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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/75493-0.txt b/75493-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b795a --- /dev/null +++ b/75493-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8064 @@ + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75493 *** + + + + + + THE LAZY DETECTIVE + + BY GEORGE DILNOT + + Author of "The Crime Club," "Scotland Yard," etc. + + Boston and New York + Houghton Mifflin Company + 1927 + + Printed in Great Britain. + + + + + CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER I + + CHAPTER II + + CHAPTER III + + CHAPTER IV + + CHAPTER V + + CHAPTER VI + + CHAPTER VII + + CHAPTER VIII + + CHAPTER IX + + CHAPTER X + + CHAPTER XI + + CHAPTER XII + + CHAPTER XIII + + CHAPTER XIV + + CHAPTER XV + + CHAPTER XVI + + CHAPTER XVII + + CHAPTER XVIII + + CHAPTER XIX + + CHAPTER XX + + CHAPTER XXI + + CHAPTER XXII + + CHAPTER XXIII + + CHAPTER XXIV + + CHAPTER XXV + + CHAPTER XXVI + + CHAPTER XXVII + + CHAPTER XXVIII + + CHAPTER XXIX + + CHAPTER XXX + + + + + THE LAZY DETECTIVE + + + + + CHAPTER I + + +"And remember, Labar, you don't bluff me." The Chief Constable, who had +been through the game himself, tapped the string of figures that lay +upon his desk with an aggressive forefinger. "You're lazy--damned lazy. +If things don't clear up in your division in the next month or so you +can count on something happening. That's all. Think it over." + +"Thank you, sir," said the other, with the smooth suavity of a man who +had received a compliment, and swung on velvet toes from the room. + +After all, what was the use of arguing? Divisional Detective Inspector +Labar was under no illusions about himself. He _was_ lazy. All +Scotland Yard knew it. Particularly did Winter, Chief Constable of the +Criminal Investigation Department know it, for in some sort Labar was a +_protégé_ of his. Yet that shrewd old veteran reckoned that even +the quality of indolence had its uses. It could make a brilliant man +concentrate fiercely on his work, in order to save time for his own +purposes. The amount of time taken by a detective on an individual job +is largely a matter on which his superiors must accept his word. Some +men slog laboriously, while others get their results quickly. In minor +positions there is always someone around to see that the work is done. + +All this, however, does not apply in the same degree to a detective +inspector. Such a one gives, more often than he receives, orders. As an +executive Labar felt himself a failure. Well, well, a man must have a +little time for golf. + +A heavy hand fell with mathematical accuracy between his shoulder +blades, and he flung round with a delicate shudder. + +"One of these days, Moreland, someone's going to slap you hard on the +wrist, slog you on the jaw, and kick you where it hurts most. You're +too boisterous for the society of gentlemen." + +Moreland, of the Flying Squad, grinned cheerfully. "Behold the infant +phenomenon of Grape Street, as the apostle of gloom," he said, walking +round Labar with mock awe. "Behold his shiny boots and well-creased +trousers, and mark his creased forehead and frowning countenance. No, +don't speak. Let me apply my well-known powers of deduction." He put +his hand to his brow. "He has--yes he has been on the carpet." + +A slow rueful smile broke on Labar's face. "You guessed it," he said. +"If you want promotion there's the job of divisional inspector at +Grape Street liable to be vacant some time. Better write out your +application." + +Moreland's levity vanished. "The old man's bitten you as bad as that? +Cheer up, and pull yourself together. Come and tell papa all about it." +He pulled Labar into an adjoining room, adjusted himself on a tall +stool and lit a pipe. "Shoot," he ordered. + +Harry Labar shrugged his shoulders. "There's nothing to it," he +declared. "Winter says things are too loose in the division. I've got +to tighten them up, or----" + +"The shelf, eh?" Moreland eyed his friend whimsically. "That'll be +a new record for you. The youngest man to be promoted divisional +inspector, and the youngest divisional inspector to retire. Well, why +don't you tighten them up?" + +"Blah, all blah. Easy talk. Look here, Moreland, my percentages of +unsolved crime are up--but you know why. Curse it all, Winter knows as +well as I do that Larry Hughes is operating in my district. No one, not +even the old man himself, has ever pinned anything to Larry. I'm to be +the goat. Why didn't they give me an easy division when they promoted +me, instead of the wealthiest in London, infested by all the slickest +crooks in the world? What right has the old man to be sore at me?" + +Moreland slid from his stool and put a hand on his friend's shoulder. +"Listen to me, Harry. They gave you the job because they thought you +could do it. To blazes with your golf handicap. Now you go and take a +pill and get on with it." He pushed the other gently from the room. + +To few other men than Moreland would Labar have confided his troubles. +He passed swiftly out of the little back door from the C.I.D. +headquarters, dodging the Assistant Commissioner with some skill, for +he felt that that official might be no less emphatic, if more urbane, +than the Chief Constable on the state of crime in the West End. + +His mind was focussed upon Larry Hughes. Larry was a gentleman who had +never been in a criminal court in his life--a sleek, cultivated man +about town, with a taste in literature and art, and enough money to run +his own steam yacht and a racing stud. His life was apparently open +to the world, his character to all seeming flawless, impeccable. Any +head-strong police officer who had ventured to put a public slur on +Larry's character, by hauling him to a dungeon cell, would have very +promptly found himself with a suit for heavy damages on his hands. + +Yet to Labar, as to many men in the police circles of the world, it was +certain knowledge that Larry Hughes was the most adroit and intelligent +crime organiser in London, or for the matter of that anywhere. It was +certain but utterly unprovable. + +There are half a dozen men in London, another half a dozen in New +York, three in Paris, a couple in Amsterdam, and a few more knocking +about other capitals of the world, who run crime on the principles +of big business. Through many intermediaries there filters to them +much knowledge which they have the means to turn to profit. These are +eclectic in their enterprises, but in general they are receivers. They +will organise and finance a burglary, a forgery, or a hold-up, but they +keep well in the background. The casual thief has never heard of them; +even the big professional crook frequently has only a dim conception +of their identity. The loot never reaches them in any tangible and +identifiable shape. They have their agents, and their tools, and many +of them die in an atmosphere of eminent respectability. + +Among this class the most audacious, the most ingenious, was Larry +Hughes. Labar had little doubt that, if one really got to the bottom +of things in his division, half the professional crime would have +shown Larry's finger in the pie. Either Larry must lay off of his own +volition--an unlikely event--or some method must be found of putting a +spoke in his wheel. Harry Labar did not avoid the feeling that the task +was likely to prove a man's size job. + +He had reached Cockspur Street when the thing happened. Even if his +mind had been less preoccupied, it is likely that he would have failed +to notice the big touring car that edged itself through the traffic +towards him. Not until it had swept close to the kerb, and he saw +the girl leaning from the near side, did he realise that it held any +significance for him. A wisp of fair hair had fallen over her forehead, +and she brushed it back with a slim gloved hand. Harry Labar, although +his colleagues held him doomed to bachelordom, had an eye for a pretty +girl and he noticed her with subconscious approval as the car drew near. + +Almost mechanically it dawned on him that her hand was stretched to him +from the now slowly moving car. + +"For you," said the girl, and a letter waved on a level with his eyes. +As he reached to take it, the car leapt away like a living thing, with +a rapidity that told of perfect acceleration and steel nerves at the +wheel. + +"Hey!" + +The detective was aroused from his reverie on the instant. He sprang +forward with a command to stop, that, even as he uttered it, he knew +to be futile. The car was well away. It was vain to hope to stop it, +and the speed at which it was moving showed it improbable that any taxi +could overtake it, even had there been one near. + +With a habit ingrained by years of training he took a pencil from his +pocket and made a note of the number. Then, with a philosophic shrug of +his shoulders, he slit the blank envelope that he held, and glanced at +its contents. A Bank of England note for a hundred pounds lay in his +hand. He inspected the envelope again, and threw an eye around to make +sure that nothing had been dropped. There was nothing. Just a hundred +pound note in a blank envelope. + +"Well I'm damned," determined Detective Inspector Labar. + +The method rather than the event had startled him. Although one hundred +pound notes do not descend on detective inspectors every day of the +week, there are philanthropists who attempt at times to impose money on +police officers. It was a bribe of course. But the touch of melodrama +was amateurish and clumsy. The most illiterate crook in London should +have known that a hundred pound note was ridiculously easy to trace. +The whole thing was raw. It was just possible that the car had a +false number, but leaving that aside he would remember the girl. Yes, +decidedly he would remember the girl. + +He felt reasonably certain that in the normal course of events he +would know more about it during the day. Without undue speculation, +therefore, he betook himself to Grape Street, where, in the stiffly +furnished room that formed the headquarters of the divisional detective +force, he summoned one of his satellites and passed the note on. + +"Find out what hands that note has been in," he ordered. "And while +you're about it, m'lad, slip down and discover who owns a car numbered +X20008. Take a note of that number. If I'm not here when you're +through, leave a message for me." + +With that off his mind, he shed his coat, and was about to immerse +himself in the official routine correspondence that was the bane of his +life, when there was a jangle of telephone bells, and a hearty-looking, +ruddy-cheeked man engaged in converse that brought a fresher purple +sheen to his face. He put down the receiver with an oath. + +"Wish you wouldn't swear, Bill," said Labar, petulantly. "It jars on +me." + +It was at such a time that Detective Sergeant Malone, presuming on many +years association, was wont to observe that he was no kid glove John. +But at the moment he was too moved for remonstrance. + +"We've struck it, guv'nor," he declared huskily. "This has put the tin +hat on it this has." + +Labar lit a cigarette wearily. "Tell me the worst," he said. + +"They've made a clean sweep of Streetly House. Old Gertstein's foaming +at the mouth. Quarter of a million of pounds worth of jewels and curios +melted away as clean as a conjuring trick. I could smell Larry Hughes a +thousand miles off in this." His tone was gloomy, for he knew something +of Labar's troubles. "Nice look-out for us, an' the Yard not throwing +any flowers our way as it is." + +"You said it, Bill," agreed Labar, rising, and pulling down his shirt +sleeves. "It's get on or get out, for me at any rate, this time. Get +your hat on and tell 'em to ring through to the Chief. We're liable to +have some work to do." + + + + + CHAPTER II + + +Anyone who could afford to live in Streetly House, that imposing and +historic residence just off Park Lane, must by that fact alone, be +known in some degree to the public. Mr. Solly Gertstein had added +claims to a certain amount of limelight. He had been--was still to some +extent--a financial power. He had interests in gold, in diamonds, in +oil, but of late years he had relinquished the reins of his enterprises +to brothers and cousins, while he concentrated on his ambition to get +together a unique, and fabulously costly, collection of gems, and what +the dealers call _objets d'art_. + +He was not an artistic object in himself. A rotund little man, with a +gait that somehow suggested a milk can rolled by a railway porter, and +with a tendency to pomposity in his speech and manner, he yet contrived +to hold some poise of dignity. He was unquestionably excited when Labar +introduced himself. + +"So you 'ave come." In moments of stress he was apt to lose his usual +meticulous command of the English language. "You 'ave come at last." + +"It is less than ten minutes since I got your message," observed the +inspector. + +"Ach!" Mr. Gertstein flung his hands wide in an expressive gesture, +as of one who accepts an excuse in which there is no body. He rotated +round the room, buzzing like an agitated wasp. "An hour. Dis is what +I pay for," he proclaimed. "For dis I pay my thousands a year to the +rates for police salaries. What protection do I get for it? None." He +waved a podgy hand. "All the work of the finest craftsmen in the world +stripped from me. You will get it back, eh?" + +Labar felt that it was only the vulgarity of the expression that +prevented Gertstein from adding, "I don't think." He lifted his +eyebrows. + +"You are insured?" + +The other gave an impatient snort. "Insured! What is insurance to me? +Do you think that I--Gertstein--want the money? That--poof--a fleabite. +The insurance companies will pay, but will that help me to get back all +my beautiful things? Years and years of work gone like dat." He snapped +his fingers viciously. + +"We'll do our best," said Labar, mildly. "Perhaps you will walk round +with me and tell me all you know." + +In his mind he felt small hope. The very magnitude of the crime showed +it to be the work of men who thoroughly understood their business. +Jewels would be dismounted and cut up, gold melted down, and other +things rendered unrecognisable in the swiftest and most efficient +fashion. + +Other of the C.I.D. men from Labar's division were in the house by this +time, and under his supervision a systematic and thorough search of the +premises proceeded. It was a big rambling place, and it was obvious +that the thieves, once they had obtained entrance, would have had no +difficulty in secreting themselves till such time as they could work +unobserved. As Labar expected, every burglar alarm in the place had +been cut or put out of action in some way. The thieves must have gained +precise information beforehand. + +On the first floor two magnificent rooms had been given up to the +display of Gertstein's treasures. The chastely-designed glass cases +still stood in their imposing splendour, but alas, they were mere +cenotaphs with their treasures vanished. At a superficial glance, +indeed, it was difficult to realise that they had been tampered with, +so delicate had been the skill with which they had been opened. + +As Gertstein pointed out with some bitterness, the marauders had +selected their spoil with the most consummate judgment. It was obvious +that the raid had been carried through to clean-cut specifications. +There were many dainty bits of artistry left, but they were such things +as enamels, ivory carvings and the like, which had value only for +their craftsmanship, and would be difficult to dispose of intact. + +Nor was there evident any indication of the manner in which entry to +the house had been gained, or the method by which the thieves had +left. The windows and doors were unmarked. Not a bolt or lock had been +forced. Throughout the night no suspicious noises had been heard, and +it was only when in the course of ordinary routine that a maid had +entered one of the exhibition rooms, at eleven o'clock in the morning, +that the robbery had been discovered. + +"Not so much as a blighting finger-print," Bill Malone observed, and at +the finish of a meticulous examination of the windows, added that it +was the smoothest bust that he had ever run across in the course of his +carmined career. + +But a mystery may be too mysterious, too faultily faultless. Any +defect, any lapse on the part of the thieves might have left the police +even more in the air. As it was, there remained little doubt in the +minds of the detectives that their first surmise was right--that they +could breathe in a word the name of the supreme culprit--but much doubt +as to the possibility of acquiring evidence to run him down. The men +who could plan or carry out such an undertaking were few. + +Malone put it into words. "This has got the hall-mark of Larry, +guv'nor." + +Labar crinkled his brows, and nodded absently. The man who tackled +this job would have in front of him a spasm of tough work, that in +all probability would end in defeat by running his head against a +brick wall. "Yes," he agreed. "It's got all that. Our friend Larry is +certainly indicated, but we must not let ourselves be hypnotised about +him. There's a bet you've overlooked, Bill." + +"An inside job." + +"It might be either--or both," said Labar, and turned with +imperturbable face, that masked more than slight worry, to confront the +shrewd beady eyes of Mr. Gertstein. + +"What do you think now?" demanded the millionaire. + +The inspector smoothed his chin. "I hate to make up my mind right away, +Mr. Gertstein, but I'd be willing to make one guess at the man who +knows all about this." + +"So!" Gertstein rubbed his hands. "Then you have found out something. +You have a clue. I'm a generous man, Inspector. If you get back those +things I will treat you well. It will be worth--what--a thousand pounds +to you." + +"That's handsome of you, sir. But even if I was allowed to take a +reward--which I couldn't do without the consent of the Yard--I wouldn't +be too sure of getting it. As I say, I could give a guess about this +business, but guesses don't carry us far. There isn't a shred of proof +yet, and I tell you frankly I wouldn't gamble a half-penny on getting +the men or getting the stuff." + +"But you--you're a detective." Gertstein tugged impatiently at his +little beard. "If you know what you say it should be easy." + +"Easy, sir. Yes, it should be easy." Labar permitted a sardonic note to +creep into his voice. "About as easy as taking treacle from a bear's +mouth. I'm a detective, not a miracle worker." + +Detectives after all, are very like other human beings. Labar was +concerned at the back of his mind with the reaction this robbery might +have upon his own personal affairs. He was not in good odour with his +chiefs. True, he was the divisional inspector, and the burglary had +taken place on his ground, but it was odds that some of the mandarins +at the Yard would take the investigation out of his hands and place +it in those of a chief inspector from headquarters. That, in the +ordinary course of events would not be any slight, and Labar, with his +constitutional indolence would have been glad to be relieved of any +responsibility. + +But in present circumstances it would wear an ominous air. He was young +for the post he had reached, and there were many years in front of him +before he would be eligible for a pension. He had attained a stage +where all violent ambition had vanished, but still it would be galling +to be put on the shelf. + +His agitation of mind was disclosed by the fact that he had betrayed +his hopelessness to Gertstein--a breach of professional etiquette as +rank as that of a doctor who tells a patient that he is dying. He tried +to efface the impression he had created by a laugh. + +"We find it best to be a little pessimistic in our business, Mr. +Gertstein. Then if things come off we get a bit more credit. Don't you +worry. We'll do our best if only for our own sakes." + +"You'd better," said Gertstein, grimly. "Don't forget that I can use a +pull if I like, that would make the entire Metropolitan Police sit up." + +Labar smiled serenely as though the threat had no meaning for him. +Yet he did not believe it altogether an empty one. Gertstein, with +his money and his affiliations, could probably do wicked damage to an +obscure detective inspector if he chose to pull strings. That momentary +tactlessness looked as if it might bring retribution. + +The arrival of the Assistant Commissioner and the Chief Constable +of the C.I.D., accompanied by Labar's immediate superior, Detective +Superintendent Marlow--one of that select company the newspapers loved +to refer to as the "Big Four"--broke into the conversation. + +Gertstein shook hands with the three. "I hope you won't agree with your +inspector that the case is hopeless--that I shall never see any of my +beautiful things back," he said sourly. + +Winter shot a swift glance at Labar, who straightened his back with a +brave attempt at nonchalance. It was the Assistant Commissioner who +answered. + +"Nothing is ever hopeless, Mr. Gertstein. I am sure that you have +misapprehended Mr. Labar's views." + +The millionaire made a gesture of dissent. "I am not so big a fool as +that," he retorted. + +Now the head of the Criminal Investigation Department could see as far +through a brick wall as most people. He would always assert that he was +not a detective--that he had men on his staff who knew the game, and he +was content to leave detective work to them. But he did know men. It +was said that he could charm a bird from a tree. + +He linked his arm through Gertstein's and drew him aside. "I would like +to have a little talk with you alone. Perhaps I can straighten out +things. You people go and have a look round." + +As Labar led the other two away Winter turned fiercely upon him. "What +have you said to the old boy?" he demanded. + +"He got it pretty nearly straight, sir," admitted the inspector. "I +told him that it was long odds against getting the stuff back." + +"You ought to be in the infant class," snorted Winter. "Now what +about----" + +The conference usual in such circumstances began. Presently the +Assistant Commissioner rejoined them. As they moved about the house +the inspector imparted to them such facts as he knew, and, though his +face showed nothing, he waited with the eagerness of a boy for some +hint as to whether he was to be left to deal with the affair. But his +superiors did not commit themselves, and he was relieved when they took +their departure. + +He got down to the work in hand. There was plenty to occupy him, for +every person in the house had to be interviewed. As Winter dryly +observed to his companions on his way back to the Yard, Labar could +work like a fiend when he had some incentive. + + + + + CHAPTER III + + +Lacking any more definite line at the moment, Labar felt impelled +to the theory that there had been collusion between the thieves and +someone in the house. That at least furnished a working hypothesis +which might be abandoned according to circumstances. It was for this +reason that he doggedly set himself to interview all and sundry instead +of leaving his assistants to weed them out. + +With the shrewd suavity of an Old Bailey lawyer he examined and +cross-examined, an obese shorthand writer at his elbow, until he had a +complete surface knowledge, at any rate, of the movements of everyone +in the house for the last twenty-four hours, and much information of +their antecedents and habits. Superficially, he had to admit, as he +stretched himself with a yawn some hours later, there was no one he +could suspect. Perhaps, in the future, when the statements had been +checked up, some hint might develop. But he did not bank on that. +Frequently this kind of tedious work resulted in nothing, although it +was always possible that some vitally important fact might arise. + +Then the last person on his list entered the room. She was described as +Miss Penelope Noelson, companion to Mrs. Gertstein. + +She was a girl of perhaps twenty-two, not tall, but exquisitely +proportioned. Fair hair surmounted a vivacious face, which was relieved +of the insipidity of mere beauty by a determined chin, a humorous touch +that lurked about the corners of her mouth, and a nose very slightly +inclined to what her friends described as _retroussé_, but which +she herself bluntly declared to be snub. On the whole she was such a +girl as might make a man turn to take another look--a girl not so much +beautiful as piquantly pretty. + +At the instant of her entrance Labar was engaged with his well-fed +stenographer. She had reached the table he was using, and one hand +rested lightly upon it, ere he was able to give her any attention. + +"Won't you sit down? Excuse me for one moment, will you?" he said, +without lifting his eyes from the paper he was scrutinising, as he +leaned over the shorthand writer, his finger following a phrase. +"That's it. 'Mr. Vintner, the butler and myself always look round the +house the last thing at night to make sure that the fastenings are safe +and the burglar alarms in order. We always do it even if we know that +Mr. Gertstein or his secretary has----'" + +She studied Labar with some interest. He bore no obvious trace of his +profession--no good detective ever does. He was a clean-cut specimen +of the ordinary business man. He was youngish-looking, perhaps thirty +or thereabouts, and his voice was that of a cultivated man. In the +neighbourhood of six feet tall, his well-tailored suit could not +conceal the broad shoulders and lean flanks of a man used to athletic +exercises. There was a suspicion of aggression in his chin she thought. +He looked efficient and he had poise. + +Then he glanced up and his eyes met hers squarely. A flicker, it might +have been of astonishment, crossed his face, only to be instantly +suppressed. She met his look with sedate indifference, and two little +vertical lines wrinkled his brow as he studied her. Suddenly his face +cleared. He smiled--the frank, open smile of a boy. + +"I'll take any statement from this lady, myself, Green," he said. "You +get back to the station and get on with your transcription. I want that +all through by to-night." + +The fat stenographer collected his papers and left. Labar's fingers +fiddled idly on the table. "You are Miss Noelson?" he asked. + +She nodded. "That is my name." + +"I understand that you have been away to Hampshire with Mrs. Gertstein, +and only returned this morning." + +In his formal wearied tone she was quick to catch something--it might +have been imagination, or again it might have been intuition--the +slightest inflection of menace. "I got back by car this morning--yes. +There were certain shopping errands that Mrs. Gertstein wished me to +do." + +"Huh. So it is not likely that you can help us much with this?" + +The girl spread her hands in an eloquent gesture of dissent. He noticed +that she wore no rings. "It is an absolute mystery to me--a mystery and +a very great shock." + +"Yes, of course. It would be a shock," he returned as one engaging in +polite conversation only to pass the time. "How long have you been with +Mrs. Gertstein?" + +"About six or seven months." + +"That all? Did you know the Gertstein people well before?" + +"As a matter of fact I have known Mrs. Gertstein all my life. She is +a sort of distant relative of mine and very much younger than her +husband. We were at school together. I can see what you're driving at, +Mr. Labar," she proceeded. "My father, who was a civil servant, died +just over a year ago, leaving me a small, a very small, income. My +mother has been dead for many years. I struggled along for some months, +but I am afraid that I am one of those persons who need something +more than a bread and butter existence. So when Adèle--that's Mrs. +Gertstein--offered me this position, I took it. I'm well paid for the +little I do and live in a style that I could not otherwise afford." + +"Thank you. Do you mind if I smoke?" He lit a cigarette with elaborate +care and leaned one elbow casually on the table. "I suppose you know +that you are a very pretty girl." A whimsical smile overspread his +face, and he held out a protesting hand as she half rose from her seat. +"Don't misunderstand me, please. It is an unfortunate necessity of my +business to ask delicate questions sometimes. You are not engaged I +see. But is there anyone----?" He raised his eyebrows ever so little. + +Penelope dropped back into her chair with a laugh. "I feared for a +moment you were trying to flirt with me. That would be ridiculous, +wouldn't it? No, Mr. Labar, I assure you that I have no interest in any +man or men that way." + +"I can conceive that men might be interested in you," he smiled. "Now +one more personal question. Like most ladies you have little personal +extravagances that you like to indulge, eh?" + +She flushed and pouted a little. "I don't know that I'm so enormously +extravagant. I'm fond of pretty things, and I have them within my +means." + +"Always?" He leaned forward, and spoke the word very quietly. "You +don't--ah--run into debt?" + +She swept angrily to her feet. "You are insulting," she declared. +"I can't misunderstand you. You suggest that I am mixed up in this +robbery." + +"Sit down!" he ordered, sternly. There was no mistaking the menace in +his voice now. The girl ignored the command and remained with set face, +her gaze meeting his in angry defiance. For a matter of seconds they +remained thus, their wills clashing for supremacy. With deliberation +he rose, and towering over her, pointed to her chair. "Sit down," he +repeated sternly, and as though under some dominating spell, she slowly +obeyed. + +He remained on his feet. "I have made no accusation against you, Miss +Noelson, and you can answer me or not as you please. It will simplify +my work if you answer, but bear in mind that I have other means of +getting information." + +He noted that the wave of angry colour, which had suffused her face, +had died down, leaving her with a touch of pallor. But she was holding +herself steadily in hand, and had all her self-possession. + +"In that event," she returned, icily, "you had better apply to those +other sources of information." + +Labar was studying her with a cold scrutiny, weighing her words and her +demeanour with infinite calculation. He was alight with suspicion, but +somehow he felt reluctant to press this dainty little creature with the +cold official catechism that was in his mind. This was the man whom of +all others, in spite of certain mild flirtations, Scotland Yard would +have held immune from feminine influence. He pulled himself together. +The work had to be done. + +"Let's be sensible," he urged. "Now tell me, have you ever heard of a +man called Larry Hughes?" + +That was a shot in the dark. He had little doubt what the answer would +be. + +Penelope Noelson's lips came together in a thin, obstinate line. "No," +she snapped. + +The detective gave no sign that he had heard her. He moved aimlessly to +the small table he had been using and bent over a paper. She stood up +with a little petulant shrug of her shoulders, and was half-way to the +door before he spoke again. + +"Oh, by the way, there is another small matter. Why did you give me a +hundred pound note this morning?" + +Her eyes widened, and as she wheeled to face him her hands groped for +the support of a chair. + +"I gave you a hundred pound note? Why, I never saw you before in my +life." + +He leaned grimly towards her. "You're very nearly a convincing little +liar. I recognised you the instant you came in the room. I'm calling +your bluff, my girl. Now then. Suppose you come clean." + +For a second she stared at him uncomprehendingly. Then she slumped to +the floor in a dead faint. + + + + + CHAPTER IV + + +Labar was a little uncertain of the value of his hand. Therefore, he +hesitated to disclose his cards fully to Solly Gertstein, the more so +as that gentleman at almost the first word declared his implicit faith +in Miss Noelson. It was at that moment that the detective came almost +near to liking the pompous little man. + +All that the millionaire knew was that Labar had become suspicious +while questioning the girl, and that she had fainted when the +interrogation was closely pressed. Gertstein did not conceal his +opinion that only a fool could suspect her. It was unthinkable that she +could have anything to do with the robbery. She was as straight as a +die. + +Now, although the divisional inspector liked this attitude on the part +of Gertstein, it failed utterly to convince him. In fact, his own view +of the situation might have been deduced from the fact that when he had +summoned a maid to help Penelope to her room, he had also given private +instructions to one of his staff to keep as close an eye upon her as +circumstances would permit. There was no telling what she might do if +she was really frightened. + +Of one thing Labar was sure. Momentary though his glimpse of the girl +in the car had been, he had no doubt that it was Penelope Noelson. He +did not make that kind of mistake. Of course, coincidences do happen. +But those trained in the school of Scotland Yard are sceptical about +coincidence. It was asking too much to suppose that the singular +episode of the morning was entirely unassociated with the raid. It +was but a question of how deeply the girl was involved. Was she an +accomplice or merely a tool? She was not a professional thief. That +much was certain. Why had she tried to bribe him? If Larry Hughes was +at the bottom of the business--and he felt as certain of that as that +the sun would rise and set--in what way were the girl and he associated? + +With these questions stirring in his mind, he decided that it would +be unwise to make any hasty move. There was, in fact, nothing very +definite to act upon. He had debated with himself whether he ought to +detain Penelope. He had small fear that she would get away from the +surveillance he had placed upon her, but she might gum up the trail a +bit. To hold her in present circumstances would, perhaps, be considered +a little bit arbitrary, and anyway, Gertstein might kick up a fuss. It +was quite simple to keep an eye upon her until the ground under foot +was a little more solid. + +So he made his way back to Grape Street. His emissaries were scouring +London, and their reports had to be collated--whether for his own use +or for the man who might be detached from headquarters, was on the lap +of the gods. + +He considered as he puffed at his cigarette. These reports now--why +should he worry unduly about them if another man was to handle the +case? If it was his own work, of course he would have to do it. But why +worry until he was certain. He put a call through to Scotland Yard. +Winter was more genial than he had been at the early morning interview. + +"That you, Labar? How are things making out? You'll have to hump +yourself on this job, my mannie." + +That was all right, then. For the time being at any rate he was not to +be superseded on the investigation. That had looked a probability when +the heads had left him to it at Streetly House. This, however, made +certain. He answered cheerfully. + +"I'll do my best, sir; I've got hopes." + +"Hopes won't carry you far. I've seen hopes land a man in a ditch." + +"Oh, I'm not running ahead of myself. As you saw, it's a slick +clean-up, but I've got an idea that if Larry's in it he's made a break +this time." + +"H'm. Other men have thought that," grunted the telephone, +sceptically. "If there's a hole in this it's not like friend Larry. So +don't go running away with any hasty impressions, my boy. And listen, I +don't want to know too much--especially over the 'phone. You and I will +have a talk some time. G'bye." + +"The cunning old fox," murmured Labar, with almost affectionate +admiration, as he replaced the receiver. "He doesn't want to know too +much. That means I'm to be the goat if things don't pan out." + +He ripped open a letter that lay upon his desk. + + "SIR,--In accordance with your instructions, I made + inquiries at the Bank of England, and was informed that the note + No. K002947 was one of a series issued to the Midland Bank a week + ago. From the Midland Bank I learn that this was one of ten notes + numbered consecutively K002946 to K002955, paid to honour a cheque + drawn by Mr. S. Gertstein, of Streetly House, W., three days ago. + On inquiry at the London County Council Record Department I was + informed that the registration number, X20008, is that of a car + belonging to the same person. + + "Yours faithfully, + "J. S. BYRON." + +He laid down the note absently. "I was afraid so. A nice girl, too. +Well, nice girls do go wrong. Let's see what Gertstein has to say +about it." + +He reached for the telephone and got put through to Streetly House. A +matter of minutes elapsed before he was in touch with the millionaire, +and he drummed impatiently on his desk. At last an irritable voice +reached him. + +Labar spoke silkily. "Sorry to bother you again, Mr. Gertstein. This is +Labar speaking--Detective Inspector Labar. In the list of stuff stolen +there is no mention of cash. Is there any money missing?" + +"If there had been I should have told you, Inspector," snapped +Gertstein. + +"This is important. You have not lost any bank notes?" + +"I've told you, no. I never keep enough cash in the house to bother +about." + +A smothered exclamation escaped Labar. "But," he urged, "you changed a +cheque for a thousand pounds a day or two ago." + +"I did nothing of the sort," snorted Gertstein. "What thing are you +dreaming about now? I haven't had a thousand pounds in cash for my own +personal use for years." + +"Ah, well," said Labar, mildly. "Perhaps I've made a mistake. I'll hope +to see you in the morning and explain. Good-bye." + +Detectives of Scotland Yard have more use for bowler hats than for +halos. Whatever the writers may make of them they have few illusions +about themselves. They are very much of the same clay as human beings +in less glamorous callings. Labar was no conjuror, and an odd sequence +of facts bore to him just as great an appearance of mystery as it would +to any other professional man. He swore crisply between his teeth, +as Mr. Thingumbob, the eminent collar merchant, might have sworn had +he found a competitor selling neckwear below the cost of production. +For in these cases the problem that confronts the detective and the +ordinary business man is in essence the same. They each have to ask +themselves why. And if they get the correct answer they have scored a +point. If they are wrong the business man is hit in the bank balance, +and the newspapers attend to Scotland Yard. The bank believed that it +had let Gertstein have ten one hundred pound notes, and one of these +had reached Labar through a member of Gertstein's household. Yet the +millionaire denied that he had had that cheque cashed. It was entirely +improbable that he could have any motive for lying. On the face of it +someone had forged his signature, and so introduced the complication of +an additional crime. + +It was certainly necessary to have a talk with the bank manager. Labar +summoned Malone and gave him a rough outline of the situation. The +bank would be closed, of course, but somehow the manager's private +address would have to be found. The big detective sergeant nodded +comprehendingly, and set forth on his mission. + +That round of golf which Labar had reckoned upon in the morning was far +away. But his inclination to relaxation had vanished. An investigation +such as he had upon his hands leaves the man in charge with all he can +think about. He was fiercely energetic and his men were being driven +hard. Every few minutes the telephone bells were whirring, and men were +rushing in from various avenues of inquiry with verbal reports. + +The net was being cast wide. The usual routine precautions had, of +course, been seen to. Lists of the stolen property had been sent out +to jewellers, pawnbrokers and others, and published broadcast in the +evening papers. That was a ten million to one chance. The goods in this +crime would be got rid of through obscure underground channels. + +Labar had thrown two men to shadow Larry Hughes, not hopefully, but as +a matter of precaution. Others were trying to discover if Larry had +been in touch with any of the greater artists in burglary of late. +Then, again on general principles, the movements of every crook who was +big enough in his profession to be possibly involved had to be checked. +Any one of these possessed of sudden funds, any one absent from his +usual haunts, might be a link in the chain that Labar was trying +to establish. Nothing could be taken for granted. Even Gertstein +himself--this would have annoyed him--was having some of his private +habits pried into, and his associates looked up. + +The Yard does not despise scientific methods; but here were no +bloodstains, no finger-prints, no trivialities from which a high-domed +scientist in an easy chair might deduce the name and address of the +main culprit. It was a thief taking enterprise in the good old way of +the Bow Street runners, differing only by the use of a more complex +and more perfect organisation. For a young detective inspector of the +Criminal Investigation Department who was under suspicion of slackness +it was decidedly not a day for golf. + +Midnight was very near ere Malone returned to Grape Street. After +tracking the manager of the bank to his lair in Golder's Green, he +had dragged him back to the bank, and searched out the thousand pound +cheque, together with two others unquestionably genuine, for the sake +of comparison. + +"This fellow knows nothing of the circumstances in which it was +changed," said Malone. "Suppose we'll have to look up the cashier in +the morning on that point." + +Labar thrust his hand into a desk drawer and pulled out a magnifying +glass. Placing the suspected cheque and another in front of him he +studied them intently for a few minutes. + +"Did he hold any views on whether it was a forgery or not, Bill?" he +asked without looking up. + +The other shook his head. "He's a cautious Scot. You see if it is a +forgery the bank will be liable. Didn't want me to bring away the +cheques at first. Someone had been telephoning him to send back all +cancelled cheques to Gertstein early in the morning." + +Labar abruptly laid down his magnifying glass and stared at his +aide-de-camp. "Who was that?" he demanded. + +A slow grin broke over the usual inexpressive features of Malone. He +had an impish delight in sometimes startling his superior. "I thought +it would interest you, guv'nor," he said. "He didn't know. The voice +was that of a woman, and she said that she was telephoning on behalf of +Gertstein." + +"A woman's voice," repeated the inspector, thoughtfully. He uncoiled +his six feet from his chair, and stretched himself. "I'm all in, Bill," +he announced. "Let's put up the shutters for the night. Nine o'clock +sharp in the morning." + +The thing for a man who has spent many hours within four walls, Labar +decided, was a good brisk walk. He parted from Malone under the blue +lamp at the entrance to the police station, and paused to light a +cigarette. He nodded amiably to the constable on reserve duty at +the doorway, and setting his face towards Chelsea where his modest +bachelor apartments were located, swung off briskly down the little +courtyard that leads from Grape Street to Piccadilly. + +He had taken not more than a score of strides when some sixth sense +impelled him to whirl upon his heels. In that fraction of a second +he had an impression of a dark figure hurling itself upon him from a +doorway. An instant earlier and he had saved himself. As it was, he +flung up an arm, almost by instinct, and broke the impact of a sandbag. +Nevertheless, he went down half-stunned and feebly grappling with his +opponent. + +His bewildered senses were dimly conscious of the dark figure bending +over him, and fingers groping about his pockets. Then the assailant +was gone, and he staggered uncertainly to his feet, supporting himself +against the wall. He felt his head gingerly where the half-broken blow +had taken effect. But his mind was not on his injuries. + +"A woman again," he muttered. "What a nerve. Practically on the +doorstep of the police station. She certainly wanted something badly." +He stood for a moment to regain his shaken faculties. "I wonder if it +could have been a cheque?" he asked aloud. + +He walked unsteadily back to the station where the brandy retained for +emergencies was called into requisition, and a hasty hue and cry--which +he knew to be hopeless--organised. But all trace of his assailant had +been lost. Nor, for some reason which he could not have satisfactorily +accounted for to himself, did he suggest that the pursuers should take +the direction of Streetly House. + + + + + CHAPTER V + + +In silken pyjamas, and propped up on his pillows, Mr. Larry Hughes +toyed with coffee and toast, the while he lazily scanned the _Daily +Mail_ with its account of the Streetly House robbery. A soft-footed +valet was busy in an adjoining dressing-room. + +"A light-grey suit, if you please, Tom. And tell Williams to have the +Rolls ready not a minute later than twelve." + +"Very good, sir. Will you be in to lunch?" + +"I'm doubtful. There's racing on at Kempton, and I may run down." +Hughes pushed aside the tray and sprang lightly out of bed. "Bath +ready?" + +"Quite ready, sir." + +"All right. Be back in ten minutes." + +It was at this moment that Detective Inspector Labar rang the bell at +the solid Georgian doorway of Mr. Larry Hughes' Hampstead home. With +suave candour the footman who opened the door, informed him of the +exact position. Mr. Hughes was in his bath. If the gentleman would +care to wait he would find out in due course whether Mr. Hughes would +see him. Was the gentleman a friend, or if not was his business of +extreme urgency? Mr. Hughes, he knew, had several important engagements. + +Labar thrust a card into the man's hand. "Tell him I shall be glad if +he will spare me a few minutes of his time. It is of importance." + +A little doubtfully the servant took the card. So the detective +found himself in a big leather chair in a spacious and well-lighted +library. All the surroundings spoke of money lavished recklessly, but +with scrupulous taste. The lines of books were broken by etchings and +occasional paintings that Labar recognised as the finest of their kind. +But as he slowly and methodically studied the room, his attention +became rivetted on a small photograph that stood obscurely on a +mantel-piece. He moved towards it and picked it up for closer scrutiny. +Then he did a thing which a C.I.D. man should have realised was pure +and simple theft. He placed it carefully in an inside pocket. + +Hughes found him in the big leather chair, idly nursing his hat and +stick, and came forward with outstretched hand. + +"It's Mr. Labar, isn't it. Pleased to meet you. I'm not often honoured +by visits from detective inspectors. What can I do for you?" + +He drew up another divan chair and faced Labar idly attentive. He was +Mr. Larry Hughes, gentleman of means, and Labar was a mere policeman +in plain clothes. The suggestion was subtle but plain. + +Both men knew how artificial the situation was. It was clear to Larry +that the other had come to look him over, but whatever the detective +inspector suspected he dare not yet shatter the pose. Labar knew that +he was a crook, and Hughes knew that he knew. Yet the latter was +supremely confident that no one dare breathe the word. What proof could +there be? + +Labar for the time was quite willing to play the part the other had +allotted to him. "I'm not quite sure, Mr. Hughes," he said with a hint +of deference in his tone. "I've come to see you because I believe you +have some acquaintance with Mr. Gertstein. You will have seen in the +papers that there has been a robbery at his place." + +Larry raised his eyebrows and struggled with well-manicured fingers +to affix a cigarette in a long amber holder. "I'm afraid you've come +to the wrong shop, Mr. Labar. I know the old boy by sight but I've +scarcely spoken to him. True, I believe I was introduced to Mrs. +Gertstein once--I think it was at Ascot--but that's the limit of my +knowledge of the family." + +"I'm looking up everyone who might by some remote chance throw some +light on the affair," explained Labar. + +"Quite." Hughes was listlessly polite. + +"You are not acquainted with anyone associated with the Gertstein's? A +Miss Noelson, for instance?" + +However a man may use himself to mask his emotions, there is usually +some point, as experienced poker players know, at which he betrays +himself. Not infrequently, though his face may be immobile, some +nervous twitch of the hands, some apparently small mannerism, will +reveal itself to the one competent to read. + +Larry showed nothing in his face, but his right toe tapped nervously on +the soft carpet. Labar marked that movement. + +"I've never heard of the lady," said Larry easily, and rising, strolled +to the mantel, and placed one arm upon it. His equanimity was to all +seeming undisturbed. + +Labar smiled, grimly. "Don't waste your time standing. It was an +oversight to leave the photograph there, if you meant to deny that you +knew this lady. I have the portrait in my pocket." + +The right toe tapped a quick tattoo, and Larry eyed the other +whimsically. He thrust up his hands. "Kamerad," he cried. "I have heard +of the efficiency of Scotland Yard. Now I see it. The merest little +white lie, and you pounce, Mr. Labar. I do know Miss Noelson--slightly. +I hope to know her better. There's an admission for you. Can you build +something on that? Do you think that she stole the jewels, or did I?" + +He smiled superciliously down on the detective, with an indescribable +air of polite contempt. Labar, spite of his resolution to hold himself +with restraint, was a little stung by the other man's audacity. Larry +had the impudence to play with him. + +"If you want it point blank," he said, quite gently, but with jaw +jutting out a trifle, "I'll tell you that you ran the show. This is +quite unofficial, of course, but you know that I know, so what's the +use of keeping up this farce? How deep the girl is in it I am not sure, +yet. But I'll have enough on you in a week to put you where you belong." + +Larry Hughes flung back his head and laughed till exhaustion caused him +to desist. "That's real funny. You don't look it I'll admit, but you +must be one of those comic sleuths. Shall I do some thought reading, +Mr. Labar? You come across a big jewel robbery and your well-known grey +matter gets to work. 'Ah, ah,' you say. 'Here is the obvious handiwork +of that famous gentleman crook, Mr. Hughes. Let's go on a fishing +expedition, and see what we can bluff out of Mr. Hughes.' Am I right, +sir?" He leaned forward with hand outstretched in burlesque imitation +of a vaudeville lightning calculator. + +Beneath his ironic tone there was something more serious. His alert +mind had hit upon the very reason of Labar's visit. The inspector had +taken a chance, partly because he wished to see what Larry was like in +person, partly to try and scare the man into some hasty and incautious +step. The bigger men at the Yard would scarcely have approved of +the attempt, but Labar had not consulted them. He had acted upon an +impulse, and he had realised that he was courting failure--though his +mind had not turned to the grotesque and humiliating failure that now +seemed probable. After all, failure in this point was to have been +expected. He had seen for himself what type of man Larry was. That at +least was something gained. Nor could it matter in the least that Larry +now knew definitely that he was suspected. That he would know in any +event, and the interview could make no difference. + +He felt himself a little nearer to probing the relationship between +this sleek, gibing crook, and Penelope, but still he was far away from +anything definite. + +"You're like all the rest of them," he said. "You know it all." He +levelled a forefinger. "You've got away with it so far, Larry Hughes. +I'll not deny that you've got brains. But you've got vanity, and +that's where you'll come a cropper. You may swizzle me, as you have +others, but in the end it isn't me you're up against. It's Scotland +Yard, it's Mulberry Street, it's the Sûreté. It's every police officer +you may pass from here to Timbuctoo. You can't fight men, money and +organisation all the time. Think a bit." + +There lurked a humorous twitch at the corner of Larry Hughes' lips, +and there was less cynicism there. "Tell me, did you ever hear of +a fox-hunter giving up because he might break his neck? If I were a +criminal, it's just conceivable that I might like the game for its own +sake." + +"Then I hope you break your neck," retorted Labar with asperity. "I'll +give you a case in point. When you let amateurs into this bust you +slipped a cog. I've had Penelope Noelson under observation for the last +eighteen hours, and to-day, she'll be placed under detention. And I +rather fancy she'll talk." + +The smiling nonchalance of Larry Hughes vanished. He flung cigarette +and amber holder with an impatient gesture into the grate, and advanced +a step, with clenched hands. + +"Don't be a damned fool, man," he snarled. "That girl has no more +concern with the robbery than the man in the moon. She's white. The +whole thing is pure silliness. What have you got against her?" + +"Not a thing. She only tried to bribe me yesterday. She only changed a +forged cheque on the Midland Bank. She only tried to sandbag me last +night. She only denied that she had ever heard of you, and now I find +her photograph in your private room. Oh, I've not a thing to hold her +on." + +There was a little bead of perspiration on the smooth forehead of the +crook. "I don't believe you are lying to me," he said earnestly, "but +you're all wrong somehow. That girl has not the faintest strain of +crookedness in her. Supposing that all you've heard about me is true. +Have you known me to do a dirty thing?" + +"That's a large question. They say you keep faith with your +confederates." + +"I do more than that. I play the game as I see it. And I give you +my word, Mr. Labar, that Penelope Noelson had no hand directly or +indirectly in this crime." + +"That won't help her," said Labar, grimly. + +"Meaning that you want to get at me through her. Well, go ahead and +prove something on me, Mr. Inspector. We're absolutely alone here. +Stand very still if you please." + +The blue barrel of an automatic stared at Labar, and Hughes' finger was +tensed on the trigger. "I hate to pull a gun," he went on, "and I'd +hate still more to use it. But you leave me no option. There's a man of +yours out there watching the house, and I don't want him butting in. So +make one single move to your whistle and I'll blow you full of holes." + +"What's the game?" demanded Labar, placidly. + +"I'll show you." Hughes came nearer, and still keeping the detective +covered, thrust his left hand into the other's breast pocket. He +withdrew the photograph. "This is my property. See here." He replaced +the automatic in his pocket, and tore the portrait to strips. "That's +that. Just one little bit of evidence against Miss Noelson gone. Now +you may go, too." + +Labar took it all gracefully. "Thank you," he said. "I'll be back." + +"Oh, no you won't," disagreed Hughes. "If you try it I'll have the +servants throw you out. Good-bye, Mr. Labar." + +He accompanied the detective inspector to the front door, and as soon +as it had closed behind him, returned and summoned a servant. + +"Tom," he demanded, "did you ever read Bacon?" + +"I don't know that I have, sir." + +"No, I scarcely expected it. He's not a popular novelist. He says that +in preparation it is good to realise dangers, and in action wisest to +disregard them. So I shan't go to Kempton Park to-day. I'm wanting +the car at once, and you'll come with me. We're going to disregard a +danger." + + + + + CHAPTER VI + + +It was with the conviction that Penelope Noelson was the key to the +mystery that Labar made his way back to town. The hint that she would +be detained would scarcely have stirred Larry Hughes as it had, unless +she was in the plot. True, Labar was not as certain as he might have +wished. He had not been entirely candid with Larry Hughes. She had not +been identified as changing the forged cheque, although Malone had that +morning reported that so far as the cashier recollected it had been a +woman who passed it over the counter. And according to the man he had +left to keep observation upon her, she had not gone from Streetly House +the previous night. If that was so she could not be the lady of the +sandbag. There remained the episode of the hundred pound note--the only +definite thing that he could prove against her. + +He looked in at Grape Street before proceeding to Streetly House, to +pick up such fresh threads as might have been collected during his +absence. There was the inevitable string of reports, some entirely +valueless, some which might become of importance or futile in the +light of future events. He sifted them through rapidly. Here was the +statement that Malone had taken from the bank cashier. Here was a plan +drawn by a police surveyor of Streetly House. Here was the report--very +sketchy--of Larry Hughes' movements for the last week. Here were +other reports of the recent doings of certain notabilities of the +underworld. Not only had the C.I.D. men been busy, but their jackals, +the "informants," had been whipped up in force. The drag-net had been +cast over London, and here on Labar's desk was the result. + +He paused over two things. One was an abrupt note from Winter. "Have +you noticed this? It is from Monday's _Times_." + +Pasted on a sheet of paper was a cutting from the personal column. + + "Panjandrum. Urgent. All fixed for to-night. Keep Walloper + straight, and inform. Have not seen him. Piccadilly Tube. Same + time." + +Now, it was on Monday night that the theft had occurred, and the +personal column is a simple means of communication between those who +do not care to risk the mails or a direct interview. Of course, the +advertisement might have been inserted by an entirely innocent person +outside the affair. On the other hand it was likely enough to have +some bearing on the crime. + +The other document that interested Labar was a report from a smart +young detective sergeant who was in charge of an out-lying station. It +told of one, Gold Dust Teddy, who had left his little suburban house +on the Monday, and had been absent all night. Teddy was one of the few +men who had the craftsmanship to execute a great burglary. He was not +a great thief for two reasons. Apart from an uncanny mechanical skill +he had no other asset for his career--no imagination, no finesse. +And he had periodical drinking bouts. These two things had brought +him to grief on occasion. The hall-mark of his failure was that his +finger-prints were on record at Scotland Yard. + +Teddy, it appeared--one may observe the use of the informant in the +detective sergeant's report--had been on the water-wagon for some +time. But a week ago he had broken out. For two or three days he had +drunk steadily, and finished up by breaking the jaw of one of his +boon companions who had refused to lend him money. Then he had laid +up to recover as was his habit. On Tuesday he had gone on a drinking +bout again, and that seemed likely to continue indefinitely. During +his absence the sergeant had talked with his wife, who would give +nothing away. But he had rescued from the grate of a room during the +conversation a half-burnt scrap of paper which he enclosed. + + "All ready. Cut out b---- put you in the mud. Meet----" + +Labar considered matters thoughtfully. This was too good to be true. +If he was able to add two and two together correctly it might lead +anywhere. It looked reasonably certain that Gold Dust Teddy was one of +Larry's tools. All the same, to rope in a drunken burglar did not of +necessity mean that he would be any nearer to getting Larry Hughes. +It was on record that Larry had contrived to slip from the meshes on +similar occasions. + +He sent for one of his men. "Go out and see Simmons. Tell him that +you're to help him bring in Gold Dust Teddy. If Teddy wants to know why +he's pinched you haven't got any idea. Follow that. Just bring him in. +Take a pair of cuffs with you. He may be rough to handle." + +The theory that a Scotland Yard man carries handcuffs habitually in his +pocket dies hard. They are heavy things, and he takes them only when he +needs them, which is seldom. + +A ragged shrill whistle which remotely resembled a tune heralded the +entrance of Malone. "You here, guv'nor. There's a lady asking to see +you downstairs. Passed her on the way up." + +"Can't see anyone this morning, Bill. It's my busy day. Somebody whose +cook has got away with the fish knives I expect. You go and have a word +with her." + +"I think you'll see this one," said Malone. "She's Miss Penelope +Noelson." + +The girl was pale, but her voice was firm as she returned Labar's +formal greeting. + +"I was on my way to see you," he said. + +"I expected you earlier," she returned a trifle wearily. "As you didn't +come I thought it well----" + +"I hope you let me have the full story," he interrupted. "You have had +time to sleep over it, and perhaps you will see the wisdom of being +absolutely frank. But understand you are not compelled to say anything. +I shall conceivably have to use it against you." + +"It has been a nightmare since yesterday," she confessed, speaking +slowly, as with effort. "If you intend to arrest me you will have to. +I know--what you think--I don't blame you." She choked back something +very like a sob. "I can only tell you I am almost innocent. I can see +how black things must look to you; but that is the truth. There are +others--I cannot tell you all." + +There is a wholesome rule that a police officer must not question a +person whom he knows he will in all probability have to arrest. It is +a rule which strictly applied would leave many mysteries unexplained, +and detectives have at times to walk warily round it, taking a certain +amount of risk. + +"You are _almost_ innocent," he repeated. "What does that mean, +exactly? There are other people you are shielding? Come, Miss +Noelson, there is nothing to be gained by hanging back. Do you know +what this mistaken chivalry may mean? It will save no one. It may mean +disgrace--ruin--the prison taint--for you. Why take the chance--the +almost certainty?" + +He was leaning across the table with folded arms, his eyes fixed +on her face. She avoided his gaze, and her hands tortured a small +handkerchief. Clearly she was moved almost beyond endurance. + +"Oh, leave me alone," she cried. "Can't you understand, Mr. Labar. You +are a decent man. I don't know what is the right thing to do. I can +only tell you that I gave you that note for--for someone else. I never +knew--I never realised what it all meant. I came to tell you that. You +mustn't ask me anything else." + +He came towards her and rested a hand lightly on her shoulder. "You +poor child," he said, and there was genuine sympathy in his tone. "If +I were your elder brother, my dear girl, I should give you the same +advice that I'm offering you now. Get this off your mind. Tell me +everything." + +"You can lock me up," she said, faintly. "It will make no difference." + +"But," he urged, "do you know who this man is that you are trying to +protect, this notorious crook, this----" + +She looked at him, eyes wide open in amazement. He stopped abruptly. + +"I am not trying to shield any notorious criminal," she declared. + +"You may not know it, but Larry Hughes is one of the most dangerous men +in London." + +She looked him straight in the eyes now. "That is the man you mentioned +yesterday. When I said I did not know him I was confused. I have met +him twice, or perhaps three times. He is no friend of mine--merely an +acquaintance." + +"He is the man who engineered the burglary. He is not worth an ache of +your little finger." + +"It is all so dreadfully mixed up," she exclaimed. "You must believe +me, Mr. Labar, I hardly know him." + +He saw that it was scarcely worth pushing the harassed girl further +for the time, and bit his lips as he tried to consider the next move. +His duty, which he had seen clearly before this interview, was no less +plain now. The girl should be held if only on her own admission that +she was an accessory in the crime. But somehow he could not bring +himself to issue the order. He tried unsuccessfully to tell himself +that he was a fool to let himself be hypnotised by her. It was no use. + +"Well, if you won't talk, you won't," he said with a shade of gruffness +in his tone. "That will do for now, Miss Noelson. I don't profess to +understand you." + +"You mean--I can go?" she asked, hesitatingly. + +"You can go," he agreed. + +She held out a slim hand. "I want to thank you," she said simply. + +"Better go now," he said, "before I change my mind." + +He held the door open for her and stood for a while in thought +watching her as she descended the stairs. Another door opened, and a +man casually followed her. The mechanics of investigation have to be +obeyed, and Labar had no intention of calling off her shadow. + +He returned to his desk, and picked up a document. But his agility of +mind had deserted him. He saw nothing but a pair of grey eyes--eyes +plaintive, protesting, pleading. For ten minutes he sat thus, lost to +the world. A sharp, imperative knock at the door, followed by the swift +entrance of one of his men, recalled him to himself. + +"I'm sorry, sir," gasped the intruder, "Miss Noelson, Miss Noelson----" + +Labar was at his side and shook him roughly by the shoulder. "Don't +stand there stammering, you fool. What's happened to Miss Noelson?" + +"She's gone, sir. Just outside Streetly House it was. A gentleman +stopped to speak to her. I was thirty yards away. They walked a few +paces. Suddenly he lifted her into a big car that was standing at the +kerb. She shouted, but before I could reach them they were gone. That's +all, sir." + +"You lump of mud. You condemned camel. What else did you do besides +gaping after them like a codfish? Did you get the car number? What was +the man like?" + +Labar shook the man feverishly. The other pulled himself away +unresentfully. "It was a big Rolls, number K9362. The man was of medium +size, very well dressed in a light-grey suit----" + +"Larry Hughes, by thunder!" ejaculated Labar. + + + + + CHAPTER VII + + +The incidence of crime among fifty million people affects the average +individual very seldom. Any ordinary man who has his pocket picked or +the domestic silver stolen, has the feeling that he has been unfairly +selected as the victim of a phenomenon. Why should such a singular +misfortune happen to him? + +So it was with Penelope Noelson. A very much worried person was that +girl as she left the precincts of the Grape Street police station. +She felt a sense of injustice that she should have become caught in a +coil from which she saw no way of extricating herself. If only things +would work out so that she would not be involved. A selfish attitude no +doubt, but one which she would have been something more than human to +avoid. + +Quite illogically, there was a touch of exasperation in her mind with +Labar. She had felt grateful to him as she left the station, but now +she reflected that like many men he was blind in one eye. How dare +he assume that her silence was due to an affection for Mr. Hughes? +Why, he had even hinted that--that----. She flushed hotly at the +implication that she realised might have lain behind his guarded words. +For Penelope, although a modern and sophisticated maiden, had a quite +sufficient self-respect. + +She had to carry on the fight alone. There was no one, neither relation +nor intimate friend, to whom she might turn for counsel or sympathy. +And beyond it all lay the shadow of the gaol. If there had only been +something she could do, some active step that she might take, it +would have been easier. She thought of flight. That would, however, +be taken as an admission of guilt. Besides, she had little money, and +her commonsense told her that Labar had probably foreseen and guarded +against that very contingency. Any attempt of that kind might very well +be the signal for her arrest. + +It was with her thoughts thus occupied that she did not observe Larry +Hughes until he was within a couple of paces. He raised his hat and +dropped into step by her side. + +"Miss Noelson. The very person I was hoping to see. May I have a word +with you?" + +She turned an embarrassed face to him. "You! The police----" She +struggled for words. + +"Please don't fear for me," he said smilingly. "I am in no imminent +danger of arrest. That is what you are afraid of, I guess. I gather +that you have just left my humorous young friend, Detective Inspector +Labar. No doubt he spent a pleasant quarter of an hour blackening my +character. An ambitious young man is Mr. Labar. He believes that I am +some sort of a gilt-edged criminal, and that you are my accomplice. +Funny, isn't it?" + +The airy jocularity of his tone did not deceive her. Her intuition told +her more than he meant to betray. "What do you want?" she demanded. "If +things are as you say, then for us to be seen together will look even +more suspicious." + +"You are being shadowed," he said. "There is a gentleman loitering a +little aimlessly down the road, who I judge is interested in you. I +have had a couple of detectives behind me whenever I have taken a walk. +Fortunately, motor cars are a little difficult for eavesdroppers. I +have mine at hand. A ride for ten minutes will allow me to make many +things clear. Will you come?" + +She shook her head with decision. Whatever lay behind all this, it +was likely that it could bring her nothing but harm, in view of the +suspicions that already focussed upon her and Hughes. + +"There is no need to make things clear to me," she said. "If you know +anything about this crime, Mr. Hughes, you should go to the police." + +He gripped her by the arm, and she felt his fingers tighten. "You are +not afraid?" he demanded. "This is absurd, I must see you." + +The shadower was standing some distance away, surveying with apparently +idle interest a couple of men engaged on road repairs. But Larry +guessed that in a few moments he would saunter down towards them. There +was no time to take chances. His grip tightened roughly and he almost +shook her. + +"Let me go," she cried. "You're hurting my arm." + +"Then you'll come?" + +"No." + +"You obstinate little fool," he snarled, and she found his arms +encircling her, as she was lifted from the ground. + +A cry for help escaped her, and she saw in a quick glance that the +detective had lost interest in the road repairers and was running +towards them. She fought with all the strength of her lithe, young body +to tear herself away. One arm she managed to wrench free and Larry +ripped out an oath as her fist caught him on the jaw. + +With a supreme effort he hurled her through the door of the car which +someone within held open, and tumbled in on top of her. She felt other +hands clutching at her and a cloth was drawn tightly about her face, +smothering her screams. She heard the door slam and felt the car drawn +fiercely into motion. Still she maintained her struggles until at last +the two men--she knew there were two now--had pinned her to her seat, +and she could move neither hand nor foot. + +So they held her, it seemed for hours, though at a later stage she +knew that it was for less than an hour, while they were running out of +London. + +The noise of traffic died down, and the soft not unmusical voice of +Larry Hughes came to her ear. "Sorry to be rough, but you rather forced +it on us. You had better accept things as they are, and we shall all be +more comfortable. Promise that you have finished with this tiger-cat +business, and we'll let you travel like a civilised being." + +She was exhausted, and in any case she could not hope to make any +further effective resistance. The cloth about her head prevented her +speaking, but she nodded and she felt the hands that pressed her down +cautiously withdrawn. The cloth was taken from about her face. Larry +Hughes, however, still retained a grip of her wrist. + +"That's better," he announced. "Tom, stop the car for a moment and get +in front with Williams. Miss Noelson and I have a few private things to +discuss." + +She remained silent, collecting her thoughts, till the car had started +again. Then she spoke angrily. + +"This is an outrage." + +"I agree," he said, coolly. "What would you expect? I had to do this, +since you would not let me persuade you. I have saved you from a very +awkward position." + +"You have placed me in a worse one," she retorted. "What do you intend +to do with me now?" + +He freed her wrist and regarded her speculatively, with a cold smile +twitching at the corners of his mouth. "That depends," he said. "I +have, thanks to Mr. Labar, had to push things rather in a hurry. How +much of what he told me about you was true? Not all, I'm sure, or you +wouldn't have been allowed to walk out of the police station this +morning." + +He had contrived to startle the girl out of her attitude of cold +resentment. She pulled herself round till she was half-facing him. + +"What did he say? What does he know?" + +"I can't tell you what he knows, but what he asserted that he knew was +that you had committed forgery, and that you tried first to bribe him, +and then to knock him out. The case as he presented it was pretty ugly. +There was only one thing left for me to do as a friend of yours. That +was to get you out of the way." + +Penelope's face darkened as she listened. Was Labar trying some subtle +underhand game of bluff? If he had thus lied about her to Hughes, might +he not equally have lied to her when he declared that Larry Hughes was +a criminal? What could he hope to gain by it? Her hands opened and +closed nervously as she considered. Had she misjudged Hughes merely on +the strength of this man's word whom she had only met yesterday? + +"That is a string of lies," she said scornfully. + +"Not altogether, I think," he said thoughtfully, his dark piercing eyes +fixed unwaveringly on her, as though he would read her thoughts. "There +is truth in it somewhere. How much? How much has Adèle told you?" He +thrust his face even closer towards her. "I know there is a reason +for your actions. I am your friend and hers. I am taking a heavy risk +to help you whether you appreciate it or not. We are all in the same +boat--all suspect. Let us clear the air." + +His voice was low and persuasive, and his hand sought and found hers. +She hastily tore hers away from his touch. For once Larry Hughes had +overplayed his part. Penelope had got a clue to things that had been +dark to her, and some at least of her doubts of the man who sat by her +side were resolved. + +"Adèle--and you," she murmured, softly, more to herself than to the +man. "I begin to understand." + +"Well, tell me," he said. + +"You," she said holding away from him as from some abhorrent thing, +"you are the blackmailer. You are the man she has been buying silence +from. You are the man who wrecked her life, who has driven her to +forgery, and worse. I believe you are the most contemptible creature on +God's earth." + +Not a muscle of the man's face moved as he listened. "Like you, I +begin to see," he declared, his tone smooth as before. "Well, it +doesn't matter a whole lot. Adèle has been putting her foot in it, +possibly getting out of her depth at the races, and she has hinted to +you that she is being blackmailed. Anyhow, she has done some foolish +things, and you are standing between her and trouble. That's what +it amounts to. No, Miss Noelson, I am not a blackmailer. There was +something between Adèle and me many years ago, before her marriage, and +possibly a crook has got some foolish letters of ours." + +Mentally he cursed himself for a fool. So sure had he been that the +charges Labar had made against this girl could only be explained by +one reason--that she was fully in Adèle Gertstein's confidence--that +he had let slip enough to enable her to make a guess somewhere near +the truth. It was not Larry Hughes' habit to talk loosely. However, it +could not be helped. He had acted on the assumption that the knowledge +she had might make disclosures from her dangerous. He realised that he +had been wrong. He might have left her alone and all Labar's efforts to +extract anything from her that would have inculpated Larry would have +been vain. But now by his own act he had made her the very menace he +had feared. The guard that he had ever maintained upon himself had been +incautiously relaxed. At least it was not irretrievable. He was where +he had thought himself to be. Scotland Yard would have a long way to +go ere it would be able to bring any crime against him. + +The girl shrank as far from him as the limits of the car would allow. +"But why this?" she demanded. "Why are you carrying me away, and where +are you taking me?" + +He made an impatient little gesture. "I am taking you away because you +are not safe in London. You need have no fear. You will be well looked +after." + +Penelope did not miss the sinister construction that might have been +put upon his words. She felt herself shudder inwardly. But to the man +she presented a brave front. + +"Why?" she demanded again. "I am nothing to you. I insist that you put +me down." + +"And let Labar twist you as he will. I am not raving mad." With a +sudden movement he possessed himself of her hands. "Penelope, you are +something to me. Can't you understand, child? You are everything to me." + +"No," she protested. "Do not touch me." + +He paid no heed. "I want you, child. I have wanted you ever since +I met you. Listen. You have no one to consider but yourself. I am +rich--richer than you could imagine. I can give you everything that the +world holds. You and I together. Will you marry me?" + +"No," she declared, vehemently. "Marry a thief--a blackmailer--God +knows what--no!" + +He flung her roughly from him. He had heard harder words in his life +and had met them sneering and unmoved. But somehow to hear them from +her stung him. + +"You think you won't--now," he said viciously. "But you will, my girl. +If you think you can set your silly obstinacy against my will, my dear, +and win, you are booked for trouble. I have given you your chance and I +don't permit man nor woman to stand in my way. Bigger people than you +have learnt that." + +She returned no answer. The car turned from the smooth road, and slowed +as it took a rough track through a windswept marshland. In a little it +came to a halt. + +"Here we are," said Larry Hughes. + + + + + CHAPTER VIII + + +Although it would have pleased Harry Labar to tumble into the fastest +motor car he could find and engage in swift and melodramatic chase of +Larry Hughes and Penelope, he was deterred by many considerations. +Chief among them was the fact that they had a start that made pursuit +in such a manner impracticable. Then, again, the whole thing might +prove a wild goose chase. It might be just a pleasant comedy staged by +Larry for reasons of his own. + +Labar forced himself to reason coldly on the matter, although there was +a tinge of apprehension in his mind so far as Penelope was concerned. +But he dare not take his own personal feelings into account. He was +surprised, but then Larry had a habit of doing the unexpected thing. +Larry would appreciate the construction that must be put upon the +episode--that Penelope's evidence was of such importance, that he was +compelled to this seemingly reckless method of ensuring her silence. +But he must realise that he could not hold her indefinitely. + +Do not imagine that the detective inspector sat idle while he balanced +these things in his mind. He had to adjust the machinery to meet the +case. As soon as he was perfectly clear on the facts, he had begun to +work. + +"All station" messages to the two hundred or so police stations in +London were being sent out over the private wires. To those county and +borough forces that held sway over certain strategic points on the +roads leading from the metropolis, requests were broadcast to "stop and +detain" Larry's car and its passengers. Thus thousands of men would +be on the look out for the fugitives, although Labar feared it would +be too late. Before instructions could reach the men on their patrols +the car would in all likelihood be far away. But there was more than a +chance that the route would be picked up, although Labar was too old a +hand to rely confidently even upon this. + +Men were on their way to Larry's house at Hampstead, and Malone was +even then swearing out a search warrant. All this was more or less +an ordinary adaptation of the Scotland Yard organisation to meet an +emergency. Labar considered the advisability of getting on to the Yard +and obtaining permission to use the newspapers. It was a resort of +which the authorities were not too fond, for there is still a certain +suspicion of the Press at Scotland Yard. The inspector resolved that +the step might well wait till all else failed. + +As his grip on the work before him tightened, a flash of inspiration +came to Labar. He nodded grimly in confirmation of his own reasoning. +There was only one way in which Larry Hughes could make certain that +Penelope could be for ever prevented from giving evidence. A married +woman, so the law runs, cannot be compelled to give evidence against +her husband. + +He turned cold at the thought. Would Larry dare? Was there after all +anything he would not dare? But even so no marriage could take place +without the consent of the girl. Was she likely to succumb to Larry's +persuasions--or threats? + +He stood at the door of his room and shouted a name. "Here, you! Tumble +down to Somerset House--Registrar-General's Department. I want to know +what steps have to be taken to get a special marriage licence. If any +application comes in with regard to a couple called Hughes and Noelson, +I want to know at once. Get off right away." + +There was nothing more he could do for the present in regard to the +abduction. He glanced at his watch. He ought to go down to Streetly +House, but at any moment they might bring in Gold Dust Teddy, and +he wanted to be at hand to see that gentleman. He decided to wait. +Throwing himself back in his chair he put his feet on the desk and +closing his eyes indulged in the luxury of a nap. + +Half-an-hour passed before he was roused by the information that Teddy +was downstairs in the charge-room awaiting his pleasure. + +"Have much trouble?" he asked the officer who brought him the news. + +"Not what you might call a lot, sir. Found him in his favourite pub +and jumped him before he had a chance to get ugly. He was half-lit up, +and gave Down a black eye before we got the bracelets on him. But he's +sobered up a lot now, though he's still talking big." + +"Right oh. Put him in the detention-room. I'll be down to see him in a +minute." + +Gold Dust Teddy greeted Labar with a sort of surly amiability some +five minutes later. There is no overt enmity between the ordinary +professional rogue and the police. He recognises that the detectives +are merely doing a job in bringing him to justice, and, though he +will do anything to keep out of their clutches, once there he accepts +matters as they are with a sort of philosophy. Now and again there is +an officer against whom he nourishes some bitter grievance, and he will +talk with venom and contempt of the "Johns" and the "bodies" among his +intimates. But face to face detective and crook meet on those terms of +intimacy that might exist between members of opposing teams. + +Teddy did not look a Bill Sikes. He would have passed any normal +scrutiny as a respectable middle-class citizen. He wore a collar and +tie, and there were distinct traces of a crease in his trousers. His +cleanshaven face was hard, but not in the least forbidding, except that +the puffy eyes betrayed something of sottishness. You might set him +down as a hard case perhaps, but you would not condemn him on his looks. + +"I been wanting to see you, Mr. Labar," he said aggressively. "It's a +bit tough on a bloke that's trying to run straight to have your fellers +come and rough house him without giving him a chance. Wouldn't even +tell me what it was for. It's illegal, that's what it is." + +"Just wanted a little talk with you, Teddy," observed Labar quietly. +"Nothing to get excited about." + +"Excited. You should tell them birds not to get excited. On my back +like a pair of ravening wolves they was. And I'm telling you, Mr. +Labar, there ain't anything against me. Not a thing. I've got a clean +sheet, I have, since I did that last lot." + +"Glad to hear that, Teddy. Got enough money to retire on, have you? Or +have you got a job? Let's see. It's nine months since you came out of +stir. What have you been doing, besides drink?" + +Well aware that Labar knew a great deal about him, Teddy shrugged his +shoulders. "I've had a glass now and again," he said defiantly. "Why +shouldn't I? You know how hard it is for a bloke like me, guv'nor. +Tried hard I have. What chance is there for a bloke like me?" + +"Where was your last job? Have you got any references?" + +"Fat hope. The wife had a bit of money by her and that's kept us going." + +"Uh-huh. Getting pretty well up against it last week, weren't you? Or +did your wife have a new dividend in on Monday?" + +The detective had not raised his voice, but Teddy winced as though the +question had been shouted at him. "'Struth, guv'nor, you don't think +I was in that Gertstein job, do you? I can prove where I was all that +night. I can bring witnesses." + +"Sure you can?" Labar's voice was soothing, velvety. "What kind of +witnesses?" He did not doubt that the other had taken some kind of +steps to establish an alibi. "I wonder if a jury would believe 'em +against the story I might have to tell. Mind you, Teddy, I like you. +I'd hate to have to push all I know." The hint, half threat, half +promise, was delicately conveyed. "Much better for you to give me the +full strength of the yarn." + +Teddy blinked. "You're bluffing," he asserted, doggedly. "I had nothing +to do with it. You can't lay anything over me." + +"Bluffing, am I? Don't you believe it, son. I know all about Larry +and the others. You think that Larry will help you out of this mess. +He won't. He's on his way out of London, and he's leaving you and the +others to hold the baby. Here." His voice changed and he fixed his +eyes sternly upon the burglar. "How do you account for this?" He fished +a piece of paper from his waistcoat pocket. "This was found in your +house, and it's a message from Larry to you. 'All ready. Cut out the +booze or I'll put you in the mud. Meet to-night at----'" The inspector +mumbled something incoherently and thrust the paper in his pocket. "You +thought that you'd burnt that, Teddy, but you hadn't. You've botched +it, Teddy. Now are you going to help me or are you going to be a fool? +Make up your mind." + +Teddy's face had visibly paled while he listened. His first impression +that Labar had been bluffing was right. But the inspector on his +slender materials had managed to weaken the burglar's opinion. He +was determined to break Teddy down, and since the Third Degree is +frowned upon by British law, there was only this way open to him. It +might be questioned by a pedant whether even so he was within the +narrow confines of legality. That troubled him little. The strict +interpretation of the law in the letter and the spirit would paralyse +half the activities of Scotland Yard. + +There is possibly honour among thieves in a few exceptional cases. Here +and there one may find a "straight crook" who will loyally stand by +his associates, but as a general principle known to every police force +in the world, there is scarcely a thief who will not give away another +thief if pressed, either to curry favour or in the hope of some measure +of protection for himself. + +This time, however, Labar realised that it might be more difficult. +Among those who knew him Larry Hughes was recognised to have a long +arm. He gave rewards lavishly, but he held stern discipline. There were +tales in the underworld, even among those who would not have recognised +Larry Hughes if they saw him, of certain, if sometimes long delayed, +vengeance on those who had talked too much. Larry never forgot, and +never failed to repay. It was an element in his own methods of ensuring +safety. + +Teddy hesitated. He was in a police station and Labar was the more +immediate danger. Against that, not even Labar could hold him immune +from a long term of imprisonment if he admitted complicity in the +robbery. The most he could do would be to refrain from pressing +the case too heavily. Supposing he thus saved a year or two of his +sentence, there were still Larry and Larry's friends to be reckoned +with. He had heard of men being "framed" by Larry for crimes they +had not committed, men against whom the police had found convincing +evidence to their hands. There were others, cripples for life, who dare +not tell in what strange encounter they received their injuries. There +were still others who had dropped out of all human knowledge, with only +the possibility of a grim guess at their fate. All of these had in some +degree failed to keep faith with Larry Hughes. + +"I don't know any Larry." He met the gaze of the inspector with a fixed +stare. "I ain't had no message from no one. You didn't find that paper +in my place, and if you did it don't prove anything. You won't get me +spilling anything, Mr. Labar, so you may as well save your breath. If +you're going to keep me here I want to see a mouth-piece. I know my +rights." + +"We're good friends, Teddy." + +"You don't blarney me any more than you can bluff me," said the other, +dourly. "I know my rights." + +"That's all right then. Better be careful." Labar was as mild as ever, +and perhaps a shade more genial. "Run along now and be a good boy. +Don't get into any more mischief." + +Teddy scowled uneasily and shifted to his feet twirling his soft hat in +his hands. He did not know what to make of this dismissal, but he was +more than a little suspicious. In his experience divisional detective +inspectors did not give up in this way. + +"You're through?" he asked. + +"Through for now. I may have to see you again, I hope. Look after +yourself." + +Sufficient for the day are the troubles thereof. That was part of Gold +Dust Teddy's philosophy. He did not for an instant suppose that Labar +was as generous as he appeared to be--there was certainly something +behind this move. But the immediate fact was that he was out of a hole. +Whatever happened thereafter could be met from outside a cell. + +With a cheerful salute he passed through the door which the inspector +unlocked for his benefit, and so through a few odd uniformed police +and one or two detectives at whom he leered triumphantly out of the +entrance to the station. + +Labar thrust an arm through that of a frowning young detective sergeant +whose discoloured eye told Teddy's prowess and led him upstairs. + +"You've helped a whole lot on this job, Down," he said. "Don't you +worry about Teddy. We'll get our hooks on him when we want. I'm using +him as bait. What I want you to do is to watch when the big fish bites." + +He expounded at greater length when he was back at his desk. "This +joker's in the game up to the neck, but you can bet Larry's only +trusted him as far as he had to. How much he knows I can't say. He's +scared to death to say anything, now. But it's odds, now that we're on +to him, that he'll try to give the office to Larry either direct, or +through someone else. You've got to tail him closer than a brother. +Take Heath to help you--he doesn't know Heath. And be particularly +careful when he's stewed. He may drop something that we'd like to know. +See if you can get a line through what channels his money comes, though +Larry's likely to have seen that you don't get back to him that way. If +you do get hold of anything burn the wires in getting it to me." + +Down jerked his head in comprehension. "I'll attend to it, sir. Heath +will be on the job when I have to stay under cover." + +"Get to it then. I'm relying on you not to fall down." + +The divisional detective inspector turned to other matters. + + + + + CHAPTER IX + + +A couple of days passed, and although the newspapermen still pestered +Labar, and other potential sources of information at Scotland Yard, +the space allotted to the hue and cry in the news dwindled. Labar was +thankful. There are times when an energetic and persevering journalist +may stumble on something that will aid the police, but in a case of +this kind reporters were an embarrassment. There were no innocuous +morsels that one might feed them on, and such facts as Labar had up +his sleeve he was anxious to keep to himself. Larry no doubt would be +scanning the morning and evening journals with assiduity. + +The investigation marked time. Gertstein had been able to throw no +light on the forgery, save that a cheque form was missing from his +book, and in one or two interviews Labar found him more prickly than at +first. He seemed gloomily to revel in giving up hope that any result +would be achieved by the matter of fact methods of the police. The +strange disappearance of Miss Noelson he put down entirely to the +heavy-handed tactlessness of Labar. The latter had not thought it worth +while to tell everything. + +"She has been terrified," declared Gertstein. "You made a big blunder +in letting her see that you suspected her. That poor girl has been +driven away, and you are responsible because you told her she was the +thief." + +"She'll be back, all right," said Labar with a calmness that the little +man felt bordered on callousness. "We'll find her." + +There Gertstein with a disbelieving grunt left the matter, although +he mentally decided that if Penelope was not traced quickly he would +enlist the aid of some other machinery than that of Scotland Yard. + +The burglarious Gold Dust Teddy was leading an apparently normal, +half-drunken existence, with Down and Heath, both ambitious young +officers, camping on his trail. So far he had afforded them no chance +of getting nearer to proof against Larry. They had devised means--what +they were Labar did not inquire, though he might make a close guess--of +studying all the correspondence, both inward and outward, of his +household. They had even used tests recommended to them by a Government +chemist calculated to reveal the most obdurate sympathetic ink. And +Heath patronising Teddy's favourite "pub" had stood the latter sundry +drinks the while he conveyed that he himself was a "screwsman" much +wanted, who was quite ready to take a hand in any exploit that might +perchance lead to profit. Beyond this Down had his small coterie of +"informants" on the qui vive. All this had hitherto gone for nothing. + +A very effective turn over of Larry's Hampstead house, under the powers +of the search warrant that Malone had obtained, had been futile. It +is to be doubted if the most inexperienced of the officers engaged +seriously expected that anything incriminating would be found. Amid all +the sumptuous equipment of the residence there was nothing that had not +been honestly bought and paid for. It was the house of a very wealthy, +very tasteful man. There were no dramatic secret doors or hiding +places. The few servants about the place had antecedents that placed +them beyond suspicion. They only knew that Mr. Hughes was a generous, +if somewhat erratic, master, given to sudden comings and goings, in +which he was usually attended by his valet, and his chauffeur. About +these two men little could be learnt. Letters were found--tradesmen's +bills and other quite innocent missives--that helped not at all. + +Yet in a way Labar was enjoying himself. The throwbacks, the lines +of inquiry that led nowhere, were in normal sequence for this type +of investigation and but stiffened his resolution to see the matter +through. He had regained the interest that he had lost in his work. No +one knew better than he the value of persistency. Somehow he would get +his fingers on that end of the string that would unravel the entire +tangle. It might be obtained by dogged perseverance; it might drop +unexpectedly from the blue skies as clues have not infrequently been +known to do. + +He had a theory that he was wont to expand upon in moments of leisure +with his colleagues. "With enough men, enough money, enough brains and +a little time there is no mystery that cannot be explained." + +Something of this sort he reiterated to Moreland, his Flying Squad +intimate, while they discussed the matter in the privacy of the +latter's room at Scotland Yard. + +"You've been reading a detective novel," observed Moreland. "What if +you have men, money and brains up against you? Can't they foresee what +moves you are likely to make? Isn't that what Larry Hughes has done up +to now?" + +"Yes. And don't we know something about Larry? With all that we know +him for a big crook. There's no mystery there. We can't prove it under +form of law, that's all." + +Moreland levelled a forefinger. "Go easy with the grey matter, Harry. +You bewilder me. Let's get down to the practical. We know Larry is a +crook. We are paid to put crooks in prison--you and I. Yet Larry is a +gentleman at large." + +Labar shook his head smilingly. "He can't beat the game all the time." + +"Meaning that you propose to get your teeth in him. I wish you luck. +But where have you got so far? Just the off-chance of a charge of +abduction, and the lady may let you down there, after all, by saying +she went of her own free will. Don't kid yourself, Harry. It's +dangerous." + +"A fine little old Job's comforter you make. I wonder if there is +anyone in the Yard who does not think I'm playing a losing hand against +Larry." + +Moreland beat a pencil in an erratic tattoo on his blotting pad, and +shot an appraising sidelong glance at his friend. "Got to keep you from +getting too smug," he said. "You've got a temperament. A day or two ago +you had your tail between your legs--and now you talk as if it's all +over bar the shouting. I'm sure you've been reading a book. Next thing +you know you'll be reciting your methods to me _à la_ Sherlock +Holmes. Or is it"--he straightened himself up--"that you have something +up your sleeve?" + +"I've a hunch----" + +"For the love of Mike bury it. Facts are what you want." + +"As I was saying," went on Labar, placidly, "I have a hunch that +something is about to open up. Amid all the free advice and admonitions +from some millions of newspaper readers--" + +"Only millions?" + +"Don't interrupt. It seems like millions anyway. But among the letters +sent to me was one that seems to me to show interesting possibilities. +It was anonymous, of course." He pulled an envelope out of his pocket. +"Postmarked E.C. 4. That doesn't help much. One of the busiest postal +districts in the city. Typewritten on cheap paper. 