“He’d ’ave been recognized, and there’d ’ave been nothing doing. I followed this man from New York. Watson couldn’t ’ave done that. By the way, he told me to tell you his name isn’t Watson. It’s just plain John Smith.”
“Our story’s finished,” said Guy quickly, turning to his brother.
“What story?” the latter inquired blankly.
“What story, you simp! Why, your story and mine. You’re the chief hero, and I’m the second. Think of it! Trip to Europe, mysterious man on the train, Pickett—his confederate in London, Smithers—their agent on the steamer, Gunseyt—the detective—the wreck—the iceberg—radio—rescue—and now, the arrest of the leading villain. I’d been wondering if it ’u’d ever be our luck to have this adventure finished so we could be real heroes of a novel.”
“If it’s ever written,” returned Walter dubiously. “And it isn’t quite finished, too. There are Smithers and Pickett to be arrested. Suppose they’re never caught.”
“That doesn’t make a particle of difference,” declared Guy. “The jewels have been found in the cleverest hiding place—tied to the bobstay—and the most interesting villain is arrested. How do you like that for a compliment, Mr. Gunseyt, ‘most interesting villain’?”
But the smuggler was not in appreciative mood. He only snarled.
The secret service man introduced himself as Mr. Hunt. Then he made note of the names of the boys, informed them that they would hear from the department of justice later, and left with the package of smuggled treasure in one hand and leading his handcuffed prisoner with the other.
Guy spoke truly when he remarked that his and Walter’s story was finished. There were indeed a few odds and ends of the tangles of mysteries to be cleared up, but all this required time and did not come with the rapidity of succeeding melodramatic chapters. Gunseyt was convicted and sent to a federal prison after several months’ delay. From some mysterious source he obtained all the money he needed to pay the expenses of his defense, but Walter and Guy were not much puzzled over the mystery. Stanley Pickett also was arrested, but was discharged because of a lack of evidence to convict. However, almost as these words are being written, there comes announcement that he has been taken into custody on another similar charge.