XX
THE CHECK
On the second morning after their abduction, when Elaine and Davilaarose, the sky was obscured by fog, the trees exuded moisture, and onlya small portion of the Bay was faintly visible through the mist.
"This looks natural!" said Elaine. "We must have moved out toNorthumberland, in the night."
Davila smiled, a feeble sort of smile. It was not a morning to promotelight-heartedness, and particularly under such circumstances.
"Is this anything like Northumberland?" she asked.
"Yes!--Only Northumberland is more so. For a misty day, this would beremarkably fine.--With us, it's midnight at noon--all the lightsburning, in streets, and shops, and electric cars, bells jangling,people rushing, pushing, diving through the dirty blackness, likedevils in hell. Oh, it's pleasant, when you get used to it.--Ever beenthere?"
"No," said Davila, "I haven't."
"We must have you out--say, immediately after the holidays. Will youcome?"
"I'll be glad to come, if I'm alive--and we ever get out of this awfulplace."
"It _is_ stupid here," said Elaine. "I thought there was somethingnovel in being abducted, but it's rather dreary business. I'm ready toquit, are you?"
"I was ready to quit before we started!" Davila laughed.
"We will see what can be done about it. We'll have in the head jailer."She struck the bell. "Ask the chief to be kind enough to come here amoment," she said, to the girl who attended them.
In a few minutes, he appeared--suave, polite, courteous.
"You sent for me, Miss Cavendish?" he inquired.
"I did. Sit down, please, I've something to say to you, Mr.----"
"Jones, for short," he replied.
"Thank you!" said Elaine, with a particularly winning smile. "Mr.Jones, for short--you will pardon me, I know, if I seem undulypersonal, but these quarters are not entirely to our liking."
"I'm very sorry, indeed," he replied. "We tried to make themcomfortable. In what are they unsatisfactory?--we will remedy it, ifpossible."
"We would prefer another locality--Hampton, to be specific."
"You mean that you are tired of captivity?" he smiled. "I see yourpoint of view, and I'm hopeful that Mr. Croyden will see it, also, andpermit us to release you, in a few days."
"It is that very point I wish to discuss a moment with you," sheinterrupted. "I told you before, that Mr. Croyden didn't find thejewels and that, therefore, it is impossible for him to pay."
"You will pardon me if I doubt your statement.--Moreover, we are notprivileged to discuss the matter with you. We can deal only with Mr.Croyden, as I think I have already intimated."
"Then you will draw an empty covert," she replied.
"That remains to be seen, as I have also intimated," said Mr. Jones,easily.
"But you don't want to draw an empty covert, do you--to have only yourtrouble for your pains?" she asked.
"It would be a great disappointment, I assure you."
"You have been at considerable expense to provide for ourentertainment?"
"Pray do not mention it!--it's a very great pleasure."
"It would be a greater pleasure to receive the cash?" she asked.
"Since the cash is our ultimate aim, I confess it would be equallysatisfactory," he replied.
"Then why not tell me the amount?"
He shook his head.
"Such matters are for Mr. Croyden," he said.
"Just assume that Mr. Croyden cannot pay," she insisted. "Are _we_ notto be given a chance to find the cash?"
"Mr. Croyden can pay."
"But assume that he cannot," she reiterated, "or won't--it's the sameresult."
"In that event, you----"
"Would be given the opportunity," she broke in.
He bowed.
"Then why not let us consider the matter in the first instance?" sheasked. "The money is the thing. It can make no difference to you whenceit comes--from Mr. Croyden or from me."
"None in the world!" he answered.
"And it would be much more simple to accept a check and to release uswhen it is paid?"
"Checks are not accepted in this business!" he smiled.
"Ordinarily not, it would be too dangerous, I admit. But if it could bearranged to your satisfaction, what then?"
"I don't think it can be arranged," he replied. "The amount is much toogreat."
"And that amount is----" she persisted, smiling at him the while.
"Two hundred thousand dollars," he replied.
"With what per cent. off for cash?"
"None--not a fraction of a penny!"
She nodded, slightly. "Why can't it be arranged?"
"You're thinking of paying it?" he asked, incredulously.
"I want to know why you think it can't be arranged?" she repeated.
"The danger of detection. No bank would pay a check for that amount toan unknown party, without the personal advice of the drawer."
"Not if it were made payable to self, and properly indorsed foridentification?"
"I fear not."
"You can try it--there's no harm in trying. You have a bank that knowsyou?"
"But scarcely for such large amounts."
"What of it? You deposit the check for collection only. They will sendit through. When it's paid, they will pay you. If it's not paid, thereis no harm done--and we are still your prisoners. You stand to wineverything and lose nothing."
The man looked thoughtfully at the ceiling.
"The check will be paid?" he asked, presently.
"If it isn't paid, you still have us," said Elaine.
"It might be managed."
"That is your part. If the check is presented, it will be paid--you mayrest easy, on that score."
Jones resumed his contemplation of the ceiling.
"But remember," she cautioned, "when it is paid, we are to be released,instantly. No holding us for Mr. Croyden to pay, also. If we playsquare with you, you must play square with us. I risk a fortune, seethat you make good."
"Your check--it should be one of the sort you always use----"
"I always carry a few blank checks in my handbag--and fortunately, Ihave it with me. You were careful to wrap it in with my arms. I willget it."
She went into her room. In a moment she returned, the blank check inher fingers, and handed it to him. It was of a delicate robin's-eggblue, with "The Tuscarora Trust Company" printed across the face in adarker shade, and her monogram, in gold, at the upper end.
"Is it sufficiently individual to raise a presumption of regularity?"she said.
"Undoubtedly!" he answered.
"Then, let us understand each other," she said.
