Five days after the Raven steamed out of Liverpool, Count Johann
Markowski stepped jauntily down the gangplank of the Aquitania as she
lay in her berth in the North River. The count had been thoroughly
interviewed by the ship news reporters on the way up from quarantine and
had expressed himself as delighted that he might see America so soon
again after his very pleasant visit as a guest on the yacht of Mr. Miles
Starbuck. The count would be stopping at the Waldorf and hoped to see
many of the friends who had shown him such courtesy during his recent
sojourn.
He was pleased to state that the Raven had encountered fair weather on
her voyage across the Atlantic. Mr. Starbuck, he said, planned to spend
the ensuing months at his estate in the Isle of Skye, where the count
expected to join him later.
Having delivered himself of this applesauce, the count taxied to the
Waldorf, secured a suite and proceeded to make a number of telephone
calls. He finally hung up with an expression of perfect satisfaction,
bathed leisurely and changed into fresh clothing.
About mid afternoon, he set out on foot, jauntily swinging a stick and
presently could be seen elbowing his way through the teeming foyer of
one of the newer and more flashy hotels. He appeared to know his ground,
and made for the almost deserted grill where two men, who evidently had
been waiting, rose from a corner table with somewhat effusive greetings
on their lips.
“Don’t be so joyful,” admonished the count. “There is some heavy work
ahead.”
“That’s what I’ve been telling Rolphs,” one of the men whom the count
presently addressed as Dimes observed.
“I must emphasize the fact, however,” went on Markowski, “that
everything is in the best of order. That is, with the exception of one
little irritating item.”
“And what might that be?” asked Dimes.
The count opened his mouth to speak, hesitated. He had been about to
render an account of the rescue of Ray Folsom, but thought better of it
and shifted to: “On the whole, I would best say no more about that. It
has no direct bearing on our work here and really concerns only the
chief. Let it go.”
“Oh, all right,” grumbled Rolphs. “If that’s the way you feel about it
and it doesn’t affect us at all, I should worry.”
“Yes. Let it go. Now, getting down to business, have you been over the
ground carefully?”
“You bet we have,” Dimes said. “And we’ve picked a swell location.
Between Bridgeport and New Haven there is a bit of ground that will
answer splendidly. There are good roads running north, east and west
from the place, and, believe me, they will have to look alive to nail
us. Also, I have a hunch that they will expect the stunt to be pulled
off a lot further from New York, up around Willimantic or Stafford
Springs, where the country is thinly settled. We’ll fool ’em, pulling it
off so close to home. And by using short lengths of stovepipe, we won’t
attract any attention. See?”
“H’m. That stove pipe idea is a good one,” Markowski said. “I’ll ride
out with you tomorrow. Meantime, have you got a map with the route
traced out?”
Dimes produced one and the three bent their heads over the table. From
time to time, the count grunted with satisfaction. Finally he pushed the
paper over to Dimes.
“Put it away,” he said, “and now attend—both of you.”
The men bent forward, obediently, and for ten minutes Markowski spoke
rapidly and with many gestures. When he had concluded, he leaned back
and looked triumphantly at the others.
Dimes and Rolphs sat, obviously impressed. The former managed: “Gawd! He
thinks of every last damn thing, don’t he? That is a pip, no mistake.
We’ll have to stir about all right.”
“That’s it, stir about,” agreed the count. “It is very pretty, is it
not?”
“I’m here to announce that it’s pretty!” rumbled Dimes.
Rolphs nodded vigorously, to indicate his entire approval.
“Things will be happening today. I wired my arrival,” the count said.
“We have plenty of time, but arrangements must be airtight. I will meet
you here at ten in the morning. I go now for some sleep before dinner.
Tonight, I have a most pleasing engagement. _Au revoir_, my friends.”