第52章 CHAPTER XVI(1)

THE MANUSCRIPT AGAIN

But the Processor was not going to let Captain Hervey escape without giving him full information. Before the Yankee skipper could reach the front door, Braddock was at his heels, gasping and blowing like a grampus.

"Come back, come back. Tell me all."

"I reckon not," rejoined the mariner, removing Braddock's grip.

"You ain't the one to give the money. I'll go to the Don, or to Inspector Date of Pierside.""But Sir Frank must be innocent," insisted Braddock.

"He's got to prove it," was the dry response. "Let me go.""No. You must tell me on what grounds - "

"Oh, the devil take you!" said Hervey hastily, and sat down on one of the hall chairs. "It's this way, since you won't let me skip until I tell you. This almighty aristocrat came to Pierside on the same afternoon as I cast, anchor. While Bolton was on board, he looked in to have a yarn of sorts.""What about?"

"Now, how in creation should I know?" snapped the skipper. "Iwasn't on hand, as I'd enough to do with unloading cargo. But his lordship went with Bolton to the state-room, and they talked for half an hour. When they came out, I saw that his lordship had his hair riz, and heard him saying things to Bolton.""What sort of things?"

"Well, for one, he said, `You'll repent of this,' and then again, `Your life isn't safe while you keep it.'""Meaning the mummy?"

"I reckon that's so, unless I am mistaken," said Hervey serenely.

"Why didn't you go to th, police with this information?""Me? Not much. Why, I saw no way of making dollars. And then, again, I did not think of putting things together, until I found that his lorship ""Meaning Sir Frank," interpolated the Professor, frowning.

"I'm talking Queen's, or King's, or Republican lingo, I guess, and I do mean his lorship," said the skipper dryly - "until Ifound that his lorship had been in the public-house where the crime was committed.""The Sailor's Rest? When did he go there?"

"In the evening. After his talk with Bolton, and after a row -as they both seemed to have their hair off - he skipped over the side and went back to his yacht, which wasn't far away. Bolton took his blamed mummy ashore and got fixed at the Sailor's Rest.

I gathered afterwards, from the second mate of The Diver (which ain't my ship now), that his lorship came into the hotel and had a drink. Afterwards my second mate saw him talking to Bolton through the window.""In the same place as the woman talked?' questioned the Professor.

"That's so, only it was later in the evening that the woman came along to give chin-music through the window. I am bound to say,"added the captain generously, "that no one I can place my hand on saw his lorship loafing about the hotel after dark. But what of that? He may have laid his plans, and arranged for the corpse to be found later, in that blamed packing case.""Is this all your evidence?"

"It's enough, I guess."

"Not to procure a warrant."

"Why, a man in the States would be electrocuted on half the evidence.""I daresay," retorted the little man with contempt, "but we are in a land where justice of the purest prevails. All your evidence is circumstantial. It proves nothing."The captain was considerably nettled.

"I calculate that it proves Sir Frank wanted the mummy, else why did he come on board my ship to see your infernal assistant. The words he used showed that he was warning Bolton how he'd do for him. And then he talked through the window, and was in the public-house, which ain't a place for an almighty aristocrat to shelter in. I guess he's the man wanted by the police. Why,"added Hervey, warming to his tale, "he'd a slap-up yacht laying near the blamed hotel, and could easily ship the corpse, after slipping it through the window. When he got tired of it, and looted the emeralds, he took it by boat, below the Fort, to Mrs.

Jasher's garden and left it there, so as to pull the wool over the eyes of the police. It's as clear as mud to me. You search his lorship's shanty, and you'll find the emeralds.""It is strange," muttered Braddock unwillingly.

"Strange, but not true," said a voice from the head of the stairs, and young Hope came down leisurely, with a pale face, but a very determined air. "Random is absolutely innocent.""How do you know?" demanded the skipper contemptuously.

"Because he is an English gentleman and my very good friend.""Huh! I guess that defense won't save him from being lynched."Meanwhile Braddock was looking irritably at Archie.

"You've been listening to a private conversation, sir. How dare you listen?""If you hold private conversations at the top of your voice's in the hall, you must be expected to be listened to," said Archie coolly. "I plead guilty, and I am not sorry.""When did you come?"

"In time to hear all that Captain Hervey has explained. I was chatting with Lucy, and had just left her, when I heard your loud voices.""Has Lucy heard anything?"

"No. She is busy in her room. But I'll tell her," Hope turned to mount the stairs; "she likes Random, and will no more believe him guilty than I do at this present moment.""Stop!" cried Braddock, flying forward to pull Hope back, as he placed his foot on the first stair. "Tell Lucy nothing just now.

We must go to the Fort, you - and I, to see Random. Hervey, you come also, and then you can accuse Sir Frank to his face.""If he dares to do it!" said Archie, who looked and felt indignant.

"Oh, I'll accuse him right enough when the time comes," said Hervey in his coolest manner, "but the time isn't now. Savy! Iam going to see the Don first and make sure of this reward.""Faugh!" cried Hope with disgust, "Blood-money!""What of that? Ifs a man is a murderer he should be lynched.""My friend, Sir Frank Random, is no murderer.""He's got to prove, that, as I said before," rejoined the Yankee in a calm way, and strolled to the door. "So-long, gents both.