Murder Trail

CHAPTER XIX VENTURI EXPLAINS

“I SHALL start from the beginning, Mr. Faraday,” declared Victor Venturi, in a methodical tone. “It is wise that I should do so. Matters have arisen that make clear understanding highly important. You — yes, you as well as I — are confronted by grave danger.

“This danger, Mr. Faraday, involves the future of Aristide Ponjeau’s great dream — the World Court of Industry. Millions are at stake, my friend, and it is our duty to save them.”

“I divined as much,” interposed Faraday. “The cable from Ponjeau told me that danger lay ahead.”

“One year ago,” continued Venturi, “Monsieur Ponjeau, realizing that international cooperation would be necessary to world-wide prosperity, came to this country and visited ten men of great wealth. Each of those men promised to contribute two million dollars to the cause. The names of those men were not known to one another.

“The original intention of Monsieur Ponjeau was to visit the United States himself and obtain the money. He later decided to send me as his emissary. I came to New York. Here, I was to receive the list of millionaires; to visit each by appointment; to receive the funds from them.

“However, Monsieur Ponjeau again changed plans, almost at the last moment. He informed me that he had another emissary, a man in whom he had the utmost trust. He stated that this man was able to enter the United States unseen; on that account, it would be preferable for him to make the collections. Monsieur Ponjeau feared that some enemies might have divined his plan.

“A new mission was intrusted to me. I was to visit these millionaires after the collecting emissary had called. I did not learn the names; I was to receive them one by one after each had been visited. The first name was sent to me. I was amazed when I learned it. Winston Collister. That man had been murdered in his home a few days before!

“I informed Monsieur Ponjeau that something must have gone wrong. He sent me the name of the next man on the list. Sturgis Bosworth. I hurried to the man’s home. The fiend was there before me! Sturgis Bosworth was dead; I barely escaped with my life, for the fiend had placed assassins there to kill me!

“Since then, Mr. Faraday, I have been in hiding. I notified Monsieur Ponjeau. He sent me your name. He arranged an appointment before our enemy could reach you. This is Thursday; the fiend will not come here until to-morrow.”

Roberts Faraday nodded thoughtfully.

“Yes,” he said, “that is the time set for the appointment. I have been preparing for his visit. You are twenty-four hours ahead, Signor Venturi. But you come here merely to forestall — not to solve — the difficult riddle that confronts us.”

“I have come to confer.”

“Exactly. But how does that help us? Do you know the name of the criminal who has caused this trouble?”

Venturi shook his head.

“Then,” declared Faraday, “four millions of dollars have already been lost beyond recovery.”

“No!” exclaimed Venturi. “I cannot believe that those funds are irretrievable. If we can intercept our enemy to-morrow night — perhaps we can turn the tables upon him, Mr. Faraday!”

It was Faraday now who shook his head.

“From what you say, Signor Venturi,” he remarked, “this enemy knows that you are upon his trail. You encountered him at Sturgis Bosworth’s. You managed to escape his toils. He will be a thousand times more wary, to-morrow night—”

“Yes,” interrupted Venturi, “but you will not give him the millions. There must be no money here. We must lay a clever snare. You understand?”

“He will suspect a snare,” stated Faraday. “How do you know, Signor Venturi, that he will come here at all? Perhaps he will eliminate me from the list—”

“Ah, no! He does not dare! He must keep each appointment; otherwise some waiting man might communicate with Monsieur Aristide Ponjeau. You see? I am trying to consider it from the enemy’s view—”

“He may be satisfied with the four million that he has already taken.”

“Let us hope so,” stated Venturi quietly. “Then the sixteen millions will still be ours. Ah, Mr. Faraday, I have thought long upon this. Our enemy cannot afford to miss a single link in the chain. To-morrow night will be the crisis. If our enemy fails to appear at this house, it will be a sign of his weakness — an admission of defeat. We can charge four millions as a loss, and I can arrange to collect the rest of the contributions.

“But if he does appear here” — Venturi’s nervous face became tense and grim — “then it must be a battle to the death. Not only must we end the career of this fiend; we must also try to recover the funds that he has already stolen. Think of it! Monsieur Ponjeau’s dream of international prosperity — about to become a reality — shattered by a murderer!”

ROBERTS FARADAY held up his hand in interruption.

“Signor Venturi,” he declared, “we must not overlook any possibility. We are dealing with a shrewd schemer. You are right — we must prepare for him, to-morrow night. If he comes, it will mean a battle; but if he fails to come — what then? How will you proceed?”

“I shall notify Monsieur Ponjeau,” stated Venturi. “Look, sir” — Venturi paused to draw a paper from his pocket — “this is the very cablegram that I shall send him. It says: ‘The chain is broken. All is safe.’ In return, I shall receive the names of the other men, one by one. I shall become the new emissary. With my credentials, I shall go the rounds, in place of the man who was slain.”

“But if the enemy reappears?”

“I shall be prepared for him. Monsieur Ponjeau places full reliance in me; but he will take no chances. When he receives this message, he will dispatch secret agents to aid me. They will be on hand — watching — guarding — ready to frustrate all enemies. We did not need them when we thought that secrecy was in operation.”

“I understand,” said Faraday, with a nod. “You are alone at present; but you can obtain powerful aid. This cablegram covers matters if the crook does not appear. But suppose, Signor Venturi, that you and I are able, to-morrow night, to apprehend this man whom you term a fiend. Suppose that we should end his evil career?”

Victor Venturi’s eyes were gleaming at the happy thought. From his pocket, he drew forth another paper and showed the message to the millionaire.

“This coded message,” explained Venturi, “states that our enemy is dead. I hope to send it to Monsieur Ponjeau, to-morrow night. Should Monsieur Ponjeau receive this message, he will leave all to me. There will be no need for secret agents to protect me. I shall simply keep the regular appointments upon receiving the list from Monsieur Ponjeau.

“Upon receiving the list” — Venturi was repeating the words slowly — “unless I do not need the list. It would be my delight, Mr. Faraday, to take the credentials and the list from the fiend himself. He will have them with him if he comes here to collect your share to-morrow night.”

“If he comes to-morrow night,” said Faraday softly. “Do you think, Signor Venturi, that he might come before to-morrow night?”

Venturi’s brow clouded. This suggestion was something that the Italian had not considered. Venturi shifted uneasily in his chair; despite his optimism, he was forced to consider the possibility that Faraday had offered.

“We are in danger,” added the millionaire. “If the enemy has watched you closely, Signor Venturi, he may know that you are here at present. You have explained important facts to me, signor; I, in turn, shall explain some to you.

“I received a letter from Monsieur Ponjeau yesterday. He mentioned matters which I was instructed to tell to you. Acting upon his information, I was fortunate enough to gather additional data. I shall tell you, now, the exact dangers which we face.”

From a desk drawer, Faraday withdrew several sheets of crinkling paper, in different sizes and colors. Referring to these documents, the millionaire began to speak in a calm, steady voice. Victor Venturi listened to the words in amazement.

Other men were listening also. Bart Shallock and Bumps Jaffrey were in readiness, beyond the door — waiting there, to serve the cause of Crix!