The Night of the Absentee Agent

Chapter 7

End for The Magpie

Artie was lying on his bunk, in the shared cabin, thinking about the voyage so far. During their days aboard ship, Artie had come to know more about Marshall North and he liked what he saw. He had an easy smile, which was seldom absent from his face, and went hand in hand with his optimistic outlook. It was hard to believe that he was a successful jewel thief, shrewd enough to carry out the most meticulous planning. Nevertheless, Artie was sorry he'd had to hurt him. From what Marsh had been telling him, it couldn't have been easy growing up with a brother like Morgan. He didn't understand how he and his twin bother could be so different. That led him to dwell on the missed opportunity of growing up with his own twin, Adolphus, beside him. He supposed he'd have to stop calling him that as it was obvious he thought of himself as Sam Treadwell and that was how his friends knew him. The name suited him better anyway, more friendly sounding. Marsh had told him a lot about Sam and he knew for certain now that he had been telling the truth, back in Washington, when he'd claimed he wouldn't have shot Artie. He wished he could do something to help the pair of them without jeopardising his career or even his own freedom.

At that moment Marsh entered the cabin.

"Artie, you have to come up on deck," he said, excitedly, "the most amazing thing has happened. I've met an English guy who may be able to help me. He wants to meet you."

Artie stood up and stretched. "Alright, alright," he said. "It's not as if he's going anywhere, unless he intends to jump overboard."

Marsh laughed and grabbed Artie's arm. "Don't worry, I'll help you, old man," he said, dragging him down the hallway.

Up on deck, Marsh steered Artie toward a man dressed in casual but obviously, expensively-cut, white flannels and blazer. A straw boater and white deck shoes completed his outfit. He was more Artie's age than Marsh's and had been smoking, but threw the stub of the cigar over the side as they approached.

Marsh walked up to him. "This is my friend, Artemus Gordon," he said. "Artie, I'd like to introduce you to Mr Mayberry."

"Pleased to meet you," Artie said, taking his hand.

"The pleasure is all mine," Mayberry returned.

"I've been telling Mr Mayberry how we came to be on board the ship," Marsh said, giving Artie a look that told him he had left out the bit about him being The Magpie.

"Is that so," Artie said, giving Marsh a look that said he was not about to let him finagle the Englishman, if that was his aim.

"Mister North tells me you're an agent of your country's secret service," Mayberry said.

"I'm proud to have that honour," Artie said. "Marsh says you might have some way of helping him but he didn't tell me what that is."

"Allow me to elaborate," Mayberry said. "By the way, could I buy you two gentlemen a drink?"

"I'm afraid we're not allowed into any of the passenger refreshment rooms, due to our attire," Artie explained. "We usually eat with the crew."

"We'll have to do something about that," Mr Mayberry said. "You two are the most interesting men I've ever encountered on my travels. I'm not letting you get away. Follow me, please."

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Fifteen minutes later Marsh and Artie were dressed in attire more fitting for passengers than crew, their clothing similar to what Mr Mayberry was wearing.

"It's very good of you to lend us this clothing," Marsh said.

"Think nothing of it. I always bring a surplus of luggage on these journeys of mine. You never know when you're going to be delayed somewhere. Now let's go and find that drink."

So saying, he led them from his cabin, four or five times the size of theirs, Artie noted, and along to one of the restaurants.

"Will you join me for lunch?" Mayberry asked. "We can have a drink with our meal."

Artie and Marsh looked at each other. They'd had their fill of crew rations but the only money they had was what had been in their pockets when they went out that night to confront Morgan North and it wasn't much.

"Well..," Artie began.

"As my guests of course," Mayberry said.

"Well what are we waiting for?" Marsh asked, taking each man by the arm and walking them into the restaurant. Artie and Mayberry exchanged a glance behind Marsh's back, shrugged, and allowed themselves to be dragged to a table where a waiter approached to hand them each a menu and take their drinks order.

While they waited for their food to be served, Mr Mayberry turned to Artie. "I'd better explain who I am and what interest I have in your companion," he said. "I own land in Berkshire and amuse myself by breeding race horses. Mind you, I take the matter seriously and make a good showing at the flat race courses in the south of England, at Epsom and Salisbury mostly. It seems Mr North here comes from a horse-breeding background in New York and wants to set up in England. Until he can transfer enough funds from America, I've offered him a job. I'm a little short-handed at the moment; Carter, who manages the stud for me, had a bad tumble from a horse and will be laid up for at least three months. Mr North has indicated that he'd also be interested in learning something of the training we undertake."

