第77章 The Artificial Paradise(3)

Kennedy seemed to appreciate my perplexity as though he read my thoughts."The first thing to do is to locate this Senor Torreon from whom the first information came," he remarked as we left the apartment."Miss Guerrero told me that he might possibly be found in an obscure boarding-house in the Bronx where several members of the junta live.Let us try, anyway."Fortune favoured us to the extent that we did find Torreon at the address given.He made no effort to evade us, though I noted that he was an unprepossessing looking man--undersized and a trifle over-stout, with an eye that never met yours as you talked with him.Whether it was that he was concealing something, or whether he was merely fearful that we might after all be United States Secret Service men, or whether it was simply a lack of command of English, he was uncommonly uncommunicative at first.He repeated sullenly the details of the disappearance of Guerrero, just as we had already heard them.

"And you simply bade him good-bye as you got on a subway train and that is the last you ever saw of him?" repeated Kennedy.

"Yes," he replied.

"Did he seem to be worried, to have anything on his mind, to act queerly in any way?" asked Kennedy keenly.

"No," came the monosyllabic reply, and there was just that shade of hesitation about it that made me wish we had the apparatus we used in the Bond case for registering association time.Kennedy noticed it, and purposely dropped the line of inquiry in order not to excite Torreon's suspicion.

"I understand no word has been received from him at the headquarters on South Street to-day,""None," replied Torreon sharply.

"And you have no idea where he could have gone after you left him last night?""No, senor, none."

This answer was given, I thought, with suspicious quickness.

"You do not think that he could be concealed by Senora Mendez, then?" asked Kennedy quietly.

The little man jumped forward with his eyes flashing."No," he hissed, checking this show of feeling as quickly as he could.

"Well, then," observed Kennedy, rising slowly, "I see nothing to do but to notify the police and have a general alarm sent out."The fire died in the eyes of Torreon."Do not do that, Senor," he exclaimed."Wait at least one day more.Perhaps he will appear.

Perhaps he has only gone up to Bridgeport to see about some arms and cartridges--who can tell? No, sir, do not call in the police, I beg you--not yet.I myself will search for him.It may be I can get some word, some clue.If I can I will notify Miss Guerrero immediately."Kennedy turned suddenly."Torreon," he flashed quickly, "what do you suspect about that shipment of half a million silver dollars?

Where did it go after it left the wharf?"Torreon kept his composure admirably.An enigma of a smile flitted over his mobile features as he shrugged his shoulders.

"Ah," he said simply, "then you have heard that the money is missing? Perhaps Guerrero has not gone to Bridgeport, after all!""On condition that I do not notify the police yet--will you take us to visit Senora Mendez, and let us learn from her what she knows of this strange case?"Torreon was plainly cornered.He sat for a moment biting his nails nervously and fidgeting in his chair."It shall be as you wish," he assented at length.

"We are to go," continued Kennedy, "merely as friends of yours, you understand? I want to ask questions in my own way, and you are not to--""Yes, yes," he agreed."Wait.I will tell her we are coming," and he reached for the telephone.

"No," interrupted Kennedy."I prefer to go with you unexpected.

Put down the telephone.Otherwise, I may as well notify my friend Inspector O'Connor of the Central Office and go up with him."Torreon let the receiver fall back in its socket, and I caught just a glimpse of the look of hate and suspicion which crossed his face as he turned toward Kennedy.When he spoke it was as suavely as if he himself were the one who had planned this little excursion.

"It shall be as you wish," he said, leading the way out to the cross-town surface cars.

Senora Mendez received us politely, and we were ushered into a large music-room in her apartment.There were several people there already.They were seated in easy chairs about the room.

One of the ladies was playing on the piano as we entered.It was a curious composition--very rhythmic, with a peculiar thread of monotonous melody running through it.

The playing ceased, and all eyes were fixed on us.Kennedy kept very close to Torreon, apparently for the purpose of frustrating any attempt at a whispered conversation with the senora.

The guests rose and with courtly politeness bowed as Senora Mendez presented two friends of Senor Torreon, Senor Kennedy and Senor Jameson.We were introduced in turn to Senor and Senora Alvardo, Senor Gonzales, Senorita Reyes, and the player, Senora Barrios.

It was a peculiar situation, and for want of something better to say I commented on the curious character of the music we had overheard as we entered.

The senora smiled, and was about to speak when a servant entered, bearing a tray full of little cups with a steaming liquid, and in a silver dish some curious, round, brown, disc-like buttons, about an inch in diameter and perhaps a quarter of an inch thick.

Torreon motioned frantically to the servant to withdraw, but Kennedy was too quick for him.Interposing himself between Torreon and the servant, he made way for her to enter.