in mine as I bade her good night, I said—</p> + +<p>"You have told me there is no one else. Is there +any hope for me?"</p> + +<p>She made no pretence of misunderstanding my meaning. +She looked at me saucily, her lips parted lightly, +her eyes brimming with laughter.</p> + +<p>"Come and ask me when—when you have caught +the Motor Pirate," she said, and with that answer I was +fain to be content.</p> + +<p>Thus it happened that I found myself fully committed +to the work which was at that time engaging the +attention of the whole of the police throughout the land. +I welcomed the task. Luck might be on my side, +especially if my new friend the detective inspector's +assistance proved to be available.</p> + +<p>And as regards assurance on this point, I had not long +to wait before my mind was at ease. I found him +awaiting me at my garden gate when I returned home. +I invited him in so eagerly that he smiled.</p> + +<p>"There's no need to ask if you are still as keen on +this job as you were this afternoon," he said, as he +entered my snuggery.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Keener than ever," I asseverated.</p> + +<p>"Then I hope between us we may be successful in +running our man to ground."</p> + +<p>"Have you heard anything further?" I inquired, +anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Nothing of the slightest value. A number of +people have been through our hands, but of the Pirate—not +a sign."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we shall get a clue in the morning," I +hazarded.</p> + +<p>"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 endeavour +to dispose of some of his plunder, or he may reappear, but +until then——"</p> + +<p>"What do you suggest?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"I shall stay and thoroughly explore this district +until I hear something further," he answered.</p> + +<p>"I am thinking of going into town in the morning, +to see if a more powerful car than the one I possess at +present is to be obtained," I told him later. "I am +hoping to get one capable of doing fifty or even sixty +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 be delighted to put you up."</p> + +<p>"Do you really mean that, Mr. Sutgrove?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Of course I do," I replied.</p> + +<p>He hesitated a moment, then he accepted my invitation. +Luck was on my side after all.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>MURDER</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'><span class='smcap'>I learned</span> to know Inspector Forrest very well during +the next fortnight, better perhaps, since during that time +the Motor Pirate gave absolutely no sign of existence. +It seemed as if, contented with the sensation he had +created and the plunder he had secured, he had retired +into the obscurity from which he originally emerged.</div> + +<p>For two reasons I was not sorry for this interval. +In the first place, I found I could not get immediately +the type of car I wanted. Manufacturers and agents +were willing enough to book orders, but none of them +had in stock the high-speed automobile such as I required. +Only after a long day's hunt did I discover an +agent who thought that he could obtain for me a 60-h.p. +Mercédès, and then it would have to be sent from +Paris. At my suggestion, he telephoned through an +order that the car should be despatched to him at once; +but two or three days elapsed before its arrival in +London, and then there were certain alterations which +I required to be made which took a week to complete. +I was glad, therefore, that my enemy did not make a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +reappearance until I was provided for him. When the +new Mercédès was delivered to me I was delighted +with it, especially when I found on my return from +the trial run the engines worked as smoothly as when +I started.</p> + +<p>The other reason why I did not regret the Pirate's +quiescence was because of the opportunity afforded me +of cementing the friendship which had grown up between +myself and the detective. It became a very +real and warm friendship during those long idle days. +He upset all my preconceived notions of the police, at +least as regards the detective portion of the force, he +was such an all-round man. He had not allowed his +undoubted powers of observation to be entirely concentrated +upon the seamy side of his profession. Judging +from his conversation, I gathered that he knew quite +as much about modern French literature as he did +about French criminals, and of the latter his knowledge +was both extensive and interesting. I remember on +one occasion that he gave me a really acute criticism +of the Verlain school, with special relation to the effects +of decadent literature on national life. But that is +only one example of his scope. Wherever he had been +and whatever he had done, had apparently awakened +in him the desire to see all round the case he was +investigating, and being possessed of a well-trained +memory, his mind was a storehouse of curious knowledge.</p> + +<p>Let me give one instance. One evening when we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +were driving slowly along a bye-road in the vicinity +of Uxbridge, in accordance with our preconceived plan—the +Mercédès had not then arrived, and our progress +was additionally slow as the roads were exceedingly +heavy, as rain had been falling daily ever since the +night I had been arrested—suddenly my companion +said—</p> + +<p>"Do you know anything of Persian poetry, Mr. +Sutgrove?"</p> + +<p>As it happened, owing to the fact that a Sutgrove +had once represented his country at the Persian court, +I had a slight knowledge of the subject, and I said so.</p> + +<p>"I am never out of doors on a spring evening," he +continued, "without wishing I had the time to acquire +a knowledge of it."</p> + +<p>"Why?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"It's this way," he replied. "On one of my jobs—a +show job, attendance on a distinguished visitor, +don't you know—I was thrown a great deal into the +company of a Persian gentleman, and we did our best +to learn something of each other's languages. He taught +me out of Hafiz, and I picked up just enough to make +me wish for more. Listen to this."</p> + +<p>He recited to me one of the shorter poems from the +Divan.</p> + +<p>"Isn't that musical?" he continued. "It seems +to me to have the real poetry of the spring evening +in it."</p> + +<p>I agreed with him, and we were silent for a while.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +Later he asked me diffidently not to mention to any one +his penchant for Persian poetry.</p> + +<p>"Even at the Yard," he explained, "I doubt whether +they would put it down to my credit."</p> + +<p>I gave him the assurance he asked for, and from that +time forth I came to look upon him as a personal friend. +I confided wholly to him the hopes I entertained in +regard to my love affair; and he assured me that if he +had anything to do with it, I should also have a hand in +the arrest of the Pirate.</p> + +<p>All our time was not spent, however, in pleasant +excursions about the country. Forrest was by no means +idle; he had been busy perfecting his scheme for utilizing +the telegraph in notifying the Pirate's reappearance +when it should be made. Then he had in addition +thoroughly and minutely explored the whole of the +country round, to see if any trace of the strange visitor +were obtainable. His endeavours were quite fruitless, +but he still held to his belief that he could not be far +away; and the next time the Pirate did make his appearance +he was confirmed in his opinion.</p> + +<p>The weather had been fine for three days in succession, +there had been a drying breeze, and the roads from +sloppy quagmires became in such perfect condition that +I was looking forward to a really good spin. But +Forrest had other views for the evening of the third +day.</p> + +<p>"I don't think," he remarked, as he sipped his coffee +after our early dinner, "we can afford to spend the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +night ranging the highways. Business first and pleasure +afterwards."</p> + +<p>"I thought you were of opinion that our friend +will be tempted to make his reappearance to-night?" I +remarked.</p> + +<p>"I am," he answered; "and therefore the best thing, +we can do is to wait until we hear in which direction +he makes his reappearance. If we wait in St. Albans +at the end of the telegraph wire, we shall be much more +likely to meet him than running about at random."</p> + +<p>There was so much good sense in the suggestion that +I resigned myself to the inevitable waste of time, and +I had my reward. About eleven a message came over +the wire: "Motor Pirate seen near Towcester going +in the direction of Daventry."</p> + +<p>"How far is Towcester?" asked Forrest, the moment +he heard the message.</p> + +<p>"Roughly, I should say forty miles," I answered.</p> + +<p>"We ought to manage it within the hour, then," he +remarked. "Come along."</p> + +<p>Without another word we seated ourselves in the +car, and with a continuous toot-toot of the horn we +rolled out of the town. Directly we were clear of the +houses, I jammed on the highest speed. I cannot say +that I felt quite comfortable, for though I knew the road, +the night was very dark, the light we threw ahead was +so bright as to dazzle my eyes, and hitherto I had no +experience of driving a 60-h.p. motor at top speed +through the darkness. My companion's <i>sang-<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'freid'">froid</ins></i> soon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +reassured me, however, and as soon as we were fairly +going, the sting of the night air as it whipped my cheeks +brought a sense of exhilaration which would have sufficed +to banish my fears had there been time to have entertained +any. But there was not. If you have ever +driven a speedy automobile at top speed through a dark +night, you will readily understand that there is little +opportunity for the brain to cultivate imaginary perils. +If you do not believe me, try it for yourself and see.</p> + +<p>In about sixteen minutes we were at Dunstable. +Passing through the town slowly, Forrest got news that +the police were watching all the roads, but that nothing +had been seen there of the Pirate. Another quarter of +an hour brought us to Fenny Stratford. Here we wasted +another minute or so in obtaining similar negative information. +By this time I was feeling confidence in my car +and in my powers to manage it. Once clear of the +houses again, I let her rip for all she was worth; we +simply flew along. With my right hand on the wheel, +my feet on the two pedals, I sat as tense as a fiddle string, +my one object to peer into the road ahead.</p> + +<p>We had covered ten of the fifteen miles between +Stratford and Towcester, when I became aware of a +deeper blotch on the blackness ahead. With one movement +I pressed down the clutch and jammed on the +breaks. I was just in time. The car pulled up in its +own length, though it swerved to such an extent that +I thought we should be overturned.</p> + +<p>There, standing still within the circle of our lights,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +was another motor-car. It had no lamps burning, but +it was shivering with the vibration of its engine running +free.</p> + +<p>"The Pirate!" I shouted.</p> + +<p>"Not a bit of it," said Forrest, jumping down and +approaching the stranger.</p> + +<p>I followed his example, and the first thing I observed +about the car was that all the lights were out, and I +wondered that any motorist in his senses should have +courted the accident which so nearly occurred.</p> + +<p>There was one occupant of the car, and he was +sitting bolt upright with one hand on a lever beside him. +I shouted something at him angrily as I approached, but +he made no response.</p> + +<p>"Hullo! Are you asleep, sir?" said Forrest, as he +put one foot on the step and grasped the silent motorist +by the arm.</p> + +<p>There was no reply. I saw Forrest leave his hold +on the stranger, and, stepping back into the road, draw +his hand across his brow.</p> + +<p>"My God!" he muttered</p> + +<p>"What is it?" I asked.</p> + +<p>Forrest caught his breath sharply. "A piece more +of the Motor Pirate's work, I fancy," he said slowly; +"and this time, I think it spells—murder."</p> + +<p>For a minute I stood absolutely still. It was one of +the most eerie moments of my life. Above and about +us the black night, beside us the two cars coughing +and grunting as if anxious to be moving, and that silent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +figure sitting up erect upon his seat, utterly unconscious +of the two persons standing watching him with horror-stricken +faces.</p> + +<p>Forrest's voice, clear, cool, incisive, brought me to +myself.</p> + +<p>"One of your lamps here, Sutgrove, if you can +manage it."</p> + +<p>I took a lamp from its socket, and held it while the +detective made a brief inspection. It took him a very +short time to assure him that his surmise was near the +truth.</p> + +<p>It was murder.</p> + +<p>Right in the centre of the forehead of the silent +figure was a small blue hole, so cleanly drilled that it +scarcely marred the features of the dead man. One +hand still grasped the lever, the other had dropped +slightly. When the light fell upon it, I perceived the +fingers to be tightly clasped about the butt of a revolver.</p> + +<p>Forrest lifted the hand and glanced at the weapon. +"One cartridge discharged," he said. "Surely it cannot +be a case of suicide?"</p> + +<p>Just at that moment I caught sight of a piece of +paper pinned to the dead man's coat. I pointed it out to +Forrest. He unfolded it, glanced at it, and handed it to +me without a word.</p> + +<p>It was just a half sheet of ordinary paper used for +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'typeing'">typing</ins>, and upon it was typed the following sentence—</p> + +<p>"This is the fate awaiting those who venture to +resist the Motor Pirate."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That would seem to settle the question as to whether +this is a case of suicide or not," I said, handing back the +paper to the inspector.</p> + +<p>"H'm! At all events the inquest will," he replied. +"I'm afraid in any case this ends our pursuit for the +night," he continued. "I think I must ask you to run +on to the nearest town for assistance. Have you any idea +of our whereabouts?"</p> + +<p>By calculating the time which had elapsed since +leaving Stratford with the pace at which we had been +travelling, I came to the conclusion we were not very +far from Towcester, and I suggested I had better go +there.</p> + +<p>"All right; cut along then. Revolver handy?"</p> + +<p>I replied in the affirmative as I mounted my car.</p> + +<p>"Wait one moment," he called as I was starting; +"and bring your light on a bit."</p> + +<p>I did as I was directed. Forrest took one of the +lamps and walked for five yards up the road, examining +carefully every inch of the roadway. At last he paused.</p> + +<p>"Here is where the Pirate's motor stopped," he said; +and, plumping down upon his knees, he examined the +surface carefully. Then, taking a tape from his pocket, +he made a series of measurements.</p> + +<p>I inquired what he was doing. He grunted in reply. +When he had finished he remarked—</p> + +<p>"Nothing much to be got out of that. Judging +from my measurements, our friend might be driving a +Daimler."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p> + +<p>Another thought struck him, and, before starting, he +asked me to lend him a hand in getting the other car to +the side of the road, in case any one else came along and +fell upon the fate we had so narrowly escaped. Then +I was at liberty to proceed, and, getting once more into +my own vehicle, I let the Mercédès drive ahead.</p> + +<p>But my nerve had gone. Every moment I fancied +weird shapes in the blackness before me. Every moment +I heard in my ears the strange humming of the Pirate. +Yet I dared not look round, lest I should in that instant +come upon him unawares in the shadows in front.</p> + +<p>Fortunately I had no long distance to traverse. +Soon friendly lights broke the darkness. Slackening +pace, I found myself in the well-ordered streets of a little +town. The second person I met was a policeman, and, +hailing him, I bade him jump on the car and direct me +to the police-station. Nothing loth, he obeyed.</p> + +<p>I have an idea that the story I told the sergeant in +charge was more than a little incoherent, but he understood +me sufficiently to become aware that his presence +was required immediately at the scene of a crime, and +he gave me to understand that he was ready to accompany +me forthwith. Then I remembered Forrest asking +me to see that the services of a medical man were obtained, +in order that he might make an examination of +the body before its removal, and I mentioned the matter +to the sergeant. He at once gave instructions to the +constable who had guided me to the station to knock up +a doctor and follow us at once with him, so there was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +very little delay before I was once more driving my car +at full speed towards the scene of the tragedy.</p> + +<p>By this time my nerve had returned. One reason +may have been that I had taken advantage of the slight +delay, occasioned by the sergeant giving instructions to +his subordinate, to brace myself with a stiff whisky-and-soda +from the small supply I carried on the car for +emergencies. Now, too, I had the companionship of +another able-bodied man on the car with me. I felt that, +even if the mysterious murderer were to make his appearance, +I should have a better chance of tackling him.</p> + +<p>We were not long in reaching our destination. In +fact a very few minutes elapsed before we came to the +spot where the motor-car stood, with the rigid figure of +its owner still in the position I had left him. I pulled +up beside the derelict.</p> + +<p>"Hallo, Forrest!" I shouted.</p> + +<p>There was no answer. The detective had disappeared.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>EXPLAINS A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'><span class='smcap'>I sprang</span> to the ground by the side of the death-car. +It was standing by the side of the road, just as I had left +it, its silent owner sitting rigidly erect, still grasping the +lever, and looking fixedly into the darkness.</div> + +<p>"Forrest! Forrest!" I shouted again.</p> + +<p>All was silent as the grave.</p> + +<p>It was very strange. He had promised to await my +return. I looked at my watch. Altogether half an +hour had not elapsed since my departure. Yet many +things might happen in half an hour with such a spirit +of death abroad as I knew to be hovering around. I +shivered.</p> + +<p>The police sergeant was as much bewildered at +Forrest's disappearance as myself. On our way, I had +explained more fully the circumstances under which we +had discovered the crime which had been committed. +He knew my companion by name and reputation, and +he was quite at a loss to explain his absence.</p> + +<p>I scanned the road so far as it was revealed by our +lights, half expecting yet dreading to see his prostrate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +form. But there was nothing visible. Each taking a +lamp from my car, the sergeant and I set out to search +the hedges and ditches on each side of the road. We +did so conscientiously for a hundred yards up and down +the road, and on each side, but found nothing.</p> + +<p>When we got back to the car, the sergeant said to me—</p> + +<p>"Perhaps Mr. Forrest has found a clue, and thought +he would waste no time in following it up."</p> + +<p>The suggestion seemed feasible enough, but just at +that moment my glance fell on something at my feet +which put the idea to flight. Lying on the road was +a large button. I picked it up. I saw at once that it +had been torn violently away from the garment to which +it had been attached, for a piece of the cloth had come +away with it, I looked at it narrowly—the cloth was +of the same material as the overcoat Forrest had been +wearing.</p> + +<p>The button had been almost under the wheels of my +car, so I backed the Mercédès a few yards, and looked +about for further traces. In the space thus laid bare there +lay a lamp smashed to pieces. I picked up the frame, +and saw that it was one of the lamps taken from the +other motor. Further search only revealed another +button similarly attached to a shred of cloth like the +first one I had found. That was all.</p> + +<p>The sergeant looked at me and I at him. One +thought was in both our minds, and we gave utterance +to it simultaneously.</p> + +<p>"The Motor Pirate has been back again."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You must have scared him away the first time, +and on his return to complete the job he found the +inspector here, and——"</p> + +<p>The sergeant did not complete his sentence, but +glanced apprehensively up and down the road.</p> + +<p>"If he has returned, I don't see what he can have +done with Forrest," I replied.</p> + +<p>"Heaven knows!" the man replied, involuntarily +lowering his voice. "I—I begin to believe that this +Motor Pirate is—is the Devil."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, man!" I said sharply.</p> + +<p>To tell the truth, my own nerves, in spite of the +whisky, were in none too firm a condition; and I knew +it would be fatal to allow myself to become infected by +the very obvious funk which had seized upon my companion. +I felt, however, I must be doing something +unless I wanted to succumb.</p> + +<p>"Look here," I said, "you wait by the car a few +minutes, while I go two or three hundred yards further +up the road, to see if I can find any other traces."</p> + +<p>"I—I would much rather you—you didn't leave +me," stammered the sergeant. "It's bad enough for +there to be only the two of us."</p> + +<p>"Come, pull yourself together," I replied roughly. +"There's nothing to be afraid of."</p> + +<p>"I don't think I can stand being left here alone," +repeated the sergeant.</p> + +<p>"Very well; you had better come along with me +then," I replied.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p> + +<p>He jumped into the car beside me with alacrity, and +I started the motor, though not until I had arranged +my revolver handily at my side. We went for a mile +at our slowest pace in the direction of Stratford, and +finding nothing, we returned, and covered the same +distance in the direction of Towcester, with a similar +result. Our progress was brought to a termination by +our meeting with a trap containing the doctor, who +was accompanied by a couple of constables. When we +recognized who was approaching, the change that came +over the demeanour of the sergeant was astonishing. +All his courage came back to him. He talked to me +quite easily as we returned to the scene of the outrage +with the trap keeping close behind us; and when we +pulled up, he took control of the proceedings as if he +had never felt a moment's tremor in his life. He must +have observed my astonishment, for he took me aside +and said—</p> + +<p>"I was a bit overcome just now, sir. You won't +mention it before my men."</p> + +<p>"Certainly not," I answered. "I was only one +degree better myself."</p> + +<p>"That's enough to make any one feel creepy," he +said, jerking his thumb towards the silent figure.</p> + +<p>We did nothing but stand about and talk in subdued +tones, until the doctor had completed his examination +of the silent figure by the light of my lamps. It did +not last long.</p> + +<p>"Death was instantaneous," he said, as he stepped<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +down from the car. "The bullet appears to have passed +straight along the longitudinal sinus, and, as near as I +can tell, he must have been dead about an hour."</p> + +<p>"You would like to make a more extensive examination, +I suppose, doctor?" said the sergeant.</p> + +<p>"If a suitable place were available," he replied.</p> + +<p>The sergeant mentioned an inn at a village not far +distant, and, the doctor acquiescing, arrangements were +at once made for conveying the body there, the +sergeant and I setting out in advance to provide for +its reception.</p> + +<p>I am not going into any further detail regarding the +proceedings of that night. Indeed I can to-day scarcely +recall them. I know that I waited at the inn for a +long while after the melancholy <i>cortège</i> arrived, and that +I felt curiously dazed amidst all the bustle caused by +the arrival. I remember eventually driving the sergeant +back to Towcester, and making to him a long statement, +which he took down in writing.</p> + +<p>By the time I had completed this statement day had +dawned. I shall never forget my impressions of that +early morning as I rode home alone. The birds were +twittering in the hedgerows, a soft white mist hung low +down over the meadows, all nature was so serene and +peaceful that it was difficult to imagine that the night +which had passed had been so full of horror and mystery. +I felt as one awakened from a dream. But on my way +I passed the deserted motor-car. A constable was beside +it, and I pulled up to speak to him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Seen nothing of Inspector Forrest, I suppose?" I +asked.</p> + +<p>"Nothing," he replied.</p> + +<p>I gave him good morning and got on. I made +similar inquiries at Fenny Stratford, and again at Dunstable, +still without result. I comforted myself with the +thought that at St. Albans I should certainly hear news +of him. But no. I found the police wild with excitement, +but entirely without any information as to what +had become of the missing detective. I found, however, +that they did not share my forebodings as to anything +serious having happened to him. Their view was that +he had discovered some clue, and was hard upon the +track of the murderer. I had to give them a complete +history of the events of the night. But I got away at +last, and reached home as tired as I had ever been in +my life.</p> + +<p>I took a bath as hot as I could bear it, and went +straight to bed. I was dead beat, and I fell asleep +instantly.</p> + +<p>I awoke some time in the afternoon, and when I +had got the sleep out of my eyes, and the events of the +previous night came back to me, I felt inclined to curse +myself for having thought of resting. I felt certain that +if it had been myself who was missing, Forrest would +not have slept until he had discovered something concerning +my fate. I made a hasty meal while dressing, +and ordered my car to be brought round. Directly it +appeared I hurried off to St. Albans.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p> + +<p>Nothing had been seen or heard there of Forrest, +and once more I set out upon the road I had traversed +the previous night. Again I rode as far as Towcester. +I had a chat with the sergeant of police, and found that, +though search parties had scoured the country round for +miles, no intelligence had been obtained. I made +arrangements to appear at the inquest on the following +day, and returned to St. Albans. Still no news.</p> + +<p>I got home again about seven, sick at heart. I had +counted so much upon Forrest's assistance in the fulfilment +of my vow; but that was only a secondary consideration +now. I had grown to like him so much, that +the idea that he had met with any mischance knocked +me over completely. I went into my study and threw +myself moodily into a chair. My man brought me in +some whisky, and hovered about until I told him +to go.</p> + +<p>"You were going to dine at Mr. Winter's to-night, +sir, with Mr. Forrest," he reminded me.</p> + +<p>The engagement had completely passed from my +memory.</p> + +<p>"I shall be unable to go, Wilson," I said.</p> + +<p>"They haven't found Mr. Forrest, then, sir?" said +the man respectfully. He was simply brimming over +with curiosity.</p> + +<p>"No. I'm afraid we shall never see him alive again," +I groaned.</p> + +<p>"Dear me! Not so bad as that, I hope, sir," he +responded sympathetically, as he still lingered.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Not half so bad as that, Wilson," remarked a cheery +voice just outside the door.</p> + +<p>My man started, and I jumped to my feet with a +shout of welcome.</p> + +<p>"Forrest! Forrest!" I cried. "Come along in, man."</p> + +<p>"Well, if I may?" replied Forrest's voice.</p> + +<p>"If you may!" I answered. "Why—what +the——!"</p> + +<p>My astonishment at the appearance he presented as +he entered the room choked my further utterance.</p> + +<p>The man who entered was a veritable scarecrow. +A man with a torn coat and rent trowsers, and a battered +hat which barely held together upon his head. He was +covered from head to foot with mud. His face was dirty, +unshaven, disreputable.</p> + +<p>"Forrest? Is it indeed you?" I could not but ask, +when my speech returned to me.</p> + +<p>"I don't ask you to recognize me until I have had +a bath and a shave," he replied. "But when I have +sacrificed to Hygeia, I expect to be presentable enough +to dine with Mr. Winter to-night. I've been wondering +all day whether I should manage to get here in time. +Meanwhile, the least spot of whisky——"</p> + +<p>I could not express my delight at his return, and +unthinkingly I poured out nearly a tumbler of the neat +spirit, and felt almost hurt when he returned all but one +finger to the decanter.</p> + +<p>"If you give me a dose like that, I shall certainly +be unable to accompany you," he said.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span></p> + +<p>I could curb my curiosity no longer. I burst out +with a string of questions.</p> + +<p>"Where have you been? What has happened to +you? Why did you disappear? How——"</p> + +<p>He stopped me. "So that's why you gave me all +that whisky. You wanted to make me talk, eh?"</p> + +<p>I laughingly disassociated myself from any such intention, +and, putting the curb on my curiosity, I turned +him over to Wilson to be valeted out of the semblance +to a tramp.</p> + +<p>The process took some time, and when he came +downstairs in irreproachable evening clothes, there was +no time for him to give me the history of his adventures +unless we were to miss our dinner.</p> + +<p>"And that," declared Forrest, "I absolutely refuse to +do; for, with the exception of sixpenny worth of rum and a +crust of bread and cheese, nothing has passed my lips since +dinner last night."</p> + +<p>"Then you will be glad to hear that the Winters are +punctual people," I remarked as we at once set out for my +neighbour's house.</p> + +<p>"I suppose," he said, as we reached our destination, "I +may count upon you not referring to the plight in which +I returned to your place? I should not care for it to get +abroad that the Pirate had got the better of me on the +first occasion of our meeting."</p> + +<p>"Then you have seen him?" I cried eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Seen him!" Forrest ejaculated in reply. "Seen +him! After dinner you shall have a full, true and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +particular account of all that's happened. Until then—well, +assume you know everything but are not at liberty +to divulge anything."</p> + +<p>I was as much at home in Winter's house as in my +own, so I did not trouble to ring and Forrest followed me +in. I had forgotten that his appearance was likely to +create as great a sensation there as it had caused me. I +entered the drawing-room first, Forrest being a little behind. +Mrs. Winter, a fluffy-haired little woman with +blue baby eyes, baby lips, and a most engaging little baby +dimple, was the centre of the party gathered there. The +other women were Miss Maitland and Mrs. Winter's +twin sister, who reproduced the hair, lips, eyes and dimple +with such exactness that it was always a puzzle to me how +Winter had managed to make up his mind between them. +About them were gathered Colonel Maitland, Mannering, +Winter himself, and another man whom he had brought +down with him from town that day. The subject of +conversation, I learned afterwards, had been entirely devoted +to Forrest's disappearance, and when they caught +sight of him the effect was electrical. The ladies all +jumped to their feet, the twin sisters screamed in unison, +the men stood stock still. Mannering appeared to be the +most astonished, for he turned pale and his lips became +livid. Before any one could say a word, however, the +door opened again and the butler announced dinner in an +impassive voice, which sent everybody into convulsions of +laughter.</p> + +<p>We filed into dinner a particularly merry party. Mrs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +Winter had arranged for me to take in Miss Maitland, and +the fact that Mannering obviously resented the arrangement +added a great deal to my good humour. The fact +of Forrest being the lion of the evening did not disturb +me at all. Indeed I was glad some one else had to parry +the numberless questions put to him respecting his disappearance.</p> + +<p>He fenced them remarkably well, though of course, +when cornered, he could always fall back upon the excuse +of his mouth being closed by the official pledge of secrecy.</p> + +<p>Needless to say, only one topic was mooted, and I +should not have referred to it had not the man whom +Winter had brought from town said something which, I +found afterwards, had some bearing on future events. +This person was a diamond merchant in his business hours, +and after the ladies had left us, he expressed the opinion +that it was a good thing the Motor Pirate confined his +attentions to fellow motorists.