ONE CHANCE
It was like a staggering blow. While it confirmed Stillman's theory
that Parlmee was the chief rascal of the conspiracy, it shattered the
supposition that Weegman, a blind dupe, wholly unaware of the truth,
was being cleverly manipulated as an unconscious tool. The foundation of
that hypothesis melted away like sand before hydrolytic force.
Locke turned again and looked at the reporter. The latter, standing
like an image of stone, was staring questioningly and incredulously
at Virginia Collier. He, too, realized that this confirmation of his
belief had brought a portion of the postulation fluttering down like a
house of cards, and he was seeking a mental readjustment.
Janet, frozen with lips slightly parted and eyes wide, was aware of it
also. She was about to speak impulsively when Lefty detected her and made
a repressing gesture.
Miss Collier felt that she knew the reason for the sudden silence that
had fallen on every one, and a faint flush crept back into her cheeks.
She appeared to be humiliated and ashamed, as well as sorrowful.
"I understand," she said, in a low tone, "how it must seem to you
to hear me say such a thing about Mr. Parlmee. I have trusted him. I
believed in him, even when my father was losing faith and confidence. I
clung to my own faith, and it hasn't been easy to abandon it, even in
the face of proof. My conscience or something taunts me occasionally.
I--I've cried over it, and I've fought against it. I haven't dared see
him since my return--since I found out the truth--for I knew I should
listen to him and believe in him in spite of everything. I wanted to
face him and accuse him, but Weegman persuaded me to wait. He said it
would merely hasten the crash if we let the scoundrels know they were
suspected."
"The scoundrels!" exclaimed Locke. "Then he told you that more than
one was concerned?"
"He claims that a man named Garrity is operating in conjunction with
Franklin Parlmee."
Another staggerer. To Virginia, Weegman had accused Garrity. Mutely the
southpaw appealed to Stillman. The reporter's forehead was puckered in a
puzzled manner; he caught Lefty's glance, and shook his head slowly.
"When did he name Garrity, Miss Collier?" he asked.
"When he called on me to-day--this afternoon," was the answer. "He
has been at work trying to get at the truth."
Locke improved the opportunity to whisper in Janet's ear: "Keep still!
Don't say a word--now."
Although she did not understand why he wished her to keep silent, she
nodded. He had been right in other matters; it was best to let him have
his way in this.
"My niece has been very much upset," said Mrs. Vanderpool. "It has
practically made her ill. She hasn't felt much like seeing people, and
therefore Mr. Weegman's advice to keep quiet was easy to follow."
Weegman had urged Virginia to remain in obscurity, not to let her friends
know she was in New York; that was evident. He had convinced her that by
doing so she could best assist him in his pretended task of trapping the
conspirators. And while she kept quiet, those conspirators were hastening
to carry through the work they had planned.
"Miss Collier," said Lefty, "do you think it would be possible for
your father to come home at once? Do you think he is strong enough to
stand the voyage? If he can do so, he had better come. He should be here
now."
"I don't know," she replied.
"Give me his address and let me communicate with him," Locke urged.
"He should know something of the truth, at least."
Virginia was persuaded, for Mrs. Vanderpool agreed that it was the best
course to pursue. The southpaw was elated; he felt that at last he was
getting a grip that would enable him to accomplish something. If he could
baffle the rascals now, it would be a feat worth while.
Mrs. Vanderpool was called away to the telephone.
"Auntie has been very kind to me, in spite of her quarrel with father,"
said Virginia, when the lady had left the room. "They have not spoken to
each other for years. It is so ridiculous, so childish, for a brother
and sister who have been devoted! Both are stubborn. And yet Aunt
Elizabeth is the kindest, gentlest woman in the world. She lost an only
daughter, and she says I seem to fill the vacant place. She has made me
feel very much at home."
Then she began chatting with Janet about things of mutual interest. Locke
joined Stillman, who had walked to the far end of the room.
