RELATES HOW THE PIRATE HOLDS UP AN AUGUST PERSONAGE
I REACHED my destination about five, and found, as I hoped, a telegram
awaiting my arrival. It read--
"Ever so much better. Do not worry about me.
Cannot spare you for long though. Lots of
love.--E."
With my mind very much relieved, I was able to devote my attention to my
aunt, who was full of questions as to the reason for my unexpected
arrival and equally eager for a full account of my doings during the
past six months, during which time, she assured me, I had grossly
neglected my duties, especially by my failure to keep her adequately
posted regarding my engagement.
I was anxious, after reading Evie's wire, to start forthwith for St.
Albans; my aunt was equally anxious that I should remain the night at
Sutgrove, and while we were arguing the point, a second telegram
arrived, which settled the matter. I tore open the envelope and read--
"Meet the 8.49 at Cromer with motor. Do not fail.
Most important.--FORREST."
The message had been handed in at Liverpool Street at 4.50, and I
wondered what could have happened to necessitate Forrest's presence in
Norfolk. There was little use speculating, however, and I settled down
to satiate, if it were possible, my aunt's curiosity.
She was duly impressed by such of my adventures as I thought fit to
relate, but she was not neglectful of what she considered her duties as
hostess and, in spite of the fact that I had eaten a hearty lunch about
two, I was able shortly after seven to do adequate justice to the early
dinner which she provided for me. I left home soon after eight, and, in
consequence of my impatience, had to wait ten minutes on the Cromer
platform for the arrival of the train.
As the engine drew into the station, I saw Forrest's head thrust out of
the window of one of the carriages, and, before the train had come to a
standstill, he had leaped from the door and was at my side. He was for
him unusually excited, and, without reply to my greeting, save with a
silent hand grip, he said--
"Seen anything of Mannering?"
"Why, yes," I replied directly. "I lunched with him, to-day. He's
stopping at the Royal."
"That's a bit of luck," replied the detective. "Come along;" and he
pushed on in advance of me through the barrier.
"What has happened?" I asked, as I caught him up in the station yard.
"I hold a warrant for his arrest, and I am desirous of executing it at
the earliest possible moment, that's all," he replied.
I could hardly believe my ears. "What in the world for?" I asked.
"What should it be for?" said Forrest, with a touch of sarcasm in the
tone of his voice.
"He cannot be the Motor Pirate. It is impossible. He could not have
deceived me so completely," I exclaimed.
"I would stake everything I hope for in the future, as well as
everything I possess at the present moment, that he is though," returned
the detective with conviction. "But we must not waste time. Take me to
the hotel."
Without stopping to argue the point, I jumped on my car, Forrest took
the seat beside me, and we proceeded to the Royal.
"Leave the car and come with me, I may want your assistance," he said,
as we pulled up at the entrance to the hotel.
He sprang out the moment I stopped and ran briskly up the steps. A
porter was in the hall, and to him Forrest turned.
"I want to see a Mr. Mannering, who is stopping here, at once, and I do
not wish to be announced," he said.
The man walked across to the office and made an inquiry of the clerk,
then returning, announced that Mannering had left an hour previously.
"Left?" said Forrest, and his jaw fell. He stepped across to the office
himself, only to learn that though Mannering had booked a room for the
night, he had after dinner called for his bill, paid it, and left on his
motor, without giving any reason for his alteration of plans.
Forrest stalked out of the hotel, his brow heavy with thought. I
followed him. He stepped on to the car, and, taking my seat, I asked him
tersely--
"Where to?"
"St. Albans," he replied with brevity equal to my own, and without
further question we were off.
"Don't mind taking a few risks," he said presently. "The sooner we can
get there the better I shall be pleased."
Then, leaning back in his seat, he asked me to tell him how I happened
to learn of Mannering's presence in Cromer, and what he had said to
convince me that he was in no way connected with the Pirate. So while we
were still running at a moderate pace, I gave him a brief history of my
adventures of the previous night. Before I had concluded, however, the
road ahead seemed clear, and, pulling my mask over my face, I jammed on
my highest speed and conversation became impossible.
