ANOTHER MYSTERY
As guessed by Captain Kyles, Herries' visit to Pierside had been
unproductive of result. On arriving there, he found that the yacht had
left for an unknown destination, and returned to Tarhaven quite
certain that Señora Guzman, and the buccaneer had left England for
good. This was a great disappointment to the young man, as he did not
see how the mystery of Sir Simon's death was to be explained without
getting the evidence of the Mexican lady. He came back to tell Browne
and to consult with Sweetlips Kind.
The doctor recommended patience, and a visit to the "Marsh Inn," so as
to see what Gowrie was doing. Browne quite believed that the pair
connected with the "Tarabacca" knew much; but he felt certain that
Gowrie knew more than he chose to tell. Herries and Browne argued over
the matter until a late hour, and resumed their talk, when they met at
breakfast. Then Browne departed to see his patients and Herries went
to look for Kind.
But the Cheap-jack was not at the humble little place where he and his
wife had put up during the trial since they had left the caravan at
Anderfield in Buckinghamshire, and Herries thought that they also had
gone, leaving him to his own devices. Perhaps they thought that they
had done enough in return for his saving of Mrs. Kind's life, and he
could not blame them for looking after their own affairs. For some
time Herries contemplated walking to the "Moated Hall," and see what
Maud had to say, but, on reflection, he decided to wait for the return
of Gowrie from the inn. It might be that something important was
transpiring there.
Elspeth met him at the door of the doctor's house when he came back to
luncheon, having practically wasted a morning.
"Angus," she said eagerly, "here are two letters,--one is in papa's
writing and the other has been written by Sweetlips."
Herries went into the drawing-room and opened the letters. The one
from Kind was merely a short intimation that he had met Captain Kyles
early that very morning, and from certain facts which he had learned
from him, he had gone to London on business. "I'll be back in a couple
of days," ended the note, "and then will call and tell you all about
it."
"Good," said Herries, throwing this aside, "then Kyles is still in
England."
"And in Tarhaven," said Elspeth, who had been reading over his
shoulder, "I should not be at all surprised, Angus, if he had anchored
the 'Tarabacca' in this port."
"Nor should I. However we can easily ascertain that fact. Meanwhile
let us see what your father has been doing," and he opened the second
letter. While he read it, his wife glanced at the envelope, "I see
that your father asks me to come to the 'Marsh Inn' this afternoon,"
said the young man, rapidly reading the few lines, "he has,--so he
says,--discovered something important."
"Strange," murmured Elspeth to herself, and taking no notice.
"What is strange?"
"This envelope has not the Desleigh post-mark on it."
Herries examined the envelope in his turn.
"It must have been posted in Tarhaven,--it has that post-mark on it at
all events. I expect your father sent it here by hand to be posted."
"No, there is a stamp on the envelope. If papa intended to send it to
you by hand, he would not have wasted a stamp."
They both thought this strange, and tried to puzzle out the reason but
could arrive at no conclusion.
"I'll ask your father what it means when I see him," said Herries,
placing both letters in his pocket. "What train can I catch, Elspeth?"
An examination of the time table showed that he could not get a train
to Desleigh for an hour, so meanwhile, Angus ate some luncheon and
possessed his soul in patience.
"I don't like your going to the 'Marsh Inn,' after what has occurred,
Angus," said Elspeth, uneasily, "Mrs. Narby will make herself
disagreeable."
Herries laughed scornfully.
"What does that matter? I am not afraid of Mrs. Narby, or of a dozen
like her. Besides, I have an idea of how to tame that virago."
"In what way?"
"I'll tell her that I intend to bring an action against her for
telling lies about me."
"But can you?"
"Perhaps I cannot, but the threat will serve to keep Mrs. Narby's
tongue quiet. By the way, Elspeth, I must look up Armour, while I am
at Desleigh, and ask if he has moved in the matter of his kidnapping
by the Tarabacca sailors."
