The Secret of Steeple Rocks

  CHAPTER XVIII

  THE NET IS SPREAD

  The girls found Elizabeth up and greatly worried. She had gone to bedand fallen asleep, she said, waking at midnight to find that they hadnot come in. "If Dalton had not needed his sleep so much, I would havewakened him," she said.

  Again the sleepy girls told the story, gathering up the details in theprocess and filling in what Beth did not know. "But we have passed theresponsibility over to Mr. Tudor, Beth. He thinks that more proof isnecessary, too. We've found out more than enough for poor little Peggy,though she is the stoutest little piece you ever saw. One thing, shedoes not like her step-father, or trust him, and she sees that he makesMrs. Ives miserable. Mr. Tudor asked if she would be likely to warn herstep-father and of course, we could not know. So far she has not saidanything to her mother."

  "Do you suppose that Mr. Tudor will do anything?" asked Beth, very muchinterested.

  "I don't know. He said that he would talk to Dalton and to you. I'd saywait till they get here, anyhow. We surely are going to watch for thatschooner, Beth,--but not to-night!"

  On the very next day another young man arrived at Evan Tudor's camp.Largely for Bill's benefit, a heavy package marked manuscript was mailedby Mr. Tudor from the village post office. When Tom arrived that daywith the regular supply of fish, he was told that he might make hisreport in the presence of the other young man. He did so, showing somemoney that Bill had paid him for the trip, a sum which Tom had inwardlyhesitated to take, feeling like a traitor. He spoke of his feeling inthe matter, but Mr. Tudor assured him that he must seem to be a part ofthe smuggler group. "You may even have to be arrested with the rest,though if there is any resisting, get out of range! Can you meet that?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "Our people will be instructed about you, and you have only to tell whoyou are. I'm not anticipating any war. Things are coming to a climaxnow. Have you any information about the schooner that is bringing in theimmigrants?"

  "Yes, sir. Mr. Ives is out with the yacht now. He is expecting to takethem off the schooner some distance out, but the yacht has trouble withthe engine and they may have to dock her. In that case they'll bringwhat Bill calls the big bugs to the yacht, by the launch, of course, andtake the rest into the cave till they can get them 'distributed.' Thatis what Mr. Ives calls it. I saw him. He came in to Bill's on thelaunch, about ten o'clock last night."

  Mr. Tudor had also seen him, but he did not mention the fact to Tom."Does Mr. Ives know that you are in this with Bill?"

  "Yes, sir. He asked me questions and gave me a ten dollar bill. I feellike a Judas."

  "Remember what he is and you will not feel so. You can give the moneyback later, if you like."

  The more puzzling part of this matter to Mr. Tudor was to make nomistake about having the government officers and men on hand at theright time. With careful scouts out on land and sea to guard againstsurprise when the schooner actually arrived, Mr. Ives and Bill would bethoroughly informed about any suspicious movements. But an innocentlooking hunting and fishing party had just arrived at a camp a few milesaway, and a few miles down the coast a small passenger vessel had putin, apparently for repairs. A regular coast guard steamer had passed aswell and had duly been reported to Bill and Mr. Ives, who were feelingnone too easy about this next cargo of aliens to be smuggled in. Butthousands of dollars were already in their pockets and they expected tomake as much again.

  Patriotism? Bill had been smuggled in himself years before, and Mr. Ivesoften told his wife that he owed nothing to Uncle Sam or the flag. Hewas a brilliant scoundrel, thoroughly selfish and of the type thatenjoys intrigue and power. The Count had been embittered by the resultsof the world war and was glad to do what he could against the countryand its laws. Some of the alien immigrants themselves were to be pitied,though they were lending themselves to this scheme. Many of them werecaught in some unhappy circumstances at home and cared nothing forgovernments, only for a refuge.

  Others were of the dangerous class of communists that were willing topay and pay heavily for the chance to spread their doctrines in acountry that wanted none of them. Then there were the ignorant ones, of"low degree," who believed almost anything that they were told of thechances in America. They were to be largely Bill's prey, robbed of theirsavings and forced to work for him if he chose. That was the "fineopportunity" waiting for them in America!

  The new man with Mr. Tudor carried the messages now, at night, for itwas no longer best to telegraph from the nearest town. After the sendingof the manuscript, the two men now spent long hours in fishing or intramping about after the manner of tourists. They took notes inprominent places, to carry out the idea of their profession, and,indeed, both of them were correspondents for certain papers. Mr. Tudortold Beth that his "best seller" could more easily be a detective storythan anything else.

  Dalton was admitted to councils now, but he was more anxious to get onwith the house than to do any detective work. The chief benefit to himwas the knowledge that someone else was watching Bill and Mr. Ives. Hisfamily was safe without his being on guard any longer. Like magic,Leslie said, the house went up and it was decided to finish it withinand without for cold weather. They would at least have what Saritacalled a "proper home" and if they wanted to stay through part of thecold weather they could.

  At night watch was kept in the Eyrie, as they had planned, for now itwas but a short time till the schooner was due. On the twenty-sixth theIves yacht came into the bay and men were sent for to fix some part ofthe machinery. Mr. Ives, "cross as two sticks," according to Peggy,appeared at his home and had long consultations with the Count. At othertimes he could be heard pacing up and down in his office. "He hassomething on hand that worries him terribly, Peggy," Mrs. Ives told herdaughter, "and just at the time of the house party, too! He says thatperhaps the yacht will not be ready in time to go for them, but that ifit isn't he will get them here some other way."

  Peggy did not confide this to the other girls. She had stopped talkingabout the matter. It was not fun any more. They missed her at the Eyrie,for while Jack came as usual, still interested in the house and Dalton,and still wanting to confide in Leslie the matters of the Steeple Rocksmystery, now a mystery no longer, Peggy tried to seem interested in herclothes and the plans for the house party. Would it come off? Would Mr.Tudor tell? He didn't talk as if he would right away. What ought she todo about telling her mother?

  Peggy's mind was somewhat in confusion. The servants were quiet,inclined to watch Peggy, she imagined. It would have been hard to findopportunity for the secret talk with her mother which she rather longedfor sometimes. She and Jack did not attempt to discuss the matter andMr. Ives asked Jack to drop his "carpenter work" at the Eyrie. Once,while they were playing tennis, Jack muttered to Peggy, "No use, can'tdo a thing now, Peggy. We'll just wait."

  A very pleasant thing happened at the Secrest camp in the shape of asurprise for Sarita. Through Mr. Tudor, Tom Carey sent her a package inwhich was her lost glass. Tom had recovered it that very night after ithad fallen into the water, by swimming from his boat and diving where itseemed safe. The glass had lodged upon a rock not far from the surface,he discovered, and while its appearance was spoiled, the lenses were notbroken.

  Keeping the recovery a secret from Bill, Tom had made a trip to town andhad the field glass put in shape again, with new covering. A little noteexplained the facts and Sarita was quite overcome, almost sorry that Tomhad gone to the expense but admiring his spirit. "Oh, the poor boy!" sheexclaimed.

  "He paid for it with Bill's money, though," said the smiling Mr. Tudor,in whose presence Sarita had opened the package, "and as he is making alittle more than usual, you need not worry about Tom. I will explain ina few days, Miss Sarita. It comes just in time for good service."

  Meanwhile the net was being drawn more tightly. It was desired to takethe Count and Mr. Ives after their connection with the smuggling wasfurther proved by the presence of the aliens ille
gitimately brought inin the Ives home or upon the Ives yacht. On land and by sea the arrivalof the schooner was awaited.