The Doctor's Stratagem.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 167, 15 July 1907, Page 6

The Doctor's Stratagem.

By NICHOLAS CARTER

Author of " The Silent Partner," " Under Cover of the Law," "Sealed Orders," " Caught in a Web," " The Price of a Secret," etc

CHAPTER IX. CHICK MAKES A DISCOVERY. Doctor Leeraw was in his laboratory. It was a whitewashed basement room, with a gray cemetend floor. Two of the stone walls were flanked with rows of shelves, all of which were laden with jars, carboys, innumerable well-filled bottles of various sizes, along with no end of test-tubes, glass retorts, crucibles, and other articles used in his chemical experiments. On a broad, zinc-coverea table a Bunsen lamp was burning, with its blue flickering flames enveloping the round base of a glass retort, fixed in an iron stand- and in which some dark, viscous substance was furiously boiling, filling the room with a most disagreeable odour.

Through two narrow windows high in one of the walls, the sun was streaming brightly, lighting the absorbed countenance of the elderly student and physician, who was bending earnestly over the table, with his grey head bare, and his slender figure draped with a soiled cotton apron, reaching from his bowed shoulders nearly to his feet.

So absorbed was he in contemplation of the bubbling substance in the retort, that he did not hear the ring of the house-bell, nor the rustle of skirts, and the hurried steps in the adjoining corridor a moment later, as Maria Marvin ran down the stairs, and into the basement room. "' Leo, Leo, for God's sake " she said excitedly, after closing the door. "There are detectives upstairs. You are wanted." Doctor Leeraw turned and looked at her affrighted white face and dilated, eves. In his own mobile countenance there had been no sign of trouble, no indication of secret fear. -It had appeared while he had been studiously bending over the table, as if his recent bereavement and the troubles that had followed had passed entirely from his mind, as if the existence of Etta Sheldon had even ceased to be a remembrance.

Now, however, his expression changed like a flash. Though his colour waned, his lips grew firmer, his brows knit, and there leaped up in his soft blue eyes that intense, penetrating light which evinces latent power, invincible courage, and an indomitable will, signs which in this man rarely appeared on the surface.

"What's this?" lie said sharply. Nervousness, excitement, fear—have I trained you for years, Maria, only to see you thus? Have I never told you that a change of colour, a shrinking eye, a thoughtless gesture, a careless word, or even an involutna-ry gasp, might betray us? Calm yourself instantly."'

There was an approach to suppressed ferocity in the man's looks and voice, though the latter had not been raised in the least degree.

Maria Marvin did not resent it, however. She only smiled a bit scornfully, drawing up her lithe, sinuous figure clad ; -n a pretty morning dress of lightblue, and quickly shook -her head. " Faugh" she softly cried, with a flash of her fine eyes. " You should know mc better, Leo. If I come to you in haste and excitement, you may be very sure that I know that you are alone. Trust mc to mask my very emotion in the presence of others, or the occasion requires it." " That's better, mnch better," nodded Lecraw, still with eyes gleaming. " Did you say that detectives are here?" '•Yes." "Where?" "In the drawing-room." " Who ? " " One is Nick Carter." " H'm! I have heard of him." " Tbe other is his assistant, he said." " What does he want?" ••' He asked to see you, but declined to state his business," said Maria, now perfectly composed. " I told him I would inform you, Leo 3 and bade them wait."

