CHAPTER XIV
Once more the Traynor residence was filled with the sounds of mirth andrevelry.
From cellar to attic the old mansion was ablaze with light. The largedining-room, decorated with flowers and plants, wore a festive air, andthe long table in the center literally groaned under its burden of finelinen, crystal, and silver.
The dinner, now drawing to a close, had been a huge success in everyway, and, with the serving of the _demi-tasse_, the guests sat back intheir chairs, feeling that sense of gluttony satisfied which only aperfect dinner can impart. The rarest wines, the richest foods--Helenhad spared no expense to make the affair worthy the occasion.
As Mr. Parker sat back and with deliberation lit the big black Corona,which his host had given him, he felt as much at ease as can a man whohas dined well and knows that his affairs are prospering beyond allexpectations, and, as his eyes half closed, he listened dreamily whilehis host, for the hundredth time, told yarns of the diamond fields, hesilently congratulated himself on his astuteness in having employed sosuccessful a messenger. He had not yet had an opportunity to ask anyquestions about the diamonds. He had his own reasons for not wantingthose present to learn too much of his plans. There would be plenty oftime when he could get the vice-president alone. So he just sat backand puffed his cigar, while around him went on the hum of conversation,punctuated here and there with bursts of laughter.
Considering his short stay at the diamond mines it was astonishing howwell stocked their host was with stories. To hear him talk one mighthave thought he had been a miner all his life. Stimulated by copiousdraughts of champagne, which he contrived to make flow like water, hewas highly interesting, and his listeners, greatly interested, hung onto every word.
"It must be a terrible life!" said Steell, as he lit another cigar.
The host emptied his glass and again refilled it before he answered:
"It's a life of a dog--not of a human being. The toil is incessant,the profit doubtful. You starve to death: good food is unprocurablesave at prohibitive prices. One sleeps practically in the open, savefor such rude shelter as each man can make for himself. The flies area pest and constant source of danger. The water is abominable."
"You like champagne better, eh?" laughed Ray.
The gambler had already drunk more than was good for him, and, raisinghis glass in a mock toast, began to hum the first lines of a familiarcamp ditty:
"_La femme qui sait me plaire C'est la petite veuve Clicquot._"
"Is there much stealing of diamonds by the miners?" demanded Mr. Parker.
Handsome nodded.
"Lots of it. They have to watch 'em all the time. They resort to allkinds of tricks to conceal stones they find. They used to swallowthem, but when they were forced to take powerful emetics and otherdrugs, they soon got tired of that game. They also try to smuggle themacross the border line. One detective, who had been for months on thetrail of a well-to-do smuggler, was badly stung. The man invited himto go shooting, and kindly furnished guns and cartridges. Theunsuspecting policeman carried the cartridges across the border, neverdreaming that each one was filled with diamonds."
Ray clapped her hands.
"Oh, what a clever idea!"
The host nodded approvingly.
"That's what I thought. Any man as smart as that deserved to get awaywith it."
Mr. Parker protested.
"Rogues are always smart!" he exclaimed.
"Until they're caught," laughed Dick Reynolds. "Then they don't thinkthey're so smart."
Mr. Steell nodded approval.
"I know something about that," said the lawyer. "A crook is neverreally clever. He always leaves some loophole which leads todetection. He thinks he is secure, that his disguise is impenetrable,but there is always someone watching him, closely observing his everymove. And, the first thing he knows, he has walked into a trap, thehandcuffs are snapped, and the electric chair looms grimly beforehim----"
_Crash_!
All looked up to the end of the table, where their host had broken aglass. In the act of raising the champagne to his lips the glass hadslipped and broken into a thousand pieces. Helen, frightened, startedfrom her seat.
"Are you hurt, dear?" she asked. "There is blood on your hand."
"No--no, it's nothing. I cut myself with a bit of glass. It'snothing."
Ray was eager for more anecdotes.
"Do tell us more, Kenneth," she exclaimed, interrupting her chat withher left-hand neighbor.
"Give him a breathing spell," laughed Dick. "We've kept him at it eversince the dinner began."
Handsome, his face pale, his hand trembling, filled another glass withthe foaming golden wine, and drained it at a draught. What the lawyerjust said had been somewhat of a shock. Was there more meaning in itthan appeared in the chance words? He eyed Steell narrowly, when hewas not looking, but the lawyer's face was inscrutable. Again hefilled his glass and again emptied it.
That her husband had been drinking heavily all evening had not escapedHelen's attention, and it worried her. Nudging her sister shewhispered:
"Ken's drinking more than is good for him. He never used to drink likethat."
At that moment, the host looked up and caught Helen's eye. Raising hisglass he offered a toast:
"Here's to the prettiest, the sweetest, the most desirable little womanin the world! Gentlemen and ladies--my wife!"
