Secret Service

  CHAPTER XIII

  THE TABLES ARE TURNED

  As soon as the door was closed behind the messenger Thorne laid hiscigar down on the table. Then he picked up the despatch from theSecretary of War which the messenger had just brought in, and folded itvery dexterously. Then with a pair of scissors which he found in adrawer he cut off the lower part of the Secretary's despatch containinghis signature. He put this between his teeth and tore the rest intopieces. He started to throw the pieces into the waste basket but after amoment's reflection he stuffed them into his trouser pocket. Then hepicked up his coat from the back of the chair and took from the insidebreast pocket another document written on the same paper as that whichhad just come from the Secretary of War. Spreading this out on the tablehe cut off the signature and quickly pasted to it the piece of the realorder bearing the real signature. He carefully wiped this pasteddespatch with his handkerchief, making an exceedingly neat job of it.

  As he did so, he smiled slightly. Fortune, which had dealt him so manyrebuffs had evened up matters a little by giving him this opportunity.He had now in his possession a despatch bearing the genuine signature ofthe Secretary of War. Even if he were interrupted the chances were hewould still be able to send it. So soon as he had doctored the despatch,he sat down at the instrument and once more essayed to send the message.

  Now during all this rapid bit of manipulation Thorne had been underclose observation, for Arrelsford and Edith Varney had come from theCommissary General's Office, where they had concealed themselves whileThorne examined the porch, and had stepped back to the nearest windowand were intently watching. Fortunately, his back partially concealedhis actions and the watchers could not tell exactly what he had done,although it was quite evident that he was in some way altering some kindof a despatch.

  Just as Thorne began to send the message, Arrelsford accidentally struckthe window with his elbow, making a slight sound. The instant he did so,he and the girl vanished from sight. Once again Thorne released the key,and his hand moved quietly but rapidly from the instrument to therevolver. The instant it was in his hand he sprang to his feet, whirledabout, leaped to the gas bracket and turned off the light. The room wasleft in darkness, save for the faint illumination of the moonlightthrough the windows.

  Immediately he turned off the light he ran to the doors leading into thehall. They were provided with heavy old-fashioned bolts which he shotswiftly, locking them on the inside. Then with the utmost caution heedged around the wall until he came to the first window. He waited withhis left hand on the catch of the window, and with his right advancedhis revolver. After a moment's pause he threw it open quickly andstepped out on the balcony. It was empty as before.

  He must have made a mistake, he thought, since no one was there, and heblamed the whole incident to his over-agitated nerves. Indeed what hehad gone through in the preceding two hours would have shaken any man'snerves, might have broken most men's. He was annoyed at having wastedprecious time, and turned to the table again, stopping on his way torelight the light.

  Once more he seized the key. He could telegraph equally well with eitherhand. He did not lay down his revolver on the table this time, but keptit in his right hand while the fingers of his left hand touched thebutton. He had scarcely made a dot or a dash when there was a suddenflash of light and the sound of an explosion, that of a heavy revolver,mingled with the crash of shattered glass. Captain Thorne's fingers fellfrom the key and a jet of blood spurted out upon the table and thepapers.

  He rose to his feet with incredible swiftness, his revolver in his righthand, only to be confronted by Arrelsford at the front window. Thelatter held in his hand, pointed fairly and squarely at Thorne, theheavy service revolver with which he had just shot him in the leftwrist. Thorne made a swift motion with his right hand but Arrelsford wastoo quick for him.

  "Drop that gun!" he shouted. "Drop it quick, or you are a dead man!"

  There was no possibility of disobedience. Thorne straightened up andlaid his revolver on the table. The two confronted each other, and iflooks could have killed they had both been dead men. The soldiershrugged his shoulders at last, took his handkerchief out of his pocket,put one end of it between his teeth, and with the other hand wrapped ittightly around his wounded wrist.

  The civilian meantime advanced toward him, keeping him covered all thetime with his revolver.

  "Do you know why I didn't kill you like the dog you are, just now?" heasked truculently, as he drew nearer.

  "Because you are such a damned bad shot, I suppose," coolly answeredThorne between his teeth, still tying the bandage, after which he calmlypicked up his cigar and began smoking again with the utmostindifference.

  Whatever fate had in store for him could better be met, he thoughtswiftly at this juncture, provided he kept his temper, and so he spokeas nonchalantly as before. Indeed his manner had always been mostirritating and exacerbating to Arrelsford.

  "Maybe you will change your mind about that later on," the latterrejoined.

  "Well, I hope so," said Thorne, completing his bandage and tying theknot so as to leave the fingers of his left hand free. "You see, itisn't pleasant to be riddled up this way."

  "Next time you'll be riddled somewhere else beside the wrist. There'sonly one reason why you are not lying there now with a bullet throughyour head."

  "Only one?" queried Thorne.

  "Only one."

  "Do I hear it?"

  "You do. I gave my word of honour to some one outside that I wouldn'tkill you, and----"

  "Oh, then this isn't a little tete-a-tete just between ourselves. Youhave some one with you?" asked Thorne, interested greatly in this newdevelopment, wondering who the some one was who had interfered in hisbehalf. Perhaps that evident friendship might be turned to account lateron. For a moment not an idea of who was there entered Thorne's mind.

