THE SILVER DAGGER

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 169, 22 August 1914, Page 4

THE SILVER DAGGER

iae=3QE=i By HA. J. WALLING

Author of " Flaunting Moll," " A Sea Dog of Devon," &c.

[copy eight]

CHAPTER XXL (continued). IN WHICH MR GRANGER TURNS THE TABLES. He pulled out papers, hastily glanced at them, aud selected a telegram. It was addressed to "Holmes, Post Office, Westport," and was from St. Malo. He read it out: "Am sending yacht across to-morrow. Return here with all speed.'' "That's very interesting, Mr Diego," remarked Mr Granger. "But I don't think you'll be going to St. Malo tomorrow." He returned the papers to Diego's pockets and set to work with his jemmy upon the door. In three minutes he had the lock forced. "Now, Miss Torfrey, we will leave our kind regards with Mr Diego. Come along.'' Darkening his lantern, he pulled the door behind him and left Diego in •silence and blackness. They went slowly forward, a draught of cold air rushing by them as they walked. Soon there was a gleam of light ahead. "Stop!" whispered Mr Granger. '' Stay there." He advanced alone. Lucy,, almost benumbed by excitement and the rapidity of events, remained leaning against the wall of the cavern. The seconds passed slowly J measured by the thumping of her. heart. It was, she thought, probably three minutes before she heard a little gasp and a thud, which made her heart tremble. Then she heard her name called. She staggered on to the end of the passage. Mr Granger was there. '' I've lost my lantern,'' said he. "Don't look that way, Miss Torfrey. Follow me carefully. The path is steep." But the sight of a human form lying prone on the platform of rock did not escape her. Reaching the basp of the cliff, they found the boat high and dry. Her boards scraped down the pebbles and she floated uneasily, bumping as the waves rolled in through the narrow pass. Somehow or other they scrambled in—neither could tell exactly how, and Mr Granger guided the boat out into open water. The wind whistled by them, and the boat danced on the short, jumbled waves. The tide was running out strongly, hastened by the volume of fresh water coming down the river. MiGranger took off his cqat for a hard pull, insisted that Miss Torfrey should put it round her, and settled down to his work. At the end of half-an-hour Mr Granger eased off, breathing hard. "We ought to be getting in by this time," said he. "But I can see nothing," Lucy answered. "It' seems to have got darker, or thicker. I thought I saw the point just now, but there is nothing." Mr Granger agreed that there was nothing in sight but the choppy water. They were out of sight of the island; in fact lie could see no land at all.

ami contriving, they've had concealed on the island, waiting for a chance to take her away. This very day, we've missed them. She's gone!" He related what had happened on the island. The two men listened with almost, incredulous amazement. Torfrey seemed stricken dumb. He moved his lips without speaking his eyes were vacant and dull. ' 1 Wake up, Torfrey! " cried Mr Hayland. "Do you realise it? Something must be done. We can't go under to a set of scoundrels like this.'' ' < I'm ruined!'' Torfrey shouted, starting up. "Doyou hear? I'm ruined." He clutched Mr Hayland by the arm. "I'm in the power of Radford, body and soul. He has me like some octopus, squeezing his tentacles tighter and tighter round me. I begin to see it! I'm choiring!'' Pudifiu had rung the bell. Grey appeared. "Get Mr Torfrey away to his room, and send a man to Mossbridge for the doctor," he whispered. "You see how it is, Mr Hayland," he addressed the frightened squire under his breath. "Will you remain here till the doctor cosies? I ain going to Westport at once. I'll either see you or telegraph in the morning." Mr Hayland received at his house the next morning a telegram from Pudifin. " Impossible to return till to-morrow. Tell Torfrey I have an important clue.''

The old gentleman posted off to the Villa Zamora immediately, but found Torfrey raving, and the doctor in his bedroom. It was, he said, a strange case. It se ; enied like a mental breakdown, and he suggested that Torfrey must have passed through some great excitement recently.

Mr Hayland thought lie had been worried, but said no more. The doctor advised' that he be left to perfect quiet and the attendance of his man, who seemed intelligent and sympathetic. Consequently, Mr Haylaiul returned home, and awaited witl? great anxiety the coming of the next day, which was to bring Pudifin.

