the vanished messenger-第1章

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The　Vanished　Messenger

by　E。　Phillips　Oppenheim





CHAPTER　I


There　were　very　few　people　upon　Platform　Number　Twenty…one　of
Liverpool　Street　Station　at　a　quarter　to　nine　on　the　evening
of　April　2　…　possibly　because　the　platform　in　question　is　one　of
the　most　remote　and　least　used　in　the　great　terminus。　　The
station…master；　however；　was　there　himself；　with　an　inspector　in
attendance。　　　A　dark；　thick…set　man；　wearing　a　long　travelling
ulster　and　a　Homburg　hat；　and　carrying　in　his　hand　a　brown　leather
dressing…case；　across　which　was　painted　in　black　letters　the　name
MR。　JOHN　P。　DUNSTER；　was　standing　a　few　yards　away；　smoking　a
long　cigar；　and；　to　all　appearance　absorbed　in　studying　the
advertisements　which　decorated　the　grimy　wall　on　the　other　side　of
the　single　track。　　A　couple　of　porters　were　seated　upon　a　barrow
which　contained　one　solitary　portmanteau。　　There　were　no　signs　of
other　passengers；　no　other　luggage。　　As　a　matter　of　fact；　according
to　the　time…table；　no　train　was　due　to　leave　the　station　or　to
arrive　at　it；　on　this　particular　platform；　for　several　hours。

Down　at　the　other　end　of　the　platform　the　wooden　barrier　was　thrust
back；　and　a　porter　with　some　luggage　upon　a　barrow　made　his　noisy
approach。　　He　was　followed　by　a　tall　young　man　in　a　grey　tweed　suit
and　a　straw　hat　on　which　were　the　colours　of　a　famous　cricket　club。

The　inspector　watched　them　curiously。　　〃Lost　his　way；　I　should
think；〃　he　observed。

The　station…master　nodded。　　〃It　looks　like　the　young　man　who　missed
the　boat　train；〃　he　remarked。　　〃Perhaps　he　has　come　to　beg　a　lift。〃

The　young　man　in　question　made　steady　progress　up　the　platform。
His　hands　were　thrust　deep　into　the　pockets　of　his　coat；　and　his
forehead　was　contracted　in　a　frown。　　As　he　approached　more　closely；
he　singled　out　Mr。　John　P。　Dunster；　and　motioning　his　porter　to　wait；
crossed　to　the　edge　of　the　track　and　addressed　him。

〃Can　I　speak　to　you　for　a　moment；　sir？〃

Mr。　John　P。　Dunster　turned　at　once　and　faced　his　questioner。　　He
did　so　without　haste　…　with　a　certain　deliberation；　in　fact　…　yet
his　eyes　were　suddenly　bright　and　keen。　　He　was　neatly　dressed；
with　the　quiet　precision　which　seems　as　a　rule　to　characterise　the
travelling　American。　　He　was　apparently　of　a　little　less　than
middle…age；　clean…shaven；　broad…shouldered；　with　every　appearance
of　physical　strength。　　He　seemed　like　a　man　on　wires；　a　man　on　the
alert；　likely　to　miss　nothing。

〃Are　you　Mr。　John　P。　Dunster？〃　the　youth　asked。

〃I　carry　my　visiting…card　in　my　hand；　sir；〃　the　other　replied；
swinging　his　dressing…case　around。　　〃My　name　is　John　P。　Dunster。〃

The　young　man's　expression　was　scarcely　ingratiating。　　To　a　natural
sullenness　was　added　now　the　nervous　distaste　of　one　who　approaches
a　disagreeable　task。

〃I　want；　if　I　may；　to　ask　you　a　favour；〃　he　continued。　　〃If　you　don't
feel　like　granting　it；　please　say　no　and　I'll　be　off　at　once。　　I　am
on　my　way　to　The　Hague。　　I　was　to　have　gone　by　the　boat　train　which
left　half　an　hour　ago。　　I　had　taken　a　seat；　and　they　assured　me　that
the　train　would　not　leave　for　at　least　ten　minutes；　as　the　mails
weren't　in。　　I　went　down　the　platform　to　buy　some　papers　and　stood
talking　for　a　moment　or　two　with　a　man　whom　I　know。　　I　suppose　I
must　have　been　longer　than　I　thought；　or　they　must　have　been　quicker
than　they　expected　with　the　mailbags。　　Anyhow；　when　I　came　back　the
train　was　moving。　　They　would　not　let　me　jump　in。　　I　could　have　done
it　easily；　but　that　fool　of　an　inspector　over　there　held　me。〃

〃They　are　very　strict　in　this　country；　I　know。〃

Mr。　Dunster　agreed；　without　change　of　expression。
〃Please　go　on。〃

〃I　saw　you　arrive　…　just　too　late　for　the　train。　　While　I　was
swearing　at　the　inspector；　I　heard　you　speak　to　the　station…master。
Since　then　I　have　made　inquiries。　　I　understand　that　you　have
ordered　a　special　train　to　Harwich。〃

