"I--I didn't see anything," he stammered.
"Were you with him all the time?"
"He was never out of my sight."
"Be careful how you answer," she said, "or I'll believe you're in with
him."
Freer's face was pale and sweaty. "Well--well--he flirted with a girl
in the station. I couldn't hear what he said because I was buying the
tickets. It looked all right."
"Looked all right!" snarled Lorina. "You fool! One of Enderby's spies
tracked you!"
"I swear we weren't trailed!" cried Freer. "I watched particularly."
"What time was that?"
"About quarter past seven."
"At eight o'clock a telegram was delivered at the Sanatorium," said
Lorina. "My agent called me up. It said: 'Do not leave the house
to-night,' and was signed 'B. Enderby.'"
The gang looked at me with a new hatred.
Lorina laughed harshly. "Oh, this isn't Enderby," she said. "Enderby
was at the Sanatorium to-night seeing his girl. We had the two of them
together, and this traitor double-crossed us!"
They began to move threateningly towards my corner.
"Keep back!" cried Lorina. "Let's hear what he has to say first."
I licked my dry lips and did the best I could for myself. "You've got
no proof!" I cried. "How could I have sent a telegram? I was never
out of Freer's sight. Why should I have signed it Enderby if Enderby
was out there? You all know I'm no bull but a workman at Dunsany's. I
can account for every minute of my time since Jumbo first picked me up!"
Lorina was nearer me than any of the men. She took a step forward. I
guarded my face. But that was not her point of attack. Her hand shot
out, and the wig was snatched from my head. There I stood with my bare
poll. The jig was up.
A loud laugh broke from the men--jackals' laughter, before tearing
their prey. A different kind of sound came from Freer.
"My God! it's Mr. Dunsany!" he gasped.
"Eh?" said Lorina.
"Walter Dunsany," he repeated, staring as if he saw a ghost.
"Is this true?" she demanded of me.
I felt as if the worst were over now. A sudden calmness descended on
me. It was a sort of relief to be able to be myself. "Quite true," I
said.
"What's your game?" she demanded scowling.
"Do you need to ask?"
There was a commotion among the men. I heard different exclamations
and demands. Some were for despatching me on the spot; one suggested I
be held for a million dollars' ransom.
Lorina turned on the last speaker. "You fool!" she cried. "Ten
millions wouldn't save him! He gets a perpetual lodging in my cellar!"
Cries of approval, more laughter greeted this.
From her dress Lorina drew the gun I had given her a little while
before. "Hands up!" she commanded.
Now I knew it was not loaded, and I had a loaded gun in my pocket. But
so had every other man there, and all had more practice in drawing
their weapons than I. So I thought it best to obey. Up went my hands.
"Foxy, Jim, frisk him!" said Lorina.
They found the gun, and flung it on the desk. Lorina dropped it in the
middle drawer. There was nothing else incriminating upon me.
"Down on the floor with him!" cried somebody.
"Wait!" said Lorina. "We'll see what we can find out first."
I caught at the little straw of hope that showed. "Send them out and
I'll talk freely," I muttered. "I've no mind to be shot when I'm not
looking."
Over-confidence betrayed her. With a gun in her hand she felt herself
more than a match for any unarmed man. By a fatal oversight she never
looked to see if her weapon was loaded. She didn't trust that mob very
far, as I knew, and perhaps she thought I might have something to say
which it was better they shouldn't hear. They grumbled, but she was
absolute mistress there. She ordered them out of the room.
"Shut the door," she said. "Wait outside. Do not come in unless I
call you."
If I could get that door locked, and get my gun back! I crept along
the wall opposite the windows a little at a time. Lorina made no
serious attempt to stop me, because there was no possible escape on
that side of the room.
"What have you got to tell me?" she said.
"What do you want to know?" I parried. Every second I could gain was
precious.
"Stand still!" she commanded. "Where is Enderby to-night?"
"At the Sanatorium, you said."
"He returned on the same train you did."
"I didn't know it. I wish I had."
"Well, where is he now?"
"At the Rotterdam, I suppose."
"He has not come back there. I have the place watched."
"Then I don't know where he is."
"You lie! Where do you have your meetings?"
"We have never met but once since I've been on the case."
"Do you expect me to believe that? Stand still!"
"I don't care whether you believe it or not. It's the truth."
Meanwhile I was moving a few inches at a time around the wall towards
the door the men had gone out by. Since Lorina knew the dozen of them
were just outside the door, indeed we could hear them, she cared
little. My hands were still elevated of course.