</p> + +<p>"If, for instance," he remarked, "he were to take it +into his head to hold up the Brighton Parcels Mail to-morrow +night, he would make one of the best-known +firms in Hatton Garden feel very sick."</p> + +<p>"How's that?" asked Mannering, carelessly. He had +quite recovered from the temporary shock which Forrest's +unexpected appearance had occasioned him.</p> + +<p>"Well, I heard they are sending off a particularly +valuable collection of stones by registered parcel post to-morrow," +he answered.</p> + +<p>"Seems a silly thing to do," commented Winter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't know about that," was the reply. "Their +theory is that the chances of robbery are infinitely less +than by any other method of forwarding. They have +followed the practice for years, and hitherto have never +made a loss. You see, no one knows anything about it +except the principal, who takes the packet to the post +office. He registers it at St. Martin's, and the packet is +immediately placed amongst a number of parcels of all +sorts, shapes and sizes; and the chance of a casual thief +selecting that particular parcel, even if he had the chance, +are at least a hundred to one, while it is well known that +the postal employee who steals always lets the registered +letter severely alone."</p> + +<p>The subject was not pursued further, and soon after +we joined the ladies. The party broke up early, and I +was not sorry, for I could see Forrest was tired and I +wanted to get his story from him before he turned in. +But when we were back in my snuggery, I found that he +considered it necessary to report himself at St. Albans. I +was on the telephone, so I suggested its use, and he jumped +at the idea. After some little difficulty we managed to +get a message through to the police-station. Then settling +down into an easy chair with a great sigh of content, he +reeled out an account of his adventures.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>DESCRIBING A RIDE WITH THE PIRATE</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'>"<span class="smcap">When</span> you left me," Forrest began, "I thought I +would pass the time until your return in making a still +more detailed inspection of the ground than we had +already made. I found I had no lights. In order to get +over the difficulty, I went to the car in which the dead +man was seated and examined the lamps. They were in +good working order, and I could see that their extinction +had not been due to any mischance. Why they should +have been put out and the machinery of the car left +running puzzled me. I could only conclude that the +Pirate, after shooting his victim, had approached the car +to plunder him, but had been scared away by the sound +of our approach. He must have turned out the lights +and have just had time to draw the car across the road to +make a trap for us, before making his own escape. This +impression of mine was confirmed later. I took one of +the lamps from its socket, lit it, and looked again at the +dead body. I am almost certain he had not been +disturbed since the fated bullet struck him. His coat +was closely buttoned. His rug was wrapped tightly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +round him. There were papers in his coat pocket, and +I could feel through the coat that his watch and chain +were still upon him. When thinking that the Pirate +could not be far off, I regretted I had not accompanied +you; but remembering you were well armed, I reckoned +that if you did meet the gentleman, you were quite +capable of giving a good account of yourself—and of +him."</div> + +<p>You who happen to have read my account of the +state of my mind, as faithfully described in these pages, +will be able to judge how far my friend's confidence in +me was justified. For myself, I doubt not that had he +met me, the Pirate would have been able to add a second +victim to that night's list with little difficulty. This by +the way.</p> + +<p>"I did not make a very close examination," continued +Forrest, "since there would be plenty of time for that +when the doctor arrived. Besides, I wished him to see +the body in the position we found it. So I turned my +attention to the road again, going over the surface inch +by inch in the most methodical manner. You never +know, you see, whether some trifling object may not be +dropped by the criminal which will provide a clue. I +was so engaged when I became aware of a curious +humming sound in the air. I stood upright and peered +into the darkness. But my eyes had become dazzled by +looking at the white road in the brilliant light of the +acetylene lamp, and I might as well have expected to be +able to see through a brick wall. The most sensible<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +course to have pursued would have been to extinguish +the lamp; but, instead of doing so, I stood like a fool +in the middle of the road and waited until the Pirate—it +was he without the slightest doubt—swooped down +upon me, and if I had not at the last moment leaped +aside I should have been bowled over. As it was, I just +escaped being knocked down. The car pulled up with +a jerk, and there, within reach, was the person whose +capture would have—well, you can guess what it would +have meant to me, if I could have managed to get him +single-handed. But for the moment I was so astounded +at the audacity of the rascal I could do nothing. I was +not long in making up my mind to have a shot at +capturing him, however. I dropped the lamp to the +ground, and clipping my hand into my pocket I grasped +my revolver. I knew I had to deal with a desperate +character, but I was scarcely prepared to find him as +physically powerful as he proved to be. I stepped up +close to the car and with my left hand made a grab at +him. It was a fruitless attempt. I found my wrist held +in a grip of steel. I raised my right with the revolver. +I was just a moment late in pulling the trigger, for he +knocked up my hand and the bullet went wide. Before +I had another chance, he twisted the weapon out of my +grasp with a wrench that numbed my arm to the +shoulder. How he managed to see in the dark was a +mystery to me. He must have eyes like a cat—that man."</p> + +<p>Forrest paused to light another cigarette, and after +a couple of puffs he resumed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"But the most startling thing was to come. Holding +me tightly he leaned over towards me and said, 'Not +this time, Inspector Forrest. You may think you have +the Motor Pirate, but I can assure you that you were +never more mistaken in your life.' Astonishment is not +the name for my feelings at hearing him address me by +my name. I had caught a glimpse of him before I +dropped the lamp, but he was so swathed in his leather +coat and disguised by his mask, that I should never be +able to identify him. But I seemed to recognize something +familiar in the intonation of his voice, yet even +that was so muffled that I cannot be certain I have ever +heard it before. However, I did not allow my astonishment +to prevent me taking action. I threw myself suddenly +backwards, hoping the weight of my body would +upset his balance and drag him from his car to the ground, +where we should have been on more equal terms. The +jerk moved him about as much as if he had been built +into his car. 'No, you don't, Inspector,' he said, with an +infernal chuckle; and, so saying, he leaned over and, +catching me by the coat, lifted me off my feet and +swung me up on to the car before him. I'm not a light +weight, as you can guess—I turn the scale at something +nearer twelve stone than eleven—but he handled me as if +I were a baby. I struggled of course, but my right arm +was powerless, and he could master me with ease."</p> + +<p>"I suppose it was during the struggle that you lost +the two buttons from your overcoat which you left +behind you?" I asked.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Most likely," he replied, "though I knew nothing +of them. Really his strength seemed diabolic. There +was something else about him which to my mind scarcely +seemed natural. At all my struggles he continued to +laugh, but there was no merriment in his laughter, it +was merely an even guttural cachinnation, the laugh of +a fiend at the aimless struggles of a lost soul. It seemed +to give him immense pleasure to see me wriggling on the +smooth curved metal plate which formed the front of his +car. I grew tired at last and lay still, hoping for a +chance to better my position, for I came to the conclusion +that in a mere trial of strength he was immeasurably my +superior.</p> + +<p>"When he saw my resistance had ceased, he spoke +again. 'I feel inclined to take you for a ride with me, +Inspector,' he said. 'I can assure you that you will find +the experience a thrilling one. It is given to few men +to travel with the Motor Pirate. The pace alone should +prove exhilarating, to say nothing of the companionship +and—what awaits you at the termination of the entertainment.' +He chuckled again as he concluded, and I +felt a cold thrill in the region of my spine.</p> + +<p>"I made no reply. What would have been the +use? But I do wish my right arm had been of some +use, for I think in my anger I might have stood some +chance of turning the tables on him. I quietly tried +to rub the feeling back into it, but he did not afford me +a chance of doing so for long. He produced a length of +rope from somewhere or other, and, before I gathered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +what he was doing, he had twisted it round me and +bound my arms tightly to my sides. I was absolutely +powerless, and I gnashed my teeth with rage at the +helpless state in which I found myself. There was I, +a detective inspector with a reputation at the Yard second +to none, trussed like a fowl, and lying on the slippery +surface of the Pirate car I had come out to capture."</p> + +<p>"Not exactly a pleasant position," I remarked, as +Forrest paused to moisten his throat with the whisky-and-soda +at his elbow.</p> + +<p>"No; but the worst was yet to come. He had no +sooner secured my arms than he drew another piece of +cord through the band, and fastened it somewhere or +other. 'Now, if ever you pray, Inspector,' he remarked, +with some more of his beastly merriment, 'pray that +this rope doesn't break; for if it should happen to do +so at the pace we shall be travelling, you will go to hell +even sooner than I intend you to do.'</p> + +<p>"With that he set his car in motion, and, judging +by the way the wind stung me, the pace was something +terrific. At first I attempted to pay some attention to +the direction we took. But I soon gave up the idea. My +position on the car was not one from which I could observe +anything with any degree of comfort. With my arms +bound, I sprawled out upon the smooth, curved bonnet +of the confounded car, only held on by a cord which +I expected to break and send me flying into the next +world every time we touched a stone, or crossed a rut. +My heart was in my mouth for the next hour or so,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +but afterwards I think I grew careless or callous. He +had pulled the cord round my arms pretty tightly; that +numbed me all over, and the exposure to the air did +the rest. I fell into a dreamy condition. I only know +that never for a moment were we still. There was +always the drone of the wheels in my ears, and whenever +I made a struggle and opened my eyes, all I could see +was the blacker streak in the blackness caused by the +hedges flying past. Heaven only knows how far and +where we went. It seemed an eternity until it ended. +But by then I was very near unconsciousness. I have +a sort of impression the car did stop. I fancy that I +saw the Pirate's mask bent closely over me while he +examined me, that I heard him say, 'I don't think, +Mr. Inspector, your attentions will trouble me much +more.' I do remember distinctly being lifted in his +powerful hands. I felt him swing me once, twice, thrice; +then I felt myself flying in the air, and the next moment +my senses came back to me with a rush, for I plumped +into several feet of water."</p> + +<p>"Well?" I ejaculated, as Forrest paused to light +another cigarette. I was so interested that I grudged +him a moment's delay before completing the story.</p> + +<p>"The curious thing to my mind is that he did not +knock me on the head at first," said Forrest. "I can +only explain it by the conclusion that our friend the +Motor Pirate is a madman. But, if so, I undoubtedly +owe my life to the means he took to finish it. The +sudden immersion brought me to myself much more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +rapidly than any other process could have done. In +detaching me from the car he must have loosened the +knot of the rope binding my arms; possibly the water +made it slip further before it became saturated. I felt +the rope give, and got one arm free by the time I came +to the surface. I floundered into shallow water, and +paused. By this time there was just a glimmer of light +on the eastern horizon from the dawn, and I could see +the bank was only a yard or two distant. Somehow +or another I managed to scramble out, bringing half the +bed of the river, or pond, whichever it was I had been +pitched into, with me. When I was on firm ground +I collapsed. I did not remain long on the ground, +though. I knew very well that if I wanted to escape +a severe illness, the only thing to do was to keep moving +until my circulation was restored. So I got going. It +was hard work at first. My limbs were so cramped +and stiff that I was compelled to stop and groan after +crawling every six paces. But the stiffness wore off +gradually. I went ahead until I struck a village, and +found out in what part of the country I was."</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you go to the police-station?" I +asked.</p> + +<p>"Wasn't going to make myself a laughing-stock for +a lot of country constables," he answered. "No; if +I had got my man, I should not have minded what sort +of figure I cut, but to turn up such a scarecrow after +failing to get my man—not much. I had learned from +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span>the post-office window where I was. I had been +dropped near Shefford, a village a few miles the other +side of Hitchin on the North Road, and I thought if +I walked back here I should avoid all likelihood of getting +a chill. So I started. I found I had a shilling in my +pocket. I had more money about me than that when +I started out, but whether our friend helped himself to +the balance, or whether it fell from my pockets during +the ride, I haven't the slightest idea. But the shilling +was sufficient to provide for my requirements. The +first public-house I found open I went in, and had six-penny-worth +of hot rum. My word! There's nothing +like hot rum for putting new life into one. After I +had drunk it I reckoned I should get here about noon; +but I had not taken the somniferous effects of that +sixpenny-worth of rum into the calculation. Before I +had covered half a dozen miles, I found myself so sleepy +that I could not keep my eyes open. I dropped off +once or twice as I walked, so at last I made for a convenient +haystack, rolled myself up in the loose litter at +the base, and let myself go.</p> + +<p>"That's how it happened I was so late in my +arrival," he remarked; "and now, Motor Pirate or +no Motor Pirate, I am going to finish that snooze."</p> + +<p>He gave a prodigious yawn, and held out his hand. +"Good night!" I said. "The story of my adventures +will very well keep until to-morrow."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH THE PIRATE HOLDS UP THE BRIGHTON MAIL</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'><span class='smcap'>On</span> joining Forrest at breakfast the following morning, +I found he had mapped out a programme for the day +which promised to keep us pretty busily occupied.</div> + +<p>"First," he said, "I must get into St. Albans, and +see whether there is any fresh information to hand. If +possible, I should like to run over to Shefford, for I want +to look at the place where I had my ducking, and recover +the piece of cord with which that almighty scoundrel +secured me. Then there's the inquest at Towcester at +twelve, and sometime to-day I must put in an appearance +at head-quarters to hand in my report. Perhaps I had +better train from Towcester for that. It will be making +too great demands on your time."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" I replied; "I can run you up to town +very nearly as quickly as you could manage the journey +by rail."</p> + +<p>"I hope you won't have to return alone," he remarked. +"I am hoping to be able to inflict myself upon +you for a few more days; but it is on the cards I may be +taken off the job since I have met with so little success."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I hope not," I answered.</p> + +<p>"I should be sorry, too," he said. "I am more +convinced than ever that our friend is living within a +twenty-mile radius of this house."</p> + +<p>"What grounds have you for thinking so?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"The very slightest at present," he declared frankly; +"and until I have seen the police reports from other +parts of the country, I will not commit myself definitely +to the opinion."</p> + +<p>I could not get anything more out of him then, but +after he had made a note of all the information to be +obtained at St. Albans—we were on the road by nine-thirty—he +became more communicative. The information +he obtained did not amount to much. On the previous +evening, the Motor Pirate had not made his appearance +anywhere; while on the evening before, the only outrage +of which he had been guilty was the murder which we +had discovered. On that night, however, his car had +been reported as having been seen on various roads in +the midlands, one appearance having been recorded as +far north as Peterborough.</p> + +<p>"That confirms my opinion," Forrest declared. +"The Peterborough report gives the time of his +appearance as about 2.50. The sun rises at five, and it +is beginning to be light an hour earlier. It must have +been about four when he dropped me into the water at +Shefford. Hitherto he has not been seen by daylight at +all. Clearly he must have delayed getting rid of me +until he thought it was dangerous to carry me about any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +longer. He may even have been close to his own home, +though he would probably select a spot twenty or +thirty miles away at least."</p> + +<p>"It seems likely," I agreed.</p> + +<p>"Certain of it," said Forrest. "Now we will get +along to Shefford."</p> + +<p>We had a very pleasant run, and a mile from the +village, Forrest stopped me where a deep pool fringed +with rushes skirted the road.</p> + +<p>"This is the spot," he cried.</p> + +<p>He left me in the car and scrambled through the +hedge into an adjoining field. He came running back +with a dilapidated overcoat sodden with water in one hand, +and a piece of rope in the other.</p> + +<p>"Thought I could not be mistaken," he cried.</p> + +<p>When he was again in the car he examined the rope +carefully.</p> + +<p>"Just an ordinary piece of half-inch cord," he remarked. +"It's not of much value as a clue, but as a +piece of evidence—I have known a man's life hang upon +a slighter thread before now." He chuckled grimly at +his own pleasantry.</p> + +<p>"Where next?" I inquired.</p> + +<p>"Towcester," he replied; and I wheeled the car +round, and we were soon making the dust fly again.</p> + +<p>We were not detained very long at the inquest. +Forrest had a few words with the coroner, so that after +formal evidence of identification had been given, and I +had made my statement as to the finding of the body,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +the inquiry was adjourned. Thus plenty of time was +left at our disposal, and we did not hurry on our way to +town, even breaking our journey on the way for lunch.</p> + +<p>The weather remained delightfully fine. Clean +roads, blue sky, soft winds, combined to make ideal +weather for motoring. We reached town about four, +and went straight to Scotland Yard. Forrest went in +while I waited for him. Then he returned for me, and, +taking me up in the lift, he piloted me into the presence +of the commissioner, whom I found to be an exceedingly +courteous gentleman. He expressed himself indebted to +me for the assistance I had rendered the department. I +did not see that my assistance had been of much practical +value, and I said so; but I added that I was very keen +on the Motor Pirate's capture, and I should be glad to +render any service in my power which would tend to +such an end.</p> + +<p>"Anything you can do to assist Inspector Forrest will +be greatly appreciated," he declared. "Of course, it is +not our usual plan to make use of outside assistance, but +we are not so bound up in red tape as to refuse such aid +as that you offer."</p> + +<p>We had ten minutes' further conversation, and then +Forrest and I left together. The detective was in high +glee. He had obtained <i>carte blanche</i> to do as he liked. +His chief had expressed every confidence in him, while +urging him to spare no effort to obtain the Pirate's +arrest.</p> + +<p>"The fact is," he said, "the papers have been rubbing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +it into us for allowing such audacious crimes to be committed +right under our noses, and the chief is wild to +get the chap. Half of the detective force are already +engaged on the job. I fancy I should get him myself +singlehanded sooner or later if he were a sane man; but, +as it is, the cunning of a madman upsets every calculation."</p> + +<p>"You still hold to the theory that he is mad?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Cannot explain his treatment of me in any other +way," he replied promptly.</p> + +<p>"Well, what's the next move?" I asked, when we +had returned to our car. "I suppose we may as well go +for a prowl to-night, on the off-chance of finding him."</p> + +<p>"We might try a new district," answered Forrest, +"You may have noticed that he breaks fresh ground +every time he reappears."</p> + +<p>"Where shall it be then?"</p> + +<p>Forrest answered my question with another. "Supposing +yourself to be in his place, and the desire to +attract notoriety a stronger motive than mere plunder. +What should you do?"</p> + +<p>There flashed into my memory what Winter's guest +had said about the Brighton Parcels Mail, and I said +laughingly—</p> + +<p>"I fancy I should hold up the Brighton Mail."</p> + +<p>"As likely a feat as any for him to attempt," replied +Forrest, thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>I glanced up at the clock in the tower of St. Stephens; +the hands pointed to a quarter before five.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well," I said, "we may as well run down to +Brighton by daylight and get acquainted with the road, +since I have only driven over it once before. We can +dine at the Metropole comfortably, spend a couple of +hours on the front after dinner, and have plenty of time +to meet the mail on the road afterwards."</p> + +<p>"A most excellent suggestion," agreed the inspector, +and his eyes twinkled at the thought of the programme +I had mapped out.</p> + +<p>We started forthwith. Reaching Brighton before +sunset, I refilled my tanks with petrol before putting the +car up at the Metropole and reserving a table for +dinner. We had a wash, walked to the Hove end of +the esplanade, and came back to our dinner with appetites +equal to anything. We sat over our coffee a long while, +Forrest making the time fly by spinning yarns about his +experiences. Then we smoked a cigar on the pier, and +so whiled away the time until eleven. If we had started +then we should possibly have reached town before the +mail had started, but as we were both tired of dawdling +about, I proposed that we should extend our tour.</p> + +<p>Forrest was quite agreeable. "Really we are out +on a fool's errand," he remarked. "We are just as +likely to meet him on one road as another. Yet I have +a presentiment that we shall hear something further about +him to-night. If we do meet him, remember one thing. +One of us must get in the first shot, and it must not +miss."</p> + +<p>"Don't wait for me to shoot, then," I replied.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span></p> + +<p>We got our car, and after a glance at the map, I told +my companion where I proposed to go: a run along the +coast to Worthing, there to strike inland for Horsham, +from Horsham to make for the Brighton road about +Crawley, roughly about a forty-mile run in all, and I +reckoned that if we kept to the legal speed limit we +should just about meet the mail.</p> + +<p>Forrest made no objection to my suggestion, so we +started at our slowest pace. I had very little to do, and +the ride was one of the most enjoyable I have ever +experienced. The salt breath of the sea was in our faces, +and the roar of it in our ears. I was quite sorry when +on reaching Worthing it became necessary to leave +the coast. Inland the roads were absolutely deserted. +We did not meet a single person between Worthing and +Horsham, and for the first time I realized how easily the +Motor Pirate's movements could evade notice. At +Horsham we looked in at the police-station, and Forrest +made a formal inquiry as to whether anything had been +heard of our quarry in the neighbourhood; but, as we +expected, without result. We remained there a little +time to stretch our legs and to drink a cup of tea, which +the officer in charge prepared for us, and on leaving we +proceeded at the same steady pace, arriving in Crawley +something after four. There we found that the mail +had passed through a quarter of an hour before our +arrival, and I questioned whether it would be worth our +while to remain any longer on the road.</p> + +<p>"We may as well make a night of it," said Forrest,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +in reply to my remark on the subject, so I turned the +car in the direction of Brighton again. We bowled +along at about fifteen miles an hour, at which rate I +reckoned on catching the mail within half an hour. But +we were destined to overtake it in a considerably shorter +time, for just after passing the third milestone after +leaving the village, our path was blocked by the huge +van standing in the middle of the road and all across it.</p> + +<p>I pulled up at once. Apparently the vehicle was not +much damaged, but the door was broken open, while +the parcels with which it had been laden were scattered +all over the roadway. One horse lay on the roadway +perfectly still, the others had disappeared.</p> + +<p>The moment we stopped Forrest leaped from the +car; I followed his example. The first object which +met our eyes was the form of a man. He lay perfectly +still, and I thought he was dead, but my companion had +sharper eyes. Taking a knife from his pocket, he hacked +at cords which bound the man hand and foot.</p> + +<p>"More work of the Motor Pirate," remarked Forrest +grimly, as I came to his assistance.</p> + +<p>The man was not dead, but he had been so roughly +gagged that had we arrived ten minutes later he probably +would have been beyond human help. In the condition +he was, it took us ten minutes working vigorously to +restore his respiration; and after that it took the whole +of the contents of my pocket flask to restore him sufficiently +to enable him to give us an account of the mishap +which had befallen him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then we learned that the man was the driver of the +mail, and that Forrest's surmise that we had happened +once more upon the handiwork of the Motor Pirate was +correct. He had, it appeared, been driving quietly along, +when his attention had been arrested by the curious +high-toned hum which presaged the Pirate's approach. +He was wondering what the curious noise could be, +when he suddenly realized that a long low car was beside +him. He did not anticipate any harm either to himself +or to his charge, for, though he fancied that the stranger +was the noted criminal, he shared the impression, pretty +common until then, that the Pirate confined his attentions +to motorists. The stranger did not even call upon +him to pull up. He ran beside the coach, then slightly +increasing his speed, he drew level with the wheelers of +the team. There was the sound of a pistol shot, the +off wheeler fell dead in his tracks, bringing down the +other horses in his fall, and swinging the vehicle right +across the road. The driver only escaped being pitched +from his seat by the strap which held him to it.</p> + +<p>"Then," continued the man, "he ups with 'is pistol +an' tells me to come dahn, an' dahn I toddles pretty +quick. 'Sorry ter inconwenience yer, my good feller,' +ee says. 'Don't menshing it,' I says, as perlite as you'd +be with a pistol a pointing at yer 'ed. 'I want the keys +er this 'ere waggin,' ee says. 'Sorry they don't trust +'em ter us drivers,' I answers. 'Don't matter worth +a cent,' ee says. 'I've another w'y er openin' thet +strong box. Put yer 'ands be'ind yer an' turn rahnd,'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +ee says. I done it, an' ee trusses me up like a bloomin' +chicken, an' sticks my own angkincher dahn me froat. +With thet ee walks along ter the door and blows the +bloomin' locks orf with 'is pistol. That did it. Ee +looks inside, an' the w'y ee cleared them parcels aht was +a sight—well, yer can see fer yerself wort it's like. The +other 'orses were thet mad they kicks theirselves free. +Ee goes froo the parcels cool as a cowcumber until ee +routs aht the registered parcels. Ee puts them in 'is car. +'Tar, tar!' ee says, wiving 'is 'and, an' orf ee goes jest +abaht five minutes afore you gents comed along."</p> + +<p>When Forrest realized how near we had been to +coming to close quarters with our quarry, he went aside, +and for the first time since I had made his acquaintance, I +heard him swear. It was a successful effort. He returned +to my side the next moment.</p> + +<p>"The telegraph is our only chance," he said. "Drive +like hell back to Crawley."</p> + +<p>I did. There we set the wires throbbing, and begun +to scour the countryside for any traces of the Pirate. +We did not give up our quest until eleven o'clock in the +morning. I think we inquired at every house and cottage +within a ten-mile radius of the scene of the outrage, but +without finding a single person who had seen or heard +of the Motor Pirate.</p> + +<p>Once more he had appeared and disappeared without +leaving the faintest clue to his identity.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>HOW WE EXCHANGE SHOTS WITH THE PIRATE</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'><span class="smcap">After</span> the sudden flurry which the reappearance of the +Motor Pirate caused, and quite as much in the country +at large as in my own particular circle, we settled down +once again to a condition of comparative quietude. Of +course there were plenty of facts to keep the public +interest alive and to fill the papers. The adjourned +inquest on the victim found near Towcester supplied +columns of copy, while the robbery of the Brighton Mail +afforded unlimited scope for the descriptive reporter as +well as for the special crime investigator, who at this +time made his permanent appearance on the staff of +nearly every paper of any importance in the British +Isles. My life at home was made a burden to me by +these gentlemen. I bear them no malice for their +persevering attempts to interview me, but they were an +unmitigated nuisance, since I had no wish to air my +experiences in the newspapers at this stage of affairs. +It was with the utmost difficulty I escaped the attention +of the gentlemen of the Fourth Estate, for they even +waited on my doorstep for the chance of button-holing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +me when I went out in the morning; and pursued me +so assiduously, that I dared not look a stranger in the +face, lest my glance should be translated into a column +of glowing prose.</div> + +<p>I have said that the Pirate left no clue to his identity +upon his latest appearance, and, indeed, at the time, such +was the opinion both of Forrest and myself. But in the +light of after events we learned that there was a clue, +had we been keen-witted enough to have discovered it. +In the course of our inquiries around Crawley, we +certainly did not succeed in finding any one who had +observed the mysterious car which every one had learned +to associate with the Pirate, but we had been told +casually at Caterham—we had not returned by the +direct road between London and Brighton—that we +were not the only motorists abroad on that night, since +another man had passed through the town early the +same morning. When we learned, however, that he +had been driving a car of the conventional shape with +a tonneau body, we paid no further attention to the +information, concluding that he was a sportsman, anxious +like ourselves for a brush with the Pirate. Our blindness +was to cost us dear before we had done.</p> + +<p>There was another supposition which I could not +get out of my mind in connection with the latest feat, +and a couple of days afterwards I mentioned it to Forrest +as we waited, according to our invariable custom, at +St. Albans for news of the Pirate's reappearance.