THE SILVER DAGGER

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 162, 14 August 1914, Page 11

THE SILVER DAGGER

By R. A. J. WALLING \c=x>=m Author of "Flaunting Moll," "A Sea Dog of Devon," &c.

[copyright]

CHAPTER XV. IN WHICH THE LITTLE BURGLARY IS COMMITTED. The rapid dusk of a~clou~dy day was Teiling the little harbour and the sea •when Pudifin and Granger, having gone come distance up the river to cross by Forder Bridge in order to avoid observation, came round towards Pensilvetta Cottage, approaching it through . byways, and found themselves presently in the concealment of a small shrubbery on the; landward side of the house. '' We have hot much time to waste if we are to keep the appointment with Mr Holmes at 6 o'clock," said Granger. "There does not seem to be anybody about. Remain here, Mr Pudifin, while I examine the back of the house."

he take them all with him whenever he goes away ?'' They had not seen so much as a single cabinet, and there did not appear to be a safe. "Are these all the rooms?" asked Granger, as they stood in the last one. "Where does this door.lead? Dressingroom ? " He shook the door. It was locked. "Ah!" said he. "This is the Chamber of Horrors for a certainty. I have a jemmy, but I don't want to use it, for we can't stay to repair the damage. And, as I said before, we don't want to leave any traces. What about some keys," Mr Granger produced a large bunch, and.tried them one after another till that rare smile broke over his face. "I don't often find my bunch at fault," said he, "and here we are." In fact, the door opened, and let them into a small room, which had evidently been constructed to serve the purpose of a dressing-room, but was now converted to the uses of an office or study. A safe stood in one corner. The room was softly carpeted, and furnished with some bookcases and a writing-table.

The; detective crept forward and inspected the windows, Pudifin waiting in the; shadow of the shrubbery. He heard a rasping noise and then a faint tinkling of glass. Presently Granger rejoined him. "The place is evidently quite unoccupied,"- said he. "I have opened a window which leads into the kitchen quarters. I 'll just start my light and then we 'll have a look round."

> "So this is Radford's den. Any papers'?" • Mr Granger rapidly went through the drawers of the table.

'' Do you think it is safe ?'' asked Pudifin.

"Safe as the Strand, sir," replied the detective. "You needn't be a bit alarmed. We have left no trace, and we don't intend to leave any. Come along now." Pudifin found- the. window open, and all he. had" to do was to step iritb the room. He followed..Granger,..-,. latter fastened the window silently, and closedi over the-shutters .before he unveiled, his dark lantern v

"Tradesmen's bills. Eh? Nothingelse? What's this?"

He drew out a folded paper, and spread it abroad on the table. Pwiifin looked over his shoulder at a dingy, yellow, aged. document. , "A plan," said Mr "Granger. "Yes," returned Pudifin. "A plan of the mouth of the River Aune and the land on either side. Here's Torfrey's place. ' Here's the cottage, the sea front, the island, and, at the back, St. Maurice."

"This is a kitchen," said he, "and it contains nothing:'of interest. What's. next?"

He .opened a door leading to the main passage through the house. Four rooms opened into it. Taking the precaution in each instance of fdlding the shutters, Granger inspected them all -vith diligent 'minuteness. They revealed nothing. They were handsomely furnished rooms, but had no exceptional contents. "We shall Have to go higher. How many rooms are there upstairs?" "I don't know., I should say about half a dozen, mostly bedrooms." "We will have a peep at them. But take a careful note of the lie .of the land in case we should be disturbed. It's improbable, but it's as well to be cautious. "

"It's old,". Granger, remarked. "Here's a date—l 796. More than a hundred years ago. That's not likely to help us much. There are some red ink marks on it though. They look fresh." -. "And there's a name at the bottom. What is it ?" asked Pudifin.

. Granger held the beam of the lantern close to it.

"D. G—o —m —e—z, D. Gomez," he spelt out. "Why, those were the old folks who. were here before the Tor-, freys, weren't they?" "Yes," said Pudifin. His thoughts travelled back to the incident of .the Shrine.

