Part 34 (1/2)
”He is probably the most efficient man now in the service of the United States government,” returned Lieutenant Winters.
”H'm, yes-I see. You will pardon me for seeming inquisitive, and particularly when you have come to question me, rather than allow me to question you, but are you not comparatively new to the service on the St. Lawrence?”
”Yes, sir; I have been here only a few months,” replied the lieutenant.
”H'm, yes; transferred from the gulf service, I believe?”
”Why, yes, but I was not aware that such knowledge was in your possession.”
”I know a great many things, Lieutenant Winters, that I am not credited with knowing. I know, for instance, that when you were transferred to this part of the country, you were given a letter to be delivered in person to Stanwood Gray, if you chanced to meet him.”
”I-I-why, I beg your pardon, sir, but-”
The lieutenant paused in confusion.
What manner of man was this smuggler chief, who knew so many of the government secrets? No wonder he had been able to so long elude the officials.
Mr. Lawrence suddenly arose. The lieutenant got up just as quickly, and his hand flew instinctively to his belt, where it reposed lightly on the handle of his revolver.
Mr. Lawrence laughed.
”You will have no need for your weapon, lieutenant,” he said, smiling.
”I am not at all the dangerous man I may seem to you; and it may surprise you to learn that Lawrence is not my real name.”
”That does not surprise me in the least, sir-in fact, I had already set it down as an alias.”
”But what if I were to tell you that I am Stanwood Gray?”
”I would say to you, 'Prove it'.”
”That, perhaps, can be done easier than you imagine. You were given a secret code by which you might determine at any time the true ident.i.ty of any man you suspected of being the secret service man. You might with profit, try that code on me.”
The lieutenant seemed dazed. Could it be possible that Lawrence, the smuggler, was indeed none other than the famous Stanwood Gray? He would try the code and see.
Drawing himself erect, the lieutenant saluted three times in rapid succession. In response Mr. Lawrence saluted twice.
”Can you direct me to the gate?” inquired the lieutenant.
”The gate is four leagues from the south buoy,” returned Mr. Lawrence, in language which, to the astonished boys, was unintelligible, but the meaning of which Lieutenant Winters seemed to fully appreciate.
”When was the wreck?” he asked.
”On May the 10th.”
”Will you show me the buoy?”
”I will.”
Without further ceremony Mr. Lawrence unb.u.t.toned his vest, and took from an inside pocket what appeared to be a small vial. In this vial was a piece of paper, several inches in extent, but which had been rolled tightly to allow its pa.s.sage through the neck of the little gla.s.s tube.