"Oh," said Elspeth suddenly, "I knew that I had something to tell you,
Angus. Dr. Browne's housekeeper has lived in Tarhaven for the last
twenty years and knows everyone."
"Really, dear," the young man laughed, "that information doesn't give
me any pleasure."
"No, but listen. She was a servant at your uncle's place for some
time, and says that Mrs. Armour was a servant there also."
Herries shrugged his shoulders.
"That is quite possible. All the same, I don't think that it matters
much. What do you mean?"
"Well," said Mrs. Herries thoughtfully, "Mrs. Armour knows Maud very
well,--she was her nurse for some time, I believe. I wonder if Armour
was kidnapped because his wife had been Maud's nurse."
"My dear," Herries took her in his arms, "you see a bird in every
bush, as this case has got on your nerves. I don't see the least
connection between Armour's kidnapping, and Mrs. Armour's early
employment. I agree with Señora Guzman, and believe that the
kidnapping was a political affair."
"In what way?"
"Well, you see, Señora Guzman is the daughter of the ex-President of
Indiana, and with Kyles, as the commander of their tin-pot navy, she
came home to get war-ships, so as to regain possession of the Republic
if possible. Naturally the new President not wanting a civil war, must
have sent emissaries to thwart this scheme. Sir Simon was mixed up in
it, and possibly these emissaries would keep an eye on him. One might
have followed him to the 'Marsh Inn,' and Kyles, who was no doubt
going to meet Sir Simon there on political business, must have told
his sailors to get rid of any suspicious-looking person from Indiana.
Consequently, Armour, by taking up his position near the inn, laid
himself open to suspicion, and was promptly removed."
"It might be so, but then you know the meeting was to bribe Captain
Kyles to leave Maud."
"Kyles would not give his sailors the true reason," replied Herries,
leaving the table. "Good-bye, Elspeth, I'm off."
"Do take care of yourself, darling," she pleaded. "Of course," he
kissed her, "but you need have no fear; the luck has changed since our
marriage."
Elspeth felt that this was so, as she stood watching him from the
window. Assuredly, her heart was light enough, and she had no
premonition of evil. Perhaps after all, their separate bad lucks had
combined to form one good one, as Herries fancifully imagined. Yet she
dreaded to think that anything should happen to destroy the new and
wonderful life which was now hers, and went to her room to pray
earnestly that Angus might be successful in his mission.
But what was his mission? Angus did not know very well himself as the
train steamed towards Desleigh. It seemed to him that he could do very
little towards elucidating the mystery of his uncle's death. He was
ignorant of all things, since he had been asleep during the commission
of the crime. But Gowrie might have learned something, and Herries
privately suspected that Gowrie had been wide awake all that eventful
night. Also, since he had been wandering over the house, he might have
chanced on some suspicious circumstances. At all events, the old man
had evidently found out something, when he sent so peremptory a note.
It was, therefore, with great surprise that Herries, on arriving at
the inn, was met with the news that Gowrie was not within.
"Where is he?" he asked the new maid, Alice, who gave him this
information in the well-known tap-room.
"I can't tell you, sir," she replied, timidly. "He went out last night
just before dinner, and never came back."
"Strange," Herries recalled the omitted Desleigh post-mark, and felt
uneasy. "Can I see Mrs. Narby?"
"Missus have gone to London to see her son."
"And the landlord?"
"He's in London, too, seeing about selling the inn," said Alice,
glibly.
"Selling the inn?"
"Yes, sir. Master and Missus are going to America."
"The deuce they are," murmured Herries rather perplexed, "Now what
does that mean? I wish I could find Gowrie. I wonder if he has been
kidnapped also," he added smiling, and little knew how near he was to
the truth. "Well, I'd better utilize the time at my disposal and call
on Armour," and he turned away.
The next words of Alice arrested him.
"Please, sir, won't you see the lady, sir? She's in the parlour
waiting for you."
