Get Wallace! (12 page)

For a moment he was inclined to take them at the point of his revolver; force Ictinos to go upstairs with him and release Cousins then accompany them back to headquarters, but the absurdity of such an attempt became immediately apparent. Ictinos might have a secret means of communicating the alarm to his followers, Wallace had no certainty that all the papers he desired were on the desk while, in any case, there was always the possibility that one of the others might appear and turn the tables on him. Apart from this the Greek might refuse to be overawed by the sight of a revolver, in which event, being averse to shooting a man in cold blood, a rough and tumble would take place. Wallace could hardly expect to get the better of it with one arm against a man whose physique would have earned the admiration of Hackenschmidt. He was in no hurry. He decided to wait and watch until the Greek went to bed; then secure the papers. Once he knew where they were hidden, he had no doubt of his ability to open the receptacle in which they had been placed, and take possession of them.

An hour passed by, and still Ictinos sat at the desk. Sir Leonard was feeling very weary, but, except to change his weight from
one leg to the other, he was careful to make no movement for fear that he might be heard. At last the Greek yawned loudly; stretched his great arms above his head. He gathered his papers together in four heaps; then, bending down, took hold of the handle of the bottom right-hand drawer. Instead of pulling it out he turned the knob half a dozen times to the right, after which he pressed inwards. Immediately a portion of the bottom part of the desk, about three feet long, two wide, and four inches deep, slid outwards. It appeared to be constructed of steel, and contained four compartments all of which were unlocked by separate keys. Wallace watched intently as Ictinos lifted the various lids, and deposited his papers within the receptacles. He saw the Greek close and carefully lock each division, put the keys away in an inner pocket of his jacket then manipulate the knob on the drawer, causing the steel tray to slide back into place. A few minutes later, after glancing casually round the room, Ictinos rose to his feet, switched off the lamp, and went out.

Sir Leonard remained where he was for some time in case the man came back. It was well he did, for the dwarf, through whose carelessness he had been able to get into the house, suddenly entered the room without the slightest sound, giving no warning whatever of his approach. He busied himself raking out the fire, a duty he performed as though in a hurry to withdraw; then departed, closing the door behind him. The clock on the mantelpiece slowly ticked away ten minutes before Wallace emerged from the shelter of the curtains. Walking across the room, he opened the door gently, and looked out. Not a sound reached his ears and, as the hall light had been extinguished, he came to the conclusion that everybody had gone to bed. Satisfied, he closed the door, and returned to the desk.

A tiny torch not much bigger than a fountain pen shot a powerful beam of light at the right hand bottom drawer. Clasping it somehow in his artificial hand by means known only to himself, he took hold of the knob in the other, and manipulated it exactly as he had seen Ictinos do. The steel tray duly slid out, and the ray of light hovered inquisitively over each keyhole in turn. From an inner pocket, Wallace drew out a flat leather case, which he opened, disclosing to view a set of small, beautifully made steel instruments of graduated sizes. He selected one, and set to work immediately on the locks. So complicated were they that it took him some time, and he required the help of two other of the little tools, before he succeeded in getting the lids of the four compartments open. At last his task was accomplished; he gave vent to a sigh of relief. Quickly he removed the documents from their receptacles, placing them in four piles upon the desk; then, extinguishing the torch, he crossed once more to the door, where he stood for some minutes listening intently. Convinced that nobody was about, he returned to the desk, switched on the lamp, and sat down to examine the papers before him.

It was not long before he came across copies of the plans of the Masterson monoplane and Wentworth gun, with voluminous notes concerning each. A little exclamation of satisfaction escaped from him as he stuffed the papers into the inside pocket of his overcoat. Thereafter he found a good deal to interest him among the remaining documents, including a memorandum of the times and places decided upon for the Greek’s interviews with the representatives of the Russian and German governments. He made a careful note of these in his pocket-hook. Copies of Russian and German official secrets, two or three letters, and details of the
French schemes for defensive and offensive alliances were there, and were also pushed into his pockets, but there was no sign or indication anywhere that Ictinos possessed copies of the plans of the French frontier fortifications or any details concerning them. Sir Leonard searched carefully without success. Returning the papers, which he did not wish to take away with him, to their compartments, he locked the lids, and manipulated the steel tray back into its place. He then set to work to search every drawer in the desk. Some were locked, others were not, but he opened them all. Nothing of interest was discovered except a list of the men serving Ictinos. Against each name were notes concerning crimes they had committed, with dates and details of police investigation. Wallace found the list interesting, and decided to keep it. Scotland Yard, he felt, would be gratified.

