AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT
"This gentleman has called to see you, sir," and the messenger handed a
visiting card to the Secretary of State, who laid his pen down on his
desk and carefully inspected the card.
"Show Mr. Hunter in," he directed, then looked across at his
stenographer. "You need not wait, Jones."
As the stenographer gathered up his papers and hastened out of the
room, Douglas was ushered in, and after a few words of greeting the
Secretary motioned him to take the large leather chair placed beside
his desk.
"I was sorry not to find you when I called yesterday, Mr. Secretary,"
began Douglas.
"I was detained in the West and did not get here until this morning.
What do you wish to see me about, Mr. Hunter?"
"First, to thank you for granting me a leave of absence."
"That is all right. Senator Carew came here and asked as a particular
favor to him that you be allowed to return to Washington. By the way,
his death was terrible, terrible. His loss will be felt by the whole
country."
"It will, indeed," agreed Douglas.
"Did you see Senator Carew before his death?"
"No, Mr. Secretary; I only reached Washington on Monday, the night of
his murder."
"It seems an outrage in these days of our boasted civilization that a
man of such brilliant attainments, a man whose life is of benefit to
his country, should be killed wantonly by a worthless, drunken negro,"
exclaimed the Secretary, with much feeling.
"You believe, then, that Senator Carew was murdered by his servant?"
"I gathered that impression from the newspapers, and they all insist
that the negro is guilty. Do you think otherwise?"
"I do."
"And your reasons?"
"The use of the letter file, an extraordinary weapon for a negro
coachman to use."
"Is that your only reason for believing the negro innocent?" The
Secretary's piercing eyes studied Douglas' face intently.
"No, sir."
"Is there anything which strikes you as being of vital importance in
the case which has not yet been brought out?"
"Senator Carew was chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee."
The Secretary stared at Douglas for a full minute without speaking.
"I don't quite catch your meaning, Mr. Hunter," he said finally.
"Let me explain, Mr. Secretary," began Douglas earnestly. "Some time
ago I received a letter from Senator Carew _suggesting_ that I apply
for leave of absence."
"Why?" snapped out the Secretary.
"He did not specify directly," returned Douglas calmly; "he said he
wished to consult me about my future. One moment"--as the Secretary
opened his lips to speak. "At the end of the letter the Senator added
that he hoped I was making the most of my opportunities; that it was
only the part of wisdom to inform myself of all that was going on in
Japan, and that he expected that I would be able to give him some
interesting data about the 'Yankees of the East,' as he had always
been curious as regards their customs, past history, and future plans."
The Secretary settled back in his chair and fumbled with his watch
chain. He was the first to break the silence. "Did you follow Senator
Carew's advice?"
"I did, sir."
"With what results?"
"Among other things I discovered that there was an unusual activity
commencing in the shipyards; army maneuvers were being conducted
unostentatiously, and finally, the day I sailed, I heard a report that
three transports were being fitted out at Wakayama, a closed port, and
were to sail shortly under sealed orders."
"Excellent! Have you any idea of the transports' destination?"
"No, sir."
"Why did you not send me this information before?" the Secretary spoke
with unwonted sternness.
"I did cable a cipher despatch to Senator Carew. I thought you had
requested him to get certain information, and did not care to have it
sent through the Department directly."
"The Senator did not take me into his confidence in the matter,"
declared the Secretary, studying his companion's face intently.
"That's very strange," muttered Douglas. "Very strange. Detective
Brett, who is investigating the Carew case, declares, from writing
found on a blotter, that the Senator wrote a letter to some unknown
person. On one side of the blotter were clearly traced the words: 'Am
writing in case I don't see you before ...'--and on the other: 'I have
discovered....' Brett thinks Senator Carew was interrupted on two
occasions while writing the letter, and laid the blotter on the fresh
ink to prevent the person who entered from seeing what he had written."
The Secretary followed Douglas' story with the greatest attention.
"A likely hypothesis," he acknowledged, slowly settling back in his
revolving chair, for he had been leaning forward on his desk the better
to catch every word spoken by Douglas in his quiet monotone. "To whom
do you think that letter was written?"
"To you, undoubtedly, Mr. Secretary. Possibly my information may have
given him the clew he needed to verify certain suspicions. You were in
the West, he wanted to get the news to you without further delay, and
the only thing he could do was to write or wire."
"Or telephone," supplemented the Secretary; then, as Douglas' face
brightened, he added, "Unfortunately for your theory Senator Carew did
none of those things."
"You mean----?"
"That I have never received a letter, a telegram, or a telephone from
him while I was away," announced the Secretary solemnly.
"He may still have written a message and have been killed before he
could get it off to you."
"Has such a letter been found by Brett?"
"No, sir; nor any trace of it. So far, he has been unable to find out
whether such a letter was seen or posted by any member of the Senator's
household. All he has to go on is the blotter."
"Why did you not go at once to see Senator Carew when you arrived in
Washington?"
"Because my cousin, Captain Taylor, who met me at the Union Station,
gave me a note from Senator Carew asking me to call on him at nine
o'clock Tuesday morning at his residence."
"How did the Senator know where a note would reach you?"
"He enclosed it in a note to my cousin asking him to see that it was
delivered to me at once on my arrival."
"Has it occurred to you that Senator Carew's missing letter, which
Brett is so anxious to find, may have been addressed to you?"
"I never thought of that!" exclaimed Douglas, "I was so thoroughly
convinced that he had tried to communicate with you."
"I would inquire about your mail if I were you, Mr. Hunter."
"I will do so at once," Douglas half rose.
"No, no, sit down." The Secretary waited until Douglas had resumed his
seat. "Where are you stopping?"
"At the Albany."
"You have brought me very serious news, Mr. Hunter. So serious that I
must insist on some verification of your statements about Japan before
you leave me."
Douglas took from a cleverly concealed pocket in the lining of his coat
a number of sheets of rice paper and handed them to the Secretary,
who studied the closely written papers long and intently. Suddenly he
pulled open a desk drawer and took out his strong box.
"I will keep these papers, Mr. Hunter, for future reference," he
announced, unlocking the box and placing the rice papers in it. Then,
with equal care, he replaced the box in the drawer, which he locked
securely. "We must go slowly in this matter. A slip on our part, and
two great nations may become involved in a needless and bloody war."
"I realize the gravity of the situation, Mr. Secretary, and have come
to you for advice in the matter."
"Good. I depend on you not to mention our conversation to anyone, nor
do I think it wise to acquaint Brett at this time with your suspicions
in regard to the motive for Senator Carew's murder. With all good
intentions Brett might blunder and cause international complications."
Douglas stroked his clean-shaven chin reflectively for a moment. "Don't
you think, Mr. Secretary, that there is danger of being too secretive,
and that the guilty party may slip through our fingers?"
"It is a risk which we will have to take. Frankly, I think you and
Brett are equal to the situation." The Secretary glanced at his watch.
"Have you any engagement just now, Mr. Hunter?"
"No, sir. My time is at your disposal."
The Secretary reached up and touched the electric buzzer hanging above
his desk, and in a few seconds his stenographer appeared from another
room.
"Jones, call up Secretary Wyndham and ask if he can see me," and, as
the clerk disappeared to execute his order, he turned back to Douglas.
"There are certain charts of the Pacific which I wish you to see; they
have been made recently. Well, Jones?" as the clerk reëntered his
office.
"Secretary Wyndham is expecting you, sir."
"Thanks. Now, Mr. Hunter, get your hat, and we will go to the Navy
Department."