Under Cover

by Wyndham Martyn

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Daniel Taylor entered quickly without acknowledging the presence of hisinferiors and crossed to his desk by the window. He was a man abovemedium height, broad of shoulder, thick through the chest and giving theidea of one who was alert and aggressive mentally and physically. Thosein the service who had set themselves against him had been broken. Hispath had been strewn with other men's regrets; but Taylor climbedsteadily, never caring for what was below, but grasping eagerly forpower.

  Naturally a man of his type must have had other qualities than mereaggressiveness to aid him in such vigorous competition. He had commendedhimself to the powers above him for snap judgment and quick action. Andalthough men of his temperament must inevitably make mistakes, it wasnotorious that Taylor made fewer than his rivals.

  Toward men like Duncan and Gibbs who were not destined to rise, men whocould be replaced without trouble, Taylor paid small heed. They did whathe told them and if they failed he never forgot. It was to the menabove him that Taylor showed what small social gifts nature had givenhim. He had sworn to rise in the service and he cultivated only thosewho might aid him.

  After glancing over the papers arranged on his desk he called to Duncan:"Has Miss Cartwright been here yet?"

  "No, sir," Duncan responded promptly.

  His superior pushed the buzzer on his desk and then looked across at theuncomfortable Gibbs. "Want to see me?" he snapped.

  "Yes, sir," Gibbs made answer as Peter the doorkeeper entered in answerto Taylor's summons.

  "Then wait outside," Taylor said, "I'll see you in five minutes."

  "Yes, sir," Gibbs said obediently and made his exit.

  The deputy-surveyor turned toward the attendant. "Peter, let me know theinstant Miss Cartwright arrives. Don't forget; it's important. That'sall."

  He dismissed Peter with a nod and then called to Duncan.

  "Did Bronson of the New York Burglar Insurance Company send over somepapers to me relating to the theft of Miss Cartwright's jewels?"

  Duncan took a long envelope and laid it on his chief's desk. "Here theyare, sir."

  Taylor looked at the documents eagerly. "By George!" he cried, when hehad looked into them, "I knew I was right. I knew there was somethingqueer about the way her diamonds were stolen."

  Duncan looked at him frowning. He prided himself upon his grasp ofdetail and here was the Chief talking about a case he knew naught of."What diamonds?" he asked. "The case wasn't in our office, was it?"

  "No," said Taylor, "this is a little outside job my friend Bronson'smixed up in, but it may be a help to us." He went on reading the papersand presently exclaimed: "It's a frame-up. She wasn't robbed, althoughshe collected from the company on a false claim."

  "But I can't see--" the puzzled Duncan returned.

  "No," said his chief, cutting him short. "If you could, you'd have myjob. Has the Mauretania got to Quarantine yet?"

  "Not yet, sir," Duncan answered.

  "Telephone Brown to notify you the minute she does. Tell him we've gotto know as soon as possible whether Denby declares that necklace;everything depends on that."

  "But he may declare it," Duncan observed sagely.

  "If he does we haven't a case," his superior said briefly, "but I've afeeling there's not going to be a declaration."

  "I think so, too," Duncan asserted, "and I'm holding Ford and Hammett tosearch him."

  Taylor frowned and drummed on the desk with his fingers. "I don't knowthat I want him searched. Let them do nothing without my instructions."

  "But, Chief," Duncan protested, "if he doesn't declare the necklace andyou don't have him searched he'll smuggle it in."

  "I know, I know," Taylor said impatiently, "but I've got to be cautioushow I go about taking liberties with a friend of Michael Harrington's.He has more influence than you've any idea of. We've got to be sure wehave the goods on Denby."

  Duncan looked at the other with grudging admiration. "Well, I guess itwon't take R. J. very long to land him."

  Taylor turned on the speaker with a scowl. "What's he got to do withthis?"

  "I thought you might have interested him in it," Duncan said meaningly.

  "I don't know anything about him," Taylor returned.

  It was like the Chief to refuse to take his underlings into hisconfidence, Duncan thought, so he took his cue and changed the subject.

  "Well," he said, reverting to the proposed search of Denby, "if we don'tgo through him at the dock, what are we going to do?"

  "Let him slide through easily and think he's fooled us," Taylor said."He may be pretty clever. Do you remember that man who stuck thesapphire we were hunting for into a big rosy apple he gave to a woman inthe second cabin and then took it away from her before she had time toeat it? We'll see if he talks to anyone, but I think he'll take thepearls right down to Westbury. He'll be off his guard when once he getsdown there."

  "Have you got one of the Harrington servants to spy for us?" Duncancried.

  "I've got what will be better than that with a little luck," Taylor saidwith a smile. "Don't you know that Miss Ethel Cartwright is going downto Westbury this afternoon to spend the week-end with the Harringtons?"

  "You don't mean you're going to use her?" Duncan exclaimed, incredulityin his tone.

  "It wouldn't be a bad idea, would it, Jim?"

  "It would be a peach of an idea if you could do it, but can you?"

  Taylor chuckled. It was plain he had some scheme in his crafty brainthat pleased him more than a little.

  "I'm going to answer that as soon as I've had a little confidential chatwith Miss Cartwright."

  He broke off to turn to the doorway through which Gibbs' head protruded.