Forrest pulled his cap down over his eyes and, turning his coat-collar
about his ears, settled himself apparently to slumber. Within half an
hour the lights of Norwich sparkled in front of us, and it became
necessary to slacken speed. Forrest immediately resumed the conversation
at the point where we had broken off, and questioned me closely with
regard to what Mannering had said to me. Once and again I endeavoured
to ascertain what had induced him to take out the warrant; but he would
not satisfy my curiosity, declaring that it was of more importance that
he should know all that I could tell him first. There seemed little
likelihood of my learning anything, for we soon left Norwich behind us,
and were running at full speed on the road to Thetford and Newmarket,
slackening speed only slightly as we swept through the villages and
trusting to the continuous toot-toot of the horn to clear our path. Our
progress was uninterrupted until we had reached and left the little town
of Attleborough five or six miles behind us, when Forrest was afforded
an opportunity, much to his chagrin, of giving me the reasons for his
haste.
Incidentally, I may remark, that the occurrence which afforded this
opportunity came very near depriving me of the chance of hearing
anything from anybody, or him from ever opening his lips again, for
while we swept along at our top speed there was a sudden hissing sound,
a sudden succession of jars, and the car swerved violently, nearly
overturning. I jammed on both my breaks, and by good fortune the car did
not overturn. I guessed what had happened, and there was no need for me
to get a light to make sure--my sense of touch informed me that the off
back tyre was as flat as a pancake.
I hoped that the injury was only slight, but my hopes faded the moment I
examined the injury. The tyre had picked up a curved and pointed piece
of iron, and had been irreparably damaged. No patching was of any use.
There was nothing for it but to replace the tyre with a new one.
Fortunately, I was prepared with a spare outer cover as well as inner
tubes, and, with a muttered curse, I threw off my coat and set about the
job. Then when that was done, and it took me a good hour to complete the
task, I discovered, on restarting the car, that a further misfortune had
befallen us. Either owing to the jumping of the car when the tyre went,
or more likely because of the sudden application, the footbreak had
seized, and the transmission was so far injured that I could not get the
car along above seven or eight miles an hour. I did my best to put the
damage right. I lay on my back in the middle of the road, and used all
the language approved by the most fluent members of the Automobile Club
for use on such occasions, but entirely without result. Exactly where we
were I did not know, and, after I had relieved my feelings, I thought it
best to jog along until we came to some town where it would be possible
to get skilled assistance.
And it was while we were progressing in this humdrum fashion that
Forrest confided to me the reasons for his anxiety.
"In the first place," he said, "your theory as to the stud found by
Mannering's servants proved to be correct. It was Winter's. I arrived at
St. Albans the first thing this morning, and, after getting your note,
went straight away and interviewed the girls. They handed me the
trinket. I took it to Winter, and he identified it. He will swear to it
anywhere. By the time I had done this, your wire for me had arrived,
and your man, having seen me go into Winter's house, brought it on. I
took the next train to town and went straight to the Yard, thankful that
at last I was able to report something definite. Besides, I wanted to
take a warrant without any one being aware of it, and I knew I could
manage that better in London than in the country. Well, I called at the
Yard, ran across to Bow Street and got my warrant, and returned to the
Yard in order to instruct a couple of our men who had been placed at my
disposal. While I was there particulars came to hand of a feat which
throws all the other doings of the Pirate into the shade. You mentioned,
I think, that Mannering, when he told Miss Maitland that he was going
away, said that all England would be talking of him."
"She said so," I replied doubtfully; "but she was so excited----"
"She was probably correct in her recollection of what passed," he said.
"If further proof were wanted to connect your friend with the Motor
Pirate, those words would be sufficient. If what I know leaks out, the
Pirate will fill the popular mind more to-morrow than he has done in the
past even. Yesterday morning, within six miles of Sandringham, he held
up"--he hesitated--"I must mention no names--he held up, let me say, an
August Personage----"
"The King?" I cried.
"An August Personage," remarked Forrest, severely, "in broad daylight."
"Let me hear all about it?" I asked eagerly.
"I don't know that I can tell you everything, for so far I only know the
particulars wired to the Yard. But the story is complete enough to
enable me to do what I have hitherto failed in, and that is, complete
the necessary identification of our friend Mannering. And curiously
enough, it is owing to the keen powers of observation possessed by
the----"
"The August Personage," I reminded him, a trifle maliciously as he
hesitated.
Forrest laughed. "Quite right, you score that time," he remarked, before
resuming his tale. "Owing to the August Personage's keen powers of
observation, I am able to lay my finger on the one point which has
puzzled me, namely, the manner by which Mannering has managed to escape
suspicion. It is a simple trick. So simple, in fact, that I cannot
conceive how I managed to overlook such a possibility for so long.
