Mystery Of The Sea Horse (4 page)

"I still think you two ought—"

"You were going to tell me where she is," the Phantom reminded him.

"Well, yes. She's still out on that darn island, I guess."

"Island?"

"One of the Channel Islands," explained the old

man. "A private one called San Obito, owned by a fellow name of Danton."

"That wouldn't be Chris Danton, would it?".

"Sure would. You know him?"

Shaking his head, the Phantom said, "No, I only heard his name in another connection recently, up in San Francisco."

"Well, he seems to be a nice-enough guy. I've gotten to know him since I've been staying here in Santa Barbara," said Uncle Dave. "Anyway, he asked Diana and some other people over to his place for the weekend. And she went."

The Phantom asked, "But she was supposed to be back before now, is that it?"

"More or less." Dave Palmer put his hands in the pockets of his plaid pants. "See, I got a call this afternoon. Not from Diana but from some girl who said she'd been out on the island with her. This girl said Diana would be staying on another day or so."

"Why didn't Diana call you herself?"

"According to this girl, Danton's having trouble with the phone system that links him with the mainland," replied Uncle Dave. "So Diana asked her to call me when she got back home." He sat for a moment on the edge of a black-leather sofa, then rose to pace again. "I don't know, I just had a feeling something wasn't quite right. During my years in the police department, I got the habit of listening to hunches. So I decided to phone Diana myself."

"What happened?"

"Nothing. Danton's number rang and rang," said the old man. "I checked with the phone com- j pany and they say they've got no report of trouble J on his lines. Of course, I imagine he's got some l kind of complicated private setup and perhaps—"

"San Obito Island, you said?" The Phantom

stood.

Right." Uncle Dave gave him the exact locationof Chris Danton's island. "Maybe there's nothing wrong. After all, Di's grown up and if she

wants to—"

The Phantom put his hand onto the old man's shoulder. "It won't hurt to pay attention to your hunch." He moved into the hall.

What do you figure on doing?" Uncle Dave called after him.

The front door opened and closed and the Phantom was gone.

CHAPTER FIVE

The day before, everyone had still been there on the island.

At sunset, the mist returned, dropping down in great puffs out of the gradually darkening sky.

Laura, the red-haired girl, hugged herself and gave an exaggerated shudder. "What would you say to a motion to go inside?"

They had been sitting around a vast flagstone patio at the rear of the house, drinking cocktails and talking. All except Danton himself, who'd been absent since after the tennis session.

The wife of the thin man—their name was Baylor—said, "How about you, Miss Palmer? We long-time California sufferers are used to these bleak night fogs."

Diana smiled. "I can see goose bumps popping out all over poor Laura," she said, rising from her canvas chair. "Let's go in."

"Fog always makes me feel very odd." Laura started for the French windows. "Like I'm stuck under a wharf, or down in a submarine."

"You have a very vivid way of describing things," Mr. Baylor said to her. "Are you in some creative field?"

"No." The red-haired girl opened the glass doo and stepped into the large drawing room.

"Oh, what sort of—?" Baylor followed her into the mansion.

Diana bent to retrieve her empty glass from the stones.

My husband is very interested in creative people." Mrs. Baylor said. "Especially cute little redhaired ones."

The close-cropped blond young man trotted around them to hold the French window open. Allow me, ladies." His name was Chuck Piper.

A tall silent man in a dark suit was standing in

the drawing room, his back to the empty fireplace, a tray of fresh drinks in his hands. "I took the libert
y
of preparing another round."

"Very endearing of you, Bascom," said Laura as she took one more of the same.

"Thank you, miss."

When everyone was seated and served, Bascom quietly left them.

Diana sat with her glass resting in both hands, a few feet away from the others. She was still thinking about what she'd seen and heard beyond the library wall.

"Not enjoying my island?"

The dark-haired girl looked up to her left to see Chris Danton standing there. She hadn't been aware he'd entered the room. "No, I am," she said. It
's
not a bad island at all."

"I've seen better," said Danton with a grin, but I had to travel round the world a few times to find them. Can I offer you a cigarette?" He sat In a comfortable chair next to her.

"No, thanks, I don't-"

"That's right. You don't smoke," said Danton. I feel I know you so well by now, Diana, I should Know that." He pulled his cigarette case out of the side pocket of his tweed sport coat.

