CHAPTER XXXV
"To catch Silwood! Yes, that is the business we must press to aconclusion; everything must give way to it!" said Gilbert,energetically. "I shall wire the detective to cable his Americancorrespondent to continue his search."
Then Gilbert was silent for a while, meditating deeply.
"Bennet's trial," he said at length, "is fixed for the middle ofNovember, is it not, Ernie?"
"Yes, November 15th, at York. North Eastern Circuit; Judge, Warrender,"replied Ernest, quickly.
"That would give me six weeks," remarked Gilbert, thoughtfully.
"What! Do you intend going to the United States after Silwood? Six weeksis rather a short period."
"Of course it is, but it might be enough. I believe I ought to go, and Ihave a presentiment I shall succeed. St. Paul is a long way off,though."
Gilbert now consulted an atlas.
"I see," said he, "St. Paul is just about half-way across the Americancontinent. Still, I should be able to reach it in ten days. Say twentydays for going and returning, that leaves twenty and odd days forhunting the man down. Yes, I'll go. Will you arrange about a steamer,while I run across to Surbiton to see father, mother, and Helen?"
"Yes. But are you not counting too much on Silwood's being at St. Paul?You don't really know he is there at all."
"I trust I'm not. My opinion is that Silwood was sure of the working ofhis scheme; so much so, he took no trouble to cover up his movements.When he said he was going to St. Paul, I imagine he stated the truth.Still, I may be wrong. But I shall soon know."
"You think he was so confident he had obliterated the past, so to speak,that he took no further precautions?"
"That's just my idea. Anyhow, I wish you would inquire about steamers,and secure a berth for me on the first one that goes out. Meanwhile I'llgo over to Ivydene."
"All right," said Ernest, and went across to the office in Lincoln'sInn. There he rang up the shipping companies on the telephone, andfinally arranged for a passage on the _St. Louis_, which was leavingSouthampton next morning.
He remembered it was the _St. Louis_ by which Morris Thornton hadreturned to England, and it struck him as of good augury that hisbrother should sail on it in pursuit of Silwood, who had so marred thefortunes of Thornton and them all.
The brothers met again late in the afternoon, and Ernest told Gilbertthat he had taken a berth for him in this vessel, and, as it sailed onthe morrow about noon, he must at once make preparations for leaving.
"I am very glad that I start so soon," remarked Gilbert. "I feel as ifI must be moving and doing something towards getting on Silwood's track.When I saw poor father, I longed with all my soul to slay this man, thisvillain, who has wrought us such terrible wrong, such irremediablemischief. I know now how a murderer must feel--though to kill such amiscreant as Silwood would not be murder; it would be like killing somepoisonous reptile."
"I understand your feelings," said Ernest; "but if you meet him you mustnot give way to your anger, just though it is. You must not forget thatit is the money----"
"You may be sure I won't forget it," interrupted Gilbert. "But it mademy blood fairly boil when I saw father, and heard his parrot-like cry of'What o'clock is it?' He did not know me at all; he does not even knowmother. It's frightfully sad for her, poor dear. And we owe this wholetrouble to that devil, Silwood! It makes me savage to think of it!"
"Yes, it's hard to bear. Now, is there anything more I can do for you?Any matter to attend to?"
"You might see the detective, and tell him I have gone to New York,where I shall look up his correspondent."
"He had better cable across that you are going--that will prepare theway for you."
"Quite right," agreed Gilbert. "Are you coming to see me off to-morrowmorning?"
"From Waterloo? Yes. Did you say anything to mother about going toAmerica?"
"Yes, I told her of it. She was surprised; but I assured her I had nooption, but hoped to bring back good news."
"Pray Heaven you may!"
"Has anything further been done in the case of Bennet?" asked Gilbert,after a minute's silence.
"I went to York, and, along with the local solicitor, had a conversationwith Bennet, but to no purpose. I never saw such an impracticable man.He seemed all the time in a state of suppressed rage and fury; indeed,they hardly were suppressed. He is more like a caged tiger than a man."
"Does he know about father's condition?"
"No. I have kept it quiet, as I told you before. But I fear we cannotkeep it hid very long; it is bound to get out."
"Are you to see Bennet again soon?"
"I must, and he is pretty sure to ask why father has not come instead ofme. He asked me that last time, and he was very rude when I told himfather was too ill to go to York. I'll have to tell him the truth sooneror later. What do you think?"
"I advise telling him the truth," said Gilbert. "Now, Ernie, there's onething I wish to ask you, and then I will go on with my packing. I didnot like to ask mother. Has she or Helen or any one heard how MissThornton is?"
"All that I can tell you," replied Ernest, "is, I was told she had beento see Bennet in prison. Neither mother nor Helen has heard from or ofher, I feel quite sure."
Gilbert sighed heavily, but said nothing.
Next day he was on board the _St. Louis_, and arrived, a week later, atNew York. On the pier he was met by the detective's correspondent, aslim, sharp-faced man, called Matthews, who introduced himself.
"I have news for you, Mr. Eversleigh," said Matthews, after they hadexchanged a few words.
"Good news, I hope?" asked Gilbert.
"I reckon it is pretty good," was the reply. "James Russell, the man youwant, is living in St. Paul with his wife and child. His house is in apoor quarter of the city, and he don't seem well off. He goes aboutquite openly, too, as if he had nothing to fear--I mean he don't try andhide himself. I have an agent in St. Paul, and what I've told you iswhat he wired me; you can depend on it."
"This is indeed good news," said Gilbert, eagerly. "Now I must go on toSt. Paul. How long will it take me to get there?"
