Was He the Man?

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10210, 12 April 1911, Page 2

Was He the Man?

OUR SfcR!AL.

BY F. L. DACRE, o

Author of "A Phantom of the Past," -Tronholme's Trust,'' "The Doctor's Secret," "A Loveless Marriage," "Sir John s Heiress, etc.

CHAPTER XT!—Continued. j Wo drank the toast wit!; a laugh and many compliments to the astute little gentleman who had tracked 0110 <;1 our foxes to hi ' lair. Morel gracefully acknowledged tho compliment. "There is one observation I should like to make," I said, when tho laugh had subsided, "and it is this: The j narrative broke oif at a most exciting j point. You say you tracked Robson to nis lodging What happened next? Wa : that the end of your night's adventure:" Surely, after your experience with him in Deacon Street you arrested him? It would bo a satisfaction to know that he is caged." "It would,' replied Morel, 'to me especially. "For all th'dt, I didn t airosl him. Were wo sure of Fitzgerald's movements 1 should have done so, but we are not; wo are assuming that he will very soon put in an appearanco in the character of Major Denver, but he may change his mind; when it comes to the point he may .shrink from taking the risk. In that case the probability is that he will communicate with Robson. and, by keeping touch with him, we should bag our brace ef jailbirds." "But," I urged, "if so, why did you try to capture Robson throe weeks ago? You made a determined effort then, to your cost." "1 did," Morel rejoined, "and to tny shitrso 1 sa> it I can cffei no ev erio for my precipitancy; it was unpardonable. My strong desire to take the man outweighed my judgment, I and the unexpected sight of him destroyed my mental balance. I yielded to a sudden impulse, and in one of my pr> lession ther? is no greater fav!i. | Emotioi.s should find no place in a cle-j tective's nature, except in his leisure i hours. You agree with me, Burton?" "Unquestionably," laughed Burton, but, fortunately for those who w.r against society, there are few of us who can always keep our feelings under lock and key. But to return to Robson ; no doubt you have made such arrangements that you can put your hand on him when you want him?" "Yes; I think I have him safe at last. He won't take a step without being followed. I have given the local inspector copies of his portrait, and I have several private detectives I can rely on engaged in watching him by turns, so that he will never for a moment ho free from espionage. Yes, 1 don't think Ro' •-eti will give me the slip again," he concluded, with a low chuckle. We agreed that he seemed to have Rohson securely in his toils, and then devoted ourselves to arranging the details of our journey to Southampton to meet the expected liner from South Africa; Imt this did not detain us long, as a neighbouring clock sounding the hour of two reminded us that we ought to be in bed. With mutual good-nights we parted..

hut with fach failure his exasperation increased, and with it his determination to succeed. As for Burton—well, somehow I couldn't quite understand Burton. Although professing himself eager for Fitzgerald's capture, .and excited at the prospect, his excitement alternated with periods of depression. He sat in moody silence, as though brooding over somo impending trouble, and all throughout the journey I noticed that he never started a conversation, and joined in •only when appealed to. Once or twice I rallied him on his silence, and at last inquired whether he was unwell.

"IS T o, I'm all right, thanks," was his reply. "One needn't be always in a state of effervescence to prove that ono is well, and I thought wo had just about exhausted the subject of Fitzgerald ; but if there's more I am ready to discuss it."

He shook himself together with an effort, and sat upright. But, in spite of his protest, T could see that he was not his usual self; ho was paler than was his wont, and had a haunted look, almost a look of fear. I said no more upon the subject, but more than onco I caught Morel's gaze intently fixed on Burton with a look of inquiry, as though he was diving into the recesses of his memory in search of a key to some enicma that was mizzling him. But shortly before our arrival I noticed that his expression of strained interest had faded away and ono of complacency take its place. I argued from that that he had found the clue he sought. When we reached Southampton the Bramber Castle was not in sight, and we were told that she was not expected for two or three hours. Morel was of opinion that Kobson might come down to meet his accomplice, and we took a walk round the docks and tho town, but thero was no sign of him, so ive made our way to the local police station, and informed the superintendent of our errand. He instructed a plain clothes officer to meet us at the docks in time for the arrival of the vessel. That business finished, I said : "Well, I suppose there's nothing J further to be done but to possess our I souls in patience for an hour of two. "On th? contrary," Morel dissented, "we may still find profitable occupation, and, I trust, agreeable. Let us lunch, let us drink, in the sparkling vintage of my native country, to the successful ending of our trip, and the speedy and final stop to the career of Denver's double."

