_ CHAPTER XLII
Rigby did not for a moment appear to suspect the truthfulness of the detective's story.
"Who were they?" he demanded.
"Detectives."
"And Vance was one of them?"
"No."
"Were they connected with him?"
"That I cannot answer."
"And what do you propose to do,"
"Lay around for my man, if I am not interfered with. It is my game to appear as one of the gang, and that will give me a chance to get well in on his trail when he comes."
"I can fix that part of the business for you."
"That is all I want; but, if I am to be jumped at every time I make a move, I'll get away."
"You were hiding around here?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you cone out openly?"
"I was waiting to got a chance to see you alone. I did not want to be known to all your friends--you never can tell who, will talk too much."
"Our men don't talk."
"Some of them must have talked."
"What makes you think so?"
"How, else would Vance find out about the death of old Tom Pearce?"
"The death of Tom Pearce is as much a mystery to our men as to anyone else."
"Vance thinks your men did it."
"How do you know?"
"I've lain on his track, and overheard him talking with the United States District Attorney."
"Our men know nothing, about the death of Tom Pearce."
"Have they a suspicion?"
"I have not heard them say."
"I wish I had a point on that affair."
"Why?"
"It would give me a sure hitch on Vance."
"It's a good scheme; I will talk with the boys and see if any of them have any suspicion."
"What will you tell them about me?"
"Oh, I will fix that all right."
"They must not bother me."
"You will not be bothered."
"That's all right; go and see if you can pick up any points."
The detective was left alone; he was really only working the game to learn all he could about the death of old Tom Pearce, and all he wished to know was whether the smugglers had killed the old man or not; if they were innocent, he knew just in what direction to look for the assassin, and also where to look for the beautiful Renie.
Meantime the gang were anxiously waiting to hear the result of Rigby's conference with the man whom they had caught eavesdropping around the tavern.
Rigby rejoined his friends and customers, who at once crowded around him.
"Well, who is the fellow?"
"He's all right, boys; you remember what I told you about strangers being around here on the lookout for Vance!"
"Is that fellow one, then?"
"He's all right."
"Have you seen his credentials?"
"I tell you he is all right."
"Don't like his looks," said one man.
"Don't like his actions," said another.
"The way we found him looks bad," said a third.
"Now you fellows rest quiet; I know who the man is, and he's all right, the man don't travel who can fool me."
"You are satisfied he's all right?"
"Yes."
"Who were the other two men who were up at the cabin where the body of old Pearce lies?"
"Those are the fellows you ought to have nipped."
"Was Vance one of them?"
"That we can't tell, but Vance will be here to-night; and if you men do not spoil the game we can fix things all right."
"Is that what that fellow told you?"
"I know what I am talking about."
"Vance is to be here to-night?"
"Yes."
"Well, it's time he was here."
The answer caused a laugh.
Rigby saw that the men were not satisfied, and he sought to change the subject. He said:
"So old Pearce is dead?"
"He is."
"Where's the girl?"
"That's more than we'll tell you."
"I always thought Renie's good looks would bring trouble to someone sooner or later," said Rigby.
"You don't think any of the gang had anything to do with bringing harm to the old man?"
There came a general denial of any such suspicion.
The men, however, appeared to be quite restive as to the identity of the man whom they had found prowling around. Rigby went inside to report what he had heard to the detective, and upon opening the door he uttered an exclamation of astonishment.
"Well, this gets me," he muttered.
The room was vacant--the man had left.
"Where can he be?" muttered Rigby and he commenced a search, but the man was nowhere to be found.
A curse fell from his lips.
"Have I been fooled, after all?" he muttered. "I'll be shot if it don't look so."
The tavern-keeper continued his search, but it proved fruit less; the man was nowhere to be found.
"I daren't go and tell the boys about this," he muttered: "but it looks as though I had bees fooled."
The real fact was the tavern-keeper had been fooled.
Vance was not the man to depend upon hearsay. He had followed after Rigby, and had overheard every word that had passed between the man and his friends.
The detective a was fully convinced, from what he over-heard, that the smugglers were innocent of old Tom Pearce's death; indeed, he had so believed from the first; but it was one of his methods to make sure, and when once really convinced he knew as stated, where to look for the real assassin, and he folded his tent, like the Arab, and as silently stole away. _