The Devil's Cocktail (17 page)

She looked startled and drew back.

‘What – what do you mean?' she stammered. ‘Hugh Shannon treated me badly, and I meant to have my own back – that's all!'

‘You know darn well that is not all,' he said, ‘and you also know that Hugh Shannon did not treat you badly. But I'm getting mighty
sick of all this tongue music. I ask you once again – Are you coming with me to the Secretary of the Club to tell him the truth?'

‘I am not!' she replied defiantly.

‘Then I've got to be a little unpleasant!'

He strode to the door, and lifted the curtain. She watched, a look of fear in her eyes. Just outside a European policeman was standing. He stepped forward.

‘Do you want me, sir?' he asked.

‘Not for a moment or two, I guess,' he answered, then dropped the curtain and looked at her.

She had gone as pale as death, and stood where she was, trembling. Then her nerve broke down, she ran to him and clutched his arm.

‘What is he there for?' she cried. ‘What does he want?'

‘He wants you!'

‘But they can't arrest me for – for what I said!'

‘Of course that depends upon Shannon. He certainly can bring an action for slander. But this policeman is here for a much more serious reason!'

‘But I've done nothing – nothing!'

He pushed her into a chair, and stood looking down sternly at her.

‘You trumped up a beastly, underhanded, false charge against Shannon, and I guess I can fight you with the same weapons you used against him.'

She was nervously biting her handkerchief, and tearing it to pieces in her agitation.

‘It's almighty easy to frame a charge, if one wants to. I'll tell you what is in store for you, Miss Gregson, if you don't do what I wish. You will be arrested for passing dud notes!'

‘What?' she gasped.

‘There have been a whole crowd of spurious notes put into circulation during the last four days, which coincides with the time you have been in Lahore. That policeman outside is waiting to search you and your belongings and arrest you!'

She was terror-stricken.

‘But I haven't passed the notes! You know I haven't!' she almost sobbed.

‘That remains to be seen. You have a considerable amount of money in your possession, which you will have to account for, and when you are searched there will be found several bad notes.'

She started from her chair, and in her frenzy she clutched the lapels of his jacket and strove to shake him.

‘You're doing this to ruin me – you know I have not brought bad notes into Lahore. You're—Oh, you're a devil!' she ended and sank back into the chair sobbing.

‘Say, Miss Gregson!' said the American gently. ‘I don't want to hurt you any, but I want justice done to Shannon. If you will come with me to the Club and confess everything, why, I'll send that policeman about his business, and tell him you're not the person he wants.'

She cried bitterly, and Miles watched her with a pained expression on his face. At length she looked up.

‘I'll – I'll do anything you wish!' she sobbed.

‘I only want you to tell the truth!' he said, an immense relief in his voice.

He dabbed his forehead with his handkerchief.

‘Gee!' he murmured to himself. ‘Some job!'

He went to the door, hesitated, then came back to her.

‘If I send the cop away,' he said, ‘can I rely upon you to go through with what I've asked you to do? If I can't I'll take him with us.'

She turned to him a face full of misery, her cheeks wet with crying, and her eyes in a hopeless mess with the mixture of tears and black cosmétique.

‘Please, please send him away!' she implored.

He nodded and going outside spoke to the two men.

‘I guess everything's all right,' he said. ‘There's no necessity for you to stay, Spink.'

The policeman sighed with relief.

‘I'm glad to hear that, sir,' he said. ‘I didn't like the job, though I wanted to help in clearing up the matter.' He shook his head with disgust. ‘It was a scandalous business,' he went on. ‘What a woman!'

He shook hands with Cousins, saluted Miles and turned away.

‘Jerry,' said the American, ‘call a taxi, will you? There's a rank somewhere handy.'

With a nod Cousins went off to do his bidding, and Miles returned to Miss Gregson. He found her still sitting in the chair, the picture of dejection.

‘Say, Miss Olive,' he said kindly, ‘I'm sorry to have been so darned hard, but I guess it couldn't be helped. Just run along and wash away the sorrow from your face. I've got a taxi coming right along!'