"How do you communicate with him?" she asked.
"By letter or telephone."
"Where?"
"At the Rotterdam."
Her eyes glittered. "I've had enough of this fooling," she said. "If
you've got anything that's worth my while you'd better say it. My
finger's impatient."
I needed a few seconds yet. I adopted a whining tone. "Why should I
split on Enderby? You're going to croak me anyway. What'll you do for
me if I tell?"
"For the last time, tell me what you know, or I'll hand you over to the
boys!" said Lorina.
I had reached the door now. The key was in it. I had calculated every
move in advance. Down came my hands, I turned the key, and flung it
out of the open window. Lorina began to shoot. The gun makes so
little noise at any time that she had pulled the trigger several times
before she realised it was not loaded. By that time I was half way
back to the desk. I got the drawer open and my hand on my gun, as she
leaped on my back. I flung her off.
She was crying for help by this time. The men outside tried the door,
then flung themselves against it. It could not hold long against that
weight. But I needed only a few seconds. I reached the window over
the portico. Somehow or other I slid down a pillar to the steps. As
soon as my feet touched something solid I fired three shots in the air.
This was the pre-arranged signal to the men in the hotel.
I vaulted over the balustrade, and crouched in the areaway of the
adjoining house out of range of any shots from the windows. Foxy
undertook to follow me. As he dropped to the stoop I shot him in the
legs. He fell in a heap. The others looking out, thought better of
imitating him.
Almost immediately the men came running out of the hotel, and Lorina's
gang disappeared like magic from the windows. But as it had been
arranged that some of the detectives were to approach over the back
fences, and others by the roof, I had no fear they would escape us.
The rest is soon told. When we broke in the door we heard Lorina
commanding the men not to shoot. As the police crowded into the hall,
she came towards us head up, and with superb insolence demanded to know
the meaning of the outrage. I'm afraid I indulged in rude laughter.
The police were amply provided with handcuffs. We secured the
prisoners two by two, searched them, and carted them off in the patrol
wagon that was summoned by telephone. The bag was Lorina, Jumbo, Foxy
(not seriously wounded), Jim, Freer, seven other men and the three
negroes. Blondy escaped in safety according to your instructions.
There was much mystification expressed, since the house was guarded
front, rear and roof, and every corner of the interior was searched.
Of course, I made a great fuss about it.
The lieutenant of police reported the haul to Inspector Lanman, who
arrived bye and bye with other high police officials in an automobile.
You ought to have been there too. I was wild at my inability to get
hold of you. I used all the eloquence at my command appealing to
Lanman not to disturb anything in the house, and not to have the
prisoners questioned until we could get hold of you. He agreed.
I am remaining here in the house to see that his orders in that
connection are obeyed, and also on the chance that other members of the
gang may come in. We have all of them that matter though--except the
grand boss. Unfortunately the noise of this capture will give him
warning, but I have done the best I could. Lorina's other
establishment is well-guarded, but will not be broken into until
morning. Come quickly when you get this.
WALTER DUNSANY.
(J. M. no longer.)
31
The tremendous popular excitement that followed on the capture of
Lorina and her gang does not help on my story, so I will pass over it
quickly. The haul we made in the modern cave of Aladdin staggered the
public imagination. Much against Mr. Dunsany's advice the jewels were
publicly exhibited in police headquarters for three days.
Mr. Dunsany and I were elevated into the position of newspaper heroes.
He at least deserved it, but I doubt if he enjoyed his honours. I know
I didn't enjoy what fell to me. I couldn't help but think if we had
only been able to hush up this noise for twenty-four hours, maybe the
grand boss of the outfit might have walked into our welcoming arms.
I will simply say that a thorough combing of Lorina's house, and of her
offices, revealed not the slightest bit of evidence leading to the man
we sought. She was a wonder at covering her tracks. In the midst of
all the popular praises I was discouraged. There was nothing as far as
I could see to prevent the organiser of the gang from presently
organising another. Meanwhile I was in hourly expectation of receiving
his compliments in the shape of a bullet.
I had one small hope left, and that was in Blondy. The fact of his
escape had been duly published, and I was praying that Lorina, deprived
now of any better instrument might be led to use him. I carefully
stayed away from the boy, keeping in touch with him by letter and
phone. I would not, of course, put him up to communicating with
Lorina. That would instantly have aroused her suspicions. Any move
must come from her. I append some of Blondy's letters.
_July 10th._