Читать книгу The Great Green Diamond; Or, Thief Against Thief - Inspector Stark - Страница 6

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After his new client departed, Burt entered an inner office, where was seated a rosy-cheeked young fellow of about one-and-twenty. This was Frank Hare, who was Burt’s assistant.

“Frank,” said Burt, “I’ve got one of the queerest cases to work up.”

Then he related Stolburst’s story to his youthful assistant.

“I don’t see anything strikingly queer about the matter,” said Hare, when the other finished. “It’s a clear case of simple theft.”

“You idiot,” smiled Burt, “do you think this Stolburst told me the whole truth?”

“That’s for you to say. I did not even see the man.”

“Take my word for it, there is a great deal behind this business.”

“That is not our affair. What we want is good pay.”

“Stolburst has agreed to put up a liberal sum, and we are to have a bonus in the event of our being successful.”

“First of all, I suppose you mean to find Enoch Cook?”

“Yes; the lecturer knows the chap as Sam Henry.”

“I don’t think there will be much difficulty in finding Enoch if he is in New York.”

“You know him?”

“I’ve seen him a couple of times; he used to hang out with the gang that made Mike Quick’s place their headquarters.”

“I wonder what possessed him to become a servant for the explorer?”

“Oh, I suppose that was a sudden freak upon his part.”

“You don’t know the fellow Stolburst calls Dick Kidd?” remarked Burt.

“I may, but I don’t know him by that name,” replied Frank. “If the diamond is as valuable as described, Kidd will have some difficulty in disposing of it.”

“Well, I won’t move in the affair until I see Stolburst’s references and satisfy myself that he is straight up and down.”

On the morning following Burt visited the bankers whom the lecturer had given as references. They joined in pronouncing Stolburst as a perfectly reliable man. Afterward Burt wrote his new client that he would undertake the case at the terms agreed upon.

In a small saloon near the East River and between the Fulton and Catharine ferries Mike Quick resided. Mr. Quick had several disfiguring marks. Both his cheeks had been slashed some time by a knife, part of one ear was gone, and his great rubicund nose was broken.

His eyes were deep set and overshadowed by heavy gray brows.

He was big in build, and probably fifty years of age. Quite a number of those years had been passed by Quick behind prison-bars. Taken all in all, he was not the sort of chap a man would care to meet in a lonely place after dark.

Quick was behind his dirty and antiquated bar when Burt entered, early in the evening of the day he had interviewed Stolburst’s banker friends.

Mike knew the detective quite well.

“How are you, Burt?”

The man’s voice was hoarse and guttural.

“Glad to see me, of course?”

“Can’t say that I am. Whom do you expect to find here?”

“How do you know I am looking to find any one?”

Quick indulged in a hoarse laugh so loud that it seemed to set the bottles behind the bar dancing.

“Young fellow,” he said, “it wasn’t simply to get a drink you stepped in.”

“Perhaps.”

“Then you are a long time about asking for it. This hotel may not have any oil-paintings or statuary scattered about, but you’ll find brandy here as good as can be got in town.”

“Give me a pony, then, and have a drink yourself.”

The order was quickly filled. Burt found Quick’s statement fulfilled. The liquor was of the best.

“Now, my boy,” said Mike, with a knowing wink, “what’s your game?”

“I want to find Enoch Cook.”

Quick emitted a low whistle and looked very wise.

“Why,” he said, “your man went to foreign parts about two years ago.”

Burt smiled. Cook and Sam Henry were identical. Any doubts he might have had on the subject were laid at rest by the dive-keeper’s words.

“Yes,” said Burt, “I know all about his going away, but he has returned.”

“What do you want him for?”

“To ask him a few questions.”

“Nothing more?”

“Nothing.”

“You surely ain’t giving me a yarn, old man?”

“’Pon my honor, I ain’t.”

“I’ve seen Enoch since he came home. I’ve always put him down for a mighty liar, but now I find he is the most magnificent one I ever ran across.”

“How is that?”

“He’s been telling me he spent over a year killing tigers, lions, and elephants.”

“I guess Enoch only told you truth,” said Burt.

“If he did, he is a bigger man than ever I took him to be.”

“When did you see him last?”