'If you want to get +to the bottom of the job you're on, ask Mrs. G. if she has managed to +pay her bookmaker's accounts yet.' What do you think of that, Moreland? +'Mrs. G.' is Mrs. Gertstein I suppose. She's a lady I haven't seen yet. +Been away, country house visiting or something." + +The anonymous letter is not infrequently a factor in detective work, +however inconsiderable its value may be in the ordinary commerce of +society. Men and women--particularly women--will betray secretly from +many motives. What those motives may be it is seldom worth while to +inquire. + +Moreland fingered the letter. "Somebody willing to knife the lady in +the back. May be nothing in it." + +"May be. I'm not saying till I've looked into it. But, on the face of +it, it fits in. This girl--Penelope Noelson--is holding something back. +She's a friend of the Gertstein woman. If Mrs. Gertstein has outrun the +constable, and daren't let her husband know, why shouldn't she scrawl +a cheque in his name? Then she gets scared and tries first to bribe +me through Miss Noelson, and then to lay me out. She's supposed to be +out of London, and naturally I shouldn't think of her as being in the +shemozzle." + +The Flying Squad man shook his head dubiously. "Sounds fair. But she +may be up against it with the bookies, and still outside this. Why +couldn't this be a plant on the part of Miss Noelson? That seems more +likely to me. Just a ruse to throw you off her track for a while. Don't +get too subtle. Stick to what's in front of your face." + +"The old safety first plan, eh? That comes well from a man who's got +a bullet wound and a knife mark through interfering too closely with +race gangs. No, old chap, if I'm to come out top in this fight with +Larry Hughes, I've got to do some guessing, right or wrong. I've seen +Penelope Noelson. You haven't. If she's a real crook she's darned +clever. But----" + +"'But----'" mimicked Moreland. "Oh la-la. No, I've not seen her, but +she's too good looking and sweet and innocent to be a crook. Oh, Harry. +Here, ease up!" Labar had his strong sinewy fingers round the back of +his friend's neck and was grinding his nose to the blotting pad. "I +take it all back. Let go, you long slob. You're a great man. You're +right. You've got us all skinned!" The other released his hold and +Moreland explored the nape of his neck gingerly. "You're a heavy-handed +son of a gun," he complained. "Can't you take a joke?" + +"Why, yes. Couldn't you hear me laugh?" said Labar. + +"I half believe--" Moreland stopped as he saw the gleam in Labar's eye. +"Never mind that," he went on hastily. "What I was going to say was +this, old lad. You're going against a man who hasn't got to stick to +rules and regulations. He'll fight all in--nothing barred. You can't +do that. But if you ever do corner him--look out. Until then you are +reasonably safe. All the same if I were you while you are on this hunt +I'd carry a gun. You may not need it, but if you do you'll want it +badly." + +"A gun! Why I've never carried one in my life." + +"Well, you pack one at the back of your pocket now. It will be a whole +lot healthier. If you can't use it you can bluff with it. Take my +advice." + +"You have gleams of inspiration," said Labar. "I believe I will." + +He swung off whistling softly. That evening he contrived to find +one who was willing to take him as a guest to one of the two great +bookmakers' clubs in London. The racecourse in some degree impinges +on the work of all detectives, because it is a sport in which many +of their clients are interested. Consequently, there were several +of the men present who knew the detective, and he was able to hold +unostentatious converse with some of the bigger operators--men he knew +who would answer his questions and keep their own counsel. + +The inspector's methods of approach varied with his man. Now he would +plunge into a question point blank, and again he would lead up to his +point through side issues. But mostly he drew blank. + +He slid into a seat fronting a billiard table by a blue jowled, plump +man with a frosty eye, who enveloped his hand in a leg of mutton fist. + +"How are ye, Mr. Labar? Just looking round or are ye here to do a bit +of business? I'll lay ten to one that you want to know sommat. What are +ye takin'?" + +"A small tonic will do me, thank you, Mr. Dickinson." + +The big north-countryman (known to every racecourse frequenter in +the country from royalty downwards as "Dickie," and reputed to have +acquired a colossal fortune on the turf) protested at the mildness of +the drink. Labar, however, was firm and the other gave the order. + +"Now I know ye're after ferreting sommat out of me, lad. Spit it out. +What dost want to know?" + +He turned his moon of a face to the detective and his cold eyes +narrowed. "Dickie" never beat about the bush. + +Labar was equally blunt. "Has a Mrs. Gertstein an account with you?" + +"That hell-cat. She's in my ribs for a thousand or two." + +"Passing up settling day lately, I suppose?" + +"She is and all. There's been no settling day for her for a month or +two. See you, I don't mind a bit of rope, but, when a skirt plays this +'heads I win, tails you lose' game too often, it isn't good enough for +Dickie. That's the worst of betting with women." + +"Ah. You've wanted to see the colour of her money?" + +"Aye. Not that I've been dunning her. Maybe Tony, my clerk, has dropped +a hint. She's got a rich husband; though they're not always the best +payers. I don't argue with that sort. 'Well, mem,' I says, when she +comes up to me at Kempton, all jam and honey. 'I got seven small +children to keep in boot leather. I can't lay them boots to nothin'. +When that hole which you've bitten in my pocket-book is filled up, I'll +maybe consider makin' a bet with you. I don't want to offend you, mem,' +I says, 'but this ain't business. Nowt for nowt is my motto,' I says, +and with that she tosses her head and went off in a huff." + +"So she stung you. Any others?" + +"Yes. She got under the guard of one or two of 'em. Howsumever we +reckons to get our bit when the time comes. The old 'un has got the +dough, and she'll wheedle it out of him. She ain't so much crooked as +flippity--and she's a reg'ler little spitfire when she can't get her +own way." + +Refusing another drink, Labar edged away, leaving Dickie to pass +caustic comments on the merits of the billiard players. He had learned +enough to verify the writer of the anonymous letter. Mrs. Gertstein was +certainly in debt to the bookmakers. That fact was, as Moreland had +pointed out, in itself of no importance. But it was of significance +taken in conjunction with other things. He began mentally to elaborate +a theory. + + + + + CHAPTER X + + +Through the gate of a high wall set about a low-built house the car +containing Penelope Noelson and Larry Hughes passed. A ground mist as +high as a man's waist was rising; but as far as the girl could see +there was nothing within view of the place but a desolate and dreary +tract of marshland. She shivered as though the spot chilled her. + +Larry helped her to descend. "This is my country home," he said, "a +place I picked up cheap because it is eight miles from a railway +station, and five from anything resembling a road. Tricky business, +too, for a stranger to find a way about these marshes." + +She did not miss the hint. "You think you are going to hold me as a +sort of prisoner here? Don't forget, Mr. Hughes, that I have friends." + +He patted her on the shoulder. "Nothing so melodramatic as that, +I assure you. You are my guest. I'm afraid you will find the +accommodation a little rough, but I assure you we will do our best to +make you comfortable till I have time to make other arrangements. As +for your friends--including Inspector Labar--they will not worry us. +For your own sake it will be well to make yourself at home. I don't +want you to get lost, so it will be better for you to keep within the +walls of the grounds." + +Pushing an arm through hers he led her up a stoneflagged pathway into +the house. A big-boned, pleasant-looking woman was standing on the +threshold. + +"This is Mrs. Lengholm," he said. "We call her Sophie. She will look +after you. Did you get my wire, Sophie?" + +"Yes, sir. Everything is ready. There's a fire in the lady's room, and, +as you said she had to leave hurriedly, I got a few clothes and other +necessaries for her." + +"Thank you. Then she may like you to show her to her room." He turned +to Penelope. "If there is anything you would like, just tell Sophie. +And I hope you will not waste your time trying to bribe or threaten +her. We have known each other a long time, Sophie and I." + +If other matters had not been teeming in Penelope's mind she might +have viewed with some surprise the furnishings of the room to which +she was ushered. The dingy aspect of the outside of the house had +promised nothing of this kind. It might have been the boudoir of some +princess. Luxurious carpets, chaste and delicate silken hangings, a bed +and chairs made by artists of long ago and matching the small bookcase +and writing-desk that seemed designed for the niches into which they +fitted, and two or three dainty water colours that in themselves must +have cost a small fortune, completed a room that would have sent a +professional decorator into ecstasy. On that small room money and +thought had been lavished. + +"You see it's a kind of sitting-room as well as a bedroom?" explained +Sophie. "I have laid out some things for you on the bed. I had only a +general idea of your size but I think they will fit. Would you like me +to help you try them on?" + +"Oh, no, no. Not now," said Penelope. She caught the other by the arm. +"Where is this place, Mrs. Lengholm?" + +Sophie shook her head. "I'm to do anything for you except answer +questions, miss." + +"I know I'm somewhere on the Kent or Sussex coast," said the girl. "The +signposts coming down told me that." + +Sophie maintained an inflexible silence. Penelope considered her for a +moment. + +"Perhaps you don't know that I have been brought down here by force," +she ventured. "If you could post a letter for me--to let my friends +know. I could make it worth your while----" + +A slow ironic smile broke over the elder woman's face. Penelope saw +what the answer must be before she spoke. "Didn't you hear what Mr. +Hughes said? You can't bribe me." She moved towards the door. "If you +want anything more, will you please ring." + +Down in one of the morning rooms Larry Hughes smoked a thoughtful +cigarette and nursed his right knee between his hands. He straightened +up as Sophie entered soft footed. + +"Well," he demanded, "everything all right?" + +"She offered me money to post a letter." + +"Didn't you take it?" he replied carelessly. "More fool you." + +He did not even look at her, and the glowering eyes of the woman were +lost to him. "What are you going to do with her?" she asked. + +He flicked the ash from his cigarette, and turned curiously to her. +"You're growing inquisitive in your old age, Sophie," he said with a +slight rising inflection in his voice. "All you've got to do is to look +after her while I tell you." + +"There's some things I won't do, Larry Hughes," she retorted steadily. + +He got to his feet and with darkened face took a step towards her. +"What's that you say, woman? Don't I pay you enough?" + +She met his eyes stubbornly. "The pay's all right. I'm not complaining +of that. You've always done generously by me in that way. And I've been +useful to you. I may be a crook, but I'm not that sort of woman." + +"What's biting you?" he asked threateningly. "Do you know where you +would be in a couple of days if I passed the word? In gaol with your +husband and seven or ten years staring you in the face. Tread on the +soft pedal, Sophie--and don't Larry Hughes me. Sir, from you, and +don't you forget it." + +She placed her hands on her hips. "I know. All the same I won't be +dragged into this kind of dirtiness." + +His frown faded. Comprehension showed in his face. "I see," he smiled. +"I didn't know that you were that kind of puritan. You can relieve +yourself of any scruples. I intend to marry the lady." + +"If that's the case----" She hesitated in doubt. + +"Oh, it's all true enough," he insisted. "She knows too much for my +health. If ever I go down, Sophie, it's going to be bad for a lot of +us. So I'm going to shut her mouth by marrying her. I think I'd have +married her anyway. Now you've got the strength of the whole thing, +Sophie." + +He resumed the attitude he had held on her entrance, and accepting +this as a dismissal she withdrew. Larry grinned to himself with some +cynicism over this touch of human nature. Here was old Sophie Lengholm, +daughter of criminal parents, married to a man even now in prison for +an attack on a police officer that was only just short of murder, and +herself a not inconsiderable ally in all sorts of wickedness for years, +turning squeamish over what she thought was an affair of morals. Women +were queer cattle. Well, anyway, she could be relied upon now that he +had put matters straight for her. Quite apart from all considerations +of money she would risk too much if she played any monkey business with +him. He trusted none over whom he could not crack a whip. + +Meantime, alone in her room Penelope was trying to decide upon some +course of action. Her head ached with the effort to see some solution. +She had no doubt that Larry Hughes had meant what he said when he +declared his intention to marry her. The very audacity by which he +had trapped her showed that there was no length to which he was not +prepared to go. She was afraid, but she told herself that she must not +let her faculties become paralysed. He could not force her to marry +him. Such things were not done these days. At all costs she must try to +get some word to London. The construction that would be put upon her +absence was appallingly plain to her. But how? Her baffled mind beat +wildly about the problem. + +Gradually she became more collected. If an opportunity was to come for +a way out she must look for it. She wondered if it would be possible to +throw Larry off his guard. Could he be duped by an apparent acceptance +of the situation on her part until such time as she found an avenue of +escape? If he could be lulled into relaxing his precautions she might +at the worst get some word to the local police or perhaps even to Labar. + +She doubted if she had the nerve to hold her emotions and her fears in +control to that extent, but even while she reflected she was fingering +one of the dresses on the bed. And scarcely conscious of what she was +doing she changed and wandered out down the old oaken staircase. + +An uneasy feeling that hidden eyes were watching her every movement +possessed her, but that she put down to her shaken nerves. A gloomy +quiet brooded over the house. Once she gently opened one of the massive +doors and peeped into a sombre panelled room furnished as a study. A +dog growled and she had a glimpse of a big Alsatian wolf-hound rising +menacingly from the hearth. She hurriedly closed the door. Apart from +that she heard no sound of life about the place. + +Avoiding the morning-room which she had seen Hughes enter on their +arrival, she strolled with an appearance of nonchalance that cost +her an effort to maintain into the grounds. They had a derelict and +unkempt appearance. Indeed, viewed from the outside the whole house and +its domain afforded a singular contrast from the well-kept if gloomy +interior. + +Ragged and untrimmed shrubs, overgrown flowerbeds, lank grass and +ill-kept gravel paths all told of neglect that, she noted, must have +been deliberately intended to convey an impression to any visitor +straying in the vicinity. The tall weather-beaten concrete wall, +however, showed no sign of deterioration. She followed it round till +she came to the wrought iron gates of the drive. They were closed and a +steel chain secured by an efficient modern padlock held them. + +Penelope glanced around. Then she shook the gates. They were +immovable. A wild notion had come to her and she thoughtfully examined +the spikes on the top. They were not so formidable. An active person +with a little care might scale the gates without injury. + +She set a foot on one of the twirls of the iron and gripping the bars +pulled herself up. Her hand had reached the topmost spikes and she +was seeking farther foothold when she heard a discreet cough. Tom, +the valet, who had accompanied Hughes, was standing a few yards back +chewing a straw and regarding her speculatively. With as much dignity +as she could muster she lowered herself to the grounds. + +"I shouldn't try that again if I were you, miss," he said respectfully. +"You might hurt yourself. Besides, all those things are wired to alarms +in the house." + +The girl stooped to brush herself. When she arose she flashed an +ingenuous smile towards the man. + +"I just wanted a look round," she explained, "I wasn't trying to run +away. I want to know where I am." + +Tom shifted his straw to another angle, and before answering flung it +to the ground. "There's miles of marshes round this place, miss. Acres +and acres with big dykes crisscrossing them and no roads to speak of. +I'd be afraid of trying to cross a maze like that." + +"But, Tom--your name is Tom, isn't it?--I can feel the sea." + +"Yes, miss. The sea's away about a mile over there." He waved an arm +vaguely to the right. "Difficult to get to and a lonely waste of +shingle if you do." + +"I see. Then if there's no chance of my getting away why are you +watching me?" + +The glimmer of an appreciative smile showed on the immobile face of the +valet. "I'm not exactly spying on you, miss. Mr. Hughes was afraid that +as you didn't know the district you might get into trouble--fall into +one of the dykes perhaps. So one of us will be always keeping an eye on +you." + +She bit her lip. "Very considerate of Mr. Hughes. Do you suppose he +means to starve me as well as keep me a prisoner?" + +"I was to tell you, miss, that Mr. Hughes is waiting for you in the +dining-room." + +It would be doing an injustice to the imperturbability of the +well-trained Tom, to suggest that he had shown in any manner that he +was prepared for certain contingencies. But Penelope was not lacking +in observation and reason. These qualities were perhaps sharpened by +the emergency with which she was faced. It had not escaped her that the +well-fitting jacket of the valet sagged a little on the right hand side +as though something heavy reposed in his pocket. + +She moved closer to him. "You might as well show me the way," she said +and fell into step by his right hand. + +They had not moved a couple of yards when she acted. Before he could be +aware of her purpose her hand had dropped swiftly to his pocket and had +closed over the butt of a small automatic pistol. Her surmise had been +right. + +He sprang silently towards her but recoiled as he heard the click of +the safety catch and the blue barrel was thrust into his face. + +"Now then. Open that gate," she demanded. + +"I haven't got the key," he declared, his eyes searching her face for +the slightest sign of hesitation, of distraction. Give him one fraction +of a second start, he told himself, and he would have that gun away +from her. + +But Penelope was keyed for anything. "If you don't open that gate in +ten seconds," she said, with some surprise at the steadiness of her own +voice, "I shall shoot." + +Sullenly he began to search his pockets. "One," she counted, +"two--three--four--five--six--seven----" + +A key rattled on the ground in front of her. She made no move to touch +it. His intention was evident to her. "Pick that up," she ordered, "and +open the gate. Quick. Eight--nine." + +His face still a mask he reluctantly obeyed. Tense she waited for the +faintest suspicious movement. The key slipped into the lock. + +A hand stole from behind her and struck her wrist a sharp blow. The +pistol dropped from her grip. The soft voice of Larry Hughes was in +her ears as she saw him stoop to recover the weapon. + +"Don't you think we've had enough of this nonsense, Penelope?" he +asked. + + + + + CHAPTER XI + + +To one approaching casually Adèle Gertstein might have seemed asleep. +She reclined with a sort of feline luxuriousness in a deck chair on +one of the wide terraces of "Maid's Retreat," and beneath her the +green sweep of the park, and the rolling woodlands and cornfields of +Hampshire, smiled lazily back at the sun. + +But her eyes were wide open, fixed unseeingly on the splendours of the +country. She was trying to think, a process somewhat difficult to one +whose actions were habitually guided by impulse. The effort always +exasperated her, and only the most formidable and immediate necessity +drove her to it. + +She roused herself and crumpled the sheet of paper that had lain in her +lap with a venomous hand. "Five thousand pounds," she murmured. "How +the devil am I to find five thousand pounds?" + +To the wife of a millionaire such a sum perhaps ought not to seem +impossible. But there were reasons why Adèle Gertstein dare not appeal +to her husband. There were limits to his devotion, and he might well +inquire why £12,000 a year was not sufficient for her needs. + +Yet five thousand pounds she had to have. Of course she could get it on +Bonnie Chevalier for the Stewards Cup, if those idiot bookmakers had +not restricted her credit. Just as if she didn't mean to pay. Anyway, +there were other bookmakers. + +She tapped a gold pencil between her teeth as she strolled back to the +house and seated herself at her desk. There was only one thing for +it. Why should the woman always suffer? She drew a sheet of notepaper +towards her and began to write: + + "MY DEAR LARRY,--Things are driving me to distraction. + This man--you know whom--now wants me to find five thousand for him + within the next week, or he will go to Solly. He has drained me dry + and I simply do not know where to turn. For the sake of old times + you might let me have this money. It means very little to you, and + I will most certainly pay it back very soon. I simply must have it, + or I am ruined. Perhaps I have been a fool, but I am sure this man + means business, and it would be awkward for you, too, if things + became public. So please do, like a dear man, lend me this money. + Bring it if you can--'Maid's Retreat' is only three hours out of + London by road. + + "I am practically all alone here. You, of course, have seen by the + newspapers what has happened at Streetly House. I have not been + back because there is nothing I can do. Solly calls me up twice + a day and wails, and, although I am very fond of Solly, I don't + believe my nerves at present could stand being all day in the same + house with him. + + "Penelope has disappeared. She went up to town for me the morning + after the robbery and has dropped out without a word. You would + think that at least she would have written to me. Solly says that + some clumsy policeman suspected her of being the burglar, and that + she has been frightened into running away. It does seem ridiculous. + Really, if I weren't so concerned with my own tragedies I should be + worried to death about her. But I expect that she is all right. + + "Now for Heaven's sake don't disappoint me. Bring or send that + money. I am desperate.--A." + +She read the letter over twice, and added fresh underlines to many that +she had already made. Then she sealed and stamped it, and carried it +herself to the post bag in the hall. + +That was over and done with. To the fluffy mind of Adèle Gertstein +the situation was met. There were other and more special immediate +interests to engage her. There was, for instance, her toilet for +Goodwood. An hour before she had cancelled all her arrangements for +the race meeting. Who could be thrilled by such an event with black +tragedy lurking in the imminent background? She had done with all the +foibles and vanities of this life. Her maid, with the suspicion of a +wink, had conveyed her decision to those concerned, and preparations +had gone forward without a hitch, for her servants knew Mrs. Gertstein. + +So she conferred with her maid with the deliberation and hesitancy that +the momentous decision of what to wear demanded. In something less than +an hour she was adorned with a gossamer creation of cream with delicate +touches of pale blue, that, as the maid assured her, set off her beauty +to perfection. + +For her closest feminine friend could not have denied Adèle Gertstein's +beauty. Still something under thirty, she was tall and supple as a +boy. A complexion of roses and cream called for little in the way of +artificial preservation, although that little she saw was supplied. +Melting blue eyes, a mouth that was inclined to waver a little +uncertainly, or a little plaintively or a little piquantly--it depended +which way you regarded it--and a delicate chin that she could tilt with +charming defiance on occasion, made her a picture on which a man's +eye's might dwell restfully. + +"You think it will do, Rena?" she asked, as she studied herself from a +series of angles in the tall mirror. + +The maid threw up her hands in an eloquent gesture of admiration. "It +is simply perfect, madam," she declared. + +"Then I will go." + +It was a run of a mere twenty miles from "Maid's Retreat" to Goodwood, +and, although Mrs. Gertstein was half-an-hour behind the time she had +fixed for her departure her car, in the skilled hands of an immaculate +chauffeur, easily made the distance in time for her to join the group +of acquaintances with whom she had arranged to lunch. + +There is no more beautiful racecourse in the world than this arena set +in the wooded Sussex hills. On a perfect July day, with its sense of +spaciousness, of movement, and colour it may woo the most gloomy of +mortals to a sense of rapturous delight in life. The more particularly +will it affect a woman, if she is conscious that all the gay and +elaborate display of summer "creations" worn by others of her sex only +emphasise the triumph of her own dressmaker. Adèle Gertstein felt that +both in herself and her frock she held her own among the fairest of the +aristocracy and plutocracy of Britain. + +She strolled in the paddock sunning herself and exchanging greetings +with her friends. She half-hoped that Larry Hughes might be there, +although there were none of his horses running. It might be easier to +deal with him face to face. It was possible that her letter had not +been emphatic enough. Larry could be a hard man. She shook off a tremor +of apprehension, and waved a hand lightly to an earl who was a director +of one of Solly Gertstein's companies. + +The serious business of the day demanded attention, and she moved +over towards the bookmakers. "Dickie" puckered his face as he saw her +approach and whispered something under his breath to his clerk. But she +passed him by with her head tilted in the air. She smiled winningly on +another of the princes of the ring, who hesitated for the fraction of a +second and then accepted her bet. + +So she made her rounds. There were men, perhaps not so blunt as +"Dickie," who would have told her that their books were full on the +horses she fancied. She did not risk these snubs. There were others who +were quite willing to have the wealthy Mrs. Gertstein as a client, the +more so as on the first race she was content with tens and twenties, +instead of the hundreds with which she had plunged before those other +men had become shy. + +She lost on the first race. The second, a selling plate, she increased +her stakes with the idea of still showing a profit if Laburnham won. +But Laburnham, a short-priced favourite, came in fourth and she was +so far three hundred pounds down on the day. That hurt, but, after +all, three hundred pounds was a trifle. There was no question but that +Bonnie Chevalier would win the Stewards' Cup. The three-year-old, +carrying but eight stone, was one of the biggest certainties of the +day. There was nothing that could touch it. + +Curiously enough she was almost alone in her opinion among her +friends. Those who had any pretensions to knowledge of racing shrugged +their shoulders when she mentioned the horse's name. But she held +doggedly to her opinion. True he was an outsider at twenty to one, +but then outsiders did sometimes win in face of all the experts. She +did a mental calculation. At twenty to one she would stand to win six +thousand with an outlay of three hundred pounds. If she could get five +hundred pounds on it would be ten thousand. She need not have written +to Larry Hughes after all. Why, she would be several thousands in hand. +She had that optimistic confidence which delights the soul of the +bookmaker, when he beholds it in a rich punter. + +The price had shortened to fifteens before she had laid out her +full five hundred, but she felt satisfied. She had by her own wit +and shrewdness got out of her financial dilemma. It only wanted the +formality of running the race. + +Someone touched her on the shoulder. She looked round quickly. A beefy +man in a morning coat, that did not fit so exquisitely as others round +about, raised his hat. + +"I beg your pardon," he said. + +She bowed and passed on. Detective sergeant Malone lifted his eyebrows +interrogatively to the man by his side. "Is that the woman who passed +the stumer cheque?" he asked. + +The other shook his head dubiously. "I couldn't swear to it. She's +like her but I wouldn't care to be certain." + +All unaware that she had been under the scrutiny of a cashier of the +Midland Bank, Mrs. Gertstein made her way back to the grand stand. +In a few minutes the race would start and the runners were already +taking their places at the gate. She focussed her glasses and tried to +make out Bonnie Chevalier. The draw for places was likely to have an +important bearing on the race. + +Her heart moved a beat quicker as she picked out the blue, white and +gold that marked Bonnie Chevalier's rider. The starters danced round in +a colourful welter as they were coaxed to their order. But she had only +eyes for one. She gave a sigh of relief as she noted that he had drawn +an inside place. + +The score or so of colours shifted again with a sudden plunge. They +were off. A muffled roar came to her ears, growing in intensity as +the race drew towards her. Bonnie Chevalier had shot to the front +with a cloud of rivals pressing him hard. Her hands tightened on the +glasses. The field began to space out. She lowered her glasses, which +she found difficulty in keeping steady, and leaned forward in tense +eagerness. One of the leaders stumbled and went down, with lashing +hoofs and writhing body. There was a little confusion, and she uttered +an exclamation of dismay, as the favourite stealing out of the tangle +began to draw alongside Bonnie Chevalier. + +Her breath was coming fast. Inch by inch the favourite drew level and +there were others at his shoulder. They must have done three furlongs +when the favourite got his head in front. Another furlong and Bonnie +Chevalier was half a length behind the first three, and still losing +ground. Her face grew hard and stony, but she refused to realise +defeat. There was still a hope. But in the next few seconds it was +dissipated. Bonnie Chevalier's jockey knew when he was beaten and eased +up his mount. The race was over for him. + +Through her ashen lips Mrs. Gertstein ripped out an unfeminine oath. +Someone spoke to her and she snarled fiercely in reply. The man, an +inoffensive acquaintance who had been among the party with whom she had +lunched, opened his eyes in well-bred surprise, and with an effort she +composed herself. + +"I really beg your pardon," she said. + +"Not at all," he replied with mechanical politeness. "I hope that you +haven't been hard hit." + +"Oh, it's nothing--nothing at all," she said with an attempt at +lightness. "The money doesn't matter, but I hate to feel I've been a +fool." + +She rose to go and refusing an offer of escort, made her way back to +her car. There were two more races, but she felt no longer in the mood +to tempt fortune. With one of those quick revulsions to which she was +prone she had given way to a blackness of spirit, in which she saw +herself the stricken plaything of an unjust fate. It was hopeless, she +told herself, to hope that her luck would change. Still there was Larry +Hughes. She would wire to him to emphasise her letter. And if that +failed she would go to see him. + + + + + CHAPTER XII + + +It was a blow to Labar that Malone's journey to Goodwood in company +with the bank cashier should have been wasted. He had fully made up +his mind that Mrs. Gertstein was the author of the forgery, and her +identification would have been an important link in the evidence. + +His view was based upon something more solid than the lady's +misadventures with the bookmakers. The bogus cheque had been under +much examination. A negative enlarged in the big magic lantern at +Scotland Yard showed by the marks of the pen that the signature had +most certainly been traced. That betrayed the amateur. No expert would +have committed an imitation by such a method. The inspector had made +diligent search for an original signature that would fit exactly over +the forgery, which would have demonstrated the crime beyond all doubt, +for no one ever writes his signature twice in precisely the same +manner. He had failed in that, but he had managed to procure one or two +letters of Mrs. Gertstein's written from "Maid's Retreat," and these, +with the cheque, he had submitted to the scrutiny of a distinguished +analyst who held a retainer from the Home Office. + +"No question about it being a forgery," that gentleman told him. +"You've seen that for yourself. But to suppose that from a mere +examination of the writing one can pin it down to a particular person +is asking too much. This sort of thing is not an exact science. But I +can tell you this. The person who wrote these letters used the same +kind of ink as the person who wrote the forged cheque. That ink is +chemically different from that used in the genuine cheques. It is a +fountain pen ink and I should say that it was used on a broad nib." + +Which view, taken in conjunction with other matters, carried conviction +to Labar, although he knew that he could not formulate a case that +would be satisfactory in a court of law. By and by, no doubt, some of +the other notes for which the cheque had been changed would come back +to the Bank of England, and the chances were that it would be possible +to trace them back through the various hands in which they had been. +That, however, was likely to be a matter of weeks. + +What Gertstein's attitude would be in the event of this crime being +brought home to his wife had been a matter of speculation with +Labar. The little man had insisted on the matter being probed to +the bottom, though, of course, he had no suspicion where it would +end. The inspector thought it probable that he would refuse to +prosecute--perhaps, if his hand was forced, he would declare that +there had been no forgery, and that the signature on the cheque was +genuine. As matters stood there was no purpose in giving a hint to the +millionaire. Labar felt that he would be quite content to ignore the +forgery if he could lay Larry Hughes by the heels. He had an idea, not +very clearly defined, that he might induce Mrs. Gertstein to clear up +many points that troubled him if he could use some weapon to hold over +her. + +Luck favoured him. For the letter that Mrs. Gertstein had written to +Larry went to the latter's Hampstead home. Now the Post Office is +jealous of the sanctity of the mail--even that of a crook--and there +could be no tampering with correspondence under official cognizance. +There are more ways of killing a cat than one, however. Some of Labar's +men engaged on the task of watching the house had made themselves on +good terms with the postmen. And so it was that a delivery bag was left +unguarded for two minutes at a certain garden gate. Mrs. Gertstein's +letter was included in the next delivery at Larry's house, but +meanwhile Labar had become possessed of a copy of it. + +He whistled a little jig air as he read. Here was a flood of light. +Here also--to vary the simile--were muddy waters which it behoved him +to stir carefully. Before he made any move it would be well to guard +himself. + +He went to see Marlow, the detective superintendent, who was his +immediate chief. Marlow read the letter with impassive face. + +"Well, Harry? What do you want me to do?" + +He looked over his steel spectacles inquiringly at the inspector and +Labar fancied that he could detect the glimmer of a smile. + +"This affects Gertstein, sir." + +"Well, he's not the only man whose wife has been blackmailed." + +"No. But he might make it difficult, when he sees how a big scandal may +come home to him." + +"Ah." The superintendent polished his spectacles, and readjusted them. +"You think Gertstein might deliberately try to gum up things to hush up +the scandal." + +Labar nodded. Both these men understood something which neither of them +said. "I take it that it's Larry we want, sir." + +Marlow leaned back with his thumbs in his waistcoat pockets and studied +the inspector. "Out with it, Harry. Is it that you want me to handle +this? Losing your nerve?" + +The other lifted his shoulders without reply. This, win or lose, was a +big and delicate affair. It was such a case as usually fell to the lot +of one of the Big Four. Marlow had every right to deal with it himself +if he wished. + +"Don't get worried," went on the superintendent. "I've got enough +business of my own to attend to." He got up and laid a hand on Labar's +shoulder. "The old man asked me to stand down to give you a chance. I'm +not going to interfere now unless you ask me to. Carry on in your own +way--and at your own risk. Only get Larry and you can go as far as you +like." + +"I'm grateful----" + +"Nothing to be grateful about. I've had thirty-three years of the +game and next year I hope to be in the country raising chickens." He +chuckled. "Don't forget you may find yourself in a mess. I'd just as +soon be out of it." + +He lied, and Labar knew he lied. If there was trouble the +superintendent of the area could not altogether evade responsibility. +The inspector was a thoughtful man as he took his leave. + +The immediate thing was to see Mrs. Gertstein. His future action +depended in some degree on what developed from that interview. He had +no desire to arrest her--just now. That would only happen if his hand +were forced. But as an instrument to lead him to his greater quarry she +was likely to be useful. + +Five hours later he and Malone were walking through the lodge gates and +up the avenue of chestnuts that led to "Maid's Retreat." He had decided +against a cab from the station, preferring to take the three mile walk. +One never knew what information might be picked up on the way. + +The old Elizabethan, half-timbered house nestled sleepily in the +sunshine as they plodded up the drive. A figure rose languidly from a +veranda and made its way into the house. They found no need to ring as +they reached the door. A trim maid awaited them. + +Labar presented his card. The girl looked at it doubtfully. "I'm sorry. +Mrs. Gertstein is out." + +"That's all right. We'll wait," said Labar serenely. + +The maid shuffled her feet uneasily. "I'm afraid that she won't be back +to-day. She's gone to town." + +"Well that is unfortunate," lamented the inspector. "After we've come +all the way to see her, too. When do you expect her back?" + +"I'm--I'm not sure." + +"You've carried out your instructions, my girl," said Labar, with stern +suavity. "Now you take that card straight in to your mistress and tell +her that we intend to see her. She was on the veranda five minutes ago. +You hear me." + +This was utter guess work. Labar, so far as he knew, had never seen +Mrs. Gertstein in his life. But the figure that had vanished and the +maid waiting for them by the open door had given him an impression. The +maid flushed and stepped back. Labar gave a jerk of his head to Malone, +who stood his ground while the inspector followed the maid. She halted +as she saw his purpose. + +"Go on," he ordered. A little uncertainly she led the way. She tapped +at a door and at a summons to enter pushed it open. + +"Well, Rena," said a soft voice. "Have they gone?" + +Labar pushed by the maid into the room. "No, Mrs. Gertstein," he +replied. "We are still here." + +The woman lounging in a big divan chair regarded him dumbly. He laid +down his hat and stick and nodded to the maid. "You may go," he said. + +With wondering eyes she withdrew. As the door closed the woman on the +chair drew herself up stiffly. "What is the meaning of this intrusion?" + +"It means that your maid is a bad liar," he said. "Need I introduce +myself? I fancy you know me. I am Detective Inspector Labar." + +Her fingers clutched tightly on the elbows of the chair, and her eyes +roamed wildly about the room to come to rest at last on his impassive +figure. "You have no right--" she began furiously. + +He smiled tranquilly down at her. "I suggest that you calm yourself, +madam. I shall not bite you." + +She rose. "If you think I will suffer this impertinence you are +mistaken." + +Labar soberly adjusted his tall figure to a settee. It was bad +manners, but he intended it simply as a gesture to this woman who, +half-afraid and half-angry, was wondering as to the purport of his +visit. He was confident that her curiosity would for the time hold her. + +"I beg your pardon. If I tell you that I have in my possession the +letter you wrote to Larry Hughes yesterday, it may afford you some +reason for my insistence." + +There were many things that Adèle Gertstein had feared, but this was +not one of them. Her jaw dropped. She tried to say something but words +would not come. She slumped back into her chair trying vainly to recall +what was in the letter beyond the appeal for money. She heard his voice +as from far away. + +"I want to know who is blackmailing you." + +"I am not being blackmailed." + +She regained some command of herself and sat up so that she could see +his face. But Labar was too experienced to allow anything to show there +that he did not wish to be seen. + +"Then I will tell you," he said picking his words with some +deliberation. "It is the man to whom you appealed for aid. It is Larry +Hughes himself who has been bleeding you. I want to know who he has +been using as a go between?" + +She stared at him with white face. "Larry? How do you know that? I +don't believe you." + +In point of fact Labar did not know. But he was pretty sure that the +assumption was right. "You may take it from me. Now to whom have you +been handing over the money?" + +The woman's mind was clouded by a haze of emotions. She was +thunderstruck at the accusation that her sometime lover was the real +blackmailer, but beyond that she wondered if this point alone was +the real object of the cool nonchalant man who was watching her with +serious eyes. She must guard herself. Suppose he was seeking to entrap +her. + +"I shan't tell you," she exclaimed between clenched teeth. + +"Oh, yes you will," he retorted. "Perhaps you don't understand. Shall +I tell you a little story, Mrs. Gertstein? It deals with a woman like +you who had the misfortune to be in a similar position. This lady was +married to a rich husband. She committed an indiscretion--we will call +it that--which gave a blackmailer a hold upon her. His demands grew +more and more insatiable, and although she had a comfortable allowance +from her husband she felt the strain upon her income. She became +involved in other directions, particularly with bookmakers, and it may +be that on one pretext and another she got still more money from her +husband, until it became difficult to find plausible explanations. But +the blackmailer continued to bleed her, and she continued to run into +debt in various directions. Certain bills cropped up that had to be +paid almost at once. Do you know what that lady did, Mrs. Gertstein?" + +An incoherent word came from the woman. Labar went on: + +"She forged her husband's name to a cheque--a silly thing to do because +the forgery was bound to become known. I can understand a distracted +woman in a moment of folly giving way to an impulse. But she did an +even more foolish thing. She found out who was the divisional detective +inspector and tried to bribe him with one of the hundred pound notes +that were part of the proceeds of her fraud. On that same day an even +more serious crime took place at her husband's house. I don't believe +that she had any direct concern in that, but as soon as the news +reached her by telephone, and she learned that the man she had tried +to bribe was there, in charge of the investigation, she lost her head +completely. That night she drove secretly to London and tried to murder +the detective. Forgery is nasty, madam, but attempted murder is an even +uglier thing." + +The detective flattered himself that he had filled in the gaps in his +recital neatly. He had watched every change in the weak pretty face of +the woman from anger and astonishment to fear. + +She got unsteadily to her feet, tottered to a writing-desk and buried +her face in her hands. "Does Solly--does my husband--have you told +him?" she asked. + +"He knows nothing--yet." + +Labar felt some urge of sympathy for her. She was a broken creature. +But his resolve to extract from her the uttermost that might help +clear his path did not weaken. He felt that he had got her entirely +under his sway, ready to answer tamely any questions with which he +might ply her. He had cause to realise that no man could safely +diagnose the reactions of Mrs. Gertstein a second later. + +Like a tiger-cat she sprang at him, and there was the glitter of steel +in her hand. On the desk upon which she had feigned to give way there +had lain an ornamental dagger kept as a paperknife. This was the weapon +with which she now thrust fiercely and silently at him. He was taken +almost entirely off his guard, and had but half-risen to meet the +assault, when he felt the bite of the steel in his side. + +He clutched at her wrist but she avoided him, and he swung a half-arm +blow at her face as she swung away. This was no time for any chivalrous +methods of fighting. She meant murder. + +She held off for a second, her face flushed, her hair dishevelled, her +breath coming in quick, sharp gusts. She watched him warily and as +he cautiously swayed towards her she leapt at him again. This time, +however, he was ready. He parried the vicious blow that she aimed at +his heart with his arm, and catching her by the waist flung her with +all his force backwards to the floor. + +Almost simultaneously he hurled himself at her, and this time he +succeeded in seizing the wrist that held the dagger. Harry Labar was +reckoned a strong man, but the woman fought with dynamic, maniacal +strength. He felt her body writhe and twist beneath him, and a little +ornamental table crashed as she tried to pull herself away. Once she +snapped at him with her teeth like some maddened animal. He found +a grip for his other hand and pinned her down till her hysterical +strength should have waned. Her fingers relaxed and the dagger dropped +to the soft carpet. He felt the tension of her resistance dwindle till +at length she was a limp figure in his hold. Slowly and cautiously he +got to his feet and picked up the dagger. + +Not a word had come from either of them during the struggle. Indeed the +whole affair had been but a matter of seconds. + +She continued prostrate on the floor, but her wide open and alert eyes +belied any idea that she had fainted. Watching her warily meanwhile he +removed his coat and waistcoat and examined his wound. There was a deal +of blood but as far as he could see the hurt itself was superficial. +He wedged a handkerchief in his clothing as a temporary expedient, and +resumed his garments. The woman had not moved. + +"Get up," he ordered, grimly. + +Slowly she rose. + + + + + CHAPTER XIII + + +"What are you going to do now?" she asked in a strained unnatural voice. + +The inspector pressed his hand to his side, and his stern gaze dwelt +upon her thoughtfully. "That depends," he answered. "My plain duty is +to arrest you." + +"It doesn't matter," she said wearily. "Nothing can matter now. Give me +five minutes and I will be ready to go with you." + +The inspector read her purpose as an open book. He shook his head. Five +minutes--one minute--alone, and such a woman in such a state of mind +was ripe for any desperate act. He had no mind to add a suicide to the +other complications of his position. + +"I want to ask you a few questions before I decide what course I shall +take. You are not bound to answer them. But I don't suppose that the +whole truth can make your position any worse than it is now." + +If it had been simply a question of any crime that Mrs. Gertstein +had committed Labar would have arrested her there and then, without +consideration of his sympathies, for or against, in the case. That, +as he had said, was his obvious duty. He was in a sense violating his +oath as a police officer in not doing so. And in attempting to question +her on a matter which in some measure bore upon the charges that he +knew should be brought against her, he was flagrantly outside the law. +Any one of his Majesty's judges would have commented sternly on such +a procedure. Yet, long since, Labar had made up his mind to take the +chance. Adèle Gertstein might be mad or vicious or both, but she was a +less dangerous person to the community than Larry Hughes. Morally he +was justified. All the same, although his course would not have been +condemned by his Scotland Yard superiors, or by the Public Prosecutor +himself, nothing could save him if any disclosure of this thing should +come about. + +The woman looked up eagerly, snatching at the slightest straw of hope. +"Do you mean that if I tell you the truth you will do nothing to +me--that no one else will know?" + +"I can make no promises," he said. + +She considered with sombre face. "You seem to know most of it," she +said at last. "What else is it that you want to know?" + +"Tell me everything from the time you became acquainted with Larry +Hughes in your own words. I will ask you if any points arise on which I +am not clear." + +He had to lean forward to catch her opening sentences. In low tones, +and sometimes incoherent sequence, punctuated by occasional questions +from him, she told her story. It was much what he expected to hear. + +She had been married to Gertstein for seven years. Two years before +their marriage she had been introduced to Larry Hughes. She believed +him then to be, as she had believed up to that day, a wealthy man about +town, and nothing worse. She had been fascinated, infatuated, by him, +and there had been an affair--she insisted that it had been nothing +but a sort of glorified flirtation, but, though Labar drew his own +conclusions, in which love letters of the most ardent description had +been exchanged. The episode drew to a close when he went abroad some +eighteen months later. She had married Gertstein and she had seen no +more of Hughes until it might have been eighteen months or two years +ago, when she met him accidentally at a race meeting. + +"Did you meet on the old footing?" asked Labar, bluntly. + +"Oh, no, no," she protested with some slight symptom of colour in her +pale cheeks. "We were simply old friends." + +"And it was after this that the blackmail started?" + +She assented. It had begun with a simple demand for a hundred pounds, +which was accompanied by one of her long-ago letters to Larry Hughes, +and the intimation that the rest of the correspondence was in the +possession of the writer, and that failing her compliance it would be +sent to her husband. + +"You did not go to your husband or take any advice about it?" + +"I dare not. I thought the man would be satisfied with his hundred, and +that would be the end of it." + +Labar grunted. She went on with her recital. The money was sent to +"James Smith," at what was, as she had taken the trouble to find out, +an accommodation address at Kennington. After she had conceded the +first demand, others came with growing frequency and for increasing +amounts. Always they had to be paid in cash, and always they were sent +to varying addresses and varying names. At first she had been able to +satisfy the blackmailer without great inconvenience to herself, but +the time came when she was put to considerable stress. She sold her +personal jewels, and replaced them with paste. She had dabbled with +moneylenders. She had plunged on race meetings. + +"What about Hughes?" broke in Labar at this point. "Didn't you say +anything about this to him?" + +"Yes. He urged me to refuse, and to go to the police or my husband. I +have asked him to help me out once or twice, but he made difficulties. +However, I have had about a couple of thousands out of him." + +"I see. You didn't know that most of that was going back into his own +pocket. Tell me of this forgery." + +"There were a lot of small things falling due, and I knew that I hadn't +the means to meet them. One day I saw my husband's cheque-book lying on +a desk and the thought of taking money from his account came to me. So +I traced his writing. I must have been mad, but it all happened before +I realised what I was doing. Then I changed the cheque and became +frightened as I saw the trouble I was likely to land into. I came down +here, but the more I thought of it the more frightened I became. I +knew of you, and had had you pointed out to me at one or two places. I +thought that if I gave you one of the hundred pound notes, and you used +it, if it ever came to you to handle an investigation into the business +you would understand that you had part of the money and wouldn't push +it too far." + +"Half a second," he interrupted. "This extraordinary way you used to +pass me the money. Do I understand that you intended that I shouldn't +know from whom it came, until I was brought into the case? Then I +should find out from the numbers of the notes that I had become +implicated, and should have my hands tied." + +"That was my idea. I did not want to give myself away to you unless the +forgery was discovered. I hoped it might pass unnoticed." + +"A sanguine, not to say naïve scheme," he commented dryly. "Where does +Miss Noelson come in?" + +"She knew I was in trouble, but naturally she did not know all the +details. I couldn't trust anyone. But I told her I had special reasons +for wanting to deliver a note to a man I would point out, and she +agreed to help me. I had a chauffeur's uniform made to fit me and drove +up to town with her. She was to deny that I had left 'Maid's Retreat' +if anyone questioned her. I sent her to do some shopping after we +arrived in town while I hung about Grape Street till you came out. I +followed you to Scotland Yard, and while you were there I went back +and met Penelope and the car. I guessed that you would return to Grape +Street by the same route and we waited for you. After that I went back +to Hampshire and she stayed in town." + +"Still another point that I am not quite clear about," he said. "Why +did you come back that evening and lay in wait for me with a sandbag?" + +"The news of the burglary had been telephoned down to me. I had talked +with my husband after he saw you. I had talked with Penelope. You had +recognised her and I was alarmed at what you might find out. I saw that +I had made a mistake. I had been told that all police officers would +take money if they could do it safely." + +"Thank you," he said ironically. "It is an impression that some other +people have." + +There fell a silence for a while. He was thinking, with a puzzled +little frown on his forehead, and the woman with burning eyes studied +him as though to read what was passing in his mind. Presently he spoke +again. + +"Has Larry Hughes ever been in Streetly House?" + +"Not so far as I know. I have never taken him there." + +"You have discussed the place with him--talked over your husband's +collection?" + +"At times. They have been quite casual conversations." + +Labar racked his brain. This seemed to be leading nowhere. Yet if Larry +Hughes was at the bottom of the burglary it was inconceivable that he +should not have used his acquaintance with Mrs. Gertstein to further +his projects. No doubt those "casual conversations" had told him more +than the woman dreamt. A point flashed to his mind. + +"Have you found positions at Streetly House for any persons in whom +Hughes was interested?" + +She reflected. "I can't quite remember. I believe there was +someone--ah! yes--an odd-job man. I can't remember his name, but it was +someone with an excellent record whom Mr. Hughes was trying to help. He +asked me to speak to the butler about him, and I think he was engaged." + +"You don't remember his name? Was it Law--or Jones--or Lane--or +Wright?" he recited such names as he could recall of the big staff at +Streetly House, and she shook her head at each one. He wondered if +someone had evaded his questioning when he had examined the servants. +"Had this man been engaged in Hughes' service?" + +She passed a hand with a weary gesture over her forehead. "No, I am +sure that he had never been with Mr. Hughes. I believe he came from +some big restaurant that was reducing its staff. I've got it. His name +was Stebbins." + +Off-hand Labar could not place the name among those he had interviewed. +But, of course, it would be easy to get hold of the man now. Here at +least there would be one link if he played his cards well that would +lead to the conviction of Larry Hughes. + +A shadow darkened the French windows and Labar sprang to his feet. A +cold voice addressed him. + +"Keep your hands down if you please and don't make any hasty move. I'm +afraid that I'm a little late." + +Larry Hughes holding an automatic in front of him stepped into the +room. + + + + + CHAPTER XIV + + +Hughes leaned his back to the wall near the window and his gaze +wandered from one to the other while the pistol dangled in his hand. He +could not fail to observe the signs of the struggle. + +"I seem to have interrupted a tête-à-tête," he said sardonically. +"What's the tiff about?" + +Labar measured his distance. A flicker of amusement passed over Larry's +face, and he lifted his weapon a little. The detective dropped back in +his chair. + +"This is a surprise, Larry," he said amiably. "What's brought you here?" + +The other showed his white teeth in a grin. "Like the chivalrous idiot +that I am, I have flown to the aid of beauty in distress." He bowed to +Mrs. Gertstein. "I feel compunctuous that circumstances held me from +being earlier." + +"So you got my letter?" The woman flashed a furious glance to Labar. +"This man said that he had intercepted it." + +Larry flung up a deprecating hand. "Leave this to me, Adèle. Our Mr. +Labar is a truthful man." He broke into a snatch of song. "'He always +tries to utter lies and every time he fails.' Mr. Labar did me the +honour to tamper with my correspondence. Unfortunately his minions, +who should have known better, resealed the letter rather hastily. A +suspicious man like myself applied the lessons of Scotland Yard and +dusted the note with graphite. That developed a man's thumb mark. I +felt sure, my dear Adèle, that you would not have shown so intimate a +letter to any person, and, my dear Watson"--he smiled triumphantly at +the inspector--"I drew the conclusion that Mr. Labar would hotfoot it +down here. And I followed." + +The detective laughed. "Better drop that thing and chuck up the sponge +like a good boy, hadn't you, Larry? I always felt that you were too +clever. I'm disappointed in you." + +"Crazy with the heat," observed Hughes to Mrs. Gertstein. "I don't +quite get the joke, Labar. Won't you elucidate?" + +"The answer will be apparent quite soon," retorted the detective. "I +knew you had audacity, but I didn't think you were quite so childish. +When you went to pick up that letter there would be plenty of my men +about, and I had taken the precaution of keeping a police car where +they could get at it handily. Do you suppose they've not been busy? +I'll bet that they've been right on top of you all the way down. +You're a gone coon, Larry. You're in a trap." + +The other laughed. "Still raving," he gibed. "Why, my simple Sherlock, +I knew exactly what you would do. A telephone message to my house to +send my correspondence to a certain place, and a discreet messenger +were all that were needed to get inside your guard." + +Labar lifted his shoulders. "You're a hell of a fellow," he sneered. +"What are you going to do about it now? Seems to me that you've got +hold of the tiger's tail. You don't know whether to hang on or leave +go. You daren't shoot me. What else can you do?" + +"I don't know that I daren't. Might be a business-like way out," mused +Larry. "But I'd hate to do it, Labar. You're amusing without being +vulgar. I should miss you." + +Mrs. Gertstein who had followed the exchange with puzzled face whirled +swiftly on Larry. "Don't be a fool, man. Can't you see that he is +playing with you. He's trying to gain time. Kill him now. No one will +know. Shoot him." Her face was blazing vindictively. "Put him out of +the way. He's dangerous." + +The outburst which was not entirely unexpected to Labar, seemed to +annoy Larry Hughes. "Keep quiet, you! When I want your advice I'll ask +for it." He snarled fiercely at the woman as though she were a petulant +child. "Listen, Mr. Labar," he went on in lighter tone. "If you're +reckoning on friend Malone butting in on this seance, or sneaking away +to get help, you've got another guess coming. Mr. Malone is chewing the +cud under some sacks in an outhouse and a length of line wrapped well +and truly round him to prevent him straying. There's no one else likely +to interrupt us." + +The detective folded his arms. As Mrs. Gertstein said he had been +playing for time, and Larry had put his finger on the reason. There +was no perceptible change in his face. He still held an attitude of +contemptuous indifference. He knew that he was in a tight fix. That +the woman would not hesitate at murder he had proof. Of Larry he was +not so sure. That gentleman would not run the risk of putting his neck +in a noose at the dictate of panic. If he killed it would be after +calculation, and because there was no other way that would ensure his +safety. + +He was sure that Larry was not alone, but he could not guess how many +were with him. Even if Malone was a prisoner there was no harm in +continuing to stall for time. All the servants of the house could not +be accomplices, and in time they must become aware of the queerness of +what was going on. He could not know that six of them were penned in +the servants' hall, with Tom the thin-faced valet, keeping guard, armed +like Larry with a wicked little automatic. + +"I'm in no hurry," he said serenely. "I hope that you haven't hurt +Malone much, for the sake of ensuring this private conversation. By +the way, what are you leading up to? You've got something else in view +beyond amusing yourself with light and airy persiflage at my expense." + +Larry nodded. "You are an embarrassment, Mr. Labar. I had a faint +hope that I might reach here in front of you, in which case I might +have avoided having to deal with you--somehow." He laid grim stress +on the last word. "I gather that Adèle here, has talked. That may be +singularly unfortunate for both of us." + +"For you," amended Labar grimly. He could not resist a little touch +of brag although he knew it was dangerous. "I have got the ends in my +hand, Larry, and when I have followed them up it will be difficult for +you to wriggle out. You've had to come out in the open, and you know +what that means in the long run. Why don't you use your brains, man? +Take your medicine now and get it over. You might perhaps, get away +with seven years, if you helped us to get back the Gertstein things." + +"Thank you. Suppose we talk seriously. I said I looked on you as an +embarrassment. You seem to think that you are a menace." He shook his +head, reprovingly. "I'll tell you. From something Adèle has said you +imagine that you can get hold of people who might testify against me. +If you had any vision you would understand that I shall see that those +people are out of your reach. You'll never get evidence against me that +would hang a cat. I hate to see you wasting your time, for, although +you may not believe it, I've developed a kind of liking for you. Now +here's a little proposition for you to think over. I'm going out of the +game--going to settle down and get married. Oh, you may sneer, but I +mean it. I've made all the money I want and I'm going to enjoy myself. +I might get out of the country and snap my fingers at the lot of you. +But I don't want any petty annoyances cropping up. I'll buy you off at +your own figure. What do you say?" + +His tone was that of a business man putting a case to another business +man. Labar burst into laughter. "More comic stuff?" + +The other lit a cigarette, a little awkwardly because of the pistol, +of which he retained a wary hold, and viewed the detective through +half-closed eyes. + +"Don't rush yourself. What's the pay of a divisional detective +inspector? A few hundreds a year. If you hang on and you're lucky you +may be a superintendent and get a bit more. A man with your ability and +some capital could go far in some other line. Or you need not work at +all if you don't wish. I'll give you fifteen thousand pounds and call +it quits." + +It was a tremendous offer, far beyond any sum that a police officer +whatever his position might hope to attain by legitimate means. Labar +was astonished at its magnitude. It did not tempt him in the least, +but he affected to reflect. He believed that if he agreed Larry would +sincerely keep his word and pay the money. As to the crook retiring he +was sceptical. That type of man was an organiser of criminal enterprise +as much for the love of the thing as for what he could make out of it. +No, Larry, whatever he said, would never retire of his own accord. +It occurred to Labar that the other could not hold him so lightly as +he pretended if he was willing to give such an amount to ensure his +inactivity. + +In any transaction with a crook, Labar, like many detectives, had his +own code of ethics. This was a case where stringent honesty would have +been foolish. He temporised. + +"That's a lot of money," he said, slowly, "but where would I be if +anything leaked out?" He glanced significantly at Mrs. Gertstein. + +"I----" began the woman. + +Larry silenced her with a minatory wave of the hand. "She daren't let +anything be known for her own sake. Your commonsense should tell you +that." + +"Perhaps you're right," mused the detective. "But it's too big a risk. +You'll have to raise the ante, Larry." + +There was a gleam of triumph in Larry Hughes' face. "I'll make it +twenty thousand," he said. "That ought to satisfy you." + +Labar still looked doubtful. He shifted the hand which he had been +pressing to the hurt in his side, and Larry, if he noticed the motion, +paid no attention. He felt that danger was no longer to be anticipated +from the detective. + +"I'll think it over," said the latter. + +"No, no." Larry was smiling confidently. "Make up your mind now." + +Labar held his hand in front of him. The blood had soaked through and +stained his fingers. "I'm--a--little--dizzy," he ejaculated faintly. +"Got it worse than I thought." + +Larry lifted an inquiring eyebrow at Mrs. Gertstein. "I--I hurt him," +she said, and her eyes rested on the blood-stained dagger which Labar +had placed on the mantel. The crook nodded comprehendingly and advanced +towards the detective. + +"Let's see what we can do," he said. + +For the first time during the interview he was off his guard. In that +instant the detective acted. + +He had followed Moreland's advice and a pistol reposed in his coat +pocket. As he pulled it, a little clumsily maybe, Larry levelled +his own weapon. The reports followed hard upon each other and Mrs. +Gertstein's scream rang through the house. + +Labar was no marksman even at that distance, and the other's aim had +been hurried. The detective felt a bullet whistle over his shoulder and +heard it crash into the wall. He had no doubt that his own shot had +missed. + +The detective drove forward on the instant and saw the ugly muzzle of +Larry's weapon within a yard of his face. He swerved and swung his own +weapon like a club straight at the distorted face of his antagonist. +Larry went down like a poleaxed ox. + +Above the hysterical screams of Mrs. Gertstein Labar could hear the +sound of hurrying feet. They might be those of friends or enemies. He +could not afford to risk it. + +He slipped through the open French windows and ran, as he had not run +since he was a boy, for the shelter of a shrubbery. + + + + + CHAPTER XV + + +From the cover of a group of lilacs the detective inspector glanced +swiftly back at the house a hundred yards away. A man was standing by +the window scanning the shrubbery. Apparently obeying some summons from +within he disappeared, only to return almost at once, accompanied by a +couple of other men. Labar thought that he could recognise one of them, +even at that distance, as a notorious race-gang tough who was known to +be the leader of a group of violent and reckless men which the police +had of late broken up. Billy Bungey had only escaped by the narrowest +margin from a conviction for murder. + +The three separated to approach the shrubbery from different angles. +Labar hastily took stock of his position. He could not hope to cope +singlehanded with three armed and resolute men. Nor, if he remained +where he was, could there be any hope that he would ultimately escape +discovery. He took the undignified but sensible course of resuming his +flight. + +Cautiously he pushed his way at a trot through the shrubbery. It gave +way suddenly to a piece of park land. A little to his left but some +three hundred yards away, was a belt of coppices. If he could reach +them he stood a chance of dodging his pursuers. To do so, however, he +must swerve obliquely towards the men and lose ground somewhat. To take +any other line meant that it would be a chase in the open, in which he +realised the likely possibility of being run down. He determined to +take the chance of the trees. + +Keeping the pistol, that he had more or less unconsciously retained, +poised ready in his hand he made the dash. As he broke cover there was +a shout, and the sharp report of an automatic. That for the instant did +not worry him. He knew that he was out of range. The man who had fired +was now running madly to cut Labar off from his objective. At the very +best before the detective could reach the shelter of the trees he would +be well within shot, and he feared that these men, heated by the chase, +would think little of the consequences if they brought him down. + +Once he stumbled over a rut in the ground and the nearest man gained +several yards. Another shot rang out and this time he heard it snarl +angrily over his head. There was fifty yards to go. In ordinary +circumstances he could have made it, but the loss of blood from his +wound had weakened him, and he knew that it would be but a matter +of a few yards at the finish between him and the foremost of his +pursuers--point blank range. + +He halted abruptly and swinging in his tracks fired blindly at the +nearest man. He took no conscious aim, for he knew himself for a rotten +shot. He intended it only as a demonstration to check pursuit. But luck +was with him. He saw the first man stop in his stride, and seat himself +abruptly on the ground, nursing his ankle while he cursed venomously +and loudly. + +Labar did not stop to admire his fluke. Breathing hard, he made the +shelter of the wood, and plunged on for thirty yards or so till he was +satisfied that he was out of sight. Then, copying a famous historical +example, he climbed into the sheltering branches of an ancient oak, and +rested with fluttering breath, while behind he could hear the crackling +of twigs as his two unhurt pursuers, who had abandoned their companion +for the while, beat about from the point at which he had entered. +He had little fear that they would discover him now, but he quietly +examined his weapon as their steps drew near, then receded, then drew +closer again. + +At last he could distinguish their voices. "Like looking for a needle +in a haystack," complained one. "The bloke's made a clean get-away, +Billy." + +"Can't have got far," retorted Billy Bungey. "He's hiding out somewhere +close handy. If we don't stop his mouth we're for it. I know the swab +and I'd be glad to make him a present of a handful of lead for old +time's sake. He's as artful as a wagon load of monkeys." + +"Poor ol' Jim winged out there," said the other voice. "Hadn't we +better get back to him?" + +Billy consigned Jim to the pit, with full-bodied adjectives. "Jim can +look after himself. We gotta find this John if it takes a month. Didn't +you hear what Larry said? We got to stop his mouth one way or the +other. He's got it on Larry--which means the rest of us. I guess he's +got me taped anyway. He must have recognised me." + +"But, Billy, this is a dam fool's game. He may be well away and getting +help. We ought to make tracks. If he gets help----" + +"Aw--shut up. You make me sick. Whatja think he's going to do? Bring +the village rozzer out by aeroplane, or what? There ain't any police +that he can get here for hours. Got an attack of the funks, ain't you?" + +"All the same I'm chuckin' it," returned the other, sullenly. "I'm +goin' to move out of this district swift and sharp and sudden. It won't +be none too healthy if they picket the roads. I guess Larry'll agree. +If you want to picnic in these woods you can do it on your own." + +He turned away with decision, and Billy reviling him for a yellow dog +followed. Labar waited till their voices had died away. Then he got +to the ground and began to pick his way at leisure through the copse. +He came at length to a ride, such as is cut in these places for the +convenience of sportsmen, and this rendered his progress easier. So, +following this, he reached another strip of the park, and climbing a +fence, found his way into a wheatfield. + +He had but the remotest idea of the way in which he was travelling. But +sooner or later he must come to a road of some sort, and, thus to the +resources of civilisation, which were represented in his mind at the +moment by one thing--a telephone. If he could get to a telephone much +might be done before the day was out. + +So at last he reached a country lane and, turning by pure guess work +to his right, was brought at last to a superior road two minutes +before a light car came speeding from the distance. He stepped to the +centre of the road with arms outstretched, and as the car drew up a +big-shouldered young man with a square chin peered suspiciously at him. + +Labar remembered that he could not look a reassuring object. He was +hatless, dishevelled and dirty, and a bramble had caught his face in +the wood making a sinister scratch across it. + +"What is it?" demanded the square-chinned young man. + +"I want a lift to the nearest telephone, and then to a doctor's," +explained the inspector. + +"What's wrong? I'm a doctor." + +Labar fumbled in his pockets and found his warrant card, and his +ordinary official card. He passed them over to the motorist. "I'm a +police officer, as these will show you. There are just two things you +can do for me. One is to send a telephone message. The other is to +patch me up and not bother me with questions till some later time." + +The other descended from his car. "Right you are, Mr. Labar," he said +briskly. "Since I'm here and the telephone is two or three miles away, +we'll do the patching up first. Now let's have a look at you." + +By the side of the car Labar stripped to the waist, and the doctor +with swift gentle skill examined his wound. "Nothing for a man of +your physique to worry about," he declared. "A superficial cut. Chief +trouble is that you've been losing blood. We'll soon put that right. +Lucky for you that I'm a country practitioner, and carry my supplies +about with me." He rummaged in the car. "Reminds me of the old army +days. Here, drink this, while I tie you up." + +He passed a flask to the inspector and busied himself with lint +and bandages. Labar, who had been nearer to exhaustion than he had +permitted himself to think, felt a wave of new life in him. He began to +reconsider his plans. + +"Doctor," he asked, "would it disarrange your affairs much, if I asked +your help for three or four hours?" + +"Well," said the doctor, "I can't say that any of my patients would be +likely to die in that time." + +"How fast is your car?" + +"I suppose she could do seventy at a push." + +"That's good. She can keep up with anything on the road?" + +The doctor nodded. "Sure thing." + +"Then I'm going to ask you to take me along to a place called 'Maid's +Retreat'--or rather to the road outside the lodge gates. There will +be a Rolls Royce somewhere in the vicinity, and I want to follow that +wherever it goes--if possible without giving the people in it an +indication that we are trailing them. What is your name?" + +"Ware. I'm one of the local medicos." + +"You won't need me to tell you, Dr. Ware, after what you've seen of me +that there may be trouble. Can you use a gun--an automatic pistol?" + +"It's some years since I handled one, but I don't think that I've +forgotten all that I once knew." + +"Take this then. I can't shoot for toffee. Don't use it unless I give +you the office. Now let's go." + +Labar's original plan had been to get in touch with the nearest +considerable town where there was any reasonable reserve of police, +and have assistance sent out, while he would have also asked for steps +to be taken to notify all the police forces within a big area to keep +a look-out for Larry or any of his gang. That would have taken time, +and it was big odds that the net would have been drawn vainly. But +with a competent man, such as Dr. Ware seemed to be, at his elbow it +might be possible to regain and keep touch with the gang, until an +opportune moment for dealing with them arrived. They would assume, as +Billy Bungey had said, that Labar would be long in getting assistance, +and hampered as they were with one wounded man, if not two--for the +inspector was not sure how much he had injured Larry--they would not be +able to hurry unduly. He suspected that they had not brought their car +into the park. That would mean a long walk down to the lodge gates. He +did not see how they could have got away yet. + +Something of what had happened he told the doctor. That gentleman was +smiling happily as he listened. Labar diagnosed him as a fighter by +temperament, who would enjoy a rough and tumble struggle far more than +he enjoyed administering pills. + +They passed a side turning, and the doctor nudged Labar with his elbow. +"There's your Rolls," he said. "Your men are evidently still here. The +lodge gates are quarter of a mile up. What do I do?" + +"Drive right by them till we are out of sight," said Labar. He had +turned up his coat collar and was leaning well back in the car. "Then +I'll get out and take a look round. They won't be expecting me back." + +Ware obeyed his instructions. At a bend in the road some distance +beyond the lodge he pulled up. Labar got down and scribbling hastily in +his notebook tore out a page. "If anyone comes along give 'em that," he +said. "Ask 'em to telephone it as quickly as possible. It's a message +to the local police." + +He moved warily along a dry ditch, till through the tall hedge he could +view the drive leading to "Maid's Retreat." The doctor turned the car +round, lit a cigarette and lifted the bonnet. That had been Labar's +suggestion. A motorist fiddling with the insides of his car was not +likely to arouse suspicion if perchance one of the gang caught sight of +him. + +A full five minutes had gone when the inspector saw a single figure +hastening along the drive. As it came nearer he recognised the second +of the men who had pursued him. He considered whether he should call +the doctor and arrest the man as he came out of the lodge gates. After +a moment's thought he dismissed the idea. The man must be a messenger +sent to bring the car up to the house. To take him would be but to give +Larry the alarm. The detective resolved to wait. + +At the entrance the man took a comprehensive glance up and down the +road, and then went his way. In a little the big saloon turned into the +gates and disappeared up the avenue towards the house. + +Labar sighed for half a dozen of the stalwarts of his staff. With them +he would have had the whole lot in a trap. But it was hopeless to +think that he and the doctor could do much more than wait and see, and +it would be folly to take the risk. If he could find the haunt where +these men were lurking the rest would be easy. The thing now was to pin +them down. Burglary or no burglary, Larry Hughes had been associated in +an attempt to murder him. That was enough to arrest him on. If he could +once get Larry between the four walls of a cell, he promised himself +that he would now get at the evidence that would convict. Better to +wait. Besides, there was Penelope. He was sure now that she was being +held somewhere under coercion by Larry. + +He had a glimpse of the Rolls Royce coming back, and signalled to +Ware. The doctor closed the bonnet and took his seat at the wheel. The +inspector slipped into the place by his side and as he made himself +as inconspicuous as possible, the little two seater slid into motion. +There was a doubt as to which way the big car would turn at the gates. +That had to be risked. The idea was to saunter by close upon it as it +emerged, as though on affairs that had no concern with its occupants +and thereafter to hold it in sight. Of course if it took the contrary +direction to that in which they were headed there would be delay. But +the doctor was confident that in any case he could overhaul it. + +Fortunately they had guessed right. Barely fifty yards in front of them +the big car took the turn out of the gates to the left. It was moving +with deceptive speed, and Ware pushed down the accelerator. In five +minutes the two seater was swaying over the not too good road like a +boat at sea. + +"It will make the speed," said the doctor, clinging grimly to the +wheel, "but you can't expect a light car to hold the road like a Rolls." + +"Hang on to 'em. That's all I ask," said Labar. + +The doctor pressed his hat more firmly on his head and nodded. Hedges +and trees were speeding by them in a wild goggling procession. The +speed indicator was touching fifty. It crept up to fifty-five, wavered, +and went on to sixty. Once they made a wild lurch as they swerved to +avoid a light farmer's trap, and Labar thought that they were over. But +by some miracle the doctor recovered. They took turnings on two wheels, +and swept across a main road in defiance of the warning hand of an +Automobile Association scout, to escape by half an inch crashing into a +big touring car. + +"That's the Worthing Road," exclaimed Ware. "They're keeping to the +by-roads." + +"Moving east near enough," said Labar. "I wonder if they've spotted us +yet." + +"Have a chance if they'd get on to a frequented part," declared the +other. "If they keep to these lanes they're bound to know that we're +following." + +The way bent and twisted and it was now only at occasional intervals +that they caught glimpses of their quarry. Suddenly Ware jammed on the +brakes. The car skidded on and came to a halt a yard from an unopened +gate, through which the road took a right angled abrupt bend and ended +peremptorily at a farmhouse. A second's inattention on the part of the +driver and they had crashed through the gate and into a pond beyond. + +"Damn 'em. They've switched," exclaimed Ware. + +"There was a turning a quarter of a mile back," said Labar. "I'm afraid +we've lost the scent, but we may as well go back and try." + + + + + CHAPTER XVI + + +They had been out-witted. The conclusion was forced decisively upon +them as they returned to the road at which Larry and the others had +evaded them. + +"There are two turnings. They might have gone right or left," said +Labar gloomily. He descended to examine the tracks. "They've done +neither," he added. "Look here. They pulled up under the shelter of +these trees till we had gone past. Then they backed out and doubled on +their tracks. We've wasted ten minutes. They're miles away by now." + +"Got any idea of the place for which they might be making," suggested +the doctor, hopefully. "We might cut 'em off." + +"Not a million to one chance, I'm afraid," said the detective. "No. +We're done. I'm much obliged to you, doctor, for your help. It isn't +your fault that they slipped us. We may as well get back to 'Maid's +Retreat' and find out what has happened to the servants and one of my +men." + +They took the return journey at an easier pace, and it was something +more than an hour before they were halted at the lodge gates of "Maid's +Retreat" by a uniformed constable of the county police, who demanded to +know their business. + +Labar swore under his breath, as he made a guess at what had happened. +He had no animus against the local police--indeed he had been prepared +to ask for their assistance--but he would have preferred that for the +time as few people as possible should know of the dramatic occurrences +of which the house had been the centre. + +His fears were confirmed when he made known his identity to the +policeman. "The super's looking for you, sir. Seems to have been a +regular hold-up. They found one of your chaps trussed up in a tool +shed." + +"How did you people come to know about this business?" demanded the +inspector. + +"The butler 'phoned through to the officer at the village, and he got +through to the super. We came along by car." + +They left him and drove up to the house. Before the car had stopped +Malone was running alongside with outstretched hand, and a broad smile +of relief on his face. + +"Thank God you're all right, sir. I was worried." + +"Oh there's nothing much wrong with me. They made a clean get-away, +that's all. How about you?" + +Malone rubbed his head, ruefully. "My hat won't fit for a few days, +I guess. Got a lump like an ostrich egg on my head. Last thing I was +thinking of was that sort of trouble. I was leaning against a tree +smoking a pipe and keeping a quiet eye on the house when an earthquake +hit me. Oh, someone laid me out good and proper. When I came to I was +in the dark and tied up so that I couldn't wink. That's all I knew till +some of the local police found me half an hour ago. I heard shots while +I was lying there and I got the wind up when we found you were missing." + +The local superintendent of the County Constabulary welcomed Labar +eagerly. Episodes of this kind were rare among the placid routine of +work in a country district. He was a lean, tall, not unintelligent man, +with mild watery eyes, and a gruff voice. Although nominally his rank +was superior, the advent of a chief detective inspector from Scotland +Yard was something of an event. + +He gripped Labar's hand sturdily. "Glad to meet you. Perhaps we'll be +able to twist some sense out of this nightmare now. You don't know +what's happened to Mrs. Gertstein, I suppose?" + +"She's gone?" exclaimed the inspector. "Well, I might have expected it." + +"Well, you know more about it than we do," said the local man. "Mr. +Malone tells me that you were on some inquiries about the Streetly +House robbery when these people butted in. Do you think they have done +any harm to Mrs. Gertstein?" + +"I don't think that likely," said Labar. He pushed his hand through the +other's arm and led him aside. "Look here," he said. "This woman will +be wanted for a crime which has no direct connection with the Streetly +House burglary. She's probably absconded of her own free will. Now this +business is bound to be the talk of the countryside, what with the +servants and the men you have brought here. I want it to be regarded +outside, as merely a daring raid by armed bandits, whose motives are +as much a mystery to us as to anyone else. Can you give your men that +impression?" + +"Easiest thing in the world. Since I do not know anything myself, it +ought to be simple to pretend that I'm bewildered." + +"Thank you. I'll try and handle the servants. There's some things I am +still in the dark about, myself." + +But the flustered group of five or six men and women whom he +interviewed later was able to add little to his stock of information. +All they could speak of was the sudden apparition of two or three men +who, armed with pistols, had rounded them up one by one, and left them +under guard in the servants' hall breathing dire and fearful threats of +what might happen if they attempted any resistance. There they had been +held, a panic-stricken group, until with a final warning not to move +for ten minutes, a thin-faced man who had taken chief control of them, +had slipped away. The descriptions they gave of the men, as usual where +the ordinary person is called upon for a test of observation, varied in +immense degree. That did not so much matter as Labar imagined that he +had himself seen most of the principals in the raid. + +"We'll have a look through the house, in case they've left anything +behind," observed the detective inspector to Malone. "They may have +hurried a little too much." + +But the search, minute and detailed as the circumstances allowed, +brought small result. In Mrs. Gertstein's room there was evidence that +she had hurriedly packed a couple of bags, and downstairs in the room +where Labar had been received by Mrs. Gertstein and where Hughes had +interrupted them, there was a pile of burnt papers in the grate. + +"I evidently did not knock all the wits out of Larry," said Labar. +"Mrs. Gertstein would not have thought of that by herself. She has been +destroying her correspondence." + +He bent to examine the ashes, and shook his head. There are methods of +piecing together and preserving even burnt papers if they are not too +far gone. But these had apparently been stirred again and again with +a poker till they were little but impalpable ash. The detective again +discerned the hand of Larry. It was this kind of forethought that had +aided to give that crook immunity for so long. + +On a little writing-table was a note heavily sealed with red wax, and +addressed to "Harry Labar, Esq." The inspector tore it open. + +"My Dear Labar," it began, "Your hurried departure prevented me from +putting to you an angle of our discussion that you will perhaps have +not considered sufficiently. There is a person in whom if I guess +aright you have an interest. This person is under my charge and +control, and you will understand that some of your activities might +result in prejudicing her welfare. No one would regret that more than +myself, but if you persist I may be too occupied to protect her as +I should like. One of your alert intelligence will appreciate the +awkwardness of my position. I tell you this freely and frankly, because +I know that your personal feelings are so engaged that you will make no +official use of this letter. If you feel inclined to accept the offer +I have made just advertise the word 'Yes' in the personal column of +_The Times_. The goods I spoke of will then reach you without fail +by channels I have thought of. But I strongly advise you not to try any +tricks in this matter. We are scarcely likely to meet again." + +The letter was unsigned. Labar smoothed his chin thoughtfully and read +it over twice. It was clever, and he appreciated all its unwritten +significance as Larry knew he would, yet the construction he put upon +it could not have been substantiated if after all he did try to use +it as a piece of evidence in a court of law. Penelope was to become a +hostage, and she would be in danger unless Labar accepted the bribe +to smother the case. While he might go on at any risk to himself, he +might well hesitate to expose her to the vengeance of Larry Hughes. The +thing was possibly a supreme attempt to bluff, but the inspector felt +uneasiness. Larry had the reputation of using any instrument ruthlessly +to serve his ends. + +Labar thrust the letter with a sudden and abrupt movement into his +pocket vouchsafing no hint or comment on its contents to Malone or the +superintendent. On that point at least Larry had guessed right. He +would not drag Penelope's name into the case any more than could be +avoided. + +"When's the next train?" he demanded. "I don't think we can do any more +here for now." + +Malone found him a morose and silent companion on the way to town. The +inspector in fact could not get Penelope out of his mind. He bent his +mind doggedly to consideration of the next steps that should be taken. +He would have to see Gertstein immediately upon his arrival in town. +For in any case Mrs. Gertstein was now a fugitive from justice. She +had tried to murder him. She would have to be run down for that, and +whatever her husband's attitude was, she would certainly have to be +charged with forgery, although Labar could foresee trouble about that, +when he came to tell of the circumstances of her admission to him. A +dour smile broke upon his features as he reflected that this woman was +likely to be an even greater embarrassment to Larry Hughes than she was +to him. + +"I guess Larry will find her a difficult proposition to handle," he +said aloud. + +"Who? What?" demanded Malone, who had been dozing in a corner of +the compartment, after his vain attempts to lure his chief into +conversation. + +"I was saying that Larry Hughes may find Mrs. Gertstein liable to shy +over the traces." + +"He certainly ought to be easier to find while she's pinned to his coat +tails," agreed Malone. + +"He'll try to get her out of the way," said Labar. "It's a hundred to +one that he tries to slip her abroad. If he goes himself the gang will +take different routes to different places. First thing we must do is +to let the ports have photographs of the lady and descriptions of the +other people. Yes, it's a sure thing they'll split up. Larry won't make +it any easier for us than he can help." + +"Then it's time for us to come out in the open, guv'nor. Let the +newspapers have the story. With millions of pairs of eyes looking for +that lot they're not all going to get through." + +"Not quite ripe enough for that yet, Bill," dissented the other. +"There's people we're not sure about in this game. We want to rope them +in, and a splurge in the papers would give them warning." + +"What you say goes, guv'nor. Only here's our big chance to put Larry +behind the bars. Whether it's for the Streetly House burglary or for +something else, doesn't matter." + +Labar clapped a fist into the palm of the other hand. "Take it from +me, Bill, if we can get our hooks on that man on any pretext we'll +keep him. But although we've got him on the run I don't want to go off +at half-cock. Another day or two and I think we'll have enough proof +against him, so that even the wiliest barrister living won't be able to +wriggle him out of a sentence that will keep him out of the way till +we've got long white beards and are out of the service. I aim to make +the case water-tight. Though mind you," he added, a little wistfully, +"if I knew where to find him now I'd give half a year's pay." + + + + + CHAPTER XVII + + +No one can tell with certainty how a great disaster will affect a +man. Gertstein, chewing a cold cigar, and with hands thrust deep in +his trousers pockets, strode with rolling gait about the room while +Labar told in carefully selected phrases the truth about his wife. +The little man, whose interviews with the inspector hitherto had been +marked by temperamental outbursts, was now as cold as ice. Labar had +expected either a breakdown or a vast explosion of passion. This frigid +acceptance of a great blow surprised him. He mentally contrasted the +emotion that the financier had shown when the robbery had taken place. + +"You tell me that Adèle has gone away with this lover of hers--this +crook?" said Gertstein, as indifferently as though he was discussing +the weather. + +"I am afraid there is no doubt of it," agreed Labar. He was wondering +whether the indifference was real or assumed. For the life of him he +could not come to a decision. + +"And that she has forged my name and attempted to kill you." + +"I have told you the circumstances as I know them, Mr. Gertstein. +Your wife has brought herself within the scope of the criminal law. +Whether she has still kept up a liaison with Larry Hughes it is beyond +my province to decide. Personally I think her late actions have been +caused by pure unreasoning panic." + +"That side of it is my affair. She is my wife," declared the +millionaire sternly. "Now we come to your side." He dragged a +cheque-book from his pocket, and seating himself at a writing-table, +poised a pen. "How much is it?" + +"I beg your pardon?" said Labar, with suave interrogation. + +"How much?" repeated Gertstein, impatiently. + +The inspector felt his patience oozing away. It was one thing for Larry +Hughes to try to buy him off. For Gertstein to assume, in this matter +of fact way, that it was only a question of price annoyed him. After he +had tried to save the little man's feelings, too. + +"I am not to be bought," he announced gruffly. + +The other applied a match to his cigar with cold deliberation. "I have +been long enough in this world to know that every man is to be bought +if the price can be paid," he said. + +"You have still something to learn," retorted Labar acidly. + +"As you like." + +Gertstein fell again to pacing up and down the room. He had taken two +turns when he came again to a halt. "As one gentleman to another," he +said, "I want you to give me your advice. I can see that I have done +you an injustice, and I apologise." + +Labar noted the change of tone. "I'm sorry, Mr. Gertstein," he said +with sincerity, "but I'm the wrong person to give advice. So much +depends upon your own feelings about your wife." + +"Yes. I see. An old fool and a young woman. Well you can leave +my feelings about Adèle out of the question. I've kept my eyes +shut--wilfully shut. If she broke her neck to-morrow I wouldn't care. +You could shut her up in prison for life and it would not hurt me." +He spoke with level and dispassionate evenness. "But my name is my +concern, and my wish is that it shall not be dragged in the dirt. I +have been a nobody, Mr. Labar. I was born in Petticoat Lane, and my +father was an old clothes dealer. What I am now I have made myself. I +have friends among the highest in this and other lands. The name of +Gertstein might have been among the peers of the realm had I wished. +I have built it up. And it is because that woman bears my name that I +will not fold my hands and watch it become the sport of every muck rake +in the world. I would sooner see her dead at my feet." His bitterness +appeared the more strange and deadly to Labar, because he seemed to +have complete control of himself. It was as though he was speaking on +behalf of some other person. The inspector shook his head