hard cash-第82章

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e　could　go　there　with　propriety。　〃Why　not？〃　said　he　cheerfully；　and　with　assumed　carelessness。

In　reality　it　was　essential　to　him　that　Jane　should　visit　the　Dodds。　Surrounded　by　pitfalls；　threatened　with　a　new　and　mysterious　assailant　in　the　eccentric；　but　keen　and　resolute　Sampson；　this　artful　man；　who　had　now　become　a　very　Machiavelconstant　danger　and　deceit　had　so　sharpened　and　deepened　his　great　natural　abilitieswas　preparing　amongst　other　defences　a　shield；　and　that　shield　was　a　sieve；　and　that　sieve　was　his　daughter。　In　fact；　ever　since　his　return；　he　had　acted　and　spoken　at　the　Dodds　through　Jane；　but　with　a　masterly　appearance　of　simplicity　and　mere　confidential　intercourse。　At　least　I　think　this　is　the　true　clue　to　all　his　recent　remarks。

Jane；　a　truthful；　unsuspicious　girl；　was　all　the　fitter　instrument　of　the　cunning　monster。　She　went　and　called　at　Albion　Villa；　and　was　received　by　Edward；　Mrs。　Dodd　being　upstairs　with　Julia；　and　in　five　minutes　she　had　told　him　what　her　father；　she　owned；　had　said　to　her　in　confidence。　〃But；〃　said　she；　〃the　reason　I　repeat　these　things　is　to　make　peace；　and　that　you　may　not　fancy　there　is　any　one　in　our　house　so　cruel；　so　unchristian；　as　to　approve　Alfred's　perfidy。　Oh；　and　papa　said　candidly　he　disliked　the　match；　but　then　he　disliked　this　way　of　ending　it　far　more。〃

Mrs。　Dodd　came　down　in　due　course；　and　kissed　her；　but　told　her　Julia　could　not　see　even　her　at　present。　〃I　think；　dear；〃　said　she；　〃in　a　day　or　two　she　will　see　you；　but　no　one　else：　and　for　her　sake　we　shall　now　hurry　our　departure　from　this　place；　where　she　was　once　so　happy。〃

Mrs。　Dodd　did　not　like　to　begin　about　Alfred；　but　Jane　had　no　such　scruples；　she　inveighed　warmly　against　his　conduct；　and　ere　she　left　the　house；　had　quite　done　away　with　the　faint　suspicion　Sampson　had　engendered；　and　brought　both　Mrs。　Dodd　and　Edward　back　to　their　original　opinion　that　the　elder　Hardie　had　nothing　on　earth　to　do　with　the　perfidy　of　the　younger。

Just　before　dinner　a　gentleman　called　on　Edward；　and　proved　to　be　a　policeman　in　plain　clothes。　He　had　been　sent　from　the　office　to　sound　the　ostler　at　the　〃White　Lion；〃　and；　if　necessary；　to　threaten　him。　The　police　knew；　though　nobody　else　in　Barkington　did；　that　this　ostler　had　been　in　what　rogues　call　trouble；　twice；　and；　as　the　police　can　starve　a　man　of　the　kind　by　blowing　on　him；　and　can　reward　him　by　keeping　dark；　he　knows　better　than　withhold　information　from　them。

However；　on　looking　for　this　ostler；　he　had　left　his　place　that　very　morning；　had　decamped　with　mysterious　suddenness。

Here　was　a　puzzle。

Had　the　man　gone　without　noticing　the　reward？　Had　somebody　outbid　the　reward？　Or　was　it　a　strange　coincidence；　and　did　he　after　all　know　nothing？

The　police　thought　it　was　no　coincidence；　and　he　did　know　something；　so　they　had　telegraphed　to　the　London　office　to　mark　him　down。

Edward　thanked　his　visitor；　but；　on　his　retiring；　told　his　mother　he　could　make　neither　head　nor　tail　of　it；　and　she　only　said；　〃We　seem　surrounded　by　mystery。〃

Meantime；　unknown　to　these　bewildered　ones；　Greek　was　meeting　Greek　only　a　few　yards　off。

Mr。　Hardie　was　being　undermined　by　a　man　of　his　own　calibre；　one　too　cautious　to　communicate　with　the　Dodds；　or　any　one　else；　till　his　work　looked　ripe。

The　game　began　thus：　a　decent　mechanic；　who　lodged　hard　by；　lounging　with　his　pipe　near　the　gate　of　Musgrove　Cottage；　offered　to　converse　with　old　Betty。　She　gave　him　a　rough　answer；　but　with　a　touch　of　ineradicable　vanity　must　ask　Peggy　if　she　wanted　a　sweetheart；　because　there　was　a　hungry　one　at　the　gate：　〃Why：　he　wanted　to　begin　on　an　old　woman　like　me。〃　Peggy　inquired　what　he　had　said　to　her。

