Chapter XXXI: Curtain Up!

Klein did not join the throng in the ballroom, but went out upon the broad porch, paced it from end to end, studied the windows, and ran a critical eye along the green hedge that bordered the pebbled road. During a lull of the orchestra, the dull roar of the surf came to his ears. Remembering something, Klein walked out along the narrow footbridge to the summerhouse on the cliff edge.

There he bent down and examined a bundle that was hidden beneath a large rock, assured himself that everything was complete, then retraced his steps. Midway on the bridge he stopped.

Far below, the surf, its edges sparkling, rolled against the base of the cliff. Overhead, the white moon poured down its stream of silver.

Reaching the porch again, Klein met Mr. Lydecker and another man. One glance into the latter’s face started a flood of memories.

Mr. Lydecker greeted Klein, then turned to his companion.

“Permit me. Mr. Klein, Mr. Jarge.”

Their hands barely touched. “I believe I have had the honor of meeting Mr. Klein before,” Jarge said quietly, his black eyes searching Klein’s face.

“Yes,” answered Klein, just as quietly; “I believe we have met. It was on the Fall River boat, about a month ago, was it not?”

“Bless my soul!” exclaimed Mr. Lydecker. “Is that really so? What a coincidence, to be sure! I happened to meet Mr. Jarge on the Fall River boat, and it couldn’t have been more than a month ago.”

“It was the same night,” Klein said. “I remember seeing you on board, Mr. Lydecker.”

Klein instantly recalled the night in the smoking room, when he had watched Mr. Jarge following Mr. Klein and his daughter.

“Since that night,” Mr. Lydecker was saying, “I have always had a warm place in my heart for Mr. Jarge. He was the ship detective, you know, and bless my soul if he didn’t return my daughter’s jewels before we even knew they had been stolen. Quite remarkable, don’t you think so, Mr. Klein?”

“Very remarkable,” answered Klein dryly.

Jarge, to all appearances, did not relish the conversation, and with a mumbled excuse he sauntered away.

“Yes, sir,” Mr. Lydecker repeated, once they were alone, “Mr. Jarge won my instant admiration. I don’t mind telling you, Mr. Klein, that I have engaged this man to mingle with my guests to-night. The robbery of last week has naturally made me nervous, and I concluded I would take measures to prevent another incident like that.”

“You say that this Mr. Jarge was a detective on the Fall River boat?” Klein asked. “How did you find that out?”

“Why, he told me himself,” replied Mr. Lydecker. “Besides, he returned all my daughter’s jewelry, which she was foolish enough to leave in her stateroom when we went to dinner.”

“And I suppose Mr. Jarge caught the thief, and you prosecuted him?”

“Why, no; not exactly. You see, Mr. Jarge asked me to keep the matter quiet. We did so.”

“How does it happen that Mr. Jarge is in Hudson?” asked Klein.

“He has left the boat, and started in business for himself. He is very successful, too, I believe. I had almost to force him to take my case to-night.”

“Is that so?” Klein smiled to himself. “But did it ever occur to you, Mr. Lydecker, that this Jarge might have had a good reason for gaining your friendship in the manner he did?”

“Why--why, what do you mean?” sputtered the older man.

“Do you really know anything about him, other than what he had told you himself?”

“I can’t say I do,” Mr. Lydecker admitted reluctantly. “But I do not see any reason for doubting----”

“If you had taken the trouble to inquire at the Fall River offices in this city, you would have learned that they do not, and never have, employed private detectives on any of their boats.”

“Nonsense, Mr. Klein!” broke in the other, “I cannot believe that Mr. Jarge would deliberately lie to me. Besides, he has done me a great favor, and I appreciate it.”

“You are allowing your daughter to wear some of her most valuable pieces of jewelry to-night, are you not, Mr. Lydecker?” Klein questioned, apparently changing the subject.

“Why, yes, I have allowed her to do so. You see, it is her birthday.”

“And the majority of the women present are doing the same, I believe?”

Mr. Lydecker admitted that such was the truth. “But,” he asked, “what has that to do with Mr. Jarge?”

“It might not have a thing in the world to do with him,” responded Klein; “and again, it might.”

They were interrupted at that moment, and the conversation was dropped.