But when the day came, and with it his friend, he was in no condition to receive Pudifin's news. For the postman had been before Pudifin, and had brought him a letter which produced in the old gentleman such violent fits of alternate anger and tears as to drive everything else from his mind. He was leaning upon the table gazing at the written sheets when the curate was announced. "Bead that!" cried Mr Hay land, handing him the letter. Pudifin read: — '' Hotel de France, St. Malo. "January 17, "My dear Father, —You will no doubt be surprised to get this news from riie. I/fear that I have made a great mistake. I do not wish to enlarge on my own feelings. What I may suffer is my own fault. But I wish to save you as much as possible. My marriage is not what I could wish. My husband appears in a light which I do not pretend to understand. He is engaged in some great and secret enterprise, and I am quite a secondary consideration to him. He has left nie here in the midst of the 'honeymoon' to go on some private affair, a journey whose destination I may not know. I fear some trick. 1 cannot explain my reasons. It may turn out that my suspicions are all wrong. If it does, I shall ask you to forget all about this. If not, I write to ask you to be prepared for a telegram 'from me. If at any time I wire ' Come,' please make your way here in the quickest possible time. There may be necessity. I can ask your forgiveness for all the anxiety I have given you when I see you." Pudifin read it again and again, and his face darkened. "Well!" said Mr Hayland, impatiently. "It is as I thought," said Pudifin. "It "does not throw much new light, but it confirms my suspicions. It is all in the piece.'' "Yes, all in the piece. Good heavens, Pudifin, my blood is boiling, don't believe 1 it's any marriage at all; it's a trick, a scandalous trick." "Very likely, Mr Hayland, but the thing is to consider what to do. 1 think we should not wait for a telegram from her, but send to St. Malo at once. Indeed, I doubt now whether we should be in time." "I don't quite follow you, Charlie.'' "When was that letter sent?" 4 ' Three days ago. The post takes rather a leisurely time between here and Brittany.'' "Yes, I see. And two days ago, as you know, the yacht sailed from here. That yacht was bound to St. Malo." "You say you doubt whether even now we should be in time. What does Hi at mean?"

"Suppose we've been making for the French coast instead of the English!" "Don't say that!" she cried. ''Whatever should we do?"

"Keep your pecker up," said Mr Granger. '' Presonallv I prefer the English Channel to that," and he ■odded his head in the direction where the island ought to have been. The fact was that Mr Granger Avas not used to the exercise, and Avas not an expert oarsman. But waiting about on the heaving sea was cold and comfortless Avork; time passed very slowly. Mr Granger kept the boat hard to sea. Then, suddenly, without saying a word, he rummaged till he found a parcel wrapped in an old newspaper. It was a packet of fishing gear, apparently. He tore off the paper and rolled it up. He lay down in the boat, lit a match, and applied it to the paper, which he held aloft and waved to and fro as a kind of torch, pointing to a green light wljjcli. was slowly moving, as it seemed, just ahead of them. The flame of Granger's improvised flambeau threw glittering lights on the water. He daved it till it had burned down almost to his finger tips. Then, with frantic haste, he turned old letter out of his pockets and burnt Awo or three of them. The green light swerved and a red light came into view. A hail came across the Avater to them. "Boat ahoy!" "Ahoy! ahoy!" cried Granger, dropping the last of his paper torches, and, seizing the oars again, he pulled quickly towards the light?. "What's up? What boat is that?" tame a voice almost above them as they approached the a great vessel now showing a row of lights along her side.

"Hanged if I know," said Mr Granger. Then he shouted, "Take us on board. I'a*c a lady here in great distress. We have lost ourselves."

"Whether, by the time any of us could get there Ave should not find that the yacht, Wilton, your daughter, and all had disappeared. I told you in inv telegram yesterday that I thought I had an important clue. When I reached Westport I made this discovery, that the same day a boat found floating derelict in the channel had been towed in by a trawler. On it was the name of the yacht Castilian, and in it were some things of which the police had taken charge. One was a ribbon from a lady's dress, the other a half-burnt envelope, with the name of Granger clearly decipherable 011 it. What do you make of that?"