slowly. + +"I can do nothing," he said. "I must do my best to arrest her, and if +that happens she must be tried." + +"I suppose so," said Gertstein, thoughtfully. He muttered something +to himself in Yiddish which Labar did not catch. "There is no way +out. But if it could be, Mr. Labar, that she should not be tried? She +might"--his voice dropped--"she might die. If for instance, she was +arrested and the opportunity presented itself, she might prefer to die. +I could write her a letter----" + +The inspector held up a protesting hand. The millionaire had made his +meaning sufficiently obvious, and hardened though he was, Labar was +repelled by the suggestion. + +"In plain words you wish me to allow her to commit suicide if she +should fall into my hands." + +"You are a hard man," protested Gertstein. "Cannot you see that so +justice would be done? You will have done all that is consistent with +your duty. You will have saved her and me the degradation of the gaol. +You will have made a friend who could do much for you." + +"Again, I am sorry. All this is futile, Mr. Gertstein," said Labar, and +his lips set in a hard line. "I cannot swerve from my duty as I see it. +You may rely upon me to save you as much as I can. But while I take my +pay I do my job." + +"Very well. You will let me know what happens." + +With relief Labar saw that he had reached the end of the matter for the +time. He rose. "Of course. Believe me, I hate this. There is one more +thing. I suppose you don't recall a man in your service named Stebbins?" + +Gertstein's small beady eyes fixed themselves steadily on the +detective's face. "I don't know the names of half my servants," he +observed. + +"Ah, then I must find out from the butler or the housekeeper or +someone." + +The millionaire shook his head. "That is not fair, Mr. Labar. You can +scarcely expect me to lift a finger to help you now. I cannot permit +you to interview any of my servants, or rather I shall forbid them to +answer any questions." + +This was an unexpected twist, although at the bottom of his heart Labar +saw logic in the other's attitude. "But this is childish," he protested. + +Gertstein rolled the butt of his cigar from one corner of his mouth to +the other. "Childish it may be," he agreed. "For my part I refuse to +have anything more to do with your investigations. I am not going to +help in dragging my own name in the mud." + +It was clear that he was in no mood to alter his decision, through +any argument that might be advanced. Labar took his leave without +further pressure. There might be some trifling inconvenience from the +ban, but he could not see that it was likely to interfere seriously +with his plans. What, however, might prove embarrassing, was the fact +that Gertstein himself now had an object in frustrating the work of +the Criminal Investigation Department. Labar wondered how far he would +go. There was something about the little man's manner that made the +detective sure that he would not content himself with folding his hands +and accepting whatever occurred. + +This sort of speculation, however, could wait. There were other things +that couldn't. One of these was Mr. Stebbins, the odd-job man who had +been engaged at Streetly House on the recommendation of Hughes. Labar +was a very weary man, but, if as he suspected, Stebbins was one of the +keys to the mystery, it was of importance that he should be looked up +before the inspector would be able to call it a day. Larry would no +doubt learn of Mrs. Gertstein's disclosure and he was likely to act +fast to get the fellow out of the way. + +Malone had gone home when the inspector reached Grape Street. So +it was to another sergeant that Labar gave the mission of seeking +out Stebbins, while he himself spent half an hour going through the +statements that had been collected from the Streetly House servants, to +see whether, after all, his memory was at fault, and that he had seen +the man. But there was nothing at all in the records. Labar yawned +drowsily. This kind of thing had to be done, but its tedium bored him. +He could put up with fatigue and hardship while it was a matter of +action. But pinned to a desk, poring futilely over papers was silly. He +let his hands drop to his arms on the desk and fell sound asleep. + +It was after midnight that he was awakened by a discreet plucking at +his sleeve. He yawned and brought his feet to the floor with a crash. +Moreland, the Flying Squad inspector, was at his elbow. + +"What's the trouble?" grunted Labar. "Hello, Moreland. Why aren't you +tucked up in your little bed like all the other loafers?" + +"Cut it out, Harry," snapped Moreland. "Pull yourself together. There's +a bit of a row on. Lucky I was on hand, or you'd have had one of your +people croaked." + +The divisional detective inspector listened with grave face, as +Moreland recited some of the evening's happenings. + +The Flying Squad man, with a couple of his subordinates, had happened, +in the course of another case on which he was engaged, to be in the +dining-room of a little Soho restaurant, when the sergeant who had +been sent out to find Stebbins, entered with a man who was unknown to +Moreland. They had sat down at a table where a third man was already +eating, and Moreland saw the sergeant introduced. Without hesitation +the hand of the diner immediately sought a water carafe and aimed +a terrific blow at Labar's sergeant. The blow had missed, but in a +second the place was in an uproar and the two were rolling across an +overturned table grappling with each other. + +Moreland had dashed across the room in time to knock up a pistol, +which exploded. To add to the confusion, an agitated Italian waiter +had switched the light off. Only such light as could penetrate through +the windows from the street illuminations reached the room. There was +a chaos of struggling men for a while, and ultimately one wriggled +free. Revolver in hand he gained the doorway with the detective in +close pursuit. Firing wildly, he fled through a small by-street and +through the open door of a house which let cheap rooms. At the top of +the narrow stairs he paused, and defied the detectives, who by this +time were reinforced by many uniformed police, to come nearer. Moreland +had taken charge of affairs and, deciding that it was inadvisable to +risk lives by a frontal attack, had left the house with a cordon drawn +around it, and after a word with Labar's man had decided to fetch the +divisional inspector himself. + +Most of this he related hurriedly while they were racing towards the +scene of the affray as fast as a taxi-cab could take them. Labar had no +difficulty in surmising with fair accuracy the blanks in the story. + +Their cab was halted at the entrance to a narrow street where a belt +of uniformed men held back a thin crowd. They descended and pushed +their way through, and the detective sergeant who had brought about the +episode joined them. + +"Well, Marr?" said Labar. "I suppose that's Stebbins up there?" He +jerked his head to the dismal three-storeyed house where most of the +eyes were focussed. + +"That's the man, sir." + +"How did you locate him?" + +In a few quick succinct sentences Marr told how he had tried to gain +some information at Streetly House, and been told in the most polite +manner that no questions would be answered. Then he had way-laid the +servants' entrance and made himself friendly with such of the servants +as passed in or out. He learned that on the day of the robbery Stebbins +had complained of illness and had gone home. Since then he had not +resumed his job at Streetly House, but he was known to be occasionally +meeting one of the maids. Marr pressed his inquiries until he found +one footman who had been on friendly footing with Stebbins, and who +on occasion had been with him to eat at a Soho restaurant which the +other frequented. Taking a long chance Marr had induced the footman to +accompany him to the restaurant, where as luck would have it they found +their man. + +"Lucky for you that Mr. Moreland was there," commented Labar. + +"He was fighting drunk, sir," explained the sergeant. + +"Drunk or sober, we can't wait here all night," declared the inspector. +"Find out if there's a skylight to the place. If so, two or three men +had better try to get through other houses and take him from the rear. +I'm going to see whether he's in a mood to talk to. We can't have one +man hold us up like this." + +"You're not going up those stairs, Harry," said Moreland. "It's sheer +suicide." + +"Oh, I'll be careful," said the other. "If he's drunk and in the dark +it's odds against him touching me. Besides, I may persuade him to see +reason." + +"You're a head-strong fool," asserted Moreland with emphasis. "I guess +I'll have to come along too, and dry-nurse you." + +"No, you don't. You stay here and watch points. One man is quite +enough. No sense in doubling the target." + +The Flying Squad man grumblingly saw commonsense in this. All the same +as Labar quietly stole up to the narrow doorway and crept within, he +collected two or three men and with them posted himself, so that a +swift and sudden rush could be made after his friend if necessary. + +It was almost pitch-black within. Labar felt his way along the wall +till he came to the foot of the stairs and then paused to listen. He +could detect no sound in the house. He dropped to his hands and knees +and stealthily ascended the first step, registering a mental oath as +it creaked under him. He remembered that he had failed to retrieve the +pistol that he had lent to Dr. Ware. Well, that would not matter much. +He was not relying on gun-play. + +Inch by inch he crawled to the first landing and moved up the second +flight. Not till he had reached the third flight, however, could he +detect the sound of a man's hurried, irregular breathing. He flattened +himself as closely as he could to the outline of the stair and waited, +listening, for a second or two. Then he raised his voice sharply. + +"Now then, my man, if you've had enough of this tomfoolery we'll finish +the business. You don't want to be hung for murder, do you?" + +He could in imagination visualise the figure at the top craning +forward with ready weapon striving to pierce the darkness below. He +instinctively braced himself for a shot. + +A thick voice answered him. "You go away. Don't drive me too far. I +don't want to do anybody any harm, but I won't be took." + +It was something gained, at any rate, that the other had hesitated to +shoot. That lonely vigil at the top of the darkened stairs had either +sobered him or shaken his nerve. The inspector slowly wormed himself a +step higher. + +"Don't be a silly ass, Stebbins. It won't do you any good to kill +me. Think what you'd feel like when they came to pinion you in the +condemned cell." He crawled cautiously to a further step. "Think of +the hangman adjusting the straps, and the parson reading the burial +service." + +"I can hear you moving," said the voice above, and Labar fancied that +there was irresolution in the tone. "Don't you try no monkey business +now." + +"You'll have a white cap over your face," went on Labar, "and they'll +take you out in a little procession----" + +"Shut up," said the voice ferociously. "You can't frighten me." + +"I don't want to frighten you," said Labar. "I don't think you're the +kind of man to be frightened. You've got sense--not like some of those +other fellows. Suppose you give me that gun and let me look after you. +You'll trust me, won't you?" + +There was no obvious reason why Stebbins should trust a detective who +was trying to arrest him, but Labar did not feel that this was a time +at which the other would consider the point deeply. He was concerned +chiefly to hold the man in talk till such time as he was near enough to +make a dash. If he could tackle the fellow round the knees, the steep +flight of stairs would do the rest. + +"And who the blazes are you?" demanded Stebbins. + +The inspector mounted another stair. "I'm Divisional Detective +Inspector Labar," he said. "I'm anxious to do the fair thing by you." + +"What do you want me for?" + +"I'll tell you all about that later on." Labar's voice was coaxing. +"Come on now. You throw me down that gun and we'll have a talk." + +There was a pause. Labar was sure that he was almost within reach of +his man, but his eyes could tell him nothing. It might be fatal to make +a miscalculation. + +Something fell behind him and clattered down the stairs. "There you +are," said the voice. "I'll give in." + +The detective pulled himself to his feet, and groping forward felt an +ankle. He moved up two or three steps and thrust his arm through the +other's arm. "I knew that you had commonsense," he declared amiably. +"Half a moment till I strike a match. It's as dark as the pit in here. +We don't want to break our necks." + +Together they emerged from the front door just as Moreland was thinking +of organising a rescue party of one, and as the crash of glass behind +them told of a smashed skylight. + + + + + CHAPTER XVIII + + +There was no charge made against Stebbins that night, and inquiries +from the newspapers which were anxious to know more of the cause of +the affray were met with a stubborn silence. Labar, in fact, had gone +home after searching Stebbins carefully with his own hands. The rest he +felt could wait till he had some reasonable time for sleep. A night's +detention would do Stebbins no harm, and might put him in a frame of +mind to answer some questions that Labar had decided to defer till his +own mind was fresh. + +With eight hours sleep, a bath, and a little medical attention to his +hurt, the inspector felt almost as spruce as he looked, when he arrived +at Grape Street in the morning. He cleared up a few odds and ends and +had Stebbins brought to his room. In the cold light of day that man +answered imperfectly to any conception of a desperate gunman. He was a +loose, tall man with a thin sallow face and weak chin. He had neither +shaved nor brushed his hair, and his shifty eyes were sunk in deep +circles. He eyed Labar nervously, as the detective motioned away his +escort, and placed a seat where the light from the window would fall on +the detained man's face. + +"Sit down," said the detective pleasantly. "Have a cigarette. You look +pretty jagged this morning." + +In silence Stebbins took the cigarette and seated himself with hunched +shoulders on the chair that was indicated. Labar leaned forward and +gave him a light. + +"Had time to have a good think about things, haven't you? What made you +fly off the handle last night? Bit jumpy, weren't you?" + +"I can't remember anything about last night," said Stebbins. "Must have +been drunk." + +"Well, I wouldn't altogether say that." Labar's tone was that of +friendly disagreement. He stirred a little paper package that lay on +the edge of his desk with a long forefinger. "I guess you'd had a shot +too much, but it wasn't drink, eh?" + +"Right oh," agreed the other languidly. "I was doped." + +"Want me to have that written down?" asked Labar. "You know I may have +to use any statement you may make as evidence?" + +"You've got me. I may as well shoot the whole works." He stretched out +a shaking hand and Labar gently removed the package of heroin beyond +reach. "Give me just a nip of that and I'll tell you where I got it." + +"No. You must ask the doctor presently. Now tell me why you didn't skip +as you were advised to?" + +"Advised to?" Stebbins shook his head blankly. + +Labar held a dirty piece of paper in front of him and read. "The point +is full of the greatest possible interest to me. I shall be glad to +see you at some time and discuss it in detail. You will of course let +me know when you are coming. These things can be settled so much more +easily by word of mouth." + +There was a gleam of intelligence in Stebbins' eyes that swiftly faded +to be replaced by a sullen mask of bewilderment. "That's Greek to me," +he declared. + +"I thought you were going to come clean," observed Labar mildly. "Let +me remind you of one or two things. I don't know what you've been doing +this past eight or nine years, but if you've been going straight you'll +get the credit, if you don't try to fool me. Now last night I sent your +finger-prints to the Yard and had you looked up. You came out from a +three years sentence nine years ago. Before that you had done terms in +the States and one or two sentences of hard labour here. All of these +are on record. Now this letter." He tapped the paper beneath his hand. +"I don't know whether you've forgotten the properties of gum arabic, or +whether you were too fuddled yesterday to make use of your knowledge." + +He breathed on the paper and crossing to the grate scraped up some +dust with his fingers and sprinkled it over the letter. Irregular block +letters appeared between the lines and he thrust the slip beneath the +face of the man. + +"See that. 'Panjandrum says get out at once. Splits know of your +business. Get under cover right away.' Now who sent you that? Who is +Panjandrum?" + +Stebbins puffed hard at his cigarette and his eyebrows drew together +in an attempt at concentration. "Guess that was sent to me," he said +slowly. "Perhaps someone slipped it to me. I dunno. I must have forgot +it. If I'd read it I would have been where you wouldn't have found me." + +"Who is Panjandrum?" repeated Labar. + +"Panjandrum. Why! that'll be the boss. I don't know who he is. I've +never seen him." + +The inspector thought that quite likely. It was impossible that Larry +had had any dealings direct with this drug-sodden crook. "Who put you +up to this Streetly House business?" he demanded. "Tell me how you got +into that." + +"That," Stebbins reflected. "Oh, it was Billy Bungey who gave me the +tip that I could get a job there. He got me some references and all. +Say, there's a nice little bird at that place. She's a peach. You +ought----" + +"Did she have anything to do with this business?" + +A languid gesture of denial met the question. "Oh, no. Not in that way. +'Course I learned a few things from her." + +"Never mind about her for the moment then. Tell me how Billy came to +ask you to bear a hand. What did you have to do, and how much did you +get out of it?" + +In stumbling and random phrases Stebbins told what the inspector +believed to be a truthful story of his association with the robbery. +It was difficult always to keep him to the point, and Malone who +was laboriously writing down his statement in longhand clicked his +tongue impatiently at times, as he waited with poised pen, until a few +incisive questions from Labar had unravelled the tangle. + +Stebbins was a type of a shiftless cunning species of crook which is +well known to the Criminal Investigation Department. He was a drifter, +weak and unscrupulous, lacking the imagination or skill of more +successful rogues. Without leadership it was inevitable that any of his +clumsy crimes, from smashing a jeweller's window to petty thefts in the +suburbs, should bring him straight into the hands of the police. In +this manner had the terms of imprisonment which had been ferreted out +from the records been brought to him. He had dodged hopelessly to the +United States where he had also been harried, until the lapse of years +had brought him back to this country, where as a minor thief he was +nearly forgotten, to act when occasion offered as jackal to bolder and +more enterprising spirits. + +Billy Bungey, it appeared, had stumbled across him by accident at some +race meeting, and learned that Stebbins--which of course was not his +real name--was making a more or less precarious existence by washing +windows at the Palatial Restaurant. There had been one or two small +pilferings and Stebbins confided that he expected at any moment to lose +his job. + +With the spacious condescension of a race-gang leader to an inferior +being Billy had hinted that he might find Stebbins profitable work. A +meeting had been arranged to take place later at a public-house a few +hundred yards from Blackfriars Bridge, and there it had been suggested +to him that he might get an appointment as odd-job man at Streetly +House. Billy even had his references all in order. Stebbins was to +apply to the butler and to say that he was the man that Mr. Hughes had +spoken about. + +"You go and get this job, first," said Billy Bungey. "Then we'll talk +about what we want you to do." + +Stebbins told Labar that, up to that time, he had never even heard of +the Gertstein collection--which was quite likely, since he moved in +circles that would never dream of such a coup. However, he was accepted +at Streetly House, and then Billy unfolded the plan to him in some +part. He was to study the lay of the house particularly, to find out +what steps were taken to protect the jewels, and in fact to learn every +detail that could possibly assist in a raid. This he was to communicate +to a Mr. Blake at the _poste restante_ at Bruges. + +"You'll get a tenner a week," explained Billy, "and five hundred +pounds if the job is pulled off clean." + +No hint was then given as to the time or method of the robbery. All +instructions would reach Stebbins either by letter addressed to him at +an accommodation address, or through Billy Bungey. It was pointed out +to him that he must on no account seek out the latter unless sent for. + +After a few days, a man whom Stebbins did not know, was introduced +to him and he was given some instructions on the art of taking wax +impressions of keys. He was to use his ingenuity to get an impression +of every key that he could lay his hands upon, particularly of one of +a small back door that was rarely used. He succeeded in this, and keys +which were made from the impressions were sent to him to try. In one or +two cases they had to be returned to be tinkered with afresh. At last +all was ready and Stebbins was warned to throw up his job on the plea +of illness. But the attraction of one of the maids had caused him to +delay doing so. He was astonished to read of the burglary on the day +that followed his retirement. The day after that he had been handed +a parcel containing five hundred one pound treasury notes. These had +reached him by a district messenger and there was no indication from +whom they came. Nor, as he frankly said, was there any reason for him +to make inquiries. + +"And," demanded Labar, "you never saw anyone except Billy Bungey, and +this fellow who talked to you about the keys?" + +The prisoner made a jerky gesture of assent. "That's all I know." + +The inspector took the statement from Malone and slowly read it aloud, +now and again pressing home a fresh question to elucidate a point. +Stebbins listened stolidly, and answered with ready frankness. Labar's +face was inscrutable as he finished. + +"This is a voluntary statement you understand," he said. "You are +willing to sign it?" + +"Absolutely," agreed Stebbins. "It's all true." + +He affixed his signature and was taken below for the formality of the +charge. He listened apathetically to the set official words in which +he was accused. Then he was hurried away to Marlborough Street Police +Court while Labar spent a few minutes on the telephone with Winter at +Scotland Yard. + +The Chief Constable was affable. "Yes, I heard that you had had a busy +day. Not seriously hurt, I hope. That's all right. I'll be away down +and see you in court. I suppose this man has got to be charged to-day. +You know what that means? You'll have a horde of newspaper men on your +tail. There's the usual gang here now playing solo whist, I believe, +and waiting for something to turn up. Cheerio. See you some time in the +next half hour." + +Labar had hoped, but scarcely expected, more than he had got from +Stebbins. There was certainly nothing in what Stebbins had said +that could implicate Larry Hughes directly. Larry as usual had been +remote, aloof from his lesser helpers. It was characteristic of his +methods that he should have used this drug-sodden crook as a blind +tool. He must have foreseen the possibility of Stebbins being traced, +although he had taken every precaution against it. True, Stebbins knew +that Billy Bungey was in the business, but Billy had not been known +as an associate of the master criminal. If it had not been for the +episode at "Maid's Retreat," Labar would never have considered the two +together. There was no likelihood that inquiries which would have to be +undertaken about the "Mr. Blake" of the Bruges _poste restante_ +would lead anywhere. No, the trail that might have led from Stebbins +to Larry Hughes had been cleverly smothered. But for the coincidence +of the intervention of Penelope Noelson and Mrs. Gertstein, the C.I.D. +men might well have come to the conclusion that there was no hope of +linking Hughes with the crime. + +However, from that angle of the case the hunt was up with a vengeance. +Labar bit his lips as he reflected that it was necessary to act swiftly +if he was to lay Larry Hughes by the heels. The other would be moving. +If there was any precaution that he had failed to take beforehand to +neutralise evidence against him, he would of a surety be looking into +it now. The trouble was that there was nothing which could lead to +immediate action. + +It is conceivable that this would have been a matter of less concern to +the inspector had it not been for Penelope Noelson. Spite of himself, +spite of his attempts at strict concentration on the immediate aspects +of the case, he was alarmed for her. It should have been no concern +of his to view her other than as an item in the sum of the case. +His business lay in bringing home a crime to those responsible. The +possible peril of one or another of the people involved in the matter +should not be allowed to affect the main issue. Human nature, however, +being much the same at Scotland Yard as at other places, his judgment +was swayed to some extent. + +He betook himself to Marlborough Street where he had to give formal +evidence of the arrest of Stebbins and asked for a remand. The thing +was over in five minutes and he returned to the police station with +Winter to have what the latter described as a heart to heart talk over +the situation. + + + + + CHAPTER XIX + + +The days moved with leaden feet for Penelope Noelson. She had come +to know every inch of space in the walled garden, and although she +gazed wistfully through the iron bars of the gate again and again, no +one ever came in sight. Always she felt that certain, if unobtrusive, +surveillance over her every movement. The care with which she was +watched was brought home to her when she took to dropping notes over +the wall in the hope that they would be picked up by some stray +wayfarer. Within half an hour they had been returned to her by Sophie +Lengholm, with a veiled hint that she might be kept locked in her room +if she persisted in trying to communicate with the outside world. + +At night the great Alsatian wolf-hound, of which she had caught a +glimpse on the day of her arrival, patrolled the grounds. Not that +that made any difference, for she knew that a key was turned in her +lock every evening, although she did not know that Sophie Lengholm for +reasons of her own, held the key. + +Apart from these restrictions she had little to complain of but her +loss of liberty. She saw strange men about the place on occasion +and knew they had long interviews with Larry Hughes, but they never +interfered with her. The servants were always courteous, but firmly +reticent when she attempted to pump them. + +Larry Hughes himself treated her with punctilious politeness on the +whole, although there were passages in which the mask was lifted and +she clashed with his savage and indomitable will. These episodes +usually followed a repulsed attempt on his part to make love to her, +and she had learned to meet them with a dignified retirement to her +room. + +She tried to meet her situation gracefully, but there were moments when +horror had her by the throat. She was sickened by her own impotence to +meet the march of an unknown destiny. Were the police seeking her as a +fugitive thief? What was at the back of Larry Hughes' mind in regard +to her? One thing was certain. She could not be held indefinitely +as a prisoner in this spot. She contemplated the future with dizzy +apprehension. + +There came a day when no man moved about the house or grounds. Sophie +Lengholm met her inquiries with the grim assurance that they would be +back in a little. Penelope knew that she lied. She twisted her brains +for some method of using the situation to her advantage. It was a case +of woman to woman only. They were alone together, save only for the big +Alsatian. + +Other things being equal, Penelope knew that in a hand to hand +encounter she would have no chance with the elder woman. She moved +with apparent aimlessness about the house and grounds seeking for +something that might serve as a weapon. At last her eye fell on a short +and heavy poker in the dining-room, and she tested its balance and +weight critically, although with a little shudder. She knew that if she +permitted herself to think she would not have resolution enough to go +on with the thing that was in her mind. But it was either that, or an +unresisting acquiescence in anything that might befall. + +She found Mrs. Lengholm in the kitchen, and making no attempt to +conceal the poker which she carried, came straight to the point. + +"I want the key of the wall gate," she said resolutely. + +Sophie abandoned the table on which she was kneading dough, and brushed +her fingers calmly. + +"Why are you carrying that thing?" she asked imperturbably and nodded +her head towards the poker which the girl was clutching with tightened +fingers. + +"You will let me out of this place," declared Penelope. "I don't want +to hurt you, Mrs. Lengholm, but if you make me use force----" She moved +a step towards the other woman. + +Sophie's face set, and she made an angry gesture. "Don't be an idiot," +she remonstrated. The girl with white face and tightened lips drew +another step forward. She was afraid that her resolution might weaken. +It was not that she lacked courage, but to strike the other in this +way seemed to her like murder. But she told herself that she had to go +through with it now. + +The older woman retreated, and her lips puckered in a shrill and +prolonged whistle. There was the sound of something pounding fiercely +along the corridor and Penelope realised her oversight. She had +forgotten the dog. + +She wheeled abruptly to face the snarling animal and she heard a low +chuckle from Mrs. Lengholm. The thing gathered itself for a leap and +Penelope flung up her arm to ward off the attack, and instinctively +closed her eyes. A sharp command from Sophie checked the dog, and it +squatted on its haunches regarding the girl with fierce yellow eyes. + +"I don't blame you," said Sophie, easily, as moving back to the table +she resumed kneading the dough. "In your place I would probably have +tried something of the same kind. If I were you I'd go and put that +thing back, and settle down. It'll be easier for you if you are a good +girl." + +Penelope's fingers loosened, and the poker fell with a thud to the +floor. There were tears of chagrin in her eyes. + +"You go and lie down, and have a nice sleep, now," went on Sophie with +motherly complacency. "You haven't so much to worry about, anyhow. No +need to try and murder the only person about the place of your own +sex. If I was gone, things might be so very much worse for you." + +She spoke, as it might be, to a self-willed child. There was no +suspicion of resentment in her tone, but rather a tolerant assumption +that any outburst by the girl was foredoomed to failure. Penelope +dropped into a chair, and her grave grey eyes scrutinised the other +with deliberation. + +"Where is this going to end?" she asked. + +Mrs. Lengholm administered a final punch to the dough before replying. +"I don't know," she confessed mildly. "Why don't you ask Mr. Hughes?" + +"That snake! Ugh!" Penelope grimaced with conviction. + +"He's got his faults," admitted Sophie, "but he has a great admiration +for you. You could twist him round your little finger if you agreed to +marry him. He's rich, he's good looking, he's got culture. You'd be +better off than many a princess. I know the man, miss. If he sets his +mind on a thing he gets it. He gets it by fair means if he can, but he +gets it anyway. I have never known him fail in anything that he set +his heart upon. It would be better for you to be dead than to hope to +thwart him." + +"I would rather die," asserted Penelope. + +"You think you would. That's what the girls say in the novels. This is +the real thing. You are dealing with a man who will stand at nothing. +Believe me or not, Miss Noelson, I have tried to protect you. I can +only go so far. If Larry Hughes takes the bit between his teeth--and he +will sooner or later--there is nothing that can stop him. Take an older +woman's advice, my dear. Marry him." + +Penelope tilted her head defiantly. She had tried again and again to +reach some point of intimate converse with this woman only to be met by +polite formulas. Sophie Lengholm had adopted something of the neutral +attitude of a warder towards a prisoner. She had confined herself to +making the girl comfortable, and to seeing that she did not escape. +Now, however, Penelope thought that she had penetrated her reserve. + +"We are both women, Mrs. Lengholm. I don't know what hold this man has +on you, but you wouldn't allow----" + +Sophie wiped her hands on her apron. "It isn't what I would or would +not allow, my dear. I can go so far; but there might come a point when +Larry Hughes would crush me without a thought, if I stood in his way. +No one can help you but yourself. The easy way out is to marry him. +That isn't so terrible a thing as you fancy--unless there is someone +else." + +A faint blush stained Penelope's cheeks, which did not escape the quick +eyes of the older woman. "There is no one else," she said hurriedly, +"no one at all. But you must know how I feel. Now, if you are afraid of +this man, why don't you go away? Why not come with me, now? I can't pay +you anything, but I have friends who would protect you." She clutched +impulsively at the skirts of the other who now stood near her. "Dear +Mrs. Lengholm----" + +Sophie shook her off, with a sudden change of manner. "I am not a +sentimental child. Don't waste any of that kind of stuff on me. Here +I am, and here I stay. You'd better go and find something to amuse +yourself. I'm busy." + +She turned abruptly away, and Penelope saw that further pleading would +be futile. She accepted her dismissal with such philosophy as she could +summon. + +Most of the rest of that day she spent in her own room, Sophie without +any request being made, bringing her her meals on a tray. It was +towards evening that she took a stroll in the grounds, and the dullness +of her thoughts was distracted by the hooting of a car at the gates. +Sophie Lengholm heard it too, and moved swiftly out with the key in her +hand. A minute more and Larry Hughes' Rolls Royce had drawn within. + +Hughes himself was the first to descend. There was a blood stained +contusion on his face that lent it an uncommonly sinister appearance. +He seemed about to say something to her, but checked himself, and +turned to the others who were pouring out of the car in grim silence. +He grouped himself with others to assist one man down, and Penelope saw +that blood-stained handkerchiefs enwrapped one of the feet of this +individual. He was assisted into the house by two of his companions, +and then a woman appeared in the doorway of the car. Penelope gave a +little gasp. + +"Adèle!" she exclaimed. + +Mrs. Gertstein gave a sharp start. The next moment, half laughing and +half crying, she had flung herself into the arms of the girl. + +"Oh, Pen," she cried, and relapsed into dry sobs. + +Larry Hughes turned a sour face upon them. "Take her into the house," +he ordered. "Here, Sophie, we've another guest for you. Give Miss +Noelson a hand. And get out some brandy. We can all do with a drink." + +Penelope's curiosity was all aflame, but for the moment she dared not +ask questions. She walked with Adèle Gertstein and Sophie Lengholm into +the morning-room, and there Sophie left them, returning in a little +with a small glass which she forced into Mrs. Gertstein's hands. Then +again she disappeared, apparently to carry refreshments to the men in +an adjoining room. + +Mrs. Gertstein sipped silently, while Penelope waited till she should +have somewhat recovered herself. What crisis had brought her friend +to that place in Larry's company, was a question on which she could +not but hazard mental speculation. From what she knew and guessed, the +notion that at last the police had hit on something near the truth +occurred to her as a wild probability. Or it might be that Adèle +had been abducted in much the same way as herself, as a measure of +precaution by Hughes. That was the more likely. She tried to think how +it might affect her own case. Did it bode good or evil for her? + +As she finished the brandy, Mrs. Gertstein's drooping shoulders +straightened up, and her dull eyes brightened. She slipped off her coat +and hat and threw them nonchalantly to the floor. + +"Have you a cigarette, Pen?" she asked. "I've had the very devil of a +time." + + + + + CHAPTER XX + + +"Allow me, madam." + +Larry Hughes stood beside them, a gold cigarette case open in his hand. +He had entered so silently that neither of them had heard him. Mrs. +Gertstein delicately selected a cigarette, and he offered the case to +Penelope who shook her head. He showed his white teeth in a smile. + +"We three should have no secrets from each other," he said blandly. "We +are now allies in a common cause--our own safety. The harsh and brutal +methods of your friend Mr. Labar, Miss Noelson, have resulted in my +offering harbourage to this lady here. I am sure that you will be as +delighted as I am to have her company on our travels." + +"Travels?" + +"Where are----" + +Both women spoke simultaneously. He held up a slim white hand. "Don't +be alarmed. We are safe enough for the moment. I doubt if Scotland Yard +knows where we are within fifty miles. But I have enough respect for +them to suppose that they will some time or other find out. In plain +words they are likely to make the place too hot for me--for us. So we +shall leave this place within the next day or two, as soon as I am able +to make arrangements. + +"I must let Solly know that I am safe," said Mrs. Gertstein. + +His smile contorted into a contemptuous sneer. "Your amiable and +anxious husband has no doubt had a story told him by Labar by this +time," he said. "He will be under no great concern as to your safety. +He will believe that you have eloped with me." + +Adèle Gertstein started to her feet and her eyebrows drew together. +"You beast," she said. + +He waved his hand impatiently. "My dear girl," he said, "I have +always been tempted to admire your beauty rather than your brains. I +am stating a fact. You elected to come away with me. What can your +estimable Gertstein think?" + +"I don't care what he thinks. I shall write to him this minute," she +retorted. + +"If I didn't know you so well, I might think that you were in love +with your husband," he declared. "Upon my soul I am beginning to be +sorry I cluttered myself up with you." He menaced her fiercely with a +forefinger. "How long do you think it would be after you had written +to him, before Labar would have you in the dock? What is it that the +police want you for? Attempted murder! Forgery! Do you think that the +detectives will not be watching to get a line on you? You poor fool! +From now on you will not lift a finger without my permission, or I +will throw you to the police." He banged his fist fiercely on to a +table and glared at her. "Do you get that? Ten, perhaps fifteen years +in Aylesbury. That's what is waiting for you if you start any funny +business." + +She flung up an arm as though she feared a physical assault, and indeed +during his tirade it seemed as though he was restraining himself from +striking her only by an effort. "I didn't understand, Larry," she said, +shrinking from him. "Of course you are right. I will do whatever you +say." + +"I think you will," he returned grimly. "I think you will eat out of my +hand before I am finished with you." + +He turned with an abrupt change of manner to Penelope. "I am sorry to +have inflicted this scene upon you, Miss Noelson. It is necessary that +people who deal with me should know where they stand." + +There was an inflection in his tone that told her she might apply the +lesson to herself. She met the hint scornfully. + +"I have had some examples of your methods," she retorted. + +"Then I hope that they have not been lost on you," he replied, and +thrusting his hands deep in his pockets walked from the room. + +It was a minute or two before either woman spoke. Then Mrs. Gertstein +flung the stub of her cigarette through the open window. "What a devil +that man is," she observed. "How did you come to get here, Pen?" + +"Never mind about that," said Penelope. "He may be back at any moment. +Tell me, is it true what he said? Are you escaping from the police?" + +The eyes of Mrs. Gertstein avoided her. "In a way--yes," she confessed +in a low voice. "I've got into a mess, Pen." + +"And it is for attempted murder as well as for the forgery of that +cheque?" + +"I didn't mean anything, Pen. Don't look at me like that. Honestly I +didn't. Things just happened. I was mad. Oh, Pen, if you knew what I've +gone through." + +Adèle Gertstein felt sincerely sorry for herself. She turned an +appealing face to Penelope. The other girl regarded her inquiringly. + +"Who was it that you tried to kill?" she asked. + +"A detective man. He had found out about--about the cheque I cashed. I +was out of my mind. I didn't know what I was doing." + +"Detective Inspector Labar--the man you got me to pass a note to?" + +The other's attitude underwent a swift transition. "Don't you question +me in that tone, Penelope Noelson," she exclaimed with sudden asperity. +"What right have you to judge me? I employed you out of charity and now +that things are going against me, you think that you can bully me." +She stamped her foot. "I won't have it. Who are you to put on airs and +graces with me?" + +It was as though she had not spoken. Penelope's eyes were fixed upon +her, but they seemed to look right through her. She got to her feet +with an air of calm detachment that hid an intensity of feeling, and +gripped Mrs. Gertstein's arm. + +"Is he dangerously hurt?" she asked. "Tell me the truth." Her fingers +bit deep in the soft flesh of the other woman. "You have done enough +harm as it is. Now tell me." + +Their eyes fought for domination for an instant. The grip on Mrs. +Gertstein's arm tightened, and she saw that in Penelope's face that she +had not seen before. + +"It was an accident," she said slowly as though the words were dragged +from her. "I never meant it. I had a knife in my hands and he----" + +"Is he dangerously hurt?" persisted Penelope. + +"No. It was nothing, Penelope. Just a small cut. I swear it. Why, an +hour later he was chasing us in a car. I am sure that he was not hurt." + +Penelope released her arm. "That is all right, then," she said +steadily. "There is only one thing for you to do. At the first chance +you must give yourself up. I don't know how it is to be managed, but +you must do it." + +The other woman recoiled from her, her face showing her emotion. "No," +she declared. "I should be mad to do a thing like that. You are mad to +suggest it." + +"And if you don't," cried Penelope, something of her restraint falling +from her, "in what kind of a position will you be? You will be a hunted +woman--the slave of every whim and caprice of this man, Larry Hughes. +Do you think that you will not be caught sooner or later, and what +construction will be put on your flight? Even if the police do not +get you, what kind of a life will be yours? Do you believe that Larry +Hughes will save you at any risk to himself? Much better to face it all +out now than put yourself farther in the wrong." + +Mrs. Gertstein shuddered. "I know," she exclaimed. "But, Pen, can't +you see I dare not? I should have to go to prison. It would be too +terrible." She wrung her hands. "I would rather die. They would have +taken me to gaol then, if I hadn't come away with Larry. He is my +only chance. I must stick by him. After all, the police don't catch +everybody. If I could get abroad--to South America or somewhere. I +could live quietly there, until it was all forgotten about." + +Penelope dropped the discussion abruptly. It was no use trying to +present the stern logic of facts to this frightened and hare-brained +woman. She was sickened, but she had some sympathy with the panic in +which Mrs. Gertstein was caught. It might be as she said that there +was a real chance of escape for her, although the girl viewing the +position with a detached and more clear sighted appreciation of the +facts, thought it a tenuous one. + +She felt that her own plight had become more delicate in some ways. +Her sense of loyalty to Mrs. Gertstein had been shaken, but it was not +absolutely shattered. It was one thing to advise her to give herself +up; it was quite another actively to betray her either voluntarily or +under pressure. Penelope knew that, if she did at any time manage to +escape, that questions would be put to her by the police--questions +designed so that the answers should lead them not only to Larry Hughes +but to Mrs. Gertstein. She had suffered much already in trying to +protect the other woman, but she could not bring herself to contemplate +aiding to bring her to justice. Yet the only alternative was to stay by +her. That, if they were to submit to Larry Hughes' will, was still more +unthinkable. + +"Well, Adèle," she said, quietly, "we will talk about it later on. You +are not yourself now. I wonder if Mrs. Lengholm has got a room for you? +You will need a rest." + +She pressed a bell, and Sophie, whose face was a little less serene +than usual, stalked into the room. Penelope put a question. + +"If you don't mind," said Sophie, "we'll have to put an extra bed in +your room, Miss Noelson. You see our accommodation is rather limited." + +"Then we shall be together. That will be fine," said Mrs. Gertstein and +allowed Sophie to lead her away. + +Penelope picked up a book, although she was in little mood for reading. +But she was apparently engrossed in its pages when Larry Hughes put his +head in ten minutes later. He nodded without saying a word and stole +quietly away. + +An idea had taken root in his mind, and he was not the man to waste +time in putting any project into execution. Mrs. Gertstein had barely +had time to begin to repair the ravages of her toilet with the help of +Sophie Lengholm ere he sent for her. She came into the room he called +his study, a little defiantly, a little frightened. He motioned her to +a chair. + +"We're too old friends to quarrel, Adèle," he began in his silken +modulated voice. "I want to apologise for the way in which I spoke to +you just now. It was unforgivable." + +She stretched out a small shoe and contemplated it with a smile. One +could almost have said that she was purring. "That's all right, Larry. +I was an ungrateful little fool. I was a little strung up." + +She looked sideways at him, and he stroked his lip with his hand to +hide a smile. Even at this juncture in her affairs she could not resist +the opportunity to attempt to flirt. + +"That's all right, then. So long as we're friends again." He leaned +back in his chair. "The fact is, Adèle, that I've come to the point at +which I want the advice and help of a woman of the world." + +"So." She smiled languorously at him. "That's a compliment. And yet you +said a little while ago that you always admired my beauty rather than +my brains." + +There was no sting in the reproof. He laughed lightly. "Did I say that? +The brandy must have made me peevish. You don't realise how highly I +regard you in a thousand ways." + +"Did you call me down to make love to me?" she countered. "I thought +you had got over that long ago." Her face suddenly hardened. "At least +you turned our affair to your financial advantage, didn't you?" + +A little puzzled frown appeared on his forehead. Larry Hughes would +have made a great actor. "Financial advantage? I don't get you, my dear +girl." + +She stiffened a fraction. "According to that detective person, you were +behind the man who was blackmailing me." + +"And you believed that? Good Lord!" He contrived to inflect into his +voice just the right mixture of amusement and astonishment at her +credulity. "If I were that kind of dirty skunk, why should I try to +shelter behind someone else? Did I ever strike you, Adèle, as a man who +would be afraid of coming out into the open in a case like that?" + +"Do you mean that he invented that story?" + +"Invented it. That's one of the oldest tricks of the police detective. +He wanted to embitter you against me. I give you my word of honour, +Adèle. You'll believe me, won't you?" + +"Do you know it never struck me in that way," she said reflectively. +She thrust out a hand towards him which he affected not to see. "Of +course I believe you, Larry." + +"I am glad of that." He gave a convincing sigh of relief. "Now, Adèle, +I want you to help me. It's about Penelope Noelson." + +"You've not fallen in love with her, have you?" she asked with a little +laugh. "By the way, what is she doing here?" + +He looked at her thoughtfully before replying. "Couldn't you guess +that?" he said steadily. "She is here because I intend to marry her." + +Adèle Gertstein drew herself bolt upright. "Marry her," she repeated +harshly. "You say she is going to marry you?" + +"The same thing. I am going to marry her." + +Her face betrayed the complexities of emotions that were in her mind. +A quarter of an hour before she would have dismissed from her mind as +an absurdity the idea that she was still in love with Larry Hughes. But +now her vanity was touched at his airy assumption that she would calmly +accept the defection of the man she had once made a conquest. Had she +lost all her attraction? + +She burst into laughter--ironical bitter laughter. "That grey mouse," +she said. "You want to marry her! It is comic." + +"I wouldn't have believed it possible," he said gravely. "I believe you +are doing me the honour to be jealous." + +"Of that doll," she exclaimed. "Me jealous of Penelope Noelson. +It struck me as funny, but otherwise it is a matter of complete +indifference to me." + +Larry tried to follow the trend of her mind. He could not determine +whether she was moved by pique, or whether she was actually a jealous +woman. None knew better than he how difficult it was to probe the fluky +and irresponsible motives which swayed her with every passing mood. If +he was to enlist her for his purposes he must by some means or other +overcome this unexpected antagonism. + +He laughed easily. "I was joking, of course, Adèle. If you were a +free woman--but it is no good thinking about that. To tell you the +truth, Adèle, I am forced to this. Your safety as well as mine depends +on closing the mouth of this girl. There are two ways. The one is +marriage." + +She thrust forward a strained face. "And the other?" + +"The other----" He beat his foot on the floor in a nervous tattoo. "I +won't consider the other, Adèle, till I have tried all other means. +That will have to be the last thing. If I can induce her to marry me +she cannot, even if she would, give evidence against us. As for falling +in love with her"--he made a quick gesture of scorn--"that is the last +thing on earth that I am likely to do. There has only been one woman +with whom I have ever been in love. In any case this will be a marriage +only in name." + +As he watched her he congratulated himself that he had struck the right +note. Mrs. Gertstein sat with chin cupped in her hand thinking, or +rather trying to think. It was a few moments before she spoke. + +"Is Penelope willing to marry you?" + +Larry smiled wrily. "I doubt it. But I think with a little persuasion +you will be able to overcome her scruples. She will see that there is +nothing else for it in time." + +"I don't see why I should go out of my way to help you in this," she +said. "It's your own business, Larry." + +There was indecision in her voice. The man shook his head as though +with amused tolerance at the slow comprehension of a dull child. "My +dear woman, it is the business of all of us--of you particularly. She +knows much too much. Where will you be, if I am landed in the dock? We +have all got to hang together or hang separately. I am not asking you +to do me a favour. I am asking you to help save yourself. The prison +doors are not far away from you, Adèle. You can take your choice." + +That threat clinched the matter as Larry Hughes expected it would. With +all her futility of brain Mrs. Gertstein had a strong instinct for +self-preservation. That alone would smother any lesser feelings she +might have, even her hurt vanity or her sense of friendship for the +girl who had been loyal to her. Her course was straight in front of +her, and in taking it she reckoned nothing of the consequences to +anyone but herself. + +"You are right, Larry," she said. "I'll do all that I can to make her +see reason." + +"Good girl." He stood over her and patted her on the shoulder. "We'll +pull things off together yet. You had better go and find her and see +what you can do." + +He laughed quietly to himself as she left the room. She was tied to him +too closely now to deliberately play him false. And, he reflected, once +he had safely steered his way out of danger from Scotland Yard there +might be fat pickings to be made from old Gertstein if he played his +cards aright. + + + + + CHAPTER XXI + + +Although perhaps the most spectacular, in reality the most simple of +the problems that arise at Scotland Yard is the pursuit of a known man +for a known crime. A criminal may escape if there is nothing to link +him with an offence, but once a link is established it is long odds +that, hide where he may, pursuit will catch up with him at last. The +whole world is aroused to the hue and cry. He may disguise himself, he +may flee to the ends of the earth, but even if persistent methodical +search fails to reveal him, some chance will almost to a certainty lead +to his betrayal. + +Harry Labar's perspective, from his closeness to affairs, was not quite +so clear in this matter as Winter's. That veteran did not conceal his +satisfaction at the manner in which the investigation was developing. + +"You've got Larry Hughes out into the open at last, my boy," he said. +"All you have to do now is to worry him. Keep him on the run. Things +are coming your way. Don't let any slack fit come along and spoil it +all." + +"Yes, sir." Labar received the compliment with meekness. It was +something anyway to get a compliment out of the Chief Constable. "But +we haven't got anything yet that will associate him with the robbery. +Stebbins may help us to get at Billy Bungey. There is Mrs. Gertstein. +There is Gold Dust Teddy. So far we're to the good. But we haven't got +the solid evidence yet that will lead to a conviction of the main guy. +He's slippery as an eel and you know it, sir." + +Winter chuckled. "Don't come that on me, Labar. Trying to establish an +alibi in case things go wrong, are you? Going to get all the little +fish and let the big one slip through the net? Same old story about +Larry. Well, it doesn't go down with me. You've got to get Larry. See +if you can't get him for the Gertstein job, hook him up for the 'Maid's +Retreat' trouble. Only get him." + +"I'm going to get him, sir," returned the inspector, with an inflection +in his voice that caused Winter to glance at him shrewdly through his +spectacles. "I've just a little personal feeling in this matter, and +I'm going through with it." + +Winter was looking idly at the ceiling. "Nice girl that Miss Noelson, +they tell me," he said absently. "Doesn't always do to mix sentiment up +with our business, though, Labar." + +A slight tinge of colour crept under the tinge of Labar's tan. He +wondered how the other had got to learn of something that he felt was +a secret rigorously locked in his own breast. Perhaps the Chief was +only guessing. "I don't know much about the young lady," he returned. +"She's a nice girl, as you say. But you can rely that nothing will +interfere with my duty." + +The thin relic of a smile still loitered about the Chief Constable's +lips as he nodded. "Don't mind an old hand giving you a hint, do you? +There's another thing. When does Myson get back from his holidays?" + +Myson was a detective inspector who had not yet reached divisional +rank, who was the senior of the C.I.D. men in Labar's division. Labar +consulted a pad. + +"Ought to be back in a week's time," he said. "He offered to come back +when this thing broke, but I didn't think it was worth while bothering +him." + +"He's got a pretty sound idea of how things are in your division I take +it?" + +"I think so." + +"Right. Wire him to come back at once. He'll have to take charge of all +matters here. After this you'll play a lone hand on this job. You'll +want your mind free of everything else if you're going to play the game +out with Larry." + +The divisional inspector looked a little doubtfully at his chief. "I +hope you don't think that----" + +"That you can't run the division, and handle this case too. I do think +so. I don't want you to fall between two stools. You want your mind +free for this business now it's got so far. You're still the divisional +inspector here, but Myson will act until you want to take the reins. Go +and find where Larry's hide-out is and it won't matter whether you are +away a week or a month." + +"That certainly ought to make it simpler," said Labar, and with a curt +and not unfriendly nod the Chief Constable was gone. + +Labar drew up the copy for a double crown poster headed with the +sinister big black letters affected by the police for bills of this +kind--"WANTED." + +Then with such skill in portraiture as he possessed, added to the +scientific formula for these matters, he drew a word picture of Billy +Bungey, and sent the resulting composition along to the Criminal +Record Office with the request that any amendments might be made and +a photograph added if possible, before it was sent to the printing +department which is one of the subsidiary departments of the Yard. + +He dictated a wire to Myson, and began clearing his desk with a mind +from which a weight had been lifted. For there was no denying, as +Winter had said, that the Larry Hughes business was one that ought to +demand his full attention. In the normal way it would have gone to a +chief inspector, who would have had no other duties to distract his +mind while the case lasted. + +That done Labar sat down to study a large scale map of the +south-eastern corner of England. He had sound reasons for supposing +that Hughes was somewhere in that angle formed by Kent and Sussex. +The Rolls Royce car in which Penelope Noelson had been abducted, had +been traced for many miles along the Hastings road. Larry's dash to +London and to "Maid's Retreat" convinced the detective that the hiding +place wherever it might be was within a hundred miles from London. He +explored the map with his forefinger. There were dozens of places along +remote roads where concealment might be effective. But Labar washed out +a great many of these as improbable. He had already circularised the +police forces of the area in which he felt that the fugitives might be +located. Larry had been using his car, and a Rolls Royce in a country +lane would be even more conspicuous to a village constable, than the +same car on one of the main roads. Labar had a list of every Rolls +Royce that had been seen about the area he was searching since Larry's +flight. Those of which the numbers had been taken had for the most part +been identified, and wiped out. There remained several which might or +might not have been Larry's. + +There had been five such cars seen on the Folkestone--Rye road. One +constable reported that a shepherd on the Romney Marshes had told him +of a big car--which the police officer believed might have been a +Rolls Royce--seen twice on a derelict stretch of road leading into the +marshland. + +Labar bent his mind to this point. It seemed the most promising of all +to start from, although it might, as so often happens in these cases +where a man is acting more or less on guess work, prove nothing but a +mare's nest. But if a man wanted to keep out of the way what better +place of refuge could he find than these same desolate Romney Marshes. + +With Myson in charge at Grape Street, other ends of the investigation +in London could for the while be left to themselves. Labar decided that +with two men he could rake the district as effectively and more quietly +than if he had a dozen. If his guess was right, it would not do to +disturb Larry. + +That evening, with a suit-case and a bag of golf clubs, he descended +on the mediæval town of Rye. A golfer or an artist would find himself +entirely without question at the ancient Cinque Port Town. For his +own purposes Harry Labar was a naturalist as well as a golfer, and +he proposed to examine the flora and fauna of the marshes with some +precision ere he returned to town. + +He did not go to one of the old hostelries where visitors might have +become curious and friendly. He took humble lodgings at the house of +a retired Metropolitan police constable who might be relied upon to +keep his mouth shut in any circumstances. Also it is regrettable to +record that Labar's first night in town was spent in the cheaper kind +of four ale bars in the society of local shop assistants, shepherds, +and watermen. They found the gentleman from London, whose name it was +disclosed was James May, an hospitable and genial person with a thirst +for information about the districts that lie north-east of Rye which was +not easily assuaged. + +It was six o'clock the next morning when an unshaven man clad in a +rough old suit of Harris tweeds, who might have been a tramp or a +naturalist set out through the old town gate in the general direction +of Folkestone. A burly man in a decrepit Ford car passed him just +outside the Ypres Tower. It was Malone also setting out on the search +for a needle in a haystack. No sign of recognition passed between +the two men. Labar trudged on and in the course of the next hour was +overtaken by an early charabanc on its way to Folkestone. He stopped it +and bought a lift for half a dozen miles or so. + +He had no fixed plan. If anything came of this excursion luck would +have to be with him. Away on his right he could see mile after mile of +flat country cut into patterns by a complicated series of dykes, and +save for a rare farmhouse or cottage almost void of any indication of +human inhabitants. + +At a point which he had marked on a small pocket map he descended. He +was some few miles from Lydd, but across the wide stretches of marsh +and cornland there was only one low and inconspicuous building which +a weather-beaten sign announced as an inn, "Licensed to sell by +retail wines, spirits, beer and tobacco." How it might find sufficient +customers to support it in that forsaken region Labar did not stop to +inquire. He had already had breakfast, but that was two hours agone +and an able-bodied detective can always support two breakfasts in the +course of his duty. Anyway it was too early in the day for any other +pretext to serve. + +An old, old man pottering about the garden was very dubious. The inn +did not lay itself out much for early meals. However if mister could +put up with tea and eggs he would consult his wife as to what might be +done. + +Tea and eggs it appeared were the very things for which the wayfarer +had an inordinate craving. He was afforded a seat in the one bare +public room that the inn boasted, while an old lady with crinkled +cheeks began to fussily spread a somewhat stained cloth, and to issue +instructions to the old man who was boiling the eggs in the adjoining +room. + +"A lonely neighbourhood this," observed the inspector idly. + +"There be worse," said the woman. "Mind ye, John, to keep an eye on +the clock. Them eggs should be on not a mite longer than two and a +half minutes. Yes, there be more lonely places than this. Out there +on the marsh"--she jerked a thumb backwards over her shoulder--"there +be places where you won't see a human soul week in and week out. Here +we get plenty of company, what with the lookers and the traffic on +the road. We've lived here nigh on forty years and we ain't got no +complaint. Leastways its bad for the rheumatics sometimes, and my old +man there he has a touch of ague." + +She bustled out with the remark that she couldn't trust that durned old +fool to look at the clock, and continued the conversation through the +open door. + +"Reckon you'll be making for Folkestone. 'Tis a tidy walk." + +"No. I'm staying at Rye. I've come out to have a walk over the marshes." + +She loomed out a bulky figure framed in the doorway. "Then you baint +lookin' for work? You be a visitor? A gentleman?" + +"I'm what they call a naturalist. I want to have a look at the plants +and birds and things round about. I thought of walking across towards +Dungeness." + +She cocked her hands on her hips. "I know what a naturalist is," she +said nodding wisely. "You pick slimy things out of the dicks and keep +'em in little bottles. We've had gentlemen out here before like that. +Lor-a-mussy, John, them eggs will be as hard as bricks." + +In a panic she flung back into the kitchen, and presently she set his +meal before him. + +"You baint thinkin' of trying to walk straight across, be you?" she +asked. "You'll be in a turble tangle if you do. Like as not, you'll +lose yourself. Looks clear enough, but, when you get out in it, you'll +find dicks and sluices and whatnot, all ravelling you up like. Then as +you get out near the Ness you'll find the walking not too good." + +Labar swallowed a mouthful of hard-boiled egg. "I can find a road, I +suppose." + +She shook her head. "They baint what you might call proper roads. Rough +tracks most of 'em." + +"Not good enough for a motor car, eh?" + +She considered doubtfully. "I've knowd cars use some of 'em. But they +do tell me as they shake the innards all up." + +He led her to a discussion on the topography of the marshes in which +the old man came and joined. By the time his breakfast was finished he +had extracted much information that might be indirectly useful in his +quest, but nothing bearing directly upon it. The only point that they +were unanimous upon was that it was a foolhardy thing for a stranger to +explore the marshes without a guide. It was odds that if he persisted +he would have to spend a night in the "hand-cold" and mist-sodden +atmosphere. + +Laughingly he waved aside their warnings and since one road was like +another for his purpose set off across the nearest marsh track in the +general direction of Dungeness. An hour's walking on the lonely wastes +convinced him that the old folk knew what they were talking about. His +map and pocket compass helped him only vaguely, for as he branched into +deeper recesses there were twists and tangles, tracks that came to an +abrupt nothingness, and unexpected watercourses that barred his way. +Once or twice he located himself by the aid of occasional "lookers," +as the shepherds of the district are locally known. After all, it did +not much matter whether he went in one direction or another. He wished +there were more shepherds. If there had been a big motor car traversing +these rough tracts one or the other of them would surely have seen it. + +Many hours went by, however, and all his inquiries met with negative +result. He was by now completely lost. An hour had gone since he had +seen a living soul and he sat down to eat a sandwich, with which he had +had the forethought to provide himself, and to consider the position. + +He was tired and the sun was hot. He stretched himself for a short nap +after his frugal repast. When he awoke he glanced at his watch and +swore to himself as he realised that he had slept for over two hours. + +He stood up and stretched himself, and then suddenly dropped at full +length in the coarse grass and stared intently across the marsh about +which a slight haze was already beginning to rise. + +Something less than a mile away a car was slowly making its way. The +distance was too great for him to discern anything more than that it +was a big saloon, but he had not the slightest doubt that it was the +very car that he was seeking. It was utterly improbable that any other +would be risking its springs in this desolate region. + +He lay very still till the motor disappeared from sight. Then he took +a compass bearing to the point at which he had seen it. He stuck his +stick in the ground and tied a handkerchief to it, to afford him a very +necessary point from which to work, for by now he knew that it might +cost him three miles of roundabout walking to make his way to the spot +even though it was under a mile away in a straight line. Then he set +off. + +Again and again he had to retrace his steps, to find some way of +crossing the many dykes, and he was duly thankful that he had had the +intelligence to make an improvised flag which afforded him a definite +clue to his starting point in the dreary sameness of the marsh. +Something over an hour of tedious walking it took him to cover the +distance. At last a hazardous journey over a slimy plank brought him to +a narrow and almost imperceptible roadway. And there imprinted on the +turf were the slight but unmistakeable tyre marks of a big motor car. + +Labar whistled cheerfully as he bent to examine them. + + + + + CHAPTER XXII + + +The conveniences of civilisation are rarely noticed until they are +missed. Harry Labar would have given much to have had a telephone +within convenient access just then. He regretted that he had not hunted +in company with Malone instead of separating to widen the search. He +had little doubt that if he followed the car tracks back he must come +sooner or later upon the retreat of Larry Hughes and his followers. +But what then? What chance would he stand if he essayed any step +singlehanded against this gang of armed and desperate men? + +His commonsense told him to go back to obtain reinforcements from the +Kent Constabulary or even to wire to Scotland Yard. But he had no idea +how long it would take him to walk out of the marsh, let alone to get +in touch with aid. Many hours at the best was certain. Meantime Larry +and his friends might slip out of the trap--for all he knew, they might +have done so already. Every minute might be valuable. + +He felt that he was behaving like an impetuous and foolish youngster as +he bent his head to follow the tyre tracks in the direction from which +the car had come. + +The mist grew thicker as he trudged on. A damp seafog was sweeping up +from the channel and he shivered beneath his old tweeds. But for the +track he must have inevitably become lost for it soon became impossible +to see more than a few yards ahead. Once he paused to do a queer thing. +He walked deliberately in the muddy slime of a dyke till his boots were +covered with mud. He twisted his slouch hat into a ball and trod on it. +With his penknife he started little holes in his jacket and trousers, +and tore at them with his fingers till the already shabby suit had +become even more dilapidated. A handful of dirt applied to edges of the +rents added to their verisimilitude. One of the best dressed men at +Scotland Yard had become a perfect specimen of a down-at-heels tramp. + +He reasoned that should any unexpected encounter take place in the fog +with any of Larry's people he might thus elude recognition. It might be +a superfluous precaution, but it was as well to be prepared. + +So he moved on, slowly, because it was necessary to watch the trail +closely. He reckoned that he had been following the tyre tracks for +an hour and a half when a shadowy outline ahead told him that he was +within a few yards of some building. His pulse moved a beat quicker +as he discerned a yard or two in front of him ghostly tall iron gates. +They were solid enough as he reached out to touch them and a second's +investigation told him of the padlock with which they were secured. + +As he stood considering his next move there was a quick yelp. Then a +huge form magnified by the mist to gigantic dimensions, hurled itself +with a low snarl at the bars. Lucky, too, it was for Labar that the +gate stood between him and the Alsatian. The gate shook with the +impact, and swiftly and silently as a shadow Labar leapt away. + +He groped his way round the wall that surrounded the grounds while the +dog whimpered and snarled. His wits were moving fast. He had recognised +a breed of dog much favoured for police purposes, and he knew that +unless he took precautions right away his discovery was inevitable. + +He made a right angled swerve away from the house. He blessed the dykes +that had bewildered him during the day. There must be one somewhere +at hand. He must find it before the house was aroused and they turned +the dog loose. He tripped over a knot of tufted grass and came down on +hands and knees into six inches of water. Recovering himself he pushed +forward through mud and weeds into the ditch. It passed through his +mind that some of these dykes had water ten feet deep, and that the +weeds could baffle the most accomplished swimmer. That was a risk which +there was no time to consider. He pushed forward and the mud dragged +at his ankles. + +Behind him he could hear the mutter of men's voices and someone +speaking to the dog. In the strange way in which fog sometimes carries +sound he heard the snap of the gate padlock and the whimper of the +dog as it thudded through in eager pursuit. He was up to his waist by +now, and he turned and waded along the stream for a few yards. The +wolf-hound drew nearer, and Labar nerving himself dropped to his knees +and wondered if it became necessary how long he might be able to keep +his head below water. + +The dog reached the edge of the dyke, and came to a halt whining +anxiously. A man's figure loomed up beside him and a moment later two +more. + +"Whoever it was has got across," said a voice that the detective did +not recognise. "No use going any farther in this fog." + +"That damn dog's seeing things," grumbled another voice, and this time +Labar identified the tone of Billy Bungey. "If there was anything at +all it was a sheep. Who's likely to get out here in a peasoup like +this. Call your tripe hound off and let's get inside. I'd got three +aces, and I looked like winnin' a pot for the first time for an hour." + +"Oh, curse your poker," cut in the third voice brusquely. "That dog +doesn't make mistakes. Listen." + +They waited breathing heavily. One of them moved along the dyke in an +opposite direction to Labar and looked into its depths. A bullock came +out of the fog and peered at him. + +"There's your ghost," he said mockingly. + +"And how did he get across the dyke?" questioned another. + +"Anyway, whoever it was won't come back," said Billy Bungey. "Come on, +let's chuck it." + +The little group moved away, one of them holding the restless hound, +and Labar waiting till he heard the gate clang, dragged himself, sodden +to the skin, from the ditch. The presence of the Alsatian at the +house had complicated matters. If he was to achieve anything on this +excursion it had to be dealt with. While it held its vigil within the +precincts of the house he could scarcely hope to approach unnoticed. + +Nevertheless he determined to have another try. It would be maddening +to get so far and have to return with nothing done. He strode +stealthily in what he imagined to be the direction of the house. The +fog had stiffened even more, and now it was scarcely possible to see a +foot-pace in front of him. Something stirred a pace or two to his right +hand and halting in his tracks he turned his face in that direction and +peered into the mist. He thought he could see an indistinct mass low on +the ground. Could it be that after all the pursuit had not been given +up? On the instant he sprang at whoever or whatever it was. + +A frightened half-muffled scream and he was grappling with some +unresisting and yielding body. Then he half-understood and abandoned +his grip with a shock of surprise. + +"Good heavens, a woman! Miss Noelson! You!" + +"Mr. Labar!" She stared at him, as though at some apparition. + +A sudden clamour broke out at the house. She was on her feet now, and +clutched wildly at his hand. + +"They have found out that I have gone. They were holding me there a +prisoner. When the dog gave the alarm just now they left the gate open +and I slipped out. You mustn't let them catch me again. Come." She +dragged at his hand. "We must get away." + +It was no time for full explanations. Hand in hand they turned and fled +heedlessly into the white blanket of the fog. The dyke that had served +Labar so well barred their progress. He swung the girl in his powerful +grip on to his shoulders and carried her across. A gun shot echoed +suddenly, and he laughed. + +"Firing at a bullock I should imagine. That ought to keep them +occupied. Keep on going. You're perfectly safe now. They'll never get +us if we keep on." + +He felt the girl's pace slacken, and linked his arm in hers to help her +to maintain the pace. Thrice he had to lift her over dykes, and ever +she became slower and slower while her breath came with difficulty. +Then he felt her pause and sink in his grip. + +"It's no use. I can't do it," she gasped. "Leave me here. I shall be +all right. You go on." + +He let her sink to the damp grass, and stood for a moment poised in +fierce concentration. Dimly in the distance he could hear the muffled +sounds made by the pursuit. + +"I think we are safe enough for the time," he said. "It would be a +million to one chance if they lit on us in this. We might as well stay +here for a while." + +"Couldn't you leave me and go and get help?" she asked. + +He laughed grimly. "I wouldn't leave you in any event," he said, "but, +if I wanted to, I couldn't. We are completely lost." + + + + + CHAPTER XXIII + + +He took off his old tweed coat and, in spite of her protests, made her +put it on to protect her from the clammy cold of the fog. Making her +as comfortable as possible on the damp earth, he lit a cigarette and +paced meditatively to and fro in short staccato strides, ever and again +throwing a thoughtful glance upon the girl. + +She lay passive and silent for a while, intent on regaining her +strength, and her eyes followed him contentedly. As for Labar, he felt +a sense of elation that he had at least got her from the clutches of +Larry Hughes, though he chafed to think that he was held from any +farther action till the night was out. He had a shrewd idea that when +the pursuit proved hopeless things would happen swiftly at the house on +the marshes. He could scarcely expect that Larry's people would calmly +await the return of Penelope or himself some time the next day with a +posse of police. The only chance was that the fog which seemed likely +to confine the girl and himself to the marsh for the night, would also +delay any active measures of escape that the others might initiate. + +"You are shivering," said Penelope. "I wish you would take your coat. I +feel quite warm. I really don't need it." + +He smiled down at her. "I am perfectly all right while I move about. +You rest yourself for the while. Presently we will move on, although I +am afraid we shall get nowhere. Do you happen to have any idea where we +are?" + +She shook her head. "Beyond the fact that we are on the Romney Marshes +I haven't the faintest idea. What are you going to do?" + +"I don't know," he confessed. "It looks as if we may have to spend the +night in the open. It will be a bit of an ordeal for you, I am afraid." + +The girl gave a little shiver, but she smiled at the same time. "I +don't mind that. At any rate I am out of the hands of Larry Hughes. I +think I could stand anything better than the dread of what might have +happened." + +He stopped abruptly in his walk, and his face became stern and set. +"Did Hughes--has anyone----" He felt some difficulty in framing the +question that was in his mind. "Have you been badly treated?" + +"Not physically. There have been hints--threats." She pulled herself to +a sitting posture and spread an arm in an expressive gesture. "I have +been on the edge of terror and despair for days. Oh, it was worse than +anything that you can imagine." + +He came and sat down on the grass beside her. She made no resistance +when he caught one of her hands in his own. "Not altogether," he said. +"I think that I can realise something of what you have gone through. +Now I want you to tell me--not, if you will allow me to say so, as a +police official but as a friend--what has happened since you were taken +away from London." + +"As a friend," she repeated. + +"As something more than a friend if you will, Penelope," he said, and +his voice sounded in his own ears as a hoarse whisper. "As a man who +would do anything in the world to be more than your friend. It is +presumption--I am only a police inspector--you scarcely know me--but +if----" + +He paused aghast at his own incoherent ineptitude. The girl pulled her +hand away from him and sat silent staring into the fog. Labar mentally +cursed himself as something worse than an imbecile. How could it be +supposed that this girl could have any interest in him in that way? If +he had waited? + +Penelope made an impetuous movement. He felt the rough sleeve of his +old tweed coat about his neck. A cold face was near his own. He flung +his arms about the girl and half laughing, half crying, she settled +there in passive content. How long they remained thus he never knew. +Night was adding a more sombre tinge to the fog, when she gently freed +herself. + +"I can't believe it," he whispered. "You the wife of just an ordinary +policeman." + +She put her hand in front of his mouth. "A very extraordinary +policeman," she corrected with a laugh. "I won't have you call yourself +names." + +He bent and kissed her, and then got to his feet. "Shall we move?" he +asked. "You will be getting chilled." + +Hand in hand like two children, they strolled leisurely into the night +and the fog. Although it was a summer night the cold was bitter. There +was no possibility of finding a way out of the marsh till daylight or +at least till the fog waned, but even a purposeless tramp was better +than catching a cold. + +As they walked they talked of many things, but at last the conversation +drifted to the abduction of the girl. Although Harry Labar was a lover, +he could not forget that he was also a police officer with an object to +achieve. + +There were many obscure points which he felt that she could make plain, +and she spoke without reserve of the events that had brought her into +the case. He interrupted seldom, letting her tell the things in her own +way until she was finished. + +"I must have seemed a brute to you," he said. "I know now--I was +perhaps able to guess a little even then--that you were shielding +someone. I thought--God forgive me--that you might even be in love with +Larry Hughes. I had found your photograph in his room, and like a mad +fool I jumped to conclusions." + +"You weren't," she retorted with a faint pressure of his hand. "I can't +reproach you with anything. You had to do your duty and you acted +like a chivalrous gentleman. My dear, I felt the meanest creature on +earth when you would not lock me up. As for the photograph I haven't +the faintest doubt that he stole it, or perhaps he got it from Mrs. +Gertstein. Now there are one or two things I want to ask you, if you +will tell me." + +Against all the traditions of the Criminal Investigation Department, +Harry Labar allowed himself to be pumped by this slip of a girl until +she knew as much as he did of the progress of the case. She shuddered +and drew closer to him as he told of the fight at "Maid's Retreat," and +now and again she elucidated some point that still remained obscure. + +"And now," he said when he had finished his narration, "there still +remains something in the way of cross-examination." + +"As long as you are not too ferocious," she agreed. "What does my lord +wish to know? I shall obey the court in every particular. Who is going +to question me--the divisional detective inspector of Grape Street or +Harry Labar?" + +"The divisional detective inspector," he retorted. "What I am anxious +to know is what your attitude may be to Adèle Gertstein now? You have +run big risks to protect her. Do you still think that she is worth it?" + +She stiffened a fraction. "She was my friend," she said. + +"Is she still your friend?" he asked quietly. "You have said as little +as possible even now about her--little that I do not know of my own +knowledge. And things being as they are, Penelope, if she is still your +friend there is only one thing that I can do." + +"That is?" + +"To resign from the service, and find some other profession that will +enable me to support a wife." + +Both had come to a halt and she now lifted her grey eyes to his. "I +see," she said. Then after a pause: "You mean that as a police officer +you will have to go on and arrest her?" + +"I mean more than that, my dear. I mean that I cannot suppress what I +believe to be the important evidence of a vital witness." + +"However much I begged you?" + +He put his arm about her. "I am not going to try to persuade you, +Penelope, whatever I may think of your scruples. My resignation will go +in the moment we get back to London." + +"Suppose," she asked, softly, "suppose I told you that I felt freed +from every obligation to this woman who was my friend? Suppose I told +you that I had found her to be as treacherous as a snake, and that I +would stamp on her as readily as I would upon a snake? What would you +say then?" + +"I should say that Donna Quixote Penelope had some very good reason. +But honestly, dear, I don't want to put you in the witness box unless +you wish." + +She pulled his face down to hers and kissed him. "Thank you. I hate the +thought. Still if I am to be a detective's wife I don't want to begin +by crossing my husband-to-be. But it will be difficult for me." + +"I know that. Trust me as far as you can." + +"That is all the way," she replied. "But if Adèle even at the last had +acted in a different way, I might still have hesitated. After all, she +is a woman you cannot judge by ordinary standards. She is an impulsive, +self-willed child." + +Labar checked the interruption that there were many criminals like +that, and the girl went on. + +"When she came with Hughes to this place I felt sorry for her, until I +knew that she had tried to kill you. I felt sorry for her but relieved +to think that I had someone with me to whom I might talk freely. But +she was mad with panic. When I suggested that she might give herself up +she would not hear of it. She had some wild idea of escaping to South +America." + +"With Larry Hughes?" + +"I suppose so. Well, it was decided that we should sleep in the same +room. That evening when we were alone together she used every artifice +and argument that was possible to persuade me to agree to marry him. I +haven't the faintest doubt that some of the reasons she tried to urge +on me were supplied by Hughes himself. She would not have thought of +them by herself. The more I resisted the more vehement she became. She +pointed out how much I owed to her and her husband. It was the only +chance of safety she had. If I did not marry him, he would most likely +abandon her to the chances of the law. If I had the faintest shred of +gratitude or friendship for her I ought to do this thing. Why should I +hesitate to help her? He was a wealthy man. You can probably imagine +the kind of persuasion that she would use." + +"I can," said Labar, grimly. "Go on." + +"She lost all control over herself at last. She swore like a fish-wife, +and ended by taking an oath that if I did not agree she would accuse +me of being her confederate in the forgery of her husband's cheque, +and the person who attempted to kill you near Grape Street police +station. No one would believe, she said, that I was not mixed up in the +crime. In a frenzy she fetched Larry Hughes who, smiling and sardonic, +promised that he also would manufacture proof that I was concerned in +the Streetly House robbery." + +"You poor kid," murmured Labar. "And what did you say?" + +"I told them that I did not care what happened to me. There was nothing +on earth that would induce me to agree. Larry laughed and went away. +Adèle reviled me like a mad thing for ten minutes or more, and to +escape the vituperation I went to bed and pretended to go to sleep. +She cooled down at last and I actually did go to sleep. I woke sometime +in the middle of the night and found her bending over me. She said I +had been moaning and muttering in my sleep and that she had got up to +see if there was anything that she could do--but, Harry, there was +a knife in her hand. I could swear to that. I feigned to accept her +explanation, but I slept no more. In fact, since then I have had very +little sleep except at odd hours. I have been afraid." + +"Ah." Labar's face was stern. "That was the only direct attempt on your +life that you know of?" + +"That was all. She was as friendly as possible in the morning, although +both she and Hughes were persistent in trying to persuade me to alter +my decision. But I was spared much from him because he has been busy +making arrangements to get away." + +"Yes. I am going to talk to you about that. Tell me now what would you +have done had not the chance presented itself for you to escape?" + +She looked down at her feet and shook her head doubtfully. "I don't +know. If I could summon up courage I had made up my mind to kill +myself. But I am afraid that if it came to the point I shouldn't have +had enough nerve." + +The fog had lessened considerably while they walked. A watery moon +made itself dimly perceptible. Labar stole a glance at the girl's firm +moulded chin and resolute grey eyes. "I am glad I came when I did," he +said. "I am afraid that you would have found the nerve." + +They walked steadily on ever and again having to divert their course on +meeting one of the numerous dykes. And while they walked he questioned +her, and made mental notes. For Penelope had much to tell. During her +sojourn as a prisoner she had used both her eyes and her ears, and +where she had been unable to draw conclusions the detective was able +to make something in the nature of guesses. He believed that he was on +the verge of a discovery that would simplify, if not the question of +Larry's capture, at least the difficulty of establishing his complicity +in the Gertstein robbery. + +The early dawn broke on a weary couple, but almost as the sun rose they +struck a track which followed for a mile or two brought them to a made +road. A little later they met an early rising shepherd, who, though he +eyed with curiosity the shirt-sleeved and dirty man who was escorting a +pretty girl, gave them directions that would carry them back to Rye. + +That picturesque town was beginning to stir as they passed through the +Ypres Tower almost to the minute twenty-four hours after Labar had left +it. + + + + + CHAPTER XXIV + + +Labar's first business was to interview the wife of his temporary +landlord, the retired constable. Into her hands he confided Penelope, +with instructions that the girl was to be fed and then allowed to rest. + +"And what are you going to do?" cried the girl. + +He grinned. "Have a bath and a shave and put on some decent clothes." + +"And then?" + +He pressed her hand. "Then I have to attend to Mr. Larry Hughes. I am a +lazy man. If I don't get on with the business while it's in front of me +I'm apt not to do it at all." + +Her eyes clouded, and she clung to his hand as though reluctant to let +him go. "But surely you are going to have a rest, too? Can't you leave +this to someone else? You have some of your men down here?" + +Labar disengaged himself. "There is nothing at all to worry about, my +dear. I shall take good care of myself now, I assure you. There will +be no more danger than if I was engaged on a rat hunt." + +"Trapped rats sometimes bite." + +"I propose to do all the biting this time," he laughed. "Be a good +child, and I'll promise to keep well out of any trouble. If they start +shooting, I'll hide behind Malone. He's big enough." + +Blowing her a kiss he retired to his own room. His mask of nonchalance +dropped from him as soon as he was away from her sight, to be replaced +by determined thought. It was not likely that what remained to be done +would be so simple as he would have her believe. Spite of everything, +he had no notion within some miles of the house where Larry and his +gang were located--and, if he found the place, it was nothing more than +an assumption that they would still be there. He had first to find +them and, supposing that to be successful, he had somehow to recruit a +sufficient force to deal with them. That would take time. + +He was his usual neat self when he emerged to seek Malone. The sergeant +was standing at the door of one of the less fashionable inns puffing at +a disreputable briar pipe, and making non-helpful suggestions to a lad +who was perspiring over the bonnet of an old Ford car. + +Malone moved along the cobbled street to meet the inspector. "Bit late +last night, weren't you, guv'nor? I waited till twelve o'clock for +you and then turned in. Just thinking about another start when Barney +there has coaxed the old Lizzie into a reasonable frame of mind. The +places I took her over yesterday were worse than a toothache." + +Labar caught him by the arm. "Let's walk a little way, Bill. I want +you to go to the local police station with me. You can do some talking +while I get on to the phone to the Yard." + +Briefly he narrated the happenings of the day and night. "What I +propose to do is this," he added. "We must stop every bolt hole in +sight. All the ports must be notified, and particularly those seaside +towns on the south-east coast. I expect Larry has seen to passports, +but, even if he hasn't, it is simple to leave on some of these day +excursions to France without them. We must borrow as many men from the +local forces as we can, and throw a drag-net over the marsh. I am going +to ask the Yard to send down a dozen or so Flying Squad men by car. +They ought to get here in a couple of hours with luck. There's just an +off-chance that we may find our birds still in their nest. Larry was +away yesterday, and the fog no doubt prevented him from getting back. +He'll have a lot to do, when he does arrive." + +Malone quickened his step. "You know something else, guv'nor," he +commented. "You're keeping something up your sleeve." + +The inspector nodded and glanced over his shoulder. "You've hit it," +he agreed. "It's only a guess, mind you, but some facts told me by +Miss Noelson rather bear it out. The sea is, she told me, about a mile +away from the house. Larry as you know has his own yacht. I'm not much +of a sailor, but if it was possible to bring that yacht reasonably +near inshore, it would explain how a lot of the stuff that has passed +through Larry's hands got out of the country without our people getting +a smell of it." + +"You mean that the house is a depot for stolen goods." + +"Exactly." + +"Then why shouldn't Larry use the yacht to get away?" + +"Because he probably guessed that steps were being taken to keep an +eye on the boat. We knew of the yacht. We didn't know of this hide +out. It might have been risky from his point of view to bring the boat +over while we were on the alert. It might give away his cache without +helping him. But with the events of the past few days, while things +have been getting warm for him, he has probably been taking steps to +have it at hand for his get-away. That's all guesswork. If we weren't +rushed this morning I could probably confirm it. I'll bet you that he +has been sending wires abroad. Anyway, on the off-chance I am going to +ask the Yard to get in touch with the Admiralty, and have a destroyer +off the coast until we clear up. And if there's a fast motor boat +somewhere handy, we might find a use for it." + +Malone nodded appreciatively. "I get you, guv'nor." + +There were a few complications in getting the search organised, for no +less than three police forces were concerned--the Metropolitan Police, +the Kent Constabulary, and the Sussex Police. In spite of the risk of +a fiasco that might make him a laughing stock, Labar urged that as +many as possible of the local men who took part in the search should +be armed with shotguns. He was confident that the gunmen who formed +part of Larry's retinue would not be taken without a fight. In the +hands of men who were unused to firearms shotguns would probably be +more effective than any deadlier weapons, although the Scotland Yard +authorities assured him that the Flying Squad men would be armed with +automatic pistols. + +Once he had put things in train he hired a car, and with Malone and a +couple of local officers he started for the marsh, having arranged a +rendezvous for the larger part of his forces at the inn where he had +breakfasted the preceding day. Guides had been promised from various +sources and it was anticipated that from the description that had been +furnished by Penelope it would not be a matter of great difficulty to +locate the house where she had been held. A body of police were to +start from Lydd to patrol the shore as far as Dungeness. On every road +over which a car might pass from the district, armed patrols of Kent +police were to be established. + +Labar's scheme was to make a wide sweep over the marsh and if Larry +was still in the trap he had little doubt of success. But it was some +little time before the police, who had to be collected from a wide +area of country, could be brought together to put his full plan into +operation. + +From somewhere the local inspector who accompanied him, routed out +a constable who was said to know the district, and a farmer and a +shepherd picked up on the way volunteered their services. Both these +latter agreed that the house for which search was being made could be +none other that "Mope's Bottom," which stood far away on the marsh, and +which had been rented many years ago by a gentleman from London. It had +borne many years before a local reputation as a haunted house, and was +still avoided after dusk by many of those whose avocations might take +them to the vicinity. + +As yet, including Labar and Malone, there were not more than a dozen +men gathered for the expedition. Labar looked at his watch. It would be +an hour at least, and probably longer, before the complete forces would +be gathered. + +"Reckon I'll take this shepherd and go and have a look, see," he said +to Malone. "You can explain my ideas if we're not back, Bill, and then +carry on. I'm sure to meet you." He turned to the looker whom he had +decided to take as guide. "How long do you think it will take us to +get to