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commonwealth of Massachusetts for the robbery； on October the
eleventh； nineteen hundred and nine； of the Waltham Title and
Trust Company。 I understand；〃 he added； 〃you waive extradition
and return with me of your own free will？〃
With his face still in his hands； Hemingway murmured assent。 The
detective stepped briskly and uninvited to the table and seated himself。
He was beaming with triumph； with pleasurable excitement。
〃I want to send a message home； Mr。 Consul；〃 he said。 〃May I use
your cable blanks？〃
Harris was still standing in the centre of the room looking down
upon the bowed head and shoulders of Hemingway。 Since； in
amazement； he had sprung toward him； he had not spoken。 And
he was still silent。
Inside the skull of Wilbur Harris； of Iowa； U。 S。 A。； American
consul to Zanzibar； East Africa； there was going forward a mighty
struggle that was not fit to put into words。 For Harris and his
conscience had met and were at odds。 One way or the other the
fight must be settled at once； and whatever he decided must be
for all time。 This he understood； and as his sympathies and
conscience struggled for the mastery the pen of the detective；
scratching at racing speed across the paper； warned him that only
a few seconds were left him in which to protest or else to forever
after hold his peace。
So realistic had been the acting of Hemingway that for an instant
Harris himself had been deceived。 But only for an instant。 With
his knowledge of the circumstances he saw that Hemingway was not
confessing to a crime of his own； but drawing across the trail of the
real criminal the convenient and useful red herring。 He knew that
already Hemingway had determined to sail the next morning。 In
leaving Zanzibar he was making no sacrifice。 He merely was
carrying out his original plan； and by taking away with him the
detective was giving Brownell and his wife at least a month in
which to again lose themselves。
What was his own duty he could not determine。 That of Hemingway
he knew nothing； he could truthfully testify。 And if now Hemingway
claimed to be Henry Brownell； he had no certain knowledge to the
contrary。 That through his adventure Hemingway would come to
harm did not greatly disturb him。 He foresaw that his friend need
only send a wireless from Nantucket and at the wharf witnesses
would swarm to establish his identity and make it evident the
detective had blundered。 And in the meanwhile Brownell and
his wife； in some settlement still further removed from observation；
would for the second time have fortified themselves against pursuit
and capture。 He saw the eyes of Hemingway fixed upon him in appeal
and warning。
The brisk voice of the detective broke the silence。
〃You will testify； if need be； Mr。 Consul；〃 he said； 〃that you
heard the prisoner admit he was Henry Brownell and that he
surrendered himself of his own free will？〃
For an instant the consul hesitated； then he nodded stiffly。
〃I heard him；〃 he said。
Three hours later； at ten o' clock of the same evening； the detective
and Hemingway leaned together on the rail of the Crown Prince
Eitel。 Forward； in the glare of her cargo lights； to the puffing and
creaking of derricks and donkey engines； bundles of beeswax； of
rawhides； and precious tusks of ivory were being hurled into the
hold； from the shore…boats clinging to the ship's sides came the
shrieks of the Zanzibar boys； from the smoking…room the blare of
the steward's band and the clink of glasses。 Those of the youth of
Zanzibar who were on board； the German and English clerks and
agents； saw in the presence of Hemingway only a purpose similar
to their own； the desire of a homesick exile to gaze upon the mirrored
glories of the Eitel's saloon； at the faces of white men and women； to
listen to home…made music； to drink home…brewed beer。 As he passed
the smoking…room they called to him； and to the stranger at his elbow；
but he only nodded smiling and； avoiding them； ascended to the shadow
of the deserted boat…deck。
〃You are sure；〃 he said； 〃you told no one？〃
〃No one；〃 the detective answered。 〃Of course your hotel proprietor
knows you're sailing； but he doesn't know why。 And； by sunrise；
we'll be well out at sea。〃
The words caught Hemingway by the throat。 He turned his eyes to
the town lying like a field of snow in the moonlight。 Somewhere
on one of its flat roofs a merry dinner…party was laughing； drinking；
perhaps regretting his absence； wondering at his excuse of sudden
illness。 She was there； and he with the detective like a shadow at
