Agent Nine and the Jewel Mystery: A Story of Thrilling Exploits of the G Men Page 3

  Bob went back over the report again in detail and, when he had finished,placed it in the sturdy envelope, sealed it, and put it in his Gladstonebag. He felt now that he knew as much about the case as it was possibleto learn until he actually reached Atalissa.

  After a time Bob walked forward and stepped into the smoking compartmentwhere Tully and the stranger were engaged in animated conversation.

  Tully looked up but there was little warmth in his glance. That, however,did not deter Bob from sitting down on one of the comfortable leatherupholstered benches. The stranger looked at Bob and a rather pleasantsmile framed his lips.

  "Going to Florida?" he asked.

  "Jacksonville," said Bob laconically.

  "That's fine, I'm going there too. Hamsa, Joe Hamsa, is the name," saidthe stranger reaching over and extending his hand in greeting.

  Bob grasped the extended hand but he winced slightly at the strength ofthe other's grip.

  "I'm Bob Houston of Washington," replied Bob by way of introducinghimself.

  "Going south on business or just taking a vacation?" asked Joe Hamsa andBob thought there was a peculiar flicker in the other's eyes.

  "Well, it's a combination of both," replied Bob.

  "Wish I could say as much," went on Hamsa, "but it's all business withme. I'm glad you boys are on the car today. I don't like to travel aloneand especially at night."

  Bob wondered just why Mr. Hamsa, who appeared perfectly capable of takingcare of himself, did not care to travel alone. He was not in doubt longfor Hamsa suddenly developed a voluble streak.

  "Diamonds are my specialty," he said, "and I've been held up once ortwice. Believe me, there's no fun in that."

  Mr. Hamsa did not look particularly like the type of man who would submitto a holdup peacefully, and there was something about him that arousedsuspicions in Bob's mind.

  The young federal agent glanced across the compartment to where Tully wasseated and he was surprised to note that the papers in the confidentialreport on the smuggling ring were scattered on the seat beside Tully.

  What was even more astounding was the pallor of Tully's face, and theglassy stare in his eyes.

  "Tully," cried Bob, "what's the matter?"

  But there was no response from Tully except a slight twitching of hislips which indicated that he might be trying to answer.

  "Tully," repeated Bob, "what's the matter?"

  The sharp questions voiced by the young federal agent caused Hamsa alsoto turn and stare at Tully.

  Bob was less than six feet away from Tully, yet the other failed toanswer his questions or to give any sign of recognition. He sat therelike a man under a hypnotic spell.

  Bob leaped to his feet and in one long stride was beside Tully. With firmhands he grasped Tully's shoulders and shook him vigorously.

  Tully's head dropped forward on his chest and he seemed suddenly tocollapse, sliding forward off the leather bench and falling to the floor.

  Chapter VI STRANGE EVENTS *

  Tully's collapse came so suddenly that Bob was unable to check his fallto the floor, but he leaned down almost instantly and lifted Tully backon one of the benches.

  Bob's face was close to Tully's and he caught a whiff of an acrid smellon Tully's breath. His companion's breathing was slow and distinctlylabored.

  Bob grasped one of Tully's wrists and checked the pulse beat. Hisknowledge of first aid was somewhat limited, but the steadiness of thepulse count reassured him and he decided that Tully had probably fallenvictim to a sudden fainting attack.

  Joe Hamsa leaned over Bob and attempted to aid him in ministering toTully.

  "Anything I can do?" he asked.

  "Get a cup of water," said Bob, and Hamsa hastened away to do hisbidding. He was back soon with the paper cup brimming full of water. Bobmoistened his handkerchief in this and bathed Tully's cheeks and foreheadwhile Hamsa loosened his tie and collar, and massaged his wrists.

  Just then the Pullman conductor came into the compartment.

  "What's doing here?" he asked.

  Bob answered without looking up.

  "I think my companion suffered a fainting attack. Have you any smellingsalts?"