There was a good deal of grumbling before a rope ladder was shipped. The task of catching it was quite beyond Mr Granger as his boat bobbed up and down, and defied his efforts to fend her •ff the ship's side. At last more ropes were brought, a sailor came over the side on the rope ladder and instructed Mr Granger how to get a noose round the ladv. Miss Torfrey was then assisted on board. M,r Granger followed in the same fashion, and made an undignified appearance on the deck of the Blarney Castle, outward bound to Madeira and Cape Town. CHAPTER XXII. IN WHICH MR HAYLAND JUST MISSES A CONNECTION. "When Pudifin returned from the island and rejoined Mr Hayland and Torfrey, he was pale and nervous. It seemed to him that the stars in their courses had fought against him. Everything had failed. The mystery was deeper than ever. The whole of the conspirators had disappeared—and Lucy was gone. Doubtless Granger and she were now on the yacht—doubly prisoners—and it was ail over. "You've been a long time, Charlie," said Mr Hayland, as he entered the library. "Yes, but not long enough —not, long enough,'' he answered, wearily. "Why, what's the matter, man?" "It's all up, Mr Hayland. It's all "up, Torfrey. They've beaten us." "What do you mean?" cried both at ©nee. "The yacht has been here; I saw it steam away an hour ago. Lucy is gone!'' "Lucy gone! How do you know? "Where was she'/ Where has she gone?" "All the time we have been hunting

Mr Hayland started as if petrified with astonishment.

"I can make nothing of it clearly," he said slowly.

"It means just this," Pudifin proceeded. "It means that at some time or other Granger was in that boat, and Miss Torfrey was in that boat. What became of them only heaven, themselves, and those treacherous rascals know. The possibilities are tremeudous —awful to contemplate.'' He rose and spoke hastily. "We must act —act! Either we save them or we avenge them, and the way to do that is to ascertain the whereabouts of the yacht and the conspirators. I will tell you what I had in my mind; it was to get Torfrey to go across to St.. Malo to-day. Now that you have that letter from Margaret j r ou will never let him go alone, 1 know. You will go with him?"

Pudifin bent, his brows and spoke with earnestness. The old man held out his hand.

. "1 am with you, Charlie," he said. "You are the only man of us all who has shown any sense in this business." " Well, sir," said Pudifin, "it's more

important, to go right on now than to look back. You will do this? There are many reasons why I can't go, much as 1 should like to. A steamer leaves Westport this evening, reaching Jersey early in the morning. You can get a connection from there on to St. Malo direct. Then I need not tell you what would he best to <to- Your first consideration will be Miss Ilavla ml, of course; your next news of Miss Torfrey and Granger, and your third the detention of the yacht if possible and the transmission of:' the information to me here.''

"It's all quite clear,'' Mr Ilayland replied. "Now, I 'll make ready.'' ''That's right, sir. I shall enlist Torfrey at once. Will you meet him at Mossbridge station at three o'clock' If I cannot be there lie will know exactly what Ave have considered the right course to adopt." When Mr Hayland and Torfrey readied Westport station, they were at once accosted on leaving th'e train by a gentleman, who addressed them in their names.

"Mr Hayland —Mr Torfrey—l believe?" he said. Mr Hayland declared that he had not the honour, and Torfrey stared.

" Perhaps this will enlighten you a little," said the stranger, handing them a telegram. "Oh, from Pudifm!" they cried. "So you, my dear sir, are the Chief of whom our friend Pudifin has spoken," said Mr Hayland. "And we arc indebted to you somewhat." "Not at all. But you are very much indebted to Mr Pudifin. I fancy if it had not been for him one of the nastiest little conspiracies I ever encountered would have made the law look silly. As it is, we have a good chance. Pudifin asked me to meet you and tell you precisely what I had done. I have telegraphed to St. Malo and asked the authorities to keep an eye on the yacht as far as possible, and to render you any assistance. That wire was sent off last night. To-day I have had a reply that the yacht is still in the port. If you are lucky, you may catch them yet. But the most important thing remains to be done. If you do catch them, what can you do, as things are at present?" "Very true," Mr Hayland; "what can we do?"