</p> + +<p>"Don't you think it particularly strange," I remarked,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +"that in holding up the Brighton Mail, our friend at +once searched for the registered parcels, and directly he +laid his hands upon them at once made off?"</p> + +<p>"A perfectly natural thing for him to do," replied +the detective. "He would guess that, if there were any +valuables, they would almost certainly have been registered, +and he could scarcely hope to go over the whole contents +of the van."</p> + +<p>"Admitted," I replied. "Still, does it not strike you +as curious that he should have selected the night when +a valuable parcel of diamonds was there?"</p> + +<p>"Well?" asked Forrest, his attention thoroughly +arrested.</p> + +<p>"It almost seems as if he was possessed of the same +information as we were," I ventured.</p> + +<p>"According to your argument," he answered, "the +pirate should be either yourself or myself, Colonel Maitland, +Mr. Mannering, Mr. Winter, or his friend."</p> + +<p>"There remains Mannering and the diamond +merchant," I said thoughtfully, "and I know the latter +has never driven a motor-car in his life. Besides, he is +scarcely likely to have robbed himself in such an extraordinary +fashion." We had seen from the papers that +he had, in fact, been referring to his own firm when he +had described to us the advantages of the parcel post as +a means of transmitting valuables. "He may have other +friends beside Winter to whom he has mentioned the +matter."</p> + +<p>"There's Mr. Mannering still to be accounted for,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +remarked Forrest. "No harm can be done by inquiring +if he was away from home that evening. What sort +of establishment does he keep?"</p> + +<p>"Merely a couple of maids," I answered.</p> + +<p>"In that case there should be no trouble in ascertaining +whether he was out or not," he replied. "I'll see +about it in the morning."</p> + +<p>He made the inquiry accordingly, but as he confessed +to me afterwards, without expecting anything to come of +it. His expectations seemed to be justified in the result. +The maids declared that Mannering had gone to his +sitting-room after dinner, and had been there with his +slippers on when they retired for the night. They had +locked up the house as usual, and the doors had been +fast when they came down the next morning.</p> + +<p>This investigation, perfunctory as it was, decided us +against any idea of Mannering's complicity, and I fell +back upon the theory that the diamond merchant must +have communicated his methods to some one else. We +sought him out in the city, and he assured us that he +had never before referred to the subject. He did not +object to supplying us with the names of his acquaintances +who owned cars, and either Forrest or myself +made inquiries concerning every one of them. All were +to no purpose. When we had finished, we were no +nearer discovering anything concerning the Pirate than +we were when we had begun.</p> + +<p>Then occurred an incident which should have opened +our eyes, if anything possibly could have done so, to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +personality of the Pirate. But again we were absolutely +blind.</p> + +<p>It was the second week of May, and since, in spite +of continued fine weather, our unknown terror remained +in the seclusion of his hiding-place, wherever it might +be, I had persuaded Forrest to come with me for a run +one afternoon as far as Cambridge, proposing to return +after sunset.</p> + +<p>The roads were beginning to be a little dusty, but +altogether we had a very pleasant journey without any +incident of note. We left the university town about +nine, reckoning upon getting home comfortably before +midnight. There was a bright slice of moon shining, +and we did the dozen miles before reaching Royston at +a decent pace. We went slowly over the hilly road +out of Royston and had passed over the worst of it, and +I had just put on a higher speed, when I fancied I heard +the distant hum which once heard could never be +mistaken for anything else. Forrest heard it at the +same time as myself.</p> + +<p>"Pull up at the side of the road," he cried. "The +car must not be damaged."</p> + +<p>I obeyed, running the bonnet into the hedge and +leaving the back of the car extended over the footpath. +Meanwhile, Forrest had drawn his revolver from his +pocket, and the moment I brought the car to a standstill +I followed his example.</p> + +<p>"Don't stand on ceremony," advised my companion; +"shoot on sight!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> + +<p>The words were scarcely out of his mouth when our +enemy made his appearance, coming from the direction +of Buntingford. Whether he had any intention of +stopping and robbing us, I have no means of telling, but +I think not, for he was travelling at his most rapid pace, +and gave no signs of slackening as he approached. Once +more I was astonished at the wonderful steadiness of his +machine. He passed us in a flash, the car running as +evenly as if it were upon rails. In fact I paid so much +attention to this, that I was too late to fire with any +prospect of hitting him. Forrest was more alert. As +the Pirate swooped by, the detective's Colt spoke twice. +So far as we could see, the shots took no effect, for he +did not move an inch.</p> + +<p>"No luck," muttered my companion, as the hum +of the Pirate's car died away in the distance.</p> + +<p>I held up a warning finger. "Hush!" I said.</p> + +<p>My ears had told me truly—our enemy was once +more approaching us. I leaned over the back of the car, +this time determined that I would at least make an endeavour +to stop his progress. The road was without a +bend for a stretch of at least two hundred yards, and the +moment he came into the straight he was clearly visible to +us in the light of the moon. I did not wait. The moment +I saw him distinctly, I lifted my revolver and pulled the +trigger as rapidly as I was able. Before I had emptied +three chambers he was level. I was just in the act of +firing a third time, when a flash of fire spurted from +the running car and my pistol dropped from my hand.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +Something had struck me violently on the arm. I felt +no pain for the moment, only curiously numbed and +cold. I wondered why my companion should continue +to fire at the rapidly disappearing form of the Pirate, who +appeared to me to be swerving from side to side of the +road in the most ridiculous fashion. In another moment +he was out of sight. I felt extremely sick, and, with +something between a groan and a sigh, I sank back into +my seat.</p> + +<p>"I fancy one of us must have got him," said Forrest, +in an excited tone. "Let us get on."</p> + +<p>"I hope you are right," I answered. "For he has +certainly managed to wing me."</p> + +<p>The shock had passed off, and, with the return of +sensation, my arm felt as if a red-hot iron had been run +through it, while there was a similar sort of feeling about +my chest.</p> + +<p>"Really," said Forrest, as he looked closely into my +face. He must have seen that I was not joking, for he +jumped out of the car and came back with one of the +lamps in his hand. "Where is it?" he asked, with +some anxiety.</p> + +<p>"Merely the arm, I fancy," I replied.</p> + +<p>He took a knife from his pocket, and, without a +moment's hesitation, ripped up the sleeve of the overcoat +and under-coat which I was wearing. The shirtsleeve +was already soaked with blood, and his face was +curiously anxious as he cut away the linen and felt the +bone from wrist to shoulder. Then his face cleared.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Only through the muscle," he remarked. "A +fortnight will see the wound completely healed."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile he was tearing his handkerchief into +strips, and, with this improvised bandage, he bound up +the wound.</p> + +<p>"Sure that is all?" he asked, when he had tightened +it to his satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"I've got much the same sort of feeling here," I +replied, tapping my chest gingerly.</p> + +<p>His face grew grave again, and before doing anything +more he fished my flask out of my pocket, and insisted +upon my taking a liberal draught of the contents. Not +until then would he examine me.</p> + +<p>"Your bleeding powers would do credit to a +bullock," he commented, as he cut away my shirt: +"but beyond loss of blood, I don't think there's much +harm done."</p> + +<p>His first impression was correct. A cursory examination +was quite sufficient to convince him that I was +not much hurt.</p> + +<p>"Just a nasty furrow," he remarked. "Pretty painful, +I suppose. The bullet glanced off, turned by that +leather coat of yours, I presume. Lucky for you; as it +is, you will be all right in the fortnight."</p> + +<p>I felt relieved by his tone, and assured him, when +he had patched me up temporarily with strips torn from +my shirt-sleeves and my own handkerchief, that I felt +very little of the injury.</p> + +<p>"Now take my seat," he said, as he buttoned my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +coat round me. "I think I have had enough experience +of motoring to ensure my taking you in safety to the +nearest surgeon. It's infernally bad luck, though," he +continued. "I would swear one of us must have hit +our friend, and if we were only in a position to follow +him up, we should be pretty certain to effect a +capture."</p> + +<p>My mind had been considerably relieved to find that +I was not seriously injured, and the dose of whisky I had +taken had pulled me together.</p> + +<p>"You've bound me up pretty tightly?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"You are right enough until we find a doctor," he +answered.</p> + +<p>"In that case," I said, "if there's any chance of our +catching our man to-night, I'm not going to chuck it away. +Put the light back and let us get on."</p> + +<p>My mind was made up on the subject. One reason +was that physical pain always makes me feel mad, and I +would have given a great deal to get even with the Pirate +for that reason alone. Besides, call it vanity or what you +will, I wasn't going to let any one say I had allowed a +scratch to bowl me over. So the moment Forrest had +replaced the light, I resumed my seat in the car, asserting +that I was fully capable of driving.</p> + +<p>The detective attempted to dissuade me from the +attempt, but I was bent upon having my own way. He +did not argue the question at any length, for as soon as he +was in the car I backed into the middle of the road and +jammed on our highest speed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p> + +<p>In three minutes we were at Buntingford, and there +we nearly ran into a group of people who were gathered +in the middle of the road. They were discussing, as it +happened, the appearance of the Pirate, who had passed +through the town twenty minutes previously. Here +Forrest made another futile attempt to persuade me to see +a surgeon immediately, but I would not listen to him. +We swept onward. I could scarcely see, but I sent the +Mercédès along recklessly, stopping for nothing until we +reached Ware. I would never have driven in the manner +I did in calmer moments. Forrest told me afterwards +that his journey on the Pirate's car was nothing to it, for +the car rocked so from side to side of the road that he was +never certain whether I was not steering for the hedges; +while at every bend his heart was in his mouth when he +realized that the wheels were never on the ground together.</p> + +<p>On the outskirts of Ware we learned that the Pirate +had been seen approaching the town, but that, instead of +passing through the narrow streets, he had doubled back +in the direction of Stevenage. He had kept his twenty +minutes' start and I was for following him. Forrest was +of another opinion.</p> + +<p>"According to his usual custom, he is obviously avoiding +the towns," he argued; "and if, as I still suspect, his +hiding-place is in the vicinity of St. Albans, we shall stand +some chance of cutting him off if we take the most direct +route. He cannot be badly hurt, or we should have +picked him up before this, and under any other circumstance +we are not likely to overtake him."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span></p> + +<p>I saw the force of his reasoning and we flew on. We +heard nothing of him neither in Hertford nor in Hatfield.</p> + +<p>"Our only chance is at St. Albans," remarked my +companion, and once more I put my car to top speed.</p> + +<p>We were just about half way between the two towns +when we saw the lights of a motor ahead. I sounded the +horn, or rather Forrest did, but the vehicle made no +attempt to get out of the way. We caught up to the +stranger hand over fist, and not until we were nearly +touching did I slacken speed.</p> + +<p>As I did so the occupant of the car shouted out, +"That you, Sutgrove? Never more pleased to meet +with a friend in my life."</p> + +<p>It was Mannering.</p> + +<p>"Seen anything of the Pirate?" shouted Forrest, by +way of reply.</p> + +<p>"Merely had the pleasure of exchanging shots with +him ten minutes ago," was the astounding answer. +"Unfortunately he appears to have got the better of the +exchange, for he has managed to put a bullet in my +shoulder."</p> + +<p>"We have had a similar experience, and Mr. Sutgrove +is the victim," answered Forrest. "So I am afraid I cannot +offer much assistance."</p> + +<p>"I think I can get to St. Albans all right," he replied. +"It's only the left, and I managed to get a handkerchief +round it."</p> + +<p>"If you will let us pass," I said, "I will run on to St +Albans and see that assistance is sent to you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, I didn't notice I was taking all the road," he +remarked, as he drew aside.</p> + +<p>Once more we drove ahead at our speed limit, and five +minutes later we stopped before the police office. There +we found every one in blissful ignorance of the fact that +the Pirate was abroad. Nor did any one else see him +that night. Again he had mysteriously vanished under +circumstances which convinced the detective more firmly +than ever that his retreat was somewhere in the vicinity +of my home.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>OF THE ADVANTAGES OF BEING WOUNDED</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'><span class='smcap'>I suppose</span> I must have lost more blood than I had +reckoned upon, or else the excitement of the pursuit +had been sufficient to keep me going; but whichever it +was, no sooner had we pulled up than I collapsed. I +was never nearer fainting in my life. In fact I had to +take another stiff dose of whisky, and even then I was +only too glad to relinquish the steering-wheel to Forrest, +and let him drive me the rest of the way home. He +never left me until I was safely in bed, and the surgeon +he had summoned had stitched me up.</div> + +<p>Fortunately my wounds proved, as Forrest had foretold, +more painful than dangerous. The bullet had +carried with it some shreds of cloth; and the removal +of these from my arm was the only really painful bit +of work the surgeon had to perform. However, the +medical man insisted upon my remaining in bed, and +I obeyed his orders for a couple of days; but on the +third I felt so well that I rebelled against any further confinement, +and though still considerably sore, I managed +to get out and about.</p> + +<p>I found I was a little bit shaky, yet I managed to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +get as far as Colonel Mainland's house, and there I found +my adventure had been a blessing in disguise, for I could +see from the manner in which she greeted me, that my +last encounter with the Pirate had wiped from Miss +Maitland's memory all remembrance of the previous +occasion. There was only one thing to mar my enjoyment +of the situation thus created. Mannering had unfortunately +been successful in making himself a candidate +for similar solicitude. His injury, however, was even +more trivial than mine, the bullet having merely scored +his shoulder. I wished devoutly it had missed him +altogether, or been a few inches higher and more to +the right; for in such case I should have had Miss +Maitland's undivided sympathies and attention, whereas I +had perforce to share them with my rival. I knew I had +done nothing heroic; but if Mannering had not been hit +I might at least have posed as half a hero, instead of which +I had to be content with being a quarter of one.</p> + +<p>However, I made the most of what glory I had +earned, and I am bound to confess that I traded upon +my sore arm in the most shameless fashion.</p> + +<p>Fortunately the Motor Pirate at this time entered +upon a long period of quiescence, so that I was free to +make the most of my opportunity, and to devote the +whole of my time to Miss Maitland's society. The +detective was firmly of the opinion that this prolonged rest +was due to one of our shots having found its billet, and +declared that we should hear nothing more of him until +he had repaired damages. The inaction, however, soon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +became very wearisome to him; and when a fortnight had +elapsed without a single appearance having been chronicled, +he became quite morose. By that time he had searched +over the whole district, but not a trace of any other injured +person could he discover; and he was as much at a +loss for a clue to the identity of the Pirate as he had been +when he first entered upon the job of running him to earth.</p> + +<p>The Press by this time had nothing but jeers for the +police and for the detective force generally. Meantime +the most extraordinary steps were taken to secure the +Pirate's arrest when he should renew his career. The +Automobile Club had officially lent their assistance to +the police, and night by night the principal roads of the +county were patrolled by the members of the club, thirsting +for the opportunity of distinguishing themselves by +the capture of the marauder. The Pirate must have +been vastly amused in his retirement as he read of the +sensation he had created. I rather think that the man +in the street looked upon the whole matter as the great +sporting event of the century, and his sympathies were +undoubtedly with the man who could so easily snap his +fingers at the army of police, amateur and professional, +who were engaged in the task of seeking him. In fact, +if he had not committed the murder at Towcester, I am +convinced that the public would have elevated him to the +position of a great popular hero. Even as it was, +he had no lack of apologists; and an eminent ballad-monger +celebrated his exploits in some verses, which +were immensely applauded when recited by long-haired<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +enthusiasts at smoking concerts and similar gatherings. +All this was gall to Forrest; and at last one day, three +weeks after our encounter with the Pirate, he told me +he could stand it no longer.</p> + +<p>"I must try another line of country," he remarked.</p> + +<p>"What line do you propose?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"The only thing I can think of," he replied, "is +to make inquiries in Amsterdam, to see if the diamonds +which were taken from the mail, have been offered for +sale. I am quite certain they have not been put upon +the market this side of the water."</p> + +<p>I was very loth to let him go alone; but he would +not hear of my accompanying him.</p> + +<p>"What! run away now, and let your friend +Mannering have a clear field? I wouldn't if I were +you," he remarked. "Besides, I can manage this sort +of work better by myself."</p> + +<p>His final argument was conclusive, and he went +away promising to look me up immediately he returned, +and expressing the hope that nothing more would be +heard of the Pirate until his return.</p> + +<p>On the very same day it happened that Mannering +also took his departure from St. Stephens. I had +mentioned in his hearing that Forrest had been called +away, and he had then informed us—Miss Maitland and +myself—that he had some business in Paris in connection +with the patent tyre with which he was still experimenting, +which would entail his absence for two or three days.</p> + +<p>I sincerely trusted that his business would require a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +much longer period to transact; and as he was leaving +by an early train the next morning, I took particular +care he should obtain no opportunity for a private leave-taking +with Miss Maitland.</p> + +<p>It was not a sporting thing to do, perhaps, but I was +so much in earnest about my love-making, that I had no +scruples about spoiling as many of my rival's chances as I +could. However, as it happened, I found somewhat to +my surprise that my tactics were not unwelcome to Miss +Maitland. She confessed as much to me the next day. +She—— But perhaps it will be better for me to give in +some detail the conversation we had upon this occasion, +since it had a considerable bearing upon after events.</p> + +<p>The morning after Mannering had departed was as +brilliant a one as June ever bestowed upon mortal. Now +that my rival was out of the way, I thought I might +dispense with the sling which I had worn hitherto, and +directly after breakfast I strolled across to the Maitlands', +with the intention of persuading Miss Maitland to come +for a ride on the Mercédès. I found her on the point of +starting for a stroll, with the object of giving her favourite +Irish setter a run, and I was easily persuaded to abandon +my projected ride and accompany her instead. We <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'choose'">chose</ins> +the footpath between St. Stephen's church and the village +of Park Street, and, stepping out briskly, we soon reached +our destination; and as my companion would not hear +of turning back, we continued our walk to Bricket +Wood. There I insisted upon resting.</p> + +<p>I had never seen her in higher spirits than she was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +that morning. She bubbled over with gaiety. So much +so that I could not help commenting upon the fact.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she replied frankly, in answer to my remarks +on the subject, "I do feel gay this morning. I feel as if +a load had been removed from my shoulders."</p> + +<p>"Surely you can have no troubles," I remarked, half-banteringly.</p> + +<p>A shadow alighted for a moment upon her face and +was gone again.</p> + +<p>"Nothing which ought to be a trouble. Nothing +tangible and yet—— Oh, Mr. Sutgrove, do you—have +you ever experienced a presentiment of something +dreadful happening? No; that is not exactly what I mean. +I don't know how to explain myself without——"</p> + +<p>Then she paused, and I discreetly kept silence. Presently +she resumed.</p> + +<p>"Men are so stupid, or I would tell you all about it. +You would never understand."</p> + +<p>I saw my opening and made use of it. "We men +may be stupid both individually and collectively," I said. +"But I can answer for one man being sympathetic to +anything you like to say to him."</p> + +<p>She laughed. "I am so afraid you will think me silly."</p> + +<p>"Miss Maitland—Evie——" I began.</p> + +<p>"Hush!" She stopped me with an adorable smile. +"You know you haven't caught the Motor Pirate, yet."</p> + +<p>I summoned up the most injured expression permitted +by my contentment with my surroundings and +fell silent again.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Poor boy!" she said mockingly. "It is unkind of +me to remind you of your vow, when you have already +done your best to fulfil it."</p> + +<p>"Not quite my best, yet," I muttered sullenly.</p> + +<p>"Anyhow I think you have done quite enough to +warrant my taking you into my confidence."</p> + +<p>She said this quite seriously, and glancing up at her, I +saw she was looking into a glade of the wood with a preoccupied +expression on her pretty face, which showed me +that it was in reality no petty trouble which worried her.</p> + +<p>"This scene is so delightfully restful. I love the +cool green lights and the cool grey shadows of the +woodlands in early summer," she remarked absently.</p> + +<p>I had no eyes for aught but the face of the speaker, +though I was indirectly conscious that there was a good +deal of beauty in the wood. To me it seemed an +appropriate background, that was all.</p> + +<p>"Yes," I said. "But about this presentiment of +yours——"</p> + +<p>"It is hardly a presentiment; in fact, I don't know +what to call it," she replied. Then she turned and faced +me. "Now listen. There's an acquaintance of mine, +whom I know very well and used to like a great deal. +Yes, I think I am right in saying used to like. Well, +for some undefined reason, my liking has change to something +very like fear."</p> + +<p>"For what reason?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"None," she replied. "Absolutely there is no reason +whatever."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span></p> + +<p>"A case of Dr. Fell," I said. "Well, avoid your +Dr. Fell."</p> + +<p>"That is exactly what I am unable to do," she +answered, and I could see she was speaking truly. +"This fear has grown up in some degree, I think, from +a subtle sort of consciousness that the person in question +has it in his power to exert a curious influence over me. +I seem to be drawn against my will into an attitude +towards him which is not only against my judgment, +but also against my inclination."</p> + +<p>"Him?" I asked. "Him? Is it Mannering?"</p> + +<p>"Why, what made you think of him? Does he +affect you in the same way?" she said eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Far from it," I replied. My first feeling was one +of delight at discovering that my rival was more feared +than loved. But as I thought over the matter, my +astonishment grew. I had looked upon Mannering as +a rival, and as a favoured rival, but I was not prepared +to hear that Evie Maitland was afraid of him, or of +any other man for the matter of that, and I said so.</p> + +<p>"A month ago, I should have laughed at the idea +myself," she replied, "but to-day——" She shuddered +slightly. "Now you know why I feel so gay this morning. +The fact is, when on awakening this morning +I realized that I should be absolutely free from his +presence for two whole days, I hardly knew how to +contain myself for joy."</p> + +<p>"Surely you must have some grounds for fearing +him, something in his manner——"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No. Yet I have thought—but it is nothing. When +we have been alone together he has sat once or twice +staring at me. I try to speak to him, but he sits and +stares and stares, with his eyes so bright and all the +time so sombre—so penetrating that I feel that he sees +quite through me. Just like one does in those unpleasant +dreams where one's clothes have somehow disappeared. +To-day, and now, it seems very silly, yet I +am certain I shall feel exactly the same the next time I +meet him. Then when he sees how confused I am he +gives a sort of a laugh, an unpleasant kind of a chuckle +without any merriment in it."</p> + +<p>"He's a d——d cad!" I cried hotly.</p> + +<p>"I—I don't know," she answered. "I don't seem +to mind at the time. It is just as if I were in a dream, +for I am so fascinated in watching him that I have +no thoughts left for myself. It is when he has gone +that the thought seems unpleasant. Then I always +think I will never see him again, but the next time he +calls I feel bound to do so. There, now I have confided +in you, don't tell me I am a weak hysterical girl or +I really don't know what will happen to me."</p> + +<p>She laid one of her little hands on my arm and +looked imploringly into my eyes.</p> + +<p>"I know you are neither weak nor hysterical," I +replied.</p> + +<p>"You will help me, won't you?" she asked.</p> + +<p>I took both hands in mine and looked straight into +her eyes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The only way I see of helping you," I said +deliberately, "is for you to give me the right to +do so."</p> + +<p>She did not take her hands from my grasp.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"Do you know, Jim," she said an hour later, when +we came out of the wood into the meadow, "that I told +you not to speak to me until you had captured the Motor +Pirate."</p> + +<p>"You could not answer for me, darling," I replied. +"But I should not have done so if I——"</p> + +<p>"Had not found the temptation to do so irresistible," +she said, taking the words out of my mouth with so +bewitching an air, that again I found an irresistible +temptation confronting me.</p> + +<p>We did not revert again to the curious influence +which Evie had declared Mannering exercised. She +would not allow of it. She wanted to think that he +had gone completely out of her life, and that no more +shadows were ever to fall across her path. And I was +too happy myself to wish to refer to anything which +should bring an unpleasant memory to her mind.</p> + +<p>I shall never forget our walk home. The silver +thread of the Ver, the old monastery gate-house and the +ruins of Sopwell Priory in the foreground, the churches +of St. Stephens and St Michaels on either hand, and in +the centre of the picture the Abbey of St. Albans brooding +over all. We decided to be married in the abbey. +I trod on air.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>A CLOUD APPEARS ON LOVE'S HORIZON</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'><span class="smcap">Mannering</span> remained absent for a week, and during +that time I learned from Evie a good deal about the +curious dread which he had inspired in her mind. Had +inspired, I say, for she assured me it had passed away, +and that she felt quite safe now she was promised +to be my wife. Our betrothal had been announced the +day after the never-to-be-forgotten walk to Bricket wood, +and I had hastened to make it known as widely as I +could, for I could think of no likelier method of ensuring +her against any further annoyance on the part of +Mannering. When he saw that he had lost, I could +not think that he would do otherwise than retire gracefully +from the scene. If, however, he failed to take +his failure kindly, I should not have the slightest hesitation +about sending him about his business. I should have +been tempted to do so without further delay, if there +had in reality been anything in Mannering's conduct to +which open exception could have been taken. Evie recognized +there was nothing of the sort as strongly as +myself, and she was even averse to do as I suggested,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +and ask her father to hint to him that he should, for a +while at least, cease his visits to the house.</div> + +<p>"You see," she remarked, "if he had made himself +offensive in any other way, I should have welcomed the +opportunity of speaking to papa about it. But he has +not. His attitude has been outwardly perfectly courteous, +and papa would only laugh at me if I were to tell him +what I have told you. He would not believe me if I +told him I was afraid of Mr. Mannering."</p> + +<p>"Besides, you are now no longer afraid?" I said.</p> + +<p>"No; I am no longer afraid of him. I am quite +sure of that," she repeated.</p> + +<p>The manner in which she made the assertion ought +to have warned me that she was not quite so certain +on the point as she was willing to believe, but no such +thought crossed my mind at the time.</p> + +<p>"Anyhow," I continued, "if when you see Mannering +again, you feel any recurrence of your dread, it will +be easy for me to pick a quarrel with him, and so compel +him to absent himself from the house. You see, he will +be unable to come here without meeting me."</p> + +<p>Evie pouted a dissent. "You must not do that," she +remarked. "A quarrel with him would make both of +us look ridiculous. Everybody would conclude that you +were jealous; and I—I should not like to imagine any +one thinking that I gave you cause."</p> + +<p>"My own darling!" I cried.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>When once more we resumed our conversation, I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +bethought me of another plan, and I suggested to Evie that +she could always find a retreat at my home in Norfolk, +if she wanted to get away from Mannering's presence. +My aunt, I knew, would be delighted to entertain her. +She agreed at once to adopt this course if the occasion +should arise. Thus I thought I had provided against +every contingency for the short period which was to +elapse before our wedding-day.</p> + +<p>When Mannering did return, however, it seemed +as if we had been making preparations to meet a contingency +which was never likely to arise. He learned +of Evie's engagement from the Colonel, the morning after +his return to St. Albans. He took the news very well. +Much more coolly than I should have done had I been +the disappointed one. In fact, a few minutes after he had +been made acquainted with Evie's engagement, he came +to us where we were in the garden, and congratulated +us forthwith.</p> + +<p>"You are a lucky fellow, Sutgrove," he said. "I +had cherished a faint hope that your luck might be mine, +and now the only consolation I have is that the best man +always wins."