Kitabı oku: «The Bradys After a Chinese Princess: or, The Yellow Fiends of 'Frisco», sayfa 6
CHAPTER XI
TOO LATE
Old King Brady had two good reasons for keeping his mouth shut about the Chinaman whom he hoped might furnish him information about Gong Schow.
In the first place this man, who went by the name of Ed. Woo, had once saved his life during a mix-up in a Dupont street opium joint, a service which the old detective was not the kind to forget, and in the next place the man had long since given up his crooked ways and now held a position in a certain prominent bank on Montgomery street where he had charge of all Chinese business, commanded a good salary and was highly respected.
Old King Brady was not the man to throw a stone in the way of such a character, for which who can blame him?
Business of importance prevented the old detective from calling at once on Ed Woo, but during the morning he went to the bank and calling him out into the hall briefly explained the situation in part.
He told him about the princess, but made no mention of the supposed-to-be-hidden money.
"I have every reason to believe that Gong Schow before his death hid papers of importance in the little shack where he used to carry on business near the North Beach," he said. "This man Ah Lung is most anxious to recover those papers as well as the princess. I have been there, but everything seems to be in ruins. I can't even locate the spot where the shack stood. I am afraid the case is hopeless, but I thought that perhaps you could help me out, Woo."
"I will if I can, you may be sure," replied the Chinese bank clerks, "but I must say, Mr. Brady, you are rather indefinite."
"I know it," answered the old detective, "but to tell the truth, I have to be. The affair concerns only Ah Lung."
"And you are the best man in the world for keeping others people's secrets. But I did not refer to that. Which Gong Schow do you mean?"
"What! Was there more than one of that name in Chinatown?"
"There were four."
"Bless me! That certainly complicates matters. But surely there was only one who ran a business at the North Beach and engaged in hop smuggling on the side."
"There again you are wrong. There were two; what is more, there was another place called North Beach in those days."
The Chinaman named the location. It was over the Bay above Saucelito.
There, Ed Woo explained, a certain cove was once called North Beach and enjoyed a short-lived popularity as a Sunday bathing resort, but had now been entirely abandoned for several years.
"And was there a Gong Schow in business over there?" asked the old detective.
"There was," replied Ed Woo, "there was one out there and one at the old North Beach in San Francisco. Both took a hand at hop smuggling. I knew them both, so you see, Mr. Brady, it is important that I should know which one you mean."
"Well, under the circumstances I should say so," exclaimed the old detective. "The man I refer to died shortly after the fire."
"Then he was the Gong Schow over the bay," was the reply. "The other one so far as I know is living still."
Here was information of real value.
Hurrying back to the hotel Old King Brady found Harry had just come in.
"Have you accomplished anything?" he asked.
"Nothing, I may say," replied Harry, "except that by mere accident I learned that Dr. Garshaski took the princess to the North Beach last night and made a hunt for Gong Schow's house, but failed to find it."
"Which North Beach?"
"What? Are there two?"
"Sure."
"You don't mean it. Do you know that is just what I was wondering. You certainly know San Francisco better than I do, Governor."
Old King Brady smiled.
"Oh, I can't lay claim to have been in possession of the knowledge for any length of time," he said, and went on to explain.
"Singular that I should have been seized with the same idea," remarked Harry. "Alice, how does it strike you? Can this and not the regulation North Beach be the place?"
"Easily," replied Alice. "Skeep Hup knows nothing of San Francisco, remember. When she said North Beach, she was only repeating what she had read in her grandfather's letter. She told me that the letter stated that the house was a little frame affair standing back under the bluff, and that it had a green door; that there were other houses near it and that all had been abandoned."
"Hello!" exclaimed Harry. "You did not mention the green door before."
"Didn't I? Then it must have slipped my mind. But when one comes to think of it, no Chinaman in his senses would ever think of hiding money anywhere around North Beach, San Francisco."
"Dr. Garshaski seems to have been as badly deceived as ourselves," observed Harry.
"Yes, but he may have become undeceived by this time," replied Old King Brady. "We want to get across the bay at once and do our investigating there."
They lost no time in putting this plan into effect, starting for the foot of Clay street where, as Old King Brady knew, there was a man who had naphtha launches to rent.
As they were about to enter the little office of this individual who should they run into but Detective Leggett.
"Volckman has given us the slip," said Leggett. "I am going across the bay after him."
"You started to arrest him?"
"I didn't; Narraway sent a man to do it; some one must have tipped Volckman off, for he didn't come to business this morning nor send any word. I happened to be at the office when the man came in with this report; Narraway told me to go to Volckman's house and see if I could nail him there."
"And you failed?"
