The Secret Toll

"Ah dunno what it is, Boss."

"Where is it now?" asked Forrester.

"We-all done got it downstairs, Boss. Ah'll get it and show yo'."

Joshua left the room. He returned presently with a large, circular piece of rubber which he placed in Forrester's hands. Forrester examined it carefully. He found that it was flexible, somewhat oval in form, and concave. At the back a piece of light rubber tubing, about one foot in length, was attached. Forrester placed the rubber over his face for a moment and found that its form made it fit like a mask. He withdrew it hastily when he heard an exclamation at his side. It was Mary Sturtevant, and as Forrester glanced up he saw her looking at him with startled eyes.

"Joshua!" she cried, turning to the negro, "how did Mr. Forrester get that?"

"Ah done brung it to him, mam."

The girl seized the piece of rubber from Forrester and handing it to Joshua, directed, "Take it away instantly, Joshua. Put it in my room."

"Yassum!" and Joshua darted out of the room, mumbling to himself.

The events of the night came back to Forrester quite clearly now.

"Was that the thing my assailant used on me last night?" he asked, looking up at the girl.

"Yes," she returned, "but you mustn't talk about it."

"But I want to talk about it," he exclaimed. "And I want it for evidence!"

"Robert," she said seriously, "you must not tell a soul about what happened last night, or refer to that piece of rubber. It is absolutely vital that you do this for me. Please promise."

"I'll consider it," he said, "if you will tell me the whole story of what happened."

"I am willing to tell you that," she returned, "but first you must have your breakfast. I can tell you the story while you are eating. It is very short."

She left the room, returning in a few minutes with a tray. After assisting Forrester to sit up in bed, and arranging the pillows at his back, she placed the tray in his lap. As he ate, she explained to him what had happened.

"After you left, I stood on the steps listening to the hum of your engine as you drove away. I was worried, Robert, to think of your recklessness in driving around alone at night under the present circumstances. Suddenly, I heard a report like a pistol shot, and as I could no longer hear the sound of your engine, I feared that something had happened to you.

"Calling Joshua, we ran along the road in the direction you had taken. We soon saw the lights of your car, and I could see that two men were struggling in the road. I knew that one of them must be you. I have always carried my little automatic with me since I came to live in this lonely neighborhood. Taking it out, I fired several shots in the air as I ran. That frightened the man who was attacking you and he fled.

"Joshua carried you back to the house, and I telephoned for a doctor. The doctor said that an attempt had been made to asphyxiate you. If we had been a minute or two later he could not have saved you."

"My God!" cried Forrester, receiving a shocking revelation. "The 'Friends of the Poor'! That is how their victims have been killed! How did you get that mask of death, Mary?"

"You had seized it with a deathlike grip. The doctor could hardly get it out of your hands. When the man fled he had to break the tubing to carry the rest of the apparatus away."

"What a wonderful piece of evidence!" exclaimed Forrester.

"Yes," admitted the girl, "but against whom will you use it?"

CHAPTER XVI – THE FATAL DANCE

Forrester's splendid health, and the prompt treatment he had received, quickly put him on his feet. The second day after his adventure he had sufficiently recovered to drive home in his car. This had been placed in the Bradbury barn by Joshua, who also completed the exchange of tires, which had been interrupted.

The effect of this incident upon his family worried Forrester. It would drive his mother into a state of hysterical fear that could not fail to seriously impede his investigations. When he mentioned this phase of his accident to Mary Sturtevant, however, he found that the clever and resourceful girl had foreseen and provided against such an occurrence.

Green had been summoned shortly after Forrester was brought to the house, the attack explained and instructions given to inform Forrester's family that a business proposition had called him away unexpectedly for a few days.

"No one outside of Mr. Green and my servants will ever know of this incident," Mary Sturtevant informed Forrester, "if you remain silent. And for my sake I know that you will."

Forrester promised, though strange doubts and misgivings battled with his affection for the girl. But of what use was love, he reflected, if it could not stand the fire and acid tests of life's problematical moments. That the girl loved him he did not question now. It was only this dark and fearsome mystery which continued to hold them apart.

