THE MAN FROM MEXICO.
Nick Carter hastened to join Patsy and Frank Mantell, pausing at the
latter’s touring car to learn the occasion for his visit. He had not
long to wait, for Mantell hardly took time to greet him.
“You must throw up this murder case, Nick; you really must, and take on
a matter in which I am desperately interested,” he forcibly insisted.
“More than half a million dollars are at stake. They’re hopelessly lost,
in fact, unless you can trace and recover them. You must drop this case
and----”
“Wait!” Nick interposed, after intently regarding him. “Keep your head.
Who has lost so much money, and when?”
“It’s not money,” Mantell replied, in hurried undertones. “It’s a
collection of old jewels of vast value, which was obtained under most
extraordinary circumstances. I cannot inform you in detail out here,
Nick, where I might be overheard by others. Come with me to my
residence, where----”
“Presently, perhaps,” Nick again interrupted. “Come into this house,
instead, where we can occupy one of the chambers. I then will hear what
you have to say.”
Mantell did not wait for the invitation to be repeated. He sprang out of
the car before it was fairly uttered, then accompanied the detective to
the house, followed by Chick and Patsy.
Nick lingered only to inform Sergeant Kennedy that he had other business
for a few minutes, directing him to take charge of the house while he
was engaged, and he then led his three companions to a front chamber and
closed the door.
“Now, Mantell, out with it as briefly as possible,” said he, when they
were seated. “What is this matter in which you are so desperately
interested?”
He had read in Mantell’s pale face the depths of his anxiety and
distress, and knowing him to have a level head and excellent judgment
and discretion, he reasoned that it must be a matter of extraordinary
importance.
Mantell hastened to obey him.
“It began, Nick, with a letter I received about ten days ago from an old
college chum of mine, Calvin Vandyke, a man able in every way to judge
of what he wrote me,” he said earnestly. “Unfortunately, however, I
haven’t the letter in my pocket. It is in the desk in my library.”
“Well, well, what is it about?” Nick inquired. “Where is Mr. Vandyke?”
“He now is in Mexico City, under so important a contract that he cannot
possibly leave the country for several months.”
“Mexico City, eh?”
Nick shot a swift, furtive glance at Chick, so significant that the
latter suppressed a look of surprise and remained silent.
“Yes,” Mantell quickly nodded. “The letter he wrote me explained all
that, Nick, and why he made me his partner in this matter, giving me an
equal interest with him and the third party involved.”
“Who is the third party?”
“A Mexican named Juan Padillo, recently a soldier in Villa’s forces
during the campaign in northern Mexico. He has deserted, and now is in
this city. That is to say--if he still is in the land of the living. I’m
far from sure of it.”
“Explain,” said Nick. “Why did Juan Padillo become a deserter?”
“Because of a find he made during the sacking of an old monastery in
Chihuahua territory, after the subjection of that section in which it is
located and the flight of most of the inhabitants. Vandyke has quietly
looked up the legal side of the matter, and he finds that the retention
of these spoils of war is entirely legitimate. In other words, Juan
Padillo has a right to retain his prize and dispose of it to the best
advantage.”
“Admitting that, Mantell, what are the other circumstances?” Nick
inquired.
“They may be briefly stated. Padillo made this find in a secret vault,
which he discovered entirely by chance, under a wine cellar in the
monastery. He was the only person in Mexico who knew of his discovery
and that he got away with his plunder, with the single exception of
Calvin Vandyke, with whom Padillo long has had friendly relations, and
to whom he turned for aid and advice.”
“Of what do these spoils of war, as you call them, consist?” Nick
questioned.
“I can give you only an idea, Nick, without referring to Vandyke’s
letter, which describes the articles in detail and estimates their
value,” said Mantell. “They consist of clerical robes and jewels of
great antiquity, which, Vandyke has learned, must have been brought from
Spain as far back as the sixteenth century, and which probably have
since been kept in concealment in the monastery vault.”
“Give me an idea of them.”
“Well, one article is an archbishop’s robe of purple, wrought with a
design in diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and pearls. The gems are mounted
in gold, covering the entire breast of the robe, with a design
consisting of the ancient Spanish coat of arms, the double eagles back
to back, with wings raised and beaks open.”
“I recall it,” Nick nodded.
“There are two gold crowns, also, lavishly mounted with diamonds,
emeralds, and sapphires, the most of which are of unusual size and
corresponding value. In addition to these are other clerical robes of
purple and white silk, all worked with gems the worth of which could
only be roughly estimated. Vandyke places the value of the entire prize,
however, at about six hundred thousand dollars.”
“Gee whiz!” Patsy quietly exclaimed. “That sure was some find.”
“Juan Padillo was much dazzled by it, of course, and scarce knew what to
do,” Mantell earnestly continued. “He did not dare to confide in any of
his countrymen. He determined to take advantage of the prize, however,
and to get out of the country with it.”
“How long ago was that?” Nick inquired.
“Nearly two months. He obtained an old leather suit case, in which he
packed the spoils, and with which he succeeded in reaching Mexico City,
where he at once sought Vandyke and confided in him, offering to share
equally with him in return for his advice and assistance.”
“I see.”
“Vandyke looked into the matter, keeping Padillo concealed in his
residence,” Mantell went on. “He then realized the vast value of the
prize, but being utterly unable to leave the country himself, he
proposed including me in the matter on an equal footing, telling Padillo
that he could come to me and that I would dispose of the gems at their
market value. Padillo eagerly accepted the proposal, knowing that he
would be shot as a deserter, if caught, and that he must lose no time in
getting out of the country.”
“I follow you,” Nick put in.
“Vandyke then smuggled him to Vera Cruz, and finally got him on board a
schooner about to leave for New York, paying his passage and giving him
careful instructions.”
