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diff --git a/30636-h/30636-h.htm b/30636-h/30636-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1a121ad --- /dev/null +++ b/30636-h/30636-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7079 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Somnambulist And The Detective; The Murderer And The Fortune Teller, by Allan Pinkerton. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + hr.smler { width: 10%; } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + text-indent: 0px; + } /* page numbers */ + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .right {text-align: right;} + .tbrk {margin-bottom: 2em;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem div {display: block; margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + + /* index */ + + div.index ul li { padding-top: 1em ;text-align: left; } + + div.index ul ul ul, div.index ul li ul li { padding: 0; text-align: left; } + + div.index ul { list-style: none; margin: 0; } + + div.index ul, div.index ul ul ul li { display: inline; } + + .mynote { background-color: #DDE; color: black; padding: .5em; margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; } /* colored box for notes at beginning of file */ + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Somnambulist and the Detective, by Allan Pinkerton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Somnambulist and the Detective + The Murderer and the Fortune Teller + +Author: Allan Pinkerton + +Release Date: December 9, 2009 [EBook #30636] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SOMNAMBULIST AND THE DETECTIVE *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Martin Pettit and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class = "mynote"><p class="center">Transcriber's Note:<br /><br /> +A Table of Contents has been added.</p></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> + +<blockquote><h2>ALLAN PINKERTON'S</h2> + +<h1>GREAT DETECTIVE STORIES.</h1> + +<hr class="smler" /> + +<p>1.—THE MOLLIE MAGUIRES AND DETECTIVES.<br /> +<br /> +2.—STRIKERS, COMMUNISTS, AND DETECTIVES.<br /> +<br /> +3.—CRIMINAL REMINISCENCES AND DETECTIVES.<br /> +<br /> +4.—THE MODEL TOWN AND DETECTIVES.<br /> +<br /> +5.—THE SPIRITUALISTS AND DETECTIVES.<br /> +<br /> +6.—THE EXPRESSMEN AND DETECTIVES.<br /> +<br /> +7.—THE SOMNAMBULIST AND DETECTIVES.<br /> +<br /> +8.—CLAUDE MELNOTTE AS A DETECTIVE.<br /> +<br /> +9.—THE MISSISSIPPI OUTLAWS AND DETECTIVES.<br /> +<br /> +10.—GYPSIES AND DETECTIVES.<br /> +<br /> +11.—BUCHOLZ AND DETECTIVES.<br /> +<br /> +12.—THE RAILROAD FORGER AND DETECTIVES.<br /> +<br /> +13.—BANK ROBBERS AND DETECTIVES.<br /> +<br /> +14.—THE BURGLAR'S FATE AND DETECTIVES.<br /> +<br /> +15.—A DOUBLE LIFE AND DETECTIVES.<br /> +<br /> +16.—PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND DETECTIVES.<br /> +<br /> +17.—THIRTY YEARS A DETECTIVE.<br /> +<br /> +18.—THE SPY OF THE REBELLION.</p> + +<hr class="smler" /> + +<p>"The mental characteristics of Allan Pinkerton were judgment as to +facts, knowledge of men, the ability to concentrate his faculties on one +subject, and the persistent power of will. A mysterious problem of +crime, against which his life was devoted, presented to his thought, was +solved almost in an instant, and seemingly by his intuitions. With +half-closed eyes he saw the scene in which the wrong was done, read +every movement of the criminals, and reached invariably the correct +conclusion as to their conduct and guilt."</p> + +<hr class="smler" /> + +<p class="center"><i>A new uniform edition, cloth bound, Illustrated.<br /> +Price per vol.</i> $1.00.</p> + +<p class="center">G. W. Dillingham Co., Publishers<br />NEW YORK.</p></blockquote> + +<hr /> + +<div class="center"><a name="cover.jpg" id="cover.jpg"></a><img src="images/cover.jpg" width='466' height='700' alt="cover" /></div> + +<hr /> + +<div class="center"><a name="gs001.jpg" id="gs001.jpg"></a><img src="images/gs001.jpg" width='700' height='459' alt="At this instant I flung open one of the shutters, and +simultaneously I heard a cry of horror from my clerk. Page 19." /></div> + +<h4>"<i>At this instant I flung open one of the shutters, and +simultaneously I heard a cry of horror from my clerk.</i>"—Page 19.</h4> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p> + +<h3>THE</h3> + +<h1>SOMNAMBULIST</h1> + +<h3>AND</h3> + +<h2>THE DETECTIVE.</h2> + +<hr class="smler" /> + +<h2>THE MURDERER</h2> + +<h3>AND</h3> + +<h2>THE FORTUNE TELLER.</h2> + +<hr class="smler" /> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>ALLAN PINKERTON.</h2> + +<h4>AUTHOR OF<br /> +"EXPRESSMAN AND DETECTIVE," "SPIRITUALISTS AND DETECTIVES,"<br /> +"PROFESSIONAL THIEVES AND DETECTIVES,"<br /> +"RAILROAD FORGER AND DETECTIVES,"<br />"MOLLIE MAGUIRES AND DETECTIVES," ETC., ETC.</h4> + +<p class="tbrk"> </p> + +<div class="center"><img src="images/logo.jpg" width='80' height='53' alt="Logo" /></div> + +<p class="tbrk"> </p> + +<h3>NEW YORK:<br /><br /><i>G. W. Dillingham Co., Publishers.</i></h3> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span></p> + +<p class="tbrk"> </p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">Copyright</span>,<br /> +W. B. KEEN, COOKE & CO.,<br /> +1875.</h4> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1903, by</span><br /> +JOAN CHALMERS.</h4> + +<p class="tbrk"> </p> + +<h4><i>The Somnambulist.</i></h4> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE"></a>PREFACE</h2> + +<hr class="smler" /> + +<p>In presenting to the public my third volume of Detective Stories, I +desire to again call attention to the fact that the stories herein +contained, as in the case of their predecessors in the series, are +literally true. The incidents in these cases have all actually occurred +as related, and there are now living many witnesses to corroborate my statements.</p> + +<p>Maroney, the expressman, is living in Georgia, having been released +during the war. Mrs. Maroney is also alive. Any one desiring to convince +himself of the absolute truthfulness of this narrative can do so by +examining the court records in Montgomery, Ala., where Maroney was convicted.</p> + +<p>The facts stated in the second volume are well known to many residents +of Chicago. Young Bright was in the best society during his stay at the +Clifton House, and many of his friends will remember him. His father is +now largely interested in business in New York, Chicago, and St. Louis. +The events connected with the abduction of "The Two Sisters," will be +readily recalled by W. L. Church, Esq., of Chicago, and others. The +story of "Alexander Gay," the Frenchman, will be found in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> the criminal +records of St. Louis, where he was sentenced for forgery.</p> + +<p>So with the stories in this volume. The characters in "The Detective and +the Somnambulist," will be easily recognized by many readers in the +South. As the family of Drysdale are still living and holding a highly +respectable place in society, the locality is not correctly given, and +fictitious names are used throughout.</p> + +<p>By reason of the peculiar nature of the circumstances, the facts +narrated in "The Murderer and the Fortune-Teller," are known only to a +small circle, but they can readily be substantiated. Captain Sumner was +never informed of the means employed to influence his sister, and his +first knowledge of them will be obtained in reading this book; but he +will remember his own visit to "Lucille," and will undoubtedly see that +the affair was managed exactly as I have stated.</p> + +<p>In reading these stories, the reader will probably come to the +conclusion that the detection of criminals is a very simple matter, and +that any one with a moderate amount of intelligence could have done just +as well. To a certain extent this is true, but not wholly. The plan once +adopted, it is not difficult to put it in execution; but experience, +judgment and tact are required to form a plan which will bring out the +real facts connected with the crime. This done, the capture of the +criminal is only a question of time.</p> + +<p>Legitimate, honest detective business is yet in its infancy, but the +trade, as at present generally conducted, approaches the dignity of an +art—a black art, unfortunately, the object being accurately to +distinguish the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span>percentage of plunder which will satisfy the criminals +and the real owners, the remainder being divided among the so-called detectives.</p> + +<p>In point of fact, these fellows are worse than the acknowledged +criminals, since they rob under the guise of honest men, and run little +or no risk, while the actual thieves take their lives in their hands. It +may safely be said that the average detective would rather be in league +with the criminals of this city than opposed to them, and the great +majority <i>are</i> so leagued; and until such a state of affairs is broken +up, the criminals who have money will surely escape punishment.</p> + +<p class="right">ALLAN PINKERTON.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<div class="index"> +<ul> +<li><a href="#PREFACE">PREFACE.</a></li> +<li> </li> +<li><a href="#THE_DETECTIVE_AND_THE_SOMNAMBULIST">THE DETECTIVE AND THE SOMNAMBULIST.</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a></li> +<li> </li> +<li><a href="#THE_MURDERER">THE MURDERER AND THE FORTUNE TELLER.</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_IA">CHAPTER I.</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_IIA">CHAPTER II.</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_IIIA">CHAPTER III.</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_IVA">CHAPTER IV.</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_VA">CHAPTER V.</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_VIA">CHAPTER VI.</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_VIIA">CHAPTER VII.</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_VIIIA">CHAPTER VIII.</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_IXA">CHAPTER IX.</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XA">CHAPTER X.</a></li> +</ul> +</div> + +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + +<div class="index"> +<ul> +<li><a href="#cover.jpg">Cover.</a></li> +<li><a href="#gs001.jpg">"<i>At this instant I flung open one of the shutters, and +simultaneously I heard a cry of horror from my clerk.</i>"—Page 19.</a></li> +<li><a href="#gs002.jpg">"<i>She soon discovered Mrs. Potter lying by the road-side, +groaning and in great pain.</i>"—Page 64.</a></li> +<li><a href="#gs003.jpg">"<i>As soon as the clerk had left the office, Miller +quietly extracted Pattmore's letter from the box.</i>"—Page 157.</a></li> +<li><a href="#gs004.jpg">"<i>'Death!' shrieked Mrs. Thayer, and then she fell back lifeless.</i>"—Page 199.</a></li> +</ul> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="THE_DETECTIVE_AND_THE_SOMNAMBULIST" id="THE_DETECTIVE_AND_THE_SOMNAMBULIST"></a>THE DETECTIVE</h2> + +<h3>AND THE</h3> + +<h1>SOMNAMBULIST.</h1> + +<hr class="smler" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a><i>CHAPTER I.</i></h2> + +<p>About nineteen years ago, I was enjoying a short relaxation from the +usual press of business in Chicago. I had only one or two really +important cases on hand, and I was therefore preparing to take a much +needed rest. At this time, my business was not nearly so extensive as it +has since become, nor was my Agency so well known as it now is; hence, I +was somewhat surprised and gratified to receive a letter from Atkinson, +Mississippi, asking me to go to that town at once, to investigate a +great crime recently perpetrated there. I had intended to visit my +former home in Dundee, for a week or ten days, but, on receiving this +letter, I postponed my vacation indefinitely.</p> + +<p>The letter was written by Mr. Thomas McGregor, cashier of the City Bank, +of Atkinson, and my services were called for by all the officers of the +bank. The <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span>circumstances of the case were, in brief, that the +paying-teller had been brutally murdered in the bank about three or four +months before, and over one hundred and thirty thousand dollars had been +stolen. Mr. McGregor said that no expense should be spared to detect the +criminals, even though the money was not recovered; that would be an +important consideration, of course, but the first object sought was the +capture of the murderers of poor George Gordon, the late paying-teller.</p> + +<p>Having already arranged my business for a brief absence, I was all ready +for the journey, and by the next train, I was speeding southward, toward Atkinson.</p> + +<p>I arrived there early in the morning, of one of the most delightful days +of early spring. I had exchanged the brown fields and bare trees of the +raw and frosty North, for the balmy airs, blooming flowers, and waving +foliage of the sunny South. The contrast was most agreeable to me in my +then tired and overworked condition, and I felt that a few days in that +climate would restore my strength more effectually than a stay of +several weeks in the changeable and inclement weather of northern +Illinois. For sanitary, as well as business reasons, therefore, I had no +occasion to regret my Southern trip.</p> + +<p>My assumed character was that of a cotton speculator, and I was thus +able to make many inquiries relative to the town and its inhabitants, +without exciting suspicion. Of course, I should have considerable +business at the bank, and thus, I could have frequent conferences with +the bank officials, without betraying my real object in visiting them. I +sent a note to Mr. McGregor, on my arrival, simply announcing myself +under a fictitious name,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> and I soon received a reply requesting me to +come to the bank at eight o'clock that evening. I then spent the day in +walking about the town and gathering a general idea of the surroundings of the place.</p> + +<p>Atkinson was then a town of medium size, pleasantly situated near the +northern boundary of the State. The surrounding country was well watered +and wooded, consisting of alternate arable land and rolling hills. The +inhabitants of the town were divided into two general classes: the +shop-keepers, mechanics, and laborers, formed the bulk of the +population; while the capitalists, planters and professional men were +the most influential. Most of these latter owned country residences, or +plantations outside of the town, though they kept up their town +establishments also. A small water-course, called Rocky Creek, skirted +one side of the place, and many of the most handsome houses, were +situated on, or near this beautiful rivulet. The whole appearance of +Atkinson, and the surrounding country, indicated a thrifty, well-to-do population.</p> + +<p>Having roamed about to my satisfaction, I spent the latter part of the +afternoon at the hotel, where I met a number of the professional men of +the county. I found that the hotel was occupied by many of the best +families during the winter and spring, and I soon formed the +acquaintance of several of the gentlemen. They greeted me with +characteristic Southern hospitality, and I was pleased to see that my +<i>role</i> as a Scotch speculator was quite an easy one to play; at least, +no one ever appeared to suspect my real object in visiting Atkinson.</p> + +<p>At the appointed hour I went to the bank, and was met<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> outside by Mr. +McGregor, to whom I had been introduced during the day. He took me in +through the private entrance, and we were joined in a few minutes by +Alexander Bannatine, president, and Peter A. Gordon, vice-president, of +the bank. Mr. Bannatine was about fifty years of age, but he looked much +older, owing to his continuous and exhausting labors as a lawyer, during +the early part of his life. Having made a large fortune by successful +practice and judicious investments, he had retired from the active +pursuit of his profession, and had joined several old friends in the +banking business. Mr. Gordon was, also, about fifty years old. He had +become wealthy by inheritance, and had increased his fortune by twenty +years of careful attention to business. He was unmarried, and George +Gordon, the murdered bank-teller, had stood in the relation of a son to +his uncle; hence, there was an additional reason for the capture and +conviction of the murderers. The recovery of the large sum of money +stolen, would, alone, have been an important consideration, but Mr. +Gordon was willing to spend a very extravagant amount in the detection +of the criminals, even though the money might never be discovered.</p> + +<p>We seated ourselves at a table in the cashier's room, and I prepared to +take notes of all the facts then known by the gentlemen present.</p> + +<p>"Now, Mr. Bannatine," I said, "please tell me everything connected with +the case, which may be of service to me."</p> + +<p>"Well, Mr. Pinkerton, I have not been connected with the bank so long, +or so closely as Mr. McGregor," said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> Mr. Bannatine, "and perhaps he had +better give a short sketch of young Gordon's connection with the bank first."</p> + +<p>"George Gordon was taken into our employ about five years ago," said Mr. +McGregor. "He had previously acted as our agent in one of the interior +towns, and when he became of age he was offered the place of +paying-teller. Since then his obliging disposition, courteous manners, +and faithful performance of duty, have endeared him to all his +associates, and have given him the confidence of all persons with whom +he came in contact. His character was spotless, and his devotion to duty +was superior to all allurements; he would never sacrifice one moment to +pleasure which should have been given to business."</p> + +<p>"Had he any associates among the fast men and women of the place?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"No, sir, not one," was the prompt reply; "we have not been able to +learn that he had any acquaintances even, among that class."</p> + +<p>"Well, please proceed to state all the circumstances connected with the +murder," I suggested.</p> + +<p>"I was not at home at the time," said Mr. McGregor, "but I can give you +many facts, and Mr. Gordon can add thereto. George was in the habit of +remaining in the bank after office hours for the purpose of writing up +his books, as he acted as book-keeper also. During the very busy +seasons, he would sometimes be kept at work until long after dark, +though this was unusual. Occasionally customers would come to the bank +after the regular hours, and George would accommodate them, or I would +do so, when I was present. We were both very careful about admitting +outsiders after the bank had closed, and we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> never allowed any one to +enter except well-known business men and old customers of the bank. We +had large sums on hand at times, and George frequently said that we +could not exercise too much care in managing our business. I mention +this to show that he was not careless in his habits, but that, on the +contrary, he always took the greatest precautions against fraud or violence."</p> + +<p>"Were there any customers who were in the habit of coming in late?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, there were several," replied Mr. McGregor; "for instance, Mr. +Flanders, the jeweler, used to bring over his more valuable jewelry +every afternoon to put into our vault; he would put it into a small box +and leave it here about five o'clock. Then, our county clerk, Mr. +Drysdale, used to stop frequently to make deposits in cases where other +parties had paid money to him after banking hours. He was very intimate +with George, and he used to stop to see him sometimes and walk out with +him after his work was finished. Walter Patterson, also, was one of +George's particular friends, and he has often stayed with George until +nine or ten o'clock in the evening. Besides these there were several of +our leading planters who would come in as late as eight o'clock to +deposit funds, or to obtain cash for use early the next day."</p> + +<p>"Did young Gordon have the keys to the vault?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh! yes," replied Mr. McGregor; "I was often called away on business +for several days, and he used to act as cashier in my absence. He was in +the habit of carrying the keys with him at all times; but his uncle +advised him not to do so, as they might be taken from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> him by a gang of +desperate characters, and the bank robbed. He had, therefore, given up +the practice of taking the keys home with him after night-fall. Just +about the time of the murder, we had one of the busiest seasons ever +known; the cotton crop had been enormous, and sales had been very rapid, +so that our deposits were unusually large. One morning I found that I +must go to Greenville for several days, on business of great importance. +Before going, I gave George full instructions upon all matters which +might need attention during my absence; yet I felt, while on my way to +the depot, that there was something which I had forgotten. I could not +define what it was, but I hurried back to ask whether he could think of +any thing further upon which he might wish my advice. I found him +chatting with his friend, Mr. Drysdale. Calling him to one side, I said:</p> + +<p>"'George, is there anything more upon which I can advise you?'</p> + +<p>"'No, I guess not,' he replied; 'you will be back so soon that if there +should anything new turn up, it can wait until you return.'</p> + +<p>"'Well, be very careful,' I continued, 'and don't allow any one to come +in here after dark. It may be an unnecessary precaution, but I should +feel easier if I knew no one was admitted to the bank during my absence.'</p> + +<p>"'Very well,' he replied, 'I shall allow only one or two of my personal +friends to come in. There will be no harm in admitting them, for they +will be an additional protection in case of any attempt on the bank.'</p> + +<p>"I could offer no objection, and so we parted. I was gone about a week, +when, having settled my business in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> Greenville, I returned here. The +first news I received was, that George Gordon had been found murdered in +the bank that morning, the crime having been committed the night before. +I will now let Mr. Peter Gordon, George's uncle, tell the circumstances, +so far as he knows them."</p> + +<p>Mr. McGregor was a careful, methodical man, about sixty years of age. He +always spoke directly to the point, and in his story, he had evidently +made no attempt to draw conclusions, or to bias my judgment in any way. +Nevertheless, he showed that he was really affected by young Gordon's +murder, and I saw that I should get more really valuable assistance from +him, than from both of the other two. Mr. Gordon was greatly excited, +and he could hardly speak at times, as he thought of his murdered +nephew. His story was told slowly and painfully, as if the details were +almost too much for him. Still, he felt that nothing ought to be +neglected which would assist me, and so he nerved himself to tell every +little incident of the dreadful crime.</p> + +<p>"I remember the day of the murder very distinctly, Mr. Pinkerton," he +said. "Mr. Bannatine was obliged to visit his plantation that morning, +and Mr. McGregor being away, as he has already told you, I spent most of +the day at the bank with George. He was perfectly competent to manage +all the business himself, Mr. Pinkerton, for he was a very smart and +trustworthy young man, the very image of my dear brother, who was +drowned twenty years ago, leaving me to bring up George like my own son; +but, as I was saying, I kept George company in the bank that day, more +as a measure of safety, than because he needed me. Well we received a +large amount of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> money that day in bank notes and specie, and I helped +George put the money into the vault. When the bank closed, George said +that he should work until five o'clock and then go home to dinner. I was +anxious to go to my store, as business had been very heavy that day, and +I had had no opportunity to attend to my own affairs; I therefore left +the bank at four o'clock. George and I boarded at the hotel, and at +dinner time, he came late, so that I finished before he did. About seven +o'clock, George came down to the store, where I had gone after dinner. +He sat a little while and smoked a cigar with me, and then said that he +must return to the bank, as he had a great deal of work to finish up on +the books; he told me, also, not to sit up for him, as it might be quite +late before he came home."</p> + +<p>"Were there any other persons present when he said this, Mr. Gordon?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes; there was a shoemaker, named Stolz, whom George had just paid for +a pair of boots. Mr. Flanders, the jeweler, was there also, and he had +his box of jewelry for George to lock up in the safe. There had been so +many customers in his store that afternoon that he had not been able to +take the box over before. There were several other persons present, I +recollect now that you ask me about it, but I had not thought of the +matter before, and I cannot recall their names."</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess we can find out," I replied; "please go on. By the way, +one question: had George drank anything at all during the day?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir, nothing whatever. George used to smoke a great deal, but he +<i>never</i> drank at a bar in his life; all his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> young friends will tell you +the same. He sometimes drank wine at meals at his own or a friend's +table, but he never drank at any other place. He left my store about +half-past seven o'clock, and Flanders went with him to leave his +jewelry. Flanders' store is near mine, and he soon came back and chatted +with me a short time. He has since told me that he did not enter the +bank, but that he simply handed the case of jewelry to George on the +steps of the private entrance, and George said to him: 'I won't ask you +to come in, Flanders, for I have too much work to attend to, and I can't +entertain you.' These are the last words that George is known to have spoken."</p> + +<p>Here Mr. Gordon's agitation was so great that he could not speak for +several minutes, but at length, he continued:</p> + +<p>"I went to bed about ten o'clock that evening, and came down late to +breakfast next morning. I did not see George anywhere around the hotel, +but I thought nothing of that, as I supposed that he had gone to the +bank. After breakfast, I got shaved, smoked a cigar, and then went to my +store. In a few minutes, a man named Rollo, who has an account at the +bank, came in and said:</p> + +<p>"'Mr. Gordon, what is the matter at the bank this morning? It is now +after ten o'clock, and everything is still shut up.'</p> + +<p>"'What!' I exclaimed, 'the bank not opened yet! My nephew must be sick, +though he was quite well yesterday evening. I will go to the bank with +you at once, Mr. Rollo.'</p> + +<p>"One of my clerks accompanied us, and on arriving at the bank, we found +a cabinet-maker named Breed, trying to get in. I went and pounded on the +front door several<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> times, but no one came. I then went to the private +entrance and gave the signal by rapping, to let those inside know that +one of the bank officers was at the door. We had a private signal known +only to the officers, so that I was sure there must be something wrong +when I found it unanswered. I had a dreadful feeling in my heart that +something horrible had happened, and I was about to hurry away to the +hotel, to see if George was there, when I casually let my hand fall upon +the knob and turned it; to my surprise, the door yielded.</p> + +<p>"By this time, quite a crowd had gathered outside, attracted by the +unusual spectacle of the closed bank, and the knocking at the doors. I +therefore left Mr. Rollo and Mr. Breed to keep the crowd from entering +the side entrance, while my clerk and I threw open the heavy shutters of +this room where we are now sitting. We then entered the main bank +through yonder door, and while I went to open the outside blinds, which +excluded every particle of light, my clerk walked down behind the bank +counter. He suddenly stumbled over something and fell, and as he got up, +he said that the floor was wet. At this instant, I flung open one of the +shutters, and simultaneously I heard a cry of horror from my clerk. +Running to the counter, I looked over and saw a terrible sight. My poor boy—"</p> + +<p>Again Mr. Gordon's feelings overcame him, and it was some time before he +could go on. Finally he was able to resume his story, though he was +frequently obliged to pause to wipe away his tears.</p> + +<p>"My nephew's body was lying midway between his desk and the vault door; +he had evidently been standing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> at his desk when he was struck, as was +shown by the direction in which the blood had spirted. He had been +murdered by three blows on the back of the head, the instrument used +being a heavy canceling hammer, which we found close by, clotted with +blood and hair. The first blow had been dealt just back of the left ear +while George was standing at his desk; he had then staggered backward +two or three steps before falling, and the second and third blows had +been struck as he lay on the floor. Although it was evident that the +first blow alone was sufficient to cause death, the murderer had been +anxious to complete his work beyond any possibility of failure.</p> + +<p>"The scene was most ghastly; George's body lay in a pool of blood, while +the desks, chairs, table and wall, were spattered with large drops which +had spirted out as the blows were struck. I shall never forget that +terrible morning, and sometimes I awake with a horrible choking +sensation, and think that I have just renewed the sickening experience +of that day.</p> + +<p>"Well, I immediately suspected that the murder had been committed to +enable the murderer to rob the bank. I knew that George had no enemies +who would seek his life, and there could be no other object in killing +him inside the bank. The outer door of the vault stood slightly ajar, +and as soon as I had satisfied myself that my nephew was dead—as indeed +was evident, the body being quite cold—I sent my clerk to call Mr. +Rollo and Mr. Breed into the bank, while he remained at the door. I told +him to send any person whom he might see outside for the sheriff and the +coroner. As I was saying, the vault door stood slightly open, and when +the other <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span>gentleman joined me I called their attention to the position +of everything before I entered the vault. I found the keys in the lock +of the inner door, and on opening the latter we saw that everything +inside was in great confusion. Without making any examination, I closed +and locked both doors, and sealed the key-holes with tape and +sealing-wax. I determined to leave everything just as it was until the +inquest should be held. The sheriff and coroner soon arrived, and a jury +was impaneled immediately, as, by that time, the news had spread all +over town, and the bank was surrounded by nearly all the best men in the +place. In summoning the jury, the coroner put down for foreman the name +of Mr. Drysdale, George's most intimate friend, but it was found that he +was not in the crowd outside, and when they sent for him he begged so +hard to be excused that he was let off.</p> + +<p>"The inquest was held in this room, but nothing was moved from the bank +except the body and the canceling hammer. The jury elicited nothing more +than what I have told you, and they therefore adjourned to await the +examination of our vault when Mr. McGregor and Mr. Bannatine returned, +in the hope that some clue might be found therein. I forgot to mention +that we found in George's hand a bill of the Planter's Bank of Georgia, +of the denomination of one hundred dollars. It was clutched tightly, and +he had fallen on that side, so that the murderer had not noticed it. +Here it is, partly stained with blood," and Mr. Gordon handed me a bank +note. He then continued:</p> + +<p>"A messenger had been dispatched to inform Mr. Bannatine of the +disaster, and he arrived in town almost<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> simultaneously with Mr. +McGregor, who was already on his way home when the murder occurred. As +Mr. Bannatine is well acquainted with all the subsequent events, I +prefer that he should give the account of our action since that time."</p> + +<p>It was clearly very painful to Mr. Gordon to talk upon the subject of +his nephew's murder, and Mr. Bannatine willingly took up the thread of +the story. He had practiced at the bar so long that his style resembled +that of a witness under examination, and he was always careful to give +his authority whenever he stated facts outside of his own observation. +His testimony was of the greatest importance to me, and I took very full +notes as he went along.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a><i>CHAPTER II.</i></h2> + +<p>I received the intelligence of George Gordon's murder about noon, by a +messenger from Mr. Gordon. I immediately rode into town and went to the +bank, where I arrived about two o'clock. The inquest was not completed, +but at the sheriff's suggestion the jury adjourned until the next +morning. The cause of death, according to the testimony of Dr. Hartman +and Dr. Larimore, was concussion of the brain, produced by three +separate blows on the back of the head; the blows might have been dealt +with the canceling hammer, which, Mr. Gordon said, had been found close +by the body. The latter was removed to the hotel preparatory to the funeral.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Gordon, Mr. McGregor, and myself then proceeded to open the bank, +taking the sheriff to assist us in searching for clues to aid in the +detection of the criminals. We first opened all the shutters to give as +much light as possible. We then examined the interior of the bank; +outside of the counter nothing whatever was found, but inside we +discovered several important traces of the murderer. The fireplace +showed that something had recently been burned in it. The grate had been +perfectly clean all summer, and Mr. Gordon tells me such was the case +when he left the bank at four o'clock. The character of the ashes—as I +am assured by expert <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span>chemists—denoted that clothing had been burned, +and while examining them I found several buttons; here they are," he +added, producing four or five iron buttons, and the charred remains of +two or three horn buttons.</p> + +<p>"While feeling around in the light ashes beneath the grate," continued +Mr. Bannatine, "I found a piece of paper twisted up and charred at one +end; its appearance indicated that it had been used to light the fire in +the grate. On unrolling it carefully, it proved to be a fragment of a +note for $927.78; the signature, part of the date, and the amount of the +note were left uncharred, but most of the upper portion was wholly +burned. The signature was that of Alexander P. Drysdale, our esteemed county clerk."</p> + +<p>Mr. Bannatine here showed me this fragment pressed out between two +oblong pieces of heavy plate glass. I glanced at it a few minutes, and +then placed it beside the buttons for future examination.</p> + +<p>"Among the few scraps of paper found," resumed Mr. Bannatine, "was +another one, which we found under George's body, saturated with blood. +The murderer had evidently destroyed every piece of paper that he could +find; but this one had probably been lying on the floor, and when George +fell, it was hidden by his body. This, and the note, were the only +papers found on the desks or about the floor of the bank which had any +writing upon them; even the waste paper baskets and their contents had +been burned. Here is the paper, Mr. Pinkerton; we have preserved it +carefully, because we thought that it might suggest something to a +detective, though it had no special significance to us."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p><p>He handed me the paper, as he spoke. It was a fragment of letter paper, +about three by six inches in size. It was stained a brownish red by poor +young Gordon's lifeblood; but beneath the stain, were plainly visible +the pen marks of the murdered man. It had a number of figures on one +side, arranged like examples in addition, though they were scattered +carelessly, as if he had been checking off balances, and had used this +fragment to verify his additions. The reverse side was blank. I laid +this paper beside the note, and Mr. Bannatine continued his story:</p> + +<p>"We then opened the safe, and counted the money; this was easily done, +for we found that all the loose money was gone, leaving only a small +quantity of coin and a number of packages of bills. These latter were +put up in lots of five thousand dollars each, and were wrapped in a +bright red tissue paper. George had put up over one hundred thousand +dollars in this way, about a week before, and the murderer had not +touched these packages at all; we were thus spared a loss, which would +have somewhat crippled us. As it was, the loss in bills amounted to +about one hundred and five thousand dollars, while exactly twenty-eight +thousand dollars in gold eagles and double eagles, were also missing. A +few days after the murder, one of Col. Garnett's slaves found two +twenty-dollar gold pieces at an old fording place on Rocky Creek, just +outside the city, and we came to the conclusion that the robber had +dropped them there; but of course, we could not identify gold pieces, +and so we could not be sure. The coroner closed the inquest the +following day, and the jury found a verdict of death at the hands of a +person or persons unknown. The funeral was attended by people<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> from +miles around, and there was a general determination shown to spare no +pains to bring the murderers to justice; large rewards were offered by +the Governor, by the bank, and by the county officials, and some of the +best detectives in the country were employed, but all to no purpose. +When the gold pieces were found, a number of George's intimate friends +organized a party to search the adjoining woods for traces of the +criminals, as it was thought they might have camped out in that +vicinity, before or after the deed. All of George's intimate friends +joined in the search, except Mr. Drysdale, who was so much overcome at +the terrible occurrence, that he was quite prostrated. Nothing was found +by this party, however; neither have the various detectives, +professional and amateur, who have investigated the case, made the +slightest progress toward a solution of the mystery. We have determined +to make one more effort, Mr. Pinkerton, and therefore we have sent for +you to aid us. It may be that you will see some trace which others have +overlooked; you can take whatever steps you choose, and you need spare +no expense. If you are successful, we will pay you liberally, besides +the rewards offered."</p> + +<p>"One of the rules of my Agency," I replied, "forbids the acceptance of +rewards; hence, I wish it understood in advance, that my only charges +will be according to my regular schedule of prices, and that I expect +nothing more. This is my invariable custom, whether the case be one of +murder, arson, burglary, or simple theft; the number of detectives, and +the time they are employed, will determine the amount I shall charge."</p> + +<p>We then arranged the financial portion of our <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span>agreement to our mutual +satisfaction, and I began my investigations.</p> + +<p>"What detectives have you hitherto employed, Mr. Bannatine?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"I first laid the matter before two New York detectives, who had been +highly recommended to me," he replied; "but they could offer no +satisfactory theory to work upon, and after staying here three or four +weeks, they said that the murder must have been committed by some member +of a gang of gamblers; they thought the murderer would probably go to +New Orleans to exchange his money, and that it would be easy to learn by +going to that city, whether any gambler had had an unusual amount of +money about that time. We were not very well satisfied with this theory, +and so the detectives returned to New York. We next engaged two +detectives from New Orleans, but they were equally unsuccessful. We then +allowed the matter to rest until about a month ago, when we heard such a +favorable account of the manner in which you had conducted a case of +great difficulty, that we began to discuss the propriety of engaging you +in investigating this affair. The more we heard of you, the better we +were satisfied, and finally, we authorized Mr. McGregor to write to you +on the subject."</p> + +<p>"Well, Mr. Bannatine, I shall do my best," I replied, "but you must not +expect me to work miracles. Now, I am going to ask you a number of +questions, and I wish you to answer them without regard to their +apparent drift. Who were George Gordon's intimate friends?"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Flanders, Mr. Drysdale, Mr. Patterson, and Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> Henry Caruthers; I +think they were the only ones he was really very intimate with; isn't it +so, Mr. Gordon?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; George had very few cronies," replied Mr. Gordon.</p> + +<p>"Who is Mr. Caruthers?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"He is the son of a wealthy planter living a few miles from town," +replied Mr. Bannatine.</p> + +<p>"Where was he the afternoon previous to the murder?"</p> + +<p>"He came into the bank for a few minutes," said Mr. Gordon, "and asked +George to spend Sunday with him on the plantation; then he rode home."</p> + +<p>"Were there any strange men in or about the bank that day?"</p> + +<p>"None, so far as we could learn; nearly every person that I can +recollect having seen that day was a customer, or a townsman whom I knew."</p> + +<p>"When George gave up carrying the safe keys home with him, where did he +leave them?"</p> + +<p>"There is a secret drawer in that desk, which opens by pressing this +knob, thus," said Mr. McGregor, suiting the action to the word; "we used +to keep the keys there."</p> + +<p>"Did any one beside you four gentlemen know this hiding place?"</p> + +<p>"I am sure that no one else knew it," said Mr. McGregor.</p> + +<p>"Was it necessary for George to open the safe that night, or could he +have done his work without going into the vault at all?"</p> + +<p>"He had work to do on the journal and ledger, and he would have to use +the keys to get them out of the vault.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> He did not need to open the +inner safe where the money was, however."</p> + +<p>"Does the outer vault key open both doors?"</p> + +<p>"No; but they were kept on the same chain for convenience."</p> + +<p>"Were the ledger and journal on George's desk when you entered the bank, Mr. Gordon?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir; they were put away in their usual places in the vault."</p> + +<p>"Did they show any marks of blood?"</p> + +<p>"None at all; they were perfectly clean."</p> + +<p>"Could you tell from their appearance whether George had done any work +upon them that night?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; I am sure he had done a great deal; in fact he had finished up all +entries to date."</p> + +<p>"Were there any papers missing besides the money?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; one or two bundles of old checks, drafts, etc., were used to +assist in burning the murderer's clothes. They were fastened in packages +with fine wire, and we found the wire in the grate."</p> + +<p>"Then this note, signed 'Alexander P. Drysdale,' might have been pulled +out of one of these packages?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose so; I don't know where else it came from; do you, Mr. +McGregor?" said Mr. Gordon, rather bewildered.</p> + +<p>"No; I never thought about where it came from," said Mr. McGregor. "I +suppose the man built a fire of old papers and the fragments of the +waste paper baskets, and then used that note to set them on fire from the lamp."</p> + +<p>"There were no papers of any value used, then?" I continued.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p><p>"Oh, no; the papers were old bundles, merely kept as archives of the +bank."</p> + +<p>I then picked up the note and glanced at it; as I did so, something +caught my eye which sent the blood throbbing through my veins at a +feverish speed. Enough of the date remained to show that it was drawn +some time during the year of the murder, hence it could hardly be one of +the archives. Besides, a note, if paid, would be returned to the maker, +canceled; if unpaid, it would be kept among the bills receivable, in the +inner safe; in neither case could it have been stowed away among the old +checks and drafts. This reasoning passed through my mind quickly, and I +realized that that little piece of paper might play an important part in +the tragedy after all. I did not form any definite theory on the +instant, but still I had a sort of presentiment that I had touched a +spring which might open the windows of this dark mystery and let in the +light of day. I did not show what I thought to my companions, but +continued to ask questions.</p> + +<p>"Was Mr. Patterson in the bank the day of the murder, Mr. Gordon?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no; he was not in this part of the country at that time; he had +been in Mobile for some weeks."</p> + +<p>"I understood you to say that Mr. Flanders went no further than the +private door with George; did he notice any one standing about when he came away?"</p> + +<p>"No; he stopped only an instant, while George unlocked the door, and +then gave the jewel box to him to put away. George wished him good +night, with the remark that he could not ask him in, as he would be too<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +busy to entertain him. Mr. Flanders then came straight back to my store; +but he said at the inquest that he heard George lock the door behind +him, and that he saw no one around the building."</p> + +<p>"Do you know anything about his circumstances at that time? Was he in +need of money?"</p> + +<p>"No, indeed; he had a large balance to his credit. Why, surely, you do +not see any reason to suspect Mr. Flanders?" said Mr. McGregor.</p> + +<p>"I don't say that I suspect anybody," I replied, "but I wish to gather +all the information possible. Now, please tell me how large a balance +Mr. Flanders had on deposit."</p> + +<p>Mr. McGregor immediately examined the ledger for the previous year, and +reported that the balance due Mr. Flanders at the time of the murder, +was over twelve thousand dollars.