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CHAPTER XXXII
ONE CHANCE

It was like a staggering blow. While it confirmed Stillman’s theory that Parlmee was the chief rascal of the conspiracy, it shattered the supposition that Weegman, a blind dupe, wholly unaware of the truth, was being cleverly manipulated as an unconscious tool. The foundation of that hypothesis melted away like sand before hydrolytic force.

Locke turned again and looked at the reporter. The latter, standing like an image of stone, was staring questioningly and incredulously at Virginia Collier. He, too, realized that this confirmation of his belief had brought a portion of the postulation fluttering down like a house of cards, and he was seeking a mental readjustment.

Janet, frozen with lips slightly parted and eyes wide, was aware of it also. She was about to speak impulsively when Lefty detected her and made a repressing gesture.

Miss Collier felt that she knew the reason for the sudden silence that had fallen on every one, and a faint flush crept back into her cheeks. She appeared to be humiliated and ashamed, as well as sorrowful.

“I understand,” she said, in a low tone, “how it must seem to you to hear me say such a thing about Mr. Parlmee. I have trusted him. I believed in him, even when my father was losing faith and confidence. I clung to my own faith, and it hasn’t been easy to abandon it, even in the face of proof. My conscience or something taunts me occasionally. I–I’ve cried over it, and I’ve fought against it. I haven’t dared see him since my return–since I found out the truth–for I knew I should listen to him and believe in him in spite of everything. I wanted to face him and accuse him, but Weegman persuaded me to wait. He said it would merely hasten the crash if we let the scoundrels know they were suspected.”

“The scoundrels!” exclaimed Locke. “Then he told you that more than one was concerned?”

“He claims that a man named Garrity is operating in conjunction with Franklin Parlmee.”

Another staggerer. To Virginia, Weegman had accused Garrity. Mutely the southpaw appealed to Stillman. The reporter’s forehead was puckered in a puzzled manner; he caught Lefty’s glance, and shook his head slowly.

“When did he name Garrity, Miss Collier?” he asked.

“When he called on me to-day–this afternoon,” was the answer. “He has been at work trying to get at the truth.”

Locke improved the opportunity to whisper in Janet’s ear: “Keep still! Don’t say a word–now.”

Although she did not understand why he wished her to keep silent, she nodded. He had been right in other matters; it was best to let him have his way in this.

“My niece has been very much upset,” said Mrs. Vanderpool. “It has practically made her ill. She hasn’t felt much like seeing people, and therefore Mr. Weegman’s advice to keep quiet was easy to follow.”

Weegman had urged Virginia to remain in obscurity, not to let her friends know she was in New York; that was evident. He had convinced her that by doing so she could best assist him in his pretended task of trapping the conspirators. And while she kept quiet, those conspirators were hastening to carry through the work they had planned.

“Miss Collier,” said Lefty, “do you think it would be possible for your father to come home at once? Do you think he is strong enough to stand the voyage? If he can do so, he had better come. He should be here now.”

“I don’t know,” she replied.

“Give me his address and let me communicate with him,” Locke urged. “He should know something of the truth, at least.”

Virginia was persuaded, for Mrs. Vanderpool agreed that it was the best course to pursue. The southpaw was elated; he felt that at last he was getting a grip that would enable him to accomplish something. If he could baffle the rascals now, it would be a feat worth while.

Mrs. Vanderpool was called away to the telephone.

“Auntie has been very kind to me, in spite of her quarrel with father,” said Virginia, when the lady had left the room. “They have not spoken to each other for years. It is so ridiculous, so childish, for a brother and sister who have been devoted! Both are stubborn. And yet Aunt Elizabeth is the kindest, gentlest woman in the world. She lost an only daughter, and she says I seem to fill the vacant place. She has made me feel very much at home.”

Then she began chatting with Janet about things of mutual interest. Locke joined Stillman, who had walked to the far end of the room.

“This Weegman is either a fool or much cleverer than we thought him,” said the reporter swiftly, in a low tone. “I don’t believe he’s a fool.”

“How have you figured it out?” Lefty questioned. “It was a mistake to think him not wise to Parlmee. And why, if he is hand in glove with Garrity, did he tell her that Garrity was concerned in the miserable business?”

“He told her that to-day?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t he tell her before? Weegman is in town. Have you seen him?”