this place? We might go part of the way by car." + +"An hour and a half, walking," said the looker. "Maybe twenty minutes +by car--I don't know." + +"I suppose they'd see a car coming for miles over this place," said the +detective inspector. "It's as flat as the palm of your hand. And I'd +bet something that they'll be keeping a good look-out to-day." + +"If you're bent on going, guv'nor," said Malone, and his tone conveyed +that he thought it a totally unnecessary venture, "why not take the car +as far as you think wise and walk the rest. There won't be any cover +for you though. Why not wait?" + +"No, I'll go and have a scout round. You can be easy, Bill. I won't +take any risks I can help. Let's go." + +For a mile or so they pushed the car along one of the rough tracks of +the marsh. As the looker explained, the detour was even more extensive +than if they had gone on foot, and the roughness of the going made the +driver wary of anything in the nature of speed. The detective and his +guide descended when the latter observed that within the next mile they +would come within sight of "Mope's Bottom." They made their way over +the pastures and dykes on foot by a more direct, but still devious +route. + +Presently they were within view of the dark mass of the house. They lay +on the edge of a dyke and studied it for a while. Through his glasses +Labar could see nothing that gave the slightest indication of life. +There was not even a wisp of smoke from the chimneys, and the windows +were tight-closed. From where they were the angle of the wall hid a +distinct view of the gate, but the detective rapped out an oath as he +tried to confirm an impression that it was open. Could it be that after +all he was too late? + +There had always been that possibility, but Labar at the back of his +mind had refused to recognise it as likely. There had been but the most +slender margin of time in which his quarry could have safely got away. +It would be the most uncanny luck if he had succeeded. + +He rose to his feet, and with the looker by his side strode on to where +he could get a closer view of the place. This time there was no doubt. +The big wall gates were open. + +Labar snapped the glasses into their case and turned to the looker. +"You can get back, my lad. Tell Mr. Malone, or whoever you meet, that +I think our birds have made their get-away. Anyway I'm going on to see +what has happened. Get some of my men to come on the moment they are +ready. Now which is my nearest way to the house?" + +He strode on reckless of everything now. He was convinced that the +house was empty. Certain it was that neither Larry nor any of his +associates would have permitted any carelessness at this time. There +could only be one explanation of the outer defences of the place +remaining unguarded when they must know that the forces of the law +would be upon them at any minute. + +As he drew nearer his conviction became more certain. But as he reached +the gates some instinct of caution made him step more warily. They +might have left the Alsatian. He pulled out an automatic which he had +procured at Rye, though he had little faith in his ability to use it +effectively, and passed between the gates with his senses vividly on +the alert. + +Once within he halted for a second or two and listened with strained +intentness. There was not a sound. Moving on velvet feet, ready to +shoot at the instant, he tried the door of the house. It was fastened, +and he turned his attention to the windows. But whoever had forgotten +the gates the house was tight-sealed. A swift examination showed him +that none of the simple devices by which the fastenings of an ordinary +house might be overcome would suffice here. + +With a grim smile he recalled that he had neglected to obtain a search +warrant. He had not even had the warrant for Larry's arrest endorsed by +a local magistrate. But the strict formalities of the law have at times +to be ignored or many rogues would escape. Time enough to put himself +right on these technicalities later. He reversed his pistol and smashed +with the butt through the glass of the morning-room window. Thrusting +his hand carefully through the jagged pane he undid the fastening and +entered the room. It was meticulously neat and tidy. No sign of any +hurried departure here. + +Completely satisfied that no living person remained in the house he +pushed his pistol back into his pocket and lit a cigarette. There was +nothing to hurry about now. He would have to wait till his men arrived +in any event. + +He moved about the house taking for the moment a superficial if +methodical survey. But as he entered room after room to find each in +applepie order, with nothing that could in any manner be construed +to fit with his theory that the house was a depot for stolen goods, +he puffed more fiercely at his cigarette and his eyebrows drew more +closely together. + +"If Larry's had the stuff here he's made a clean sweep or he's hidden +it pretty tight," he muttered. "But he can't have got away with it. It +isn't possible." + +Something that Penelope Noelson had said recurred to him, and he made +his way back to the panelled room that he judged to have been Larry's +study. Taking a pencil from his pocket he proceeded to tap methodically +inch by inch upon the walls. A quarter of an hour passed in this +manner and he was stooping to make a fresh start from the bottom of +the wall when he became aware of some slight sound behind him. He gave +no sign that he had heard and continued the tap tap of his pencil as +nonchalantly as ever, considering with strained calculation what his +next move should be. + +The even voice of Larry Hughes broke on his ear. "No use trying to +deceive the astute Mr. Labar. You've guessed right. There is a secret +panel in this room. But as you see you started at the wrong end. And +rather than wait the arrival of your friends we have decided to show +you everything ourselves. Keep very still, please. My friend Mr. Bungey +is a hasty man. He would never forgive himself if anything happened to +you." + +Still stooping the detective permitted his gaze to swing slowly round. +Before an open panel in the woodwork stood Larry Hughes and Billy +Bungey each with a levelled pistol in his hand. + + + + + CHAPTER XXV + + +Harry Labar had been in many tight corners in his life, but now he knew +himself in the tightest of them all. He had fallen into an ambush. He +was certain that at the first false move he made neither of the men +who confronted him would hesitate to shoot him down. They were in a +situation where nothing--not even murder--could make matters much worse +for them. Unless they escaped the net that was closing round them they +knew as well as he did that practically the remainder of their lives +would be spent in prison. + +He smiled sweetly upon the two. "Do you mind if I raise myself a +little?" he asked. "This attitude is somewhat cramping." + +"First of all I think that you had better drop your gun on the floor," +said Larry. "That's a sensible man," as Labar dragged out his weapon +and tossed it on the carpet. "Now you may stand up while Billy attends +to you. But," he made a menacing gesture with his own pistol--"don't do +anything foolish." + +It was far from Labar's intention to do anything foolish. He knew in +what jeopardy he stood. So he remained perfectly still while Billy +Bungey skilfully lashed his arms to his side, and as he finished +surveyed the trussed detective with some satisfaction. + +"What about a gag?" he asked taking out a handkerchief and considering +it speculatively. "We shan't want him kicking up an uproar when his +pals arrive." + +"He'll do as he is," declared Larry. "I want to have a chat with him." +He moved into the room and put a hand at Labar's elbow. "Come on, Mr. +Inspector. For your own sake you had better not play any tricks. If +your men get on to us I assure you that the first man who is put out +will be yourself. Get that." + +"I appreciate the compliment," agreed the inspector. + +As he was led through the open panel, with Larry and Billy Bungey on +each side of him, one of them slid it into place behind. For a second +they were in impenetrable blackness. Then someone switched on an +electric torch and Labar gathered that he was in a narrow tunnel which +widened as they advanced. They had gone a hundred yards or so when they +were halted. Labar turned to see a steel door slide across the tunnel. + +"A little modern addition of my own to an old smugglers tunnel," said +Larry. "Nothing short of dynamite will shift that." + +"I half-suspected that you would have a bolthole," said Labar with the +indifferent air of one making conversation. "This is where you stowed +your stuff, I suppose. Where does it lead to?" + +"Shut up," ordered Larry. "You can talk when I ask you to. Let's get +along." + +As near as the detective could estimate they had traversed another +quarter of a mile when there was a gleam of light ahead. In a little +they had reached a widening of several yards in the tunnel, which +formed a sort of room, dimly lit by an oil lamp. Lounging on suitcases +and other baggage about this space were several spectral figures whom +Labar rightly assumed to be the rest of Larry's party. + +"You may sit down," said Hughes. "I don't think that the formality of +an introduction is necessary to most of these ladies and gentlemen. You +know them. They have been waiting your arrival." + +"You expected me then?" asked Labar in a tone of mild surprise. + +"We guessed there would be an early arrival this morning, and we hoped +that it might be you," said Larry. "We left the outer gates open as a +bait in case you came snooping around." + +Although he was feeling very far from laughter Labar managed to +enunciate a convincing chuckle. "Well, you have got me," he said. "I +may be very dense, Larry, but I fail to see how that is going to help +you. What are you going to do with me?" + +"There are many things that we might do," said Larry significantly. +"Indeed I cannot say what we shall do if you don't behave reasonably. +There's an old proverb you know." + +"'Dead men tell no tales.' That's what you are trying to hint?" + +"You have a quick mind, my dear Labar. Use it a little farther and +guess why we want you." + +Labar thought for a moment before replying. "That shouldn't be +difficult," he said slowly. "You are in a hole and want to know what +steps I have taken to dig you out. Suppose I don't tell you." + +Larry thrust his face, sinister and threatening, close to that of the +prisoner. "Oh, yes you will," he said menacingly. + +The detective laughed. "Well, you will know soon enough. I gather that +you have been disappointed in the arrival of your yacht. This tunnel +probably leads out somewhere by the shore and you hope to slip away +to-night by sea, while the police are watching the ports. But there are +a hundred armed men on the marsh and the shore is patrolled. There is a +fast motor boat just off the beach and beyond that a destroyer. You've +only just got to show your nose above ground and you're gone coons, +Larry. Now you know just where you stand. I hope you like it." + +"You're a liar," snarled Billy Bungey. + +"Leave this to me, Billy," ordered Larry peremptorily. He addressed +Labar. "I think you are lying myself. If you are not you can depend +upon it that they'll never get me alive. Who will be in charge when +they fail to find you?" + +The detective shook his head. "That I can't tell you. I don't know who +will be down from the Yard. But if you think you can bluff them out of +this district you'll be disappointed. They'll stick. Better make the +best of a bad job, Larry." + +"Make no mistake, Labar. You will never live to give evidence against +any of us." + +"Then you'll hang," retorted the other amiably. "Not only you, Larry, +but all of those here." He raised his voice. "Do you hear me, you +people. Some of you may get away with light sentences as it is. But if +you let this man----" + +A hand was clapped roughly about his mouth and he was forced to his +knees. But he had said what he wanted. Desperate though many of those +under the sway of Larry Hughes were, not all of them would face +with composure the probability of being hanged for murder. There +were subdued mutterings and he could distinguish the voices of Mrs. +Gertstein and Sophie Lengholm. It was the latter who came forward. + +"Don't be a fool, Larry. The man's right. It can't do us any good to +kill him. If we're in the cart, we're in it." + +Larry swore fiercely at her. "When I want your advice I'll ask for it." + +The man who held the detective broke in. "He's got the whole business +in hand. Let me do him in. Who's to know? Whatever they think we can +put him somewhere where they'll never find him. Likely as not things +will break down without him. I'm for taking the chance." + +"Sophie's got the strength of it," said another voice. "Time enough to +croak him if we're forced to it. As it is we can afford to wait and see +what happens. No good risking our necks until we have to." + +"I won't have any of you swine telling me what to do or what not +to do," declared Larry with cold fury. "I'm the big noise here. If +anyone's got any different ideas about it now's the time to have it +out." He paused for a moment as if waiting for someone to take up +his challenge. It was met with a dead silence. He had reasserted +his ascendency. He made a gesture of ineffable contempt. "Huh, you +squealing lot of rats. Let that split up, Bill. If he opens his mouth +again fetch him one across the jaw." + +As Labar got awkwardly to his feet Larry wheeled upon him. "And you, +you big spawn, I mean what I say. All the chance that you've got is +that we get clear away. So put your thinking cap on." + +"That's the stuff," ejaculated Bill Bungey, "I'm with you." He poked a +forefinger stiffly into Labar's ribs. "O-u-t spells out and out you +go." + +Larry's burst of temper cooled down. He was in perfect possession of +himself when next he spoke. "I'm going to call your bluff, Labar. I'm +going to see if your people have blocked every way out. You'd better +hope for your own sake that they haven't. Come on Tom--and you Billy. +The rest of you keep an eye on this man." + +He crept away accompanied by the two men he had designated farther +along the tunnel. By straining his ears Labar heard another steel door +creak back. Apparently the tunnel towards its seaward end was also +guarded. + +Larry and his two companions guided by the gleam of an electric torch +moved swiftly along the damp tunnel. The leader was thoughtful. + +"Billy," he said, "I'm not sure that we haven't overplayed our hand. If +that fellow's telling the truth we're booked for trouble." + +"I begin to wish we hadn't snaffled him," said Billy. "He might not +have run across that panel. If he'd overlooked it we were O.K. We'd +simply have had to wait till they made up their minds we had cleared +off." + +"I know the breed," retorted Larry with a shake of his head. "Once he +got the idea in his head he was bound to go on with it. Some of these +Johns may not have any brains, but they stick to an idea. He'd have +pulled the house down to make sure. We may not be out of the wood, but +we've got a breathing spell." + +Billy grunted uncertainly and Larry emitted a sharp order for quiet +beneath his breath. The tunnel was rising at a sharp angle and narrowed +so rapidly that they were compelled to take single file and crawl. +Rough timbers supported the top for the last twenty yards or so and +then for about the length of a man the way finished in an acute +angle of about forty-five degrees. Larry, who was leading, stretched +himself at full length and, stealthily withdrawing some bolts, raised +a trap-door of about two feet square a matter of inches, and peered +without. Satisfied with his preliminary scrutiny he pushed the trap +higher and crawled to the outer air. + +He emerged into a depression in a waste of shingle sheltered by a high +bank which shut off the sea. Stooping low he clambered up the bank, and +laying on his stomach scrutinised the surroundings. A couple of hundred +yards away the sea lapped monotonously on a lonely shore. Far out at +sea there were one or two ships obviously on their lawful occasions. +Nearer in there was a fleet of fishing boats. On the dim horizon +something that had been at first obscured by the sail of one of the +smacks came into Larry's angle of vision. He uttered a low curse as he +recognised the silhouette of a destroyer. If Labar had been speaking +the truth in that particular he might have done so in others. + +His gaze swung to the beach. Far as he could see that was open. There +was no sign of the motor boat of which Labar had spoken. In point of +fact, although Larry could not know, it was labouring on the other side +of Dungeness with engine trouble. But the beach itself was deserted. + +Billy Bungey had crawled up beside him and pointed out the destroyer. + +"I know," said Larry petulantly. "God, I've got eyes, haven't I?" + +He turned over to scan the marshes. In the distance he could see +"Mope's Bottom," but around it and as far as he could see there was no +sign of life. + +"Not a soul, Billy," he observed. "All the same I don't like it. It is +early yet and if Labar wasn't bluffing we'll be in a hole--in every +sense." + +"We could take a chance and bolt for it now," said the other. "No use +waiting till it's too late." + +The eyes of the two men met. There was a significance in Billy Bungey's +words that Larry did not fail to appreciate. He remained silent and +thoughtful, and the rougher scoundrel slid back to the trap-door. + +"You there, Tom?" he asked. "Get back to the boys, will you? It looks +reasonably clear here, but the boss and I are going to take a bit of a +look round. We'll be along presently." + +He came back to where Larry was lying on the shingle. "That's got rid +of him. There might be a chance for two of us. There wouldn't be any +for a crowd. What do you say?" + +For once in his life Larry Hughes was irresolute. In his career there +were few codes that he had not broken. But always he had made it a +practice to keep faith with those who had come under his sway. He +could say, outlaw though he was, that he had never betrayed a friend +nor forgiven an enemy. It was a rigid part of his policy to enforce +honour among thieves to himself as to his associates. He could neither +afford to forgive a man who had let him down nor to abandon those who +had worked with him. That was the reason for the strength that he had +acquired in the underworld. Once that policy was abandoned the prestige +that had been so profitable to him would be gone. + +Those people who were back in the tunnel would not understand that if +they were in a trap his return could do no good to them. They would +think that he had deliberately planned to make them scapegoats. There +was the risk, too, that their loyalty--always a frail thing--would not +stand the strain of his leaving them. They would talk. And if they +began talking to the police, Larry knew that his escape would have to +be made good, for the evidence that would be accumulated against him +would be overwhelming. + +He shrugged his shoulders in contempt at his own lack of decision. What +did it matter? There was enough against him as it was. Nothing that +they could say or do could make any difference. Why should he worry? +In cases like this it was each man for himself and the devil take the +hindmost. + +He rose cautiously to his feet. "Come along, Billy. We'll take the +chance." + + + + + CHAPTER XXVI + + +In the underground chamber where the little group awaited the return +of Larry time passed slowly. Labar could hear the ticking of his watch +above the whispered conversation that passed among the others. He was +not of a morbid cast of mind but he could not help reflecting on the +possibility that his life hung upon a hair. + +Once finally convinced that they were cornered the views of the more +desperate of the gang that he was better out of the way were likely +to prevail. He had to face that probability, and he liked it the less +the more that he thought of it. He considered the situation from +another angle. It was just on the cards that the tunnel might remain +undiscovered by the men who were following him. In that case his +dilemma would be worse. His captors were scarcely likely to leave him +alive to take up the trail after them once more. Men of the habit of +thought of Billy Bungey would be liable to take a simple method of +ridding themselves of an embarrassment. Larry, the most dangerous of +them all, would not lift a finger to stay his sacrifice unless policy +dictated that he should remain alive. There would be little to hope for +from that direction. If he was to get clear of the predicament into +which he had fallen his own wit must save him. + +No one now remained near him. The man who had hitherto been at his +elbow had moved over to the group to take part in the conversation. It +was a reasonable assumption that the detective, tied as he was, and +with all egress from the tunnel barred, could do no harm. Labar himself +realised his impotence, and with no conscious thought in his mind moved +quietly a pace or two so that he might place his back against the wall. +There he remained in the blackest of the shadows cast by the feeble oil +lamp. + +A figure detached itself from the cluster and moved casually over to +him as though to assure herself of his security. If any of the others +noticed they showed no sign. He had no difficulty in recognising Sophie +Lengholm. She stood by him for a second saying no word and then he felt +her hand thrust something into his. It was a small open penknife. + +Unhurriedly she returned to the others, and the astonished officer +remained stone still. It was no time to probe into motives. Whatever +had actuated her the fact was that he had in his hand the means of +comparative freedom. If the worst came to the worst now he need not be +butchered without some sort of a fight. + +Very silently, very cautiously he set himself with much straining of +the wrist, and with some danger of gashing himself, to cut the lower +strand of the rope that held him. It was a slow and awkward business, +but at last he felt it fall apart. Thus far he had not thought what +the following move was to be. He paused, making no attempt to release +himself fully for the moment. He could scarcely hope to overpower all +the company with nothing for a weapon save a penknife. If he could lay +his hands on a revolver--but the only method of doing so was so wildly +desperate that he paused to consider before putting it into execution. +At that moment he heard the creak of the outer sliding door. It was, +he imagined, the return of Larry and there would be three more men to +reckon with. + +The others also had heard and they were on their feet when Tom entered. +A volley of questions was fired at him. The valet shook his head. + +"Don't eat a man. It's all right. Everything looks clear, but Mr. +Hughes and Bungey are scouting round to make sure. They'll be back in a +jiffy." + +Labar judged that it might be time to create a diversion. A +half-suspicion had come into his mind, but he scarcely believed it +himself. + +"Looks to me as though he had left the rest of you to hold the baby," +he announced in level tones. "While you're monkeying about here like +a lot of sapheads Larry and Billy are on their way. They've played you +for a gang of suckers." + +Tom wheeled upon him on the instant. "So you say," he retorted. "That's +one of the things the boss does not do. I've known him as long as +anyone and he always plays square with the boys. Mr. Hughes is a square +grafter." + +"Huh!" said the detective. "Wait and see." + +"It looks fishy to me," said someone, and Labar knew that he had +succeeded in instilling doubt into at least one mind. + +"Tom's right," said Sophie Lengholm. "Larry has his little ways but he +doesn't snitch and he isn't a coward." + +"But if he _has_ gone?" wailed a tearful voice, in which Labar +recognised the accents of Mrs. Gertstein. "What shall we do?" + +"Don't snivel till you're hurt," snarled a gruff voice. "Gone or not +we're no worse off. No one can touch us here yet." + +"We can't stay here and starve and if we go out they'll put us in +prison." Adèle Gertstein was becoming hysterical. "Oh, can't we do +something?" + +Tom moved softly across to her and spoke low voiced. "If you can't keep +quiet we'll find a way that will settle you," he said. "Make yourself a +nuisance and someone will be sticking a bit of steel into you as likely +as not." He gripped her shoulder and shook her fiercely. "Now that will +be all from you." + +She made some inarticulate protest and then fell cowed and silent. + +Tom addressed the gang. "I'm going back now to wait for the boss. If +anyone likes to come along there's no reason against it." + +One man volunteered, and with a final warning to the others to wait +in patience Tom moved off. With the aid of his knife the detective +set himself to dispose of the remainder of his bonds. He dropped them +at last noiselessly to his side, and marked one of Billy Bungey's +associates as the first object of attack. + +Inch by inch holding to the shadows as far as possible he edged towards +his man. Speed was of the essence of his plan. If he guessed wrong he +knew himself as good as dead. + +Suddenly he leapt. The full weight of his heavy body was behind his +fist which caught his man full on the point. The fellow fell like +a sack and almost simultaneously Labar was by the unconscious body +feeling feverishly in the right hand jacket pocket for the weapon he +believed to be there. His judgment was right and as he pulled himself +upright a heavy automatic was in his hand. He squeezed the trigger and +a spurt of flame and a heavy report which reverberated lengthily in +the confined space, told the others almost before they knew what had +happened that he was armed. + +"Keep away from me," he ordered. "I'll shoot among you if anyone moves." + +The answer was a shot which buried itself in the wall behind him, +missing him by a yard. He brought his own weapon to a level and fired +blindly. Someone screamed and there was a heavy fall. Unfamiliar as he +was with firearms it had been impossible to miss at that distance, and +with the target presented by a number of people. + +"Do you want any more?" demanded the detective grimly. + +There was no answer. Only the breathing of the group, and the muffled +sobs of Mrs. Gertstein broke the stillness that had descended on the +scene. Labar waited tensely alert for any menacing move. He was glad +for several reasons that no one of his opponents had had presence +of mind enough to put out the light. In the darkness it was highly +probable that someone would get killed. + +"Some of you have electric torches," said Labar. "Throw one out here. +Quick's the word. I'm liable to get impatient." He flourished his +weapon significantly. + +A man stepped a little forward and a torch thudded at the detective's +feet. Keeping a wary eye upon the group he picked it up with his left +hand and switched the beam upon them. + +"Now boys," he said, "I don't want to hurt anyone, but if I do you'll +only have yourselves to blame. Throw any pistols or other weapons that +you have into the centre of the room. Don't try to hold anything out on +me or it will be the worse for you." + +There were men facing him who would not have hesitated to fly at his +throat in many circumstances. So far the element of surprise had served +him well. He dominated them for the time, but he knew that it needed +only the slightest initiative on the part of one of them, and he would +have the whole mob about his ears. There was a perceptible hesitation +in complying with his last order. His trigger finger twitched. +Reluctant though he was to shoot he was resolved to do so rather than +run the risk of a combined attack. + +"I'm going to count three," he said. "If those pistols aren't on the +floor by then I shoot. One--two----" + +A weapon clattered to the ground and a second followed. + +"Any more?" he asked. + +A third pistol followed the others and, although he was convinced of +the probability that there were still more weapons on some of the men, +there was no way of making sure. He had to take a chance. + +"I'm going to take you people back to 'Mope's Bottom,'" he said. "You +will keep well in front of me and if anyone looks back he will be +turned into something deader than a pillar of salt. Now march." + +"What about Jim?" asked one of the prisoners, indicating the motionless +form of the man who had been shot. + +Labar reflected. For all he knew time might be precious. If Tom or +Larry or Billy returned, as they might at any moment, he could hope +for nothing better than a fight to the death. He shook his head. + +"I'll see that he's looked after later," he said. "Come. Get a move on." + +He marshalled them into the dark tunnel, and with a stern order that +they were not to pass beyond the rays of his torch carried them to the +interior steel door. There they came to a halt. + +Two of the men fiddled with the catch meeting with some apparent +difficulty. "It won't open," one of them declared. "Only Larry and Tom +know the secret." + +Here was a predicament. It flashed across Labar's mind that these men +were scarcely likely to have submitted to be shut in the tunnel during +the absence of those who held the key to their release and at the risk +of accident unless they themselves knew the secret. He switched his +light off and fired at the floor of the tunnel. + +"That will be unlucky for you," he declared ominously. "If that door +isn't opened in a matter of seconds I'll shoot my way through it--and +you." + +Adèle Gertstein who had never ceased her subdued wailing now gave a +sharp cry of terror. And then the door creaked back. + +There was no further attempt to evade the instructions of Labar. He +had convinced them, for the time, that he would stand at nothing, and +in that confined space even a bad shot could not fail to wreck deadly +execution. Yet until he had reached the open he felt far from secure. +There was a thrill down his spine, and once or twice he felt tempted +to look round. He had an uneasy feeling that he was being stalked from +behind. It would be the simplest thing in the world to follow along +that narrow passage and shoot him in the back. + +So they came to the entrance to Larry's private room. At a touch the +panel slid aside and daylight illumined the opening. From the other +side came a sharp cry of surprise and a quick order. Bill Malone had +his wits about him. + +"Reach for the ceiling, you." + +One by one with their hands above their heads the prisoners filed into +the room. Labar stepped in behind them. At the far side of the room +stood Bill Malone and Detective Inspector Moreland with revolvers in +their hands. + +"Criminy, if it ain't the guv'nor," ejaculated Bill. + + + + + CHAPTER XXVII + + +Explanations were deferred till such time as the prisoners could be +dealt with. Half a dozen stalwart constables, each armed with a shot +gun, took charge of the captives who were subjected to a swift search. +There was one, who as Labar had suspected, had still a pistol about +him. If he had really intended to use it he had failed to find an +opportunity, or his courage had failed. The gang were escorted into +another room for the time and Moreland cocked an eye at Labar. + +"Nice fellow you are. Call out the whole lot of us, horse, foot and +artillery and then try to do the job on your little own. Where's Larry?" + +The other made a gesture towards the open mouth of the tunnel. "That's +his bolthole, but I doubt that he's still in there. How long you folk +been here?" + +"Perhaps ten minutes," said Malone. "We had to wait for some of our +people." + +"Any chance of men slipping through out there?" He swept a hand +vaguely to the marsh. + +"A rat might do it. The place is alive with our men." + +"But half an hour ago? If you've only just got here--" He left the +sentence uncompleted. + +"There might have been some sort of an opportunity then," admitted +Malone. + +"What are you driving at?" asked Moreland. + +"Larry. That tunnel leads somewhere out towards the coast. It's a full +half hour or more since he slipped out there. If----" + +They stared at each other, in something like consternation. The retired +military officer who was the head of the Kent County Constabulary +entered in haste. + +"What's this I hear? You've rounded them up? Are you Mr. Labar?" + +"I'm Labar. Not altogether. We haven't got our fingers on the man we +really want yet. Do you know whether the men from Lydd have got to this +part of the coast yet?" + +"They should have linked up before now, but I don't know. It's a long +way and rough going." + +"Where are your lads?" demanded Labar turning to Moreland. + +"Two or three of them still searching the house. The rest are outside +knocking around." + +"Send some of them with a guide down to the shore. You and I and +Bill, with a couple more will slip along the tunnel in case they've +doubled back. I'd be grateful to you, sir"--he addressed the Chief +Constable--"if you would go down to the shore, too. If any of our birds +have been met there will be a fight going on about now." + +He slipped the automatic into his pocket and borrowed a shot gun from +one of the uniformed men. He felt more confidence in his ability to +manipulate it. There were two or three torches which had been taken +from the prisoners and with these his companions provided themselves. + +Labar started to lead the way when with an exclamation he came to an +abrupt halt. + +"Lord! I nearly forgot." + +"Forgot what?" asked Moreland. + +"There's a man I shot laying along in here somewhere. He may be dead +for all that I know. Just as well to have a couple of constables along +to fetch him out." + +"Losing your memory I should say," commented the irrepressible +Moreland. "A little matter like a dead man and you all but forgot him!" + +"And I reckon we'll take along one of the gang as a matter of +precaution," said Labar. "There's every modern convenience in this +tunnel, including steel doors which may be awkward to open." + +A man was selected from the prisoners and the little band of armed +police officers started on their tour of exploration. Bill Malone +elected to take the prisoner in his own charge and poking him with the +muzzle of a pistol gave expression to prophesies of sudden and horrid +calamity in the event of any monkey business. + +As they arrived at the first barrier Labar swung his torch and a sharp +oath slipped from between his lips. That door he was confident had been +left open. Now it was closed. + +The white-faced prisoner under the persuasion of a dig in the ribs from +Malone's pistol point was called upon to open it. But it resisted all +his efforts. + +"No good, sir," he said. "It's locked on the inside." + +"Here's a nice game," observed Malone. + +"Looks as if Larry had come back," said Moreland. + +"Or Tom and his pal," said Labar. "We may have to do some digging +out." He put his face close to the metal and raised his voice. "You +inside there. Can you hear me? Be good boys now and come out. You'll do +yourselves no good by this foolishness." + +There was no answer. Labar turned to the prisoner. "Show me how this is +supposed to work," he ordered. + +With docility the man indicated an unobtrusive knob at the side of the +wall. "Push it in and then turn it first to the right and then to the +left." + +The detective obeyed, but still the blank sheet of steel remained +unmoved. He fiddled impatiently with the knob and suddenly the slab +glided back. In an instant the officers had crouched back to the +side of the wall with weapons ready and their torches searching the +darkness, half expecting a shower of bullets from the interior. + +For a space they waited thus. Then Labar stirred and reaching over to +the prisoner gripped his shoulder so that he squirmed. "Trying to put +something over on us," he said sternly. "Just one more break of that +kind and I'll find a way that will make you squeal. We're bad men to +play with just now." + +"It was an accident, guv'nor," pleaded the man. "You must have handled +it wrong." + +"Another accident like that may be fatal to you, my boy," said Malone +ferociously. + +"All the same it's funny about that door," said Labar. "That has been +closed since I was here. Let's get on." + +Cautiously they pushed forward. They came to the place in which the +man who had been shot had lain. The oil lamp still burned and the +detectives cast their torches about. There was a crimson stain on the +floor but otherwise no sign of a man either wounded or dead. + +"What do you know about that?" demanded Moreland. + +"Don't ask conundrums," retorted Labar. "Either he's pulled himself +together or someone has moved him." + +Certain now that there was someone of the gang in the tunnel they +advanced with weapons poised. The outer door was also shut but with a +little manipulation that also was dealt with. The narrowing of the +tunnel warned them that if they were approaching an ambush here was +where it might be looked for. Only one man could advance at a time, and +a determined opponent could hold any number at bay indefinitely. Labar +crawled first followed by Moreland and the two Flying Squad men. Then +came Malone. The prisoner was for the time left behind in charge of the +two constables. + +Seemingly from a great distance there came the sound of a muffled +report. Labar stiffened as a wedge of daylight showed some thirty or +forty yards in front of him. Another report, this time louder, came to +his ears and the wedge of light broadened. The head and shoulders of a +man crawling towards him showed in the passage. Labar levelled his gun +and saw Moreland thrust a pistol forward. For a moment they faced each +other thus and the jaw of the man dropped in a consternation that would +have been ludicrous at any other time. + +"Back you go," ordered Labar. + +"Don't shoot for the love of heaven," cried the man. "I can't go back. +There are others behind me." + +Labar felt his heart quicken a beat. Was it possible that after all, +Larry had been rounded up into a trap? + +"How many of you are there?" he demanded. + +It was the voice of Tom the valet speaking from behind the leading man +that answered. "There are three of us, Mr. Labar. We can't go back. +The police are outside and they would shoot us down as we went out. We +daren't go back." + +With a little disappointment Labar recognised that Larry was not there. +The three would be Tom, and his companion, and the man he had shot. He +had, too, an idea of the dilemma in which they were placed. Clearly +there had been some sort of an encounter with the police outside, and +excited men were not likely to be too nice if a head showed itself +outside the tunnel. He had no wish to cause needless bloodshed. + +"We'll give you three minutes," he said. "They'll have cooled down a +little by then." He pushed his way nearer to them along the corridor. + +"We've a wounded man here," protested the first figure. "It will be +murder if you turn us out." + +"We'll risk it," said Labar. + +The thought of retreating back along the tunnel and allowing Tom and +his confederates to follow up he had dismissed at the moment it had +arisen. These ruffians would have a point of vantage as soon as the +tunnel opened out and might conceivably do much damage if they then +determined to resist arrest. He was not going to abandon the strength +of his position. It was no occasion for scruples, although he felt that +the fears of the trapped men might have some foundation. + +The knot was cut at the sound of a deep voice echoing from the +trap-door. "Heigh! You down below there!" + +"That's Whitehead," said Moreland, naming one of his sergeants. He +raised his voice to a shout. "It's all right, Whitehead. This is +Moreland. Stand by and your friends will come up like little gentlemen." + +"Right you are, sir," agreed the sergeant. "We'll be waiting." + +"Now then. Out you go," said Labar, and slowly the men backed with the +two inspectors and their aides following them closely. + +As Labar and Moreland pulled themselves out of the tunnel they were +confronted by a bunch of plain-clothes men and uniformed police with +three dejected prisoners in their midst. The Chief Constable who had +gone from "Mope's Bottom" with the Flying Squad men was mopping his +brow with a silk handkerchief. + +"You were right," he greeted Labar. "We were just in time for a bit of +a scrap." + +"What happened?" asked Labar. + +"Some of our people found these men"--he jerked his head towards the +prisoners--"skulking in a dyke. They were challenged and opened fire. A +running fight took place for a while, and we were just in time to take +a hand in the last part of it before they went to ground." + +"Might as well find out what they know," whispered Moreland, and Labar +nodded. + +Moreland gave an order to one of his men and Tom was detached from his +companions and brought forward well out of earshot. The Yard men knew +better than to question the three together. + +"You're the man who posed as Larry's valet?" said Labar. + +"I was Mr. Hughes' body servant, sir," corrected Tom, mildly. + +"Where is he now?" + +The valet shook his head. "I know no more than you do, sir. He has +vanished." + +"So it seems. He's put you in the cart, anyway--you and your pals. What +are you going to do about it? He's doubled-crossed you. I suppose you +realise that?" + +Tom shook his head stolidly. "I don't know that, sir. In these +emergencies accidents are likely to happen beyond one's control. I +should say that Mr. Hughes has found it impossible to communicate with +us. I remember that you suggested something of the sort down below. +You will forgive me if I take the liberty of suggesting that you are +mistaken." + +"You play the part well," said Labar, with a half-sneer. "I suppose +that it's got into your blood. But I warn you. You can't play with us. +Larry Hughes has let you down. You may save yourself trouble if you +talk plain English. Give us the whole truth." + +"I am quite willing to tell you as much as I know," said the valet. + +"We'll see," said the inspector, sternly. "Go on." + +But Tom was neither to be coaxed nor threatened. Whether he had any +part in the escape of Larry and Billy Bungey, Labar found it hard to +decide. His mask of a face showed as little beneath the surface as his +soft, carefully chosen words. + +With an air of complete frankness he told of his excursion to the +mouth of the tunnel, with his chief and Billy Bungey, and how he +had been ordered to return while the two explored the immediate +neighbourhood. He had, as Labar knew, gone back with one man but Larry +had disappeared. Once more he had gone back to the tunnel. There he had +found the man wounded by Labar, who had just recovered consciousness, +and had given him rough first-aid. Meantime his other companion had +been sent on to close the interior door of the tunnel. Then it was that +the three had determined to make a bolt for it. Tom admitted indirectly +that Labar's coup and Larry's absence had inclined them to panic. They +had determined to get away from the place at all costs. Thus it was +that they had encountered one of the patrols of police who had by then +reached the neighbourhood of the exit, and had strove to regain their +refuge in the tunnel. + +All of this was exactly as might have been surmised by the detective. +There was nothing that carried them any farther in the search for Larry +Hughes. The other two men each examined separately told the same story, +and Labar was forced to conclude that they knew no more than he did of +the whereabouts of the master rogue. + +The prisoners were sent back to "Mope's Bottom" and a hurried council +of war was held. + + + + + CHAPTER XXVIII + + +The immediate question to be solved was whether Larry Hughes was still +hiding on the marsh, or whether he had eluded the network of police +and got safely away. So far as the detectives could tell every one +of the gang who had been at "Mope's Bottom," except Larry and Billy +Bungey, was safely in custody. Messengers were hurriedly despatched +in various directions, and a fresh and combined sweep of the marshes +begun. Meantime motor cars were sent for from various points by which +the prisoners already gathered in might be escorted to Lydd, where they +were to remain for the time guarded by a strong force of police. + +Labar had enough respect for Larry to think that, for the time, he had +again eluded them. He did not believe that Larry would be found on +the marsh, and the events of the next couple of hours proved that he +was right. The master crook had somehow got through the cordon or had +hidden himself and his companion with supreme cunning. But the odds +were now with justice. It could only be a matter of time. Even if he +managed to get out of the country--a matter of considerable doubt--it +would be an unprecedented thing if he held himself secure from the +police machine of the world. + +Word reached Labar at the end of the search that a suspicious yacht +had been picked up by H.M. destroyer "Hawk" off Dungeness and had been +escorted to Dover. Everything had been found in order aboard her, but +that her owner's name was given as Hughes. The crew were remaining on +board under guard, until such time as someone from Scotland Yard should +look them over. This was a business in which he promptly enlisted the +services of Moreland, who departed with one of his sergeants in a motor +car with a promise to return at the earliest possible moment. The news +that the motor boat which had put out from Camber had broken down ere +it reached its destination was now of trifling interest. + +Satisfied, after a couple of hours, that the likelihood of picking up +Larry immediately was remote, Labar returned to "Mope's Bottom" with +Malone and two or three more men from the Yard to make a systematic and +complete rummage of the tunnel. + +He was not altogether surprised to find that the Assistant Commissioner +in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department, and Winter the +Chief Constable, were there to greet him. They had run down by car--a +little too late for the fair as Winter expressed it. + +They listened as he gave a short account of the events of the day, and +Winter chuckled as Labar told how he had fallen into Larry's trap and +extricated himself. + +"You came close to making a hash of it, young feller. You wouldn't have +any sympathy from me if you were a corpse right now. You're too darned +impetuous. I've told you so before. Besides, what business had you +running things on your own? You're an outsider in this district. You +might have paid the local officers the compliment of consulting them +before you dashed off on this stunt. You didn't even have the excuse +that Miss Noelson was still here." + +"I agree, sir," said Labar with the complacency of a man who felt that +results had justified him. "I was wrong." + +"Well, don't let it happen again, that's all. Running round bossing +everybody just as if you were Home Secretary, instead of a chief +detective inspector." + +Labar lifted his eyebrows. "I beg your pardon, sir." + +The Assistant Commissioner broke in. "That's Winter's way of keeping +you humble, Mr. Labar. It's quite true that you are promoted. It will +be in orders this week." + +"Can't trust you in a division," snorted Winter. "Want to have you +under my own eye at the Yard. I'll see that you work." He broke +off abruptly with a comment on the escape of Larry Hughes and thus +sidetracked any attempt at thanks on the part of Labar and brought him +back to the business in hand. + +The two Yard chiefs elected to take a hand in the search of the tunnel. +"How did it come about that you thought of a back door?" asked the +Assistant Commissioner. + +"Just put two and two together. Miss Noelson told me that there were +times when one or more of the gang would disappear from the house +and she was sure that they had not gone out by the gate. Looked a +possible explanation of many things, especially the way that stolen +goods were got out of the country. So I made up my mind to look for a +tunnel--particularly one that led from Larry's private room." + +Inch by inch with the help of torches they went over the tunnel. It was +clear that it had been enlarged and shored up since the old days of the +smugglers. Once admitting the possibility of getting material, it was +simple to understand that Larry would be in no difficulty in obtaining +labour. He himself had a reputation as a craftsman, and there were +several among those who were under his sway who were skilled in many +directions. The steel sliding doors were examined by Winter with an +expert eye. They were miracles of ingenuity, although they had failed +in their evident purpose as a safeguard in cases of emergency. + +The walls of the tunnel room were lined with strong steel boxes, the +majority of which were unlocked. These had clearly been used for the +temporary disposal of stolen property, until it could be embarked on +Larry's yacht. Suit-cases and handbags of various types were standing +about and an investigation of these showed that these had been packed +with the most portable and valuable of the goods from the lockers. + +The Assistant Commissioner applied a match to his pipe. "As a small boy +one of my most determined dreams was to see an Aladdin's cave some day. +Now I know what it would look like." + +"There were forty thieves in that business," said Winter. "Larry seems +to have resurrected the whole gang." + +They carried the loot back into the house where a more precise +examination of the contents of the bags could be made, and a detailed +list written out. A very few minutes sufficed to show that they had +retrieved, not only practically the whole of the stuff stolen from +Streetly House, but articles which were part of the proceeds of many +other robberies. The detectives had at hand no descriptions, but their +memories aided them to identify many things with certainty. Here was +thrown light on many affairs that had been brought off in Labar's +division, and which had caused him many uneasy moments. + +"There's pretty well all the evidence you want," said Winter. "All +that you need now is to lay hands on Larry. It's an open-and-shut case +against him and his people." + +Labar glanced at his watch. "We'll need an expert with proper tools to +open up the other locked steel boxes," he said. "Apart from that Mr. +Malone might take charge here now. I want to get away to Lydd to see +about getting some of these people sorted out and sent up to London. +Those I don't know anything about I propose to charge for the moment +with being concerned in the Streetly House job. What do you think, sir?" + +The Assistant Commissioner nodded. "I suppose you agree, Winter?" + +The Chief Constable was prepared to accept Labar's suggestion. + +"The Public Prosecutor will want to have a word on the subject of the +charges you propose to make. Wish we could get hold of Larry and finish +up the whole thing at one fell swoop. You'll have plenty to do, Labar. +I'll take what I can off your shoulders, but there's a lot of things +that will need your attention in person." + +Labar nodded. The clean-up promised, so far as he could see, to keep +him busy indefinitely. For each individual case among the prisoners +was certain to involve a multitude of inquiries, to say nothing of a +ream of dockets and other correspondence. The time likely to be spent +in court was not inconsiderable, but that would be the least of his +troubles. Meanwhile he had a wish as a point of personal pride to be +the man who should effect the arrest of Larry Hughes--a thing which he +began to fear would be unlikely. Scotland Yard, in looking for results, +cares very little whether Smith, Brown or Robinson brings off the final +coup. If there were other matters to occupy Labar he would have to +stand aside. Nor could he rid himself of an undercurrent of feeling +that Penelope was not to be regarded as safe until Larry was under lock +and key. + +Something of what was passing in his mind he managed to indicate. "It's +going to be hard luck on me if I don't get a chance to go and get +Larry," he observed. + +"Man, but you're a hog," ejaculated Winter. "You want to wind up +like the detectives in the story books. Leave a bit of the limelight +for someone else. Maybe Larry will be pulled up, in the end, by some +country constable. What the blazes does it matter who actually arrests +him? Don't you know that we're all pieces of a machine? Stick to your +knitting, Labar." + +The two heads of the C.I.D. accompanied Labar to Lydd where a list of +the prisoners by name had been made out. Arrangements had already been +made for a motor "Black Maria" to be available in case it was decided +to send them to London. + +A room was placed at Labar's disposal in the little local police +station, and one by one the prisoners were brought before him, for he +was anxious to make a final attempt to find out if among them there +was anyone who might throw light on Larry's plans. In each case it +was a solitary interview. There were reasons for this. It is a trait +of human nature--particularly criminal human nature--to be more +disposed to confidence where there are not too many witnesses. Labar +felt, also, that there might arise occasions for questioning that a +strict interpretation of the law would not permit. Every Scotland Yard +man must on occasion put a blind eye to the telescope. The laws and +regulations made to protect the public if carried out to the letter +would make the detection of crime almost impossible. + +But since Larry's flight was only a spur of the moment impulse, Labar +gained nothing that would help him to any extent in that matter. Hints +of other associates, suggestions of possible hiding places, came from +some of the more weak-kneed brethren who saw the fall of the heavens +in this wholesale capture. These things the detective made note of +for future use. In one or two cases he realised that some of those he +had rounded up were more dupes than knaves. Most of them, of course, +would have him believe that they were innocent victims of circumstance. +One or two such as Tom the valet, were defiantly dumb. On the whole, +however, Labar felt that he had put in a good hour's work before he +came to the last of the list, the two women, Sophie Lengholm and Mrs. +Gertstein. + +Sophie, her head held high, her determined jaw set, showed no sign +of friendliness as Labar set out a chair for her. Labar was a little +puzzled how to deal with her for the moment. + +"I believe you saved my life, to-day," he said. "In any case you saved +me from a very awkward position. Why did you do it?" + +"I am certain I saved your life," she answered, coldly. "Don't think +that it was because of any liking that I have for you or anyone else +from Scotland Yard. Whatever I am, whatever I have been, I have never +had a hand in murder. That was all there was to it." + +He shook his head. "I want to tell you that I'm grateful, not only +for that, but for some things in which I have a guess that you stood +between Miss Noelson and trouble." + +"Oh, that." She made an impatient gesture. "Larry wanted to go too far. +Anyone would have stopped him." + +"You're a little before my time," he said as though thinking aloud. "I +can't quite place you without looking you up. What have we got against +you?" + +The woman laughed without merriment. "As if I should say that you have +anything against me." + +"Take it from me, Sophie, I am not thinking of trapping you. I am +more concerned to find some way to let you down lightly. I don't want +something from the back of beyond to crop up against you if there is +any way of getting you out of the present mess. Whether you think me +sincere or not, I am anxious to stand your friend." + +Sophie Lengholm had been born and bred to an ingrained distrust and +contempt of all police officers. But she was a woman of the world +and Labar's words and manner had an effect. Not that her instinctive +feelings were entirely dissipated. "Do you want me to squeal?" she +asked. "Because if so you needn't waste any more breath." + +"That's just as you feel about it," he replied. "I should judge that +you don't owe very much to Larry or his friends, but if you want to +stand by them well and good. But can't you trust me about yourself? +Give me some line on which I can act without prejudice to my duty." + +Her face softened. "I believe that you are straight. Mind you, it is +understood that nothing I say goes out of this room as an admission +from me." + +"This is between you and me, Sophie," he agreed. + +"My real name is Cummings," she said. "I am the wife of Dave Cummings. +I can see that you remember now." + +"About twelve or fifteen years ago," he said. "Wasn't he the man who +got a lifer for shooting at a policeman in Manchester?" + +"That's the case. It was a jeweller's shop and I was dogging outside +when the constable became suspicious. I gave Dave the office and we +started to move off. Dave never went armed on these things--in case. +But I carried a pistol and when we were pressed hard I passed it on to +Dave. He used it, and perhaps you remember it was touch and go whether +the officer lived. Dave and I separated after the shot was fired, and +he got caught. For some reason it was supposed that he was alone. The +policeman was a little excited I guess, and when he recovered spoke of +only one person. So Dave went down and I got away." + +"That's a long while ago," said the detective. "Unless you admit your +complicity there is no evidence against you." + +"Half a minute. Larry had put up that job for us, and naturally, he saw +that everything was done for Dave that could be done. Of course Dave +told him everything. In any case he knew that I was there. Apart from +that there were others in the business who knew and whom he undertook +to keep quiet. When Dave was sentenced Larry undertook to look after +me. I was useful in many ways. It was only when he found that I was +trying to get out of the game that he cracked the whip over me by +threatening to have me put away. He would have done it, too. Larry has +never made a threat that he hasn't been prepared to carry out." + +"But you haven't been at 'Mope's Bottom' all this time?" + +"Oh, Lord, no. There were other ways in which I was useful. Larry has +not often dealt direct with crooks. I have been down here for the last +few years." + +"Looking after the embarkation of stolen property?" + +She shot a fierce glance at him from under her eyelashes, and Labar +though convinced that his shot was right felt as though he had taken +an unfair advantage. He gnawed at the end of a pencil. "I'm sorry. +I should not have said that. I suppose that it is not the least use +asking you to come out with everything that you know of Larry?" + +"Not the least," she agreed with decision. "I'll tell you all you like +about myself, but I won't implicate other people. I'm a thief, the +daughter of thieves, and the wife of a thief. You won't find very much +about me except what I've told you. If you can keep that out of it, +I'll be obliged." + +He rose and offered his hand. "Thank you, Sophie. You can be sure that +I remember what I owe you. Rest easy about the old business. But this +is different. You'll have to go through as an accomplice of Larry's you +know." + +"That's all right with me, Mr. Labar," she said. "You've got your job +to do." + +She gripped his hand and with a nod and a smile passed out of the room. + + + + + CHAPTER XXIX + + +Limp, hysterical, and half-paralysed by her own emotions, Mrs. +Gertstein took the place of Sophie Lengholm. It was an interview that +did not last long, for she literally flung herself before the detective +in a burst of piteous appeals for mercy. There was no possibility of +extracting information from her in her present state, and Labar gave +instructions that she should have the attention of a doctor. + +Moreland came by motor to Lydd from Dover. So far as any fresh results +were concerned his journey had been fruitless. The members of the crew +of Larry's boat were utterly unknown to him. But his arrival back at +Lydd was opportune, for he was able to take charge of the arrangements +for getting the prisoners up to London. + +Labar himself was to follow, but he was wishful to run over to Rye +to escort Penelope to town, and he determined to have a final look +round before leaving the district. It was still within the bounds of +possibility that some clue would arise in regard to the movements of +Larry. Winter and the Assistant Commissioner also were anxious to get +back to their desks in town, but decided to stay overnight in case of +any fresh development. + +The three motored over to Rye together in the gathering dusk, making +a casual detour towards "Mope's Bottom" at the request of Labar to +pick up a report from Malone. But Malone was not there. Indeed, there +were but a couple of C.I.D. men left in the house, and two uniformed +constables of the Kentish force on duty outside. One of the C.I.D. men +observed that a messenger had been sent on to Lydd--whom they must +have missed--telling of two men believed to be Larry and Billy Bungey +lurking in the buildings of a farm on the outskirts of Rye. Malone had +at once set off to investigate, taking with him a dozen men roped in +from "Mope's Bottom" and its vicinity. + +"Who brought this story?" asked Winter. + +The officer questioned jerked his head outside, where by now, spite of +the loneliness of the place, something like a small crowd had gathered +about the house which had seen such strange doings during the day. + +"It wasn't an officer, sir. Someone picked it up as gossip outside. +Malone questioned the man who started it, and decided that there might +be something in it. He judged that it was his duty to go and have a +look into it." + +"Quite right," agreed the Chief Constable. He turned to Labar. "It's +likely enough to be a mare's nest. You know how these yarns spread +about at these times. Doesn't sound like Larry to me. All the same we'd +better go and see. It's on our way." + +With this vague destination--for no one knew anything more +concrete--they set off, the Metropolitan constable, who drove, taking +the marsh road cautiously under the advice of the local policeman who +sat by him as a guide. + +On the main road into Rye, Labar had his attention drawn to an +antiquated Ford which he thought that he recognised. As he suspected, +it contained Malone. The big sergeant was out and at the doorway of the +Assistant Commissioner's car in a trice. + +"I was hoping to catch you, sir," he said addressing Labar. + +"A stumer, I suppose?" questioned Winter. + +"No, it was the straight tip. We were too late to do anything +ourselves, but one of the Kent men has pretty well blown Billy Bungey's +head off with a shot gun. Billy's as dead a man as ever you saw." + +"And Larry?" interjected Labar. + +"Larry was in the shemozzle, but there were only two constables and he +plugged the one who laid Billy out. The other gave him both barrels but +he doubts if he so much as winged him. Larry held him and the farmer +at bay with his automatic, and backed into a field of standing corn. +Neither of them cared to follow him without more help. By the time +that arrived there was nothing to find except his tracks through the +corn which came out on this road. I've sent men the other way and we +were seeing if we could pick up any trace in this direction." + +A few quick questions made the matter clear. A couple of men detailed +to patrol the road had received information from a farmhand of two +strangers moving about the outbuildings of a farm. Their movements +had, in light of the mysterious police doings information of which had +spread over the marsh, struck him as suspicious. + +The two policemen, without waiting for more, had rushed to search the +place. Rounding a haystack one of them had come face to face with Billy +Bungey. They were perhaps a couple of yards apart. As the gunman raised +his automatic the policeman fired. Billy dropped forward half his head +shot away, and it was then that Larry Hughes came into view round the +haystack and shot the policeman through the shoulder. The other had +been held at bay until Larry could make good his escape. Then the +wounded man had been assisted into the farmhouse, and in the queer way +that rumour spreads, news of the adventure had reached Malone. + +"Carry on, Malone," ordered Winter. "We can get into Rye in ten minutes +and send out help. We'll keep an eye in this direction." + +It was necessary to get to Rye also to assume direction of the +telegraphic and telephonic communications of the hunt. Assured that +Larry was still within close reach, Labar ached to take some physical +part in the hunt. Had he been alone it was probable that he would have +dropped all other considerations to do so. But the presence of his two +superiors deterred him from any such suggestion. + +After all, there was little that he could do in Rye beyond sending out +a few more men to help beat the surroundings of the farm, and send +messages to all concerned of this new development. So far as human +foresight went all the boltholes had already been stopped. But once in +the town and this done, his thoughts moved to Penelope. He determined +to reassure her of his safety before turning out on the pursuit once +more. + +He walked from the police station a little pleased with himself. It was +the first time he had permitted himself to relax for many long hours, +and calm consideration told him that he had done well. The thing was +nearly over. To scour out any of Larry's associates who had so far +escaped would call for nothing more formidable than ordinary routine +and detail work, now that the mastermind was a fugitive who would of +a certainty be caught at any minute. It was a pity about Larry but +still---- + +He raised the knocker at the door of his lodgings. His matronly +landlady received him with warmth. + +"Glad to see you back, sir. There have been all sorts of funny stories +round the town of things that have been happening. Don't know how you +came to miss Miss Noelson. She----" + +Labar was wiping his boots on the map. "She's out, is she? Where has +she gone?" + +The landlady's face dropped. "Why, she went to meet you. Didn't you +send her a note to meet you at the railway station?" + +The detective gripped her by the shoulder and a wave of apprehension +swept over him. "I sent no note. How long ago was this?" + +"A quarter of an hour. I----" + +But Labar had flung away from her. He was running at the top of his +speed in the direction of the railway station. He was, perhaps for the +first time in his life, conscious of deadly fear. Instinctively he knew +that such a note could have only come from one person. How Larry Hughes +could have known where Penelope was, why he should take the heavy risk +of being in Rye at all were matters on which the detective did not stay +to reason. Enough it was to know that the girl was in danger. + +He stayed only to fling an abrupt question to the porter guarding the +platform. "Has any train gone out in this last ten minutes?" + +"No, sir. There's one on the other side just going out for London. +Heigh, you can't go through without a ticket." + +But Labar thrust him aside and took the short cut over the rails +without troubling the bridge. Another porter roused by the shout of his +colleague rushed to stop him. Labar gave him a push in the chest which +sent him headlong. + +"I'm a police officer," he cried. "Let me alone." + +Normally he would have cried to the officials to stop the train, but +his mind was obsessed with the one idea, and for the moment incapable +of coherent reasoning. As he swept by the line of carriages he caught a +second's view of the guard with his flag raised and his whistle at his +lips. + +The train began to move very slowly, but he was for the moment gaining +upon it, his eyes fixed upon the panorama of the carriage windows. One +glimpse he caught of a face that he knew, and jumped for the door of a +first-class carriage. In the corner of the compartment farthest from +him Larry Hughes was holding back Penelope with one hand while he faced +about with a snarl of rage at the intruder. The door stuck and Labar +wrestled fiercely to pull it open. + +Abandoning the girl for the moment Larry leapt forward and aimed a blow +at the officer which had it reached him would probably have dashed him +from his precarious hold. Then like a wild cat the girl took a hand. +So vehement was her attack that Larry was pulled from his balance and +fell backwards on top of her. Before he could recover Labar was in the +carriage. + +He had pulled his automatic but he dared not use it lest he should +hit Penelope. Dropping it upon the seat he dashed at the other man +with his naked hands. Larry was taken at a disadvantage, but, powerful +though the detective was, he was unable for a while to gain the +mastery. Pinned for the time beneath the two writhing, struggling men +the girl could do nothing. Indeed she stood in considerable danger of +injury for Labar dared not relax the fight that she might free herself. + +Larry was not so big a man as Labar, but some dynamic power seemed to +keep him going. A passing fear came to Labar that the door would give +and precipitate the three of them on the line. He exerted all his force +to pin his antagonist to the floor, but Larry was as slippery as an eel. + +The detective took the risk of suddenly releasing his man and stood +half upright. As Larry, too, tried to regain his feet Labar with +careful calculation swung at him. There was one hundred and eighty +pounds of muscular manhood behind the blow, and Larry dropped as if he +was shot. Labar dragged his body off the half-fainting girl and helped +her to a seat. + +"Are you hurt?" he asked. + +She smiled faintly upon him. "A bit bruised and breathless but +otherwise all right," she gasped. + +Satisfied that she had suffered no material harm he turned his +attention to Larry Hughes. The girl was pale as she observed him +examine the victim of the knockout. + +"Is he dead?" she said. + +Labar laughed. "No, he's alive enough. He'll be as full of beans as +ever in five minutes' time. Let's see what we can do." He lifted the +unconscious man to a more convenient position. "Now if you can help me. +Hold his hands while I make sure of him." + +She obeyed his instructions while Labar for want of anything +better--like most detectives he never carried handcuffs except for some +definite purpose--knotted his own handkerchief, and one taken from +Larry's breast pocket, about the prisoner's wrists so that his hands +were firmly lashed behind him. + +"That's that," he observed, propping Larry up in a corner. "He'll do +till we reach a station. Now tell me how all this came about." + +Careless whether Larry returned to consciousness or not he placed one +arm about her and bent his face to hers. + +"I had a note," she explained, "signed with your initials telling me +that all was well and asking me to meet you at this train as it was +necessary that you should go to London immediately." + +"Who brought the note?" + +"Some boy. Probably a messenger picked up in the street. Of course +I went to the station at once, but could see no sign of you, nor of +anyone that I knew till the train was about to start. That was just a +little before you came. Then suddenly Larry Hughes was beside me. I was +startled, of course, but the audacity of the thing somehow prevented +any sense of alarm for the instant. + +"'Don't be alarmed,' he said. 'You are looking for Labar?' + +"'What are you doing here?' I cried. 'Where is Mr. Labar?' I was so +worried about you that I was unable to think clearly. + +"'I am on parole till the train starts,' he declared. 'You will be +pleased to learn that I have surrendered, that I am a prisoner.'" + +Labar interrupted her story. "My dear child. Don't tell me that you +were ingenuous enough to swallow that--to believe that I would let a +prisoner--especially Larry--move about on his own?" + +"It does sound silly. I was off my balance I suppose. I did not +altogether believe it or disbelieve it. It sounded a little strange, +but then so many strange things have happened to me. I could not +account for his presence in Rye unless he had surrendered. He declared +that you were treating him as a gentleman, and that you had gone to +send a telegram and would be back in a minute. Malone was already in +the train. + +"We walked along the train to find the compartment in which Malone was +supposed to be. All at once he gave me a quick push and thrust me into +the train. Instantly he followed, pinning me down to the seat with some +kind of jiu-jitsu hold, and with one hand over my mouth, but seating +himself so that it would be difficult for anyone passing along the +platform to notice what he was doing. Then you came." + +In the other corner of the carriage Larry Hughes opened his eyes. + +"A fool for luck, Labar," he said sardonically. "Things have come your +way with a vengeance." + + + + + CHAPTER XXX + + +Penelope impulsively gripped more tightly on Labar's arm, but the +detective could afford to take his antagonist's sneer with a certain +amount of equanimity. + +"I told you that you couldn't go on bucking against the machine for +ever, Larry," he said. "And talking of fools, what made you mad enough +to go to Rye?" + +Hughes fidgeted a little to get his bound hands in a more comfortable +position. "My dear Sherlock, if you had more brains and less luck, +you wouldn't ask me that question. Where is the last place that you +expected to find me to-day? Where are your people still looking for +me now? Not in Rye. Nor would they have looked very hard in London. +They're clustering round the ports interfering with innocent trippers. +Where would a hunted man with only ten pounds in his pocket make for +in the circumstances? I ask you. If he had any sense he'd go in the +direction that would be least obvious. He'd make for a place where he +could get funds and lay quiet till he could get snugly out of the +country." + +"Sorry to have had to truss you up so tight," said Labar, as the +other writhed a little impatiently. "I wouldn't trouble to attempt to +loosen your hands." He left his seat and came over by Larry in obvious +readiness to deal with any contingency. "This is the finish, Larry. You +may as well take it easily." + +Hughes sat quiet for a while. Then a bitter smile flickered about his +lips. "Machine or no machine, do you know what's thrown me down, Labar? +You and some of the dolts from Scotland Yard may preen yourselves, but +there's only one thing in it. Do you know Latin? _Quos Deus vult +perdere prius dementat._ In other words I made a fool of myself over +a woman." His glance rested for a moment on Penelope's face. "I mixed +love with my business. If I had left Miss Noelson alone would you have +known anything about 'Mope's Bottom'? You'd have had the devil's own +job to bring anything home to me. Even now I'd have been travelling +up to town, and left you and your gang running round in circles, if I +hadn't taken a desperate chance of snatching her at the last moment. +Yes, Miss Noelson, if it's any satisfaction to you it's you who have +finished me and not Scotland Yard." + +"Go as far as you like," observed Labar. "The big fact is that here you +are and here I am. As a matter of curiosity how did you know where Miss +Noelson was to-day?" + +"Easy," said Larry, contemptuously. "By the time I got to the town +every soul in it knew that there were happenings on the marsh. The +police knew, and the tradesmen knew, that a detective down from London +had started the affair. Rye isn't a big place and I know one or two of +the tradesfolk, although, of course, they didn't know I was the man all +the bother was about. I used my wits, Labar. Now let me ask how things +went at 'Mope's Bottom' after I left." + +"We made a clean-up," explained the detective. "Nobody hurt very +seriously, but we've got the whole of the gang, and we've raided your +cache. You'll have to explain a lot of things." + +Larry lifted his shoulders indifferently. "Oh, I'll take what's coming +to me. Let the boys down as light as you can. There's some white men +amongst them." + +The detective made no reply and Larry subsided into a moody silence. + +At the first stop Labar confided to Penelope a couple of wires to hand +from the window. He had no intention of taking his eyes from Larry. One +could never tell. + +Thus it was that at Charing Cross a couple of men from Grape Street +were available as an escort for Larry, leaving Labar free to see the +girl safely settled at an hotel till some more permanent arrangement +could be made for her. Thence he made his way to Scotland Yard where +the omnipotent Commissioner of Police himself, was waiting to receive +some account of the affair and to offer his congratulations. By the +time Labar reached Grape Street the remainder of the prisoners had +been brought up from Lydd and Moreland was there to wring his hand and +perform a little war dance. + +"So you've hooked Larry after all. Good for you, old bean. Let's go and +have a drink, and you can tell me all about it. Gad, I wouldn't wonder +if they made you an Assistant Commissioner after this." + +Labar hooked his fingers in the lapels of his friend's waistcoat and +held him at arm's length. "Don't you be so mighty familiar with me, +Inspector Moreland. Remember that you are talking to your superior +officer." + +"Gosh, they haven't?" Moreland opened his eyes in a wide stare. "Boy, +there's some live people at the Yard still whatever the papers say. +Chief Inspector Labar, if you'll leave off throttling me for a second, +I'll take off my hat to you. How an idle blighter like you got away +with it is beyond me. Now a real industrious, hard-working fellow like +myself never gets a chance." + +Arm in arm the two departed for the threatened libation to Labar's +promotion. As they stood in the little snuggery of a bar, known to a +select few in one of the alleys off Piccadilly, Moreland paused with +his glass in his hand. + +"There's something about you that I can't account for at the minute, +Harry," he said. "There's a smug complacency which makes me feel that +success isn't going to agree with you if--if it isn't due to something +else. Tell me has the wedding day been fixed?" + +Labar came as near a blush as his tanned countenance would allow. He +grinned a little shamefacedly. "One or two things to think of first," +he explained. "For instance there's the question of a best man. If I +could find some fellow who wouldn't let me down by playing the clown I +might be inclined to persuade her--the lady--to settle it as soon as +possible." + +"You want a serious-minded, good-looking fellow, a man of distinction +and presence. I am flattered by your offer. If I have no more pressing +engagement on that day I'll be at the ringside. Now I'll pay for one +more drink and we must be on our way." + +The two friends parted, for there was much to do on the morrow, and +Labar, at least, felt the need of a night's rest. + +He was astir early in the morning, but as he propped the _Daily +Mail_ up by his eggs and bacon he forgot a healthy appetite as his +eyes scanned the page which was practically all devoted to the round-up +and captures of the preceding day. The final column of the "story" was +headed: + + TRAGIC DEATH OF MR. SOLLY GERTSTEIN. + + Great Financier Dies of Heart Failure on Learning of his Wife's + Arrest. + +"A tragic episode was added to this great feat of Scotland Yard on the +receipt of the news in London last night. Some account of the affair +was published in the last editions of the evening papers, and in the +stop press column the name of Mrs. Adèle Gertstein was given in the +list of persons who were detained by the police. + +"Late last evening Mr. Gertstein was found by one of his servants +sitting fully dressed in his room with a copy of an evening paper +clutched in his hand. A doctor was summoned but his assistance was of +no avail. Mr. Gertstein was dead...." + +There followed a biographical sketch of the dead man's activities, and +some speculation as to what might happen to the fortune he had left. + +Labar tossed the paper aside. "Poor old chap," he murmured. He turned +thoughtfully to his breakfast. He was sorry in a way for the fate that +had overtaken the little millionaire, but that was no reason why he +should go hungry. It was a tragedy, of course, but he did not feel any +personal responsibility. In charging Mrs. Gertstein he had acted merely +as an agent of the law. He wondered what Penelope would have to say +about it. + +Nothing could alter what had happened. What was the use of worrying. He +finished his breakfast with zest, and pausing on his way out to glance +in a mirror in the hall to assure himself that he was scrupulously +dressed he set off for Grape Street. + +Both Marlow, the detective superintendent, and Moreland were already +there, as well as a bunch of the divisional C.I.D. men. The inspector +who had taken charge of the division during Labar's absence, slid out +from his seat at the desk. + +"Just about your last day as a divisional detective inspector," smiled +Marlow. "Slip into it, my lad. In an hour and a half you'll have to be +in court." + +Labar flung himself on the pile of papers with desperate energy. He +perceived that Moreland had taken many matters of detail into his own +hands, for there were statements, signed by officers under the control +of the latter, among the mass of documents. + +Now and then something arose on which he would seek the comment of his +two confrères. Then it would happen that one of the waiting divisional +staff would be despatched on some inquiry or other mission by which a +point might be made clear. + +Although so many of the gang had been swept into the meshes of the +net with Larry there still remained--as was inevitable in such a wide +spread organisation--a number of associates whom it was essential to +run down. There was still more work in planning a course of campaign +among those merely suspected to be associates. In one or two cases it +was decided to make arrests with the reasonable certainty that evidence +to justify them would arise at a later stage. Now that Larry's reign +was over the detectives anticipated no difficulty with a class of +informant which had been rather shy while he remained at liberty. + +Among those who were to be arrested and definitely charged was Gold +Dust Teddy. Detective Sergeant Down to whom was entrusted the execution +of this mission, received his orders with satisfaction. The absence of +Teddy was likely to make a difference in the statistics of crime. + +"That's the lot," said Labar, at last. "We'll be able to use Stebbins +as King's evidence if the Public Prosecutor agrees. Not that the +evidence isn't clear enough without him. I suppose that I'll have to +see him now." + +Marlow looked at his watch. "Not till after the court proceedings you +won't. Moreland had a chat with him some time after midnight. All +clear cut on the general matter. Every one will be charged to-day with +stealing and receiving the Gertstein stuff. It's only formal to-day and +other charges can be added at the next hearing." + +"There's Mrs. Gertstein. I'm sure she was not in the robbery." + +"No," said Moreland. "Do you think that I'm an ass. The case against +her is attempted murder and forgery." + +"Plain sailing as far as things go at present," said Marlow. "But Larry +won't go down without a struggle. Take it from me that if there is +anything money can do it will be done. If there is any weakness in the +case it will be pulled to pieces at the Old Bailey." + +To this proposition neither of the inspectors deemed it worth while +to reply. Indeed, it was self-evident. It would be doing Labar an +injustice to say that he did not care what happened at the trial. +Theoretically, of course, he should be as impartial as the jury. It +was his business--theoretically--to apprehend rogues on reasonable +suspicion, and to leave the question of their guilt or innocence to the +court. + +In actual fact though prepared to present his case with fairness he was +determined to strain every nerve to ensure a conviction. He had covered +every possible point where evidence might be gathered according to his +own abilities, but he was certain that the distinguished counsel who +occupied the post of Public Prosecutor would point out other weaknesses +and ask him to follow up certain lines to strengthen the case. Human +nature is human nature even in the police force. + +As Marlow had foreseen the biggest men at the criminal bar had been +retained for the prisoners. But the first hearing at the police court +was purely a formal affair, and Labar betook himself to the Home Office +to consult with the Public Prosecutor, whose cold trained legal brain +had already got a plan of campaign mapped out. The Solicitor-General +was to lead for the prosecution, and every legal resource at the +disposal of the Government was to be put at his disposition. + +For only one person did Labar put in a plea for such leniency as could +be afforded. That was Sophie Lengholm. + +"H'm." The Public Prosecutor frowned. "She's in the same class as +several of the others. We might tell the judge she saved your life. Is +there anything up against her besides the present case?" He rummaged +among his papers. "I have nothing here." + +"I know of no other charge which we have any chance of substantiating," +declared Labar. + +"Then leave it as it is. We'll do what we can." + + * * * * * + +The weeks passed with long, drawn-out hearings at the police court, and +the preliminary skirmishes of counsel. Almost every other day Labar +found the tangle which he was unravelling lead to the arrest of someone +or the other of the criminals who formed the aristocracy of crookdom in +the metropolis. Even he was surprised at the ramifications of Larry's +interests. + +As a receiver on a wholesale scale Larry seemed to have dealt directly +or indirectly with half the rogues in London. As is the way in these +matters one thing led to another. The unearthing of a small receiver +who was in the habit of passing on his biggest loot to Larry Hughes, +would bring about the discovery of a nest of smaller crooks who had +scarcely heard of Larry. + +"There'll be no work left for the C.I.D. if things go on like this," +lamented Winter. + +Labar had forgotten about golf although his handicap would be +seriously in danger. There were other things for him, which +circumstances would not allow him to neglect. He was no longer driving +a machine; he was part of a machine and willy-nilly he had to go +forward. + +It must not be supposed that he did not have his occasional hours of +leisure. Penelope, however, had a mortgage upon these, and she did not +play golf, although she promised at a later stage to take it up. + +"You see you're constitutionally a lazy man, Harry," she explained. "I +can't allow you to have any other interests but your work--and myself. +You'll soon have a wife to support." + +"That's a point," he agreed. "But I'm not so sure that I want to marry +you after all. You see----" + +She looked at him with perturbed eyes and pouting lips. "If----" she +began. + +"I saw poor old Gertstein's solicitors to-day," he interrupted. "They +know how things stand between you and me, and they confided something +to me. It may make a difference." + +"How?" + +"It's his will. He's left the bulk of his fortune to nephews and other +distant relatives. Mrs. Gertstein is to get two thousand pounds a year, +and a similar sum has been left to you. The will was made a few days +before his death. So in a way you're an heiress, you see. And I'm only +a chief detective inspector getting a few hundreds a year." + +She smiled and put her arms round his neck. "That all. Then I'll tell +you what we'll do. As soon as this case is over we'll get married--ever +so quietly--and you shall retire and play golf all day long if you want +to." + +"I won't deny the first part of that proposition," he said. "On the +other I'm afraid I can't agree. I'm going on with my job. I'm not going +to live on my wife." + +She kissed him. "Do you know that in some ways you're delightfully +early Victorian? But I love you for it. Go on being a policeman until +you are a thousand if you like." + +"I'm afraid that they won't stand me that long," he reflected, with +half-whimsical seriousness. "They were finding me out before this case +began. I suppose I am an indolent man. It's a notorious fact. I hate to +be bored. When I joined the service I had funny ideas about detectives, +I thought of the excitement and not of the monotony. Now action stirs +me up. There's not a deal of fun in finding out a man who has pilfered +a hundredweight of coals out of a station yard, nor in sifting and +making out dry official papers day after day. That sends me into a kind +of stupor and my brain will not act. They'll certainly find out that +I'm a four-flusher one of these days." + +"I think Mr. Winter knows more about you than you do yourself," she +protested. + +"Yes. Winter's a downy bird. He knows that I've got a conscience. It +really used to hurt me to play golf sometimes," he fumbled in his +waistcoat pocket and his face turned a bright scarlet. "Say, dear----" + +"Well?" + +"Do you know I've forgotten--that is I haven't had time--I mean I meant +to--perhaps you've been wondering--well it comes to this----" He made a +desperate plunge. "The long and short of it is that I've been meaning +to get you a ring and--and----" + +Her clear laughter rang through the room. "You've been too lazy to get +it." + +"Not exactly that," he protested. + +She shook her head reprovingly. "Don't stumble any more. You'll only +get in deeper. Have you any money on you?" + +He displayed a well-filled wallet. + +"That's all right. Stay right where you are. I'm going to put on my +things, and we're going out now, immediately. You're not going to +escape me, Harry Labar. I'm taking no risks. You buy me an engagement +ring in this next half hour and I'm going to stand over you and see +that you do it." + +Thus Labar's betrothal was ratified. In spite of his gibes at himself +he settled down to his new job at Scotland Yard with some prospect of +success, partly because Winter had his eye on him, partly because the +work that came his way was of a congenial type. + +The day came when Larry and his friends were brought up for trial at +the Old Bailey. Labar took his stand in the witness box for examination +at the hands of Treasury Counsel. His evidence began with that master +piece of condensation evolved by some long dead and gone police +official, "From evidence received----" + +The reader of these pages will know more closely than most of those +who heard the trial how the information was acquired that led to the +imposition of a sentence of twenty years penal servitude upon Larry +Hughes, and terms varying from ten years downwards upon the rest of +his gang. Mrs. Gertstein, a broken woman, was sent to prison for five +years, while Sophie Lengholm, on the plea of counsel for the Crown was +given eighteen months hard labour. + +Larry, self-possessed as ever, bowed to the judge with courtesy, and +waved his hand gaily to Labar in the well of the court. + +"It's a long time, Labar," he cried. "But one of these times we shall +meet again. Give my love to----" + +The warders hustled him out of the dock. + + + THE END. + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75493 *** diff --git a/75493-h/75493-h.htm b/75493-h/75493-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..13c951f --- /dev/null +++ b/75493-h/75493-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8215 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <title> + The Lazy Detective | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} +@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } +hr.full {width: 95%; margin-left: 2.5%; margin-right: 2.5%;} +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + +x-ebookmaker-drop {display: none;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.right {text-align: right;} + +.smcap { font-variant:small-caps; } + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + +div.titlepage { + text-align: center; + page-break-before: always; + page-break-after: always; +} + +div.titlepage p { + text-align: center; + text-indent: 0em; + font-weight: bold; + line-height: 1.5; + margin-top: 3em; +} + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +table.autotable { border-collapse: collapse; } +table.autotable td, +table.autotable th { padding: 4px; } + +.tdl {text-align: left;} + +.ph1 { text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; } +.ph1 { font-size: x-large; margin: .83em auto; } + +.ph2 { text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; } +.ph2 { font-size: medium; margin: .83em auto; } + +.ph3 { text-align: right; text-indent: 0em; } +.ph3 { font-size: medium; margin: .83em auto; } + + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75493 ***</div> + +<div class="figcenter x-ebookmaker-drop"> + <img src="images/illusc.jpg" alt=""> +</div> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<div class="titlepage"> + +<h1>THE LAZY DETECTIVE</h1> + +<p class="ph1">BY GEORGE DILNOT</p> + +<p>Author of "The Crime Club," "Scotland Yard," etc.</p> + +<p>Boston and New York<br> +Houghton Mifflin Company<br> +1927</p> + +<p>Printed in Great Britain.</p> + + +</div> + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">CHAPTER XXIX</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">CHAPTER XXX</a></td></tr> +</table> + + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2>THE LAZY DETECTIVE</h2> + + + +<hr class="chap"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</h2> +</div> + + +<p>"And remember, Labar, you don't bluff me." The Chief Constable, who had +been through the game himself, tapped the string of figures that lay +upon his desk with an aggressive forefinger. "You're lazy—damned lazy. +If things don't clear up in your division in the next month or so you +can count on something happening. That's all. Think it over."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir," said the other, with the smooth suavity of a man who +had received a compliment, and swung on velvet toes from the room.</p> + +<p>After all, what was the use of arguing? Divisional Detective Inspector +Labar was under no illusions about himself. He <i>was</i> lazy. All +Scotland Yard knew it. Particularly did Winter, Chief Constable of the +Criminal Investigation Department know it, for in some sort Labar was a +<i>protégé</i> of his. Yet that shrewd old veteran reckoned that even +the quality of indolence had its uses. It could make a brilliant man +concentrate fiercely on his work, in order to save time for his own +purposes. The amount of time taken by a detective on an individual job +is largely a matter on which his superiors must accept his word. Some +men slog laboriously, while others get their results quickly. In minor +positions there is always someone around to see that the work is done.</p> + +<p>All this, however, does not apply in the same degree to a detective +inspector. Such a one gives, more often than he receives, orders. As an +executive Labar felt himself a failure. Well, well, a man must have a +little time for golf.</p> + +<p>A heavy hand fell with mathematical accuracy between his shoulder +blades, and he flung round with a delicate shudder.</p> + +<p>"One of these days, Moreland, someone's going to slap you hard on the +wrist, slog you on the jaw, and kick you where it hurts most. You're +too boisterous for the society of gentlemen."</p> + +<p>Moreland, of the Flying Squad, grinned cheerfully. "Behold the infant +phenomenon of Grape Street, as the apostle of gloom," he said, walking +round Labar with mock awe. "Behold his shiny boots and well-creased +trousers, and mark his creased forehead and frowning countenance. No, +don't speak. Let me apply my well-known powers of deduction." He put +his hand to his brow. "He has—yes he has been on the carpet."</p> + +<p>A slow rueful smile broke on Labar's face. "You guessed it," he said. +"If you want promotion there's the job of divisional inspector at +Grape Street liable to be vacant some time. Better write out your +application."</p> + +<p>Moreland's levity vanished. "The old man's bitten you as bad as that? +Cheer up, and pull yourself together. Come and tell papa all about it." +He pulled Labar into an adjoining room, adjusted himself on a tall +stool and lit a pipe. "Shoot," he ordered.</p> + +<p>Harry Labar shrugged his shoulders. "There's nothing to it," he +declared. "Winter says things are too loose in the division. I've got +to tighten them up, or——"</p> + +<p>"The shelf, eh?" Moreland eyed his friend whimsically. "That'll be +a new record for you. The youngest man to be promoted divisional +inspector, and the youngest divisional inspector to retire. Well, why +don't you tighten them up?"</p> + +<p>"Blah, all blah. Easy talk. Look here, Moreland, my percentages of +unsolved crime are up—but you know why. Curse it all, Winter knows as +well as I do that Larry Hughes is operating in my district. No one, not +even the old man himself, has ever pinned anything to Larry. I'm to be +the goat. Why didn't they give me an easy division when they promoted +me, instead of the wealthiest in London, infested by all the slickest +crooks in the world? What right has the old man to be sore at me?"</p> + +<p>Moreland slid from his stool and put a hand on his friend's shoulder. +"Listen to me, Harry. They gave you the job because they thought you +could do it. To blazes with your golf handicap. Now you go and take a +pill and get on with it." He pushed the other gently from the room.</p> + +<p>To few other men than Moreland would Labar have confided his troubles. +He passed swiftly out of the little back door from the C.I.D. +headquarters, dodging the Assistant Commissioner with some skill, for +he felt that that official might be no less emphatic, if more urbane, +than the Chief Constable on the state of crime in the West End.</p> + +<p>His mind was focussed upon Larry Hughes. Larry was a gentleman who had +never been in a criminal court in his life—a sleek, cultivated man +about town, with a taste in literature and art, and enough money to run +his own steam yacht and a racing stud. His life was apparently open +to the world, his character to all seeming flawless, impeccable. Any +head-strong police officer who had ventured to put a public slur on +Larry's character, by hauling him to a dungeon cell, would have very +promptly found himself with a suit for heavy damages on his hands.</p> + +<p>Yet to Labar, as to many men in the police circles of the world, it was +certain knowledge that Larry Hughes was the most adroit and intelligent +crime organiser in London, or for the matter of that anywhere. It was +certain but utterly unprovable.</p> + +<p>There are half a dozen men in London, another half a dozen in New +York, three in Paris, a couple in Amsterdam, and a few more knocking +about other capitals of the world, who run crime on the principles +of big business. Through many intermediaries there filters to them +much knowledge which they have the means to turn to profit. These are +eclectic in their enterprises, but in general they are receivers. They +will organise and finance a burglary, a forgery, or a hold-up, but they +keep well in the background. The casual thief has never heard of them; +even the big professional crook frequently has only a dim conception +of their identity. The loot never reaches them in any tangible and +identifiable shape. They have their agents, and their tools, and many +of them die in an atmosphere of eminent respectability.