  "I have some in my first aid kit up ahead," replied the conductor,departing to obtain it.

  He returned in less than a minute with the smelling salts and Bob gaveTully several deep sniffs from the pungent smelling bottle. Thepenetrating qualities of the salts seemed to reach Tully's subconsciousmind and draw away the curtain which had clouded his consciousness. Hemade an effort to rouse himself but Bob speaking in a low voice forcedhim back on the leather bench.

  "Take it easy, Tully," he advised. "You'll feel stronger in a shorttime."

  Tully opened his eyes and stared at them. It was evident that he had noidea what had happened to him.

  Bob, who had been somewhat concerned when he saw the sheets of Tully'sconfidential report laying out in the open, now took time to look forthem. They were still scattered on one of the leather benches and as faras Bob could determine they had not been disturbed. He reached out andwith the sweep of one hand brushed them into a pile at one corner of thebench. Fortunately they had been turned face down, and Bob felt sure thatthere had been no opportunity for either Hamsa or the Pullman conductorto read the contents.

  Tully attempted to sit up and Bob's attention returned to his unfortunatetraveling companion. Tully still appeared shaken but his eyes wereclearer and once more there was a touch of color in his cheeks.

  Tully signalled that he would like a drink of water and Hamsa hurriedaway to fill another paper cup from the tank in the vestibule. When hereturned Tully took several deep draughts of the water and he appearedgreatly refreshed.

  "I don't know what happened," he mumbled, shaking his head slowly. "Mymind seems so heavy. I can't think."

  "Better take it easy for a while," advised Bob. "Here, stretch out onthis couch. I'll get the porter to bring you a blanket."

  Bob stepped out and called the porter who was in the other end of thecar, and, thus far, unaware that anything unusual had taken place in thesmoking compartment. At Bob's instructions he brought a blanket andplaced it over Tully. Then he brought in a pillow and the federal agentwas made as comfortable as possible.

  "Want me to make up a berth?" asked the porter, but Tully shook his head.

  "Not now. I'll be all right here. Just let me rest."

  Bob's keen eyes roved around the smoking compartment. The papers whichhad been in Tully's confidential envelope had been placed on the oppositecouch, evidently by Hamsa or the Pullman conductor. Bob caught a quickglance from Tully and sensed that the other wanted the papers put away atonce.

  The young federal agent stepped over to the leather couch, scooped up thesheets of typewritten paper, and placed them in the envelope.

  "Thanks," said Tully, when Bob handed the package to him. He slipped thedocuments into an inner pocket of his coat, closed his eyes, and was soonin a deep sleep.

  This might have been alarming had not Tully's breathing been deep andnatural and the color in his cheeks more normal.

  "I think he's coming around all right," said Hamsa, who had remained inthe smoking compartment. "Looks to me like it might have been an attackof acute indigestion."

  "Perhaps," agreed Bob, but for his own satisfaction he would havepreferred to have a doctor examine Tully. He stepped outside into thecorridor to speak to the Pullman conductor.

  "Do you know if there is a doctor on the train?" he asked.

  "I don't believe so. We're running light today but I'll find out; yourfriend any worse?"

  "No. He's better, but I'd like to find out just what happened to him."

  "I can wire ahead and have an ambulance meet us at the next divisionpoint," suggested the conductor.

  "I don't believe that will be necessary," replied Bob. "We're anxious toget to Jacksonville on this train. However, I wish you would
ascertain ifthere is a doctor aboard."

  As the trainman hurried away, Bob stepped back into the smokingcompartment. There was something definitely puzzling and disturbing aboutthe sudden illness which had overtaken Tully, for the latter was usuallyin the best of health.

  Bob thought back over the days of their association in the archivesdivision of the War Department, trying to remember if Tully had ever beenthe subject of sudden fainting spells. As far as he could recall, nothinglike this had occurred before, which did not make his mind rest anyeasier.

  Hamsa wandered out of the smoking compartment and Bob and Tully werealone. Half an hour slipped by and Tully remained in the deep sleep.

