initial commit of ebook 35686HEADmain

22 files changed, 33812 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6833f05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitattributes
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+* text=auto
+*.txt text
+*.md text
diff --git a/35686-8.txt b/35686-8.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4a568a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/35686-8.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,10053 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Mississippi Outlaws and the Detectives, 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: Mississippi Outlaws and the Detectives
+       Don Pedro and the Detectives; Poisoner and the Detectives
+
+Author: Allan Pinkerton
+
+Release Date: March 26, 2011 [EBook #35686]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUTLAWS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Hunter Monroe, Suzanne Shell 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.)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                     MISSISSIPPI OUTLAWS
+                           AND THE
+                         DETECTIVES.
+
+
+
+
+                      ALLAN PINKERTON'S
+
+                    GREAT DETECTIVE BOOKS.
+
+ 1.--MOLLIE MAGUIRES AND DETECTIVES.
+ 2.--STRIKERS, COMMUNISTS, AND DETECTIVES.
+ 3.--CRIMINAL REMINISCENCES AND DETECTIVES.
+ 4.--THE MODEL TOWN AND DETECTIVES.
+ 5.--SPIRITUALISTS AND DETECTIVES.
+ 6.--EXPRESSMEN AND DETECTIVES.
+ 7.--THE SOMNAMBULIST AND DETECTIVES.
+ 8.--CLAUDE MELNOTTE AS A DETECTIVE.
+ 9.--MISSISSIPPI OUTLAWS AND DETECTIVES.
+ 10.--GYPSIES AND DETECTIVES.
+ 11.--BUCHOLZ AND DETECTIVES.
+ 12.--THE RAILROAD FORGER AND DETECTIVES.
+ 13.--BANK ROBBERS AND DETECTIVES.
+ 14.--BURGLAR'S FATE AND DETECTIVES.
+ 15.--A DOUBLE LIFE AND DETECTIVES.
+
+   These wonderful Detective Stories by Allan Pinkerton are
+       having an unprecedented success. Their sale far
+         exceeding one hundred thousand copies. "The
+       interest which the reader feels from the outset
+         so intense and resistless; he is swept along
+            by the narrative, held by it, whether
+                       he will or no."
+
+ All beautifully illustrated, and published uniform with this
+    volume. Price $1.50 each. Sold by all booksellers, and
+         sent _free_ by mail, on receipt of price, by
+
+              G. W. CARLETON & CO., Publishers,
+                          New York.
+
+
+
+
+                     MISSISSIPPI OUTLAWS
+                           AND THE
+                         DETECTIVES.
+
+                DON PEDRO AND THE DETECTIVES.
+
+                 POISONER AND THE DETECTIVES.
+
+                              BY
+                       ALLAN PINKERTON,
+
+                          AUTHOR OF
+
+     "THE EXPRESSMAN AND THE DETECTIVE," "THE MODEL TOWN
+       AND THE DETECTIVES," "THE SPIRITUALISTS AND THE
+          DETECTIVES," "THE MOLLIE MAGUIRES AND THE
+             DETECTIVES," "STRIKERS, COMMUNISTS,
+                   TRAMPS AND DETECTIVES,"
+                       ETC., ETC., ETC.
+
+                        [Illustration]
+
+                          NEW YORK:
+                _G. W. Dillingham, Publisher_,
+              SUCCESSOR TO G. W. CARLETON & CO.
+                  LONDON: S. LOW, SON & CO.
+                        MDCCCLXXXVII.
+
+
+
+
+                          COPYRIGHT
+                              BY
+                       ALLAN PINKERTON,
+                            1879.
+
+                       SAMUEL STODDER,
+                         STEREOTYPER,
+                     90 ANN STREET, N. Y.
+
+                             TROW
+                PRINTING AND BOOK BINDING CO.
+                            N. Y.
+
+
+
+
+                          CONTENTS.
+
+
+           MISSISSIPPI OUTLAWS AND THE DETECTIVES.
+
+                          CHAPTER I.                                PAGE
+
+    A daring Express Robbery.--Mr. Pinkerton appealed
+          to.--Cane-brakes and cane-fed People.--Annoying delays
+          and Amateur Detectives.                                      9
+
+                         CHAPTER II.
+
+    Difficulties.--Blind Trails and False Scents.--A Series of
+          Illustrations showing the Number of Officious People
+          and Confidence Men that often seek Notoriety and
+          Profit through important Detective Operations.              21
+
+                         CHAPTER III.
+
+    "Old Hicks," a drunken Planter, is entertained by a
+          Hunting-Party.--Lester's Landing.--Its Grocery-Store
+          and Mysterious Merchants.--A dangerous Situation.--The
+          unfortunate Escape of Two of the Robbers.                   32
+
+                         CHAPTER IV.
+
+    The Captured Ruffians are desired for Guides, but dare not
+          join in the Search for the Outlaws.--One of the
+          Robbers is Taken, but subsequently Escapes from the
+          Amateur Detectives.--Another Clue suddenly fails.           44
+
+                          CHAPTER V.
+
+    A Rich Lead Struck at Last.                                       50
+
+                         CHAPTER VI.
+
+    The Mother of the Farringtons, being arrested, boasts that
+          her Sons "Will never be taken Alive."--Another
+          Unfortunate Blunder by Amateur Detectives.--An
+          interesting Fate intended for the Detectives.--William
+          A. Pinkerton captures the Murderer of a Negro in Union
+          City, proving "a very good Fellow--for a Yankee."           56
+
+                         CHAPTER VII.
+
+    The Scene of Action transferred to Missouri.--The Chase
+          becoming Hot.                                               68
+
+                        CHAPTER VIII.
+
+    A determined Party of Horsemen.--The Outlaws surrounded and
+          the Birds caged.--A Parley.--The burning Cabin.--Its
+          Occupants finally surrender.                                80
+
+                         CHAPTER IX.
+
+    Barton's Confession.--The Express Robberies, and the
+          Outlaw's subsequent Experiences fully set forth
+          therein.--A Clue that had been suddenly dropped taken
+          up with so much Profit.                                     91
+
+                          CHAPTER X.
+
+    A terrible Struggle for Life or Death upon the Transfer-boat
+          "Illinois."--"Overboard!"--One less Desperado.--Fourth
+          and Last Robber taken.                                     104
+
+                         CHAPTER XI.
+
+    The last Scene in the Drama approaching.--A new Character
+          appears.--The Citizens of Union City suddenly seem to
+          have important business on hand.--The Vigilantes and
+          their Work.--The End.                                      114
+
+
+                DON PEDRO AND THE DETECTIVES.
+
+                          CHAPTER I.
+
+    A fraudulent Scheme contemplated.--A dashing Peruvian Don
+          and Donna.--A regal Forger.--Mr. Pinkerton engaged by
+          Senator Muirhead to unveil the mystery of his Life.        125
+
+                         CHAPTER II.
+
+    Madame Sevier, Widow, of Chicago, and Monsieur Lesparre, of
+          Bordeaux, also arrive at Gloster.--Mr. Pinkerton, as a
+          Laborer, anxious for a Job, inspects the Morita
+          Mansion.                                                   143
+
+                         CHAPTER III.
+
+    Monsieur Lesparre, having a retentive memory, becomes
+          serviceable to Don Pedro.--Diamond fields and droll
+          Americans.--A pompous Judge in an unfortunate
+          Predicament.--The grand Reception closes with a happy
+          Arrangement that the gay Señor and Señora shall dine
+          with Mr. Pinkerton's Detectives on the next evening.       159
+
+                         CHAPTER IV.
+
+    Madame Sevier and Her Work.--Unaccountable Coquettishness
+          between Man and Wife.--A Startling Scheme,
+          Illustrating the Rashness of American Business Men and
+          the Supreme Assurance of Don Pedro.                        170
+
+                          CHAPTER V.
+
+    The third Detective is made welcome at Don Pedro's.--The
+          Señor is paid the first half-million dollars from the
+          great Diamond Company.--How Don Pedro is "working" his
+          diamond mines.                                             189
+
+                         CHAPTER VI.
+
+    An unexpected Meeting and a startling Recognition. An old
+          friend somewhat disturbs the Equanimity of Don Pedro.
+          The Detectives fix their Attention upon Pietro
+          Bernardi.                                                  205
+
+                         CHAPTER VII.
+
+    Pietro Bernardi and the Detective become warm Friends.--A
+          Tête-à-tête worth one thousand dollars.                    219
+
+                        CHAPTER VIII.
+
+    Don Pedro anxious for Pietro Bernardi's absence.--"Coppering
+          the Jack and playing the Ace and Queen
+          open."--Bernardi Quieted, and he subsequently departs
+          richer by five thousand dollars.                           232
+
+                         CHAPTER IX.
+
+    Important Information from the Peruvian Government.--Arrival
+          In Gloster of the Peruvian Minister and Consul.--In
+          Consultation.--"Robbing Peter to pay Paul."--Mr.
+          Pinkerton's Card is presented.--Juan Sanchez, I arrest
+          you, and you are my Prisoner.--Mr. Pinkerton not "For
+          Sale."                                                     249
+
+                          CHAPTER X.
+
+    The Fête Champêtre.--A grand Carnival.--The disappointed
+          married Lover.--A vain Request.--Unmasked!--An
+          indignant Deacon.--Don Pedro taken to Peru in a
+          man-of-war, where he is convicted and sentenced to
+          fifteen years Imprisonment.                                265
+
+
+               THE POISONER AND THE DETECTIVES.
+
+                          CHAPTER I.
+
+    Mr. Pinkerton at a Water-cure becomes interested in a
+          Couple, one of whom subsequently causes the Detective
+          Operation from which this Story is written.--A wealthy
+          ship-owner and his son.--The son "Found dead."--Mr.
+          Pinkerton secured to solve the Mystery.--Chicago after
+          the Fire.                                                  283
+
+                         CHAPTER II.
+
+    The Detectives at work.--Mrs. Sanford described.--Charlie,
+          the Policeman.--Mrs. Sanford develops Interest in
+          Government Bonds.--Chicago Relief and Aid
+          Benefits.--Mrs. Sanford's Story of Trafton's Death.        298
+
+                         CHAPTER III.
+
+    The dangerous Side of the Woman's Character.--Robert A.
+          Pinkerton as Adamson, the drunken, but wealthy
+          Stranger, has a violent Struggle to escape from Mrs.
+          Sanford, and is afterwards robbed.--Detective Ingham
+          arrested, but very shortly liberated.                      319
+
+                         CHAPTER IV.
+
+    Connecting Links.--Mrs. Sanford's Ability as an Imitator of
+          Actors.--One Detective tears himself away from her,
+          and another takes his Place.--Mrs. Sanford's mind
+          frequently burdened with the subject of Murder.            340
+
+                          CHAPTER V.
+
+    A moneyed young Texan becomes one of Mrs. Sanford's
+          Lodgers.--The bonds are seen and their Numbers taken
+          by the Detectives.--Mrs. Sanford arrested.--She is
+          found guilty of "Involuntary Manslaughter," and
+          sentenced to the Illinois Penitentiary for five
+          years.--Mr. Pinkerton's Theory of the Manner in which
+          Trafton was murdered                                       356
+
+
+
+
+                           PREFACE.
+
+
+In presenting to the public another volume of my detective stories, I
+would call the attention of the reader to the fact, that these stories
+are literally written from facts and incidents which have come under my
+own observation, or been worked up by officers acting directly under my
+instructions.
+
+The Mississippi River has for many years--more especially since the
+close of the war--been infested by a class of men who never would try to
+get an honest living, but would prey upon their neighbors or attack the
+property of southern railroads and express companies; these marauders
+could be seen any day prowling along the banks of the Mississippi, in
+fact, the shores and immediate neighborhood were peopled by just such a
+class, who cared not how they obtained a living; for the crimes they
+committed, they often suffered infinitely worse punishment, more so than
+any suffering which could have been entailed on them from leading a poor
+but honest life.
+
+The story of the "MISSISSIPPI OUTLAWS AND THE DETECTIVES" is written to
+illustrate incidents which took place in the southern section of the
+country at no very remote date.
+
+"DON PEDRO AND THE DETECTIVES" is another story of detective experience,
+which came under my own observation and management; it is a truthful
+narrative, and shows that some men are worse than known criminals, and
+can squander the money they have obtained by false pretenses, in a very
+lavish manner.
+
+"THE POISONER AND THE DETECTIVES" is a well-known bit of detective
+experience, which, when read, will be recognized by any one who ever
+takes an interest in crime, and the bringing to justice its
+perpetrators.
+
+The reader must remember that fictitious names are used in all of these
+stories, otherwise the facts are plainly and truthfully told as they
+occurred.
+
+                              ALLAN PINKERTON.
+  _April, 1879._
+
+
+
+
+                   THE MISSISSIPPI OUTLAWS
+
+                             AND
+
+                       THE DETECTIVES.
+
+
+
+
+                          CHAPTER I.
+
+    _A daring Express Robbery.--Mr. Pinkerton appealed to.--Cane-brakes
+          and cane-fed People.--Annoying Delays and Amateur Detectives._
+
+
+The southern and border states, since the close of the war of the
+rebellion, have been the frequent scenes of extensive and audacious
+robberies. This has been largely owing to the sparsely-settled condition
+of certain districts, to the disorder and lawlessness generated by the
+war, and to the temptations offered by the carelessness of many persons
+having large sums intrusted to their care in transit through lonely and
+desolate localities.
+
+The express companies have always been favorite objects of attack by
+thieves of every grade, from the embezzling cashier to the petty
+sneak-thief, and some of the operations connected with the detection of
+this class of criminals are among the most difficult and dangerous that
+have ever been intrusted to me. Probably a no more reckless and
+desperate body of men were ever banded together in a civilized community
+than those who were brought to my attention in 1871 by the Southern
+Express Company's officers in Memphis; and I consider the successful
+termination of my efforts in this case as of the greatest value to the
+people of the South and West. The whole affair was conducted with such a
+limited force, and under such adverse circumstances, that I take pride
+in here recording the history of the affair and my connection with it.
+Though I maintained a general supervision of the operation, my eldest
+son, William A. Pinkerton, was the person having immediate charge of the
+matter, and to his energy, perseverance, and sagacity is mainly
+attributable our success.
+
+Some time in the latter part of July, 1871, an express messenger on the
+Mobile and Ohio Railroad was overpowered by three men at Moscow,
+Kentucky, and his safe was robbed of about sixteen hundred dollars. The
+manner of effecting the robbery was a very bold one, showing the
+presence of men of experience in crime. The loss was not heavy, but the
+company made every effort to discover the robbers, in the hope of
+bringing them to a severe punishment as a warning to other criminals. In
+spite, however, of the efforts of two of my men, who were immediately
+sent to the scene of the robbery, the guilty parties escaped into the
+almost impenetrable swamps along the Mississippi River, and the chase
+was reluctantly abandoned, as it was impossible to tell where they
+would come out or cross the river. The amount stolen was not
+sufficiently large to warrant the expenditure of much time or money in
+the pursuit of the thieves, and my men were soon wholly withdrawn from
+the operation. In order, however, to guard against a repetition of such
+a raid, an extra man was placed in each express car to act as guard to
+the regular messenger. It was considered that two men, well armed, ought
+to be surely able to protect the company against further loss, and
+everything ran smoothly until October 21, 1871. At this time, the money
+shipments by express were very heavy, as a rule, and orders were given
+that special care should be exercised by all the employés having money
+packages in charge.
+
+The northern-bound train on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad was due at
+Union City, Tennessee, about half-past seven o'clock in the evening. At
+this point the northern and southern-bound trains usually passed each
+other, and stopped long enough for supper, the train arriving first
+being the one to take the side track ready to pull out. Saturday
+evening, October 21st, the northern-bound train arrived on time, stopped
+at the station long enough to let the passengers go to supper, and then
+took the side track to await the arrival of the train bound south. As
+soon as the side track was reached the conductor, engineer, fireman,
+brakeman, and express messenger went to supper, leaving the train
+deserted except by the express guard, named George Thompson, and a few
+passengers. The local express agent came up at this moment, gave his
+packages to Thompson, receiving his receipt therefor, and returned to
+the station. This action was directly contrary to the rules of the
+company, which forbade the messenger to leave the car during his whole
+run, or to go to sleep; also, the guard was forbidden to transact any
+business, or to have possession of the safe key. Martin Crowley, the
+messenger, had given his key to Thompson, however, to enable him to
+attend to the business of the local agent while Crowley was away at
+supper. In accordance with Thompson's request, Crowley sent a negro
+porter to the express car with Thompson's supper on a tray, and the
+porter, after handing the tray to Thompson, turned to walk away. As he
+did so, he saw two men spring into the partly open door of the express
+car, and, almost immediately, the train began to back. The negro knew
+that something was wrong, and he hurried to the station to give the
+alarm. By the time he arrived there, however, the train was backing at a
+moderate speed, and was well beyond the reach of pursuit on foot.
+
+Meantime, the guard, having received his supper from the negro porter,
+turned his back to the door to set the tray down. Before reaching the
+desk, he heard a noise at the door, and turning, he was confronted by
+two men, one of whom held a revolver at his head, while the other seized
+his throat. Thompson was a young man, and, not being accustomed to meet
+such hard characters, he was badly frightened. He immediately gave up
+the safe key and helped one of the men to unlock the safe. Having taken
+all the money out of the safe, one of the robbers took also the contents
+of Thompson's pocket-book; but here the other man interfered, insisting
+that the guard's money be returned to him, which was done. No
+conversation took place, but when the safe had been carefully examined
+and all the money it contained taken, one of the men stepped to the door
+and swung a lantern once or twice. The train, which had been backing at
+a moderate rate of speed, now stopped, and the two men jumped off,
+telling Thompson to stay where he was and keep quiet. When the
+conductor, engineer, and other persons, whom the porter had alarmed,
+reached the train, they found everything in order except the safe, into
+which poor Thompson was vainly peering in the hope of discovering that
+some portion of the funds might have been overlooked. The men had
+disappeared in the thick woods, and no trace of them was found except a
+small carpet-bag containing potatoes and bread. The amount missing from
+the safe was about six thousand dollars in currency.
+
+Although the robbery was at once reported to Mr. M. J. O'Brien, the
+General Superintendent, by telegraph, no action seems to have been taken
+until the following Wednesday--four days later--when Mr. O'Brien sent me
+a brief telegram announcing the robbery, and requesting me to come to
+Union City in person, if possible, and if not, to send my eldest son,
+William A. Pinkerton. The telegraph was used freely for the next two
+days, and while my son was gathering clues and making his preparations,
+we learned most of the facts by letter. William arrived in Union City on
+Saturday, just one week after the robbery had been committed, and he
+instantly began to gather information from every available source.
+Except the statements of the negro porter and Thompson, the guard, as
+condensed in the account heretofore given, little information could be
+obtained, as so few persons were about the train when it began to move
+off. While two or three had seen the men who had entered the car, no one
+had seen who had run the locomotive, and there was, therefore, no
+certainty as to the number of persons engaged in the job. One passenger
+had seen two men walking toward the engine in a suspicious manner, and,
+as his description of these two was entirely different from that given
+of the men who had entered the car, it was fair to presume that they had
+been a part of the gang. Still, no one had seen them get on the engine,
+and it was not certain that they had had anything to do with the affair.
+At the end of three days, however, William had collected sufficient
+information to satisfy himself that either four or five men had been at
+work together; and, by collating the various descriptions he received,
+he obtained a pretty fair idea of the party.
+
+The first thing which struck him was the similarity of this robbery to
+the one which had occurred exactly three months before at Moscow,
+Kentucky. The appearance of the men and their actions had been precisely
+like those of the Moscow party, and it was evident that they had been
+emboldened to a second venture by the ease with which they had carried
+through their former scheme. One thing was imperative: the capture of
+the whole gang would be necessary to insure the safety of the express
+company's property in the future. Indeed, it was a mere piece of good
+fortune that the loss in this instance was not irreparable, for the
+amount of money carried on the southern-bound train was eighty thousand
+dollars, and the robbers would have obtained this large amount if the
+southern-bound train had chanced to arrive first. The robbery was
+clearly one which no common tramp or sneak-thief would have dared to
+attempt, and William saw immediately the difficulties of his work.
+Before proceeding with the incidents of the operation, I must give some
+idea of the country and the people living there, since no-one would
+otherwise comprehend one-half of the obstacles and dangers which were
+involved in a search for the criminals in that vicinity.
+
+The southwestern part of Kentucky and the northwestern part of Tennessee
+are about as desolate portions of the world as are inhabited by a
+civilized people. There seems to have been some convulsion of the earth
+at this point, which is sunk so far below the general level of the whole
+country as to make it a perpetual swamp. The annual overflow of the Ohio
+and Mississippi lays the country under water for a distance of many
+miles, while even in the dryest season, the morasses, sunken lakes, and
+dense cane-brakes, render it almost impassable, except for people who
+have been thoroughly acquainted with the locality for years.
+
+The sunken lakes are natural curiosities in themselves, and, although
+they have attracted considerable attention from scientific men, no
+satisfactory explanation of their causes and phenomena has been found.
+The country is full of game and the water is alive with fish, so that
+the necessities of life are easily obtainable. The cane-brakes are
+wonderful growths of bamboo cane, and they sometimes cover strips of
+country as much as seventy miles long. In the spring-time, the water
+rises to such a height that a skiff can navigate freely above and
+through the tops of the cane; but in dry weather, the stalks grow so
+closely together that the brake becomes impenetrable to man or beast,
+except by winding tortuously around the clumps through the comparatively
+thin portions of the undergrowth. To search for any one wishing to
+remain concealed therein is like the proverbial attempt to look for a
+needle in a hay-stack, since a man can pass within ten yards of another
+without seeing him or being aware of his presence. The only roads which
+traverse these places are mere cattle paths, which begin at no place and
+run nowhere; and, unless a man be thoroughly acquainted with the
+country, he can never tell where any given path will lead him.
+
+The people around the towns, such as Hickman, Union City, Dyersburg, and
+Moscow, are a highly respectable and well-educated class; but in the
+low, swampy country, in the cane brake and along the river, they are
+not, as a rule, a very agreeable class to live among. Of course, here,
+as in all other places, there are many intelligent, reliable, honorable
+men, but the great mass of the cane-brake population are ignorant and
+brutal. The term which they apply to their stock is also eminently
+appropriate to designate the people: they are "cane-fed." It is the
+custom to turn the cattle into the cane to feed when it is young and
+tender, and, as the amount of nutriment thus obtained is not very large,
+the "cane-fed" animals bear about the same relation to grain-fed stock
+that the people in that vicinity bear to the residents of healthy,
+prosperous, and educated communities. The larger portion of the
+population may be classed as "poor whites," and they constitute a
+peculiar variety of the human species. The men are tall, loose-jointed,
+and dyspeptic; they bear a marked resemblance to the vegetable
+productions of the vicinity, being rapid of growth, prolific, and
+generally worthless. Their education consists mainly of woodcraft and
+rifle-shooting; their proficiency in both of these branches is sometimes
+astonishing, and it is frequently said of their most expert hunters that
+they seem to have been born shot-gun or rifle in hand. Accomplishments
+they have none, except the rare instances where a few tunes upon the
+banjo have been learned from the negroes. Their tastes are few and
+simple,--whisky, snuff, hog, and hominy being the necessities and
+luxuries of life; that is, whisky and snuff are the necessities, all
+other things being secondary considerations. In their sober moods, they
+are frank, rough, and courageous; yet, even then, there is little about
+them to excite other feelings than those of pity and aversion. When full
+of bad whisky, however, they are apt to become quarrelsome and brutal,
+so that no man can feel sure of his safety in their company. An affront,
+real or imaginary, will then be apt to cause bloodshed, even if the
+insulted party has to bushwhack his enemy from a secure covert on the
+roadside as he is returning to his home. Every man goes armed, and,
+though fair fights in broad daylight are rare, cold-blooded murders are
+not infrequent. The law is seldom invoked to settle private differences,
+and, in fact, the functions of the legal officials are practically very
+limited in their influence. If a coroner ever sits upon a corpse, it is
+understood that he has done his whole duty by recording a verdict that
+"the deceased came to his death at the hands of some person or persons
+unknown."
+
+The women, like the men, are tall, thin, and round-shouldered. Up to the
+age of sixteen they sometimes are quite pretty, though sallow and
+lifeless always; after that period, they become gaunt, emaciated, and
+yellow. Whisky hath charms for them, also, but their favorite
+dissipation is snuff-dipping. They marry very early and bear children
+nearly every year, so that the size of many of these West Tennessee
+families is often enormous. The father exercises patriarchal control
+over his whole household until the daughters are married and the sons
+old enough and strong enough to defy the parental authority as enforced
+by a hickory rod. The wife never escapes the application of this potent
+instrument of marital discipline; and, indeed, should a husband fail to
+make frequent use of it for the correction of his better half, he would
+probably soon learn that his dutiful spouse could find a use for it on
+his own person.
+
+Throughout this whole district, the people suffer from fever and ague
+for nine months of the year, and dyspepsia seems hereditary. Their
+physicians, however, usually require no further education than is
+requisite to attend fractured limbs and gun-shot wounds, the whole
+school of medicine being limited to three specifics: quinine, calomel,
+and whisky.
+
+As before stated, it should be understood that the foregoing description
+applies to the majority of the inhabitants of the low swamp lands only,
+and not to the residents in and about the towns; even in the cane
+country itself are to be found occasionally men of education, ability,
+and good character, and to several of them William was largely indebted
+for assistance and information.
+
+There was one redeeming feature also to the character of the "cane-fed"
+population; in the main they were honest, and they would do all in their
+power to break up a thieving gang, even if they had to hang a few of
+its members as a warning to the rest. I was thus able to trust them to a
+certain extent, though the fear which they had of this band of
+desperadoes rather kept their naturally honest impulses in check for a
+time.
+
+William was thoroughly acquainted with the character of the people, and
+he knew what a difficult task had been set before him, especially as he
+was allowed no other detectives of my force to assist him, the express
+company being desirous of conducting the operation as economically as
+possible. Among the large number of men employed directly by the company
+were two or three good men, but the majority were even worse than
+useless, and the expense of the affair was finally much greater than as
+if only my own men had been employed. Besides the fact that William was
+thus continually working with strange men, he was harassed by large
+numbers of amateur detectives, to whose stories the company's officers
+too often lent a ready ear. Indeed, every express agent in Tennessee,
+Kentucky, and Missouri seemed impressed with the idea that he was a
+naturally gifted detective, and many were the annoying delays which
+resulted from their interference.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER II.
+
+    _Difficulties.--Blind Trails and False Scents.--A Series of
+          Illustrations showing the Number of Officious People and
+          Confidence Men that often seek Notoriety and Profit through
+          important Detective Operations._
+
+
+The art of detecting crime cannot be learned in a day, nor can the man
+of business understand, without previous experience in the habits of
+criminals, the expedients which the boldest class of law-breakers adopt;
+hence none but skilled detectives can hope to cope with them. Yet often
+my clients insist on some certain method of procedure wholly contrary to
+my judgment and experience, until the total failure of their plan
+convinces them that there can be but one thoroughly successful mode of
+detection, namely, to submit the case to a skilled detective of
+character and standing, and allow him to act according to his judgment.
+
+The range of investigation in such a case as this robbery will often
+extend from New York to San Francisco, and unless one mind gathers up
+the clues, classifies the information, and determines the general plan,
+there will be continual error and delay. Such a state of affairs
+frequently occurred during this operation, and much time and money were
+spent upon matters too trifling even for consideration.
+
+The principal of a detective agency, from his long experience with
+criminals, learns the earmarks of different classes of men, and he is
+often able to determine the name of the guilty party in any given
+robbery by the manner in which the job was done. He can readily see
+whether a novice in crime was engaged, and also whether any collusion
+existed between the parties robbed and the criminals; and so, when he
+sees the traces of a bold, skillful, and experienced man, he knows that
+it is useless to track down some insignificant sneak-thief, simply
+because the latter happens to have been in the vicinity. Yet, neither
+will he slight the smallest clue if there is a bare chance that any
+valuable fact may be obtained from it. But the _sine qua non_ is that
+he, and he alone, shall direct the whole affair. A divided
+responsibility simply doubles the criminal's opportunities for escape.
+
+Among the many difficulties of the detective's work, none are more
+embarrassing than the early development of false clues. In the stories
+heretofore published, the direct steps leading to the detection and
+arrest of the criminals have been related, without referring to the
+innumerable other investigations, which were progressing simultaneously,
+and which, though involving the expenditure of much thought, time, and
+money, proved after all to be of no value whatever in developing any
+evidence in the case. In this operation, such instances were of frequent
+occurrence, and I propose to mention a few of them to show how wide is
+the range of the detective's inquiries, and also the annoying delays to
+which he is often subjected by the inconsiderate zeal and interference
+of outside parties. These latter may be--indeed, they generally
+are--well meaning people, anxious to serve the cause of justice; though,
+on the other hand, they are sometimes spiteful meddlers, striving to fix
+suspicion upon some personal enemy.
+
+The plan of detection which alone can insure success, must be one which
+neither forgets nor neglects anything. In investigating any alleged
+crime, the first questions to be considered are: 1. Has any crime been
+perpetrated, and, if so, what? 2. What was the object sought thereby?
+
+The matter of time, place, and means employed must then be carefully
+noted, and finally we come to consider: 1. Who are the criminals? 2.
+Where are they now? 3. How can they be taken?
+
+The fact that a crime has been committed is generally apparent, though
+there have been cases in which the determination of that point requires
+as much skill as the whole remainder of the operation. Such was the case
+in the detection of Mrs. Pattmore's murder, related in my story of "The
+Murderer and the Fortune Teller." The object of a crime is also
+sometimes obscure, and, where such are the circumstances, the detection
+of the criminal is apt to be one of the most difficult of all
+operations. Having once solved these two difficulties satisfactorily,
+however, and having observed the relative bearings of time, place, and
+means to the crime itself, the question of individuals is the important
+one to be determined. It often happens that there is no concealment of
+identity, the problem to be solved being simply the way to catch the
+guilty parties; but, on the other hand, the greatest skill, experience,
+patience, and perseverance are sometimes required to discover, first of
+all, the persons engaged in the crime. Indeed, an operation is often
+divisible into two distinct methods of action, the first being to find
+out the identity of the criminals, the second to follow up and capture
+them.
+
+In the course of a blind trail, such as we were obliged to travel in the
+case of this express robbery, it was impossible to know whence the men
+had come or whither they had gone; hence, I was forced to take up every
+trifling clue and follow it to the end. Even after I was satisfied in my
+own mind of the identity of the criminals, the agents and officers of
+the express company were continually finding mares' nests which they
+wished investigated, and the operation was sometimes greatly hindered on
+this account. As an example of the number of discouragements which the
+detective must always expect to encounter, I propose to mention some of
+the false scents which we were forced to follow during this operation.
+
+Three or four days after William's arrival in Union City, he was
+informed by the superintendent of the express company having charge of
+the operation, that there was a young man in Moscow who could give
+important information relative to the first robbery at that place. This
+young man, Thomas Carr by name, was a lawyer who had once had fine
+prospects, but he had become very dissipated, and he finally had been
+taken seriously ill, so that he had lost his practice. On recovering his
+health he had reformed his habits, but he had found great difficulty in
+winning back clients, and his income was hardly enough to support him.
+On learning that this impecunious lawyer had valuable information,
+William strongly suspected that it would amount to little more than a
+good lie, invented to obtain money from the express company;
+nevertheless, he sent for the young man and heard his story.
+
+According to Carr, a man named John Witherspoon had visited him about
+six weeks before, and had asked him whether he would like to get a large
+sum of money. Carr replied affirmatively, of course, and wished to know
+how it could be obtained. Witherspoon had said that the express company
+could be robbed very easily by boarding a train at any water-tank,
+overpowering the messenger, and making him open the safe. Witherspoon
+also had said that he and several others had robbed a train at Moscow
+some weeks before, and that they had got only sixteen hundred dollars,
+but that they should do better next time. He had asked Carr to go to
+Cairo and find out when there would be a large shipment of money to the
+South; then Carr was to take the same train and give a signal to the
+rest of the party on arriving at the designated spot.
+
+On hearing Carr's story, William sent him back to Moscow with
+instructions to renew his intimacy with Witherspoon, and to report any
+news he might learn at once; in case it should prove to be of any value,
+the company would pay him well for his services. It is hardly necessary
+to add that Mr. Carr, having failed to get, as he had hoped, a roving
+commission as detective at the company's expense, was not heard from
+again, his bonanza of news having run out very quickly on discovering
+that no money was to be paid in advance.
+
+The next case was a more plausible one, and William began its
+investigation with the feeling that something might be developed
+therefrom. It was learned that a former express messenger named Robert
+Trunnion, who had been discharged several months before, had been
+hanging around Columbus, Kentucky, ever since. While in conversation
+with the clerk of a second-class hotel, Trunnion had spoken of the ease
+with which a few determined men could board an express car, throw a
+blanket over the messenger's head, and then rob the safe. The clerk said
+that Trunnion had made the suggestion to him twice, and the second time
+he had given Trunnion a piece of his mind for making such a proposition.
+Trunnion had then said he was only fooling, and that he did not mean
+anything by it. William learned that Trunnion was then engaged in
+selling trees for a nursery at Clinton, Kentucky, and that he was
+regarded as a half-cracked, boasting fool, who might be anything bad,
+if he were influenced by bold, unscrupulous men. William therefore paid
+a visit to Mr. Trunnion, whom he found to be a very high-toned youth,
+too fiery-tempered and sensitive to submit to any questioning as to his
+words or actions. In a very brief space of time, however, his lordly
+tone came down to a very humble acknowledgment that he had used the
+language attributed to him; but he protested that he had meant nothing;
+in short, his confession was not only complete, but exceedingly candid;
+he admitted that he was a gas-bag and a fool, without discretion enough
+to keep his tongue from getting him into trouble continually; and,
+having clearly shown that he was nowhere in the vicinity of either
+robbery, he asked humbly not to be held responsible for being a born
+idiot. William was satisfied that the fellow had told the truth, and,
+after scaring him out of all his high-toned pride, he let him go, with a
+severe lecture on the danger of talking too much.
+
+On the nineteenth of November, when the identity of the robbers had been
+fully established, William was called away to Iuka, Mississippi, on
+information received from Mr. O'Brien, the general superintendent of the
+express company, that a man named Santon had seen the leader of the
+party in that place, just a week before. Santon represented that he knew
+the man well, having been acquainted with him for years in Cairo, and
+that he could not be mistaken, as he had spoken with him on the day
+mentioned. William found that the man Santon was a natural liar, who
+could not tell the truth even when it was for his interest to do so. The
+descriptions of the various robbers had been scattered broadcast
+everywhere, and none of them were represented as over thirty-five years
+of age; yet Santon said that his man was over fifty years old, and that
+he had been a pilot on the Mississippi for years. This was a case--not
+an infrequent one, either--where people talk and lie about a crime for
+the sole purpose of getting a little temporary notoriety. Owing to
+various accidents and railway detentions, William lost three days in
+going to hunt up this lying fellow's testimony.
+
+Perhaps the most impudent of all the stories brought to the express
+company's officers was that of a man named Swing, living at Columbus,
+Kentucky. He sent a friend to Union City to tell them that he could give
+them a valuable clue to the identity of the robbers, and William
+accompanied this friend back to Columbus. On the way, William drew out
+all that Swing's friend knew about the matter, and satisfied himself
+that Swing's sole object in sending word to the officers of the company
+was to get them to do a piece of detective work for him. It appeared
+that his nephew had stolen one of his horses just after the robbery, and
+he intended to tell the company's officers that this nephew had been
+engaged in the robbery; then if the company captured the nephew, Swing
+hoped to get back his horse. A truly brilliant scheme it was, but,
+unfortunately for his expectations, William could not be misled by his
+plausible story; and, if he ever recovered his horse, he did so without
+the assistance of the express company. Nevertheless, he took William
+away from his work for nearly a whole day, at a time when his presence
+was almost indispensable.
+
+Another peculiar phase of a detective's experience is, that while
+following up one set of criminals, he may accidentally unearth the
+evidences of some other crime; occasionally it happens that he is able
+to arrest the criminals thus unexpectedly discovered, but too often they
+take the alarm and escape before the interested parties can be put in
+possession of the facts. About two weeks after the Union City robbery,
+in the course of my extended inquiries by telegraph, I came across a
+pair of suspicious characters in Kansas City, Missouri. I learned that
+two fine-looking women had arrived in that city with about eight
+thousand dollars in five, ten, and twenty dollar bills, which they were
+trying to exchange for bills of a larger denomination. The women were
+well dressed, but they were evidently of loose character, and the
+possession of so much money by two females of that class excited
+suspicion instantly in the minds of the bankers to whom they applied,
+and they could not make the desired exchange. One of the women was a
+blonde and the other was a brunette. They were about of the same height,
+and they dressed in such marked contrast as to set each other off to the
+best advantage; indeed, their dresses seemed to have attracted so much
+attention that I could gain very little acquaintance with their personal
+appearance. I could not connect them in any way with the robbery at
+Union City, nor with any other recent crime, though I had little doubt
+that the money they had with them was the proceeds of some criminal
+transaction; still, having my hands full at that time, it would have
+been impossible for me to look after them, even had I thought best to do
+so. As it is my practice to undertake investigations only when engaged
+for the purpose by some responsible person, I did not waste any time in
+endeavoring to discover the source whence these women obtained their
+money; though, of course, had I learned enough about them to suspect
+them of complicity in any specific crime, I should have reported my
+suspicions to the parties interested, to enable them to take such action
+as they might have seen fit.
+
+The most important of all the false clues brought out in this
+investigation was presented by a noted confidence man and horse-thief
+named Charles Lavalle, _alias_ Hildebrand. I call it the most important,
+not because I considered it of any value at the time, but because it
+illustrates one of the most profitable forms of confidence operation,
+and because the express company, by refusing to accept my advice in the
+matter, were put to a large expense with no possibility of a return.
+
+Very shortly after the Union City robbery, a letter was received from a
+man in Kansas City, calling himself Charles Lavalle. The writer claimed
+that he had been with the gang who had robbed the train, but that they
+had refused to divide with him, and so, out of revenge, he was anxious
+to bring them to punishment. He claimed further that he was then in the
+confidence of another party, who were soon going to make another raid
+upon the express company somewhere between New Orleans and Mobile.
+
+The plausibility of his story was such that he obtained quite a large
+sum from the express company to enable him to follow up and remain with
+the gang of thieves with whom he professed to be associated. No news was
+received from him, however, and at length I was requested to put a
+"shadow" upon his track. My operative followed him to St. Joseph,
+Missouri, and thence to Quincy, Illinois, but, during two weeks of close
+investigation, no trace of the villains in Lavalle's company could be
+found, and he was never seen in the society of any known burglars or
+thieves. It was soon evident that he was playing upon the express
+company a well-worn confidence game, which has been attempted probably
+every time a large robbery has occurred in the last fifteen years. He
+became very importunate for more money while in Quincy, as he stated
+that the gang to which he belonged were ready to start for New Orleans;
+but, finding that his appeals were useless, and that no more money would
+be advanced until some of his party were actually discovered and trapped
+through his agency, he soon ceased writing.
+
+The foregoing are only a few of the instances in which our attention was
+diverted from the real criminals; and, although the efforts of my
+operatives were rarely misdirected in any one affair for any length of
+time, still these false alarms were always a source of great annoyance
+and embarrassment.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER III.
+
+    _"Old Hicks," a drunken Planter, is entertained by a
+          Hunting-party.--Lester's Landing.--Its Grocery-store and
+          Mysterious Merchants.--A dangerous Situation and a desperate
+          Encounter.--The unfortunate Escape of Two of the Robbers._
+
+
+One of the most direct sources of information relative to the party was
+found in the person of an old planter, named Hicks, who lived some
+distance down the track of the railroad. He was in the habit of visiting
+Union City very frequently, and he usually rounded off his day's
+pleasure by becoming jovially drunk, in which condition he would start
+for his home, walking down the railroad track. He had been in Union City
+all of Friday before the robbery, and about ten o'clock in the evening
+he was in a state of happy inebriety, ready to "hail fellow, well met,"
+with any person he might encounter.
+
+On his way home, about three-quarters of a mile west of Union City, he
+saw a camp-fire burning a short distance from the track, and around it
+were gathered five men. They hailed him, and asked him to take a drink;
+and as this was an invitation which Hicks could not refuse, even from
+the devil himself, he joined them, drank with them, and danced a
+hornpipe for their edification. Hicks acknowledged in his account of
+meeting them, that by the time they had made him dance for them, he was
+heartily frightened at their looks and talk. He heard one of them say
+that they wanted ten thousand at least, but he could not tell what the
+remark referred to. He asked them why they were camping out, and one,
+who seemed to be the leader of the party, said they were out hunting.
+
+"Yes," continued another one, "I am out hunting for somebody's girl, and
+when I find her we are going to run away together."
+
+At this, they all laughed, as if there was some hidden meaning in his
+words.
+
+Hicks described all of the men, three of them quite minutely; but the
+fourth was evidently the same as the second, and the fifth was lying
+down asleep all the time, so that Hicks could not tell much about him.
+They were armed with large navy revolvers, which they wore in belts, and
+their clothing was quite good. The tall man, who seemed to be the
+leader, related an account of a deer-hunt in which he had participated,
+in Fayette county, Illinois, on the Kaskaskia river, and when he
+mentioned the place, the others scowled and winked at him, as if to stop
+him. Hicks said that they seemed to be familiar with Cincinnati,
+Louisville, Evansville, and other northern cities, and that they talked
+somewhat like Yankees. He remained with them until about midnight, when
+a negro came down the track. Hicks and the negro then went on together
+to Hicks's house, leaving the five men still camped in the woods.
+
+Other persons reported having seen the same party in the same vicinity
+several times before the night of the robbery, though some had seen only
+two, others three and four; but no one, except Hicks, had seen five. The
+accounts given by the persons near the train when the robbery occurred
+did not show the presence of more than three persons, though possibly
+there might have been a fourth. The descriptions of the suspected
+parties were quite varied in some respects; yet the general tenor of
+them was to the same effect, and, as no one knew who these persons were,
+it was quite certain that this quartette of strangers had committed the
+robbery.
+
+In the case of the Moscow robbery, we had strongly suspected two
+notorious thieves, named Jack Nelson and Miles Ogle, so that my first
+action, on learning of this second affair in the same vicinity, was to
+telegraph to my correspondents and agents throughout the country, to
+learn whether either of these men had been seen lately. I could gain no
+news whatever, except from St. Louis, whence an answer was returned to
+the effect that Nelson was said to be stopping somewhere in the country
+back of Hickman, Kentucky. Ogle's wife was in St. Louis, and she had
+been seen by a detective walking and talking earnestly with a strange
+man a short time previous. The information about Nelson was important,
+since, if true, it showed that he was in the immediate neighborhood of
+the points where the robberies had occurred. The man seen with Mrs. Ogle
+might have been one of the party, sent by her husband to appoint a
+future rendezvous. The description of the tall, dark man, mentioned by
+Hicks and others, tallied very closely with Ogle's appearance. My son,
+William, was well advised of these facts, and, as soon as he had
+obtained the statements of every one acquainted with any of the
+occurrences at the time of the robbery, he was ready for action.
+
+His first inquiries were directed toward discovering where Nelson was
+staying near Hickman, and he learned in a very short time that this
+rumor had no truth in it. While making search for Nelson, however, he
+heard of a low grocery-store at Lester's Landing, about twelve miles
+below Hickman on the Mississippi River. The store was situated four
+miles from any other house in a sparsely settled country, where the
+amount of legitimate trade would hardly amount to twelve hundred dollars
+per year. It was said to be the resort of a very low class of men, and
+the proprietors passed for river gamblers.
+
+On William's return to Union City from Hickman, he decided to make a
+visit to this grocery-store to learn something about the men who
+frequented it. Having none of his own men with him, he chose one of the
+express company's detectives, named Patrick Connell, to accompany him,
+and, on the last day of October, they started on horseback, with an old
+resident named Bledsoe for a guide. On arriving at the house of a
+well-to-do planter, named Wilson Merrick, they obtained considerable
+information about the men who kept the store and the people who visited
+it.
+
+Mr. Merrick said that a man named John Wesley Lester kept a wood-yard on
+the Mississippi, and the spot was called Lester's Landing. About three
+or four months before, three men arrived there and obtained leave from
+Lester to put up a store, which they stocked with groceries and whisky.
+The men gave their names as J. H. Clark, Ed. J. Russell, and William
+Barton, and they seemed to have some means, as the store did only a
+limited business, except in whisky. They were all men of ability and
+determination, and, as they were always well armed, the people of the
+cane-brake country were rather afraid of them. Nothing positive was
+known against them, but it was suspected from their looks and actions
+that they were Northern desperadoes lying quiet for a time. They seemed
+to be well acquainted in Cincinnati, Louisville, St. Louis, Memphis,
+Vicksburg, and New Orleans, but they were careful never to give any hint
+of their previous place of residence in the hearing of strangers. Mr.
+Merrick had, however, heard Russell say that he had once run a
+stationary engine in Missouri, and from occasional expressions by
+Barton it would appear that the latter had once worked on a railroad in
+some capacity. They dressed quite well, and treated strangers politely,
+though not cordially. Although they were all three rather hard drinkers,
+they never became intoxicated, and they seemed to understand each other
+well enough not to quarrel among themselves. Clark was the oldest of the
+party, but Russell seemed to be the leader, Barton being apparently
+quite a young man. They stated that they intended to exchange groceries
+for fish and game, and ship the latter articles to St. Louis and
+Memphis.
+
+From the description of the men, William began to suspect that they
+formed a portion of the party of robbers, and he determined to push on
+at once. He induced a young man named Gordon to go with him as guide and
+to assist in making the arrest of these men, if he should deem it
+advisable. By hard riding they succeeded in reaching Lester's Landing
+before nightfall, but the twilight was fast fading as they came out of
+the dense underbrush and cane-brake into the clearing around Lester's
+log-cabin.
+
+The spot was dreary and forlorn in the extreme. The river was then
+nearly at low water, and its muddy current skirted one side of the
+clearing at a distance of about thirty yards from the house. The
+wood-yard and landing at the water's level were some ten or fifteen feet
+below the rising ground upon which the house stood. The store was a
+shanty of rough pine boards with one door and one window, and it stood
+at the head of the diagonal path leading from the landing to the high
+ground. A short distance back was a rail fence surrounding Lester's
+house and cornfield, and back of this clearing, about one hundred yards
+from the house, was a dense cane-brake. The corn-stalks had never been
+cut, and, as they grew very high and thick within twenty feet of the
+house, they offered a good cover to any one approaching or retreating
+through them. A rough log barn stood a short distance inside the rail
+fence, and, like the house, it was raised several feet above the ground,
+on account of the annual overflow of the whole tract. The house was a
+rather large building built of logs, the chinks being partly filled with
+mud, but it was in a dilapidated condition, the roof being leaky and the
+sides partly open, where the mud had fallen out from between the
+timbers.
+
+On entering the clearing, William's party rode up to the store and tried
+to enter, but, finding the door locked, they approached the house. At
+the rail fence, William and Connell dismounted, leaving Gordon and
+Bledsoe to hold their horses. Up to this time, they had seen no signs of
+life about the place, and they began to think that the birds had flown.
+The quiet and the absence of men about the clearing did not prevent
+William from exercising his usual caution in approaching the house; but
+he did consider it unnecessary to take any stronger force into an
+apparently unoccupied log-cabin, where at most he had only vague
+suspicions of finding the objects of his search; hence, he left Gordon
+and Bledsoe behind. Knowing the general construction of this class of
+houses to be the same, he sent Connell to the rear, while he entered the
+front door. A wide hall divided the house through the center, and the
+occupants of the house were in the room on the right. William's door
+leading into the room opened from this hall, while Connell's was a
+direct entrance from the back porch, and there were no other doors to
+the room.
+
+As the two strangers entered simultaneously, five men, a woman, and a
+girl started to their feet and demanded what they wanted. The situation
+was evidently one of great danger to the detectives; one glance at the
+men, coupled with the fierce tones of their inquiries, showed William
+that he had entered a den of snakes without adequate force; but it was
+too late to retreat, and he replied that they were strangers who, having
+lost their way, desired information.
+
+The scene was a striking one, and it remains as vividly in William's
+mind to-day, as if it had occurred but yesterday. In the center of the
+room, opposite him, was a broad fireplace, in which the smouldering logs
+feebly burned and gave forth the only light in the room. In one corner
+stood several shot-guns, and in another, four or five heavy axes.
+Grouped about near the fire, in different attitudes of surprise,
+defiance, and alarm, were the occupants of the cabin, while to the left,
+in the half-open door stood Connell. The flickering flame of the rotten
+wood gave a most unsatisfactory light, in which they all seemed nearly
+as dark as negroes, so that William asked the woman to light a candle.
+She replied that they had none, and at the same moment a young fellow
+tried to slip by Connell, but he was promptly stopped. Another large,
+powerful man, whose name afterward proved to be Burtine, again demanded,
+with several oaths, what their business was.
+
+"I've told you once that I want some information," replied William, "and
+now I intend to have you stop here until I can take a look at your
+faces."
+
+While William was making them stand up in line against the wall, one of
+the largest drew a navy revolver quickly and fired straight at William's
+stomach, the ball just cutting the flesh on his left side. At the same
+instant, the young fellow previously mentioned, darted out the door,
+Connell having sprang to William's side, thinking him seriously wounded.
+Connell's approach prevented William from returning the fire of the tall
+man, who had jumped for the door also the moment he had fired. William
+fired two shots at him through the doorway, and Connell followed him
+instantly, on seeing that William was unhurt. Once outside, the tall
+fellow sprang behind a large cottonwood tree and fired back at Connell
+and William, who were in full view on the porch. The second shot struck
+Connell in the pit of the stomach, and he fell backward. At this
+moment, the powerful ruffian, Burtine, seized William from behind and
+tried to drag him down, at the same time calling for a shot-gun "to
+finish the Yankee------------." Turning suddenly upon his assailant,
+William raised his revolver, a heavy Tranter, and brought it down twice,
+with all his force, upon Burtine's head. The man staggered at the first
+blow and fell at the second, so that, by leveling his revolver at the
+other two, William was able to cow them into submission. The affray had
+passed so quickly that it was wholly over before Gordon and Bledsoe
+could reach the house, though they had sprung from their horses on
+hearing the first shot.
+
+[Illustration: _The fight at Lester's Landing._--_Page_--]
+
+The two men had escaped by this time into the dense cane-brake back of
+the house, and it was necessary to attend to those who had been secured,
+and to examine the injuries of Connell and Burtine. The latter's head
+was in a pretty bad condition, though no serious results were likely to
+follow, while Connell had escaped a mortal wound by the merest hair's
+breadth. He was dressed in a heavy suit of Kentucky jeans, with large
+iron buttons down the front of the coat. The ball had struck one of
+these buttons, and, instead of passing straight through his vitals, it
+had glanced around his side, cutting a deep flesh furrow nearly to the
+small of his back, where it had gone out. The shock of the blow had
+stunned him somewhat, the button having been forced edgewise some
+distance into the flesh, but his wound was very trifling, and he was
+able to go on with the search with very little inconvenience. Having
+captured three out of the five inmates of the cabin, William felt as
+though he had done as much as could have been expected of two men under
+such circumstances, and he then began a search of the premises to see
+whether any evidence of their connection with the robbery could be
+found. Absolutely no clue whatever was obtained in the cabin and barn,
+nor did the store afford any better results so far as the robbery was
+concerned, but on this point William was already satisfied, and he was
+anxious to get all information possible about these so-called
+storekeepers. In the store, he found bills and invoices showing that the
+stock of goods had been purchased in Evansville, but there was no other
+writing of any character except some scribbling, apparently done in an
+idle moment, upon some fragments of paper in a drawer. On one was
+written: "Mrs. Kate Graham, Farmington, Ill."; and on another, amid many
+repetitions of the name, "Kate Graham," were the words, "My dear
+cousin."
+
+Having found very little of value, the party returned to the three
+prisoners and closely examined them. To William's intense chagrin, he
+found that these men were, undoubtedly, mere wood-choppers living with
+Lester and having no connection with the proprietors of the store.
+Although desperate, brutal, and reckless, ready for a fight at all
+times, as shown in this affray, they were clearly not the train robbers,
+while it was equally evident that the two who had escaped were the
+guilty parties.
+
+William learned that the young man who had first slipped out was Barton,
+and the man who had done the shooting was Russell. Clark, they said, had
+taken the steamer for Cape Girardeau, Missouri, two days before,
+accompanied by a married woman, named Slaughter. The description of the
+train robbers tallied so well with the appearance of Barton and Russell,
+that, taking their actions into consideration, there could no longer be
+any doubt of their complicity in the affair, and it was highly provoking
+that these two should have escaped. Still, it was an accident which
+could hardly have been avoided. The fact that the express company would
+not consent to the employment of a larger force of detectives was the
+principal cause of this misfortune, for it could have been prevented
+easily, had William been accompanied by two more good men of my force.
+
+As it was, two detectives, dropping unexpectedly upon a nest of five
+villainous-looking men in the dark, could have hardly hoped to do better
+than to secure three of them. It could not have been supposed that they
+would know which were the important ones to capture, especially as they
+could not distinguish one from another in the uncertain light. Indeed,
+as afterward appeared, they were fortunate in having escaped alive, for
+the close approach to fatal wounds, which they both received, showed how
+deadly had been the intentions of the man Russell, while Burtine had
+evidently intended that they should never leave the house alive.
+
+It may be supposed that the shooting on both sides was none of the best,
+but it must be remembered that it began without warning, and was over in
+two minutes. It cannot be expected that snap-shooting, even at close
+quarters, should be very accurate; yet it was afterward learned that
+Russell's escape had been about as narrow as William's, two balls having
+passed through his clothes and grazed his flesh.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER IV.
+
+    _The Captured Ruffians are desired for Guides, but dare not join in
+          the Search for the Outlaws.--One of the Robbers is Taken, but
+          subsequently Escapes from the Amateur Detectives.--Another
+          Clue suddenly Fails._
+
+
+Having searched the whole place, and satisfied himself that the men
+captured had had no connection with the robbery or the robbers, William
+offered them one hundred dollars to act as guides through the cane-brake
+to arrest Barton and Russell. They said they could not if they would,
+since no man could find his way there in broad daylight, much less at
+night. They further admitted that they dare not attempt it, as Russell
+would kill them if they learned of their action. It was now pitch dark,
+and after a vain attempt to beat through the cane in search of the
+fugitives, William decided to return to Mr. Merrick's until next day.
+
+The next morning at daybreak he started back for Lester's, accompanied
+by a number of the cane-brake population, all of whom were anxious to
+secure the one hundred dollars reward. They had long suspected the men
+at the store of being desperadoes, but they had had a wholesome fear of
+them on account of their fierce ways and their reckless habit of drawing
+their revolvers on slight provocation.
+
+On arriving at Lester's, the party found that Lester had returned from
+Hickman during the night. He was a treacherous-looking scoundrel, and
+his reputation was bad, although he had never been caught in any crime
+in that vicinity. His name, John Wesley Lester, showed that he must have
+once belonged to a pious Methodist family, and, indeed, he claimed to
+have once been a Methodist preacher himself. He had sunken eyes, milky
+white, and his hair was lank and long; his complexion was dark, cheeks
+hollow, chin pointed, and forehead low. His manner was fawning and
+obsequious to those above him, and he looked and acted like a second
+"Uriah Heap." He pretended to know nothing of Russell, Clark, and
+Barton, except that they had come to his place in July, built the store
+there, and had been around the landing more or less ever since. He said
+that he knew nothing against them, except that they were gamblers, and
+that they often went off on gambling excursions, during one of which,
+according to their own statements, they had killed a man in a quarrel.
+
+William learned from Lester's daughter that Barton had returned during
+the night to get a shawl, blanket, and two shot-guns. He had told her
+that Russell was hurt pretty badly, but that they intended to take the
+first packet down the river. From other parties William learned that the
+packet Julia had passed down during the night, and had stopped at a
+point about seven miles below, having been hailed from the bank. He did
+not place much faith in the theory that the men had taken passage by the
+Julia, for the reason that Lester's girl was too anxious to tell the
+story of the route Barton proposed taking. He discovered that Barton had
+been paying lover-like attentions to the girl, and he believed that
+Barton had instructed her to say that he intended taking the next
+packet, in order to give them a false scent. Having set the men of the
+neighborhood at work searching for Russell and Barton, William returned
+to Union City.
+
+From Hickman Connell was sent to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to capture
+Clark, who was said to have gone there three days before.
+
+On the arrival of William in Union City, the superintendent telegraphed
+to me the result of William's visit to Lester's Landing, and authorized
+me to send an operative to Farmington, Illinois, to hunt up Mrs. Kate
+Graham, and learn what she could tell about Russell, Clark, and Barton.
+A man was sent there the next day, and he had no difficulty in finding
+Mrs. Graham, who proved to be the wife of a highly respectable business
+man. She was a member of the church, and was held in high esteem by
+every one acquainted with her. My agent, therefore, called upon her
+without any circumlocution or deception, and asked to see her on
+business. She was confined to her room by illness, but she saw him for a
+few minutes, and answered his questions so frankly that there was no
+doubt she was telling the truth. She stated that she was not acquainted
+with any one living at Lester's Landing; that she did not know, nor ever
+had known, any persons of the names given (Russell, Clark, and Barton);
+and that she knew no one who would answer to their descriptions. This
+clue seemed to come to an end very quickly, yet it afterward proved to
+be the means by which we captured one of the gang, and it was a striking
+instance of the necessity for the most careful and minute inquiry upon
+every point of news obtained, especially upon those received directly
+from the criminals themselves.
+
+On the 3d of November, Connell went with a constable to the house of
+Mrs. Gully, the mother of Clark's companion, Mrs. Slaughter, and there
+he found them both. Clark was surprised by the officers, but he made a
+bold fight, and was overpowered with difficulty. When finally handcuffed
+and searched, a navy revolver and fifty dollars in money were taken
+from him; he was then taken nine miles on horseback to Cape Girardeau,
+where Connell obtained a light wagon to drive sixteen miles to
+Allenville, on the railroad leading to Hickman. On this trip Connell
+made the mistake of trusting to handcuffs alone, instead of securely
+fastening his prisoner's feet with rope. The idea that one man in
+handcuffs could escape from two active, unimpeded men did not, however,
+occur to Connell, and so the constable drove the horse, while Clark and
+Connell occupied the back seat. In justice to Connell, it should be
+stated that he had been constantly in the saddle for several days in raw
+and rainy weather, and had had very little sleep for two nights
+previous.
+
+About nine o'clock in the evening, when only a mile from Allenville,
+Clark suddenly made a leap out of the wagon. The horse was jogging along
+at a good trot, and, though Connell sprang after his prisoner instantly,
+it was a couple of minutes before the constable could follow. As he ran,
+Connell fired at the dim figure disappearing in the thick brush; but the
+next instant he pitched headlong into a deep mud-hole, and, by the time
+he got out, the cylinder of his revolver was choked with mud, and Clark
+was far in advance. The chase was kept up as long as the pursuers were
+able to distinguish the direction of his flight, but, in the darkness of
+the gloomy woods, it was impossible to follow an athletic fellow like
+Clark with any hope of success. Connell returned to Union City very
+much crestfallen, and reported his misfortune. My first feeling, on
+learning the news, was one of deep regret and anxiety at the loss of one
+of the leaders of the gang; my second thought was one of profound
+thankfulness that my men were in no way responsible for it. The
+situation was an illustration of the disappointments and difficulties
+which are so often met in a detective's experience; and, though I felt
+somewhat discouraged, I was more than ever determined that none of these
+men should eventually escape, even though it should be necessary to
+follow them for months.
+
+The desire of the express company to employ as few as possible of my
+operatives embarrassed me exceedingly, for William was obliged to depend
+upon strangers, and he had little confidence in their ability or
+discretion. He was now satisfied of the identity of the parties he was
+in search of, and all that he needed was a small force of experienced
+and reliable men.
+
+Had I been limited and interfered with in the Maroney case, described in
+"The Expressman and the Detective," as I was in this, there is no doubt
+that I might have failed to capture the criminal; but the cordial
+coöperation and support of the Adams Express Company gave me a fair
+opportunity to work to good advantage, and victory was the result.
+
+
+
+
+                          CHAPTER V.
+
+    _A Rich Lead Struck at Last._
+
+
+William was quite sure, from the reputation and actions of Russell,
+Clark, and Barton, that they had been the leaders in the robbery, and he
+believed that Lester could give important information about them; he
+therefore caused Lester to be brought to Union City, and, on November 5,
+he succeeded in getting a statement of the doings of these men since
+Lester had known them. The important points developed were as follows:
+
+They came to Lester's Landing in the middle of July, and built their
+store. They were rarely there together, as they would go off for two or
+three weeks at a time, leaving Barton or Clark in charge, and sometimes
+putting Lester in as storekeeper during the absence of all three. On one
+occasion, Russell showed him a pocket-book containing nearly one
+thousand dollars, which he thought he had lost, but which he found under
+a rail fence where he had hidden it; the other men, also, seemed to have
+plenty of money. About the middle of October, the three storekeepers
+went away, and were gone until October 24, three days after the robbery,
+on which day Lester met Clark and Barton walking toward his house, on
+the way from Hickman. They seemed quite excited, and said that they had
+been engaged in a difficulty, but they did not state what it was. They
+asked him whether he had seen Russell recently, and also whether there
+was a skiff at his landing; both questions were answered negatively, and
+they passed on toward the store, while Lester continued his walk to
+Hickman. On his return at night, he found that Clark and Barton had been
+across the river all day, scouting the Missouri shore for Russell, and
+that shortly after their return, Russell had come across the river in a
+skiff. Russell said that he had been shot, but that he was not much
+hurt, and he did not seem to act as if he had been hurt at all. Sunday
+morning, October 29, Clark took passage in a steamer for Cape Girardeau,
+having Mrs. Slaughter in company, and it was understood that he was
+going with Mrs. Slaughter to the house of her mother, nine miles from
+the Cape. Tuesday evening, William and Connell arrived at Lester's, the
+fight took place, and Barton and Russell escaped. After the detectives
+had gone back to Campbell's, Barton returned to the house and obtained a
+shawl, blanket, and two shot-guns; he said that they would never be
+taken alive, but that Russell had been badly wounded by one of the
+detectives. William had left two men at the landing the next day to
+capture the men if they returned, but they were afraid to attempt it,
+although they had a good opportunity that night. Russell came into the
+house alone, showing no signs of having been wounded, and said that he
+and Barton had joined four friends, who were outside waiting for him;
+that they were all well mounted and armed, and that they intended to
+kill any one who should betray them or attempt their capture. He added
+that they intended to make their way on horseback to Alabama, and that
+they were strong enough to fight their way through, if necessary. Of
+course, Russell's object was to frighten the detectives and others who
+were searching for him, as he had no one with him except Barton.
+
+Among other points of value in Lester's statement, was some incidental
+information relative to the men, which he had learned during the time
+they boarded with him. He had heard Clark say that his mother lived
+sixty miles back of Nashville, and Russell had once run a stationary
+engine in Missouri. Lester was shown the satchel found on the engine
+after the robbery, and he recognized it as having been left at his house
+once by a wood-chopper named Bill Taylor, who lived in the cane-brake,
+some distance below him. He said that the three men each carried a navy
+revolver and a derringer, while Russell had also a new, large-sized
+Smith & Wesson revolver.
+
+Meantime, the telegraph had been used constantly to learn something
+about the three men, Russell, Clark, and Barton, from whatever source
+information could be obtained. Barton was well known in Nashville, New
+Madrid, and Union City. He was quite young, but he had been involved in
+a stabbing affray in Nashville, and was regarded as a desperate
+character. He had been respectably brought up by Major Landis, General
+Agent of the Nashville and Northwestern Railroad, and had been given a
+place in the employ of that road, with good prospects for promotion.
+Having become dissipated and hardened, he had been discharged from his
+position, and Major Landis had cast him off; thenceforward, his career
+had been rapid in the downward direction.
+
+With regard to the other two men, little could be learned, until a rich
+lead was struck on the seventh of November. The corrected descriptions
+of the different parties having been sent to all the agents of the
+express company, Mr. Charles Pink, agent at Cairo, recognized Russell as
+a man who had sent eight hundred dollars in currency from Cairo to Mrs.
+M. Farrington, Gillem Station, Tennessee, on the eleventh of September,
+and who had then started, according to his own statement, for his home
+in Illinois. Mr. Pink also stated that the chief of police in Cairo
+claimed to know Russell, and to be able to find him--for a sufficient
+consideration. Not having any use for the services of this disinterested
+officer, his offer was politely declined.
+
+The superintendent of the express company was strongly impressed with
+the belief that Russell and Barton were lurking around Lester's, and so,
+while William went to Nashville to see what could be learned about
+Barton and his companions, a number of men were hired to scour the
+country, hunt through the brake, and guard the Mississippi ferries,
+while Connell and Crowley, the express messenger, were placed on the
+Missouri bank, to scout that side of the river. I may say here, _en
+passant_, that, with the exception of the two named, these men were a
+source not only of great unnecessary expense to the company, but of
+vexation and hindrance to William. In most cases, their scouting
+consisted in riding the high-roads from one tavern to another, and in
+order to have something to show for their work, they would bring in
+every species of wild and foolish rumor that they could discover or
+invent. As the superintendent frequently desired that these reports
+should be investigated, much valuable time was thus wasted. These men
+were not only employed without my advice, but they were retained long
+after I had urgently requested the discharge of the whole party, and I
+had great difficulty in obtaining their discharge, even after I was
+positively sure that the robbers had crossed the Mississippi and escaped
+into Missouri.
+
+William spent one day in Nashville, and then went to Gillem Station,
+where he learned that Mrs. Farrington, to whom Russell had sent eight
+hundred dollars from Cairo, lived on an old, worn-out farm, and passed
+for a rich widow. She had three sons--Hillary, Levi, and Peter, the
+latter being quite young. Hillary and Levi Farrington bore a very bad
+reputation, having been mixed up in all kinds of fights and quarrels for
+a number of years. They were suspected of horse-stealing and
+counterfeiting; but most people were afraid of them, and they had never
+been arrested in that vicinity. William here learned, also, that Barton
+had been a frequent visitor at the Farringtons', and that he was as bad
+as the others. While at Gillem Station, William met Pete Farrington, the
+youngest of the three brothers, and his resemblance to Russell, whose
+face William had seen by the dim firelight and the flash of his pistol
+in the cabin at Lester's Landing, caused a sudden possibility to flash
+across his mind. He reasoned out the connection of the different facts
+about as follows:
+
+"Russell was, undoubtedly, one of the Moscow and Union City robbers, and
+he obtained a considerable share of the plunder; two months after the
+first robbery, I find that he sent eight hundred dollars to Mrs.
+Farrington; this establishes the connection of those two persons. Barton
+was one of the actors in both robberies, also, and I find that he was
+formerly intimate with Mrs. Farrington and her sons; another link. Pete
+Farrington bears a strong resemblance to Russell, their peculiar Roman
+noses, with a lump in the middle, being exactly alike, and this creates
+a strong presumption that they belong to the same family. Now, Russell
+and Clark were so similar in their general appearance, that many people
+who have seen them together believe them to have been brothers. Hillary
+and Levi Farrington, I am told, also closely resemble each other, and
+they have not been seen about here for some months, they being,
+according to their mother's account, in Texas. The chain of evidence is
+very complete; what if Russell and Clark should prove to be the
+Farrington brothers!"
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER VI.
+
+    _The Mother of the Farringtons, being arrested, boasts that her Sons
+          "Will never be taken Alive."--Another Unfortunate Blunder by
+          Amateur Detectives.--An interesting Fate intended for the
+          Detectives.--William A. Pinkerton captures the Murderer of a
+          Negro in Union City, proving "a very good Fellow--for a
+          Yankee."--An Unfortunate Publication.--Nigger-Wool Swamp and
+          its Outlaws._
+
+
+The more William thought about it, the more convinced he became that his
+theory was correct, and he took steps to verify his suspicions by
+placing a watch upon Mrs. Farrington's movements. He also made
+arrangements to get possession of any letters that might come for her,
+and then, being hastily recalled by the superintendent of the express
+company, he hurried back to Union City.
+
+He there learned that, during his absence, Clark had talked with both
+Lester and his wife. The latter had warned him of his danger, and he had
+then disappeared in the cane-brake. The men stationed at Lester's for
+the express purpose of arresting any of the robbers who might come
+there, had been either unaware of Clark's visit, or else they had been
+afraid to attempt his capture, and he had escaped again when almost
+within our grasp. William had, therefore, been called back by telegraph
+to take charge of the men engaged in beating through the cane-brake, as
+it had been clearly demonstrated that, without a determined leader,
+these men were no more useful than a flock of sheep. The hunt went on
+for several days with no results whatever, while at the same time scouts
+patroled the highways, and other men kept watch upon the ferries and
+fords for many miles around.
+
+While this was going on, the express agent at Gillem Station was keeping
+a close watch upon Mrs. Farrington, when suddenly she announced her
+intention of going to join her sons in Texas. Instead of sending word to
+William at once, the agent began operations on his own account, and when
+Mrs. Farrington arrived at Waverly, Tennessee, he caused her arrest. She
+had started with two new wagons and a complete outfit for an overland
+journey of some length, so that her progress could not have been very
+rapid, and nothing would have been lost by waiting for instructions; but
+the insane desire to play detective seemed to overpower all other
+considerations in the minds of the company's agents, and she was
+arrested by the sheriff and a _posse_ of citizens. Her salutation to the
+officer who stopped her settled the question of identity at once, for,
+on being told that she would be obliged to let him search her wagons for
+certain men, she replied:
+
+"Oh! yes; I know what you want. You would like to find my two sons and
+Barton for the express robbery; but you will never catch them, for they
+are not now in this country, and they will never be taken alive."
+
+This piece of information led the express agent to take the only
+sensible step of his whole proceeding. Mrs. Farrington had two negro
+families with her, some of whom had belonged to her before the war; and,
+with the personal attachment noticeable in many of the colored people,
+they were now desirous of going West with her. It occurred to the agent
+that some of them, from their confidential relations to the family,
+might be able to give some information as to the whereabouts of the
+boys. The negroes were, therefore, taken separately and closely
+examined, until one of the men was urgently persuaded to reveal what he
+knew. He said that Levi, Hillary, and Barton had committed the robbery,
+and that they had since been at Mrs. Farrington's together. According to
+an agreement between the mother and her sons, she was to start for
+Texas, passing through Nigger-Wool Swamp, on the west side of the
+Mississippi, and the two eldest sons were to meet her in the swamp, when
+they would determine where to go.
+
+The agent also learned that the men had arrived at their mother's house
+Friday evening, November 10, and that a man who had gone there to sell
+her a wagon had been met by Hillary Farrington with a shot-gun; on
+seeing that it was a neighbor, however, Hillary had lowered his gun and
+allowed him to come in. It was also learned that the three desperadoes
+had been seen at the house of the Farringtons' uncle, named Douglas, on
+Hurricane Creek, about ten miles from Waverly; again, on Monday, they
+had been noticed at Hurricane Mills, making their way to Fowler's
+Landing, on the Tennessee River between Florence and Johnsonville,
+fourteen miles from the last-named place. It was evident that they
+intended to strike across the country below Reel's Foot Lake, and cross
+the Mississippi at some point between Columbus and Memphis. The men were
+all well mounted and armed, and they had changed their personal
+appearance somewhat by altering the arrangement of their hair, whiskers,
+and beards.
+
+The arrest of Mrs. Farrington was a most unfortunate blunder, since it
+disclosed to the criminals how close had been their pursuit, while
+little really important information was obtained. It was a good
+illustration of the danger of taking any decided step in a criminal
+investigation before knowing to a certainty that some good result would
+be obtained. The parties thus learned that we were not only aware of
+their identity, but also that we were very close upon their track, and
+the danger, as well as the difficulty, of the case was largely
+increased. These men were desperadoes of the most reckless type, and
+they would not have hesitated a moment to lie in ambush and kill their
+pursuers, if they had found it possible to do so.
+
+In order to intercept the fugitives before reaching the swampy country
+near the Mississippi, the number of scouts and patrolling parties was
+increased by the superintendent of the express company, and two men,
+named Ball and Bledsoe, were engaged to follow Mrs. Farrington on
+horseback until her sons should join her in Nigger-Wool Swamp. This
+would have been a sensible and necessary move if the right kind of men
+had been employed; but the selection of untrained men for the delicate
+and important work of "shadowing" such an experienced gang of villains
+was risky in the extreme. Had they ever met Barton and the Farringtons,
+the latter would have undoubtedly murdered both of them without scruple;
+but there was no danger of such a meeting, since the robbers, and Mrs.
+Farrington also, were perfectly aware of the presence of their pursuers
+from the start. Indeed, they afterward stated that it had been their
+intention to have led the detectives on as far as the wild, unsettled
+country of Western Missouri, and to have then hanged them in some
+unfrequented spot, placing the inscription "Horse-thief" upon each of
+the bodies. Subsequent events prevented them from carrying out this
+plan, but there was no doubt that they would have taken that or some
+other equally daring means of ridding themselves of pursuit. The manner
+in which Ball and Bledsoe exposed their intentions wherever they went
+showed the inexperience of both men in such work; for, along the whole
+route over which they passed, they were known as officers tracking a
+band of thieves; and we afterward learned that, while they were
+innocently and unsuspectingly following Mrs. Farrington, two of the men,
+Barton and Clark, were almost continually watching them. However, they
+had been started on their mission by the superintendent before William
+could make any other arrangements, as he was away at Lester's Landing
+when the chase began.
+
+From William's reports to me, I saw the uselessness of maintaining such
+a body of men in the work of scouting, watching ferries, and beating the
+cane-brake, for the reason that no good could come of it. I knew that if
+the robbers could escape from Lester's Landing and make their way to
+Gillem Station once, they could do it again. Clark (or Hillary
+Farrington) had been at Lester's early Thursday morning, while guards
+were stationed all about; yet, on Saturday morning he was at his
+mother's farm, and no one had even seen him on the way. This convinced
+me that they had such a knowledge of the country as to make it
+impossible to stop them by any system of guards or patrols, and I
+therefore wrote several letters asking that the superintendent discharge
+this expensive force at once, and allow me to manage the whole operation
+by my own plans and with my own men. While William, therefore, was at
+work with indefatigable energy and perseverance, scouting and following
+up all the reports brought in by the vast army of volunteer detectives
+in the company's employ, we were both satisfied that the method adopted
+was useless, and that even the ferry guards would discover nothing.
+Knowing the character of the three desperadoes, I had no doubt of their
+sagacity in avoiding observation and pursuit; they would never try to
+cross without knowing positively whether the ferry was guarded, and if
+there should be any real danger, they would undoubtedly steal a skiff
+and make their horses swim across the river, a feat of no great risk in
+the then low condition of the water.
+
+About this time an incident occurred which added greatly to William's
+popularity in Union City, and gained for him the respect and kindly
+feeling of the community. On Sunday two roughs, having drank enough bad
+whisky to be absolutely fiendish, began to beat an old and inoffensive
+negro whom they happened to meet. A merchant, named Blakemore, who was
+passing at the time, stopped to remonstrate with the ruffians, when one
+of them turned and plunged a knife into his stomach, inflicting a wound
+which caused his death next day. The murderer was the terror of the
+town, and so great was the fear of him that he would have probably
+escaped had not William appeared on the street as he rushed away
+flourishing his bloody knife and threatening to kill any one who should
+stand in his way. The sight of William's heavy revolver leveled at his
+head, backed by the certainty which he saw in William's face that death
+or surrender was his only alternative, caused him to choose the latter,
+and he was lodged in jail to await his trial for murder. The people of
+the town were quite enthusiastic over the way in which William had
+brought the fellow to bay, and then compelled his surrender; and they
+even went so far as to say that he was "a good fellow, a very good
+fellow indeed--for a Yankee."
+
+On the twentieth of November an unfortunate publicity was given to our
+operations by the publication in the Union City _Journal_ of a long
+history of the Farringtons, showing their whole career of crime, and
+terminating with an account of their latest exploit, as developed by our
+investigations in and about Union City. It is unnecessary to state the
+source whence this information was derived, further than to say that it
+was not obtained from any member of my force. It was a very dangerous
+piece of news to be published, since it might have wholly overthrown all
+our plans, besides involving the death of two or three men engaged in
+the operation; fortunately, the robbers were undoubtedly across the
+Mississippi by that time, and beyond the reach of newspapers for some
+weeks at least.
+
+On the same day that this matter was published, Mrs. Farrington crossed
+the Mississippi River at Bird's Point, opposite Cairo, and the fact was
+reported to William and to me by telegraph. We had previously learned
+that Mrs. Farrington had relatives in Springfield, Missouri, and in Dade
+County, in the same State, and the probabilities were that, instead of
+going to Texas, she was going to visit in one of these places.
+Meanwhile, though my opinion was that her sons intended to rejoin her
+somewhere, either in Nigger-Wool Swamp or at her place of destination, I
+had no certainty that such was their intention; and, bearing in mind the
+warning they had received by her arrest at Waverly (and possibly by
+reading the newspaper article previously mentioned), I felt that every
+clue must be carefully traced, even though it might lead in an exactly
+opposite direction from that in which our previous suspicions had caused
+us to look. My correspondents and agents in Louisville, Cincinnati, St.
+Louis, and New Orleans were, therefore, kept on the alert to capture the
+men if they should venture into those cities, while I held three
+determined men ready to go at once in pursuit of Mrs. Farrington, in
+case she should take the route through Nigger-Wool Swamp.
+
+It will be remembered that one of the negroes accompanying Mrs.
+Farrington had stated that her sons were to join her in that swamp; now,
+there were three possibilities about this statement: first, the negro
+might have lied; second, he might have been so informed by the old lady
+on purpose to give a false scent in case he should be questioned; and,
+third, while their intention might have been to meet there, subsequent
+events might have altered their plans. Still, thinking the subject over
+carefully, I decided that she would not take so difficult a course
+unless she really intended to meet her sons there. My reasons for so
+thinking were based upon the nature of the place, and, to comprehend my
+solicitude about Nigger-Wool Swamp, a description of it will be
+necessary.
+
+The swamp is more than seventy miles long by about thirty-five miles
+wide, and, as a piece of bottomless ooze, its superior cannot be found
+in the United States. There are just two roads crossing it, one running
+from Hall's Ferry, at Point Pleasant, Missouri, and the other from
+Mitchell's Ferry, thirty-five miles below. These roads are mere
+bog-paths in themselves, being heavily overlaid with underbrush and
+corduroy logs, yet they afford the only means of crossing this vast
+morass. The period of the annual overflow turns it into a turbid,
+sluggish lake, the roads being then deeply buried under water; but even
+in the dryest seasons the greater portion of the swamp is a bottomless
+slime of mud and putrefying vegetation. Large tracts of thickly-wooded
+land are contained within the limits of the swamp, and these constitute
+a semi-substantial basis for the two roads which run through them; but
+even these clumps are impassable at most seasons, except along the
+artificially-constructed roads. Sometimes, for miles and miles, nothing
+but the rankest of swamp-vegetation is seen, growing in wild profusion
+and covering the treacherous ooze with a close network of leaves and
+branches, until the surface looks firm enough to be taken for solid
+ground; but should any unfortunate traveler venture to cross such a
+spot, his limbs would be clogged by these clinging water-plants, his
+feet would find no secure resting-place, and, sinking rapidly deeper and
+deeper into the mire, his bones would find a sepulcher where nothing but
+a general natural convulsion would ever disturb them.
+
+Still, there are occasional islands of firm ground through this section,
+and these have become the resort of lawless characters of every
+nationality and degree of crime. Over the entrance to Nigger-Wool Swamp
+might be placed, with perfect truthfulness, the motto: "Who enters here
+leaves hope behind." Each man is a law unto himself, and he must
+maintain his rights by the strong arm and the ready shot-gun. In one
+thing only are the dwellers of the swamp united, namely: a bitter and
+deadly resistance to the law. No officer of justice ventures therein to
+perform any of the duties of his office; unless backed by a powerful
+body of determined men, he would never return alive, and, if so
+accompanied, he would never succeed in catching a glimpse of any
+criminal whom he might be seeking.
+
+About the middle of the swamp, the two roads cross each other at a spot
+called "The Gates," and every person traveling through either way must
+pass this place. Knowing this fact, I felt sure that Mrs. Farrington
+would await the arrival of her sons at "The Gates," in case she entered
+the swamp, and I determined that, in such an event, I should try to
+capture them there. I was fully aware of the danger of such an attempt,
+but I knew that to take the bull by the horns is sometimes the safest
+means of overpowering him. To send officers to that point with the
+avowed purpose of arresting any one, would be equivalent to sending them
+to their certain death, and I had no intention of doing anything of the
+kind; but I had men of my force who could visit Nigger-Wool Swamp for
+the professed purpose of hiding there from pursuit for alleged crimes,
+and, when the moment came for action, I did not doubt that they would
+bring out their men before the neighboring outlaws could discover their
+object.
+
+Everything depended upon the course Mrs. Farrington should take on
+leaving the Mississippi River, since by striking north from the point
+where she crossed, she could skirt the edge of the swamp, while if she
+turned south toward Point Pleasant, I should know that she intended to
+carry out her original programme. This question was quickly settled,
+however, not only by the reports of the scouts, Ball and Bledsoe, who
+were following Mrs. Farrington, but also by an unexpected piece of
+intelligence from Gillem Station. Mrs. Farrington moved about twenty or
+twenty-five miles each day, and, from the fact that she went north to
+Fredericktown, there was no doubt that she had changed her plan of
+meeting her sons in Nigger-Wool Swamp.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER VII.
+
+    _The Scene of Action transferred to Missouri.--The Chase becoming
+          Hot._
+
+
+On the twenty-second of November, William learned that a letter had
+arrived at Gillem Station, postmarked Verona, Missouri, November 13, and
+he immediately took measures to obtain this letter. Three days later he
+learned its contents, which were of such an important character as to
+give a new direction to our efforts. The letter read as follows:
+
+                              "VERONA, MO., Nov. 13, 1871.
+
+     "MY DEAR COUSIN:
+
+     "I seat myself to answer your kind letter, which came to hand last
+     evening, and was glad to hear from you, and hear you was well and
+     doing well. I have nothing new to write, only that we are all well
+     at present, hoping that when these few lines come to hand they may
+     find you well and doing well as ever, as you say you have been
+     doing very well. It must be a good thing if it could stay so.
+     Sometimes it was well and sometimes it wasn't, but I hope it will
+     stay so, as you say it is a soft thing--as soft as things gets to
+     be. I would like to see something like that, you bet. You talk like
+     it can't be beat. That is the thing to take in. I think, and I know
+     you think it, for I saw your name. I guess I did see you. You know
+     Mr. Crapmel? He is a great fellow; you bet it is so. I have nothing
+     more to write at present, as you said you are going to start out
+     here. You said you was coming by here. Cousin, if you do come by,
+     we don't live where we did when you were here; we live two miles
+     nearer Verona. Come the same road. We live now half mile off the
+     road on John Ellis' place. You can find out where we live anywhere.
+     Come out the same road you did when you came before. John Timothy
+     has just come out here; has been out here about three weeks. He is
+     well satisfied here. So I will close for this time.
+
+                  "From your cousin,
+                        "J. M. DURHAM.
+
+     "M. F. sends her love to all of the family. Excuse my bad writing
+     and bad spelling."
+
+It was evident that Mrs. Farrington had previously written to her cousin
+informing him of her intention to visit him soon, and this letter was
+intended to direct her to the new location. The allusions in the letter
+to the "good thing" in which she was engaged showed that the writer had
+been made aware of the Farringtons' success as express robbers, and that
+he quite approved of their operations.
+
+On reading this letter, William sent a copy to me immediately, and
+suggested that one or two good men be sent to Verona to get work near
+this man Durham, and to get into the confidence of the family, so that,
+when Mrs. Farrington should arrive, she would not be likely to suspect
+any one who had come before her. I fully approved of William's plan,
+and, on the last day of November, Detectives George W. Cottrell and
+Arthur C. Marriott started for Verona. I inferred that the people in
+that vicinity were rather lawless and desperate characters, from the
+fact that Durham spoke of "John Timothy" being well satisfied there. On
+the principle that "birds of a feather flock together," I judged the
+Farringtons, the Durhams, and this fellow Timothy to belong to the same
+type of people; hence, I concluded that, if Durham and Timothy were
+satisfied with the country, the people living there must be congenial
+spirits, especially since Mrs. Farrington was about to make a place of
+refuge in that vicinity.
+
+My two men were detained a day in St. Louis, and they did not arrive in
+Verona until the second of December. The first thing they noticed about
+the town was the total absence of liquor saloons, and a few minutes'
+conversation with one or two of the citizens convinced them that no more
+orderly, honest, law-abiding community existed in Missouri than the
+population of Lawrence County. This discovery made a marked change in
+their plans necessary, as my instructions to them had been based upon
+the supposition that they would find a number of robbers, horse-thieves,
+and counterfeiters around Verona, and that they would be easily able to
+get Durham's confidence by appearing as reckless and desperate as any
+one. They had each prepared a choice autobiography for use among the
+residents, and, according to their own intended accounts of themselves,
+two greater scoundrels never went unhung.
+
+All this was necessarily useless in the changed circumstances
+surrounding them. To attempt the _rôle_ of criminal characters, hiding
+from justice, would quickly cause their banishment from the place, or
+possibly their arrest, and a new plan was essential. Their instructions
+had been that they should not put any confidence in any one, and they
+were obliged to invent a plausible reason for their presence there; also
+to have some business which would enable them to ride about the country,
+making inquiries and scouting for Mrs. Farrington and her sons.
+
+Finding that the railroad company had a land agent in Verona, Cottrell
+decided to represent themselves as would-be purchasers of land. This
+would give them an excuse for going all over the county, examining
+different farms and unimproved tracts. They were introduced to Mr.
+Purdy, the land agent, by the hotel clerk, and from him they obtained a
+map of the county. It was then agreed that Mr. Purdy should go out with
+Cottrell and Marriott on Tuesday, December 5, to look at some pieces of
+property which the railroad company wished to sell. During Sunday and
+Monday both of the detectives were trying to learn where Durham lived,
+but no one seemed to know; neither could any one tell them anything
+about John Ellis, upon whose farm Durham had said he was living. The
+idea that Mrs. Farrington was rapidly pushing west, toward Durham's
+place, made Cottrell very anxious to begin operations as quickly as
+possible, since, if she should arrive before the detectives were
+established in the vicinity, there would be great difficulty in working
+into her confidence, as she would instantly suspect their true
+character; whereas, if she should find them already there, she would
+have no possible occasion to distrust them. They therefore thought best
+to confide the real object of their visit to Mr. Purdy, the land agent,
+and to ask his advice and assistance. Mr. Purdy had been an officer in
+the Union army during the war of the rebellion, and had settled in
+Verona at the close of the war. He was evidently an honorable man, who
+would always be found on the side of law and order, and as he was very
+popular in Verona, he would be able to give them a great deal of
+assistance in capturing the Farrington party. On communicating with me
+by telegraph on this point, they stated the facts briefly, and I
+authorized them to confer with Mr. Purdy on the subject, at the same
+time forwarding full instructions by letter.
+
+On Tuesday, therefore, they told the whole story to Mr. Purdy, and
+showed him their credentials. He was quite astonished at their
+revelations, but he was very hearty and sincere in his expressions of
+good will toward them, and he promised to aid them in every possible
+way. He knew John Ellis quite well, having sold him the farm on which
+he was living, and he had heard of Durham, who hired a small portion of
+the Ellis farm. He said that if force should be necessary to capture the
+Farrington party, he could raise fifty determined men in ten minutes to
+help the officers. He said that after the war Verona had been a very bad
+place for a short time, but that, as Eastern men began to settle there,
+the respectable people had tried to drive out the hard cases; this had
+been slow work at first, but they eventually had been completely
+successful; they not only had driven out the dangerous characters, but
+they had closed all the liquor saloons also; and now, having once got
+rid of them, they would take care not to let any of that class of people
+back again.
+
+Mr. Purdy was called away for a day or two on business, but he promised,
+on his return, to go with the detectives to Durham's place, and,
+meantime, he said he would speak of them as gentlemen who intended
+buying land in that section, and who wished to ride over the country
+until they found a place which satisfied them. During the next three
+days, therefore, they learned nothing new, their time being occupied in
+scouting the road along which they expected Mrs. Farrington to come.
+
+Thus the first week of December passed, and the operation was not
+progressing very favorably anywhere. Ball and Bledsoe had reported Mrs.
+Farrington's route up to the thirtieth of November, and she had moved
+quite rapidly up to that date, but nothing had been learned since, and I
+expected to hear of her arrival at Verona every day. She had gone from
+Cairo to Frederickstown, Missouri, and thence to Ironton; then, instead
+of following a direct road, she had struck up north to Potosi, in
+Washington County; again taking a westerly route, she had passed through
+Steelville, Crawford County, and on the thirtieth of November, she had
+camped at Waynesville, Pulaski County. Beyond this we knew nothing of
+her movements, although by the eighth of December she had had ample time
+to reach Verona.
+
+William had spent this week in following up a clue received from
+Louisville, Kentucky. It will be remembered that about November 9, a
+pair of dashing women had been reported as having visited the banks in
+Kansas City, trying to get large bills for about eight thousand dollars
+in small bills. I had not believed the story at that time, and therefore
+had taken no steps to follow them. When William learned from Louisville,
+however, that a woman named Annie Martin, whom Levi Farrington had been
+in the habit of supporting on the proceeds of his robberies, had been
+staying there with another woman named Lillie Baker, who had sustained
+the same relations to Barton, it occurred to him that these might have
+been the women who were said to have been in Kansas City with so much
+money. He started at once for Louisville, at the same time telegraphing
+to me his suspicions in the matter, and I began inquiries again in
+Kansas City by telegraph. I could learn very little except from the
+teller of one bank, who described the women as well as he could remember
+their appearance; but the description was not accurate enough to
+determine whether these two women had or had not been Annie Martin and
+Lillie Baker. In Louisville, however, William learned that these women
+had been there recently, and they had appeared to be well supplied with
+money. They had not remained very long, but had gone to New Orleans,
+where they were then living in good style. As Mr. O'Brien, the general
+superintendent of the express company, was in New Orleans, the
+information was sent to him, and he agreed to have a sharp watch kept to
+discover Farrington and Barton, in case they should follow these women.
+
+On the eighth of December, Cottrell, Marriott, and Mr. Purdy started on
+horseback to visit John Ellis's farm, where the Durhams lived. About a
+mile before arriving there, they met a farmer named Wisbey, who was a
+neighbor of Ellis and the Durhams. Without letting him into their
+confidence, they talked with him a long time, and gradually drew out a
+number of important facts. The Durham family consisted of two brothers
+and a young sister living with their mother, old Mrs. Durham, and they
+rented a small house on a part of the Ellis farm. Nothing positive had
+ever been discovered against the character of either James or Tilman
+Durham, but the neighbors had a poor opinion of them, and kept a pretty
+close watch upon their actions. During the previous fall a young man
+had visited them for some time, and his description was exactly that of
+Levi Farrington; but Wisbey could not tell his name, though he promised
+to learn it, and let Mr. Purdy know Mr. Wisbey was a downright honest,
+intelligent man, and Mr. Purdy asked him to learn everything possible
+about the Durhams and their visitors; in case any wagons should arrive,
+it was agreed that he should send word to Mr. Purdy instantly. There was
+no occasion for telling him the whole story, as he was quite willing to
+undertake the trust on the strength of Mr. Purdy's request, without
+asking further particulars; and, as he was a thoroughly discreet man,
+there was little danger that he would betray his mission by idle
+talking. The detectives and Mr. Purdy then returned to Verona, it being
+considered undesirable that they should visit the Durhams, lest they
+might possibly excite suspicion.
+
+The day following their visit to Wisbey, he arrived in Verona and told
+Cottrell that he had sent his son-in-law, Mr. Stone, to see Jim Durham,
+and the latter had said that he was expecting the arrival of some
+relatives very soon. He had learned further that the young man who had
+visited Durham in the latter part of the previous September had given
+his name as Levi Farrington, and had passed as the beau of the young
+Durham girl. In speaking of him, Jim Durham had told Mr. Stone that he
+did not wish his sister to marry Farrington, as the latter was a
+dangerous man, and had recently killed a man in a quarrel, while those
+who stood about were too much afraid of him to arrest him. Mr. Wisbey
+then returned home, with instructions to alternate with Mr. Stone in
+secretly watching Durham's place, so that every occurrence might be at
+once reported.
+
+On the tenth of December I received a dispatch from Mr. O'Brien, saying
+that the express agent at Springfield, Missouri, had telegraphed to him
+on the eighth that the wagons of Mrs. Farrington's party had camped five
+miles from Springfield, and that the three men were known to be sixty
+miles south of Rolla. Mr. O'Brien therefore requested me to send a good
+detective to meet Connell in St. Louis, whence they would go together to
+capture the men at Rolla. I at once sent one of my best men, named
+Martin Galway, with instructions to join Connell, and, in case the Rolla
+report should prove to be a false alarm, they were to go on to Verona to
+assist Cottrell and Marriott. I had hardly completed my instructions to
+Galway, ere I received a telegram in cipher from Cottrell, as follows:
+
+"Levi Farrington and a man calling himself George Cousins are at
+Durham's. They came on Thursday evening. Shall I arrest them? I can get
+all the help I need."
+
+I immediately replied, also by a cipher dispatch, as follows:
+
+"Are you sure it is Levi Farrington? His brother and Barton will
+probably be at Verona soon. We must get the whole. I think they will
+come from Douglas County. Probably Connell and Galway will be with you
+by Monday or Tuesday night; they can identify the men. Mrs. Farrington
+will be at Durham's by Sunday night or Monday morning. Keep a cool,
+clear head, and advise with Purdy. Have written by mail to-night. Keep
+me posted. William will arrive by Tuesday."
+
+At the same time I wrote full instructions to Cottrell, ordering him to
+keep a close watch upon the men at Durham's, but to take no action until
+William should arrive, unless they attempted to go away. I did not alter
+Galway's instructions, but I telegraphed to William to start for Verona
+at once, to take charge of the operations there. The chase was now
+becoming hot, and a few days would decide the question of success or
+failure. I had reason to believe that the outlaws would not be taken
+without a desperate resistance, and I was anxious to have William
+present to direct the attack.
+
+On Sunday, the tenth, Cottrell and Marriott rode out to see Wisbey, who
+met them just outside of Verona and informed them that Levi Farrington
+had arrived at Jim Durham's late Thursday night, accompanied by a young
+man named George Cousins. They did not receive my reply to their
+telegram announcing this fact until late that day, and so they could do
+nothing toward satisfying themselves as to Levi Farrington's identity
+until next morning, when they visited Wisbey at his own house. Mr.
+Stone, Wisbey's son-in-law, had met a man named Smothers, who worked
+for Jim Durham, and Smothers had told him all about the two men who had
+just arrived. According to their own account, they had left Mrs.
+Farrington at Ash Grove, in Greene County, where she was going to buy a
+farm, Levi having given her five thousand dollars for that purpose; Levi
+and Cousins were on their way to Kansas, where they intended to settle
+down to raise cattle; Levi's brother was said to be at Lester's Landing
+for the purpose of selling off a stock of groceries which they owned
+there. Both men were well armed, having three navy revolvers and a
+shot-gun.
+
+When this news was transmitted to me by telegraph, I decided that this
+man Cousins must be Barton, and that Hillary Farrington might possibly
+be at Lester's Landing, as they said. I therefore telegraphed to
+William, who I knew would be in St. Louis that day, _en route_ to
+Verona, that he had better take Connell and Galway back to Lester's to
+capture Hillary, while Cottrell and Marriott undertook the arrest of
+Levi and Barton at Durham's. I also sent a dispatch to Cottrell to take
+no steps for their arrest until after William should have captured
+Hillary.
+
+William, having previously thoroughly examined the contents of the store
+at Lester's, knew that they were not worth over two hundred dollars, and
+he telegraphed me to that effect, suggesting that it was improbable that
+Hillary should run so much risk for so small a sum. On learning this
+fact, I coincided with him, and ordered him to go on to Verona, as I had
+originally intended. I desired that he should keep the Durham place
+carefully watched until the arrival of the other Farrington, who, I
+believed, would soon join the rest of the party; then, in case he
+arrived, we should get all three together; but, if the other two should
+show any signs of moving off, they could be taken at any time.
+
+Mr. O'Brien obtained requisitions from the Governor of Tennessee on the
+Governor of Missouri for the three men, and I felt that success was only
+delayed a day or two at most.
+
+
+
+
+                        CHAPTER VIII.
+
+    _A determined Party of Horsemen.--The Outlaws surrounded and the
+          Birds caged.--A Parley.--An affecting Scene.--The burning
+          Cabin.--Its Occupants finally surrender._
+
+
+While the telegrams were flying back and forth on Tuesday, the twelfth,
+Cottrell and Marriott were busily engaged. Early that morning Mr. Stone
+came to Verona, and told them that he had learned that Farrington and
+Cousins intended to leave Durham's for the Indian Territory the next
+day. The news was doubtless authentic, Stone having heard it from
+Smothers, who had said that Farrington had told him so himself. It was
+clearly impossible to wait for William's arrival, as, by that time, the
+men might be safely hidden in the wild country to the westward. Instant
+action was absolutely necessary, and Cottrell so informed Mr. Purdy, who
+soon gathered a force of eight men. Very little would have been needed
+to obtain even a larger number of recruits, for, had Mr. Purdy and the
+detectives publicly told the story of the men whom they wished to
+capture, there would have been plenty of eager volunteers, all anxious
+to aid in ridding the country of such a band of outlaws. It was not
+deemed advisable, however, to summon a large posse, lest the news might
+spread so fast as to reach the ears of the criminals before the
+detectives could surround them; on this account only a few reliable men
+were let into the secret, and they left town singly and in pairs to
+avoid observation, having a rendezvous outside.
+
+Just before starting, Mr. Purdy received a dispatch from the general
+land agent, ordering him to Pearce City instantly, as several purchasers
+of land were awaiting him there; although he tried to have his visit
+postponed one day, he was unsuccessful, his orders being imperatively
+repeated by telegraph, and so he was unable to accompany the detectives
+and citizens on their expedition to Durham's. The party of eight met the
+detectives outside the town, and they were joined on their way by three
+others, who lived on the road. They were all substantial business men
+or farmers, but they were accustomed to a life in the saddle, and they
+had all borne arms during the war on one side or the other. In spite of
+their present peaceful occupations they were not a body who could be
+trifled with, and it was evident that any gang of desperadoes would find
+their match in these cool, determined, law-abiding men.
+
+A few miles from Verona they met a young lady riding a large brown mule,
+but none of the men in the party knew her. Cottrell felt sure, however,
+that she was Durham's sister, and that she was riding Farrington's mule.
+The descriptions he had received of the girl from Stone and Wisbey
+coincided exactly with her appearance, while the mule could not be
+mistaken. He therefore sent a man back to watch her, lest she should
+have taken alarm at so large a cavalcade of armed men. She rode on to
+Verona, however, without showing any signs of uneasiness, and the scout
+soon overtook the party.
+
+On arriving one mile from Wisbey's, Marriott went on to Stone's house
+with six men, while Cottrell went to Wisbey's with the other five. Stone
+and Wisbey soon gathered a number of the neighbors, among whom was John
+Ellis, who owned the house and land where the Durhams were living; he
+was a very highly respected citizen, and was not at all displeased at
+the idea of getting rid of his semi-disreputable tenants. The management
+of the affair was then unanimously voted to Cottrell, and the party
+rode rapidly toward the Durham house. It was situated at the edge of a
+clearing, with underbrush and woodland close to it on three sides, so
+that great caution was necessary, lest the villains should see them
+approaching, and escape into the woods. At a reasonable distance from
+the house, therefore, the party divided, a part, under Marriott's
+direction, dismounting and making their way to the rear of the house on
+foot. When sufficient time had elapsed to enable the latter party to
+surround the house, Cottrell, with the remainder, dashed up to the front
+of the house and spread out, so as to make sure that no one should
+escape. As they approached, a man, who proved to be Jim Durham, appeared
+on the porch and asked what they wanted; to which Cottrell replied that
+he wanted the men in the house.
+
+The words had hardly passed his lips ere Barton sprang into the open
+doorway with a navy revolver leveled at Cottrell; but, seeing that the
+latter, as well as several others, had him covered, he shut the door
+quickly and started for the back of the house. By this time, however,
+the cordon of guards had drawn close around, and, as he emerged at the
+rear, he found himself confronted by half a dozen determined men, who
+ordered him to surrender. He then hastily tried to close the back door
+also, and pointed his revolver through the crack; but the discharge of
+several shots, which struck close to him, caused him to withdraw his
+pistol and tightly close the door. It was evident that the birds were
+caged at last, and it was now only a question of time when they would be
+taken; as it was only one o'clock in the afternoon, there were still
+four hours of daylight to conduct the siege.
+
+Jim Durham, when he saw the rifles and revolvers of so large a force
+pointed at him, was thoroughly frightened, and he begged piteously that
+they would not shoot him. Cottrell placed his men behind trees, fences,
+and other protections, so as to be safe from any attempt to pick them
+off by the men in the house, and yet to guard every means of exit from
+the place; he then called Jim Durham out and searched him, finding
+nothing but a single-barreled pistol. He then sent Jim to the door of
+the house to summon the men inside to surrender, telling them that he
+was determined to have them--alive if possible, but if not, dead.
+
+They refused to surrender, saying that they would kill any man who
+should approach the house. When Durham brought back their answer,
+Cottrell sent word that he would give them five minutes in which to
+decide whether they would yield peaceably or be burned out and shot to
+death. Just then Mrs. Durham, the mother of the Durham boys, begged
+Cottrell to allow her to go speak to Farrington and Barton, as she
+believed she could induce them to surrender. Accordingly, she went to
+the front window and implored them not to have the house burned down, as
+all her household goods would be destroyed. They replied that they might
+as well die inside as to come out and be shot down. Cottrell sent back
+word that they should be treated like all other prisoners if they would
+pass out their arms and surrender quietly; but if they tried to fight or
+resist, they would surely be killed.
+
+As they still refused, Jim Durham was sent to barricade the doors with
+fence rails, so that they should not be able to rush out unexpectedly.
+He whined and complained that the men inside would shoot him, but he was
+obliged to go, and though they did threaten him, he was able to crawl up
+and lay the rails without getting within range. The house was a solid
+log cabin, with only two doors and very few windows, so that it was
+possible to approach it in one or two directions without exposure to a
+fire from within. When the doors had been securely barricaded, Cottrell
+ordered him to get on the roof, which was a common shingle roof, and set
+fire to the house. Mrs. Durham was carrying on at a great rate, first
+begging Farrington to surrender, and then praying to Cottrell not to
+burn her property. John Ellis, to whom the house belonged, gave full
+permission to burn it, and a fire was built in the open air to make
+brands to set it afire.
+
+Mrs. Durham was allowed to make one more appeal to the ruffians inside,
+but they would not listen to her entreaties. They asked her, however,
+what kind of a looking man Cottrell was, and what he wanted to arrest
+them for. Cottrell was standing near enough to hear the question, and
+after Mrs. Durham had described his appearance, he told them that he
+wanted them for an express robbery; that he would treat them kindly if
+they should yield peaceably; but if they should refuse this, his last
+offer, he should set fire to the house and shoot them down as they ran
+out. He said he had no wish to kill them, but that he was determined
+they should not escape; rather than allow them to get away, he would
+have them shot on sight; but they would be protected and brought to
+trial if they would surrender.
+
+To this they replied that they intended killing some of their besiegers
+first, anyhow. Finding further parley useless, therefore, Cottrell gave
+the order to burn the building, and Durham was forced to carry the
+embers and brands to burn his own premises. Just at this time, the young
+girl, whom they had met riding a mule toward Verona, rode up to the
+house and asked what was the matter. As Cottrell had surmised, this was
+Miss Durham, and she was very much frightened at what she saw.
+
+The afternoon sun was buried in a deep bank of clouds, so that the
+twilight was rapidly drawing on, there being just enough light to show
+the barricaded doors, the deserted porch, and the determined men
+scattered around, with shot-guns and rifles pointed at the low log
+cabin, above which a frightened man stood out in bold relief against the
+sky, tearing off the shingles and piling them upon a glowing flame at
+his feet. Everything was now hushed in deathly silence, and it needed
+no explanation for any one to understand that a bloody tragedy was about
+to occur if that flame should be allowed to envelop the building. It was
+now the prison of its two occupants, but only a short time would elapse
+before it would be their tomb.
+
+[Illustration: _Burning out the Outlaws!_]
+
+On seeing the situation, Miss Durham asked to be allowed to speak to the
+men, as she said she knew they would listen to her. On Cottrell's
+refusal to hold any more parley with them, she burst into tears, threw
+her arms around his neck, and implored him to let her speak to Barton
+just once, if only for five minutes. Finally, seeing that most of his
+party wished to give the girl a chance to speak to her sweetheart,
+Cottrell said that she could have three minutes to obtain their arms; if
+they surrendered immediately, the fire should be put out; but, if they
+should still refuse, their last chance of saving the house and their
+lives would be gone. Miss Durham then went to the window, and talked
+with the men in the most imploring manner, urging them not to sacrifice
+themselves, as they would surely do if they remained in the burning
+house. Her entreaties did not seem to affect them at first; and, as the
+flames were then beginning to gather strength, Cottrell ordered her to
+come away from the house, and leave them to their fate. She made one
+more appeal, and Barton handed her a navy revolver; then Farrington did
+the same, and she brought them to Cottrell, saying that they would
+surrender if they could be sure that their lives would be spared.
+Cottrell told her to go back and get the rest of their arms, and assure
+them that they should be taken to Tennessee for trial. She soon returned
+with another revolver and a shot-gun, and said that the men would come
+out. Cottrell therefore removed the rails, opened the front door, and
+called them out--Barton coming first, and then Farrington. The latter
+proved to be Hillary, not Levi, as he had called himself. It was not
+known why he had used his brother's name, but it was supposed that
+Hillary had taken his name to enable him to prove an _alibi_ in case he
+should be arrested.
+
+Cottrell's party first secured the prisoners with ropes, and then
+assisted Jim Durham to extinguish the fire on the roof; the latter was
+quite rotten, and it had burned so slowly that very little damage had
+been done. The prisoners were thoroughly searched, but nothing of any
+consequence was found upon them, the total of their funds being less
+than three dollars. A prolonged search through the house revealed
+nothing of importance, except the fact that it was quite an arsenal for
+arms, there being found six navy revolvers, two double-barreled
+shot-guns, and a Spencer repeating rifle. The siege had lasted nearly
+three hours, and, another hour having been spent in searching the house
+and saddling their animals, it was nearly dark by the time they started
+for Verona. Farrington and Barton were carefully tied upon the horse and
+mule respectively, and, after thanking the neighboring farmers for their
+assistance, Cottrell took the road back, accompanied by the eleven men
+who belonged in and about Verona. The greatest care was taken that the
+prisoners should have no opportunity for escape, and they were informed
+that any attempt to get away would be the signal for riddling them with
+bullets.
+
+While riding along, Cottrell learned from Barton that the party had been
+very lucky in finding the two men in the house, since their usual custom
+had been to spend the days in the woods, coming in only at night to
+sleep. On this occasion, however, the weather was so cold that they were
+spending the day indoors.
+
+When asked why they had not surrendered before, they both made the same
+reply, namely: that they believed the posse of citizens intended either
+to shoot them immediately, or to hang them after a trial by lynch law.
+
+On arriving in Verona early in the evening, the prisoners were securely
+tied up with ropes, and Cottrell alternated during the night with
+Marriott in watching them. A blacksmith was also called up, and shortly
+after midnight he completed two pair of leg shackles, with which they
+were fastened together. My men were greatly fatigued, having ridden a
+large number of miles every day for a week, and the excitement of the
+affair added, of course, to their prostration, but they resolutely paced
+the floor in alternate four-hour watches, determined that no possible
+loophole for escape should again be afforded to such daring villains as
+these two.
+
+The result of the expedition was, of course, transmitted to me in
+telegraphic cipher at once; but the arrest was kept secret for the time,
+in order to prevent a knowledge of it coming to Levi Farrington, who was
+still at large. According to Barton, Levi was concealed somewhere in
+Tennessee, but this statement was proof positive that he was not in
+Tennessee at all, since Barton's object in telling anything about him
+was evidently intended to mislead us; hence, no faith was put in his
+story, and other steps were taken to capture Levi.
+
+William arrived in Verona on the morning after the fight, and he
+prepared to return with the prisoners to St. Louis by the noon train. It
+was supposed that Levi Farrington was also on his way to the rendezvous
+at Durham's farm, and that he would probably approach by the direct road
+through Douglas County. Cottrell and Marriott were left, therefore, to
+attend to Levi and the old lady, whose whereabouts were still uncertain.
+William saw most of the citizens engaged in the affair, and heartily
+thanked them for their aid; being questioned as to whether they should
+receive the reward of one thousand dollars offered by the express
+company for the capture of the two Farringtons and Barton, he informed
+them that he considered them entitled to it, and that he should
+recommend its payment, but that the matter would be decided by the
+officers of the company. I may here anticipate events somewhat to state
+that the company paid the citizens and farmers a liberal amount for
+their services in capturing the robbers, and a settlement was made which
+was satisfactory to all parties.
+
+William left Verona about noon of the day he arrived, taking Hillary
+Farrington and Barton with him, under guard of Galway and Connell. On
+arriving in St. Louis, he separated the prisoners in order to induce
+Barton to confess; and, after a long conversation, in which he showed
+Barton how conclusive was the evidence against all three of the men, he
+obtained a very full confession, of which the greater part is here given
+exactly as it was taken down from Barton's lips.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER IX.
+
+    _Barton's Confession.--The Express Robberies and the Outlaws'
+          subsequent Experiences fully set forth therein.--A Clue that
+          had been suddenly dropped taken up with so much Profit, that,
+          after a desperate Struggle, another Desperado is Captured._
+
+
+"I am twenty-two years of age," said Barton, "and my native place was
+Columbus, Mississippi. When quite young, I left home and took to
+following the army. About five or six years ago I moved to Normandy,
+Tennessee, and lived with the family of Major Landis, and two or three
+years later, I went to work on the Nashville and Northwestern Railroad
+as a brakeman, remaining as such over two years. About three years since
+I formed the acquaintance of Hillary and Levi Farrington, at Waverly,
+Tennessee. These are the men otherwise known as J. H. Clark and Edward
+J. Russell. Afterward I opened a saloon in Nashville, and Levi
+Farrington visited me there several times. Last April or May he was
+arrested on suspicion of counterfeiting, but as there was no case
+against him, he was discharged. After a short time, I went down to visit
+Levi at Mrs. Farrington's; she lived at the head of Tumbling Run Creek,
+twelve miles back of Gillem Station. Hillary was in jail at Memphis at
+that time, charged with murder and horse-stealing. When he got out of
+jail, Levi, Hillary, and myself all made a trip to Little Rock,
+Arkansas, gambling by throwing three-card monte, and we won about
+thirteen hundred dollars; we then returned to Gillem Station, where we
+remained until the twenty-first of July, this year. During this time,
+Levi, who frequently rode back and forth on the express trains, spoke of
+the feasibility of robbing them.
+
+"On the morning of July 21, Levi, Hillary, and myself left Gillem
+Station for the purpose of robbing the express train at some of the
+stations either on that road or on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. At
+Union City we changed cars, and arrived at Moscow just after dark. The
+plan was, that we all three should enter the car and overpower the
+messenger; but Levi and Hillary were the only ones who entered. I
+remained on the platform of the first passenger coach and kept watch.
+When the train was passing the water tank, they slacked up the speed,
+and we all jumped off and struck for the woods. The messenger had
+nothing whatever to do with this robbery, so far as I was ever informed.
+
+"As I said before, we struck into the woods and reached the river just
+above Hickman, where we stole a fisherman's skiff, and all three of us
+started down the river. Finding that we were pursued, we left the skiff
+on the Tennessee shore, near Island Number Ten. We then took the river
+road and walked back as far as Lester's Landing, arriving there about
+dinner-time, July 23. Levi divided the money, giving me one-third of one
+thousand dollars, which was all, he said, in the safe, although I always
+believed there was more.
+
+"So far as I know, neither of the Farringtons had ever met Lester
+before, and I am sure that I had never set eyes on him until we went to
+his place at this time. On account of the spot being so lonely and
+isolated, Hillary proposed that we put up a store there, as it would be
+a good cover for our actual business. We started the store, and applied
+to the postmaster to establish a post-office, to be known as Lester's
+Landing; our object in this move was, of course, to give an added color
+of respectability and _bona fide_ business to our transactions. From
+this time until the middle of October, I remained at the store nearly
+all the time; Hillary was also there most of the time, but Levi very
+seldom. During one of the latter's western trips, he said he had been
+out to see his Aunt Durham.
+
+"Along in October, Levi proposed that we again strike the express
+company when the train stopped for supper at Union City. Hillary had
+been in the habit of riding back and forth on the engine, and he
+understood how to run a train. Levi suggested that we take a man named
+Bill Taylor into the robbery with us; he was then employed chopping wood
+for Lester, and when Levi approached him on the subject he agreed to go.
+Levi left Lester's a few days before the robbery. Hillary and I did not
+leave until the nineteenth, when we went up to Columbus by steamer,
+taking along a large quantity of fish. Having sold our fish, we took the
+train for Union City, where we arrived the same evening. On getting off
+the train, we met Levi and Bill Taylor on the platform, and the only
+conversation which took place was when Levi asked why we had not arrived
+sooner, to which we replied that we came as soon as we could. The next
+morning we met again, having slept in separate places so as not to
+attract attention, and went down the road some distance toward Hickman.
+While camped in the woods that evening, about ten o'clock, an old man
+named Hicks came along with a bottle of whisky and stopped at our
+camp-fire quite a time. There were present Hillary, Levi, myself, and
+Bill Taylor. We remained in the woods all that night. The next day we
+moved further into the woods toward Hickman, and at night, just at dark,
+we came back to Union City.
+
+"We had been there only a few minutes when the up train came along; she
+stopped and backed down a little ways, when all the train hands left her
+and went to supper. Hillary and Taylor then boarded the engine, and Levi
+and myself jumped aboard the express car. The messenger was eating his
+supper when we went in, and, seeing Levi point a Derringer at him, he
+exclaimed: 'Don't shoot me! I will surrender.' Levi compelled him to
+unlock the safe, and we took all the money. Levi then swung the
+messenger's lantern, and the train stopped, when we all jumped off and
+started down the railroad to Hickman. Our intention was to go to the
+wood-yard near Union City, and steal a ride on a freight train to
+Hickman. We hid under the platform at the wood-yard, and while there
+Levi accidentally shot himself in the thigh; but the wound was very
+slight, and it hardly interfered with his walking. As the freight train
+did not stop, we were obliged to walk to Hickman, where we arrived
+Sunday night. We had had some provisions when we first camped out, which
+Bill Taylor had carried in a valise; but he had left the valise and all
+its contents on the engine, so that we had very little to eat.
+
+"While in the woods we divided the money, but Levi, who carried it,
+showed up only twenty three hundred dollars.
+
+"Sunday night we stole a skiff in Hickman and went down the river to
+James' Bayou, and while there, on Monday morning, we saw Messenger
+Cross, whose car had been robbed, making inquiries about us in a
+grocery-store. We then started off on foot, going down the river on the
+Missouri shore. About a mile below James' Bayou we found the skiff which
+we had previously set adrift, and which had evidently been picked up by
+some one. Taking this skiff again, Hillary, Taylor, and I dropped down
+to a point about a mile above Lester's, leaving Levi on the Missouri
+shore, where we started from. We landed on the Tennessee shore, and
+walked down the river road a short distance, when Taylor left us,
+remaining in the woods. Hillary and I met Lester on the road soon
+afterward, and told him that we had come down on a steamboat which was
+then tied up, on account of the heavy fog. Levi arrived next day, having
+come across the river with a fisherman.
+
+"The following Sunday, October 29, Hillary left on a steamboat, taking
+with him a woman named Slaughter, with whom he said he was going to
+Davidson's wood-yard, nine miles above Cape Girardeau. He expected to
+return in a few days.
+
+"The next thing of any importance which occurred was on the Tuesday
+night following, when Messrs. Pinkerton and Connell rode up to Lester's
+house. At the first glance, I thought they were officers, and Levi told
+me that he thought the same. I saw him pull his pistol out of his
+pocket before getting out of his chair."
+
+[The moment Connell opened the door, Levi knew that he was a detective,
+having seen him acting in that capacity in Memphis, when Hillary was
+arrested for horse-stealing the previous spring.]
+
+"When I made my escape from Lester's house," continued Barton, "I ran
+right back through the cornfield; I heard all the shooting, but did not
+see it. In a short time Levi joined me in the cane-brake back of the
+cornfield. Levi told me that he had had a shooting match with the two
+officers, but he did not know whether he had hit either of them or not;
+they had not hit him, but he had had a very narrow escape.
+
+"After awhile we slipped up to the house, and saw that the officers were
+gone; so we went in, got our supper, and took our pistols, besides a
+shawl and blanket. We then got an old skiff, crossed the river, and
+slept in the woods on the Missouri shore. The next day we remained under
+cover until nightfall, when we recrossed the river, and went through the
+woods to Union City, spending Wednesday night and Thursday in the woods
+on the way. On Thursday night we took the train from Union City to
+Gillem Station. The conductor of the train was Conductor Roberts, on
+whose run I had formerly been brakeman; and, being afraid he might
+recognize me, I laid down in my seat and covered up my face, while Levi
+paid both fares. We arrived at Gillem Station about three o'clock in
+the morning, and reached Mrs. Farrington's house about daylight.
+
+"I gave Mrs. Farrington five hundred and fifty dollars in money to keep
+for me, this amount being the proceeds of both express robberies, and
+she still has it in her possession. Before leaving Lester's, Hillary had
+given most of his money to Levi to take to their mother to keep for him,
+and Levi left with her nearly the whole of his share of the plunder
+also.
+
+"We had been at Mrs. Farrington's a week when Hillary arrived. Before
+this, we all thought that the officers had captured him, and we were
+quite surprised to see him safe. He said that Detective Connell had
+arrested him at Mrs. Gully's, and that he had made his escape by jumping
+out of Connell's wagon into a thicket near Allenville; he had then gone
+right back to the house where he had left Mrs. Slaughter, where he got a
+pistol and some money, and had his irons removed.
+
+"At the time Hillary arrived at Mrs. Farrington's, the old lady had been
+gone a day and a night on her way to Texas or Missouri. It was
+understood that Levi and I were to meet her somewhere on the road, or at
+Holton's farm, near the line between Lawrence and Dade Counties,
+Missouri. The day after Hillary arrived, we started for Missouri; I was
+riding a sorrel horse; Hillary, a chestnut-sorrel horse; and Levi, a
+large brown mule. We spent two days at the house of Mr. Douglas, near
+Mrs. Farrington's, and then crossed the Tennessee River at Cuba. We
+crossed the Mississippi River by the last ferryboat on Friday evening,
+November 10, at Hall's Ferry, opposite Point Pleasant, Missouri. We saw
+no men on guard at the ferries. We struck right out through Nigger-Wool
+Swamp to Bloomfield, where Levi left us. He said he was going to
+Farmington, Illinois, as that was a good place to keep under cover.
+After he left us, nothing important occurred until our arrest. We knew
+where Mrs. Farrington was every night, and also knew all about the two
+men who were following her; we did not mind letting them follow her, as
+they could not have captured us, and we could have shaken them off at
+any time if we had wanted to do so.
+
+"Levi and Hillary frequently spoke of making other raids upon the
+express company, and said what a soft thing it was. It was my intention
+to separate from them as soon as I could get my money from the old lady,
+as I wished to return to my friends below Columbus, Mississippi.
+
+"The foregoing is all I know of the Farringtons or the express
+robberies.
+
+                (Signed),       "WILLIAM BARTON."
+
+It will be observed how completely this confession corroborated our
+investigations, there being few new points learned. The information that
+Mrs. Farrington had possession of nearly all the stolen money was
+valuable, and I sent instructions to Cottrell, at once, to attach all of
+her property in the name of the Southern Express Company, if it could
+be done. But the most important feature brought out was the hiding-place
+of Levi Farrington, which was given as Farmington, Illinois. It will be
+remembered that William found, at the store at Lester's Landing, some
+pieces of paper, upon which was scribbled, "Kate Graham, Farmington,
+Illinois;" that I sent a detective to that place to see Mrs. Graham;
+that the latter answered, with every evidence of truthfulness, that she
+did not know Russell, Clark, or Barton; and that the clue was dropped
+immediately. From Barton, however, William learned that Mrs. Kate Graham
+was a cousin of the Farringtons, and that, being a highly respectable
+and conscientious woman, she knew nothing of their _aliases_, nor of
+their crimes. It was there that Levi Farrington had gone to hide.
+Barton's confession was made on the fourteenth, and William instantly
+sent me a cipher dispatch containing the important features of it. By
+the evening train of that day, my other son, Robert A. Pinkerton, took
+passage for Farmington, accompanied by Detective W. T. Brown, of my
+force. They arrived there about noon the next day, and soon learned that
+Levi Farrington was staying with his relatives. Having presented letters
+of introduction to one or two influential men, Robert obtained an
+introduction to the city marshal, who promised to give all the aid in
+his power to arrest Farrington.
+
+About two o'clock they saw the latter coming down the street, and, by
+previous arrangement, Robert allowed Levi to pass him, both walking
+toward Brown and the marshal. Levi Farrington was a very powerful man,
+standing six feet in his stockings, with a frame and muscles in
+proportion to his size. Remembering the desperate character of the man,
+Robert did not deem it advisable to give him any chance to draw a weapon
+or show fight; he therefore followed Farrington closely until he was
+about ten feet from the marshal, and then, springing at him, he pinioned
+the desperado's arms by clasping him tightly around the body just at the
+elbows. Farrington did not stop to question the cause of this
+proceeding--he knew the reason of his seizure well enough--but,
+gathering his whole strength, he made one jump away from the two
+officers who were approaching in front, and landed nearly in the middle
+of the street, taking Robert along with him. Robert clung to him like a
+vise, however, and before he could make another such an effort, the
+other two were upon him. A terrible struggle now ensued in the street,
+during which both Robert and Brown were badly bruised by being rolled
+upon and kicked by their powerful prisoner. Robert knew that Farrington
+was desperate enough to fight to the bitter end, and that he would kill
+as many as he could before being killed himself; to release his arms,
+therefore, would enable him to draw a weapon, as he was undoubtedly well
+armed, hence Robert never relaxed his hold. Having a professional pride
+in securing his prisoner alive, moreover, he did not wish to resort to
+extreme measures except to save the lives of other persons, and, as a
+large crowd had gathered around the moment the struggle began, there
+would have been evident danger in allowing him an instant's freedom.
+Over and over they rolled together, therefore, Farrington striving with
+all his strength to break Robert's clasp upon his arms, while the other
+two officers were doing their best to pinion his legs. After a ten
+minutes' struggle, they succeeded at length in holding him down and
+sitting upon his legs until he could be tied with ropes. By this time,
+the whole party were pretty thoroughly exhausted, but, after resting a
+few minutes to recover their breath, the officers got handcuffs on their
+prisoner's wrists, and took him to the railroad station, where he was
+searched. Little money was found on his person, but he had a large
+revolver, two Derringer pistols, and a large dirk concealed about him.
+He was then placed in the freight office, while Brown and Mr. Graham,
+Mrs. Kate Graham's husband, went to the latter's house to get Levi's
+baggage. On their return, the whole party took passage for Chicago,
+where they did not arrive until next day, owing to the failure to make
+connections. In Levi's valise were found two revolvers, some jewelry,
+and a very large sum of money.
+
+They arrived so late on Saturday that there was no train for Cairo
+before the following evening, and meantime the prisoner required the
+most careful watching, as none of our handcuffs were large enough to
+fit his wrists without cutting into the flesh. Robert and Brown were
+completely prostrated by the strain upon their muscles and the injuries
+they had received, so that they felt the effects of the struggle for
+several days.
+
+The moment that Robert arrived in Chicago with his prisoner, the latter
+was taken to the First Precinct police station, where he was placed in a
+cell for safe keeping. During the afternoon it was learned that he had
+sent for a lawyer to obtain a writ of _habeas corpus_. The arrest had
+been made without any warrant, and no requisition had been obtained for
+use in Illinois, as I had expected to capture all three of the men in
+Missouri. Should Farrington succeed in getting the desired writ, I
+should be forced to give up my hold upon him, and, before the
+requisition of the Governor of Tennessee upon the Governor of Illinois
+could be received, he would be probably beyond the reach of pursuit.
+
+I therefore procured a closed vehicle and took the prisoner out for a
+drive, carefully bound, with two reliable men as guards. The afternoon
+was thus spent, and, after dark, there being no longer any object in
+driving around the suburbs of the city, Farrington was taken to my
+office and kept all night. He behaved very well, and did not seem
+anxious to get away by force. He tried, however, to induce Robert to let
+him go, telling him that it would be worth a very large amount of money
+to him to do so. Finding his offers disregarded, he appeared to take his
+arrest very coolly, saying that he guessed he had money enough to see
+him through.
+
+On Sunday evening, Robert and Brown took him to the railroad station,
+and the party embarked for Cairo.
+
+
+
+
+                          CHAPTER X.
+
+    _A terrible Struggle for Life or Death upon the Transfer-boat
+          "Illinois."--"Overboard!"--One less Desperado.--The Fourth and
+          Last Robber taken._
+
+
+After Barton had made his confession to William in St. Louis, the
+prisoners, Hillary Farrington and Barton, were kept separate, as the
+latter was afraid that Hillary would find some means of killing him.
+About midnight of Thursday, December fourteenth, they all took passage
+by railroad for Cairo, and there they immediately went on board the
+large transfer-boat to Columbus, Kentucky. All the detectives were
+thoroughly worn out from excitement and loss of sleep, but they did not
+for an instant relax their vigilant watch upon their prisoners. William
+had been talking for some time with Hillary, trying to obtain a
+confession and to learn what had been done with the money secured at the
+two robberies. From the questions that William asked, Hillary soon
+learned, or surmised, that Barton had confessed. He was terribly
+enraged at this, and without doubt he would have killed Barton if he
+could have got at him; but being unable to do so, his fury was all
+turned upon his captors.
+
+My son hoped by threatening to have Mrs. Farrington arrested and
+imprisoned, to induce Hillary to give up his share of the plunder rather
+than have his mother punished. This threat seemed to infuriate him
+beyond anything, and he swore that he would have his revenge on William
+if he had to wait twenty years for it. After sitting sullenly thinking
+on the subject for a time, he said he was cold, and wanted to get a
+drink. William therefore offered to go with him into the bar-room, and
+they walked toward the forward end of the saloon, leaving Galway and
+Barton seated together. Connell had gone into the water-closet a few
+moments before, but, as there was a detective with each of the
+prisoners, no attempt at escape was anticipated.
+
+The steamer was the powerfully-built transfer-boat "Illinois," and she
+was running with great speed, her ponderous wheels revolving at an
+unusually rapid rate. The bar-room was situated just forward of the
+saloon, after passing through the barber shop, and it could be entered
+from the saloon or through a door leading upon the guards, just forward
+of the paddle-box.
+
+As they were about to enter the barber shop from the saloon, Hillary
+drew back, saying that he did not want to go that way, as there were
+some men in that room whom he knew. They therefore went out upon the
+guards to walk along to the outer door of the bar-room. The space was
+narrow, and the rail quite low, so that it would not have been at all
+difficult for a man to spring overboard, even though he were in irons.
+This idea occurred to William, but he did not trouble himself about it,
+since he knew that the heavy strokes of the paddle-wheel would instantly
+kill any one who might attempt such a thing. William wore a
+loose-fitting sack coat with large pockets, in one of which he carried a
+heavy army revolver, which he had taken from Hillary, his own revolver
+being in his belt. In walking it was his habit to put his hand on the
+butt of this army revolver, which protruded somewhat from the pocket. On
+reaching the door, however, he took his right hand from the pistol to
+turn the knob. This was a careless action, of which he never would have
+been guilty, had he been less fatigued, mentally and physically, but,
+being so used up as to act almost mechanically, his habitual
+thoughtfulness was momentarily absent, and he was caught off his guard
+for an instant in a manner which nearly cost him his life. It should be
+understood that the scene which ensued occurred so rapidly as to occupy
+less time in its passage than is required to read about it, and that
+during those few seconds a struggle of life and death was going on.
+
+Hardly had William's hand touched the doorknob ere he felt the pistol
+drawn out of his coat pocket. He knew there was but one person who
+could have done it, and that person was a perfect devil thirsting for
+his blood. Turning like a flash, he seized Farrington by both wrists,
+just as the latter was trying to cock the pistol; then there was a
+terrible contest. The pistol was in Farrington's hands, which were held
+so close together by the irons as to make it impossible to wrench one
+away from the other; it was pointed directly at William's head, and
+should Farrington succeed in cocking it, William's death would be
+instantaneous. All his energies, therefore, were directed toward keeping
+Farrington's hands far enough apart to prevent him from drawing back the
+hammer. The space was too narrow to permit of such a struggle without
+one party or the other being forced back upon the rail, and, in a
+moment, William had lifted his lighter antagonist from the deck,
+pressing him against the railing, and at the same time shouting for
+assistance. In response to his call, Connell came running out in
+_dishabille_, with his pistol in one hand and his pantaloons in the
+other. At this moment the cold muzzle of the pistol was pressed against
+William's temple, and he heard the click of the hammer as his desperate
+prisoner succeeded in drawing it back. He made a violent plunge forward,
+ducking his head as he did so, and simultaneously the pistol exploded
+close to his ear, the ball ploughing a little furrow in the scalp, while
+the powder scorched his neck and hair. Staggering back stunned and dizzy
+for a moment, he was caught by Connell, who asked whether he was much
+hurt. He soon gathered his senses, and, finding his wound to be only
+trifling, he asked what had become of Farrington. Connell pointed
+overboard, and no further answer was necessary; no man dropping in front
+of those wheels could have lived for an instant, and, even had he not
+been struck, he could not have kept himself up in the rapid current then
+running filled with fine ice.
+
+By this time the bar-room, barber shop, and saloon had been emptied of
+their occupants, and the boat had been stopped to see whether the man
+could be picked up; but, as this was clearly hopeless, the trip was soon
+resumed. Connell's arrival had been most opportune for William, since he
+had caught the weapon the moment it was discharged, and succeeded in
+changing the course of the bullet sufficiently to save William's life.
+Thinking, however, that William had been killed, Connell had struck
+Farrington on the head with his pistol almost simultaneously with the
+explosion, and the blow, aided by the plunge which William made forward
+in endeavoring to dodge the pistol-shot, had sent Farrington over the
+rail into the water, where he was undoubtedly killed the next instant by
+the paddle-wheels.
+
+The fact of the man's death was so absolutely certain that no person
+could doubt it, if acquainted with the circumstances; yet there were not
+wanting people who insinuated that he had been allowed to escape by
+jumping overboard and swimming ashore. The absurdity of such a story is
+manifest, for, even supposing that his irons had been removed, and that
+he had escaped injury from the paddle-wheels, he never could have swam
+ashore at the spot where the affair occurred. The nearest point of the
+river bank was more than three hundred yards away, and the current at
+that place was running off the shore; besides, the night was very cold,
+and the water was covered with a film of ice, so that after five
+minutes' immersion in it, a man would have become wholly numbed and
+insensible.
+
+Barton was not at all surprised when he heard of Hillary Farrington's
+death, for he said that he knew Hillary so well that he had expected
+nothing else from the time he was taken; he was so desperate that his
+intention undoubtedly had been to have seized William and dragged him
+overboard; but, seeing the pistol, another idea had probably occurred to
+him. Barton said that had Hillary succeeded in killing William, he would
+have gone up to the pilot-house with the revolver, and forced the pilot
+to land him immediately; once on shore, his knowledge of the country
+would have enabled him to escape again. Whatever had been his plans,
+however, he had failed in his attempt at murder, and had paid the
+penalty of his rashness with his life.
+
+The rest of the party went on to Columbus, where they took passage for
+Union City, arriving there Friday morning.
+
+About this time, Mr. Ball, who had been sent to follow the wagon train
+of Mrs. Farrington, reported, after a silence of several days, that he
+had traced her into the Indian Territory. In point of fact, she was
+settled at Ash Grove, near Mount Vernon, in Greene County, Missouri, and
+had been there ever since Hillary and Barton had left her before their
+arrest at Durham's. It will thus be seen how fortunate it was that I had
+not trusted to Ball and Bledsoe to keep track of Mrs. Farrington, since
+they had utterly lost the trail, and had followed another set of wagons
+for several days as far as the Indian Territory; when, probably
+suspecting that he had made a mistake, Ball telegraphed to the express
+company's officers for instructions. He was then ordered to return at
+once with Bledsoe, the whole party having been captured by that time.
