THE SILVER DAGGER

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 158, 10 August 1914, Page 11

THE SILVER DAGGER

CHAPTER IX. (continued). IN WHICH CHARLIE GOES TO WESTPORT. He walked to the Central Police Station, and was ushered into an office fancifully and lightsomely decorated with wall-designs of handcuffs and staves. "Can I see the Chief of Police?" he asked the officer who came forward to attend to him. "Rather an unusual hour, sir. What's the business? Anything I can do for you?" '' I'm afraid not. I must see the Chief if possible. The business is of a most urgent kind, and I'm sure he would give me a hearing at any hour if he knew anything of it.'' "Would you like to speak to him on the telephone, sir? Perhaps you might be able to give him some idea what it's about.'' ' "Can I telephone to him in private?" "Yes, sir—there's a silence box. Better still, I'll take you into his office, and you can get him on his private wire. You have no objection to giving nie your name and address? I see you are a clergyman." "No objection at all," said Pudifin, giving the officer his card. He was led into an adjoining room, where a private j telephone rested on the table. The officer rang up. "Here you are, sir; the chief will speak to you. When you have done, will you kindly come into thg office?" Pudifin thanked the man as he retired, and took.up the receiver. Three aninutes later he was back in the office. . "All right, sir?" enquired the oblige ing officer. "Yes. The Chief is very good. lam going to drive to his house. Where can I get a hansom?" "Hansom, sir? Take a seat there a moment. Have a look at the paper. I'll rink frr a hansom." A few words over the telephone followed. Pudifin pretended to read the paper. The minutes passed, slowly; then the noise of wheels was heard in the street. "Here you are, sir." . Pudifin jumped into the cab. "The Chief's house, as fast as you can drive," said the officer to the driver; and Pudifin Was whirled away. CHAPTER X. IN WHICH THERE IS A DECLARATION OF WAR. Within a quarter of an hour Pudifin ushered into a room where a keeneyed man soon discovered him. "Mr Pudifin?" enquired the 'Chief, pleasantly. "Here you are. We've never met before, but I shall be glad to do what I can for you. Tell me what this business is. Your message over the wire has roused ''my curiosity. We may as well make ourselves com-

By R. A. J. WALLING i<=*»=>ilo Author of " Flaunting Moll,'' " A Sea Dog of Devon/' &c. [COPYRIGHT]

fortable," he added, pulling two armchairs near the fire. "Will you have some whisky? No? A cigar, then. Now we can talk at our ease." "I had better begin at the beginning," said Pudifin, "tell you the whole story, and all I have done, and you will be able to judge whether I have acted wisely or not, and how far my suspicions are justified." Getting his mind under control, he narrated as clearly as possible the events of recent months at St. Maurice. The Chief listened, with half-closed eyes, never ceasing to smoke, and never interrupting. ' '' It's a strange medley," he said, when the curate had finished. "I won't start theory now. What is clear is that there is ground for suspicion against the Radford party. But the business is tangled up a lot.'' "Can vou do anything to help us out?" ''Possibly I may. It is unfortunate that the scene of all the chief events is far out of my jurisdiction, and we have to be careful, you know, how we interfere in a matter of this sort. Since you have come to me, I will give you what assistance I can. Happily, the yacht is lying in the harbour, where I can get at her. We may make a few enquiries that will aid us. Further than that I can't promise." "Nothing to be done at once?" "Well," said the Chief, "the sooner you to work the better. What do you want done first?" "I should like to leave that with you*; but it seems to me that the first thing to be done is to get into communication with Hoskings." "Very good." "Can we do that?" "It ought not to be impossible. What tune is it? —let me see—-nearly 12 o'clock. It is rather late,.but I daresay it can be managed. Are you in a hurry to go to bed?" '' 'Pon my word,'' said Pudifin, '' I don't think I shall ever go to sleep again till I get to the bottom of this,"

The Chief smiled. "You'll belie that opinion very soon, Mr Pudifin.. Excitement must be suppressed. But I think you can have a chat with Hoskings and get to bed by H o'clock.'.' "Really?"' cried Pudifin, with his eyes«sparkling. "Yes, undoubtedly. If he is on board the Castiliani we will have him one shore within an hour. Wait while I ring up the Water Police." He left the room, but was back in five minutes.