Mr。　John　P。　Dunster　said　nothing；　only　his　keen；　clear　eyes　seemed
all　the　time　to　be　questioning　this　gloomy…looking　but　apparently
harmless　young　man。

〃I　went　to　the　station…master's　office；〃　the　latter　continued；
〃and　tried　to　persuade　them　to　let　me　ride　in　the　guard's　van　of
your　special；　but　he　made　a　stupid　fuss　about　it；　so　I　thought　I'd
better　come　to　you。　　Can　I　beg　a　seat　in　your　compartment；　or
anywhere　in　the　train；　as　far　as　Harwich？〃

Mr。　Dunster　avoided；　for　the　moment；　a　direct　reply。　　He　had　the
air　of　a　man　who；　whether　reasonably　or　unreasonably；　disliked　the
request　which　had　been　made　to　him。

〃You　are　particularly　anxious　to　cross　to…night？〃　he　asked。

〃I　am；〃　the　youth　admitted　emphatically。　　〃I　never　ought　to　have
risked　missing　the　train。　　I　am　due　at　The　Hague　to…morrow。〃

Mr。　John　P。　Dunster　moved　his　position　a　little。　　The　light　from　a
rain…splashed　gas　lamp　shone　now　full　upon　the　face　of　his　suppliant：
a　boy's　face；　which　would　have　been　pleasant　and　even　handsome　but
for　the　discontented　mouth；　the　lowering　forehead；　and　a　shadow　in
the　eyes；　as　though；　boy　though　he　certainly　was　in　years；　he　had
already；　at　some　time　or　another；　looked　upon　the　serious　things　of
life。　　His　nervousness；　too；　was　almost　grotesque。　　He　had　the　air
of　disliking　immensely　this　asking　a　favour　from　a　stranger。　　Mr。
Dunster　appreciated　all　these　things；　but　there　were　reasons　which
made　him　slow　in　granting　the　young　man's　request。

〃What　is　the　nature　of　your　pressing　business　at　The　Hague？〃　he　asked。

The　youth　hesitated。

〃I　am　afraid；〃　he　said　grimly；　〃that　you　will　not　think　it　of　much
importance。　　I　am　on　my　way　to　play　in　a　golf　tournament　there。〃

〃A　golf　tournament　at　The　Hague！　　〃　Mr。　Dunster　repeated；　in　a
slightly　altered　tone。　　〃What　is　your　name？〃

〃Gerald　Fentolin。〃

Mr。　Dunster　stood　quite　still　for　a　moment。　　He　was　possessed　of　a
wonderful　memory；　and　he　was　conscious　at　that　moment　of　a　subtle
appeal　to　it。　　Fentolin！　　There　was　something　in　the　name　which
seemed　to　him　somehow　associated　with　the　things　against　which　he
was　on　guard。　　He　stood　with　puzzled　frown；　reminiscent　for　several
minutes；　unsuccessful。　　Then　he　suddenly　smiled；　and　moving
underneath　the　gas　lamp；　shook　open　an　evening　paper　which　he　had
been　carrying。　　He　turned　over　the　pages　until　he　arrived　at　the
sporting　items。　　Here；　in　almost　the　first　paragraph；　he　saw　the
name　which　had　happened　to　catch　his　eye　a　moment　or　two　before：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　GOLF　AT　THE　HAGUE

　　　　Among　the　entrants　for　the　tournament　which　commences
　　　　to…morrow；　are　several　well…known　English　players；
　　　　including　Mr。　　Barwin；　Mr。　　Parrott；　Mr。　　Hillard　and
　　　　Mr。　Gerald　Fentolin。

Mr。　Dunster　folded　up　the　newspaper　and　replaced　it　in　his　pocket。
He　turned　towards　the　young　man。

〃So　you're　a　golfer；　are　you？〃

〃I　play　a　bit；〃　was　the　somewhat　indifferent　reply。

Mr。　Dunster　turned　to　another　part　of　the　paper　and　pointed　to　the
great　black　head…lines。

〃Seems　a　queer　thing　for　a　young　fellow　like　you　to　be　worrying
about　games；〃　he　remarked。　　〃I　haven't　been　in　this　country　more
than　a　few　hours；　but　I　expected　to　find　all　the　young　men　getting
ready。〃

〃Getting　ready　for　what？〃

〃Why；　to　fight；　of　course；〃　Mr。　Dunster　replied。　　〃Seems　pretty
clear　that　there's　an　expeditionary　force　being　fitted　out；
according　to　this　evening's　paper；　somewhere　up　in　the　North　Sea。
The　only　Englishman　I've　spoken　to　on　this　side　was　willing　to　lay
me　odds　that　war　would　be　declared　within　a　week。〃

