Part 17 (1/2)
THE COLONEL IS SURPRISED
”This,” said Colonel Ashley to himself, as he glided rapidly along the street, ”is very much like old times--very much! I never expected to do any shadowing again. What's that Walton says about man proposing and Providence disposing? Or was it Walton? I must look it up.
Meanwhile--”
Continuing his musing, and with a satisfied smile on his face, a smile that might indicate that the colonel was not so very much averse to giving over his fis.h.i.+ng for the time being to take up his profession once more, he followed Aaron Grafton as the merchant left the jewelry store.
”I wonder,” mused the colonel, ”what his object was in coming to the Darcy place, and nosing around as he did? There must have been some object. A man such as he is doesn't do things like that for fun. And it wasn't mere curiosity, either. If it was, he'd have been at the place before, when the evidences of the crime were there to be stared at by those who care for such things.
”And that Aaron Grafton hasn't been there since I was forced into this thing, I'm positive. For I _was_ forced into it,” grumbled the old detective. ”I just couldn't resist the pleading of her eyes. It isn't the first time a man has made a fool of himself over a woman, and it won't be the last. But maybe I'll make fools of some of these folks, instead of being made a fool of myself. Fooled out of my fis.h.i.+ng though. By gad! that's what I have been!
”But no matter. I must see what friend Aaron is up to and what his little game is. Of course, he may have been at the store the day of the murder--before I arrived. I must ask Darcy about that. Poor lad, he's in tough luck--just when he ought to be thinking of getting married. Well, I'll do what I can.”
There were few tricks known to modern detectives of which Colonel Ashley was not master, among them being the ability to disguise himself--not by clumsy beards and false moustaches, though he used them at times--but by a few simple alterations to his face and carriage.
Of course costume played its part when needed, but the time had not yet come for that. He was now following Grafton without the latter being aware of it--no very difficult matter in a city the size of Colchester, and on one of its main streets.
”I think I want to know a little more about him,” mused the colonel.
”I'd like to have a talk with him, and see how he acts. But I won't chance that yet. I'll play 'possum for a while.”
Having followed his man to the latter's store, and even inside it, where he made a trifling purchase, and having seen Mr. Grafton enter his private office, the detective paid a visit to Darcy in the jail.
”How is she, Colonel?” were the first words of the prisoner, when they were in the warden's office with a detective from the prosecutor's office seated a few chairs away. It was only under such arrangements that visitors were allowed to see the jewelry worker. ”How is Amy?”
”Why, she's very well, the last I saw of her. But I came to talk about something else.”
”I suppose so. This horrible affair. But she still believes in me, doesn't she?” he asked eagerly.
”As much so as I do, my boy!”
”Thank G.o.d for that! I don't know what I'd do if she went back on me!
I wouldn't want to live!”
”Tus.h.!.+ Nonsense! Don't get sentimental!”
”I can't help it, Colonel. But as long as Amy thinks I didn't do this horrible thing--and G.o.d knows I didn't--and as long as you believe in me--why I can stand it. Maybe it won't be for long.”
”Well, there's no use buoying you up with false hopes, Darcy. You'll probably be here all summer.”
”I shan't mind if I'm proved innocent at last.”
”I hope we can manage that all right.”
”Then you do believe in me, Colonel?”
”Of course I do! Otherwise, I wouldn't take up your case. Now don't talk too much. I want to ask you a few questions. Answer them, and as briefly as possible. I'll get you out of here as soon as I can. If I hadn't been as slow as a carp I might have the right man here now in your place.”
”What do you mean, Colonel?”
”Eh? What's that? Did I say anything?” and the detective seemed roused from a reverie, for he had spoken his last remarks in a low voice.
”You spoke about a carp--the right man--”