"Now," said he, "the arrangement is this: I am going off with the Water Police. You'd better stop here. I'll fix you up "with some whisky and cigars, and you ean toast your toes till halfpast one, when a hansom will eall for you, and you will drive to my office. Hoskings will be there. Then we shall

be able to discover just where wc are." "It's magnificent," said Pudifin, beaming gratitude. At a quarter to two in the morning a ] hansom, with Charlie Pudifin inside, having been galloped through the silent streets, drew up at the door of the central police office, and the curate, stepping out, was taken at once into the Chief's room. "By Jove, Dick!" he cried, and rushed at his friend, and seized him by the hand. "Your own mother would not know you.'' Hoskings, who had been seated in a chair talking to the Chief, jumped up, and with a grimy hand pumped Pudifin's arm almost out of its socket. He ' Avas dressed in a boiler suit. "What are you?" asked Pudifin. "I'm a stoker. Don't I look the part?" "To the very life." "Rather lucky for me that I'm a bit of an actor," said Hoskings. "It's a pretty kettle of fish that we've caught.'' "I'm not surprised. But how did you work it?" asked Pudifin, turning to the Chief. "Oh, it was lovely,'' cried Hoskings. "I've been practically a prisoner on board. They could not make me out. I've been quite unable to talk English or Spanish either, and' I've been jabbering to them in a French of sorts, making quite sure they didn't understand it any better than I did. They have discussed me day and night, and not known what to make of me. They've sent telegrams about me, and yesterday received one about me; but apparently it was Greek to them. They're like an army without a leader, waiting.for in-j structions from Radford, who has not turned up. They think I'm a spy, but they're not quite sure. They're a gorgeous crowd, Charlie. They'd have fired me overboard, I think, if we'd been a little further out to sea. But wc jcame straight here, and while we've beeji in port, I've been a prisoner,) practically. Apparently, they fancy I might be more dangerous on shore than on board." I "But you've not told me how you managed to get on shore. "It was beahtiful. Something under an hour ago, I was awakened. Two or three strange men in strange uniforms were on the ship. They came round and switched on the light. The strange men examined all the bunks; and then, at a signal, they pounced on me." "You're wanted on a charge of robbery," said the Chief, here. "You'll have to come with us." "I couldn't understand a word, of course, and treated them to some of my French. Keeping my eyes open and my wits about me, I thought I noticed a little lowering of the Chief's eyelid. The third officer of the yaeht—a Spanishdevij of a particularly saturnine brand, with a world of suspicions behind his yellow forehead—he understands English, and he protested against my removal. '' I- gesticulated a lot, but made ready ' as if to go, and offered no Opposition. I could see that there was something in < the wind. Finally I was bundled into 1 the, W.P. boat and brought ashore. They launched a boat asf if to follow i us and when I directed the attention of '< the Chief to this fact, we led them, a i pretty dance among the trawlers in ihe inner harbour, and landed at some dis- 1 tant steps, completely outwitting them. They would spy on us if we gave them s

The Chief drummed his fingers on the desk. "There's one way out of your difficulty," he said. "Set a detective to catch a detective, you. know. I know a good man here now in private work — in fact he's not long retired from my staff on a pension in the prime of his life and powers. You can get him, or I can get him for you." . <.' I shall be deeply in your debt if you do," was the eager answer. "Very well, then. We will say goodnight. Meet me here at 9 o'clock, and if he is not engaged on anything big I'll have! him here. You can return together. " Pudifin's fear„,,that he would not sleep until the mystery of Lucy's disappearance was solved was not realised in fact, for he slept very soundly till Boots woke him at 8 o'clock. He was at the Police Office at the appointed hour of 9 o'clock. The Chief at once introduced him to Mr Frank Granger as the person of whom he had spoken overnight. It was agreed that it would be wiser for Mr Granger to proceed to Saint Maurice alone, for his identity to remain secret, and for the relation between him and the curate to be unknown. Pudifin appointed a nieeting with him privately at 9 o'clock that evening, and gave him a note which would introduce him to Polly. The curate then set out upon his return, and rode into Saint Maurice by the same circuitous route by which he,had left it. His landlady had j been prepared for his absence, and asked j no questions, but mentioned that Mr j Holmes had been there to see him that morning. "Oh," said Pudifin. "Did he say anything about the nature of his business?" j ' ' Nothing whatever, sir; but he didn't | look particularly pleased at not being; able to see you. He seemed anxious to j see you.'' s * < Very well, Mrs Wherry. I shall go [ down to the house after I have had j something to eat." Pudifin felt a little nervousness as he walked down the road to the waterside. He was going into what he now knew definitely to be the camp of the enemy. I He had pitted his own,wits against all the diabolical ingenuity that was at the service of Radford,, against the sham detective, and against Diego. He could not have explained why, but the more he thought of the matter the more surely he reckoned Diego against him. He; determined to be wary; to give no; irround to anv of them. If only he j could induce forfrey to emerge from his I torpor, tilings irfight take on a better j aspect. I Pudifin regarded it as a curioirs co- ; incidence, thereafter, that almost at the ; very moment when this inexplicable! nervousness and nervclessness of Tor- j frev was uppermost in his thoughts, he ; was met in the road by a dogcart which ! Margaret Hayland was driving. Seated j by her side was a dark and handsome \ young feilow whom he had never seen before. Margaret pulled her horse W9 when she saw the curate, and spoke to him. Her companion looked at him so closely and keenly that Pudifin could not