The　young　man's　lack　of　interest　was　curious。

〃I　am　not　in　the　army；〃　he　said。　　〃It　really　doesn't　affect　me。〃

Mr。　Dunster　stared　at　him。

〃You'll　forgive　my　curiosity；〃　he　said；　〃but　say；　is　there　nothing
you　could　get　into　and　fight　if　this　thing　came　along？〃

〃Nothing　at　all；　that　I　know　of；〃　the　youth　replied　coolly。　　〃War
is　an　affair　which　concerns　only　the　military　and　naval　part　of　two
countries。　　The　civil　population　…〃

〃Plays　golf；　I　suppose；〃　Mr。　Dunster　interrupted。　　〃Young　man；　I
haven't　been　in　England　for　some　years；　and　you　rather　take　my
breath　away。　　All　the　same；　you　can　come　along　with　me　as　far　as
Harwich。〃

The　young　man　showed　signs　of　some　satisfaction。　　〃I　am　very　much
obliged　to　you；　sir；〃　he　dedared。　　〃I　promise　you　I　won't　be　in
the　way。〃

The　station…master；　who　had　been　looking　through　a　little　pile　of
telegrams　brought　to　him　by　a　clerk　from　his　office；　now　turned
towards　them。　　His　expression　was　a　little　grave。

〃Your　special　will　be　backing　down　directly；　sir；〃　he　announced；
〃but　I　am　sorry　to　say　that　we　hear　very　bad　accounts　of　the　line。
They　say　that　this　is　only　the　fag…end　of　the　storm　that　we　are
getting　here；　and　that　it's　been　raging　for　nearly　twenty…four
hours　on　the　east　coast。　　I　doubt　whether　the　Harwich　boat　will　be
able　to　put　off。〃

〃We　must　take　our　chance　about　that；〃　Dunster　remarked。　　〃If　the
mail　boat　doesn't　run；　I　presume　there　will　be　something　else　we
can　charter。〃

The　station…master　looked　the　curiosity　which　he　did　not　actually
express　in　words。

〃Money　will　buy　most　things；　nowadays；　sir；〃　he　observed；　〃but　if
it　isn't　fit　for　our　mail　boat；　it　certainly　isn't　fit　for　anything
else　that　can　come　into　Harwich　Harbour。　　However；　you'll　hear　what
they　say　when　you　get　there。〃

Mr。　Dunster　nodded　and　relapsed　into　a　taciturnity　which　was
obviously　one　of　his　peculiarities。　　The　young　man　strolled　down
the　platform；　and　catching　up　with　the　inspector；　touched　him　on
the　shoulder。

〃Do　you　know　who　the　fellow　is　he　asked　curiously。　　〃It's　awfully
decent　of　him　to　let　me　go　with　him；　but　he　didn't　seem　very　keen
about　it。〃

The　inspector　shook　his　head。

〃No　idea；　sir；〃　he　replied。　　〃He　drove　up　just　two　minutes　after
the　train　had　gone；　came　straight　into　the　office　and　ordered　a
special。　　Paid　for　it；　too；　in　Bank　of　England　notes　before　he
went　out。　　I　fancy　he's　an　American；　and　he　gave　his　name　as　John
P。　Dunster。〃

The　young　man　paused　to　light　a　cigarette。

〃If　he's　an　American；　I　suppose　that　accounts　for　it；〃　he　observed。
〃He　must　be　in　a　precious　hurry　to　get　somewhere；　though。〃

〃A　night　like　this；　too！〃　the　inspector　remarked；　with　a　shiver。
〃I　wouldn't　leave　London　myself　unless　I　had　to。　　They　say　there's
a　tremendous　storm　blowing　on　the　east　coast。　　Here　comes　the　train；
sir　…　just　one　saloon　and　the　guard's　van。〃

The　little　train　backed　slowly　along　the　platform　side。　　The
engine　was　splashed　with　mud　and　soaking　wet。　　The　faces　of　the
engine…driver　and　his　companion　shone　from　the　dripping　rain。　　The
station…master　held　open　the　door　of　the　saloon。

〃You've　a　rough　journey　before　you；　sir；〃　he　said。　　〃You'll　catch
the　boat　all　right；　though　…　if　it　goes。　　The　mail　train　was　very
heavy　to…night。　　You　should　catch　her　up　this　side　of　Colehester。〃

Mr。　Dunster　nodded。

〃I　am　taking　this　young　gentleman　with　me；〃　he　announced　shortly。
〃It　seems　that　he；　too；　missed　the　train。　　I　am　much　obliged　to　you；
station…master；　for　your　attention。　　Good　night！〃

They　were　about　to　start　when　Mr。　Dunster　once　more　let　down　the
window。

〃By　the　way；〃　he　said；　〃as　it　is　such　a　wild　night；　you　will　oblige
me　very　much　if　you　will　tell　the　engine…driver　that　there　will　be
a　five　pou