Was He the Man ?

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10207, 7 April 1911, Page 2

Was He the Man ?

OUR SERIAL.

BY F. L. DACRE, -aAuthor of "A Phantom of the Past," "Tronliolme's Trust,'"-' "The Doctor's Secret," "A Loveless Marriage," "Sir John's Heiress," etc.

CHAPTER X.—Continued

Wo assented, the hell was rung, and llv- siphon and" glasses were brought. V\- had been so absorbed in our conversation that we had not even smokC "\Vo now. lighted up, and after a drink, 1 said: "Now, gentlemen, what do you sup--•,-s'' was this man Smith'Opecial ob-i-t in coming to see me? We have discarded the notion that he came on }i f-i ."iX-Hv mission."

'•To arrive at that," iaid Morel, -we must hypothecate-no, _thats not the proper t h such a term ?-ouce more 11 on w h,t oassed between you, and-well, Mr Smith-we may infer that Fitzgerald means to pose as Denver, and to claim his estate. The two men have met and Fitzgerald knows ot then extraordinary likeness—in fact, that he is Denver's double. In the .character of Denver, it is incumbent upon hhn to start proceedings from abroad, for, had lie been in England about the time of Major Denver's death, lie would, us Denver, have been in Den--ver's house, and in enyoyment of his property. Accordingly ho makes it known that he is in Africa—we know he can't be, but Africa will i.orve as well as any other quarter of the globe, i Whether he'll betake himself thither, or to some other place, it's impossible to say; but I think it likely that he will choose Africa, his accomplice having stated it. They'll want to be as consistent as they can. In any case, Fitzgerald will turn up from abroad— I unless, which' is unlikely, we catch him first. "Now; what will be essential to him on his arrival? Identification! He has ascertained from the document and papers stolen trom Major Denver's house that you are an intimate friend of the- deceased man; but he does not know you himself. 'To interview you, either in person—disguised —or through an agent, would excite suspicion", for you would naturally say to a stranger, 'Why do you come to me about Major Denver's affairs? How do vou know that I was acquainted with 'mm.' >io: he, or rather his friend, •' takes the course of an honest enquirer ; he goes place of Major Denver's abode, inquires for his lawyer, I and puts himself in communication I witn lnm, and informs him that the ! reputed Major Denver who died was ! not Denver, because, to his know- ! ledge, the major is alive. The lawyer, j while repudiating the truth of the . man's story, very properly refers him : to you, Major Denver's executor and | legatee,, and the man has gained his J end — a legitimate excuse for calling ! on you.

''Now we come to tne answer to your question. What was his special object in desiring a personal interview with you? To a certain extent, no doubt, to prepare you for your friend's resurrection; but his main purpose was, I am convinced, to manufacture evidence for ' the impostor. This man Smith —or Robson, as I believe him to be —now knows what you are like, and unknown to you he will point you out to Fitzgerald, and when the proper time arrives that villain will claim you as his old friend Grey. In the meantime, probably, he will prepare himself to look up others for the purpose of identification. The correspondence he purloined will help him in this. He doesn't know, you must remember, that you are aware of the robbery.

I ' 'As soon as he has familiarised himself with your appearance, ho will most likely make a bolt for it, either to South Africa or somewhere else. That is my view of the situation."

Morel ceased speaking, took a long drink, and then began, to puff meditatively at his cigar, "Your assumptions and your forecast both seem to ba reasonable," I said, "but if so, wouldn't the proper course be to watch the ports, and arrest Fitzgerald before-he gets away?" "That's more easily said than done," laughed 1 ' Burton. "Fitzgerald's a

downy bird. He is not like an ordinary criminal, intent on escaping from the country j he's up to every move, and as likely as not would get away by none of the recognised routes. In any case he won't go in the name either of Denver or Fitzgerald; if we knew for a certainty that he was going "to a South African port it would give us a fair chance of capturing him; but he may go anywhere." "Or nowhere," interposed Morel. "He may choose to lie hidden here, and send some one -out to represent him. Or, again, he may have a confederate in South Africa, and will write, instructing him to ship to England in the name of Denver. In the circumstances it seems to\me that our wisest plan is to wait for him to make a move. Of course, should I receive certain knowledge of his whereabouts, I should arrest him—that is, 'if I could.

