BRAM JALWAY, when he left the tabby-walled house, had acted in direct opposite to his announced plan. He had said that he would keep close to the shelter of the house. Instead, he took a rapid and immediate course toward the beach.
Keeping along the fringe of oak trees, Jalway formed an obscure figure. At times he was completely lost beneath the thick streamers of Spanish moss that hung from long, low boughs. At other moments, the moonlight broke through to show him clearly in its glow.
At such intervals, Jalway quickened his pace and moved closer to the woods. At last his course cut through the underbrush. Jalway wallowed knee-deep through gnarled roots, as he passed the ruins of the old mansion in the center of the isle.
Followers were on his trail. In this jungle it was difficult for one to note lurkers who were familiar with the terrain. Moving away from the house, Jalway skirted a bit of marshy land and came out near the lower inlet.
Here were sand dunes, ghost-like in the filtered moonlight. Passing one, Jalway came to the edge of a swamp that lay between parallel dunes. This was a typical Georgia slough; called a 'hammock,' in the Southern parlance.
It stretched into the end of the isle and as Jalway sought the higher ground, he came beneath the shelter of huge pines and cedars that vied with the oaks for dominance.
Swamp lay beyond. That was where Jalway was heading. All the while, he was circling farther from the house that he had left. He was cutting deeper into the terrain that harbored Ruff Turney's band.
Unwittingly, Jalway was making the trap easier. He had escaped attack, for he was going in the very direction that his stalkers wanted. He paused on the verge of swampy land where trees formed a veritable jungle. Seeing nothing through the blackness, Jalway began to retrace his steps.
The course that he took was directly toward the ruins of the old slave buildings. Stumbling through mushy soil, finding foothold upon spots of thicker ground, this investigator came almost to the spot where the hidden entrance to the lower passage was located.
Wrenching free from tangling brambles, Jalway seemed undecided concerning his next move. As he paused, he heard movement close behind him. He turned in that direction, drew his gun and suddenly flicked a flashlight from his left hand. The glare revealed a dodging figure. Jalway aimed.
At that instant, two men pounced upon him from in back. Struggling, Jalway sprawled in the thicket. His arms were gripped. Ruff Turney's growl ordered him to make no trouble. For a moment, Jalway persisted in the struggle. Then his gun was gone; two more men had fallen upon him. Thongs were wrapped about his arms and legs. A gag was jammed between his teeth.
More growls. The captors hoisted their prisoner. Ruff's light blinked. A dozen paces brought the band to the brush-covered trapdoor. Ruff raised the entrance. The others dragged Jalway down the steps. Ruff took the lead through the passage.
PURVIS ELGER was awaiting their arrival. Puffing impatiently at his meerschaum, the portly crook indulged in a venomous smile when the prisoner was lugged into view. He had the captors lay Jalway back against the box that housed the telegraph outfit. Ruff dismissed his men. Elger and the lieutenant alone remained with the prisoner.
'Cut the gag, Ruff,' ordered Elger.
Ruff complied. Jalway moved his jaws, then studied Elger with a look almost of contempt.
'Surprised, eh?' quizzed Elger, in a sarcastic tone.
'Yes,' admitted Jalway, hoarsely. 'I was looking for a bunch of thugs. But I didn't expect to find you in with them. I suppose you've got a passage of your own, leading to this hangout.'
'An excellent guess,' chuckled Elger, puffing at his meerschaum. 'Well, Jalway, your goose is cooked. You might as well talk. What did you do with the box you took from Dalavan?'
'The box I took from Dalavan?'
'Why stall, Jalway? We know you killed Dalavan and Golga. We've been checking on you right along.'
Jalway smiled sourly and shook his head.
'You must be smoking opium in that big pipe of yours,' he parried. 'If you think I bumped those fellows, you're all wrong. I never saw Dalavan in my life before I joined you in your study and saw him dead upon the floor.'
'Want me to make him talk, chief?' inquired Ruff, in a vicious tone. 'I've got a few ways of doing it, you know.'
'Not necessary, Ruff,' replied Elger. 'Jalway is too sensible to force us to resort to torture methods. Come, Jalway' - he eyed the prisoner coldly - 'you're through. Why not admit the point?'
'I can't admit what I don't know,' challenged Jalway. 'I figured you bumped that fellow Dalavan yourself, Elger. I thought he must have killed Golga and you shot him to get even. I didn't blame you for covering up.'
'Let us return to your own case,' suggested Elger. He drew over a chest and sat upon it. 'One night, Golga reported that you had made an exit from the house by way of the living room. window. Do you admit that you were out?'
'Sure,' replied Jalway. 'Why not? I wanted to look around, like I was doing tonight.'
ELGER eyed Jalway coldly. Ruff showed impatience; the lieutenant wanted to give the prisoner the heat. Elger, however, had smoother methods. He decided to talk further; to lull Jalway and thereby induce the prisoner to commit himself by some unguarded statement.
'Look about you,' suggested Elger, suavely. 'This is your opportunity, Jalway, to see the actual state of affairs on Timour Isle. Here you see millions in treasures stolen from Europe. My business is the importation of such rarities.
'Tonight, a final shipment is coming from a tramp steamer called the Dalmatia. Ruff and his men mistook the Maldah for that ship, the night you landed. This telegraph line makes contact with the mainland.
'Until tonight, Tully was in charge at the other end. He informed me, by the way, that the Maldah is twenty miles up the coast. The yacht is stranded; and refusing offers of salvage.'
A curious gleam came into Jalway's eyes. They showed eagerness, which Jalway quickly restrained. Elger was puzzled by the expression; but he decided to press his final point.
'Tonight,' declared the master crook, 'Dalavan brought me spoils from New York. He had a suitcase with him. It contained a tiara and the sum of fifty thousand dollars. The case is gone. You, Jalway, are the man whom I hold responsible.'
Elger waited for the effect upon Jalway. He noted a return of the prisoner's eager expression - a look that gave Jalway the air of a schemer. Jalway spoke; but he did not refer to the main theme. Instead, he took up a subject that Elger had merely chanced to mention.
'Since the Maldah is safe,' remarked Jalway, 'a search will eventually begin for the passengers who came ashore here. You will have to produce them, Elger.'
'Some of them,' returned Elger dryly, 'For an alibi.'
Jalway grimaced. He knew that he would not be included among the rescued. It was obvious that Elger would attribute his death to outlaws. Jalway changed his tone.
'Regarding Dalavan's suitcase,' he said. 'Suppose you learn that I did not take it? What will you do then? Eliminate the other survivors until you find the right one?'
Elger nodded, while he puffed his pipe.
'The less the number of survivors,' reasoned Jalway, 'the better your position, Elger, provided that you kept just one, who would support any statements that you might make. Such a survivor could help you dispose of the others. He could state later that all were lost in the overturn of the lifeboat. He would say nothing about the deaths of Dalavan and Golga. In brief, Elger, you would be greatly helped by an ally as crooked as yourself.'
'Not a bad idea, Jalway,' approved Elger. 'You would like to be that one survivor. I am willing to make the deal, if you turn over the goods you took from Dalavan.'
'I can't do that.' Jalway shook his head wearily. 'I swear I'm not the man who took the stuff. All I can do is help you regain it by aiding in the elimination of the others who came from the Maldah.'
'I'm a crook,' snarled Elger, 'and I like to deal with crooks! If you could deliver the stuff, that would prove you worthy! Since you can't -'
'I can help you get it,' interjected Jalway. His face was as fierce as Elger's. 'As proof of my worth, I can show you the way to a clean-up that is right along your alley. I can give you the low-down on Kingdon Feldworth.
