AN AMAZING INCIDENT
Grimleigh hummed like a hive in the swarming season. Through Slade,
via his tattling wife, the news of Finland's arrest was spread with
the rapidity of influenza. As usual, rumour increased as a snowball
does, and that evening half the town knew how Finland had met Tera by
accident near Carwell's field, how he had quarrelled with her,
strangled her, and fled with the pearls, to sell them in London and
buy a schooner. The circumstantial account was given with a wealth of
detail which did credit to the imagination of those who repeated it.
But there were some who declined to believe that so popular and genial
a man as Jack could be guilty of a cold-blooded crime. The man's whole
life gave the lie to it.
Amongst those who refused credence to the accusation was Carwell. The
old farmer was greatly agitated by the news of the arrest, and
forthwith sought out Chard at Grimleigh police-office, shortly before
the inspector departed for Poldew. For the last hour Chard, with the
cypher-letter in his pocket, had been seeking Captain Jacob without
success. The skipper was not on the schooner, or in the town; and
Chard feared he would be forced to postpone the delivery of the letter
until next morning. This would be inconvenient, as he was bound to be
at Poldew when Finland was brought up--as he would be next day--before
the magistrate. But the inspector was determined that no one should
deliver the letter but himself, for he intended to force Shackel to
translate it. Finally, Chard resolved to take Jack with him to Poldew
on that night, and leave Slade behind, with instructions to find and
bring on Captain Shackel the next morning. He had just arranged this
with Slade when Carwell made his appearance, perturbed and angry.
"What's all this?" demanded the old man, anxiously. "I hear that my
nephew has been arrested."
"Quite right, Mr. Carwell. On a charge of murdering the native girl
who was a ward of Mr. Johnson's. Tera--Bithiah--you know her name
better than I do."
"But it is impossible that Jack killed her. Inspector. He loved the
girl--he was prepared to marry her. The charge is ridiculous."
"No doubt," replied Chard, coolly. "I can't myself see his reason for
the crime. But we have proof positive that he sold Tera's pearls in
London, and bought a share in the _Dayspring_ with the proceeds."
"Jack never told me that! I understood from him that she was the
property of Captain Shackel."
"Shackel says differently, Mr. Carwell. He told me himself that your
nephew bought a share, and, what is more, paid for it on the nail."
"Impossible! He had not the money."
"Oh yes, he had. Moss declared that Finland got two thousand pounds
for the pearls. To obtain them, he killed Tera."
"I don't, I won't believe it!" cried Carwell, growing very red. "Jack
is an honest lad, and my own sister's son. If he were guilty he would
not return here into the jaws of danger. If he were in funds, he would
not want money from me, or risk his liberty and neck to come here for
it."
"Oh, so he wants money from you?"
"He does. I see no reason to deny the truth. My nephew came here to
ask me for five hundred pounds. He wants that amount to pay seamen's
wages and provision the boat for her cruise to the South Seas. If he
killed the girl, and sold the pearls for the amount you say, he would
not require more."
"But he paid away the proceeds of the pearls for his share in the
_Dayspring_."
"He could have purchased a share for less than two thousand. The whole
boat could be bought for three. She is of no great tonnage."
Chard looked puzzled. Certainly there was reason in what Carwell said,
and Finland's behaviour was most inconsistent.
"I can't understand your nephew, Mr. Carwell," said the inspector. "If
he is innocent, why does he not prove his innocence?"
"He will, if you give him a chance."
"I have given him every chance," said Chard, nettled by this
imputation cast on his fair dealing. "He refuses to give any
explanation. Moreover, if he can exonerate himself, he will have an
opportunity of doing so to-morrow morning at Poldew, when he is brought
before the magistrate."
"Can I see him now?"
"Certainly. Slade will take you to him. Try and persuade him to tell
the truth. If he goes on as he is doing now, he will be committed
for trial, and bail will be refused. The crime with which he is
charged is serious, remember."
"Jack has committed no crime," said Carwell, hotly. "Let me see him."
Hardly had the old man left the office with Slade when the door was
pushed open, and Captain Jacob danced in. The little man was in a
furious rage, and his language, was worthy of the occasion. He swore
at Chard for quite two minutes without repeating himself, and it was
only when he paused for want of breath that the inspector managed to
get in a word.
"Come, come," he said, bristling with official dignity, "we can't have
this sort of thing here. You must not behave in this way."