"It sounds like a marvellous opportunity," Artie said. "But we don't know yet when we will be required back in the United States."

"Oh, have I misunderstood the situation? I was under the impression Mr North was a civilian."

"Yes," Artie said, "he was just assisting me. But, all the same, he may be needed to give evidence," he contemporised.

"Won't your account of the incident be sufficient?" Mayberry asked.

"Come on, Artie," Marsh butted in, "if I'm needed, you'll know where to find me," he said.

"Mister Gordon?" Mayberry queried, when Artie didn't reply straight away.

"Alright," Artie said. What business of his was it anyway? He ought to make sure that North returned to America with him but, as he'd said before, he didn't have jurisdiction on the ship or in England so he couldn't reasonably be expected to act.

At that moment lunch arrived and the three men set to with an appetite that had been enhanced by their exposure to the sea air.

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"Well, what do you make of Mr Mayberry?" Marsh asked later, as they were preparing for bed.

"I think you'll get a good deal out of working for him," Artie replied. "Were you telling the truth about wanting to breed horses?"

"Of course, I used to work with my father when I was young. Then my mother died and Morgan and I were sent to live with relatives in Wisconsin. Morgan left as soon as he could, thank goodness. He used to cause real trouble for my Aunt and Uncle. They were really patient, peaceable folk but my poor uncle was forced to tan his backside for him, many times, even though it went against his better judgement. Violence seemed to be the only thing Morgan understood. My Father put it down to an accident he had when we were three years old. Morgan fell off a wall and cracked the front of his head open. The scar faded but his behaviour was never the same afterwards."

"My father was a doctor and I've seen a case where that happened before," Artie said. "It's like their whole personality changes overnight. So you're planning to have funds sent over here from the States?"

"Clara will take care of it, as soon as I get word to her where I am. That'll take several weeks, though, that's why I need the job with Mr Mayberry. I think he likes you, Artie."

"Well, I won't deny it. I hate to go against popular opinion."

Marsh laughed. You know, when you say things like that you remind me of Sam. How do you think he's doing?"

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Samuel Treadwell was still confined to the room where Artie had met him over a week ago and he was anxious to be gone. This became even more urgent after he received a visit from Colonel Richmond.

"Well, Treadwell, I see no reason why you shouldn't be kept abreast of where your twin brother is and how he's faring," the Colonel said, having seated himself a safe distance from his prisoner.

"Just tell me if Artie and Mar...Magpie are still alive, that's all I care about. It was a damn fool thing to do, sending Artie to get those plates back. Don't you realise how dangerous it was?"

So, thought Richmond, Jim's not the only one watching out for Gordon. But he wasn't all that surprised, he'd had a word with Treadwell before and he could tell he was no hardened criminal and his personality was so like Artie's it was amazing.

"Artemus is one of my best agents so you needn't worry about him on that score," Richmond replied. "As a matter of fact, he has wrapped up the counterfeiting business very well. And we have arrested your friend, the Magpie."

"No!" Sam groaned.

"Yes, a gentleman by the name of Morgan North. I believe that's the name by which you know him. He fits the description perfectly and we caught him with the plates on him."

Sam tried to hide the relief he felt. He had no sympathy for Morgan and it was his fault anyway, for pretending to be The Magpie. "What about Artie?"

"It seems North had him knocked unconscious and stowed aboard a steam ship, heading for England. Of course, this North fellow denies being the Magpie, says he's his identical twin. I suppose he got that idea from Gordon, once he realised he wasn't really you. Well, we've sent a message by ship to our embassy in London, asking them to look into the matter. Gordon will probably go straight there as soon as he lands anyway. The letter should arrive a day or two after him."

"Thank you for telling me this, Colonel Richmond, even though it is bad news about The Magpie," Treadwell said.

"Well, I thought you ought to know," Richmond said, and left the room.

Sam thought about what he'd heard. There'd been no mention of Marsh so it looked like he was still alive, Sam fervently hoped so. If he was, could it be possible he'd been put on the ship with Artie? If so, he would be in England in a matter of weeks. Sam knew he had to contact Kate and Clara. The latter would know about the money side of things. It was up to him to arrange for passage to England and smuggle the three of them out of New York. Now he just had to work out how he was going to do it.

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