</p> + +<p>Spoken in a different tone than that which he +employed, his words would have made a very pretty +compliment, but from his lips the words seemed to +be very like a sarcasm. However, I could pardon +the expression of a little bitterness under the circumstances, +so I made no reply; and, turning to Evie, +he continued<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"I trust your new tie will not put an end to the +old friendships, Miss Maitland?"</p> + +<p>"Why should it?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"They often do," he replied.</p> + +<p>"Not if the old friendships are the real thing," I +interjected.</p> + +<p>"No; not if they are the real thing," he repeated +slowly. "I hope you will find mine to be the real +thing."</p> + +<p>A faint smile fluttered across his face as he spoke, +and was gone in an instant. Neither Evie nor myself +knew what to reply, and an awkward pause ensued. He +seemed to feel the awkwardness of it just as much as +either of us, and he changed the subject with an inquiry +as to whether anything further had been heard or seen +of the Motor Pirate during his own absence in Paris.</p> + +<p>"I have been far too busy to even look at the papers," +he explained, "and he might have been captured for all +I know."</p> + +<p>"No such luck," I replied. "This time he seems +to have disappeared for good."</p> + +<p>"I see I shall have to take up your job, and devote +my energies to the task of his capture," he said laughingly. +And, turning to Evie, he said, "I presume you +will not allow Sutgrove to take any risks of that sort now, +Miss Maitland?"</p> + +<p>Again there was something sarcastic in his tone, and +I could see by the flush in Evie's cheek that the question +had angered her. She answered almost hotly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"I am quite sure if any one can capture the Pirate, +Jim can."</p> + +<p>"I have no intention of giving up the pursuit just +at present," I added quietly, with a glance of thanks to +my dear one for her ready championship.</p> + +<p>"I don't think I should trouble myself about any +Motor Pirate if I were in your position," he replied. +"I fancy if I were engaged to be married to the best +girl in the world, the first thing I should do would be +to eliminate every risk from my life, instead of looking +about for fresh ones. Besides, it seems scarcely fair on +the girl, does it?"</p> + +<p>"Surely that depends on what the girl thinks, doesn't +it?" asked Evie. "A good many girls haven't much +admiration for the man who would act as you suggest."</p> + +<p>"Ah, well!" returned Mannering. "I see now +where Sutgrove has succeeded. The prize always goes +to the adventurous."</p> + +<p>Again there was a subtle provocation in his tone—something +very like a sneer. An angry retort was on +the tip of my tongue, but a glance from Evie checked +it, and soon after he left us together.</p> + +<p>"You must not be angry with him," she said, as +soon as we were alone. "He does not know you as +I do; and besides I think he—he must be disappointed."</p> + +<p>"There's not the slightest doubt about that," I +answered emphatically. "He is badly hit, and he takes +it pretty well considering. I know I shouldn't have +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span>taken my gruel so coolly. In fact, that is just what +I don't like about him. One never knows what is going +on behind that handsome mask of his."</p> + +<p>"Handsome," she said. "Do you call him handsome?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. I should say he was one of the handsomest +men of my acquaintance. How could you ever bestow +a single glance or thought upon me when——"</p> + +<p>Evie placed her hand upon my lips. "You dear, +foolish old boy," she said. "There is only one face in +the whole wide world which I think is really handsome, +and I have thought so from the first time I caught sight +of it."</p> + +<p>There was another interlude in our conversation—they +were pretty frequent in those days—and the subject +dropped for a time. It recurred frequently, however, +and gradually I perceived that whatever subject we discussed, +sooner or later, Mannering's name was bound to +crop up. At first I rather encouraged Evie to talk about +him; but, after a while, I discovered that I was ministering +to the feeling which I thought had been destroyed. +I could not help but notice that, soon after Mannering's +return, Evie's high spirits became subdued—her gaiety +less spontaneous. Yet when I asked her whether Mannering's +presence produced any effect upon her, she +assured me to the contrary.</p> + +<p>Nor did I see how Mannering could possibly exert +any influence over her. I took particular care that he +should never have a <i>tête-à-tête</i> with her. Sometimes she +would not even see him for a couple of days at a time,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +and when she did, it would be merely for a few minutes, +and nearly always in the presence of Colonel Maitland +as well as myself.</p> + +<p>It appeared to me, indeed, as if Mannering even took +pains to avoid seeing much of her; and, though I watched +him closely, his bearing was always studiously correct. +He was the same <i>insouciant</i> person who had impressed +me so favourably upon my first introduction to him. +But whether it was owing to the distrust which Evie's +fear of him had impressed upon me, or because I could +really see things which had before been hidden from +my sight, I certainly did observe about him certain singularities +which I had never before remarked. I saw, for +instance, that, in speaking of his face as a handsome +mask, I had been nearer the truth than I had known. +On more than one occasion, while his lips were parted +in a genial smile, I observed in his eyes an expression +strangely at variance therewith. It was the expression +of a cat when it crouches to spring upon a mouse. I +have seen that look bent upon my betrothed. I have +caught it directed at myself. There was a restlessness, +too, which gave the lie to his nonchalant manner. I +could see that he forced himself to remain still. His +fingers were always busy with something or other.</p> + +<p>These were trifles, and equally trivial seemed the +sarcasms which he directed at me now and again. +These I attributed to the ebullitions of temper, natural +enough in a defeated suitor. In my heart I pitied +him, for I fancied I knew what a struggle it must have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +cost him to stand aside and watch a successful rival's +happiness.</p> + +<p>As the days passed, a certain constraint appeared to +have arisen between Evie and myself. I told myself that +the idea was foolish, and yet I knew that it was not +so. Mind, I had not the slightest doubt as to the +strength of Evie's love for me. She expressed it clearly, +yet there was something drawing us apart, and I began +to be afraid.</p> + +<p>Towards the middle of June the tension became so +great, that I could see the time had arrived when it would +be necessary to do something; and, one night, I determined +to mention the matter. Accordingly, after dinner, +I persuaded Evie to come into the garden, with the intention +to speak firmly in my mind. There, however, +in the faint light of the summer night, with the sweet +scent of the early roses filling the air, I forgot everything +in the blissfulness of my lot. We had paced our favourite +walk once in silence—my heart was too full of delight for +speech—when, as we retraced our steps, to my surprise, +Evie burst suddenly into passionate tears. Some minutes +elapsed before I could calm her, and when I managed at +last to do so, it needed all my powers of persuasion to +get her to confide in me the cause of her outburst. At +first she said it was nothing but the hysteria of happiness. +Then she asked me, with a fierce clutch on my +arm, if I should think her unmaidenly if she asked that +our wedding-day should be hastened. We had fixed it +for September, so I at once suggested July.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span></p> + +<p>Her mood changed at once. She said she was not +feeling well, and that I must not listen to her. But +being now thoroughly alarmed at her obviously nervous +condition, I questioned her until I elicited from her that +all her old dread of Mannering had returned, and with +double intensity, in that it was accompanied by a presentiment +of disaster to myself.</p> + +<p>"Jim," she said, looking up into my face with eyes +which glowed in the faint light like stars, "I shall not +feel sure of you until I am with you always. I want to +be near you to look after you. Every moment you are +absent from my side, I am imagining all sorts of horrible +things happening to you. And it is worse to bear, +because, it seems to me, that I am the cause of +it all."</p> + +<p>I strove to laugh away her fears, but, say what I +would, I could not dispel the thought in her mind that +some disaster threatened our love. Probing her mind +for the foundation of her belief, I was not surprised to +find that Mannering had something to do with it.</p> + +<p>I did my best to make her mind easy, while determining +that I would at once take steps to secure change +of air and scene for her at some spot where my late rival +should not come. She became tolerably composed at last, +and I took her back to the drawing-room, where I was +glad to find Mrs. Winter, in whom I recognized a most +useful sedative for over-excited nerves.</p> + +<p>We had a little music, and with that and the commonplaces +of conversation, the evening passed until eleven<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +had struck, and the Colonel's yawns warned me that the +time had arrived for taking my departure.</p> + +<p>The Winters and myself had just risen to leave when +we heard a hasty step on the gravel outside, and, turning, +we saw a man's figure at one of the French windows +opening on to the garden.</p> + +<p>"Hullo!" said the Colonel. "Who's that?"</p> + +<p>The new-comer stepped into the room, and, as the +light fell upon his face, I recognized Forrest. He nodded +to me and turned to the Colonel.</p> + +<p>"I trust you will excuse this unceremonious call of +mine, Colonel Maitland," he said. "But I was desirous +of seeing Mr. Sutgrove immediately, and I guessed I +should find him here."</p> + +<p>"I'll excuse you, if you will come to the smoking-room +and drink Mr. Sutgrove's health in a whisky-and-seltzer," +replied the Colonel, heartily.</p> + +<p>"I don't think I can spare the time," said the +detective, quietly.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, man! You must drink the health of +my future son-in-law!" he declared.</p> + +<p>"Most certainly," remarked Forrest. "I can find +time for that, even though——" He paused, and then +said, with quiet incisiveness, "Even though the Motor +Pirate is upon the road again!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>A CLUE AT LAST</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'><span class='smcap'>Immediately</span> Forrest had made his dramatic announcement, +I glanced at Evie, for in view of the apprehension +she had exhibited earlier in the evening, I was just a +little doubtful as to whether she would take kindly to +the renewal of my attempts to catch the Pirate. To +my satisfaction, she exhibited no signs of trepidation, if +she did not appear altogether delighted that I was to +have another opportunity of distinguishing myself. In +fact as soon as the detective had followed Colonel +Maitland from the room, she told me that she was +glad.</div> + +<p>"I don't fear for you a scrap, Jim. At least not +much," she said. "I know you won't do anything +foolish, for my sake."</p> + +<p>I interrupted with, "Nor for my own."</p> + +<p>"And do you know," she continued, "I have a queer +sort of impression that when the Pirate is captured, this +horrible depression which has been hanging over me will +disappear altogether."</p> + +<p>"Then captured he must be without delay," I said.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Though I don't see how Mannering will be affected +thereby."</p> + +<p>"I am not so sure about that," said Evie.</p> + +<p>"You surely cannot think that Mannering is in any +way connected with the Motor Pirate?" I inquired in +surprise, for any such idea had long passed from my +mind.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," she remarked dreamily; "I don't +know. But I should not be surprised. I really could +believe anything about him."</p> + +<p>I reminded her of the steps Forrest had taken to +assure himself that there were no grounds for such a +suspicion, but she was not convinced; so I forbore to +continue the discussion, changing the conversation to +the arrangements to be made for her proposed visit to +Norfolk. It was decided that I should write at once +to my aunt, and that she should be ready to start the +moment I received a reply. We had settled all the +preliminaries by the time the Colonel and Forrest +returned, and I bade her good night, feeling quite easy +in my mind.</p> + +<p>"I am delighted to be able to congratulate you," said +Forrest, the moment we were outside.</p> + +<p>"I am the luckiest man in the world," I replied.</p> + +<p>"You are," returned the detective, emphatically. "All +the same, I should not have been sorry if Miss Maitland +had stuck to her intention of refusing to listen to you +until after the capture of the Pirate."</p> + +<p>"Why?" I demanded.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span></p> + +<p>"For purely selfish reasons," he replied. "I take it +you will not be so keen on the chase. Men in your +position don't take risks."</p> + +<p>I held out my hand to him. "Put your fist in +that," I said. "What I have promised, I stick to; and, +to tell the truth, I was never keener on anything in +my life."</p> + +<p>"That's good news for me," he answered, and I +could tell from his tone that he meant it. Besides, he +was not a man given to the paying of idle compliments.</p> + +<p>We were walking quietly towards my cottage as we +talked, and the impulse came upon me to confide to him +the presentiment which Evie had in regard to the capture +of the Pirate relieving her from her burden of fear. That +necessitated my explaining as well as I could the curious +influence which Mannering exercised over her. Forrest +listened attentively.</p> + +<p>"Curious," he muttered, when I had finished. "It +is very curious that the fellow should have produced such +an impression on Miss Maitland. By the way, he was +not at the Colonel's to-night."</p> + +<p>"No," I replied.</p> + +<p>"I wonder——" he began. He never finished the +sentence, nor did he speak again until he reached my +door. There he paused, and said lightly, "I think I +should like to discover whether the disappointed lover is +at home to-night. Are you prepared for a little amateur +burglary, Sutgrove?"</p> + +<p>"Ready for anything," I assured him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It seems a little absurd to suspect Mannering," he +remarked meditatively. "Yet there are times when a +woman's intuition is a better guide than a man's ratiocination."</p> + +<p>"You didn't get any clue in Amsterdam, then?" I +asked tentatively, for I was curious to hear the results +of his journey.</p> + +<p>"No, no. Nothing at all in Holland."</p> + +<p>"If Mannering were the Pirate, and had tried to +dispose of his plunder there, you would in all probability +have caught him; but he would scarcely have chosen to +go abroad at the same time as yourself," I remarked.</p> + +<p>Forrest emitted a long, low whistle. "By Jove!" +he said. "Then it was indeed he whom I saw in +Vienna."</p> + +<p>"In Vienna?" I queried.</p> + +<p>"When did he leave England?" asked the detective, +ignoring my question.</p> + +<p>"The very day you left," I replied promptly.</p> + +<p>"Come, this is getting interesting," he said. "Tonight +we will most certainly let the Pirate do his worst +on the roads. We will look for a clue to the mystery +of his identity nearer home." He looked at his watch. +"It's a little too early to pay our call, so if you don't +mind, I will come in and we can discuss the matter at +leisure."</p> + +<p>To say that Forrest's enigmatic utterances filled me +with excitement, very inadequately expresses the state +of my mind. He followed me indoors, and, while I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +mixed a drink for each of us, he saw that the windows +and doors were closed. Then seating himself in an +easy chair, he selected a cigar and remarked—</p> + +<p>"Now we can talk."</p> + +<p>"I thought you only intended to go to Amsterdam," +I began.</p> + +<p>"That was my intention," he replied. "But before +giving you the results of my inquiries—it won't take +long, by the way—I should like to ask you one or two +questions, if I may?"</p> + +<p>"Fire away," I said.</p> + +<p>"Did you mention to any one where I had gone?"</p> + +<p>"Not to a soul. At least certainly not at the time, +though I have probably mentioned the matter to Miss +Maitland since."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you young lovers!" he interjected.</p> + +<p>"She would not speak of the matter, I know. I +gave out to every one else that you had been recalled +to London."</p> + +<p>"Anyway, it would not have mattered if she had, as +Mannering left on the same day as myself. Where did +he say he was going?"</p> + +<p>"He said he was bound for Paris on business connected +with some patents he was applying for. He told +us he would be absent for two or three days; and as a +matter of fact, he was away for ten."</p> + +<p>"That would about fit in," remarked the detective, +after a moment's thought. "But of that you shall judge +for yourself." He moistened his lips and pulled at his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +cigar until it was well alight, and then he commenced +his story.</p> + +<p>"I carried out my original intention, and the night +after I left you I caught the 8.30 at Liverpool Street. +The next morning I was in Amsterdam. I stayed there +three days, until I was quite convinced that no such +parcel of diamonds as had been stolen had been offered +for sale to any of the Dutch dealers. I could not have +failed to hear of it if any such attempt had been made. +While there I had the good fortune to make the +acquaintance of a Russian agent, whose work I fancy +must have been largely political. Ivan Stroviloff his +name was, and he had acquaintances in most European +capitals. I discussed the matter with him. He thought +that an attempt to dispose of the stones was much more +likely to be made in Vienna or St. Petersburg than +anywhere else except Paris. I was aware of our agents +in Paris having been fully informed, and I knew it was +not worth my while to go there; but beyond notifying +the Austrian police, I doubted whether any steps had +been taken in regard to Vienna, so I determined to +proceed to the Austrian capital. Stroviloff proved a +very decent fellow, rather an exception to the general +run, for I don't take to those Russian agents as a rule; +and as I was able to give him a few hints and some +introductions over here—he was going on to London—he +gave me in return letters to some of his colleagues in +Vienna and Petersburg, thinking they would probably +be of more use to me than application through the usual<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +official channels. Well, I went on to Vienna. I won't +weary you with a history of my fruitless inquiries, it +would take far too much time. Anyhow, I did find +eventually that a parcel of diamonds had been disposed +of there, and, as Stroviloff had predicted, I obtained the +information through one of the Russian agents and not +through the Viennese police. I will say that I do not +see how the latter could have helped me, for the purchaser +was the representative of a Petersburg house who +happened to be in Vienna for the purpose of attending +the sale of the Princess Novikoff's jewels—you probably +saw all about it in the papers."</p> + +<p>It was a remarkable sale, and the extraordinary prices +realized are probably fresh in most people's memories. +I told Forrest I had seen accounts of it, and he +continued.</p> + +<p>"Unfortunately I did not get the information until +after the representative in question had returned to +Petersburg. There was nothing left for me to do but +to follow him there if I wanted to satisfy myself as to +whether the stones of which I had heard were really the +ones stolen from the mail. It was rather like a wild +goose chase, but I went. It was the day before I started +that I saw the man who reminded me so forcibly of your +friend Mannering. It was a very fleeting glimpse of a +face which looked in at the door of a restaurant where +I happened to be dining, and I should not like to swear +that it was he whom I saw. At the time, I put my +fancy down to one of those casual likenesses which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +sometimes lead even keen observers to accost total +strangers in the streets as acquaintances. The likeness +was, however, undeniable, in spite of something strange +about his appearance. However, I paid no attention to +the incident, and the next morning I was on my way to +Petersburg. There I found no difficulty in obtaining +full particulars from the dealer. I have no doubt but +that he has purchased the stones which were stolen from +the Brighton mail. In size, weight, and quality they +answered to the description perfectly. I learned from +him that the man from whom he had bought the stones +had been introduced to him by a well-known Viennese +jeweller. The price asked, though not very greatly +below market value, was low enough to tempt him to +purchase. The man who offered them suggested that +payment should be made, not to himself, but to his firm +in Amsterdam. The transaction seemed in every way +<i>bonâ fide</i>, the explanation as to the low price being that +the Amsterdam firm was rather pressed for cash, and so +compelled to realize some of its stock, but was unable to +do so in Amsterdam for fear of jeopardizing its credit. +The man who sold the stones gave the name of Josef +Hoffman, and the merchant produced his card which +bore the name of Jacob Meyer and Meyer, and an +address in the De Jordaan, Amsterdam. He was +described to me as a tall, powerful, fresh-coloured, fair-haired +German, of pleasant manners and address. The +Petersburg merchant's representative had given him a +draft on an Amsterdam bank and, on reaching the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> +Russian capital, after examining the stones, his employer +had authorized the payment of the draft by telegraph.</p> + +<p>"As soon as I obtained these particulars, I started +once more for the Dutch city without wasting much +time. Needless to say, I was too late to catch my man. +The office in the De Jordaan I found to be a room +which had been taken for a week or two, and then +vacated, by a person whom I easily identified as the +fair-haired German. The draft had been exchanged +for a draft on the banker's London agents by the same +man. I came on to London immediately, but Hoffman, +or whatever his name may be, was a week ahead of me. +I traced him to the London bank where he had cashed +his draft. He did it in the coolest manner imaginable. +He left it one day saying that he required gold, and that +if they would get the amount ready—it was over £4000—he +would call for it the next day. He actually allowed +two days to elapse before doing so. Then he came in +a cab with a handbag and took away the gold. That +at present is as far as I have got. I only learned the +last of these particulars this afternoon, and of course I +went at once to the Yard to make my report and to +arrange for the circulation of the description of the +fair-haired German throughout the country. Then I +came on to you."</p> + +<p>Forrest finished his drink and stood up. "Now you +know as much about the case as I do," he remarked, +"and I fancy it is about time for us to pay our proposed +visit to our friend Mannering."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't see how you can connect him in any way +with Hoffman," I said, as I rose from my seat.</p> + +<p>Forrest smiled. "I omitted to tell you one thing," +he observed. "I could not see the hair of the man in +Vienna whose face seemed familiar to me. But one +thing I did remark. The man with Mannering's face +wore a fair moustache."</p> + +<p>"But Mannering's is dark," I argued. "It was dark +when he went away and dark when he returned."</p> + +<p>Forrest held up his hand mockingly. "In these +days of scientific progress nothing is easier than for the +intelligent leopard to change his spots. Ask the brunette +when fashion decrees that fair hair is to be worn, and +ask again of the blonde how she manages when the +exigencies demand raven tresses."</p> + +<p>That settled me. "There's only one thing more," +I said. "When did you hear that the Motor Pirate +was at work again?"</p> + +<p>"At St. Albans. I called at the police office on my +way here. He was seen about ten o'clock this side of +Peterborough and going north."</p> + +<p>"It will be rather a sell if Mannering is at home," I +remarked.</p> + +<p>"He will not be at home," replied Forrest with +conviction.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>I COMMIT A BURGLARY</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'><span class='smcap'>The</span> night was moonless, but there was that soft diffused +light in the air invariable in June, except on the cloudiest +of evenings. There was just enough of it to enable us to +see our way as we strolled towards Mannering's house. +When we reached it everything appeared still. All the +windows were dark. I felt my heart beginning to beat +faster than ordinarily as Forrest lifted the latch of the +gate opening on to the strip of garden, which lay between +the road and the house. We walked along the turf +edging of the path in order that our feet might not crunch +upon the gravel. Forrest was first. He went straight to +the front door and tried it. It was fast.</div> + +<p>"We will try one of those French windows," he +whispered after returning to my side.</p> + +<p>The house was a two-story cottage with a verandah +opening on the south side facing a lawn. On to this +verandah windows opened from both the dining and +sitting-rooms, the servants' quarters being on the other +side of the house.</p> + +<p>We went round the angle of the building and tried<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +the first window. It was fastened. With cat-like tread +Forrest glided on to the second. It was one of the two +giving entrance to the sitting-room. A sibilant sound +from the detective's lips took me to his side. Without +hesitating a second, he threw back the casement and +stepped into the darkness.</p> + +<p>"Come," he muttered, and I followed.</p> + +<p>Heavy curtains veiled the windows and past these the +darkness was thick enough to be felt. Of a sudden there +was a crack which made me start. It was only Forrest +striking a match. With imperturbable confidence, he +stepped towards a table and lit the lamp which stood +thereon. I felt exceedingly uncomfortable, but Forrest +obviously knew no such qualms, for he at once proceeded +to examine every object in the room. So far as I could see, +there was nothing at all unusual about the place. The +room was in exactly the same condition as I had observed +it hundreds of times before when I had dropped in for a +smoke and a chat. On the table, beside the lamp, was a +tantalus and a glass, and a half empty syphon. The glass +had been used and the ash on the floor, beside an armchair, +showed that a cigar had accompanied the drink. A pair +of slippers lay on the hearth rug as if they had been carelessly +kicked off. Forrest pointed to them.</p> + +<p>"Mannering is not at home," he said. "If he had gone +to bed, these would not be here."</p> + +<p>"I hope he will not return while we are about," I +muttered.</p> + +<p>"It would be a little awkward for him," said Forrest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span>, +calmly. "I should be compelled to arrest him in self-defence, +and I am not prepared to do so at present."</p> + +<p>He did not, however, hurry his movements in any way +as he proceeded to deliberately search the room. Only +once did he pause, and that was when he discovered a continental +time-table of recent date. He brought the book +to the light and turned over the pages carefully. A gleam +of exultation crossed his face, as he pointed out to me a +trace of tobacco ash between the pages which gave details +of the train service between Vienna and Amsterdam.</p> + +<p>"We are on the right track," he observed.</p> + +<p>But that one slight piece of evidence was all that the +most careful examination of the room revealed, although +there was not a drawer nor a shelf which he did not overhaul.</p> + +<p>"We must try his bedroom," he remarked, when he +had finished with the sitting-room.</p> + +<p>"What about the servants?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"If they are not asleep, they will merely imagine that +it is their master going to bed," he replied, as taking a +candlestick, which stood on an occasional table near the +door, he passed out of the room. I followed him upstairs, +with my heart in my mouth, and pointed out to him the +door of the room which Mannering occupied. As Forrest +turned the handle and entered, I was quite prepared to +make a bolt for it. I should not have been a bit surprised +to have discovered our suspect sleeping quietly within. +But Forrest turned and beckoned me to enter. The room +was empty, and this time I assisted the detective in his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +search. Between us we subjected the bedroom and the +adjoining dressing-room to the closest scrutiny, but without +result. We could not, unfortunately, make an exhaustive +examination, for there were one or two ancient +presses which were locked, and the Chubb safe let into +the wall by the bed head was likewise fastened.</p> + +<p>The detective shrugged his shoulders when we had +done.</p> + +<p>"As we haven't a burglar's outfit, we shall have to +wait until we have a search warrant," he muttered.</p> + +<p>With a disappointed air he led the way out of the +room. On the landing he paused. His keen gaze had rested +for a moment on a travelling bag which stood under a +table. There were the remains of a number of labels +upon it and he scanned them carefully. There was no +sufficient of any one of them left for identification.</p> + +<p>"He's a clever devil," he whispered.</p> + +<p>Then he opened the bag and again his countenance +lightened. Inside was an empty bottle bearing the label +of a London chemist, with the additional superscription—"Peroxide +of Hydrogen."</p> + +<p>"The fair hair is accounted for," commented Forrest. +"And as for the dye which would restore his locks to their +natural colour, I presume he has it under lock and key."</p> + +<p>He slipped the bottle into his pocket and returned +downstairs, I following at his heels.</p> + +<p>"There's not enough at present against him to warrant +his arrest," he said, when we were again in the +sitting-room.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then why not have a look round his workshops," I +suggested.</p> + +<p>"His what?" queried Forrest, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Haven't I ever mentioned them to you? Haven't +you ever heard that Mannering spends all his spare time in +experimental motor construction?" I asked in surprise.</p> + +<p>"I think I have heard it mentioned, but until this +moment I have always thought it was chaff," he replied.</p> + +<p>"Good heavens!" I ejaculated.</p> + +<p>"I should have been inside that shop a couple of +months ago," he continued, "if I had thought—— Whereabouts +is the shop?"</p> + +<p>"Just at the back of the house and abutting on the +side of the road," I explained. "The old coach-house and +stables." Then as the thought occurred to me, I continued, +"Why I heard him tell you of his work himself."</p> + +<p>"That's precisely the reason why I paid no attention +to it," said my companion. "Can you take me to the +place?"</p> + +<p>I led the way through the French window, Forrest +putting out the light before he followed me, and carefully +closing the casement behind him as he stepped on to the +verandah. A clock, somewhere in St. Albans, struck the +half after two as we crossed the lawn in the direction of +the workshop.</p> + +<p>"We have only a short time at our disposal," +whispered Forrest. "The darkness is lifting, and our +friend will soon be returning."</p> + +<p>We passed through a side door, which we found<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +unlocked, into what had once been the stable-yard. But +we could get no further. The two doors which gave +admission to the building were firmly fastened, and there +was no available window by which we might gain +entrance. We retraced our steps, and, passing out of +the door, approached the stables from the road. By this +time the dawn had made such progress that we knew +our chances of getting inside before Mannering's return +were dwindling rapidly. We found no more likelihood +of obtaining admission from this side than the other.</p> + +<p>"I cannot arrest a man on the evidence of a few +grains of tobacco dust, and an empty phial," declared +Forrest, savagely, as he shook the tightly locked door. +"Listen!" I said.</p> + +<p>Borne on the wind came the throb of a motor. So +still was the air that when the sound first reached our +ears it must have been a mile away. The sound drew +nearer and nearer, and while it was still a quarter of a +mile distant, I recognized the familiar noise of Mannering's +car, a sound as dissimilar to the hum of the +Pirate car as it was possible to conceive.