The Pit Prop Syndicate

ther the intellectual joy of solving a difficult problem for its own sake, nor the kudos which such a solution might bring, made much appeal to him. His concern was simply the happiness of t

penal servitude, and did his daughter know it? The anxious, troubled look which Merriman had on different occasions surprised on the girl's expressive face made him fear both these possibilities. But if they were true did it stop there? Was her disquietude d

the terrible feeling of impotence produced by his ignorance of the syndicate's real

ad failed, and neither they nor Leatham had been able to

no doubt be able to make something of that. But Merriman felt that without even t

errible objections to this plan, not the least of which was that if he made a blunder it might be irrevocable. She might not hear him at all. She might be displeased by his SUGGESTION that she and her father were in danger from such a cause

ind he was not easily turned from his purpose, but he was slow in making it up. In t

he continued wrestling with his problem, and it was not until he was near his destination that he arrived at a decision. He woul

oss to the city, put up at the Gironde Hotel. There he slept th

ntinued on foot down the lane and past the

d for a moment quite motionless while a look of dismay appeared in her eyes

She still stood holding the door, as

ad pulled

gently. "I have come over from Lon

teppe

ng an obvious effort to infuse cordi

by the time he followed her into the dra

d in the same strain, but directly he made a serious attempt to turn th

said presently, getting up

Miss Coburn, not an

ng. "Come, you may help me to get it ready,

ented any serious discussion. But when the meal was over and they had o

g you, but it's so desperately important to me. And

imself, boggling over the words, he yet made himself clear. He loved her; had loved her from that first da

n't say it!" She made a despairing gestu

old weight was slowly d

stake. Don't tell me you can't listen. Madeleine! I love you. I

s before her and seize

cely. "I love you enough for us

she cried as if heartbroken, and burs

ened beyond endur

!" he gasped. "Now

! Nothing matters about anyt

e pleaded with her. But soon he pulled himsel

know I've no right to ask, but it matters so mu

head faintly b

yway. Tell me once again. I

e shook

breathlessly. "You do, Madele

olute effort f

remulous whisper. In a paroxysm of ove

zing her hands, "you don't-it couldn't

her eyes to his, and in them he read his answer. In a mome

s, and then the moment passed. "Oh!" she cried, struggling to r

"I'll never let you go as long as I l

ce more flowing. "I was wrong. I should

ghed s

one, it is. I'd like to know the per

n a voice of despair. "You don't

be told the nature of the barrier, then he besought, but all t

he realized that he had entirely forgotten it! He had forgotten this mysterious business which had occupied his

relief, so that once more he all

just nothing at all. It's this syndicate business that yo

, while the color slowly drained from her face, leaving it bleached and deathlike. A look o

brokenly, "what do

once more to

e syndicate is carrying on something that-well, perhaps wouldn't bear too close

ed transfixed

repeated dull

terested; Hilliard has a mania for puzzles, and besides he thought he might get some kudos if the business was illegal a

able to frame the sylla

the exact truth. Whether she would consider he had acted improperly in spying on the syndicate he d

u can help, and I will tell you everything. You remember that first day

no

nd that I stopped and stared at it? Well, I had

aimed, "I was

has a mania for puzzles, and the mystery appealed to him. He was going on that motorboat tour across France, and he suggested that I should join him and that we should call here on our way, so as to see if we could find the solution. Neither of us thought then, you understan

eyes were fixed intently on his fac

nd without telling me, he slipped on board the Girondin and overheard a conversation between Mr. Coburn, Captain Beamish, Mr

spying," she dec

only say that under the circumsta

she order

y to find out more about it. This time I agreed, but I would ask you, Madeleine, to believe me when I tell you my motive, and to judge me by it. He spoke of reporting what he had learned to the police, and if I hadn't ag

e said, "but finish wh

We went there and at Ferriby, seven miles up-stream, we found

ook he

de all the inquiries and investigations we could think of, but we learned absolutely nothing. But that, unfort

tient gesture. "Why can't he let

hrugged hi

e even to delay. But he has promised, and we have a month to make our plans. I came straig

her hand as if to shield herself from th

d. "We will tell him the whole thing, and he w

nce; then she asked had Hilliard

ut it was only a theory. There wa

ling? Oh, if

stared in

hat I had feared," the girl

-? Do trust m

I know; it isn't much. I was afraid they

s genuinely

y?" he repe

sending some to England with each trip of the Girondin. It was a remark I accidentall

" Merrima

rkness. The door between it and this room was almost but not quite closed. I must have fallen asleep, for I suddenly became conscious of voices in here, though I had h

was the natur

rds. 'So that's a profit of six thousand, seven hundred and fifty pounds,' he said; 'fifty pounds

aimed in amazement. "

r connections to get rid of it.' Then Mr. Bulla spoke, and this was what upset me so much and made me think, 'Mr. Archer is a wonderful man,' he said with that horrible fat chuckle of his, 'he would plant stuff on Old Nick himself with the whole of the C.I.D. looking on.' I was bewildered and rather horrified, and I did not wait to hear any more. I crept away noiselessly, and I didn't want to be found as it were listen

erriman exclai

he hated and which he was trying to get out of. He said I must be patient and we should get away from it as quickly as possible. But since then,"

thought of the

ink of anything else that would fit the words I had overhear

e in the hall and Madel

ered breathlessly.

tood looking at his daughter's visitor, while the emotions of doubt, surprise and annoyance seemed to pass suc

nce more to our humble abode. And where is brother Hill

London. I had business bringing me to this neighborhood, and when I reach

eneral. As soon as he could with civility, Merriman rose to

learing. Merriman had had no opportunity of further private conversation with Made

ed that she loved him. Incredible thought! He smiled ecstatically, then, the sense of loss returning, once more gazed gloomily ahead into vacancy. As the evening wore on his thoughts turned towards what she had said about the syndicate. Her forged note theory had come to him as a complete surprise, and he wondered whether she really had hit on the true solution of the mystery. The conversation she had o

the ordinary routes. Hundreds of notes could be sewn into the lining of an overcoat, thousands carried in the double bottom of a suitcase. Of course, so frequent a traveller would require a plausible reason for his journeys, but that would present no difficulty to men like those composing the syndicate. I

d several strong arguments against it, and he felt that Madele

e wanted nothing else. His thoughts swung back to her as he had seen her that afternoon; her trim figure, her daintiness, her brown eyes clouded with troub

step should be, and he soon decided he must see

he clearing. This time the door was opened by an elderly servant, who handed hi

away, and in the solitude of the

ri

to you, dear Mr. Merriman, 'Good-bye.' I have enjoyed our short friendship, and all my life I shall be proud that you spoke as you did, but, my dear, it is just because I think so much of you that I co

not to give both of us more pain by trying to fol

incere

eine C

, gripping the note and unconscious of his position, while his bloodless lips repeated over and over agai

hotel in Bordeaux, and there, for the first time