He examined every inch of the desk in an endeavour to ascertain if it contained any other hidden partitions, but, as nothing further came to light, he turned his attention to the rest of the room. The bookcases, fireplace, pictures, even the walls and floor came under careful inspection, but he found no sign that anywhere, but in the desk, was there a secret cavity. Satisfied at length that if Ictinos possessed copies of the French fortification plans they were concealed elsewhere, he gave up the search. He felt that it was time he released Cousins, and got in touch with his own headquarters.

Extinguishing the light, he walked to the door, opened it, and stood in a listening attitude for several minutes. Then treading with the greatest care, for fear of causing the stairs to creak, he ascended slowly to the upper regions. At the top he again stood listening, before approaching the door of the room in which he knew Cousins was imprisoned. A gleam of light showing underneath
caused him to frown a little, but, without hesitation, he inserted into the lock one of the small steel instruments, which he had retained in his hand when putting the case away. Slowly, but with hardly a sound, he worked. He felt the lock turn, and devoted his attention to the door handle. A second or two passed, and he stepped into the room, his finger to his lips, taking care to close the door behind him.

The pallid face of Cousins lit up, his eyes showed plainly the joy he felt, his lips whispered ‘Thank God!’ He sat up in bed so suddenly that the chain attached to the steel belt round his waist jangled noisily. Again Sir Leonard’s finger went to his lips. He stepped up to the bed.

‘I didn’t expect to find you alive, Cousins,’ he murmured. ‘From what I have discovered about these people, it seems that murder is a pastime they indulge in without the slightest hesitation.’

‘I suppose I have to thank the girl for being permitted to remain alive as long as this,’ returned Cousins. ‘She used to have a pet dog, and it tickled her sense of humour to appoint me its successor for the time being. Hence the chain.’

Wallace eyed it with a frown, his teeth clenched tightly together.

‘Have they given you a very bad time?’ he asked sympathetically.

‘It could have been worse,’ replied the other. ‘Being shut up
here at night, with practically no air to breathe, has been the most unpleasant part, if one excepts the humiliation of the chain. But I was told you had been killed, sir. I can’t say what a relief it is to find you are alive after all.’

‘There was never much danger of my being killed,’ Wallace told him simply, adding with deep feeling, ‘but I’m afraid Maddison, Cunliffe, and Reynolds are gone.’

Their eyes met and, in each pair, an indomitable resolve showed, proclaiming their intention to avenge their companions, if and when opportunity offered.

‘We can’t waste time talking,’ declared Sir Leonard. ‘I must free you from this beastly contrivance.’

He bent down, and examined the belt. It was fastened round Cousins’ waist by a padlock similar to the one locking the other end of the chain to the bedstead. Presently he straightened himself and, from his case of instruments, took a strangely shaped implement which, after a little manipulation, fitted into the keyhole. A couple of turns, and the padlock opened; the belt was removed, and Cousins freed. One of his inimitable smiles showed for a fleeting second on his wrinkled countenance.

‘Love laughs at locksmiths, sir,’ he commented, ‘and so do you. It’s a lucky thing for me that you brought that little case with you.’

‘It was fortunate in more ways than one,’ muttered Wallace. ‘Come along, and tread quietly. The slightest sound may bring the whole gang on us. I’m sorry I haven’t another revolver to give you.’

For answer Cousins bent down, and removed the automatic from its hiding place in his sock.

‘I managed to hide it there,’ he explained, ‘when I discovered I had been duped. They never found it. It was my intention to wait until I had ascertained where the plans were hidden; then make a
break for it. That was before the girl adopted me as a pet,’ he added ruefully, ‘and had me chained up.’

Wallace nodded understandingly, and led the way to the door, which he opened with extreme care. All seemed well, not a sound disturbing the silence into which the house was plunged. They descended the stairs, an occasional ray of light from Sir Leonard’s powerful little torch helping them. Before long they were in the room used by Ictinos as a study, the door closed on them. Wallace rapidly told his companion how he had come to the place, and what he had heard concerning the disaster that had overtaken Maddison and his assistants.

‘The first thing we must do,’ he added, ‘is to get in touch with headquarters by means of the wireless installation in my car. I’ve a pretty good idea where we are, and the sooner we get down a force strong enough to raid this building, and capture everyone in it, the better I shall be pleased. Wait a minute, though.’ An idea had suddenly occurred to him. ‘Hill and Cartright are at Sittingbourne. Major Brien had planted a repair gang on the Sheppey bridge with Cartright working a “go and stop” sign until today, in order that every car that passed could be scrutinised. Both men are now in a house on the Sheppey road. From their room they can see everything that passes, and are provided with a wireless outfit. I’ll get in touch with them, and tell them to bring along a strong force of police. We’ll save a great deal of time that way. I badly want the Greek under restraint, Cousins, and the police will be glad to take the rest into custody. They seem to be a particularly choice collection of criminals.’