  "Can I see you now, Chief?" Gibbs asked.

  "What is it?" Taylor snapped.

  "There's a deaf and dumb chicken out here," Gibbs replied anxiously.

  "A what?" the other demanded.

  "A girl that can't hear or speak or write. They say she's smuggled abracelet in but they've searched her eight times and can't get a traceof it, so they sent her to you."

  "They don't expect me to make the ninth attempt, do they?" the Chiefqueries.

  "Why, no," Gibbs told him, "but they thought you might hand her thethird degree."

  "Bring her in," the autocrat commanded. When Gibbs had closed the doorTaylor turned to Duncan. "She's probably bluffing. Put that chair here.We'll try the gun gag on her. There's a revolver in my second drawer.When I say 'Go,' you shoot. Got it?"

  "Yes, sir," Duncan said, anticipating a theatrical scene in which hischief would shine as usual. Duncan always enjoyed such episodes; he felthe shone with reflected power.

  Gibbs dragged in a young girl and stood her in front of the chair towhich the Chief had beckoned. "Sit down," Gibbs commanded. The afflictedwoman who was named, so Gibbs said, Sarah Peabody, remained standing."Hey, _squattez-vous,_" her captor commanded again in a louder voice.Still Sarah was unmoved. Gibbs scratched his head and summoned hislinguistic attainments to his aid.

  "_Setzen sie_," he shouted, but Miss Peabody remained erect.

  Gibbs turned away with a gesture of despairing dignity. "I'm done," heasserted; "that's all the languages I know. I used to think it was aterrible thing that women could talk, but I guess the Almighty knowedmore than I did."

  Duncan essayed more active measures. He pushed her into the seat. "Heyyou," cried he, "sit down there."

  Gibbs watched a little apprehensively. If Sarah Peabody had been normal,he would have pictured her as a slangy and fluent young woman with afull-sized temper. He had dealt with such before and they invariablydefeated him in wordy combat. In duels of this sort Gibbs was slow toget off the mark.

  Taylor came toward the afflicted one and looked shrewdly into her face."She's not shamming," said he. "She's got that stupid look they all havewhen they're deaf and dumb." He watched her closely as he said this.

  "She ain't spoke all day," Gibbs volunteered, "and no woman what could,would keep from t
alking that long."

  "Women will do a lot for diamonds," his chief observed.

  "None of 'em ever do me for none," Gibbs remarked placidly.

  Suddenly Taylor addressed the girl roughly. "If you're acting," hecried, "you'd better give it up, because I'm certain to find out, and ifI do, I'll send you to jail." Still the girl paid no attention but onlystared ahead blankly. "So you won't answer, eh?" said her inquisitor."Going to force my hand, are you?" He raised his hand to signal Duncanand then added: "Go."

  The loud report of the revolver, while it made Gibbs jump, had no effectupon the young woman. Taylor shook his head wisely. "I guess she's deafand dumb all right, poor girl. What's it all about, Gibbs? What is ityou think she's done?"

  "She's got a bracelet chuck-full of diamonds, and we can't find it."

  "How do you know she's got it?" the Chief asked.

  "She showed it to a woman who was in the same cabin," Gibbs returned,"and the woman came and tipped us off."

  "Why, the dirty hussy!" cried the girl, who had previously been bereftof hearing and speech, rising to her feet, her eyes flashing, and herwhole face denoting rage.

  Gibbs looked at her, his eyes bulging with startled surprise, and thenturned his ox-like gaze upon Taylor.

  "For the love of Mike!" said Gibbs at length, but Sarah Peabody cutshort any other exclamations.

  "Do you know why she told about me?" the girl demanded. "She wanted toalibi herself and make you folks thinks she was an honest God-fearinglady that would never smuggle--and she had four times as much as I did.Why, it was her who put me up to smuggling and taught me to be deaf anddumb." Sarah ground her white teeth in anger. "I'd like to meet heragain some time."

  "You shall," Taylor cried. "When we arrest her we'll need your evidenceto testify against her."

  "You can bet I won't be deaf and dumb then," Miss Peabody criedviciously.

  "Where's the bracelet?" Taylor snapped. "Don't waste time now."

  But the smuggler was no fool and not intimidated by his tones. "Wait aminute," she said craftily. "What's going to happen to me?"

  "Produce it, pay the duty, and we'll let you go free for the tip."

  "You're on," said Sarah joyously. "Just take a look at the ring handleof my parasol. I've painted over the stones, that's all."

  Gibbs grabbed it from her and examined it closely. "Well, can youapproach that?" he said helplessly. "And I've been carrying it aroundall day!"

  Taylor turned from his examination of the parasol as Peter thedoorkeeper entered. "Miss Cartwright here?" he asked quickly.

  "Yes, sir," answered the man. "She's just arrived."

  "Bring her in as soon as these get out," Taylor said dismissing him.

  "Take her away now, Gibbs," he said, indicating the owner of the magicparasol. "Turn her over to Shorey, he can handle her from now on."

  "All right, sir," Gibbs said, still undecided as to why he had beenfooled.

  Sarah looked at him with scorn. "I'll be glad to have someone else onthe job. I'm sick o' trottin' around with a fat guy like him."