Something came out with it, went fluttering to the floor. It was a long one-column newspaper clipping. It landed beside Diana's foot. She picked it up.

"You might be interested in that." Danton tapped a cigarette on his closed case.

The headline read
Some Quaint Customs of Bangalla.

"Oh, yes," Diana said. It must be one of the clippings which had fallen out of the book she'd dropped in the concealed passway.

"Or have you seen it already?"

She glanced at the clipping in her hand. "No, I don't believe so."

"I found it," said Danton, pausing to light his cigarette, "on the hall floor near the library. Meant to return it to its place and forgot. I keep a collection of clippings about Bangalla in one of my travel books." He smiled and inhaled smoke. "I thought perhaps you'd been in the library and taken a look at the book, since you're the only other Bangalla buff I know. At least the only one presently on my island."

Placing the clipping carefully on the arm of her chair, Diana said, "I haven't had a chance to explore your library yet, Chris."

"Well, I'll have to acquaint you with it," he said. "Many people mistake me for the simple outdoor] type, but I'm really quite scholarly." He laughed.

"I'm sure you are."

Danton leaned closer. "There are a great many other things I'd like to show you on my little island, Diana," he said. "Perhaps you could stay on a few more days."

The girl made herself hesitate. She didn't know what exactly was going on here on San Obito, or what kind of game Danton was playing with her now. But she knew she wanted to get away—away and back to Santa Barbara as soon as she could,

"Thanks very much, Chris," she said finally "But I really can't. After all, I'm out here to spend some lime with Uncle Dave, and I should really

Say no more." Smiling, Danton left his chair. but at least sleep on the idea and see how it sounds to you in the morning." He crossed to the blond Chuck Piper, said something quietly to him, and left the room.

Diana awoke the next morning to find her room filled with glaring sunlight. She sat up in the four poster bed, frowning. She felt as though she were arising after an illness. Her arms were stiff and she had a fading headache. "I shouldn't feel this way after one and a half cocktails yesterday afternoon."

The room was very warm, and awfully bright for this time of morning.

But what time was it? The girl picked up her wristwatch from the bedside table. It was nearly noon. Diana held the ticking watch against her cheek. "I never sleep this late," she murmured.

She dressed quickly. As she did, she noticed the house seemed completely quiet. There was little sound from outside either, save the rasping cries of distant gulls.

That cup of coffee Bascom brought me while

Chris and I were talking in the library last night, she thought while tugging on her left shoe. Yes, here was a funny taste to it. But why would they try to . . .

She ran to the door, turned the knob hard. It pened easily. Diana had had the sudden fear that lie was locked in. The thickly carpeted hall was empty. Motes of lining dust drifted down through the sunlight. There was no sign of anyone having eaten breakfast in the dining room.

"Maybe the servants have some idea of what's going on," Diana said. She pushed through the swinging door.

The huge white kitchen was empty. There were no dishes in the double sink. Everything was spotless and in its place.

"Hello," the girl said aloud.

She couldn't find anyone outside, either.

The patio was bare, all the canvas chairs folded' and leaning against the stone wall of the house. !

There was no sign of life at the tennis court.i

"Maybe I can find someone down at the dock to take me away from here," Diana told herself. But! she had little hope.

When she reached the edge of the cliff, she] found both of the motorlaunches were gone.

Well, she thought, it looks as though somebody! wants me to stay on San Obito for a while.

She watched the sea for a few moments, now. feeling very cold. There still may be a chance to; get a call through to Uncle Dave.

Diana hurried back toward the gray stone house

Danton was standing in the front doorway watching her approach.

She stopped a few feet from him. "Everyone seems to be gone."

"Except for you and me," said Danton. He laughed.

CHAPTER SIX

Danton was sitting far across the room from her. In an ornate high-back chair, his knees crossed, a cigarette between his fingers. "Why won't you accept my explanation, Diana?" he asked her.

Thee sunlight coming through the high windows behind him was so bright she couldn't see his face. From the low couch where she'd been sitting since they came into the house ten minutes before, the girl replied, "It's very flattering, Chris, but somehow I. .

"You don't believe me." His handsome head seemed to be glowing.

Diana looked away, turning her eyes from the fire of the afternoon sun. "Not really, no."

Danton gave a mock sigh. "People all over the globe accept me as a devil-may-care impetuous fel
low,"
he said. "But not Diana Palmer."