+
+While speaking of Mrs. Farrington, I may as well give an account of all
+our dealings with her, irrespective of the chronological order of the
+story:
+
+Having received Barton's order upon her for all of the wagons and stock,
+and for five hundred and fifty dollars in money, Cottrell endeavored to
+attach her property in a civil suit. She insisted that she had none of
+Barton's money--indeed, that she had no money at all--and she refused to
+give up anything. At last, finding that he could not legally attach her
+property, Cottrell took the bold step of arresting her for receiving
+stolen goods. She was taken to Mount Vernon, where she engaged a lawyer
+to defend her, and then, of course, Cottrell was also obliged to employ
+a legal adviser. At length, a compromise was effected, by which Mrs.
+Farrington was allowed to retain a small portion of the property;
+Cottrell then took possession of the remainder as agent of the express
+company, and Mrs. Farrington was discharged from custody. After selling
+some of the animals, Cottrell shipped all the remaining chattels to St.
+Louis, where the agent of the express company took charge of them. The
+two detectives then returned to Chicago, and no further attention was
+paid to Mrs. Farrington.
+
+On Saturday, after the arrival of William's party, with Barton, in Union
+City, Detectives Galway and Connell started out to arrest Bill Taylor,
+the fourth one of the party of robbers.
+
+This man was a long, lank, round-shouldered fellow, with putty face,
+long, straggling hair and beard, and a vacant expression of countenance,
+who lived by hunting and chopping wood, below Lester's Landing, in the
+vicinity of Reel's Foot Lake. William had been satisfied of his
+complicity in the robbery for some time previous to the arrest of the
+others, but he had not arrested him for the reason that he was sure of
+picking him up whenever he wished to do so; and, knowing Taylor to have
+been merely a weak accomplice, he was anxious to secure the leaders in
+the crime first. Barton's confession made the suspicion of Taylor's
+guilt a certainty, and so Galway and Connell were sent to arrest him.
+
+At Mr. Merrick's they obtained a good guide, and four other citizens
+joined them, so that they had quite a formidable party. After visiting
+several houses in the cane-brake, they learned where Taylor was
+staying, and, on going there, they saw him looking at them from a front
+window. Galway asked Taylor to come down a few minutes to give them some
+information, and Taylor unsuspectingly complied. He had been allowed to
+go free so long, and had so often talked with William and others about
+the robbery, that he did not imagine their object on this occasion. On
+coming into the yard, therefore, he greeted the men cordially, supposing
+them to be a party scouting for the other robbers, of whose arrest he
+had not heard. When he saw a couple of navy revolvers close to his head,
+and heard an order to throw up his hands, he surrendered without a word.
+He was evidently badly frightened, but he would not confess having had
+any part in the robbery, and he refused to tell where his share of the
+money was concealed. He was placed on Connell's horse and taken to
+Merrick's, where another horse was obtained, and the party went on to
+Hickman; thence he was taken by wagon to Union City, arriving there
+about midnight of Saturday. Both Barton and Taylor were placed in rooms
+in the hotel, where they were carefully watched night and day by my
+detectives, the county jail being almost useless as a place for keeping
+prisoners.
+
+On learning that the whole party had been arrested, Taylor made a very
+full confession of all the circumstances connected with the robbery, and
+the movements of the robbers after it had occurred. He confirmed
+Barton's account in every particular, but revealed nothing new of any
+importance. His share of the stolen money had been only about one
+hundred and fifty dollars, as Levi had made him believe that they had
+obtained only six hundred dollars in all. About fifty dollars were found
+on Taylor's person; the rest he had spent. He said that Levi Farrington
+had hidden all the checks, drafts, and unnegotiable paper underneath an
+old log in the woods, but that he could not tell where the log was, nor
+find it, since it was not marked in any way, nor had they taken any
+bearings by which to remember it. He gave an account of the evening when
+Hicks, the tipsy planter, came to their camp-fire, which agreed exactly
+with the previous statements of Hicks and Barton; but one slight remark
+in his confession seemed to account for the fifth man mentioned by
+Hicks. Taylor said that during most of the time Hicks was at their camp,
+one or two of the party were lying on the ground with their feet toward
+the fire, and that there was a log of wood lying beside them. Now, it is
+probable that Hicks was just drunk enough to be unable to tell the
+difference between a man and a log, especially as, in his description of
+the men, he gave the appearance of Hillary Farrington twice as belonging
+to different persons. Hicks's vision was somewhat uncertain that night,
+evidently.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER XI.
+
+    _The last Scene in the Drama approaching.--A new Character
+          appears.--The Citizens of Union City suddenly seem to have
+          important business on hand.--The Vigilantes and their
+          Work.--Their Bullets and Judge Lynch administer a quietus to
+          Levi Farrington and David Towler.--The End._
+
+
+The last scene in this drama seemed about to end in the complete defeat
+of the whole gang of villains and the triumph of law and justice, when a
+new character came upon the stage, and the curtain fell upon a bloody
+tragedy. That substantial justice was done cannot be denied, though the
+manner of its execution was beyond and outside all forms of law. It was
+a striking instance of the manner in which an outraged community,
+particularly in the West and South, will arrive at a satisfactory
+settlement of important questions without the intervention of courts,
+juries, or lawyers. The court of Judge Lynch makes mistakes
+occasionally, but it rarely admits of an appeal from its decision.
+
+Robert arrived in Union City with Levi Farrington on Monday, December
+eighteenth, and he took his prisoner to the hotel for safe keeping, with
+the others. They were kept in separate rooms, and a detective remained
+with each of them constantly. William spent several hours with Levi
+Farrington, trying to induce him to tell where he had hidden the stolen
+papers, and also what he had done with his share of the money, of which
+he had undoubtedly retained the greater part. Finally he agreed to
+return all the papers, and about twenty-five hundred dollars besides, on
+condition that he should receive a sentence of only five years in the
+penitentiary on entering a plea of guilty. Having agreed to this
+arrangement, William went to his room, which was a large one, with
+several beds, occupied by Robert, Brown, and Connell. As the men of my
+force were all pretty well used up, Taylor and Barton were placed in the
+same room, with Galway guarding them, while Farrington, being such a
+desperate fellow, was put in another room, with three of the Union City
+policemen as guards.
+
+Soon after the arrival of Robert with Levi Farrington, a man, named
+David Towler, tried to get admission to Farrington's room. On being
+denied, he was very insolent, and he insisted on seeing Farrington
+alone. Finding that this would not be permitted, he went away cursing
+the officers and swearing to be revenged. His actions naturally
+attracted the attention of the police, and caused him to be regarded
+with a great deal of suspicion, as a probable member of the Farrington
+party of robbers. About eleven o'clock that night, a policeman, named
+Benjamin Kline, discovered this man Towler with a drawn revolver,
+skulking behind a car standing on the side track near the dépôt. He
+immediately called for the railroad company's night watchman, and the
+two approached the thief to arrest him. The man instantly shot Kline
+through the lungs, and then shot Moran, the watchman. Kline's wound was
+mortal, and he died in a few minutes, while Moran was supposed to be
+fatally hurt also. The pistol-shots quickly drew a crowd, and a few
+determined men gave chase to the murderer. After quite a long pursuit he
+was captured, and brought back to the station where Kline had just died.
+A justice of the peace held a preliminary examination at once, and the
+prisoner, David Towler, was held for murder, without bail. He was known
+to be a low, desperate fellow, who had been imprisoned for
+horse-stealing and other kindred crimes, until he was regarded almost as
+an outlaw. He had long lived near Reel's Foot Lake, and while there he
+had become acquainted with the Farringtons. That their friendship was
+more than that of two casual acquaintances was shown by an important
+circumstance discovered by William. It will be remembered that when Levi
+Farrington stopped in Cairo to send eight hundred dollars to his mother,
+he purchased two of the largest-sized Smith & Wesson revolvers. They
+were exact fac-similes of each other, and were numbered 1,278 and 1,279
+respectively. At the time of Levi's arrest, only one of these revolvers
+was found, and he said that he had given away the other to a friend,
+retaining number 1,279 himself. When Towler was captured, William
+happened to notice that his revolver was similar to the one Levi had
+carried. This would have been nothing to be remarked under ordinary
+circumstances, since there were, undoubtedly, many of these revolvers in
+use, all exactly alike except in number; but William connected this man
+Towler's appearance in Union City with the arrival of the express
+robbers, and the new revolver caught his eye at once. On closely
+examining it, his suspicions were fully confirmed: _it was numbered_
+1,278, and was, without question, the mate to Levi's, bought by him in
+Cairo and given to Towler.
+
+When this news became known to the throng of citizens whom the shooting
+of Kline and Moran had drawn together, the feeling against all the
+prisoners became intense, and when Towler was committed by the justice
+to the guard of the men who were watching Levi, the citizens began to
+depart very suddenly, as if they either had important business
+elsewhere, or were in a hurry to get home. By midnight the town was
+quiet, and after a visit to the guards, to caution them to be extra
+vigilant, William and Robert retired to their room, together with Brown
+and Connell.
+
+Young Kline, whom Towler had murdered, was very highly esteemed in Union
+City, and his death at the hands of an outlaw would have aroused deep
+indignation at any time; but just now there were additional reasons why
+the affair should excite a desire for summary vengeance upon his
+assassin. It had been shown that Towler must have formerly been on
+intimate terms with the Farringtons, and these latter were well known
+as desperadoes, whose hand was turned against every man; hence, the
+crimes of the whole party were considered as a sort of partnership
+affair, for which each member of the firm was individually liable. But,
+besides the natural indignation of the law-abiding citizens for the
+crimes committed by these men, there was a widespread sense of
+insecurity so long as they were in that vicinity. Towler had remarked,
+when captured, that he would soon be out again, and all the prisoners
+bore themselves with an air of bravado, as if they had no fear nor
+expectation of punishment. It was believed that a number of friends of
+the gang among the desperadoes living in Nigger-Wool Swamp and near
+Reel's Foot Lake intended to attempt the rescue of the whole party of
+express robbers, before they could be consigned to a secure place of
+confinement. The citizens who had risked their lives to capture Towler
+and the others, who had turned out in time to see poor Kline die in
+agony, were determined that nothing should occur to prevent justice from
+reaching the criminals, and exacting the fullest penalty for their
+numerous crimes; hence the sudden departure of the throng who had
+attended Towler's preliminary examination before the justice. They did
+not go to their homes, but gathered in a secluded place, and formed a
+Committee of Safety. The question as to what course would best protect
+the lives and property of the community was then discussed, and a
+conclusion was soon reached, without a dissenting voice.
+
+Throughout the town all was hushed in the usual stillness of a winter's
+night; no lights were burning anywhere, save in an occasional
+sick-chamber, and sleep seemed to have fallen alike upon the just and
+unjust. In one room of the hotel were Barton and Taylor, guarded by
+Galway and an employé of the express company, while near by was the room
+where Levi Farrington and David Towler were watched by three of the city
+policemen. A dim light burned in each room, and, while the guards paced
+the floor in their stocking feet, the prisoners lay on their beds in
+deep slumber. Not a memory of the past, full as it was of scenes of
+crime and blood, came to break their repose; not a thought of the
+future, with its possibilities of punishment, caused them to lose one
+moment of their customary rest. Fear they had never known; remorse was
+long since forgotten; unconscious or careless of their impending doom,
+they slept the night away.
+
+About two o'clock there was a stealthy gathering of masked men at the
+door of the hotel, and, at a given signal from the leader, a certain
+number slipped upstairs with little noise, and filled the corridor from
+which the prisoners' rooms opened. So sudden was their appearance and so
+quiet their approach that even the wakeful guards scarce heard them
+until the doors were forced open. Then the policy of silence was
+dropped, and a rush upon the guards was made. A battery of pistols
+suddenly confronted them, and, as resistance was clearly impossible, an
+unconditional surrender was at once made. The bursting in of the doors
+awakened William and Robert, who hastily sprang up, and, without
+stopping to put on any clothing, opened their door, pistol in hand. This
+move, however, had been anticipated by the vigilantes, and a dozen or
+more pistols were thrust in their faces as they appeared in the doorway.
+
+"Go back, Pinkerton, we don't want to hurt you," said one of the men
+outside, and they were pushed back into the room, while the door was
+hastily closed in their faces.
+
+To resist such a body with the few men at his command, William knew,
+would be suicidal, and he did not especially care to sacrifice himself
+in the interest of such a villainous band as those whom the vigilantes
+were seeking. The four detectives, therefore, dressed themselves and
+remained in their room awaiting further developments.
+
+Having overpowered the guards, the leader of the vigilantes ordered the
+removal of Towler, and, as the latter was hustled out of the door, Levi
+Farrington knew that his hour had come. Standing up and facing the
+remainder of the crowd, who had withdrawn to the further side of the
+room, he defied them all, and told them to fire away. A volley of
+pistol-shots was the reply to his words, and a rattling fire continued
+for two or three minutes; when it ceased, Levi Farrington was no more,
+his body having been struck by more than thirty balls, almost any one of
+which would have been instantaneously fatal. His body was left where
+it fell, and the room was soon deserted as the party hastened after the
+detachment which had Towler in charge. The whole affair was over in ten
+minutes, and when the detectives again left their room none of the
+masked party were to be seen. Levi Farrington's body was found in his
+room, but no trace of Towler could be discovered. Finding that the
+excitement was over, the detectives returned to bed, leaving Barton and
+Taylor still carefully guarded. The former had slept through the
+confusion and noise without even a start or restless movement, but
+Taylor was terribly frightened, and he fully expected to be lynched
+also.
+
+[Illustration: "_The work of the Vigilante's._"--_Page_--]
+
+The next morning at breakfast, William was informed that the body of
+Towler had been found hanging to a tree near the graveyard, and, on
+going to the spot, they found him as represented. At the coroner's
+inquest little testimony could be obtained further than that one man had
+been shot to death and the other hung by parties unknown, and the
+verdict was rendered accordingly. There was naturally considerable
+excitement over the affair for two or three days, but the general
+verdict was, "Served 'em right." However violent had been their taking
+off, there were few who did not feel that society demanded their death,
+not only as a punishment for their past crimes, but as a means of
+security in the future. Believing that a sentence to the penitentiary
+was wholly inadequate, and that their escape therefrom was not only
+possible, but probable, the citizens preferred to take no risks of
+future robberies and murders by these desperadoes, and they therefore
+took the most effectual method of preventing their occurrence. Their
+action was illegal, it is true, but then it was just--which is a more
+important consideration sometimes.
+
+On the following Friday, Barton and Taylor had their preliminary hearing
+before a justice, when they waived examination, and were committed for
+trial in default of bail in the sum of ten thousand dollars each. Upon
+the representation to the justice that the county jail was an unsafe
+place to confine the prisoners, permission was obtained to remove them
+to the jail in Memphis; the proper papers were made out, and the
+transfer was made under William's management.
+
+The death of Levi Farrington made the recovery of the missing checks,
+papers, and money an impossibility, since neither Barton nor Taylor were
+able to conduct the officers to the place where they were hidden. Barton
+gave the company a bill of sale of the goods in the store at Lester's
+Landing, however, and an assignment of all debts due the firm, from
+which about five or six hundred dollars were eventually realized. Robert
+and Brown attended to this matter and returned to Chicago. William was
+on duty until the two remaining prisoners were safely lodged in jail in
+Memphis, and then, having settled up all the business of which he had
+had charge, he also returned home.
+
+At the next term of court in Obion County, Tennessee, Barton and Taylor
+pleaded guilty of grand larceny, and were each sentenced to five years'
+confinement at hard labor in the penitentiary. Thus, out of a party of
+four engaged in this robbery, two were finally brought to trial and
+appropriately punished, while the other two would have been so punished
+also, had not a higher penalty been demanded by the circumstances of
+their cases, aggravated by their own brutal and revengeful dispositions.
+No reminiscence in my experience shows a more striking illustration of
+the certainty of retribution for crime than does the career and fate of
+these outlaws of the Southwest.
+
+                           THE END.
+
+
+
+
+                DON PEDRO AND THE DETECTIVES.
+
+
+
+
+                          CHAPTER I.
+
+    _A Fraudulent Scheme contemplated.--A Dashing Peruvian Don and
+          Donna.--A Regal Forger.--Mr. Pinkerton engaged by Senator
+          Muirhead to unveil the Mystery of his Life.--The Don and Donna
+          Morito arrive at Gloster.--"Personnel" of Gloster's "First
+          Families."_
+
+
+The history of crimes against prosperity is of vital interest to the
+public. The ingenuity of thieves, burglars, forgers, and confidence men
+is active and incessant, so that their plans are often successful even
+against the experience and precautions of men of the most wary and
+cautious character. This seems to be especially true when the amounts at
+stake are large, for petty attempts to defraud are so frequent, that
+when a criminal plays for a large sum, the suspicion of the capitalist
+is wholly allayed by the improbability that a mere swindler should
+undertake an operation of such magnitude. Indeed, in many cases the
+cupidity of the victim is so great that the sharper hardly offers the
+bait ere it is swallowed by some confiding simpleton. Hence, as a
+warning for the future, the lessons of past frauds possess no small
+degree of interest and value to the world; and as there is no portion
+of society free from the depredations of these schemers, their various
+wiles and snares cannot be exposed too often.
+
+More than twenty years ago, the city of Gloster was one of the most
+thriving cities of the West. Controlling the interior trade to a large
+extent, its interests were of the most varied character, and its
+inhabitants were already distinguished as being more cosmopolitan than
+those of any other city in the Union, except New York. They had imbibed,
+perhaps, some of the genius of the prairies, and their scorn of petty
+methods of doing business, their breadth of charity and hearty
+hospitality, were as boundless as the great plains of which the city was
+the business center at that time. Among such a people, a plausible
+adventurer had a fine field of operation, and I was not surprised when I
+was asked to go to Gloster in the latter part of the winter to
+investigate the character of some persons who were living there.
+
+The application came from Senator Muirhead, a man whom I had long known,
+both in his public and private life. His suspicions were of the vaguest
+possible character, and a hasty examination of the case failed to
+convince me that they were well founded; yet he was convinced in his own
+mind that there was a fraudulent scheme in contemplation, and his
+positive conviction had great weight with me. The Senator's interest in
+the case had led him to make extensive inquiries into the antecedents of
+these parties, but he was unable to trace them further back than their
+arrival in New York, several months before. There they had suddenly
+appeared in society with a great display of wealth, stating that they
+had been traveling in Europe for some time, and were gradually making
+their way back to Peru, where they lived. Don Pedro P. L. de Morito and
+his wife, having enjoyed life in New York for several months, now
+proposed to spend at least a year in Gloster, and it was this couple
+whose character was suspected by the Senator. Indeed, he felt sure that,
+at least, they were traveling under assumed names, and certain
+coincidences led him to believe that they were adroit swindlers of the
+most capable, dangerous type. He had discovered a chain of
+circumstantial evidence which needed only one link to make a clear
+connection between certain crimes and these fascinating Peruvians, and
+it was for the purpose of discovering this link that he had requested my
+aid. In brief, his suspicions were, that after innumerable frauds in
+other countries, this plausible pair had settled in Gloster to add to
+their ill-gotten wealth by some new scheme of villainy. His theoretic
+history of the man, derived from various sources, mainly newspapers in
+which crimes had been described bearing the same style of workmanship,
+was as follows.
+
+José Gomez, a cadet of the ancient Brazilian family of that name, began
+life with a fine physique, ample mental endowments, and a high social
+position. He was the heir-expectant of a valuable estate, and no pains
+were spared upon his education. As he grew to manhood, however, his
+habits became such as to excite the gravest apprehensions as to his
+future, and by the time he was thirty years of age he was a reckless
+libertine, gambler, and spendthrift. Finding that his source of supplies
+was about to be cut off by his family, he obtained large sums of money
+by means of forged paper, with which he fled from Rio Janeiro to Lima,
+Peru. His whereabouts were not discovered for a long time, but when the
+information was received, the Brazilian Government made an effort to
+obtain his extradition. He was living in fine style in Lima, under the
+assumed name of Juan Sanchez, and, in some way, he was warned of his
+danger. Before any steps had been taken to expose or arrest him, he
+perpetrated another series of forgeries, by which he obtained a large
+amount of money, and then wholly disappeared. The aggregate of his
+forgeries was so great that a considerable notoriety attached to the
+case, and the facts were published in full in the leading newspapers of
+this country.
+
+About the time of the great rush to California, after the gold
+discoveries there, a gentleman known as Don José Michel appeared in San
+Francisco, where he lived in regal splendor; indeed, his extravagance
+was so great as to make him conspicuous even among the reckless throng
+who filled the Golden City. After wasting a fortune with a prodigal
+hand, however, he suddenly vanished, and, although little was known
+positively on the subject, it was commonly understood that he had
+swindled a number of bankers and capitalists by worthless notes, drafts,
+and checks, many of which were wholly or partly forged. The men thus
+defrauded kept the matter quiet, both because they were ashamed to
+acknowledge how easily they had been imposed upon, and because they
+hoped to facilitate the capture of the criminal by working in secret.
+The incidents were related to Senator Muirhead in a casual conversation
+with a friend who had recently returned from the Pacific coast, and the
+description given of Don José Michel tallied exactly with that of Juan
+Sanchez and José Gomez.
+
+By an odd coincidence, the month after the departure of Don José Michel
+from San Francisco, a brilliant gentleman of nearly the same name
+appeared in Quito, Ecuador, where he pursued a course so exactly similar
+in character to that of Gomez, Sanchez, and Michel, that it was not
+difficult to imagine that that ubiquitous person was identical with the
+elegant Don Pedro Michel who created such a brief excitement in Quito,
+terminating with forgery and a hasty flight.
+
+About two years previous to the time of which I write, a wealthy
+Brazilian arrived in London, and became a great favorite in society. His
+wife was a beautiful Spaniard, and her exquisite taste, courtesy, and
+knowledge of the world were highly appreciated by the select circle of
+aristocracy into which she and her husband were soon admitted. Don José
+Arias was the name of this gentleman, and he was soon known in nearly
+every drawing-room in Belgravia. He was introduced by the Brazilian
+_chargé d'affaires_, in the absence of the Minister Resident, and this
+semi-official guarantee of his position in Brazil gave him a passport
+everywhere. It was not strange, therefore, that such a handsome,
+refined, and agreeable couple should be cordially and hospitably
+received, especially as their wealth was undoubtedly enormous, while
+their manners showed that they had been born in the purple of
+aristocracy. It was a sad shock to society when it was learned that Don
+José and Donna Maria had absconded suddenly, taking with them about
+fifty thousand pounds sterling, obtained by forgery. It was then learned
+that the Brazilian legation had been the victim of forged documents
+also, though the intimate acquaintance of Don José with the policy and
+statecraft of Brazil in many important affairs had contributed largely
+to his success in deceiving the young diplomat who was temporarily in
+charge of the legation.
+
+It was not until more than a year after this occurrence that Don Pedro
+P. L. de Morito arrived in New York, with his beautiful wife, Donna
+Lucia. They did not stop long in New York after their arrival, but spent
+the latter part of the summer in the White Mountains in a very retired
+manner, although they lived in the best style that the place afforded.
+In August, they made a hasty trip to Washington and back to New York
+again, where they began a more pretentious mode of life than they had
+chosen theretofore. Don Pedro kept a yacht elegantly fitted up, and his
+horses were the best that money could obtain. His bachelor suppers were
+models of epicurean perfection, and when his wife gave a reception,
+everything was in the best taste and style. While visiting Washington,
+Don Pedro had met Senator Muirhead, who had gone there for a few days on
+public business, and the acquaintance was renewed in New York, where the
+Senator had some private interests demanding his attention. Something
+had led the Senator to connect Don Pedro with Gomez, Sanchez, Michel,
+and Arias, and though the idea was a vague one in his mind, it was
+sufficiently fixed to cause him to institute inquiries into Señor
+Morito's antecedents. As previously stated, nothing could be learned of
+him previous to his arrival in New York, and the only circumstance which
+could possibly be regarded as suspicious was, that both in Washington
+and New York he had avoided meeting the Peruvian Minister and other
+fellow-countrymen.
+
+The peculiarity of the case interested me, and, after a long
+conversation with the Senator, I agreed to unravel the slight mystery
+surrounding the parties, and to make a complete review of their past
+history so far as it might be possible to obtain it. No harm could
+result from such a course, whether they were honest or the reverse; and
+so, having decided upon a simple plan, I returned to Chicago to select
+the persons to represent me in Gloster.
+
+My preliminary survey of the field had brought me into contact with many
+of the most fashionable people in Gloster; and, as I foresaw that my
+operatives would be called upon to move in the best society while
+engaged in this investigation, I obtained as extended information about
+the members of the _crême de la crême_ as possible. Since many of them
+will figure conspicuously in the incidents of this story, a brief
+description of the leaders will be necessary.
+
+One of the wealthiest men of Gloster was a bachelor, named Henry O.
+Mather. He was about fifty years old, but he still retained much of the
+fire of youth, and he was one of the most popular members of society. At
+an early day in the history of the Great West he had settled at Gloster,
+where he had invested largely in unimproved lands; and, by forethought
+and good judgment in his speculations, he had rapidly increased his
+property in extent and value, until, at this time, he was one of the few
+millionaires west of the Alleghanies. About three years previous to the
+time of which I write, he had invested largely in the new railroad
+schemes then organized, and his importance as a railway magnate
+was recognized throughout the whole country. His reputation as a
+shrewd business man made him a species of authority among his
+fellow-townspeople, and few persons would have ventured to distrust the
+safety of any enterprise in which he was actively interested. Indeed,
+so complete was the confidence of most men in him, that it was not
+considered necessary in buying real estate to trace the title further
+back than to Henry O. Mather, a deed from him being considered as secure
+as a patent from the government. Personally he was a very agreeable man,
+being gallant without affectation, and brilliant without priggishness.
+His figure was of medium height, compactly built, and he carried himself
+with an erect bearing and springy gait, which greatly aided in deceiving
+strangers as to his age. His hair was brown, turning gradually to gray,
+and he wore full gray side-whiskers. His features were quite pleasing
+except the mouth, which was rather large and sensual. On the whole, he
+was a man with uncommon ability to please when he felt disposed to exert
+himself, and his great wealth was an additional charm which society was
+not slow to recognize. He owned a large house, occupying the whole of a
+square in the most fashionable part of the city, and his sister-in-law
+was installed as its mistress.
+
+Richard Perkins was an Englishman who had long lived in Gloster, where
+he owned the largest brewery in the West. He was of middle height, but
+being quite fleshy, his gait was a kind of waddle--the reverse of
+elegant or dignified. His smooth, round, jovial face was strongly
+expressive of an appreciation of the good things of this world, and he
+rarely denied himself any indulgence that passion craved and that money
+could procure.
+
+It was while Mather and Perkins were on their annual visit to New York
+that they met Señor Morito and his beautiful wife, Donna Lucia. The
+distinguished foreigners soon made a complete conquest of both the
+western gentlemen, who invited them in the most cordial manner to visit
+Gloster at their earliest convenience.
+
+The delights of New York society were enjoyed for several months by
+these wealthy and aristocratic foreigners before they were able to keep
+the promise made to Mather and Perkins; for they were entertained by the
+old Knickerbocker families of Manhattan in a princely style. They were
+the guests of the most exclusive circles of the city, and everywhere
+they displayed such perfect courtesy, good breeding, and _savoir faire_,
+that it was evident they were accustomed to wealth and high social
+position. They had elegant apartments in the leading hotel of the city,
+and their cash expenditures showed the possession of an unlimited
+fortune. They finally tore themselves away from New York, arriving in
+Gloster during the comparatively dull season of Lent. Here their fame
+had become known in society through the incessant praises of Mather and
+Perkins, and their reception into the highest circles was coincident
+with their arrival. The unanimous verdict of those who made their
+acquaintance was, that Gloster had never entertained two more thoroughly
+pleasing guests than the Don and Donna Morito.
+
+Don Pedro was about forty years of age, but he had all the brilliancy
+and ease of a man of thirty. His figure was very fine, being slightly
+above the medium height, erect, compact, and muscular. His hands and
+feet were small and elegantly shaped, but were not effeminate. His rich
+olive complexion was in admirable harmony with his soft black eyes and
+deep red lips. His face was a good oval, without being unmanly, and his
+black, glossy hair was beautifully curly and wavy. He wore side-whiskers
+and a long moustache, beneath which his smile, the ladies said, was
+faultless. Like most South Americans, he seemed too lazy to be
+unamiable, and his general style was that of a man who, having possessed
+wealth always, would be perfectly lost without it.
+
+Donna Lucia was a fine specimen of Spanish beauty, education, and
+refinement. It was easy to see that she possessed more force of
+character than her husband, and that her passionate nature was like a
+volcano, which might burst forth at any time, driving her to the most
+dangerous courses if it took possession of her. A detailed description
+of such a woman is an impossibility. In general, she was a beauty of the
+Andalusian type, as nearly perfect in form and feature as can be
+conceived; but her expression was of an infinite variety of characters,
+each one giving the precise shade of meaning most applicable to the
+time, place, person, and sentiment. In short, she was so near perfection
+that nearly all the men she met were in love with her, and nine-tenths
+of them more than half believed that she regretted her marriage for
+their sake. Nevertheless, she kept all admirers at a certain distance,
+which only bewitched them the more.
+
+At the time of which I write, Don Pedro was so much pleased with
+Gloster, that he had rented a large residence in a very fashionable
+locality, and was making preparations to spend a year there. The
+charming manner in which they had entertained their friends at the hotel
+was ample guarantee that when the Don and Donna were established in
+their new home, they would surpass anything in the way of festivities
+ever seen in Gloster; hence, all the best society of the place rejoiced
+greatly at the arrival of this new constellation in the social
+firmament.
+
+Among the bachelors most noted in _salons_ and parlors of the city were
+Daniel McCarthy and Charles Sylvanus, the former a lawyer, and the
+latter a journalist. McCarthy was an Irishman, of brilliant talents and
+ready wit. Although still comparatively a young man, he was the county
+prosecuting attorney, and was considered one of the foremost lawyers of
+the city. He was very good-looking and good-hearted, and his natural
+drollery made him a most entertaining companion. While speaking in
+court, and often in society, he had a habit of running his fingers
+through his long, thick hair, which he would also, at times, throw back
+with a peculiar jerk of his head. This habit was especially frequent
+when he became deeply interested in his subject, and the spectators
+could always tell whether Dan was doing his best, even when they could
+not hear his words.
+
+Sylvanus was editor and part proprietor of an evening newspaper. As a
+journalist he was not above mediocrity, but he was well received in
+society, where even a moderate allowance of brains will suffice for
+success.
+
+A conspicuous member of society and a pillar of the Swedenborgian church
+was Mr. John Preston, a banker and capitalist. With a book of
+Swedenborgian revelations in one hand and a bundle of tax titles in the
+other, he would frequently orate to a crowd of unbelievers, from a text
+drawn from his book, in a manner calculated to quite convert them, were
+it not that they knew he was only working up a fresh head of steam to
+enable him to grind the faces of the poor upon whose property he held
+tax titles. In fact, many people were of the opinion that this man was a
+dangerous character, in spite of his pretense of piety, his ostentatious
+charity, and his assumption of the _rôle_ of a professional
+philanthropist. They insinuated that a man could afford to give largely
+to an astronomical society, a college, an academy of sciences, and other
+objects of education, when he had appropriated many thousands of dollars
+belonging to the school fund to his own use; that he could easily
+contribute freely to his church, when he used the church property in his
+own interests and managed the society to suit himself; and that there
+was no great amount of philanthropy in giving a few hundred dollars to
+miscellaneous charities, when he made ten times the amount in shaving
+notes at usurious interest and acquiring land by means only one remove
+from actual theft; these things were becoming so notorious that a man of
+less indomitable brass than John Preston would have long since been sent
+to Coventry, if not to jail; but he revolved on his own center,
+sublimely indifferent to the attacks of his enemies, for whom, by the
+way, he used to pray with most fervent unction. His wife was a pleasant,
+motherly woman, who gave liberally to charitable objects, and who
+regarded her husband as one of the saints of the earth.
+
+There were three children--a young man and two girls. The former gave no
+promise of either ability, probity, or ambition, and there was about him
+a noticeable air of deficiency in both mental and moral worth. The girls
+were commonplace nonentities, with no pretensions to beauty or grace.
+
+One of the most prominent citizens of Gloster was a wealthy tanner,
+named Charles H. Sanders. Having foreseen at an early day the great
+progress which the city would make in population and importance, he had
+invested largely in tracts of unimproved land, which he held against all
+offers to purchase until his real estate was more extended and valuable
+than that of any other property-owner in the city. Personally he was
+very thin and angular, with such a sickly look that his death seemed
+possible any day, though his constitution was of that character which
+might hold out much longer than that of a more robust type. His wife was
+a very charming woman, and they had two young daughters, who gave
+promise of considerable beauty when they should arrive at maturity.
+
+Mr. Thomas Burke and his wife were, perhaps, the most general favorites
+in Gloster society. Mr. Burke was tall and well built, and his large
+head and commanding appearance made him conspicuous in any group. He had
+a broad, high forehead, heavy eyebrows, deep-set black eyes, a Roman
+nose, and a heavy black moustache, which completely covered his mouth.
+His straight, black hair, high cheek-bones, and swarthy complexion, gave
+him slightly the look of having Indian blood in his veins; but the rest
+of his features were unmistakably Celtic, and the moment he spoke, the
+Irishman stood confessed. He was a man of such extensive reading and
+general information that few persons excelled him in conversation. His
+wife was also cultivated and intelligent, so that either as guest or
+hostess she was equally agreeable and popular. They had a large family
+of bright and interesting children.
+
+One of the social curiosities of the city was known as Deacon Humphrey.
+He was a striking instance of the importance which self-complacent
+mediocrity can obtain in a newly-settled community, in spite of
+ponderous stupidity. His large head gave him his only excuse for
+professing to have brains, and his air of preoccupation made him in
+appearance the personification of wisdom; indeed, a witty journalist,
+who had sounded the depths of Humphrey's ignorance, once said that "no
+man _could_ be as wise as Humphrey _looked_." No better condensation of
+this character in a few words could be made. He was part proprietor of a
+morning newspaper, and at times, to the dismay of the other
+stockholders, he aspired to the editorial tripod. The mighty
+lucubrations of his intellect were generally assigned to the
+waste-basket, and in the city it was well known that his influence in
+the columns of the paper was absolutely nothing, though in the country
+he was still regarded with awe by the bucolic mind. He was generally
+known as "Deacon" from his honorary occupancy of that office in a
+Presbyterian church. Mrs. Humphrey was seldom seen, being in poor health
+almost constantly, but their only daughter, Jennie, was one of the
+foremost of the fashionable of the _dilettanti_ of the city. Indeed, it
+was confidently anticipated that, some day, Miss Jennie would burst
+forth as a full-blown authoress, and overpower an expectant public with
+the radiance of her intellect and the elegance of her style.
+
+No description of Gloster celebrities would be complete without that of
+Ethan Allen Benson, Esq., formerly Member of Congress, and late Minister
+Plenipotentiary at an important European court. The suggestion having
+once been made to him by some waggish diplomat that he resembled the
+first Napoleon, he was ever afterward desirous of drawing attention to
+this fancied resemblance. He was a vain, fussy, consequential
+politician, whose principal strength was in the ward caucus and the
+saloon.
+
+Judge Peter B. Taylor was another old settler, and he was frequently
+seen in social circles in spite of his age. His forehead was very broad
+indeed, but his face tapered so rapidly to a pointed chin as to make his
+head wedge-shaped. He had coarse, faded hair, but no whiskers nor beard,
+and only a scrubby, gray moustache. He had a singular habit of working
+his eyes independently of each other, and the effect upon a stranger who
+was not aware of this peculiarity was sometimes startling. His mouth was
+quite large, one side appearing larger than the other, and his lower lip
+slightly protruded, giving him a very harsh and forbidding appearance.
+He had at one time occupied a seat on the judicial bench, but few
+persons could understand on what grounds he deserved the office, unless
+it were that people believed the adage about a poor lawyer making a good
+judge. He was quite wealthy, and his business was that of a money loaner
+and real estate speculator. He was considered to be very pious and
+charitable--on Sunday; during the rest of the week no Shylock ever
+demanded his pound of flesh more relentlessly than he his three per cent.
+a month.
+
+It was among a society of which the foregoing were shining lights, that
+I was to operate at the request of Senator Muirhead. On returning to
+Chicago from Gloster, I gave a great deal of thought to the case, for
+there was so little to act upon that none of the ordinary plans could be
+depended upon. During his stay in this country, Don Pedro had apparently
+acted in a perfectly honorable manner toward every one, and it would be
+impossible to proceed against him legally in the United States for
+crimes committed elsewhere, until the aggrieved parties should take the
+necessary steps for his extradition; with several of the countries in
+which he was supposed to have committed his crimes we had no extradition
+treaty, and nothing could be done here to arrest or punish him; hence,
+the task of exposing his previous career might be fruitless, even though
+the Senator's suspicions should be confirmed in every particular.
+Nothing whatever could be adduced against his character since his
+arrival in the United States, and I was, therefore, confined to the
+prevention of future frauds rather than the detection of old ones. The
+primary object of my efforts was thus made to be the discovery of the
+Don's intentions, as, without some slight forecast of his plans, I might
+be unable to circumvent them. Accordingly, I decided that I must furnish
+him with a friend who would be sufficiently intimate with him to become
+his trusted companion and adviser. At the same time, it would be
+essential to learn as much as possible relative to the previous career
+of both the Don and Donna, for it might be desirable to use a little
+moral suasion with them by showing that their history was known. This
+plan would involve no injustice to them, for, if innocent of
+wrong-doing, they would never know that they had been under
+surveillance; while, if guilty, they deserved no consideration.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER II.
+
+    _Madame Sevier, Widow, of Chicago, and Monsieur Lesparre, of
+          Bordeaux, also arrive at Gloster.--Mr. Pinkerton, as a
+          Laborer, anxious for a Job, inspects the Morito Mansion.--A
+          Tender Scene, resulting in Profit to the fascinating
+          Señora.--Madame Sevier is installed as a Guest at Don
+          Pedro's._
+
+
+My first action in this affair was to detail a man to "shadow" Don Pedro
+and the Donna until the detectives chosen for the more difficult
+portions of the work should be in a position to take notice of all their
+movements. As three detectives would require some little preparation to
+gain the position I desired them to fill, I hastened to select them and
+give them their instructions. For this mission I detailed a married
+couple, who had been several years in my employ. Mr. and Mrs. Rosel were
+natives of France, and as they had been constantly in my service almost
+from the time of their arrival in this country, I felt sure they would
+not be recognized as detectives by any one in the city of Gloster. They
+were people of more than average intelligence and education, with a
+natural refinement which would be especially desirable in the
+prosecution of this case. In a few days all their preparations were
+completed, and they went to Gloster by different routes.
+
+Mrs. Rosel was not handsome, but she had a good figure, and she was very
+attractive, on account of her dashing, spirited ways, and because she
+could assume a deep interest in every one whom she met. She spoke
+English with so slight an accent that it was only noticed as an added
+charm to her winning conversation. I instructed her to represent herself
+in Gloster as Madame Sevier, the widow of a lace merchant, lately of
+Chicago, where he had carried on a moderate business. His death had
+thrown his affairs into some confusion, but the estate would be settled
+up soon, leaving a comfortable fortune to his widow. Madame Sevier did
+not like the climate of Chicago, and therefore she had decided to remain
+in Gloster until her business affairs were settled, when she would
+probably return to her relatives in France. I intended that she should
+mix in society as much as would be consistent with her character as a
+widow, and that she should endeavor to become intimate with Donna Lucia.
+
+Mr. Rosel was to make a slight detour, arriving in Gloster from the
+east. He would be known as Monsieur Girard Lesparre, and his ostensible
+character was to be that of a man of moderate capital from Bordeaux,
+looking for a favorable opportunity to invest some of his means in a
+profitable business.
+
+I followed the Rosels in a day or two, and found that Monsieur Lesparre
+was pleasantly located at a fashionable family hotel, while Madame
+Sevier had taken apartments in a stylish boarding-house only a few doors
+from the handsome residence which the Moritos were to occupy. This was
+quite satisfactory, and I turned my attention to the examination of the
+reports made by my "shadow." The reports were very monotonous in
+character, except as evidences of the popularity of the Don and Donna.
+The dull days of Lent had just passed, and the close of the season was
+now more crowded with parties and balls than the earlier portion had
+been. The presence of two such distinguished guests as Don Pedro and
+Donna Lucia contributed largely to the reasons for this rush of gayety,
+and they were overwhelmed with visitors and invitations. Mr. Mather had
+set the example by giving a large dinner-party in their honor, followed
+in the evening by a grand ball; and they had so charmed the other
+leaders of society that no entertainment was considered complete without
+the presence of Don Pedro P. L. de Morito and his beautiful wife.
+
+On leaving my hotel to visit the house which Don Pedro was fitting up
+for his residence, I met Charlie Morton, the United States Commissioner
+of Gloster. Morton was a capable lawyer and a shrewd politician. He was
+equally attentive to ladies as to gentlemen, and it was well known that
+Charlie would never slight any one who could cast or influence a vote.
+His acquaintance extended through all classes, from the lowest to the
+highest, and few men were more generally popular. His powers of
+observation were only equaled by his tact, so that, while he saw all
+that went on about him, he never talked indiscreetly. He and I were
+quite intimate, and we chatted for some time about various people before
+I succeeded in bringing up the names of those in Gloster in whom I was
+just then most interested.
+
+"I suppose you are quite glad that the gay season is over, Charlie," I
+said, interrogatively. "As usual, you will not have many social events
+of any consequence after Lent, I presume?"
+
+"Oh! yes, indeed," he replied; "we shall be more active in society for
+the next month or two than ever before. You see, we have two wealthy and
+aristocratic Peruvians visiting Gloster, and they are so fascinating
+that they have quite taken our people by storm. They have been
+accustomed to the finest society of Europe and South America, so that we
+are put upon our mettle to show how well Gloster can compare in wealth,
+luxury, and refinement with older cities at home and abroad."
+
+"Are they then such remarkable lions?" I asked, "or do people run after
+them simply because they are rich foreigners?"
+
+"Of course their wealth and foreign birth would cause many people to
+pay them attention," said Morton; "but their popularity is something
+exceptional, and is undoubtedly due to their perfect knowledge of all
+the courtesies and customs of modern society, to their charming manners,
+and largely to their personal good looks. Señor Morito has fascinated
+all the ladies, while nearly every man in society is in love with the
+Señora."
+
+"Well, take care of yourself, my boy," I said, jokingly. "If the lovely
+Donna causes Charlie Morton to strike his colors, she must be dangerous
+indeed."
+
+After leaving Morton, I sauntered along to the house which Don Pedro had
+rented, and which was now nearly ready for occupancy. It was a large
+residence, with ample grounds fronting on the principal avenue, and its
+imposing front of heavy columns gave it a striking appearance as
+compared with the more commonplace stone fronts around it. While I was
+glancing curiously about, a truck arrived laden with costly furniture. I
+was rather roughly dressed, and the driver asked me if I wanted a job of
+work. I accepted his offer to aid in carrying the furniture into the
+house, as I was anxious to examine the interior. After finishing the
+job, the furniture salesman took me over the house to show off the
+elegance with which it was decorated and furnished. It was certainly a
+model of good taste, while the paintings, statuary, frescoing, and
+articles of _bijouterie_ were evidences of enormous expenditures. Having
+obtained a thorough knowledge of the plan of the house, I withdrew,
+receiving fifty cents for my labor.
+
+The time when Don Pedro was to occupy his residence was to be signalized
+by a grand reception held therein, and the invitations were already out.
+Meantime entertainments were given by John Preston, Alexander McIntyre,
+and Charles H. Sanders. The latter's reception was especially brilliant,
+and those who knew Mr. Sanders's parsimonious character were much
+surprised at his profuse expenditure for the occasion. I soon afterwards
+obtained an explanation of this unusual liberality, by hearing another
+banker casually remark that Don Pedro had withdrawn a part of his funds
+from New York, and had deposited them in Mr. Sanders's bank. This gave
+me a hint, and I immediately acted upon it. Being well acquainted with a
+number of bankers, I visited several of them, and talked about various
+business men of Gloster, as if I were desirous of getting information
+about their commercial standing and credit. In each case I succeeded in
+learning the extent to which Don Pedro had deposited money in bank. The
+total amount then due him by the three houses with whom he had made
+deposits was about $17,000, although his original deposits had amounted
+to more than double that sum. Heavy drafts to pay his current expenses
+and to furnish his house had largely reduced his available cash, though
+he still had an ample sum on hand. Knowing how enormous his expenses
+were, I felt sure that he would reach the end of his bank account in a
+short time, unless he should have other funds, of whose existence I was
+unaware. If this sum of seventeen thousand dollars represented his total
+capital, however, he would soon show whether he was what he claimed to
+be, or an adventurer; for, in the former case, he would draw money from
+his Peruvian estates, and, in the latter, he would accomplish some great
+swindle. I was, therefore, anxious to put my detectives at work as
+quickly as possible to enable me to learn something definite of his
+intentions.
+
+Madame Sevier was making quite rapid progress in her new quarters. Mrs.
+Courtney, the lady who kept the house, was a widow of some means, who
+took boarders to enable her to educate her children in the best manner.
+She was highly regarded by every one, and her visiting-list included all
+the most fashionable people in the city. She soon became greatly
+interested in Madame Sevier, and through her assistance the Madame made
+the acquaintance of a number of the families living in the neighborhood.
+As the rage for foreigners was at its height just then, Madame Sevier
+soon became highly popular, and she was invited to several
+entertainments, where she met Don Pedro and Donna Lucia. The latter,
+finding that Madame Sevier was to be her near neighbor in her new
+residence, became very intimate with her, especially as Donna Lucia was
+desirous of reviving her knowledge and practice of the French language.
+Consequently, when Don Pedro's arrangements were all completed and the
+new house occupied, Madame Sevier used to drop in for a few minutes'
+chat every day. As she was a very capable manager, she was frequently
+able to give Donna Lucia valuable hints about her household affairs,
+especially with reference to the approaching reception.
+
+Ever since the arrival of the Moritos, Mr. Henry O. Mather had been a
+constant attendant upon the Donna. His attentions had not been so
+publicly marked as to have created scandal; but he had been so assiduous
+in paying his regards, that he was much more intimate than Mrs. Grundy
+would have thought strictly proper. He was in the habit of calling very
+frequently, and he often took the Don and Donna out for a drive.
+Sometimes the party would consist wholly of ladies, and occasionally the
+Donna accompanied him alone. In short, he became a sort of intimate
+friend of the family, welcome at all times, without the necessity of
+invitation or ceremony.
+
+One day, Madame Sevier went in to see Donna Lucia in the afternoon, and
+was told by the servant that she would find the Donna in the library.
+Without permitting the servant to announce her, she passed on toward the
+room mentioned; but, as she approached the door, hearing voices within,
+she paused a moment to see who was with Donna Lucia. The room was in a
+very retired part of the house, and she was able to take a position
+close to the partly open door without the probability of being noticed
+by any one. She was thus enabled to overhear a highly interesting
+conversation between the Donna and Henry O. Mather, who had evidently
+arrived only a moment or two before her.
+
+"You are not in good spirits to-day, Donna Lucia?" questioned Mather,
+sympathetically.
+
+"No, Mr. Mather; I have my troubles at times, like other people, but I
+try not to let others see them."
+
+"Then you do not care for sympathy, Señora," said Mather, with a tender
+sigh; "I see that you have been in tears, and it grieves me to think
+that I cannot save you from the painful things which cause you to cry."
+
+"Oh! Mr. Mather, I do appreciate your kindness, I assure you," said the
+Donna, also sighing deeply; "I am almost tempted to ask your advice, for
+I feel that you are truly my friend; but I am afraid you will think I
+have been naughty in having exposed myself to such annoyances."
+
+"No, indeed, my dear Donna," replied the millionaire, quite enraptured
+at this evident token of her confidence in him; "I know that you are too
+lovely to be anything but an angel, and I shall be only too happy to
+give you advice upon any subject that you confide to me."
+
+As the conversation was becoming highly interesting, the tones of the
+parties being of a really lover-like tenderness, Madame Sevier took a
+hasty glimpse through the door, and saw that she could watch as well as
+listen, unperceived. Mather was standing beside the Donna, bending over
+her and looking into her face, while she had her head half turned away,
+as if in coy indecision.
+
+"Well, Mr. Mather----"
+
+"Why do you address me always so formally? Can you not call me Henry?"
+asked Mather, boldly.
+
+"How would it sound if any one should hear me?" said the Donna, casting
+down her eyes and playing with her watch-chain.
+
+"But when we are alone no one can hear you," replied Mather. "Won't you
+call me Henry when we have an occasional _tête-à-tête_?"
+
+"Well, then you must be very discreet, Henry," answered she, looking up,
+blushing and hesitating as she spoke.
+
+"I will be discretion itself," said the now wholly infatuated Mather,
+with a look of triumph; and to show that he accepted the conditions of
+the agreement, he sealed it by raising her hand to his lips.
+
+"Oh! fie! fie!" she exclaimed; "is it thus that you show your
+discretion? I shall be obliged to retract my promise if you become so
+rash. Now, sit down beside me, and be more polite in future."
+
+"I will not be so hasty again, my dear Donna; but my pleasure was so
+great that I was somewhat beside myself. Now tell me what it was that
+caused your troubles."
+
+"Well, Mr. Math----"
+
+"No, no; not 'Mr. Mather;' recollect your promise," interrupted Mather,
+as he saw she hesitated to call him by his first name.
+
+"Well, then, Henry, I have been very thoughtless and extravagant, and I
+do not know what to do. You see, I have always spent money for
+everything I needed without regard to cost; for my own fortune was ample
+for everything, and Pedro would give me any amount that I might desire.
+But last month a draft for six thousand pounds, which was sent me by my
+trustees, was lost on the way, and so I have used up all my own funds.
+Having run up several large bills in New York, I asked Pedro to pay
+them, and he did so; but he said that, having ordered his factors to
+send him no more money until his arrival in Callao, he should be
+somewhat embarrassed until he heard from them again. His sudden
+determination to fit up and occupy a residence here has exhausted all
+his available funds except a few thousand dollars for current expenses,
+and he requested me not to make any large purchases until one of us
+should receive a remittance from our estates. Well, you see, I expected
+surely to have received a large sum before now, and so I made purchases
+without regard to consequences; the result is, that I am deeply in debt,
+my money has not arrived, and I am afraid to tell Pedro, because he will
+not forgive me for running in debt and disobeying him. Unfortunately, I
+have done both these things, and I am momentarily in fear that some of
+the bills will be sent to him. Now, my dear Henry, you see that I have
+good cause to look sad and cry."
+
+As she finished, the Donna began to whimper and put her handkerchief to
+her eyes in so touching a manner that Mather was quite overpowered. The
+artistic expression with which she hastily called him her "dear Henry"
+was the finishing touch to an already powerful attack, and he
+surrendered completely.
+
+"My dear Donna," he exclaimed, seizing her hand in both of his, "how
+glad I am that you confided in me. I will see that you are not troubled
+by another anxious thought in this matter. Tell me how much you need to
+settle all your indebtedness."
+
+"Indeed, Henry, I cannot let you do anything of the kind," she
+protested, feebly. "Why, it is a very large sum in all, and it may be
+several months before I can repay you."
+
+"Now don't talk about payment, but just tell me how much you need,"
+replied Mather.
+
+"The large bills amount to over four thousand dollars, and there are a
+number of small ones which I have not figured up," she said,
+thoughtfully.
+
+"Well, then, I will bring you around five thousand dollars to-morrow,
+and you can pay the bills without any one knowing where the money comes
+from," said Mather, again kissing her hand.
+
+"Oh! you dear, good fellow!" exclaimed the Donna; and, overcome by his
+generous response to her request, she threw her arms about his neck and
+kissed him several times.
+
+"There, there," she continued, releasing herself and coquettishly
+tapping his lips with her hand, "I don't know how I came to do such a
+thing, but you were so kind that I couldn't help it."
+
+"If that is the case," said the overjoyed Mather, "I will add five
+thousand more to have a similar expression of your gratitude."
+
+"Will you, really? I believe I am half in love with you," she murmured,
+as she allowed him to embrace her a second time, and press burning
+kisses on her lips.
+
+The ringing of the door-bell interrupted their happiness, and Madame
+Sevier hastily retired to the drawing-room, into which other visitors
+were shown by the servant. Donna Lucia soon entered, perfectly
+self-possessed, and greeted all her friends with her usual ease and
+cordiality. Mr. Mather probably passed out by the library entrance, for
+he did not appear in the parlor. The ladies conversed together for some
+time, one of the important subjects of their talk being the troubles of
+household management. Donna Lucia complained bitterly that her servants
+robbed her, and that they were careless, dirty, and impudent. She knew
+very little about housekeeping, and every domestic in her employ took
+advantage of her. She added that, as soon as her housewarming was over,
+she intended to get, if possible, a lady who would be a member of the
+family, and who would relieve her of the management of the house.
+
+"Now," said she, in her most winning manner, "here is Madame Sevier, who
+has nothing to occupy her time, who is a natural manager of other
+people, and who is so agreeable that she would be a positive charm to
+any household; and I have been thinking, positively, of asking her to
+take charge of my whole establishment, and help me entertain my guests.
+What should you think, Madame Sevier, of such a request?"
+
+The opportunity of becoming domesticated in the Morito mansion was thus
+afforded to one of my detectives, but she knew better than to accept at
+once. She therefore professed to treat it as a pleasantry, and said that
+she had no doubt that she should succeed as a housekeeper, but whether
+she could add anything of attraction to such a charming home was greatly
+to be doubted. The other ladies, however, thought the idea an admirable
+one, and they all urged Madame Sevier to adopt it. Having once broached
+the subject, Donna Lucia again spoke of it with the greatest interest,
+showing, by her arguments and determination to coax Madame Sevier to
+decide favorably, that she had thought about such a plan before, and
+that she was really in earnest in her request. Finally, Madame Sevier
+said that she saw no objection to accepting the offer, as she really
+enjoyed taking care of a large establishment, but she was not prepared
+to accept it at once, and she would wait a few days to reflect upon it.
+It was then agreed that she should give her decision at the grand
+reception to be given as a housewarming.
+
+This part of my plan had worked admirably, and I felt confident of my
+eventual success in learning all about the affairs of the Morito family.
+The method by which Donna Lucia had obtained ten thousand dollars from
+Mr. Mather was a decided confirmation of Senator Muirhead's suspicions;
+though there was nothing in the transaction which could make her liable
+to punishment by law, and as there was no danger that her victim would
+ever appear against her, I paid no further attention to this episode.
+
+I ordered Madame Sevier to accept Donna Lucia's offer on the following
+terms: she should have full authority over all the female servants in
+the house; she should have charge of the ordering of all articles for
+household use; she should be considered in the same light as a guest, so
+far as social intercourse went; she should go and come as she chose,
+without regard to the duties of the _ménage_; and she should receive no
+salary. This last point she was to insist upon, as necessary to preserve
+her feeling of independence, and enable her to occupy her time as she
+might see fit.
+
+As the day approached for the Moritos' reception, all Gloster's best
+society were filled with pleasurable excitement and anticipation, as the
+preparations were known to be far more magnificent than those for any
+similar entertainment since Gloster was settled. As Monsieur Lesparre
+had already made Don Pedro's acquaintance, and had received an
+invitation, I felt sure that I should be thoroughly informed as to all
+the occurrences of the evening, and so I awaited developments.
+
+The employment of detectives to penetrate into the social life and
+domestic surroundings of any family is strongly repugnant to my sense of
+propriety, and I rarely countenance the practice, if I can possibly
+attain my object in any other way. I dislike to feel that I am
+trespassing upon the privacy of any man's home, even though that man may
+be a criminal. The idea of introducing a spy into a household is opposed
+to the spirit of our free American institutions, violating, as it does,
+the unwritten law that "a man's house is his castle;" hence, I never
+resort to such a measure, except in extreme cases. I saw, however, that
+there was no other means of protecting the interests of my client,
+Senator Muirhead; he was acting disinterestedly in the case, to save his
+constituents from being defrauded, and I could only prevent the
+threatened swindle by learning in advance the exact plan of operation
+proposed by the suspected person.
+
+I was careful, however, to employ my most discreet and cautious agents,
+in order that I should quickly learn whether the Senator's suspicions
+were based on fact; in case I should find that the suspected parties
+were innocent, I was determined to withdraw instantly. They would not
+then suffer any injustice, for my employés would keep their discoveries
+secret from every one except myself, and no one would ever know that
+they had been the objects of suspicion.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER III.
+
+    _Monsieur Lesparre, having a retentive memory, becomes serviceable
+          to Don Pedro.--Diamond Fields and droll Americans.--A pompous
+          Judge in an unfortunate Predicament.--The grand Reception
+          closes with the happy Arrangement that the gay Señor and
+          Señora shall dine with Mr. Pinkerton's Detectives on the next
+          evening._
+
+
+The day of the reception was unusually pleasant, and at nightfall the
+full moon rose to add her splendor to the attractiveness of the evening.
+The Morito mansion was ablaze with wax candles, gaslight being
+considered too common for use on such an occasion. From the street to
+the door was a passageway of double canvas, with an opening at the
+sidewalk to prevent interference with passers. This opening was
+brilliantly lighted, and was hung with flags, pennants, and flowers,
+artistically arranged so as to give the guests a charming prospect when
+alighting from their carriages. The rooms of the house needed no
+decoration beyond that already given by the frescoes and paintings
+adorning the walls and ceilings. Nevertheless, flowers were abundantly
+distributed about the spacious apartments. The beautiful conservatory
+contained a superb fountain, whose jets and sprays gave forth exquisite
+odor and rippling music. Everywhere throughout the house the most
+artistic grouping of furniture, pictures, and statuary could be seen,
+and the variety of taste displayed was only equaled by the unity of
+arrangements as a whole. At ten o'clock the guests began to arrive, and
+as the throng of carriages became thicker, it seemed as if the house
+would be over-crowded. This did not happen to any noticeable degree,
+however, as the whole of two floors were thrown open to accommodate the
+guests. The music was furnished by the best musicians of the city, and
+the supper was a miracle of epicurean excellence, Delmonico having sent
+one of his chief assistants from New York to superintend its
+preparation. Never had Gloster seen an affair where such elegance and
+good taste had been displayed; even the smallest details were perfect,
+and the Don and Donna received innumerable congratulations and good
+wishes from their guests.
+
+During his brief stay in Gloster, Monsieur Lesparre had been very active
+in forming acquaintances, and he was already well known in society. He
+had a very retentive memory, and, when once introduced to any gentleman,
+he immediately took pains to learn everything possible about him. By
+careful observation and perseverance, he had learned the general history
+of a very large number of the leading people in society, and his droll
+comments and half-sarcastic criticism of them, expressed _sotto voce_ to
+the Don on various occasions, had caught the latter's attention. The Don
+therefore frequently singled out Lesparre for a companion in society, in
+order to obtain information about the social and business standing of
+various people.
+
+"You see, my dear Lesparre," said the Don, "I am such a poor judge of
+character that I am liable to be imposed upon unless I know something
+about the previous history of people who seek my friendship. And, as I
+have a miserable memory for faces, names, places, and everything else,
+it is a great pleasure to find some one who can keep me posted as to the
+status of the people I meet. You must let me see as much of you as
+possible, for, being both foreigners, we ought to have a common bond of
+sympathy."
+
+"It will give me great pleasure," replied Lesparre. "Of course our
+friends here are very attentive; but then, you know, they lack the
+polish one meets in European _salons_, and they are too apt to obtrude
+their business into their social relations."
+
+"Exactly; I agree with you perfectly, and it is for that reason that I
+enjoy a conversation with a gentleman of Continental education and
+tastes. It is wonderful how keen these Americans are in their pursuit of
+the 'Almighty Dollar.' Why, only a week or two ago, I happened to
+mention to Mr. Mather and a few others, that some of my estates in the
+Peruvian Andes contained extensive diamond fields, when they began to
+upbraid me for not working them and adding to my already ample revenue.
+They seemed positively shocked when I told them, that I saw no reason
+for increasing my income, as I had as much money as I could use now.
+They insisted that I was doing a positive wrong to my fellow mortals in
+refusing to burden myself with a new enterprise, and I assure you they
+were quite in earnest in their remonstrances. Ah! how droll they are,
+Monsieur Lesparre!"
+
+"Yes, indeed, I have found the same spirit even with reference to my
+humble means," replied Lesparre. "They want me to invest in something
+right away, and I have very many disinterested offers of advice; but
+they cannot understand my delay, and they think I am throwing away so
+many good chances by waiting. Now, I should be content to settle down
+for a year, before investing, just to examine at length all the openings
+offered me; but I doubt whether I could afford to do that, unless I
+could obtain a satisfactory salaried position, and I feel that that is
+impossible. There are very few such positions as I would be willing to
+accept, as I do not care to be tied down to regular duties."
+
+The gentlemen had stepped into the supper-room while this conversation
+was going on, and were about to take a glass of wine together.
+Lesparre's last remark seemed to give a sudden idea to Don Pedro, and he
+sipped his wine in silence for a moment or two. Then he said,
+inquiringly:
+
+"I suppose you would like a position of a responsible character, where
+your knowledge of commercial and financial affairs would be available,
+but where your whole time would not be absorbed?"
+
+"Yes, that was my wish," answered Lesparre; "but, of course, I do not
+expect to realize my hopes."
+
+"Possibly you may, Monsieur Lesparre," said Don Pedro; "but let us leave
+the subject of business until to-morrow, when I should like to talk with
+you more fully about this matter. Now, let us return to the
+drawing-room, and when you see any of my guests approaching, please,
+tell me briefly who and what they are. For instance, tell me about that
+stiff and military-looking person crossing the room."
+
+"That is Captain Adrian L. Kerr, a retired army officer, who has lived
+here a long time. He has been unsuccessful in business, and it would be
+difficult to account for his means of livelihood were it not that his
+wife, the brilliant brunette near the mantel-piece, is supposed to have
+an income of her own. Some people are so ill-natured as to suggest that
+Alexander McIntyre, the wealthy Scotch banker now talking to her, is the
+source of her revenue, but that may be pure gossip. At any rate, she is
+always elegantly dressed, and she moves in the best society."
+
+"If people suspect her of improper intimacy with McIntyre, why do they
+admit her to their houses?" asked Don Pedro.
+
+"Well, you see, many of the merchants and business men have financial
+dealings with McIntyre, and they do not dare to offend him. As an
+illustration of his power, I will relate an incident that occurred
+recently. The wife of a well-known merchant was about to give a large
+party, and, in making out her list of invitations, she purposely left
+out the name of Mrs. Kerr. Her husband, on going to the bank to obtain
+the renewal of a note, found McIntyre as surly and savage as a bear, and
+the renewal was refused. As he had never before had any difficulty in
+obtaining such an accommodation when hard pressed for money, he could
+not account for the change in McIntyre's conduct; but when his wife
+informed him of her action the day previous in withholding an invitation
+from Mrs. Kerr, he understood it all. His affairs were in such a
+condition that he could not afford to quarrel with McIntyre, and so he
+insisted that an invitation be sent to Mrs. Kerr, in spite of his wife's
+assertion that Mrs. Kerr was an improper character. He was willing to
+admit that fact, but he preferred to submit to her presence rather than
+to be seriously crippled in business. An invitation was therefore sent
+in such a way as to make the delay in its delivery appear accidental,
+and in a few days Mr. McIntyre was willing to renew the merchant's
+note."
+
+"Well, she certainly does carry things with a high hand," replied Don
+Pedro, smiling. "I wonder how she would have retaliated upon me if I
+had struck her name off my list to-night? However, it is not my business
+to question her character, and if my wife is satisfied to receive her, I
+shall not interfere."
+
+As the Don finished speaking, the music sounded the preliminary notes of
+a quadrille, and he hastened to find a partner. Among the guests were
+Mr. and Mrs. Arlington, whose minds were of such opposite characters as
+to keep them continually quarreling. He was a wealthy banker of austere
+manners and Puritanic tastes, while she was a butterfly of fashion, fit
+only to be petted, kissed, and caressed. She was all gayety and life;
+he, all piety and gloom. Her pleasures he considered sinful, while his
+recreations were to her the most painfully melancholy observances that
+could be devised. While he believed that she was a child of wrath, a
+creature of the world, the flesh, and the devil, she was equally
+satisfied that he was on the highway to fanaticism and hypocrisy. Under
+these circumstances, it was not unnatural that she should seek her
+friends among those who mingled in fashionable society, nor that her
+husband should consider it necessary to follow her into the gay world in
+order to keep a watch upon her. Her most attentive cavalier was a young
+bachelor named Harry Bertram, who seemed infatuated with her. Indeed,
+their preference for each other's society was so marked that the tongue
+of scandal had already begun to wag, although no overt act could be
+cited against them. The Don, on leaving Lesparre, chanced to meet Mrs.
+Arlington, and she readily accorded him the pleasure of dancing with
+her. In the same set were Daniel McCarthy and Donna Lucia, Charles
+Sylvanus and Madame Sevier, and Mr. Mather and Mrs. Simon. In the
+adjoining set were Mr. Benson and Miss Jennie Humphrey, Alexander
+McIntyre and Mrs. Kerr, Harry Bertram and Mrs. Sanders, and Judge Robert
+Morgan and Mrs. Middleton.
+
+Judge Morgan was a remarkable-looking person at any time, but his
+appearance was especially noticeable in a dancing-set, the incongruity
+of his presence in such a scene being irresistibly comical. He was about
+fifty years of age, but his face was smooth and unwrinkled; though he
+was of the medium height, his great size gave him the look of a short
+man, which effect was partly increased by his long arms. He was very
+broad and fat, his stomach projecting to an absurd degree. At the same
+time he stood very erect, so that a profile view gave him a general
+resemblance to a loggerhead turtle set on end. His eyes were small and
+treacherous, his cheeks were puffy and flabby, his mouth was large and
+sensual. His hair and whiskers were brown and fine, but they always
+seemed unkempt. He wore closely-fitting black clothes, and he was fond
+of displaying an unusual amount of jewelry. He had obtained the office
+of judge of the criminal court by currying favor with the very classes
+most likely to be brought before him for trial, and his judicial
+ermine was not considered free from the foulest stains. His private life
+was, in many respects, a counterpart of his official conduct; though
+married to an agreeable woman, he was a notorious libertine and
+profligate. Still, he held his position in society, and was admitted to
+the acquaintance of the most reputable people in the city; hence, he
+frequently appeared at balls and dancing-parties, where he always tried
+to act like a light and graceful youth.
+
+[Illustration: _The Judge's downfall._]
+
+On this occasion he was especially anxious to display his manly form in
+the same set with the Donna, but being disappointed in this, he chose
+the set next to hers, and acted like a playful hippopotamus. While
+backing rapidly, in an attempt to balance to his partner, he came in
+contact with Mrs. Simon of the next set, and, tripping on her dress, he
+fell violently upon her. Her partner, Mr. Mather, tried to catch her as
+she also fell, but the ponderous form of the Judge came upon them both
+with crushing effect, and all three were brought to the floor at once.
+Mr. Mather and Mrs. Simon were quickly on their feet again, flushed with
+mortification but unhurt. But it was no such easy matter for the
+corpulent Judge to raise himself erect; he lay on his back a moment
+groaning, and it was thought that he might be seriously injured, as his
+fall had jarred the whole house. Several gentlemen carefully lifted him
+upright, and the ladies gathered about to condole with him, when it was
+suddenly discovered that, if the Judge's person had not suffered, his
+clothing had. His tight dress coat was split several inches down the
+back, while a hasty glimpse behind his coat-tails satisfied the
+spectators that his pants were in an even worse condition than his coat.
+It may be imagined that the situation caused some merriment, in spite of
+the efforts of the more well-bred guests to preserve their gravity; but
+when the Judge, having regained his feet, vociferated in great wrath:
+"You are a pack of monkeys. I don't see anything to laugh at," there was
+a universal burst of laughter which could not be repressed. This so
+enraged him that it was difficult to make him understand his absurd
+position, but at length Don Pedro and Monsieur Lesparre induced him to
+go to the dressing-room for repairs. As there was no coat in the house
+large enough for him, the Don was at his wits' end to make him
+sufficiently presentable to enable him to return to the drawing-room;
+but at length the Judge was arrayed in one of the Don's gorgeous
+dressing-gowns, which was large enough to hide most of the effects of
+the fall. He soon returned to the lower rooms dressed in the most
+remarkable costume ever worn at a full-dress party in Gloster.
+
+With the exception of this accident, the evening passed off with the
+most perfect success, and the unanimous verdict was that there had never
+been a more thoroughly enjoyable entertainment given in the city. During
+the evening, Madame Sevier informed Donna Lucia of her willingness to
+take charge of the Morito establishment, and agreed to begin her reign
+the next day. Donna Lucia was delighted at this news, and willingly
+accepted all the conditions, though she insisted for some time on giving
+Madame Sevier a liberal salary. Finding that Madame Sevier was resolute
+in her refusal to receive pay, the Donna informed her friends that she
+had invited Madame Sevier to live with her, and that the Madame had
+kindly agreed to assist her in entertaining her numerous guests.
+
+It was not until nearly daybreak that the more indefatigable revelers
+became weary of dancing and flirting, so that the Donna was quite
+exhausted when the last guest had departed. Madame Sevier remained to
+the end, as she intended occupying her room in the Morito mansion at
+once, instead of returning to her boarding-place. Donna Lucia left
+orders that she was not to be disturbed until five o'clock in the
+afternoon, but Madame Sevier decided to get up at twelve o'clock, in
+order to superintend the work of clearing away the decorations and
+_débris_ of the ball. The Don had invited Monsieur Lesparre to dine with
+him at six o'clock, and so it was arranged that they should all meet at
+that hour.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER IV.
+
+    _Madame Sevier and Her Work.--Unaccountable Coquettishness between
+          Man and Wife.--A Startling Scheme, illustrating the Rashness
+          and Gullibility of American Business Men and the Supreme
+          Assurance of Don Pedro.--Disaster approaching the Gloster
+          Capitalists.--Other Suspicions Aroused.--The Story of Mr.
+          Warne, English Diplomatic Agent.--A New Move._
+
+
+Madame Sevier began her work of reform in the household as soon as she
+was dressed that afternoon. Finding that they now had a mistress
+competent to control them, the servants showed a greater willingness to
+be useful, though some of them were inclined to be lazy and impudent as
+before. The Madame made mental notes of everything, took charge of the
+keys to all storerooms and closets, and clearly demonstrated that she
+was able to manage the house according to her own ideas. The cook,
+thinking she was indispensable, and that she could act independent of
+control, was very impertinent to Madame, and she evinced an
+insubordinate spirit that created a good deal of trouble. Seeing that
+prompt and severe measures were necessary, Madame Sevier paid this woman
+her wages and discharged her without a moment's warning. The effect upon
+the other servants was most satisfactory, and although the Madame was
+obliged to make some minor changes afterward, she was never again
+annoyed by impertinence or presumption. The dinner for that day was
+prepared by the assistant cook, under Madame Sevier's direction, and
+when the Don and Donna came down from their chamber, they were delighted
+to find that the house was in perfect order, showing no signs of having
+been the scene of revelry and dissipation the night before.
+
+[Illustration: Madame Sevier discharging the servants.]
+
+During dinner, at which Monsieur Lesparre was the only guest, Don Pedro,
+after complimenting Madame Sevier very highly upon her success in
+bringing order out of chaos, turned to his wife and said:
+
+"Lucia, your selection of a companion and advisor has been so fortunate
+that I am more than ever disposed to follow your example. What do you
+think, Monsieur Lesparre, cannot you serve me as confidential secretary
+and financial agent as satisfactorily as Madame Sevier assists my wife?"
+
+"Indeed, Don Pedro," replied Lesparre, gallantly, "if you impose upon me
+the task of equalling so accomplished and charming a lady as Madame
+Sevier, you will probably be disappointed in everything I do."
+
+"Bravo, bravo, Monsieur Lesparre!" cried the Donna; "you will certainly
+be successful in paying delicate compliments, at least. Yes, Pedro, I
+think you ought to secure Monsieur Lesparre's services at once; when you
+have nothing for him to do, he will be an agreeable companion for us.
+What say you, Madame Sevier?"
+
+"I quite agree with you," replied the Madame, casting down her eyes
+coquettishly; "but I prophesy that Monsieur Lesparre would find his
+position an onerous one if he should be under obligations to pay me
+compliments."
+
+"Ah! the obligation would be unnecessary," said Lesparre; "the
+difficulty would be to avoid doing so constantly."
+
+The Don and Donna smiled at each other significantly, thinking that they
+saw the incipient signs of a mutual attachment between these two, and
+that it was not unreasonable to imagine that a wedding might result
+therefrom. How little they imagined that these apparently distant
+acquaintances were, in fact, already man and wife!
+
+After dinner, the Don and Lesparre repaired to the billiard-room to
+smoke, while the ladies entered the drawing-room to receive visitors.
+
+"Monsieur Lesparre," said the Don, as they lounged back in luxuriant
+easy-chairs, "what do you think of my suggestion at dinner? I should
+really like to obtain your services as private secretary, and I will
+gladly give you such a salary as will make you independent of other
+labor. While you are attending to my affairs you will naturally become
+well acquainted with many business men, and will be able to investigate
+a number of enterprises, so that you will be better able a year hence to
+invest your capital to advantage."
+
+"Your offer is truly liberal," replied Lesparre, puffing his cigar
+thoughtfully, "and I feel disposed to accept it. What would be my
+duties?"
+
+"Well, I will explain what I wish fully, and then you can judge how the
+position would suit you," answered Don Pedro. "In the first place, I
+wish a financial agent, a man whom I can trust, who will attend to all
+my affairs. You see, I detest the details of business. I desire to live
+free from the vexing annoyances consequent upon the providing and
+disbursing of money. My estates produce as much as I can use, and I do
+not trouble myself to inquire whether they might not yield more. I am
+accustomed to buy whatever I wish, but I hate to bother my head to know
+whether I have enough on hand to pay for my purchases; hence I want my
+secretary to attend to such matters for me. There is another thing in
+which you could be of the greatest service to me; for, while it is an
+affair of great importance, involving large interests, I am positively
+too fond of my own ease to give it the attention which it deserves. I
+know I can trust you not to repeat the slightest portion of what I am
+about to tell you, for it is not desirable that it should be talked
+about, unless the enterprise is successfully carried out."
+
+"Indeed, you can rest assured that I shall never mention a hint of it to
+any one," replied Lesparre.
+
+"Well, you recollect I told you last night that Mather, Perkins, and
+some others were anxious to have me explore and open up the diamond
+fields which, I have reason to believe, constitute a large part of one
+of my estates in Peru? Some time after I spoke to you, toward the end
+of the party, I missed Mather, Perkins, McIntyre, Sanders, and several
+others from the rooms, and while I was wondering what had become of
+them, Mather came up and asked me to go up to my dressing-room, which,
+you recollect, adjoined the room used for the gentlemen's dressing-room
+last night. On arriving there, I found about a dozen of the wealthiest
+men of Gloster sitting around the room, with Dan McCarthy at the table
+acting as secretary. Will you believe it? They had actually formed a
+business meeting in my own house, and had made speeches, passed
+resolutions, and voted upon two propositions, which they wished to
+submit to me; they had then sent the chairman, Mr. Mather, to bring me
+in, and I was expected to stand and deliver my decision at a moment's
+notice. The idea was perfectly ludicrous to me, yet it did not strike
+any of them that they were doing anything unusual. I believe that if a
+party of these Gloster business men were to be landed suddenly in hell,
+they would organize a stock exchange to deal in brimstone and ashes!"
+
+"They certainly carry their business instincts everywhere," said
+Lesparre, laughing heartily. "I suppose they had fully arranged
+everything before you were sent for?"
+
+"Yes, indeed; the very minor details were provided for, and I could not
+raise an objection which had not already been discussed and removed.
+Both propositions provided for the formation of a stock company for the
+mining, cutting, and sale of diamonds. According to the first plan, I
+was to fix a price upon my diamond fields, which the company would then
+purchase, paying me three-fourths in cash, and one-fourth in stock. In
+case, however, that I should be unwilling to part with my controlling
+interest, the second plan provided that I should receive one-fourth the
+estimated value of the land in money, giving to the company therefor the
+privilege of mining for a certain length of time, and receiving also
+one-half of the value of the diamonds found. The idea of disposing of
+this property had never before occurred to me, and naturally I was not
+prepared to give any answer on such short notice; but if I had done so
+then, I should have positively rejected both propositions. In fact, I
+said as much to Mather, and he then suggested to the meeting that 'Señor
+Morito be given a week to decide upon the propositions submitted to
+him.' The cool impudence of thus graciously giving me a week did not
+seem to strike them, and the meeting broke up with great satisfaction,
+every man feeling certain that I _must_ accept one proposition or the
+other. It was further decided to appoint a committee to draw up a
+charter and by-laws, 'so as to save time,' as one gentleman remarked.
+After the gentlemen had left the room, Mather urged the matter upon me
+very strongly. He apologized for having acted with such precipitation,
+but, he said, the others were so eager, as soon as they heard that I
+owned a vast tract of unworked diamond fields, that he could not
+restrain them. He begged me to make some arrangement with the proposed
+company, as the men who had become interested in it were wealthy and
+enterprising, and they would surely push it to a profitable conclusion.
+In answer to my remark that I was rich enough already, he said that I
+ought to give others a chance to make some money who needed it, perhaps,
+more than I. Finally, as he urged it as a personal favor to himself, I
+agreed to give the most favorable answer that I could, and so the matter
+stands."
+
+"When are you to give your answer?" asked Lesparre.
+
+"The committee adjourned until a week from last night," replied the Don,
+"and I shall then again be summoned before them, I presume. Now,
+although the first proposition would not probably pay me so well in the
+end as the second, I much prefer it. You see I do not wish to keep a
+controlling interest because I should have the continual annoyance of
+supervising the business; and, as I have said before, I wish to be
+perfectly free from cares and responsibilities. My object is to enjoy
+life, and I can't be happy if I am obliged to work. Nevertheless, I do
+not wish to turn over this property to a body of men who will squeeze it
+like a sponge, leaving it a mere waste. There are a large body of
+tenants occupying portions of it, whose rights must be respected. They
+will make willing and honest laborers if properly treated, and I wish
+to protect them as far as possible from cruelty and extortion. Hence, I
+desire to learn all I can about the men who will create and manage the
+company before I agree to put the property into their hands, no matter
+what price they may be willing to pay for it; it is here, my dear
+Lesparre, that you can be of great service to me. You are well
+acquainted among all classes of business men in Gloster, and you can
+readily learn all about the people who purpose buying stock. This will
+be considered very natural and proper if you become my private
+secretary, and your duties will not be severe. What do you say?"
+
+"I think I can do what you wish," said Lesparre, "but I should like a
+day for reflection. I never like to act hastily in an important matter,
+even where my mind is already made up."
+
+"You are quite right," said the Don; "but I hope your mind will remain
+unchanged in regard to this matter. I will give you whatever salary you
+wish, and shall expect you, of course, to live here on equal terms with
+myself and wife. Now, let us join the ladies."
+
+On receiving Lesparre's report, I saw the whole scheme at a glance, and
+I was now convinced that Senator Muirhead's suspicions with regard to
+Don Pedro were correct. I immediately visited the Senator, and laid the
+latest developments before him. We could not help admiring the
+consummate knowledge of human nature which the Don displayed; he had
+baited his hook so skillfully that the gudgeons were actually fearful
+lest something should prevent them from swallowing it; but there seemed
+to be no probability of defeating his schemes unless we could obtain
+positive proofs of his dishonesty elsewhere, or detect him in some
+criminal offense in this country. We therefore decided to keep a close
+watch upon all his movements, and await further developments. It was
+evident that the sufferers by Don José Michel's forgeries in California
+would not take any active steps against him unless they were sure of the
+identity of the man, and so we had no ground of accusation against him
+which we could rely upon. Both Senator Muirhead and myself were
+indignant at the audacity displayed in his swindling projects, but we
+did not dare to attempt his exposure without absolute proof of our
+charges. The waiting game is never a pleasant one to play, but I could
+not do otherwise under the circumstances.
+
+About this time I was called back to Chicago on important business, but
+I immediately sent my superintendent, Mr. Bangs, to Gloster, to take
+charge of the case there. During my absence little of note occurred,
+except the meeting to hear the Don's answer to the propositions to
+purchase the diamond fields. At this meeting the Don was apparently
+anxious to decline all offers, saying that the property had been in the
+possession of his family for about two hundred years, and that he
+considered himself in honor bound to retain an interest in it. Also, he
+tried to cool the ardor of the would-be purchasers by telling them that
+he had no positive certainty that there were valuable diamond fields on
+the property, though such was probably the case. His reluctance to sell
+the land only made them more determined to buy, for they argued that he
+was so well satisfied with it as a means of revenue that he wished to
+retain possession of it all himself. At length he found that they would
+give him no peace until he yielded, and so he graciously agreed to
+accept the first proposition. The question of price then remained to be
+discussed, but, on this point, there was little opportunity for
+disagreement. Having had so much difficulty in inducing the Don to sell
+at all, they were not disposed to endanger the sale by haggling about
+the price; and when the latter was fixed at one million five hundred
+thousand dollars, they made no demur, although the sum rather staggered
+their enthusiasm at first. This effect was only momentary, however, for
+the vivid anticipations of dividends in proportion to this price quickly
+banished their fears, and they hastened to subscribe the amounts
+required. These facts were all reported to me immediately after my
+return to Gloster, which occurred a day or two after the meeting, and I
+saw that the day of disaster to the trusting capitalists of that city
+was fast approaching.
+
+Neither Monsieur Lesparre nor Madame Sevier had learned much about the
+private affairs of the Moritos, for, whenever the latter had anything
+important to say to each other, they usually spoke Spanish. The Don's
+remaining funds amounted to only about eight thousand dollars, and at
+the rate with which he had hitherto spent money, this sum would not last
+much more than five or six weeks. The time might be extended to two
+months by running the establishment on credit; but the Don was averse to
+such a course, and all bills were paid promptly at the end of each
+month. He showed no uneasiness as his cash began to run low, but merely
+said that if the first installment on the mine should be paid in soon,
+it would obviate the necessity of drawing upon his agents in Lima,
+otherwise he should call upon them for fifty thousand dollars to carry
+him through the year. There was nothing in his manner or actions to
+excite suspicion, and certainly, if he intended to defraud the Diamond
+Company, he had too much nerve to betray himself, even to so close an
+observer as Monsieur Lesparre.
+
+Having heard the reports, I strolled out in the evening for a walk with
+Mr. Bangs, and while passing one of the leading hotels, I met a very
+intimate friend, named Judge Key. The Judge was an old resident of
+Gloster, and his character was highly esteemed by all who knew him. He
+was a man of great ability and force; but, possessing little ambition,
+he was not nearly so well known as many of those who were his inferiors
+in point of intellect and morals. We had a great deal of business
+between us at one time, and our relations to each other were of the
+most cordial character, partaking more of the nature of personal
+friendship than mere business acquaintance. I had not visited him
+previously during my stay in Gloster, for the reason that, even to my
+intimate friends, I never make my presence known when engaged in an
+operation, if I can avoid doing so. On this occasion, the Judge
+recognized me instantly, and greeted me with great warmth, at the same
+time adding that I was just the man above all others whom he wished to
+see. He then introduced his companion to Mr. Bangs and myself as Mr.
+Edward Ashley Warne, of London, England.
+
+"Now, Mr. Pinkerton," said the Judge, "let us step into the club close
+by, and over a social glass of wine, Mr. Warne will tell you about a
+peculiar case of mistaken identity, or of consummate rascality--it is
+hard to know which. Possibly you may be able to understand some things
+which puzzle us, and to frustrate a fraudulent scheme, if our suspicions
+are correct. You both know each other by reputation, I guess, and I
+presume, Mr. Warne, that you will not object to tell Mr. Pinkerton what
+you have told me."
+
+"Oh! yes, I have often heard of Mr. Pinkerton," said Mr. Warne, "and I
+think, as you say, that he can clear up the mystery, if any one can. I
+shall be pleased to tell him all that I know with regard to it."
+
+Mr. Edward Ashley Warne was an _attaché_ of the British diplomatic
+service, and having been entrusted with the settlement of some
+questions relative to commerce between the United States and Great
+Britain, he had executed his mission with such fairness, good sense, and
+courtesy that he was regarded with great kindness and respect by our
+people as well as by his own government. He was on a rapid tour through
+the United States, previous to his return to London, and he had spent a
+week in Gloster with Judge Key at the time when we met in front of the
+hotel. We were soon comfortably seated in one of the private
+dining-rooms of the club, and, after a few sips of wine, Mr. Warne began
+his story.
+
+"I don't know whether I am the victim of imagination, or the gentlemen
+of Gloster are likely to be the victims of an impostor; but one thing is
+certain, that a gentleman here known as Don Pedro P. L. de Morito is the
+exact image of a man who was known in London as Don José Arias."
+
+This information came so unawares that I almost betrayed my interest in
+the case by uttering a hasty exclamation. I restrained my feelings,
+however, and asked Mr. Warne to tell me all he knew about this man.
+
+"Well, I first met him in Paris, when I was a member of the French
+Legation," replied Mr. Warne. "He was then moving in the most
+aristocratic society, and his wealth was reputed enormous. I saw a great
+deal of him at times, and, indeed, I was better acquainted with him than
+I was with many of my countrymen; but I was recalled to London about
+that time, and I soon forgot all about Don José Arias."
+
+"Pardon me," I interrupted; "was the Don married?"
+
+"Oh! yes; he had a beautiful wife, I have been told, but I never
+happened to see her. I think she was Spanish, if I recollect rightly.
+One day, after my return to England, as I was entering the Foreign
+Office, I met Don José coming out, and he seemed delighted to see me. He
+said that he had come to spend some months in London, and he hoped to
+enjoy my society frequently. I was then engaged in studying a very
+difficult diplomatic question, and I was unable to give any time
+whatever to society; I therefore expressed my regrets that I should be
+obliged to decline all invitations, and, after some further
+conversation, we separated. I often heard of him in connection with
+social events in the best circles, and, on one or two occasions, I met
+him in the street; but I did not renew our former degree of intimacy,
+for the simple reason that I did not have the time to do so. Just before
+I left London on the mission for which I had been preparing myself, I
+was astonished to learn that Don José Arias had proved to be a scoundrel
+of the most dangerous character. He had not hunted small game, it is
+true, but this was probably a part of his whole scheme. So far as I
+could learn, he had left no unpaid bills in the hands of tradesmen, but
+he had taken enough out of bankers and capitalists to pay his
+tradesmen's bills for half a century. The aggregate fraudulently
+obtained by him was never known, for many of his victims refused to
+state their loss; but it was surmised that he obtained as much as forty
+or fifty thousand pounds sterling in London alone, while several Paris
+bankers also suffered heavily. I was not specially interested in the
+affair, and it had wholly passed from my mind, when suddenly, while
+walking in the streets of this city last week, I came upon Don José
+Arias again. He wore his hair differently from his old way in London and
+Paris, having now full side-whiskers, whereas then he wore only
+moustache and goatee; but I could not be mistaken, and I said to Judge
+Key: 'There is a man who forged paper to an immense amount in London
+less than two years ago.' 'Impossible!' replied the Judge; 'he is a very
+wealthy man, moving in the best society in the city.' The Judge then
+vouched for him with such earnestness that I began to believe that I was
+mistaken; but I determined to meet him face to face, to see whether
+there could be two persons so nearly resembling each other.
+Unfortunately he had an opportunity to see me before I saw him when I
+next met him, so that I lost the chance of surprising him into betraying
+himself. He appeared to glance at me casually, as any stranger would do,
+and then went on with his conversation without hesitation or
+embarrassment. I have met him several times since then, and he always
+acts with the same natural ease of manner, as if we had always been
+perfect strangers to each other; but, Mr. Pinkerton, the more I see of
+him, the more fully am I convinced that Don José Arias, of London, and
+Don Pedro P. L. de Morito, of Gloster, are identical; and, believing
+this, I consider it my duty to tell you these facts in order that your
+citizens may be protected against him, if possible."
+
+"Well, Mr. Pinkerton," said Judge Key, "what do you think of this
+affair? Mr. Warne does not admit that he can be mistaken, and there are
+some corroboratory evidences that he may be right; yet, it seems
+incredible. It is a pity that Mr. Warne should have never seen Don
+José's wife, because he could then compare her with Señora Morito, and
+if they, too, were exact resemblances, there would be no longer any room
+for doubt."
+
+"That would certainly be a strong proof," I remarked; "but I think it is
+unnecessary. The suspicion you have spoken of, Mr. Warne, has already
+been raised by another gentleman in this city, and I have been requested
+to discover whether or not it is correct."
+
+"Why, you astonish me!" exclaimed Judge Key, "for Mr. Warne has not
+mentioned the subject to any one but me, and I have never even hinted
+anything about it except to you gentlemen."
+
+"Nevertheless, I have suspected for some time that this Don Pedro was an
+impostor, and have been trying to obtain positive proof of my opinion,
+in order to save many persons here from being swindled by him. You are
+acquainted with Senator Muirhead, Judge?"
+
+"Oh! yes, quite well."
+
+"He has taken enough interest in the affairs of his constituents to
+place in my hands the task of exposing this man, Don Pedro, in his true
+light."
+
+"That seems very kind and disinterested on the part of our Senator,"
+said Judge Key, with a quizzical smile; "but I will venture to say that
+his interest has been excited more by the Don's marked attentions to
+Mrs. Muirhead, than by the fear that some of his constituents would be
+defrauded."
+
+Of course I took no notice of this remark, although I was quite
+convinced that such was the fact; but as the Senator was my client, it
+would have been eminently improper for me to discuss his motives, and so
+I turned to Mr. Warne.
+
+"As you have already met this man under another name, Mr. Warne," I
+said, "can you not go with me to meet Senator Muirhead, and tell him
+what you know about him?"
+
+"I must beg you to excuse me, Mr. Pinkerton," he replied. "You see, I am
+in this country in an official capacity, and, while I am personally
+perfectly satisfied of the truth of the statements I have made to you, I
+cannot prove them; hence, I must be careful not to involve myself in a
+difficulty which would compromise my position as a diplomatic agent of
+Great Britain. I shall immediately give to the police, on my arrival in
+London, a description of this man, and I presume that prompt action will
+be taken to insure his arrest and extradition, in case his offenses
+should come under the extradition treaty. But as this is a question upon
+which the decision of both governments may be required, the delay may
+enable this man to escape. I will use all my influence with the London
+authorities; you will readily see, however, that personally I cannot
+appear here as an accuser against him."
+
+I recognized the force of Mr. Warne's objection, and did not press him
+further, but Judge Key agreed to visit the Senator as soon as the latter
+should return to the city. When I left Mr. Warne we had agreed that any
+British official who might be sent to identify and arrest Don Pedro,
+should communicate with me the moment he arrived in this country, so
+that we could work together for the same object, though my whole duty in
+the case would be to protect the interests of my client, Senator
+Muirhead. I then returned to my room with Mr. Bangs, and made a new
+move. I saw that more than two months would elapse before any news could
+be expected from London, as Mr. Warne would be somewhat delayed in his
+return home, and meantime, the Don would probably obtain a large advance
+payment for his fictitious mines. If anything should occur to prevent us
+from sending him to England, he might succeed in getting away with his
+plunder before we could find any new grounds upon which to hold him. I
+therefore instructed Mr. Bangs to write to the proper authorities in
+Peru, Brazil, and Ecuador, describing Don Pedro and his numerous
+suspected _aliases_ accurately, and asking that some steps be taken by
+his victims to bring him to justice. It was true that we had no
+extradition treaties with those countries, but nevertheless he might be
+arrested and frightened into surrendering himself voluntarily. The
+letters were dispatched at once, and duplicates were also forwarded by
+the next steamer. There remained nothing further for me to do except to
+keep a strict watch upon the Moritos to see that they should not slip
+off suddenly with a large sum of money. The Diamond Company were in such
+haste to bind the bargain with Don Pedro, by making him a large payment,
+that there could be no hope of preventing the partial success of his
+scheme. Whether I might not be able to force him to disgorge afterward
+was uncertain, but I determined to use every means in my power to
+accomplish such a result.
+
+
+
+
+                          CHAPTER V.
+
+    _The third Detective is made welcome at Don Pedro's.--The Señor is
+          paid the first half-million dollars from the great Diamond
+          Company.--How Don Pedro is "working" his Diamond Mines.--Very
+          suspicious preparations.--The Don describes his proposed Fête
+          Champêtre._
+
+
+One evening, as the members of the Morito family were about to retire,
+Monsieur Lesparre noticed a nervousness and abstraction in Don Pedro
+such as he had never shown before. Thinking that something new might be
+learned by overhearing the conversation between the Don and Donna when
+they should be alone, Lesparre, instead of going to his own room,
+slipped into an unused closet adjoining the Don's dressing-room, and
+communicating therewith by a door, which was kept locked. There was a
+transom over this door, and, by climbing to one of the shelves, Lesparre
+could hear all that was said in either room of the Don's bedroom
+_suite_. He had hardly taken this position when the two entered their
+apartments.
+
+"See what a handsome necklace that old fool Mather sent me to-day," said
+the Donna.
+
+"Yes, it is very elegant and valuable," said Don Pedro, with a yawn;
+"but what we most need is money. However, I do not imagine we shall have
+any difficulty, for I expect a large sum in a few days from the
+stockholders in this Diamond Company. Still, you may as well get all you
+can out of Mather and the others, for we must keep up our present style
+of living to the end."
+
+Just at this moment the shelf upon which Lesparre was sitting gave a
+loud creak, and he had only just time to slip down and regain his own
+room before the Don came out to see what was the matter. Fortunately,
+there was a large pet cat in the hall, and she received the credit of
+having made the noise.
+
+The next day, on hearing Lesparre's report, I decided to place still
+another detective in the Morito mansion, and so I instructed Lesparre to
+recommend the employment of a young man to assist the butler and to do
+general work about the house. As I expected, Don Pedro acquiesced in the
+suggestion, and told Lesparre to engage such men-servants as he
+considered necessary. Accordingly, I at once telegraphed to Chicago to
+have a young fellow named George Salter sent to Gloster at once. He was
+a very intelligent French Canadian, and I chose him because of his slim
+build, his ingenuity, and his capacity as an eavesdropper. He could
+listen to a conversation with such a stolid expression that no one would
+imagine he had an idea in his head beyond the performance of his regular
+tasks, and even when caught in a place where he had no right to be, he
+could invent a plausible reason on the instant, which would divert all
+suspicion from him. On his arrival in Gloster, he was sent to ask
+employment of Monsieur Lesparre, and, of course, the latter was so
+pleased with him as to engage him at once. He made himself very useful
+in the house, and soon became popular with every inmate.
+
+A few days later a meeting of the stockholders of the Diamond Company
+was held, and it was agreed to make a payment of five hundred thousand
+dollars at once, another like sum when the title-deeds should be
+delivered, and the balance within one year from that time. This
+arrangement was satisfactory to the Don, and the sum of half a million
+dollars was paid over that day in the checks of the different original
+subscribers. The meeting then appointed a committee of two to visit Peru
+and examine the property. There was some difficulty in selecting two
+gentlemen who would be willing to go, and yet who would be satisfactory
+to the others; but Deacon Humphrey and John Preston were finally chosen.
+Either of these gentlemen was willing to go anywhere at others' expense,
+and it was believed that John Preston was too well versed in fraudulent
+practices to let any one else do any cheating; hence, he was sent to
+investigate the mines, and Deacon Humphrey was sent to see that John
+Preston should not steal them. They were not to depart on their mission,
+however, until the title-deeds were received from Peru and delivered to
+the directors.
+
+Don Pedro passed the checks over to Lesparre, and informed the meeting
+that he had already sent to Peru for the deeds, and that the directors
+should be informed the moment they should arrive; thereafter, all
+business matters relative to his interest in the mines would be attended
+to by Robert Harrington, Esq., who would be his attorney in fact. The
+deeds would be directed to Mr. Harrington, and that gentleman would
+deliver them to the directors, receive the second payment, and give his
+receipt therefor.
+
+This arrangement was satisfactory to all, and the meeting adjourned in
+good spirits, every man feeling that the Don had done him a personal
+favor in accepting his check in part payment for such a valuable
+property.
+
+The Don, having indorsed the checks, instructed Lesparre to present them
+at once for payment, each at its own bank, and to bring the money to the
+house; he was to obtain as much as possible in gold, as the Don
+professed to have little confidence in the bills of private banks.
+
+"They may be perfectly sound, Lesparre," he said, in an off-hand way,
+"but then, you know, we foreigners are accustomed to government bills,
+or gold, and so I prefer to have the latter."
+
+Taking Don Pedro's carriage, Lesparre visited each bank, and by the time
+he had cashed the last check, he had a considerable weight of gold and a
+large amount of bills, about two-thirds having been paid in coin.
+Lesparre and Salter carried all the money up to the Don's dressing-room,
+where the Don and Donna were sitting.
+
+"There, my dear," said Don Pedro to his wife, "this is the first
+installment of the purchase money of the diamond fields, so that now it
+will not be long before they will be thoroughly worked. The directors
+have promised me that you shall have the finest diamond set that the
+mines can produce within a year from this time, as a present from the
+company, and you need no longer plague me for not having tried to work
+them before."
+
+"Oh! Pedro, how lovely!" exclaimed the Donna; "you know I have always
+wanted you to open those mines, and I am so glad that you have
+consented. Now I shall have a set that I shall be proud of."
+
+"Well, I did not like to give up the old estate to strangers, I
+confess," replied the Don; "but now that it is done, I do not regret it.
+If you wish any money, help yourself; you can write to your agents in
+Rio that they need not send any more for the present, for we shall have
+as much as we can use for a year or two. George," he continued,
+addressing Salter, "you will find a stout iron box in the attic, and I
+think it will serve as a safe for the present. Bring it down here and
+put it in this room."
+
+The box was soon brought, and the Don checked off the packages of gold
+and bills as Lesparre packed them away, the gold at the bottom.
+
+"Now, you can check against my bank accounts for our current expenses,
+Lesparre," said Don Pedro, with a complacent smile; "and when the funds
+on deposit are exhausted, I will give you cash monthly to pay all bills
+as heretofore. I intend to give a grand _fête champêtre_ soon, as a
+lesson to these Gloster people how to enjoy life. I propose to engage
+one of the islands in the river at once, and begin the necessary work of
+preparing it artistically for the scene of our revelry. I shall choose
+one of the large wooded islands with ridges and ravines running through
+it, and it will take about two weeks to clear away the underbrush, to
+clean up the grass and prepare the landing-places. Then, by the end of
+another week, the weather will be delightful, and our arrangements will
+be completed. I will make the place a fairy spectacle, such as the
+unimaginative inhabitants of Gloster never dreamed of, and then we will
+prepare for our summer trip to Newport and Saratoga. What do you think
+of the plan, Monsieur Lesparre?"
+
+"It is an admirable one, and I feel sure that the people of Gloster will
+enjoy such an entertainment far more than any that has ever been given
+here."
+
+"Well, I shall rely largely upon your assistance," continued the Don,
+carefully locking his safe as he spoke, "and we must divide the duties
+between us, though of course my time will be somewhat taken up by
+society. Suppose we issue invitations for three weeks from to-day?"
+
+"Better say five weeks, if not six," replied Lesparre, anxious to delay
+Don Pedro's departure as much as possible in order to obtain an answer
+to our letters to Peru and Brazil. "You see, the people here are not
+accustomed to such gayeties, and it will take some time to prepare their
+minds to appreciate it."
+
+"Yes, that is true," said the Don, reflectively; "but I do not like to
+defer it so long. However, let us compromise by fixing one month hence
+as the time, and we will make it a masquerade as well as an outdoor
+_fête_. The guests will then have ample time to prepare their costumes,
+and we can give that as a reason for issuing the invitations so long in
+advance."
+
+The Don was in no special hurry to escape with his plunder, but neither
+was he desirous of remaining too long in the vicinity of his victims;
+hence, although he had no suspicion that his schemes had been discovered
+by any one, he fixed an earlier date than that suggested by Lesparre in
+order to prevent the probability of any accident occurring to mar his
+plans.
+
+Lesparre immediately ordered the cards of invitation, and in a few days
+all Gloster was in a state of pleasurable excitement over the news of
+the coming event. Never had such a commotion been created in the placid
+waters of society as was raised by the delicate cards of invitation to
+Señora Morito's _fête champêtre_ and _bal masque_. The number who
+received invitations was enormous, including every individual having any
+claims to be regarded as a member of good society. From that time
+forward, Lesparre was so busy with the preparations for the _fête_ that
+he was able to see very little of the rest of the family except in the
+evening. The Don and Donna and Madame Sevier continued their usual round
+of dissipation and gayety, however, and "all went merry as a marriage
+bell."
+
+Still there were some curious features of their conduct which I regarded
+with suspicion. Every day the Don gave Lesparre a large sum in
+bank-bills to be exchanged for gold, and the coin was then locked up in
+the iron safe. Then the Don and Donna held frequent conversations in
+Spanish, during which it was easy to see by their manner that they were
+discussing an affair of great importance. Madame Sevier found a
+newly-purchased traveler's guide-book in the Donna's bureau, and from
+various marks and turned pages it was evident that it had been carefully
+consulted with reference to an ocean voyage. These things led me to the
+conclusion that the Don was preparing for a journey, and the fact that
+he made no mention of it, even to Lesparre, showed that he intended to
+go secretly. To all his acquaintances he spoke freely of his
+contemplated tour of the watering-places during the summer, but he
+always promised to spend the following winter in Gloster, without fail;
+hence it was clear that he was playing a double game, to deceive some
+one. I could only wait further developments, and heartily wish for
+advices from Peru or England.
+
+In company with Judge Key I called upon Senator Muirhead, on the return
+of that gentleman from the session of Congress, and we discussed
+together the best plan to pursue, to foil the schemes of Don Pedro. The
+Senator was very anxious to proceed against him immediately, with the
+intention of showing him up in his true character, and thus saving his
+victims from any further loss.
+
+"Indeed, Senator Muirhead," I replied, "I am as desirous to arrest his
+fraudulent operations as yourself, but I want to be sure of success
+before I do anything, and I do not see my way clear to act just now. At
+present we can prove nothing whatever against him; in fact, the only
+charge we could make would be that of obtaining money under false
+pretenses. Now, what evidence could we bring to substantiate the
+accusation? There is no judge living that would hold him on my or your
+individual opinion that he has sold mines which do not exist, and we
+should have nothing else to offer."
+
+"Yes, but you forget his forgeries in other countries," interrupted the
+Senator.
+
+"In the first place," I replied, "you could not charge him in this
+country with crimes committed elsewhere, even though you had the
+positive proof of those crimes. If you charged him here with obtaining
+money under false pretenses, you could produce no testimony except such
+as bore upon the specific act alleged in your complaint; all other
+testimony would be ruled out. But, even suppose that such testimony were
+admissible, can you produce any witness to his crimes in other
+countries? Indeed, admitting again that these crimes were proven, can
+we establish the identity of Don Pedro P. L. de Morito as the
+perpetrator of those crimes? No, sir; we have not a single witness; I
+ask you as a lawyer, Judge Key, am I not right?"
+
+"You are correct in every particular, Mr. Pinkerton," replied the Judge.
+"I confess that you present the difficulties of the case more forcibly
+than I could have done myself."
+
+"Yes, you are right, Mr. Pinkerton," said Senator Muirhead; "I do not
+see that we can do anything; yet it seems shameful to sit idly doing
+nothing, when we know that this scoundrel is obtaining such immense sums
+from our people. What do you propose to do in the future, Mr.
+Pinkerton?"
+
+"I can hardly tell what may be possible as yet," I answered; "but I feel
+sure that I shall not only prevent him from securing any more plunder,
+but also wrest from him that which has already fallen into his hands. He
+feels secure in the possession of this large sum, and he is in no great
+hurry to get away; he will undoubtedly remain until after his _fête
+champêtre_ at least. Before that time, I hope to hear something definite
+from either England or Peru, and then I can act with a power in reserve
+in case our own means should be insufficient to enforce our demands for
+restitution. Any action against him now would only result in hastening
+his departure with all the money he has gained, for I am certain that we
+could not hold him."
+
+"Well, I see that nothing can be done now," said the Senator,
+despondently; "but do not lose sight of this man for a moment, Mr.
+Pinkerton, for he seems an adept in all the tricks of crime."
+
+"Never fear, Senator Muirhead," I replied, cheerfully; "I feel sure that
+we shall eventually not only bring his career here to a hasty close, but
+also recover the money which he has fraudulently obtained."
+
+When we parted, the Senator was a little more hopeful, though he said
+that he should not be at all surprised if Don Pedro outwitted us after
+all. The loss to the Senator's friends would, of course, be very large;
+but, perhaps, the lesson would not be a bad thing for them; they would
+know better thereafter than to part with their money so foolishly.
+
+That same evening the Don and Donna, Monsieur Lesparre, and Madame
+Sevier, were engaged for the evening at a dancing party given by Judge
+Peter B. Taylor. Knowing of their intentions to attend this party, I saw
+an excellent opportunity for Salter to examine the private apartments of
+the Don and Donna. Accordingly, after the family had gone away in the
+carriage, Salter began to talk to the other servants about the
+advantages of belonging to a family where the domestics were allowed to
+do as they pleased, instead of being so carefully watched. The laundress
+then related how much less pleasure they had, now that Madame Sevier was
+in charge of the household.
+
+"Why," said she, "before this French woman came, the servants here had
+as good a time as any one could ask. Many a fine ribbon, or
+handkerchief, or bit of a collar, they picked up unbeknownst to the
+Donna; and, as for aitin', why there was niver a lock on any storeroom
+in the house, so that there was lashins of good livin' in the kitchen as
+well as in the dinin'-room. But when this Madame Sevyay came, she put
+everything under lock and key, and she snapped off the old cook's head
+in no time for sassin' her. Jist so with the men; this Lesparre, the
+Don's private secretary, is as close with the men as the Madame is with
+the women. The butler used to often bring a nice bottle of wine into the
+kitchen for us to be merry over, but he can't do it now."
+
+"Well, I believe I can find something to drink by a little search," said
+Salter, with a knowing wink at the laundress and chambermaid. "You wait
+here, and I'll see what I can do to provide a glass of wine all 'round.
+
+"Oh! would you dare?" asked the handsome chambermaid, looking at Salter
+admiringly. "Ain't you 'fraid you'll be caught?"
+
+"No, indeed; I believe I can get a bottle of port out of one of the
+rooms upstairs, without any one ever discovering its loss. Anyhow, I'm
+going to try, so you all stay here while I make search."
+
+Accordingly, Salter went straight to the Don's room, to which he had a
+key. Having received from Lesparre an impression of the locks of the
+house several days before, I had had a skeleton key made, which would
+open almost any door about the place. While apparently engaged in
+cleaning the door-knobs, it had been a very easy matter for him to take,
+in wax, a complete impression of the wards of all the door-locks, with
+out attracting suspicion. He now had no difficulty, therefore, in
+entering the Don's room, where he found that the Don had removed his
+iron chest from his dressing-room to his chamber, it being placed at the
+head of the bedstead. On trying to lift the box, he found that it was
+very heavy indeed, requiring all his strength to stir it. This was due,
+of course, to the coin which had been put into it, and Salter's
+testimony, therefore, corroborated Lesparre's. Salter then, in
+accordance with my instructions, carefully bored holes through the door
+leading into the closet in which Lesparre had once listened to a short
+conversation between the Don and Donna. He arranged these holes so that
+they would not be detected by the eye, and having thus prepared an
+excellent place for listening to the occupants of the chamber suite,
+Salter returned to the kitchen. On the way, he opened the dining-room
+sideboard and captured a bottle of port wine, with which he entertained
+the other servants in fine style.
+
+Meanwhile, the Don and his party had been received with the utmost
+cordiality by Judge Taylor and his wife, who felt quite proud to be the
+first to entertain such distinguished guests after the sale of the
+diamond mines, and the issue of the invitations to the Don's grand
+_fête_.
+
+Every one had talked about the affair, but no one felt exactly sure what
+a _fête champêtre_ was, and so United States Commissioner Charlie Morton
+determined to ask the Don himself what his entertainment would be.
+Accordingly, as Don Pedro approached with Mrs. Arlington on his arm,
+Morton greeted him pleasantly, and said:
+
+"Don Pedro, every one who has received an invitation to your _fête
+champêtre_ is dying of curiosity to know what it means, and so I am
+going to take the liberty of asking you to explain it. I freely confess
+my own ignorance, and I know that there are a great many others no
+better informed than I am, who would be ashamed to admit that fact; but
+I cheerfully acknowledge that I have never attended one, and I don't
+know how I shall be expected to dress nor to act. So please tell me all
+about it, and I will promise to spread the news among my acquaintances."
+
+"My dear sir," replied Don Pedro, politely, "I admire your frankness,
+and I shall take pleasure in explaining the principal features of our
+_fête champêtre_. It was the Donna Lucia's desire and mine to devote one
+day to enjoyment, and we therefore decided upon giving an entertainment
+in the open air which should combine every species of gayety and social
+recreation. It is our intention to embark in the forenoon and proceed by
+steamer to one of the large islands in the river. There everything will
+be prepared for outdoor enjoyment; there will be boats and
+bathing-houses; swings and archery-grounds; billiard-tables and
+bowling-alleys; in short, opportunities will be provided for the
+gratification of every one's tastes. About five o'clock a dinner will be
+served, the _menu_ for which will include every procurable luxury of the
+table, and after dinner, the evening will be spent in dancing on the
+open platforms or in enclosed ballrooms, according to the preferences of
+the guests, while magnesium lights and colored lanterns will give all
+possible brilliancy to the scene. Dazzling displays of fireworks will be
+given at intervals during the evening, and when we finally leave the
+island on our return to the city, a grand illumination of the whole
+island will take place as we steam off into the darkness."
+
+[Illustration: _Don Pedro explaining the Fête Champêtre._]
+
+Quite a group had gathered around while the Don was speaking, and as he
+closed, there was a general murmur of admiration. The whole affair was
+planned on a scale of such magnificence as to appear almost too
+wonderful to be believed, but the Don had shown such fertility of
+invention previously, that there was no doubt he was quite equal to
+creating a scene of oriental splendor such as had never before been
+witnessed in this country.
+
+"Well, I admit frankly," said Charlie Morton, "that we Americans must
+learn the art of enjoying life from foreigners, and I think there is no
+doubt that Don Pedro is a most adept master of its mysteries. Is there
+not something said in the invitations about appearing in masks, Don
+Pedro?"
+
+"Oh, yes; I forgot to say at first that there will be much amusement in
+requiring every guest to be dressed in fancy costume and to wear a mask.
+The masks will not be removed until the dinner is served, and then, at a
+given signal, the guests will expose themselves in their own
+characters."
+
+The Don's description of the intended programme for the _fête_ was soon
+repeated through all the fashionable circles of Gloster, and the
+expectation of the whole city was raised to a high pitch. No other
+social event had ever created a like excitement, and it was the theme of
+conversation at all times and in all places.
+
+The day following the Taylor's party Don Pedro seemed to have determined
+to get rid of as much paper money in exchange for gold as possible, and
+during the day he sent more than twenty thousand dollars to be
+exchanged; of this amount Lesparre and Madame Sevier handled the greater
+portion, but even the young man, Salter, was entrusted with three
+thousand dollars in paper, for which he obtained gold at a trifling
+discount. This method of exchanging money was repeated several times, it
+being evidently the Don's intention to retain nothing but gold in his
+possession, and as he had already obtained the greater portion of his
+plunder in coin, it was not long before he had accomplished his object.
+
+Meantime, the preparations for the _fête_ went on apace, and the time
+of the Don and Lesparre was quite fully occupied in planning and
+arranging the details. The Senator called to see me daily, and his
+constant urging somewhat excited me, so that I became nervous and
+apprehensive myself. Still, no news came from abroad, and I could do
+nothing.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER VI.
+
+    _A Mysterious Stranger.--An unexpected Meeting and a startling
+          Recognition.--An old Friend somewhat disturbs the Equanimity
+          of Don Pedro.--The Detectives fix their Attention upon Pietro
+          Bernardi.--Pietro and his unpalatable Reminiscences.--The
+          Donna shows Spirit._
+
+
+"Early one forenoon Salter was called to the front door by a violent
+pull at the bell, and on arriving there he confronted a rather
+disreputable-looking character, who eyed him with an extremely
+distrustful look. The man appeared to be about thirty years old, and he
+was evidently a foreigner. He was tall, well-formed, and muscular, and
+his general bearing was quite at variance with his ragged, dirty
+clothing. He had black hair and moustache, a swarthy complexion, small
+feet and hands, the latter soft and well-shaped, and his dark eyes were
+piercing and brilliant.
+
+"Good morning," he said to Salter, with a haughty nod; "is Don Juan at
+home?"
+
+"No such person lives here," replied Salter, partially closing the door
+upon the wolfish-appearing stranger.
+
+"I have good reasons for believing that Don Juan _is_ here," replied the
+man, "and is doubtless the guest of the gentleman who resides here. At
+any rate, I know that he is now in this house, and I want to see him
+very much. He would be equally glad to see me if he knew I were here;"
+and so saying, he pushed Salter aside and entered the hall.
+
+This action still further prejudiced Salter against him, and he said:
+
+"Perhaps you mean Monsieur Lesparre, who is a guest of my employer?"
+
+"That may be," replied the man; "please say that I wish to see him
+immediately."
+
+Salter did not care to leave the stranger alone, and so he told one of
+the female servants, who was dusting the parlor furniture, to call
+Monsieur Lesparre. That gentleman was in Don Pedro's room, discussing
+some plans for the _fête_, and, when informed that a stranger wished to
+see him, he told the servant to show him to the room where he usually
+transacted business. As the man passed before Don Pedro's door, however,
+Lesparre stepped out to learn who it was.
+
+"This man wishes to see you, Monsieur Lesparre," said Salter, who was
+following the stranger.
+
+"That is not the gentleman I asked for," the latter replied.
+
+At this instant Don Pedro came into the hall, and, as his eyes fell upon
+the stranger, he gave a sudden start, and became very pale. The
+recognition was mutual, for the newcomer rushed forward and said:
+
+"Ah! Don Juan, I am delighted to meet you again. I knew I was not
+mistaken when I saw you yesterday and recognized----"
+
+"There, there!" interrupted the Don, giving the speaker a warning look,
+"I am glad to meet you again, Pietro; walk into my room, and sit down."
+
+Lesparre was about to follow, but Don Pedro stopped, and whispered to
+him:
+
+"Excuse me a short time, my dear Lesparre; this is an old acquaintance
+whom I knew in better circumstances years ago. He seems quite reduced
+now, and he may be sensitive enough to object to telling the story of
+his loss of fortune before a stranger;" and, so saying, the Don retired
+to his room, leaving Lesparre and Salter outside.
+
+The latter immediately hurried into the closet, where he could hear the
+whole conversation within the room.
+
+"Well, Pietro," began the Don, "where are you from? You have not been
+fortunate, it is evident; but how did it happen?"
+
+"You are right; I have had bad luck," replied Pietro. "It is the old
+story; I have had thousands of dollars at times, and have lived like a
+prince; and again I have been badly treated by Dame Fortune, and have
+lived as I could; but I have never before been so very miserable and
+poor as now. Positively, it is most providential that I have met you,
+for I have eaten nothing for twenty-four hours."
+
+"Indeed, Pietro, you shock me," replied the Don, sympathetically; "shall
+I order some breakfast for you?"
+
+"No; I can wait awhile, and I do not care to be seen by your servants
+until I get better clothing. But tell me where you have been since we
+parted in Peru. You have certainly been as fortunate as I have been the
+reverse; do you make much by gambling?"
+
+"No, Pietro; I gamble very little, except in an occasional game of cards
+with gentlemen of my acquaintance; but I made a good sum--that is,"
+continued the Don, checking himself a moment, "I made a wealthy
+marriage, and my wife's fortune is ample for us both. By the way, how
+did you happen to find me?"
+
+"Well, I have been enjoying life in New Orleans for some time, and,
+having won quite a large amount there, I decided to come North as the
+mild weather began. So I started a month ago on one of those enormous
+Mississippi steamboats, and, of course, I gambled whenever I could. My
+luck was bad from the start, and, on arriving here, I had nothing except
+my clothing and jewelry; these I pawned gradually, and soon I was
+reduced to my present condition. Yesterday I met you as you were
+entering the Globe Hotel with a party of gentlemen, but I did not want
+to mortify you by speaking to you in company; so I waited until you came
+to this house, intending then to call upon you late in the evening, when
+no one would see me; but you went out in your carriage, and remained so
+late, that I put off my visit until this morning. I thought that,
+considering our former relations to each other, you would be willing to
+set me on my feet again."
+
+"I shall be very glad indeed to do so," replied the Don, eagerly, "and
+you must tell me what you wish to do, and where you wish to go."
+
+"Well, just now I should like to go to breakfast, Don Juan," said
+Pietro, with a gaunt smile; "but I have no money to pay for my meal."
+
+"Don't call me 'Don Juan,' my dear friend," said the Don. "I have
+adopted another name for use in this country, and of course no one knows
+me except as Don Pedro P. L. de Morito."
+
+"Oh, ho! is that all there is of it?" asked Pietro, with a laugh. "Well,
+I shall remember in future to call you 'Don Pedro'; but what can you do
+for me in the way of money and clothes?"
+
+"I will give you fifty dollars at once, and you can get a new outfit
+yourself; then, when you call again to-morrow morning, we will talk over
+your future plans. I have a very important engagement to keep in about
+fifteen minutes, so I must ask you to excuse me now."
+
+"But I can't get any respectable suit of clothes and underclothing for
+fifty dollars," replied Pietro.
+
+"Well, here are fifty dollars," said the Don handing a roll of bills to
+Pietro, "and my secretary, Monsieur Lesparre, will give you an equal
+amount. You will then have enough to satisfy your immediate wants, and
+we will arrange the rest to-morrow."
+
+So saying, the Don called Monsieur Lesparre and introduced the stranger
+as Pietro Bernardi, a fellow-countryman in distress. The Don was quite
+pale and nervous, and though he did not show any marked signs of
+agitation, a close observer, like Lesparre, could readily see that his
+new visitor was anything but a welcome one.
+
+"I wish you to give Señor Bernardi fifty dollars, Monsieur Lesparre,"
+said the Don, "and order breakfast for him here, if he wishes it. I am
+going out immediately, as I see the carriage is waiting for me, but I
+shall return at lunch-time. _Au revoir_, gentlemen; call about nine
+o'clock to-morrow, Pietro."
+
+The Don then went to his carriage, and Pietro followed Lesparre to his
+business-room, where he received an additional fifty dollars. Pietro
+quickly stowed the money away in his pocket, and walked abruptly out of
+the house, saying:
+
+"I'll not trouble you to prepare breakfast for me, as I can get it down
+town just as well."
+
+The moment Pietro was gone, Lesparre called Salter out of the closet,
+and sent him out on an errand ostensibly; of course, his real duty was
+to "shadow" Mr. Pietro Bernardi, and report the occurrences of the
+morning to me. Salter kept his man in view until he was seated at a
+popular restaurant table, and then, knowing that some time would be
+required before the Peruvian's appetite would be satisfied, my detective
+hurried to my office, and made his report. As it would not be safe to
+detain Salter long away from his duties at the Morito residence, I
+decided to keep a watch upon Bernardi myself until Mr. Bangs could send
+me a man from Chicago. Having sent a telegram to Mr. Bangs, I went to
+the restaurant at once, being joined by Judge Key on the way. Together
+we entered the restaurant, and I quickly discovered Bernardi still
+lingering over his breakfast. We each ordered a cup of coffee, and I
+informed the Judge of the new developments in the case as brought out in
+the conversation between the Don and Bernardi.
+
+"My opinion is," I said, in a tone audible only to the Judge, "that this
+man, Bernardi, knows some important facts relative to the past life of
+Don Pedro, and if we can pump this information out of him, we may
+thereby obtain valuable assistance in our endeavors to outwit the Don.
+Now it shall be my aim to learn all that this man knows, for it may give
+us the means of proceeding against Señor Morito immediately; but even if
+it should not, we may need such information very much. You see, it is
+not impossible that we may be forced to use threats to make him
+disgorge, for I shall not let him escape with his plunder without a
+struggle, even though no news whatever should come from Peru or England.
+At present, however, we will devote some time to this Pietro Bernardi,
+and see what he can tell us."
+
+The Judge fully concurred with me, and said that, as I might be too busy
+to see Senator Muirhead, he would call upon that gentleman and tell him
+the latest news. We accordingly sipped our coffee slowly until Bernardi
+was ready to go, and then I followed him at a little distance, while the
+Judge went to call upon Senator Muirhead.
+
+Bernardi slowly sauntered down the street, smoking a cigar, and soon
+reached a large retail clothing store. I remained in the street watching
+the entrance of the store about an hour, when, as I expected, Bernardi
+came out in a neat business suit complete, but wearing the same old
+boots and hat. These articles were soon replaced by new ones, and after
+a bath and shave, Señor Bernardi was a very different-looking person
+from the rough customer who had visited Don Pedro in the morning. In
+addition to his underclothing, linen, hat, boots, and suit of clothes,
+he purchased at a pawnbroker's shop some very decent jewelry and he now
+appeared like a gentlemanly gambler, or a member of the Board of Trade.
+He did not conclude his business arrangements until he had engaged a
+boarding-place and bought a trunk, which was sent to his lodgings. He
+then appeared to have relieved his mind of all care, and he spent the
+afternoon playing pool and billiards in a fashionable saloon. After
+dining at a restaurant, he went to a minstrel entertainment, after
+which he returned to his lodgings to retire for the night. When I went
+to bed at eleven o'clock, after having followed Bernardi most of the
+day, I realized that the duties of a faithful "shadow" were sometimes
+excessively wearying.
+
+The next morning, however, I found that a Mr. Newton had arrived from
+Chicago in response to my telegram, and I was thus relieved from any
+further anxiety. He was a cool, shrewd fellow, of attractive appearance
+and pleasing manners, so that he was peculiarly fitted to obtain the
+confidence of a man like Bernardi, and it was on that account that I had
+selected him for the work. He had no difficulty in tracking Bernardi to
+Don Pedro's residence, and having seen him admitted there, Newton
+hurried back to report to me. I then instructed him to follow Bernardi
+until he should have an opportunity to make his acquaintance; this could
+be done without difficulty in a drinking or billiard saloon, and he was
+then to cultivate an intimacy with him.
+
+On asking to see Señor Morito, Bernardi was at once admitted, and as
+soon as the Don closed his door, Salter slipped into the closet to
+listen.
+
+"Ah! you are looking much better this morning," said the Don, as he
+scratched a match and handed it to Bernardi to light his cigar.
+
+"Yes, I am feeling much better too. This seems quite like old times,
+doesn't it? As I sit here and puff your fragrant Havanas, I could almost
+imagine you were again in the real estate business in Peru. Ha! ha! that
+was a speculation that paid well, eh?"
+
+"Pietro, you must be careful not to drop a hint of those times to any
+one, or I should be ruined," replied the Don; "I am in good society
+here, and I hope to make a little money out of a scheme I have on hand;
+but it is still quite uncertain whether I shall succeed, and my expenses
+in engineering the affair are fast eating up all my capital. Now, I
+shall be happy to assist you as far as I can, but it will be on
+condition that you leave town; for if you should get tipsy and begin to
+talk about me, I should lose everything. Next month, I may realize my
+hopes, but I am playing a risky game, and I cannot afford to jeopardize
+it. What do you want? Tell me how I can serve you, and how much money
+you need, and if I can help you, I will gladly do so."
+
+"That is fair enough, Don Juan--Pedro, I mean--I only want a start, and
+I shall get along without any difficulty; but to tell the truth, I don't
+know where to go. I could not return to Peru--neither could you, for
+that matter--and I know of only one place where I could succeed and be
+satisfied to stay. I have been thinking of going to Buenos Ayres, if I
+could have a fair sum to start me in good style on arriving there; but
+it is a long journey, and I am in no haste to start. By the way, where
+is your present señorita? or are you really married as you said? Is she
+as handsome as the other was?"
+
+"Yes, she is very handsome," replied the Don, curtly; "but she knows
+nothing about my history previous to our meeting, and I do not wish
+that she should; so let us leave her out of our discussion. I have some
+money left, though it is decreasing rapidly, and I will assist you as
+far as possible, if you will leave Gloster at once; for I am afraid that
+you will begin drinking to excess again, and you know that when you are
+half drunk there is nothing in the world you will not tell. How much do
+you want?"
+
+"Oh! Don Pedro, you need not fear that I shall betray you; but I can't
+start off on a long journey so soon after the fatigue and hardship I
+have undergone during the last month. Just let me have three or four
+hundred dollars to enable me to live in good style for a week or two,
+and to get some better jewelry than this cheap stuff, and I will be
+ready to start for Buenos Ayres as soon as you wish."
+
+"Well, I will give you three hundred dollars now, and as soon as you
+have spent that, you must be ready to leave Gloster on your way out of
+the United States."
+
+So saying, the Don stepped to his dressing-case, opened and then closed
+a drawer, and said:
+
+"There are three rouleaux of gold pieces, each containing one hundred
+dollars. When that is gone, I will buy your ticket to Buenos Ayres or
+Montevideo, as you prefer, and will give you as much money as I can
+possibly spare; you must be prepared to go then."
+
+"All right, my dear Pedro," replied Bernardi, rising to go; "I shall be
+ready at that time. You can trust my discretion, however, as long as I
+stay here, and no one shall ever hear a word from me to your discredit.
+I may call to see you occasionally?"
+
+"Oh! certainly; come in the forenoon. By the way, Pietro, let me caution
+you against gambling while you are here, for I have found that we are no
+match for these Northern gamblers. They will take every dollar from you
+if you venture to stake against them. You will surely lose, and then you
+will want me to supply you again; but I tell you frankly I will not do
+it. I have hardly money enough to carry through my scheme, and if you
+choose to betray me, you can do so, but it won't do you any good
+whatever; whereas, if you are faithful to me, I can spare you a
+reasonable sum to start you afresh in Buenos Ayres."
+
+"Never fear, Don Pedro, I shall be mute as an oyster," and so saying,
+Bernardi took his leave.
+
+The foregoing conversation had taken place in the Don's dressing-room,
+so that Salter had no difficulty in hearing every word, even when the
+speakers dropped their voices to mere whispers; but there was another
+listener in the Don's bed-chamber who was equally successful in
+overhearing all that had been said. The Donna, having heard of the
+arrival of this mysterious Pietro Bernardi the day before, was anxious
+to know who he was and what he came for. Accordingly, she placed herself
+at the keyhole of their chamber door leading into the Don's
+dressing-room, and when Pietro had gone, she entered the Don's
+presence.
+
+"Who was that person, Don Pedro?" she asked, with a sharp tone to her
+voice, foreboding no good to her already nervous and irritated spouse.
+
+"Oh! his name is Pietro Bernardi, and I formerly knew him in Peru. He
+was quite a fine young fellow then, but he has taken to gambling,
+drinking, and general dissipation, so that it is very unpleasant to have
+him turn up here as an acquaintance."
+
+"Is that the only reason why you dislike to see him, Señor Morito?"
+asked the Donna, her manner becoming more clearly inquisitive and
+hostile. "You are too anxious to get rid of him for that to be the sole
+cause of your annoyance at his presence."
+
+"Well, my dear Lucia, the fact is, that he knows enough about me in the
+past to be a very dangerous person to have around just now, for he might
+expose me to the people here, and ruin our schemes upon the Diamond
+Company."
+
+"Why did you not tell me about this? There must be no secrets which I do
+not share, for I do not intend to be deserted by you as you have
+deserted others before. No, no, Don Pedro," she continued, passionately,
+"I heard every word of your conversation with this man, and you must
+understand that you cannot treat me like a doll, to be thrown away when
+you are tired of me. I am able and anxious to help you in all your
+plans, but I must have your full confidence. You know that I love you,
+and you say that you return my love, but sometimes I distrust you. You
+deserted a señorita in Lima, and some day you may try to desert me; but
+I warn you that I would follow you to the ends of the earth, and I could
+easily find it in my heart to kill you if you played me false."
+
+As the Donna uttered these words, her determined tones clearly showed
+that she would have no hesitation in executing her threat. The Don had
+no reply to offer, and finally the Donna closed the conversation by
+saying:
+
+"This is our first approach to a quarrel, and I hope it will be the
+last. You know that I am fearfully excited by any suggestion of the
+possibility of losing you, and this man's words and sneers have made me
+almost beside myself. But recollect, I am not without friends, for there
+are plenty of rich men here who would be delighted to obey my lightest
+whims if I would permit them, and if you should ever desert me, I would
+tell all I know of you, and invoke their aid to bring you to punishment.
+Now let us go along together, without any secrets apart from each other
+in the future, and we shall have no occasion to quarrel again."
+
+The Donna then left the room, and went out to drive with Madame Sevier,
+leaving the Don alone. Salter quickly slipped downstairs, but was
+summoned back by the ringing of the Don's bell. On entering the
+dressing-room, Salter found his employer seated in a large easy-chair,
+looking quite pale and agitated.
+
+"I wish you would bring me a decanter of brandy and a glass, George,"
+said the Don; "I don't feel very well, and I think a sip of cognac will
+do me good."
+
+Salter obeyed orders, and then went to Lesparre's room to report the
+conversations which he had overheard while concealed in the closet.
+Lesparre soon went into the Don's room to talk over the plans for the
+_fête_, but Don Pedro was in low spirits, and did not care to converse.
+He ordered his horse to be brought to the door, and was soon galloping
+down the avenue as a relief to his depressed nerves. Lesparre
+immediately came to my office, reported what Salter had told him, and
+then went about his duty of preparing the island to receive the guests
+on the day of the _fête_.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER VII.
+
+    _Pietro Bernardi and the Detective become Warm Friends.--A
+          "Tête-à-Tête" worth One Thousand Dollars._
+
+
+When Pietro Bernardi left the Morito residence, he sauntered downtown in
+a leisurely manner, with Newton carefully following at a safe distance.
+Bernardi was evidently vain of his personal appearance, for he was
+dissatisfied with his ready-made outfit, and, entering a fashionable
+tailoring establishment, he was measured for a complete suit of clothes.
+The rest of the forenoon was spent in buying shirts, underclothing,
+trinkets, and toilet articles of quite an expensive character. After a
+hasty lunch at a restaurant, Bernardi walked to the post-office, where
+he met a man whose appearance indicated unmistakably the professional
+gambler. They seemed to be old acquaintances, and, after taking a drink
+together, they conversed for some time in low tones. Finally they
+separated, and Bernardi went to his lodgings. About six o'clock he
+reappeared, and Newton followed him to the post-office again, where the
+gambler, who was waiting in the morning, was met apparently by
+appointment. The two men walked a short distance together, and then
+disappeared up a stairway, which, Newton was certain, led to gambling
+rooms. He waited outside nearly an hour undecided what to do, but at
+length he went upstairs among a crowd of young sports, who seemed to
+know the ways of the place, and he was allowed to pass in with them
+unquestioned. He found Bernardi just rising from the dinner-table, which
+the proprietors of the gambling house were in the habit of setting for
+their regular patrons. The faro-table was in full blast, and Bernardi
+was soon seated at it with the air of an old _habitué_. He was
+thenceforward so deeply interested in the game as to pay no attention to
+anything else, and, as he was unusually lucky, his pile of gold pieces
+rapidly increased. Newton took a position at his elbow and watched the
+game in silence for some minutes. At length, seeing Bernardi win a large
+stake, he said in a familiar tone:
+
+"You are unusually lucky to-night, and I see you play for all the game
+is worth."
+
+Keeping his eyes intently fastened upon the dealer's box, Bernardi
+replied carelessly:
+
+"Yes, this is a game where a man must put down his money freely if he
+wants to win."
+
+The next turn of the cards was doubly lucky for Bernardi, and, as he
+raked in his winnings, he glanced up at Newton, scanned his face a
+moment, and said:
+
+"I think I have met you in New Orleans, have I not?"
+
+"Very likely, for I have often been there; but I do not recall your
+name, though your face is quite familiar to me."
+
+"Why, certainly," continued Bernardi, apparently quite pleased at the
+idea of meeting an old New Orleans acquaintance; "my name is Pietro
+Bernardi, and I have often seen you in the rooms of French Joe on
+Magazine street."
+
+"Oh! yes, I used to go there a good deal, and we must have met
+frequently. Let us take something for old acquaintance' sake."
+
+This was taking a short cut to Bernardi's friendship, and as the two
+stood before the sideboard clicking glasses together, a stranger would
+have supposed them to be old cronies, as indeed Bernardi actually
+believed to be the case. Newton instantly saw that Bernardi's frequent
+drinks during the day and his later potations in the evening had
+rendered him somewhat intoxicated; he was not drunk, for he had a
+perfect comprehension of his actions, but he had drunk enough to be very
+happy, and he probably saw in Newton's face a hazy resemblance to some
+one he had known in New Orleans. He soon returned to the faro-table,
+and, taking his seat, asked Newton whether he intended to do any
+betting.
+
+"No, not to-night," Newton replied, yawning. "I am very tired and
+restless, and I make it a rule never to bet when my nerves are shaky."
+
+"Well, that is a mighty good rule," said Bernardi, as he put out a pile
+of gold pieces. "If you will only stick to that plan, you will be sure
+to win. I can always feel when luck is with me, and if I could only make
+up my mind to stop when I know that I cannot win, I should be as
+successful as could be wished; but sometimes I get obstinate when the
+cards begin to run against me, and then I buck against fate until I lose
+all."