Without a word she went.

Miles threw himself into a chair and, taking out a cigar, he carefully lit it.

A car drew up outside and there was a knock on the door.

‘Come right along in!' invited the American.

Cousins looked in.

‘The taxi's here, sir!' he announced.

The other grinned broadly.

‘I shall be glad when we get somewhere where I can punch your darned head, Jerry,' he whispered cheerfully.

‘Why should you want to interfere with my devoted cranium?' asked the pseudo valet.

‘Well, just because I'm sick of all the respect and deference you've been unloading on to me this morning. You're too almighty like the real thing when you get busy.'

‘Pshaw!' muttered the other in disgust. ‘You're jealous!'

He disappeared, and a few minutes later Miss Gregson returned with all the effects of the tears cleared away.

‘I'm ready!' she said in a subdued voice.

He bowed and lifted the curtain aside for her to go out. Cousins opened the door of the car, standing respectfully with his topee in his right hand.

‘I beg your pardon, sir,' he said, before closing the door again, ‘but I understand that the lady will be leaving for Bangalore today. As the train goes out at twelve forty-five, sir, there is only an hour and ten minutes left. Might I suggest that we take the luggage with us, and then the lady could be driven straight to the station after – er—' He paused and coughed discreetly.

‘A very good notion, Cousins, my man!' replied the American, putting emphasis on the ‘my man'. ‘Don't you think so, Miss Olive?' he asked.

She nodded.

‘There are two suitcases,' she murmured, almost inaudibly.

The luggage was stowed in the car, and three or four servants appeared with many salaams on the lookout for tips. Miss Gregson started to open her handbag, but Miles stopped her.

‘Cousins, tip those fellows!' he ordered in lordly fashion.

The little man's eyes gleamed as he obeyed.

There was hardly a word spoken as the car ran rapidly to the Club. Miles once asked his companion if she would tell him who was behind her in the plot to ruin Shannon, but she refused to say.

‘Well,' he said. ‘It doesn't matter, though I think I know!'

She looked questioningly at him, but he said no more. Arrived at the Club, he immediately entered the secretary's office. A clerk gazed at him inquiringly.

‘Where's the secretary?' asked the American bluntly. ‘I've a whole heap to say to him.'

‘I regret he is engaged, sare,' replied the clerk smoothly. ‘Is there some message, please?'

‘I can't help whether he's engaged, or not. I've got to see him right now.'

‘But, sare, there is an emergency meeting being held!'

‘Where?'

‘In the committee room!'

‘I'll go right along!' said Miles.

He knew where the room in question was, and he went straight to it followed by the protesting clerk. The door was shut, and a murmur of voices reached him from within. He knocked loudly, and after a second or so the door was opened. The secretary himself looked out and, seeing Miles, frowned.

‘I cannot see you now,' he said, ‘there is a meeting—'

‘Say, just answer one question! Has this meeting got anything to do with Captain Shannon, and the affair last night?'

‘Really, Mr Miles, I do not see—' began the other indignantly.

‘I'm sorry to butt in, but it's on account of that business that I'm here, so now please answer my question.'

‘Well, yes it is!'

‘Excuse me!' said Miles, and pushed past him into the room.

There were five important members of the Committee seated round the table, and they looked up with annoyed surprise at his intrusion.

‘I've got to apologise, gentlemen,' said the American, bowing, ‘but I understand you are discussing what happened last night, probably with a view to blackballing Captain Shannon.'

A stern, military-looking man, obviously the chairman, rose angrily to his feet.

‘This is most unwarrantable, sir,' he said. ‘How dare you—'

Miles held up his hand.

‘I have the lady in question with me. She wishes to make a  statement!'

His announcement caused a stir.

‘I do not see in what way a statement from her can interest us,' said the chairman pompously.

‘You will find that it does!' was the reply. ‘May I bring her along?'

The military man sat down, and there was a hurried interchange of views, then he looked up.

‘This is most unusual,' he said, ‘but we will give her five minutes.'

