Nick Carter Read online

  "If Mustushimi has remained here, and we are practically certain that he has done so, he has hedged himself around with safeguards so perfectly that it would be difficult, if not next to impossible, to get a trace of him by ordinary methods. If he did not suspect that I was hereafter him, he would simply remain under cover as he is doing now, taking no extra precautions. But if he believes that I am after him, he will undertake some extra precautions at once, for he holds me in wholesome respect, and it is by those very precautions that I will be able to get first trace of him."

  "That is an original way to look at it. Perhaps you are right. Put what do you suppose he will do, in the way of taking extra precautions?"

  "I think he will try to put me out of the way," said the detective, smiling.

  "Do you mean that he will attempt to assassinate you?"

  "Exactly that."

  "And that you purposely invite such a thing?"

  "Certainly."

  "But, Mr. Carter, isn't that rather foolhardy?"

  "No; I don't think so. My object is to get him to show his hand. If his system is as perfect as we think it is, he knows already that I am here, and that I am holding an interview with you. He fears me, as he fears nobody else. He has had a taste of what I can do to him, I hope this does not sound like egotism. I don't mean it so."

  "Not at all."

  "And therefore, since I am here again, he will guess at once that you have suspected his presence and have sent for me, and he will figure it out that the only way to be safe is to get rid of me."

  "But will he dare to attempt to assassinate you in the streets, or-"

  "No. He will figure out to have me killed, so that my death will appear to be accidental."

  "You speak of it as coolly as if you were referring to a third party."

  "I am-in a sense; for he will not succeed. Forewarned is forearmed, you see. And it will be through just such an attempt as I have outlined to you, that I will be most likely to get directly upon Mustushimi's track."

  "You are a strange fellow, Mr. Carter."

  "Not so strange, perhaps, as you suppose. I only try to put myself in the place of the other fellow when I can, and look at what is happening from his point of view."

  "All right, Mr. Carter. Conduct the matter as you please. I know that you will be successful; and that is all we desire."

  III. Nick Carter Conveys An Important Signal.

  The interview, as recorded, took place in the early evening, for the detective had arrived in Washington at six o'clock, and had repaired at once to the Arlington Hotel, where he registered and took a room under his own name, and where he made no effort at all to conceal his identity.

  After that, he had taken dinner, and then, a little before eight, repaired to the White House, where the President was awaiting him.

  It was half-past nine when he came out again, and walked slowly across Lafayette Square toward the hotel; and he was not surprised-in fact, he smiled rather broadly-when he noticed at once that he was followed.

  As he issued from the White House grounds, he noticed that a man was loitering near the cast end of the square, and another near the western end of it. Still another had been on the White House side of the avenue and had started to walk rapidly in his direction, the instant he appeared; and through the trees in the square, he could see that there was still another, while he had not a doubt that there was one or two more around him somewhere, ready to take up the trail if they should be called upon to do so.

  "Mustushimi does me too much honor," he murmured to himself. "He has probably put his best men onto me already. Good!"

  He continued on his way across the square, as if he was entirely unobservant of these things, but he was keenly on the alert all the time lest one of the spies should approach too close to him and that he did not desire; for it would be an easy matter, in such a case, for one of them to stick a knife into him, or fire a bullet into his body, or attack him in some manner, before he could have an opportunity to defend himself.

  But the paths across Lafayette Square are wide, and well lighted, and he could see in all directions almost as plainly as if he had been on the avenue itself; and the men who were keeping him in view remained at a respectful distance-and so, presently, he passed into the entrance of the hotel and seated himself in the office of it, having lighted a cigar.

  And then, across the floor from toward the desk, there approached a certain senator from the West* who had been active in that other case to which reference was made in his talk with the President-the senator whose identity Nick had assumed for a time in order the better to work out his case at that time.

  "Hello, Carter," he said, dropping into a chair near the detective, after shaking hands. "I happened to see your name on the register, and asked if it was indeed you. Finding that I was not mistaken, I have waited to see you."

  "That is kind of you, senator," replied the detective.

  "Fact is, I really wished to see you, Carter."

  "Yes? That is kinder still."

  "I wonder if I would be trespassing on private grounds if I asked why you are here, Mr. Carter? I don't want to be impertinent, but if it happens to be anything about that other affair in which we were actually interested-"

  "I am assured, senator, that I may rely upon your discretion, so I will admit that it is."

  "I guessed it, Carter."

  "Did you? Why?"

  "Because I happen to know that Mustushimi is still in the city of Washington."

  "Are you sure of that?"

  "Yes."

  "What makes you so sure?"

  "I have seen him."

  "When?"

  "Not an hour ago; in fact, only a few minutes before I discovered your name on the register of this hotel."

  "That was rather an odd coincidence, senator," said the detective dryly.

  "Yes; if it was a coincidence-which I am inclined to doubt."

  "Why?"

  "Because it struck me that my seeing him and hearing of your presence at the same time would argue that he was around this neighborhood because he had been told of your arrival."

