CHAPTER L
A KIND UNCLE
Ralph crept toward the door. Marion came close to him, her handsfumbling nervously with the bolts and bars. Some of the bars were heavy,and Marion was fearful lest they should fall with a clang and betrayher.
Ralph stretched out his hand and drew back a bolt.
"Allow me to assist you," he said. "I am used to this kind of work."
A scream rose to Marion's lips, but she suppressed it. The effort sether trembling from head to foot. Yet it seemed to her that there was nocause to be frightened, for she had never heard Ralph's voice so kindbefore.
"Uncle," she stammered, "what are you doing here?"
By way of reply Ralph opened the door. He gave the sign for Marion toprecede him, and then followed her out into the night. The heavy doorclosed behind him.
"I might with equal justice ask you the same question," he said. "Nay,more; because you are merely a young girl and I am a man. And you know Idon't sleep like most virtuous people. I suffer from insomnia and neversleep for long anywhere. Perhaps I am like the cat who prowls about allnight and slumbers in the daytime. But where are you going?"
"Uncle Ralph, I cannot tell you. It is a secret. If you knew everythingyou would pity me."
There was a deepening ring in Marion's voice. Ralph caressed her handtenderly.
"Don't trouble," he said. "I know."
"You know where I am going. You--you know!"
"Certainly I do. I know everything, my dear."
"Not everything, uncle. Not of my connection with that woman, forinstance."
"Indeed I do, Marion."
"You are aware of our relationship! You know that!"
"My dear child, I have known it for years. But your secret is safe withme. I am not going to betray you. Could I have the heart to do so afterall you have done for my family? Angel Marion."
He repeated the last words over and over again in a low, caressingvoice, pressing the girl's hand softly as he did so. Even then Marionwas not sure whether he was in earnest or whether he was grimlyironical.
"I never thought of this," Marion murmured.
"Perhaps not," Ralph replied. "Mrs. May is a bad woman, Marion."
"The worst in the world," Marion replied. "You only know her as Mrs.May?"
"I only know her as she is, dear. And yet I feel that in some vague kindof way she is mixed up with our family misfortunes. Oh, if I could onlysee, if I could only use my eyes. Then I might know that woman stillbetter."
Marion shuddered at the steely, murderous tones. Ralph patted her handreassuringly.
"But you need not be afraid," he said. "You are all right--the brightestangel in the world. You are torn by conflicting emotions; you fancy yourduty lies in certain directions, and you are troubled over it. And yetit will come right in the end, Marion. We did not lose Geoffrey afterall."
"Thank God, no. And yet there is plenty of time."
"There is ample time for the right as well as the wrong, Marion. But donot let us talk of the past any more, my dear. I am not going to pryinto your secrets, and I know how far to trust you. Let me walk part ofthe way with you. I can wait by the barn till you return."
Marion raised no objection. It was the dead of night now and there wasno fear of meeting anybody. Yet Marion started uneasily as Ralph beganto whistle. She ventured to suggest that the noise was not prudent.
"Perhaps you are right," Ralph said amicably. "At any rate I will waithere till your return. You have not far to go, of course?"
"I have a very little way to go, uncle. I am going to Jessop's farm."
Ralph nodded. The farm loomed up not far off. As Marion darted off Ralphlighted his pipe and whistled again. Something moved in the bushes.
* * * * *
Meanwhile Tchigorsky and Geoffrey were nearing the window. Tchigorskymoved on resolutely and confidently with the air of a man who is sure ofhis ground. He put up his hand and fumbled for the catch. It gave atonce and the pair of burglars slipped quietly into the room.
"We shall be safe," he said as he proceeded to strike a match. "It isjust as well to take every precaution. What would the estimable Jessopsay if he could see into his parlor?"
Geoffrey smiled.
"He'd be astonished," he said, "a little dismayed, too. But he would saynothing so long as I am here. Jessop would stand on his head for me."
The strong rays of the lamp lighted up the room. There were flowerseverywhere, dainty china on the table full of blooms, bowls filled withchoicest fruits. Wines sparkled in the crystal goblets on the sideboard,a silver cigarette box was conspicuous, and on a safe lay an object towhich Tchigorsky called his companion's attention.