"Meantime, I shall try my best to bring clown tho other bird. In this, your information should assist me, MiGrey. 1 shall change my quarters, and get a lodging &s near to Smiles, the news agent, as'l can, in the hope of running Mr William Smith to earth. Probably he won't call in person for bis letters, but a small retainer to Mr Smiles, and a promise of more, should I effect the capture, will, I fancy, enable me to track Jim Robsos. or his messenger."

For the present the subject was exhausted. It was irritating to have to fold one's hands and await events, but there seemed no help for it. So, after a little talk on general topics, I left the two detectives, and went home. A day or two afterwards I. heard from Morel that he found rooms immediately opposite to the news' agent's, in Deacon Street. CHAPTER XL ROBSON SCORES AGAIN. • A month had passed since my conversation with the detectives at t UG hotel in Greek Street, and nei'.licv Fenton nor myself had heard anything of them, nor had either made any fresh discovery. I%'e missing man we all so anxiously await,had given no further sign of hx- existence, and Robson had kept lumseii very effectually out of the way since his interview with me, if he it was, in the personality of William Smith. Then suddenly the irksome suspense was broken, and I learned that the enemy had made a move. As before, my first intimation was through Mr Morton. One afternoon I received i call from him. After shaking honos. he plunged at once into the object. ." I his visit. I "Well," he said, "I don't whether it will surprise you, but f have received a communication from the impostor, who would have us oelieve that the man we buried six weeks ago was not our old friend Denver."' °As a matter of fact I was but little surprised, but I was immensely interested, and agreeably so, for the sooner Fitzgerald opened his guns the sooner I should silence them. "Ah," I said, "I am glad to hen it. I'm sick of this suspense, and if wo are going to have a fight, the sooner it begins the better. Now, what are tho particulars?" I "This morning I received this cableigram," rejoined the lawyer,, as he handed, mo the document. This is what I read : • J "Astounded at announcement of Imy death. Contradict. Returning home at once. Henry Fitzgerald Denver, Capetown. To Morton, 25 BankStreet, Gravesend, England." "Excellent," I exclaimed. "If the I news contained in this were true, no- ! ? thing would have pleased me more. If ' the really is coming, he should be here in three weeks or thereabouts, and we 1 shall have him." "Knowing tho crimes he has com- ' mitted, I wonder be should dare to ] face the risk. He must have nerves [ of steel, and the effrontery ' of the

"The devil. He has, thank goodness. But most men would run big risks to win a stake of one bundled thousand pounds. With your permission, I will keep this cablegram, and consult tho detectives I am employing in the matter, for, of course, they must be informed of it." "Certainly," he replied. "That's what I brought it to you for. Now, good-by. I have a consultation in an hour."

I fast thought of seeng Burton, to; Morel was not directly engaged hv me, but Euston Road was so much farther from me than Soho that, on second thoughts, I decided to look in at the French detective's on my way, in the hope of finding him. , As good luck would have it, he was in. Although I was unaware of it, at .this time he was generally keeping a watch on the news agent's opposite, in the hope of dropping on Robson. Apparently his pertinacity was at present unrewarded, or I should no longer have found him at the dingy lodging house. "Ah," Mr Grey," he cried, "I hope you're well. "I'm glad, indeed, to see you, for it's weary work sitting here all alone, and watching for one who never comes. Do sit down and chat."

"Then you have seen nothing of your man?" I Inquired. "Not a vestige," he replied, "and I am positive that he has not been to the shop since my coming. There is a letter at the news agent's addressed to Mr William Smith, hut that's 'a common name in this country, and itmay not he for our man. However, I think I have made it worth Smiles' while to let. me know at once, should any one call for it; besides inspiring him with a wholesome far of the eonsequences should his remissness defeat the ends of justice. Have you any news of either of the fish v,e want to net?" "Of Fitzgerald, yes. That's what brought me here. I was on my way to Burton,'but 1 thought I'd look you up in passing. Bead that. It was received by the late Major -Denver's lawyer this morning. I passed him the telegram, and Morel scanned'it thoughtfully. * "So," he said, "Fitzgerald lias decided to burn his boats, and do or die. Good! It shall be the latter." "You think it genuine?" I asked. "That he really is at Cape Town?" "I think it probable," said Morel. "He's had ample time, to get theresince Major Denver's death. But whether or not, it is of no real importance. It is certain the cablegram has come from Capo Town, therefore, if he is not the sender, he must haVe a'con■federate there. But when the real business begins, he must show un." (To be Continued).