IX.

Five days after the Raven steamed out of Liverpool, Count Johann Markowski stepped jauntily down the gangplank of the Aquitania as she lay in her berth in the North River. The count had been thoroughly interviewed by the ship news reporters on the way up from quarantine and had expressed himself as delighted that he might see America so soon again after his very pleasant visit as a guest on the yacht of Mr. Miles Starbuck. The count would be stopping at the Waldorf and hoped to see many of the friends who had shown him such courtesy during his recent sojourn.

He was pleased to state that the Raven had encountered fair weather on her voyage across the Atlantic. Mr. Starbuck, he said, planned to spend the ensuing months at his estate in the Isle of Skye, where the count expected to join him later.

Having delivered himself of this applesauce, the count taxied to the Waldorf, secured a suite and proceeded to make a number of telephone calls. He finally hung up with an expression of perfect satisfaction, bathed leisurely and changed into fresh clothing.

About mid afternoon, he set out on foot, jauntily swinging a stick and presently could be seen elbowing his way through the teeming foyer of one of the newer and more flashy hotels. He appeared to know his ground, and made for the almost deserted grill where two men, who evidently had been waiting, rose from a corner table with somewhat effusive greetings on their lips.

“Don’t be so joyful,” admonished the count. “There is some heavy work ahead.”

“That’s what I’ve been telling Rolphs,” one of the men whom the count presently addressed as Dimes observed.

“I must emphasize the fact, however,” went on Markowski, “that everything is in the best of order. That is, with the exception of one little irritating item.”

“And what might that be?” asked Dimes.

The count opened his mouth to speak, hesitated. He had been about to render an account of the rescue of Ray Folsom, but thought better of it and shifted to: “On the whole, I would best say no more about that. It has no direct bearing on our work here and really concerns only the chief. Let it go.”

“Oh, all right,” grumbled Rolphs. “If that’s the way you feel about it and it doesn’t affect us at all, I should worry.”

“Yes. Let it go. Now, getting down to business, have you been over the ground carefully?”

“You bet we have,” Dimes said. “And we’ve picked a swell location. Between Bridgeport and New Haven there is a bit of ground that will answer splendidly. There are good roads running north, east and west from the place, and, believe me, they will have to look alive to nail us. Also, I have a hunch that they will expect the stunt to be pulled off a lot further from New York, up around Willimantic or Stafford Springs, where the country is thinly settled. We’ll fool ’em, pulling it off so close to home. And by using short lengths of stovepipe, we won’t attract any attention. See?”

“H’m. That stove pipe idea is a good one,” Markowski said. “I’ll ride out with you tomorrow. Meantime, have you got a map with the route traced out?”

Dimes produced one and the three bent their heads over the table. From time to time, the count grunted with satisfaction. Finally he pushed the paper over to Dimes.

“Put it away,” he said, “and now attend—both of you.”

The men bent forward, obediently, and for ten minutes Markowski spoke rapidly and with many gestures. When he had concluded, he leaned back and looked triumphantly at the others.

Dimes and Rolphs sat, obviously impressed. The former managed: “Gawd! He thinks of every last damn thing, don’t he? That is a pip, no mistake. We’ll have to stir about all right.”

“That’s it, stir about,” agreed the count. “It is very pretty, is it not?”

“I’m here to announce that it’s pretty!” rumbled Dimes.

Rolphs nodded vigorously, to indicate his entire approval.

“Things will be happening today. I wired my arrival,” the count said. “We have plenty of time, but arrangements must be airtight. I will meet you here at ten in the morning. I go now for some sleep before dinner. Tonight, I have a most pleasing engagement. Au revoir, my friends.”