CHAPTER V.
MOTOR MATT'S PROMISE.
Townsend had a bad two minutes waiting for Mrs. Thomas to getdownstairs and for Matt to come up. Finally, when the young motoristentered the room, he was astounded by what he saw.
Cassidy was half holding, half supporting Townsend on the bed, andTownsend, his face like chalk and his eyes staring glassily, was gazingat the newcomer.
"What's the matter?" queried Matt. "What's wrong, Cassidy?"
Cassidy shook his head. Before he could answer, Townsend burst out:
"Were you here a few minutes ago, Matt? Did you have on other clothes,and did I give you the diamonds? For heaven's sake, tell me!"
"Easy, cap'n," warned Cassidy.
"No," replied Matt, instantly divining that something had happenedto the diamonds. "I was told not to come until midnight, but I wasanxious, and even now I am ahead of time. Why?"
He approached the bed hurriedly, but Townsend had sunk limply back,with a hollow groan.
"There was a fellow here who looked like you in the face, Matt, and whosaid he was you. Townsend gave him the bag of diamonds," said Cassidy.
Motor Matt reeled backward. He could think of but two men, at thatmoment, and they were Jurgens and Whistler. And he blamed himself. Heshould not have listened to Carl and Dick, but should have postedat once to Prytania Street and told Townsend how the letter had beendelivered to some one else through a mistake.
"Couldn't you tell that the fellow wasn't me, Cassidy?" Matt demanded."You had a close look at him. He may have _looked_ like me, but did heact, or talk, as I do? Great spark plugs! In a case like that you oughtto have been more than sure."
"I didn't know the cap'n was going to hand the diamonds over,"returned Cassidy. "The cap'n only just told me. I had my suspicions,but I couldn't just see how the fellow would be here, accordin' toinstructions, if he wasn't you. And he sure looked like you, althoughhis talk and his actions were a trifle off. Oh, thunder, what a go!"
"How was he dressed?" demanded Matt. "Quick--tell me as much as you canabout him."
"Slouch hat, gray sweater, dark corduroy trousers; slangy,devil-may-care sort of chap. Not you, in that way, by a jugful."
"And he left here----"
"Twenty minutes ago."
Matt whirled and dashed from the room. At the foot of the stairs hefound the excited landlady.
"Have you a telephone in the house?" he asked.
"This way," answered Mrs. Thomas, appreciating the fact that somethingimportant was urging Matt on and that it was a time for action and notwords.
The telephone was in the rear hall and Matt had soon rung up the policedepartment, given a description of the youth, and of Jurgens, Whistler,and Bangs, and told as much of what had happened as it was necessaryfor the officers to know in order to make a quick and effective search.In a few minutes he was back in Townsend's room.
"The police," said Matt, "will get right to work; and as soon as I amthrough talking here I will get to work myself. Don't be discouraged,Mr. Townsend. That young fellow may have got the diamonds, but he'llfind it hard to get away with them."
"I don't know," murmured Townsend, tossing his hands, "but it seems tome as though everything connected with that Man from Cape Town and hisiron chest is fated to make me trouble. Jurgens and Whistler must beback of this!"
"Undoubtedly."
"But how did they know I was going to send the diamonds to the woman inSt. Charles Avenue to-night? Where did they get hold of a young fellowwho looks so astonishingly like you to help them in their villainousschemes?"
"I can tell you something about that, in a minute. What did that fellowsay when he came here?"
"He came in at the front gate, a little after eleven, and he said hehad disguised himself so that he could escape the vigilance of possiblespies. He also said that he had come early, as the cars did not run, atthis time of night, so he could get here at sharp twelve. Oh, he had aclever story! I'll warrant you that Jurgens fixed that part of it forhim."
"You wanted me to take the diamonds to the daughter of the Man fromCape Town?" asked Matt.
"Why, didn't you know that?" demanded Townsend. "Didn't you read myletter?"
"There's the point, Townsend. I did not see your letter. If I hadknown what you wanted me to do, I should have come here early in theevening. But I didn't. All I knew was that the work was important."
