CHAPTER XXIII.
Morgan's efforts to find Jaggers were untiring and equally unavailing,and at the end of the first week he was certain Jaggers was not to befound in Blackwall, so certain that he ventured to express this beliefto Blount. The latter, however, was equally certain Jaggers was inBlackwall. "Keep at it," he said; "you'll run across his trail yet,although I was a little ahead when I said a week," and Morganaccordingly continued the hunt.
Blount was now in a particularly hopeful mood, and felt confident Morganwould unearth Jaggers; and he had obtained some interesting informationconcerning Jacobs, the attorney, through the office-boy, whose releasehe had obtained for the purpose of using him against his employer.
When the boy called at Morgan's house, according to his promise, andBlount instead of Morgan met him, it required some persuasion to makehim talk; but he was eager enough to do so when Blount modestly admittedthat it was to him he owed his liberty, and on him depended hisenjoyment of it in the future.
Blount then learned that the paper and chemicals which had been foundupon the boy, were intended for a clerk recently employed by Mr. Jacobs,for what purpose the boy did not know, except that they were to be usedin copying some papers. Did he know the contents of the papers or theircharacter? No, nothing, except that Mr. Hall had left them with Mr.Jacobs.
That was all Blount could get out of the boy at the first meeting.
"Now, Henry," he said, when the boy had finished, "this stealingbusiness of yours is only postponed, but if you do as I bid you, it willnever come up again. If you don't you will certainly go to jail, and inshort order."
Henry was only too eager to promise to do anything to prevent hisre-arrest, and Blount continued:
"Very well, Henry, we'll see how you get on. Now then! You get to theoffice first in the morning--don't you? Yes--well, to-morrow morning bethere particularly early and make a rough copy of the papers this newclerk is working on. If you can't copy all, read the rest carefully sothat you can tell me what it is about, and copy the balance nextmorning. Then you must get me a sheet of the paper and a few drops ofthe ink. If you do all this correctly it will be a good deal in yourfavor, and may obtain your absolute release from this foolish troubleyou are in. You must also pay close attention to what passes between Mr.Jacobs and the new clerk and try to remember it. By the way! What is thenew clerk's name?"
"Quirk, sir, and I heard Mr. Jacobs tell him when he came first, that ifhe didn't keep sober it would be worse for him."
"Oh! ho! Got a grip on him--eh? Well, that's all for to-night, Henry. Besharp now, and get here as early to-morrow night as you can."
Shortly after the boy had gone, and while Blount was musing over hisstory regarding the queer documents, the preparation of which requiredsuch special paper and peculiar ink--for he shrewdly suspected thechemicals were to be used in making the latter--Morgan entered looking atrifle exultant.
"I have located him at last!" he said.
"Of course; he will be safe until you get back? You know I don't want tolose sight of him now under any circumstances."
"Yes--he's safe enough. He's blind drunk at the 'North Star.' He has aroom there, and has been out of the house but once since hiring it.'The Knifer' must be somewhere else, for from the description he is thefriend and only caller who comes occasionally to see Jaggers."
Blount was not of the "I told you so" breed, but came near looking it ashe said:
"Very good, Morgan! Very good! Now get back as quick as you can anddon't leave him again until I come. I think between this boy and Sandersand what we can make Jaggers say, we are getting near the end of theMartin matter. Sanders looks tired out already, and if I can only keepup the strain he's under he will give up everything in a day or two.Meantime you look out for Jaggers, and I'll see about these queerpapers. I'm beginning to think they will form an important link in thechain which we will soon finish forging."
Morgan started back at once, pleased with Blount's commendation andconfidence in him; but found on his arrival at the "North Star,"--whichwas a house of fair character and had for that reason escaped closeattention--that there had been a row during his absence, and thatJaggers had been stabbed by a drunken sailor. The injured man was beingcarried up-stairs when he arrived, and on his heels came the doctor.
Morgan, who had been informed that the wound was a bad one, nowjustified Blount's high opinion of him by making a bold stroke. Callingthe doctor aside, he informed him who he was and that Jaggers was acriminal.
