The Pit Prop Syndicate

ended to the cabin and turned in. Merriman was asleep,

ture through which he had passed, and the discovery which he had made. He therefore pu

at some secret and mysterious business was being carried on by this syndicate. Not only, therefore, was he justified in all he had done up to the present, but it w

a, and Morton, who had been asked to make inquiries as to himself and Merriman. Madeleine Coburn's name had also been mentioned, and Hilliard wondered whether she could be a member. Like his companion he could not believe that she would be willingly involved, b

unless the prize was worth having. It was unlikely that 1,000 pounds a year would compensate any one of them for the risk. But that would mean a

er those other operations from which the money came. But when Hilliard came to ask hims

and as he pondered it he saw that there really was something to be said

corporation. The sum would be too big a proportion of the income of a moderate-sized firm for the matter to remai

overnment? And how could a government be more easily defrauded than by smuggling? Here

operations. The ostensible trade also, the blind under which the thing was worked, was a transport trade. If brandy smuggling were in progress

d have been found for the venture than this country round about Bordeaux. As one of the staple p

that of brandy smuggling could meet the facts? Hilliard could not think o

had seen nothing which in the slightest degree supported the theory, nor had

They were evidently too far committed to hesitate over fresh crime to keep their secret. If he

n amateur at the game, it seemed well-nigh impossible. And particularly he found himself handicapped by the intimate terms with the Coburns on which he and Merriman found themselves.

as sure of it. No longer had he any doubt that the object was to get him out of the way, to create that very obs

k leave of the Coburns the better. Besides this question of handicap, he was af

parently honest in all his dealings. Could he dissemble sufficiently to hide his knowledge from his hosts? In particular could he deceive Madeleine? Hilliard doubted it. He felt

em once get away from the neighborhood, and he could share his discoveries

friend would strenuously oppose any plan involving separation from Mad

lared ungrammatically. "It's not good enough to be acc

ra by the following Friday, and let it go at that. He did not refer again to the subject until they reached

d Merriman, t

used himself from joining the party on the ground of business, but Captain Beamish had taken his place, and had proved himself a surprisingly entertaining c

een met with a chorus of regrets, but though these sounded hearty enoug

the meal, saying he had waited on the wharf to see the loading completed, and that all the cargo w

liard remarked. "We must start early, t

was careful to monopolize the manager's attention, so as to give Merriman his innings with the girl. His friend did not tell h

Girondin coming down-stream. They exchanged hand waves with Captain Beamish on the bridge, then, s

ose and fell gently to the flat ocean swell. They were running up the coast about four miles out, and except for the Girondin, now almost hull down to the north-west, they had the sea to themselves. It was hot enough to make the breeze

own again after one of these interruptions. "Jo

e can appreciate it. But you don'

ed absently, and then, swinging rou

tell you that will interest you, b

laughed c

anyway," he declared. "

excitement arising in him as he thought

ogy. I quite deliberately deceived you up at the clearing, or rather I withheld from you knowledge that

ll

arf after we had left the Coburns? You thought my suspicions

ept nothing back; even the reference to Madeleine he repeated as nearly word for word as possible, finally giving a

eine. How did the situation affect her? Was she in trouble? In danger? Was she so entangled that s

? Surely it can't be criminal? They,"-he hesitated slightly, and Hilli

k the bull b

dy I don't for a moment believe," he declared, "b

ok his head

don't remember, but after he had learned who we were he turned round to pull up a chair. He looked at you; I saw his face in a mirror. Hilliard, it was the face of a-I was go

rd replied. "We needn't blink at it, Merriman. Whether willingly or unwil

it? Have yo

that I mentioned before. I suggest it because I can su

boat slid over the smooth water. Then with a ch

leave it alone? Is it o

sories, and besides we leave tha

and once more silence reigne

mething in

our investigations until we learn what is going on, or

de a gestur

he cried. "Anything ra

antly on the long

directly? Don't think I mean to be impertinent-God knows I don't-but am I not right in

, looking intently at the stem of the mast, "but if it's necess

d as we can't leave the thing, we must go on with our own inquiry. I would suggest that if we find out their sch

y," Merriman said doubtfully.

think we can do no more good here at pres

other

re anything but fools, and the second is that they already suspect us and will keep a watch on us. A hundred to one they make inqui

t's

ul mess of things by calling on the Coburns or letting Mr. Cobur

ely. "We didn't know then there was anything wrong

the launch has served its purpose. We can't use it here because the people at the clearing know it, and we

thout speaking and

stante letters recalling us. You can enclose a note to Miss Coburn if you like. When we get to town we can apply at the Inquiry Office at Lloyd's to find out w

rdeaux. We may have to come back, and it would furnis

ul-but because of its indication of Merriman's frame of mind. He had feared that because of Miss Coburn's connection with the affair he would lose his friend's he

on, that," he an

orry numbers. It may be a trivial point, but it's the only direct and definite thing we know of. All the rest are hints or suspicions or probabilities

t there is the question of our being suspects. I believe we shall be watched out of the plac

n detail, at last deciding to adopt Hilliard's SUGGESTION a

d it was well on to seven o'clock when they made fast to the same decaying wharf from which they had set out. Hilliard saw the owner, and arranged with him to let the launch lie at one

heir plans, "I believe we can find out about the Girondin now. My neighbor on the next landin

or is supposed to give, information about everything over a hundred tons that floats anywhere over the entire globe. It'll give the Girondin anyway." He ran his fi

an remarked laconically. "A

that before we're through, it seems to me,"

on, provided I have a good s

illed his pipe. "I suppose Hull by a

riend's pouch and refil

m not so sure. Seems to me we can very ea

w s

tly our visit to them is over, we change our plans and leave Bordeaux. Will

We gave a good re

your office. But what about that man Morton, that was to spy on us be

sat up

ried. "I never

hang about, the fellow in charge there sees us. Well, that's all right if he hasn't had a letter fr

rd whi

ng to be so simple

we can't afford to make any

p and began to

agely. "I'm going through with

. All I say is we shall have to show

ask for an extension of leave, then hang about and interview as many of his colleagues as possible, telling them he had been recalled, but was not now r

nothing seriously wrong, and Edwards expected to be back at work in three or four days, but until his return Merriman was required, and he had reluctantly to telephone the news to Hilliard. But no part of their combined holiday was lost. Hilliard by a stroke o

tination a little before eleven. There they took rooms at the Geo