The Garaucan Swindle

CHAPTER XIX. THE LAW MOVES

“HERE, behind this bookcase.”

The speaker was Tobias Hildreth. He was standing in his library. The banker was talking to Detective Sergeant Markham. He was explaining why he had required the services of a man from headquarters.

“I shall be in the study,” continued Hildreth. “The closet in the corner is always locked and I have the key. I shall be inside the closet to-night, ready to unlock it from the inside.”

“And Jodelle?” inquired Markham.

“Jodelle is already stationed,” explained Hildreth. “That is why you have not seen him. He is in the hallway, outside the side door that leads into the study.”

“I see.”

“Lowdy will usher Wilking into the study, through this room. You, of course, are going to be out of sight. When Lowdy comes back, he will close the door.”

“Then I move up?”

“Yes. To the study door. Thus there will be three of us — all behind doors. I shall be in the closet; Jodelle in the hall; you in the library.”

“You will move first?”

“Yes. I shall allow a few minutes. I believe that my niece has told everything to Wilking. He will find the combination of the vault. He will open the door. Meanwhile, I shall softly unlock the door of the closet to peer out.

“I shall challenge Wilking. You and Jodelle will then come to my aid. I hope that I can rely upon you, Markham. I wanted Cardona to come here, because much will depend upon exact testimony.”

“Count on me, Mr. Hildreth. If Wilking tries to pull anything, we’ll nab him with the goods.”

“It is a matter for the law. Jodelle told me that after I talked to my niece last night. I realized that I made a mistake in telling her so much. So the only thing to do was to turn it all into a trap for Wilking.”

A muffled bell sounded. Hildreth pushed Markham behind the bookcase. The millionaire scurried into the study. The bell rang again, impatiently. Soon Lowdy appeared, conducting Wally Wilking through the library into the study.

AS soon as the servant had lumbered back toward the front hall, Markham crept from behind the bookcase. Lowdy had closed the door to the study. A clock in the library began its chiming while Markham was moving forward. It was giving the three-quarter hour. It lacked fifteen minutes to nine o’clock.

Wally Wilking was pale and nervous as he stood in Hildreth’s study. He held his cigarette holder between his lips, but he was not smoking. The young man let his right hand slip into his coat pocket. He went toward the closet and tried the door with his left. Then he came back to the desk.

Wally opened the top drawer on the right. He found the cigar box and fished among the perfectos until he gained the card he sought. He went to the door of the vault. Studying the combination, he began to turn the knob. The vault opened.

A satisfied gasp came from Wilking’s tense lips. He reached out with his right hand and pulled open the small drawer that bore the letter W. He snatched a stack of papers and turned back into the room. He laid the papers on the desk and began to paw through them.

A slight click made Wilking look up. The door of the closet had opened. There stood Tobias Hildreth, holding a revolver in his hand. The banker was quivering with excitement as he voiced his challenge.

“What are you up to, Wilking?”

Wally sprang clear of the desk, toward the side door of the room. He shot his hand to his coat pocket, just as Hildreth pounced upon him. As he flashed a revolver into view, Wally gave a poke with his left hand. As Hildreth staggered, two doors swung open. Gorton Jodelle bounded in from one; Detective Sergeant Markham from the other.

WALLY had made no attempt to shoot Hildreth. It was the sight of the banker’s gun that had made him draw his own. But the fact that Wally had a revolver in hand brought Jodelle and Markham swiftly on him. Wally went down under the attack, as Jodelle, the nearer of his assailants, wrenched the revolver from his hand.

“Help Mr. Hildreth!” exclaimed the investigator, as he pinioned Wally’s arms. “I’ve got Wilking!”

Markham turned. Hildreth had slumped to the floor. Wally’s blow had staggered the portly banker; but Hildreth was coming to his feet as Markham sought to aid him. When Markham again turned round, he saw Wally Wilking rising to his feet while Jodelle covered the young man with a revolver.

“You’ll want this,” said Jodelle, handing Markham a second gun with his left hand. “That’s the gat I took away from him. Put it in your pocket.”

Markham carried the weapon to the light. He studied it momentarily; then dropped it in his left pocket with a nod. Coming back, he spoke to Hildreth.

“Want me to take him down to headquarters?” questioned the detective sergeant. “Attempted burglary, concealed deadly weapons — that’s plenty to hold him on.”

He eyed Wally Wilking as the young man slumped into a chair. All fight seemed gone from him. Jodelle lowered his own gun and stood by.

“No,” declared Hildreth, “it would be better to hold him here. I should like to have Detective Cardona come here; also Commissioner Barth. They might want to quiz Wilking on this very spot.”

Markham nodded. He picked up the telephone and called headquarters, while Jodelle kept an eye on Wilking. After a short interval, Markham announced that Cardona was not there. He jiggled the hook for another number.