  "Say, now," Gibbs protested in an injured manner.

  But Taylor had a bigger scheme on hand and waved her away impatiently."Take her along, Gibbs."

  She gave Taylor an impudent little nod of farewell. "Ta-ta old Sport. Icertainly fooled you, when you had that gun shot off."

  Gibbs had grabbed her by the arm and was now pushing her toward thedoor. "And I could have kept it up," Miss Peabody asserted in a shrilltone, "if it hadn't made me sore, her putting over one on me like that.And she was so blamed nice to me. But when one woman's nice to anothershe means mischief, you can bet your B. V. D.'s."

  Even Taylor smiled as she went. He had nearly met defeat but hishabitual luck had made him victor in the end. He hoped it would aid himin a far more difficult interview which was to come.

  Duncan took advantage of his good humor to ask a question.

  "Do you really think you can get Miss Cartwright to help us on the Denbycase?"

  He had so often seen her name in the society columns that he doubted ifhis chief, clever as he was, could successfully influence her.

  Taylor looked at him curiously. There was in his eyes a look that spokeof more than a faint hope of success. Few knew better than Duncan of hisability to make men and women his tools.

  "Jim," he said with an air of confidence, "I wouldn't be a bit surprisedif she offered to help us."

  The door opened and Peter entered.

  "Miss Ethel Cartwright," he announced.

  Taylor rose to his feet as she entered and bowed with what grace hecould as he motioned her to a chair.

  Miss Cartwright was a tall, strikingly pretty woman of twenty-seven, wholooked at the deputy-surveyor with the perfect self-possession whichcomes so easily to those whose families have long been of the culturedand leisured classes. It was plain that this rather languid young ladyregarded him merely as some official whom she was bound to see regardinga matter of business.

  "Sorry if I kept you waiting, Miss Cartwright," Taylor said briskly.

  "It doesn't matter in the least," she returned graciously. "I've neverbeen at the Customs before. I found it quite interesting."

  "My name is Taylor," he said, "and I'm a deputy-surveyor."

  "You wanted to see me about a ring, I think, didn't you?"

  "Yes," he answered. "The intention evidently was to smuggle it throughthe Customs."

  "Do you really think so?" she demanded, interested. "I haven't thefaintest idea who could have sent it to me."

  "Of course you haven't," he said in his blandest, most reassuringmanner. It was a manner that made the listening Duncan wonder what wasto follow. His chief was always most deadly when he purred. "It's amistake," he continued, "but the record will probably shed some light onthe matter. Duncan," he called sharply, "go and get those papersrelating to Miss Cartwright."

  His assistant looked at him blankly.

  "Papers?" he repeated. "What papers, sir?"

  "The papers relating to the package sent Miss Cartwright from Paris."There was a significance in his tone that was not lost on Duncan. Gibbswould have argued it out, but Duncan though in the dark followed hiscue.

  "Oh, _those_ papers," he answered. "I'll get 'em, sir."

  When he had gone the girl turned to Taylor.

  "Do you know," she asserted, "I feel quite excited at being here andsitting in a chair in which you probably often examine smugglers. Onereads about it constantly."

  "It's being done all the time," he responded, "among all sorts ofpeople. Now, Miss Cartwright, since we are talking of smuggling, I'dlike to have a little business chat with you if I may."

  The girl looked at him astonished. She could not conceive that a manlike the one looking at her could be serious in talking of a businessproposition.

  "With me?" she demanded, and Taylor could see that the idea was notpleasing. He resolved to abandon his usual hectoring tactics and adoptsofter modes.

  "I mean it," he asserted. "You said you've read about all this smugglingand so on. Believe me, you've not read a thousandth part of what's goingon all the time, despite all our efforts to check it. The difficult partis that many of the women are so socially prominent that it isn't easyto detect them. They move in the sort of world you move in." He leanedforward and spoke impressively. "But it's a world where neither I nor mymen could pass muster for a moment. Do you follow me?"

  "I hear what you say," she said, "but--"

  He interrupted her, "Miss Cartwright, we are looking for someone whobelongs in society by right. Someone who is clever enough to provide uswith information and yet never be suspected. We want someone abovesuspicion. We want someone, for instance, like you."

  That his proposition was offensive to her he could see from the faintflush that passed over her face and the rather haughty tone that sheadopted.

  "Really, Mr. Taylor," she cried, "you probably mean well, but--"

  Again he cut her short.

  "Just lis
ten a moment, Miss Cartwright," he begged. "I have reason toknow that your family has been in financial difficulties since yourfather died." He looked at her shrewdly. "The position I hinted at couldbe made very profitable. How would you like to enter the secret serviceof the United States Customs?" He could see she was far from beingplacated at his hint of financial reward.

  "This is quite too preposterous," she said icily. "It may possibly beyour idea of a joke, Mr. Taylor, but it is not mine."

  "I'm not joking," he cried, "I'm in dead earnest."

  "If that's the case," she returned, rising, "I must ask you to get thepapers regarding the ring."

  "They'll be here at any moment," he answered. "I'm sorry you don't careto entertain my proposition, but it's your business after all. By theway," he added, after a moment's pause, "there's another little matterI'd like to take up with you while we're waiting. Do you recall a GeorgeBronson, the claim agent of the New York Burglar Insurance Company, thecompany which insured the jewels that were stolen from you?"

