ON THE TRACK.
We have for some time left Mr. Stark and Leonard Lester to themselves.
But it must not be supposed that they had been idle during the sojourn
of Carlos Conrad, alias Karl Zikoff, at Dalton.
In fact, they had been very busy.
On a certain morning, in the month of March, we behold them seated
together in the private office of the detective engaged in earnest
conversation.
“Everything is working well,” said Mr. Stark. “The train is almost
ready to ignite that will make the biggest blow-up that has ever been
witnessed in our circles for some time.”
“Yes,” replied Leonard, “Luke Felton is prepared to give his testimony.
It seems that, when a mere boy, he received some elementary instruction
in a deaf and dumb school, but, on account of poverty, his parents
were unable to continue him there. After that he was buffeted about
the world, and saw some pretty hard times. At last he fell into the
clutches of Roake and Snags, who found it very convenient to have one
at Rocky Beach who could hear nothing, and who could not tell what he
saw. But since we kidnapped him, and sent him to the asylum, he has
learned with wonderful rapidity, and can now communicate his ideas in
writing.”
“And he is positive that he could recognize the so-called ‘Boss’ on
meeting him face to face?”
“Yes; he has seen him frequently, in disguise, and on two occasions he
followed him to a lonely spot in the woods near Rocky Beach, and saw
him lay aside the mask and resume his own attire.”
“Luke Felton was not so dull as the villains thought.”
“No; his eyes and his wits were at work, though his ears were useless
and his utterance fettered. He has given me in writing a minute
description of the mysterious person, and it answers exactly to
Haywood’s appearance. Besides there will be Jessup’s evidence.”
“Ay,” said Mr. Stark; “and you now see that I was right in keeping
Jessup’s agency in the matter a secret from Carlos Conrad. Had your
cousin known of his presence and mission in Dalton, he might have
seriously retarded his progress. Jessup, alone and unaided, has
followed Haywood up, has learned that he has some secret connection
with Jake Heath, and that Jake Heath visits Rocky Beach in the night
and takes away goods, concealing them in bales of wool that are shipped
to Jacob Rush, of Jersey City.”
“Yes,” said Leonard, “the man whose card was found in the yacht in
which I made my escape.”
“We have learned,” continued Mr. Stark, “that Rush has frequent
communication with Haywood, occasionally sending him large sums of
money. And further my secret agents have bought laces, and other fine
goods of foreign manufacture, of Rush, at prices considerably below the
market rates.”
“It now remains,” said Leonard, “to get another witness to the identity
of Haywood with the ‘boss,’ so that we can descend with an avalanche of
testimony that will be irresistible, and capture Snags.”
“Jessup will manage the first point, I am sure. He is now morally
certain, as well as we all are, that Haywood is the man. He has seen
him visit Rocky Beach repeatedly, but never yet when any goods were
being run in. It is certain, from what Luke Felton declares, that
Haywood is occasionally there at such times, and the one desirable
thing is for Jessup to be witness of the fact with his own eyes.”
“His post of observation is a good one,” said Leonard.
“Yes, from the top of the old tree he can see everything that goes
on below. No one can enter the cavern or come out of it and escape
his view. The plan is this: A revenue cutter will take notice of
any strange craft that hovers about Rocky Beach or the coast in its
vicinity, and any discovery that is made will be telegraphed to Jessup
at Dalton. He will then keep an extra watch on Haywood’s movements,
noticing whether he receives any message from Roake. If any such
message is delivered, Jessup will telegraph to me, and I will dispatch
the revenue cutter Porter to the spot, in readiness for a chase and
a fight. In the evening Jessup will repair to his post on the summit
of the Rocks, and if he makes satisfactory discoveries, will give the
signal for the Porter to attack the smugglers’ ship. Then there will be
lively work and a big haul!”
“All this is well planned, so far as the smuggling business is
concerned,” said Leonard; “but do you think it will result in the
vindication of Carlos?”
“I have my own ideas on that point,” said Mr. Stark, “and they amount
to positive convictions. First, when Haywood is arrested, and sees
the hopelessness of his case, he will give up and admit that Snags
committed the murder. Or, if he does not admit it, your own testimony
of Snag’s confession to you will be sufficient. For Haywood’s character
will be shown in its true light, and your own instrumentality in the
exposure of the smuggling business will tell greatly in your favor.
Secondly, as to Snags. It is true that he has disappeared from Rocky
Beach, and that no trace of him can be found. It is highly probable
that he has been transferred to the smugglers’ ship, and that when we
capture the ship we will capture him. I’ll warrant then that he can
be made to confess, and surrender the letter that he took from your
murdered uncle’s hand.”
“Then,” said Leonard, “we will know the meaning of the word ‘seven
o’clock.’ But how can Snags, if he is captured, be induced to confess.”
“By the promise of pardon,” replied the detective. “There are but few
of these rogues that will not turn State’s evidence when a sufficient
inducement is held out to them.”
“And poor Carlos,” said Leonard, musingly, “is in ignorance of the
progress we are making. His last letter was very desponding.”
“That can’t be helped,” said Mr. Stark. “Jessup has worked to much
better advantage in Dalton than if your cousin had known him. There
would have been interviews and discussions between them, and perhaps
exposure. For Carlos, being the mainly interested party, might have
been impatient and officious. Only a detective knows how necessary
deliberation and long suffering are at times. And you see the result
justifies my course.”