"He asked to see you. but declined to state his business," said Maria, now perfectly composed. " I told hirm I would inform you, Leo, and bade them wait." '" All right, Maria," nodded Lecraw, thoughtfully. ' Quite right, my dear." Then he suddenly laid his hand on her arm, gripping it firmly, and more forcibly added: " Nick Carter — he's a man to be feared, a man of marvellous discernment, Maria. He may have come here to question us, though I cannot guess his motive. I must head' off any discovery —yes, yes. I must head off any discovery on his part." "I should say so, Leo." "While I meet him, Maria, you quietly warn the servants of his presence," added Lecraw, with terrible earnestness. i "Don't neglect one of them. Warn them to be prepared, to be guarded, to brace every nerve, and be governed by my past instructions. - ' "Trust them for that, Leo, -without any instructions," said Maria significantly. "Yet th-e warning will prepare them, Maria, in case this meddlesome detective should question them," insisted Lccraw. "Do what I have commanded, my dear, and leave the rest to mc. I will g° an( * meet him. I'll go and see them both, Maria. Follow my instructions, and leave this Carter to mc." He removed his apron while speaking, and extinguished the Bunsen lamp. The viscous fluid ceased boiling, and he lingered to study it for a moment, as if his experiment was still of as gTeat importance, if not greater, than the unexpected visit of the noted detective. Presently he rubbed his slender hands and smoothed the front of his black coat, then walked into the corridor, through which Maria. Marvin had already hastened, and vanished up the stairs. Nick Carter was right in thinking him i somewhat of a mystery, this Doctor Lecraw; for his hearing, his aspect, his gravely winsome face, were as composed and apparently as trustworthy as one could imagine when he entered the hand-somely-furnished drawing-room in which the two detectives were waiting. Nick at once arose to meet him, sure that he would not he recognised as one who had met him twice before. ffl "You are Doctor Lecraw?" he said, with an inquiring smile. Doctor Lecraw bowed, and returned the smile, then graciously waved his visitor to the chair from which he had arisen. "I am, yes," said he, with grave affability. "The card brought to mc states that you are Mr Carter, a. police-detec-tive. I have heard of yon, sir." "This also is Mr Carter, one of my assistants," said Nick. "Delighted," bowed Doctor Lecraw. "Same to you, sir," said Chick, wondering if so gentle and unassuming a man could passiblj be a loiave»

'" All right, Maria," nodded Lecraw, thoughtfully. ' Quite right, my dear."

Then he suddenly laid his hand on her arm, gripping it firmly, and more forcibly added:

" Nick Carter — he's a man to be feared, a man of marvellous discernment, Maria. He may have come here to question us, though I cannot guess his motive. I must head off any discovery —yes, yes. I must head off any discovery on his part." "I should say so, Leo." "While I meet him, Maria, you quietly warn the servants of his presence," added Lecraw, with terrible earnestness. "Dcn't neglect one of them. Warn them to be prepared, to be guarded, to brace every nerve, and be governed by my past instructions. - '

"Trust them for that, Leo, -without any instructions," said Maria significantly.

"P r ay> Detective Carter, what business has brought you to Eangeley?" ?vick needed no second invitation to come down to business.

"A gentleman has employed mc," said he, "to investigate the mysterious disappearance of the corpse of Etta Sheldon, who died here several days ago. She was your niece, I am told, and the main circumstances of the case have already been imparted to mc." "What gentleman has been so officious as to employ you without consulting mc?" asked Doctor Leeraw, with a sharper gleam from under his grey brows. '"Mr Harvey Dane," replied Nick. "Ah I "He and Miss Sheldon were lovers', I believe." fB "Does he say so?" "Yes." "It may be true, then," Leeraw indifferently rejoined. "I am not my brother's keeper, Detective Carter, and I had no way of knowing the precise nature of Etta Sheldon's sentiments. I think, however, that Mr Dane has been very presumptuous." ""In engaging mc before consulting you?" "Certainly, sir." "Surely, Doctor Leeraw, you wish to recover the lost body," remarked Nick, quite pointedly. '•"Yes, I do." "If, then, I caii v «- of any assistance, was not Dane justified in the step he has taken?" '"How does he know, or I, sir, that you can aid us?" Leeraw quietly demanded. "Because I told him that I could," said Xiek. '"You did?" inquired the physician, with a curiously sharp squint. "Yes/ , "For what reason, Detective Carter?" "I have had wide experience in similar cases, Doctor Leeraw, and having carefully considered the circumstances in which this one is involved, I feel sure that I can be of much sen-ice to you," Nick confidently explained. "7 cannot think, Doctor Leeraw, that you would oppose any efforts that might prove to be to your advantage." The last was said quite pointedly, and the sinister gleam in the physician's eyes instantly vanished. With a display of candour well calculated to dispel any awakened distrust, he quickly answered:

"If I appear to do so. Detective Carter, it is only because I wish to avoid giving to this unfortunate case any of that publicity which too frequently accompanies a police investigation. If you can be of any service to mc, sir, without giving needless publicity to the case, I ■will not only sanction the step taken by Mr. Dane, but I will pay liberally for your work, and give you all the assistance in my power. That is my true attitude in regard to this matter. Detective Carter." "A very proper one, Doctor Lecraw, I'm sure," bowed Nick. "I fully appreciate your sentiments, and my investigations shall be very quietly made, with no publicity whatever." "Ah; that is much more to my liking," said Lecraw. "You are willing, then, for mc to undertake this work?" "Most assuredly." "And you will assist mc?" "In every way possible. Detective Carter. If there are any circumstances of which you are not yet informed "

