Part 44 (1/2)
”I'll come also and see Anne,” said Giles eagerly. ”But Dane?”
”He's all right. I have a couple of men waiting outside. He will be followed everywhere. I'll be able to lay hands on him whenever I like.
Also I wish to see where he goes. He knows the various hiding-places of this gang, and I want him to be tracked to one of them.”
”H'm! Don't you believe his story?”
”Not altogether. He evidently hates Denham with all the virulent hatred of a malicious character. He's a devil, that man Dane. I should not like to incur his enmity. However, we'll make use of him, and then the Princess can take him to Vienna to make trouble there, as he a.s.suredly will.”
”What is the especial detail you want to learn?”
”I wish him to explain how he killed Daisy Kent.”
”He! Dane! Do you mean to say----?”
”I mean to say that Dane is the murderer,” said Steel triumphantly.
”That is the reason Denham and this other person (whoever he may be) have a hold over him. If he ruins Denham, he does so at the cost of being hanged.”
CHAPTER XXIV
A RAT IN A CORNER
The next day Giles returned to Rickwell with Steel. The detective could not leave town before, as he had to procure a warrant for the arrest of Alfred Denham, alias Wilson, alias George Franklin, and half a dozen other names. The man was to be arrested for various robberies connected with the gang of thieves, of which he was the head. Search was being made by the police for _The Red Cross_ yacht, but evidently the gang had taken alarm, for she had disappeared. It was Steel's opinion that she was down Plymouth way, sailing round the Devons.h.i.+re coast, and the police in that county were on the lookout.
”Once I can get that s.h.i.+p,” explained Steel to Giles when in the train, ”and their claws will be cut. They have escaped for a long time, so ingenious have their methods been. But I have acc.u.mulated a ma.s.s of evidence, and have several names known to the police. Yes, and several names of people not known. There are about twenty thieves, professional and amateur, connected with this matter. It is a big affair. But I'll get the yacht, and then Denham. That will be the means of laying bare the whole swindle.”
”Which? Denham or the yacht?”
”Each! both! If the police can seize the boat unexpectedly, some incriminating papers are sure to be found on board. And if I can arrest Denham, I'll soon get the truth out of him.”
”I don't believe he can tell the truth, even if forced to,” said Ware grimly. ”You have no idea how that man has cheated me, Steel,” and then Giles related the eavesdropping of himself and Morley.
”I don't know how Denham got to know,” he continued, ”but the tale he told about the invented brother was his own history, and quite deceived me and Morley. Also that soliloquy after Mrs. Benker departed was a masterly conception. It would have cheated any one, let alone me. The man was acting for the benefit of myself and Morley, and knew we were listening. What a clever scoundrel!”
”He's been a little too clever this time,” replied Steel; then he began to laugh, but refused to explain why he did so, save in a general way.
”This is the queerest case I was ever in,” he said, with a chuckle; ”you don't know how queer.”
”Well, you explain. I think you are keeping something from me.”
”I am,” answered Steel readily. ”t.i.t for tat, Mr. Ware. You did a little business on your own account, and said nothing to me. I repay the compliment.”
”I was afraid you would arrest Miss Denham.”
”You mean Miss Franklin. No, I should not have done that. My investigations into this thieving case have shown me that she is perfectly innocent. She knows nothing about Denham's rascalities, and she certainly did not commit the murder.”
”Are you so sure that Dane is the culprit?” asked Giles.
”Yes, I am sure. He was at Gravesend on board that yacht, and when the so-called Wilson came by train from London, Dane rode over from Tilbury on a motor-bicycle. They met on that night, and then I expect Denham induced Dane to murder the girl. Afterwards Dane went back to Tilbury as he came, and Denham induced his daughter to rescue him on your motor.”