CHAPTER XVII

A DISAPPEARANCE

When Rupert returned to Marport next day, Burgh accompanied him. The

young squire of Royabay wished to give information to the police

regarding the guilt of Forge. But Clarence persuaded him against doing

so. "You'll only get me into a row," said he, in his candid way. "You

see I told a lie."

"You tell so many lies," said Rupert sharply, "I don't know but what I

ought to give you in charge."

"I guess not, seeing I saved your life last night."

"No. You're right there Burgh. But have you really anything to do with

this murder?"

"No, 'cept as how I told old Tung-yu last night."

"Just repeat what you said. I was so faint with the loss of blood that I

didn't gather half you said."

Burgh nodded. "You were pretty sick. I'd to help you back to

civilisation, same as if you were drunk. If I hadn't, you'd have

been robbed and killed down that Bowery gangway."

Ainsleigh could not, but acknowledge that Clarence had acted very well.

He had saved him from the man who attacked him in the street, and also,

it was owing to him that the two had escaped from the gang of Hwei.

Finally Burgh had taken Rupert back to the Guelph Hotel in Jermyn

Street, when he was rather shaky from the wound. It was much better this

morning, but Ainsleigh looked pale, and not at all himself. Still he did

not grudge the trifling wound--it was merely a scratch although it had

bled freely,--as the knowledge he had acquired, was well worth the

trouble. They had left the den in Penter's Alley, some time after

midnight, and had returned safely to the West, where Rupert had acted as

host to Burgh. That was Clarence all over. Whenever he did anyone a

service, he always took it out of him in some way, and but, for the

dangerous position in which he found himself would have quartered his

carcase on Rupert for an indefinite period.

"But there ain't no denying that I'm in a fix," said Burgh, as the train

drew near Marport. "That is, if you split Ainsleigh."

"No, I won't split on you. But if Forge is guilty he must be arrested,"

said Rupert decisively.

"But I don't know if he strangled the old girl after all."

"You said he did, last night."

"Well I wanted to know the secret of that fan."

Rupert shrugged his shoulders. "You know that the fan when waved in a

certain smoke--of which by the way you learned nothing--reveals a hiding

place which contains certain things Tung-yu wants--"

"To ruin Lo-Keong," said Burgh quickly. "So I guess if I can pick up

that fan from old Forge, I'll yank in the dollars."

"Aren't you satisfied with what you have."

"This thousand. Oh that's all right. I cashed the cheque before I joined

you at the station--got it in gold so I can clear out when it suits me.

It's always as well to be ready to git."

"I suppose," said Ainsleigh dryly, "in your varied career, you have had

frequent occasions to 'git' as you call it."

"You bet. But git's slang American and good Turkish lingo, so you've no

need to sneer old man. 'Say, about Forge. What's to be done?"

"I'll communicate with Rodgers and tell him what you say. If the doctor

is guilty he must suffer."

"My eye," said Clarence reflectively, "won't aunty be mad. Well I guess

this will square us: she won't play low down on me again."

"Burgh, you're a blackguard."

"I am, that's a fact," said the buccaneer in no wise disturbed. "But

don't you say that in public or the fur'll fly."

"Pooh. You know I'm equal to you. But this story--"

"The one I told Tung-yu last night," grinned Burgh, "I'll reel it out

now, and you can sort it out as you choose. I believe Forge to be the

scragger of the old girl, because he had that tie of yours."

"How did he get the tie?"

"I gave it to him," confessed Clarence candidly.

"Yes--I remember you said so last night. But I forget how you explained

the getting of it."

"Huh," drawled Burgh folding his arms. "You might call it stealing old

pard. Y'see Miss Pewsey--my old aunty that is--saw Olivia--"

"Mrs. Ainsleigh, hang you."

"Right oh," continued Burgh imperturbably. "Well, aunty saw Mrs.

Ainsleigh pass the tie to you, and when you went to the cloak-room she

told me. I was real mad not knowing how things were, as I wanted that

tie for myself. I'd no notion of your getting things made by the young

lady I was sweet on."

"I wish you would leave out my wife's name," said Rupert angrily, and

wincing with pain, for his wound hurt him not a little.

"I'll try: don't get your hair off. Well I cut along to the card

room--no t'wasn't the card room--the cloak-room, and saw you standing by

your coat, just hanging it up again."

"And you saw me put the tie in the pocket."

"I guess not: but I fancied you might have done so. Then I waited

outside while you yarned with the Chinese cove and Tidman. After that I

cut in and you know the rest."

"Up to the time I knocked you down. Well?"

"Smashing blow," said Burgh coolly, "you can use your hands pretty well

I reckon--but a six shooter's more in my line. Well, when you cut, I lay

down and saw stars for a time. Then I thought I'd pay you out by

annexing the tie."

"You didn't know it was there?"