+
+Having an absorbing interest in the game, Bernardi talked very little
+after this, but about eleven o'clock he counted his winnings, and,
+finding that they amounted to more than two hundred dollars, he decided
+to withdraw. In company with Newton, therefore, he left the room, and
+entered a bar-room below. They drank and chatted together a short time,
+and then separated, Bernardi going to a well-known house of ill-repute,
+while Newton carefully dogged his footsteps unseen. Knowing that
+Bernardi intended to spend the night where he was, Newton returned to
+his own lodgings. They had agreed to meet at the post-office about
+eleven o'clock next day, and Newton knew that his services would not be
+required before that hour.
+
+About eleven o'clock in the forenoon, Newton and Bernardi met at the
+post-office, as agreed, and, after a morning dram together, they went to
+a restaurant for breakfast.
+
+"How did you enjoy yourself yesterday evening?" asked Newton, as they
+were finishing their meal.
+
+"Oh! very well indeed. I met a young lady whom I used to know in New
+Orleans, and she was very lovely; but I shall never meet one like my
+señorita. She was the most beautiful woman living;" and, as he spoke,
+Bernardi sighed deeply, and became moody, silent, and abstracted.
+
+"Yes; I recollect having seen her with you once in New Orleans," replied
+Newton, on a venture; "is she dead?"
+
+"No, ---- ---- her! I wish she was," replied Bernardi, savagely. "She
+started to come North with me, and I gave her everything she could ask;
+but when I had won a large sum of money at Natchez, she stole several
+thousand dollars from me, and disappeared with a Mississippi gambler,
+whom she had never seen but twice. I didn't care for the money, but I
+loved her passionately, and I cannot think of her without becoming
+enraged. Come, let us go get some brandy; I always have to drink when I
+think of her."
+
+While they were drinking together, Newton asked Bernardi if he was
+always fortunate in gaming.
+
+"Oh! no, indeed; why, less than a week ago I had not a cent to buy my
+breakfast, and I did not know whether to enlist in the army or commit
+suicide."
+
+"Then your present success is marvelous, for you must have won, in all,
+four or five hundred dollars," said Newton, inquiringly.
+
+"No, I did not win it all; in fact, I could not have done so, for I did
+not have a dime to start with; but I met an old friend here who gave me
+a few hundreds, and who will give me more when I want it."
+
+"That's the kind of a friend to have," said Newton, warmly; "come, let
+us drink again to his health. I wish I had met you before, for I would
+have been glad to divide with you. We ought always to stand by each
+other, especially we Southerners, among these Yankee gamblers."
+
+"Yes, that is true," replied Bernardi, taking an immense drink of
+brandy; "they are not so generous to each other as we are down South.
+Now, my friend, whom I spoke of, is one of the right sort. He gave me
+enough for a new outfit, and has promised to give me a good sum when I
+am ready to go South again."
+
+"Is he a Southerner too?" asked Newton.
+
+"Oh! yes," Bernardi replied, "he is from Peru, where I first met him,
+and we have had many a gay time together. I used to keep a fine suite of
+gambling rooms, which he frequented, and he used to play with the utmost
+indifference to the results; he always seemed equally unmoved whether he
+won or lost."
+
+"I suppose you must have been very warm friends," said Newton, "or he
+would not now be so ready to assist you?"
+
+"Well, Don Juan is a very liberal fellow, I admit," answered Bernardi;
+"but he might not be so generous were it not to his interest to be so,"
+he continued, with a knowing wink.
+
+"Oh! ho! I see," replied Newton, nodding his head expressively. "Your
+friend would not care to have you talk about his past history, I
+suppose?"
+
+"Exactly; he knows that I could tell some things about him which might
+spoil his pleasure here, and so he is anxious to keep on good terms with
+me. However, he needn't fear me as long as he treats me decently, for I
+do not wish to injure him, and when I am ready to go I shall get a good
+sum from him to start me in business elsewhere."
+
+"Suppose he should refuse to give you anything more, or have you
+arrested for blackmailing him," suggested Newton.
+
+"I'd like to see him try it," Bernardi exclaimed, with a volley of
+oaths. "I guess two could play at the game of swearing out warrants, and
+when the account was balanced, his imprisonment would be twenty times
+as long as mine. No, no; I have no fear that he will attempt such a
+thing."
+
+"I merely spoke of it as a possibility," said Newton, "in order that you
+should be on your guard. A man with wealth and position might succeed in
+crushing a friendless poor man in spite of the latter's protestations.
+However, if any such thing should happen, you can depend upon it that I
+will work for you until you are released."
+
+"That's right, my friend," replied Bernardi, as he called for another
+drink of brandy. "If I should suddenly disappear without warning to you,
+don't fail to search for me everywhere, and I will see that you are
+handsomely rewarded. If Don Juan should attempt any treachery, I should
+have him at my mercy as soon as I should get free, and, together, we
+could squeeze a large sum out of him."
+
+Newton spent the day with Bernardi, and they became quite inseparable.
+After driving about the city for an hour or two, they attended a matinée
+performance at one of the theatres, and then had a long and sumptuous
+dinner at a fashionable restaurant. In the evening they went to the
+gambling-rooms where they had met the night before, and Bernardi was
+soon absorbed in the game of faro. His luck still clung to him, and, on
+leaving the place at midnight, he had won three hundred dollars more. As
+before, Bernardi went to enjoy the society of his New Orleans charmer,
+and Newton went to his own lodgings.
+
+After Newton had made his report to me, early the next morning, I told
+him to continue his intimacy with Bernardi, and to pump him as
+thoroughly as possible relative to Don Pedro's past history. Soon after
+his departure to meet Bernardi, Senator Muirhead and Judge Key entered,
+and we discussed the possibility of doing anything with this new
+witness, Pietro Bernardi.
+
+"Would it not be possible to frighten him into telling all he knows of
+Don Pedro?" asked the Senator.
+
+"I hardly think we could," I replied. "In the first place, you have no
+charge whatever against Bernardi, nor any reason to suppose that he has
+ever been a criminal anywhere; hence, how could we frighten him?
+Moreover, he is a man of considerable nerve, and he would see that, as
+against third parties, his interests would be best served by supporting,
+instead of attacking, Don Pedro. No, I don't see anything to be gained
+as yet by showing our hands. Our object is to recover possession of the
+money paid to the Don for those bogus diamond fields, and to do that, we
+must wait until we have a sure case against him for his crimes committed
+elsewhere."
+
+"I agree with you wholly," added Judge Key. "Besides, this fellow,
+Bernardi, knows nothing of the Don's forgeries and frauds except those
+committed in Peru, and as we have before shown, we could make no use of
+those accusations until we hear from Peru. Indeed, it is questionable
+how far we can proceed even then, for we have no extradition treaty with
+that country."
+
+"Well, I do not mind that very much," I replied, "for my chief
+dependence is upon the moral effect upon Don Pedro. I think that we can
+so work upon him as to obtain his consent to go to Peru voluntarily,
+rather than to be detained here until a requisition arrives from
+England. He knows that if he be sent to England, he will be transported
+for a long term of years; whereas, in Peru, he may avoid conviction
+altogether, or purchase his escape after conviction."
+
+"But can we make him give up his plunder?" asked the Senator, anxiously.
+
+"I think we can," said I. "You see that he is liable to be held here for
+obtaining money under false pretenses, and during the trial the money
+could be taken by attachment. Then, even though he should not be
+convicted, the delay would enable us to make sure of sending him back to
+London, where a heavy sentence would undoubtedly be given him. Now, by
+representing these things to him, we shall induce him to hand over the
+money voluntarily, and after that we shall not care whether he is taken
+to Great Britain or Peru."
+
+"If that be the case, why not arrest him now and get the advices from
+London afterward?" asked the Senator, who was very anxious to hasten
+matters.
+
+"Because we could not present a sufficient case to hold him under the
+preliminary examination," replied Judge Key. "When we get official news
+of the fellow's character from Peru, we shall have a sure thing against
+him, and then I shall feel ready to act; but I agree with Mr. Pinkerton
+that there would be danger in overhaste. You see, we have him carefully
+watched, and there is no probability that he intends to make off until
+after this _fête champêtre_; therefore, let us wait for our foreign
+advices as long as we can, and in case he prepares to go before they
+arrive, it will be time enough to arrest him then."
+
+"How about the Donna?" asked Muirhead. "Do you propose to take any steps
+against her?"
+
+"I don't see how we can," I replied. "With the exception of the sums she
+has received from Mather, she has obtained nothing fraudulently; and, as
+you may well suppose, we could never get Mather to testify against her;
+so I guess we need not trouble ourselves to interfere with the lovely
+Donna at all."
+
+Our conference then broke up with the understanding that we should
+assemble again the moment any new facts in the case should be developed.
+Just after the gentlemen had left, Madame Sevier came in and reported a
+scene between Mather and the Donna which had taken place the previous
+evening.
+
+The Don had remained at home entertaining various guests until nine
+o'clock. He had then gone out with Lesparre and several other gentlemen,
+to attend a banquet and ball given by a semi-political club at one of
+the hotels. The affair was attended by many highly respectable ladies,
+particularly by those whose husbands had any political aspirations, but
+it was not sufficiently exclusive to satisfy the Donna, and she remained
+at home. The visitors gradually dropped out until only Mr. Mather
+remained, and then Madame Sevier excused herself, on the plea of
+fatigue, in order to retire. Instead of going to her room, however, she
+hastened to the library and hid herself behind a statue standing in a
+deep bay window, which was heavily shrouded with drapery and curtains.
+Thus placed, she was completely hidden from the sight of any one in the
+library, though she had a perfect view herself, and she could hear every
+word spoken in the room.
+
+As she expected, the Donna soon entered, followed by Mr. Mather. The
+latter seemed to consider that the Donna could refuse him nothing, for
+he put his arms around her, and was about to kiss her, when he found her
+fan quickly interposed between their faces.
+
+"You are too free with your caresses, Señor Mather," she said, coldly,
+slipping out of his embrace, and pointing out a chair to him at some
+distance from the sofa, upon which she seated herself.
+
+Poor Mather was quite astonished, for, having kissed her several times
+before, he supposed that he could continue doing so whenever he wished;
+but the Donna was an expert fisher of men, and she recognized the force
+of that old proverb, "Familiarity breeds contempt;" besides, she wanted
+some more money, and she knew that her elderly lover would gladly
+purchase her kisses at a round price. The folly of giving them away
+gratis could not be indulged in, therefore, and she kept her sighing
+swain at a distance for a little time. She was too politic to give even
+the slightest hint of her object in the conversation which ensued, but
+she used every possible allurement to fascinate her victim, while she
+would allow him no liberties nor caresses. Mather could not fail to
+recollect the affectionate manner in which she had received his previous
+gifts, and he therefore decided to try the same policy again.
+
+"I saw a beautiful camel's hair shawl to-day," he said, "and I was going
+to get it for you, my dear Lucia, but I did not know whether it would
+suit you, and so I determined to let you select your own gift. The shawl
+was worth one thousand dollars, and I made up my mind to give you the
+amount that I should have paid for it, and you could then exercise your
+own taste."
+
+"Oh! my dear Henry," she exclaimed, "how thoughtful you are! How can I
+sufficiently thank you?" and she made room for him on the sofa, as he
+advanced holding out a roll of bills.
+
+"You know how you can please me best," he answered, tenderly, bending
+over her.
+
+"Oh! really, Henry, you mustn't," she protested, feebly, as he showered
+kisses on her cheeks and lips; "suppose any one should come in!"
+
+As she spoke, a carriage stopped in front of the house, and their
+affectionate _tête-à-tête_ was interrupted by the unexpected return of
+Lesparre, who, having left his watch at home, had returned to get it. He
+did not enter the parlor nor the library, but the Donna seemed very much
+agitated at the mere possibility of being detected in a compromising
+situation, and so Mather took his departure. The coolness with which she
+counted the money, after he had gone, was in striking contrast with her
+simulated embarrassment while he was present, and it was plain that,
+having obtained the gift, she was quite glad to get rid of the giver.
+She went immediately to her room, and Madame Sevier then retired also.
+
+
+
+
+                        CHAPTER VIII.
+
+    _Don Pedro anxious for Pietro Bernardi's Absence.--"Coppering the
+          Jack and Playing the Ace and Queen open."--A Gambler that
+          could not be Bought.--Splendid Winnings.--Diamond cutting
+          Diamond.--Bernardi quieted, and he subsequently departs richer
+          by five thousand dollars._
+
+
+At eleven o'clock, Newton and Bernardi again met at the post-office, and
+the latter remarked that he intended making a short call upon his
+wealthy friend.
+
+"Come along with me," he said, "and you will see what a fine place he
+has. I shall not remain very long, and if you will wait for me outside,
+we can pass the day together. I hate to go around alone in a strange
+city."
+
+Accordingly they strolled along until they reached Don Pedro's house,
+and Newton agreed to remain near at hand until Bernardi should finish
+his call. Salter was on the lookout, and when Bernardi was admitted, he
+led the way to Don Pedro's room. The moment the door closed on Bernardi,
+Salter took his place at the auger-holes in the adjoining closet, and
+overheard the entire conversation, as before.
+
+"Well, Pietro, have you decided how soon you will be ready to leave
+town?" asked the Don. "From your clothes, jewelry, and other purchases
+you have made, you must have used up most of the money I gave you, and,
+if so, your departure must take place soon; for I warn you again, I
+shall give you nothing more until you depart for some distant city!"
+
+"Well, to tell the truth," replied Bernardi, in an independent,
+indifferent manner, "I am in no hurry to go away just yet. You see, I
+have been very lucky since I've been here, and if I keep on, I guess I
+can repay you the amount you kindly loaned me."
+
+"Do you mean that you have been gambling again?" asked the Don, in a
+vexed tone.
+
+"Yes, and I have won constantly, so that I don't like to change my luck
+by making a move right away. You know gamblers are superstitious, and I
+have a strong feeling that it will be for my interest to remain here for
+some time yet."
+
+"But you promised to go as soon as you felt able to travel," said the
+Don.
+
+"Well, there is no hurry. I haven't done you any harm yet, and I don't
+mean to. Why are you so anxious to get rid of me?"
+
+Of course, Don Pedro's principal fear was that Bernardi would learn how
+large a sum the former had received for his bogus mines, and that he
+would not be satisfied to go unless he got a large slice of the plunder.
+It would not do, however, to excite his suspicions by appearing too
+desirous of sending him away, so the Don changed his tone, and said:
+
+"Oh! I'm sure I don't want to get rid of you as long as you keep sober
+and don't talk about me; but you know how it is, Pietro; if you should
+get drunk and talk about me, you would tell everything you know, and the
+result would be that I should have to flee the town without
+accomplishing my object. In that case, I should lose not only all that I
+hoped to make, but also all the immense outlay I have made in preparing
+my scheme. If you want to go to New Orleans again, I will start you in a
+faro-bank there, and will come down there next winter to play with you;
+but I confess I should feel easier if you were out of Gloster for the
+present."
+
+"Well, I will be ready to go in a few days, if you insist upon it, but I
+don't see the necessity of such haste. However, I will come in again
+and talk about it before the end of the week. I want to win a little
+more before I go."
+
+"How have you been betting?" asked Morito, in a conciliatory manner.
+
+"I have been 'coppering' the jack and playing the ace and queen
+'open,'[A] and I have won constantly. I left them a few times and played
+other cards, but I always lost when I did so. Now I am going to stick to
+that scheme right along."
+
+   [A] These are technical terms in playing faro. The player meant
+   that he was in the habit of making one bet that the jack would be a
+   losing card all the time, and another that the ace and queen would be
+   winning cards.
+
+"Where are you playing?" asked the Don, carelessly.
+
+"I generally go to Dave Carter's, in Mahogany Block, for I think he
+deals a 'square' game."
+
+"Yes, I suppose so," said Morito; "as much so as any of them; but they
+are all sharpers here, and they may have been letting you win on
+purpose, thinking that you had a large sum in reserve which they hope to
+catch hereafter. If you will take my advice, you will stop while you are
+ahead. You know, from your own experience as a banker, that the 'bank'
+always wins in the end."
+
+"Well, I shall try a few more games, and then I shall be ready to talk
+with you about going South. I want to run my luck while it is good," and
+so saying, Bernardi rose to go.
+
+"All right, Pietro," said Don Pedro, "be careful not to get swindled,
+and to keep silent about me."
+
+The moment Bernardi was gone, the Don rang his bell violently, and sent
+for Monsieur Lesparre. When the latter entered the Don's room, he found
+his employer in a more disturbed and excited condition than he had ever
+before indulged in, and evidently he meant mischief to some one.
+
+"Lesparre, that fellow Bernardi, of whom I spoke to you the other day,
+has been here again," burst out the Don. "I gave him a considerable sum
+of money to set him on his feet again, for old acquaintance' sake,
+expecting that he would return to his friends in the South, or, at
+least, behave like a decent gentleman; but he has returned to his old
+habits of gambling and drinking, so that, at any moment, he may come
+here and mortify me before a party of my guests, or, worse still, claim
+me as his friend when arraigned in a police court for drunkenness,
+_etcetera_. He promised to leave town as soon as the money I gave him
+was gone, and I was to give him then a respectable sum to start him in
+business elsewhere; but he has won considerably at the faro-table, and
+he is now independent of me, and therefore declines to keep his promise
+until he is ready."
+
+"Would he go, do you think, if he should lose all he has?" asked
+Lesparre.
+
+"Oh! yes, indeed; he would be forced to yield to my terms then, and I
+should give him nothing until he started."
+
+"How would it do to suggest to the proprietor of the gambling rooms that
+it would be doubly for his interest to fleece this man? I think it could
+easily be done, if the 'bank' were so disposed."
+
+"I have no doubt of it, especially as I know the way he intends to bet
+all the time," replied the Don, eagerly; "he 'coppers' the jack and
+plays the ace and queen 'open.' It must be a pretty poor dealer who
+cannot 'stack' those cards, with such a stake in view. Suppose you drop
+a hint to Dave Carter, or to the dealer to-night, before Bernardi goes
+there."
+
+"I will go down at once," replied Lesparre, "and I will promise him
+three hundred dollars additional if he wins all that Bernardi has; that
+is not too much, is it?"
+
+"No, indeed!" exclaimed the Don; "I would gladly give five hundred, if
+necessary."
+
+Lesparre arrived at the gambling rooms about noon, and at that early
+hour no one was present except the proprietor and one of the dealers.
+Lesparre obtained an interview with the proprietor alone, and then asked
+him if he would like to make a thousand dollars.
+
+"Oh! yes," he replied, in an indifferent way, "I should have no
+objection, although it would not be such a novelty that I need take a
+great deal of trouble about it. The 'bank' often wins more than that in
+a single evening."
+
+"Well, there is a South American who has been playing here recently,
+against whom I have a bitter grudge. He has about six hundred dollars
+now, most of which he has won here. He has one regular system of
+playing--'coppering' the jack and playing the ace and queen to win--and
+you can easily fix those cards so as to clean him out in one evening.
+The moment you have done that, I will give you five hundred dollars
+more."
+
+The gambler fixed a keen look upon Lesparre for a moment, and then
+replied that he was no gudgeon to bite such a stale bait as that. He
+added that they played a "square" game, and if a man won, he was welcome
+to his winnings; but that no trickery would be resorted to against any
+patron of the house. Lesparre was obliged to withdraw, feeling that he
+had made a mistake in proposing the plan so openly.
+
+That evening, after a day spent in playing billiards and driving about,
+Bernardi and Newton again entered the gambling saloon. Bernardi did not
+make any bets for some time, but stood watching the game in silence,
+apparently guessing as to the winning and losing cards to determine
+whether he was in luck. Finally he bet fifty dollars on the ace and
+lost; this was followed by one hundred dollars on the same card, which
+again lost. He waited a few deals and then placed two hundred dollars on
+the queen to win, and one hundred dollars on the jack to lose. The cards
+fell as he had hoped, and gathering in his stakes and winnings, he
+began betting in earnest. His luck was wonderful, and as all his bets
+were for fifty dollars or more, he soon had quite a large sum. Presently
+he stopped betting, and went to the bar with Newton. They talked and
+drank together for some minutes, but Bernardi was not ready to leave
+just then. His winnings were already quite sufficient to cause the
+proprietor to regard him with a considerable degree of interest, and
+when he returned to the faro-table, a seat was given him at once. He
+made no bets for some minutes, but at length he asked:
+
+[Illustration: _This was taking a short cut to Bernardi's friendship._]
+
+"What is your limit to-night?"
+
+"Five hundred dollars," was the reply.
+
+Bernardi then placed four hundred dollars on the nine spot, and, a
+moment later, he was again a winner. He now seemed satisfied, for he
+presented his "chips" for payment, and received cash therefor. The
+proprietor then invited Bernardi and Newton to drink with him, and,
+while standing at the sideboard, the proprietor asked Bernardi whether
+he had many acquaintances in the city.
+
+"No," replied Bernardi, "I have very few; why do you ask?"
+
+"Because one of them is your enemy, or else he was trying to play a
+trick on the 'bank' this morning," continued the proprietor, watching
+Bernardi narrowly. "He came in about noon, and wanted the cards put up
+so that you should be cleaned out of all your money."
+
+"The devil you say!" ejaculated Bernardi; "why did he want to clean me
+out?"
+
+"That I can't say; but he told me that he had a bitter grudge against
+you, and that he would give a great deal to injure you."
+
+"I do not know any one here who could say that of me," replied Bernardi,
+thoughtfully. "There is only one man in the city who knows me
+intimately, and I do not see why he should wish me to lose, even if he
+did hate me. Was he a South American, like myself?"
+
+"No; he might have been a foreigner, but he was not dark-complexioned."
+
+"Well, I cannot imagine who it could have been," mused Bernardi; "and I
+guess I need not be afraid of him, if he goes to work in that roundabout
+way. However, I am obliged to you for the information, and I will take
+care that he does not drop on me unexpectedly. So-long."
+
+As Bernardi walked down the street with Newton, he was evidently deeply
+abstracted, for he muttered to himself in Spanish, and swore at
+intervals in quite an excited manner. Finally, he said aloud:
+
+"I don't know what to think about this story. It may be that this
+gambler made it up to shake my nerves, or to cover some plot against me;
+but I have a sort of feeling that Don Juan is at the bottom of it. I
+don't fear him one bit, but I want to solve the mystery, and if he has
+been plotting against me, I will have my revenge upon him. But, no; I
+can't see what he could gain by it, and I think, perhaps, this gang
+despair of breaking my luck, and are planning to rob me by force."
+
+"That seems reasonable," replied Newton, "for then you would attribute
+the act to this unknown enemy, and they would escape suspicion. Still,"
+he continued, anxious to lead the conversation back to Don Pedro as a
+subject, "your first supposition may be the correct one, and your
+pretended friend may be scheming to ruin you."
+
+"But why should he want me to lose money?" persisted Bernardi. "He knows
+that I should come to him for more, and that he would be obliged to give
+it to me."
+
+"Perhaps he would like to get rid of your presence," cautiously
+suggested Newton; "and if you were penniless, he could insist upon your
+departure as a condition upon which alone he would give you money."
+
+"Caramba! I believe you are right, my friend," Bernardi exclaimed,
+furiously; "and if I find that it is so, I will make Don Juan, or Don
+Pedro, as he calls himself now, regret the day he played me false."
+
+"Don't be over-hasty," counseled Newton, "for the whole story may be a
+gambler's lie after all."
+
+"Oh! I will investigate it carefully," answered Bernardi, "and, when I
+am satisfied about the truth of the matter, I will consult with you as
+to the best course to pursue. It is a good thing to have a friend to
+advise with, especially among such a gang of thieves as seem to hang
+'round these rooms. Meet me to-morrow, as usual, and I will go see my
+friend again."
+
+The men then separated, and went to their respective lodgings for the
+night.
+
+In the morning they met, took breakfast together, and afterwards
+sauntered down to visit Don Pedro. As before, Bernardi was conducted
+straight to the Don's room, and Salter again stationed himself in the
+closet to listen.
+
+"So you are still successful?" was the first remark he heard.
+
+"Yes, moderately so," replied Bernardi; "but it is strange how cards run
+sometimes."
+
+"Well, you ought not to be astonished at anything after your long
+experience in gambling."
+
+"Oh! I'm never astonished," said Bernardi, who had drunk a good deal of
+brandy before and after breakfast; "but I was thinking how lucky it was
+that I changed my mind last night about playing those three cards--the
+jack, ace, and queen."
+
+"How so?" asked Morito.
+
+"Well, if I had played the jack 'coppered,' and the ace and queen
+'open,' last night, all the evening, I should have been entirely cleaned
+out; what do you think of that?"
+
+"I think you were very lucky in having played elsewhere," replied the
+Don; "but what's the matter with you? What makes you look at me so
+strangely?"
+
+"I want to find out whether it was you who sent a man to tell Dave
+Carter, the gambler, how I was playing, and to ask him to fix the cards
+so that I should lose all I had."
+
+Bernardi's voice was husky with liquor and anger, and he had evidently
+worked himself up into a great rage; but, in spite of his partial
+intoxication, he was very determined, and his tones foreboded no
+good-will to the Don. In a contest of words, however, he was no match
+for his opponent, and Don Pedro instantly took the most effectual method
+for quieting his visitor's suspicions.
+
+"My dear Pietro," he began, contemptuously, "I gave you credit for more
+common-sense than you seem disposed to claim for yourself. Why should I
+want you to lose? On the contrary, I would like to see you win enough to
+start in business for yourself, and repay me what I have loaned you, for
+I assure you that I much prefer to have you spend your money than mine.
+I have none too much for my own wants, and if you could repay me, I
+should be delighted. What is the reason for your question?"
+
+Bernardi did not reply for two or three minutes; he was evidently keenly
+scrutinizing Don Pedro's face; but at length he said:
+
+"Well, it's all right now, and I suppose I was wrong to suspect you; but
+the proprietor of the place where I gamble told me that some one had
+been trying to get him to play a trick on me, and I determined to find
+out who it was."
+
+"Well, Pietro, I don't think you would have thought of suspecting me if
+your head had not been fuddled with liquor. Why can't you stop drinking
+for a month or two?"
+
+"What do you care about my drinking?" asked Bernardi, in a half-cowed
+manner.
+
+"Because Pietro drunk is a very different fellow from Pietro sober; and
+some day you will let out some damaging reports about me, and then all
+hope of making anything here will be destroyed. If I could feel sure
+that you would remain sober, I would gladly start you in a good 'bank'
+here."
+
+Of course, Don Pedro had no intention of doing anything of the kind, but
+he saw that Bernardi was in a dangerous mood, and that he must handle
+him very skillfully if he wished to get him to leave the city. The Don
+knew that to urge him to leave would be the surest way to make him stay,
+but that, if left to follow his own inclinations, he would be anxious to
+go South, where the climate and people were more congenial to him.
+Hence, Don Pedro boldly took the ground that he was quite willing for
+Bernardi to stay if he would only keep sober, and Bernardi quickly fell
+into the trap.
+
+"I don't want to start a 'bank' in this place," he said, "and I can't
+get along in this climate without drinking. I have been moderately
+successful here, and I am in no hurry to leave, but I should like to go
+back to New Orleans, if I could fit up a good place there, and deal a
+first-class game."
+
+"How much would you need for that purpose?" asked the Don. "If I can
+let you have it, I will do so, and you can stay here or go back to New
+Orleans, as you may prefer; only I shall make one condition: that you
+promise faithfully to drink nothing but wine while you are in this city,
+until I get ready to leave. Will three thousand dollars be enough?"
+
+"Hardly; I have won some money here, to be sure, but it will cost a good
+deal to spread a handsome layout in New Orleans--as for this place,
+there are not enough gentlemen gamesters here; the gamblers are all
+trying to live on each other. If you will make it five thousand, I will
+start for New Orleans day after to-morrow."
+
+"That is more than I ought to pay out in my present circumstances," said
+the Don, thoughtfully; "but I guess I can run the establishment on
+credit for about a month, and that will help me out; so if you will go
+to-morrow, I will give you five thousand when you start."
+
+"Done!" replied Bernardi, much gratified at having obtained so large a
+sum. "I have nothing to do except to get a young lady friend to go with
+me, and she won't need a great while to make her preparations. So you
+can have the money ready to-morrow?"
+
+"It shall be awaiting you any time that you call for it," answered
+Morito, and Bernardi then took his departure.
+
+On joining Newton, Bernardi was in high spirits, and he talked very
+freely of his intended plans.
+
+"My friend convinced me that he had nothing to do with the trick which
+the gambler said some one tried to play upon me, and as a proof of his
+regard, he is going to give me a start in New Orleans. I shall leave
+here to-morrow, and if you would like to go in with me, we can make a
+pile of money there."
+
+"I can't very well leave here for some time yet," said Newton, "for I
+have a large sum staked in bets on the races next month, and I shall
+have no money until they take place. I have a sure thing on a new horse,
+and I have got such large odds that I have put up every dollar I could
+reach. I shall clear about ten thousand dollars sure, and then if you
+are so disposed, I will join you in New Orleans."
+
+"All right, we'll do it; but then, you may lose everything instead of
+winning. I don't care to bet on races, myself; there are too many
+chances to deal from the bottom."
+
+"There is no danger in this case, so you must let me know where I can
+find you, and within a month I will join you in the Crescent City."
+
+Bernardi then went to see his fair and frail charmer, to obtain her
+company on his Southern trip, and Newton came to my room to report. I
+instructed him to stay with Bernardi as much as possible while the
+latter remained in the city, and to be sure to obtain his address in New
+Orleans. I then called upon Senator Muirhead and informed him of the
+proposed departure of Bernardi. The Senator was very anxious to detain
+him in some way, in order to get his testimony, in case we should fail
+to hear from England or Peru in time; but I was unable to suggest any
+plan for holding this man without exposing our whole connection with the
+case. Bernardi was evidently ready to act in good faith with Don Pedro,
+and any endeavor to retard his departure would be regarded by him as
+coming from the gang of gamblers from whom he had won money. There was
+no doubt but that he would keep up a correspondence with Newton, and we
+should thus know where to find him in case his presence should be
+needed. We decided, therefore, to let him go as he intended.
+
+Early in the evening, Bernardi and Newton went as usual to the
+gaming-rooms. There they met a stranger, who seemed to be a Spaniard or
+Cuban. Bernardi addressed him in Spanish, and after some conversation,
+they sat down to play. By some freak of luck, Bernardi continually won
+his small bets, but whenever he put out a large amount, he lost. The
+Cuban stranger had the same experience, and at length Bernardi rose in
+disgust and left the rooms with Newton, having lost about two hundred
+dollars.
+
+"Those fellows have got some kind of a 'skin-game' at work," he said,
+"and they tried to beat me and that Cuban out of all our cash. I gave
+him a hint in Spanish before I came away, and I hope he will stop before
+they fleece him. Now let us go to the theatre."
+
+They attended one of the theatres, and then had a glorious supper at
+Bernardi's expense after the performance was over. About midnight, they
+parted with mutual good wishes, and Bernardi promised to write to Newton
+as soon as he should reach New Orleans.
+
+The next morning Bernardi called upon Don Pedro and received the
+promised amount of five thousand dollars, assuring him that he should
+leave the city that afternoon. As soon as he left the house, the Don
+asked Lesparre to keep a watch upon Bernardi to make sure of his leaving
+according to promise. When Lesparre returned about three o'clock, and
+reported that Bernardi was then actually on his way to Cairo,
+accompanied by a young lady, the Don was overjoyed, and he expressed
+himself greatly relieved thereby.
+
+"Now we can take more interest in our _fête champêtre_, and we will make
+it the most delightful affair ever known in this country," he said,
+exultantly. "When it is over, my dear Lesparre, we will make a tour of
+the fashionable watering-places, and enjoy life to the full."
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER IX.
+
+    _Important Information from the Peruvian Government.--Arrival in
+          Gloster of the Peruvian Minister and Consul.--In
+          Consultation.--"Robbing Peter to pay Paul."--Mr. Pinkerton's
+          card is presented.--Juan Sanchez, I arrest you, and you are my
+          Prisoner.--Mr. Pinkerton not "For Sale."--A Dramatic
+          Scene.--The Bubble burst._
+
+
+Several days now sped by with no fresh developments, and Don Pedro was
+almost constantly engaged in his preparations for the _fête champêtre_.
+As the day approached, society was stirred to its very center, and
+nothing was spoken of save this grand event of the season.
+
+But four days remained before the _fête_, when I was delighted by
+receiving a letter from the Secretary of State for Peru, giving full
+particulars of the forgeries and frauds committed by Don Juan Sanchez in
+that country, and enclosing a fine portrait of the man. One glance at
+the picture was sufficient to assure me of the identity of Don Pedro P.
+L. de Morito with Don Juan Sanchez, and I now felt ready to act. The
+letter informed me that a Peruvian official would be dispatched to
+Gloster at once, to obtain the arrest of Don Pedro, though there were a
+great many difficulties in the way, owing to the lack of an extradition
+treaty. Every effort would be made, however, to bring him to justice,
+and the Peruvian Minister at Washington would be instructed to confer
+with me.
+
+I informed Senator Muirhead and Judge Key of this news, and they were
+both much encouraged at the prospect, especially as we learned that a
+Peruvian man-of-war had arrived in New York from Aspinwall, it being
+doubtless intended that this vessel should take the prisoner to Peru, in
+case he could be frightened into surrendering himself.
+
+The _fête_ was to take place on Wednesday, if the weather should be
+favorable, or on the first pleasant day thereafter, and everything was
+already in complete order for the grand occasion. A large and elegant
+steamer had been chartered to convey the guests to the island, and she
+was to make several trips during the day for the convenience of business
+men who could not go early. There remained nothing further to be done,
+except to pray for fine weather on the important day.
+
+On Monday morning I was told that two gentlemen were waiting to see me,
+on very important business, at one of the leading hotels. I accompanied
+the messenger, and was at once shown to the room of the Peruvian
+Minister, who was accompanied by the Peruvian Consul at New York. Before
+proceeding to business, I informed the Minister that I was acting under
+the instructions of Senator Muirhead, and that I should like to send for
+that gentleman, and for my legal adviser, Judge Key. The Peruvian
+officials made no objection, and both Judge Key and the Senator were
+soon with us, ready for consultation. As the new arrivals were tired and
+dusty after their long journey, we merely exchanged information relative
+to Don Pedro, and agreed to meet at ten o'clock next morning, to make
+plans for his arrest.
+
+At the appointed hour, we were all prompt in arriving at the parlor of
+the Minister. The latter and the Consul, in accordance with a suggestion
+I had made the day previous, had not mentioned their official rank to
+any one, and had remained as secluded as possible, in order to prevent
+Morito from knowing of their arrival in the city.
+
+The Minister stated that the forgeries of Don Juan Sanchez in Peru had
+been so enormous, amounting to more than seven hundred thousand dollars,
+that the government had taken up the pursuit of the criminal with
+unusual zeal, and no effort nor expense would be spared to bring him to
+justice. Unfortunately, however, in the absence of any extradition
+treaty between Peru and the United States, the chances of securing Don
+Juan, even now that he had been discovered, were not bright; indeed, the
+Minister acknowledged that he saw no way of accomplishing it.
+
+"By an appeal to law," said Judge Key, "nothing _can_ be gained; but it
+is possible that my friend, Mr. Pinkerton, may have a plan which will
+induce Don Pedro, as he now calls himself, to surrender voluntarily
+rather than stand trial here or in Great Britain. Let us hear your
+opinion, then, Mr. Pinkerton."
+
+"Well, gentlemen," I replied, "this is a case where the greatest care
+must be exercised, for the criminal is a bold, skillful man, of good
+education and address, with, probably, a fair knowledge of his legal
+rights. We cannot afford to make any mistakes, for he would surely take
+advantage of them. We must, therefore, present the case to him in such a
+way that he will believe it to be to his interest to give himself up.
+The presence of the Peruvian man-of-war in New York is very fortunate,
+for, once under her flag, he cannot escape; but he must be induced to go
+on board voluntarily, or else we shall be liable to the charge of
+kidnapping."
+
+I then explained the method by which he had had swindled the citizens of
+Gloster, and showed how difficult it would be to convict him of
+anything, owing to the probability that his victims would refuse to
+testify against him; besides, for obtaining money under false pretenses,
+a short imprisonment only could be inflicted, and then he would be free
+to go where he pleased.
+
+"However," I continued, "I think I can present to him his position in
+such a light that he will regard a surrender to the Peruvian authorities
+as preferable to a long trial and detention here, with the possibility
+of being sent to California or Great Britain for trial on a more serious
+charge. When he knows that we are fully acquainted with his past
+career, he may be willing to accept our terms rather than to defy us."
+
+"Suppose, however," said the Minister, "that he should refuse all terms,
+and determine to fight it out?"
+
+"In that case," I replied, "we should be obliged to arrest him here for
+obtaining money under false pretenses, and be prepared to arrest him
+again the moment he should be set free, repeating the operation as often
+as we could get different victims to enter complaint against him. The
+number of stockholders in this bogus company is quite large, so that we
+could easily hold him until a requisition could be obtained from
+California or England."
+
+"How large a sum has he in his possession now?" asked the Consul.
+
+"About half a million dollars," replied the Senator.
+
+"Well," said the Consul, "that sum will go far toward reimbursing the
+people whom he swindled in Peru, so I think that Mr. Pinkerton's plan is
+the best that can be adopted. We might induce him to go aboard our
+vessel by promising to use our influence to lighten his sentence, in
+case he makes restitution to his victims in Peru."
+
+The Consul made these remarks with a wise expression, as if he thought
+he had hit upon a very easy way of solving the problem. The Senator,
+Judge Key, and I exchanged looks of astonishment and amusement at this
+cool proposal to take our citizens' money to reimburse the Peruvians;
+it was a case of "robbing Peter to pay Paul" which we could not
+appreciate. Finally, I said:
+
+"I presume that there can be no question as to the way to dispose of
+this money which Don Pedro has in his possession. Not one penny of it
+came from Peru, and we cannot permit any of it to be taken there. On
+arriving here Don Pedro had only a few thousand dollars, which he
+obtained in England by forgery. This sum he has already used up, and the
+only money in his possession has been obtained by the sale of his
+fictitious diamond fields in Peru. It would be manifestly unjust to
+allow this money to be taken away, and it is our intention to obtain it
+at all hazards, whatever may become of the Don."
+
+"Oh! I shall make no such claim, Mr. Pinkerton," said the Minister;
+"that was only a suggestion of the Consul, who did not understand
+exactly how the money referred to came into this man's hands. All that I
+care for is to get Don Pedro on board our vessel, and I shall be pleased
+to pay for your services in the matter. We must be careful, however,
+that there shall be no opportunity to charge us with kidnapping, for we
+wish to avoid any possibility of complications with the United States;
+the fellow has made us trouble enough already."
+
+"I will arrange that matter satisfactorily," I replied; "as for the
+question of payment, I am acting wholly in the interest of Senator
+Muirhead, and under his instructions, so that I can accept nothing
+except from him."
+
+We spent an hour or two more in preparing papers and arranging the
+details of our plans, the conclusion being that we should make the
+arrest that evening, about seven o'clock, when there would be few or no
+visitors at Don Pedro's house. As I had supposed, there was no charge
+whatever against the Donna, and my only intentions with regard to her
+were to see that she did not carry off any of the money belonging to the
+Diamond Company stockholders, nor assist the Don to escape. It was
+decided to send Don Pedro to New York immediately, in case he yielded to
+our terms, and the Donna would be at liberty to go or stay, as she might
+see fit.
+
+On returning to my office, I found Bangs and Lesparre awaiting me, and
+the latter said that he believed the Don and Donna intended to take
+flight immediately after the _fête_. They probably desired to finish
+their career in Gloster in a blaze of glory, and, as they would not be
+expected to receive visitors for two or three days after the _fête_,
+they would have a good start before their departure would become known.
+I told Lesparre to see that Madame Sevier and Salter kept a close watch
+for the remainder of the day, and in case any attempt should be made to
+remove the box containing Don Pedro's coin, he must send Salter to me
+instantly with the news. I also suggested that the servants be kept out
+of the way that evening, so that no one should know of our visit.
+Lesparre departed to attend to his duties, and I remained to complete
+the details of my plans with Mr. Bangs, who had arrived from Chicago
+with two detectives, in obedience to my summons.
+
+About six o'clock, Senator Muirhead and Judge Key arrived, and a more
+nervous man than the former I never saw. In a few minutes the Peruvian
+Minister and Consul arrived, and we proceeded in carriages to Don
+Pedro's house, the Senator remaining at the hotel, however. We left the
+carriages a short distance away, so as not to attract attention, and,
+while Mr. Bangs's two men stationed themselves to watch the house, the
+rest of my party ascended the steps and were admitted by Salter.
+
+"The family are still at dinner," said Salter, "but they are finishing
+the dessert, and I presume Don Pedro will go to the billiard-room after
+dinner to smoke, as usual."
+
+"Give him my card as he leaves the dining-room," I said, "and tell him
+that I am waiting to see him in the drawing-room."
+
+In a few minutes, Don Pedro and Lesparre rose from the table, and Salter
+gave my card to the former.
+
+"Pinkerton! Pinkerton! I don't know any one of that name; do I,
+Lesparre?"
+
+"Possibly it may be some gentleman having business with you in
+connection with the _fête_," suggested Lesparre.
+
+"Ah! very true; where is he, George? I will see him at once," said the
+Don, unsuspectingly.
+
+Salter led the way to the drawing-room, where I alone was waiting, the
+rest of the party having waited in the vestibule. As he entered,
+followed by Lesparre, I rose and said:
+
+"Juan Sanchez, I arrest you, and you are now my prisoner!" and, so
+saying, I put my hand on his shoulder.
+
+He turned very pale, and sat down in the nearest chair, while Lesparre
+quickly brought him a glass of water. I then continued:
+
+"Juan Sanchez, or José Gomez more properly, we will retire to the
+library if you wish, as we may be interrupted here by the arrival of
+some of your friends, and I do not wish to expose you at present."
+
+"What do you mean by addressing me in this manner?" he replied, trying
+to regain his composure. "My name is neither Sanchez nor Gomez."
+
+"It is a long time since you have been so called," I answered, "but your
+victims in Brazil and Peru still retain the names in their memories
+without difficulty. I will now present to you the Minister of Peru and
+the Peruvian Consul at New York, both of whom have taken a lively
+interest in your past life and actions."
+
+Just as I spoke, the Donna and Madame Sevier entered, and the former,
+seeing the abject appearance of her husband, asked what was the matter.
+
+"Your husband is a prisoner, madam," I replied; "and as our interview
+would be painful to you, I must ask you to withdraw for the present at
+least."
+
+She immediately gave an hysterical scream, and sank upon a divan sobbing
+frantically. Madame Sevier succeeded in quieting her somewhat, and she
+remained on the scene with her face buried in the Madame's lap. I felt
+confident that much of her emotion was feigned, and that she was an
+attentive listener to all that took place about her; however, I made no
+objection, but requested Mr. Bangs, who was watching in the hall, to
+admit the Minister and the rest of the party. As Mr. Bangs withdrew, the
+Don stepped up to me and said:
+
+"Mr. Pinkerton, I will give you five thousand dollars if you will leave
+me alone for half an hour."
+
+I smiled, and looking at my watch, said:
+
+"It is now seven o'clock; at ten o'clock you will be on your way to New
+York."
+
+"You can have ten thousand, if you will let me go; I will pay you the
+cash in coin immediately."
+
+"Your offers are useless," I replied; "I will let no guilty man escape
+if it can be avoided."
+
+As I spoke, the Peruvian Minister, the Consul, and Judge Key entered,
+and we proceeded in a body to the library, leaving the Donna in the care
+of Madame Sevier. On the way thither, the Don made one more effort to
+appear in the _rôle_ of an injured innocent.
+
+"I don't understand this proceeding at all," he said, "and I claim my
+liberty. What authority have you for arresting me in my own house?"
+
+"I _have_ the authority, and that is sufficient," I replied, coolly. "If
+you desire to be taken at once to jail, I have no objection to granting
+your request; but I thought, perhaps, you might first prefer to hear
+what these gentlemen have to say."
+
+I have arrested and have watched a great many criminals, but I have
+never seen one who, having carried out such an extensive scheme of
+villainy, was so utterly broken down as this man was. I had feared that
+his nerve might be firm enough to answer my threats with defiance, and
+force me to bring him to trial in Gloster; but I saw that there was no
+danger of such a misfortune, and so I stood aside while the Peruvian
+Minister addressed him.
+
+"Juan Sanchez," said the Minister, "I have come here to obtain your
+removal to Peru, that you may be tried there for your numberless
+forgeries in that country. A Peruvian war-ship is now in New York
+harbor, and you will be placed on board of her for transportation to
+Peru. Mr. Pinkerton's superintendent will proceed with you to-night."
+
+The Don was speechless for a moment, and then, glancing up, he said, in
+a sullen voice:
+
+"I want to know what I am charged with, and by what right you send me to
+Peru. I am entitled to a hearing, and a lawyer to defend me."
+
+"My friend, Judge Key, who is present, is a most able lawyer," I
+replied, "and you can consult with him if you wish advice; but first let
+me show you your true position. Your real name, Don José Gomez, was
+given you in Brazil, where it is remembered only to be cursed; Don Juan
+Sanchez was your name in Peru, and your crimes there are also well
+known; as Don José Michel, there are serious charges against you in San
+Francisco; Don Pedro Michel is badly wanted in Quito, where he would
+probably be shot, as they treat criminals there rather unceremoniously;
+and Don José Arias would undoubtedly be transported for life if the
+London detectives should discover his present hiding place, to say
+nothing of a lively interest which the French _gens d'armes_ take in the
+same person. All of these people are now informed that the person whom
+they wish to find is living in Gloster as Don Pedro P. L. de Morito, and
+they are at this moment hastening agents here to arrest him. By chance,
+the Peruvian authorities are the first to arrive, and they have,
+therefore, the happy privilege of making the arrest. Now, as you are
+probably aware, the Minister will have some difficulty in obtaining an
+order from Washington authorizing me to send you to Peru, for want of an
+extradition treaty; but while you are under arrest here, we can easily
+get warrants from either California, England, or France, and then you
+can take your choice between being shot by vigilantes in California,
+transported to Van Dieman's Land by England, or sent to work in the
+galleys by France. This is your present situation, and I am perfectly
+indifferent which course you prefer. If you decide to go with the
+Peruvian Minister, you must agree to do so voluntarily, until you are
+placed on board the Peruvian vessel, and you must make an assignment of
+all your money and property here to reimburse the people whom you have
+swindled by the sale of fictitious diamond-fields. If you are willing to
+comply with these conditions, you will sign all the necessary papers at
+once, and you will leave for New York to-night, before the English
+extradition writ arrives; if you refuse these conditions, I shall hold
+you until that writ, or one from California, arrives."
+
+The Don was evidently in no mood for defiance: the knowledge of his past
+history which I displayed had wholly cowed him, and my allusions to the
+vigilantes of California, and the galleys of France, made him tremble
+like a leaf. He knew perfectly well the extent of his crimes in those
+places, and, also, that my hints of his probable punishment were not
+fancy sketches. Finally, he asked to see me alone, but I refused to
+grant his request, knowing his object. Then he wished to see the
+Minister alone, and I again objected, but I accompanied the two to
+another room, where they conversed in Spanish for some time. The
+Minister told me that the Don offered the whole of his money and
+property to allow him to escape; but, finding his offers useless, he
+agreed to go to Peru for trial. No pledges were made to him to
+influence his decision, though he begged so hard that the Minister would
+intercede for him with the authorities in Peru, that his Excellency
+finally promised, in view of the Don's consent to go willingly, to
+recommend that his punishment be the lightest that the law could allow.
+The Don having fully yielded to the arguments of the Minister and
+myself, nothing remained to be done except to obtain his signature to
+the papers which had been already prepared, and to pack his trunk for
+his journey. Lesparre and Salter performed the latter task while the Don
+was signing the papers, and writing out his voluntary agreement to
+deliver himself up to the Peruvian authorities. The most important
+document was a deed assigning his furniture, horses, carriages,
+paintings, statuary, books, and, in short, all his personal property, to
+Judge Key, to be disposed of at the latter's discretion, and the
+proceeds, with the large amount of cash on hand, to be applied to repay
+the subscribers to the Diamond Company stock. In case there should not
+be sufficient to pay them in full, the payments should be made _pro
+rata_; but should there be an excess, such excess should be applied to
+the payment of the Don's private debts, contracted prior to that date.
+This provision was, of course, necessary to shut out the bills for
+supplies and services at the _fête_ on the following day. Evidently it
+was too late to interfere with that interesting entertainment without
+throwing a heavy loss on many persons who could not afford to be the
+sufferers, and I saw only one way to prevent this, namely; to let the
+_fête_ go on, and make those who danced pay the piper.
+
+When the documents had all been signed, I said:
+
+"José Gomez, you fully understand the meaning of this paper?" holding up
+his surrender to the Peruvian authorities; "it gives me power to convey
+you to New York and place you on board of a Peruvian vessel, using
+force, if necessary."
+
+The Don bowed his head submissively, and said that he so understood it.
+The acknowledgment of the deeds was then made by Judge Key, who was a
+notary public, and our success was complete. The Donna was then informed
+that her husband would be taken East that night, and she professed to be
+much affected. I told her that there was no charge against her, and that
+she could go with her husband, or stay in Gloster, according to her own
+wishes. She said that she would go with him if Madame Sevier could
+accompany them. I had no objection to this, and the two ladies retired
+to pack their trunks. There was some uncertainty in my mind whether some
+of the Don's cash might not be in the Donna's possession; but I felt
+rather confident that she kept her money entirely separate from his, and
+that I could trust to Madame Sevier's acuteness to discover how much the
+Donna had on hand. I was not disappointed, for, while packing, the Donna
+told the Madame that she had about nine thousand dollars, the remains
+of her gifts from Mather, but that she could secure an immense sum out
+of the iron box if she could get it open. I had already made the Don
+confess where he had hidden his money, and one of my detectives was
+placed to guard the box; hence, the Donna was disappointed in her
+attempts to make a raid on the treasury. While the packing was going on,
+I sent to the railroad dépôt and bought eight railroad tickets for the
+party, which was to consist of the Minister, the Consul, the Don and
+Donna, Mr. Bangs, Madame Sevier, and two of my men. At half-past nine
+o'clock the party was ready and the trunks were sent off. I had kept a
+close watch upon the Don until now, and I saw that he hoped to escape
+while traveling. When the carriages were announced, I stepped up to him
+and told him that my invariable custom in such cases would require me to
+put him in irons to prevent any attempt at escape.
+
+"Shall you permit me to be treated in this manner?" he said to the
+Peruvian Minister.
+
+"You are not yet in the custody of the Peruvian authorities," I replied,
+"and I am responsible for your safe delivery in New York; hence I must
+take such precautions as I consider necessary. When you are on board the
+Peruvian vessel, the Minister can give such orders concerning you as he
+may think proper; but, until then, I alone have the right to determine
+what shall be done with you."
+
+In a moment, I had placed a light set of shackles on his feet, and
+handcuffs on his wrists; he was quite submissive now, and only seemed
+anxious to avoid observation.
+
+As we passed out to the carriages, the Donna handed me a note, addressed
+to Henry O. Mather, and asked me to have it delivered immediately. I
+agreed to send it at once, though I sent it in such a manner that he
+should not receive it until the morning after the _fête_. The party
+arrived at the dépôt in time to secure seats together, and at ten
+o'clock the train bore them from the city.
+
+
+
+
+                          CHAPTER X.
+
+    _The Fête Champêtre.--A Grand Carnival.--The Disappointed Married
+          Lover.--A Vain Request.--Unmasked!--A Shrewd Caterer and his
+          Humiliating Demands.--An Indignant Deacon.--Don Pedro taken to
+          Peru in a Man-of-War, where he is Convicted and Sentenced to
+          Fifteen Years' Imprisonment.--But the Donna manages to Satisfy
+          her Affections in a quiet way in New York._
+
+
+To the great delight of hundreds of people in Gloster, Wednesday morning
+revealed all the indications of a pleasant day, and by noon the weather
+was so lovely that nothing could have been more auspicious for the grand
+occasion. As the hour approached for the departure of the steamer,
+carriage after carriage drew up at the dock to discharge its load of
+brilliantly-dressed and masked ladies and gentlemen. The only person
+who was not completely protected from recognition was Monsieur Lesparre,
+who stood at the gangway to receive the guests, and wore a plain evening
+dress, with no mask.
+
+In order to prevent the attendance of persons who had not been invited,
+each guest was required to present his or her invitation, and, as there
+were, as usual, many who had forgotten to bring their cards, Lesparre
+remained at hand to pass them on board, on leaving their names. When the
+hour of departure arrived, the boat swung out into the stream, amid the
+laughter and merry shouts of the gay revelers that crowded her decks, as
+the band flooded the air with music.
+
+At first there was some embarrassment and reserve in the intercourse
+between the masqueraders, owing to the novelty of their situation, and
+the fact that the ladies at first clung closely to their own little
+parties, with whom they had come and to whom they were known; but soon
+this feeling wore off. They began to enter into the merry spirit of
+revelry which characterizes such entertainments in the cities of the Old
+World. The idea of personal identity began to be lost in the gayety of
+the moment, and in its place was substituted an identification of each
+person with the character which that person represented. The balmy airs
+of a perfect spring day wafted to them the sounds of country life along
+the shores of the river, and gave sensations both novel and pleasing
+to the gay denizens of the city, who rarely experienced any change from
+their routine of fashionable entertainments. During the trip by steamer
+there was much speculation as to the disguises worn by the Don and
+Donna, and though several persons were suspected of being the host and
+hostess, there was no sufficient way of identifying them.
+
+[Illustration: _The Fête Champêtre.--Page--_]
+
+At length the island was reached, and the party disembarked. The scene,
+as they took possession of the tents, booths, and pleasure-grounds, was
+brilliant and attractive beyond anything which the guests had ever
+witnessed. The island was covered with large trees, whose branches and
+foliage afforded a delightful shade. The close underbrush had been
+removed everywhere, except in certain ravines and other picturesque
+spots, so that the island presented a fine example of the beauties of
+landscape gardening. The foreground, at the place of landing, was a
+level expanse of green turf, which had been laid there weeks before.
+This was partly arranged for archery grounds, while rustic seats and
+swings were to be found under every tree. A large platform for open-air
+dancing, was placed at the foot of the first ridge from the landing,
+while near by was an enclosed dancing-hall, to be used in the evening.
+Two bands were in attendance to play dance music constantly, one resting
+while the other played. It was understood that dinner would be served,
+at four o'clock exactly, in a long dining-room near the dancing-hall,
+and at that time every one was to unmask.
+
+As the party spread over the grounds and began to enjoy all the
+opportunities for pleasure afforded them, they presented a most novel
+appearance. There were representatives, both male and female, of nearly
+every known nationality, and all the leading characters of historical
+and fictional literature were admirably delineated. Of course, among
+such members there were many accidental repetitions of the same
+character, but there were also instances of _fac similes_, which were
+intentional. This was a frequent cause of mistakes and embarrassing
+adventures, and often, when a gay cavalier was talking in tender tones
+to some lovely señorita whom he believed he knew, he would be astonished
+to see a second señorita, exactly like the first, passing unconcernedly
+by.
+
+The afternoon was spent in rowing, sailing, shooting, dancing, and
+flirting, and all agreed that they had never known a more truly
+delightful day. An elegant lunch was kept ready at all times in a large
+_buffet_, adjoining the dining-room, and all kinds of wines and liquors
+were served freely. The hour for dinner was fast approaching, and, of
+course, by that time, many recognitions had been made, though large
+numbers still carefully and successfully preserved their own secrets;
+some, however, had already abandoned their masks, still retaining the
+fancy costumes. Among these was Mr. Mather, who wandered over the
+island half distraught. He had vainly searched for the Donna all day,
+and had been unable to enjoy anything because he could not distinguish
+her. Often he had believed he had found her, but again and again he had
+discovered that he was mistaken; so he continued his search without his
+mask, hoping that she would make herself known to him. At last he
+approached Lesparre, just before four o'clock.
+
+"My dear Lesparre," he asked, in imploring tones, "I beg that you will
+tell me how to recognize Donna Lucia. I have talked with every person
+who could possibly be taken for her, and I acknowledge that she is so
+perfectly disguised that I cannot discover her. Won't you please tell me
+how she is dressed?"
+
+"That I do not know myself," replied Lesparre. "She was very careful to
+keep the knowledge from me, for fear I might be teased into telling some
+one."
+
+"Well, how is the Don dressed, then?" asked Mather. "Perhaps he will
+tell me about the Donna."
+
+"I do not know how he is dressed, either," answered Lesparre. "He was as
+secret in his preparations as his wife."
+
+"What! haven't you seen him to speak to since the _fête_ commenced?"
+inquired Mather, in astonishment.
+
+"No, I have not seen him since last night," said Lesparre. "You see, the
+Don and I made all arrangements yesterday afternoon, and I came down to
+the island to superintend the placing of the fireworks in the evening. I
+spent the night down here, and have not gone back to the house since I
+left it after dinner yesterday evening. The Don has not spoken to me
+to-day, and, for all that I know about him, he may not have come to his
+own _fête_."
+
+Lesparre said this in a jocular manner, as though he had made quite an
+impossible supposition; but Mather seemed to catch an idea from it.
+
+"By Jove! I begin to think so myself," he exclaimed, as if confirming a
+thought which had already occurred to him.
+
+Just then Judge Morgan, dressed to represent the Fat Boy of the Pickwick
+Papers, rang a large bell, which could be heard all over the island, and
+the guests began flocking into the dancing-hall, preparatory to
+unmasking and having a grand march into the dining-room. When all were
+present, the bustle and talk quieted down, and all looked expectantly
+for the Don to give the signal for unmasking. Several of the intimate
+friends of the host had assembled on the _dais_ at the head of the hall;
+and each of these looked at the others to see which among them was the
+Don. At last, Mather stepped forward and addressed the whole company:
+
+"Ladies and gentlemen, somewhere among us are the host and hostess of
+this, the most elegant entertainment ever given in Gloster; they have
+been successful not only in producing here a fairy spectacle of
+unequaled beauty, but also in effectually hiding themselves from
+discovery in their assumed characters. So far as I know, not any person
+present can state positively the disguise of either Don Pedro or Donna
+Lucia. Am I right? If any one has discovered either of them, I ask him
+to let us all know it before the signal for unmasking is given."
+
+Mr. Mather waited a moment amid profound stillness, but no one replied
+to his request.
+
+"Well, now," he continued, "I respectfully call upon the Don and Donna
+to come forward to the _dais_, assume their rightful positions as host
+and hostess, and give the order to unmask."
+
+Alas! he was calling upon a pair of unfortunate travelers, who were then
+far on their way to New York, one in irons, and the other in tears.
+There was no answer nor movement among the gay masqueraders, and
+whispers of wonder began to run through the throng.
+
+"Oh! come, Don Pedro," said Judge Morgan, whose appetite called loudly
+to be satisfied, "you have shown that your disguise defies discovery;
+now come forward and take your place. You can laugh at our dullness all
+you please, but don't keep us in suspense any longer."
+
+Still there was no reply, and the astonishment of all the guests began
+to assume a form of vague suspicion. At length, Mather again spoke up,
+in a husky voice:
+
+"As our host is so retiring, I will take the liberty of asking those
+present to unmask, and we shall then discover his disguise. Tap the
+bell, Morgan."
+
+Judge Morgan immediately pulled the bell-rope three times, and, as this
+was the concerted signal, a gun was fired on board the steamer, and the
+band struck up a spirited march. The confusion of unmasking was quickly
+over, and the guests formed a long procession around two sides of the
+hall, preparatory to marching to dinner; but on the _dais_ the confusion
+only increased, as face after face was revealed, and neither host nor
+hostess was to be found. Robert Harrington, Charlie Morton, Captain and
+Mrs. Kerr, Alexander McIntyre, Judge Taylor, Mr. and Mrs. Benson, Mr.
+and Mrs. Simon, Charles H. Sanders, wife and daughter, Deacon Humphrey
+and daughter, John Preston and family, and several others, were there,
+but not a trace could be seen of Don Pedro P. L. de Morito and Donna
+Lucia.
+
+"Where in the devil is the Don?" was the forcible manner in which
+Charlie Morton expressed the sentiments of all present.
+
+The absence of the host and hostess could not fail to cause great
+confusion at any time, but, in this instance, there seemed to be a host
+of suspicions flying about in a few minutes. Madame Sevier's absence was
+also noted, and a sort of panic seized every one. No movement toward the
+dining-room was made, but all stood irresolute, anxiously waiting for
+some one to determine what to do, and set them an example. Lesparre was
+sought for and questioned closely as to the reason for his employer's
+absence, but he could give no satisfactory answer. He told all inquirers
+that he had not seen the Don since the evening previous, and that he was
+as ignorant of the cause of his absence as any one. Then several
+questions relative to the Don's pecuniary affairs were asked, and
+Lesparre told all that he knew. The fact that the Don had exhausted his
+bank account, and had kept all his money in his own possession, set a
+good many people to thinking about the circumstances of his arrival
+there. Then the stockholders in the Diamond Company began to grow
+suspicious, and it took but a few minutes to put them in such a state of
+vague uneasiness, that they hardly knew what to believe of the man whom
+they so lately admired and honored. At length, a consultation was held
+among some of the more intimate friends of the Morito family, and it was
+decided to go in to dinner as if nothing had happened. If there had been
+any accidental detention of the Don and Donna, they would, of course, be
+desirous that the _fête_ should proceed without them the same as if they
+had been present; while if there was any trickery connected with their
+absence, there would be no use of waiting for them to come Accordingly,
+the procession was again formed, the band struck up another march, and
+the party proceeded toward the dining-room, headed by Henry O. Mather
+with Mrs. Simon, and Richard Perkins with Miss Benson.
+
+But now occurred the most humiliating part of the changed programme:
+Mr. George P. Westerfield, the caterer, refused to admit the guests to
+the dining-room unless the payment of his bill was guaranteed. Mr.
+Westerfield was a man of uncommon shrewdness. He had been accustomed to
+furnishing the suppers at the grand entertainments of the city for
+several years, and he was well acquainted with the circumstances of
+every person in the social world; hence, he had seen a great deal of the
+Don and Donna during their stay in the city. He had no more reason to
+suspect them of having taken flight than the others, but his native
+keenness and good judgment led him to protect himself, and he resolutely
+declined to open the dining-room doors unless his bill was guaranteed.
+An animated discussion immediately arose between Mr. Westerfield and the
+hungry guests; but nothing would induce him to change his resolve. He
+said that he was already out of pocket largely by the lunch he had
+served during the afternoon, and he could not afford to lose his dinner
+too.
+
+"But Don Pedro will pay for everything," said Mr. Mather. "He is
+immensely wealthy, and he always pays cash promptly for all he buys."
+
+"Yes, that may have been true heretofore, but how do I know where Don
+Pedro is?" queried the caterer.
+
+"Why, he is probably accidentally detained in Gloster," replied Mather.
+"I have every confidence in him, and when he explains his unfortunate
+absence to-day, those who have suspected him will regret their hasty
+remarks derogatory to his character."
+
+"Well, then, Mr. Mather," said the shrewd caterer, "if you have every
+confidence in Don Pedro, you can give me your guarantee that I shall be
+paid in full, and then I shall be happy to serve the guests the same as
+if the Don were here."
+
+Mr. Mather hesitated a moment, and then refused to do anything of the
+kind. He was, undoubtedly, so disturbed in mind that he hardly knew what
+he was doing. If he had kept his wits about him, he would not have
+hesitated an instant to take the whole expense of the _fête_ on his own
+shoulders rather than have such a scene occur as seemed imminent, for
+the sum would have been a mere bagatelle to him; but he knew not what to
+think, and his suspicions ran far ahead of those of any other person
+present. He had on his shoulders the whole responsibility of this man,
+Don Pedro, for he had invited him to Gloster, and had largely vouched
+for his character; hence, if Don Pedro should prove to be a swindler, a
+great deal of blame would fall upon Mather. This feeling contributed
+largely to confuse and annoy him, while his passion for the Donna was
+another cause of embarrassment. He therefore acted in a most nervous,
+uncertain way, and seemed quite unable to decide what to do. Mr.
+Westerfield's proposition was reasonable enough, and he was willing to
+accept the guarantee of any other gentleman of known responsibility; but
+singularly, there was not one among all who had been intimate with the
+Don who would make himself liable for the cost of the dinner;
+consequently the caterer refused to admit the throng into the
+dining-room. By this time every one was worked up into a state of
+righteous indignation. The apprehensions of the owners of Diamond
+Company stock were the first causes of the feeling against the Don, and
+the disappointing termination of the long-anticipated _fête_ was another
+fruitful source of bitterness. As people's appetites began to call
+loudly for dinner, it became evident that the caterer's demands must be
+satisfied in some way, and finally it was agreed that the dinner should
+be paid for by those who partook of it at the rate of ten dollars a
+plate. This amount was to include the lunch and wine already furnished,
+and also all the provisions for dinner with the remainder of the wine
+provided under the contract with Don Pedro. Under this agreement, the
+dinner was served in the best possible style to the long array of
+famished and irritated masqueraders. It was not a very cheerful meal,
+for too many of the participants were preoccupied with thoughts of their
+possibly lost investments in the stock of the Diamond Company; but,
+under the influence of excellent viands and good wine, there was a
+slight reaction in the feelings of the younger members of the party, and
+when the last course had been served, they proposed to go on with the
+entertainment the same as though nothing had happened.
+
+On entering the dancing-hall, therefore, the greater portion of the
+young people prepared to enjoy the evening in dancing; but here again an
+obstacle presented itself: the bandsmen had taken alarm from the action
+of the caterer, and they refused to play unless their account was
+settled. Not a note would they sound until their demands were satisfied,
+and so the gentlemen contributed, jointly, enough to pay them in full
+also. The troubles and annoyances of the later portion of the _fête_
+were soon forgotten by the greater number of the butterflies who formed
+the assembly, and as they floated off to the strains of a beautiful
+waltz, they unanimously decided to spend the evening in a delightful
+dance.
+
+Meantime, however, many of the more staid and elderly guests, having
+decided to go home immediately after dinner, had gone down to the
+steamboat landing to embark. To their astonishment they saw the steamer
+tied up on the opposite shore, her lights being just visible across the
+water. After various attempts to hail her, a reply was heard from a
+small boat, which contained the captain. He pulled in near the shore,
+and Judge Morgan, in an important tone, ordered him to bring his steamer
+across the river and convey a party back to Gloster.
+
+"But who is going to pay me for the use of my steamer all day?" asked
+the captain, resting on his oars, within easy talking distance of the
+shore. Alas! he, also, had determined to follow the example of the
+caterer, and demand payment for his services before admitting the
+excursionists on board his steamer.
+
+"Pay you" exclaimed the horrified Ethan Allen Benson, who had paid so
+much for his dinner that his miserly soul was already repenting having
+come; "why, Don Pedro will pay you, of course."
+
+"Well, I'd like to see him, then," said the captain.
+
+An exciting conversation then ensued between the indignant would-be
+passengers and the captain of the steamer. The latter, however, had all
+the advantage, for he knew the masqueraders must eventually come to his
+terms.
+
+"What do you mean by refusing to take us on board?" demanded Deacon
+Humphrey, furiously. "Don't you know that we can't stay here all night?"
+
+"I presume not," said the captain, "and I don't suppose you will do so;
+but I must have payment for the use of my steamer. You can pay me in one
+sum by a check, or you can pay me at the rate of three dollars a head: I
+don't care which you choose, only I must be paid."
+
+The altercation continued at some length, and eventually the captain
+said that he could not afford to waste coal in keeping steam up, and if
+they did not agree to his terms, he would haul fires and let his steamer
+stay where she was all night. This threat brought the party to his
+terms, and he was ordered to bring his steamer over. He refused to make
+more than one trip, however, and so the dancers were called away from
+the ballroom at the end of the first waltz, thus spoiling their
+gayety almost ere it had begun. As the motley groups gathered on shore
+awaiting the steamer's approach, a more deeply disgusted and indignant
+assemblage was never known in the annals of good society, and curses,
+both openly and inwardly expressed against the Don, were numerous and
+bitter. As they passed over the gangway, the captain and clerk were at
+hand to collect fares, and no one was allowed to pass without paying
+cash or giving a check for the amount, indorsed by some well-known man
+of wealth and position. Finally, the whole sorrowful party was embarked,
+and the steamer turned her head toward Gloster. The excitement and
+continuous dancing, which most of those on board had indulged in during
+the day, had left them in a state of nervous and physical fatigue little
+calculated to improve their spirits, while the financial losses of many
+were matters of an intensely depressing influence upon them. A more
+ill-tempered, disappointed, and irritable cargo cannot be imagined.
+Their troubles were not ended even on their arrival at the wharf in
+Gloster, for, being so much earlier in returning than they had expected,
+no carriages were in attendance, and the ladies were obliged to wait on
+board while their escorts went to the livery stables to order carriages
+to take them home.
+
+[Illustration: _"What do you mean by refusing to take us on board?"
+demanded Deacon Humphrey furiously.--Page--_]
+
+Thus ended the _fête champêtre_ which had been anticipated so fondly as
+a new departure in the social world of Gloster. In this, however, it was
+a success; for, certainly, its like had never been seen before, and the
+guests were profoundly hopeful that they never should see its like
+again.
+
+The following morning the whole city was talking of the flight of the
+Peruvian adventurers. Their late residence was besieged by the holders
+of Diamond Company stock, and the fact of their absence was then clearly
+established. The servants had been paid off by Madame Sevier a day or
+two before, and no one remained in the house except Lesparre. To all
+inquirers he gave the same answer as he had given at the _fête_: he was
+entirely ignorant of the whereabouts of the Don, and was as anxious as
+any one else to find him, in order to obtain his last quarter's salary,
+which was unpaid. The affair was a nine-days' wonder, and the mystery
+was still further increased in the minds of the stockholders on
+receiving a note from Judge Key requesting their attendance at a meeting
+to settle their accounts with Don Pedro. The meeting was strictly
+confidential, only the actual purchasers of stock being admitted. Judge
+Key explained to them that Don Pedro P. L. de Morito had been arrested
+and carried away for forgery and other crimes, but that, before going,
+he had assigned all his property to Judge Key to satisfy the claims of
+the Diamond Company stockholders.
+
+"But how did you induce him to surrender this money and property?" was
+the question which was asked in various forms nearly a score of times.
+
+"I cannot give you any particulars," replied the Judge; "you must be
+satisfied to know that he made this assignment in due legal form, and
+that the amount which I shall realize will pay your claims nearly in
+full. The slight loss which you will sustain will be serviceable as a
+warning against throwing away your money so recklessly hereafter."
+
+The letter of Donna Lucia to Mr. Henry O. Mather was delivered to that
+gentleman early the day after the _fête_. Immediately on reading it he
+packed his trunk and took the next train for New York. Meantime the
+party under the charge of Mr. Bangs arrived in New York without accident
+Thursday afternoon. In accordance with telegrams sent by the Peruvian
+Minister, the captain of the Peruvian man-of-war had taken his vessel
+down into the lower harbor, and was ready to sail at a moment's notice.
+A steam-tug was in readiness at Pier 1 to take the party out to the
+vessel, and Don Pedro was transferred by carriage directly from the
+Hudson River Railroad dépôt to the steam-tug. The party accompanied him
+on board the man-of-war, and the tug towed the war-ship through the
+Narrows.
+
+The Don and Donna had an affectionate and sorrowful parting in the
+cabin, and as the ship made sail outside the bar, the tug dropped
+alongside; the Minister, Consul, Donna Lucia, Madame Sevier, and the
+detectives, leaving the Don in charge of the captain, then returned to
+New York in the tug.
+
+Two days later, Mr. Mather also arrived in that city, and quickly found
+his way to the Donna's presence. What they said to each other may never
+be known, but it is probable that the interview was satisfactory to both
+parties. Thenceforward the Donna lived in New York in the best style,
+though for some reason she failed to enter the same social circle that
+she had known before. As long, however, as she and Mr. Mather were
+contented, they considered that no one else need be troubled about their
+arrangements. How long Mr. Mather's infatuation lasted, I have no means
+of knowing, as I soon recalled Madame Sevier, and lost all interest in
+the affair.
+
+José Gomez was tried immediately on his arrival in Peru, and was
+sentenced to fifteen years' imprisonment, but he made his escape within
+two years from the time of his trial. His future career I never learned,
+but it is altogether probable that he pursued, during the remainder of
+his life, the same style of money-making (though perhaps on a smaller
+scale) as that which rendered notorious the name of Don Pedro P. L. de
+Morito.
+
+
+
+
+                           THE END.
+
+
+
+
+                 THE POISONER AND DETECTIVES.
+
+
+
+
+                          CHAPTER I.
+
+    _Mr. Pinkerton, at a Water-Cure, becomes interested in a Couple, one
+          of whom subsequently causes the Detective Operation from which
+          this Story is written.--A wealthy Ship-Owner and his Son.--The
+          Son "found dead."--A Woman that knows too much and too little
+          by turns.--Mr. Pinkerton secured to solve the
+          Mystery.--Chicago after the Great Fire._
+
+
+During the summer of 1870, I was spending a few weeks at a water-cure
+for the benefit of my health. The place was one not widely advertised
+nor generally known, and the number of frequenters was not large; hence,
+I became somewhat acquainted with most of the visitors, and, as a matter
+of habit, noticed their traits and peculiarities with more attentiveness
+than a casual meeting would naturally warrant. Of course I had no idea
+that I ever should make any use of my observations, but I simply kept up
+a customary oversight upon everything about me. Among those whom I thus
+noticed was a lady, about forty-five years of age, and her son, who was
+about twenty-six years old. The mother, Mrs. R. S. Trafton, was a
+pleasant woman, well preserved, and comparatively youthful in
+appearance. She was afflicted by a rheumatic affection, which caused
+her to visit these springs for relief; and her son accompanied her
+partly to look after her comfort, and partly to obtain a vacation from
+work. He was a tall, robust young man, with fine physique and strong
+constitution, but he showed the effects of overwork. I always make a
+point of observing the character and habits of those around me, and long
+experience has given me considerable accuracy of judgment with regard to
+my acquaintances, even where I am not an intimate associate with them.
+The more I saw of Stanley D. Trafton, the more I was interested in him.
+His mother was devoted to him, and he to her, so that they were rarely
+seen apart.
+
+Springville was a very quiet, dull place, and, aside from the invalid
+visitors, there was nothing about the society to relieve the usual
+monotony of an uninteresting country town; hence, I was thrown largely
+upon my own resources for amusement, and I had little else to do except
+to observe the different strangers and speculate about them. Among them
+all there were none who afforded me a more interesting study than young
+Trafton, and, although I never formed his acquaintance, I began to feel
+that I understood his character quite thoroughly.
+
+He was about five feet ten inches in height, of compact, muscular build,
+full chest, stout limbs, and erect carriage. His complexion was clear
+and healthy, his features regular, his expression intelligent and open,
+and his manners were very frank and attractive to most people. His
+general appearance was that of an intelligent, handsome man, of more
+than ordinary ability and steady character.
+
+I learned that his father, Mr. Richard S. Trafton, of Cleveland, was a
+wealthy ship-owner and merchant, and that his son attended largely to
+the purchase of grain in the West for shipment in his father's vessels.
+I judged that young Trafton was a good business man, with an eye to
+details as well as general results, and while he had no appearance of
+being small-minded, he did not despise economy in his business affairs.
+He did not seem like a person who would spend money for mere display or
+effect; yet, neither would he deny himself the comforts and luxuries
+belonging to a man of his wealth and position in society. There was
+nothing of the profligate about him, and his devotion to his mother
+showed that he must have a genuine and hearty respect for the whole sex.
+
+In the course of a few weeks I left Springville, much improved in
+health, and I soon forgot all about Mrs. Trafton and her son, until the
+latter was brought under my notice again amid very tragical and
+sorrowful circumstances.
+
+Early in the winter of the following year, I was deeply engrossed in
+business, having an accumulation of cases on hand which taxed my
+ingenuity and energies to the utmost. I therefore placed almost all of
+the less important operations in the hands of my superintendent, Mr.
+Francis Warner, though I kept a general supervisory control over every
+case on the books of the Agency. One morning, as I was conversing with
+Mr. Warner, two gentlemen were admitted to my office by my confidential
+clerk, who informed me that they had suspicions of foul play as the
+cause of the death of one of their friends, and they wished the
+circumstances fully investigated by the Agency. The gentlemen were Mr.
+John Updike, of Cleveland, and Captain Edward R. Dalton, a ship captain,
+of Buffalo. They introduced themselves, produced credentials and
+references, and then told me the following story:
+
+In November previous, Mr. Stanley D. Trafton, of Cleveland, left that
+city to go to Chicago. He was the son of Mr. Richard S. Trafton, a
+wealthy shipper of Cleveland, and the father was anxious to keep his
+vessels employed. Captain Dalton commanded one of Mr. Trafton's
+schooners, and he expected to arrive in Chicago harbor about November
+20. Accordingly, young Trafton was to meet the vessel there, and, in
+case she did not obtain a charter at a paying rate, he was to purchase a
+cargo of oats on his own account. He brought, therefore, a considerable
+amount of money and negotiable paper. He had about eight hundred dollars
+in currency, two thousand five hundred dollars in United States
+five-twenty bonds, and a letter from his father authorizing him to draw
+upon him for a large amount. The bonds were the usual coupon bonds of
+the denomination of five hundred dollars each, and fortunately Mr.
+Trafton, senior, had the numbers of these securities.
+
+Stanley Trafton arrived in Chicago November 22, and found the schooner
+awaiting him. He tried to obtain a room in one of the hotels, but he
+soon gave this up as a hopeless task, for the reason that there was no
+hotel in the city which was not already crowded almost to an unsafe
+degree. He then took up his quarters on board the schooner, getting his
+meals at a restaurant. This was not at all pleasant, and he finally
+discovered a place where furnished rooms were to let near one of the
+hotels. He therefore announced to Captain Dalton that he had taken a
+room at 92 West Madison street. They met each other every day, however,
+and at last, seeing no profit to be made by purchasing grain in the then
+condition of the market, Mr. Trafton informed the captain that he might
+sail for Cleveland on Friday, December 1. On Thursday he visited the
+captain and promised to return on board again that evening; he failed to
+do so, however, and the schooner sailed next morning.
+
+Five days afterward, Captain Dalton received a dispatch, sent by a firm
+of commission merchants in Chicago, announcing that Stanley D. Trafton
+had been found dead in his bed. Mr. Updike, who was a warm friend of the
+family, and Captain Dalton, then visited Chicago, arriving December 8.
+They found the body of Mr. Trafton at the Morgue awaiting claimants,
+together with a quantity of valuables which had been in his possession
+when he died. There were two five-twenty bonds, one being torn in two
+pieces, a set of diamond studs, a small amount of loose change, and
+three one-hundred-dollar bills. A coroner's inquest had been held, and a
+verdict of death by congestion of the lungs had been rendered.
+
+The circumstances of young Trafton's death, as related by the officials
+in charge of the body, created considerable suspicion in the minds of
+Messrs. Updike and Dalton, who, therefore, proceeded to investigate the
+affair. In the first place, they were well aware that fifteen hundred
+dollars in bonds, and nearly five hundred dollars in currency, were
+missing; secondly, they learned that Trafton had been found dead in bed
+Friday morning, December 1, only about eighteen hours after he had left
+Captain Dalton in perfect health.
+
+Accordingly, Mr. Updike and Captain Dalton visited his late
+lodging-place, which was kept by a woman named May Sanford.
+
+The building was a two-story frame residence, which, like thousands of
+others after the Great Fire, had been rearranged for business purposes.
+The lower floor was occupied as a furniture store, while the second
+floor was also partly occupied by business offices. A covered stairway
+on the side led to the upper story, and, while the front hall bedroom,
+the front parlor and the next room back, were used as offices, the rear
+portion was occupied by Mrs. Sanford, who rented most of her rooms as
+sleeping apartments.
+
+[Illustration: _"He was lying in bed with froth about his mouth and a
+ghastly look on his face."--Page--_]
+
+On stating their object in calling, the two gentlemen were admitted to
+Mrs. Sanford's sitting-room, and she then gave her account of the
+circumstances connected with young Trafton's death. She stated that she
+met him first on the street and recognized him as an old acquaintance
+who had been intimate with her husband and herself when they lived in
+Buffalo; that he stopped and talked with her for a time, and, learning
+that she had furnished rooms to let, he said he would rent one. He
+stayed there five days, and, on the sixth, which was Thursday, November
+30, he came to his room in the evening and complained of feeling unwell.
+He had been drinking very hard all the week, and she said that this
+evening he was quite drunk. He complained that he could not keep
+anything on his stomach, and asked Mrs. Sanford to cook something nice
+for him. Accordingly she boiled a chicken, but he could not eat it, and
+he then went to bed. During the evening, she heard him snoring very
+loudly as she passed his door, but she thought nothing of it, and went
+to bed at eleven o'clock. About seven o'clock next morning, she knocked
+at his door, but he made no answer, and she pushed the door open, the
+bolt being a very slight one. She then found Mr. Trafton lying
+diagonally across the bed, with his head hanging down and froth on his
+lips. Becoming alarmed at his appearance, she called in a gentleman
+named Taylor G. Pratt, who occupied her back parlor as a real estate
+office and sleeping-room. Mr. Pratt examined the body of Mr. Trafton and
+told her that he was dead, advising her to inform the police authorities
+of the fact. She immediately closed the room and went to the nearest
+police station, where she reported the circumstances relative to the
+death of Mr. Trafton so far as she knew them, and asked what she should
+do with the body. The police sergeant promised to send the coroner as
+soon as possible to make an investigation, and she was instructed to
+leave the body and room untouched until the coroner should arrive. That
+evening an inquest was held by the County Physician, and a verdict of
+death by congestion of the lungs was rendered. Mrs. Sanford gave an
+account of the finding of the money and bonds, which exactly agreed with
+that given by the County Physician, whom she assisted in making search
+for Trafton's valuables. In one boot, lying under his head, they found a
+five-twenty bond for five hundred dollars and half of another one, the
+remainder of this torn bond being found in the right-hand pocket of his
+pantaloons. In his vest pocket were found three United States notes for
+one hundred dollars each, and a small quantity of loose change. A set of
+diamond studs still remained in his shirt, and, as the story was related
+by her, there was nothing suspicious about the affair except the
+suddenness of his death.
+
+Having heard all that Mrs. Sanford and the County Physician had to say
+on the subject, Mr. Updike and Captain Dalton took charge of the body,
+and shipped it to Cleveland, where they placed it in the hands of four
+experienced surgeons, with instructions to make a thorough and careful
+examination as to the cause of death. The first thing noticed by them
+was an evidence of considerable external violence on the right side,
+over the liver, there being a large bruise, about the size of a saucer,
+apparently caused by a blow. The coagulation of blood beneath the skin
+showed that this injury must have been caused during Trafton's lifetime,
+but very shortly before his death. A similar, though smaller bruise, was
+found on his thigh, while several bruises on the base of the neck and
+throat showed that the windpipe must have been severely compressed just
+previous to death. None of these marks had been noticed by the County
+Physician in making the post-mortem examination, and it seemed probable
+that he had first guessed at the cause of death, and then made only a
+sufficient examination to find some corroboration of his theory. The
+Cleveland surgeons had great difficulty in accounting for Trafton's
+death, but they were unanimous in scouting the theory of death by
+congestion of the lungs. They found the body to be healthy in every
+part, except the external bruises; and, while these were not of a
+sufficiently serious character to account for the death of so robust a
+man, they could find no other cause whatever. These facts, together
+with the disappearance of fifteen hundred dollars in bonds, and about
+five hundred dollars in currency, which Trafton was known to have had in
+his possession, caused his relatives and friends to believe that he had
+been murdered for his money, and that the murderer had been shrewd
+enough to leave a large portion of the plunder to allay suspicion. The
+trick had proven to be a most excellent one, for, as the County
+Physician afterward acknowledged, the idea of foul play never occurred
+to him, owing to the apparent lack of incentive thereto; had there been
+no money, or only a small amount, found on the body, he would have made
+a much more rigid examination; but no suspicion even crossed his mind,
+and he acted with the haste which characterized almost all operations in
+Chicago at that time.
+
+In order, therefore, to discover all the facts in the case, and to
+recover, if possible, the missing money and bonds, Mr. Trafton, senior,
+had decided to put the affair in my hands for a thorough investigation,
+and Mr. Opdike and Captain Dalton had called upon me for that purpose.
+
+Having heard their statement, I asked a number of questions, which
+elicited the following additional information:
+
+On returning to Chicago the second time, they had again visited Mrs.
+Sanford, and found that she had taken every particle of furniture out of
+the room where Trafton had died. At the time of their call, they saw a
+policeman whom she called Charlie, with whom she seemed to be very
+intimate. She said that Charlie was the first person to see Trafton
+after she found he was dead that morning, he having been sent over by
+the sergeant as soon as she reported the fact. This story contradicted
+her former statement, that she first called Mr. Pratt into the room;
+moreover, the sergeant of police had told them that the policeman did
+not go to the room at all, but merely took the number of the house and
+went away.
+
+At this interview, Mrs. Sanford gave them the blank power to draw upon
+Mr. Trafton, senior, saying that she had found it at the foot of the bed
+since their former visit. She also showed them a gold coin which she
+said young Trafton had given her as a keepsake. Both gentlemen
+recognized this coin as one which Trafton prized very highly for some
+reason, he having refused to part with it even to his mother; it seemed
+hardly possible that he should have given it to a chance acquaintance
+like Mrs. Sanford.
+
+During this conversation she claimed to have lent Mr. Trafton three
+hundred and twenty-five dollars, though she did not seem greatly
+disappointed when they refused to repay her that amount. Mr. Updike gave
+her twenty-five dollars, however, to pay for Mr. Trafton's board and
+lodging, and to recompense her for her trouble. The story that Trafton
+had borrowed money of her was absurd on its face, and she acted as if
+she hardly expected to be believed.
+
+Before coming to Chicago this time, Mr. Updike had written to Mr. T. B.
+Vernon, of Buffalo, asking for information relative to the antecedents
+of this Mrs. Sanford. Mr. Vernon had replied that she had a very bad
+reputation in Buffalo, having been divorced from her husband for
+adultery, and having been arrested in March previous for being drunk and
+disorderly. She had a paramour at that time, named James McSandy, a
+police-station keeper, and it was supposed that he had gone West with
+her.
+
+Another circumstance had been noticed by Captain Dalton, which led him
+to believe that Trafton had been murdered with his clothes on, and
+afterward undressed and put to bed: the sole of one of his boots was
+covered with whitewash, as if it had been violently pressed and scraped
+along a wall. Now, the room where he was found had been newly
+whitewashed when they arrived there, so that any marks on the wall made
+by him in his struggles would be wholly obliterated.
+
+Having learned all the facts bearing upon the case known by my visitors,
+I informed them of my terms for conducting an investigation of this
+character, and sketched a hasty outline of my plan of operation. As they
+had already hinted their suspicions to a member of the city detective
+force, who was inclined to make light of them, I suggested that they
+inform him that they had changed their minds in the matter, having
+learned from the Cleveland physicians that death was surely caused by
+congestion of the lungs. They then took their departure, saying that
+they would lay my plan before Mr. Richard S. Trafton, and he would
+telegraph to me whether I should proceed with the operation. On
+Christmas day, I received a telegram from Mr. Trafton, briefly
+instructing me to proceed, and my plan was put in operation at once.
+
+Before proceeding further with the history of my connection with this
+case, it will be necessary to remind the reader of the anomalous
+condition of social and business affairs in Chicago at the time of which
+I write; for, without any explanation, he might have difficulty in
+understanding many things in connection with the story.
+
+It will be remembered that the Great Fire of Chicago occurred October 8
+and 9, 1871, and this case was placed in my hands only about nine weeks
+afterward. At the time of Mr. Trafton's death, a pall of smoke hung over
+the city, and, at night, the still-smouldering heaps of coal throughout
+the "burned district" glowed like volcanic fissures, casting a weird
+fantastic light about the ruins, and illumining the clouds of smoke
+overhead with a ruddy glow which was visible for miles away. The streets
+were filled with dust and ashes, while the fumes of carbonic acid gas
+were sometimes almost stifling. To venture, at any time, into the waste
+of ruins, which stretched more than three miles in one direction,
+through the formerly richest portion of the city, was not a pleasant
+undertaking; but to make such an excursion at night was attended with
+more hazard than most peaceably-disposed men would care to run. There
+were no gaslights, no sidewalks, no street indicators; in many places,
+piles of stone and brick were heaped in almost impassable barricades
+from one side of the street to the other; all landmarks were gone, and
+the old resident was as liable to lose his way as the stranger.
+
+The city, moreover, was crowded with what is sometimes called "a
+floating population," a species of driftwood, or scum, gathered from
+every quarter of the globe; indeed, a large percentage seemed to have
+come straight from the infernal regions, with all the passions and
+habits incidental to a prolonged residence there. Hence, the labors of
+the police force were increased to an extent which taxed their abilities
+to the utmost, and made the task of protecting the respectable portion
+of the community about all that could be required of them; that they
+should be apt to suspect foul play, in a case where the coroner had no
+suspicions, was hardly to be expected. Besides this, there was nothing
+settled on any permanent foundation; business men flitted hither and
+thither wherever they could best obtain accommodations for the time
+being, and whence people came or whither they went was a matter which no
+one had time to inquire into, much less to investigate.
+
+The destruction of thousands of business blocks and dwellings left the
+city without adequate accommodations for offices and residences, even
+for its own regular population; but when the rush of strangers swelled
+the aggregate nearly twenty per cent., there seemed hardly
+sleeping-rooms for them all. Dwelling-houses by thousands were converted
+into stores, manufactories, and offices, until fabulous prices were
+offered for the merest closets in the vicinity of the new temporary
+business centers. Every hotel was thronged from the basement to the
+Mansard roof, and late arrivals were oftentimes happy if they could get
+a straw mattress on a billiard-table, or an army cot in a hall.
+
+I call especial attention to these things to account for certain
+apparent anomalies in the action of different persons connected with
+this tragedy. For instance: a young gentleman of Mr. Trafton's wealth
+and respectability would never have rented a mean little room in a petty
+lodging-house, if he could have found any other place equally convenient
+to business; the County Physician would not have taken things so much
+for granted, if he had not been so hard at work and so pressed for time,
+owing to the immense army of gratuitous patients who thronged the
+offices of the County Agent and the Relief and Aid Society; the police
+would not have been so remiss in failing to examine into the death of
+Mr. Trafton, if they had not had their hands full of other business to
+an unprecedented extent; and, lastly, when I came to work up the case, I
+should not have had so much difficulty in finding witnesses, if it had
+not been that people came and went through Chicago like the waves of
+the sea in mid-ocean, leaving no trace by which they could be followed
+or identified.
+
+These circumstances, combined with certain facts which will appear in
+the course of this narrative, made the task assigned me one of unusual
+difficulty. Mr. Warner was intrusted with the general management of the
+case, though he frequently consulted me in relation to it; and, though
+we were continually working in the dark, we never despaired of our
+eventual success.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER II.
+
+_The Detectives at Work.--Mrs. Sanford Described.--Charlie, the
+Policeman.--Mrs. Sanford develops Interest in Government Bonds.--Chicago
+Relief and Aid Benefits.--Mrs. Sanford's Story of Trafton's Death.--A
+nice little Arrangement.--Mrs. Sanford explains to the Detective her
+method of "Quieting People."--Ingham "Makes a Raise."--Mrs. Sanford
+fears being Haunted, but is not easily Frightened._
+
+
+The day after Christmas a tall, well-built man called at No. 92 Madison
+street, and asked for the lady of the house. Mrs. Sanford soon entered
+the sitting-room, and the stranger said that, having seen the sign,
+"Furnished Rooms to Rent," he had called to engage lodgings. He
+introduced himself as John Ingham, and said that he was a bookkeeper,
+temporarily out of employment. Mrs. Sanford received him with great
+cordiality, and seemed much pleased to have him as a lodger. She said
+that she had no suitable room just then, but that a married couple were
+about to leave, and then Mr. Ingham could have their room. She then
+showed him through the house. The two front rooms were occupied by an
+insurance company, and the back parlor was used as a real estate office
+and sleeping-room by two brothers, named Pratt. At the head of the
+stairs was a small bedroom, through which it was necessary to pass to
+obtain admission to the rear part of the house. The passageway from this
+bedroom to the sitting-room was made by partitioning off a small entry
+from the back parlor. There were four doors in this sitting-room: one
+opened from the entry; at the opposite side was one which opened into
+another entry; the third was adjoining this second door, and it opened
+into the large bedroom occupied by the married couple; the fourth door
+led into Mrs. Sanford's own room. At the end of the back entry was an
+unfurnished room and a kitchen. The front bedroom was occupied by two
+young women who worked in a bindery, and their accommodations could
+hardly have been very agreeable, as every one was obliged to pass
+through their room on the way to the other rooms in the rear.
+
+Mrs. Sanford was a good-looking woman, about thirty-two years old. Her
+features were quite pretty, and her expression was pleasing. She was
+very plump, and her skin was smooth and soft. She had brown hair, a nose
+slightly _retroussé_, and a pleasant smile. Her eyes, however, were a
+bluish gray, cold and watchful as those of a hawk. She might have been
+called handsome but for the effects of dissipation, which were plainly
+visible in her face. She had a pleasant voice, and she was naturally
+easy in her manners. If she was in a good humor, she could be quite
+fascinating; and almost any stranger, after talking with her for a few
+minutes, would feel satisfied that she had once occupied a social
+station far above that in which she was now placed. She had a good
+education, and very frequently she would give evidences of having had a
+wide range of really good reading. At times, her recitations and
+declamations, wholly from memory, were exceptionally fine, and, but for
+her two ruling passions, she might have been an actress of a high rank.
+
+She had two controlling vices, one natural, the other acquired: her
+greed for money was inborn, and it seemed to absorb at times every other
+faculty; while the habit of using morphine had become so fastened upon
+her, that she could not shake it off. She was a most contradictory
+medley of compounds, however, and while her thirst for money seemed to
+overpower all other considerations with her as a general rule, on some
+occasions she would be as wasteful and careless of expense as the most
+prodigal woman in the world. But when she had set her mind on the
+acquisition of any particular money or piece of personal property, there
+was no length to which she would not go to attain her object. The mere
+sight of money seemed to act upon her with an effect almost of insanity,
+and she would then have no regard for consequences until after she had
+secured the coveted prize.
+
+It will be readily understood, of course, that Mr. John Ingham, usually
+known as Jack, was one of my detectives, sent to obtain lodging with
+Mrs. Sanford, to win her confidence and learn all that he could.
+
+Ingham agreed to take the large room in the rear, but he wanted to come
+immediately. Mrs. Sanford agreed, therefore, to make up a bed for him on
+the sofa in the sitting-room until the departure of Mr. and Mrs. Graves,
+who were then occupying the back room. Having agreed upon the terms,
+Ingham went away, promising to return that night. Accordingly, he came
+in again about nine o'clock in the evening, and found that Mrs. Sanford
+was entertaining a policeman. He was a rather good-looking fellow, and
+was in full uniform, except his star. He remained until nearly twelve
+o'clock, and when he went out, Mrs. Sanford followed him to the door,
+with many affectionate caresses and tender remarks. After he had gone,
+she began to converse very confidentially with Ingham, telling him that
+she was engaged to be married to Charlie, the policeman.
+
+"Don't you think a policeman is good enough to marry?" she asked.
+
+"Oh, yes!" replied Ingham, "and your Charlie seems to be a fine fellow."
+
+"Well, he is awfully fond of me," she continued, "and he spends all his
+time off duty with me; but I don't know whether I care to marry him.
+What do you think about it, Mr. Ingham?"
+
+"You ought not to be in any hurry about it," he replied, "for you might
+see some one whom you would like better."
+
+"Oh! I have had a number of offers lately," she said, laughing. "I have
+had to work hard for a living, and have saved up quite a good sum; and,
+besides that, my father sent me two thousand dollars a short time ago,
+so that I have a snug little fortune. But Charlie doesn't know anything
+about it, and I shan't tell him until after we are married."
+
+After some further conversation, she said that she was hungry, and
+wished she had someone to go to the nearest restaurant with. Ingham
+volunteered to act as her escort, and they went out together. While
+eating supper, she suddenly asked whether government bonds were good
+property to invest in. Ingham replied that they were very good indeed,
+since the interest was payable in gold, and there were no taxes to pay
+upon them.
+
+"Well, suppose you should lose them," she queried; "could any one who
+found them make use of them without being discovered?"
+
+"Yes, I think so," said Ingham. "There is no means of learning how they
+came into the bearer's possession."
+
+"Did you ever own any?" she inquired.
+
+"No, but I used to cash the coupons for my employer in Louisville, and I
+know a good deal about them."
+
+"What business were you in there?" she asked, with a considerable show
+of interest.
+
+"I was bookkeeper for a wholesale liquor firm, and the senior partner
+used to put all his money into government bonds."
+
+"Why did you leave Louisville?" she continued, seemingly desirous of
+learning as much as possible of his history.
+
+"Oh! well, I got hard up," he replied, evasively, "and there was some
+mistake in my accounts which I couldn't explain satisfactorily, so I
+thought best to go out of town for awhile. You know we are all liable to
+mistakes when we are hard up."
+
+"Yes, indeed, I understand," she replied, in a satisfied tone of voice.
+"What are you going to do here?"
+
+"Well, I can't tell yet. I have a small job of closing up a set of books
+for the year, and when that is done I shall look around for something
+else. I'm not particular what I do, if it pays well."
+
+"Perhaps you could get employment from the Relief and Aid Society," she
+said, "and then you could get lots of nice things for me. This man,
+Graves, whose room you are to have, is employed there, and he steals
+enough to keep the woman who is with him in good style."
+
+"Why, aren't they married?" asked Ingham.
+
+"No, I don't believe they are married," she replied, "and I've given
+them notice to leave. Mr. Graves gets hardly any pay, but he brings her
+all kinds of presents, and she sells them to the pawnbrokers."
+
+On their return to the house, Mrs. Sanford made up a bed on the sofa for
+Ingham, and then went to her room.
+
+The day following, Ingham went down to his work on the South Side, and
+did not return until eight o'clock in the evening. He said that he knew
+of a chance to buy a cigar stand in one of the leading hotels, and that
+he would like to do it if he could raise the money. Mrs. Sanford seemed
+to have taken a great fancy to her new lodger, for she told him that she
+would assist him, if it did not cost too much.
+
+"By the way, I was sorry you were not here this afternoon," she said.
+"There was a very pretty young lady friend of mine here, and I would
+like to have you meet her."
+
+"What was her name?"
+
+"Ida Musgrove."
+
+"Have you known her long?"
+
+"Oh! no, I have only lived in Chicago a few months. I used to live in
+Cleveland before I separated from my husband, and we had a fine
+stone-front house there."
+
+"How did you happen to leave your husband?" asked Ingham.
+
+"Well, he began running after other women, and, though I forgave him
+several times, when he brought his mistress to live in the same house
+with me, I left him."
+
+"He must have been a very hard case to do such a thing as that," said
+Ingham, sympathizingly.
+
+"Yes; and then he sold the house, promising to give me half if I would
+sign the deed; but he never gave me a cent, so that I have had to work
+hard to support myself and my little girl, who is boarding at Riverside.
+However, I am all right now, for my father sent me three thousand
+dollars the other day, and I shall have plenty of money hereafter."
+
+"Hadn't you any friends here who would have helped you?" asked Ingham.
+
+"No, I hardly knew any one; but I met an old friend from Cleveland about
+a month ago, and he died here in my house. Haven't I told you about
+that?"
+
+"No, indeed; how was it?"
+
+"Well, you see, this Mr. Trafton was a former lover of mine in
+Cleveland, and he was very rich and handsome. He came here last month
+and took the back room in my house. He was very kind to me, and wanted
+to marry me; but he drank hard for a week and began to show the effects
+of his dissipation. Finally, he came home one evening quite drunk, and
+he complained of feeling sick. I boiled a chicken for him, but he could
+not eat it, and he went to bed. Next morning he did not call me as
+usual, and I went to his door and knocked; there was no answer, and so I
+pushed open his door. He was lying in bed with froth about his mouth and
+a ghastly look on his face which frightened me terribly. Then I called
+in Mr. Pratt, who roomed in the back parlor, and he said that Mr.
+Trafton was dead. When the coroner came, we found twenty-five thousand
+dollars in Mr. Trafton's pockets, besides his diamond studs and other
+property. Oh! it was a dreadful thing for me to think that such a
+handsome fellow as my Stanley should die in my house."
+
+"What was the matter with him?" asked Ingham.
+
+"The coroner held an inquest, and a post-mortem examination showed that
+he died of congestion of the lungs."
+
+"Did you know that he had all that money with him?" asked Ingham,
+significantly lowering his voice.
+
+"No, I did not know it until afterward," she replied; "why do you ask?"
+
+"Oh! for no special reason; but," he added, in a determined way, "you
+might have helped yourself to some of that money and no one would have
+been the wiser. I tell you, I wouldn't have let such a chance as that
+slip."
+
+"Well, I know I might have taken some of it," she answered,
+thoughtfully, "but I couldn't steal from him. Oh! I have mighty good
+credit among people here now, for every one knows about that money, and
+that I could have taken it all if I had wished. A reporter came here,
+and afterward stated in the paper that there was only a small amount,
+about fifteen hundred dollars, found; but I had it corrected."
+
+She prattled on for some time about her intimacy with Mr. Trafton, until
+she was interrupted by a noise in the hall bedroom. On going to see what
+was the matter, she found the two bindery girls in great excitement, as
+they had been awakened by a strange man in their room. Ingham also went
+to the door, when Mrs. Sanford told him to get his revolver, as she
+wanted to shoot any man who should try to break into her rooms. No one
+was found, but the lower hall door was open, and Ingham went down to
+lock it. On his return, Mrs. Sanford said that she had a revolver, and
+that she knew how to use it too. It was about midnight before they
+retired, but Mrs. Sanford seemed to consider it quite an early hour.
+
+The next day Ingham was again absent until evening, and Mrs. Sanford
+scolded him a little for not staying more time with her. He replied that
+he had been out looking for a chance to make a raise.
+
+"What kind of a raise?" she asked.
+
+"Oh! any kind," he replied; "I'm not particular, provided I can get
+enough to pay for the trouble. If I knew of any good hiding place, I
+could get a lot of valuable goods some night without much work, and with
+no danger."
+
+"You can bring them here, and I will hide them so that they will never
+be found," she replied, in a whisper.
+
+"That will be a pretty hard thing to do, for these policemen and
+detectives can find almost anything if they want to. I shouldn't like to
+bring any plunder here and then have it found in your house, for you
+would then be punished for receiving stolen goods.
+
+"Never you fear about me; I know some sharp tricks if I _am_ a woman. I
+can hide anything you bring, and if they get after you, I can hide you
+too."
+
+Ingham then told her about various criminal devices for obtaining money,
+which he had practiced in New York several years before, and called her
+attention to the ease with which they might rob strangers by the "panel"
+game. She was very much interested, and said that she could easily get
+hold of some fellow with plenty of money, make him drunk, and then rob
+him.
+
+"How I wish you had been here when Mr. Trafton died, for you could have
+got away with ten or fifteen thousand dollars without any difficulty
+whatever."
+
+"Yes, it would have been a good chance," he replied; "but I guess we can
+do nearly as well, if you will be true to me and help me."
+
+"You can depend upon me for anything," she answered, with great
+determination, but adding suddenly, in a cautious tone, "that is,
+anything except murder, you know. I shouldn't like to do that. But I
+would protect you even if you should kill a man--not willfully--not
+willfully, you understand; but if you should be obliged to do it to save
+yourself, I should not blame you very much."
+
+"I am determined to 'make a raise,' soon," said Ingham; "but I don't
+know whether I can trust you."
+
+"How so?" she asked, as if greatly surprised.
+
+"I am afraid you will 'give me away' to that policeman whom you think so
+much of."
+
+"You need not fear anything of the kind," she said, leaning forward, and
+speaking slowly and emphatically. "I can help you a great deal, and I
+would never betray you to any one. I don't think so much of Charlie as I
+pretend to."
+
+Soon afterward she had to go into the unfurnished room to get something,
+and she asked Ingham to hold the light for her.
+
+"Why can't you hold it yourself?" he asked.
+
+"Well, to tell the truth, I don't like to go into that room alone," she
+replied, trying to laugh in an unconcerned way.
+
+"Why not? You aren't afraid of anything, are you?"
+
+"No, not afraid; but I have never felt like going in there since Mr.
+Trafton died there. I cannot help recollecting the way he looked when I
+first saw him hanging over the bedside, with the froth on his lips. I
+took out all the furniture on that account, but I am going to furnish
+it again next week, as I can get a good rent for it."
+
+Ingham went with her as she requested, and he noticed that all the time
+she was in the room overhauling a trunk containing the things she
+wanted, she was very restless and nervous. Several times when she heard
+a sudden noise she would start and turn pale, as if much frightened.
+
+Presently the two girls occupying the front room came in and said that
+they should leave next day, as they were afraid of a man coming into
+their room as one had done the night before. Mrs. Sanford was evidently
+not sorry to have them go, and they soon went to bed.
+
+Ingham and Mrs. Sanford then talked together about their plans for
+getting money for some time. Her whole mind seemed bent upon one
+object,--to obtain money; and she seemed to have no scruples whatever as
+to the means employed.
+
+"Don't you know of any wealthy fellow who carries considerable money
+about with him?" asked Ingham.
+
+"Oh! yes; I know two or three who come here to do business, and I expect
+one from Canada next week. He always has plenty of money with him, so
+that I have no doubt we could get a big sum out of him."
+
+"Does he ever drink?" he asked; "I don't want to tackle a sober man, if
+I can help it."
+
+"That needn't trouble you," she replied, in a whisper; "I can give him
+something to keep him quiet."
+
+"How can you do that?" he inquired, with apparent astonishment.
+
+She then showed him a bottle of morphine, and said that she always kept
+it for her own use, and that she knew how to give just enough to produce
+a deep sleep. They finally agreed to lay their plans together, and to
+make a big haul at the first opportunity.
+
+Ingham went out again on his prospecting tour next day, but when he
+returned, in the evening, he had not discovered any good place for a
+robbery. He told Mrs. Sanford, however, that he thought he could get a
+quantity of counterfeit money at a very low price, and that they could
+pass a great deal of it, if they were skillful. She liked the idea, and
+said that she could pass it on a great many people who would never
+recollect where they received it. She also said that she had a good
+place to hide it, and that some time she would show him where she had
+hidden some property, when the police were looking for it.
+
+"Oh! how I wish you had been here when that man died with eighteen
+thousand dollars in bonds in his pockets!" she exclaimed. "You could
+have helped yourself to all you wanted."
+
+"Yes, indeed," he replied, "I should have made myself rich for life."
+
+"But could you have disposed of the bonds without being suspected?" she
+asked. "Wouldn't his friends catch you if they had the numbers of the
+bonds?"
+
+"Oh! that wouldn't make any difference. There are millions of dollars
+afloat of these bonds, and they cannot be traced any more than money."
+
+"His bonds were all for five hundred dollars each, and they had little
+tickets on the end, which could be cut off for the interest," she said.
+"I saw them when the coroner was examining them."
+
+"Yes, they were undoubtedly five-twenty bonds, and were worth their face
+in gold."
+
+"Well, another time, if we get such a chance," she said, "we will take
+enough to make ourselves comfortable, and leave the rest to remove
+suspicion."
+
+On the following day, Ingham returned to his room at Mrs. Sanford's
+about three o'clock in the afternoon, and she told him that the two
+girls and Mr. and Mrs. Graves had left. She said that she had a great
+fuss with the latter, and that they went away in a state of high wrath
+against her; besides this, she had had a quarrel with Charlie, the
+policeman, who had sided with Mrs. Graves during their quarrel. Mrs.
+Sanford said, further, that Charlie had acted very meanly in not making
+her any Christmas or New Year's present, and she didn't care whether he
+came there again or not. She said that Mrs. Graves had left her trunk to
+be called for, and that there was no doubt she had stolen some of Mrs.
+Sanford's towels and other things. She then went to the trunk, opened
+it, and took out a number of articles, which she said belonged to her.
+She took the articles into the kitchen, and secreted them in a hole in
+the floor, where she was able to take up a board. Ingham thought it
+rather strange that she should hide these things, if they were her own
+property, but he said nothing on the subject to Mrs. Sanford.
+
+About five o'clock a young lady called to see Mrs. Sanford, and they
+seemed very intimate with each other. When they entered the
+sitting-room, Mrs. Sanford said:
+
+"Ida, let me introduce to you Mr. Ingham; this is Miss Ida Musgrove, Mr.
+Ingham."
+
+"Mrs. Sanford has spoken of you in such complimentary terms, Miss Ida,"
+said Ingham, "that I have been very anxious to meet you."
+
+"Now, how can you be so foolish, May," said Miss Ida, addressing Mrs.
+Sanford; "you always talk about me so extravagantly that people are very
+much disappointed when they meet me."
+
+"Oh! that is quite impossible," chimed in Ingham. "I am sure that Mrs.
+Sanford hardly did you justice."
+
+"I see, Mr. Ingham, that you are, like all the rest of your sex, a great
+flatterer," simpered Miss Ida, who was evidently greatly pleased with
+his compliments, but who wished to appear too modest to believe him to
+be in earnest.
+
+Miss Ida was a brilliant brunette of fine features and figure. She was
+stylish and graceful in her appearance, and her dress showed remarkably
+good taste. She was very vivacious and merry, but a close observer would
+have noticed that she was not endowed with much sentiment, and a
+physiognomist would have said that she was more interested in the size
+of a man's fortune than in his looks or powers to please. The three
+chatted together very pleasantly for some time, and when Miss Ida rose
+to go, she said that she hoped to have the pleasure of seeing Mr. Ingham
+again; but she did not inform him where she lived, and was apparently
+rather indifferent with regard to him.
+
+The next day Mrs. Sanford refurnished the back room where Mr. Trafton
+had died, and Ingham took the room vacated by the Graveses. On the same
+day, Mrs. Sanford missed her watch, and, after searching for it
+everywhere, she came to the conclusion that it had been stolen. She was
+greatly distressed about it, but she could not imagine who could have
+taken it.
+
+A few days after this, Ingham came hurriedly into the sitting-room
+looking as if he had been running hard. He found Mrs. Sanford and Miss
+Ida in the kitchen, but when the former came into the sitting-room, he
+gave her a significant look, and said that he had "made a raise." Mrs.
+Sanford was highly pleased, but she had no time to make inquiries, as
+Miss Ida came in from the kitchen a moment later. They took supper
+together, and had a very gay time, as both Ingham and Mrs. Sanford were
+quite excited over the former's adventure. After Miss Ida had gone home,
+Ingham gave Mrs. Sanford ten dollars, and told her that he and another
+man had followed a stranger into the "Burnt District" just at dusk, and
+while the other man choked the stranger, Ingham had "gone through" his
+pockets. Owing to the fact that there were very few persons and no
+gas-lamps in their vicinity, they had not been observed in their work of
+robbery until they let the man go, when his shouts had attracted
+attention. He said that some men had chased them, and that he had
+escaped by running into a lumber-yard, where he had hidden the greater
+part of the plunder. He said that he had obtained a roll of bills, but
+that he could not tell how much money there was in all, as he had not
+had time to count it. He said that he did not expect to get much out of
+it, as he would be obliged to divide with his partner. The day
+following, Ingham, on his return to the house in the evening, found Mrs.
+Sanford standing in her room fixing her hair, while a man stood beside
+her with his arm around her waist. The door of her room was open, so
+that Ingham could not help seeing them, and he did not stop, but went
+straight to his own room. Mrs. Sanford soon afterward came to his door
+and told him that the man he had seen was Mr. Taylor G. Pratt, the real
+estate agent, who occupied the back parlor; that he was one of her best
+friends, and that he wanted to marry her. He had been away for the
+holidays, and had only just returned. She had told him that Ingham was
+her brother from Detroit, and that he was going to remain with her for
+some time. Ingham was then introduced to Mr Pratt, and they talked with
+each other until supper-time. Pratt was a middle-aged man, with a
+mean-looking face and suspicious manner. They went to a restaurant for
+supper, and the gentlemen paid the bill equally. Pratt seemed to expect
+Mrs. Sanford to pay her share, and this made her angry, though she said
+nothing about the matter at the time. When alone with Ingham, however,
+she said that Pratt was a miserly cub, with no generosity whatever. She
+borrowed five dollars from him, nevertheless, and then invented a story
+about having lost the money to escape paying it back.
+
+The next evening, when Ingham returned to his lodgings, he found Mrs.
+Sanford in a sad plight; one eye was wholly closed and discolored, while
+her whole face was bruised and inflamed to such an extent as to make her
+an unpleasant object to look at. Charlie Stokes, the policeman, was
+sitting by the stove, and Mrs. Sanford, with her head done up in wet
+towels, was moaning on the sofa. She explained that Mrs. Graves had been
+there, and had seized her by the throat, beaten, scratched, and kicked
+her until she was perfectly helpless from her injuries. Charlie, the
+policeman, was trying to condole with her, but he was evidently out of
+favor, for she finally told him to go out and not bother her any longer.
+
+Ingham told her that she certainly ought to have Mrs. Graves arrested
+and punished severely, and he petted her so nicely that she said he was
+her best friend, and that she would do anything for him. He prepared a
+dressing for her black eye, and got some supper for her, telling her
+that on Monday--that day being Saturday--she ought to get out a warrant
+for the arrest of Mrs. Graves.
+
+"Why didn't you hit her with the poker?" he asked.
+
+"I did pick it up," she replied, "but I was afraid to hit her for fear I
+should kill her."
+
+"Well, it would have served her just right, for she had no business to
+attack you first."
+
+"I know that; but if I had killed her, just think how awful it would be!
+Why, her ghost would haunt me forever after. I don't want to be haunted.
+I'm afraid now to go into the room where Trafton died, and I wouldn't go
+in there alone after dark for fifty dollars."
+
+Ingham comforted her all he could, but finally he said that he must go
+out for a time, and he did not return until about ten o'clock. He then
+went upstairs quietly, and went to bed. Two or three hours later, a
+heavy, groaning sound was heard in the house. It was difficult to tell
+exactly whence it came, but Ingham heard Mrs. Sanford spring up and open
+her door. He did the same, and saw her listening at the half-open door.
+The groans were not exactly like those of a person in distress, but they
+resembled the efforts of some stage ghost in a blood-and-thunder drama.
+Suddenly Mrs. Sanford stepped out, with her revolver in her hand, and
+began to walk toward the hall. He instantly overtook her and asked her,
+in a whisper, what she was going to do. She made a significant motion
+with her revolver, and again stopped to listen. He then took the pistol
+away from her, saying that the noise was probably due to some drunken
+man who had got into the hall. He told her to go back to bed, and he
+would investigate. Accordingly, he went into the hall, and soon Mrs.
+Sanford heard him dragging a maudlin drunken fellow downstairs. This
+affair had been arranged by me, in the hope of frightening Mrs. Sanford
+into making some kind of a confession, but she was not so easily alarmed
+as I had hoped. The door had been left open by Ingham on his return to
+the house, and another detective had been sent to the top of the stairs
+to make the groans. From the determined way in which she walked out,
+with her pistol in readiness, it was evident that she would not have
+hesitated to shoot the unfortunate ghost on sight.
+
+The next day Ingham showed her a fine gold watch, which he said he had
+snatched out of a man's pocket in a crowd. She wanted him to steal one
+for her, and he promised to do so, if possible, though it was more
+difficult to get a lady's watch. She then advised him to be careful to
+see that there was no private mark on the watch, lest he should be
+detected thereby. Then she asked whether the numbers on government bonds
+were all different. He said that there were different series, which were
+exactly alike except the letter, and he tried to explain the matter to
+her, but she could not understand it. She also wanted to know whether
+the bonds could be sold in a foreign country, and he told her yes; that
+that was the best way to sell them, if there was anything wrong about
+them. After some further conversation, she said she thought of going to
+Canada soon, and perhaps she would like him to take charge of her rooms
+while she was away.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER III.
+
+    _The Dangerous Side of the Woman's Character.--Mr. Pinkerton makes a
+          new Move.--Robert A. Pinkerton as Adamson, the drunken, but
+          wealthy, Stranger.--A "funny" Game of Cards.--The drunken
+          Stranger has a violent Struggle to escape from Mrs. Sanford,
+          and is afterwards robbed--according to the Papers.--Detective
+          Ingham arrested, but very shortly liberated._
+
+
+It has already been observed by the reader that, while Ingham had
+learned nothing new about the fate of poor Trafton, he had obtained a
+very excellent understanding of Mrs. Sanford's character. Her most
+prominent characteristic was the love of money, and this passion seemed
+to overpower all others. Her language and manners at times showed that
+she had once been a member of good society, while her reading and
+declamations from Shakespeare and other poets gave evidence of great
+natural talents. Combined with her greed for money was a strong element
+of sensuality, and though she usually granted her favors only where she
+expected a large pecuniary reward, still, at times, she was apparently
+as prodigal in that regard as if she had no care whatever for money.
+
+Her mind was naturally powerful, and I had little hope of breaking down
+her will; she would evidently show fight to the last, and all that I
+could hope would be to learn enough secretly to insure her conviction
+without her confession. She was as shrewd as if all her life had been
+passed in evading the toils of the law; even in her sleep, or when
+pretending to sleep, she would talk with great freedom; but, as she
+never gave any intelligence of importance on such occasions, I put
+little faith in the soundness of her sleep. In her readiness to assist
+Ingham to hide his plunder, I saw the dangerous side of this woman's
+nature strongly revealed. If she were so willing to act as an accomplice
+in one crime, why not in another? As she had been so successful in her
+encounter with Trafton, might she not be glad to carry out the same
+scheme again? At least, there would be no harm in putting an opportunity
+before her, and her actions in one case might give some clue to those by
+which she had succeeded in the former affair.
+
+"Yes, that will be a good plan," I soliloquized; "I will send a young
+fellow there with a large sum of money, and he will get drunk. Then, if
+she tries to rob him, I shall be certain that she did the same with
+young Trafton."
+
+I therefore arranged that Ingham should pretend that he had made the
+acquaintance of a stranger from the East, who had a large sum of money;
+he was to tell Mrs. Sanford that he would bring the stranger to her
+rooms to spend the evening; the stranger would be rather drunk when he
+arrived there, and they would give him more liquor, until he should be
+quite drunk; if she should then try to rob him, he would get away as
+well as possible, and Ingham would go after him. In a little while,
+Ingham would return and show her a package of bonds, stolen from the
+stranger, and tell her that he had knocked the man down with a brick,
+before robbing him. The next morning a notice would appear in the papers
+to the effect that a stranger had been found in the burnt district,
+lying on the ground in an insensible condition, having been knocked down
+and robbed.
+
+Ingham was instructed as to his part in the affair, and next day he told
+Mrs. Sanford that there was a young fellow down town whose acquaintance
+he had made, who had a large amount of money with him. Ingham said that
+the man's name was Adamson, and that he was a gambler in good luck. He
+wanted to bring Adamson to the house that evening, and she was very
+anxious that he should come.
+
+I intrusted the stranger's part to my son, Robert A. Pinkerton, who
+assumed the name of Adamson for the occasion.
+
+Accordingly, the two detectives met at my office, and Adamson was given
+five hundred dollars in fifty dollar bonds. They then went to Mrs.
+Sanford's house, and, on arriving there, Mr. Adamson was quite unsteady
+on his legs. Mrs. Sanford was nicely dressed to receive the stranger,
+and she made herself very agreeable to him, in spite of his apparent
+drunkenness. They played cards together for a time, and then Adamson
+proposed to play euchre with Ingham seven points for five dollars a
+game. While they were playing, Adamson became quite reckless, and he
+threw down his cards with such a look of drunken gravity as to be quite
+amusing. He lost almost every game, and, at length, he wanted to go out
+for a drink. Mrs. Sanford told him to go on with his game, and she would
+get what he wished.
+
+"What do you want to drink?" she asked.
+
+"Anything excep' warrer," he replied.
+
+"What do you know about water?" asked Ingham; "I don't believe you can
+tell how it looks."
+
+"Tha's a lie. I know how to tell warrer's well's you. I (hic) can allus
+tell warrer--it looks jus' like gin. Get us some gin."
+
+While Mrs. Sanford was gone, Ingham and Adamson arranged that the latter
+should pretend to have lost all his money to the former, and that he
+should insist upon playing one game for fifty dollars. This he was to
+lose, and he was to become angry and go away. Adamson then gave Ingham
+about fifty dollars to show as his winnings, and presently Mrs. Sanford
+came in. She had been introduced to Adamson under the assumed name of
+Mrs. Robertson, and he therefore addressed her by that name.
+
+[Illustration: "_I'll play you a (hic) game f'r fiffy doll's!_"]
+
+"Mrs. Rob'son, 'f you'd come sooner (hic), you'd ha' seen th' funniest
+game 't ever was played. Never 'ad such bad luck 'n m' life, an' now
+I've los' all m' money. Gimme big (hic) drink of gin."
+
+Mrs. Sanford poured him a glass half full, and also poured a little into
+two other glasses. When she turned her head, Ingham emptied the contents
+of his glass into the coal-scuttle, exchanged glasses with Adamson, and
+emptied his drink into the same place. When they stood up to drink, Mrs.
+Sanford was the only one who really did so, the two men merely going
+through the motions, with great apparent satisfaction. Adamson then
+became more and more excited.
+
+"Tell you, Miss'r Hang'em, or whatever y'r name is, I'll play you a
+(hic) game f'r fiffy dolls; can beat you 't euchre any day th' week.
+Wha' you say? Wan' to play?"
+
+"No, I don't want to play for so much, but I'll play you for twenty-five
+dollars."
+
+"Fiffy or nothin'. Come, now; 'f you're 'fraid to play, say so. I c'n
+play like a steam-whissle, I can."
+
+"I'll play you for twenty-five," replied Ingham, irresolutely.
+
+"No, sir; I won't (hic) play'ny more small games. You've won more'n
+fiffy doll'rs fr'm me now, 'n I wan' m' revenge. You goin' ter gimme a
+(hic) chance t'win it back?"
+
+"All right," said Ingham; "I'll play you just one game for fifty
+dollars, and then we'll stop, no matter who wins. Just wait a minute,
+until I go to my room for a handkerchief."
+
+While he was gone, Adamson pulled out a package of ten United States
+bonds, of the denomination of fifty dollars each, and said that he would
+put up one of them against Ingham's fifty dollars, and that he should
+send the rest to his mother. When Ingham returned, he counted out fifty
+dollars, and Adamson laid down one of his bonds.
+
+"What's that?" asked Ingham. "Is that worth fifty dollars?" and picking
+it up, he examined it carefully.
+
+"Yes'r; tha's worth more'n fiffy doll'rs; tha's worth fiffy doll'rs in
+gold."
+
+"Will you guarantee that it is good and all right?" asked Ingham.
+
+"Course I will; didn't you ever see a (hic) bond b'fore?"
+
+"Oh! I know that's all right," said Mrs. Sanford, who was beginning to
+show the effect of the gin very strongly; "I've had bon's like that,
+too. Th' young man who died here had eighteen thousan' bonds like this."
+
+"Well, all right," said Ingham; "let us cut for deal."
+
+As the game progressed, Mrs. Sanford felt the strength of the gin more
+and more, and she soon became quite sick. Ingham got her some warm
+water, and she went into her own room to vomit. She soon returned,
+feeling much better, and the game went on, Ingham winning by one point.
+Adamson then became very angry, and said he was going out; and, although
+the others begged him to stay, he put on his overcoat and insisted on
+going away. Ingham finally said that he didn't care whether Adamson went
+or stayed, and, so saying, he walked off to his own room. Mrs. Sanford
+used every argument to induce Adamson to stay all night, but, with a
+drunken man's obstinacy, he refused to remain any longer. He walked
+downstairs, with Mrs. Sanford clinging to him and coaxing him all the
+way, until they reached the lower landing, when she put her back against
+the door and refused to let him out. They then had a violent struggle,
+in the course of which she tore open his coat and vest in the endeavor
+to get at the bonds in his breast pocket. Finally, he was obliged to use
+all his force to get away, as she was like a tigress in her anger, and
+was evidently determined to rob him. Indeed, had he not been an active,
+muscular young man, she would, undoubtedly, have finished him then and
+there; as it was, he barely succeeded in making his escape, by forcing
+her back upon the stairs, and then springing out of the door before she
+could seize him again.
+
+Meantime, Ingham was a silent spectator of this scene from the top of
+the stairs, where he stood holding the lamp. As soon as Adamson was out,
+Ingham rushed down and told Mrs. Sanford that he intended to have those
+bonds anyhow. He told her to sit up for him, and then ran out after
+Adamson. In less than an hour, he returned and saw Mrs. Sanford watching
+for him from a front window. When he went upstairs, she was still
+somewhat under the influence of the liquor she had drank, but she asked
+him where he had been.
+
+"That's all right," he replied, flipping over the ends of the package of
+bonds; "I guess I've made a good enough haul this time."
+
+"Oh! you are a splendid fellow," she said, leaning on his shoulder. "I
+didn't think you would dare to do it."
+
+"I dare to do anything where there is any money to be made. You won't go
+back on me, will you?"
+
+"What do you mean?" she asked.
+
+"I mean, that you won't give me away to the police?" he asked,
+anxiously.
+
+"Why, of course I won't," she replied. "I never yet went back on any one
+who did the fair thing by me; and I know you will do that, won't you?"
+
+"Oh! certainly I will; I will make you a nice present to-morrow."
+
+"I don't want a present to-morrow," she said, sullenly; "I want my share
+now."
+
+"But I shall have to cash these bonds first," he said. "They would be of
+no use to you in their present shape."
+
+"I can get them cashed as well as you can," she replied. "Come, hand
+over; I don't want half, but I want my share now."
+
+"What is your hurry?" he demanded. "Can't you wait until to-morrow?"
+
+"No, I can't; I want my share, and if you are going to be mean, I will
+be mean too. You can't keep those bonds unless I say so, and if I choose
+to report you, I can have them all taken from you, besides sending you
+to Joliet."
+
+"Oh! if that's the way you talk," replied Ingham, "I shall know what to
+do. If you can't trust me until to-morrow, I can't trust you at all. You
+can't scare me by threats, and if you want to get any of this money, you
+must deal fairly with me; I'm not afraid of being arrested."
+
+"All right, then," she answered, with a wicked look in her eye; "we'll
+see whether you will 'come down' or not. If you want to keep it all, I
+shall take care that you don't keep any of it. I'm going to the police
+station at once."
+
+She was, evidently, just ugly enough to do as she said; and, as Ingham
+had the bonds in his possession, he did not fancy the idea of letting
+her go for the officers just then; so he replied:
+
+"You can go right along, if you want to, but, in that case, I shall go
+somewhere else."
+
+He then quickly brought his hat and overcoat into the sitting-room; and,
+seeing that she was still making preparations to go out, he took a
+hurried departure, taking a room at a small hotel for the night.
+
+In the Chicago _Tribune_ of January 14, 1872, the following item
+appeared:
+
+"HIGHWAY ROBBERY.
+
+     "At about twelve o'clock last night, an officer of Pinkerton's
+     Preventive Police stumbled over the body of a man near the corner
+     of State and Washington streets. Stooping down, he discovered that
+     the man was half drunk, half insensible, bruised and bleeding. On
+     being restored to his senses, he gave his name as Robert Adamson,
+     stating that he had come from Troy, New York, having with him
+     several hundred dollars in currency and bonds. The time between
+     drinks was very short yesterday afternoon, and he has no clear idea
+     of what happened after dark, up to the time the officer found him
+     minus his money and valuables. He remembers drinking frequently
+     with a stranger, who made himself very agreeable, but cannot state
+     the time when they parted company. He describes the stranger as a
+     tall slender man, with black side-whiskers, giving a sufficiently
+     minute description of him to afford the police a valuable clue, and
+     it is likely that the highwayman will soon be overhauled."
+
+About noon of the day that the above was published, Ingham went to call
+upon Mrs. Sanford, and she received him very coolly.
+
+"How do you feel this morning?" he asked. "Does your head ache?"
+
+"No, I feel all right," she replied. "Have you seen that fellow that was
+here last night?"
+
+"No, I have not seen him," he replied. "Why do you ask? Has he been here
+looking for me?"
+
+"Yes, he came here this morning, and asked me all kinds of questions
+about you; and now, if you are arrested, it will be your own fault. I
+would have shielded you, if you had done the fair thing by me; but now
+you must look out for yourself."
+
+"You are very unreasonable, Mrs. Sanford," he replied; "it would have
+been very dangerous to have left any of those bonds with you, for if the
+man had brought the police here, they would have searched the house, and
+would have found the bonds. Then you would have been arrested, and you
+would have been obliged to tell where you got the bonds. Now, as soon as
+I get the bonds cashed, I will treat you handsomely, but I do not intend
+to run any risks."
+
+"There would have been no danger of their finding the bonds, if you had
+left them with me; and, even if they had found them, I never would have
+told where I got them. You might have been fair enough to give me one
+hundred dollars at least."
+
+"He did not have any money besides what I won from him, except the
+bonds; and, as I said before, I did not dare to leave those in the
+house."
+
+"I am sorry I ever let you into my house," she said, presently. "I
+thought a great deal of you, and I expected to assist you when I
+received my money; but now I have lost confidence in you. I suppose, if
+you got a chance at my money, you would take that too. I begin to think
+I know where my watch went; the detective wanted to search you for it
+two or three times, but I wouldn't let him, and this is the way you
+reward my confidence."
+
+"Mrs. Sanford, you are talking wild," he answered, angrily. "I have
+always treated you well, and when I made a raise the other day, I gave
+you a part of it. I intended to do the same this time, but you acted so
+suspiciously that I thought best to wait awhile. Now, as soon as I get
+these bonds cashed, I will give you some more money, but not till then."
+
+"You can keep your old money," she retorted; "I don't want any of it.
+You think you were very smart, yesterday, but you don't know what danger
+you are in. I could have you arrested this very day if I chose."
+
+"I know you could; but what good would it do you? I should be punished,
+to be sure, but you would not get a cent; while, if you keep quiet, I
+will make you a fine present."
+
+"I don't want your present, nor you either," she replied. "I don't want
+you in my house any longer." Then, as Ingham started toward his room,
+she said: "Keep out of there; you can't go into that room, for I've let
+it to a young couple, who are in there now."
+
+"All right, then," replied Ingham; "I will call again to-morrow."
+
+"You needn't take things so mighty cool," she replied, perfectly white
+with anger. "You may find yourself in jail before you know it."
+
+"I know it," he answered, carelessly; "but it's my nature to take things
+cool, and so, if you want to put me in jail, you can; but you can't
+scare me a bit, and you may as well understand it first as last."
+
+The following morning, I received from Mr. Trafton, who was then in
+Philadelphia, the numbers of the bonds which were missing. They were
+five-twenty bonds of the issue of 1865, numbers 57,109 and 87,656,
+series A, and number 37,515, series B. Information of the robbery had
+been sent to the Treasury Department at Washington, and to all the
+sub-treasurers in the United States, in order that, in case any of the
+interest coupons should be presented for payment, they might be traced
+back, possibly, to the hands of the thief.
+
+In _The Tribune_ of Monday appeared the following item:
+
+                     "BEATEN AND ROBBED.
+
+    "A MAN TAKES A WALK WITH A COMPARATIVE STRANGER, AND IS KNOCKED DOWN
+          AND ROBBED OF NEARLY $1,000 IN GREENBACKS.
+
+     "Mention was made in yesterday's TRIBUNE of the finding of a man,
+     named Robert Adamson, on the corner of State and Washington
+     streets, he having been beaten and robbed of several hundred
+     dollars in greenbacks. The police were looking for him yesterday,
+     but failed to find him. It was ascertained that he had been
+     boarding at No. 92 West Madison street, and that, on Saturday
+     night, he indulged in several games of euchre with a man who also
+     boarded at the place. While the game was in progress, and Adamson
+     was under the influence of liquor, he displayed an express
+     company's envelope full of money. At the conclusion of the game,
+     the two men went out to 'take a walk.' Yesterday morning, Adamson's
+     companion returned to the house, and, it is said, offered the
+     landlady $500 if she would say nothing about his having played
+     cards with Adamson. She refused, and would not allow the fellow to
+     take his trunk away, which he wanted to do very badly. The landlady
+     sent her little daughter to police headquarters for an officer, and
+     one was sent over to arrest the man; but he had left previous to
+     the officer's arrival. It is not known how much money Adamson had,
+     but it must have been in the neighborhood of $1,000, or the man who
+     took it would not have made such a munificent offer to have the
+     fact of the theft kept secret."
+
+In accordance with my instructions, Ingham went to Mrs. Sanford's house
+about noon on Monday. He told her that he had read in the paper that she
+had reported him to the police as being the assailant of Robert Adamson.
+She denied ever having done so, and offered to swear that she had never
+betrayed him. He replied that he felt sure there must be a mistake, as
+he could not believe it possible that she would betray him. He felt
+perfect confidence in her, and had no fears that she would try to have
+him arrested.
+
+"Besides," he continued, "I don't care now whether they arrest me or
+not. I'm not afraid of being held, for I am generally shrewd enough to
+cover my tracks pretty thoroughly, if I have a start of two or three
+days."