  "I think there is no doubt of that. Where did you see him?"

  "I almost ran into him directly in front of the Lafayette Square opera house."

  "At what time, if you can tell me exactly?"

  "An hour and a quarter ago."

  The detective nodded. He knew that it was at the time when he was with the President.

  "The fact is, Carter," continued the senator, "the sight of him brought you to my mind, and I came over here at once, purposely to ascertain if you were in town, if I could do so. I saw your name on the register, and then I remained here until your return to warn you."

  "To warn me of what, senator?"

  "I think that fellow would put you out of business if he had half a chance, and you may be sure that he will seek the chance."

  "I haven't any doubt of that."

  "I hope you'll be on your guard, Carter."

  "I shall try to be so."

  "And, of course, if there is anything that I can do to assist you, you can command me at any time. You know that."

  "Yes. Senator?"

  "Well?"

  "Don't you think that you stand in some danger from Mustushimi, yourself?"

  "I have never thought much about it, to tell the truth."

  "If you saw and recognized him in front of the operahouse, it is safe to say that he also saw and recognized you."

  "Without doubt."

  "And realized that you had recognized him."

  "Possibly."

  "And therefore set one of his men upon you to follow you and ascertain where you went. Consequently, he knew that you came here, looked at the register, found my name, and then composed yourself to await my arrival, in order that you might tell me what you knew."

  "Well?"

  "Also, that at this very moment, somewhere around here, he or one of his men is watching us, and one of his lip-reading exper
ts is probably at this moment studying everything that I say."

  "And what I say, as well, eh?" laughed the senator.

  "Doubtless."

  "Pardon me, Carter, but you are seated facing that window, exactly as if you wished the spies of that man to know what you are talking about."

  "I do."

  "Eh?"

  "I am taking this method of warning Mustushimi that I am here after him, and that I am going to get him, too. I am taking this opportunity to send word to him, through his spy who is now reading from the motion of my lips all that I am saying, that I have no doubt that he will attempt to assassinate me in some manner so that it will appear to be an accident, but he must remember that I was not brought into the world to be put to death by such as he."

  "Upon my word, Carter, you are strange tonight!"

  "No. I am sending a message to Mustushimi. Out yonder, at the opposite side of Connecticut Avenue, there stands a man who looks like a Frenchman, who is one of Mustushimi's spies. He reads what I am saying now and he is getting nervous. He is only a common scoundrel, and coward at that-"

  Nick broke off into a hearty laugh, and the senator stared.

  "What are you laughing at?" he demanded.

  "I was laughing at the fellow over there-the one I referred to."

  "What did he do?"

  "When he found that I was talking to him instead of to you-for that is what I was doing-he got madder and madder, and when I told him he was a coward, he shook his fist at me."

  "At least, Carter, you will know him the next time you see him."

  "Oh, I am not so sure of that. He is a chameleon who can change his appearance as well as his colors. A scoundrel like that, who will serve under any flag, isn't fit to live. But as you say, I think I will know him again -in fact, senator, now that I think of it, I believe that I will have an opportunity to see him close by, and to talk with him, too, presently."

  "You do? How?"

  "I will tell you that a little later, senator."

  "Is he there yet?"

  "Yes."

  "I should think he would go away now that he knows he has been discovered."

  "Oh, no; he knows that he would have ample time to escape, if I should leave my chair to go over there after him. He is bound to stay there as long as he can read, from the movement of my lips, what I am saying."

  "But how are you going to catch him so that you can talk with him, as you suggested?"

  "As I said before, I will tell you that later on. Now, let us return to yourself. We were discussing yourself a moment ago, weren't we?"

  "Yes."

  "I was referring to the fact that you stand in some danger, senator. I think I am correct about it too. It would be well for you to be constantly on your guard, sir."

  "Oh. I am always more or less on my guard. I am not afraid."

  "I know that. I merely wished to warn you."

  "I was brought up in the West when it was a wild place, Carter. I have been used to danger all my life. I have faced death a great many times, and I am not going torun away from a parcel of little brown men, now."

  "No; I don't think you are one of that kind."

  "Besides, it is a long- a lifetime habit of mine to go around prepared."

  "That is a good idea, especially under the present circumstances."

  All that time Nick was looking out of the window, watching closely everything that was occurring on the opposite side of the street where he had discovered the spy standing, and watching him.

  For the reader knows that Nick Carter went everywhere, prepared for all things that might happen.

  The letter he had received from the President, while it had explained nothing, had nevertheless informed the detective at once what he was called to Washington for; and he had gone there prepared to take up the case in his own way.

  And just at that moment, when he seemed to become somewhat abstracted, and did not pay the strict attention to the senator that he had been doing, it was because he saw one of his assistants come around the corner near the drug store and slowly approach the spot where the spy was standing.