The pitcher told of his meeting with both Weegman and Garrity, and how he had defied them. Stillman’s face cleared a little.

“Look here, Locke, that fellow Weegman will double cross any one. You put him next to the fact that you were wise to Garrity. The whole bunch must know that Collier has fired his crooked doctor. Of course, Dalmers notified them. After talking with you, Weegman began to realize that the whole plot might fall through. He lost no time in beginning to hedge his bets. He’s trying to fix it so that he’ll fall safe if the business blows up.”

“But why did he tell her of Parlmee? We thought he didn’t know about that.”

“I’m not as sure about Parlmee as I was,” admitted the reporter frankly. “Weegman has been trying to blacken him to her right along. I’ll own up now that it was an anonymous communication that first put me on the track of Parlmee. There have been others of the same sort tending to incriminate him. I’ve wondered where they came from. Now I think I know. Weegman is the answer.”

“By Jove!” exclaimed Lefty. “You believe it was he who directed suspicion toward Parlmee in the first place?”

“You’ve got me. That being the case, instead of being a dupe, this Weegman has put something over that we didn’t suspect him of. He’s after Collier’s daughter, and it would help him if he could turn her against his rival.”

Locke’s face cleared. His relief was evident.

“This is all speculation,” said the reporter hastily. “Don’t be too quick to accept it as a settled fact. Parlmee’s behavior has been suspicious enough to require some explaining from him. Perhaps he can clear it up. We know Weegman has tried to put the Blue Stockings on the blink, and we’re dead certain he hasn’t knowingly done so as the assistant of Parlmee. Now how do you figure on that?”

“Parlmee’s innocent, as I fancied. Weegman is the chief rascal.”

Stillman smiled. “In which case he’s beginning to find himself caught in a quicksand, and he’s trying to save himself by climbing out over his pal, Garrity. He’ll swear he had no finger in it. Garrity won’t dare accuse Weegman of being an accomplice, for by doing that he would acknowledge that there was a conspiracy. Weegman is in no danger in that direction of anything further than such private revenge as Garrity may seek to take.”

Lefty turned back and approached Virginia and Janet, addressing the former:

“Miss Collier, I want you to promise me that, for the present, at least, you’ll say nothing to Bailey Weegman about having seen and talked with me.”

The girl looked surprised. “I was just proposing that Janet should leave the hotel and stay here with me. I know my aunt will approve.”

“I approve anything you may wish, my dear,” said Mrs. Vanderpool, reëntering the room. “It would give me great pleasure to have Mrs. Hazelton visit us and remain as long as possible.”

Locke looked doubtful, for should that arrangement be carried out Janet might easily be led into telling Virginia more than it seemed advisable for her to know at the present time. But Mrs. Vanderpool made her invitation most cordial, and Janet gave him a beseeching glance. He wavered.

“Weegman calls here. If he should–”

Janet’s hand fell on his arm. “Trust me,” she urged significantly. “You can’t hope to keep him long in the dark. For the present, if he calls, I’ll not be in evidence. You’re so busy that I see very little of you during the day, anyway.”

So he was won over. Janet returned with him to the hotel to gather up the belongings she would need, and Stillman accompanied them. Lefty made his wife understand how desirous it was to keep Weegman blinded as long as possible, explaining that he feared Miss Collier’s indignation would lead her into betraying everything should she learn the whole truth regarding the two-faced schemer.

“If you can get Collier home quickly enough, Locke,” said Stillman, “there’s a chance that you may be able to spike the enemy’s guns, even at this late hour.”

“I’m going to make a swift play for that chance,” returned Lefty.

CHAPTER XXXIII
ONE IN A MILLION

The clerk of the Great Eastern surveyed with interest the swarthy small man in the bright green suit and the plaid raglan overcoat, who leaned an elbow on the desk and jauntily twirled a light cane, puffing at an excellent Havana cigar.

“Beyond a modicum of a doubt you have me, your excellency,” said the stranger. “I’m the real thing, the only and original Cap’n Wiley. It is frequently embarrassing to be encumbered by fame, and my modesty often compels me to travel incog-nit-o; but just now, having a yearning desire to hobnob with my old college chump, Lefty Locke, I am blushingly compelled to reveal my identity. When Lefty learns that I am here he will fly like a bird to greet me. Notify one of yon brass-buttoned minions to inform him of my immediate proximity.”