his elbow； was sailing out of her life forever。 He had seen her for
the last time： that morning for the last time had looked into her
eyes； had held her hands in his。 He saw the white beach； the white
fortress…like walls； the hanging gardens； the courtesying palms；
dimly。 It was among those that he who had thought himself content；
had found happiness； and had then seen it desert him and take out of
his life pleasure in all other things。 With a pain that seemed impossible
to support； he turned his back upon Zanzibar and all it meant to him。
And； as he turned； he faced； coming toward him； across the moonlit deck；
Fearing。
His instinct was to cry out to the man in warning； but his second
thought showed him that through his very effort to protect the other；
he might bring about his undoing。 So； helpless to prevent； in agitation
and alarm； he waited in silence。 Of the two men； Fearing appeared the
least disturbed。 With a polite but authoritative gesture he turned to the
detective。 〃I have something to say to this gentleman before he sails；〃
he said； 〃would you kindly stand over there？〃
He pointed across the empty deck at the other rail。
In the alert； confident young man in the English mess…jacket；
clean…shaven and bronzed by the suns of the equator； the detective
saw no likeness to the pale； bearded bank clerk of the New England
city。 This； he guessed； must be some English official； some friend
of Brownell's who generously had come to bid the unfortunate fugitive
Godspeed。
Assured of this； the detective also bowed politely； and； out of
hearing； but with his prisoner in full view； took up a position
against the rail opposite。
Turning his back upon the detective； and facing Hemingway with
his eyes close to his； Fearing began abruptly。 His voice was sunk
to a whisper； but he spoke without the slightest sign of trepidation；
without the hesitation of an instant。
〃Two years ago； when I was indicted；〃 he whispered； 〃and ran
away； Polly paid back half of the sum I stole。 That left her
without a penny； that's why she took to this typewriting。 Since
then； I have paid back nearly all the rest。 But Polly was not
satisfied。 She wanted me to take my punishment and start fresh。
She knew they were watching her so she couldn't write this to me；
but she came to me by a roundabout way； taking a year to get
here。 And all the time she's been here； she's been begging me to
go back and give myself up。 I couldn't see it。 I knew in a few
months I'd have paid back all I took； and I thought that was enough。
I wanted to keep out of jail。 But she said I must take my medicine
in our own country； and start square with a clean slate。 She's done
a lot for me； and whether I'd have done that for her or not； I don't
know。 But now； I must！ What you did to…night to save me； leaves
me no choice。 So； I'll sail〃
With an exclamation of anger； Hemingway caught the other by the
shoulder and dragged him closer。
〃To save you！〃 he whispered。 〃No one's thinking of you。 I didn't
do it for you。 I did it； that you both could escape together； to
give you time〃
〃But I tell you；〃 protested Fearing； 〃she doesn't want me to escape。
And maybe she's right。 Anyway； we're sailing with you at〃
〃We？〃 echoed Hemingway。
That again he was to see the woman he loved； that for six weeks
through summer seas he would travel in her company； filled him
with alarm； with distress； with a wonderful happiness。
〃We？〃 he whispered； steadying his voice。 〃Thenthen your wife is
going with you？〃
Fearing gazed at him as though the other had suddenly gone mad。
〃My wife！〃 he exclaimed。 〃I haven't got a wife！〃 If you mean
PollyMrs。 Adair； she is my sister！ And she wants to thank you。
She's below〃
He was not allowed to finish。 Hemingway had flung him to one
side； and was racing down the deck。
The detective sprang in pursuit。
〃One moment； there！〃 he shouted。
But the man in the white mess…jacket barred his way。
In the moonlight the detective saw that the alert； bronzed young man
was smiling。
〃That's all right；〃 said Fearing。 〃He'll be back in a minute。 Besides；
you don't want him。 I'm the man you want。〃
THE LONG ARM
The safe was an old one that opened with a key。 As adjutant；
Captain Swanson had charge of certain funds of the regiment and
kept in the safe about five thousand dollars。 No one but himself
and Rueff； his first sergeant； had access to it。 And as Rueff proved
an alibi； the money might have been removed by an outsider。 The
court…martial gave Swanson the benefit of the doubt； and a reprimand
for not takin