The Mystery of the Flaming Footprints - M. V. Carey [48]
The general glanced at Farrier, and at two drops of blood which had dripped on the floor. “Madame is too soft-hearted,” he said to Mrs Dobson. “We will attend to Mr. Farrier when we are ready. Now, you will tell me how you became acquainted with Mr. Potter.”
“Well, it’s none of your darn business!” cried Mrs Dobson. “But if you have to know —”
“Mrs Dobson, I wouldn’t,” pleaded Jupiter.
“He’s my father!” finished Mrs Dobson triumphantly. “He’s my father, and this is his house and you have no business here. And don’t you dare —”
The general threw back his head and laughed heartily.
“It isn’t funny,” snapped Mrs Dobson.
“Oh, but it is!” chortled the general. He looked up at the younger Lapathian who stood in the doorway. “Demetrieff, we have a real prize. We have the daughter of Alexis Kerenov!”
The general leaned towards Mrs Dobson. “Now, you will tell me what I wish to learn. Then we will attend to Mr. Farrier, who is such a worry to you.”
“What is it that you wish to learn?” asked Mrs Dobson.
“There is a certain piece of property — a thing of great value — which belongs to my people,” said the general. “You know that to which I refer?”
Eloise Dobson shook her head.
“She doesn’t know,” said Jupiter Jones urgently. “She doesn’t know anything —
nothing about Lapathia — nothing at all!”
“Hold your tongue!” snapped the general. “Madame Dobson, I am waiting!”
“I don’t know,” said Eloise. “Jupiter is right. I don’t know anything. I never heard of any Alexis Kerenov. My father is Alexander Potter!”
“And he did not entrust you with the secret?” demanded the general.
“Secret? What secret?” cried Mrs Dobson.
“Ridiculous!” snorted the general. “He must have told you. It was his duty. And you will tell me — now!”
“But I don’t know anything!” cried Mrs Dobson.
“Demetrieff!” shouted the general, losing his iron control. “She will talk!”
Demetrieff started towards Mrs Dobson.
“Hey!” yelled Tom. “Don’t you touch my mother!”
Demetrieff shoved Tom roughly aside.
“Into the cellar with them!” ordered General Kaluk, “All of them, except this obstinate woman!”
“No you don’t!” yelled Pete. He and Bob launched themselves at the younger man, Pete going for Demetrieff’s gun and Bob headed in a beautiful tackle at the man’s legs.
Demetrieff went down with a loud grunt, and the gun blasted harmlessly towards the ceiling.
That shot was followed by a second thunderous roar. The back door had burst open and The Potter stood there, an ancient and somewhat rusty shotgun in his hand.
“Don’t move!” shouted The Potter.
Jupiter froze halfway between the
cellar door and the chair where General
Kaluk sat. The general remained where
he was, and Pete and Bob sprawled on
the floor on top of the fallen Demetrieff.
“Grandfather?” said Tom Dobson.
“Good evening, Tom,” said The
Potter. “Eloise, my dear, I am sorry about
all this.”
General Kaluk started to get up. The
shotgun which The Potter held instantly
swung in his direction. “Do not move,
Kaluk,” said The Potter. “There is a
second shell in this gun, and it would give
me great pleasure to discharge it right in
your face.”
The general sat down again.
“Jupiter, my boy!” said The Potter.
“Will you please collect the guns? From
the general’s friend on the floor, of
course, and I am sure the general has one
someplace. The general has always been
fond of guns.”
“Yes, sir, Mr. Potter,” said Jupiter. “I mean, Mr. Kerenov.”
Chapter 18
The Bargain
NO one spoke until Jupiter Jones had taken Demetrieff’s revolver, and had searched General Kaluk and relieved him of Farrier’s blunt automatic and a smaller, but still deadly, pistol.
“Lock the guns in the pantry, Jupiter, and bring me the key,” said The Potter.
Jupiter did so. The Potter tucked the key into a pocket hidden somewhere in his robe and allowed himself to relax a bit, leaning against a cupboard.
Only then did Eloise Dobson begin to cry.
“Now, now, my dear,” said The Potter. “It is all over. I have been watching these scoundrels