CHAPTER VIII.

THE SOCIETY GAINS A RECRUIT.
«J YULLO, Humphrey, you're dripping! What
H has happened ?”
“He’s been in the water, father; and just look what he’s found,” exclaimed Nora excitedly. “I’m sure it’s a clue.”
“A clue! in bewilderment, gazing from one to the other.
“A clue to me,” cried Nora, holding out her hand. “ Look, it’s a real gold locket and chain, and I’m sure the chain is a bit of the one at home. You know— the one that was round me when I was washed ashore.”
“How wonderful! Can it be possible ?” said Mrs. Naismith, gazing at the tarnished locket. “The chain is indeed very like the other. Where did you find it ?”
“In the pool Nora showed me. It was buried (1,471) d 9
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amongst the seaweed at the bottom, but the crab Frank was shying stones at happened to turn it up.”
“Very strange,” said the doctor, “and a most ex- traordinary coincidence. We shall soon find out when we get home whether this is a bit of the other chain. But in the meantime, Humphrey, you must not catch cold. I don’t think salt water will do you much harm in this warm weather, but there is no use running risks. Take a good drink of hot tea and keep moving. When you have had something to eat we had better pack up and be off, and the moment you get home you must change every stitch of clothing.”
While I drank my tea the others examined the locket, and Frank was inclined to claim a share in its discovery.
“It was my crab that found it,” he declared, “and it was I who saw the crab, so—”
“Tt was Humphrey who found it,” protested Nora, “and he gave it tome. He promised when he joined the soc—I mean, he promised to help me to find a clue.”
“Oh, did he?” said Dr. Naismith, laughing, “So acting is better than talking, eh? But look here; I have managed to dislodge the limpet at last.”
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He held out the locket as he spoke, and showed us a small amethyst set in the centre.
“T feel sure it opens,’ he went on, turning it over in his hand, “but I don’t see how. A jeweller will no doubt manage it without damage. Don’t be too hopeful, Nora dear, lest you should be disappointed with the result. Put it away carefully now till we get home. There, now, be off. Sixpence to the one who gets to Ivy Cottage first—Humphrey, if you haven’t changed by the time we get back with Donald, P’1I—I’ll give you a dose of medicine!”
Almost before the words were out of his mouth we were off, scrambling up the steep path. The other two far outstripped me at climbing, and by the time I arrived, panting and breathless, at the top of the cliff they had mounted their bicycles, and were just disappearing round a bend in the road with Bouncer galloping alongside. JI was soon in hot pursuit, but it was not until several miles had been covered that
I came up with Nora and slowed down to keep her
company. “Go on,” she panted. “Frank is not far ahead.” “There is no hurry,” I said. “Donald must be a
long way behind.”
“Please go on,” she answered; and then, as I paid iy 5) ’ ‘
182 THE SOCIETY GAINS A RECRUIT.
no heed, she suddenly jumped off her machine. “If you don’t go on and catch Frank Dll wait here till the pony cart comes up, and then you'll be scolded for not hurrying home to change.”
“But I meant to go on with you,’ I began in surprise.
“JT don’t want you,” she answered promptly. “Bouncer always stays with me. Don’t be silly, Humphrey. You always let Frank beat you, and I think it is very stupid of you.”
Such an idea had not occurred to me, but seeing that she really meant what she said, I set off after Frank, and soon came in sight of him freewheeling down a hill. Happening to look round he caught sight of me, and next minute his head was down, and he was pedalling for all he was worth. Gradually I overhauled him, and just before Cliffden was reached I passed him and swerved into the avenue, almost colliding with a man who was walking towards the house. Leaving my bicycle in the porch I ran up- stairs to change. A minute afterwards Frank followed and burst into the room.
“T say, did you see him?” he asked breathlessly.
“See who?” I asked in astonishment.
“That fellow in the avenue. It’s Martha’s lodger !
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There! He’s ringing the bell now. Perhaps he’s come to rob the house.”
“Qh, rubbish. He would never walk up to the front door like that.’
“T don’t know that,” replied Frank. “He’s mighty cute, I tell you, and may expect to throw us off our guard. I'll keep an eye on him and warn father.”
He stole on tiptoe out of the room and crept downstairs just as the shutting of a door announced that the stranger had been ushered into the study. I did not share Frank’s opinion with regard to Martha’s lodger, thinking rather that he had come merely to consult the doctor; but, all the same, my curiosity was excited, and I hastened to dress with all speed. Needless to say, the result was as it usually is in such cases, and by the time I had hunted for and discovered my collar stud in the soap tray, the pony cart had driven up to the door, and a minute later I heard Dr. Naismith enter the study and close the door.
