Part 18 (1/2)

I swallowed in my throat with loathing, but the next words drove all thought of Feddon's career from my mind.

”Everything is ready on a tray in the kitchen, and the soup is on the electric stove. It will be hot by now,” said Vargus, in his soft, creamy voice.

”I'll get it, and I wish the d.a.m.ned business was over. I said from the first that when the Chief brought those two women here we ran more risk than ever before. It'll turn out badly yet. Mark my words, Vargus.”

Vargus took up a bottle which stood on a table by the piano. It was brandy, and he poured out two gla.s.ses half full, adding soda from a siphon.

”Here's luck; not a bit of it,” he said. ”If all goes well to-night, a couple more expeditions will see us finished, with a hundred thousand each, and scattered all over the globe. We all have our fancies. The Chief's is this Shepherd girl. Well, in another fortnight he'll disappear with her. Every man to his taste.”

Feddon swallowed his brandy at a gulp. ”She'll lead him a dance yet!” he said. ”I never saw such a spitfire. I hate going near her, and I wish it wasn't my turn to stay at home. I'd tame her, though, if she were mine.

I wouldn't stand her pretty ways and the things she says, like the Chief does. He's mad about the girl.”

”And what would you do, my beefy friend?” said Vargus, with his abominable smile.

Feddon touched his middle. He was wearing a leather belt. ”Take this to her,” he said, ”and beat her black and blue.”

Vargus rose, grinning. ”Well, get the food,” he said. ”I'll go down at once. You'll find me in the wireless cabin.”

Feddon lurched forward. I had just time to press myself into the alcove, when he came through the curtain and strode heavily through the room into the hall.

Vargus went to a tall mirror by the piano, as I watched him breathlessly. He did something that I could not see, and it swung open like a door. There was the snap of an electric switch, and I saw him step into a lift, pull a rope, and sink out of sight, leaving the door open.

He could not have sunk ten feet when I was in the room. It was large and square, furnished with something like luxury, and brilliantly lit with electric globes.

There was an arm-chair in full view of the archway. I sat down, and it was still warm from its last occupant. That seemed to me amusing, and I smiled.

Something clanked, a soft swis.h.i.+ng noise changed to a distant rumble, and the lift came into sight. I had it covered, but it was empty--waiting for the man who was going to ”feed the canaries.”

I waited for him, too. There was a box of cigarettes close by. I lit one and smoked quietly. Then I heard him coming through the dining-room, his footsteps and the rattle of a tray.

The half-drawn curtain bellied out and was pushed aside. Feddon stood there with the tray in his hands and the light s.h.i.+ning on his ugly red hair.

He saw me. His mouth opened and his eyes started out. He seemed unutterably foolish, like a great cod, and I laughed aloud.

But he was quick, oh, quick and clever! Like the famous footballer that he was! In a second he had ducked, and the loaded tray was skimming across the room straight at my head, as he hurled himself after it, quick as a snake strikes.

I was ready, though. He was not. My first shot broke his shoulder and stopped him for an instant. Then, with a roar of pain and fury, he came on again, and I shot him through the heart when he was three feet away.

Mr. Feddon would feed no more canaries.

CHAPTER XIII

THE SECRET THAT PUZZLED TWO CONTINENTS

I stood looking down at Michael Feddon's body. I was stunned. For the man I had just killed I cared nothing, felt no emotion. I had saved him from the drop; that was all. But, though I had been convinced that Danjuro's and my own suspicions were absolute fact, the full realization had come so suddenly that it clouded the mind.

Constance _was_ here, and she was unharmed!

I had, indeed, penetrated into the very centre of this lair of the air-wolves, and already had enough evidence to hang the lot. For a minute the mingled joy and relief was so great that I could not grasp them.