</p> + +<p>"Forrest," I cried, turning to my companion, "we +must be mad to think that Mannering could play the +part of the Motor Pirate on that old car of his."</p> + +<p>There was something so irresistibly ludicrous in the +idea, that we both indulged in a hearty fit of laughter, +and with one accord we turned and walked down the road.</p> + +<p>"He may keep his fast car elsewhere," remarked the +detective, when his mirth had subsided.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It would be difficult to bring the guilt home to him +if we failed to discover the car," I replied.</p> + +<p>A few seconds later we met the man whom we had +so lately suspected. I felt a tinge of shame at the thought +that, a few minutes previously, I had been sneaking into +his house in the hope that I should find evidence to convict +him of a crime. By this time dawn was sufficiently +advanced to allow of recognition, and as he came level +with us Mannering pulled up.</p> + +<p>"Hullo, Sutgrove!" he shouted. "You're about +betimes. Been on the same job as myself?"</p> + +<p>"What's that, Mr. Mannering?" asked Forrest</p> + +<p>"Looking for an opportunity to pay back this little +debt," was the light answer, as the speaker tapped his +shoulder gently.</p> + +<p>"Any luck?" said Forrest, dryly.</p> + +<p>"Not a scrap," was the ready reply. "You see I'm +a bit handicapped with this old car, for unless the fellow +happens to take the same road as myself, there's precious +little chance of my picking him up. Still, if you do not +soon succeed in catching him, I think I shall have a good +try myself."</p> + +<p>"I suppose by that you know who he is," I remarked, +more in order to see what he would say than in the hope +of eliciting anything.</p> + +<p>"Not the slightest idea on the subject," he responded +promptly. "I am merely hoping that in a few days I +shall be in possession of a new motor from which even +the Pirate will be unable to escape."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span></p> + +<p>I made a gesture of surprise.</p> + +<p>"Fact," he continued. "My experiments have +proved successful at last. In a week I shall have delivered +to me the new motor I have designed, and then the Pirate +had better look out. Good night."</p> + +<p>Waving an adieu, he set his car in motion, and jogged +along until he reached the door of his coach-house. We +watched him dismount, unlock the door, and disappear +inside.</p> + +<p>"It beats me," remarked Forrest.</p> + +<p>"Surely you do not still harbour any suspicion concerning +him?" I inquired in amazement.</p> + +<p>Forrest made no reply. His head was bent, his +brow knitted deeply, his hands clasped behind him as we +turned and walked back to my place. He did not speak +until we stopped on my doorstep.</p> + +<p>"I wish he had not seen us," my companion then +remarked. "He will be bound to tumble to the conclusion +that we suspect him, and will be on his guard."</p> + +<p>"Then you do still suspect him," I cried again.</p> + +<p>"If I had one scrap of direct evidence," replied the +detective, emphatically, "I would have him under arrest +within half an hour. Only one little scrap," he almost +groaned. "But, as it is, my reputation would not survive +if I made a mistake."</p> + +<p>"Why, you don't imagine that he would go so far as +to shoot himself just to avert suspicion," I asked, still +incredulous.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span></p><p>Forrest drew himself up smartly. "Good Lord! +What a fool I am! What—a—blind—dunderheaded—jackass!" +he cried.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter now?" I inquired smiling, for +the detective was groping in his pockets. "Have you +lost anything?"</p> + +<p>From his waistcoat pocket he produced a small leaden +bullet, and he held it outstretched in the palm of his +hand.</p> + +<p>"Here have I been wasting weeks on the continent, +while with this I might have settled the matter once and +for all."</p> + +<p>"How?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"I needed but to compare this with the bullet the +surgeon extracted from Mannering's shoulder. This is +the one which killed the poor fellow near Towcester. If +Mannering's bullet is identical with this, I should have +nothing more to say; but," he continued meaningly, "both +your revolver and mine are of a different calibre to the +weapon which fired this. If the bullet which hit +Mannering should prove to fit either of our weapons, +there would be no need to seek for further evidence. I +must see that surgeon at once."</p> + +<p>He started off rapidly down the garden path. I +hurried after him and laid my hand on his arm.</p> + +<p>"Steady, old man," I remarked. "You can hardly +knock up a hardworked medical man at 3.30 a.m. just +to ask him a question."</p> + +<p>Forrest stopped and gave a short laugh. "Upon my +word, I had entirely forgotten what the time was. No,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +you are quite right. There is no need for such excessive +hurry. Mannering is safe enough for the present."</p> + +<p>"At least, for the next eighteen hours," I observed, +after glancing at my watch. "Meanwhile, your room +has been kept ready for you."</p> + +<p>"A little sleep will not come amiss," he answered, +yawning; "though it seems almost a pity to go to bed on +such a morning."</p> + +<p>He was right. By this time dawn was breaking with +a splendour I have never seen equalled before nor since. +From east to west the sky was stained and flecked with +crimson and gold, and our faces glowed ruddily in the +reflected light. We both fell to silence, as with our +faces to the east we watched the uprising of the sun; +and, until the sky paled as the sun made its appearance +above the line of the horizon, we did not stir.</p> + +<p>Then Forrest drew a deep breath. "There's been +the beauty of destruction in the sunrise," he remarked. +"We shall have a storm before nightfall."</p> + +<p>He followed me indoors, and, leaving him at the door +of his room, I went to my own. I got into my pyjamas, +but I did not feel inclined to sleep for the sunbeams +were glancing in at my window, and all about were the +sound and movement of the awakening earth-creatures. +I wheeled an easy chair to the window, and wrapping a +blanket about me, took a novel I had been reading and +strove to fix my attention on the pages. I could not do +so. Whether it was the reflex action of the brain from +the excitement of the evening or not, but the fact was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +I felt unaccountably depressed. I fought against the +feeling as best I could. But I could not get out of my +head the idea that some great danger was threatening, +not myself, but the one dearest to me in the world. +From my window I could see her home, and I drew the +chair into a position where my eyes might rest upon the +roof which sheltered her. There was some consolation +in this, and I watched until I eventually fell into an +uneasy slumber, from which I awakened unrefreshed and +ill at ease.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>STORM</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'><span class='smcap'>My</span> tub pulled me together to some extent, but I still +felt restless when I went downstairs. Forrest had +already gone out, leaving word that he expected to be +back to breakfast at the usual hour. I went into the +garden, but the sun was shining in a cloudless sky and +there was not a breath of air stirring. It was insufferably +hot and I was glad to return into the shade of the +house.</div> + +<p>The detective came in panting, a little later, with +disappointment plainly written in his face.</p> + +<p>"The surgeon out?" I inquired.</p> + +<p>"No," he answered. "But he was not much use +though. Mannering kept the bullet. He wanted to +retain it, so he said, as a memento of his adventure."</p> + +<p>"Perfectly natural," I commented.</p> + +<p>"Perfectly," returned Forrest. "The unfortunate +result is, that his doing so prevents me from dismissing +the possibility of his being the Pirate from my mind. +And I ought to be doing something. Last night the +rascal seems to have been everywhere. Apparently he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +was actuated with a desire to destroy everything which +stood in his path. One would judge him to have become +absolutely reckless. Instead of avoiding the towns, he +courted observation by passing through them. This +morning at the police office, I heard particulars of at +least half a dozen cases of unoffending people being +ruthlessly ridden down, and Heaven only knows how +many more there may be of which the details are not +yet to hand. The sheer devilry of his progress is simply +amazing. What it comes to is this, Sutgrove. If I +can't get hold of him within the next week I may as +well resign the force at once. If I don't resign I shall +be dismissed, and quite deservedly."</p> + +<p>I tried to say something consolatory, but he would +not hear me; and it was not until after he had made +a savage attack upon the eggs and rashers and had +swallowed three cups of tea, that his usual equanimity +returned.</p> + +<p>"What's the next move?" I asked, when breakfast +was done.</p> + +<p>"I am going to town to see if I can identify the +purchaser of this bottle," he replied, holding up the phial +he had taken from the bag in Mannering's house the +night before; "and to inquire whether anything more +has been heard of the fair-haired German."</p> + +<p>"Then I can be of no assistance to you, to-day?" I +said.</p> + +<p>"None whatever beyond remaining here and keeping +an eye upon our friend. I shall ask for another man<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +to-day to assist in shadowing him, but until his arrival +I should be glad for some one to keep me acquainted +with his movements. If, as I presume you will, you go +over to Colonel Maitland's, you cannot help seeing +whether he leaves his house."</p> + +<p>I promised to do as he wished, and shortly after he +had gone, I took my hat and strolled over to the Colonel's +place.</p> + +<p>Evie appeared to have quite recovered from her fears +of the previous evening, and being busily engaged upon +domestic duties, she sent me to join her father under the +shade of a big tree on the lawn. There solaced by an +iced lemon squash and the newspaper, I managed to +pass the morning very comfortably. Mannering gave +no sign of existence.</p> + +<p>I took myself home for lunch, remembering letters +I had to write. I felt much easier in mind, and made +a hearty meal in consequence. The result was that I +fell asleep over my cigar afterwards.</p> + +<p>I awoke suddenly, wondering where I was. Then I +thought I must have slept for hours, for a blackness only +one degree less than that of night brooded over the +earth. I took out my watch lazily, and was surprised to +see that the hands only pointed to five. I sat still for +a minute or two striving to collect my thoughts, for my +head was heavy. I held my watch to my ear. It had +not stopped. I jumped up and walked to the window, +and I saw at once the reason why I had imagined that +night had fallen. From east to west and from north to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +south a dense pall of cloud hung over the earth. Not +a leaf moved, and except for the shrill chirp of a grasshopper, +not a sound broke the uncanny stillness.</p> + +<p>"By Jove!" I muttered, "we are going to have it +hot."</p> + +<p>There came upon me an intense desire to be near +Evie during the progress of the storm which threatened +every moment to break. I did not wait to analyse the +feeling, but catching up my hat I bolted straight out of +the window. I had only a couple of hundred yards to +traverse, but when I reached the Colonel's house, so hot +and heavy was the air, that I was soaked from head to +foot in perspiration. I paused at the gate to wipe my +brow with my handkerchief, and at the moment the +storm broke. I heard the crackle of the lightning as it +slid from the sky, and the thunder clap followed so +swiftly that for a moment I felt deafened. I waited no +longer, but raced across the lawn and into the open +French window of the drawing-room. The apartment +was unoccupied, so I passed through into the hall. That +was vacant too, and I continued my search through the +morning-room to the Colonel's sanctum. There I saw +the genial warrior standing at the window, and watching +the play of the lightning with every appearance of interest.</p> + +<p>"Hullo, Colonel!" I said. "Where's Evie?"</p> + +<p>"Isn't she in the drawing-room? She was there +twenty minutes ago," he replied.</p> + +<p>"She is not there now, I have just come through," I +explained.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then I fancy she will be in all probability in her +bedroom with her head under the sheets," he said, +chuckling.</p> + +<p>"At all events I will send one of the maids to see," +I said.</p> + +<p>I rang the bell, and after giving a message to the maid +who answered the summons, I joined the Colonel at the +window. He appeared to be very pleased with the progress +the storm was making.</p> + +<p>"Thank goodness this will clear the air," he explained, +as a reason for his satisfaction. "It was so hot +that I could take no lunch but a mayonnaise, iced +strawberries, and a glass of hock. Don't you think the +air is cooler already? I begin to feel quite an appetite +for dinner. My only fear is that, if the thunder has not +turned everything sour, it will have frightened my cook +out of her senses, and there will be nothing to appease +my appetite."</p> + +<p>The window at which we were standing faced +towards Mannering's house. There was a stretch of +lawn outside and, beyond, a thicket of shrubs and small +trees between the grounds of the two residences. I was +glancing in the direction of these, when I thought I saw +something white moving in the shrubbery. I was about +to say something to the Colonel when a crash of thunder +drowned the utterance. At the next flash of lightning, +I perceived that my eyes had not deceived me, and in an +instant I jumped to the conclusion that it was Evie who +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span>was out there in the storm. Without a moment's +hesitation I vaulted through the window and raced across +the lawn. The Colonel must have thought me mad.</p> + +<p>It was something of a shock for me to find that I +was right in my conjecture. There, huddled up under +the spreading branches of a cedar, stood my darling, her +eyes wide open, her cheeks blanched with terror.</p> + +<p>"Why, Evie, dear heart! What is the matter?" I +cried.</p> + +<p>At the sound of my voice she started, and, with a +little cry of delight, she threw herself into my arms.</p> + +<p>"I knew you would come—I knew you would +come!" she sobbed hysterically.</p> + +<p>The cedar under which she was standing was close +to the hedge, and I fancied, as she spoke, that I saw a +figure move away from the other side of the hedge. I +could not verify my suspicion, for Evie needed all my +attention. She had fainted. Catching her up, I bore +her across the lawn to the house.</p> + +<p>It was some time before she came to herself, and +then, at her own request, I left her with her maid and +returned to the Colonel. Needless to say I was very +much worried in my mind. Why Evie should have been +sheltering in the shrubbery from the storm, with the +house so near, seemed unexplainable, and I awaited with +anxiety the time when I could learn the reason from her +own lips. The presence of the figure—the figure of a +man—on the opposite side of the hedge, was also inexplicable. +I should have guessed it to be Mannering, but +I would have staked my life upon Evie's truthfulness<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +when she had told me how much she had learned to +detest him. Besides, her delight was obvious when I +arrived on the scene.</p> + +<p>Not until the evening, however, did I get a chance +of speaking to Evie again. The Colonel and I dined +alone, Evie sending word to say that the storm had left +her with a headache, and that she would join us later. I +was so silent during the meal that my host grew quite +merry at my expense.</p> + +<p>"Wait till you are married, my boy," he remarked. +"There will come times when you will be grateful for +these feminine headaches."</p> + +<p>I hate cheap witticisms of this sort, but I could hardly +resent them from the Colonel as I could have done had +they fallen from any one else's lips; but I fancy he saw at +last that they were distasteful to me, for after a while he +forebore to comment upon my dour looks.</p> + +<p>About ten Evie came downstairs. By this time the +storm had passed away entirely, and the air was deliciously +fresh and cool after the rain. It was a strangely subdued +girl who came nervously to me, and shrank away from +me as I kissed her.</p> + +<p>"No, Jim, no! You mustn't do that," she said.</p> + +<p>Colonel Maitland had slipped away upon his daughter's +entrance, and we were alone.</p> + +<p>"Why, darling, what ails you?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Nothing—nothing. Oh! don't ask me," she almost +wailed in reply.</p> + +<p>I put my arm about her waist, and drew her down<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +beside me to a seat on a big Chesterfield drawn before +one of the windows. She resisted faintly at first, but +presently I heard her give a sigh of content, and felt her +nestle towards me. Then I spoke.</p> + +<p>"Tell me, dear, what possessed you to go out into +the storm?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," she murmured—"I don't know. +I—I felt that I must. I didn't think it was going to +break so soon, and then the first flash of lightning +and the voice of the thunder! It was like judgment +day."</p> + +<p>"It is all passed and over," I remarked, with a man's +clumsy attempt at consolation.</p> + +<p>"I wish it were—I wish it were," she repeated, with +an indrawn sigh.</p> + +<p>"It is all over hours ago," I said.</p> + +<p>She broke away from me passionately. "Oh! Jim, +you don't know," she cried.</p> + +<p>"I don't know what?" I inquired, as I attempted to +draw her to me again.</p> + +<p>She pushed my hands away with a gesture of despair. +Then with an effort she rose to her feet, and looking at +me straight in the face, she said—</p> + +<p>"Jim, this must not go on. It is more than I can +bear."</p> + +<p>I rose to my feet too, my heart beating wildly. "I +don't understand you," I answered, though I comprehended +her meaning only too well. "What must not +go on?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Our—our engagement," she faltered. She was +white to the lips as she said the words.</p> + +<p>I staggered back under the blow, then leaning forward +I sought to take her hand.</p> + +<p>"No, Jim, no!" she said. "It's no use; I can never +be yours. It is impossible—quite impossible. My love +would be fatal to you! I know it will! He said so."</p> + +<p>"He?" I asked.</p> + +<p>She faltered. "Oh! I cannot help believing him. +He tells me that I am to be his." She shuddered. "Jim, +you must leave me, and never see me again. I cannot +have your—your blood on my hands."</p> + +<p>She held out her slender white fingers, and I saw that +the ring which I had placed there had been removed. +Though my brain was awhirl, I tried my utmost to be +calm. I think the effort was successful, and that my +voice was fairly even when I said—</p> + +<p>"Come, darling, a promise is a promise, and my own +little girl is not going to break her promise because of the +threats of a jealous rival."</p> + +<p>She shuddered from head to foot. "You don't know +him as I know him," she murmured. "He would stick +at nothing, Jim. I don't think he is a man; he must be +a devil. He can do things no man ever thought of +doing."</p> + +<p>"You exaggerate his capacities for evil," I said, as +equably as I was able, for her agitation was so great that +I feared for her reason. "What has Mannering been +saying to you, for it was he whom I saw behind the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +hedge when I brought you out of the storm, I +suppose?"</p> + +<p>"You saw him?" she queried. "Then it is true. +I have been hoping you would tell me I had been dreaming +again."</p> + +<p>"I saw nothing very terrible about him," I remarked.</p> + +<p>"You don't know him," she said again.</p> + +<p>"He will have cause to know me before many hours +have passed," I declared savagely.</p> + +<p>She clung to me in terror. "No, Jim. You must +not go near him. You do not know the power he +exercises. This afternoon I was sitting thinking of you +when I became conscious that he was telling me to come +to him. There was no reason why I should have thought +so. He was not in sight, but I was bound to go."</p> + +<p>"And you found him waiting for you?" I asked +quietly, though my brain was aflame, for I was determined +to ascertain all that had passed between them.</p> + +<p>"He was waiting for me," she repeated—"waiting +for me and the storm. That must have come at his +bidding too. It was horrible waiting for him to speak—horrible! +I tried to ask him what he wanted, but my +tongue was tied. Not until after the first peal of thunder +did he utter a word. Then he told me the time was +nearly at hand when he should come for me." I clenched +my fists involuntarily, but I did not interrupt my darling's +story. "I begged of him to leave me free. He paid no +heed. 'I am going away,' he said. 'For three days +you will see nothing of me, though all England will be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +talking of my deeds. On the third I shall return. Mind +you are ready.'"</p> + +<p>"Did you not mention me?" I remarked weakly. I +hardly knew what to say, for it seemed to me that either +Evie must be the victim of some extraordinary hallucination, +or else that Mannering was mad.</p> + +<p>"He mentioned you," she replied. "'Tell Sutgrove,' +he said, 'that he has three days in which to capture the +Motor Pirate and make sure of his bride. After that he +will be too late. Tell him, too, that death waits on the +fool who fails.'"</p> + +<p>"It's a sporting challenge," I muttered, for I had no +doubt now in my mind that Mannering and the Pirate +were identical.</p> + +<p>My words did not reach Evie's ear, for she continued,</p> + +<p>"Now you know why I have put away your ring. +He is too strong for us. I must do as he bids me. +I——"</p> + +<p>I interrupted her sharply. "Have you everything +packed to go away on your visit to Norfolk to-morrow?" +I asked.</p> + +<p>The tone of my voice roused her. She looked at me +wildly.</p> + +<p>"Why—why——" she said. Then the expression +faded out of her face. For the second time that day she +had fainted.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH THE PIRATE APPEARS IN A FROLICSOME +HUMOUR</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'><span class='smcap'>The</span> fainting fit which terminated my conversation with +Evie alarmed me tremendously, and as soon as I could +summon assistance I sent for a doctor. She came round +before the medical man arrived, but I did not revert to +the topic which had agitated her. Indeed, she appeared +listless and disinclined to say a word on any subject. +Colonel Maitland was less worried than myself, but even +he was anxious until after the doctor had seen her and +assured him that his daughter was merely suffering from +over excitement, and that a sedative and a good night's +rest would probably restore her completely.</div> + +<p>I was not so sure that such would be the case, and +when she had retired I thought it well to take the +Colonel into his study and give him as full an account as +I could of all that had led up to the fainting fit. He +listened to my story with attention, and when I had +done, though I could plainly see that he thought his +daughter's fears were due to her own morbid fancy, yet +he agreed with me that it would be well that she should +have a change of scene at the earliest possible moment.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span></p> + +<p>After arriving at this decision I determined to at once +seek out Mannering, and demand from him some explanation +of his conduct, for I could not conceive that +Evie's story was entirely the outcome of her imagination. +It was a delicate subject to discuss, yet I did not hesitate. +I was in no humour to mince matters. My anger, +though I had kept it well under control hitherto, only +needed the slightest fanning to bring it to a white heat, +and I longed whole-heartedly that Mannering would +afford me some excuse for giving physical expression to +my feelings.</p> + +<p>I walked up to his front door, and knocked in a +manner to denote with sufficient distinctiveness that the +mood of the knocker was the imperative. I could see by +the lights within that the inmates of the house had not +retired to rest, but I had to repeat my summons before +there was any response. Then I heard footsteps within, +and the door opening an inch or two, a voice inquired +who was there.</p> + +<p>"Is Mr. Mannering in?" I demanded.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Sutgrove, is it?" replied the voice, and upon +my answering in the affirmative, the door was thrown +open, and I saw the two maidservants standing in the +hall.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, sir," said the parlourmaid. +"We didn't expect any one at this time of night."</p> + +<p>"That's all right," I answered. "Can I see Mr. +Mannering?"</p> + +<p>"He's gone away for a day or two, sir," said the girl.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That's very sudden, isn't it?" I asked. "I saw him +this afternoon."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. He said nothing about it to us until after +dinner. Then he packed his handbag and went away on +his motor."</p> + +<p>"It's a confounded nuisance," I remarked. "I wanted +to see him on important business. Did he say where he +was going?"</p> + +<p>"He said Cromer, sir, but he did not leave any +address.<ins title="Transcriber's Note: this closing quotation marked added">"</ins> Then, after a momentary hesitation, she added, +"Is—is anything wrong?"</p> + +<p>I looked at her keenly. She dropped her eyes, and +I could see there was something on her mind.</p> + +<p>"What makes you ask?" I enquired.</p> + +<p>"I—I don't know," she replied, with obvious embarrassment.</p> + +<p>"There must be something or you would not have +asked," I said encouragingly. "Come—out with it."</p> + +<p>She still hesitated, but the housemaid was bolder. +"I'll tell the gentleman if you don't, Sarah," she declared. +"It's like this, sir," she rattled out volubly: "the master, +Mr. Mannering that is, has been so queer in his ways +lately that Sarah and me 'as been quite scared. Not that +he 'asn't been quite the gentleman. He always was that, +wasn't he, Sarah? But he's been that restless and bound +up in himself lately—walking up and down in his room +and talking to himself. He always was one to shut +himself up in that nasty old coach-house with his +experiments and things, but he was quiet, and we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +never took no account of it. But lately he's been +different."</p> + +<p>"How?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Well, instead of going to bed like a Christian he's +up all hours of the night. It ain't only that. He slips +out as if he didn't want us to see him, and when we've +known he hasn't been at home we've found he's taken +the trouble to tumble the bed to make it appear as how +he slept in it."</p> + +<p>"Pooh!" I remarked. "If that's all, my servants +would probably say the same about me. You need not +be alarmed about such trifles."</p> + +<p>"But it's not all," said Sarah, taking up the story. +"The nights he goes out are just the nights the Pirate +makes his appearance."</p> + +<p>"Those are just the nights I am away from home," +I said.</p> + +<p>"But you have the detective gentleman with you," +argued the girl, "and when you come back I warrant +you do not bring diamond studs back with you that don't +belong to you."</p> + +<p>"What!" I cried. "What!"</p> + +<p>"It's truth, sir," said the housemaid. "A week ago, +just after he came back from Paris, I was sweeping the +floor of his bedroom, when I sweeps up a diamond stud. +Now, I knew he never had such a thing——"</p> + +<p>"I suppose you know exactly what jewellery he has?" +I interrupted, laughing.</p> + +<p>"He always was a very careless gentleman until the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +last month, before which he left his things lying about +all over the place, but then he had a safe put in his +bedroom, and he never so much as left the key lying +about. However, I mentions the stud to Sarah, and we +talks it over and puts two and two together, and Sarah +thinks that if he doesn't ask what has become of it, it +might be as well as if we told the detective gentleman +about it."</p> + +<p>"Quite right," I remarked. "You might let me +look at the stud, though."</p> + +<p>After a little pressing the girls fetched the trinket, and +I perceived that it very closely resembled the stud Winter +had worn on the night of our first encounter with the +Pirate. I said nothing about this supposition to the +maids, but bidding them to be careful not to mention +the matter to any one until they had seen Forrest, whom +I promised should call upon them, I left the house.</p> + +<p>Though disappointed in my original intention of +forcing an explanation from Mannering, I was by no +means ill pleased with the result of my visit to his house. +My suspicions as to his identity with the Pirate had +become considerably stronger, and once that identity was +established I fancied I should have little difficulty in +preventing any further annoyance at his hands.</p> + +<p>Yet when I came to think calmly upon the subject I +could not fail to see how frail was the foundation upon +which my suspicions were built up. The fancies of a +girl, the suspicions of a couple of gossiping servants, +and the discovery of a stud, which might or might not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +prove to be the one which had been stolen from Winter. +I longed for Forrest to return, for I felt utterly incapable +of resting, and as he had not put in an appearance by +midnight, I got out my car and went into St. Albans to +meet him. At the police station there was no news of +him to be obtained, but I did learn that the Pirate had +been seen, his presence having been reported from the +vicinity of Bedford.</p> + +<p>Knowing that it would be impossible for me to sleep +until I had seen Forrest; knowing, too, how unlikely it +was that he would now return to St. Albans before morning, +I thought I might at least have one shot on my own +account of bringing off the capture I so ardently desired. +So, in case of an untoward accident happening, I scribbled +a note to the detective, telling him briefly what I had +heard from the servants, and my intentions; and making +sure that my revolver was in working order, I bade my +friends at the police-station good night, and departed.</p> + +<p>I knew it would be useless to take the direct road to +Bedford if I wished to meet the Pirate, and, as he had +been reported going east, I took the route through Hertford, +trusting that I might be able to cut him off upon +his return. I gleaned nothing concerning him at either +Hertford or Ware, and was so doubtful of proceeding +further in that direction that I left it to the arbitrament +of a coin to determine whether I should go on by a road +with which I was unacquainted to Cambridge through +Bishop's Stortford, or take a route I knew through Royston. +The choice fell upon the Stortford road, and later I was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +glad I had taken it, for about a mile to the south of Stortford +I discovered that I was upon the right track.</p> + +<p>I was bowling along at about fifteen miles an hour +when I came upon two horses grazing at the road-side. +They galloped off at my approach, and, a few seconds +later, I came upon a specimen of the Pirate's handiwork, +which at first sight was irresistibly ludicrous. A brougham +was drawn up at the side of the road, and, bound to the +wheels, were a coachman and a footman, clad in gorgeous +liveries. The coachman was fat and florid, the footman +a particularly fine specimen of flunkeydom, and their faces, +as the light of my lamps fell upon them—they could not +speak, for they were both gagged as well as bound—were +so convulsed with terror, that I could see they did not +look upon me as a friend. As I dismounted from my car +to go to their assistance, I heard a dismal wail from the +roof of the vehicle and, looking up, I perceived a portly +old lady perched upon the uncomfortable eminence.</p> + +<p>I made an attempt to explain that my intentions were +purely pacific, but as I could elicit nothing from the old +lady but appeals to spare her life, I turned my attention +to the two men, and speedily released them from their +bonds. By the time they were loose they had realized +that I was a friend; but it was some time before I +managed to obtain from them an account of how they +got into such a mess. Even when their powers of speech +had returned they were unable to give a lucid account +of the affair.