Miles went back to the car, and asked Miss Gregson to accompany him. He ushered her into the presence of the Committee, who looked at her curiously. She was given a seat.

‘I understand, Madam,' said the chairman, ‘that you wish to make a certain statement.'

‘I do!' she said in a low voice, and hesitated.

‘We are prepared to hear it!'

Then, with several pauses, she told her story. To Miles' surprise she did not spare herself, and went through the ordeal as though determined to make amends. She even told how she had done all in her power to get Shannon to propose marriage to her on board ship, and when she failed had attempted to coerce him. It was a very sordid tale and most of the men there looked at her with disgust long before she had finished. She made no mention of anybody else being concerned with her in the plot to ruin Hugh.

‘That is all!' she ended. ‘Mr Miles has shown me the awful thing I was doing. I am very sorry now.'

A few questions were asked, then she was bowed coldly out of the room. The chairman detained Miles as he was about to follow her, and held out his hand.

‘Mr Miles,' he said, ‘I thank you on behalf of the Committee and myself for bringing that woman here. We might have done an irreparable wrong to Captain Shannon. Will you convey to him our deep sympathy for what happened last night and assure him that
everything will be done to clear the scandal from his name?'

‘Sure!' said the American, and shook hands warmly with every member of the Committee.

On the way to the station he turned to Miss Gregson.

‘It was fine of you to go through with it like you did, Miss Olive,' he said.

‘I only did what was right,' she murmured. ‘You have shown me what a horrible creature I am.'

‘Were!' he remarked. ‘That's all over now, and you've proved yourself a darn fine girl, believe me!'

He saw her into her compartment in the train and bought her some magazines. Hardly a word was spoken until the time of departure drew near, then:

‘Mr Miles,' she said confusedly, ‘there were other people behind me in – in this—'

‘I know that,' he said.

She did not heed the interruption.

‘I cannot tell you who they were, but – but they paid me some money to do it. Will you take the money and give it to any charity you like!'

She fumbled in her bag. He caught her hand.

‘That's fine of you,' he said, ‘but you keep it. It'll make up for what you've had to suffer today.'

‘I'm glad I've had to suffer,' she said. ‘It has taught me a lesson I'll never forget. Would you mind asking Captain Shannon and his sister if they will try to forgive me?'

‘Rather!' he said enthusiastically. ‘And I guess they will.' He shook hands with the girl.

The train began to move, and at that moment Hudson came hurriedly along, searching in the carriages as he came. He did
not notice them until he was almost upon them when he looked dumbfounded and stopped in his tracks, his face going a sickly white. Miss Gregson gasped, but said nothing. Miles had watched Hudson's advent with a grim smile.

‘I won't forget your messages, Miss Olive,' he murmured. ‘Goodbye!'

Then turning to Hudson, he took him by the arm.

‘Say, this is a surprise,' he said. ‘Have you come to see anybody off?'

Hudson murmured something inarticulate, and the American's smile became grimmer than ever. He glanced round in the direction of the receding train once more, and waved his topee to Miss Gregson, who was leaning out of her window, then, looking the civil servant straight in the face:

‘Gee!' he remarked. ‘You look mighty queer, Hudson. Come right along and split a bottle of beer with me!'

Hudson had received a very bad shock, and he permitted Miles to lead him towards the refreshment rooms, almost as though he were bereft of the power either to resist or acquiesce. Once seated at a table, however, he made a big effort to pull himself together; he even succeeded in producing an imitation of a smile.

‘I hardly realised where you were bringing me!' he said. ‘I suddenly became faint! Very stupid of me, of course, but I'm not usually afflicted in that way.'

‘You looked pretty seedy,' said Miles. ‘Will you have a beer, or do you prefer something less plebian?'

‘Beer will suit me admirably, thanks!'

The American turned and gave an order to a waiter. While he was thus engaged, the other studied him surreptitiously, wondering, with a great unease, how he had been present to see Olive Gregson off, and if he had learnt anything from her of harm to himself and
his fellow conspirators. Miles turned suddenly and noticed the anxious look in Hudson's eyes. He guessed what was passing in his mind, and looked forward to an amusing ten minutes.