</p> + +<p>Among this class the most audacious, the most ingenious, was Larry +Hughes. Labar had little doubt that, if one really got to the bottom +of things in his division, half the professional crime would have +shown Larry's finger in the pie. Either Larry must lay off of his own +volition—an unlikely event—or some method must be found of putting a +spoke in his wheel. Harry Labar did not avoid the feeling that the task +was likely to prove a man's size job.</p> + +<p>He had reached Cockspur Street when the thing happened. Even if his +mind had been less preoccupied, it is likely that he would have failed +to notice the big touring car that edged itself through the traffic +towards him. Not until it had swept close to the kerb, and he saw +the girl leaning from the near side, did he realise that it held any +significance for him. A wisp of fair hair had fallen over her forehead, +and she brushed it back with a slim gloved hand. Harry Labar, although +his colleagues held him doomed to bachelordom, had an eye for a pretty +girl and he noticed her with subconscious approval as the car drew near.</p> + +<p>Almost mechanically it dawned on him that her hand was stretched to him +from the now slowly moving car.</p> + +<p>"For you," said the girl, and a letter waved on a level with his eyes. +As he reached to take it, the car leapt away like a living thing, with +a rapidity that told of perfect acceleration and steel nerves at the +wheel.</p> + +<p>"Hey!"</p> + +<p>The detective was aroused from his reverie on the instant. He sprang +forward with a command to stop, that, even as he uttered it, he knew +to be futile. The car was well away. It was vain to hope to stop it, +and the speed at which it was moving showed it improbable that any taxi +could overtake it, even had there been one near.</p> + +<p>With a habit ingrained by years of training he took a pencil from his +pocket and made a note of the number. Then, with a philosophic shrug of +his shoulders, he slit the blank envelope that he held, and glanced at +its contents. A Bank of England note for a hundred pounds lay in his +hand. He inspected the envelope again, and threw an eye around to make +sure that nothing had been dropped. There was nothing. Just a hundred +pound note in a blank envelope.</p> + +<p>"Well I'm damned," determined Detective Inspector Labar.</p> + +<p>The method rather than the event had startled him. Although one hundred +pound notes do not descend on detective inspectors every day of the +week, there are philanthropists who attempt at times to impose money on +police officers. It was a bribe of course. But the touch of melodrama +was amateurish and clumsy. The most illiterate crook in London should +have known that a hundred pound note was ridiculously easy to trace. +The whole thing was raw. It was just possible that the car had a +false number, but leaving that aside he would remember the girl. Yes, +decidedly he would remember the girl.</p> + +<p>He felt reasonably certain that in the normal course of events he +would know more about it during the day. Without undue speculation, +therefore, he betook himself to Grape Street, where, in the stiffly +furnished room that formed the headquarters of the divisional detective +force, he summoned one of his satellites and passed the note on.</p> + +<p>"Find out what hands that note has been in," he ordered. "And while +you're about it, m'lad, slip down and discover who owns a car numbered +X20008. Take a note of that number. If I'm not here when you're +through, leave a message for me."</p> + +<p>With that off his mind, he shed his coat, and was about to immerse +himself in the official routine correspondence that was the bane of his +life, when there was a jangle of telephone bells, and a hearty-looking, +ruddy-cheeked man engaged in converse that brought a fresher purple +sheen to his face. He put down the receiver with an oath.</p> + +<p>"Wish you wouldn't swear, Bill," said Labar, petulantly. "It jars on +me."</p> + +<p>It was at such a time that Detective Sergeant Malone, presuming on many +years association, was wont to observe that he was no kid glove John. +But at the moment he was too moved for remonstrance.</p> + +<p>"We've struck it, guv'nor," he declared huskily. "This has put the tin +hat on it this has."</p> + +<p>Labar lit a cigarette wearily. "Tell me the worst," he said.</p> + +<p>"They've made a clean sweep of Streetly House. Old Gertstein's foaming +at the mouth. Quarter of a million of pounds worth of jewels and curios +melted away as clean as a conjuring trick. I could smell Larry Hughes a +thousand miles off in this." His tone was gloomy, for he knew something +of Labar's troubles. "Nice look-out for us, an' the Yard not throwing +any flowers our way as it is."</p> + +<p>"You said it, Bill," agreed Labar, rising, and pulling down his shirt +sleeves. "It's get on or get out, for me at any rate, this time. Get +your hat on and tell 'em to ring through to the Chief. We're liable to +have some work to do."</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</h2> +</div> + + +<p>Anyone who could afford to live in Streetly House, that imposing and +historic residence just off Park Lane, must by that fact alone, be +known in some degree to the public. Mr. Solly Gertstein had added +claims to a certain amount of limelight. He had been—was still to some +extent—a financial power. He had interests in gold, in diamonds, in +oil, but of late years he had relinquished the reins of his enterprises +to brothers and cousins, while he concentrated on his ambition to get +together a unique, and fabulously costly, collection of gems, and what +the dealers call <i>objets d'art</i>.</p> + +<p>He was not an artistic object in himself. A rotund little man, with a +gait that somehow suggested a milk can rolled by a railway porter, and +with a tendency to pomposity in his speech and manner, he yet contrived +to hold some poise of dignity. He was unquestionably excited when Labar +introduced himself.</p> + +<p>"So you 'ave come." In moments of stress he was apt to lose his usual +meticulous command of the English language. "You 'ave come at last."</p> + +<p>"It is less than ten minutes since I got your message," observed the +inspector.</p> + +<p>"Ach!" Mr. Gertstein flung his hands wide in an expressive gesture, +as of one who accepts an excuse in which there is no body. He rotated +round the room, buzzing like an agitated wasp. "An hour. Dis is what +I pay for," he proclaimed. "For dis I pay my thousands a year to the +rates for police salaries. What protection do I get for it? None." He +waved a podgy hand. "All the work of the finest craftsmen in the world +stripped from me. You will get it back, eh?"</p> + +<p>Labar felt that it was only the vulgarity of the expression that +prevented Gertstein from adding, "I don't think." He lifted his +eyebrows.</p> + +<p>"You are insured?"</p> + +<p>The other gave an impatient snort. "Insured! What is insurance to me? +Do you think that I—Gertstein—want the money? That—poof—a fleabite. +The insurance companies will pay, but will that help me to get back all +my beautiful things? Years and years of work gone like dat." He snapped +his fingers viciously.</p> + +<p>"We'll do our best," said Labar, mildly. "Perhaps you will walk round +with me and tell me all you know."</p> + +<p>In his mind he felt small hope. The very magnitude of the crime showed +it to be the work of men who thoroughly understood their business. +Jewels would be dismounted and cut up, gold melted down, and other +things rendered unrecognisable in the swiftest and most efficient +fashion.</p> + +<p>Other of the C.I.D. men from Labar's division were in the house by this +time, and under his supervision a systematic and thorough search of the +premises proceeded. It was a big rambling place, and it was obvious +that the thieves, once they had obtained entrance, would have had no +difficulty in secreting themselves till such time as they could work +unobserved. As Labar expected, every burglar alarm in the place had +been cut or put out of action in some way. The thieves must have gained +precise information beforehand.</p> + +<p>On the first floor two magnificent rooms had been given up to the +display of Gertstein's treasures. The chastely-designed glass cases +still stood in their imposing splendour, but alas, they were mere +cenotaphs with their treasures vanished. At a superficial glance, +indeed, it was difficult to realise that they had been tampered with, +so delicate had been the skill with which they had been opened.</p> + +<p>As Gertstein pointed out with some bitterness, the marauders had +selected their spoil with the most consummate judgment. It was obvious +that the raid had been carried through to clean-cut specifications. +There were many dainty bits of artistry left, but they were such things +as enamels, ivory carvings and the like, which had value only for +their craftsmanship, and would be difficult to dispose of intact.</p> + +<p>Nor was there evident any indication of the manner in which entry to +the house had been gained, or the method by which the thieves had +left. The windows and doors were unmarked. Not a bolt or lock had been +forced. Throughout the night no suspicious noises had been heard, and +it was only when in the course of ordinary routine that a maid had +entered one of the exhibition rooms, at eleven o'clock in the morning, +that the robbery had been discovered.</p> + +<p>"Not so much as a blighting finger-print," Bill Malone observed, and at +the finish of a meticulous examination of the windows, added that it +was the smoothest bust that he had ever run across in the course of his +carmined career.</p> + +<p>But a mystery may be too mysterious, too faultily faultless. Any +defect, any lapse on the part of the thieves might have left the police +even more in the air. As it was, there remained little doubt in the +minds of the detectives that their first surmise was right—that they +could breathe in a word the name of the supreme culprit—but much doubt +as to the possibility of acquiring evidence to run him down. The men +who could plan or carry out such an undertaking were few.</p> + +<p>Malone put it into words. "This has got the hall-mark of Larry, +guv'nor."</p> + +<p>Labar crinkled his brows, and nodded absently. The man who tackled +this job would have in front of him a spasm of tough work, that in +all probability would end in defeat by running his head against a +brick wall. "Yes," he agreed. "It's got all that. Our friend Larry is +certainly indicated, but we must not let ourselves be hypnotised about +him. There's a bet you've overlooked, Bill."</p> + +<p>"An inside job."</p> + +<p>"It might be either—or both," said Labar, and turned with +imperturbable face, that masked more than slight worry, to confront the +shrewd beady eyes of Mr. Gertstein.</p> + +<p>"What do you think now?" demanded the millionaire.</p> + +<p>The inspector smoothed his chin. "I hate to make up my mind right away, +Mr. Gertstein, but I'd be willing to make one guess at the man who +knows all about this."</p> + +<p>"So!" Gertstein rubbed his hands. "Then you have found out something. +You have a clue. I'm a generous man, Inspector. If you get back those +things I will treat you well. It will be worth—what—a thousand pounds +to you."</p> + +<p>"That's handsome of you, sir. But even if I was allowed to take a +reward—which I couldn't do without the consent of the Yard—I wouldn't +be too sure of getting it. As I say, I could give a guess about this +business, but guesses don't carry us far. There isn't a shred of proof +yet, and I tell you frankly I wouldn't gamble a half-penny on getting +the men or getting the stuff."</p> + +<p>"But you—you're a detective." Gertstein tugged impatiently at his +little beard. "If you know what you say it should be easy."</p> + +<p>"Easy, sir. Yes, it should be easy." Labar permitted a sardonic note to +creep into his voice. "About as easy as taking treacle from a bear's +mouth. I'm a detective, not a miracle worker."</p> + +<p>Detectives after all, are very like other human beings. Labar was +concerned at the back of his mind with the reaction this robbery might +have upon his own personal affairs. He was not in good odour with his +chiefs. True, he was the divisional inspector, and the burglary had +taken place on his ground, but it was odds that some of the mandarins +at the Yard would take the investigation out of his hands and place +it in those of a chief inspector from headquarters. That, in the +ordinary course of events would not be any slight, and Labar, with his +constitutional indolence would have been glad to be relieved of any +responsibility.</p> + +<p>But in present circumstances it would wear an ominous air. He was young +for the post he had reached, and there were many years in front of him +before he would be eligible for a pension. He had attained a stage +where all violent ambition had vanished, but still it would be galling +to be put on the shelf.</p> + +<p>His agitation of mind was disclosed by the fact that he had betrayed +his hopelessness to Gertstein—a breach of professional etiquette as +rank as that of a doctor who tells a patient that he is dying. He tried +to efface the impression he had created by a laugh.</p> + +<p>"We find it best to be a little pessimistic in our business, Mr. +Gertstein. Then if things come off we get a bit more credit. Don't you +worry. We'll do our best if only for our own sakes."</p> + +<p>"You'd better," said Gertstein, grimly. "Don't forget that I can use a +pull if I like, that would make the entire Metropolitan Police sit up."</p> + +<p>Labar smiled serenely as though the threat had no meaning for him. +Yet he did not believe it altogether an empty one. Gertstein, with +his money and his affiliations, could probably do wicked damage to an +obscure detective inspector if he chose to pull strings. That momentary +tactlessness looked as if it might bring retribution.</p> + +<p>The arrival of the Assistant Commissioner and the Chief Constable +of the C.I.D., accompanied by Labar's immediate superior, Detective +Superintendent Marlow—one of that select company the newspapers loved +to refer to as the "Big Four"—broke into the conversation.</p> + +<p>Gertstein shook hands with the three. "I hope you won't agree with your +inspector that the case is hopeless—that I shall never see any of my +beautiful things back," he said sourly.</p> + +<p>Winter shot a swift glance at Labar, who straightened his back with a +brave attempt at nonchalance. It was the Assistant Commissioner who +answered.</p> + +<p>"Nothing is ever hopeless, Mr. Gertstein. I am sure that you have +misapprehended Mr. Labar's views."</p> + +<p>The millionaire made a gesture of dissent. "I am not so big a fool as +that," he retorted.</p> + +<p>Now the head of the Criminal Investigation Department could see as far +through a brick wall as most people. He would always assert that he was +not a detective—that he had men on his staff who knew the game, and he +was content to leave detective work to them. But he did know men. It +was said that he could charm a bird from a tree.</p> + +<p>He linked his arm through Gertstein's and drew him aside. "I would like +to have a little talk with you alone. Perhaps I can straighten out +things. You people go and have a look round."</p> + +<p>As Labar led the other two away Winter turned fiercely upon him. "What +have you said to the old boy?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"He got it pretty nearly straight, sir," admitted the inspector. "I +told him that it was long odds against getting the stuff back."</p> + +<p>"You ought to be in the infant class," snorted Winter. "Now what +about——"</p> + +<p>The conference usual in such circumstances began. Presently the +Assistant Commissioner rejoined them. As they moved about the house +the inspector imparted to them such facts as he knew, and, though his +face showed nothing, he waited with the eagerness of a boy for some +hint as to whether he was to be left to deal with the affair. But his +superiors did not commit themselves, and he was relieved when they took +their departure.</p> + +<p>He got down to the work in hand. There was plenty to occupy him, for +every person in the house had to be interviewed. As Winter dryly +observed to his companions on his way back to the Yard, Labar could +work like a fiend when he had some incentive.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</h2> +</div> + + +<p>Lacking any more definite line at the moment, Labar felt impelled +to the theory that there had been collusion between the thieves and +someone in the house. That at least furnished a working hypothesis +which might be abandoned according to circumstances. It was for this +reason that he doggedly set himself to interview all and sundry instead +of leaving his assistants to weed them out.</p> + +<p>With the shrewd suavity of an Old Bailey lawyer he examined and +cross-examined, an obese shorthand writer at his elbow, until he had a +complete surface knowledge, at any rate, of the movements of everyone +in the house for the last twenty-four hours, and much information of +their antecedents and habits. Superficially, he had to admit, as he +stretched himself with a yawn some hours later, there was no one he +could suspect. Perhaps, in the future, when the statements had been +checked up, some hint might develop. But he did not bank on that. +Frequently this kind of tedious work resulted in nothing, although it +was always possible that some vitally important fact might arise.</p> + +<p>Then the last person on his list entered the room. She was described as +Miss Penelope Noelson, companion to Mrs. Gertstein.</p> + +<p>She was a girl of perhaps twenty-two, not tall, but exquisitely +proportioned. Fair hair surmounted a vivacious face, which was relieved +of the insipidity of mere beauty by a determined chin, a humorous touch +that lurked about the corners of her mouth, and a nose very slightly +inclined to what her friends described as <i>retroussé</i>, but which +she herself bluntly declared to be snub. On the whole she was such a +girl as might make a man turn to take another look—a girl not so much +beautiful as piquantly pretty.</p> + +<p>At the instant of her entrance Labar was engaged with his well-fed +stenographer. She had reached the table he was using, and one hand +rested lightly upon it, ere he was able to give her any attention.</p> + +<p>"Won't you sit down? Excuse me for one moment, will you?" he said, +without lifting his eyes from the paper he was scrutinising, as he +leaned over the shorthand writer, his finger following a phrase. +"That's it. 'Mr. Vintner, the butler and myself always look round the +house the last thing at night to make sure that the fastenings are safe +and the burglar alarms in order. We always do it even if we know that +Mr. Gertstein or his secretary has——'"</p> + +<p>She studied Labar with some interest. He bore no obvious trace of his +profession—no good detective ever does. He was a clean-cut specimen +of the ordinary business man. He was youngish-looking, perhaps thirty +or thereabouts, and his voice was that of a cultivated man. In the +neighbourhood of six feet tall, his well-tailored suit could not +conceal the broad shoulders and lean flanks of a man used to athletic +exercises. There was a suspicion of aggression in his chin she thought. +He looked efficient and he had poise.</p> + +<p>Then he glanced up and his eyes met hers squarely. A flicker, it might +have been of astonishment, crossed his face, only to be instantly +suppressed. She met his look with sedate indifference, and two little +vertical lines wrinkled his brow as he studied her. Suddenly his face +cleared. He smiled—the frank, open smile of a boy.</p> + +<p>"I'll take any statement from this lady, myself, Green," he said. "You +get back to the station and get on with your transcription. I want that +all through by to-night."</p> + +<p>The fat stenographer collected his papers and left. Labar's fingers +fiddled idly on the table. "You are Miss Noelson?" he asked.</p> + +<p>She nodded. "That is my name."</p> + +<p>"I understand that you have been away to Hampshire with Mrs. Gertstein, +and only returned this morning."</p> + +<p>In his formal wearied tone she was quick to catch something—it might +have been imagination, or again it might have been intuition—the +slightest inflection of menace. "I got back by car this morning—yes. +There were certain shopping errands that Mrs. Gertstein wished me to +do."</p> + +<p>"Huh. So it is not likely that you can help us much with this?"</p> + +<p>The girl spread her hands in an eloquent gesture of dissent. He noticed +that she wore no rings. "It is an absolute mystery to me—a mystery and +a very great shock."</p> + +<p>"Yes, of course. It would be a shock," he returned as one engaging in +polite conversation only to pass the time. "How long have you been with +Mrs. Gertstein?"</p> + +<p>"About six or seven months."</p> + +<p>"That all? Did you know the Gertstein people well before?"</p> + +<p>"As a matter of fact I have known Mrs. Gertstein all my life. She is +a sort of distant relative of mine and very much younger than her +husband. We were at school together. I can see what you're driving at, +Mr. Labar," she proceeded. "My father, who was a civil servant, died +just over a year ago, leaving me a small, a very small, income. My +mother has been dead for many years. I struggled along for some months, +but I am afraid that I am one of those persons who need something +more than a bread and butter existence. So when Adèle—that's Mrs. +Gertstein—offered me this position, I took it. I'm well paid for the +little I do and live in a style that I could not otherwise afford."</p> + +<p>"Thank you. Do you mind if I smoke?" He lit a cigarette with elaborate +care and leaned one elbow casually on the table. "I suppose you know +that you are a very pretty girl." A whimsical smile overspread his +face, and he held out a protesting hand as she half rose from her seat. +"Don't misunderstand me, please. It is an unfortunate necessity of my +business to ask delicate questions sometimes. You are not engaged I +see. But is there anyone——?" He raised his eyebrows ever so little.</p> + +<p>Penelope dropped back into her chair with a laugh. "I feared for a +moment you were trying to flirt with me. That would be ridiculous, +wouldn't it? No, Mr. Labar, I assure you that I have no interest in any +man or men that way."</p> + +<p>"I can conceive that men might be interested in you," he smiled. "Now +one more personal question. Like most ladies you have little personal +extravagances that you like to indulge, eh?"</p> + +<p>She flushed and pouted a little. "I don't know that I'm so enormously +extravagant. I'm fond of pretty things, and I have them within my +means."</p> + +<p>"Always?" He leaned forward, and spoke the word very quietly. "You +don't—ah—run into debt?"</p> + +<p>She swept angrily to her feet. "You are insulting," she declared. +"I can't misunderstand you. You suggest that I am mixed up in this +robbery."</p> + +<p>"Sit down!" he ordered, sternly. There was no mistaking the menace in +his voice now. The girl ignored the command and remained with set face, +her gaze meeting his in angry defiance. For a matter of seconds they +remained thus, their wills clashing for supremacy. With deliberation +he rose, and towering over her, pointed to her chair. "Sit down," he +repeated sternly, and as though under some dominating spell, she slowly +obeyed.</p> + +<p>He remained on his feet. "I have made no accusation against you, Miss +Noelson, and you can answer me or not as you please. It will simplify +my work if you answer, but bear in mind that I have other means of +getting information."</p> + +<p>He noted that the wave of angry colour, which had suffused her face, +had died down, leaving her with a touch of pallor. But she was holding +herself steadily in hand, and had all her self-possession.</p> + +<p>"In that event," she returned, icily, "you had better apply to those +other sources of information."</p> + +<p>Labar was studying her with a cold scrutiny, weighing her words and her +demeanour with infinite calculation. He was alight with suspicion, but +somehow he felt reluctant to press this dainty little creature with the +cold official catechism that was in his mind. This was the man whom of +all others, in spite of certain mild flirtations, Scotland Yard would +have held immune from feminine influence. He pulled himself together. +The work had to be done.</p> + +<p>"Let's be sensible," he urged. "Now tell me, have you ever heard of a +man called Larry Hughes?"</p> + +<p>That was a shot in the dark. He had little doubt what the answer would +be.</p> + +<p>Penelope Noelson's lips came together in a thin, obstinate line. "No," +she snapped.</p> + +<p>The detective gave no sign that he had heard her. He moved aimlessly to +the small table he had been using and bent over a paper. She stood up +with a little petulant shrug of her shoulders, and was half-way to the +door before he spoke again.</p> + +<p>"Oh, by the way, there is another small matter. Why did you give me a +hundred pound note this morning?"</p> + +<p>Her eyes widened, and as she wheeled to face him her hands groped for +the support of a chair.</p> + +<p>"I gave you a hundred pound note? Why, I never saw you before in my +life."</p> + +<p>He leaned grimly towards her. "You're very nearly a convincing little +liar. I recognised you the instant you came in the room. I'm calling +your bluff, my girl. Now then. Suppose you come clean."</p> + +<p>For a second she stared at him uncomprehendingly. Then she slumped to +the floor in a dead faint.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</h2> +</div> + + +<p>Labar was a little uncertain of the value of his hand. Therefore, he +hesitated to disclose his cards fully to Solly Gertstein, the more so +as that gentleman at almost the first word declared his implicit faith +in Miss Noelson. It was at that moment that the detective came almost +near to liking the pompous little man.</p> + +<p>All that the millionaire knew was that Labar had become suspicious +while questioning the girl, and that she had fainted when the +interrogation was closely pressed. Gertstein did not conceal his +opinion that only a fool could suspect her. It was unthinkable that she +could have anything to do with the robbery. She was as straight as a +die.</p> + +<p>Now, although the divisional inspector liked this attitude on the part +of Gertstein, it failed utterly to convince him. In fact, his own view +of the situation might have been deduced from the fact that when he had +summoned a maid to help Penelope to her room, he had also given private +instructions to one of his staff to keep as close an eye upon her as +circumstances would permit. There was no telling what she might do if +she was really frightened.</p> + +<p>Of one thing Labar was sure. Momentary though his glimpse of the girl +in the car had been, he had no doubt that it was Penelope Noelson. He +did not make that kind of mistake. Of course, coincidences do happen. +But those trained in the school of Scotland Yard are sceptical about +coincidence. It was asking too much to suppose that the singular +episode of the morning was entirely unassociated with the raid. It +was but a question of how deeply the girl was involved. Was she an +accomplice or merely a tool? She was not a professional thief. That +much was certain. Why had she tried to bribe him? If Larry Hughes was +at the bottom of the business—and he felt as certain of that as that +the sun would rise and set—in what way were the girl and he associated?</p> + +<p>With these questions stirring in his mind, he decided that it would +be unwise to make any hasty move. There was, in fact, nothing very +definite to act upon. He had debated with himself whether he ought to +detain Penelope. He had small fear that she would get away from the +surveillance he had placed upon her, but she might gum up the trail a +bit. To hold her in present circumstances would, perhaps, be considered +a little bit arbitrary, and anyway, Gertstein might kick up a fuss. It +was quite simple to keep an eye upon her until the ground under foot +was a little more solid.</p> + +<p>So he made his way back to Grape Street. His emissaries were scouring +London, and their reports had to be collated—whether for his own use +or for the man who might be detached from headquarters, was on the lap +of the gods.</p> + +<p>He considered as he puffed at his cigarette. These reports now—why +should he worry unduly about them if another man was to handle the +case? If it was his own work, of course he would have to do it. But why +worry until he was certain. He put a call through to Scotland Yard. +Winter was more genial than he had been at the early morning interview.</p> + +<p>"That you, Labar? How are things making out? You'll have to hump +yourself on this job, my mannie."</p> + +<p>That was all right, then. For the time being at any rate he was not to +be superseded on the investigation. That had looked a probability when +the heads had left him to it at Streetly House. This, however, made +certain. He answered cheerfully.</p> + +<p>"I'll do my best, sir; I've got hopes."</p> + +<p>"Hopes won't carry you far. I've seen hopes land a man in a ditch."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm not running ahead of myself. As you saw, it's a slick +clean-up, but I've got an idea that if Larry's in it he's made a break +this time."</p> + +<p>"H'm. Other men have thought that," grunted the telephone, +sceptically. "If there's a hole in this it's not like friend Larry. So +don't go running away with any hasty impressions, my boy. And listen, I +don't want to know too much—especially over the 'phone. You and I will +have a talk some time. G'bye."</p> + +<p>"The cunning old fox," murmured Labar, with almost affectionate +admiration, as he replaced the receiver. "He doesn't want to know too +much. That means I'm to be the goat if things don't pan out."</p> + +<p>He ripped open a letter that lay upon his desk.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—In accordance with your instructions, I made +inquiries at the Bank of England, and was informed that the note +No. K002947 was one of a series issued to the Midland Bank a week +ago. From the Midland Bank I learn that this was one of ten notes +numbered consecutively K002946 to K002955, paid to honour a cheque +drawn by Mr. S. Gertstein, of Streetly House, W., three days ago. +On inquiry at the London County Council Record Department I was +informed that the registration number, X20008, is that of a car +belonging to the same person.</p> + +<p class="ph3">"Yours faithfully,<br> +"<span class="smcap">J. S. Byron</span>."</p> +</div> + +<p>He laid down the note absently. "I was afraid so. A nice girl, too. +Well, nice girls do go wrong. Let's see what Gertstein has to say +about it."</p> + +<p>He reached for the telephone and got put through to Streetly House. A +matter of minutes elapsed before he was in touch with the millionaire, +and he drummed impatiently on his desk. At last an irritable voice +reached him.</p> + +<p>Labar spoke silkily. "Sorry to bother you again, Mr. Gertstein. This is +Labar speaking—Detective Inspector Labar. In the list of stuff stolen +there is no mention of cash. Is there any money missing?"</p> + +<p>"If there had been I should have told you, Inspector," snapped +Gertstein.</p> + +<p>"This is important. You have not lost any bank notes?"</p> + +<p>"I've told you, no. I never keep enough cash in the house to bother +about."</p> + +<p>A smothered exclamation escaped Labar. "But," he urged, "you changed a +cheque for a thousand pounds a day or two ago."</p> + +<p>"I did nothing of the sort," snorted Gertstein. "What thing are you +dreaming about now? I haven't had a thousand pounds in cash for my own +personal use for years."</p> + +<p>"Ah, well," said Labar, mildly. "Perhaps I've made a mistake. I'll hope +to see you in the morning and explain. Good-bye."</p> + +<p>Detectives of Scotland Yard have more use for bowler hats than for +halos. Whatever the writers may make of them they have few illusions +about themselves. They are very much of the same clay as human beings +in less glamorous callings. Labar was no conjuror, and an odd sequence +of facts bore to him just as great an appearance of mystery as it would +to any other professional man. He swore crisply between his teeth, +as Mr. Thingumbob, the eminent collar merchant, might have sworn had +he found a competitor selling neckwear below the cost of production. +For in these cases the problem that confronts the detective and the +ordinary business man is in essence the same. They each have to ask +themselves why. And if they get the correct answer they have scored a +point. If they are wrong the business man is hit in the bank balance, +and the newspapers attend to Scotland Yard. The bank believed that it +had let Gertstein have ten one hundred pound notes, and one of these +had reached Labar through a member of Gertstein's household. Yet the +millionaire denied that he had had that cheque cashed. It was entirely +improbable that he could have any motive for lying. On the face of it +someone had forged his signature, and so introduced the complication of +an additional crime.</p> + +<p>It was certainly necessary to have a talk with the bank manager. Labar +summoned Malone and gave him a rough outline of the situation. The +bank would be closed, of course, but somehow the manager's private +address would have to be found. The big detective sergeant nodded +comprehendingly, and set forth on his mission.</p> + +<p>That round of golf which Labar had reckoned upon in the morning was far +away. But his inclination to relaxation had vanished. An investigation +such as he had upon his hands leaves the man in charge with all he can +think about. He was fiercely energetic and his men were being driven +hard. Every few minutes the telephone bells were whirring, and men were +rushing in from various avenues of inquiry with verbal reports.</p> + +<p>The net was being cast wide. The usual routine precautions had, of +course, been seen to. Lists of the stolen property had been sent out +to jewellers, pawnbrokers and others, and published broadcast in the +evening papers. That was a ten million to one chance. The goods in this +crime would be got rid of through obscure underground channels.</p> + +<p>Labar had thrown two men to shadow Larry Hughes, not hopefully, but as +a matter of precaution. Others were trying to discover if Larry had +been in touch with any of the greater artists in burglary of late. +Then, again on general principles, the movements of every crook who was +big enough in his profession to be possibly involved had to be checked. +Any one of these possessed of sudden funds, any one absent from his +usual haunts, might be a link in the chain that Labar was trying +to establish. Nothing could be taken for granted. Even Gertstein +himself—this would have annoyed him—was having some of his private +habits pried into, and his associates looked up.</p> + +<p>The Yard does not despise scientific methods; but here were no +bloodstains, no finger-prints, no trivialities from which a high-domed +scientist in an easy chair might deduce the name and address of the +main culprit. It was a thief taking enterprise in the good old way of +the Bow Street runners, differing only by the use of a more complex +and more perfect organisation. For a young detective inspector of the +Criminal Investigation Department who was under suspicion of slackness +it was decidedly not a day for golf.</p> + +<p>Midnight was very near ere Malone returned to Grape Street. After +tracking the manager of the bank to his lair in Golder's Green, he +had dragged him back to the bank, and searched out the thousand pound +cheque, together with two others unquestionably genuine, for the sake +of comparison.</p> + +<p>"This fellow knows nothing of the circumstances in which it was +changed," said Malone. "Suppose we'll have to look up the cashier in +the morning on that point."</p> + +<p>Labar thrust his hand into a desk drawer and pulled out a magnifying +glass. Placing the suspected cheque and another in front of him he +studied them intently for a few minutes.</p> + +<p>"Did he hold any views on whether it was a forgery or not, Bill?" he +asked without looking up.</p> + +<p>The other shook his head. "He's a cautious Scot. You see if it is a +forgery the bank will be liable. Didn't want me to bring away the +cheques at first. Someone had been telephoning him to send back all +cancelled cheques to Gertstein early in the morning."</p> + +<p>Labar abruptly laid down his magnifying glass and stared at his +aide-de-camp. "Who was that?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>A slow grin broke over the usual inexpressive features of Malone. He +had an impish delight in sometimes startling his superior. "I thought +it would interest you, guv'nor," he said. "He didn't know. The voice +was that of a woman, and she said that she was telephoning on behalf of +Gertstein."</p> + +<p>"A woman's voice," repeated the inspector, thoughtfully. He uncoiled +his six feet from his chair, and stretched himself. "I'm all in, Bill," +he announced. "Let's put up the shutters for the night. Nine o'clock +sharp in the morning."</p> + +<p>The thing for a man who has spent many hours within four walls, Labar +decided, was a good brisk walk. He parted from Malone under the blue +lamp at the entrance to the police station, and paused to light a +cigarette. He nodded amiably to the constable on reserve duty at +the doorway, and setting his face towards Chelsea where his modest +bachelor apartments were located, swung off briskly down the little +courtyard that leads from Grape Street to Piccadilly.</p> + +<p>He had taken not more than a score of strides when some sixth sense +impelled him to whirl upon his heels. In that fraction of a second +he had an impression of a dark figure hurling itself upon him from a +doorway. An instant earlier and he had saved himself. As it was, he +flung up an arm, almost by instinct, and broke the impact of a sandbag. +Nevertheless, he went down half-stunned and feebly grappling with his +opponent.</p> + +<p>His bewildered senses were dimly conscious of the dark figure bending +over him, and fingers groping about his pockets. Then the assailant +was gone, and he staggered uncertainly to his feet, supporting himself +against the wall. He felt his head gingerly where the half-broken blow +had taken effect. But his mind was not on his injuries.</p> + +<p>"A woman again," he muttered. "What a nerve. Practically on the +doorstep of the police station. She certainly wanted something badly." +He stood for a moment to regain his shaken faculties. "I wonder if it +could have been a cheque?" he asked aloud.</p> + +<p>He walked unsteadily back to the station where the brandy retained for +emergencies was called into requisition, and a hasty hue and cry—which +he knew to be hopeless—organised. But all trace of his assailant had +been lost. Nor, for some reason which he could not have satisfactorily +accounted for to himself, did he suggest that the pursuers should take +the direction of Streetly House.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</h2> +</div> + + +<p>In silken pyjamas, and propped up on his pillows, Mr. Larry Hughes +toyed with coffee and toast, the while he lazily scanned the <i>Daily +Mail</i> with its account of the Streetly House robbery. A soft-footed +valet was busy in an adjoining dressing-room.</p> + +<p>"A light-grey suit, if you please, Tom. And tell Williams to have the +Rolls ready not a minute later than twelve."</p> + +<p>"Very good, sir. Will you be in to lunch?"</p> + +<p>"I'm doubtful. There's racing on at Kempton, and I may run down." +Hughes pushed aside the tray and sprang lightly out of bed. "Bath +ready?"</p> + +<p>"Quite ready, sir."</p> + +<p>"All right. Be back in ten minutes."</p> + +<p>It was at this moment that Detective Inspector Labar rang the bell at +the solid Georgian doorway of Mr. Larry Hughes' Hampstead home. With +suave candour the footman who opened the door, informed him of the +exact position. Mr. Hughes was in his bath. If the gentleman would +care to wait he would find out in due course whether Mr. Hughes would +see him. Was the gentleman a friend, or if not was his business of +extreme urgency? Mr. Hughes, he knew, had several important engagements.</p> + +<p>Labar thrust a card into the man's hand. "Tell him I shall be glad if +he will spare me a few minutes of his time. It is of importance."</p> + +<p>A little doubtfully the servant took the card. So the detective +found himself in a big leather chair in a spacious and well-lighted +library. All the surroundings spoke of money lavished recklessly, but +with scrupulous taste. The lines of books were broken by etchings and +occasional paintings that Labar recognised as the finest of their kind. +But as he slowly and methodically studied the room, his attention +became rivetted on a small photograph that stood obscurely on a +mantel-piece. He moved towards it and picked it up for closer scrutiny. +Then he did a thing which a C.I.D. man should have realised was pure +and simple theft. He placed it carefully in an inside pocket.</p> + +<p>Hughes found him in the big leather chair, idly nursing his hat and +stick, and came forward with outstretched hand.</p> + +<p>"It's Mr. Labar, isn't it. Pleased to meet you. I'm not often honoured +by visits from detective inspectors. What can I do for you?"</p> + +<p>He drew up another divan chair and faced Labar idly attentive. He was +Mr. Larry Hughes, gentleman of means, and Labar was a mere policeman +in plain clothes. The suggestion was subtle but plain.</p> + +<p>Both men knew how artificial the situation was. It was clear to Larry +that the other had come to look him over, but whatever the detective +inspector suspected he dare not yet shatter the pose. Labar knew that +he was a crook, and Hughes knew that he knew. Yet the latter was +supremely confident that no one dare breathe the word. What proof could +there be?</p> + +<p>Labar for the time was quite willing to play the part the other had +allotted to him. "I'm not quite sure, Mr. Hughes," he said with a hint +of deference in his tone. "I've come to see you because I believe you +have some acquaintance with Mr. Gertstein. You will have seen in the +papers that there has been a robbery at his place."</p> + +<p>Larry raised his eyebrows and struggled with well-manicured fingers +to affix a cigarette in a long amber holder. "I'm afraid you've come +to the wrong shop, Mr. Labar. I know the old boy by sight but I've +scarcely spoken to him. True, I believe I was introduced to Mrs. +Gertstein once—I think it was at Ascot—but that's the limit of my +knowledge of the family."</p> + +<p>"I'm looking up everyone who might by some remote chance throw some +light on the affair," explained Labar.</p> + +<p>"Quite." Hughes was listlessly polite.</p> + +<p>"You are not acquainted with anyone associated with the Gertstein's? A +Miss Noelson, for instance?"</p> + +<p>However a man may use himself to mask his emotions, there is usually +some point, as experienced poker players know, at which he betrays +himself. Not infrequently, though his face may be immobile, some +nervous twitch of the hands, some apparently small mannerism, will +reveal itself to the one competent to read.</p> + +<p>Larry showed nothing in his face, but his right toe tapped nervously on +the soft carpet. Labar marked that movement.</p> + +<p>"I've never heard of the lady," said Larry easily, and rising, strolled +to the mantel, and placed one arm upon it. His equanimity was to all +seeming undisturbed.</p> + +<p>Labar smiled, grimly. "Don't waste your time standing. It was an +oversight to leave the photograph there, if you meant to deny that you +knew this lady. I have the portrait in my pocket."</p> + +<p>The right toe tapped a quick tattoo, and Larry eyed the other +whimsically. He thrust up his hands. "Kamerad," he cried. "I have heard +of the efficiency of Scotland Yard. Now I see it. The merest little +white lie, and you pounce, Mr. Labar. I do know Miss Noelson—slightly. +I hope to know her better. There's an admission for you. Can you build +something on that? Do you think that she stole the jewels, or did I?"</p> + +<p>He smiled superciliously down on the detective, with an indescribable +air of polite contempt. Labar, spite of his resolution to hold himself +with restraint, was a little stung by the other man's audacity. Larry +had the impudence to play with him.</p> + +<p>"If you want it point blank," he said, quite gently, but with jaw +jutting out a trifle, "I'll tell you that you ran the show. This is +quite unofficial, of course, but you know that I know, so what's the +use of keeping up this farce? How deep the girl is in it I am not sure, +yet. But I'll have enough on you in a week to put you where you belong."</p> + +<p>Larry Hughes flung back his head and laughed till exhaustion caused him +to desist. "That's real funny. You don't look it I'll admit, but you +must be one of those comic sleuths. Shall I do some thought reading, +Mr. Labar? You come across a big jewel robbery and your well-known grey +matter gets to work. 'Ah, ah,' you say. 'Here is the obvious handiwork +of that famous gentleman crook, Mr. Hughes. Let's go on a fishing +expedition, and see what we can bluff out of Mr. Hughes.' Am I right, +sir?" He leaned forward with hand outstretched in burlesque imitation +of a vaudeville lightning calculator.</p> + +<p>Beneath his ironic tone there was something more serious. His alert +mind had hit upon the very reason of Labar's visit. The inspector had +taken a chance, partly because he wished to see what Larry was like in +person, partly to try and scare the man into some hasty and incautious +step. The bigger men at the Yard would scarcely have approved of +the attempt, but Labar had not consulted them. He had acted upon an +impulse, and he had realised that he was courting failure—though his +mind had not turned to the grotesque and humiliating failure that now +seemed probable. After all, failure in this point was to have been +expected. He had seen for himself what type of man Larry was. That at +least was something gained. Nor could it matter in the least that Larry +now knew definitely that he was suspected. That he would know in any +event, and the interview could make no difference.</p> + +<p>He felt himself a little nearer to probing the relationship between +this sleek, gibing crook, and Penelope, but still he was far away from +anything definite.</p> + +<p>"You're like all the rest of them," he said. "You know it all." He +levelled a forefinger. "You've got away with it so far, Larry Hughes. +I'll not deny that you've got brains. But you've got vanity, and +that's where you'll come a cropper. You may swizzle me, as you have +others, but in the end it isn't me you're up against. It's Scotland +Yard, it's Mulberry Street, it's the Sûreté. It's every police officer +you may pass from here to Timbuctoo. You can't fight men, money and +organisation all the time. Think a bit."</p> + +<p>There lurked a humorous twitch at the corner of Larry Hughes' lips, +and there was less cynicism there. "Tell me, did you ever hear of +a fox-hunter giving up because he might break his neck? If I were a +criminal, it's just conceivable that I might like the game for its own +sake."</p> + +<p>"Then I hope you break your neck," retorted Labar with asperity. "I'll +give you a case in point. When you let amateurs into this bust you +slipped a cog. I've had Penelope Noelson under observation for the last +eighteen hours, and to-day, she'll be placed under detention. And I +rather fancy she'll talk."</p> + +<p>The smiling nonchalance of Larry Hughes vanished. He flung cigarette +and amber holder with an impatient gesture into the grate, and advanced +a step, with clenched hands.</p> + +<p>"Don't be a damned fool, man," he snarled. "That girl has no more +concern with the robbery than the man in the moon. She's white. The +whole thing is pure silliness. What have you got against her?"</p> + +<p>"Not a thing. She only tried to bribe me yesterday. She only changed a +forged cheque on the Midland Bank. She only tried to sandbag me last +night. She only denied that she had ever heard of you, and now I find +her photograph in your private room. Oh, I've not a thing to hold her +on."</p> + +<p>There was a little bead of perspiration on the smooth forehead of the +crook. "I don't believe you are lying to me," he said earnestly, "but +you're all wrong somehow. That girl has not the faintest strain of +crookedness in her. Supposing that all you've heard about me is true. +Have you known me to do a dirty thing?"</p> + +<p>"That's a large question. They say you keep faith with your +confederates."</p> + +<p>"I do more than that. I play the game as I see it. And I give you +my word, Mr. Labar, that Penelope Noelson had no hand directly or +indirectly in this crime."</p> + +<p>"That won't help her," said Labar, grimly.</p> + +<p>"Meaning that you want to get at me through her. Well, go ahead and +prove something on me, Mr. Inspector. We're absolutely alone here. +Stand very still if you please."</p> + +<p>The blue barrel of an automatic stared at Labar, and Hughes' finger was +tensed on the trigger. "I hate to pull a gun," he went on, "and I'd +hate still more to use it. But you leave me no option. There's a man of +yours out there watching the house, and I don't want him butting in. So +make one single move to your whistle and I'll blow you full of holes."</p> + +<p>"What's the game?" demanded Labar, placidly.</p> + +<p>"I'll show you." Hughes came nearer, and still keeping the detective +covered, thrust his left hand into the other's breast pocket. He +withdrew the photograph. "This is my property. See here." He replaced +the automatic in his pocket, and tore the portrait to strips. "That's +that. Just one little bit of evidence against Miss Noelson gone. Now +you may go, too."</p> + +<p>Labar took it all gracefully. "Thank you," he said. "I'll be back."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no you won't," disagreed Hughes. "If you try it I'll have the +servants throw you out. Good-bye, Mr. Labar."</p> + +<p>He accompanied the detective inspector to the front door, and as soon +as it had closed behind him, returned and summoned a servant.</p> + +<p>"Tom," he demanded, "did you ever read Bacon?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know that I have, sir."</p> + +<p>"No, I scarcely expected it. He's not a popular novelist. He says that +in preparation it is good to realise dangers, and in action wisest to +disregard them. So I shan't go to Kempton Park to-day. I'm wanting +the car at once, and you'll come with me. We're going to disregard a +danger."</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</h2> +</div> + + +<p>It was with the conviction that Penelope Noelson was the key to the +mystery that Labar made his way back to town. The hint that she would +be detained would scarcely have stirred Larry Hughes as it had, unless +she was in the plot. True, Labar was not as certain as he might have +wished. He had not been entirely candid with Larry Hughes. She had not +been identified as changing the forged cheque, although Malone had that +morning reported that so far as the cashier recollected it had been a +woman who passed it over the counter. And according to the man he had +left to keep observation upon her, she had not gone from Streetly House +the previous night. If that was so she could not be the lady of the +sandbag. There remained the episode of the hundred pound note—the only +definite thing that he could prove against her.</p> + +<p>He looked in at Grape Street before proceeding to Streetly House, to +pick up such fresh threads as might have been collected during his +absence. There was the inevitable string of reports, some entirely +valueless, some which might become of importance or futile in the +light of future events. He sifted them through rapidly. Here was the +statement that Malone had taken from the bank cashier. Here was a plan +drawn by a police surveyor of Streetly House. Here was the report—very +sketchy—of Larry Hughes' movements for the last week. Here were +other reports of the recent doings of certain notabilities of the +underworld. Not only had the C.I.D. men been busy, but their jackals, +the "informants," had been whipped up in force. The drag-net had been +cast over London, and here on Labar's desk was the result.</p> + +<p>He paused over two things. One was an abrupt note from Winter. "Have +you noticed this? It is from Monday's <i>Times</i>."</p> + +<p>Pasted on a sheet of paper was a cutting from the personal column.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>"Panjandrum. Urgent. All fixed for to-night. Keep Walloper +straight, and inform. Have not seen him. Piccadilly Tube. Same +time."</p> +</div> + +<p>Now, it was on Monday night that the theft had occurred, and the +personal column is a simple means of communication between those who +do not care to risk the mails or a direct interview. Of course, the +advertisement might have been inserted by an entirely innocent person +outside the affair. On the other hand it was likely enough to have +some bearing on the crime.</p> + +<p>The other document that interested Labar was a report from a smart +young detective sergeant who was in charge of an out-lying station. It +told of one, Gold Dust Teddy, who had left his little suburban house +on the Monday, and had been absent all night. Teddy was one of the few +men who had the craftsmanship to execute a great burglary. He was not +a great thief for two reasons. Apart from an uncanny mechanical skill +he had no other asset for his career—no imagination, no finesse. +And he had periodical drinking bouts. These two things had brought +him to grief on occasion. The hall-mark of his failure was that his +finger-prints were on record at Scotland Yard.</p> + +<p>Teddy, it appeared—one may observe the use of the informant in the +detective sergeant's report—had been on the water-wagon for some +time. But a week ago he had broken out. For two or three days he had +drunk steadily, and finished up by breaking the jaw of one of his +boon companions who had refused to lend him money. Then he had laid +up to recover as was his habit. On Tuesday he had gone on a drinking +bout again, and that seemed likely to continue indefinitely. During +his absence the sergeant had talked with his wife, who would give +nothing away. But he had rescued from the grate of a room during the +conversation a half-burnt scrap of paper which he enclosed.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>"All ready. Cut out b—— put you in the mud. Meet——"</p> +</div> + +<p>Labar considered matters thoughtfully. This was too good to be true. +If he was able to add two and two together correctly it might lead +anywhere. It looked reasonably certain that Gold Dust Teddy was one of +Larry's tools. All the same, to rope in a drunken burglar did not of +necessity mean that he would be any nearer to getting Larry Hughes. +It was on record that Larry had contrived to slip from the meshes on +similar occasions.</p> + +<p>He sent for one of his men. "Go out and see Simmons. Tell him that +you're to help him bring in Gold Dust Teddy. If Teddy wants to know why +he's pinched you haven't got any idea. Follow that. Just bring him in. +Take a pair of cuffs with you. He may be rough to handle."</p> + +<p>The theory that a Scotland Yard man carries handcuffs habitually in his +pocket dies hard. They are heavy things, and he takes them only when he +needs them, which is seldom.</p> + +<p>A ragged shrill whistle which remotely resembled a tune heralded the +entrance of Malone. "You here, guv'nor. There's a lady asking to see +you downstairs. Passed her on the way up."</p> + +<p>"Can't see anyone this morning, Bill. It's my busy day. Somebody whose +cook has got away with the fish knives I expect. You go and have a word +with her."</p> + +<p>"I think you'll see this one," said Malone. "She's Miss Penelope +Noelson."</p> + +<p>The girl was pale, but her voice was firm as she returned Labar's +formal greeting.</p> + +<p>"I was on my way to see you," he said.</p> + +<p>"I expected you earlier," she returned a trifle wearily. "As you didn't +come I thought it well——"</p> + +<p>"I hope you let me have the full story," he interrupted. "You have had +time to sleep over it, and perhaps you will see the wisdom of being +absolutely frank. But understand you are not compelled to say anything. +I shall conceivably have to use it against you."</p> + +<p>"It has been a nightmare since yesterday," she confessed, speaking +slowly, as with effort. "If you intend to arrest me you will have to. +I know—what you think—I don't blame you." She choked back something +very like a sob. "I can only tell you I am almost innocent. I can see +how black things must look to you; but that is the truth. There are +others—I cannot tell you all."</p> + +<p>There is a wholesome rule that a police officer must not question a +person whom he knows he will in all probability have to arrest. It is +a rule which strictly applied would leave many mysteries unexplained, +and detectives have at times to walk warily round it, taking a certain +amount of risk.</p> + +<p>"You are <i>almost</i> innocent," he repeated. "What does that mean, +exactly? There are other people you are shielding? Come, Miss +Noelson, there is nothing to be gained by hanging back. Do you know +what this mistaken chivalry may mean? It will save no one. It may mean +disgrace—ruin—the prison taint—for you. Why take the chance—the +almost certainty?"</p> + +<p>He was leaning across the table with folded arms, his eyes fixed +on her face. She avoided his gaze, and her hands tortured a small +handkerchief. Clearly she was moved almost beyond endurance.</p> + +<p>"Oh, leave me alone," she cried. "Can't you understand, Mr. Labar. You +are a decent man. I don't know what is the right thing to do. I can +only tell you that I gave you that note for—for someone else. I never +knew—I never realised what it all meant. I came to tell you that. You +mustn't ask me anything else."</p> + +<p>He came towards her and rested a hand lightly on her shoulder. "You +poor child," he said, and there was genuine sympathy in his tone. "If +I were your elder brother, my dear girl, I should give you the same +advice that I'm offering you now. Get this off your mind. Tell me +everything."</p> + +<p>"You can lock me up," she said, faintly. "It will make no difference."</p> + +<p>"But," he urged, "do you know who this man is that you are trying to +protect, this notorious crook, this——"</p> + +<p>She looked at him, eyes wide open in amazement. He stopped abruptly.</p> + +<p>"I am not trying to shield any notorious criminal," she declared.</p> + +<p>"You may not know it, but Larry Hughes is one of the most dangerous men +in London."</p> + +<p>She looked him straight in the eyes now. "That is the man you mentioned +yesterday. When I said I did not know him I was confused. I have met +him twice, or perhaps three times. He is no friend of mine—merely an +acquaintance."</p> + +<p>"He is the man who engineered the burglary. He is not worth an ache of +your little finger."</p> + +<p>"It is all so dreadfully mixed up," she exclaimed. "You must believe +me, Mr. Labar, I hardly know him."</p> + +<p>He saw that it was scarcely worth pushing the harassed girl further +for the time, and bit his lips as he tried to consider the next move. +His duty, which he had seen clearly before this interview, was no less +plain now. The girl should be held if only on her own admission that +she was an accessory in the crime. But somehow he could not bring +himself to issue the order. He tried unsuccessfully to tell himself +that he was a fool to let himself be hypnotised by her. It was no use.</p> + +<p>"Well, if you won't talk, you won't," he said with a shade of gruffness +in his tone. "That will do for now, Miss Noelson. I don't profess to +understand you."</p> + +<p>"You mean—I can go?" she asked, hesitatingly.</p> + +<p>"You can go," he agreed.</p> + +<p>She held out a slim hand. "I want to thank you," she said simply.</p> + +<p>"Better go now," he said, "before I change my mind."</p> + +<p>He held the door open for her and stood for a while in thought +watching her as she descended the stairs. Another door opened, and a +man casually followed her. The mechanics of investigation have to be +obeyed, and Labar had no intention of calling off her shadow.</p> + +<p>He returned to his desk, and picked up a document. But his agility of +mind had deserted him. He saw nothing but a pair of grey eyes—eyes +plaintive, protesting, pleading. For ten minutes he sat thus, lost to +the world. A sharp, imperative knock at the door, followed by the swift +entrance of one of his men, recalled him to himself.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry, sir," gasped the intruder, "Miss Noelson, Miss Noelson——"</p> + +<p>Labar was at his side and shook him roughly by the shoulder. "Don't +stand there stammering, you fool. What's happened to Miss Noelson?"</p> + +<p>"She's gone, sir. Just outside Streetly House it was. A gentleman +stopped to speak to her. I was thirty yards away. They walked a few +paces. Suddenly he lifted her into a big car that was standing at the +kerb. She shouted, but before I could reach them they were gone. That's +all, sir."</p> + +<p>"You lump of mud. You condemned camel. What else did you do besides +gaping after them like a codfish? Did you get the car number? What was +the man like?"</p> + +<p>Labar shook the man feverishly. The other pulled himself away +unresentfully. "It was a big Rolls, number K9362. The man was of medium +size, very well dressed in a light-grey suit——"</p> + +<p>"Larry Hughes, by thunder!" ejaculated Labar.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</h2> +</div> + + +<p>The incidence of crime among fifty million people affects the average +individual very seldom. Any ordinary man who has his pocket picked or +the domestic silver stolen, has the feeling that he has been unfairly +selected as the victim of a phenomenon. Why should such a singular +misfortune happen to him?</p> + +<p>So it was with Penelope Noelson. A very much worried person was that +girl as she left the precincts of the Grape Street police station. +She felt a sense of injustice that she should have become caught in a +coil from which she saw no way of extricating herself. If only things +would work out so that she would not be involved. A selfish attitude no +doubt, but one which she would have been something more than human to +avoid.</p> + +<p>Quite illogically, there was a touch of exasperation in her mind with +Labar. She had felt grateful to him as she left the station, but now +she reflected that like many men he was blind in one eye. How dare +he assume that her silence was due to an affection for Mr. Hughes? +Why, he had even hinted that—that——. She flushed hotly at the +implication that she realised might have lain behind his guarded words. +For Penelope, although a modern and sophisticated maiden, had a quite +sufficient self-respect.</p> + +<p>She had to carry on the fight alone. There was no one, neither relation +nor intimate friend, to whom she might turn for counsel or sympathy. +And beyond it all lay the shadow of the gaol. If there had only been +something she could do, some active step that she might take, it +would have been easier. She thought of flight. That would, however, +be taken as an admission of guilt. Besides, she had little money, and +her commonsense told her that Labar had probably foreseen and guarded +against that very contingency. Any attempt of that kind might very well +be the signal for her arrest.</p> + +<p>It was with her thoughts thus occupied that she did not observe Larry +Hughes until he was within a couple of paces. He raised his hat and +dropped into step by her side.</p> + +<p>"Miss Noelson. The very person I was hoping to see. May I have a word +with you?"</p> + +<p>She turned an embarrassed face to him. "You! The police——" She +struggled for words.</p> + +<p>"Please don't fear for me," he said smilingly. "I am in no imminent +danger of arrest. That is what you are afraid of, I guess. I gather +that you have just left my humorous young friend, Detective Inspector +Labar. No doubt he spent a pleasant quarter of an hour blackening my +character. An ambitious young man is Mr. Labar. He believes that I am +some sort of a gilt-edged criminal, and that you are my accomplice. +Funny, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>The airy jocularity of his tone did not deceive her. Her intuition told +her more than he meant to betray. "What do you want?" she demanded. "If +things are as you say, then for us to be seen together will look even +more suspicious."</p> + +<p>"You are being shadowed," he said. "There is a gentleman loitering a +little aimlessly down the road, who I judge is interested in you. I +have had a couple of detectives behind me whenever I have taken a walk. +Fortunately, motor cars are a little difficult for eavesdroppers. I +have mine at hand. A ride for ten minutes will allow me to make many +things clear. Will you come?"</p> + +<p>She shook her head with decision. Whatever lay behind all this, it +was likely that it could bring her nothing but harm, in view of the +suspicions that already focussed upon her and Hughes.</p> + +<p>"There is no need to make things clear to me," she said. "If you know +anything about this crime, Mr. Hughes, you should go to the police."</p> + +<p>He gripped her by the arm, and she felt his fingers tighten. "You are +not afraid?" he demanded. "This is absurd, I must see you."</p> + +<p>The shadower was standing some distance away, surveying with apparently +idle interest a couple of men engaged on road repairs. But Larry +guessed that in a few moments he would saunter down towards them. There +was no time to take chances. His grip tightened roughly and he almost +shook her.</p> + +<p>"Let me go," she cried. "You're hurting my arm."</p> + +<p>"Then you'll come?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"You obstinate little fool," he snarled, and she found his arms +encircling her, as she was lifted from the ground.</p> + +<p>A cry for help escaped her, and she saw in a quick glance that the +detective had lost interest in the road repairers and was running +towards them. She fought with all the strength of her lithe, young body +to tear herself away. One arm she managed to wrench free and Larry +ripped out an oath as her fist caught him on the jaw.</p> + +<p>With a supreme effort he hurled her through the door of the car which +someone within held open, and tumbled in on top of her. She felt other +hands clutching at her and a cloth was drawn tightly about her face, +smothering her screams. She heard the door slam and felt the car drawn +fiercely into motion. Still she maintained her struggles until at last +the two men—she knew there were two now—had pinned her to her seat, +and she could move neither hand nor foot.</p> + +<p>So they held her, it seemed for hours, though at a later stage she +knew that it was for less than an hour, while they were running out of +London.</p> + +<p>The noise of traffic died down, and the soft not unmusical voice of +Larry Hughes came to her ear. "Sorry to be rough, but you rather forced +it on us. You had better accept things as they are, and we shall all be +more comfortable. Promise that you have finished with this tiger-cat +business, and we'll let you travel like a civilised being."</p> + +<p>She was exhausted, and in any case she could not hope to make any +further effective resistance. The cloth about her head prevented her +speaking, but she nodded and she felt the hands that pressed her down +cautiously withdrawn. The cloth was taken from about her face. Larry +Hughes, however, still retained a grip of her wrist.</p> + +<p>"That's better," he announced. "Tom, stop the car for a moment and get +in front with Williams. Miss Noelson and I have a few private things to +discuss."</p> + +<p>She remained silent, collecting her thoughts, till the car had started +again. Then she spoke angrily.</p> + +<p>"This is an outrage."</p> + +<p>"I agree," he said, coolly. "What would you expect? I had to do this, +since you would not let me persuade you. I have saved you from a very +awkward position."</p> + +<p>"You have placed me in a worse one," she retorted. "What do you intend +to do with me now?"</p> + +<p>He freed her wrist and regarded her speculatively, with a cold smile +twitching at the corners of his mouth. "That depends," he said. "I +have, thanks to Mr. Labar, had to push things rather in a hurry. How +much of what he told me about you was true? Not all, I'm sure, or you +wouldn't have been allowed to walk out of the police station this +morning."</p> + +<p>He had contrived to startle the girl out of her attitude of cold +resentment. She pulled herself round till she was half-facing him.</p> + +<p>"What did he say? What does he know?"</p> + +<p>"I can't tell you what he knows, but what he asserted that he knew was +that you had committed forgery, and that you tried first to bribe him, +and then to knock him out. The case as he presented it was pretty ugly. +There was only one thing left for me to do as a friend of yours. That +was to get you out of the way."</p> + +<p>Penelope's face darkened as she listened. Was Labar trying some subtle +underhand game of bluff? If he had thus lied about her to Hughes, might +he not equally have lied to her when he declared that Larry Hughes was +a criminal? What could he hope to gain by it? Her hands opened and +closed nervously as she considered. Had she misjudged Hughes merely on +the strength of this man's word whom she had only met yesterday?</p> + +<p>"That is a string of lies," she said scornfully.</p> + +<p>"Not altogether, I think," he said thoughtfully, his dark piercing eyes +fixed unwaveringly on her, as though he would read her thoughts. "There +is truth in it somewhere. How much? How much has Adèle told you?" He +thrust his face even closer towards her. "I know there is a reason +for your actions. I am your friend and hers. I am taking a heavy risk +to help you whether you appreciate it or not. We are all in the same +boat—all suspect. Let us clear the air."</p> + +<p>His voice was low and persuasive, and his hand sought and found hers. +She hastily tore hers away from his touch. For once Larry Hughes had +overplayed his part. Penelope had got a clue to things that had been +dark to her, and some at least of her doubts of the man who sat by her +side were resolved.</p> + +<p>"Adèle—and you," she murmured, softly, more to herself than to the +man. "I begin to understand."</p> + +<p>"Well, tell me," he said.</p> + +<p>"You," she said holding away from him as from some abhorrent thing, +"you are the blackmailer. You are the man she has been buying silence +from. You are the man who wrecked her life, who has driven her to +forgery, and worse. I believe you are the most contemptible creature on +God's earth."</p> + +<p>Not a muscle of the man's face moved as he listened. "Like you, I +begin to see," he declared, his tone smooth as before. "Well, it +doesn't matter a whole lot. Adèle has been putting her foot in it, +possibly getting out of her depth at the races, and she has hinted to +you that she is being blackmailed. Anyhow, she has done some foolish +things, and you are standing between her and trouble. That's what +it amounts to. No, Miss Noelson, I am not a blackmailer. There was +something between Adèle and me many years ago, before her marriage, and +possibly a crook has got some foolish letters of ours."</p> + +<p>Mentally he cursed himself for a fool. So sure had he been that the +charges Labar had made against this girl could only be explained by +one reason—that she was fully in Adèle Gertstein's confidence—that +he had let slip enough to enable her to make a guess somewhere near +the truth. It was not Larry Hughes' habit to talk loosely. However, it +could not be helped. He had acted on the assumption that the knowledge +she had might make disclosures from her dangerous. He realised that he +had been wrong. He might have left her alone and all Labar's efforts to +extract anything from her that would have inculpated Larry would have +been vain. But now by his own act he had made her the very menace he +had feared. The guard that he had ever maintained upon himself had been +incautiously relaxed. At least it was not irretrievable. He was where +he had thought himself to be. Scotland Yard would have a long way to +go ere it would be able to bring any crime against him.</p> + +<p>The girl shrank as far from him as the limits of the car would allow. +"But why this?" she demanded. "Why are you carrying me away, and where +are you taking me?"</p> + +<p>He made an impatient little gesture. "I am taking you away because you +are not safe in London. You need have no fear. You will be well looked +after."</p> + +<p>Penelope did not miss the sinister construction that might have been +put upon his words. She felt herself shudder inwardly. But to the man +she presented a brave front.</p> + +<p>"Why?" she demanded again. "I am nothing to you. I insist that you put +me down."</p> + +<p>"And let Labar twist you as he will. I am not raving mad." With a +sudden movement he possessed himself of her hands. "Penelope, you are +something to me. Can't you understand, child? You are everything to me."</p> + +<p>"No," she protested. "Do not touch me."</p> + +<p>He paid no heed. "I want you, child. I have wanted you ever since +I met you. Listen. You have no one to consider but yourself. I am +rich—richer than you could imagine. I can give you everything that the +world holds. You and I together. Will you marry me?"</p> + +<p>"No," she declared, vehemently. "Marry a thief—a blackmailer—God +knows what—no!"</p> + +<p>He flung her roughly from him. He had heard harder words in his life +and had met them sneering and unmoved. But somehow to hear them from +her stung him.</p> + +<p>"You think you won't—now," he said viciously. "But you will, my girl. +If you think you can set your silly obstinacy against my will, my dear, +and win, you are booked for trouble. I have given you your chance and I +don't permit man nor woman to stand in my way. Bigger people than you +have learnt that."</p> + +<p>She returned no answer. The car turned from the smooth road, and slowed +as it took a rough track through a windswept marshland. In a little it +came to a halt.</p> + +<p>"Here we are," said Larry Hughes.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</h2> +</div> + + +<p>Although it would have pleased Harry Labar to tumble into the fastest +motor car he could find and engage in swift and melodramatic chase of +Larry Hughes and Penelope, he was deterred by many considerations. +Chief among them was the fact that they had a start that made pursuit +in such a manner impracticable. Then, again, the whole thing might +prove a wild goose chase. It might be just a pleasant comedy staged by +Larry for reasons of his own.</p> + +<p>Labar forced himself to reason coldly on the matter, although there was +a tinge of apprehension in his mind so far as Penelope was concerned. +But he dare not take his own personal feelings into account. He was +surprised, but then Larry had a habit of doing the unexpected thing. +Larry would appreciate the construction that must be put upon the +episode—that Penelope's evidence was of such importance, that he was +compelled to this seemingly reckless method of ensuring her silence. +But he must realise that he could not hold her indefinitely.</p> + +<p>Do not imagine that the detective inspector sat idle while he balanced +these things in his mind. He had to adjust the machinery to meet the +case. As soon as he was perfectly clear on the facts, he had begun to +work.</p> + +<p>"All station" messages to the two hundred or so police stations in +London were being sent out over the private wires. To those county and +borough forces that held sway over certain strategic points on the +roads leading from the metropolis, requests were broadcast to "stop and +detain" Larry's car and its passengers. Thus thousands of men would +be on the look out for the fugitives, although Labar feared it would +be too late. Before instructions could reach the men on their patrols +the car would in all likelihood be far away. But there was more than a +chance that the route would be picked up, although Labar was too old a +hand to rely confidently even upon this.</p> + +<p>Men were on their way to Larry's house at Hampstead, and Malone was +even then swearing out a search warrant. All this was more or less +an ordinary adaptation of the Scotland Yard organisation to meet an +emergency. Labar considered the advisability of getting on to the Yard +and obtaining permission to use the newspapers. It was a resort of +which the authorities were not too fond, for there is still a certain +suspicion of the Press at Scotland Yard. The inspector resolved that +the step might well wait till all else failed.</p> + +<p>As his grip on the work before him tightened, a flash of inspiration +came to Labar. He nodded grimly in confirmation of his own reasoning. +There was only one way in which Larry Hughes could make certain that +Penelope could be for ever prevented from giving evidence. A married +woman, so the law runs, cannot be compelled to give evidence against +her husband.</p> + +<p>He turned cold at the thought. Would Larry dare? Was there after all +anything he would not dare? But even so no marriage could take place +without the consent of the girl. Was she likely to succumb to Larry's +persuasions—or threats?</p> + +<p>He stood at the door of his room and shouted a name. "Here, you! Tumble +down to Somerset House—Registrar-General's Department. I want to know +what steps have to be taken to get a special marriage licence. If any +application comes in with regard to a couple called Hughes and Noelson, +I want to know at once. Get off right away."</p> + +<p>There was nothing more he could do for the present in regard to the +abduction. He glanced at his watch. He ought to go down to Streetly +House, but at any moment they might bring in Gold Dust Teddy, and +he wanted to be at hand to see that gentleman. He decided to wait. +Throwing himself back in his chair he put his feet on the desk and +closing his eyes indulged in the luxury of a nap.</p> + +<p>Half-an-hour passed before he was roused by the information that Teddy +was downstairs in the charge-room awaiting his pleasure.</p> + +<p>"Have much trouble?" he asked the officer who brought him the news.</p> + +<p>"Not what you might call a lot, sir. Found him in his favourite pub +and jumped him before he had a chance to get ugly. He was half-lit up, +and gave Down a black eye before we got the bracelets on him. But he's +sobered up a lot now, though he's still talking big."</p> + +<p>"Right oh. Put him in the detention-room. I'll be down to see him in a +minute."</p> + +<p>Gold Dust Teddy greeted Labar with a sort of surly amiability some +five minutes later. There is no overt enmity between the ordinary +professional rogue and the police. He recognises that the detectives +are merely doing a job in bringing him to justice, and, though he +will do anything to keep out of their clutches, once there he accepts +matters as they are with a sort of philosophy. Now and again there is +an officer against whom he nourishes some bitter grievance, and he will +talk with venom and contempt of the "Johns" and the "bodies" among his +intimates. But face to face detective and crook meet on those terms of +intimacy that might exist between members of opposing teams.</p> + +<p>Teddy did not look a Bill Sikes. He would have passed any normal +scrutiny as a respectable middle-class citizen. He wore a collar and +tie, and there were distinct traces of a crease in his trousers. His +cleanshaven face was hard, but not in the least forbidding, except that +the puffy eyes betrayed something of sottishness. You might set him +down as a hard case perhaps, but you would not condemn him on his looks.</p> + +<p>"I been wanting to see you, Mr. Labar," he said aggressively. "It's a +bit tough on a bloke that's trying to run straight to have your fellers +come and rough house him without giving him a chance. Wouldn't even +tell me what it was for. It's illegal, that's what it is."</p> + +<p>"Just wanted a little talk with you, Teddy," observed Labar quietly. +"Nothing to get excited about."</p> + +<p>"Excited. You should tell them birds not to get excited. On my back +like a pair of ravening wolves they was. And I'm telling you, Mr. +Labar, there ain't anything against me. Not a thing. I've got a clean +sheet, I have, since I did that last lot."</p> + +<p>"Glad to hear that, Teddy. Got enough money to retire on, have you? Or +have you got a job? Let's see. It's nine months since you came out of +stir. What have you been doing, besides drink?"</p> + +<p>Well aware that Labar knew a great deal about him, Teddy shrugged his +shoulders. "I've had a glass now and again," he said defiantly. "Why +shouldn't I? You know how hard it is for a bloke like me, guv'nor. +Tried hard I have. What chance is there for a bloke like me?"</p> + +<p>"Where was your last job? Have you got any references?"</p> + +<p>"Fat hope. The wife had a bit of money by her and that's kept us going."</p> + +<p>"Uh-huh. Getting pretty well up against it last week, weren't you? Or +did your wife have a new dividend in on Monday?"</p> + +<p>The detective had not raised his voice, but Teddy winced as though the +question had been shouted at him. "'Struth, guv'nor, you don't think +I was in that Gertstein job, do you? I can prove where I was all that +night. I can bring witnesses."</p> + +<p>"Sure you can?" Labar's voice was soothing, velvety. "What kind of +witnesses?" He did not doubt that the other had taken some kind of +steps to establish an alibi. "I wonder if a jury would believe 'em +against the story I might have to tell. Mind you, Teddy, I like you. +I'd hate to have to push all I know." The hint, half threat, half +promise, was delicately conveyed. "Much better for you to give me the +full strength of the yarn."</p> + +<p>Teddy blinked. "You're bluffing," he asserted, doggedly. "I had nothing +to do with it. You can't lay anything over me."</p> + +<p>"Bluffing, am I? Don't you believe it, son. I know all about Larry +and the others. You think that Larry will help you out of this mess. +He won't. He's on his way out of London, and he's leaving you and the +others to hold the baby. Here." His voice changed and he fixed his +eyes sternly upon the burglar. "How do you account for this?" He fished +a piece of paper from his waistcoat pocket. "This was found in your +house, and it's a message from Larry to you. 'All ready. Cut out the +booze or I'll put you in the mud. Meet to-night at——'" The inspector +mumbled something incoherently and thrust the paper in his pocket. "You +thought that you'd burnt that, Teddy, but you hadn't. You've botched +it, Teddy. Now are you going to help me or are you going to be a fool? +Make up your mind."</p> + +<p>Teddy's face had visibly paled while he listened. His first impression +that Labar had been bluffing was right. But the inspector on his +slender materials had managed to weaken the burglar's opinion. He +was determined to break Teddy down, and since the Third Degree is +frowned upon by British law, there was only this way open to him. It +might be questioned by a pedant whether even so he was within the +narrow confines of legality. That troubled him little. The strict +interpretation of the law in the letter and the spirit would paralyse +half the activities of Scotland Yard.</p> + +<p>There is possibly honour among thieves in a few exceptional cases. Here +and there one may find a "straight crook" who will loyally stand by +his associates, but as a general principle known to every police force +in the world, there is scarcely a thief who will not give away another +thief if pressed, either to curry favour or in the hope of some measure +of protection for himself.</p> + +<p>This time, however, Labar realised that it might be more difficult. +Among those who knew him Larry Hughes was recognised to have a long +arm. He gave rewards lavishly, but he held stern discipline. There were +tales in the underworld, even among those who would not have recognised +Larry Hughes if they saw him, of certain, if sometimes long delayed, +vengeance on those who had talked too much. Larry never forgot, and +never failed to repay. It was an element in his own methods of ensuring +safety.</p> + +<p>Teddy hesitated. He was in a police station and Labar was the more +immediate danger. Against that, not even Labar could hold him immune +from a long term of imprisonment if he admitted complicity in the +robbery. The most he could do would be to refrain from pressing +the case too heavily. Supposing he thus saved a year or two of his +sentence, there were still Larry and Larry's friends to be reckoned +with. He had heard of men being "framed" by Larry for crimes they +had not committed, men against whom the police had found convincing +evidence to their hands. There were others, cripples for life, who dare +not tell in what strange encounter they received their injuries. There +were still others who had dropped out of all human knowledge, with only +the possibility of a grim guess at their fate. All of these had in some +degree failed to keep faith with Larry Hughes.</p> + +<p>"I don't know any Larry." He met the gaze of the inspector with a fixed +stare. "I ain't had no message from no one. You didn't find that paper +in my place, and if you did it don't prove anything. You won't get me +spilling anything, Mr. Labar, so you may as well save your breath. If +you're going to keep me here I want to see a mouth-piece. I know my +rights."</p> + +<p>"We're good friends, Teddy."</p> + +<p>"You don't blarney me any more than you can bluff me," said the other, +dourly. "I know my rights."</p> + +<p>"That's all right then. Better be careful." Labar was as mild as ever, +and perhaps a shade more genial. "Run along now and be a good boy. +Don't get into any more mischief."</p> + +<p>Teddy scowled uneasily and shifted to his feet twirling his soft hat in +his hands. He did not know what to make of this dismissal, but he was +more than a little suspicious. In his experience divisional detective +inspectors did not give up in this way.</p> + +<p>"You're through?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Through for now. I may have to see you again, I hope. Look after +yourself."</p> + +<p>Sufficient for the day are the troubles thereof. That was part of Gold +Dust Teddy's philosophy. He did not for an instant suppose that Labar +was as generous as he appeared to be—there was certainly something +behind this move. But the immediate fact was that he was out of a hole. +Whatever happened thereafter could be met from outside a cell.</p> + +<p>With a cheerful salute he passed through the door which the inspector +unlocked for his benefit, and so through a few odd uniformed police +and one or two detectives at whom he leered triumphantly out of the +entrance to the station.</p> + +<p>Labar thrust an arm through that of a frowning young detective sergeant +whose discoloured eye told Teddy's prowess and led him upstairs.</p> + +<p>"You've helped a whole lot on this job, Down," he said. "Don't you +worry about Teddy. We'll get our hooks on him when we want. I'm using +him as bait. What I want you to do is to watch when the big fish bites."</p> + +<p>He expounded at greater length when he was back at his desk. "This +joker's in the game up to the neck, but you can bet Larry's only +trusted him as far as he had to. How much he knows I can't say. He's +scared to death to say anything, now. But it's odds, now that we're on +to him, that he'll try to give the office to Larry either direct, or +through someone else. You've got to tail him closer than a brother. +Take Heath to help you—he doesn't know Heath. And be particularly +careful when he's stewed. He may drop something that we'd like to know. +See if you can get a line through what channels his money comes, though +Larry's likely to have seen that you don't get back to him that way. If +you do get hold of anything burn the wires in getting it to me."</p> + +<p>Down jerked his head in comprehension. "I'll attend to it, sir. Heath +will be on the job when I have to stay under cover."</p> + +<p>"Get to it then. I'm relying on you not to fall down."</p> + +<p>The divisional detective inspector turned to other matters.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</h2> +</div> + + +<p>A couple of days passed, and although the newspapermen still pestered +Labar, and other potential sources of information at Scotland Yard, +the space allotted to the hue and cry in the news dwindled. Labar was +thankful. There are times when an energetic and persevering journalist +may stumble on something that will aid the police, but in a case of +this kind reporters were an embarrassment. There were no innocuous +morsels that one might feed them on, and such facts as Labar had up +his sleeve he was anxious to keep to himself. Larry no doubt would be +scanning the morning and evening journals with assiduity.</p> + +<p>The investigation marked time. Gertstein had been able to throw no +light on the forgery, save that a cheque form was missing from his +book, and in one or two interviews Labar found him more prickly than at +first. He seemed gloomily to revel in giving up hope that any result +would be achieved by the matter of fact methods of the police. The +strange disappearance of Miss Noelson he put down entirely to the +heavy-handed tactlessness of Labar. The latter had not thought it worth +while to tell everything.</p> + +<p>"She has been terrified," declared Gertstein. "You made a big blunder +in letting her see that you suspected her. That poor girl has been +driven away, and you are responsible because you told her she was the +thief."</p> + +<p>"She'll be back, all right," said Labar with a calmness that the little +man felt bordered on callousness. "We'll find her."</p> + +<p>There Gertstein with a disbelieving grunt left the matter, although +he mentally decided that if Penelope was not traced quickly he would +enlist the aid of some other machinery than that of Scotland Yard.</p> + +<p>The burglarious Gold Dust Teddy was leading an apparently normal, +half-drunken existence, with Down and Heath, both ambitious young +officers, camping on his trail. So far he had afforded them no chance +of getting nearer to proof against Larry. They had devised means—what +they were Labar did not inquire, though he might make a close guess—of +studying all the correspondence, both inward and outward, of his +household. They had even used tests recommended to them by a Government +chemist calculated to reveal the most obdurate sympathetic ink. And +Heath patronising Teddy's favourite "pub" had stood the latter sundry +drinks the while he conveyed that he himself was a "screwsman" much +wanted, who was quite ready to take a hand in any exploit that might +perchance lead to profit. Beyond this Down had his small coterie of +"informants" on the qui vive. All this had hitherto gone for nothing.</p> + +<p>A very effective turn over of Larry's Hampstead house, under the powers +of the search warrant that Malone had obtained, had been futile. It +is to be doubted if the most inexperienced of the officers engaged +seriously expected that anything incriminating would be found. Amid all +the sumptuous equipment of the residence there was nothing that had not +been honestly bought and paid for. It was the house of a very wealthy, +very tasteful man. There were no dramatic secret doors or hiding +places. The few servants about the place had antecedents that placed +them beyond suspicion. They only knew that Mr. Hughes was a generous, +if somewhat erratic, master, given to sudden comings and goings, in +which he was usually attended by his valet, and his chauffeur. About +these two men little could be learnt. Letters were found—tradesmen's +bills and other quite innocent missives—that helped not at all.</p> + +<p>Yet in a way Labar was enjoying himself. The throwbacks, the lines +of inquiry that led nowhere, were in normal sequence for this type +of investigation and but stiffened his resolution to see the matter +through. He had regained the interest that he had lost in his work. No +one knew better than he the value of persistency. Somehow he would get +his fingers on that end of the string that would unravel the entire +tangle. It might be obtained by dogged perseverance; it might drop +unexpectedly from the blue skies as clues have not infrequently been +known to do.</p> + +<p>He had a theory that he was wont to expand upon in moments of leisure +with his colleagues. "With enough men, enough money, enough brains and +a little time there is no mystery that cannot be explained."</p> + +<p>Something of this sort he reiterated to Moreland, his Flying Squad +intimate, while they discussed the matter in the privacy of the +latter's room at Scotland Yard.</p> + +<p>"You've been reading a detective novel," observed Moreland. "What if +you have men, money and brains up against you? Can't they foresee what +moves you are likely to make? Isn't that what Larry Hughes has done up +to now?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. And don't we know something about Larry? With all that we know +him for a big crook. There's no mystery there. We can't prove it under +form of law, that's all."</p> + +<p>Moreland levelled a forefinger. "Go easy with the grey matter, Harry. +You bewilder me. Let's get down to the practical. We know Larry is a +crook. We are paid to put crooks in prison—you and I. Yet Larry is a +gentleman at large."</p> + +<p>Labar shook his head smilingly. "He can't beat the game all the time."</p> + +<p>"Meaning that you propose to get your teeth in him. I wish you luck. +But where have you got so far? Just the off-chance of a charge of +abduction, and the lady may let you down there, after all, by saying +she went of her own free will. Don't kid yourself, Harry. It's +dangerous."</p> + +<p>"A fine little old Job's comforter you make. I wonder if there is +anyone in the Yard who does not think I'm playing a losing hand against +Larry."</p> + +<p>Moreland beat a pencil in an erratic tattoo on his blotting pad, and +shot an appraising sidelong glance at his friend. "Got to keep you from +getting too smug," he said. "You've got a temperament. A day or two ago +you had your tail between your legs—and now you talk as if it's all +over bar the shouting. I'm sure you've been reading a book. Next thing +you know you'll be reciting your methods to me <i>à la</i> Sherlock +Holmes. Or is it"—he straightened himself up—"that you have something +up your sleeve?"</p> + +<p>"I've a hunch——"</p> + +<p>"For the love of Mike bury it. Facts are what you want."</p> + +<p>"As I was saying," went on Labar, placidly, "I have a hunch that +something is about to open up. Amid all the free advice and admonitions +from some millions of newspaper readers—"</p> + +<p>"Only millions?"</p> + +<p>"Don't interrupt. It seems like millions anyway. But among the letters +sent to me was one that seems to me to show interesting possibilities. +It was anonymous, of course." He pulled an envelope out of his pocket. +"Postmarked E.C. 4. That doesn't help much. One of the busiest postal +districts in the city. Typewritten on cheap paper. 'If you want to get +to the bottom of the job you're on, ask Mrs. G. if she has managed to +pay her bookmaker's accounts yet.' What do you think of that, Moreland? +'Mrs. G.' is Mrs. Gertstein I suppose. She's a lady I haven't seen yet. +Been away, country house visiting or something."</p> + +<p>The anonymous letter is not infrequently a factor in detective work, +however inconsiderable its value may be in the ordinary commerce of +society. Men and women—particularly women—will betray secretly from +many motives. What those motives may be it is seldom worth while to +inquire.</p> + +<p>Moreland fingered the letter. "Somebody willing to knife the lady in +the back. May be nothing in it."</p> + +<p>"May be. I'm not saying till I've looked into it. But, on the face of +it, it fits in. This girl—Penelope Noelson—is holding something back. +She's a friend of the Gertstein woman. If Mrs. Gertstein has outrun the +constable, and daren't let her husband know, why shouldn't she scrawl +a cheque in his name? Then she gets scared and tries first to bribe +me through Miss Noelson, and then to lay me out. She's supposed to be +out of London, and naturally I shouldn't think of her as being in the +shemozzle."</p> + +<p>The Flying Squad man shook his head dubiously. "Sounds fair. But she +may be up against it with the bookies, and still outside this. Why +couldn't this be a plant on the part of Miss Noelson? That seems more +likely to me. Just a ruse to throw you off her track for a while. Don't +get too subtle. Stick to what's in front of your face."</p> + +<p>"The old safety first plan, eh? That comes well from a man who's got +a bullet wound and a knife mark through interfering too closely with +race gangs. No, old chap, if I'm to come out top in this fight with +Larry Hughes, I've got to do some guessing, right or wrong. I've seen +Penelope Noelson. You haven't. If she's a real crook she's darned +clever. But——"</p> + +<p>"'But——'" mimicked Moreland. "Oh la-la. No, I've not seen her, but +she's too good looking and sweet and innocent to be a crook. Oh, Harry. +Here, ease up!" Labar had his strong sinewy fingers round the back of +his friend's neck and was grinding his nose to the blotting pad. "I +take it all back. Let go, you long slob. You're a great man. You're +right. You've got us all skinned!" The other released his hold and +Moreland explored the nape of his neck gingerly. "You're a heavy-handed +son of a gun," he complained. "Can't you take a joke?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes. Couldn't you hear me laugh?" said Labar.</p> + +<p>"I half believe—" Moreland stopped as he saw the gleam in Labar's eye. +"Never mind that," he went on hastily. "What I was going to say was +this, old lad. You're going against a man who hasn't got to stick to +rules and regulations. He'll fight all in—nothing barred. You can't +do that. But if you ever do corner him—look out. Until then you are +reasonably safe. All the same if I were you while you are on this hunt +I'd carry a gun. You may not need it, but if you do you'll want it +badly."</p> + +<p>"A gun! Why I've never carried one in my life."</p> + +<p>"Well, you pack one at the back of your pocket now. It will be a whole +lot healthier. If you can't use it you can bluff with it. Take my +advice."</p> + +<p>"You have gleams of inspiration," said Labar. "I believe I will."