THE WOMAN INVOLVED.
It was close upon noon when Nick Carter, after his interview with
Senator Barclay, rejoined Patsy Garvan and hastened from the statesman’s
residence. None could have appreciated more keenly the gravity of the
situation, the delicate nature of what had been confided to him, and the
quick and clever work that must be done to avert the impending calamity,
if indeed it were possible.
Nick thought he already saw his way clearly, however, and he began with
informing Patsy of as many of the circumstances as the case required.
“We’ve got a look in, Patsy, at least,” he added, pausing on a corner to
hail a taxicab. “If Margate sizes up the letter and document as I think
he will, he may undertake to blackmail Lady Deland before I can be seen
by Senator Barclay and put on the case. He will reason, of course, that
I cannot have yet discovered that he is alive, much less have tracked
him to the medical college and to the Barclay residence.”
“Gee whiz!” exclaimed Patsy. “You’re the only man on earth, chief, who
could have accomplished all that in so short a time. Margate will not
believe it possible.”
“I am banking on that, Patsy, and that he will attempt to take advantage
of my supposed ignorance. He will know, too, that any move to blackmail
Lady Deland must be made immediately, both on my account and the fact
that the document must be restored to her before to-morrow, when it will
become useless as a lever to blackmail her.”
“I see both points, chief,” nodded Patsy.
“I have a countermove framed up in my mind,” Nick added.
“What’s that, chief?”
“I will inform you a little later. You go to the Willard as quickly as
possible, now, and bring our make-up box to the Deland residence,
wearing a disguise. I have one in my pocket that will enable me to go
there without being recognized, assuming that the house is being
watched, which I hardly think is probable. We’ll take no chances,
however. Rejoin me there as soon as possible.”
“You can bank on that, chief,” declared Patsy, as he turned and hurried
away.
Ten minutes later, and precisely ten minutes after Tony Selig ceased
watching the Deland residence, Nick alighted in the disguise of an
elderly man from his taxicab and rang the doorbell of the imposing stone
mansion. The summons was answered by the butler, Hawley, to whom Nick
said tentatively:
“Is Sir Edward Deland at home?”
“No, sir,” Hawley politely informed him. “He is in New York to-day. He
is expected here to-morrow.”
“Lady Deland, then?”
“She is at home, sir. I will take in your card, sir, if----”
“Take this note to her, instead, and say that I would like to see her
immediately,” Nick directed, interrupting.
“Walk in, sir.”
Nick had waited only a few moments in the reception hall, when the
butler returned and conducted him to the library, where he found Lady
Deland awaiting him--a stately, beautiful woman still in the twenties,
whose pale cheeks and apprehensive eyes denoted with what misgivings she
had read Senator Barclay’s note introducing the famous detective.
“Close the door when you go out,” she directed, with a glance at the
butler.
“Yes, your ladyship.”
Hawley bowed himself from the room.
“I am pleased to meet you, Mr. Carter, and long have known you by name,”
said Lady Deland, then shaking hands with the detective. “Tell me--what
is the meaning of this visit? Has anything happened to Sir Edward
Deland, or to----”
She hesitated, turning deathly white when Nick, removing his disguise,
said gravely:
“You have anticipated what has happened, Lady Deland.”
“You know?” she gasped.
“Senator Barclay was forced to confide in me.”
“Oh, my God!”
The woman reeled as if about to faint, and Nick helped her to a chair,
saying quickly:
“Do not be alarmed. Nothing confided to me, Lady Deland, ever goes
farther. I know all of the circumstances and appreciate your position. I
hope to accomplish all that is necessary to set you right. I really
expect to do so, in fact, so try to be calm and give me your assistance.
Both are imperative to what I have in view.”
Nick’s encouraging words were not without effect upon her. Lady Deland
drew up in her chair, composing herself with an effort and replying
gratefully:
“Thank you, thank you, Mr. Carter; but, oh, this is terrible. How could
I have done such a thing? Tell me the worst. Let me know the worst.”
Nick then informed her as briefly as possible of the strange combination
of circumstances resulting in the loss of the fateful document and her
letter relating to it, adding, with convincing earnestness:
“Senator Barclay is in no sense to blame for the misfortune. He thought
the safest place for the document during the single night he was to
retain it was in the pocket of the coat in his own room.”
“Oh, I do not blame him, Mr. Carter,” said Lady Deland, who now had
nerved herself to meet the trying situation. “Senator Barclay is a very
dear friend, and a man in whom I have absolute confidence. Otherwise I
never could have taken such a step, which I truly felt would be the best
for all concerned.”
“I appreciate that, I assure you.”
“But what can be done? How can----”
“That is what I now wish to discuss with you, Lady Deland, and to point
out what I require of you,” Nick interposed. “I think that we may yet
thwart Andy Margate and recover the document in time to save you from
exposure.”
