The Mask: A Story of Love and Adventure
wide awake lawyer would know exactly how to handle the case. Dick
Reynolds would have an opportunity to show his talent as a detective.
Breaking the long silence he said calmly:
"Of course, I understand your silence. I think you acted wisely. We
had better keep the loss to ourselves as long as we can. No one can
attach any blame to you. It is a terrible loss, but we must face it
like men."
The gambler looked up quickly, and eyed his guest narrowly. Seeing
nothing on the latter's face to arouse his suspicions, he grew more
cheerful. Less sullen and defiant, he extended his hand.
"Thanks, old man!" he exclaimed heartily. "I expected no less from
you. I can't tell you how badly I feel about the loss. No doubt my
manner has seemed strange since my return. I have been irritable with
everybody--even my dear wife has noticed it. It was only because I did
not know how to make a clear breast of it. Since you take it so
sensibly, I'll cheer up. I declare I feel like a new man already."
Mr. Parker lit another cigar. Calmly, he said:
"That's right, Kenneth my boy. Keep a stiff upper lip. All's for the
best. We'll have better luck next time."
As he spoke, Wilbur Steell passed on his way to join the ladies in the
drawing-room. The president called out to him:
"Hello, Steell. What are you so busy about? Entertaining the women,
eh? Always thought you were a lady killer. Suppose you come and smoke
a cigar with me and let our friend here go and have a chat with his
wife. You've no right to monopolize the fair sex in that fashion, even
if you are a trust lawyer. Anyhow, I want to talk to you--just a
little matter of business--that's all!"
Steell laughed, and, dropping into a chair, took the cigar which Mr.
Parker held out. Turning to his host, and clapping him genially on the
back the president exclaimed:
"Go and talk to your wife, old man. You've left her alone long enough."
"All right--I will," replied the gambler, not sorry of any excuse to
get away.
Mr. Parker waited till he was out of hearing, then, leaning quickly
over to his companion, he exclaimed in a tense whisper:
"Steell, I need your help."
The lawyer looked at him in surprise. Removing his cigar from his
mouth he said:
"My help? By all means. What can I do for you?"
Mr. Parker gave a quick glance behind him to see if they were observed,
and then he said:
"My God, Steell, something terrible has happened! At any cost, we
mustn't let the wife know----"
The lawyer stared at his companion in amazement.
"What is it, for Heaven's sake?" he demanded, looking anxiously at his
_vis-a-vis_.
"The diamonds are lost!" replied Parker hoarsely.
"The diamonds lost!"
"Yes--lost--he has returned without them. They went down in the
_Abyssinia_. At least, that's what he says----"
The lawyer started.
"You think----"
"I think nothing," replied the president cautiously. "I want to know.
That's why I want you to help me--to find out--you understand?"
The lawyer nodded:
"Some detective work, eh?"
"Precisely. The stones may have gone down to the bottom of the ocean,
or they may not. For all we know the ship may have been set on fire
purposely, in order to create such a panic----"
The lawyer protested.
"Surely you don't think Kenneth----"
The president shook his head.
"I accuse nobody. I want to find out."
He was silent for a moment, and then after a pause he went on:
"I suppose you've heard, as well as everybody else, how Traynor has
been plunging in Wall Street recently."
The lawyer nodded. Hesitatingly he replied:
"Yes--I have. Unfortunately, the reports are true. Investigations I
have conducted privately on my own account have convinced me that
Kenneth has been a big plunger for some time. But as far as I know, he
has operated only within his means. I have often remonstrated with him
about the folly of it, but he enjoys the excitement of the speculation
game, and as long as he kept within bounds and gambled with his own
money I didn't see that anyone had any right to interfere."
"Ah, just so--as long as he operated with his own means and with his
own money. But suppose the market suddenly goes against such a man,
and he is face to face with a tremendous loss, possibly ruin, what does
such a man do nine times out of ten?"
"Blow his brains out."
"Yes--sometimes that, but often he succumbs to temptation, and takes
what isn't his----"
"Then you think that Kenneth----"
"I think nothing. I want to know. He has come back from Africa a
changed man. He is surly, morose, secretive. That man has something
on his conscience. We must find out what it is. It is up to you to
ferret it out. Set your detectives to work. The company will spend
the last cent in its treasury to find those stones. You must trail his
associates, find out where he goes. The diamonds are probably right
here in New York. Who first took Kenneth to Wall Street?"
"Signor Keralio----"
"Ah--always that fellow! Who is he?"
"An adventurer of the worst type. I have had him shadowed by one of my
men. He has a police record as a dangerous criminal of international
reputation."
"And Kenneth's valet--that fellow Francois."
"He was formerly in Keralio's employ."
The President rose. Extending his hand to the lawyer, he said:
"That's enough. I don't think the trail will be hard to pick up.
Spare no expense. Good night!"
CHAPTER XV
The last guest had gone. One by one the lights in the Traynor
residence were extinguished. The servants, tired after an exciting and
strenuous day, had gone to their quarters.
In the hall downstairs, the grandfather's clock rang out its musical
chimes and then, in ponderous tones, slowly struck the twelve hours of
midnight.