"Oh, I mustn't, mustn't I?" screeched Shackel, shaking his fist. "Why,
you son of a gun, ain't you run in my mate? How d'ye think I'm going
to light out for the Islands without Finland?"
"You'll light out--as you call it--all alone, if Finland can't prove
his innocence of this murder."
"Murder! Great Cæsar! he didn't kill the gal!"
"Oh yes, he did, and you know it! See here"--Chard caught the excited
man by the arm--"you tried to blackmail Mr. Johnson by stating that he
sold these pearls. Now, you knew quite well that Finland sold 'em.
What do you mean by this game?"
"You mind your own business, and I'll run my own circus," snarled
Jacob.
"Your blackmailing is my business," said Chard, "and you don't go out
of here until you explain yourself."
"Shan't explain anything."
"Yes, you will. This letter of Finland's, for instance."
Chard spread out the cypher on the table, and Jacob pounced on it like
a hawk. He ran a dirty finger along the mystic line, then turned to
the inspector with an injured air. "What's all this bally rot?" he
asked. "I don't know. Looks like Chinese, I guess."
"But Finland wrote it for you to read," said Chard, stupefied by this
unexpected ignorance.
"Then why the tarnation couldn't he write in English?" snapped the
captain. "I can't read hen scratches."
The inspector looked glum. He could not say whether Jacob spoke truly
or falsely. It was possible that Finland might be playing a trick and
jesting with the dignity of the law. On the other hand, it seemed
incredible that one in so serious a position should act in such a way.
Chard looked hard at the sallow face of the skipper. Apparently he was
speaking the truth. His face was set like a mask. Then a new idea
struck Mr. Inspector.
"If you can't read it, some one on board your ship can!" he declared.
"Well, I should smile. D'ye think we carry a university on board?"
"But if Finland had not meant this letter to be read he would not have
written it. You know this cypher. Don't lie!"
"I'll knock your head off if you give me the lie," retorted Shackel.
"Let me see Finland, and I'll ask him myself what the dickens he means
by playing low down on the old man."
"No, you won't see him," said the inspector, sharply. "For all I know,
the sight of this cypher may be a signal to bring you together. You
may wish to gain instructions from Finland regarding the removal of
evidence."
"Me take instructions!" bawled the skipper; "why, cuss you, ain't I a
quarter-deck astride. It 'ud be a dandy fine thing for Captain Jacob
to obey orders of any second-rate, squawking, swivel-eyed son of a
rum-puncheon. Here, gimme that letter and I'll git."
Chard snatched the cypher off the table and put it into his pocket.
"No," said he; "if you can't read it, it isn't meant for you."
"Stealing my property now. Lord! I'd like to give you a dozen at the
gangway."
"And I'd like to put you in gaol, you blackmailing scoundrel!" cried
Chard, hotly; then he became aware it was beneath him to bandy words
with this abusive sailor, and resumed his former dignified tone.
"Come, come, this will not do," he cried; "you must come to Poldew
to-morrow morning and give evidence about your mate and those pearls."
"I can't; and what's more, I shan't."
"Oh yes, I think you can! Since you tried to blackmail Mr. Johnson,
you know quite well that Finland sold the pearls; I dare say you know
how he got them. For all I know, you may even be an accessory after
the fact in this murder. I'll have you watched, mind; so you'd better
turn up at Poldew to-morrow."
"Oh, I'll turn up, never you fear!" growled Jacob, in a surly manner.
"My log-book's all right, I guess. I don't want no land-shark to
square me. And let me tell you," cried Jacob, furiously, "if you
send any more blamed Sheeny cusses to board my ship, I'll chuck 'em
over--as I did the last 'un."
"Oh," said Chard, laughing, "so Mr. Moss has been on board your boat,
has he?"
"For two minutes he was, then I slung him overside to wash. Wanted to
put an execution on my barky, the Jerusalem hound."
"He'll have the law of you for that," said the inspector, turning to
his papers. "Clear out now, my man, and report yourself at Poldew
to-morrow, or it will be the worse for you."
Captain Shackel backed towards the door with an evil grin. "I'll be
there, you bet," he snapped, "and you'll have a holy time with me, I
can tell you. I've seen a better man than you made out of mud, I
have."
By this time Chard's patience was quite exhausted. He caught Jacob in
his arms and dropped him outside the door. Then, instructing a
constable to keep an eye on him, he re-entered his office. This was
the second time the little sea captain's dignity had suffered
reversal. He anathematized Chard with horrible fluency. But the
inspector was well used to such flowers of speech, and they affected
him but little.
