"I rather think I should."
"But what will you do first?"
"Go to Denton," said John.
"To Denton?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because Brandon is there."
"How can he be?"
"Simply," said John, "because I know the man that Vijal attacked must have been Brandon. No other person answers to the description. No other person would be so quick to dodge the cord, and so quick with the revolver. He has humbugged Vijal somehow, and this fool of a n.i.g.g.e.r has believed him. He was Brandon, and no one else, and I"m going on his track."
"Well--you"re right, perhaps," said Potts; "but take care of yourself, Johnnie."
John gave a dry smile.
"I"ll try to do so and I hope to take care of others also," said he.
"G.o.d bless you, Johnnie!" said Potts, affectionately, not knowing the blasphemy of invoking the blessing of G.o.d on one who was setting out to commit murder.
"You"re spooney, dad," returned John, and he left the bank with Vijal.
John went back to the inn first, and after a few preparations started for Denton. On the way he amused himself with coa.r.s.e jests at Vijal"s stupidity in allowing himself to be deceived by Brandon, taunted him with cowardice in yielding so easily, and a.s.sured him that one who was so great a coward could not possibly succeed in any undertaking.
Toward evening they reached the inn at Denton. John was anxious not to show himself, so he went at once to the inn, directing Vijal to keep a look-out for Brandon and let him know if he saw any one who looked like him. These directions were accompanied and intermingled with numerous threats as to what he would do if Vijal dared to fail in any particular.
The Malay listened calmly, showing none of that impatience and haughty resentment which he formerly used to manifest toward John, and quietly promised to do what was ordered.
About ten o"clock John happened to look on of the window. He saw a figure standing where the light from the windows flashed out, which at once attracted his attention. It was the man whom he sought--it was Brandon. Was he stopping at the same inn? If so, why had not Vijal told him? He at once summoned Vijal, who came as calm as ever. To John"s impatient questions as to why he had not told him about Brandon, he answered that Brandon had only come there half an hour previously, and that he had been watching him ever since to see what he was going to do.
"You most keep on watching him, then; do you hear?"
"Yes."
"And if you let him slip this time, you infernal n.i.g.g.e.r, you"ll pay dear for it."
"I"ll not make a mistake this time," was Vijal"s answer. And as he spoke his eyes gleamed, and again that baleful smile pa.s.sed over his face.
"That"s the man," said John. "You understand that? That"s the man you"ve got to fix, do you hear? Don"t be a fool this time. You must manage it to-night, for I don"t want to wait here forever. I leave it to you. I only came to make sure of the man. I"m tired, and I"m going to bed soon.
When I wake to-morrow I expect to hear from you that you have finished this business. If you don"t, d--n you, I"ll wring your infernal n.i.g.g.e.r"s neck."
"It will all be done by to-morrow," said Vijal, calmly.
"Then clear out and leave me. I"m going to bed. What you"ve got to do is to watch that man."
Vijal retired.
The night pa.s.sed. When the following morning came John was not up at the ordinary breakfast hour. Nine o"clock came. Ten o"clock. Still he did not appear.
"He"s a lazy fellow," said the landlord, "though he don"t look like it.
And where"s his servant?"
"The servant went back to Brandon at day-break," was the answer.
Eleven o"clock came. Still there were no signs of John. There was a balcony in the inn which ran in front of the windows of the room occupied by John. After knocking at the door once or twice the landlord tapped at the window and tried to peep in to see if the occupant was awake or not. One part, of the blind was drawn a little aside, and showed the bed and the form of a man still lying there.
"He"s an awful sleeper," said the landlord. "It"s twelve o"clock, and he isn"t up yet. Well, it"s his business, not mine."
About half an hour after the noise of wheels was heard, and a wagon drove swiftly into the yard of the inn. An old man jumped out, gave his horse to the hostler, and entered the inn.
He was somewhat flushed and flurried. His eyes twinkled brightly, and there was a somewhat exuberant familiarity in his address to the landlord.
"There was a party who stopped here last night," said he, "that I wish to see."
"There was only one person here last night," answered the landlord; "a young man--"
"A young man, yes--that"s right; I want to see him."
"Well, as to that," said the landlord, "I don"t know but you"ll have to wait. He ain"t up yet."
"Isn"t he up yet?"
"No; he"s an awful sleeper. He went to bed last night early, for his lights were out before eleven, and now it"s nearly one, and he isn"t up."
"At any rate, I must see him."
"Shall I wake him?"
[Ill.u.s.tration: HE TORE DOWN THE COVERLET, WHICH CONCEALED THE GREATER PART OF HIS FACE.]
"Yes, and be quick, for I"m in a hurry."
The landlord went up to the door and knocked loudly. There was no answer. He knocked still more loudly. Still no answer. He then kept up an incessant rapping for about ten minutes. Still there was no answer.
He had tried the door before, but it was locked on the inside. He went around to the windows that opened on the balcony; these were open.
He then went down and told the old man that the door was fastened, but that the windows were unfastened. If he chose to go in there he might do so.
"I will do so," said the other, "for I must see him. I have business of importance." He went up.
The landlord and some of the servants, whose curiosity was by this time excited, followed after.
The old man opened the window, which swung back on hinges, and entered.
There was a man in the bed.
He lay motionless. The old man approached. He recognized the face.