+
+"You can't prove that you didn't rob that man," she replied.
+
+"I don't need to; all the proof must come from the other side, and they
+haven't any witnesses who can swear that I did the robbery."
+
+"I could prove it, if I choose to go against you," she said.
+
+"No, you couldn't," he replied. "You didn't see me; and, while your
+testimony would, perhaps, be circumstantial evidence, your oath would be
+no better than mine, as you have no one to swear to the same thing."
+
+"Oh! I have great credit up at the station," she said, in a boasting
+manner. "They recollect the finding of eighteen thousand dollars under
+the pillow of the young man who died here, and they have all confidence
+in me, for they know I might have easily stolen all he had. But I think
+it is best never to do anything wrong, and then there is no fear of
+getting into trouble."
+
+"That's all right, if you can do it," he replied; "but I must have a
+living, and if I can't get it one way, I will another."
+
+Just then some one knocked at the door, and presently Charlie Stokes,
+the policeman, walked in. They talked together a few minutes, and then
+Stokes said:
+
+"Step this way a moment, Mr. Ingham, I wish to speak to you alone."
+
+They walked to the head of the stairs, and Ingham then asked what he
+wished to talk about.
+
+"Well, there seems to be some kind of a misunderstanding at the police
+station," said Stokes, keeping his eyes on the ground, "and they have
+sent me to ask you to walk around to the office."
+
+"A misunderstanding about what?" asked Ingham. "What do you mean?"
+
+"Well, you know all about it," continued Stokes, in the same mysterious
+way.
+
+"I beg your pardon; I don't know what you have reference to; please
+explain."
+
+"Oh! you know well enough. You are wanted on account of that man you
+robbed last Saturday night."
+
+"I did not rob any man Saturday night, and I am surprised that you
+should make such a charge against me, knowing me as well as you do,"
+said Ingham, in an injured tone.
+
+"I have nothing to do with it," replied Stokes. "I am simply obeying the
+captain's order, and I have no personal feeling against you whatever;
+but I have been sent to take you down to the station, and I must obey
+orders."
+
+"Then you arrest me?" inquired Ingham.
+
+"Well, you must go to the station with me to see the captain."
+
+"Not unless you arrest me," replied Ingham. "I want to know whether I am
+to consider myself under arrest."
+
+"Yes, you can consider yourself arrested, if you want to," replied
+Stokes, who did not seem to like to take the responsibility of making
+the arrest under the circumstances.
+
+"I don't want to, and I shan't, unless you say so," persisted Ingham.
+
+"Well, then, I _do_ say so, and we will go now. We can walk along
+together like two friends, however, and no one need know that you are my
+prisoner."
+
+"I don't care who knows it," said Ingham; "but I think there is
+something strange in the way of arresting me."
+
+"Well, I hope you will come out all right," Stokes replied, adding
+significantly, "and perhaps you will, if certain folks don't appear
+against you."
+
+"I'm not afraid," replied Ingham; "there is no one who can say anything
+against me."
+
+On arriving at the station, the same consideration was shown to him, and
+the station-keeper asked him to make himself comfortable in the main
+sitting-room.
+
+"Am I under arrest?" he asked again.
+
+"No, not exactly; you can take it easy for a time, and you will have an
+examination soon."
+
+"If I am not under arrest," Ingham replied, "I shall not stay here."
+
+"Why not?" asked the station-keeper.
+
+"Because I have no business here unless I am a prisoner," was Ingham's
+reply.
+
+"We can lock you up in a cell, if we want to," said the station-keeper;
+"but we thought you would prefer to be comfortable up here."
+
+"Then I _am_ a prisoner?" again inquired Ingham, who seemed anxious to
+have his status satisfactorily explained.
+
+"Yes, confound it; if you are determined to have it so, you are."
+
+About five o'clock the sergeant of police came in, and asked Ingham his
+name.
+
+"Ingham," was the reply.
+
+"Jack Ingham?"
+
+"No; John Ingham."
+
+"What is your business?" asked the sergeant.
+
+"I'm not employed at all, just now."
+
+"Have you ever had any work to do in this city?" again queried the
+sergeant.
+
+"No; not yet."
+
+"Who was that man you were playing cards with the other night?"
+
+"What night?" asked Ingham.
+
+"Well, Saturday night."
+
+"Whereabouts?"
+
+"At your boarding place."
+
+"Oh! I play cards with a great many fellows," Ingham replied. "I don't
+know which one you mean."
+
+"Well, we know who he was," said the sergeant.
+
+"Then what are you asking me for?" said Ingham. "Am I under arrest?"
+
+"I guess you will have to stay here awhile," was the sergeant's reply.
+
+Presently a number of persons came into the room, and Ingham thought he
+saw among them one of the bindery girls who had formerly lodged with
+Mrs. Sanford. She looked at him very hard, and then went out into the
+hall, where he could hear her talking with the station-keeper and
+Stokes. He also heard the sergeant call a policeman and give him some
+instructions, in which Ingham caught the words, "Pinkerton's office."
+The man then put on his coat and went out. Presently the sergeant
+approached him again, and, looking at him significantly, said:
+
+"Now we know all about your playing cards with that man, and afterward
+robbing him."
+
+"I don't know what you mean," Ingham replied; "I don't know what man you
+are talking about."
+
+"Didn't you see that piece in the paper yesterday?" asked the sergeant.
+
+"I saw a number of pieces in the paper yesterday, but I can't tell which
+one you are referring to."
+
+The sergeant then showed him the item headed "Highway Robbery," and
+said:
+
+"Now, we can prove that you came back to your landlady with a large
+package of money, and offered her five hundred dollars to keep quiet
+about the fact of your having played cards with this young fellow, and
+then having followed him out."
+
+"Well, if you can prove that, you had better do it," said Ingham; then,
+changing his tone, and looking straight in the sergeant's face, he
+added: "Now, look here, sergeant, if you have any charges against me,
+just state them."
+
+The sergeant muttered something about locking him up, and started to go
+out.
+
+"If you lock me up," replied Ingham, coolly, "I hope you are prepared to
+take the consequences."
+
+"Who the devil are you, anyhow?" asked the sergeant.
+
+"No relation of yours, I assure you," was the reply, and the sergeant
+went away.
+
+At this time, a tall, dignified man came in and asked the station-keeper
+a question. The policeman replied that there was no such man there.
+
+"I know better than that," said the stranger, "and I must see him."
+
+The station-keeper declared positively that they had no such man, and
+the stranger then went upstairs. In a few minutes the sergeant came in
+and told Ingham to follow him. As they were going upstairs, they met the
+tall stranger coming down. Ingham felt confident that this man was
+looking for him, and, in passing, he pinched the stranger's leg. The
+pinch was returned, and the tall man stopped; but Ingham and the
+sergeant went up to the captain's room. After asking Ingham his name,
+the captain said:
+
+"Where were you last Saturday night?"
+
+"That is none of your business," said Ingham.
+
+"Come, now, you needn't put on any airs," said the captain; "I want to
+know all about this."
+
+"Captain," Ingham replied, "if you have any charges against me, I should
+like to hear them. I don't put on any airs, but I want to know what I am
+under arrest for."
+
+Turning to the sergeant, the captain said:
+
+"How long would it take you to bring that man on here, sergeant?"
+
+"Three or four days, at least," was the answer.
+
+Just then the tall stranger entered, and the captain took him into a
+private room, where they remained some time. When they came out, the
+sergeant joined the captain for a few minutes, while the tall gentleman
+introduced himself to Ingham as Judge B----, and said that the captain
+would let him go. This proved true, for the captain very soon came out,
+and told Ingham that he was at liberty.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER IV.
+
+    _Connecting Links.--Mrs. Sanford's Ability as an Imitator of
+          Actors.--One Detective tears himself away from her, and
+          another takes his Place.--Mrs. Sanford's mind frequently
+          burdened with the Subject of Murder.--New Evidence
+          appearing.--A Peep at the stolen Bonds.--The Shrewdness of the
+          Murderess._
+
+
+Ingham did not return to Mrs. Sanford's until late in the evening of the
+day of his arrest. On arriving there, he was admitted by Charlie Stokes,
+the policeman, who seemed very much surprised to see him. Mrs. Sanford
+was also quite astonished, and turned very pale on seeing him. However,
+they soon began talking in a very friendly way, expressing their regret
+at his arrest and their pleasure at his release. Charlie did not remain
+long, and after he was gone Mrs. Sanford made all kinds of inquiries as
+to the manner of his escape.
+
+"Why, Mrs. Sanford," he replied, "I told you they couldn't hold me.
+There was absolutely no evidence against me, and they were afraid to
+even lock me up. I have been ten years in this business, in New Orleans
+and elsewhere, and I have never been caught yet. The only thing which
+puzzles me, is to account for my being arrested at all!"
+
+"You don't suspect that I had any hand in it, I hope?" asked Mrs.
+Sanford.
+
+"Oh, no indeed! I trust you perfectly; but I think that one of those
+bindery girls may have seen me with Adamson on the street. One of them
+came into the station while I was there, and looked at me very hard, as
+if trying to identify me. Still, I don't see how she could have
+suspected anything, unless some one put her up to it."
+
+"Perhaps some bartender may have seen you drinking with him during the
+afternoon," she suggested, "and he may have described you to the
+police."
+
+"Well, I should like to know who it was," he said, savagely, "for I
+would shoot him like a dog."
+
+As Mrs. Sanford had rented Ingham's room, there was no place for him to
+stay, and he went away about midnight, telling her that he would return
+next day. He did not go there, however, until after dark, as he felt
+confident that the police would try to "shadow" him. He found Mrs.
+Sanford quite uneasy about him, as she thought he had been arrested
+again. He invited her to go to the theatre, and, on their way home, they
+stopped at a restaurant to get a late supper. As there were no
+accommodations for him, he was obliged to go to a hotel for the night,
+but Mrs. Sanford promised to have a bed put into the unfurnished room
+for him the next day. The next afternoon he called again, and Mrs.
+Sanford said that Charlie had been there, and had told her all about
+their visit to the theatre the night before. She said that he knew
+exactly where they had been, what they had had for supper, and what
+they had paid. Ingham was thus made aware that he was being watched, and
+his position, therefore, became very embarrassing.
+
+"Oh! by the way," she exclaimed, suddenly, "did I tell you that I got
+back my watch?"
+
+"No; how did you recover it?" he asked.
+
+"Well, that man Graves had it, and I had to pay one hundred dollars to
+get it back."
+
+"That was a great shame," said Ingham, sympathetically, as if he fully
+believed her.
+
+"Yes, I got my watch and several other trinkets, which I had all
+together in one box. See, here they are," she said, producing a box.
+
+Ingham looked at them with great interest, and, among the old
+sleeve-buttons, odd earrings, and other broken pieces of jewelry, he saw
+two gold shirt studs, one diamond-shaped, and the other star-shaped.
+This was a small matter, but it was one of the connecting links,
+nevertheless, in the chain of evidence against her; for, from the
+description, I felt sure that these were young Trafton's missing studs.
+
+Ingham spent the evening with her, and she was very friendly indeed,
+seeming anxious to remove any suspicion he might have that she was
+responsible for his arrest. She had made no arrangements for him to
+sleep there, however, and so he went to a small hotel for the night.
+When he reported at my office the following day, I gave him four hundred
+dollars in money, and told him to show it to Mrs. Sanford as the
+proceeds of the sale of the stolen bonds. Accordingly, when he went
+there in the afternoon, he counted over a large pile of bills before her
+astonished eyes, and asked her if he didn't know how to make things pay
+well.
+
+"Why, where did you get all that money?" she asked.
+
+"I sold those bonds which I showed you the other night," he replied. "I
+tell you, it isn't every man who knows how to dispose of property when
+it falls into his hands."
+
+"Now you will be flush for a long time, won't you?" she said, in her
+most amiable manner. "What are you going to do with all that?"
+
+"Oh! I shall have to divide with my partner first," he replied.
+
+"Did you have a partner in this affair?" she asked. "You did not tell me
+about him."
+
+"Oh! yes; I had the same partner as in the other case," Ingham replied.
+"He held Adamson, and I struck him with a brick. However, here is a
+present before I go, May," he continued, tossing two ten-dollar notes
+into her lap. "I will give you some more in a day or two."
+
+Mrs. Sanford was very much gratified, and said that she cared more for
+him than for any one else, and he could depend upon her for anything.
+Ingham then left her, and came to my office to return the money. In the
+evening he took Mrs. Sanford and Miss Ida Musgrove to the theatre, and
+the latter, evidently having heard of his improved fortunes, treated him
+with great cordiality. They returned to the rooms of Miss Ida after the
+theatre was out, and Mrs. Sanford gave some fine imitations of different
+actors and actresses, in a way which showed great powers of mimicry, as
+well as considerable dramatic force. It was very late when Ingham and
+Mrs. Sanford got home, and they immediately went to bed.
+
+The next day, Ingham went away as usual, and stayed until nearly dark.
+When he saw Mrs. Sanford, he professed to be in a very sulky mood, and
+said that he had been gambling all day.
+
+"At first I won right along, and I was nearly two thousand dollars ahead
+at one time; but the cursed luck changed, and I began to lose every bet;
+so that, when I left, I had only ten dollars in my pocket out of all
+that money I got for the bonds."
+
+Ingham could not control his feelings as he thought of his loss, and he
+swore and raved like a crazy man. Mrs. Sanford was very much
+disappointed, also, but she did not say much, except that he ought to
+have known better than to gamble. There were two or three new lodgers
+coming in and out while he was there, so that he did not have much time
+to talk to her, and he went away early in the evening.
+
+Owing to the arrest of Ingham, and his quarrel with Mrs. Sanford, I had
+decided to relieve him from this operation, and to put another man in
+his place. His story about gambling was a part of my plan; and the next
+day, when he called upon her, he was under instructions to announce his
+intended departure from the city. Accordingly, he did so, giving as a
+reason the fact that he had lost all his money, and that the police were
+watching him so closely that he was afraid to attempt another robbery in
+Chicago. He told her that he was going to St. Louis, and that he should
+come to see her immediately, if he ever should return.
+
+She appeared very much distressed at the thought of losing him, and told
+him that when she got her money, she would let him have as much as he
+wanted. She made him promise to write to her, and when he went away, she
+cried with seemingly genuine sorrow.
+
+Three days later Mrs. Sanford received a visit from a gentleman who said
+he wished to rent a furnished room. Mrs. Sanford seemed to like his
+appearance, and she offered him the small back room at a low rent.
+Having decided to take it, he told her that his name was Henry C.
+Morton, recently from England.
+
+"Oh! I am so glad you are from the old country," said Mrs. Sanford, "as
+I am from Edinboro' myself, and my father is Lord Chief Justice of the
+courts there. He is very rich, and has treated me very liberally since I
+left my husband; why, only last week, he sent me three thousand
+dollars."
+
+Just then a Mr. Bruce, the owner of the furniture store below, came in,
+looking rather tipsy. Mrs. Sanford introduced the two men, and Mr. Bruce
+said something about being an Irishman.
+
+"Why, what a strange coincidence," said Mr. Morton. "Here are three
+persons, each representing one of the three kingdoms of Great Britain.
+If I had some one to send for some ale, we would drink a toast to
+Britannia, God bless her!"
+
+After talking together for some time, Mrs. Sanford and Mr. Morton went
+into the sitting-room, and Mr. Bruce went down to his store. Then Morton
+said that he had left his valise at the Stock Yards, and that he would
+go for it at once. On his return, he found two rough-looking men at the
+door trying to get in, but the bell would not ring, and so Morton went
+away for half an hour, leaving the men knocking and kicking on the door.
+About eight o'clock, he came back and found the door open. He went
+upstairs and entered the sitting-room. Mrs. Sanford was full of
+apologies for having locked him out, but she said that she had had
+trouble with one of her boarders, and she had resolved to keep him out
+of the house. While they were talking, the two men whom Morton had seen
+at the door came in, and a quarrel immediately sprang up between Mrs.
+Sanford and the younger of the two. In a short time, they both became
+furiously angry, and they used the most bitterly opprobrious language
+toward each other. Finally, Mrs. Sanford, who was ironing, rushed at the
+young man with a flatiron in her hand, and she would undoubtedly have
+seriously injured him if he had not escaped into his own room at the
+head of the stairs. She then laid a heavy poker on the table beside her,
+and said that she would mash his skull if he came near her again. In a
+short time, he again reëntered the room, when, seizing the poker, she
+rushed at him like a fury. He succeeded in avoiding her until Morton and
+the other man induced her to give up the poker; and both the strangers
+then went away, saying that they should be back at eleven o'clock.
+
+After their departure, Mrs. Sanford dropped into a chair and cried for a
+time, saying that she never had acted so before in her life, as no one
+had ever treated her so shamefully. Then she became loquacious and
+confidential, telling Morton the old story of her father being Lord
+Chief Justice of Scotland, and her husband a wealthy man in Buffalo. She
+recited the reasons she had for leaving her husband, and said that her
+father first sent her one hundred and fifty dollars after the
+separation, but that she thought so small a sum was an insult, and so
+she sent it back. She added that he had promised her three thousand
+dollars very soon, and that she expected to receive it in a week or two.
+From this subject, she drifted to the story of young Trafton's death,
+which she told with great minuteness. She said that when she found he
+was dead, she fainted away, and did not recover for nearly two hours.
+
+While she was running on in her story, a loud noise was heard, and she
+explained to Morton that Mr. Bruce had been drinking all day, until he
+was afraid to go home, and that now he was quite drunk in her room. She
+said that he had been very kind to her in letting her have furniture on
+credit, and so she wanted to make him comfortable until he was sobered
+off. During the evening she recited a number of selections from Byron,
+Scott, and Longfellow, and even gave several parts from Shakespeare's
+plays with great force and beauty of elocution. She also talked a great
+deal about Jack Ingham, a former lodger in her rooms, and she seemed to
+have a very high opinion of him. She said that he was obliged to leave
+town because the police were after him about something he had done,
+adding, that she didn't care for that, however, and she would never go
+back on a friend, but would shield him for anything except murder. It
+was after two o'clock in the morning before they retired, and as she had
+not fitted up Morton's room properly, she made a bed for him on the
+lounge in the sitting-room. As Mr. Bruce was lying dead-drunk on her
+bed, she was obliged to sleep on the floor of her room.
+
+About four o'clock Morton was awakened by Mrs. Sanford, who said that
+she could not sleep in her room, as Bruce snored so loudly, just as
+Stanley Trafton did the night he died.
+
+"Oh! it is horrible to think of," she said, shuddering. "I shall go
+crazy if I stay in there any longer."
+
+She then lay down on the table and covered herself with a bedspread she
+had brought from her own room. About six o'clock they were awakened by
+a loud noise at the outer door, and Mrs. Sanford said that those drunken
+loafers had come back again. She immediately got up, took a revolver
+from her room, and went down to the door, where she told the men to go
+away, as she would not admit them at that time of night. While she was
+talking Bruce began moving around, and he found his way into the hall.
+Then Morton heard a great crash, as if some one had fallen downstairs,
+followed by a call from Mrs. Sanford, in tragic tones, for him to come
+and help her. Morton went out and found that Bruce had fallen from the
+top to the foot of the stairs, and on going down he discovered the
+unfortunate representative of the Emerald Isle lying in a heap against
+the front door. The two men outside had evidently been scared away by
+the noise, and they did not return until eight o'clock. Bruce was not
+hurt, except a cut on his hand, which Morton bound up, and then quiet
+reigned again until after daylight. About nine o'clock Morton went in to
+see Bruce, whom he found sitting up in bed. Bruce said that his money
+was gone, and that Mrs. Sanford had drugged him the night before to
+enable her to steal it. Morton called Mrs. Sanford, and asked where
+Bruce's money was. She said she had put it away for safe keeping, and,
+lifting the mattress, she took out two pocket-books and a box containing
+her watch, trinkets, etc. Having given Bruce his pocket-book, she went
+out, and he then counted his money. He said he ought to have eighty-one
+dollars, but that she had helped herself to ten dollars; it was not
+worth while making a fuss about it, but he said that he knew she had
+drugged him.
+
+After awhile, Mr. Graves came in, and had a private interview with Mrs.
+Sanford. She seemed afraid of him, while he acted as if he had some hold
+upon her. When they came into the sitting-room, where Bruce and Morton
+were talking together, Mrs. Sanford asked Graves to lend her a dollar,
+but he refused.
+
+"Pshaw! I don't want it," she replied. "I only asked to see whether
+you'd lend it, as I have quite enough of my own;" and, so saying, she
+took out her pocket-book.
+
+Morton saw her count out nine ten-dollar bills and nine one-dollar
+bills. From the fact that she showed just ninety-nine dollars,
+it was probable that she had only recently changed one of the
+one-hundred-dollar bills taken from young Trafton. She then opened
+another compartment, and took out two pieces of folded paper, of a
+creamy tint, apparently about the size of two sheets of foolscap. They
+were folded several times, and were crammed in pretty tight.
+
+"Do you know what those are?" she asked.
+
+"No, I do not," he replied; "what are they?"
+
+She merely laughed, and closed the pocket-book, whispering that she
+didn't want Graves and Bruce to see her money. She said she did not wish
+to be left alone with Graves, for fear he should rob her; so Morton
+asked him to go out and play a game of billiards. Bruce was in a great
+state of anxiety, lest his wife should have come down to the store to
+see where he had spent the night, and he remained with Mrs. Sanford.
+
+Morton did not return to Mrs. Sanford's until late in the evening, and
+he found her dressing to go to a ball. She insisted that he should go,
+offering to pay all the expenses. He pretended to be very much hurt at
+her suggestion, saying that he never would permit any lady to pay
+anything when he took her out. She was dressed very tastefully, and
+presented a very stylish appearance, so that she attracted a good deal
+of attention at the ball. Before going, she sent Morton to a drug store
+for a drachm of morphine, saying that she must have it, as she used it
+constantly.
+
+The next morning, they did not get up until a late hour, and Mrs.
+Sanford said that she did not feel very well. While talking together,
+they drifted into a discussion about money. Morton, like a genuine John
+Bull, maintaining there was no safety except in gold, or Bank of England
+notes.
+
+"But we don't have either in this country," said Mrs. Sanford; "and now,
+suppose you had a large sum of money, what would you do with it?"
+
+"That's just what I would like to know," he replied. "I expect to
+receive one hundred pounds from England very soon, and I don't know
+where to keep it."
+
+"Well, I shall put my three thousand dollars into bonds," she said.
+"They can be registered, so that no one can use them except the rightful
+owner, and the interest is payable in gold."
+
+"I don't know anything about bonds," said Morton, "especially these
+American bonds, which sometimes depreciate very fast."
+
+"Oh! the bonds of the United States are good anywhere," she replied,
+"and they will sell for their face in England or Canada just as well as
+here. They are the best securities there are. I have some now, and I
+intend to get some more."
+
+While talking, Morton picked up a card which was in her work-basket, and
+saw that it was an advertisement of a gift concert or lottery. She
+noticed it, and said that it had been left there by a man named Druen,
+who used to come to see her. She said that he had stolen a
+five-hundred-dollar bond from her, however, and he had never been there
+since. Soon afterward she went to sleep again, and did not awake until
+evening, as she was very tired from the effects of the ball. Morton
+remained in the house all day; and, when she woke up, he got supper for
+her. She seemed very much pleased at his thoughtfulness, and said that
+she never had had any one so kind to her since she left her husband.
+
+"I want you to go to the bank with me some day," she said, "as I want to
+draw the interest on some of my coupons, and then you will see what good
+securities American bonds are."
+
+"I shall be very glad to go with you," said Morton; "for, if they are
+really good securities, I will invest some money in them."
+
+"Oh! there is nothing better," she replied, "and I will show you mine."
+
+She then took out the pocket-book she had shown him before, and unfolded
+one of the pieces of paper. Morton saw that it was a five-hundred-dollar
+bond, of the issue of 1865, payable in 1885, with about twenty or thirty
+coupons attached. He was so surprised and excited at seeing the bond,
+that he could hardly tell what to do, and so he failed to notice the
+most important point--the number. By the time she had opened the other
+bond, however, he had his wits a little more under command, and he was
+able to remember that the figures of the number were five, seven, one,
+zero, and some other figure; but he could not recollect positively the
+order in which they came.
+
+"You can go to the bank to-morrow and get the coupons cashed for me,
+can't you?" she asked, after putting away the bonds.
+
+"Oh! certainly, if you wish me to do so," he replied.
+
+Then she laughed, and said:
+
+"You would be arrested if you should take these bonds to the bank."
+
+"How so?" he asked, apparently in great surprise. "Why should I be
+arrested?"
+
+"Because the bonds belong to me, and you would have to give an account
+of the way in which you obtained them."
+
+"Oh! well," he replied, "you could give me an order, and that would make
+it all right."
+
+"Yes, I suppose so," she said, carelessly.
+
+Her object, evidently, was to make Morton believe that it would not do
+for him to attempt to steal the bonds; for, though she trusted him to
+the extent of showing him her money and valuables, she was eternally
+suspicious and careful.
+
+Of course, on receiving Morton's report, I felt quite confident that the
+two bonds he had seen were a part of those taken from young Trafton.
+Still, I had no positive proof of their identity, and, in accordance
+with my invariable custom, I took no hasty step, being confident that my
+detective would soon elicit all the facts. I wrote to Mr. Richard S.
+Trafton, however, suggesting that he have himself appointed
+administrator of his son's estate, so that he could begin proceedings
+instantly, the moment I was ready.
+
+Several days passed, during which Morton gained Mrs. Sanford's
+confidence more and more. She was anxious one evening that he should rob
+Mr. Bruce, who came in half drunk; but Morton told her that he never
+worked that way.
+
+"Why, Jack Ingham would have killed a man to get money out of him," said
+Mrs. Sanford. "Jack wasn't afraid to do anything for money."
+
+"Well, that isn't my style," said Morton, contemptuously. "Do you
+suppose I am going to have a scuffle and struggle, ending perhaps in
+murder, when I can make ten times as much by a little skillful work
+with my pen? I don't want the police to be snuffing 'round my heels on
+account of highway robbery and such small game; when _I_ do anything to
+set them after me, it will be for a big stake, and even if they catch
+me, they will be mighty glad to compromise. Oh! no; not any little jobs
+for me; it is only the big rascals who can work safely."
+
+Morton succeeded in inducing her to leave Bruce alone, though she had
+evidently meant to drug him, for she took a glass of beer, which she had
+poured out for him, and threw it into the sink. They all drank
+considerable beer, however, during the evening, and Mrs. Sanford, having
+taken also a large dose of morphine, became nearly insensible. On seeing
+her condition, Morton and another lodger thought they had better put her
+to bed; but as Bruce was in a drunken stupor in her room, Morton
+determined to try the effect of putting her into the room where young
+Trafton had died. No sooner had they laid her on the bed, however,
+before she sprang up, gazed around an instant, and then rushed shrieking
+from the room, saying that she dare not lie there, and that she had seen
+"him" lying beside her. She was then placed on the lounge in the
+sitting-room, where she became quite hysterical. Morton sat beside her,
+and soothed her until she became quiet, and about midnight she fell
+asleep.
+
+Morton said to me, on making one of his reports, that she would often
+determine to give up morphine and liquor, and live more respectably.
+Then she would become excited from the craving for the drug, and would
+take a dose, which would soothe her, make her amiable, and give her
+energy enough to do anything; gradually she would become wild again, and
+would be almost unbearable, while the maddening effect lasted,
+especially if she took any liquor to add to her temper; finally, the
+influence would pass off, leaving her weak, despondent, and stupidly
+affectionate. I saw that she was not likely to confess anything to any
+one, and I therefore decided to bring the affair to a crisis without
+delay.
+
+
+
+
+                          CHAPTER V.
+
+    _A moneyed young Texan becomes one of Mrs. Sanford's Lodgers.--The
+          Bonds are seen, and their Numbers taken by the
+          Detectives.--Mrs. Sanford Arrested.--Sudden and Shrewd Defense
+          by the Prisoner.--She is found guilty of "Involuntary
+          Manslaughter" and sentenced to the Illinois Penitentiary for
+          five years.--Misdirected Philanthropy, and its Reward.--Mr.
+          Pinkerton's Theory of the Manner in which Trafton was
+          Murdered._
+
+
+Having discussed my plan with my superintendent, Mr. F. Warner, I sent
+for one of my youngest men, named Thomas Barlow, and gave him explicit
+instructions as to the course which he was to pursue in connection with
+Mrs. Sanford.
+
+On the first day of February, therefore, a young fellow called at Mrs.
+Sanford's about five o'clock in the afternoon, and asked if she had any
+rooms to rent. She was very civil to him, and offered him the room at
+the head of the stairs, for three dollars a week. While she was showing
+him the rooms, she asked him a number of questions about himself; and as
+he was a smooth-faced, innocent-looking young man, he told her all about
+his affairs. He said that his name was Thomas Barlow, from Texas, where
+his father was a great cattle-raiser; he had brought several hundred
+head of cattle to the city, and had sold them at a high price; he
+intended staying in Chicago for a short time, and then he should go up
+the Red River of the North, in the early spring, to do some fur trading,
+as he believed there was a good deal of money to be made up there, by
+any one with sufficient capital; he intended to have a good time in
+Chicago first, however.
+
+As soon as Mrs. Sanford learned that he had money with him, she became
+very affectionate indeed, telling him that she would make him more
+comfortable than he could be anywhere else, and that she would treat him
+like a prince. She introduced Morton as her brother, and said that they
+would all go to the theatre together. At first, Barlow refused, but she
+insisted so urgently, that he finally consented to go. He went away for
+an hour to get his valise, and when he returned, Mrs. Sanford was
+dressed in her most stylish clothes, as if determined to make the best
+possible impression upon him. He was very good-natured and boyish,
+apparently believing all she told him, and laughing at all her attempts
+to be funny. After leaving the theatre, she learned that one of her old
+acquaintances was to have a "grand opening" in a new saloon, and she was
+obstinately determined to find the place. After walking about for an
+hour, she called a hackman, and offered him five dollars to find this
+new saloon, where she was anxious to take a drink, as she said, "for
+good luck and old acquaintance' sake." After driving about until
+midnight, she learned that the opening was postponed, and they then went
+to a restaurant near her house to get supper. It was two o'clock before
+they went to bed, but before going, Mrs. Sanford learned that Barlow was
+to receive his pay for the cattle in a check for over four thousand
+dollars. She talked with him about the risk of carrying money around on
+the person, and told him that he ought to buy bonds, as then they would
+not be lost even if they should be stolen. He agreed with her, and said
+that he would try to buy some bonds when he got his check cashed.
+
+The next morning they took breakfast with Mrs. Sanford, as she seemed
+anxious to keep Barlow with her as much as possible. It was noticeable
+that she did not, as she had usually done in all previous instances,
+tell him anything about young Trafton, who had died in her house, "with
+eighteen thousand dollars in bonds in his boots." She told Barlow that
+she had some bonds, and he would do well to get the same kind.
+
+"I don't know much about them," he replied, "but if _you_ think they are
+good, I guess they are good enough for me. What are they like? I never
+saw any."
+
+"I will show you mine," said Mrs. Sanford. "I am going to sell one of
+them soon, as my lease is up at the end of the month, and I want to buy
+a house."
+
+She then went into her bedroom, closed the door, and remained several
+minutes. When she came out, she had a fat pocket-book in her hand, and
+she took from it the two pieces of folded paper which she had shown to
+Morton. On opening them, she spread them out, and both Barlow and Morton
+saw the numbers plainly, as they looked over her shoulder.
+
+"There, these little tickets are coupons," she explained to Barlow; "and
+every six months I can get fifteen dollars in gold by cutting off one
+from each bond."
+
+"Did you say you wanted to sell one?" asked Morton. "If you do, perhaps
+you might sell it to Mr. Barlow, as a sample of the kind he wants to
+get."
+
+"Yes, that would be a good idea," said Barlow; "then they can't fool me
+with any other kind, when I go to buy."
+
+"Well, I guess I will do it," said Mrs. Sanford; "at any rate, you can
+see me about it before you go to buy yours."
+
+She then put the bonds into the pocket-book again and went into her
+bedroom. On her return, Barlow told her that he must go down town to
+get paid for his cattle, and he asked Morton to go with him.
+Accordingly, the two men went out about noon, but Mrs. Sanford called
+Morton back a moment to tell him to stay with Barlow all day.
+
+"Don't you lose sight of him for a minute," she said; "and bring him
+back here with all his money."
+
+They did not return until after four o'clock, and Barlow told her that
+he had been obliged to go to the stockyards to get paid. He then went to
+his room for a few minutes, and Mrs. Sanford asked Morton whether Barlow
+had his money with him.
+
+"Yes, they gave him a check for the amount, but it was too late to get
+it cashed, and he will have to wait until to-morrow."
+
+"Couldn't we get it away from him and forge his name to it?" she asked.
+"We could get it cashed the first thing in the morning."
+
+"It would be too risky," he replied, "as they probably know him at the
+bank, and we should be arrested at once. But you can offer to go with
+him to the bank in the morning, and he is so soft that you will not have
+much trouble in getting a large sum out of him."
+
+During the evening, Mrs. Sanford was very affectionate toward Barlow,
+and she learned all about him. He told his story in such a way, that she
+believed him to be an innocent country boy from Texas, whose most
+dangerous experiences had hitherto consisted of hairbreath 'scapes from
+steer and bull. He showed her a check on the First National Bank for
+about four thousand dollars, and told her that when he got it cashed in
+the morning, he would give her a nice present. It was then agreed that
+she should go to the bank with him next day. The evening was spent in
+reading aloud and singing, and they all retired much earlier than usual.
+
+When Morton and Barlow left Mrs. Sanford at noon, they had, of course,
+come to my office to report their discovery of the stolen bonds. There
+was now no possibility of a mistake, as they had seen the two bonds of
+the series A, numbered 57,109 and 87,656. I therefore instructed Mr.
+Warner to obtain a warrant for her arrest, and a search warrant for her
+house, both to be served the next morning before the hour appointed for
+going to the bank with Barlow. Everything was prepared in advance, a
+trustworthy constable was obtained to make the arrest, and a telegram
+was sent to Mr. R. S. Trafton in Cleveland, asking him to come to
+Chicago immediately. A reply was received the next morning, stating that
+he had left by the evening train.
+
+About eleven o'clock on Saturday, February 3, Mr. Warner and the
+constable arrived at Mrs. Sanford's rooms. On knocking at the door of
+the sitting-room, they were admitted by Morton, who asked what they
+wanted.
+
+"I would like to engage rooms, if there are any to rent," said Mr.
+Warner.
+
+"I will speak to the landlady," said Morton, going to the door of her
+room.
+
+"Tell the gentleman to call again," said Mrs. Sanford; "I am not
+dressed, and can't see him."
+
+"I only wish to see her a few minutes," Mr. Warner replied, addressing
+Morton in a tone loud enough to be heard by Mrs. Sanford, whose door was
+slightly ajar.
+
+"Well, I can't see the gentleman until this afternoon," she replied.
+
+"I have some important business, and I must attend to it now," answered
+Mr. Warner, putting his foot in the opening and pushing the door in with
+his shoulder; then he continued, addressing the constable, "This is Mrs.
+Sanford, and you can arrest her now."
+
+The constable immediately took charge of her, and she was allowed to
+complete her toilet, though Mr. Warner first searched her dress, before
+letting her put it on. He then made a careful search of the bedroom,
+during the progress of which Mrs. Sanford was very noisy and
+troublesome, crying, and pretending to go into hysterics several times.
+Once, when Mr. Warner was looking very carefully through her trunk, she
+said to him, in very tragic tones:
+
+"By the way you act, one would think you were looking for a murdered
+man."
+
+"Well, perhaps if we had come a little sooner, we might have found one,"
+he replied, quickly, giving her a sharp glance.
+
+As nothing had been said to her or to any one else about any charge
+except that of larceny, this remark was highly significant; and, on her
+trial, it undoubtedly had great weight with the jury.
+
+Mr. Warner soon found the pocket-book containing the bonds under the
+mattress of her bed, and after examining them sufficiently to identify
+them, he gave them to the constable. Mrs. Sanford was then taken to my
+office, and, as Mr. Trafton had arrived from Cleveland, we tried to have
+an interview with her relative to young Trafton's death. She was too
+crafty, however, and she pretended to go into hysterics whenever we
+began to question her.
+
+Meantime, Morton and Barlow had accompanied her, and Morton offered to
+get her a lawyer to advise her. She was very grateful to him, and said
+he was her only friend. He soon brought in a lawyer well versed in
+defending criminals, and the whole party then went to the justice's
+courtroom. At the close of the examination, she was held to await the
+action of the Grand Jury, and, in default of two thousand dollars bail,
+she was sent to the county jail. She told Morton that her lawyer could
+not half lie, and that she should not pay him a cent. She stood up, when
+the justice's decision was announced, and made quite a speech; and the
+native cunning of the woman was never more clearly shown than in this
+plea, which was undoubtedly invented on the spur of the moment. She
+claimed that young Trafton had given her the bonds to support her child,
+whose father he was, and she spoke with so much vigor and cunning that
+many persons believed her statement to be true. Thus, without
+consultation or legal advice, she invented in a moment the strongest
+possible defense against the charge of larceny,--the charge of murder
+had not then been brought.
+
+When she was removed to the jail, she gave Morton the keys to her rooms,
+telling him to take charge of everything there, and to find a purchaser
+for her furniture. He therefore informed two young men who were lodging
+there that Mrs. Sanford had been arrested, and that they must find other
+rooms, as he intended to sell out the furniture. After they had gone he
+cleaned up the house, packed Mrs. Sanford's trunks, and made everything
+look as well as possible. While she was awaiting trial, he visited her
+every day and gave her various delicacies to improve the prison fare.
+One day he pretended to have pawned his overcoat for five dollars, in
+order to get her some lemons, tea, and sugar. She was very much touched,
+and she gave him five dollars to get back his coat; but this action was
+due to a momentary impulse. She had plenty of money, and was able to get
+anything she wanted; but her desire to hold fast to her money was
+greater than her wish for good food. Indeed, she came near jeopardizing
+her cause by refusing to pay the lawyer she had engaged, but finally she
+gave him a retaining fee of fifty dollars.
+
+She was very anxious to learn who were the detectives employed in
+working up the case, and she said that she believed Barlow had had
+something to do with her arrest. Morton agreed with her, and, as the
+papers had said that there were three engaged in the case, he suggested
+that perhaps the two men whom she had turned out of doors were also
+detectives. She never suspected either Ingham or Morton for a moment;
+and when Ingham called upon her in jail, she was delighted to see him.
+She tried to get bail from the two brothers, named Pratt, who had
+occupied one of her rooms, as one of them had been very intimate with
+her; but they were afraid of getting mixed up in her difficulties, and
+so refused to help her obtain bail. She also asked Ingham to swear to a
+number of falsehoods about her intimacy with Trafton, and when he
+refused to do so, for fear of being tried for perjury, she said that she
+could get "her Billy" to swear to anything. This "Billy" proved to be
+one William Simpson, a barkeeper, and her former paramour. He was
+tracked for some time by my detectives, but he suddenly disappeared, and
+was not seen again until her trial for larceny, when, just as she said,
+he was willing to swear to anything. He then disappeared again, but I
+did not take much interest in following him up, as I knew that he would
+not dare to repeat his perjury when the murder trial should take place.
+His testimony was to the effect that he had overheard a conversation
+between Mrs. Sanford and young Trafton, in which the latter acknowledged
+that he was the father of Mrs. Sanford's child, having been intimate
+with her in Buffalo about eighteen months before. The question of a
+support for the child was discussed between them, and Trafton said that
+he would give her fifteen hundred or two thousand dollars in bonds, to
+enable her to bring up his child in comfort. The witness also testified
+that Trafton and Mrs. Sanford were very intimate with each other, often
+occupying the same room together; that Mrs. Sanford often spoke of her
+former intimacy with him; and that he inferred from their conversation
+that Trafton had been the cause of her separation from her husband. This
+testimony was very skillfully manufactured and artistically developed,
+so as to make Trafton appear in the light of a libertine and profligate,
+and Mrs. Sanford as a confiding wife, led astray by the wiles of a
+treacherous man. In spite of the bad character and appearance of this
+fellow Simpson, his testimony had enough weight with some of the jury to
+cause a disagreement, and Mrs. Sanford was remanded to jail.
+
+Mr. Robert S. Trafton was anxious to bring her to punishment, as he felt
+confident that she had caused the death of his son. The circumstances of
+the case caused considerable delay, and it was not until January 27,
+1873, nearly a year after her arrest, that the trial on the charge of
+murder took place.
+
+The testimony in this trial was highly interesting on many accounts. The
+County Physician, who had made the first post-mortem examination of the
+remains, and who had given congestion of the lungs as the cause of
+death, stated that he found the deceased lying dead in Mrs. Sanford's
+rooms, and that he took charge of the property found in his possession.
+He stated that he should have made a closer examination if he had not
+found the bonds and money; but he did not suspect foul play, and
+therefore made only a hasty investigation.
+
+By the testimony of two or three witnesses it was shown that on the
+night of Trafton's death Mrs. Sanford went into two saloons about
+midnight, asking for "her Billy," meaning the man Simpson, by whose
+testimony she escaped conviction on the larceny charge, he being then
+living on her bounty. While looking for him she was very wild and
+excited, her clothes being disordered, and her watch-chain broken. To
+one witness she said that she wished Billy to come to her house to look
+at the "prettiest corpse she ever saw." One witness testified that she
+returned to his saloon about five or six o'clock in the morning, and
+induced him to go up to her rooms to look at the body; he did so, and
+found the body of a man lying in bed, partly covered up. She had a large
+roll of money and papers in her pocket-book.
+
+A surgeon of the highest reputation in Cleveland was called, and gave
+his testimony in the most direct and convincing manner, like a man who
+knew perfectly well what he was talking about, and who was not guessing
+at any of the facts as stated by him. He declared that death resulted
+from the blow on the right side, aided by the violence on the throat and
+neck. There was very slight congestion of the brain and of the lungs,
+but he was positive that death was not the result of either of these;
+indeed, leaving out of consideration the marks of external violence, he
+said that he should not have been able to account for Mr. Trafton's
+death. At the conclusion of his re-direct examination he said that death
+could be caused by a heavy blow of the fist, followed by choking, and he
+would swear positively that Trafton's death was produced by violence.
+The testimony of this witness was corroborated by that of several other
+surgeons of high reputation, and then a sensation was created by the
+calling of John Ingham for the prosecution.
+
+As Mrs. Sanford saw her well-beloved friend, Jack, take the stand and
+acknowledge himself to be one of Pinkerton's dreaded detectives, she
+broke down and cried bitterly. Ingham related the history of his
+connection with the affair, stating the different stories which Mrs.
+Sanford had told about Trafton's death, and also her fear of going in
+the room where he died. He then gave the inside history of his arrest
+for the alleged robbery of Adamson, showing that it had been planned in
+advance by me to induce Mrs. Sanford to give him her confidence. After
+her arrest for larceny, he had visited her in jail, and she had tried to
+get him to swear that he had heard Trafton promise to give her the bonds
+to support her child. When he objected, on the ground that he might be
+arrested for perjury, she had told him that "her Billy," meaning William
+Simpson, would swear to it anyhow.
+
+The testimony of Mr. Warner relative to finding the bonds in Mrs.
+Sanford's possession was corroborated by that of the constable; they
+also repeated Mrs. Sanford's remark made during the search, before any
+charge of murder had even been suggested: "By the way you act, I should
+think you were looking for a murdered man."
+
+When the testimony for the prosecution was all in, the defense had a
+turn, and they produced as many medical experts to prove that Trafton
+did not die of violence, as the other side had to prove that he did not
+die a natural death; indeed, from the medical testimony given, there
+might have been grave doubts raised as to whether he had any business to
+die at all, for, according to both sides, no adequate cause of death had
+been discovered. Several witnesses testified that they believed him to
+have been on a long spree just before his death, but these were soon
+rebutted by equally trustworthy witnesses for the prosecution.
+
+In summing up, the counsel for the people presented a highly plausible
+theory of the manner in which the murder was committed, and asked a
+verdict on the following grounds:
+
+Young Trafton, as shown by the testimony of his father and others,
+visited Chicago to buy grain, and he was, therefore, under the necessity
+of carrying with him a large amount of money. Being unable to get a
+room at any hotel convenient to business, he probably entered the first
+place where he saw the sign, "Rooms to Rent," and engaged a
+sleeping-room, taking his meals at a hotel near by. While lodging with
+Mrs. Sanford, he was trying to buy grain at a paying figure, and he was
+daily in consultation with Captain Dalton, who commanded one of his
+father's schooners. Finding that he could not buy to any advantage in
+the existing condition of the grain market, he sent the schooner back to
+Cleveland on the last day of November, in order that she should not be
+caught in the ice in the straits at the close of navigation. He was then
+ready to return himself, and, doubtless, on going to his lodgings, he so
+informed Mrs. Sanford. As he had made no secret of his reason for
+visiting Chicago, she was, probably, well aware of his object, and also
+of the fact that he had a large amount of money with him. Seeing his
+careless ways, the idea occurred to her to rob him, and, having his
+expected departure in view, she knew that she would have only one more
+opportunity to carry out her scheme.
+
+On his return that evening, therefore, having just parted from Captain
+Dalton in perfect health and sobriety, he was invited to eat supper with
+her. Suspecting no harm, he sat down and ate a hearty supper. In some
+way, either in his food or drink, a dose of morphine was given to him,
+and he soon fell fast asleep. The woman's opportunity was before her,
+and all the natural thirst for money which characterized her came upon
+her with full force, urging her on and inciting her to any lengths
+necessary to accomplish her object. Having laid him on his bed, she
+began to search his pockets with the stealthy touch of a practiced hand.
+Finding nothing at first to reward her search, she pulled off one of his
+boots and discovered the United States bonds, which he had concealed
+there. But the violence necessary to remove the boot caused him to
+partly waken from his drugged sleep, and he became vaguely aware that
+some one was trying to rob him. Still in a drowsy, confused state,
+however, he was unable to do more than to sit up and clutch wildly at
+his assailant; having caught one of the bonds, he clung to it until it
+was torn in two pieces, the fragments plainly showing how they had been
+wrenched asunder in the clasp of two determined hands--those of the
+murderess and her victim. But she soon found that he was gaining his
+senses too rapidly, and that she would be foiled in her attempted
+robbery; hence, with every blinding passion aroused, her greed and her
+fear equally inciting her to action, she struck him a heavy blow on the
+thigh and another more powerful one on the side. Partly stunned by the
+concussion, he fell back, and she then seized him by the throat. Her
+round, plump hands, though powerful enough to strangle him, left only
+slight marks of abrasion on the skin, and in a few minutes all was over.
+His property was at her mercy, and she gave no thought to the body of
+her victim until she had seized every piece of valuable paper in his
+possession.
+
+But her position was a dangerous one, and, on cooling off somewhat, she
+saw that something must be done to remove any appearance of foul play.
+How could it be done most effectually? Manifestly by giving no apparent
+ground for suspecting that she had any object in his death; and no
+course would be more effectual than to leave such an amount of property
+in his possession as to make strangers believe that none of it had been
+taken. It may well be imagined that this was her hardest task; for to
+give up money was probably a greater hardship for her than for some
+people to give up life. Still, it would never do to run the risk of
+being accused of murder; so, reluctantly, she placed one bond in his
+pocket, and, by accident, included with it one-half of the torn bond,
+the other half being placed under his head, in the boot from which it
+was taken. She then undressed the body, placed it naturally in bed, and
+went out to look for "her Billy," her paramour and panderer in vice.
+
+This was the history of the crime, as pictured by the prosecution; and
+all her actions since that fatal night had been in harmony with such a
+theory. Her allegations of intimacy with young Trafton were unsupported,
+save by the testimony of this William Simpson, her paramour. It was
+noticeable that, while this man had testified in the trial for larceny
+that he had overheard Mr. Trafton's acknowledgment of being the father
+of Mrs. Sanford's child, in the murder trial he was not asked to give
+any such testimony, nor was the existence of such a child even hinted at
+by the defense. The counsel for Mrs. Sanford were well aware that she
+had never had a child, and that this fact could be proven if necessary.
+On discovering, too, that Jack Ingham was a Pinkerton detective, instead
+of Mrs. Sanford's best friend, they saw other reasons why it would not
+be advisable to cause Mr. William Simpson to perjure himself again.
+
+The defense contented themselves with claiming that there was no
+sufficient evidence to prove that Mr. Trafton had died a violent death
+at all, and that there was no evidence whatever to show that, even if
+foul play had occurred, Mrs. Sanford had been the guilty person. This
+plea was ably presented by the counsel, and the judge then briefly
+charged the jury as to the law, and the form of their verdict. During
+the early part of the trial, Mrs. Sanford behaved very badly, often
+contradicting witnesses aloud, and making many audible remarks to the
+jury and the Court; after the testimony for the defense began, however,
+she paid very little attention to the proceedings, often dozing and
+sleeping in her chair. This habit was, undoubtedly, due to the use of
+morphine, of which she consumed large quantities.
+
+The jury retired at three o'clock, and, on the first ballot, they stood
+nine for conviction and three for acquittal. After discussing the
+testimony for more than four hours, a compromise was reached, and the
+judge having been informed that the jury had agreed upon a verdict, the
+prisoner was brought in to hear the finding.
+
+All being in readiness, the clerk read the verdict as follows:
+
+"We, the jury, find the defendant guilty of involuntary manslaughter,
+and fix her time of imprisonment at five years in the penitentiary."
+
+At the word "guilty," Mrs. Sanford gave a violent start; but, as the
+remainder of the finding was read, she seemed to feel agreeably
+surprised. She asked for a glass of water in a low tone, turned very
+white, and then fainted away before the water could be handed to her.
+
+She was then removed to the jail to await the argument on a motion for a
+new trial. While there, she gave one of the most effectual evidences of
+her ruling passion--greed. She was the object of considerable sympathy
+among a certain class of sentimentalists, and the amount of compassion
+wasted upon her was remarkable to those who knew her real character and
+habits; but there is no accounting for tastes, and so Mrs. Sanford was
+treated with great consideration by a number of well-meaning but
+unsophisticated people. Among the Good Samaritans who took the most
+interest in her was a lady named Mrs. Jones, and this lady visited her
+quite frequently in her cell, bringing her books and papers.
+
+One morning, Mrs. Jones complained of feeling unwell, and Mrs. Sanford
+immediately gave her a glass of water. Soon after drinking it, Mrs.
+Jones became very sleepy, and in a few minutes, she was in a sound
+slumber. This effect had been produced, of course, by a dose of morphine
+in the water, and Mrs. Sanford then proceeded to rob Mrs. Jones of all
+her valuables. Mrs. Jones was in moderate circumstances, and her purse
+was not sufficiently well filled to satisfy Mrs. Sanford's avaricious
+demon; hence, she made a thorough search for other plunder. It happened
+that Mrs. Jones, having lost all of her upper teeth, had supplied their
+place by an artificial set, mounted on a plate of solid gold. Not
+content, therefore, with plundering her benefactress in other respects,
+Mrs. Sanford actually took the set of teeth from Mrs. Jones's mouth, and
+hid them in her own trunk.
+
+Of course, on awakening, Mrs. Jones missed her teeth and charged Mrs.
+Sanford with having taken them. The latter denied having done so, railed
+and swore at Mrs. Jones, and tried to prevent the officers from
+searching the cell. The teeth and other articles stolen from Mrs. Jones
+were found at the bottom of Mrs. Sanford's trunk, and Mrs. Jones retired
+from the jail strongly impressed with the conviction that philanthropy
+had its hardships as well as rewards.
+
+The motion for a new trial being overruled, sentence was pronounced in
+accordance with the verdict of the jury, and Mrs. Sanford was consigned
+to the Illinois State Penitentiary at Joliet.
+
+In regard to the manner in which young Trafton was murdered, I have
+always had a theory of my own; and, while of course I do not pretend to
+any surgical learning, I give it for what it is worth, prefacing it,
+however, with the remark that several eminent physicians concur in my
+opinion, or, at least, admit its strong probability.
+
+It will be remembered that Mrs. Sanford used morphine continually, and
+that she boasted of her ability to administer it in just the proper
+proportion to cause her victims to fall into a heavy sleep. In all
+probability, as suggested by the State's Attorney, she gave young
+Trafton a dose at supper; but it is also possible the effect was not
+sufficient, and that when she tried to rob him, he slightly revived,
+struggled, and, seizing one of the bonds in a convulsive grasp, tore it
+in two.
+
+So far, the theories are identical, but I failed to see a sufficient
+cause of death in the slight blow and mild choking, especially as the
+lungs did not present the conditions which would have appeared had death
+resulted from strangulation or asphyxia. On searching Mrs. Sanford's
+rooms, Mr. Warner found two or three small syringes, intended for making
+hypodermic injections, and these led me to believe she caused Trafton's
+death by morphine alone. My idea was as follows:
+
+When she found that Trafton was not sufficiently drugged to enable her
+to rob him in safety, she probably let him alone, and the drug again
+took effect to the extent of putting him to sleep. She then resorted to
+a subcutaneous injection of morphine, knowing that the soporific
+influence of the drug would thus be made more rapid and powerful. This
+operation was performed on the side, and then near the large veins of
+the leg, and thus were caused the apparent bruises filled with
+extravasated blood. Now, the effect of morphine varies largely,
+according to the constitution, temperament, and habits of the persons to
+whom it is given; but the combined result of internal and external doses
+almost invariably is death.
+
+It seems altogether probable to me, therefore, that Trafton came to his
+death in that manner, and that the traces of morphine in the wounds, as
+in the stomach, had wholly evaporated before the Cleveland surgeons made
+their examination, twelve days after death.
+
+Whatever may have been the means, however, there can be no doubt that
+murder most foul was committed, and that Mrs. Sanford richly deserved a
+greater punishment than was awarded to her. Whether she had any
+accomplice will never be known, but it is probable that she had some one
+in the house who was aware of the murder after it had been committed, if
+not before. This would account for the absence of the fifth bond, which
+was never recovered, but which was afterward traced back from the
+Treasury Department, when it was presented there, to some unknown woman,
+who had sold it in Milwaukee. This woman was evidently not Mrs. Sanford,
+but her identity could not be discovered, and, therefore, all trace was
+lost.
+
+                           THE END.
+
+Transcriber's Notes:
+
+Missing hyphenation at line breaks has been assumed, e.g. "necessary"
+not "neces sary" on page 81. Hyphenation has been standardized, e.g.,
+"bookkeeper", "cornfield", and "housewarming". Nonstandard spellings
+have been maintained, e.g. "intrusted", "dryest", "smouldering",
+"patroled", "tragical", "unnegotiable", "quartette", "gayety",
+"indorsed", "reëntered". Missing periods have been added at ends of
+sentences. Other printers errors have been corrected as follows:
+
+Page v - "unvail" replaced with "unveil" for internal consistency
+
+Page 80 - "cousins" replaced with "Cousins"
+
+Page 92 - "Harrington" replaced with "Farrington"
+
+Page 104 - "insant" replaced with "instant"
+
+Page 156 - "pleasantly" replaced with "pleasantry"
+
+Page 160 - "to k" replaced with "took"
+
+Page 202 - "out door" replaced with "outdoor"
+
+Figure caption after page 166 - "Judges'" replaced with "Judge's"
+
+Figure caption after page 203 - "Fete Champetre" replaced with "Fête
+Champêtre" for consistency
+
+Page 212 - "Don Pedo" replaced with "Don Pedro"
+
+Page 321 - "bfore" replaced with "before"
+
+Page 361 - "hairbreath" replaced with "hairbreadth"
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Mississippi Outlaws and the Detectives, by 
+Allan Pinkerton
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUTLAWS ***
+
+***** This file should be named 35686-8.txt or 35686-8.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/6/8/35686/
+
+Produced by Hunter Monroe, Suzanne Shell 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.  Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark.  Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research.  They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+http://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B.  "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark.  It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.  See
+paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.  See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States.  If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed.  Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work.  You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work.  Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change.  If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E.  Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+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
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges.  If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form.  Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+     the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+     you already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  The fee is
+     owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+     has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+     Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.  Royalty payments
+     must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+     prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+     returns.  Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+     sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+     address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+     the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+     you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+     does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+     License.  You must require such a user to return or
+     destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+     and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+     Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+     money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+     electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+     of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+     distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark.  Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection.  Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3.  YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from.  If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation.  The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund.  If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5.  Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.  Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.  It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service.  The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541.  Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+http://pglaf.org/fundraising.  Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations.  Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org.  Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at http://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+     Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+     Chief Executive and Director
+     gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment.  Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States.  Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements.  We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance.  To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit http://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses.  Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations.
+To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5.  General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone.  For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+     http://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
diff --git a/35686-8.zip b/35686-8.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6a30cd8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/35686-8.zip
diff --git a/35686-h.zip b/35686-h.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e295eaf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/35686-h.zip
diff --git a/35686-h/35686-h.htm b/35686-h/35686-h.htm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..659af48
--- /dev/null
+++ b/35686-h/35686-h.htm
@@ -0,0 +1,13690 @@
+<!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 Mississippi Outlaws and the Detectives, 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;
+       }
+
+    table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;}
+
+    body{margin-left: 10%;
+         margin-right: 10%;
+        }
+
+    .pagenum  { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */
+            /*  visibility: hidden;  */
+                position: absolute;
+                left: 92%;
+                font-size: smaller;
+                text-align: right;
+              } /* page numbers */
+
+    .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;}
+
+    .center   {text-align: center;}
+    .smcap    {font-variant: small-caps;}
+
+    .caption  {font-weight: bold;}
+
+    .figcenter   {margin: auto; text-align: center;}
+
+
+    .footnotes        {border: dashed 1px;}
+    .footnote         {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;}
+    .footnote .label  {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;}
+    .fnanchor         {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;}
+
+    .mt4   {margin-top: 4em;}
+
+    .transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA;
+        color: black;
+        font-size:smaller;
+        padding:0.5em;
+        margin-bottom:5em;
+        font-family:sans-serif, serif; }
+    </style>
+  </head>
+<body>
+
+
+<pre>
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Mississippi Outlaws and the Detectives, 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: Mississippi Outlaws and the Detectives
+       Don Pedro and the Detectives; Poisoner and the Detectives
+
+Author: Allan Pinkerton
+
+Release Date: March 26, 2011 [EBook #35686]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUTLAWS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Hunter Monroe, Suzanne Shell 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>
+
+
+
+
+
+<h1>MISSISSIPPI OUTLAWS</h1>
+<h1>AND THE</h1>
+<h1>DETECTIVES.</h1>
+
+<h1>DON PEDRO AND THE DETECTIVES.</h1>
+
+<h1>POISONER AND THE DETECTIVES.</h1>
+
+<h2>BY</h2>
+<h2>ALLAN PINKERTON,</h2>
+
+<p class="center">AUTHOR OF</p>
+
+<p class="center">"THE EXPRESSMAN AND THE DETECTIVE," "THE MODEL TOWN<br/>
+AND THE DETECTIVES," "THE SPIRITUALISTS AND THE<br/>
+DETECTIVES," "THE MOLLIE MAGUIRES AND THE<br/>
+DETECTIVES," "STRIKERS, COMMUNISTS,<br/>
+TRAMPS AND DETECTIVES,"<br/>
+ETC., ETC., ETC.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 81px;">
+<img src="images/tp.jpg" width="81" height="55" alt="" title="" />
+</div>
+
+
+<p class="center">NEW YORK:</p>
+<p class="center"><i>G. W. Dillingham, Publisher</i>,</p>
+<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Successor to G. W. Carleton &amp; Co.</span></p>
+<p class="center">LONDON: S. LOW, SON &amp; CO.</p>
+<p class="center">MDCCCLXXXVII.</p>
+
+
+
+
+<p class="mt4 center">COPYRIGHT
+BY
+ALLAN PINKERTON,
+1879.</p>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Samuel Stodder,
+Stereotyper,
+90 Ann Street, N. Y.</span></p>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Trow<br/>
+Printing and Book Binding Co.</span><br/>
+N. Y.</p>
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p class="center">ALLAN PINKERTON'S</p>
+
+<p class="center">GREAT DETECTIVE BOOKS.</p>
+
+
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="">
+<tr><td align='left'> 1.&mdash;MOLLIE MAGUIRES AND DETECTIVES.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'> 2.&mdash;STRIKERS, COMMUNISTS, AND DETECTIVES.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'> 3.&mdash;CRIMINAL REMINISCENCES AND DETECTIVES.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'> 4.&mdash;THE MODEL TOWN AND DETECTIVES.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'> 5.&mdash;SPIRITUALISTS AND DETECTIVES.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'> 6.&mdash;EXPRESSMEN AND DETECTIVES.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'> 7.&mdash;THE SOMNAMBULIST AND DETECTIVES.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'> 8.&mdash;CLAUDE MELNOTTE AS A DETECTIVE.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'> 9.&mdash;MISSISSIPPI OUTLAWS AND DETECTIVES.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'> 10.&mdash;GYPSIES AND DETECTIVES.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'> 11.&mdash;BUCHOLZ AND DETECTIVES.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'> 12.&mdash;THE RAILROAD FORGER AND DETECTIVES.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'> 13.&mdash;BANK ROBBERS AND DETECTIVES.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'> 14.&mdash;BURGLAR'S FATE AND DETECTIVES.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'> 15.&mdash;A DOUBLE LIFE AND DETECTIVES.</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+<p class="center">These wonderful Detective Stories by Allan Pinkerton are<br/>
+having an unprecedented success. Their sale far<br/>
+exceeding one hundred thousand copies. "The<br/>
+interest which the reader feels from the outset<br/>
+so intense and resistless; he is swept along<br/>
+by the narrative, held by it, whether<br/>
+he will or no."</p>
+
+<p class="center">All beautifully illustrated, and published uniform with this<br/>
+volume. Price $1.50 each. Sold by all booksellers, and<br/>
+sent <i>free</i> by mail, on receipt of price, by</p>
+
+<p class="center">G. W. CARLETON &amp; CO., Publishers,
+New York.
+</p>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 320px;">
+<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="320" height="479" alt="" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2>CONTENTS</h2>
+
+
+<table summary="">
+<tr><td></td><td align="right">PAGE</td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h2>MISSISSIPPI OUTLAWS AND THE DETECTIVES.</h2></td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><br/>CHAPTER I</h3></td></tr>
+<tr><td>A daring Express Robbery.&mdash;Mr. Pinkerton appealed to.&mdash;Cane-brakes and
+cane-fed People.&mdash;Annoying delays and Amateur Detectives.</td><td align="right">        <a href="#Page_9">9</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><br/>CHAPTER II</h3></td></tr>
+<tr><td>Difficulties.&mdash;Blind Trails and False Scents.&mdash;A Series of Illustrations showing
+the Number of Officious People and Confidence Men that often seek
+Notoriety and Profit through important Detective Operations. </td><td align="right">       <a href="#Page_21">21</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><br/>CHAPTER III</h3></td></tr>
+<tr><td>"Old Hicks," a drunken Planter, is entertained by a Hunting-Party.&mdash;Lester's
+Landing.&mdash;Its Grocery-Store and Mysterious Merchants.&mdash;A dangerous
+Situation.&mdash;The unfortunate Escape of Two of the Robbers.        </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_32">32</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><br/>CHAPTER IV</h3></td></tr>
+<tr><td> The Captured Ruffians are desired for Guides, but dare not join in the
+Search for the Outlaws.&mdash;One of the Robbers is Taken, but subsequently
+Escapes from the Amateur Detectives.&mdash;Another Clue suddenly fails.       </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_44">44</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><br/>CHAPTER V</h3></td></tr>
+<tr><td>  A Rich Lead Struck at Last.      </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_50">50</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><br/>CHAPTER VI</h3></td></tr>
+<tr><td>The Mother of the Farringtons, being arrested, boasts that her Sons "Will
+never be taken Alive."&mdash;Another Unfortunate Blunder by Amateur Detectives.&mdash;An
+interesting Fate intended for the Detectives.&mdash;William A.
+Pinkerton captures the Murderer of a Negro in Union City, proving "a
+very good Fellow&mdash;for a Yankee."        </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_56">56</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><br/>CHAPTER VII</h3></td></tr>
+<tr><td>The Scene of Action transferred to Missouri.&mdash;The Chase becoming Hot.        </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_68">68</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><br/>CHAPTER VIII</h3></td></tr>
+<tr><td> A determined Party of Horsemen.&mdash;The Outlaws surrounded and the Birds
+caged.&mdash;A Parley.&mdash;The burning Cabin.&mdash;Its Occupants finally surrender.       </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_80">80</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><br/>CHAPTER IX</h3></td></tr>
+<tr><td>Barton's Confession.&mdash;The Express Robberies, and the Outlaw's subsequent
+Experiences fully set forth therein.&mdash;A Clue that had been suddenly
+dropped taken up with so much Profit.        </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_91">91</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><br/>CHAPTER X</h3></td></tr>
+<tr><td> A terrible Struggle for Life or Death upon the Transfer-boat "Illinois."&mdash;"Overboard!"&mdash;One
+less Desperado.&mdash;Fourth and Last Robber taken.       </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_104">104</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><br/>CHAPTER XI</h3></td></tr>
+<tr><td>The last Scene in the Drama approaching.&mdash;A new Character appears.&mdash;The
+Citizens of Union City suddenly seem to have important business on
+hand.&mdash;The Vigilantes and their Work.&mdash;The End.        </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_114">114</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h2><br/>DON PEDRO AND THE DETECTIVES.</h2></td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><br/>CHAPTER I</h3></td></tr>
+<tr><td> A fraudulent Scheme contemplated.&mdash;A dashing Peruvian Don and Donna.&mdash;A
+regal Forger.&mdash;Mr. Pinkerton engaged by Senator Muirhead to unveil
+the mystery of his Life.       </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_125">125</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><br/>CHAPTER II</h3></td></tr>
+<tr><td>   Madame Sevier, Widow, of Chicago, and Monsieur Lesparre, of Bordeaux,
+also arrive at Gloster.&mdash;Mr. Pinkerton, as a Laborer, anxious for a Job,
+inspects the Morita Mansion.     </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_143">143</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><br/>CHAPTER III</h3></td></tr>
+<tr><td>Monsieur Lesparre, having a retentive memory, becomes serviceable to Don
+Pedro.&mdash;Diamond fields and droll Americans.&mdash;A pompous Judge in an
+unfortunate Predicament.&mdash;The grand Reception closes with a happy
+Arrangement that the gay Se&ntilde;or and Se&ntilde;ora shall dine with Mr. Pinkerton's
+Detectives on the next evening.        </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_159">159</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><br/>CHAPTER IV</h3></td></tr>
+<tr><td>Madame Sevier and Her Work.&mdash;Unaccountable Coquettishness between
+Man and Wife.&mdash;A Startling Scheme, Illustrating the Rashness of
+American Business Men and the Supreme Assurance of Don Pedro.        </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_170">170</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><br/>CHAPTER V</h3></td></tr>
+<tr><td>The third Detective is made welcome at Don Pedro's.&mdash;The Se&ntilde;or is paid the
+first half-million dollars from the great Diamond Company.&mdash;How Don
+Pedro is "working" his diamond mines.        </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_189">189</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><br/>CHAPTER VI</h3></td></tr>
+<tr><td>An unexpected Meeting and a startling Recognition. An old friend somewhat
+disturbs the Equanimity of Don Pedro. The Detectives fix their
+Attention upon Pietro Bernardi.        </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_205">205</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><br/>CHAPTER VII</h3></td></tr>
+<tr><td>Pietro Bernardi and the Detective become warm Friends.&mdash;A T&ecirc;te-&agrave;-t&ecirc;te
+worth one thousand dollars.        </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_219">219</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><br/>CHAPTER VIII</h3></td></tr>
+<tr><td>Don Pedro anxious for Pietro Bernardi's absence.&mdash;"Coppering the Jack
+and playing the Ace and Queen open."&mdash;Bernardi Quieted, and he subsequently
+departs richer by five thousand dollars.        </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_232">232</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><br/>CHAPTER IX</h3></td></tr>
+<tr><td> Important Information from the Peruvian Government.&mdash;Arrival In Gloster
+of the Peruvian Minister and Consul.&mdash;In Consultation.&mdash;"Robbing Peter
+to pay Paul."&mdash;Mr. Pinkerton's Card is presented.&mdash;Juan Sanchez, I arrest
+you, and you are my Prisoner.&mdash;Mr. Pinkerton not "For Sale."       </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_249">249</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><br/>CHAPTER X</h3></td></tr>
+<tr><td>The F&ecirc;te Champ&ecirc;tre.&mdash;A grand Carnival.&mdash;The disappointed married Lover.&mdash;A
+vain Request.&mdash;Unmasked!&mdash;An indignant Deacon.&mdash;Don Pedro taken
+to Peru in a man-of-war, where he is convicted and sentenced to fifteen
+years Imprisonment.          </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_265">265</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h2><br/>THE POISONER AND THE DETECTIVES.</h2></td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><br/>CHAPTER I</h3></td></tr>
+<tr><td>Mr. Pinkerton at a Water-cure becomes interested in a Couple, one of whom
+subsequently causes the Detective Operation from which this Story is
+written.&mdash;A wealthy ship-owner and his son.&mdash;The son "Found dead."&mdash;Mr.
+Pinkerton secured to solve the Mystery.&mdash;Chicago after the Fire.        </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_283">283</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><br/>CHAPTER II</h3></td></tr>
+<tr><td> The Detectives at work.&mdash;Mrs. Sanford described.&mdash;Charlie, the Policeman.&mdash;Mrs.
+Sanford develops Interest in Government Bonds.&mdash;Chicago Relief
+and Aid Benefits.&mdash;Mrs. Sanford's Story of Trafton's Death.       </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_298">298</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><br/>CHAPTER III</h3></td></tr>
+<tr><td>The dangerous Side of the Woman's Character.&mdash;Robert A. Pinkerton as
+Adamson, the drunken, but wealthy Stranger, has a violent Struggle to
+escape from Mrs. Sanford, and is afterwards robbed.&mdash;Detective Ingham
+arrested, but very shortly liberated.        </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_319">319</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><br/>CHAPTER IV</h3></td></tr>
+<tr><td> Connecting Links.&mdash;Mrs. Sanford's Ability as an Imitator of Actors.&mdash;One
+Detective tears himself away from her, and another takes his Place.&mdash;Mrs.
+Sanford's mind frequently burdened with the subject of Murder.       </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_340">340</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><br/>CHAPTER V</h3></td></tr>
+<tr><td> A moneyed young Texan becomes one of Mrs. Sanford's Lodgers.&mdash;The bonds
+are seen and their Numbers taken by the Detectives.&mdash;Mrs. Sanford arrested.&mdash;She
+is found guilty of "Involuntary Manslaughter," and sentenced
+to the Illinois Penitentiary for five years.&mdash;Mr. Pinkerton's
+Theory of the Manner in which Trafton was murdered       </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_356">356</a></td></tr>
+</table>
+
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+
+<h2>PREFACE.</h2>
+
+<p>In presenting to the public another volume of my
+detective stories, I would call the attention of the reader
+to the fact, that these stories are literally written from
+facts and incidents which have come under my own
+observation, or been worked up by officers acting directly
+under my instructions.</p>
+
+<p>The Mississippi River has for many years&mdash;more
+especially since the close of the war&mdash;been infested by
+a class of men who never would try to get an honest
+living, but would prey upon their neighbors or attack
+the property of southern railroads and express companies;
+these marauders could be seen any day prowling
+along the banks of the Mississippi, in fact, the shores
+and immediate neighborhood were peopled by just such
+a class, who cared not how they obtained a living; for
+the crimes they committed, they often suffered infinitely
+worse punishment, more so than any suffering which
+could have been entailed on them from leading a poor
+but honest life.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The story of the "<span class="smcap">Mississippi Outlaws and the
+Detectives</span>" is written to illustrate incidents which
+took place in the southern section of the country at no
+very remote date.</p>
+
+<p>"<span class="smcap">Don Pedro and the Detectives</span>" is another story
+of detective experience, which came under my own
+observation and management; it is a truthful narrative,
+and shows that some men are worse than known criminals,
+and can squander the money they have obtained
+by false pretenses, in a very lavish manner.</p>
+
+<p>"<span class="smcap">The Poisoner and the Detectives</span>" is a well-known
+bit of detective experience, which, when read,
+will be recognized by any one who ever takes an interest
+in crime, and the bringing to justice its perpetrators.</p>
+
+<p>The reader must remember that fictitious names are
+used in all of these stories, otherwise the facts are
+plainly and truthfully told as they occurred.</p>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 17em;">ALLAN PINKERTON.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>April, 1879.</i></span><br /></p>
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<h1>THE MISSISSIPPI OUTLAWS</h1>
+
+
+<h1>AND</h1>
+
+<h1>THE DETECTIVES.</h1>
+
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>A daring Express Robbery.&mdash;Mr. Pinkerton appealed
+to.&mdash;Cane-brakes and cane-fed People.&mdash;Annoying
+Delays and Amateur Detectives.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>The southern and border states, since the close
+of the war of the rebellion, have been the
+frequent scenes of extensive and audacious robberies.
+This has been largely owing to the
+sparsely-settled condition of certain districts, to
+the disorder and lawlessness generated by the
+war, and to the temptations offered by the carelessness
+of many persons having large sums intrusted
+to their care in transit through lonely and
+desolate localities.</p>
+
+<p>The express companies have always been favorite
+objects of attack by thieves of every grade,
+from the embezzling cashier to the petty sneak-thief,
+and some of the operations connected with
+the detection of this class of criminals are among
+the most difficult and dangerous that have ever<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span>
+been intrusted to me. Probably a no more reckless
+and desperate body of men were ever banded
+together in a civilized community than those who
+were brought to my attention in 1871 by the
+Southern Express Company's officers in Memphis;
+and I consider the successful termination of my
+efforts in this case as of the greatest value to the
+people of the South and West. The whole affair
+was conducted with such a limited force, and
+under such adverse circumstances, that I take
+pride in here recording the history of the affair
+and my connection with it. Though I maintained
+a general supervision of the operation, my eldest
+son, William A. Pinkerton, was the person having
+immediate charge of the matter, and to his
+energy, perseverance, and sagacity is mainly attributable
+our success.</p>
+
+<p>Some time in the latter part of July, 1871, an
+express messenger on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad
+was overpowered by three men at Moscow,
+Kentucky, and his safe was robbed of about sixteen
+hundred dollars. The manner of effecting
+the robbery was a very bold one, showing the
+presence of men of experience in crime. The loss
+was not heavy, but the company made every effort
+to discover the robbers, in the hope of bringing
+them to a severe punishment as a warning to
+other criminals. In spite, however, of the efforts
+of two of my men, who were immediately sent to
+the scene of the robbery, the guilty parties escaped
+into the almost impenetrable swamps along
+the Mississippi River, and the chase was reluct<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span>antly
+abandoned, as it was impossible to tell where
+they would come out or cross the river. The
+amount stolen was not sufficiently large to warrant
+the expenditure of much time or money in
+the pursuit of the thieves, and my men were soon
+wholly withdrawn from the operation. In order,
+however, to guard against a repetition of such a
+raid, an extra man was placed in each express car
+to act as guard to the regular messenger. It was
+considered that two men, well armed, ought to be
+surely able to protect the company against further
+loss, and everything ran smoothly until October 21,
+1871. At this time, the money shipments by express
+were very heavy, as a rule, and orders were
+given that special care should be exercised by all
+the employ&eacute;s having money packages in charge.</p>
+
+<p>The northern-bound train on the Mobile and
+Ohio Railroad was due at Union City, Tennessee,
+about half-past seven o'clock in the evening. At
+this point the northern and southern-bound trains
+usually passed each other, and stopped long
+enough for supper, the train arriving first being
+the one to take the side track ready to pull out.
+Saturday evening, October 21st, the northern-bound
+train arrived on time, stopped at the
+station long enough to let the passengers go to
+supper, and then took the side track to await the
+arrival of the train bound south. As soon as the
+side track was reached the conductor, engineer,
+fireman, brakeman, and express messenger went
+to supper, leaving the train deserted except by
+the express guard, named George Thompson, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span>
+a few passengers. The local express agent came
+up at this moment, gave his packages to Thompson,
+receiving his receipt therefor, and returned
+to the station. This action was directly contrary
+to the rules of the company, which forbade the
+messenger to leave the car during his whole run,
+or to go to sleep; also, the guard was forbidden to
+transact any business, or to have possession of
+the safe key. Martin Crowley, the messenger,
+had given his key to Thompson, however, to
+enable him to attend to the business of the local
+agent while Crowley was away at supper. In
+accordance with Thompson's request, Crowley
+sent a negro porter to the express car with
+Thompson's supper on a tray, and the porter,
+after handing the tray to Thompson, turned to
+walk away. As he did so, he saw two men spring
+into the partly open door of the express car, and,
+almost immediately, the train began to back.
+The negro knew that something was wrong, and
+he hurried to the station to give the alarm. By
+the time he arrived there, however, the train was
+backing at a moderate speed, and was well beyond
+the reach of pursuit on foot.</p>
+
+<p>Meantime, the guard, having received his supper
+from the negro porter, turned his back to the
+door to set the tray down. Before reaching the
+desk, he heard a noise at the door, and turning,
+he was confronted by two men, one of whom held
+a revolver at his head, while the other seized his
+throat. Thompson was a young man, and, not
+being accustomed to meet such hard characters,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span>
+he was badly frightened. He immediately gave
+up the safe key and helped one of the men to unlock
+the safe. Having taken all the money out
+of the safe, one of the robbers took also the contents
+of Thompson's pocket-book; but here the
+other man interfered, insisting that the guard's
+money be returned to him, which was done. No
+conversation took place, but when the safe had
+been carefully examined and all the money it contained
+taken, one of the men stepped to the door
+and swung a lantern once or twice. The train,
+which had been backing at a moderate rate of
+speed, now stopped, and the two men jumped off,
+telling Thompson to stay where he was and keep
+quiet. When the conductor, engineer, and other
+persons, whom the porter had alarmed, reached
+the train, they found everything in order except
+the safe, into which poor Thompson was vainly
+peering in the hope of discovering that some portion
+of the funds might have been overlooked.
+The men had disappeared in the thick woods, and
+no trace of them was found except a small carpet-bag
+containing potatoes and bread. The
+amount missing from the safe was about six
+thousand dollars in currency.</p>
+
+<p>Although the robbery was at once reported to Mr.
+M. J. O'Brien, the General Superintendent, by telegraph,
+no action seems to have been taken until
+the following Wednesday&mdash;four days later&mdash;when
+Mr. O'Brien sent me a brief telegram announcing
+the robbery, and requesting me to come to Union
+City in person, if possible, and if not, to send my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span>
+eldest son, William A. Pinkerton. The telegraph
+was used freely for the next two days, and while
+my son was gathering clues and making his preparations,
+we learned most of the facts by letter.
+William arrived in Union City on Saturday, just
+one week after the robbery had been committed,
+and he instantly began to gather information from
+every available source. Except the statements of
+the negro porter and Thompson, the guard, as
+condensed in the account heretofore given, little
+information could be obtained, as so few persons
+were about the train when it began to move off.
+While two or three had seen the men who had
+entered the car, no one had seen who had run
+the locomotive, and there was, therefore, no certainty
+as to the number of persons engaged in
+the job. One passenger had seen two men walking
+toward the engine in a suspicious manner,
+and, as his description of these two was entirely
+different from that given of the men who had
+entered the car, it was fair to presume that they
+had been a part of the gang. Still, no one had
+seen them get on the engine, and it was not certain
+that they had had anything to do with the
+affair. At the end of three days, however, William
+had collected sufficient information to satisfy
+himself that either four or five men had been
+at work together; and, by collating the various
+descriptions he received, he obtained a pretty fair
+idea of the party.</p>
+
+<p>The first thing which struck him was the similarity
+of this robbery to the one which had occurred<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span>
+exactly three months before at Moscow, Kentucky.
+The appearance of the men and their actions had
+been precisely like those of the Moscow party, and
+it was evident that they had been emboldened to a
+second venture by the ease with which they had
+carried through their former scheme. One thing
+was imperative: the capture of the whole gang
+would be necessary to insure the safety of the express
+company's property in the future. Indeed,
+it was a mere piece of good fortune that the loss
+in this instance was not irreparable, for the
+amount of money carried on the southern-bound
+train was eighty thousand dollars, and the robbers
+would have obtained this large amount if the
+southern-bound train had chanced to arrive first.
+The robbery was clearly one which no common
+tramp or sneak-thief would have dared to attempt,
+and William saw immediately the difficulties of
+his work. Before proceeding with the incidents
+of the operation, I must give some idea of the
+country and the people living there, since no-one
+would otherwise comprehend one-half of the obstacles
+and dangers which were involved in a
+search for the criminals in that vicinity.</p>
+
+<p>The southwestern part of Kentucky and the
+northwestern part of Tennessee are about as desolate
+portions of the world as are inhabited by a
+civilized people. There seems to have been some
+convulsion of the earth at this point, which is
+sunk so far below the general level of the whole
+country as to make it a perpetual swamp. The
+annual overflow of the Ohio and Mississippi lays<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>
+the country under water for a distance of many
+miles, while even in the dryest season, the morasses,
+sunken lakes, and dense cane-brakes, render
+it almost impassable, except for people who
+have been thoroughly acquainted with the locality
+for years.</p>
+
+<p>The sunken lakes are natural curiosities in themselves,
+and, although they have attracted considerable
+attention from scientific men, no satisfactory
+explanation of their causes and phenomena
+has been found. The country is full of game and
+the water is alive with fish, so that the necessities
+of life are easily obtainable. The cane-brakes are
+wonderful growths of bamboo cane, and they
+sometimes cover strips of country as much as
+seventy miles long. In the spring-time, the water
+rises to such a height that a skiff can navigate
+freely above and through the tops of the cane;
+but in dry weather, the stalks grow so closely together
+that the brake becomes impenetrable to
+man or beast, except by winding tortuously
+around the clumps through the comparatively
+thin portions of the undergrowth. To search for
+any one wishing to remain concealed therein is
+like the proverbial attempt to look for a needle in
+a hay-stack, since a man can pass within ten
+yards of another without seeing him or being
+aware of his presence. The only roads which
+traverse these places are mere cattle paths, which
+begin at no place and run nowhere; and, unless a
+man be thoroughly acquainted with the country,
+he can never tell where any given path will lead
+him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The people around the towns, such as Hickman,
+Union City, Dyersburg, and Moscow, are a highly
+respectable and well-educated class; but in the
+low, swampy country, in the cane brake and along
+the river, they are not, as a rule, a very agreeable
+class to live among. Of course, here, as in all
+other places, there are many intelligent, reliable,
+honorable men, but the great mass of the cane-brake
+population are ignorant and brutal. The
+term which they apply to their stock is also eminently
+appropriate to designate the people: they
+are "cane-fed." It is the custom to turn the cattle
+into the cane to feed when it is young and
+tender, and, as the amount of nutriment thus
+obtained is not very large, the "cane-fed" animals
+bear about the same relation to grain-fed stock
+that the people in that vicinity bear to the residents
+of healthy, prosperous, and educated communities.
+The larger portion of the population may be classed
+as "poor whites," and they constitute a peculiar
+variety of the human species. The men are tall,
+loose-jointed, and dyspeptic; they bear a marked
+resemblance to the vegetable productions of the
+vicinity, being rapid of growth, prolific, and generally
+worthless. Their education consists mainly
+of woodcraft and rifle-shooting; their proficiency
+in both of these branches is sometimes astonishing,
+and it is frequently said of their most expert
+hunters that they seem to have been born
+shot-gun or rifle in hand. Accomplishments they
+have none, except the rare instances where a few
+tunes upon the banjo have been learned from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>
+negroes. Their tastes are few and simple,&mdash;whisky,
+snuff, hog, and hominy being the necessities and
+luxuries of life; that is, whisky and snuff are the
+necessities, all other things being secondary considerations.
+In their sober moods, they are frank,
+rough, and courageous; yet, even then, there is
+little about them to excite other feelings than
+those of pity and aversion. When full of bad
+whisky, however, they are apt to become quarrelsome
+and brutal, so that no man can feel sure
+of his safety in their company. An affront, real
+or imaginary, will then be apt to cause bloodshed,
+even if the insulted party has to bushwhack his
+enemy from a secure covert on the roadside as he
+is returning to his home. Every man goes armed,
+and, though fair fights in broad daylight are rare,
+cold-blooded murders are not infrequent. The
+law is seldom invoked to settle private differences,
+and, in fact, the functions of the legal officials are
+practically very limited in their influence. If a
+coroner ever sits upon a corpse, it is understood
+that he has done his whole duty by recording a
+verdict that "the deceased came to his death at
+the hands of some person or persons unknown."</p>
+
+<p>The women, like the men, are tall, thin, and
+round-shouldered. Up to the age of sixteen they
+sometimes are quite pretty, though sallow and
+lifeless always; after that period, they become
+gaunt, emaciated, and yellow. Whisky hath
+charms for them, also, but their favorite dissipation
+is snuff-dipping. They marry very early and
+bear children nearly every year, so that the size<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>
+of many of these West Tennessee families is often
+enormous. The father exercises patriarchal control
+over his whole household until the daughters
+are married and the sons old enough and strong
+enough to defy the parental authority as enforced
+by a hickory rod. The wife never escapes the application
+of this potent instrument of marital discipline;
+and, indeed, should a husband fail to
+make frequent use of it for the correction of his
+better half, he would probably soon learn that his
+dutiful spouse could find a use for it on his own
+person.</p>
+
+<p>Throughout this whole district, the people suffer
+from fever and ague for nine months of the
+year, and dyspepsia seems hereditary. Their physicians,
+however, usually require no further education
+than is requisite to attend fractured limbs
+and gun-shot wounds, the whole school of medicine
+being limited to three specifics: quinine,
+calomel, and whisky.</p>
+
+<p>As before stated, it should be understood that
+the foregoing description applies to the majority
+of the inhabitants of the low swamp lands only,
+and not to the residents in and about the towns;
+even in the cane country itself are to be found occasionally
+men of education, ability, and good
+character, and to several of them William was
+largely indebted for assistance and information.</p>
+
+<p>There was one redeeming feature also to the
+character of the "cane-fed" population; in the
+main they were honest, and they would do all in
+their power to break up a thieving gang, even if<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span>
+they had to hang a few of its members as a warning
+to the rest. I was thus able to trust them to
+a certain extent, though the fear which they had
+of this band of desperadoes rather kept their
+naturally honest impulses in check for a time.</p>
+
+<p>William was thoroughly acquainted with the
+character of the people, and he knew what a
+difficult task had been set before him, especially
+as he was allowed no other detectives of my force
+to assist him, the express company being desirous
+of conducting the operation as economically
+as possible. Among the large number of men
+employed directly by the company were two or
+three good men, but the majority were even
+worse than useless, and the expense of the affair
+was finally much greater than as if only my own
+men had been employed. Besides the fact that
+William was thus continually working with
+strange men, he was harassed by large numbers
+of amateur detectives, to whose stories the company's
+officers too often lent a ready ear. Indeed,
+every express agent in Tennessee, Kentucky, and
+Missouri seemed impressed with the idea that he
+was a naturally gifted detective, and many were
+the annoying delays which resulted from their
+interference.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Difficulties.&mdash;Blind Trails and False Scents.&mdash;A Series
+of Illustrations showing the Number of Officious
+People and Confidence Men that often seek Notoriety
+and Profit through important Detective Operations.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>The art of detecting crime cannot be learned
+in a day, nor can the man of business understand,
+without previous experience in the habits
+of criminals, the expedients which the boldest
+class of law-breakers adopt; hence none but skilled
+detectives can hope to cope with them. Yet often
+my clients insist on some certain method of procedure
+wholly contrary to my judgment and experience,
+until the total failure of their plan
+convinces them that there can be but one
+thoroughly successful mode of detection, namely,
+to submit the case to a skilled detective of character
+and standing, and allow him to act according
+to his judgment.</p>
+
+<p>The range of investigation in such a case as this
+robbery will often extend from New York to San
+Francisco, and unless one mind gathers up the
+clues, classifies the information, and determines
+the general plan, there will be continual error and
+delay. Such a state of affairs frequently occurred
+during this operation, and much time and money
+were spent upon matters too trifling even for consideration.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The principal of a detective agency, from his
+long experience with criminals, learns the earmarks
+of different classes of men, and he is often
+able to determine the name of the guilty party in
+any given robbery by the manner in which the job
+was done. He can readily see whether a novice
+in crime was engaged, and also whether any collusion
+existed between the parties robbed and the
+criminals; and so, when he sees the traces of a
+bold, skillful, and experienced man, he knows that
+it is useless to track down some insignificant
+sneak-thief, simply because the latter happens to
+have been in the vicinity. Yet, neither will he
+slight the smallest clue if there is a bare chance
+that any valuable fact may be obtained from it.
+But the <i>sine qua non</i> is that he, and he alone,
+shall direct the whole affair. A divided responsibility
+simply doubles the criminal's opportunities
+for escape.</p>
+
+<p>Among the many difficulties of the detective's
+work, none are more embarrassing than the early
+development of false clues. In the stories heretofore
+published, the direct steps leading to the
+detection and arrest of the criminals have been
+related, without referring to the innumerable
+other investigations, which were progressing simultaneously,
+and which, though involving the
+expenditure of much thought, time, and money,
+proved after all to be of no value whatever in
+developing any evidence in the case. In this
+operation, such instances were of frequent occurrence,
+and I propose to mention a few of them to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span>
+show how wide is the range of the detective's
+inquiries, and also the annoying delays to which
+he is often subjected by the inconsiderate zeal
+and interference of outside parties. These latter
+may be&mdash;indeed, they generally are&mdash;well meaning
+people, anxious to serve the cause of justice;
+though, on the other hand, they are sometimes
+spiteful meddlers, striving to fix suspicion upon
+some personal enemy.</p>
+
+<p>The plan of detection which alone can insure
+success, must be one which neither forgets nor
+neglects anything. In investigating any alleged
+crime, the first questions to be considered are:
+1. Has any crime been perpetrated, and, if so,
+what? 2. What was the object sought thereby?</p>
+
+<p>The matter of time, place, and means employed
+must then be carefully noted, and finally we come
+to consider: 1. Who are the criminals? 2. Where
+are they now? 3. How can they be taken?</p>
+
+<p>The fact that a crime has been committed is
+generally apparent, though there have been
+cases in which the determination of that point requires
+as much skill as the whole remainder of
+the operation. Such was the case in the detection
+of Mrs. Pattmore's murder, related in my
+story of "The Murderer and the Fortune Teller."
+The object of a crime is also sometimes obscure,
+and, where such are the circumstances, the detection
+of the criminal is apt to be one of the most
+difficult of all operations. Having once solved
+these two difficulties satisfactorily, however, and
+having observed the relative bearings of time,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span>
+place, and means to the crime itself, the question
+of individuals is the important one to be determined.
+It often happens that there is no concealment
+of identity, the problem to be solved being
+simply the way to catch the guilty parties; but,
+on the other hand, the greatest skill, experience,
+patience, and perseverance are sometimes required
+to discover, first of all, the persons engaged in the
+crime. Indeed, an operation is often divisible
+into two distinct methods of action, the first being
+to find out the identity of the criminals, the second
+to follow up and capture them.</p>
+
+<p>In the course of a blind trail, such as we were
+obliged to travel in the case of this express robbery,
+it was impossible to know whence the men
+had come or whither they had gone; hence, I
+was forced to take up every trifling clue and follow
+it to the end. Even after I was satisfied in
+my own mind of the identity of the criminals, the
+agents and officers of the express company were
+continually finding mares' nests which they
+wished investigated, and the operation was sometimes
+greatly hindered on this account. As an
+example of the number of discouragements which
+the detective must always expect to encounter, I
+propose to mention some of the false scents which
+we were forced to follow during this operation.</p>
+
+<p>Three or four days after William's arrival in
+Union City, he was informed by the superintendent
+of the express company having charge
+of the operation, that there was a young man in
+Moscow who could give important information<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span>
+relative to the first robbery at that place. This
+young man, Thomas Carr by name, was a lawyer
+who had once had fine prospects, but he had become
+very dissipated, and he finally had been taken
+seriously ill, so that he had lost his practice. On
+recovering his health he had reformed his habits,
+but he had found great difficulty in winning back
+clients, and his income was hardly enough to
+support him. On learning that this impecunious
+lawyer had valuable information, William
+strongly suspected that it would amount to little
+more than a good lie, invented to obtain money
+from the express company; nevertheless, he sent
+for the young man and heard his story.</p>
+
+<p>According to Carr, a man named John Witherspoon
+had visited him about six weeks before,
+and had asked him whether he would like to get
+a large sum of money. Carr replied affirmatively,
+of course, and wished to know how it could be
+obtained. Witherspoon had said that the express
+company could be robbed very easily by boarding
+a train at any water-tank, overpowering the messenger,
+and making him open the safe. Witherspoon
+also had said that he and several others
+had robbed a train at Moscow some weeks before,
+and that they had got only sixteen hundred dollars,
+but that they should do better next time.
+He had asked Carr to go to Cairo and find out
+when there would be a large shipment of money
+to the South; then Carr was to take the same
+train and give a signal to the rest of the party on
+arriving at the designated spot.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>On hearing Carr's story, William sent him back
+to Moscow with instructions to renew his intimacy
+with Witherspoon, and to report any news
+he might learn at once; in case it should prove
+to be of any value, the company would pay him
+well for his services. It is hardly necessary to add
+that Mr. Carr, having failed to get, as he had
+hoped, a roving commission as detective at the
+company's expense, was not heard from again,
+his bonanza of news having run out very quickly
+on discovering that no money was to be paid in
+advance.</p>
+
+<p>The next case was a more plausible one, and
+William began its investigation with the feeling
+that something might be developed therefrom.
+It was learned that a former express messenger
+named Robert Trunnion, who had been discharged
+several months before, had been hanging
+around Columbus, Kentucky, ever since. While
+in conversation with the clerk of a second-class
+hotel, Trunnion had spoken of the ease with
+which a few determined men could board an express
+car, throw a blanket over the messenger's
+head, and then rob the safe. The clerk said that
+Trunnion had made the suggestion to him twice,
+and the second time he had given Trunnion a
+piece of his mind for making such a proposition.
+Trunnion had then said he was only fooling, and
+that he did not mean anything by it. William
+learned that Trunnion was then engaged in selling
+trees for a nursery at Clinton, Kentucky, and that
+he was regarded as a half-cracked, boasting fool,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span>
+who might be anything bad, if he were influenced
+by bold, unscrupulous men. William therefore
+paid a visit to Mr. Trunnion, whom he found to
+be a very high-toned youth, too fiery-tempered
+and sensitive to submit to any questioning as to
+his words or actions. In a very brief space of
+time, however, his lordly tone came down to a
+very humble acknowledgment that he had used
+the language attributed to him; but he protested
+that he had meant nothing; in short, his confession
+was not only complete, but exceedingly
+candid; he admitted that he was a gas-bag and a
+fool, without discretion enough to keep his tongue
+from getting him into trouble continually; and,
+having clearly shown that he was nowhere in the
+vicinity of either robbery, he asked humbly not
+to be held responsible for being a born idiot.
+William was satisfied that the fellow had told
+the truth, and, after scaring him out of all his
+high-toned pride, he let him go, with a severe
+lecture on the danger of talking too much.</p>
+
+<p>On the nineteenth of November, when the identity
+of the robbers had been fully established,
+William was called away to Iuka, Mississippi, on
+information received from Mr. O'Brien, the general
+superintendent of the express company, that
+a man named Santon had seen the leader of the
+party in that place, just a week before. Santon
+represented that he knew the man well, having
+been acquainted with him for years in Cairo, and
+that he could not be mistaken, as he had spoken
+with him on the day mentioned. William found<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span>
+that the man Santon was a natural liar, who could
+not tell the truth even when it was for his interest
+to do so. The descriptions of the various robbers
+had been scattered broadcast everywhere,
+and none of them were represented as over thirty-five
+years of age; yet Santon said that his man
+was over fifty years old, and that he had been a
+pilot on the Mississippi for years. This was a
+case&mdash;not an infrequent one, either&mdash;where people
+talk and lie about a crime for the sole purpose
+of getting a little temporary notoriety. Owing to
+various accidents and railway detentions, William
+lost three days in going to hunt up this lying
+fellow's testimony.</p>
+
+<p>Perhaps the most impudent of all the stories
+brought to the express company's officers was
+that of a man named Swing, living at Columbus,
+Kentucky. He sent a friend to Union City to tell
+them that he could give them a valuable clue to
+the identity of the robbers, and William accompanied
+this friend back to Columbus. On the
+way, William drew out all that Swing's friend
+knew about the matter, and satisfied himself
+that Swing's sole object in sending word to the
+officers of the company was to get them to do a
+piece of detective work for him. It appeared that
+his nephew had stolen one of his horses just after
+the robbery, and he intended to tell the company's
+officers that this nephew had been engaged in the
+robbery; then if the company captured the
+nephew, Swing hoped to get back his horse. A
+truly brilliant scheme it was, but, unfortunately<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span>
+for his expectations, William could not be misled
+by his plausible story; and, if he ever recovered
+his horse, he did so without the assistance of the
+express company. Nevertheless, he took William
+away from his work for nearly a whole day,
+at a time when his presence was almost indispensable.</p>
+
+<p>Another peculiar phase of a detective's experience
+is, that while following up one set of criminals,
+he may accidentally unearth the evidences
+of some other crime; occasionally it happens that
+he is able to arrest the criminals thus unexpectedly
+discovered, but too often they take the alarm
+and escape before the interested parties can be put
+in possession of the facts. About two weeks after
+the Union City robbery, in the course of my extended
+inquiries by telegraph, I came across a
+pair of suspicious characters in Kansas City, Missouri.
+I learned that two fine-looking women
+had arrived in that city with about eight thousand
+dollars in five, ten, and twenty dollar bills, which
+they were trying to exchange for bills of a larger
+denomination. The women were well dressed,
+but they were evidently of loose character, and
+the possession of so much money by two females
+of that class excited suspicion instantly in the
+minds of the bankers to whom they applied, and
+they could not make the desired exchange. One
+of the women was a blonde and the other was a
+brunette. They were about of the same height,
+and they dressed in such marked contrast as to
+set each other off to the best advantage; indeed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span>
+their dresses seemed to have attracted so much
+attention that I could gain very little acquaintance
+with their personal appearance. I could not connect
+them in any way with the robbery at Union
+City, nor with any other recent crime, though I
+had little doubt that the money they had with
+them was the proceeds of some criminal transaction;
+still, having my hands full at that time, it
+would have been impossible for me to look after
+them, even had I thought best to do so. As it is my
+practice to undertake investigations only when
+engaged for the purpose by some responsible person,
+I did not waste any time in endeavoring to
+discover the source whence these women obtained
+their money; though, of course, had I learned
+enough about them to suspect them of complicity
+in any specific crime, I should have reported my
+suspicions to the parties interested, to enable them
+to take such action as they might have seen fit.</p>
+
+<p>The most important of all the false clues
+brought out in this investigation was presented
+by a noted confidence man and horse-thief named
+Charles Lavalle, <i>alias</i> Hildebrand. I call it the
+most important, not because I considered it of any
+value at the time, but because it illustrates one of
+the most profitable forms of confidence operation,
+and because the express company, by refusing to
+accept my advice in the matter, were put to a
+large expense with no possibility of a return.</p>
+
+<p>Very shortly after the Union City robbery, a
+letter was received from a man in Kansas City,
+calling himself Charles Lavalle. The writer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span>
+claimed that he had been with the gang who had
+robbed the train, but that they had refused to
+divide with him, and so, out of revenge, he was
+anxious to bring them to punishment. He claimed
+further that he was then in the confidence of another
+party, who were soon going to make another
+raid upon the express company somewhere between
+New Orleans and Mobile.</p>
+
+<p>The plausibility of his story was such that he
+obtained quite a large sum from the express
+company to enable him to follow up and remain
+with the gang of thieves with whom
+he professed to be associated. No news was
+received from him, however, and at length
+I was requested to put a "shadow" upon
+his track. My operative followed him to
+St. Joseph, Missouri, and thence to Quincy, Illinois,
+but, during two weeks of close investigation,
+no trace of the villains in Lavalle's company could
+be found, and he was never seen in the society of
+any known burglars or thieves. It was soon evident
+that he was playing upon the express company
+a well-worn confidence game, which has
+been attempted probably every time a large robbery
+has occurred in the last fifteen years. He
+became very importunate for more money while
+in Quincy, as he stated that the gang to which
+he belonged were ready to start for New Orleans;
+but, finding that his appeals were useless, and
+that no more money would be advanced until
+some of his party were actually discovered and
+trapped through his agency, he soon ceased writing.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The foregoing are only a few of the instances
+in which our attention was diverted from the
+real criminals; and, although the efforts of my
+operatives were rarely misdirected in any one affair
+for any length of time, still these false alarms
+were always a source of great annoyance and embarrassment.</p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>"Old Hicks," a drunken Planter, is entertained by a
+Hunting-party.&mdash;Lester's Landing.&mdash;Its Grocery-store
+and Mysterious Merchants.&mdash;A dangerous
+Situation and a desperate Encounter.&mdash;The unfortunate
+Escape of Two of the Robbers.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>One of the most direct sources of information
+relative to the party was found in the person
+of an old planter, named Hicks, who lived
+some distance down the track of the railroad. He
+was in the habit of visiting Union City very frequently,
+and he usually rounded off his day's
+pleasure by becoming jovially drunk, in which
+condition he would start for his home, walking
+down the railroad track. He had been in Union
+City all of Friday before the robbery, and about
+ten o'clock in the evening he was in a state of
+happy inebriety, ready to "hail fellow, well met,"
+with any person he might encounter.</p>
+
+<p>On his way home, about three-quarters of a mile
+west of Union City, he saw a camp-fire burning a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span>
+short distance from the track, and around it were
+gathered five men. They hailed him, and asked
+him to take a drink; and as this was an invitation
+which Hicks could not refuse, even from the devil
+himself, he joined them, drank with them, and
+danced a hornpipe for their edification. Hicks
+acknowledged in his account of meeting them, that
+by the time they had made him dance for them,
+he was heartily frightened at their looks and talk.
+He heard one of them say that they wanted ten
+thousand at least, but he could not tell what the
+remark referred to. He asked them why they
+were camping out, and one, who seemed to be the
+leader of the party, said they were out hunting.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," continued another one, "I am out hunting
+for somebody's girl, and when I find her we
+are going to run away together."</p>
+
+<p>At this, they all laughed, as if there was some
+hidden meaning in his words.</p>
+
+<p>Hicks described all of the men, three of them
+quite minutely; but the fourth was evidently the
+same as the second, and the fifth was lying down
+asleep all the time, so that Hicks could not tell
+much about him. They were armed with large
+navy revolvers, which they wore in belts, and
+their clothing was quite good. The tall man, who
+seemed to be the leader, related an account of a
+deer-hunt in which he had participated, in Fayette
+county, Illinois, on the Kaskaskia river, and
+when he mentioned the place, the others scowled
+and winked at him, as if to stop him. Hicks said
+that they seemed to be familiar with Cincinnati,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>
+Louisville, Evansville, and other northern cities,
+and that they talked somewhat like Yankees.
+He remained with them until about midnight,
+when a negro came down the track. Hicks and
+the negro then went on together to Hicks's house,
+leaving the five men still camped in the woods.</p>
+
+<p>Other persons reported having seen the same
+party in the same vicinity several times before
+the night of the robbery, though some had seen
+only two, others three and four; but no one, except
+Hicks, had seen five. The accounts given by
+the persons near the train when the robbery occurred
+did not show the presence of more than
+three persons, though possibly there might have
+been a fourth. The descriptions of the suspected
+parties were quite varied in some respects; yet
+the general tenor of them was to the same effect,
+and, as no one knew who these persons were, it
+was quite certain that this quartette of strangers
+had committed the robbery.</p>
+
+<p>In the case of the Moscow robbery, we had
+strongly suspected two notorious thieves, named
+Jack Nelson and Miles Ogle, so that my first action,
+on learning of this second affair in the same
+vicinity, was to telegraph to my correspondents
+and agents throughout the country, to learn
+whether either of these men had been seen lately.
+I could gain no news whatever, except from St.
+Louis, whence an answer was returned to the
+effect that Nelson was said to be stopping somewhere
+in the country back of Hickman, Kentucky.
+Ogle's wife was in St. Louis, and she had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span>
+been seen by a detective walking and talking earnestly
+with a strange man a short time previous.
+The information about Nelson was important,
+since, if true, it showed that he was in the immediate
+neighborhood of the points where the robberies
+had occurred. The man seen with Mrs.
+Ogle might have been one of the party, sent by
+her husband to appoint a future rendezvous. The
+description of the tall, dark man, mentioned by
+Hicks and others, tallied very closely with Ogle's
+appearance. My son, William, was well advised
+of these facts, and, as soon as he had obtained the
+statements of every one acquainted with any of
+the occurrences at the time of the robbery, he was
+ready for action.</p>
+
+<p>His first inquiries were directed toward discovering
+where Nelson was staying near Hickman,
+and he learned in a very short time that this rumor
+had no truth in it. While making search for
+Nelson, however, he heard of a low grocery-store
+at Lester's Landing, about twelve miles below
+Hickman on the Mississippi River. The store
+was situated four miles from any other house in
+a sparsely settled country, where the amount of
+legitimate trade would hardly amount to twelve
+hundred dollars per year. It was said to be the
+resort of a very low class of men, and the proprietors
+passed for river gamblers.</p>
+
+<p>On William's return to Union City from Hickman,
+he decided to make a visit to this grocery-store
+to learn something about the men who frequented
+it. Having none of his own men with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span>
+him, he chose one of the express company's detectives,
+named Patrick Connell, to accompany
+him, and, on the last day of October, they started
+on horseback, with an old resident named Bledsoe
+for a guide. On arriving at the house of a well-to-do
+planter, named Wilson Merrick, they obtained
+considerable information about the men who kept
+the store and the people who visited it.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Merrick said that a man named John Wesley
+Lester kept a wood-yard on the Mississippi,
+and the spot was called Lester's Landing. About
+three or four months before, three men arrived
+there and obtained leave from Lester to put up a
+store, which they stocked with groceries and
+whisky. The men gave their names as J. H.
+Clark, Ed. J. Russell, and William Barton, and
+they seemed to have some means, as the store
+did only a limited business, except in whisky.
+They were all men of ability and determination,
+and, as they were always well armed, the people
+of the cane-brake country were rather afraid of
+them. Nothing positive was known against
+them, but it was suspected from their looks and
+actions that they were Northern desperadoes lying
+quiet for a time. They seemed to be well acquainted
+in Cincinnati, Louisville, St. Louis,
+Memphis, Vicksburg, and New Orleans, but they
+were careful never to give any hint of their previous
+place of residence in the hearing of strangers.
+Mr. Merrick had, however, heard Russell
+say that he had once run a stationary engine in
+Missouri, and from occasional expressions by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span>
+Barton it would appear that the latter had once
+worked on a railroad in some capacity. They
+dressed quite well, and treated strangers politely,
+though not cordially. Although they were all
+three rather hard drinkers, they never became
+intoxicated, and they seemed to understand each
+other well enough not to quarrel among themselves.
+Clark was the oldest of the party, but
+Russell seemed to be the leader, Barton being apparently
+quite a young man. They stated that
+they intended to exchange groceries for fish and
+game, and ship the latter articles to St. Louis
+and Memphis.</p>
+
+<p>From the description of the men, William began
+to suspect that they formed a portion of the
+party of robbers, and he determined to push on
+at once. He induced a young man named Gordon
+to go with him as guide and to assist in making
+the arrest of these men, if he should deem it
+advisable. By hard riding they succeeded in
+reaching Lester's Landing before nightfall, but
+the twilight was fast fading as they came out of
+the dense underbrush and cane-brake into the
+clearing around Lester's log-cabin.</p>
+
+<p>The spot was dreary and forlorn in the extreme.
+The river was then nearly at low water, and its
+muddy current skirted one side of the clearing at
+a distance of about thirty yards from the house.
+The wood-yard and landing at the water's level
+were some ten or fifteen feet below the rising
+ground upon which the house stood. The store
+was a shanty of rough pine boards with one door<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span>
+and one window, and it stood at the head of the
+diagonal path leading from the landing to the high
+ground. A short distance back was a rail fence
+surrounding Lester's house and cornfield, and
+back of this clearing, about one hundred yards
+from the house, was a dense cane-brake. The
+corn-stalks had never been cut, and, as they grew
+very high and thick within twenty feet of the
+house, they offered a good cover to any one approaching
+or retreating through them. A rough
+log barn stood a short distance inside the rail
+fence, and, like the house, it was raised several
+feet above the ground, on account of the annual
+overflow of the whole tract. The house was a
+rather large building built of logs, the chinks being
+partly filled with mud, but it was in a dilapidated
+condition, the roof being leaky and the
+sides partly open, where the mud had fallen out
+from between the timbers.</p>
+
+<p>On entering the clearing, William's party rode
+up to the store and tried to enter, but, finding
+the door locked, they approached the house. At
+the rail fence, William and Connell dismounted,
+leaving Gordon and Bledsoe to hold their horses.
+Up to this time, they had seen no signs of life
+about the place, and they began to think that the
+birds had flown. The quiet and the absence of men
+about the clearing did not prevent William from
+exercising his usual caution in approaching the
+house; but he did consider it unnecessary to take
+any stronger force into an apparently unoccupied
+log-cabin, where at most he had only vague sus<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span>picions
+of finding the objects of his search;
+hence, he left Gordon and Bledsoe behind. Knowing
+the general construction of this class of
+houses to be the same, he sent Connell to the rear,
+while he entered the front door. A wide hall divided
+the house through the center, and the occupants
+of the house were in the room on the right.
+William's door leading into the room opened
+from this hall, while Connell's was a direct entrance
+from the back porch, and there were no
+other doors to the room.</p>
+
+<p>As the two strangers entered simultaneously,
+five men, a woman, and a girl started to their
+feet and demanded what they wanted. The
+situation was evidently one of great danger to
+the detectives; one glance at the men, coupled
+with the fierce tones of their inquiries, showed
+William that he had entered a den of snakes
+without adequate force; but it was too late to
+retreat, and he replied that they were strangers
+who, having lost their way, desired information.</p>
+
+<p>The scene was a striking one, and it remains as
+vividly in William's mind to-day, as if it had
+occurred but yesterday. In the center of the
+room, opposite him, was a broad fireplace, in
+which the smouldering logs feebly burned and
+gave forth the only light in the room. In one
+corner stood several shot-guns, and in another,
+four or five heavy axes. Grouped about near
+the fire, in different attitudes of surprise, defiance,
+and alarm, were the occupants of the cabin,
+while to the left, in the half-open door stood<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span>
+Connell. The flickering flame of the rotten wood
+gave a most unsatisfactory light, in which they
+all seemed nearly as dark as negroes, so that
+William asked the woman to light a candle. She
+replied that they had none, and at the same
+moment a young fellow tried to slip by Connell,
+but he was promptly stopped. Another large,
+powerful man, whose name afterward proved to
+be Burtine, again demanded, with several oaths,
+what their business was.</p>
+
+<p>"I've told you once that I want some information,"
+replied William, "and now I intend to
+have you stop here until I can take a look at your
+faces."</p>
+
+<p>While William was making them stand up in
+line against the wall, one of the largest drew a
+navy revolver quickly and fired straight at
+William's stomach, the ball just cutting the flesh
+on his left side. At the same instant, the young
+fellow previously mentioned, darted out the door,
+Connell having sprang to William's side, thinking
+him seriously wounded. Connell's approach prevented
+William from returning the fire of the
+tall man, who had jumped for the door also the
+moment he had fired. William fired two shots
+at him through the doorway, and Connell followed
+him instantly, on seeing that William was unhurt.
+Once outside, the tall fellow sprang behind
+a large cottonwood tree and fired back at Connell
+and William, who were in full view on the porch.
+The second shot struck Connell in the pit of the
+stomach, and he fell backward. At this moment,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span>the powerful ruffian, Burtine, seized William
+from behind and tried to drag him down, at the
+same time calling for a shot-gun "to finish the
+Yankee&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;." Turning suddenly upon
+his assailant, William raised his revolver, a heavy
+Tranter, and brought it down twice, with all his
+force, upon Burtine's head. The man staggered
+at the first blow and fell at the second, so that,
+by leveling his revolver at the other two, William
+was able to cow them into submission. The
+affray had passed so quickly that it was wholly
+over before Gordon and Bledsoe could reach the
+house, though they had sprung from their horses
+on hearing the first shot.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 640px;">
+<img src="images/gs01.jpg" width="640" height="416" alt="The fight at Lester&#39;s Landing.&mdash;Page&mdash;" title="" />
+<span class="caption">The fight at Lester&#39;s Landing.&mdash;Page&mdash;</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>The two men had escaped by this time into the
+dense cane-brake back of the house, and it was
+necessary to attend to those who had been secured,
+and to examine the injuries of Connell and
+Burtine. The latter's head was in a pretty bad
+condition, though no serious results were likely
+to follow, while Connell had escaped a mortal
+wound by the merest hair's breadth. He was
+dressed in a heavy suit of Kentucky jeans, with
+large iron buttons down the front of the coat.
+The ball had struck one of these buttons, and, instead
+of passing straight through his vitals, it had
+glanced around his side, cutting a deep flesh furrow
+nearly to the small of his back, where it had
+gone out. The shock of the blow had stunned
+him somewhat, the button having been forced
+edgewise some distance into the flesh, but his
+wound was very trifling, and he was able to go<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>
+on with the search with very little inconvenience.
+Having captured three out of the five inmates of
+the cabin, William felt as though he had done as
+much as could have been expected of two men
+under such circumstances, and he then began a
+search of the premises to see whether any evidence
+of their connection with the robbery could
+be found. Absolutely no clue whatever was
+obtained in the cabin and barn, nor did the store
+afford any better results so far as the robbery was
+concerned, but on this point William was already
+satisfied, and he was anxious to get all information
+possible about these so-called storekeepers.
+In the store, he found bills and invoices showing
+that the stock of goods had been purchased in
+Evansville, but there was no other writing of any
+character except some scribbling, apparently done
+in an idle moment, upon some fragments of
+paper in a drawer. On one was written: "Mrs.
+Kate Graham, Farmington, Ill."; and on another,
+amid many repetitions of the name, "Kate Graham,"
+were the words, "My dear cousin."</p>
+
+<p>Having found very little of value, the party returned
+to the three prisoners and closely
+examined them. To William's intense chagrin, he
+found that these men were, undoubtedly, mere
+wood-choppers living with Lester and having no
+connection with the proprietors of the store.
+Although desperate, brutal, and reckless, ready
+for a fight at all times, as shown in this affray,
+they were clearly not the train robbers, while it
+was equally evident that the two who had escaped
+were the guilty parties.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>William learned that the young man who had
+first slipped out was Barton, and the man who
+had done the shooting was Russell. Clark, they
+said, had taken the steamer for Cape Girardeau,
+Missouri, two days before, accompanied by a
+married woman, named Slaughter. The description
+of the train robbers tallied so well with the
+appearance of Barton and Russell, that, taking
+their actions into consideration, there could no
+longer be any doubt of their complicity in the
+affair, and it was highly provoking that these
+two should have escaped. Still, it was an accident
+which could hardly have been avoided. The
+fact that the express company would not consent
+to the employment of a larger force of detectives
+was the principal cause of this misfortune, for it
+could have been prevented easily, had William
+been accompanied by two more good men of my
+force.</p>
+
+<p>As it was, two detectives, dropping unexpectedly
+upon a nest of five villainous-looking men in
+the dark, could have hardly hoped to do better
+than to secure three of them. It could not have
+been supposed that they would know which were
+the important ones to capture, especially as they
+could not distinguish one from another in the
+uncertain light. Indeed, as afterward appeared,
+they were fortunate in having escaped alive, for
+the close approach to fatal wounds, which they
+both received, showed how deadly had been the
+intentions of the man Russell, while Burtine had
+evidently intended that they should never leave
+the house alive.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>It may be supposed that the shooting on both
+sides was none of the best, but it must be remembered
+that it began without warning, and was
+over in two minutes. It cannot be expected that
+snap-shooting, even at close quarters, should be
+very accurate; yet it was afterward learned that
+Russell's escape had been about as narrow as
+William's, two balls having passed through his
+clothes and grazed his flesh.</p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>The Captured Ruffians are desired for Guides, but dare
+not join in the Search for the Outlaws.&mdash;One of
+the Robbers is Taken, but subsequently Escapes from
+the Amateur Detectives.&mdash;Another Clue suddenly
+Fails.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>Having searched the whole place, and satisfied
+himself that the men captured had
+had no connection with the robbery or the robbers,
+William offered them one hundred dollars
+to act as guides through the cane-brake to arrest
+Barton and Russell. They said they could not if
+they would, since no man could find his way
+there in broad daylight, much less at night. They
+further admitted that they dare not attempt it, as
+Russell would kill them if they learned of their
+action. It was now pitch dark, and after a vain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span>
+attempt to beat through the cane in search of the
+fugitives, William decided to return to Mr. Merrick's
+until next day.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning at daybreak he started back
+for Lester's, accompanied by a number of the
+cane-brake population, all of whom were anxious
+to secure the one hundred dollars reward. They
+had long suspected the men at the store of being
+desperadoes, but they had had a wholesome fear
+of them on account of their fierce ways and their
+reckless habit of drawing their revolvers on slight
+provocation.</p>
+
+<p>On arriving at Lester's, the party found that
+Lester had returned from Hickman during the
+night. He was a treacherous-looking scoundrel,
+and his reputation was bad, although he had
+never been caught in any crime in that vicinity.
+His name, John Wesley Lester, showed that he
+must have once belonged to a pious Methodist
+family, and, indeed, he claimed to have once
+been a Methodist preacher himself. He had
+sunken eyes, milky white, and his hair was lank
+and long; his complexion was dark, cheeks hollow,
+chin pointed, and forehead low. His manner
+was fawning and obsequious to those above
+him, and he looked and acted like a second
+"Uriah Heap." He pretended to know nothing
+of Russell, Clark, and Barton, except that they
+had come to his place in July, built the store
+there, and had been around the landing more or
+less ever since. He said that he knew nothing
+against them, except that they were gamblers,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span>
+and that they often went off on gambling excursions,
+during one of which, according to their
+own statements, they had killed a man in a quarrel.</p>
+
+<p>William learned from Lester's daughter that
+Barton had returned during the night to get a
+shawl, blanket, and two shot-guns. He had
+told her that Russell was hurt pretty badly, but
+that they intended to take the first packet down
+the river. From other parties William learned
+that the packet Julia had passed down during the
+night, and had stopped at a point about seven
+miles below, having been hailed from the bank.
+He did not place much faith in the theory that the
+men had taken passage by the Julia, for the reason
+that Lester's girl was too anxious to tell the
+story of the route Barton proposed taking. He
+discovered that Barton had been paying lover-like
+attentions to the girl, and he believed that Barton
+had instructed her to say that he intended
+taking the next packet, in order to give them a false
+scent. Having set the men of the neighborhood
+at work searching for Russell and Barton, William
+returned to Union City.</p>
+
+<p>From Hickman Connell was sent to Cape
+Girardeau, Missouri, to capture Clark, who was
+said to have gone there three days before.</p>
+
+<p>On the arrival of William in Union City, the
+superintendent telegraphed to me the result of
+William's visit to Lester's Landing, and authorized
+me to send an operative to Farmington,
+Illinois, to hunt up Mrs. Kate Graham, and learn<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span>
+what she could tell about Russell, Clark, and
+Barton. A man was sent there the next day, and
+he had no difficulty in finding Mrs. Graham, who
+proved to be the wife of a highly respectable
+business man. She was a member of the church,
+and was held in high esteem by every one acquainted
+with her. My agent, therefore, called
+upon her without any circumlocution or deception,
+and asked to see her on business. She was confined
+to her room by illness, but she saw him
+for a few minutes, and answered his questions so
+frankly that there was no doubt she was telling
+the truth. She stated that she was not acquainted
+with any one living at Lester's Landing;
+that she did not know, nor ever had known, any
+persons of the names given (Russell, Clark, and
+Barton); and that she knew no one who would
+answer to their descriptions. This clue seemed to
+come to an end very quickly, yet it afterward
+proved to be the means by which we captured one
+of the gang, and it was a striking instance of the
+necessity for the most careful and minute inquiry
+upon every point of news obtained, especially
+upon those received directly from the criminals
+themselves.</p>
+
+<p>On the 3d of November, Connell went with a
+constable to the house of Mrs. Gully, the mother
+of Clark's companion, Mrs. Slaughter, and there
+he found them both. Clark was surprised by the
+officers, but he made a bold fight, and was overpowered
+with difficulty. When finally handcuffed
+and searched, a navy revolver and fifty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span>
+dollars in money were taken from him; he was
+then taken nine miles on horseback to Cape Girardeau,
+where Connell obtained a light wagon to
+drive sixteen miles to Allenville, on the railroad
+leading to Hickman. On this trip Connell made
+the mistake of trusting to handcuffs alone, instead
+of securely fastening his prisoner's feet
+with rope. The idea that one man in handcuffs
+could escape from two active, unimpeded men did
+not, however, occur to Connell, and so the constable
+drove the horse, while Clark and Connell
+occupied the back seat. In justice to Connell, it
+should be stated that he had been constantly in
+the saddle for several days in raw and rainy
+weather, and had had very little sleep for two
+nights previous.</p>
+
+<p>About nine o'clock in the evening, when only a
+mile from Allenville, Clark suddenly made a leap
+out of the wagon. The horse was jogging along
+at a good trot, and, though Connell sprang after
+his prisoner instantly, it was a couple of minutes
+before the constable could follow. As he ran,
+Connell fired at the dim figure disappearing in
+the thick brush; but the next instant he pitched
+headlong into a deep mud-hole, and, by the time
+he got out, the cylinder of his revolver was
+choked with mud, and Clark was far in advance.
+The chase was kept up as long as the pursuers
+were able to distinguish the direction of his flight,
+but, in the darkness of the gloomy woods, it was
+impossible to follow an athletic fellow like Clark
+with any hope of success. Connell returned to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span>
+Union City very much crestfallen, and reported
+his misfortune. My first feeling, on learning the
+news, was one of deep regret and anxiety at the
+loss of one of the leaders of the gang; my second
+thought was one of profound thankfulness that
+my men were in no way responsible for it. The
+situation was an illustration of the disappointments
+and difficulties which are so often met in a
+detective's experience; and, though I felt somewhat
+discouraged, I was more than ever determined
+that none of these men should eventually
+escape, even though it should be necessary to follow
+them for months.</p>
+
+<p>The desire of the express company to employ
+as few as possible of my operatives embarrassed
+me exceedingly, for William was obliged to depend
+upon strangers, and he had little confidence
+in their ability or discretion. He was now satisfied
+of the identity of the parties he was in search
+of, and all that he needed was a small force of experienced
+and reliable men.</p>
+
+<p>Had I been limited and interfered with in the
+Maroney case, described in "The Expressman and
+the Detective," as I was in this, there is no doubt
+that I might have failed to capture the criminal;
+but the cordial co&ouml;peration and support of the
+Adams Express Company gave me a fair opportunity
+to work to good advantage, and victory
+was the result.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>A Rich Lead Struck at Last.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>William was quite sure, from the reputation
+and actions of Russell, Clark, and
+Barton, that they had been the leaders in the robbery,
+and he believed that Lester could give important
+information about them; he therefore
+caused Lester to be brought to Union City, and,
+on November 5, he succeeded in getting a statement
+of the doings of these men since Lester had
+known them. The important points developed
+were as follows:</p>
+
+<p>They came to Lester's Landing in the middle of
+July, and built their store. They were rarely
+there together, as they would go off for two or
+three weeks at a time, leaving Barton or Clark in
+charge, and sometimes putting Lester in as storekeeper
+during the absence of all three. On one
+occasion, Russell showed him a pocket-book containing
+nearly one thousand dollars, which he
+thought he had lost, but which he found under a
+rail fence where he had hidden it; the other men,
+also, seemed to have plenty of money. About
+the middle of October, the three storekeepers
+went away, and were gone until October 24, three
+days after the robbery, on which day Lester met
+Clark and Barton walking toward his house, on
+the way from Hickman. They seemed quite ex<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span>cited,
+and said that they had been engaged in a
+difficulty, but they did not state what it was.
+They asked him whether he had seen Russell recently,
+and also whether there was a skiff at his
+landing; both questions were answered negatively,
+and they passed on toward the store, while
+Lester continued his walk to Hickman. On his
+return at night, he found that Clark and Barton
+had been across the river all day, scouting the
+Missouri shore for Russell, and that shortly after
+their return, Russell had come across the river in
+a skiff. Russell said that he had been shot, but
+that he was not much hurt, and he did not seem
+to act as if he had been hurt at all. Sunday morning,
+October 29, Clark took passage in a steamer
+for Cape Girardeau, having Mrs. Slaughter in
+company, and it was understood that he was going
+with Mrs. Slaughter to the house of her
+mother, nine miles from the Cape. Tuesday
+evening, William and Connell arrived at Lester's,
+the fight took place, and Barton and Russell
+escaped. After the detectives had gone back to
+Campbell's, Barton returned to the house and
+obtained a shawl, blanket, and two shot-guns;
+he said that they would never be taken alive, but
+that Russell had been badly wounded by one of
+the detectives. William had left two men at the
+landing the next day to capture the men if they
+returned, but they were afraid to attempt it, although
+they had a good opportunity that night.
+Russell came into the house alone, showing no
+signs of having been wounded, and said that he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span>
+and Barton had joined four friends, who were
+outside waiting for him; that they were all well
+mounted and armed, and that they intended to
+kill any one who should betray them or attempt
+their capture. He added that they intended to
+make their way on horseback to Alabama, and
+that they were strong enough to fight their way
+through, if necessary. Of course, Russell's object
+was to frighten the detectives and others who
+were searching for him, as he had no one with
+him except Barton.</p>
+
+<p>Among other points of value in Lester's statement,
+was some incidental information relative
+to the men, which he had learned during the time
+they boarded with him. He had heard Clark say
+that his mother lived sixty miles back of Nashville,
+and Russell had once run a stationary engine
+in Missouri. Lester was shown the satchel found
+on the engine after the robbery, and he recognized
+it as having been left at his house once by
+a wood-chopper named Bill Taylor, who lived in
+the cane-brake, some distance below him. He
+said that the three men each carried a navy revolver
+and a derringer, while Russell had also a
+new, large-sized Smith &amp; Wesson revolver.</p>
+
+<p>Meantime, the telegraph had been used constantly
+to learn something about the three men,
+Russell, Clark, and Barton, from whatever source
+information could be obtained. Barton was well
+known in Nashville, New Madrid, and Union
+City. He was quite young, but he had been involved
+in a stabbing affray in Nashville, and was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span>
+regarded as a desperate character. He had been
+respectably brought up by Major Landis, General
+Agent of the Nashville and Northwestern Railroad,
+and had been given a place in the employ
+of that road, with good prospects for promotion.
+Having become dissipated and hardened, he had
+been discharged from his position, and Major
+Landis had cast him off; thenceforward, his
+career had been rapid in the downward direction.</p>
+
+<p>With regard to the other two men, little could
+be learned, until a rich lead was struck on the
+seventh of November. The corrected descriptions
+of the different parties having been sent to all the
+agents of the express company, Mr. Charles Pink,
+agent at Cairo, recognized Russell as a man who
+had sent eight hundred dollars in currency from
+Cairo to Mrs. M. Farrington, Gillem Station, Tennessee,
+on the eleventh of September, and who
+had then started, according to his own statement,
+for his home in Illinois. Mr. Pink also stated
+that the chief of police in Cairo claimed to know
+Russell, and to be able to find him&mdash;for a sufficient
+consideration. Not having any use for the
+services of this disinterested officer, his offer was
+politely declined.</p>
+
+<p>The superintendent of the express company
+was strongly impressed with the belief that Russell
+and Barton were lurking around Lester's, and
+so, while William went to Nashville to see what
+could be learned about Barton and his companions,
+a number of men were hired to scour the
+country, hunt through the brake, and guard the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span>
+Mississippi ferries, while Connell and Crowley,
+the express messenger, were placed on the Missouri
+bank, to scout that side of the river. I may
+say here, <i>en passant</i>, that, with the exception of
+the two named, these men were a source not only
+of great unnecessary expense to the company,
+but of vexation and hindrance to William. In
+most cases, their scouting consisted in riding the
+high-roads from one tavern to another, and in
+order to have something to show for their work,
+they would bring in every species of wild and
+foolish rumor that they could discover or invent.
+As the superintendent frequently desired that
+these reports should be investigated, much valuable
+time was thus wasted. These men were not
+only employed without my advice, but they were
+retained long after I had urgently requested the
+discharge of the whole party, and I had great
+difficulty in obtaining their discharge, even after
+I was positively sure that the robbers had crossed
+the Mississippi and escaped into Missouri.</p>
+
+<p>William spent one day in Nashville, and then
+went to Gillem Station, where he learned that
+Mrs. Farrington, to whom Russell had sent eight
+hundred dollars from Cairo, lived on an old, worn-out
+farm, and passed for a rich widow. She had
+three sons&mdash;Hillary, Levi, and Peter, the latter
+being quite young. Hillary and Levi Farrington
+bore a very bad reputation, having been mixed
+up in all kinds of fights and quarrels for a number
+of years. They were suspected of horse-stealing
+and counterfeiting; but most people were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span>
+afraid of them, and they had never been arrested
+in that vicinity. William here learned, also, that
+Barton had been a frequent visitor at the Farringtons',
+and that he was as bad as the others.
+While at Gillem Station, William met Pete Farrington,
+the youngest of the three brothers, and
+his resemblance to Russell, whose face William
+had seen by the dim firelight and the flash of his
+pistol in the cabin at Lester's Landing, caused a
+sudden possibility to flash across his mind. He
+reasoned out the connection of the different facts
+about as follows:</p>
+
+<p>"Russell was, undoubtedly, one of the Moscow
+and Union City robbers, and he obtained a considerable
+share of the plunder; two months after
+the first robbery, I find that he sent eight hundred
+dollars to Mrs. Farrington; this establishes
+the connection of those two persons. Barton was
+one of the actors in both robberies, also, and I
+find that he was formerly intimate with Mrs.
+Farrington and her sons; another link. Pete
+Farrington bears a strong resemblance to Russell,
+their peculiar Roman noses, with a lump in the
+middle, being exactly alike, and this creates a
+strong presumption that they belong to the same
+family. Now, Russell and Clark were so similar
+in their general appearance, that many people
+who have seen them together believe them to
+have been brothers. Hillary and Levi Farrington,
+I am told, also closely resemble each other,
+and they have not been seen about here for some
+months, they being, according to their mother's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>
+account, in Texas. The chain of evidence is very
+complete; what if Russell and Clark should prove
+to be the Farrington brothers!"</p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>The Mother of the Farringtons, being arrested, boasts
+that her Sons "Will never be taken Alive."&mdash;Another
+Unfortunate Blunder by Amateur Detectives.&mdash;An
+interesting Fate intended for the Detectives.&mdash;William
+A. Pinkerton captures the Murderer of a Negro
+in Union City, proving "a very good Fellow&mdash;for
+a Yankee."&mdash;An Unfortunate Publication.&mdash;Nigger-Wool
+Swamp and its Outlaws.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>The more William thought about it, the more
+convinced he became that his theory was
+correct, and he took steps to verify his suspicions
+by placing a watch upon Mrs. Farrington's movements.
+He also made arrangements to get possession
+of any letters that might come for her,
+and then, being hastily recalled by the superintendent
+of the express company, he hurried back
+to Union City.</p>
+
+<p>He there learned that, during his absence, Clark
+had talked with both Lester and his wife. The
+latter had warned him of his danger, and he had
+then disappeared in the cane-brake. The men
+stationed at Lester's for the express purpose of
+arresting any of the robbers who might come
+there, had been either unaware of Clark's visit,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span>
+or else they had been afraid to attempt his capture,
+and he had escaped again when almost
+within our grasp. William had, therefore, been
+called back by telegraph to take charge of the
+men engaged in beating through the cane-brake,
+as it had been clearly demonstrated that, without
+a determined leader, these men were no more
+useful than a flock of sheep. The hunt went on
+for several days with no results whatever, while
+at the same time scouts patroled the highways,
+and other men kept watch upon the ferries and
+fords for many miles around.</p>
+
+<p>While this was going on, the express agent at
+Gillem Station was keeping a close watch upon
+Mrs. Farrington, when suddenly she announced
+her intention of going to join her sons in Texas.
+Instead of sending word to William at once, the
+agent began operations on his own account, and
+when Mrs. Farrington arrived at Waverly, Tennessee,
+he caused her arrest. She had started
+with two new wagons and a complete outfit for
+an overland journey of some length, so that her
+progress could not have been very rapid, and
+nothing would have been lost by waiting for instructions;
+but the insane desire to play detective
+seemed to overpower all other considerations in
+the minds of the company's agents, and she was
+arrested by the sheriff and a <i>posse</i> of citizens.