  "I think I do," she returned slowly, "but--"

  "Well, that company has had a great deal of trouble with society womenwho have got money by pawning their jewels and then putting in a claimthat they were stolen and so recovering from the company on the allegedloss."

  The girl looked at him, frowning. "Are you trying to insinuate that--"

  "Certainly not," Taylor purred amiably. "Why, no. I'm merely explainingthat that's what Bronson thought at first, but after investigating, hefound out how absurd the idea was."

  "Naturally," she said coldly.

  She had come into the deputy-surveyor's office with an agreeablecuriosity regarding a present sent her from Paris. But the longer shestayed, the less certain did she feel concerning this hard-faced manopposite her, who had the strangest manner and made the mostextraordinary propositions. What business was it of his that her jewelshad been stolen?

  "But there were some things he could not understand," Taylor went on.

  "May I ask," she cried, "what Mr. Bronson's inability to understand hasto do with you?"

  "Simply," said Taylor with an appearance of great frankness, "that hehappens to be a very good friend of mine and often consults me aboutthings that puzzle him. The theft of those jewels of yours mystified himgreatly."

  "Mystified him?" the girl retorted. "It was perfectly simple."

  "Perhaps you won't mind telling me the circumstances of the case."

  "Really," she returned sub-acidly, "I don't quite understand how thisconcerns the Customs."

  "It doesn't," he agreed readily, "I am acting only as Bronson's friendand if you'll answer my questions I may be able to recover the jewelsfor you."

  The girl's face cleared. So far from acting inimically, Mr. Taylor wasactually going to help her. She smiled for the first time, and resumedher seat.

  "That will be splendid," she exclaimed. "I did not understand. Of courseI'll tell you everything I know."

  "The first feature that impressed Bronson," said the deputy-surveyor,"and me, I'm bound to add, was that the theft seemed to be an insidejob."

  "What does that mean?" Miss Cartwright queried, interested.

  "That there was no evidence that a thief had broken into your home."

  "But what other explanation could there be?" she inquired. "Our familyconsists of just my mother, my sister and myself, and two old servantswho have lived with us for years, so of course it wasn't any of us."

  "Naturally not," Taylor agreed as though this explanation had solved hisdoubts. "But how did you come to discover the loss of the diamonds?"

  "I didn't discover it myself," she told him. "I was at Bar Harbor."

  "Oh," said Taylor with the confidential air of a family physician. "Youwere away. I see! Who did find out?"

  "My sister. It was she who missed them."

  "Oh, your sister missed them, did she?" he said.

  He pushed the buzzer and wrote something on a slip of paper.

  "So of course," the girl continued, "it must have been some thief fromthe outside."

  Taylor looked thoughtful. "I suppose you're right," he admitted, andthen asked quickly: "I wonder if you'd mind telephoning your sister tocome down here now?"

  "Why, she came with me," Miss Cartwright returned. "She's outside."

  "That's fine," he said brightly. "It makes it easier." He pushed thebuzzer again. "Perhaps she'll be able to help us."

  "She'll come if I wish," said the elder sister, "but she knows even lessabout it than I do."

  "I understand that," Taylor said smoothly, "but she may remember a fewseemingly unimportant details that will help me where they wouldn't seemsignificant to you."

  He looked up as Peter came in. "Ask Miss Cartwright's sister to come infor a moment. Tell her Miss Ethel wants to talk to her."

  "Amy will tell you all she can," the girl asserted.

  "Just as you would yourself," Taylor said confidentially. He had noother air than of a man who is sworn to recover stolen diamonds. EthelCartwright admitted she had misjudged him.

  "It must be wonderful to be a detective and piece together littleunimportant facts into an important whole."

  "It is," he answered a trifle drily; "quite wonderful."

  Amy Cartwright was brought into the deputy-surveyor's room by Peter.Plainly she was of a less self-reliant type than her elder sister, forthe rather startled expression her face wore was lost when she sawEthel. She was a pretty girl not more than eighteen and like her sisterdressed charmingly.

  "You wanted me, Ethel?" she asked.

  "Yes, dear," the elder returned. "Amy, this is Mr. Taylor, who thinks hemay be able to get back my diamonds for me."

  Amy Cartwright shot a quick, almost furtive look at Taylor and thengripped her sister's arm. "Your diamonds!" she cried.

  Taylor had missed nothing of her anxious manner. "Yes," he said. "Yoursister has been kind enough to give me some information in reference tothe theft, and I thought you might be able to add to the facts wealready have."

  "I?" the younger girl exclaimed.

  "Yes," her sister commanded. "You must answer all Mr. Taylor'squestions."

  "Of course," Amy said with an effort to be cheerful.

  Taylor looked at her magisterially. "How did you discover your sister'sjewels were stolen?"

  "Why," she replied nervously, not meeting his eye, "I went to herdressing-table one morning and they weren't there."

  "Oh!" he exclaimed meaningly. "So they weren't there! Then what did youdo?"

  "Why, I telephoned to the company she insured them in."