  The train had stopped once, a long halt for coal and water, and it wasafter it resumed motion that the Pullman conductor returned to thecompartment.

  "I've been all over the train, even into the day coaches ahead, and thereisn't even a veterinarian aboard. Sure you don't want us to wire for anambulance to meet you? We'll be in at the next division point in an hourand a half."

  "I'll let you know definitely a little later. If he doesn't rouse fromthis sleep, it may be necessary to do just that."

  "Anything more I can do?" asked the conductor, but Bob shook his head.

  "I'll stay here and watch him. If I need any help, I'll signal for theporter."

  The curtains at the doorway swished down behind the departing figure ofthe conductor, leaving Bob and Tully alone once more.

  The afternoon was waning as the train sped southward, the steady clickingof the trucks underneath indicating that the Limited was doing at least amile a minute. The roadbed was smooth and the high speed did not make thecar ride uncomfortably.

  While Tully was asleep, Bob studied his companion's face. Tully'sfeatures were really remarkably strong and if he made an effort to lookpleasant he would have been a handsome young man. But his lips wereinclined to a perpetual downward curve that made it appear that a steadyscowl was on his face.

  Bob would have enjoyed liking Tully, for there were many qualities in theother that were outstanding. For instance, Tully was sturdy and he hadthe power to drive steadily toward a goal once he set his ambition tothat end. It was too bad that he let personal feelings creep into hiswork and sway his better judgment, such as challenging Bob to beat him toa solution of the jewel smuggling case.

  Bob was a better than average judge of character and he knew that Tullywould worry so much about what he was doing that Tully's own keen mindwould be somewhat dulled on the case. For that reason Bob had nothesitated to take up the challenge.

  The Limited plunged into a short but heavy rain storm and drops of waterstreamed down the windows. It was not an especially auspicious beginningto their manhunt.

  Tully moved restlessly and Bob thought for a time that his companion wasabout to wake up, but Tully's breathing deepened once more and his eyesremained closed.

  Joe Hamsa stuck his head into the compartment.

  "Any change?" he asked, and Bob thought he appeared a little toosolicitous for a passing acquaintance.

  "I think he's resting easier," replied Bob.

  "Are you going to take him to a hospital?" asked Hamsa, pressing Bob forfurther information on his plans.

  "I haven't decided yet."

  "Let me know if there is anything I can do," volunteered the other. Itwas apparent that he would have liked an invitation to stay in the room,but Bob turned toward the rain-washed windows and after a brief pauseHamsa dropped the curtain at the doorway and walked back into thePullman.

  Chapter VII THE MAN ON THE PLATFORM *

  Tully remained in the deep sleep for another fifteen minutes. Then hestirred restlessly and Bob went over to his side. As he looked down Tullyopened his eyes. They appeared clear and perfectly normal.

  Tully attempted to sit up, but Bob put his hands on his shoulders andgently pushed him back on the couch.

  "Take it easy for a while, Tully," he said.

  "What happened?" the other demanded, and Bob noted that the words wereslow and his speech thick.

  Then before he could answer, Tully grunted and made a face.

  "Get me some water, quick."

  Bob hastened out into the corridor where he filled a paper cup to thebrim. Tully drank every drop and signaled for another cup, which Bobprocured immediately.

  When that was done, Tully appeared greatly refreshed.

  "Help me prop this pillow up so I can sit up a little," he urged Bob, andhe was soon in a more comfortable position.

  The rain still washed the windows of the car, and the porter, enteringthe compartment, turned on the top lights, for it was nearly dark.

  Before he spoke again Tully felt inside his coat and, reassured that thedocuments on the jewel smuggling case were there, he looked at Bob.

  "I don't remember very much," he said slowly, "but all of a suddeneverything went dark. I felt that I was going to fall but I couldn'tmove. I couldn't even reach out my hands and neither could I say a word."

  He paused and Bob felt that it would be well for him to explain what hehad seen.