"You can, if necessary, but it probably will not be, introduce me asyour assistant; and then, whether the wound is really dangerous or not,he must be made to believe it is--make him believe he is dying!"
The doctor hesitated and looked doubtful, but when Morgan said it was"worth five pounds," all hesitation and doubt vanished--of course, Mr.Morgan was a representative of the law, and he must do as he required.
Jaggers was really seriously hurt, and fully appreciated that fact. Hegreeted the doctor with a curse for delaying so long, and then askedwhat chances he had of recovery.
"Don't be afraid of tellin' me!" he exclaimed, as the doctor, aftercarefully sewing the wound, stood looking gravely and thoughtfully athis patient--as per instructions.
Morgan, standing to one side and out of Jaggers' view, acknowledged tohimself that the doctor had fairly earned the money, as he saw the morethan professional gravity deepen into positive gloom before the replycame:
"You are in a decidedly dangerous condition. Wounded as you are in thegroin, I cannot undertake to say you will live two hours!"
Jaggers was _not_ wounded in the groin, but of course did not know it,and looked terror-stricken on hearing the verdict he had so freelyinvited. His terror was increased by the doctor's suggestion that aclergyman was next in order.
"No, no! I want none of the d----d canting parsons!" he cried; and then,catching sight of Morgan, who had purposely come within range of hissight, exclaimed: "Who is that? What does he want?"
Before the doctor could reply, Morgan stepped forward and answered forhimself. Jaggers was now in the desired condition to continue the boldgame he was playing.
"I am a detective, Jaggers, and I came here for you; but as death claimsyou first, I suppose I can only wait for the end."
Jaggers was very weak from loss of blood, owing to the delay in sendingfor a physician, and the subsequent delay of that gentleman after hisarrival at the "North Star" in consulting with Morgan, and thisweakness increased the terrors of his imagination.
"Wot fur?" he asked.
"Murder of Golden in Burns Alley," was the sententious reply.
"It's a lie! It's a lie!" screamed Jaggers, starting up with suddenenergy. "It's a lie! He was my friend!"
"Well, well! Never mind. It don't matter _now_, of course, but if youdid not murder him, how did you get possession of that draft and theother papers? Sanders says he got the draft through you."
The doctor was standing in front of Jaggers, and Morgan motioned him totake down what was said.
Wearied, confused, and believing himself dying, Jaggers replied:
"I did give Sanders a draft, but the old man never had no draft! Thatdevil, Hall, had that, but me and 'The Knifer' got the best of him. Wegot into his room one night and got his papers. They wos sewed up in achest-pertecter an' I kep' them just for spite! They wos no good tome--only the draft! And that's gone too! Poor Sanders! He's in forthat!"
"Doctor!" called Morgan, sharply, but with a significant look. "Givethis man something to brace him up! I must get this thing in writing!"
The doctor hastily prepared something for Jaggers, which was scarcely inhis stomach before Morgan asked:
"What you say may possibly save Sanders' neck from the rope and put itaround Hall's, but you must sign a statement of it!"
Morgan had touched the right key, and knew it when he saw the glitter ofthe dying (?) man's eyes on mentioning Hall.
"Now then, Jaggers! If you want to put the rope on the right man youm
ust tell me where the papers are. Where are they now? You've got 'em, Isuppose?"
"No--Jack (The Knifer) played me a mean trick. He's got all the papersan' wouldn't give 'em to me. He wos 'ere yesterd'y an' I don't just knowwhere he's gone--but 'e's got 'em."
The doctor finished writing almost as soon as Jaggers stopped speaking,and after making his mark to it the latter dropped back on the pillow.
"Dead!" exclaimed Morgan.
"Oh, no! Just asleep!" said the doctor.
Reassured on this point, Morgan despatched a message to Blount and thenproceeded to make himself comfortable for the night.
Next morning at six o'clock Blount appeared, and simultaneously Jaggersawoke.
A long conversation ensued--Blount holding Jaggers's statement of thenight before in his hand.