"By all means," he agreed.
"I give you my check for two hundred thousand dollars, duly executed,payable to my order, and endorsed by me, which, when paid, you, onbehalf of your associates and yourself, engage to accept in lieu of theamount demanded from Mr. Croyden, and to release Miss Carrington andmyself forthwith."
"There is one thing more," he said. "You, on your part, are tostipulate that no attempt will be made to arrest us."
"We will engage that _we_ will do nothing to apprehend you."
"Directly or indirectly?" he questioned.
"Yes!--more than that is not in our power. You will have to assume thegeneral risk you took when you abducted us."
"We will take it," was the quiet answer.
"Is there anything else?" she asked.
"I think not--at least, everything is entirely satisfactory to us."
"Despite the fact that it couldn't be made so!" she smiled.
"I didn't know we had to deal with a woman of such business senseand--wealth," he answered gallantly.
She smiled. "If you will get me ink and pen, I will sign the check,"she said.
She filled it in for the amount specified, signed and endorsed it. Thenshe took, from her handbag, a correspondence card, embossed with herinitials, and wrote this note:
> "Hampton, Md. "Nov. --'10.
"My dear Mr. Thompson:--
"I have made a purchase, down here, and my check for Two Hundred Thousand dollars, in consideration, will come through, at once. Please see that it is paid, promptly.
"Yours very sincerely,
"Elaine Cavendish.
"To James Thompson, Esq'r., "Treasurer, The Tuscarora Trust Co., "Northumberland."
She addressed the envelope and passed it and the card across to Mr.Jones, together with the check.
"If you will mail this, to-night, it will provide against any chance ofnon-payment," she said.
"You are a marvel of accuracy," he answered, with a bow. "I would Icould always do business with you."
"At two hundred thousand the time? No! no! monsieur, I pray thee, nomore!"
There was a knock on the door; the maid entered and spoke in a low toneto Jones. He nodded.
"I am sorry to inconvenience you again," he said, turning to them, "butI must trouble you to go aboard the tug."
"The tug--on the water?" Elaine exclaimed.
"On the water--that is usually the place for well behaved tugs!" helaughed.
"Now!" Elaine persisted.
"Now--before I go to deposit the check!" he smiled. "You will be saferon the tug. There will be no danger of an escape or a rescue--and itwon't be for long, I trust."
"Your trust is no greater than ours, I assure you," said Elaine.
Their few things were quickly gathered, and they went down to thewharf, where a small boat was drawn up ready to take them to the tug,which was lying a short distance out in the Bay.
"One of the Baltimore tugs, likely," said Davila. "There are scores ofthem, there, and some are none too chary about the sort of businessthey are employed in."
"Witness the present!" commented Elaine.
They got aboard without accident. Jones conducted them to the littlecabin, which they were to occupy together--an upper and a lower bunkhaving been provided.
"The maid will sleep in the galley," said he. "She will look after thecooking, and you will dine in the small cabin next to this one. It's abit contracted quarters for you, and I'm sorry, but it won't be forlong--as we both trust, Miss Cavendish."
"And you?" asked Elaine.
"I go to deposit the check. I will have my bank send it direct forcollection, with instructions to wire immediately if paid. I presumeyou don't wish it to go through the ordinary course."
"Most assuredly not!" Elaine answered.
"This is Thursday," said Jones. "The check, and your note, should reachthe Trust Company in the same mail to-morrow morning; they can bedepended upon to wire promptly, I presume?"
"Undoubtedly!"
"Then, we may be able to release you to-morrow night, certainly bySaturday."
"It can't come too soon for us."
"You don't seem to like our hospitality," Jones observed.
"It's excellent of its sort, but we don't fancy the sort--youunderstand, monsieur. And then, too, it is frightfully expensive."
"We have done the best we could under the circumstances," he smiled."Until Saturday at the latest--meanwhile, permit me to offer you a veryhopeful farewell."
Elaine smiled sweetly, and Mr. Jones went out.
"Why do you treat him so amiably?" Davila asked. "I couldn't, if Iwould."
"Policy," Elaine answered. "We get on better. It wouldn't help our caseto be sullen--and it might make it much worse. I would gladly shoothim, and hurrah over it, too, as I fancy you would do, but it does nogood to show it, now--when we _can't_ shoot him."
"I suppose not," said Davila. "But I'm glad I don't have to play thepart." She hesitated a moment. "Elaine, I don't know how to thank youfor my freedom----"
"Wait until you have it!" the other laughed. "Though there isn't adoubt of the check being paid."
"My grandfather, I know, will repay you with his entire fortune, butthat will be little----"
Elaine stopped her further words by placing a hand over her mouth, andkissing her.
"That's quite enough, dear!" she said. "Take it that the reward is formy release, and that you were just tossed in for good measure--or, thatit is a slight return for the pleasure of visiting you--or, that themoney is a small circumstance to me--or, that it is a trifling sum topay to be saved the embarrassment of proposing to Geoffrey,myself--or, take it any way you like, only, don't bother your prettyhead an instant more about it. In the slang of the day: 'Forget it,'completely and utterly, as a favor to me if for no other reason."
"I'll promise to forget it--until we're free," agreed Davila.
"And, in the meantime, let us have a look around this old boat," saidElaine. "You're nearer the door, will you open it? Two can't pass inthis room."
Davila tried the door--it refused to open.
"It's locked!" she said.
"Oh, well! we will content ourselves with watching the Bay through theport hole, and when one wants to turn around the other can crawl up inher bunk. I'm going to write a book about this experience, sometime.--I wonder what Geoffrey and Colin are doing?" shelaughed--"running around like mad and stirring up the country, Ireckon."