  "Yes, I have some one with me, Captain Thorne, who takes quite aninterest in what you are doing to-night," returned Arrelsfordsneeringly.

  "That is very kind, I am sure. Is the--er--gentleman going to stay outthere all alone on the balcony or shall I have the pleasure of invitinghim in here and having a charming little three-handed----"

  The third party answered the question, for Edith Varney came through thewindow with the shattered pane through which Arrelsford had fired andentered. Thorne was shocked beyond measure by her arrival, not theslightest suspicion that she could have been there had crossed his mind.So she had been an eye witness to his treachery. He had facedArrelsford's pistol with the utmost composure, there was something inEdith Varney's look that cut him to the heart, yet she did not look athim either. On the contrary, she carefully avoided his glance. Insteadshe turned to Arrelsford.

  "I think I will go, Mr. Arrelsford," she said in a low, choked voice.

  "Not yet, Miss Varney," he said peremptorily.

  The girl gave him no heed. She turned and walked blindly toward thedoor.

  "I don't wish, to stay here any longer," she faltered.

  "One moment, please," said Arrelsford, as she stopped, "we need you."

  "For what?"

  "As a witness."

  "You can send for me if you need me, I will be at home."

  "I am sorry," said Arrelsford, again interposing, "I will have to detainyou until I turn him over to the guard. It won't take long."

  The middle window was open and he stepped to it, still keeping an eye onThorne, and shouted at the top of his voice:

  "Call the guard! Corporal of the Guard! Send up the guard to thetelegraph office!"

  The note of triumph in his voice was unmistakable. From the street thethree inside heard a faint cry:

  "What's the matter? Who calls the guard?"

  "Up here in the telegraph office," said Arrelsford, "send them upquick."

  The answer was evident sufficient, for they could hear the orders andthe tumult in the square below.

  "Corporal of the Guard, Post Four! Fall
in the guard! Fall in! Lively,men!" and so on.

  The game appeared to be up this time. Mr. Arrelsford held all thewinning cards, thought Thorne, and he was playing them skilfully. Heground his teeth at the thought that another moment and the order wouldhave been sent probably beyond recall. Fate had played him a scurvytrick, it had thwarted him at the last move, and Arrelsford had socontrived that his treachery had been before the woman he loved. Underother circumstances the wound in his wrist would have given himexquisite pain, as it was he scarcely realised at the time that he hadbeen hurt.

  Arrelsford still stood by the window, glancing out on the square butkeeping Thorne under close observation. The evil look in his eyes andthe malicious sneer on his lips well seconded the expression of triumphin his face. He had the man he hated where he wanted him. It was asplendid piece of work that he had performed, and in the performance hesated his private vengeance and carried out his public duty.

  On his part, Thorne was absolutely helpless. There was that in thebearing of the woman he loved that prevented him from approaching her.He shot a mute look of appeal to her which she received with marbleface, apparently absolutely indifferent to his presence, yet she wassuffering scarcely less than he. In her anguish she turned desperatelyto Arrelsford.

  "I am not going to stay," she said decisively, "I don't wish to be awitness."

  "Whatever your feelings may be, Miss Varney," persisted Arrelsford, "Ican't permit you to refuse."

  "If you won't take me downstairs, I will find the way myself," returnedthe girl as if she had not heard.

  She turned resolutely toward the door. Before she reached it the heavytramping of the guard was heard.

  "Too late," said Arrelsford triumphantly, "you can't go now, the guardis here."

  Edith could hear the approaching soldiers as well as anybody. The waywas barred, she realised instantly. Well, if she could not escape, atleast she could get out of sight. She turned and opened the nearestwindow and stepped out. Arrelsford knew that she could not go far, andthat he could produce her whenever he wanted her. He made no objectionto her departure that way, therefore. Instead he looked at Thorne.

  "I have you just where I want you at last," he said mockingly, as thetrampling feet came nearer. "You thought you were mighty smart, but youwill find that I can match your trick every time."

  Outside in the hall the men came to a sudden halt before the door. Oneof them knocked loudly upon it.

  "What's the matter here?" cried the Sergeant of the Guard without.

  The handle was tried and the door was shoved violently, but the brassbolt held.

  "Let us in!" he cried angrily.

  Quick as a flash of lightning an idea came to Thorne.

  "Sergeant!" he shouted in a powerful voice. "Sergeant of the Guard!"

  "Sir!"

  "Break down the door! Break it down with your musket butts!"

  As the butts of the muskets pounded against the heavy mahogany panels,Arrelsford cried out in great surprise:

  "What did you say?"

  In his astonishment, he did not notice a swift movement Thorne madetoward the door.

  "You want them in, don't you?" the soldier said, as he approached thedoor. "It is locked and----"

  But Arrelsford recovered himself a little and again presented hisrevolver.

  "Stand where you are," he cried, but Thorne by this time had reached thedoor.

  "Smash it down, Sergeant!" he cried. "What are you waiting for! Batterit down!"

  The next moment the door gave way with a crash, and into the room pouredthe guard. The grizzled old Sergeant had scarcely stepped inside theroom when Thorne shouted in tones of the fiercest authority, pointing atArrelsford:

  "Arrest that man!"

  Before the dazed Secret Service Agent could say a word or press thetrigger the soldiers were upon him.

  "He got in here with a revolver," continued Thorne more quietly, "and isplaying hell with it. Hold him fast!"