Page:MacGrath--The luck of the Irish.djvu/226

 would sail the following afternoon. I took a chance. Two grips were all I had. I saw her go up the gang-plank. All pretty work, if you want my opinion. Late that night I sent a wireless to you."

"Any detective could have done that for a hundred, and I gave you two thousand as a starter, another thousand in Venice, with the promise of five at the end of the run. And you couldn't even get the best of a red-headed Irishman who ought to have been clay in your hands."

"There are various kinds of clay," replied Camden, moodily. "I tell you, this Gerry Owen is out of the ordinary. He's as strong as a lion. He was born and brought up on the streets, which is to say he's no man's fool. I stole his letter of credit. I set thugs upon him in Rome and Florence; I packed him away with a broken head in Cairo; and he bade me good-by from the starboard rail this morning. To this hour I don't know whether he suspects me or not. I've used every kind of a trap to pump him, and never got a drop. He's watching over that girl. He's in love with her."

Colburton got up and began to pace the room; but this activity proved too much for him, and he sat down abruptly.

"Better call it off," suggested Camden.

"You have never known me to steer off, have you?"

"No, Orestes, I have not; and some day you're going to get bumped hard. Keep your hair on.