“Mr. Locke is out at present,” said the man behind the desk, winking slyly at a fellow clerk; “but if you will leave your card–”

“If one isn’t sufficient, I’ll leave the whole pack of fifty-two. It is my habit to carry a deck with me for emergencies. Perchance, however, you can tell me when Lefty is liable to return.”

At that moment Locke, coming in, saw the sailor, and hurried forward. The Marine Marvel teetered to meet him, beaming broadly. They shook hands, and Locke drew the sailor toward two vacant chairs.

“Jones?” questioned Lefty as they sat down. “Where is he? How is he?”

“He’s right here in this little old burg,” was the answer. “Nothing short of his demise could have prevented me from keeping my agreement to deliver him to you. He is on the mend, and it is probable that he’ll soon be as frisky and formidable as ever. But I have qualms. I fear greatly that something has happened to cause Jonesy to lose interest in baseball forever and for aye. Were I in his boots, I’d go on one long spree that would reach from here to Hongkong, and even farther. Hold your breath, Lefty, and hold it hard. Jones has come into a modest little fortune of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars or thereabouts.”

“Quite a joke!” said the pitcher.

“I don’t blame you for doubting me. In your place I’d have made a remark a shade more violent. But the seal of voracity is on my lips. I didn’t know it when I saw you last, but at that time he had practically sold his interest in his Alaska possessions. I have stated the sum he received for his share in that pretty bit of property.”

“Enough to keep him in pin money for some time,” replied Lefty, still skeptical.

“If he could be induced to use it for his own wants he could dodge becoming a pauper for quite a while. But, Lefty, you can’t guess what he’s going to do with it. Excuse me while I sigh. I have argued and pleaded until my fingers became tongue-tied; but I’ve failed to move him from his fixed determination. He is going to give every dollar of that money away!”

Of course, Locke thought that Wiley was drawing the long bow, as usual. “I hope he won’t overlook his friends when he passes it around,” he said, smiling.

“His friends won’t get a dollar!” declared Wiley. “He’s going to give it to his enemies.”

This was too much for the southpaw. “Let’s cut the comedy,” he urged.

The sailor gave him a chastening look. “It isn’t comedy; it’s tragedy, Lefty. He believes it his duty. He believes he is bound, as a man of honor, to do it. Listen and I will elucidate. Did you ever hear of the Central Yucatan Rubber Company?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Well, it was a fraudulent concern that flourished like a green bay tree some seven or eight years ago, and withered like a fragile plant when the government got after it for fraudulent use of the mails. Like many such grafting stock-selling companies, it had a dummy board of officers who appeared to be in control, while the real rogues who were harvesting the coin kept in the background. Jones was president of that company. He believed it to be on the level, and he had invested some of his own money–superficially all he had–in it. When the government got busy, Jones was indicted as the head of the concern. He was thought to be the originator of the scheme. The real crook had fixed it so that he seemed to be one of the innocent victims, and he helped swear Jones into prison. Jones got five years. He served his time.”

At last Locke was impressed. He had never seen Wiley so serious. For once, the flippant and superficial manner of the swarthy little man had been discarded; his flamboyant style of speech had been dropped. Ordinarily he gave one the impression that he was gleefully fabricating; now, of a sudden, the listener was convinced that he was hearing the naked truth. It explained the atmosphere of somber sadness, the appearance of brooding over a great injustice, which had infolded the mysterious dumb pitcher of the Wind Jammers. For Jones Lefty felt a throb of genuine sympathy.

“With the unclothed eye I can perceive that you get me,” the sailor continued. “You can imagine how you would feel if you had been sent to the jug for five years, as punishment for a crime perpetrated by somebody else. What if the one who concocted the scheme and benefited by it swore your liberty away and escaped scot-free himself?”

“It was monstrous!” exclaimed the pitcher.