s half a chance. They are suspicious of every movement—ami they have good , reason to be. Of course, I'd not been in the boat five minutes before the jChief had explained it to me. Poor Miss , I Torfrey! Charlie, it seems to be a worse ; business even than we thought." | "Yes," said Pudifin; "but we are ! getting to close quarters." J "Now, gentlemen," said the Chief; J "time's going on. There's cause to I hurry, aiid I'll tell you why. If they suspect a plot, they'll up. anchor, and {off without their new stoker, and we j shall loset sight of them. From what ! Dr Hoskings has told me, it is abso- : lutely necessary to have someone in our I interest on board. Let the doctor tell | you briefly what he knows, Mr Pudifin, land then we must put him off again—- | that is, if he wants to return to duty." j "Want to? Rather, Mr Chief." It jw T on't do to have that pirate wandering | up and down the Channel with nobody I to watch his movements.'' "I believe, doctor, you think the yacht is waiting for a passenger?" "It certainly is." "And the passenger is a lady?" "So I gather. In fact, I've no doubt about it. I overheard a conversation to-day between the skipper and the third officer, after they had been on shore for letters. They have had an idea of sailing this evening; but there's something with the engines, and they can't get it right. In fact, they won't get it right —while I think it advisable for them to stop here.'' "What —you —" Pudifin exclaimed. "We won't go into details," said Hoskings. "But get your coup ready shortly, for I can't keep the engines still indefinitely. They have been preparing quarters for a senorita.'' "The devils!" cried Pudifin. "I wonder what they 've done with her f '' And he began to" pace the room in his excitement. "You may depend on it that they have her in hiding somewhere not far from home, for they spoke of going back to the mouth of the river this evening.'' "I 'wonder what that telegram about the coup meant?" mused the curate; "That's the most mysterious thing of all —from London,'' said the Chief. "But, gentlemen, time presses. It's time for us to take the prisoner back and tell them we don't want him." ' " Well, Charlie,'' said Hoskings, '' good-bye. Keep your eye lifting on shore for news of Miss Luey, and try to set up communication with me again." . "I don't like to let you go back in that company again, Dick; but I suppose there's no help for it." "Bless* you heart, man; I shall be all right. If they try on any games with me, there are twelve messages in these two little barkers" —he drew them out of his pockets. "Trust me to take care

of myself." Their adieus were soon said, and Hoskings was taken back to the harbour. The Chief returned and informed Pudifin that all was well. The stoker had been received on board" with a sheaf of apologies for the disturbance they had been obliged to cause in the interests of justice. „-,,', "Before you go, Mr Pudifin," he added, '' what about this pseudo-detective at your place? Do you know the firm to which Mr Torfrey wrote?" " No; I only know that he wrote on the advice of Radford."

",He's clearly a dangerous person; we shall have to keep a cautious watch on him. I think you had better get back before your absence is noticed." "But," said Pudifin, "you're not gofing to send me back alone? I'm working 'in the. dark, and I want a good man's assistance—the best man you've got." "I'm sorry. The case is very interesting to me, but I can't do that. It's all right here in Westport; I can do anything for you. But your place is out of my bounds; it would not do for me to What about the local police?" "We've tried them. They're all very well in their way; but this business is beyond them. You see the sort of wits we're opposed to —I. want a really firstclass man."

(.To be continued.)