"That ground has been entirely covered by Mr. Dane, interrupted Nick, still feeling that Lecraw was a difficult man to measure correctly. "There is, however, one way in which you can aid mc this morning." "What way is that. Detective Carter V

"I wish you would call in all of your servants here and permit mc to see and question them," said Nick. Again that momentary gleam, sharp and searching, shot from under the physician's brows. *■* "Surely," said he, with a curious smile, "you do not suspect any of my servants of duplicity in this affair. I can vouch for their honesty, Detective Carter, one and all."'

"I have no definite suspicions, Doctor Lecraw," Nick quietly declared. "I do wish, however, to see your several servants. If you have any objections, however "

"Not the slightest," cried Lecr.-iw, starting to his feet. "I will have them sent here at once."

"Omit none, Doctor Lecraw." "Not one, Detective Carter, I assure you.' .

"He seems well enough, Nick, and ip pears to be on the level," Chick quietiy whispered, after Lecraw had stepped into the finely furnished hall

"Yet th-e warning will prepare them, Maria, in case this meddlesome detective should question them," insisted Lccraw. "Do what I have commanded, my dear, and leave the rest to mc. I will g° an d meet him. I'll go and see them both, Maria. Follow my instructions, and leave this Carter to mc."

Nick nodded, replying softly: "Yes, outwardly." "You still suspect something under the surface?"

He removed his apron while speaking, and extinguished the Bunsen lamp. The viscous fluid ceased boiling, and he lingered to study it for a moment, as if his experiment was still of as great importance, if not greater, than the unexpected visit of the noted detective. Presently he rubbed his slender hands and smoothed the front of his black coat, then walked into the corridor, through which Maria. Marvin had already hastened, and vanished up the stairs. Nick Carter vras right in thinking him somewhat of a mystery, this Doctor Lecraw; for his bearing, his aspect, his gravely winsome face, were as composed and apparently as trustworthy as one could imagine when he entered the hand-somely-furnished drawing-room in which the two detectives were waiting.

"I instinctively distrust him, yet I cannot say just why," nodded Xiek, listening. Doctor Lecraw, then in the hall, could be heard giving his instructions to Maria Marvin. There appeared to he no attempt at concealing anything, nor giving instructions secretly. Nick Jid not guess, then, that the only necessary warning had already been given. Doctor Lecraw presently returned, and a moment later the several servants were heard coming through the hall. . Nick sized them up as they entered and stood about the room. With tua appearance of Maria Marvin he was already familiar. Next came the cook and general housekeeper, Sarah Glory, a powerful woman of fifty, with her sleeves rolled to the elbows of a pair of muscular red arms.

The house-butler, Paul Damon, was the third to appear. He was a tall, athletic man of forty, with a dark, cleancut face and quiet bearing. Yet iie was a man who, Nick quickly decided, could he relied upon in any serious emergency. The last who entered were Mark Wiggin, the hostler, followed by the man who had served Miss Sheldon as a coachman and chauffeur, James Hanlon. These two men had quarters in the stable, as Nick bad already been informed, and both were stalwart men in middle life.

Nick regarded all of them with seeming indifference when they entered, meantime talking .quietly with the physician, to whom he presently said:

"Are these all, doctor?" Lecraw bowed and complacently rubbed his hands.

"Yes, all, Detective Carter," said he. "They have been employed here for three years."

"That alone should be a sufficient voucher to their excellent character," smiled Nick. Then he glanced at his assistant, and add§d in a .careless way:

"You might wait in the hall, Chick, . and guard against intruders. Ido not wish to be interrupted." •'•'Certain'-." nodded Chick, rising. '•Draw the door after you," added "Sick, as if with an after-thought. Thus he gathered all the inmates of the house under his eye. and paved the way for Chick to quickly and quietly search the house without awakening suspicion. Nevertheless, that sinister, searching gleam a*rain apppeared for a moment iv Lecraws'blue eyes, only to be followed by his habitual look of gravity and composure. (To be continued. dallyO