</p> + +<p>Of course it was the work of the Pirate. They had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +been returning with their mistress—the old lady on the +roof of the brougham—from some local coming-of-age +festivities, when they had met the rascal. He had bound +the servants, set the horses free, and, after robbing the +old lady of all the jewellery she wore, he had compelled +her to climb to the position where I discovered her, +threatening to return and kill her if she moved from her +position for an hour. It needed much persuasion before +she ventured to descend from her perch; but with the +assistance of the coachman, I managed to get her inside +the brougham, and further assisting in securing the two +horses, I left them.</p> + +<p>This incident delayed me for nearly half an hour, and +it was a good deal past one before I again set out on my +quest. The brougham had been stopped just near a bye-road, +and as the footman had assured me that the Pirate +had taken this path when he departed, I thought I would +follow. I could see for myself that a motor-car had +passed that way, for the thunderstorm of the previous day +had left the roads heavy in places, and the marks of his +tyres were plainly visible.</p> + +<p>I had followed the road for about a couple of miles +further when I came once more upon some of the +Pirate's victims. These, too, were returning from the +same function at which the old lady had been a guest, +when they fell into the clutches of the Pirate. In this +case my assistance was not required, for the two young +ladies of the party had recovered sufficiently from their +fright to have already set at liberty their male companion<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +and the coachman. They told me of their experiences, +and after I had heard them, I thought that Forrest's idea +that the Pirate was a madman more likely than I had +done previously.</p> + +<p>When stopped by the Pirate, the husband of one of +the ladies had shown fight until he had been felled by +a blow from the butt end of a revolver. The coachman +had discreetly made no resistance. Then, after securing +the jewels the women wore, the Pirate had displayed a +freakish humour quite new to his character. He had +insisted upon the two women dancing for his amusement +in the road, threatening to shoot the husband if they did +not comply with his request. They assured me that he +had sat chuckling with laughter, and urging them on +with all sorts of wild threats, until they fell from exhaustion. +They were splashed with mud from head to +foot, and their dainty frocks presented a sorry sight. In +addition they told me that they could barely stand, for +their feet were cut to pieces, since, at the first steps of +the weird dance, their slippers had stuck in the mud, and +they were given no opportunity to stop and recover them.</p> + +<p>I did not wait to hear more than the barest outline +of the story, for I learned that he had left them not more +than ten minutes before my arrival on the scene, and +with the heavy roads, I thought there was at least a +chance of some lucky accident bringing me face to face +with my quarry.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>A HOT SCENT</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'><span class="smcap">I ran</span> on through the night, but I could not make any +great progress. I was now involved in a maze of Essex +bye-roads, totally unknown to me, and every few minutes +I was compelled to dismount, and search for the tracks. +I never lost them, however, until I came once more to +a high-road. The curve of the tyre marks at the junction +of the road gave me the direction I needed, and, letting +my car go, in four or five minutes I found myself running +into the electric-lighted streets of a town. The place +was deserted, but eventually I found a policeman, and +of him I inquired whether anything had been seen or +heard of the Pirate. There was no need for me to +describe the appearance of the pirate car. It was as +well-known throughout the land, as the Lord Mayor's +coach, but he had seen nothing of it, and was quite +positive that it had not passed through the town. An +ordinary car had passed about half an hour before my +arrival, and though the constable's description of the car +was not very lucid, it was sufficiently near the mark to +make me think of Mannering.</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span>"I fancy the man you describe is a friend of mine," +I said. "Which direction did he take?"</p> + +<p>"He went straight along the Colchester road," was +the astonishing reply.</p> + +<p>"The Colchester road?" I inquired. "What town +is this, then?"</p> + +<p>"This is Chelmsford, sir," he answered, with a +surprise equalling my own.</p> + +<p>I could see my unguarded question had awakened +his suspicions of me, so I made haste to remark that +I had not realized how quickly I had travelled, adding +that I might have known there was no other town of +the size thereabouts.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid," I added, "that if you had met me +outside the borough you would have had a case for the +Bench in the morning."</p> + +<p>"I don't take no heed of speed myself, sir, when the +roads is clear," he remarked; "but when the traffic's +thick, it's another matter."</p> + +<p>I thought his sound common sense deserved a reward. +Anyway it got one, and with a cheerful good night, +I set my car going at a pace which made me hope +that any other constable I chanced to meet would +prove as intelligent as he from whom I had just +parted. It is about twenty-two miles from Chelmsford +to Colchester, and, in spite of the greasy state of +parts of the road, I managed the distance in thirty +minutes.</p> + +<p>Every one of those minutes I expected to be able<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +to overtake Mannering; but I saw nothing of him, and +by the time I came to Colchester, I began to fancy that +he must have given me the slip at some bye-road. From +my inquiries at Colchester, I learned, however, that I +was still on the right scent; but I was mightily puzzled +to discover that though he was driving the old car which +he had always declared was unable to compass more than +twelve or fourteen miles an hour, he was still half an +hour ahead of me.</p> + +<p>He was still going away from town, and I followed. +There is no need for me to give in any detail particulars +of my journey that night. Day was breaking when +I came into Ipswich, and it was broad daylight when +I passed through the long, untidy street of Wickham +Market. Mannering still kept ahead, and I followed +doggedly. I heard of him at Saxmundham, but when +I inquired at Blythburgh, I found I had missed him, and +I had to hark back to Yoxford before I got on his track +again. He had taken the side route to Halesworth, +through which he had passed in the direction of Beccles. +By this time he was an hour ahead of me, and, as he +had left Beccles by the Yarmouth road, I went ahead +as fast as I dared. It was not quite my highest speed, +for by this time I was both tired and hungry, and the +strain of travelling over unknown roads at a high speed +at night made my head swim. I knew that unless I +could soon get food and rest I should soon be fit for +nothing. So immediately I reached Yarmouth, I went +to a hotel, ordered breakfast, indulged in a hot bath while<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> +it was preparing, and went to sleep in my chair directly +I had eaten the meal.</p> + +<p>The waiter awakened me about ten. I went down +to the beach and indulged in a swim, and, returning +to the hotel, amazed the waiter by ordering and doing +justice to a second breakfast before taking my departure.</p> + +<p>On leaving the hotel, my first consideration was to +get my tank refilled, and, that done, I sent off a couple +of wires, one to Evie and the other addressed to Forrest, +at my own place, telling each of them to communicate +with me at Sutgrove Hall if anything happened, for it +was my intention to call at my home if I could possibly +manage to do so.</p> + +<p>My next business was to search for traces of Mannering +in Yarmouth, but it was some time before I ascertained +that the man I imagined to be he, had left by the coast +road through Caister. It was a tedious job to track him +through the Norfolk lanes, for he had turned and doubled +as if anxious to throw a pursuer off the scent, and it was +one o'clock before I eventually struck the high-road +between Norwich and Cromer. There I finally lost +him, owing chiefly to the fact that the day was fine, and +a large number of motor-cars were on the road in consequence.</p> + +<p>By this time I was beginning to think my impulsive +action to be more than a little foolish, but in order that +my journey should not be altogether wasted, I determined +to run on to Cromer, lunch there, and afterwards proceed +to Sheringham, near which delightful village my home<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> +was situated, and seize the opportunity to make arrangements +with my aunt for Evie's visit.</p> + +<p>In pursuance of this plan, in half an hour's time, +I walked into the dining-room of the Royal Hotel at +Cromer. You may judge of my surprise when I saw +Mannering seated at a table at one of the windows. He +observed my entrance, and, rising, greeted me heartily.</p> + +<p>"Hullo, Sutgrove!" he said. "This is indeed a +welcome surprise. I had not the slightest idea you were +in this part of the country."</p> + +<p>"If you had, I presume you would not have chosen +it for the scene of your exploits," I replied.</p> + +<p>The expression of astonishment which spread over +his features at my rejoinder was so perfect that I felt +all my suspicions begin to crumble away.</p> + +<p>"I don't follow you," he remarked.</p> + +<p>His manner was either the result of one of the best +pieces of acting I had ever seen in my life, or due to +absolute unconsciousness of my meaning. It made me +remember that though there were undoubtedly suspicious +circumstances connecting him with the Motor Pirate, +yet so far there was not one iota of direct evidence. I +thought it best to temporize.</p> + +<p>"Oh," I remarked; "I was only referring to your +attempts to cut the records with your old car."</p> + +<p>He smiled calmly before replying. "You may be +nearer the truth than you think. I've had a new motor +fixed in the car—an idea of my own, and I find she +travels at quite a decent pace. That's why I left home<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +last night. After the rain I thought the roads would +certainly be clear enough to give me the opportunity of +making a fair test. The engine is a model of the one +I have designed for the new car which I mentioned—last +night was it? No; the night before."</p> + +<p>I was fairly staggered at his assurance. His demeanour +was entirely without the suggestion of his being in any +way aware that he was an object of suspicion.</p> + +<p>"Were you not afraid of meeting the Pirate? I +heard he was abroad last night," I said.</p> + +<p>"Afraid!" he remarked witheringly. "Afraid! +All I am afraid of is, that some of your Scotland Yard +friends will be beforehand with me in his capture, and +that is an adventure which has a particular appeal to me, +since he left his mark upon me here." He tapped his +shoulder significantly. "I have promised myself to +repay this injury with interest."</p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose we are as likely to meet him here +as anywhere," I ventured to remark.</p> + +<p>"I hope so," he answered. "But I am not stopping +here for long. I've taken a bed for the night, +because I feel confoundedly tired after last night's +run. But what brings you down here? Are you +motoring?"</p> + +<p>"In the first place I wanted a word with you," I +replied.</p> + +<p>"With me?" The amazement in his voice was +obvious.</p> + +<p>"Yes," I said; "that is my principal object."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But how did you discover my address? I left no +word with any one."</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you later," I said.</p> + +<p>"Well, we have plenty of time to talk," he replied. +"If there's any little difficulty in which I can be of any +assistance, I need hardly assure you I am at your service. +But hadn't you better have lunch first?" He lowered +the tone of his voice. "Unless you wish the waiters to +become acquainted with your affairs, I should think what +you have to say could be much better said outside. +Neither pier nor esplanade are much frequented at this +time of the year."</p> + +<p>The suggestion was so natural and reasonable that, +after a moment's consideration, I decided to accept it.</p> + +<p>All through the meal he chatted as easily as if +there was not the slightest possibility of anything happening +to interrupt the friendship which had always +ostensibly existed between us. The longer we talked, +the more puzzled I became. His manners were so +natural, so fearless, that it was quite impossible for me +to believe that I was sitting at lunch with the Motor +Pirate. He was very curious to know how I had learned +of his intention to come to Cromer, and I was induced +to tell him of my experiences on the previous night. I +watched his face keenly while I narrated the stories of +the Pirate's victims. He listened quite gravely, not +even the ghost of a smile crossing his face when I told +him of the ludicrous pictures presented by the old lady +and her two servants.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It is no laughing matter," he observed. "The +rascal was bad enough when he confined his attentions +to men; but now he has taken to bestowing them upon +women, he deserves no mercy, and when I am able to +get upon his track, he will get none."</p> + +<p>"Then you are really hoping to join in the hunt?" +I asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said. "I'll let you into my secret. At +my place at St. Stephens, I had a car which only wanted +one minor detail to make it complete. I have known +for months, that if I could supply that detail, I should +be in possession of a car which would outpace even the +Pirate's. For months I've racked my brains over it. A +week ago an idea occurred to me. I worked it out. I +tried it for the first time last night. It has proved to +be a success. The day after to-morrow I shall join in +the pursuit of the Motor Pirate, so if your Scotland Yard +friend does not make haste, he will be too late."</p> + +<p>"What power do you propose to use?" I asked. +"Petrol?"</p> + +<p>He laughed before replying. "A month ago I +would have told nobody; but to-day there is no need of +secrecy; my drawings are all ready for deposit at the +Patent Office, so there is no chance of any one forestalling +me."</p> + +<p>"Well, what is it?" I said.</p> + +<p>"I don't want you to tell anybody else just yet," he +said; and as I nodded my acquiescence, he continued, +"My new motor is on an entirely novel principle. It<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +is a turbine engine, worked by the expansion of liquid +hydrogen."</p> + +<p>"What?" I gasped. The idea was so novel that I +could not grasp it. He lifted his hand, checking the +questions which started to my lips.</p> + +<p>"No. No questions, if you please: because, if you +ask any, I shall not answer them. Meanwhile, you +have not yet told me how you learned of my presence +here?"</p> + +<p>I related how, in the course of my inquiries at +Chelmsford, I had ascertained that a person so like +himself had passed through the town, that I had determined +to attempt to overtake him, little thinking the +chase would prove so stern.</p> + +<p>He chaffingly congratulated me on my tracking +powers, and expressed regret that I had not made my +appearance earlier, so that we might have arranged a +race; and by the time we had finished lunch, I was as +completely convinced as I had ever been of anything in +my life, that he had no connection whatsoever with the +Pirate. Still, I was none the less determined to tackle +him upon the subject of the influence which Evie declared +he exerted over her, so when the meal was over, +we left the hotel together and, seeing from the front +that the pier was practically deserted, I led the way to +the far end, determined to have a complete explanation.</p> + +<p>He was silent during our walk. So was I, for I was +deliberating how best to introduce the subject. As it +happened, he made the task easy for me, as after finding<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +a comfortable seat and lighting a cigarette, he turned to +me with—</p> + +<p>"Now, old fellow, what is it you have on your +mind? Out with it!"</p> + +<p>I told him—told him fully and frankly everything +that Evie had mentioned to me concerning him, and I +finished by warning him that I was determined to +exercise the right she had given me to protect her. He +listened to me attentively and, one might have thought, +even sympathetically. When I had concluded, he sat +silent awhile; then, looking me full in the eyes, he +remarked—</p> + +<p>"I suppose, Sutgrove, if I tell you that this story of +the influence I am supposed to exercise over Miss Maitland +is absolute news to me, you will not believe +me?"</p> + +<p>I was staggered, and my astonishment must have +been visible in my face, for he continued—</p> + +<p>"You may be surprised, but not half so much as I +have been, by what you have told me. Really, the +whole story sounds the maddest farrago of nonsense I +have ever heard."</p> + +<p>I was about to make an angry retort, but he checked +me with a gesture—</p> + +<p>"I do not mean any offence," he said; "for I can +quite understand what your feelings on the subject must +be. I, no more than yourself, would tolerate any unwarrantable +interference such as you describe. It is just +as well that you should have mentioned the matter to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> +me, however, for you will know so much better how +to proceed."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" I gasped.</p> + +<p>"Why, what else than that you will not waste any +time before obtaining medical advice for Miss Maitland," +he replied.</p> + +<p>I felt a grey horror creeping over me—a horror that +tied my tongue, to think that Evie—my Evie—might +prove to be—mad. Again, he must have divined my +thoughts, for he said reassuringly—</p> + +<p>"You must not take too serious a view of the case. +Miss Maitland is of a highly nervous temperament, and, +I should imagine, rather prone to hysteria." Then, +rising, he clapped me on the shoulder, "Take a cheerful +view, Sutgrove. I'll bet you ten to one that her doctor +will inform you that marriage will provide a complete +cure."</p> + +<p>His tone was so hearty, so friendly, that I instinctively +grasped his hand, and he returned my grip.</p> + +<p>The subject was not resumed; and, as we walked +back to the hotel, I was completely convinced that I had +been an unutterable cad ever to allow a single doubt concerning +him to enter my mind, much less to harbour +there.</p> + +<p>I left him at the hotel door and went in search of +my car to continue my journey to Sutgrove Hall. He +was still standing where I parted from him when I swept +past, and he waved his hand to me, a smile upon his face.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>RELATES HOW THE PIRATE HOLDS UP AN AUGUST +PERSONAGE</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'><span class='smcap'>I reached</span> my destination about five, and found, as I +hoped, a telegram awaiting my arrival. It read—</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Ever so much better. Do not worry about me. +Cannot spare you for long though. Lots of love.—E."</p></div> + +<p>With my mind very much relieved, I was able to +devote my attention to my aunt, who was full of +questions as to the reason for my unexpected arrival and +equally eager for a full account of my doings during the +past six months, during which time, she assured me, I +had grossly neglected my duties, especially by my failure +to keep her adequately posted regarding my engagement.</p> + +<p>I was anxious, after reading Evie's wire, to start forthwith +for St. Albans; my aunt was equally anxious that +I should remain the night at Sutgrove, and while we +were arguing the point, a second telegram arrived, which +settled the matter. I tore open the envelope and read—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Meet the 8.49 at Cromer with motor. Do not fail. +Most important.—<span class="smcap">Forrest.</span>"</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span></p> + +<p>The message had been handed in at Liverpool Street +at 4.50, and I wondered what could have happened to +necessitate Forrest's presence in Norfolk. There was +little use speculating, however, and I settled down to +satiate, if it were possible, my aunt's curiosity.</p> + +<p>She was duly impressed by such of my adventures as +I thought fit to relate, but she was not neglectful of +what she considered her duties as hostess and, in spite +of the fact that I had eaten a hearty lunch about two, I +was able shortly after seven to do adequate justice to the +early dinner which she provided for me. I left home +soon after eight, and, in consequence of my impatience, +had to wait ten minutes on the Cromer platform for the +arrival of the train.</p> + +<p>As the engine drew into the station, I saw Forrest's +head thrust out of the window of one of the carriages, +and, before the train had come to a standstill, he had +leaped from the door and was at my side. He was for +him unusually excited, and, without reply to my greeting, +save with a silent hand grip, he said—</p> + +<p>"Seen anything of Mannering?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes," I replied directly. "I lunched with +him, to-day. He's stopping at the Royal."</p> + +<p>"That's a bit of luck," replied the detective. +"Come along;" and he pushed on in advance of me +through the barrier.</p> + +<p>"What has happened?" I asked, as I caught him up +in the station yard.</p> + +<p>"I hold a warrant for his arrest, and I am desirous of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> +executing it at the earliest possible moment, that's all," +he replied.</p> + +<p>I could hardly believe my ears. "What in the world +for?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"What should it be for?" said Forrest, with a touch +of sarcasm in the tone of his voice.</p> + +<p>"He cannot be the Motor Pirate. It is impossible. +He could not have deceived me so completely," I +exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"I would stake everything I hope for in the future, +as well as everything I possess at the present moment, +that he is though," returned the detective with conviction. +"But we must not waste time. Take me to the hotel."</p> + +<p>Without stopping to argue the point, I jumped on my +car, Forrest took the seat beside me, and we proceeded to +the Royal.</p> + +<p>"Leave the car and come with me, I may want your +assistance," he said, as we pulled up at the entrance to +the hotel.</p> + +<p>He sprang out the moment I stopped and ran briskly +up the steps. A porter was in the hall, and to him +Forrest turned.</p> + +<p>"I want to see a Mr. Mannering, who is stopping here, +at once, and I do not wish to be announced," he said.</p> + +<p>The man walked across to the office and made an +inquiry of the clerk, then returning, announced that +Mannering had left an hour previously.</p> + +<p>"Left?" said Forrest, and his jaw fell. He stepped +across to the office himself, only to learn that though<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +Mannering had booked a room for the night, he had +after dinner called for his bill, paid it, and left on his +motor, without giving any reason for his alteration of +plans.</p> + +<p>Forrest stalked out of the hotel, his brow heavy with +thought. I followed him. He stepped on to the car, +and, taking my seat, I asked him tersely—</p> + +<p>"Where to?"</p> + +<p>"St. Albans," he replied with brevity equal to my +own, and without further question we were off.</p> + +<p>"Don't mind taking a few risks," he said presently. +"The sooner we can get there the better I shall be +pleased."</p> + +<p>Then, leaning back in his seat, he asked me to tell +him how I happened to learn of Mannering's presence in +Cromer, and what he had said to convince me that he +was in no way connected with the Pirate. So while we +were still running at a moderate pace, I gave him a brief +history of my adventures of the previous night. Before +I had concluded, however, the road ahead seemed clear, +and, pulling my mask over my face, I jammed on my +highest speed and conversation became impossible.</p> + +<p>Forrest pulled his cap down over his eyes and, turning +his coat-collar about his ears, settled himself apparently +to slumber. Within half an hour the lights of Norwich +sparkled in front of us, and it became necessary to slacken +speed. Forrest immediately resumed the conversation at +the point where we had broken off, and questioned me +closely with regard to what Mannering had said to me.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> +Once and again I endeavoured to ascertain what had +induced him to take out the warrant; but he would not +satisfy my curiosity, declaring that it was of more +importance that he should know all that I could tell him +first. There seemed little likelihood of my learning +anything, for we soon left Norwich behind us, and were +running at full speed on the road to Thetford and Newmarket, +slackening speed only slightly as we swept +through the villages and trusting to the continuous toot-toot +of the horn to clear our path. Our progress was +uninterrupted until we had reached and left the little +town of Attleborough five or six miles behind us, when +Forrest was afforded an opportunity, much to his chagrin, +of giving me the reasons for his haste.</p> + +<p>Incidentally, I may remark, that the occurrence which +afforded this opportunity came very near depriving me of +the chance of hearing anything from anybody, or him +from ever opening his lips again, for while we swept +along at our top speed there was a sudden hissing sound, +a sudden succession of jars, and the car swerved violently, +nearly overturning. I jammed on both my breaks, and +by good fortune the car did not overturn. I guessed +what had happened, and there was no need for me to get +a light to make sure—my sense of touch informed me +that the off back tyre was as flat as a pancake.</p> + +<p>I hoped that the injury was only slight, but my hopes +faded the moment I examined the injury. The tyre had +picked up a curved and pointed piece of iron, and had +been irreparably damaged. No patching was of any use.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> +There was nothing for it but to replace the tyre with +a new one. Fortunately, I was prepared with a spare +outer cover as well as inner tubes, and, with a muttered +curse, I threw off my coat and set about the job. Then +when that was done, and it took me a good hour to +complete the task, I discovered, on restarting the car, that +a further misfortune had befallen us. Either owing to +the jumping of the car when the tyre went, or more +likely because of the sudden application, the footbreak +had seized, and the transmission was so far injured that +I could not get the car along above seven or eight miles +an hour. I did my best to put the damage right. I lay +on my back in the middle of the road, and used all the +language approved by the most fluent members of the +Automobile Club for use on such occasions, but entirely +without result. Exactly where we were I did not know, +and, after I had relieved my feelings, I thought it best to +jog along until we came to some town where it would +be possible to get skilled assistance.</p> + +<p>And it was while we were progressing in this humdrum +fashion that Forrest confided to me the reasons for +his anxiety.</p> + +<p>"In the first place," he said, "your theory as to the +stud found by Mannering's servants proved to be correct. +It was Winter's. I arrived at St. Albans the first thing +this morning, and, after getting your note, went straight +away and interviewed the girls. They handed me the +trinket. I took it to Winter, and he identified it. He +will swear to it anywhere. By the time I had done this,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> +your wire for me had arrived, and your man, having seen +me go into Winter's house, brought it on. I took the +next train to town and went straight to the Yard, +thankful that at last I was able to report something +definite. Besides, I wanted to take a warrant without +any one being aware of it, and I knew I could manage +that better in London than in the country. Well, I +called at the Yard, ran across to Bow Street and got my +warrant, and returned to the Yard in order to instruct +a couple of our men who had been placed at my disposal. +While I was there particulars came to hand of a feat +which throws all the other doings of the Pirate into the +shade. You mentioned, I think, that Mannering, when +he told Miss Maitland that he was going away, said that +all England would be talking of him."</p> + +<p>"She said so," I replied doubtfully; "but she was so +excited——"</p> + +<p>"She was probably correct in her recollection of what +passed," he said. "If further proof were wanted to +connect your friend with the Motor Pirate, those words +would be sufficient. If what I know leaks out, the Pirate +will fill the popular mind more to-morrow than he has +done in the past even. Yesterday morning, within six +miles of Sandringham, he held up"—he hesitated—"I +must mention no names—he held up, let me say, an +August Personage——"</p> + +<p>"The King?" I cried.</p> + +<p>"An August Personage," remarked Forrest, severely, +"in broad daylight."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Let me hear all about it?" I asked eagerly.</p> + +<p>"I don't know that I can tell you everything, for +so far I only know the particulars wired to the Yard. +But the story is complete enough to enable me to do what +I have hitherto failed in, and that is, complete the +necessary identification of our friend Mannering. And +curiously enough, it is owing to the keen powers of +observation possessed by the——"</p> + +<p>"The August Personage," I reminded him, a trifle +maliciously as he hesitated.</p> + +<p>Forrest laughed. "Quite right, you score that time," +he remarked, before resuming his tale. "Owing to the +August Personage's keen powers of observation, I am able +to lay my finger on the one point which has puzzled me, +namely, the manner by which Mannering has managed +to escape suspicion. It is a simple trick. So simple, in +fact, that I cannot conceive how I managed to overlook +such a possibility for so long. However, you shall hear +the facts as they were told to me, and judge for yourself +with what transparent means we have been hoodwinked +by the rascal. The August Personage, who, as you are +probably aware, has been staying at Sandringham for +some days past, has been in the habit of taking a ride on +one of his cars whenever the roads were in good condition, +accompanied only by his chauffeur. This morning +he started for the customary run shortly after eleven, with +the intention of taking a circular trip through Hunstanton, +Burnham, Docking and Bircham, and returning for +luncheon. The intention was not fulfilled since, before<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +reaching Hunstanton, the Pirate made his appearance, +and approaching as usual from behind, overtook the +August motor. The August driver did not at first take +any notice of the approaching car, but, merely imagining +that the driver had recognized him, and felt some +delicacy at passing, he signalled with his hand for the +stranger to go ahead. What was his surprise to hear the +stranger in a loud voice bid him stop his car. He turned +to look at the audacious person who had dared take such +unwarrantable liberty, and at once observed with whom +he had to deal. The Pirate had in his hand a revolver, +which was levelled at the August head. The August face +flushed with anger, and turning away, he contemptuously +took no notice of the summons. The Pirate thereupon +fired two shots, aimed, fortunately, neither at the August +Personage nor at the chauffeur, but at the tyres of the +back wheels. The aim was good, the tyres ran down at +once, and the August Personage found progress on the +rims to be so uncomfortable that he thought it desirable +to stop. The stranger ranged alongside, and the chauffeur, +rising from his seat, was about to throw himself at the +throat of the assailant, when his August master laid a +hand upon his arm.</p> + +<p>"'No, no,' he said, 'I can easily get another car, +but I do not know that I could replace my chauffeur.'</p> + +<p>"Thereupon the Pirate observed, 'I think, sir, there is +so much wisdom in your remark that, in spite of my +necessities, I almost feel inclined to forego my usual toll +in your case.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The August Personage, whose coolness had never +for a moment deserted him, replied imperturbably—</p> + +<p>"'Having robbed me of a morning's enjoyment, it +seems to me there is nothing of any particular value left +for you to take.'</p> + +<p>"'Then, sir,' replied the rascal, 'you will be doubtless +glad to purchase my immediate disappearance with +the contents of the August pockets?'</p> + +<p>"August was not the word he used, but it was one +which showed that he was acquainted with the personality +of his victim.