The Pirate of Panama | Page 8

time---- Do you give me the map, or do I give you a pass
to kingdom come?"

The girl moved forward so that she stood directly between me and the
weapon. She was taking a paper from her hand-bag, but she did not
lower her eyes to direct her hands in their search.
"I reckon I couldn't make you understand how I despise you--and hate
you! I'd rather be kin to the poorest beggar who sweeps the streets
down there than to you," she flamed, flinging before him a paper.
Warily he picked it up and glanced at it, still covering me carefully.
"This is the map, is it?"
"You may see for yourself," she blazed.
"It is really very good of you to ask me to keep it for you, Evie. I'll take
good care of it--not a doubt of that. It's far better in my hands than
yours, for of course you might be robbed."
His impudent smile derided her contempt. For me--I wouldn't have
faced that look of hers for twenty maps.
"We're not through with you yet," I told him.
In gay reproof he shook a finger at me.
"Ah! There speaks the lawyer. You'll bring an action, will you?"
It annoyed me to be playing so poor a part before Miss Wallace.
"You're an infernal scoundrel!"
"I could argue you out of that uncharitable opinion if I had time, Mr.
Sedgwick. But I'm devilishly de trop--the superfluous third, you know.
My dear cousin frowns at me. 'Pon my word, I don't blame her. But
you'll excuse me for intruding, won't you? I plead the importance of my
business. And I'm very glad of an excuse for meeting you formally, Mr.
Sedgwick. The occasion has been enjoyable and will, I trust, prove
profitable. I'll not say good-bye--hang me if I do. We'll make it au
revoir. Eh?"

An imp of malicious deviltry danced in his eyes. It was not necessary to
tell me that he was having a pleasant time.
"Au revoir be it," I nodded, swallowing my bad temper.
Once more he gave us his bland smile, a bow of audacious effrontery,
then whipped open the door and was gone.
It may be guessed he left me in no exultant mood. From the first the
fellow had taken and held the upper hand. I had come through with no
distinction at all and had let him walk off with the booty. But if there be
those who think my spirit small I ask them to remember that a revolver
staring one in the eye is a potent persuader.
Miss Wallace was the first to speak.
"You know now why I think him a dreadful man," she said, taking a
deep breath of relief.
"Just a moment," I excused myself, and ran into the outer office.
Our office Cerberus was sitting at the gate of entry reading the
enthralling story of "Hal Hiccup, the Boy Demon." From my pocket I
fished one of the few dollars it held.
"Jimmie, follow that man who has just gone out. Find out where he
goes and whom he meets. If he stops anywhere keep a note of the
place."
The eyes of Young America grew big and round with astonishment,
then lit with ecstatic delight. He was going to be a real detective.
"The boss?" He jerked a dirty thumb in the direction of the chief clerk.
"I'll make it right with him. Hurry!"
"You bet I'll keep a peeper on him," he bragged, reaching for his hat.
He was gone.

I returned to my client.
"Excuse me. I wanted to put a spy on your cousin. If he takes the map
to a safe-deposit vault we ought to know where. And that reminds
me---- What was it you gave him? I thought the map was on my table
here?"
"I gave him a copy of it, one my father took years ago."
"But had it a corner torn off just like this one?"
From her hand-bag she drew a scrap of paper. "I was tearing it off just
before I took it out."
My admiration was genuine enough.
"You're a cool hand, Miss Wallace. My hat is off to you."
The color deepened slightly in her cheeks. "That was nothing. I just
happened to think of it."
"You saved the day, anyhow. He stands only an equal chance with us."
"But he doesn't. My father purposely made an error in the details in
case the map happened to fall into the wrong hands. And the latitude
and longitude aren't marked."
I could have shouted my delight.
"But he has heard the diary read," she added. "In that the right latitude
was given. If he happens to remember----"
"A hundred to one he doesn't, and even at the worst he's no better