</p> + +<p>"You see, Mr. Pinkerton," he went on to say, "we balanced our books up +to that date, and thus we know just how each person's account stood that day."</p> + +<p>"Well, did you find that any of those gentlemen, who were in the habit +of entering the bank after business hours, were in debt to the bank, or +that they were cramped for money at that time?" I asked, carelessly.</p> + +<p>"None of them were in debt to the bank, I know," replied Mr. McGregor; +"whether there were any of them in need of money particularly, I cannot say."</p> + +<p>"Had any of them tried to borrow from the bank recently?"</p> + +<p>"No; in fact, none of them had drawn out the balances due them."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span></p><p>"Please give me a list of their balances on that day," I said; "just +give me a memorandum of the amounts standing to each one's credit."</p> + +<p>"Whose accounts shall we give you?" asked Mr. McGregor, evidently +wondering what object I had in view.</p> + +<p>"Well, let me have those of Mr. Flanders, Mr. Patterson, Mr. Drysdale, +and Mr. Caruthers; also, let me know whether any of those gentlemen had +made any loan from the bank during that year, and if so, the amount, +date, etc., and whether a note was given, or security of any kind."</p> + +<p>Mr. McGregor, and the other two gentlemen, were completely mystified at +my request, but they complied with my wishes, and I noted down the +amounts given me in my note-book.</p> + +<p>The balances were as follows: Patterson, $2,472.27; Drysdale, $324.22; +Caruthers, $817.48; and Flanders, $12,263.03. None of them had made +loans from the bank, except Caruthers, who had once overdrawn his +account nearly three hundred dollars, but he gave no note, as he was +good for any amount. None of the others had given a note to the bank, or +to any one else, so far as was known, for several years.</p> + +<p>"Now, gentlemen," I said, "please take me into the bank and show me +exactly how the place appeared when Mr. Gordon first discovered that +George had been murdered."</p> + +<p>Mr. Gordon rose with great effort and opened the door connecting the +private office with the main bank. It<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> was evidently very painful to +him, but he did not shrink. Turning to me, he said:</p> + +<p>"Mr. Pinkerton, let Mr. McGregor go first, and light the lamp; I will +then proceed just as I did that morning, and will point out the exact +position of everything in the bank."</p> + +<p>Mr. McGregor accordingly lighted a large lamp, which threw a soft +radiance over the whole interior, and the two moved the furniture into +the position in which it had been found on that fatal morning. Mr. +Gordon then showed me the exact position of the body, the spot where the +paper lay, the canceling hammer, and the blood-marks. After I had been +shown everything, I stood and thought over the matter in connection with +the surroundings, and endeavored to re-enact the scene of the murder in +my own mind. Bit by bit, I brought out some of the surroundings to my +own satisfaction, and when I went back to the private office, I had a +well-defined theory in my mind. Not that I had so narrowed down my +suspicions, as to fix them upon any particular individual—I had not yet +gone so far—but my theory was fully established, and I felt sure that +by working it up carefully, I should soon discover some traces of the +guilty party. The officers of the bank followed me in silence, and on +resuming our seats, I said:</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen, I wish to take a day to weigh the testimony in this case, +before I can give you any opinion about it. I would like to take this +note, the memorandum, and the buttons to my room, and to-morrow evening +I will tell you what conclusions I have reached. Is that satisfactory?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span></p><p>"Certainly; we do not wish to proceed in haste, Mr. Pinkerton," said +Mr. Bannatine; "we will meet you then at the same hour to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"I do not wish to seem impatient," said Mr. Gordon, "but can you not +tell me now whether you have obtained any clue from what we have told +you, which will enable you to learn more?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Gordon's anxiety was so keen that I wished to relieve his mind +somewhat; but, on the other hand, I did not wish to raise his hopes +unnecessarily, lest some unforeseen thing might occur to overthrow my +theory entirely. I replied, therefore:</p> + +<p>"Mr. Gordon, I may think I have a clue now, which, on mature reflection, +may prove worthless; hence, I should prefer to take a day, before giving my opinion."</p> + +<p>"You are right, Mr. Pinkerton," he said; "I should feel worse to have my +hopes raised, only to be dashed down again, than if I had never expected +anything. Take your own time, and then let us know the result."</p> + +<p>"There are two questions more, which I would like answered," I said. +"Was it possible for any person to have entered the bank by force? That +is, were there any indications whatever, to show that the murderer might +have possibly gained entrance during George's absence at dinner?"</p> + +<p>"No; none at all. The sheriff made a very careful examination of all the +windows, and both doors," replied Mr. McGregor. "He thought that a gang +of gamblers, who stopped here a few weeks, might have used nippers on +the key of the side door after George had locked it, and that they had +then stolen upon George, at his desk,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> and killed him; but, there were +no evidences that such was the case."</p> + +<p>"Well, did any one, except you three gentlemen, know the private signal +by which those inside the bank could tell that the person at the door, +was one of the bank officers?"</p> + +<p>"I am not sure about that," said Mr. Gordon; "possibly some of our +well-known friends might have been with us when we gained admittance to +the bank, but I cannot say that I think they ever learned the signal."</p> + +<p>"You think, however, that Patterson, Drysdale, Flanders, or Caruthers, +<i>might</i> have known it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; in fact, on thinking it over, I feel quite sure that Mr. Patterson +and Mr. Drysdale did know it."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't think I have any more questions to ask," I said. "I shall +be here promptly at eight o'clock to-morrow evening, and if you should +wish to communicate with me before that time, send me a message, and I +will call at the bank. This will not attract attention, as my business +is supposed to be cotton buying, and a visit at the bank will not be +considered unusual."</p> + +<p>I then took charge of the papers, etc., and went to my room at the +hotel. I merely glanced at the buttons, and bank note, hastily, as I +knew they could serve only as corroboratory evidence in the event of +obtaining a weak chain of proof. I then turned to the note, which I +studied long and carefully. I was convinced that it was of recent date, +at the time of the murder, although only the last figure of the date was +visible. I finally looked over the blood-stained piece of paper, which +George had nearly covered with figures. I saw at a glance, that there<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +was no reading matter on it, but I began to go over his figures half +mechanically, mentally following his addition, to verify it.</p> + +<p>Suddenly my eyes caught two numbers near the bottom of the paper. They +were placed together, and their difference was written below; they were +much fainter than the rest, having been made in pencil, instead of in +ink. It was probably due to this fact, that they had never been noticed +before, as the deep stain made it difficult to distinguish them clearly, +without close observation. However that may be, they acted upon me like +an electric shock, and I was obliged to walk about the room a few +minutes, to compose my nerves. It was strange that those faint lines +should have told so much, but it seemed almost, as if the murdered man +had whispered his murderer's name to me. The numbers which were there +set down were $927.78, and $324.22. <i>One of them was the amount of the +half burned note of Drysdale; the other, was the amount of his balance in the bank.</i></p> + +<p>I sat up until a very late hour, thinking over the possible solution of +the mystery, and when I finally went to bed, I had satisfied myself as +to the identity of the murderer. The next day, I rose late, and spent +the afternoon in arranging the points of evidence in consecutive order, +so as to be able to present them to the bank officials in the most +convincing manner. I then walked around town for exercise. During my +walk, I visited Mr. Flanders' jewelry store and the county clerk's office.</p> + +<p>Mr. Flanders was an elderly gentlemen of very mild and courteous +manners, and his whole appearance would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> lead any one to regard it as +impossible, that he should have committed murder.</p> + +<p>Mr. Drysdale, the county clerk, was a fine looking man, of about forty +years of age. He was of the nervous, sanguine type; was quiet and +courteous, but haughty and reserved to strangers; he was looking thin +and weary, as if he worked too hard, and streaks of gray were just +visible in his hair and mustache.</p> + +<p>I talked with him for about half an hour, representing that I was a +stranger, desirous of gaining information about the plantations of the +county. He answered my questions politely, but as briefly as possible, +and I saw that my presence, apparently, bored him, and interfered with +his duties. As I was about to go, I asked him to write the name and +address of some reliable cotton factor in my note-book, and he complied +very willingly. I then returned to the hotel, and patiently waited until eight o'clock.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a><i>CHAPTER III.</i></h2> + +<p>On going to the bank I found the three gentlemen awaiting me most +anxiously. After the usual greeting we seated ourselves at the table. I +arranged my notes for convenient reference, and began to state my conclusions:</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen, I have approached this case with a great deal of care, and +have given it much thought. Aside from the importance of the interests +involved, there are other reasons which render me cautious in forming +and stating an opinion; other detectives of ability and experience have +been baffled; several months have elapsed since the crimes were +committed; and, lastly, the theory upon which I have reasoned has led me +in such a direction that nothing but the strongest conviction in my own +mind would warrant me in making the statement which I am now about to +give you. Let me first, then, review the case, and show the chain of +evidence as it appears to me:</p> + +<p>"George Gordon appears to have been a young man of more than average +ability as a bank officer; he was cautious in his habits, and at this +particular time he had recently been specially cautioned by Mr. +McGregor; consequently it is likely that he would have been unusually +careful to admit only those with whom he was very well acquainted. +Again, the position of the furniture and the appearance of the +blood-marks, show that George<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> was standing at his desk, and that he was +struck from behind. Now, he had finished his work on the books and put +them away. What, then, was he doing? There is but one thing which throws +any light upon this subject—the bank bill which you found in his hand. +From its presence I infer that he was engaged in handling money; indeed, +I may say that he must have been either receiving it or paying it out. +That he was receiving it is not likely, for the murderer was probably +short of funds; hence I conclude that he was paying it out. It is also +clear that the amount must have been large, as shown by the denomination +of the bill—one hundred dollars.</p> + +<p>"These facts and inferences lead me to believe that the murderer was a +personal friend of George, and a customer of the bank; and I may say +that I had reached this conclusion yesterday evening, while listening to +the testimony of you three gentlemen, before I had discovered any +corroborative evidence. I will now give some of the additional points +which I have brought out since then; but I wish that you would first +tell me whether this signature is genuine," I said, pointing to +Alexander P. Drysdale's name on the note.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; there is no doubt of that," said Mr. McGregor; "I am perfectly +familiar with his signature, and there is no question in my mind but +that he signed that himself."</p> + +<p>"Well, gentlemen, I will now make up a possible case, and you can see +how nearly it compares with the present matter. I will suppose that a +man of wealth, refinement, and position, should become cramped for money +to supply present necessities; he is intimate with the officers of a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +wealthy bank; he goes there one evening and is admitted by his friend, +the acting cashier. He explains his embarrassment, and his friend agrees +to lend him the amount which he requires. The friend completes his work, +puts away his books, and figures up the amount needed. The borrower has +a small balance to his credit, and he gives a note for the difference. +Then the teller opens the safe, brings out a roll of bills, and begins +to count out the amount. The safe door is left open, and the visitor +sees within the piles of bank-notes and the rouleaux of gold. A fortune +in cash is within his grasp with only a human life standing in his way; +his perplexities and embarrassments come upon him with added force as he +sees the means before him by which he may escape their power to annoy +him. Like Tantalus, dying of thirst with the water at his very lips, +this man gazes on the wealth piled up in that safe. Glancing around, he +sees his friend slowly counting the paltry hundreds he is to receive; +close by lies a heavy weapon, heretofore used for innocent business +purposes; another glance into the safe and insanity is upon him; his +brain is a perfect hell of contending passions; again the thought +flashes into his mind—'Only a life between me and that money.' He +seizes the heavy hammer and deals his victim a terrible blow behind the +ear; as the latter falls lifeless, the murderer strikes him twice more +to make sure that there shall be no witnesses to testify in the case. +The deed is done, and there remains nothing to prevent him from seizing +the contents of the safe. But first, he must protect himself from the +danger of discovery; to this end he carefully removes his bloody +clothing, gathers every vestige of paper within<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> sight, and breaks up +the waste paper baskets for fuel. He needs more flame, however, and he +takes several packages of old papers to make the fire fiercer; then his +eye falls on a slip of paper lying on the desk, and he twists it +nervously into a lighter to convey fire from the lamp to the mass of +material in the fire-place. The flame is started, and soon the clothes +are reduced to ashes. Stealthily he packs the packages of bills and the +rolls of coin, and when he has taken as much as he can carry, he slips +noiselessly away, leaving no trace of his identity. No one has seen him +enter or depart; his position is far above the reach of suspicion; every +clue has been destroyed in the fire-place, and no witness to his guilt +can possibly be raised up. So he thinks; and as month after month +passes, as detective after detective abandons the case in despair, as +the excitement dies out in the public mind, and as the friends of the +deceased apparently give up the hopeless task of seeking for the +murderer, his confidence becomes complete, and he no longer fears detection.</p> + +<p>"But stop! when his victim fell a bloody corpse at his feet, <i>was</i> every +witness destroyed? No, gentlemen; helpless and lifeless as that body +fell, it yet had the power to avenge itself. The right hand convulsively +grasps a bank note, and it is hidden from sight by the position assumed +in falling; a slip of white paper dotted with figures at random, is also +covered, and is quickly saturated with blood; a fragment of paper is +found below the grate, twisted so tightly as to have burned only in +part; lastly, the direction of the blood-spirts show that the first blow +was struck on the left side. Now, gentlemen, do<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> you think you can read +the testimony of these dumb witnesses?"</p> + +<p>"My God! I do not know what to think," said Mr. Gordon.</p> + +<p>"I see where your suspicions lead," said Mr. Bannatine, "but I do not +yet fully know whether I can see the evidence in the same light that you +do. Please go on and tell us all you suspect, and your reasons."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Mr. Pinkerton," said Mr. McGregor, "whom do you suspect?"</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen," I replied, solemnly, "I have formed no hasty conclusion in +this matter, and I should not accuse any man without the strongest +reasons for believing him guilty; but I think that when I have connected +together the links which I have gathered, you will agree with me in the +moral certainty that George Gordon was murdered by Alexander P. +Drysdale, and no other."</p> + +<p>"Go on, go on, Mr. Pinkerton," said Mr. Gordon, in great excitement. "It +seems impossible, yet there are some slight fancies in my mind which +seem to confirm that theory. Tell us all your conclusions, and how you +have arrived at them."</p> + +<p>"Well, first, I am satisfied that only a particular friend would have +been admitted to the bank by George that night; second, the blow was +struck from behind, on the left side, showing that the murderer was +probably left-handed. Mr. Drysdale satisfies both of these conditions; I +visited him to-day and saw him write an address in my note-book with his +left hand. Third, I have here a note for $927.78, signed 'Alexander P. +Drysdale;' the signature, you say, is genuine, and further, you told me +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>yesterday that you had not held a note of Mr. Drysdale's for some +years. On reflection you will see that this note could not have been +taken from the packages of bank archives which were burned, for it never +could have been put there; moreover it is dated '1856,' and must have +been made some time last year. As you have no record of such a note, I +infer that it was drawn the night of the murder. Fourthly, I have +conclusive evidence of that fact in this slip of blood-stained paper," +and so saying, I produced the slip upon which George had done his figuring.</p> + +<p>"How! where!" exclaimed my listeners.</p> + +<p>"Near the bottom of that paper you will find in light pencil marks three +numbers arranged like an example in subtraction, while the rest are all +additions in ink. The figures are: first, 1,252.00; then, 324.22; and +927.78 below the line. Mr. Drysdale's balance was $324.22, and the +amount of this note bearing his signature is $927.78. It looks to me as +if he wanted to draw $1,252.00, and that George subtracted the amount of +his balance in bank, $324.22, from the amount he wished to draw, +$1,252.00, and that Mr. Drysdale then gave his note for the difference, +$927.78. What do you think of my witness, gentlemen?"</p> + +<p>The three gentlemen put their heads together over the paper long enough +to convince themselves that the figures were really there, and then they +resumed their seats in silence. I had watched their faces carefully as I +drew my conclusions, and had seen their expressions change from +incredulity to uncertainty, then to amazement,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> finally turning +gradually to half belief; but when they sat down, positive conviction +was evident in every face.</p> + +<p>"How is it possible that these facts were never discovered before?" +ejaculated Mr. Bannatine.</p> + +<p>"It is very simple," I replied; "the search has hitherto been conducted +on a wrong basis. The whole endeavor seems to have been to <i>guess</i> who +might have done the deed, and then to find evidence to convict him. My +plan in all similar cases is, to first examine the evidence before me, +with a perfectly unbiased mind; then, having formed a theory by +reasoning on general principles, as applied to the facts in my +possession, I proceed to look about for some person who will answer the +conditions of my theory. I may find more than one, and I then am obliged +to make each such person the object of my attention until I obtain +convincing proof of his innocence or guilt. The person upon whom my +theory causes suspicion to fall, may have been hitherto regarded as +above suspicion; but, that fact does not deter me in the least degree +from placing that person's circumstances, motives, and actions under the +microscope, so to speak; for experience and observation, have taught me +that the most difficult crimes to fix upon the criminal, are those which +have been committed by men whose previous reputation had been unspotted. +Now, you have never connected Mr. Drysdale with this affair, because it +has never entered your minds to suspect him; but, had you gone over the +ground in the same manner that I have done, you would have been led to +the same conclusion. This is the real point, where the services of an +experienced detective, are most valuable. The plan by which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> a detective +operation is to be conducted, is as important as the method of +procedure. To find a man who is hiding from justice, his criminality +being well known, is a task of little difficulty, compared with the +labor involved in mysterious cases, where there is apparently, nothing +left to identify the criminal. I claim no special credit in this case, +since the clues have proven more numerous than had been supposed, but I +have given you my idea of the proper way to conduct an investigation, +simply to show you how I am accustomed to work. Let me now ask, whether +any of you have doubts, as to the propriety of putting my detectives +upon the trail of Mr. Drysdale, to determine the extent of his +connection, if any, in the murder of George Gordon?"</p> + +<p>"None whatever," said Mr. Bannatine, emphatically; "it seems almost +impossible that he should be guilty; but, in the face of the strong +array of accusing circumstances cited by you, Mr. Pinkerton, I can only +say: 'Go on with your work in your own way.' The innocent have nothing +to fear, and the guilty deserve no mercy."</p> + +<p>"Amen," said both the other gentlemen.</p> + +<p>"What is your plan?" asked Mr. Gordon.</p> + +<p>"Well, gentlemen," I replied, "I have been struck with some strong +points of resemblance between Drysdale and one of Bulwer's characters, +Eugene Aram. You are aware, that the only evidence we can bring against +Drysdale, is circumstantial, and that we could hardly obtain an +indictment on the strength of it; still less a conviction for murder. +Besides, there is a large amount of money at stake, and it is desirable +to recover that money, as well as to convict the murderer. We must<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +proceed, therefore, with great caution, lest we defeat our own plans by +premature action. I have arranged a scheme to obtain a direct proof of +Drysdale's guilt, and with your consent, I will put it in operation immediately."</p> + +<p>I then gave the details of my plan, and the gentlemen, though somewhat +nervous as to the result, finally acquiesced in it.</p> + +<p>The next morning, I left Atkinson, for Chicago, where I duly arrived, +somewhat improved in health, by my Southern trip. I immediately sent for +Timothy Webster, one of my most expert detectives, to whom I gave full +charge of the case in Atkinson. I explained to him all the circumstances +connected with it, and instructed him in the plan I had arranged. Mrs. +Kate Warne, and a young man named Green, were assigned to assist +Webster, and all the necessary disguises and clothing, were prepared at short notice.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Warne was the first lady whom I had ever employed, and this was one +of the earliest operations in which she was engaged. As a detective, she +had no superior, and she was a lady of such refinement, tact, and +discretion, that I never hesitated to entrust to her some of my most +difficult undertakings.</p> + +<p>It will be understood by the reader, that each detective made daily +reports to me, and that I constantly directed the operation by mail or +telegraph. This has always been my invariable custom, and no important +steps are ever taken without my order, unless circumstances should occur +which would not admit the delay.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a><i>CHAPTER IV.</i></h2> + +<p>About a week after my departure from Atkinson, a gentleman arrived there +by the evening train, and went to the hotel. He was an intelligent, +shrewd, agreeable business man, about thirty-five years old, and he +impressed all who made his acquaintance, as a gentleman of ability and +energy. He signed the register, as 'John M. Andrews, Baltimore,' and the +landlord soon learned from him that he had come to Atkinson to reside +permanently, if he could get into business there. Mr. Andrews was +evidently a man of considerable wealth, though he made no ostentatious +display, nor did he talk about his property as though he cared to +impress upon other people the idea that he was rich. Still, it came to +be generally understood, in a few days, that he had made quite a +fortune, as a cotton broker, in Baltimore, and that he had a +considerable sum in cash to invest, when a desirable opportunity should +offer. This fact, together with his agreeable manners, made his society +quite an acquisition to the town, and he was soon on familiar terms with +all the regular boarders in the hotel, and with many prominent residents +of the place.</p> + +<p>Some days after Mr. Andrews arrived the hotel received another equally +popular guest. She gave her name, as Mrs. R. C. Potter, and her object +in visiting Atkinson, was to improve her health. She was <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span>accompanied by +her father, Mr. C. B. Rowell, a fine looking, white-haired old +gentleman, but he remained only long enough to see her comfortably +settled, and then returned to their home in Jacksonville, Florida, as +his business required his immediate presence there. Mrs. Potter was a +distinguished looking brunette; she was a widow with no children, and +she might have passed for thirty years of age. She was tall and +graceful, and her entertaining conversation made her a general favorite +among the ladies in the hotel. She was not an invalid, strictly +speaking, but the family physician had recommended that she should go to +the dry air of northern Mississippi for a few months, to escape the +rainy, foggy weather of Florida at that season.</p> + +<p>About a week after her arrival, she went out with two other ladies, Mrs. +Townsend and Mrs. Richter, to explore the beauties of Rocky Creek. They +spent a pleasant afternoon in the wooded ravines, and it was after five +o'clock, before they returned. As they sauntered down one of the +pleasantest streets of the town, they noticed a lady standing at the +gate of an elegant residence, with large grounds.</p> + +<p>"Oh! there is Mrs. Drysdale," said Mrs. Townsend. "Have you met her, Mrs. Potter?"</p> + +<p>"Not yet, though I have heard of her so frequently, that I feel almost +as if I knew her."</p> + +<p>"Well, I think you will like each other very much," said Mrs. Richter, +"and we will introduce you to her."</p> + +<p>On reaching the gate, therefore, the ladies presented Mrs. Potter in due form.</p> + +<p>"I have been intending to call on you, Mrs. Potter,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> said Mrs. +Drysdale, "but my youngest child has not been well, and I have not gone +anywhere for several weeks. In fact, I am quite a home body at all +times, and I always expect my friends to waive ceremony, and visit me a +great deal more than I visit them. I hope you will not wait for me, Mrs. +Potter, for my domestic affairs keep me very busy just now; I shall be +glad to see you any time that you feel like dropping in."</p> + +<p>"I shall be very glad to dispense with formalities," answered Mrs. +Potter, "and you can depend upon seeing me soon."</p> + +<p>After some further conversation, the three ladies resumed their homeward +walk, leaving Mrs. Drysdale still waiting for her husband. He was soon +seen by the ladies, rapidly walking up the street toward his home. He +was on the opposite side, so that he merely bowed to them, and hastened on.</p> + +<p>"There seems to have been quite a change in Mr. Drysdale during the last +year," said Mrs. Richter. "My husband was speaking of it the other day. +He said that Drysdale was becoming really unsociable. I hope he is not +growing dissipated, for the sake of his wife, who is a lovely woman."</p> + +<p>"Yes; she seems to be a most devoted wife and mother," said Mrs. Potter. +"Possibly, the change in Mr. Drysdale, is due to business troubles."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no; that is impossible," said Mrs. Townsend; "he is very wealthy +indeed, and as he is not engaged in any regular business, he cannot be +financially embarrassed. No, I attribute his recent peculiarities, to +religious doubts; he has not been to church since last fall."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p><p>"Is it as long as that?" asked Mrs. Richter.</p> + +<p>"Yes; I recollect it, because he did not go to the funeral of poor +George Gordon, and he has not attended service since then."</p> + +<p>"Well, if he really is in religious trouble, the minister ought to visit +him and give him advice," said Mrs. Richter.</p> + +<p>As they walked toward the hotel, they turned the conversation into a +different channel without reaching any conclusion as to the cause of Mr. +Drysdale's eccentricities.</p> + +<p>A few days thereafter Mrs. Potter called upon Mrs. Drysdale and passed +the afternoon very pleasantly. When Mr. Drysdale came home he was very +polite and agreeable; he seemed glad to find his wife enjoying herself, +and when Mrs. Potter rose to go, both husband and wife urged her warmly +to come frequently.</p> + +<p>"I am going out to my plantation in a day or two," said Mr. Drysdale, +"and I hope you will visit my wife while I am gone, as I am afraid she +may be lonesome."</p> + +<p>"Who are you going with?" asked Mrs. Drysdale.</p> + +<p>"There is a gentleman from Baltimore, staying at the hotel," replied Mr. +Drysdale, "and he talks of investing some money in land, so I thought I +would take him out to see Bristed's old place next to mine. It is going +to ruin now, but if a man like Mr. Andrews would take it, he could make +it pay. He seems very intelligent and agreeable; I suppose you have met +him, Mrs. Potter?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; he was introduced to me the first week I was here," replied +Mrs. Potter. "He seems to me to be a Southern gentleman with a good deal +of real Yankee shrewdness."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span></p><p>"That is my opinion, also," said Mr. Drysdale, "and if he buys +Bristed's place, he will join me in some improvements which are much needed."</p> + +<p>"Well, good afternoon, Mrs. Drysdale," said Mrs. Potter; "I am going out +horseback riding in a day or two, and perhaps I will stop here a few +minutes on my way back."</p> + +<p>"Do so, Mrs. Potter; we shall be delighted to see you. Good afternoon."</p> + +<p>On Mrs. Potter's return to the hotel, she stayed in the parlor for some +time, and as Mr. Andrews came in soon after, they had a pleasant +<i>tete-a-tete</i> before going to dinner.</p> + +<p>The next morning Mr. Andrews went out to get a cabinet-maker to make a +small book-case for his room, and the hotel clerk directed him to the +shop of Mr. Breed. The latter said that he was very busy, indeed, but +that he could get a young man who was boarding with him to do the job.</p> + +<p>"Is he a good workman?" asked Mr. Andrews.</p> + +<p>"I think he is," replied Breed, "though I am not sure, as he came here +only day before yesterday from Memphis. He has served his time at the +trade, however, and he ought to be able to make a book-case neatly."</p> + +<p>"Well, send him over, Mr. Breed, and I will give him a trial. By the +way, who was that gentleman that just passed? I have seen him several +times, but have never met him in society."</p> + +<p>"That was Mr. Peter A. Gordon," said Breed. "He boards at the hotel, +also, but he rarely mingles with other men except in business."</p> + +<p>"I am surprised at that," Mr. Andrews remarked, "for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> he appears like a +naturally genial man; yet he has a very sad look."</p> + +<p>"Yes; he has never recovered from the shock of his nephew's murder last +fall; he always used to be very sociable and hospitable, but now he +seems too much cast down to care for society. You may have heard of the +dreadful manner in which young George Gordon was murdered?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; I recollect," said Mr. Andrews, "the circumstances were +related to me soon after I arrived here. George Gordon seems to have +been a fine young fellow, and I don't wonder the old gentleman mourns his loss."</p> + +<p>"He was one of the most promising young men I ever knew," said Mr. Breed +warmly: "and speaking of poor George, reminds me that I noticed a strong +resemblance to him in this young workman boarding with me. Ordinarily I +would not have perceived it, but yesterday he slipped on a coat of mine, +which was just like the one George used to wear, and the likeness was remarkable."</p> + +<p>"You were one of the first at the bank the day after the murder, were +you not, Mr. Breed?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; and it was a dreadful sight. It was wonderful how Mr. Peter Gordon +retained his presence of mind; he did not break down until he found that +there was no hope of discovering the murderer."</p> + +<p>"Was no one ever suspected?" asked Mr. Andrews.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; several persons were arrested—gamblers and loafers—but they +all proved their innocence conclusively."</p> + +<p>Mr. Andrews showed considerable interest in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> murder, and Mr. Breed +related all that was known about it. When he was about to go, Mr. Andrews said:</p> + +<p>"Well, it is a very mysterious affair, and I am not surprised that Mr. +Gordon is so dejected; that horrible scene must be always before him. By +the way, don't let your young man dress in gray, when he comes to my +room; I should be continually haunted with a suspicion that it was a ghost."</p> + +<p>"Please don't speak of that to any one," said Mr. Breed, confidentially; +"I ought not to have mentioned it myself, for young Green was frightened +nearly out of his wits about it. As I said before, when he wears his +every-day clothes, no one would notice any special resemblance, but in +that particular style of dress, the likeness was really alarming. He was +so scared, that in future, he will take great care not to be seen in any +clothes like those of poor George."</p> + +<p>"Of course, I shall not mention the matter," said Mr. Andrews; "send him +over this afternoon."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a><i>CHAPTER V.</i></h2> + +<p>On leaving Mr. Breed, Mr. Andrews paid a visit to Mr. Drysdale, at the +latter's office.</p> + +<p>"I hope I shall not interfere with your work, Mr. Drysdale," he said. "I +am an idler for the present, but I try to respect the business hours of +others, and so, if I disturb you, let me know it."</p> + +<p>"Oh! not at all, I assure you," said Mr. Drysdale, warmly. "I am never +very busy, and just now, there is nothing whatever to do. Indeed, I wish +I had more to do—this lack of steady work wears upon me. I need +something to keep my mind constantly occupied."</p> + +<p>"That is where you and I differ," said Andrews; "I have worked pretty +hard for twenty years, and now I am willing to take a rest. I don't wish +to be wholly idle, but I like to give up a good part of my time to recreation."</p> + +<p>"I used to feel so, too," said Drysdale, as if his thoughts were far +away; then, he added, hastily, as if recollecting himself: "I mean that +I have felt so at times, but I always need to come back to hard work +again. Will you be ready to go out to my plantation next Monday?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; Monday will suit me as well as any other day," replied Andrews. +"When shall we return?"</p> + +<p>"I had not intended to remain there more than three<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> or four days, +unless you should wish to stay longer. If agreeable to you, we will +return Thursday afternoon."</p> + +<p>"That will enable me to join our riding party the next day," said +Andrews. "All right; I will be ready to start Monday morning. Now, I +must be going; I only stopped to find out when you would be ready to go."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry you cannot stay longer," said Drysdale. "I hope that you +will drop in without ceremony, whenever you feel like it."</p> + +<p>In the afternoon, young Green, the cabinet-maker, called upon Mr. +Andrews, and went up to the latter's room. The work to be done, must +have required a great deal of explanation, as Green remained nearly an +hour. As he went out, Mr. Andrews said to him:</p> + +<p>"If we fail to return Thursday, you must be there Friday at the same +hour. You had better take a look at the place before then."</p> + +<p>On Monday, Mr. Drysdale called at the hotel immediately after breakfast, +and found Mr. Andrews all ready for the ride to the plantation. As they +rode out of town, Mr. Drysdale's spirits seemed to rise rapidly, and he +entertained his companion so successfully, that when they reached the +plantation, they had become quite well acquainted with each other. +Drysdale was a man of fine education, and fascinating manners; he really +had great eloquence, and his abilities were far above the average, but +the circumstances of his life had not been such as to develop his +powers, and give play to his ambition; hence, he was apparently becoming +disappointed, sour, and morose. At least, this was the impression which +many of his friends had gained, and they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> accounted for the gradual +change in his manners on the above theory; namely, that he was the +victim of disappointed ambition.</p> + +<p>During their stay at the plantation, the gentlemen usually spent their +evenings together, while the mornings were given up to business by +Drysdale, and to hunting by Andrews. The plantation required a great +deal of attention just in the spring, and Drysdale's time was pretty +well occupied. Andrews easily formed the acquaintance of the neighboring +planters, and he spent much of his time in paying visits around the +country. He thought quite favorably of buying the Bristed plantation, as +Drysdale had hoped, but the owner wished to sell another place with it, +and Andrews did not care to buy both. Drysdale suggested that by autumn, +the owner would be willing to sell it separately, and he advised Andrews +to hold off until then.</p> + +<p>On Thursday, Andrews started out shooting early, agreeing to be back at +noon, to make an early start for Atkinson, as the time required to ride +there, was about four hours. He strayed so far away, however, that it +was two o'clock before he returned, and they did not mount their horses +until three o'clock. By this time, they had become much more intimate +than one would have expected on so short acquaintance, and Drysdale +showed a marked pleasure in the company of his new friend. During the +first part of the ride, he was as brilliant and entertaining as +possible, but, as they approached the town, he began to lose his +cheerfulness, and to become almost gloomy. Both gentlemen were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> rather +tired, and they soon allowed the conversation to drop almost wholly.</p> + +<p>It was early dusk when they reached the banks of Rocky Creek, about a +mile from Drysdale's house. From this point, the scenery was bold and +picturesque; the road passed through heavy masses of timber at times, +and crossed many ravines and rocky gorges, as it followed the general +direction of the winding stream. Daylight was rapidly fading into the +night, though objects could still be distinguished quite well at a +distance of one hundred yards. As they arrived at one of the wooded +hillocks, over which the road passed, they were shut out from any very +extended view, except in one direction. Here, Andrews reined in his +horse a moment, to take a last look at the beauty of the scene, while +Drysdale passed on a few yards in advance.</p> + +<p>The spot was rather wild and perhaps a little weird; on the right was a +dense forest, rising some distance above the road, which curved around +the hill-side about mid-way to the crest; on the left the hill descended +rapidly to the creek, along which ran a heavy belt of timber, which +permitted only an occasional gleam of water to be seen; the abrupt +hill-side between the road and the timber was nearly cleared of +undergrowth, but it was filled with large boulders and creeping vines; +over the tops of the timber the country stretched away in dissolving +views as the mists of night began to form and spread over the landscape. +Having paused an instant, Andrews spurred his horse forward just as +Drysdale uttered an exclamation of horror. As he came up, he saw that +Drysdale had stopped and was holding his reins<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> in a convulsive grasp; +all color was gone from his face, and he was trembling violently.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, Drysdale?" said Andrews, drawing up beside him.</p> + +<p>"My God! look there!" broke from Drysdale's ashy lips, as he pointed +down the hill-side.</p> + +<p>At the distance of about fifty yards the figure of a young man was +moving down the slope toward the timber. He walked slowly on, with a +measured pace, turning his eyes neither to the right nor left. He was +apparently about twenty-five or twenty-six years of age, and his face +was indicative of intelligence, ability and energy. His course was +nearly parallel to the direction of the road at that point, and only his +profile could be seen. He wore a business suit of light gray clothes, +but he had no hat on his head, and his curly hair was tossed lightly by +the evening breeze. As he moved further from the road, the back of his +head was more directly exposed, presenting a most ghastly sight. The +thick brown locks were matted together in a mass of gore, and large +drops of blood slowly trickled down upon his coat; the whole back of the +skull seemed to be crushed in, while the deadly pallor of his face gave +him the appearance of a corpse.</p> + +<p>Drysdale seemed to rally his faculties a moment and shouted in powerful +but hoarse tones:</p> + +<p>"Say! you, sir! Who are you, and where are you going?"</p> + +<p>Although his voice might have been heard at a long distance, the figure +continued its course without indicating, even by a sign, that he had +heard the hail.</p> + +<p>"Why, what in the devil has got into you, Drysdale?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> asked Andrews. +"Whom are you shouting at in such a savage way?"</p> + +<p>"Don't you see that man down the hill?" he asked, in a perfect agony of +fear and excitement. "See! right in line with that pointed rock; why, he +is only a few yards off. My God! it can't be possible that you don't see him!"</p> + +<p>"Upon my word, Drysdale," said Andrews, "if you keep on, I shall think +you are going crazy. What man are you talking about? There is no one in +sight, and either you are trying to play a joke on me, or else your +imagination is most unpleasantly active."</p> + +<p>"Andrews, look where I point, less than ten rods off," said Drysdale, in +a hoarse whisper, clutching Andrews by the arm; "do you mean to say that +you don't see a man slowly walking toward the creek?"</p> + +<p>"I mean to say," replied Andrews, deliberately, "that there is no man in +sight from here, either on that hill-side or any where else."</p> + +<p>"God help me," muttered Drysdale, as the figure disappeared in the +woods, "then it must have been a ghost."</p> + +<p>"My dear fellow," said Andrews, sympathizingly, as they continued their +ride, "I am afraid you are feverish; you probably imagined you saw +something, and you are superstitious about the matter because I did not +see it. Tell me what it was."</p> + +<p>By this time they had passed some distance beyond the spot where +Drysdale had seen the apparition, and he began to recover his strength +somewhat. It was evident that he was still very much distressed, but he +endeavored to pass the matter over.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span></p><p>"Oh! it was nothing of any consequence," he said, "but I thought I saw +a man crossing that clearing."</p> + +<p>"Well, what of it?" asked Andrews. "Was he a dangerous looking fellow?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; very dangerous looking, indeed;" then, suddenly, as if struck by a +plausible idea, he added: "I thought it was a negro with a gun; you know +what my opinions are about allowing the slaves to have fire-arms, and +this fellow looked like such a villain that I was really alarmed. You +are sure you saw no one?"</p> + +<p>"Quite sure," replied Andrews. "I am afraid you have worked too hard, +and that you are going to be ill. I shall tell your wife to nurse you +well for a few days to cure you of seeing spooks and wild niggers +roaming 'round with guns."</p> + +<p>"No, indeed," said Drysdale, hastily; "please say nothing to my wife; it +would only alarm her unnecessarily."</p> + +<p>"Well, take my advice and rest awhile," said Andrews. "Your nerves are a +little shaken, and you will certainly be ill if you keep on working so steadily."</p> + +<p>Drysdale soon relapsed into moody silence, and when they reached his +gate, he was a really pitiable object. He asked Andrews to take supper +with him, but as the invitation was given only as a matter of form, the +latter excused himself, and rode immediately to the hotel. He happened +to meet Mrs. Potter in the parlor, but he stopped only a few minutes to +talk to her, as he was too hungry and tired to feel like entertaining +the fascinating widow.</p> + +<p>It was then only about seven o'clock, and Mrs. Potter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> proposed to Mrs. +Townsend, and several other ladies and gentlemen, that they take a walk. +Accordingly, they strolled through the pleasant streets, enjoying the +balmy spring air, and often stopping at the gates of their friends, to +chat a few minutes. As they passed the Drysdale place, Mrs. Potter said:</p> + +<p>"I want to run in to speak to Mrs. Drysdale a minute; I promised to stop +here on our riding excursion to-morrow, but as it is postponed, I want +to tell her not to expect me."