They all drank except Helen who, confused and annoyed, tried to turn itoff with a laugh.
Noticing her embarrassment, Ray made a signal to Mr. Steell and theyboth rose from the table. Helen and Dick quickly followed theirexample and the hostess led the way into the drawing-room, leavingHandsome and Mr. Parker alone to their cigars.
The president of the Americo-African Mining Company was not sorry ofthe opportunity which this tete-a-tete afforded for a quiet businesstalk.
"By the way, old man," he began, "we haven't had a chance to talkbusiness yet. You've got the diamonds, of course."
His host was silent. Mr. Parker thought he had not heard. A littlelouder he repeated:
"You've got the diamonds?"
Still no answer. The president began to get uneasy. Could anything bewrong or was his friend drunk? He had noticed that he had beendrinking heavily--something he had never known Kenneth Traynor do.With some impatience he said sharply: "What's the matter, Kenneth?Wake up, old man. I asked you a question. Can't you answer?"
Handsome brought his fist down on the table with a bang that made theglasses dance.
"D---- it!" he exclaimed angrily. "Can't a man be left alone in hisown house for a few minutes without bothering him with business?"
This outburst was so utterly unexpected that Mr. Parker, taken entirelyby surprise, fell back in his chair and stared at his host inamazement. Never before had he known his old friend and partner to actin this strange way. Could anything be amiss? Now he came to think ofit, he had noticed a great change in his associate directly he saw him.He had seemed to lack his customary cordiality and frankness. Heappeared moody and morose, as if he had on his mind some weightyresponsibility he was unwilling to share. Evidently there was nothingto be gained by displaying impatience, so, in more conciliatory tones,he asked:
"That's all right, my boy. If you don't care to talk shop to-night, wewon't. I didn't want to hurry you. I was curious, that's all. I havescarcely been able to curb my impatience. You understand what it meansto us. Why, the very announcement that we have the diamonds safe herein New York, will be enough to send the company's stock up twentypoints." Lowering his voice and bending over he added confidentially:"I don't mind telling you that I've been buying for my own account allthe cheap stock I could put my hands on. As to the stockholders,they're simply wild with impatience to see the big stones. But wewon't talk any more about it to-night. We'll wait till to-morrow."
Handsome, his face almost livid, leaned over the table. Hoarsely, hereplied:
&nbs
p; "It's no use waiting till to-morrow. All that's to be told can be toldnow. I haven't got the diamonds!"
For a moment Mr. Parker did not realize what the other man was saying.Thinking he had not heard right he asked:
"What did you say?"
"I have not got the diamonds!"
The president started from his seat. His face pale as death, his handshaking as stricken with palsy, he almost shouted:
"You have not got the diamonds! Then where in God's name are they?"
"At the bottom of the ocean!"
The senior partner dropped back in his chair, white as death. Thenthis was the outcome of all his hopes, all his planning. Faintly hegasped:
"Why didn't you tell me so before?"
"I had no opportunity. I didn't want to cable such news. It mighthave caused a slump in the shares. I could not let you know before.This is the first time I've seen you alone."
The president said no more. The lines about his mouth tightened andthe expression of his face underwent a change. He uttered not a word,but just sat there, his eyes fixed steadily on his companion, whocontinued to fill his glass with champagne. Cornelius Winthrop Parkerwas not a man to be easily deceived. He had too much experience of theworld for that. All his life he had been reading men and what he heardnow in the tone of his host's voice convinced him that he was lying.That, in itself, was sufficient of a shock. To find KennethTraynor--the soul of integrity and honor--deliberately betraying atrust of such importance hurt him almost as much as the loss of thegems. That they had gone down with the _Abyssinia_ he did not for amoment believe. It was more likely that they had been sold--possiblyto make good Wall Street losses. Talk of big stock deals in whichTraynor had been mixed up had reached his ear before today, and morerecently this gossip had become more insistent. Kenneth wasinterested, said rumor, in pool operations involving millions. Therecent sudden slump had found him unprepared. Ruin threatened him andto save himself he had succumbed to temptation. This, at least, wasthe theory which the President's alert brain rapidly evolved as he satwatching the man in front of him. Perhaps all was not yet lost. Ifthe stones had not yet been disposed of, an effort might still be madeto recover them and at the same time save Traynor and his young wifefrom the disgrace that such a grave scandal would entail. The firstthing necessary was to keep cool, show no concern and disarm suspicionby pretending to accept the loss as irreparable. Then, at the firstopportunity, he would take Wilbur Steell into his confidence. Thatwide awake lawyer would know exactly how to handle the case. DickReynolds would have an opportunity to show his talent as a detective.Breaking the long silence he said calmly:
"Of course, I understand your silence. I think you acted wisely. Wehad better keep the loss to ourselves as long as we can. No one canattach any blame to you. It is a terrible loss, but we must face itlike men."