</p> + +<p>He swung off whistling softly. That evening he contrived to find +one who was willing to take him as a guest to one of the two great +bookmakers' clubs in London. The racecourse in some degree impinges +on the work of all detectives, because it is a sport in which many +of their clients are interested. Consequently, there were several +of the men present who knew the detective, and he was able to hold +unostentatious converse with some of the bigger operators—men he knew +who would answer his questions and keep their own counsel.</p> + +<p>The inspector's methods of approach varied with his man. Now he would +plunge into a question point blank, and again he would lead up to his +point through side issues. But mostly he drew blank.</p> + +<p>He slid into a seat fronting a billiard table by a blue jowled, plump +man with a frosty eye, who enveloped his hand in a leg of mutton fist.</p> + +<p>"How are ye, Mr. Labar? Just looking round or are ye here to do a bit +of business? I'll lay ten to one that you want to know sommat. What are +ye takin'?"</p> + +<p>"A small tonic will do me, thank you, Mr. Dickinson."</p> + +<p>The big north-countryman (known to every racecourse frequenter in +the country from royalty downwards as "Dickie," and reputed to have +acquired a colossal fortune on the turf) protested at the mildness of +the drink. Labar, however, was firm and the other gave the order.</p> + +<p>"Now I know ye're after ferreting sommat out of me, lad. Spit it out. +What dost want to know?"</p> + +<p>He turned his moon of a face to the detective and his cold eyes +narrowed. "Dickie" never beat about the bush.</p> + +<p>Labar was equally blunt. "Has a Mrs. Gertstein an account with you?"</p> + +<p>"That hell-cat. She's in my ribs for a thousand or two."</p> + +<p>"Passing up settling day lately, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>"She is and all. There's been no settling day for her for a month or +two. See you, I don't mind a bit of rope, but, when a skirt plays this +'heads I win, tails you lose' game too often, it isn't good enough for +Dickie. That's the worst of betting with women."</p> + +<p>"Ah. You've wanted to see the colour of her money?"</p> + +<p>"Aye. Not that I've been dunning her. Maybe Tony, my clerk, has dropped +a hint. She's got a rich husband; though they're not always the best +payers. I don't argue with that sort. 'Well, mem,' I says, when she +comes up to me at Kempton, all jam and honey. 'I got seven small +children to keep in boot leather. I can't lay them boots to nothin'. +When that hole which you've bitten in my pocket-book is filled up, I'll +maybe consider makin' a bet with you. I don't want to offend you, mem,' +I says, 'but this ain't business. Nowt for nowt is my motto,' I says, +and with that she tosses her head and went off in a huff."</p> + +<p>"So she stung you. Any others?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. She got under the guard of one or two of 'em. Howsumever we +reckons to get our bit when the time comes. The old 'un has got the +dough, and she'll wheedle it out of him. She ain't so much crooked as +flippity—and she's a reg'ler little spitfire when she can't get her +own way."</p> + +<p>Refusing another drink, Labar edged away, leaving Dickie to pass +caustic comments on the merits of the billiard players. He had learned +enough to verify the writer of the anonymous letter. Mrs. Gertstein was +certainly in debt to the bookmakers. That fact was, as Moreland had +pointed out, in itself of no importance. But it was of significance +taken in conjunction with other things. He began mentally to elaborate +a theory.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</h2> +</div> + + +<p>Through the gate of a high wall set about a low-built house the car +containing Penelope Noelson and Larry Hughes passed. A ground mist as +high as a man's waist was rising; but as far as the girl could see +there was nothing within view of the place but a desolate and dreary +tract of marshland. She shivered as though the spot chilled her.</p> + +<p>Larry helped her to descend. "This is my country home," he said, "a +place I picked up cheap because it is eight miles from a railway +station, and five from anything resembling a road. Tricky business, +too, for a stranger to find a way about these marshes."</p> + +<p>She did not miss the hint. "You think you are going to hold me as a +sort of prisoner here? Don't forget, Mr. Hughes, that I have friends."</p> + +<p>He patted her on the shoulder. "Nothing so melodramatic as that, +I assure you. You are my guest. I'm afraid you will find the +accommodation a little rough, but I assure you we will do our best to +make you comfortable till I have time to make other arrangements. As +for your friends—including Inspector Labar—they will not worry us. +For your own sake it will be well to make yourself at home. I don't +want you to get lost, so it will be better for you to keep within the +walls of the grounds."</p> + +<p>Pushing an arm through hers he led her up a stoneflagged pathway into +the house. A big-boned, pleasant-looking woman was standing on the +threshold.</p> + +<p>"This is Mrs. Lengholm," he said. "We call her Sophie. She will look +after you. Did you get my wire, Sophie?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. Everything is ready. There's a fire in the lady's room, and, +as you said she had to leave hurriedly, I got a few clothes and other +necessaries for her."</p> + +<p>"Thank you. Then she may like you to show her to her room." He turned +to Penelope. "If there is anything you would like, just tell Sophie. +And I hope you will not waste your time trying to bribe or threaten +her. We have known each other a long time, Sophie and I."</p> + +<p>If other matters had not been teeming in Penelope's mind she might +have viewed with some surprise the furnishings of the room to which +she was ushered. The dingy aspect of the outside of the house had +promised nothing of this kind. It might have been the boudoir of some +princess. Luxurious carpets, chaste and delicate silken hangings, a bed +and chairs made by artists of long ago and matching the small bookcase +and writing-desk that seemed designed for the niches into which they +fitted, and two or three dainty water colours that in themselves must +have cost a small fortune, completed a room that would have sent a +professional decorator into ecstasy. On that small room money and +thought had been lavished.</p> + +<p>"You see it's a kind of sitting-room as well as a bedroom?" explained +Sophie. "I have laid out some things for you on the bed. I had only a +general idea of your size but I think they will fit. Would you like me +to help you try them on?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, no. Not now," said Penelope. She caught the other by the arm. +"Where is this place, Mrs. Lengholm?"</p> + +<p>Sophie shook her head. "I'm to do anything for you except answer +questions, miss."</p> + +<p>"I know I'm somewhere on the Kent or Sussex coast," said the girl. "The +signposts coming down told me that."</p> + +<p>Sophie maintained an inflexible silence. Penelope considered her for a +moment.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you don't know that I have been brought down here by force," +she ventured. "If you could post a letter for me—to let my friends +know. I could make it worth your while——"</p> + +<p>A slow ironic smile broke over the elder woman's face. Penelope saw +what the answer must be before she spoke. "Didn't you hear what Mr. +Hughes said? You can't bribe me." She moved towards the door. "If you +want anything more, will you please ring."</p> + +<p>Down in one of the morning rooms Larry Hughes smoked a thoughtful +cigarette and nursed his right knee between his hands. He straightened +up as Sophie entered soft footed.</p> + +<p>"Well," he demanded, "everything all right?"</p> + +<p>"She offered me money to post a letter."</p> + +<p>"Didn't you take it?" he replied carelessly. "More fool you."</p> + +<p>He did not even look at her, and the glowering eyes of the woman were +lost to him. "What are you going to do with her?" she asked.</p> + +<p>He flicked the ash from his cigarette, and turned curiously to her. +"You're growing inquisitive in your old age, Sophie," he said with a +slight rising inflection in his voice. "All you've got to do is to look +after her while I tell you."</p> + +<p>"There's some things I won't do, Larry Hughes," she retorted steadily.</p> + +<p>He got to his feet and with darkened face took a step towards her. +"What's that you say, woman? Don't I pay you enough?"</p> + +<p>She met his eyes stubbornly. "The pay's all right. I'm not complaining +of that. You've always done generously by me in that way. And I've been +useful to you. I may be a crook, but I'm not that sort of woman."</p> + +<p>"What's biting you?" he asked threateningly. "Do you know where you +would be in a couple of days if I passed the word? In gaol with your +husband and seven or ten years staring you in the face. Tread on the +soft pedal, Sophie—and don't Larry Hughes me. Sir, from you, and +don't you forget it."</p> + +<p>She placed her hands on her hips. "I know. All the same I won't be +dragged into this kind of dirtiness."</p> + +<p>His frown faded. Comprehension showed in his face. "I see," he smiled. +"I didn't know that you were that kind of puritan. You can relieve +yourself of any scruples. I intend to marry the lady."</p> + +<p>"If that's the case——" She hesitated in doubt.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's all true enough," he insisted. "She knows too much for my +health. If ever I go down, Sophie, it's going to be bad for a lot of +us. So I'm going to shut her mouth by marrying her. I think I'd have +married her anyway. Now you've got the strength of the whole thing, +Sophie."</p> + +<p>He resumed the attitude he had held on her entrance, and accepting +this as a dismissal she withdrew. Larry grinned to himself with some +cynicism over this touch of human nature. Here was old Sophie Lengholm, +daughter of criminal parents, married to a man even now in prison for +an attack on a police officer that was only just short of murder, and +herself a not inconsiderable ally in all sorts of wickedness for years, +turning squeamish over what she thought was an affair of morals. Women +were queer cattle. Well, anyway, she could be relied upon now that he +had put matters straight for her. Quite apart from all considerations +of money she would risk too much if she played any monkey business with +him. He trusted none over whom he could not crack a whip.</p> + +<p>Meantime, alone in her room Penelope was trying to decide upon some +course of action. Her head ached with the effort to see some solution. +She had no doubt that Larry Hughes had meant what he said when he +declared his intention to marry her. The very audacity by which he +had trapped her showed that there was no length to which he was not +prepared to go. She was afraid, but she told herself that she must not +let her faculties become paralysed. He could not force her to marry +him. Such things were not done these days. At all costs she must try to +get some word to London. The construction that would be put upon her +absence was appallingly plain to her. But how? Her baffled mind beat +wildly about the problem.</p> + +<p>Gradually she became more collected. If an opportunity was to come for +a way out she must look for it. She wondered if it would be possible to +throw Larry off his guard. Could he be duped by an apparent acceptance +of the situation on her part until such time as she found an avenue of +escape? If he could be lulled into relaxing his precautions she might +at the worst get some word to the local police or perhaps even to Labar.</p> + +<p>She doubted if she had the nerve to hold her emotions and her fears in +control to that extent, but even while she reflected she was fingering +one of the dresses on the bed. And scarcely conscious of what she was +doing she changed and wandered out down the old oaken staircase.</p> + +<p>An uneasy feeling that hidden eyes were watching her every movement +possessed her, but that she put down to her shaken nerves. A gloomy +quiet brooded over the house. Once she gently opened one of the massive +doors and peeped into a sombre panelled room furnished as a study. A +dog growled and she had a glimpse of a big Alsatian wolf-hound rising +menacingly from the hearth. She hurriedly closed the door. Apart from +that she heard no sound of life about the place.</p> + +<p>Avoiding the morning-room which she had seen Hughes enter on their +arrival, she strolled with an appearance of nonchalance that cost +her an effort to maintain into the grounds. They had a derelict and +unkempt appearance. Indeed, viewed from the outside the whole house and +its domain afforded a singular contrast from the well-kept if gloomy +interior.</p> + +<p>Ragged and untrimmed shrubs, overgrown flowerbeds, lank grass and +ill-kept gravel paths all told of neglect that, she noted, must have +been deliberately intended to convey an impression to any visitor +straying in the vicinity. The tall weather-beaten concrete wall, +however, showed no sign of deterioration. She followed it round till +she came to the wrought iron gates of the drive. They were closed and a +steel chain secured by an efficient modern padlock held them.</p> + +<p>Penelope glanced around. Then she shook the gates. They were +immovable. A wild notion had come to her and she thoughtfully examined +the spikes on the top. They were not so formidable. An active person +with a little care might scale the gates without injury.</p> + +<p>She set a foot on one of the twirls of the iron and gripping the bars +pulled herself up. Her hand had reached the topmost spikes and she +was seeking farther foothold when she heard a discreet cough. Tom, +the valet, who had accompanied Hughes, was standing a few yards back +chewing a straw and regarding her speculatively. With as much dignity +as she could muster she lowered herself to the grounds.</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't try that again if I were you, miss," he said respectfully. +"You might hurt yourself. Besides, all those things are wired to alarms +in the house."</p> + +<p>The girl stooped to brush herself. When she arose she flashed an +ingenuous smile towards the man.</p> + +<p>"I just wanted a look round," she explained, "I wasn't trying to run +away. I want to know where I am."</p> + +<p>Tom shifted his straw to another angle, and before answering flung it +to the ground. "There's miles of marshes round this place, miss. Acres +and acres with big dykes crisscrossing them and no roads to speak of. +I'd be afraid of trying to cross a maze like that."</p> + +<p>"But, Tom—your name is Tom, isn't it?—I can feel the sea."</p> + +<p>"Yes, miss. The sea's away about a mile over there." He waved an arm +vaguely to the right. "Difficult to get to and a lonely waste of +shingle if you do."</p> + +<p>"I see. Then if there's no chance of my getting away why are you +watching me?"</p> + +<p>The glimmer of an appreciative smile showed on the immobile face of the +valet. "I'm not exactly spying on you, miss. Mr. Hughes was afraid that +as you didn't know the district you might get into trouble—fall into +one of the dykes perhaps. So one of us will be always keeping an eye on +you."</p> + +<p>She bit her lip. "Very considerate of Mr. Hughes. Do you suppose he +means to starve me as well as keep me a prisoner?"</p> + +<p>"I was to tell you, miss, that Mr. Hughes is waiting for you in the +dining-room."</p> + +<p>It would be doing an injustice to the imperturbability of the +well-trained Tom, to suggest that he had shown in any manner that he +was prepared for certain contingencies. But Penelope was not lacking +in observation and reason. These qualities were perhaps sharpened by +the emergency with which she was faced. It had not escaped her that the +well-fitting jacket of the valet sagged a little on the right hand side +as though something heavy reposed in his pocket.</p> + +<p>She moved closer to him. "You might as well show me the way," she said +and fell into step by his right hand.</p> + +<p>They had not moved a couple of yards when she acted. Before he could be +aware of her purpose her hand had dropped swiftly to his pocket and had +closed over the butt of a small automatic pistol. Her surmise had been +right.</p> + +<p>He sprang silently towards her but recoiled as he heard the click of +the safety catch and the blue barrel was thrust into his face.</p> + +<p>"Now then. Open that gate," she demanded.</p> + +<p>"I haven't got the key," he declared, his eyes searching her face for +the slightest sign of hesitation, of distraction. Give him one fraction +of a second start, he told himself, and he would have that gun away +from her.</p> + +<p>But Penelope was keyed for anything. "If you don't open that gate in +ten seconds," she said, with some surprise at the steadiness of her own +voice, "I shall shoot."</p> + +<p>Sullenly he began to search his pockets. "One," she counted, +"two—three—four—five—six—seven——"</p> + +<p>A key rattled on the ground in front of her. She made no move to touch +it. His intention was evident to her. "Pick that up," she ordered, "and +open the gate. Quick. Eight—nine."</p> + +<p>His face still a mask he reluctantly obeyed. Tense she waited for the +faintest suspicious movement. The key slipped into the lock.</p> + +<p>A hand stole from behind her and struck her wrist a sharp blow. The +pistol dropped from her grip. The soft voice of Larry Hughes was in +her ears as she saw him stoop to recover the weapon.</p> + +<p>"Don't you think we've had enough of this nonsense, Penelope?" he +asked.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</h2> +</div> + + +<p>To one approaching casually Adèle Gertstein might have seemed asleep. +She reclined with a sort of feline luxuriousness in a deck chair on +one of the wide terraces of "Maid's Retreat," and beneath her the +green sweep of the park, and the rolling woodlands and cornfields of +Hampshire, smiled lazily back at the sun.</p> + +<p>But her eyes were wide open, fixed unseeingly on the splendours of the +country. She was trying to think, a process somewhat difficult to one +whose actions were habitually guided by impulse. The effort always +exasperated her, and only the most formidable and immediate necessity +drove her to it.</p> + +<p>She roused herself and crumpled the sheet of paper that had lain in her +lap with a venomous hand. "Five thousand pounds," she murmured. "How +the devil am I to find five thousand pounds?"</p> + +<p>To the wife of a millionaire such a sum perhaps ought not to seem +impossible. But there were reasons why Adèle Gertstein dare not appeal +to her husband. There were limits to his devotion, and he might well +inquire why £12,000 a year was not sufficient for her needs.</p> + +<p>Yet five thousand pounds she had to have. Of course she could get it on +Bonnie Chevalier for the Stewards Cup, if those idiot bookmakers had +not restricted her credit. Just as if she didn't mean to pay. Anyway, +there were other bookmakers.</p> + +<p>She tapped a gold pencil between her teeth as she strolled back to the +house and seated herself at her desk. There was only one thing for +it. Why should the woman always suffer? She drew a sheet of notepaper +towards her and began to write:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">My dear Larry</span>,—Things are driving me to distraction. +This man—you know whom—now wants me to find five thousand for him +within the next week, or he will go to Solly. He has drained me dry +and I simply do not know where to turn. For the sake of old times +you might let me have this money. It means very little to you, and +I will most certainly pay it back very soon. I simply must have it, +or I am ruined. Perhaps I have been a fool, but I am sure this man +means business, and it would be awkward for you, too, if things +became public. So please do, like a dear man, lend me this money. +Bring it if you can—'Maid's Retreat' is only three hours out of +London by road.</p> + +<p>"I am practically all alone here. You, of course, have seen by the +newspapers what has happened at Streetly House. I have not been +back because there is nothing I can do. Solly calls me up twice +a day and wails, and, although I am very fond of Solly, I don't +believe my nerves at present could stand being all day in the same +house with him.</p> + +<p>"Penelope has disappeared. She went up to town for me the morning +after the robbery and has dropped out without a word. You would +think that at least she would have written to me. Solly says that +some clumsy policeman suspected her of being the burglar, and that +she has been frightened into running away. It does seem ridiculous. +Really, if I weren't so concerned with my own tragedies I should be +worried to death about her. But I expect that she is all right.</p> + +<p>"Now for Heaven's sake don't disappoint me. Bring or send that +money. I am desperate.—A."</p> +</div> + +<p>She read the letter over twice, and added fresh underlines to many that +she had already made. Then she sealed and stamped it, and carried it +herself to the post bag in the hall.</p> + +<p>That was over and done with. To the fluffy mind of Adèle Gertstein +the situation was met. There were other and more special immediate +interests to engage her. There was, for instance, her toilet for +Goodwood. An hour before she had cancelled all her arrangements for +the race meeting. Who could be thrilled by such an event with black +tragedy lurking in the imminent background? She had done with all the +foibles and vanities of this life. Her maid, with the suspicion of a +wink, had conveyed her decision to those concerned, and preparations +had gone forward without a hitch, for her servants knew Mrs. Gertstein.</p> + +<p>So she conferred with her maid with the deliberation and hesitancy that +the momentous decision of what to wear demanded. In something less than +an hour she was adorned with a gossamer creation of cream with delicate +touches of pale blue, that, as the maid assured her, set off her beauty +to perfection.</p> + +<p>For her closest feminine friend could not have denied Adèle Gertstein's +beauty. Still something under thirty, she was tall and supple as a +boy. A complexion of roses and cream called for little in the way of +artificial preservation, although that little she saw was supplied. +Melting blue eyes, a mouth that was inclined to waver a little +uncertainly, or a little plaintively or a little piquantly—it depended +which way you regarded it—and a delicate chin that she could tilt with +charming defiance on occasion, made her a picture on which a man's +eye's might dwell restfully.</p> + +<p>"You think it will do, Rena?" she asked, as she studied herself from a +series of angles in the tall mirror.</p> + +<p>The maid threw up her hands in an eloquent gesture of admiration. "It +is simply perfect, madam," she declared.</p> + +<p>"Then I will go."</p> + +<p>It was a run of a mere twenty miles from "Maid's Retreat" to Goodwood, +and, although Mrs. Gertstein was half-an-hour behind the time she had +fixed for her departure her car, in the skilled hands of an immaculate +chauffeur, easily made the distance in time for her to join the group +of acquaintances with whom she had arranged to lunch.</p> + +<p>There is no more beautiful racecourse in the world than this arena set +in the wooded Sussex hills. On a perfect July day, with its sense of +spaciousness, of movement, and colour it may woo the most gloomy of +mortals to a sense of rapturous delight in life. The more particularly +will it affect a woman, if she is conscious that all the gay and +elaborate display of summer "creations" worn by others of her sex only +emphasise the triumph of her own dressmaker. Adèle Gertstein felt that +both in herself and her frock she held her own among the fairest of the +aristocracy and plutocracy of Britain.</p> + +<p>She strolled in the paddock sunning herself and exchanging greetings +with her friends. She half-hoped that Larry Hughes might be there, +although there were none of his horses running. It might be easier to +deal with him face to face. It was possible that her letter had not +been emphatic enough. Larry could be a hard man. She shook off a tremor +of apprehension, and waved a hand lightly to an earl who was a director +of one of Solly Gertstein's companies.</p> + +<p>The serious business of the day demanded attention, and she moved +over towards the bookmakers. "Dickie" puckered his face as he saw her +approach and whispered something under his breath to his clerk. But she +passed him by with her head tilted in the air. She smiled winningly on +another of the princes of the ring, who hesitated for the fraction of a +second and then accepted her bet.</p> + +<p>So she made her rounds. There were men, perhaps not so blunt as +"Dickie," who would have told her that their books were full on the +horses she fancied. She did not risk these snubs. There were others who +were quite willing to have the wealthy Mrs. Gertstein as a client, the +more so as on the first race she was content with tens and twenties, +instead of the hundreds with which she had plunged before those other +men had become shy.</p> + +<p>She lost on the first race. The second, a selling plate, she increased +her stakes with the idea of still showing a profit if Laburnham won. +But Laburnham, a short-priced favourite, came in fourth and she was +so far three hundred pounds down on the day. That hurt, but, after +all, three hundred pounds was a trifle. There was no question but that +Bonnie Chevalier would win the Stewards' Cup. The three-year-old, +carrying but eight stone, was one of the biggest certainties of the +day. There was nothing that could touch it.</p> + +<p>Curiously enough she was almost alone in her opinion among her +friends. Those who had any pretensions to knowledge of racing shrugged +their shoulders when she mentioned the horse's name. But she held +doggedly to her opinion. True he was an outsider at twenty to one, +but then outsiders did sometimes win in face of all the experts. She +did a mental calculation. At twenty to one she would stand to win six +thousand with an outlay of three hundred pounds. If she could get five +hundred pounds on it would be ten thousand. She need not have written +to Larry Hughes after all. Why, she would be several thousands in hand. +She had that optimistic confidence which delights the soul of the +bookmaker, when he beholds it in a rich punter.</p> + +<p>The price had shortened to fifteens before she had laid out her +full five hundred, but she felt satisfied. She had by her own wit +and shrewdness got out of her financial dilemma. It only wanted the +formality of running the race.</p> + +<p>Someone touched her on the shoulder. She looked round quickly. A beefy +man in a morning coat, that did not fit so exquisitely as others round +about, raised his hat.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon," he said.</p> + +<p>She bowed and passed on. Detective sergeant Malone lifted his eyebrows +interrogatively to the man by his side. "Is that the woman who passed +the stumer cheque?" he asked.</p> + +<p>The other shook his head dubiously. "I couldn't swear to it. She's +like her but I wouldn't care to be certain."</p> + +<p>All unaware that she had been under the scrutiny of a cashier of the +Midland Bank, Mrs. Gertstein made her way back to the grand stand. +In a few minutes the race would start and the runners were already +taking their places at the gate. She focussed her glasses and tried to +make out Bonnie Chevalier. The draw for places was likely to have an +important bearing on the race.</p> + +<p>Her heart moved a beat quicker as she picked out the blue, white and +gold that marked Bonnie Chevalier's rider. The starters danced round in +a colourful welter as they were coaxed to their order. But she had only +eyes for one. She gave a sigh of relief as she noted that he had drawn +an inside place.</p> + +<p>The score or so of colours shifted again with a sudden plunge. They +were off. A muffled roar came to her ears, growing in intensity as +the race drew towards her. Bonnie Chevalier had shot to the front +with a cloud of rivals pressing him hard. Her hands tightened on the +glasses. The field began to space out. She lowered her glasses, which +she found difficulty in keeping steady, and leaned forward in tense +eagerness. One of the leaders stumbled and went down, with lashing +hoofs and writhing body. There was a little confusion, and she uttered +an exclamation of dismay, as the favourite stealing out of the tangle +began to draw alongside Bonnie Chevalier.</p> + +<p>Her breath was coming fast. Inch by inch the favourite drew level and +there were others at his shoulder. They must have done three furlongs +when the favourite got his head in front. Another furlong and Bonnie +Chevalier was half a length behind the first three, and still losing +ground. Her face grew hard and stony, but she refused to realise +defeat. There was still a hope. But in the next few seconds it was +dissipated. Bonnie Chevalier's jockey knew when he was beaten and eased +up his mount. The race was over for him.</p> + +<p>Through her ashen lips Mrs. Gertstein ripped out an unfeminine oath. +Someone spoke to her and she snarled fiercely in reply. The man, an +inoffensive acquaintance who had been among the party with whom she had +lunched, opened his eyes in well-bred surprise, and with an effort she +composed herself.</p> + +<p>"I really beg your pardon," she said.</p> + +<p>"Not at all," he replied with mechanical politeness. "I hope that you +haven't been hard hit."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's nothing—nothing at all," she said with an attempt at +lightness. "The money doesn't matter, but I hate to feel I've been a +fool."</p> + +<p>She rose to go and refusing an offer of escort, made her way back to +her car. There were two more races, but she felt no longer in the mood +to tempt fortune. With one of those quick revulsions to which she was +prone she had given way to a blackness of spirit, in which she saw +herself the stricken plaything of an unjust fate. It was hopeless, she +told herself, to hope that her luck would change. Still there was Larry +Hughes. She would wire to him to emphasise her letter. And if that +failed she would go to see him.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</h2> +</div> + + +<p>It was a blow to Labar that Malone's journey to Goodwood in company +with the bank cashier should have been wasted. He had fully made up +his mind that Mrs. Gertstein was the author of the forgery, and her +identification would have been an important link in the evidence.</p> + +<p>His view was based upon something more solid than the lady's +misadventures with the bookmakers. The bogus cheque had been under +much examination. A negative enlarged in the big magic lantern at +Scotland Yard showed by the marks of the pen that the signature had +most certainly been traced. That betrayed the amateur. No expert would +have committed an imitation by such a method. The inspector had made +diligent search for an original signature that would fit exactly over +the forgery, which would have demonstrated the crime beyond all doubt, +for no one ever writes his signature twice in precisely the same +manner. He had failed in that, but he had managed to procure one or two +letters of Mrs. Gertstein's written from "Maid's Retreat," and these, +with the cheque, he had submitted to the scrutiny of a distinguished +analyst who held a retainer from the Home Office.</p> + +<p>"No question about it being a forgery," that gentleman told him. +"You've seen that for yourself. But to suppose that from a mere +examination of the writing one can pin it down to a particular person +is asking too much. This sort of thing is not an exact science. But I +can tell you this. The person who wrote these letters used the same +kind of ink as the person who wrote the forged cheque. That ink is +chemically different from that used in the genuine cheques. It is a +fountain pen ink and I should say that it was used on a broad nib."</p> + +<p>Which view, taken in conjunction with other matters, carried conviction +to Labar, although he knew that he could not formulate a case that +would be satisfactory in a court of law. By and by, no doubt, some of +the other notes for which the cheque had been changed would come back +to the Bank of England, and the chances were that it would be possible +to trace them back through the various hands in which they had been. +That, however, was likely to be a matter of weeks.</p> + +<p>What Gertstein's attitude would be in the event of this crime being +brought home to his wife had been a matter of speculation with +Labar. The little man had insisted on the matter being probed to +the bottom, though, of course, he had no suspicion where it would +end. The inspector thought it probable that he would refuse to +prosecute—perhaps, if his hand was forced, he would declare that +there had been no forgery, and that the signature on the cheque was +genuine. As matters stood there was no purpose in giving a hint to the +millionaire. Labar felt that he would be quite content to ignore the +forgery if he could lay Larry Hughes by the heels. He had an idea, not +very clearly defined, that he might induce Mrs. Gertstein to clear up +many points that troubled him if he could use some weapon to hold over +her.</p> + +<p>Luck favoured him. For the letter that Mrs. Gertstein had written to +Larry went to the latter's Hampstead home. Now the Post Office is +jealous of the sanctity of the mail—even that of a crook—and there +could be no tampering with correspondence under official cognizance. +There are more ways of killing a cat than one, however. Some of Labar's +men engaged on the task of watching the house had made themselves on +good terms with the postmen. And so it was that a delivery bag was left +unguarded for two minutes at a certain garden gate. Mrs. Gertstein's +letter was included in the next delivery at Larry's house, but +meanwhile Labar had become possessed of a copy of it.</p> + +<p>He whistled a little jig air as he read. Here was a flood of light. +Here also—to vary the simile—were muddy waters which it behoved him +to stir carefully. Before he made any move it would be well to guard +himself.</p> + +<p>He went to see Marlow, the detective superintendent, who was his +immediate chief. Marlow read the letter with impassive face.</p> + +<p>"Well, Harry? What do you want me to do?"</p> + +<p>He looked over his steel spectacles inquiringly at the inspector and +Labar fancied that he could detect the glimmer of a smile.</p> + +<p>"This affects Gertstein, sir."</p> + +<p>"Well, he's not the only man whose wife has been blackmailed."</p> + +<p>"No. But he might make it difficult, when he sees how a big scandal may +come home to him."</p> + +<p>"Ah." The superintendent polished his spectacles, and readjusted them. +"You think Gertstein might deliberately try to gum up things to hush up +the scandal."</p> + +<p>Labar nodded. Both these men understood something which neither of them +said. "I take it that it's Larry we want, sir."</p> + +<p>Marlow leaned back with his thumbs in his waistcoat pockets and studied +the inspector. "Out with it, Harry. Is it that you want me to handle +this? Losing your nerve?"</p> + +<p>The other lifted his shoulders without reply. This, win or lose, was a +big and delicate affair. It was such a case as usually fell to the lot +of one of the Big Four. Marlow had every right to deal with it himself +if he wished.</p> + +<p>"Don't get worried," went on the superintendent. "I've got enough +business of my own to attend to." He got up and laid a hand on Labar's +shoulder. "The old man asked me to stand down to give you a chance. I'm +not going to interfere now unless you ask me to. Carry on in your own +way—and at your own risk. Only get Larry and you can go as far as you +like."</p> + +<p>"I'm grateful——"</p> + +<p>"Nothing to be grateful about. I've had thirty-three years of the +game and next year I hope to be in the country raising chickens." He +chuckled. "Don't forget you may find yourself in a mess. I'd just as +soon be out of it."</p> + +<p>He lied, and Labar knew he lied. If there was trouble the +superintendent of the area could not altogether evade responsibility. +The inspector was a thoughtful man as he took his leave.</p> + +<p>The immediate thing was to see Mrs. Gertstein. His future action +depended in some degree on what developed from that interview. He had +no desire to arrest her—just now. That would only happen if his hand +were forced. But as an instrument to lead him to his greater quarry she +was likely to be useful.</p> + +<p>Five hours later he and Malone were walking through the lodge gates and +up the avenue of chestnuts that led to "Maid's Retreat." He had decided +against a cab from the station, preferring to take the three mile walk. +One never knew what information might be picked up on the way.</p> + +<p>The old Elizabethan, half-timbered house nestled sleepily in the +sunshine as they plodded up the drive. A figure rose languidly from a +veranda and made its way into the house. They found no need to ring as +they reached the door. A trim maid awaited them.</p> + +<p>Labar presented his card. The girl looked at it doubtfully. "I'm sorry. +Mrs. Gertstein is out."</p> + +<p>"That's all right. We'll wait," said Labar serenely.</p> + +<p>The maid shuffled her feet uneasily. "I'm afraid that she won't be back +to-day. She's gone to town."</p> + +<p>"Well that is unfortunate," lamented the inspector. "After we've come +all the way to see her, too. When do you expect her back?"</p> + +<p>"I'm—I'm not sure."</p> + +<p>"You've carried out your instructions, my girl," said Labar, with stern +suavity. "Now you take that card straight in to your mistress and tell +her that we intend to see her. She was on the veranda five minutes ago. +You hear me."</p> + +<p>This was utter guess work. Labar, so far as he knew, had never seen +Mrs. Gertstein in his life. But the figure that had vanished and the +maid waiting for them by the open door had given him an impression. The +maid flushed and stepped back. Labar gave a jerk of his head to Malone, +who stood his ground while the inspector followed the maid. She halted +as she saw his purpose.</p> + +<p>"Go on," he ordered. A little uncertainly she led the way. She tapped +at a door and at a summons to enter pushed it open.</p> + +<p>"Well, Rena," said a soft voice. "Have they gone?"</p> + +<p>Labar pushed by the maid into the room. "No, Mrs. Gertstein," he +replied. "We are still here."</p> + +<p>The woman lounging in a big divan chair regarded him dumbly. He laid +down his hat and stick and nodded to the maid. "You may go," he said.</p> + +<p>With wondering eyes she withdrew. As the door closed the woman on the +chair drew herself up stiffly. "What is the meaning of this intrusion?"</p> + +<p>"It means that your maid is a bad liar," he said. "Need I introduce +myself? I fancy you know me. I am Detective Inspector Labar."</p> + +<p>Her fingers clutched tightly on the elbows of the chair, and her eyes +roamed wildly about the room to come to rest at last on his impassive +figure. "You have no right—" she began furiously.</p> + +<p>He smiled tranquilly down at her. "I suggest that you calm yourself, +madam. I shall not bite you."</p> + +<p>She rose. "If you think I will suffer this impertinence you are +mistaken."</p> + +<p>Labar soberly adjusted his tall figure to a settee. It was bad +manners, but he intended it simply as a gesture to this woman who, +half-afraid and half-angry, was wondering as to the purport of his +visit. He was confident that her curiosity would for the time hold her.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon. If I tell you that I have in my possession the +letter you wrote to Larry Hughes yesterday, it may afford you some +reason for my insistence."</p> + +<p>There were many things that Adèle Gertstein had feared, but this was +not one of them. Her jaw dropped. She tried to say something but words +would not come. She slumped back into her chair trying vainly to recall +what was in the letter beyond the appeal for money. She heard his voice +as from far away.</p> + +<p>"I want to know who is blackmailing you."</p> + +<p>"I am not being blackmailed."</p> + +<p>She regained some command of herself and sat up so that she could see +his face. But Labar was too experienced to allow anything to show there +that he did not wish to be seen.</p> + +<p>"Then I will tell you," he said picking his words with some +deliberation. "It is the man to whom you appealed for aid. It is Larry +Hughes himself who has been bleeding you. I want to know who he has +been using as a go between?"</p> + +<p>She stared at him with white face. "Larry? How do you know that? I +don't believe you."</p> + +<p>In point of fact Labar did not know. But he was pretty sure that the +assumption was right. "You may take it from me. Now to whom have you +been handing over the money?"</p> + +<p>The woman's mind was clouded by a haze of emotions. She was +thunderstruck at the accusation that her sometime lover was the real +blackmailer, but beyond that she wondered if this point alone was +the real object of the cool nonchalant man who was watching her with +serious eyes. She must guard herself. Suppose he was seeking to entrap +her.</p> + +<p>"I shan't tell you," she exclaimed between clenched teeth.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes you will," he retorted. "Perhaps you don't understand. Shall +I tell you a little story, Mrs. Gertstein? It deals with a woman like +you who had the misfortune to be in a similar position. This lady was +married to a rich husband. She committed an indiscretion—we will call +it that—which gave a blackmailer a hold upon her. His demands grew +more and more insatiable, and although she had a comfortable allowance +from her husband she felt the strain upon her income. She became +involved in other directions, particularly with bookmakers, and it may +be that on one pretext and another she got still more money from her +husband, until it became difficult to find plausible explanations. But +the blackmailer continued to bleed her, and she continued to run into +debt in various directions. Certain bills cropped up that had to be +paid almost at once. Do you know what that lady did, Mrs. Gertstein?"</p> + +<p>An incoherent word came from the woman. Labar went on:</p> + +<p>"She forged her husband's name to a cheque—a silly thing to do because +the forgery was bound to become known. I can understand a distracted +woman in a moment of folly giving way to an impulse. But she did an +even more foolish thing. She found out who was the divisional detective +inspector and tried to bribe him with one of the hundred pound notes +that were part of the proceeds of her fraud. On that same day an even +more serious crime took place at her husband's house. I don't believe +that she had any direct concern in that, but as soon as the news +reached her by telephone, and she learned that the man she had tried +to bribe was there, in charge of the investigation, she lost her head +completely. That night she drove secretly to London and tried to murder +the detective. Forgery is nasty, madam, but attempted murder is an even +uglier thing."</p> + +<p>The detective flattered himself that he had filled in the gaps in his +recital neatly. He had watched every change in the weak pretty face of +the woman from anger and astonishment to fear.</p> + +<p>She got unsteadily to her feet, tottered to a writing-desk and buried +her face in her hands. "Does Solly—does my husband—have you told +him?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"He knows nothing—yet."</p> + +<p>Labar felt some urge of sympathy for her. She was a broken creature. +But his resolve to extract from her the uttermost that might help +clear his path did not weaken. He felt that he had got her entirely +under his sway, ready to answer tamely any questions with which he +might ply her. He had cause to realise that no man could safely +diagnose the reactions of Mrs. Gertstein a second later.</p> + +<p>Like a tiger-cat she sprang at him, and there was the glitter of steel +in her hand. On the desk upon which she had feigned to give way there +had lain an ornamental dagger kept as a paperknife. This was the weapon +with which she now thrust fiercely and silently at him. He was taken +almost entirely off his guard, and had but half-risen to meet the +assault, when he felt the bite of the steel in his side.</p> + +<p>He clutched at her wrist but she avoided him, and he swung a half-arm +blow at her face as she swung away. This was no time for any chivalrous +methods of fighting. She meant murder.</p> + +<p>She held off for a second, her face flushed, her hair dishevelled, her +breath coming in quick, sharp gusts. She watched him warily and as +he cautiously swayed towards her she leapt at him again. This time, +however, he was ready. He parried the vicious blow that she aimed at +his heart with his arm, and catching her by the waist flung her with +all his force backwards to the floor.</p> + +<p>Almost simultaneously he hurled himself at her, and this time he +succeeded in seizing the wrist that held the dagger. Harry Labar was +reckoned a strong man, but the woman fought with dynamic, maniacal +strength. He felt her body writhe and twist beneath him, and a little +ornamental table crashed as she tried to pull herself away. Once she +snapped at him with her teeth like some maddened animal. He found +a grip for his other hand and pinned her down till her hysterical +strength should have waned. Her fingers relaxed and the dagger dropped +to the soft carpet. He felt the tension of her resistance dwindle till +at length she was a limp figure in his hold. Slowly and cautiously he +got to his feet and picked up the dagger.</p> + +<p>Not a word had come from either of them during the struggle. Indeed the +whole affair had been but a matter of seconds.</p> + +<p>She continued prostrate on the floor, but her wide open and alert eyes +belied any idea that she had fainted. Watching her warily meanwhile he +removed his coat and waistcoat and examined his wound. There was a deal +of blood but as far as he could see the hurt itself was superficial. +He wedged a handkerchief in his clothing as a temporary expedient, and +resumed his garments. The woman had not moved.</p> + +<p>"Get up," he ordered, grimly.</p> + +<p>Slowly she rose.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII</h2> +</div> + + +<p>"What are you going to do now?" she asked in a strained unnatural voice.</p> + +<p>The inspector pressed his hand to his side, and his stern gaze dwelt +upon her thoughtfully. "That depends," he answered. "My plain duty is +to arrest you."</p> + +<p>"It doesn't matter," she said wearily. "Nothing can matter now. Give me +five minutes and I will be ready to go with you."</p> + +<p>The inspector read her purpose as an open book. He shook his head. Five +minutes—one minute—alone, and such a woman in such a state of mind +was ripe for any desperate act. He had no mind to add a suicide to the +other complications of his position.</p> + +<p>"I want to ask you a few questions before I decide what course I shall +take. You are not bound to answer them. But I don't suppose that the +whole truth can make your position any worse than it is now."</p> + +<p>If it had been simply a question of any crime that Mrs. Gertstein +had committed Labar would have arrested her there and then, without +consideration of his sympathies, for or against, in the case. That, +as he had said, was his obvious duty. He was in a sense violating his +oath as a police officer in not doing so. And in attempting to question +her on a matter which in some measure bore upon the charges that he +knew should be brought against her, he was flagrantly outside the law. +Any one of his Majesty's judges would have commented sternly on such +a procedure. Yet, long since, Labar had made up his mind to take the +chance. Adèle Gertstein might be mad or vicious or both, but she was a +less dangerous person to the community than Larry Hughes. Morally he +was justified. All the same, although his course would not have been +condemned by his Scotland Yard superiors, or by the Public Prosecutor +himself, nothing could save him if any disclosure of this thing should +come about.</p> + +<p>The woman looked up eagerly, snatching at the slightest straw of hope. +"Do you mean that if I tell you the truth you will do nothing to +me—that no one else will know?"</p> + +<p>"I can make no promises," he said.</p> + +<p>She considered with sombre face. "You seem to know most of it," she +said at last. "What else is it that you want to know?"</p> + +<p>"Tell me everything from the time you became acquainted with Larry +Hughes in your own words. I will ask you if any points arise on which I +am not clear."</p> + +<p>He had to lean forward to catch her opening sentences. In low tones, +and sometimes incoherent sequence, punctuated by occasional questions +from him, she told her story. It was much what he expected to hear.</p> + +<p>She had been married to Gertstein for seven years. Two years before +their marriage she had been introduced to Larry Hughes. She believed +him then to be, as she had believed up to that day, a wealthy man about +town, and nothing worse. She had been fascinated, infatuated, by him, +and there had been an affair—she insisted that it had been nothing +but a sort of glorified flirtation, but, though Labar drew his own +conclusions, in which love letters of the most ardent description had +been exchanged. The episode drew to a close when he went abroad some +eighteen months later. She had married Gertstein and she had seen no +more of Hughes until it might have been eighteen months or two years +ago, when she met him accidentally at a race meeting.</p> + +<p>"Did you meet on the old footing?" asked Labar, bluntly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, no," she protested with some slight symptom of colour in her +pale cheeks. "We were simply old friends."</p> + +<p>"And it was after this that the blackmail started?"</p> + +<p>She assented. It had begun with a simple demand for a hundred pounds, +which was accompanied by one of her long-ago letters to Larry Hughes, +and the intimation that the rest of the correspondence was in the +possession of the writer, and that failing her compliance it would be +sent to her husband.</p> + +<p>"You did not go to your husband or take any advice about it?"</p> + +<p>"I dare not. I thought the man would be satisfied with his hundred, and +that would be the end of it."</p> + +<p>Labar grunted. She went on with her recital. The money was sent to +"James Smith," at what was, as she had taken the trouble to find out, +an accommodation address at Kennington. After she had conceded the +first demand, others came with growing frequency and for increasing +amounts. Always they had to be paid in cash, and always they were sent +to varying addresses and varying names. At first she had been able to +satisfy the blackmailer without great inconvenience to herself, but +the time came when she was put to considerable stress. She sold her +personal jewels, and replaced them with paste. She had dabbled with +moneylenders. She had plunged on race meetings.</p> + +<p>"What about Hughes?" broke in Labar at this point. "Didn't you say +anything about this to him?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. He urged me to refuse, and to go to the police or my husband. I +have asked him to help me out once or twice, but he made difficulties. +However, I have had about a couple of thousands out of him."</p> + +<p>"I see. You didn't know that most of that was going back into his own +pocket. Tell me of this forgery."</p> + +<p>"There were a lot of small things falling due, and I knew that I hadn't +the means to meet them. One day I saw my husband's cheque-book lying on +a desk and the thought of taking money from his account came to me. So +I traced his writing. I must have been mad, but it all happened before +I realised what I was doing. Then I changed the cheque and became +frightened as I saw the trouble I was likely to land into. I came down +here, but the more I thought of it the more frightened I became. I +knew of you, and had had you pointed out to me at one or two places. I +thought that if I gave you one of the hundred pound notes, and you used +it, if it ever came to you to handle an investigation into the business +you would understand that you had part of the money and wouldn't push +it too far."</p> + +<p>"Half a second," he interrupted. "This extraordinary way you used to +pass me the money. Do I understand that you intended that I shouldn't +know from whom it came, until I was brought into the case? Then I +should find out from the numbers of the notes that I had become +implicated, and should have my hands tied."</p> + +<p>"That was my idea. I did not want to give myself away to you unless the +forgery was discovered. I hoped it might pass unnoticed."</p> + +<p>"A sanguine, not to say naïve scheme," he commented dryly. "Where does +Miss Noelson come in?"</p> + +<p>"She knew I was in trouble, but naturally she did not know all the +details. I couldn't trust anyone. But I told her I had special reasons +for wanting to deliver a note to a man I would point out, and she +agreed to help me. I had a chauffeur's uniform made to fit me and drove +up to town with her. She was to deny that I had left 'Maid's Retreat' +if anyone questioned her. I sent her to do some shopping after we +arrived in town while I hung about Grape Street till you came out. I +followed you to Scotland Yard, and while you were there I went back +and met Penelope and the car. I guessed that you would return to Grape +Street by the same route and we waited for you. After that I went back +to Hampshire and she stayed in town."</p> + +<p>"Still another point that I am not quite clear about," he said. "Why +did you come back that evening and lay in wait for me with a sandbag?"</p> + +<p>"The news of the burglary had been telephoned down to me. I had talked +with my husband after he saw you. I had talked with Penelope. You had +recognised her and I was alarmed at what you might find out. I saw that +I had made a mistake. I had been told that all police officers would +take money if they could do it safely."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," he said ironically. "It is an impression that some other +people have."</p> + +<p>There fell a silence for a while. He was thinking, with a puzzled +little frown on his forehead, and the woman with burning eyes studied +him as though to read what was passing in his mind. Presently he spoke +again.</p> + +<p>"Has Larry Hughes ever been in Streetly House?"</p> + +<p>"Not so far as I know. I have never taken him there."</p> + +<p>"You have discussed the place with him—talked over your husband's +collection?"</p> + +<p>"At times. They have been quite casual conversations."</p> + +<p>Labar racked his brain. This seemed to be leading nowhere. Yet if Larry +Hughes was at the bottom of the burglary it was inconceivable that he +should not have used his acquaintance with Mrs. Gertstein to further +his projects. No doubt those "casual conversations" had told him more +than the woman dreamt. A point flashed to his mind.</p> + +<p>"Have you found positions at Streetly House for any persons in whom +Hughes was interested?"</p> + +<p>She reflected. "I can't quite remember. I believe there was +someone—ah! yes—an odd-job man. I can't remember his name, but it was +someone with an excellent record whom Mr. Hughes was trying to help. He +asked me to speak to the butler about him, and I think he was engaged."</p> + +<p>"You don't remember his name? Was it Law—or Jones—or Lane—or +Wright?" he recited such names as he could recall of the big staff at +Streetly House, and she shook her head at each one. He wondered if +someone had evaded his questioning when he had examined the servants. +"Had this man been engaged in Hughes' service?"</p> + +<p>She passed a hand with a weary gesture over her forehead. "No, I am +sure that he had never been with Mr. Hughes. I believe he came from +some big restaurant that was reducing its staff. I've got it. His name +was Stebbins."</p> + +<p>Off-hand Labar could not place the name among those he had interviewed. +But, of course, it would be easy to get hold of the man now. Here at +least there would be one link if he played his cards well that would +lead to the conviction of Larry Hughes.</p> + +<p>A shadow darkened the French windows and Labar sprang to his feet. A +cold voice addressed him.</p> + +<p>"Keep your hands down if you please and don't make any hasty move. I'm +afraid that I'm a little late."</p> + +<p>Larry Hughes holding an automatic in front of him stepped into the +room.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV</h2> +</div> + + +<p>Hughes leaned his back to the wall near the window and his gaze +wandered from one to the other while the pistol dangled in his hand. He +could not fail to observe the signs of the struggle.</p> + +<p>"I seem to have interrupted a tête-à-tête," he said sardonically. +"What's the tiff about?"</p> + +<p>Labar measured his distance. A flicker of amusement passed over Larry's +face, and he lifted his weapon a little. The detective dropped back in +his chair.</p> + +<p>"This is a surprise, Larry," he said amiably. "What's brought you here?"</p> + +<p>The other showed his white teeth in a grin. "Like the chivalrous idiot +that I am, I have flown to the aid of beauty in distress." He bowed to +Mrs. Gertstein. "I feel compunctuous that circumstances held me from +being earlier."</p> + +<p>"So you got my letter?" The woman flashed a furious glance to Labar. +"This man said that he had intercepted it."</p> + +<p>Larry flung up a deprecating hand. "Leave this to me, Adèle. Our Mr. +Labar is a truthful man." He broke into a snatch of song. "'He always +tries to utter lies and every time he fails.' Mr. Labar did me the +honour to tamper with my correspondence. Unfortunately his minions, +who should have known better, resealed the letter rather hastily. A +suspicious man like myself applied the lessons of Scotland Yard and +dusted the note with graphite. That developed a man's thumb mark. I +felt sure, my dear Adèle, that you would not have shown so intimate a +letter to any person, and, my dear Watson"—he smiled triumphantly at +the inspector—"I drew the conclusion that Mr. Labar would hotfoot it +down here. And I followed."</p> + +<p>The detective laughed. "Better drop that thing and chuck up the sponge +like a good boy, hadn't you, Larry? I always felt that you were too +clever. I'm disappointed in you."</p> + +<p>"Crazy with the heat," observed Hughes to Mrs. Gertstein. "I don't +quite get the joke, Labar. Won't you elucidate?"</p> + +<p>"The answer will be apparent quite soon," retorted the detective. "I +knew you had audacity, but I didn't think you were quite so childish. +When you went to pick up that letter there would be plenty of my men +about, and I had taken the precaution of keeping a police car where +they could get at it handily. Do you suppose they've not been busy? +I'll bet that they've been right on top of you all the way down. +You're a gone coon, Larry. You're in a trap."</p> + +<p>The other laughed. "Still raving," he gibed. "Why, my simple Sherlock, +I knew exactly what you would do. A telephone message to my house to +send my correspondence to a certain place, and a discreet messenger +were all that were needed to get inside your guard."</p> + +<p>Labar lifted his shoulders. "You're a hell of a fellow," he sneered. +"What are you going to do about it now? Seems to me that you've got +hold of the tiger's tail. You don't know whether to hang on or leave +go. You daren't shoot me. What else can you do?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know that I daren't. Might be a business-like way out," mused +Larry. "But I'd hate to do it, Labar. You're amusing without being +vulgar. I should miss you."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Gertstein who had followed the exchange with puzzled face whirled +swiftly on Larry. "Don't be a fool, man. Can't you see that he is +playing with you. He's trying to gain time. Kill him now. No one will +know. Shoot him." Her face was blazing vindictively. "Put him out of +the way. He's dangerous."</p> + +<p>The outburst which was not entirely unexpected to Labar, seemed to +annoy Larry Hughes. "Keep quiet, you! When I want your advice I'll ask +for it." He snarled fiercely at the woman as though she were a petulant +child. "Listen, Mr. Labar," he went on in lighter tone. "If you're +reckoning on friend Malone butting in on this seance, or sneaking away +to get help, you've got another guess coming. Mr. Malone is chewing the +cud under some sacks in an outhouse and a length of line wrapped well +and truly round him to prevent him straying. There's no one else likely +to interrupt us."</p> + +<p>The detective folded his arms. As Mrs. Gertstein said he had been +playing for time, and Larry had put his finger on the reason. There +was no perceptible change in his face. He still held an attitude of +contemptuous indifference. He knew that he was in a tight fix. That +the woman would not hesitate at murder he had proof. Of Larry he was +not so sure. That gentleman would not run the risk of putting his neck +in a noose at the dictate of panic. If he killed it would be after +calculation, and because there was no other way that would ensure his +safety.</p> + +<p>He was sure that Larry was not alone, but he could not guess how many +were with him. Even if Malone was a prisoner there was no harm in +continuing to stall for time. All the servants of the house could not +be accomplices, and in time they must become aware of the queerness of +what was going on. He could not know that six of them were penned in +the servants' hall, with Tom the thin-faced valet, keeping guard, armed +like Larry with a wicked little automatic.</p> + +<p>"I'm in no hurry," he said serenely. "I hope that you haven't hurt +Malone much, for the sake of ensuring this private conversation. By +the way, what are you leading up to? You've got something else in view +beyond amusing yourself with light and airy persiflage at my expense."</p> + +<p>Larry nodded. "You are an embarrassment, Mr. Labar. I had a faint +hope that I might reach here in front of you, in which case I might +have avoided having to deal with you—somehow." He laid grim stress +on the last word. "I gather that Adèle here, has talked. That may be +singularly unfortunate for both of us."</p> + +<p>"For you," amended Labar grimly. He could not resist a little touch +of brag although he knew it was dangerous. "I have got the ends in my +hand, Larry, and when I have followed them up it will be difficult for +you to wriggle out. You've had to come out in the open, and you know +what that means in the long run. Why don't you use your brains, man? +Take your medicine now and get it over. You might perhaps, get away +with seven years, if you helped us to get back the Gertstein things."</p> + +<p>"Thank you. Suppose we talk seriously. I said I looked on you as an +embarrassment. You seem to think that you are a menace." He shook his +head, reprovingly. "I'll tell you. From something Adèle has said you +imagine that you can get hold of people who might testify against me. +If you had any vision you would understand that I shall see that those +people are out of your reach. You'll never get evidence against me that +would hang a cat. I hate to see you wasting your time, for, although +you may not believe it, I've developed a kind of liking for you. Now +here's a little proposition for you to think over. I'm going out of the +game—going to settle down and get married. Oh, you may sneer, but I +mean it. I've made all the money I want and I'm going to enjoy myself. +I might get out of the country and snap my fingers at the lot of you. +But I don't want any petty annoyances cropping up. I'll buy you off at +your own figure. What do you say?"</p> + +<p>His tone was that of a business man putting a case to another business +man. Labar burst into laughter. "More comic stuff?"</p> + +<p>The other lit a cigarette, a little awkwardly because of the pistol, +of which he retained a wary hold, and viewed the detective through +half-closed eyes.</p> + +<p>"Don't rush yourself. What's the pay of a divisional detective +inspector? A few hundreds a year. If you hang on and you're lucky you +may be a superintendent and get a bit more. A man with your ability and +some capital could go far in some other line. Or you need not work at +all if you don't wish. I'll give you fifteen thousand pounds and call +it quits."</p> + +<p>It was a tremendous offer, far beyond any sum that a police officer +whatever his position might hope to attain by legitimate means. Labar +was astonished at its magnitude. It did not tempt him in the least, +but he affected to reflect. He believed that if he agreed Larry would +sincerely keep his word and pay the money. As to the crook retiring he +was sceptical. That type of man was an organiser of criminal enterprise +as much for the love of the thing as for what he could make out of it. +No, Larry, whatever he said, would never retire of his own accord. +It occurred to Labar that the other could not hold him so lightly as +he pretended if he was willing to give such an amount to ensure his +inactivity.</p> + +<p>In any transaction with a crook, Labar, like many detectives, had his +own code of ethics. This was a case where stringent honesty would have +been foolish. He temporised.</p> + +<p>"That's a lot of money," he said, slowly, "but where would I be if +anything leaked out?" He glanced significantly at Mrs. Gertstein.</p> + +<p>"I——" began the woman.</p> + +<p>Larry silenced her with a minatory wave of the hand. "She daren't let +anything be known for her own sake. Your commonsense should tell you +that."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you're right," mused the detective. "But it's too big a risk. +You'll have to raise the ante, Larry."</p> + +<p>There was a gleam of triumph in Larry Hughes' face. "I'll make it +twenty thousand," he said. "That ought to satisfy you."</p> + +<p>Labar still looked doubtful. He shifted the hand which he had been +pressing to the hurt in his side, and Larry, if he noticed the motion, +paid no attention. He felt that danger was no longer to be anticipated +from the detective.</p> + +<p>"I'll think it over," said the latter.</p> + +<p>"No, no." Larry was smiling confidently. "Make up your mind now."</p> + +<p>Labar held his hand in front of him. The blood had soaked through and +stained his fingers. "I'm—a—little—dizzy," he ejaculated faintly. +"Got it worse than I thought."</p> + +<p>Larry lifted an inquiring eyebrow at Mrs. Gertstein. "I—I hurt him," +she said, and her eyes rested on the blood-stained dagger which Labar +had placed on the mantel. The crook nodded comprehendingly and advanced +towards the detective.</p> + +<p>"Let's see what we can do," he said.</p> + +<p>For the first time during the interview he was off his guard. In that +instant the detective acted.</p> + +<p>He had followed Moreland's advice and a pistol reposed in his coat +pocket. As he pulled it, a little clumsily maybe, Larry levelled +his own weapon. The reports followed hard upon each other and Mrs. +Gertstein's scream rang through the house.</p> + +<p>Labar was no marksman even at that distance, and the other's aim had +been hurried. The detective felt a bullet whistle over his shoulder and +heard it crash into the wall. He had no doubt that his own shot had +missed.</p> + +<p>The detective drove forward on the instant and saw the ugly muzzle of +Larry's weapon within a yard of his face. He swerved and swung his own +weapon like a club straight at the distorted face of his antagonist. +Larry went down like a poleaxed ox.</p> + +<p>Above the hysterical screams of Mrs. Gertstein Labar could hear the +sound of hurrying feet. They might be those of friends or enemies. He +could not afford to risk it.</p> + +<p>He slipped through the open French windows and ran, as he had not run +since he was a boy, for the shelter of a shrubbery.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV</h2> +</div> + + +<p>From the cover of a group of lilacs the detective inspector glanced +swiftly back at the house a hundred yards away. A man was standing by +the window scanning the shrubbery. Apparently obeying some summons from +within he disappeared, only to return almost at once, accompanied by a +couple of other men. Labar thought that he could recognise one of them, +even at that distance, as a notorious race-gang tough who was known to +be the leader of a group of violent and reckless men which the police +had of late broken up. Billy Bungey had only escaped by the narrowest +margin from a conviction for murder.</p> + +<p>The three separated to approach the shrubbery from different angles. +Labar hastily took stock of his position. He could not hope to cope +singlehanded with three armed and resolute men. Nor, if he remained +where he was, could there be any hope that he would ultimately escape +discovery. He took the undignified but sensible course of resuming his +flight.</p> + +<p>Cautiously he pushed his way at a trot through the shrubbery. It gave +way suddenly to a piece of park land. A little to his left but some +three hundred yards away, was a belt of coppices. If he could reach +them he stood a chance of dodging his pursuers. To do so, however, he +must swerve obliquely towards the men and lose ground somewhat. To take +any other line meant that it would be a chase in the open, in which he +realised the likely possibility of being run down. He determined to +take the chance of the trees.</p> + +<p>Keeping the pistol, that he had more or less unconsciously retained, +poised ready in his hand he made the dash. As he broke cover there was +a shout, and the sharp report of an automatic. That for the instant did +not worry him. He knew that he was out of range. The man who had fired +was now running madly to cut Labar off from his objective. At the very +best before the detective could reach the shelter of the trees he would +be well within shot, and he feared that these men, heated by the chase, +would think little of the consequences if they brought him down.</p> + +<p>Once he stumbled over a rut in the ground and the nearest man gained +several yards. Another shot rang out and this time he heard it snarl +angrily over his head. There was fifty yards to go. In ordinary +circumstances he could have made it, but the loss of blood from his +wound had weakened him, and he knew that it would be but a matter +of a few yards at the finish between him and the foremost of his +pursuers—point blank range.</p> + +<p>He halted abruptly and swinging in his tracks fired blindly at the +nearest man. He took no conscious aim, for he knew himself for a rotten +shot. He intended it only as a demonstration to check pursuit. But luck +was with him. He saw the first man stop in his stride, and seat himself +abruptly on the ground, nursing his ankle while he cursed venomously +and loudly.</p> + +<p>Labar did not stop to admire his fluke. Breathing hard, he made the +shelter of the wood, and plunged on for thirty yards or so till he was +satisfied that he was out of sight. Then, copying a famous historical +example, he climbed into the sheltering branches of an ancient oak, and +rested with fluttering breath, while behind he could hear the crackling +of twigs as his two unhurt pursuers, who had abandoned their companion +for the while, beat about from the point at which he had entered. +He had little fear that they would discover him now, but he quietly +examined his weapon as their steps drew near, then receded, then drew +closer again.</p> + +<p>At last he could distinguish their voices. "Like looking for a needle +in a haystack," complained one. "The bloke's made a clean get-away, +Billy."</p> + +<p>"Can't have got far," retorted Billy Bungey. "He's hiding out somewhere +close handy. If we don't stop his mouth we're for it. I know the swab +and I'd be glad to make him a present of a handful of lead for old +time's sake. He's as artful as a wagon load of monkeys."</p> + +<p>"Poor ol' Jim winged out there," said the other voice. "Hadn't we +better get back to him?"</p> + +<p>Billy consigned Jim to the pit, with full-bodied adjectives. "Jim can +look after himself. We gotta find this John if it takes a month. Didn't +you hear what Larry said? We got to stop his mouth one way or the +other. He's got it on Larry—which means the rest of us. I guess he's +got me taped anyway. He must have recognised me."</p> + +<p>"But, Billy, this is a dam fool's game. He may be well away and getting +help. We ought to make tracks. If he gets help——"</p> + +<p>"Aw—shut up. You make me sick. Whatja think he's going to do? Bring +the village rozzer out by aeroplane, or what? There ain't any police +that he can get here for hours. Got an attack of the funks, ain't you?"</p> + +<p>"All the same I'm chuckin' it," returned the other, sullenly. "I'm +goin' to move out of this district swift and sharp and sudden. It won't +be none too healthy if they picket the roads. I guess Larry'll agree. +If you want to picnic in these woods you can do it on your own."</p> + +<p>He turned away with decision, and Billy reviling him for a yellow dog +followed. Labar waited till their voices had died away. Then he got +to the ground and began to pick his way at leisure through the copse. +He came at length to a ride, such as is cut in these places for the +convenience of sportsmen, and this rendered his progress easier. So, +following this, he reached another strip of the park, and climbing a +fence, found his way into a wheatfield.</p> + +<p>He had but the remotest idea of the way in which he was travelling. But +sooner or later he must come to a road of some sort, and, thus to the +resources of civilisation, which were represented in his mind at the +moment by one thing—a telephone. If he could get to a telephone much +might be done before the day was out.</p> + +<p>So at last he reached a country lane and, turning by pure guess work +to his right, was brought at last to a superior road two minutes +before a light car came speeding from the distance. He stepped to the +centre of the road with arms outstretched, and as the car drew up a +big-shouldered young man with a square chin peered suspiciously at him.</p> + +<p>Labar remembered that he could not look a reassuring object. He was +hatless, dishevelled and dirty, and a bramble had caught his face in +the wood making a sinister scratch across it.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" demanded the square-chinned young man.</p> + +<p>"I want a lift to the nearest telephone, and then to a doctor's," +explained the inspector.</p> + +<p>"What's wrong? I'm a doctor."</p> + +<p>Labar fumbled in his pockets and found his warrant card, and his +ordinary official card. He passed them over to the motorist. "I'm a +police officer, as these will show you. There are just two things you +can do for me. One is to send a telephone message. The other is to +patch me up and not bother me with questions till some later time."</p> + +<p>The other descended from his car. "Right you are, Mr. Labar," he said +briskly. "Since I'm here and the telephone is two or three miles away, +we'll do the patching up first. Now let's have a look at you."</p> + +<p>By the side of the car Labar stripped to the waist, and the doctor +with swift gentle skill examined his wound. "Nothing for a man of +your physique to worry about," he declared. "A superficial cut. Chief +trouble is that you've been losing blood. We'll soon put that right. +Lucky for you that I'm a country practitioner, and carry my supplies +about with me." He rummaged in the car. "Reminds me of the old army +days. Here, drink this, while I tie you up."</p> + +<p>He passed a flask to the inspector and busied himself with lint +and bandages. Labar, who had been nearer to exhaustion than he had +permitted himself to think, felt a wave of new life in him. He began to +reconsider his plans.</p> + +<p>"Doctor," he asked, "would it disarrange your affairs much, if I asked +your help for three or four hours?"</p> + +<p>"Well," said the doctor, "I can't say that any of my patients would be +likely to die in that time."</p> + +<p>"How fast is your car?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose she could do seventy at a push."</p> + +<p>"That's good. She can keep up with anything on the road?"</p> + +<p>The doctor nodded. "Sure thing."</p> + +<p>"Then I'm going to ask you to take me along to a place called 'Maid's +Retreat'—or rather to the road outside the lodge gates. There will +be a Rolls Royce somewhere in the vicinity, and I want to follow that +wherever it goes—if possible without giving the people in it an +indication that we are trailing them. What is your name?"</p> + +<p>"Ware. I'm one of the local medicos."</p> + +<p>"You won't need me to tell you, Dr. Ware, after what you've seen of me +that there may be trouble. Can you use a gun—an automatic pistol?"</p> + +<p>"It's some years since I handled one, but I don't think that I've +forgotten all that I once knew."</p> + +<p>"Take this then. I can't shoot for toffee. Don't use it unless I give +you the office. Now let's go."</p> + +<p>Labar's original plan had been to get in touch with the nearest +considerable town where there was any reasonable reserve of police, +and have assistance sent out, while he would have also asked for steps +to be taken to notify all the police forces within a big area to keep +a look-out for Larry or any of his gang. That would have taken time, +and it was big odds that the net would have been drawn vainly. But +with a competent man, such as Dr. Ware seemed to be, at his elbow it +might be possible to regain and keep touch with the gang, until an +opportune moment for dealing with them arrived. They would assume, as +Billy Bungey had said, that Labar would be long in getting assistance, +and hampered as they were with one wounded man, if not two—for the +inspector was not sure how much he had injured Larry—they would not be +able to hurry unduly. He suspected that they had not brought their car +into the park. That would mean a long walk down to the lodge gates. He +did not see how they could have got away yet.</p> + +<p>Something of what had happened he told the doctor. That gentleman was +smiling happily as he listened. Labar diagnosed him as a fighter by +temperament, who would enjoy a rough and tumble struggle far more than +he enjoyed administering pills.</p> + +<p>They passed a side turning, and the doctor nudged Labar with his elbow. +"There's your Rolls," he said. "Your men are evidently still here. The +lodge gates are quarter of a mile up. What do I do?"</p> + +<p>"Drive right by them till we are out of sight," said Labar. He had +turned up his coat collar and was leaning well back in the car. "Then +I'll get out and take a look round. They won't be expecting me back."</p> + +<p>Ware obeyed his instructions. At a bend in the road some distance +beyond the lodge he pulled up. Labar got down and scribbling hastily in +his notebook tore out a page. "If anyone comes along give 'em that," he +said. "Ask 'em to telephone it as quickly as possible. It's a message +to the local police."</p> + +<p>He moved warily along a dry ditch, till through the tall hedge he could +view the drive leading to "Maid's Retreat." The doctor turned the car +round, lit a cigarette and lifted the bonnet. That had been Labar's +suggestion. A motorist fiddling with the insides of his car was not +likely to arouse suspicion if perchance one of the gang caught sight of +him.</p> + +<p>A full five minutes had gone when the inspector saw a single figure +hastening along the drive. As it came nearer he recognised the second +of the men who had pursued him. He considered whether he should call +the doctor and arrest the man as he came out of the lodge gates. After +a moment's thought he dismissed the idea. The man must be a messenger +sent to bring the car up to the house. To take him would be but to give +Larry the alarm. The detective resolved to wait.</p> + +<p>At the entrance the man took a comprehensive glance up and down the +road, and then went his way. In a little the big saloon turned into the +gates and disappeared up the avenue towards the house.</p> + +<p>Labar sighed for half a dozen of the stalwarts of his staff. With them +he would have had the whole lot in a trap. But it was hopeless to +think that he and the doctor could do much more than wait and see, and +it would be folly to take the risk. If he could find the haunt where +these men were lurking the rest would be easy. The thing now was to pin +them down. Burglary or no burglary, Larry Hughes had been associated in +an attempt to murder him. That was enough to arrest him on. If he could +once get Larry between the four walls of a cell, he promised himself +that he would now get at the evidence that would convict. Better to +wait. Besides, there was Penelope. He was sure now that she was being +held somewhere under coercion by Larry.</p> + +<p>He had a glimpse of the Rolls Royce coming back, and signalled to +Ware. The doctor closed the bonnet and took his seat at the wheel. The +inspector slipped into the place by his side and as he made himself +as inconspicuous as possible, the little two seater slid into motion. +There was a doubt as to which way the big car would turn at the gates. +That had to be risked. The idea was to saunter by close upon it as it +emerged, as though on affairs that had no concern with its occupants +and thereafter to hold it in sight. Of course if it took the contrary +direction to that in which they were headed there would be delay. But +the doctor was confident that in any case he could overhaul it.</p> + +<p>Fortunately they had guessed right. Barely fifty yards in front of them +the big car took the turn out of the gates to the left. It was moving +with deceptive speed, and Ware pushed down the accelerator. In five +minutes the two seater was swaying over the not too good road like a +boat at sea.</p> + +<p>"It will make the speed," said the doctor, clinging grimly to the +wheel, "but you can't expect a light car to hold the road like a Rolls."</p> + +<p>"Hang on to 'em. That's all I ask," said Labar.</p> + +<p>The doctor pressed his hat more firmly on his head and nodded. Hedges +and trees were speeding by them in a wild goggling procession. The +speed indicator was touching fifty. It crept up to fifty-five, wavered, +and went on to sixty. Once they made a wild lurch as they swerved to +avoid a light farmer's trap, and Labar thought that they were over. But +by some miracle the doctor recovered. They took turnings on two wheels, +and swept across a main road in defiance of the warning hand of an +Automobile Association scout, to escape by half an inch crashing into a +big touring car.</p> + +<p>"That's the Worthing Road," exclaimed Ware. "They're keeping to the +by-roads."</p> + +<p>"Moving east near enough," said Labar. "I wonder if they've spotted us +yet."</p> + +<p>"Have a chance if they'd get on to a frequented part," declared the +other. "If they keep to these lanes they're bound to know that we're +following."</p> + +<p>The way bent and twisted and it was now only at occasional intervals +that they caught glimpses of their quarry. Suddenly Ware jammed on the +brakes. The car skidded on and came to a halt a yard from an unopened +gate, through which the road took a right angled abrupt bend and ended +peremptorily at a farmhouse. A second's inattention on the part of the +driver and they had crashed through the gate and into a pond beyond.</p> + +<p>"Damn 'em. They've switched," exclaimed Ware.</p> + +<p>"There was a turning a quarter of a mile back," said Labar. "I'm afraid +we've lost the scent, but we may as well go back and try."</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI</h2> +</div> + + +<p>They had been out-witted. The conclusion was forced decisively upon +them as they returned to the road at which Larry and the others had +evaded them.</p> + +<p>"There are two turnings. They might have gone right or left," said +Labar gloomily. He descended to examine the tracks. "They've done +neither," he added. "Look here. They pulled up under the shelter of +these trees till we had gone past. Then they backed out and doubled on +their tracks. We've wasted ten minutes. They're miles away by now."</p> + +<p>"Got any idea of the place for which they might be making," suggested +the doctor, hopefully. "We might cut 'em off."</p> + +<p>"Not a million to one chance, I'm afraid," said the detective. "No. +We're done. I'm much obliged to you, doctor, for your help. It isn't +your fault that they slipped us. We may as well get back to 'Maid's +Retreat' and find out what has happened to the servants and one of my +men."</p> + +<p>They took the return journey at an easier pace, and it was something +more than an hour before they were halted at the lodge gates of "Maid's +Retreat" by a uniformed constable of the county police, who demanded to +know their business.</p> + +<p>Labar swore under his breath, as he made a guess at what had happened. +He had no animus against the local police—indeed he had been prepared +to ask for their assistance—but he would have preferred that for the +time as few people as possible should know of the dramatic occurrences +of which the house had been the centre.</p> + +<p>His fears were confirmed when he made known his identity to the +policeman. "The super's looking for you, sir. Seems to have been a +regular hold-up. They found one of your chaps trussed up in a tool +shed."</p> + +<p>"How did you people come to know about this business?" demanded the +inspector.</p> + +<p>"The butler 'phoned through to the officer at the village, and he got +through to the super. We came along by car."</p> + +<p>They left him and drove up to the house. Before the car had stopped +Malone was running alongside with outstretched hand, and a broad smile +of relief on his face.</p> + +<p>"Thank God you're all right, sir. I was worried."</p> + +<p>"Oh there's nothing much wrong with me. They made a clean get-away, +that's all. How about you?"</p> + +<p>Malone rubbed his head, ruefully. "My hat won't fit for a few days, +I guess. Got a lump like an ostrich egg on my head. Last thing I was +thinking of was that sort of trouble. I was leaning against a tree +smoking a pipe and keeping a quiet eye on the house when an earthquake +hit me. Oh, someone laid me out good and proper. When I came to I was +in the dark and tied up so that I couldn't wink. That's all I knew till +some of the local police found me half an hour ago. I heard shots while +I was lying there and I got the wind up when we found you were missing."</p> + +<p>The local superintendent of the County Constabulary welcomed Labar +eagerly. Episodes of this kind were rare among the placid routine of +work in a country district. He was a lean, tall, not unintelligent man, +with mild watery eyes, and a gruff voice. Although nominally his rank +was superior, the advent of a chief detective inspector from Scotland +Yard was something of an event.</p> + +<p>He gripped Labar's hand sturdily. "Glad to meet you. Perhaps we'll be +able to twist some sense out of this nightmare now. You don't know +what's happened to Mrs. Gertstein, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>"She's gone?" exclaimed the inspector. "Well, I might have expected it."</p> + +<p>"Well, you know more about it than we do," said the local man. "Mr. +Malone tells me that you were on some inquiries about the Streetly +House robbery when these people butted in. Do you think they have done +any harm to Mrs. Gertstein?"</p> + +<p>"I don't think that likely," said Labar. He pushed his hand through the +other's arm and led him aside. "Look here," he said. "This woman will +be wanted for a crime which has no direct connection with the Streetly +House burglary. She's probably absconded of her own free will. Now this +business is bound to be the talk of the countryside, what with the +servants and the men you have brought here. I want it to be regarded +outside, as merely a daring raid by armed bandits, whose motives are +as much a mystery to us as to anyone else. Can you give your men that +impression?"</p> + +<p>"Easiest thing in the world. Since I do not know anything myself, it +ought to be simple to pretend that I'm bewildered."</p> + +<p>"Thank you. I'll try and handle the servants. There's some things I am +still in the dark about, myself."</p> + +<p>But the flustered group of five or six men and women whom he +interviewed later was able to add little to his stock of information. +All they could speak of was the sudden apparition of two or three men +who, armed with pistols, had rounded them up one by one, and left them +under guard in the servants' hall breathing dire and fearful threats of +what might happen if they attempted any resistance. There they had been +held, a panic-stricken group, until with a final warning not to move +for ten minutes, a thin-faced man who had taken chief control of them, +had slipped away. The descriptions they gave of the men, as usual where +the ordinary person is called upon for a test of observation, varied in +immense degree. That did not so much matter as Labar imagined that he +had himself seen most of the principals in the raid.</p> + +<p>"We'll have a look through the house, in case they've left anything +behind," observed the detective inspector to Malone. "They may have +hurried a little too much."</p> + +<p>But the search, minute and detailed as the circumstances allowed, +brought small result. In Mrs. Gertstein's room there was evidence that +she had hurriedly packed a couple of bags, and downstairs in the room +where Labar had been received by Mrs. Gertstein and where Hughes had +interrupted them, there was a pile of burnt papers in the grate.</p> + +<p>"I evidently did not knock all the wits out of Larry," said Labar. +"Mrs. Gertstein would not have thought of that by herself. She has been +destroying her correspondence."</p> + +<p>He bent to examine the ashes, and shook his head. There are methods of +piecing together and preserving even burnt papers if they are not too +far gone. But these had apparently been stirred again and again with +a poker till they were little but impalpable ash. The detective again +discerned the hand of Larry. It was this kind of forethought that had +aided to give that crook immunity for so long.</p> + +<p>On a little writing-table was a note heavily sealed with red wax, and +addressed to "Harry Labar, Esq." The inspector tore it open.</p> + +<p>"My Dear Labar," it began, "Your hurried departure prevented me from +putting to you an angle of our discussion that you will perhaps have +not considered sufficiently. There is a person in whom if I guess +aright you have an interest. This person is under my charge and +control, and you will understand that some of your activities might +result in prejudicing her welfare. No one would regret that more than +myself, but if you persist I may be too occupied to protect her as +I should like. One of your alert intelligence will appreciate the +awkwardness of my position. I tell you this freely and frankly, because +I know that your personal feelings are so engaged that you will make no +official use of this letter. If you feel inclined to accept the offer +I have made just advertise the word 'Yes' in the personal column of +<i>The Times</i>. The goods I spoke of will then reach you without fail +by channels I have thought of. But I strongly advise you not to try any +tricks in this matter. We are scarcely likely to meet again."</p> + +<p>The letter was unsigned. Labar smoothed his chin thoughtfully and read +it over twice. It was clever, and he appreciated all its unwritten +significance as Larry knew he would, yet the construction he put upon +it could not have been substantiated if after all he did try to use +it as a piece of evidence in a court of law. Penelope was to become a +hostage, and she would be in danger unless Labar accepted the bribe +to smother the case. While he might go on at any risk to himself, he +might well hesitate to expose her to the vengeance of Larry Hughes. The +thing was possibly a supreme attempt to bluff, but the inspector felt +uneasiness. Larry had the reputation of using any instrument ruthlessly +to serve his ends.</p> + +<p>Labar thrust the letter with a sudden and abrupt movement into his +pocket vouchsafing no hint or comment on its contents to Malone or the +superintendent. On that point at least Larry had guessed right. He +would not drag Penelope's name into the case any more than could be +avoided.</p> + +<p>"When's the next train?" he demanded. "I don't think we can do any more +here for now."</p> + +<p>Malone found him a morose and silent companion on the way to town. The +inspector in fact could not get Penelope out of his mind. He bent his +mind doggedly to consideration of the next steps that should be taken. +He would have to see Gertstein immediately upon his arrival in town. +For in any case Mrs. Gertstein was now a fugitive from justice. She +had tried to murder him. She would have to be run down for that, and +whatever her husband's attitude was, she would certainly have to be +charged with forgery, although Labar could foresee trouble about that, +when he came to tell of the circumstances of her admission to him. A +dour smile broke upon his features as he reflected that this woman was +likely to be an even greater embarrassment to Larry Hughes than she was +to him.</p> + +<p>"I guess Larry will find her a difficult proposition to handle," he +said aloud.</p> + +<p>"Who? What?" demanded Malone, who had been dozing in a corner of +the compartment, after his vain attempts to lure his chief into +conversation.</p> + +<p>"I was saying that Larry Hughes may find Mrs. Gertstein liable to shy +over the traces."</p> + +<p>"He certainly ought to be easier to find while she's pinned to his coat +tails," agreed Malone.</p> + +<p>"He'll try to get her out of the way," said Labar. "It's a hundred to +one that he tries to slip her abroad. If he goes himself the gang will +take different routes to different places. First thing we must do is +to let the ports have photographs of the lady and descriptions of the +other people. Yes, it's a sure thing they'll split up. Larry won't make +it any easier for us than he can help."</p> + +<p>"Then it's time for us to come out in the open, guv'nor. Let the +newspapers have the story. With millions of pairs of eyes looking for +that lot they're not all going to get through."</p> + +<p>"Not quite ripe enough for that yet, Bill," dissented the other. +"There's people we're not sure about in this game. We want to rope them +in, and a splurge in the papers would give them warning."</p> + +<p>"What you say goes, guv'nor. Only here's our big chance to put Larry +behind the bars. Whether it's for the Streetly House burglary or for +something else, doesn't matter."</p> + +<p>Labar clapped a fist into the palm of the other hand. "Take it from +me, Bill, if we can get our hooks on that man on any pretext we'll +keep him. But although we've got him on the run I don't want to go off +at half-cock. Another day or two and I think we'll have enough proof +against him, so that even the wiliest barrister living won't be able to +wriggle him out of a sentence that will keep him out of the way till +we've got long white beards and are out of the service. I aim to make +the case water-tight. Though mind you," he added, a little wistfully, +"if I knew where to find him now I'd give half a year's pay."</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII</h2> +</div> + + +<p>No one can tell with certainty how a great disaster will affect a +man. Gertstein, chewing a cold cigar, and with hands thrust deep in +his trousers pockets, strode with rolling gait about the room while +Labar told in carefully selected phrases the truth about his wife. +The little man, whose interviews with the inspector hitherto had been +marked by temperamental outbursts, was now as cold as ice. Labar had +expected either a breakdown or a vast explosion of passion. This frigid +acceptance of a great blow surprised him. He mentally contrasted the +emotion that the financier had shown when the robbery had taken place.</p> + +<p>"You tell me that Adèle has gone away with this lover of hers—this +crook?" said Gertstein, as indifferently as though he was discussing +the weather.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid there is no doubt of it," agreed Labar. He was wondering +whether the indifference was real or assumed. For the life of him he +could not come to a decision.</p> + +<p>"And that she has forged my name and attempted to kill you."</p> + +<p>"I have told you the circumstances as I know them, Mr. Gertstein. +Your wife has brought herself within the scope of the criminal law. +Whether she has still kept up a liaison with Larry Hughes it is beyond +my province to decide. Personally I think her late actions have been +caused by pure unreasoning panic."</p> + +<p>"That side of it is my affair. She is my wife," declared the +millionaire sternly. "Now we come to your side." He dragged a +cheque-book from his pocket, and seating himself at a writing-table, +poised a pen. "How much is it?"</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon?" said Labar, with suave interrogation.</p> + +<p>"How much?" repeated Gertstein, impatiently.</p> + +<p>The inspector felt his patience oozing away. It was one thing for Larry +Hughes to try to buy him off. For Gertstein to assume, in this matter +of fact way, that it was only a question of price annoyed him. After he +had tried to save the little man's feelings, too.</p> + +<p>"I am not to be bought," he announced gruffly.</p> + +<p>The other applied a match to his cigar with cold deliberation. "I have +been long enough in this world to know that every man is to be bought +if the price can be paid," he said.</p> + +<p>"You have still something to learn," retorted Labar acidly.</p> + +<p>"As you like."</p> + +<p>Gertstein fell again to pacing up and down the room. He had taken two +turns when he came again to a halt. "As one gentleman to another," he +said, "I want you to give me your advice. I can see that I have done +you an injustice, and I apologise."</p> + +<p>Labar noted the change of tone. "I'm sorry, Mr. Gertstein," he said +with sincerity, "but I'm the wrong person to give advice. So much +depends upon your own feelings about your wife."</p> + +<p>"Yes. I see. An old fool and a young woman. Well you can leave +my feelings about Adèle out of the question. I've kept my eyes +shut—wilfully shut. If she broke her neck to-morrow I wouldn't care. +You could shut her up in prison for life and it would not hurt me." +He spoke with level and dispassionate evenness. "But my name is my +concern, and my wish is that it shall not be dragged in the dirt. I +have been a nobody, Mr. Labar. I was born in Petticoat Lane, and my +father was an old clothes dealer. What I am now I have made myself. I +have friends among the highest in this and other lands. The name of +Gertstein might have been among the peers of the realm had I wished. +I have built it up. And it is because that woman bears my name that I +will not fold my hands and watch it become the sport of every muck rake +in the world. I would sooner see her dead at my feet." His bitterness +appeared the more strange and deadly to Labar, because he seemed to +have complete control of himself. It was as though he was speaking on +behalf of some other person. The inspector shook his head slowly.