Carwell returned to tell of failure. His nephew had been all that was
civil and grateful to him, but he refused altogether to make him his
confidant. The farmer had begged and commanded, and threatened, but
without success. Jack gave him clearly to understand that he had his
own way of conducting his own affairs, and that way he intended to
pursue. He was not to be drawn at all. So it was that, heavy-hearted
and disappointed, Carwell was obliged to leave the lad. After
reporting his failure to Chard, he went home in a state of depression.
Half an hour later the inspector left Grimleigh with his prisoner, and
drove over to Poldew. In truth it had been an exciting day.
For Poldew, too, Johnson set out early next morning on foot. He was
particularly anxious to be present when Finland was brought before the
magistrate. He still believed in Jack's innocence, but for the life of
him he could not understand his reticence. He stepped out briskly into
the cool fresh air, his mind full of the case. He had not gone far
before he met Pharaoh Lee. He thought of Slade's theory, and
determined to say a word or two to the gipsy.
"Good morning, Lee. I'm glad to meet you," he said gravely. "I
particularly wish to speak to you--about Zara."
"Have you news of her, rye?"
"No; but I have been talking to Slade, the policeman, about her."
"Ah, he knows something for sure. Is she with him? Is he her husband?
Was it he took her away from me? Speak, rye, speak."
Johnson shook his head. "Slade is married to another woman," he said
slowly; "but he thinks that Zara was in love with a man named Jack
Finland."
"What, rye? With the Gentile who killed your lady? I have heard talk
of him."
"We are not yet able to say if Finland killed my ward, Lee. We have no
right, because he stands accused of such a crime, to judge him guilty
of it until he has had a fair chance of proving his innocence. He is
to be examined at Poldew to-day; in fact, I am now on my way there to
be present at his examination. Whether Slade has changed his mind in
the mean while, I cannot say; but a day or two back he suspected Zara
of this murder!"
"I'll wring his neck for him if he dares to say that," cried Pharaoh
in his wrath. "Job! how does he make it out?"
"Oh, he has evidence to go upon, you may depend." Then the minister
related to him Slade's discovery of the ear-ring, and the deductions
he had drawn from it. He mentioned, too, that Finland had sold the
pearls. "Now, it would seem," continued Johnson, "that Zara, on the
evidence of the ear-ring, killed Bithiah out of jealousy, robbed her
dead body of the pearls, and gave them to Finland to dispose of in
London. For all we know, he may have returned here to take Zara off to
the South Seas, in the schooner which he bought with the money."
"Do you believe this, rye?"
"No, frankly, I don't. I believe that the ear-ring belonged to Miss
Arnott, and that she lost it during her quarrel with Bithiah. It was
probably dropped in the field by the poor girl herself when she
struggled with her assailant. As to Finland, notwithstanding his
disposal of the pearls, I cannot make up my mind to believe him guilty
of murder."
"Who knows, rye? A man will do much for a woman's sake. If this sailor
loved Zara----"
"He did not. He loved Bithiah!"
Pharaoh deliberated for a moment. "I will go with you to Poldew,
rye," he said. "It is necessary that I should hear the truth."
"So be it, Lee; let us hope that is what we shall hear."
They continued their way in silence; neither was inclined to speak.
It was late when they arrived, and the court house was already
crowded. Johnson's garb and the knowledge of his connection with the
dead girl obtained him entrance, and Lee pushing close after him, they
managed to secure a very good position both for seeing and hearing.
Jack was already under examination before the magistrate, an elderly
gentleman with a professionally bland manner. The prisoner appeared
cool and composed. He was apparently not the least perturbed at the
position in which he found himself. Many of the Grimleigh folk were
present, amongst them Carwell and Korah Brand. Everybody was ready for
an exciting morning. As it came about, they had cause for no small
measure of excitement, though hardly in the direction they had
anticipated.
"I am not guilty of this murder," said Finland in a clear voice, "and
I will prove my innocence."
As he spoke there was a commotion at the lower end of the court.
A man and a woman pushed through the crowd and placed themselves in
full view of the assembly. The man was Captain Jacob; the woman, a
dark-skinned girl in a faded yellow dress with a tartan shawl. Lee
uttered a cry.
"Zara!" he said, as he caught sight of the dress; "it is Zara!"
But he was wrong. It was not Zara, it was Tera!