I CHANGE FRONT
This statement of his identity, spoken calmly, and smilingly, was such
a surprise that I could but stare at the man, half convinced I had
misunderstood his words.
"You see, Craig," he continued quietly, apparently comprehending my
state of mind, "your little game is up. Not a bad plan
originally--something of a criminal genius that fellow Neale--but he
failed to count on the fact that I was very much alive, and fully
capable of attending to my own affairs. By the way, what part did the
girl play in this little conspiracy? Merely a friend of yours, who
came along for company?"
"Certainly not," I replied indignantly. "Have you seen her?"
"Not yet; I preferred coming to an understanding with you first."
"A condition you may not find as easy as you anticipate," I retorted,
angered at his cool insolence. "If you are Philip Henley, then the
lady you are holding prisoner is your wife."
He laughed, leaning back again in his chair.
"Well, hardly. I rather surmised that was the idea from a sentence or
two, in these instructions," and he touched a bundle of papers on the
desk. "Careless way to carry such evidence around--shows the amateur.
Thought it would add to the appeal to justice for Henley to have a
wife, I presume. Why not a child also? Permit me to state, my dear
sir, that I possess no such encumbrance."
"It happens," I contended coldly, "that I have seen the marriage
certificate."
He sat up stiffly, the sarcastic grin leaving his face, and replaced by
an expression of vindictiveness.
"Oh, you have! As much a forgery as some of these other precious
documents. You will certainly grant that I ought to know whether I am
married or not?"
"I made no assertion relative to that."
"What did you assert?"
"That Philip Henley was married, and that his wife--or widow, as the
case may be--is the lady who accompanied me to Carrollton."
He leaned forward, both arms on the desk, his black eyes narrowed into
mere slits.
"Oh, I see," finally. "Driven out of one position, like a good
general, you have another in reserve. You are more of an antagonist
than I had supposed, Craig. So now it is the widow who claims the
ducats. Am I also to understand that you are prepared to submit proof
of the death of Philip Henley? By the saints; I am becoming
interested."
"Naturally, if you claim to be the man. I have not said he was dead,
for I do not know. I came down here believing him alive. His wife is
almost convinced otherwise. All I am actually certain about now is
that you are not the man."
"You are extremely free-spoken for a fellow in your condition. You
will at least confess that I am master on board this ship; that my word
here is law, and you are in my power."
"Yes."
"Then why expose yourself, and that young woman, to unnecessary danger?
To be frank, Craig, I sent for you just now in a friendly spirit. You
can be decidedly useful to me, and I can afford to pay well for
services rendered. Now wait! don't break in until I am through. I
know who you are, and how you originally became involved in this
affair. You have no personal interest in the final outcome, so you
receive the amount promised. You are a mere soldier of fortune, an
adventurer. Good! Then it is certainly to your interest to be on the
winning side. What did Neale, and that other fellow--Vail--offer?"
I sat looking at him steadily for a moment. That he was a shrewd,
scheming villain I had no doubt, but the one question which controlled
my answer was the thought of how I could best serve her. If I followed
my inclination, told him frankly that I had already deserted my
allegiance to those men in the North, and only remained loyal to the
woman, the confession would possibly react upon us both. We would be
held prisoners indefinitely. If, on the other hand, I appeared to
hesitate, a way of service might be opened before me, and, with it, a
path to freedom, for us both. The decision had to be made quickly.
"Never mind the sum," I said soberly. "I am not altogether mercenary,
although I need money. I 'll say this, however, and you can take it
for what it may be worth. I originally came into this game believing I
was doing a kindness to a helpless man who was being defrauded of his
rights. There is no necessity of my going into details, but Neale told
me an apparently straight story, and convinced me my part was a mere
form. Later I learned different, and promptly quit. I have n't sent
in a line of report to my employers."
"What convinced you of the fraud?"
"A conversation with Mrs. Henley."
"Oh, the woman, hey!" his tone again sarcastic. "Always the woman;
more to be valued than great riches, aye! even than fine gold. Good
Lord, Craig, don't be a wooden-headed fool. I tell you plainly Philip
Henley was never married, and I know. This girl is a mere adventuress
unworthy of any consideration."
"You claim still to be Henley?" I asked, stifling my indignation.
"Not only claim, but am. My identity is already firmly established in
court. Lawyers have the final papers ready to file."
"You do not in any way resemble the photograph shown me of the man."
"A fake picture; we have known something of Neale's plans from the
first."
The man was apparently so confident, that I began to doubt my own
conclusions, and yet I could not doubt her. Whatever other falsehoods
might compass me about, she was to be implicitly trusted.
"Is the woman on board?" I questioned.
He hesitated just an instant.
"Yes."
"Will you have her brought here?"
He walked across the cabin twice, turning the proposition over in his
mind. Apparently concluding that the ordeal might as well be over with
first as last, he opened the door, and gave an order to Peters. Then
he returned to his seat at the desk.
"This is all silly enough, Craig, but I might as well convince you both
now, as later, that I hold the cards. The lady may try a bluff, if she
is that kind, but it will be soon over."
We waited silently, and I endeavored swiftly to formulate a
satisfactory course of action. In spite of all my faith in her--which
could never waver--it was clearly evident this fellow had us helpless
in his grasp. If I was to become free to act it could only be by
yielding to his expressed desires, and apparently accepting his claims.