“I see,” said Leonard.
“And now,” said Mr. Stark, “I have some important news to tell you. A
suspicious-looking steamer arrived near Rocky Beach early this morning
and fired three signal guns, afterward turning about and sailing slowly
toward the open sea.”
“This morning!” exclaimed Leonard. “Was it the smugglers’ ship?”
“I suspect so. At any rate, I have telegraphed to Jessup, and the
Porter is all ready to sail. The night is going to be dark and
rainy――an excellent time for them to run in their goods. I shall
expect a message from Jessup by six o’clock.”
“In regard to Haywood?”
“Yes――telling me whether he received any communication from Rocky
Beach.”
“And if he does?”
“If he does, I shall hope that the time has come for which we have
been waiting and hoping. I shall hope that Haywood shall have occasion
to be on hand when the goods are run in, and that Jessup will see him
in conference with his employees. Then a signal will be given from the
cliff――a calcium light on a rocket――and the Porter will intercept the
smuggler’s vessel as it turns to go. Haywood will be masked, of course,
but Jessup will descend to the beach, and follow him secretly. He will
see where he goes, he will see him strip himself of his disguise, he
will witness the confirmation of Felton’s story, or――――”
“Or what?”
“We have made a grand mistake――that’s all.”
“But do you anticipate that?”
“No; I am confident that we are on the right track.”
The conversation ceased here. There was nothing to do but to wait for
the expected message from Jessup, Mr. Stark’s secret agent at Dalton.
Leonard still retained his disguise, and was known as the Rev. Mr.
Withers. There were those in the service who knew that the character
was an assumed one, but they had learned by experience not to be too
inquisitive in regard to affairs of which Mr. Stark had the conduct,
and the actual identity of the reverend gentleman was a profound secret.
He came and went without attracting any undue attention or provoking
any impertinent inquiries.
A little before six o’clock the message came from Jessup. It was in
cipher, and, being translated, read as follows:
“Haywood has received a summons. He is closeted in his private
office. Let the revenue-cutter Porter be on hand.”
“You will, of course, go with the Porter,” said Leonard, to Mr. Stark.
“Yes, and so must you. If Snags is among the prisoners I will want you
to identify him, so that we may take especial care of him.”
“Hurrah!” muttered Leonard, in a suppressed tone of excitement. “Now
for business! This miserable affair is almost at an end.”
“I hope so,” replied Mr. Stark. “It will all depend on Jessup’s signal.”
As the needful preparations had already been made, they started forth
immediately, and within ten minutes more were on board the Porter, a
stout, fast-going, well-armed steamer. And in five minutes more the
vessel put to sea, bending her course nearly northward. Her destination
was near a portion of the coast but little frequented by ships, there
being no large harbors for the accommodation of foreign trade.
It was this fact that had enabled the smugglers to operate with
comparative safety. Their goods were brought to within a mile or two of
the shore, and then carried to the land in yachts, as has been seen.
The Porter steamed along leisurely at the rate of eight or nine knots
an hour, and between ten or eleven o’clock halted four miles off Rocky
Beach.
Every light was extinguished, to guard against the smuggling craft
taking alarm.
Leonard and Mr. Stark, with others, stationed themselves on the deck to
keep a lookout.
About midnight faint lights were seen moving from an easterly direction.
They turned northward, and slowly glided toward the shore. Occasionally
a shower of sparks would puff toward the clouds.
Standing in the drizzling rain, wrapped in thick garments, the watchers
on the Porter beheld the object of their pursuit glide along in fancied
security. Finally it seemed to halt.
Then came a long period of waiting. More than two hours passed, and
still the vigil of the pursuers was maintained. The port-holes of the
revenue-cutter were open, and the grim cannon stood ready to pour forth
their missiles of destruction.
“Do you suppose that Haywood will be there to-night――that the signal
will appear?” whispered Leonard.
“Be patient,” was Mr. Stark’s only reply.
Suddenly a bright light appeared in the distance, and a rocket shot
into the air.
“The signal!” shouted Mr. Stark and Leonard, both in the same breath.
Orders were quickly given, and the Porter, with all steam crowded on,
moved toward the light.
Soon a dim form of a vessel appeared in the gloom, and on nearing it,
some noise and confusion were heard.
This was at the moment Carlos and his four captors were being taken
aboard the smugglers’ ship.
Then it was that the commander of the Porter gave orders to fire.
One cannon thundered forth its bellow of wrath; another sent a ball
flying toward the smugglers’ ship.
Then bright lights were suspended to the masts of the Porter, casting
a glow around that made all near objects visible.
The smugglers also ♦displayed lights, for the two vessels were in such
close proximity that there was danger of a collision in the darkness.
The Porter pressed close to her adversary, and fired several shots in
rapid succession. The smugglers returned the compliment, and it was
evident they were determined to fight.
“This fighting is not our part of the business,” said Mr. Stark to
Leonard. “We must go below. Don’t object. We will only be in the way
here. The villains will soon be brought to terms.”
In the safe shelter of the cabin they listened to the conflict, and
anxiously and impatiently awaited the result.