THE NET IS SPREAD
The girls found Elizabeth up and greatly worried. She had gone to bed
and fallen asleep, she said, waking at midnight to find that they had
not come in. "If Dalton had not needed his sleep so much, I would have
wakened him," she said.
Again the sleepy girls told the story, gathering up the details in the
process and filling in what Beth did not know. "But we have passed the
responsibility over to Mr. Tudor, Beth. He thinks that more proof is
necessary, too. We've found out more than enough for poor little Peggy,
though she is the stoutest little piece you ever saw. One thing, she
does not like her step-father, or trust him, and she sees that he makes
Mrs. Ives miserable. Mr. Tudor asked if she would be likely to warn her
step-father and of course, we could not know. So far she has not said
anything to her mother."
"Do you suppose that Mr. Tudor will do anything?" asked Beth, very much
interested.
"I don't know. He said that he would talk to Dalton and to you. I'd say
wait till they get here, anyhow. We surely are going to watch for that
schooner, Beth,--but not to-night!"
On the very next day another young man arrived at Evan Tudor's camp.
Largely for Bill's benefit, a heavy package marked manuscript was mailed
by Mr. Tudor from the village post office. When Tom arrived that day
with the regular supply of fish, he was told that he might make his
report in the presence of the other young man. He did so, showing some
money that Bill had paid him for the trip, a sum which Tom had inwardly
hesitated to take, feeling like a traitor. He spoke of his feeling in
the matter, but Mr. Tudor assured him that he must seem to be a part of
the smuggler group. "You may even have to be arrested with the rest,
though if there is any resisting, get out of range! Can you meet that?"
"Yes, sir."
"Our people will be instructed about you, and you have only to tell who
you are. I'm not anticipating any war. Things are coming to a climax
now. Have you any information about the schooner that is bringing in the
immigrants?"
"Yes, sir. Mr. Ives is out with the yacht now. He is expecting to take
them off the schooner some distance out, but the yacht has trouble with
the engine and they may have to dock her. In that case they'll bring
what Bill calls the big bugs to the yacht, by the launch, of course, and
take the rest into the cave till they can get them 'distributed.' That
is what Mr. Ives calls it. I saw him. He came in to Bill's on the
launch, about ten o'clock last night."
Mr. Tudor had also seen him, but he did not mention the fact to Tom.
"Does Mr. Ives know that you are in this with Bill?"
"Yes, sir. He asked me questions and gave me a ten dollar bill. I feel
like a Judas."
"Remember what he is and you will not feel so. You can give the money
back later, if you like."
The more puzzling part of this matter to Mr. Tudor was to make no
mistake about having the government officers and men on hand at the
right time. With careful scouts out on land and sea to guard against
surprise when the schooner actually arrived, Mr. Ives and Bill would be
thoroughly informed about any suspicious movements. But an innocent
looking hunting and fishing party had just arrived at a camp a few miles
away, and a few miles down the coast a small passenger vessel had put
in, apparently for repairs. A regular coast guard steamer had passed as
well and had duly been reported to Bill and Mr. Ives, who were feeling
none too easy about this next cargo of aliens to be smuggled in. But
thousands of dollars were already in their pockets and they expected to
make as much again.
Patriotism? Bill had been smuggled in himself years before, and Mr. Ives
often told his wife that he owed nothing to Uncle Sam or the flag. He
was a brilliant scoundrel, thoroughly selfish and of the type that
enjoys intrigue and power. The Count had been embittered by the results
of the world war and was glad to do what he could against the country
and its laws. Some of the alien immigrants themselves were to be pitied,
though they were lending themselves to this scheme. Many of them were
caught in some unhappy circumstances at home and cared nothing for
governments, only for a refuge.
Others were of the dangerous class of communists that were willing to
pay and pay heavily for the chance to spread their doctrines in a
country that wanted none of them. Then there were the ignorant ones, of
"low degree," who believed almost anything that they were told of the
chances in America. They were to be largely Bill's prey, robbed of their
savings and forced to work for him if he chose. That was the "fine
opportunity" waiting for them in America!
The new man with Mr. Tudor carried the messages now, at night, for it
was no longer best to telegraph from the nearest town. After the sending
of the manuscript, the two men now spent long hours in fishing or in
tramping about after the manner of tourists. They took notes in
prominent places, to carry out the idea of their profession, and,
indeed, both of them were correspondents for certain papers. Mr. Tudor
told Beth that his "best seller" could more easily be a detective story
than anything else.
Dalton was admitted to councils now, but he was more anxious to get on
with the house than to do any detective work. The chief benefit to him
was the knowledge that someone else was watching Bill and Mr. Ives. His
family was safe without his being on guard any longer. Like magic,
Leslie said, the house went up and it was decided to finish it within
and without for cold weather. They would at least have what Sarita
called a "proper home" and if they wanted to stay through part of the
cold weather they could.
At night watch was kept in the Eyrie, as they had planned, for now it
was but a short time till the schooner was due. On the twenty-sixth the
Ives yacht came into the bay and men were sent for to fix some part of
the machinery. Mr. Ives, "cross as two sticks," according to Peggy,
appeared at his home and had long consultations with the Count. At other
times he could be heard pacing up and down in his office. "He has
something on hand that worries him terribly, Peggy," Mrs. Ives told her
daughter, "and just at the time of the house party, too! He says that
perhaps the yacht will not be ready in time to go for them, but that if
it isn't he will get them here some other way."
Peggy did not confide this to the other girls. She had stopped talking
about the matter. It was not fun any more. They missed her at the Eyrie,
for while Jack came as usual, still interested in the house and Dalton,
and still wanting to confide in Leslie the matters of the Steeple Rocks
mystery, now a mystery no longer, Peggy tried to seem interested in her
clothes and the plans for the house party. Would it come off? Would Mr.
Tudor tell? He didn't talk as if he would right away. What ought she to
do about telling her mother?
Peggy's mind was somewhat in confusion. The servants were quiet,
inclined to watch Peggy, she imagined. It would have been hard to find
opportunity for the secret talk with her mother which she rather longed
for sometimes. She and Jack did not attempt to discuss the matter and
Mr. Ives asked Jack to drop his "carpenter work" at the Eyrie. Once,
while they were playing tennis, Jack muttered to Peggy, "No use, can't
do a thing now, Peggy. We'll just wait."
A very pleasant thing happened at the Secrest camp in the shape of a
surprise for Sarita. Through Mr. Tudor, Tom Carey sent her a package in
which was her lost glass. Tom had recovered it that very night after it
had fallen into the water, by swimming from his boat and diving where it
seemed safe. The glass had lodged upon a rock not far from the surface,
he discovered, and while its appearance was spoiled, the lenses were not
broken.
Keeping the recovery a secret from Bill, Tom had made a trip to town and
had the field glass put in shape again, with new covering. A little note
explained the facts and Sarita was quite overcome, almost sorry that Tom
had gone to the expense but admiring his spirit. "Oh, the poor boy!" she
exclaimed.
"He paid for it with Bill's money, though," said the smiling Mr. Tudor,
in whose presence Sarita had opened the package, "and as he is making a
little more than usual, you need not worry about Tom. I will explain in
a few days, Miss Sarita. It comes just in time for good service."
Meanwhile the net was being drawn more tightly. It was desired to take
the Count and Mr. Ives after their connection with the smuggling was
further proved by the presence of the aliens illegitimately brought in
in the Ives home or upon the Ives yacht. On land and by sea the arrival
of the schooner was awaited.