"Thought it might be," rejoined Burgh coolly, "anyhow there was no harm

in trying. I found the tie, and went out with it, thinking you be pretty

sick when you found it gone. I went into the card-room where old Forge

was cheating I guess, and had a yarn along o'him. He just roared when I

showed him the tie, for he hates you like pie."

"What's that?" asked Rupert sharply, "you are mistaken."

"I guess not. That old man would have been glad to see you scragged, Mr.

Ainsleigh. He asked me to let him have the tie--"

"What for?"

Burgh shrugged his shoulders. "He didn't say. But I let him have it

anyhow. I wasn't in a position to refuse. Y'see Ainsleigh I'm not a holy

Bill and--"

"And Forge knows a few of your escapades likely to land you in--"

"Y'needn't say the word," interrupted Burgh in his turn, "t'isn't a

pretty one. But I guess Forge could make things hot for me if he liked,

so that was why I lay low when I saw the tie round the old girl's

throat. I guessed then, Forge had scragged her and boned the fan. I

asked him about it, and he lied like billeo. Said he'd lost the tie, and

never touched the old 'un. Then he said if I made any fuss, he'd tell

the police about--"

"About what?" asked Ainsleigh, seeing the man hesitate.

"Huh," replied Burgh, uncomfortably, "I guess that's my business. I told

you I wasn't a saint."

"I suspect you're a thorough paced gaol-bird."

"No, I ain't been in quod. Where I cavorted round, in the Naked

Lands, they don't shove a man in chokey for every trifle."

"Such as murder. Eh?"

"I haven't murdered anyone yet," confessed Clarence, easily, "but one

never knows. But I told about Forge last night, as I wanted to get this

thousand. Now I'll try for the fan, and see if I can't get the fifteen

thousand to come my way. If Forge cuts up rough, I'll light out with

what I have"--he slapped his pockets--"for Callao," and he began to sing

the old song:--

"On no occasion, is extradition,

Allowed in Callao."

And I know a daisy of a girl out there," said the scamp, winking.

Ainsleigh was too disgusted to speak. He felt that as he was as big a

ruffian as Burgh, to tolerate this conversation, and he was relieved

when the train steamed into Marport station. As soon as it stopped he

jumped out, and nodding to his companion, he was about to take his

leave, when Clarence stopped him. "Say. You won't round on Forge till I

get this fan business settled."

"I intend to write to Rodgers to-day," said Ainsleigh, tartly, "bad as

your aunt is, she shan't marry that scoundrel if I can help it."

"But I only know Forge got the scarf as I told you. He mightn't have

scragged her y'know. He says he didn't."

"And relied on what he knows of you to keep things quiet. No, Mr. Burgh,

I intend to have the man arrested," and Rupert turned away, while

Clarence, apparently not at all disturbed, went away whistling his

Callao ditty.

Rupert drove to Royabay and was welcomed with joy by his wife. She was

much alarmed when she saw his condition, and was very angry when he told

of his danger. She made him lie down, and bathed the wound, of which

Rupert made light. "It's nothing, dear," he said.

"It might be dangerous. There might have been poison on that knife,

Rupert. You know what the Chinese are."

"No, Olivia, I certainly don't. All this business of the fan and the god

Kwang-ho is most ridiculous."

"Tell me all about it," said Olivia, when she had placed a tray, with

tea and toast, before him.

"I shall do so at once, as I want your advice," and Rupert related all

that had occurred from the time of his meeting with Clarence Burgh in

the train on the previous night. Olivia listened in silence. "Well,"

asked Rupert, drinking his tea, "what do you think?"

"I think Mr. Burgh is a scoundrel."

"Anyone can see that!"

"And worthy of his aunt."

"Perhaps. She's a bad one that Miss Pewsey, but she may not know what a

rascal she has for a relative. And at all events, I can't let her marry

Forge. Do you believe he is guilty?"

"He might be," said Olivia cautiously, "but I would much rather believe

that Burgh gave the tie to his aunt and that she strangled aunt

Sophia."

Rupert laughed. "What a vindictive person you are dearest," said he.

"Miss Pewsey is bad but not so bad as that."

"I'd credit her with anything," said Olivia, who was truly feminine in

her detestation of Miss Pewsey. "She has insulted me for years, and

put aunt Sophia against me, and caused me to lose the money."

"Well--well," said Rupert soothingly, "let us think the best of her--she

has her good points."

"Where are they--what are they? She is a--no," Olivia checked herself

and looked penitent, "I really must not give way to such unworthy

feelings. I'll try and think the best of her, and I agree with you

darling, that she must not marry Dr. Forge."

"Do you think I should write to Rodgers?"

"Certainly. The marriage must be stopped. Write to-day."

But Rupert did not write that day, for the simple reason that the wound

on his arm grew very painful, and he became delirious. The doctor who

was called in, said that there was poison in the blood and then Olivia

was alarmed lest Rupert should lose his arm, and perhaps his life.

