Captain Calamity Part 39

remarked the pilot as he seated himself on a water-beaker. "And to think," he went on musingly, "that I pull fifty thousand out of it. What for?"

"For playing the game," answered Calamity gravely, and, taking a handful of cheroots from his pocket, he offered them to the other.

Abott took one, opened the door of the lantern, and they both lit up.

"Now," said the pilot, exhaling huge clouds of pungent smoke, "we'd better fix matters up. This isn't the sort of stuff you can tuck under your arm, walk into a bank with, and ask for it to be placed to the credit of your account. No, sir, questions might be asked, seeing that bar gold and promiscuous jewellery ain't common currency even in this country. And, I take it, if the Admiralty knew about it, they'd want to confiscate a tidy lump as treasure trove, or whatever it's called."

Calamity nodded.

"Well, I know a man in Sumatra who'll negotiate this little lot, though he'll charge 5 per cent. for doing it. How does that strike you?"

"Excellent. Will you see to it, Abott?"

"I will, and you shall hear directly the job's through. I reckon you'll have done the right thing by everybody; the Government's got a new island, a German war-boat, thirty or forty prisoners, and about a thousand pounds' worth of merchandise stacked away on board the _Hawk_."

"Likewise a traitor in the person of the late respected Solomon, and a ship called the _Ann_," added Calamity.

"The _Ann_?" queried the other. "I heard of a packet named the _Ann_ having been collared by a British cruiser and taken into Penang; would that be the hooker?"

"Without a doubt, but I haven't time to tell you the story now, Abott.

If ever you happen to meet Solomon--which isn't likely--ask him about it."

The pilot rose, kicked aside the beaker on which he had been sitting, and picked up the lantern. Calamity also got up, and, going outside, waited while the other extinguished the light and locked the door. They returned to Paku and stopped outside the house where Calamity lodged, the pilot having refused to go in as he wanted to get back to Singapore as quickly as possible.

"I shall see you again before I leave," said Calamity as they shook hands.

On reaching his own room, he took from his pocket the letter which Vayne had given him earlier in the day. It was addressed to "Captain Calamity"

in a large, bold handwriting. Tearing open the envelope Calamity took out a sheet of notepaper and read:

"This is to say 'Good-bye' and to explain why, when you asked me to marry you, I refused. During your illness I chanced to learn who you really were, and then I realised why it was that you once said to me 'Our paths lie wide apart.' As the wife of Captain Calamity I might have made you happy, but as the wife of Viscount Redhurst I believe I should fail utterly and bring unhappiness to us both. I am going to California as you suggested, where, should you ever have a desire to see me again, I shall be found."

The note was signed "Dora Fletcher," and Calamity, before folding it up, read the last sentence twice--the second time with a faint smile playing about his lips. Then he took out his leather wallet which contained the confession of Fritz Siemann and placed the note in it.

CHAPTER XXVIII

HOME

It was spring, and although spring that year had not done its worst, the two men who alighted from the train at Redhurst Station turned up the collars of their greatcoats and shivered. One of them, a powerful, squarely built man with a gla.s.s eye, gazed round the little country station as if in search of someone, and at last fixed his serviceable eye upon a richly dressed woman in a motor just outside the wicket-gate.

He thereupon turned to his companion, a red-headed man who was arguing in broad Scotch with a porter over the alleged damage done to a very old and dilapidated cabin trunk.

"Tell them the luggage must be sent on at once, Jones," he said.

Leaving McPhulach, _alias_ Jones, to see that his instructions were carried out, Calamity pa.s.sed through the wicket-gate. As he approached her, the woman leaned out of the tonneau expectantly; but at that moment the sun emerged from an obscuring cloud and shone right into her eyes.

By the time she had opened her sunshade and could see again Calamity had reached the car. The words of honeyed welcome died on her lips and she shrank back against the cushions as she saw him standing there with a grim smile on his face.

"Well, Betty?" he said.

"Is--is it you?" she faltered.

"Yes, you find me changed, eh?"

"A--a little," she answered.

The flicker of a smile crossed Calamity's face again as he looked at her.

"You are the same as ever, anyhow," he commented.

His words restored Lady Betty's self-possession. His altered appearance had frightened her at first, and she had not recognised in him the man she had once promised to marry. But now he had spoken in a familiar language words which showed, as she thought, that, despite the years, her charms had not lessened in his eyes.

"I am so glad you have come back," she said softly.

At that moment, to her annoyance, McPhulach came up accompanied by a porter.

"He says it will be ane an' saxpence to tak' the luggage," said the engineer indignantly.

"Pay him then," answered Calamity.

"But, mon, 'tis only a sheeling, forby----"

"Pay him," snapped Calamity, and McPhulach grumblingly paid the money in pennies and half-pennies, counting them twice before handing them over.

"Won't you get in?" asked Lady Betty, as Calamity again turned to her.

He obeyed, at the same time calling to McPhulach, who was watching the luggage being hoisted on to the station 'bus. As he approached--an uncouth figure in an ill-fitting, ready-made overcoat--Lady Betty elevated her eyebrows.

"Who is this?" she whispered quickly.

"Let me introduce him," answered the Captain.

"Lady Betty Redhurst, Mr. Jones, until recently my chief engineer.

Jones, Lady Betty Redhurst."

"I'm unco' pleased tae meet ye," said McPhulach, extending a huge red hand with its blunt, misshapen fingers. "I'm frae Pontypreed mesel'," he added inconsequently.

The elegant woman touched the engineer's hairy paw with the tips of her gloved fingers and smiled sweetly.

"Better sit down there," said Calamity, indicating the seat opposite, but Lady Betty spoke hastily.

"Wouldn't you prefer to sit in front, Mr. Jones?" she asked, with seeming solicitude for his comfort; "you can see the country much better there, and it's really very pretty just now."

McPhulach, only too glad of a chance to sit beside the chauffeur, where he might smoke, obeyed with alacrity, and the Captain had to own himself out-manoeuvred. The chauffeur then took his seat, and the car glided noiselessly out of the station precincts.

"Does it seem strange to you to be coming home again?" asked Lady Betty in a voice which sounded almost caressing.

"It does--very," answered Calamity.