"You see, there is no proof of any sort against them; everything has been done in such a wily manner. But now we have something tangible. A man has disappeared, a well-known detective of this town; evidence is to hand that he has been on board of a boat belonging to the yacht Castilian. There is just a smspicion that there has been foul play. I have, therefore, obtained a warrant for the arrest of the captain or the owner of the Castilian, and instructions have been telegraphed to St. Malo for the detention of the yacht and the arrest. An officer from the county police will travel in the boat with you this evening, and, if necessary, he will bring back the captain with him—or the owner —and," added the Chief, with a wink, "the owner for choice. It may relieve you a little to know that I don't believe anything serious has happened to Granger —or, as a matter of course, to Miss Torfrey either. I think Granger has tricked them. I think that" is why the Castilian remains at St. Malo. They would not run the risk they run now if the work had been completed as they planned it." - The Chief's optimism proved infectious. Both Mr Havland and Torfrey took a brighter view of the chances than before, and, having been introduced to an inspector of the county police ou board the steamer, went to their berths with easier hearts.

When they were awakened, the vessel was lying in the harbour of St. Ileliers. They went ashore at once, and transferred to a railway company's steamer which sailed at nine o'clock for the Breton port. As they neared the French coast, both men began to feel the tension of tlieir task. They sailed past Oezembre, and were soon under the grey walls of St. Malo. As they drew in towards the quays, a Avhite yacht steamed slowly down within two' cables' length of them, pointing to the sea. Torfrey gripped his companion's arm. Mr Hayland looked at him and cried: "What is it?" "Too "late!" said Torfrey Avith a break in his Aoice. "There she goes!" CHAPTER XXIII. IN WHTCH MR PUDIFIN RECEIVES A SHOCK. Pudifin made a poor attempt during the next two or three days to busy himself in the affairs of his parish. It was a very hard matter for him to abstract his mind from the progress of the two emissaries who had been sent to St. Malo. When, on the morning of the third day, he received a telegram from Torfrey, he could hardly bear to op;m it in the agony of his excitement, arid when he did break the cover and master the contents he was thrown into a very abyss of despair. The message ran: "Yacht sailed yesterday; destination unknown." So this, thought Pudifin, was the end of it all! Their quarry had slipped through their fingers at the finish, and had secured what they wanted. The mystery of Lucy Torfrey was as inipenetrable as ever; there Avas no clue ; ;o Granger; Margaret Hayland had been duped and -abducted; Torfrey's fortune had been shattered—everything had gone. The news and the inferences from it almost stunned him, and he went about for tAvo more days like a man obsessed, or in a dream, waiting for he hardly knew what —probably the crestfallen return of Mr Ilayland and Torfrey. Then Pudifin received two telegrams within a few minutes of ea<-h other which put a different complexion upon the outlook —at least for a time. The first was from Torfrey: "Have made welcome discovery. Margaret safe. Returning end of week."

The second was dated from Madeira, and it read:

'' Home Wednesday.—G ranger.'' His heart leapt. Prom the depths of despair Pudifin was at once elevated to the loftiest pinnacle of hope. The double message seemed too good to be true. If Margaret was safe, there might, yet be a chance of tracking down tlie conspirators. It was probably Ifonkings who had done it. Above all, if Granger was alive and well and returning, Pudifin trembled under the influence of the thoughts that flew into his mind. lie found it necessary to be doing instead of: thinking; he, must, walk, or run, or exercise himself in some violent way to stave off the results of the excitement. He went out.