</p> + +<p>The rest of the party stayed at the gate, while Mrs. Potter went in. She +was ushered into the library, and Mrs. Drysdale came down at once. +Having explained her object in calling, Mrs. Potter asked whether Mr. +and Mrs. Drysdale would not join the party outside, for a short walk.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to say, that my husband is quite unwell," said Mrs. +Drysdale. "He returned from the plantation to-day, quite feverish, and +excited, and now he is in a sort of nervous delirium. He has had one or +two attacks before, but none so serious as this."</p> + +<p>"I sincerely hope he is not going to be ill," said Mrs. Potter. "What +does the doctor think?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! he won't have a doctor," replied Mrs. Drysdale; "he says that I am +the best doctor he can have, because I can soothe him."</p> + +<p>Just then, Mrs. Potter heard a heavy footstep, beginning to pace up and +down overhead.</p> + +<p>"There, he has arisen," said Mrs. Drysdale, "and I shall find him pacing +the room, and muttering to himself<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> like a crazy man. You must excuse +me, as I must go to quiet him."</p> + +<p>"Oh, certainly; I am sorry I called you away. Please let me know if I +can do anything for you. If Mr. Drysdale should be seriously ill, don't +be afraid to call upon me. I am an excellent nurse, and nothing would +give me greater pleasure than to assist you; or, at least, I could look +after the children."</p> + +<p>"You are very kind, Mrs. Potter, and I shall be glad to accept your +assistance, especially, as the children are so fond of you; however, I +hope Aleck's illness will be only temporary."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Potter then withdrew, and the party slowly strolled back to the hotel.</p> + +<p>As Mrs. Drysdale surmised, her husband's illness was very brief, and in +two or three days, he returned to his duties at the court house. He was +somewhat changed in looks, however, his face being haggard, his figure +slightly bowed, and his hand tremulous. He seemed, more than ever +before, to avoid society, and on his way to the court house, he always +chose the least frequented streets. The change in his looks and manners, +was noticed only by a few who had formerly been intimate with him; in +this little circle, his eccentricities were accounted for by significant +gestures of drinking, and it was understood among those who knew him +best, that liquor was responsible for the ruin of another fine fellow.</p> + +<p>One peculiarity that he evinced was, a great partiality for the society +of Mr. Andrews, and for the next week, they were together every day. He +frequently referred, in conversation with Andrews, to the freak his +imagination<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> had played, while returning from the plantation, and, +though Andrews always made light of it, and laughed at him, he evidently +thought about it a great deal. It seemed to be a kind of relief to him +to discuss it with Andrews, and so the latter used to humor him in it.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a><i>CHAPTER VI.</i></h2> + +<p>Several days after Drysdale's return from the plantation, Mrs. Potter +and several others, set out for a horseback ride. They enjoyed the +afternoon exceedingly, and it was growing dark before they reached the +town on their return. As the party passed down the street upon which +Drysdale lived, Mrs. Potter, and another lady, lagged behind the others, +and the main body were quite a distance in advance. Mrs. Potter +suggested that they put their horses at full speed, in order to overtake +their friends. Mrs. Robbins, her companion, assented, and they dashed +off together. The latter's horse was the faster of the two, however, and +Mrs. Potter was about fifty or sixty yards in the rear, when they +approached the Drysdale place. There was no one in sight on the street, +and there was so much foliage on each side, that the road was quite +hidden from the view of the scattered houses.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, Mrs. Robbins heard a shriek and a fall behind her; quickly +reining in her horse, she turned back, passing Mrs. Potter's riderless +horse on the way. She soon discovered Mrs. Potter lying by the roadside, +groaning, and in great pain. Mrs. Robbins did not stop to ask any +questions; she saw that Mrs. Potter was badly hurt, and she knew that +assistance must be brought instantly. She therefore, galloped up the +drive to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> Drysdale house, and hastily told them what had happened. +In less than three minutes, Mr. Drysdale had improvised a stretcher out +of a wicker settee and a mattress, and had summoned four stout negroes +to bring it after him, while he and his wife hurried out to the road. +There they found Mrs. Potter and Mrs. Robbins supporting her. She said +that she was in great pain, from severe contusion, and possible +dislocation of the knee joint, and that she had also sustained some +internal injuries. In a very few minutes, they had tenderly placed her +on the settee, and carried her up to the house. She was carefully put to +bed, and Mrs. Robbins remounted her horse to go for a physician. The +latter, on his arrival, said that he could hardly tell the extent of +Mrs. Potter's injuries at once, but he thought they would not confine +her to her bed for more than a week or two. She asked if she might be +removed to the hotel, as she did not wish to trespass on Mrs. Drysdale's +hospitality. Mrs. Drysdale, however, refused to hear of such a thing as +the removal of a sick person from her house, and she said that she +should enjoy Mrs. Potter's society enough to compensate for the slight +trouble. It was decided, therefore, that Mrs. Potter should remain until +she was able to go without assistance. She improved very rapidly, but +her knee seemed to pain her considerably, and she spent most of her time +in her room, or on a sofa under the veranda, whither her stout negro +nurse used to carry her.</p> + +<div class="center"><a name="gs002.jpg" id="gs002.jpg"></a><img src="images/gs002.jpg" width='700' height='459' alt="She soon discovered Mrs. Potter lying by the road-side, +groaning and in great pain. Page 64." /></div> + +<h4>"<i>She soon discovered Mrs. Potter lying by the road-side, +groaning and in great pain.</i>"—Page 64.</h4> + +<p>A few days afterwards, Mrs. Potter was lying awake in her room at about +seven o'clock in the morning. Mr. and Mrs. Drysdale's room was next to +hers, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> transom over the connecting door was open, so that +whatever was said in one room could be easily heard in the other. Mrs. +Potter heard Drysdale get up and open the blinds to let in the morning +sun. He had hardly done so ere he gave a sharp cry and sank into a chair.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" asked Mrs. Drysdale, in great alarm.</p> + +<p>"Oh, nothing," he replied; "I don't feel well."</p> + +<p>"I should think you wouldn't," said Mrs. Drysdale, "for you have had the +nose-bleed terribly. Why, it is all over the pillow and floor, and leads +out of the door. You must have gone down stairs."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," he exclaimed, hastily, "I did get up in the night. I—I +don't feel very well—I guess I will lie down again."</p> + +<p>"Is there anything I can do for you?" asked his wife, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"No, nothing at present. Just go right along with your household +affairs, as usual; I shall be all right in a short time."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Drysdale saw that her husband was nervous and irritable, and so she +dressed quickly and went down to superintend her domestic duties. When +Mrs. Potter's breakfast was ready, she brought it up herself and stopped +a few minutes to talk.</p> + +<p>"Do you know of any remedy for bleeding at the nose, Mrs. Potter?" she +asked. "My husband had quite a severe attack last night, and he went +down on the front veranda, and then down the gravel walk, thinking, I +suppose, that exercise would stop it. It must have bled<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> frightfully, +for I could see marks of blood all the way down the path to the gate."</p> + +<p>"I suppose he let it run instead of trying to stop the flow," replied +Mrs. Potter. "Some people think it is good for the health occasionally, +and so they allow the nose to bleed as long as it wants to."</p> + +<p>After a few more remarks, Mrs. Drysdale went down stairs again. Mrs. +Potter could hear Mr. Drysdale tossing about on the bed in the next +room, muttering to himself, and occasionally speaking aloud such +expressions as—"Oh! this is horrible!"—"What does this mean?"—"My +God! what could have done it?"</p> + +<p>After a time he became quieter, but he did not leave his room until the +afternoon. Soon after he got up, Mr. Andrews called to see him, having +failed to find him at his office.</p> + +<p>"I thought you might be sick and so I dropped in to see you," he said.</p> + +<p>"I am very glad you came," replied Drysdale. "I have been a little +unwell, and I need some one to cheer me up."</p> + +<p>"Let us take a short walk," said Andrews; "the exercise will do you good."</p> + +<p>As they strolled out, Andrews pointed to some blood and said:</p> + +<p>"Any one hurt in your house?"</p> + +<p>"No—yes—that is, nothing serious; one of my negroes cut his hand this +morning," replied Drysdale, shuddering. "I can't look at blood without +feeling sick," he explained, as he saw that Andrews was wondering at his agitation.</p> + +<p>As they continued their walk, Andrews noticed that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> Drysdale was very +self-absorbed, and so they strolled down the street without conversing. +Their course took them past the bank, and as Mr. McGregor was standing +on the steps of the side entrance, he accosted them heartily.</p> + +<p>"Why, how do you do, gentlemen?" he asked. "Won't you walk in for a few +minutes? I havn't seen you since your illness, Mr. Drysdale; won't you +come in and rest a while?"</p> + +<p>On hearing McGregor's salutation, Drysdale started as if stung, and +trembled violently. He had been walking along with his eyes down, so +that he had not seen Mr. McGregor until spoken to.</p> + +<p>"No, thank you," he replied; "I think I won't have time—that is, I +promised my wife to come back soon. You must excuse me this time."</p> + +<p>He hurried on with a nervous gesture of courtesy, and he did not recover +his calmness until some minutes afterward. Andrews accompanied him to +his home, and on the way they agreed to go to Drysdale's plantation for +a short visit on the following Monday. Having settled upon the time for +starting and returning, Andrews declined an invitation to dine with +Drysdale that evening, and they separated. Andrews dropped into Breed's +shop on his way back to the hotel, and there he found young Green, the +man who had made his book-case. They talked together only a few minutes, +and Andrews then went to his room, where he stayed the remainder of the day.</p> + +<p>On Monday, Andrews and Drysdale rode off to the plantation at daylight, +and the latter's spirits seemed to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> lighten rapidly after leaving the +immediate vicinity of Atkinson. In the afternoon, Andrews took his gun +and wandered off into the woods, but he did not seem very desirous of +shooting anything, for he soon took a position whence he commanded a +full view of the house. In about half an hour, Drysdale came out and +walked slowly toward a small cluster of trees, about five hundred yards +from the house. Here, he leaned against a tree, and paused to look +around in every direction; then he began to stride with a measured step +in a straight line. When he stopped, he began to examine the ground +carefully for some minutes, and finally, he seemed satisfied with his +inspection, and returned to the house.</p> + +<p>During the remainder of their stay at the plantation, Andrews and +Drysdale were constantly together, and the latter seemed to find the +greatest pleasure in the former's society. He frequently recurred to the +subject of ghosts and spooks, and always closed by discussing the +character of the apparition he had seen on the roadside. There was no +doubt that it had made a deep impression upon him, for he never tired of +talking about it. Andrews laughed at him, ridiculed his vivid +imagination, cross-questioned him, and reasoned with him upon the +absurdity of his hallucination, but all to no effect; Drysdale +maintained in the most dogged manner, that he had seen a ghost.</p> + +<p>On Friday, they were to return to Atkinson, and in the morning Andrews +rode over to make a short visit to a neighbor. He was so hospitably +entertained, however, that he did not get away until after two o'clock, +and it was nearly three before they started on their homeward<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> ride. As +before, it was growing dusky, when they reached the banks of Rocky +Creek, and Drysdale was in a state of high nervous excitement.</p> + +<p>On reaching the spot where Drysdale had seen the ghost before, he kept +close at Andrews' side, and endeavored to appear unconcerned. Suddenly, +he grasped Andrews by the arm with a faint groan, and said:</p> + +<p>"Andrews, look! look! for God's sake, tell me, don't you see it?"</p> + +<p>As he spoke, he pointed toward the same ghastly object which he had seen +before. There, right under his eyes, passed the image of the murdered +George Gordon.</p> + +<p>"There, I was afraid you would have the same folly again," said Andrews, +soothingly, as if anxious to attract his attention away from his ghostly +friend. "What the devil is the matter with you?"</p> + +<p>"Tell me, tell me, Andrews," gasped Drysdale, in such terror that his +parched throat and quivering lips could hardly pronounce the words; +"can't you see that horrible man close to the fence, walking toward the creek?"</p> + +<p>"I tell you, my dear fellow," replied Andrews, earnestly, "that you are +laboring under a most unpleasant hallucination. There is absolutely no +person, or any moving object in sight, except you and me."</p> + +<p>At this moment, the sound of approaching hoof-beats could be plainly +heard, and Drysdale turned his head to look back in the direction whence +they came. On looking for the ghost again, it was nowhere to be seen.</p> + +<p>"Andrews, it is gone—the earth has swallowed it up," he said.</p> + +<p>He would have fallen from his horse, if Andrews had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> not caught him +around the waist, and just as he did so, Mr. Breed and Mr. O'Fallon, the +station agent, rode up, one on each side of them.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with Mr. Drysdale?" asked O'Fallon.</p> + +<p>"Didn't you see it? Tell me—did the ghost pass you?" Drysdale queried +eagerly, turning toward the new comers.</p> + +<p>"What are you talking about? What do you mean by 'the ghost?'" asked Mr. +Breed, in great wonderment.</p> + +<p>"The ghost, I say—did neither of you see a horrible figure pass out of +sight suddenly, toward the creek yonder?"</p> + +<p>"I saw nothing, Mr. Drysdale," said O'Fallon; "did you, Breed?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know what Mr. Drysdale means by a ghost," said Breed, +deliberately; "but I think I did see something down there. I couldn't +say what it looked like. Why do you call it a ghost, Mr. Drysdale?"</p> + +<p>"Because I have seen it twice close to me, and Mr. Andrews has not been +able to see it at all," replied Drysdale with great difficulty. "I began +to think it must have been imagination on my part, but now, that you +have seen it, I know that it was a ghost."</p> + +<p>Drysdale was so helpless, that it was necessary for one gentleman to +ride on each side of him to hold him in his saddle. On arriving at his +place, they helped him into the house, and left him in charge of his +wife. He immediately went to bed, and during the night, he suffered a +great deal. Mrs. Potter heard him groaning, tossing, and muttering until +nearly daylight.</p> + +<p>The story of the ghost was soon freely circulated by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> O'Fallon and +Breed, though they could not describe the apparition at all. Still, it +created quite an excitement, and the results were not very beneficial to +the neighborhood, for the reason that no negro could be induced to pass +along that part of the road after dark; indeed, there were a great many +educated white people who would not ride past the spot alone on a dark night.</p> + +<p>Drysdale was confined to his room for several days, during which time he +received no visitors except Andrews. It was curious to observe what a +strong preference he showed for his new-found friend.</p> + +<p>Just at this time I decided to re-visit Atkinson myself, and on my +arrival there I had a long interview with Messrs. Ballantine, McGregor, +and Gordon. I explained to them all the steps I had taken, and they +learned to their great astonishment that Mr. Andrews, Mrs. Potter, and +Mr. Green were my detectives. The ghost was Green, whose resemblance to +young Gordon was a great aid in carrying out the scheme. Mrs. Potter had +voluntarily fallen from her horse in order to get herself carried into +Drysdale's house, and it was she who sprinkled the blood over Drysdale's +clothing and down the walk. After settling all our plans, I returned to +the hotel, where I was easily able to obtain a private interview with +Mr. Andrews and Mr. Green.</p> + +<p>I gave full instructions to Andrews, and he informed Mrs. Potter of my +wishes, at the same time conveying to her another large bottle of blood.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a><i>CHAPTER VII.</i></h2> + +<p>About one o'clock that night Mrs. Potter rose, quietly dressed herself, +and stealthily left the house. She walked to the nearest point on the +creek and began to drop blood from her bottle. She spilled small +portions of it all the way back to the house, up the front walk, in the +hall, and finally, slipping into Drysdale's room, she scattered the +crimson drops on his pillow. She then retired to bed.</p> + +<p>When she awoke in the morning, she found Mrs. Drysdale in a very uneasy +state of mind. She said that her husband had again been attacked by +bleeding at the nose, and that he was quite weak from the loss of blood. +Mrs. Potter deeply sympathized with Mrs. Drysdale, but she could assist +her only by kind and consoling words.</p> + +<p>The family had hardly finished their breakfast when a number of the +neighbors came in in a high state of excitement. They said that blood +had been discovered on the grass near where the ghost had been seen, and +that quite a crowd had gathered around it. They had found other +blood-marks at intervals along the road, and on following the direction +in which they traveled, it was found that they led straight to +Drysdale's house. The question now arose, did the wounded person go from +the house to the creek, or <i>vice versa</i>. Drysdale was terribly excited +on learning of the discovery, and he was soon in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> a species of delirium. +It was known that he was quite sick, so that the neighbors soon +withdrew. Many thought that the blood was that of a burglar or negro +sneak-thief, who might have gone to Drysdale's house to steal, but who +had been frightened off before he had secured any plunder. The blood +might have been from an old hurt. Others, more superstitiously inclined, +believed that the ghost was in some way responsible for the blood. No +one was able to solve the mystery, however, and it added to the terror +with which the ghost story had inspired the negroes.</p> + +<p>Drysdale was now confined to his bed, and he would see no one except his +wife and Andrews. He insisted that he was not sick, but only run down by +overwork, and so refused to have a doctor. Andrews' influence over him +was greater than that of any one else, and it was plain that the latter +had completely secured his confidence. As I now felt convinced that +Drysdale would surely confess in a short time, I returned to Chicago, +leaving the whole charge of the operation with Andrews.</p> + +<p>A few nights later Mrs. Potter was troubled with the tooth-ache, and she +lay awake most of the night. Suddenly she heard footsteps in Drysdale's +room, and then she saw Drysdale pass her window on the veranda. He was +dressed in slippers and night-dress, and his actions were so strange +that she determined to follow him. Hastily putting on some dark clothes, +she hurried cautiously after him. The night was clear with no moon, and +she was able to distinguish his white figure at a considerable distance. +He walked rapidly to the creek and followed its windings a short +distance; then he paused a few<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> minutes, as if reflecting. This enabled +Mrs. Potter to hide herself near by in some undergrowth, whence she +could watch him more carefully. To her great astonishment, she saw him +walk into the creek at a shallow spot, and begin wading up against the +current. Very soon he stopped and leaned over with his hands in the +water, as if he were feeling for something. In a few minutes he came out +of the stream, on the opposite side from that on which he had entered, +and took a path to a footbridge leading across the creek toward his +house. As soon as she saw that he was on his way back, she hastened home +as rapidly as possible, arriving there only a few seconds before him.</p> + +<p>The next morning, Drysdale appeared at the breakfast table for the first +time, in several days. He remarked that he felt much better, but he said +nothing of his midnight walk, nor did his wife, as she had slept in a +separate room; however, she was probably ignorant of it.</p> + +<p>Neither Mrs. Potter, nor Mr. Andrews could imagine what Drysdale's +object was in making his pilgrimage to the creek at that time of night, +especially as he had always shown the greatest aversion to that +vicinity, ever since he had first seen the ghost. I was equally puzzled +when I was informed of his freak, but I determined to make use of the +incident, in case he should do the same thing again. I therefore +instructed Andrews to have Green watch the house every night, dressed in +his apparition suit. He was then to "shadow" Drysdale, when the latter +went out, and if a favorable opportunity should<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> present itself, he was +to appear before him in full view in the role of the ghost.</p> + +<p>By this time, Drysdale had recovered sufficiently, to attend to his +office duties, but he always seemed anxious to have Andrews with him. +Andrews had talked very encouragingly to him, showed a good deal of +sympathy, and thus, they had became quite confidential friends. He, +therefore, assured Drysdale that he should be happy to give him as much +of his company, as possible, if it would afford Drysdale any pleasure.</p> + +<p>"You are very kind, Mr. Andrews," said Drysdale; "you may think it +strange, but I feel a sense of relief, when I am with you, especially +lately. I wonder if I shall ever be better," he mused plaintively.</p> + +<p>"Why, certainly; we hope for your speedy recovery," said Andrews, +cheerfully. "You let trivial matters prey on your mind, and you must +stop it, for your health will not stand it."</p> + +<p>"Well, I shall try," responded Drysdale feebly.</p> + +<p>One evening, Mrs. Drysdale was sitting at Mrs. Potter's side, waiting +for her husband's return. By this time, Mrs. Potter was able to sit up, +and even to move about the room somewhat.</p> + +<p>"My husband is failing in health, I fear," said Mrs. Drysdale.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid so, too," replied Mrs. Potter, "and I feel sorry to think +that I am a burden upon you at the same time; but, I hope to be well +soon, and then I will help you take care of him."</p> + +<p>"You have been no burden, whatever, Mrs. Potter; on the contrary, your +company has been a great comfort to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> me. But, I was thinking, that if my +husband would try a change of air and life, it would be a great help to +him. I should miss him sadly, but I would make any sacrifice to see him +restored to health."</p> + +<p>At the tea table Mrs. Drysdale said:</p> + +<p>"I was just speaking to Mrs. Potter about your health, Aleck, and I +thought that if you would go away for a time, the change of scenery, and +habits of life, would be very advantageous. Why don't you go down to New +Orleans with Mr. Andrews? He is always talking of going there, but he is +too lazy to start. You could both enjoy yourselves very much, and I know +it would do you good. You would return as healthy and happy as you +always used to be."</p> + +<p>"I have been thinking of going there, or to some other place," said +Drysdale, "but I can't leave just now. I think a trip would do me good, +and as soon as I feel able to do so, I will get Andrews to go with me."</p> + +<p>Nothing of interest occurred for several days. Green kept a close watch +every night, but Drysdale did not appear. Andrews got Drysdale to go out +hunting with him twice, but each time, Drysdale succeeded in arriving at +home before dark. Green had kept up his vigils for over a week, and he +began to think there was no use in them. One night, however, as he lay +behind a bush, watching the house, he was suddenly aware of a white +figure gliding noiselessly by him. Forewarned, though he was, the +ghostly stillness with which it moved, gave him quite a severe fright, +before he recollected that it was Drysdale. He immediately followed the +figure and noted his every movement. In the same way, as he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> done at +first, he now proceeded, and after walking up the stream a short +distance, he reached down, felt for something at the bottom, and then +came out. As he slowly walked home, he passed within a few feet of +Green, who made a considerable noise to attract his attention; but, +Drysdale passed straight on, looking neither to the right nor left, and +Green was unable to play ghost for the lack of an audience.</p> + +<p>Green's account was the exact counterpart of Mrs. Potter's, and I was +puzzled to account for this new move. As I sat in my office, in Chicago, +with Green's report before me, the idea flashed into my mind, that +possibly some of the stolen money was hidden at the bottom of the creek. +Recollecting the gold pieces, which had been found on the banks of the +creek, I surmised that the remainder of the gold was buried somewhere in +the bed of the stream. I had no doubt of the eventual recovery of all +the money, and so I decided to let that matter rest until I had complete +evidence of Drysdale's guilt.</p> + +<p>A few days after the midnight walk, Drysdale invited Andrews to make +another visit to the plantation, saying,</p> + +<p>"My overseer sends me word that he needs a great many things, and I +think I had better go out to see what is wanted, myself. I would like to +have you go with me, for, to tell the truth, I am almost afraid to go alone."</p> + +<p>"I shall be very glad, indeed, to go; when shall we start?"</p> + +<p>"Let us start Monday, and return Friday, as before," replied Drysdale.</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Andrews. "I shall be ready on time."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span></p><p>At the first opportunity, Andrews informed Green of their intended +visit, and told him that in order to insure the success of their plan, +it would be best for him to ride out to the plantation, also, on +Wednesday or Thursday. He could thus be on hand in his ghostly capacity +whenever wanted. Green promised to be at a certain spot, near the +plantation, on Wednesday afternoon, to receive instructions from +Andrews, and all their arrangements were then completed.</p> + +<p>Andrews took breakfast with Drysdale before starting, Monday morning, +and at table, Mrs. Drysdale said:</p> + +<p>"Aleck, Mrs. Potter is so far recovered, that I guess we shall drive out +to the plantation on Wednesday or Thursday, and spend a day or two with you."</p> + +<p>"That will be delightful," replied Drysdale, "and we shall look for you +with great pleasure."</p> + +<p>"Well, if the ladies are coming at that time, I hope they will bring our +mail, for I expect an important letter," said Andrews.</p> + +<p>"Oh, certainly," said Mrs. Drysdale; "and, if anything should prevent us +from coming, I will send your letters by a servant."</p> + +<p>Andrews had written to me of the intended visit to the plantation, and +he was anxious to receive any instructions I might send, before he +returned to town.</p> + +<p>The two gentlemen mounted their horses and cantered off. Drysdale +appeared in better spirits than at any time for several weeks, and by +the time they reached the plantation, he was quite gay and cheerful. He +had a great deal to attend to, and Andrews gave him very considerable +assistance. They were kept quite constantly busy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> until Wednesday noon, +when Mrs. Drysdale and Mrs. Potter arrived in a carriage, bringing the +mail. As Andrews had expected, there was a letter for him, in which I +instructed him to have Green appear to Drysdale, in the small grove of +trees, where he had acted so queerly during their last visit. From +Drysdale's manner in this grove, I had concluded that some of the money +was buried there, and I therefore, considered it a good place for the +ghost to appear.</p> + +<p>On reading my letter, Andrews remarked that he should be obliged to go +to Atkinson, to send a telegram, as his letter required an immediate +answer, but that he should return the same evening. This, of course, was +only an excuse to get away to meet Green, and so his horse was brought +up at once, and he rode away. Green was punctual at the rendezvous, and +Andrews gave him full instructions; he was to remain in sight of the +house, on the side near the little grove of trees, until an opportunity +should occur to appear before Drysdale. Andrews then took a long ride +over the country, so as to delay his return to the plantation until +after dark. During the evening, Mrs. Potter told him that Drysdale had +visited the little grove that afternoon, but she was, of course, unable +to follow him.</p> + +<p>The next evening, after supper, Andrews proposed taking a short walk, +and they all started out together. By chance, they took the direction of +the little grove, previously mentioned, and they were all in fine +spirits. Mrs. Potter, however, was obliged to walk very slowly, owing to +her injured knee, and Mrs. Drysdale kept her company; the two gentlemen +were, therefore, some <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span>distance in the advance, when they reached the +edge of the grove. Drysdale had been unusually cheerful until then, but +as they entered the shadow, he began to lose his gayety, as if something +disagreeable had been suggested to him. It was now approaching twilight, +and he turned toward Andrews half pettishly, and said:</p> + +<p>"Don't go into that dismal place; let us stay out in the open walk. I +never like to go into such——"</p> + +<p>The words died on his tongue, and he nearly fell down from fright. +There, crossing their path in the sombre shades of the grove, was that +terrible spectre with its ghastly face, measured step, and clotted hair. +It passed into the deep recesses of the grove, while Drysdale watched it +like a condemned criminal. As it moved out of sight, he fell to the +ground like a dead man, and Andrews called for help. Mrs. Drysdale +hurried up in great alarm, and took her husband's head in her lap, while +Mrs. Potter chafed his hands and held her vinaigrette to his nostrils. +Mr. Andrews quickly called some negroes from the house, and they carried +their unconscious master to his room. He was soon restored to his +senses, but he was in a pitiable condition. The least sound made him +start like a person in the <i>delirium tremens</i>, and he muttered to +himself constantly. Finally he caught Andrews by the hand and said:</p> + +<p>"Andrews, didn't you see that horrible ghost?"</p> + +<p>"No, indeed; I saw no ghost," replied Andrews. "Did either of you see +it?" he continued, turning to the ladies.</p> + +<p>They both answered negatively.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span></p><p>"If there really had been such a thing we certainly should have seen +it," said Mrs. Potter.</p> + +<p>"Well, I know that I saw it, and it is terrible to think that I should +be the only one to whom this thing appears," said Drysdale.</p> + +<p>Andrews handed him a drink of brandy, which revived his strength a great +deal, and he again began to talk about the ghost.</p> + +<p>"I can't understand, Andrews, why you didn't see it," he said; "it +passed within fifty feet of us, and it was truly terrible."</p> + +<p>"It is certainly very strange," replied Andrews. "Here are three persons +that did <i>not</i> see it, yet you insist that you did. What did it look +like? You have never yet described it to me."</p> + +<p>Drysdale made no reply, but a look of renewed dread came over his face, +and he reached for more brandy, which was given him.</p> + +<p>"It surely must be some disease of the brain," said Mrs. Drysdale, +tearfully, "for he frequently imagines that he sees strange sights, and +I am afraid to think what will happen. If he would only go to some +watering-place, and put himself under the care of a reliable physician, +he would soon get better."</p> + +<p>"The doctors can do me no good, my dear," he said controlling himself by +a great effort; "do not be alarmed, but let me go to sleep for a while +and I shall be better."</p> + +<p>Mr. Andrews and Mrs. Potter left the room in a few minutes, as Mr. +Drysdale evidently wished to be left alone. They had ample opportunity +for consultation, and they decided that Green had better stay near by +all night, to watch the house and the grove.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span></p><p>"If that is to be done," said Mrs. Potter, "I will go and put up a +lunch which you can take to him, since if he is to remain out there all +night, he will not be able to get anything to eat, and you know that a +hungry ghost cannot do as well as one which is well fed."</p> + +<p>She soon prepared a large lunch, and added to it a small bottle of wine, +which she gave to Andrews. He immediately hastened out to the grove, and +found Green at a point where they had agreed to meet. He gave the food +to Green, and told him to keep a close watch on the house all night; in +case of anything occurring he was to tap on the window of Andrews' room, +which was on the ground floor. Andrews then returned to the house, +leaving Green to eat his lunch, drink his wine and keep watch.</p> + +<p>The night was damp and warm, and the insects were particularly active, +so that Green's duty was none of the pleasantest. The hours slipped +wearily by until after midnight, when he saw a white figure emerge from +the house and approach the little grove. He hastily gained an open spot +where, in the bright starlight, he could be plainly seen, and, as +Drysdale advanced, he slowly paced toward him. To Green's astonishment, +Drysdale passed within two feet of him without noticing his presence in +any way; they passed so close to each other that Green was forced to +step to one side, yet Drysdale walked slowly on until he reached the +grove. Here he walked around a moment or two and then returned to the +house. Green immediately tapped on Andrews' window and related what had +occurred. There being no new developments, Green returned to the wood +where he had picketed his horse, and then rode back to Atkinson.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a><i>CHAPTER VIII.</i></h2> + +<p>Friday morning Drysdale appeared at breakfast and tried to appear +natural and at ease. He spoke of his peculiar hallucination, but his +remarks were simply repetitions of those he had frequently made before. +Andrews again requested him to describe the appearance of the spectre, +but Drysdale seemed averse to continuing the conversation on that +subject, and so it was dropped.</p> + +<p>Immediately after dinner they started for Atkinson, the gentlemen on +horseback, and the ladies in the carriage. As Andrews could offer no +plausible excuse for detaining them, Mrs. Potter was obliged to try what +she could do. By making two calls on acquaintances living along the +road, she was enabled to keep back their arrival much later than +Drysdale liked, though not late enough for her purpose. It was too early +to have Green appear, as there were so many people traveling on the road +that he might be seen by others and the trick exposed.</p> + +<p>It was quite evident that Drysdale was in a miserable condition. He was +sure that he had seen the ghost of George Gordon, and he was in a state +of momentary dread and suspense. He had entertained thoughts of leaving +the place, but he dared not. Like Eugene Aram, he pictured himself as +continually haunted by the spirit of his victim, and he feared lest +others should see it, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> accuse him of the murder. His health failed +rapidly; his form was emaciated, his cheeks hollow, his eyes haggard and +sunken. It was clearly only a question of time how soon he confessed or went insane.</p> + +<p>Green continued his night watches about the house, and again one night +Drysdale passed out to the creek and acted as before. This time, +however, he had his clothes on, and as he passed Green at arms length, +it seemed almost incredible that he should have failed to see him. Green +took particular pains to identify the exact spot where Drysdale had +searched in the water, and he marked it carefully by placing a stone on +each side of the bank opposite where Drysdale had stopped.</p> + +<p>The following night Mrs. Potter got up and went into Drysdale's room, +where he was sleeping alone. She then dropped some blood on his pillow, +on the floor, and around the bed. Then passing out, she left the trail +as before from the house toward Rocky Creek. Drysdale was horrified +early next morning when he saw the blood-stains. He groaned piteously as +he walked about the room, and then followed the spots out to the front +gate. On seeing that they continued beyond this, he came back with a +most dejected and helpless look. Mrs. Potter saw him go into his room, +and, by looking through the keyhole of the connecting door, she was +enabled to see that he was engaged in washing out the spots on the floor +and bed clothes. He did not appear at the breakfast table, but his wife +told Mrs. Potter that he had had another severe attack of bleeding +during the night, and that he was very weak in consequence.</p> + +<p>During the forenoon Mrs. Potter went in to see Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> Drysdale, whom she +found in great distress physically and mentally. He was anxious to see +Mr. Andrews, and his wife sent a message to the hotel at once. In about +an hour Andrews came in.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to find you feeling so bad this morning," he said. "You were +looking quite well last evening. What is the trouble? Wouldn't you like +me to go for a doctor?"</p> + +<p>"No, thank you; I shall get along better without physic," replied +Drysdale. "I was feeling unusually well last evening, but I had a severe +attack of bleeding last night, and I am very weak."</p> + +<p>"Is there anything I can do for you?" asked Andrews.</p> + +<p>"Well, yes; there are some papers in my office that should be sent to +Captain Rowland, a planter in the west end of the county, and as it is +important that they should be delivered soon, I should be greatly +obliged if you would get them and send them off."</p> + +<p>"Certainly, certainly," said Andrews; "where shall I find them?"</p> + +<p>"They are in the left-hand pigeon-hole of my upright desk, in the +office, and you can send them by Dan. Marston, who lives near the +court-house; he is very faithful and trustworthy. Any one can tell you +where to find him."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know Dan.," said Andrews, "he has done several errands for me. +Where are your keys?"</p> + +<p>"They are on the bureau, yonder; but, Andrews, I wish you would come +back after you have sent the papers. I always feel better when I hear +you talking;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> when I am alone I keep thinking about that spirit, and I +tell you it is terrible. You will come back, won't you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, certainly, I shall be glad to keep you company while you are under the weather."</p> + +<p>When Andrews started off with the keys, a sudden thought flashed into +his mind, and he first went to his room, where he obtained some blood, +of which he had quite a supply. He then went to Drysdale's private +office and dropped some blood on the desk, chairs and floor, and also on +the wrapper of Captain Rowland's papers. He was well known to the deputy +clerk, and so no one questioned his right to go to Drysdale's desk. On +leaving the private office, he locked the door, and hurried back to +Drysdale's house with the papers. He entered Drysdale's room in an +excited manner, and said:</p> + +<p>"Why, Drysdale, you must have been bleeding at the office, for there is +blood on your chairs, desk, and on these papers; look there!"</p> + +<p>As he spoke, he held out the package with its dull crimson stain. The +shock was too much for Drysdale, and he fainted away instantly. It was +sometime before he revived, but finally, he was able to talk again.</p> + +<p>"Please take the wrapper off those papers," he said feebly, "and put +them into another. They are copies of papers in a law case now in court, +and I would not like them to go out in that condition."</p> + +<p>Andrews agreed to fix them all neat and clean before sending them, and +he then went out to attend to it. On his way down town, he met Mr. +McGregor, to whom he related what he had done, and its effect.</p> + +<p>"Mr. McGregor," he continued, "I think it would be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> a good idea to +sprinkle some blood in the bank, on the floor, and on the desk, where +young Gordon used to stand; also, to put some blood and hair on the +canceling hammer. Do this in the evening, and arrange to have some one +enter the bank with you in the morning; then, the story will be +circulated until Drysdale will hear it, and it may have a powerful +effect upon him. I think Mr. Pinkerton would approve the plan, if he were here."</p> + +<p>Mr. McGregor thought favorably of the suggestion, and he agreed to act +upon it, as soon as possible. Andrews then went back to Drysdale's +office, wiped up the blood spots, and put Captain Rowland's papers into +a new wrapper. Having sent them off, he returned and passed the +afternoon with Drysdale.</p> + +<p>The latter was in a terrible condition; he seemed like a man suffering +from hydrophobia, so sensitive were his nerves, and so depressed was his +mind. His thoughts could turn in only one direction, and that was toward +remorse and fear.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<div>"'Tis guilt alone,</div> +<div>Like brain sick frenzy in its feverish mood.</div> +<div>Fills the light air with visionary terrors</div> +<div>And shapeless forms of fear."</div> +</div></div> + +<p>Through advices from Andrews, I was aware that things were approaching a +crisis, and I therefore, went immediately to Atkinson, in order to be +ready for any emergency. I arrived there the very morning chosen by Mr. +McGregor, to carry out his project of sprinkling blood at the bank. He +had arranged, by apparent accident, to have two planters enter the bank +with him, and in fact, it happened that four gentlemen were present at +ten o'clock<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> when he opened the bank. They all entered together, and +when Mr. McGregor had taken down the blinds, he went inside the bank +railing. As he did so, he uttered a sudden exclamation, which caused the +others to follow.</p> + +<p>"What can this mean!" he said, in an excited tone.</p> + +<p>The other gentlemen gathered around the ghastly scene and examined the +blood, which lay in a pool on the floor, and in spots on the furniture +and wall. The canceling hammer, stained with blood, and clotted with +hair, lay close by, and every one was reminded of the appearance of the +place, the morning after George Gordon's murder.</p> + +<p>"What can have happened?" asked old Mr. Gordon, who had just entered. +"Surely, no one was murdered here last night."</p> + +<p>"Ah! I fear it is done by poor George's spirit!" exclaimed O'Fallon, who +was a very superstitious man. "This looks just as it did that fatal +morning, except that the body is not here. His spirit must be uneasy at +the failure to discover his murderer."</p> + +<p>By this time, Flanders and several others, had entered the bank, and the +appearance of things there, was soon circulated throughout the town. The +excitement about the murder, was revived in all its original importance, +and many were the speculations about the mysterious affair.</p> + +<p>Drysdale felt rather strong that morning, and about noon, he walked down +to his gate. While there, some of his neighbors passed on their way to +their homes, and they were all anxious to tell him about the new +sensation at the bank. On hearing the news, Drysdale dragged himself +into the house and went to bed. There he lay, groaning and sobbing +piteously, and when Andrews called<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> in the afternoon, he was so helpless +that Andrews insisted on calling a physician. In a short time he +returned with Dr. Sprague, who examined the patient, and prescribed for +him. Dr. Sprague said that Drysdale would speedily recover with a proper +amount of rest and sleep. Wakefulness and nervous irritation seemed to +be the trouble with him, and the doctor told Andrews that he had +prescribed morphine. He said that there was nothing serious to fear +unless fever should set in, and if any symptoms should show themselves +it would be necessary to call him immediately.</p> + +<p>Upon leaving Drysdale, Andrews came to me to report. I had arranged with +Mr. McGregor, to pay a visit to the creek that night, to search the spot +which had been visited so often by Drysdale. I therefore sent Andrews +back to offer to remain with Drysdale during the night. This arrangement +pleased Drysdale very much, and he was quite touched by Andrews' +kindness. I also instructed Green to watch Drysdale's house, so as to be +ready to appear before Drysdale, in case the latter left his house. He +was to cross and re-cross Drysdale's path, until Drysdale should take +notice of him, while Andrews was to be at hand immediately, pretending +that he had fallen asleep during his watch, and on waking up suddenly +and finding Drysdale gone, had come out in search of him.