+Her salutation to the officer who stopped her settled
+the question of identity at once, for, on being
+told that she would be obliged to let him search
+her wagons for certain men, she replied:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Oh! yes; I know what you want. You would
+like to find my two sons and Barton for the express
+robbery; but you will never catch them, for
+they are not now in this country, and they will
+never be taken alive."</p>
+
+<p>This piece of information led the express agent
+to take the only sensible step of his whole proceeding.
+Mrs. Farrington had two negro families
+with her, some of whom had belonged to her before
+the war; and, with the personal attachment
+noticeable in many of the colored people, they
+were now desirous of going West with her. It
+occurred to the agent that some of them, from
+their confidential relations to the family, might
+be able to give some information as to the whereabouts
+of the boys. The negroes were, therefore,
+taken separately and closely examined, until one
+of the men was urgently persuaded to reveal
+what he knew. He said that Levi, Hillary, and
+Barton had committed the robbery, and that they
+had since been at Mrs. Farrington's together.
+According to an agreement between the mother
+and her sons, she was to start for Texas, passing
+through Nigger-Wool Swamp, on the west side of
+the Mississippi, and the two eldest sons were to
+meet her in the swamp, when they would determine
+where to go.</p>
+
+<p>The agent also learned that the men had arrived
+at their mother's house Friday evening, November
+10, and that a man who had gone there
+to sell her a wagon had been met by Hillary Farrington
+with a shot-gun; on seeing that it was a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span>
+neighbor, however, Hillary had lowered his gun
+and allowed him to come in. It was also learned
+that the three desperadoes had been seen at the
+house of the Farringtons' uncle, named Douglas,
+on Hurricane Creek, about ten miles from Waverly;
+again, on Monday, they had been noticed
+at Hurricane Mills, making their way to Fowler's
+Landing, on the Tennessee River between Florence
+and Johnsonville, fourteen miles from the
+last-named place. It was evident that they intended
+to strike across the country below Reel's
+Foot Lake, and cross the Mississippi at some point
+between Columbus and Memphis. The men were
+all well mounted and armed, and they had
+changed their personal appearance somewhat by
+altering the arrangement of their hair, whiskers,
+and beards.</p>
+
+<p>The arrest of Mrs. Farrington was a most unfortunate
+blunder, since it disclosed to the criminals
+how close had been their pursuit, while little
+really important information was obtained. It
+was a good illustration of the danger of taking
+any decided step in a criminal investigation before
+knowing to a certainty that some good result
+would be obtained. The parties thus learned that
+we were not only aware of their identity, but
+also that we were very close upon their track, and
+the danger, as well as the difficulty, of the case
+was largely increased. These men were desperadoes
+of the most reckless type, and they would
+not have hesitated a moment to lie in ambush
+and kill their pursuers, if they had found it possible
+to do so.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>In order to intercept the fugitives before reaching
+the swampy country near the Mississippi, the
+number of scouts and patrolling parties was increased
+by the superintendent of the express
+company, and two men, named Ball and Bledsoe,
+were engaged to follow Mrs. Farrington on horseback
+until her sons should join her in Nigger-Wool
+Swamp. This would have been a sensible
+and necessary move if the right kind of men had
+been employed; but the selection of untrained
+men for the delicate and important work of
+"shadowing" such an experienced gang of villains
+was risky in the extreme. Had they ever
+met Barton and the Farringtons, the latter would
+have undoubtedly murdered both of them without
+scruple; but there was no danger of such a
+meeting, since the robbers, and Mrs. Farrington
+also, were perfectly aware of the presence of their
+pursuers from the start. Indeed, they afterward
+stated that it had been their intention to have led
+the detectives on as far as the wild, unsettled
+country of Western Missouri, and to have then
+hanged them in some unfrequented spot, placing
+the inscription "Horse-thief" upon each of the
+bodies. Subsequent events prevented them from
+carrying out this plan, but there was no doubt
+that they would have taken that or some other
+equally daring means of ridding themselves of
+pursuit. The manner in which Ball and Bledsoe
+exposed their intentions wherever they went
+showed the inexperience of both men in such
+work; for, along the whole route over which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span>
+they passed, they were known as officers tracking
+a band of thieves; and we afterward learned
+that, while they were innocently and unsuspectingly
+following Mrs. Farrington, two of the men,
+Barton and Clark, were almost continually watching
+them. However, they had been started on
+their mission by the superintendent before William
+could make any other arrangements, as he
+was away at Lester's Landing when the chase
+began.</p>
+
+<p>From William's reports to me, I saw the uselessness
+of maintaining such a body of men in
+the work of scouting, watching ferries, and beating
+the cane-brake, for the reason that no good
+could come of it. I knew that if the robbers could
+escape from Lester's Landing and make their
+way to Gillem Station once, they could do it
+again. Clark (or Hillary Farrington) had been at
+Lester's early Thursday morning, while guards
+were stationed all about; yet, on Saturday morning
+he was at his mother's farm, and no one had
+even seen him on the way. This convinced me
+that they had such a knowledge of the country
+as to make it impossible to stop them by any system
+of guards or patrols, and I therefore wrote
+several letters asking that the superintendent discharge
+this expensive force at once, and allow me
+to manage the whole operation by my own plans
+and with my own men. While William, therefore,
+was at work with indefatigable energy and
+perseverance, scouting and following up all the
+reports brought in by the vast army of volunteer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span>
+detectives in the company's employ, we were both
+satisfied that the method adopted was useless, and
+that even the ferry guards would discover nothing.
+Knowing the character of the three desperadoes,
+I had no doubt of their sagacity in avoiding
+observation and pursuit; they would never
+try to cross without knowing positively whether
+the ferry was guarded, and if there should be any
+real danger, they would undoubtedly steal a skiff
+and make their horses swim across the river, a
+feat of no great risk in the then low condition of
+the water.</p>
+
+<p>About this time an incident occurred which
+added greatly to William's popularity in Union
+City, and gained for him the respect and kindly
+feeling of the community. On Sunday two
+roughs, having drank enough bad whisky to be
+absolutely fiendish, began to beat an old and inoffensive
+negro whom they happened to meet. A
+merchant, named Blakemore, who was passing at
+the time, stopped to remonstrate with the ruffians,
+when one of them turned and plunged a knife
+into his stomach, inflicting a wound which caused
+his death next day. The murderer was the terror
+of the town, and so great was the fear of him
+that he would have probably escaped had not
+William appeared on the street as he rushed
+away flourishing his bloody knife and threatening
+to kill any one who should stand in his way.
+The sight of William's heavy revolver leveled at
+his head, backed by the certainty which he saw
+in William's face that death or surrender was his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span>
+only alternative, caused him to choose the latter,
+and he was lodged in jail to await his trial for
+murder. The people of the town were quite enthusiastic
+over the way in which William had
+brought the fellow to bay, and then compelled
+his surrender; and they even went so far as to
+say that he was "a good fellow, a very good fellow
+indeed&mdash;for a Yankee."</p>
+
+<p>On the twentieth of November an unfortunate
+publicity was given to our operations by the publication
+in the Union City <i>Journal</i> of a long history
+of the Farringtons, showing their whole
+career of crime, and terminating with an account
+of their latest exploit, as developed by our investigations
+in and about Union City. It is unnecessary
+to state the source whence this information
+was derived, further than to say that it was not
+obtained from any member of my force. It was
+a very dangerous piece of news to be published,
+since it might have wholly overthrown all our
+plans, besides involving the death of two or three
+men engaged in the operation; fortunately, the
+robbers were undoubtedly across the Mississippi
+by that time, and beyond the reach of newspapers
+for some weeks at least.</p>
+
+<p>On the same day that this matter was published,
+Mrs. Farrington crossed the Mississippi River at
+Bird's Point, opposite Cairo, and the fact was reported
+to William and to me by telegraph. We
+had previously learned that Mrs. Farrington had
+relatives in Springfield, Missouri, and in Dade
+County, in the same State, and the probabilities<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span>
+were that, instead of going to Texas, she was
+going to visit in one of these places. Meanwhile,
+though my opinion was that her sons intended to
+rejoin her somewhere, either in Nigger-Wool
+Swamp or at her place of destination, I had no
+certainty that such was their intention; and,
+bearing in mind the warning they had received
+by her arrest at Waverly (and possibly by reading
+the newspaper article previously mentioned),
+I felt that every clue must be carefully traced,
+even though it might lead in an exactly opposite
+direction from that in which our previous suspicions
+had caused us to look. My correspondents
+and agents in Louisville, Cincinnati, St. Louis,
+and New Orleans were, therefore, kept on the
+alert to capture the men if they should venture
+into those cities, while I held three determined
+men ready to go at once in pursuit of Mrs. Farrington,
+in case she should take the route through
+Nigger-Wool Swamp.</p>
+
+<p>It will be remembered that one of the negroes
+accompanying Mrs. Farrington had stated that
+her sons were to join her in that swamp; now,
+there were three possibilities about this statement:
+first, the negro might have lied; second,
+he might have been so informed by the old lady
+on purpose to give a false scent in case he should
+be questioned; and, third, while their intention
+might have been to meet there, subsequent events
+might have altered their plans. Still, thinking
+the subject over carefully, I decided that she
+would not take so difficult a course unless she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span>
+really intended to meet her sons there. My reasons
+for so thinking were based upon the nature
+of the place, and, to comprehend my solicitude
+about Nigger-Wool Swamp, a description of it
+will be necessary.</p>
+
+<p>The swamp is more than seventy miles long by
+about thirty-five miles wide, and, as a piece of
+bottomless ooze, its superior cannot be found in
+the United States. There are just two roads
+crossing it, one running from Hall's Ferry, at
+Point Pleasant, Missouri, and the other from
+Mitchell's Ferry, thirty-five miles below. These
+roads are mere bog-paths in themselves, being
+heavily overlaid with underbrush and corduroy
+logs, yet they afford the only means of crossing
+this vast morass. The period of the annual overflow
+turns it into a turbid, sluggish lake, the roads
+being then deeply buried under water; but even
+in the dryest seasons the greater portion of the
+swamp is a bottomless slime of mud and putrefying
+vegetation. Large tracts of thickly-wooded
+land are contained within the limits of the swamp,
+and these constitute a semi-substantial basis for
+the two roads which run through them; but even
+these clumps are impassable at most seasons,
+except along the artificially-constructed roads.
+Sometimes, for miles and miles, nothing but the
+rankest of swamp-vegetation is seen, growing in
+wild profusion and covering the treacherous ooze
+with a close network of leaves and branches,
+until the surface looks firm enough to be taken
+for solid ground; but should any unfortunate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span>
+traveler venture to cross such a spot, his limbs
+would be clogged by these clinging water-plants,
+his feet would find no secure resting-place, and,
+sinking rapidly deeper and deeper into the mire,
+his bones would find a sepulcher where nothing
+but a general natural convulsion would ever disturb
+them.</p>
+
+<p>Still, there are occasional islands of firm ground
+through this section, and these have become the
+resort of lawless characters of every nationality
+and degree of crime. Over the entrance to Nigger-Wool
+Swamp might be placed, with perfect
+truthfulness, the motto: "Who enters here
+leaves hope behind." Each man is a law unto
+himself, and he must maintain his rights by the
+strong arm and the ready shot-gun. In one thing
+only are the dwellers of the swamp united,
+namely: a bitter and deadly resistance to the
+law. No officer of justice ventures therein to
+perform any of the duties of his office; unless
+backed by a powerful body of determined men,
+he would never return alive, and, if so accompanied,
+he would never succeed in catching a
+glimpse of any criminal whom he might be
+seeking.</p>
+
+<p>About the middle of the swamp, the two roads
+cross each other at a spot called "The Gates," and
+every person traveling through either way must
+pass this place. Knowing this fact, I felt sure
+that Mrs. Farrington would await the arrival of
+her sons at "The Gates," in case she entered the
+swamp, and I determined that, in such an event,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span>
+I should try to capture them there. I was fully
+aware of the danger of such an attempt, but I
+knew that to take the bull by the horns is sometimes
+the safest means of overpowering him. To
+send officers to that point with the avowed purpose
+of arresting any one, would be equivalent to
+sending them to their certain death, and I had no
+intention of doing anything of the kind; but I
+had men of my force who could visit Nigger-Wool
+Swamp for the professed purpose of hiding
+there from pursuit for alleged crimes, and, when
+the moment came for action, I did not doubt that
+they would bring out their men before the neighboring
+outlaws could discover their object.</p>
+
+<p>Everything depended upon the course Mrs. Farrington
+should take on leaving the Mississippi
+River, since by striking north from the point
+where she crossed, she could skirt the edge of the
+swamp, while if she turned south toward Point
+Pleasant, I should know that she intended to
+carry out her original programme. This question
+was quickly settled, however, not only by the reports
+of the scouts, Ball and Bledsoe, who were
+following Mrs. Farrington, but also by an unexpected
+piece of intelligence from Gillem Station.
+Mrs. Farrington moved about twenty or twenty-five
+miles each day, and, from the fact that she
+went north to Fredericktown, there was no doubt
+that she had changed her plan of meeting her
+sons in Nigger-Wool Swamp.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><i>The Scene of Action transferred to Missouri.&mdash;The
+Chase becoming Hot.</i></div>
+
+
+<p>On the twenty-second of November, William
+learned that a letter had arrived at Gillem
+Station, postmarked Verona, Missouri, November
+13, and he immediately took measures to obtain
+this letter. Three days later he learned its contents,
+which were of such an important character
+as to give a new direction to our efforts. The letter
+read as follows:</p>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 10.5em;">"<span class="smcap">Verona</span>, Mo., Nov. 13, 1871.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"<span class="smcap">My dear Cousin</span>:</p>
+
+<p>"I seat myself to answer your kind letter, which
+came to hand last evening, and was glad to hear
+from you, and hear you was well and doing well.
+I have nothing new to write, only that we are all
+well at present, hoping that when these few lines
+come to hand they may find you well and doing
+well as ever, as you say you have been doing very
+well. It must be a good thing if it could stay so.
+Sometimes it was well and sometimes it wasn't,
+but I hope it will stay so, as you say it is a soft
+thing&mdash;as soft as things gets to be. I would like
+to see something like that, you bet. You talk like
+it can't be beat. That is the thing to take in. I
+think, and I know you think it, for I saw your<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span>
+name. I guess I did see you. You know Mr.
+Crapmel? He is a great fellow; you bet it is so.
+I have nothing more to write at present, as you
+said you are going to start out here. You said you
+was coming by here. Cousin, if you do come by,
+we don't live where we did when you were here;
+we live two miles nearer Verona. Come the same
+road. We live now half mile off the road on John
+Ellis' place. You can find out where we live anywhere.
+Come out the same road you did when
+you came before. John Timothy has just come
+out here; has been out here about three weeks.
+He is well satisfied here. So I will close for this
+time.</p>
+
+<p>
+"From your cousin,<br />
+"<span class="smcap">J. M. Durham.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<p>"M. F. sends her love to all of the family. Excuse
+my bad writing and bad spelling."</p></div>
+
+<p>It was evident that Mrs. Farrington had previously
+written to her cousin informing him of
+her intention to visit him soon, and this letter
+was intended to direct her to the new location.
+The allusions in the letter to the "good thing" in
+which she was engaged showed that the writer
+had been made aware of the Farringtons' success
+as express robbers, and that he quite approved of
+their operations.</p>
+
+<p>On reading this letter, William sent a copy to
+me immediately, and suggested that one or two
+good men be sent to Verona to get work near this
+man Durham, and to get into the confidence of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span>
+the family, so that, when Mrs. Farrington should
+arrive, she would not be likely to suspect any one
+who had come before her. I fully approved of
+William's plan, and, on the last day of November,
+Detectives George W. Cottrell and Arthur C.
+Marriott started for Verona. I inferred that the
+people in that vicinity were rather lawless and
+desperate characters, from the fact that Durham
+spoke of "John Timothy" being well satisfied
+there. On the principle that "birds of a feather
+flock together," I judged the Farringtons, the Durhams,
+and this fellow Timothy to belong to the
+same type of people; hence, I concluded that, if
+Durham and Timothy were satisfied with the
+country, the people living there must be congenial
+spirits, especially since Mrs. Farrington was about
+to make a place of refuge in that vicinity.</p>
+
+<p>My two men were detained a day in St. Louis,
+and they did not arrive in Verona until the second
+of December. The first thing they noticed
+about the town was the total absence of liquor saloons,
+and a few minutes' conversation with one
+or two of the citizens convinced them that no
+more orderly, honest, law-abiding community existed
+in Missouri than the population of Lawrence
+County. This discovery made a marked change
+in their plans necessary, as my instructions to
+them had been based upon the supposition that
+they would find a number of robbers, horse-thieves,
+and counterfeiters around Verona, and
+that they would be easily able to get Durham's
+confidence by appearing as reckless and desperate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span>
+as any one. They had each prepared a choice autobiography
+for use among the residents, and, according
+to their own intended accounts of themselves,
+two greater scoundrels never went unhung.</p>
+
+<p>All this was necessarily useless in the changed
+circumstances surrounding them. To attempt the
+<i>r&ocirc;le</i> of criminal characters, hiding from justice,
+would quickly cause their banishment from the
+place, or possibly their arrest, and a new plan
+was essential. Their instructions had been that
+they should not put any confidence in any one,
+and they were obliged to invent a plausible reason
+for their presence there; also to have some
+business which would enable them to ride about
+the country, making inquiries and scouting for
+Mrs. Farrington and her sons.</p>
+
+<p>Finding that the railroad company had a land
+agent in Verona, Cottrell decided to represent
+themselves as would-be purchasers of land. This
+would give them an excuse for going all over the
+county, examining different farms and unimproved
+tracts. They were introduced to Mr.
+Purdy, the land agent, by the hotel clerk, and
+from him they obtained a map of the county. It
+was then agreed that Mr. Purdy should go out
+with Cottrell and Marriott on Tuesday, December
+5, to look at some pieces of property which the
+railroad company wished to sell. During Sunday
+and Monday both of the detectives were trying to
+learn where Durham lived, but no one seemed to
+know; neither could any one tell them anything<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span>
+about John Ellis, upon whose farm Durham had
+said he was living. The idea that Mrs. Farrington
+was rapidly pushing west, toward Durham's place,
+made Cottrell very anxious to begin operations
+as quickly as possible, since, if she should arrive
+before the detectives were established in the vicinity,
+there would be great difficulty in working
+into her confidence, as she would instantly suspect
+their true character; whereas, if she should
+find them already there, she would have no possible
+occasion to distrust them. They therefore
+thought best to confide the real object of their
+visit to Mr. Purdy, the land agent, and to ask his
+advice and assistance. Mr. Purdy had been an
+officer in the Union army during the war of the
+rebellion, and had settled in Verona at the close
+of the war. He was evidently an honorable man,
+who would always be found on the side of law
+and order, and as he was very popular in Verona,
+he would be able to give them a great deal of assistance
+in capturing the Farrington party. On
+communicating with me by telegraph on this
+point, they stated the facts briefly, and I authorized
+them to confer with Mr. Purdy on the subject,
+at the same time forwarding full instructions
+by letter.</p>
+
+<p>On Tuesday, therefore, they told the whole
+story to Mr. Purdy, and showed him their credentials.
+He was quite astonished at their revelations,
+but he was very hearty and sincere in his
+expressions of good will toward them, and he
+promised to aid them in every possible way. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span>
+knew John Ellis quite well, having sold him the
+farm on which he was living, and he had heard of
+Durham, who hired a small portion of the Ellis
+farm. He said that if force should be necessary
+to capture the Farrington party, he could raise
+fifty determined men in ten minutes to help the
+officers. He said that after the war Verona had
+been a very bad place for a short time, but that,
+as Eastern men began to settle there, the respectable
+people had tried to drive out the hard cases;
+this had been slow work at first, but they eventually
+had been completely successful; they not
+only had driven out the dangerous characters, but
+they had closed all the liquor saloons also; and
+now, having once got rid of them, they would
+take care not to let any of that class of people
+back again.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Purdy was called away for a day or two on
+business, but he promised, on his return, to go
+with the detectives to Durham's place, and, meantime,
+he said he would speak of them as gentlemen
+who intended buying land in that section,
+and who wished to ride over the country until
+they found a place which satisfied them. During
+the next three days, therefore, they learned
+nothing new, their time being occupied in scouting
+the road along which they expected Mrs. Farrington
+to come.</p>
+
+<p>Thus the first week of December passed, and
+the operation was not progressing very favorably
+anywhere. Ball and Bledsoe had reported Mrs.
+Farrington's route up to the thirtieth of November,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span>
+and she had moved quite rapidly up to that date,
+but nothing had been learned since, and I expected
+to hear of her arrival at Verona every day. She
+had gone from Cairo to Frederickstown, Missouri,
+and thence to Ironton; then, instead of following a
+direct road, she had struck up north to Potosi, in
+Washington County; again taking a westerly
+route, she had passed through Steelville, Crawford
+County, and on the thirtieth of November, she
+had camped at Waynesville, Pulaski County.
+Beyond this we knew nothing of her movements,
+although by the eighth of December she had had
+ample time to reach Verona.</p>
+
+<p>William had spent this week in following up a
+clue received from Louisville, Kentucky. It will
+be remembered that about November 9, a pair of
+dashing women had been reported as having
+visited the banks in Kansas City, trying to get
+large bills for about eight thousand dollars in small
+bills. I had not believed the story at that time,
+and therefore had taken no steps to follow them.
+When William learned from Louisville, however,
+that a woman named Annie Martin, whom Levi
+Farrington had been in the habit of supporting
+on the proceeds of his robberies, had been staying
+there with another woman named Lillie
+Baker, who had sustained the same relations to
+Barton, it occurred to him that these might have
+been the women who were said to have been in
+Kansas City with so much money. He started
+at once for Louisville, at the same time telegraphing
+to me his suspicions in the matter, and I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span>
+began inquiries again in Kansas City by telegraph.
+I could learn very little except from the teller of
+one bank, who described the women as well as he
+could remember their appearance; but the description
+was not accurate enough to determine
+whether these two women had or had not been
+Annie Martin and Lillie Baker. In Louisville,
+however, William learned that these women had
+been there recently, and they had appeared to be
+well supplied with money. They had not remained
+very long, but had gone to New Orleans,
+where they were then living in good style. As
+Mr. O'Brien, the general superintendent of the
+express company, was in New Orleans, the information
+was sent to him, and he agreed to have
+a sharp watch kept to discover Farrington and
+Barton, in case they should follow these women.</p>
+
+<p>On the eighth of December, Cottrell, Marriott,
+and Mr. Purdy started on horseback to visit John
+Ellis's farm, where the Durhams lived. About a
+mile before arriving there, they met a farmer
+named Wisbey, who was a neighbor of Ellis and
+the Durhams. Without letting him into their confidence,
+they talked with him a long time, and
+gradually drew out a number of important facts.
+The Durham family consisted of two brothers and
+a young sister living with their mother, old Mrs.
+Durham, and they rented a small house on a part
+of the Ellis farm. Nothing positive had ever been
+discovered against the character of either James
+or Tilman Durham, but the neighbors had a poor
+opinion of them, and kept a pretty close watch<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span>
+upon their actions. During the previous fall a
+young man had visited them for some time, and
+his description was exactly that of Levi Farrington;
+but Wisbey could not tell his name, though
+he promised to learn it, and let Mr. Purdy know
+Mr. Wisbey was a downright honest, intelligent
+man, and Mr. Purdy asked him to learn everything
+possible about the Durhams and their visitors; in
+case any wagons should arrive, it was agreed that
+he should send word to Mr. Purdy instantly.
+There was no occasion for telling him the whole
+story, as he was quite willing to undertake the
+trust on the strength of Mr. Purdy's request, without
+asking further particulars; and, as he was a
+thoroughly discreet man, there was little danger
+that he would betray his mission by idle talking.
+The detectives and Mr. Purdy then returned to
+Verona, it being considered undesirable that they
+should visit the Durhams, lest they might possibly
+excite suspicion.</p>
+
+<p>The day following their visit to Wisbey, he arrived
+in Verona and told Cottrell that he had
+sent his son-in-law, Mr. Stone, to see Jim Durham,
+and the latter had said that he was expecting the
+arrival of some relatives very soon. He had
+learned further that the young man who had
+visited Durham in the latter part of the previous
+September had given his name as Levi Farrington,
+and had passed as the beau of the young Durham
+girl. In speaking of him, Jim Durham had told
+Mr. Stone that he did not wish his sister to marry
+Farrington, as the latter was a dangerous man,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span>
+and had recently killed a man in a quarrel, while
+those who stood about were too much afraid of
+him to arrest him. Mr. Wisbey then returned
+home, with instructions to alternate with Mr.
+Stone in secretly watching Durham's place, so that
+every occurrence might be at once reported.</p>
+
+<p>On the tenth of December I received a dispatch
+from Mr. O'Brien, saying that the express agent
+at Springfield, Missouri, had telegraphed to him
+on the eighth that the wagons of Mrs. Farrington's
+party had camped five miles from Springfield, and
+that the three men were known to be sixty miles
+south of Rolla. Mr. O'Brien therefore requested
+me to send a good detective to meet Connell in
+St. Louis, whence they would go together to capture
+the men at Rolla. I at once sent one of my
+best men, named Martin Galway, with instructions
+to join Connell, and, in case the Rolla report
+should prove to be a false alarm, they were to go
+on to Verona to assist Cottrell and Marriott. I
+had hardly completed my instructions to Galway,
+ere I received a telegram in cipher from Cottrell,
+as follows:</p>
+
+<p>"Levi Farrington and a man calling himself
+George Cousins are at Durham's. They came on
+Thursday evening. Shall I arrest them? I can
+get all the help I need."</p>
+
+<p>I immediately replied, also by a cipher dispatch,
+as follows:</p>
+
+<p>"Are you sure it is Levi Farrington? His
+brother and Barton will probably be at Verona
+soon. We must get the whole. I think they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span>
+will come from Douglas County. Probably Connell
+and Galway will be with you by Monday or
+Tuesday night; they can identify the men. Mrs.
+Farrington will be at Durham's by Sunday night
+or Monday morning. Keep a cool, clear head, and
+advise with Purdy. Have written by mail to-night.
+Keep me posted. William will arrive by
+Tuesday."</p>
+
+<p>At the same time I wrote full instructions to
+Cottrell, ordering him to keep a close watch upon
+the men at Durham's, but to take no action until
+William should arrive, unless they attempted to
+go away. I did not alter Galway's instructions,
+but I telegraphed to William to start for Verona
+at once, to take charge of the operations there.
+The chase was now becoming hot, and a few days
+would decide the question of success or failure. I
+had reason to believe that the outlaws would not
+be taken without a desperate resistance, and I
+was anxious to have William present to direct
+the attack.</p>
+
+<p>On Sunday, the tenth, Cottrell and Marriott
+rode out to see Wisbey, who met them just outside
+of Verona and informed them that Levi
+Farrington had arrived at Jim Durham's late
+Thursday night, accompanied by a young man
+named George Cousins. They did not receive
+my reply to their telegram announcing this fact
+until late that day, and so they could do nothing
+toward satisfying themselves as to Levi Farrington's
+identity until next morning, when they
+visited Wisbey at his own house. Mr. Stone,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span>
+Wisbey's son-in-law, had met a man named
+Smothers, who worked for Jim Durham, and
+Smothers had told him all about the two men
+who had just arrived. According to their own
+account, they had left Mrs. Farrington at Ash
+Grove, in Greene County, where she was going to
+buy a farm, Levi having given her five thousand
+dollars for that purpose; Levi and Cousins were
+on their way to Kansas, where they intended to
+settle down to raise cattle; Levi's brother was
+said to be at Lester's Landing for the purpose of
+selling off a stock of groceries which they owned
+there. Both men were well armed, having three
+navy revolvers and a shot-gun.</p>
+
+<p>When this news was transmitted to me by
+telegraph, I decided that this man Cousins must
+be Barton, and that Hillary Farrington might possibly
+be at Lester's Landing, as they said. I
+therefore telegraphed to William, who I knew
+would be in St. Louis that day, <i>en route</i> to
+Verona, that he had better take Connell and
+Galway back to Lester's to capture Hillary,
+while Cottrell and Marriott undertook the arrest
+of Levi and Barton at Durham's. I also sent a
+dispatch to Cottrell to take no steps for their arrest
+until after William should have captured
+Hillary.</p>
+
+<p>William, having previously thoroughly examined
+the contents of the store at Lester's,
+knew that they were not worth over two hundred
+dollars, and he telegraphed me to that effect,
+suggesting that it was improbable that Hillary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span>
+should run so much risk for so small a sum. On
+learning this fact, I coincided with him, and
+ordered him to go on to Verona, as I had originally
+intended. I desired that he should keep the
+Durham place carefully watched until the arrival
+of the other Farrington, who, I believed, would
+soon join the rest of the party; then, in case he
+arrived, we should get all three together; but, if
+the other two should show any signs of moving
+off, they could be taken at any time.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. O'Brien obtained requisitions from the
+Governor of Tennessee on the Governor of Missouri
+for the three men, and I felt that success
+was only delayed a day or two at most.</p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>A determined Party of Horsemen.&mdash;The Outlaws surrounded
+and the Birds caged.&mdash;A Parley.&mdash;An
+affecting Scene.&mdash;The burning Cabin.&mdash;Its Occupants
+finally surrender.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>While the telegrams were flying back and
+forth on Tuesday, the twelfth, Cottrell
+and Marriott were busily engaged. Early that
+morning Mr. Stone came to Verona, and told
+them that he had learned that Farrington and
+Cousins intended to leave Durham's for the Indian
+Territory the next day. The news was
+doubtless authentic, Stone having heard it from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span>
+Smothers, who had said that Farrington had told
+him so himself. It was clearly impossible to wait
+for William's arrival, as, by that time, the men
+might be safely hidden in the wild country to the
+westward. Instant action was absolutely necessary,
+and Cottrell so informed Mr. Purdy, who
+soon gathered a force of eight men. Very little
+would have been needed to obtain even a larger
+number of recruits, for, had Mr. Purdy and the
+detectives publicly told the story of the men
+whom they wished to capture, there would have
+been plenty of eager volunteers, all anxious to
+aid in ridding the country of such a band of outlaws.
+It was not deemed advisable, however, to
+summon a large posse, lest the news might
+spread so fast as to reach the ears of the criminals
+before the detectives could surround them;
+on this account only a few reliable men were let
+into the secret, and they left town singly and in
+pairs to avoid observation, having a rendezvous
+outside.</p>
+
+<p>Just before starting, Mr. Purdy received a dispatch
+from the general land agent, ordering him
+to Pearce City instantly, as several purchasers of
+land were awaiting him there; although he tried
+to have his visit postponed one day, he was unsuccessful,
+his orders being imperatively repeated
+by telegraph, and so he was unable to accompany
+the detectives and citizens on their expedition to
+Durham's. The party of eight met the detectives
+outside the town, and they were joined on
+their way by three others, who lived on the road.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span>
+They were all substantial business men or
+farmers, but they were accustomed to a life in
+the saddle, and they had all borne arms during
+the war on one side or the other. In spite of
+their present peaceful occupations they were not
+a body who could be trifled with, and it was evident
+that any gang of desperadoes would find
+their match in these cool, determined, law-abiding
+men.</p>
+
+<p>A few miles from Verona they met a young
+lady riding a large brown mule, but none of the
+men in the party knew her. Cottrell felt sure,
+however, that she was Durham's sister, and that
+she was riding Farrington's mule. The descriptions
+he had received of the girl from Stone and
+Wisbey coincided exactly with her appearance,
+while the mule could not be mistaken. He therefore
+sent a man back to watch her, lest she
+should have taken alarm at so large a cavalcade
+of armed men. She rode on to Verona, however,
+without showing any signs of uneasiness, and
+the scout soon overtook the party.</p>
+
+<p>On arriving one mile from Wisbey's, Marriott
+went on to Stone's house with six men, while
+Cottrell went to Wisbey's with the other five.
+Stone and Wisbey soon gathered a number of
+the neighbors, among whom was John Ellis, who
+owned the house and land where the Durhams
+were living; he was a very highly respected citizen,
+and was not at all displeased at the idea of
+getting rid of his semi-disreputable tenants. The
+management of the affair was then unanimously<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span>
+voted to Cottrell, and the party rode rapidly
+toward the Durham house. It was situated at
+the edge of a clearing, with underbrush and
+woodland close to it on three sides, so that great
+caution was necessary, lest the villains should
+see them approaching, and escape into the woods.
+At a reasonable distance from the house, therefore,
+the party divided, a part, under Marriott's
+direction, dismounting and making their way to
+the rear of the house on foot. When sufficient
+time had elapsed to enable the latter party to
+surround the house, Cottrell, with the remainder,
+dashed up to the front of the house and spread
+out, so as to make sure that no one should escape.
+As they approached, a man, who proved to be
+Jim Durham, appeared on the porch and asked
+what they wanted; to which Cottrell replied that
+he wanted the men in the house.</p>
+
+<p>The words had hardly passed his lips ere Barton
+sprang into the open doorway with a navy revolver
+leveled at Cottrell; but, seeing that the latter, as
+well as several others, had him covered, he shut
+the door quickly and started for the back of the
+house. By this time, however, the cordon of
+guards had drawn close around, and, as he
+emerged at the rear, he found himself confronted
+by half a dozen determined men, who ordered
+him to surrender. He then hastily tried to close
+the back door also, and pointed his revolver
+through the crack; but the discharge of several
+shots, which struck close to him, caused him to
+withdraw his pistol and tightly close the door. It<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span>
+was evident that the birds were caged at last, and
+it was now only a question of time when they
+would be taken; as it was only one o'clock in the
+afternoon, there were still four hours of daylight
+to conduct the siege.</p>
+
+<p>Jim Durham, when he saw the rifles and revolvers
+of so large a force pointed at him, was thoroughly
+frightened, and he begged piteously that
+they would not shoot him. Cottrell placed his
+men behind trees, fences, and other protections,
+so as to be safe from any attempt to pick them off
+by the men in the house, and yet to guard every
+means of exit from the place; he then called Jim
+Durham out and searched him, finding nothing
+but a single-barreled pistol. He then sent Jim to
+the door of the house to summon the men inside
+to surrender, telling them that he was determined
+to have them&mdash;alive if possible, but if not, dead.</p>
+
+<p>They refused to surrender, saying that they
+would kill any man who should approach the
+house. When Durham brought back their answer,
+Cottrell sent word that he would give them
+five minutes in which to decide whether they
+would yield peaceably or be burned out and shot
+to death. Just then Mrs. Durham, the mother
+of the Durham boys, begged Cottrell to allow
+her to go speak to Farrington and Barton, as she
+believed she could induce them to surrender.
+Accordingly, she went to the front window and
+implored them not to have the house burned
+down, as all her household goods would be destroyed.
+They replied that they might as well<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span>
+die inside as to come out and be shot down. Cottrell
+sent back word that they should be treated
+like all other prisoners if they would pass out
+their arms and surrender quietly; but if they
+tried to fight or resist, they would surely be
+killed.</p>
+
+<p>As they still refused, Jim Durham was sent to
+barricade the doors with fence rails, so that they
+should not be able to rush out unexpectedly. He
+whined and complained that the men inside would
+shoot him, but he was obliged to go, and though
+they did threaten him, he was able to crawl up
+and lay the rails without getting within range.
+The house was a solid log cabin, with only two
+doors and very few windows, so that it was possible
+to approach it in one or two directions without
+exposure to a fire from within. When the
+doors had been securely barricaded, Cottrell ordered
+him to get on the roof, which was a common
+shingle roof, and set fire to the house. Mrs.
+Durham was carrying on at a great rate, first
+begging Farrington to surrender, and then praying
+to Cottrell not to burn her property. John
+Ellis, to whom the house belonged, gave full permission
+to burn it, and a fire was built in the
+open air to make brands to set it afire.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Durham was allowed to make one more
+appeal to the ruffians inside, but they would not
+listen to her entreaties. They asked her, however,
+what kind of a looking man Cottrell was,
+and what he wanted to arrest them for. Cottrell
+was standing near enough to hear the question,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span>
+and after Mrs. Durham had described his appearance,
+he told them that he wanted them for an
+express robbery; that he would treat them kindly
+if they should yield peaceably; but if they should
+refuse this, his last offer, he should set fire to the
+house and shoot them down as they ran out. He
+said he had no wish to kill them, but that he was
+determined they should not escape; rather than
+allow them to get away, he would have them
+shot on sight; but they would be protected and
+brought to trial if they would surrender.</p>
+
+<p>To this they replied that they intended killing
+some of their besiegers first, anyhow. Finding
+further parley useless, therefore, Cottrell gave
+the order to burn the building, and Durham was
+forced to carry the embers and brands to burn
+his own premises. Just at this time, the young
+girl, whom they had met riding a mule toward
+Verona, rode up to the house and asked what
+was the matter. As Cottrell had surmised, this
+was Miss Durham, and she was very much
+frightened at what she saw.</p>
+
+<p>The afternoon sun was buried in a deep bank
+of clouds, so that the twilight was rapidly drawing
+on, there being just enough light to show the
+barricaded doors, the deserted porch, and the determined
+men scattered around, with shot-guns
+and rifles pointed at the low log cabin, above
+which a frightened man stood out in bold relief
+against the sky, tearing off the shingles and
+piling them upon a glowing flame at his feet.
+Everything was now hushed in deathly silence,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span>and it needed no explanation for any one to understand
+that a bloody tragedy was about to occur
+if that flame should be allowed to envelop the
+building. It was now the prison of its two occupants,
+but only a short time would elapse
+before it would be their tomb.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 640px;">
+<img src="images/gs02.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Burning out the Outlaws!" title="" />
+<span class="caption">Burning out the Outlaws!</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>On seeing the situation, Miss Durham asked to
+be allowed to speak to the men, as she said she
+knew they would listen to her. On Cottrell's refusal
+to hold any more parley with them, she
+burst into tears, threw her arms around his neck,
+and implored him to let her speak to Barton just
+once, if only for five minutes. Finally, seeing
+that most of his party wished to give the girl a
+chance to speak to her sweetheart, Cottrell said
+that she could have three minutes to obtain their
+arms; if they surrendered immediately, the fire
+should be put out; but, if they should still refuse,
+their last chance of saving the house and their
+lives would be gone. Miss Durham then went to
+the window, and talked with the men in the most
+imploring manner, urging them not to sacrifice
+themselves, as they would surely do if they remained
+in the burning house. Her entreaties did
+not seem to affect them at first; and, as the
+flames were then beginning to gather strength,
+Cottrell ordered her to come away from the
+house, and leave them to their fate. She made
+one more appeal, and Barton handed her a navy
+revolver; then Farrington did the same, and she
+brought them to Cottrell, saying that they would
+surrender if they could be sure that their lives<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span>
+would be spared. Cottrell told her to go back
+and get the rest of their arms, and assure them
+that they should be taken to Tennessee for trial.
+She soon returned with another revolver and a
+shot-gun, and said that the men would come out.
+Cottrell therefore removed the rails, opened the
+front door, and called them out&mdash;Barton coming
+first, and then Farrington. The latter proved to
+be Hillary, not Levi, as he had called himself. It
+was not known why he had used his brother's
+name, but it was supposed that Hillary had taken
+his name to enable him to prove an <i>alibi</i> in case
+he should be arrested.</p>
+
+<p>Cottrell's party first secured the prisoners with
+ropes, and then assisted Jim Durham to extinguish
+the fire on the roof; the latter was quite rotten,
+and it had burned so slowly that very little damage
+had been done. The prisoners were thoroughly
+searched, but nothing of any consequence was
+found upon them, the total of their funds being
+less than three dollars. A prolonged search
+through the house revealed nothing of importance,
+except the fact that it was quite an arsenal for
+arms, there being found six navy revolvers, two
+double-barreled shot-guns, and a Spencer repeating
+rifle. The siege had lasted nearly three hours,
+and, another hour having been spent in searching
+the house and saddling their animals, it was nearly
+dark by the time they started for Verona. Farrington
+and Barton were carefully tied upon the
+horse and mule respectively, and, after thanking
+the neighboring farmers for their assistance, Cot<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span>trell
+took the road back, accompanied by the
+eleven men who belonged in and about Verona.
+The greatest care was taken that the prisoners
+should have no opportunity for escape, and they
+were informed that any attempt to get away
+would be the signal for riddling them with bullets.</p>
+
+<p>While riding along, Cottrell learned from Barton
+that the party had been very lucky in finding
+the two men in the house, since their usual custom
+had been to spend the days in the woods,
+coming in only at night to sleep. On this occasion,
+however, the weather was so cold that they
+were spending the day indoors.</p>
+
+<p>When asked why they had not surrendered before,
+they both made the same reply, namely:
+that they believed the posse of citizens intended
+either to shoot them immediately, or to hang
+them after a trial by lynch law.</p>
+
+<p>On arriving in Verona early in the evening, the
+prisoners were securely tied up with ropes, and
+Cottrell alternated during the night with Marriott
+in watching them. A blacksmith was also called
+up, and shortly after midnight he completed two
+pair of leg shackles, with which they were fastened
+together. My men were greatly fatigued,
+having ridden a large number of miles every day
+for a week, and the excitement of the affair
+added, of course, to their prostration, but they
+resolutely paced the floor in alternate four-hour
+watches, determined that no possible loophole for
+escape should again be afforded to such daring
+villains as these two.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The result of the expedition was, of course,
+transmitted to me in telegraphic cipher at once;
+but the arrest was kept secret for the time, in order
+to prevent a knowledge of it coming to Levi
+Farrington, who was still at large. According to
+Barton, Levi was concealed somewhere in Tennessee,
+but this statement was proof positive that
+he was not in Tennessee at all, since Barton's object
+in telling anything about him was evidently
+intended to mislead us; hence, no faith was
+put in his story, and other steps were taken to
+capture Levi.</p>
+
+<p>William arrived in Verona on the morning
+after the fight, and he prepared to return with
+the prisoners to St. Louis by the noon train. It
+was supposed that Levi Farrington was also on
+his way to the rendezvous at Durham's farm,
+and that he would probably approach by the
+direct road through Douglas County. Cottrell
+and Marriott were left, therefore, to attend to
+Levi and the old lady, whose whereabouts were
+still uncertain. William saw most of the citizens
+engaged in the affair, and heartily thanked
+them for their aid; being questioned as to whether
+they should receive the reward of one thousand
+dollars offered by the express company for the
+capture of the two Farringtons and Barton, he
+informed them that he considered them entitled
+to it, and that he should recommend its payment,
+but that the matter would be decided by the officers
+of the company. I may here anticipate
+events somewhat to state that the company paid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span>
+the citizens and farmers a liberal amount for their
+services in capturing the robbers, and a settlement
+was made which was satisfactory to all parties.</p>
+
+<p>William left Verona about noon of the day he
+arrived, taking Hillary Farrington and Barton
+with him, under guard of Galway and Connell.
+On arriving in St. Louis, he separated the prisoners
+in order to induce Barton to confess; and,
+after a long conversation, in which he showed
+Barton how conclusive was the evidence against
+all three of the men, he obtained a very full confession,
+of which the greater part is here given
+exactly as it was taken down from Barton's lips.</p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Barton's Confession.&mdash;The Express Robberies and the
+Outlaws' subsequent Experiences fully set forth therein.&mdash;A
+Clue that had been suddenly dropped taken
+up with so much Profit, that, after a desperate Struggle,
+another Desperado is Captured.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>"I am twenty-two years of age," said Barton,
+"and my native place was Columbus, Mississippi.
+When quite young, I left home and
+took to following the army. About five or six
+years ago I moved to Normandy, Tennessee, and
+lived with the family of Major Landis, and two
+or three years later, I went to work on the Nash<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span>ville
+and Northwestern Railroad as a brakeman,
+remaining as such over two years. About three
+years since I formed the acquaintance of Hillary
+and Levi Farrington, at Waverly, Tennessee.
+These are the men otherwise known as J. H.
+Clark and Edward J. Russell. Afterward I opened
+a saloon in Nashville, and Levi Farrington visited
+me there several times. Last April or May
+he was arrested on suspicion of counterfeiting,
+but as there was no case against him, he was discharged.
+After a short time, I went down to visit
+Levi at Mrs. Farrington's; she lived at the head
+of Tumbling Run Creek, twelve miles back of Gillem
+Station. Hillary was in jail at Memphis at
+that time, charged with murder and horse-stealing.
+When he got out of jail, Levi, Hillary, and
+myself all made a trip to Little Rock, Arkansas,
+gambling by throwing three-card monte, and
+we won about thirteen hundred dollars; we then
+returned to Gillem Station, where we remained
+until the twenty-first of July, this year. During
+this time, Levi, who frequently rode back and
+forth on the express trains, spoke of the feasibility
+of robbing them.</p>
+
+<p>"On the morning of July 21, Levi, Hillary, and
+myself left Gillem Station for the purpose of robbing
+the express train at some of the stations
+either on that road or on the Mobile and Ohio
+Railroad. At Union City we changed cars, and
+arrived at Moscow just after dark. The plan was,
+that we all three should enter the car and overpower
+the messenger; but Levi and Hillary were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span>
+the only ones who entered. I remained on the
+platform of the first passenger coach and kept
+watch. When the train was passing the water
+tank, they slacked up the speed, and we all
+jumped off and struck for the woods. The messenger
+had nothing whatever to do with this
+robbery, so far as I was ever informed.</p>
+
+<p>"As I said before, we struck into the woods
+and reached the river just above Hickman, where
+we stole a fisherman's skiff, and all three of us
+started down the river. Finding that we were
+pursued, we left the skiff on the Tennessee shore,
+near Island Number Ten. We then took the
+river road and walked back as far as Lester's
+Landing, arriving there about dinner-time, July
+23. Levi divided the money, giving me one-third
+of one thousand dollars, which was all, he said,
+in the safe, although I always believed there was
+more.</p>
+
+<p>"So far as I know, neither of the Farringtons
+had ever met Lester before, and I am sure that I
+had never set eyes on him until we went to his
+place at this time. On account of the spot being
+so lonely and isolated, Hillary proposed that we
+put up a store there, as it would be a good cover
+for our actual business. We started the store,
+and applied to the postmaster to establish a post-office,
+to be known as Lester's Landing; our object
+in this move was, of course, to give an added
+color of respectability and <i>bona fide</i> business to
+our transactions. From this time until the middle
+of October, I remained at the store nearly all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span>
+the time; Hillary was also there most of the time,
+but Levi very seldom. During one of the latter's
+western trips, he said he had been out to see his
+Aunt Durham.</p>
+
+<p>"Along in October, Levi proposed that we
+again strike the express company when the train
+stopped for supper at Union City. Hillary had
+been in the habit of riding back and forth on the
+engine, and he understood how to run a train.
+Levi suggested that we take a man named Bill
+Taylor into the robbery with us; he was then
+employed chopping wood for Lester, and when
+Levi approached him on the subject he agreed to
+go. Levi left Lester's a few days before the robbery.
+Hillary and I did not leave until the nineteenth,
+when we went up to Columbus by steamer,
+taking along a large quantity of fish. Having
+sold our fish, we took the train for Union City,
+where we arrived the same evening. On getting
+off the train, we met Levi and Bill Taylor on the
+platform, and the only conversation which took
+place was when Levi asked why we had not arrived sooner,
+to which we replied that we came
+as soon as we could. The next morning we met
+again, having slept in separate places so as not to
+attract attention, and went down the road some
+distance toward Hickman. While camped in the
+woods that evening, about ten o'clock, an old
+man named Hicks came along with a bottle of
+whisky and stopped at our camp-fire quite a
+time. There were present Hillary, Levi, myself,
+and Bill Taylor. We remained in the woods all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span>
+that night. The next day we moved further into
+the woods toward Hickman, and at night, just at
+dark, we came back to Union City.</p>
+
+<p>"We had been there only a few minutes when
+the up train came along; she stopped and backed
+down a little ways, when all the train hands left
+her and went to supper. Hillary and Taylor
+then boarded the engine, and Levi and myself
+jumped aboard the express car. The messenger
+was eating his supper when we went in, and,
+seeing Levi point a Derringer at him, he exclaimed:
+'Don't shoot me! I will surrender.'
+Levi compelled him to unlock the safe, and we
+took all the money. Levi then swung the messenger's
+lantern, and the train stopped, when we
+all jumped off and started down the railroad to
+Hickman. Our intention was to go to the wood-yard
+near Union City, and steal a ride on a freight
+train to Hickman. We hid under the platform
+at the wood-yard, and while there Levi accidentally
+shot himself in the thigh; but the wound
+was very slight, and it hardly interfered with his
+walking. As the freight train did not stop, we
+were obliged to walk to Hickman, where we arrived
+Sunday night. We had had some provisions
+when we first camped out, which Bill Taylor
+had carried in a valise; but he had left the
+valise and all its contents on the engine, so that
+we had very little to eat.</p>
+
+<p>"While in the woods we divided the money,
+but Levi, who carried it, showed up only twenty
+three hundred dollars.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Sunday night we stole a skiff in Hickman
+and went down the river to James' Bayou, and
+while there, on Monday morning, we saw Messenger
+Cross, whose car had been robbed, making
+inquiries about us in a grocery-store. We then
+started off on foot, going down the river on the
+Missouri shore. About a mile below James'
+Bayou we found the skiff which we had previously
+set adrift, and which had evidently been picked
+up by some one. Taking this skiff again, Hillary,
+Taylor, and I dropped down to a point about a mile
+above Lester's, leaving Levi on the Missouri shore,
+where we started from. We landed on the Tennessee
+shore, and walked down the river road a
+short distance, when Taylor left us, remaining in
+the woods. Hillary and I met Lester on the
+road soon afterward, and told him that we had
+come down on a steamboat which was then tied
+up, on account of the heavy fog. Levi arrived
+next day, having come across the river with a
+fisherman.</p>
+
+<p>"The following Sunday, October 29, Hillary
+left on a steamboat, taking with him a woman
+named Slaughter, with whom he said he was going
+to Davidson's wood-yard, nine miles above
+Cape Girardeau. He expected to return in a few
+days.</p>
+
+<p>"The next thing of any importance which occurred
+was on the Tuesday night following, when
+Messrs. Pinkerton and Connell rode up to Lester's
+house. At the first glance, I thought they were
+officers, and Levi told me that he thought the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span>
+same. I saw him pull his pistol out of his
+pocket before getting out of his chair."</p>
+
+<p>[The moment Connell opened the door, Levi
+knew that he was a detective, having seen him
+acting in that capacity in Memphis, when Hillary
+was arrested for horse-stealing the previous
+spring.]</p>
+
+<p>"When I made my escape from Lester's house,"
+continued Barton, "I ran right back through the
+cornfield; I heard all the shooting, but did not
+see it. In a short time Levi joined me in the
+cane-brake back of the cornfield. Levi told me
+that he had had a shooting match with the two
+officers, but he did not know whether he had hit
+either of them or not; they had not hit him, but
+he had had a very narrow escape.</p>
+
+<p>"After awhile we slipped up to the house, and
+saw that the officers were gone; so we went in,
+got our supper, and took our pistols, besides a
+shawl and blanket. We then got an old skiff,
+crossed the river, and slept in the woods on the
+Missouri shore. The next day we remained under
+cover until nightfall, when we recrossed the river,
+and went through the woods to Union City,
+spending Wednesday night and Thursday in the
+woods on the way. On Thursday night we took
+the train from Union City to Gillem Station. The
+conductor of the train was Conductor Roberts, on
+whose run I had formerly been brakeman; and,
+being afraid he might recognize me, I laid down
+in my seat and covered up my face, while Levi
+paid both fares. We arrived at Gillem Station<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>
+about three o'clock in the morning, and reached
+Mrs. Farrington's house about daylight.</p>
+
+<p>"I gave Mrs. Farrington five hundred and fifty
+dollars in money to keep for me, this amount
+being the proceeds of both express robberies, and
+she still has it in her possession. Before leaving
+Lester's, Hillary had given most of his money to
+Levi to take to their mother to keep for him, and
+Levi left with her nearly the whole of his share of
+the plunder also.</p>
+
+<p>"We had been at Mrs. Farrington's a week
+when Hillary arrived. Before this, we all thought
+that the officers had captured him, and we were
+quite surprised to see him safe. He said that
+Detective Connell had arrested him at Mrs. Gully's,
+and that he had made his escape by jumping out
+of Connell's wagon into a thicket near Allenville;
+he had then gone right back to the house where
+he had left Mrs. Slaughter, where he got a pistol
+and some money, and had his irons removed.</p>
+
+<p>"At the time Hillary arrived at Mrs. Farrington's,
+the old lady had been gone a day and a night
+on her way to Texas or Missouri. It was understood
+that Levi and I were to meet her somewhere
+on the road, or at Holton's farm, near the
+line between Lawrence and Dade Counties, Missouri.
+The day after Hillary arrived, we started
+for Missouri; I was riding a sorrel horse; Hillary,
+a chestnut-sorrel horse; and Levi, a large brown
+mule. We spent two days at the house of Mr.
+Douglas, near Mrs. Farrington's, and then crossed
+the Tennessee River at Cuba. We crossed the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span>
+Mississippi River by the last ferryboat on Friday
+evening, November 10, at Hall's Ferry, opposite
+Point Pleasant, Missouri. We saw no men on
+guard at the ferries. We struck right out through
+Nigger-Wool Swamp to Bloomfield, where Levi
+left us. He said he was going to Farmington,
+Illinois, as that was a good place to keep under
+cover. After he left us, nothing important occurred
+until our arrest. We knew where Mrs.
+Farrington was every night, and also knew all
+about the two men who were following her; we
+did not mind letting them follow her, as they
+could not have captured us, and we could have
+shaken them off at any time if we had wanted to
+do so.</p>
+
+<p>"Levi and Hillary frequently spoke of making
+other raids upon the express company, and said
+what a soft thing it was. It was my intention to
+separate from them as soon as I could get my
+money from the old lady, as I wished to return to
+my friends below Columbus, Mississippi.</p>
+
+<p>"The foregoing is all I know of the Farringtons
+or the express robberies.</p>
+
+<p>
+(Signed), "<span class="smcap">William Barton.</span>"<br />
+</p>
+
+<p>It will be observed how completely this confession
+corroborated our investigations, there being
+few new points learned. The information that
+Mrs. Farrington had possession of nearly all the
+stolen money was valuable, and I sent instructions
+to Cottrell, at once, to attach all of her
+property in the name of the Southern Express<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span>
+Company, if it could be done. But the most important
+feature brought out was the hiding-place
+of Levi Farrington, which was given as
+Farmington, Illinois. It will be remembered that
+William found, at the store at Lester's Landing,
+some pieces of paper, upon which was scribbled,
+"Kate Graham, Farmington, Illinois;" that I
+sent a detective to that place to see Mrs. Graham;
+that the latter answered, with every evidence of
+truthfulness, that she did not know Russell,
+Clark, or Barton; and that the clue was dropped
+immediately. From Barton, however, William
+learned that Mrs. Kate Graham was a cousin of
+the Farringtons, and that, being a highly respectable
+and conscientious woman, she knew nothing
+of their <i>aliases</i>, nor of their crimes. It was there
+that Levi Farrington had gone to hide. Barton's
+confession was made on the fourteenth, and
+William instantly sent me a cipher dispatch containing
+the important features of it. By the
+evening train of that day, my other son, Robert
+A. Pinkerton, took passage for Farmington, accompanied
+by Detective W. T. Brown, of my
+force. They arrived there about noon the next
+day, and soon learned that Levi Farrington was
+staying with his relatives. Having presented
+letters of introduction to one or two influential
+men, Robert obtained an introduction to the
+city marshal, who promised to give all the aid in
+his power to arrest Farrington.</p>
+
+<p>About two o'clock they saw the latter coming
+down the street, and, by previous arrangement,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span>
+Robert allowed Levi to pass him, both walking
+toward Brown and the marshal. Levi Farrington
+was a very powerful man, standing six feet
+in his stockings, with a frame and muscles in
+proportion to his size. Remembering the desperate
+character of the man, Robert did not deem it
+advisable to give him any chance to draw a
+weapon or show fight; he therefore followed
+Farrington closely until he was about ten feet
+from the marshal, and then, springing at him,
+he pinioned the desperado's arms by clasping him
+tightly around the body just at the elbows.
+Farrington did not stop to question the cause of
+this proceeding&mdash;he knew the reason of his seizure
+well enough&mdash;but, gathering his whole
+strength, he made one jump away from the
+two officers who were approaching in front, and
+landed nearly in the middle of the street, taking
+Robert along with him. Robert clung to him
+like a vise, however, and before he could make
+another such an effort, the other two were upon
+him. A terrible struggle now ensued in the
+street, during which both Robert and Brown were
+badly bruised by being rolled upon and kicked by
+their powerful prisoner. Robert knew that Farrington
+was desperate enough to fight to the
+bitter end, and that he would kill as many as he
+could before being killed himself; to release his
+arms, therefore, would enable him to draw a
+weapon, as he was undoubtedly well armed, hence
+Robert never relaxed his hold. Having a professional
+pride in securing his prisoner alive, more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span>over,
+he did not wish to resort to extreme measures
+except to save the lives of other persons, and, as
+a large crowd had gathered around the moment
+the struggle began, there would have been evident
+danger in allowing him an instant's freedom.
+Over and over they rolled together, therefore,
+Farrington striving with all his strength to break
+Robert's clasp upon his arms, while the other two
+officers were doing their best to pinion his legs.
+After a ten minutes' struggle, they succeeded at
+length in holding him down and sitting upon his
+legs until he could be tied with ropes. By this
+time, the whole party were pretty thoroughly
+exhausted, but, after resting a few minutes to
+recover their breath, the officers got handcuffs on
+their prisoner's wrists, and took him to the railroad
+station, where he was searched. Little
+money was found on his person, but he had a large
+revolver, two Derringer pistols, and a large dirk
+concealed about him. He was then placed in the
+freight office, while Brown and Mr. Graham, Mrs.
+Kate Graham's husband, went to the latter's
+house to get Levi's baggage. On their return,
+the whole party took passage for Chicago, where
+they did not arrive until next day, owing to the
+failure to make connections. In Levi's valise
+were found two revolvers, some jewelry, and a
+very large sum of money.</p>
+
+<p>They arrived so late on Saturday that there
+was no train for Cairo before the following evening,
+and meantime the prisoner required the
+most careful watching, as none of our handcuffs<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span>
+were large enough to fit his wrists without cutting
+into the flesh. Robert and Brown were completely
+prostrated by the strain upon their muscles
+and the injuries they had received, so that they
+felt the effects of the struggle for several days.</p>
+
+<p>The moment that Robert arrived in Chicago
+with his prisoner, the latter was taken to the
+First Precinct police station, where he was placed
+in a cell for safe keeping. During the afternoon
+it was learned that he had sent for a lawyer to
+obtain a writ of <i>habeas corpus</i>. The arrest had
+been made without any warrant, and no requisition
+had been obtained for use in Illinois, as I had
+expected to capture all three of the men in Missouri.
+Should Farrington succeed in getting the
+desired writ, I should be forced to give up my
+hold upon him, and, before the requisition of the
+Governor of Tennessee upon the Governor of Illinois
+could be received, he would be probably
+beyond the reach of pursuit.</p>
+
+<p>I therefore procured a closed vehicle and took
+the prisoner out for a drive, carefully bound, with
+two reliable men as guards. The afternoon was
+thus spent, and, after dark, there being no longer
+any object in driving around the suburbs of the
+city, Farrington was taken to my office and kept
+all night. He behaved very well, and did not
+seem anxious to get away by force. He tried,
+however, to induce Robert to let him go, telling
+him that it would be worth a very large amount
+of money to him to do so. Finding his offers disregarded,
+he appeared to take his arrest very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span>
+coolly, saying that he guessed he had money
+enough to see him through.</p>
+
+<p>On Sunday evening, Robert and Brown took
+him to the railroad station, and the party embarked
+for Cairo.</p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>A terrible Struggle for Life or Death upon the Transfer-boat
+"Illinois."&mdash;"Overboard!"&mdash;One less Desperado.&mdash;The
+Fourth and Last Robber taken.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>After Barton had made his confession
+to William in St. Louis, the prisoners,
+Hillary Farrington and Barton, were kept separate,
+as the latter was afraid that Hillary would find
+some means of killing him. About midnight of
+Thursday, December fourteenth, they all took
+passage by railroad for Cairo, and there they immediately
+went on board the large transfer-boat
+to Columbus, Kentucky. All the detectives were
+thoroughly worn out from excitement and loss of
+sleep, but they did not for an instant relax their
+vigilant watch upon their prisoners. William
+had been talking for some time with Hillary,
+trying to obtain a confession and to learn what
+had been done with the money secured at the two
+robberies. From the questions that William
+asked, Hillary soon learned, or surmised, that
+Barton had confessed. He was terribly enraged<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span>
+at this, and without doubt he would have killed
+Barton if he could have got at him; but being
+unable to do so, his fury was all turned upon his
+captors.</p>
+
+<p>My son hoped by threatening to have Mrs.
+Farrington arrested and imprisoned, to induce
+Hillary to give up his share of the plunder rather
+than have his mother punished. This threat
+seemed to infuriate him beyond anything, and he
+swore that he would have his revenge on William
+if he had to wait twenty years for it. After sitting
+sullenly thinking on the subject for a time, he
+said he was cold, and wanted to get a drink.
+William therefore offered to go with him into the
+bar-room, and they walked toward the forward
+end of the saloon, leaving Galway and Barton
+seated together. Connell had gone into the
+water-closet a few moments before, but, as there
+was a detective with each of the prisoners, no
+attempt at escape was anticipated.</p>
+
+<p>The steamer was the powerfully-built transfer-boat
+"Illinois," and she was running with great
+speed, her ponderous wheels revolving at an unusually
+rapid rate. The bar-room was situated
+just forward of the saloon, after passing through
+the barber shop, and it could be entered from the
+saloon or through a door leading upon the guards,
+just forward of the paddle-box.</p>
+
+<p>As they were about to enter the barber shop
+from the saloon, Hillary drew back, saying that
+he did not want to go that way, as there were
+some men in that room whom he knew. They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span>
+therefore went out upon the guards to walk along
+to the outer door of the bar-room. The space
+was narrow, and the rail quite low, so that it
+would not have been at all difficult for a man to
+spring overboard, even though he were in irons.
+This idea occurred to William, but he did not
+trouble himself about it, since he knew that the
+heavy strokes of the paddle-wheel would instantly
+kill any one who might attempt such a thing.
+William wore a loose-fitting sack coat with large
+pockets, in one of which he carried a heavy army
+revolver, which he had taken from Hillary, his
+own revolver being in his belt. In walking it
+was his habit to put his hand on the butt of this
+army revolver, which protruded somewhat from
+the pocket. On reaching the door, however, he
+took his right hand from the pistol to turn the
+knob. This was a careless action, of which he
+never would have been guilty, had he been less
+fatigued, mentally and physically, but, being so
+used up as to act almost mechanically, his habitual
+thoughtfulness was momentarily absent, and
+he was caught off his guard for an instant in a
+manner which nearly cost him his life. It should
+be understood that the scene which ensued occurred
+so rapidly as to occupy less time in its
+passage than is required to read about it, and that
+during those few seconds a struggle of life and
+death was going on.</p>
+
+<p>Hardly had William's hand touched the doorknob
+ere he felt the pistol drawn out of his coat
+pocket. He knew there was but one person who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span>
+could have done it, and that person was a perfect
+devil thirsting for his blood. Turning like a
+flash, he seized Farrington by both wrists, just as
+the latter was trying to cock the pistol; then
+there was a terrible contest. The pistol was in
+Farrington's hands, which were held so close together
+by the irons as to make it impossible to
+wrench one away from the other; it was pointed
+directly at William's head, and should Farrington
+succeed in cocking it, William's death would
+be instantaneous. All his energies, therefore,
+were directed toward keeping Farrington's hands
+far enough apart to prevent him from drawing
+back the hammer. The space was too narrow to
+permit of such a struggle without one party or
+the other being forced back upon the rail, and, in
+a moment, William had lifted his lighter antagonist
+from the deck, pressing him against the railing,
+and at the same time shouting for assistance.
+In response to his call, Connell came running out
+in <i>dishabille</i>, with his pistol in one hand and his
+pantaloons in the other. At this moment the
+cold muzzle of the pistol was pressed against
+William's temple, and he heard the click of the
+hammer as his desperate prisoner succeeded in
+drawing it back. He made a violent plunge forward,
+ducking his head as he did so, and simultaneously
+the pistol exploded close to his ear, the
+ball ploughing a little furrow in the scalp, while the
+powder scorched his neck and hair. Staggering
+back stunned and dizzy for a moment, he was
+caught by Connell, who asked whether he was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span>
+much hurt. He soon gathered his senses, and,
+finding his wound to be only trifling, he asked
+what had become of Farrington. Connell pointed
+overboard, and no further answer was necessary;
+no man dropping in front of those wheels could
+have lived for an instant, and, even had he not
+been struck, he could not have kept himself up in
+the rapid current then running filled with fine ice.</p>
+
+<p>By this time the bar-room, barber shop, and saloon
+had been emptied of their occupants, and
+the boat had been stopped to see whether the man
+could be picked up; but, as this was clearly hopeless,
+the trip was soon resumed. Connell's arrival
+had been most opportune for William, since he
+had caught the weapon the moment it was discharged,
+and succeeded in changing the course of
+the bullet sufficiently to save William's life.
+Thinking, however, that William had been killed,
+Connell had struck Farrington on the head with
+his pistol almost simultaneously with the explosion,
+and the blow, aided by the plunge which
+William made forward in endeavoring to dodge
+the pistol-shot, had sent Farrington over the rail
+into the water, where he was undoubtedly killed
+the next instant by the paddle-wheels.</p>
+
+<p>The fact of the man's death was so absolutely
+certain that no person could doubt it, if acquainted
+with the circumstances; yet there were not wanting
+people who insinuated that he had been
+allowed to escape by jumping overboard and
+swimming ashore. The absurdity of such a story
+is manifest, for, even supposing that his irons had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span>
+been removed, and that he had escaped injury
+from the paddle-wheels, he never could have
+swam ashore at the spot where the affair occurred.
+The nearest point of the river bank was more than
+three hundred yards away, and the current at that
+place was running off the shore; besides, the
+night was very cold, and the water was covered
+with a film of ice, so that after five minutes' immersion
+in it, a man would have become wholly
+numbed and insensible.</p>
+
+<p>Barton was not at all surprised when he heard
+of Hillary Farrington's death, for he said that he
+knew Hillary so well that he had expected
+nothing else from the time he was taken; he was
+so desperate that his intention undoubtedly had
+been to have seized William and dragged him
+overboard; but, seeing the pistol, another idea
+had probably occurred to him. Barton said that
+had Hillary succeeded in killing William, he would
+have gone up to the pilot-house with the revolver,
+and forced the pilot to land him immediately;
+once on shore, his knowledge of the country
+would have enabled him to escape again. Whatever
+had been his plans, however, he had failed
+in his attempt at murder, and had paid the
+penalty of his rashness with his life.</p>
+
+<p>The rest of the party went on to Columbus,
+where they took passage for Union City, arriving
+there Friday morning.</p>
+
+<p>About this time, Mr. Ball, who had been sent
+to follow the wagon train of Mrs. Farrington, reported,
+after a silence of several days, that he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span>
+traced her into the Indian Territory. In point of
+fact, she was settled at Ash Grove, near Mount
+Vernon, in Greene County, Missouri, and had
+been there ever since Hillary and Barton had left
+her before their arrest at Durham's. It will thus
+be seen how fortunate it was that I had not
+trusted to Ball and Bledsoe to keep track of Mrs.
+Farrington, since they had utterly lost the trail,
+and had followed another set of wagons for several
+days as far as the Indian Territory; when,
+probably suspecting that he had made a mistake,
+Ball telegraphed to the express company's officers
+for instructions. He was then ordered to return at
+once with Bledsoe, the whole party having been
+captured by that time.</p>
+
+<p>While speaking of Mrs. Farrington, I may as
+well give an account of all our dealings with her,
+irrespective of the chronological order of the
+story:</p>
+
+<p>Having received Barton's order upon her for all
+of the wagons and stock, and for five hundred
+and fifty dollars in money, Cottrell endeavored to
+attach her property in a civil suit. She insisted
+that she had none of Barton's money&mdash;indeed,
+that she had no money at all&mdash;and she refused to
+give up anything. At last, finding that he could
+not legally attach her property, Cottrell took the
+bold step of arresting her for receiving stolen
+goods. She was taken to Mount Vernon, where
+she engaged a lawyer to defend her, and then, of
+course, Cottrell was also obliged to employ a legal
+adviser. At length, a compromise was effected,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span>
+by which Mrs. Farrington was allowed to retain
+a small portion of the property; Cottrell then
+took possession of the remainder as agent of the
+express company, and Mrs. Farrington was discharged
+from custody. After selling some of the
+animals, Cottrell shipped all the remaining chattels
+to St. Louis, where the agent of the express
+company took charge of them. The two detectives
+then returned to Chicago, and no further
+attention was paid to Mrs. Farrington.</p>
+
+<p>On Saturday, after the arrival of William's
+party, with Barton, in Union City, Detectives
+Galway and Connell started out to arrest Bill
+Taylor, the fourth one of the party of robbers.</p>
+
+<p>This man was a long, lank, round-shouldered
+fellow, with putty face, long, straggling hair and
+beard, and a vacant expression of countenance,
+who lived by hunting and chopping wood, below
+Lester's Landing, in the vicinity of Reel's Foot
+Lake. William had been satisfied of his complicity
+in the robbery for some time previous to
+the arrest of the others, but he had not arrested
+him for the reason that he was sure of picking
+him up whenever he wished to do so; and, knowing
+Taylor to have been merely a weak accomplice,
+he was anxious to secure the leaders in the
+crime first. Barton's confession made the suspicion
+of Taylor's guilt a certainty, and so Galway
+and Connell were sent to arrest him.</p>
+
+<p>At Mr. Merrick's they obtained a good guide,
+and four other citizens joined them, so that they
+had quite a formidable party. After visiting sev<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span>eral
+houses in the cane-brake, they learned where
+Taylor was staying, and, on going there, they
+saw him looking at them from a front window.
+Galway asked Taylor to come down a few minutes
+to give them some information, and Taylor
+unsuspectingly complied. He had been allowed
+to go free so long, and had so often talked with
+William and others about the robbery, that he
+did not imagine their object on this occasion.
+On coming into the yard, therefore, he greeted
+the men cordially, supposing them to be a party
+scouting for the other robbers, of whose arrest he
+had not heard. When he saw a couple of navy
+revolvers close to his head, and heard an order to
+throw up his hands, he surrendered without a
+word. He was evidently badly frightened, but
+he would not confess having had any part in the
+robbery, and he refused to tell where his share of
+the money was concealed. He was placed on
+Connell's horse and taken to Merrick's, where
+another horse was obtained, and the party went
+on to Hickman; thence he was taken by wagon
+to Union City, arriving there about midnight of
+Saturday. Both Barton and Taylor were placed
+in rooms in the hotel, where they were carefully
+watched night and day by my detectives, the
+county jail being almost useless as a place for
+keeping prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>On learning that the whole party had been arrested,
+Taylor made a very full confession of all
+the circumstances connected with the robbery,
+and the movements of the robbers after it had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span>
+occurred. He confirmed Barton's account in every
+particular, but revealed nothing new of any importance.
+His share of the stolen money had
+been only about one hundred and fifty dollars,
+as Levi had made him believe that they had obtained
+only six hundred dollars in all. About
+fifty dollars were found on Taylor's person; the
+rest he had spent. He said that Levi Farrington
+had hidden all the checks, drafts, and unnegotiable
+paper underneath an old log in the woods,
+but that he could not tell where the log was, nor
+find it, since it was not marked in any way, nor
+had they taken any bearings by which to remember
+it. He gave an account of the evening when
+Hicks, the tipsy planter, came to their camp-fire,
+which agreed exactly with the previous statements
+of Hicks and Barton; but one slight remark
+in his confession seemed to account for the
+fifth man mentioned by Hicks. Taylor said
+that during most of the time Hicks was at their
+camp, one or two of the party were lying on the
+ground with their feet toward the fire, and that
+there was a log of wood lying beside them.
+Now, it is probable that Hicks was just drunk
+enough to be unable to tell the difference between
+a man and a log, especially as, in his description
+of the men, he gave the appearance of
+Hillary Farrington twice as belonging to different
+persons. Hicks's vision was somewhat uncertain
+that night, evidently.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>The last Scene in the Drama approaching.&mdash;A new Character
+appears.&mdash;The Citizens of Union City suddenly
+seem to have important business on hand.&mdash;The
+Vigilantes and their Work.&mdash;Their Bullets and Judge
+Lynch administer a quietus to Levi Farrington and
+David Towler.&mdash;The End.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>The last scene in this drama seemed about to
+end in the complete defeat of the whole
+gang of villains and the triumph of law and justice,
+when a new character came upon the stage,
+and the curtain fell upon a bloody tragedy. That
+substantial justice was done cannot be denied,
+though the manner of its execution was beyond
+and outside all forms of law. It was a striking
+instance of the manner in which an outraged
+community, particularly in the West and South,
+will arrive at a satisfactory settlement of important
+questions without the intervention of courts,
+juries, or lawyers. The court of Judge Lynch
+makes mistakes occasionally, but it rarely admits
+of an appeal from its decision.</p>
+
+<p>Robert arrived in Union City with Levi Farrington
+on Monday, December eighteenth, and
+he took his prisoner to the hotel for safe keeping,
+with the others. They were kept in separate
+rooms, and a detective remained with each of
+them constantly. William spent several hours
+with Levi Farrington, trying to induce him to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span>
+tell where he had hidden the stolen papers, and
+also what he had done with his share of the
+money, of which he had undoubtedly retained
+the greater part. Finally he agreed to return all
+the papers, and about twenty-five hundred dollars
+besides, on condition that he should receive a
+sentence of only five years in the penitentiary on
+entering a plea of guilty. Having agreed to this
+arrangement, William went to his room, which
+was a large one, with several beds, occupied by
+Robert, Brown, and Connell. As the men of my
+force were all pretty well used up, Taylor and
+Barton were placed in the same room, with Galway
+guarding them, while Farrington, being
+such a desperate fellow, was put in another
+room, with three of the Union City policemen as
+guards.</p>
+
+<p>Soon after the arrival of Robert with Levi Farrington,
+a man, named David Towler, tried to
+get admission to Farrington's room. On being
+denied, he was very insolent, and he insisted on
+seeing Farrington alone. Finding that this would
+not be permitted, he went away cursing the
+officers and swearing to be revenged. His actions
+naturally attracted the attention of the police,
+and caused him to be regarded with a great deal
+of suspicion, as a probable member of the Farrington
+party of robbers. About eleven o'clock
+that night, a policeman, named Benjamin Kline,
+discovered this man Towler with a drawn revolver,
+skulking behind a car standing on the side
+track near the d&eacute;p&ocirc;t. He immediately called for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span>
+the railroad company's night watchman, and the
+two approached the thief to arrest him. The
+man instantly shot Kline through the lungs, and
+then shot Moran, the watchman. Kline's wound
+was mortal, and he died in a few minutes, while
+Moran was supposed to be fatally hurt also. The
+pistol-shots quickly drew a crowd, and a few
+determined men gave chase to the murderer.
+After quite a long pursuit he was captured, and
+brought back to the station where Kline had just
+died. A justice of the peace held a preliminary
+examination at once, and the prisoner, David
+Towler, was held for murder, without bail. He
+was known to be a low, desperate fellow, who
+had been imprisoned for horse-stealing and other
+kindred crimes, until he was regarded almost as
+an outlaw. He had long lived near Reel's Foot
+Lake, and while there he had become acquainted
+with the Farringtons. That their friendship was
+more than that of two casual acquaintances was
+shown by an important circumstance discovered
+by William. It will be remembered that when
+Levi Farrington stopped in Cairo to send eight
+hundred dollars to his mother, he purchased two
+of the largest-sized Smith &amp; Wesson revolvers.
+They were exact fac-similes of each other, and
+were numbered 1,278 and 1,279 respectively. At
+the time of Levi's arrest, only one of these revolvers
+was found, and he said that he had given
+away the other to a friend, retaining number
+1,279 himself. When Towler was captured,
+William happened to notice that his revolver was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span>
+similar to the one Levi had carried. This would
+have been nothing to be remarked under ordinary
+circumstances, since there were, undoubtedly,
+many of these revolvers in use, all exactly alike
+except in number; but William connected this
+man Towler's appearance in Union City with the
+arrival of the express robbers, and the new revolver
+caught his eye at once. On closely examining
+it, his suspicions were fully confirmed: <i>it was
+numbered</i> 1,278, and was, without question, the
+mate to Levi's, bought by him in Cairo and given
+to Towler.</p>
+
+<p>When this news became known to the throng
+of citizens whom the shooting of Kline and Moran
+had drawn together, the feeling against all the
+prisoners became intense, and when Towler was
+committed by the justice to the guard of the men
+who were watching Levi, the citizens began to
+depart very suddenly, as if they either had important
+business elsewhere, or were in a hurry to
+get home. By midnight the town was quiet, and
+after a visit to the guards, to caution them to be
+extra vigilant, William and Robert retired to their
+room, together with Brown and Connell.</p>
+
+<p>Young Kline, whom Towler had murdered, was
+very highly esteemed in Union City, and his death
+at the hands of an outlaw would have aroused
+deep indignation at any time; but just now there
+were additional reasons why the affair should excite
+a desire for summary vengeance upon his
+assassin. It had been shown that Towler must
+have formerly been on intimate terms with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span>
+Farringtons, and these latter were well known as
+desperadoes, whose hand was turned against every
+man; hence, the crimes of the whole party were
+considered as a sort of partnership affair, for
+which each member of the firm was individually
+liable. But, besides the natural indignation of
+the law-abiding citizens for the crimes committed
+by these men, there was a widespread sense of
+insecurity so long as they were in that vicinity.
+Towler had remarked, when captured, that he
+would soon be out again, and all the prisoners
+bore themselves with an air of bravado, as if they
+had no fear nor expectation of punishment. It
+was believed that a number of friends of the gang
+among the desperadoes living in Nigger-Wool
+Swamp and near Reel's Foot Lake intended to attempt
+the rescue of the whole party of express
+robbers, before they could be consigned to a secure
+place of confinement. The citizens who had
+risked their lives to capture Towler and the others,
+who had turned out in time to see poor Kline die
+in agony, were determined that nothing should
+occur to prevent justice from reaching the criminals,
+and exacting the fullest penalty for their
+numerous crimes; hence the sudden departure of
+the throng who had attended Towler's preliminary
+examination before the justice. They did not go
+to their homes, but gathered in a secluded place,
+and formed a Committee of Safety. The question
+as to what course would best protect the lives
+and property of the community was then discussed,
+and a conclusion was soon reached, without
+a dissenting voice.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Throughout the town all was hushed in the
+usual stillness of a winter's night; no lights were
+burning anywhere, save in an occasional sick-chamber,
+and sleep seemed to have fallen alike
+upon the just and unjust. In one room of the
+hotel were Barton and Taylor, guarded by Galway
+and an employ&eacute; of the express company, while
+near by was the room where Levi Farrington
+and David Towler were watched by three of the
+city policemen. A dim light burned in each room,
+and, while the guards paced the floor in their
+stocking feet, the prisoners lay on their beds in
+deep slumber. Not a memory of the past, full as
+it was of scenes of crime and blood, came to break
+their repose; not a thought of the future, with
+its possibilities of punishment, caused them to
+lose one moment of their customary rest. Fear
+they had never known; remorse was long since
+forgotten; unconscious or careless of their impending
+doom, they slept the night away.</p>
+
+<p>About two o'clock there was a stealthy gathering
+of masked men at the door of the hotel, and,
+at a given signal from the leader, a certain number
+slipped upstairs with little noise, and filled the
+corridor from which the prisoners' rooms opened.
+So sudden was their appearance and so quiet their
+approach that even the wakeful guards scarce
+heard them until the doors were forced open.
+Then the policy of silence was dropped, and a
+rush upon the guards was made. A battery of
+pistols suddenly confronted them, and, as resistance
+was clearly impossible, an unconditional<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span>
+surrender was at once made. The bursting in of
+the doors awakened William and Robert, who
+hastily sprang up, and, without stopping to put
+on any clothing, opened their door, pistol in hand.
+This move, however, had been anticipated by the
+vigilantes, and a dozen or more pistols were thrust
+in their faces as they appeared in the doorway.</p>
+
+<p>"Go back, Pinkerton, we don't want to hurt
+you," said one of the men outside, and they were
+pushed back into the room, while the door was
+hastily closed in their faces.</p>
+
+<p>To resist such a body with the few men at his
+command, William knew, would be suicidal, and
+he did not especially care to sacrifice himself in
+the interest of such a villainous band as those
+whom the vigilantes were seeking. The four detectives,
+therefore, dressed themselves and remained
+in their room awaiting further developments.</p>
+
+<p>Having overpowered the guards, the leader of
+the vigilantes ordered the removal of Towler, and,
+as the latter was hustled out of the door, Levi
+Farrington knew that his hour had come. Standing
+up and facing the remainder of the crowd,
+who had withdrawn to the further side of the
+room, he defied them all, and told them to fire
+away. A volley of pistol-shots was the reply to
+his words, and a rattling fire continued for two
+or three minutes; when it ceased, Levi Farrington
+was no more, his body having been struck by
+more than thirty balls, almost any one of which
+would have been instantaneously fatal. His
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span>body was left where it fell, and the room was
+soon deserted as the party hastened after the detachment
+which had Towler in charge. The
+whole affair was over in ten minutes, and when
+the detectives again left their room none of the
+masked party were to be seen. Levi Farrington's
+body was found in his room, but no trace of
+Towler could be discovered. Finding that the
+excitement was over, the detectives returned to
+bed, leaving Barton and Taylor still carefully
+guarded. The former had slept through the confusion
+and noise without even a start or restless
+movement, but Taylor was terribly frightened,
+and he fully expected to be lynched also.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 640px;">
+<img src="images/gs03.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="&quot;The work of the Vigilante&#39;s.&quot;&mdash;Page&mdash;" title="" />
+<span class="caption">&quot;The work of the Vigilante&#39;s.&quot;&mdash;Page&mdash;</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>The next morning at breakfast, William was
+informed that the body of Towler had been found
+hanging to a tree near the graveyard, and, on
+going to the spot, they found him as represented.
+At the coroner's inquest little testimony could be
+obtained further than that one man had been shot
+to death and the other hung by parties unknown,
+and the verdict was rendered accordingly. There
+was naturally considerable excitement over the
+affair for two or three days, but the general verdict
+was, "Served 'em right." However violent
+had been their taking off, there were few who
+did not feel that society demanded their death,
+not only as a punishment for their past crimes,
+but as a means of security in the future. Believing
+that a sentence to the penitentiary was
+wholly inadequate, and that their escape therefrom
+was not only possible, but probable, the cit<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span>izens
+preferred to take no risks of future robberies
+and murders by these desperadoes, and
+they therefore took the most effectual method of
+preventing their occurrence. Their action was
+illegal, it is true, but then it was just&mdash;which is a
+more important consideration sometimes.</p>
+
+<p>On the following Friday, Barton and Taylor
+had their preliminary hearing before a justice,
+when they waived examination, and were committed
+for trial in default of bail in the sum of
+ten thousand dollars each. Upon the representation
+to the justice that the county jail was an
+unsafe place to confine the prisoners, permission
+was obtained to remove them to the jail in Memphis;
+the proper papers were made out, and the
+transfer was made under William's management.</p>
+
+<p>The death of Levi Farrington made the recovery
+of the missing checks, papers, and money an impossibility,
+since neither Barton nor Taylor were
+able to conduct the officers to the place where
+they were hidden. Barton gave the company a
+bill of sale of the goods in the store at Lester's
+Landing, however, and an assignment of all debts
+due the firm, from which about five or six hundred
+dollars were eventually realized. Robert
+and Brown attended to this matter and returned
+to Chicago. William was on duty until the two
+remaining prisoners were safely lodged in jail in
+Memphis, and then, having settled up all the
+business of which he had had charge, he also returned
+home.</p>
+
+<p>At the next term of court in Obion County,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span>
+Tennessee, Barton and Taylor pleaded guilty of
+grand larceny, and were each sentenced to five
+years' confinement at hard labor in the penitentiary.
+Thus, out of a party of four engaged in
+this robbery, two were finally brought to trial
+and appropriately punished, while the other two
+would have been so punished also, had not a
+higher penalty been demanded by the circumstances
+of their cases, aggravated by their own
+brutal and revengeful dispositions. No reminiscence
+in my experience shows a more striking
+illustration of the certainty of retribution for
+crime than does the career and fate of these outlaws
+of the Southwest.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span></p>
+
+<h3>THE END.</h3>
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<h1>DON PEDRO AND THE DETECTIVES.
+</h1>
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>A Fraudulent Scheme contemplated.&mdash;A Dashing Peruvian
+Don and Donna.&mdash;A Regal Forger.&mdash;Mr.
+Pinkerton engaged by Senator Muirhead to unveil
+the Mystery of his Life.&mdash;The Don and Donna
+Morito arrive at Gloster.&mdash;"Personnel" of Gloster's
+"First Families."</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>The history of crimes against prosperity is of
+vital interest to the public. The ingenuity
+of thieves, burglars, forgers, and confidence men
+is active and incessant, so that their plans are
+often successful even against the experience and
+precautions of men of the most wary and cautious
+character. This seems to be especially true when
+the amounts at stake are large, for petty attempts
+to defraud are so frequent, that when a criminal
+plays for a large sum, the suspicion of the capitalist
+is wholly allayed by the improbability that
+a mere swindler should undertake an operation
+of such magnitude. Indeed, in many cases the
+cupidity of the victim is so great that the sharper
+hardly offers the bait ere it is swallowed by some
+confiding simpleton. Hence, as a warning for
+the future, the lessons of past frauds possess no
+small degree of interest and value to the world;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span>
+and as there is no portion of society free from
+the depredations of these schemers, their various
+wiles and snares cannot be exposed too often.</p>
+
+<p>More than twenty years ago, the city of
+Gloster was one of the most thriving cities of the
+West. Controlling the interior trade to a large
+extent, its interests were of the most varied character,
+and its inhabitants were already distinguished
+as being more cosmopolitan than those
+of any other city in the Union, except New York.
+They had imbibed, perhaps, some of the genius
+of the prairies, and their scorn of petty methods
+of doing business, their breadth of charity and
+hearty hospitality, were as boundless as the great
+plains of which the city was the business center
+at that time. Among such a people, a plausible
+adventurer had a fine field of operation, and I
+was not surprised when I was asked to go to
+Gloster in the latter part of the winter to investigate
+the character of some persons who were
+living there.</p>
+
+<p>The application came from Senator Muirhead,
+a man whom I had long known, both in his public
+and private life. His suspicions were of the
+vaguest possible character, and a hasty examination
+of the case failed to convince me that they
+were well founded; yet he was convinced in his
+own mind that there was a fraudulent scheme in
+contemplation, and his positive conviction had
+great weight with me. The Senator's interest in
+the case had led him to make extensive inquiries
+into the antecedents of these parties, but he was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span>
+unable to trace them further back than their arrival
+in New York, several months before. There
+they had suddenly appeared in society with a
+great display of wealth, stating that they had
+been traveling in Europe for some time, and were
+gradually making their way back to Peru, where
+they lived. Don Pedro P. L. de Morito and his
+wife, having enjoyed life in New York for several
+months, now proposed to spend at least a year in
+Gloster, and it was this couple whose character
+was suspected by the Senator. Indeed, he felt
+sure that, at least, they were traveling under assumed
+names, and certain coincidences led him
+to believe that they were adroit swindlers of the
+most capable, dangerous type. He had discovered
+a chain of circumstantial evidence which needed
+only one link to make a clear connection between
+certain crimes and these fascinating Peruvians,
+and it was for the purpose of discovering this
+link that he had requested my aid. In brief, his
+suspicions were, that after innumerable frauds in
+other countries, this plausible pair had settled in
+Gloster to add to their ill-gotten wealth by some
+new scheme of villainy. His theoretic history of
+the man, derived from various sources, mainly
+newspapers in which crimes had been described
+bearing the same style of workmanship, was as
+follows.</p>
+
+<p>Jos&eacute; Gomez, a cadet of the ancient Brazilian
+family of that name, began life with a fine physique,
+ample mental endowments, and a high social
+position. He was the heir-expectant of a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span>
+valuable estate, and no pains were spared upon
+his education. As he grew to manhood, however,
+his habits became such as to excite the
+gravest apprehensions as to his future, and by
+the time he was thirty years of age he was a
+reckless libertine, gambler, and spendthrift. Finding
+that his source of supplies was about to be
+cut off by his family, he obtained large sums of
+money by means of forged paper, with which he
+fled from Rio Janeiro to Lima, Peru. His whereabouts
+were not discovered for a long time, but
+when the information was received, the Brazilian
+Government made an effort to obtain his extradition.
+He was living in fine style in Lima, under
+the assumed name of Juan Sanchez, and, in
+some way, he was warned of his danger. Before
+any steps had been taken to expose or arrest him,
+he perpetrated another series of forgeries, by
+which he obtained a large amount of money, and
+then wholly disappeared. The aggregate of his
+forgeries was so great that a considerable notoriety
+attached to the case, and the facts were
+published in full in the leading newspapers of
+this country.</p>
+
+<p>About the time of the great rush to California,
+after the gold discoveries there, a gentleman
+known as Don Jos&eacute; Michel appeared in San Francisco,
+where he lived in regal splendor; indeed,
+his extravagance was so great as to make him
+conspicuous even among the reckless throng who
+filled the Golden City. After wasting a fortune
+with a prodigal hand, however, he suddenly van<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span>ished,
+and, although little was known positively
+on the subject, it was commonly understood that
+he had swindled a number of bankers and capitalists
+by worthless notes, drafts, and checks,
+many of which were wholly or partly forged.
+The men thus defrauded kept the matter quiet,
+both because they were ashamed to acknowledge
+how easily they had been imposed upon, and because
+they hoped to facilitate the capture of the
+criminal by working in secret. The incidents
+were related to Senator Muirhead in a casual conversation
+with a friend who had recently returned
+from the Pacific coast, and the description
+given of Don Jos&eacute; Michel tallied exactly with
+that of Juan Sanchez and Jos&eacute; Gomez.</p>
+
+<p>By an odd coincidence, the month after the departure
+of Don Jos&eacute; Michel from San Francisco,
+a brilliant gentleman of nearly the same name
+appeared in Quito, Ecuador, where he pursued a
+course so exactly similar in character to that of
+Gomez, Sanchez, and Michel, that it was not difficult
+to imagine that that ubiquitous person was
+identical with the elegant Don Pedro Michel who
+created such a brief excitement in Quito, terminating
+with forgery and a hasty flight.</p>
+
+<p>About two years previous to the time of which
+I write, a wealthy Brazilian arrived in London,
+and became a great favorite in society. His wife
+was a beautiful Spaniard, and her exquisite taste,
+courtesy, and knowledge of the world were highly
+appreciated by the select circle of aristocracy into
+which she and her husband were soon admitted.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span>
+Don Jos&eacute; Arias was the name of this gentleman,
+and he was soon known in nearly every drawing-room
+in Belgravia. He was introduced by the
+Brazilian <i>charg&eacute; d'affaires</i>, in the absence of the
+Minister Resident, and this semi-official guarantee
+of his position in Brazil gave him a passport everywhere.
+It was not strange, therefore, that such a
+handsome, refined, and agreeable couple should
+be cordially and hospitably received, especially as
+their wealth was undoubtedly enormous, while
+their manners showed that they had been born in
+the purple of aristocracy. It was a sad shock to
+society when it was learned that Don Jos&eacute; and
+Donna Maria had absconded suddenly, taking with
+them about fifty thousand pounds sterling, obtained
+by forgery. It was then learned that the
+Brazilian legation had been the victim of forged
+documents also, though the intimate acquaintance
+of Don Jos&eacute; with the policy and statecraft of
+Brazil in many important affairs had contributed
+largely to his success in deceiving the young
+diplomat who was temporarily in charge of the
+legation.</p>
+
+<p>It was not until more than a year after this occurrence
+that Don Pedro P. L. de Morito arrived
+in New York, with his beautiful wife, Donna
+Lucia. They did not stop long in New York after
+their arrival, but spent the latter part of the summer
+in the White Mountains in a very retired
+manner, although they lived in the best style
+that the place afforded. In August, they made
+a hasty trip to Washington and back to New<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span>
+York again, where they began a more pretentious
+mode of life than they had chosen theretofore.
+Don Pedro kept a yacht elegantly fitted up, and
+his horses were the best that money could obtain.
+His bachelor suppers were models of epicurean
+perfection, and when his wife gave a reception,
+everything was in the best taste and
+style. While visiting Washington, Don Pedro
+had met Senator Muirhead, who had gone there
+for a few days on public business, and the acquaintance
+was renewed in New York, where the
+Senator had some private interests demanding
+his attention. Something had led the Senator to
+connect Don Pedro with Gomez, Sanchez, Michel,
+and Arias, and though the idea was a vague one
+in his mind, it was sufficiently fixed to cause him
+to institute inquiries into Se&ntilde;or Morito's antecedents.
+As previously stated, nothing could be
+learned of him previous to his arrival in New
+York, and the only circumstance which could
+possibly be regarded as suspicious was, that both
+in Washington and New York he had avoided
+meeting the Peruvian Minister and other fellow-countrymen.</p>
+
+<p>The peculiarity of the case interested me, and,
+after a long conversation with the Senator, I
+agreed to unravel the slight mystery surrounding
+the parties, and to make a complete review of
+their past history so far as it might be possible to
+obtain it. No harm could result from such a
+course, whether they were honest or the reverse;
+and so, having decided upon a simple plan, I re<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span>turned
+to Chicago to select the persons to represent
+me in Gloster.</p>
+
+<p>My preliminary survey of the field had brought
+me into contact with many of the most fashionable
+people in Gloster; and, as I foresaw that my
+operatives would be called upon to move in the
+best society while engaged in this investigation, I
+obtained as extended information about the members
+of the <i>cr&ecirc;me de la cr&ecirc;me</i> as possible. Since
+many of them will figure conspicuously in the
+incidents of this story, a brief description of the
+leaders will be necessary.</p>
+
+<p>One of the wealthiest men of Gloster was a
+bachelor, named Henry O. Mather. He was
+about fifty years old, but he still retained much
+of the fire of youth, and he was one of the most
+popular members of society. At an early day in
+the history of the Great West he had settled at
+Gloster, where he had invested largely in unimproved
+lands; and, by forethought and good
+judgment in his speculations, he had rapidly increased
+his property in extent and value, until,
+at this time, he was one of the few millionaires
+west of the Alleghanies. About three years previous
+to the time of which I write, he had invested
+largely in the new railroad schemes then
+organized, and his importance as a railway magnate
+was recognized throughout the whole country.
+His reputation as a shrewd business man
+made him a species of authority among his fellow-townspeople,
+and few persons would have
+ventured to distrust the safety of any enterprise<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span>
+in which he was actively interested. Indeed, so
+complete was the confidence of most men in him,
+that it was not considered necessary in buying
+real estate to trace the title further back than to
+Henry O. Mather, a deed from him being considered
+as secure as a patent from the government.
+Personally he was a very agreeable man, being
+gallant without affectation, and brilliant without
+priggishness. His figure was of medium height,
+compactly built, and he carried himself with an
+erect bearing and springy gait, which greatly
+aided in deceiving strangers as to his age. His
+hair was brown, turning gradually to gray, and
+he wore full gray side-whiskers. His features
+were quite pleasing except the mouth, which was
+rather large and sensual. On the whole, he was
+a man with uncommon ability to please when he
+felt disposed to exert himself, and his great
+wealth was an additional charm which society
+was not slow to recognize. He owned a large
+house, occupying the whole of a square in the
+most fashionable part of the city, and his sister-in-law
+was installed as its mistress.</p>
+
+<p>Richard Perkins was an Englishman who had
+long lived in Gloster, where he owned the largest
+brewery in the West. He was of middle height,
+but being quite fleshy, his gait was a kind of
+waddle&mdash;the reverse of elegant or dignified. His
+smooth, round, jovial face was strongly expressive
+of an appreciation of the good things of this
+world, and he rarely denied himself any indulgence
+that passion craved and that money could
+procure.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>It was while Mather and Perkins were on their
+annual visit to New York that they met Se&ntilde;or
+Morito and his beautiful wife, Donna Lucia.
+The distinguished foreigners soon made a complete
+conquest of both the western gentlemen,
+who invited them in the most cordial manner to
+visit Gloster at their earliest convenience.</p>
+
+<p>The delights of New York society were enjoyed
+for several months by these wealthy and aristocratic
+foreigners before they were able to keep
+the promise made to Mather and Perkins; for
+they were entertained by the old Knickerbocker
+families of Manhattan in a princely style. They
+were the guests of the most exclusive circles of
+the city, and everywhere they displayed such
+perfect courtesy, good breeding, and <i>savoir faire</i>,
+that it was evident they were accustomed to
+wealth and high social position. They had elegant
+apartments in the leading hotel of the city,
+and their cash expenditures showed the possession
+of an unlimited fortune. They finally tore
+themselves away from New York, arriving in
+Gloster during the comparatively dull season of
+Lent. Here their fame had become known in
+society through the incessant praises of Mather
+and Perkins, and their reception into the highest
+circles was coincident with their arrival. The
+unanimous verdict of those who made their acquaintance
+was, that Gloster had never entertained
+two more thoroughly pleasing guests than
+the Don and Donna Morito.</p>
+
+<p>Don Pedro was about forty years of age, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span>
+he had all the brilliancy and ease of a man of
+thirty. His figure was very fine, being slightly
+above the medium height, erect, compact, and
+muscular. His hands and feet were small and
+elegantly shaped, but were not effeminate. His
+rich olive complexion was in admirable harmony
+with his soft black eyes and deep red lips. His
+face was a good oval, without being unmanly,
+and his black, glossy hair was beautifully curly
+and wavy. He wore side-whiskers and a long
+moustache, beneath which his smile, the ladies
+said, was faultless. Like most South Americans,
+he seemed too lazy to be unamiable, and his general
+style was that of a man who, having possessed
+wealth always, would be perfectly lost
+without it.</p>
+
+<p>Donna Lucia was a fine specimen of Spanish
+beauty, education, and refinement. It was easy
+to see that she possessed more force of character
+than her husband, and that her passionate nature
+was like a volcano, which might burst forth at
+any time, driving her to the most dangerous
+courses if it took possession of her. A detailed
+description of such a woman is an impossibility.
+In general, she was a beauty of the Andalusian
+type, as nearly perfect in form and feature as can
+be conceived; but her expression was of an infinite
+variety of characters, each one giving the
+precise shade of meaning most applicable to the
+time, place, person, and sentiment. In short, she
+was so near perfection that nearly all the men she
+met were in love with her, and nine-tenths of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span>
+them more than half believed that she regretted
+her marriage for their sake. Nevertheless, she
+kept all admirers at a certain distance, which
+only bewitched them the more.</p>
+
+<p>At the time of which I write, Don Pedro was
+so much pleased with Gloster, that he had rented
+a large residence in a very fashionable locality,
+and was making preparations to spend a year
+there. The charming manner in which they had
+entertained their friends at the hotel was ample
+guarantee that when the Don and Donna were
+established in their new home, they would surpass
+anything in the way of festivities ever seen
+in Gloster; hence, all the best society of the place
+rejoiced greatly at the arrival of this new constellation
+in the social firmament.</p>
+
+<p>Among the bachelors most noted in <i>salons</i> and
+parlors of the city were Daniel McCarthy and
+Charles Sylvanus, the former a lawyer, and the
+latter a journalist. McCarthy was an Irishman,
+of brilliant talents and ready wit. Although still
+comparatively a young man, he was the county
+prosecuting attorney, and was considered one of
+the foremost lawyers of the city. He was very
+good-looking and good-hearted, and his natural
+drollery made him a most entertaining companion.
+While speaking in court, and often in society, he
+had a habit of running his fingers through his
+long, thick hair, which he would also, at times,
+throw back with a peculiar jerk of his head.
+This habit was especially frequent when he became
+deeply interested in his subject, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span>
+spectators could always tell whether Dan was
+doing his best, even when they could not hear his
+words.</p>
+
+<p>Sylvanus was editor and part proprietor of an
+evening newspaper. As a journalist he was not
+above mediocrity, but he was well received in
+society, where even a moderate allowance of
+brains will suffice for success.</p>
+
+<p>A conspicuous member of society and a pillar
+of the Swedenborgian church was Mr. John Preston,
+a banker and capitalist. With a book of
+Swedenborgian revelations in one hand and a
+bundle of tax titles in the other, he would frequently
+orate to a crowd of unbelievers, from a
+text drawn from his book, in a manner calculated
+to quite convert them, were it not that they knew
+he was only working up a fresh head of steam to
+enable him to grind the faces of the poor upon
+whose property he held tax titles. In fact, many
+people were of the opinion that this man was a
+dangerous character, in spite of his pretense of
+piety, his ostentatious charity, and his assumption
+of the <i>r&ocirc;le</i> of a professional philanthropist.
+They insinuated that a man could afford to give
+largely to an astronomical society, a college, an
+academy of sciences, and other objects of education,
+when he had appropriated many thousands
+of dollars belonging to the school fund to his own
+use; that he could easily contribute freely to his
+church, when he used the church property in his
+own interests and managed the society to suit
+himself; and that there was no great amount of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span>
+philanthropy in giving a few hundred dollars to
+miscellaneous charities, when he made ten times
+the amount in shaving notes at usurious interest
+and acquiring land by means only one remove
+from actual theft; these things were becoming so
+notorious that a man of less indomitable brass
+than John Preston would have long since been
+sent to Coventry, if not to jail; but he revolved
+on his own center, sublimely indifferent to the
+attacks of his enemies, for whom, by the way, he
+used to pray with most fervent unction. His
+wife was a pleasant, motherly woman, who gave
+liberally to charitable objects, and who regarded
+her husband as one of the saints of the earth.</p>
+
+<p>There were three children&mdash;a young man and
+two girls. The former gave no promise of either
+ability, probity, or ambition, and there was about
+him a noticeable air of deficiency in both mental
+and moral worth. The girls were commonplace
+nonentities, with no pretensions to beauty or
+grace.</p>
+
+<p>One of the most prominent citizens of Gloster
+was a wealthy tanner, named Charles H. Sanders.
+Having foreseen at an early day the great progress
+which the city would make in population
+and importance, he had invested largely in tracts
+of unimproved land, which he held against all
+offers to purchase until his real estate was more
+extended and valuable than that of any other
+property-owner in the city. Personally he was
+very thin and angular, with such a sickly look
+that his death seemed possible any day, though<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span>
+his constitution was of that character which
+might hold out much longer than that of a more
+robust type. His wife was a very charming
+woman, and they had two young daughters, who
+gave promise of considerable beauty when they
+should arrive at maturity.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Thomas Burke and his wife were, perhaps,
+the most general favorites in Gloster society.
+Mr. Burke was tall and well built, and his large
+head and commanding appearance made him conspicuous
+in any group. He had a broad, high
+forehead, heavy eyebrows, deep-set black eyes, a
+Roman nose, and a heavy black moustache, which
+completely covered his mouth. His straight, black
+hair, high cheek-bones, and swarthy complexion,
+gave him slightly the look of having Indian blood
+in his veins; but the rest of his features were unmistakably
+Celtic, and the moment he spoke, the
+Irishman stood confessed. He was a man of such
+extensive reading and general information that
+few persons excelled him in conversation. His
+wife was also cultivated and intelligent, so that
+either as guest or hostess she was equally agreeable
+and popular. They had a large family of
+bright and interesting children.</p>
+
+<p>One of the social curiosities of the city was
+known as Deacon Humphrey. He was a striking
+instance of the importance which self-complacent
+mediocrity can obtain in a newly-settled community,
+in spite of ponderous stupidity. His
+large head gave him his only excuse for professing
+to have brains, and his air of preoccupation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span>
+made him in appearance the personification
+of wisdom; indeed, a witty journalist, who had
+sounded the depths of Humphrey's ignorance,
+once said that "no man <i>could</i> be as wise as
+Humphrey <i>looked</i>." No better condensation of
+this character in a few words could be made. He
+was part proprietor of a morning newspaper, and
+at times, to the dismay of the other stockholders,
+he aspired to the editorial tripod. The mighty
+lucubrations of his intellect were generally assigned
+to the waste-basket, and in the city it was
+well known that his influence in the columns of
+the paper was absolutely nothing, though in the
+country he was still regarded with awe by the
+bucolic mind. He was generally known as
+"Deacon" from his honorary occupancy of that
+office in a Presbyterian church. Mrs. Humphrey
+was seldom seen, being in poor health almost constantly,
+but their only daughter, Jennie, was one
+of the foremost of the fashionable of the <i>dilettanti</i>
+of the city. Indeed, it was confidently anticipated
+that, some day, Miss Jennie would burst
+forth as a full-blown authoress, and overpower an
+expectant public with the radiance of her intellect
+and the elegance of her style.</p>
+
+<p>No description of Gloster celebrities would be
+complete without that of Ethan Allen Benson,
+Esq., formerly Member of Congress, and late
+Minister Plenipotentiary at an important European
+court. The suggestion having once been
+made to him by some waggish diplomat that he
+resembled the first Napoleon, he was ever after<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span>ward
+desirous of drawing attention to this fancied
+resemblance. He was a vain, fussy, consequential
+politician, whose principal strength was
+in the ward caucus and the saloon.</p>
+
+<p>Judge Peter B. Taylor was another old settler,
+and he was frequently seen in social circles in
+spite of his age. His forehead was very broad
+indeed, but his face tapered so rapidly to a
+pointed chin as to make his head wedge-shaped.
+He had coarse, faded hair, but no whiskers nor
+beard, and only a scrubby, gray moustache. He
+had a singular habit of working his eyes independently
+of each other, and the effect upon a
+stranger who was not aware of this peculiarity
+was sometimes startling. His mouth was quite
+large, one side appearing larger than the other,
+and his lower lip slightly protruded, giving him a
+very harsh and forbidding appearance. He had
+at one time occupied a seat on the judicial bench,
+but few persons could understand on what
+grounds he deserved the office, unless it were
+that people believed the adage about a poor lawyer
+making a good judge. He was quite wealthy,
+and his business was that of a money loaner and
+real estate speculator. He was considered to be
+very pious and charitable&mdash;on Sunday; during
+the rest of the week no Shylock ever demanded
+his pound of flesh more relentlessly than he his
+three per cent. a month.</p>
+
+<p>It was among a society of which the foregoing
+were shining lights, that I was to operate at the
+request of Senator Muirhead. On returning to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span>
+Chicago from Gloster, I gave a great deal of
+thought to the case, for there was so little to act
+upon that none of the ordinary plans could be
+depended upon. During his stay in this country,
+Don Pedro had apparently acted in a perfectly
+honorable manner toward every one, and it
+would be impossible to proceed against him legally
+in the United States for crimes committed
+elsewhere, until the aggrieved parties should take
+the necessary steps for his extradition; with several
+of the countries in which he was supposed to
+have committed his crimes we had no extradition
+treaty, and nothing could be done here to arrest
+or punish him; hence, the task of exposing his
+previous career might be fruitless, even though
+the Senator's suspicions should be confirmed in
+every particular. Nothing whatever could be
+adduced against his character since his arrival in
+the United States, and I was, therefore, confined
+to the prevention of future frauds rather than
+the detection of old ones. The primary object of
+my efforts was thus made to be the discovery of
+the Don's intentions, as, without some slight
+forecast of his plans, I might be unable to circumvent
+them. Accordingly, I decided that I
+must furnish him with a friend who would be
+sufficiently intimate with him to become his
+trusted companion and adviser. At the same
+time, it would be essential to learn as much as
+possible relative to the previous career of both
+the Don and Donna, for it might be desirable to
+use a little moral suasion with them by showing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span>
+that their history was known. This plan would
+involve no injustice to them, for, if innocent of
+wrong-doing, they would never know that they
+had been under surveillance; while, if guilty,
+they deserved no consideration.</p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Madame Sevier, Widow, of Chicago, and Monsieur
+Lesparre, of Bordeaux, also arrive at Gloster.&mdash;Mr.
+Pinkerton, as a Laborer, anxious for a Job,
+inspects the Morito Mansion.&mdash;A Tender Scene,
+resulting in Profit to the fascinating Se&ntilde;ora.&mdash;Madame
+Sevier is installed as a Guest at Don
+Pedro's.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>My first action in this affair was to detail a
+man to "shadow" Don Pedro and the
+Donna until the detectives chosen for the more
+difficult portions of the work should be in a position
+to take notice of all their movements. As
+three detectives would require some little preparation
+to gain the position I desired them to fill, I
+hastened to select them and give them their
+instructions. For this mission I detailed a
+married couple, who had been several years in
+my employ. Mr. and Mrs. Rosel were natives of
+France, and as they had been constantly in my
+service almost from the time of their arrival in
+this country, I felt sure they would not be recognized
+as detectives by any one in the city of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span>
+Gloster. They were people of more than average
+intelligence and education, with a natural refinement
+which would be especially desirable in the
+prosecution of this case. In a few days all their
+preparations were completed, and they went to
+Gloster by different routes.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Rosel was not handsome, but she had a
+good figure, and she was very attractive, on account
+of her dashing, spirited ways, and because
+she could assume a deep interest in every one
+whom she met. She spoke English with so slight
+an accent that it was only noticed as an added
+charm to her winning conversation. I instructed
+her to represent herself in Gloster as Madame
+Sevier, the widow of a lace merchant, lately of
+Chicago, where he had carried on a moderate
+business. His death had thrown his affairs into
+some confusion, but the estate would be settled
+up soon, leaving a comfortable fortune to his
+widow. Madame Sevier did not like the climate
+of Chicago, and therefore she had decided to
+remain in Gloster until her business affairs were
+settled, when she would probably return to her
+relatives in France. I intended that she should
+mix in society as much as would be consistent
+with her character as a widow, and that she
+should endeavor to become intimate with Donna
+Lucia.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Rosel was to make a slight detour, arriving
+in Gloster from the east. He would be known
+as Monsieur Girard Lesparre, and his ostensible
+character was to be that of a man of moderate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span>
+capital from Bordeaux, looking for a favorable
+opportunity to invest some of his means in a
+profitable business.</p>
+
+<p>I followed the Rosels in a day or two, and found
+that Monsieur Lesparre was pleasantly located
+at a fashionable family hotel, while Madame
+Sevier had taken apartments in a stylish boarding-house
+only a few doors from the handsome
+residence which the Moritos were to occupy.
+This was quite satisfactory, and I turned my
+attention to the examination of the reports made
+by my "shadow." The reports were very monotonous
+in character, except as evidences of the
+popularity of the Don and Donna. The dull days
+of Lent had just passed, and the close of the
+season was now more crowded with parties and
+balls than the earlier portion had been. The
+presence of two such distinguished guests as Don
+Pedro and Donna Lucia contributed largely to the
+reasons for this rush of gayety, and they were
+overwhelmed with visitors and invitations. Mr.
+Mather had set the example by giving a large
+dinner-party in their honor, followed in the evening
+by a grand ball; and they had so charmed
+the other leaders of society that no entertainment
+was considered complete without the presence
+of Don Pedro P. L. de Morito and his beautiful
+wife.</p>
+
+<p>On leaving my hotel to visit the house which
+Don Pedro was fitting up for his residence, I met
+Charlie Morton, the United States Commissioner
+of Gloster. Morton was a capable lawyer and a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span>
+shrewd politician. He was equally attentive to
+ladies as to gentlemen, and it was well known
+that Charlie would never slight any one who
+could cast or influence a vote. His acquaintance
+extended through all classes, from the lowest to
+the highest, and few men were more generally
+popular. His powers of observation were only
+equaled by his tact, so that, while he saw all
+that went on about him, he never talked indiscreetly.
+He and I were quite intimate, and we
+chatted for some time about various people before
+I succeeded in bringing up the names of those in
+Gloster in whom I was just then most interested.</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose you are quite glad that the gay season
+is over, Charlie," I said, interrogatively. "As
+usual, you will not have many social events of
+any consequence after Lent, I presume?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! yes, indeed," he replied; "we shall be
+more active in society for the next month or two
+than ever before. You see, we have two wealthy
+and aristocratic Peruvians visiting Gloster, and
+they are so fascinating that they have quite taken
+our people by storm. They have been accustomed
+to the finest society of Europe and South
+America, so that we are put upon our mettle to
+show how well Gloster can compare in wealth,
+luxury, and refinement with older cities at home
+and abroad."</p>
+
+<p>"Are they then such remarkable lions?" I
+asked, "or do people run after them simply because
+they are rich foreigners?"</p>
+
+<p>"Of course their wealth and foreign birth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span>
+would cause many people to pay them attention,"
+said Morton; "but their popularity is something
+exceptional, and is undoubtedly due to their perfect
+knowledge of all the courtesies and customs
+of modern society, to their charming manners,
+and largely to their personal good looks. Se&ntilde;or
+Morito has fascinated all the ladies, while nearly
+every man in society is in love with the Se&ntilde;ora."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, take care of yourself, my boy," I said,
+jokingly. "If the lovely Donna causes Charlie
+Morton to strike his colors, she must be dangerous
+indeed."</p>
+
+<p>After leaving Morton, I sauntered along to the
+house which Don Pedro had rented, and which
+was now nearly ready for occupancy. It was a
+large residence, with ample grounds fronting on
+the principal avenue, and its imposing front of
+heavy columns gave it a striking appearance as
+compared with the more commonplace stone
+fronts around it. While I was glancing curiously
+about, a truck arrived laden with costly furniture.
+I was rather roughly dressed, and the driver
+asked me if I wanted a job of work. I accepted
+his offer to aid in carrying the furniture into the
+house, as I was anxious to examine the interior.
+After finishing the job, the furniture salesman
+took me over the house to show off the elegance
+with which it was decorated and furnished. It
+was certainly a model of good taste, while the
+paintings, statuary, frescoing, and articles of
+<i>bijouterie</i> were evidences of enormous expenditures.
+Having obtained a thorough knowledge<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span>
+of the plan of the house, I withdrew, receiving
+fifty cents for my labor.</p>
+
+<p>The time when Don Pedro was to occupy his
+residence was to be signalized by a grand reception
+held therein, and the invitations were already
+out. Meantime entertainments were given by
+John Preston, Alexander McIntyre, and Charles
+H. Sanders. The latter's reception was especially
+brilliant, and those who knew Mr. Sanders's parsimonious
+character were much surprised at his
+profuse expenditure for the occasion. I soon
+afterwards obtained an explanation of this unusual
+liberality, by hearing another banker casually
+remark that Don Pedro had withdrawn a
+part of his funds from New York, and had deposited
+them in Mr. Sanders's bank. This gave
+me a hint, and I immediately acted upon it. Being
+well acquainted with a number of bankers, I
+visited several of them, and talked about various
+business men of Gloster, as if I were desirous of
+getting information about their commercial standing
+and credit. In each case I succeeded in learning
+the extent to which Don Pedro had deposited
+money in bank. The total amount then due him
+by the three houses with whom he had made deposits
+was about $17,000, although his original
+deposits had amounted to more than double that
+sum. Heavy drafts to pay his current expenses
+and to furnish his house had largely reduced his
+available cash, though he still had an ample sum
+on hand. Knowing how enormous his expenses
+were, I felt sure that he would reach the end of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span>
+his bank account in a short time, unless he should
+have other funds, of whose existence I was unaware.
+If this sum of seventeen thousand dollars
+represented his total capital, however, he
+would soon show whether he was what he
+claimed to be, or an adventurer; for, in the
+former case, he would draw money from his
+Peruvian estates, and, in the latter, he would accomplish
+some great swindle. I was, therefore,
+anxious to put my detectives at work as quickly
+as possible to enable me to learn something definite
+of his intentions.</p>
+
+<p>Madame Sevier was making quite rapid progress
+in her new quarters. Mrs. Courtney, the lady
+who kept the house, was a widow of some means,
+who took boarders to enable her to educate her
+children in the best manner. She was highly regarded
+by every one, and her visiting-list included
+all the most fashionable people in the city. She
+soon became greatly interested in Madame Sevier,
+and through her assistance the Madame made
+the acquaintance of a number of the families
+living in the neighborhood. As the rage for foreigners
+was at its height just then, Madame Sevier
+soon became highly popular, and she was invited
+to several entertainments, where she met Don
+Pedro and Donna Lucia. The latter, finding that
+Madame Sevier was to be her near neighbor in
+her new residence, became very intimate with
+her, especially as Donna Lucia was desirous of
+reviving her knowledge and practice of the French
+language. Consequently, when Don Pedro's ar<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span>rangements
+were all completed and the new
+house occupied, Madame Sevier used to drop in
+for a few minutes' chat every day. As she was
+a very capable manager, she was frequently able
+to give Donna Lucia valuable hints about her
+household affairs, especially with reference to the
+approaching reception.</p>
+
+<p>Ever since the arrival of the Moritos, Mr. Henry
+O. Mather had been a constant attendant upon
+the Donna. His attentions had not been so publicly
+marked as to have created scandal; but he
+had been so assiduous in paying his regards, that
+he was much more intimate than Mrs. Grundy
+would have thought strictly proper. He was in
+the habit of calling very frequently, and he often
+took the Don and Donna out for a drive. Sometimes
+the party would consist wholly of ladies,
+and occasionally the Donna accompanied him
+alone. In short, he became a sort of intimate
+friend of the family, welcome at all times, without
+the necessity of invitation or ceremony.</p>
+
+<p>One day, Madame Sevier went in to see Donna
+Lucia in the afternoon, and was told by the servant
+that she would find the Donna in the library.
+Without permitting the servant to announce her,
+she passed on toward the room mentioned; but,
+as she approached the door, hearing voices within,
+she paused a moment to see who was with
+Donna Lucia. The room was in a very retired
+part of the house, and she was able to take a position
+close to the partly open door without the
+probability of being noticed by any one. She<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span>
+was thus enabled to overhear a highly interesting
+conversation between the Donna and Henry O.
+Mather, who had evidently arrived only a moment
+or two before her.</p>
+
+<p>"You are not in good spirits to-day, Donna
+Lucia?" questioned Mather, sympathetically.</p>
+
+<p>"No, Mr. Mather; I have my troubles at
+times, like other people, but I try not to let
+others see them."</p>
+
+<p>"Then you do not care for sympathy, Se&ntilde;ora,"
+said Mather, with a tender sigh; "I see that you
+have been in tears, and it grieves me to think
+that I cannot save you from the painful things
+which cause you to cry."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! Mr. Mather, I do appreciate your kindness,
+I assure you," said the Donna, also sighing
+deeply; "I am almost tempted to ask your advice,
+for I feel that you are truly my friend; but
+I am afraid you will think I have been naughty
+in having exposed myself to such annoyances."</p>
+
+<p>"No, indeed, my dear Donna," replied the millionaire,
+quite enraptured at this evident token
+of her confidence in him; "I know that you are
+too lovely to be anything but an angel, and I
+shall be only too happy to give you advice upon
+any subject that you confide to me."</p>
+
+<p>As the conversation was becoming highly interesting,
+the tones of the parties being of a
+really lover-like tenderness, Madame Sevier took
+a hasty glimpse through the door, and saw that
+she could watch as well as listen, unperceived.
+Mather was standing beside the Donna, bending<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span>
+over her and looking into her face, while she had
+her head half turned away, as if in coy indecision.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Mr. Mather&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Why do you address me always so formally?
+Can you not call me Henry?" asked Mather,
+boldly.</p>
+
+<p>"How would it sound if any one should hear
+me?" said the Donna, casting down her eyes and
+playing with her watch-chain.</p>
+
+<p>"But when we are alone no one can hear
+you," replied Mather. "Won't you call me
+Henry when we have an occasional <i>t&ecirc;te-&agrave;-t&ecirc;te</i>?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, then you must be very discreet, Henry,"
+answered she, looking up, blushing and hesitating
+as she spoke.</p>
+
+<p>"I will be discretion itself," said the now
+wholly infatuated Mather, with a look of
+triumph; and to show that he accepted the conditions
+of the agreement, he sealed it by raising
+her hand to his lips.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! fie! fie!" she exclaimed; "is it thus that
+you show your discretion? I shall be obliged
+to retract my promise if you become so rash.
+Now, sit down beside me, and be more polite in
+future."</p>
+
+<p>"I will not be so hasty again, my dear Donna;
+but my pleasure was so great that I was somewhat
+beside myself. Now tell me what it was
+that caused your troubles."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Mr. Math&mdash;&mdash;"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"No, no; not 'Mr. Mather;' recollect your
+promise," interrupted Mather, as he saw she hesitated
+to call him by his first name.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, then, Henry, I have been very thoughtless
+and extravagant, and I do not know what to
+do. You see, I have always spent money for
+everything I needed without regard to cost; for
+my own fortune was ample for everything, and
+Pedro would give me any amount that I might
+desire. But last month a draft for six thousand
+pounds, which was sent me by my trustees, was
+lost on the way, and so I have used up all my
+own funds. Having run up several large bills in
+New York, I asked Pedro to pay them, and he
+did so; but he said that, having ordered his factors
+to send him no more money until his arrival
+in Callao, he should be somewhat embarrassed
+until he heard from them again. His sudden
+determination to fit up and occupy a residence
+here has exhausted all his available funds except
+a few thousand dollars for current expenses, and
+he requested me not to make any large purchases
+until one of us should receive a remittance from
+our estates. Well, you see, I expected surely to
+have received a large sum before now, and so I
+made purchases without regard to consequences;
+the result is, that I am deeply in debt, my money
+has not arrived, and I am afraid to tell Pedro,
+because he will not forgive me for running in
+debt and disobeying him. Unfortunately, I have
+done both these things, and I am momentarily in
+fear that some of the bills will be sent to him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span>
+Now, my dear Henry, you see that I have good
+cause to look sad and cry."</p>
+
+<p>As she finished, the Donna began to whimper
+and put her handkerchief to her eyes in so touching
+a manner that Mather was quite overpowered.
+The artistic expression with which she
+hastily called him her "dear Henry" was the
+finishing touch to an already powerful attack,
+and he surrendered completely.</p>
+
+<p>"My dear Donna," he exclaimed, seizing her
+hand in both of his, "how glad I am that you
+confided in me. I will see that you are not
+troubled by another anxious thought in this matter.
+Tell me how much you need to settle all
+your indebtedness."</p>
+
+<p>"Indeed, Henry, I cannot let you do anything
+of the kind," she protested, feebly. "Why, it is a
+very large sum in all, and it may be several
+months before I can repay you."</p>
+
+<p>"Now don't talk about payment, but just tell
+me how much you need," replied Mather.</p>
+
+<p>"The large bills amount to over four thousand
+dollars, and there are a number of small ones
+which I have not figured up," she said, thoughtfully.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, then, I will bring you around five
+thousand dollars to-morrow, and you can pay
+the bills without any one knowing where the
+money comes from," said Mather, again kissing
+her hand.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! you dear, good fellow!" exclaimed the
+Donna; and, overcome by his generous response<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span>
+to her request, she threw her arms about his neck
+and kissed him several times.</p>
+
+<p>"There, there," she continued, releasing herself
+and coquettishly tapping his lips with her
+hand, "I don't know how I came to do such a
+thing, but you were so kind that I couldn't help
+it."</p>
+
+<p>"If that is the case," said the overjoyed
+Mather, "I will add five thousand more to have
+a similar expression of your gratitude."</p>
+
+<p>"Will you, really? I believe I am half in love
+with you," she murmured, as she allowed him to
+embrace her a second time, and press burning
+kisses on her lips.</p>
+
+<p>The ringing of the door-bell interrupted their
+happiness, and Madame Sevier hastily retired to
+the drawing-room, into which other visitors were
+shown by the servant. Donna Lucia soon entered,
+perfectly self-possessed, and greeted all her
+friends with her usual ease and cordiality. Mr.
+Mather probably passed out by the library entrance,
+for he did not appear in the parlor. The
+ladies conversed together for some time, one of
+the important subjects of their talk being the
+troubles of household management. Donna Lucia
+complained bitterly that her servants robbed her,
+and that they were careless, dirty, and impudent.
+She knew very little about housekeeping, and
+every domestic in her employ took advantage of
+her. She added that, as soon as her housewarming
+was over, she intended to get, if possible, a
+lady who would be a member of the family, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span>
+who would relieve her of the management of the
+house.</p>
+
+<p>"Now," said she, in her most winning manner,
+"here is Madame Sevier, who has nothing
+to occupy her time, who is a natural manager of
+other people, and who is so agreeable that she
+would be a positive charm to any household; and
+I have been thinking, positively, of asking her to
+take charge of my whole establishment, and help
+me entertain my guests. What should you think,
+Madame Sevier, of such a request?"</p>
+
+<p>The opportunity of becoming domesticated in
+the Morito mansion was thus afforded to one of
+my detectives, but she knew better than to
+accept at once. She therefore professed to treat
+it as a pleasantry, and said that she had no doubt
+that she should succeed as a housekeeper, but
+whether she could add anything of attraction to
+such a charming home was greatly to be doubted.
+The other ladies, however, thought the idea an
+admirable one, and they all urged Madame Sevier
+to adopt it. Having once broached the subject,
+Donna Lucia again spoke of it with the greatest
+interest, showing, by her arguments and determination
+to coax Madame Sevier to decide favorably,
+that she had thought about such a plan before,
+and that she was really in earnest in her request.
+Finally, Madame Sevier said that she saw
+no objection to accepting the offer, as she really
+enjoyed taking care of a large establishment, but
+she was not prepared to accept it at once, and
+she would wait a few days to reflect upon it. It<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span>
+was then agreed that she should give her decision
+at the grand reception to be given as a housewarming.</p>
+
+<p>This part of my plan had worked admirably,
+and I felt confident of my eventual success in
+learning all about the affairs of the Morito
+family. The method by which Donna Lucia had
+obtained ten thousand dollars from Mr. Mather
+was a decided confirmation of Senator Muirhead's
+suspicions; though there was nothing in the
+transaction which could make her liable to punishment
+by law, and as there was no danger that
+her victim would ever appear against her, I paid
+no further attention to this episode.</p>
+
+<p>I ordered Madame Sevier to accept Donna
+Lucia's offer on the following terms: she should
+have full authority over all the female servants in
+the house; she should have charge of the ordering
+of all articles for household use; she should be
+considered in the same light as a guest, so far as
+social intercourse went; she should go and come
+as she chose, without regard to the duties of the
+<i>m&eacute;nage</i>; and she should receive no salary. This
+last point she was to insist upon, as necessary
+to preserve her feeling of independence, and
+enable her to occupy her time as she might see
+fit.</p>
+
+<p>As the day approached for the Moritos' reception,
+all Gloster's best society were filled with
+pleasurable excitement and anticipation, as the
+preparations were known to be far more magnificent
+than those for any similar entertainment<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span>
+since Gloster was settled. As Monsieur Lesparre
+had already made Don Pedro's acquaintance,
+and had received an invitation, I felt sure that
+I should be thoroughly informed as to all the
+occurrences of the evening, and so I awaited developments.</p>
+
+<p>The employment of detectives to penetrate into
+the social life and domestic surroundings of any
+family is strongly repugnant to my sense of propriety,
+and I rarely countenance the practice, if I
+can possibly attain my object in any other way.
+I dislike to feel that I am trespassing upon the
+privacy of any man's home, even though that
+man may be a criminal. The idea of introducing
+a spy into a household is opposed to the spirit of
+our free American institutions, violating, as it
+does, the unwritten law that "a man's house is
+his castle;" hence, I never resort to such a measure,
+except in extreme cases. I saw, however, that
+there was no other means of protecting the interests
+of my client, Senator Muirhead; he was
+acting disinterestedly in the case, to save his constituents
+from being defrauded, and I could only
+prevent the threatened swindle by learning in
+advance the exact plan of operation proposed by
+the suspected person.</p>
+
+<p>I was careful, however, to employ my most
+discreet and cautious agents, in order that I should
+quickly learn whether the Senator's suspicions
+were based on fact; in case I should find that the
+suspected parties were innocent, I was determined
+to withdraw instantly. They would not then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span>
+suffer any injustice, for my employ&eacute;s would keep
+their discoveries secret from every one except myself,
+and no one would ever know that they had
+been the objects of suspicion.</p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Monsieur Lesparre, having a retentive memory, becomes
+serviceable to Don Pedro.&mdash;Diamond Fields and
+droll Americans.&mdash;A pompous Judge in an unfortunate
+Predicament.&mdash;The grand Reception closes
+with the happy Arrangement that the gay Se&ntilde;or
+and Se&ntilde;ora shall dine with Mr. Pinkerton's Detectives
+on the next evening.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>The day of the reception was unusually pleasant,
+and at nightfall the full moon rose to
+add her splendor to the attractiveness of the
+evening. The Morito mansion was ablaze with
+wax candles, gaslight being considered too common
+for use on such an occasion. From the street
+to the door was a passageway of double canvas,
+with an opening at the sidewalk to prevent interference
+with passers. This opening was brilliantly
+lighted, and was hung with flags, pennants, and
+flowers, artistically arranged so as to give the
+guests a charming prospect when alighting from
+their carriages. The rooms of the house needed
+no decoration beyond that already given by the
+frescoes and paintings adorning the walls and
+ceilings. Nevertheless, flowers were abundantly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span>
+distributed about the spacious apartments. The
+beautiful conservatory contained a superb fountain,
+whose jets and sprays gave forth exquisite
+odor and rippling music. Everywhere throughout
+the house the most artistic grouping of
+furniture, pictures, and statuary could be seen,
+and the variety of taste displayed was only
+equaled by the unity of arrangements as a
+whole. At ten o'clock the guests began to arrive,
+and as the throng of carriages became thicker,
+it seemed as if the house would be over-crowded.
+This did not happen to any noticeable degree,
+however, as the whole of two floors were thrown
+open to accommodate the guests. The music
+was furnished by the best musicians of the city,
+and the supper was a miracle of epicurean excellence,
+Delmonico having sent one of his chief
+assistants from New York to superintend its
+preparation. Never had Gloster seen an affair
+where such elegance and good taste had been
+displayed; even the smallest details were perfect,
+and the Don and Donna received innumerable
+congratulations and good wishes from their
+guests.</p>
+
+<p>During his brief stay in Gloster, Monsieur Lesparre
+had been very active in forming acquaintances,
+and he was already well known in society.
+He had a very retentive memory, and, when once
+introduced to any gentleman, he immediately
+took pains to learn everything possible about him.
+By careful observation and perseverance, he had
+learned the general history of a very large num<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span>ber
+of the leading people in society, and his droll
+comments and half-sarcastic criticism of them,
+expressed <i>sotto voce</i> to the Don on various occasions,
+had caught the latter's attention. The
+Don therefore frequently singled out Lesparre for
+a companion in society, in order to obtain information
+about the social and business standing of
+various people.</p>
+
+<p>"You see, my dear Lesparre," said the Don,
+"I am such a poor judge of character that I am
+liable to be imposed upon unless I know something
+about the previous history of people who
+seek my friendship. And, as I have a miserable
+memory for faces, names, places, and everything
+else, it is a great pleasure to find some one who
+can keep me posted as to the status of the people
+I meet. You must let me see as much of you as
+possible, for, being both foreigners, we ought to
+have a common bond of sympathy."</p>
+
+<p>"It will give me great pleasure," replied Lesparre.
+"Of course our friends here are very attentive;
+but then, you know, they lack the polish
+one meets in European <i>salons</i>, and they are too
+apt to obtrude their business into their social
+relations."</p>
+
+<p>"Exactly; I agree with you perfectly, and it is
+for that reason that I enjoy a conversation with
+a gentleman of Continental education and tastes.
+It is wonderful how keen these Americans are in
+their pursuit of the 'Almighty Dollar.' Why,
+only a week or two ago, I happened to mention
+to Mr. Mather and a few others, that some of my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span>
+estates in the Peruvian Andes contained extensive
+diamond fields, when they began to upbraid me
+for not working them and adding to my already
+ample revenue. They seemed positively shocked
+when I told them, that I saw no reason for increasing
+my income, as I had as much money as
+I could use now. They insisted that I was doing
+a positive wrong to my fellow mortals in refusing
+to burden myself with a new enterprise, and I
+assure you they were quite in earnest in their remonstrances.
+Ah! how droll they are, Monsieur
+Lesparre!"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, indeed, I have found the same spirit
+even with reference to my humble means," replied
+Lesparre. "They want me to invest in
+something right away, and I have very many
+disinterested offers of advice; but they cannot
+understand my delay, and they think I am throwing
+away so many good chances by waiting.
+Now, I should be content to settle down for a
+year, before investing, just to examine at length
+all the openings offered me; but I doubt whether
+I could afford to do that, unless I could obtain a
+satisfactory salaried position, and I feel that that
+is impossible. There are very few such positions
+as I would be willing to accept, as I do not care
+to be tied down to regular duties."</p>
+
+<p>The gentlemen had stepped into the supper-room
+while this conversation was going on, and
+were about to take a glass of wine together.
