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had gotten a peep into the notebook of Barton Ward。 The notes
made； the three detectives once more smiled craftily at each
other； and Wilton Barnstable resumed：
〃We knew； of course； that another lady was also following Lady
Agatha。 But； until the present moment； we had not identified her
with Miss Pringle。 And I should not be at all surprised； not at
ALL surprised； if still another person had been following Miss
Pringle。〃
〃With what object？〃 asked Miss Pringle； looking alarmed at the
idea。
〃The motive； my dear lady； I must for the present withhold；〃 said
Wilton Barnstable。 And again the three detectives exchanged
knowing glances。
〃Reginald Maltravers' pursuit of you； Lady Agatha； led him to
Fairport；〃 went on the great sleuth。 〃No doubt he met the driver
of the vehicle which brought you hither； and learned that you
and Elmer had been set down in this neighborhood； just as Miss
Pringle learned it。 No doubt it was well after dark when he
arrived in the vicinity of the Jasper B。 And it is to be
supposed that； once out here； he went to Morris's road house；
thinking it quite likely that you and Elmer would stop there； as
he had been tracking you from road house to road house。 Logan
Black； knowing that the authorities were on his trail； mistook
Reginald Maltravers for a detective； and held him prisoner at
Morris's。 Logan Black's men took away his clothes in order to
minimize the possibility of his escape。〃
〃And the Earl of Claiborne's signet ring〃 began Cleggett。
〃Of course； Reginald Maltravers was wearing it； and of course
they took his valuables from him；〃 said Barnstable。 〃One of the
ruffians was wearing the ring as he approached your vessel with a
bomb。 But； Mr。 Cleggett； there are points about that bomb
explosion which I do not understand。〃
〃Nor I；〃 admitted Cleggett。
〃We will clear them up later；〃 said the great detective； smiling
benignly at his thumbs； which he was revolving slowly about each
other as he reconstructed the case。
〃Later！〃 smiled Barton Ward。 〃Later！〃 murmured Watson Bard。
With their hands clasped over their stomachs； they； too； benignly
twirled their thumbs。
〃Tonight；〃 pursued Barnstable； 〃having finally got all the
information I wished from Dopey Eddie and Izzy the Cat with
regard to Logan Black； I tossed them the key to their irons and
told them to unlock themselves and clear out。 It was just before
the storm began； and they were sitting on the bank of the canal
at the time。 I allowed them to sit there in the evenings and get
the fresh air。
〃But before they could unlock themselves Reginald Maltravers； who
had； we must suppose； escaped from Morris's through the
carelessness of one of Logan Black's subordinates； crawled up the
bank of the canal； which he had swum； and made for the two
gunmen； with the water dripping from his eyeglass。 He had
recognized them as the men who had dogged and assaulted him； and
every other idea was obliterated in his desire for vengeance。
〃They fled。 He pursued。 He caught them； and they fought。 They
succeeded in dropping one of the iron balls on his footon his
bunion foot； Mr。 Cleggettcrippling him。〃
As this mention of the bunion； Miss Genevive Pringle arose with
dignity； and； flinging a shawl about her shoulders； left the
cabin； chin in air。 She did not vouchsafe so much as one
backward glance at Cleggett or the three detectives or lady
Agatha as she left； but outraged propriety was expressed in every
line of her figure。
〃H'm；〃 mused the detective； flushing slightly； and Watson Bard
and Barton Ward also colored a little； and looked hacked。 They
glanced furtively at Lady Agatha； to see if she too might be
offended。
〃Proceed； Mr。 Barnstable；〃 she said a little impatiently。
〃Bunions don't bother me； either mentally or physically。 I am
familiar with the idea of bunions。 There are many bunions in the
Claiborne family。〃
〃On his bunion foot； crippling him；〃 resumed the detective；
reassured。 〃The storm came up； and still the gunmen fled； and
still Reginald Maltravers pursued。 I suppose； since you saw them
on the west side of the canal； Mr。 Cleggett； that they had run
around the north end of it。 Probably； while you and Logan Black
were fighting； they were running up and down in the neighborhood；
in the storm； intent only upon their own feud。〃
〃They certainly seemed exhausted when I saw them；〃 said Cleggett；
〃all three of them。 But if you will permit me to say so； the
astuteness with which you are reconstructing this case compels my
admiration。〃
Wilton Barnstable bowed； and Barton Ward and Watson Bard slightly
inclined their heads。
〃Your skill；〃 said Lady Agatha； 〃is equal to that of Sherlock
Holmes。〃
At the name of Sherlock Holmes a shade passed over the face of
Wilton Barnstable。 He slightly compressed his lips； and his
eyebrows went up a fraction of an inch。 This shade was reflected
on the faces of Barton Ward and Watson Bard。 There was a moment
of silence； but presently Wilton Barnstable continued； repressing
a sigh：
〃I thought at first； Mr。 Cleggett； that you were an ally of Logan
Black's； just as you believed me to be his ally； and as he
believed you and me to be working together。 It may interest you
to know that smuggling has been one of his side lines。 There is；
somewhere hereabouts； a cave in which smuggled goods are stored。
These coasts have a sinister history； Mr。 Cleggett。 It is
possible that your canal boatI beg your pardon； your schooner；
Mr。 Cleggettplayed some part in their smuggling operations。 At
any rate it is evident that Logan Black transferred to the hold
of this vessel the incriminating evidence against him； contained
in that oblong box； when he learned that my agents were watching
Morris's。 The Jasper B。 has been lying in her present position
for a long time。 In the event that a sudden get…away from
Morris's became necessary； it was an advantage to Logan Black to
be able to leave without being hampered with this matter。 No
one； for many years； had paid any attention to the Jasper B。；
with the exception of the old truck farmer； Abernethy； who used
sometimes to fish from her deck； and〃
〃Truck farmer！〃 cried Cleggett。 〃Abernethy？〃
〃Truck farmer；〃 repeated Wilton Barnstable。
〃Is not Abernethy an old sea captain？〃 asked Cleggett。
〃Why； no； I believe not；〃 said Barnstable。 〃At least I never
heard so。 He is well known as a small truck gardener in this
neighborhood。 It is true that he comes of a seafaring
familyindeed； it is his boast。 But； in a community where
nearly everyone knows a little about boats； I believe that
Abernethy is remarkable for an indisposition to venture far from
shore。〃
〃I can scarcely believe it；〃 breathed Cleggett。
〃He does not understand boats；〃 said Barnstable。 〃That is the
reason； I take it； why he has always fished in the canal from the
dec