XIX
ROBERT PARMENTER'S SUCCESSORS
In half-an-hour from the time Captain Carrington strode to thetelephone to arouse his friends, all Hampton had the startling news:Davila Carrington and her guest, Miss Cavendish, had disappeared.
How, when, and where, it could not learn, so it supplied the deficiencyas best pleased the individual--by morning, the wildest tales wererehearsed and credited.
The truth was bad enough, however. Miss Carrington and Miss Cavendishwere not in the town, nor anywhere within a circuit of five miles.Croyden, Macloud, all the men in the place had searched the nightthrough, and without avail. Every horse, and every boat had beenaccounted for. It remained, that they either had fallen into the Bay,or had gone in a strange conveyance.
Croyden and Macloud had returned to Clarendon for a bite ofbreakfast--very late breakfast, at eleven o'clock. They had met byaccident, on their way to the house, having come from totally differentdirections of search.
"It's Parmenter again!" said Croyden, suddenly.
"It's what?" said Macloud.
"Parmenter:--Pirate's gold breeds pirate's ways. The lawyer villain hasreappeared. I told you it was he I saw, yesterday, driving theautomobile."
"I don't quite understand why they selected Elaine and Miss Carringtonto abduct," Macloud objected, after a moment's consideration. "Whydidn't they take you?"
"Because they thought we would come to time more quickly, if they tookthe women. They seem to be informed on everything, so, we can assume,they are acquainted with your fondness for Miss Carrington and mine forElaine. Or, it's possible they thought that we both were interested inDavila--for I've been with her a lot this autumn--and then, at thepinch, were obliged to take Elaine, also, because she was with her andwould give the alarm if left behind."
"A pretty fair scheme," said Macloud. "The fellow who is managing thisbusiness knew we would do more for the women than for ourselves."
"It's the same old difficulty--we haven't got Parmenter's treasure, butthey refuse to be convinced."
The telephone rang, and Croyden himself answered it.
"Captain Carrington asks that we come over at once," he said, hangingup the receiver. "The Pinkerton men have arrived."
They finished their breakfast and started. Half way to the gate, theymet the postman coming up the walk. He handed Croyden a letter, facedabout and trudged away.
Croyden glanced at it, mechanically tore open the envelope, and drew itout. As his eyes fell on the first line, he stopped, abruptly.
"Listen to this!" he said.
"On Board The Parmenter, "Pirate Sloop of War, "Off the Capes of the Chesapeake.
"Dear Sir:--
"It seems something is required to persuade you that we mean business. Therefore, we have abducted Miss Carrington and her friend, Miss Cavendish, in the hope that it will rouse you to a proper realization of the eternal fitness of things, and of our intention that there shall be a division of the jewels--or their value in money. Our attorney had the pleasure of an interview with you, recently, at which time he specified a sum of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, as being sufficient. A further investigation of the probable value of the jewels, having convinced us that we were in slight error as to their present worth, induces us to reduce the amount, which we claim as our share, to two hundred thousand dollars. This is the minimum of our demand, however, and we have taken the ladies, aforesaid, as security for its prompt payment.
"They will be held in all comfort and respect (if no effort at rescue be attempted--otherwise we will deal with them as we see fit), for the period of ten days from the receipt of this letter, which will be at noon to-morrow. If the sum indicated is not paid, they will, at the expiration of the ten days, be turned over to the tender mercies of the crew.--Understand?
"As to the manner of payment--You, yourself, must go to Annapolis, and, between eleven and twelve in the morning, proceed to the extreme edge of Greenberry Point and remain standing, in full view from the Bay, for the space of fifteen minutes. You will, then, face about, step ten paces, and bury the money, which must be in thousand dollar bills, under a foot of sand. You will then, immediately, return to Annapolis and take the first car to Baltimore, and, thence, to Hampton.
"In the event that you have not reduced the jewels to cash, we will be content with such a division as will insure us a moiety thereof. It will be useless to try deception concerning them,--though a few thousand dollars, one way or the other, won't matter. When you have complied with these terms, the young women will be released and permitted to return to Hampton. If not--they will wish they were dead, even before they are. We are, sir, with deep respect,
"Y'r h'mbl. and ob'dt. serv'ts,
"Robert Parmenter's Successors.
