The Silver Bullet

he felt so much better that he would not go abroad. "I have a new idea for a novel," wrote Joyce, "and now that I have the leisure, I intend

p-mother. It was not that he regretted her the less, but he was sensible enough to see that it was foolish to weep over an irremediable misfortune. He therefore took Herrick's advice and threw himself with ardour into fitting himself out with

finishing this necessary business, he went off to Robin's flat. The arrangement and discussion with Grant had taken up the best part of the afternoon, and it was close upon seven when Herrick found time to see his friend. At first he hesitated, and half made up his mind to put it off until the next day. But as he was in the neighbourhood, he finally decided to go, and sent a wire to Marsh that he would not be home until ten o'clock. He intended to ask Joyce for a meal, making sure that he would be welcome. Yet strange to say, Robin was not so hearty as Herrick expected. Perhaps he had not got over his

tter led me to hope Robin," said Herrick

kly. "But of course I have been working hard

d Herrick, who once had been a kind

n impression as a whole. This will be my master-piece. Besides," he added glancing at the

oming will not upset yo

air of constraint that did not escape Herrick. "You are

companion and doctor for the time being.

our practice?

ractice that it is not worth my while to stick to i

hat Marsh

this to anyone else. I stay with Marsh for three years. In this way I shall be able to s

ully and shaking his friend by the hand. "Marsh must be well

ore or less by Colonel Carr, his late uncle. But tha

ound out who kil

but the man has disappeared. When he is caught we shall k

epared to offer an opinion. The fact is I am so busy with my book that I have put

Oh, I have seen a

are still

tic adoration that will not resist the wear and tear of life. I hope some day if Miss Endicotte will allow me

you would not contemplate with equanimity the idea of an intr

o. But he saw that Joyce did not mean any harm, so turned off the remark with a laugh. "She

ce shrewdly. "Your luke-warm affection

truth in this remark. He was glad when a ring came to the door and interrupted a conv

lled Don Manu

gathers with that nationality in

introduced me to him. Here he

ever as the man was the guest of Joyce, he felt compelled to behave at least politely. All the same kno

Santiago. And this Se?or,

er, if nothing worse. He was not tall, and he was very lean. His face was swarthy; he had a hook nose, a black moustache, and a pair of restless shifty dark eyes. Accurately dressed in an evening suit, he

Manuel in good English but with a foreign

surprised. Robin also shared his

me you knew Herrick!" said he, a

never mentioned between us. But if I am not mistaken," said he addressing himself d

who knew Carr, was like fiction. Had the incident occurred in a novel, he would have put it down as a freak of imaginat

lied Santiago quietly, "we knew

at Bess had said about Frisco's tales of

u together--on

expedition?" as

is the sort of expedition we

of learning sufficient of the man's wild life in the Americas

hen I came over six months ago, I heard of him, and intended to pay him a visit. But I put

k fixing his eyes on the man. "D

"Frisco was after my time,

ut his wandering life. It was incredible that if such was the case (and Jim preferred to believe Frisco rather than

easure-hunti

of the Conquest. Carr got wind of a hiding place from some one--an Indian I believe

und the

olonel Carr was

remember Herrick, how astonished we we

icularly to hear what Santiago had to say. "But Se?or Manuel, if you started on this sear

yes flashed. "If you would know the re

with a short laugh.

did Carr do? He left me to the care of the Indians, and pushed on himself. That was the last I saw of the devil. For two years I was held captive amongst the Indians and barely escaped with my life. I hunted for Carr when I got to Callao; but he had disappeared. I traced him to Mexico. He vanished from Vera Cruz. I was w

said Herrick wondering if all this was a lie.

Jim's eyes rested for a moment. "I k

tle interest to you," said the Don with a sn

lood rushing to his face. "So far, I am interested in your stor

but as he spoke there was a nasty glitter in his eyes, "I cannot tell yo

an might have had something to do with the murder. Of all strange circumstances that Herrick had stumbled upon t

n enjoy. As he bent forward over the spirit lamp, Jim saw by the touch of grey on his temples and the wrinkles down the side of his neck that the man was much older than he had thought. At the first glance Santiago looked

fe of hair-breadth escapes. South America he knew from Quito to the Horn, and had explored the unknown portions at the risk of his life. He had been captive to Indians, he had been tortured--Herrick noted that his left ear was missing--and he had been almost frozen while ascending Chimborazo. The

over Europe. Yes, Se?or, when I made money--and I have made a great deal--I came always to Europe to spend it. T

e reasons did not give vent to this opinion. He said aloud, "I suppos

cape all the dangers of the tropics, and then to die in a quiet little English village. Strange! To be sure tho

harply, "I thought you

s a devil worse than Carr, if that can be possible. They were attached to one another but quarrelled--Oh,

the criss-cross slash on Frisco's face which had been descr

ely expressed hope that he would meet Herrick again. When the Mexican was gone, Joyce turned eagerly to his friend and asked what he

cent fellow. His only vice is gamblin

sharper. Where does h

arrot Club. Very few people know a

antiago there," s

im at the Apollo Club--that is respectable enough I hope? And

ly, if that man gets you into trouble don't blame me. He will probably induce you

d good-night Herrick went away, sorry to see that his friend was in such bad company. He regarded Don Manuel as a rook and Joyce as a

Joyce had fallen also in Herrick's estimation; for as a man he could not compare with Marsh. Not for the first time Dr. Jim began to think there was something sly and evil about Robin. Hitherto, he had been too much taken up with the man's nerves t

at, "why did you not go to bed man? Sitting up

came home," said Stephen, "you know I

Well Marsh, I have arranged about the

are sure you do not

"I never made so much in all my medical life. Not to ment

Frith and Frith to talk about business

een dining with him, and I do not think he is improved. Frit

my talk about the

What do you mean?

ng his pipe, "but the fact is Colonel Carr allowed Mrs. Joyce

this was just the sum Robin said he

ever called to see Mrs. Joyce; he never wrote her a letter. But

hen it ceased

shed to know if I had found anything amongst my uncle's papers likely to show w

nd had been informed of his income. Why had Robin told a lie? "I suppose," said the doctor after a

se I told him that I knew nothing about the matter and woul

ou to pay him anything. Did Joyc

as not been since. They told him then

was two months later we were on that walking tour! Did not Joy

he called. He has not been near them

ctor. "I have had rather a tur