</p> + +<p>I told Mr. Bannatine and Mr. McGregor, to bring a wheelbarrow, pick-axe, +and large shovel with them, since we should probably need the two latter +to dig up the gold, while the wheelbarrow would be handy to carry it +home. Everything was provided for in advance, and I felt confident of +the success of our expedition.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a><i>CHAPTER IX.</i></h2> + +<p>The night was clear and bright, and everything was favorable for our +work. At twelve o'clock, we met as previously agreed, and hastened to +the banks of Rocky Creek, at the spot which Green had pointed out to me +that day. On reaching the designated place, I threw off my coat and +waded into the creek. I soon found a large flat stone, which I removed +to one side. I was just beginning to dig under it, when Green hurried up +and told me that Drysdale had left the house, and that he was only a +short distance behind. We quickly hid ourselves in the underbrush, and +in a few moments Drysdale appeared. Green passed him back and forth, +several times, but Drysdale paid no attention to him whatever. Suddenly +the thought flashed upon me, that he was walking in his sleep, and I +soon saw that such was the case. All of his midnight promenades were now +accounted for, and it was not strange that he had not noticed Green. So +great was the man's anxiety and nervous dread of discovery, that he +could not rest in quiet, and he was forced to visit the spot where his +blood-stained treasure was concealed, even in his hours of repose.</p> + +<p>He now waded into the creek, as before, but he remained a much longer +time than usual, as he was unable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> to find the large flat stone in its +accustomed spot. Finally, he discovered where I had thrown it, and he +immediately replaced it in the very hole whence I had taken it. He then +returned to the house, and went to bed.</p> + +<p>I again removed the stone, and while Mr. McGregor handled the pick-axe, +I plied the shovel vigorously. In a very few minutes, we struck a piece +of wood which gave back a hollow sound. This encouraged us to renewed +activity, and we were richly rewarded by unearthing a large cheese-box, +whose weight gave ample proof of the value of its contents. Having +replaced the flat stone where we first found it, we put the box on the +wheelbarrow, and took turns in wheeling it to the bank, where we soon +broke it open and discovered, as we had expected, that it was full of +gold coin in rouleaux. The counting of this large sum of money was +rather tedious, but it was finally accomplished satisfactorily, and the +result showed that only eighty dollars were missing.</p> + +<p>The officers of the bank were in high glee, and they asked me whether I +had any hope of recovering the paper money.</p> + +<p>"If I am not mistaken," I replied, "I shall find the paper money also, +within twenty-four hours. I shall go to Drysdale's plantation to-morrow +night, and shall search the ground in that group of trees of which you +have already heard so much. I think we shall find there all the paper money."</p> + +<p>The next day, Drysdale and Andrews remained together constantly; indeed, +Drysdale did not seem willing to let Andrews leave his sight for a +moment. He was perfectly helpless and inert. In the evening, I met<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> my +companions of the night previous, and we drove out to Drysdale's +plantation, taking along the necessary tools. We secured our horses in +the grove, and then Green led the way toward the spot where Drysdale had +examined the ground. On making a close examination with our dark +lanterns, we discovered a piece of sod which had evidently been taken +up, for the edges had not yet joined with the surrounding turf. We +quickly pulled it up and began to dig beneath it; as before, our search +was rewarded after a few minutes of labor. At the depth of two feet, we +came upon a large candle-box, which we carefully dug up and placed in +one of our buggies. There was apparently, nothing more concealed in this +spot, and so we replaced the earth, packed it down, and put the piece of +sod back into its place. We then returned to Atkinson, where we arrived +just before daylight. The bank officers immediately opened the box, and +counted the paper money contained therein; it was found to agree +exactly, with the sum stolen from the bank. The packages of bills were +replaced in the box, which was then locked up in the vault.</p> + +<p>I sent instructions by Andrews to Mrs. Potter to again make use of the +blood about Drysdale's house, and I also ordered Green to keep watch +during the night. The next morning Andrews reported that Drysdale's +terror on discovering the blood had been greater than he had ever shown +before, and that he was fast breaking down. I therefore held a +consultation with the bank officers.</p> + +<p>"Now, gentlemen," I said, "we have recovered the money, and we have +sufficient evidence to convict the murderer. I think it is time to +arrest him; don't you?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p><p>To tell the truth, I was in no easy frame of mind myself. I was morally +sure of Drysdale's guilt, but I had no legal evidence which was +sufficient to convict him in case he should maintain his innocence. +Moreover I had assumed a terrible responsibility in taking such extreme +measures with him, for there was danger that he might go insane without +confessing his guilt, and in that case my position would have been +really dangerous. I should have been accused of driving him crazy with +no proper justification for my actions, and the result might have been +most disastrous to me. The fact that I, an unknown man from the North, +had driven a high-toned Southern gentleman insane, would have been +sufficient to hang me by the summary process of lynch law.</p> + +<p>The fact that part of the money had been found on his plantation, would +be only circumstantial evidence, since another man might have buried it +there as well as Drysdale. His visits to the spots where the money was +concealed, were not conclusive of guilt, since he was a somnambulist, +and in his sleep-walking he was not responsible for his actions. Mrs. +Potter suggested to me that he might have been sleep-walking the night +of the murder, and (while in that condition,) he might have followed the +murderer to the spot where the gold was hidden; it would then be nothing +strange that he should go to the same spot in his subsequent night-wanderings.</p> + +<p>It will thus be easily understood that during the remainder of my +connection with the case, I was in a highly wrought up frame of mind. +Indeed, when I came to make the arrest, it would have been hard to tell +whether Drysdale or I was the more excited. In reply to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> my question, +Mr. Bannatine instructed me to take whatever course I saw fit, as they +were all perfectly satisfied with my management of the affair. I learned +from Andrews that Drysdale would visit his office that afternoon, as +there were some important matters requiring his attention. Drysdale had +told Andrews that he intended to put the office in the charge of a +deputy for a time, so as to enable him to go off to New Orleans on a +visit of several weeks, and he desired that Andrews should accompany +him. He little thought that the toils were closing around him so +rapidly, and that he should never start on his projected excursion.</p> + +<p>Having decided to arrest him immediately, I went to the office of an old +friend of Mr. Bannatine, a lawyer, who drew up the necessary affidavit +upon which I proposed to apply for a warrant. I then called upon the +sheriff, and asked him to go before a justice of the peace with me, +while I swore to an affidavit for a warrant which I wished him to execute.</p> + +<p>"What is the warrant for?" asked the sheriff, as he walked along with me.</p> + +<p>"It is quite an important case," I replied, "and I have had the +affidavits drawn up by Mr. Wood, the lawyer, and you will see the charge +in a few minutes."</p> + +<p>"All right," said the sheriff; "let us go to Squire Baker's."</p> + +<p>Fortunately we found the justice alone, and having stated that I wished +to obtain a warrant, I handed him the affidavit which I had had +prepared. He carefully adjusted his glasses and began to read the paper, +but in a moment or two he gave a sudden start and dropped the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> document, +in utter amazement. He looked at me keenly and said:</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to accuse Mr. Drysdale of murdering George Gordon?"</p> + +<p>At this the sheriff was equally astonished, and he said:</p> + +<p>"Oh! nonsense; it can't be possible. Why, do you know, my dear sir, that +he is one of the finest gentlemen, and one of the most honorable men in +Atkinson? Surely you are joking."</p> + +<p>"No, I am not joking at all," I replied. "I knew, of course, that you +would be greatly surprised and shocked, but the proofs are too clear to +admit of any doubt. The matter has been carefully examined by Mr. +Bannatine, Mr. Gordon, and Mr. McGregor, and it is at their request that +I have come to get a warrant. However, I can soon convince you of his guilt."</p> + +<p>"Well, well, it is almost incredible," said Squire Baker, "but if Mr. +Bannatine and Mr. McGregor are convinced, I presume there must be strong +grounds for suspicion, for they are both very careful men. I certainly +hope, however, that it may prove to have been a mistake, and that Mr. +Drysdale will be able to show his innocence."</p> + +<p>I then made oath to the facts, and the warrant was issued. The sheriff +asked me when he should make the arrest, and I told him that Drysdale +was then at his office, and he must be taken at once. We accordingly, +went straight to his office, where we found him with Andrews. As the +sheriff entered, Drysdale said:</p> + +<p>"How do you do, Mr. Ringwood? Take a chair."</p> + +<p>"No, I thank you, Mr. Drysdale," said the sheriff in a sympathetic tone; +"the fact is, I am here on a very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> unpleasant duty, and I cannot stay +long. I have a warrant for your arrest, Mr. Drysdale."</p> + +<p>"Warrant for me! what for?" exclaimed Drysdale, huskily.</p> + +<p>"It is for the murder of George Gordon," replied the sheriff.</p> + +<p>"Who charges me? I——"</p> + +<p>Drysdale could only shriek the above, ere he fell back into a chair +almost lifeless. In a few minutes, he recovered somewhat, and the +sheriff said:</p> + +<p>"Mr. Pinkerton here, has made an affidavit to the charge, and he seems +to be acquainted with the grounds for accusing you; suppose you walk +down to the bank with us."</p> + +<p>Drysdale gazed at me steadily for a moment, and then said:</p> + +<p>"Let me look at the warrant."</p> + +<p>He was trembling like an aspen leaf, while he was reading it, and when +he had finished, he expressed a willingness to go with us, if Andrews +would go too. It was now after banking hours, and the bank was closed, +but the officers admitted us. After the door had been closed, I turned +to Drysdale and said:</p> + +<p>"I have the unpleasant duty, Mr. Drysdale, of charging you with the +murder of George Gordon, in this bank; have you any denial to make?"</p> + +<p>This was the signal to Green, and as I finished speaking, he passed from +behind the desk, where he had been seated, across the spot where +Gordon's body had fallen. He was made up exactly like Gordon, as on +previous occasions, and though he was in sight only a second, it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> was +enough. Drysdale gave a shriek, and fell lifeless, as the apparent ghost +disappeared in the vault. It was done so quickly, that even the sheriff +was puzzled to determine what the apparition was. Restoratives were +applied, and Drysdale soon revived.</p> + +<p>"Great God!" he exclaimed. "Where is George Gordon? I am sure he was +here. Did you see him, Andrews?"</p> + +<p>No one answered, and seeing that we were all looking at him in +amazement, he sprang to his feet, exclaiming:</p> + +<p>"I deny the charge you have made against me; it is false in every particular."</p> + +<p>"Then, Mr. Drysdale," said I, "you will probably deny that you buried +the gold, which was taken from this bank, in the bed of Rocky Creek. +Here it is," I added, uncovering the box, which had been placed near by.</p> + +<p>He said nothing, but hung his head, and drew a long breath.</p> + +<p>"Will you also deny that you buried the paper money in a grove near your +house, on your plantation?" I continued, showing him the candle box.</p> + +<p>He still said nothing, and I made a motion to Andrews to have Green +ready for a re-appearance. Then I went on speaking.</p> + +<p>"This money has all been identified as that which was stolen from the +bank; it was found as I have stated. I also have here a partly burned +note of yours, which you used to light the fire in the grate. I have +examined these fragments of buttons, and I find that they are exactly +like those on the coat which you brought home from New<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> Orleans just +before the murder; they were found in the grate yonder, where you burned +your coat, but there is enough left of them to identify them. But if you +are not satisfied with this evidence, that we can prove you are guilty, +I will even call upon the murdered man himself, to testify against you."</p> + +<p>As I spoke, Green slowly glided out toward us, with his white, set face, +and bloody hair. Drysdale covered his face with his hands, dropped into +a chair and shrieked:</p> + +<p>"Oh! my God! I am guilty! I am guilty!" and he sank back, but did not faint.</p> + +<p>Green instantly retired, whence he came, and Drysdale continued +speaking, as if he obtained relief by confessing his crime.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am guilty, and I have suffered the tortures of the damned since +that frightful night. I do not know what made me do it, but I have never +known a moment's peace since then. My mind has been occupied with that +money constantly, and even in my sleep I would dream about it. Oh! it is terrible!"</p> + +<p>"Have you ever gone to look for it at night, Mr. Drysdale?" I asked, as +I wished to know whether he was aware of his somnambulism.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no; I would not dare to go near it, but it has haunted me always."</p> + +<p>"How did you come to murder George?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"I can't tell," he replied, in a choking voice; "it all occurred like a dream."</p> + +<p>"What motive did you have? You surely could have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> got money without +resorting to robbery, much less murder."</p> + +<p>"No, I could not. People think I am wealthy, but the fact is I lost a +great deal of money in speculating when I went to New Orleans, a few +months before the murder, and although I have a good deal of property, I +had no ready money, and I could not work my plantation properly for want +of it. I had purchased seven slaves from a man in New Orleans, and I +could not pay for them. He was pressing me for the money, about twelve +hundred dollars, and I came down to the bank to get the money from +George. I had only three hundred dollars in bank, and so I gave my note +for the remainder. While George was counting out the money, I was taken +with a sort of insanity, and I struck him with a large hammer which +happened to be at hand. Then I carried off the money and buried it, +since which time I have never touched it. It has been a curse to me. +This is all I have to say now."</p> + +<p>I turned to Mr. Bannatine and said:</p> + +<p>"I have now done all that I can do in this matter, I think."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you have completed your task, and the law must now take its +course," he replied. "Mr. Ringwood, you had better take charge of Mr. Drysdale."</p> + +<p>Drysdale rose from his chair, wearily, and said:</p> + +<p>"I am glad the end has come at last. This affair has been killing me by +inches, and I am glad I have confessed."</p> + +<p>The sheriff then touched him on the shoulder and said that he must go.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span></p><p>"Yes, I am ready," he replied, "but please let me speak a few words +privately, to Mr. Andrews; I want to send a message to my wife," he +added, with a sob.</p> + +<p>He and Andrews then stepped into the small private office, and Andrews +closed the door behind him.</p> + +<p>"Andrews, my friend," said Drysdale, convulsively, "I beg you to break +this news to my poor wife. God help her and the children. Tell her that +I feel better for having confessed, and whatever happens she must keep +up her courage. Now, my dear friend, good bye. Tell the sheriff to come +here and take me to jail."</p> + +<p>He wrung Andrews' hand warmly as the latter stepped to the door, but +before the latter had reached us, we heard the ringing report of a +pistol shot. We made a simultaneous rush for the little room, but we +were too late. There, quivering on the floor, with a bullet in his +brain, lay the murderer of George Gordon. The crime and the avengement +had occurred in the same building, only a few feet separating the spot +where the two bodies had fallen. The somnambulist had walked on earth +for the last time.</p> + +<h3>THE END.</h3> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span></p> + +<p class="tbrk"> </p> + +<h2><a name="THE_MURDERER" id="THE_MURDERER"></a>THE MURDERER</h2> + +<h3>AND THE</h3> + +<h1>FORTUNE TELLER.</h1> + +<p class="tbrk"> </p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE MURDERER</h2> + +<h3>AND THE</h3> + +<h1>FORTUNE TELLER.</h1> + +<hr class="smler" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IA" id="CHAPTER_IA"></a><i>CHAPTER I.</i></h2> + +<p>One sultry day in the summer of 185-, I arrived in Chicago, from a tour +I had been making through the Southern States. I had attended to a +portion of the accumulated business which I found awaiting me, when a +gentleman entered the outer office and asked one of my clerks whether he +could see me immediately on some very important business. Mr. Howard saw +by the gentleman's appearance, that the matter must be one of great +consequence, and, therefore, ushered the visitor into my private office, +without asking any questions.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Pinkerton, I believe?" said the gentleman, as he advanced toward me.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," I replied; "what can I do for you?"</p> + +<p>He took a letter from his pocket and handed it to me. I motioned him to +be seated, while I read the letter. I found it to be from my old friend +Chapman, a lawyer in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> New Haven, Connecticut, introducing the bearer, +Captain J. N. Sumner. The letter stated that Captain Sumner was a +resident of Springfield, Massachusetts, near which place he owned a +farm. He had a moderate fortune, and he was a most estimable man. Mr. +Chapman had known him for many years, during which time he had always +borne himself in an upright, straightforward manner, free from all +reproach. Lately, however, he had become involved in some very serious +difficulties in the West, and Mr. Chapman had advised him to see me, and +obtain my assistance in extricating himself from his troubles. Mr. +Chapman concluded by saying, that he was confident, that, if any one +could aid the Captain, I was the best person to consult.</p> + +<p>I had not seen Mr. Chapman for some years, the last time having been +while I was attending to some business in which he was interested. He +was especially noted as a criminal lawyer being employed quite as often +for the prosecution, as for the defense. We were the best of friends, +and had cracked many a joke at each other's expense. He did not mention +the nature of the Captain's troubles in his letters, leaving that for +the Captain to do himself.</p> + +<p>While I was reading the letter, I was aware that the Captain was +observing me closely, as if desirous of reading my very thoughts. When I +had finished, I said:</p> + +<p>"Captain Sumner, I am glad to meet you. Any one bearing a letter from my +old friend Chapman, is welcome."</p> + +<p>As I spoke, I looked straight at him, and took in his whole appearance.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span></p><p>He was apparently, about fifty years of age, but was very well +preserved, not a streak of gray being visible in his dark, curly hair. +He was slightly above the middle height, and his frame was +proportionally powerful, his limbs being well knit, and muscular. His +clear, hazel eyes looked frankly out beneath heavy, straight eyebrows, +while his large Roman nose and massive chin, gave his face great +firmness and determination. His teeth were white and regular, and his +smile was unusually sweet and expressive. His face was much tanned from +long exposure to the weather, and his hands were large and hard. He was +dressed in a quiet, neat suit of gray cloth, well fitting but easy, and +there was nothing loud or in bad taste about him. His only articles of +jewelry were a gold watch and chain, and a seal ring with a peculiar, +plain stone, worn on the little finger of his left hand. I gazed +steadily at him for about two minutes, which is about as long a time as +I need to obtain a correct opinion of a man's character. I was very +favorably impressed by his appearance, and I prepared to hear his story +with more interest than I should have had, if he had been a less honest, +reliable looking man.</p> + +<p>He opened the conversation, while I was still looking straight into his face.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Pinkerton," he said, "I have heard a great deal about you from +various sources, and I little thought that I should ever require your +services; but, lately, while consulting Mr. Chapman relative to a +possible flaw in the title to my farm, I also laid before him some other +troubles which he acknowledged were so serious as to require the advice +and assistance of some one with a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> training and experience somewhat +different from his. He urged me so strongly to state my case to you, and +obtain your aid, that I have finally decided to follow his advice, and here I am."</p> + +<p>"When did you arrive?" I inquired.</p> + +<p>"About a week ago. I looked around for a time to see if my difficulties +had diminished,——"(and he passed his hand nervously through his hair, +drawing a long breath)—"but I found they had increased, if anything. +Mr. Pinkerton, when I retired from the sea and settled down on my farm, +I thought my cares and vexations were over, and that I could find in the +peace and tranquility of country life, a rich reward for the hardships I +had endured while earning enough to retire on. My father, also, was a +sailor many years, and, after passing the best part of his life at sea, +in like manner, he was able to live his last twenty years in peace and +content upon his farm; there I was reared, until I was old enough to go +to sea. I have followed his example; but, instead of enjoying the peace +he did, I find that my serious troubles are only just beginning. If I +were at sea, I should have no fears, for there I am perfectly at home. +No matter how the wind might blow, or the seas roll, I always brought my +ship through in safety. I could read the signs of the weather, and could +detect the approach of danger from the elements. I <i>knew</i> my enemies +were there, and that was half the battle. Here, on land, I find it so +different; my worst enemies come to me with the smiles and greetings of +friends; they express the tenderest wishes for my welfare, and shower +upon me the tokens of their affection; then, having fairly won my +confidence, they turn upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> me when I least expect it, and stab me +cruelly. I am a plain, blunt man—often irritable and unjust, I +know—still, I never flinch from danger when I can see it; but, the very +nature of my bringing up has rendered me unfit to cope with the wiles +and subtleties of my fellow man. You, Mr. Pinkerton, it is said, have +the power to see direct to the hearts of men through the shams and +artifices by which they seek to hide their true characters, and you are +the only man who can assist me. Oh, I wish I were back on the sea, far +away from all my troubles. I should care but little if I never returned."</p> + +<p>He spoke in a low voice, but the tone was clear until the last, when his +words were very pathetic. As he closed, his head dropped forward, and he +sat gazing fixedly at his ring in an attitude of mournful retrospection.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you had better wait awhile before telling me your story," I suggested.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he replied, looking at his watch, "it is now five o'clock, so I +will defer making my statement until to-morrow; though I should prefer +to make it now, if I had time. The story is a long one, and I shall have +to take a considerable portion of your valuable time in telling it. Will +you please to name the hour when I can meet you to-morrow, to give you +all the facts in the case?"</p> + +<p>I had already become interested in the Captain, and, after thinking for +a moment how I could best arrange my other business so as to grant him +the necessary time, I told him to come at nine o'clock next morning. He +said he would be punctual in keeping the appointment; then stepping +forward, he took my hand and said, in a very impressive way, "Mr. +Pinkerton, I shall meet you if I am<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> alive. I am not afraid of death; I +have met it scores of times, face to face, and have never flinched from +it; but now I must take care of myself. If I don't come, just look for +me at my boarding house."</p> + +<p>I glanced quickly at him, but could see nothing wrong about his mind. +His eyes were clear and natural; his whole appearance showed him to be a +plain, blunt seaman, little disposed to invent imaginary dangers. Still, +there was in his manner, a deep melancholy which showed me that it was +not any natural disease that he dreaded, and which caused me to exclaim:</p> + +<p>"Why, Captain, you fear death by violence, do you not?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," he replied; "but I cannot enter into details at present. I shall +try to save myself and meet you to-morrow morning, but if I do not come, +please send my body to Connecticut, to be interred near the rest of my +family."</p> + +<p>He then said good-day and went out, leaving me to speculate upon his +peculiar behavior, and to wonder what were the dangers which surrounded +him. I was so much pleased with his frank, manly simplicity that I was +determined to give him all the assistance in my power.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IIA" id="CHAPTER_IIA"></a><i>CHAPTER II.</i></h2> + +<p>At nine o'clock the next morning, Captain Sumner walked into my private +office, and I immediately locked the door to avoid interruption. I +noticed that he was apparently much more contented than he had been the +evening previous; but I said nothing, preferring to have him tell his +story in his own way. He began immediately, without wasting time in preliminaries:</p> + +<p>"Mr. Pinkerton, I know that you are always busy, and that time is money +to you; hence, I shall be as brief as possible. In order to begin right, +I must go slightly into my family history. My father owned a farm near +Springfield, Massachusetts, where my mother brought up the family while +he was away at sea. He was as fine a seaman as ever trod a deck, and +became Captain in one of the regular lines of East India packet +companies while I was a mere child. I had one brother who died very +young, leaving me the only boy of the family. I had two sisters, +however, Lucy and Annie. My father took me to sea with him when I was +quite a boy, and he put me through such a thorough course of seamanship +and navigation that, by the time he was ready to resign his captaincy +and retire to his farm, I was promoted to the position of first mate in +the same line. This was in 1836.</p> + +<p>"About this time my mother died, and my sisters took charge of the +domestic affairs of the farm. My older<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> sister, Lucy, now Mrs. W. R. +Lucas, was twenty-two years old. She was a girl of great firmness of +character, and she has since proved herself the best of wives, being +very domestic and fond of home pleasures. Annie, my younger sister, was +eighteen years of age, and she was then my special pride and delight; +as, indeed, she has been all her life. She was tall and slender, but +well proportioned and graceful. Her features were regular and +expressive, and her complexion was very delicate; yet it has retained +its freshness until now, instead of fading, as is the case with most +clear, soft complexions. She was then, and is still, a beautiful woman. +She was very vivacious and witty, was fond of society, and cared less +for domestic pursuits than to have a gay time in a large company. She +was petted and indulged a great deal, being the youngest and a beauty, +so that she was not often called upon to practice self-denial. It is +probably partly due to this lack of restraint during her early years +that she never has had the strength of character and devotion to good +principles as Lucy."</p> + +<p>Here the Captain sighed heavily, and stopped speaking for a minute or +two. I handed him a glass of ice-water, which he drank mechanically. He then continued:</p> + +<p>"As I before stated, I became first mate when my father retired. The +company was a wealthy one, owning a number of ships, so that the chances +for promotion were very good. My most intimate friend was a young man +named Henry Thayer. We had long been ship-mates together, and had passed +through a school of navigation at the same time. He was a thorough +seaman, a careful, considerate officer, and a true friend. He was a +general<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> favorite on account of his cheerful disposition, and we soon +became like brothers. Whenever we returned from a voyage, I would bring +Henry out to the farm to spend a few days, and, about the time of my +promotion, I found that he had become warmly attached to Annie. At every +opportunity, he would run down to see her, and in every foreign port we +entered, he would be sure to buy some rare and curious present for her. +His affection was reciprocated by Annie, and one day, after I had made +two or three short voyages as first mate, I returned to the farm and +found Annie wearing an engagement ring. I laughingly asked her when it +was to come off, and she replied, with many blushes, that they were to +be married on Henry's return from his next voyage. I knew that Annie was +very fond of gentlemen's society, so I advised her to try to overcome +her taste for dress and company; since, when she was married, her +husband would be away from home a great deal, and then it would not look +well for her to receive much attention in his absence. She seemed to +acknowledge the force of my remarks, and said that she should do all in +her power to make Henry happy.</p> + +<p>"On returning to New York, I found that Henry had been just appointed +first mate, and that I had pleased the company so well that they wished +me to take command of a new ship which they were building. I gladly +accepted the command, and as the ship was not ready for sea, I returned +to the farm, where I spent two months. I was somewhat annoyed at Annie's +conduct occasionally, as she received, and apparently enjoyed, the +attention of several stylish young men, more than was befitting a girl +who was engaged to be married. I frequently ran down<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> to New York to +oversee the rigging of the new ship, so that I did not know much about +her acquaintances; but once, on my return, I saw a beautiful amethyst +ring on Annie's finger.</p> + +<p>"'Where did you get that ring, Annie?' I asked.</p> + +<p>"She laughed gaily and said:</p> + +<p>"'Oh! it isn't mine; a gentleman loaned it to me to wear a few days.'</p> + +<p>"My impression was, however, that it had been given to her, and I feared +she was forgetting Henry; so I said:</p> + +<p>"'That is a strange way of acting, Annie. You are engaged to Henry, and +you ought to know that it is a wrong and an insult to him for you to +receive a present from another young man. If Henry knew of this, it +would make trouble.'</p> + +<p>"She recognized the truth of what I had said, but she was determined not +to acknowledge that she had done wrong; so she flew into a passion and +said, as sneeringly as possible;</p> + +<p>"'Oh! so you are left here to watch me, are you? Well, then, just report +to him that I can get a better husband than he is, any day. I am not +going to shut myself up, like a nun in a convent, for any man.'</p> + +<p>"I told her that I had no desire to act the part of a tale-bearer, but +that I spoke only for her good; her conscience must tell her that she +was doing wrong. I concluded by asking her to stay more at home, and +thus prepare for a more domestic life. I did not see the ring after +this, but Annie was very distant in her manner toward me; her actions +showed as plainly as if she had spoken, that she considered me in the +light of an <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span>unreasonable guardian, who wished to deprive her of all +enjoyment. Her giddiness and perverseness caused me much trouble, and I +greatly feared she would become reckless after my departure. She was my +favorite sister, however, and no matter how she might treat me, I could +never lose my love for her.</p> + +<p>"The first voyage in my new ship, was a very long one, and, on my +return, I found that there had been many changes in my absence. Henry +and Annie had been married for sometime, and Henry was then away at sea. +As my father had died shortly after the marriage, Annie was living alone +in New York, where I called upon her. She was pleasantly situated, and +seemed to have everything that could be wished. Lucy was also married, +and was living in Morristown, New Jersey. The old homestead had been +sold at my father's death, the proceeds being divided between my +sisters. A few thousand dollars were left to me, which I deposited in +bank with my savings.</p> + +<p>"On my return from another long voyage, I was delighted to find Henry at +home with Annie, and they seemed more devoted to each other than ever. +After this, I saw Henry but twice—once in Singapore, and once in +Calcutta. He was then as much in love with Annie, as when he first +married her, and he said that she made him perfectly happy. The last +time I met him, he had just been notified that he should be given the +command of a fine ship on his return to New York; consequently he was in high spirits.</p> + +<p>"When I next arrived in New York harbor, I made it my first duty to call +on Annie. Much to my surprise, I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> found that she was teaching music in +Brooklyn, at a very high salary. Her musical education had been very +thorough, so that she was perfectly competent; but I could not see the +necessity for her to teach. She had had one child, but it had died in +infancy, and she was living in a fashionable boarding house. I called in +the evening, intending to ask her to accompany me for a walk, but she +was surrounded by a brilliant company, among whom were several +gentlemen, and all were paying her great attention. She was very +stylishly dressed, and, to my great disgust, she seemed to be coquetting +with several of her admirers. When I was announced, she led me into the +library, as if anxious that the company in the parlor should not know +that a hard-fisted, weather-beaten sailor like me, was her brother. +Still, she spoke very kindly, and seemed glad to see me. She excused +herself from going to walk with me on the ground that she had an +engagement to accompany the rest of the party to the theatre; but she +said that if I would call some other evening, she would gladly go. I was +somewhat puzzled by her surroundings and manners, and I determined to +have a quiet talk with her as soon as possible.</p> + +<p>"The next day, I went to Boston on very important business, and, on my +return, I found Annie plunged into all the gayety and dissipation of New +York fashionable life. She certainly presented a very elegant and +stylish appearance; yet, my heart ached as I looked at her. How much joy +it would have given me to have found her in a quiet little home waiting +anxiously for Henry's return.</p> + +<p>"I talked with her for sometime about her affairs, and urged her to lead +a more quiet life; but she insisted that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> Henry approved of her present +way of living; of course, I could say nothing further.</p> + +<p>"'Henry is not as unreasonable as you are,' she would say. 'He knew how +lonely I would be while he was gone, and, therefore, he told me not to +mope and pine, but to get into good society, and try to be cheerful and happy.'</p> + +<p>"Still, I had an undefined feeling that Annie was in danger, and I wrote +to Lucy about her, asking Lucy to induce her to break away from the gay +life she was leading. Soon afterward, I went to sea again, and, during +my absence, Henry was given command of one of the finest ships in the +line. Two years passed quickly away, but, as I was engaged during that +time in making short voyages to the West Indies and back, I frequently +saw Annie in New York. She seemed to grow more and more estranged from +me, however, and her conduct caused me great anxiety. I had seen some +things in her deportment, which, though not absolutely wrong, were, to +my mind, far from proper; besides, she showed a carelessness of +appearances not at all becoming a married woman.</p> + +<p>"My next series of voyages were very long, and I was able to see Annie +only once or twice in several years. She was now thirty-two years old, +and was unusually and strikingly handsome. About this time, I returned +from a long cruise, and found Annie still teaching music in Brooklyn. +She dressed as elegantly as ever, and seemed very complacent and +contented. I invited her to take a walk with me, and we went out toward +one of the small city parks. As she swept along beside me, her features +all animation, and her eyes sparkling with health and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> pleasure, I +thought I had never before seen any one so beautiful. I did not wonder +that Henry was so proud of her, or that he should indulge her so much. +We strolled about in the park for a time, and then seated ourselves in a quiet spot.</p> + +<p>"'How long is it since you have heard from Henry?' I asked.</p> + +<p>"'Why, don't you know that we had a quarrel several months ago?' she +answered, with an effort, her face turning very red.</p> + +<p>"'Annie, do you mean that you and Henry have separated?' I asked, very +much shocked at such news.</p> + +<p>"'Yes; that is what I mean. Henry became so strict and unjust with me +that I complained to him of his treatment. One word brought on another, +until at last he flew into a violent passion and left me.'</p> + +<p>"On hearing Annie relate, in such a cool, off-hand manner, how she had +driven away one of the best husbands that ever lived, I was perfectly +thunderstruck. I had feared that something of the kind might happen, but +now that it had really come to pass, I hardly knew what to do or say.</p> + +<p>"'Is it possible, Annie!' I said. 'Where did he go?'</p> + +<p>"'I don't know,' she replied; 'he left his ship and went off.'</p> + +<p>"'But they know at the office where he went, don't they?' I asked.</p> + +<p>"'No; he left his ship at short notice. The company tried to keep him, +but he would not stay; and, finally, he went off without telling any one +where he was going,' answered Annie, beginning to cry.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span></p><p>"It seemed to me that she was crying more to avert my displeasure than +because she missed Henry; but she was my favorite sister, and I still +loved her. Hence, though I deeply regretted and condemned her actions, I +could not find it in my heart to characterize her conduct as it deserved.</p> + +<p>"'Annie, are you not entirely to blame for this? Remember how many times +I have cautioned you against the course you were pursuing. Tell me what +led to your separation,' I asked, finally.</p> + +<p>"At first she refused to say anything; but, at length, I drew out that +reports had reached Henry's ears that she was in the habit of accepting +a great deal of attention from a certain gentleman, and that he +accompanied her to the theatre very frequently.</p> + +<p>"'But,' she said, 'there was nothing wrong in that.'</p> + +<p>"Then, on several occasions, Henry asked her to attend the theatre with +him; but it so happened that she had a severe headache each time. This +made Henry jealous, and he asked her, tauntingly, why she never had a +headache when a certain gentleman called. This sneer led to mutual +recriminations and bitter language on both sides, until Henry went away +in a towering rage.</p> + +<p>"I could see the whole trouble. Henry loved her passionately, and her +conduct had driven him away in despair. I determined to search for him +everywhere, in the hope of bringing them again together, and effecting a reconciliation.</p> + +<p>"The day before I sailed on my next voyage, I saw a beautiful diamond +ring on Annie's finger.</p> + +<p>"'Annie,' I asked, sorrowfully, 'whose ring is that?'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span></p><p>"'Why, mine, of course,' she replied; 'have you never seen it before?'</p> + +<p>"'You must have plenty of money to be able to buy such valuable jewelry +as that,' I said. 'I think you show very bad taste to display it at this +time, when you know that your folly has driven your husband from you,' I added, angrily.</p> + +<p>"She hung her head in silence, as if really ashamed, and I went away +feeling almost guilty for having spoken so harshly to her.</p> + +<p>"My next voyage was to the East Indies, and I made inquiries about Henry +at every port, besides 'speaking' every vessel I met at sea, but no one +could tell me anything about him. It became evident that he had not only +left the service of the company, but that he had disappeared from all +the localities where he was known.</p> + +<p>"On my return to New York, I hurried over to see Annie early in the +evening. She was dressed for the opera, and was evidently expecting some +one. She was quite surprised to see me, but she threw herself into my +arms and kissed me very affectionately, as she inquired whether I had +heard any news of her dear Henry. When I told her of my poor success, +she pretended to feel very sorry, though she did not apparently allow +her sorrow to interfere with her enjoyment.</p> + +<p>"'Well, Annie,' I said, 'you are dressed to go out somewhere, aren't +you? Tell me all about it.'</p> + +<p>"'Yes,' she replied, 'I intended going to the opera with Mr. Pattmore, +but if you do not wish me to go, I will remain at home. You must stay to +meet him; he is one of the most perfect gentlemen I have ever met.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> He +belongs in Massachusetts, but he now owns a large hotel in Greenville, +Ohio. Mrs. Pattmore and I are <i>such</i> good friends, and all the children +think the world of me. I have been out to visit them in Greenville +twice, and they made my stay so pleasant that I always speak of their +house as my home. Mr. Pattmore is in town on business, and I received a +note from him this morning asking me to go to the opera.'</p> + +<p>"Mr. Pattmore came in just then, and we were introduced to each other. +He was a well-built man of about forty-five years of age, with very +agreeable, easy manners. His hair and mustache were jet black, and his +features were rather pleasing. His eyes were large and black, but +restless and snaky; I noticed that he never looked straight into my face +when speaking to me. He was dressed in the height of the prevailing +fashion, and he showed a good deal of jewelry. They both pressed me to +accompany them to the opera, but as I was not appropriately dressed, I +declined politely, and they went without me.</p> + +<p>"I had previously learned at the office of the company, that they had +not heard anything of Henry, so I sorrowfully returned aboard my ship, +almost decided to give up a sea-faring life. I was then fifty years of +age, and I thought of buying a farm, where I could settle down at my +ease. I knew that Annie was in a dangerous position for a handsome +woman—left alone with no one to advise or restrain her—and I wished to +take her with me, so as to remove her from temptation. I therefore, +wrote to Lucy, asking her opinion, and requesting her to advise Annie to +give up her present mode of life.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p><p>"Lucy wrote a long letter in reply: she said that she very much feared +there was something wrong between Annie and Pattmore; when Annie was +staying at Greenville, Lucy had written twice, asking her to come to +Morristown, where Lucy lived; Annie had promised to do so, but she had +never come. Pattmore, Lucy said, was a prominent politician in +Greenville, and he was looking forward to the nomination for +congressman. Mrs. Pattmore was a very good woman, of fine appearance and +agreeable manners; she was very domestic in her tastes and she delighted +in taking care of her home and children. There were three children +living, the eldest son being about twenty-one years old, and the other +two being quite young. Mr. Pattmore's hotel was very well kept and +popular, and he was supposed to be wealthy.</p> + +<p>"Lucy's letter added greatly to the anxiety which I felt about Annie, +and I was very desirous of resigning my command immediately, in order to +settle down on a farm with her, and thus remove her from the temptations +of a gay city. I felt sure that nothing more would be necessary than a +retired, quiet life for a few months, to prepare her to give Henry a +joyful and affectionate welcome on his return. Circumstances, however, +made it impossible for me to give up my ship at that time, and, at the +earnest request of the directors of the company (in which I had invested +a considerable portion of my savings) I consented to make one or two +more cruises. Accordingly, I sailed for the East Indies for the last +time, and made a very speedy and prosperous voyage. I continued my +inquiries for Henry Thayer, but was unable to obtain any tidings of him. +On my return, I called to see<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> Annie, and found her occupying her old +position as music teacher in Brooklyn. She said that Mrs. Pattmore had +urged her so strongly to visit them that she had accepted the invitation +twice during my absence.