"Geoffrey Croyden, Esq'r. "Hampton, Md."
"Where was it mailed?" Macloud asked.
Croyden turned over the envelope. It was postmarked Hampton, 6.30 A.M.,of that day.
"Which implies that it was mailed some time during the night," saidhe.
"What do you make of it?"
"Do you mean, will they carry out their threat?"
Croyden nodded.
"They have been rather persistent," Macloud replied.
"It's absurd!" Croyden exclaimed. "We haven't the jewels. DamnParmenter and his infernal letter!"
"Parmenter is not to blame," said Macloud. "Damn the thieves."
"And damn my carelessness in letting them pick my pocket! there liesthe entire difficulty."
"Well, the thing, now, is to save the women--and how?"
"Pay, if need be!" exclaimed Croyden. "The two hundred thousand I gotfor the Virginia Development bonds will be just enough."
Macloud nodded. "I'm in for half, old man. Aside from any personalfeelings we may have for the women in question," he said, with aserious sort of smile, "we owe it to them--they were abducted solelybecause of us--to force us to disgorge."
"I'm ready to pay the cash at once."
"Don't be hasty!" Macloud cautioned. "We have ten days, and the policecan take a try at it."
"_That_, for the police!" said Croyden, snapping his fingers. "They'reall bunglers--they will be sure to make a mess of it, and, then, no mancan foresee what will happen. It's not right to subject the women tothe risk. Let us pay first, and punish after--if we can catch thescoundrels. How long do you think Henry Cavendish will hesitate when helearns that Elaine has been abducted, and the peril which menacesher?"
"Thunder! we have clean forgot her father!" exclaimed Macloud. "Heshould be informed at once."
"Just what he shouldn't be," Croyden returned. "What is the good inalarming him? Free her--then she may tell him, or not, as it pleasesher."
Macloud held out his hand.
"Done!" he said. "Our first duty _is_ to save the women, the rest canbide until they are free. How about the money? Are your stocks readilyconvertible? If not, I'll advance your share."
"Much obliged, old man," said Croyden, "but a wire will do it--they'reall listed on New York."
"Will you lose much, if you sell now?" asked Macloud. He wished Croydenwould let him pay the entire amount.
"Just about even; a little to the good, in fact," was the answer.
And Macloud said no more--he knew it was useless.
At Ashburton, they found Captain Carrington pacing the long hall, indeep distress--uncertain what course to pursue, because there was noindication as to what had caused the disappearance. He turned, as thetwo men entered.
"The detectives are quizzing the servants in the library," he said. "Icouldn't sit still.--You have news?" he exclaimed, reading Croyden'sface.
"I have!" said Croyden, and gave him the letter.
He seized it. As he read, concern, perplexity, amazement, anger, allshowed in his countenance.
&n
bsp; "They have been abducted!--Davila and Miss Cavendish, and are held forransom!--a fabulous ransom, which you are asked to pay," he said,incredulously. "So much, at least, is intelligible. But why? why? Whoare Robert Parmenter's Successors?--and who was he? and the jewels?--Icannot understand----"
"I'm not surprised," said Croyden. "It's a long story--too long totell--save that Parmenter was a pirate, back in 1720, who buried atreasure on Greenberry Point, across the Severn from Annapolis, youknow, and died, making Marmaduke Duval his heir, under certainconditions. Marmaduke, in turn, passed it on to his son, and so on,until Colonel Duval bequeathed it to me. We searched--Mr. Macloud andI--for three weeks, but did not find it. Our secret was chanced upon bytwo rogues, who, with their confederates, however, are under theconviction we _did_ find it. They wanted a rake-off. I laughed atthem--and this abduction is the result."
"But why abduct the women?" asked the old man.
"Because they think I can be coerced more easily. They are under theimpression that I am--fond of Miss Carrington. At any rate, they knowI'm enough of a friend to pay, rather than subject her to the hazard."
"Pay! I can't pay! My whole fortune isn't over twenty thousand dollars.It I will gladly sacrifice, but more is impossible."
"You're not to pay, my old friend," said Croyden. "Mr. Macloud and Iare the ones aimed at and we will pay."