  "Without consulting your sister?" he asked. His manner, although quickand alert, was friendly. Ethel Cartwright felt he was desirous ofhelping her, and if Amy seemed nervous, it was her first experience witha man of this type. She had so little experience in relying on herselfthat this trifling ordeal was magnified into a judicialcross-examination. She determined to help Amy out.

  "You must remember," she said to Taylor, "that I was out of town."

  "Of course!" Amy exclaimed with a show of relief. "How could I consulther when she was in Maine?"

  "Were you certain she hadn't taken her diamonds with her?" he asked.

  Amy hesitated for a moment. "I think she must have told me before sheleft."

  "Hm!" he ejaculated. "You _think_ she did?"

  Amy turned to her sister. "Didn't you tell me, Ethel?"

  Miss Cartwright knit her brows in thought. "Perhaps I did," sheadmitted.

  "But you didn't telegraph your sister to make sure?" Taylor queried.

  "Why, no," the girl said hesitating and seemingly confused. "No, Ididn't." She was now staring at her interrogator with real fear in hereyes.

  "Well, that doesn't make any difference," he said genially, "so long asthe jewels were stolen and not merely mislaid, does it?"

  "No," she said with a sigh of relief.

  "There's one other point," he said, turning to the elder sister. "Youreceived the compensation money from the compa
ny, didn't you?"

  "Naturally," she said tranquilly.

  "Please don't think me impertinent," he said, "but you still have itintact, I presume?"

  "Only part," the girl returned. "I gave half of it to my sister."

  "I rather thought you might have done that," he purred as though hisespecial hobby was discovering affection in other families, "That was avery nice generous thing to do, Miss Cartwright. But you realize ofcourse that if I get your jewels back the money must be returned to theBurglar Insurance people in full,"--he looked significantly at theshrinking younger girl,--"from both of you."

  Amy Cartwright clasped her hands nervously. "Oh, I couldn't do that,"she exclaimed.

  Ethel turned to her in astonishment.

  "But Amy, why not?"

  "I haven't got it all now."

  "But, dear, what did you do with it?" Ethel persisted.

  Taylor seemed to take a keen interest in Amy Cartwright's financialaffairs.

  "That's quite an interesting question," he observed judiciously. "Whatdid you do with your half?"

  "I--I paid a lot of bills," the girl stammered.

  "Paid a lot of bills!" her sister exclaimed. "But Amy, you distinctlytold me--"

  "One minute," Taylor interrupted. "Now, Miss Amy," he said sharply,"what sort of bills did you pay?"

  "Oh, dressmakers and hats and things," she answered with a trace ofsullenness.

  "Of course they gave you receipts?" he suggested.

  "I don't remember," she answered.

  "Oh, you don't remember," he said, fixing her with his cold eye. "Butyou remember whom you paid the money to?"

  "Of course she does," Ethel cried, coming to her sister's aid. She washerself puzzled at this strange man's attitude. "You do, don't you,Amy?"

  "Why, yes," the other said weakly.

  "Give me the names!" Taylor demanded, and then looked angrily up to seewho had entered his office unbidden. It was James Duncan, apologetic,but urged by powers higher than those of his chief.

  "The Collector and the Secretary want to see you right away, sir," heannounced.

  "I can't leave now," Taylor cried angrily. And in that moment both girlsrealized of what ruthless metal he was cast. Gone was the amiableinterest in family matters and the kindly wish to aid two girls ingetting back their trinkets, and there was left a strong remorseless manwho showed he had them very nearly in his power.

  But Duncan dared not go back with such a message.

  "I explained you were busy, Chief," he said, "but they would have youcome down at once, as the Secretary has to go back to Washington. It'sabout that necklace. The one coming in on the Mauretania thisafternoon."

  "Oh, very well," his superior snapped. "I shall have to ask you ladiesto excuse me for five minutes."

  "Certainly," Ethel Cartwright returned.

  At the door Taylor beckoned to Duncan and spoke in a whisper. "Getoutside in the corridor and if they try to leave, stop 'em. And I shallwant to know what they've been talking about. Understand?"

  "Sure, Chief," Duncan returned.

  When both men had gone from the room Amy clung half-hysterically to herstrong, calm sister. "Oh, Ethel, they know, they know!"

  "Know what?" Ethel asked, amazed at the change in the other.

  "That man suspects," Amy whispered. "I know he does. Did you see how heglared at me and the way he spoke?"

  "Suspects what?" Ethel asked. "Amy, what do you mean? What is there tosuspect?"

  "Don't let them take me away!" the younger sister wailed. "Oh, don't,don't!"

  Ethel drew back a step and looked into the trembling Amy's tear-stainedface.

  "What is this you are saying?" she asked sharply.

  "Ethel, your jewels weren't stolen." There was a pause as if the girlwere trying to gather courage enough to confess. "I took them. I pawnedthem."

  "Amy!" cried the other. "You?"

  "I had to have money. I took them. A woman told me I could get it bypretending to the company the things were stolen. She said they'd neverfind it out and would pay. I tried it, and they paid."

  Miss Cartwright looked down at her, amazed, indignant, horrified.

  "Do you mean to say you deliberately swindled the company?"

  "I couldn't help it, Ethel," she declared piteously. "I didn't think ofit in that way. I didn't mean to. I didn't, indeed."