However, you shall hear the facts as they were told to me, and judge for
yourself with what transparent means we have been hoodwinked by the
rascal. The August Personage, who, as you are probably aware, has been
staying at Sandringham for some days past, has been in the habit of
taking a ride on one of his cars whenever the roads were in good
condition, accompanied only by his chauffeur. This morning he started
for the customary run shortly after eleven, with the intention of taking
a circular trip through Hunstanton, Burnham, Docking and Bircham, and
returning for luncheon. The intention was not fulfilled since, before
reaching Hunstanton, the Pirate made his appearance, and approaching as
usual from behind, overtook the August motor. The August driver did not
at first take any notice of the approaching car, but, merely imagining
that the driver had recognized him, and felt some delicacy at passing,
he signalled with his hand for the stranger to go ahead. What was his
surprise to hear the stranger in a loud voice bid him stop his car. He
turned to look at the audacious person who had dared take such
unwarrantable liberty, and at once observed with whom he had to deal.
The Pirate had in his hand a revolver, which was levelled at the August
head. The August face flushed with anger, and turning away, he
contemptuously took no notice of the summons. The Pirate thereupon fired
two shots, aimed, fortunately, neither at the August Personage nor at
the chauffeur, but at the tyres of the back wheels. The aim was good,
the tyres ran down at once, and the August Personage found progress on
the rims to be so uncomfortable that he thought it desirable to stop.
The stranger ranged alongside, and the chauffeur, rising from his seat,
was about to throw himself at the throat of the assailant, when his
August master laid a hand upon his arm.
"'No, no,' he said, 'I can easily get another car, but I do not know
that I could replace my chauffeur.'
"Thereupon the Pirate observed, 'I think, sir, there is so much wisdom
in your remark that, in spite of my necessities, I almost feel inclined
to forego my usual toll in your case.
"The August Personage, whose coolness had never for a moment deserted
him, replied imperturbably--
"'Having robbed me of a morning's enjoyment, it seems to me there is
nothing of any particular value left for you to take.'
"'Then, sir,' replied the rascal, 'you will be doubtless glad to
purchase my immediate disappearance with the contents of the August
pockets?'
"August was not the word he used, but it was one which showed that he
was acquainted with the personality of his victim.
"The August Personage shrugged his shoulders, and, searching his
pockets, could produce nothing but a cigarette case and a button. To
show his _sang-froid_, I need only remark that when he produced the
latter article he laughed heartily and said to the chauffeur--
"'I hope, P----, you have something to add to the contents of my
pockets, or I fear this too eager gentleman will destroy our front tyres
as well as the back.'
"The chauffeur had some loose gold, a silver matchbox, and a watch, and
when these were produced, speaking with the same nonchalance he had
retained throughout, the August Personage remarked--
"'I fear you have drawn a blank this time, Mr. Pirate; for, upon my
word, that is the best I can do for you.'
"The Pirate took the articles. Then he raised his hat. 'I take,' he
said, 'the August word as readily as I take these souvenirs of this
memorable meeting,' and with these words, he pulled a lever and was
speedily out of sight."
"By Jove!" I muttered. "The fellow's audacity is almost past belief. But
you said something of observations made by the August victim?"
"Yes," said Forrest. "The chauffeur was much too agitated to notice
anything, but his master was not. He observed four things. First, that
the Pirate was a man of about six feet in height."
"Mannering is five feet eleven and a quarter in his socks," I remarked.
"Secondly, that his hair was black. Thirdly, that the nails of the right
hand, with which he took his plunder, were bitten to the quick."
"The identification becomes nearly perfect," I interrupted.
"Fourthly, that the car was originally a two-seated car, with a tonneau
body, but that the seat had been set back, and the bonnet was enclosed
by metal plates shaped into the form of the bow of a canoe, and bolted
together in a manner which gave the impression that they might easily be
removed. Why," continued the detective, "I did not think of so obvious a
solution of the Pirate's mysterious disappearances before I cannot
imagine. It is the trick the black flag merchants have practised since
the days of Captain Kidd."
I was silent. I could only wonder at my own blindness. Then an excuse
occurred to me.
"After all," I remarked, "we only met him in the dark."