“Precisely so. In prison Jones took a foolish oath. He registered a vow to pay back every dollar to those who had lost their good money in that fake rubber company. He didn’t know how he was going to do it, but he was determined that he would. In a way, they were his enemies, for they had helped prosecute him; the courts had adjudged him guilty, and he felt that he could never hold up his head as an honest man until those who had been defrauded got the last cent of coin back. In some way he must acquire a huge amount of filthy lucre, and acquire it honestly. He dreamed of gold mines. When the prison spat him forth he made his way up into Alaska. There his dream came true, for, with his partners, he located and developed a great mine. They could have sold out a dozen times, but never for a sum that would permit Jones to accomplish his purpose with his share of the price. So he held on. And at last a syndicate made an offer that was sufficient. Jones was notified by his partners. He accepted. But not until the deal was put through and he had the certified check for his interest in his clutches did he breathe a word of it to any one. Then he told me. He was sick, but his success helped cure him. He was eager to hurry North and set into action the machinery for distributing that money to the rubber company’s victims. At this very moment he is interviewing a reputable firm of lawyers and giving them instructions to proceed about the work. He can supply a full list of the persons defrauded. They’ll get back what they lost, and Jones will find himself poor again–but satisfied.”

Lefty’s eyes were shining. “In these days of the great American idea of grafting and fraud,” he said, “a man with a conscience like Jones’ is one in ten thousand.”

“Say, rather, one in a million, mate. I have reviled him extemporaneously. I have told him that he is a fool. I’m honest myself–when it’s absolutely necessary. But to part with a scandalous sum like two hundred and fifty thousand without being positively compelled to do so–oh, pardon me while I sob!”

“A man with such principles, and Jones’ ability to pitch, will not come to grief. He has a job before him with the Blue Stockings.”

Wiley shook his head. “Apprehension percheth upon me, Lefty. Jones has accomplished the great purpose of his life. It was what fired him and spurred him on. I regret to elucidate that since that money came to him he has displayed no interest whatever in baseball. When I sought to make him talk about it he wouldn’t even wigwag a finger on the subject. Something seems to tell me that he’ll never again ascend the mound and shoot the horsehide over the pentagon.”

CHAPTER XXXIV
WEEGMAN’S PROPOSAL

For four days Weegman had not troubled Locke, four days during which Lefty sought in vain to get some word from Charles Collier. His cablegrams remained unanswered. At the time when he had felt the most sanguine he seemed to find himself blocked again. He did not seek to delude himself with the belief that silence on the part of the conspirators meant they were inactive. Doubtless they were at work harder than ever. What were they doing? He confessed that he would give a great deal to know.

Then Weegman reappeared. His manner was ingratiating. His chuckle seemed intended to be genial and friendly.

“A private room where we can talk without the slightest chance of being overheard, that’s what we want,” he said. “Your own room should be all right, as long as your wife is stopping with Miss Collier and her aunt.” He knew about that. How long he had known was a question.

Locke felt like turning the rascal down flatly. He was on the verge of doing so when something led him to decide differently. Perhaps a little patience and cleverness would enable him to get an inkling of what the enemy was doing. He took Weegman to his room, and shot the door bolt behind them when they had entered.

“That’s right,” said Collier’s private secretary. “We don’t want to be interrupted by anybody. I took a great deal of pains that no one who knew me should see me come here. Garrity mustn’t get wise. He ordered me to keep away from you.” Laughing, he flung himself down on a chair.

“Garrity!” cried Lefty, astonished at the confession. “Then you admit that you are taking your orders from him?”

“He thinks I am,” was the grinning answer. “Perhaps he’ll find himself fooled. If you and I can get together, I’m sure he will.”

Locke stifled a sense of repulsion. The man was more detestable than ever. It did not appear possible, and yet he still seemed to think that Locke would accept a proposal from him.

“How do you mean?” asked the pitcher, with masterly self-control. “Get together how?”

“I hope you realize you can’t do anything alone. The combination against you is too strong, and too much had been done before you began to get wise to the situation. Let me tell you now that I didn’t expect this affair would go as far as it has when I entered into it.”

The creature was shamelessly acknowledging his participation in the plot, chuckling as he did so. Lefty waited.

“Of course,” pursued Weegman, “you’ve been aware for some time of my unbounded admiration and regard for Miss Collier. The old man favored me, but I couldn’t bring her round. To do so, I decided, it would be necessary for me to accomplish a coup. If I could apparently save her father from ruin she might alter her views. Out of gratitude she might marry me. I’m a man who gets what he wants, by hook or crook. Garrity approached me with a scheme. I listened to it. I believed I saw a way to turn that scheme to my own advantage with Virginia. But I’ll tell you now that it never was my intention to put Charles Collier wholly on the blink. At that time even I didn’t know how badly involved he was.”

