PART  2

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Harry Briscoe was greatly amused by the expressions on the faces of his two companions until he realized that he probably bore the same expression.  After several variations on the “Holy (whatever)” theme, the three of them looked at each other and smiled.

“This might not be so bad after all,” said Kid Curry.  Heyes agreed.

“There, you see, fellas,” Briscoe said.  “You can always trust old Harry Briscoe to come through for you!”

That comment wasn’t worth any more response than disappearing smiles.  ‘Harry Briscoe’ and ‘trust’ just didn’t belong in the same sentence.

“I wouldn’t put any money on that one, Harry,” said the Kid, “but you sure were right about this party guy being rich.  Look at the size of his house!”

“I think, Kid,” said Heyes, “when they start getting this big, they’re called mansions.  But, Harry, how exactly are we supposed to get over there?  That island the house – correction, mansion – is on is smack dab in the middle of Lake Seco.  It’s got to be at least a mile from the shore.  And I don’t exactly see a rowboat anywhere.”

“There you go not trusting me again, Heyes.  We’ll get there.”  Harry was smug and Heyes wasn’t convinced.  Harry removed a piece of paper from his inside pocket.  Reading glasses then appeared on his nose.  “All right, let’s see here.  This telegraph his man sent me says that the party guests will all be arriving today.  Says we should wait right here at the landing because his boat will be going back and forth all day to pick up guests.”

“What’s our genial host’s name?” queried Heyes.

“Hmmm?  Oh – Ellwood.  Thomas Ellwood.  New money, not old.  From somewhere in New England.  Decided to bring some of his money out west, I guess.  Bought himself Espiritu Island.  Right in the middle of Lake Seco.  Not a bad idea, I think.  Good security being surrounded by water.  Island is a mile from land, any direction.  Yup, not a bad idea at all, rich man like that.”

“Hey, look, Harry, there’s a boat that’s just leaving the island, headed our way.”  Kid Curry’s good eyes were correct – a medium-sized boat was slowly making its way through the water.

At the same time, another surrey, similar to the one that had delivered them to the landing a few minutes earlier, was pulling up.  A distinguished-looking couple disembarked, stepping gingerly onto the wooden platform.   They were elegantly dressed and the  woman carried a parasol.  The driver removed their suitcases from a compartment in the back and set them off to the side.  The gentlemen handed the driver some greenbacks and thanked him, and the driver left with the surrey.

“Were we supposed to tip our driver?” Briscoe whispered to Heyes.

“Doesn’t really matter anymore, does it?” Heyes whispered back. 

As the couple conversed, Briscoe said to his two confederates, “Here’s my chance to start my interrogations.  Watch the master!”  And he walked over to the couple and started chatting with them.

Heyes and Curry remained where they were.  “Heyes, did you see the diamond pin that woman is wearing?”

“The one on her coat, at her neck or on her hat?”

“That’s what I mean.  Those people are loaded!  And that brings up another interesting question.”

“If we find the stolen gems before Harry, do we take them ourselves and abscond.”

Heyes shook his head.  “We’re not jewel thieves, Kid.  Never have been. No, we’re here to do a job for Harry and that’s the only reason we’re here.”  He put his hand on his friend’s shoulder.  “It’ll be hard, I know, but you just keep thinking ‘amnesty.’  Not ‘prison.’  The only one going to prison here will be the jewel thief.  Besides, if some of the guests’ goodies disappear, you know we’ll get nailed for the diamond thing, too!”   Kid Curry sadly agreed.

It wasn’t long before the boat reached them.  The boatman, after perusing their invitations, assisted the passengers on board.  It was a large, roomy boat with comfortable seating and a roof overhead to protect the passengers from the sun or rain during the short trip to the island.  While riding, the passengers chatted.  Harry presented his “friends” as Mr. Joshua Smith and Mr. Thaddeus Jones.  The couple introduced themselves as Trevor and Trudy Teagarden. It seemed they were neighbors of Mr. Ellwood’s.  On shore, of course, for Mr. Ellwood lived alone on his island, except for servants.  The boatman gave them some information about the house, named Espiritu after the island.  Mr. Ellwood had it built to his specifications over the last couple years, and it included all the best amenities and latest inventions.  Mr. Ellwood had other houses in the US and Europe, for he traveled often, but he always  returned to this, his favorite home.  The boatman further explained that this was the first party being thrown in this house and that Mr. Ellwood had gone “all out” to make it a fun one!  He then hoped their weekend would be an enjoyable one and that they would find their rooms comfortable.

On the island, their wellbeing continued to be addressed, as a butler cordially met the company at the boat dock.  The butler led the way along the beautifully landscaped winding path up the small hill to the mansion.  The boatman loaded the luggage on a cart and veered off to the back of the house. 