  It was Patsy, and Patsy was ready to obey any signal that his chief might choose to convey to him- for Patsy was one of three who had accompanied Nick Carter to Washington that day, coming, however, secretly, so that no one save themselves might understand that Nick had brought any one with him.

  And now when Patsy appeared around the corner and approached the spot where the spy was standing, the detective leaned back in his chair and raised his arms three times over his head.

  It was his signal to Patsy.

  IV. Nick Carter's Perfect Plans.

  "One would suppose that you were signaling, to the spy," said the senator, watching him.

  "I was signaling, but not to the spy," replied the detective.

  "To whom, then?"

  "To one of my assistants, senator." Nick was now shading his lips with one hand so that what he was saying could not be read.

  "Do you mean that one of your assistants is over there, near the spy?" asked the senator.

  "Yes."

  "I begin to understand you now."

  "Surely-"

  "You brought him here secretly, I suppose."

  "Yes; he and two others. They are all busy, right now, doing part of the work that is required of them."

  "It was a happy thought when you did that, Carter. One of your assistants is a Jap, isn't he?"

  "Yes."

  "Is that one here, too, to assist you?"

  "No. However faithful to me Ten-Ichi is, I would not ask him to work against his own people. I left him in New York."

  "But you said you had three assistants with you."

  "So I have. But one of them-Danny-has not been promoted to that position just yet, so far as the title is concerned. He is really my chauffeur; but he is a good lad for all that and quite capable of doing good work. I brought Chick, Patsy, and Danny: and right now, senator, Patsy is approaching that fellow over there, Please don't turn your head to look."

  "I won't. You may tell me about it."

  "Patsy has ordered a carriage to drive around and up against the curb, directly in front of where the spy is standing. The carriage is approaching now."

  "Yes."

  "Now it pulls up at the curb; and now-" The detective turned his chair so that he no longer faced the window, and he added: "In about half an hour, senator, we will take a walk together, and interview that spy; that is, if you care to accompany me."

  "I should say I do care, Carter. What a fellow you are. But tell me what happened over there. You know I was seated so that I could not see, and you would not permit me to turn."

  "No. I didn't think it best, at the moment."

  "Tell me what happened, won't you."

  "Certainly. A carriage drove around the corner toward the spot where the spy was standing at the same moment that Patsy approached the man on foot. Inside the carriage was either one of the other of my men, Chick or Danny."

  "Yes."

  "When the carriage was near enough to the spy, the door of it swung open, and the instant it did so, Patsy acted."

  "What did he do?"

  "He hit Mr. Spy a clip behind the ear with his fist, and in such a manner that he sent the man reeling straight into the open door of the carriage. When the fellow pitched through the door, Chick, or Danny-the one who was in the carriage, waiting-seized him and pulled him inside. Then he closed the door, and the carriage instantly drove away, while Patsy calmly remained where he was."

  "It all sounds very simple, Carter."

  The detective laughed aloud.

  "Such things are simple, when you know exactly how to do them and have the nerve to carry them out," he said. "My men possess both accomplishments."

  "Suppose a policeman had been standing near, and had happened to see the whole thing."

  "That is precisely why Patsy remained behind," explained the detective.

  "Eh? I don't understand.
"

  "If questions were asked, Patsy was there to explain and to show his authority, if necessary."

  "I see."

  "And he remained there, also, to observe what the other spies would do when this one disappeared. There are as many as half a dozen around us, right now."

  "If that is so, one or more of them will follow the carriage, don't you think so?"

  "Probably."

  "You speak as if that is what you wished to have happen."

  "I cannot pretend to understand you, Carter."

  "You will understand as we proceed with the casejust now it is 'not necessary that you should do so."

  "Nevertheless, I wish you would do me the favor to explain."

  "When I was sent for to come here-and I was sent for, as you know-I realized that the only way in which I could hope to succeed quickly would be to force the other fellow's hand, so I adopted this means of doing it."

  "What means?"

  "I came here in the open. I purposely arranged so that Mustushimi would know at once of my arrival. I believed that if I did that, he would open the ball at once and not wait for me to do it. I knew that he would instantly place half a dozen or more spies on, my trail, and that my best course would be in capturing one of them and forcing the man to tell me all he knew. And so I laid my plans accordingly."

  "But if they follow and know where you take the man?"

  "If they do that, it will doubtless end in my capturing more than one. My dear senator, I have prearranged a nice little trap for Baron Mustushimi to walk into. I shouldn't wonder if I had the good luck to catch the man himself, as well as some of his underlings."

  "Gee! I hope so."

  "Senator, there are times when you make use of surprisingly undignified language for a senator of the United States."

  "Oh, bother that! I am a plain Westerner, Carter, and I never wear the toga of a senator outside the chamber."

  "I think that is one of the reasons why I like you so much."

  "I say, Carter."

  "Well?"

  "Of course you know where your man has taken his prisoner?"

  "Of course."

  "And you are going there, presently?"

  "I just now told you that."

  "I hope you haven't forgotten that you promised to take me with you."