"What do you make that out to be?" he asked.
Geoffrey picked up the drapery. On the top of it lay something red witha feather in it. It appeared to be a costume of some kind. As Geoffreyheld it aloft a light gradually broke in upon him.
"Well," Tchigorsky asked, "have you solved the problem?"
"I have," Geoffrey replied. "It is the blue dress and tam-o'-shanterhat which have played so conspicuous a part lately. But what brings themhere? Has Mrs. May a companion hidden somewhere, a companion who mightbe Marion's sister?"
"Seems like it," Tchigorsky said with a dry smile. "But I am not goingto enlighten you any further on that question at present. Mrs. May andthe girl in the blue dress are two separate people, anyway."
"You forget that I have seen them together," said Geoffrey.
"I had forgotten that. Well, it won't be long now before the identity ofthe lady in the smart dress and coquettish hat is established. Meanwhilewe came here in search of something far more important than a woman'scostume. Help me to turn out all those drawers, and be careful toreplace everything exactly as you find it. We have a good three hoursbefore us and much depends upon the result of our search. Keep a keeneye open for papers in any language that is unfamiliar to you."
For an hour the search proceeded and yet nothing came to light. Therewere plenty of bills, most of them emanating from West Endestablishments--accounts for dresses and flowers, boxes for theaters,and the like, but nothing more.
Tchigorsky glanced keenly round the room.
"I am afraid we shall be compelled to show our hand," he said. "Mrs. Mayis so clever that I half expected to find private papers in some simpleplace, while an examination of her safe would disclose nothing. She hasnot anticipated burglary and what I am looking for is in the safe."
"Dare you open it?" Geoffrey asked.
"And show my hand, you mean? I fancy so. We are so near success now thatit really does not matter. Put the safe on the table," repliedTchigorsky.
The heavy iron box slipped as Geoffrey raised it and clanged on thefloor. An exclamation of anger and annoyance came from Tchigorsky and anapology from the younger man. They both stood upright for a few minuteslistening intently. But the people upstairs were sleeping the sleep ofthe just. There came no answering sound.
"Blessings upon the pure air and the high conscience that hold thesepeople," Tchigorsky muttered more amicably. "It's all right, my youngfriend. Hoist up the box, and let us see if my little steel jimmy willhave any effect. I would rather have had the key. It is never well tobetray your plans if you can----"
The speaker paused. From outside a little way off there arose a long,shrill scream, the cry of a woman in distress. The sound set Geoffrey'sblood leaping; he pushed for the window, but Tchigorsky detained him.
"Where are you going?" he asked sternly.
"Outside," Geoffrey exclaimed. "A woman is there. She asks forassistance. Can you stand there calmly and see----"
"See you making an ass of yourself, eh? My dear boy, on my word of honorthere is no woman in danger yonder. In a measure I am glad to hear thatcry, though it proves to me that our allies have not been so artisticover their work as they might have been. You will not hear that cryagain."
"Perhaps not," Geoffrey said, reassured considerably by Tchigorsk
y'splacid manner; "but I hear footsteps outside."
Tchigorsky smiled. He had taken some steel bits from his pocket, but hereplaced them again.
"If they are, then they are the footsteps of a friend," he said. "Thisbeing so, there will be no need for me to give you lessons in the waynot to open a safe. Are you right? It seems as if the window wasopening."
The window was indeed opening. It moved half an inch, and then there wasa "hist," and something clanged on the floor. Tchigorsky took the matteras coolly as if it had all been arranged beforehand. He did not move asthe window closed again and stealthy footsteps outside moved away.
"It is all right?" Geoffrey asked.
Tchigorsky smiled broadly.
"Splendid!" he said. "It could not have been better. My boy, this is thenight's work which is going to crown our endeavors. Yonder we have theproofs, and here we have the means of getting them."
He picked the metallic object from the floor. He fitted it to the lockof the safe, and instantly a mass of queer things was discovered.Tchigorsky's eyes gleamed as he saw this; they positively flamed as heturned out a lot of papers.
At the bottom was a book in metal covers. As Tchigorsky fluttered itopen a cry broke from him.
"Found!" he exclaimed, "found! We have them in the hollow of our hands."