"This Weegman is either a fool or much cleverer than we thought him,"
said the reporter swiftly, in a low tone. "I don't believe he's a
fool."
"How have you figured it out?" Lefty questioned. "It was a mistake
to think him not wise to Parlmee. And why, if he is hand in glove with
Garrity, did he tell her that Garrity was concerned in the miserable
business?"
"He told her that to-day?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't he tell her before? Weegman is in town. Have you seen him?"
The pitcher told of his meeting with both Weegman and Garrity, and how
he had defied them. Stillman's face cleared a little.
"Look here, Locke, that fellow Weegman will double cross any one. You
put him next to the fact that you were wise to Garrity. The whole bunch
must know that Collier has fired his crooked doctor. Of course, Dalmers
notified them. After talking with you, Weegman began to realize that
the whole plot might fall through. He lost no time in beginning to
hedge his bets. He's trying to fix it so that he'll fall safe if the
business blows up."
"But why did he tell her of Parlmee? We thought he didn't know about
that."
"I'm not as sure about Parlmee as I was," admitted the reporter
frankly. "Weegman has been trying to blacken him to her right along.
I'll own up now that it was an anonymous communication that first
put me on the track of Parlmee. There have been others of the same sort
tending to incriminate him. I've wondered where they came from. Now
I think I know. Weegman is the answer."
"By Jove!" exclaimed Lefty. "You believe it was he who directed
suspicion toward Parlmee in the first place?"
"You've got me. That being the case, instead of being a dupe, this
Weegman has put something over that we didn't suspect him of. He's
after Collier's daughter, and it would help him if he could turn her
against his rival."
Locke's face cleared. His relief was evident.
"This is all speculation," said the reporter hastily. "Don't be
too quick to accept it as a settled fact. Parlmee's behavior has been
suspicious enough to require some explaining from him. Perhaps he can
clear it up. We know Weegman has tried to put the Blue Stockings on
the blink, and we're dead certain he hasn't knowingly done so as the
assistant of Parlmee. Now how do you figure on that?"
"Parlmee's innocent, as I fancied. Weegman is the chief rascal."
Stillman smiled. "In which case he's beginning to find himself caught
in a quicksand, and he's trying to save himself by climbing out over
his pal, Garrity. He'll swear he had no finger in it. Garrity won't
dare accuse Weegman of being an accomplice, for by doing that he would
acknowledge that there was a conspiracy. Weegman is in no danger in that
direction of anything further than such private revenge as Garrity may
seek to take."
Lefty turned back and approached Virginia and Janet, addressing the
former:
"Miss Collier, I want you to promise me that, for the present, at least,
you'll say nothing to Bailey Weegman about having seen and talked with
me."
The girl looked surprised. "I was just proposing that Janet should leave
the hotel and stay here with me. I know my aunt will approve."
"I approve anything you may wish, my dear," said Mrs. Vanderpool,
reentering the room. "It would give me great pleasure to have Mrs.
Hazelton visit us and remain as long as possible."
Locke looked doubtful, for should that arrangement be carried out
Janet might easily be led into telling Virginia more than it seemed
advisable for her to know at the present time. But Mrs. Vanderpool made
her invitation most cordial, and Janet gave him a beseeching glance.
He wavered.
"Weegman calls here. If he should--"
Janet's hand fell on his arm. "Trust me," she urged significantly.
"You can't hope to keep him long in the dark. For the present, if he
calls, I'll not be in evidence. You're so busy that I see very little
of you during the day, anyway."
So he was won over. Janet returned with him to the hotel to gather up the
belongings she would need, and Stillman accompanied them. Lefty made his
wife understand how desirous it was to keep Weegman blinded as long as
possible, explaining that he feared Miss Collier's indignation would
lead her into betraying everything should she learn the whole truth
regarding the two-faced schemer.
"If you can get Collier home quickly enough, Locke," said Stillman,
"there's a chance that you may be able to spike the enemy's guns, even
at this late hour."
"I'm going to make a swift play for that chance," returned Lefty.