The butler opened the double front door and stood aside for the Teagardens to enter.  As the Teagardens were crossing the large lobby to the next room where the sound of conversation made it obvious the other guests had gathered, the butler turned back to Briscoe, Heyes and Curry and said, “Please wait here.”  He then entered the home and closed the doors behind him.

“What the hell?” wondered Heyes, obviously miffed.

“Guess we’re not going to be in the diamond crowd after all,” said the Kid.  He was disappointed and actually a little depressed.

“Now, boys,” Briscoe tried to console them, “there’s got to be a logical reason for . . . “

A well-dressed man suddenly appeared from the side of the house and hurried up to them.  “Spirit Squelchers?” he asked them.

Briscoe and his moustache smiled.  “At your service!  Mr. Thomas Ellwood?”

“At your service as well, gentlemen.  Thank you for coming!”  He was a tall, good-looking man in his late 30s with light-colored hair and an amiable manner.  He was impeccably dressed and appeared to be the kind of man who would fit in anywhere.

Briscoe introduced himself and his two associates.  Ellwood heartily welcomed them to his island.  “I wanted the opportunity to speak with you before you joined everyone,” he said.  “I want to be perfectly clear how you will be presenting yourselves to the other guests.  And to let you know what your duties are.  There seems to be a nasty ghost living in my house, maybe even two . . .”  Briscoe nodded gravely and Heyes rolled his eyes.  “They’re bothersome and I am certainly hoping you can find him or them and rid my home of these unwanted spirits.  There is going to be a party here tomorrow night, Halloween night, the first one I’ve given, in fact, and the guest list includes some very prestigious names.  I want this party to be a success.  I have put a lot of effort into the planning of it and I do not want any uninvited spirits ruining things!  So do whatever you have to do to rid my home of these supernatural beings!  You have carte blanche, as far as I am concerned.  By the way, what will you be doing?”

When Briscoe took a deep breath and said, “Well . . . ,“ Mr. Ellwood continued.  “Oh, never mind, it doesn’t matter.  Just do whatever you have to do.  Now, what are the identities you are going to present to my guests?”

“We are gentlemen in the banking business!” 

Bankers?!  Where on earth did Briscoe come up with that?  Curry looked at Heyes and Heyes looked at the sky.

*    *    *

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Sleuth Harry Briscoe had been all set to watch everyone’s faces as he entered but being detained outside by the host delayed that plan.  Ellwood himself brought them into the solarium and introduced them as his bankers.  The last guests to arrive.

There were seven other guests in the room already, all clearly comfortable in overstuffed chairs, with a maid seeing to it that each guest was given a glass of sherry or other wine of their choosing. Appetizers were liberally sprinkled on tables throughout the room. 

One of the guests who had arrived earlier stepped forward to shake the hands of the new guests.  “How do you do, gentlemen?” he articulated.  “My name is Professor Aloysius Argot.  That lovely young lady sitting over there is my wife Anne-Marie.”  Although he was clearly in his late 30s, his wife was, thought Heyes, barely of drinking age yet.  “Hello, everyone,” Anne-Marie sing-songed, but looked only at Kid Curry as she spoke.

“Gentlemen,” another guest addressed the new arrivals as he shook their hands.  “I’m Phil – Phil Hanson.”  He was also in his late 30s and, like their host, had fine handsome features and a genial manner.  Also like their host, he had a slight British accent.  For a moment, Briscoe wondered if they might be brothers, but Hanson squelched that idea immediately.  “Call me Phil.  Tom and I are old friends.  Childhood, in fact.  I understand you gents are the last guests to arrive.”

“So we’ve been told,” Heyes said, shaking Hanson’s hand.

Another male party guest also stepped forward to shake the hands of the new arrivals.  “How do you do?” he said elegantly and with a Dutch accent.  “My name is Aldert Beekhof.  I would consider it an honor if you would address me by my given name, Aldert.”  He swept his hand to a chair on his left and further said, “The very lovely lady who occupies that chair is Miss Constance Cornwell.  Although, I’ve no doubt she needs no introduction.”

Heyes and the Kid looked at each other and shrugged slightly.

But Harry Briscoe apparently did indeed know who Miss Constance Cornwell was.  He bowed and scraped his way over to her and took her hand in his own, kissing it.  Miss Cornwell seemed to expect this reaction to any introduction.  She smiled lamely and indicated a chair near her for him to be seated.

“Oh, Miss Cornwell,” fawned Briscoe, to the amusement of Heyes and Curry, “this is indeed such an honor!  I was very lucky to be able to have seen you on the big stage on Broadway in ‘The Lady’s Jewels!’  You were magnificent!   I must say that performance is without a doubt the finest performance I have ever witnessed!  I am indeed a lucky man to make your acquaintance!”

“That was, of course, several years ago,” was her only reply, but the slight suggestion of a smile played on her over-rouged lips.