They ascended the stairs, and went through six bedrooms, without finding anything that enlightened them as to the character' and employment of the occupants. .'"':• f ■ ' .*:••■ "This is rather strange,'.'. said Granger. "I wonder'where Radford keeps his papers ,and his .valuables ? : Orr does;

"However," said Mr Granger, folding up the paper and putting it in his pocket. "We'll examine it at our leisure. We can borrow it for a day or two. Anything else?" He opened drawer after drawer again/

"Here are some trinkets. Nothing that concerns us, I suppose ?' '

"Half a moment," whispered Pudifin. "Let me have «i look at that locket." The detective handed to him a gold locket. Pudifin opened it. He uttered an excalamation of wonder. "The very same!" he cried. "Very likely," said Granger. "The same as what?"

from the house. You can easily conceal yourself, and if that man comes out before I return you should be able to say who it is—at any rate, whether a character known to you or a stranger. Do you consent to remain?"

"Oh, yes; of course. It Avon't be very exciting." "Very well, then, au revoir. I shall take the first boat I can find and pull myself across."

"This is the locket that A\;as stolen from the tomb of old Torfrey. The portrait in it is the portrait of Senora Gomez. You haven't been in Torfrey's library? There's a large portrait of the lady there, taken from this. I've never seen this before, but it is impossible to be mistaken." Mr Granger took the trinket and looked at it curiously. "Now we're getting warm," said he. "I had an idea we should not pay this call for nothing. Whoever brought it here, it shows a clear connection between the cottage and the robbery at the chapel. Now, as to this, I think we had better leave it where it is. If it is missed it may arouse suspicion. The disappearance of the plan will not be so diilicult for the owner to explain to himself. And our appointment w T ith Mr Diego is just about due, I see," he continued, looking at his watch. "We had better be going. '' They left the room, and Granger locked the door behind them. They had reached the bottom of the stairs, and turned into the passage leading to the back of the house, when they heard the crunching of the gravel on the walk outside. "Hist!" said Granger. "More visitors. '' A latchkey clinked. "Come on quickly," said he. They gained the door of the kitchen block, and Granger pushed it home just as the front door opened and the newcomer entered the house.

When they had gained the shelter of the kitchen quarters, and, standing mute for a few moments, had heard the footstep ascend the stairway, Pudifin and the detective held a whispered consultation. Several exciting courses were open to them, all promising to lead towards the revelation they desired, but Granger thought they would do well not to risk too much. "It would be very interesting," said he, "to find out who the gentleman is; but we're in-a-kot place. I think we ought to get" out. There's nothing like a little prudence when you're tempted to be daring." In sober fact, Mr Pudifin was exactly of that opinion; the part of the amateur detective did not fit him with any reasonable degree of nicety. "I fauey," Granger added, "that without exactly running our heads into •the lion's den* which is evidently that office place, we can take steps to identify the brute. Meanwhile, we mustn't forget our appointment with Mr Diego —at six sharp." Pudifiu marvelled at the coolness of Mr Granger in what he truly described as a hot place. "I have something to propose, Mr Pudifin."

Pudifin was left alone in the grouuds of Pensilvetta Cottage. He selected for hiding a thick clump of bushes in which he could conceal himself secure from all observation from the house, whence he could still see the door and the litttle drive leading up to it. He settled himself for what he expected to be a long vigil. Who could the man be who had come in this clandestine fashion to the empty cottage, if not Kadford himself? Was the information they were now seeking likely to lead them on towards the grand object of their quest —the discovery of Lucy Torfrey? With these reflections he was occupying himself, when, suddenly, springing as it seemed from nowhere, a figure appeared in the drive, walking steadily up towards the door. Without a pause it reached the portico and silently vanished into the house. "You saw who that was?" said a voice at Pudifin's elbow, causing him to start nervously. Mr Granger was addressing him. "Yes," said the curate. "It was Diego Holmes.'' "No less than Mr Diego," echoed the detective. "I had hardly got down to the beach when I heard the splash of oars, and Mr Diego presently landed. He did not perceive me; I had taken good care that he should not. I followed him up here. What do we make of this?" . Mr Pudifin had no ready reply

"Anything you like, only, as we have decided not to stay,;would it not be as well to get outside and talk?" "Perhaps it would," he replied, and led the way through the window, which he fastened again when they were in the garden. "Now," he went on, "my idea is" this: I shall get back to the other side of the water and keep an eye on Mr Diego and his appointment; you shall stay here and watch the exits

"Mr Diego," continued Granger, '' has gone to meet Mr Rodrigo. Consequently, Mr Eodrigo is the gentleman who disturbed us' just now. I think that is clear."

