CHAPTER XXIII--A SURPRISE FROM MR. LAWRENCE
When Mr. Lawrence entered the diningroom the following morning to greethis young guests, he was surprised to observe Lieutenant Winters and twomen from the "Lucia" seated at his table. Hoki had prepared breakfast atChot's request, and the boys were all instructed to act as if nothingunusual had occurred.
The boys greeted their host with a cordial "Good morning," as he enteredthe room, looking spick and span in a light duck suit. Then Chot arose.Lieutenant Winters and his men also got up.
"Mr. Lawrence," said Chot, "you left us in charge of Winnsocket Lodge,so when these gentlemen arrived yesterday in a boat, and signified theirintention of awaiting your return, I invited them to partake of ourhospitality. Was I right?"
"Perfectly," replied the smuggler chief. "Winnsocket Lodge has alwaysbeen noted for its hospitality."
"This, then, is Lieutenant Winters of the United States revenue boat,'Lucia'," Chot continued.
Both Mr. Lawrence and the lieutenant bowed.
"I have a few matters of importance to discuss with you, Mr. Lawrence,"said the lieutenant.
"Pray, be seated," said the master of the lodge, in a courteous tone."After breakfast I shall be most happy to talk to you."
There was nothing in his tone to indicate that he felt any uneasinessover the visit of the revenue men. On the contrary, he appeared to be inparticularly jovial spirits, for he fell to laughing and chatting gaily.
Lieutenant Winters and the boys, not to be outdone entered into thespirit of the occasion, and the meal passed off pleasantly, Hoki servingin his best style and earning many golden opinions from his master andthe others for his fine cooking.
The meal over, the entire party adjourned to the spacious living-room ofthe lodge, where, after offering the officer and his men some of thebest of his cigars, Mr. Lawrence said:
"Lieutenant Winters, I should be blind, indeed, did I not divine yourpurpose in visiting Winnsocket Lodge."
"I have no desire, sir, to keep my purpose a secret."
"Well, before we settle the matter that lies between us, let me ask youif you have heard of Stanwood Gray?"
"Many times," returned the officer, rather surprised at the question. "Idoubt if there is a man in the United States revenue or secret servicewho has not heard of him, though I dare say few have seen him."
"He is, then, a person of some note?"
"He is probably the most efficient man now in the service of the UnitedStates government," returned Lieutenant Winters.
"H'm, yes--I see. You will pardon me for seeming inquisitive, andparticularly when you have come to question me, rather than allow me toquestion you, but are you not comparatively new to the service on theSt. Lawrence?"
"Yes, sir; I have been here only a few months," replied the lieutenant.
"H'm, yes; transferred from the gulf service, I believe?"
"Why, yes, but I was not aware that such knowledge was in yourpossession."
"I know a great many things, Lieutenant Winters, that I am not creditedwith knowing. I know, for instance, that when you were transferred tothis part of the country, you were given a letter to be delivered inperson to Stanwood Gray, if you chanced to meet him."
"I--I--why, I beg your pardon, sir, but--"
The lieutenant paused in confusion.
What manner of man was this smuggler chief, who knew so many of thegovernment secrets? No wonder he had been able to so long elude theofficials.
Mr. Lawrence suddenly arose. The lieutenant got up just as quickly, andhis hand flew instinctively to his belt, where it reposed lightly on thehandle of his revolver.
Mr. Lawrence laughed.
"You will have no need for your weapon, lieutenant," he said, smiling."I am not at all the dangerous man I may seem to you; and it maysurprise you to learn that Lawrence is not my real name."
"That does not surprise me in the least, sir--in fact, I had already setit down as an alias."
"But what if I were to tell you that I am Stanwood Gray?"
"I would say to you, 'Prove it'."
"That, perhaps, can be done easier than you imagine. You were given asecret code by which you might determine at any time the true identityof any man you suspected of being the secret service man. You might withprofit, try that code on me."
The lieutenant seemed dazed. Could it be possible that Lawrence, thesmuggler, was indeed none other than the famous Stanwood Gray? He wouldtry the code and see.
Drawing himself erect, the lieutenant saluted three times in rapidsuccession. In response Mr. Lawrence saluted twice.
"Can you direct me to the gate?" inquired the lieutenant.
"The gate is four leagues from the south buoy," returned Mr. Lawrence,in language which, to the astonished boys, was unintelligible, but themeaning of which Lieutenant Winters seemed to fully appreciate.
"When was the wreck?" he asked.
"On May the 10th."
"Will you show me the buoy?"
"I will."
Without further ceremony Mr. Lawrence unbuttoned his vest, and took froman inside pocket what appeared to be a small vial. In this vial was apiece of paper, several inches in extent, but which had been rolledtightly to allow its passage through the neck of the little glass tube.