Back home again, Forrester bathed and changed his clothes; then, after looking up his mother and sister and accounting for his absence in a matter of fact manner, he sought Green at his station in the pergola.

"Narrow escape, Mr. Forrester," commented Green, as Forrester shook hands with him and sat down. "Funny how that Miss Sturtevant happened to be so handy. What do you say?"

"I came out to have a talk with you, Green, along that line," replied Forrester. "I have found some of your ideas right to the point. In other ways you don't seem to get anywhere. Now, for example, your surmise about the Italians was correct. Your theory that Lucy is not connected with these people appears to be confirmed by the investigations of the police. The position you take that the 'Friends of the Poor' are located in the vicinity of the tree grows stronger every day. But – you don't seem able to point your finger at a single person or thing that will give us a solid basis upon which to work. That is what I want now – a real suggestion that I can follow up, and through which I may hope to form some definite conclusion or take positive action. We must have action, Green; quick action."

"I have given you a valuable hint, Mr. Forrester, but you turned it down. What about them two people I saw on Prentice's lawn – what about the man who visited Miss Sturtevant and then hid himself behind the tree and pulled out your package while the excitement was on – what about 'em, eh? Why, damn it all!" Green exclaimed, jumping to his feet and pounding a big fist on the palm of his open hand, "just let me get out of here and I'll show you somethin'. How can I get anywhere, just sittin' here communin' with the birds. If you won't let me do it, then get out yourself and find that man. Between him and the girl you got two startin' points that'll bag the whole crew."

Forrester sat in silence after this outburst. Green was right! The detective had pointed an accusing finger at Mary Sturtevant. He hadgiven Forrester positive information that she knew something definite about the "Friends of the Poor," and yet, blinded by his infatuation, Forrester had done nothing.

"All right, Green," agreed Forrester, "I'll work on your suggestions. How can we locate that man, however?"

"If he had a date with her once, he'll have another," asserted Green. "Stick around – that's all. That girl'll solve the case for you yet. Just get her in a tight corner." Then he leaned down to Forrester and added, in a low, confidential tone, "And don't forget that old story about them sireens on the rocks."

—

A few days later Forrester met Mary Sturtevant at a dance. Though he had promised Green that he would watch her, Forrester had dallied over taking the first step. Now, as he chatted with her and felt the spell she always cast over him, Forrester's whole being revolted at the thought of spying upon her.

"Do you wish any dances?" she inquired, after a time. Forrester's face flushed. Divided between his disturbing reflections and the enchantment of her nearness, he had not thought of reserving any dances. He held out his hand and she placed her dance card in it.

"You see, you are always late," she chided him. "Five dances are already taken."

"I'll take these three after young Melville," announced Forrester, and wrote his initials on the card.

Forrester had lost his interest in dancing of late, so he held himself in the background until it was time to claim his first dance with Mary Sturtevant. Then he hunted for her everywhere. She was not to be found, and even after the orchestra had begun to play, she did not appear. He saw nothing further of her until time for his second dance, when he suddenly became aware that she was standing by his side.

"You are like the beautiful young woman that the magician passes through his cabinet," exclaimed Forrester.

"Do I appear and disappear so mysteriously as all that?" she laughed, but offered no apology nor explanation.

Then the music began and they swept out on the floor.

Just before the dance ended Forrester noted a stir near the conservatory doors. Though the doors were closed, several people were grouped about them, apparently looking through the glass at something going on within the conservatory. When the music stopped Forrester suggested that they stroll in this direction and ascertain what was taking place. Before they reached the conservatory doors, however, Mr. Melville, their host, appeared at Forrester's side. The man's face was pale and drawn.

"Forrester," said Mr. Melville in a low voice, "we have had an accident in the conservatory. I would appreciate your help. Come around by way of the hall – the doors from this room have been locked."

Mr. Melville turned away toward the hall and Forrester excused himself to Mary Sturtevant. He noticed that her face also had paled.

"I think I know what has happened," she said. "Please let me go with you."

"It might not be agreeable to Mr. Melville," objected Forrester.