Canadian fiction -- 20th century; Detective and mystery stories
Don had flung himself on the other man, and they were struggling
furiously and silently in the sand. Don kept on top. When Pen's eyes
were able to distinguish between them, she saw that Don was planted on
the other man's chest, holding one of his arms down with one hand, and
pressing his other hand over the man's mouth. With his free hand the
man struck ineffectually up at Don's body, or tried in vain to pull
away the hand that covered his mouth. His legs were thrashing wildly.
"Something to gag him with," panted Don.
Pen tore off her sun-bonnet and rolling it up with the strings out
handed it over. She sat on the man's right arm, when Don was obliged
to release it. Somehow Don managed to force the twisted roll of cotton
between his teeth, and with Pen's aid, passed the strings under his
head and tied the gag with the knots in front. Sepulchral groans
issued from beneath it.
"Something to tie his hands and feet!" whispered Don.
Pen, anticipating it, already had her apron off. She managed to tear
off the band, which with the strings attached, made a useful lashing.
Between the two of them they got the struggling man turned over, and
finally got his wrists tied behind him. With the rest of the apron
they bound his ankles together. Don rolled his coat around the man's
head to stifle his groans, and they stood up and looked anxiously up
and down the beach. They were about half way between the lighthouse
and the tents. Nothing stirred in either direction.
Don looked down at the helpless figure. "Who do you suppose it is?" he
asked.
"Keesing, one of the detectives," said Pen. "I recognized his voice.
He must have followed me down here ... But I don't see how he could."
Don shook his head. "More likely Pardoe--the man you ran into here,
told him something and he came snooping around just on a chance. I
gave myself away with my own talk."
They were silent for a moment. Both were thinking of the same thing.
Don said: "Well ... I guess the die is cast for us now."
Pen clasped her hands. "Oh, Don!"
"You've got to march me out on board the yacht quick and give me up."
"Oh, Don!"
"This fellow will soon wriggle loose. Then the fat will be in the
fire. You must see there's no other way."
She nodded despairingly.
"Come on," said Don. "... I guess Riever won't mind being roused up
for such a purpose," he added grimly. "Bring the fellow's gun with
you."
They set off down the beach.
"This man will tell Riever that I didn't intend to bring you in," said
Pen.
"We'll have to cook up some yarn ... Tell Riever you were bringing me
in when this fellow Keesing tried to horn in on the reward."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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