+Lesparre's last remark seemed to give a sudden
+idea to Don Pedro, and he sipped his wine in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span>
+silence for a moment or two. Then he said,
+inquiringly:</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose you would like a position of a responsible
+character, where your knowledge of
+commercial and financial affairs would be available,
+but where your whole time would not be
+absorbed?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, that was my wish," answered Lesparre;
+"but, of course, I do not expect to realize my
+hopes."</p>
+
+<p>"Possibly you may, Monsieur Lesparre," said
+Don Pedro; "but let us leave the subject of business
+until to-morrow, when I should like to talk
+with you more fully about this matter. Now, let
+us return to the drawing-room, and when you see
+any of my guests approaching, please, tell me
+briefly who and what they are. For instance,
+tell me about that stiff and military-looking person
+crossing the room."</p>
+
+<p>"That is Captain Adrian L. Kerr, a retired
+army officer, who has lived here a long time. He
+has been unsuccessful in business, and it would
+be difficult to account for his means of livelihood
+were it not that his wife, the brilliant brunette
+near the mantel-piece, is supposed to have an income
+of her own. Some people are so ill-natured
+as to suggest that Alexander McIntyre, the
+wealthy Scotch banker now talking to her, is the
+source of her revenue, but that may be pure gossip.
+At any rate, she is always elegantly dressed,
+and she moves in the best society."</p>
+
+<p>"If people suspect her of improper intimacy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span>
+with McIntyre, why do they admit her to their
+houses?" asked Don Pedro.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you see, many of the merchants and
+business men have financial dealings with McIntyre,
+and they do not dare to offend him. As an
+illustration of his power, I will relate an incident
+that occurred recently. The wife of a well-known
+merchant was about to give a large party, and,
+in making out her list of invitations, she purposely
+left out the name of Mrs. Kerr. Her husband,
+on going to the bank to obtain the renewal
+of a note, found McIntyre as surly and savage as
+a bear, and the renewal was refused. As he had
+never before had any difficulty in obtaining such
+an accommodation when hard pressed for money,
+he could not account for the change in McIntyre's
+conduct; but when his wife informed him of her
+action the day previous in withholding an invitation
+from Mrs. Kerr, he understood it all. His
+affairs were in such a condition that he could not
+afford to quarrel with McIntyre, and so he insisted
+that an invitation be sent to Mrs. Kerr, in
+spite of his wife's assertion that Mrs. Kerr was
+an improper character. He was willing to admit
+that fact, but he preferred to submit to her presence
+rather than to be seriously crippled in
+business. An invitation was therefore sent in
+such a way as to make the delay in its delivery
+appear accidental, and in a few days Mr. McIntyre
+was willing to renew the merchant's note."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, she certainly does carry things with a
+high hand," replied Don Pedro, smiling. "I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span>
+wonder how she would have retaliated upon me
+if I had struck her name off my list to-night?
+However, it is not my business to question her
+character, and if my wife is satisfied to receive
+her, I shall not interfere."</p>
+
+<p>As the Don finished speaking, the music
+sounded the preliminary notes of a quadrille,
+and he hastened to find a partner. Among the
+guests were Mr. and Mrs. Arlington, whose
+minds were of such opposite characters as to
+keep them continually quarreling. He was a
+wealthy banker of austere manners and Puritanic
+tastes, while she was a butterfly of fashion,
+fit only to be petted, kissed, and caressed. She
+was all gayety and life; he, all piety and gloom.
+Her pleasures he considered sinful, while his
+recreations were to her the most painfully melancholy
+observances that could be devised.
+While he believed that she was a child of wrath,
+a creature of the world, the flesh, and the devil,
+she was equally satisfied that he was on the
+highway to fanaticism and hypocrisy. Under
+these circumstances, it was not unnatural that
+she should seek her friends among those who
+mingled in fashionable society, nor that her husband
+should consider it necessary to follow her
+into the gay world in order to keep a watch
+upon her. Her most attentive cavalier was a
+young bachelor named Harry Bertram, who
+seemed infatuated with her. Indeed, their preference
+for each other's society was so marked
+that the tongue of scandal had already begun to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span>
+wag, although no overt act could be cited against
+them. The Don, on leaving Lesparre, chanced
+to meet Mrs. Arlington, and she readily accorded
+him the pleasure of dancing with her. In the
+same set were Daniel McCarthy and Donna Lucia,
+Charles Sylvanus and Madame Sevier, and
+Mr. Mather and Mrs. Simon. In the adjoining
+set were Mr. Benson and Miss Jennie Humphrey,
+Alexander McIntyre and Mrs. Kerr, Harry Bertram
+and Mrs. Sanders, and Judge Robert Morgan
+and Mrs. Middleton.</p>
+
+<p>Judge Morgan was a remarkable-looking person
+at any time, but his appearance was especially
+noticeable in a dancing-set, the incongruity of
+his presence in such a scene being irresistibly
+comical. He was about fifty years of age, but
+his face was smooth and unwrinkled; though he
+was of the medium height, his great size gave
+him the look of a short man, which effect was
+partly increased by his long arms. He was very
+broad and fat, his stomach projecting to an absurd
+degree. At the same time he stood very
+erect, so that a profile view gave him a general
+resemblance to a loggerhead turtle set on end.
+His eyes were small and treacherous, his cheeks
+were puffy and flabby, his mouth was large and
+sensual. His hair and whiskers were brown and
+fine, but they always seemed unkempt. He wore
+closely-fitting black clothes, and he was fond of
+displaying an unusual amount of jewelry. He
+had obtained the office of judge of the criminal
+court by currying favor with the very classes
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span>most likely to be brought before him for trial,
+and his judicial ermine was not considered free
+from the foulest stains. His private life was, in
+many respects, a counterpart of his official conduct;
+though married to an agreeable woman,
+he was a notorious libertine and profligate. Still,
+he held his position in society, and was admitted
+to the acquaintance of the most reputable people
+in the city; hence, he frequently appeared at
+balls and dancing-parties, where he always tried
+to act like a light and graceful youth.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 640px;">
+<img src="images/gs04.jpg" width="640" height="430" alt="The Judge&#39;s downfall." title="" />
+<span class="caption">The Judge&#39;s downfall.</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>On this occasion he was especially anxious to
+display his manly form in the same set with the
+Donna, but being disappointed in this, he chose
+the set next to hers, and acted like a playful hippopotamus.
+While backing rapidly, in an attempt
+to balance to his partner, he came in contact
+with Mrs. Simon of the next set, and, tripping
+on her dress, he fell violently upon her.
+Her partner, Mr. Mather, tried to catch her as
+she also fell, but the ponderous form of the
+Judge came upon them both with crushing effect,
+and all three were brought to the floor at once.
+Mr. Mather and Mrs. Simon were quickly on
+their feet again, flushed with mortification but
+unhurt. But it was no such easy matter for the
+corpulent Judge to raise himself erect; he lay on
+his back a moment groaning, and it was thought
+that he might be seriously injured, as his fall had
+jarred the whole house. Several gentlemen carefully
+lifted him upright, and the ladies gathered
+about to condole with him, when it was suddenly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span>
+discovered that, if the Judge's person had not
+suffered, his clothing had. His tight dress coat
+was split several inches down the back, while a
+hasty glimpse behind his coat-tails satisfied the
+spectators that his pants were in an even worse
+condition than his coat. It may be imagined
+that the situation caused some merriment, in
+spite of the efforts of the more well-bred guests
+to preserve their gravity; but when the Judge,
+having regained his feet, vociferated in great
+wrath: "You are a pack of monkeys. I don't
+see anything to laugh at," there was a universal
+burst of laughter which could not be repressed.
+This so enraged him that it was difficult to make
+him understand his absurd position, but at length
+Don Pedro and Monsieur Lesparre induced him
+to go to the dressing-room for repairs. As there
+was no coat in the house large enough for him,
+the Don was at his wits' end to make him sufficiently
+presentable to enable him to return to the
+drawing-room; but at length the Judge was
+arrayed in one of the Don's gorgeous dressing-gowns,
+which was large enough to hide most of
+the effects of the fall. He soon returned to the
+lower rooms dressed in the most remarkable costume
+ever worn at a full-dress party in Gloster.</p>
+
+<p>With the exception of this accident, the evening
+passed off with the most perfect success,
+and the unanimous verdict was that there had
+never been a more thoroughly enjoyable entertainment
+given in the city. During the evening,
+Madame Sevier informed Donna Lucia of her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span>
+willingness to take charge of the Morito establishment,
+and agreed to begin her reign the next
+day. Donna Lucia was delighted at this news,
+and willingly accepted all the conditions, though
+she insisted for some time on giving Madame
+Sevier a liberal salary. Finding that Madame
+Sevier was resolute in her refusal to receive pay,
+the Donna informed her friends that she had invited
+Madame Sevier to live with her, and that
+the Madame had kindly agreed to assist her in
+entertaining her numerous guests.</p>
+
+<p>It was not until nearly daybreak that the more
+indefatigable revelers became weary of dancing
+and flirting, so that the Donna was quite exhausted
+when the last guest had departed.
+Madame Sevier remained to the end, as she intended
+occupying her room in the Morito mansion
+at once, instead of returning to her boarding-place.
+Donna Lucia left orders that she was not
+to be disturbed until five o'clock in the afternoon,
+but Madame Sevier decided to get up at twelve
+o'clock, in order to superintend the work of clearing
+away the decorations and <i>d&eacute;bris</i> of the ball.
+The Don had invited Monsieur Lesparre to dine
+with him at six o'clock, and so it was arranged
+that they should all meet at that hour.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Madame Sevier and Her Work.&mdash;Unaccountable Coquettishness
+between Man and Wife.&mdash;A Startling
+Scheme, illustrating the Rashness and Gullibility of
+American Business Men and the Supreme Assurance
+of Don Pedro.&mdash;Disaster approaching the
+Gloster Capitalists.&mdash;Other Suspicions Aroused.&mdash;The
+Story of Mr. Warne, English Diplomatic
+Agent.&mdash;A New Move.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>Madame Sevier began her work of reform
+in the household as soon as she was
+dressed that afternoon. Finding that they now
+had a mistress competent to control them, the
+servants showed a greater willingness to be useful,
+though some of them were inclined to be
+lazy and impudent as before. The Madame made
+mental notes of everything, took charge of the
+keys to all storerooms and closets, and clearly
+demonstrated that she was able to manage the
+house according to her own ideas. The cook,
+thinking she was indispensable, and that she
+could act independent of control, was very impertinent
+to Madame, and she evinced an insubordinate
+spirit that created a good deal of trouble.
+Seeing that prompt and severe measures were
+necessary, Madame Sevier paid this woman her
+wages and discharged her without a moment's
+warning. The effect upon the other servants
+was most satisfactory, and although the Madame
+was obliged to make some minor changes after<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span>ward,
+she was never again annoyed by impertinence
+or presumption. The dinner for that day
+was prepared by the assistant cook, under
+Madame Sevier's direction, and when the Don
+and Donna came down from their chamber, they
+were delighted to find that the house was in perfect
+order, showing no signs of having been the
+scene of revelry and dissipation the night before.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 640px;">
+<img src="images/gs05.jpg" width="640" height="419" alt="Madame Sevier discharging the servants." title="" />
+<span class="caption">Madame Sevier discharging the servants.</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>During dinner, at which Monsieur Lesparre
+was the only guest, Don Pedro, after complimenting
+Madame Sevier very highly upon her
+success in bringing order out of chaos, turned to
+his wife and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Lucia, your selection of a companion and advisor
+has been so fortunate that I am more than
+ever disposed to follow your example. What do
+you think, Monsieur Lesparre, cannot you serve
+me as confidential secretary and financial agent
+as satisfactorily as Madame Sevier assists my
+wife?"</p>
+
+<p>"Indeed, Don Pedro," replied Lesparre, gallantly,
+"if you impose upon me the task of
+equalling so accomplished and charming a lady
+as Madame Sevier, you will probably be disappointed
+in everything I do."</p>
+
+<p>"Bravo, bravo, Monsieur Lesparre!" cried the
+Donna; "you will certainly be successful in paying
+delicate compliments, at least. Yes, Pedro,
+I think you ought to secure Monsieur Lesparre's
+services at once; when you have nothing for him
+to do, he will be an agreeable companion for us.
+What say you, Madame Sevier?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I quite agree with you," replied the Madame,
+casting down her eyes coquettishly; "but I
+prophesy that Monsieur Lesparre would find his
+position an onerous one if he should be under
+obligations to pay me compliments."</p>
+
+<p>"Ah! the obligation would be unnecessary,"
+said Lesparre; "the difficulty would be to avoid
+doing so constantly."</p>
+
+<p>The Don and Donna smiled at each other significantly,
+thinking that they saw the incipient
+signs of a mutual attachment between these two,
+and that it was not unreasonable to imagine that
+a wedding might result therefrom. How little
+they imagined that these apparently distant acquaintances
+were, in fact, already man and wife!</p>
+
+<p>After dinner, the Don and Lesparre repaired to
+the billiard-room to smoke, while the ladies entered
+the drawing-room to receive visitors.</p>
+
+<p>"Monsieur Lesparre," said the Don, as they
+lounged back in luxuriant easy-chairs, "what do
+you think of my suggestion at dinner? I should
+really like to obtain your services as private secretary,
+and I will gladly give you such a salary as
+will make you independent of other labor. While
+you are attending to my affairs you will naturally
+become well acquainted with many business men,
+and will be able to investigate a number of enterprises,
+so that you will be better able a year
+hence to invest your capital to advantage."</p>
+
+<p>"Your offer is truly liberal," replied Lesparre,
+puffing his cigar thoughtfully, "and I feel disposed
+to accept it. What would be my duties?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Well, I will explain what I wish fully, and
+then you can judge how the position would suit
+you," answered Don Pedro. "In the first place,
+I wish a financial agent, a man whom I can
+trust, who will attend to all my affairs. You see,
+I detest the details of business. I desire to live
+free from the vexing annoyances consequent
+upon the providing and disbursing of money.
+My estates produce as much as I can use, and I
+do not trouble myself to inquire whether they
+might not yield more. I am accustomed to buy
+whatever I wish, but I hate to bother my head to
+know whether I have enough on hand to pay for
+my purchases; hence I want my secretary to attend
+to such matters for me. There is another
+thing in which you could be of the greatest service
+to me; for, while it is an affair of great importance,
+involving large interests, I am positively
+too fond of my own ease to give it the
+attention which it deserves. I know I can trust
+you not to repeat the slightest portion of what I
+am about to tell you, for it is not desirable that
+it should be talked about, unless the enterprise
+is successfully carried out."</p>
+
+<p>"Indeed, you can rest assured that I shall
+never mention a hint of it to any one," replied
+Lesparre.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you recollect I told you last night that
+Mather, Perkins, and some others were anxious
+to have me explore and open up the diamond
+fields which, I have reason to believe, constitute
+a large part of one of my estates in Peru? Some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span>
+time after I spoke to you, toward the end of the
+party, I missed Mather, Perkins, McIntyre, Sanders,
+and several others from the rooms, and
+while I was wondering what had become of
+them, Mather came up and asked me to go up to
+my dressing-room, which, you recollect, adjoined
+the room used for the gentlemen's dressing-room
+last night. On arriving there, I found about a
+dozen of the wealthiest men of Gloster sitting
+around the room, with Dan McCarthy at the
+table acting as secretary. Will you believe it?
+They had actually formed a business meeting in
+my own house, and had made speeches, passed
+resolutions, and voted upon two propositions,
+which they wished to submit to me; they had
+then sent the chairman, Mr. Mather, to bring me
+in, and I was expected to stand and deliver my
+decision at a moment's notice. The idea was
+perfectly ludicrous to me, yet it did not strike
+any of them that they were doing anything
+unusual. I believe that if a party of these Gloster
+business men were to be landed suddenly in
+hell, they would organize a stock exchange to
+deal in brimstone and ashes!"</p>
+
+<p>"They certainly carry their business instincts
+everywhere," said Lesparre, laughing heartily.
+"I suppose they had fully arranged everything
+before you were sent for?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, indeed; the very minor details were provided
+for, and I could not raise an objection
+which had not already been discussed and removed.
+Both propositions provided for the for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span>mation
+of a stock company for the mining, cutting,
+and sale of diamonds. According to the first
+plan, I was to fix a price upon my diamond fields,
+which the company would then purchase, paying
+me three-fourths in cash, and one-fourth in
+stock. In case, however, that I should be unwilling
+to part with my controlling interest, the
+second plan provided that I should receive one-fourth
+the estimated value of the land in money,
+giving to the company therefor the privilege of
+mining for a certain length of time, and receiving
+also one-half of the value of the diamonds found.
+The idea of disposing of this property had never
+before occurred to me, and naturally I was not
+prepared to give any answer on such short notice;
+but if I had done so then, I should have positively
+rejected both propositions. In fact, I said as
+much to Mather, and he then suggested to the
+meeting that 'Se&ntilde;or Morito be given a week
+to decide upon the propositions submitted to
+him.' The cool impudence of thus graciously
+giving me a week did not seem to strike them,
+and the meeting broke up with great satisfaction,
+every man feeling certain that I <i>must</i> accept
+one proposition or the other. It was further
+decided to appoint a committee to draw up a
+charter and by-laws, 'so as to save time,' as one
+gentleman remarked. After the gentlemen had
+left the room, Mather urged the matter upon
+me very strongly. He apologized for having
+acted with such precipitation, but, he said, the
+others were so eager, as soon as they heard that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span>
+I owned a vast tract of unworked diamond fields,
+that he could not restrain them. He begged me
+to make some arrangement with the proposed
+company, as the men who had become interested
+in it were wealthy and enterprising, and they
+would surely push it to a profitable conclusion.
+In answer to my remark that I was rich enough
+already, he said that I ought to give others a
+chance to make some money who needed it, perhaps,
+more than I. Finally, as he urged it as a
+personal favor to himself, I agreed to give the
+most favorable answer that I could, and so the
+matter stands."</p>
+
+<p>"When are you to give your answer?" asked
+Lesparre.</p>
+
+<p>"The committee adjourned until a week from
+last night," replied the Don, "and I shall then
+again be summoned before them, I presume.
+Now, although the first proposition would not
+probably pay me so well in the end as the second,
+I much prefer it. You see I do not wish to keep
+a controlling interest because I should have the
+continual annoyance of supervising the business;
+and, as I have said before, I wish to be perfectly
+free from cares and responsibilities. My object
+is to enjoy life, and I can't be happy if I am
+obliged to work. Nevertheless, I do not wish to
+turn over this property to a body of men who
+will squeeze it like a sponge, leaving it a mere
+waste. There are a large body of tenants occupying
+portions of it, whose rights must be
+respected. They will make willing and honest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span>
+laborers if properly treated, and I wish to protect
+them as far as possible from cruelty and extortion.
+Hence, I desire to learn all I can about the
+men who will create and manage the company
+before I agree to put the property into their
+hands, no matter what price they may be willing
+to pay for it; it is here, my dear Lesparre, that
+you can be of great service to me. You are well
+acquainted among all classes of business men in
+Gloster, and you can readily learn all about the
+people who purpose buying stock. This will
+be considered very natural and proper if you
+become my private secretary, and your duties
+will not be severe. What do you say?"</p>
+
+<p>"I think I can do what you wish," said Lesparre,
+"but I should like a day for reflection. I
+never like to act hastily in an important matter,
+even where my mind is already made up."</p>
+
+<p>"You are quite right," said the Don; "but I
+hope your mind will remain unchanged in regard
+to this matter. I will give you whatever salary
+you wish, and shall expect you, of course, to live
+here on equal terms with myself and wife. Now,
+let us join the ladies."</p>
+
+<p>On receiving Lesparre's report, I saw the whole
+scheme at a glance, and I was now convinced
+that Senator Muirhead's suspicions with regard
+to Don Pedro were correct. I immediately visited
+the Senator, and laid the latest developments
+before him. We could not help admiring the consummate
+knowledge of human nature which the
+Don displayed; he had baited his hook so skill<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span>fully
+that the gudgeons were actually fearful lest
+something should prevent them from swallowing
+it; but there seemed to be no probability of defeating
+his schemes unless we could obtain positive
+proofs of his dishonesty elsewhere, or detect
+him in some criminal offense in this country.
+We therefore decided to keep a close watch upon
+all his movements, and await further developments.
+It was evident that the sufferers by Don
+Jos&eacute; Michel's forgeries in California would not
+take any active steps against him unless they
+were sure of the identity of the man, and so we
+had no ground of accusation against him which
+we could rely upon. Both Senator Muirhead and
+myself were indignant at the audacity displayed
+in his swindling projects, but we did not dare to
+attempt his exposure without absolute proof of
+our charges. The waiting game is never a pleasant
+one to play, but I could not do otherwise
+under the circumstances.</p>
+
+<p>About this time I was called back to Chicago
+on important business, but I immediately sent
+my superintendent, Mr. Bangs, to Gloster, to
+take charge of the case there. During my absence
+little of note occurred, except the meeting
+to hear the Don's answer to the propositions to
+purchase the diamond fields. At this meeting
+the Don was apparently anxious to decline all
+offers, saying that the property had been in the
+possession of his family for about two hundred
+years, and that he considered himself in honor
+bound to retain an interest in it. Also, he tried<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span>
+to cool the ardor of the would-be purchasers by
+telling them that he had no positive certainty
+that there were valuable diamond fields on the
+property, though such was probably the case.
+His reluctance to sell the land only made them
+more determined to buy, for they argued that he
+was so well satisfied with it as a means of revenue
+that he wished to retain possession of it all
+himself. At length he found that they would
+give him no peace until he yielded, and so he
+graciously agreed to accept the first proposition.
+The question of price then remained to be discussed,
+but, on this point, there was little opportunity
+for disagreement. Having had so much
+difficulty in inducing the Don to sell at all, they
+were not disposed to endanger the sale by haggling
+about the price; and when the latter was
+fixed at one million five hundred thousand dollars,
+they made no demur, although the sum
+rather staggered their enthusiasm at first. This
+effect was only momentary, however, for the
+vivid anticipations of dividends in proportion to
+this price quickly banished their fears, and they
+hastened to subscribe the amounts required.
+These facts were all reported to me immediately
+after my return to Gloster, which occurred a day
+or two after the meeting, and I saw that the day
+of disaster to the trusting capitalists of that city
+was fast approaching.</p>
+
+<p>Neither Monsieur Lesparre nor Madame Sevier
+had learned much about the private affairs of the
+Moritos, for, whenever the latter had anything<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span>
+important to say to each other, they usually
+spoke Spanish. The Don's remaining funds
+amounted to only about eight thousand dollars,
+and at the rate with which he had hitherto spent
+money, this sum would not last much more than
+five or six weeks. The time might be extended
+to two months by running the establishment on
+credit; but the Don was averse to such a course,
+and all bills were paid promptly at the end of
+each month. He showed no uneasiness as his
+cash began to run low, but merely said that if
+the first installment on the mine should be paid
+in soon, it would obviate the necessity of drawing
+upon his agents in Lima, otherwise he should
+call upon them for fifty thousand dollars to carry
+him through the year. There was nothing in his
+manner or actions to excite suspicion, and certainly,
+if he intended to defraud the Diamond
+Company, he had too much nerve to betray himself,
+even to so close an observer as Monsieur
+Lesparre.</p>
+
+<p>Having heard the reports, I strolled out in the
+evening for a walk with Mr. Bangs, and while
+passing one of the leading hotels, I met a very
+intimate friend, named Judge Key. The Judge
+was an old resident of Gloster, and his character
+was highly esteemed by all who knew him. He
+was a man of great ability and force; but, possessing
+little ambition, he was not nearly so well
+known as many of those who were his inferiors
+in point of intellect and morals. We had a great
+deal of business between us at one time, and our<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span>
+relations to each other were of the most cordial
+character, partaking more of the nature of personal
+friendship than mere business acquaintance.
+I had not visited him previously during
+my stay in Gloster, for the reason that, even to
+my intimate friends, I never make my presence
+known when engaged in an operation, if I can
+avoid doing so. On this occasion, the Judge
+recognized me instantly, and greeted me with
+great warmth, at the same time adding that I
+was just the man above all others whom he
+wished to see. He then introduced his companion
+to Mr. Bangs and myself as Mr. Edward
+Ashley Warne, of London, England.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Mr. Pinkerton," said the Judge, "let us
+step into the club close by, and over a social glass
+of wine, Mr. Warne will tell you about a peculiar
+case of mistaken identity, or of consummate
+rascality&mdash;it is hard to know which. Possibly
+you may be able to understand some things
+which puzzle us, and to frustrate a fraudulent
+scheme, if our suspicions are correct. You both
+know each other by reputation, I guess, and I
+presume, Mr. Warne, that you will not object to
+tell Mr. Pinkerton what you have told me."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! yes, I have often heard of Mr. Pinkerton,"
+said Mr. Warne, "and I think, as you say,
+that he can clear up the mystery, if any one can.
+I shall be pleased to tell him all that I know with
+regard to it."</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Edward Ashley Warne was an <i>attach&eacute;</i> of
+the British diplomatic service, and having been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span>
+entrusted with the settlement of some questions
+relative to commerce between the United States
+and Great Britain, he had executed his mission
+with such fairness, good sense, and courtesy that
+he was regarded with great kindness and respect
+by our people as well as by his own government.
+He was on a rapid tour through the United
+States, previous to his return to London, and he
+had spent a week in Gloster with Judge Key at
+the time when we met in front of the hotel. We
+were soon comfortably seated in one of the private
+dining-rooms of the club, and, after a few
+sips of wine, Mr. Warne began his story.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know whether I am the victim of
+imagination, or the gentlemen of Gloster are
+likely to be the victims of an impostor; but one
+thing is certain, that a gentleman here known as
+Don Pedro P. L. de Morito is the exact image of
+a man who was known in London as Don Jos&eacute;
+Arias."</p>
+
+<p>This information came so unawares that I almost
+betrayed my interest in the case by uttering
+a hasty exclamation. I restrained my feelings,
+however, and asked Mr. Warne to tell me
+all he knew about this man.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I first met him in Paris, when I was a
+member of the French Legation," replied Mr.
+Warne. "He was then moving in the most
+aristocratic society, and his wealth was reputed
+enormous. I saw a great deal of him at times,
+and, indeed, I was better acquainted with him
+than I was with many of my countrymen; but I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span>
+was recalled to London about that time, and I
+soon forgot all about Don Jos&eacute; Arias."</p>
+
+<p>"Pardon me," I interrupted; "was the Don
+married?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! yes; he had a beautiful wife, I have
+been told, but I never happened to see her. I
+think she was Spanish, if I recollect rightly.
+One day, after my return to England, as I was
+entering the Foreign Office, I met Don Jos&eacute; coming
+out, and he seemed delighted to see me. He
+said that he had come to spend some months in
+London, and he hoped to enjoy my society frequently.
+I was then engaged in studying a very
+difficult diplomatic question, and I was unable to
+give any time whatever to society; I therefore
+expressed my regrets that I should be obliged to
+decline all invitations, and, after some further
+conversation, we separated. I often heard of
+him in connection with social events in the best
+circles, and, on one or two occasions, I met him
+in the street; but I did not renew our former degree
+of intimacy, for the simple reason that I did
+not have the time to do so. Just before I left
+London on the mission for which I had been preparing
+myself, I was astonished to learn that
+Don Jos&eacute; Arias had proved to be a scoundrel of
+the most dangerous character. He had not
+hunted small game, it is true, but this was probably
+a part of his whole scheme. So far as I
+could learn, he had left no unpaid bills in the
+hands of tradesmen, but he had taken enough
+out of bankers and capitalists to pay his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span>
+tradesmen's bills for half a century. The aggregate
+fraudulently obtained by him was never known,
+for many of his victims refused to state their
+loss; but it was surmised that he obtained as
+much as forty or fifty thousand pounds sterling
+in London alone, while several Paris bankers also
+suffered heavily. I was not specially interested
+in the affair, and it had wholly passed from my
+mind, when suddenly, while walking in the
+streets of this city last week, I came upon Don
+Jos&eacute; Arias again. He wore his hair differently
+from his old way in London and Paris, having
+now full side-whiskers, whereas then he wore
+only moustache and goatee; but I could not be
+mistaken, and I said to Judge Key: 'There is a
+man who forged paper to an immense amount in
+London less than two years ago.' 'Impossible!'
+replied the Judge; 'he is a very wealthy man,
+moving in the best society in the city.' The
+Judge then vouched for him with such earnestness
+that I began to believe that I was mistaken;
+but I determined to meet him face to face, to see
+whether there could be two persons so nearly resembling
+each other. Unfortunately he had an
+opportunity to see me before I saw him when I
+next met him, so that I lost the chance of surprising
+him into betraying himself. He appeared
+to glance at me casually, as any stranger
+would do, and then went on with his conversation
+without hesitation or embarrassment. I have
+met him several times since then, and he always
+acts with the same natural ease of manner, as if<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span>
+we had always been perfect strangers to each
+other; but, Mr. Pinkerton, the more I see of
+him, the more fully am I convinced that Don
+Jos&eacute; Arias, of London, and Don Pedro P. L. de
+Morito, of Gloster, are identical; and, believing
+this, I consider it my duty to tell you these facts
+in order that your citizens may be protected
+against him, if possible."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Mr. Pinkerton," said Judge Key,
+"what do you think of this affair? Mr. Warne
+does not admit that he can be mistaken, and
+there are some corroboratory evidences that he
+may be right; yet, it seems incredible. It is a
+pity that Mr. Warne should have never seen Don
+Jos&eacute;'s wife, because he could then compare her
+with Se&ntilde;ora Morito, and if they, too, were exact
+resemblances, there would be no longer any room
+for doubt."</p>
+
+<p>"That would certainly be a strong proof," I
+remarked; "but I think it is unnecessary. The
+suspicion you have spoken of, Mr. Warne, has
+already been raised by another gentleman in this
+city, and I have been requested to discover
+whether or not it is correct."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, you astonish me!" exclaimed Judge
+Key, "for Mr. Warne has not mentioned the
+subject to any one but me, and I have never even
+hinted anything about it except to you gentlemen."</p>
+
+<p>"Nevertheless, I have suspected for some time
+that this Don Pedro was an impostor, and have
+been trying to obtain positive proof of my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span>
+opinion, in order to save many persons here from
+being swindled by him. You are acquainted
+with Senator Muirhead, Judge?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! yes, quite well."</p>
+
+<p>"He has taken enough interest in the affairs
+of his constituents to place in my hands the task
+of exposing this man, Don Pedro, in his true
+light."</p>
+
+<p>"That seems very kind and disinterested on
+the part of our Senator," said Judge Key, with a
+quizzical smile; "but I will venture to say that
+his interest has been excited more by the Don's
+marked attentions to Mrs. Muirhead, than by the
+fear that some of his constituents would be defrauded."</p>
+
+<p>Of course I took no notice of this remark,
+although I was quite convinced that such was
+the fact; but as the Senator was my client, it
+would have been eminently improper for me to
+discuss his motives, and so I turned to Mr.
+Warne.</p>
+
+<p>"As you have already met this man under
+another name, Mr. Warne," I said, "can you not
+go with me to meet Senator Muirhead, and tell
+him what you know about him?"</p>
+
+<p>"I must beg you to excuse me, Mr. Pinkerton,"
+he replied. "You see, I am in this country
+in an official capacity, and, while I am personally
+perfectly satisfied of the truth of the statements
+I have made to you, I cannot prove them; hence,
+I must be careful not to involve myself in a difficulty
+which would compromise my position as a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span>
+diplomatic agent of Great Britain. I shall immediately
+give to the police, on my arrival in London,
+a description of this man, and I presume
+that prompt action will be taken to insure his
+arrest and extradition, in case his offenses should
+come under the extradition treaty. But as this
+is a question upon which the decision of both
+governments may be required, the delay may
+enable this man to escape. I will use all my
+influence with the London authorities; you will
+readily see, however, that personally I cannot
+appear here as an accuser against him."</p>
+
+<p>I recognized the force of Mr. Warne's objection,
+and did not press him further, but Judge
+Key agreed to visit the Senator as soon as the
+latter should return to the city. When I left
+Mr. Warne we had agreed that any British
+official who might be sent to identify and arrest
+Don Pedro, should communicate with me the
+moment he arrived in this country, so that we
+could work together for the same object, though
+my whole duty in the case would be to protect
+the interests of my client, Senator Muirhead. I
+then returned to my room with Mr. Bangs, and
+made a new move. I saw that more than two
+months would elapse before any news could be
+expected from London, as Mr. Warne would be
+somewhat delayed in his return home, and meantime,
+the Don would probably obtain a large
+advance payment for his fictitious mines. If
+anything should occur to prevent us from sending
+him to England, he might succeed in getting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span>
+away with his plunder before we could find any
+new grounds upon which to hold him. I therefore
+instructed Mr. Bangs to write to the proper
+authorities in Peru, Brazil, and Ecuador, describing
+Don Pedro and his numerous suspected
+<i>aliases</i> accurately, and asking that some steps be
+taken by his victims to bring him to justice. It
+was true that we had no extradition treaties with
+those countries, but nevertheless he might be
+arrested and frightened into surrendering himself
+voluntarily. The letters were dispatched at
+once, and duplicates were also forwarded by the
+next steamer. There remained nothing further
+for me to do except to keep a strict watch upon
+the Moritos to see that they should not slip off
+suddenly with a large sum of money. The Diamond
+Company were in such haste to bind the
+bargain with Don Pedro, by making him a large
+payment, that there could be no hope of preventing
+the partial success of his scheme. Whether
+I might not be able to force him to disgorge
+afterward was uncertain, but I determined to use
+every means in my power to accomplish such a
+result.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>The third Detective is made welcome at Don Pedro's.&mdash;The
+Se&ntilde;or is paid the first half-million dollars from
+the great Diamond Company.&mdash;How Don Pedro is
+"working" his Diamond Mines.&mdash;Very suspicious
+preparations.&mdash;The Don describes his proposed F&ecirc;te
+Champ&ecirc;tre.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>One evening, as the members of the Morito
+family were about to retire, Monsieur Lesparre
+noticed a nervousness and abstraction in
+Don Pedro such as he had never shown before.
+Thinking that something new might be learned
+by overhearing the conversation between the Don
+and Donna when they should be alone, Lesparre,
+instead of going to his own room, slipped into an
+unused closet adjoining the Don's dressing-room,
+and communicating therewith by a door, which
+was kept locked. There was a transom over this
+door, and, by climbing to one of the shelves,
+Lesparre could hear all that was said in either
+room of the Don's bedroom <i>suite</i>. He had hardly
+taken this position when the two entered their
+apartments.</p>
+
+<p>"See what a handsome necklace that old fool
+Mather sent me to-day," said the Donna.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, it is very elegant and valuable," said Don
+Pedro, with a yawn; "but what we most need is
+money. However, I do not imagine we shall
+have any difficulty, for I expect a large sum in a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span>
+few days from the stockholders in this Diamond
+Company. Still, you may as well get all you can
+out of Mather and the others, for we must keep
+up our present style of living to the end."</p>
+
+<p>Just at this moment the shelf upon which Lesparre
+was sitting gave a loud creak, and he had
+only just time to slip down and regain his own
+room before the Don came out to see what was
+the matter. Fortunately, there was a large pet
+cat in the hall, and she received the credit of
+having made the noise.</p>
+
+<p>The next day, on hearing Lesparre's report, I
+decided to place still another detective in the
+Morito mansion, and so I instructed Lesparre to
+recommend the employment of a young man to
+assist the butler and to do general work about
+the house. As I expected, Don Pedro acquiesced
+in the suggestion, and told Lesparre to engage
+such men-servants as he considered necessary.
+Accordingly, I at once telegraphed to Chicago to
+have a young fellow named George Salter sent
+to Gloster at once. He was a very intelligent
+French Canadian, and I chose him because of
+his slim build, his ingenuity, and his capacity as
+an eavesdropper. He could listen to a conversation
+with such a stolid expression that no one
+would imagine he had an idea in his head beyond
+the performance of his regular tasks, and even
+when caught in a place where he had no right to
+be, he could invent a plausible reason on the instant,
+which would divert all suspicion from him.
+On his arrival in Gloster, he was sent to ask em<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span>ployment
+of Monsieur Lesparre, and, of course,
+the latter was so pleased with him as to engage
+him at once. He made himself very useful in
+the house, and soon became popular with every
+inmate.</p>
+
+<p>A few days later a meeting of the stockholders
+of the Diamond Company was held, and it was
+agreed to make a payment of five hundred thousand
+dollars at once, another like sum when the
+title-deeds should be delivered, and the balance
+within one year from that time. This arrangement
+was satisfactory to the Don, and the sum
+of half a million dollars was paid over that day in
+the checks of the different original subscribers.
+The meeting then appointed a committee of two
+to visit Peru and examine the property. There
+was some difficulty in selecting two gentlemen
+who would be willing to go, and yet who would
+be satisfactory to the others; but Deacon Humphrey
+and John Preston were finally chosen.
+Either of these gentlemen was willing to go anywhere
+at others' expense, and it was believed
+that John Preston was too well versed in fraudulent
+practices to let any one else do any cheating;
+hence, he was sent to investigate the mines, and
+Deacon Humphrey was sent to see that John
+Preston should not steal them. They were not
+to depart on their mission, however, until the
+title-deeds were received from Peru and delivered
+to the directors.</p>
+
+<p>Don Pedro passed the checks over to Lesparre,
+and informed the meeting that he had already<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span>
+sent to Peru for the deeds, and that the directors
+should be informed the moment they should arrive;
+thereafter, all business matters relative to
+his interest in the mines would be attended to by
+Robert Harrington, Esq., who would be his attorney
+in fact. The deeds would be directed to Mr.
+Harrington, and that gentleman would deliver
+them to the directors, receive the second payment,
+and give his receipt therefor.</p>
+
+<p>This arrangement was satisfactory to all, and
+the meeting adjourned in good spirits, every man
+feeling that the Don had done him a personal
+favor in accepting his check in part payment for
+such a valuable property.</p>
+
+<p>The Don, having indorsed the checks, instructed
+Lesparre to present them at once for
+payment, each at its own bank, and to bring the
+money to the house; he was to obtain as much
+as possible in gold, as the Don professed to have
+little confidence in the bills of private banks.</p>
+
+<p>"They may be perfectly sound, Lesparre," he
+said, in an off-hand way, "but then, you know,
+we foreigners are accustomed to government
+bills, or gold, and so I prefer to have the latter."</p>
+
+<p>Taking Don Pedro's carriage, Lesparre visited
+each bank, and by the time he had cashed the
+last check, he had a considerable weight of gold
+and a large amount of bills, about two-thirds
+having been paid in coin. Lesparre and Salter
+carried all the money up to the Don's dressing-room,
+where the Don and Donna were sitting.</p>
+
+<p>"There, my dear," said Don Pedro to his wife,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span>
+"this is the first installment of the purchase
+money of the diamond fields, so that now it will
+not be long before they will be thoroughly worked.
+The directors have promised me that you shall
+have the finest diamond set that the mines can
+produce within a year from this time, as a present
+from the company, and you need no longer
+plague me for not having tried to work them before."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! Pedro, how lovely!" exclaimed the
+Donna; "you know I have always wanted you
+to open those mines, and I am so glad that you
+have consented. Now I shall have a set that I
+shall be proud of."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I did not like to give up the old estate
+to strangers, I confess," replied the Don; "but
+now that it is done, I do not regret it. If you wish
+any money, help yourself; you can write to your
+agents in Rio that they need not send any more
+for the present, for we shall have as much as we
+can use for a year or two. George," he continued,
+addressing Salter, "you will find a stout
+iron box in the attic, and I think it will serve as
+a safe for the present. Bring it down here and
+put it in this room."</p>
+
+<p>The box was soon brought, and the Don
+checked off the packages of gold and bills as Lesparre
+packed them away, the gold at the bottom.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, you can check against my bank accounts
+for our current expenses, Lesparre," said
+Don Pedro, with a complacent smile; "and when
+the funds on deposit are exhausted, I will give<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span>
+you cash monthly to pay all bills as heretofore. I
+intend to give a grand <i>f&ecirc;te champ&ecirc;tre</i> soon, as a
+lesson to these Gloster people how to enjoy life.
+I propose to engage one of the islands in the
+river at once, and begin the necessary work of
+preparing it artistically for the scene of our
+revelry. I shall choose one of the large wooded
+islands with ridges and ravines running through
+it, and it will take about two weeks to clear away
+the underbrush, to clean up the grass and prepare
+the landing-places. Then, by the end of another
+week, the weather will be delightful, and
+our arrangements will be completed. I will make
+the place a fairy spectacle, such as the unimaginative
+inhabitants of Gloster never dreamed
+of, and then we will prepare for our summer trip
+to Newport and Saratoga. What do you think
+of the plan, Monsieur Lesparre?"</p>
+
+<p>"It is an admirable one, and I feel sure that
+the people of Gloster will enjoy such an entertainment
+far more than any that has ever been given
+here."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I shall rely largely upon your assistance,"
+continued the Don, carefully locking his
+safe as he spoke, "and we must divide the duties
+between us, though of course my time will be
+somewhat taken up by society. Suppose we issue
+invitations for three weeks from to-day?"</p>
+
+<p>"Better say five weeks, if not six," replied Lesparre,
+anxious to delay Don Pedro's departure as
+much as possible in order to obtain an answer to
+our letters to Peru and Brazil. "You see, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span>
+people here are not accustomed to such gayeties,
+and it will take some time to prepare their minds
+to appreciate it."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, that is true," said the Don, reflectively;
+"but I do not like to defer it so long. However,
+let us compromise by fixing one month hence as
+the time, and we will make it a masquerade as
+well as an outdoor <i>f&ecirc;te</i>. The guests will then
+have ample time to prepare their costumes, and
+we can give that as a reason for issuing the invitations
+so long in advance."</p>
+
+<p>The Don was in no special hurry to escape with
+his plunder, but neither was he desirous of
+remaining too long in the vicinity of his victims;
+hence, although he had no suspicion that his
+schemes had been discovered by any one, he fixed
+an earlier date than that suggested by Lesparre
+in order to prevent the probability of any accident
+occurring to mar his plans.</p>
+
+<p>Lesparre immediately ordered the cards of invitation,
+and in a few days all Gloster was in a
+state of pleasurable excitement over the news of
+the coming event. Never had such a commotion
+been created in the placid waters of society as
+was raised by the delicate cards of invitation to
+Se&ntilde;ora Morito's <i>f&ecirc;te champ&ecirc;tre</i> and <i>bal masque</i>.
+The number who received invitations was enormous,
+including every individual having any
+claims to be regarded as a member of good society.
+From that time forward, Lesparre was so busy
+with the preparations for the <i>f&ecirc;te</i> that he was
+able to see very little of the rest of the family except<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span>
+in the evening. The Don and Donna and Madame
+Sevier continued their usual round of dissipation
+and gayety, however, and "all went merry as a
+marriage bell."</p>
+
+<p>Still there were some curious features of their
+conduct which I regarded with suspicion. Every
+day the Don gave Lesparre a large sum in bank-bills
+to be exchanged for gold, and the coin was
+then locked up in the iron safe. Then the Don
+and Donna held frequent conversations in Spanish,
+during which it was easy to see by their
+manner that they were discussing an affair of
+great importance. Madame Sevier found a newly-purchased
+traveler's guide-book in the Donna's
+bureau, and from various marks and turned
+pages it was evident that it had been carefully
+consulted with reference to an ocean voyage.
+These things led me to the conclusion that the
+Don was preparing for a journey, and the fact
+that he made no mention of it, even to Lesparre,
+showed that he intended to go secretly. To all
+his acquaintances he spoke freely of his contemplated
+tour of the watering-places during the
+summer, but he always promised to spend the
+following winter in Gloster, without fail; hence
+it was clear that he was playing a double game,
+to deceive some one. I could only wait further
+developments, and heartily wish for advices from
+Peru or England.</p>
+
+<p>In company with Judge Key I called upon Senator
+Muirhead, on the return of that gentleman
+from the session of Congress, and we discussed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span>
+together the best plan to pursue, to foil the
+schemes of Don Pedro. The Senator was very
+anxious to proceed against him immediately,
+with the intention of showing him up in his true
+character, and thus saving his victims from any
+further loss.</p>
+
+<p>"Indeed, Senator Muirhead," I replied, "I am
+as desirous to arrest his fraudulent operations as
+yourself, but I want to be sure of success before
+I do anything, and I do not see my way clear to
+act just now. At present we can prove nothing
+whatever against him; in fact, the only charge
+we could make would be that of obtaining money
+under false pretenses. Now, what evidence could
+we bring to substantiate the accusation? There
+is no judge living that would hold him on my or
+your individual opinion that he has sold mines
+which do not exist, and we should have nothing
+else to offer."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, but you forget his forgeries in other
+countries," interrupted the Senator.</p>
+
+<p>"In the first place," I replied, "you could not
+charge him in this country with crimes committed
+elsewhere, even though you had the positive
+proof of those crimes. If you charged him
+here with obtaining money under false pretenses,
+you could produce no testimony except
+such as bore upon the specific act alleged in your
+complaint; all other testimony would be ruled
+out. But, even suppose that such testimony
+were admissible, can you produce any witness to
+his crimes in other countries? Indeed, admitting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span>
+again that these crimes were proven, can we establish
+the identity of Don Pedro P. L. de Morito
+as the perpetrator of those crimes? No, sir; we
+have not a single witness; I ask you as a lawyer,
+Judge Key, am I not right?"</p>
+
+<p>"You are correct in every particular, Mr.
+Pinkerton," replied the Judge. "I confess that
+you present the difficulties of the case more
+forcibly than I could have done myself."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, you are right, Mr. Pinkerton," said Senator
+Muirhead; "I do not see that we can do
+anything; yet it seems shameful to sit idly doing
+nothing, when we know that this scoundrel is
+obtaining such immense sums from our people.
+What do you propose to do in the future, Mr.
+Pinkerton?"</p>
+
+<p>"I can hardly tell what may be possible as
+yet," I answered; "but I feel sure that I shall
+not only prevent him from securing any more
+plunder, but also wrest from him that which has
+already fallen into his hands. He feels secure in
+the possession of this large sum, and he is in no
+great hurry to get away; he will undoubtedly remain
+until after his <i>f&ecirc;te champ&ecirc;tre</i> at least. Before
+that time, I hope to hear something definite
+from either England or Peru, and then I can act
+with a power in reserve in case our own means
+should be insufficient to enforce our demands for
+restitution. Any action against him now would
+only result in hastening his departure with all
+the money he has gained, for I am certain that
+we could not hold him."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Well, I see that nothing can be done now,"
+said the Senator, despondently; "but do not lose
+sight of this man for a moment, Mr. Pinkerton,
+for he seems an adept in all the tricks of crime."</p>
+
+<p>"Never fear, Senator Muirhead," I replied,
+cheerfully; "I feel sure that we shall eventually
+not only bring his career here to a hasty close,
+but also recover the money which he has fraudulently
+obtained."</p>
+
+<p>When we parted, the Senator was a little more
+hopeful, though he said that he should not be at
+all surprised if Don Pedro outwitted us after all.
+The loss to the Senator's friends would, of course,
+be very large; but, perhaps, the lesson would not
+be a bad thing for them; they would know better
+thereafter than to part with their money so foolishly.</p>
+
+<p>That same evening the Don and Donna, Monsieur
+Lesparre, and Madame Sevier, were engaged
+for the evening at a dancing party given by
+Judge Peter B. Taylor. Knowing of their intentions
+to attend this party, I saw an excellent opportunity
+for Salter to examine the private apartments
+of the Don and Donna. Accordingly,
+after the family had gone away in the carriage,
+Salter began to talk to the other servants about
+the advantages of belonging to a family where
+the domestics were allowed to do as they pleased,
+instead of being so carefully watched. The laundress
+then related how much less pleasure they
+had, now that Madame Sevier was in charge of
+the household.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Why," said she, "before this French woman
+came, the servants here had as good a time as
+any one could ask. Many a fine ribbon, or handkerchief,
+or bit of a collar, they picked up unbeknownst
+to the Donna; and, as for aitin', why
+there was niver a lock on any storeroom in the
+house, so that there was lashins of good livin' in
+the kitchen as well as in the dinin'-room. But
+when this Madame Sevyay came, she put everything
+under lock and key, and she snapped off
+the old cook's head in no time for sassin' her.
+Jist so with the men; this Lesparre, the Don's
+private secretary, is as close with the men as the
+Madame is with the women. The butler used
+to often bring a nice bottle of wine into the
+kitchen for us to be merry over, but he can't do
+it now."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I believe I can find something to drink
+by a little search," said Salter, with a knowing
+wink at the laundress and chambermaid. "You
+wait here, and I'll see what I can do to provide a
+glass of wine all 'round.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! would you dare?" asked the handsome
+chambermaid, looking at Salter admiringly.
+"Ain't you 'fraid you'll be caught?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, indeed; I believe I can get a bottle of port
+out of one of the rooms upstairs, without any one
+ever discovering its loss. Anyhow, I'm going
+to try, so you all stay here while I make search."</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly, Salter went straight to the Don's
+room, to which he had a key. Having received
+from Lesparre an impression of the locks of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span>
+house several days before, I had had a skeleton
+key made, which would open almost any door
+about the place. While apparently engaged in
+cleaning the door-knobs, it had been a very easy
+matter for him to take, in wax, a complete impression
+of the wards of all the door-locks, with
+out attracting suspicion. He now had no difficulty,
+therefore, in entering the Don's room,
+where he found that the Don had removed his
+iron chest from his dressing-room to his chamber,
+it being placed at the head of the bedstead. On
+trying to lift the box, he found that it was very
+heavy indeed, requiring all his strength to stir it.
+This was due, of course, to the coin which had
+been put into it, and Salter's testimony, therefore,
+corroborated Lesparre's. Salter then, in accordance
+with my instructions, carefully bored holes
+through the door leading into the closet in which
+Lesparre had once listened to a short conversation
+between the Don and Donna. He arranged these
+holes so that they would not be detected by the
+eye, and having thus prepared an excellent place
+for listening to the occupants of the chamber
+suite, Salter returned to the kitchen. On the
+way, he opened the dining-room sideboard and
+captured a bottle of port wine, with which he entertained
+the other servants in fine style.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, the Don and his party had been
+received with the utmost cordiality by Judge
+Taylor and his wife, who felt quite proud to be
+the first to entertain such distinguished guests<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span>
+after the sale of the diamond mines, and the issue
+of the invitations to the Don's grand <i>f&ecirc;te</i>.</p>
+
+<p>Every one had talked about the affair, but no
+one felt exactly sure what a <i>f&ecirc;te champ&ecirc;tre</i> was,
+and so United States Commissioner Charlie Morton
+determined to ask the Don himself what his
+entertainment would be. Accordingly, as Don
+Pedro approached with Mrs. Arlington on his
+arm, Morton greeted him pleasantly, and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Don Pedro, every one who has received an
+invitation to your <i>f&ecirc;te champ&ecirc;tre</i> is dying of curiosity
+to know what it means, and so I am going
+to take the liberty of asking you to explain it. I
+freely confess my own ignorance, and I know
+that there are a great many others no better informed
+than I am, who would be ashamed to admit
+that fact; but I cheerfully acknowledge that
+I have never attended one, and I don't know how
+I shall be expected to dress nor to act. So please
+tell me all about it, and I will promise to spread
+the news among my acquaintances."</p>
+
+<p>"My dear sir," replied Don Pedro, politely, "I
+admire your frankness, and I shall take pleasure
+in explaining the principal features of our <i>f&ecirc;te
+champ&ecirc;tre</i>. It was the Donna Lucia's desire and
+mine to devote one day to enjoyment, and we
+therefore decided upon giving an entertainment
+in the open air which should combine every
+species of gayety and social recreation. It is our
+intention to embark in the forenoon and proceed
+by steamer to one of the large islands in the river.
+There everything will be prepared for outdoor
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span>enjoyment; there will be boats and bathing-houses;
+swings and archery-grounds; billiard-tables
+and bowling-alleys; in short, opportunities
+will be provided for the gratification of every
+one's tastes. About five o'clock a dinner will be
+served, the <i>menu</i> for which will include every
+procurable luxury of the table, and after dinner,
+the evening will be spent in dancing on the open
+platforms or in enclosed ballrooms, according to
+the preferences of the guests, while magnesium
+lights and colored lanterns will give all possible
+brilliancy to the scene. Dazzling displays of fireworks
+will be given at intervals during the evening,
+and when we finally leave the island on our
+return to the city, a grand illumination of the
+whole island will take place as we steam off into
+the darkness."</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 640px;">
+<img src="images/gs06.jpg" width="640" height="433" alt="Don Pedro explaining the F&ecirc;te Champ&ecirc;tre." title="" />
+<span class="caption">Don Pedro explaining the F&ecirc;te Champ&ecirc;tre.</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>Quite a group had gathered around while the
+Don was speaking, and as he closed, there was a
+general murmur of admiration. The whole
+affair was planned on a scale of such magnificence
+as to appear almost too wonderful to be believed,
+but the Don had shown such fertility of
+invention previously, that there was no doubt he
+was quite equal to creating a scene of oriental
+splendor such as had never before been witnessed
+in this country.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I admit frankly," said Charlie Morton,
+"that we Americans must learn the art of enjoying
+life from foreigners, and I think there is no
+doubt that Don Pedro is a most adept master of
+its mysteries. Is there not something said in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span>
+invitations about appearing in masks, Don
+Pedro?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes; I forgot to say at first that there
+will be much amusement in requiring every
+guest to be dressed in fancy costume and to wear
+a mask. The masks will not be removed until
+the dinner is served, and then, at a given signal,
+the guests will expose themselves in their own
+characters."</p>
+
+<p>The Don's description of the intended programme
+for the <i>f&ecirc;te</i> was soon repeated through
+all the fashionable circles of Gloster, and the expectation
+of the whole city was raised to a high
+pitch. No other social event had ever created a
+like excitement, and it was the theme of conversation
+at all times and in all places.</p>
+
+<p>The day following the Taylor's party Don
+Pedro seemed to have determined to get rid of as
+much paper money in exchange for gold as possible,
+and during the day he sent more than
+twenty thousand dollars to be exchanged; of this
+amount Lesparre and Madame Sevier handled the
+greater portion, but even the young man, Salter,
+was entrusted with three thousand dollars in
+paper, for which he obtained gold at a trifling
+discount. This method of exchanging money
+was repeated several times, it being evidently the
+Don's intention to retain nothing but gold in his
+possession, and as he had already obtained the
+greater portion of his plunder in coin, it was not
+long before he had accomplished his object.</p>
+
+<p>Meantime, the preparations for the <i>f&ecirc;te</i> went<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span>
+on apace, and the time of the Don and Lesparre
+was quite fully occupied in planning and arranging
+the details. The Senator called to see me
+daily, and his constant urging somewhat excited
+me, so that I became nervous and apprehensive
+myself. Still, no news came from abroad, and I
+could do nothing.</p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>A Mysterious Stranger.&mdash;An unexpected Meeting and a
+startling Recognition.&mdash;An old Friend somewhat
+disturbs the Equanimity of Don Pedro.&mdash;The Detectives
+fix their Attention upon Pietro Bernardi.&mdash;Pietro
+and his unpalatable Reminiscences.&mdash;The
+Donna shows Spirit.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>"Early one forenoon Salter was called to the
+front door by a violent pull at the bell, and
+on arriving there he confronted a rather disreputable-looking
+character, who eyed him with an
+extremely distrustful look. The man appeared
+to be about thirty years old, and he was evidently
+a foreigner. He was tall, well-formed, and muscular,
+and his general bearing was quite at variance
+with his ragged, dirty clothing. He had black
+hair and moustache, a swarthy complexion, small
+feet and hands, the latter soft and well-shaped,
+and his dark eyes were piercing and brilliant.</p>
+
+<p>"Good morning," he said to Salter, with a
+haughty nod; "is Don Juan at home?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"No such person lives here," replied Salter,
+partially closing the door upon the wolfish-appearing
+stranger.</p>
+
+<p>"I have good reasons for believing that Don
+Juan <i>is</i> here," replied the man, "and is doubtless
+the guest of the gentleman who resides here. At
+any rate, I know that he is now in this house,
+and I want to see him very much. He would be
+equally glad to see me if he knew I were here;"
+and so saying, he pushed Salter aside and entered
+the hall.</p>
+
+<p>This action still further prejudiced Salter against
+him, and he said:</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps you mean Monsieur Lesparre, who is
+a guest of my employer?"</p>
+
+<p>"That may be," replied the man; "please say
+that I wish to see him immediately."</p>
+
+<p>Salter did not care to leave the stranger alone,
+and so he told one of the female servants, who was
+dusting the parlor furniture, to call Monsieur
+Lesparre. That gentleman was in Don Pedro's
+room, discussing some plans for the <i>f&ecirc;te</i>, and,
+when informed that a stranger wished to see
+him, he told the servant to show him to the
+room where he usually transacted business. As
+the man passed before Don Pedro's door, however,
+Lesparre stepped out to learn who it was.</p>
+
+<p>"This man wishes to see you, Monsieur Lesparre,"
+said Salter, who was following the stranger.</p>
+
+<p>"That is not the gentleman I asked for," the
+latter replied.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>At this instant Don Pedro came into the hall,
+and, as his eyes fell upon the stranger, he gave a
+sudden start, and became very pale. The recognition
+was mutual, for the newcomer rushed
+forward and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Ah! Don Juan, I am delighted to meet you
+again. I knew I was not mistaken when I saw
+you yesterday and recognized&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"There, there!" interrupted the Don, giving
+the speaker a warning look, "I am glad to meet
+you again, Pietro; walk into my room, and sit
+down."</p>
+
+<p>Lesparre was about to follow, but Don Pedro
+stopped, and whispered to him:</p>
+
+<p>"Excuse me a short time, my dear Lesparre;
+this is an old acquaintance whom I knew in better
+circumstances years ago. He seems quite reduced
+now, and he may be sensitive enough to
+object to telling the story of his loss of fortune
+before a stranger;" and, so saying, the Don
+retired to his room, leaving Lesparre and Salter
+outside.</p>
+
+<p>The latter immediately hurried into the closet,
+where he could hear the whole conversation
+within the room.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Pietro," began the Don, "where are
+you from? You have not been fortunate, it is
+evident; but how did it happen?"</p>
+
+<p>"You are right; I have had bad luck," replied
+Pietro. "It is the old story; I have had thousands
+of dollars at times, and have lived like a
+prince; and again I have been badly treated by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span>
+Dame Fortune, and have lived as I could; but I
+have never before been so very miserable and
+poor as now. Positively, it is most providential
+that I have met you, for I have eaten nothing for
+twenty-four hours."</p>
+
+<p>"Indeed, Pietro, you shock me," replied the
+Don, sympathetically; "shall I order some breakfast
+for you?"</p>
+
+<p>"No; I can wait awhile, and I do not care to be
+seen by your servants until I get better clothing.
+But tell me where you have been since we parted
+in Peru. You have certainly been as fortunate
+as I have been the reverse; do you make much by
+gambling?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, Pietro; I gamble very little, except in an
+occasional game of cards with gentlemen of my
+acquaintance; but I made a good sum&mdash;that is,"
+continued the Don, checking himself a moment,
+"I made a wealthy marriage, and my wife's fortune
+is ample for us both. By the way, how did
+you happen to find me?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I have been enjoying life in New Orleans
+for some time, and, having won quite a
+large amount there, I decided to come North as
+the mild weather began. So I started a month
+ago on one of those enormous Mississippi steamboats,
+and, of course, I gambled whenever I could.
+My luck was bad from the start, and, on arriving
+here, I had nothing except my clothing and
+jewelry; these I pawned gradually, and soon I
+was reduced to my present condition. Yesterday
+I met you as you were entering the Globe Hotel<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span>
+with a party of gentlemen, but I did not want to
+mortify you by speaking to you in company; so I
+waited until you came to this house, intending
+then to call upon you late in the evening, when
+no one would see me; but you went out in your
+carriage, and remained so late, that I put off my
+visit until this morning. I thought that, considering
+our former relations to each other, you
+would be willing to set me on my feet again."</p>
+
+<p>"I shall be very glad indeed to do so," replied
+the Don, eagerly, "and you must tell me what
+you wish to do, and where you wish to go."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, just now I should like to go to breakfast,
+Don Juan," said Pietro, with a gaunt smile;
+"but I have no money to pay for my meal."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't call me 'Don Juan,' my dear friend,"
+said the Don. "I have adopted another name
+for use in this country, and of course no one
+knows me except as Don Pedro P. L. de Morito."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, ho! is that all there is of it?" asked
+Pietro, with a laugh. "Well, I shall remember
+in future to call you 'Don Pedro'; but what
+can you do for me in the way of money and
+clothes?"</p>
+
+<p>"I will give you fifty dollars at once, and you
+can get a new outfit yourself; then, when you
+call again to-morrow morning, we will talk over
+your future plans. I have a very important
+engagement to keep in about fifteen minutes, so I
+must ask you to excuse me now."</p>
+
+<p>"But I can't get any respectable suit of clothes
+and underclothing for fifty dollars," replied
+Pietro.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Well, here are fifty dollars," said the Don
+handing a roll of bills to Pietro, "and my secretary,
+Monsieur Lesparre, will give you an equal
+amount. You will then have enough to satisfy
+your immediate wants, and we will arrange the
+rest to-morrow."</p>
+
+<p>So saying, the Don called Monsieur Lesparre
+and introduced the stranger as Pietro Bernardi, a
+fellow-countryman in distress. The Don was
+quite pale and nervous, and though he did not
+show any marked signs of agitation, a close
+observer, like Lesparre, could readily see that his
+new visitor was anything but a welcome one.</p>
+
+<p>"I wish you to give Se&ntilde;or Bernardi fifty dollars,
+Monsieur Lesparre," said the Don, "and
+order breakfast for him here, if he wishes it. I
+am going out immediately, as I see the carriage
+is waiting for me, but I shall return at lunch-time.
+<i>Au revoir</i>, gentlemen; call about nine
+o'clock to-morrow, Pietro."</p>
+
+<p>The Don then went to his carriage, and Pietro
+followed Lesparre to his business-room, where he
+received an additional fifty dollars. Pietro
+quickly stowed the money away in his pocket,
+and walked abruptly out of the house, saying:</p>
+
+<p>"I'll not trouble you to prepare breakfast for
+me, as I can get it down town just as well."</p>
+
+<p>The moment Pietro was gone, Lesparre called
+Salter out of the closet, and sent him out on an
+errand ostensibly; of course, his real duty was to
+"shadow" Mr. Pietro Bernardi, and report the
+occurrences of the morning to me. Salter kept<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span>
+his man in view until he was seated at a popular
+restaurant table, and then, knowing that some
+time would be required before the Peruvian's appetite
+would be satisfied, my detective hurried to
+my office, and made his report. As it would not
+be safe to detain Salter long away from his
+duties at the Morito residence, I decided to keep
+a watch upon Bernardi myself until Mr. Bangs
+could send me a man from Chicago. Having
+sent a telegram to Mr. Bangs, I went to the restaurant
+at once, being joined by Judge Key on
+the way. Together we entered the restaurant,
+and I quickly discovered Bernardi still lingering
+over his breakfast. We each ordered a cup of
+coffee, and I informed the Judge of the new developments
+in the case as brought out in the conversation
+between the Don and Bernardi.</p>
+
+<p>"My opinion is," I said, in a tone audible only
+to the Judge, "that this man, Bernardi, knows
+some important facts relative to the past life of
+Don Pedro, and if we can pump this information
+out of him, we may thereby obtain valuable assistance
+in our endeavors to outwit the Don.
+Now it shall be my aim to learn all that this man
+knows, for it may give us the means of proceeding
+against Se&ntilde;or Morito immediately; but even
+if it should not, we may need such information
+very much. You see, it is not impossible that
+we may be forced to use threats to make him disgorge,
+for I shall not let him escape with his
+plunder without a struggle, even though no news
+whatever should come from Peru or England. At<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span>
+present, however, we will devote some time to
+this Pietro Bernardi, and see what he can tell
+us."</p>
+
+<p>The Judge fully concurred with me, and said
+that, as I might be too busy to see Senator Muirhead,
+he would call upon that gentleman and tell
+him the latest news. We accordingly sipped our
+coffee slowly until Bernardi was ready to go, and
+then I followed him at a little distance, while the
+Judge went to call upon Senator Muirhead.</p>
+
+<p>Bernardi slowly sauntered down the street, smoking
+a cigar, and soon reached a large retail clothing
+store. I remained in the street watching the
+entrance of the store about an hour, when, as I
+expected, Bernardi came out in a neat business
+suit complete, but wearing the same old boots and
+hat. These articles were soon replaced by new
+ones, and after a bath and shave, Se&ntilde;or Bernardi
+was a very different-looking person from the
+rough customer who had visited Don Pedro in the
+morning. In addition to his underclothing, linen,
+hat, boots, and suit of clothes, he purchased at a
+pawnbroker's shop some very decent jewelry and
+he now appeared like a gentlemanly gambler, or
+a member of the Board of Trade. He did not
+conclude his business arrangements until he had
+engaged a boarding-place and bought a trunk,
+which was sent to his lodgings. He then appeared
+to have relieved his mind of all care, and
+he spent the afternoon playing pool and billiards
+in a fashionable saloon. After dining at a restaurant,
+he went to a minstrel entertainment,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span>
+after which he returned to his lodgings to retire
+for the night. When I went to bed at eleven
+o'clock, after having followed Bernardi most of
+the day, I realized that the duties of a faithful
+"shadow" were sometimes excessively wearying.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning, however, I found that a Mr.
+Newton had arrived from Chicago in response to
+my telegram, and I was thus relieved from any
+further anxiety. He was a cool, shrewd fellow,
+of attractive appearance and pleasing manners,
+so that he was peculiarly fitted to obtain the confidence
+of a man like Bernardi, and it was on that
+account that I had selected him for the work.
+He had no difficulty in tracking Bernardi to Don
+Pedro's residence, and having seen him admitted
+there, Newton hurried back to report to me. I
+then instructed him to follow Bernardi until he
+should have an opportunity to make his acquaintance;
+this could be done without difficulty in a
+drinking or billiard saloon, and he was then to
+cultivate an intimacy with him.</p>
+
+<p>On asking to see Se&ntilde;or Morito, Bernardi was at
+once admitted, and as soon as the Don closed his
+door, Salter slipped into the closet to listen.</p>
+
+<p>"Ah! you are looking much better this morning,"
+said the Don, as he scratched a match and
+handed it to Bernardi to light his cigar.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I am feeling much better too. This
+seems quite like old times, doesn't it? As I sit
+here and puff your fragrant Havanas, I could almost
+imagine you were again in the real estate
+business in Peru. Ha! ha! that was a speculation
+that paid well, eh?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Pietro, you must be careful not to drop a
+hint of those times to any one, or I should be
+ruined," replied the Don; "I am in good society
+here, and I hope to make a little money out of a
+scheme I have on hand; but it is still quite
+uncertain whether I shall succeed, and my
+expenses in engineering the affair are fast eating
+up all my capital. Now, I shall be happy to
+assist you as far as I can, but it will be on condition
+that you leave town; for if you should get
+tipsy and begin to talk about me, I should lose
+everything. Next month, I may realize my
+hopes, but I am playing a risky game, and I cannot
+afford to jeopardize it. What do you want?
+Tell me how I can serve you, and how much
+money you need, and if I can help you, I will
+gladly do so."</p>
+
+<p>"That is fair enough, Don Juan&mdash;Pedro, I
+mean&mdash;I only want a start, and I shall get along
+without any difficulty; but to tell the truth, I
+don't know where to go. I could not return to
+Peru&mdash;neither could you, for that matter&mdash;and I
+know of only one place where I could succeed
+and be satisfied to stay. I have been thinking of
+going to Buenos Ayres, if I could have a fair sum
+to start me in good style on arriving there; but
+it is a long journey, and I am in no haste to start.
+By the way, where is your present se&ntilde;orita? or
+are you really married as you said? Is she as
+handsome as the other was?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, she is very handsome," replied the Don,
+curtly; "but she knows nothing about my his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span>tory
+previous to our meeting, and I do not wish
+that she should; so let us leave her out of our
+discussion. I have some money left, though it is
+decreasing rapidly, and I will assist you as far as
+possible, if you will leave Gloster at once; for I
+am afraid that you will begin drinking to excess
+again, and you know that when you are half
+drunk there is nothing in the world you will not
+tell. How much do you want?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! Don Pedro, you need not fear that I
+shall betray you; but I can't start off on a long
+journey so soon after the fatigue and hardship I
+have undergone during the last month. Just let
+me have three or four hundred dollars to enable
+me to live in good style for a week or two, and
+to get some better jewelry than this cheap stuff,
+and I will be ready to start for Buenos Ayres as
+soon as you wish."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I will give you three hundred dollars
+now, and as soon as you have spent that, you
+must be ready to leave Gloster on your way out
+of the United States."</p>
+
+<p>So saying, the Don stepped to his dressing-case,
+opened and then closed a drawer, and said:</p>
+
+<p>"There are three rouleaux of gold pieces, each
+containing one hundred dollars. When that is
+gone, I will buy your ticket to Buenos Ayres or
+Montevideo, as you prefer, and will give you as
+much money as I can possibly spare; you must
+be prepared to go then."</p>
+
+<p>"All right, my dear Pedro," replied Bernardi,
+rising to go; "I shall be ready at that time. You<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span>
+can trust my discretion, however, as long as I
+stay here, and no one shall ever hear a word
+from me to your discredit. I may call to see you
+occasionally?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! certainly; come in the forenoon. By the
+way, Pietro, let me caution you against gambling
+while you are here, for I have found that we are
+no match for these Northern gamblers. They
+will take every dollar from you if you venture to
+stake against them. You will surely lose, and
+then you will want me to supply you again; but
+I tell you frankly I will not do it. I have hardly
+money enough to carry through my scheme, and
+if you choose to betray me, you can do so, but it
+won't do you any good whatever; whereas, if you
+are faithful to me, I can spare you a reasonable
+sum to start you afresh in Buenos Ayres."</p>
+
+<p>"Never fear, Don Pedro, I shall be mute as an
+oyster," and so saying, Bernardi took his leave.</p>
+
+<p>The foregoing conversation had taken place in
+the Don's dressing-room, so that Salter had no
+difficulty in hearing every word, even when the
+speakers dropped their voices to mere whispers;
+but there was another listener in the Don's bed-chamber
+who was equally successful in overhearing
+all that had been said. The Donna, having
+heard of the arrival of this mysterious Pietro
+Bernardi the day before, was anxious to know
+who he was and what he came for. Accordingly,
+she placed herself at the keyhole of their chamber
+door leading into the Don's dressing-room,
+and when Pietro had gone, she entered the Don's
+presence.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Who was that person, Don Pedro?" she
+asked, with a sharp tone to her voice, foreboding
+no good to her already nervous and irritated
+spouse.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! his name is Pietro Bernardi, and I formerly
+knew him in Peru. He was quite a fine
+young fellow then, but he has taken to gambling,
+drinking, and general dissipation, so that it
+is very unpleasant to have him turn up here as
+an acquaintance."</p>
+
+<p>"Is that the only reason why you dislike to see
+him, Se&ntilde;or Morito?" asked the Donna, her
+manner becoming more clearly inquisitive and
+hostile. "You are too anxious to get rid of him for
+that to be the sole cause of your annoyance at his
+presence."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, my dear Lucia, the fact is, that he
+knows enough about me in the past to be a very
+dangerous person to have around just now, for
+he might expose me to the people here, and ruin
+our schemes upon the Diamond Company."</p>
+
+<p>"Why did you not tell me about this? There
+must be no secrets which I do not share, for I do
+not intend to be deserted by you as you have deserted
+others before. No, no, Don Pedro," she
+continued, passionately, "I heard every word of
+your conversation with this man, and you must
+understand that you cannot treat me like a doll,
+to be thrown away when you are tired of me.
+I am able and anxious to help you in all your
+plans, but I must have your full confidence. You
+know that I love you, and you say that you re<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span>turn
+my love, but sometimes I distrust you. You
+deserted a se&ntilde;orita in Lima, and some day you
+may try to desert me; but I warn you that I
+would follow you to the ends of the earth, and I
+could easily find it in my heart to kill you if you
+played me false."</p>
+
+<p>As the Donna uttered these words, her determined
+tones clearly showed that she would have
+no hesitation in executing her threat. The Don
+had no reply to offer, and finally the Donna
+closed the conversation by saying:</p>
+
+<p>"This is our first approach to a quarrel, and I
+hope it will be the last. You know that I am
+fearfully excited by any suggestion of the possibility
+of losing you, and this man's words and
+sneers have made me almost beside myself. But
+recollect, I am not without friends, for there are
+plenty of rich men here who would be delighted
+to obey my lightest whims if I would permit
+them, and if you should ever desert me, I would
+tell all I know of you, and invoke their aid to
+bring you to punishment. Now let us go along
+together, without any secrets apart from each
+other in the future, and we shall have no occasion
+to quarrel again."</p>
+
+<p>The Donna then left the room, and went out to
+drive with Madame Sevier, leaving the Don
+alone. Salter quickly slipped downstairs, but
+was summoned back by the ringing of the Don's
+bell. On entering the dressing-room, Salter found
+his employer seated in a large easy-chair, looking
+quite pale and agitated.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I wish you would bring me a decanter of
+brandy and a glass, George," said the Don; "I
+don't feel very well, and I think a sip of cognac
+will do me good."</p>
+
+<p>Salter obeyed orders, and then went to Lesparre's
+room to report the conversations which
+he had overheard while concealed in the closet.
+Lesparre soon went into the Don's room to talk
+over the plans for the <i>f&ecirc;te</i>, but Don Pedro was in
+low spirits, and did not care to converse. He ordered
+his horse to be brought to the door, and
+was soon galloping down the avenue as a relief
+to his depressed nerves. Lesparre immediately
+came to my office, reported what Salter had told
+him, and then went about his duty of preparing
+the island to receive the guests on the day of the
+<i>f&ecirc;te</i>.</p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Pietro Bernardi and the Detective become Warm
+Friends.&mdash;A "T&ecirc;te-&agrave;-T&ecirc;te" worth One Thousand
+Dollars.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>When Pietro Bernardi left the Morito residence,
+he sauntered downtown in a
+leisurely manner, with Newton carefully following
+at a safe distance. Bernardi was evidently
+vain of his personal appearance, for he was dissatisfied
+with his ready-made outfit, and, entering<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span>
+a fashionable tailoring establishment, he was
+measured for a complete suit of clothes. The
+rest of the forenoon was spent in buying shirts,
+underclothing, trinkets, and toilet articles of quite
+an expensive character. After a hasty lunch at
+a restaurant, Bernardi walked to the post-office,
+where he met a man whose appearance indicated
+unmistakably the professional gambler. They
+seemed to be old acquaintances, and, after taking
+a drink together, they conversed for some time
+in low tones. Finally they separated, and Bernardi
+went to his lodgings. About six o'clock he
+reappeared, and Newton followed him to the
+post-office again, where the gambler, who was
+waiting in the morning, was met apparently by
+appointment. The two men walked a short distance
+together, and then disappeared up a stairway,
+which, Newton was certain, led to gambling
+rooms. He waited outside nearly an hour undecided
+what to do, but at length he went upstairs
+among a crowd of young sports, who seemed to
+know the ways of the place, and he was allowed
+to pass in with them unquestioned. He found
+Bernardi just rising from the dinner-table, which
+the proprietors of the gambling house were in
+the habit of setting for their regular patrons.
+The faro-table was in full blast, and Bernardi
+was soon seated at it with the air of an old
+<i>habitu&eacute;</i>. He was thenceforward so deeply interested
+in the game as to pay no attention to anything
+else, and, as he was unusually lucky, his
+pile of gold pieces rapidly increased. Newton<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span>
+took a position at his elbow and watched the
+game in silence for some minutes. At length,
+seeing Bernardi win a large stake, he said in a
+familiar tone:</p>
+
+<p>"You are unusually lucky to-night, and I see
+you play for all the game is worth."</p>
+
+<p>Keeping his eyes intently fastened upon the
+dealer's box, Bernardi replied carelessly:</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, this is a game where a man must put
+down his money freely if he wants to win."</p>
+
+<p>The next turn of the cards was doubly lucky
+for Bernardi, and, as he raked in his winnings,
+he glanced up at Newton, scanned his face a moment,
+and said:</p>
+
+<p>"I think I have met you in New Orleans, have
+I not?"</p>
+
+<p>"Very likely, for I have often been there; but
+I do not recall your name, though your face is
+quite familiar to me."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, certainly," continued Bernardi, apparently
+quite pleased at the idea of meeting an old
+New Orleans acquaintance; "my name is Pietro
+Bernardi, and I have often seen you in the rooms
+of French Joe on Magazine street."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! yes, I used to go there a good deal, and
+we must have met frequently. Let us take something
+for old acquaintance' sake."</p>
+
+<p>This was taking a short cut to Bernardi's friendship,
+and as the two stood before the sideboard
+clicking glasses together, a stranger would have
+supposed them to be old cronies, as indeed Bernardi
+actually believed to be the case. Newton<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span>
+instantly saw that Bernardi's frequent drinks during
+the day and his later potations in the evening
+had rendered him somewhat intoxicated; he was
+not drunk, for he had a perfect comprehension of
+his actions, but he had drunk enough to be very
+happy, and he probably saw in Newton's face a
+hazy resemblance to some one he had known
+in New Orleans. He soon returned to the faro-table,
+and, taking his seat, asked Newton whether
+he intended to do any betting.</p>
+
+<p>"No, not to-night," Newton replied, yawning.
+"I am very tired and restless, and I make it a
+rule never to bet when my nerves are shaky."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, that is a mighty good rule," said Bernardi,
+as he put out a pile of gold pieces. "If
+you will only stick to that plan, you will be sure
+to win. I can always feel when luck is with me,
+and if I could only make up my mind to stop
+when I know that I cannot win, I should be as
+successful as could be wished; but sometimes I
+get obstinate when the cards begin to run against
+me, and then I buck against fate until I lose all."</p>
+
+<p>Having an absorbing interest in the game, Bernardi
+talked very little after this, but about eleven
+o'clock he counted his winnings, and, finding that
+they amounted to more than two hundred dollars,
+he decided to withdraw. In company with
+Newton, therefore, he left the room, and entered
+a bar-room below. They drank and chatted together
+a short time, and then separated, Bernardi
+going to a well-known house of ill-repute, while
+Newton carefully dogged his footsteps unseen.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span>
+Knowing that Bernardi intended to spend the
+night where he was, Newton returned to his own
+lodgings. They had agreed to meet at the post-office
+about eleven o'clock next day, and Newton
+knew that his services would not be required before
+that hour.</p>
+
+<p>About eleven o'clock in the forenoon, Newton
+and Bernardi met at the post-office, as agreed,
+and, after a morning dram together, they went
+to a restaurant for breakfast.</p>
+
+<p>"How did you enjoy yourself yesterday evening?"
+asked Newton, as they were finishing their
+meal.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! very well indeed. I met a young lady
+whom I used to know in New Orleans, and she
+was very lovely; but I shall never meet one like
+my se&ntilde;orita. She was the most beautiful woman
+living;" and, as he spoke, Bernardi sighed deeply,
+and became moody, silent, and abstracted.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; I recollect having seen her with you
+once in New Orleans," replied Newton, on a venture;
+"is she dead?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, &mdash;&mdash; &mdash;&mdash; her! I wish she was," replied
+Bernardi, savagely. "She started to come North
+with me, and I gave her everything she could ask;
+but when I had won a large sum of money at Natchez,
+she stole several thousand dollars from me,
+and disappeared with a Mississippi gambler, whom
+she had never seen but twice. I didn't care for
+the money, but I loved her passionately, and I
+cannot think of her without becoming enraged.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span>
+Come, let us go get some brandy; I always have
+to drink when I think of her."</p>
+
+<p>While they were drinking together, Newton
+asked Bernardi if he was always fortunate in
+gaming.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! no, indeed; why, less than a week ago I
+had not a cent to buy my breakfast, and I did not
+know whether to enlist in the army or commit
+suicide."</p>
+
+<p>"Then your present success is marvelous, for
+you must have won, in all, four or five hundred
+dollars," said Newton, inquiringly.</p>
+
+<p>"No, I did not win it all; in fact, I could not
+have done so, for I did not have a dime to start
+with; but I met an old friend here who gave me
+a few hundreds, and who will give me more
+when I want it."</p>
+
+<p>"That's the kind of a friend to have," said
+Newton, warmly; "come, let us drink again to
+his health. I wish I had met you before, for I
+would have been glad to divide with you. We
+ought always to stand by each other, especially
+we Southerners, among these Yankee gamblers."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, that is true," replied Bernardi, taking
+an immense drink of brandy; "they are not so
+generous to each other as we are down South.
+Now, my friend, whom I spoke of, is one of the
+right sort. He gave me enough for a new
+outfit, and has promised to give me a good sum
+when I am ready to go South again."</p>
+
+<p>"Is he a Southerner too?" asked Newton.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! yes," Bernardi replied, "he is from Peru,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span>
+where I first met him, and we have had many
+a gay time together. I used to keep a fine
+suite of gambling rooms, which he frequented,
+and he used to play with the utmost indifference
+to the results; he always seemed equally unmoved
+whether he won or lost."</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose you must have been very warm
+friends," said Newton, "or he would not now be
+so ready to assist you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Don Juan is a very liberal fellow, I
+admit," answered Bernardi; "but he might not
+be so generous were it not to his interest to be
+so," he continued, with a knowing wink.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! ho! I see," replied Newton, nodding his
+head expressively. "Your friend would not care
+to have you talk about his past history, I suppose?"</p>
+
+<p>"Exactly; he knows that I could tell some
+things about him which might spoil his pleasure
+here, and so he is anxious to keep on good terms
+with me. However, he needn't fear me as long
+as he treats me decently, for I do not wish to
+injure him, and when I am ready to go I shall
+get a good sum from him to start me in business
+elsewhere."</p>
+
+<p>"Suppose he should refuse to give you anything
+more, or have you arrested for blackmailing
+him," suggested Newton.</p>
+
+<p>"I'd like to see him try it," Bernardi exclaimed,
+with a volley of oaths. "I guess two
+could play at the game of swearing out warrants,
+and when the account was balanced, his impris<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span>onment
+would be twenty times as long as mine.
+No, no; I have no fear that he will attempt such
+a thing."</p>
+
+<p>"I merely spoke of it as a possibility," said
+Newton, "in order that you should be on your
+guard. A man with wealth and position might
+succeed in crushing a friendless poor man in
+spite of the latter's protestations. However, if
+any such thing should happen, you can depend
+upon it that I will work for you until you are
+released."</p>
+
+<p>"That's right, my friend," replied Bernardi, as
+he called for another drink of brandy. "If I
+should suddenly disappear without warning to
+you, don't fail to search for me everywhere, and
+I will see that you are handsomely rewarded. If
+Don Juan should attempt any treachery, I should
+have him at my mercy as soon as I should get
+free, and, together, we could squeeze a large
+sum out of him."</p>
+
+<p>Newton spent the day with Bernardi, and they
+became quite inseparable. After driving about
+the city for an hour or two, they attended a matin&eacute;e
+performance at one of the theatres, and then
+had a long and sumptuous dinner at a fashionable
+restaurant. In the evening they went to the
+gambling-rooms where they had met the night
+before, and Bernardi was soon absorbed in the
+game of faro. His luck still clung to him, and,
+on leaving the place at midnight, he had won
+three hundred dollars more. As before, Bernardi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span>
+went to enjoy the society of his New Orleans
+charmer, and Newton went to his own lodgings.</p>
+
+<p>After Newton had made his report to me, early
+the next morning, I told him to continue his intimacy
+with Bernardi, and to pump him as thoroughly
+as possible relative to Don Pedro's past
+history. Soon after his departure to meet Bernardi,
+Senator Muirhead and Judge Key entered,
+and we discussed the possibility of doing anything
+with this new witness, Pietro Bernardi.</p>
+
+<p>"Would it not be possible to frighten him into
+telling all he knows of Don Pedro?" asked the
+Senator.</p>
+
+<p>"I hardly think we could," I replied. "In the
+first place, you have no charge whatever against
+Bernardi, nor any reason to suppose that he has
+ever been a criminal anywhere; hence, how could
+we frighten him? Moreover, he is a man of considerable
+nerve, and he would see that, as against
+third parties, his interests would be best served
+by supporting, instead of attacking, Don Pedro.
+No, I don't see anything to be gained as yet by
+showing our hands. Our object is to recover
+possession of the money paid to the Don for
+those bogus diamond fields, and to do that, we
+must wait until we have a sure case against him
+for his crimes committed elsewhere."</p>
+
+<p>"I agree with you wholly," added Judge Key.
+"Besides, this fellow, Bernardi, knows nothing
+of the Don's forgeries and frauds except those
+committed in Peru, and as we have before shown,
+we could make no use of those accusations until<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span>
+we hear from Peru. Indeed, it is questionable
+how far we can proceed even then, for we have
+no extradition treaty with that country."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I do not mind that very much," I
+replied, "for my chief dependence is upon the
+moral effect upon Don Pedro. I think that we
+can so work upon him as to obtain his consent to
+go to Peru voluntarily, rather than to be detained
+here until a requisition arrives from England.
+He knows that if he be sent to England, he will
+be transported for a long term of years; whereas,
+in Peru, he may avoid conviction altogether, or
+purchase his escape after conviction."</p>
+
+<p>"But can we make him give up his plunder?"
+asked the Senator, anxiously.</p>
+
+<p>"I think we can," said I. "You see that he is
+liable to be held here for obtaining money under
+false pretenses, and during the trial the money
+could be taken by attachment. Then, even
+though he should not be convicted, the delay
+would enable us to make sure of sending him back
+to London, where a heavy sentence would undoubtedly
+be given him. Now, by representing
+these things to him, we shall induce him to hand
+over the money voluntarily, and after that we
+shall not care whether he is taken to Great Britain
+or Peru."</p>
+
+<p>"If that be the case, why not arrest him now
+and get the advices from London afterward?"
+asked the Senator, who was very anxious to
+hasten matters.</p>
+
+<p>"Because we could not present a sufficient case<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span>
+to hold him under the preliminary examination,"
+replied Judge Key. "When we get official news
+of the fellow's character from Peru, we shall
+have a sure thing against him, and then I shall
+feel ready to act; but I agree with Mr. Pinkerton
+that there would be danger in overhaste. You
+see, we have him carefully watched, and there is
+no probability that he intends to make off until
+after this <i>f&ecirc;te champ&ecirc;tre</i>; therefore, let us wait
+for our foreign advices as long as we can, and in
+case he prepares to go before they arrive, it will
+be time enough to arrest him then."</p>
+
+<p>"How about the Donna?" asked Muirhead.
+"Do you propose to take any steps against her?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't see how we can," I replied. "With
+the exception of the sums she has received from
+Mather, she has obtained nothing fraudulently;
+and, as you may well suppose, we could never
+get Mather to testify against her; so I guess we
+need not trouble ourselves to interfere with the
+lovely Donna at all."</p>
+
+<p>Our conference then broke up with the understanding
+that we should assemble again the
+moment any new facts in the case should be
+developed. Just after the gentlemen had left,
+Madame Sevier came in and reported a scene
+between Mather and the Donna which had taken
+place the previous evening.</p>
+
+<p>The Don had remained at home entertaining
+various guests until nine o'clock. He had then
+gone out with Lesparre and several other gentlemen,
+to attend a banquet and ball given by a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span>
+semi-political club at one of the hotels. The
+affair was attended by many highly respectable
+ladies, particularly by those whose husbands had
+any political aspirations, but it was not sufficiently
+exclusive to satisfy the Donna, and she
+remained at home. The visitors gradually dropped
+out until only Mr. Mather remained, and
+then Madame Sevier excused herself, on the plea
+of fatigue, in order to retire. Instead of going to
+her room, however, she hastened to the library
+and hid herself behind a statue standing in a
+deep bay window, which was heavily shrouded
+with drapery and curtains. Thus placed, she
+was completely hidden from the sight of any one
+in the library, though she had a perfect view
+herself, and she could hear every word spoken in
+the room.</p>
+
+<p>As she expected, the Donna soon entered, followed
+by Mr. Mather. The latter seemed to consider
+that the Donna could refuse him nothing,
+for he put his arms around her, and was about to
+kiss her, when he found her fan quickly interposed
+between their faces.</p>
+
+<p>"You are too free with your caresses, Se&ntilde;or
+Mather," she said, coldly, slipping out of his embrace,
+and pointing out a chair to him at some
+distance from the sofa, upon which she seated
+herself.</p>
+
+<p>Poor Mather was quite astonished, for, having
+kissed her several times before, he supposed that
+he could continue doing so whenever he wished;
+but the Donna was an expert fisher of men, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span>
+she recognized the force of that old proverb,
+"Familiarity breeds contempt;" besides, she
+wanted some more money, and she knew that
+her elderly lover would gladly purchase her kisses
+at a round price. The folly of giving them away
+gratis could not be indulged in, therefore, and
+she kept her sighing swain at a distance for a
+little time. She was too politic to give even the
+slightest hint of her object in the conversation
+which ensued, but she used every possible allurement
+to fascinate her victim, while she would
+allow him no liberties nor caresses. Mather
+could not fail to recollect the affectionate manner
+in which she had received his previous gifts, and
+he therefore decided to try the same policy again.</p>
+
+<p>"I saw a beautiful camel's hair shawl to-day,"
+he said, "and I was going to get it for you, my
+dear Lucia, but I did not know whether it would
+suit you, and so I determined to let you select
+your own gift. The shawl was worth one thousand
+dollars, and I made up my mind to give you
+the amount that I should have paid for it, and
+you could then exercise your own taste."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! my dear Henry," she exclaimed, "how
+thoughtful you are! How can I sufficiently
+thank you?" and she made room for him on the
+sofa, as he advanced holding out a roll of bills.</p>
+
+<p>"You know how you can please me best," he
+answered, tenderly, bending over her.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! really, Henry, you mustn't," she protested,
+feebly, as he showered kisses on her cheeks
+and lips; "suppose any one should come in!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>As she spoke, a carriage stopped in front of the
+house, and their affectionate <i>t&ecirc;te-&agrave;-t&ecirc;te</i> was interrupted
+by the unexpected return of Lesparre,
+who, having left his watch at home, had returned
+to get it. He did not enter the parlor nor the
+library, but the Donna seemed very much agitated
+at the mere possibility of being detected in
+a compromising situation, and so Mather took
+his departure. The coolness with which she
+counted the money, after he had gone, was in
+striking contrast with her simulated embarrassment
+while he was present, and it was plain
+that, having obtained the gift, she was quite glad
+to get rid of the giver. She went immediately
+to her room, and Madame Sevier then retired
+also.</p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Don Pedro anxious for Pietro Bernardi's Absence.&mdash;"Coppering
+the Jack and Playing the Ace and
+Queen open."&mdash;A Gambler that could not be Bought.&mdash;Splendid
+Winnings.&mdash;Diamond cutting Diamond.&mdash;Bernardi
+quieted, and he subsequently departs
+richer by five thousand dollars.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>At eleven o'clock, Newton and Bernardi again
+met at the post-office, and the latter remarked
+that he intended making a short call
+upon his wealthy friend.</p>
+
+<p>"Come along with me," he said, "and you will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span>
+see what a fine place he has. I shall not remain
+very long, and if you will wait for me outside,
+we can pass the day together. I hate to go
+around alone in a strange city."</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly they strolled along until they
+reached Don Pedro's house, and Newton agreed
+to remain near at hand until Bernardi should
+finish his call. Salter was on the lookout, and
+when Bernardi was admitted, he led the way to
+Don Pedro's room. The moment the door closed
+on Bernardi, Salter took his place at the auger-holes
+in the adjoining closet, and overheard the
+entire conversation, as before.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Pietro, have you decided how soon you
+will be ready to leave town?" asked the Don.
+"From your clothes, jewelry, and other purchases
+you have made, you must have used up
+most of the money I gave you, and, if so, your
+departure must take place soon; for I warn you
+again, I shall give you nothing more until you
+depart for some distant city!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, to tell the truth," replied Bernardi, in
+an independent, indifferent manner, "I am in no
+hurry to go away just yet. You see, I have
+been very lucky since I've been here, and if I
+keep on, I guess I can repay you the amount
+you kindly loaned me."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you mean that you have been gambling
+again?" asked the Don, in a vexed tone.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, and I have won constantly, so that I
+don't like to change my luck by making a move
+right away. You know gamblers are superst<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span>itious,
+and I have a strong feeling that it will be
+for my interest to remain here for some time
+yet."</p>
+
+<p>"But you promised to go as soon as you felt
+able to travel," said the Don.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, there is no hurry. I haven't done you
+any harm yet, and I don't mean to. Why are
+you so anxious to get rid of me?"</p>
+
+<p>Of course, Don Pedro's principal fear was that
+Bernardi would learn how large a sum the former
+had received for his bogus mines, and that he
+would not be satisfied to go unless he got a large
+slice of the plunder. It would not do, however,
+to excite his suspicions by appearing too desirous
+of sending him away, so the Don changed his
+tone, and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! I'm sure I don't want to get rid of you
+as long as you keep sober and don't talk about
+me; but you know how it is, Pietro; if you should
+get drunk and talk about me, you would tell
+everything you know, and the result would be
+that I should have to flee the town without accomplishing
+my object. In that case, I should
+lose not only all that I hoped to make, but also
+all the immense outlay I have made in preparing
+my scheme. If you want to go to New Orleans
+again, I will start you in a faro-bank there, and
+will come down there next winter to play with
+you; but I confess I should feel easier if you were
+out of Gloster for the present."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I will be ready to go in a few days, if
+you insist upon it, but I don't see the necessity<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span>
+of such haste. However, I will come in again
+and talk about it before the end of the week. I
+want to win a little more before I go."</p>
+
+<p>"How have you been betting?" asked Morito,
+in a conciliatory manner.</p>
+
+<p>"I have been 'coppering' the jack and playing
+the ace and queen 'open,'<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a> and I have won
+constantly. I left them a few times and played
+other cards, but I always lost when I did so.
+Now I am going to stick to that scheme right
+along."</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>Footnote</h3>
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> These are technical terms in playing faro. The player
+meant that he was in the habit of making one bet that the
+jack would be a losing card all the time, and another that
+the ace and queen would be winning cards.</p></div></div>
+
+<p>"Where are you playing?" asked the Don,
+carelessly.</p>
+
+<p>"I generally go to Dave Carter's, in Mahogany
+Block, for I think he deals a 'square' game."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I suppose so," said Morito; "as much so
+as any of them; but they are all sharpers here,
+and they may have been letting you win on purpose,
+thinking that you had a large sum in reserve
+which they hope to catch hereafter. If
+you will take my advice, you will stop while you
+are ahead. You know, from your own experience
+as a banker, that the 'bank' always wins
+in the end."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I shall try a few more games, and then
+I shall be ready to talk with you about going
+South. I want to run my luck while it is good,"
+and so saying, Bernardi rose to go.</p>
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span></p>
+<p>"All right, Pietro," said Don Pedro, "be careful
+not to get swindled, and to keep silent about
+me."</p>
+
+<p>The moment Bernardi was gone, the Don rang
+his bell violently, and sent for Monsieur Lesparre.
+When the latter entered the Don's room, he
+found his employer in a more disturbed and excited
+condition than he had ever before indulged
+in, and evidently he meant mischief to some
+one.</p>
+
+<p>"Lesparre, that fellow Bernardi, of whom I
+spoke to you the other day, has been here
+again," burst out the Don. "I gave him a considerable
+sum of money to set him on his feet
+again, for old acquaintance' sake, expecting that
+he would return to his friends in the South, or,
+at least, behave like a decent gentleman; but he
+has returned to his old habits of gambling and
+drinking, so that, at any moment, he may come
+here and mortify me before a party of my
+guests, or, worse still, claim me as his friend
+when arraigned in a police court for drunkenness,
+<i>etcetera</i>. He promised to leave town as
+soon as the money I gave him was gone, and I
+was to give him then a respectable sum to start
+him in business elsewhere; but he has won considerably
+at the faro-table, and he is now independent
+of me, and therefore declines to keep his
+promise until he is ready."</p>
+
+<p>"Would he go, do you think, if he should lose
+all he has?" asked Lesparre.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! yes, indeed; he would be forced to yield<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span>
+to my terms then, and I should give him nothing
+until he started."</p>
+
+<p>"How would it do to suggest to the proprietor
+of the gambling rooms that it would be doubly
+for his interest to fleece this man? I think it
+could easily be done, if the 'bank' were so disposed."</p>
+
+<p>"I have no doubt of it, especially as I know
+the way he intends to bet all the time," replied
+the Don, eagerly; "he 'coppers' the jack and plays
+the ace and queen 'open.' It must be a pretty
+poor dealer who cannot 'stack' those cards, with
+such a stake in view. Suppose you drop a hint
+to Dave Carter, or to the dealer to-night, before
+Bernardi goes there."</p>
+
+<p>"I will go down at once," replied Lesparre,
+"and I will promise him three hundred dollars
+additional if he wins all that Bernardi has; that
+is not too much, is it?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, indeed!" exclaimed the Don; "I would
+gladly give five hundred, if necessary."</p>
+
+<p>Lesparre arrived at the gambling rooms about
+noon, and at that early hour no one was present
+except the proprietor and one of the dealers.
+Lesparre obtained an interview with the proprietor
+alone, and then asked him if he would like to
+make a thousand dollars.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! yes," he replied, in an indifferent way,
+"I should have no objection, although it would
+not be such a novelty that I need take a great
+deal of trouble about it. The 'bank' often wins
+more than that in a single evening."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Well, there is a South American who has
+been playing here recently, against whom I have
+a bitter grudge. He has about six hundred dollars
+now, most of which he has won here. He
+has one regular system of playing&mdash;'coppering'
+the jack and playing the ace and queen to win&mdash;and
+you can easily fix those cards so as to clean
+him out in one evening. The moment you have
+done that, I will give you five hundred dollars
+more."</p>
+
+<p>The gambler fixed a keen look upon Lesparre
+for a moment, and then replied that he was no
+gudgeon to bite such a stale bait as that. He
+added that they played a "square" game, and if a
+man won, he was welcome to his winnings; but
+that no trickery would be resorted to against any
+patron of the house. Lesparre was obliged to
+withdraw, feeling that he had made a mistake in
+proposing the plan so openly.</p>
+
+<p>That evening, after a day spent in playing billiards
+and driving about, Bernardi and Newton
+again entered the gambling saloon. Bernardi did
+not make any bets for some time, but stood
+watching the game in silence, apparently guessing
+as to the winning and losing cards to determine
+whether he was in luck. Finally he bet
+fifty dollars on the ace and lost; this was followed
+by one hundred dollars on the same card, which
+again lost. He waited a few deals and then placed
+two hundred dollars on the queen to win, and one
+hundred dollars on the jack to lose. The cards
+fell as he had hoped, and gathering in his stakes
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span>and winnings, he began betting in earnest. His
+luck was wonderful, and as all his bets were for
+fifty dollars or more, he soon had quite a large
+sum. Presently he stopped betting, and went to
+the bar with Newton. They talked and drank
+together for some minutes, but Bernardi was not
+ready to leave just then. His winnings were already
+quite sufficient to cause the proprietor to
+regard him with a considerable degree of interest,
+and when he returned to the faro-table, a seat
+was given him at once. He made no bets for
+some minutes, but at length he asked:</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 640px;">
+<img src="images/gs07.jpg" width="640" height="428" alt="This was taking a short cut to Bernardi&#39;s friendship." title="" />
+<span class="caption">This was taking a short cut to Bernardi&#39;s friendship.</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>"What is your limit to-night?"</p>
+
+<p>"Five hundred dollars," was the reply.</p>
+
+<p>Bernardi then placed four hundred dollars on
+the nine spot, and, a moment later, he was again
+a winner. He now seemed satisfied, for he presented
+his "chips" for payment, and received
+cash therefor. The proprietor then invited Bernardi
+and Newton to drink with him, and, while
+standing at the sideboard, the proprietor asked
+Bernardi whether he had many acquaintances in
+the city.</p>
+
+<p>"No," replied Bernardi, "I have very few;
+why do you ask?"</p>
+
+<p>"Because one of them is your enemy, or else
+he was trying to play a trick on the 'bank' this
+morning," continued the proprietor, watching
+Bernardi narrowly. "He came in about noon,
+and wanted the cards put up so that you should
+be cleaned out of all your money."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"The devil you say!" ejaculated Bernardi;
+"why did he want to clean me out?"</p>
+
+<p>"That I can't say; but he told me that he had
+a bitter grudge against you, and that he would
+give a great deal to injure you."</p>
+
+<p>"I do not know any one here who could say
+that of me," replied Bernardi, thoughtfully.
+"There is only one man in the city who knows
+me intimately, and I do not see why he should
+wish me to lose, even if he did hate me. Was he
+a South American, like myself?"</p>
+
+<p>"No; he might have been a foreigner, but he
+was not dark-complexioned."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I cannot imagine who it could have
+been," mused Bernardi; "and I guess I need not
+be afraid of him, if he goes to work in that roundabout
+way. However, I am obliged to you for
+the information, and I will take care that he does
+not drop on me unexpectedly. So-long."</p>
+
+<p>As Bernardi walked down the street with Newton,
+he was evidently deeply abstracted, for he
+muttered to himself in Spanish, and swore at intervals
+in quite an excited manner. Finally, he
+said aloud:</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know what to think about this story.
+It may be that this gambler made it up to shake
+my nerves, or to cover some plot against me; but
+I have a sort of feeling that Don Juan is at the
+bottom of it. I don't fear him one bit, but I want
+to solve the mystery, and if he has been plotting
+against me, I will have my revenge upon him.
+But, no; I can't see what he could gain by it, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span>
+I think, perhaps, this gang despair of breaking
+my luck, and are planning to rob me by force."</p>
+
+<p>"That seems reasonable," replied Newton, "for
+then you would attribute the act to this unknown
+enemy, and they would escape suspicion. Still,"
+he continued, anxious to lead the conversation
+back to Don Pedro as a subject, "your first supposition
+may be the correct one, and your pretended
+friend may be scheming to ruin you."</p>
+
+<p>"But why should he want me to lose money?"
+persisted Bernardi. "He knows that I should
+come to him for more, and that he would be
+obliged to give it to me."</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps he would like to get rid of your presence,"
+cautiously suggested Newton; "and if you
+were penniless, he could insist upon your departure
+as a condition upon which alone he would
+give you money."</p>
+
+<p>"Caramba! I believe you are right, my friend,"
+Bernardi exclaimed, furiously; "and if I find that
+it is so, I will make Don Juan, or Don Pedro, as
+he calls himself now, regret the day he played me
+false."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't be over-hasty," counseled Newton, "for
+the whole story may be a gambler's lie after all."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! I will investigate it carefully," answered
+Bernardi, "and, when I am satisfied
+about the truth of the matter, I will consult with
+you as to the best course to pursue. It is a good
+thing to have a friend to advise with, especially
+among such a gang of thieves as seem to hang<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span>
+'round these rooms. Meet me to-morrow, as
+usual, and I will go see my friend again."</p>
+
+<p>The men then separated, and went to their respective
+lodgings for the night.</p>
+
+<p>In the morning they met, took breakfast
+together, and afterwards sauntered down to visit
+Don Pedro. As before, Bernardi was conducted
+straight to the Don's room, and Salter again stationed
+himself in the closet to listen.</p>
+
+<p>"So you are still successful?" was the first remark
+he heard.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, moderately so," replied Bernardi; "but
+it is strange how cards run sometimes."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you ought not to be astonished at anything
+after your long experience in gambling."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! I'm never astonished," said Bernardi,
+who had drunk a good deal of brandy before and
+after breakfast; "but I was thinking how lucky
+it was that I changed my mind last night about
+playing those three cards&mdash;the jack, ace, and
+queen."</p>
+
+<p>"How so?" asked Morito.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, if I had played the jack 'coppered,'
+and the ace and queen 'open,' last night, all the
+evening, I should have been entirely cleaned out;
+what do you think of that?"</p>
+
+<p>"I think you were very lucky in having played
+elsewhere," replied the Don; "but what's the
+matter with you? What makes you look at me
+so strangely?"</p>
+
+<p>"I want to find out whether it was you who
+sent a man to tell Dave Carter, the gambler, how<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span>
+I was playing, and to ask him to fix the cards so
+that I should lose all I had."</p>
+
+<p>Bernardi's voice was husky with liquor and
+anger, and he had evidently worked himself up
+into a great rage; but, in spite of his partial intoxication,
+he was very determined, and his tones
+foreboded no good-will to the Don. In a contest
+of words, however, he was no match for his opponent,
+and Don Pedro instantly took the most
+effectual method for quieting his visitor's suspicions.</p>
+
+<p>"My dear Pietro," he began, contemptuously,
+"I gave you credit for more common-sense than
+you seem disposed to claim for yourself. Why
+should I want you to lose? On the contrary, I
+would like to see you win enough to start in
+business for yourself, and repay me what I have
+loaned you, for I assure you that I much prefer
+to have you spend your money than mine. I
+have none too much for my own wants, and if
+you could repay me, I should be delighted. What
+is the reason for your question?"</p>
+
+<p>Bernardi did not reply for two or three
+minutes; he was evidently keenly scrutinizing
+Don Pedro's face; but at length he said:</p>
+
+<p>"Well, it's all right now, and I suppose I was
+wrong to suspect you; but the proprietor of the
+place where I gamble told me that some one had
+been trying to get him to play a trick on me,
+and I determined to find out who it was."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Pietro, I don't think you would have
+thought of suspecting me if your head had not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span>
+been fuddled with liquor. Why can't you stop
+drinking for a month or two?"</p>
+
+<p>"What do you care about my drinking?"
+asked Bernardi, in a half-cowed manner.</p>
+
+<p>"Because Pietro drunk is a very different fellow
+from Pietro sober; and some day you will
+let out some damaging reports about me, and
+then all hope of making anything here will be
+destroyed. If I could feel sure that you would
+remain sober, I would gladly start you in a good
+'bank' here."</p>
+
+<p>Of course, Don Pedro had no intention of doing
+anything of the kind, but he saw that Bernardi
+was in a dangerous mood, and that he must
+handle him very skillfully if he wished to get
+him to leave the city. The Don knew that to
+urge him to leave would be the surest way to
+make him stay, but that, if left to follow his
+own inclinations, he would be anxious to go
+South, where the climate and people were more
+congenial to him. Hence, Don Pedro boldly
+took the ground that he was quite willing for
+Bernardi to stay if he would only keep sober,
+and Bernardi quickly fell into the trap.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't want to start a 'bank' in this place,"
+he said, "and I can't get along in this climate
+without drinking. I have been moderately successful
+here, and I am in no hurry to leave, but I
+should like to go back to New Orleans, if I could
+fit up a good place there, and deal a first-class
+game."</p>
+
+<p>"How much would you need for that pur<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span>pose?"
+asked the Don. "If I can let you have it,
+I will do so, and you can stay here or go back to
+New Orleans, as you may prefer; only I shall
+make one condition: that you promise faithfully
+to drink nothing but wine while you are in this
+city, until I get ready to leave. Will three thousand
+dollars be enough?"</p>
+
+<p>"Hardly; I have won some money here, to be
+sure, but it will cost a good deal to spread a handsome
+layout in New Orleans&mdash;as for this place,
+there are not enough gentlemen gamesters here;
+the gamblers are all trying to live on each other.
+If you will make it five thousand, I will start for
+New Orleans day after to-morrow."</p>
+
+<p>"That is more than I ought to pay out in my
+present circumstances," said the Don, thoughtfully;
+"but I guess I can run the establishment
+on credit for about a month, and that will help
+me out; so if you will go to-morrow, I will give
+you five thousand when you start."</p>
+
+<p>"Done!" replied Bernardi, much gratified at
+having obtained so large a sum. "I have nothing
+to do except to get a young lady friend to
+go with me, and she won't need a great while to
+make her preparations. So you can have the
+money ready to-morrow?"</p>
+
+<p>"It shall be awaiting you any time that you
+call for it," answered Morito, and Bernardi then
+took his departure.</p>
+
+<p>On joining Newton, Bernardi was in high
+spirits, and he talked very freely of his intended
+plans.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"My friend convinced me that he had nothing
+to do with the trick which the gambler said some
+one tried to play upon me, and as a proof of his
+regard, he is going to give me a start in New Orleans.
+I shall leave here to-morrow, and if you
+would like to go in with me, we can make a pile
+of money there."</p>
+
+<p>"I can't very well leave here for some time
+yet," said Newton, "for I have a large sum
+staked in bets on the races next month, and I
+shall have no money until they take place. I
+have a sure thing on a new horse, and I have got
+such large odds that I have put up every dollar I
+could reach. I shall clear about ten thousand
+dollars sure, and then if you are so disposed, I
+will join you in New Orleans."</p>
+
+<p>"All right, we'll do it; but then, you may lose
+everything instead of winning. I don't care to
+bet on races, myself; there are too many chances
+to deal from the bottom."</p>
+
+<p>"There is no danger in this case, so you must
+let me know where I can find you, and within a
+month I will join you in the Crescent City."</p>
+
+<p>Bernardi then went to see his fair and frail
+charmer, to obtain her company on his Southern
+trip, and Newton came to my room to report. I
+instructed him to stay with Bernardi as much as
+possible while the latter remained in the city,
+and to be sure to obtain his address in New Orleans.
+I then called upon Senator Muirhead and
+informed him of the proposed departure of Bernardi.
+The Senator was very anxious to detain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span>
+him in some way, in order to get his testimony,
+in case we should fail to hear from England or
+Peru in time; but I was unable to suggest any
+plan for holding this man without exposing our
+whole connection with the case. Bernardi was
+evidently ready to act in good faith with Don
+Pedro, and any endeavor to retard his departure
+would be regarded by him as coming from the
+gang of gamblers from whom he had won money.
+There was no doubt but that he would keep up a
+correspondence with Newton, and we should thus
+know where to find him in case his presence
+should be needed. We decided, therefore, to let
+him go as he intended.</p>
+
+<p>Early in the evening, Bernardi and Newton
+went as usual to the gaming-rooms. There they
+met a stranger, who seemed to be a Spaniard or
+Cuban. Bernardi addressed him in Spanish, and
+after some conversation, they sat down to play.
+By some freak of luck, Bernardi continually won
+his small bets, but whenever he put out a large
+amount, he lost. The Cuban stranger had the
+same experience, and at length Bernardi rose in
+disgust and left the rooms with Newton, having
+lost about two hundred dollars.</p>
+
+<p>"Those fellows have got some kind of a 'skin-game'
+at work," he said, "and they tried to beat
+me and that Cuban out of all our cash. I gave
+him a hint in Spanish before I came away, and I
+hope he will stop before they fleece him. Now
+let us go to the theatre."</p>
+
+<p>They attended one of the theatres, and then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span>
+had a glorious supper at Bernardi's expense after
+the performance was over. About midnight,
+they parted with mutual good wishes, and Bernardi
+promised to write to Newton as soon as he
+should reach New Orleans.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning Bernardi called upon Don
+Pedro and received the promised amount of five
+thousand dollars, assuring him that he should
+leave the city that afternoon. As soon as he left
+the house, the Don asked Lesparre to keep a
+watch upon Bernardi to make sure of his leaving
+according to promise. When Lesparre returned
+about three o'clock, and reported that Bernardi
+was then actually on his way to Cairo, accompanied
+by a young lady, the Don was overjoyed,
+and he expressed himself greatly relieved thereby.</p>
+
+<p>"Now we can take more interest in our <i>f&ecirc;te
+champ&ecirc;tre</i>, and we will make it the most delightful
+affair ever known in this country," he said,
+exultantly. "When it is over, my dear Lesparre,
+we will make a tour of the fashionable
+watering-places, and enjoy life to the full."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Important Information from the Peruvian Government.&mdash;Arrival
+in Gloster of the Peruvian Minister
+and Consul.&mdash;In Consultation.&mdash;"Robbing Peter
+to pay Paul."&mdash;Mr. Pinkerton's card is presented.&mdash;Juan
+Sanchez, I arrest you, and you are my Prisoner.&mdash;Mr.
+Pinkerton not "For Sale."&mdash;A Dramatic
+Scene.&mdash;The Bubble burst.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>Several days now sped by with no fresh developments,
+and Don Pedro was almost constantly
+engaged in his preparations for the <i>f&ecirc;te
+champ&ecirc;tre</i>. As the day approached, society was
+stirred to its very center, and nothing was spoken
+of save this grand event of the season.</p>
+
+<p>But four days remained before the <i>f&ecirc;te</i>, when I
+was delighted by receiving a letter from the Secretary
+of State for Peru, giving full particulars
+of the forgeries and frauds committed by Don
+Juan Sanchez in that country, and enclosing a
+fine portrait of the man. One glance at the picture
+was sufficient to assure me of the identity
+of Don Pedro P. L. de Morito with Don Juan
+Sanchez, and I now felt ready to act. The letter
+informed me that a Peruvian official would be
+dispatched to Gloster at once, to obtain the arrest
+of Don Pedro, though there were a great many
+difficulties in the way, owing to the lack of an
+extradition treaty. Every effort would be made,
+however, to bring him to justice, and the Peru<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span>vian
+Minister at Washington would be instructed
+to confer with me.</p>
+
+<p>I informed Senator Muirhead and Judge Key
+of this news, and they were both much encouraged
+at the prospect, especially as we learned
+that a Peruvian man-of-war had arrived in New
+York from Aspinwall, it being doubtless intended
+that this vessel should take the prisoner to Peru,
+in case he could be frightened into surrendering
+himself.</p>
+
+<p>The <i>f&ecirc;te</i> was to take place on Wednesday, if
+the weather should be favorable, or on the first
+pleasant day thereafter, and everything was already
+in complete order for the grand occasion.
+A large and elegant steamer had been chartered
+to convey the guests to the island, and she was to
+make several trips during the day for the convenience
+of business men who could not go early.
+There remained nothing further to be done, except
+to pray for fine weather on the important
+day.</p>
+
+<p>On Monday morning I was told that two gentlemen
+were waiting to see me, on very important
+business, at one of the leading hotels. I accompanied
+the messenger, and was at once shown
+to the room of the Peruvian Minister, who was
+accompanied by the Peruvian Consul at New
+York. Before proceeding to business, I informed
+the Minister that I was acting under the instructions
+of Senator Muirhead, and that I should like
+to send for that gentleman, and for my legal adviser,
+Judge Key. The Peruvian officials made<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span>
+no objection, and both Judge Key and the Senator
+were soon with us, ready for consultation.
+As the new arrivals were tired and dusty after
+their long journey, we merely exchanged information
+relative to Don Pedro, and agreed to meet
+at ten o'clock next morning, to make plans for
+his arrest.</p>
+
+<p>At the appointed hour, we were all prompt in
+arriving at the parlor of the Minister. The latter
+and the Consul, in accordance with a suggestion
+I had made the day previous, had not mentioned
+their official rank to any one, and had remained
+as secluded as possible, in order to prevent Morito
+from knowing of their arrival in the city.</p>
+
+<p>The Minister stated that the forgeries of Don
+Juan Sanchez in Peru had been so enormous,
+amounting to more than seven hundred thousand
+dollars, that the government had taken up the
+pursuit of the criminal with unusual zeal, and no
+effort nor expense would be spared to bring him
+to justice. Unfortunately, however, in the absence
+of any extradition treaty between Peru
+and the United States, the chances of securing
+Don Juan, even now that he had been discovered,
+were not bright; indeed, the Minister acknowledged
+that he saw no way of accomplishing
+it.</p>
+
+<p>"By an appeal to law," said Judge Key, "nothing
+<i>can</i> be gained; but it is possible that my
+friend, Mr. Pinkerton, may have a plan which
+will induce Don Pedro, as he now calls himself,
+to surrender voluntarily rather than stand trial<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span>
+here or in Great Britain. Let us hear your opinion,
+then, Mr. Pinkerton."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, gentlemen," I replied, "this is a case
+where the greatest care must be exercised, for the
+criminal is a bold, skillful man, of good education
+and address, with, probably, a fair knowledge
+of his legal rights. We cannot afford to
+make any mistakes, for he would surely take advantage
+of them. We must, therefore, present
+the case to him in such a way that he will believe
+it to be to his interest to give himself up.
+The presence of the Peruvian man-of-war in New
+York is very fortunate, for, once under her flag,
+he cannot escape; but he must be induced to go
+on board voluntarily, or else we shall be liable to
+the charge of kidnapping."</p>
+
+<p>I then explained the method by which he had
+had swindled the citizens of Gloster, and showed
+how difficult it would be to convict him of anything,
+owing to the probability that his victims
+would refuse to testify against him; besides, for
+obtaining money under false pretenses, a short
+imprisonment only could be inflicted, and then he
+would be free to go where he pleased.</p>
+
+<p>"However," I continued, "I think I can present
+to him his position in such a light that he
+will regard a surrender to the Peruvian authorities
+as preferable to a long trial and detention
+here, with the possibility of being sent to California
+or Great Britain for trial on a more serious
+charge. When he knows that we are fully ac<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span>quainted
+with his past career, he may be willing
+to accept our terms rather than to defy us."</p>
+
+<p>"Suppose, however," said the Minister, "that
+he should refuse all terms, and determine to fight
+it out?"</p>
+
+<p>"In that case," I replied, "we should be obliged
+to arrest him here for obtaining money under
+false pretenses, and be prepared to arrest him
+again the moment he should be set free, repeating
+the operation as often as we could get different
+victims to enter complaint against him. The
+number of stockholders in this bogus company is
+quite large, so that we could easily hold him until
+a requisition could be obtained from California
+or England."</p>
+
+<p>"How large a sum has he in his possession
+now?" asked the Consul.</p>
+
+<p>"About half a million dollars," replied the
+Senator.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," said the Consul, "that sum will go
+far toward reimbursing the people whom he
+swindled in Peru, so I think that Mr. Pinkerton's
+plan is the best that can be adopted. We
+might induce him to go aboard our vessel by
+promising to use our influence to lighten his sentence,
+in case he makes restitution to his victims
+in Peru."</p>
+
+<p>The Consul made these remarks with a wise
+expression, as if he thought he had hit upon a
+very easy way of solving the problem. The Senator,
+Judge Key, and I exchanged looks of astonishment
+and amusement at this cool proposal to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span>
+take our citizens' money to reimburse the Peruvians;
+it was a case of "robbing Peter to pay
+Paul" which we could not appreciate. Finally,
+I said:</p>
+
+<p>"I presume that there can be no question as
+to the way to dispose of this money which Don
+Pedro has in his possession. Not one penny of
+it came from Peru, and we cannot permit any of
+it to be taken there. On arriving here Don Pedro
+had only a few thousand dollars, which he obtained
+in England by forgery. This sum he has
+already used up, and the only money in his possession
+has been obtained by the sale of his fictitious
+diamond fields in Peru. It would be manifestly
+unjust to allow this money to be taken
+away, and it is our intention to obtain it at all
+hazards, whatever may become of the Don."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! I shall make no such claim, Mr. Pinkerton,"
+said the Minister; "that was only a suggestion
+of the Consul, who did not understand
+exactly how the money referred to came into this
+man's hands. All that I care for is to get Don
+Pedro on board our vessel, and I shall be pleased
+to pay for your services in the matter. We must
+be careful, however, that there shall be no opportunity
+to charge us with kidnapping, for we
+wish to avoid any possibility of complications
+with the United States; the fellow has made us
+trouble enough already."</p>
+
+<p>"I will arrange that matter satisfactorily," I
+replied; "as for the question of payment, I am
+acting wholly in the interest of Senator Muirhead,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span>
+and under his instructions, so that I can accept
+nothing except from him."</p>
+
+<p>We spent an hour or two more in preparing
+papers and arranging the details of our plans, the
+conclusion being that we should make the arrest
+that evening, about seven o'clock, when there
+would be few or no visitors at Don Pedro's house.
+As I had supposed, there was no charge whatever
+against the Donna, and my only intentions with
+regard to her were to see that she did not carry
+off any of the money belonging to the Diamond
+Company stockholders, nor assist the Don to
+escape. It was decided to send Don Pedro to
+New York immediately, in case he yielded to our
+terms, and the Donna would be at liberty to go
+or stay, as she might see fit.</p>
+
+<p>On returning to my office, I found Bangs and
+Lesparre awaiting me, and the latter said that he
+believed the Don and Donna intended to take
+flight immediately after the <i>f&ecirc;te</i>. They probably
+desired to finish their career in Gloster in a blaze
+of glory, and, as they would not be expected to
+receive visitors for two or three days after the
+<i>f&ecirc;te</i>, they would have a good start before their
+departure would become known. I told Lesparre
+to see that Madame Sevier and Salter kept a close
+watch for the remainder of the day, and in case
+any attempt should be made to remove the box
+containing Don Pedro's coin, he must send Salter
+to me instantly with the news. I also suggested
+that the servants be kept out of the way that
+evening, so that no one should know of our visit.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span>
+Lesparre departed to attend to his duties, and I
+remained to complete the details of my plans
+with Mr. Bangs, who had arrived from Chicago
+with two detectives, in obedience to my summons.</p>
+
+<p>About six o'clock, Senator Muirhead and Judge
+Key arrived, and a more nervous man than the
+former I never saw. In a few minutes the Peruvian
+Minister and Consul arrived, and we proceeded
+in carriages to Don Pedro's house, the
+Senator remaining at the hotel, however. We
+left the carriages a short distance away, so as not
+to attract attention, and, while Mr. Bangs's two
+men stationed themselves to watch the house, the
+rest of my party ascended the steps and were
+admitted by Salter.</p>
+
+<p>"The family are still at dinner," said Salter,
+"but they are finishing the dessert, and I presume
+Don Pedro will go to the billiard-room after
+dinner to smoke, as usual."</p>
+
+<p>"Give him my card as he leaves the dining-room,"
+I said, "and tell him that I am waiting
+to see him in the drawing-room."</p>
+
+<p>In a few minutes, Don Pedro and Lesparre rose
+from the table, and Salter gave my card to the
+former.</p>
+
+<p>"Pinkerton! Pinkerton! I don't know any one
+of that name; do I, Lesparre?"</p>
+
+<p>"Possibly it may be some gentleman having
+business with you in connection with the <i>f&ecirc;te</i>,"
+suggested Lesparre.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Ah! very true; where is he, George? I will
+see him at once," said the Don, unsuspectingly.</p>
+
+<p>Salter led the way to the drawing-room, where
+I alone was waiting, the rest of the party having
+waited in the vestibule. As he entered, followed
+by Lesparre, I rose and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Juan Sanchez, I arrest you, and you are now
+my prisoner!" and, so saying, I put my hand on
+his shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>He turned very pale, and sat down in the nearest
+chair, while Lesparre quickly brought him a
+glass of water. I then continued:</p>
+
+<p>"Juan Sanchez, or Jos&eacute; Gomez more properly,
+we will retire to the library if you wish, as we
+may be interrupted here by the arrival of some of
+your friends, and I do not wish to expose you at
+present."</p>
+
+<p>"What do you mean by addressing me in this
+manner?" he replied, trying to regain his composure.
+"My name is neither Sanchez nor Gomez."</p>
+
+<p>"It is a long time since you have been so
+called," I answered, "but your victims in Brazil
+and Peru still retain the names in their memories
+without difficulty. I will now present to you the
+Minister of Peru and the Peruvian Consul at New
+York, both of whom have taken a lively interest
+in your past life and actions."</p>
+
+<p>Just as I spoke, the Donna and Madame Sevier
+entered, and the former, seeing the abject appearance
+of her husband, asked what was the matter.</p>
+
+<p>"Your husband is a prisoner, madam," I re<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span>plied;
+"and as our interview would be painful to
+you, I must ask you to withdraw for the present
+at least."</p>
+
+<p>She immediately gave an hysterical scream,
+and sank upon a divan sobbing frantically.
+Madame Sevier succeeded in quieting her somewhat,
+and she remained on the scene with her
+face buried in the Madame's lap. I felt confident
+that much of her emotion was feigned, and that
+she was an attentive listener to all that took place
+about her; however, I made no objection, but requested
+Mr. Bangs, who was watching in the hall,
+to admit the Minister and the rest of the party.
+As Mr. Bangs withdrew, the Don stepped up to
+me and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Pinkerton, I will give you five thousand
+dollars if you will leave me alone for half an
+hour."</p>
+
+<p>I smiled, and looking at my watch, said:</p>
+
+<p>"It is now seven o'clock; at ten o'clock you
+will be on your way to New York."</p>
+
+<p>"You can have ten thousand, if you will let
+me go; I will pay you the cash in coin immediately."</p>
+
+<p>"Your offers are useless," I replied; "I will
+let no guilty man escape if it can be avoided."</p>
+
+<p>As I spoke, the Peruvian Minister, the Consul,
+and Judge Key entered, and we proceeded in a
+body to the library, leaving the Donna in the care
+of Madame Sevier. On the way thither, the Don
+made one more effort to appear in the <i>r&ocirc;le</i> of an
+injured innocent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span>.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't understand this proceeding at all," he
+said, "and I claim my liberty. What authority
+have you for arresting me in my own house?"</p>
+
+<p>"I <i>have</i> the authority, and that is sufficient,"
+I replied, coolly. "If you desire to be taken at
+once to jail, I have no objection to granting your
+request; but I thought, perhaps, you might first
+prefer to hear what these gentlemen have to say."</p>
+
+<p>I have arrested and have watched a great
+many criminals, but I have never seen one who,
+having carried out such an extensive scheme of
+villainy, was so utterly broken down as this man
+was. I had feared that his nerve might be firm
+enough to answer my threats with defiance, and
+force me to bring him to trial in Gloster; but I
+saw that there was no danger of such a misfortune,
+and so I stood aside while the Peruvian
+Minister addressed him.</p>
+
+<p>"Juan Sanchez," said the Minister, "I have
+come here to obtain your removal to Peru, that
+you may be tried there for your numberless
+forgeries in that country. A Peruvian war-ship is
+now in New York harbor, and you will be placed
+on board of her for transportation to Peru. Mr.
+Pinkerton's superintendent will proceed with you
+to-night."</p>
+
+<p>The Don was speechless for a moment, and
+then, glancing up, he said, in a sullen voice:</p>
+
+<p>"I want to know what I am charged with,
+and by what right you send me to Peru. I am
+entitled to a hearing, and a lawyer to defend
+me."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"My friend, Judge Key, who is present, is a
+most able lawyer," I replied, "and you can consult
+with him if you wish advice; but first let
+me show you your true position. Your real
+name, Don Jos&eacute; Gomez, was given you in Brazil,
+where it is remembered only to be cursed; Don
+Juan Sanchez was your name in Peru, and your
+crimes there are also well known; as Don Jos&eacute;
+Michel, there are serious charges against you in
+San Francisco; Don Pedro Michel is badly wanted
+in Quito, where he would probably be shot, as
+they treat criminals there rather unceremoniously;
+and Don Jos&eacute; Arias would undoubtedly be
+transported for life if the London detectives
+should discover his present hiding place, to say
+nothing of a lively interest which the French
+<i>gens d'armes</i> take in the same person. All of
+these people are now informed that the person
+whom they wish to find is living in Gloster as
+Don Pedro P. L. de Morito, and they are at this
+moment hastening agents here to arrest him.
+By chance, the Peruvian authorities are the first
+to arrive, and they have, therefore, the happy
+privilege of making the arrest. Now, as you are
+probably aware, the Minister will have some
+difficulty in obtaining an order from Washington
+authorizing me to send you to Peru, for want of
+an extradition treaty; but while you are under
+arrest here, we can easily get warrants from
+either California, England, or France, and then
+you can take your choice between being shot by
+vigilantes in California, transported to Van<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span>
+Dieman's Land by England, or sent to work in the
+galleys by France. This is your present situation,
+and I am perfectly indifferent which course
+you prefer. If you decide to go with the Peruvian
+Minister, you must agree to do so voluntarily,
+until you are placed on board the Peruvian vessel,
+and you must make an assignment of all your
+money and property here to reimburse the people
+whom you have swindled by the sale of fictitious
+diamond-fields. If you are willing to comply
+with these conditions, you will sign all the necessary
+papers at once, and you will leave for New
+York to-night, before the English extradition
+writ arrives; if you refuse these conditions, I
+shall hold you until that writ, or one from California,
+arrives."</p>
+
+<p>The Don was evidently in no mood for defiance:
+the knowledge of his past history which I displayed
+had wholly cowed him, and my allusions
+to the vigilantes of California, and the galleys of
+France, made him tremble like a leaf. He knew
+perfectly well the extent of his crimes in those
+places, and, also, that my hints of his probable
+punishment were not fancy sketches. Finally,
+he asked to see me alone, but I refused to grant
+his request, knowing his object. Then he wished
+to see the Minister alone, and I again objected,
+but I accompanied the two to another room,
+where they conversed in Spanish for some time.
+The Minister told me that the Don offered the
+whole of his money and property to allow him to
+escape; but, finding his offers useless, he agreed to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span>
+go to Peru for trial. No pledges were made to him
+to influence his decision, though he begged so hard
+that the Minister would intercede for him with
+the authorities in Peru, that his Excellency
+finally promised, in view of the Don's consent to
+go willingly, to recommend that his punishment
+be the lightest that the law could allow. The
+Don having fully yielded to the arguments of the
+Minister and myself, nothing remained to be
+done except to obtain his signature to the papers
+which had been already prepared, and to pack
+his trunk for his journey. Lesparre and Salter
+performed the latter task while the Don was
+signing the papers, and writing out his voluntary
+agreement to deliver himself up to the Peruvian
+authorities. The most important document was
+a deed assigning his furniture, horses, carriages,
+paintings, statuary, books, and, in short, all his
+personal property, to Judge Key, to be disposed
+of at the latter's discretion, and the proceeds,
+with the large amount of cash on hand, to be applied
+to repay the subscribers to the Diamond
+Company stock. In case there should not be sufficient
+to pay them in full, the payments should
+be made <i>pro rata</i>; but should there be an excess,
+such excess should be applied to the payment of
+the Don's private debts, contracted prior to that
+date. This provision was, of course, necessary to
+shut out the bills for supplies and services at the
+<i>f&ecirc;te</i> on the following day. Evidently it was too
+late to interfere with that interesting entertainment
+without throwing a heavy loss on many<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span>
+persons who could not afford to be the sufferers,
+and I saw only one way to prevent this, namely;
+to let the <i>f&ecirc;te</i> go on, and make those who danced
+pay the piper.</p>
+
+<p>When the documents had all been signed, I
+said:</p>
+
+<p>"Jos&eacute; Gomez, you fully understand the meaning
+of this paper?" holding up his surrender to
+the Peruvian authorities; "it gives me power to
+convey you to New York and place you on board
+of a Peruvian vessel, using force, if necessary."</p>
+
+<p>The Don bowed his head submissively, and said
+that he so understood it. The acknowledgment
+of the deeds was then made by Judge Key, who
+was a notary public, and our success was complete.
+The Donna was then informed that her
+husband would be taken East that night, and she
+professed to be much affected. I told her that
+there was no charge against her, and that she
+could go with her husband, or stay in Gloster,
+according to her own wishes. She said that she
+would go with him if Madame Sevier could accompany
+them. I had no objection to this, and
+the two ladies retired to pack their trunks. There
+was some uncertainty in my mind whether some
+of the Don's cash might not be in the Donna's
+possession; but I felt rather confident that she
+kept her money entirely separate from his, and
+that I could trust to Madame Sevier's acuteness
+to discover how much the Donna had on hand.
+I was not disappointed, for, while packing, the
+Donna told the Madame that she had about nine<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span>
+thousand dollars, the remains of her gifts from
+Mather, but that she could secure an immense
+sum out of the iron box if she could get it open.
+I had already made the Don confess where he
+had hidden his money, and one of my detectives
+was placed to guard the box; hence, the Donna
+was disappointed in her attempts to make a raid
+on the treasury. While the packing was going
+on, I sent to the railroad d&eacute;p&ocirc;t and bought eight
+railroad tickets for the party, which was to consist
+of the Minister, the Consul, the Don and
+Donna, Mr. Bangs, Madame Sevier, and two of
+my men. At half-past nine o'clock the party
+was ready and the trunks were sent off. I had
+kept a close watch upon the Don until now, and
+I saw that he hoped to escape while traveling.
+When the carriages were announced, I stepped
+up to him and told him that my invariable custom
+in such cases would require me to put him
+in irons to prevent any attempt at escape.</p>
+
+<p>"Shall you permit me to be treated in this
+manner?" he said to the Peruvian Minister.</p>
+
+<p>"You are not yet in the custody of the Peruvian
+authorities," I replied, "and I am responsible
+for your safe delivery in New York; hence I
+must take such precautions as I consider necessary.
+When you are on board the Peruvian vessel,
+the Minister can give such orders concerning
+you as he may think proper; but, until then, I
+alone have the right to determine what shall be
+done with you."</p>
+
+<p>In a moment, I had placed a light set of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span>
+shackles on his feet, and handcuffs on his wrists;
+he was quite submissive now, and only seemed
+anxious to avoid observation.</p>
+
+<p>As we passed out to the carriages, the Donna
+handed me a note, addressed to Henry O. Mather,
+and asked me to have it delivered immediately.
+I agreed to send it at once, though I sent it in
+such a manner that he should not receive it until
+the morning after the <i>f&ecirc;te</i>. The party arrived at
+the d&eacute;p&ocirc;t in time to secure seats together, and at
+ten o'clock the train bore them from the city.</p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>The F&ecirc;te Champ&ecirc;tre.&mdash;A Grand Carnival.&mdash;The Disappointed
+Married Lover.&mdash;A Vain Request.&mdash;Unmasked!&mdash;A
+Shrewd Caterer and his Humiliating
+Demands.&mdash;An Indignant Deacon.&mdash;Don Pedro
+taken to Peru in a Man-of-War, where he is Convicted
+and Sentenced to Fifteen Years' Imprisonment.&mdash;But
+the Donna manages to Satisfy her
+Affections in a quiet way in New York.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>To the great delight of hundreds of people in
+Gloster, Wednesday morning revealed all
+the indications of a pleasant day, and by noon
+the weather was so lovely that nothing could
+have been more auspicious for the grand occasion.