</p> + +<p>"I had hardly reached New York, before I was hurried away again; my ship +was hastily loaded with a cargo for Rio Janeiro, and I again sailed in +command. The trip was a speculative venture, which resulted very +profitably, and, on my return, I asked to be relieved from further +service. I was then fifty-three years of age, and I needed rest. The +company treated me very handsomely, and I sold my shares at a high +valuation. Having settled my affairs with the company, I hurried off to +see Annie; but I was surprised to find that she had moved to Greenville, +where she was teaching music to Mr. Pattmore's younger children.</p> + +<p>"I had bought a farm near Springfield, Massachusetts, sometime previous, +and, learning that there was some slight inaccuracy in the deed, I went +to New Haven to consult a lawyer—your friend, Mr. Chapman—relative to +the title. While there, I wrote to Annie, asking her to come and live on +the farm with me. She immediately replied that she was under an +engagement as teacher for six months, and that she could not leave +Greenville until the end of that time. She said that Lucy had asked her +to pay a visit to Morristown, but that she had been obliged to decline +the invitation for the same reason. In conclusion, Annie begged me to +visit her in Greenville.</p> + +<p>"As soon, therefore, as I had settled my business affairs, I went to +Greenville to stay a few days. Annie seemed very glad to see me, and +appeared to be in excellent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> health. I repeated my proposal, that she +should come to keep house for me on my farm, and she seemed favorably +disposed toward the arrangement, though she asked time to think about +it. I told her that at my death, I should leave her all my property, and +that, meantime, she should have everything she wished. I also tried to +talk to her about Henry, but she refused to say much, and seemed +desirous to believe that he was dead.</p> + +<p>"I found that she had very little to do as a teacher, the children being +too young to study; but she was much attached to Greenville, as, to use +her own words, 'there were so many fashionable people there.' She used +to go out driving with Mr. and Mrs. Pattmore, and sometimes with Mr. +Pattmore alone, often going as far as fifteen or twenty miles into the +country. I did not at all like the way she was acting, and I determined +to use every effort to induce her to return to Massachusetts with me. +This visit, Mr. Pinkerton, took place about two months ago.</p> + +<p>"After remaining in Greenville a few days, I went to visit Lucy in +Morristown. We had a long talk together about Annie, and finally, Lucy +confided to me that she feared that Annie was <i>enceinte</i>.</p> + +<p>"'Good heavens, Lucy! that is impossible!' I exclaimed. 'Our family has +never had such a disgrace cast upon it before; it has always maintained +its purity. No, no; it can't be possible.'</p> + +<p>"'I am not <i>sure</i> of it,' said Lucy; 'but I know there is something +wrong with her, and I greatly fear that she is a ruined woman.'</p> + +<p>"I hardly knew what to say or do, the mere suspicion was such a terrible blow."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span></p><p>Here the Captain became greatly affected; the perspiration started on +his forehead in large beads, and he often made long pauses, as he +continued. His emotion would sometimes entirely overcome him, so that he +could not speak.</p> + +<p>"Well," he went on, "Lucy wrote to Annie, and back came the answer fully +confirming the horrid suspicion. Annie freely confessed that she was +<i>enceinte</i>, and that Pattmore was the father of her unborn child. She +said that she and Pattmore dearly loved each other, and that she could +not bear the thought of separating from him.</p> + +<p>"My first impulse was to curse her and never see her again; but my old +love for her could not be set aside, and pity soon took the place of +anger. I could see that Pattmore had thrown a spell around her by his +fascinating manners, and she was completely under his influence. I +determined to save her from exposure and disgrace, if possible, and, +therefore, started for Greenville immediately. I had intended to speak +to Annie in a severe and indignant tone, but she rushed to meet me with +such a glad little cry that my anger melted away, and tears sprang +unbidden to my eyes.</p> + +<p>"'Oh! Annie! Annie!' I exclaimed, 'what have you done! How has this man +acquired such a terrible power over you as to make you forget your +marriage vows and live a life of infamy with him? Have you no stings of +conscience? Think how our sainted mother would feel if she could see her +little Annie in the power of a heartless libertine. Return with me at +once, and I will forget everything. In the seclusion of my farm, you +need not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> fear the fiery tongue of scandal, and I will be a father to +your child.'</p> + +<p>"She stood with downcast eyes while I was speaking, but when I had +finished she began a vehement defense of her conduct, in the course of +which she repeated all the usual arguments of those who wish to ease +their consciences when on the downward path.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Pattmore, she said, was a perfect gentleman; he loved her, and she +returned his affection; it was true, unhappily, that they were both +married, but nature had intended them for each other, and she preferred +to obey the laws of nature to those of society; Mrs. Pattmore was a very +fine woman, but she could not make her husband happy.</p> + +<p>"The doctrine of free-love was fully endorsed by Annie, who had learned +it all by heart, and she advanced the most extraordinary theories in +justification of her conduct.</p> + +<p>"For years, she said, she had held the first place in Pattmore's heart, +and he had lavished his money upon her freely; the diamond ring I had +seen, the rich dresses she had worn, a valuable necklace, and many other +articles of jewelry were among the gifts he had showered upon her; they +loved each other as husband and wife and as soon as Mrs. Pattmore should +die, Mr. Pattmore would make Annie his legal wife.</p> + +<p>"I saw that she was completely infatuated, but I endeavored to show her +how false her reasoning was, and to what wicked conclusions it would +lead. I asked if she had forgotten Henry, who was liable to return at +any moment; she could not marry until she obtained a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> divorce. Besides, +the fact that they were looking forward to, and wishing for Mrs. +Pattmore's death, was almost equivalent to committing murder, since to +desire any person's death was morally as bad as to murder that person.</p> + +<p>"We had a long conversation, and finally Annie agreed to join me in +Springfield in a short time. I therefore returned to the farm and +prepared to settle down. I received no reply to several letters which I +wrote to Annie, but at last she sent me a short note saying that she had +changed her mind, and that she should stay in Greenville. I immediately +replied that I would not permit her to remain there any longer, and I +then went to consult Mr. Chapman about the matter. He acknowledged that +he could do nothing, as Annie was her own mistress; but he advised me to +see you, Mr. Pinkerton, and obtain your advice and assistance. As it was +a very delicate matter, affecting the honor of my family, I did not like +to speak about it to a third party, as I feared that the story might be +made known publicly, and Annie's reputation would then be ruined. I +therefore told him that I should not consult you if I could possibly +avoid doing so.</p> + +<p>"While I was inwardly debating what was best to be done, I received a +note from Annie, asking me to come to her, as she feared that something +serious was about to happen. I went at once to Greenville, and found +that she had decided to remove the evidence of her guilt by performing +an abortion. I tried hard to dissuade her from a step which might result +in her own death, but she was resolute in her determination not to wait +for the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> child's natural birth. She said that if I would stay with her +until she recovered, she would return to Springfield with me and never +see Pattmore again. She spoke very feelingly about Henry, and she seemed +so deeply and truly penitent that I was finally won over to her wishes, +and I agreed to stay with her until she had an operation performed. I +determined to take her to stay with Lucy, at Morristown, at first, and +she accordingly prepared to leave Greenville.</p> + +<p>"She had a long private interview with Pattmore before leaving, and when +she came out I saw she had been shedding bitter tears. As I stepped to +the office desk to pay my bill, I saw Pattmore in the clerk's room back +of the office, and he, too, seemed very much dejected. I could hardly +keep my hands off his throat when I recollected his villainy; but I +curbed my temper by a great effort, as I knew that a personal encounter +between us would only publish my sister's shame to the world. On our +arrival in Morristown, Lucy and I had a long talk with Annie, which was +far from satisfactory to me, as I saw that she was still infatuated with Pattmore.</p> + +<p>"I thought best to go some distance away from the places where we were +known during Annie's trial, and I therefore brought her to Chicago. Here +I obtained board in a very respectable family, where there were only a +few other boarders. Annie did not show her condition in her appearance +at all, and no one could possibly have suspected her. I found a +physician named Enfield, who was a noted operator in such cases, and +Annie at once placed herself under his treatment.</p> + +<p>"I knew that I was about to assist in committing a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> great crime, yet I +felt that I must shield Annie at all hazards, and so I yielded to her +wishes in the matter. Enfield was an expert in such matters, and, in a +short time, he brought Annie through in safety. She was recovering fast, +when one day, on entering her room, I found Pattmore there. I went out +instantly, as I was afraid to trust myself in the same room with him; +but, when he had gone away, I besought Annie never again to admit him to +her presence. She would make no promises, and finally, she fell back in +a swoon. On recovering, she said that she would die if she could not see +Pattmore, and I was obliged to drop the subject until she should become +stronger. Pattmore remained in town two days, and she insisted on having +him with her a great deal of the time.</p> + +<p>"I fear that you will consider me very weak and foolish for permitting +this; but I have never been able to refuse Annie anything. I knew, +moreover, that, in such a case, harsh measures would only add fuel to +the flame, and so I continued to humor her, trusting, that in time, she +would gradually recover her normal condition, and see the folly of her conduct.</p> + +<p>"Pattmore told her, during his visit, that he was in great hopes of +receiving the democratic nomination to Congress; and, as the democratic +party had a large majority in that district, the nomination would be +equivalent to an election. He also said that his wife was in failing +health, and that she seemed to grow weaker every day. I could see by +Annie's manner, when she told me this, that she hoped to be Pattmore's +partner in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> enjoying the gay life of the National Capital, though she +did not say so directly.</p> + +<p>"One day, she brought up the subject of wills, and said that she thought +every one owning property, ought to make a will. She said that otherwise +a man's property, in case of sudden death, might be eaten up by the +lawyers and court officials. I admitted the justness of her remarks, and +told her that I should follow her suggestion. I was obliged to go East +on business for a few days at this time, and, on the way, I left a +letter and package with Pattmore, which Annie had asked me to deliver. +While in New Haven, I employed Mr. Chapman to draw up my will. Lucy had +asked me to leave all my property to Annie, as she had enough for +herself and children, while Annie had no one to look to for an honest +support, except myself; accordingly, I made my will in that way.</p> + +<p>"On my return to Chicago, I hurried to our boarding house to see Annie, +and, to my intense disgust, I found Pattmore with her. The sight of him +fondling my poor sister, was too much for me: and, although I succeeded +in restraining myself from doing him any personal violence, I used the +most severe language possible in characterizing his villainy, and in +expressing my contempt for him. I concluded, by telling him that the +affair must end then and there; that he must never address my sister +again, or attempt to see her; and that if he dared to disregard my +demand, he must take the consequences. They both hung their heads +guiltily, while I was speaking, and when I closed, Pattmore quitted the +room without a word. I found that he left town the same day.</p> + +<p>"I also went out of the house immediately, being too<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> excited to talk +calmly to Annie; but I returned after supper, and reasoned with her as +gently as possible on the impropriety and wickedness of her conduct. She +seemed to feel very sorry, and was so penitent that my hopes of saving +her, rose considerably. She promised, with tears in her eyes, to +overcome her unholy love for Pattmore, and never to see him again. I +noticed, however, that when I spoke of my efforts to obtain tidings of +Henry, she was very indifferent; but she promised to return to +Springfield with me as soon as she was able to travel, and matters began +to look more cheerful for the future.</p> + +<p>"A day or two after, she received a letter from Pattmore, saying that +his wife was seriously ill, and that the physicians considered her life in danger.</p> + +<p>"'What is the matter with her?' I asked.</p> + +<p>"'I don't know,' she replied; 'Mr. Pattmore does not state what is her disease.'</p> + +<p>"I then spoke very harshly about Pattmore, and said that he, above all +other men, was hateful to me, because he had ruined her. She replied in +his defense, and, as our conversation seemed likely to become bitter, I +walked out to allow time for both our tempers to cool off. On my return, +I found that Annie had gone out for the first time, since her illness, +but she soon came in, saying that she had taken a short walk for +exercise. She had regained her good humor, and seemed more like herself +than she had for sometime. She again brought up the subject of wills, +and I told her that I had made my will while I was in New Haven. She +asked me about it, and I told her that I had made her my sole legatee, +and that she would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> be in comfortable circumstances when I died. She +seemed very much pleased at this, and said I was a dear good brother; +but she hoped it might be a long time before she should become heiress to my property.</p> + +<p>"'Who knows?' she said, laughing; 'perhaps I may die first.'</p> + +<p>"'That is possible,' I said, 'but not probable. In the course of nature, +I ought to die many years before you; and sailors are proverbially short-lived.'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, nonsense!' she replied, 'you are so salted and tanned that you +will last fifty years yet.'</p> + +<p>"She then skipped gaily into the next room and brought out a bottle of +ale, to reward me, as she said, for being good. She poured out a glass +for each of us, and we drank to each other's good health. In about half +an hour I became very sick; I vomited and retched terribly, while my +bowels seemed to be on fire. The weather was very warm, and I attributed +my illness to some fruit I had eaten, which the ale had disagreed with. +I suffered agony all night, but toward morning I became quieter and the +pain gradually left me.</p> + +<p>"At daylight I casually glanced at my ring, and I was surprised to see +that the stone had turned to a creamy white—a sure sign that my life +was in danger. You will call me foolish and superstitious, I know, but I +cannot help it. A belief in the virtues of this ring is a part of my +very nature, and it has always been an unerring guide to me. This ring +invariably predicts my good or bad fortune." And so speaking, the +Captain held the ring out for me to see it.</p> + +<p>I looked him straight in the face, expecting to see some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> signs of +insanity, or at least monomania, in his eyes, but there were none. He +was evidently perfectly rational, and this belief was apparently as +natural to him as a belief in a hereafter, or in any other religious +doctrine, is to other people. After a short pause, as I glanced at the +ring, he continued:</p> + +<p>"Now, you can see nothing strange in that stone, Mr. Pinkerton, but I +can. From its appearance I can obtain warning of approaching good or bad +fortune. Away out at sea, when a storm is coming, the stone turns black; +when enemies are near me it turns the color of blood; and when I am in +danger of death, it becomes a creamy white.</p> + +<p>"My father once saved the life of a Sepoy soldier, and, as a mark of +gratitude, the latter presented my father with three rings of wonderful +powers. The Sepoy said that he had obtained them from a Hindoo hermit, +far out in the jungle. I have long tried to find other rings possessing +the same qualities, but have never succeeded. One of these rings was +buried with my mother, one with my father, and I have the third."</p> + +<p>I looked at the ring carefully, but could see nothing remarkable about +it. The stone was an opal, set in a heavy gold band, peculiarly chased; +but, aside from the popular superstition with regard to opals, there was +nothing which would lead me to suppose that it possessed any exceptional powers.</p> + +<p>"When I saw you last," continued the Captain, "I meant to have asked you +to have this ring buried with me, in case I died; but I was afraid you +would consider<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> the request too foolish. I wished it buried with me +because I did not wish Annie to have it."</p> + +<p>"But why do you think Annie would take it?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Because I know she wants it," replied Captain Sumner. "She thinks that +it would enable her to make Pattmore love her always, and so she wishes +to own it. Now, I think Pattmore is a villain, and I wish to separate +her from him and destroy his influence over her. Therefore I do not wish +her to get the ring, since its possession will induce her to continue +her connection with that man."</p> + +<p>I confess that I did not know what to make of the Captain. If he was +insane, he certainly had the most impenetrable mask over his insanity +that I had ever seen. His eyes were so bright, clear and honest, that +the most experienced physiognomist in the world would have failed to +observe the slightest trace of cunning, or want of a balanced mind in +their expression. During the progress of his story he had continually +held his ring where he could see it, and several times had raised it to +the light, in a contemplative sort of way, as if he drew some +satisfaction from its appearance. He bowed his head in his hands as he +ceased speaking, and some moments elapsed before he looked up, though +when he did so he was perfectly calm.</p> + +<p>"Captain, did you find the ring of any practical value at sea?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes; often it has apprised me of a coming storm in time to prepare for +it. I have thus passed in safety through many sudden gales of the +approach of which I have been warned only just in time to save my ship.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> +My men always had perfect confidence in my ability to weather the heaviest gale."</p> + +<p>"Well, Captain, if you should give that ring to me, would it be equally +prophetic in my hands?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"But I will not give it to you nor any one else; nor will I part with +it, even in death if I can help it," replied the Captain. "The Sepoy +told my father, that he must never allow the rings to go out of his +family, as they would then lose their powers. I know that the fancy +seems strange to you, and, no doubt, you think I am not exactly sane; +but I have proved the power of the ring so often, that I know its +virtues, and believe in them. I may be able to satisfy you of its value +by a practical demonstration yet."</p> + +<p>I saw that he was not insane, but terribly superstitious, so I made no +further remarks about the ring. He drew his chair closer toward me, and +said in a low, painful whisper:</p> + +<p>"Mr. Pinkerton, I have positive knowledge that <i>Annie has attempted to +poison me three times</i>. She put poison in that ale; she afterwards gave +me some in a cup of coffee; and, the third time, it was administered so +secretly, that I do not know when I took it. The first time, I recovered +because the dose was too large, and I vomited up the poison so soon that +it had not time to act. The second time, I took only a sip of the +coffee, and found that it tasted bitter, so I threw it away, though the +little I had taken distressed me exceedingly. The third time, I nearly +died, and it was only by the prompt attendance of a physician that I was +saved. He said it was a metal poison which probably came off from a +copper kettle in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> which some fruit had been cooked. Neither he, nor any +one else, ever suspected that I had been poisoned intentionally. When I +recovered, I accused Annie of trying to poison me; she denied it +vehemently at first, but I said to her:</p> + +<p>"'Annie, the ring tells me that I have an enemy near me, and you must be that enemy.'</p> + +<p>"I spoke as if positive of her guilt, and, as she is a firm believer in +the ring, she finally burst into tears and confessed having given me +poison at three different times. On her knees, she begged my +forgiveness, and thanked God that my life had been spared. She was so +broken down by the thought of her unnatural and wicked purpose, that I +feared that she would have a relapse into sickness. She seemed so wholly +contrite, that I thought she would never undertake such a terrible crime +again, and I freely forgave her."</p> + +<p>I looked at the Captain in perfect amazement, hardly able to credit my own senses.</p> + +<p>"Can it be possible," I asked, "that your sister admitted that she had +tried to poison you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied the Captain; "and she said that Pattmore had encouraged +her to put me out of the way. He had told her that he would marry her +when his wife, (who was now dying) was dead; that I was bitterly opposed +to him, and would never consent to their marriage; that if she would +poison me, they would be married and go to California to live; and, +therefore, that it would be well for her to poison me before Mrs. Pattmore died."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span></p><p>"What!" I exclaimed, "is Mrs. Pattmore dying? What is her disease?"</p> + +<p>"I do not know," replied the Captain; "but I fear that <i>she, also, has been poisoned</i>."</p> + +<p>"How long is it since you had this talk with Annie?" I inquired.</p> + +<p>"About three days ago, and she has been sick abed with excitement and +remorse ever since. She says that she expects to hear of Mrs. Pattmore's +death at any time, and she is sure that Pattmore has poisoned her. Mr. +Chapman told me, when I last saw him, Mr. Pinkerton, that you were the +only person who could help me; and so I have come to you to save Mrs. +Pattmore and my sister. I feel that Mr. Chapman was right, Mr. +Pinkerton, and I beg you to give me your assistance—I will pay you liberally."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IIIA" id="CHAPTER_IIIA"></a><i>CHAPTER III.</i></h2> + +<p>When the Captain had finished his almost incredible story, I hardly knew +what to make of it. It was impossible to doubt his word; yet it seemed +almost equally hard to believe that his sister could have tried to +murder him. Pattmore's intention of killing his wife in order to marry +Annie, was another piece of cold-blooded villainy which was almost past +belief. The question frequently came into my mind: Are all the parties +in their right minds? After I had thought about the matter in silence a +few minutes, I said:</p> + +<p>"Well, Captain Sumner, yours is certainly a strange case, and I cannot +give you any answer until I have had time for reflection. Return in +three hours and I will then tell you my decision. I will help you if I +possibly can do so."</p> + +<p>He rose to go, but stopped a moment as he reached the door, and said, +with the utmost simplicity and confidence:</p> + +<p>"I <i>know</i> you can help me if you will do so, and no one else can."</p> + +<p>After he had gone, I sent a man to the Captain's boarding house with +instructions to learn all he could about the boarders. He reported that, +among others, there was a Captain Sumner boarding there with his sister, +Mrs. Annie Thayer. My detective also learned many things about the +Captain and his sister which <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span>corroborated the account given by the +Captain. Having satisfied myself that the Captain's story was true—in +part at least—I sat down to reflect upon the strange medley which he had told me.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Thayer had, undoubtedly, committed a serious crime against her +husband, besides making the attempt on her brother's life; but I could +not have her punished, for her brother's object was to save her from the +ruin in which her downward course would probably end. Pattmore, however, +was a dangerous man, and it would be necessary to proceed with caution +in handling him. He seemed to be a villain at heart, and it was probable +that he only sought Mrs. Thayer's society in order to gratify his +sensual passions. Perhaps the Captain's suspicion, that Mrs. Pattmore's +illness was caused by poison administered by her husband, was correct; +if so, it would be necessary to act at once, before she should become +his victim. It was barely possible that he might intend to get a divorce +from his wife and then marry Annie; but I did not consider this +supposition a very probable one. He wished to be elected to Congress, +and he would not dare to give such an opportunity for scandal as would +ensue if he attempted that course. No; poison had been his reliance in +one case, and he would not scruple to make use of it again. Mrs. Thayer +was probably well informed as to all his plans, but, evidently, she +would not willingly divulge anything prejudicial to her lover. Her +brother was clearly unable to compel her to confess anything, or he +would not have applied to me. Moreover he could refuse her nothing, and +he would certainly object to any attempt to force her to give evidence<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> +against her will. He admitted that she was weak, vain and thoughtless; +that she had been false to her husband; and that Pattmore had completely +bewitched her; yet the Captain resolutely stood between her and harm.</p> + +<p>She could tell all of Pattmore's secrets if she were so disposed, and it +would be easier to get information out of her than out of him; the +question was—how shall I go about it?</p> + +<p>I reflected that she was very superstitious, as shown by her belief in +the Captain's ring; it occurred to me that I might take advantage of +that trait of her character to draw her secrets out. Why could I not +introduce a fortune-teller to her, and thus learn all I wished to know? +The idea seemed to me to be admirably adapted to the necessities of the +case. I sketched out, in my mind, a skeleton plan of operations about as follows:</p> + +<p>I should entrust the case to one of my female detectives; she would be +posted upon all the points of Mrs. Thayer's history; she would be +required to learn enough of astrology, clairvoyance and mesmerism, to +pass for one of the genuine tribe; the plan would be so arranged that +Mrs. Thayer would voluntarily consult this fortune-teller, who would +soon gain a complete ascendency over her superstitious nature by +revealing to her all her past life; finally Mrs. Thayer could be brought +to tell all she knew of Pattmore as a means of aiding the sibyl to read her future.</p> + +<p>This plan seemed to me the most feasible of any, and I therefore decided +to adopt it in working up the case against Pattmore. After all, he would +be the one against whom my efforts would be directed, Mrs. Thayer being<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> +only an unconscious instrument in bringing him to justice. In case it +could be shown that he had actually attempted to murder his wife, I was +determined that he should not escape the swift vengeance of the law.</p> + +<p>Just as I had concluded my deliberations, the Captain hurried into my +office, the perspiration standing in great beads on his forehead.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Pinkerton, I fear we are too late!" he exclaimed in a husky voice. +"Annie has just received a telegram from Mr. Pattmore, saying that his wife is dead."</p> + +<p>"<i>Dead!</i>" I repeated. "Is it possible! When did she die?"</p> + +<p>"To-day," he replied.</p> + +<p>"It will be an easy matter to discover the cause of her death," I said, +after a moment's pause. "We must have a <i>post mortem</i> examination held."</p> + +<p>"That may be possible," replied the Captain; "but you must recollect +that Pattmore has a great many friends in Greenville; that, in fact, he +is a prominent candidate for the Democratic Congressional nomination; +and, even if he were supposed to be guilty, the party would make a +strong fight to protect him, as they could not afford to have him exposed."</p> + +<p>"Is it possible that he has so much influence as that?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," said the Captain; "he is a brilliant speaker, and a very +agreeable man socially, so that he makes many friends. He is such a wily +scoundrel that I fear we shall have great difficulty in tracing any +crime directly to him. I do not care whether he is convicted or not, +provided I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> can rescue Annie from his clutches. He has apparently cast a +spell over her, and she is wholly controlled by him."</p> + +<p>"If that is the fact, we must use strategy, and undermine his plot with +a deeper one. I will accept a retainer from you, Captain, and then we +will proceed to work up the case."</p> + +<p>The financial part of the arrangement having been adjusted, I gave the +Captain some advice as to what he should do. I told him that he must +place implicit confidence in me, and not try to interfere in any manner +with my plans. If he could not do this, I should withdraw at once. He +must come in to see me often and keep me well informed; but he must not +expect me to tell him about my plans, any further than I should see fit. +I should try to show Pattmore's villainous character to Annie, and if I +could gather sufficient evidence that he had poisoned his wife, I should +bring him to justice. I then told the Captain that he ought to have a +quarrel with Annie, at the end of which he should burn his will in her +presence, and leave her; on going out, he should tell her that he +intended immediately to deposit his ready money in bank, and make a will +wholly in favor of Lucy. This would prevent Annie from again attempting +his life, as she would have nothing to gain by his death.</p> + +<p>The Captain was satisfied to accept my conditions, and he said that he +had full confidence in my ability. All that he desired was to save Annie +from the power of Pattmore, and from the ruin which would inevitably +result from their further intercourse. He then went home to have his +quarrel with his sister.</p> + +<p>I determined to send a detective named Miller, to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> Greenville, to obtain +board at the Pattmore House, and, if possible, to become intimate with +the proprietor. This part of my plan would require prompt action, as +Pattmore might succeed in removing all evidences of his guilt. I +therefore, sent for Mr. Miller, and went over all the facts of the case +with him, giving him full instructions as to his duties. He was to hail +from Bangor, Maine, and to represent that he wished to start in the +lumber business in Greenville, if the prospects were good. I told him to +post himself thoroughly upon the qualities and prices of all kinds of +lumber, lath, shingles, etc., and to read up the local history of +Bangor. To make matters easier for him, I gave him a letter of +introduction to a lumber dealer in Greenville, with whom I was well +acquainted. The next day, Miller was ready, and he took passage to +Buffalo by steamer, going thence to Greenville by rail. He then took a +room at the Pattmore House, and soon became acquainted with the proprietor.</p> + +<p>The same day that I gave Miller his instructions, I sent for Miss +Seaton, one of the detectives in the female department, and ordered her +to make arrangements to take board in the same house with Captain Sumner +and Mrs. Thayer. Miss Seaton was a brunette, about twenty-seven years of +age; she was of agreeable appearance and pleasing manners; she had been +a school teacher, and was a good judge of human nature. Mrs. Warne, the +superintendent of the female department, said that Miss Seaton was very +sharp, and that nothing could escape her piercing black eye. She was to +cultivate Mrs. Thayer's acquaintance, and endeavor to win her +confidence. This would probably be a difficult task; but I told Miss +Seaton<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> to be patient and discreet, and not to be discouraged, if she +should not be immediately successful. By pretending to be in poor +health, she could obtain Mrs. Thayer's sympathy, and their progress +toward intimacy would be accelerated. Miss Seaton immediately moved to +the City Hotel, whence she set out to look for a boarding place. By a +curious coincidence, she could not satisfy herself until she came to the +house where Mrs. Thayer was boarding on the North side. There she found +a pleasant room adjoining Mrs. Thayer's, and it suited her exactly. That +evening at supper, she was introduced to her fellow boarders, of whom +there were only three besides the Captain and his sister.</p> + +<p>The employment of female detectives has been the subject of some adverse +criticism by persons who think that women should not engage in such a +dangerous calling. It has been claimed that the work is unwomanly; that +it is only performed by abandoned women; and that no respectable woman +who becomes a detective can remain virtuous. To these theories, which I +regret to say are quite prevalent, I enter a positive denial. My +experience of twenty years with lady operatives is worth something, and +I have no hesitation in saying that the profession of a detective, for a +lady possessing the requisite characteristics, is as useful and +honorable employment as can be found in any walk of life.</p> + +<p>Previous to the early part of 1855, I had never regularly employed any +female detectives; nor were women engaged in that capacity in any part +of the Union. My first experience with them was due to Mrs. Kate Warne, +an intelligent, brilliant, and accomplished lady. She<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> offered her +services to me in the early spring of that year, and, in spite of the +novelty of her proposition, I determined to give her a trial. She soon +showed such tact, readiness of resource, ability to read character, +intuitive perception of motives, and rare discretion, that I created a +female department in the agency, and made Mrs. Warne the superintendent thereof.</p> + +<p>The work of my female detectives is generally light. Zeal and discretion +are the principal requisites, though conscientious devotion to duty, and +rigid obedience to orders, are also essential. They are expected to win +the confidence of those from whom information is desired, and to lose no +opportunity of encouraging them to talk about themselves.</p> + +<p>With regard to the moral influence of their duties, I say boldly that it +is in no respect different from that of any other position where women +are thrown upon their own resources. It is an unfortunate fact in our +social system, that no single woman or widow, dependent upon herself for +support, can escape a loss of caste and position by working in the great +field of business where she comes in competition and contact with men; +but, aside from this general prejudice, there is nothing in the +detective's duties to make her profession less respectable and honorable +than there is in the duties of a lady cashier, book-keeper, copyist, or +clerk. The detective's temptations are no greater than those of any of +the foregoing who mingle with men in their daily business; while, on the +other hand, the safeguards of their virtue are much more numerous, since +all the detectives of my agency know that their conduct is under constant surveillance.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span></p><p>There are instances of frequent occurrence where great criminals are +successful in hiding all traces of their guilt so effectually as to make +their conviction impossible without the aid of the female detective. +Most of these men have wives or mistresses in whom they confide to a +great extent. The testimony of these women, then, become the sole means +by which to convict the criminals, and their testimony can be obtained +in only one way—a female detective makes their acquaintance, wins their +confidence, and draws out the story of the crime. Such an instance is +given in "The Expressman and the Detective," hitherto published.</p> + +<p>I have in my employ several ladies of unquestionable purity of life, who +are also among the most successful operators on my whole force. I take +pleasure in offering this tribute to their ability, and their spotless characters.</p> + +<p>The next day the Captain called to see me, and said that, according to +my advice, he had quarreled with Annie about Pattmore, and had worked +himself into a great rage. Finally, he had torn up and burned his will, +saying that he should immediately make another, leaving everything to Lucy.</p> + +<p>"So far, so good," said I; "she now will have no motive for poisoning +you, so you can rest in peace."</p> + +<p>The Captain stated further that he had deposited in bank a few hundred +dollars which he had brought with him, so that he felt comparatively +safe for the present.</p> + +<p>That evening Miss Seaton reported that Mrs. Thayer had left the house +shortly after the Captain. Miss Seaton had followed her to the +post-office, where Mrs. Thayer had deposited a letter, and had received +another at the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> ladies' window. She had immediately torn it open, read +it hastily, and crumpled it in her hand, while slowly walking home. I +was very anxious to know to whom she had written, and also who had +written to her. I immediately wrote to Miller to watch Pattmore's mail, +and to learn whether there were any letters in it from Chicago. If so, I +wished him to obtain a view of the handwriting, and, if possible, to get +possession of the letters themselves long enough to take copies of them.</p> + +<p>The next morning Captain Sumner came in again, but he had nothing to report.</p> + +<p>"Does Annie write much?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"No, very little," he replied.</p> + +<p>"Does she correspond with Lucy?"</p> + +<p>"Sometimes, but not regularly."</p> + +<p>"Did she not write a letter two days ago?" I inquired.</p> + +<p>"No," answered the Captain; "but why do you ask?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! for no particular reason; however I wish you would write to Lucy +and inquire whether she has received a letter from Annie lately; also +whether she has written to Annie."</p> + +<p>"Certainly, I will do so now," said the Captain, and, he straightway sat +down to write to Lucy.</p> + +<p>In a few days, the Captain received a letter from Lucy stating that no +letters had passed between her and Annie for over a month. This made it +certain that Lucy was not Annie's correspondent.</p> + +<p>Miller sent in a report about the same time, saying that he had become +slightly acquainted with Pattmore, who was deeply mourning the death of +his wife. Even the mere mention of her name was sufficient to draw +tears<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> to his eyes, and her loss had so severely affected him that his +friends were afraid he would never be the same man that he had been +during her life.</p> + +<p>Miller had expressed an intention of opening an office in Greenville, +and Pattmore had given him some valuable advice and information relative +to the lumber market in the interior. Since getting my letter, Miller +had noticed that Pattmore had received four letters from Chicago. Miller +said that he had not been able to obtain possession of these letters, +but he should make a great effort to capture those which might come in +the future. He had taken pains to cultivate the friendship of the clerk +of the hotel, and he was on such good terms with him as to find it +convenient to pass a great deal of time in the office. He had noticed +that when the clerk received the mail, all of Pattmore's letters were +put into a particular box behind the desk, and he hoped to be able to +secure some of them.</p> + +<p>I had devoted a large amount of thought to this singular case, and I +finally decided that I would go to Greenville in person. I determined to +see the coroner and find out what kind of a man he was. If possible, I +should induce him to have Mrs. Pattmore's body exhumed and an inquest +held upon it.</p> + +<p>I had previously written to Mr. Chapman to obtain further information +about the Captain and his family, and had mentioned his superstitious +belief in the ring. I said that I was not afraid of losing money, as the +Captain offered me more than my usual scale of prices; but the Captain's +story and his great superstition led me to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> think that he was a "wee bit +daft," and that there was insanity in the family.</p> + +<p>Mr. Chapman replied that he had known the Captain's father and mother +intimately, but there had been no sign of insanity in any of their +actions. They had been, however, firm believers in their rings, and had +had the rings which they had worn buried with them. They had been +clear-headed, religious people, and it was surprising that they should +have had such a superstitious faith in the power of those opal rings. +The Captain had always been an honorable, straight-forward man, but he +and his sister were even more superstitious than any of the others.</p> + +<p>"Well," I thought, on reading Mr. Chapman's letter, "the whole family +are a strange medley; but I think I can turn their superstitious +credulity to good account, in any efforts to learn whether Pattmore +poisoned his wife."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IVA" id="CHAPTER_IVA"></a><i>CHAPTER IV.</i></h2> + +<p>As soon as possible, I started for Greenville, to see the coroner; on my +arrival, I was so fortunate as to meet Mr. Wells, an old friend, who had +formerly been sheriff of the county. He offered to introduce me to his +successor, Mr. Tomlinson, who had once been his deputy. Mr. Wells was +quite wealthy, and had retired from business. Mr. Tomlinson was an +honest, hard working carpenter, who was thoroughly reliable and zealous. +Neither of these gentlemen, however, had the shrewdness nor the +experience necessary to detect criminals of the character and ability of +Pattmore. They were perfectly competent to attend to the small thieves +and swindlers of the district, but they were wholly ignorant and +unsuspicious of the means by which daring and skillful villains carry +out their plans and hide the evidences of their crimes.</p> + +<p>They knew Mr. Pattmore well, as he had resided in Greenville for seven +years. They stated that he was a scheming politician who could not be +depended upon, and that he was trying to get the Democratic Nomination +for congressman. Probably, he would not succeed, but he was spending +money freely, and he would, therefore, be apt to get some good office. +He was not wealthy, but he kept his hotel well, and did a large +business. Mr. Wells thought that he used all his money as fast as he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> +made it, either in trying to get votes, or in some other way outside of +his business. His wife had been generally esteemed by a large circle of acquaintances.</p> + +<p>I told Mr. Tomlinson that I should like to see the coroner, and have him +investigate the causes of Mrs. Pattmore's death.</p> + +<p>"Oh! that will be easy," he replied, "as I know Van Valkenburgh, the +coroner, very well, and we are on good terms. He is a warm friend of +Pattmore,—in fact, they are boon companions. He spends most of his time +in idling about the Pattmore House, and only yesterday, they went driving together."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to hear that," said I; "for he will not wish to do anything +to injure his friend. How can I get an inquest called?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said Mr. Tomlinson.</p> + +<p>"Suppose that I should make an affidavit under an assumed name and hand +it to you, could you not serve it on the coroner as a complaint which +required his attention?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"No; that would not do, as it would involve me in difficulty," replied +the sheriff; "but if I should hear people talking about the death of +Mrs. Pattmore, and hinting at foul play, it would be my duty to lay the +matter before the coroner. Then he, as a friend of Pattmore, could not +do otherwise than order an inquest."</p> + +<p>I determined to act on this suggestion, and I therefore telegraphed to +Mr. Bangs, my General Superintendent, directing him to send two of my +detectives, Mr. Green and Mr. Knox, to meet me at the Clarendon House in +Greenville. They left Chicago by the next train, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> when they arrived +in Greenville, I instructed them to go into the office of the hotel and +begin a conversation about Mrs. Pattmore's death; having told them what +I wished them to say, I sent them in. I had previously arranged that Mr. +Tomlinson should be present. Accordingly, they took seats in the main +hall in front of the clerk's desk, near which there was a large group of +guests and citizens, and began to talk in loud tones.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Knox, "there are more cases of death by poisoning than you +would suppose. Now, there was a case in this town, only a short time +ago, in which I think that poison was used."</p> + +<p>"Oh! you mean Mrs. Pattmore," said Green. "Yes, that was a very +suspicious affair. Was anything done about it?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied Knox; "but every one, who knows anything about the +circumstances of her death, believes that she was poisoned."