The master of the house was sitting at the desk in the library, looking
over some papers. From time to time he glanced significantly, first at
the clock and then at the corner where Helen and Ray were chatting over
the events of the day. At last the young girl took the hint. Jumping
up, she exclaimed good naturedly:
"How selfish I am to be sitting gossiping here when poor Kenneth is so
tired. Go to bed, both of you. I'm so sleepy myself I can hardly keep
awake. Good night!"
"Good night, dear!" said Helen, rising and kissing her.
"Good night, Ken! Pleasant dreams," cried the young girl as she left
the room.
"Good night!" he responded hoarsely.
The sound of her footsteps died away in the distance and Helen and the
gambler sat there in silence. He watched her furtively, trying to
guess the trend of her thoughts, his eyes bloodshot with wine, feasting
on every line of her girlish figure.
Never had she looked more beautiful, more desirable, than this evening.
Her _decollete_ gown revealed a white, plump neck, her lips were red
and tempting, her large dark eyes fairly sparkled from excitement. It
was a vision to distract a saint and Handsome was no saint. It was
indeed only with the greatest difficulty that he curbed his impatience
to carry off the prize that lay within his grasp.
"Are you tired," he said at last. "Do you want to go to bed?"
"Not very," she answered. "I'm too excited to sleep. Hasn't it been
an exciting day?"
He made no reply, pretending to be occupied at the desk, and she
relapsed into a dream silence, glad of a few quiet, peaceful moments to
be alone with her thoughts. How good it was to have him home again!
Now she could be at peace once more and enjoy life as she used to. She
could go to the opera, to the theater. The days would not be so
monotonous. She wondered why she was still unable to shake off the
feeling of anxiety and apprehension which had haunted her ever since he
went away. With a devoted husband safe at her side, what reason had
she for feeling depressed? Yet, for some reason she was unable to
explain, she was not able even now to throw off her melancholy and
presentiment of danger.
There recurred to her mind what Signor Keralio had said, his veiled,
ambiguous words of warning. Could it be true, was it possible that her
husband had deceived her all these years and unsuspected by her, had
led a double life of deceit and disloyalty? Certainly there was much
that needed explanation. The loss of the diamonds did not directly
concern her, although she felt that, too, was part of the mystery. But
his strange aloofness of manner, his inexplicable loss of memory and
nervousness, the frenzied outburst when she had mentioned Keralio's
name that afternoon, the sudden craving for drink--was not all this to
some extent, corroboration of what the fencing master has told her?
She thought she would question him, speak to him openly, frankly, as a
loyal wife should the man she loves, and give him an opportunity to
explain. Now was as good a time as ever. Looking up she said abruptly:
"Signor Keralio was here while you were away. I started telling you
this afternoon, but you got so excited----"
Making a deprecatory gesture with his hand he said indifferently:
"That's all right. I was tired and nervous. I'm quieter now. What
did Keralio have to say?"
"Nothing worth listening to. He never says anything but impertinences."
He shrugged his shoulders.
"You mustn't take him too seriously."
Hotly she retorted:
"He takes himself too seriously. If he only knew how repellent he is
to a decent woman he would cease to annoy me."
He laughed.
"Oh, Keralio's not a bad sort--when you get to know him. Those
foreigners think nothing of making love to a woman----"
"I don't want to know him," she retorted with spirit, "and what's more,
I don't want him coming here. One evening he was so insulting that I
had to show him the door. He had the impudence to come again. So I
had my servant put him out. You won't invite him here again, will you?"
He was silent, while she sat watching him, amazed that he did not at
once fiercely resent the insult done her in his absence. After a
pause, he said awkwardly:
"I don't invite him. Keralio's the kind of a chap who invites himself."
"But can't you put him out?" she demanded with growing irritation.
"No--I can't," he answered doggedly.
"Why?" she demanded firmly.
"I can't--that's all!"
She looked at him wonderingly, and the color came and went in her face
and neck. There was a note almost of contempt in her voice as she
demanded:
"What is the hold this creature has on you? Is it something you are
ashamed of?"
The blood surged to his face and the veins stood out on his temples
like whipcord. Another instant and it had receded, leaving him ghastly
pale.
"We have business interests in common, that's all," he said hastily and
apologetically. "He has been very useful to me. I don't like him any
more than you do, but in business one can't criticize too closely the
manners or morals of one's associates."
"No, but a man can prevent his associates from annoying his wife."
He made no answer, but toyed nervously with a paper cutter. Determined
to get at the truth, she went on:
"What business interests can you have together? Is it legitimate
business or merely stock gambling?"
"What do you mean?"
Rising from the divan, she went toward him. Earnestly, she said:
"Kenneth, I've wanted to speak to you about this matter for a long
time. During your absence I've heard rumors. Things have been
insinuated. A hint has been dropped here, gossip has been overheard
there--all to the effect that you are heavily involved in Wall Street.
Is it true?"
For a moment he was silent, at a loss what to answer. He could not
imagine the reason for the questioning or where it might lead him, but
instinct warned him that it was dangerous ground and that caution was