+As the hour approached for the departure
+of the steamer, carriage after carriage drew up
+at the dock to discharge its load of brilliantly-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span>dressed
+and masked ladies and gentlemen. The
+only person who was not completely protected
+from recognition was Monsieur Lesparre, who
+stood at the gangway to receive the guests, and
+wore a plain evening dress, with no mask.</p>
+
+<p>In order to prevent the attendance of persons
+who had not been invited, each guest was required
+to present his or her invitation, and, as
+there were, as usual, many who had forgotten to
+bring their cards, Lesparre remained at hand to
+pass them on board, on leaving their names.
+When the hour of departure arrived, the boat
+swung out into the stream, amid the laughter
+and merry shouts of the gay revelers that
+crowded her decks, as the band flooded the air
+with music.</p>
+
+<p>At first there was some embarrassment and reserve
+in the intercourse between the masqueraders,
+owing to the novelty of their situation, and
+the fact that the ladies at first clung closely to
+their own little parties, with whom they had come
+and to whom they were known; but soon this
+feeling wore off. They began to enter into the
+merry spirit of revelry which characterizes such
+entertainments in the cities of the Old World.
+The idea of personal identity began to be lost in
+the gayety of the moment, and in its place was
+substituted an identification of each person with
+the character which that person represented. The
+balmy airs of a perfect spring day wafted to them
+the sounds of country life along the shores of the
+river, and gave sensations both novel and pleas<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span>ing
+to the gay denizens of the city, who rarely
+experienced any change from their routine of
+fashionable entertainments. During the trip by
+steamer there was much speculation as to the
+disguises worn by the Don and Donna, and though
+several persons were suspected of being the host
+and hostess, there was no sufficient way of identifying
+them.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 640px;">
+<img src="images/gs08.jpg" width="640" height="418" alt="The F&ecirc;te Champ&ecirc;tre.&mdash;Page&mdash;" title="" />
+<span class="caption">The F&ecirc;te Champ&ecirc;tre.&mdash;Page&mdash;</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>At length the island was reached, and the party
+disembarked. The scene, as they took possession
+of the tents, booths, and pleasure-grounds, was
+brilliant and attractive beyond anything which
+the guests had ever witnessed. The island was
+covered with large trees, whose branches and
+foliage afforded a delightful shade. The close
+underbrush had been removed everywhere, except
+in certain ravines and other picturesque
+spots, so that the island presented a fine example
+of the beauties of landscape gardening. The foreground,
+at the place of landing, was a level expanse
+of green turf, which had been laid there
+weeks before. This was partly arranged for
+archery grounds, while rustic seats and swings
+were to be found under every tree. A large platform
+for open-air dancing, was placed at the foot
+of the first ridge from the landing, while near by
+was an enclosed dancing-hall, to be used in the
+evening. Two bands were in attendance to play
+dance music constantly, one resting while the
+other played. It was understood that dinner
+would be served, at four o'clock exactly, in a long<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span>
+dining-room near the dancing-hall, and at that
+time every one was to unmask.</p>
+
+<p>As the party spread over the grounds and began
+to enjoy all the opportunities for pleasure
+afforded them, they presented a most novel appearance.
+There were representatives, both male
+and female, of nearly every known nationality,
+and all the leading characters of historical and
+fictional literature were admirably delineated.
+Of course, among such members there were
+many accidental repetitions of the same character,
+but there were also instances of <i>fac similes</i>,
+which were intentional. This was a frequent
+cause of mistakes and embarrassing adventures,
+and often, when a gay cavalier was talking in
+tender tones to some lovely se&ntilde;orita whom he believed
+he knew, he would be astonished to see a
+second se&ntilde;orita, exactly like the first, passing unconcernedly
+by.</p>
+
+<p>The afternoon was spent in rowing, sailing,
+shooting, dancing, and flirting, and all agreed
+that they had never known a more truly delightful
+day. An elegant lunch was kept ready at all
+times in a large <i>buffet</i>, adjoining the dining-room,
+and all kinds of wines and liquors were served
+freely. The hour for dinner was fast approaching,
+and, of course, by that time, many recognitions
+had been made, though large numbers still
+carefully and successfully preserved their own
+secrets; some, however, had already abandoned
+their masks, still retaining the fancy costumes.
+Among these was Mr. Mather, who wandered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span>
+over the island half distraught. He had vainly
+searched for the Donna all day, and had been unable
+to enjoy anything because he could not distinguish
+her. Often he had believed he had
+found her, but again and again he had discovered
+that he was mistaken; so he continued his search
+without his mask, hoping that she would make
+herself known to him. At last he approached
+Lesparre, just before four o'clock.</p>
+
+<p>"My dear Lesparre," he asked, in imploring
+tones, "I beg that you will tell me how to recognize
+Donna Lucia. I have talked with every person
+who could possibly be taken for her, and I
+acknowledge that she is so perfectly disguised
+that I cannot discover her. Won't you please
+tell me how she is dressed?"</p>
+
+<p>"That I do not know myself," replied Lesparre.
+"She was very careful to keep the
+knowledge from me, for fear I might be teased
+into telling some one."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, how is the Don dressed, then?" asked
+Mather. "Perhaps he will tell me about the
+Donna."</p>
+
+<p>"I do not know how he is dressed, either," answered
+Lesparre. "He was as secret in his
+preparations as his wife."</p>
+
+<p>"What! haven't you seen him to speak to
+since the <i>f&ecirc;te</i> commenced?" inquired Mather, in
+astonishment.</p>
+
+<p>"No, I have not seen him since last night,"
+said Lesparre. "You see, the Don and I made
+all arrangements yesterday afternoon, and I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span>
+came down to the island to superintend the placing
+of the fireworks in the evening. I spent the
+night down here, and have not gone back to the
+house since I left it after dinner yesterday evening.
+The Don has not spoken to me to-day, and,
+for all that I know about him, he may not have
+come to his own <i>f&ecirc;te</i>."</p>
+
+<p>Lesparre said this in a jocular manner, as
+though he had made quite an impossible supposition;
+but Mather seemed to catch an idea from
+it.</p>
+
+<p>"By Jove! I begin to think so myself," he
+exclaimed, as if confirming a thought which had
+already occurred to him.</p>
+
+<p>Just then Judge Morgan, dressed to represent
+the Fat Boy of the Pickwick Papers, rang a large
+bell, which could be heard all over the island,
+and the guests began flocking into the dancing-hall,
+preparatory to unmasking and having a
+grand march into the dining-room. When all
+were present, the bustle and talk quieted down,
+and all looked expectantly for the Don to give
+the signal for unmasking. Several of the intimate
+friends of the host had assembled on the
+<i>dais</i> at the head of the hall; and each of these
+looked at the others to see which among them
+was the Don. At last, Mather stepped forward
+and addressed the whole company:</p>
+
+<p>"Ladies and gentlemen, somewhere among us
+are the host and hostess of this, the most elegant
+entertainment ever given in Gloster; they have
+been successful not only in producing here a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span>
+fairy spectacle of unequaled beauty, but also in
+effectually hiding themselves from discovery in
+their assumed characters. So far as I know, not
+any person present can state positively the disguise
+of either Don Pedro or Donna Lucia. Am
+I right? If any one has discovered either of
+them, I ask him to let us all know it before the
+signal for unmasking is given."</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Mather waited a moment amid profound
+stillness, but no one replied to his request.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, now," he continued, "I respectfully
+call upon the Don and Donna to come forward
+to the <i>dais</i>, assume their rightful positions as
+host and hostess, and give the order to unmask."</p>
+
+<p>Alas! he was calling upon a pair of unfortunate
+travelers, who were then far on their way to New
+York, one in irons, and the other in tears. There
+was no answer nor movement among the gay
+masqueraders, and whispers of wonder began to
+run through the throng.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! come, Don Pedro," said Judge Morgan,
+whose appetite called loudly to be satisfied, "you
+have shown that your disguise defies discovery;
+now come forward and take your place. You
+can laugh at our dullness all you please, but don't
+keep us in suspense any longer."</p>
+
+<p>Still there was no reply, and the astonishment
+of all the guests began to assume a form of vague
+suspicion. At length, Mather again spoke up, in
+a husky voice:</p>
+
+<p>"As our host is so retiring, I will take the
+liberty of asking those present to unmask, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span>
+we shall then discover his disguise. Tap the bell,
+Morgan."</p>
+
+<p>Judge Morgan immediately pulled the bell-rope
+three times, and, as this was the concerted signal,
+a gun was fired on board the steamer, and the
+band struck up a spirited march. The confusion
+of unmasking was quickly over, and the guests
+formed a long procession around two sides of the
+hall, preparatory to marching to dinner; but on
+the <i>dais</i> the confusion only increased, as face after
+face was revealed, and neither host nor hostess
+was to be found. Robert Harrington, Charlie Morton,
+Captain and Mrs. Kerr, Alexander McIntyre,
+Judge Taylor, Mr. and Mrs. Benson, Mr. and
+Mrs. Simon, Charles H. Sanders, wife and daughter,
+Deacon Humphrey and daughter, John Preston
+and family, and several others, were there,
+but not a trace could be seen of Don Pedro P. L.
+de Morito and Donna Lucia.</p>
+
+<p>"Where in the devil is the Don?" was the
+forcible manner in which Charlie Morton expressed
+the sentiments of all present.</p>
+
+<p>The absence of the host and hostess could not
+fail to cause great confusion at any time, but, in
+this instance, there seemed to be a host of suspicions
+flying about in a few minutes. Madame
+Sevier's absence was also noted, and a sort of
+panic seized every one. No movement toward
+the dining-room was made, but all stood irresolute,
+anxiously waiting for some one to determine
+what to do, and set them an example. Lesparre
+was sought for and questioned closely as to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span>
+reason for his employer's absence, but he could
+give no satisfactory answer. He told all inquirers
+that he had not seen the Don since the
+evening previous, and that he was as ignorant of
+the cause of his absence as any one. Then
+several questions relative to the Don's pecuniary
+affairs were asked, and Lesparre told all that he
+knew. The fact that the Don had exhausted his
+bank account, and had kept all his money in his
+own possession, set a good many people to thinking
+about the circumstances of his arrival there.
+Then the stockholders in the Diamond Company
+began to grow suspicious, and it took but a few
+minutes to put them in such a state of vague
+uneasiness, that they hardly knew what to believe
+of the man whom they so lately admired
+and honored. At length, a consultation was
+held among some of the more intimate friends of
+the Morito family, and it was decided to go in to
+dinner as if nothing had happened. If there had
+been any accidental detention of the Don and
+Donna, they would, of course, be desirous that
+the <i>f&ecirc;te</i> should proceed without them the same
+as if they had been present; while if there was
+any trickery connected with their absence, there
+would be no use of waiting for them to come
+Accordingly, the procession was again formed,
+the band struck up another march, and the party
+proceeded toward the dining-room, headed by
+Henry O. Mather with Mrs. Simon, and Richard
+Perkins with Miss Benson.</p>
+
+<p>But now occurred the most humiliating part of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span>
+the changed programme: Mr. George P. Westerfield,
+the caterer, refused to admit the guests to
+the dining-room unless the payment of his bill
+was guaranteed. Mr. Westerfield was a man of
+uncommon shrewdness. He had been accustomed
+to furnishing the suppers at the grand entertainments
+of the city for several years, and he
+was well acquainted with the circumstances of
+every person in the social world; hence, he had
+seen a great deal of the Don and Donna during
+their stay in the city. He had no more reason to
+suspect them of having taken flight than the
+others, but his native keenness and good judgment
+led him to protect himself, and he resolutely
+declined to open the dining-room doors unless his
+bill was guaranteed. An animated discussion immediately
+arose between Mr. Westerfield and the
+hungry guests; but nothing would induce him to
+change his resolve. He said that he was already
+out of pocket largely by the lunch he had served
+during the afternoon, and he could not afford to
+lose his dinner too.</p>
+
+<p>"But Don Pedro will pay for everything," said
+Mr. Mather. "He is immensely wealthy, and he
+always pays cash promptly for all he buys."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, that may have been true heretofore, but
+how do I know where Don Pedro is?" queried the
+caterer.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, he is probably accidentally detained in
+Gloster," replied Mather. "I have every confidence
+in him, and when he explains his unfortunate
+absence to-day, those who have suspected<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span>
+him will regret their hasty remarks derogatory
+to his character."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, then, Mr. Mather," said the shrewd caterer,
+"if you have every confidence in Don Pedro,
+you can give me your guarantee that I shall
+be paid in full, and then I shall be happy to serve
+the guests the same as if the Don were here."</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Mather hesitated a moment, and then refused
+to do anything of the kind. He was, undoubtedly,
+so disturbed in mind that he hardly
+knew what he was doing. If he had kept his
+wits about him, he would not have hesitated an
+instant to take the whole expense of the <i>f&ecirc;te</i> on
+his own shoulders rather than have such a scene
+occur as seemed imminent, for the sum would
+have been a mere bagatelle to him; but he knew
+not what to think, and his suspicions ran far
+ahead of those of any other person present. He
+had on his shoulders the whole responsibility of
+this man, Don Pedro, for he had invited him to
+Gloster, and had largely vouched for his character;
+hence, if Don Pedro should prove to be a swindler,
+a great deal of blame would fall upon Mather.
+This feeling contributed largely to confuse and
+annoy him, while his passion for the Donna was
+another cause of embarrassment. He therefore
+acted in a most nervous, uncertain way, and
+seemed quite unable to decide what to do. Mr.
+Westerfield's proposition was reasonable enough,
+and he was willing to accept the guarantee of any
+other gentleman of known responsibility; but
+singularly, there was not one among all who had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span>
+been intimate with the Don who would make himself
+liable for the cost of the dinner; consequently
+the caterer refused to admit the throng
+into the dining-room. By this time every one was
+worked up into a state of righteous indignation.
+The apprehensions of the owners of Diamond
+Company stock were the first causes of the feeling
+against the Don, and the disappointing termination
+of the long-anticipated <i>f&ecirc;te</i> was another
+fruitful source of bitterness. As people's appetites
+began to call loudly for dinner, it became
+evident that the caterer's demands must be satisfied
+in some way, and finally it was agreed that
+the dinner should be paid for by those who partook
+of it at the rate of ten dollars a plate. This
+amount was to include the lunch and wine already
+furnished, and also all the provisions for
+dinner with the remainder of the wine provided
+under the contract with Don Pedro. Under this
+agreement, the dinner was served in the best possible
+style to the long array of famished and irritated
+masqueraders. It was not a very cheerful
+meal, for too many of the participants were preoccupied
+with thoughts of their possibly lost investments
+in the stock of the Diamond Company;
+but, under the influence of excellent viands and
+good wine, there was a slight reaction in the feelings
+of the younger members of the party, and
+when the last course had been served, they proposed
+to go on with the entertainment the same
+as though nothing had happened.</p>
+
+<p>On entering the dancing-hall, therefore, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span>
+greater portion of the young people prepared to
+enjoy the evening in dancing; but here again an
+obstacle presented itself: the bandsmen had taken
+alarm from the action of the caterer, and they
+refused to play unless their account was settled.
+Not a note would they sound until their demands
+were satisfied, and so the gentlemen contributed,
+jointly, enough to pay them in full also. The
+troubles and annoyances of the later portion of the
+<i>f&ecirc;te</i> were soon forgotten by the greater number
+of the butterflies who formed the assembly, and
+as they floated off to the strains of a beautiful
+waltz, they unanimously decided to spend the
+evening in a delightful dance.</p>
+
+<p>Meantime, however, many of the more staid
+and elderly guests, having decided to go home
+immediately after dinner, had gone down to the
+steamboat landing to embark. To their astonishment
+they saw the steamer tied up on the
+opposite shore, her lights being just visible across
+the water. After various attempts to hail her,
+a reply was heard from a small boat, which contained
+the captain. He pulled in near the shore,
+and Judge Morgan, in an important tone, ordered
+him to bring his steamer across the river and
+convey a party back to Gloster.</p>
+
+<p>"But who is going to pay me for the use of my
+steamer all day?" asked the captain, resting on
+his oars, within easy talking distance of the
+shore. Alas! he, also, had determined to follow
+the example of the caterer, and demand payment
+for his services before admitting the excursionists
+on board his steamer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Pay you" exclaimed the horrified Ethan
+Allen Benson, who had paid so much for his dinner
+that his miserly soul was already repenting
+having come; "why, Don Pedro will pay you, of
+course."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I'd like to see him, then," said the captain.</p>
+
+<p>An exciting conversation then ensued between
+the indignant would-be passengers and the captain
+of the steamer. The latter, however, had
+all the advantage, for he knew the masqueraders
+must eventually come to his terms.</p>
+
+<p>"What do you mean by refusing to take us on
+board?" demanded Deacon Humphrey, furiously.
+"Don't you know that we can't stay here all
+night?"</p>
+
+<p>"I presume not," said the captain, "and I
+don't suppose you will do so; but I must have
+payment for the use of my steamer. You can pay
+me in one sum by a check, or you can pay me at
+the rate of three dollars a head: I don't care
+which you choose, only I must be paid."</p>
+
+<p>The altercation continued at some length, and
+eventually the captain said that he could not afford
+to waste coal in keeping steam up, and if they
+did not agree to his terms, he would haul fires
+and let his steamer stay where she was all night.
+This threat brought the party to his terms, and
+he was ordered to bring his steamer over. He
+refused to make more than one trip, however,
+and so the dancers were called away from the
+ballroom at the end of the first waltz, thus spoil<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span>ing
+their gayety almost ere it had begun. As the
+motley groups gathered on shore awaiting the
+steamer's approach, a more deeply disgusted and
+indignant assemblage was never known in the
+annals of good society, and curses, both openly
+and inwardly expressed against the Don, were
+numerous and bitter. As they passed over the
+gangway, the captain and clerk were at hand to
+collect fares, and no one was allowed to pass without
+paying cash or giving a check for the amount,
+indorsed by some well-known man of wealth
+and position. Finally, the whole sorrowful party
+was embarked, and the steamer turned her head
+toward Gloster. The excitement and continuous
+dancing, which most of those on board had indulged
+in during the day, had left them in a state
+of nervous and physical fatigue little calculated
+to improve their spirits, while the financial losses
+of many were matters of an intensely depressing
+influence upon them. A more ill-tempered, disappointed,
+and irritable cargo cannot be imagined.
+Their troubles were not ended even on their arrival
+at the wharf in Gloster, for, being so much
+earlier in returning than they had expected, no carriages
+were in attendance, and the ladies were
+obliged to wait on board while their escorts went
+to the livery stables to order carriages to take
+them home.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 640px;">
+<img src="images/gs09.jpg" width="640" height="433" alt="&quot;What do you mean by refusing to take us on board?&quot; demanded Deacon Humphrey furiously.&mdash;Page&mdash;" title="" />
+<span class="caption">&quot;What do you mean by refusing to take us on board?&quot; demanded Deacon Humphrey furiously.&mdash;Page&mdash;</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>Thus ended the <i>f&ecirc;te champ&ecirc;tre</i> which had been
+anticipated so fondly as a new departure in the
+social world of Gloster. In this, however, it was
+a success; for, certainly, its like had never been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span>
+seen before, and the guests were profoundly hopeful
+that they never should see its like again.</p>
+
+<p>The following morning the whole city was
+talking of the flight of the Peruvian adventurers.
+Their late residence was besieged by the
+holders of Diamond Company stock, and the fact
+of their absence was then clearly established.
+The servants had been paid off by Madame Sevier
+a day or two before, and no one remained in the
+house except Lesparre. To all inquirers he gave
+the same answer as he had given at the <i>f&ecirc;te</i>: he
+was entirely ignorant of the whereabouts of the
+Don, and was as anxious as any one else to find
+him, in order to obtain his last quarter's salary,
+which was unpaid. The affair was a nine-days'
+wonder, and the mystery was still further increased
+in the minds of the stockholders on receiving
+a note from Judge Key requesting their
+attendance at a meeting to settle their accounts
+with Don Pedro. The meeting was strictly confidential,
+only the actual purchasers of stock being
+admitted. Judge Key explained to them that
+Don Pedro P. L. de Morito had been arrested and
+carried away for forgery and other crimes, but
+that, before going, he had assigned all his property
+to Judge Key to satisfy the claims of the
+Diamond Company stockholders.</p>
+
+<p>"But how did you induce him to surrender
+this money and property?" was the question
+which was asked in various forms nearly a score
+of times.</p>
+
+<p>"I cannot give you any particulars," replied<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span>
+the Judge; "you must be satisfied to know that
+he made this assignment in due legal form, and
+that the amount which I shall realize will pay
+your claims nearly in full. The slight loss which
+you will sustain will be serviceable as a warning
+against throwing away your money so recklessly
+hereafter."</p>
+
+<p>The letter of Donna Lucia to Mr. Henry O.
+Mather was delivered to that gentleman early
+the day after the <i>f&ecirc;te</i>. Immediately on reading
+it he packed his trunk and took the next train
+for New York. Meantime the party under the
+charge of Mr. Bangs arrived in New York without
+accident Thursday afternoon. In accordance
+with telegrams sent by the Peruvian Minister,
+the captain of the Peruvian man-of-war had
+taken his vessel down into the lower harbor, and
+was ready to sail at a moment's notice. A steam-tug
+was in readiness at Pier 1 to take the party
+out to the vessel, and Don Pedro was transferred
+by carriage directly from the Hudson River Railroad
+d&eacute;p&ocirc;t to the steam-tug. The party accompanied
+him on board the man-of-war, and the
+tug towed the war-ship through the Narrows.</p>
+
+<p>The Don and Donna had an affectionate and
+sorrowful parting in the cabin, and as the ship
+made sail outside the bar, the tug dropped alongside;
+the Minister, Consul, Donna Lucia, Madame
+Sevier, and the detectives, leaving the Don in
+charge of the captain, then returned to New
+York in the tug.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Two days later, Mr. Mather also arrived in
+that city, and quickly found his way to the Donna's
+presence. What they said to each other
+may never be known, but it is probable that
+the interview was satisfactory to both parties.
+Thenceforward the Donna lived in New York in
+the best style, though for some reason she failed
+to enter the same social circle that she had
+known before. As long, however, as she and
+Mr. Mather were contented, they considered that
+no one else need be troubled about their arrangements.
+How long Mr. Mather's infatuation
+lasted, I have no means of knowing, as I soon
+recalled Madame Sevier, and lost all interest in
+the affair.</p>
+
+<p>Jos&eacute; Gomez was tried immediately on his arrival
+in Peru, and was sentenced to fifteen years'
+imprisonment, but he made his escape within
+two years from the time of his trial. His future
+career I never learned, but it is altogether probable
+that he pursued, during the remainder of his
+life, the same style of money-making (though
+perhaps on a smaller scale) as that which rendered
+notorious the name of Don Pedro P. L.
+de Morito.</p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3>THE END.</h3>
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span></p>
+
+<h1>THE POISONER AND DETECTIVES.
+</h1>
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Mr. Pinkerton, at a Water-Cure, becomes interested in a
+Couple, one of whom subsequently causes the Detective
+Operation from which this Story is written.&mdash;A
+wealthy Ship-Owner and his Son.&mdash;The Son
+"found dead."&mdash;A Woman that knows too much
+and too little by turns.&mdash;Mr. Pinkerton secured to
+solve the Mystery.&mdash;Chicago after the Great Fire.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>During the summer of 1870, I was spending
+a few weeks at a water-cure for the benefit
+of my health. The place was one not widely advertised
+nor generally known, and the number of
+frequenters was not large; hence, I became somewhat
+acquainted with most of the visitors, and,
+as a matter of habit, noticed their traits and peculiarities
+with more attentiveness than a casual
+meeting would naturally warrant. Of course I
+had no idea that I ever should make any use of
+my observations, but I simply kept up a customary
+oversight upon everything about me.
+Among those whom I thus noticed was a lady,
+about forty-five years of age, and her son, who
+was about twenty-six years old. The mother,
+Mrs. R. S. Trafton, was a pleasant woman, well
+preserved, and comparatively youthful in appear<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span>ance.
+She was afflicted by a rheumatic affection,
+which caused her to visit these springs for relief;
+and her son accompanied her partly to look after
+her comfort, and partly to obtain a vacation from
+work. He was a tall, robust young man, with
+fine physique and strong constitution, but he
+showed the effects of overwork. I always make
+a point of observing the character and habits of
+those around me, and long experience has given
+me considerable accuracy of judgment with regard
+to my acquaintances, even where I am not
+an intimate associate with them. The more I
+saw of Stanley D. Trafton, the more I was interested
+in him. His mother was devoted to him,
+and he to her, so that they were rarely seen
+apart.</p>
+
+<p>Springville was a very quiet, dull place, and,
+aside from the invalid visitors, there was nothing
+about the society to relieve the usual monotony
+of an uninteresting country town; hence, I was
+thrown largely upon my own resources for amusement,
+and I had little else to do except to observe
+the different strangers and speculate about them.
+Among them all there were none who afforded
+me a more interesting study than young Trafton,
+and, although I never formed his acquaintance,
+I began to feel that I understood his character
+quite thoroughly.</p>
+
+<p>He was about five feet ten inches in height, of
+compact, muscular build, full chest, stout limbs,
+and erect carriage. His complexion was clear
+and healthy, his features regular, his expression<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span>
+intelligent and open, and his manners were very
+frank and attractive to most people. His general
+appearance was that of an intelligent, handsome
+man, of more than ordinary ability and steady
+character.</p>
+
+<p>I learned that his father, Mr. Richard S.
+Trafton, of Cleveland, was a wealthy ship-owner
+and merchant, and that his son attended largely
+to the purchase of grain in the West for shipment
+in his father's vessels. I judged that
+young Trafton was a good business man, with
+an eye to details as well as general results, and
+while he had no appearance of being small-minded,
+he did not despise economy in his
+business affairs. He did not seem like a person
+who would spend money for mere display or
+effect; yet, neither would he deny himself the
+comforts and luxuries belonging to a man of his
+wealth and position in society. There was
+nothing of the profligate about him, and his
+devotion to his mother showed that he must
+have a genuine and hearty respect for the whole
+sex.</p>
+
+<p>In the course of a few weeks I left Springville,
+much improved in health, and I soon forgot all
+about Mrs. Trafton and her son, until the latter
+was brought under my notice again amid very
+tragical and sorrowful circumstances.</p>
+
+<p>Early in the winter of the following year, I
+was deeply engrossed in business, having an accumulation
+of cases on hand which taxed my ingenuity
+and energies to the utmost. I therefore<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span>
+placed almost all of the less important operations
+in the hands of my superintendent, Mr. Francis
+Warner, though I kept a general supervisory
+control over every case on the books of the
+Agency. One morning, as I was conversing with
+Mr. Warner, two gentlemen were admitted to my
+office by my confidential clerk, who informed me
+that they had suspicions of foul play as the cause
+of the death of one of their friends, and they
+wished the circumstances fully investigated by
+the Agency. The gentlemen were Mr. John Updike,
+of Cleveland, and Captain Edward R. Dalton,
+a ship captain, of Buffalo. They introduced
+themselves, produced credentials and references,
+and then told me the following story:</p>
+
+<p>In November previous, Mr. Stanley D. Trafton,
+of Cleveland, left that city to go to Chicago. He
+was the son of Mr. Richard S. Trafton, a wealthy
+shipper of Cleveland, and the father was anxious
+to keep his vessels employed. Captain Dalton
+commanded one of Mr. Trafton's schooners, and
+he expected to arrive in Chicago harbor about
+November 20. Accordingly, young Trafton was
+to meet the vessel there, and, in case she did not
+obtain a charter at a paying rate, he was to purchase
+a cargo of oats on his own account. He
+brought, therefore, a considerable amount of
+money and negotiable paper. He had about
+eight hundred dollars in currency, two thousand
+five hundred dollars in United States five-twenty
+bonds, and a letter from his father authorizing
+him to draw upon him for a large amount. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span>
+bonds were the usual coupon bonds of the denomination
+of five hundred dollars each, and fortunately
+Mr. Trafton, senior, had the numbers of
+these securities.</p>
+
+<p>Stanley Trafton arrived in Chicago November
+22, and found the schooner awaiting him. He
+tried to obtain a room in one of the hotels, but
+he soon gave this up as a hopeless task, for the
+reason that there was no hotel in the city which
+was not already crowded almost to an unsafe degree.
+He then took up his quarters on board the
+schooner, getting his meals at a restaurant. This
+was not at all pleasant, and he finally discovered
+a place where furnished rooms were to let near
+one of the hotels. He therefore announced to
+Captain Dalton that he had taken a room at 92
+West Madison street. They met each other every
+day, however, and at last, seeing no profit to be
+made by purchasing grain in the then condition
+of the market, Mr. Trafton informed the captain
+that he might sail for Cleveland on Friday, December
+1. On Thursday he visited the captain
+and promised to return on board again that evening;
+he failed to do so, however, and the schooner
+sailed next morning.</p>
+
+<p>Five days afterward, Captain Dalton received a
+dispatch, sent by a firm of commission merchants
+in Chicago, announcing that Stanley D. Trafton
+had been found dead in his bed. Mr. Updike,
+who was a warm friend of the family, and Captain
+Dalton, then visited Chicago, arriving December
+8. They found the body of Mr. Trafton<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span>
+at the Morgue awaiting claimants, together with
+a quantity of valuables which had been in his
+possession when he died. There were two five-twenty
+bonds, one being torn in two pieces, a set
+of diamond studs, a small amount of loose change,
+and three one-hundred-dollar bills. A coroner's
+inquest had been held, and a verdict of death by
+congestion of the lungs had been rendered.</p>
+
+<p>The circumstances of young Trafton's death,
+as related by the officials in charge of the body,
+created considerable suspicion in the minds of
+Messrs. Updike and Dalton, who, therefore, proceeded
+to investigate the affair. In the first
+place, they were well aware that fifteen hundred
+dollars in bonds, and nearly five hundred dollars
+in currency, were missing; secondly, they learned
+that Trafton had been found dead in bed Friday
+morning, December 1, only about eighteen hours
+after he had left Captain Dalton in perfect
+health.</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly, Mr. Updike and Captain Dalton
+visited his late lodging-place, which was kept by
+a woman named May Sanford.</p>
+
+<p>The building was a two-story frame residence,
+which, like thousands of others after the Great
+Fire, had been rearranged for business purposes.
+The lower floor was occupied as a furniture store,
+while the second floor was also partly occupied
+by business offices. A covered stairway on the
+side led to the upper story, and, while the front
+hall bedroom, the front parlor and the next
+room back, were used as offices, the rear portion
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span>was occupied by Mrs. Sanford, who rented most
+of her rooms as sleeping apartments.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 640px;">
+<img src="images/gs10.jpg" width="640" height="430" alt="&quot;He was lying in bed with froth about his mouth and a ghastly look on his face.&quot;&mdash;Page&mdash;" title="" />
+<span class="caption">&quot;He was lying in bed with froth about his mouth and a ghastly look on his face.&quot;&mdash;Page&mdash;</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>On stating their object in calling, the two
+gentlemen were admitted to Mrs. Sanford's sitting-room,
+and she then gave her account of the
+circumstances connected with young Trafton's
+death. She stated that she met him first on the
+street and recognized him as an old acquaintance
+who had been intimate with her husband and
+herself when they lived in Buffalo; that he stopped
+and talked with her for a time, and, learning that
+she had furnished rooms to let, he said he would
+rent one. He stayed there five days, and, on the
+sixth, which was Thursday, November 30, he
+came to his room in the evening and complained
+of feeling unwell. He had been drinking very
+hard all the week, and she said that this evening
+he was quite drunk. He complained that he
+could not keep anything on his stomach, and
+asked Mrs. Sanford to cook something nice for
+him. Accordingly she boiled a chicken, but he
+could not eat it, and he then went to bed. During
+the evening, she heard him snoring very
+loudly as she passed his door, but she thought
+nothing of it, and went to bed at eleven o'clock.
+About seven o'clock next morning, she knocked
+at his door, but he made no answer, and she
+pushed the door open, the bolt being a very slight
+one. She then found Mr. Trafton lying diagonally
+across the bed, with his head hanging down
+and froth on his lips. Becoming alarmed at his
+appearance, she called in a gentleman named<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span>
+Taylor G. Pratt, who occupied her back parlor as
+a real estate office and sleeping-room. Mr. Pratt
+examined the body of Mr. Trafton and told her
+that he was dead, advising her to inform the
+police authorities of the fact. She immediately
+closed the room and went to the nearest police
+station, where she reported the circumstances
+relative to the death of Mr. Trafton so far as she
+knew them, and asked what she should do with
+the body. The police sergeant promised to send
+the coroner as soon as possible to make an investigation,
+and she was instructed to leave the body
+and room untouched until the coroner should
+arrive. That evening an inquest was held by the
+County Physician, and a verdict of death by
+congestion of the lungs was rendered. Mrs.
+Sanford gave an account of the finding of the
+money and bonds, which exactly agreed with
+that given by the County Physician, whom she
+assisted in making search for Trafton's valuables.
+In one boot, lying under his head, they found a
+five-twenty bond for five hundred dollars and
+half of another one, the remainder of this torn
+bond being found in the right-hand pocket of his
+pantaloons. In his vest pocket were found three
+United States notes for one hundred dollars each,
+and a small quantity of loose change. A set of
+diamond studs still remained in his shirt, and, as
+the story was related by her, there was nothing
+suspicious about the affair except the suddenness
+of his death.</p>
+
+<p>Having heard all that Mrs. Sanford and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span>
+County Physician had to say on the subject, Mr.
+Updike and Captain Dalton took charge of the
+body, and shipped it to Cleveland, where they
+placed it in the hands of four experienced surgeons,
+with instructions to make a thorough and
+careful examination as to the cause of death.
+The first thing noticed by them was an evidence
+of considerable external violence on the right
+side, over the liver, there being a large bruise,
+about the size of a saucer, apparently caused by
+a blow. The coagulation of blood beneath the
+skin showed that this injury must have been
+caused during Trafton's lifetime, but very
+shortly before his death. A similar, though
+smaller bruise, was found on his thigh, while several
+bruises on the base of the neck and throat
+showed that the windpipe must have been
+severely compressed just previous to death.
+None of these marks had been noticed by the
+County Physician in making the post-mortem
+examination, and it seemed probable that he had
+first guessed at the cause of death, and then
+made only a sufficient examination to find some
+corroboration of his theory. The Cleveland surgeons
+had great difficulty in accounting for Trafton's
+death, but they were unanimous in scouting
+the theory of death by congestion of the
+lungs. They found the body to be healthy in
+every part, except the external bruises; and,
+while these were not of a sufficiently serious
+character to account for the death of so robust a
+man, they could find no other cause whatever.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span>
+These facts, together with the disappearance of
+fifteen hundred dollars in bonds, and about five
+hundred dollars in currency, which Trafton was
+known to have had in his possession, caused his
+relatives and friends to believe that he had been
+murdered for his money, and that the murderer
+had been shrewd enough to leave a large portion
+of the plunder to allay suspicion. The trick had
+proven to be a most excellent one, for, as the
+County Physician afterward acknowledged, the
+idea of foul play never occurred to him, owing to
+the apparent lack of incentive thereto; had there
+been no money, or only a small amount, found
+on the body, he would have made a much more
+rigid examination; but no suspicion even crossed
+his mind, and he acted with the haste which
+characterized almost all operations in Chicago at
+that time.</p>
+
+<p>In order, therefore, to discover all the facts in
+the case, and to recover, if possible, the missing
+money and bonds, Mr. Trafton, senior, had
+decided to put the affair in my hands for a
+thorough investigation, and Mr. Opdike and Captain
+Dalton had called upon me for that purpose.</p>
+
+<p>Having heard their statement, I asked a number
+of questions, which elicited the following
+additional information:</p>
+
+<p>On returning to Chicago the second time, they
+had again visited Mrs. Sanford, and found that
+she had taken every particle of furniture out of
+the room where Trafton had died. At the time
+of their call, they saw a policeman whom she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span>
+called Charlie, with whom she seemed to be very
+intimate. She said that Charlie was the first
+person to see Trafton after she found he was
+dead that morning, he having been sent over by
+the sergeant as soon as she reported the fact.
+This story contradicted her former statement,
+that she first called Mr. Pratt into the room;
+moreover, the sergeant of police had told them
+that the policeman did not go to the room at all,
+but merely took the number of the house and
+went away.</p>
+
+<p>At this interview, Mrs. Sanford gave them the
+blank power to draw upon Mr. Trafton, senior,
+saying that she had found it at the foot of the
+bed since their former visit. She also showed
+them a gold coin which she said young Trafton
+had given her as a keepsake. Both gentlemen
+recognized this coin as one which Trafton prized
+very highly for some reason, he having refused
+to part with it even to his mother; it seemed
+hardly possible that he should have given it to a
+chance acquaintance like Mrs. Sanford.</p>
+
+<p>During this conversation she claimed to have
+lent Mr. Trafton three hundred and twenty-five
+dollars, though she did not seem greatly disappointed
+when they refused to repay her that
+amount. Mr. Updike gave her twenty-five dollars,
+however, to pay for Mr. Trafton's board and
+lodging, and to recompense her for her trouble.
+The story that Trafton had borrowed money of
+her was absurd on its face, and she acted as if
+she hardly expected to be believed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Before coming to Chicago this time, Mr. Updike
+had written to Mr. T. B. Vernon, of Buffalo,
+asking for information relative to the antecedents
+of this Mrs. Sanford. Mr. Vernon had replied
+that she had a very bad reputation in Buffalo,
+having been divorced from her husband for
+adultery, and having been arrested in March
+previous for being drunk and disorderly. She
+had a paramour at that time, named James McSandy,
+a police-station keeper, and it was supposed
+that he had gone West with her.</p>
+
+<p>Another circumstance had been noticed by
+Captain Dalton, which led him to believe that
+Trafton had been murdered with his clothes on,
+and afterward undressed and put to bed: the sole
+of one of his boots was covered with whitewash,
+as if it had been violently pressed and scraped
+along a wall. Now, the room where he was
+found had been newly whitewashed when they
+arrived there, so that any marks on the wall
+made by him in his struggles would be wholly
+obliterated.</p>
+
+<p>Having learned all the facts bearing upon the
+case known by my visitors, I informed them of
+my terms for conducting an investigation of this
+character, and sketched a hasty outline of my
+plan of operation. As they had already hinted
+their suspicions to a member of the city detective
+force, who was inclined to make light of them, I
+suggested that they inform him that they had
+changed their minds in the matter, having
+learned from the Cleveland physicians that death<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span>
+was surely caused by congestion of the lungs.
+They then took their departure, saying that they
+would lay my plan before Mr. Richard S. Trafton,
+and he would telegraph to me whether I should
+proceed with the operation. On Christmas day,
+I received a telegram from Mr. Trafton, briefly
+instructing me to proceed, and my plan was put
+in operation at once.</p>
+
+<p>Before proceeding further with the history of
+my connection with this case, it will be necessary
+to remind the reader of the anomalous condition
+of social and business affairs in Chicago at the
+time of which I write; for, without any explanation,
+he might have difficulty in understanding
+many things in connection with the story.</p>
+
+<p>It will be remembered that the Great Fire of
+Chicago occurred October 8 and 9, 1871, and this
+case was placed in my hands only about nine
+weeks afterward. At the time of Mr. Trafton's
+death, a pall of smoke hung over the city, and, at
+night, the still-smouldering heaps of coal throughout
+the "burned district" glowed like volcanic
+fissures, casting a weird fantastic light about the
+ruins, and illumining the clouds of smoke overhead
+with a ruddy glow which was visible for
+miles away. The streets were filled with dust
+and ashes, while the fumes of carbonic acid gas
+were sometimes almost stifling. To venture, at
+any time, into the waste of ruins, which stretched
+more than three miles in one direction, through
+the formerly richest portion of the city, was not
+a pleasant undertaking; but to make such an ex<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span>cursion
+at night was attended with more hazard
+than most peaceably-disposed men would care to
+run. There were no gaslights, no sidewalks, no
+street indicators; in many places, piles of stone
+and brick were heaped in almost impassable barricades
+from one side of the street to the other;
+all landmarks were gone, and the old resident
+was as liable to lose his way as the stranger.</p>
+
+<p>The city, moreover, was crowded with what
+is sometimes called "a floating population," a
+species of driftwood, or scum, gathered from
+every quarter of the globe; indeed, a large percentage
+seemed to have come straight from the
+infernal regions, with all the passions and habits
+incidental to a prolonged residence there. Hence,
+the labors of the police force were increased to
+an extent which taxed their abilities to the
+utmost, and made the task of protecting the respectable
+portion of the community about all that
+could be required of them; that they should be apt
+to suspect foul play, in a case where the coroner had
+no suspicions, was hardly to be expected. Besides
+this, there was nothing settled on any permanent
+foundation; business men flitted hither and
+thither wherever they could best obtain accommodations
+for the time being, and whence people
+came or whither they went was a matter which
+no one had time to inquire into, much less to
+investigate.</p>
+
+<p>The destruction of thousands of business blocks
+and dwellings left the city without adequate accommodations
+for offices and residences, even for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span>
+its own regular population; but when the rush of
+strangers swelled the aggregate nearly twenty
+per cent., there seemed hardly sleeping-rooms for
+them all. Dwelling-houses by thousands were
+converted into stores, manufactories, and offices,
+until fabulous prices were offered for the merest
+closets in the vicinity of the new temporary
+business centers. Every hotel was thronged
+from the basement to the Mansard roof, and late
+arrivals were oftentimes happy if they could get
+a straw mattress on a billiard-table, or an army
+cot in a hall.</p>
+
+<p>I call especial attention to these things to account
+for certain apparent anomalies in the
+action of different persons connected with this
+tragedy. For instance: a young gentleman of
+Mr. Trafton's wealth and respectability would
+never have rented a mean little room in a petty
+lodging-house, if he could have found any other
+place equally convenient to business; the County
+Physician would not have taken things so much
+for granted, if he had not been so hard at work
+and so pressed for time, owing to the immense
+army of gratuitous patients who thronged the
+offices of the County Agent and the Relief and
+Aid Society; the police would not have been so
+remiss in failing to examine into the death of
+Mr. Trafton, if they had not had their hands full
+of other business to an unprecedented extent;
+and, lastly, when I came to work up the case, I
+should not have had so much difficulty in finding
+witnesses, if it had not been that people came<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span>
+and went through Chicago like the waves of the
+sea in mid-ocean, leaving no trace by which they
+could be followed or identified.</p>
+
+<p>These circumstances, combined with certain
+facts which will appear in the course of this narrative,
+made the task assigned me one of unusual
+difficulty. Mr. Warner was intrusted with the
+general management of the case, though he frequently
+consulted me in relation to it; and,
+though we were continually working in the
+dark, we never despaired of our eventual success.</p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><i>The Detectives at Work.&mdash;Mrs. Sanford Described.&mdash;Charlie,
+the Policeman.&mdash;Mrs. Sanford develops
+Interest in Government Bonds.&mdash;Chicago Relief
+and Aid Benefits.&mdash;Mrs. Sanford's Story of Trafton's
+Death.&mdash;A nice little Arrangement.&mdash;Mrs.
+Sanford explains to the Detective her method of
+"Quieting People."&mdash;Ingham "Makes a Raise."&mdash;Mrs.
+Sanford fears being Haunted, but is not easily
+Frightened.</i></div>
+
+
+<p>The day after Christmas a tall, well-built man
+called at No. 92 Madison street, and asked
+for the lady of the house. Mrs. Sanford soon
+entered the sitting-room, and the stranger said
+that, having seen the sign, "Furnished Rooms
+to Rent," he had called to engage lodgings. He
+introduced himself as John Ingham, and said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span>
+that he was a bookkeeper, temporarily out of
+employment. Mrs. Sanford received him with
+great cordiality, and seemed much pleased to have
+him as a lodger. She said that she had no suitable
+room just then, but that a married couple
+were about to leave, and then Mr. Ingham could
+have their room. She then showed him through
+the house. The two front rooms were occupied
+by an insurance company, and the back parlor
+was used as a real estate office and sleeping-room
+by two brothers, named Pratt. At the head of
+the stairs was a small bedroom, through which
+it was necessary to pass to obtain admission to
+the rear part of the house. The passageway
+from this bedroom to the sitting-room was made
+by partitioning off a small entry from the back
+parlor. There were four doors in this sitting-room:
+one opened from the entry; at the opposite
+side was one which opened into another entry;
+the third was adjoining this second door, and it
+opened into the large bedroom occupied by the
+married couple; the fourth door led into Mrs.
+Sanford's own room. At the end of the back
+entry was an unfurnished room and a kitchen.
+The front bedroom was occupied by two young
+women who worked in a bindery, and their accommodations
+could hardly have been very agreeable,
+as every one was obliged to pass through
+their room on the way to the other rooms in the
+rear.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Sanford was a good-looking woman, about
+thirty-two years old. Her features were quite<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span>
+pretty, and her expression was pleasing. She
+was very plump, and her skin was smooth and
+soft. She had brown hair, a nose slightly
+<i>retrouss&eacute;</i>, and a pleasant smile. Her eyes, however,
+were a bluish gray, cold and watchful as
+those of a hawk. She might have been called
+handsome but for the effects of dissipation,
+which were plainly visible in her face. She had
+a pleasant voice, and she was naturally easy in
+her manners. If she was in a good humor, she
+could be quite fascinating; and almost any stranger,
+after talking with her for a few minutes,
+would feel satisfied that she had once occupied a
+social station far above that in which she was
+now placed. She had a good education, and very
+frequently she would give evidences of having had
+a wide range of really good reading. At times,
+her recitations and declamations, wholly from
+memory, were exceptionally fine, and, but for
+her two ruling passions, she might have been an
+actress of a high rank.</p>
+
+<p>She had two controlling vices, one natural, the
+other acquired: her greed for money was inborn,
+and it seemed to absorb at times every other
+faculty; while the habit of using morphine had
+become so fastened upon her, that she could not
+shake it off. She was a most contradictory medley
+of compounds, however, and while her thirst
+for money seemed to overpower all other considerations
+with her as a general rule, on some occasions
+she would be as wasteful and careless of
+expense as the most prodigal woman in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span>
+world. But when she had set her mind on the
+acquisition of any particular money or piece of
+personal property, there was no length to which
+she would not go to attain her object. The mere
+sight of money seemed to act upon her with an
+effect almost of insanity, and she would then
+have no regard for consequences until after she
+had secured the coveted prize.</p>
+
+<p>It will be readily understood, of course, that
+Mr. John Ingham, usually known as Jack, was
+one of my detectives, sent to obtain lodging with
+Mrs. Sanford, to win her confidence and learn all
+that he could.</p>
+
+<p>Ingham agreed to take the large room in the
+rear, but he wanted to come immediately. Mrs.
+Sanford agreed, therefore, to make up a bed for
+him on the sofa in the sitting-room until the departure
+of Mr. and Mrs. Graves, who were then
+occupying the back room. Having agreed upon
+the terms, Ingham went away, promising to return
+that night. Accordingly, he came in again
+about nine o'clock in the evening, and found that
+Mrs. Sanford was entertaining a policeman. He
+was a rather good-looking fellow, and was in full
+uniform, except his star. He remained until
+nearly twelve o'clock, and when he went out,
+Mrs. Sanford followed him to the door, with
+many affectionate caresses and tender remarks.
+After he had gone, she began to converse very
+confidentially with Ingham, telling him that she
+was engaged to be married to Charlie, the policeman.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Don't you think a policeman is good enough
+to marry?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes!" replied Ingham, "and your Charlie
+seems to be a fine fellow."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, he is awfully fond of me," she continued,
+"and he spends all his time off duty with
+me; but I don't know whether I care to marry
+him. What do you think about it, Mr. Ingham?"</p>
+
+<p>"You ought not to be in any hurry about it,"
+he replied, "for you might see some one whom
+you would like better."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! I have had a number of offers lately," she
+said, laughing. "I have had to work hard for a
+living, and have saved up quite a good sum; and,
+besides that, my father sent me two thousand
+dollars a short time ago, so that I have a snug
+little fortune. But Charlie doesn't know anything
+about it, and I shan't tell him until after we
+are married."</p>
+
+<p>After some further conversation, she said that
+she was hungry, and wished she had someone to
+go to the nearest restaurant with. Ingham volunteered
+to act as her escort, and they went out
+together. While eating supper, she suddenly
+asked whether government bonds were good
+property to invest in. Ingham replied that they
+were very good indeed, since the interest was
+payable in gold, and there were no taxes to pay
+upon them.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, suppose you should lose them," she
+queried; "could any one who found them make
+use of them without being discovered?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I think so," said Ingham. "There is no
+means of learning how they came into the bearer's
+possession."</p>
+
+<p>"Did you ever own any?" she inquired.</p>
+
+<p>"No, but I used to cash the coupons for my
+employer in Louisville, and I know a good deal
+about them."</p>
+
+<p>"What business were you in there?" she asked,
+with a considerable show of interest.</p>
+
+<p>"I was bookkeeper for a wholesale liquor
+firm, and the senior partner used to put all his
+money into government bonds."</p>
+
+<p>"Why did you leave Louisville?" she continued,
+seemingly desirous of learning as much as
+possible of his history.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! well, I got hard up," he replied, evasively,
+"and there was some mistake in my accounts
+which I couldn't explain satisfactorily, so I
+thought best to go out of town for awhile. You
+know we are all liable to mistakes when we are
+hard up."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, indeed, I understand," she replied, in a
+satisfied tone of voice. "What are you going to
+do here?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I can't tell yet. I have a small job of
+closing up a set of books for the year, and when
+that is done I shall look around for something
+else. I'm not particular what I do, if it pays
+well."</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps you could get employment from the
+Relief and Aid Society," she said, "and then you
+could get lots of nice things for me. This man,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span>
+Graves, whose room you are to have, is employed
+there, and he steals enough to keep the
+woman who is with him in good style."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, aren't they married?" asked Ingham.</p>
+
+<p>"No, I don't believe they are married," she replied,
+"and I've given them notice to leave. Mr.
+Graves gets hardly any pay, but he brings her
+all kinds of presents, and she sells them to the
+pawnbrokers."</p>
+
+<p>On their return to the house, Mrs. Sanford
+made up a bed on the sofa for Ingham, and then
+went to her room.</p>
+
+<p>The day following, Ingham went down to his
+work on the South Side, and did not return until
+eight o'clock in the evening. He said that he
+knew of a chance to buy a cigar stand in one of
+the leading hotels, and that he would like to do
+it if he could raise the money. Mrs. Sanford
+seemed to have taken a great fancy to her new
+lodger, for she told him that she would assist
+him, if it did not cost too much.</p>
+
+<p>"By the way, I was sorry you were not here
+this afternoon," she said. "There was a very
+pretty young lady friend of mine here, and I
+would like to have you meet her."</p>
+
+<p>"What was her name?"</p>
+
+<p>"Ida Musgrove."</p>
+
+<p>"Have you known her long?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! no, I have only lived in Chicago a few
+months. I used to live in Cleveland before I
+separated from my husband, and we had a fine
+stone-front house there."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"How did you happen to leave your husband?"
+asked Ingham.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, he began running after other women,
+and, though I forgave him several times, when
+he brought his mistress to live in the same house
+with me, I left him."</p>
+
+<p>"He must have been a very hard case to do
+such a thing as that," said Ingham, sympathizingly.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; and then he sold the house, promising
+to give me half if I would sign the deed; but he
+never gave me a cent, so that I have had to work
+hard to support myself and my little girl, who is
+boarding at Riverside. However, I am all right
+now, for my father sent me three thousand dollars
+the other day, and I shall have plenty of
+money hereafter."</p>
+
+<p>"Hadn't you any friends here who would have
+helped you?" asked Ingham.</p>
+
+<p>"No, I hardly knew any one; but I met an old
+friend from Cleveland about a month ago, and he
+died here in my house. Haven't I told you about
+that?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, indeed; how was it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you see, this Mr. Trafton was a former
+lover of mine in Cleveland, and he was very rich
+and handsome. He came here last month and
+took the back room in my house. He was very
+kind to me, and wanted to marry me; but he
+drank hard for a week and began to show the
+effects of his dissipation. Finally, he came home
+one evening quite drunk, and he complained of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span>
+feeling sick. I boiled a chicken for him, but he
+could not eat it, and he went to bed. Next
+morning he did not call me as usual, and I went
+to his door and knocked; there was no answer,
+and so I pushed open his door. He was lying in
+bed with froth about his mouth and a ghastly
+look on his face which frightened me terribly.
+Then I called in Mr. Pratt, who roomed in the
+back parlor, and he said that Mr. Trafton was
+dead. When the coroner came, we found twenty-five
+thousand dollars in Mr. Trafton's pockets,
+besides his diamond studs and other property.
+Oh! it was a dreadful thing for me to think that
+such a handsome fellow as my Stanley should die
+in my house."</p>
+
+<p>"What was the matter with him?" asked Ingham.</p>
+
+<p>"The coroner held an inquest, and a post-mortem
+examination showed that he died of congestion
+of the lungs."</p>
+
+<p>"Did you know that he had all that money
+with him?" asked Ingham, significantly lowering
+his voice.</p>
+
+<p>"No, I did not know it until afterward," she
+replied; "why do you ask?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! for no special reason; but," he added, in
+a determined way, "you might have helped yourself
+to some of that money and no one would
+have been the wiser. I tell you, I wouldn't have
+let such a chance as that slip."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I know I might have taken some of it,"
+she answered, thoughtfully, "but I couldn't steal<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span>
+from him. Oh! I have mighty good credit
+among people here now, for every one knows
+about that money, and that I could have taken
+it all if I had wished. A reporter came here, and
+afterward stated in the paper that there was only
+a small amount, about fifteen hundred dollars,
+found; but I had it corrected."</p>
+
+<p>She prattled on for some time about her intimacy
+with Mr. Trafton, until she was interrupted
+by a noise in the hall bedroom. On going to see
+what was the matter, she found the two bindery
+girls in great excitement, as they had been
+awakened by a strange man in their room. Ingham
+also went to the door, when Mrs. Sanford
+told him to get his revolver, as she wanted to
+shoot any man who should try to break into her
+rooms. No one was found, but the lower hall
+door was open, and Ingham went down to lock
+it. On his return, Mrs. Sanford said that she
+had a revolver, and that she knew how to use it
+too. It was about midnight before they retired,
+but Mrs. Sanford seemed to consider it quite an
+early hour.</p>
+
+<p>The next day Ingham was again absent until
+evening, and Mrs. Sanford scolded him a little for
+not staying more time with her. He replied that
+he had been out looking for a chance to make a
+raise.</p>
+
+<p>"What kind of a raise?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! any kind," he replied; "I'm not particular,
+provided I can get enough to pay for the
+trouble. If I knew of any good hiding place, I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span>
+could get a lot of valuable goods some night without
+much work, and with no danger."</p>
+
+<p>"You can bring them here, and I will hide
+them so that they will never be found," she replied,
+in a whisper.</p>
+
+<p>"That will be a pretty hard thing to do, for
+these policemen and detectives can find almost
+anything if they want to. I shouldn't like to
+bring any plunder here and then have it found in
+your house, for you would then be punished for
+receiving stolen goods.</p>
+
+<p>"Never you fear about me; I know some sharp
+tricks if I <i>am</i> a woman. I can hide anything you
+bring, and if they get after you, I can hide you
+too."</p>
+
+<p>Ingham then told her about various criminal
+devices for obtaining money, which he had practiced
+in New York several years before, and
+called her attention to the ease with which they
+might rob strangers by the "panel" game. She
+was very much interested, and said that she
+could easily get hold of some fellow with plenty
+of money, make him drunk, and then rob him.</p>
+
+<p>"How I wish you had been here when Mr.
+Trafton died, for you could have got away with
+ten or fifteen thousand dollars without any difficulty
+whatever."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, it would have been a good chance," he
+replied; "but I guess we can do nearly as well,
+if you will be true to me and help me."</p>
+
+<p>"You can depend upon me for anything," she
+answered, with great determination, but adding<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span>
+suddenly, in a cautious tone, "that is, anything
+except murder, you know. I shouldn't like to do
+that. But I would protect you even if you should
+kill a man&mdash;not willfully&mdash;not willfully, you understand;
+but if you should be obliged to do it to
+save yourself, I should not blame you very
+much."</p>
+
+<p>"I am determined to 'make a raise,' soon,"
+said Ingham; "but I don't know whether I can
+trust you."</p>
+
+<p>"How so?" she asked, as if greatly surprised.</p>
+
+<p>"I am afraid you will 'give me away' to that
+policeman whom you think so much of."</p>
+
+<p>"You need not fear anything of the kind," she
+said, leaning forward, and speaking slowly and
+emphatically. "I can help you a great deal, and
+I would never betray you to any one. I don't
+think so much of Charlie as I pretend to."</p>
+
+<p>Soon afterward she had to go into the unfurnished
+room to get something, and she asked
+Ingham to hold the light for her.</p>
+
+<p>"Why can't you hold it yourself?" he asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, to tell the truth, I don't like to go into
+that room alone," she replied, trying to laugh in
+an unconcerned way.</p>
+
+<p>"Why not? You aren't afraid of anything,
+are you?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, not afraid; but I have never felt like going
+in there since Mr. Trafton died there. I cannot
+help recollecting the way he looked when I
+first saw him hanging over the bedside, with the
+froth on his lips. I took out all the furniture on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span>
+that account, but I am going to furnish it again
+next week, as I can get a good rent for it."</p>
+
+<p>Ingham went with her as she requested, and
+he noticed that all the time she was in the room
+overhauling a trunk containing the things she
+wanted, she was very restless and nervous. Several
+times when she heard a sudden noise she
+would start and turn pale, as if much frightened.</p>
+
+<p>Presently the two girls occupying the front
+room came in and said that they should leave
+next day, as they were afraid of a man coming
+into their room as one had done the night before.
+Mrs. Sanford was evidently not sorry to have
+them go, and they soon went to bed.</p>
+
+<p>Ingham and Mrs. Sanford then talked together
+about their plans for getting money for some
+time. Her whole mind seemed bent upon one
+object,&mdash;to obtain money; and she seemed to
+have no scruples whatever as to the means employed.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you know of any wealthy fellow who
+carries considerable money about with him?"
+asked Ingham.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! yes; I know two or three who come
+here to do business, and I expect one from Canada
+next week. He always has plenty of money
+with him, so that I have no doubt we could get
+a big sum out of him."</p>
+
+<p>"Does he ever drink?" he asked; "I don't
+want to tackle a sober man, if I can help it."</p>
+
+<p>"That needn't trouble you," she replied, in a
+whisper; "I can give him something to keep him
+quiet."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"How can you do that?" he inquired, with apparent
+astonishment.</p>
+
+<p>She then showed him a bottle of morphine, and
+said that she always kept it for her own use, and
+that she knew how to give just enough to produce
+a deep sleep. They finally agreed to lay their
+plans together, and to make a big haul at the first
+opportunity.</p>
+
+<p>Ingham went out again on his prospecting tour
+next day, but when he returned, in the evening,
+he had not discovered any good place for a robbery.
+He told Mrs. Sanford, however, that he
+thought he could get a quantity of counterfeit
+money at a very low price, and that they could
+pass a great deal of it, if they were skillful. She
+liked the idea, and said that she could pass it on
+a great many people who would never recollect
+where they received it. She also said that she
+had a good place to hide it, and that some time
+she would show him where she had hidden some
+property, when the police were looking for it.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! how I wish you had been here when
+that man died with eighteen thousand dollars in
+bonds in his pockets!" she exclaimed. "You
+could have helped yourself to all you wanted."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, indeed," he replied, "I should have
+made myself rich for life."</p>
+
+<p>"But could you have disposed of the bonds
+without being suspected?" she asked. "Wouldn't
+his friends catch you if they had the numbers of
+the bonds?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! that wouldn't make any difference.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span>
+There are millions of dollars afloat of these bonds,
+and they cannot be traced any more than money."</p>
+
+<p>"His bonds were all for five hundred dollars
+each, and they had little tickets on the end, which
+could be cut off for the interest," she said. "I
+saw them when the coroner was examining
+them."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, they were undoubtedly five-twenty
+bonds, and were worth their face in gold."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, another time, if we get such a chance,"
+she said, "we will take enough to make ourselves
+comfortable, and leave the rest to remove
+suspicion."</p>
+
+<p>On the following day, Ingham returned to his
+room at Mrs. Sanford's about three o'clock in the
+afternoon, and she told him that the two girls and
+Mr. and Mrs. Graves had left. She said that she
+had a great fuss with the latter, and that they
+went away in a state of high wrath against her;
+besides this, she had had a quarrel with Charlie,
+the policeman, who had sided with Mrs. Graves
+during their quarrel. Mrs. Sanford said, further,
+that Charlie had acted very meanly in not making
+her any Christmas or New Year's present,
+and she didn't care whether he came there again
+or not. She said that Mrs. Graves had left her
+trunk to be called for, and that there was no doubt
+she had stolen some of Mrs. Sanford's towels and
+other things. She then went to the trunk, opened
+it, and took out a number of articles, which she
+said belonged to her. She took the articles into
+the kitchen, and secreted them in a hole in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span>
+floor, where she was able to take up a board.
+Ingham thought it rather strange that she should
+hide these things, if they were her own property,
+but he said nothing on the subject to Mrs. Sanford.</p>
+
+<p>About five o'clock a young lady called to see
+Mrs. Sanford, and they seemed very intimate
+with each other. When they entered the sitting-room,
+Mrs. Sanford said:</p>
+
+<p>"Ida, let me introduce to you Mr. Ingham; this
+is Miss Ida Musgrove, Mr. Ingham."</p>
+
+<p>"Mrs. Sanford has spoken of you in such complimentary
+terms, Miss Ida," said Ingham, "that
+I have been very anxious to meet you."</p>
+
+<p>"Now, how can you be so foolish, May," said
+Miss Ida, addressing Mrs. Sanford; "you always
+talk about me so extravagantly that people are
+very much disappointed when they meet me."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! that is quite impossible," chimed in
+Ingham. "I am sure that Mrs. Sanford hardly
+did you justice."</p>
+
+<p>"I see, Mr. Ingham, that you are, like all the
+rest of your sex, a great flatterer," simpered Miss
+Ida, who was evidently greatly pleased with his
+compliments, but who wished to appear too
+modest to believe him to be in earnest.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Ida was a brilliant brunette of fine features
+and figure. She was stylish and graceful
+in her appearance, and her dress showed remarkably
+good taste. She was very vivacious
+and merry, but a close observer would have
+noticed that she was not endowed with much<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span>
+sentiment, and a physiognomist would have said
+that she was more interested in the size of a man's
+fortune than in his looks or powers to please.
+The three chatted together very pleasantly for
+some time, and when Miss Ida rose to go, she
+said that she hoped to have the pleasure of seeing
+Mr. Ingham again; but she did not inform him
+where she lived, and was apparently rather indifferent
+with regard to him.</p>
+
+<p>The next day Mrs. Sanford refurnished the
+back room where Mr. Trafton had died, and
+Ingham took the room vacated by the Graveses.
+On the same day, Mrs. Sanford missed her watch,
+and, after searching for it everywhere, she came
+to the conclusion that it had been stolen. She
+was greatly distressed about it, but she could not
+imagine who could have taken it.</p>
+
+<p>A few days after this, Ingham came hurriedly
+into the sitting-room looking as if he had been
+running hard. He found Mrs. Sanford and Miss
+Ida in the kitchen, but when the former came
+into the sitting-room, he gave her a significant
+look, and said that he had "made a raise." Mrs.
+Sanford was highly pleased, but she had no time
+to make inquiries, as Miss Ida came in from the
+kitchen a moment later. They took supper
+together, and had a very gay time, as both Ingham
+and Mrs. Sanford were quite excited over the
+former's adventure. After Miss Ida had gone
+home, Ingham gave Mrs. Sanford ten dollars, and
+told her that he and another man had followed a
+stranger into the "Burnt District" just at dusk,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span>
+and while the other man choked the stranger,
+Ingham had "gone through" his pockets. Owing
+to the fact that there were very few persons and
+no gas-lamps in their vicinity, they had not been
+observed in their work of robbery until they let
+the man go, when his shouts had attracted attention.
+He said that some men had chased them,
+and that he had escaped by running into a lumber-yard,
+where he had hidden the greater part of
+the plunder. He said that he had obtained a roll
+of bills, but that he could not tell how much
+money there was in all, as he had not had time
+to count it. He said that he did not expect to
+get much out of it, as he would be obliged to
+divide with his partner. The day following, Ingham,
+on his return to the house in the evening,
+found Mrs. Sanford standing in her room fixing
+her hair, while a man stood beside her with his
+arm around her waist. The door of her room
+was open, so that Ingham could not help seeing
+them, and he did not stop, but went straight to
+his own room. Mrs. Sanford soon afterward
+came to his door and told him that the man he
+had seen was Mr. Taylor G. Pratt, the real estate
+agent, who occupied the back parlor; that he
+was one of her best friends, and that he wanted
+to marry her. He had been away for the holidays,
+and had only just returned. She had told
+him that Ingham was her brother from Detroit,
+and that he was going to remain with her for
+some time. Ingham was then introduced to Mr
+Pratt, and they talked with each other until<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span>
+supper-time. Pratt was a middle-aged man, with
+a mean-looking face and suspicious manner.
+They went to a restaurant for supper, and the
+gentlemen paid the bill equally. Pratt seemed
+to expect Mrs. Sanford to pay her share, and this
+made her angry, though she said nothing about
+the matter at the time. When alone with Ingham,
+however, she said that Pratt was a miserly
+cub, with no generosity whatever. She borrowed
+five dollars from him, nevertheless, and then
+invented a story about having lost the money to
+escape paying it back.</p>
+
+<p>The next evening, when Ingham returned to
+his lodgings, he found Mrs. Sanford in a sad
+plight; one eye was wholly closed and discolored,
+while her whole face was bruised and inflamed
+to such an extent as to make her an unpleasant
+object to look at. Charlie Stokes, the
+policeman, was sitting by the stove, and Mrs.
+Sanford, with her head done up in wet towels,
+was moaning on the sofa. She explained that
+Mrs. Graves had been there, and had seized her
+by the throat, beaten, scratched, and kicked her
+until she was perfectly helpless from her injuries.
+Charlie, the policeman, was trying to
+condole with her, but he was evidently out of
+favor, for she finally told him to go out and not
+bother her any longer.</p>
+
+<p>Ingham told her that she certainly ought to
+have Mrs. Graves arrested and punished severely,
+and he petted her so nicely that she said
+he was her best friend, and that she would do<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span>
+anything for him. He prepared a dressing for
+her black eye, and got some supper for her, telling
+her that on Monday&mdash;that day being Saturday&mdash;she
+ought to get out a warrant for the arrest
+of Mrs. Graves.</p>
+
+<p>"Why didn't you hit her with the poker?" he
+asked.</p>
+
+<p>"I did pick it up," she replied, "but I was
+afraid to hit her for fear I should kill her."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, it would have served her just right,
+for she had no business to attack you first."</p>
+
+<p>"I know that; but if I had killed her, just
+think how awful it would be! Why, her ghost
+would haunt me forever after. I don't want to
+be haunted. I'm afraid now to go into the room
+where Trafton died, and I wouldn't go in there
+alone after dark for fifty dollars."</p>
+
+<p>Ingham comforted her all he could, but finally
+he said that he must go out for a time, and he
+did not return until about ten o'clock. He then
+went upstairs quietly, and went to bed. Two or
+three hours later, a heavy, groaning sound was
+heard in the house. It was difficult to tell exactly
+whence it came, but Ingham heard Mrs.
+Sanford spring up and open her door. He did the
+same, and saw her listening at the half-open door.
+The groans were not exactly like those of a person
+in distress, but they resembled the efforts of some
+stage ghost in a blood-and-thunder drama. Suddenly
+Mrs. Sanford stepped out, with her revolver
+in her hand, and began to walk toward the hall.
+He instantly overtook her and asked her, in a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span>
+whisper, what she was going to do. She made a
+significant motion with her revolver, and again
+stopped to listen. He then took the pistol away
+from her, saying that the noise was probably due
+to some drunken man who had got into the hall.
+He told her to go back to bed, and he would investigate.
+Accordingly, he went into the hall,
+and soon Mrs. Sanford heard him dragging a
+maudlin drunken fellow downstairs. This affair
+had been arranged by me, in the hope of frightening
+Mrs. Sanford into making some kind of a
+confession, but she was not so easily alarmed as I
+had hoped. The door had been left open by
+Ingham on his return to the house, and another
+detective had been sent to the top of the stairs to
+make the groans. From the determined way in
+which she walked out, with her pistol in readiness,
+it was evident that she would not have hesitated
+to shoot the unfortunate ghost on sight.</p>
+
+<p>The next day Ingham showed her a fine gold
+watch, which he said he had snatched out of a
+man's pocket in a crowd. She wanted him to
+steal one for her, and he promised to do so, if
+possible, though it was more difficult to get a
+lady's watch. She then advised him to be careful
+to see that there was no private mark on the
+watch, lest he should be detected thereby. Then
+she asked whether the numbers on government
+bonds were all different. He said that there were
+different series, which were exactly alike except
+the letter, and he tried to explain the matter to
+her, but she could not understand it. She also<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span>
+wanted to know whether the bonds could be sold
+in a foreign country, and he told her yes; that
+that was the best way to sell them, if there was
+anything wrong about them. After some further
+conversation, she said she thought of going
+to Canada soon, and perhaps she would like him
+to take charge of her rooms while she was away.</p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>The Dangerous Side of the Woman's Character.&mdash;Mr.
+Pinkerton makes a new Move.&mdash;Robert A. Pinkerton
+as Adamson, the drunken, but wealthy,
+Stranger.&mdash;A "funny" Game of Cards.&mdash;The
+drunken Stranger has a violent Struggle to escape
+from Mrs. Sanford, and is afterwards robbed&mdash;according
+to the Papers.&mdash;Detective Ingham arrested,
+but very shortly liberated.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>It has already been observed by the reader
+that, while Ingham had learned nothing
+new about the fate of poor Trafton, he had obtained
+a very excellent understanding of Mrs.
+Sanford's character. Her most prominent characteristic
+was the love of money, and this passion
+seemed to overpower all others. Her language
+and manners at times showed that she had once
+been a member of good society, while her reading
+and declamations from Shakespeare and other
+poets gave evidence of great natural talents.
+Combined with her greed for money was a strong<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span>
+element of sensuality, and though she usually
+granted her favors only where she expected a
+large pecuniary reward, still, at times, she was
+apparently as prodigal in that regard as if she
+had no care whatever for money.</p>
+
+<p>Her mind was naturally powerful, and I had
+little hope of breaking down her will; she would
+evidently show fight to the last, and all that I
+could hope would be to learn enough secretly to
+insure her conviction without her confession.
+She was as shrewd as if all her life had been
+passed in evading the toils of the law; even in
+her sleep, or when pretending to sleep, she would
+talk with great freedom; but, as she never gave
+any intelligence of importance on such occasions,
+I put little faith in the soundness of her sleep.
+In her readiness to assist Ingham to hide his
+plunder, I saw the dangerous side of this woman's
+nature strongly revealed. If she were so willing
+to act as an accomplice in one crime, why not in
+another? As she had been so successful in her
+encounter with Trafton, might she not be glad to
+carry out the same scheme again? At least, there
+would be no harm in putting an opportunity before
+her, and her actions in one case might give
+some clue to those by which she had succeeded
+in the former affair.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, that will be a good plan," I soliloquized;
+"I will send a young fellow there with a large
+sum of money, and he will get drunk. Then, if
+she tries to rob him, I shall be certain that she
+did the same with young Trafton."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>I therefore arranged that Ingham should pretend
+that he had made the acquaintance of a
+stranger from the East, who had a large sum of
+money; he was to tell Mrs. Sanford that he would
+bring the stranger to her rooms to spend the
+evening; the stranger would be rather drunk
+when he arrived there, and they would give him
+more liquor, until he should be quite drunk; if
+she should then try to rob him, he would get
+away as well as possible, and Ingham would go
+after him. In a little while, Ingham would return
+and show her a package of bonds, stolen
+from the stranger, and tell her that he had
+knocked the man down with a brick, before robbing
+him. The next morning a notice would appear
+in the papers to the effect that a stranger
+had been found in the burnt district, lying on the
+ground in an insensible condition, having been
+knocked down and robbed.</p>
+
+<p>Ingham was instructed as to his part in the affair,
+and next day he told Mrs. Sanford that there
+was a young fellow down town whose acquaintance
+he had made, who had a large amount of
+money with him. Ingham said that the man's
+name was Adamson, and that he was a gambler in
+good luck. He wanted to bring Adamson to the
+house that evening, and she was very anxious
+that he should come.</p>
+
+<p>I intrusted the stranger's part to my son, Robert
+A. Pinkerton, who assumed the name of
+Adamson for the occasion.</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly, the two detectives met at my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</a></span>
+office, and Adamson was given five hundred dollars
+in fifty dollar bonds. They then went to
+Mrs. Sanford's house, and, on arriving there,
+Mr. Adamson was quite unsteady on his legs.
+Mrs. Sanford was nicely dressed to receive the
+stranger, and she made herself very agreeable to
+him, in spite of his apparent drunkenness. They
+played cards together for a time, and then Adamson
+proposed to play euchre with Ingham seven
+points for five dollars a game. While they were
+playing, Adamson became quite reckless, and he
+threw down his cards with such a look of
+drunken gravity as to be quite amusing. He lost
+almost every game, and, at length, he wanted to
+go out for a drink. Mrs. Sanford told him to go
+on with his game, and she would get what he
+wished.</p>
+
+<p>"What do you want to drink?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Anything excep' warrer," he replied.</p>
+
+<p>"What do you know about water?" asked Ingham;
+"I don't believe you can tell how it looks."</p>
+
+<p>"Tha's a lie. I know how to tell warrer's
+well's you. I (hic) can allus tell warrer&mdash;it looks
+jus' like gin. Get us some gin."</p>
+
+<p>While Mrs. Sanford was gone, Ingham and
+Adamson arranged that the latter should pretend
+to have lost all his money to the former, and
+that he should insist upon playing one game for
+fifty dollars. This he was to lose, and he was to
+become angry and go away. Adamson then gave
+Ingham about fifty dollars to show as his winnings,
+and presently Mrs. Sanford came in. She
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</a></span>had been introduced to Adamson under the assumed
+name of Mrs. Robertson, and he therefore
+addressed her by that name.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 640px;">
+<img src="images/gs11.jpg" width="640" height="434" alt="&quot;I&#39;ll play you a (hic) game f&#39;r fiffy doll&#39;s!&quot;" title="" />
+<span class="caption">&quot;I&#39;ll play you a (hic) game f&#39;r fiffy doll&#39;s!&quot;</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Mrs. Rob'son, 'f you'd come sooner (hic),
+you'd ha' seen th' funniest game 't ever was
+played. Never 'ad such bad luck 'n m' life, an'
+now I've los' all m' money. Gimme big (hic)
+drink of gin."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Sanford poured him a glass half full, and
+also poured a little into two other glasses. When
+she turned her head, Ingham emptied the contents
+of his glass into the coal-scuttle, exchanged
+glasses with Adamson, and emptied his drink into
+the same place. When they stood up to drink,
+Mrs. Sanford was the only one who really did so,
+the two men merely going through the motions,
+with great apparent satisfaction. Adamson then
+became more and more excited.</p>
+
+<p>"Tell you, Miss'r Hang'em, or whatever y'r
+name is, I'll play you a (hic) game f'r fiffy dolls;
+can beat you 't euchre any day th' week. Wha'
+you say? Wan' to play?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, I don't want to play for so much, but I'll
+play you for twenty-five dollars."</p>
+
+<p>"Fiffy or nothin'. Come, now; 'f you're 'fraid
+to play, say so. I c'n play like a steam-whissle,
+I can."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll play you for twenty-five," replied Ingham,
+irresolutely.</p>
+
+<p>"No, sir; I won't (hic) play'ny more small
+games. You've won more'n fiffy doll'rs fr'm me
+now, 'n I wan' m' revenge. You goin' ter gimme
+a (hic) chance t'win it back?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"All right," said Ingham; "I'll play you just
+one game for fifty dollars, and then we'll stop, no
+matter who wins. Just wait a minute, until I
+go to my room for a handkerchief."</p>
+
+<p>While he was gone, Adamson pulled out a
+package of ten United States bonds, of the denomination
+of fifty dollars each, and said that he
+would put up one of them against Ingham's fifty
+dollars, and that he should send the rest to his
+mother. When Ingham returned, he counted
+out fifty dollars, and Adamson laid down one of
+his bonds.</p>
+
+<p>"What's that?" asked Ingham. "Is that
+worth fifty dollars?" and picking it up, he examined
+it carefully.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes'r; tha's worth more'n fiffy doll'rs; tha's
+worth fiffy doll'rs in gold."</p>
+
+<p>"Will you guarantee that it is good and all
+right?" asked Ingham.</p>
+
+<p>"Course I will; didn't you ever see a (hic)
+bond b'fore?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! I know that's all right," said Mrs. Sanford,
+who was beginning to show the effect of
+the gin very strongly; "I've had bon's like that,
+too. Th' young man who died here had eighteen
+thousan' bonds like this."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, all right," said Ingham; "let us cut
+for deal."</p>
+
+<p>As the game progressed, Mrs. Sanford felt the
+strength of the gin more and more, and she soon
+became quite sick. Ingham got her some warm
+water, and she went into her own room to vomit.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</a></span>
+She soon returned, feeling much better, and the
+game went on, Ingham winning by one point.
+Adamson then became very angry, and said he
+was going out; and, although the others begged
+him to stay, he put on his overcoat and insisted
+on going away. Ingham finally said that he
+didn't care whether Adamson went or stayed, and,
+so saying, he walked off to his own room. Mrs.
+Sanford used every argument to induce Adamson
+to stay all night, but, with a drunken man's obstinacy,
+he refused to remain any longer. He walked
+downstairs, with Mrs. Sanford clinging to him
+and coaxing him all the way, until they reached
+the lower landing, when she put her back against
+the door and refused to let him out. They then
+had a violent struggle, in the course of which she
+tore open his coat and vest in the endeavor to get
+at the bonds in his breast pocket. Finally, he
+was obliged to use all his force to get away, as
+she was like a tigress in her anger, and was evidently
+determined to rob him. Indeed, had he
+not been an active, muscular young man, she
+would, undoubtedly, have finished him then and
+there; as it was, he barely succeeded in making
+his escape, by forcing her back upon the stairs,
+and then springing out of the door before she
+could seize him again.</p>
+
+<p>Meantime, Ingham was a silent spectator of
+this scene from the top of the stairs, where he
+stood holding the lamp. As soon as Adamson was
+out, Ingham rushed down and told Mrs. Sanford
+that he intended to have those bonds anyhow.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</a></span>
+He told her to sit up for him, and then ran out
+after Adamson. In less than an hour, he returned
+and saw Mrs. Sanford watching for him
+from a front window. When he went upstairs,
+she was still somewhat under the influence of the
+liquor she had drank, but she asked him where
+he had been.</p>
+
+<p>"That's all right," he replied, flipping over the
+ends of the package of bonds; "I guess I've
+made a good enough haul this time."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! you are a splendid fellow," she said,
+leaning on his shoulder. "I didn't think you
+would dare to do it."</p>
+
+<p>"I dare to do anything where there is any
+money to be made. You won't go back on me,
+will you?"</p>
+
+<p>"What do you mean?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"I mean, that you won't give me away to the
+police?" he asked, anxiously.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, of course I won't," she replied. "I
+never yet went back on any one who did the fair
+thing by me; and I know you will do that, won't
+you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! certainly I will; I will make you a nice
+present to-morrow."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't want a present to-morrow," she said,
+sullenly; "I want my share now."</p>
+
+<p>"But I shall have to cash these bonds first," he
+said. "They would be of no use to you in their
+present shape."</p>
+
+<p>"I can get them cashed as well as you can,"
+she replied. "Come, hand over; I don't want
+half, but I want my share now."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"What is your hurry?" he demanded. "Can't
+you wait until to-morrow?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, I can't; I want my share, and if you are
+going to be mean, I will be mean too. You can't
+keep those bonds unless I say so, and if I choose
+to report you, I can have them all taken from
+you, besides sending you to Joliet."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! if that's the way you talk," replied Ingham,
+"I shall know what to do. If you can't
+trust me until to-morrow, I can't trust you at all.
+You can't scare me by threats, and if you want
+to get any of this money, you must deal fairly
+with me; I'm not afraid of being arrested."</p>
+
+<p>"All right, then," she answered, with a wicked
+look in her eye; "we'll see whether you will
+'come down' or not. If you want to keep it
+all, I shall take care that you don't keep any of
+it. I'm going to the police station at once."</p>
+
+<p>She was, evidently, just ugly enough to do as
+she said; and, as Ingham had the bonds in his
+possession, he did not fancy the idea of letting
+her go for the officers just then; so he replied:</p>
+
+<p>"You can go right along, if you want to, but,
+in that case, I shall go somewhere else."</p>
+
+<p>He then quickly brought his hat and overcoat
+into the sitting-room; and, seeing that she was
+still making preparations to go out, he took a
+hurried departure, taking a room at a small hotel
+for the night.</p>
+
+<p>In the Chicago <i>Tribune</i> of January 14, 1872,
+the following item appeared:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</a></span></p>
+
+<p class="center">"<span class="smcap">Highway Robbery</span>.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"At about twelve o'clock last night, an officer
+of Pinkerton's Preventive Police stumbled over
+the body of a man near the corner of State and
+Washington streets. Stooping down, he discovered
+that the man was half drunk, half insensible,
+bruised and bleeding. On being restored to
+his senses, he gave his name as Robert Adamson,
+stating that he had come from Troy, New York,
+having with him several hundred dollars in currency
+and bonds. The time between drinks was
+very short yesterday afternoon, and he has no
+clear idea of what happened after dark, up to the
+time the officer found him minus his money and
+valuables. He remembers drinking frequently
+with a stranger, who made himself very agreeable,
+but cannot state the time when they parted
+company. He describes the stranger as a tall
+slender man, with black side-whiskers, giving a
+sufficiently minute description of him to afford
+the police a valuable clue, and it is likely that the
+highwayman will soon be overhauled."</p></div>
+
+<p>About noon of the day that the above was published,
+Ingham went to call upon Mrs. Sanford,
+and she received him very coolly.</p>
+
+<p>"How do you feel this morning?" he asked.
+"Does your head ache?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, I feel all right," she replied. "Have
+you seen that fellow that was here last night?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, I have not seen him," he replied. "Why
+do you ask? Has he been here looking for me?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Yes, he came here this morning, and asked
+me all kinds of questions about you; and now, if
+you are arrested, it will be your own fault. I
+would have shielded you, if you had done the
+fair thing by me; but now you must look out for
+yourself."</p>
+
+<p>"You are very unreasonable, Mrs. Sanford,"
+he replied; "it would have been very dangerous
+to have left any of those bonds with you, for if
+the man had brought the police here, they would
+have searched the house, and would have found
+the bonds. Then you would have been arrested,
+and you would have been obliged to tell where
+you got the bonds. Now, as soon as I get the
+bonds cashed, I will treat you handsomely, but I
+do not intend to run any risks."</p>
+
+<p>"There would have been no danger of their
+finding the bonds, if you had left them with me;
+and, even if they had found them, I never would
+have told where I got them. You might have
+been fair enough to give me one hundred dollars
+at least."</p>
+
+<p>"He did not have any money besides what I
+won from him, except the bonds; and, as I said
+before, I did not dare to leave those in the
+house."</p>
+
+<p>"I am sorry I ever let you into my house,"
+she said, presently. "I thought a great deal of
+you, and I expected to assist you when I received
+my money; but now I have lost confidence in
+you. I suppose, if you got a chance at my
+money, you would take that too. I begin to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</a></span>
+think I know where my watch went; the detective
+wanted to search you for it two or three
+times, but I wouldn't let him, and this is the way
+you reward my confidence."</p>
+
+<p>"Mrs. Sanford, you are talking wild," he
+answered, angrily. "I have always treated you
+well, and when I made a raise the other day, I
+gave you a part of it. I intended to do the same
+this time, but you acted so suspiciously that I
+thought best to wait awhile. Now, as soon as I
+get these bonds cashed, I will give you some
+more money, but not till then."</p>
+
+<p>"You can keep your old money," she retorted;
+"I don't want any of it. You think you were
+very smart, yesterday, but you don't know what
+danger you are in. I could have you arrested
+this very day if I chose."</p>
+
+<p>"I know you could; but what good would it
+do you? I should be punished, to be sure, but
+you would not get a cent; while, if you keep
+quiet, I will make you a fine present."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't want your present, nor you either,"
+she replied. "I don't want you in my house any
+longer." Then, as Ingham started toward his
+room, she said: "Keep out of there; you can't go
+into that room, for I've let it to a young couple,
+who are in there now."</p>
+
+<p>"All right, then," replied Ingham; "I will call
+again to-morrow."</p>
+
+<p>"You needn't take things so mighty cool," she
+replied, perfectly white with anger. "You may
+find yourself in jail before you know it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I know it," he answered, carelessly; "but it's
+my nature to take things cool, and so, if you
+want to put me in jail, you can; but you can't
+scare me a bit, and you may as well understand
+it first as last."</p>
+
+<p>The following morning, I received from Mr.
+Trafton, who was then in Philadelphia, the numbers
+of the bonds which were missing. They
+were five-twenty bonds of the issue of 1865, numbers
+57,109 and 87,656, series A, and number
+37,515, series B. Information of the robbery had
+been sent to the Treasury Department at Washington,
+and to all the sub-treasurers in the United
+States, in order that, in case any of the interest
+coupons should be presented for payment, they
+might be traced back, possibly, to the hands of
+the thief.</p>
+
+<p>In <i>The Tribune</i> of Monday appeared the following
+item:</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+"BEATEN AND ROBBED.
+</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"A MAN TAKES A WALK WITH A COMPARATIVE
+STRANGER, AND IS KNOCKED DOWN AND ROBBED
+OF NEARLY $1,000 IN GREENBACKS.</p>
+
+<p>"Mention was made in yesterday's <span class="smcap">Tribune</span> of
+the finding of a man, named Robert Adamson,
+on the corner of State and Washington streets,
+he having been beaten and robbed of several hundred
+dollars in greenbacks. The police were looking
+for him yesterday, but failed to find him. It
+was ascertained that he had been boarding at No.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</a></span>
+92 West Madison street, and that, on Saturday
+night, he indulged in several games of euchre
+with a man who also boarded at the place. While
+the game was in progress, and Adamson was under
+the influence of liquor, he displayed an express
+company's envelope full of money. At the
+conclusion of the game, the two men went out to
+'take a walk.' Yesterday morning, Adamson's
+companion returned to the house, and, it is said,
+offered the landlady $500 if she would say nothing
+about his having played cards with Adamson.
+She refused, and would not allow the fellow to
+take his trunk away, which he wanted to do very
+badly. The landlady sent her little daughter to
+police headquarters for an officer, and one was
+sent over to arrest the man; but he had left previous
+to the officer's arrival. It is not known
+how much money Adamson had, but it must
+have been in the neighborhood of $1,000, or the
+man who took it would not have made such a
+munificent offer to have the fact of the theft
+kept secret."</p></div>
+
+<p>In accordance with my instructions, Ingham
+went to Mrs. Sanford's house about noon on
+Monday. He told her that he had read in the
+paper that she had reported him to the police as
+being the assailant of Robert Adamson. She denied
+ever having done so, and offered to swear
+that she had never betrayed him. He replied
+that he felt sure there must be a mistake, as he
+could not believe it possible that she would be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</a></span>tray
+him. He felt perfect confidence in her, and
+had no fears that she would try to have him arrested.</p>
+
+<p>"Besides," he continued, "I don't care now
+whether they arrest me or not. I'm not afraid
+of being held, for I am generally shrewd enough
+to cover my tracks pretty thoroughly, if I have a
+start of two or three days."</p>
+
+<p>"You can't prove that you didn't rob that
+man," she replied.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't need to; all the proof must come from
+the other side, and they haven't any witnesses
+who can swear that I did the robbery."</p>
+
+<p>"I could prove it, if I choose to go against
+you," she said.</p>
+
+<p>"No, you couldn't," he replied. "You didn't
+see me; and, while your testimony would, perhaps,
+be circumstantial evidence, your oath
+would be no better than mine, as you have no
+one to swear to the same thing."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! I have great credit up at the station,"
+she said, in a boasting manner. "They recollect
+the finding of eighteen thousand dollars under
+the pillow of the young man who died here, and
+they have all confidence in me, for they know I
+might have easily stolen all he had. But I think
+it is best never to do anything wrong, and then
+there is no fear of getting into trouble."</p>
+
+<p>"That's all right, if you can do it," he replied;
+"but I must have a living, and if I can't get it
+one way, I will another."</p>
+
+<p>Just then some one knocked at the door, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</a></span>
+presently Charlie Stokes, the policeman, walked
+in. They talked together a few minutes, and
+then Stokes said:</p>
+
+<p>"Step this way a moment, Mr. Ingham, I wish
+to speak to you alone."</p>
+
+<p>They walked to the head of the stairs, and Ingham
+then asked what he wished to talk about.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, there seems to be some kind of a misunderstanding
+at the police station," said Stokes,
+keeping his eyes on the ground, "and they have
+sent me to ask you to walk around to the office."</p>
+
+<p>"A misunderstanding about what?" asked
+Ingham. "What do you mean?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you know all about it," continued
+Stokes, in the same mysterious way.</p>
+
+<p>"I beg your pardon; I don't know what you
+have reference to; please explain."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! you know well enough. You are
+wanted on account of that man you robbed last
+Saturday night."</p>
+
+<p>"I did not rob any man Saturday night, and I
+am surprised that you should make such a
+charge against me, knowing me as well as you
+do," said Ingham, in an injured tone.</p>
+
+<p>"I have nothing to do with it," replied Stokes.
+"I am simply obeying the captain's order, and I
+have no personal feeling against you whatever;
+but I have been sent to take you down to the
+station, and I must obey orders."</p>
+
+<p>"Then you arrest me?" inquired Ingham.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you must go to the station with me to
+see the captain."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Not unless you arrest me," replied Ingham.
+"I want to know whether I am to consider myself
+under arrest."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, you can consider yourself arrested, if
+you want to," replied Stokes, who did not seem
+to like to take the responsibility of making the
+arrest under the circumstances.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't want to, and I shan't, unless you say
+so," persisted Ingham.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, then, I <i>do</i> say so, and we will go now.
+We can walk along together like two friends,
+however, and no one need know that you are my
+prisoner."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't care who knows it," said Ingham;
+"but I think there is something strange in the
+way of arresting me."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I hope you will come out all right,"
+Stokes replied, adding significantly, "and perhaps
+you will, if certain folks don't appear
+against you."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not afraid," replied Ingham; "there is
+no one who can say anything against me."</p>
+
+<p>On arriving at the station, the same consideration
+was shown to him, and the station-keeper
+asked him to make himself comfortable in the
+main sitting-room.</p>
+
+<p>"Am I under arrest?" he asked again.</p>
+
+<p>"No, not exactly; you can take it easy for a
+time, and you will have an examination soon."</p>
+
+<p>"If I am not under arrest," Ingham replied,
+"I shall not stay here."</p>
+
+<p>"Why not?" asked the station-keeper.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Because I have no business here unless I am
+a prisoner," was Ingham's reply.</p>
+
+<p>"We can lock you up in a cell, if we want to,"
+said the station-keeper; "but we thought you
+would prefer to be comfortable up here."</p>
+
+<p>"Then I <i>am</i> a prisoner?" again inquired Ingham,
+who seemed anxious to have his status
+satisfactorily explained.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, confound it; if you are determined to
+have it so, you are."</p>
+
+<p>About five o'clock the sergeant of police came
+in, and asked Ingham his name.</p>
+
+<p>"Ingham," was the reply.</p>
+
+<p>"Jack Ingham?"</p>
+
+<p>"No; John Ingham."</p>
+
+<p>"What is your business?" asked the sergeant.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not employed at all, just now."</p>
+
+<p>"Have you ever had any work to do in this
+city?" again queried the sergeant.</p>
+
+<p>"No; not yet."</p>
+
+<p>"Who was that man you were playing cards
+with the other night?"</p>
+
+<p>"What night?" asked Ingham.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Saturday night."</p>
+
+<p>"Whereabouts?"</p>
+
+<p>"At your boarding place."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! I play cards with a great many fellows,"
+Ingham replied. "I don't know which one you
+mean."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, we know who he was," said the sergeant.</p>
+
+<p>"Then what are you asking me for?" said
+Ingham. "Am I under arrest?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I guess you will have to stay here awhile,"
+was the sergeant's reply.</p>
+
+<p>Presently a number of persons came into the
+room, and Ingham thought he saw among them
+one of the bindery girls who had formerly lodged
+with Mrs. Sanford. She looked at him very hard,
+and then went out into the hall, where he could
+hear her talking with the station-keeper and
+Stokes. He also heard the sergeant call a policeman
+and give him some instructions, in which
+Ingham caught the words, "Pinkerton's office."
+The man then put on his coat and went out.
+Presently the sergeant approached him again,
+and, looking at him significantly, said:</p>
+
+<p>"Now we know all about your playing cards
+with that man, and afterward robbing him."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know what you mean," Ingham replied;
+"I don't know what man you are talking
+about."</p>
+
+<p>"Didn't you see that piece in the paper yesterday?"
+asked the sergeant.</p>
+
+<p>"I saw a number of pieces in the paper yesterday,
+but I can't tell which one you are referring
+to."</p>
+
+<p>The sergeant then showed him the item headed
+"Highway Robbery," and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Now, we can prove that you came back to
+your landlady with a large package of money,
+and offered her five hundred dollars to keep quiet
+about the fact of your having played cards with
+this young fellow, and then having followed him
+out."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Well, if you can prove that, you had better
+do it," said Ingham; then, changing his tone, and
+looking straight in the sergeant's face, he added:
+"Now, look here, sergeant, if you have any
+charges against me, just state them."</p>
+
+<p>The sergeant muttered something about locking
+him up, and started to go out.</p>
+
+<p>"If you lock me up," replied Ingham, coolly,
+"I hope you are prepared to take the consequences."</p>
+
+<p>"Who the devil are you, anyhow?" asked the
+sergeant.</p>
+
+<p>"No relation of yours, I assure you," was the
+reply, and the sergeant went away.</p>
+
+<p>At this time, a tall, dignified man came in and
+asked the station-keeper a question. The policeman
+replied that there was no such man there.</p>
+
+<p>"I know better than that," said the stranger,
+"and I must see him."</p>
+
+<p>The station-keeper declared positively that they
+had no such man, and the stranger then went upstairs.
+In a few minutes the sergeant came in
+and told Ingham to follow him. As they were
+going upstairs, they met the tall stranger coming
+down. Ingham felt confident that this man was
+looking for him, and, in passing, he pinched the
+stranger's leg. The pinch was returned, and the
+tall man stopped; but Ingham and the sergeant
+went up to the captain's room. After asking
+Ingham his name, the captain said:</p>
+
+<p>"Where were you last Saturday night?"</p>
+
+<p>"That is none of your business," said Ingham.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Come, now, you needn't put on any airs,"
+said the captain; "I want to know all about
+this."</p>
+
+<p>"Captain," Ingham replied, "if you have any
+charges against me, I should like to hear them.
+I don't put on any airs, but I want to know what
+I am under arrest for."</p>
+
+<p>Turning to the sergeant, the captain said:</p>
+
+<p>"How long would it take you to bring that
+man on here, sergeant?"</p>
+
+<p>"Three or four days, at least," was the answer.</p>
+
+<p>Just then the tall stranger entered, and the
+captain took him into a private room, where they
+remained some time. When they came out, the
+sergeant joined the captain for a few minutes,
+while the tall gentleman introduced himself to
+Ingham as Judge B&mdash;&mdash;, and said that the captain
+would let him go. This proved true, for the
+captain very soon came out, and told Ingham
+that he was at liberty.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Connecting Links.&mdash;Mrs. Sanford's Ability as an Imitator
+of Actors.&mdash;One Detective tears himself away
+from her, and another takes his Place.&mdash;Mrs. Sanford's
+mind frequently burdened with the Subject of
+Murder.&mdash;New Evidence appearing.&mdash;A Peep at the
+stolen Bonds.&mdash;The Shrewdness of the Murderess.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>Ingham did not return to Mrs. Sanford's until
+late in the evening of the day of his arrest.
+On arriving there, he was admitted by Charlie
+Stokes, the policeman, who seemed very much
+surprised to see him. Mrs. Sanford was also
+quite astonished, and turned very pale on seeing
+him. However, they soon began talking in a very
+friendly way, expressing their regret at his arrest
+and their pleasure at his release. Charlie did
+not remain long, and after he was gone Mrs. Sanford
+made all kinds of inquiries as to the manner
+of his escape.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, Mrs. Sanford," he replied, "I told you
+they couldn't hold me. There was absolutely no
+evidence against me, and they were afraid to
+even lock me up. I have been ten years in this
+business, in New Orleans and elsewhere, and I
+have never been caught yet. The only thing
+which puzzles me, is to account for my being arrested
+at all!"</p>
+
+<p>"You don't suspect that I had any hand in it,
+I hope?" asked Mrs. Sanford.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no indeed! I trust you perfectly; but I
+think that one of those bindery girls may have
+seen me with Adamson on the street. One of
+them came into the station while I was there,
+and looked at me very hard, as if trying to identify
+me. Still, I don't see how she could have suspected
+anything, unless some one put her up to it."</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps some bartender may have seen you
+drinking with him during the afternoon," she
+suggested, "and he may have described you to
+the police."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I should like to know who it was," he
+said, savagely, "for I would shoot him like a
+dog."</p>
+
+<p>As Mrs. Sanford had rented Ingham's room,
+there was no place for him to stay, and he went
+away about midnight, telling her that he would
+return next day. He did not go there, however,
+until after dark, as he felt confident that the police
+would try to "shadow" him. He found Mrs.
+Sanford quite uneasy about him, as she thought
+he had been arrested again. He invited her to
+go to the theatre, and, on their way home, they
+stopped at a restaurant to get a late supper. As
+there were no accommodations for him, he was
+obliged to go to a hotel for the night, but Mrs.
+Sanford promised to have a bed put into the unfurnished
+room for him the next day. The next
+afternoon he called again, and Mrs. Sanford said
+that Charlie had been there, and had told her all
+about their visit to the theatre the night before.
+She said that he knew exactly where they had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</a></span>
+been, what they had had for supper, and what
+they had paid. Ingham was thus made aware
+that he was being watched, and his position,
+therefore, became very embarrassing.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! by the way," she exclaimed, suddenly,
+"did I tell you that I got back my watch?"</p>
+
+<p>"No; how did you recover it?" he asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, that man Graves had it, and I had to
+pay one hundred dollars to get it back."</p>
+
+<p>"That was a great shame," said Ingham, sympathetically,
+as if he fully believed her.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I got my watch and several other trinkets,
+which I had all together in one box. See,
+here they are," she said, producing a box.</p>
+
+<p>Ingham looked at them with great interest,
+and, among the old sleeve-buttons, odd earrings,
+and other broken pieces of jewelry, he saw two
+gold shirt studs, one diamond-shaped, and the
+other star-shaped. This was a small matter, but
+it was one of the connecting links, nevertheless,
+in the chain of evidence against her; for, from
+the description, I felt sure that these were young
+Trafton's missing studs.</p>
+
+<p>Ingham spent the evening with her, and she
+was very friendly indeed, seeming anxious to remove
+any suspicion he might have that she was
+responsible for his arrest. She had made no arrangements
+for him to sleep there, however, and
+so he went to a small hotel for the night. When
+he reported at my office the following day, I gave
+him four hundred dollars in money, and told him
+to show it to Mrs. Sanford as the proceeds of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</a></span>
+sale of the stolen bonds. Accordingly, when he
+went there in the afternoon, he counted over a
+large pile of bills before her astonished eyes, and
+asked her if he didn't know how to make things
+pay well.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, where did you get all that money?"
+she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"I sold those bonds which I showed you the
+other night," he replied. "I tell you, it isn't
+every man who knows how to dispose of property
+when it falls into his hands."</p>
+
+<p>"Now you will be flush for a long time, won't
+you?" she said, in her most amiable manner.
+"What are you going to do with all that?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! I shall have to divide with my partner
+first," he replied.</p>
+
+<p>"Did you have a partner in this affair?" she
+asked. "You did not tell me about him."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! yes; I had the same partner as in the
+other case," Ingham replied. "He held Adamson,
+and I struck him with a brick. However,
+here is a present before I go, May," he continued,
+tossing two ten-dollar notes into her lap.
+"I will give you some more in a day or two."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Sanford was very much gratified, and
+said that she cared more for him than for any
+one else, and he could depend upon her for anything.
+Ingham then left her, and came to my
+office to return the money. In the evening he
+took Mrs. Sanford and Miss Ida Musgrove to the
+theatre, and the latter, evidently having heard
+of his improved fortunes, treated him with great<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[Pg 344]</a></span>
+cordiality. They returned to the rooms of Miss
+Ida after the theatre was out, and Mrs. Sanford
+gave some fine imitations of different actors and
+actresses, in a way which showed great powers of
+mimicry, as well as considerable dramatic force.
+It was very late when Ingham and Mrs. Sanford
+got home, and they immediately went to bed.</p>
+
+<p>The next day, Ingham went away as usual,
+and stayed until nearly dark. When he saw Mrs.
+Sanford, he professed to be in a very sulky mood,
+and said that he had been gambling all day.</p>
+
+<p>"At first I won right along, and I was nearly
+two thousand dollars ahead at one time; but the
+cursed luck changed, and I began to lose every
+bet; so that, when I left, I had only ten dollars
+in my pocket out of all that money I got for the
+bonds."</p>
+
+<p>Ingham could not control his feelings as he
+thought of his loss, and he swore and raved like
+a crazy man. Mrs. Sanford was very much disappointed,
+also, but she did not say much, except
+that he ought to have known better than to gamble.
+There were two or three new lodgers coming
+in and out while he was there, so that he did
+not have much time to talk to her, and he went
+away early in the evening.</p>
+
+<p>Owing to the arrest of Ingham, and his quarrel
+with Mrs. Sanford, I had decided to relieve him
+from this operation, and to put another man in
+his place. His story about gambling was a part
+of my plan; and the next day, when he called
+upon her, he was under instructions to announce<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[Pg 345]</a></span>
+his intended departure from the city. Accordingly,
+he did so, giving as a reason the fact that
+he had lost all his money, and that the police
+were watching him so closely that he was afraid
+to attempt another robbery in Chicago. He told
+her that he was going to St. Louis, and that he
+should come to see her immediately, if he ever
+should return.</p>
+
+<p>She appeared very much distressed at the
+thought of losing him, and told him that when
+she got her money, she would let him have as
+much as he wanted. She made him promise to
+write to her, and when he went away, she cried
+with seemingly genuine sorrow.</p>
+
+<p>Three days later Mrs. Sanford received a visit
+from a gentleman who said he wished to rent a
+furnished room. Mrs. Sanford seemed to like his
+appearance, and she offered him the small back
+room at a low rent. Having decided to take it,
+he told her that his name was Henry C. Morton,
+recently from England.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! I am so glad you are from the old country,"
+said Mrs. Sanford, "as I am from Edinboro'
+myself, and my father is Lord Chief Justice of
+the courts there. He is very rich, and has treated
+me very liberally since I left my husband; why,
+only last week, he sent me three thousand dollars."</p>
+
+<p>Just then a Mr. Bruce, the owner of the furniture
+store below, came in, looking rather tipsy.
+Mrs. Sanford introduced the two men, and Mr.
+Bruce said something about being an Irishman.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[Pg 346]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Why, what a strange coincidence," said Mr.
+Morton. "Here are three persons, each representing
+one of the three kingdoms of Great Britain.
+If I had some one to send for some ale,
+we would drink a toast to Britannia, God bless
+her!"</p>
+
+<p>After talking together for some time, Mrs.
+Sanford and Mr. Morton went into the sitting-room,
+and Mr. Bruce went down to his store.
+Then Morton said that he had left his valise at
+the Stock Yards, and that he would go for it at
+once. On his return, he found two rough-looking
+men at the door trying to get in, but the bell
+would not ring, and so Morton went away for
+half an hour, leaving the men knocking and kicking
+on the door. About eight o'clock, he came
+back and found the door open. He went upstairs
+and entered the sitting-room. Mrs. Sanford
+was full of apologies for having locked him
+out, but she said that she had had trouble with
+one of her boarders, and she had resolved to keep
+him out of the house. While they were talking,
+the two men whom Morton had seen at the door
+came in, and a quarrel immediately sprang up
+between Mrs. Sanford and the younger of the
+two. In a short time, they both became furiously
+angry, and they used the most bitterly opprobrious
+language toward each other. Finally,
+Mrs. Sanford, who was ironing, rushed at the
+young man with a flatiron in her hand, and she
+would undoubtedly have seriously injured him if
+he had not escaped into his own room at the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[Pg 347]</a></span>
+head of the stairs. She then laid a heavy poker
+on the table beside her, and said that she would
+mash his skull if he came near her again. In
+a short time, he again re&euml;ntered the room,
+when, seizing the poker, she rushed at him like
+a fury. He succeeded in avoiding her until Morton
+and the other man induced her to give up the
+poker; and both the strangers then went away,
+saying that they should be back at eleven
+o'clock.</p>
+
+<p>After their departure, Mrs. Sanford dropped
+into a chair and cried for a time, saying that she
+never had acted so before in her life, as no one
+had ever treated her so shamefully. Then she
+became loquacious and confidential, telling Morton
+the old story of her father being Lord Chief
+Justice of Scotland, and her husband a wealthy
+man in Buffalo. She recited the reasons she had
+for leaving her husband, and said that her father
+first sent her one hundred and fifty dollars after
+the separation, but that she thought so small a
+sum was an insult, and so she sent it back. She
+added that he had promised her three thousand
+dollars very soon, and that she expected to receive
+it in a week or two. From this subject,
+she drifted to the story of young Trafton's death,
+which she told with great minuteness. She said
+that when she found he was dead, she fainted
+away, and did not recover for nearly two hours.</p>
+
+<p>While she was running on in her story, a loud
+noise was heard, and she explained to Morton
+that Mr. Bruce had been drinking all day, until<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[Pg 348]</a></span>
+he was afraid to go home, and that now he was
+quite drunk in her room. She said that he had
+been very kind to her in letting her have furniture
+on credit, and so she wanted to make him
+comfortable until he was sobered off. During
+the evening she recited a number of selections
+from Byron, Scott, and Longfellow, and even
+gave several parts from Shakespeare's plays with
+great force and beauty of elocution. She also
+talked a great deal about Jack Ingham, a former
+lodger in her rooms, and she seemed to have a
+very high opinion of him. She said that he was
+obliged to leave town because the police were
+after him about something he had done, adding,
+that she didn't care for that, however, and she
+would never go back on a friend, but would shield
+him for anything except murder. It was after
+two o'clock in the morning before they retired,
+and as she had not fitted up Morton's room properly,
+she made a bed for him on the lounge in the
+sitting-room. As Mr. Bruce was lying dead-drunk
+on her bed, she was obliged to sleep on the
+floor of her room.</p>
+
+<p>About four o'clock Morton was awakened by
+Mrs. Sanford, who said that she could not sleep
+in her room, as Bruce snored so loudly, just as
+Stanley Trafton did the night he died.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! it is horrible to think of," she said, shuddering.
+"I shall go crazy if I stay in there any
+longer."</p>
+
+<p>She then lay down on the table and covered
+herself with a bedspread she had brought from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[Pg 349]</a></span>
+her own room. About six o'clock they were
+awakened by a loud noise at the outer door, and
+Mrs. Sanford said that those drunken loafers had
+come back again. She immediately got up, took
+a revolver from her room, and went down to the
+door, where she told the men to go away, as she
+would not admit them at that time of night.
+While she was talking Bruce began moving
+around, and he found his way into the hall.
+Then Morton heard a great crash, as if some one
+had fallen downstairs, followed by a call from
+Mrs. Sanford, in tragic tones, for him to come and
+help her. Morton went out and found that Bruce
+had fallen from the top to the foot of the stairs,
+and on going down he discovered the unfortunate
+representative of the Emerald Isle lying in a
+heap against the front door. The two men outside
+had evidently been scared away by the noise,
+and they did not return until eight o'clock.
+Bruce was not hurt, except a cut on his hand,
+which Morton bound up, and then quiet reigned
+again until after daylight. About nine o'clock
+Morton went in to see Bruce, whom he found
+sitting up in bed. Bruce said that his money
+was gone, and that Mrs. Sanford had drugged
+him the night before to enable her to steal it.
+Morton called Mrs. Sanford, and asked where
+Bruce's money was. She said she had put it
+away for safe keeping, and, lifting the mattress,
+she took out two pocket-books and a box containing
+her watch, trinkets, etc. Having given
+Bruce his pocket-book, she went out, and he then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[Pg 350]</a></span>
+counted his money. He said he ought to have
+eighty-one dollars, but that she had helped herself
+to ten dollars; it was not worth while making
+a fuss about it, but he said that he knew she
+had drugged him.</p>
+
+<p>After awhile, Mr. Graves came in, and had a
+private interview with Mrs. Sanford. She seemed
+afraid of him, while he acted as if he had some
+hold upon her. When they came into the sitting-room,
+where Bruce and Morton were talking together,
+Mrs. Sanford asked Graves to lend her a
+dollar, but he refused.</p>
+
+<p>"Pshaw! I don't want it," she replied. "I only
+asked to see whether you'd lend it, as I have
+quite enough of my own;" and, so saying, she
+took out her pocket-book.</p>
+
+<p>Morton saw her count out nine ten-dollar bills
+and nine one-dollar bills. From the fact that she
+showed just ninety-nine dollars, it was probable
+that she had only recently changed one of the
+one-hundred-dollar bills taken from young Trafton.
+She then opened another compartment, and
+took out two pieces of folded paper, of a creamy
+tint, apparently about the size of two sheets of
+foolscap. They were folded several times, and
+were crammed in pretty tight.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you know what those are?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"No, I do not," he replied; "what are they?"</p>
+
+<p>She merely laughed, and closed the pocket-book,
+whispering that she didn't want Graves
+and Bruce to see her money. She said she did
+not wish to be left alone with Graves, for fear he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[Pg 351]</a></span>
+should rob her; so Morton asked him to go out
+and play a game of billiards. Bruce was in a
+great state of anxiety, lest his wife should have
+come down to the store to see where he had spent
+the night, and he remained with Mrs. Sanford.</p>
+
+<p>Morton did not return to Mrs. Sanford's until
+late in the evening, and he found her dressing to
+go to a ball. She insisted that he should go,
+offering to pay all the expenses. He pretended
+to be very much hurt at her suggestion, saying
+that he never would permit any lady to pay anything
+when he took her out. She was dressed
+very tastefully, and presented a very stylish appearance,
+so that she attracted a good deal of attention
+at the ball. Before going, she sent Morton
+to a drug store for a drachm of morphine, saying
+that she must have it, as she used it constantly.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning, they did not get up until a
+late hour, and Mrs. Sanford said that she did not
+feel very well. While talking together, they
+drifted into a discussion about money. Morton,
+like a genuine John Bull, maintaining there was
+no safety except in gold, or Bank of England
+notes.</p>
+
+<p>"But we don't have either in this country,"
+said Mrs. Sanford; "and now, suppose you had a
+large sum of money, what would you do with
+it?"</p>
+
+<p>"That's just what I would like to know," he replied.
+"I expect to receive one hundred pounds
+from England very soon, and I don't know where
+to keep it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[Pg 352]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Well, I shall put my three thousand dollars
+into bonds," she said. "They can be registered,
+so that no one can use them except the rightful
+owner, and the interest is payable in gold."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know anything about bonds," said
+Morton, "especially these American bonds, which
+sometimes depreciate very fast."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! the bonds of the United States are good
+anywhere," she replied, "and they will sell for
+their face in England or Canada just as well as
+here. They are the best securities there are. I
+have some now, and I intend to get some more."</p>
+
+<p>While talking, Morton picked up a card which
+was in her work-basket, and saw that it was an
+advertisement of a gift concert or lottery. She
+noticed it, and said that it had been left there by
+a man named Druen, who used to come to see
+her. She said that he had stolen a five-hundred-dollar
+bond from her, however, and he had never
+been there since. Soon afterward she went to
+sleep again, and did not awake until evening, as
+she was very tired from the effects of the ball.
+Morton remained in the house all day; and, when
+she woke up, he got supper for her. She seemed
+very much pleased at his thoughtfulness, and
+said that she never had had any one so kind to
+her since she left her husband.</p>
+
+<p>"I want you to go to the bank with me some
+day," she said, "as I want to draw the interest on
+some of my coupons, and then you will see what
+good securities American bonds are."</p>
+
+<p>"I shall be very glad to go with you," said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[Pg 353]</a></span>
+Morton; "for, if they are really good securities,
+I will invest some money in them."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! there is nothing better," she replied,
+"and I will show you mine."</p>
+
+<p>She then took out the pocket-book she had
+shown him before, and unfolded one of the
+pieces of paper. Morton saw that it was a five-hundred-dollar
+bond, of the issue of 1865, payable
+in 1885, with about twenty or thirty coupons
+attached. He was so surprised and excited at
+seeing the bond, that he could hardly tell what to
+do, and so he failed to notice the most important
+point&mdash;the number. By the time she had opened
+the other bond, however, he had his wits a little
+more under command, and he was able to remember
+that the figures of the number were
+five, seven, one, zero, and some other figure; but
+he could not recollect positively the order in
+which they came.</p>
+
+<p>"You can go to the bank to-morrow and get
+the coupons cashed for me, can't you?" she
+asked, after putting away the bonds.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! certainly, if you wish me to do so," he
+replied.</p>
+
+<p>Then she laughed, and said:</p>
+
+<p>"You would be arrested if you should take
+these bonds to the bank."</p>
+
+<p>"How so?" he asked, apparently in great surprise.
+"Why should I be arrested?"</p>
+
+<p>"Because the bonds belong to me, and you
+would have to give an account of the way in
+which you obtained them."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[Pg 354]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Oh! well," he replied, "you could give me an
+order, and that would make it all right."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I suppose so," she said, carelessly.</p>
+
+<p>Her object, evidently, was to make Morton
+believe that it would not do for him to attempt
+to steal the bonds; for, though she trusted him
+to the extent of showing him her money and
+valuables, she was eternally suspicious and careful.</p>
+
+<p>Of course, on receiving Morton's report, I felt
+quite confident that the two bonds he had seen
+were a part of those taken from young Trafton.
+Still, I had no positive proof of their identity,
+and, in accordance with my invariable custom, I
+took no hasty step, being confident that my
+detective would soon elicit all the facts. I wrote
+to Mr. Richard S. Trafton, however, suggesting
+that he have himself appointed administrator of
+his son's estate, so that he could begin proceedings
+instantly, the moment I was ready.</p>
+
+<p>Several days passed, during which Morton
+gained Mrs. Sanford's confidence more and more.
+She was anxious one evening that he should rob
+Mr. Bruce, who came in half drunk; but Morton
+told her that he never worked that way.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, Jack Ingham would have killed a man
+to get money out of him," said Mrs. Sanford.
+"Jack wasn't afraid to do anything for money."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, that isn't my style," said Morton, contemptuously.
+"Do you suppose I am going to
+have a scuffle and struggle, ending perhaps in
+murder, when I can make ten times as much by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">[Pg 355]</a></span>
+a little skillful work with my pen? I don't want
+the police to be snuffing 'round my heels on account
+of highway robbery and such small game;
+when <i>I</i> do anything to set them after me, it will
+be for a big stake, and even if they catch me,
+they will be mighty glad to compromise. Oh!
+no; not any little jobs for me; it is only the big
+rascals who can work safely."</p>
+
+<p>Morton succeeded in inducing her to leave
+Bruce alone, though she had evidently meant to
+drug him, for she took a glass of beer, which she
+had poured out for him, and threw it into the
+sink. They all drank considerable beer, however,
+during the evening, and Mrs. Sanford, having
+taken also a large dose of morphine, became
+nearly insensible. On seeing her condition, Morton
+and another lodger thought they had better
+put her to bed; but as Bruce was in a drunken
+stupor in her room, Morton determined to try the
+effect of putting her into the room where young
+Trafton had died. No sooner had they laid her
+on the bed, however, before she sprang up, gazed
+around an instant, and then rushed shrieking
+from the room, saying that she dare not lie there,
+and that she had seen "him" lying beside her.
+She was then placed on the lounge in the sitting-room,
+where she became quite hysterical. Morton
+sat beside her, and soothed her until she
+became quiet, and about midnight she fell asleep.</p>
+
+<p>Morton said to me, on making one of his
+reports, that she would often determine to give
+up morphine and liquor, and live more respect<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">[Pg 356]</a></span>ably.
+Then she would become excited from the
+craving for the drug, and would take a dose,
+which would soothe her, make her amiable, and
+give her energy enough to do anything; gradually
+she would become wild again, and would be
+almost unbearable, while the maddening effect
+lasted, especially if she took any liquor to add to
+her temper; finally, the influence would pass off,
+leaving her weak, despondent, and stupidly affectionate.
+I saw that she was not likely to confess
+anything to any one, and I therefore decided to
+bring the affair to a crisis without delay.</p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>A moneyed young Texan becomes one of Mrs. Sanford's
+Lodgers.&mdash;The Bonds are seen, and their Numbers
+taken by the Detectives.&mdash;Mrs. Sanford Arrested.&mdash;Sudden
+and Shrewd Defense by the Prisoner.&mdash;She
+is found guilty of "Involuntary Manslaughter" and
+sentenced to the Illinois Penitentiary for five years.&mdash;Misdirected
+Philanthropy, and its Reward.&mdash;Mr.
+Pinkerton's Theory of the Manner in which Trafton
+was Murdered.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>Having discussed my plan with my superintendent,
+Mr. F. Warner, I sent for one of
+my youngest men, named Thomas Barlow, and
+gave him explicit instructions as to the course
+which he was to pursue in connection with Mrs.
+Sanford.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">[Pg 357]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>On the first day of February, therefore, a young
+fellow called at Mrs. Sanford's about five o'clock
+in the afternoon, and asked if she had any rooms
+to rent. She was very civil to him, and offered
+him the room at the head of the stairs, for three
+dollars a week. While she was showing him the
+rooms, she asked him a number of questions
+about himself; and as he was a smooth-faced,
+innocent-looking young man, he told her all
+about his affairs. He said that his name was
+Thomas Barlow, from Texas, where his father
+was a great cattle-raiser; he had brought several
+hundred head of cattle to the city, and had sold
+them at a high price; he intended staying in Chicago
+for a short time, and then he should go up
+the Red River of the North, in the early spring,
+to do some fur trading, as he believed there was
+a good deal of money to be made up there, by any
+one with sufficient capital; he intended to have a
+good time in Chicago first, however.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as Mrs. Sanford learned that he had
+money with him, she became very affectionate
+indeed, telling him that she would make him
+more comfortable than he could be anywhere else,
+and that she would treat him like a prince. She
+introduced Morton as her brother, and said that
+they would all go to the theatre together. At
+first, Barlow refused, but she insisted so urgently,
+that he finally consented to go. He went away
+for an hour to get his valise, and when he returned,
+Mrs. Sanford was dressed in her most
+stylish clothes, as if determined to make the best<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">[Pg 358]</a></span>
+possible impression upon him. He was very
+good-natured and boyish, apparently believing all
+she told him, and laughing at all her attempts to
+be funny. After leaving the theatre, she learned
+that one of her old acquaintances was to have a
+"grand opening" in a new saloon, and she was
+obstinately determined to find the place. After
+walking about for an hour, she called a hackman,
+and offered him five dollars to find this new
+saloon, where she was anxious to take a drink,
+as she said, "for good luck and old acquaintance'
+sake." After driving about until midnight, she
+learned that the opening was postponed, and
+they then went to a restaurant near her house to
+get supper. It was two o'clock before they went
+to bed, but before going, Mrs. Sanford learned
+that Barlow was to receive his pay for the cattle
+in a check for over four thousand dollars. She
+talked with him about the risk of carrying money
+around on the person, and told him that he ought
+to buy bonds, as then they would not be lost even
+if they should be stolen. He agreed with her,
+and said that he would try to buy some bonds
+when he got his check cashed.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning they took breakfast with
+Mrs. Sanford, as she seemed anxious to keep
+Barlow with her as much as possible. It was
+noticeable that she did not, as she had usually
+done in all previous instances, tell him anything
+about young Trafton, who had died in her house,
+"with eighteen thousand dollars in bonds in his
+boots." She told Barlow that she had some bonds,
+and he would do well to get the same kind.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">[Pg 359]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I don't know much about them," he replied,
+"but if <i>you</i> think they are good, I guess they are
+good enough for me. What are they like? I
+never saw any."</p>
+
+<p>"I will show you mine," said Mrs. Sanford.
+"I am going to sell one of them soon, as my
+lease is up at the end of the month, and I want
+to buy a house."</p>
+
+<p>She then went into her bedroom, closed the door,
+and remained several minutes. When she came
+out, she had a fat pocket-book in her hand, and
+she took from it the two pieces of folded paper
+which she had shown to Morton. On opening
+them, she spread them out, and both Barlow and
+Morton saw the numbers plainly, as they looked
+over her shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>"There, these little tickets are coupons," she
+explained to Barlow; "and every six months I
+can get fifteen dollars in gold by cutting off one
+from each bond."</p>
+
+<p>"Did you say you wanted to sell one?" asked
+Morton. "If you do, perhaps you might sell it
+to Mr. Barlow, as a sample of the kind he wants
+to get."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, that would be a good idea," said Barlow;
+"then they can't fool me with any other kind,
+when I go to buy."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I guess I will do it," said Mrs. Sanford;
+"at any rate, you can see me about it before you
+go to buy yours."</p>
+
+<p>She then put the bonds into the pocket-book
+again and went into her bedroom. On her re<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">[Pg 360]</a></span>turn,
+Barlow told her that he must go down town
+to get paid for his cattle, and he asked Morton to
+go with him. Accordingly, the two men went
+out about noon, but Mrs. Sanford called Morton
+back a moment to tell him to stay with Barlow
+all day.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you lose sight of him for a minute,"
+she said; "and bring him back here with all his
+money."</p>
+
+<p>They did not return until after four o'clock,
+and Barlow told her that he had been obliged to
+go to the stockyards to get paid. He then went
+to his room for a few minutes, and Mrs. Sanford
+asked Morton whether Barlow had his money
+with him.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, they gave him a check for the amount,
+but it was too late to get it cashed, and he will
+have to wait until to-morrow."</p>
+
+<p>"Couldn't we get it away from him and forge
+his name to it?" she asked. "We could get it
+cashed the first thing in the morning."</p>
+
+<p>"It would be too risky," he replied, "as they
+probably know him at the bank, and we should
+be arrested at once. But you can offer to go
+with him to the bank in the morning, and he is
+so soft that you will not have much trouble in
+getting a large sum out of him."</p>
+
+<p>During the evening, Mrs. Sanford was very
+affectionate toward Barlow, and she learned all
+about him. He told his story in such a way, that
+she believed him to be an innocent country boy
+from Texas, whose most dangerous experiences<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">[Pg 361]</a></span>
+had hitherto consisted of hairbreadth 'scapes from
+steer and bull. He showed her a check on the
+First National Bank for about four thousand dollars,
+and told her that when he got it cashed in
+the morning, he would give her a nice present.
+It was then agreed that she should go to the bank
+with him next day. The evening was spent in
+reading aloud and singing, and they all retired
+much earlier than usual.</p>
+
+<p>When Morton and Barlow left Mrs. Sanford at
+noon, they had, of course, come to my office to
+report their discovery of the stolen bonds. There
+was now no possibility of a mistake, as they had
+seen the two bonds of the series A, numbered
+57,109 and 87,656. I therefore instructed Mr.
+Warner to obtain a warrant for her arrest, and
+a search warrant for her house, both to be served
+the next morning before the hour appointed for
+going to the bank with Barlow. Everything was
+prepared in advance, a trustworthy constable was
+obtained to make the arrest, and a telegram was
+sent to Mr. R. S. Trafton in Cleveland, asking him
+to come to Chicago immediately. A reply was
+received the next morning, stating that he had
+left by the evening train.</p>
+
+<p>About eleven o'clock on Saturday, February 3,
+Mr. Warner and the constable arrived at Mrs.
+Sanford's rooms. On knocking at the door of the
+sitting-room, they were admitted by Morton, who
+asked what they wanted.</p>
+
+<p>"I would like to engage rooms, if there are
+any to rent," said Mr. Warner.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">[Pg 362]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I will speak to the landlady," said Morton,
+going to the door of her room.</p>
+
+<p>"Tell the gentleman to call again," said Mrs.
+Sanford; "I am not dressed, and can't see him."</p>
+
+<p>"I only wish to see her a few minutes," Mr.
+Warner replied, addressing Morton in a tone loud
+enough to be heard by Mrs. Sanford, whose door
+was slightly ajar.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I can't see the gentleman until this
+afternoon," she replied.</p>
+
+<p>"I have some important business, and I must
+attend to it now," answered Mr. Warner, putting
+his foot in the opening and pushing the door in
+with his shoulder; then he continued, addressing
+the constable, "This is Mrs. Sanford, and you
+can arrest her now."</p>
+
+<p>The constable immediately took charge of her,
+and she was allowed to complete her toilet,
+though Mr. Warner first searched her dress, before
+letting her put it on. He then made a careful
+search of the bedroom, during the progress of
+which Mrs. Sanford was very noisy and troublesome,
+crying, and pretending to go into hysterics
+several times. Once, when Mr. Warner was looking
+very carefully through her trunk, she said to
+him, in very tragic tones:</p>
+
+<p>"By the way you act, one would think you
+were looking for a murdered man."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, perhaps if we had come a little sooner,
+we might have found one," he replied, quickly,
+giving her a sharp glance.</p>
+
+<p>As nothing had been said to her or to any one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">[Pg 363]</a></span>
+else about any charge except that of larceny, this
+remark was highly significant; and, on her trial,
+it undoubtedly had great weight with the jury.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Warner soon found the pocket-book containing
+the bonds under the mattress of her bed,
+and after examining them sufficiently to identify
+them, he gave them to the constable. Mrs. Sanford
+was then taken to my office, and, as Mr.
+Trafton had arrived from Cleveland, we tried to
+have an interview with her relative to young
+Trafton's death. She was too crafty, however,
+and she pretended to go into hysterics whenever
+we began to question her.</p>
+
+<p>Meantime, Morton and Barlow had accompanied
+her, and Morton offered to get her a lawyer
+to advise her. She was very grateful to him, and
+said he was her only friend. He soon brought in
+a lawyer well versed in defending criminals, and
+the whole party then went to the justice's courtroom.
+At the close of the examination, she was
+held to await the action of the Grand Jury, and,
+in default of two thousand dollars bail, she was
+sent to the county jail. She told Morton that her
+lawyer could not half lie, and that she should not
+pay him a cent. She stood up, when the justice's
+decision was announced, and made quite a
+speech; and the native cunning of the woman
+was never more clearly shown than in this plea,
+which was undoubtedly invented on the spur of
+the moment. She claimed that young Trafton
+had given her the bonds to support her child,
+whose father he was, and she spoke with so much<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">[Pg 364]</a></span>
+vigor and cunning that many persons believed her
+statement to be true. Thus, without consultation
+or legal advice, she invented in a moment
+the strongest possible defense against the charge
+of larceny,&mdash;the charge of murder had not then
+been brought.</p>
+
+<p>When she was removed to the jail, she gave
+Morton the keys to her rooms, telling him to take
+charge of everything there, and to find a purchaser
+for her furniture. He therefore informed
+two young men who were lodging there that Mrs.
+Sanford had been arrested, and that they must
+find other rooms, as he intended to sell out the
+furniture. After they had gone he cleaned up
+the house, packed Mrs. Sanford's trunks, and
+made everything look as well as possible. While
+she was awaiting trial, he visited her every day
+and gave her various delicacies to improve the
+prison fare. One day he pretended to have
+pawned his overcoat for five dollars, in order to
+get her some lemons, tea, and sugar. She was
+very much touched, and she gave him five dollars
+to get back his coat; but this action was
+due to a momentary impulse. She had plenty of
+money, and was able to get anything she wanted;
+but her desire to hold fast to her money was
+greater than her wish for good food. Indeed,
+she came near jeopardizing her cause by refusing
+to pay the lawyer she had engaged, but finally
+she gave him a retaining fee of fifty dollars.</p>
+
+<p>She was very anxious to learn who were the
+detectives employed in working up the case, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">[Pg 365]</a></span>
+she said that she believed Barlow had had something
+to do with her arrest. Morton agreed with
+her, and, as the papers had said that there were
+three engaged in the case, he suggested that perhaps
+the two men whom she had turned out of
+doors were also detectives. She never suspected
+either Ingham or Morton for a moment; and
+when Ingham called upon her in jail, she was
+delighted to see him. She tried to get bail from
+the two brothers, named Pratt, who had occupied
+one of her rooms, as one of them had been
+very intimate with her; but they were afraid of
+getting mixed up in her difficulties, and so refused
+to help her obtain bail. She also asked
+Ingham to swear to a number of falsehoods
+about her intimacy with Trafton, and when he
+refused to do so, for fear of being tried for perjury,
+she said that she could get "her Billy" to
+swear to anything. This "Billy" proved to be
+one William Simpson, a barkeeper, and her former
+paramour. He was tracked for some time by
+my detectives, but he suddenly disappeared, and
+was not seen again until her trial for larceny,
+when, just as she said, he was willing to swear
+to anything. He then disappeared again, but I
+did not take much interest in following him up,
+as I knew that he would not dare to repeat his
+perjury when the murder trial should take place.
+His testimony was to the effect that he had overheard
+a conversation between Mrs. Sanford and
+young Trafton, in which the latter acknowledged
+that he was the father of Mrs. Sanford's child,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366">[Pg 366]</a></span>
+having been intimate with her in Buffalo about
+eighteen months before. The question of a support
+for the child was discussed between them,
+and Trafton said that he would give her fifteen
+hundred or two thousand dollars in bonds, to
+enable her to bring up his child in comfort. The
+witness also testified that Trafton and Mrs. Sanford
+were very intimate with each other, often
+occupying the same room together; that Mrs.
+Sanford often spoke of her former intimacy with
+him; and that he inferred from their conversation
+that Trafton had been the cause of her separation
+from her husband. This testimony was
+very skillfully manufactured and artistically developed,
+so as to make Trafton appear in the
+light of a libertine and profligate, and Mrs. Sanford
+as a confiding wife, led astray by the wiles
+of a treacherous man. In spite of the bad character
+and appearance of this fellow Simpson, his
+testimony had enough weight with some of the
+jury to cause a disagreement, and Mrs. Sanford
+was remanded to jail.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Robert S. Trafton was anxious to bring
+her to punishment, as he felt confident that she
+had caused the death of his son. The circumstances
+of the case caused considerable delay, and
+it was not until January 27, 1873, nearly a year
+after her arrest, that the trial on the charge of
+murder took place.</p>
+
+<p>The testimony in this trial was highly interesting
+on many accounts. The County Physician,
+who had made the first post-mortem examination<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367">[Pg 367]</a></span>
+of the remains, and who had given congestion of
+the lungs as the cause of death, stated that he
+found the deceased lying dead in Mrs. Sanford's
+rooms, and that he took charge of the property
+found in his possession. He stated that he
+should have made a closer examination if he had
+not found the bonds and money; but he did not
+suspect foul play, and therefore made only a
+hasty investigation.</p>
+
+<p>By the testimony of two or three witnesses it
+was shown that on the night of Trafton's death
+Mrs. Sanford went into two saloons about midnight,
+asking for "her Billy," meaning the man
+Simpson, by whose testimony she escaped conviction
+on the larceny charge, he being then living
+on her bounty. While looking for him she
+was very wild and excited, her clothes being disordered,
+and her watch-chain broken. To one
+witness she said that she wished Billy to come to
+her house to look at the "prettiest corpse she
+ever saw." One witness testified that she returned
+to his saloon about five or six o'clock in
+the morning, and induced him to go up to her
+rooms to look at the body; he did so, and found
+the body of a man lying in bed, partly covered
+up. She had a large roll of money and papers in
+her pocket-book.</p>
+
+<p>A surgeon of the highest reputation in Cleveland
+was called, and gave his testimony in the
+most direct and convincing manner, like a man
+who knew perfectly well what he was talking
+about, and who was not guessing at any of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368">[Pg 368]</a></span>
+facts as stated by him. He declared that death
+resulted from the blow on the right side, aided
+by the violence on the throat and neck. There
+was very slight congestion of the brain and of
+the lungs, but he was positive that death was not
+the result of either of these; indeed, leaving out
+of consideration the marks of external violence,
+he said that he should not have been able to account
+for Mr. Trafton's death. At the conclusion
+of his re-direct examination he said that death
+could be caused by a heavy blow of the fist, followed
+by choking, and he would swear positively
+that Trafton's death was produced by violence.