  "Why, why, why? Why in God's name did you do it? Tell me quickly, why?"

  Amy could no longer meet her sister's glance. She dropped her head.

  "I lost a lot of money gambling, playing auction bridge."

  "Playing with whom?" Ethel demanded sharply.

  "People you don't know," the younger answered evasively. "It was whileyou were away. It wouldn't have happened if you'd been home. We alldined together at the Claremont and afterwards they simply would playauction. I said no at first but they made me. I got excited and began tolose, and then they said if I kept on the luck would turn, but itdidn't, and I lost a thousand dollars."

  Ethel Cartwright needed no other explanation as a key to Taylor'smanner. It was certain that he knew and would presently force her poorfrightened little sister into a confession. It was no time for blamingthe child or pointing out morals, but for protecting her.

  "Ssh," she whispered, "Ssh!"

  "I didn't mean to do it," Amy reiterated. "Believe me, I didn't."

  "Tell me what happened then?" Ethel asked in a low tone.

  "I couldn't pay, of course, and the other women said they'd have to askmother or you for the money and if you wouldn't pay I should have to goto jail. I didn't know what to do. I nearly went out of my head, Ithink. At last Philip Sloane offered to lend it me."

  The elder recoiled from her. "That man!" she cried horrified. "Oh, Amy,and how often I have warned you against him!"

  "There was nothing else to do," her sister explained. "You were away andI had no one to go and ask."

  "Stop a minute," Ethel said. "If you borrowed the money and paid thedebts, why did you need to take my diamonds?"

  Amy hung her head. "When he lent me the money he said I could pay itback whenever I wanted to, in a hundred years if I liked."

  "Well?" Ethel cried anxiously. "Well?"

  "But a day or so later he came to see me, mother was out, and hismanner was so different I was frightened. He--he said a girl who acceptsmoney from a man is never any good, and nobody will believe them nomatter what they say. I didn't think men could be like that. He saidhe'd forget about it if I went away with him. He said nobody would knowit--he could arrange all that--and he threatened all sorts of things.Oh, everything you said about him was right."

  "Go on," her sister commanded, in a hard staccato tone. "What then?"

  "At first I thought of killing myself but I was afraid. And then I sawyour jewel-case and I pretended they were stolen. I got half the moneyfrom the pawn-shop and the other half from you when the company settled.It was wicked of me, Ethel, but what could I do?"

  Ethel put her arm about the poor sobbing girl very tenderly.

  "My poor little sister," she whispered, "my little Amy, you did thebetter thing after all. But you should have told me before, so that Icould have helped you."

  "I was afraid to," the girl said, looking into the face above her, "Imeant to have told you next month when that money is coming fromfather's estate. I thought we could pay the company then so that Ishouldn't feel like a thief. I'm so glad I've told you; it hasfrightened me so!" But the grave expression on Ethel's face alarmed her."Why do you look like that?" she demanded.

  "It will be all right," Ethel assured her. "But you know those dividendshave been delayed this month and neither mother nor I have any sparemoney if the Burglar Insurance people want to be paid back. I daresay wecan arrange something, so don't be frightened. And remember, this manTaylor can't know certainly. He only suspects, and we ought to be ableto beat him if we are very careful. I'm so glad you told me so that Iknow what to do."

  "But I'm afraid of him," Amy cried. "I s
hall break down and they'll putme in prison. Ethel, I should die if they did that."

  "I'll save you, dear," Ethel said comfortingly. "You know you havealways been able to believe in me, and I will save you if only you tryto control yourself."

  "Then let me go home," Amy cried, panic-stricken by the thought ofanother interview with the resourceful Taylor. "I shall break down if Istay here."

  "That will be best," Ethel agreed, and went quickly to the door, behindwhich she found Duncan on guard.

  "Sorry, miss," he said respectfully, "but you can't go."

  "I'm not leaving," Ethel Cartwright explained, "I still have to talkwith Mr. Taylor, but my sister must go. She isn't feeling very well. Shewants to go home."

  Duncan shook his head. "Neither of you can go," he returned, as heclosed the door. Amy looked about her nervously for other means ofescape.

  "You see," she whispered, "they're going to keep me here a prisoner!What shall I do?"

  "Leave everything to me," Ethel commanded. "Let me do the talking. Ishall be able to think of some way out."

  "There isn't, there isn't!" Amy moaned.

  "Stop crying," the elder insisted. "That won't help us. I've thought ofa plan. I'll invent a story to fool him. He won't be able to find outwhether it's true or not, so he'll have to let us go, and when he does,he won't get us back here again in a hurry."

  "Oh, Ethel, you're wonderful!" Amy exclaimed, her face clearing. In allher small troubles she had always gone to this beautiful, serene eldersister, who had never yet failed her and never would, she was confident.

  When Taylor entered a minute later he found the two girls looking outof the big window across the harbor. They seemed untroubled and unafraidand were discussing the dimensions of a big liner making her way out.

  "Sorry to have had to leave you," he said briskly, "especially as thingswere getting a bit interesting."