The gambler looked up quickly, and eyed his guest narrowly. Seeingnothing on the latter's face to arouse his suspicions, he grew morecheerful. Less sullen and defiant, he extended his hand.
"Thanks, old man!" he exclaimed heartily. "I expected no less fromyou. I can't tell you how badly I feel about the loss. No doubt mymanner has seemed strange since my return. I have been irritable witheverybody--even my dear wife has noticed it. It was only because I didnot know how to make a clear breast of it. Since you take it sosensibly, I'll cheer up. I declare I feel like a new man already."
Mr. Parker lit another cigar. Calmly, he said:
"That's right, Kenneth my boy. Keep a stiff upper lip. All's for thebest. We'll have better luck next time."
As he spoke, Wilbur Steell passed on his way to join the ladies in thedrawing-room. The president called out to him:
"Hello, Steell. What are you so busy about? Entertaining the women,eh? Always thought you were a lady killer. Suppose you come and smokea cigar with me and let our friend here go and have a chat with hiswife. You've no right to monopolize the fair sex in that fashion, evenif you are a trust lawyer. Anyhow, I want to talk to you--just alittle matter of business--that's all!"
Steell laughed, and, dropping into a chair, took the cigar which Mr.Parker held out. Turning to his host, and clapping him genially on theback the president exclaimed:
"Go and talk to your wife, old man. You've left her alone long enough."
"All right--I will," replied the gambler, not sorry of any excuse toget away.
Mr. Parker waited till he was out of hearing, then, leaning quicklyover to his companion, he exclaimed in a tense whisper:
"Steell, I need your help."
The lawyer looked at him in surprise. Removing his cigar from hismouth he said:
"My help? By all means. What can I do for you?"
Mr. Parker gave a quick glance behind him to see if they were observed,and then he said:
"My God, Steell, something terrible has happened! At any cost, wemustn't let the wife know----"
The lawyer stared at his companion in amazement.
"What is it, for Heaven's sake?" he demanded, looking anxiously at his_vis-a-vis_.
"The diamonds are lost!" replied Parker hoarsely.
"The diamonds lost!"
"Yes--lost--he has returned without them. They went down in the_Abyssinia_. At least, that's what he says----"
The lawyer started.
"You think----"
"I think nothing," replied the president cautiously. "I want to know.That's why I want you to help me--to find out--you understand?"
The lawyer nodded:
"Some detective work, eh?"
"Precisely. The stones may have gone down to the bottom of the ocean,or they may not. For all we know the ship may have been set on firepurposely, in order to create such a panic----"
The lawyer protested.
"Surely you don't think Kenneth----"
The president shook his head.
"I accuse nobody. I want to find out."
He was silent for a moment, and then after a pause he went on:
"I suppose you've heard, as well as everybody else, how Traynor hasbeen plunging in Wall Street recently."
The lawyer nodded. Hesitatingly he replied:
"Yes--I have. Unfortunately, the reports are true. Investigations Ihave conducted privately on my own account have convinced me thatKenneth has been a big plunger for some time. But as far as I know, hehas operated only within his means. I have often remonstrated with himabout the folly of it, but he enjoys the excitement of the speculationgame, and as long as he kept within bounds and gambled with his ownmoney I didn't see that anyone had any right to interfere."
"Ah, just so--as long as he operated with his own means and with hisown money. But suppose the market suddenly goes against such a man,and he is face to face with a tremendous loss, possibly ruin, what doessuch a man do nine times out of ten?"
"Blow his brains out."
"Yes--sometimes that, but often he succumbs to temptation, and takeswhat isn't his----"
"Then you think that Kenneth----"
"I think nothing. I want to know. He has come back from Africa achanged man. He is surly, morose, secretive. That man has somethingon his conscience. We must find out what it is. It is up to you toferret it out. Set your detectives to work. The company will spendthe last cent in its treasury to find those stones. You must trail hisassociates, find out where he goes. The diamonds are probably righthere in New York. Who first took Kenneth to Wall Street?"
"Signor Keralio----"
"Ah--always that fellow! Who is he?"
"An adventurer of the worst type. I have had him shadowed by one of mymen. He has a police record as a dangerous criminal of internationalreputation."
"And Kenneth's valet--that fellow Francois."
"He was formerly in Keralio's employ."
The President rose. Extending his hand to the lawyer, he said:
"That's enough. I don't think the trail will be hard to pick up.Spare no expense. Good night!"