"Failed because he wasn't there. Wasn't any one there? The house was shut up. I managed to get in all the same. Found most everything packed up. I prowled about and came across some letters in an old desk which are mighty interesting. Want to see them?"
"What are they about?"
"Opium smuggling. Five names are mentioned. The gang has had a bad scare through our operations. They have changed their base. There's another lot of hop expected in to-night it seems and the landing is to be made at a lonely spot over the bay. I'm bound for there now. Want to size up the place and report to Narraway. I shall recommend that you be put in charge of the raid, Mr. Brady."
"I am not sure that I want the contract," replied the old detective.
"Got the princess yet?"
"No. We are still hunting Garshaski; but where is this place you speak of?"
"It's above Saucelito; used to be called North Beach."
The Bradys and Alice glanced at each other.
"How are you going, Leggett?" the old detective asked.
"Why, I was going to hire a launch."
"Then you may as well come along with us, for that's just the place we are bound for."
And thus it came about that once again Detective Leggett came to be associated with the Bradys in their chase after the Chinese Princess.
The launch was engaged and with the detectives on board and Harry running the motor, it started in the direction of the Golden Gate.
It now became necessary to take Leggett fully into their confidence, for the Secret Service man had not understood about the hidden money.
He grew quite excited and talked of little else the rest of the trip.
It made matters easier for the Bradys that Leggett knew the exact location of this other North Beach.
In due time they ran into the shallow cove under the green hills where there was a small pier, sort of boat-house on piles and several frame shacks which had once been devoted to such business as is usually found about a bathing place.
All happened to be deserted.
The Bradys instead of landing at the pier ran further down and tied up at a float from which they passed to the shore.
The Bradys walked up the beach surveying the different shacks.
"There's your green door, Alice," Harry suddenly exclaimed, as he pointed on ahead.
It was attached to a one-story building scarcely larger than a good sized hencoop, that green door.
"Looks as if it might be the place," observed Old King Brady, adding:
"But who owns the sailboat tied up at the pier, I wonder?"
They had not observed it as they approached the pier from the other side.
"Suggests Garshaski," said Harry.
They pushed on to the green door.
"Go on in, Harry and Alice," said the old detective. "Leggett and I will watch that house on the piles. The owner of the sailboat may be inside."
Harry and Alice then pushed on into the shack.
"Too late!" cried Alice, "Garshaski has been here ahead of us!"
And indeed it looked so, for there in the middle of the floor lay a flat stone broken in two pieces.
Evidently it had served as a hearth stone and beneath where it had lain at the foot of the chimney was a newly dug hole.
CHAPTER XII
CONCLUSION
"Just in time to be too late!" exclaimed Harry, pointing at the hole.
"So it would seem. But it may not be so. That sailboat!" said Old King Brady.
"That's what's the matter!" cried Harry. "That boat-house, you may say. Who is inside? That's what we want to know now."
"Mr. Brady! Oh, Mr. Brady!" called Leggett excitedly.
All hurried outside.
"Look!" said Leggett, pointing up the bay.
A good-sized launch was rapidly approaching, evidently heading for this abandoned beach.
"Can it be the hop gang?" asked Leggett.
"Who can tell?" replied the old detective. "Sneak on beyond the boat-house and get a sight of them. If you find they are Chinks hold up two fingers and get back as fast as you can. Don't show yourself any more than you have to."
"Right. What about the treasure?"
Harry hastily explained and Leggett hurried away, passing behind the boat-house.
The Bradys approached it leisurely.
The building was much larger than an ordinary boat-house. Indeed, perhaps it had never been intended for a boat-house at all, but for the office of the proprietors of the beach.
It had a door opening on the pier, also a window.
They stepped upon the pier and were just about to pass around to the front of the building when suddenly they heard the door open noisily.
"Stop!" breathed Old King Brady, "we want to know what that means."
He was about to peer around the corner of the building when a harsh voice called out something in Chinese.
"Mercy!" whispered Alice. "Garshaski! He says 'Now I'm going to be rid of you, princess!'"
Before Alice finished speaking, Old King Brady knew.
Peering around the corner of the building, he saw Dr. Garshaski starting down the pier carrying the Princes Skeep Hup in his arms crossing a sort of runway or gang plank which connected the pier with the house.
"Stop where you are, Doctor!" shouted the old detective, as all three showed themselves now.
The old detective ran to head him off. Harry and Alice were now on the side platform separated from the runway by considerable space.
Instantly the Doctor saw them.
With an exclamation of surprise and disgust he turned and took the back track.
Old King Brady rushed after the flying Chinaman who was carrying the princess.
He crossed a gang plank and entered the house on the piles.
The next instant part of the runway flew up, closing the doorway, while Harry and Alice looked on.