“About fifteen minutes ago.”

“Where?”

“In the back room, reading the paper,” grinned Quick.

“Why didn’t you tell me that before?” inquired Burt.

“You didn’t ask me.”

Burt found his man in the room back of the saloon, and he was alone.

“Hello, Burt! It does my eyes good to see you,” said the detective’s former schoolmate.

Burt took the hand that was extended to him. He could not forget the old days, even if the man had sunk to the level of a thief.

“You knew where I could be found if you were anxious to see me.”

“I’ve been abroad.”

“Turning over a new leaf, I suppose?” remarked Burt.

“Don’t be sarcastic, Burt; that’s just what I’m about.”

“Is this crib a fit lounging-place for a reformed criminal?”

Cook, as we shall continue to call him, actually blushed.

“I can come here without falling from grace.”

“You were in Africa.”

Enoch started.

“Who told you that?”

“I know all about your trip with Henry Stolburst.”

“You don’t know how mean he treated me, I’ll bet.”

“How did he treat you mean?”

“Left me in Gondar, Abyssinia, with just enough money to get to New York with.”

“Does he owe you money, then?”

“Yes,” replied Cook.

“He is here in New York.”

“I know it.”

“Have you made any effort to collect what you claim due?”

“Yes, but he won’t admit the claim,” replied Enoch.

“That story sounds fishy.”

Cook moved uneasily in his chair. It was clear to him that his companion and Stolburst were not strangers to each other.

“I’m giving you a straight statement,” said Enoch.

“I’ve seen Stolburst.”

“So I suppose. What does he say?”

“That you ran away from him.”

“He lies.”

“Let that go. You had a companion servant.”

“Dick Kidd?”

“That’s the party I have reference to,” replied Burt.

“What about Dick?”

“I want to know where he is.”

Cook laughed.

“I shouldn’t wonder he was inside a French prison just now,” he replied.

“Why do you say that?”

“I left Dick in Paris; he wanted me to remain with him, saying that the graft for two sharp chaps was immense over there.”

“I happen to know that Dick Kidd came to this country with you.”

As we know, Burt had no knowledge of the arrival of either. He simply made the statement as a feeler.

“What do you want with Kidd?” inquired Enoch, after a pause.

“First, I want you to admit he came to New York with you.”

Cook hesitated.

“Well, he did. What of it?” he finally blurted out.

“There is this ‘of it,’” said Burt. “I’ve detected you in a lie.”

“That may be a sin, but it is not reckoned a crime to lie, except under oath.”

“Where is Kidd now?”

“I don’t know.”

“I suppose I may consider that lie number two?”

“Can’t you tell me what you want with him.”

“Are you and this man very close?” asked Burt.

“We were sort of chummy, but I never trusted him much. He thinks too much of himself to suit my taste.”

“If you will act on the square with me, I can put some money in your way.”

Cook regarded his old acquaintance suspiciously.

“What do you require?” he asked.

“That you make me acquainted with this Dick Kidd.”

“Perhaps I’ll have to ask his permission first,” said Enoch.

“You know what I am after?”

“I’ll swear I don’t.”

“You know that Kidd robbed his employer?” said Burt sternly.

“No—I don’t.”

“Come, Enoch, you must have seen that wondrous green diamond?”

Cook appeared overcome with surprise.

“Do you mean the eye of the idol?” he inquired.

“Yes.”

“So Dick got away with that, eh?”

“You know he did, and I rather think you were in the job.”

“I swear to you that if Dick Kidd stole that diamond, I never knew anything about it until now.”

“Cook,” said Burt, “you know I am not to be deceived by your acting.”

“I am not acting.”

“Kidd must have shown you the gem?”

“No.”

“Did you steal it?”

“No; I don’t mind telling you that if I had the opportunity I should have stolen it. Why, the price I could have got for the stone would have made me rich for life.”

Burt looked sharp at his companion.

It seemed plain to him that the fellow was lying.

“Well,” said Burt, “you were Kidd’s accomplice in the theft, and I propose to arrest you.”

“No, you don’t!”

The voice came from behind the detective. He turned around.

Mike Quick stood near him and the saloon-keeper had a revolver leveled at his head.