The Adventures of Jimmie Dale [34]
gauntlet, his ulster, his jacket, and, having set the cash box on the desk, was rolling back his sleeve as he spoke. "Had a little experience myself this evening." He held out his hand that, with the forearm, was covered with blood. "A little above the wrist--fortunately only a flesh wound--a little memento from a chap named Markel, and--" "MARKEL!" The word burst, quivering, from the other's lips. "Yes," said Jimmie Dale imperturbably. "Do you mind if I wash a bit--and could you oblige me with a towel, or something that would do for a bandage?" The man seemed dazed. In a subconscious way, he walked from the desk to a little cupboard, and took out two towels. Jimmie Dale stooped, while the other's back was turned, picked up the revolver from the floor, and slipped it into his trousers pocket. "Markel?" said Wilbur again, the same trembling anxiety in his voice, as he handed Jimmie Dale the towels and motioned toward a washstand in the corner of the room. "Did you say Markel--Theodore Markel?" "Yes," said Jimmie Dale, examining his wound critically. "You had trouble--a fight with him? Is he--he--dead?" "No," said Jimmie Dale, smiling a little grimly. " He's pretty badly hurt, though, I imagine--but not in a physical way." "Strange!" whispered Wilbur, in a numbed tone to himself; and he went back and sank down in his desk chair. "Strange that you should speak of Markel--strange that you should have come here to-night!" Jimmie Dale did not answer. He glanced now and then at the other, as he deftly dressed his wrist--the man seemed on the verge of collapse, on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Jimmie Dale swore softly to himself. Wilbur was too old a man to be called upon to stand against the trouble and anxiety that was mirrored in the misery in his face, that had brought him to the point of taking his own life. Jimmie Dale put on his coat again, walked over to the desk, and picked up the 'phone. "If I may?" he inquired courteously--and confided a number to the mouthpiece of the instrument. There was a moment's wait, during which Wilbur, in a desperate sort of way, seemed to be trying to rally himself, to piece together a puzzle, as it were; and for the first time he appeared to take a personal interest in the masked figure that leaned against his desk. He kept passing his hands across his eyes, staring at Jimmie Dale. Then Jimmie Dale spoke--into the 'phone. "MORNING NEWS-ARGUS office? Mr. Carruthers, please. Thank you." Another wait--then Jimmie Dale's voice changed its pitch and register to a pleasant and natural, though quite unrecognisable bass. Mr. Carruthers? Yes. I thought it might interest you to know that Mr. Theodore Markel purchased a very valuable diamond necklace this afternoon. . . . Oh, you knew that, did you? Well, so much the better; you'll be all the more keenly interested to know that it is no longer in his possession. . . . I beg pardon? Oh, yes, I quite forgot--this is the Gray Seal speaking. . . . Yes. . . . The Gray Seal. . . . I have just come from Mr. Markel's country house, and if you hurry a man out there you ought to be able to give the public an exclusive bit of news, a scoop, I believe you call it--you see, Mr. Carruthers, I am not ungrateful for, I might say, the eulogistic manner in which the MORNING NEWS-ARGUS treated me in that last affair, and I trust I shall be able to do you many more favours--I am deeply in your debt. And, oh, yes, tell your reporter not to overlook the detail of Mr. Markel in his pajamas and dressing gown tied to a tree in his park--Mr. Markel might be inclined to be reticent on that point, and it would be a pity to deprive the public of any--er--'atmosphere' in the story, you know. . . . What? . . . No; I am afraid Mr. Markel's 'phone is--er--out of order. . . . Yes. . . . And, by the way, speaking of 'phones, Mr. Carruthers, between gentlemen, I know you will make no effort under the circumstances to discover the number I am calling from. Good-night, Mr. Carruthers." Jimmie Dale hung the receiver abruptly on the hook. "You see," said Jimmie