</p> + +<p>"I can do nothing," he said. "I must do my best to arrest her, and if +that happens she must be tried."</p> + +<p>"I suppose so," said Gertstein, thoughtfully. He muttered something +to himself in Yiddish which Labar did not catch. "There is no way +out. But if it could be, Mr. Labar, that she should not be tried? She +might"—his voice dropped—"she might die. If for instance, she was +arrested and the opportunity presented itself, she might prefer to die. +I could write her a letter——"</p> + +<p>The inspector held up a protesting hand. The millionaire had made his +meaning sufficiently obvious, and hardened though he was, Labar was +repelled by the suggestion.</p> + +<p>"In plain words you wish me to allow her to commit suicide if she +should fall into my hands."</p> + +<p>"You are a hard man," protested Gertstein. "Cannot you see that so +justice would be done? You will have done all that is consistent with +your duty. You will have saved her and me the degradation of the gaol. +You will have made a friend who could do much for you."</p> + +<p>"Again, I am sorry. All this is futile, Mr. Gertstein," said Labar, and +his lips set in a hard line. "I cannot swerve from my duty as I see it. +You may rely upon me to save you as much as I can. But while I take my +pay I do my job."</p> + +<p>"Very well. You will let me know what happens."</p> + +<p>With relief Labar saw that he had reached the end of the matter for the +time. He rose. "Of course. Believe me, I hate this. There is one more +thing. I suppose you don't recall a man in your service named Stebbins?"</p> + +<p>Gertstein's small beady eyes fixed themselves steadily on the +detective's face. "I don't know the names of half my servants," he +observed.</p> + +<p>"Ah, then I must find out from the butler or the housekeeper or +someone."</p> + +<p>The millionaire shook his head. "That is not fair, Mr. Labar. You can +scarcely expect me to lift a finger to help you now. I cannot permit +you to interview any of my servants, or rather I shall forbid them to +answer any questions."</p> + +<p>This was an unexpected twist, although at the bottom of his heart Labar +saw logic in the other's attitude. "But this is childish," he protested.</p> + +<p>Gertstein rolled the butt of his cigar from one corner of his mouth to +the other. "Childish it may be," he agreed. "For my part I refuse to +have anything more to do with your investigations. I am not going to +help in dragging my own name in the mud."</p> + +<p>It was clear that he was in no mood to alter his decision, through +any argument that might be advanced. Labar took his leave without +further pressure. There might be some trifling inconvenience from the +ban, but he could not see that it was likely to interfere seriously +with his plans. What, however, might prove embarrassing, was the fact +that Gertstein himself now had an object in frustrating the work of +the Criminal Investigation Department. Labar wondered how far he would +go. There was something about the little man's manner that made the +detective sure that he would not content himself with folding his hands +and accepting whatever occurred.</p> + +<p>This sort of speculation, however, could wait. There were other things +that couldn't. One of these was Mr. Stebbins, the odd-job man who had +been engaged at Streetly House on the recommendation of Hughes. Labar +was a very weary man, but, if as he suspected, Stebbins was one of the +keys to the mystery, it was of importance that he should be looked up +before the inspector would be able to call it a day. Larry would no +doubt learn of Mrs. Gertstein's disclosure and he was likely to act +fast to get the fellow out of the way.</p> + +<p>Malone had gone home when the inspector reached Grape Street. So +it was to another sergeant that Labar gave the mission of seeking +out Stebbins, while he himself spent half an hour going through the +statements that had been collected from the Streetly House servants, to +see whether, after all, his memory was at fault, and that he had seen +the man. But there was nothing at all in the records. Labar yawned +drowsily. This kind of thing had to be done, but its tedium bored him. +He could put up with fatigue and hardship while it was a matter of +action. But pinned to a desk, poring futilely over papers was silly. He +let his hands drop to his arms on the desk and fell sound asleep.</p> + +<p>It was after midnight that he was awakened by a discreet plucking at +his sleeve. He yawned and brought his feet to the floor with a crash. +Moreland, the Flying Squad inspector, was at his elbow.</p> + +<p>"What's the trouble?" grunted Labar. "Hello, Moreland. Why aren't you +tucked up in your little bed like all the other loafers?"</p> + +<p>"Cut it out, Harry," snapped Moreland. "Pull yourself together. There's +a bit of a row on. Lucky I was on hand, or you'd have had one of your +people croaked."</p> + +<p>The divisional detective inspector listened with grave face, as +Moreland recited some of the evening's happenings.</p> + +<p>The Flying Squad man, with a couple of his subordinates, had happened, +in the course of another case on which he was engaged, to be in the +dining-room of a little Soho restaurant, when the sergeant who had +been sent out to find Stebbins, entered with a man who was unknown to +Moreland. They had sat down at a table where a third man was already +eating, and Moreland saw the sergeant introduced. Without hesitation +the hand of the diner immediately sought a water carafe and aimed +a terrific blow at Labar's sergeant. The blow had missed, but in a +second the place was in an uproar and the two were rolling across an +overturned table grappling with each other.</p> + +<p>Moreland had dashed across the room in time to knock up a pistol, +which exploded. To add to the confusion, an agitated Italian waiter +had switched the light off. Only such light as could penetrate through +the windows from the street illuminations reached the room. There was +a chaos of struggling men for a while, and ultimately one wriggled +free. Revolver in hand he gained the doorway with the detective in +close pursuit. Firing wildly, he fled through a small by-street and +through the open door of a house which let cheap rooms. At the top of +the narrow stairs he paused, and defied the detectives, who by this +time were reinforced by many uniformed police, to come nearer. Moreland +had taken charge of affairs and, deciding that it was inadvisable to +risk lives by a frontal attack, had left the house with a cordon drawn +around it, and after a word with Labar's man had decided to fetch the +divisional inspector himself.</p> + +<p>Most of this he related hurriedly while they were racing towards the +scene of the affray as fast as a taxi-cab could take them. Labar had no +difficulty in surmising with fair accuracy the blanks in the story.</p> + +<p>Their cab was halted at the entrance to a narrow street where a belt +of uniformed men held back a thin crowd. They descended and pushed +their way through, and the detective sergeant who had brought about the +episode joined them.</p> + +<p>"Well, Marr?" said Labar. "I suppose that's Stebbins up there?" He +jerked his head to the dismal three-storeyed house where most of the +eyes were focussed.</p> + +<p>"That's the man, sir."</p> + +<p>"How did you locate him?"</p> + +<p>In a few quick succinct sentences Marr told how he had tried to gain +some information at Streetly House, and been told in the most polite +manner that no questions would be answered. Then he had way-laid the +servants' entrance and made himself friendly with such of the servants +as passed in or out. He learned that on the day of the robbery Stebbins +had complained of illness and had gone home. Since then he had not +resumed his job at Streetly House, but he was known to be occasionally +meeting one of the maids. Marr pressed his inquiries until he found +one footman who had been on friendly footing with Stebbins, and who +on occasion had been with him to eat at a Soho restaurant which the +other frequented. Taking a long chance Marr had induced the footman to +accompany him to the restaurant, where as luck would have it they found +their man.</p> + +<p>"Lucky for you that Mr. Moreland was there," commented Labar.</p> + +<p>"He was fighting drunk, sir," explained the sergeant.</p> + +<p>"Drunk or sober, we can't wait here all night," declared the inspector. +"Find out if there's a skylight to the place. If so, two or three men +had better try to get through other houses and take him from the rear. +I'm going to see whether he's in a mood to talk to. We can't have one +man hold us up like this."</p> + +<p>"You're not going up those stairs, Harry," said Moreland. "It's sheer +suicide."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'll be careful," said the other. "If he's drunk and in the dark +it's odds against him touching me. Besides, I may persuade him to see +reason."</p> + +<p>"You're a head-strong fool," asserted Moreland with emphasis. "I guess +I'll have to come along too, and dry-nurse you."</p> + +<p>"No, you don't. You stay here and watch points. One man is quite +enough. No sense in doubling the target."</p> + +<p>The Flying Squad man grumblingly saw commonsense in this. All the same +as Labar quietly stole up to the narrow doorway and crept within, he +collected two or three men and with them posted himself, so that a +swift and sudden rush could be made after his friend if necessary.</p> + +<p>It was almost pitch-black within. Labar felt his way along the wall +till he came to the foot of the stairs and then paused to listen. He +could detect no sound in the house. He dropped to his hands and knees +and stealthily ascended the first step, registering a mental oath as +it creaked under him. He remembered that he had failed to retrieve the +pistol that he had lent to Dr. Ware. Well, that would not matter much. +He was not relying on gun-play.</p> + +<p>Inch by inch he crawled to the first landing and moved up the second +flight. Not till he had reached the third flight, however, could he +detect the sound of a man's hurried, irregular breathing. He flattened +himself as closely as he could to the outline of the stair and waited, +listening, for a second or two. Then he raised his voice sharply.</p> + +<p>"Now then, my man, if you've had enough of this tomfoolery we'll finish +the business. You don't want to be hung for murder, do you?"</p> + +<p>He could in imagination visualise the figure at the top craning +forward with ready weapon striving to pierce the darkness below. He +instinctively braced himself for a shot.</p> + +<p>A thick voice answered him. "You go away. Don't drive me too far. I +don't want to do anybody any harm, but I won't be took."</p> + +<p>It was something gained, at any rate, that the other had hesitated to +shoot. That lonely vigil at the top of the darkened stairs had either +sobered him or shaken his nerve. The inspector slowly wormed himself a +step higher.</p> + +<p>"Don't be a silly ass, Stebbins. It won't do you any good to kill +me. Think what you'd feel like when they came to pinion you in the +condemned cell." He crawled cautiously to a further step. "Think of +the hangman adjusting the straps, and the parson reading the burial +service."</p> + +<p>"I can hear you moving," said the voice above, and Labar fancied that +there was irresolution in the tone. "Don't you try no monkey business +now."</p> + +<p>"You'll have a white cap over your face," went on Labar, "and they'll +take you out in a little procession——"</p> + +<p>"Shut up," said the voice ferociously. "You can't frighten me."</p> + +<p>"I don't want to frighten you," said Labar. "I don't think you're the +kind of man to be frightened. You've got sense—not like some of those +other fellows. Suppose you give me that gun and let me look after you. +You'll trust me, won't you?"</p> + +<p>There was no obvious reason why Stebbins should trust a detective who +was trying to arrest him, but Labar did not feel that this was a time +at which the other would consider the point deeply. He was concerned +chiefly to hold the man in talk till such time as he was near enough to +make a dash. If he could tackle the fellow round the knees, the steep +flight of stairs would do the rest.</p> + +<p>"And who the blazes are you?" demanded Stebbins.</p> + +<p>The inspector mounted another stair. "I'm Divisional Detective +Inspector Labar," he said. "I'm anxious to do the fair thing by you."</p> + +<p>"What do you want me for?"</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you all about that later on." Labar's voice was coaxing. +"Come on now. You throw me down that gun and we'll have a talk."</p> + +<p>There was a pause. Labar was sure that he was almost within reach of +his man, but his eyes could tell him nothing. It might be fatal to make +a miscalculation.</p> + +<p>Something fell behind him and clattered down the stairs. "There you +are," said the voice. "I'll give in."</p> + +<p>The detective pulled himself to his feet, and groping forward felt an +ankle. He moved up two or three steps and thrust his arm through the +other's arm. "I knew that you had commonsense," he declared amiably. +"Half a moment till I strike a match. It's as dark as the pit in here. +We don't want to break our necks."</p> + +<p>Together they emerged from the front door just as Moreland was thinking +of organising a rescue party of one, and as the crash of glass behind +them told of a smashed skylight.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII</h2> +</div> + + +<p>There was no charge made against Stebbins that night, and inquiries +from the newspapers which were anxious to know more of the cause of +the affray were met with a stubborn silence. Labar, in fact, had gone +home after searching Stebbins carefully with his own hands. The rest he +felt could wait till he had some reasonable time for sleep. A night's +detention would do Stebbins no harm, and might put him in a frame of +mind to answer some questions that Labar had decided to defer till his +own mind was fresh.</p> + +<p>With eight hours sleep, a bath, and a little medical attention to his +hurt, the inspector felt almost as spruce as he looked, when he arrived +at Grape Street in the morning. He cleared up a few odds and ends and +had Stebbins brought to his room. In the cold light of day that man +answered imperfectly to any conception of a desperate gunman. He was a +loose, tall man with a thin sallow face and weak chin. He had neither +shaved nor brushed his hair, and his shifty eyes were sunk in deep +circles. He eyed Labar nervously, as the detective motioned away his +escort, and placed a seat where the light from the window would fall on +the detained man's face.</p> + +<p>"Sit down," said the detective pleasantly. "Have a cigarette. You look +pretty jagged this morning."</p> + +<p>In silence Stebbins took the cigarette and seated himself with hunched +shoulders on the chair that was indicated. Labar leaned forward and +gave him a light.</p> + +<p>"Had time to have a good think about things, haven't you? What made you +fly off the handle last night? Bit jumpy, weren't you?"</p> + +<p>"I can't remember anything about last night," said Stebbins. "Must have +been drunk."</p> + +<p>"Well, I wouldn't altogether say that." Labar's tone was that of +friendly disagreement. He stirred a little paper package that lay on +the edge of his desk with a long forefinger. "I guess you'd had a shot +too much, but it wasn't drink, eh?"</p> + +<p>"Right oh," agreed the other languidly. "I was doped."</p> + +<p>"Want me to have that written down?" asked Labar. "You know I may have +to use any statement you may make as evidence?"</p> + +<p>"You've got me. I may as well shoot the whole works." He stretched out +a shaking hand and Labar gently removed the package of heroin beyond +reach. "Give me just a nip of that and I'll tell you where I got it."</p> + +<p>"No. You must ask the doctor presently. Now tell me why you didn't skip +as you were advised to?"</p> + +<p>"Advised to?" Stebbins shook his head blankly.</p> + +<p>Labar held a dirty piece of paper in front of him and read. "The point +is full of the greatest possible interest to me. I shall be glad to +see you at some time and discuss it in detail. You will of course let +me know when you are coming. These things can be settled so much more +easily by word of mouth."</p> + +<p>There was a gleam of intelligence in Stebbins' eyes that swiftly faded +to be replaced by a sullen mask of bewilderment. "That's Greek to me," +he declared.</p> + +<p>"I thought you were going to come clean," observed Labar mildly. "Let +me remind you of one or two things. I don't know what you've been doing +this past eight or nine years, but if you've been going straight you'll +get the credit, if you don't try to fool me. Now last night I sent your +finger-prints to the Yard and had you looked up. You came out from a +three years sentence nine years ago. Before that you had done terms in +the States and one or two sentences of hard labour here. All of these +are on record. Now this letter." He tapped the paper beneath his hand. +"I don't know whether you've forgotten the properties of gum arabic, or +whether you were too fuddled yesterday to make use of your knowledge."</p> + +<p>He breathed on the paper and crossing to the grate scraped up some +dust with his fingers and sprinkled it over the letter. Irregular block +letters appeared between the lines and he thrust the slip beneath the +face of the man.</p> + +<p>"See that. 'Panjandrum says get out at once. Splits know of your +business. Get under cover right away.' Now who sent you that? Who is +Panjandrum?"</p> + +<p>Stebbins puffed hard at his cigarette and his eyebrows drew together +in an attempt at concentration. "Guess that was sent to me," he said +slowly. "Perhaps someone slipped it to me. I dunno. I must have forgot +it. If I'd read it I would have been where you wouldn't have found me."</p> + +<p>"Who is Panjandrum?" repeated Labar.</p> + +<p>"Panjandrum. Why! that'll be the boss. I don't know who he is. I've +never seen him."</p> + +<p>The inspector thought that quite likely. It was impossible that Larry +had had any dealings direct with this drug-sodden crook. "Who put you +up to this Streetly House business?" he demanded. "Tell me how you got +into that."</p> + +<p>"That," Stebbins reflected. "Oh, it was Billy Bungey who gave me the +tip that I could get a job there. He got me some references and all. +Say, there's a nice little bird at that place. She's a peach. You +ought——"</p> + +<p>"Did she have anything to do with this business?"</p> + +<p>A languid gesture of denial met the question. "Oh, no. Not in that way. +'Course I learned a few things from her."</p> + +<p>"Never mind about her for the moment then. Tell me how Billy came to +ask you to bear a hand. What did you have to do, and how much did you +get out of it?"</p> + +<p>In stumbling and random phrases Stebbins told what the inspector +believed to be a truthful story of his association with the robbery. +It was difficult always to keep him to the point, and Malone who +was laboriously writing down his statement in longhand clicked his +tongue impatiently at times, as he waited with poised pen, until a few +incisive questions from Labar had unravelled the tangle.</p> + +<p>Stebbins was a type of a shiftless cunning species of crook which is +well known to the Criminal Investigation Department. He was a drifter, +weak and unscrupulous, lacking the imagination or skill of more +successful rogues. Without leadership it was inevitable that any of his +clumsy crimes, from smashing a jeweller's window to petty thefts in the +suburbs, should bring him straight into the hands of the police. In +this manner had the terms of imprisonment which had been ferreted out +from the records been brought to him. He had dodged hopelessly to the +United States where he had also been harried, until the lapse of years +had brought him back to this country, where as a minor thief he was +nearly forgotten, to act when occasion offered as jackal to bolder and +more enterprising spirits.</p> + +<p>Billy Bungey, it appeared, had stumbled across him by accident at some +race meeting, and learned that Stebbins—which of course was not his +real name—was making a more or less precarious existence by washing +windows at the Palatial Restaurant. There had been one or two small +pilferings and Stebbins confided that he expected at any moment to lose +his job.</p> + +<p>With the spacious condescension of a race-gang leader to an inferior +being Billy had hinted that he might find Stebbins profitable work. A +meeting had been arranged to take place later at a public-house a few +hundred yards from Blackfriars Bridge, and there it had been suggested +to him that he might get an appointment as odd-job man at Streetly +House. Billy even had his references all in order. Stebbins was to +apply to the butler and to say that he was the man that Mr. Hughes had +spoken about.</p> + +<p>"You go and get this job, first," said Billy Bungey. "Then we'll talk +about what we want you to do."</p> + +<p>Stebbins told Labar that, up to that time, he had never even heard of +the Gertstein collection—which was quite likely, since he moved in +circles that would never dream of such a coup. However, he was accepted +at Streetly House, and then Billy unfolded the plan to him in some +part. He was to study the lay of the house particularly, to find out +what steps were taken to protect the jewels, and in fact to learn every +detail that could possibly assist in a raid. This he was to communicate +to a Mr. Blake at the <i>poste restante</i> at Bruges.</p> + +<p>"You'll get a tenner a week," explained Billy, "and five hundred +pounds if the job is pulled off clean."</p> + +<p>No hint was then given as to the time or method of the robbery. All +instructions would reach Stebbins either by letter addressed to him at +an accommodation address, or through Billy Bungey. It was pointed out +to him that he must on no account seek out the latter unless sent for.</p> + +<p>After a few days, a man whom Stebbins did not know, was introduced +to him and he was given some instructions on the art of taking wax +impressions of keys. He was to use his ingenuity to get an impression +of every key that he could lay his hands upon, particularly of one of +a small back door that was rarely used. He succeeded in this, and keys +which were made from the impressions were sent to him to try. In one or +two cases they had to be returned to be tinkered with afresh. At last +all was ready and Stebbins was warned to throw up his job on the plea +of illness. But the attraction of one of the maids had caused him to +delay doing so. He was astonished to read of the burglary on the day +that followed his retirement. The day after that he had been handed +a parcel containing five hundred one pound treasury notes. These had +reached him by a district messenger and there was no indication from +whom they came. Nor, as he frankly said, was there any reason for him +to make inquiries.</p> + +<p>"And," demanded Labar, "you never saw anyone except Billy Bungey, and +this fellow who talked to you about the keys?"</p> + +<p>The prisoner made a jerky gesture of assent. "That's all I know."</p> + +<p>The inspector took the statement from Malone and slowly read it aloud, +now and again pressing home a fresh question to elucidate a point. +Stebbins listened stolidly, and answered with ready frankness. Labar's +face was inscrutable as he finished.</p> + +<p>"This is a voluntary statement you understand," he said. "You are +willing to sign it?"</p> + +<p>"Absolutely," agreed Stebbins. "It's all true."</p> + +<p>He affixed his signature and was taken below for the formality of the +charge. He listened apathetically to the set official words in which +he was accused. Then he was hurried away to Marlborough Street Police +Court while Labar spent a few minutes on the telephone with Winter at +Scotland Yard.</p> + +<p>The Chief Constable was affable. "Yes, I heard that you had had a busy +day. Not seriously hurt, I hope. That's all right. I'll be away down +and see you in court. I suppose this man has got to be charged to-day. +You know what that means? You'll have a horde of newspaper men on your +tail. There's the usual gang here now playing solo whist, I believe, +and waiting for something to turn up. Cheerio. See you some time in the +next half hour."</p> + +<p>Labar had hoped, but scarcely expected, more than he had got from +Stebbins. There was certainly nothing in what Stebbins had said +that could implicate Larry Hughes directly. Larry as usual had been +remote, aloof from his lesser helpers. It was characteristic of his +methods that he should have used this drug-sodden crook as a blind +tool. He must have foreseen the possibility of Stebbins being traced, +although he had taken every precaution against it. True, Stebbins knew +that Billy Bungey was in the business, but Billy had not been known +as an associate of the master criminal. If it had not been for the +episode at "Maid's Retreat," Labar would never have considered the two +together. There was no likelihood that inquiries which would have to be +undertaken about the "Mr. Blake" of the Bruges <i>poste restante</i> +would lead anywhere. No, the trail that might have led from Stebbins +to Larry Hughes had been cleverly smothered. But for the coincidence +of the intervention of Penelope Noelson and Mrs. Gertstein, the C.I.D. +men might well have come to the conclusion that there was no hope of +linking Hughes with the crime.</p> + +<p>However, from that angle of the case the hunt was up with a vengeance. +Labar bit his lips as he reflected that it was necessary to act swiftly +if he was to lay Larry Hughes by the heels. The other would be moving. +If there was any precaution that he had failed to take beforehand to +neutralise evidence against him, he would of a surety be looking into +it now. The trouble was that there was nothing which could lead to +immediate action.</p> + +<p>It is conceivable that this would have been a matter of less concern to +the inspector had it not been for Penelope Noelson. Spite of himself, +spite of his attempts at strict concentration on the immediate aspects +of the case, he was alarmed for her. It should have been no concern +of his to view her other than as an item in the sum of the case. +His business lay in bringing home a crime to those responsible. The +possible peril of one or another of the people involved in the matter +should not be allowed to affect the main issue. Human nature, however, +being much the same at Scotland Yard as at other places, his judgment +was swayed to some extent.</p> + +<p>He betook himself to Marlborough Street where he had to give formal +evidence of the arrest of Stebbins and asked for a remand. The thing +was over in five minutes and he returned to the police station with +Winter to have what the latter described as a heart to heart talk over +the situation.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX</h2> +</div> + + +<p>The days moved with leaden feet for Penelope Noelson. She had come +to know every inch of space in the walled garden, and although she +gazed wistfully through the iron bars of the gate again and again, no +one ever came in sight. Always she felt that certain, if unobtrusive, +surveillance over her every movement. The care with which she was +watched was brought home to her when she took to dropping notes over +the wall in the hope that they would be picked up by some stray +wayfarer. Within half an hour they had been returned to her by Sophie +Lengholm, with a veiled hint that she might be kept locked in her room +if she persisted in trying to communicate with the outside world.</p> + +<p>At night the great Alsatian wolf-hound, of which she had caught a +glimpse on the day of her arrival, patrolled the grounds. Not that +that made any difference, for she knew that a key was turned in her +lock every evening, although she did not know that Sophie Lengholm for +reasons of her own, held the key.</p> + +<p>Apart from these restrictions she had little to complain of but her +loss of liberty. She saw strange men about the place on occasion +and knew they had long interviews with Larry Hughes, but they never +interfered with her. The servants were always courteous, but firmly +reticent when she attempted to pump them.</p> + +<p>Larry Hughes himself treated her with punctilious politeness on the +whole, although there were passages in which the mask was lifted and +she clashed with his savage and indomitable will. These episodes +usually followed a repulsed attempt on his part to make love to her, +and she had learned to meet them with a dignified retirement to her +room.</p> + +<p>She tried to meet her situation gracefully, but there were moments when +horror had her by the throat. She was sickened by her own impotence to +meet the march of an unknown destiny. Were the police seeking her as a +fugitive thief? What was at the back of Larry Hughes' mind in regard +to her? One thing was certain. She could not be held indefinitely +as a prisoner in this spot. She contemplated the future with dizzy +apprehension.</p> + +<p>There came a day when no man moved about the house or grounds. Sophie +Lengholm met her inquiries with the grim assurance that they would be +back in a little. Penelope knew that she lied. She twisted her brains +for some method of using the situation to her advantage. It was a case +of woman to woman only. They were alone together, save only for the big +Alsatian.</p> + +<p>Other things being equal, Penelope knew that in a hand to hand +encounter she would have no chance with the elder woman. She moved +with apparent aimlessness about the house and grounds seeking for +something that might serve as a weapon. At last her eye fell on a short +and heavy poker in the dining-room, and she tested its balance and +weight critically, although with a little shudder. She knew that if she +permitted herself to think she would not have resolution enough to go +on with the thing that was in her mind. But it was either that, or an +unresisting acquiescence in anything that might befall.</p> + +<p>She found Mrs. Lengholm in the kitchen, and making no attempt to +conceal the poker which she carried, came straight to the point.</p> + +<p>"I want the key of the wall gate," she said resolutely.</p> + +<p>Sophie abandoned the table on which she was kneading dough, and brushed +her fingers calmly.</p> + +<p>"Why are you carrying that thing?" she asked imperturbably and nodded +her head towards the poker which the girl was clutching with tightened +fingers.</p> + +<p>"You will let me out of this place," declared Penelope. "I don't want +to hurt you, Mrs. Lengholm, but if you make me use force——" She moved +a step towards the other woman.</p> + +<p>Sophie's face set, and she made an angry gesture. "Don't be an idiot," +she remonstrated. The girl with white face and tightened lips drew +another step forward. She was afraid that her resolution might weaken. +It was not that she lacked courage, but to strike the other in this +way seemed to her like murder. But she told herself that she had to go +through with it now.</p> + +<p>The older woman retreated, and her lips puckered in a shrill and +prolonged whistle. There was the sound of something pounding fiercely +along the corridor and Penelope realised her oversight. She had +forgotten the dog.</p> + +<p>She wheeled abruptly to face the snarling animal and she heard a low +chuckle from Mrs. Lengholm. The thing gathered itself for a leap and +Penelope flung up her arm to ward off the attack, and instinctively +closed her eyes. A sharp command from Sophie checked the dog, and it +squatted on its haunches regarding the girl with fierce yellow eyes.</p> + +<p>"I don't blame you," said Sophie, easily, as moving back to the table +she resumed kneading the dough. "In your place I would probably have +tried something of the same kind. If I were you I'd go and put that +thing back, and settle down. It'll be easier for you if you are a good +girl."</p> + +<p>Penelope's fingers loosened, and the poker fell with a thud to the +floor. There were tears of chagrin in her eyes.</p> + +<p>"You go and lie down, and have a nice sleep, now," went on Sophie with +motherly complacency. "You haven't so much to worry about, anyhow. No +need to try and murder the only person about the place of your own +sex. If I was gone, things might be so very much worse for you."</p> + +<p>She spoke, as it might be, to a self-willed child. There was no +suspicion of resentment in her tone, but rather a tolerant assumption +that any outburst by the girl was foredoomed to failure. Penelope +dropped into a chair, and her grave grey eyes scrutinised the other +with deliberation.</p> + +<p>"Where is this going to end?" she asked.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Lengholm administered a final punch to the dough before replying. +"I don't know," she confessed mildly. "Why don't you ask Mr. Hughes?"</p> + +<p>"That snake! Ugh!" Penelope grimaced with conviction.</p> + +<p>"He's got his faults," admitted Sophie, "but he has a great admiration +for you. You could twist him round your little finger if you agreed to +marry him. He's rich, he's good looking, he's got culture. You'd be +better off than many a princess. I know the man, miss. If he sets his +mind on a thing he gets it. He gets it by fair means if he can, but he +gets it anyway. I have never known him fail in anything that he set +his heart upon. It would be better for you to be dead than to hope to +thwart him."</p> + +<p>"I would rather die," asserted Penelope.</p> + +<p>"You think you would. That's what the girls say in the novels. This is +the real thing. You are dealing with a man who will stand at nothing. +Believe me or not, Miss Noelson, I have tried to protect you. I can +only go so far. If Larry Hughes takes the bit between his teeth—and he +will sooner or later—there is nothing that can stop him. Take an older +woman's advice, my dear. Marry him."</p> + +<p>Penelope tilted her head defiantly. She had tried again and again to +reach some point of intimate converse with this woman only to be met by +polite formulas. Sophie Lengholm had adopted something of the neutral +attitude of a warder towards a prisoner. She had confined herself to +making the girl comfortable, and to seeing that she did not escape. +Now, however, Penelope thought that she had penetrated her reserve.</p> + +<p>"We are both women, Mrs. Lengholm. I don't know what hold this man has +on you, but you wouldn't allow——"</p> + +<p>Sophie wiped her hands on her apron. "It isn't what I would or would +not allow, my dear. I can go so far; but there might come a point when +Larry Hughes would crush me without a thought, if I stood in his way. +No one can help you but yourself. The easy way out is to marry him. +That isn't so terrible a thing as you fancy—unless there is someone +else."</p> + +<p>A faint blush stained Penelope's cheeks, which did not escape the quick +eyes of the older woman. "There is no one else," she said hurriedly, +"no one at all. But you must know how I feel. Now, if you are afraid of +this man, why don't you go away? Why not come with me, now? I can't pay +you anything, but I have friends who would protect you." She clutched +impulsively at the skirts of the other who now stood near her. "Dear +Mrs. Lengholm——"</p> + +<p>Sophie shook her off, with a sudden change of manner. "I am not a +sentimental child. Don't waste any of that kind of stuff on me. Here +I am, and here I stay. You'd better go and find something to amuse +yourself. I'm busy."</p> + +<p>She turned abruptly away, and Penelope saw that further pleading would +be futile. She accepted her dismissal with such philosophy as she could +summon.</p> + +<p>Most of the rest of that day she spent in her own room, Sophie without +any request being made, bringing her her meals on a tray. It was +towards evening that she took a stroll in the grounds, and the dullness +of her thoughts was distracted by the hooting of a car at the gates. +Sophie Lengholm heard it too, and moved swiftly out with the key in her +hand. A minute more and Larry Hughes' Rolls Royce had drawn within.</p> + +<p>Hughes himself was the first to descend. There was a blood stained +contusion on his face that lent it an uncommonly sinister appearance. +He seemed about to say something to her, but checked himself, and +turned to the others who were pouring out of the car in grim silence. +He grouped himself with others to assist one man down, and Penelope saw +that blood-stained handkerchiefs enwrapped one of the feet of this +individual. He was assisted into the house by two of his companions, +and then a woman appeared in the doorway of the car. Penelope gave a +little gasp.</p> + +<p>"Adèle!" she exclaimed.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Gertstein gave a sharp start. The next moment, half laughing and +half crying, she had flung herself into the arms of the girl.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Pen," she cried, and relapsed into dry sobs.</p> + +<p>Larry Hughes turned a sour face upon them. "Take her into the house," +he ordered. "Here, Sophie, we've another guest for you. Give Miss +Noelson a hand. And get out some brandy. We can all do with a drink."</p> + +<p>Penelope's curiosity was all aflame, but for the moment she dared not +ask questions. She walked with Adèle Gertstein and Sophie Lengholm into +the morning-room, and there Sophie left them, returning in a little +with a small glass which she forced into Mrs. Gertstein's hands. Then +again she disappeared, apparently to carry refreshments to the men in +an adjoining room.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Gertstein sipped silently, while Penelope waited till she should +have somewhat recovered herself. What crisis had brought her friend +to that place in Larry's company, was a question on which she could +not but hazard mental speculation. From what she knew and guessed, the +notion that at last the police had hit on something near the truth +occurred to her as a wild probability. Or it might be that Adèle +had been abducted in much the same way as herself, as a measure of +precaution by Hughes. That was the more likely. She tried to think how +it might affect her own case. Did it bode good or evil for her?</p> + +<p>As she finished the brandy, Mrs. Gertstein's drooping shoulders +straightened up, and her dull eyes brightened. She slipped off her coat +and hat and threw them nonchalantly to the floor.</p> + +<p>"Have you a cigarette, Pen?" she asked. "I've had the very devil of a +time."</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX</h2> +</div> + + +<p>"Allow me, madam."</p> + +<p>Larry Hughes stood beside them, a gold cigarette case open in his hand. +He had entered so silently that neither of them had heard him. Mrs. +Gertstein delicately selected a cigarette, and he offered the case to +Penelope who shook her head. He showed his white teeth in a smile.</p> + +<p>"We three should have no secrets from each other," he said blandly. "We +are now allies in a common cause—our own safety. The harsh and brutal +methods of your friend Mr. Labar, Miss Noelson, have resulted in my +offering harbourage to this lady here. I am sure that you will be as +delighted as I am to have her company on our travels."</p> + +<p>"Travels?"</p> + +<p>"Where are——"</p> + +<p>Both women spoke simultaneously. He held up a slim white hand. "Don't +be alarmed. We are safe enough for the moment. I doubt if Scotland Yard +knows where we are within fifty miles. But I have enough respect for +them to suppose that they will some time or other find out. In plain +words they are likely to make the place too hot for me—for us. So we +shall leave this place within the next day or two, as soon as I am able +to make arrangements.</p> + +<p>"I must let Solly know that I am safe," said Mrs. Gertstein.</p> + +<p>His smile contorted into a contemptuous sneer. "Your amiable and +anxious husband has no doubt had a story told him by Labar by this +time," he said. "He will be under no great concern as to your safety. +He will believe that you have eloped with me."</p> + +<p>Adèle Gertstein started to her feet and her eyebrows drew together. +"You beast," she said.</p> + +<p>He waved his hand impatiently. "My dear girl," he said, "I have +always been tempted to admire your beauty rather than your brains. I +am stating a fact. You elected to come away with me. What can your +estimable Gertstein think?"</p> + +<p>"I don't care what he thinks. I shall write to him this minute," she +retorted.</p> + +<p>"If I didn't know you so well, I might think that you were in love +with your husband," he declared. "Upon my soul I am beginning to be +sorry I cluttered myself up with you." He menaced her fiercely with a +forefinger. "How long do you think it would be after you had written +to him, before Labar would have you in the dock? What is it that the +police want you for? Attempted murder! Forgery! Do you think that the +detectives will not be watching to get a line on you? You poor fool! +From now on you will not lift a finger without my permission, or I +will throw you to the police." He banged his fist fiercely on to a +table and glared at her. "Do you get that? Ten, perhaps fifteen years +in Aylesbury. That's what is waiting for you if you start any funny +business."</p> + +<p>She flung up an arm as though she feared a physical assault, and indeed +during his tirade it seemed as though he was restraining himself from +striking her only by an effort. "I didn't understand, Larry," she said, +shrinking from him. "Of course you are right. I will do whatever you +say."</p> + +<p>"I think you will," he returned grimly. "I think you will eat out of my +hand before I am finished with you."</p> + +<p>He turned with an abrupt change of manner to Penelope. "I am sorry to +have inflicted this scene upon you, Miss Noelson. It is necessary that +people who deal with me should know where they stand."</p> + +<p>There was an inflection in his tone that told her she might apply the +lesson to herself. She met the hint scornfully.</p> + +<p>"I have had some examples of your methods," she retorted.</p> + +<p>"Then I hope that they have not been lost on you," he replied, and +thrusting his hands deep in his pockets walked from the room.</p> + +<p>It was a minute or two before either woman spoke. Then Mrs. Gertstein +flung the stub of her cigarette through the open window. "What a devil +that man is," she observed. "How did you come to get here, Pen?"</p> + +<p>"Never mind about that," said Penelope. "He may be back at any moment. +Tell me, is it true what he said? Are you escaping from the police?"</p> + +<p>The eyes of Mrs. Gertstein avoided her. "In a way—yes," she confessed +in a low voice. "I've got into a mess, Pen."</p> + +<p>"And it is for attempted murder as well as for the forgery of that +cheque?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't mean anything, Pen. Don't look at me like that. Honestly I +didn't. Things just happened. I was mad. Oh, Pen, if you knew what I've +gone through."</p> + +<p>Adèle Gertstein felt sincerely sorry for herself. She turned an +appealing face to Penelope. The other girl regarded her inquiringly.</p> + +<p>"Who was it that you tried to kill?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"A detective man. He had found out about—about the cheque I cashed. I +was out of my mind. I didn't know what I was doing."</p> + +<p>"Detective Inspector Labar—the man you got me to pass a note to?"</p> + +<p>The other's attitude underwent a swift transition. "Don't you question +me in that tone, Penelope Noelson," she exclaimed with sudden asperity. +"What right have you to judge me? I employed you out of charity and now +that things are going against me, you think that you can bully me." +She stamped her foot. "I won't have it. Who are you to put on airs and +graces with me?"</p> + +<p>It was as though she had not spoken. Penelope's eyes were fixed upon +her, but they seemed to look right through her. She got to her feet +with an air of calm detachment that hid an intensity of feeling, and +gripped Mrs. Gertstein's arm.</p> + +<p>"Is he dangerously hurt?" she asked. "Tell me the truth." Her fingers +bit deep in the soft flesh of the other woman. "You have done enough +harm as it is. Now tell me."</p> + +<p>Their eyes fought for domination for an instant. The grip on Mrs. +Gertstein's arm tightened, and she saw that in Penelope's face that she +had not seen before.</p> + +<p>"It was an accident," she said slowly as though the words were dragged +from her. "I never meant it. I had a knife in my hands and he——"</p> + +<p>"Is he dangerously hurt?" persisted Penelope.</p> + +<p>"No. It was nothing, Penelope. Just a small cut. I swear it. Why, an +hour later he was chasing us in a car. I am sure that he was not hurt."</p> + +<p>Penelope released her arm. "That is all right, then," she said +steadily. "There is only one thing for you to do. At the first chance +you must give yourself up. I don't know how it is to be managed, but +you must do it."</p> + +<p>The other woman recoiled from her, her face showing her emotion. "No," +she declared. "I should be mad to do a thing like that. You are mad to +suggest it."</p> + +<p>"And if you don't," cried Penelope, something of her restraint falling +from her, "in what kind of a position will you be? You will be a hunted +woman—the slave of every whim and caprice of this man, Larry Hughes. +Do you think that you will not be caught sooner or later, and what +construction will be put on your flight? Even if the police do not +get you, what kind of a life will be yours? Do you believe that Larry +Hughes will save you at any risk to himself? Much better to face it all +out now than put yourself farther in the wrong."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Gertstein shuddered. "I know," she exclaimed. "But, Pen, can't +you see I dare not? I should have to go to prison. It would be too +terrible." She wrung her hands. "I would rather die. They would have +taken me to gaol then, if I hadn't come away with Larry. He is my +only chance. I must stick by him. After all, the police don't catch +everybody. If I could get abroad—to South America or somewhere. I +could live quietly there, until it was all forgotten about."</p> + +<p>Penelope dropped the discussion abruptly. It was no use trying to +present the stern logic of facts to this frightened and hare-brained +woman. She was sickened, but she had some sympathy with the panic in +which Mrs. Gertstein was caught. It might be as she said that there +was a real chance of escape for her, although the girl viewing the +position with a detached and more clear sighted appreciation of the +facts, thought it a tenuous one.</p> + +<p>She felt that her own plight had become more delicate in some ways. +Her sense of loyalty to Mrs. Gertstein had been shaken, but it was not +absolutely shattered. It was one thing to advise her to give herself +up; it was quite another actively to betray her either voluntarily or +under pressure. Penelope knew that, if she did at any time manage to +escape, that questions would be put to her by the police—questions +designed so that the answers should lead them not only to Larry Hughes +but to Mrs. Gertstein. She had suffered much already in trying to +protect the other woman, but she could not bring herself to contemplate +aiding to bring her to justice. Yet the only alternative was to stay by +her. That, if they were to submit to Larry Hughes' will, was still more +unthinkable.</p> + +<p>"Well, Adèle," she said, quietly, "we will talk about it later on. You +are not yourself now. I wonder if Mrs. Lengholm has got a room for you? +You will need a rest."</p> + +<p>She pressed a bell, and Sophie, whose face was a little less serene +than usual, stalked into the room. Penelope put a question.</p> + +<p>"If you don't mind," said Sophie, "we'll have to put an extra bed in +your room, Miss Noelson. You see our accommodation is rather limited."</p> + +<p>"Then we shall be together. That will be fine," said Mrs. Gertstein and +allowed Sophie to lead her away.</p> + +<p>Penelope picked up a book, although she was in little mood for reading. +But she was apparently engrossed in its pages when Larry Hughes put his +head in ten minutes later. He nodded without saying a word and stole +quietly away.</p> + +<p>An idea had taken root in his mind, and he was not the man to waste +time in putting any project into execution. Mrs. Gertstein had barely +had time to begin to repair the ravages of her toilet with the help of +Sophie Lengholm ere he sent for her. She came into the room he called +his study, a little defiantly, a little frightened. He motioned her to +a chair.</p> + +<p>"We're too old friends to quarrel, Adèle," he began in his silken +modulated voice. "I want to apologise for the way in which I spoke to +you just now. It was unforgivable."</p> + +<p>She stretched out a small shoe and contemplated it with a smile. One +could almost have said that she was purring. "That's all right, Larry. +I was an ungrateful little fool. I was a little strung up."</p> + +<p>She looked sideways at him, and he stroked his lip with his hand to +hide a smile. Even at this juncture in her affairs she could not resist +the opportunity to attempt to flirt.</p> + +<p>"That's all right, then. So long as we're friends again." He leaned +back in his chair. "The fact is, Adèle, that I've come to the point at +which I want the advice and help of a woman of the world."</p> + +<p>"So." She smiled languorously at him. "That's a compliment. And yet you +said a little while ago that you always admired my beauty rather than +my brains."</p> + +<p>There was no sting in the reproof. He laughed lightly. "Did I say that? +The brandy must have made me peevish. You don't realise how highly I +regard you in a thousand ways."</p> + +<p>"Did you call me down to make love to me?" she countered. "I thought +you had got over that long ago." Her face suddenly hardened. "At least +you turned our affair to your financial advantage, didn't you?"</p> + +<p>A little puzzled frown appeared on his forehead. Larry Hughes would +have made a great actor. "Financial advantage? I don't get you, my dear +girl."</p> + +<p>She stiffened a fraction. "According to that detective person, you were +behind the man who was blackmailing me."</p> + +<p>"And you believed that? Good Lord!" He contrived to inflect into his +voice just the right mixture of amusement and astonishment at her +credulity. "If I were that kind of dirty skunk, why should I try to +shelter behind someone else? Did I ever strike you, Adèle, as a man who +would be afraid of coming out into the open in a case like that?"</p> + +<p>"Do you mean that he invented that story?"</p> + +<p>"Invented it. That's one of the oldest tricks of the police detective. +He wanted to embitter you against me. I give you my word of honour, +Adèle. You'll believe me, won't you?"</p> + +<p>"Do you know it never struck me in that way," she said reflectively. +She thrust out a hand towards him which he affected not to see. "Of +course I believe you, Larry."</p> + +<p>"I am glad of that." He gave a convincing sigh of relief. "Now, Adèle, +I want you to help me. It's about Penelope Noelson."</p> + +<p>"You've not fallen in love with her, have you?" she asked with a little +laugh. "By the way, what is she doing here?"</p> + +<p>He looked at her thoughtfully before replying. "Couldn't you guess +that?" he said steadily. "She is here because I intend to marry her."</p> + +<p>Adèle Gertstein drew herself bolt upright. "Marry her," she repeated +harshly. "You say she is going to marry you?"</p> + +<p>"The same thing. I am going to marry her."</p> + +<p>Her face betrayed the complexities of emotions that were in her mind. +A quarter of an hour before she would have dismissed from her mind as +an absurdity the idea that she was still in love with Larry Hughes. But +now her vanity was touched at his airy assumption that she would calmly +accept the defection of the man she had once made a conquest. Had she +lost all her attraction?</p> + +<p>She burst into laughter—ironical bitter laughter. "That grey mouse," +she said. "You want to marry her! It is comic."</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't have believed it possible," he said gravely. "I believe you +are doing me the honour to be jealous."</p> + +<p>"Of that doll," she exclaimed. "Me jealous of Penelope Noelson. +It struck me as funny, but otherwise it is a matter of complete +indifference to me."</p> + +<p>Larry tried to follow the trend of her mind. He could not determine +whether she was moved by pique, or whether she was actually a jealous +woman. None knew better than he how difficult it was to probe the fluky +and irresponsible motives which swayed her with every passing mood. If +he was to enlist her for his purposes he must by some means or other +overcome this unexpected antagonism.</p> + +<p>He laughed easily. "I was joking, of course, Adèle. If you were a +free woman—but it is no good thinking about that. To tell you the +truth, Adèle, I am forced to this. Your safety as well as mine depends +on closing the mouth of this girl. There are two ways. The one is +marriage."</p> + +<p>She thrust forward a strained face. "And the other?"</p> + +<p>"The other——" He beat his foot on the floor in a nervous tattoo. "I +won't consider the other, Adèle, till I have tried all other means. +That will have to be the last thing. If I can induce her to marry me +she cannot, even if she would, give evidence against us. As for falling +in love with her"—he made a quick gesture of scorn—"that is the last +thing on earth that I am likely to do. There has only been one woman +with whom I have ever been in love. In any case this will be a marriage +only in name."</p> + +<p>As he watched her he congratulated himself that he had struck the right +note. Mrs. Gertstein sat with chin cupped in her hand thinking, or +rather trying to think. It was a few moments before she spoke.</p> + +<p>"Is Penelope willing to marry you?"</p> + +<p>Larry smiled wrily. "I doubt it. But I think with a little persuasion +you will be able to overcome her scruples. She will see that there is +nothing else for it in time."</p> + +<p>"I don't see why I should go out of my way to help you in this," she +said. "It's your own business, Larry."</p> + +<p>There was indecision in her voice. The man shook his head as though +with amused tolerance at the slow comprehension of a dull child. "My +dear woman, it is the business of all of us—of you particularly. She +knows much too much. Where will you be, if I am landed in the dock? We +have all got to hang together or hang separately. I am not asking you +to do me a favour. I am asking you to help save yourself. The prison +doors are not far away from you, Adèle. You can take your choice."</p> + +<p>That threat clinched the matter as Larry Hughes expected it would. With +all her futility of brain Mrs. Gertstein had a strong instinct for +self-preservation. That alone would smother any lesser feelings she +might have, even her hurt vanity or her sense of friendship for the +girl who had been loyal to her. Her course was straight in front of +her, and in taking it she reckoned nothing of the consequences to +anyone but herself.</p> + +<p>"You are right, Larry," she said. "I'll do all that I can to make her +see reason."</p> + +<p>"Good girl." He stood over her and patted her on the shoulder. "We'll +pull things off together yet. You had better go and find her and see +what you can do."</p> + +<p>He laughed quietly to himself as she left the room. She was tied to him +too closely now to deliberately play him false. And, he reflected, once +he had safely steered his way out of danger from Scotland Yard there +might be fat pickings to be made from old Gertstein if he played his +cards aright.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI</h2> +</div> + + +<p>Although perhaps the most spectacular, in reality the most simple of +the problems that arise at Scotland Yard is the pursuit of a known man +for a known crime. A criminal may escape if there is nothing to link +him with an offence, but once a link is established it is long odds +that, hide where he may, pursuit will catch up with him at last. The +whole world is aroused to the hue and cry. He may disguise himself, he +may flee to the ends of the earth, but even if persistent methodical +search fails to reveal him, some chance will almost to a certainty lead +to his betrayal.</p> + +<p>Harry Labar's perspective, from his closeness to affairs, was not quite +so clear in this matter as Winter's. That veteran did not conceal his +satisfaction at the manner in which the investigation was developing.</p> + +<p>"You've got Larry Hughes out into the open at last, my boy," he said. +"All you have to do now is to worry him. Keep him on the run. Things +are coming your way. Don't let any slack fit come along and spoil it +all."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir." Labar received the compliment with meekness. It was +something anyway to get a compliment out of the Chief Constable. "But +we haven't got anything yet that will associate him with the robbery. +Stebbins may help us to get at Billy Bungey. There is Mrs. Gertstein. +There is Gold Dust Teddy. So far we're to the good. But we haven't got +the solid evidence yet that will lead to a conviction of the main guy. +He's slippery as an eel and you know it, sir."</p> + +<p>Winter chuckled. "Don't come that on me, Labar. Trying to establish an +alibi in case things go wrong, are you? Going to get all the little +fish and let the big one slip through the net? Same old story about +Larry. Well, it doesn't go down with me. You've got to get Larry. See +if you can't get him for the Gertstein job, hook him up for the 'Maid's +Retreat' trouble. Only get him."</p> + +<p>"I'm going to get him, sir," returned the inspector, with an inflection +in his voice that caused Winter to glance at him shrewdly through his +spectacles. "I've just a little personal feeling in this matter, and +I'm going through with it."</p> + +<p>Winter was looking idly at the ceiling. "Nice girl that Miss Noelson, +they tell me," he said absently. "Doesn't always do to mix sentiment up +with our business, though, Labar."</p> + +<p>A slight tinge of colour crept under the tinge of Labar's tan. He +wondered how the other had got to learn of something that he felt was +a secret rigorously locked in his own breast. Perhaps the Chief was +only guessing. "I don't know much about the young lady," he returned. +"She's a nice girl, as you say. But you can rely that nothing will +interfere with my duty."</p> + +<p>The thin relic of a smile still loitered about the Chief Constable's +lips as he nodded. "Don't mind an old hand giving you a hint, do you? +There's another thing. When does Myson get back from his holidays?"</p> + +<p>Myson was a detective inspector who had not yet reached divisional +rank, who was the senior of the C.I.D. men in Labar's division. Labar +consulted a pad.</p> + +<p>"Ought to be back in a week's time," he said. "He offered to come back +when this thing broke, but I didn't think it was worth while bothering +him."</p> + +<p>"He's got a pretty sound idea of how things are in your division I take +it?"</p> + +<p>"I think so."</p> + +<p>"Right. Wire him to come back at once. He'll have to take charge of all +matters here. After this you'll play a lone hand on this job. You'll +want your mind free of everything else if you're going to play the game +out with Larry."</p> + +<p>The divisional inspector looked a little doubtfully at his chief. "I +hope you don't think that——"</p> + +<p>"That you can't run the division, and handle this case too. I do think +so. I don't want you to fall between two stools. You want your mind +free for this business now it's got so far. You're still the divisional +inspector here, but Myson will act until you want to take the reins. Go +and find where Larry's hide-out is and it won't matter whether you are +away a week or a month."</p> + +<p>"That certainly ought to make it simpler," said Labar, and with a curt +and not unfriendly nod the Chief Constable was gone.</p> + +<p>Labar drew up the copy for a double crown poster headed with the +sinister big black letters affected by the police for bills of this +kind—"<span class="smcap">Wanted.</span>"</p> + +<p>Then with such skill in portraiture as he possessed, added to the +scientific formula for these matters, he drew a word picture of Billy +Bungey, and sent the resulting composition along to the Criminal +Record Office with the request that any amendments might be made and +a photograph added if possible, before it was sent to the printing +department which is one of the subsidiary departments of the Yard.</p> + +<p>He dictated a wire to Myson, and began clearing his desk with a mind +from which a weight had been lifted. For there was no denying, as +Winter had said, that the Larry Hughes business was one that ought to +demand his full attention. In the normal way it would have gone to a +chief inspector, who would have had no other duties to distract his +mind while the case lasted.</p> + +<p>That done Labar sat down to study a large scale map of the +south-eastern corner of England. He had sound reasons for supposing +that Hughes was somewhere in that angle formed by Kent and Sussex. +The Rolls Royce car in which Penelope Noelson had been abducted, had +been traced for many miles along the Hastings road. Larry's dash to +London and to "Maid's Retreat" convinced the detective that the hiding +place wherever it might be was within a hundred miles from London. He +explored the map with his forefinger. There were dozens of places along +remote roads where concealment might be effective. But Labar washed out +a great many of these as improbable. He had already circularised the +police forces of the area in which he felt that the fugitives might be +located. Larry had been using his car, and a Rolls Royce in a country +lane would be even more conspicuous to a village constable, than the +same car on one of the main roads. Labar had a list of every Rolls +Royce that had been seen about the area he was searching since Larry's +flight. Those of which the numbers had been taken had for the most part +been identified, and wiped out. There remained several which might or +might not have been Larry's.</p> + +<p>There had been five such cars seen on the Folkestone—Rye road. One +constable reported that a shepherd on the Romney Marshes had told him +of a big car—which the police officer believed might have been a +Rolls Royce—seen twice on a derelict stretch of road leading into the +marshland.</p> + +<p>Labar bent his mind to this point. It seemed the most promising of all +to start from, although it might, as so often happens in these cases +where a man is acting more or less on guess work, prove nothing but a +mare's nest. But if a man wanted to keep out of the way what better +place of refuge could he find than these same desolate Romney Marshes.</p> + +<p>With Myson in charge at Grape Street, other ends of the investigation +in London could for the while be left to themselves. Labar decided that +with two men he could rake the district as effectively and more quietly +than if he had a dozen. If his guess was right, it would not do to +disturb Larry.</p> + +<p>That evening, with a suit-case and a bag of golf clubs, he descended +on the mediæval town of Rye. A golfer or an artist would find himself +entirely without question at the ancient Cinque Port Town. For his +own purposes Harry Labar was a naturalist as well as a golfer, and +he proposed to examine the flora and fauna of the marshes with some +precision ere he returned to town.</p> + +<p>He did not go to one of the old hostelries where visitors might have +become curious and friendly. He took humble lodgings at the house of +a retired Metropolitan police constable who might be relied upon to +keep his mouth shut in any circumstances. Also it is regrettable to +record that Labar's first night in town was spent in the cheaper kind +of four ale bars in the society of local shop assistants, shepherds, +and watermen. They found the gentleman from London, whose name it was +disclosed was James May, an hospitable and genial person with a thirst +for information about the districts that lie north-east of Rye which was +not easily assuaged.</p> + +<p>It was six o'clock the next morning when an unshaven man clad in a +rough old suit of Harris tweeds, who might have been a tramp or a +naturalist set out through the old town gate in the general direction +of Folkestone. A burly man in a decrepit Ford car passed him just +outside the Ypres Tower. It was Malone also setting out on the search +for a needle in a haystack. No sign of recognition passed between +the two men. Labar trudged on and in the course of the next hour was +overtaken by an early charabanc on its way to Folkestone. He stopped it +and bought a lift for half a dozen miles or so.</p> + +<p>He had no fixed plan. If anything came of this excursion luck would +have to be with him. Away on his right he could see mile after mile of +flat country cut into patterns by a complicated series of dykes, and +save for a rare farmhouse or cottage almost void of any indication of +human inhabitants.</p> + +<p>At a point which he had marked on a small pocket map he descended. He +was some few miles from Lydd, but across the wide stretches of marsh +and cornland there was only one low and inconspicuous building which +a weather-beaten sign announced as an inn, "Licensed to sell by +retail wines, spirits, beer and tobacco." How it might find sufficient +customers to support it in that forsaken region Labar did not stop to +inquire. He had already had breakfast, but that was two hours agone +and an able-bodied detective can always support two breakfasts in the +course of his duty. Anyway it was too early in the day for any other +pretext to serve.</p> + +<p>An old, old man pottering about the garden was very dubious. The inn +did not lay itself out much for early meals. However if mister could +put up with tea and eggs he would consult his wife as to what might be +done.</p> + +<p>Tea and eggs it appeared were the very things for which the wayfarer +had an inordinate craving. He was afforded a seat in the one bare +public room that the inn boasted, while an old lady with crinkled +cheeks began to fussily spread a somewhat stained cloth, and to issue +instructions to the old man who was boiling the eggs in the adjoining +room.</p> + +<p>"A lonely neighbourhood this," observed the inspector idly.</p> + +<p>"There be worse," said the woman. "Mind ye, John, to keep an eye on +the clock. Them eggs should be on not a mite longer than two and a +half minutes. Yes, there be more lonely places than this. Out there +on the marsh"—she jerked a thumb backwards over her shoulder—"there +be places where you won't see a human soul week in and week out. Here +we get plenty of company, what with the lookers and the traffic on +the road. We've lived here nigh on forty years and we ain't got no +complaint. Leastways its bad for the rheumatics sometimes, and my old +man there he has a touch of ague."</p> + +<p>She bustled out with the remark that she couldn't trust that durned old +fool to look at the clock, and continued the conversation through the +open door.</p> + +<p>"Reckon you'll be making for Folkestone. 'Tis a tidy walk."</p> + +<p>"No. I'm staying at Rye. I've come out to have a walk over the marshes."</p> + +<p>She loomed out a bulky figure framed in the doorway. "Then you baint +lookin' for work? You be a visitor? A gentleman?"</p> + +<p>"I'm what they call a naturalist. I want to have a look at the plants +and birds and things round about. I thought of walking across towards +Dungeness."</p> + +<p>She cocked her hands on her hips. "I know what a naturalist is," she +said nodding wisely. "You pick slimy things out of the dicks and keep +'em in little bottles. We've had gentlemen out here before like that. +Lor-a-mussy, John, them eggs will be as hard as bricks."</p> + +<p>In a panic she flung back into the kitchen, and presently she set his +meal before him.</p> + +<p>"You baint thinkin' of trying to walk straight across, be you?" she +asked. "You'll be in a turble tangle if you do. Like as not, you'll +lose yourself. Looks clear enough, but, when you get out in it, you'll +find dicks and sluices and whatnot, all ravelling you up like. Then as +you get out near the Ness you'll find the walking not too good."</p> + +<p>Labar swallowed a mouthful of hard-boiled egg. "I can find a road, I +suppose."</p> + +<p>She shook her head. "They baint what you might call proper roads. Rough +tracks most of 'em."</p> + +<p>"Not good enough for a motor car, eh?"</p> + +<p>She considered doubtfully. "I've knowd cars use some of 'em. But they +do tell me as they shake the innards all up."</p> + +<p>He led her to a discussion on the topography of the marshes in which +the old man came and joined. By the time his breakfast was finished he +had extracted much information that might be indirectly useful in his +quest, but nothing bearing directly upon it. The only point that they +were unanimous upon was that it was a foolhardy thing for a stranger to +explore the marshes without a guide. It was odds that if he persisted +he would have to spend a night in the "hand-cold" and mist-sodden +atmosphere.</p> + +<p>Laughingly he waved aside their warnings and since one road was like +another for his purpose set off across the nearest marsh track in the +general direction of Dungeness. An hour's walking on the lonely wastes +convinced him that the old folk knew what they were talking about. His +map and pocket compass helped him only vaguely, for as he branched into +deeper recesses there were twists and tangles, tracks that came to an +abrupt nothingness, and unexpected watercourses that barred his way. +Once or twice he located himself by the aid of occasional "lookers," +as the shepherds of the district are locally known. After all, it did +not much matter whether he went in one direction or another. He wished +there were more shepherds. If there had been a big motor car traversing +these rough tracts one or the other of them would surely have seen it.</p> + +<p>Many hours went by, however, and all his inquiries met with negative +result. He was by now completely lost. An hour had gone since he had +seen a living soul and he sat down to eat a sandwich, with which he had +had the forethought to provide himself, and to consider the position.</p> + +<p>He was tired and the sun was hot. He stretched himself for a short nap +after his frugal repast. When he awoke he glanced at his watch and +swore to himself as he realised that he had slept for over two hours.</p> + +<p>He stood up and stretched himself, and then suddenly dropped at full +length in the coarse grass and stared intently across the marsh about +which a slight haze was already beginning to rise.</p> + +<p>Something less than a mile away a car was slowly making its way. The +distance was too great for him to discern anything more than that it +was a big saloon, but he had not the slightest doubt that it was the +very car that he was seeking. It was utterly improbable that any other +would be risking its springs in this desolate region.</p> + +<p>He lay very still till the motor disappeared from sight. Then he took +a compass bearing to the point at which he had seen it. He stuck his +stick in the ground and tied a handkerchief to it, to afford him a very +necessary point from which to work, for by now he knew that it might +cost him three miles of roundabout walking to make his way to the spot +even though it was under a mile away in a straight line. Then he set +off.</p> + +<p>Again and again he had to retrace his steps, to find some way of +crossing the many dykes, and he was duly thankful that he had had the +intelligence to make an improvised flag which afforded him a definite +clue to his starting point in the dreary sameness of the marsh. +Something over an hour of tedious walking it took him to cover the +distance. At last a hazardous journey over a slimy plank brought him to +a narrow and almost imperceptible roadway. And there imprinted on the +turf were the slight but unmistakeable tyre marks of a big motor car.</p> + +<p>Labar whistled cheerfully as he bent to examine them.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII</h2> +</div> + + +<p>The conveniences of civilisation are rarely noticed until they are +missed. Harry Labar would have given much to have had a telephone +within convenient access just then. He regretted that he had not hunted +in company with Malone instead of separating to widen the search. He +had little doubt that if he followed the car tracks back he must come +sooner or later upon the retreat of Larry Hughes and his followers. +But what then? What chance would he stand if he essayed any step +singlehanded against this gang of armed and desperate men?</p> + +<p>His commonsense told him to go back to obtain reinforcements from the +Kent Constabulary or even to wire to Scotland Yard. But he had no idea +how long it would take him to walk out of the marsh, let alone to get +in touch with aid. Many hours at the best was certain. Meantime Larry +and his friends might slip out of the trap—for all he knew, they might +have done so already. Every minute might be valuable.</p> + +<p>He felt that he was behaving like an impetuous and foolish youngster as +he bent his head to follow the tyre tracks in the direction from which +the car had come.</p> + +<p>The mist grew thicker as he trudged on. A damp seafog was sweeping up +from the channel and he shivered beneath his old tweeds. But for the +track he must have inevitably become lost for it soon became impossible +to see more than a few yards ahead. Once he paused to do a queer thing. +He walked deliberately in the muddy slime of a dyke till his boots were +covered with mud. He twisted his slouch hat into a ball and trod on it. +With his penknife he started little holes in his jacket and trousers, +and tore at them with his fingers till the already shabby suit had +become even more dilapidated. A handful of dirt applied to edges of the +rents added to their verisimilitude. One of the best dressed men at +Scotland Yard had become a perfect specimen of a down-at-heels tramp.</p> + +<p>He reasoned that should any unexpected encounter take place in the fog +with any of Larry's people he might thus elude recognition. It might be +a superfluous precaution, but it was as well to be prepared.</p> + +<p>So he moved on, slowly, because it was necessary to watch the trail +closely. He reckoned that he had been following the tyre tracks for +an hour and a half when a shadowy outline ahead told him that he was +within a few yards of some building. His pulse moved a beat quicker +as he discerned a yard or two in front of him ghostly tall iron gates. +They were solid enough as he reached out to touch them and a second's +investigation told him of the padlock with which they were secured.</p> + +<p>As he stood considering his next move there was a quick yelp. Then a +huge form magnified by the mist to gigantic dimensions, hurled itself +with a low snarl at the bars. Lucky, too, it was for Labar that the +gate stood between him and the Alsatian. The gate shook with the +impact, and swiftly and silently as a shadow Labar leapt away.</p> + +<p>He groped his way round the wall that surrounded the grounds while the +dog whimpered and snarled. His wits were moving fast. He had recognised +a breed of dog much favoured for police purposes, and he knew that +unless he took precautions right away his discovery was inevitable.</p> + +<p>He made a right angled swerve away from the house. He blessed the dykes +that had bewildered him during the day. There must be one somewhere +at hand. He must find it before the house was aroused and they turned +the dog loose. He tripped over a knot of tufted grass and came down on +hands and knees into six inches of water. Recovering himself he pushed +forward through mud and weeds into the ditch. It passed through his +mind that some of these dykes had water ten feet deep, and that the +weeds could baffle the most accomplished swimmer. That was a risk which +there was no time to consider. He pushed forward and the mud dragged +at his ankles.</p> + +<p>Behind him he could hear the mutter of men's voices and someone +speaking to the dog. In the strange way in which fog sometimes carries +sound he heard the snap of the gate padlock and the whimper of the +dog as it thudded through in eager pursuit. He was up to his waist by +now, and he turned and waded along the stream for a few yards. The +wolf-hound drew nearer, and Labar nerving himself dropped to his knees +and wondered if it became necessary how long he might be able to keep +his head below water.</p> + +<p>The dog reached the edge of the dyke, and came to a halt whining +anxiously. A man's figure loomed up beside him and a moment later two +more.</p> + +<p>"Whoever it was has got across," said a voice that the detective did +not recognise. "No use going any farther in this fog."</p> + +<p>"That damn dog's seeing things," grumbled another voice, and this time +Labar identified the tone of Billy Bungey. "If there was anything at +all it was a sheep. Who's likely to get out here in a peasoup like +this. Call your tripe hound off and let's get inside. I'd got three +aces, and I looked like winnin' a pot for the first time for an hour."</p> + +<p>"Oh, curse your poker," cut in the third voice brusquely. "That dog +doesn't make mistakes. Listen."</p> + +<p>They waited breathing heavily. One of them moved along the dyke in an +opposite direction to Labar and looked into its depths. A bullock came +out of the fog and peered at him.</p> + +<p>"There's your ghost," he said mockingly.</p> + +<p>"And how did he get across the dyke?" questioned another.</p> + +<p>"Anyway, whoever it was won't come back," said Billy Bungey. "Come on, +let's chuck it."</p> + +<p>The little group moved away, one of them holding the restless hound, +and Labar waiting till he heard the gate clang, dragged himself, sodden +to the skin, from the ditch. The presence of the Alsatian at the +house had complicated matters. If he was to achieve anything on this +excursion it had to be dealt with. While it held its vigil within the +precincts of the house he could scarcely hope to approach unnoticed.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless he determined to have another try. It would be maddening +to get so far and have to return with nothing done. He strode +stealthily in what he imagined to be the direction of the house. The +fog had stiffened even more, and now it was scarcely possible to see a +foot-pace in front of him. Something stirred a pace or two to his right +hand and halting in his tracks he turned his face in that direction and +peered into the mist. He thought he could see an indistinct mass low on +the ground. Could it be that after all the pursuit had not been given +up? On the instant he sprang at whoever or whatever it was.</p> + +<p>A frightened half-muffled scream and he was grappling with some +unresisting and yielding body. Then he half-understood and abandoned +his grip with a shock of surprise.</p> + +<p>"Good heavens, a woman! Miss Noelson! You!"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Labar!" She stared at him, as though at some apparition.</p> + +<p>A sudden clamour broke out at the house. She was on her feet now, and +clutched wildly at his hand.</p> + +<p>"They have found out that I have gone. They were holding me there a +prisoner. When the dog gave the alarm just now they left the gate open +and I slipped out. You mustn't let them catch me again. Come." She +dragged at his hand. "We must get away."</p> + +<p>It was no time for full explanations. Hand in hand they turned and fled +heedlessly into the white blanket of the fog. The dyke that had served +Labar so well barred their progress. He swung the girl in his powerful +grip on to his shoulders and carried her across. A gun shot echoed +suddenly, and he laughed.</p> + +<p>"Firing at a bullock I should imagine. That ought to keep them +occupied. Keep on going. You're perfectly safe now. They'll never get +us if we keep on."</p> + +<p>He felt the girl's pace slacken, and linked his arm in hers to help her +to maintain the pace. Thrice he had to lift her over dykes, and ever +she became slower and slower while her breath came with difficulty. +Then he felt her pause and sink in his grip.</p> + +<p>"It's no use. I can't do it," she gasped. "Leave me here. I shall be +all right. You go on."</p> + +<p>He let her sink to the damp grass, and stood for a moment poised in +fierce concentration. Dimly in the distance he could hear the muffled +sounds made by the pursuit.</p> + +<p>"I think we are safe enough for the time," he said. "It would be a +million to one chance if they lit on us in this. We might as well stay +here for a while."</p> + +<p>"Couldn't you leave me and go and get help?" she asked.</p> + +<p>He laughed grimly. "I wouldn't leave you in any event," he said, "but, +if I wanted to, I couldn't. We are completely lost."</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII</h2> +</div> + + +<p>He took off his old tweed coat and, in spite of her protests, made her +put it on to protect her from the clammy cold of the fog. Making her +as comfortable as possible on the damp earth, he lit a cigarette and +paced meditatively to and fro in short staccato strides, ever and again +throwing a thoughtful glance upon the girl.</p> + +<p>She lay passive and silent for a while, intent on regaining her +strength, and her eyes followed him contentedly. As for Labar, he felt +a sense of elation that he had at least got her from the clutches of +Larry Hughes, though he chafed to think that he was held from any +farther action till the night was out. He had a shrewd idea that when +the pursuit proved hopeless things would happen swiftly at the house on +the marshes. He could scarcely expect that Larry's people would calmly +await the return of Penelope or himself some time the next day with a +posse of police. The only chance was that the fog which seemed likely +to confine the girl and himself to the marsh for the night, would also +delay any active measures of escape that the others might initiate.</p> + +<p>"You are shivering," said Penelope. "I wish you would take your coat. I +feel quite warm. I really don't need it."</p> + +<p>He smiled down at her. "I am perfectly all right while I move about. +You rest yourself for the while. Presently we will move on, although I +am afraid we shall get nowhere. Do you happen to have any idea where we +are?"</p> + +<p>She shook her head. "Beyond the fact that we are on the Romney Marshes +I haven't the faintest idea. What are you going to do?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," he confessed. "It looks as if we may have to spend the +night in the open. It will be a bit of an ordeal for you, I am afraid."</p> + +<p>The girl gave a little shiver, but she smiled at the same time. "I +don't mind that. At any rate I am out of the hands of Larry Hughes. I +think I could stand anything better than the dread of what might have +happened."</p> + +<p>He stopped abruptly in his walk, and his face became stern and set. +"Did Hughes—has anyone——" He felt some difficulty in framing the +question that was in his mind. "Have you been badly treated?"</p> + +<p>"Not physically. There have been hints—threats." She pulled herself to +a sitting posture and spread an arm in an expressive gesture. "I have +been on the edge of terror and despair for days. Oh, it was worse than +anything that you can imagine."</p> + +<p>He came and sat down on the grass beside her. She made no resistance +when he caught one of her hands in his own. "Not altogether," he said. +"I think that I can realise something of what you have gone through. +Now I want you to tell me—not, if you will allow me to say so, as a +police official but as a friend—what has happened since you were taken +away from London."</p> + +<p>"As a friend," she repeated.</p> + +<p>"As something more than a friend if you will, Penelope," he said, and +his voice sounded in his own ears as a hoarse whisper. "As a man who +would do anything in the world to be more than your friend. It is +presumption—I am only a police inspector—you scarcely know me—but +if——"</p> + +<p>He paused aghast at his own incoherent ineptitude. The girl pulled her +hand away from him and sat silent staring into the fog. Labar mentally +cursed himself as something worse than an imbecile. How could it be +supposed that this girl could have any interest in him in that way? If +he had waited?</p> + +<p>Penelope made an impetuous movement. He felt the rough sleeve of his +old tweed coat about his neck. A cold face was near his own. He flung +his arms about the girl and half laughing, half crying, she settled +there in passive content. How long they remained thus he never knew. +Night was adding a more sombre tinge to the fog, when she gently freed +herself.</p> + +<p>"I can't believe it," he whispered. "You the wife of just an ordinary +policeman."</p> + +<p>She put her hand in front of his mouth. "A very extraordinary +policeman," she corrected with a laugh. "I won't have you call yourself +names."</p> + +<p>He bent and kissed her, and then got to his feet. "Shall we move?" he +asked. "You will be getting chilled."</p> + +<p>Hand in hand like two children, they strolled leisurely into the night +and the fog. Although it was a summer night the cold was bitter. There +was no possibility of finding a way out of the marsh till daylight or +at least till the fog waned, but even a purposeless tramp was better +than catching a cold.</p> + +<p>As they walked they talked of many things, but at last the conversation +drifted to the abduction of the girl. Although Harry Labar was a lover, +he could not forget that he was also a police officer with an object to +achieve.</p> + +<p>There were many obscure points which he felt that she could make plain, +and she spoke without reserve of the events that had brought her into +the case. He interrupted seldom, letting her tell the things in her own +way until she was finished.</p> + +<p>"I must have seemed a brute to you," he said. "I know now—I was +perhaps able to guess a little even then—that you were shielding +someone. I thought—God forgive me—that you might even be in love with +Larry Hughes. I had found your photograph in his room, and like a mad +fool I jumped to conclusions."</p> + +<p>"You weren't," she retorted with a faint pressure of his hand. "I can't +reproach you with anything. You had to do your duty and you acted +like a chivalrous gentleman. My dear, I felt the meanest creature on +earth when you would not lock me up. As for the photograph I haven't +the faintest doubt that he stole it, or perhaps he got it from Mrs. +Gertstein. Now there are one or two things I want to ask you, if you +will tell me."</p> + +<p>Against all the traditions of the Criminal Investigation Department, +Harry Labar allowed himself to be pumped by this slip of a girl until +she knew as much as he did of the progress of the case. She shuddered +and drew closer to him as he told of the fight at "Maid's Retreat," and +now and again she elucidated some point that still remained obscure.</p> + +<p>"And now," he said when he had finished his narration, "there still +remains something in the way of cross-examination."</p> + +<p>"As long as you are not too ferocious," she agreed. "What does my lord +wish to know? I shall obey the court in every particular. Who is going +to question me—the divisional detective inspector of Grape Street or +Harry Labar?"</p> + +<p>"The divisional detective inspector," he retorted. "What I am anxious +to know is what your attitude may be to Adèle Gertstein now? You have +run big risks to protect her. Do you still think that she is worth it?"</p> + +<p>She stiffened a fraction. "She was my friend," she said.</p> + +<p>"Is she still your friend?" he asked quietly. "You have said as little +as possible even now about her—little that I do not know of my own +knowledge. And things being as they are, Penelope, if she is still your +friend there is only one thing that I can do."</p> + +<p>"That is?"</p> + +<p>"To resign from the service, and find some other profession that will +enable me to support a wife."</p> + +<p>Both had come to a halt and she now lifted her grey eyes to his. "I +see," she said. Then after a pause: "You mean that as a police officer +you will have to go on and arrest her?"</p> + +<p>"I mean more than that, my dear. I mean that I cannot suppress what I +believe to be the important evidence of a vital witness."</p> + +<p>"However much I begged you?"</p> + +<p>He put his arm about her. "I am not going to try to persuade you, +Penelope, whatever I may think of your scruples. My resignation will go +in the moment we get back to London."</p> + +<p>"Suppose," she asked, softly, "suppose I told you that I felt freed +from every obligation to this woman who was my friend? Suppose I told +you that I had found her to be as treacherous as a snake, and that I +would stamp on her as readily as I would upon a snake? What would you +say then?"</p> + +<p>"I should say that Donna Quixote Penelope had some very good reason. +But honestly, dear, I don't want to put you in the witness box unless +you wish."</p> + +<p>She pulled his face down to hers and kissed him. "Thank you. I hate the +thought. Still if I am to be a detective's wife I don't want to begin +by crossing my husband-to-be. But it will be difficult for me."</p> + +<p>"I know that. Trust me as far as you can."</p> + +<p>"That is all the way," she replied. "But if Adèle even at the last had +acted in a different way, I might still have hesitated. After all, she +is a woman you cannot judge by ordinary standards. She is an impulsive, +self-willed child."</p> + +<p>Labar checked the interruption that there were many criminals like +that, and the girl went on.</p> + +<p>"When she came with Hughes to this place I felt sorry for her, until I +knew that she had tried to kill you. I felt sorry for her but relieved +to think that I had someone with me to whom I might talk freely. But +she was mad with panic. When I suggested that she might give herself up +she would not hear of it. She had some wild idea of escaping to South +America."</p> + +<p>"With Larry Hughes?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose so. Well, it was decided that we should sleep in the same +room. That evening when we were alone together she used every artifice +and argument that was possible to persuade me to agree to marry him. I +haven't the faintest doubt that some of the reasons she tried to urge +on me were supplied by Hughes himself. She would not have thought of +them by herself. The more I resisted the more vehement she became. She +pointed out how much I owed to her and her husband. It was the only +chance of safety she had. If I did not marry him, he would most likely +abandon her to the chances of the law. If I had the faintest shred of +gratitude or friendship for her I ought to do this thing. Why should I +hesitate to help her? He was a wealthy man. You can probably imagine +the kind of persuasion that she would use."</p> + +<p>"I can," said Labar, grimly. "Go on."</p> + +<p>"She lost all control over herself at last. She swore like a fish-wife, +and ended by taking an oath that if I did not agree she would accuse +me of being her confederate in the forgery of her husband's cheque, +and the person who attempted to kill you near Grape Street police +station. No one would believe, she said, that I was not mixed up in the +crime. In a frenzy she fetched Larry Hughes who, smiling and sardonic, +promised that he also would manufacture proof that I was concerned in +the Streetly House robbery."</p> + +<p>"You poor kid," murmured Labar. "And what did you say?"</p> + +<p>"I told them that I did not care what happened to me. There was nothing +on earth that would induce me to agree. Larry laughed and went away. +Adèle reviled me like a mad thing for ten minutes or more, and to +escape the vituperation I went to bed and pretended to go to sleep. +She cooled down at last and I actually did go to sleep. I woke sometime +in the middle of the night and found her bending over me. She said I +had been moaning and muttering in my sleep and that she had got up to +see if there was anything that she could do—but, Harry, there was +a knife in her hand. I could swear to that. I feigned to accept her +explanation, but I slept no more. In fact, since then I have had very +little sleep except at odd hours. I have been afraid."</p> + +<p>"Ah." Labar's face was stern. "That was the only direct attempt on your +life that you know of?"</p> + +<p>"That was all. She was as friendly as possible in the morning, although +both she and Hughes were persistent in trying to persuade me to alter +my decision. But I was spared much from him because he has been busy +making arrangements to get away."</p> + +<p>"Yes. I am going to talk to you about that. Tell me now what would you +have done had not the chance presented itself for you to escape?"</p> + +<p>She looked down at her feet and shook her head doubtfully. "I don't +know. If I could summon up courage I had made up my mind to kill +myself. But I am afraid that if it came to the point I shouldn't have +had enough nerve."</p> + +<p>The fog had lessened considerably while they walked. A watery moon +made itself dimly perceptible. Labar stole a glance at the girl's firm +moulded chin and resolute grey eyes. "I am glad I came when I did," he +said. "I am afraid that you would have found the nerve."</p> + +<p>They walked steadily on ever and again having to divert their course on +meeting one of the numerous dykes. And while they walked he questioned +her, and made mental notes. For Penelope had much to tell. During her +sojourn as a prisoner she had used both her eyes and her ears, and +where she had been unable to draw conclusions the detective was able +to make something in the nature of guesses. He believed that he was on +the verge of a discovery that would simplify, if not the question of +Larry's capture, at least the difficulty of establishing his complicity +in the Gertstein robbery.</p> + +<p>The early dawn broke on a weary couple, but almost as the sun rose they +struck a track which followed for a mile or two brought them to a made +road. A little later they met an early rising shepherd, who, though he +eyed with curiosity the shirt-sleeved and dirty man who was escorting a +pretty girl, gave them directions that would carry them back to Rye.</p> + +<p>That picturesque town was beginning to stir as they passed through the +Ypres Tower almost to the minute twenty-four hours after Labar had left +it.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV</h2> +</div> + + +<p>Labar's first business was to interview the wife of his temporary +landlord, the retired constable. Into her hands he confided Penelope, +with instructions that the girl was to be fed and then allowed to rest.</p> + +<p>"And what are you going to do?" cried the girl.</p> + +<p>He grinned. "Have a bath and a shave and put on some decent clothes."</p> + +<p>"And then?"</p> + +<p>He pressed her hand. "Then I have to attend to Mr. Larry Hughes. I am a +lazy man. If I don't get on with the business while it's in front of me +I'm apt not to do it at all."</p> + +<p>Her eyes clouded, and she clung to his hand as though reluctant to let +him go. "But surely you are going to have a rest, too? Can't you leave +this to someone else? You have some of your men down here?"</p> + +<p>Labar disengaged himself. "There is nothing at all to worry about, my +dear. I shall take good care of myself now, I assure you. There will +be no more danger than if I was engaged on a rat hunt."</p> + +<p>"Trapped rats sometimes bite."</p> + +<p>"I propose to do all the biting this time," he laughed. "Be a good +child, and I'll promise to keep well out of any trouble. If they start +shooting, I'll hide behind Malone. He's big enough."</p> + +<p>Blowing her a kiss he retired to his own room. His mask of nonchalance +dropped from him as soon as he was away from her sight, to be replaced +by determined thought. It was not likely that what remained to be done +would be so simple as he would have her believe. Spite of everything, +he had no notion within some miles of the house where Larry and his +gang were located—and, if he found the place, it was nothing more than +an assumption that they would still be there. He had first to find +them and, supposing that to be successful, he had somehow to recruit a +sufficient force to deal with them. That would take time.</p> + +<p>He was his usual neat self when he emerged to seek Malone. The sergeant +was standing at the door of one of the less fashionable inns puffing at +a disreputable briar pipe, and making non-helpful suggestions to a lad +who was perspiring over the bonnet of an old Ford car.</p> + +<p>Malone moved along the cobbled street to meet the inspector. "Bit late +last night, weren't you, guv'nor? I waited till twelve o'clock for +you and then turned in. Just thinking about another start when Barney +there has coaxed the old Lizzie into a reasonable frame of mind. The +places I took her over yesterday were worse than a toothache."</p> + +<p>Labar caught him by the arm. "Let's walk a little way, Bill. I want +you to go to the local police station with me. You can do some talking +while I get on to the phone to the Yard."</p> + +<p>Briefly he narrated the happenings of the day and night. "What I +propose to do is this," he added. "We must stop every bolt hole in +sight. All the ports must be notified, and particularly those seaside +towns on the south-east coast. I expect Larry has seen to passports, +but, even if he hasn't, it is simple to leave on some of these day +excursions to France without them. We must borrow as many men from the +local forces as we can, and throw a drag-net over the marsh. I am going +to ask the Yard to send down a dozen or so Flying Squad men by car. +They ought to get here in a couple of hours with luck. There's just an +off-chance that we may find our birds still in their nest. Larry was +away yesterday, and the fog no doubt prevented him from getting back. +He'll have a lot to do, when he does arrive."</p> + +<p>Malone quickened his step. "You know something else, guv'nor," he +commented. "You're keeping something up your sleeve."</p> + +<p>The inspector nodded and glanced over his shoulder. "You've hit it," +he agreed. "It's only a guess, mind you, but some facts told me by +Miss Noelson rather bear it out. The sea is, she told me, about a mile +away from the house. Larry as you know has his own yacht. I'm not much +of a sailor, but if it was possible to bring that yacht reasonably +near inshore, it would explain how a lot of the stuff that has passed +through Larry's hands got out of the country without our people getting +a smell of it."