‘Have you found out who Ictinos’ partner is, sir?’ asked Cousins.

‘Partner! I didn’t know he had one.’

‘He has: told me so himself. According to the Greek, he is a man with a wonderful brain, who has all the ideas.’

‘An admission like that from Ictinos,’ commented Sir Leonard drily, ‘is worth recording. I should imagine, from the little I know of him, that there is only one man worth describing as wonderful in this world, and that is Ictinos. Who is this partner? Have you any idea?’

‘No. Ictinos was pretty frank. I think it pleased him to tell me things, being certain in his own mind that I could never repeat them, as he intended me to die; but he admitted that the partner’s name was a household word, and that he was a Greek like himself.’

‘H’m!’ Sir Leonard rubbed his chin reflectively. ‘It’s a pity he’s not in this house. I’d like to capture the whole gang, and put an end to its activities once and for all. We shall have to find out who he is. I have the copies made of the plans of the Masterson monoplane and Wentworth gun, and various other interesting documents, but there are other things I want as well.’

Cousins’ eyes glistened in the dark.

‘By Jove!’ he exclaimed, ‘that’s good work, sir. How did you find them, and what—?’

‘There’s no time to tell you now. We must get out to the car, and send the message to Cartright. I think we’d better go by way of the window.’

He walked across the room, and pulled aside the curtain. Switching on his torch, he and Cousins looked carefully for burglar alarms, feeling certain that in a house of that nature precautions would have been taken to guard against possible intruders. Cousins’ heart was light. After his days of captivity and humiliation, with the shadow of death ever hovering over him, he felt it good to be alive and free.

‘“How good is man’s life, the mere living! how fit to employ,”’ he quoted softly, ‘“All the heart and the soul and the senses for ever in joy!”’

Wallace smiled to himself, but made no comment. They discovered various cunningly hidden wires, which were cut one by one. Whatever he may have said about his mysterious partner, Ictinos himself was undoubtedly a man of ideas. The electric plant attached to the house was obviously used for more purposes than to supply light. Satisfied that at last all alarms connected with the windows of that room had been put out of action, the two men raised the lower sash of one preparatory to climbing out. At that moment a light flared up and, with a hiss, something sped past Sir Leonard’s head through the open window. With one accord he and Cousins swung round. Standing by the door was Thalia Ictinos, a revolver held steadily in her hand; by her side was Paul the dwarf, his repulsive features distorted in a malevolent grin.

‘So my little dog-man would escape, eh?’ observed the girl mockingly. ‘I think it is very ungrateful of him. You, sir,’ she added to Wallace, ‘came I presume to release him. If Paul had not thrown the knife so badly you would now be dead, but perhaps it is as well you remain alive. You can explain to my father how you come to be here. No; do not move! I shoot very straight.’ She turned to the dwarf; spoke rapidly to him in Greek. Cousins, who understood the language, knew she was directing him to call her father and the other men. Paul disappeared. ‘It is fortunate,’ went on Thalia in English, ‘that I had a headache, and came down to get some tablets that my father—’

With extraordinary rapidity Sir Leonard drew his revolver from under his artificial arm, where he had placed it for convenience, and all in one movement, fired at the single glowing electric bulb,
hanging in a cluster with two others from the ceiling. It was a wonderful shot, and the room was immediately plunged into darkness. Thalia Ictinos also fired, but she was just a trifle too late, Wallace having gone to the floor.

‘Quick! Through the window,’ he cried, at the same time dragging down Cousins behind the desk. ‘Crawl round to the side near the fireplace,’ he breathed urgently in the little man’s ear.

Thalia, screaming for help, took three or four seconds to find the other switch. By the time the lights were on, Wallace and his companion were kneeling close together behind the far side of the desk, not exactly a hiding place, if any of the crooks glanced round the room, but Sir Leonard calculated on their making for the window. By now the place was in an uproar. Men came tearing down the stairs calling out to know what was wrong. Ictinos was the first on the scene, the others crowding behind him. Thalia met them at the door.

‘Cousins and the other man have escaped – through the window,’ she cried.

The Greek proved himself a man of action. He did not stop then to ask who the other man was.