</p> + +<p>"The August Personage shrugged his shoulders, and, +searching his pockets, could produce nothing but a +cigarette case and a button. To show his <i>sang-froid</i>, I +need only remark that when he produced the latter +article he laughed heartily and said to the chauffeur—</p> + +<p>"'I hope, P——, you have something to add to the +contents of my pockets, or I fear this too eager gentleman +will destroy our front tyres as well as the back.'</p> + +<p>"The chauffeur had some loose gold, a silver matchbox, +and a watch, and when these were produced, speaking +with the same nonchalance he had retained throughout, +the August Personage remarked—</p> + +<p>"'I fear you have drawn a blank this time, Mr. +Pirate; for, upon my word, that is the best I can do for you.'</p> + +<p>"The Pirate took the articles. Then he raised his hat. +'I take,' he said, 'the August word as readily as I take +these souvenirs of this memorable meeting,' and with +these words, he pulled a lever and was speedily out of sight."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span></p> + +<p>"By Jove!" I muttered. "The fellow's audacity is +almost past belief. But you said something of observations +made by the August victim?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Forrest. "The chauffeur was much too +agitated to notice anything, but his master was not. He +observed four things. First, that the Pirate was a man +of about six feet in height."</p> + +<p>"Mannering is five feet eleven and a quarter in his +socks," I remarked.</p> + +<p>"Secondly, that his hair was black. Thirdly, that the +nails of the right hand, with which he took his plunder, +were bitten to the quick."</p> + +<p>"The identification becomes nearly perfect," I +interrupted.</p> + +<p>"Fourthly, that the car was originally a two-seated +car, with a tonneau body, but that the seat had been set +back, and the bonnet was enclosed by metal plates shaped +into the form of the bow of a canoe, and bolted together +in a manner which gave the impression that they might +easily be removed. Why," continued the detective, "I +did not think of so obvious a solution of the Pirate's +mysterious disappearances before I cannot imagine. It +is the trick the black flag merchants have practised since +the days of Captain Kidd."</p> + +<p>I was silent. I could only wonder at my own +blindness. Then an excuse occurred to me.</p> + +<p>"After all," I remarked, "we only met him in the +dark."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h3>WE PLAN AN AMBUSH</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'><span class="smcap">Forrest</span> had just concluded his story when the lights of +Thetford gleamed in our eyes. The time was 12.30. +The last train was gone. The inhabitants were all in +bed, and there we were, stranded with a broken car, and +no means of putting it right. Forrest would not despair, +however, and after some difficulty we managed, with the +assistance of the local police, to knock up a man who +was locally reputed to know all about motors. He was +a little surly at first, but the inducement I offered him to +make an attempt to put the transmission right, was sufficient +to dissipate his very natural disgust at being disturbed +in his beauty sleep. Fortunately his local reputation had +reasonable foundation. He was a very capable mechanician, +and the way he set about the job gave me great hopes +that the car would run as well as ever when he had +done with it. And my expectations were gratified. In +less than an hour he had completed the repairs. I paid +him and asked him to remain up for ten minutes in case +we had another breakdown, telling him that after that +period had elapsed, he would be at liberty to return to his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +bed. Whether he waited the ten minutes or not I do +not know, for by that time we were halfway to Newmarket, +flying through the darkness at a pace which two +months previously I would not have dared venture upon +in broad daylight. And right onward to St. Albans, we +kept it up, reaching the ancient town just as the birds +began to twitter in the hedges at the first grey light of +early dawn. At St. Albans we stopped at the police-station. +A man was waiting at the door.</div> + +<p>"Any news?" asked Forrest.</p> + +<p>The man shook his head.</p> + +<p>"You know where to bring it?" asked my companion.</p> + +<p>The man nodded.</p> + +<p>"Let us get on home," said Forrest to me.</p> + +<p>As I wheeled my vehicle into my yard I thought I +should drop. The strain of that rush through the night, +expecting every moment that something would give way, +had been tremendous, and the moment the tension was +relaxed I shook like an aspen leaf. When I tried to get +in at my own door I found I could not fit the latch-key, +and was obliged to hand it to the detective. He saw +what was the matter with me, and the moment we were +inside, he led the way to my study, thrust me down into +a chair and mixed me a whisky-and-soda. I was never +more grateful for a drink in my life. It pulled me +together, and in less time than I had conceived possible, +I felt as if I could have managed another seventy-five +miles without a halt.</p> + +<p>The moment he saw my nerves were steady again,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> +Forrest proposed that we should get something to eat. I +declared that I did not want anything.</p> + +<p>"When you haven't time for sleep, the next best +thing is to feed well if you want to keep fit," he +remarked. "Besides, I am as hungry as a hunter has a +right to be."</p> + +<p>"That settles it," I laughed. "We shall have to +forage for ourselves. The servants are all asleep."</p> + +<p>We found our way to the larder and made a hearty +meal on a cold pie we found there; and directly we +had finished, we set out forthwith in the direction of +Mannering's home. As soon as we arrived opposite +the house, Forrest paused and gave a low whistle. It was +answered immediately by a man dressed as a labourer, +who made his appearance from behind the hedge opposite +the house.</p> + +<p>"Any one been here to-night, Laver?" asked Forrest.</p> + +<p>"No one," the man answered. "The servants +turned in about ten after locking up. No signs of any +one about the place since."</p> + +<p>"That's all right," grunted Forrest. "We shall be +ready for him when he does come. Have you got the +tools?"</p> + +<p>The man was proceeding to scramble through the +hedge when Forrest checked him.</p> + +<p>"Better stay where you are," he advised. "Keep out +of sight, and if I whistle, come at once."</p> + +<p>"All right, sir," replied the man, as he handed through +a gap in the hedge a small chamois leather bag.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span></p> + +<p>I had no idea as to what steps Forrest proposed to +adopt in order to effect the arrest, so I asked him, and he +explained briefly his plan of campaign.</p> + +<p>"One can see," he remarked, "that Mannering feels +so confident of the completeness of his disguise that he +will have no hesitation about returning. I am reckoning, +too, upon there being an element of truth in the story +he has told you about the construction of his motor, in +which case his own workshop would be the only place +where he would be able to refill his tank. We shall be +able to decide that point in a very few minutes. If we +do find any plant for the production of liquid gases, we can +count upon catching our man within a very few hours."</p> + +<p>"Unless he smells a rat, and makes for some convenient +port and gets out of the country," I remarked.</p> + +<p>"That eventuality is provided against," remarked the +detective. "His description is in the hands of the police +at every port in the kingdom, and even if he changes the +colour of his hair, I don't think he will manage to get +away. What I propose is, that we shall remain concealed +in his coach-house and await his return."</p> + +<p>"How are we going to get in?" I inquired.</p> + +<p>Forrest took a bunch of skeleton keys from the bag +Laver had handed to him and dangled them before his eyes.</p> + +<p>"There's not a burglar in the kingdom is better +provided," he remarked, and set to work upon the lock +forthwith.</p> + +<p>The lock was an ordinary one, and his efforts were +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span>speedily successful. The door swung open, and we +entered eagerly a bare, stone-paved coach-house. Opposite +the door by which we had entered from the road +was a similar door, which gave upon the inner yard. On +the left, a large sliding door had been fixed in place of the +wall which had divided the coach-house from the stables. +Relocking the door by which we had entered, Forrest +led the way to the door on the left. It was unfastened, +and as it swung back a cry of amazement sprang to +my lips.</p> + +<p>"Hush—sh—sh!" said the detective warningly.</p> + +<p>But I could not have repressed the cry, for there before +me stood a replica of the car I had seen on two occasions. +There was only one point of difference at first apparent. +The pirate car had been black. This one was built of +aluminium and gleamed silvery white. But although the +lines were very similar, I soon came to the conclusion that +the car we saw before us was not the one which the +Pirate had used when engaged upon his nefarious work. +One glance at the tyres convinced me that they had +never been upon the road, and I fancied that the wheels +were smaller and the lines of the body finer altogether. +I pointed these things out to Forrest, who, while agreeing +that this particular car could not have been the one +which had been responsible for holding up the "August +Personage" on the previous day, would not commit +himself further.</p> + +<p>We did not spend much time upon a close examination +of the car, for the other contents of the building +claimed our attention. We found ourselves in a long<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> +workshop. There were no windows in the walls, but +the place was amply illuminated by a skylight which ran +along nearly the whole length of the northern slope of +the roof. On the right of the large door by which we +had entered the inner shop was a small room, which had +probably once served as a harness-room, for through this +another door gave on to the yard, though this exit was +evidently never used, for the door was fixed by screws. +The contents were a couple of broken chairs, and some +coats and rugs hung upon hooks upon the walls, together +with a miscellaneous assortment of odds and ends upon a +shelf. I gave merely a cursory glance at the contents of +this apartment, for my attention had been attracted by a +plant of machinery, which occupied the far end of the +large room. As it happened, I had once had an opportunity +of inspecting the laboratory of the Royal Institution, and +I recognized at once that Mannering had set up an installation +for the preparation of some one or other of the +liquid gases. Without this experience, I doubt whether +it would have been possible for me to guess even the +purpose for which the plant had been devised. As it +was, I had no hesitation in discovering the receiver into +which the liquid gas was distilled; and when I let a little +of the liquid with which it was filled run into a glass +which I found handy, and saw the air fall in a shower of +tiny snow-flakes as the stuff evaporated, I knew that +Mannering had told me the exact truth when he had +informed me that liquid hydrogen supplied the power for +his new car.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span></p> + +<p>Once satisfied on this point, I examined the other +contents of the place. I do not think there is any need +to particularize all that we discovered, even if my memory +served me. Practically the workshop contained a sufficient +engineering equipment to build such a car as stood in the +centre, though I judged that there was no convenience +for the forging of the parts of the motor.</p> + +<p>Still, as I pointed out to Forrest, there was nothing +in all these discoveries to negative the truth of the story +Mannering had told me about his being engaged in building +a car which should serve to outpace the Pirate car, +but he would not listen to any theorising on the subject.</p> + +<p>"He can tell that story to the jury," he said, as he +significantly drew a pair of handcuffs from his pocket and +clinked them together. Then he proceeded to investigate +the contents of the harness-room, while I went back to +the new car and began a careful examination of the +engines. The whole mechanism was, however, so novel +to me, that I could only surmise as to the method of its +working. I did notice, however, that the driving and +steering gear varied very little from that of my own car, +so far as it was controlled by the levers and wheel, while +the breaks seemed to be particularly powerful. There +was only seating accommodation for two, and judging +from the size of the tank which was fitted behind the +seat, I judged that Mannering contemplated runs over +distances which would make large demands upon his +supply of liquid gas.</p> + +<p>At the moment I made this discovery, I heard Forrest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> +call to me in an excited whisper, and going across to +him, I found him contemplating with keen interest a +dirty piece of rope.</p> + +<p>"Look here, Sutgrove," he said; "this is the piece of +cord with which he trussed me up on the occasion when +he dropped me into the pond. Compare it with this"—he +kicked a coil which lay at his feet—"and tell me if +they are not identical."</p> + +<p>I examined them both, and came to the conclusion +that Forrest was correct in his supposition. Next, mounting +one of the chairs, he proceeded to rummage amongst +the rubbish piled on the shelf. A moment later he +observed triumphantly, albeit in subdued tones, "Another +piece of evidence," and descending from his perch, he +handed me a box of cartridges. A glance at the label +had apparently been enough, nevertheless, to make sure, +he searched again in his pocket, and produced the bullet +which had proved fatal to the poor victim at Towcester. +He compared it with one of the cartridges, and gave a +grunt of content. "I fancy we shall soon obtain sufficient +evidence to hang him," he murmured. Then a +shadow crossed his face. "What an infernal dunderhead +I have been not to suspect him before," he said, and +turning impatiently away, he replaced the box of cartridges +on the shelf, before renewing his systematic examination +of the rest of the contents of the room. The search +revealed nothing further, and at length he desisted.</p> + +<p>All the while we were keenly on the alert to detect +any sound which should tell us of the approach of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> +Mannering's car. But the minutes passed and grew into +hours without a sign. It must have been about five in +the morning when we had entered the coach-house, and +when I saw by my watch that it was nearly ten, I began +to think that in some way or another Mannering had got +warning of the danger that threatened him. I suggested +to Forrest that we might as well leave our hiding-place, +but he would not hear of it.</p> + +<p>"I don't leave this building except in his company, +unless I hear that he has been captured elsewhere," he +declared obstinately. "At the same time, don't let me +detain you."</p> + +<p>I wanted badly to see Evie, whom I thought might +be getting anxious concerning me; but I hardly liked +the idea of leaving Forrest to tackle Mannering alone +if he should return. However, my first desire triumphed, +so I persuaded Forrest to let me out of the door, promising +to return within as short a time as I could manage.</p> + +<p>I hurried first to the Colonel's house, and had a +brief interview with the dear girl, telling her what had +happened and what was likely to happen in the near +future. Next, I went to my own place, and had a basket +packed with a plentiful luncheon, not forgetting to provide +a couple of bottles of champagne, and thus provided +I returned to the coach-house after an absence of less +than an hour.</p> + +<p>When in response to my signal Forrest admitted me, +his eyes twinkled with satisfaction as he saw my burden.</p> + +<p>"It is truly thoughtful of you," he remarked, as I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> +lifted the lid of the basket and revealed the contents. +"I only hope our friend will not spoil our picnic by +arriving in the middle of it."</p> + +<p>The better to avoid any such <i>contretemps</i>, we set about +our meal immediately with very good appetites. When +we had finished, I do not know how Forrest felt, but I +was confoundedly drowsy. I tried all sorts of tricks to +keep my eyes open, but the quiet of the place, the coolness, +and the subdued light of the saddle-room, where +Forrest thought it best for us to remain, were too much +for my powers of resistance and I dropped off to sleep.</p> + +<p>I must have slumbered for a couple of hours, if not +three, when I was suddenly awakened by a hand placed +on my mouth, while a voice whispered in my ear—</p> + +<p>"Wake up, man—wake up! There's no time to +lose."</p> + +<p>I came to myself with a start. Forrest had hold of +me, and was shaking me violently. At the same moment +I became aware of the throb of an approaching motor.</p> + +<p>Recognizing the sound, I turned to the detective.</p> + +<p>"That's Mannering," I whispered.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied my companion. "I could swear to +the sound anywhere."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<h3>GONE AWAY</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'>"<span class='smcap'>Don't</span> stir an inch until I give the signal," whispered +Forrest in my ear, as soon as he saw I was fully awake. +He was perfectly calm, and he closed the door in order +to conceal us from the sight of any one entering the +workshop.</div> + +<p>The car pulled up outside. We heard the grate of +the key in the lock, and the door creak on its hinges, +as it swung open. There was a second grating noise, +and I judged that the door of the inner yard had been +opened by whoever had entered. There followed a few +more pants from the motor, as it passed through the +coach-house into the yard, and then everything was silent. +The outer door shutting with a snap apprized us that the +crucial moment was at hand, and my heart began to +thump as I heard footsteps approaching. Forrest pointed +to a vacant hook over my head, and I recognized why +he had selected the harness-room for our hiding-place. +The footsteps came slowly nearer, then stopped, and a +long low laugh came from the lips of the unseen man. +I thought we must have been discovered in our hiding-place +and glanced at Forrest for instructions. He never<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +moved a muscle. He stood poised like a greyhound +about to be slipped from the leash.</p> + +<p>The footsteps approached again. The door knob +rattled as a hand was laid upon it. The door flew open. +Forrest darted forward.</p> + +<p>I caught one glimpse of Mannering's face, for it was +indeed he, and I saw it become suddenly livid. It was +not the pallor of fear. His eyes flashed. He had doffed +his coat and was holding it in one hand, and quick as +was Forrest's spring, he was equally swift to meet it. +His other hand passed swift as lightning from the door +handle, and catching the edge of the coat, spread the +garment in front of him. Forrest, missing his grip, +plunged heavily into the wide folds of the garment. +Mannering's arms closed as a vice. The door swinging +back had momentarily blocked my passage. I thrust it +open, and had taken one step forward to Forrest's assistance, +when Mannering with a herculean effort, swung +the detective from his feet, and hurled him full at me. +It was a magnificent effort, and I went down with a +crash amongst the remains of the lunch with Forrest on +the top of me. The whole incident had not lasted +twenty seconds, and before either of us could regain our +feet, the door was slammed and locked.</p> + +<p>Forrest was the first to regain his feet, and he rushed +at the door furiously. We were trapped. The door +was a strong one of oak, and I remembered that it +fastened by a couple of bolts on the other side. The +detective worried the door like a bear at the bars of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> +cage, but he could not move it. He gnashed his teeth, +and he was white with rage. From the other side we +could hear the sound of heavy objects being moved, and +we guessed that our enemy was piling the most massive +articles his workshop contained against the door to make +it more secure.</p> + +<p>"D——n you, Sutgrove!" shouted the detective. +"Don't stop to think, or we shall lose our man after +all. Come, both together."</p> + +<p>I saw his intention, and I could understand and +forgive his curse in the excitement of the moment. +Together we hurled ourselves against the door. It did +not move an inch, and a long low chuckle greeted the +attempt from the other side. We tried madly again and +again, but the barrier was immovable.</p> + +<p>Then I looked round for some tool which would +enable me to break down the door itself. There were +only the chairs available, and so I tore off the leg of one +of them, and, bidding Forrest stand back, I swung the +piece of wood round my head, and struck as hard as I +could against one of the lower panels of the door. The +improvised club flew into half a dozen fragments, but +the panel had cracked. Forrest had provided himself +meanwhile with a similar club, and directed his blows +so effectively that the panel was driven out. I threw +myself at the gap, trusting to be able to force my way +through.</p> + +<p>What I saw filled me with rage. The wheels of the +new car were moving, and right before my eyes the car<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> +disappeared into the outer coach-house. I made an unavailing +attempt to struggle through the aperture, but the +attempt was hopeless. It was too narrow to admit even +my shoulders. Withdrawing, I told Forrest what I had +seen.</p> + +<p>"I had entirely forgotten Laver," he remarked, and +putting his whistle to his mouth, he blew it shrill and +clear.</p> + +<p>Then together we renewed our attack upon the door. +The sound of a shout from the outside followed by a +pistol shot made us work like madmen, and within a +minute, another panel gave, and we managed to get at +the bolts and draw them. The articles piled against the +door toppled in all directions, as we finally forced our +way out.</p> + +<p>We were too late. The outer door was wide open, +and just on the threshold, was Forrest's unfortunate +subordinate lying on the ground, with blood trickling +down his arm. He struggled into a sitting position as +we came out, and pointed up the road in the direction +of St. Albans.</p> + +<p>"Gone away, sir," he said.</p> + +<p>"Hurt?" asked Forrest, pausing as he did so.</p> + +<p>"Not much; smashed shoulder, I fancy," remarked +the sufferer philosophically.</p> + +<p>"I'll send assistance," said my companion as he +rushed after me into the road, where I stood horror +stricken at what met my gaze.</p> + +<p>Fifty yards distant, opposite the entrance gate of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> +Colonel Maitland's house, the new car was standing still. +It was empty. The gate was open, and even as I +watched, I saw Mannering come out of the gate, bearing +in his arms the helpless figure of a girl. There was no +need to guess who the victim might be. Even before I +saw him appear, I knew intuitively why he had stopped. +Had he not told Evie that on the third day he would return, +bidding her be ready for him?</p> + +<p>I rushed forward towards the car, but before I had +covered half the distance which separated me from it, he +was aboard with his burden and I knew pursuit on foot to +be hopeless.</p> + +<p>Yet, even as I saw him move away, there flashed +across my brain one means by which I might possibly +get on terms with my enemy. There was just one +chance, and one chance only, of rescuing my darling from +the Pirate, and that chance depended entirely upon the +question as to whether the car upon which Mannering +had returned was fitted with the same sort of motor as +that on which he had departed.</p> + +<p>With the haste of a madman I returned to the coach-house +I had just quitted. My hopes fell to zero. There +was an unmistakable scent of petrol about the car. They +rose again, however, upon a closer examination, for I saw +at once that the motor was a turbine, though petrol was +utilized in some way as a means of securing the necessary +heat to secure the expansion of the gas for the starting of +the engine, though I could see that once started, the expanded +hydrogen was, as in the new car, ingeniously<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> +utilized to produce the necessary heat. I was glad then +that I had spent as much time as I had upon examining the +car upon which the Pirate had escaped, for I was enabled +to see that, if only a supply of the liquid hydrogen were +obtainable, I should be able to put my wild plan into execution. +As it was, the tank was nearly empty, so putting +my shoulder to the car, I shoved it into the workshop +where, unless Mannering had let it run to waste, I knew +I should find a supply of the hydrogen. Thank Heaven, +Mannering had forgot to empty the receiver, and filling +the tank and tightly screwing down the nuts of the covering, +I wheeled the car into the open road. There I saw +Forrest leaning against the wall of the coach-house, a +figure of inexpressible dejection.</p> + +<p>"Come and lend a hand!" I shouted.</p> + +<p>The light that flashed into his face, as he realized what +I would be at, was extraordinary. He sprang forward at +once to my assistance. Now, in my attempts to get at +the machinery of the car, I had discovered the plates with +which Mannering had been wont to disguise its shape, and +it occurred to me that they performed the further purpose +of diminishing the wind resistance, so that if I wanted to +get the full speed out of the car it would be necessary +to fix them in their places. I immediately set to work to +join up the various sections, leaving Forrest to bolt them +together. We worked like niggers at the job, and it was +nearly completed when a curious sound came down the +breeze. I looked up, and to my surprise I saw the Pirate +once more approaching.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Look!" I shouted to Forrest in my excitement, +though there was no need to warn him.</p> + +<p>Nearer the Pirate came; still nearer. Every moment +I expected to see him pull up and surrender. But it was +a mad hope. He had not the slightest intention of so +obliging us. As he approached, he suddenly increased +his pace and flashed past us at full sixty miles an hour.</p> + +<p>Forrest fingered a revolver, but he dared not shoot for +fear the bullet should find the slender form of Evie, who +we saw was huddled close to his side. Mannering laughed +as he passed us and waved his hand in derision.</p> + +<p>"There are a couple of masks in the coach-house," I +said quietly to the detective.</p> + +<p>He darted into the doorway and returned a moment +later with them, thrusting at the same time a bottle into +his pocket. It took us no time to climb into the car and +as, during his momentary absence, I had succeeded in +starting the engine, we were in a position to move at +once.</p> + +<p>For a hundred yards we travelled at the speed at which +we were accustomed to see Mannering while using the car +in the sight of men and in the light of day. Then with +a word of warning to my companion, I pulled at the +change-speed lever. The effect was marvellous. The +car seemed to leap forward and the hedges suddenly transformed +themselves into long green streaks.</p> + +<p>A cloud of dust on the road ahead gave the direction +Mannering had taken, so I jammed down the lever to its +limit and commenced the pursuit. At any other time<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +the idea of chasing the Pirate on one of his own cars +would have delighted me beyond measure, but my thoughts +were too much occupied as to the fate which might await +Evie if we failed to overtake her abductor to allow room +for anything else.</p> + +<p>Exactly what speed we made I cannot tell, it must +have been nearer eighty than sixty miles an hour, but the +smoothness of the motion was wonderful, and I felt not +the slightest tremor.</p> + +<p>Mannering had disappeared on the Watford road, +and in a few minutes we swept through the north end +of the town and, directed by a boy at the cross roads, +made for Rickmansworth. Forrest took charge of the +horn, and kept it braying continuously. We slackened +speed through Rickmansworth, for the streets were full +of vehicles, and there we learned that the white car was +five minutes ahead. Once clear of the streets I let the +car go again, and we tore away towards Uxbridge. On +reaching the main Oxford road once more a dust cloud +in the distance served as a guide, and informed us that +Mannering had crossed the highway, and gone away in +the direction of Slough. The going was rough for a +while, but I did not slacken pace, though the road was +narrow, and to have met a cart would have meant certain +destruction. The road broadened after a time, and I +fancied we were gaining, for the dust cloud seemed +nearer. We skirted Slough to the east, the guiding +cloud bearing towards Dachet. Darting through that +little riverside town at a pace which set the police whistles<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> +blowing behind us, we came to the bridge across the +Thames, and here we were informed that our quarry +was barely a minute ahead, and running in the direction +of Egham. A mile further on, at a straight piece of +road, we first sighted the fugitives, and a cry of triumph +escaped my lips. It was a little premature, however. +Once again the silver car turned into a bye-road so +winding that I was compelled, much against my will, +to slacken speed. Then once more we came out upon +a main road, to find our quarry not more than a hundred +yards away as we swept out into the broad highway.</p> + +<p>And here, looking back, Mannering for the first time +learned that we were on his track. At that moment, +too, commenced a race which, I venture to think, will +not soon be equalled in the history of the motor world. +At all events, I trust it will never be my lot to take part +in any similar trial of speed, at least, with such issues +depending upon the result. Upon emerging from the +bye-road we were a mile from Egham, and knowing +the road, I asked Forrest to glance at his watch. The +way was clear before us, and three minutes and a quarter +later, we flashed through the railway arch at Sunningdale +railway-station, four miles from the point where the +timing commenced. But fast as we had travelled, +Mannering travelled faster. When we reached Bagshot +we learned he was half a minute ahead.</p> + +<p>We flew through the lovely pine country on the +wings of the wind, through Hook, and so into Basingstoke. +By this time we were covered from head to foot<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +with white dust, looking more like working masons than +anything else; but wherever we went, I knew Forrest +had the power to make the way easy. If he had been +anybody else but a detective from Scotland Yard, we +should never have got through Basingstoke, for there the +police, warned in some manner of our approach, had +drawn a huge waggon across the road, thus completely +barring our progress. It was soon drawn aside when +Forrest produced his badge, and once more we flew +westwards. So through Whitchurch and Andover.</p> + +<p>How we succeeded in escaping accidents I cannot +explain. Providence seemed to watch over both pursuers +and pursued. We were always on the verge of a collision +with somebody or something. Cottages, carts, pedestrians, +cyclists, seemed to be flying by in a never-ending procession. +Yet we touched nothing.</p> + +<p>Once past Andover the road became clearer, for +instead of turning towards Salisbury, as I expected, the +Pirate chose the road through Amesbury and Stonehenge. +We swept over Salisbury Plain at a magnificent pace, +but we did not catch sight of the fugitives, though now +and again a glimpse of a distant dust cloud raised my +hopes momentarily. At Wincanton we learned we were +three minutes behind, and setting my teeth, I determined +I would not slacken speed again until we overtook the +fugitives or reached Exeter. The road was admirable +hereabouts, and we ran so steadily that, but for the +hedges flying past, we might have been sitting in +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span>armchairs. After Ilminster the road became steeper, +though it was yet too early in the year to be very +rough.</p> + +<p>But how is it possible to describe a journey at the +pace we were making? Our progress became dream-like +to me. It was almost monotonous. One could observe +so little, just an incident here and there to mark the +stages in the journey. Thus I remember Honiton by +the frightened scream of a cur which was swept off its +feet by the rush of the air as we passed close at his tail. +Then nothing of note until we reached Exeter.