However, the doctor was young and clever and by careful treatment he

drew out the poison and in a few days, the young man's arm had resumed

its normal condition, and his brain again became clear. Then he wrote a

letter to Rodgers asking him to come down to Royabay on a matter

connected with the murder of his wife's aunt. After the letter had been

posted, Rupert went out for a walk with his wife, and strolled round the

grounds. As the two crossed the lawn admiring the beauty of the day

which was bright and clear and slightly frosty, Mrs. Petley appeared,

coming up the avenue. She made straight for the young couple.

"Please Master Rupert, that gent's called again."

"What, Mr. Burgh?" said Olivia, and then in answer to her husband's

enquiring look she explained. "He has called for the last three days,

dear, since you were ill. I never told you, as I thought it might worry

you."

"And he just called to ask how you were, Master Rupert," said the old

housekeeper, "and never come nearer than the lodge, as old Payne can

testify. I told him you were out walking and he asked if he could come

in and see you."

"Certainly," said Rupert--then, when Mrs. Petley hurried away, he turned

to Olivia. "Burgh simply wants to find out if I have communicated with

Rodgers. He's frightened for his own skin."

Shortly Mrs. Petley returned with the information that Mr. Burgh was

nowhere to be seen. This did not trouble Rupert who thought that the

buccaneer (always of an impatient disposition) might have grown tired of

waiting. With Olivia, he strolled round the grounds for thirty minutes

and at length entered the ruins of the Abbey. Here the first thing they

saw, was Mr. Clarence Burgh seated on a stone under the copper beech. He

jumped up and came forward, with his usual grace and invariable

impudence.

"Glad to see you out again, Ainsleigh," said he taking off his hat, "and

you look well, Mrs. Ainsleigh--just like a picture."

"Thank you," replied Olivia, concealing her dislike with difficulty,

"you wish to see my husband I presume."

"Just for two shakes," said Clarence easily, "say old man, what about

Forge. Are y' going to round on him?"

Rupert nodded, "I have written to Rodgers to-day. But I'll give him this

chance of escape--warn him if you like."

"Not me," said Burgh coldly, "every man for his own durned skin--begging

your pardon Mrs. Ainsleigh. I saw him while you were trying for Kingdom

Come, and told him that he'd the fan."

"What did he say?"

"Gave me the lie. Swore he'd been in the card-room between eleven and

twelve, and never saw the old girl. Said he'd had enough of the fan, as

it had nearly caused his death. Then he said he'd split on me if I gave

him away."

"But you told him, you did confess to the Chinaman."

"Oh that's all right. Forge don't care a red cent for their telling the

police. They won't engineer the biznai into the courts. So long as they

get the fan, they don't mind. Forge knows they won't make the matter

public, but now he's in mortal fear, lest they should kill him."

"Thinking he's got the fan."

"You bet--on my evidence. Well," said Burgh calmly and with a twinkle in

his evil eyes. "I reckon old man Forge is in an almighty fix. He's in

danger of being knifed by Hwei--thanks to me, and of being hanged for

killing the old girl--thanks to you."

Olivia's face expressed her disgust. "If you have heard all you wish to

hear, we'll go away," she said to her husband.

"Right oh," said Burgh. "Don't mind me. Pretty place y'have here," he

added looking round the beautiful cloisters, "that's the place where

they lynched the old monk I reckon. I've heard that silly rhyme of

yours, Ainsleigh. I guess you've fulfilled one part."

"How so?" asked Rupert stiffly.

"About the marriage y'know. A poor Ainsleigh has wedded a poor wife. So

that's all right. Now I--"

"I must be going," interrupted Ainsleigh annoyed by the man's glib talk,

"have you anything else to say?"

"Only this. Forge is going to hitch long-side Aunt Lavinia to-morrow,

and if you run him in, she'll get left."

"All the better for her," said Ainsleigh calmly, "he's a bad lot."

"That's so. Much worse than you think. He was the man who tried to stab

you in Penter's Alley."

"No."

"He was though. I saw his face under the lamp, as he let fly. Then he

cut and--you know the rest. But I'm off. My eye," Clarence chuckled,

"what a shine there'll be to-morrow, when Aunty gets left."

Burgh strolled away whistling, and Olivia expressed her disgust at his

free and easy manners. Rupert, reflecting on what Clarence had told him

of Forge's assault, resolved to be a fair and open enemy. He decided to

call on Forge and tell him that he had written to Rodgers. Also, he

desired to ask why he attempted the second crime. Olivia approved, so

Rupert went early next day to Tidman's Avenue. The door was opened by

Mrs. Bressy who was wiping her mouth as though she had just been at the

bottle, which was probably the case. In reply to Rupert's enquiry for

her master, she told him that Dr. Forge had gone. "He went to Londing,

sir--larst night," said Mrs. Bressy.

"Did he leave any address?"

"No, Mr. Ainsleigh, he did not."

The inference was easy. Forge had bolted.