‘They may have guns, and shoot to keep us in,’ he snapped, promptly switching off the lights again. ‘Danson and Farrell, through the window after them. Hepburn and Ibsen, go out the front way. Search the grounds thoroughly; they must not escape. Paul, fetch torches. Quick, all of you!’

His orders were obeyed immediately, and he and his daughter were left alone.

‘Who was this other man?’ demanded Ictinos, still speaking in English.

‘I do not know,’ she replied ‘it is the first time I have seen him.
He was a man of middle height, with a strong thin face and, I think, grey eyes. I have never seen anyone so quick with a gun before. He wore a big overcoat.’

‘I do not care what he wore,’ he snarled, adding in a quieter voice, which was almost a whisper. ‘It sounds like that devil Wallace, but it cannot be; it cannot be. Thalia, you stay here. I must help in the search.’

‘I will get a coat and come too,’ she declared.

Sir Leonard and Cousins rose cautiously to their feet.

‘Nice of him to switch off the lights,’ commented the former quietly. ‘It will enable us to get across the room without being spotted from outside.’

They waited a few minutes; then, at a signal from Wallace, the little man followed his chief to the door. They stood there a short while, after which, hearing no sound in the house, they crossed the hall, and ran quietly up the stairs, entering one of the front bedrooms. The light had been left on, but the windows were closely covered by thick curtains, and there was no fear of their being seen from outside.

‘We’re safer up here than down below,’ observed Sir Leonard. ‘It’s a pity that girl came along when she did. Our chances of getting in touch with Cartright now are not very bright. Still, I can’t always expect to have the luck on my side.’

Cousins cast an appreciative eye round the apartment. Obviously that of a woman, it was furnished most tastefully. Gold and enamelled toilet articles adorned the dressing table, delicately worked cushions lay everywhere, while silken curtains hung round the bed.

‘Must be her bedroom,’ remarked the little man. ‘She certainly believes in comfort, even in this out-of-the-way spot.’ He chuckled
softly. ‘Those fellows will find it a bit draughty out there in that piercing wind. I daresay most of them are in pyjamas. “Except wind stands as never it stood, It is an ill-wind turns none to good.”’

He was bubbling over with good spirits, probably due to the fact that he was no longer a prisoner. Neither he nor Sir Leonard were in any way perturbed by the fact that they were apparently in a hopeless position. Their chances of escaping from the house were certainly very slender. While the six men were outside searching the grounds, it was impossible for them to get away, especially when it meant attempting to open a barred and locked gate or scaling a high wall, and it was certain that, failing to discover his quarry outside, Ictinos would order every corner of the house to be examined. Wallace sank into an armchair, and considered the problem.

‘Go and have a look into the other rooms up here,’ he at length directed Cousins. ‘If any of them offer a fairly safe hiding place in the event of a search, come back and let me know at once. Be careful! If you hear anybody approaching, return to this room immediately.’

Cousins departed on his errand. He was away for over ten minutes; then came back shaking his head.

‘There are cupboards and various other hiding places, of course,’ he informed his companion, ‘but not a place that is likely to be overlooked in a search.’

‘Then there’s nothing for it,’ decided Wallace, ‘but to stay here, and act as circumstances direct.’

Half an hour went by before they heard the sound of voices. Sir Leonard and Cousins quickly withdrew behind the curtains at the farther side of the bed, both holding their weapons ready for action. They heard nothing further for several minutes; then, almost without warning, two people entered the room. One was
Ictinos, the other his daughter. The former appeared very agitated to judge from the excitable manner in which he was speaking to her. She was much calmer and did her best to soothe his apparently ruffled feelings.

‘It is of no use behaving in this way,’ she protested. ‘It is a matter in which you can blame nobody. Whoever the man is who got in, he must have had a perfect knowledge of the house, and probably had been studying it for some days.’

‘If you are right, it cannot have been Wallace. He only reached England this morning, or rather yesterday morning.’

‘Does it matter whether it was Monsieur Wallace or somebody else? The fact remains that a man did get in and rescue Cousins.’

‘Yes; and they are probably far away by now. But how did he get in?’

‘How do I know? I only reached your study in time to see them about to get out. I wish I had shot them both at once. If Paul had not missed with his knife all would have been well. Afterwards, when I had them covered with my gun, I thought there would be no attempt to escape. I was not to know that the stranger was so clever. Never have I seen such rapidity of movement as when the light was shot out.’

‘That sounds as though he
was
Wallace,’ growled Ictinos. ‘He is known to be marvellously quick with a pistol. But it seems they have got away. We must go, too. It will be ruin to stop a moment longer than necessary now. Pack only what you require, my child, and hurry. The motorboat is fortunately always ready.’