"A lady. Who is she?"
"Oh, the most beautiful lady you ever set eyes on. She came here an
hour ago, and said that she wanted to see you, sir."
"Mr. Herries?"
"Yes, sir, and I know you're Mr. Herries, 'cos I saw you when you was
arrested for----"
"There--there," interrupted the young man wincing, for he did not like
to be reminded of that ugly episode. "Take me to the lady. I expect
it's Señora Guzman, or Maud."
The stuffy parlour looked a duller apartment than ever as Herries
opened the door and stepped in. He half expected to see Maud, but
instead faced a tall lady with the look of a queen, who rose and
smiled as he entered. From the description given by Kind, Angus had no
doubt but what this was the daughter of the Indiana ex-president.
"How do you do, Mr. Herries?" she said in excellent English. "You are
surprised to meet me here, instead of your father-in-law."
"What, you know----?"
"I know that Mr. Gowrie wrote you a letter asking you to come to this
place," said Señora Guzman composedly.
"Then you know where he is?"
"I do."
"Can you tell me----?"
"Not at present," she interrupted, "but later you shall know
everything, Mr. Herries."
"About the murder?" he asked looking at her in a penetrating manner,
and trying to read her thoughts.
"Certainly. The time is coming, when all that is mysterious will be
made plain to you. But," added Donna Maria with emphasis, "you will
have to pay for your knowledge."
"Ah!" Herries was quite cool, "I thought the element of money would
come into the matter. And how much?"
"Say, four thousand pounds."
Herries laughed.
"My dear lady, I don't possess as many pence."
"Not at present, but you will, when certain information is given to
you. I have read the papers, Mr. Herries, and I know that you inherit
fifty thousand a year, on certain conditions."
"Ah, but those conditions were not mentioned in the newspapers."
"Quite so," rejoined Señora Guzman, resuming her seat, "but we learned
the conditions from another person."
"We?"
"Myself and Captain Kyles."
"I have no wish," said Herries slowly, "to ask impertinent questions,
madame, but I should like to know if you and Captain Kyles are in
partnership?"
Señora Guzman laughed in her turn.
"You might put it that way," she said, resting her elbow on the shaky
round table, and her chin on the back of her locked fingers. "Captain
Kyles and myself intend to make our fortunes, and then marry."
"But Maud----"
"Maud," she interrupted fiercely, "don't talk to me of that wicked
girl, or I shall lose my temper. I only hope I won't tell her some
painful truths, when I see her."
"Are you going to see her?"
"To-day and here," Señora Guzman glanced at a bracelet watch, "in a
quarter of an hour. I wrote and asked her to come here."
"Why here?"
"Because I want to see her in your presence."
"But you don't mean to say that Maud knows anything of----"
"On the contrary she knows a very great deal, and has acted towards
you, Mr. Herries, in a most cruel manner."
"Oh, I know that myself. Certainly there are some excuses, seeing that
she has lost a fortune."
"It was in her power to retain it," replied the Mexican lady coolly,
"but she _would_ hover round a flame."
"Is the flame Captain Kyles?"
"Why should you think so?"
"Because Maud was engaged to him, and----"
Donna Maria seemed determined to give Herries no chance of finishing a
single sentence.
"She _was_ engaged, for certain reasons, but Captain Kyles will marry
no one but me."
"Then don't you think that he has acted very badly towards Maud?"
"What do you think yourself?" she asked, irrelevantly.
Herries thought for a few moments.
"I know that my cousin has not acted well," he said hesitatingly, "all
the same, this unfortunate engagement with Captain Kyles, and one
which you admit, Señora, he never intended to fulfil, may have driven
her into courses, which in more unemotional moments she would not have
entered into."
"I must say, Mr. Herries, that for a wronged man, you are generous."
"I have had much trouble in my life," said Angus simply, "and it has
taught me to judge no one."