Even while he told the truth in a way, Weegman was lying in the effort to palliate his act to some degree. His conscience was warped to such an extent that he seemed to believe there could be an excuse for the milder forms of conspiracy and crime. In a bungling way he was actually making a bid for Locke’s sympathy.

“You must have known of the dastardly arrangement with a crooked doctor to keep Mr. Collier drugged into apparent illness and detain him in Europe beyond reach of the friends who might tell him, Weegman. Who got to that doctor and bought him up?”

“Not I,” was the denial. “I didn’t have the money.”

“Was it Garrity?”

“Of course. Garrity had something on Dalmers, who was concerned in some mighty shady practices at one time. But he told me that Dalmers was simply going to keep watch of the old man. I didn’t know anything about the drugging business. When I found that out I was mad as blazes.”

The southpaw fought to prevent his lips from curling with scorn, and to suppress a look of triumph in his eyes. “What’s your proposition to me, Weegman?”

The self-acknowledged rascal seemed to hesitate. “You’re sure no one can hear us?” he asked, his eyes roving around the room.

“You can see that we’re quite alone.”

Weegman drummed nervously on the arm of his chair. “I’m sorry this thing has gone so far,” he protested. “I didn’t look for it to, at first. I got involved and couldn’t back out. In fact, Garrity threatened me when I showed signs of holding back. That,” he declared, with an attempt at indignant resentment, “made me sore. Without my help in the beginning he never could have done a thing. Now he thinks he’s got me foul, he’s going to gobble everything. We’ll see about that! Perhaps it isn’t too late to stop him. Maybe we can do it, you and I. I’d like to show him.”

So the rascals had quarreled over the division of the spoils, as rascals so often do. And now one of them was ready to betray the other, if he could do so without disaster to himself. At the same time, he hoped to make an alliance with Lefty by which he might reap some actual benefit from his underhanded work. Suddenly Locke thought of another man who had been suspected of complicity.

“How about Parlmee?” he asked. “Where does he fit in? Did Garrity send him over the pond to wrench the control of the Blue Stockings from Collier?”

“I don’t know what Garrity has been doing with Parlmee,” Weegman confessed. “It was natural that I should want to turn Virginia against Parlmee, but I swear I didn’t know he was in this thing when I got the idea of making her believe he was. That was an inspiration that came to me all of a sudden. I had to keep her away from him. I faked up some evidence. She refused to believe at first. Then, by Jove, I found out that Garrity and Parlmee were really up to something. They’ve had dealings.”

Lefty’s heart, which had bounded high for a moment, sank heavily. After all, could it be true that two cleverer scoundrels had combined to work Weegman as a dupe? Had the confirmation of this fact helped Weegman to make up his mind to go back on Garrity? Was it not possible that this was the real cause of the quarrel between the worthy pair?

The southpaw continued to lead the other on. “What is Garrity’s scheme? What has he told you that he proposed to do?”

“Unless Collier receives outside assistance, Garrity’s got him cornered. Collier has met reverses generally. Garrity has got hold of a certain amount of Blue Stocking stock. Collier still holds enough to keep the balance of power, but he won’t hold it long. If he tries to his interest in the Northern Can Company will go to glory. Garrity has placed himself in a position to shake the old man out of that concern. If Collier loses that, he’s broke–a pauper. He can’t hang on, because he hasn’t the ready resources. He’ll have to sell his Blue Stockings stock to save Northern Can. If he had a hundred and fifty thousand dollars in ready cash he could pull through. It’ll take half of that to oust Garrity from Northern Can, and the other half is needed for the team. Garrity will put it up to him to-morrow. In the meantime, can you and I raise one hundred and fifty thousand?”

“You and I!” cried Lefty. “Not a dollar! Not a cent! How will Garrity put it up to Collier to-morrow? Collier is in–”

“Philadelphia!” cut in Weegman sharply.

The southpaw stared, thunderstruck. “Philadelphia! You mean that he’s in this country?”

“He arrived to-day, and took a train at once for Philadelphia. I cabled him to come, and to keep his coming secret. Those were Garrity’s orders.”

Locke sat down heavily, still staring at Weegman.