  Ethel Cartwright looked at him coldly. It was a glance which Taylorrightly interpreted as a warning to remember that he occupied a whollydifferent sphere from that of the daughters of the late VernonCartwright. But it daunted him little. The Secretary of the Treasury hadjust told him that his work was evoking great interest in Washington.And the Collector somewhat cryptically had said that Daniel Taylor mightalways be relied upon to do the unexpected. For Washington andCollectors, Taylor had little respect. Unconsciously he oftenparaphrased that royal boast, "_L'Etat c'est moi!_" by admitting to hisconfidants that he, Daniel Taylor, was the United States Customs.

  "I quite fail to see," Miss Cartwright observed chillingly, "what allthis rather impertinent cross-questioning of my sister has to do with--"

  "You will in a minute," he interrupted.

  "Meanwhile," she said, "I can't wait any longer for those papers aboutthe ring."

  "There isn't any ring," he said suavely. "That was just a pretext to getyou here. I was afraid the truth wouldn't be sufficiently luring so Ihad to employ a ruse."

  She looked at him, her eyes flashing at his daring to venture on such adeception. "You actually asked me to come here because you thought I hadswindled the company?"

  "Well," he observed genially, "we all make our little mistakes."

  "So you admit it was a mistake?" she said, hardly knowing what to makeof this changed manner.

  "I'm quite sure of it," he asserted. "_You_ are innocent, MissCartwright. How am I so sure of it? Because I happen to have the thiefalready."

  "You have the thief?" Amy cried, startled out of her determination tosay nothing.

  "Yes," he told her nonchalantly, "I've arrested the man who robbed yoursister. Poor devil, he has a wife and children. He swears they'llstarve, and very likely they will, but he's guilty and to jail he goes."

  "Are you sure he's guilty?" Amy stammered.

  He leaned over his desk and looked at her surprised. "Why, yes," he saidslowly. "Have you any reason to think different?"

  "No, no!" she cried, shrinking back.

  "But I have," Ethel said calmly. "I have every reason to believe he isinnocent."

  "_You_ have?" Taylor cried, himself perplexed at the turn things weretaking.

  Amy looked at her sister, wondering what was coming next.

  "I know who stole them," Ethel went on. "It was my maid."

  "Your maid!" the deputy-surveyor cried. "Why didn't you tell the companythat? Bronson never told me about it."

  "She didn't disappear till after the claim was paid, you see," MissCartwright explained. "Then I got a note from her confessing, a notewritten in Canada."

  "Whereabouts in Canada?" he demanded.

  "I don't recall it," he was told.

  "You don't? Well, what was your maid's name then? I'd like to know that,if you can remember it for me."

  "Marie Garnier was her name."

  He took up a scribbling pad and inscribed the name on it. "MarieGarnier," he muttered, and pushed the buzzer. "Why didn't you tell methis before?"

  "What was the good?" Miss Cartwright returned. "I was fond of Marie--shewas almost one of the family--and I didn't want to brand her as athief. When I learned she had escaped to Canada where the law couldn'treach her--"

  She was interrupted by Duncan's entrance. "Yes, sir?" said he to hischief.

  Taylor handed him the leaf he had torn from the pad. "Attend to this atonce," he ordered.

  "Now, Miss Cartwright," he remarked, "I'd like to ask why it was youmade this admission about Marie Garnier."

  "Because I do not want to see an innocent man go to prison," shereturned promptly.

  "Oh, I see. And did your sister know it, too?"

  "No," she answered quickly.

  "Why hadn't you told her?" he demanded.

  "Really," said the elder Miss Cartwright with an expression ofinnocence, "I didn't think it made any difference."

  Taylor was obviously annoyed at such a view. "Your behavior is mostextraordinary," he commented.

  "You see, I know so little about law, and insurance and things likethat," she said apologetically. She did not desire to offend him.

  "You ought at least to have known that you owed it to the company togive them all the information in your possession," he grumbled.

  "I never thought of it in that way," she said meditating.

  "There seems a whole lot you young ladies haven't thought of," he saidsourly.

  Miss Cartwright rose from her seat without haste. "Come, Amy," shecommanded. "We can't wait any longer and we are not needed."

  As they turned toward the door the telephone bell rang and Taylor stayedthem with a gesture. "Just one moment, please, Miss Cartwright."

  The girls watching him saw that the news was pleasant for he chuckled ashe hung up the receiver. Then he rose from his seat and came to where hestood between them and the door.

  "Miss Cartwright," he cried, "when you didn't know what town in Canadayour maid was, I felt you were lying. Now I know you were. I just had myassistant telephone to your mother." He pointed an accusing finger atthem. "You never had a maid named Garnier, and the last one youhad--over a year ago--was called Susan. You put the blame on a woman whodoesn't exist, and you did it to shield the real thief." He touched thecrouching Amy on the shoulder. "This is the real thief!"

  "She isn't, she isn't!" Ethel cried.

  But Taylor paid no attention to her. He concentrated his gaze on theyounger girl. "You swindled the company," he affirmed.

  "No, no," she wailed, "I didn't."

  Ethel came to her rescue. "How dare you," she cried to Taylor, "makesuch an accusation when you have no proof, nor anyone else either?"

  "That's all very well," Taylor exclaimed, "but when we get the proof--"

  "You can't, because there isn't any," she asserted.

