"See Julie Hayes—she's safe. Have her keep sharp eye out and phone me here anything she sees or learns about the scoundrel. Then you go to his hut on the outer drive—pick up a ranger at Patchogue and have him stay there day and night. Have him supplied with provisions—Julie will help him, without exposing our hand. Tell her I'll pay all bills—have them sent to me, here."
"You must feel pretty certain that he will turn up at the hut—sooner or later?" said Carver enquiringly.
"I do—and I think he is more likely to go there by water," answered Updyke, with a ring of conviction in his voice.
"Why would he come here at all?"
"Because he has a lot of gold to conceal that he can't deposit without answering questions."
"Why?"
"It's Canadian coinage mostly, and would come under suspicion."
"Give me a reason for that," said Carver. "I'm not very well posted in such matters."
"He was sent to Quebec with the pay roll of a lumber company, up in the timber country, where I had sent him for keeps. The shyster played square and seemed so honest that they intrusted him with a check on a bank in Quebec. He kept on going, changing into American money as fast as he could without arousing suspicion. He has a lot of gold left and I think he has it cached near the hut. But he may not go near it for some time. He now wears whiskers and mustache, raven black—I'd say from description, but he is easily recognized. Jacques says Villard knew him the moment he saw him. Better write out a 'John Doe' and have it ready. I don't want his real name to come out—yet," said Updyke, yawning loud enough to be heard at Riverhead.
"All right, Henry, I'll be on my way. I'll let you know my whereabouts from time to time. Better turn in for a three hours' nap while I'm getting to destination."