A response. Markham began to talk. His eyes stared; he nodded without realizing it. When he finished explaining what had happened, he thumped the telephone on the desk and spoke in an excited tone.

“Do you know what number that was?” he questioned. “The one they gave me at headquarters? It was Dobey Blitz’s. Dobey Blitz, the big shot. He’s been murdered!”

“Dobey Blitz!” exclaimed Jodelle.

“Yeah, Dobey Blitz,” repeated Markham. “Somebody got in there and plugged him. One shot, right through the heart, Cardona says. Joe can’t get away yet, but he’s calling the commissioner, telling him to come over here. Joe will be along later.”

Markham strolled over to the chair where Wally Wilking was seated. He ordered the young man to rise.

Markham fished out a pair of handcuffs.

“You’ll look good in these bracelets,” he commented. “Stick out your dukes and try ‘em on.”

Wally shrank back, as though in horror. Jodelle stepped over with a disdainful laugh, while Markham pressed the cuffs toward the prisoner.

IT was then that Wally acted as he had with Hildreth. He had fooled Markham by cowering away; his next move was a swift, powerful jab of his left fist.

The punch caught Markham in the stomach. The detective sergeant crumpled from the blow. As Jodelle, momentarily startled, began to raise his revolver, Wally plastered a heavy right to the investigator’s jaw.

The wallop sent Jodelle up against the wall.

No one blocked the way to the side door. Only Hildreth was at hand to stop the prisoner’s escape. The banker had pocketed his revolver. The weapon caught as he tried to yank it forth. Before Markham could draw a gun; before either Hildreth or Jodelle could fire, Wally Wilking had dashed away through the rear hall.

The young man knew his way through the house. The start that he had gained was sufficient. Jodelle had left the door open; Wally slammed it as he bolted. The same with a door at the end of the hall. When the pursuers passed that barrier they ran into a side door that led to a driveway beside the house. Wally had slammed the last barrier.

Jodelle and Markham reached the driveway. Hildreth switched on an outside light. There was no sign of the prisoner. Wally had ducked through the next street and was on his way.

With handcuffs dangling from his fist, Markham angrily yanked a police whistle. He was about to blow it when Jodelle stopped him. The investigator spoke hoarsely to the detective sergeant.

“Don’t chase him!” exclaimed Jodelle. “I know where he’s going! You can have him trapped there.”

“Where?” questioned Markham.

“To Dunwood Marrick’s,” stated Jodelle. “The two are in cahoots. It was Marrick who backed Wilking.”

“Where does Marrick live?”

“Over near Dobey Blitz’s place. Call up Dobey’s. Cardona is still there. I’ll talk to him. I’ll tell him how to head off Wilking.”

The two joined Hildreth and hurried back into the study. Markham called Cardona. Jodelle gave Marrick’s address. After the call, they settled down to wait, anxious because the police commissioner might arrive before Cardona had reported back.

DUNWOOD MARRICK was pacing his living room when he heard a commotion outside the door. An excited man brushed his way past Marrick’s servant. The banker recognized Wally Wilking.

“What’s the matter?” questioned Marrick, when they were alone.

“They caught me,” responded Wally, out of breath.

“Where?” demanded Marrick. “At Hildreth’s?”

“Yes.”

“Did you get the papers?”

“I had them; but I lost them. There was a man there from headquarters. Going to put handcuffs on me. I poked him in the ribs and cleared out.”

“You’re a fool!” snarled Marrick. “You’re a fugitive from the law. Why did you come here?”

“Where else could I have gone?”

“Anywhere. You could have called me. I would have helped you out. But now you’ve given them a trail — a real trail — straight to me.”

Marrick swung to the safe. He fumbled with the combination. He got it open. He yanked forth stacks of securities and piled them into a suitcase that he pulled into view. He closed the safe and twisted the knob.

“What are you going to do?” gasped Wilking.

“Clear out,” responded Marrick, grimly. “Give you a chance to save your foolish hide. I’ve got a plane no one knows about. We’ll take it.”

“Where?”

“To Canada. You can head for the tall timber. I can come back. My story will be that I was on a vacation. I haven’t even seen you. I’ll stow these stocks and bonds out in Chicago.”

Marrick grabbed Wilking by the arm. He picked up the bag with the other hand. He shouted for the servant and made a gesture toward the back door.

“Get out,” he ordered. “Don’t come back until to-morrow. You weren’t here at all to-night. Understand?”

The servant nodded. He headed for the rear of the apartment. Marrick swept Wilking to the front door and yanked the barrier open. Both men stopped short. The bag dropped.

Outside the door, ready with leveled gun, was Detective Joe Cardona. With him were two other men from headquarters. Joe motioned Marrick and Wilking out into the hall. He picked up the bag that Marrick had dropped.

“Come along,” ordered the detective. “We’re going back to Hildreth’s. The police commissioner wants to have a chat with you fellows.”