“T’m glad to see you have changed at once, Humphrey,” said Mrs. Naismith, as I met her on the stairs. “I hear you won the sixpence. That doesn’t
sound as if you were any the worse for the ducking.”
134 THE SOCIETY GAINS A RECRUIT.
“Oh, I’m all right, thanks,’ I replied. “Did you meet Nora on the way?”
“Yes; we overtook her and came all together. She is very much excited over the locket you found, and wants to compare the broken chain with the piece I have in my jewel case. I really do think they are one and the same, but cannot see how that is going to establish her identity. However, we shall see.”
I found Nora and Frank putting away their bicycles, and the latter turned to me at once.
“The pater wouldn’t listen to me,” he exclaimed in an aggrieved tone. “I told him there was a desperate burglar in the study, but when he heard who it was he only laughed and said it was all right.”
“What should we do?” said Nora. “I wish we had told them before what a dreadful man Martha’s lodger really was.”
“JT don’t think he will do any harm,” I replied confidently. “Dr. Naismith is much bigger, and could easily lick him in a fight.”
“ But the pistols—Frank said he had pistols.”
“JT didn’t actually see his revolver,’ admitted Sherlock reluctantly ; “I only thought he would be sure to have one. All burglars do.”
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Further conversation on the subject was interrupted by the advent of Jane the housemaid, who announced that Frank and I were “wanted” in the study.
“That’s rum,” ejaculated my chum, gazing at me in surprise. “ What can they want with us, I wonder? Perhaps the fellow is going to confess, and the pater needs us as witnesses. What a lark! Come on.”
I followed him indoors, while Nora ran off to find her mother and settle the question of the broken chain. In answer to our knock Dr. Naismith called to us to come in, and we found ourselves once more confronting the “burglar.”
“ Ah, here you are. Shut the door, Frank—Now then,” the doctor continued, turning to his visitor, “shall I explain the whole story to them, or would you prefer to question them yourself ? ”
“You had better explain matters first,” replied the other, smiling and nodding to us in a friendly fashion.
“Very well.—Now then, boys, listen to me. This is Inspector Melvin, a detective from Scotland Yard, who has come down here to make some investigations. —By-the-bye, Frank, what did you mean just now, when I came in, by that extraordinary statement
about a burglar ?”
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Poor Frank grew scarlet, and he shifted uneasily from one foot to the other. It was a sad blow to learn that he had been on a false scent all along, and the fact that his supposed burglar was in reality a detective made matters even worse. Before he could stammer out any explanation, however, the stranger came to his rescue.
“That is a little secret between your son and myself, doctor,” he said, smiling, “for which I am partly to blame. It was a very natural mistake for an amateur.”
“Well, if you know all about it that is all right,” said Dr. Naismith—‘“As I was saying, Inspector Melvin has come down here to make some investiga- tions, and you may be able to help him. This morn- ing I had a letter from London stating that the notes with which I paid for Nora’s watch were found to be counterfeit, and that a detective would call upon me with regard to the matter. I had heard from the bank here who Martha’s new lodger was, and was expecting a visit.”
He paused a moment, and I fell to wondering how we were to help this trained sleuth-hound of the law.
“On talking over the circumstances with the
inspector,” resumed the doctor, “I recollected that the
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false notes had been part of the thirty pounds which I put in this desk. Now you remember the first night of your holidays there was some scare, raised by Nora I think, about noises in this room, and you, Humphrey, stated that you saw Colonel Leighton’s Chinese servant, Win Kee, crossing the lawn. In- spector Melvin thinks there may possibly be some- thing in the story after all, seeing that the notes have proved to be false. I do not wish to ques- tion Nora at present, as she is excited enough about this locket, but I want you to assist the inspector in every way by answering any questions he may put to you.”
We both signified our readiness to do so, and the detective asked me to relate in my own words the whole story from beginning to end. When I had finished he sat for a few minutes thinking in silence.
“You say that the Chinaman was coming towards the house and going slowly as though looking for something ?” he asked at last.
“Yess
“You have no idea what he was looking for ?”
Noe
“We found him looking for a letter next day on
188 THE SOCIETY GAINS A RECRUIT.
the road to the station,” interjected Frank, who there- upon proceeded to describe our meeting with the Chinaman.
“That letter might possibly afford a clue,” said the inspector thoughtfully. Then he turned to me again. “ Now, about your search in this room next day. You found the money all right ?”
“Yes. Mrs. Naismith counted it, and said it was right ; but—”
“But what?” said the doctor as I paused. “I understood that everything was in its place.”
“We thought so at the time,” I replied; “but when you were told that the money was found in the
second top drawer on the right, you said there must be a mistake, as you always kept your cash and bank