</p> + +<p>At the cathedral city we were told the white car was +only a minute in advance. I began to wonder where +the chase was going to end, for Mannering was still +going westward without pause. Still we followed. Out +on to the Launceston road; onward, ever onward until +the bare hills of Dartmoor frowned upon us, and we had +to slacken slightly for the long upward grind. Fortunately +the hills were free from mist, and on reaching +the summit of Whiddon Down we caught once more +a glimpse of the white car before it disappeared in the +distance. I was getting reckless, and I took the descent +at a pace which blanched even Forrest's cheek. Then +through a streak of white houses, which I fancied must +be Okehampton. There was no need to inquire the +way. At the pace both cars were travelling there was +only one road which would serve either Mannering or +myself. In fifteen minutes Launceston came into view. +Then up again until from the top of Bodmin moor we +caught fleeting glimpses of the sea on either side of us.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> +On still without pause, through Redruth and Camborne +and Hayle. Finally a sight of them at last, as we opened +up St. Michael's Bay as we came to Marazion. And +here I thought the chase had come to an end. I was +mistaken.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + +<h3>SAVED</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'><span class='smcap'>My</span> brain reeled as we rushed along the road into +Penzance. My forehead seemed to be encircled with +a band of steel. My mouth was so parched that my +tongue rattled against my palate as I tried to speak to +Forrest. My fingers were so cramped with the grip on +the steering wheel, a grip which had never once been +relaxed during our five hours' run, that I could not +relinquish my hold. The road became dark, and involuntarily +I cut off the supply of the gas to the motor +and brought the car to a standstill.</div> + +<p>"Go on, man! Go on!" shouted Forrest in my ear.</p> + +<p>I could only gasp for answer. I felt suddenly sick.</p> + +<p>Then Forrest gave proof of his ready common sense. +He thrust his hand into his pocket and produced the +bottle of champagne which had been left over from our +lunch, and which he had thoughtfully brought with him +in view of some such eventuality as this. Tearing off +the wire he cut the string. The cork flew out and the +liquor creamed from the neck of the bottle. Pushing up +my mask with one hand he held the bottle to my lips +with the other.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span></p> + +<p>I spluttered. I choked. But I drank and I drank +again. Never surely was champagne more grateful or +more useful. My strength returned to me instantaneously. +My brain cleared. My eyes saw. My hope returned. +I drew a deep sigh of relief. Forrest handed me the +bottle again.</p> + +<p>"After you," I said.</p> + +<p>He took a drink and then remarked authoritatively, +"Finish the bottle."</p> + +<p>I obeyed and, draining it, tossed it into the hedge +and once more set the car in motion. If our progress +had been speedy before, when we were once through +Penzance, it became absolutely reckless.</p> + +<p>My brain was dancing from the effect of the +champagne, and a wild exhilaration throbbed in every +artery. The pace was tremendous, and we had not left +Penzance a couple of miles behind us before the fugitives +came once more into view. Now for the first time I +could see that we were holding our own in the race. It +may have been that some bearing had become heated in +the car Mannering was driving, for undoubtedly his new +car was more speedy than the old, but it was clear that +he could no longer leave us as he had been able to do in +the earlier part of the chase. If only I could increase +ever so slightly the speed of my car, I felt confident of +overtaking him. I motioned to Forrest to bend towards +me, and when his ear was level with my mouth, I asked +him to throw everything which could be got rid of +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span>overboard, in order to lighten the car. He took my +meaning at once, and away went the cushions and +rugs. The difference was slight, but still there was +a perceptible difference. At the pace we were now +travelling the car rocked from side to side of the road, +and Forrest had to brace himself stiffly against the foot-board +to prevent himself being thrown out. But we +were gaining foot by foot on the fugitives. I felt a thrill +of delight when, on reaching the brow of a hill, I saw the +white car only two hundred yards ahead, and reckoned +that in a <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'couples'">couple</ins> of minutes we should have overtaken +them.</p> + +<p>But one thing I had overlooked. I became conscious +that we should soon be at the end of our journey, for +suddenly I saw the sea on the horizon. I knew now +where we were, knew that the end was in sight. For +Mannering there could be no return, and I shouted aloud +with exultation when I realized it. We drew closer to +him, so close that I fancied I could see his eyes glittering +through the mica plate of his mask as he turned to look +at us.</p> + +<p>A sudden horror gripped me by the throat. He +surely must know as well as myself that he was near the +spot where all roads ended; that we were barely a mile +or two from Land's End. What if he intended to end +his life and his journey together? And what if, not +content with destroying himself, he were to carry with +him to destruction the girl who rode beside him on his +car?</p> + +<p>We reached within twenty yards of him, and then as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> +if in answer to my thought, I heard him emit a screech +of laughter as his car suddenly shot away from us, and in +half a minute placed him at least a quarter of a mile +ahead. The bitterness of that moment, as my hope died +within me, I can never forget. I only continued the +pursuit mechanically.</p> + +<p>We thundered through Sennen without pause and +so onward until we opened up the hotel and the stretch +of green on the brow of the cliff. Then I could have +shrieked with delight. The white car was standing still +and Mannering had left his seat and was standing by the +side. Ten seconds would have brought us to him. Five +passed. He leaped again to his seat, and as he did so, +the white robed figure sprang from the car to the turf. +The Pirate gave a cry of baffled rage. But he had no +time to waste in recovering his escaping victim, for we +were within fifty yards of him. His car leaped forward +and, leaving the road, tossed like a boat at sea over the +uneven boulder-strewn turf. We were within five yards +of him, and it was as much as we could manage to do to +keep our seats.</p> + +<p>Just in time I realized the danger into which we +were being unwittingly drawn, and reversing the gear, I +put on both breaks. I was in time, but only just in +time, for we were on a treacherous grassy slope and in +spite of the breaks our car continued to glide forward +under the impulse of the velocity it had attained.</p> + +<p>"Jump for your life!" shouted Forrest.</p> + +<p>I had wit enough to obey without hesitation.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span></p> + +<p>As I leaped, my eyes were fixed upon Mannering +who at that moment had reached the very edge of the +cliff. I saw him disappear, and then I rolled over on the +turf. I was unhurt, and gathering myself together, I +regained my feet just as the car which had carried us so +well followed the maker over the cliff. A dozen paces +took me to the spot. I shuddered as I glanced downwards +and saw the fate I had escaped. Two or three +hundred feet below the tide was boiling over the jagged +rocks. I fancied I could discern a few fragments of the +white car and that was all.</p> + +<p>Not ten seconds before I had seen Mannering wave +his hand at us mockingly as he rode to his death, and +I guessed that his intention had been to lure us on to +a common destruction. Once again he had disappeared, +but now I knew it was for all time.</p> + +<p>A strange calm came upon me. Straight in front of +us the Longships lighthouse made a pillar of black marble +against the huge red disc of the setting sun. In the far +distance the Cassiterides floated cloud-like on the horizon. +I gulped down a sob of thankfulness, for the memory +came upon me that the one whom I loved had been +saved by the merest chance from sharing the fate of the +madman who had so unhesitatingly rushed upon his +doom.</p> + +<p>I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was Forrest.</p> + +<p>"Our work is done," he said, and with an impatient +sigh, he took from his pocket the useless handcuffs and +hurled them after the cars. "One thing we have to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> +thankful for," he continued, "thank God, Miss Maitland +is safe."</p> + +<p>For reply, I could only grasp his hands and wring +them silently. As I did so, I became conscious that a +number of excited people had gathered about us.</p> + +<p>"Where—where is she?" I gasped.</p> + +<p>Some one pointed to the hotel a hundred yards or so +distant, and Forrest and I hurried towards it. I was a +prey to the most horrible anxiety. I dreaded to contemplate +what the result upon the mind of my darling +might be. I had nearly reached the hotel door, when I +saw a slight figure step across the threshold and shade her +eyes with her hand. With a cry of delight I sprang +forward.</p> + +<p>The next moment Evie was in my arms.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>That is the story of the Motor Pirate. There remain +but a few things to say. And first of them, let +me explain how it happened that Evie managed to fall +into the Pirate's clutches.</p> + +<p>I told her later that it was owing to feminine curiosity. +She, on the other hand, declares it was entirely owing to +her anxiety on my account. Whichever was the reason, +the moment she had heard Mannering's car approach, +she had gone to the garden-gate, whence she was able +to command a view of the coach-house door. She had +seen the man Laver rush forward at the sound of the +whistle. Then the pistol shot rang out, and the next +moment Mannering had appeared on the new car. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> +had seen her, and she had attempted to fly to the house, +but he had overtaken her and carried her off. Once on +the car he had proceeded a short distance on the St. +Alban's road, and then stopped to speak to her, for the +first and only time on that day.</p> + +<p>"I am going to take you for a ride with me, Miss +Maitland," he had observed. "I merely wish to warn +you before we start, that at the pace we shall travel, you +will find any attempt to escape exceedingly dangerous."</p> + +<p>It was then from his manner and appearance she had +realized that she was in the power of a madman.</p> + +<p>As regards the ride, she could tell me very little. The +pace was so great that, being unprovided with a mask, +she was obliged to crouch down on the seat and cover +her face with a rug as a protection against the dust. It +seemed an interminable time, she said, and the moment +the car stopped she made an attempt to regain her +liberty, without knowing how near she was to destruction +at the time she made it.</p> + +<p>Fortunately the strain had been much less than I +expected, so far as Evie was concerned, and much more +than I anticipated, was its effect upon myself. It was a +long time before I completely recovered from the effects +of those three adventurous days. And the worst of it +was, that everything combined to prevent me obtaining +the absolute quiet which I needed. After spending a +night at the hotel I, of course, hastened to take train to +London in order to restore Evie to her father. But when +I arrived at my place at St. Albans, I found a veritable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> +army of pressmen encamped on my doorstep. They +would not give me a moment's peace. I was compelled +to remain in bed, and upon sending a message over to +Evie to inform her of my predicament, she informed me +that she was similarly besieged.</p> + +<p>We exchanged a dozen notes. I rose when it was +dark, and slipped out of my back door. I could only see +one method of securing quiet. Even a hardened pressman +has a dislike to intrude upon the privacy of a newly +married couple, so the next morning Evie and Colonel +Maitland joined me in town, and we were married by +special license and, without returning to St. Albans, we +started for my home in Norfolk.</p> + +<p>So much for myself.</p> + +<p>Forrest was for a long time inconsolable at the final +escape of the Pirate from the hands of justice. So was +his subordinate, Laver, whose sentiments on the subject +are quite too lurid for publication.</p> + +<p>As for Mannering, no trace of his body was ever +found, though I have since heard that certain portions of +the cars have been fished up from the pools amongst the +rocks at the base of the cliffs at low tide. At present, +however, there has not been sufficient of the machinery +recovered to enable any one to construct a similar motor. +He had apparently made no drawings, or else had +destroyed them when they had served his turn, so it +would seem as if the secret of the singularly speedy motor +he invented is destined to be lost to the world. Still, it +may be that sufficient will be recovered to give some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> +skilled mechanician sufficient guidance to enable him to +reproduce the lost pirate car. If not, well, I don't +suppose it matters. Some one else will be sure to invent +something similar. In fact, from the hints Mannering +gave me, and owing to the opportunity I had of examining +the car in his workshop, I think it is not unlikely that +I shall shortly be applying for letters patent myself.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> + +<h3>REVELATIONS</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'><span class="smcap">There</span> remains only one thing more. I feel that the story +would be incomplete if I kept to myself certain particulars +concerning Mannering, which have come to my knowledge +since the day when he made his sensational flight into +eternity from the brow of the cliff at Land's End. At +the time, both my wife and myself wished never to hear +again the name of the man whose actions had provided +us with such terrible and nerve-shattering experiences, +but afterwards, when we came to think over the matter, +it occurred to both of us that in fact we knew very little +about the man who had nearly wrecked our lives. To +dwell upon that thought naturally awakened our curiosity +concerning his past life, and, needless to say, when the +opportunity occurred for gratifying our curiosity, we did +not for a moment hesitate about accepting it. It is true +that we had gathered from his conversation that he had +travelled widely, but in what capacity, or with what +object, we knew as little as we knew of his birthplace or +parentage. We found, too, a difficulty in understanding +the motives which had prompted Mannering's actions, +and, though we often discussed the question, we could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> +never of ourselves have arrived at a satisfactory solution +of the problem.</div> + +<p>On this latter point I must mention the conclusion +arrived at by <i>The Speaker</i>. This sober-minded and extremely +British review declared that his animating motive +was "the strong rock of equity, or abstract justice," inasmuch +as, by principally directing his attention to motorists, +he was avenging <i>The Speaker's</i> quarrel with a class +which this journal held in particular abhorrence. Naturally, +both Evie and myself smiled at the thought that the +Motor Pirate was a conservative gentleman, anxious only +to restore to the highways of England something of their +pristine calm. For myself, I inclined to the belief that he +was a remarkable specimen of the megalomaniac, whose +exploits were prompted much more by the desire for +notoriety than by any altruistic motive, or even by any +sordid consideration regarding the plunder which he +secured. Certainly had he been a mere criminal, impelled +by the desire for the easy acquisition of wealth, he could +have pursued his career for a much longer period than he +actually did. As for my wife, with a woman's natural +tendency to read a romance into any and every development +of human activity, she held fast to the opinion that the +Pirate's extraordinary career was the outcome of an overmastering +passion for herself. The probability is, that in +his brain all these motives operated at different times. +The natural love of plunder, inherent in the criminal +mind, is as often as not accompanied by a morbid delight +in awakening the wonder of the public by the performance<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> +of startling deeds and, in the same temperament, it is not +unusual to discover the romantic nature developed to a +considerable degree. But, from the data at our command, +I fancy it would have been impossible even for the experienced +psychologist to decide which, so to speak, was +the master impulse.</p> + +<p>Perhaps, however, the few facts concerning him, which +came into our possession afterwards, tend to clear up these +points to some degree. Certainly they left me with a +clearer light upon his individuality.</p> + +<p>To these facts I am indebted to Inspector Forrest, who, +some six months after our famous ride together in pursuit +of the pirate, managed to find time to pay a flying +visit to our Norfolk home, where we had continued to +dwell in peaceful seclusion.</p> + +<p>It was at dinner, on the night of his arrival, that Forrest +first hinted that he had picked up some details of +Mannering's life-history, and of course nothing would +content Evie but a promise that we should hear what he +had discovered. So, directly the meal was finished, we +adjourned for our coffee and cigars to my sanctum, where, +in front of a comfortable fire, Forrest made no difficulty +about satisfying our curiosity.</p> + +<p>"You see," he began, when his cigar was once well +alight, "I was every bit as curious as Mrs. Sutgrove."</p> + +<p>"Or myself," I interrupted.</p> + +<p>"Or Mr. Sutgrove," said the detective, smiling, "for +there is precious little difference between the sexes so far +as curiosity is concerned, in spite of the generally accepted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span> +opinion on the matter. But being curious, I naturally +made the most minute search when I searched his place +at St. Alban's. I didn't find much there, it is true, but +I did secure a clue which ultimately led me to some lodgings +which he had occupied some three or four years +previously, and there, by the merest good luck, I discovered +that when he had departed he had left behind him +a worn-out travelling-bag, and in that bag was a bundle +of papers which supplied me with sufficient information +to reconstruct his history to some extent, though I should +not like to swear to the absolute accuracy of every detail +of his biography as I see it."</p> + +<p>"Was there nothing at all found at St. Alban's then?" +asked Evie.</p> + +<p>"I fancy you must have seen in the papers a pretty full +account of all that the police discovered there?" said the +detective.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Evie. "We read a lot of stories, but +they varied to such an extent that we really did not know +what to believe."</p> + +<p>Forrest smiled. "Now I come to think of it, the reporters +did give their imaginations free reins, but you +can take it from me that, with the exception of the plunder +he amassed after his return from that Continental trip, +and the apparatus for the production of the liquid hydrogen, +there was very little in his house of interest to me +or you. There was his bank-book, and some correspondence +with a learned professor at the Royal Institution. +I followed up both clues. At the R. I. I discovered nothing.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span> +Mannering had merely posed as a wealthy amateur +in chemistry, and of course he met with every assistance +when he had asked for help in following up his researches +into the behaviour of liquid gases. At his bank also, very +little was known about him. When he had come to St. +Alban's he had opened an account by a payment into it +of six or seven thousand pounds in Bank of England notes. +He had drawn steadily upon the account until it was +nearly exhausted, and, in point of fact, there was only a +few pounds to his credit from the time when he commenced +his career on the road, until a week or two after +his return from Amsterdam, when he paid in two thousand +pounds in gold, and a fortnight later swelled his balance +with a similar amount."</p> + +<p>"That was the proceeds of the Brighton mail robbery," +I remarked.</p> + +<p>Forrest nodded. "That was his only really big coup. +As for his other plunder, he probably disposed of the +proceeds of all his early cruises on the Continent, at the +same time that he sold the diamonds. That which he +obtained afterwards was found intact in the safe in his +bedroom. Heavens! What an opportunity I missed by +not taking out a search-warrant for his house. When we +paid our midnight visit, there must have been ample evidence +behind the steel door to have convicted him."</p> + +<p>The detective was silent for awhile, and bit savagely +at his cigar.</p> + +<p>"He was not a wealthy man, then," I remarked.</p> + +<p>"No," replied Forrest. "There was no trace of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span> +owning any property anywhere, and his expenditure on +the gas plant and on his motors—we found that the +various parts had been made to specification at a variety +of works in England and abroad—had eaten heavily into +his capital, so that at the time of the commencement of his +career he must have been very nearly penniless. Whether +he built the motor with the idea of utilizing it for the +purpose he ultimately put it to, of course I cannot say, +but I have a shrewd suspicion that he really did design +it for the purpose, since from what I have learned of +him the predatory instinct must have been pretty strongly +developed in him."</p> + +<p>The detective paused for a minute, and, flicking the ash +off his cigar, gazed meditatively into the fire.</p> + +<p>"You shall judge for yourselves," he continued. "Unfortunately, +I cannot begin right at the beginning, for I +do not know where he was born, nor who his parents +were. I can only guess at these facts from the knowledge +that, as a boy, he was at school in the south of England, +and that then his name was Ram Krishna Roy."</p> + +<p>"What?" I asked, in amazement. "A Hindu?"</p> + +<p>"An Eurasian, I should fancy," replied Forrest. "He +had been sent to school in England by one of those petty +Indian princes, who still exercise sovereignty under +British suzerainty."</p> + +<p>"How did you discover that?" asked Evie.</p> + +<p>"It was like this, Mrs. Sutgrove," replied Forrest. +"Amongst the papers I spoke about as being in the old +portmanteau, were a number of letters written in characters<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span> +I could not understand. I could see they were +oriental, and that was as much as I could make of them, +so I took them to a noted oriental scholar who translated +them for me. The language was Urdu, and the writer +was a munshi, who was obviously communicating with +an old pupil. There were so many references to scenes +with which the person to whom the letters were addressed, +as well as the writer, was familiar, that it was quite clear +that the former must have been brought up amidst purely +native surroundings. There were one or two more obscure +allusions which led me to conclude that the boy's +mother must have been a white woman, and from what we +saw of him there can be no doubt but that he was white +on one side."</p> + +<p>"Nobody would have taken him to be aught but an +Englishman," murmured Evie.</p> + +<p>"No," said Forrest. "I was intensely surprised when +I discovered these proofs of his identity and at first I +thought they could not apply to him, but before I come +to the connecting link, let me mention one curious thing +in the letters, which may do something to explain the +curious influence which Mannering exerted over Mrs. +Sutgrove."</p> + +<p>"He hypnotized me, I am sure," declared Evie, +decidedly.</p> + +<p>"Very possibly," replied the detective. "In nearly +every letter was to be found an admonition to the effect—I +cannot give you a verbatim translation—that the +writer hoped his old pupil would not forget that to him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span> +was entrusted the secret power of Siva, which would, by +practice, enable him to mould all men to his will."</p> + +<p>"If he had possessed that," I interrupted, "there would +have been no necessity for him to have practised piracy +on the high-road."</p> + +<p>"True," said Forrest. "But it is quite possible that +Mrs. Sutgrove's conjecture is correct, and that even at +that early age Mannering had learnt something about +hypnotism from his native instructor, for I am very certain +that of these semi-occult sciences, the East has much +more precise knowledge than is realized by the Western +world."</p> + +<p>"Very likely," said my wife, shuddering slightly at the +remembrance. "He certainly had a most singular power +over me."</p> + +<p>"He probably increased his knowledge when he returned +to his native land, which, I gathered, must have +taken place when he was about seventeen. Then there +is a break for nearly ten years in his history."</p> + +<p>"I don't quite see how you connect Ram Krishna Roy +with Mannering," I interpolated.</p> + +<p>"I'm coming to that," replied Forrest. "With these +letters was another in its original envelope addressed in +the same hand to Julian Mannering at San Francisco. +It was the most interesting letter of the lot. It was full +of reproaches addressed to the dear pupil, who had cut +himself off from the asceticism of the East, and devoted +himself to the gross materialism of Western civilization. +It concluded by the expression of an intention to once more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span> +attempt to persuade him to return by a personal appeal. +On the back of the letter was a note in Mannering's handwriting. +'Old Chatterji kept his promise. I had quite +a long conversation with him in the ballroom last night. +Everybody thought I was drunk or mad to be talking +Hindustani, apparently to empty air. However, that's the +last of him. I've done with the East.'".</p> + +<p>"You make him more a man of mystery than ever," I +exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"I can't help it," said Forrest. "Perhaps his old tutor +really did appear to him. Perhaps Mannering was mad. +Who knows? Both are dead. However, he seems to +have carried out his intention of not returning to India. +Ram Krishna Roy disappeared from that time forth, and +Julian Mannering took his place. He seems to have been +doing nothing at San Francisco at the time, but a little +later he appears to have accepted an appointment as +engineer to a mine in Arizona. He left the berth suddenly +a few months later, owing to some trouble about +the wife of one of the miners. The miner was shot, and +his comrades were so incensed that Mannering had to +depart hot-foot. Then for awhile I can only guess at his +occupation from some newspaper cuttings which he had +preserved. These point to his identification with the +leader of a gang of desperadoes whose most notable +exploit was the successful holding up of a train which had +a considerable quantity of specie on board."</p> + +<p>"I remember him describing the affair," said Evie,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span> +"though he represented himself as on the side of the +attacked."</p> + +<p>"The only assistance he gave to the plundered was to +assist them to a better land by the aid of his gun. He +escaped, though, and made his way to Australia, and +once again he resumed the practice of his profession,—mining +engineering. For three or four years he was engaged +at a newly-opened mine in the northern territory +of West Australia. But instinct was too strong for him. +He must really have had a strong dash of the blood of +some of those Indian hill-tribe freebooters in his veins, +for he never seems to have been able to resist the prospect +of plunder, and the likelihood of having to fight for it +seems to have been an additional inducement. Thus, at +the mine, under his charge, it was the custom to send, +periodically, the gold extracted, under a strong escort, +to the nearest town, some forty miles distant. For a long +time these consignments were delivered with perfect +safety. Then, after a particularly rich vein had been +struck, it became necessary to forward a very large consignment +of bullion. Contrary to the usual practice, only +two men were sent in charge of it. Their dead bodies +were afterwards discovered, and the gold was never recovered. +No one seems to have had the least suspicion +that the gentlemanly engineer at the mine was likely to +have had something to do with the business, and when, +shortly afterward, he resigned his post and took a passage +to Europe, he received the highest possible testimonials +from his manager and directors. I have no doubt, myself,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span> +that he was the prime mover in the robbery, for his salary +was a small one, and directly afterwards he spent six +months in Paris, where his expenditure would have been +lavish for a millionaire."</p> + +<p>"That was where my father met him," remarked Evie. +"I remember him expressing surprise at the simplicity +of Mannering's life at St. Alban's in view of the luxury +with which he had been surrounded when they had met +previously."</p> + +<p>"Just so," said the detective. "But his Paris career +ended as it had commenced. He disappeared suddenly, +without a word of farewell to any of his acquaintance, +and had it not been for one bit of evidence, I should have +had not the slightest idea as to what he had been doing +with himself in the interval between that time and his +arrival at St. Alban's. You may remember that a scientific +expedition was despatched by the Dutch government about +six years ago to make some investigations in the interior +of New Guinea?"</p> + +<p>I shook my head.</p> + +<p>"It started six months after Mannering disappeared +from Paris, and from the time it left Batavia <i>en route</i> +for New Guinea not a word has ever been heard of it."</p> + +<p>"You cannot mean to infer that Mannering had anything +to do with that?" I asked, incredulously.</p> + +<p>"I infer nothing," replied Forrest. "But I do know +that a pocketbook, which had belonged to a chemist +attached to the exploring party, was one of the documents +I found in his bag. The book contained a number of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span> +notes upon the liquefaction of gases, and these may +very likely have first interested Mannering in the subject. +As I have since discovered from a search of the registers +at Lloyds that there were quite a number of ships lost +about the same time in those seas, I cannot help thinking +that our friend had served an apprenticeship under +the black flag at sea before taking to land piracy."</p> + +<p>"At that rate he must have been the greatest criminal +on earth," I declared.</p> + +<p>"He was certainly the biggest I ever came across," +replied Forrest, "and my only regret is that I was unable +to secure him in order that he might have judicially +paid the penalty for his crimes."</p> + +<p>"It was a pity," I said, "though I fancy if we had +trapped him he would have found some means of cheating +the gallows and making a melodramatic exit from the +world."</p> + +<p>"It is more than likely," said Forrest. "He was not +the ordinary type of criminal. I was speaking to a big +mental specialist the other day, and—but I had better +complete the story of his career first. Where did we +leave him?"</p> + +<p>"New Guinea," I prompted.</p> + +<p>"The only other reason I have for suspecting him of +being engaged in deeds of violence in that quarter of the +globe is that he returned to England <i>via</i> Singapore, with +a considerable quantity of bullion in his possession. The +rest of his history you know."</p> + +<p>"He seems to have had a stirring existence, anyhow,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span> +I commented. "And one hardly sees any reason for +it save natural sin."</p> + +<p>"The alienist I was talking to the other day described +him as a moral pervert. He said he was a type of +insanity usually associated with physical incapacity or +a low order of intelligence, but when, as in Mannering's +case, both physique and intelligence were above the +average, the moral pervert is a greater danger to the +community than an army of ordinary criminals. If ever +I said a prayer it would be when a madman of that type +was removed from the world."</p> + +<p>"Amen," said both Evie and I, heartily.</p> + + +<h3>THE END.</h3> + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes:</h3> +<p>Text uses both St. Alban's and St. Albans.</p> + +<p>The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.</p></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Motor Pirate, by George Sidney Paternoster + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOTOR PIRATE *** + +***** This file should be named 26657-h.htm or 26657-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/6/5/26657/ + +Produced by Robert Cicconetti, Emmy and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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