  "Of course I see your game," the man said; "you're just trying toprotect your sister. That's natural enough, but it will go easier withboth of you if you'll tell the truth."

  The two girls answered him never a word. Amy was too frightened andEthel, her tactics unavailing, found her best
defense in silence.

  "So you won't answer?" Taylor said after a pause. "Well, of course thestuff is pawned some place. That's what they all do. So far, Bronson hasonly searched the pawn-shops in New York. He didn't give you credit forpawning them outside the city, but I do. Now we'll see where your sisterdid go." He went to the telephone again. "Hello, Bill," he said when hehad secured the number, "Go over to Bronson at the New York and get adescription of the jewels reported stolen from a Miss Ethel Cartwright.Have all the pawn-shops searched in Trenton,"--he fastened his harshlook on Amy Cartwright as he called out the names,--"Boston, Washington,Providence, Baltimore, Albany, Philadelphia--"

  HE TURNED TO AMY. "YOUNG WOMAN, YOU'RE UNDER ARREST."_Page 105_.]

  As he called out the last city the girl gave a gasp of terror, andtriumph instantly lighted up her inquisitor's grim face.

  "So you pawned them in Philadelphia?" he cried.

  "No, no!" she moaned.

  "I did it," Ethel Cartwright exclaimed.

  "No, you didn't," Taylor said sharply. "You're only trying to save her.You can't deceive me." He turned to Amy, "Young woman, you're underarrest."

  "No, no," the elder sister besought. "Take me. She's only a child; don'tspoil her life. I'll do whatever you like; it doesn't matter about me.For God's sake don't do anything to my little sister."

  "She's guilty," he reminded her, "and the law says--"

  "If somebody pays, what difference does it make to you or the law? Isn'tthere anything I can do?" she pleaded.

  Taylor paced up and down the room for a half minute before answering,while the two watched him in agony. To them he was one who could deliverthem over to prison if it were his whim, or spare if he inclined tomercy.

  "Surely there is some way out?" Ethel asked again.

  "Yes," he said, "there is. You can accept my proposition to enter thesecret service of the United States Customs."

  "Oh, yes, yes," she cried, "anything!"

  Taylor rubbed his hands together with satisfaction and pride in hisinimitable craft. "Now you're talking!" he exclaimed. "Then we won'tsend the little sister to prison."

  Amy sobbed relief in her sister's arms.

  "Then you won't tell Bronson?" Ethel asked.

  "No," he said, "I won't tell Bronson."

  Ethel sighed, and felt almost that she would faint.

  "Now I'm sorry for you two," Taylor said more genially, "and as long asyou do what I tell you to, we'll leave the little matter of the jewelsas between your sister and her conscience. I'll let you know when I needyou. It may be to-night, it may be not for a month or a year, but when Ido want you--"

  "I shall be ready," the girl declared.

  "Say, Chief," Duncan said looking in at the door,--

  "Get out, I'm busy," Taylor shouted.

  "I thought you'd like to know the Mauretania was coming up the bay,"his satellite returned, slightly aggrieved at this reception.

  "She is?" said the other. "Wait a minute then. Now, Miss Cartwright,good afternoon. Remember what is at stake, your future, and yoursister's happiness. And don't forget that my silence depends on your notfailing me."

  Only a man of Taylor's coarse and cruel mould could have looked at herwithout remorse or compunction. He did not see a beautiful refined womancheerfully bearing another's cross. He saw only a society girl, who hadmatched her immature wits against his and lost, was beaten and in thedust. There was a pathetic break in her voice as she answered him.

  "I shall not fail you," she said.

  Duncan closed the door after them.

  "Well?" Taylor demanded eagerly when they were alone. "Did Denby declarethe necklace?"

  "No, sir," Duncan returned promptly.

  "Then I was right," the other commented. "He's trying to smuggle it in.Jim, this is the biggest job we've ever handled."

  "Ford and Hammett are at the dock all ready to search him when I givethe word."

  Duncan was sharing in his chief's triumph, but Taylor's next command wasdisappointing.

  "Don't give the word," he enjoined. "There's to be no search."

  "No search?" exclaimed the chagrined Duncan.

  "No," Taylor told him. "Just let him slide through with the ordinaryexamination. Trail Denby and his party to Westbury and be sure none ofthem slip the necklace to anyone on the way out there, but no fuss andno arrests, remember. Meanwhile, get up a fake warrant for the arrest ofMiss Amy Cartwright. It may come in handy."

  "Yes, sir," said Duncan obediently.

  "And when you've told Ford and Hammett what they are to do, change yourclothes and make Gibbs do the same, and meet me at the PennsylvaniaStation at six o'clock."

  "Where are we going?" Duncan asked. He could see from his chief's mannerthat something important was in the wind.

  "To Long Island," he was told. "We are going to call on Miss EthelCartwright."

  "Then you can use her to land Denby?" his subordinate cried excitedly.

  "Use her?" the deputy-surveyor said with a grim smile. "Say, Jim, shedoesn't know it, but she's going to get that necklace for me to-night."

  He hurried out of the room, leaving Duncan shaking his head inwonderment. His chief might have qualities that were not endearing, andhis manner might at times be rough, but where was there a man who rodethrough obstacles with the same fine disregard as Daniel Taylor?