>f avoid his eyes, and fidgeted while h >d talked with Miss Hay land. >n ''l should introduce you to m ie friend, Mr Wilton," said she; "M ss Wilton, Mr Pudifin is one of the oul posts of civilisation on which we rel; in these benighted parts." 'c ! Pudifin grasped the shaft of the dog i cart tightly as he said: — -J I "Did I catch the name correctly —M 0 Wilton?" y "Yes," said Wilton. "The uann d used io be familiar in Devon; I see yoi e J are not well acquainted with it." -t "Mr Wilton is a son of a very ok )- friend of my father's," said Margaret r "and has only recently come to Eng II land." 1, "I'm sure he couldn't see the coun - try under more - delightful auspices, 7 ' said Pudifin, hurriedly, and smiling t faintly. "Have you been to the Villa g Zamora? I see you are returning from y that direction." "Oh, no," said Margaret. He wa> e watching her face closely. She averted it. "Mr Wilton expressed a curiosity to see the island, and as it was low tide this morning I drove him down. We t shall be late for lunch.'' 1 "You have no news, then?" asked 3 Pudifin. i "News? Why, no, I think there is i nothing stirring.'' 3 She was giving the impatient horse 1 the rein, and evidently desired to end r the conversation. Pudifin could not in - decency detain her any longer. '' Well, good-bye,'' said he. '' Please give my respects to Mr Hayland. No I message for the Villa Zamora?" t "No —none." she answered. " Good--3 bye." She touched her cob with the whip* Wilton raised his hat, and they were [ ] soon out of sight. » "Sits the wind in that quarter?" } said Pudifin to himself. '' This explains much of Torfrey's indisposition. I - wonder whether she means to throw him • over for her new friend? No news—no r message—apparently she knows nothing \ of the events down here. Wilton—Wilton! What an extraordinary eoin- ; | cidence of names, and what a striking I appearance he has! " ! The keen, sallow, face, the haunting dark eyes, were with him all the way' ; down to Torfrey 's. He asked the man [ who admitted him if Mr Torfrey was in; then, on second thoughts, said: — "Never mind—l'll go to the library; he's sure to be there." ■ "Excuse me half a minute, sir," said the'man; "I'll see. Mr Diego said I was to tell him when anybody came." Pudifin looked narrowly at the man. "I asked for Mr Torfrey," said he, "not Mr Holmes." "Yes, sir. I don't know what to do, • sir. Would you mind waiting half a iriiinute?"' So this, thought Pudifin, was Diego's declaration of war. ' What could it mean but that, in some unaccountable manner, Diego was involved in the conspiracy? The man presently returned, and led the curate into the morning room. There Diego and Benson were together. The curate's faculties were awakened to the fullest alertness;- he took in the situation at a glance. ""I'm sorry," he said; "the man must have made a mistake. I asked to see Mr Torfrey." j; ; "Oh, never mind, Pudifin," said liDiego. "Mat's not very well. He's lihardly fit to receive visitors. Anything ; lispeeial?" . . | j; This tone took him by surprise, but; lihe had made his determination. j !• . 'J.No," said he, "unless you have! any news of Miss Torfrey." "We have none. We can find none. I've telegraphed to her Aunt Belle in London to ascertain whether she is there. We can conceive of no theory to account for her absence, unless she has taken it into her head to pay a surprise visit to friends somewhere.'' '" Then,'' said Pudifin, quietly, '' if vou have no news, and Mr Torfrey cannot be seen, there is no necessity for me to stay." ; "Well—if you must be going. But; Ssj the way, Pudifin, you weren't home ,' ■last night." i '"No," said he. "Staying with Your friend Masters?" * • "Why do you ask?" j '' Oh, merely because your landlady \ thought you were; but I happened to ! be in K this'morning and saw Mas- j tei-s, and he said you had not been; tli ere.'' ' '' No, I was not there,'' aid Pudi- j fin. 1 ' Where were you, then?'' asked i Diego. The curate started at the question, and stood up very straight. "That's rather an intimate question to put, Mr Holmes," said he. "I don't know," said Diego, insolently. '' There are times when a good many people are being asked to account for their movements.'' "What do you mean?" cried Pudi-: fin, hotly. ■ ' j "Precisely what I say," was the answer. 'iThen, perhaps, Mr Holmes," said Pudifin, '' you'll obtain some person with authority'to ask me the question, i and I may answer. In return, I may j request him to ask you to account for i \ vour movements on the night before '• i last." • j. "What do you mean?" cried Diego. "Precisely 'what I say," answered the curate, with a pale smile; "and I wish you good day."