〃Oh；　he　begun　where　most　of　them　endsif　they　get　so　far　at　all：　axed　me　was　I　comfortable　here；　if　not；　he　knew　a　young　man　wanted　a　nice　tidy　body　to　keep　house　for　him。〃

Peggy　pricked　up　her　ears；　and；　in　less　than　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　went　for　a　box　of　lucifers　in　a　new　bonnet　and　clean　collar。　She　tripped　past　the　able　mechanic　very　accidentally；　and　he　bestowed　an　admiring　smile　on　her；　but　said　nothingonly　smoked。　However；　on　her　return；　he　contrived　to　detain　her；　and　paid　her　a　good　many　compliments；　which　she　took　laughingly　and　with　no　great　appearance　of　believing　them。　However；　there　is　no　going　by　that：　compliments　sink：　and　within　forty…eight　hours　the　able　mechanic　had　become　a　hot　wooer　of　Peggy　Black；　always　on　the　look…out　for　her　day　and　night；　and　telling　her　all　about　the　lump　of　money　he　had　saved；　and　how　he　could　double　his　income；　if　he　had　but　a　counter；　and　tidy　wife　behind　it。　Peggy　gossiped　in　turn；　and　let　out　amongst　the　rest　that　she　had　been　turned　off　once；　just　for　answering　a　little　sharply；　and　now　it　was　the　other　way；　her　master　was　a　trifle　too　civil　at　times。

〃Who　could　help　it？〃　said　the　able　mechanic　rapturously；　and　offered　a　pressing　civility；　which　Peggy　fought　off。

〃Not　so　free；　young　man；〃　said　she。　〃Kissing　is　the　prologue　to　sin。〃

〃How　do　you　know　that？〃　inquired　the　able　mechanic；　with　the　sly　humour　of　his　class。

〃It　is　a　saying；〃　replied　Peggy　demurely。

At　last；　one　night；　Mr。　Green　the　detective；　for　he　it　was；　put　his　arm　round　his　new　sweetheart's　waist；　and　approached　the　subject　nearest　his　heart。　He　told　her　he　had　just　found　out　there　was　money　enough　to　be　made　in　one　day　to　set　them　up　for　life　in　a　nice　little　shop；　and　she　could　help　in　it。

After　this　inviting　preamble；　he　crept　towards　the　L。　14；000　by　artful　questions；　and　soon　elicited　that　there　had　been　high　words　between　Master　and　Mr。　Alfred　about　that　very　sum：　she　had　listened　at　the　door　and　heard。　Taking　care　to　combine　close　courtship　with　cunning　interrogatories；　he　was　soon　enabled　to　write　to　Dr。　Sampson；　and　say　that　a　servant　of　Mr。　Hardie's　was　down　on　him；　and　reported　that　he　carried　a　large　pocket…book　in　his　breast…pocket　by　day；　and　she　had　found　the　dent　of　it　under　his　pillow　at　nighta　stroke　of　observation　very　creditable　in　an　unprofessional　female：　on　this　he　had　made　it　his　business　to　meet　Mr。　Hardie　in　broad　day；　and　sure　enough　the　pocket…book　was　always　there。　He　added；　that　the　said　Hardie's　face　wore　an　expression　which　he　had　seen　more　than　once　when　respectable　parties　went　in　for　felony：　and　altogether　thought　they　might　now　take　out　a　warrant　and　proceed　in　the　regular　way。

Sampson　received　this　news　with　great　satisfaction：　but　was　crippled　by　the　interwoven　relations　of　the　parties。

To　arrest　Mr。　Hardie　on　a　warrant　would　entail　a　prosecution　for　felony；　and　separate　Jane　and　Edward　for　ever。

He　telegraphed　Green　to　meet　him　at　the　station；　and　reached　Barkington　at　eight　that　very　evening。　Green　and　he　proceeded　to　Albion　Villa；　and　there　they　held　a　long　and　earnest　consultation　with　Edward；　and　at　last；　on　certain　conditions；　Mr。　Green　and　Edward　consented　to　act　on　Sampson's　plan。　Green；　by　this　time；　knew　all　Mr。　Hardie's　out…of…door　habits；　and　assured　them　that　at　ten　o'clock　he　would　walk　up　and　down　the　road　for　at　least　half　an　hour；　the　night　being　dry。　It　wanted　about　a　quarter　to　ten；　when　Mrs。　Dodd　came　down；　and　proposed　supper　to　the　travellers。　Sampson　declined　it　for　the　present；　and　said　they　had　work　to　do　at　eleven。　Then；　making　the　others　a　signal　not　to　disclose　anything　at　present　he　drew　her　aside　and　asked　after　Julia。

Mrs。　Dodd　sighed〃She　goes　from　one　thing　to　another；　but　always　returns　to　one　idea；　that　he　is　a　victim；　not　a　traitor。〃