‘Say,' he said, ‘you look better already!'

‘Oh, I'm all right now!' replied Hudson shortly.

‘Of course, I'm a bit of a fool sometimes,' remarked Miles apologetically, ‘but when you turned up and suddenly looked so bad, I thought for a moment that you were upset at seeing me, or Miss Gregson!'

Hudson laughed unsteadily.

‘How absurd!' he said. ‘Why should I be?'

‘Darned if I know,' smiled the American, ‘but I often get fool notions in my head. I daresay it's because I'm not over supplied with grey matter.'

‘As a matter of fact I came to see a friend off, and was looking for him, when that fainting attack came over me!'

The beer arrived and both took a long drink before saying any more. Hudson seemed to regain his faculties entirely; the colour returned to his face, and he smiled across the table at his companion.

‘I say,' he said, ‘that was a pretty beastly affair last night at the Club, wasn't it?'

‘Damnable!' agreed Miles.

‘I was astounded! I can't say I ever liked Shannon, but I certainly didn't think he was that sort.'

‘I guess not!' murmured Miles. This was sheer enjoyment to him, and he took another drink in appreciation of what was to come.

‘What puzzles me,' went on Hudson, ‘is to find you, his friend, here at the station seeing Miss Gregson off, and apparently on the best of terms with her.'

‘Well, there's nothing extraordinary in that. Miss Olive and I have a great understanding of each other.'

‘But why is she leaving Lahore? I thought she had come to demand reparation from Shannon for the wrong he had done her?'

‘And you think it looks mighty queer her beating it so suddenly?'

‘Well, it is, isn't it? And especially with you to see her go!' He leant forward. ‘Has Shannon bought her off?' he asked.

A gleam of anger came into Miles' eyes, but was gone immediately.

‘Shannon does not do things like that,' he said quietly. ‘Besides there was no need!'

‘What do you mean?'

‘She and I had a heart-to-heart talk this morning at her hotel and—'

‘Her hotel!' exclaimed Hudson in sudden consternation. ‘How did you know where to find her?'

Miles looked at him with an expression of amiable surprise.

‘Why,' he answered gently, ‘she told us last night that she was going to the Royal Hotel.'

‘But she wasn't there!' said the surprised Hudson.

‘How do you know?' snapped the American, and the other realised what a bad mistake he had made.

‘I – I—' he stammered in confusion. ‘I can't for the moment recall how I heard, but—'

He stopped, utterly at a loss what to say. Apparently Miles was not interested for he went on:

‘Shannon and I had a talk last night, and I told him to leave everything to me. She wasn't staying at the Royal as you say, but I found her at the Northern India getting ready to beat it. When I had talked to her for half an hour like a granddad, she saw the error of her ways. We went right along to the Club; there was an emergency
meeting on, and I'm darned if she didn't butt in, and tell them the truth. My! They were astonished!'

Hudson jumped to his feet, and his face was as pale as death.

‘What!' he almost shouted.

‘Don't get excited! It's nice of you to be pleased like this – I was mighty glad myself.'

The civil servant sank back into his chair.

‘What did she say?' he gasped.

‘She told the whole darn story!'

His companion looked a pitiable sight, but Miles did not appear to notice his condition.

‘Do you mean to say,' gasped Hudson, ‘that she did that of her own accord?'

‘Sure! She turned out to be quite a fine little girl in the end. I brought her to the station, and, as you know, saw her off. Say, you won't guess what she wanted to do!'

‘What?' asked the abject-looking specimen of humanity before him, licking his dry lips.

‘There was someone behind her in this plot – Why, man, I guess you look almighty queer again! Have some brandy!'

‘No, no! Go on!'

‘Well, as I was saying, there was someone behind her who had given her a whole heap of money, and she wanted me to take it and give it away to charity! Now wasn't that mighty fine of her?'