</p> + +<p>My men were soon surrounded by an excited crowd, all of whom were +anxious to know the grounds upon which their suspicions were based. They +replied in vague terms and insinuations, as if they knew a great deal +more than they would tell. The news that Mr. Pattmore was suspected of +having poisoned his wife, was soon buzzed all through the Clarendon +House; and, as soon as the excitement had become general, my men slipped +away and joined me in my room.</p> + +<p>Sheriff Tomlinson was immediately appealed to by many citizens to +require the coroner to investigate the matter, and he finally went to +the coroner's office, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span>accompanied by quite a crowd. When the coroner +was informed of the reports in circulation, he became quite indignant.</p> + +<p>"What! <i>Pattmore poison his wife!</i>" he exclaimed. "Why, he fairly doted +on her, and, since her death, he can hardly assuage his grief. He is a +gentleman in every sense of the word, and his character ought to be a +sufficient protection against so gross a slander. This is a contemptible +invention of his political opponents. I will soon vindicate him, +however. I shall have Mrs. Pattmore's body exhumed, and shall call an +inquest. Then, if any one has any charges to make, there will be an +opportunity for them to come forward. I will not consent to see a friend +of mine so vilely slandered."</p> + +<p>Coroner Van Valkenburgh immediately wrote an order to have Mrs. +Pattmore's body disinterred, and, also, a call for an inquest the +following day. He had become very indignant at the idea of connecting +his friend, Pattmore, with such a hideous crime: he, therefore, hurried +over to tell Pattmore of the rumors, and of the prompt measures he had +taken to prove their falsity. He drew Pattmore into a private room and +told him all that he had heard and done. He expected that Pattmore would +thank him heartily for his friendly action; but, instead, Pattmore's +face turned very white, and he asked who it was that had spread the +rumors. The coroner said that the sheriff and several prominent citizens +had called upon him to investigate the rumors that were circulating at +the hotels and on the street. Pattmore became very much excited when he +heard this, and paced up and down in a nervous, irritable manner.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Van Valkenburgh, "I will have the body<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> exhumed to-morrow, +and when we have disproved the calumny, this scheme of your enemies will +do you more good than harm."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Pattmore; "but my love for my wife is far above all other +considerations. It is shocking to think that her body must be torn from +the grave to refute the vile slanders of my political opponents. I do +not know what course you usually pursue in such cases, but I would not, +for the world, have her remains exposed to the gaze of a cruel, +heartless crowd of strangers."</p> + +<p>Mr. Pattmore's feelings quite overcame him, at the thought of such +desecration, and he wept.</p> + +<p>"I'll take care of that," said the sympathizing coroner; "I will have +Dr. Forsythe make the examination, and his testimony will be sufficient for the jury."</p> + +<p>"Well, I shall be satisfied with any arrangements you may make," said +Pattmore. "I hope a good jury will be summoned; I do not wish my wife's +body to be examined by a lot of curiosity seekers."</p> + +<p>"Your wishes shall be attended to," replied the coroner. "I know who are +your friends and I will summon no one else to sit on the jury."</p> + +<p>"Van Valkenburgh," exclaimed Pattmore, seizing the coroner's hand, "I am +your friend for life!"</p> + +<p>He then led the way to the bar-room and invited the coroner to drink.</p> + +<p>Miller was standing in the bar-room as the coroner and Pattmore passed, +and noticing a haggard, pallid expression on the latter's face, he +stepped up and said:</p> + +<p>"Why, what's the matter Pattmore? Has anything gone wrong with you?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span></p><p>"No, Mr. Miller, nothing very serious. Some of my enemies have started +a story that I am responsible for my wife's death; but, of course, there +is not a word of truth in it. The coroner has taken the matter in +charge, and his verdict will soon set at rest these scandalous lies. +There is nothing too sacred for these political harpies and ghouls: they +literally have dragged the loved dead from the grave in the hope of +injuring my reputation. Well, time will show my innocence."</p> + +<p>So saying, Pattmore pressed Miller's hand warmly, as if overcome with +emotion, and passed into the office. Mr. Green and Mr. Knox were +watching him, and when he went up stairs, he was followed by Knox, who +saw him go into his room. Knox immediately came down stairs and passed +across the street to a corner where I had agreed to wait for him. Having +heard his report I said:</p> + +<p>"Mr. Knox, you are a stranger here, so you had better go back to see +what Pattmore is doing. You can stumble into his room, as if you had +mistaken it for your own. Be quick!" I added, as he started, "for we +must keep watch of him every minute until the inquest has been held."</p> + +<p>"Knox rushed into the hotel, ran up stairs and hastily entered +Pattmore's room, where he found Pattmore writing a letter.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I beg pardon," said Knox, "I have mistaken the room," and so +saying, he withdrew and returned to me.</p> + +<p>"So he is writing a letter, is he?" said I. "We must learn the contents +of that letter, and I have not a minute to lose. Knox, find Green and +Miller and bring them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> over here at once. Thank goodness, it is getting +so dark that we shall not be noticed."</p> + +<p>Knox was off like a shot, and in a very few minutes all my men were with me.</p> + +<p>"Green," I said, "go to your hotel, pay your bill, and proceed to the +Pattmore House. When you register your name, you must hail the clerk as +an old acquaintance. This will be an easy matter, as hotel clerks are +known by hundreds of people. Miller, you must be in the office at the +same time, and you must both remain there until Pattmore puts his letter +in the mail-box. Then, Green you must ask the clerk out to take a drink, +and while you are gone, Miller must get possession of the letter. When +you have secured it, come over to the Globe Hotel, where I am stopping."</p> + +<p>Green hurried off to the Clarendon House to get his carpet-bag, and +Miller returned to the Pattmore House. I also sent Knox to watch +Pattmore, and to follow him wherever he might go, until he retired for the night.</p> + +<p>Soon after Miller reached the office, Pattmore came down stairs with a +letter, which Miller carefully scrutinized, so as to be able to +recognize it among a group of others.</p> + +<p>"Has the mail for the West closed yet?" asked Pattmore.</p> + +<p>"No," replied the clerk, "there is still about an hour to spare."</p> + +<p>Pattmore then dropped his letter into the mail-box and went out. At this +moment Green stepped up to the desk, registered his name, and asked for +a room. As the clerk was attending to his room and baggage, Green<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> +looked intently at him, as if trying to recall his name. Then, stepping +forward, he said, cordially:</p> + +<p>"Why, how are you? When did you come here? Let me see; the last time I +saw you was at a hotel in Buffalo, wasn't it?"</p> + +<p>This was a lucky guess, for the clerk replied:</p> + +<p>"Havn't you seen me since then? Why, I left there over a year ago."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm right glad to see you again," said Green; "step into the +bar-room and take a 'smile' with me."</p> + +<p>"I can't very well leave the office just now," said the clerk.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes you can," said Green; "your friend there will look after the +office for a few minutes; come along."</p> + +<p>"Wait here until I come back, will you?" the clerk asked Miller, as he +went off with Green.</p> + +<div class="center"><a name="gs003.jpg" id="gs003.jpg"></a><img src="images/gs003.jpg" width='700' height='438' alt="As soon as the clerk had left the office, Miller +quietly extracted Pattmore's letter from the box. Page 157." /></div> + +<h4>"<i>As soon as the clerk had left the office, Miller +quietly extracted Pattmore's letter from the box.</i>"—Page 157.</h4> + +<p>As soon as the clerk had left the office, Miller quietly extracted +Pattmore's letter from the box. He had marked its appearance so well +that he only needed one glance to identify it and he secured it so +quickly that none of the crowd outside the desk noticed any movement on +his part. In a few minutes the clerk returned to the desk, and Miller +lounged out into the bar-room, whence he hurried over to meet me at the +Globe Hotel. He there gave me the letter, which was addressed:</p> + +<p class="center">"Mrs. Annie Thayer, <br /> +"Chicago,<br /> "Illinois."</p> + +<p>I carefully opened it by a simple process, which did not leave any +evidence that the envelope had been tampered with. The letter began: "My +own dear Annie,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> and the writer went on to caution Mrs. Thayer that she +must not be alarmed at the news he was about to tell her. He said that +some of his enemies had started a report that he had poisoned his late +wife. He had no doubt that the Whig newspapers would spread and magnify +these reports; still, he had no fears that they would be of any +permanent injury to him, since his friend, coroner Van Valkenburgh, had +agreed to hold an inquest, and there would be no difficulty in proving +his innocence. He begged her to excuse the haste and brevity of the +note, as he only had time to dash off a few lines to assure her that all +was well, and to warn her not to become alarmed at anything she might +see in the newspapers. The letter was signed: "Ever your loving and devoted husband,</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Alonzo Pattmore</span>."</p> + +<p>"Well, this is certainly strange," I meditated. "Her 'devoted +<i>husband</i>,' eh? How can that be? He has had no opportunity to marry her +since his wife died; hence, unless he committed bigamy, this title of +'husband' is only assumed in anticipation; yet Mrs. Thayer is, +undoubtedly, beautiful and winning, and she may have induced him to ease +her conscience by a form of marriage, even while his legal wife still +lived. I must look into this more closely on my return to Chicago."</p> + +<p>I then re-sealed the letter and gave it back to Mr. Miller, with +instructions to return to the hotel and keep a general watch on all that +went on. He was not to mail the letter until early the next morning. As +Miller went out Knox came in.</p> + +<p>"Well, Knox, what news?" I asked.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span></p><p>"Mr. Pattmore has gone away in a hack," replied Knox, breathlessly.</p> + +<p>"What direction did he take?"</p> + +<p>"He drove off at a rapid rate toward the southern part of the town, and +I could not keep up, nor get on behind. I took the number of the hack, +though," answered Knox.</p> + +<p>"That was right," I remarked, as Knox paused to get his breath.</p> + +<p>"It was number fifty-two, and the driver seemed to be an Irishman. He +looked like a genial, half-grown, young fellow, and I do not think I +shall have any difficulty in pumping him when he returns, as I know +where his stand is."</p> + +<p>"Right again," I exclaimed. "Now you had better wait around there until +the hack returns; then get into conversation with the driver, and ask +him to take a drink in the nearest saloon; while you are talking with +him, you can easily learn where Pattmore went."</p> + +<p>It was ten o'clock when Knox left me, and, as I was greatly fatigued, I +went to bed immediately. Shortly after midnight, Knox again awoke me.</p> + +<p>"What news?" I asked, starting up. "Did you succeed in learning anything +from the hackman?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Knox; "he returned a little before eleven o'clock, and I +asked him whether he knew where there were any young ladies I could +visit. He said that he knew several places. I then asked him to take a +drink while we talked about it. I said, I judged, from his appearance, +that he was just the young fellow who could take me where I wanted to +go; that I was crossing the street to employ him in the early part of +the evening,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> when he was taken by another gentleman, who probably went +to the same kind of a place that I wanted to find. This had confirmed my +opinion of the hackman, so I had decided to await his return. 'By the +way,' I added, 'was I right about that gentleman?' The driver laughed +loudly, and said that that was Mr. Pattmore, and that he did not go to +such places. He went on to say that Mr. Pattmore's wife had been dead +only a few days, and he supposed that Mr. Pattmore had gone out to pay +the grave-digger, since his visit had been made to that individual at the graveyard gate."</p> + +<p>"Did the boy say whether Pattmore saw the grave-digger?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes," continued Knox; "I pumped out all that the young fellow knew. The +grave-digger lives in a little shanty close by the graveyard, and, on +arriving there, Pattmore called the fellow to one side, and conversed +with him in a low tone for some time. He then paid him some money, +entered the hack, and told the boy to drive straight back to the +Pattmore House, where Pattmore discharged the hackman. I drew this +information out of the boy very easily, without appearing to take any +special interest in the story. I then told him to drive me to some quiet +house where I could meet some young ladies. He took me to a place near +here, and I paid him off immediately, saying that I should spend the +night there. As soon as he was out of sight, I came straight here, +without going into the house at all."</p> + +<p>"By Jove!" I exclaimed, "we shall have some rough work to-night, and we +must be quick, too. Go over to the Pattmore House, find out from the +register what room<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> Green is in, and wake him up as soon as possible. +Tell him to come here, being careful that no one notices him, and to be +sure to bring his pistols. You have yours, have you not, Mr. Knox?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; do you expect to need them?"</p> + +<p>"It is quite possible, as we shall have some risky work to-night. I will +meet you outside, and you must tell Green to prepare for a march. +Luckily we are all good walkers."</p> + +<p>Knox hurried away, and, in a short time, both of my detectives joined me +in the street. We then hired a hack and drove to within half a mile of +the graveyard, where I paid off the hackman, and we entered the grounds +of a residence, standing some distance back from the road. My object in +entering these grounds, was to make the hackman believe we were stopping +there; otherwise, his curiosity would have been excited as to my reasons +for going into the country at that hour of the night. As soon as the +hack was out of sight, we returned to the highway, and, after a brisk +walk, we reached the graveyard.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VA" id="CHAPTER_VA"></a><i>CHAPTER V.</i></h2> + +<p>The resting places of the dead are localities which I do not much care +to visit in the night. In the day time it is different; there is a holy +calm about a cemetery then which impresses me with a feeling of rest, +and I can really enjoy an hour or two in quiet contemplation of the +monuments and humble head-stones of a large burial ground. But in the +night, even the least superstitious person in the world will be awed by +the solemnity pervading our cities of the dead, and will quicken his +pace as the wind rustles mournfully through the shrubbery. I never +should care to go into a grave-yard at night, as a matter of choice; but +business is business, and must be transacted, no matter how unpleasant +the surroundings may be.</p> + +<p>The first difficulty I encountered on entering the Greenville cemetery, +was, that I did not know where Mrs. Pattmore's grave was located. We +therefore separated to the distance of about one hundred yards, and +advanced through the underbrush across the grounds. We arranged, before +starting, to meet at a certain tall tree, which stood up against the sky +in the dim starlight. Green had gone only a few rods when he came upon +three men. Their smoky lantern threw a ghastly light upon their work, +and they were so busily engaged in digging that they did not notice him. +He quickly <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span>withdrew and hurried after me. It was some time after he +overtook me before we could find Knox, but we finally met and returned +to the place where the body-snatchers were at work. It was evident that +they were professionals, for they had worked so rapidly as to have +nearly succeeded in getting the coffin out of the grave.</p> + +<p>A thrill of horror even now goes through me as I think of that night; +the white tomb-stones stood forth among the foliage, by which they were +surrounded, like sheeted ghosts, and the waving leaves gave them the +appearance of weird shapes in fantastic motion. The light of the lantern +feebly glimmered in one direction, and the body-snatchers flitted about +like restless ghouls preparing for a horrible banquet. We approached as +quietly as possible, and, on emerging from the cover of a copse of hazel +bushes, we made a general rush forward. The ghouls were too quick for +us, however, and they ran away at a break-neck speed which we did not +dare to imitate. They had the great advantage of knowing every foot of +the ground, while we were continually obliged to dodge around some +obstruction. First, Knox stumbled headlong over a low grave, and then I +became entangled in some trailing vines. As I regained my feet, I saw +Green rising from an encounter with a chain which had tripped him, and +we simultaneously abandoned the chase. It was clearly useless to follow +them further, but we fired at them with our revolvers in the hope of +frightening them into a surrender. One of them instantly stopped, +returned our fire, and then continued his flight. This satisfied me that +they were old hands at the business of grave-robbing, and that they were +not to be scared by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> long-range pistol practice. After watching for a +couple of hours, I returned with my men to the city, being convinced +that the body-snatchers would not make another attempt to rob the grave. +As I walked back, I tried to account, in my own mind, for this new move +of Pattmore. I could not see the advantage to be gained by the removal +of Mrs. Pattmore's body, and I retired to rest with that problem still unsolved.</p> + +<p>Being greatly fatigued, it was eight o'clock next morning before I +awoke. While I was at breakfast Mr. Miller came in, but he had nothing +to report, except that Pattmore seemed greatly troubled, and looked very +haggard. I ordered Miller to watch Pattmore closely, and to engage him +in conversation as much as possible. I then went in search of Sheriff +Tomlinson, whom I soon found. Believing him to be a thoroughly +trustworthy man, I related to him all that had occurred the night +before. He was much astonished at my story, and said that he was sorry I +had not asked him to accompany me, as he knew the graveyard well. If the +body-snatchers had been caught, they might have been able to give very +important testimony at the inquest. Pattmore might have been held to +appear before the grand jury on their testimony alone.</p> + +<p>"Yes," I replied; "no one regrets their escape more than I do; but I am +almost equally annoyed by the fact that I cannot reach a satisfactory +conclusion as to Pattmore's motive in having his wife's body carried +off. Of course, if the coroner's men should have found the body gone, +every one would suspect Pattmore of having had it removed. However, I +propose to solve the mystery<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> in some way. By the way, Mr. Tomlinson, +when do you expect the body to arrive?"</p> + +<p>"It will be here by eleven o'clock, and the men having it in charge, +will take it directly to Coroner Van Valkenburgh's office."</p> + +<p>"I suppose he will impanel a jury," I remarked.</p> + +<p>"Certainly," the sheriff replied; "and it would be well for you to be +present to watch the proceedings. Pattmore must be made to face the +music in some way."</p> + +<p>Accordingly, I watched the coroner's office until I saw the hearse +arrive, and, when the coffin was carried in, I followed it. The +coroner's assistants reported that some body-snatchers had been at work, +and had attempted to steal Mrs. Pattmore's body, having succeeded in +getting the coffin nearly out of the grave; but they had evidently been +interrupted, as they had left all their tools behind, and had not tried +to open the coffin. They had been more successful in another case, +however; the body of a woman had been taken from a grave in the Potter's +Field, (which was devoted to paupers, etc.) and had been carried to a +spot near Mrs. Pattmore's grave. The supposition was that the robbers, +wishing to procure female subjects for dissection, had chosen those two +graves as containing the bodies of persons who had most recently died.</p> + +<p>On hearing this story, I saw through the trick at a glance. The sheriff +was in the office, and I beckoned to him to join me outside.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Tomlinson," I said. "I wish you to send a man to the graveyard to +learn the name of the other woman, whose body was found; get a +description of her age, height, size, and general appearance, as I feel +sure that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> Pattmore's intention was, to substitute her body for that of +his wife."</p> + +<p>"By Jupiter! that's so!" exclaimed Mr. Tomlinson; "but I should never +have thought of that. I will attend to your request myself, while you +can remain here to watch the proceedings before the coroner. I will go +to the cemetery and make a thorough investigation. It is my duty to +become acquainted with all the facts in the case," and he started off, +accompanied by Mr. Green, whom I sent with him.</p> + +<p>In a short time, Pattmore walked into the office and sat down. He wore a +martyr-like expression, and, though he controlled his feelings +sufficiently to appear outwardly calm, I could see that, inwardly, he +was racked with fear and nervousness.</p> + +<p>The coroner hastily impaneled a jury, consisting wholly of Pattmore's +personal and political friends. The coffin was then opened, as a matter +of form, and the jury merely looked at the rapidly decaying corpse. +Pattmore refused to look at the body, on the ground that he did not wish +to mar the sweet memories of his beloved wife's features, which he had +seen only in the flush of life and beauty, even by a glance at her +merely mortal remains in their present condition.</p> + +<p>Dr. Forsythe testified that he had attended the late Mrs. Pattmore in +her last illness, and that dysentery was the cause of her death. He was +corroborated by another physician who had been in consultation with Dr. +Forsythe during the last day or two of the patient's life. As no other +witnesses were called, the jury immediately returned<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> a verdict that +Mrs. Pattmore's death had resulted from natural causes; namely, dysentery.</p> + +<p>I was watching Pattmore closely during the interval before the verdict +was delivered, and I saw plainly that, in spite of the farcical +character of the inquest, he was in a state of nervous dread lest +something unforeseen should occur to reveal his criminality. When the +verdict was read, an expression of relief and triumph came into his +face, and he received the congratulations of his friends like a man who +had just escaped a great danger. I had too little evidence to warrant me +in showing my hand at that time, by accusing him in person; +nevertheless, I was satisfied of his guilt, and I decided to use other +means to bring him to justice.</p> + +<p>In about an hour, Sheriff Tomlinson returned from the graveyard, with +Mr. Wells and Mr. Green. They had made notes of the condition in which +they had found Mrs. Pattmore's grave, and they had written out a full +description of the other corpse found near by. The body was that of a +woman of about the same size, age, and general appearance as Mrs. Pattmore.</p> + +<p>I had heard of an eminent physician in Greenville, named Dr. Stuart. On +inquiring for him, Mr. Tomlinson took me to the doctor's office and +introduced me. He was a man of great ability, and he had a high +reputation throughout the West as a scientific analytical chemist.</p> + +<p>I at once laid the facts in the Pattmore case before him, and said that +I wished him to analyze carefully the contents of the stomach and bowels +of the late Mrs. Pattmore, in order to determine whether she had been +poisoned. I said that it was a difficult case to undertake<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span>, owing to +Pattmore's political influence; but I felt sure that a thorough +investigation would establish his guilt beyond question.</p> + +<p>The Doctor replied that, under most circumstances, he should hardly feel +inclined to comply with such a request, since he had no right to make +such an analysis, unless he had the consent of the relatives of the +deceased; or, upon the coroner's order. Still, he had a natural desire +for fair play, and the facts which I had presented to him seemed to +point toward the possibility that a foul crime had been committed; +hence, he would perform the analysis, provided that his action should +never be made known to any one, until he should be called upon to +testify in court. Of course, if no trace of poison should be found, the +theory of death by that means would have to be abandoned, and his +connection with the affair need never be disclosed.</p> + +<p>"I have never met you before, Mr. Pinkerton," concluded Dr. Stuart, "but +your reputation is well known to me, and I feel sure that you would not +have made this request unless there were strong reasons for such action. +I have full confidence in you, and I will give you all the aid in my +power. Where is Mrs. Pattmore's body now?"</p> + +<p>"It is in the coroner's office," I replied, "and it will be taken back +to the grave in about an hour."</p> + +<p>"Well, Mr. Pinkerton, can't you obtain possession of it in some way? I +shall only want it for a short time."</p> + +<p>"That is what puzzles me," I replied; "I am afraid Pattmore will follow +the body to the grave."</p> + +<p>"Then, if he should do so, can't you get two men who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> know how to handle +a shovel quickly, to disinter it a second time?" asked the Doctor.</p> + +<p>"Yes; I will take two of my own men," I said; "I can trust them more +than any one else."</p> + +<p>"Oh, nonsense!" exclaimed the Doctor, laughing, "you can do better than +that. You had better offer the regular grave-diggers ten dollars to +leave the body a short time in your possession before burying it; or, if +Pattmore should insist upon seeing it buried, they can easily disinter +it for you, and it will take me only a short time to remove the +intestines. I shall then seal them up for the present, as I am too busy +to make the analysis just now; but when I shall have finished my present +work, I will take up this case. You can depend upon hearing from me at +the earliest possible moment."</p> + +<p>It was then arranged that Mr. Wells and sheriff Tomlinson should be +present to witness the removal of the bowels from Mrs. Pattmore's body; +the sheriff further decided to give an official order for the analysis, +so as to protect Dr. Stuart in case of any accident. If any signs of +poison were found, the Doctor's charges would be paid by the county; +otherwise I should be responsible for the amount. I then went out to see +the grave-diggers, and used such convincing arguments that they +willingly agreed to disinter the body. My arguments were brief, but +cogent, and were presented to them about in the following way:</p> + +<p>"Mr. Grave-digger, you look like a man of discretion, who knows how to +open his hands and shut his mouth. I wish to obtain the body of the late +Mrs. Pattmore for a short time. I will give you several excellent +reasons why<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> you will be willing to let me have it. In the first place, +I will give you twenty-five dollars for the job; secondly,——"</p> + +<p>"Wa-al, I guess you needn't go any furder," drawled the grave-digger, +with a knowing wink; "twenty-five o' them reasons are enough for me; so +just tell me where you want the body, and I'll see that it's forthcoming."</p> + +<p>I have always found that half the argument may be dispensed with if the +matter is only <i>presented in the proper light</i>.</p> + +<p>In accordance with the agreement, therefore, the body was again taken +from the grave in the presence of Mr. Wells, Sheriff Tomlinson, Dr. +Stuart, my detectives, and myself; the necessary parts were removed by +the Doctor, and the body was re-buried; finally, the Doctor placed the +portions which had been removed in a jar of alcohol, and it was then +sealed up to await the Doctor's analysis.</p> + +<p>Of one thing I felt certain; and that was, that the regular +grave-diggers and the body-snatchers of the night before were the same +persons; hence, I feared that they might give Pattmore information of +our proceedings. I communicated my opinion to the Sheriff, and suggested +that a slight hint from him might induce the men to keep silence for +their own protection. Accordingly he spoke to them about the occurrence +of the previous night, and said that for the present he did not intend +to make any investigation to learn who were the body-snatchers on that occasion.</p> + +<p>"But," he added, significantly, "if I ever discover that Mr. Pattmore, +or any one else, has been informed of this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> action which I have just +taken, I shall consider it my duty as Sheriff, to bring to punishment +immediately the men who attempted to rob this grave last night—<i>and I +don't think I shall have any trouble in finding them</i>."</p> + +<p>While returning to the city, I impressed upon Sheriff Tomlinson the +necessity of procuring all the evidence that could be reached relative +to Mrs. Pattmore's death. I asked him particularly to find the nurses +who attended her, and to learn all that they could tell about the +symptoms of the patient; the kind and amount of medicines administered; +the effect of the doses; and, in general, all the particulars of Mrs. +Pattmore's illness and death. The Sheriff promised to do all in his +power, and Mr. Wells also agreed to give his assistance in bringing out +the whole truth.</p> + +<p>On arriving at the Globe Hotel I met Miller, who gave me a copy of a +letter which Pattmore had written to Mrs. Thayer, as soon as the +coroner's jury had given their verdict. The letter contained a brief +account of the inquest and the finding of the jury. It said that she +could understand his feelings of great relief that all had turned out so +well for him. The letter was signed, as in the former case, "Your loving husband."</p> + +<p>Mr. Miller said that Pattmore's manner had wholly changed since the +close of the inquest; before he had been morose and irritable; now he +was all vivacity and good spirits. One of his first acts, after the +verdict had been given, was to write the above-mentioned letter, which +Miller had secured as before. Having taken a copy of it, Miller had +mailed it in the general post-office.</p> + +<p>"You have done very well, Mr. Miller," I said, "and I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> wish you to +remain here to watch Pattmore's movements and intercept his letters. I +shall return to Chicago to-night, and you must inform me by telegraph if +Pattmore leaves here."</p> + +<p>Having completed all my arrangements, I returned to Chicago, taking Knox +and Green with me.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIA" id="CHAPTER_VIA"></a><i>CHAPTER VI.</i></h2> + +<p>My first action, on reaching my office, was to send for Mrs. Kate Warne, +the Superintendent of the Female Department of my force. She made a full +report of all the work in her charge during my absence, and brought up +among other cases, that of Captain Sumner.</p> + +<p>"Miss Seaton," said Mrs. Warne, "reports that she has progressed +somewhat toward an intimacy with Mrs. Thayer, but that she has learned +very little except by observation. Mrs. Thayer seems to be greatly +troubled at times, but she is very reserved, and does not appear anxious +to make any one her confidant. She goes to the post-office regularly +twice a day, but she rarely goes anywhere else. Once she went to a +druggist's store, but, being unable to get what she wanted, she entered +another one and purchased a small package."</p> + +<p>"Has Miss Seaton been able to examine any of Mrs. Thayer's trunks or +bureau drawers?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Only once," replied Mrs. Warne; "she succeeded in getting into one of +her trunks, and there found an immense quantity of letters signed +'Alonzo Pattmore,' some of them dating back several years."</p> + +<p>"Were they long, sentimental and—in short, were they to be classed +under the head of love letters?" I asked, with a smile.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span></p><p>"Yes; Miss Seaton so reports them."</p> + +<p>"Well," I said, "let her continue to watch Mrs. Thayer, and to seek to +win the latter's confidence. By the way, what kind of books does Mrs. +Thayer read?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! anything that is romantic."</p> + +<p>"Then, tell Miss Seaton to get 'Eugene Aram' and read it. She can make +such allusions to it as will make Mrs. Thayer wish to read it too. The +effect of the story on her mind will, perhaps, prepare her for the train +of thoughts which I wish to excite in her."</p> + +<p>"Oh! that reminds me," said Mrs. Warne, "Mrs. Thayer complains that she +sleeps very poorly, and dreams a great deal. She has been wondering +whether she talks in her sleep."</p> + +<p>At this moment, one of my clerks entered and said that Captain Sumner +wished to see me. I immediately sent word that he could come into my +private office; at the same time, I requested Mrs. Warne to step into +the next room for a few minutes, as I should need her, as soon as the +Captain had gone. When the Captain entered, I was busily engaged in +examining some papers, and I greeted him as if he were an old friend +whom I had not seen for months.</p> + +<p>"Why, how are you, Captain Sumner?" I said, shaking his hand, warmly. "I +am delighted to see you."</p> + +<p>"I'm pretty well," he replied; "but have you heard the news?"</p> + +<p>"No; what news?"</p> + +<p>"Read that," he said, handing me the Greenville <i>Advocate</i>, and pointing +to an account of the inquest on Mrs. Pattmore's body.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span></p><p>The paper contained a full report of the coroner's proceedings, and an +editorial on the subject. The editor spoke in the highest terms of +Pattmore, and congratulated him on his triumphant vindication. I read +all that the <i>Advocate</i> contained relative to the case, and then remarked:</p> + +<p>"I wonder who started that investigation."</p> + +<p>"I can't imagine," replied the Captain; "though, as the paper says, the +story might have been originated by his enemies, for mere political effect."</p> + +<p>"Yes; that is possible," I replied; "but there was no use in attempting +anything of that kind. The result must have strengthened him, even among his opponents."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid so, too," said the Captain. "We shall have a hard time in +obtaining any proofs of his guilt, now that he is so popular."</p> + +<p>I saw that the Captain did not suspect that I had been connected, in any +way, with the Greenville inquest; I therefore, changed the subject.</p> + +<p>"Well, it will all come out right, if you have patience. How is Mrs. Thayer?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all well," he replied; "she is very restless, and she complains +of being nervous; besides, she is more reserved with me than ever. Don't +you think I had better try to induce her to go home with me? I should +feel more comfortable if she were on the farm in Connecticut, as she +would then be out of Pattmore's power. Sometimes I think there is no use +in trying to reform her; for, she seems so infatuated with that man that +I only wonder she has not run away with him before now. I know that she +will marry him at the first opportunity."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span></p><p>"We must prevent that," I replied; "for the present, I think she had +better remain here."</p> + +<p>I then asked the Captain to excuse me a moment, and, stepping into the +next room, I called my stenographer to the door; by leaving the door +ajar, the conversation between the Captain and myself could be easily +heard in the next room. The short-hand writer, therefore, was able to +take down everything that was said. Returning to the Captain, I +commenced a friendly chat, in the course of which, I led him on to talk +about his family. I especially desired to draw out the particulars of +Annie's history, and the honest old gentleman talked so freely that I +obtained a very full account of all that he knew about her. In the +conversation which we had about his own affairs, the Captain gave me the +following story to account for the fact that he was an old bachelor:</p> + +<p>"It seems somewhat strange," he said, "that I am unmarried, as I have +always been a great admirer of the fair sex; but, the fact is, I had one +strong affection, and that has lasted me all my life. The last time I +was with her, she promised to be my wife, and we pledged ourselves to be +eternally faithful to each other. I sailed for Singapore the next day, +and, on my return, I was to lead her to the altar. I felt that I had +secured a prize far beyond my merits, for she seemed to be superior to +me in every way. The days dragged along slowly and wearily, while on the +voyage; but, at length, we returned to New York. I immediately hurried +up from the landing-place, all impatient to see my sweetheart. As I +passed up the dock, I met an old acquaintance.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span></p><p>"'Where away so fast?' he asked, as he stopped me.</p> + +<p>"'I am going to see Miss Curtis,' I replied.</p> + +<p>"'Why, she married a rich banker, six months ago,' he said.</p> + +<p>"'Oh! did she?' I exclaimed; 'I am glad she was so fortunate.'</p> + +<p>"Then I returned aboard ship, feeling completely crushed. Since that +time I have never paid attention to any other woman, for I can never +forget her. Once afterward I met her on Broadway, on her way to her +carriage. She nodded carelessly, with a 'How d'ye do, John?' and was +quickly whirled away out of my sight. I have never heard from her since +then.</p> + +<p>"After the Captain had told me everything about Annie and himself that +he could recollect, I asked him to excuse me, pleading an important +engagement at that hour. As soon as he had gone, I requested my +stenographer to write out his notes in long hand as quickly as possible, +and I returned to consult with my female superintendent.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Warne," I said, "we shall have a difficult task in working upon +Mrs. Thayer; she seems to be very reticent and wary. I have decided to +attack the superstitious side of her nature, which seems to be her +weakest point; and, in order to do so successfully, I shall need your +services. How do you think you would succeed as a fortune-teller?"</p> + +<p>"A fortune-teller!" she exclaimed, laughingly; "that is certainly a new +<i>role</i>; however, I think I might learn to take the part after a few lessons."</p> + +<p>"Yes," I replied, "the tricks of the trade are easily<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> learned. Here is +a book which explains all the secrets of the profession. It is called +'The Mysteries of Magic and the Wonders of Astrology; by Dr. Roback.' +You can take it to read at your leisure; but, after all, the costume and +make-up are the principal things necessary. You will be obliged to trust +largely to your own judgment and tact in working upon Mrs. Thayer's +feelings. I suppose she has some vague ideas about astrology, etc., but +I have no doubt of your ability to mystify her thoroughly. One thing is +certain, Mrs. Warne, that we must have a fortune-teller of our own, and +I do not know of any one so competent as yourself. I will rent an office +for you near by, and the duties will interfere very little with your other work."</p> + +<p>"I will undertake it," she said, decidedly, after a moment's thought; "I +will make it a success, too, if you will give me my own way about it."</p> + +<p>"All right," I answered; "success is all that I require."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Warne then withdrew to make her preparations.</p> + +<p>In a day or two I received a letter from Miller. He said that the talk +over the inquest was gradually subsiding; that there were some few +persons who were not fully satisfied with the manner of conducting the +inquiry, but that the general effect had been favorable to Pattmore; +that the latter had began to drink a great deal, though not enough to +become intoxicated; that he, (Miller,) had been taken into Pattmore's +confidence to a considerable extent; and that the latter had expressed +an intention of going to Cincinnati to make a visit. In conclusion, he +said that Pattmore was doing his utmost<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> to appear cheerful, but that he +looked very haggard, and seemed to be in great trouble.</p> + +<p>Miss Seaton reported to Mrs. Warne the same day, that she was becoming +more intimate with Mrs. Thayer, though the latter manifested no desire +to take any one into her confidence. The day previous Mrs. Thayer had +gone to the post-office, where she had received a letter, as usual. She +had torn it open, as if very anxious to learn the news it contained for +her, and had then crumpled it nervously in her hand, after reading it.</p> + +<p>Miss Seaton also described a scene which had taken place that morning. +Mrs. Thayer was in her room about eleven o'clock; soon afterward Miss +Seaton went to the door and knocked. No answer being given, she went in +quietly, intending to surprise Mrs. Thayer. She found the latter deeply +absorbed in telling her own fortune with a pack of cards. Miss Seaton +laughed pleasantly, and said:</p> + +<p>"So you were telling your fortune, were you? Well, how did it come out?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Thayer looked somewhat confused at first, but she gathered up the +cards mechanically, and said:</p> + +<p>"I don't know how to tell my fortune; do you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, I used to be a splendid fortune-teller," replied Miss +Seaton. "Let me try to tell your fortune."</p> + +<p>She then shuffled the cards, dealt them in three piles, and turned up +the last card, which happened to be the queen of hearts.</p> + +<p>"Now let us see what your fortune <i>has</i> been, what it <i>is</i>, and what it +<i>will</i> be," said Miss Seaton. "You are <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span>represented by the queen of +hearts; this pile contains your past; that one your present; and the third your future."</p> + +<p>So saying, she turned up the top card of each pile. By an odd +coincidence the present and future were both clubs, the past being a diamond.</p> + +<p>Miss Seaton said, gravely:</p> + +<p>"Your past has been pleasant, but your future is unpromising."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is always so," replied Mrs. Thayer, despondently.</p> + +<p>Then, as Miss Seaton was about to go on, Mrs. Thayer threw all the cards +into a heap, saying:</p> + +<p>"No, I don't want to hear any more; I shall have the same luck +throughout; clubs always come to me."</p> + +<p>"Have you always had such bad fortune?" asked Miss Seaton.</p> + +<p>"Oh! no; only a few years ago, I used to be as happy as a bird; sorrow +was unknown to me, and one enjoyment seemed to pass away only to be +succeeded by another. Now I have nothing but trouble all the time."</p> + +<p>"Your lot seems hard," remarked Miss Seaton, in a sympathizing tone; +"probably you feel worse since your husband has been dead."</p> + +<p>"Dead!" exclaimed Mrs. Thayer, springing up; then, recovering her +presence of mind, she sat down, muttering: "yes, yes, of course, he's dead."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" said Miss Seaton. "Is it long since he died?"</p> + +<p>"I do not feel well to-day; and I shall not try to read my fortune again +when I am so nervous," replied Mrs. Thayer, evading Miss Seaton's question.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span></p><p>Seeing that Mrs. Thayer wished to change the subject, Miss Seaton did +not press her further. The two ladies remained together until dinner +time, and Miss Seaton read a portion of "Eugene Aram" aloud. Mrs. Thayer +became deeply interested in the book, and borrowed it to read.</p> + +<p>Next morning I received a telegram from Miller, briefly stating that +Pattmore had left Greenville. His destination was Chicago, though he had +given out that he was going to Cincinnati.</p> + +<p>I knew that he could not arrive that day, as the railroad connections +were not promptly made at that time; but I instructed Mr. Knox and Mr. +Green to be prepared to "shadow" him, on his arrival at the depot the +next morning, and to keep upon his track constantly, while he remained +in Chicago. I also sent word to Miss Seaton to make some pretense for +calling upon Mrs. Thayer early in the forenoon, and to remain with her +as long as possible. I knew that Pattmore would communicate with Mrs. +Thayer immediately on his arrival, and my object was, to have some one +to witness their meeting.</p> + +<p>On entering my office early the next day, I was surprised to find +Captain Sumner awaiting me, in a great state of excitement.</p> + +<p>"That man has come here again, Mr. Pinkerton," he broke out, +impetuously. "He came before breakfast and went straight to Annie's +room. I called her to the door and expostulated with her, until she +agreed to send him away as soon as possible. I then came here directly to inform you."</p> + +<p>"Quite right, Captain," I replied; "there is nothing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> like taking prompt +action in such cases. You can return to the house now, and trust to me for the rest."</p> + +<p>"But I'm afraid she will run away with that villain," said the Captain.