"Two days, more or less. You travel to Chicago first, and then on to St.Paul. So you will go straight there? Have you any acquaintances orfriends in St. Paul?"
"I know no one there."
"Would you like a letter to my agent? He's as bright as a new dollar,and as sharp as a needle."
"Much obliged to you; by all means give me a note to him. And now tellme about the trains, please; I am quite a stranger here."
"D'you wish to leave to-day?"
"I hate to think of losing a minute needlessly," said Gilbert,earnestly. "The matter is of the greatest importance."
"So I guessed," observed Matthews. "I'll do the best I can for you."
And he did. He made everything easy for Gilbert, so that the latter hadno difficulty in reaching St. Paul well within two days after hisarrival in New York.
As he had calculated, he was in St. Paul ten days after leaving London.Putting up at the Merchant's Hotel, he at once tried to get intocommunication with Hankey, Matthew's agent, on the telephone, but wasdisappointed. From a directory he ascertained where Hankey's office was,and learning from the hotel clerk that it was only a few blocks away,and not difficult to find, he set out for it. But he did not reach itwithout having to ask his way several times from people he met in thestreets.
Stopping at the junction of two streets, and uncertain whether to gostraight ahead or turn off, Gilbert consulted a policeman standing atthe corner. As he spoke, the sound of his voice, or rather his accent,attracted the attention of a man who was passing by. Gilbert had hisback to this pedestrian, so that he did not see him.
The pedestrian paused to make certain that he did recognize Gilbert'svoice; besides, he recognized Gilbert's figure. Then he walked onslowly, and watched Gilbert's movements from a distance, taking care tokeep himself unobserved.
The pedestrian was Cooper Silwood, _alias_ James Russell, but it w
as inthe latter character he now appeared.
"What is he doing here?" Silwood asked himself. "Is it a mere accident,or has he discovered something? I must follow him and see where hegoes--that may afford an indication of his business here."
And as he shadowed Gilbert from a safe distance, and pondered the reasonfor his being in St. Paul, his keen intelligence told him more and moreinsistently that Gilbert's visit to St. Paul was concerned with him.Any doubt he had was dissipated when he saw Gilbert enter the buildingin which were situated the offices of Hankey's Private Detective Agency.
"How much does he know?" wondered Silwood. "How does he know it? Whatmistake have I made? what loophole left? I believed myself absolutelysafe; but now.... Well, St. Paul is no place any longer for me. I mustleave it at once, and go on to Winnipeg, and hide myself somewhere onthe prairies of the North-West."
After a very short time, Gilbert reappeared and retraced his steps tothe Merchant's Hotel, whither Silwood, still at a safe distance,followed him.
"This is where he is stopping," thought Silwood, as he observed Gilbertpass into the hotel.
Then Silwood walked rapidly away.
Gilbert had met with a second disappointment. On calling at Hankey'sAgency, he had been told Hankey himself had that morning been summonedon urgent business to Minneapolis, and would not return till theevening, when he would make a point of coming round to the Merchant's.There was therefore nothing for it but to wait.
Late in the evening Hankey came.
"I am sorry I am so late, but I could not help it!" he exclaimed. "Ihave come straight to you from Minneapolis, without going to my officefirst, as I knew you must be anxious to see me. Sorry I could not comesooner, but it was an important case--defaulting bank president andcashier."
Gilbert nodded that he quite understood.
"About James Russell," continued Hankey. "I can put my hand on him atany time; he is kept under constant observation, though he has no ideaof it. Yet it hardly seems necessary, for he walks about quite openly inthe streets, sometimes alone, sometimes with his wife. They have a lame,crippled child, which they have taken out once or twice."
"Is James Russell anything like this?" asked Gilbert, handing Hankey aphotograph of Silwood.
"About the same height, perhaps, but otherwise quite different."
"Yet it is the same man," said Gilbert.
"If so--and I don't doubt your word--what a splendid disguise he hasassumed! Case of absconding?" asked Hankey. "Do you wish him arrested?"
"By-and-by; but first I must try to get him to disgorge. He hasabsconded with a large sum of money."
"Much?"
"Between three and four hundred thousand pounds."
"Nearly two million dollars!" exclaimed Hankey. "Mr. James Russell mustbe a pretty smart man. Two million! I confess to a certain admirationfor a man who can rake in as big a pot as that. Well, I should say itwould be very difficult to make a man of that calibre disgorge. How doyou intend doing it?"
"I thought you might be able to suggest some plan."
"Well, I reckon that is possible. First thing is to get hold ofRussell--and it'll have to be a tight hold, you bet."
"Of course. I admit I don't see what to do; but it seems to me Iremember reading of a case the Pinkertons had, in which they had thecriminal seized--it was also a case of embezzlement--and kept in a roomtill he disgorged. They did not put him into prison; they kept him aprisoner in a room in a house of their own."
"I guess something of the kind has happened," remarked Hankey; "but itsounds rather like a bit out of a dime novel. You suggest I shouldattempt the same game with James Russell, is that it?"
"It is just an idea; I don't say you should act upon it. Is there anyplan in your mind?"
"Not at the moment. I'll sleep on it, and come round in the morning."
"Very well. But of course you understand I wish the business concludedas speedily as possible."
"Quite so. I'll be here early in the morning."
Gilbert could not get to sleep easily that night. He was possessed by afeeling of intense excitement; but at last he fell into a restlessslumber. It seemed to him that he had just closed his eyes when he wasawakened by a loud knocking at his door.
"What is it?" he cried.
"It's Hankey. I must see you at once. Most urgent!"
Gilbert sprang out of bed instantly, and admitted the detective.