“But that dreadful man! He must know----”
“Never mind what he knows about it,” Nick again interrupted. “If I can
land him and recover the document, I will make very sure that neither
he nor any of his confederates will afterward reveal anything. I will
put them where they can accomplish nothing. Besides, Lady Deland,
revelations on their part would fall flat when opposed with denials from
persons of your character and that of Senator Barclay.”
“But what can be done, Mr. Carter?” she anxiously inquired.
Nick then proceeded to tell her of his suspicions, of the only way by
which advantage of the document would probably be taken, and that it
must be attempted that very day in order to be effective.
“I understand,” she bowed, after hearing him.
“There is only one way by which it could be done, Lady Deland, and only
one method that really appears feasible,” Nick continued. “One is by the
use of the telephone, which presents too many difficulties and
contingencies for me to think that method will be adopted.”
“And the other?”
“The other is with a personal interview with you, possibly by Margate
himself, though much more probably by one of his confederates,” Nick
continued to explain. “Though a daring and desperate man, I doubt that
Margate will venture here in person.”
“But what am I to do?”
“These rascals will have only one object in view, that of forcing you to
pay them a large sum of money, or perhaps turn over your jewels to them.
Just how they will attempt it remains to be seen, and I wish to be in a
position to direct what occurs here. That must be accomplished without
incurring the suspicions of the person whom Margate may send.”
“But how can you do that, Mr. Carter?” Lady Deland doubtfully inquired.
“It will be necessary for me to see the person.”
“Very true,” Nick admitted, glancing around the room. “I think, however,
that we can arrange it. Where does that door lead?” he added, pointing
to one across which a portière was partly drawn.
“To Sir Edward’s private study,” said Lady Deland.
“Is there another door leading out of the room?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Where?”
“Into the side hall.”
“Capital!” said Nick, with manifest satisfaction. “From where you sit,
Lady Deland, by glancing into the mirror over the fireplace, I think you
can see into the study.”
“Yes, sir, I can.”
“You can do so, I observe by merely turning your eyes in the direction
of the mirror.”
“I can, Mr. Carter.”
“If you were to do so merely casually, a person seated here would have
no idea that you were in communication with a person in the study,” said
Nick. “By turning my chair in this direction, I can see the mirror, but
not the study door, nor any reflection of it.”
“Oh, I now see what you mean,” Lady Deland exclaimed. “You wish to
signal me from the study, by means of the mirror, while I am talking
with the person you suspect will come here.”
“Exactly,” Nick replied. “I will stand so that you can see a reflection
of me, and I will signify with a nod, or with a negative shake of my
head, what course you must shape.”
“I understand you perfectly.”
“It will be necessary for you to yield to whatever design may be
attempted.”
“Have you any idea of what it will consist?”
“I think you will be required to go somewhere, both to get and deliver a
price for the document, and also in order to receive the letter.”
“I will go,” said Lady Deland quickly. “I shall not fear. I would dare
anything, Mr. Carter, to recover it.”
“Something more will be necessary,” Nick replied. “I wish to go with you
with one of my assistants, who will presently arrive here.”
“But will that be allowed?”
“We must fool whoever comes here into allowing it,” smiled Nick.
“Will that be possible?”
“I think so, in view of the fact that much is at stake, and that there
is no time for other arrangements. You must insist upon going in your
touring car, and taking your chauffeur and your maid.”
“Well?”
“You can state that they know nothing about the business engaging you,
and that the crooks will incur no danger from your having these
uninformed companions. They will have guarded against danger, all right,
as a matter of fact. I know such rascals root and branch.”
“But I don’t understand,” Lady Deland said doubtfully. “What can my maid
and chauffeur accomplish?”
“Leave that to me,” Nick replied, smiling again. “I shall be your
chauffeur, Lady Deland, and your maid will be Patsy Garvan, my
assistant, who can make up very cleverly as a girl in the twenties.”
“Oh, I now see at what you are driving,” cried Lady Deland, with
countenance lighting.
“You must provide him with the necessary garments, however,” Nick added.
“We have all else that will be required.”
“I will do so, Mr. Carter.”
“I also wish to take your butler’s place for a time, that I may
determine whether any visitor warrants suspicion, and also take steps
consistent with our design.”
“You may do so,” Lady Deland said readily. “I will give you all the
assistance in my power.”
“We will make all of the necessary arrangements after my assistant
arrives,” Nick rejoined. “I shall want a coat, cap, and gloves belonging
to your chauffeur. We will put them in an adjoining room, where I can
easily and quickly get them. I will wear a different disguise in the two
characters I shall assume, and--ah, there is the doorbell. That should
be Patsy. In half an hour, Lady Deland, we shall have completed our
arrangements.”