In half-an-hour from the time Captain Carrington strode to the telephone to arouse his friends, all Hampton had the startling news: Davila Carrington and her guest, Miss Cavendish, had disappeared.

How, when, and where, it could not learn, so it supplied the deficiency as best pleased the individual—by morning, the wildest tales were rehearsed and credited.

The truth was bad enough, however. Miss Carrington and Miss Cavendish were not in the town, nor anywhere within a circuit of five miles. Croyden, Macloud, all the men in the place had searched the night through, and without avail. Every horse, and every boat had been accounted for. It remained, that they either had fallen into the Bay, or had gone in a strange conveyance.

Croyden and Macloud had returned to Clarendon for a bite of breakfast—very late breakfast, at eleven o’clock. They had met by accident, on their way to the house, having come from totally different directions of search.

“It’s Parmenter again!” said Croyden, suddenly.

“It’s what?” said Macloud. 299

“Parmenter:—Pirate’s gold breeds pirate’s ways. The lawyer villain has reappeared. I told you it was he I saw, yesterday, driving the automobile.”

“I don’t quite understand why they selected Elaine and Miss Carrington to abduct,” Macloud objected, after a moment’s consideration. “Why didn’t they take you?”

“Because they thought we would come to time more quickly, if they took the women. They seem to be informed on everything, so, we can assume, they are acquainted with your fondness for Miss Carrington and mine for Elaine. Or, it’s possible they thought that we both were interested in Davila—for I’ve been with her a lot this autumn—and then, at the pinch, were obliged to take Elaine, also, because she was with her and would give the alarm if left behind.”

“A pretty fair scheme,” said Macloud. “The fellow who is managing this business knew we would do more for the women than for ourselves.”

“It’s the same old difficulty—we haven’t got Parmenter’s treasure, but they refuse to be convinced.”

The telephone rang, and Croyden himself answered it.

“Captain Carrington asks that we come over at once,” he said, hanging up the receiver. “The Pinkerton men have arrived.”

They finished their breakfast and started. Half way to the gate, they met the postman coming 300 up the walk. He handed Croyden a letter, faced about and trudged away.

Croyden glanced at it, mechanically tore open the envelope, and drew it out. As his eyes fell on the first line, he stopped, abruptly.

“Listen to this!” he said.

“Where was it mailed?” Macloud asked.

Croyden turned over the envelope. It was postmarked Hampton, 6.30 A.M., of that day.

“Which implies that it was mailed some time during the night,” said he.

“What do you make of it?”

“Do you mean, will they carry out their threat?”

Croyden nodded.

“They have been rather persistent,” Macloud replied.

“It’s absurd!” Croyden exclaimed. “We haven’t the jewels. Damn Parmenter and his infernal letter!”

“Parmenter is not to blame,” said Macloud. “Damn the thieves.”

“And damn my carelessness in letting them pick my pocket! there lies the entire difficulty.”

“Well, the thing, now, is to save the women—and how?”

“Pay, if need be!” exclaimed Croyden. “The two hundred thousand I got for the Virginia Development bonds will be just enough.”

Macloud nodded. “I’m in for half, old man. Aside from any personal feelings we may have for the women in question,” he said, with a serious sort of smile, “we owe it to them—they were abducted solely because of us—to force us to disgorge.”

“I’m ready to pay the cash at once.”

“Don’t be hasty!” Macloud cautioned. “We 303 have ten days, and the police can take a try at it.”

“That, for the police!” said Croyden, snapping his fingers. “They’re all bunglers—they will be sure to make a mess of it, and, then, no man can foresee what will happen. It’s not right to subject the women to the risk. Let us pay first, and punish after—if we can catch the scoundrels. How long do you think Henry Cavendish will hesitate when he learns that Elaine has been abducted, and the peril which menaces her?”

“Thunder! we have clean forgot her father!” exclaimed Macloud. “He should be informed at once.”

“Just what he shouldn’t be,” Croyden returned. “What is the good in alarming him? Free her—then she may tell him, or not, as it pleases her.”

Macloud held out his hand.

“Done!” he said. “Our first duty is to save the women, the rest can bide until they are free. How about the money? Are your stocks readily convertible? If not, I’ll advance your share.”

“Much obliged, old man,” said Croyden, “but a wire will do it—they’re all listed on New York.”

“Will you lose much, if you sell now?” asked Macloud. He wished Croyden would let him pay the entire amount.

“Just about even; a little to the good, in fact,” was the answer.

And Macloud said no more—he knew it was useless. 304

At Ashburton, they found Captain Carrington pacing the long hall, in deep distress—uncertain what course to pursue, because there was no indication as to what had caused the disappearance. He turned, as the two men entered.

“The detectives are quizzing the servants in the library,” he said. “I couldn’t sit still.—You have news?” he exclaimed, reading Croyden’s face.

“I have!” said Croyden, and gave him the letter.

He seized it. As he read, concern, perplexity, amazement, anger, all showed in his countenance.

