The Laniers are elated but puzzled
at their release from Calcutta imprisonment.
They are haunted with doubt as to the extent of the
Dodge confession. That some sort has been made
they are sure. Suggestions and statements of
actual facts connected with the London suit and Thames
homicides had been startling, but there are many missing
links in the chain. The elder Lanier readily
can see that these omissions may have been through
either ignorance or craft. If the former, then
Dodge only partly has confessed; if the latter, there
is great and imminent peril.
That Sir Donald Randolph had some
part in this affair is evident. His and Esther’s
presence in Calcutta and the search for Mary Dodge
are conclusive.
Why is William Dodge still held in
custody? Did those who advised the arrests counsel
his further detention in hope of more complete confession?
Is he held awaiting stronger proofs as to the plot
against the property of Alice Webster? Perhaps
he is to be tried as principal in that crime, and
they are to be arrested later as accessories.
If the bodies of Alice and Oswald have not been found,
perhaps there are no satisfactory proofs of these
murders. William Dodge has no evidence of Paul’s
guilt, but doubtless suspects the truth. The arraignment
of Dodge on the charge of attempted fraud against
the London property of Alice would lead to most serious
exposures, furnishing dangerous clews to past villainies
in this immediate venue.
Hedging against such contingents,
Pierre had decided not to return to Bombay. The
danger was so great that he gave up thought of sailing
with Sir Charles Chesterton. The risk of Dodge
revelations through pressing search and inquiries
of Sir Donald, then in Calcutta, was so serious as
to check all interest Pierre had felt in the prospective
match between Paul and the heiress, Agnes Randall.
Determined thoroughly to keep posted
as to the progress of Sir Donald’s investigations
in Calcutta, Pierre had made most plausible excuses
to Sir Charles, for not accompanying him back to Bombay
to witness the nuptials between Paul and Agnes.
The prospect of Paul’s marriage with this rich
heiress would not compensate for losses which might
result from this Randolph inquisition.
There must be decisive action.
All scruples shall down before this great danger to
Lanier interests. Two more voices must be silenced.
Then discovery will be impossible.
Having written to William Dodge at
Paris, Pierre had shadowed Sir Donald and Esther and
kept track of Mary Dodge until the arrival of his son.
Thereafter the two divided this work, awaiting the
coming of William Dodge.
Pierre had received word that Dodge
would sail and stating as to probable time of his
arrival in Calcutta. There had been delays because
of storms, but the vessel is sighted, and both Laniers
hurry to the Dodge cabin. There is time to escort
this credulous wife to the place where they will soon
bring her long-absent husband. All details have
been arranged with care. Action will be promptly
decisive. As the Thames hushed voices, so shall
here be forever stilled tell-tale murmurs of these
menace tones.
What trifles thwart mature plans!
There could be no doubt of Mary Dodge’s
consent. This fond wife, who hitherto unmurmuringly
had complied with all hard details of concealment,
submitting without complaint to scant supplies, given
and accepted as gratuitous alms, waiting and longing
for her husband’s safe return, surely would
obey all instructions, moving with alacrity to lure
and death.
But strong motives may run counter.
That holy instinct which has all authority of original
implanting asserts its high-born function. Little
Nellie is too sick to be left alone; William Dodge
can wait; Pierre Lanier may frown; Paul may look darkly
fierce; Mary Dodge may tremble; but she will not leave
that helpless invalid whatever betides.
It recks little how anciently or from
what rudimentary beginnings this peerless impulse
dates its growth; whether spontaneous breath of divine
instillment, or evolved through cycles of the eternal
past, such has sanction and warrant of the Infinite.
Thwarted here, Lanier craft resorts
to most plausible shift. Suspecting that possibly
this timid woman hesitates to go with them, at such
late hour, to a strange place, there to await the
uncertain coming of her husband, they devise other
plans to obviate this objection, finally deciding
upon the one resulting in the arrests.
William Dodge had received Pierre
Lanier’s letter sent to Paris. While convalescent
at the hospital this reached him, addressed to his
alias, and caused such sudden removal, without leaving
of any explanation for Sir Donald or Esther Randolph.
Having sent a nurse for his mail, he received the
invitation to return. Pierre Lanier had written
him that things looked better, but still were a little
shaky. By using proper precaution, all would
turn out favorably. He need not write Mary, as
she and the children were well. By promptly returning,
he could see his wife and children. There were
good reasons for Mary’s failure to answer his
letters. All would be explained on his arrival
in Calcutta. Affairs soon would shape so that
he could pay the whole balance yet due. As some
precautions were wise, it would be advisable for Dodge
to dress as at London, sail under his past alias,
and wait at Calcutta landing until Pierre met him
and gave instructions. An answer was requested,
stating when and how Dodge would make the return trip.