I The nearer the time approached for ' the arrival of the vessel, the higher rose the spirits of the Frenchman. It was very different with Burton, whose moodiness proportionate!y increased. "An excellent suggestion," I agreed —"I for one, have an appetite for which I would not take half a sovereign. A squaro meal will serve the double purpose of refreshing our bodies, and lightening the strain upon our patience."

CHAPTER Xni. THE BOAT, BUT NOT THE MAN. So far nothing had been said to Mrs Mayhew or her niece as to the expected arrival of Fitzgerald, as we all firmly believed the man from Capetown to be, for we were unwilling to cause them unnecessary anxiety, and were hoping to effect his capture and extradition without their knowledge. As for "Kathleen, she'had never discovered, nor had she been informed, of the deception that had been practiced upon her. Fitzgerald had begun the courtship, Denver had carried it on, but to this moment she believed them to be one and the same person. To he undeceived, to learn that she had been betrothed to a thief and a murderer might have very serious consequences to her, and this I was determined to prevent until disclosure became inevitable.

We went into Radley's, and in spite of our excitement, made an excellent meal. Even Burton discovered a very respectable appetite. When the bottle of Perrier-Jouet was uncorked, and we had filled our glasses, Morel proposed his toast. Both he and I drank it with gusto, but in response to the veiled hope that Fitzgerald might speedily receive his just reward. Burton merely sipped his glass in silence, and replaced it on the table. I even thought he shuddered slightly, and when I looked at Morel I found him gazing fixedly at ouv- companion. When we reached the wharf, alongside which the vessel was to draw up, we took a position which would enable us to command a view of- very passenger landing from her. A few minutes later we sighted the huge liner approaching. To our impatience she seemed to be moving very slowly, but at last she was safely moored to the landing stage. Our hearts beat fast— I could hear mine distinctly.

But should wo fail in arresting the impostor, it would be necessary to warn the ladies, for we thought it very probable he would call on Mrs Mayhew, for Denver had mentioned in his statement, every word of which was branded in my memory—that she had formed ole of tl.e party aurirg their travels in Italy and France. It was extremely likely, therefore, that she had given him her address in London. -» * * % * A few hours later, and wo should know for certain whether Fitzgerald was on hoard the vessel from Capetown ; for Burton, who had been in constant communication with the owners, had learned that the Bramber Castle, nearly five days behind her time, had been sighted off Ushant, she would not put in at Plymouth, but would make direct for Southampton. There being no other ship from the Cape due about that time, there was no object in dividing our party, so it was arranged that Burton, Morel and I should proceed in company to Southampton. We were all in a state of suppressed excitement when wo started. T, to whom such an expedition was a novelty, was in something like a fever of expectation. T was longing to come face to face with tho murderer of my friend, and to execute the trust committed to me. Morel was almost as keen in his pursuit as I, for he had a long score to settle with Fitzgerald; he had been tracking him unsuccessfully for many months, had often followed what seemed Tike likely clues, only to find them lead to nothing;

Was the man we hoped for on board the vessel ?

The usual little crowd was assembled on tho landing stage, and we had placed ourselves close to the gangway, so that no one could leave tho ship unnoticed by us.

Soon tho passengers were streaming out, some to be received by hearty handshakes and boisterous greetings, some to be clasped in the arms of wives and mothers, while others met with no familiar faces, and went on their solitary ways in silence. How keenly we scrutinized the faces of every man' who passed us, while the crowd on deck was rapidly becoming smaller. At last so few remained that we could distinguish each. The gloom which had been slowly growing, now settled on our faces, for Fitzgerald was not among the remaining passengers, and had most certainly not passed us. Wo looked at each other in dismav. (To be ContinuedV