“Namely?”
“He directed him not to leave the vessel after his arrival here until I
called for him, also not to open the suit case until he was safe in my
residence, and to pretend all the while that he was a penniless Mexican
on his way to join relatives in this city.”
“All were wise precautions,” Nick remarked.
“Vandyke then sent me a letter, stating all of these facts and invited
me to coöperate with him,” Mantell continued. “Naturally, with two
hundred thousand dollars in view, I was more than glad to comply. I
wrote Vandyke to that effect, and since have been constantly on the
watch for the arrival of the vessel. She was docked at Gray’s wharf late
yesterday afternoon. But I did not learn of it until I read the shipping
news this morning. I then rushed down to the wharf with my touring car,
only to learn that----”
“That Juan Padillo left the vessel soon after her arrival yesterday and
in company with a man who used your name,” said Nick, interrupting.
“Good heavens!” Mantell exclaimed, with a gasp. “How did you know that?”
“Your anxiety, coupled with the fact that Padillo was to remain on the
vessel until you called for him, admits of no other deductions,” Nick
replied evasively.
“You are right, Carter, perfectly right,” Mantell said, with a groan.
“Padillo left the vessel about six o’clock last evening, taking with him
the suit case containing his plunder.”
“With a man who used your name?”
“Yes.”
“Who informed you?”
“The captain of the vessel.”
“What more could he tell you?”
“Only that Padillo had, as I then could judge, carefully followed the
directions Vandyke had given him. Captain Macy evidently knew nothing
about the contents of the suit case, and he said it was the only piece
of luggage the Mexican had, and that he had taken it ashore. He could
give me only a vague description of the man who called for him, and said
that Padillo appeared relieved and eager to accompany him. They left
from the head of the wharf in a touring car, and----”
“And that’s all you know about them,” Nick again interrupted.
“I admit that, Carter, and that’s why I want your aid,” Mantell said
earnestly. “This man and the suit case must be found. I never can look
Vandyke in the face. Think of it! If----”
“That’s what I am doing,” said Nick, smiling a bit oddly. “Now, Mantell,
answer my questions. I then may do something more than think. Whom have
you told about this matter?”
“Only three persons,” Mantell quickly asserted. “My wife and my parents,
with whom Helen and I have been living since our marriage. You knew, of
course, that I was married eight weeks ago to Helen Bailey, the pretty
telephone girl whom you served so kindly--and who, I may add, thinks so
well of you Carters.”
“Yes, indeed, I know all about that, Mantell, but it’s irrelevant just
now,” smiled Nick. “Did you caution your parents, however, to say
nothing about the matter?”
“I did so most impressively.”
“Do you think they have obeyed you?”
“Yes, positively.”
“Where did you talk with them about it?”
“At home, Nick, in the library.”
“You must have been overheard.”
“I don’t think so.”
“I know so,” Nick insisted. “Either that, Mantell, or the letter sent
you by Vandyke has been read by one of your servants, or by some
outsider. In no other way, if your wife and parents have been silent on
the subject, could the man who lured Juan Padillo from the vessel and
used your name have learned anything about the matter.”
“I confess that I am mystified, Carter, as well as filled with dismay,”
Mantell hopelessly admitted. “You are the only one to whom I can turn.
What can be done? How can----”
“Stop a moment,” Nick interposed, rising abruptly. “There is nothing in
further discussing the case. Return to your car, Mantell, and wait until
I rejoin you. Go with him, Patsy.”
“Which may mean that you will----”
“Look into the matter?” Nick cut in again. “Yes, I will do what I can
for you. Time is of value, moreover, so don’t delay to thank me. Go at
once.”
Patsy led the way, Mantell following, with an expression of great relief
on his refined, attractive face.
“Well, by Jove, that sheds limelight on this murder mystery,” said
Chick, lingering briefly with Nick in the chamber. “This certainly is a
remarkable coincidence.”
“I suspected something of the kind, Chick, when he mentioned the loss of
a vast quantity of jewels,” Nick replied. “That was one reason why I
consented to hear his story.”
“You have no doubt, of course, that the Mexican who was here last
evening was Juan Padillo.”
“Not the slightest.”
“Lured here by crooks who had learned of the circumstances and been
watching for the vessel.”
“Exactly. They were more alert than Mantell, and got in their work ahead
of him.”
“But how do you size up what occurred here?”
“I’m not quite ready to say,” said Nick. “I am going with Mantell to his
residence. You remain here and get what information Gibson can impart.
Have a look in the meantime at the doors and windows of the house. There
may be evidence indicating that it was broken into by some of the
rascals afterward engaged in the fight.”
“I’ll find it, Nick, if there is any,” Chick confidently predicted. “I
see at what you are driving.”
“Have Kennedy summon the coroner, also, and direct him to take the
customary legal steps here,” Nick added. “Say nothing about what we have
learned and suspect, but tell him we will continue our investigations,
and report later.”
“I’ve got you.”
“Having taken those steps, rejoin me at Mantell’s residence as quickly
as possible,” Nick directed. “He lives----”
“I know the house. It’s the mansion built by Mantell, the senior, in
Riverside Drive,” Chick put in. “I will lose no time in following you.”
“I will go with Mantell in his car, leaving Danny to bring you in ours,”
said Nick, as both turned from the chamber. “There must be quick work
done on this case, or, unless I am much mistaken, both Juan Padillo and
his war prize of ancient jewels will go by the board.”
“Quick work, then, is the proper caper,” Chick declared. “I’ll see you a
little later.”
Nick did not reply, but hastened out to the car in which Patsy and Frank
Mantell were waiting.
“To your residence,” he directed, addressing the latter. “Let her go at
top speed, chauffeur. Minutes count.”