That this would separate me for the time from Mrs. Henley, alienate her
friendship, was a certainty. Yet I must risk all this even to be of
real service. The end would justify the means. We were confronted by
no common scoundrel, and here was a case where fire could only be
fought with flame. I did not for an instant believe he was Philip
Henley, yet he was apparently fortified with strong evidence to sustain
that claim. The very fact that he so strenuously denied that Philip
was married, convinced me he was an impostor, that he had never even
heard of this secret wedding. Probably the Judge had not mentioned it
while living, nor written any memoranda concerning it. Yet Neale knew,
and there could be no question as to the truth of the matter. In view
of all I decided openly to cast my fortunes with the man, and appear
angry at the deceit with which she had ensnared me. I dreaded the
result, the expression my apparent desertion would bring to her face,
but this seemed the only was possible for me to unmask the fellow. He
had clearly enough catalogued me in his own class, as one who would
serve any master for sufficient reward. Very well, let him so continue
to think, until I could turn the tables, and pay him back in his own
coin. And the quickest way in which to convince him that I was
altogether his man, was to denounce the girl in his presence, and
frankly avow myself on his side. Difficult as this task would
prove--at least until I could make some explanation to her--it was the
sensible course to pursue. I hardened myself to it, my eyes on the
outlines of the man's face, as he shuffled the papers on his desk.
"Do you mind telling me where this vessel is bound?" I asked, not only
curious to learn, but also anxious to break the silence.
"No objections whatever, Craig, if I knew myself," he answered
carelessly. "The _Sea Gull_ being my property sails on my orders, and,
at present, those orders are merely to put out to sea."
"You spoke of leaving the lady ashore at New Orleans."
"Oh, back at the house? You overheard that? Well, I am not above
changing my mind in such matters. From what you have just told me I
infer the young woman is more dangerous than I had supposed. Perhaps
some foreign port would be the safer landing place. I shall determine
that after our coming interview. This will be the lady now."
We both arose to our feet as she entered, glancing about her curiously
at the rather strange surroundings, then stopping irresolutely,
apparently recognizing neither of us. The light from the hanging lamp,
waving somewhat from the movement of the vessel, served to soften the
lines of her face, and reveal the delicate beauty. About her were no
signs of fatigue or fear. Suddenly the light of recognition leaped
into her eyes, and she took a quick step forward.
"Mr. Craig--you here? Why, I can hardly understand. Were you made
prisoner also?"
"I suppose that to be my status, although I hardly know," I answered,
yet unable to refrain from accepting the extended hand. "I was
certainly brought aboard in chains, and much against my will. I
presume you know this person?"
She swept my face with a swift, questioning glance, and then looked
beyond me at the man standing beside the desk.
"No, I do not," slowly. "I have no remembrance of ever seeing him
before."
"Is that not rather strange," I asked, steeling myself to the task,
"after asserting that he was your husband? He is the owner of this
vessel--Philip Henley."
She reached out gropingly, and grasped the back of a chair, staring at
his face, and then glancing into mine, as though bewildered, suspecting
some trick. I could see her lips move, as if she endeavored to speak,
but could not articulate the words. Henley---for I must call him
that--advanced a step toward us, his thin lips fashioning themselves
into an ironic smile.
"You receive this information about as I supposed you would, Madam," he
said coldly. "I was doubtless the very last person you expected to
encounter. Your accomplice here informs me that I am supposed to be
dead. I am inclined to think you were both mistaken--but not more so
than in regard to my marriage."
She straightened up, her eyes shining.
"You are not Philip Henley," she said firmly. "He is my husband."
The smile widened, revealing the cruel white teeth.
"I expected heroics. It was hardly to be supposed that you would
confess your fraud at once, and--before your lover."
She shrank back, her hands still extended.
"My--my lover--"
"Now stop!" I broke in, every nerve tingling, as I stepped between
them. "Another insinuation like that, and you will learn what I can
do. You may be captain of this boat, but you are alone with us now,
and I can kill you before you could utter a cry. So help me God, I
will, if you dare insult her again."
He reeled back against the desk, although I do not think I touched him,
and his hand sought an open drawer. I knew him instantly for a coward,
and gripped his wrist, hurling him from me half across the room.
"I 'll stand here, and you over there. I prefer dealing with your kind
with bare hands. Now if you have any reply to make to this lady's
assertions put it in decent language."
He gasped a bit, rubbing his bruised wrist, his eyes shifting to the
closed door as though contemplating an alarm. But I stood where I
could block any effort, and I doubt if he liked the expression on my
face.
[Illustration: He gasped a bit, rubbing his bruised wrist.]
"There is no use going off at half cock, Craig," he snarled. "I did
n't mean any insult. And I 'll get you for that some time. You 'll
learn yet what the _Sea Gull_ is."
"No doubt," I coincided, tired of his threats, and awakened to the fact
that this quarrel was not likely to help our chances. "But for a few
minutes it will be worth your while to listen to me. I am not
defending this woman from anything but unnecessary insults. If she has
deceived me I want to find it out. If you are Philip Henley, as you
claim to be, you must have evidence to prove it. Convince me that her
assertions are false, and you will not find me unreasonable."
"Gordon Craig, do you mean--"
I turned to her, steeling myself to look into her appealing eyes.
"I have been honest with you from the beginning," I Interrupted
abruptly. "Now, if I discover that your statements are false, the
inducements are all the other way. I am a soldier of fortune."