“It has always been my greatest desire . . . “ Briscoe continued, but happily the crowd was spared the knowledge of Harry Briscoe’s greatest desire by Heyes’s interruption.

“Mr. Briscoe, Mr. Jones and myself are certainly looking forward to this party!  Mr. Ellwood, it was considerate of you to invite us.  And, may I say, your home is quite impressive.”

“Yeah, it’s whopping!” said the Kid, who said no more because Heyes kicked him.

“My friend means your home’s beauty is unstoppable,” Heyes corrected, with a quick scowl to his partner.

“Uh, yeah, that’s what I was going to say,” the Kid unconvincingly said, and managed to kick Heyes as well.

Young Mrs. Anne-Marie Argot smiled at him.  “You’re just so right, Mr. Jones.  It’s top-notch!”

“Tom,” Mr. Teagarden addressed the host, “thank you for inviting us.  Trudy and I have admired the view your home provides from our own home across the lake.”

“But I must say, Tom,” his wife continued.  “We never realized the opulent style with which you have furnished the interior.  It’s really quite beautiful!  I heartily approve.”

“As do I,” actress Constance Cornwell inserted.  “I am quite comfortable here.”

“And – knowing Tom – this promises to be an exciting weekend!” said Phil Hanson.  He slapped the host on the back.  “Thanks for inviting me, old friend.”

Ellwood laughed.  “You’re always the life of the party, Phil!  But, everyone – your compliments are appreciated but unnecessary.  I built this house for comfort and comfort should be shared, right?  Shared via a party!  And I have other fun events planned for this weekend prior to the party as well.  I’m going to go check on our lunch but before I do, I’d like to explain how I know you all.  Now my neighbors all know each other, the Teagardens who live on the shore, and Professor and Anne-Marie Argot . . .” (Heyes noticed that Ellwood smiled at Mrs. Argot as he called her name.)  “ . . . who live a few minutes down the road.  Phil, you’ve probably gathered, is a lifelong friend.  We grew up together in Britain and traveled to the States as very young men, almost at the same time.  Phil and his wife and children live about 200 miles away;  his wife Christie decided to pass on my invitation because of the travelling and is staying home with the children . . .”

“She’s going to miss a good time!” Phil laughed.

Ellwood nodded in agreement.  “And this is the first time Phil’s been to my new home as well.  Mr. Beekhof . . .”  (He nodded in the direction of Aldert Beekhof.)  “Aldert is also a friend of mine, although I have not known him more than a few years.  We met on the ship as I returned from one of my trips to Europe.  Aldert and his wife were moving to the United States from Amsterdam at the time.  Poor Lotte was quite ill and was hoping for improvement with American doctors.”  Ellwood’s voice tone had changed to one of sympathy.

Beekhof continued the story for him.  “But it was not to be.  No money was spared for the improvement of her health and for her comfort, but she finally succumbed.  I have been a widower for a year now.”

“I’m very sorry,” said Constance Cornwell, convincingly sympathetic.  But, thought Briscoe, as an actress she could just be putting on an act.

In an effort to change the general tone, Ellwood slapped him on the back.  “I promise you a good time this weekend, Aldert!”

“Ja, ja!” Beekhof replied.

Ellwood walked over to Miss Cornwell and gallantly kissed her hand.  “And I’m sure this lovely lady needs no introduction.  Miss Cornwell is a stage actress who magnanimously has accepted my invitation to vacation in the West.  She has graced this home with her presence for a few days already, but will be leaving on Sunday with the rest of you.  Where are you off to next, Connie?”

“San Francisco,” she smiled, obviously grateful for the attentions of the host.  “I shall spend some time there and attend a play or two myself.  This time as a spectator, not a participant,” she added grandly in a stage voice.  Everyone laughed except Heyes.

“And finally, my bankers,” Ellwood said, stepping over to Heyes, Curry and Briscoe.  “Good men, all three of them.  Helping to preserve the family fortune!”

Teagarden nodded in grave understanding.  “So you are the financial engineers of our genial host.  How long have you been associated with Mr. Ellwood?”

Heyes said, ”Not long” and Briscoe said “A long time” simultaneously.  When the guests looked confused, Heyes quickly covered with, “That depends on your definition of ‘long,’ I suppose.  We’ve been with Mr. Ellwood a while.”  He snuck a peek over to Briscoe, who was studying his cigar.

“That’s right,” Ellwood said, slapping Heyes on the back.  Ellwood was clearly a back-slapper.  “Now I’m moving on to the kitchen to let them know it’s time to serve lunch.”  He turned and headed for a doorway.  Just before leaving, he added, “Thank you all for coming.  You have no idea how much I appreciate it!”  And he disappeared into the kitchen.  Heyes thought he saw a whitish shadow accompanying Ellwood, but when he blinked, it was gone.