"But the letter, Matt, the letter! I told everything in that. I didnot care to trust the information with Carl or Dick, or even withCassidy. This house has been watched for two days by some fellow whowas skulking on the other side of the street. I was afraid--the wholething had got on my nerves. The worst thing I ever did," Townsend addedin bitter self-reproach, "was to let Jurgens, Whistler, and Bangs gowhen I had them where the law could take care of them."
"This young fellow, who appears to be my double and who has turned upso unfortunately in New Orleans," said Matt, "looks so much like methat he deceived even Carl and Dick. While they were on the way back tothe dock, with your letter, they saw the fellow, and gave the letter tohim."
Townsend groaned despairingly.
"Never again," said he, "will I put such important matters in black andwhite. But I thought I could trust Carl and Dick to deliver the lettersafely to you."
"You can hardly blame them for making the mistake, Townsend," went onMatt, "when even you and Cassidy were fooled."
"It's the most astonishing thing I ever heard of!" muttered Townsend."How two young fellows could look so much alike, and how your doubleshould happen around at just the right time to play havoc with mycarefully worked-out plan. But it's fate. There's something about thosediamonds that brings ill luck. It seems to have been destined, from thestart, that they were never to be delivered to this New Orleans woman."
"No matter what happens, Townsend," said Matt, "your conscience isclear. The iron chest has caused you expense, time and trouble, and youhave tried faithfully to do what this mysterious Man from Cape Townasked of you. Don't take it so hard."
"I am culpable," declared Townsend, "in that I did not put Jurgens andWhistler where they could never trouble me again, that time I had itin my power. I am in duty bound to get back those stones. I can't letthose scoundrels get away with them."
"Leave it to the police, cap'n," spoke up Cassidy. "You're a sick man,and that's all you can do. Leave it to the police, and the chances arethat they will capture the gang, for the trail is hot; but, if theydon't capture Jurgens, Whistler, and that young grafter and recover thediamonds, it's just as Matt says; you haven't any cause to feel cut upover it."
"But I _will_ feel cut up over it," insisted Townsend, with all thedistorted reasoning of a sick man. "Matt, I want you to promise mesomething. If you'll give the promise, I'll feel fairly contented andwill abide the result with patience. Your promise, my boy, will help meto get well."
"What is it?" asked Matt.
"I don't remember that you ever failed in anything you haveundertaken--and I've got the most of your history ever since you leftArizona. What I want you to promise is this, that you'll keep afterJurgens, Whistler and that double of yours _until you recover thediamonds_."
"But----"
"The police won't be able to do it--I'm as sure of that as I am that Iam lying here in this bed this minute. While everything connected withthat iron chest and its contents seemed to condemn me to a run of hardluck, it has always been you and your good fortune that stepped in, atthe last minute, and saved the day. I am positive that you can save theday now. There is that Obeah woman, the voodoo priestess who aided youso strangely and so well the other time. Go to her. She is a friend ofyours. Ask her to help you."
"I don't think----"
"You must promise me, Matt!" insisted Townsend vehemently. "I tellyou I am to blame for the loss of the diamonds, for I should have hadJurgens, Whistler, and Bangs sent to jail when it was in my power to doso. Will you promise?"
Cassidy gave Matt a significant look. It asked Matt, for the sake
ofTownsend's comfort and health, to agree to a task whose accomplishmentwould be difficult and perhaps impossible.
"Very well," said Matt, quietly stepping to the bedside and takingTownsend's hand in a firm pressure, "I promise."
"That you will keep after the thieves until you finally recover thediamonds?"
"Yes."
"Then I shall rest content," said Townsend. "Your good luck, I know,will go with you. Go and find the voodoo woman. Give me some medicine,Cassidy, for I'm about played out."
Townsend sank back on his pillow and closed his eyes.
Matt looked at him, at the haggard, careworn expression on his face, atthe gray hair sweeping his temples, and, for the first time, realizedwhat the difficulties and perils connected with that mysterious ironchest had meant to Archibald Townsend. As he turned softly away andmoved toward the door, his heart was steeled with resolution to do hisutmost--_and to win_!
He nodded to Cassidy, softly opened the door, and left the room.