Part 97

"Thunder! we have clean forgot her father!" exclaimed Macloud. "He should be informed at once."

"Just what he shouldn't be," Croyden returned. "What is the good in alarming him? Free her--then she may tell him, or not, as it pleases her."

Macloud held out his hand.

"Done!" he said. "Our first duty is to save the women, the rest can bide until they are free. How about the money? Are your stocks readily convertible? If not, I'll advance your share."

"Much obliged, old man," said Croyden, "but a wire will do it--they're all listed on New York."

"Will you lose much, if you sell now?" asked Macloud. He wished Croyden would let him pay the entire amount.

"Just about even; a little to the good, in fact," was the answer.

And Macloud said no more--he knew it was useless.

At Ashburton, they found Captain Carrington pacing the long hall, in deep distress--uncertain what course to pursue, because there was no indication as to what had caused the disappearance. He turned, as the two men entered.

"The detectives are quizzing the servants in the library," he said. "I couldn't sit still.--You have news?" he exclaimed, reading Croyden's face.

"I have!" said Croyden, and gave him the letter.

He seized it. As he read, concern, perplexity, amazement, anger, all showed in his countenance.

"They have been abducted!--Davila and Miss Cavendish, and are held for ransom!--a fabulous ransom, which you are asked to pay," he said, incredulously. "So much, at least, is intelligible. But why? why? Who are Robert Parmenter's Successors?--and who was he? and the jewels?--I cannot understand----"

"I'm not surprised," said Croyden. "It's a long story--too long to tell--save that Parmenter was a pirate, back in 1720, who buried a treasure on Greenberry Point, across the Severn from Annapolis, you know, and died, making Marmaduke Duval his heir, under certain conditions. Marmaduke, in turn, passed it on to his son, and so on, until Colonel Duval bequeathed it to me. We searched--Mr. Macloud and I--for three weeks, but did not find it. Our secret was chanced upon by two rogues, who, with their confederates, however, are under the conviction we did find it. They wanted a rake-off. I laughed at them--and this abduction is the result."

"But why abduct the women?" asked the old man.

"Because they think I can be coerced more easily. They are under the impression that I am--fond of Miss Carrington. At any rate, they know I'm enough of a friend to pay, rather than subject her to the hazard."

"Pay! I can't pay! My whole fortune isn't over twenty thousand dollars. It I will gladly sacrifice, but more is impossible."

"You're not to pay, my old friend," said Croyden. "Mr. Macloud and I are the ones aimed at and we will pay."

"I won't permit it, sir!" the Captain exclaimed. "There is no reason for you----"

"Tut! tut!" said Croyden, "you forget that we are wholly responsible; but for us, Miss Carrington and Miss Cavendish would not have been abducted. The obligation is ours, and we will discharge it. It is our plain, our very plain, duty."

The old man threw up his hands in the extremity of despair.

"I don't know what to do!" he said. "I don't know what to do!"

"Do nothing--leave everything to us. We'll have Miss Carrington back in three days."

"And safe?"

"And safe--if the letter is trustworthy, and I think it is. The police can't do as well--they may fail entirely--and think of the possible consequences! Miss Carrington and Miss Cavendish are very handsome women."

"My God, yes!" exclaimed the Captain. "Anything but that! If they were men, or children, it would be different--they could take some chances. But women!"--He sank on a chair and covered his face with his hands. "You must let me pay what I am able," he insisted. "All that I have----"

Croyden let his hand fall sympathizingly on the other's shoulder.

"It shall be as you wish," he said quietly. "We will pay, and you can settle with us afterward--our stocks can be converted instantly, you see, while yours will likely require some time."