按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
I had noticed it； and I also recalled the fact that Stumps had said to the
lovely lady： 〃He told me I could come on deck as soon as we started。〃
The words seemed to bear out what Kinney claimed he had overheard。
But not wishing to encourage him； of what I had heard I said nothing。
〃He may be dodging a summons；〃 I suggested。 〃He is wanted；
probably； only as a witness。 It might be a civil suit； or his chauffeur may
have hit somebody。〃
Kinney shook his head sadly。
〃Excuse me；〃 he said； 〃but I fear you lack imagination。 Those men
are rascals； dangerous rascals； and the woman is their accomplice。 What
they have done I don't know； but I have already learned enough to arrest
15
… Page 16…
THE MAKE…BELIEVE MAN
them as suspicious characters。 Listen！ Each of them has a separate
state…room forward。 The window of the American's room was open； and
his suit…case was on the bed。 On it were the initials H。 P。 A。 The
stateroom is number twenty…four； but when I examined the purser's list；
pretending I wished to find out if a friend of mine was on board； I found
that the man in twenty…four had given his name as James Preston。 Now；〃
he demanded； 〃why should one of them hide under an alias and the other
be afraid to show himself until we leave the wharf？〃 He did not wait for
my answer。 〃I have been talking to Mr。 H。 P。 A。； ALIAS Preston；〃 he
continued。 〃I pretended I was a person of some importance。 I hinted I
was rich。 My object；〃 Kinney added hastily； 〃was to encourage him to
try some of his tricks on ME； to try to rob ME； so that I could obtain
evidence。 I also；〃 he went on； with some embarrassment； 〃told him that
you； too； were wealthy and of some importance。〃
I thought of the lovely lady； and I felt myself blushing indignantly。
〃You did very wrong；〃 I cried； 〃you had no right！ You may involve
us both most unpleasantly。〃
〃You are not involved in any way；〃 protested Kinney。 〃As soon as we
reach New Bedford you can slip on shore and wait for me at the hotel。
When I've finished with these gentlemen； I'll join you。〃
〃Finished with them！〃 I exclaimed。 〃What do you mean to do to
them？〃
〃Arrest them！〃 cried Kinney sternly； 〃as soon as they step upon the
wharf！〃
〃You can't do it！〃 I gasped。
〃I HAVE done it！〃 answered Kinney。 〃It's good as done。 I have
notified the chief of police at New Bedford；〃 he declared proudly； 〃to meet
me at the wharf。 I used the wireless。 Here is my message。〃
From his pocket he produced a paper and； with great importance； read
aloud： 〃Meet me at wharf on arrival steamer Patience。 Two well…known
criminals on board escaping New York police。 Will personally lay
charges against them。Forbes Kinney。〃
As soon as I could recover from my surprise； I made violent protest。
16
… Page 17…
THE MAKE…BELIEVE MAN
I pointed out to Kinney that his conduct was outrageous； that in making
such serious charges； on such evidence； he would lay himself open to
punishment。
He was not in the least dismayed。
〃I take it then；〃 he said importantly； 〃that you do not wish to appear
against them？〃
〃I don't wish to appear in it at all！〃 I cried。 〃You've no right to annoy
that young lady。 You must wire the police you are mistaken。〃
〃I have no desire to arrest the woman；〃 said Kinney stiffly。 〃In my
message I did not mention HER。 If you want an adventure of your own；
you might help her to escape while I arrest her accomplices。〃
〃I object；〃 I cried； 〃to your applying the word 'accomplice' to that
young lady。 And suppose they ARE criminals；〃 I demanded； 〃how will
arresting them help you？〃
Kinney's eyes flashed with excitement。
〃Think of the newspapers；〃 he cried； 〃they'll be full of it！〃 Already in
imagination he saw the headlines。 〃'A Clever Haul！'〃 he quoted。
〃'Noted band of crooks elude New York police； but are captured by Forbes
Kinney。'〃 He sighed contentedly。 〃And they'll probably print my picture；
too；〃 he added。
I knew I should be angry with him； but instead I could only feel sorry。
I have known Kinney for a year； and I have learned that his 〃make…
believe〃 is always innocent。 I suppose that he is what is called a snob；
but with him snobbishness is not an unpleasant weakness。 In his case it
takes the form of thinking that people who have certain things he does not
possess are better than himself； and that； therefore； they must be worth
knowing； and he tries to make their acquaintance。 But he does not think
that he himself is better than any one。 His life is very bare and narrow。 In
consequence； on many things he places false values。 As； for example； his
desire to see his name in the newspapers even as an amateur detective。
So； while I was indignant I also was sorry。
〃Joe；〃 I said； 〃you're going to get yourself into an awful lot of trouble；
and though I am not in this adventure； you know if I can help you I will。〃
17
… Page 18…
THE MAKE…BELIEVE MAN
He thanked me and we went to the dining…saloon。 There； at a table
near ours； we saw the lovely lady and Stumps and the American。 She
again smiled at me； but this time； so it seemed； a little doubtfully。
In the mind of the American； on the contrary； there was no doubt。 He
glared both at Kinney and myself； as though he would like to boil us in oil。
After dinner； in spite of my protests； Kinney set forth to interview him
and； as he described it； to 〃lead him on〃 to commit himself。 I feared
Kinney was much more likely to commit himself than the other； and when
I saw them seated together I watched from a distance with much anxiety。
An hour later； while I was alone； a steward told me the purser would
like to see me。 I went to his office； and found gathered there Stumps； his
American friend； the night watchman of the boat； and the purser。