This was the gist of the Lanier letter
as deciphered by William Dodge, though Pierre so thoroughly
had hedged against possible miscarriage as to render
intelligent interpretation impossible, except to one
in possession of Dodge’s sources of information.
Being able to move about the ward,
though still weak, William Dodge is electrified.
Without delay he sends the same nurse to order a cab,
soon after quits the hospital, going to a new lodging-house
in a suburb of Paris. Here he has a relapse,
lasting many weeks, but slowly recovers. He then
starts for Calcutta, previously having written to Pierre
Lanier, addressed to the designated alias, giving
guarded details of proposed trip. There have
been unavoidable delays, rough seas, numerous squalls,
and much impatient chafing, but passengers reach Calcutta.
At the landing, Pierre Lanier, in
old familiar disguise, pulls Dodge’s arm, and
upon recognition, giving former signal to follow at
discreet distance, moves quickly. For some distance
trailing, Dodge sees Pierre enter a closed vehicle,
beckoning him to follow. After an extended drive,
they stop in a sparsely settled suburb of the city.
Pierre alights, followed by Dodge, with Paul in the
rear. No other driver being in sight, Dodge thinks
that Paul has performed this service. To all
attempts at discussion of the situation, during the
ride, Pierre insists on absolute silence.
When inside of the old house, the
three seated on a bench at a small table, before a
tallow candle, the one window blinded, and the door
securely fastened, Pierre Lanier explains why such
secrecy has been employed.
“Sir Donald Randolph had arrived
in Calcutta and made inquiries for the Dodge family.
Months before it had become necessary for Mary Dodge
not to write, as I could neither remain in Bombay
nor trust the forwarding of letters to any other person.
Detectives employed by Sir Donald kept strict watch
of the mails. It was in compliance with my instructions
that Mary moved, ceased writing, and since remained
in seclusion. I and Paul saw her to-day, and
she knows of your expected arrival. We arranged
this place of meeting. You must stay here until
further plans for the safety of all can be devised.
To-night we will again see Mary, and have her call
to-morrow at two o’clock in the afternoon, when
you both can talk it all over. It is hoped that
matters will so clear up as to necessitate but very
brief longer disguise or concealment.”
Nothing was said about the recent
death of little Benny Dodge, nor was Nellie’s
sickness mentioned. To all Dodge’s questions
concerning his family, ingenious replies were made.
Food and cots had been provided.
Pierre and Paul soon left to acquaint Mary Dodge with
her husband’s arrival and to arrange for the
morrow’s meeting, promising a speedy return.
About midnight they came back and reported. Pierre
remained only a short time, but Paul stayed until
morning, when he left, with caution that William Dodge
be sure to keep concealed until the afternoon’s
meeting.
By a rear entrance both Laniers passed
to their hiding-place in the basement, under the trapdoor.
Soon followed the strange procedure resulting in the
release of these two murderous villains, while their
intended victim, who had confessed, still remains unarraigned
behind prison bars.
Such cumulative perversities of fate
bewilder the Laniers. They daily become more
perplexed.
Paul’s recital of events at
Bombay, preceding his departure for Calcutta, alarmed
and mystified his father, who could suggest no plausible
theory for such ghostly groupings.
It is now sure that the Laniers dare
not risk further attempt at removal of either William
or Mary Dodge. They would be suspected. It
will be dangerous longer to remain in Calcutta, with
the Dodges liable at any time to make more startling
confessions. There is fear that both Laniers
still are shadowed and may be arrested for one or more
offenses. Strange that no charge was preferred
against them for their murderous assaults on William
and Mary Dodge. There could be no doubt in this
case, and the proofs would be overwhelming.
To Pierre Lanier’s crafty, well-informed
intelligence this phase is most alarming. While
much relieved by failure of the authorities to press
this charge, he feels convinced that such official
laches were prompted by overpowering motives, boding
more serious dangers. Large moneyed interests
or the running down of capital offenders, must be the
ends justifying such laxity of official zeal.
There is a strong impulse toward immediate
flight, restrained through fear that their every act
is being watched.
Each day the mazes of this labyrinth grow more puzzling.
While Pierre and Paul feel the tentacles
of this octopus contracting around their guilty souls,
the persons and agencies which they doubt not are
tightening these irresistible coils, foiled, perplexed,
and chagrined, have no well-defined ideas upon the
subject.
Neither Sir Donald Randolph nor the
London detective agency ever aided, abetted, or advised
this strange proceeding, nor did those employed by
Sir Donald to ferret out Lanier crimes know aught concerning
any part of such proposed move, except that he had
interfered to save the lives of William and Mary Dodge.
To all Sir Donald’s inquiries
the head of Calcutta police gave no other answer than,
“You just wait awhile.”
In fear of they knew not just what,
the Laniers fled from Calcutta, toward no fixed destination,
desperately resolved never again to be taken alive.