"You scoundrel!" shouted Old King Brady. "Harm that woman at your peril!"
"Leggett is signalling!" cried Harry. "There are Chinks in the launch!"
"Save the princess!" exclaimed Alice. "That yellow fiend has unearthed the treasure and now he will kill her."
"But how to get at him!" cried Old King Brady. "You two keep guard here. There must be a rear entrance. I'll tackle him there."
He ran around to where they were standing.
"Let Harry go too!" cried Alice. "If he comes out with the princess I'll shoot him."
"Come, Harry," said the old detective, and around the house they went.
Meanwhile Leggett was hurrying along the beach.
There proved to be a back door to the house, but it was shut. There was no window here, thus it was impossible to tell what Garshaski was about, but as they drew nearer they could hear him fumbling with the lock of the door.
"Stand in close, Harry," whispered the old detective.
The order was a wise one, for the next instant the door slightly opened and Garshaski peered out.
He jumped back, closing the door, but before the Bradys had time to think twice it was opened again on the crack and a revolver was fired.
The shot went through Old King Brady's hat.
The instant the crack of the revolver was heard, Harry, who had drawn his weapon, fired.
His aim was true, the shot flew in through the crack of the door.
There was a yell of pain and something was heard to fall.
"Forward!" cried the old detective.
As he said it a succession of queer little squeals began inside the house and a woman's voice chattered in Chinese.
It was the princess!
The Bradys rushed inside.
Harry's shot had taken Dr. Garshaski in the right hand.
He dropped the revolver and starting back had stumbled over a chair and fallen.
The princess lost no time in improving her opportunity.
She could not stand on her little feet owing to the damage done those nearly useless members by that terrible rack, but she had free use of her hands as she sat there on the floor.
Garshaski, as we should have mentioned, was now in full Chinese costume even to a false pigtail, but his natural hair was long enough for Skeep Hup to get a good hold, and there she was yanking it for all she was worth.
The scene was a comical one, but it might have been a tragedy, for the Doctor had just managed to get hold of the princess with his unwounded left hand, when the Bradys burst into the room.
Harry covered the Doctor, Old King Brady managed to make the princess let go her hold on his hair, but not without some difficulty.
Quickly they tied his legs together, searched and captured another revolver.
Meanwhile Garshaski had not spoken a word. His face was deathly white, the sight of his own blood which flowed freely had apparently turned him faint, for by the time the Bradys succeeded in securing him he had relapsed into unconsciousness.
"Call Alice!" ordered the old detective. "We want to find out about the treasure while we have so good a chance."
Alice came. The princess almost fell over herself in her delight, chattering eagerly in Chinese.
"Well?" demanded the old detective. "Well?"
"Oh, he got the treasure all right," said Alice. "It is in here."
She led the way into the front room, which was fitted up with a bar and upon this stood an old dress-suit case.
"That's it!" cried Alice. "They have but just finished their work. Garshaski was going to drown her and make off with the money. The princess says that he found it under the hearth stone and that there is a lot of it."
Leggett now burst into the roam.
"That launch is full of Chinks!" he said, "but they have shoved off. I think they saw Mr. Brady's big hat and were scared away."
Perhaps it was so, for they did not return.
The suit-case, being opened, was found stuffed with yellow-backs with some gold.
When counted later the amount proved to be a little over $75,000.
Garshaski was rounded up in San Francisco jail, later going to a hospital.
The Princess Skeep Hup was turned over to the Lung Brothers with the treasure. Some weeks later she married Ah Lung, who made a quick recovery.
That night the Bradys with Leggett and other Secret Service men returned to the abandoned beach.
Here they went into hiding, waiting for the opium smugglers.
And again it proved a foggy night, which greatly aided them in their work.
Two boats landed between one and two o'clock.
Meanwhile Volckman, five Chinamen and a white representative of the crooked commercial house were on land to receive the cargo.
At the right moment the Bradys rounded up the whole outfit; thus that incident was closed.
Dr. Garshaski went to San Quentin for ten years. The opium smugglers received various short sentences.
Volckman's was five years.
But what became of Wang Foo?
This was never known.
Mysteriously he seemed to have vanished.
Garshaski denied all knowledge of the man, but Alice is firmly of the opinion that he was murdered in the torture room connected with the House of the Seven Delights.
The police raided the place and cleaned out all its occupants.
Old King Brady looked up Inez Reyes and not only gave her $200, but paid her way back to Mexico.
Ah Lung treated the Bradys most liberally and Leggett came in for his share.
Well could Ah Lung afford it, for, thanks to skillful detective work, he had secured old Gong Schow's hidden treasure and his Chinese Princess.