"I think you are a good man," said Señora Guzman, looking at him in a
softened manner. "All the better. Captain Kyles and myself will have
all the more pleasure in placing you in possession of your property."
"Then you know who killed my uncle?"
"I do not, nor indeed does Captain Kyles. Still we can place certain
evidence at your disposal which will go far towards solving the
riddle. But the price----"
"I am willing to pay the price."
"Four thousand pounds."
"Five if you wish it," said Herries frankly, "it is a small sum out of
fifty thousand a year."
Donna Maria looked at him in silence for a moment. Then her proud lip
quivered, and she burst into tears. Herries was quite distressed when
she laid her head down on her arms and wept as though her heart would
break.
"My dear lady----"
"I feel so ashamed," she sobbed, "making it a condition that you
should pay for what ought to be done without money. You must think
that I am an adventuress and a bad woman."
"I think nothing," said Herries rather coldly, for he did not know
what this scene might mean, "because I know nothing."
"Mr. Herries," she said raising her head and wiping her eyes with a
dainty lace handkerchief, "you must not judge me too hardly. I am the
daughter of a man who held great power in Indiana, although I am a
Mexican by birth. I was brought up to riches and honour, and for years
had everything I could wish for. But an enemy of my father's intrigued
against him, and in a night he was driven from the Presidential
palace. My mother was shot during the revolution, and my father and
myself escaped only with our lives, thanks to the bravery of Captain
Kyles. We lived in exile for some time, and fortunately escaped in the
yacht, which had belonged to the Government."
"The 'Tarabacca?'"
"Yes. It is a splendid yacht. It is all that remains of my father's
wealth, for the new Government confiscated everything. But my father
learned from an Indian of the whereabouts of a certain treasure in
Peru, which had been hidden--according to tradition--by Manco Capac,
who first civilised the Peruvian Indians. To get that treasure entails
a long and toilsome journey and much money. Leaving my father
concealed at Lima, Captain Kyles and myself came to this country to
try and raise some money on Indiana bonds. We wanted the sum of two
thousand or four thousand pounds, so as to fit out an expedition and
get this money,--this treasure. Unfortunately the new Indiana
Government had been beforehand, and we found that the bonds were
useless. Then an accident introduced us to Sir Simon Tedder, and there
was a chance that he might assist us."
"But I understood that you came to buy war-ships?"
"That was the excuse we gave out, and for that reason, we have been
haunted by Indiana emissaries, who would take our lives, if it was
needful. But we promised Sir Simon a share of the----"
Scarcely had she got this far, when they heard the shrill scream of a
woman in the tap-room. Herries sprang from his chair, and opened the
door hurriedly. When he and Señora Guzman walked hastily into the
tap-room, they found Maud Tedder in the grasp of Armour the policeman,
who was in plain clothes. Herries flung himself forward, and threw the
bulky man to one side.
"How dare you touch a lady?" he said, indignantly.
"A lady," said Armour, who had evidently been drinking, "if she's a
lady, let her pay me for having lost my position in the Force through
her visit."
"Don't listen to him,--don't listen to him," whispered Maud, pale and
trembling and clinging to Herries.
"I've been dismissed the Force," complained Armour in a maundering
tone, "and all on account of that there blamed murder. And she," he
pointed a stumpy finger at Miss Tedder, "she knows summat about it,
she does."
"It's a lie," gasped Maud, shaking from head to foot, while the eyes
of Señora Guzman lighted up and she took an eager step forward.
"Oh," raved the ex-policeman, while Alice lost her head and flew out
of doors shouting for help, "is it a lie that she," he pointed again
towards Maud, "that she came to my house, when I was on my rounds and
made my wife betray me? On the very night of the murder, she was at my
house, and----"
"I came to see my old nurse," gasped Maud.
"Then what were you doing wandering about Desleigh at midnight. I got
it out of my missus, I did. And you put them sailors on to me.
"No! No!"
"You did. And I believe," cried Armour, "that you murdered your father
your very own self."