  "You looked like you were hypnotized," he explained. "I came over andcaught you, but you were out cold. Believe me, you had us worried for awhile."

  Just then the Pullman conductor looked in.

  "Made up your mind about calling an ambulance at the division point?" heasked. Then he saw Tully propped into a half-way sitting position and hisface brightened.

  "Coming around now?"

  "He's feeling better. We'll go right on through to Jacksonville," saidBob and the conductor went on about his duties.

  "Didn't you think I'd come around?" asked Tully, a look of worry on hisforehead.

  "We didn't know just what was happening for a while," explained Bob. "Youhad us pretty badly scared."

  Tully looked thoughtful.

  "I honestly don't know what took place," he said, slowly shaking hishead. "It seemed as though blackness simply exploded in my face. ActuallyI believe there was some kind of a shock or blow on my face."

  "I don't know what it could have been," replied Bob. "Hamsa and I werethe only ones with you and you had been visiting with Hamsa for some timebefore I came in."

  "He's a queer duck," muttered Tully. "I don't know whether I could likeor trust him."

  Bob had exactly the same feeling and he was interested to know Tully'sreaction to their traveling companion.

  "I'm still kind of sleepy. Guess I'll take another nap. You might tellthe porter to make up my berth."

  "I'll have him fix up lower five for you," replied Bob. "I'll take theupper for you probably won't feel much like climbing in and out of aberth for the next few hours. Think you'll want anything to eat tonight?"

  "Perhaps a little soup later," nodded Tully as he closed his eyes.

  Bob remained in the compartment for several minutes until he was surethat Tully was in a deep and comfortable sleep. Then he returned to themain section of the Pullman.

  As he turned in the corridor and could look down the full length of thecar he thought he caught just a glimpse of Hamsa dodging out the otherend of the car.

  Only a few lights were on and Bob could not be sure that his eyes werenot playing tricks on him. In any event he hastened his pace and when hereached the section which he and Tully occupied he drew his big Gladstonebag out from under one of the seats.

  Bob breathed easier when he saw the envelope which contained theconfidential information on the smuggling was just where he had left it.It had been more than a little careless of him to leave such valuabledata unprotected for so long a time.

  It was fully dark and Bob snapped on the individual lights in the berthand rang the buzzer for the porter, who appeared almost immediately.

  Bob instructed him to make up both the lower and upper berth.

  "I'm going ahead into the diner. Let me know when you've finished," hesaid, "and also keep an eye on my friend in the
smoking compartment. Ifhe should wake up, inform me at once."

  The rush to reach the train plus the exciting events of the afternoon hadmade Bob ravenously hungry and when he entered the dining car he splurgedby ordering a large porterhouse steak and an extra order of French friedpotatoes.

  The conductor had been right when he described travel on the Southernthat night as light for there were only five others in the diner inaddition to Bob. All of them were strangers, three of them being womenand the other two rather elderly men who were engaged in an animatedconversation on the economic problems of the day.

  Bob summoned the steward, explained that a companion was ill, and askedthat a nourishing soup be prepared for him to take back to the Pullmanwhen he returned.

  The steak, when it was brought in, was both thick and tender, and thepotatoes were done just to the right crispness. It was a meal that Bobcould thoroughly enjoy and he ate it in comparative leisure, relying onthe Pullman porter to call him if Tully awakened.

  The train slowed to a smooth halt in a North Carolina mill town and Boblooked out on the well lighted station platform. The rain was descendingin torrents now and Bob knew that it might be hard to keep the Limited onthe fast schedule which its time card demanded.

  It was evidently a service stop for the train remained at the station forat least ten minutes. Bob, watching from the windows, could see anyone onthe platform and he was startled to catch a glimpse of a man hurryingalong beside the train. He had just a glimpse, but the man, short andrather bulky, was making what appeared to Bob to be an obvious effort toavoid attracting attention for he was hugging the side of the train. Hewas clad in a dark oilskin and a soft hat, pulled well down, shielded hisface.