Involuntarily his steps led liim in (lie direction of Torfrey's place; he was in the "path leading past old Torfrey's shrine before he realised whore he was and where he was going. He pulled up in front of the silent chapel. He could not look at its walls without a shudder, remembering the terrible scene he had witnessed when he was last within them. Pudifin raised his hand as though fo

call down the vengeance of heaven upon the cowards who had captured Lucy. The next instant a shock as of icy J water struck him; a hand was laid oil his shoulder, and a familiar voice said: "An impressive altitude, my dear I *n<li tin ! Is it a study of Ajax defying the lightning, or " '' \ou here!'' cried I'ndifiii. "Ves," said Mr Radford, smiling and bowing. "Vou did not expect me?" "I confess I did not," Pudifin, drawing off. "And J did not expect to find you in the woods. Shall we say the pleasure is mutual ? " "Excuse me. Mr Radford," exclaimed I'udiiin. "Let us understand each other. ] do not intend to act anv such lie.'' "Hoitv-toity!" he laughed. "Don't put on airs, I'udiiin. Be a sensible fellow. Heroics don't fit you, believe me. You're offe of the best fellows in the world, but you do cultivate prejudices; and as we shall probably see a good deal of each other in future I hope you won't persist in this one." '' flood morning," sa'ffl Pudifin, walking on. "Are you going towards the house?" asked Radford. Pudifin made no reply. "Very well, then. If you will not speak to me now—we shall see later on." Radford walked along by the side of him, his venerable beard blowing back in the breeze. Pudifin was rapidly calculating what, was the best course to set. The reappearance of Radford disturbed ail his formed ideas. Tie had believed him to be on the yacht. He knew that the chief at Westport had obtained a warrant for his arrest in connection with the affair of Granger. But that would be useless now that it was clear Granger was nowhere near the yacht. Unless!—and a new thought broke into'his mind. It was possible that the message from Madeira was a spurious one, and that, it was sent at the instigation of Radford to gain time for some purpose of his v own. It was not only possible—it was likely.

Pudifin resolved at once to communicate with the chief and inform him of Radford's presence. He strode on till they both drew up under the carriage porch of the Villa Zainova.

Radford was about to follow him in. Pudifin turned sharply in the doorway. "Mr Torfrey is away," said he. "Your newri is belated, my friend,"

sajd Mr Radford, whoso tone had altered. His voice was harder and his manner stern. "What of it.?" lie asked.

"This," said Pudifin. "1 do not think Mr Torfrey would lie at home to von ii' lie were here."

Mr Radford stepped hack :t little, and ntiered a sliorl laugh. '' I'eriia jiS not,'' sad lie; ''and what, (lie devil's that, got to do wit.li von':"' ''Only this," replied Pudiiin, ''thai I represent him in his a bseiice. " ''Pshaw!" was Ihe answer. "I'm not going to have a brawl with von. Old m.-Mi as I am, I could tackle three of you. ('nine to the library. I have somet)iing to say that will interest vim.''

Mr I'adl'ord brushed t lie curate .aside, and walked down through Ihe hall to the library. I'nceriaiu for a moment Vv hal to do, he I'ollowf •!.

''Now, look here, Mr Carson," naid Radford, when lie had (old fJrey, wiio came up as they entered, not to allow them to he disturbed, Radford cloned the door and locked it. " Look here, I have no quarrel with you, Puditin, though you are a meddling, ing fool. But I decline to allow you to obstruct me. I believe you are a friend of Torfrey, and von think yon are help ing him by opponing me. PndenUund your error. .Not. at home. Why, the place is my own. l>o yon know I have. mortgages upon it to the la.nl, penny of its value, and that I am now Foreclosing upon them? Do you know Torfrey owes rue every penny lie possesses? Do vou understand'?"

"Not precisely,'' said Pudifin, slowly. He was wondering what, the next move would be, and how he should meet it. He had a wilv enemy to deal with. "1 warn you, that is all. I warn you that I am in power, and that you are not."

"Oh, very well, Mr Radford," said Pudifin quietly, "if that is the case, there is nothing more to be said. I abdicate my yjosition as Torfrey"s delegate, There is 110 necessity for me now."

"That's a more reasonable tone," said Radford. "But it doesn't deceive me. Don't flatter yourself that you're an actor, for you are not, sir. You cannot successfully assume another part so quickly. I am not deceived." "I dou't want to deceive you," said Pudifin, nonplussed for the moment. (To be Continued on Monday.)