Chapter XVI: Conclusion

If there was ever a happy man, Townsend was the one. So far from grieving him, the loss of the diamonds appeared to have done him a world of good.

"Py shinks," cried Carl, "dot vas der piggest surbrise vat efer anypody heardt aboudt! Der Man from Cape Town vas a t'ief, schust like Jurgens, und ve haf peen fighding, und vorrying, und making some fools oof ourselufs over a lod of shtolen tiamonts. Und now, ven ve lose our air ship in gedding dem pack, in valks a English feller und takes der tiamonts avay. He geds eferyt'ing und ve ged nodding--but bromises."

"Promises are pretty good things, sometimes," said Townsend, "when they are made by the right sort of fellow. But you and your friends will not be anything out, Motor Matt. This Shirley means to do what is right, and you will be well repaid for the loss of the _Hawk_ and for your time and trouble."

"The loss of the _Hawk_ is the worst of it," mourned Dick. "That strikes me harder than anything else."

"She was a wonderful air ship," said Townsend, "and I don't blame you for feeling cut up over her loss. But Motor Matt can build another."

"I think I will leave the air-ship business for a while," said Matt, "and get into something else. I suppose," he went on, shifting the subject, "that the English detective will see that Jurgens gets the full extent of the law?"

"There's no doubt," averred Townsend, "but that Jurgens will pay dearly for his last attempt to get away with those fated diamonds."

"And if Whistler and Bangs are captured, they'll share the same fate. Officers are looking for them now."

"I don't think the officers will catch them, Matt," said Townsend.

"The trail is hot and Whistler and Bangs will have to travel on foot."

"Even at that, Whistler knows that part of the country too well. Jurgens, I am sure, is the only member of the gang who will ever be brought to book. But I am satisfied. He is the most culpable, and Whistler and Bangs were only tools."

"What do you think about the way I let Dashington go, Mr. Townsend?" asked Matt, anxiously.

"Whatever you do, my lad, is all right so far as I am concerned. On the face of it, it would look as though you had done wrong; but you were placed in a position where you could learn what Dashington really was. If, armed with that knowledge, you thought it right to set him free, I don't see why any one should find fault with your judgment."

Matt was glad to have this approval. He felt in his own heart he had done right, but he wanted to know how others felt about it.

"You'd better take a little rest now, cap'n," said Cassidy. "You've been under a good deal of a strain to-night, and the doctor said you----"

"The strain, as you call it, Cassidy," interrupted Townsend, with a laugh, "has done me good. Don't go, Matt," he added, seeing that Matt and his friends were reaching for their hats, "I'm not quite through with you yet."

"I'll drop in and see you to-morrow," said Matt. "I guess you've talked enough for to-night."

"I'm so pleased over getting rid of those diamonds that I feel as though I could talk all night. You say that you think, now that the _Hawk_ has been destroyed, you'll get into some other line of business."

"Yes; something connected with gasoline motors, of course. I couldn't break away from the motors, you know."

"Why not go in for submarines?"

"I had thought of that, but couldn't see any place where there was an opening."

Dick and Carl looked disturbed.

"I can offer you an opening."

"Iss dere some obenings for more as one, Misder Downsent?" inquired Carl.

"I'm a little bit interested in that point myself," added Dick. "I don't like to see this combination of King, Ferral & Pretzel broken up."

"It needn't be broken up," said Townsend, "for I am sure I can take care of all three of you."

"Just what kind of an opening is it, Mr. Townsend?" asked Matt.

"I will tell you about that later. You remember, I think, that I asked you to come to New Orleans to help me in some work that had nothing to do with the iron chest or the treasure of the Man from Cape Town?"

"I remember that, yes, sir," said Matt.

"We haven't got down to that business yet, and, as I told Carl, some time ago, it's thrilling, exciting and a bit dangerous."

"Und, as I toldt you, Misder Downsent," put in Carl, "dot's der fery t'ing vat ve like. Life vouldt be some treary blaces mitoudt oxcidement to lifen t'ings oop."

"Before we had a chance to get at this other work of mine," continued Townsend, "something connected with that iron chest would bob up and the other business had to be sidetracked. Now, however, I think we can get at it without anything to interfere. But the matter will have to hold over until I am better than I am now. Perhaps it will be a week before I will be able to discuss the affair with you. Meanwhile, may I ask you to remain in New Orleans, at my expense, for that length of time?"

"Certainly, Mr. Townsend, if it will oblige you we will stay here for a week," answered Matt.

"I'm obliged to you--to all of you. Now, I know, you're fagged out and in need of rest, so I won't keep you any longer. I suppose you will take that automobile to the police department and leave it with them to be turned over to the firm to whom it belongs?"

"We'll do that," said Matt, "before we go to our hotel."

"It would be wise, I think, to get it off your mind as soon as possible. And I have your promise to stay in town for a week?"

"Yes."

"Then I know you'll stay, for"--and here Townsend gave a confident smile--"I know that Motor Matt's word is as good as his bond."

He shook hands with the motor boys, and they went out of the house, got into the automobile and headed the machine back toward town.

THE END.

THE NEXT NUMBER (15) WILL CONTAIN

MOTOR MATT'S SUBMARINE;

OR,

The Strange Cruise of the _Grampus_.

A Startling Report--Mixed Messages--Hurry-up Orders--Accident or
Design--Sixty Shows His Hand--An Unexpected Rescue--A Fruitless
Search--The Overturned Boat--Adrift in the Storm--The Derelict--The
Schooner--A Stunning Surprise--Closing In--The "Grampus" Gets a
Clue--An Ultimatum--"Off with the Old, and On with the New."

MOTOR STORIES

THRILLING ADVENTURE MOTOR FICTION

NEW YORK, May 29, 1909.

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THE MASKED LIGHT.