〃Well；　tell　her　in　one　hour　the　money　shall　be　in　the　house。〃

〃The　money！　What　does　she　care？〃

〃Well；　say　we　shall　know　all　about　Alfred　by　eleven　o'clock。〃

〃My　dear　friend；　be　prudent；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd。　〃I　feel　alarmed：　you　were　speaking　almost　in　a　whisper　when　I　came　in。〃

〃Y'　are　very　obsairvant：　but　dawnt　be　uneasy；　we　are　three　to　one。　Just　go　and　comfort　Miss　Julee　with　my　message。〃

〃Ah；　that　I　will；〃　she　said。

She　was　no　sooner　gone　than　they　all　stole　out　into　the　night；　and　a　pitch　dark　night　it　was；　but　Green　had　a　powerful　dark　lantern　to　use　if　necessary。

They　waited；　Green　at　the　gate　of　Musgrove　Cottage；　the　other　two　a　little　way　up　the　road。

Ten　o'clock　struck。　Some　minutes　passed　without　the　expected　signal　from　Green；　and　Edward　and　Sampson　began　to　shiver。　For　it　was　very　cold　and　dark；　and　in　the　next　place　they　were　honest　men　going　to　take　the　law　into　their　own　hands　and　the　law　sometimes　calls　that　breaking　the　law。　〃Confound　him！〃　muttered　Sampson；　〃if　he　does　not　soon　come　I　shall　run　away。　It　is　bitterly　cold。〃

Presently　footsteps　were　heard　approaching；　but　no　signal：　it　proved　to　be　only　a　fellow　in　a　smock…frock　rolling　home　from　the　public…house。

Just　as　his　footsteps　died　away　a　low　hoot　like　a　plaintive　owl　was　heard；　and　they　knew　their　game　was　afoot。

Presently；　tramp；　tramp；　came　the　slow　and　stately　march　of　him　they　had　hunted　down。

He　came　very　slowly；　like　one　lost　in　meditation：　and　these　amateur　policemen's　hearts　beat　louder　and　louder；　as　he　drew　nearer　and　nearer。

At　last　in　the　blackness　of　the　night　a　shadowy　outline　was　visible；　another　tramp　or　two；　it　was　upon　them。

Now　the　cautious　Mr。　Green　had　stipulated　that　the　pocketbook　should　first　be　felt　for；　and；　if　not　there；　the　matter　should　go　no　farther。　So　Edward　made　a　stumble　and　fell　against　Mr。　Hardie　and　felt　his　left　breast：　the　pocket…book　was　there：〃Yes；〃　he　whispered：　and　Mr。　Hardie；　in　the　act　of　remonstrating　at　his　clumsiness；　was　pinned　behind；　and　his　arms　strapped　with　wonderful　rapidity　and　dexterity。　Then　first　he　seemed　to　awake　to　his　hunger；　and　uttered　a　stentorian　cry　of　terror；　that　rang　through　the　night　and　made　two　of　his　three　captors　tremble。

〃Cut　that〃　said　Green　sternly；　〃or　you'll　get　into　trouble。〃

Mr。　Hardie　lowered　his　voice　directly：　〃Do　not　kill　me；　do　not　hurt　me；〃　he　murmured；　〃I　am　but　a　poor　man　now。　Take　my　little　money；　it　is　in　my　waistcoat　pocket；　but　spare　my　life。　You　see　I　don't　resist。〃

〃Come；　stash　your　gab；　my　lad；〃　said　Green　contemptuously；　addressing　him　just　as　he　would　any　other　of　the　birds　he　was　accustomed　to　capture。　〃It's　not　your　stiff　that　is　wanted；　but　Captain　Dodd's。〃

〃Captain　Dodd's？〃　cried　the　prisoner　with　a　wonderful　assumption　of　innocence。

〃Ay；　the　pocket…book；〃　said　Green；　〃here；　this！　this！〃　He　tapped　on　the　pocket…book；　and　instantly　the　prisoner　uttered　a　cry　of　agony；　and　sprang　into　the　road　with　an　agility　no　one　would　have　thought　possible　but　Edward　and　Green　soon　caught　him；　and；　the　Doctor　joining；　they　held　him；　and　Green　tore　his　coat　open。

The　pocket…book　was　not　there。　He　tore　open　his　waistcoat；　it　was　not　in　the　waistcoat：　but　it　was　sewed　to　his　very　shirt　on　the　outside。

Green　wrenched　it　away；　and　bidding　the　other　two　go　behind　the　prisoner　and　look　over　his　shoulder；　unseen　themselves；　slipped　the　shade　of　his　lantern。

Mr。　Hardie　had　now　ceased　to　struggle　and　to　exclaim；　he　stood　sullen；　mute；　desperate；　while　an　agitated　face　peered　eagerly　over　each　of　his　shoulders　at　the　open　pocket…book　in　Green's　hands；　on　which　the　lantern　now　poured　a　narrow　but　vivid　stream　of　light。



CHAPTER　XXXVI

THERE　was　not　a　moment　to　lose；　so　Green　emptied　the　pocketbook　into　his　hat；　and　sifted　the