“They have been abducted!—Davila and Miss Cavendish, and are held for ransom!—a fabulous ransom, which you are asked to pay,” he said, incredulously. “So much, at least, is intelligible. But why? why? Who are Robert Parmenter’s Successors?—and who was he? and the jewels?—I cannot understand——”

“I’m not surprised,” said Croyden. “It’s a long story—too long to tell—save that Parmenter was a pirate, back in 1720, who buried a treasure on Greenberry Point, across the Severn from Annapolis, you know, and died, making Marmaduke Duval his heir, under certain conditions. Marmaduke, in turn, passed it on to his son, and so on, until Colonel Duval bequeathed it to me. We searched—Mr. Macloud and I—for three weeks, but did not find it. Our secret was chanced upon by two rogues, who, with their confederates, however, are under the conviction we did find it. They 305 wanted a rake-off. I laughed at them—and this abduction is the result.”

“But why abduct the women?” asked the old man.

“Because they think I can be coerced more easily. They are under the impression that I am—fond of Miss Carrington. At any rate, they know I’m enough of a friend to pay, rather than subject her to the hazard.”

“Pay! I can’t pay! My whole fortune isn’t over twenty thousand dollars. It I will gladly sacrifice, but more is impossible.”

“You’re not to pay, my old friend,” said Croyden. “Mr. Macloud and I are the ones aimed at and we will pay.”

“I won’t permit it, sir!” the Captain exclaimed. “There is no reason for you——”

“Tut! tut!” said Croyden, “you forget that we are wholly responsible; but for us, Miss Carrington and Miss Cavendish would not have been abducted. The obligation is ours, and we will discharge it. It is our plain, our very plain, duty.”

The old man threw up his hands in the extremity of despair.

“I don’t know what to do!” he said. “I don’t know what to do!”

“Do nothing—leave everything to us. We’ll have Miss Carrington back in three days.”

“And safe?”

“And safe—if the letter is trustworthy, and I think it is. The police can’t do as well—they may 306 fail entirely—and think of the possible consequences! Miss Carrington and Miss Cavendish are very handsome women.”

“My God, yes!” exclaimed the Captain. “Anything but that! If they were men, or children, it would be different—they could take some chances. But women!”—He sank on a chair and covered his face with his hands. “You must let me pay what I am able,” he insisted. “All that I have——”

Croyden let his hand fall sympathizingly on the other’s shoulder.

“It shall be as you wish,” he said quietly. “We will pay, and you can settle with us afterward—our stocks can be converted instantly, you see, while yours will likely require some time.”

The Captain pulled himself together and arose.

“Thank you,” he said. “I’ve been sort of unmanned—I’m better now. Shall you show the detectives the letter—tell them we are going to pay the amount demanded?”

“I don’t know,” said Croyden, uncertainly. “What’s your opinion, Colin?”

“Let them see the letter,” Macloud answered, “but on the distinct stipulation, that they make no effort to apprehend ‘Robert Parmenter’s Successors’ until the women are safely returned. They may pick up whatever clues they can obtain for after use, but they must not do anything which will arouse suspicion, even.” 307

“Why take them into our confidence at all?” asked Croyden.

“For two reasons: It’s acting square with them (which, it seems to me, is always the wise thing to do). And, if they are not let in on the facts, they may blunder in and spoil everything. We want to save the women at the earliest moment, without any possible handicaps due to ignorance or inadvertence.”

“But can we trust them?” Croyden asked, doubtfully.

“It’s the lesser of two evils.”

“We will have to explain the letter, its reference to the Parmenter jewels, and all that it contains.”

“I can see no objection. We didn’t find the treasure, and, I reckon, they’re welcome to search, if they think there is a chance.”

“Well, let it be exactly as you wish—you’re quite as much concerned for success as I am,” said Croyden.

“Possibly, more so,” returned Macloud, seriously.

And Croyden understood.

Then, they went into the library. The two detectives arose at their entrance. The one, Rebbert, was a Pinkerton man, the other, Sanders, was from the Bureau at City Hall. Both were small men, with clean shaven faces, steady, searching eyes, and an especially quiet manner. 308

“Mr. Croyden,” said Rebbert, “we have been questioning the servants, but have obtained nothing of importance, except that the ladies wore their hats and coats (at least, they have disappeared). This, with the fact that you found Miss Cavendish’s glove and handkerchief, on a road without the limits of Hampton, leads to the conclusion that they have been abducted. But why? Miss Carrington, we are informed, has no great wealth—how as to Miss Cavendish?”

“She has more than sufficient—in fact, she is very rich——”

“Ah! then we have a motive,” said the detective.

“There is a motive, but it is not Miss Cavendish,” Croyden answered. “You’re correct as to the abduction, however—this will explain,” and he handed him the letter.

The two men read it.

“When did you receive this?” said one.

“At noon to-day,” replied Croyden, passing over the envelope.

They looked carefully at the postmark.

“Do you object to explaining certain things in this letter?” Rebbert asked.

“Not in the least,” replied Croyden. “I’ll tell you the entire story.... Is there anything I have missed?” he ended.

“I think not, sir.”

“Very well! Now, we prefer that you should take no measures to apprehend the abductors, until 309 after Miss Cavendish and Miss Carrington have been released. We are going to pay the amount demanded.”

“Going to pay the two hundred thousand dollars!” cried the detectives, in one breath.

Croyden nodded. “Afterward, you can get as busy as you like.”

A knowing smile broke over the men’s faces, at the same instant.

“You too think we found the treasure?” Croyden exclaimed.

“It looks that way, sir,” said Rebbert; while Sanders acquiesced, with another smile.

Croyden turned to Macloud and held up his hands, hopelessly.

“If we only had!” he cried. “If we only had!”