"But there ain't no denying that I'm in a fix," said Burgh, as the train drew near Marport. "That is, if you split Ainsleigh."
"No, I won't split on you. But if Forge is guilty he must be arrested," said Rupert decisively.
"But I don't know if he strangled the old girl after all."
"Well I wanted to know the secret of that fan."
Rupert shrugged his shoulders. "You know that the fan when waved in a certain smoke--of which by the way you learned nothing--reveals a hiding place which contains certain things Tung-yu wants--"
"To ruin Lo-Keong," said Burgh quickly. "So I guess if I can pick up that fan from old Forge, I'll yank in the dollars."
"Aren't you satisfied with what you have."
"This thousand. Oh that's all right. I cashed the cheque before I joined you at the station--got it in gold so I can clear out when it suits me. It's always as well to be ready to git."
"I suppose," said Ainsleigh dryly, "in your varied career, you have had frequent occasions to 'git' as you call it."
"You bet. But git's slang American and good Turkish lingo, so you've no need to sneer old man. 'Say, about Forge. What's to be done?"
"I'll communicate with Rodgers and tell him what you say. If the doctor is guilty he must suffer."
"My eye," said Clarence reflectively, "won't aunty be mad. Well I guess this will square us: she won't play low down on me again."
"I am, that's a fact," said the buccaneer in no wise disturbed. "But don't you say that in public or the fur'll fly."
"Pooh. You know I'm equal to you. But this story--"
"The one I told Tung-yu last night," grinned Burgh, "I'll reel it out now, and you can sort it out as you choose. I believe Forge to be the scragger of the old girl, because he had that tie of yours."
"I gave it to him," confessed Clarence candidly.
"Yes--I remember you said so last night. But I forget how you explained the getting of it."
"Huh," drawled Burgh folding his arms. "You might call it stealing old pard. Y'see Miss Pewsey--my old aunty that is--saw Olivia--"
"Right oh," continued Burgh imperturbably. "Well, aunty saw Mrs. Ainsleigh pass the tie to you, and when you went to the cloak-room she told me. I was real mad not knowing how things were, as I wanted that tie for myself. I'd no notion of your getting things made by the young lady I was sweet on."