"I won't permit it, sir!" the Captain exclaimed. "There is no reasonfor you----"
"Tut! tut!" said Croyden, "you forget that we are wholly responsible;but for us, Miss Carrington and Miss Cavendish would not have beenabducted. The obligation is ours, and we will discharge it. It is ourplain, our very plain, duty."
The old man threw up his hands in the extremity of despair.
"I don't know what to do!" he said. "I don't know what to do!"
"Do nothing--leave everything to us. We'll have Miss Carrington back inthree days."
"And safe?"
"And safe--if the letter is trustworthy, and I think it is. The policecan't do as well--they may fail entirely--and think of the possibleconsequences! Miss Carrington and Miss Cavendish are very handsomewomen."
"My God, yes!" exclaimed the Captain. "Anything but that! If they weremen, or children, it would be different--they could take some chances.But women!"--He sank on a chair and covered his face with his hands."You must let me pay what I am able," he insisted. "All that Ihave----"
Croyden let his hand fall sympathizingly on the other's shoulder.
"It shall be as you wish," he said quietly. "We will pay, and you cansettle with us afterward--our stocks can be converted instantly, yousee, while yours will likely require some time."
The Captain pulled himself together and arose.
"Thank you," he said. "I've been sort of unmanned--I'm better now.Shall you show the detectives the letter--tell them we are going to paythe amount demanded?"
"I don't know," said Croyden, uncertainly. "What's your opinion,Colin?"
"Let them see the letter," Macloud answered, "but on the distinctstipulation, that they make no effort to apprehend 'Robert Parmenter'sSuccessors' until the women are safely returned. They may pick upwhatever clues they can obtain for after use, but they must not doanything which will arouse suspicion, even."
"Why take them into our confidence at all?" asked Croyden.
"For two reasons: It's acting square with them (which, it seems to me,is always the wise thing to do). And, if they are not let in on thefacts, they may blunder in and spoil everything. We want to save thewomen at the earliest moment, without any possible handicaps due toignorance or inadvertence."
"But can we trust them?" Croyden asked, doubtfully.
"It's the lesser of two evils."
"We will have to explain the letter, its reference to the Parmenterjewels, and all that it contains."
"I can see no objection. We didn't find the treasure, and, I reckon,they're welcome to search, if they think there is a chance."
"Well, let it be exactly as you wish--you're quite as much concernedfor success as I am," said Croyden.
"Possibly, more so," returned Macloud, seriously.
And Croyden understood.
Then, they went into the library. The two detectives arose at theirentrance. The one, Rebbert, was a Pinkerton man, the other, Sanders,was from the Bureau at City Hall. Both were small men, with cleanshaven faces, steady, searching eyes, and an especially quiet manner.
"Mr. Croyden," said Rebbert, "we have been questioning the servants,but have obtained nothing of importance, except that the ladies woretheir hats and coats (at least, they have disappeared). This, with thefact that you found Miss Cavendish's glove and handkerchief, on a roadwithout the limits of Hampton, leads to the conclusion that they havebeen abducted. But why? Miss Carrington, we are informed, has no greatwealth--how as to Miss Cavendish?"
"She has more than sufficient--in fact, she is very rich----"
"Ah! then we _have_ a motive," said the detective.
"There is a motive, but it is not Miss Cavendish," Croyden answered."You're correct as to the abduction, however--this will explain," andhe handed him the letter.
The two men read it.
"When did you receive this?" said one.
"At noon to-day," replied Croyden, passing over the envelope.
They looked carefully at the postmark.
"Do you object to explaining certain things in this letter?" Rebbertasked.
"Not in the least," replied Croyden. "I'll tell you the entirestory.... Is there anything I have missed?" he ended.
"I think not, sir."
"Very well! Now, we prefer that you should take no measures toapprehend the abductors, until after Miss Cavendish and MissCarrington have been released. We are going to pay the amountdemanded."
"Going to pay the two hundred thousand dollars!" cried the detectives,in one breath.
Croyden nodded. "Afterward, you can get as busy as you like."
A knowing smile broke over the men's faces, at the same instant.
"You too think we found the treasure?" Croyden exclaimed.
"It looks that way, sir," said Rebbert; while Sanders acquiesced, withanother smile.
Croyden turned to Macloud and held up his hands, hopelessly.
"If we only had!" he cried. "If we only had!"
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