"Pretty clear, indeed," said Pndi

fin.- ■...■•■:....■ "-And who in all the infernal regions —I beg your pardon, sir—who, then, is this Rodrigo? And what is he doing here?" • "That is more than I can make out." "I'd give more than half-a-crown to see his face;" said Granger reflectively. "I fancy we should find that some of us had met Rodrigo before." "It's of no use to attempt to get into the house again, of course," said Pudifin. "Not a bit, sir—a rat-trap that, now both, of them are there. Something simpler: we must wait till they come out. Mr Diego will not be long; our friend Mr Torfrey will be getting anxious about him." They discussed in whispers the bearings of the evening's adventure, watching for any sign of life or movement in the house. The dressing-room in which they discovered Mr Radford's office would be at the left-hand corner of the house, but no light appeared there. "Shutters, I expect," said Granger. "They'd be cautious about letting anybody know they were there. What devilry are they concocting, I wonder?" "Sh!" said Pudifin. "What was that?" "I heard nothktg. ' ' ... "No —nothings .1 thought I saw a shadow moving over there." '' Probably a cat.'' '' And another there '' "Ah —yes, and there! I see. Lie low!" said Granger. "We're wanted.", The curate his skin creeping with a' nervous, tremor. .... "This may be a close call," said Granger, in ' his ear. '' They 've set their, warders. If we are challenged, make.as big a row as you can, and scatter —run anywhere. You've got your barker?" '"Yes.".. . "And I mine. Mind you—it may be hot. But fire quickly—raise the roof, sir. They'll be off if they find we're going to bring down the place about their ears." ' Pudifin felt as if Some blind fate surrounded him and oppressed him. There was a sense of obscurity and danger in the air, which half dulled his senses. A net of dimly-seen shadows, crisscrossed and intricate, seemed closing about him as he crouched there. What unseen power was at work against him and that which was dearest to him in the world? He fell into a dreamy reverie, exhausted with excitement, and was aroused only by a nudge from Granger's arm. The door of the house was opened, and two figures walked down the path tow T ards them. Two men were in earnst conversation in a foreign tongue. At length one said: — "Speak English—there are some of the fellows here." "I was saying," his companion replied, "that I can keep Torfrey qiuct, hut the parson is dangerous." "He is earnest, therefore dangerous. He has a motive." "Yes, the fellow is in love with Lucy —that is a powerful motive." They stopped in the drive; within a few paces of the watchers, who dared scarcely draw their breath. " Ah;•• Diego, you «ay that? Love is a powerful motive.'' It was a deep and musical voice, and the words were spoken pensively. "But you, Diego, don't know what love is—l believe you have not one spark of the fire. Your parson is as dangerous as you like. But everything is safe, I suppose?" '' For a time —yes. He can know nothing-r-only suspect and speculate. Yet, how long can this last? You must move at once. We cannot keep it up for ever. Either play your cards now or throw up the game." "Throw up the game? You say that to me, boy? As you know not love, neither do you know hate! I will never give it up—never! I swear it again: 1" will never rest till the twice-cursed house is utterly destroyed." "Then don't be so melodramatic, but move at once—now, this very night. You cannot defy the law in this country for long," '' There is time^ —there must be time. I must have three clear days at least. I cannot move yet. You do not know.'' "Know! My dear Rodrigo, I read you like a book. You're caught in the folds of a falda." "Don't trifle. I'will have time! Do your best in the meanwhile. Keep an eye on the curate, that's all. But even I* shall hesitate to handle your tender prize, the Lucy, over to you. Santissima Maria! how slae will hate you! '' "I shall know how to cure that disease." '' Now, back to that sou of a scoundrel! I wisli I were with you to see how he takes his physic in the morning-" They passed on. : Granger laid his hand on the curate's arm to keep him still. "Lie low," he whispered. "One of the beauties may come back." The warning was not unnecessary. They heard the footsteps as far as the gate. They heard the oars in the rowlocks. Then one figure returned by the'

drive and vanished into the house. "We're in a trap," he whispered ; "there are shadows all around." Pudifin was not more nervous than the ordinary, but he had a sense of doom upon him as they waited, perhaps during a quarter of an hour. '' Now,'' said Granger at last, '' back on your hands and knees towards the field behind the house. No noise. But if you are challenged, fire and run, and fire as you run." (To be continued.)