This paper Mr. Lawrence handed to Lieutenant Winters, who seized it andeagerly scanned its contents. It proved to be a certificate ofidentification, carried by secret service men, and shown only upon themost imperative occasions. The certificate was made out in the name ofMr. Stanwood Gray!
"I believe you now, Mr. Gray, but I wish to say that I have never beenmore completely surprised in my life," said Lieutenant Winters.
"Then you will readily appreciate the fact that I have to be in aposition at all times to become a surprise, both to my friends and tothose who are not my friends."
"I do appreciate that."
"And now," said Stanwood Gray, as he noticed the surprised looks on thefaces of the Comrades and their chums, "a few words of explanation fromme will not come amiss."
"You will pardon me a moment, I know, Mr. Gray," said the lieutenant,"but are you aware that the smugglers have been captured?"
"No; I was not aware of it. When did it occur?"
"Within the last two days, and it was encompassed by your guests, theboys, without further aid."
"Then if I have surprised you by revealing my true identity, you have,in turn, surprised me by this piece of good news. Boys, I congratulateyou, and I trust that you are not still wishing that I were a smuggler."
"No; it was one of the biggest disappointments we had ever known whensuspicion was connected with you," said Chot.
"Well, perhaps you'd better let me tell my story."
They eagerly agreed, and he told how he had taken the lodge some twoyears before with the intention of breaking up a notorious band ofsmugglers. There had been at least a dozen in the band at that time,making their rendezvous on the north island.
Stanwood Gray had won their confidence and good will after much effort,by constructing the secret passage and explaining to them the advantagesof getting goods across the line by such a method. He was finally lookedupon as their leader. Gradually, then, the band had dwindled, as he hadcaptured the smugglers one by one when away on his mysterious trips,carrying to the remainder of the band various stories concerning thedeath or disappearance of their comrades.
"You will wonder, no doubt, why I have allowed the band to remain inexistence so long. It is because there are a number of prominent menbehind the smuggling on whom I have never succeeded in collectingevidence. I am happy to say, however that now my proofs have about beencompleted, and within the next two weeks I expect to make someaccusations that will cause a sensation in the newspapers."
The boys were allowed to question Mr. Gray at will. Hoki, they learnedhad never suspected his true identity. When told that they werearranging to send the Jap to Winton, Mr. Gray expressed his pleasure andsaid that he would have been forced soon t
o dispense with his services.
"What I fail to understand, Mr. Gray," said Lieutenant Winters, "is howyou managed to get away with the spoils and return the smugglers enoughmoney to keep them satisfied."
"Money to satisfy the smugglers was often taken from a reserve fundwhich is kept for such purposes, while the smuggled goods were deliveredto parties in the states, minus the duty. In order that this arrangementshould not become known to the smugglers, I was forced each time todispose of the goods to different parties."
"And the motor-boat which you are using--that is in your privateservice, I suppose?"
"Yes. And that reminds me that I should send for the boat, as I shall beforced to leave the island at once."
"I will save you the trouble of sending for it," said LieutenantWinters, with a smile. "When you landed I flashed a signal to thecaptain of the 'Lucia' and he overhauled your craft. She is now lyingalongside the government launch in the cove on the east end of theisland."
"Your plan was very well carried out, and does you great credit. Theproper authorities shall know of your good service," said Stanwood Gray.
"Thank you, sir," responded the lieutenant, greatly pleased.
"And as for the boys who have been my guests," said Mr. Gray, "they,also, shall be remembered in a very substantial manner."
"We have often wondered why you ever took us in at all," said Chot.
"Because affairs were approaching a crisis in my case against thesmugglers, and I felt that upon my return from this trip I might needyour service--and then, as I explained before, I am very fond of boys."
Mr. Gray decided not to see or speak to the captured smugglers.
"Let them still think of me as Mr. Lawrence, and that I have beencaptured and taken away," he said, and Lieutenant Winters agreed.
Stanwood Gray left the lodge again that night, leaving the boys in fullcharge. Following, shortly, went Lieutenant Winters in the "Lucia," withthe smuggler captives.
"I don't know when I shall return," said Mr. Gray, just before hisdeparture, "but until I do the lodge is in your care. If you run shortof provisions, Hoki knows where to get more, and you can have themcharged to me. Should you be forced to leave before I get back, lock thelodge, leave the key at this address, and send me a wire at this one. Itwill be forwarded to me wherever I may be. Now, enjoy yourselves, and becomforted by the thought that you will be disturbed no more by midnightprowlers--at least, none of the smuggler variety."