</p> + +<p>"Of course, we must prevent that," I replied; "I shall have a plan +prepared, in case they attempt to run away together; but, I do not think +Pattmore is quite ready yet for such a step. Keep your spirits up, +Captain, and don't borrow trouble."</p> + +<p>"I have all confidence in you, Mr. Pinkerton," he said as he went out; +"but I shall be much happier when I am back on my farm."</p> + +<p>According to instructions, Miss Seaton called on Mrs. Thayer, though she +did not gain admittance to her room. When Mrs. Thayer opened the door, +Miss Seaton saw that she had been crying, and that she was evidently +much disturbed. She asked Miss Seaton to excuse her, as she had company +from the East.</p> + +<p>About noon Pattmore returned to his hotel, as the Captain would not +permit him to dine at the boarding house. As Mrs. Thayer did not come +down to dinner, Miss Seaton again visited her, and found her dressing to +go out. She asked Miss Seaton to remain until she was dressed, but said +that she was going out driving in the afternoon and to the theatre in +the evening. In a short time, the Captain came in, and Miss Seaton +retired. The Captain asked Mrs. Thayer what she meant by breaking her +promises not to see Pattmore again.</p> + +<p>She replied that Pattmore was a man she could not help loving; that she +had tried her best to overcome her passion, but in vain; and that she +could not break off the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> connection so abruptly, but that she would +endeavor to do so gradually in the future. Then she kissed the Captain, +saying that she was never so happy in her life, and that she was going +out driving with Pattmore that afternoon. The Captain remonstrated with +her without effect, and, seeing that he could not move her from her +purpose he came straight to my office to report.</p> + +<p>Pattmore came again in the afternoon and took Mrs. Thayer out driving. +She looked superb as she went off, having recovered entirely from her +illness. She was in a perfect flutter of happiness and excitement, which +gave her a brilliant color, and added to the brightness of her eyes. She +was agitated by conflicting influences; on one side, was her brother, +determined to separate her from her lover, and justly blaming her +course; on the other, was Pattmore, claiming her love, and urging her to +abandon her brother's protection.</p> + +<p>They were gone about three hours, and, on their return, they seemed very +complacent and much less excited than when they set out. In the evening, +they went to the theatre together, being "shadowed" by Mr. Knox. He took +a seat close behind them, in order to listen to their conversation; but +he overheard nothing of any consequence.</p> + +<p>Captain Sumner had a long talk with his sister next morning, in relation +to their return to Connecticut. He begged her to go immediately, and +thus escape from Pattmore's influence; but she opposed his wish, on the +ground that she was too weak to make the journey. He then lost his +temper, and replied that she was strong enough to go around to places of +amusement with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> Pattmore, and it was very strange that she could not +travel slowly home. This show of anger on the Captain's part, caused her +to commence crying, as she knew that he could not resist so powerful an +appeal to his sympathy. The result equalled her anticipations. The +Captain soon lost all his irritation and began to console her, as if she +were a spoilt child; finally, she induced him to go driving with them +that afternoon. The Captain told me afterward, that Pattmore behaved +with great propriety during the drive, and that they did not seem to be +so much in love with each other as he had supposed. I smiled inwardly at +the old sailor's simplicity; for I noticed that they had gone out in an +open barouche, (instead of a close carriage, such as they had used the +day before,) and they had remained away only one hour, instead of three.</p> + +<p>On their return from the drive, Pattmore and Annie went to Mrs. Thayer's +sitting room, and the Captain went down town. At four o'clock, Miss +Seaton knocked at Mrs. Thayer's door; but, receiving no answer, she +tried to enter quietly. She found that the door was locked on the +inside, however, and she was, therefore, obliged to withdraw to her own +room to watch. It was six o'clock before Pattmore came out, having been +nearly three hours in Mrs. Thayer's room with the door locked.</p> + +<p>Mr. Knox "shadowed" Pattmore on his departure from the boarding house, +and saw him take the nine o'clock train for Greenville. I immediately +notified Mr. Miller by telegraph, directing him to renew his intimacy +with Pattmore, and to remain in Greenville until further orders.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIIA" id="CHAPTER_VIIA"></a><i>CHAPTER VII.</i></h2> + +<p>Mr. Miller was not idle during the time that Pattmore was away. His +first action was to learn who were the nurses attending Mrs. Pattmore in +her last illness. One of them had left the city, but the other, being an +old resident of Greenville, was soon found. She was quite an elderly +woman, with no family except one daughter. The latter was a seamstress, +and Mr. Miller soon made her acquaintance by employing her to make some +shirts for him. He kept up friendly relations with them by taking both +mother and daughter out riding occasionally in the summer evenings; and +in various ways he ingratiated himself into the old lady's confidence. +It was not long before he was able to draw out all the particulars of +Mrs. Pattmore's illness.</p> + +<p>He learned that when she first became seriously sick, Mr. Pattmore began +to show a very tender solicitude for her health.</p> + +<p>He even insisted upon preparing her medicine and giving it to her +himself. Mrs. Pattmore, however, did not seem to appreciate his watchful +care, for she told the nurse that she did not like to take her medicine +from her husband; she also asked very particularly whether the medicine +which she took was that which the doctor prescribed.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Reed, the nurse, said that she did not like the effects<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> of the +medicine at all. It was put up in small yellow papers, and when Mrs. +Pattmore took a dose of it she was always taken with violent vomiting; +her bowels and stomach would become very hot, and the pain would be so +severe as to cause her to scream terribly. Then Mr. Pattmore would give +her a dose of another kind of medicine, which would soon relieve the +patient and cause her to fall into a deep sleep.</p> + +<p>When Dr. Forsythe called, Mrs. Pattmore always informed him very +carefully about the effect of the medicine, but he treated it as a case +of common occurrence, and said that those symptoms invariably +accompanied an attack of dysentery. After the Doctor had gone, Mr. +Pattmore would return to the room with the same medicine, and his wife would exclaim:</p> + +<p>"Oh! has the Doctor ordered that horrid medicine again? I cannot stand +it long. Oh! what shall I do?"</p> + +<p>Then her husband would tell her that it pained him almost as much as +herself to see her suffer so, and that he would willingly take it +himself if he could thereby save her from pain; but she must recollect +that she was very dangerously sick, and that a failure to obey the +Doctor's instructions might prove fatal to her. Mrs. Pattmore would be +too feeble to protest long, and she would take the medicine; the same +symptoms as before would then result, and each day she seemed to grow weaker and weaker.</p> + +<p>The day of Mrs. Pattmore's death the Doctor was unable to call; hence +only Mr. Pattmore and Mrs. Reed were present when she died. Pattmore +spoke very endearingly to his wife and tried to caress her, but she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> +pushed him away, gave him one long, reproachful look, and fell back +dead. Pattmore professed to be overcome with grief, and tears flowed +down his cheeks, as he requested Mrs. Reed to arrange for the funeral, +and to spare no expense. He stopped at the door as he was leaving the room and said:</p> + +<p>"By the way, Mrs. Reed, if any one inquires about it, you can say that +dysentery was the cause of my beloved wife's death."</p> + +<p>Miller said that there was little doubt that Mrs. Reed suspected foul +play in connection with Mrs. Pattmore's death; but she was a very +discreet woman, and would not spread any story which she could not +prove. It was only by very skillful management that he had been able to +induce her to talk upon the subject at all. She knew that Pattmore was +very popular, and that she would be speedily silenced if she attempted +to suggest anything against his character; hence she preferred to keep +her suspicions to herself.</p> + +<p>On receiving this report from Miller, I sent him instructions to +continue his acquaintance with Mrs. Reed, and to keep a close watch upon +her movements, for it was possible that she, too, might be induced to go +away. As she would be an important witness, it would be necessary not to +lose sight of her. At the end of the week I received another report from +Miller, stating that Pattmore had called a select meeting of his +political supporters in the district, and had laid the plans for an +energetic effort to obtain the Congressional nomination. Miller had been +taken into their confidence, and he was working hard to secure the +election of Pattmore delegates to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> approaching convention. This gave +him ample opportunity to become intimate with Pattmore, and he felt sure +that the latter would not take any important steps without consulting him.</p> + +<p>I was much pleased to hear this news, as it showed me that Pattmore was +no longer in fear of detection; moreover, it satisfied me that politics +would detain him in Greenville for some time, and there would be no +immediate danger of his marriage with Mrs. Thayer. Having a prospect +that he would not return to Chicago to interfere with my plan for some +weeks, I decided to proceed with my attack on Mrs. Thayer's credulity +and superstition. In the afternoon, therefore, I sent for Mrs. Warne, +and asked whether she had secured rooms in which to play the part of a fortune-teller.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she replied, "I have rented three rooms on Clark street, which +are just suited for the purpose. There are two entrances, so that you +can slip in at any time without being seen by my visitors."</p> + +<p>"Well, you had better have them fitted up as soon as possible. I will +drop in to look at them to-day."</p> + +<p>"No," she answered, "I don't wish you to come until I have completed my +preparations. The rooms are on the second floor, and have not been +occupied for some time; hence they will need considerable cleaning. You +are too busy to attend to the furnishing and arranging, so I will +relieve you of all the trouble; only give me <i>carte-blanche</i> for the +purpose of furnishing the rooms, and I know you will not regret it."</p> + +<p>"All right," said I; "you have my permission to do as you please, and +you can get whatever money you need<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> from the cashier. All I ask is that +everything be done in the best manner. When you are ready to begin +operations let me know, so that I can have an audience with the great +fortune-teller in advance of the general public."</p> + +<p>During the next four days, nothing of any consequence occurred. The +Captain reported that his sister was gaining so fast in health and +strength that he thought she was able to go back to Connecticut. Of +course, I was obliged to oppose the journey at that time, since I wished +to bring Mrs. Thayer before my fortune-teller. Miss Seaton reported that +she was on quite intimate terms with Mrs. Thayer; but the latter never +talked about her own affairs. She wrote daily to Pattmore, and received +daily letters in reply.</p> + +<p>At length, Mrs. Warne reported that her temple of magic was in complete +order, and that she would be ready to receive me that afternoon.</p> + +<p>"Very well," I replied; "I will drop in to have my fortune told about +three o'clock. Have you arranged it wholly to your own satisfaction?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; it is nearly perfect."</p> + +<p>"Whom have you engaged for an usher?" I inquired.</p> + +<p>"You must not ask questions now," she answered, laughing. "I have taken +more liberties than I ever dared to take before; but I think, when you +consider the object to be gained, that you will be satisfied."</p> + +<p>"Well, I hope your rooms are as mysterious as your answers would lead me +to expect," said I. "However, I shall be there promptly at three +o'clock, so I will restrain my curiosity for the present."</p> + +<p>At the appointed hour, therefore, I called at the rooms,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> where I was +received by a young negro of the blackest type. He was dressed in full +Turkish costume, and his actions gave me the impression that he was +dumb. This black mute first ushered me into a very large front room, +elegantly furnished in the style of a modern <i>salon</i>. Heavy curtains +hung in graceful folds from richly gilded cornices, sufficiently +obscuring the windows to prevent the strong glare of the afternoon sun +from penetrating directly into the room; arm-chairs and sofas were +plentifully scattered about, to accommodate the throng of persons who +were expected to visit the fortune-teller; the walls were hung with +engravings and paintings; and on the floor was a thick Brussels carpet +into which my feet sank noiselessly, as I walked about inspecting the +pictures and furniture. After scanning the sable usher for a few minutes, I said:</p> + +<p>"Now, if that color would wash off, I should feel sure of finding one of +my office boys, named Jack Scott, underneath." The mute grinned +responsively, and I saw that I had guessed correctly. "Well, Jack," I +continued, "I don't think you need fear detection. Where is Mrs. Warne?"</p> + +<p>Jack still remained mute; but he went into another room, and soon +beckoned me to follow him. As I crossed the threshold, the door closed +noiselessly behind me. It took me several seconds to accustom my eyes to +the change in the light. Then I began to gather an idea of the +surroundings, and my surprise at Mrs. Warne's success was equalled only +by my admiration of her good taste and judgment.</p> + +<p>The room was nearly square, but a large mirror, at the end opposite the +entrance, gave a duplicate view of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> whole; the shape of the mirror +being that of a large doorway, the effect was to give an appearance of +two rooms, instead of one. The walls and windows were hung with some +dark colored material, which wholly shut out every ray of sunlight; but +a soft, dim radiance was shed from five swinging lamps, one in each +corner and the fifth in the centre of the room. These lamps were of +bronzed silver, of Oriental patterns, and were all in motion; the corner +lamps swinging back and forth toward the centre, and the centre one, +swinging slowly around in a circle. On the walls, were hung several +charts and mystic symbols, while the floor was covered with a close +matting of white straw, upon which was painted the common representation +of the signs of the zodiac. A number of small globes stood upon a low +shelf in one corner, and on a table in the centre of the room was a +large globe standing on a chart. With the exception of one large +easy-chair and a lounge, there were no other articles of furniture in +the room. A pair of skeletons stood facing each other, one at each side +of the mirror, and their ghastly appearance, duplicated in the mirror, +added to the unnatural effect. Near the table was a small portable +furnace upon which stood a peculiarly shaped retort, and from this, +issued a pungent, aromatic incense.</p> + +<p>While I was examining the globe and chart, Mrs. Warne slipped into the +room, through the folds of a curtain at one side of the mirror, and +swept down toward me. I should hardly have known her, so great was her +disguise; her face and hands were stained a clear olive, and her hair +hung down in heavy masses to her waist; her dress was of rich material, +trimmed with Oriental<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> extravagance; the sleeves were large and flowing, +and the skirt trailed over a yard. In her right hand she carried a small +wand, around which two serpents twined. Her whole appearance was +dignified and imposing. The light and atmosphere added to the general +effect, and I felt wholly satisfied with Mrs. Warne's work.</p> + +<p>"Well, Mrs. Warne," said I, "you have certainly made a great success; +but I am afraid I shall not be so much pleased when the bills come in."</p> + +<p>"Don't be very much alarmed on that score," replied Mrs. Warne. "I have +been very economical. Many of the most expensive articles have been +hired for the occasion, while the rest have been picked up cheap at +auction sales. The expense, I assure you, will not be great."</p> + +<p>"All right," I rejoined; "the Captain will have to foot the bill, +whatever it may be; but, if we succeed in our object, he will not have +any reason to regret the cost."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Warne showed me the door through which she had entered, and asked +me to seat myself behind the curtains. She then called her usher into +the room, and conversed with him; though they spoke in low tones, I was +able to hear every word. The door where I was sitting, was hung on +noiseless hinges, and it led into the last room of the suite; from this +room, another door opened on a hall leading to a pair of side stairs. I +was thus able to reach my ambush without entering by the front way.</p> + +<p>"Now, Mrs. Warne, nothing remains to be done but to advertise you +thoroughly," I said, after I had inspected all her preparations.</p> + +<p>"Very well," she replied; "but you must recollect that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> I shall not be +able to oversee all my general work, unless you make my office hours as +a fortune-teller very short. Three hours will be the longest time I can spare daily."</p> + +<p>I then returned to my office and wrote out the following advertisement:</p> + +<p class="center">THE GREAT ASIATIC SIBYL,<br /> +<span class="smcap">L. L. Lucille</span>, the only living descendant of Hermes,<br /> +the Egyptian, who has traveled through all the<br /> +known parts of the world, now makes her first<br /> +appearance in Chicago. She will cast<br />the horoscope of all callers; will<br /> +tell them the events of their<br />past life, and reveal what<br /> +the future has in store<br />for them. She has<br />cast the horo-<br />scope of<br /> +all the<br />crowned<br />heads of Eu-<br />rope, Asia, Africa,<br /> +and Oceanica; she will<br />cast the horoscope, or celes-<br /> +tial map, for the hour and mo-<br />ment of the inquiry for any visitor<br /> +with the same care, and by the same<br />method as that used in the case of the Sultan<br /> +of Turkey, and the Pacha of Trincomalee. She<br /> +will remain only a short time in Chicago; hence the<br />SORROWFUL AND AFFLICTED,<br /> +who wish to know what the future has in store for them,<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span>had better <span class="smcap">Call at Once</span>.<br /> +She will tell<br /> +<span class="smcap">Who Loves You</span>; <span class="smcap">Who Hates You</span>;<br /> +and who is trying to injure you.<br />She will show you<br /> +YOUR FUTURE HUSBAND OR WIFE.<br /> +<span class="smcap">L. L. Lucille</span> is the <br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Seventh Daughter of</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 6em;">a Seventh Daughter.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 15em;">She never fails to give satisfaction.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 20em;">Visit her and learn your fate.</span><br /><br /> +Office hours—10 a. m. to 1 p. m. <br /> +Fee $10.00.<br /><span class="smcap">Office at the Temple of Magic</span>,<br /> +50 SOUTH CLARK STREET.</p> + +<p>This advertisement was inserted in the daily newspapers for a week, and +I also had a number of small handbills printed for distribution in the +street. In this way Lucille's name was brought before the public very +conspicuously. At that time the trade of fortune-telling was not so +common as it is now, and those engaged in it rarely had the means to +advertise themselves so extensively; hence Lucille's half column in the +newspapers attracted an unusual amount of attention.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIIIA" id="CHAPTER_VIIIA"></a><i>CHAPTER VIII.</i></h2> + +<p>The next morning Miss Seaton called on Mrs. Thayer as usual, and found +her eagerly reading Lucille's advertisement in one of the newspapers. +Miss Seaton asked Mrs. Thayer whether she was ready to go out for their +regular morning walk, and Mrs. Thayer soon prepared to accompany her. +They first went to the post-office; and, as they walked away, after Mrs. +Thayer had received a letter, they met a boy distributing hand-bills. +They each took one and walked along slowly in order to read Lucille's +glowing advertisement. Mrs. Thayer folded her bill up carefully and said:</p> + +<p>"I wonder whether this woman can do what she claims; if I thought so, I +would call on her myself."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't have much faith in these people, as a rule," replied Miss +Seaton, "but it is a fact that some of them really have a strange and +inexplicable power to foresee events. Whether it is a genuine science, +or a mere application of general rules of physiognomy to the particular +features of each visitor, I do not profess to say; but there is no +doubt, I believe, that they have been very successful in reading the +future for some people."</p> + +<p>"I am so glad to hear you say that," said Mrs. Thayer, "for I was afraid +that you would laugh at me. Now I have a real desire to see this woman, +just to test her powers. The moment I read her advertisement in this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> +morning's paper, I had a strong presentiment that she could help me out +of my troubles, and I determined to visit her. See, here we are, right +at the door, No. 50 Clark street. Won't you go up with me while I get my +fortune told, Miss Seaton?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, certainly; if you really wish to try your fortune, to-day is as +good a time as any other."</p> + +<p>They therefore ascended to Madam Lucille's rooms and rang a bell at the +reception-room door. The sable usher immediately admitted them and asked +them to be seated for a short time, as Madam was engaged at that moment. +He then left them alone, while he went to inquire how soon they could +have an audience with the great sibyl. Having told Mrs. Warne who her +visitors were, the usher hurried over to my office and informed me. I +instantly called my stenographer, and we proceeded quickly to the back +room, where we took our seats behind the curtain.</p> + +<p>A lady was already in Mrs. Warne's room, but she was easily dismissed +with instructions to return next day. When she retired, Mrs. Thayer was +admitted, and Miss Seaton wished to follow, but this could not be +allowed, as only one could have an audience at a time. Mrs. Thayer +entered the room with her veil down; and, what with her nervousness and +the superstitious terror inspired by the weird appearance of the room, +she was hardly able to walk to the visitor's chair. When she became +somewhat accustomed to the peculiar light, she saw Madam Lucille +standing beside the table. Her tall, commanding figure struck Mrs. +Thayer with awe, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> Mrs. Warne already felt sure of drawing out +everything that she knew.</p> + +<p>"Come hither, my daughter," said Lucille, in a clear, sweet voice.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Thayer advanced falteringly, and sank into the large chair which +the sibyl pointed out.</p> + +<p>"What would you know, my child?" continued Lucille. "State your errand +quickly; as my time is short, to unfold the mysteries of the future. +Like the Wandering Jew, I must forever advance upon my mission. What do +you seek to know?"</p> + +<p>Lucille's powerful mind, aided by her fantastic surroundings, had gained +a complete ascendency over Mrs. Thayer's superstitious nature; in a +voice trembling with emotion, she replied:</p> + +<p>"I have come to learn my future."</p> + +<p>"Then you must unveil; I can tell you nothing until I see your face," said Lucille.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Thayer slowly removed her veil and sat motionless, regarding the +fortune-teller as a frightened bird watches a snake.</p> + +<p>"You wish to know your destiny, do you?" asked Lucille, gently. "Well, I +can tell it, if the stars are propitious; but I must first look at your hand."</p> + +<p>She paused and waved her wand with several mysterious gestures over Mrs. +Thayer's head; then she swept forward and took her hand.</p> + +<p>"Tell me the day and hour of your birth," continued Lucille.</p> + +<p>"I was born about daybreak on the eighteenth of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> October, 1816," replied +Mrs. Thayer; "I cannot tell you the exact hour."</p> + +<p>"That will be sufficiently accurate for the present," said Lucille; +"though it may cause me much trouble in casting your horoscope."</p> + +<p>Lucille continued to examine the lines of the hand, and presently +commenced speaking in a low, but clear voice:</p> + +<p>"Your parents are dead, and also one brother; your father passed through +great dangers safely—ah! I see, he was a sailor. You have been +surrounded by other sea-faring people; still, I cannot certainly tell +what relationship they bore to you. I shall learn all when I cast your +horoscope. Your father acquired moderate wealth, of which you have +received your share; but you desire more, and you are not too scrupulous +as to how you get it. Why, what means this?" she exclaimed, starting +back and fixing a piercing glance on the cowering woman before her. "You +are in danger! Yes; there is danger all about you, but it is impossible +to tell now how it will end. There is a man in your trouble, who claims +to love you; and there is a woman who comes between you. Ah! what is she +doing!" she suddenly demanded in tragical tones, starting back with a +look of terror in her eyes.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Thayer fell back as if stabbed to the heart, and her whole attitude +denoted guilty fear. Lucille, fearing that she would faint, handed her a +glass of water, which soon revived her strength.</p> + +<p>As soon as Mrs. Thayer had sufficiently recovered,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> Lucille again took +her hand and carefully examined it; she then continued:</p> + +<p>"I cannot do much now, but you must come again, when I have more time; +then I will cast your horoscope, and will be able to tell you all you +can wish to know——" Breaking off suddenly, she changed her tone and +demanded imperiously: "Who is this woman? Is she his enemy, or yours? +<i>Are you sure that man loves you?</i>"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; I am sure he does," Mrs. Thayer replied, hastily.</p> + +<p>"Then what is the trouble between you and this woman?" asked Lucille. +"She is older than you, yet she constantly crosses your path." Then, +closing her eyes, Lucille broke out passionately and rapidly, like a +person in a trance: "Why does she act so? What is the matter with her? +She is often interfering with you, but is always followed by that man; +he must be her enemy. See! a shadow falls over her! What does it mean! +She fades away and vanishes—<i>it must be death</i>!"</p> + +<p>"Death!" shrieked Mrs. Thayer, and then she fell back lifeless.</p> + +<div class="center"><a name="gs004.jpg" id="gs004.jpg"></a><img src="images/gs004.jpg" width='700' height='450' alt="'Death!' shrieked Mrs. Thayer, and then she fell back +lifeless. Page 199." /></div> + +<h4>"<i>'Death!' shrieked Mrs. Thayer, and then she fell back lifeless.</i>"—Page 199.</h4> + +<p>Lucille did everything possible to revive her visitor, but it was some +minutes before she recovered sufficiently to be able to stand alone. She +finally joined Miss Seaton, but promised to call the next day to have +her horoscope read. She left a fee of ten dollars for the prepayment of +the labor which Lucille would be forced to perform in reading the stars. +When Miss Seaton and Mrs. Thayer left the room, the latter was scarcely +able to walk, so much was she agitated and alarmed. They reached their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> +boarding house in safety, however, and Mrs. Thayer at once retired to her room.</p> + +<p>A large crowd of visitors had already assembled in Madam Lucille's +reception room, so that there seemed to be a fair prospect that all the +expenses of the affair would be paid out of the fortune-teller's +receipts. Indeed, from the very first, Mrs. Warne had a great many more +callers than she could attend to; but, by granting each one a short +interview on the first day, long enough to learn what information they +desired, it was an easy matter to satisfy them all to an exceptional +extent. I put two good detectives at work to find out everything +possible about the parties making the inquiries, and Lucille was thus +able to astonish them with the accuracy of her knowledge as to the past. +Of course, she was at liberty to exercise her own judgment as to her +predictions for the future, since no one could tell whether they would +prove true or not.</p> + +<p>When every one had gone, Mrs. Warne changed her dress and returned to my +office, where we had a hearty laugh over the superstitious folly of the +many ladies who had consulted her. She told me many amusing secrets, +which her fair visitors had confided to her, and I learned that some of +the most fashionable people in the city had invoked her aid. She was +rather fatigued by her labors, however, as the weather was warm, and the +atmosphere of her room, at times, became almost suffocating. She said +that she had made an engagement to admit Mrs. Thayer the first one, the next morning.</p> + +<p>"Very well," said I, "you have succeeded in startling her very much +indeed, and to-morrow you will be able to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> do much more. Be careful, +however, to warn her against informing any one else of what you have +told her, until her whole future is determined. It will not do to have her alarm Pattmore."</p> + +<p>"I will caution her particularly on that point," replied Mrs. Warne; "I +think I understand pretty well about how far I can go without terrifying +her too much. I will send for Miss Seaton, and learn how Mrs. Thayer has +acted since visiting me."</p> + +<p>In the afternoon, Captain Sumner came in and asked what steps I had +taken in his case. I told him that I could not tell him what I had done, +nor what I was doing; but he could rest assured that the best talent I +had was employed in his behalf; if everything worked as I hoped, I +should accomplish the object which he sought, inside of a month.</p> + +<p>"Well," he replied, "I should like to take Annie back to Springfield as +soon as possible; for I fear that she is again losing her health, and +for the last day or two, she has been quite ill. Yesterday she received +a letter from Pattmore, which I tried to snatch from her; but she was +too quick for me, and I obtained only a small part of it. Here it is," +he continued, showing me the lower corner of a letter; "see how he signs himself."</p> + +<p>I took the fragment and saw the same signature as that which Pattmore +had used in his former letters: "Your affectionate husband." The Captain went on:</p> + +<p>"My blood got up when I read this, and I told her that if she ever saw +Pattmore again, I would shoot them both; that I would no longer permit +her to disgrace our family. Then she also flew into a violent passion, +and said that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> she loved Pattmore, and that he intended to marry her +when he next came to Chicago. As usual, she finally succeeded in +appeasing my anger, and she promised to leave Pattmore forever. I also +agreed to make my will in her favor, and we thus became friends again. I +may now be able to get her away, as she has promised to go as soon as +she is able; but I can easily destroy my will, if she refuses to keep +her promise. What do you think about it?"</p> + +<p>"Well, it can't do much harm, I guess, for you are probably in no +particular danger just now."</p> + +<p>"Then I will make my will to-day. By-the-by, there is a great +fortune-teller in town; have you seen her advertisement?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," I replied; "but there is nothing unusual in that. You can find +such people here at all times."</p> + +<p>"I know that," said the Captain; "but they are generally mere humbugs, +while this one appears to be of a different class. She has been in the +East Indies, and the fortune-tellers there are not humbugs, as I know by +experience. I shall go to see her to-morrow. I had my fortune told once +by a Hindoo in Calcutta, and he was correct in every particular as far as he went."</p> + +<p>After the Captain had gone away, I sent for Mrs. Warne and told her that +she would receive a visit from the Captain next day, and that she could +learn all about his past history by referring to the conversation which +my stenographer had taken down some time before. I then looked over a +report I had just received from Miller, who was still watching Pattmore +in Greenville. There was little of importance in it except an account of +a conversation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> between Miller and Pattmore, in which the latter said +that he was staking everything upon the hope of getting the +congressional nomination; if he should fail in that, he would not remain +in Greenville, but would go to Kansas to live. Miller added that +Pattmore received letters daily from Mrs. Thayer.</p> + +<p>I immediately wrote to Miller to secure a copy of one of Mrs. Thayer's +letters; and, if possible, to intercept every one of them. I felt +confident that she would describe her visit to the fortune-teller in +part, at least, and I was anxious to know how much she would reveal to +him. Besides if he were disposed to be superstitious, he would probably +be more or less affected by her account, and I might use the knowledge +thus gained, to good advantage.</p> + +<p>Late in the evening, Miss Seaton came in and told Mrs. Warne that Mrs. +Thayer had been greatly agitated by her interview with Lucille; that she +had shown great dejection and grief all the way home; and that she had +immediately retired to her room, where she had thrown herself on the +bed; that she had risen, late in the evening, and had written a very +long letter, which she had asked Miss Seaton to put in the post-office +for her, being too weak to go out herself. Of course, Miss Seaton gave +the letter to Mrs. Warne, who immediately brought it to me. I opened it +at once and hastily read it through. It began, "My dear husband," and +went on to describe her visit to Lucille. She gave a full account of all +that Lucille had said, and also related the effect which the +fortune-teller's revelations had had upon her. She said significantly +that Pattmore could understand how much she had been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> alarmed by the +references to the woman who came between them, for the inference was +that Lucille meant Mrs. Pattmore. However, she was going, she said, to +have her full fortune told the following day, and she would write all +about it in her next letter.</p> + +<p>I had the letter copied and sent to the post-office in time for the first mail.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IXA" id="CHAPTER_IXA"></a><i>CHAPTER IX.</i></h2> + +<p>I had sent word to my New York correspondent to make a thorough search +for Henry Thayer, as I wished to learn definitely whether he was alive +or dead. By communicating with the London board of underwriters, my +agent learned that Henry Thayer was in command of an English whaler in +the South Sea. At the latest advices from him, he was nearly ready to +sail for England, as he needed only a few more whales to complete his +cargo. I received this information the morning after Mrs. Thayer's first +visit to Lucille, and I communicated the news to Mrs. Warne at once, +instructing her to make the best possible use of it in her coming +interview with Mrs. Thayer.</p> + +<p>Shortly before ten o'clock the next morning, I took my place behind the +curtain. In a few minutes Mrs. Thayer and Miss Seaton arrived, and Mrs. +Thayer was promptly admitted to Lucille's presence. She removed her veil +and sank into the visitor's chair with an expression half of longing and +half of dread. Again Lucille waved her snaky wand, and, as before, the +room was filled with the fumes of burning incense. Lucille looked at +Mrs. Thayer's face intently, and said:</p> + +<p>"My child, I am pleased to see you; I have worked at your horoscope +unremittingly, but it is not completed to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> my satisfaction. There is +some peculiar influence about you which prevents a clear reading of your +future. Even your past, though much of it is easily determined, seems +obscured by strange inconsistencies—not to say impossibilities. Some of +the results were so startling as to make it necessary for me to refuse +to reveal them, until, by a second test, I can decide whether there was +no mistake in the solution of certain calculations. To-night, therefore, +I shall do what rarely is necessary in reading the horoscope of ordinary +humans—I must invoke the aid of my progenitor and master, Hermes. It is +a dreadful task; one for which I must nerve myself to meet the greatest +dangers and the most frightful scenes; but I never shrink from the path +of duty, and I have confidence that the sanctity of my mission will give +me safe conduct, even through the hosts of demons who must be met before +I can come face to face with the great Egyptian king."</p> + +<p>Lucille spoke with a weird earnestness, and a far-away look in her eyes, +as if she actually realized the presence of ghouls and goblins. Mrs. +Thayer fairly shivered with terror, but said nothing, and Lucille continued:</p> + +<p>"I wish I dared read the whole of the horoscope as it was divulged to me +in the lone watches of last night; but I have decided to omit all those +portions where there is a possibility that the malign spirits around you +have misinterpreted your past and future. When you were younger, you +passed your days in happiness; you were very handsome, and you could +charm the hearts of men without difficulty. There has been with you +frequently, during your past years, a man some years older than +yourself. He appears to have been a sailor; and, though<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> often away from +you, he has always sought you out on his return. He loves you, and is +undoubtedly your true friend; he is unmarried, yet he does not wish to +make you his wife. He wears a peculiar ring which he obtained in the +East Indies. He often consults this ring, and it informs him whether he +is in danger or the reverse. You do not love this sailor as well as he +loves you, and he wishes to remove you from the other man. I cannot +understand the actions of the woman whom I mentioned yesterday; I cannot +tell whether she is living or dead. The man you love has been with her; +he gave her something in a spoon which she was forced to take. Ah! I +see! it was a medicine, a white powder—and now begins the obscurity. +Further on, I see that he visited you; you ran to meet him and plied him +with caresses. If he were your husband it would partly clear away the cloud. Is it so?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," Mrs. Thayer at length replied, "he is my husband."</p> + +<p>"Well, that removes much of the uncertainty; this woman loved that man +and wished to keep him away from you; he gave her a powder to make her +sleep, so that he could escape from her."</p> + +<p>Then, suddenly catching Mrs. Thayer's hand, Lucille glanced over it +rapidly, and again closely examined the chart. Drawing back from Mrs. +Thayer, she eyed her sternly and disapprovingly.</p> + +<p>"Who is this other man?" she asked; "he, too, is a sailor; he is +handsome; he is brave; he is an officer; yes, he commands a ship. He has +been much with you, but he is now far away. You loved him once, but now<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> +the other man has come between you." Then, pausing a moment, she broke +forth rapidly and harshly: "Woman, you have tried to deceive me! This +sea captain is your husband!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Thayer was only able to say, as she fell back, fainting:</p> + +<p>"He is dead! he is——"</p> + +<p>Lucille soon revived her, and then asked whether she was strong enough +to hear the remainder of her fortune. Mrs. Thayer signified her assent, +and Lucille again examined the chart. She first said:</p> + +<p>"You cannot deceive me; your husband is away at sea; is it not so?"</p> + +<p>"He <i>was</i> my husband," said Mrs. Thayer, in a half audible voice; "but +he went away several years ago, and I heard that he was dead. I had +fallen in love with the other man, and, on hearing of my husband's +death, I married the man I loved. It can't be possible that Henry is alive."</p> + +<p>"Yes, he is," replied Lucille; "and I think he is about to return to +seek for you; but the horoscope again becomes obscure. It is as I +feared; the only means of learning the truth will be through the aid of +the dread Hermes, whose power no demon can resist. To-morrow you shall +learn all that my art can discover about your past and your future."</p> + +<p>"But can you tell me no more than this to-day?" asked Mrs. Thayer, in a +vexed tone. "You have given me only bad news. How long shall I live and +be happy with my husband?"</p> + +<p>"That man is not your husband, and you cannot long<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> live happily with +him. As far as the cloud permits me to see, I can discern that something +terrible is about to happen to him. You are in danger yourself; there +seems to be a strange fatality attending your fate wherever it comes in +contact with that man; it is especially gloomy when complicated by the +presence of the other woman. As I have before told you, I cannot clearly +see from this horoscope what will be your <i>absolute</i> future; but I can +tell you this much:—and, woman, weigh well my words, for the spirit of +prophecy is strong within me—your future is dependent upon your present +decision. Fate is unchangeable, and neither seer nor sibyl can alter its +least decree; but it is sometimes permitted to us to determine the +<i>contingent</i> future of a person and no more. We then say, thus and thus +has been the past; the future may be thus, or it may be so; one course +of conduct now, will lead to <i>this</i> result; the other will lead to +<i>that</i>. Yours is such a horoscope; and, even with the aid of my mighty +master, I cannot expect to do anything more than to learn definitely the +two alternatives which are to be presented to you, and the consequence +of your decision each way. To-morrow I will see you again at an early +hour, and will tell you all I have learned during the night."</p> + +<p>"Can you tell me no more now?" demanded Mrs. Thayer, impatiently. "Is it +then true that my first husband is alive?"</p> + +<p>"It is true," replied Lucille; "and he is at present commanding a ship +far away in the South Sea, which is the reason why you could not find him."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span></p><p>"How do you know that I ever looked for him?" said Mrs. Thayer, +languidly.</p> + +<p>"No; you did not look for him; but the other sailor who loves you, made +inquiries for a long time. I see him plainer now; he must be your brother."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Thayer had been very much awed by the imposing manners of Lucille, +and by the mystic surroundings in which she was placed. She was now +quite in Lucille's power, and I should have proceeded to force her to +reveal the truth about Pattmore's crime, had she been stronger +physically; but I was afraid to test her endurance too far in one day. I +had arranged a series of simple signals, which would not attract the +attention of any one but Lucille, and I therefore signalled to her that +she might close the interview. Mrs. Thayer lifted her head to look at +Lucille a few moments after the latter had spoken of her brother, and said:</p> + +<p>"You are the strangest woman I have ever met. You have told me things +which I believed were known only by myself. All that you have said is +the truth; but you do not tell me enough. I wish to know what I must do +to make amends for all the wrong I have done. I have been very wicked, I know."</p> + +<p>"If you really wish to do right, there is still a prospect that you may +be happy. My duty is to show you that you are doing wrong, and to help +you to change your course of action."</p> + +<p>"Will you not tell me about my—"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Thayer could not complete the sentence, but she evidently meant +Pattmore, so Lucille said:</p> + +<p>"Yes, my child; I will tell you all to-morrow; but I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> think you are +unable to bear more at present. I will point out two paths, and will +show you where each one of them leads; then, if you wish, I will give +you my advice; after that, all will depend upon yourself. You can be +happy again, if you decide to follow my counsel."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, I will try to do so," replied Mrs. Thayer. "I have suffered +myself to be led astray; but, hereafter, I will be guided by you. I +never before heard a fortune-teller who could talk as you do,—you give +such good advice."</p> + +<p>"I endeavor to use my powers for the good of mankind," said Lucille, +solemnly. "I speak only what I know to be true. When I have told you +all, you must decide upon your course; and, if you choose the right one, +you will, doubtless, be very happy. Be careful that you do not reveal to +any one the knowledge you have this day learned from me; when you have +heard all, you can tell as much as you please. Farewell, my child; be +here promptly at ten o'clock to-morrow, for my time is precious."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Thayer withdrew, joined Miss Seaton in the reception room, and they +returned home. Lucille then received in rapid succession the visitors +who had made appointments the previous day. She had a note-book filled +with information obtained by my detectives, and she was thus enabled to +satisfy them all immediately; or else, to postpone telling their +fortunes until the next day. Then the new arrivals were admitted long +enough to tell what they wished to know, after which they each received +appointments for the next day. When all were disposed of, Lucille came +into the back room to change<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> her dress. I congratulated her upon her +success, and was about to withdraw with my stenographer, when the usher +came in and said that a gentleman desired an audience. From his +description, I felt confident that Captain Sumner was the person who had +arrived. I therefore begged Lucille to give him a full sitting, and to +read his past for him very thoroughly.