The Saint Meets His Match (She was a Lady)

"If you'll take over," said the Saint, "I'll go and look for some more rope."

The girl nodded briefly. Her automatic, swinging in a little arc over the latitude of the five prisoners, said all that there was left to say.

Simon went swiftly through the pockets of the group, and brought back four guns, two life preservers, a knife, and a razor, which he deposited in the coal scuttle with a faint gesture of distaste.

Then he sought the kitchen, and presently came back with six fathoms of good cord.

His methods of roping were less primitive than those of Matthew Keld, but they were equally efficient. When he had finished, only four Houdinis could have restored Messrs. Arne, Ganning, Keld, and Harver to the position of mobile actors in the scene. Essenden, however, he left. "You might," he suggested to Jill, "want to ask his lordship a few questions. And I might want this rope's end to encourage him to answer."

He made a long yard of rope  whistle horrifically through the air; but the girl shook her head.

"He's already started to answer."

Simon raised his eyebrows.

"Have you rung a bell?"

Essenden spoke in a cracked voice: "Of course I've answered. Why shouldn't I have meant what I said in my advertisement? But I thought you might think my ad­vertisement was a trap, so I had to protect myself. That's the only reason I brought these other men into it."

"A beautiful bunch!" murmured the Saint skepti­cally. His leisured gaze swept over the quartet like a genial blizzard. "I think I know them all. I know about Red Harver's seven years for manslaughter—which ought to have been a quick hanging for murder. I know all about Brother Matthew and the Waikiki Club. I know how Flash Arne gets the money to buy his diamond rings. And I've met Snake Ganning before. Say 'how d'you do,' Snake."

"I admit all that," said Essenden fretfully, "but——"

"What you mean," said Jill Trelawney calmly, "is that you laid a trap for us, but we've made you the pigeon. You're in the soup you brewed for Simon and me. Your gay little party has kind of bust. And now, to save your skin, you're prepared to reopen your original offer. Hav­ing flopped on the double-cross, you're anxious to hurry back to the first bargain. Isn't that it?"