</p> + +<p>"You mean that the house is a depot for stolen goods."</p> + +<p>"Exactly."</p> + +<p>"Then why shouldn't Larry use the yacht to get away?"</p> + +<p>"Because he probably guessed that steps were being taken to keep an +eye on the boat. We knew of the yacht. We didn't know of this hide +out. It might have been risky from his point of view to bring the boat +over while we were on the alert. It might give away his cache without +helping him. But with the events of the past few days, while things +have been getting warm for him, he has probably been taking steps to +have it at hand for his get-away. That's all guesswork. If we weren't +rushed this morning I could probably confirm it. I'll bet you that he +has been sending wires abroad. Anyway, on the off-chance I am going to +ask the Yard to get in touch with the Admiralty, and have a destroyer +off the coast until we clear up. And if there's a fast motor boat +somewhere handy, we might find a use for it."</p> + +<p>Malone nodded appreciatively. "I get you, guv'nor."</p> + +<p>There were a few complications in getting the search organised, for no +less than three police forces were concerned—the Metropolitan Police, +the Kent Constabulary, and the Sussex Police. In spite of the risk of +a fiasco that might make him a laughing stock, Labar urged that as +many as possible of the local men who took part in the search should +be armed with shotguns. He was confident that the gunmen who formed +part of Larry's retinue would not be taken without a fight. In the +hands of men who were unused to firearms shotguns would probably be +more effective than any deadlier weapons, although the Scotland Yard +authorities assured him that the Flying Squad men would be armed with +automatic pistols.</p> + +<p>Once he had put things in train he hired a car, and with Malone and a +couple of local officers he started for the marsh, having arranged a +rendezvous for the larger part of his forces at the inn where he had +breakfasted the preceding day. Guides had been promised from various +sources and it was anticipated that from the description that had been +furnished by Penelope it would not be a matter of great difficulty to +locate the house where she had been held. A body of police were to +start from Lydd to patrol the shore as far as Dungeness. On every road +over which a car might pass from the district, armed patrols of Kent +police were to be established.</p> + +<p>Labar's scheme was to make a wide sweep over the marsh and if Larry +was still in the trap he had little doubt of success. But it was some +little time before the police, who had to be collected from a wide +area of country, could be brought together to put his full plan into +operation.</p> + +<p>From somewhere the local inspector who accompanied him, routed out +a constable who was said to know the district, and a farmer and a +shepherd picked up on the way volunteered their services. Both these +latter agreed that the house for which search was being made could be +none other that "Mope's Bottom," which stood far away on the marsh, and +which had been rented many years ago by a gentleman from London. It had +borne many years before a local reputation as a haunted house, and was +still avoided after dusk by many of those whose avocations might take +them to the vicinity.</p> + +<p>As yet, including Labar and Malone, there were not more than a dozen +men gathered for the expedition. Labar looked at his watch. It would be +an hour at least, and probably longer, before the complete forces would +be gathered.</p> + +<p>"Reckon I'll take this shepherd and go and have a look, see," he said +to Malone. "You can explain my ideas if we're not back, Bill, and then +carry on. I'm sure to meet you." He turned to the looker whom he had +decided to take as guide. "How long do you think it will take us to +get to this place? We might go part of the way by car."</p> + +<p>"An hour and a half, walking," said the looker. "Maybe twenty minutes +by car—I don't know."</p> + +<p>"I suppose they'd see a car coming for miles over this place," said the +detective inspector. "It's as flat as the palm of your hand. And I'd +bet something that they'll be keeping a good look-out to-day."</p> + +<p>"If you're bent on going, guv'nor," said Malone, and his tone conveyed +that he thought it a totally unnecessary venture, "why not take the car +as far as you think wise and walk the rest. There won't be any cover +for you though. Why not wait?"</p> + +<p>"No, I'll go and have a scout round. You can be easy, Bill. I won't +take any risks I can help. Let's go."</p> + +<p>For a mile or so they pushed the car along one of the rough tracks of +the marsh. As the looker explained, the detour was even more extensive +than if they had gone on foot, and the roughness of the going made the +driver wary of anything in the nature of speed. The detective and his +guide descended when the latter observed that within the next mile they +would come within sight of "Mope's Bottom." They made their way over +the pastures and dykes on foot by a more direct, but still devious +route.</p> + +<p>Presently they were within view of the dark mass of the house. They lay +on the edge of a dyke and studied it for a while. Through his glasses +Labar could see nothing that gave the slightest indication of life. +There was not even a wisp of smoke from the chimneys, and the windows +were tight-closed. From where they were the angle of the wall hid a +distinct view of the gate, but the detective rapped out an oath as he +tried to confirm an impression that it was open. Could it be that after +all he was too late?</p> + +<p>There had always been that possibility, but Labar at the back of his +mind had refused to recognise it as likely. There had been but the most +slender margin of time in which his quarry could have safely got away. +It would be the most uncanny luck if he had succeeded.</p> + +<p>He rose to his feet, and with the looker by his side strode on to where +he could get a closer view of the place. This time there was no doubt. +The big wall gates were open.</p> + +<p>Labar snapped the glasses into their case and turned to the looker. +"You can get back, my lad. Tell Mr. Malone, or whoever you meet, that +I think our birds have made their get-away. Anyway I'm going on to see +what has happened. Get some of my men to come on the moment they are +ready. Now which is my nearest way to the house?"</p> + +<p>He strode on reckless of everything now. He was convinced that the +house was empty. Certain it was that neither Larry nor any of his +associates would have permitted any carelessness at this time. There +could only be one explanation of the outer defences of the place +remaining unguarded when they must know that the forces of the law +would be upon them at any minute.</p> + +<p>As he drew nearer his conviction became more certain. But as he reached +the gates some instinct of caution made him step more warily. They +might have left the Alsatian. He pulled out an automatic which he had +procured at Rye, though he had little faith in his ability to use it +effectively, and passed between the gates with his senses vividly on +the alert.</p> + +<p>Once within he halted for a second or two and listened with strained +intentness. There was not a sound. Moving on velvet feet, ready to +shoot at the instant, he tried the door of the house. It was fastened, +and he turned his attention to the windows. But whoever had forgotten +the gates the house was tight-sealed. A swift examination showed him +that none of the simple devices by which the fastenings of an ordinary +house might be overcome would suffice here.</p> + +<p>With a grim smile he recalled that he had neglected to obtain a search +warrant. He had not even had the warrant for Larry's arrest endorsed by +a local magistrate. But the strict formalities of the law have at times +to be ignored or many rogues would escape. Time enough to put himself +right on these technicalities later. He reversed his pistol and smashed +with the butt through the glass of the morning-room window. Thrusting +his hand carefully through the jagged pane he undid the fastening and +entered the room. It was meticulously neat and tidy. No sign of any +hurried departure here.</p> + +<p>Completely satisfied that no living person remained in the house he +pushed his pistol back into his pocket and lit a cigarette. There was +nothing to hurry about now. He would have to wait till his men arrived +in any event.</p> + +<p>He moved about the house taking for the moment a superficial if +methodical survey. But as he entered room after room to find each in +applepie order, with nothing that could in any manner be construed +to fit with his theory that the house was a depot for stolen goods, +he puffed more fiercely at his cigarette and his eyebrows drew more +closely together.</p> + +<p>"If Larry's had the stuff here he's made a clean sweep or he's hidden +it pretty tight," he muttered. "But he can't have got away with it. It +isn't possible."</p> + +<p>Something that Penelope Noelson had said recurred to him, and he made +his way back to the panelled room that he judged to have been Larry's +study. Taking a pencil from his pocket he proceeded to tap methodically +inch by inch upon the walls. A quarter of an hour passed in this +manner and he was stooping to make a fresh start from the bottom of +the wall when he became aware of some slight sound behind him. He gave +no sign that he had heard and continued the tap tap of his pencil as +nonchalantly as ever, considering with strained calculation what his +next move should be.</p> + +<p>The even voice of Larry Hughes broke on his ear. "No use trying to +deceive the astute Mr. Labar. You've guessed right. There is a secret +panel in this room. But as you see you started at the wrong end. And +rather than wait the arrival of your friends we have decided to show +you everything ourselves. Keep very still, please. My friend Mr. Bungey +is a hasty man. He would never forgive himself if anything happened to +you."</p> + +<p>Still stooping the detective permitted his gaze to swing slowly round. +Before an open panel in the woodwork stood Larry Hughes and Billy +Bungey each with a levelled pistol in his hand.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV</h2> +</div> + + +<p>Harry Labar had been in many tight corners in his life, but now he knew +himself in the tightest of them all. He had fallen into an ambush. He +was certain that at the first false move he made neither of the men +who confronted him would hesitate to shoot him down. They were in a +situation where nothing—not even murder—could make matters much worse +for them. Unless they escaped the net that was closing round them they +knew as well as he did that practically the remainder of their lives +would be spent in prison.</p> + +<p>He smiled sweetly upon the two. "Do you mind if I raise myself a +little?" he asked. "This attitude is somewhat cramping."</p> + +<p>"First of all I think that you had better drop your gun on the floor," +said Larry. "That's a sensible man," as Labar dragged out his weapon +and tossed it on the carpet. "Now you may stand up while Billy attends +to you. But," he made a menacing gesture with his own pistol—"don't do +anything foolish."</p> + +<p>It was far from Labar's intention to do anything foolish. He knew in +what jeopardy he stood. So he remained perfectly still while Billy +Bungey skilfully lashed his arms to his side, and as he finished +surveyed the trussed detective with some satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"What about a gag?" he asked taking out a handkerchief and considering +it speculatively. "We shan't want him kicking up an uproar when his +pals arrive."</p> + +<p>"He'll do as he is," declared Larry. "I want to have a chat with him." +He moved into the room and put a hand at Labar's elbow. "Come on, Mr. +Inspector. For your own sake you had better not play any tricks. If +your men get on to us I assure you that the first man who is put out +will be yourself. Get that."</p> + +<p>"I appreciate the compliment," agreed the inspector.</p> + +<p>As he was led through the open panel, with Larry and Billy Bungey on +each side of him, one of them slid it into place behind. For a second +they were in impenetrable blackness. Then someone switched on an +electric torch and Labar gathered that he was in a narrow tunnel which +widened as they advanced. They had gone a hundred yards or so when they +were halted. Labar turned to see a steel door slide across the tunnel.</p> + +<p>"A little modern addition of my own to an old smugglers tunnel," said +Larry. "Nothing short of dynamite will shift that."</p> + +<p>"I half-suspected that you would have a bolthole," said Labar with the +indifferent air of one making conversation. "This is where you stowed +your stuff, I suppose. Where does it lead to?"</p> + +<p>"Shut up," ordered Larry. "You can talk when I ask you to. Let's get +along."</p> + +<p>As near as the detective could estimate they had traversed another +quarter of a mile when there was a gleam of light ahead. In a little +they had reached a widening of several yards in the tunnel, which +formed a sort of room, dimly lit by an oil lamp. Lounging on suitcases +and other baggage about this space were several spectral figures whom +Labar rightly assumed to be the rest of Larry's party.</p> + +<p>"You may sit down," said Hughes. "I don't think that the formality of +an introduction is necessary to most of these ladies and gentlemen. You +know them. They have been waiting your arrival."</p> + +<p>"You expected me then?" asked Labar in a tone of mild surprise.</p> + +<p>"We guessed there would be an early arrival this morning, and we hoped +that it might be you," said Larry. "We left the outer gates open as a +bait in case you came snooping around."</p> + +<p>Although he was feeling very far from laughter Labar managed to +enunciate a convincing chuckle. "Well, you have got me," he said. "I +may be very dense, Larry, but I fail to see how that is going to help +you. What are you going to do with me?"</p> + +<p>"There are many things that we might do," said Larry significantly. +"Indeed I cannot say what we shall do if you don't behave reasonably. +There's an old proverb you know."</p> + +<p>"'Dead men tell no tales.' That's what you are trying to hint?"</p> + +<p>"You have a quick mind, my dear Labar. Use it a little farther and +guess why we want you."</p> + +<p>Labar thought for a moment before replying. "That shouldn't be +difficult," he said slowly. "You are in a hole and want to know what +steps I have taken to dig you out. Suppose I don't tell you."</p> + +<p>Larry thrust his face, sinister and threatening, close to that of the +prisoner. "Oh, yes you will," he said menacingly.</p> + +<p>The detective laughed. "Well, you will know soon enough. I gather that +you have been disappointed in the arrival of your yacht. This tunnel +probably leads out somewhere by the shore and you hope to slip away +to-night by sea, while the police are watching the ports. But there are +a hundred armed men on the marsh and the shore is patrolled. There is a +fast motor boat just off the beach and beyond that a destroyer. You've +only just got to show your nose above ground and you're gone coons, +Larry. Now you know just where you stand. I hope you like it."</p> + +<p>"You're a liar," snarled Billy Bungey.</p> + +<p>"Leave this to me, Billy," ordered Larry peremptorily. He addressed +Labar. "I think you are lying myself. If you are not you can depend +upon it that they'll never get me alive. Who will be in charge when +they fail to find you?"</p> + +<p>The detective shook his head. "That I can't tell you. I don't know who +will be down from the Yard. But if you think you can bluff them out of +this district you'll be disappointed. They'll stick. Better make the +best of a bad job, Larry."</p> + +<p>"Make no mistake, Labar. You will never live to give evidence against +any of us."</p> + +<p>"Then you'll hang," retorted the other amiably. "Not only you, Larry, +but all of those here." He raised his voice. "Do you hear me, you +people. Some of you may get away with light sentences as it is. But if +you let this man——"</p> + +<p>A hand was clapped roughly about his mouth and he was forced to his +knees. But he had said what he wanted. Desperate though many of those +under the sway of Larry Hughes were, not all of them would face +with composure the probability of being hanged for murder. There +were subdued mutterings and he could distinguish the voices of Mrs. +Gertstein and Sophie Lengholm. It was the latter who came forward.</p> + +<p>"Don't be a fool, Larry. The man's right. It can't do us any good to +kill him. If we're in the cart, we're in it."</p> + +<p>Larry swore fiercely at her. "When I want your advice I'll ask for it."</p> + +<p>The man who held the detective broke in. "He's got the whole business +in hand. Let me do him in. Who's to know? Whatever they think we can +put him somewhere where they'll never find him. Likely as not things +will break down without him. I'm for taking the chance."</p> + +<p>"Sophie's got the strength of it," said another voice. "Time enough to +croak him if we're forced to it. As it is we can afford to wait and see +what happens. No good risking our necks until we have to."</p> + +<p>"I won't have any of you swine telling me what to do or what not +to do," declared Larry with cold fury. "I'm the big noise here. If +anyone's got any different ideas about it now's the time to have it +out." He paused for a moment as if waiting for someone to take up +his challenge. It was met with a dead silence. He had reasserted +his ascendency. He made a gesture of ineffable contempt. "Huh, you +squealing lot of rats. Let that split up, Bill. If he opens his mouth +again fetch him one across the jaw."</p> + +<p>As Labar got awkwardly to his feet Larry wheeled upon him. "And you, +you big spawn, I mean what I say. All the chance that you've got is +that we get clear away. So put your thinking cap on."</p> + +<p>"That's the stuff," ejaculated Bill Bungey, "I'm with you." He poked a +forefinger stiffly into Labar's ribs. "O-u-t spells out and out you +go."</p> + +<p>Larry's burst of temper cooled down. He was in perfect possession of +himself when next he spoke. "I'm going to call your bluff, Labar. I'm +going to see if your people have blocked every way out. You'd better +hope for your own sake that they haven't. Come on Tom—and you Billy. +The rest of you keep an eye on this man."</p> + +<p>He crept away accompanied by the two men he had designated farther +along the tunnel. By straining his ears Labar heard another steel door +creak back. Apparently the tunnel towards its seaward end was also +guarded.</p> + +<p>Larry and his two companions guided by the gleam of an electric torch +moved swiftly along the damp tunnel. The leader was thoughtful.</p> + +<p>"Billy," he said, "I'm not sure that we haven't overplayed our hand. If +that fellow's telling the truth we're booked for trouble."</p> + +<p>"I begin to wish we hadn't snaffled him," said Billy. "He might not +have run across that panel. If he'd overlooked it we were O.K. We'd +simply have had to wait till they made up their minds we had cleared +off."</p> + +<p>"I know the breed," retorted Larry with a shake of his head. "Once he +got the idea in his head he was bound to go on with it. Some of these +Johns may not have any brains, but they stick to an idea. He'd have +pulled the house down to make sure. We may not be out of the wood, but +we've got a breathing spell."</p> + +<p>Billy grunted uncertainly and Larry emitted a sharp order for quiet +beneath his breath. The tunnel was rising at a sharp angle and narrowed +so rapidly that they were compelled to take single file and crawl. +Rough timbers supported the top for the last twenty yards or so and +then for about the length of a man the way finished in an acute +angle of about forty-five degrees. Larry, who was leading, stretched +himself at full length and, stealthily withdrawing some bolts, raised +a trap-door of about two feet square a matter of inches, and peered +without. Satisfied with his preliminary scrutiny he pushed the trap +higher and crawled to the outer air.</p> + +<p>He emerged into a depression in a waste of shingle sheltered by a high +bank which shut off the sea. Stooping low he clambered up the bank, and +laying on his stomach scrutinised the surroundings. A couple of hundred +yards away the sea lapped monotonously on a lonely shore. Far out at +sea there were one or two ships obviously on their lawful occasions. +Nearer in there was a fleet of fishing boats. On the dim horizon +something that had been at first obscured by the sail of one of the +smacks came into Larry's angle of vision. He uttered a low curse as he +recognised the silhouette of a destroyer. If Labar had been speaking +the truth in that particular he might have done so in others.</p> + +<p>His gaze swung to the beach. Far as he could see that was open. There +was no sign of the motor boat of which Labar had spoken. In point of +fact, although Larry could not know, it was labouring on the other side +of Dungeness with engine trouble. But the beach itself was deserted.</p> + +<p>Billy Bungey had crawled up beside him and pointed out the destroyer.</p> + +<p>"I know," said Larry petulantly. "God, I've got eyes, haven't I?"</p> + +<p>He turned over to scan the marshes. In the distance he could see +"Mope's Bottom," but around it and as far as he could see there was no +sign of life.</p> + +<p>"Not a soul, Billy," he observed. "All the same I don't like it. It is +early yet and if Labar wasn't bluffing we'll be in a hole—in every +sense."</p> + +<p>"We could take a chance and bolt for it now," said the other. "No use +waiting till it's too late."</p> + +<p>The eyes of the two men met. There was a significance in Billy Bungey's +words that Larry did not fail to appreciate. He remained silent and +thoughtful, and the rougher scoundrel slid back to the trap-door.</p> + +<p>"You there, Tom?" he asked. "Get back to the boys, will you? It looks +reasonably clear here, but the boss and I are going to take a bit of a +look round. We'll be along presently."</p> + +<p>He came back to where Larry was lying on the shingle. "That's got rid +of him. There might be a chance for two of us. There wouldn't be any +for a crowd. What do you say?"</p> + +<p>For once in his life Larry Hughes was irresolute. In his career there +were few codes that he had not broken. But always he had made it a +practice to keep faith with those who had come under his sway. He +could say, outlaw though he was, that he had never betrayed a friend +nor forgiven an enemy. It was a rigid part of his policy to enforce +honour among thieves to himself as to his associates. He could neither +afford to forgive a man who had let him down nor to abandon those who +had worked with him. That was the reason for the strength that he had +acquired in the underworld. Once that policy was abandoned the prestige +that had been so profitable to him would be gone.</p> + +<p>Those people who were back in the tunnel would not understand that if +they were in a trap his return could do no good to them. They would +think that he had deliberately planned to make them scapegoats. There +was the risk, too, that their loyalty—always a frail thing—would not +stand the strain of his leaving them. They would talk. And if they +began talking to the police, Larry knew that his escape would have to +be made good, for the evidence that would be accumulated against him +would be overwhelming.</p> + +<p>He shrugged his shoulders in contempt at his own lack of decision. What +did it matter? There was enough against him as it was. Nothing that +they could say or do could make any difference. Why should he worry? +In cases like this it was each man for himself and the devil take the +hindmost.</p> + +<p>He rose cautiously to his feet. "Come along, Billy. We'll take the +chance."</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI</h2> +</div> + + +<p>In the underground chamber where the little group awaited the return +of Larry time passed slowly. Labar could hear the ticking of his watch +above the whispered conversation that passed among the others. He was +not of a morbid cast of mind but he could not help reflecting on the +possibility that his life hung upon a hair.</p> + +<p>Once finally convinced that they were cornered the views of the more +desperate of the gang that he was better out of the way were likely +to prevail. He had to face that probability, and he liked it the less +the more that he thought of it. He considered the situation from +another angle. It was just on the cards that the tunnel might remain +undiscovered by the men who were following him. In that case his +dilemma would be worse. His captors were scarcely likely to leave him +alive to take up the trail after them once more. Men of the habit of +thought of Billy Bungey would be liable to take a simple method of +ridding themselves of an embarrassment. Larry, the most dangerous of +them all, would not lift a finger to stay his sacrifice unless policy +dictated that he should remain alive. There would be little to hope for +from that direction. If he was to get clear of the predicament into +which he had fallen his own wit must save him.</p> + +<p>No one now remained near him. The man who had hitherto been at his +elbow had moved over to the group to take part in the conversation. It +was a reasonable assumption that the detective, tied as he was, and +with all egress from the tunnel barred, could do no harm. Labar himself +realised his impotence, and with no conscious thought in his mind moved +quietly a pace or two so that he might place his back against the wall. +There he remained in the blackest of the shadows cast by the feeble oil +lamp.</p> + +<p>A figure detached itself from the cluster and moved casually over to +him as though to assure herself of his security. If any of the others +noticed they showed no sign. He had no difficulty in recognising Sophie +Lengholm. She stood by him for a second saying no word and then he felt +her hand thrust something into his. It was a small open penknife.</p> + +<p>Unhurriedly she returned to the others, and the astonished officer +remained stone still. It was no time to probe into motives. Whatever +had actuated her the fact was that he had in his hand the means of +comparative freedom. If the worst came to the worst now he need not be +butchered without some sort of a fight.</p> + +<p>Very silently, very cautiously he set himself with much straining of +the wrist, and with some danger of gashing himself, to cut the lower +strand of the rope that held him. It was a slow and awkward business, +but at last he felt it fall apart. Thus far he had not thought what +the following move was to be. He paused, making no attempt to release +himself fully for the moment. He could scarcely hope to overpower all +the company with nothing for a weapon save a penknife. If he could lay +his hands on a revolver—but the only method of doing so was so wildly +desperate that he paused to consider before putting it into execution. +At that moment he heard the creak of the outer sliding door. It was, +he imagined, the return of Larry and there would be three more men to +reckon with.</p> + +<p>The others also had heard and they were on their feet when Tom entered. +A volley of questions was fired at him. The valet shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Don't eat a man. It's all right. Everything looks clear, but Mr. +Hughes and Bungey are scouting round to make sure. They'll be back in a +jiffy."</p> + +<p>Labar judged that it might be time to create a diversion. A +half-suspicion had come into his mind, but he scarcely believed it +himself.</p> + +<p>"Looks to me as though he had left the rest of you to hold the baby," +he announced in level tones. "While you're monkeying about here like +a lot of sapheads Larry and Billy are on their way. They've played you +for a gang of suckers."</p> + +<p>Tom wheeled upon him on the instant. "So you say," he retorted. "That's +one of the things the boss does not do. I've known him as long as +anyone and he always plays square with the boys. Mr. Hughes is a square +grafter."</p> + +<p>"Huh!" said the detective. "Wait and see."</p> + +<p>"It looks fishy to me," said someone, and Labar knew that he had +succeeded in instilling doubt into at least one mind.</p> + +<p>"Tom's right," said Sophie Lengholm. "Larry has his little ways but he +doesn't snitch and he isn't a coward."</p> + +<p>"But if he <i>has</i> gone?" wailed a tearful voice, in which Labar +recognised the accents of Mrs. Gertstein. "What shall we do?"</p> + +<p>"Don't snivel till you're hurt," snarled a gruff voice. "Gone or not +we're no worse off. No one can touch us here yet."</p> + +<p>"We can't stay here and starve and if we go out they'll put us in +prison." Adèle Gertstein was becoming hysterical. "Oh, can't we do +something?"</p> + +<p>Tom moved softly across to her and spoke low voiced. "If you can't keep +quiet we'll find a way that will settle you," he said. "Make yourself a +nuisance and someone will be sticking a bit of steel into you as likely +as not." He gripped her shoulder and shook her fiercely. "Now that will +be all from you."</p> + +<p>She made some inarticulate protest and then fell cowed and silent.</p> + +<p>Tom addressed the gang. "I'm going back now to wait for the boss. If +anyone likes to come along there's no reason against it."</p> + +<p>One man volunteered, and with a final warning to the others to wait +in patience Tom moved off. With the aid of his knife the detective +set himself to dispose of the remainder of his bonds. He dropped them +at last noiselessly to his side, and marked one of Billy Bungey's +associates as the first object of attack.</p> + +<p>Inch by inch holding to the shadows as far as possible he edged towards +his man. Speed was of the essence of his plan. If he guessed wrong he +knew himself as good as dead.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he leapt. The full weight of his heavy body was behind his +fist which caught his man full on the point. The fellow fell like +a sack and almost simultaneously Labar was by the unconscious body +feeling feverishly in the right hand jacket pocket for the weapon he +believed to be there. His judgment was right and as he pulled himself +upright a heavy automatic was in his hand. He squeezed the trigger and +a spurt of flame and a heavy report which reverberated lengthily in +the confined space, told the others almost before they knew what had +happened that he was armed.</p> + +<p>"Keep away from me," he ordered. "I'll shoot among you if anyone moves."</p> + +<p>The answer was a shot which buried itself in the wall behind him, +missing him by a yard. He brought his own weapon to a level and fired +blindly. Someone screamed and there was a heavy fall. Unfamiliar as he +was with firearms it had been impossible to miss at that distance, and +with the target presented by a number of people.</p> + +<p>"Do you want any more?" demanded the detective grimly.</p> + +<p>There was no answer. Only the breathing of the group, and the muffled +sobs of Mrs. Gertstein broke the stillness that had descended on the +scene. Labar waited tensely alert for any menacing move. He was glad +for several reasons that no one of his opponents had had presence +of mind enough to put out the light. In the darkness it was highly +probable that someone would get killed.</p> + +<p>"Some of you have electric torches," said Labar. "Throw one out here. +Quick's the word. I'm liable to get impatient." He flourished his +weapon significantly.</p> + +<p>A man stepped a little forward and a torch thudded at the detective's +feet. Keeping a wary eye upon the group he picked it up with his left +hand and switched the beam upon them.</p> + +<p>"Now boys," he said, "I don't want to hurt anyone, but if I do you'll +only have yourselves to blame. Throw any pistols or other weapons that +you have into the centre of the room. Don't try to hold anything out on +me or it will be the worse for you."</p> + +<p>There were men facing him who would not have hesitated to fly at his +throat in many circumstances. So far the element of surprise had served +him well. He dominated them for the time, but he knew that it needed +only the slightest initiative on the part of one of them, and he would +have the whole mob about his ears. There was a perceptible hesitation +in complying with his last order. His trigger finger twitched. +Reluctant though he was to shoot he was resolved to do so rather than +run the risk of a combined attack.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to count three," he said. "If those pistols aren't on the +floor by then I shoot. One—two——"</p> + +<p>A weapon clattered to the ground and a second followed.</p> + +<p>"Any more?" he asked.</p> + +<p>A third pistol followed the others and, although he was convinced of +the probability that there were still more weapons on some of the men, +there was no way of making sure. He had to take a chance.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to take you people back to 'Mope's Bottom,'" he said. "You +will keep well in front of me and if anyone looks back he will be +turned into something deader than a pillar of salt. Now march."</p> + +<p>"What about Jim?" asked one of the prisoners, indicating the motionless +form of the man who had been shot.</p> + +<p>Labar reflected. For all he knew time might be precious. If Tom or +Larry or Billy returned, as they might at any moment, he could hope +for nothing better than a fight to the death. He shook his head.</p> + +<p>"I'll see that he's looked after later," he said. "Come. Get a move on."</p> + +<p>He marshalled them into the dark tunnel, and with a stern order that +they were not to pass beyond the rays of his torch carried them to the +interior steel door. There they came to a halt.</p> + +<p>Two of the men fiddled with the catch meeting with some apparent +difficulty. "It won't open," one of them declared. "Only Larry and Tom +know the secret."</p> + +<p>Here was a predicament. It flashed across Labar's mind that these men +were scarcely likely to have submitted to be shut in the tunnel during +the absence of those who held the key to their release and at the risk +of accident unless they themselves knew the secret. He switched his +light off and fired at the floor of the tunnel.</p> + +<p>"That will be unlucky for you," he declared ominously. "If that door +isn't opened in a matter of seconds I'll shoot my way through it—and +you."</p> + +<p>Adèle Gertstein who had never ceased her subdued wailing now gave a +sharp cry of terror. And then the door creaked back.</p> + +<p>There was no further attempt to evade the instructions of Labar. He +had convinced them, for the time, that he would stand at nothing, and +in that confined space even a bad shot could not fail to wreck deadly +execution. Yet until he had reached the open he felt far from secure. +There was a thrill down his spine, and once or twice he felt tempted +to look round. He had an uneasy feeling that he was being stalked from +behind. It would be the simplest thing in the world to follow along +that narrow passage and shoot him in the back.</p> + +<p>So they came to the entrance to Larry's private room. At a touch the +panel slid aside and daylight illumined the opening. From the other +side came a sharp cry of surprise and a quick order. Bill Malone had +his wits about him.</p> + +<p>"Reach for the ceiling, you."</p> + +<p>One by one with their hands above their heads the prisoners filed into +the room. Labar stepped in behind them. At the far side of the room +stood Bill Malone and Detective Inspector Moreland with revolvers in +their hands.</p> + +<p>"Criminy, if it ain't the guv'nor," ejaculated Bill.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII</h2> +</div> + + +<p>Explanations were deferred till such time as the prisoners could be +dealt with. Half a dozen stalwart constables, each armed with a shot +gun, took charge of the captives who were subjected to a swift search. +There was one, who as Labar had suspected, had still a pistol about +him. If he had really intended to use it he had failed to find an +opportunity, or his courage had failed. The gang were escorted into +another room for the time and Moreland cocked an eye at Labar.</p> + +<p>"Nice fellow you are. Call out the whole lot of us, horse, foot and +artillery and then try to do the job on your little own. Where's Larry?"</p> + +<p>The other made a gesture towards the open mouth of the tunnel. "That's +his bolthole, but I doubt that he's still in there. How long you folk +been here?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps ten minutes," said Malone. "We had to wait for some of our +people."</p> + +<p>"Any chance of men slipping through out there?" He swept a hand +vaguely to the marsh.</p> + +<p>"A rat might do it. The place is alive with our men."</p> + +<p>"But half an hour ago? If you've only just got here—" He left the +sentence uncompleted.</p> + +<p>"There might have been some sort of an opportunity then," admitted +Malone.</p> + +<p>"What are you driving at?" asked Moreland.</p> + +<p>"Larry. That tunnel leads somewhere out towards the coast. It's a full +half hour or more since he slipped out there. If——"</p> + +<p>They stared at each other, in something like consternation. The retired +military officer who was the head of the Kent County Constabulary +entered in haste.</p> + +<p>"What's this I hear? You've rounded them up? Are you Mr. Labar?"</p> + +<p>"I'm Labar. Not altogether. We haven't got our fingers on the man we +really want yet. Do you know whether the men from Lydd have got to this +part of the coast yet?"</p> + +<p>"They should have linked up before now, but I don't know. It's a long +way and rough going."</p> + +<p>"Where are your lads?" demanded Labar turning to Moreland.</p> + +<p>"Two or three of them still searching the house. The rest are outside +knocking around."</p> + +<p>"Send some of them with a guide down to the shore. You and I and +Bill, with a couple more will slip along the tunnel in case they've +doubled back. I'd be grateful to you, sir"—he addressed the Chief +Constable—"if you would go down to the shore, too. If any of our birds +have been met there will be a fight going on about now."</p> + +<p>He slipped the automatic into his pocket and borrowed a shot gun from +one of the uniformed men. He felt more confidence in his ability to +manipulate it. There were two or three torches which had been taken +from the prisoners and with these his companions provided themselves.</p> + +<p>Labar started to lead the way when with an exclamation he came to an +abrupt halt.</p> + +<p>"Lord! I nearly forgot."</p> + +<p>"Forgot what?" asked Moreland.</p> + +<p>"There's a man I shot laying along in here somewhere. He may be dead +for all that I know. Just as well to have a couple of constables along +to fetch him out."</p> + +<p>"Losing your memory I should say," commented the irrepressible +Moreland. "A little matter like a dead man and you all but forgot him!"</p> + +<p>"And I reckon we'll take along one of the gang as a matter of +precaution," said Labar. "There's every modern convenience in this +tunnel, including steel doors which may be awkward to open."</p> + +<p>A man was selected from the prisoners and the little band of armed +police officers started on their tour of exploration. Bill Malone +elected to take the prisoner in his own charge and poking him with the +muzzle of a pistol gave expression to prophesies of sudden and horrid +calamity in the event of any monkey business.</p> + +<p>As they arrived at the first barrier Labar swung his torch and a sharp +oath slipped from between his lips. That door he was confident had been +left open. Now it was closed.</p> + +<p>The white-faced prisoner under the persuasion of a dig in the ribs from +Malone's pistol point was called upon to open it. But it resisted all +his efforts.</p> + +<p>"No good, sir," he said. "It's locked on the inside."</p> + +<p>"Here's a nice game," observed Malone.</p> + +<p>"Looks as if Larry had come back," said Moreland.</p> + +<p>"Or Tom and his pal," said Labar. "We may have to do some digging +out." He put his face close to the metal and raised his voice. "You +inside there. Can you hear me? Be good boys now and come out. You'll do +yourselves no good by this foolishness."</p> + +<p>There was no answer. Labar turned to the prisoner. "Show me how this is +supposed to work," he ordered.</p> + +<p>With docility the man indicated an unobtrusive knob at the side of the +wall. "Push it in and then turn it first to the right and then to the +left."</p> + +<p>The detective obeyed, but still the blank sheet of steel remained +unmoved. He fiddled impatiently with the knob and suddenly the slab +glided back. In an instant the officers had crouched back to the +side of the wall with weapons ready and their torches searching the +darkness, half expecting a shower of bullets from the interior.</p> + +<p>For a space they waited thus. Then Labar stirred and reaching over to +the prisoner gripped his shoulder so that he squirmed. "Trying to put +something over on us," he said sternly. "Just one more break of that +kind and I'll find a way that will make you squeal. We're bad men to +play with just now."</p> + +<p>"It was an accident, guv'nor," pleaded the man. "You must have handled +it wrong."</p> + +<p>"Another accident like that may be fatal to you, my boy," said Malone +ferociously.</p> + +<p>"All the same it's funny about that door," said Labar. "That has been +closed since I was here. Let's get on."</p> + +<p>Cautiously they pushed forward. They came to the place in which the +man who had been shot had lain. The oil lamp still burned and the +detectives cast their torches about. There was a crimson stain on the +floor but otherwise no sign of a man either wounded or dead.</p> + +<p>"What do you know about that?" demanded Moreland.</p> + +<p>"Don't ask conundrums," retorted Labar. "Either he's pulled himself +together or someone has moved him."</p> + +<p>Certain now that there was someone of the gang in the tunnel they +advanced with weapons poised. The outer door was also shut but with a +little manipulation that also was dealt with. The narrowing of the +tunnel warned them that if they were approaching an ambush here was +where it might be looked for. Only one man could advance at a time, and +a determined opponent could hold any number at bay indefinitely. Labar +crawled first followed by Moreland and the two Flying Squad men. Then +came Malone. The prisoner was for the time left behind in charge of the +two constables.</p> + +<p>Seemingly from a great distance there came the sound of a muffled +report. Labar stiffened as a wedge of daylight showed some thirty or +forty yards in front of him. Another report, this time louder, came to +his ears and the wedge of light broadened. The head and shoulders of a +man crawling towards him showed in the passage. Labar levelled his gun +and saw Moreland thrust a pistol forward. For a moment they faced each +other thus and the jaw of the man dropped in a consternation that would +have been ludicrous at any other time.</p> + +<p>"Back you go," ordered Labar.</p> + +<p>"Don't shoot for the love of heaven," cried the man. "I can't go back. +There are others behind me."</p> + +<p>Labar felt his heart quicken a beat. Was it possible that after all, +Larry had been rounded up into a trap?</p> + +<p>"How many of you are there?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>It was the voice of Tom the valet speaking from behind the leading man +that answered. "There are three of us, Mr. Labar. We can't go back. +The police are outside and they would shoot us down as we went out. We +daren't go back."</p> + +<p>With a little disappointment Labar recognised that Larry was not there. +The three would be Tom, and his companion, and the man he had shot. He +had, too, an idea of the dilemma in which they were placed. Clearly +there had been some sort of an encounter with the police outside, and +excited men were not likely to be too nice if a head showed itself +outside the tunnel. He had no wish to cause needless bloodshed.</p> + +<p>"We'll give you three minutes," he said. "They'll have cooled down a +little by then." He pushed his way nearer to them along the corridor.</p> + +<p>"We've a wounded man here," protested the first figure. "It will be +murder if you turn us out."</p> + +<p>"We'll risk it," said Labar.</p> + +<p>The thought of retreating back along the tunnel and allowing Tom and +his confederates to follow up he had dismissed at the moment it had +arisen. These ruffians would have a point of vantage as soon as the +tunnel opened out and might conceivably do much damage if they then +determined to resist arrest. He was not going to abandon the strength +of his position. It was no occasion for scruples, although he felt that +the fears of the trapped men might have some foundation.</p> + +<p>The knot was cut at the sound of a deep voice echoing from the +trap-door. "Heigh! You down below there!"</p> + +<p>"That's Whitehead," said Moreland, naming one of his sergeants. He +raised his voice to a shout. "It's all right, Whitehead. This is +Moreland. Stand by and your friends will come up like little gentlemen."</p> + +<p>"Right you are, sir," agreed the sergeant. "We'll be waiting."</p> + +<p>"Now then. Out you go," said Labar, and slowly the men backed with the +two inspectors and their aides following them closely.</p> + +<p>As Labar and Moreland pulled themselves out of the tunnel they were +confronted by a bunch of plain-clothes men and uniformed police with +three dejected prisoners in their midst. The Chief Constable who had +gone from "Mope's Bottom" with the Flying Squad men was mopping his +brow with a silk handkerchief.</p> + +<p>"You were right," he greeted Labar. "We were just in time for a bit of +a scrap."</p> + +<p>"What happened?" asked Labar.</p> + +<p>"Some of our people found these men"—he jerked his head towards the +prisoners—"skulking in a dyke. They were challenged and opened fire. A +running fight took place for a while, and we were just in time to take +a hand in the last part of it before they went to ground."</p> + +<p>"Might as well find out what they know," whispered Moreland, and Labar +nodded.</p> + +<p>Moreland gave an order to one of his men and Tom was detached from his +companions and brought forward well out of earshot. The Yard men knew +better than to question the three together.</p> + +<p>"You're the man who posed as Larry's valet?" said Labar.</p> + +<p>"I was Mr. Hughes' body servant, sir," corrected Tom, mildly.</p> + +<p>"Where is he now?"</p> + +<p>The valet shook his head. "I know no more than you do, sir. He has +vanished."</p> + +<p>"So it seems. He's put you in the cart, anyway—you and your pals. What +are you going to do about it? He's doubled-crossed you. I suppose you +realise that?"</p> + +<p>Tom shook his head stolidly. "I don't know that, sir. In these +emergencies accidents are likely to happen beyond one's control. I +should say that Mr. Hughes has found it impossible to communicate with +us. I remember that you suggested something of the sort down below. +You will forgive me if I take the liberty of suggesting that you are +mistaken."</p> + +<p>"You play the part well," said Labar, with a half-sneer. "I suppose +that it's got into your blood. But I warn you. You can't play with us. +Larry Hughes has let you down. You may save yourself trouble if you +talk plain English. Give us the whole truth."</p> + +<p>"I am quite willing to tell you as much as I know," said the valet.</p> + +<p>"We'll see," said the inspector, sternly. "Go on."</p> + +<p>But Tom was neither to be coaxed nor threatened. Whether he had any +part in the escape of Larry and Billy Bungey, Labar found it hard to +decide. His mask of a face showed as little beneath the surface as his +soft, carefully chosen words.</p> + +<p>With an air of complete frankness he told of his excursion to the +mouth of the tunnel, with his chief and Billy Bungey, and how he +had been ordered to return while the two explored the immediate +neighbourhood. He had, as Labar knew, gone back with one man but Larry +had disappeared. Once more he had gone back to the tunnel. There he had +found the man wounded by Labar, who had just recovered consciousness, +and had given him rough first-aid. Meantime his other companion had +been sent on to close the interior door of the tunnel. Then it was that +the three had determined to make a bolt for it. Tom admitted indirectly +that Labar's coup and Larry's absence had inclined them to panic. They +had determined to get away from the place at all costs. Thus it was +that they had encountered one of the patrols of police who had by then +reached the neighbourhood of the exit, and had strove to regain their +refuge in the tunnel.</p> + +<p>All of this was exactly as might have been surmised by the detective. +There was nothing that carried them any farther in the search for Larry +Hughes. The other two men each examined separately told the same story, +and Labar was forced to conclude that they knew no more than he did of +the whereabouts of the master rogue.</p> + +<p>The prisoners were sent back to "Mope's Bottom" and a hurried council +of war was held.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII</h2> +</div> + + +<p>The immediate question to be solved was whether Larry Hughes was still +hiding on the marsh, or whether he had eluded the network of police +and got safely away. So far as the detectives could tell every one +of the gang who had been at "Mope's Bottom," except Larry and Billy +Bungey, was safely in custody. Messengers were hurriedly despatched +in various directions, and a fresh and combined sweep of the marshes +begun. Meantime motor cars were sent for from various points by which +the prisoners already gathered in might be escorted to Lydd, where they +were to remain for the time guarded by a strong force of police.</p> + +<p>Labar had enough respect for Larry to think that, for the time, he had +again eluded them. He did not believe that Larry would be found on +the marsh, and the events of the next couple of hours proved that he +was right. The master crook had somehow got through the cordon or had +hidden himself and his companion with supreme cunning. But the odds +were now with justice. It could only be a matter of time. Even if he +managed to get out of the country—a matter of considerable doubt—it +would be an unprecedented thing if he held himself secure from the +police machine of the world.</p> + +<p>Word reached Labar at the end of the search that a suspicious yacht +had been picked up by H.M. destroyer "Hawk" off Dungeness and had been +escorted to Dover. Everything had been found in order aboard her, but +that her owner's name was given as Hughes. The crew were remaining on +board under guard, until such time as someone from Scotland Yard should +look them over. This was a business in which he promptly enlisted the +services of Moreland, who departed with one of his sergeants in a motor +car with a promise to return at the earliest possible moment. The news +that the motor boat which had put out from Camber had broken down ere +it reached its destination was now of trifling interest.</p> + +<p>Satisfied, after a couple of hours, that the likelihood of picking up +Larry immediately was remote, Labar returned to "Mope's Bottom" with +Malone and two or three more men from the Yard to make a systematic and +complete rummage of the tunnel.</p> + +<p>He was not altogether surprised to find that the Assistant Commissioner +in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department, and Winter the +Chief Constable, were there to greet him. They had run down by car—a +little too late for the fair as Winter expressed it.</p> + +<p>They listened as he gave a short account of the events of the day, and +Winter chuckled as Labar told how he had fallen into Larry's trap and +extricated himself.</p> + +<p>"You came close to making a hash of it, young feller. You wouldn't have +any sympathy from me if you were a corpse right now. You're too darned +impetuous. I've told you so before. Besides, what business had you +running things on your own? You're an outsider in this district. You +might have paid the local officers the compliment of consulting them +before you dashed off on this stunt. You didn't even have the excuse +that Miss Noelson was still here."</p> + +<p>"I agree, sir," said Labar with the complacency of a man who felt that +results had justified him. "I was wrong."</p> + +<p>"Well, don't let it happen again, that's all. Running round bossing +everybody just as if you were Home Secretary, instead of a chief +detective inspector."</p> + +<p>Labar lifted his eyebrows. "I beg your pardon, sir."</p> + +<p>The Assistant Commissioner broke in. "That's Winter's way of keeping +you humble, Mr. Labar. It's quite true that you are promoted. It will +be in orders this week."</p> + +<p>"Can't trust you in a division," snorted Winter. "Want to have you +under my own eye at the Yard. I'll see that you work." He broke +off abruptly with a comment on the escape of Larry Hughes and thus +sidetracked any attempt at thanks on the part of Labar and brought him +back to the business in hand.</p> + +<p>The two Yard chiefs elected to take a hand in the search of the tunnel. +"How did it come about that you thought of a back door?" asked the +Assistant Commissioner.</p> + +<p>"Just put two and two together. Miss Noelson told me that there were +times when one or more of the gang would disappear from the house +and she was sure that they had not gone out by the gate. Looked a +possible explanation of many things, especially the way that stolen +goods were got out of the country. So I made up my mind to look for a +tunnel—particularly one that led from Larry's private room."</p> + +<p>Inch by inch with the help of torches they went over the tunnel. It was +clear that it had been enlarged and shored up since the old days of the +smugglers. Once admitting the possibility of getting material, it was +simple to understand that Larry would be in no difficulty in obtaining +labour. He himself had a reputation as a craftsman, and there were +several among those who were under his sway who were skilled in many +directions. The steel sliding doors were examined by Winter with an +expert eye. They were miracles of ingenuity, although they had failed +in their evident purpose as a safeguard in cases of emergency.</p> + +<p>The walls of the tunnel room were lined with strong steel boxes, the +majority of which were unlocked. These had clearly been used for the +temporary disposal of stolen property, until it could be embarked on +Larry's yacht. Suit-cases and handbags of various types were standing +about and an investigation of these showed that these had been packed +with the most portable and valuable of the goods from the lockers.</p> + +<p>The Assistant Commissioner applied a match to his pipe. "As a small boy +one of my most determined dreams was to see an Aladdin's cave some day. +Now I know what it would look like."</p> + +<p>"There were forty thieves in that business," said Winter. "Larry seems +to have resurrected the whole gang."</p> + +<p>They carried the loot back into the house where a more precise +examination of the contents of the bags could be made, and a detailed +list written out. A very few minutes sufficed to show that they had +retrieved, not only practically the whole of the stuff stolen from +Streetly House, but articles which were part of the proceeds of many +other robberies. The detectives had at hand no descriptions, but their +memories aided them to identify many things with certainty. Here was +thrown light on many affairs that had been brought off in Labar's +division, and which had caused him many uneasy moments.</p> + +<p>"There's pretty well all the evidence you want," said Winter. "All +that you need now is to lay hands on Larry. It's an open-and-shut case +against him and his people."</p> + +<p>Labar glanced at his watch. "We'll need an expert with proper tools to +open up the other locked steel boxes," he said. "Apart from that Mr. +Malone might take charge here now. I want to get away to Lydd to see +about getting some of these people sorted out and sent up to London. +Those I don't know anything about I propose to charge for the moment +with being concerned in the Streetly House job. What do you think, sir?"</p> + +<p>The Assistant Commissioner nodded. "I suppose you agree, Winter?"</p> + +<p>The Chief Constable was prepared to accept Labar's suggestion.</p> + +<p>"The Public Prosecutor will want to have a word on the subject of the +charges you propose to make. Wish we could get hold of Larry and finish +up the whole thing at one fell swoop. You'll have plenty to do, Labar. +I'll take what I can off your shoulders, but there's a lot of things +that will need your attention in person."</p> + +<p>Labar nodded. The clean-up promised, so far as he could see, to keep +him busy indefinitely. For each individual case among the prisoners +was certain to involve a multitude of inquiries, to say nothing of a +ream of dockets and other correspondence. The time likely to be spent +in court was not inconsiderable, but that would be the least of his +troubles. Meanwhile he had a wish as a point of personal pride to be +the man who should effect the arrest of Larry Hughes—a thing which he +began to fear would be unlikely. Scotland Yard, in looking for results, +cares very little whether Smith, Brown or Robinson brings off the final +coup. If there were other matters to occupy Labar he would have to +stand aside. Nor could he rid himself of an undercurrent of feeling +that Penelope was not to be regarded as safe until Larry was under lock +and key.</p> + +<p>Something of what was passing in his mind he managed to indicate. "It's +going to be hard luck on me if I don't get a chance to go and get +Larry," he observed.</p> + +<p>"Man, but you're a hog," ejaculated Winter. "You want to wind up +like the detectives in the story books. Leave a bit of the limelight +for someone else. Maybe Larry will be pulled up, in the end, by some +country constable. What the blazes does it matter who actually arrests +him? Don't you know that we're all pieces of a machine? Stick to your +knitting, Labar."</p> + +<p>The two heads of the C.I.D. accompanied Labar to Lydd where a list of +the prisoners by name had been made out. Arrangements had already been +made for a motor "Black Maria" to be available in case it was decided +to send them to London.</p> + +<p>A room was placed at Labar's disposal in the little local police +station, and one by one the prisoners were brought before him, for he +was anxious to make a final attempt to find out if among them there +was anyone who might throw light on Larry's plans. In each case it +was a solitary interview. There were reasons for this. It is a trait +of human nature—particularly criminal human nature—to be more +disposed to confidence where there are not too many witnesses. Labar +felt, also, that there might arise occasions for questioning that a +strict interpretation of the law would not permit. Every Scotland Yard +man must on occasion put a blind eye to the telescope. The laws and +regulations made to protect the public if carried out to the letter +would make the detection of crime almost impossible.</p> + +<p>But since Larry's flight was only a spur of the moment impulse, Labar +gained nothing that would help him to any extent in that matter. Hints +of other associates, suggestions of possible hiding places, came from +some of the more weak-kneed brethren who saw the fall of the heavens +in this wholesale capture. These things the detective made note of +for future use. In one or two cases he realised that some of those he +had rounded up were more dupes than knaves. Most of them, of course, +would have him believe that they were innocent victims of circumstance. +One or two such as Tom the valet, were defiantly dumb. On the whole, +however, Labar felt that he had put in a good hour's work before he +came to the last of the list, the two women, Sophie Lengholm and Mrs. +Gertstein.</p> + +<p>Sophie, her head held high, her determined jaw set, showed no sign +of friendliness as Labar set out a chair for her. Labar was a little +puzzled how to deal with her for the moment.</p> + +<p>"I believe you saved my life, to-day," he said. "In any case you saved +me from a very awkward position. Why did you do it?"</p> + +<p>"I am certain I saved your life," she answered, coldly. "Don't think +that it was because of any liking that I have for you or anyone else +from Scotland Yard. Whatever I am, whatever I have been, I have never +had a hand in murder. That was all there was to it."</p> + +<p>He shook his head. "I want to tell you that I'm grateful, not only +for that, but for some things in which I have a guess that you stood +between Miss Noelson and trouble."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that." She made an impatient gesture. "Larry wanted to go too far. +Anyone would have stopped him."</p> + +<p>"You're a little before my time," he said as though thinking aloud. "I +can't quite place you without looking you up. What have we got against +you?"</p> + +<p>The woman laughed without merriment. "As if I should say that you have +anything against me."</p> + +<p>"Take it from me, Sophie, I am not thinking of trapping you. I am +more concerned to find some way to let you down lightly. I don't want +something from the back of beyond to crop up against you if there is +any way of getting you out of the present mess. Whether you think me +sincere or not, I am anxious to stand your friend."</p> + +<p>Sophie Lengholm had been born and bred to an ingrained distrust and +contempt of all police officers. But she was a woman of the world +and Labar's words and manner had an effect. Not that her instinctive +feelings were entirely dissipated. "Do you want me to squeal?" she +asked. "Because if so you needn't waste any more breath."</p> + +<p>"That's just as you feel about it," he replied. "I should judge that +you don't owe very much to Larry or his friends, but if you want to +stand by them well and good. But can't you trust me about yourself? +Give me some line on which I can act without prejudice to my duty."</p> + +<p>Her face softened. "I believe that you are straight. Mind you, it is +understood that nothing I say goes out of this room as an admission +from me."</p> + +<p>"This is between you and me, Sophie," he agreed.</p> + +<p>"My real name is Cummings," she said. "I am the wife of Dave Cummings. +I can see that you remember now."</p> + +<p>"About twelve or fifteen years ago," he said. "Wasn't he the man who +got a lifer for shooting at a policeman in Manchester?"</p> + +<p>"That's the case. It was a jeweller's shop and I was dogging outside +when the constable became suspicious. I gave Dave the office and we +started to move off. Dave never went armed on these things—in case. +But I carried a pistol and when we were pressed hard I passed it on to +Dave. He used it, and perhaps you remember it was touch and go whether +the officer lived. Dave and I separated after the shot was fired, and +he got caught. For some reason it was supposed that he was alone. The +policeman was a little excited I guess, and when he recovered spoke of +only one person. So Dave went down and I got away."</p> + +<p>"That's a long while ago," said the detective. "Unless you admit your +complicity there is no evidence against you."</p> + +<p>"Half a minute. Larry had put up that job for us, and naturally, he saw +that everything was done for Dave that could be done. Of course Dave +told him everything. In any case he knew that I was there. Apart from +that there were others in the business who knew and whom he undertook +to keep quiet. When Dave was sentenced Larry undertook to look after +me. I was useful in many ways. It was only when he found that I was +trying to get out of the game that he cracked the whip over me by +threatening to have me put away. He would have done it, too. Larry has +never made a threat that he hasn't been prepared to carry out."</p> + +<p>"But you haven't been at 'Mope's Bottom' all this time?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Lord, no. There were other ways in which I was useful. Larry has +not often dealt direct with crooks. I have been down here for the last +few years."</p> + +<p>"Looking after the embarkation of stolen property?"</p> + +<p>She shot a fierce glance at him from under her eyelashes, and Labar +though convinced that his shot was right felt as though he had taken +an unfair advantage. He gnawed at the end of a pencil. "I'm sorry. +I should not have said that. I suppose that it is not the least use +asking you to come out with everything that you know of Larry?"</p> + +<p>"Not the least," she agreed with decision. "I'll tell you all you like +about myself, but I won't implicate other people. I'm a thief, the +daughter of thieves, and the wife of a thief. You won't find very much +about me except what I've told you. If you can keep that out of it, +I'll be obliged."</p> + +<p>He rose and offered his hand. "Thank you, Sophie. You can be sure that +I remember what I owe you. Rest easy about the old business. But this +is different. You'll have to go through as an accomplice of Larry's you +know."</p> + +<p>"That's all right with me, Mr. Labar," she said. "You've got your job +to do."</p> + +<p>She gripped his hand and with a nod and a smile passed out of the room.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIX">CHAPTER XXIX</h2> +</div> + + +<p>Limp, hysterical, and half-paralysed by her own emotions, Mrs. +Gertstein took the place of Sophie Lengholm. It was an interview that +did not last long, for she literally flung herself before the detective +in a burst of piteous appeals for mercy. There was no possibility of +extracting information from her in her present state, and Labar gave +instructions that she should have the attention of a doctor.</p> + +<p>Moreland came by motor to Lydd from Dover. So far as any fresh results +were concerned his journey had been fruitless. The members of the crew +of Larry's boat were utterly unknown to him. But his arrival back at +Lydd was opportune, for he was able to take charge of the arrangements +for getting the prisoners up to London.</p> + +<p>Labar himself was to follow, but he was wishful to run over to Rye +to escort Penelope to town, and he determined to have a final look +round before leaving the district. It was still within the bounds of +possibility that some clue would arise in regard to the movements of +Larry. Winter and the Assistant Commissioner also were anxious to get +back to their desks in town, but decided to stay overnight in case of +any fresh development.</p> + +<p>The three motored over to Rye together in the gathering dusk, making +a casual detour towards "Mope's Bottom" at the request of Labar to +pick up a report from Malone. But Malone was not there. Indeed, there +were but a couple of C.I.D. men left in the house, and two uniformed +constables of the Kentish force on duty outside. One of the C.I.D. men +observed that a messenger had been sent on to Lydd—whom they must +have missed—telling of two men believed to be Larry and Billy Bungey +lurking in the buildings of a farm on the outskirts of Rye. Malone had +at once set off to investigate, taking with him a dozen men roped in +from "Mope's Bottom" and its vicinity.</p> + +<p>"Who brought this story?" asked Winter.</p> + +<p>The officer questioned jerked his head outside, where by now, spite of +the loneliness of the place, something like a small crowd had gathered +about the house which had seen such strange doings during the day.</p> + +<p>"It wasn't an officer, sir. Someone picked it up as gossip outside. +Malone questioned the man who started it, and decided that there might +be something in it. He judged that it was his duty to go and have a +look into it."</p> + +<p>"Quite right," agreed the Chief Constable. He turned to Labar. "It's +likely enough to be a mare's nest. You know how these yarns spread +about at these times. Doesn't sound like Larry to me. All the same we'd +better go and see. It's on our way."</p> + +<p>With this vague destination—for no one knew anything more +concrete—they set off, the Metropolitan constable, who drove, taking +the marsh road cautiously under the advice of the local policeman who +sat by him as a guide.</p> + +<p>On the main road into Rye, Labar had his attention drawn to an +antiquated Ford which he thought that he recognised. As he suspected, +it contained Malone. The big sergeant was out and at the doorway of the +Assistant Commissioner's car in a trice.</p> + +<p>"I was hoping to catch you, sir," he said addressing Labar.</p> + +<p>"A stumer, I suppose?" questioned Winter.</p> + +<p>"No, it was the straight tip. We were too late to do anything +ourselves, but one of the Kent men has pretty well blown Billy Bungey's +head off with a shot gun. Billy's as dead a man as ever you saw."</p> + +<p>"And Larry?" interjected Labar.</p> + +<p>"Larry was in the shemozzle, but there were only two constables and he +plugged the one who laid Billy out. The other gave him both barrels but +he doubts if he so much as winged him. Larry held him and the farmer +at bay with his automatic, and backed into a field of standing corn. +Neither of them cared to follow him without more help. By the time +that arrived there was nothing to find except his tracks through the +corn which came out on this road. I've sent men the other way and we +were seeing if we could pick up any trace in this direction."</p> + +<p>A few quick questions made the matter clear. A couple of men detailed +to patrol the road had received information from a farmhand of two +strangers moving about the outbuildings of a farm. Their movements +had, in light of the mysterious police doings information of which had +spread over the marsh, struck him as suspicious.</p> + +<p>The two policemen, without waiting for more, had rushed to search the +place. Rounding a haystack one of them had come face to face with Billy +Bungey. They were perhaps a couple of yards apart. As the gunman raised +his automatic the policeman fired. Billy dropped forward half his head +shot away, and it was then that Larry Hughes came into view round the +haystack and shot the policeman through the shoulder. The other had +been held at bay until Larry could make good his escape. Then the +wounded man had been assisted into the farmhouse, and in the queer way +that rumour spreads, news of the adventure had reached Malone.</p> + +<p>"Carry on, Malone," ordered Winter. "We can get into Rye in ten minutes +and send out help. We'll keep an eye in this direction."</p> + +<p>It was necessary to get to Rye also to assume direction of the +telegraphic and telephonic communications of the hunt. Assured that +Larry was still within close reach, Labar ached to take some physical +part in the hunt. Had he been alone it was probable that he would have +dropped all other considerations to do so. But the presence of his two +superiors deterred him from any such suggestion.</p> + +<p>After all, there was little that he could do in Rye beyond sending out +a few more men to help beat the surroundings of the farm, and send +messages to all concerned of this new development. So far as human +foresight went all the boltholes had already been stopped. But once in +the town and this done, his thoughts moved to Penelope. He determined +to reassure her of his safety before turning out on the pursuit once +more.</p> + +<p>He walked from the police station a little pleased with himself. It was +the first time he had permitted himself to relax for many long hours, +and calm consideration told him that he had done well. The thing was +nearly over. To scour out any of Larry's associates who had so far +escaped would call for nothing more formidable than ordinary routine +and detail work, now that the mastermind was a fugitive who would of +a certainty be caught at any minute. It was a pity about Larry but +still——</p> + +<p>He raised the knocker at the door of his lodgings. His matronly +landlady received him with warmth.</p> + +<p>"Glad to see you back, sir. There have been all sorts of funny stories +round the town of things that have been happening. Don't know how you +came to miss Miss Noelson. She——"</p> + +<p>Labar was wiping his boots on the map. "She's out, is she? Where has +she gone?"</p> + +<p>The landlady's face dropped. "Why, she went to meet you. Didn't you +send her a note to meet you at the railway station?"</p> + +<p>The detective gripped her by the shoulder and a wave of apprehension +swept over him. "I sent no note. How long ago was this?"</p> + +<p>"A quarter of an hour. I——"</p> + +<p>But Labar had flung away from her. He was running at the top of his +speed in the direction of the railway station. He was, perhaps for the +first time in his life, conscious of deadly fear. Instinctively he knew +that such a note could have only come from one person. How Larry Hughes +could have known where Penelope was, why he should take the heavy risk +of being in Rye at all were matters on which the detective did not stay +to reason. Enough it was to know that the girl was in danger.</p> + +<p>He stayed only to fling an abrupt question to the porter guarding the +platform. "Has any train gone out in this last ten minutes?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir. There's one on the other side just going out for London. +Heigh, you can't go through without a ticket."</p> + +<p>But Labar thrust him aside and took the short cut over the rails +without troubling the bridge. Another porter roused by the shout of his +colleague rushed to stop him. Labar gave him a push in the chest which +sent him headlong.</p> + +<p>"I'm a police officer," he cried. "Let me alone."</p> + +<p>Normally he would have cried to the officials to stop the train, but +his mind was obsessed with the one idea, and for the moment incapable +of coherent reasoning. As he swept by the line of carriages he caught a +second's view of the guard with his flag raised and his whistle at his +lips.</p> + +<p>The train began to move very slowly, but he was for the moment gaining +upon it, his eyes fixed upon the panorama of the carriage windows. One +glimpse he caught of a face that he knew, and jumped for the door of a +first-class carriage. In the corner of the compartment farthest from +him Larry Hughes was holding back Penelope with one hand while he faced +about with a snarl of rage at the intruder. The door stuck and Labar +wrestled fiercely to pull it open.</p> + +<p>Abandoning the girl for the moment Larry leapt forward and aimed a blow +at the officer which had it reached him would probably have dashed him +from his precarious hold. Then like a wild cat the girl took a hand. +So vehement was her attack that Larry was pulled from his balance and +fell backwards on top of her. Before he could recover Labar was in the +carriage.</p> + +<p>He had pulled his automatic but he dared not use it lest he should +hit Penelope. Dropping it upon the seat he dashed at the other man +with his naked hands. Larry was taken at a disadvantage, but, powerful +though the detective was, he was unable for a while to gain the +mastery. Pinned for the time beneath the two writhing, struggling men +the girl could do nothing. Indeed she stood in considerable danger of +injury for Labar dared not relax the fight that she might free herself.</p> + +<p>Larry was not so big a man as Labar, but some dynamic power seemed to +keep him going. A passing fear came to Labar that the door would give +and precipitate the three of them on the line. He exerted all his force +to pin his antagonist to the floor, but Larry was as slippery as an eel.</p> + +<p>The detective took the risk of suddenly releasing his man and stood +half upright. As Larry, too, tried to regain his feet Labar with +careful calculation swung at him. There was one hundred and eighty +pounds of muscular manhood behind the blow, and Larry dropped as if he +was shot. Labar dragged his body off the half-fainting girl and helped +her to a seat.</p> + +<p>"Are you hurt?" he asked.</p> + +<p>She smiled faintly upon him. "A bit bruised and breathless but +otherwise all right," she gasped.</p> + +<p>Satisfied that she had suffered no material harm he turned his +attention to Larry Hughes. The girl was pale as she observed him +examine the victim of the knockout.</p> + +<p>"Is he dead?" she said.</p> + +<p>Labar laughed. "No, he's alive enough. He'll be as full of beans as +ever in five minutes' time. Let's see what we can do." He lifted the +unconscious man to a more convenient position. "Now if you can help me. +Hold his hands while I make sure of him."</p> + +<p>She obeyed his instructions while Labar for want of anything +better—like most detectives he never carried handcuffs except for some +definite purpose—knotted his own handkerchief, and one taken from +Larry's breast pocket, about the prisoner's wrists so that his hands +were firmly lashed behind him.</p> + +<p>"That's that," he observed, propping Larry up in a corner. "He'll do +till we reach a station. Now tell me how all this came about."</p> + +<p>Careless whether Larry returned to consciousness or not he placed one +arm about her and bent his face to hers.</p> + +<p>"I had a note," she explained, "signed with your initials telling me +that all was well and asking me to meet you at this train as it was +necessary that you should go to London immediately."</p> + +<p>"Who brought the note?"</p> + +<p>"Some boy. Probably a messenger picked up in the street. Of course +I went to the station at once, but could see no sign of you, nor of +anyone that I knew till the train was about to start. That was just a +little before you came. Then suddenly Larry Hughes was beside me. I was +startled, of course, but the audacity of the thing somehow prevented +any sense of alarm for the instant.</p> + +<p>"'Don't be alarmed,' he said. 'You are looking for Labar?'</p> + +<p>"'What are you doing here?' I cried. 'Where is Mr. Labar?' I was so +worried about you that I was unable to think clearly.</p> + +<p>"'I am on parole till the train starts,' he declared. 'You will be +pleased to learn that I have surrendered, that I am a prisoner.'"</p> + +<p>Labar interrupted her story. "My dear child. Don't tell me that you +were ingenuous enough to swallow that—to believe that I would let a +prisoner—especially Larry—move about on his own?"</p> + +<p>"It does sound silly. I was off my balance I suppose. I did not +altogether believe it or disbelieve it. It sounded a little strange, +but then so many strange things have happened to me. I could not +account for his presence in Rye unless he had surrendered. He declared +that you were treating him as a gentleman, and that you had gone to +send a telegram and would be back in a minute. Malone was already in +the train.</p> + +<p>"We walked along the train to find the compartment in which Malone was +supposed to be. All at once he gave me a quick push and thrust me into +the train. Instantly he followed, pinning me down to the seat with some +kind of jiu-jitsu hold, and with one hand over my mouth, but seating +himself so that it would be difficult for anyone passing along the +platform to notice what he was doing. Then you came."</p> + +<p>In the other corner of the carriage Larry Hughes opened his eyes.</p> + +<p>"A fool for luck, Labar," he said sardonically. "Things have come your +way with a vengeance."</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXX">CHAPTER XXX</h2> +</div> + + +<p>Penelope impulsively gripped more tightly on Labar's arm, but the +detective could afford to take his antagonist's sneer with a certain +amount of equanimity.</p> + +<p>"I told you that you couldn't go on bucking against the machine for +ever, Larry," he said. "And talking of fools, what made you mad enough +to go to Rye?"</p> + +<p>Hughes fidgeted a little to get his bound hands in a more comfortable +position. "My dear Sherlock, if you had more brains and less luck, +you wouldn't ask me that question. Where is the last place that you +expected to find me to-day? Where are your people still looking for +me now? Not in Rye. Nor would they have looked very hard in London. +They're clustering round the ports interfering with innocent trippers. +Where would a hunted man with only ten pounds in his pocket make for +in the circumstances? I ask you. If he had any sense he'd go in the +direction that would be least obvious. He'd make for a place where he +could get funds and lay quiet till he could get snugly out of the +country."</p> + +<p>"Sorry to have had to truss you up so tight," said Labar, as the +other writhed a little impatiently. "I wouldn't trouble to attempt to +loosen your hands." He left his seat and came over by Larry in obvious +readiness to deal with any contingency. "This is the finish, Larry. You +may as well take it easily."</p> + +<p>Hughes sat quiet for a while. Then a bitter smile flickered about his +lips. "Machine or no machine, do you know what's thrown me down, Labar? +You and some of the dolts from Scotland Yard may preen yourselves, but +there's only one thing in it. Do you know Latin? <i>Quos Deus vult +perdere prius dementat.</i> In other words I made a fool of myself over +a woman." His glance rested for a moment on Penelope's face. "I mixed +love with my business. If I had left Miss Noelson alone would you have +known anything about 'Mope's Bottom'? You'd have had the devil's own +job to bring anything home to me. Even now I'd have been travelling +up to town, and left you and your gang running round in circles, if I +hadn't taken a desperate chance of snatching her at the last moment. +Yes, Miss Noelson, if it's any satisfaction to you it's you who have +finished me and not Scotland Yard."</p> + +<p>"Go as far as you like," observed Labar. "The big fact is that here you +are and here I am. As a matter of curiosity how did you know where Miss +Noelson was to-day?"</p> + +<p>"Easy," said Larry, contemptuously. "By the time I got to the town +every soul in it knew that there were happenings on the marsh. The +police knew, and the tradesmen knew, that a detective down from London +had started the affair. Rye isn't a big place and I know one or two of +the tradesfolk, although, of course, they didn't know I was the man all +the bother was about. I used my wits, Labar. Now let me ask how things +went at 'Mope's Bottom' after I left."</p> + +<p>"We made a clean-up," explained the detective. "Nobody hurt very +seriously, but we've got the whole of the gang, and we've raided your +cache. You'll have to explain a lot of things."</p> + +<p>Larry lifted his shoulders indifferently. "Oh, I'll take what's coming +to me. Let the boys down as light as you can. There's some white men +amongst them."</p> + +<p>The detective made no reply and Larry subsided into a moody silence.</p> + +<p>At the first stop Labar confided to Penelope a couple of wires to hand +from the window. He had no intention of taking his eyes from Larry. One +could never tell.</p> + +<p>Thus it was that at Charing Cross a couple of men from Grape Street +were available as an escort for Larry, leaving Labar free to see the +girl safely settled at an hotel till some more permanent arrangement +could be made for her. Thence he made his way to Scotland Yard where +the omnipotent Commissioner of Police himself, was waiting to receive +some account of the affair and to offer his congratulations. By the +time Labar reached Grape Street the remainder of the prisoners had +been brought up from Lydd and Moreland was there to wring his hand and +perform a little war dance.</p> + +<p>"So you've hooked Larry after all. Good for you, old bean. Let's go and +have a drink, and you can tell me all about it. Gad, I wouldn't wonder +if they made you an Assistant Commissioner after this."</p> + +<p>Labar hooked his fingers in the lapels of his friend's waistcoat and +held him at arm's length. "Don't you be so mighty familiar with me, +Inspector Moreland. Remember that you are talking to your superior +officer."</p> + +<p>"Gosh, they haven't?" Moreland opened his eyes in a wide stare. "Boy, +there's some live people at the Yard still whatever the papers say. +Chief Inspector Labar, if you'll leave off throttling me for a second, +I'll take off my hat to you. How an idle blighter like you got away +with it is beyond me. Now a real industrious, hard-working fellow like +myself never gets a chance."</p> + +<p>Arm in arm the two departed for the threatened libation to Labar's +promotion. As they stood in the little snuggery of a bar, known to a +select few in one of the alleys off Piccadilly, Moreland paused with +his glass in his hand.</p> + +<p>"There's something about you that I can't account for at the minute, +Harry," he said. "There's a smug complacency which makes me feel that +success isn't going to agree with you if—if it isn't due to something +else. Tell me has the wedding day been fixed?"</p> + +<p>Labar came as near a blush as his tanned countenance would allow. He +grinned a little shamefacedly. "One or two things to think of first," +he explained. "For instance there's the question of a best man. If I +could find some fellow who wouldn't let me down by playing the clown I +might be inclined to persuade her—the lady—to settle it as soon as +possible."</p> + +<p>"You want a serious-minded, good-looking fellow, a man of distinction +and presence. I am flattered by your offer. If I have no more pressing +engagement on that day I'll be at the ringside. Now I'll pay for one +more drink and we must be on our way."</p> + +<p>The two friends parted, for there was much to do on the morrow, and +Labar, at least, felt the need of a night's rest.</p> + +<p>He was astir early in the morning, but as he propped the <i>Daily +Mail</i> up by his eggs and bacon he forgot a healthy appetite as his +eyes scanned the page which was practically all devoted to the round-up +and captures of the preceding day. The final column of the "story" was +headed:</p> + +<p class="ph2"><span class="smcap">Tragic Death of Mr. Solly Gertstein.</span></p> + +<p class="ph2">Great Financier Dies of Heart Failure on Learning of his Wife's +Arrest.</p> + +<p>"A tragic episode was added to this great feat of Scotland Yard on the +receipt of the news in London last night. Some account of the affair +was published in the last editions of the evening papers, and in the +stop press column the name of Mrs. Adèle Gertstein was given in the +list of persons who were detained by the police.</p> + +<p>"Late last evening Mr. Gertstein was found by one of his servants +sitting fully dressed in his room with a copy of an evening paper +clutched in his hand. A doctor was summoned but his assistance was of +no avail. Mr. Gertstein was dead...."</p> + +<p>There followed a biographical sketch of the dead man's activities, and +some speculation as to what might happen to the fortune he had left.</p> + +<p>Labar tossed the paper aside. "Poor old chap," he murmured. He turned +thoughtfully to his breakfast. He was sorry in a way for the fate that +had overtaken the little millionaire, but that was no reason why he +should go hungry. It was a tragedy, of course, but he did not feel any +personal responsibility. In charging Mrs. Gertstein he had acted merely +as an agent of the law. He wondered what Penelope would have to say +about it.</p> + +<p>Nothing could alter what had happened. What was the use of worrying. He +finished his breakfast with zest, and pausing on his way out to glance +in a mirror in the hall to assure himself that he was scrupulously +dressed he set off for Grape Street.</p> + +<p>Both Marlow, the detective superintendent, and Moreland were already +there, as well as a bunch of the divisional C.I.D. men. The inspector +who had taken charge of the division during Labar's absence, slid out +from his seat at the desk.</p> + +<p>"Just about your last day as a divisional detective inspector," smiled +Marlow. "Slip into it, my lad. In an hour and a half you'll have to be +in court."</p> + +<p>Labar flung himself on the pile of papers with desperate energy. He +perceived that Moreland had taken many matters of detail into his own +hands, for there were statements, signed by officers under the control +of the latter, among the mass of documents.</p> + +<p>Now and then something arose on which he would seek the comment of his +two confrères. Then it would happen that one of the waiting divisional +staff would be despatched on some inquiry or other mission by which a +point might be made clear.</p> + +<p>Although so many of the gang had been swept into the meshes of the +net with Larry there still remained—as was inevitable in such a wide +spread organisation—a number of associates whom it was essential to +run down. There was still more work in planning a course of campaign +among those merely suspected to be associates. In one or two cases it +was decided to make arrests with the reasonable certainty that evidence +to justify them would arise at a later stage. Now that Larry's reign +was over the detectives anticipated no difficulty with a class of +informant which had been rather shy while he remained at liberty.</p> + +<p>Among those who were to be arrested and definitely charged was Gold +Dust Teddy. Detective Sergeant Down to whom was entrusted the execution +of this mission, received his orders with satisfaction. The absence of +Teddy was likely to make a difference in the statistics of crime.</p> + +<p>"That's the lot," said Labar, at last. "We'll be able to use Stebbins +as King's evidence if the Public Prosecutor agrees. Not that the +evidence isn't clear enough without him. I suppose that I'll have to +see him now."</p> + +<p>Marlow looked at his watch. "Not till after the court proceedings you +won't. Moreland had a chat with him some time after midnight. All +clear cut on the general matter. Every one will be charged to-day with +stealing and receiving the Gertstein stuff. It's only formal to-day and +other charges can be added at the next hearing."</p> + +<p>"There's Mrs. Gertstein. I'm sure she was not in the robbery."</p> + +<p>"No," said Moreland. "Do you think that I'm an ass. The case against +her is attempted murder and forgery."</p> + +<p>"Plain sailing as far as things go at present," said Marlow. "But Larry +won't go down without a struggle. Take it from me that if there is +anything money can do it will be done. If there is any weakness in the +case it will be pulled to pieces at the Old Bailey."</p> + +<p>To this proposition neither of the inspectors deemed it worth while +to reply. Indeed, it was self-evident. It would be doing Labar an +injustice to say that he did not care what happened at the trial. +Theoretically, of course, he should be as impartial as the jury. It +was his business—theoretically—to apprehend rogues on reasonable +suspicion, and to leave the question of their guilt or innocence to the +court.</p> + +<p>In actual fact though prepared to present his case with fairness he was +determined to strain every nerve to ensure a conviction. He had covered +every possible point where evidence might be gathered according to his +own abilities, but he was certain that the distinguished counsel who +occupied the post of Public Prosecutor would point out other weaknesses +and ask him to follow up certain lines to strengthen the case. Human +nature is human nature even in the police force.</p> + +<p>As Marlow had foreseen the biggest men at the criminal bar had been +retained for the prisoners. But the first hearing at the police court +was purely a formal affair, and Labar betook himself to the Home Office +to consult with the Public Prosecutor, whose cold trained legal brain +had already got a plan of campaign mapped out. The Solicitor-General +was to lead for the prosecution, and every legal resource at the +disposal of the Government was to be put at his disposition.</p> + +<p>For only one person did Labar put in a plea for such leniency as could +be afforded. That was Sophie Lengholm.</p> + +<p>"H'm." The Public Prosecutor frowned. "She's in the same class as +several of the others. We might tell the judge she saved your life. Is +there anything up against her besides the present case?" He rummaged +among his papers. "I have nothing here."</p> + +<p>"I know of no other charge which we have any chance of substantiating," +declared Labar.</p> + +<p>"Then leave it as it is. We'll do what we can."</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>The weeks passed with long, drawn-out hearings at the police court, and +the preliminary skirmishes of counsel. Almost every other day Labar +found the tangle which he was unravelling lead to the arrest of someone +or the other of the criminals who formed the aristocracy of crookdom in +the metropolis. Even he was surprised at the ramifications of Larry's +interests.</p> + +<p>As a receiver on a wholesale scale Larry seemed to have dealt directly +or indirectly with half the rogues in London. As is the way in these +matters one thing led to another. The unearthing of a small receiver +who was in the habit of passing on his biggest loot to Larry Hughes, +would bring about the discovery of a nest of smaller crooks who had +scarcely heard of Larry.</p> + +<p>"There'll be no work left for the C.I.D. if things go on like this," +lamented Winter.</p> + +<p>Labar had forgotten about golf although his handicap would be +seriously in danger. There were other things for him, which +circumstances would not allow him to neglect. He was no longer driving +a machine; he was part of a machine and willy-nilly he had to go +forward.</p> + +<p>It must not be supposed that he did not have his occasional hours of +leisure. Penelope, however, had a mortgage upon these, and she did not +play golf, although she promised at a later stage to take it up.</p> + +<p>"You see you're constitutionally a lazy man, Harry," she explained. "I +can't allow you to have any other interests but your work—and myself. +You'll soon have a wife to support."</p> + +<p>"That's a point," he agreed. "But I'm not so sure that I want to marry +you after all. You see——"</p> + +<p>She looked at him with perturbed eyes and pouting lips. "If——" she +began.</p> + +<p>"I saw poor old Gertstein's solicitors to-day," he interrupted. "They +know how things stand between you and me, and they confided something +to me. It may make a difference."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"It's his will. He's left the bulk of his fortune to nephews and other +distant relatives. Mrs. Gertstein is to get two thousand pounds a year, +and a similar sum has been left to you. The will was made a few days +before his death. So in a way you're an heiress, you see. And I'm only +a chief detective inspector getting a few hundreds a year."</p> + +<p>She smiled and put her arms round his neck. "That all. Then I'll tell +you what we'll do. As soon as this case is over we'll get married—ever +so quietly—and you shall retire and play golf all day long if you want +to."</p> + +<p>"I won't deny the first part of that proposition," he said. "On the +other I'm afraid I can't agree. I'm going on with my job. I'm not going +to live on my wife."</p> + +<p>She kissed him. "Do you know that in some ways you're delightfully +early Victorian? But I love you for it. Go on being a policeman until +you are a thousand if you like."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid that they won't stand me that long," he reflected, with +half-whimsical seriousness. "They were finding me out before this case +began. I suppose I am an indolent man. It's a notorious fact. I hate to +be bored. When I joined the service I had funny ideas about detectives, +I thought of the excitement and not of the monotony. Now action stirs +me up. There's not a deal of fun in finding out a man who has pilfered +a hundredweight of coals out of a station yard, nor in sifting and +making out dry official papers day after day. That sends me into a kind +of stupor and my brain will not act. They'll certainly find out that +I'm a four-flusher one of these days."</p> + +<p>"I think Mr. Winter knows more about you than you do yourself," she +protested.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Winter's a downy bird. He knows that I've got a conscience. It +really used to hurt me to play golf sometimes," he fumbled in his +waistcoat pocket and his face turned a bright scarlet. "Say, dear——"</p> + +<p>"Well?"</p> + +<p>"Do you know I've forgotten—that is I haven't had time—I mean I meant +to—perhaps you've been wondering—well it comes to this——" He made a +desperate plunge. "The long and short of it is that I've been meaning +to get you a ring and—and——"</p> + +<p>Her clear laughter rang through the room. "You've been too lazy to get +it."</p> + +<p>"Not exactly that," he protested.</p> + +<p>She shook her head reprovingly. "Don't stumble any more. You'll only +get in deeper. Have you any money on you?"</p> + +<p>He displayed a well-filled wallet.</p> + +<p>"That's all right. Stay right where you are. I'm going to put on my +things, and we're going out now, immediately. You're not going to +escape me, Harry Labar. I'm taking no risks. You buy me an engagement +ring in this next half hour and I'm going to stand over you and see +that you do it."</p> + +<p>Thus Labar's betrothal was ratified. In spite of his gibes at himself +he settled down to his new job at Scotland Yard with some prospect of +success, partly because Winter had his eye on him, partly because the +work that came his way was of a congenial type.</p> + +<p>The day came when Larry and his friends were brought up for trial at +the Old Bailey. Labar took his stand in the witness box for examination +at the hands of Treasury Counsel. His evidence began with that master +piece of condensation evolved by some long dead and gone police +official, "From evidence received——"</p> + +<p>The reader of these pages will know more closely than most of those +who heard the trial how the information was acquired that led to the +imposition of a sentence of twenty years penal servitude upon Larry +Hughes, and terms varying from ten years downwards upon the rest of +his gang. Mrs. Gertstein, a broken woman, was sent to prison for five +years, while Sophie Lengholm, on the plea of counsel for the Crown was +given eighteen months hard labour.</p> + +<p>Larry, self-possessed as ever, bowed to the judge with courtesy, and +waved his hand gaily to Labar in the well of the court.</p> + +<p>"It's a long time, Labar," he cried. "But one of these times we shall +meet again. Give my love to——"</p> + +<p>The warders hustled him out of the dock.</p> + + +<p class="ph2">THE END.</p> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75493 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/75493-h/images/cover.jpg b/75493-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d187e2e --- /dev/null +++ b/75493-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/75493-h/images/illusc.jpg b/75493-h/images/illusc.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3e4f401 --- /dev/null +++ b/75493-h/images/illusc.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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