</p> + +<p>"By the way," I added, "you recollect that while he was away at sea, his +sweetheart, Miss Curtis, married a wealthy New York banker, named Agnew. +Well, I saw a notice the other day of the death of a banker of that name +in New York, and I feel sure that his old flame is now a widow. I want +you to refer to this fact in telling his future."</p> + +<p>"Oh! well," said Lucille, with some vexation, "I'm rather tired of the +business already, and I don't care to spend the whole afternoon in that +hot room; so I shall get rid of him as soon as he is satisfied. If you +want to tell me anything, make a sound like the gnawing of a rat, and I +will come out."</p> + +<p>Accordingly, I resumed my place at the door, with my stenographer close +beside me, and the Captain was ushered into Lucille's room. She motioned +to him to be seated, and then asked, in her most commanding tones:</p> + +<p>"What can you learn from Lucille that you have not already learned from +the Hindoo or Calcutta?"</p> + +<p>The Captain regarded her for an instant in reverent amazement; but, +finally, he said:</p> + +<p>"I see that you know my past, and that you are truly one of those who +can read the fate of others. I am in trouble, and I wish to know when I +shall escape from it,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> if ever. The Hindoo told me much, but I would +know more."</p> + +<p>Without further conversation, except to ask the day and hour of his +birth, Lucille proceeded to pore over a chart and to examine his hand. +Finally, she gazed at him steadily a few minutes, and said:</p> + +<p>"What I have to say is the truth alone; if it be painful to you, it is +because the truth is not always pleasant. Listen calmly, therefore, to +the words which the stars declare to be true: Your parents are both +dead; your father was a sea-captain, and he brought you up in the same +profession. On one of his cruises, a Sepoy presented him with three +rings, one of which you now wear; its powers are very great, and it has +frequently rendered you important services; take care that you lose it +not. It has even saved your life. Yes," she continued, after closely +examining the palm of his left hand; "your life has been attempted three +separate times lately. You have two sisters living; one of them is +happily married and lives in comfort in an eastern State; the other +married a sea-captain, but she does not live with her husband. She is +with you, and is in poor health. Why! is it possible!" she exclaimed, +suddenly. "It was your sister who made the attempt on your life! You may +not suspect that your young and charming sister, whom you so deeply +love, could have been guilty of such an act; but, unless my powers have +failed me so that I cannot read the stars aright, such is the fact. +Wait; lest I should have made a mistake, I will try again. It seems too +horrible to be believed."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span></p><p>The Captain had buried his face in his hands; but now he looked up and +said:</p> + +<p>"It is unnecessary to try again; you are right. I see that you are one +of the gifted ones of this world, and I wish you to tell me all; I can bear it."</p> + +<p>Lucille continued her examination of the Captain's hand as she went on speaking:</p> + +<p>"Your sister still has the same kind of poison with her which she used +before. She does not intend to use it herself—she has no motive for +committing suicide; but she may intend to give it to you again. You must +be careful, for that is your greatest danger. Your principal trouble for +some time has been caused by that sister. She no longer loves her +husband, who has wholly disappeared from your knowledge, and she +professes to believe that he is dead. This is not the case, however: he +is now in command of an English whaling ship in the South Sea, and he +will soon return to England."</p> + +<p>At this, the Captain sprang up in a whirl of excitement and joy. In +relating the story to me the next day, he said that he felt like taking +Lucille in his arms and giving her a genuine sailor hug; but she looked +so fierce and wicked that he got the idea that she was a genuine witch; +and he was afraid that her beautiful white hands would turn into claws, +and that she would soon make a meal of him, if she felt so disposed.</p> + +<p>When he sat down again, Lucille again scanned the chart and compared it +with his hand. She seemed very much disturbed at the revelations, and, +at length, she said:</p> + +<p>"Your troubles are so closely interwoven with those of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> your sister that +I cannot separate them; but I never saw a horoscope so full of frightful +scenes—I do not wish to go on with it."</p> + +<p>"Please do not stop," said the Captain; "I feel that you have the power +to tell me all, and I must know it. I will pay you anything you ask," he +added, taking out a roll of money.</p> + +<p>"My fees are invariable," said Lucille, drawing herself up haughtily. +"You insult me by suggesting that I need to be paid extra to tell the truth."</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon," replied the Captain excitedly; "but I hope you will +not refuse to tell me all you know. I can bear it, I assure you."</p> + +<p>"Know then that your sister is deeply in love with a very bad man, who +lives two or three hundred miles from here. She became acquainted with +him in the East and he seduced her, though he was a married man, living +with his lawful wife. To quiet your sister's scruples, he had a marriage +ceremony performed; but, of course, it had no legal value, since both of +the parties were already married. She became <i>enceinte</i> by this man, and +she caused the premature removal of the evidence of her shame by an +abortion. This crime you connived at, though you did not advise it. But +the worst is not yet told: this wicked man, finding that you were +determined to prevent him from seeing your sister, <i>resolved to murder +his wife</i>, and to marry your sister legally, supposing that her husband +was dead. He accomplished part of his design by poisoning his wife; but +he has not yet been able to carry out the whole of his plan. He is now +in danger, but he knows it not. He will soon be arrested and tried for +murder. If you can<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> succeed in uniting your sister and her lawful +husband, they may be able to forget the past and live together happily. +All, however, depends upon her. At present she is in deep distress, but +the effect of it will be good for her. There is a strong hope that she +may be led to see the character of her wicked lover in its true light, +and that she may return penitently to the arms of her husband, if he +will receive her."</p> + +<p>"Oh! he will, I know he will," said the Captain.</p> + +<p>"Then, when that happens, your troubles will be at an end. Now I can +tell you but little more, as I have a great task to perform, and I must be left alone."</p> + +<p>On hearing Lucille say this, I immediately gave the signal, as agreed, +and she made an excuse to leave the room for a moment.</p> + +<p>"What more do you want?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"You have forgotten to tell him about his old sweetheart, Mrs. Agnew."</p> + +<p>"Oh! let me skip that," said Lucille impatiently, "I am nearly +exhausted, and I cannot stand the atmosphere of that room much longer."</p> + +<p>"Just tell the Captain about Mrs. Agnew, and then you will be through +work for the day. Try to send him off happy," I pleaded.</p> + +<p>"Oh! yes; that is always the way: provided the Captain goes away happy, +you don't care what becomes of me. Well, I suppose I must; but I will +never undertake such a <i>role</i> again."</p> + +<p>When Lucille returned to the Captain, he was sitting with his face +buried in his hands; but he looked up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> instantly and asked whether she +had anything more to tell him.</p> + +<p>She looked at the chart for a few minutes and then said:</p> + +<p>"In your youth, you loved a lady of great beauty, and she returned your +love; but while you were away at sea, her parents made her believe that +you were false to her. They wished her to marry a wealthy banker, and, +in a fit of pique, she accepted him. She has always loved you in secret, +however, and now that her husband is dead—"</p> + +<p>"Is that so?" ejaculated the Captain, springing up in great delight.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Lucille; "he died a short time ago, and she is now +passing her widowhood in New York. She is stouter than she was, but she +is still handsome, and she has never ceased to love you. This completes +the reading of your horoscope."</p> + +<p>The Captain rose to go, but paused to express his feelings. He spoke +slowly and with great emotion, since Lucille had completely secured his confidence.</p> + +<p>"Madam, I thank you from my heart for the revelations you have made to +me. I know that most of the things you have told me are true, and I am +satisfied of the truth of the rest also. I should like to pay you in +proportion to the value of your words to me." So saying he went out +quickly, leaving one hundred dollars on the table.</p> + +<p>I found that Lucille's fame was becoming uncomfortably great, since the +reception-room was thronged with eager inquirers, who insisted on seeing +her, even after the close of her office hours. I, therefore, arranged<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> +with Mr. Bangs, my general superintendent, to have a crowd of my own +<i>employees</i> constantly in attendance, so that outsiders, seeing so many +others waiting for an audience, would not remain. By this means, Lucille +was able thereafter, to receive as many, or as few, as she chose, and +her labors were greatly lightened.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XA" id="CHAPTER_XA"></a><i>CHAPTER X.</i></h2> + +<p>After the interview with Lucille, Mrs. Thayer returned to her +boarding-house with Miss Seaton, and invited the latter to spend the day +with her. She said that she was low-spirited and wanted company to keep +off the "blues." She was very nervous, and she could not take an +interest in anything. She said several times that Lucille was the most +wonderful person she had ever met, and that she had heard things which +convinced her of Lucille's supernatural powers; but she carefully +avoided stating anything definite relative to the revelations made to +her. Finally she commenced to write a long letter, and Miss Seaton +became absorbed in a novel.</p> + +<p>After some time the Captain came in, looking very solemn, and Miss +Seaton saw that he wished to have a private talk with Mrs. Thayer. +Accordingly she rose to leave the room, remarking that she was going +down town in the evening and would like to have Mrs. Thayer accompany +her. Miss Seaton knew that it was very improbable that Mrs. Thayer would +go, on account of the fatigue and excitement of the morning; but she +hoped that the latter would give her the letter to put in the +post-office. On hearing the approach of the Captain, Mrs. Thayer had +hastily concealed her writing materials, thus showing that she was +writing to Pattmore. On<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> entering her own room, Miss Seaton took a seat +close by a door which connected the two rooms. This door was nailed up +and the cracks had been filled with cotton; but she quickly pulled out +the filling and obtained an excellent opening to hear all the +conversation in the next room.</p> + +<p>The Captain first asked his sister when she would be ready to return to +Springfield with him. She replied that she would go as soon as she felt +able to stand the journey.</p> + +<p>"Annie," said he, in an impressive manner, "I fear that you are +deceiving me, and that you intend to do me harm. Why do you seek my +life? You know that I have done all I could for you, and that I will +continue to do so. Why, then, do you wish to poison me? I know that you +have poison with you, and that I am the only one for whom it can be intended."</p> + +<p>"No, no, you are wrong," replied Mrs. Thayer, in trembling tones; "you +are my brother, and why should I wish to injure you?"</p> + +<p>"Annie, I know that you have poison about you," said the Captain, +firmly, "and I am afraid to remain with you any longer. I have forgiven +you once, but now it is my duty to cast you off; <i>you are plotting to take my life</i>."</p> + +<p>"Who told you this? What reason have I given you for thinking so?" demanded Mrs. Thayer.</p> + +<p>"I have been to see a wonderful fortune-teller, who——"</p> + +<p>The words had no more than passed her lips, when he was interrupted by +an exclamation of terror and surprise from Mrs. Thayer, who started to +her feet and then fell<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> back upon the sofa, fainting. The Captain was +much alarmed at the effect of his remark, and he could not understand +why she had fainted at the mere mention of the source of his +information. However, he did not spend any time in trying to account for +her terror; his first action was to bathe her temples with cold water, +in order to restore her to consciousness. When she had partly revived, +she lay on the sofa with her eyes closed, as if she had no strength +left. Finally she spoke in a weak voice, without looking at her brother:</p> + +<p>"Was it a fortune-teller who told you what you have just accused me of?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied the Captain, "and I know that she speaks the truth."</p> + +<p>"My God!" exclaimed Mrs. Thayer, "how could that woman have known that? +Well, it is true that I have some poison, though, as God is my judge, it +was not meant for you; but, I was resolved that if I could not escape +from my present misery, I would take it myself. Never, for an instant, +did I intend it for you."</p> + +<p>"In either case, Annie, I must have the poison."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Thayer rose with great effort, and, going to her trunk, produced a +small package labeled "POISON," in conspicuous letters. She handed it to +the Captain, and he said:</p> + +<p>"I will now destroy this package and thus remove all temptation from +you; let us both thank God that you have been prevented from carrying +out your design. O, Annie! may this be the last time that I ever shall +have reason to doubt you. The fortune-teller whom I mentioned is a +wonderful woman. I learned from her many<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> things which I will tell you +when you are strong enough to hear them."</p> + +<p>"I should like you to tell me very much," said Mrs. Thayer, eagerly; +"perhaps she could tell my fortune, if I should visit her."</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed; she could tell you all your past and future; you ought to go there."</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess I will try to go to-morrow, if I am strong enough," said Mrs. Thayer.</p> + +<p>The Captain kissed her tenderly, and said:</p> + +<p>"Annie, never again follow the advice of an evil counsellor; you will +never be happy while you continue in a path which you know to be wrong. +The fortune-teller had good news for us both, and all will go well if +you will only be guided by the wishes of your true friends, who love you +and who desire to save you from sorrow."</p> + +<p>The Captain then went out and left Mrs. Thayer dozing on the sofa.</p> + +<p>In the evening, after supper, Miss Seaton went to Mrs. Thayer's room to +see whether the latter wished to take a walk. Mrs. Thayer was not able +to go out, but she asked Miss Seaton to put a letter in the post-office +for her. Miss Seaton took the letter and brought it straight to Mrs. +Warne, who delivered it to me at once. I opened it and read it aloud to +my stenographer, who took down its contents as fast as the words fell from my lips.</p> + +<p>The letter contained a full account of Mrs. Thayer's second visit to +Lucille, and it betrayed great fear of discovery and punishment. She +said that she had thought their secret to be perfectly safe, but now she +knew that there was at least one person who could disclose their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> guilt +to the world, since that person had the power of finding out everything. +She begged him to come to Chicago, to see Lucille, and have his fortune +told; he would then learn the wonderful extent of her powers, and would +be able to decide what was the best course to pursue. She thought he +ought to fly for safety at once, since the fortune-teller predicted that +he was in great danger. As for herself, she expected to go East soon, as +her brother was anxious to start. If Pattmore did not come to Chicago +immediately she might never see him again; she could not bear the idea +of separation, but she knew that it must come. It was evident that Mrs. +Thayer had wholly forgotten Lucille's injunction to maintain silence +upon the subject of her revelations, and I debated an instant whether I +should send the letter; but I finally decided to let it go, as he would +receive it too late to interfere with my plans, even if he should come +to Chicago. I sent a letter to Miller by the same mail, telling him to +keep a strict watch on Pattmore, as I feared that he might leave +Greenville suddenly. In case of such a movement Miller must telegraph to me instantly.</p> + +<p>Miller's reports for several days had been to the effect that Pattmore +was working very hard to secure the Congressional nomination, but that +he seemed very much troubled about some other matter. He had changed his +mind about going West, and had asked Miller to go to Galveston, Texas, +with him, in case he failed to get the nomination. Although he still had +hosts of friends, he did not confide his plans to any one except Miller. +This showed me that there would be but little probability that Pattmore +would come to Chicago without Miller's <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span>knowledge. That same evening +Miller sent me a telegram stating that Pattmore had just received a long +letter, evidently from Mrs. Thayer; on reading it he had shown great +excitement, and had afterwards become gloomy and dejected to an unusual +degree. Miller wished to know whether I had any special instructions +about the letter. As this was the letter which Miss Seaton had secured +the day before, I replied that he need not trouble himself about it, but +that he must keep a close watch upon Pattmore, and endeavor to retain +him in Greenville as long as possible.</p> + +<p>By the early mail next morning I received a letter from Dr. Stuart, of +Greenville; having finished the work upon which he had been engaged, he +had begun the analysis of Mrs. Pattmore's bowels; he said that he would +let me know the result within a few days.</p> + +<p>The whole affair was now gradually drawing to a focus, and I felt +confident of a successful termination. I therefore instructed Mrs. Warne +to describe me to Mrs. Thayer, and to say that I was watching her +movements constantly.</p> + +<p>About nine o'clock that morning Mrs. Thayer went out as usual with Miss +Seaton, and they proceeded straight to Lucille's rooms. They were the +first arrivals, and Mrs. Thayer was admitted to Lucille's presence at +once; but Miss Seaton immediately went back to her boarding-house, as I +wished to have Mrs. Thayer return home alone. Mrs. Thayer was in a more +impressionable state than ever before. The day was dark and lowering, +showing every sign of an approaching storm; outside there had been the +noisy bustle of active business life, while within the limits of +Lucille's mystic chamber all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> was hushed in a deathly silence. The +monotonous swinging of the lamps, the perfume-laden air, the ghastly +skeletons, and the imperious bearing and powerful will of Lucille—all +struck upon her imagination with resistless force. As she sank into the +seat which Lucille pointed out, she felt like a criminal entering the +prisoner's dock for trial. She felt that she must relieve herself from +her load of guilt or she would forever suffer the torments of remorse.</p> + +<p>"Well, my child," said Lucille, in her most solemn tones, "to-day you +have come to learn all, and I trust that you have nerved yourself to +sustain the revelations which I have to make. I have been through many +difficulties and terrible dangers since I last saw you, and a very sad +story has been laid before me. Your situation is one of great peril, and +upon your own decision this day will rest your hopes of happiness +hereafter. Still, you must not be cast down; if you will only resolve to +do what is right, your sorrows will gradually pass away, while health +and happiness will steadily return to you. Your worst crime was the +destruction of your unborn child, for that was a sin against nature +herself; but true repentance will save you from the effects of that sin, +further than you have already suffered."</p> + +<p>This was the first time Lucille had mentioned the fact that she knew of +the abortion; yet it seemed perfectly natural to Mrs. Thayer that +Lucille should know it; hence, beyond turning very pale at the memory of +her suffering, she did not manifest any special emotion on hearing Lucille's words.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span></p><p>The sibyl continued speaking as she gazed, first at Mrs. Thayer's hand, +and then at the chart:</p> + +<p>"This man, whom you so wrongly love, does not return you the affection +of a true husband; he loves you only for selfish, sensual purposes; he +will fondle you as a plaything for a few years, and then he will cast +you off for a younger and more handsome rival, even as he has already +put away his first wife for your sake. If you do not give him up now, +some day he will throw you aside or trample you under foot. Think you he +will fear to do in the future what he has done in the past? When he +wearies of you, have you any doubt that he will murder you <i>as he has +already murdered his wife</i>?"</p> + +<p>Lucille had spoken in a rapid, sibilant whisper, leaning forward so as +to bring her eyes directly before Mrs. Thayer's face, and the effect was +electrical. Mrs. Thayer struggled for a moment, as if she would rise, +and then fell back and burst into tears. This was a fortunate relief, +since she would have fainted if she had not obtained some mode of escape +for her pent-up feelings. Seeing that there was no further danger of +overpowering Mrs. Thayer, as long as she was able to cry, Lucille continued:</p> + +<p>"Yes, the heartless villain murdered his wife by poisoning her. I can +see it all as it occurred; it is a dreadful scene, yet I know that it +must be true—a woman of middle age is lying in bed; she has evidently +been very handsome, but now she shows signs of a long illness; your +lover, her husband, enters, and he wishes to give her some medicine; but +see, she motions him away, though she is unable to speak; she must know +that he is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> going to poison her; yet she cannot help herself, and the +nurse does not suspect his design. Now he has given her the poison, and +she is writhing in an agony of pain. He professes to be much afflicted, +and, oh, heavens! with the treachery of Judas, he attempts to kiss her! +Now it is all over; with one last, reproachful look, she has passed to +that land where 'the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at +rest.' She is dead, <i>and her husband is her murderer</i>."</p> + +<p>"Oh! for God's sake, spare me, spare me!" exclaimed Mrs. Thayer, between +her sobs. "I cannot listen to the description of such a death-bed scene +without horror. I know I have been very guilty, but I shall try to make +amends in the future. Have pity on me, I beg of you, and do not +overwhelm me with such terrible scenes."</p> + +<p>"You must hear all," said Lucille, firmly. "There are two more acts in +this tragedy to which you must listen; the first is a weird scene in a +church-yard by night, and the clear starlight only half reveals the +actors; there are three men engaged in digging at this woman's grave; +yes, even in death, her body cannot rest in peace. Near by lies the +corpse of another woman, whose cold, white face is turned up mutely to +the silent stars; now the men reach the coffin and try to drag it from +the grave. What is their object? Ah! I see! they wish to substitute one +corpse for the other, so that the poison will never be discovered in +case of an inquest upon the body of the murdered woman. Suddenly three +other men rush upon the grave-diggers before they have been able to pull +the coffin from the grave; a chase ensues, and pistol-shots are fired; +but finally the resurrectionists escape, though they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> have been foiled +in their purpose. The last scene is the inquest: the coffin is brought +in, but the murderer dare not look upon the face of his victim; a sham +investigation is held, and he is cleared by the verdict of the jury; but +other watchful eyes have been regarding the proceedings; keen detectives +have been at work, and they now step in, unknown to the public, and take +quiet possession of the corpse; the stomach is removed for analysis, and +a chemist of great reputation takes charge of it; poison has been found; +positive proof of your lover's guilt have been obtained, and he will +suffer the penalty of his crime. You also are in danger, but if you tell +the truth, you will be saved."</p> + +<p>As Lucille impetuously placed before Mrs. Thayer the occurrences which +my investigations had disclosed, it seemed to the latter as if she were +the victim of a horrible nightmare. She felt that she was surrounded by +unseen foes, who were gradually tightening the toils in which she and +Pattmore had become entangled. She was neither brave nor +self-sacrificing; she had a sensitive dread of exposure, trial, and +punishment, which was aggravated by a knowledge of guilt and an +uncertainty as to the extent to which she had become legally liable; +also, she had none of the spirit of devoted affection which sometimes +prompts a woman to bear the greatest hardships for the sake of the man +she loves; hence, she was ready to do anything to save herself, even at +the expense of Pattmore's life. As Lucille concluded her terrible +recital, Mrs. Thayer shrieked in an agony of remorse and fear:</p> + +<p>"Oh, have mercy on me! I am lost! I am lost! Tell<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> me what I can do to +escape punishment; I will obey you wholly—I will do anything you tell +me. Oh, save me, save me! I know you can if you will."</p> + +<p>It was some time before Lucille could restore her to a quiet state of +mind, but at length her sobs ceased and Lucille continued:</p> + +<p>"The worst is now past, and if you will return to your brother and +confess all, he will forgive you. When you are called upon to tell what +you know about this wicked man, you must do so without reserve. You will +never see him again except in prison. If you do as your brother wishes, +you will regain your light heart and sweet disposition; your real +husband will come back to you, and your future will be one of happiness."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Thayer sat motionless, with her face buried in her shawl; +occasionally a long, choking sob would make her whole frame quiver, but +otherwise she gave hardly a sign of life.</p> + +<p>"Let me see your face," commanded Lucille.</p> + +<p>As Mrs. Thayer slowly raised her tear-stained countenance, Lucille gazed +intently into her eyes, and again examined the lines of her hand; then +she went on speaking:</p> + +<p>"There is another man near you, whose presence you do not suspect; +neither have you ever seen him; but he is watching you all the time. You +will soon meet him, for he wishes to talk with you. He is only of medium +height, but he is very well built and powerful; he has a full face, +ruddy complexion, brown hair, and gray eyes; he wears full whiskers all +around his face, and his expression is kindly but resolute. He is a very +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span>determined man, and when he tries to do anything he never gives up +until he has accomplished his object. He has great power, and if you +follow his counsel he can save you from harm; but you must trust him +fully and tell him the whole truth, for he can instantly detect any +falsehood or evasion, and he will be very dangerous to you if you try to +deceive him. This is all I have to tell you at present, my child; I wish +you well, but I cannot devote more time to you. I hope you will give +heed to what I have told you, and that you will decide to follow the +right path. There are many now awaiting an audience with me, and I must +hasten to admit them, since I cannot tarry long in one city. I have been +here now some time, and I must soon journey on; the waste places of the +far West call to me—yea, even the deserts of the barren hills. I must +plunge into solitude for a time, to commune with Nature."</p> + +<p>Then, raising her arms, Lucille placed both hands lightly on Mrs. +Thayer's head and said, solemnly:</p> + +<p>"May the Spirit of Eternal Truth go with thee, my child, to guide thee +forevermore! Farewell."</p> + +<p>When Mrs. Thayer looked up, after a few minutes of silence, Lucille had +disappeared, having slipped into the room where I and my stenographer +were listening. Seeing that the fortune-teller had dismissed her, Mrs. +Thayer drew down her heavy veil and left the room. One of my men was +stationed at the front door to watch her movements, so that when I +joined him, after a few minutes hurried talk with Lucille, he pointed +out to me the direction she had taken. I hastened down the street until +I caught sight of her; then, seeing that she was on her way<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> back to her +boarding-house, I decided not to speak to her just then. The street was +quite crowded, and I preferred not to risk having a scene in the +presence of so many spectators. Therefore I walked at a safe distance +behind her until she was across the bridge; but, on reaching a quiet +neighborhood, I overtook her and said:</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Thayer, I believe?"</p> + +<p>It must be remembered that she had no acquaintances in Chicago except +her fellow-boarders; hence my recognition of her would have startled +her, even had she never been told to expect me. But, as it was, my +appearance gave her a great shock, since she was at that moment +revolving in her mind the information given her by Lucille. Therefore, +when she was addressed by a stranger, whom she at once recognized as the +man about whom Lucille had given her a forewarning, she was struck +almost speechless with fear. She could only ejaculate:</p> + +<p>"Oh! God help me! that man has come!"</p> + +<p>I saw she was nearly ready to faint, so I took her arm and said:</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Thayer, I wish you to accompany me to my office."</p> + +<p>She was so weak that I supported her a short distance until one of my +men, who had remained within call, could bring a hack. I then helped +Mrs. Thayer into the carriage and told the driver to proceed at once to +my office. Mrs. Thayer said nothing, and showed no objection to my +wishes; but she was greatly alarmed, and she could not take her eyes off +my face. She had a sort of helpless, questioning look, which I was glad +to see, since it was evidence that she was now wholly under my control.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span></p><p>When the carriage stopped, I assisted her to walk up stairs into my +private office, where my stenographer had already taken a position to +hear without being seen. I gave her a comfortable chair, and handed her +a glass of water, for I saw that she was very faint. As soon as her +color began to show that she had revived I said:</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Thayer, you perceive that I am well acquainted with you. I am +sorry that you are in trouble, and I wish to be your friend, if you will +allow me to be so; all I ask is that you tell me the whole truth about +all your difficulties."</p> + +<p>"Are you really my friend?" she asked, in a trembling voice; "can I rely +upon what you say, and be sure that you will not take advantage of me? +Oh, sir, my heart seems ready to break, and I know not what to think. I +am a poor, weak woman, completely in your power."</p> + +<p>"You need have no fear of me," I replied, "I know nearly everything +relative to your troubles, but I wish you to tell me all the facts; then +I shall know precisely what to do to help you. It is possible to raise a +criminal charge against you, but it is my desire to prevent that; +therefore, you must tell me everything, without any reservation whatever."</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" she asked, after a few moments of thought. "You have not +told me your name, yet I know you; I have heard of you before, and I +know it will be useless for me to try to hide anything from you, but I +would like to know your name."</p> + +<p>"My name is Pinkerton," I answered, "but I cannot tell you how I know +you, nor why I take an interest in your affairs. I wish you to give me a +full account of your<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> relations with Pattmore ever since your first +acquaintance with him."</p> + +<p>I then gave her a glass of wine to strengthen her, and asked her to +proceed. As she spoke at first in a very low voice, I professed to be +hard of hearing, in order that she should speak loud enough for my +stenographer to hear also.</p> + +<p>She first referred to her early married life, when she was perfectly +happy in Henry's love; then she said that he made several very long +voyages, and when he came home he remained only a few days each time. +During one of these voyages, she met Pattmore and his wife in Brooklyn, +and they became well acquainted. Afterward Pattmore frequently came to +Brooklyn alone, and he always spent much of his time in her society. She +did not realize the danger of his intercourse at first; but, gradually, +he began to make love to her, and, finally, he accomplished her ruin. +Thenceforward she was wholly under his control, especially after Henry's +desertion of her. He brought her to his own hotel on the plea that she +would be company for his wife, and she lived as his mistress, in fact, +though not outwardly, until her brother came to take her away. Her +brother succeeded in awakening her remorse, and she determined to return +to Connecticut with him. Pattmore, however, opposed this action very +strongly, and offered to marry her immediately, saying that his wife was +sure to die soon from quick consumption, since all her family had died +of that disease at about her age. They were therefore secretly married, +and she then wrote to her brother that she should not return to +Connecticut. When she discovered that she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> was <i>enceinte</i> she was much +alarmed, and she again decided to return to her brother after the +abortion had been performed, but Pattmore had a strong control over her +still. As soon as she was able to go out, after her illness, Pattmore +wrote to her to get a certain prescription put up by a druggist. She did +so, and then sent the powders to him. In a short time Pattmore came to +Chicago and told her that he had arranged to poison his wife. She was +very much shocked at first, but he told her that Mrs. Pattmore could +only live about a year anyhow, and that she would suffer a great deal +during her rapid decline; hence he argued that there could be no harm in +hastening her death to save her from many weeks of pain. He said that he +had already commenced to poison her, using small doses, so as to break +down her system gradually. While he was there Captain Sumner came back +from the East, and he was very angry at Mrs. Thayer for permitting +Pattmore to visit her. Then Pattmore told her to poison her brother in +order that she might inherit his property. This proposition perfectly +horrified her, as she really loved her brother; but Pattmore said that +they never could live together as long as Captain Sumner was alive, and +that he was afraid the Captain would some day get into a passion and +kill them both. In this way he worked on her feelings until she agreed +to give her brother some of the powder which she had sent to Greenville. +Accordingly she made three attempts to poison her brother, but +fortunately she was not successful. Pattmore then returned to +Greenville, and soon afterward his wife died. He had visited her only +once since that time, but they corresponded regularly. He was very +guarded in his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> letters as to what he said about his wife's death, but +she knew that he had carried out his plan, because he had told her so +distinctly when he last saw her. He said that he had given her small +doses every day until she died; but the doctor believed that she had +died of dysentery, so that he was all safe.</p> + +<p>When she had finished, I said:</p> + +<p>"Well, Mrs. Thayer, I suppose you are aware that you are not legally +Pattmore's wife?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am," she said, with a sort of blind persistency; "his first wife +is dead, and as I was legally married to him I am now his wife."</p> + +<p>"No, Mrs. Thayer," I replied, "I will show you that your pretended +marriage was no marriage at all; when it took place Pattmore's wife was +alive, and he could not contract a second legal marriage; again, you +have no evidence that your husband is dead, and it is therefore probable +that you could not marry again legally. Hence, as he <i>certainly</i> +committed bigamy, and as you <i>probably</i> have done the same, there could +be no legal marriage between you."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Mr. Pinkerton," she acknowledged, sadly, "I know you are right, +but still I cling to that belief. If I could be sure that Henry was +alive, I should not regard Pattmore as my husband; but, as his wife is +dead, and Henry is also dead to me, I shall think that I am Pattmore's wife."</p> + +<p>"Well, you can have your doubts set at rest very soon," said I, "for I +have received letters from England saying that Henry is on his return +from a whaling voyage in the South Sea."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span></p><p>"Is that so?" gasped Mrs. Thayer. "Well, I was told that, but I could +hardly believe it. Oh, what shall I do? It was all my fault that Henry +left me; he loved me truly, and I once loved him. Oh, if he would only +forgive me, and love me, I might hope to be happy again; but I fear he +can never pardon the wrongs I have done him."</p> + +<p>"Do not despair, Mrs. Thayer," I said; "Henry may be willing to forgive +and forget if you show yourself ready to return his affection. However, +the first business is to circumvent Pattmore, and you must lend your assistance."</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do with me?" she asked, in a timid voice.</p> + +<p>"I shall let you go home," I replied; "but I shall keep a strict watch +upon your actions, and if you show a spirit of true repentance, I will +shield you from the penalties of your crimes. You will be called upon to +testify in court against Pattmore, and then your brother will take you +to his farm in Connecticut. You can go now, but your brother must come +here and become responsible for your appearance when wanted. One thing +more, Mrs. Thayer; you are receiving letters from Pattmore every day; +now, I wish you to send me all his letters without opening or answering +them. If you attempt to deceive me in anything I shall be obliged to put you in prison."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, no!" she said, eagerly; "you can trust me, I assure you, for I +know that I am in your power; a fortune-teller told me so."</p> + +<p>"Well, well, I don't care anything about fortune-tellers—I never saw +one that wasn't a humbug—but you may depend upon it that I cannot be +deceived, and I will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> not be trifled with. You can go home now and tell +your brother to come over here to become your security."</p> + +<p>So saying, I called a carriage and sent her home in charge of one of my +men. On returning to my office, I found Mrs. Warne awaiting me. I +complimented her very highly on her success, and told her that she need +not continue the business of fortune-telling more than a day or two +longer. I told her to be careful not to receive Mrs. Thayer again, +however, but to instruct the usher to tell her that Madam Lucille never +received any lady a second time after having completed her horoscope.</p> + +<p>In about half an hour Captain Sumner came in. I told him that I was now +master of the situation, and that I would make a decided move in a day or two.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the Captain, "Annie has told me a great deal, and she says +that I must become responsible for her, and guarantee that she shall not +leave town. How have you accomplished all this? I cannot understand it."</p> + +<p>"Some day perhaps I will tell you all about it," I replied, "but I +cannot do so just now. I wish you to bring your sister here to-morrow +morning; I will prepare an affidavit for her to sign, and then we shall +soon have Pattmore under arrest."</p> + +<p>"Well, if you will only have him punished as he deserves," said the +Captain, "I shall consider no reward too great for you. He is a snake in +the grass, who has ruined my sister, and covered our family with shame. +Now I want revenge."</p> + +<p>"I shall do all in my power to have him punished," I said; "and I am +very well pleased to see the end so near.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> By the way, you might write +to Mr. Chapman to inform him of our success."</p> + +<p>"I will, indeed," said the Captain, enthusiastically; "if it had not +been for him, I never should have thought of coming to you, Mr. Pinkerton."</p> + +<p>"Well, good-day, Captain; come here with Mrs. Thayer about ten o'clock +to-morrow morning."</p> + +<p>I immediately placed the facts before my lawyer, and requested him to +prepare an affidavit for Mrs. Thayer to make relative to Pattmore's +guilt. The next morning it was ready, and Mrs. Thayer swore to the facts +as therein set forth. I then told the Captain to remain in Chicago until +I should send for him, and that evening I took the train for Greenville.</p> + +<p>On my arrival there I called on Dr. Stuart and learned that his analysis +had been finished that day. He had found enough poison in Mrs. +Pattmore's bowels to make it certain that she had died from that cause, +and not from natural disease. I then made an affidavit, charging +Pattmore with murder, and I also filed Mrs. Thayer's affidavit in the +court. Everything was done quietly, so that Pattmore was arrested before +any one except the sheriff and the judge knew that a warrant had been +issued. The arrest created immense excitement; a bitter political +campaign was in progress, and it was charged, as before, that the arrest +was made for political effect. The grand jury was in session, however, +and I sent for Captain Sumner and Mrs. Thayer at once. The testimony of +Mrs. Thayer, the nurse, and the grave-diggers, made a pretty strong +case; but when I clinched the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span> whole matter with the testimony of Dr. +Stuart, there was no longer any doubt in the minds of the jury as to +Pattmore's guilt. He was immediately indicted for murder in the first +degree, and was consigned to prison to await trial.</p> + +<p>The trial took place very soon afterward, and the lawyers for the +defense made a very strong fight to clear their client. They were +successful to the extent of saving him from execution, but he was +sentenced to a term of ten years in the penitentiary.</p> + +<hr class="smler" /> + +<p>Some years after Pattmore was sentenced, I was walking down Broadway, +New York, when I happened to meet Captain Sumner. Our greetings were +very cordial, and I invited him to visit me at my New York office.</p> + +<p>"I shall be very glad, indeed, to come," he said; "I often think of you, +and I can never forget how much I am indebted to you. By the way, I +should like to bring a friend with me."</p> + +<p>"Do so, by all means," I replied; "I shall always be glad to see any of +your friends. But how is Mrs. Thayer? Do you intend to bring her to see me?"</p> + +<p>"No; she is not in this country now," he answered, with a pleasant +smile; "but she was in good health when I last heard from her, and was +very happy, indeed. Henry Thayer returned to the United States about a +month after we had settled down on my farm, and he immediately came to +see me. I need not tell you how delighted he was to find Annie waiting +for him. Their old love for each other returned with redoubled power<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> +and now nothing could separate them. When Annie began to speak of her +past follies and errors, Henry stopped her instantly: 'No, Annie,' he +said, 'let the dead bury the dead—we will live for the future. Our past +shall be forgotten except such memories as are pleasant.' They have +resided for several years in China, where Henry is a partner in a +wealthy firm. They have two lovely children, and life runs very smoothly +and pleasantly for them. I know that this great change in her life was +largely due to you, Mr. Pinkerton, and I shall never cease to be +grateful for your exertions to save her from misery. I owe you still +another debt, which I will tell you about to-morrow, when I bring my +friend to see you."</p> + +<p>"I am very glad to know that Mrs. Thayer is so happy," I said; "give my +regards to her when you write. I must hurry on now, Captain, as I have +an important engagement; so good-bye. Bring your friend any time +to-morrow afternoon."</p> + +<p>So saying, I shook his hand and passed on. The next day he came sailing +in, with a fine looking lady of middle age leaning contentedly on his arm.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Pinkerton," said the Captain, with a very complacent expression, +"I'm spliced. Allow me to introduce Mrs. Sumner—lately Mrs. Agnew."</p> + +<h4>THE END.</h4> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Somnambulist and the Detective, by +Allan Pinkerton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SOMNAMBULIST AND THE DETECTIVE *** + +***** This file should be named 30636-h.htm or 30636-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/6/3/30636/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Martin Pettit and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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