+The testimony of this witness was corroborated
+by that of several other surgeons of high reputation,
+and then a sensation was created by the calling
+of John Ingham for the prosecution.</p>
+
+<p>As Mrs. Sanford saw her well-beloved friend,
+Jack, take the stand and acknowledge himself to
+be one of Pinkerton's dreaded detectives, she
+broke down and cried bitterly. Ingham related
+the history of his connection with the affair,
+stating the different stories which Mrs. Sanford
+had told about Trafton's death, and also her fear
+of going in the room where he died. He then
+gave the inside history of his arrest for the
+alleged robbery of Adamson, showing that it had
+been planned in advance by me to induce Mrs.
+Sanford to give him her confidence. After her
+arrest for larceny, he had visited her in jail, and
+she had tried to get him to swear that he had
+heard Trafton promise to give her the bonds to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369">[Pg 369]</a></span>
+support her child. When he objected, on the
+ground that he might be arrested for perjury, she
+had told him that "her Billy," meaning William
+Simpson, would swear to it anyhow.</p>
+
+<p>The testimony of Mr. Warner relative to finding
+the bonds in Mrs. Sanford's possession was
+corroborated by that of the constable; they also
+repeated Mrs. Sanford's remark made during the
+search, before any charge of murder had even
+been suggested: "By the way you act, I should
+think you were looking for a murdered man."</p>
+
+<p>When the testimony for the prosecution was
+all in, the defense had a turn, and they produced
+as many medical experts to prove that Trafton
+did not die of violence, as the other side had to
+prove that he did not die a natural death; indeed,
+from the medical testimony given, there might
+have been grave doubts raised as to whether he
+had any business to die at all, for, according to
+both sides, no adequate cause of death had been
+discovered. Several witnesses testified that they
+believed him to have been on a long spree just
+before his death, but these were soon rebutted by
+equally trustworthy witnesses for the prosecution.</p>
+
+<p>In summing up, the counsel for the people
+presented a highly plausible theory of the manner
+in which the murder was committed, and
+asked a verdict on the following grounds:</p>
+
+<p>Young Trafton, as shown by the testimony of
+his father and others, visited Chicago to buy
+grain, and he was, therefore, under the necessity
+of carrying with him a large amount of money.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370">[Pg 370]</a></span>
+Being unable to get a room at any hotel convenient
+to business, he probably entered the first
+place where he saw the sign, "Rooms to Rent,"
+and engaged a sleeping-room, taking his meals at
+a hotel near by. While lodging with Mrs. Sanford,
+he was trying to buy grain at a paying
+figure, and he was daily in consultation with
+Captain Dalton, who commanded one of his
+father's schooners. Finding that he could not
+buy to any advantage in the existing condition
+of the grain market, he sent the schooner back
+to Cleveland on the last day of November, in
+order that she should not be caught in the ice in
+the straits at the close of navigation. He was
+then ready to return himself, and, doubtless, on
+going to his lodgings, he so informed Mrs. Sanford.
+As he had made no secret of his reason
+for visiting Chicago, she was, probably, well
+aware of his object, and also of the fact that he
+had a large amount of money with him. Seeing
+his careless ways, the idea occurred to her to rob
+him, and, having his expected departure in view,
+she knew that she would have only one more
+opportunity to carry out her scheme.</p>
+
+<p>On his return that evening, therefore, having
+just parted from Captain Dalton in perfect health
+and sobriety, he was invited to eat supper with
+her. Suspecting no harm, he sat down and ate
+a hearty supper. In some way, either in his food
+or drink, a dose of morphine was given to him,
+and he soon fell fast asleep. The woman's opportunity
+was before her, and all the natural thirst<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371">[Pg 371]</a></span>
+for money which characterized her came upon
+her with full force, urging her on and inciting
+her to any lengths necessary to accomplish her
+object. Having laid him on his bed, she began
+to search his pockets with the stealthy touch of a
+practiced hand. Finding nothing at first to reward
+her search, she pulled off one of his boots
+and discovered the United States bonds, which
+he had concealed there. But the violence necessary
+to remove the boot caused him to partly
+waken from his drugged sleep, and he became
+vaguely aware that some one was trying to rob
+him. Still in a drowsy, confused state, however,
+he was unable to do more than to sit up and
+clutch wildly at his assailant; having caught one
+of the bonds, he clung to it until it was torn in
+two pieces, the fragments plainly showing how
+they had been wrenched asunder in the clasp of
+two determined hands&mdash;those of the murderess
+and her victim. But she soon found that he was
+gaining his senses too rapidly, and that she
+would be foiled in her attempted robbery; hence,
+with every blinding passion aroused, her greed
+and her fear equally inciting her to action, she
+struck him a heavy blow on the thigh and another
+more powerful one on the side. Partly
+stunned by the concussion, he fell back, and she
+then seized him by the throat. Her round, plump
+hands, though powerful enough to strangle him,
+left only slight marks of abrasion on the skin,
+and in a few minutes all was over. His property
+was at her mercy, and she gave no thought to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372">[Pg 372]</a></span>
+the body of her victim until she had seized every
+piece of valuable paper in his possession.</p>
+
+<p>But her position was a dangerous one, and, on
+cooling off somewhat, she saw that something
+must be done to remove any appearance of foul
+play. How could it be done most effectually?
+Manifestly by giving no apparent ground for suspecting
+that she had any object in his death;
+and no course would be more effectual than to
+leave such an amount of property in his possession
+as to make strangers believe that none of it
+had been taken. It may well be imagined that
+this was her hardest task; for to give up money
+was probably a greater hardship for her than
+for some people to give up life. Still, it would
+never do to run the risk of being accused of murder;
+so, reluctantly, she placed one bond in his
+pocket, and, by accident, included with it one-half
+of the torn bond, the other half being placed
+under his head, in the boot from which it was
+taken. She then undressed the body, placed it
+naturally in bed, and went out to look for "her
+Billy," her paramour and panderer in vice.</p>
+
+<p>This was the history of the crime, as pictured
+by the prosecution; and all her actions since
+that fatal night had been in harmony with such
+a theory. Her allegations of intimacy with
+young Trafton were unsupported, save by the
+testimony of this William Simpson, her paramour.
+It was noticeable that, while this man
+had testified in the trial for larceny that he had
+overheard Mr. Trafton's acknowledgment of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373">[Pg 373]</a></span>
+being the father of Mrs. Sanford's child, in the
+murder trial he was not asked to give any such
+testimony, nor was the existence of such a child
+even hinted at by the defense. The counsel for
+Mrs. Sanford were well aware that she had never
+had a child, and that this fact could be proven if
+necessary. On discovering, too, that Jack Ingham
+was a Pinkerton detective, instead of Mrs.
+Sanford's best friend, they saw other reasons
+why it would not be advisable to cause Mr. William
+Simpson to perjure himself again.</p>
+
+<p>The defense contented themselves with claiming
+that there was no sufficient evidence to prove
+that Mr. Trafton had died a violent death at all,
+and that there was no evidence whatever to show
+that, even if foul play had occurred, Mrs. Sanford
+had been the guilty person. This plea was
+ably presented by the counsel, and the judge
+then briefly charged the jury as to the law, and
+the form of their verdict. During the early part
+of the trial, Mrs. Sanford behaved very badly,
+often contradicting witnesses aloud, and making
+many audible remarks to the jury and the Court;
+after the testimony for the defense began,
+however, she paid very little attention to the
+proceedings, often dozing and sleeping in her
+chair. This habit was, undoubtedly, due to the
+use of morphine, of which she consumed large
+quantities.</p>
+
+<p>The jury retired at three o'clock, and, on the
+first ballot, they stood nine for conviction and
+three for acquittal. After discussing the testi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374">[Pg 374]</a></span>mony
+for more than four hours, a compromise
+was reached, and the judge having been informed
+that the jury had agreed upon a verdict,
+the prisoner was brought in to hear the finding.</p>
+
+<p>All being in readiness, the clerk read the
+verdict as follows:</p>
+
+<p>"We, the jury, find the defendant guilty of involuntary
+manslaughter, and fix her time of
+imprisonment at five years in the penitentiary."</p>
+
+<p>At the word "guilty," Mrs. Sanford gave a
+violent start; but, as the remainder of the finding
+was read, she seemed to feel agreeably surprised.
+She asked for a glass of water in a low tone,
+turned very white, and then fainted away before
+the water could be handed to her.</p>
+
+<p>She was then removed to the jail to await the
+argument on a motion for a new trial. While
+there, she gave one of the most effectual evidences
+of her ruling passion&mdash;greed. She was
+the object of considerable sympathy among a certain
+class of sentimentalists, and the amount of
+compassion wasted upon her was remarkable to
+those who knew her real character and habits;
+but there is no accounting for tastes, and so Mrs.
+Sanford was treated with great consideration by
+a number of well-meaning but unsophisticated
+people. Among the Good Samaritans who took
+the most interest in her was a lady named Mrs.
+Jones, and this lady visited her quite frequently
+in her cell, bringing her books and papers.</p>
+
+<p>One morning, Mrs. Jones complained of feeling
+unwell, and Mrs. Sanford immediately gave<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375">[Pg 375]</a></span>
+her a glass of water. Soon after drinking it,
+Mrs. Jones became very sleepy, and in a few
+minutes, she was in a sound slumber. This effect
+had been produced, of course, by a dose of
+morphine in the water, and Mrs. Sanford then
+proceeded to rob Mrs. Jones of all her valuables.
+Mrs. Jones was in moderate circumstances, and
+her purse was not sufficiently well filled to satisfy
+Mrs. Sanford's avaricious demon; hence, she
+made a thorough search for other plunder. It
+happened that Mrs. Jones, having lost all of her
+upper teeth, had supplied their place by an artificial
+set, mounted on a plate of solid gold. Not
+content, therefore, with plundering her benefactress
+in other respects, Mrs. Sanford actually
+took the set of teeth from Mrs. Jones's mouth,
+and hid them in her own trunk.</p>
+
+<p>Of course, on awakening, Mrs. Jones missed
+her teeth and charged Mrs. Sanford with having
+taken them. The latter denied having done so,
+railed and swore at Mrs. Jones, and tried to prevent
+the officers from searching the cell. The
+teeth and other articles stolen from Mrs. Jones
+were found at the bottom of Mrs. Sanford's
+trunk, and Mrs. Jones retired from the jail
+strongly impressed with the conviction that philanthropy
+had its hardships as well as rewards.</p>
+
+<p>The motion for a new trial being overruled,
+sentence was pronounced in accordance with the
+verdict of the jury, and Mrs. Sanford was consigned
+to the Illinois State Penitentiary at Joliet.</p>
+
+<p>In regard to the manner in which young Traf<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376">[Pg 376]</a></span>ton
+was murdered, I have always had a theory of
+my own; and, while of course I do not pretend to
+any surgical learning, I give it for what it is
+worth, prefacing it, however, with the remark
+that several eminent physicians concur in my
+opinion, or, at least, admit its strong probability.</p>
+
+<p>It will be remembered that Mrs. Sanford used
+morphine continually, and that she boasted of
+her ability to administer it in just the proper proportion
+to cause her victims to fall into a heavy
+sleep. In all probability, as suggested by the
+State's Attorney, she gave young Trafton a dose
+at supper; but it is also possible the effect was
+not sufficient, and that when she tried to rob him,
+he slightly revived, struggled, and, seizing one of
+the bonds in a convulsive grasp, tore it in two.</p>
+
+<p>So far, the theories are identical, but I failed to
+see a sufficient cause of death in the slight blow
+and mild choking, especially as the lungs did not
+present the conditions which would have appeared
+had death resulted from strangulation or
+asphyxia. On searching Mrs. Sanford's rooms,
+Mr. Warner found two or three small syringes,
+intended for making hypodermic injections, and
+these led me to believe she caused Trafton's death
+by morphine alone. My idea was as follows:</p>
+
+<p>When she found that Trafton was not sufficiently
+drugged to enable her to rob him in safety,
+she probably let him alone, and the drug again
+took effect to the extent of putting him to sleep.
+She then resorted to a subcutaneous injection of
+morphine, knowing that the soporific influence of
+the drug would thus be made more rapid and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377">[Pg 377]</a></span>
+powerful. This operation was performed on the
+side, and then near the large veins of the leg, and
+thus were caused the apparent bruises filled with
+extravasated blood. Now, the effect of morphine
+varies largely, according to the constitution, temperament,
+and habits of the persons to whom it
+is given; but the combined result of internal and
+external doses almost invariably is death.</p>
+
+<p>It seems altogether probable to me, therefore,
+that Trafton came to his death in that manner,
+and that the traces of morphine in the wounds,
+as in the stomach, had wholly evaporated before
+the Cleveland surgeons made their examination,
+twelve days after death.</p>
+
+<p>Whatever may have been the means, however,
+there can be no doubt that murder most foul was
+committed, and that Mrs. Sanford richly deserved
+a greater punishment than was awarded to her.
+Whether she had any accomplice will never be
+known, but it is probable that she had some one
+in the house who was aware of the murder after
+it had been committed, if not before. This
+would account for the absence of the fifth bond,
+which was never recovered, but which was afterward
+traced back from the Treasury Department,
+when it was presented there, to some unknown
+woman, who had sold it in Milwaukee.
+This woman was evidently not Mrs. Sanford, but
+her identity could not be discovered, and, therefore,
+all trace was lost.</p>
+
+<h3>THE END.</h3>
+
+<div class="transnote">
+<h4>Transcriber&#8217;s notes</h4>
+
+
+<p>Missing hyphenation at line breaks has been assumed, e.g. "necessary"
+not "neces sary" on page 81. Hyphenation has been standardized, e.g.,
+"bookkeeper", "cornfield", and "housewarming". Nonstandard spellings
+have been maintained, e.g. "intrusted", "dryest", "smouldering",
+"patroled", "tragical", "unnegotiable", "quartette", "gayety",
+"indorsed", "re&euml;ntered". Missing periods have been added at ends of
+sentences. Other printers errors have been corrected as follows:</p>
+
+<p>Page v - "unvail" replaced with "unveil" for internal consistency</p>
+
+<p>Page 80 - "cousins" replaced with "Cousins"</p>
+
+<p>Page 92 - "Harrington" replaced with "Farrington"</p>
+
+<p>Page 104 - "insant" replaced with "instant"</p>
+
+<p>Page 156 - "pleasantly" replaced with "pleasantry"</p>
+
+<p>Page 160 - "to k" replaced with "took"</p>
+
+<p>Page 202 - "out door" replaced with "outdoor"</p>
+
+<p>Figure caption after page 166 - "Judges'" replaced with "Judge's"</p>
+
+<p>Figure caption after page 203 - "Fete Champetre" replaced with "F&ecirc;te
+Champ&ecirc;tre" for consistency</p>
+
+<p>Page 212 - "Don Pedo" replaced with "Don Pedro"</p>
+
+<p>Page 321 - "bfore" replaced with "before"</p>
+
+<p>Page 361 - "hairbreath" replaced with "hairbreadth"</p></div>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Mississippi Outlaws and the Detectives, by 
+Allan Pinkerton
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUTLAWS ***
+
+***** This file should be named 35686-h.htm or 35686-h.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/6/8/35686/
+
+Produced by Hunter Monroe, Suzanne Shell 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.  Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark.  Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research.  They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+http://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B.  "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark.  It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.  See
+paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.  See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States.  If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed.  Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work.  You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work.  Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change.  If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E.  Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+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
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges.  If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form.  Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+     the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+     you already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  The fee is
+     owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+     has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+     Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.  Royalty payments
+     must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+     prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+     returns.  Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+     sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+     address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+     the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+     you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+     does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+     License.  You must require such a user to return or
+     destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+     and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+     Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+     money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+     electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+     of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+     distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark.  Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection.  Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3.  YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from.  If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation.  The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund.  If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5.  Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.  Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.  It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service.  The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541.  Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+http://pglaf.org/fundraising.  Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations.  Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org.  Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at http://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+     Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+     Chief Executive and Director
+     gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment.  Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States.  Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements.  We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance.  To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit http://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses.  Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations.
+To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5.  General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone.  For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+     http://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
+
+
+</pre>
+
+</body>
+</html>
diff --git a/35686-h/images/cover.jpg b/35686-h/images/cover.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a898229
--- /dev/null
+++ b/35686-h/images/cover.jpg
diff --git a/35686-h/images/gs01.jpg b/35686-h/images/gs01.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b4c01fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/35686-h/images/gs01.jpg
diff --git a/35686-h/images/gs02.jpg b/35686-h/images/gs02.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b2b241f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/35686-h/images/gs02.jpg
diff --git a/35686-h/images/gs03.jpg b/35686-h/images/gs03.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..da7fe47
--- /dev/null
+++ b/35686-h/images/gs03.jpg
diff --git a/35686-h/images/gs04.jpg b/35686-h/images/gs04.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..979554c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/35686-h/images/gs04.jpg
diff --git a/35686-h/images/gs05.jpg b/35686-h/images/gs05.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..12163a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/35686-h/images/gs05.jpg
diff --git a/35686-h/images/gs06.jpg b/35686-h/images/gs06.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..08d3e72
--- /dev/null
+++ b/35686-h/images/gs06.jpg
diff --git a/35686-h/images/gs07.jpg b/35686-h/images/gs07.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..39d75e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/35686-h/images/gs07.jpg
diff --git a/35686-h/images/gs08.jpg b/35686-h/images/gs08.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fc3cbf4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/35686-h/images/gs08.jpg
diff --git a/35686-h/images/gs09.jpg b/35686-h/images/gs09.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..23ee861
--- /dev/null
+++ b/35686-h/images/gs09.jpg
diff --git a/35686-h/images/gs10.jpg b/35686-h/images/gs10.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..56ca22e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/35686-h/images/gs10.jpg
diff --git a/35686-h/images/gs11.jpg b/35686-h/images/gs11.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c8d0e5e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/35686-h/images/gs11.jpg
diff --git a/35686-h/images/tp.jpg b/35686-h/images/tp.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..85d3a8d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/35686-h/images/tp.jpg
diff --git a/35686.txt b/35686.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bd74179
--- /dev/null
+++ b/35686.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,10053 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Mississippi Outlaws and the Detectives, 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: Mississippi Outlaws and the Detectives
+       Don Pedro and the Detectives; Poisoner and the Detectives
+
+Author: Allan Pinkerton
+
+Release Date: March 26, 2011 [EBook #35686]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUTLAWS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Hunter Monroe, Suzanne Shell 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.)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                     MISSISSIPPI OUTLAWS
+                           AND THE
+                         DETECTIVES.
+
+
+
+
+                      ALLAN PINKERTON'S
+
+                    GREAT DETECTIVE BOOKS.
+
+ 1.--MOLLIE MAGUIRES AND DETECTIVES.
+ 2.--STRIKERS, COMMUNISTS, AND DETECTIVES.
+ 3.--CRIMINAL REMINISCENCES AND DETECTIVES.
+ 4.--THE MODEL TOWN AND DETECTIVES.
+ 5.--SPIRITUALISTS AND DETECTIVES.
+ 6.--EXPRESSMEN AND DETECTIVES.
+ 7.--THE SOMNAMBULIST AND DETECTIVES.
+ 8.--CLAUDE MELNOTTE AS A DETECTIVE.
+ 9.--MISSISSIPPI OUTLAWS AND DETECTIVES.
+ 10.--GYPSIES AND DETECTIVES.
+ 11.--BUCHOLZ AND DETECTIVES.
+ 12.--THE RAILROAD FORGER AND DETECTIVES.
+ 13.--BANK ROBBERS AND DETECTIVES.
+ 14.--BURGLAR'S FATE AND DETECTIVES.
+ 15.--A DOUBLE LIFE AND DETECTIVES.
+
+   These wonderful Detective Stories by Allan Pinkerton are
+       having an unprecedented success. Their sale far
+         exceeding one hundred thousand copies. "The
+       interest which the reader feels from the outset
+         so intense and resistless; he is swept along
+            by the narrative, held by it, whether
+                       he will or no."
+
+ All beautifully illustrated, and published uniform with this
+    volume. Price $1.50 each. Sold by all booksellers, and
+         sent _free_ by mail, on receipt of price, by
+
+              G. W. CARLETON & CO., Publishers,
+                          New York.
+
+
+
+
+                     MISSISSIPPI OUTLAWS
+                           AND THE
+                         DETECTIVES.
+
+                DON PEDRO AND THE DETECTIVES.
+
+                 POISONER AND THE DETECTIVES.
+
+                              BY
+                       ALLAN PINKERTON,
+
+                          AUTHOR OF
+
+     "THE EXPRESSMAN AND THE DETECTIVE," "THE MODEL TOWN
+       AND THE DETECTIVES," "THE SPIRITUALISTS AND THE
+          DETECTIVES," "THE MOLLIE MAGUIRES AND THE
+             DETECTIVES," "STRIKERS, COMMUNISTS,
+                   TRAMPS AND DETECTIVES,"
+                       ETC., ETC., ETC.
+
+                        [Illustration]
+
+                          NEW YORK:
+                _G. W. Dillingham, Publisher_,
+              SUCCESSOR TO G. W. CARLETON & CO.
+                  LONDON: S. LOW, SON & CO.
+                        MDCCCLXXXVII.
+
+
+
+
+                          COPYRIGHT
+                              BY
+                       ALLAN PINKERTON,
+                            1879.
+
+                       SAMUEL STODDER,
+                         STEREOTYPER,
+                     90 ANN STREET, N. Y.
+
+                             TROW
+                PRINTING AND BOOK BINDING CO.
+                            N. Y.
+
+
+
+
+                          CONTENTS.
+
+
+           MISSISSIPPI OUTLAWS AND THE DETECTIVES.
+
+                          CHAPTER I.                                PAGE
+
+    A daring Express Robbery.--Mr. Pinkerton appealed
+          to.--Cane-brakes and cane-fed People.--Annoying delays
+          and Amateur Detectives.                                      9
+
+                         CHAPTER II.
+
+    Difficulties.--Blind Trails and False Scents.--A Series of
+          Illustrations showing the Number of Officious People
+          and Confidence Men that often seek Notoriety and
+          Profit through important Detective Operations.              21
+
+                         CHAPTER III.
+
+    "Old Hicks," a drunken Planter, is entertained by a
+          Hunting-Party.--Lester's Landing.--Its Grocery-Store
+          and Mysterious Merchants.--A dangerous Situation.--The
+          unfortunate Escape of Two of the Robbers.                   32
+
+                         CHAPTER IV.
+
+    The Captured Ruffians are desired for Guides, but dare not
+          join in the Search for the Outlaws.--One of the
+          Robbers is Taken, but subsequently Escapes from the
+          Amateur Detectives.--Another Clue suddenly fails.           44
+
+                          CHAPTER V.
+
+    A Rich Lead Struck at Last.                                       50
+
+                         CHAPTER VI.
+
+    The Mother of the Farringtons, being arrested, boasts that
+          her Sons "Will never be taken Alive."--Another
+          Unfortunate Blunder by Amateur Detectives.--An
+          interesting Fate intended for the Detectives.--William
+          A. Pinkerton captures the Murderer of a Negro in Union
+          City, proving "a very good Fellow--for a Yankee."           56
+
+                         CHAPTER VII.
+
+    The Scene of Action transferred to Missouri.--The Chase
+          becoming Hot.                                               68
+
+                        CHAPTER VIII.
+
+    A determined Party of Horsemen.--The Outlaws surrounded and
+          the Birds caged.--A Parley.--The burning Cabin.--Its
+          Occupants finally surrender.                                80
+
+                         CHAPTER IX.
+
+    Barton's Confession.--The Express Robberies, and the
+          Outlaw's subsequent Experiences fully set forth
+          therein.--A Clue that had been suddenly dropped taken
+          up with so much Profit.                                     91
+
+                          CHAPTER X.
+
+    A terrible Struggle for Life or Death upon the Transfer-boat
+          "Illinois."--"Overboard!"--One less Desperado.--Fourth
+          and Last Robber taken.                                     104
+
+                         CHAPTER XI.
+
+    The last Scene in the Drama approaching.--A new Character
+          appears.--The Citizens of Union City suddenly seem to
+          have important business on hand.--The Vigilantes and
+          their Work.--The End.                                      114
+
+
+                DON PEDRO AND THE DETECTIVES.
+
+                          CHAPTER I.
+
+    A fraudulent Scheme contemplated.--A dashing Peruvian Don
+          and Donna.--A regal Forger.--Mr. Pinkerton engaged by
+          Senator Muirhead to unveil the mystery of his Life.        125
+
+                         CHAPTER II.
+
+    Madame Sevier, Widow, of Chicago, and Monsieur Lesparre, of
+          Bordeaux, also arrive at Gloster.--Mr. Pinkerton, as a
+          Laborer, anxious for a Job, inspects the Morita
+          Mansion.                                                   143
+
+                         CHAPTER III.
+
+    Monsieur Lesparre, having a retentive memory, becomes
+          serviceable to Don Pedro.--Diamond fields and droll
+          Americans.--A pompous Judge in an unfortunate
+          Predicament.--The grand Reception closes with a happy
+          Arrangement that the gay Senor and Senora shall dine
+          with Mr. Pinkerton's Detectives on the next evening.       159
+
+                         CHAPTER IV.
+
+    Madame Sevier and Her Work.--Unaccountable Coquettishness
+          between Man and Wife.--A Startling Scheme,
+          Illustrating the Rashness of American Business Men and
+          the Supreme Assurance of Don Pedro.                        170
+
+                          CHAPTER V.
+
+    The third Detective is made welcome at Don Pedro's.--The
+          Senor is paid the first half-million dollars from the
+          great Diamond Company.--How Don Pedro is "working" his
+          diamond mines.                                             189
+
+                         CHAPTER VI.
+
+    An unexpected Meeting and a startling Recognition. An old
+          friend somewhat disturbs the Equanimity of Don Pedro.
+          The Detectives fix their Attention upon Pietro
+          Bernardi.                                                  205
+
+                         CHAPTER VII.
+
+    Pietro Bernardi and the Detective become warm Friends.--A
+          Tete-a-tete worth one thousand dollars.                    219
+
+                        CHAPTER VIII.
+
+    Don Pedro anxious for Pietro Bernardi's absence.--"Coppering
+          the Jack and playing the Ace and Queen
+          open."--Bernardi Quieted, and he subsequently departs
+          richer by five thousand dollars.                           232
+
+                         CHAPTER IX.
+
+    Important Information from the Peruvian Government.--Arrival
+          In Gloster of the Peruvian Minister and Consul.--In
+          Consultation.--"Robbing Peter to pay Paul."--Mr.
+          Pinkerton's Card is presented.--Juan Sanchez, I arrest
+          you, and you are my Prisoner.--Mr. Pinkerton not "For
+          Sale."                                                     249
+
+                          CHAPTER X.
+
+    The Fete Champetre.--A grand Carnival.--The disappointed
+          married Lover.--A vain Request.--Unmasked!--An
+          indignant Deacon.--Don Pedro taken to Peru in a
+          man-of-war, where he is convicted and sentenced to
+          fifteen years Imprisonment.                                265
+
+
+               THE POISONER AND THE DETECTIVES.
+
+                          CHAPTER I.
+
+    Mr. Pinkerton at a Water-cure becomes interested in a
+          Couple, one of whom subsequently causes the Detective
+          Operation from which this Story is written.--A wealthy
+          ship-owner and his son.--The son "Found dead."--Mr.
+          Pinkerton secured to solve the Mystery.--Chicago after
+          the Fire.                                                  283
+
+                         CHAPTER II.
+
+    The Detectives at work.--Mrs. Sanford described.--Charlie,
+          the Policeman.--Mrs. Sanford develops Interest in
+          Government Bonds.--Chicago Relief and Aid
+          Benefits.--Mrs. Sanford's Story of Trafton's Death.        298
+
+                         CHAPTER III.
+
+    The dangerous Side of the Woman's Character.--Robert A.
+          Pinkerton as Adamson, the drunken, but wealthy
+          Stranger, has a violent Struggle to escape from Mrs.
+          Sanford, and is afterwards robbed.--Detective Ingham
+          arrested, but very shortly liberated.                      319
+
+                         CHAPTER IV.
+
+    Connecting Links.--Mrs. Sanford's Ability as an Imitator of
+          Actors.--One Detective tears himself away from her,
+          and another takes his Place.--Mrs. Sanford's mind
+          frequently burdened with the subject of Murder.            340
+
+                          CHAPTER V.
+
+    A moneyed young Texan becomes one of Mrs. Sanford's
+          Lodgers.--The bonds are seen and their Numbers taken
+          by the Detectives.--Mrs. Sanford arrested.--She is
+          found guilty of "Involuntary Manslaughter," and
+          sentenced to the Illinois Penitentiary for five
+          years.--Mr. Pinkerton's Theory of the Manner in which
+          Trafton was murdered                                       356
+
+
+
+
+                           PREFACE.
+
+
+In presenting to the public another volume of my detective stories, I
+would call the attention of the reader to the fact, that these stories
+are literally written from facts and incidents which have come under my
+own observation, or been worked up by officers acting directly under my
+instructions.
+
+The Mississippi River has for many years--more especially since the
+close of the war--been infested by a class of men who never would try to
+get an honest living, but would prey upon their neighbors or attack the
+property of southern railroads and express companies; these marauders
+could be seen any day prowling along the banks of the Mississippi, in
+fact, the shores and immediate neighborhood were peopled by just such a
+class, who cared not how they obtained a living; for the crimes they
+committed, they often suffered infinitely worse punishment, more so than
+any suffering which could have been entailed on them from leading a poor
+but honest life.
+
+The story of the "MISSISSIPPI OUTLAWS AND THE DETECTIVES" is written to
+illustrate incidents which took place in the southern section of the
+country at no very remote date.
+
+"DON PEDRO AND THE DETECTIVES" is another story of detective experience,
+which came under my own observation and management; it is a truthful
+narrative, and shows that some men are worse than known criminals, and
+can squander the money they have obtained by false pretenses, in a very
+lavish manner.
+
+"THE POISONER AND THE DETECTIVES" is a well-known bit of detective
+experience, which, when read, will be recognized by any one who ever
+takes an interest in crime, and the bringing to justice its
+perpetrators.
+
+The reader must remember that fictitious names are used in all of these
+stories, otherwise the facts are plainly and truthfully told as they
+occurred.
+
+                              ALLAN PINKERTON.
+  _April, 1879._
+
+
+
+
+                   THE MISSISSIPPI OUTLAWS
+
+                             AND
+
+                       THE DETECTIVES.
+
+
+
+
+                          CHAPTER I.
+
+    _A daring Express Robbery.--Mr. Pinkerton appealed to.--Cane-brakes
+          and cane-fed People.--Annoying Delays and Amateur Detectives._
+
+
+The southern and border states, since the close of the war of the
+rebellion, have been the frequent scenes of extensive and audacious
+robberies. This has been largely owing to the sparsely-settled condition
+of certain districts, to the disorder and lawlessness generated by the
+war, and to the temptations offered by the carelessness of many persons
+having large sums intrusted to their care in transit through lonely and
+desolate localities.
+
+The express companies have always been favorite objects of attack by
+thieves of every grade, from the embezzling cashier to the petty
+sneak-thief, and some of the operations connected with the detection of
+this class of criminals are among the most difficult and dangerous that
+have ever been intrusted to me. Probably a no more reckless and
+desperate body of men were ever banded together in a civilized community
+than those who were brought to my attention in 1871 by the Southern
+Express Company's officers in Memphis; and I consider the successful
+termination of my efforts in this case as of the greatest value to the
+people of the South and West. The whole affair was conducted with such a
+limited force, and under such adverse circumstances, that I take pride
+in here recording the history of the affair and my connection with it.
+Though I maintained a general supervision of the operation, my eldest
+son, William A. Pinkerton, was the person having immediate charge of the
+matter, and to his energy, perseverance, and sagacity is mainly
+attributable our success.
+
+Some time in the latter part of July, 1871, an express messenger on the
+Mobile and Ohio Railroad was overpowered by three men at Moscow,
+Kentucky, and his safe was robbed of about sixteen hundred dollars. The
+manner of effecting the robbery was a very bold one, showing the
+presence of men of experience in crime. The loss was not heavy, but the
+company made every effort to discover the robbers, in the hope of
+bringing them to a severe punishment as a warning to other criminals. In
+spite, however, of the efforts of two of my men, who were immediately
+sent to the scene of the robbery, the guilty parties escaped into the
+almost impenetrable swamps along the Mississippi River, and the chase
+was reluctantly abandoned, as it was impossible to tell where they
+would come out or cross the river. The amount stolen was not
+sufficiently large to warrant the expenditure of much time or money in
+the pursuit of the thieves, and my men were soon wholly withdrawn from
+the operation. In order, however, to guard against a repetition of such
+a raid, an extra man was placed in each express car to act as guard to
+the regular messenger. It was considered that two men, well armed, ought
+to be surely able to protect the company against further loss, and
+everything ran smoothly until October 21, 1871. At this time, the money
+shipments by express were very heavy, as a rule, and orders were given
+that special care should be exercised by all the employes having money
+packages in charge.
+
+The northern-bound train on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad was due at
+Union City, Tennessee, about half-past seven o'clock in the evening. At
+this point the northern and southern-bound trains usually passed each
+other, and stopped long enough for supper, the train arriving first
+being the one to take the side track ready to pull out. Saturday
+evening, October 21st, the northern-bound train arrived on time, stopped
+at the station long enough to let the passengers go to supper, and then
+took the side track to await the arrival of the train bound south. As
+soon as the side track was reached the conductor, engineer, fireman,
+brakeman, and express messenger went to supper, leaving the train
+deserted except by the express guard, named George Thompson, and a few
+passengers. The local express agent came up at this moment, gave his
+packages to Thompson, receiving his receipt therefor, and returned to
+the station. This action was directly contrary to the rules of the
+company, which forbade the messenger to leave the car during his whole
+run, or to go to sleep; also, the guard was forbidden to transact any
+business, or to have possession of the safe key. Martin Crowley, the
+messenger, had given his key to Thompson, however, to enable him to
+attend to the business of the local agent while Crowley was away at
+supper. In accordance with Thompson's request, Crowley sent a negro
+porter to the express car with Thompson's supper on a tray, and the
+porter, after handing the tray to Thompson, turned to walk away. As he
+did so, he saw two men spring into the partly open door of the express
+car, and, almost immediately, the train began to back. The negro knew
+that something was wrong, and he hurried to the station to give the
+alarm. By the time he arrived there, however, the train was backing at a
+moderate speed, and was well beyond the reach of pursuit on foot.
+
+Meantime, the guard, having received his supper from the negro porter,
+turned his back to the door to set the tray down. Before reaching the
+desk, he heard a noise at the door, and turning, he was confronted by
+two men, one of whom held a revolver at his head, while the other seized
+his throat. Thompson was a young man, and, not being accustomed to meet
+such hard characters, he was badly frightened. He immediately gave up
+the safe key and helped one of the men to unlock the safe. Having taken
+all the money out of the safe, one of the robbers took also the contents
+of Thompson's pocket-book; but here the other man interfered, insisting
+that the guard's money be returned to him, which was done. No
+conversation took place, but when the safe had been carefully examined
+and all the money it contained taken, one of the men stepped to the door
+and swung a lantern once or twice. The train, which had been backing at
+a moderate rate of speed, now stopped, and the two men jumped off,
+telling Thompson to stay where he was and keep quiet. When the
+conductor, engineer, and other persons, whom the porter had alarmed,
+reached the train, they found everything in order except the safe, into
+which poor Thompson was vainly peering in the hope of discovering that
+some portion of the funds might have been overlooked. The men had
+disappeared in the thick woods, and no trace of them was found except a
+small carpet-bag containing potatoes and bread. The amount missing from
+the safe was about six thousand dollars in currency.
+
+Although the robbery was at once reported to Mr. M. J. O'Brien, the
+General Superintendent, by telegraph, no action seems to have been taken
+until the following Wednesday--four days later--when Mr. O'Brien sent me
+a brief telegram announcing the robbery, and requesting me to come to
+Union City in person, if possible, and if not, to send my eldest son,
+William A. Pinkerton. The telegraph was used freely for the next two
+days, and while my son was gathering clues and making his preparations,
+we learned most of the facts by letter. William arrived in Union City on
+Saturday, just one week after the robbery had been committed, and he
+instantly began to gather information from every available source.
+Except the statements of the negro porter and Thompson, the guard, as
+condensed in the account heretofore given, little information could be
+obtained, as so few persons were about the train when it began to move
+off. While two or three had seen the men who had entered the car, no one
+had seen who had run the locomotive, and there was, therefore, no
+certainty as to the number of persons engaged in the job. One passenger
+had seen two men walking toward the engine in a suspicious manner, and,
+as his description of these two was entirely different from that given
+of the men who had entered the car, it was fair to presume that they had
+been a part of the gang. Still, no one had seen them get on the engine,
+and it was not certain that they had had anything to do with the affair.
+At the end of three days, however, William had collected sufficient
+information to satisfy himself that either four or five men had been at
+work together; and, by collating the various descriptions he received,
+he obtained a pretty fair idea of the party.
+
+The first thing which struck him was the similarity of this robbery to
+the one which had occurred exactly three months before at Moscow,
+Kentucky. The appearance of the men and their actions had been precisely
+like those of the Moscow party, and it was evident that they had been
+emboldened to a second venture by the ease with which they had carried
+through their former scheme. One thing was imperative: the capture of
+the whole gang would be necessary to insure the safety of the express
+company's property in the future. Indeed, it was a mere piece of good
+fortune that the loss in this instance was not irreparable, for the
+amount of money carried on the southern-bound train was eighty thousand
+dollars, and the robbers would have obtained this large amount if the
+southern-bound train had chanced to arrive first. The robbery was
+clearly one which no common tramp or sneak-thief would have dared to
+attempt, and William saw immediately the difficulties of his work.
+Before proceeding with the incidents of the operation, I must give some
+idea of the country and the people living there, since no-one would
+otherwise comprehend one-half of the obstacles and dangers which were
+involved in a search for the criminals in that vicinity.
+
+The southwestern part of Kentucky and the northwestern part of Tennessee
+are about as desolate portions of the world as are inhabited by a
+civilized people. There seems to have been some convulsion of the earth
+at this point, which is sunk so far below the general level of the whole
+country as to make it a perpetual swamp. The annual overflow of the Ohio
+and Mississippi lays the country under water for a distance of many
+miles, while even in the dryest season, the morasses, sunken lakes, and
+dense cane-brakes, render it almost impassable, except for people who
+have been thoroughly acquainted with the locality for years.
+
+The sunken lakes are natural curiosities in themselves, and, although
+they have attracted considerable attention from scientific men, no
+satisfactory explanation of their causes and phenomena has been found.
+The country is full of game and the water is alive with fish, so that
+the necessities of life are easily obtainable. The cane-brakes are
+wonderful growths of bamboo cane, and they sometimes cover strips of
+country as much as seventy miles long. In the spring-time, the water
+rises to such a height that a skiff can navigate freely above and
+through the tops of the cane; but in dry weather, the stalks grow so
+closely together that the brake becomes impenetrable to man or beast,
+except by winding tortuously around the clumps through the comparatively
+thin portions of the undergrowth. To search for any one wishing to
+remain concealed therein is like the proverbial attempt to look for a
+needle in a hay-stack, since a man can pass within ten yards of another
+without seeing him or being aware of his presence. The only roads which
+traverse these places are mere cattle paths, which begin at no place and
+run nowhere; and, unless a man be thoroughly acquainted with the
+country, he can never tell where any given path will lead him.
+
+The people around the towns, such as Hickman, Union City, Dyersburg, and
+Moscow, are a highly respectable and well-educated class; but in the
+low, swampy country, in the cane brake and along the river, they are
+not, as a rule, a very agreeable class to live among. Of course, here,
+as in all other places, there are many intelligent, reliable, honorable
+men, but the great mass of the cane-brake population are ignorant and
+brutal. The term which they apply to their stock is also eminently
+appropriate to designate the people: they are "cane-fed." It is the
+custom to turn the cattle into the cane to feed when it is young and
+tender, and, as the amount of nutriment thus obtained is not very large,
+the "cane-fed" animals bear about the same relation to grain-fed stock
+that the people in that vicinity bear to the residents of healthy,
+prosperous, and educated communities. The larger portion of the
+population may be classed as "poor whites," and they constitute a
+peculiar variety of the human species. The men are tall, loose-jointed,
+and dyspeptic; they bear a marked resemblance to the vegetable
+productions of the vicinity, being rapid of growth, prolific, and
+generally worthless. Their education consists mainly of woodcraft and
+rifle-shooting; their proficiency in both of these branches is sometimes
+astonishing, and it is frequently said of their most expert hunters that
+they seem to have been born shot-gun or rifle in hand. Accomplishments
+they have none, except the rare instances where a few tunes upon the
+banjo have been learned from the negroes. Their tastes are few and
+simple,--whisky, snuff, hog, and hominy being the necessities and
+luxuries of life; that is, whisky and snuff are the necessities, all
+other things being secondary considerations. In their sober moods, they
+are frank, rough, and courageous; yet, even then, there is little about
+them to excite other feelings than those of pity and aversion. When full
+of bad whisky, however, they are apt to become quarrelsome and brutal,
+so that no man can feel sure of his safety in their company. An affront,
+real or imaginary, will then be apt to cause bloodshed, even if the
+insulted party has to bushwhack his enemy from a secure covert on the
+roadside as he is returning to his home. Every man goes armed, and,
+though fair fights in broad daylight are rare, cold-blooded murders are
+not infrequent. The law is seldom invoked to settle private differences,
+and, in fact, the functions of the legal officials are practically very
+limited in their influence. If a coroner ever sits upon a corpse, it is
+understood that he has done his whole duty by recording a verdict that
+"the deceased came to his death at the hands of some person or persons
+unknown."
+
+The women, like the men, are tall, thin, and round-shouldered. Up to the
+age of sixteen they sometimes are quite pretty, though sallow and
+lifeless always; after that period, they become gaunt, emaciated, and
+yellow. Whisky hath charms for them, also, but their favorite
+dissipation is snuff-dipping. They marry very early and bear children
+nearly every year, so that the size of many of these West Tennessee
+families is often enormous. The father exercises patriarchal control
+over his whole household until the daughters are married and the sons
+old enough and strong enough to defy the parental authority as enforced
+by a hickory rod. The wife never escapes the application of this potent
+instrument of marital discipline; and, indeed, should a husband fail to
+make frequent use of it for the correction of his better half, he would
+probably soon learn that his dutiful spouse could find a use for it on
+his own person.
+
+Throughout this whole district, the people suffer from fever and ague
+for nine months of the year, and dyspepsia seems hereditary. Their
+physicians, however, usually require no further education than is
+requisite to attend fractured limbs and gun-shot wounds, the whole
+school of medicine being limited to three specifics: quinine, calomel,
+and whisky.
+
+As before stated, it should be understood that the foregoing description
+applies to the majority of the inhabitants of the low swamp lands only,
+and not to the residents in and about the towns; even in the cane
+country itself are to be found occasionally men of education, ability,
+and good character, and to several of them William was largely indebted
+for assistance and information.
+
+There was one redeeming feature also to the character of the "cane-fed"
+population; in the main they were honest, and they would do all in their
+power to break up a thieving gang, even if they had to hang a few of
+its members as a warning to the rest. I was thus able to trust them to a
+certain extent, though the fear which they had of this band of
+desperadoes rather kept their naturally honest impulses in check for a
+time.
+
+William was thoroughly acquainted with the character of the people, and
+he knew what a difficult task had been set before him, especially as he
+was allowed no other detectives of my force to assist him, the express
+company being desirous of conducting the operation as economically as
+possible. Among the large number of men employed directly by the company
+were two or three good men, but the majority were even worse than
+useless, and the expense of the affair was finally much greater than as
+if only my own men had been employed. Besides the fact that William was
+thus continually working with strange men, he was harassed by large
+numbers of amateur detectives, to whose stories the company's officers
+too often lent a ready ear. Indeed, every express agent in Tennessee,
+Kentucky, and Missouri seemed impressed with the idea that he was a
+naturally gifted detective, and many were the annoying delays which
+resulted from their interference.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER II.
+
+    _Difficulties.--Blind Trails and False Scents.--A Series of
+          Illustrations showing the Number of Officious People and
+          Confidence Men that often seek Notoriety and Profit through
+          important Detective Operations._
+
+
+The art of detecting crime cannot be learned in a day, nor can the man
+of business understand, without previous experience in the habits of
+criminals, the expedients which the boldest class of law-breakers adopt;
+hence none but skilled detectives can hope to cope with them. Yet often
+my clients insist on some certain method of procedure wholly contrary to
+my judgment and experience, until the total failure of their plan
+convinces them that there can be but one thoroughly successful mode of
+detection, namely, to submit the case to a skilled detective of
+character and standing, and allow him to act according to his judgment.
+
+The range of investigation in such a case as this robbery will often
+extend from New York to San Francisco, and unless one mind gathers up
+the clues, classifies the information, and determines the general plan,
+there will be continual error and delay. Such a state of affairs
+frequently occurred during this operation, and much time and money were
+spent upon matters too trifling even for consideration.
+
+The principal of a detective agency, from his long experience with
+criminals, learns the earmarks of different classes of men, and he is
+often able to determine the name of the guilty party in any given
+robbery by the manner in which the job was done. He can readily see
+whether a novice in crime was engaged, and also whether any collusion
+existed between the parties robbed and the criminals; and so, when he
+sees the traces of a bold, skillful, and experienced man, he knows that
+it is useless to track down some insignificant sneak-thief, simply
+because the latter happens to have been in the vicinity. Yet, neither
+will he slight the smallest clue if there is a bare chance that any
+valuable fact may be obtained from it. But the _sine qua non_ is that
+he, and he alone, shall direct the whole affair. A divided
+responsibility simply doubles the criminal's opportunities for escape.
+
+Among the many difficulties of the detective's work, none are more
+embarrassing than the early development of false clues. In the stories
+heretofore published, the direct steps leading to the detection and
+arrest of the criminals have been related, without referring to the
+innumerable other investigations, which were progressing simultaneously,
+and which, though involving the expenditure of much thought, time, and
+money, proved after all to be of no value whatever in developing any
+evidence in the case. In this operation, such instances were of frequent
+occurrence, and I propose to mention a few of them to show how wide is
+the range of the detective's inquiries, and also the annoying delays to
+which he is often subjected by the inconsiderate zeal and interference
+of outside parties. These latter may be--indeed, they generally
+are--well meaning people, anxious to serve the cause of justice; though,
+on the other hand, they are sometimes spiteful meddlers, striving to fix
+suspicion upon some personal enemy.
+
+The plan of detection which alone can insure success, must be one which
+neither forgets nor neglects anything. In investigating any alleged
+crime, the first questions to be considered are: 1. Has any crime been
+perpetrated, and, if so, what? 2. What was the object sought thereby?
+
+The matter of time, place, and means employed must then be carefully
+noted, and finally we come to consider: 1. Who are the criminals? 2.
+Where are they now? 3. How can they be taken?
+
+The fact that a crime has been committed is generally apparent, though
+there have been cases in which the determination of that point requires
+as much skill as the whole remainder of the operation. Such was the case
+in the detection of Mrs. Pattmore's murder, related in my story of "The
+Murderer and the Fortune Teller." The object of a crime is also
+sometimes obscure, and, where such are the circumstances, the detection
+of the criminal is apt to be one of the most difficult of all
+operations. Having once solved these two difficulties satisfactorily,
+however, and having observed the relative bearings of time, place, and
+means to the crime itself, the question of individuals is the important
+one to be determined. It often happens that there is no concealment of
+identity, the problem to be solved being simply the way to catch the
+guilty parties; but, on the other hand, the greatest skill, experience,
+patience, and perseverance are sometimes required to discover, first of
+all, the persons engaged in the crime. Indeed, an operation is often
+divisible into two distinct methods of action, the first being to find
+out the identity of the criminals, the second to follow up and capture
+them.
+
+In the course of a blind trail, such as we were obliged to travel in the
+case of this express robbery, it was impossible to know whence the men
+had come or whither they had gone; hence, I was forced to take up every
+trifling clue and follow it to the end. Even after I was satisfied in my
+own mind of the identity of the criminals, the agents and officers of
+the express company were continually finding mares' nests which they
+wished investigated, and the operation was sometimes greatly hindered on
+this account. As an example of the number of discouragements which the
+detective must always expect to encounter, I propose to mention some of
+the false scents which we were forced to follow during this operation.
+
+Three or four days after William's arrival in Union City, he was
+informed by the superintendent of the express company having charge of
+the operation, that there was a young man in Moscow who could give
+important information relative to the first robbery at that place. This
+young man, Thomas Carr by name, was a lawyer who had once had fine
+prospects, but he had become very dissipated, and he finally had been
+taken seriously ill, so that he had lost his practice. On recovering his
+health he had reformed his habits, but he had found great difficulty in
+winning back clients, and his income was hardly enough to support him.
+On learning that this impecunious lawyer had valuable information,
+William strongly suspected that it would amount to little more than a
+good lie, invented to obtain money from the express company;
+nevertheless, he sent for the young man and heard his story.
+
+According to Carr, a man named John Witherspoon had visited him about
+six weeks before, and had asked him whether he would like to get a large
+sum of money. Carr replied affirmatively, of course, and wished to know
+how it could be obtained. Witherspoon had said that the express company
+could be robbed very easily by boarding a train at any water-tank,
+overpowering the messenger, and making him open the safe. Witherspoon
+also had said that he and several others had robbed a train at Moscow
+some weeks before, and that they had got only sixteen hundred dollars,
+but that they should do better next time. He had asked Carr to go to
+Cairo and find out when there would be a large shipment of money to the
+South; then Carr was to take the same train and give a signal to the
+rest of the party on arriving at the designated spot.
+
+On hearing Carr's story, William sent him back to Moscow with
+instructions to renew his intimacy with Witherspoon, and to report any
+news he might learn at once; in case it should prove to be of any value,
+the company would pay him well for his services. It is hardly necessary
+to add that Mr. Carr, having failed to get, as he had hoped, a roving
+commission as detective at the company's expense, was not heard from
+again, his bonanza of news having run out very quickly on discovering
+that no money was to be paid in advance.
+
+The next case was a more plausible one, and William began its
+investigation with the feeling that something might be developed
+therefrom. It was learned that a former express messenger named Robert
+Trunnion, who had been discharged several months before, had been
+hanging around Columbus, Kentucky, ever since. While in conversation
+with the clerk of a second-class hotel, Trunnion had spoken of the ease
+with which a few determined men could board an express car, throw a
+blanket over the messenger's head, and then rob the safe. The clerk said
+that Trunnion had made the suggestion to him twice, and the second time
+he had given Trunnion a piece of his mind for making such a proposition.
+Trunnion had then said he was only fooling, and that he did not mean
+anything by it. William learned that Trunnion was then engaged in
+selling trees for a nursery at Clinton, Kentucky, and that he was
+regarded as a half-cracked, boasting fool, who might be anything bad,
+if he were influenced by bold, unscrupulous men. William therefore paid
+a visit to Mr. Trunnion, whom he found to be a very high-toned youth,
+too fiery-tempered and sensitive to submit to any questioning as to his
+words or actions. In a very brief space of time, however, his lordly
+tone came down to a very humble acknowledgment that he had used the
+language attributed to him; but he protested that he had meant nothing;
+in short, his confession was not only complete, but exceedingly candid;
+he admitted that he was a gas-bag and a fool, without discretion enough
+to keep his tongue from getting him into trouble continually; and,
+having clearly shown that he was nowhere in the vicinity of either
+robbery, he asked humbly not to be held responsible for being a born
+idiot. William was satisfied that the fellow had told the truth, and,
+after scaring him out of all his high-toned pride, he let him go, with a
+severe lecture on the danger of talking too much.
+
+On the nineteenth of November, when the identity of the robbers had been
+fully established, William was called away to Iuka, Mississippi, on
+information received from Mr. O'Brien, the general superintendent of the
+express company, that a man named Santon had seen the leader of the
+party in that place, just a week before. Santon represented that he knew
+the man well, having been acquainted with him for years in Cairo, and
+that he could not be mistaken, as he had spoken with him on the day
+mentioned. William found that the man Santon was a natural liar, who
+could not tell the truth even when it was for his interest to do so. The
+descriptions of the various robbers had been scattered broadcast
+everywhere, and none of them were represented as over thirty-five years
+of age; yet Santon said that his man was over fifty years old, and that
+he had been a pilot on the Mississippi for years. This was a case--not
+an infrequent one, either--where people talk and lie about a crime for
+the sole purpose of getting a little temporary notoriety. Owing to
+various accidents and railway detentions, William lost three days in
+going to hunt up this lying fellow's testimony.
+
+Perhaps the most impudent of all the stories brought to the express
+company's officers was that of a man named Swing, living at Columbus,
+Kentucky. He sent a friend to Union City to tell them that he could give
+them a valuable clue to the identity of the robbers, and William
+accompanied this friend back to Columbus. On the way, William drew out
+all that Swing's friend knew about the matter, and satisfied himself
+that Swing's sole object in sending word to the officers of the company
+was to get them to do a piece of detective work for him. It appeared
+that his nephew had stolen one of his horses just after the robbery, and
+he intended to tell the company's officers that this nephew had been
+engaged in the robbery; then if the company captured the nephew, Swing
+hoped to get back his horse. A truly brilliant scheme it was, but,
+unfortunately for his expectations, William could not be misled by his
+plausible story; and, if he ever recovered his horse, he did so without
+the assistance of the express company. Nevertheless, he took William
+away from his work for nearly a whole day, at a time when his presence
+was almost indispensable.
+
+Another peculiar phase of a detective's experience is, that while
+following up one set of criminals, he may accidentally unearth the
+evidences of some other crime; occasionally it happens that he is able
+to arrest the criminals thus unexpectedly discovered, but too often they
+take the alarm and escape before the interested parties can be put in
+possession of the facts. About two weeks after the Union City robbery,
+in the course of my extended inquiries by telegraph, I came across a
+pair of suspicious characters in Kansas City, Missouri. I learned that
+two fine-looking women had arrived in that city with about eight
+thousand dollars in five, ten, and twenty dollar bills, which they were
+trying to exchange for bills of a larger denomination. The women were
+well dressed, but they were evidently of loose character, and the
+possession of so much money by two females of that class excited
+suspicion instantly in the minds of the bankers to whom they applied,
+and they could not make the desired exchange. One of the women was a
+blonde and the other was a brunette. They were about of the same height,
+and they dressed in such marked contrast as to set each other off to the
+best advantage; indeed, their dresses seemed to have attracted so much
+attention that I could gain very little acquaintance with their personal
+appearance. I could not connect them in any way with the robbery at
+Union City, nor with any other recent crime, though I had little doubt
+that the money they had with them was the proceeds of some criminal
+transaction; still, having my hands full at that time, it would have
+been impossible for me to look after them, even had I thought best to do
+so. As it is my practice to undertake investigations only when engaged
+for the purpose by some responsible person, I did not waste any time in
+endeavoring to discover the source whence these women obtained their
+money; though, of course, had I learned enough about them to suspect
+them of complicity in any specific crime, I should have reported my
+suspicions to the parties interested, to enable them to take such action
+as they might have seen fit.
+
+The most important of all the false clues brought out in this
+investigation was presented by a noted confidence man and horse-thief
+named Charles Lavalle, _alias_ Hildebrand. I call it the most important,
+not because I considered it of any value at the time, but because it
+illustrates one of the most profitable forms of confidence operation,
+and because the express company, by refusing to accept my advice in the
+matter, were put to a large expense with no possibility of a return.
+
+Very shortly after the Union City robbery, a letter was received from a
+man in Kansas City, calling himself Charles Lavalle. The writer claimed
+that he had been with the gang who had robbed the train, but that they
+had refused to divide with him, and so, out of revenge, he was anxious
+to bring them to punishment. He claimed further that he was then in the
+confidence of another party, who were soon going to make another raid
+upon the express company somewhere between New Orleans and Mobile.
+
+The plausibility of his story was such that he obtained quite a large
+sum from the express company to enable him to follow up and remain with
+the gang of thieves with whom he professed to be associated. No news was
+received from him, however, and at length I was requested to put a
+"shadow" upon his track. My operative followed him to St. Joseph,
+Missouri, and thence to Quincy, Illinois, but, during two weeks of close
+investigation, no trace of the villains in Lavalle's company could be
+found, and he was never seen in the society of any known burglars or
+thieves. It was soon evident that he was playing upon the express
+company a well-worn confidence game, which has been attempted probably
+every time a large robbery has occurred in the last fifteen years. He
+became very importunate for more money while in Quincy, as he stated
+that the gang to which he belonged were ready to start for New Orleans;
+but, finding that his appeals were useless, and that no more money would
+be advanced until some of his party were actually discovered and trapped
+through his agency, he soon ceased writing.
+
+The foregoing are only a few of the instances in which our attention was
+diverted from the real criminals; and, although the efforts of my
+operatives were rarely misdirected in any one affair for any length of
+time, still these false alarms were always a source of great annoyance
+and embarrassment.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER III.
+
+    _"Old Hicks," a drunken Planter, is entertained by a
+          Hunting-party.--Lester's Landing.--Its Grocery-store and
+          Mysterious Merchants.--A dangerous Situation and a desperate
+          Encounter.--The unfortunate Escape of Two of the Robbers._
+
+
+One of the most direct sources of information relative to the party was
+found in the person of an old planter, named Hicks, who lived some
+distance down the track of the railroad. He was in the habit of visiting
+Union City very frequently, and he usually rounded off his day's
+pleasure by becoming jovially drunk, in which condition he would start
+for his home, walking down the railroad track. He had been in Union City
+all of Friday before the robbery, and about ten o'clock in the evening
+he was in a state of happy inebriety, ready to "hail fellow, well met,"
+with any person he might encounter.
+
+On his way home, about three-quarters of a mile west of Union City, he
+saw a camp-fire burning a short distance from the track, and around it
+were gathered five men. They hailed him, and asked him to take a drink;
+and as this was an invitation which Hicks could not refuse, even from
+the devil himself, he joined them, drank with them, and danced a
+hornpipe for their edification. Hicks acknowledged in his account of
+meeting them, that by the time they had made him dance for them, he was
+heartily frightened at their looks and talk. He heard one of them say
+that they wanted ten thousand at least, but he could not tell what the
+remark referred to. He asked them why they were camping out, and one,
+who seemed to be the leader of the party, said they were out hunting.
+
+"Yes," continued another one, "I am out hunting for somebody's girl, and
+when I find her we are going to run away together."
+
+At this, they all laughed, as if there was some hidden meaning in his
+words.
+
+Hicks described all of the men, three of them quite minutely; but the
+fourth was evidently the same as the second, and the fifth was lying
+down asleep all the time, so that Hicks could not tell much about him.
+They were armed with large navy revolvers, which they wore in belts, and
+their clothing was quite good. The tall man, who seemed to be the
+leader, related an account of a deer-hunt in which he had participated,
+in Fayette county, Illinois, on the Kaskaskia river, and when he
+mentioned the place, the others scowled and winked at him, as if to stop
+him. Hicks said that they seemed to be familiar with Cincinnati,
+Louisville, Evansville, and other northern cities, and that they talked
+somewhat like Yankees. He remained with them until about midnight, when
+a negro came down the track. Hicks and the negro then went on together
+to Hicks's house, leaving the five men still camped in the woods.
+
+Other persons reported having seen the same party in the same vicinity
+several times before the night of the robbery, though some had seen only
+two, others three and four; but no one, except Hicks, had seen five. The
+accounts given by the persons near the train when the robbery occurred
+did not show the presence of more than three persons, though possibly
+there might have been a fourth. The descriptions of the suspected
+parties were quite varied in some respects; yet the general tenor of
+them was to the same effect, and, as no one knew who these persons were,
+it was quite certain that this quartette of strangers had committed the
+robbery.
+
+In the case of the Moscow robbery, we had strongly suspected two
+notorious thieves, named Jack Nelson and Miles Ogle, so that my first
+action, on learning of this second affair in the same vicinity, was to
+telegraph to my correspondents and agents throughout the country, to
+learn whether either of these men had been seen lately. I could gain no
+news whatever, except from St. Louis, whence an answer was returned to
+the effect that Nelson was said to be stopping somewhere in the country
+back of Hickman, Kentucky. Ogle's wife was in St. Louis, and she had
+been seen by a detective walking and talking earnestly with a strange
+man a short time previous. The information about Nelson was important,
+since, if true, it showed that he was in the immediate neighborhood of
+the points where the robberies had occurred. The man seen with Mrs. Ogle
+might have been one of the party, sent by her husband to appoint a
+future rendezvous. The description of the tall, dark man, mentioned by
+Hicks and others, tallied very closely with Ogle's appearance. My son,
+William, was well advised of these facts, and, as soon as he had
+obtained the statements of every one acquainted with any of the
+occurrences at the time of the robbery, he was ready for action.
+
+His first inquiries were directed toward discovering where Nelson was
+staying near Hickman, and he learned in a very short time that this
+rumor had no truth in it. While making search for Nelson, however, he
+heard of a low grocery-store at Lester's Landing, about twelve miles
+below Hickman on the Mississippi River. The store was situated four
+miles from any other house in a sparsely settled country, where the
+amount of legitimate trade would hardly amount to twelve hundred dollars
+per year. It was said to be the resort of a very low class of men, and
+the proprietors passed for river gamblers.
+
+On William's return to Union City from Hickman, he decided to make a
+visit to this grocery-store to learn something about the men who
+frequented it. Having none of his own men with him, he chose one of the
+express company's detectives, named Patrick Connell, to accompany him,
+and, on the last day of October, they started on horseback, with an old
+resident named Bledsoe for a guide. On arriving at the house of a
+well-to-do planter, named Wilson Merrick, they obtained considerable
+information about the men who kept the store and the people who visited
+it.
+
+Mr. Merrick said that a man named John Wesley Lester kept a wood-yard on
+the Mississippi, and the spot was called Lester's Landing. About three
+or four months before, three men arrived there and obtained leave from
+Lester to put up a store, which they stocked with groceries and whisky.
+The men gave their names as J. H. Clark, Ed. J. Russell, and William
+Barton, and they seemed to have some means, as the store did only a
+limited business, except in whisky. They were all men of ability and
+determination, and, as they were always well armed, the people of the
+cane-brake country were rather afraid of them. Nothing positive was
+known against them, but it was suspected from their looks and actions
+that they were Northern desperadoes lying quiet for a time. They seemed
+to be well acquainted in Cincinnati, Louisville, St. Louis, Memphis,
+Vicksburg, and New Orleans, but they were careful never to give any hint
+of their previous place of residence in the hearing of strangers. Mr.
+Merrick had, however, heard Russell say that he had once run a
+stationary engine in Missouri, and from occasional expressions by
+Barton it would appear that the latter had once worked on a railroad in
+some capacity. They dressed quite well, and treated strangers politely,
+though not cordially. Although they were all three rather hard drinkers,
+they never became intoxicated, and they seemed to understand each other
+well enough not to quarrel among themselves. Clark was the oldest of the
+party, but Russell seemed to be the leader, Barton being apparently
+quite a young man. They stated that they intended to exchange groceries
+for fish and game, and ship the latter articles to St. Louis and
+Memphis.
+
+From the description of the men, William began to suspect that they
+formed a portion of the party of robbers, and he determined to push on
+at once. He induced a young man named Gordon to go with him as guide and
+to assist in making the arrest of these men, if he should deem it
+advisable. By hard riding they succeeded in reaching Lester's Landing
+before nightfall, but the twilight was fast fading as they came out of
+the dense underbrush and cane-brake into the clearing around Lester's
+log-cabin.
+
+The spot was dreary and forlorn in the extreme. The river was then
+nearly at low water, and its muddy current skirted one side of the
+clearing at a distance of about thirty yards from the house. The
+wood-yard and landing at the water's level were some ten or fifteen feet
+below the rising ground upon which the house stood. The store was a
+shanty of rough pine boards with one door and one window, and it stood
+at the head of the diagonal path leading from the landing to the high
+ground. A short distance back was a rail fence surrounding Lester's
+house and cornfield, and back of this clearing, about one hundred yards
+from the house, was a dense cane-brake. The corn-stalks had never been
+cut, and, as they grew very high and thick within twenty feet of the
+house, they offered a good cover to any one approaching or retreating
+through them. A rough log barn stood a short distance inside the rail
+fence, and, like the house, it was raised several feet above the ground,
+on account of the annual overflow of the whole tract. The house was a
+rather large building built of logs, the chinks being partly filled with
+mud, but it was in a dilapidated condition, the roof being leaky and the
+sides partly open, where the mud had fallen out from between the
+timbers.
+
+On entering the clearing, William's party rode up to the store and tried
+to enter, but, finding the door locked, they approached the house. At
+the rail fence, William and Connell dismounted, leaving Gordon and
+Bledsoe to hold their horses. Up to this time, they had seen no signs of
+life about the place, and they began to think that the birds had flown.
+The quiet and the absence of men about the clearing did not prevent
+William from exercising his usual caution in approaching the house; but
+he did consider it unnecessary to take any stronger force into an
+apparently unoccupied log-cabin, where at most he had only vague
+suspicions of finding the objects of his search; hence, he left Gordon
+and Bledsoe behind. Knowing the general construction of this class of
+houses to be the same, he sent Connell to the rear, while he entered the
+front door. A wide hall divided the house through the center, and the
+occupants of the house were in the room on the right. William's door
+leading into the room opened from this hall, while Connell's was a
+direct entrance from the back porch, and there were no other doors to
+the room.
+
+As the two strangers entered simultaneously, five men, a woman, and a
+girl started to their feet and demanded what they wanted. The situation
+was evidently one of great danger to the detectives; one glance at the
+men, coupled with the fierce tones of their inquiries, showed William
+that he had entered a den of snakes without adequate force; but it was
+too late to retreat, and he replied that they were strangers who, having
+lost their way, desired information.
+
+The scene was a striking one, and it remains as vividly in William's
+mind to-day, as if it had occurred but yesterday. In the center of the
+room, opposite him, was a broad fireplace, in which the smouldering logs
+feebly burned and gave forth the only light in the room. In one corner
+stood several shot-guns, and in another, four or five heavy axes.
+Grouped about near the fire, in different attitudes of surprise,
+defiance, and alarm, were the occupants of the cabin, while to the left,
+in the half-open door stood Connell. The flickering flame of the rotten
+wood gave a most unsatisfactory light, in which they all seemed nearly
+as dark as negroes, so that William asked the woman to light a candle.
+She replied that they had none, and at the same moment a young fellow
+tried to slip by Connell, but he was promptly stopped. Another large,
+powerful man, whose name afterward proved to be Burtine, again demanded,
+with several oaths, what their business was.
+
+"I've told you once that I want some information," replied William, "and
+now I intend to have you stop here until I can take a look at your
+faces."
+
+While William was making them stand up in line against the wall, one of
+the largest drew a navy revolver quickly and fired straight at William's
+stomach, the ball just cutting the flesh on his left side. At the same
+instant, the young fellow previously mentioned, darted out the door,
+Connell having sprang to William's side, thinking him seriously wounded.
+Connell's approach prevented William from returning the fire of the tall
+man, who had jumped for the door also the moment he had fired. William
+fired two shots at him through the doorway, and Connell followed him
+instantly, on seeing that William was unhurt. Once outside, the tall
+fellow sprang behind a large cottonwood tree and fired back at Connell
+and William, who were in full view on the porch. The second shot struck
+Connell in the pit of the stomach, and he fell backward. At this
+moment, the powerful ruffian, Burtine, seized William from behind and
+tried to drag him down, at the same time calling for a shot-gun "to
+finish the Yankee------------." Turning suddenly upon his assailant,
+William raised his revolver, a heavy Tranter, and brought it down twice,
+with all his force, upon Burtine's head. The man staggered at the first
+blow and fell at the second, so that, by leveling his revolver at the
+other two, William was able to cow them into submission. The affray had
+passed so quickly that it was wholly over before Gordon and Bledsoe
+could reach the house, though they had sprung from their horses on
+hearing the first shot.
+
+[Illustration: _The fight at Lester's Landing._--_Page_--]
+
+The two men had escaped by this time into the dense cane-brake back of
+the house, and it was necessary to attend to those who had been secured,
+and to examine the injuries of Connell and Burtine. The latter's head
+was in a pretty bad condition, though no serious results were likely to
+follow, while Connell had escaped a mortal wound by the merest hair's
+breadth. He was dressed in a heavy suit of Kentucky jeans, with large
+iron buttons down the front of the coat. The ball had struck one of
+these buttons, and, instead of passing straight through his vitals, it
+had glanced around his side, cutting a deep flesh furrow nearly to the
+small of his back, where it had gone out. The shock of the blow had
+stunned him somewhat, the button having been forced edgewise some
+distance into the flesh, but his wound was very trifling, and he was
+able to go on with the search with very little inconvenience. Having
+captured three out of the five inmates of the cabin, William felt as
+though he had done as much as could have been expected of two men under
+such circumstances, and he then began a search of the premises to see
+whether any evidence of their connection with the robbery could be
+found. Absolutely no clue whatever was obtained in the cabin and barn,
+nor did the store afford any better results so far as the robbery was
+concerned, but on this point William was already satisfied, and he was
+anxious to get all information possible about these so-called
+storekeepers. In the store, he found bills and invoices showing that the
+stock of goods had been purchased in Evansville, but there was no other
+writing of any character except some scribbling, apparently done in an
+idle moment, upon some fragments of paper in a drawer. On one was
+written: "Mrs. Kate Graham, Farmington, Ill."; and on another, amid many
+repetitions of the name, "Kate Graham," were the words, "My dear
+cousin."
+
+Having found very little of value, the party returned to the three
+prisoners and closely examined them. To William's intense chagrin, he
+found that these men were, undoubtedly, mere wood-choppers living with
+Lester and having no connection with the proprietors of the store.
+Although desperate, brutal, and reckless, ready for a fight at all
+times, as shown in this affray, they were clearly not the train robbers,
+while it was equally evident that the two who had escaped were the
+guilty parties.
+
+William learned that the young man who had first slipped out was Barton,
+and the man who had done the shooting was Russell. Clark, they said, had
+taken the steamer for Cape Girardeau, Missouri, two days before,
+accompanied by a married woman, named Slaughter. The description of the
+train robbers tallied so well with the appearance of Barton and Russell,
+that, taking their actions into consideration, there could no longer be
+any doubt of their complicity in the affair, and it was highly provoking
+that these two should have escaped. Still, it was an accident which
+could hardly have been avoided. The fact that the express company would
+not consent to the employment of a larger force of detectives was the
+principal cause of this misfortune, for it could have been prevented
+easily, had William been accompanied by two more good men of my force.
+
+As it was, two detectives, dropping unexpectedly upon a nest of five
+villainous-looking men in the dark, could have hardly hoped to do better
+than to secure three of them. It could not have been supposed that they
+would know which were the important ones to capture, especially as they
+could not distinguish one from another in the uncertain light. Indeed,
+as afterward appeared, they were fortunate in having escaped alive, for
+the close approach to fatal wounds, which they both received, showed how
+deadly had been the intentions of the man Russell, while Burtine had
+evidently intended that they should never leave the house alive.
+
+It may be supposed that the shooting on both sides was none of the best,
+but it must be remembered that it began without warning, and was over in
+two minutes. It cannot be expected that snap-shooting, even at close
+quarters, should be very accurate; yet it was afterward learned that
+Russell's escape had been about as narrow as William's, two balls having
+passed through his clothes and grazed his flesh.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER IV.
+
+    _The Captured Ruffians are desired for Guides, but dare not join in
+          the Search for the Outlaws.--One of the Robbers is Taken, but
+          subsequently Escapes from the Amateur Detectives.--Another
+          Clue suddenly Fails._
+
+
+Having searched the whole place, and satisfied himself that the men
+captured had had no connection with the robbery or the robbers, William
+offered them one hundred dollars to act as guides through the cane-brake
+to arrest Barton and Russell. They said they could not if they would,
+since no man could find his way there in broad daylight, much less at
+night. They further admitted that they dare not attempt it, as Russell
+would kill them if they learned of their action. It was now pitch dark,
+and after a vain attempt to beat through the cane in search of the
+fugitives, William decided to return to Mr. Merrick's until next day.
+
+The next morning at daybreak he started back for Lester's, accompanied
+by a number of the cane-brake population, all of whom were anxious to
+secure the one hundred dollars reward. They had long suspected the men
+at the store of being desperadoes, but they had had a wholesome fear of
+them on account of their fierce ways and their reckless habit of drawing
+their revolvers on slight provocation.
+
+On arriving at Lester's, the party found that Lester had returned from
+Hickman during the night. He was a treacherous-looking scoundrel, and
+his reputation was bad, although he had never been caught in any crime
+in that vicinity. His name, John Wesley Lester, showed that he must have
+once belonged to a pious Methodist family, and, indeed, he claimed to
+have once been a Methodist preacher himself. He had sunken eyes, milky
+white, and his hair was lank and long; his complexion was dark, cheeks
+hollow, chin pointed, and forehead low. His manner was fawning and
+obsequious to those above him, and he looked and acted like a second
+"Uriah Heap." He pretended to know nothing of Russell, Clark, and
+Barton, except that they had come to his place in July, built the store
+there, and had been around the landing more or less ever since. He said
+that he knew nothing against them, except that they were gamblers, and
+that they often went off on gambling excursions, during one of which,
+according to their own statements, they had killed a man in a quarrel.
+
+William learned from Lester's daughter that Barton had returned during
+the night to get a shawl, blanket, and two shot-guns. He had told her
+that Russell was hurt pretty badly, but that they intended to take the
+first packet down the river. From other parties William learned that the
+packet Julia had passed down during the night, and had stopped at a
+point about seven miles below, having been hailed from the bank. He did
+not place much faith in the theory that the men had taken passage by the
+Julia, for the reason that Lester's girl was too anxious to tell the
+story of the route Barton proposed taking. He discovered that Barton had
+been paying lover-like attentions to the girl, and he believed that
+Barton had instructed her to say that he intended taking the next
+packet, in order to give them a false scent. Having set the men of the
+neighborhood at work searching for Russell and Barton, William returned
+to Union City.
+
+From Hickman Connell was sent to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to capture
+Clark, who was said to have gone there three days before.
+
+On the arrival of William in Union City, the superintendent telegraphed
+to me the result of William's visit to Lester's Landing, and authorized
+me to send an operative to Farmington, Illinois, to hunt up Mrs. Kate
+Graham, and learn what she could tell about Russell, Clark, and Barton.
+A man was sent there the next day, and he had no difficulty in finding
+Mrs. Graham, who proved to be the wife of a highly respectable business
+man. She was a member of the church, and was held in high esteem by
+every one acquainted with her. My agent, therefore, called upon her
+without any circumlocution or deception, and asked to see her on
+business. She was confined to her room by illness, but she saw him for a
+few minutes, and answered his questions so frankly that there was no
+doubt she was telling the truth. She stated that she was not acquainted
+with any one living at Lester's Landing; that she did not know, nor ever
+had known, any persons of the names given (Russell, Clark, and Barton);
+and that she knew no one who would answer to their descriptions. This
+clue seemed to come to an end very quickly, yet it afterward proved to
+be the means by which we captured one of the gang, and it was a striking
+instance of the necessity for the most careful and minute inquiry upon
+every point of news obtained, especially upon those received directly
+from the criminals themselves.
+
+On the 3d of November, Connell went with a constable to the house of
+Mrs. Gully, the mother of Clark's companion, Mrs. Slaughter, and there
+he found them both. Clark was surprised by the officers, but he made a
+bold fight, and was overpowered with difficulty. When finally handcuffed
+and searched, a navy revolver and fifty dollars in money were taken
+from him; he was then taken nine miles on horseback to Cape Girardeau,
+where Connell obtained a light wagon to drive sixteen miles to
+Allenville, on the railroad leading to Hickman. On this trip Connell
+made the mistake of trusting to handcuffs alone, instead of securely
+fastening his prisoner's feet with rope. The idea that one man in
+handcuffs could escape from two active, unimpeded men did not, however,
+occur to Connell, and so the constable drove the horse, while Clark and
+Connell occupied the back seat. In justice to Connell, it should be
+stated that he had been constantly in the saddle for several days in raw
+and rainy weather, and had had very little sleep for two nights
+previous.
+
+About nine o'clock in the evening, when only a mile from Allenville,
+Clark suddenly made a leap out of the wagon. The horse was jogging along
+at a good trot, and, though Connell sprang after his prisoner instantly,
+it was a couple of minutes before the constable could follow. As he ran,
+Connell fired at the dim figure disappearing in the thick brush; but the
+next instant he pitched headlong into a deep mud-hole, and, by the time
+he got out, the cylinder of his revolver was choked with mud, and Clark
+was far in advance. The chase was kept up as long as the pursuers were
+able to distinguish the direction of his flight, but, in the darkness of
+the gloomy woods, it was impossible to follow an athletic fellow like
+Clark with any hope of success. Connell returned to Union City very
+much crestfallen, and reported his misfortune. My first feeling, on
+learning the news, was one of deep regret and anxiety at the loss of one
+of the leaders of the gang; my second thought was one of profound
+thankfulness that my men were in no way responsible for it. The
+situation was an illustration of the disappointments and difficulties
+which are so often met in a detective's experience; and, though I felt
+somewhat discouraged, I was more than ever determined that none of these
+men should eventually escape, even though it should be necessary to
+follow them for months.
+
+The desire of the express company to employ as few as possible of my
+operatives embarrassed me exceedingly, for William was obliged to depend
+upon strangers, and he had little confidence in their ability or
+discretion. He was now satisfied of the identity of the parties he was
+in search of, and all that he needed was a small force of experienced
+and reliable men.
+
+Had I been limited and interfered with in the Maroney case, described in
+"The Expressman and the Detective," as I was in this, there is no doubt
+that I might have failed to capture the criminal; but the cordial
+cooeperation and support of the Adams Express Company gave me a fair
+opportunity to work to good advantage, and victory was the result.
+
+
+
+
+                          CHAPTER V.
+
+    _A Rich Lead Struck at Last._
+
+
+William was quite sure, from the reputation and actions of Russell,
+Clark, and Barton, that they had been the leaders in the robbery, and he
+believed that Lester could give important information about them; he
+therefore caused Lester to be brought to Union City, and, on November 5,
+he succeeded in getting a statement of the doings of these men since
+Lester had known them. The important points developed were as follows:
+
+They came to Lester's Landing in the middle of July, and built their
+store. They were rarely there together, as they would go off for two or
+three weeks at a time, leaving Barton or Clark in charge, and sometimes
+putting Lester in as storekeeper during the absence of all three. On one
+occasion, Russell showed him a pocket-book containing nearly one
+thousand dollars, which he thought he had lost, but which he found under
+a rail fence where he had hidden it; the other men, also, seemed to have
+plenty of money. About the middle of October, the three storekeepers
+went away, and were gone until October 24, three days after the robbery,
+on which day Lester met Clark and Barton walking toward his house, on
+the way from Hickman. They seemed quite excited, and said that they had
+been engaged in a difficulty, but they did not state what it was. They
+asked him whether he had seen Russell recently, and also whether there
+was a skiff at his landing; both questions were answered negatively, and
+they passed on toward the store, while Lester continued his walk to
+Hickman. On his return at night, he found that Clark and Barton had been
+across the river all day, scouting the Missouri shore for Russell, and
+that shortly after their return, Russell had come across the river in a
+skiff. Russell said that he had been shot, but that he was not much
+hurt, and he did not seem to act as if he had been hurt at all. Sunday
+morning, October 29, Clark took passage in a steamer for Cape Girardeau,
+having Mrs. Slaughter in company, and it was understood that he was
+going with Mrs. Slaughter to the house of her mother, nine miles from
+the Cape. Tuesday evening, William and Connell arrived at Lester's, the
+fight took place, and Barton and Russell escaped. After the detectives
+had gone back to Campbell's, Barton returned to the house and obtained a
+shawl, blanket, and two shot-guns; he said that they would never be
+taken alive, but that Russell had been badly wounded by one of the
+detectives. William had left two men at the landing the next day to
+capture the men if they returned, but they were afraid to attempt it,
+although they had a good opportunity that night. Russell came into the
+house alone, showing no signs of having been wounded, and said that he
+and Barton had joined four friends, who were outside waiting for him;
+that they were all well mounted and armed, and that they intended to
+kill any one who should betray them or attempt their capture. He added
+that they intended to make their way on horseback to Alabama, and that
+they were strong enough to fight their way through, if necessary. Of
+course, Russell's object was to frighten the detectives and others who
+were searching for him, as he had no one with him except Barton.
+
+Among other points of value in Lester's statement, was some incidental
+information relative to the men, which he had learned during the time
+they boarded with him. He had heard Clark say that his mother lived
+sixty miles back of Nashville, and Russell had once run a stationary
+engine in Missouri. Lester was shown the satchel found on the engine
+after the robbery, and he recognized it as having been left at his house
+once by a wood-chopper named Bill Taylor, who lived in the cane-brake,
+some distance below him. He said that the three men each carried a navy
+revolver and a derringer, while Russell had also a new, large-sized
+Smith & Wesson revolver.
+
+Meantime, the telegraph had been used constantly to learn something
+about the three men, Russell, Clark, and Barton, from whatever source
+information could be obtained. Barton was well known in Nashville, New
+Madrid, and Union City. He was quite young, but he had been involved in
+a stabbing affray in Nashville, and was regarded as a desperate
+character. He had been respectably brought up by Major Landis, General
+Agent of the Nashville and Northwestern Railroad, and had been given a
+place in the employ of that road, with good prospects for promotion.
+Having become dissipated and hardened, he had been discharged from his
+position, and Major Landis had cast him off; thenceforward, his career
+had been rapid in the downward direction.
+
+With regard to the other two men, little could be learned, until a rich
+lead was struck on the seventh of November. The corrected descriptions
+of the different parties having been sent to all the agents of the
+express company, Mr. Charles Pink, agent at Cairo, recognized Russell as
+a man who had sent eight hundred dollars in currency from Cairo to Mrs.
+M. Farrington, Gillem Station, Tennessee, on the eleventh of September,
+and who had then started, according to his own statement, for his home
+in Illinois. Mr. Pink also stated that the chief of police in Cairo
+claimed to know Russell, and to be able to find him--for a sufficient
+consideration. Not having any use for the services of this disinterested
+officer, his offer was politely declined.
+
+The superintendent of the express company was strongly impressed with
+the belief that Russell and Barton were lurking around Lester's, and so,
+while William went to Nashville to see what could be learned about
+Barton and his companions, a number of men were hired to scour the
+country, hunt through the brake, and guard the Mississippi ferries,
+while Connell and Crowley, the express messenger, were placed on the
+Missouri bank, to scout that side of the river. I may say here, _en
+passant_, that, with the exception of the two named, these men were a
+source not only of great unnecessary expense to the company, but of
+vexation and hindrance to William. In most cases, their scouting
+consisted in riding the high-roads from one tavern to another, and in
+order to have something to show for their work, they would bring in
+every species of wild and foolish rumor that they could discover or
+invent. As the superintendent frequently desired that these reports
+should be investigated, much valuable time was thus wasted. These men
+were not only employed without my advice, but they were retained long
+after I had urgently requested the discharge of the whole party, and I
+had great difficulty in obtaining their discharge, even after I was
+positively sure that the robbers had crossed the Mississippi and escaped
+into Missouri.
+
+William spent one day in Nashville, and then went to Gillem Station,
+where he learned that Mrs. Farrington, to whom Russell had sent eight
+hundred dollars from Cairo, lived on an old, worn-out farm, and passed
+for a rich widow. She had three sons--Hillary, Levi, and Peter, the
+latter being quite young. Hillary and Levi Farrington bore a very bad
+reputation, having been mixed up in all kinds of fights and quarrels for
+a number of years. They were suspected of horse-stealing and
+counterfeiting; but most people were afraid of them, and they had never
+been arrested in that vicinity. William here learned, also, that Barton
+had been a frequent visitor at the Farringtons', and that he was as bad
+as the others. While at Gillem Station, William met Pete Farrington, the
+youngest of the three brothers, and his resemblance to Russell, whose
+face William had seen by the dim firelight and the flash of his pistol
+in the cabin at Lester's Landing, caused a sudden possibility to flash
+across his mind. He reasoned out the connection of the different facts
+about as follows:
+
+"Russell was, undoubtedly, one of the Moscow and Union City robbers, and
+he obtained a considerable share of the plunder; two months after the
+first robbery, I find that he sent eight hundred dollars to Mrs.
+Farrington; this establishes the connection of those two persons. Barton
+was one of the actors in both robberies, also, and I find that he was
+formerly intimate with Mrs. Farrington and her sons; another link. Pete
+Farrington bears a strong resemblance to Russell, their peculiar Roman
+noses, with a lump in the middle, being exactly alike, and this creates
+a strong presumption that they belong to the same family. Now, Russell
+and Clark were so similar in their general appearance, that many people
+who have seen them together believe them to have been brothers. Hillary
+and Levi Farrington, I am told, also closely resemble each other, and
+they have not been seen about here for some months, they being,
+according to their mother's account, in Texas. The chain of evidence is
+very complete; what if Russell and Clark should prove to be the
+Farrington brothers!"
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER VI.
+
+    _The Mother of the Farringtons, being arrested, boasts that her Sons
+          "Will never be taken Alive."--Another Unfortunate Blunder by
+          Amateur Detectives.--An interesting Fate intended for the
+          Detectives.--William A. Pinkerton captures the Murderer of a
+          Negro in Union City, proving "a very good Fellow--for a
+          Yankee."--An Unfortunate Publication.--Nigger-Wool Swamp and
+          its Outlaws._
+
+
+The more William thought about it, the more convinced he became that his
+theory was correct, and he took steps to verify his suspicions by
+placing a watch upon Mrs. Farrington's movements. He also made
+arrangements to get possession of any letters that might come for her,
+and then, being hastily recalled by the superintendent of the express
+company, he hurried back to Union City.
+
+He there learned that, during his absence, Clark had talked with both
+Lester and his wife. The latter had warned him of his danger, and he had
+then disappeared in the cane-brake. The men stationed at Lester's for
+the express purpose of arresting any of the robbers who might come
+there, had been either unaware of Clark's visit, or else they had been
+afraid to attempt his capture, and he had escaped again when almost
+within our grasp. William had, therefore, been called back by telegraph
+to take charge of the men engaged in beating through the cane-brake, as
+it had been clearly demonstrated that, without a determined leader,
+these men were no more useful than a flock of sheep. The hunt went on
+for several days with no results whatever, while at the same time scouts
+patroled the highways, and other men kept watch upon the ferries and
+fords for many miles around.
+
+While this was going on, the express agent at Gillem Station was keeping
+a close watch upon Mrs. Farrington, when suddenly she announced her
+intention of going to join her sons in Texas. Instead of sending word to
+William at once, the agent began operations on his own account, and when
+Mrs. Farrington arrived at Waverly, Tennessee, he caused her arrest. She
+had started with two new wagons and a complete outfit for an overland
+journey of some length, so that her progress could not have been very
+rapid, and nothing would have been lost by waiting for instructions; but
+the insane desire to play detective seemed to overpower all other
+considerations in the minds of the company's agents, and she was
+arrested by the sheriff and a _posse_ of citizens. Her salutation to the
+officer who stopped her settled the question of identity at once, for,
+on being told that she would be obliged to let him search her wagons for
+certain men, she replied:
+
+"Oh! yes; I know what you want. You would like to find my two sons and
+Barton for the express robbery; but you will never catch them, for they
+are not now in this country, and they will never be taken alive."
+
+This piece of information led the express agent to take the only
+sensible step of his whole proceeding. Mrs. Farrington had two negro
+families with her, some of whom had belonged to her before the war; and,
+with the personal attachment noticeable in many of the colored people,
+they were now desirous of going West with her. It occurred to the agent
+that some of them, from their confidential relations to the family,
+might be able to give some information as to the whereabouts of the
+boys. The negroes were, therefore, taken separately and closely
+examined, until one of the men was urgently persuaded to reveal what he
+knew. He said that Levi, Hillary, and Barton had committed the robbery,
+and that they had since been at Mrs. Farrington's together. According to
+an agreement between the mother and her sons, she was to start for
+Texas, passing through Nigger-Wool Swamp, on the west side of the
+Mississippi, and the two eldest sons were to meet her in the swamp, when
+they would determine where to go.
+
+The agent also learned that the men had arrived at their mother's house
+Friday evening, November 10, and that a man who had gone there to sell
+her a wagon had been met by Hillary Farrington with a shot-gun; on
+seeing that it was a neighbor, however, Hillary had lowered his gun and
+allowed him to come in. It was also learned that the three desperadoes
+had been seen at the house of the Farringtons' uncle, named Douglas, on
+Hurricane Creek, about ten miles from Waverly; again, on Monday, they
+had been noticed at Hurricane Mills, making their way to Fowler's
+Landing, on the Tennessee River between Florence and Johnsonville,
+fourteen miles from the last-named place. It was evident that they
+intended to strike across the country below Reel's Foot Lake, and cross
+the Mississippi at some point between Columbus and Memphis. The men were
+all well mounted and armed, and they had changed their personal
+appearance somewhat by altering the arrangement of their hair, whiskers,
+and beards.
+
+The arrest of Mrs. Farrington was a most unfortunate blunder, since it
+disclosed to the criminals how close had been their pursuit, while
+little really important information was obtained. It was a good
+illustration of the danger of taking any decided step in a criminal
+investigation before knowing to a certainty that some good result would
+be obtained. The parties thus learned that we were not only aware of
+their identity, but also that we were very close upon their track, and
+the danger, as well as the difficulty, of the case was largely
+increased. These men were desperadoes of the most reckless type, and
+they would not have hesitated a moment to lie in ambush and kill their
+pursuers, if they had found it possible to do so.
+
+In order to intercept the fugitives before reaching the swampy country
+near the Mississippi, the number of scouts and patrolling parties was
+increased by the superintendent of the express company, and two men,
+named Ball and Bledsoe, were engaged to follow Mrs. Farrington on
+horseback until her sons should join her in Nigger-Wool Swamp. This
+would have been a sensible and necessary move if the right kind of men
+had been employed; but the selection of untrained men for the delicate
+and important work of "shadowing" such an experienced gang of villains
+was risky in the extreme. Had they ever met Barton and the Farringtons,
+the latter would have undoubtedly murdered both of them without scruple;
+but there was no danger of such a meeting, since the robbers, and Mrs.
+Farrington also, were perfectly aware of the presence of their pursuers
+from the start. Indeed, they afterward stated that it had been their
+intention to have led the detectives on as far as the wild, unsettled
+country of Western Missouri, and to have then hanged them in some
+unfrequented spot, placing the inscription "Horse-thief" upon each of
+the bodies. Subsequent events prevented them from carrying out this
+plan, but there was no doubt that they would have taken that or some
+other equally daring means of ridding themselves of pursuit. The manner
+in which Ball and Bledsoe exposed their intentions wherever they went
+showed the inexperience of both men in such work; for, along the whole
+route over which they passed, they were known as officers tracking a
+band of thieves; and we afterward learned that, while they were
+innocently and unsuspectingly following Mrs. Farrington, two of the men,
+Barton and Clark, were almost continually watching them. However, they
+had been started on their mission by the superintendent before William
+could make any other arrangements, as he was away at Lester's Landing
+when the chase began.
+
+From William's reports to me, I saw the uselessness of maintaining such
+a body of men in the work of scouting, watching ferries, and beating the
+cane-brake, for the reason that no good could come of it. I knew that if
+the robbers could escape from Lester's Landing and make their way to
+Gillem Station once, they could do it again. Clark (or Hillary
+Farrington) had been at Lester's early Thursday morning, while guards
+were stationed all about; yet, on Saturday morning he was at his
+mother's farm, and no one had even seen him on the way. This convinced
+me that they had such a knowledge of the country as to make it
+impossible to stop them by any system of guards or patrols, and I
+therefore wrote several letters asking that the superintendent discharge
+this expensive force at once, and allow me to manage the whole operation
+by my own plans and with my own men. While William, therefore, was at
+work with indefatigable energy and perseverance, scouting and following
+up all the reports brought in by the vast army of volunteer detectives
+in the company's employ, we were both satisfied that the method adopted
+was useless, and that even the ferry guards would discover nothing.
+Knowing the character of the three desperadoes, I had no doubt of their
+sagacity in avoiding observation and pursuit; they would never try to
+cross without knowing positively whether the ferry was guarded, and if
+there should be any real danger, they would undoubtedly steal a skiff
+and make their horses swim across the river, a feat of no great risk in
+the then low condition of the water.
+
+About this time an incident occurred which added greatly to William's
+popularity in Union City, and gained for him the respect and kindly
+feeling of the community. On Sunday two roughs, having drank enough bad
+whisky to be absolutely fiendish, began to beat an old and inoffensive
+negro whom they happened to meet. A merchant, named Blakemore, who was
+passing at the time, stopped to remonstrate with the ruffians, when one
+of them turned and plunged a knife into his stomach, inflicting a wound
+which caused his death next day. The murderer was the terror of the
+town, and so great was the fear of him that he would have probably
+escaped had not William appeared on the street as he rushed away
+flourishing his bloody knife and threatening to kill any one who should
+stand in his way. The sight of William's heavy revolver leveled at his
+head, backed by the certainty which he saw in William's face that death
+or surrender was his only alternative, caused him to choose the latter,
+and he was lodged in jail to await his trial for murder. The people of
+the town were quite enthusiastic over the way in which William had
+brought the fellow to bay, and then compelled his surrender; and they
+even went so far as to say that he was "a good fellow, a very good
+fellow indeed--for a Yankee."
+
+On the twentieth of November an unfortunate publicity was given to our
+operations by the publication in the Union City _Journal_ of a long
+history of the Farringtons, showing their whole career of crime, and
+terminating with an account of their latest exploit, as developed by our
+investigations in and about Union City. It is unnecessary to state the
+source whence this information was derived, further than to say that it
+was not obtained from any member of my force. It was a very dangerous
+piece of news to be published, since it might have wholly overthrown all
+our plans, besides involving the death of two or three men engaged in
+the operation; fortunately, the robbers were undoubtedly across the
+Mississippi by that time, and beyond the reach of newspapers for some
+weeks at least.
+
+On the same day that this matter was published, Mrs. Farrington crossed
+the Mississippi River at Bird's Point, opposite Cairo, and the fact was
+reported to William and to me by telegraph. We had previously learned
+that Mrs. Farrington had relatives in Springfield, Missouri, and in Dade
+County, in the same State, and the probabilities were that, instead of
+going to Texas, she was going to visit in one of these places.
+Meanwhile, though my opinion was that her sons intended to rejoin her
+somewhere, either in Nigger-Wool Swamp or at her place of destination, I
+had no certainty that such was their intention; and, bearing in mind the
+warning they had received by her arrest at Waverly (and possibly by
+reading the newspaper article previously mentioned), I felt that every
+clue must be carefully traced, even though it might lead in an exactly
+opposite direction from that in which our previous suspicions had caused
+us to look. My correspondents and agents in Louisville, Cincinnati, St.
+Louis, and New Orleans were, therefore, kept on the alert to capture the
+men if they should venture into those cities, while I held three
+determined men ready to go at once in pursuit of Mrs. Farrington, in
+case she should take the route through Nigger-Wool Swamp.
+
+It will be remembered that one of the negroes accompanying Mrs.
+Farrington had stated that her sons were to join her in that swamp; now,
+there were three possibilities about this statement: first, the negro
+might have lied; second, he might have been so informed by the old lady
+on purpose to give a false scent in case he should be questioned; and,
+third, while their intention might have been to meet there, subsequent
+events might have altered their plans. Still, thinking the subject over
+carefully, I decided that she would not take so difficult a course
+unless she really intended to meet her sons there. My reasons for so
+thinking were based upon the nature of the place, and, to comprehend my
+solicitude about Nigger-Wool Swamp, a description of it will be
+necessary.
+
+The swamp is more than seventy miles long by about thirty-five miles
+wide, and, as a piece of bottomless ooze, its superior cannot be found
+in the United States. There are just two roads crossing it, one running
+from Hall's Ferry, at Point Pleasant, Missouri, and the other from
+Mitchell's Ferry, thirty-five miles below. These roads are mere
+bog-paths in themselves, being heavily overlaid with underbrush and
+corduroy logs, yet they afford the only means of crossing this vast
+morass. The period of the annual overflow turns it into a turbid,
+sluggish lake, the roads being then deeply buried under water; but even
+in the dryest seasons the greater portion of the swamp is a bottomless
+slime of mud and putrefying vegetation. Large tracts of thickly-wooded
+land are contained within the limits of the swamp, and these constitute
+a semi-substantial basis for the two roads which run through them; but
+even these clumps are impassable at most seasons, except along the
+artificially-constructed roads. Sometimes, for miles and miles, nothing
+but the rankest of swamp-vegetation is seen, growing in wild profusion
+and covering the treacherous ooze with a close network of leaves and
+branches, until the surface looks firm enough to be taken for solid
+ground; but should any unfortunate traveler venture to cross such a
+spot, his limbs would be clogged by these clinging water-plants, his
+feet would find no secure resting-place, and, sinking rapidly deeper and
+deeper into the mire, his bones would find a sepulcher where nothing but
+a general natural convulsion would ever disturb them.
+
+Still, there are occasional islands of firm ground through this section,
+and these have become the resort of lawless characters of every
+nationality and degree of crime. Over the entrance to Nigger-Wool Swamp
+might be placed, with perfect truthfulness, the motto: "Who enters here
+leaves hope behind." Each man is a law unto himself, and he must
+maintain his rights by the strong arm and the ready shot-gun. In one
+thing only are the dwellers of the swamp united, namely: a bitter and
+deadly resistance to the law. No officer of justice ventures therein to
+perform any of the duties of his office; unless backed by a powerful
+body of determined men, he would never return alive, and, if so
+accompanied, he would never succeed in catching a glimpse of any
+criminal whom he might be seeking.
+
+About the middle of the swamp, the two roads cross each other at a spot
+called "The Gates," and every person traveling through either way must
+pass this place. Knowing this fact, I felt sure that Mrs. Farrington
+would await the arrival of her sons at "The Gates," in case she entered
+the swamp, and I determined that, in such an event, I should try to
+capture them there. I was fully aware of the danger of such an attempt,
+but I knew that to take the bull by the horns is sometimes the safest
+means of overpowering him. To send officers to that point with the
+avowed purpose of arresting any one, would be equivalent to sending them
+to their certain death, and I had no intention of doing anything of the
+kind; but I had men of my force who could visit Nigger-Wool Swamp for
+the professed purpose of hiding there from pursuit for alleged crimes,
+and, when the moment came for action, I did not doubt that they would
+bring out their men before the neighboring outlaws could discover their
+object.
+
+Everything depended upon the course Mrs. Farrington should take on
+leaving the Mississippi River, since by striking north from the point
+where she crossed, she could skirt the edge of the swamp, while if she
+turned south toward Point Pleasant, I should know that she intended to
+carry out her original programme. This question was quickly settled,
+however, not only by the reports of the scouts, Ball and Bledsoe, who
+were following Mrs. Farrington, but also by an unexpected piece of
+intelligence from Gillem Station. Mrs. Farrington moved about twenty or
+twenty-five miles each day, and, from the fact that she went north to
+Fredericktown, there was no doubt that she had changed her plan of
+meeting her sons in Nigger-Wool Swamp.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER VII.
+
+    _The Scene of Action transferred to Missouri.--The Chase becoming
+          Hot._
+
+
+On the twenty-second of November, William learned that a letter had
+arrived at Gillem Station, postmarked Verona, Missouri, November 13, and
+he immediately took measures to obtain this letter. Three days later he
+learned its contents, which were of such an important character as to
+give a new direction to our efforts. The letter read as follows:
+
+                              "VERONA, MO., Nov. 13, 1871.
+
+     "MY DEAR COUSIN:
+
+     "I seat myself to answer your kind letter, which came to hand last
+     evening, and was glad to hear from you, and hear you was well and
+     doing well. I have nothing new to write, only that we are all well
+     at present, hoping that when these few lines come to hand they may
+     find you well and doing well as ever, as you say you have been
+     doing very well. It must be a good thing if it could stay so.
+     Sometimes it was well and sometimes it wasn't, but I hope it will
+     stay so, as you say it is a soft thing--as soft as things gets to
+     be. I would like to see something like that, you bet. You talk like
+     it can't be beat. That is the thing to take in. I think, and I know
+     you think it, for I saw your name. I guess I did see you. You know
+     Mr. Crapmel? He is a great fellow; you bet it is so. I have nothing
+     more to write at present, as you said you are going to start out
+     here. You said you was coming by here. Cousin, if you do come by,
+     we don't live where we did when you were here; we live two miles
+     nearer Verona. Come the same road. We live now half mile off the
+     road on John Ellis' place. You can find out where we live anywhere.
+     Come out the same road you did when you came before. John Timothy
+     has just come out here; has been out here about three weeks. He is
+     well satisfied here. So I will close for this time.
+
+                  "From your cousin,
+                        "J. M. DURHAM.
+
+     "M. F. sends her love to all of the family. Excuse my bad writing
+     and bad spelling."
+
+It was evident that Mrs. Farrington had previously written to her cousin
+informing him of her intention to visit him soon, and this letter was
+intended to direct her to the new location. The allusions in the letter
+to the "good thing" in which she was engaged showed that the writer had
+been made aware of the Farringtons' success as express robbers, and that
+he quite approved of their operations.
+
+On reading this letter, William sent a copy to me immediately, and
+suggested that one or two good men be sent to Verona to get work near
+this man Durham, and to get into the confidence of the family, so that,
+when Mrs. Farrington should arrive, she would not be likely to suspect
+any one who had come before her. I fully approved of William's plan,
+and, on the last day of November, Detectives George W. Cottrell and
+Arthur C. Marriott started for Verona. I inferred that the people in
+that vicinity were rather lawless and desperate characters, from the
+fact that Durham spoke of "John Timothy" being well satisfied there. On
+the principle that "birds of a feather flock together," I judged the
+Farringtons, the Durhams, and this fellow Timothy to belong to the same
+type of people; hence, I concluded that, if Durham and Timothy were
+satisfied with the country, the people living there must be congenial
+spirits, especially since Mrs. Farrington was about to make a place of
+refuge in that vicinity.
+
+My two men were detained a day in St. Louis, and they did not arrive in
+Verona until the second of December. The first thing they noticed about
+the town was the total absence of liquor saloons, and a few minutes'
+conversation with one or two of the citizens convinced them that no more
+orderly, honest, law-abiding community existed in Missouri than the
+population of Lawrence County. This discovery made a marked change in
+their plans necessary, as my instructions to them had been based upon
+the supposition that they would find a number of robbers, horse-thieves,
+and counterfeiters around Verona, and that they would be easily able to
+get Durham's confidence by appearing as reckless and desperate as any
+one. They had each prepared a choice autobiography for use among the
+residents, and, according to their own intended accounts of themselves,
+two greater scoundrels never went unhung.
+
+All this was necessarily useless in the changed circumstances
+surrounding them. To attempt the _role_ of criminal characters, hiding
+from justice, would quickly cause their banishment from the place, or
+possibly their arrest, and a new plan was essential. Their instructions
+had been that they should not put any confidence in any one, and they
+were obliged to invent a plausible reason for their presence there; also
+to have some business which would enable them to ride about the country,
+making inquiries and scouting for Mrs. Farrington and her sons.
+
+Finding that the railroad company had a land agent in Verona, Cottrell
+decided to represent themselves as would-be purchasers of land. This
+would give them an excuse for going all over the county, examining
+different farms and unimproved tracts. They were introduced to Mr.
+Purdy, the land agent, by the hotel clerk, and from him they obtained a
+map of the county. It was then agreed that Mr. Purdy should go out with
+Cottrell and Marriott on Tuesday, December 5, to look at some pieces of
+property which the railroad company wished to sell. During Sunday and
+Monday both of the detectives were trying to learn where Durham lived,
+but no one seemed to know; neither could any one tell them anything
+about John Ellis, upon whose farm Durham had said he was living. The
+idea that Mrs. Farrington was rapidly pushing west, toward Durham's
+place, made Cottrell very anxious to begin operations as quickly as
+possible, since, if she should arrive before the detectives were
+established in the vicinity, there would be great difficulty in working
+into her confidence, as she would instantly suspect their true
+character; whereas, if she should find them already there, she would
+have no possible occasion to distrust them. They therefore thought best
+to confide the real object of their visit to Mr. Purdy, the land agent,
+and to ask his advice and assistance. Mr. Purdy had been an officer in
+the Union army during the war of the rebellion, and had settled in
+Verona at the close of the war. He was evidently an honorable man, who
+would always be found on the side of law and order, and as he was very
+popular in Verona, he would be able to give them a great deal of
+assistance in capturing the Farrington party. On communicating with me
+by telegraph on this point, they stated the facts briefly, and I
+authorized them to confer with Mr. Purdy on the subject, at the same
+time forwarding full instructions by letter.
+
+On Tuesday, therefore, they told the whole story to Mr. Purdy, and
+showed him their credentials. He was quite astonished at their
+revelations, but he was very hearty and sincere in his expressions of
+good will toward them, and he promised to aid them in every possible
+way. He knew John Ellis quite well, having sold him the farm on which
+he was living, and he had heard of Durham, who hired a small portion of
+the Ellis farm. He said that if force should be necessary to capture the
+Farrington party, he could raise fifty determined men in ten minutes to
+help the officers. He said that after the war Verona had been a very bad
+place for a short time, but that, as Eastern men began to settle there,
+the respectable people had tried to drive out the hard cases; this had
+been slow work at first, but they eventually had been completely
+successful; they not only had driven out the dangerous characters, but
+they had closed all the liquor saloons also; and now, having once got
+rid of them, they would take care not to let any of that class of people
+back again.
+
+Mr. Purdy was called away for a day or two on business, but he promised,
+on his return, to go with the detectives to Durham's place, and,
+meantime, he said he would speak of them as gentlemen who intended
+buying land in that section, and who wished to ride over the country
+until they found a place which satisfied them. During the next three
+days, therefore, they learned nothing new, their time being occupied in
+scouting the road along which they expected Mrs. Farrington to come.
+
+Thus the first week of December passed, and the operation was not
+progressing very favorably anywhere. Ball and Bledsoe had reported Mrs.
+Farrington's route up to the thirtieth of November, and she had moved
+quite rapidly up to that date, but nothing had been learned since, and I
+expected to hear of her arrival at Verona every day. She had gone from
+Cairo to Frederickstown, Missouri, and thence to Ironton; then, instead
+of following a direct road, she had struck up north to Potosi, in
+Washington County; again taking a westerly route, she had passed through
+Steelville, Crawford County, and on the thirtieth of November, she had
+camped at Waynesville, Pulaski County. Beyond this we knew nothing of
+her movements, although by the eighth of December she had had ample time
+to reach Verona.
+
+William had spent this week in following up a clue received from
+Louisville, Kentucky. It will be remembered that about November 9, a
+pair of dashing women had been reported as having visited the banks in
+Kansas City, trying to get large bills for about eight thousand dollars
+in small bills. I had not believed the story at that time, and therefore
+had taken no steps to follow them. When William learned from Louisville,
+however, that a woman named Annie Martin, whom Levi Farrington had been
+in the habit of supporting on the proceeds of his robberies, had been
+staying there with another woman named Lillie Baker, who had sustained
+the same relations to Barton, it occurred to him that these might have
+been the women who were said to have been in Kansas City with so much
+money. He started at once for Louisville, at the same time telegraphing
+to me his suspicions in the matter, and I began inquiries again in
+Kansas City by telegraph. I could learn very little except from the
+teller of one bank, who described the women as well as he could remember
+their appearance; but the description was not accurate enough to
+determine whether these two women had or had not been Annie Martin and
+Lillie Baker. In Louisville, however, William learned that these women
+had been there recently, and they had appeared to be well supplied with
+money. They had not remained very long, but had gone to New Orleans,
+where they were then living in good style. As Mr. O'Brien, the general
+superintendent of the express company, was in New Orleans, the
+information was sent to him, and he agreed to have a sharp watch kept to
+discover Farrington and Barton, in case they should follow these women.
+
+On the eighth of December, Cottrell, Marriott, and Mr. Purdy started on
+horseback to visit John Ellis's farm, where the Durhams lived. About a
+mile before arriving there, they met a farmer named Wisbey, who was a
+neighbor of Ellis and the Durhams. Without letting him into their
+confidence, they talked with him a long time, and gradually drew out a
+number of important facts. The Durham family consisted of two brothers
+and a young sister living with their mother, old Mrs. Durham, and they
+rented a small house on a part of the Ellis farm. Nothing positive had
+ever been discovered against the character of either James or Tilman
+Durham, but the neighbors had a poor opinion of them, and kept a pretty
+close watch upon their actions. During the previous fall a young man
+had visited them for some time, and his description was exactly that of
+Levi Farrington; but Wisbey could not tell his name, though he promised
+to learn it, and let Mr. Purdy know Mr. Wisbey was a downright honest,
+intelligent man, and Mr. Purdy asked him to learn everything possible
+about the Durhams and their visitors; in case any wagons should arrive,
+it was agreed that he should send word to Mr. Purdy instantly. There was
+no occasion for telling him the whole story, as he was quite willing to
+undertake the trust on the strength of Mr. Purdy's request, without
+asking further particulars; and, as he was a thoroughly discreet man,
+there was little danger that he would betray his mission by idle
+talking. The detectives and Mr. Purdy then returned to Verona, it being
+considered undesirable that they should visit the Durhams, lest they
+might possibly excite suspicion.
+
+The day following their visit to Wisbey, he arrived in Verona and told
+Cottrell that he had sent his son-in-law, Mr. Stone, to see Jim Durham,
+and the latter had said that he was expecting the arrival of some
+relatives very soon. He had learned further that the young man who had
+visited Durham in the latter part of the previous September had given
+his name as Levi Farrington, and had passed as the beau of the young
+Durham girl. In speaking of him, Jim Durham had told Mr. Stone that he
+did not wish his sister to marry Farrington, as the latter was a
+dangerous man, and had recently killed a man in a quarrel, while those
+who stood about were too much afraid of him to arrest him. Mr. Wisbey
+then returned home, with instructions to alternate with Mr. Stone in
+secretly watching Durham's place, so that every occurrence might be at
+once reported.
+
+On the tenth of December I received a dispatch from Mr. O'Brien, saying
+that the express agent at Springfield, Missouri, had telegraphed to him
+on the eighth that the wagons of Mrs. Farrington's party had camped five
+miles from Springfield, and that the three men were known to be sixty
+miles south of Rolla. Mr. O'Brien therefore requested me to send a good
+detective to meet Connell in St. Louis, whence they would go together to
+capture the men at Rolla. I at once sent one of my best men, named
+Martin Galway, with instructions to join Connell, and, in case the Rolla
+report should prove to be a false alarm, they were to go on to Verona to
+assist Cottrell and Marriott. I had hardly completed my instructions to
+Galway, ere I received a telegram in cipher from Cottrell, as follows:
+
+"Levi Farrington and a man calling himself George Cousins are at
+Durham's. They came on Thursday evening. Shall I arrest them? I can get
+all the help I need."
+
+I immediately replied, also by a cipher dispatch, as follows:
+
+"Are you sure it is Levi Farrington? His brother and Barton will
+probably be at Verona soon. We must get the whole. I think they will
+come from Douglas County. Probably Connell and Galway will be with you
+by Monday or Tuesday night; they can identify the men. Mrs. Farrington
+will be at Durham's by Sunday night or Monday morning. Keep a cool,
+clear head, and advise with Purdy. Have written by mail to-night. Keep
+me posted. William will arrive by Tuesday."
+
+At the same time I wrote full instructions to Cottrell, ordering him to
+keep a close watch upon the men at Durham's, but to take no action until
+William should arrive, unless they attempted to go away. I did not alter
+Galway's instructions, but I telegraphed to William to start for Verona
+at once, to take charge of the operations there. The chase was now
+becoming hot, and a few days would decide the question of success or
+failure. I had reason to believe that the outlaws would not be taken
+without a desperate resistance, and I was anxious to have William
+present to direct the attack.
+
+On Sunday, the tenth, Cottrell and Marriott rode out to see Wisbey, who
+met them just outside of Verona and informed them that Levi Farrington
+had arrived at Jim Durham's late Thursday night, accompanied by a young
+man named George Cousins. They did not receive my reply to their
+telegram announcing this fact until late that day, and so they could do
+nothing toward satisfying themselves as to Levi Farrington's identity
+until next morning, when they visited Wisbey at his own house. Mr.
+Stone, Wisbey's son-in-law, had met a man named Smothers, who worked
+for Jim Durham, and Smothers had told him all about the two men who had
+just arrived. According to their own account, they had left Mrs.
+Farrington at Ash Grove, in Greene County, where she was going to buy a
+farm, Levi having given her five thousand dollars for that purpose; Levi
+and Cousins were on their way to Kansas, where they intended to settle
+down to raise cattle; Levi's brother was said to be at Lester's Landing
+for the purpose of selling off a stock of groceries which they owned
+there. Both men were well armed, having three navy revolvers and a
+shot-gun.
+
+When this news was transmitted to me by telegraph, I decided that this
+man Cousins must be Barton, and that Hillary Farrington might possibly
+be at Lester's Landing, as they said. I therefore telegraphed to
+William, who I knew would be in St. Louis that day, _en route_ to
+Verona, that he had better take Connell and Galway back to Lester's to
+capture Hillary, while Cottrell and Marriott undertook the arrest of
+Levi and Barton at Durham's. I also sent a dispatch to Cottrell to take
+no steps for their arrest until after William should have captured
+Hillary.
+
+William, having previously thoroughly examined the contents of the store
+at Lester's, knew that they were not worth over two hundred dollars, and
+he telegraphed me to that effect, suggesting that it was improbable that
+Hillary should run so much risk for so small a sum. On learning this
+fact, I coincided with him, and ordered him to go on to Verona, as I had
+originally intended. I desired that he should keep the Durham place
+carefully watched until the arrival of the other Farrington, who, I
+believed, would soon join the rest of the party; then, in case he
+arrived, we should get all three together; but, if the other two should
+show any signs of moving off, they could be taken at any time.
+
+Mr. O'Brien obtained requisitions from the Governor of Tennessee on the
+Governor of Missouri for the three men, and I felt that success was only
+delayed a day or two at most.
+
+
+
+
+                        CHAPTER VIII.
+
+    _A determined Party of Horsemen.--The Outlaws surrounded and the
+          Birds caged.--A Parley.--An affecting Scene.--The burning
+          Cabin.--Its Occupants finally surrender._
+
+
+While the telegrams were flying back and forth on Tuesday, the twelfth,
+Cottrell and Marriott were busily engaged. Early that morning Mr. Stone
+came to Verona, and told them that he had learned that Farrington and
+Cousins intended to leave Durham's for the Indian Territory the next
+day. The news was doubtless authentic, Stone having heard it from
+Smothers, who had said that Farrington had told him so himself. It was
+clearly impossible to wait for William's arrival, as, by that time, the
+men might be safely hidden in the wild country to the westward. Instant
+action was absolutely necessary, and Cottrell so informed Mr. Purdy, who
+soon gathered a force of eight men. Very little would have been needed
+to obtain even a larger number of recruits, for, had Mr. Purdy and the
+detectives publicly told the story of the men whom they wished to
+capture, there would have been plenty of eager volunteers, all anxious
+to aid in ridding the country of such a band of outlaws. It was not
+deemed advisable, however, to summon a large posse, lest the news might
+spread so fast as to reach the ears of the criminals before the
+detectives could surround them; on this account only a few reliable men
+were let into the secret, and they left town singly and in pairs to
+avoid observation, having a rendezvous outside.
+
+Just before starting, Mr. Purdy received a dispatch from the general
+land agent, ordering him to Pearce City instantly, as several purchasers
+of land were awaiting him there; although he tried to have his visit
+postponed one day, he was unsuccessful, his orders being imperatively
+repeated by telegraph, and so he was unable to accompany the detectives
+and citizens on their expedition to Durham's. The party of eight met the
+detectives outside the town, and they were joined on their way by three
+others, who lived on the road. They were all substantial business men
+or farmers, but they were accustomed to a life in the saddle, and they
+had all borne arms during the war on one side or the other. In spite of
+their present peaceful occupations they were not a body who could be
+trifled with, and it was evident that any gang of desperadoes would find
+their match in these cool, determined, law-abiding men.
+
+A few miles from Verona they met a young lady riding a large brown mule,
+but none of the men in the party knew her. Cottrell felt sure, however,
+that she was Durham's sister, and that she was riding Farrington's mule.
+The descriptions he had received of the girl from Stone and Wisbey
+coincided exactly with her appearance, while the mule could not be
+mistaken. He therefore sent a man back to watch her, lest she should
+have taken alarm at so large a cavalcade of armed men. She rode on to
+Verona, however, without showing any signs of uneasiness, and the scout
+soon overtook the party.
+
+On arriving one mile from Wisbey's, Marriott went on to Stone's house
+with six men, while Cottrell went to Wisbey's with the other five. Stone
+and Wisbey soon gathered a number of the neighbors, among whom was John
+Ellis, who owned the house and land where the Durhams were living; he
+was a very highly respected citizen, and was not at all displeased at
+the idea of getting rid of his semi-disreputable tenants. The management
+of the affair was then unanimously voted to Cottrell, and the party
+rode rapidly toward the Durham house. It was situated at the edge of a
+clearing, with underbrush and woodland close to it on three sides, so
+that great caution was necessary, lest the villains should see them
+approaching, and escape into the woods. At a reasonable distance from
+the house, therefore, the party divided, a part, under Marriott's
+direction, dismounting and making their way to the rear of the house on
+foot. When sufficient time had elapsed to enable the latter party to
+surround the house, Cottrell, with the remainder, dashed up to the front
+of the house and spread out, so as to make sure that no one should
+escape. As they approached, a man, who proved to be Jim Durham, appeared
+on the porch and asked what they wanted; to which Cottrell replied that
+he wanted the men in the house.
+
+The words had hardly passed his lips ere Barton sprang into the open
+doorway with a navy revolver leveled at Cottrell; but, seeing that the
+latter, as well as several others, had him covered, he shut the door
+quickly and started for the back of the house. By this time, however,
+the cordon of guards had drawn close around, and, as he emerged at the
+rear, he found himself confronted by half a dozen determined men, who
+ordered him to surrender. He then hastily tried to close the back door
+also, and pointed his revolver through the crack; but the discharge of
+several shots, which struck close to him, caused him to withdraw his
+pistol and tightly close the door. It was evident that the birds were
+caged at last, and it was now only a question of time when they would be
+taken; as it was only one o'clock in the afternoon, there were still
+four hours of daylight to conduct the siege.
+
+Jim Durham, when he saw the rifles and revolvers of so large a force
+pointed at him, was thoroughly frightened, and he begged piteously that
+they would not shoot him. Cottrell placed his men behind trees, fences,
+and other protections, so as to be safe from any attempt to pick them
+off by the men in the house, and yet to guard every means of exit from
+the place; he then called Jim Durham out and searched him, finding
+nothing but a single-barreled pistol. He then sent Jim to the door of
+the house to summon the men inside to surrender, telling them that he
+was determined to have them--alive if possible, but if not, dead.
+
+They refused to surrender, saying that they would kill any man who
+should approach the house. When Durham brought back their answer,
+Cottrell sent word that he would give them five minutes in which to
+decide whether they would yield peaceably or be burned out and shot to
+death. Just then Mrs. Durham, the mother of the Durham boys, begged
+Cottrell to allow her to go speak to Farrington and Barton, as she
+believed she could induce them to surrender. Accordingly, she went to
+the front window and implored them not to have the house burned down, as
+all her household goods would be destroyed. They replied that they might
+as well die inside as to come out and be shot down. Cottrell sent back
+word that they should be treated like all other prisoners if they would
+pass out their arms and surrender quietly; but if they tried to fight or
+resist, they would surely be killed.
+
+As they still refused, Jim Durham was sent to barricade the doors with
+fence rails, so that they should not be able to rush out unexpectedly.
+He whined and complained that the men inside would shoot him, but he was
+obliged to go, and though they did threaten him, he was able to crawl up
+and lay the rails without getting within range. The house was a solid
+log cabin, with only two doors and very few windows, so that it was
+possible to approach it in one or two directions without exposure to a
+fire from within. When the doors had been securely barricaded, Cottrell
+ordered him to get on the roof, which was a common shingle roof, and set
+fire to the house. Mrs. Durham was carrying on at a great rate, first
+begging Farrington to surrender, and then praying to Cottrell not to
+burn her property. John Ellis, to whom the house belonged, gave full
+permission to burn it, and a fire was built in the open air to make
+brands to set it afire.
+
+Mrs. Durham was allowed to make one more appeal to the ruffians inside,
+but they would not listen to her entreaties. They asked her, however,
+what kind of a looking man Cottrell was, and what he wanted to arrest
+them for. Cottrell was standing near enough to hear the question, and
+after Mrs. Durham had described his appearance, he told them that he
+wanted them for an express robbery; that he would treat them kindly if
+they should yield peaceably; but if they should refuse this, his last
+offer, he should set fire to the house and shoot them down as they ran
+out. He said he had no wish to kill them, but that he was determined
+they should not escape; rather than allow them to get away, he would
+have them shot on sight; but they would be protected and brought to
+trial if they would surrender.
+
+To this they replied that they intended killing some of their besiegers
+first, anyhow. Finding further parley useless, therefore, Cottrell gave
+the order to burn the building, and Durham was forced to carry the
+embers and brands to burn his own premises. Just at this time, the young
+girl, whom they had met riding a mule toward Verona, rode up to the
+house and asked what was the matter. As Cottrell had surmised, this was
+Miss Durham, and she was very much frightened at what she saw.
+
+The afternoon sun was buried in a deep bank of clouds, so that the
+twilight was rapidly drawing on, there being just enough light to show
+the barricaded doors, the deserted porch, and the determined men
+scattered around, with shot-guns and rifles pointed at the low log
+cabin, above which a frightened man stood out in bold relief against the
+sky, tearing off the shingles and piling them upon a glowing flame at
+his feet. Everything was now hushed in deathly silence, and it needed
+no explanation for any one to understand that a bloody tragedy was about
+to occur if that flame should be allowed to envelop the building. It was
+now the prison of its two occupants, but only a short time would elapse
+before it would be their tomb.
+
+[Illustration: _Burning out the Outlaws!_]
+
+On seeing the situation, Miss Durham asked to be allowed to speak to the
+men, as she said she knew they would listen to her. On Cottrell's
+refusal to hold any more parley with them, she burst into tears, threw
+her arms around his neck, and implored him to let her speak to Barton
+just once, if only for five minutes. Finally, seeing that most of his
+party wished to give the girl a chance to speak to her sweetheart,
+Cottrell said that she could have three minutes to obtain their arms; if
+they surrendered immediately, the fire should be put out; but, if they
+should still refuse, their last chance of saving the house and their
+lives would be gone. Miss Durham then went to the window, and talked
+with the men in the most imploring manner, urging them not to sacrifice
+themselves, as they would surely do if they remained in the burning
+house. Her entreaties did not seem to affect them at first; and, as the
+flames were then beginning to gather strength, Cottrell ordered her to
+come away from the house, and leave them to their fate. She made one
+more appeal, and Barton handed her a navy revolver; then Farrington did
+the same, and she brought them to Cottrell, saying that they would
+surrender if they could be sure that their lives would be spared.
+Cottrell told her to go back and get the rest of their arms, and assure
+them that they should be taken to Tennessee for trial. She soon returned
+with another revolver and a shot-gun, and said that the men would come
+out. Cottrell therefore removed the rails, opened the front door, and
+called them out--Barton coming first, and then Farrington. The latter
+proved to be Hillary, not Levi, as he had called himself. It was not
+known why he had used his brother's name, but it was supposed that
+Hillary had taken his name to enable him to prove an _alibi_ in case he
+should be arrested.
+
+Cottrell's party first secured the prisoners with ropes, and then
+assisted Jim Durham to extinguish the fire on the roof; the latter was
+quite rotten, and it had burned so slowly that very little damage had
+been done. The prisoners were thoroughly searched, but nothing of any
+consequence was found upon them, the total of their funds being less
+than three dollars. A prolonged search through the house revealed
+nothing of importance, except the fact that it was quite an arsenal for
+arms, there being found six navy revolvers, two double-barreled
+shot-guns, and a Spencer repeating rifle. The siege had lasted nearly
+three hours, and, another hour having been spent in searching the house
+and saddling their animals, it was nearly dark by the time they started
+for Verona. Farrington and Barton were carefully tied upon the horse and
+mule respectively, and, after thanking the neighboring farmers for their
+assistance, Cottrell took the road back, accompanied by the eleven men
+who belonged in and about Verona. The greatest care was taken that the
+prisoners should have no opportunity for escape, and they were informed
+that any attempt to get away would be the signal for riddling them with
+bullets.
+
+While riding along, Cottrell learned from Barton that the party had been
+very lucky in finding the two men in the house, since their usual custom
+had been to spend the days in the woods, coming in only at night to
+sleep. On this occasion, however, the weather was so cold that they were
+spending the day indoors.
+
+When asked why they had not surrendered before, they both made the same
+reply, namely: that they believed the posse of citizens intended either
+to shoot them immediately, or to hang them after a trial by lynch law.
+
+On arriving in Verona early in the evening, the prisoners were securely
+tied up with ropes, and Cottrell alternated during the night with
+Marriott in watching them. A blacksmith was also called up, and shortly
+after midnight he completed two pair of leg shackles, with which they
+were fastened together. My men were greatly fatigued, having ridden a
+large number of miles every day for a week, and the excitement of the
+affair added, of course, to their prostration, but they resolutely paced
+the floor in alternate four-hour watches, determined that no possible
+loophole for escape should again be afforded to such daring villains as
+these two.
+
+The result of the expedition was, of course, transmitted to me in
+telegraphic cipher at once; but the arrest was kept secret for the time,
+in order to prevent a knowledge of it coming to Levi Farrington, who was
+still at large. According to Barton, Levi was concealed somewhere in
+Tennessee, but this statement was proof positive that he was not in
+Tennessee at all, since Barton's object in telling anything about him
+was evidently intended to mislead us; hence, no faith was put in his
+story, and other steps were taken to capture Levi.
+
+William arrived in Verona on the morning after the fight, and he
+prepared to return with the prisoners to St. Louis by the noon train. It
+was supposed that Levi Farrington was also on his way to the rendezvous
+at Durham's farm, and that he would probably approach by the direct road
+through Douglas County. Cottrell and Marriott were left, therefore, to
+attend to Levi and the old lady, whose whereabouts were still uncertain.
+William saw most of the citizens engaged in the affair, and heartily
+thanked them for their aid; being questioned as to whether they should
+receive the reward of one thousand dollars offered by the express
+company for the capture of the two Farringtons and Barton, he informed
+them that he considered them entitled to it, and that he should
+recommend its payment, but that the matter would be decided by the
+officers of the company. I may here anticipate events somewhat to state
+that the company paid the citizens and farmers a liberal amount for
+their services in capturing the robbers, and a settlement was made which
+was satisfactory to all parties.
+
+William left Verona about noon of the day he arrived, taking Hillary
+Farrington and Barton with him, under guard of Galway and Connell. On
+arriving in St. Louis, he separated the prisoners in order to induce
+Barton to confess; and, after a long conversation, in which he showed
+Barton how conclusive was the evidence against all three of the men, he
+obtained a very full confession, of which the greater part is here given
+exactly as it was taken down from Barton's lips.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER IX.
+
+    _Barton's Confession.--The Express Robberies and the Outlaws'
+          subsequent Experiences fully set forth therein.--A Clue that
+          had been suddenly dropped taken up with so much Profit, that,
+          after a desperate Struggle, another Desperado is Captured._
+
+
+"I am twenty-two years of age," said Barton, "and my native place was
+Columbus, Mississippi. When quite young, I left home and took to
+following the army. About five or six years ago I moved to Normandy,
+Tennessee, and lived with the family of Major Landis, and two or three
+years later, I went to work on the Nashville and Northwestern Railroad
+as a brakeman, remaining as such over two years. About three years since
+I formed the acquaintance of Hillary and Levi Farrington, at Waverly,
+Tennessee. These are the men otherwise known as J. H. Clark and Edward
+J. Russell. Afterward I opened a saloon in Nashville, and Levi
+Farrington visited me there several times. Last April or May he was
+arrested on suspicion of counterfeiting, but as there was no case
+against him, he was discharged. After a short time, I went down to visit
+Levi at Mrs. Farrington's; she lived at the head of Tumbling Run Creek,
+twelve miles back of Gillem Station. Hillary was in jail at Memphis at
+that time, charged with murder and horse-stealing. When he got out of
+jail, Levi, Hillary, and myself all made a trip to Little Rock,
+Arkansas, gambling by throwing three-card monte, and we won about
+thirteen hundred dollars; we then returned to Gillem Station, where we
+remained until the twenty-first of July, this year. During this time,
+Levi, who frequently rode back and forth on the express trains, spoke of
+the feasibility of robbing them.
+
+"On the morning of July 21, Levi, Hillary, and myself left Gillem
+Station for the purpose of robbing the express train at some of the
+stations either on that road or on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. At
+Union City we changed cars, and arrived at Moscow just after dark. The
+plan was, that we all three should enter the car and overpower the
+messenger; but Levi and Hillary were the only ones who entered. I
+remained on the platform of the first passenger coach and kept watch.
+When the train was passing the water tank, they slacked up the speed,
+and we all jumped off and struck for the woods. The messenger had
+nothing whatever to do with this robbery, so far as I was ever informed.
+
+"As I said before, we struck into the woods and reached the river just
+above Hickman, where we stole a fisherman's skiff, and all three of us
+started down the river. Finding that we were pursued, we left the skiff
+on the Tennessee shore, near Island Number Ten. We then took the river
+road and walked back as far as Lester's Landing, arriving there about
+dinner-time, July 23. Levi divided the money, giving me one-third of one
+thousand dollars, which was all, he said, in the safe, although I always
+believed there was more.
+
+"So far as I know, neither of the Farringtons had ever met Lester
+before, and I am sure that I had never set eyes on him until we went to
+his place at this time. On account of the spot being so lonely and
+isolated, Hillary proposed that we put up a store there, as it would be
+a good cover for our actual business. We started the store, and applied
+to the postmaster to establish a post-office, to be known as Lester's
+Landing; our object in this move was, of course, to give an added color
+of respectability and _bona fide_ business to our transactions. From
+this time until the middle of October, I remained at the store nearly
+all the time; Hillary was also there most of the time, but Levi very
+seldom. During one of the latter's western trips, he said he had been
+out to see his Aunt Durham.
+
+"Along in October, Levi proposed that we again strike the express
+company when the train stopped for supper at Union City. Hillary had
+been in the habit of riding back and forth on the engine, and he
+understood how to run a train. Levi suggested that we take a man named
+Bill Taylor into the robbery with us; he was then employed chopping wood
+for Lester, and when Levi approached him on the subject he agreed to go.
+Levi left Lester's a few days before the robbery. Hillary and I did not
+leave until the nineteenth, when we went up to Columbus by steamer,
+taking along a large quantity of fish. Having sold our fish, we took the
+train for Union City, where we arrived the same evening. On getting off
+the train, we met Levi and Bill Taylor on the platform, and the only
+conversation which took place was when Levi asked why we had not arrived
+sooner, to which we replied that we came as soon as we could. The next
+morning we met again, having slept in separate places so as not to
+attract attention, and went down the road some distance toward Hickman.
+While camped in the woods that evening, about ten o'clock, an old man
+named Hicks came along with a bottle of whisky and stopped at our
+camp-fire quite a time. There were present Hillary, Levi, myself, and
+Bill Taylor. We remained in the woods all that night. The next day we
+moved further into the woods toward Hickman, and at night, just at dark,
+we came back to Union City.
+
+"We had been there only a few minutes when the up train came along; she
+stopped and backed down a little ways, when all the train hands left her
+and went to supper. Hillary and Taylor then boarded the engine, and Levi
+and myself jumped aboard the express car. The messenger was eating his
+supper when we went in, and, seeing Levi point a Derringer at him, he
+exclaimed: 'Don't shoot me! I will surrender.' Levi compelled him to
+unlock the safe, and we took all the money. Levi then swung the
+messenger's lantern, and the train stopped, when we all jumped off and
+started down the railroad to Hickman. Our intention was to go to the
+wood-yard near Union City, and steal a ride on a freight train to
+Hickman. We hid under the platform at the wood-yard, and while there
+Levi accidentally shot himself in the thigh; but the wound was very
+slight, and it hardly interfered with his walking. As the freight train
+did not stop, we were obliged to walk to Hickman, where we arrived
+Sunday night. We had had some provisions when we first camped out, which
+Bill Taylor had carried in a valise; but he had left the valise and all
+its contents on the engine, so that we had very little to eat.
+
+"While in the woods we divided the money, but Levi, who carried it,
+showed up only twenty three hundred dollars.
+
+"Sunday night we stole a skiff in Hickman and went down the river to
+James' Bayou, and while there, on Monday morning, we saw Messenger
+Cross, whose car had been robbed, making inquiries about us in a
+grocery-store. We then started off on foot, going down the river on the
+Missouri shore. About a mile below James' Bayou we found the skiff which
+we had previously set adrift, and which had evidently been picked up by
+some one. Taking this skiff again, Hillary, Taylor, and I dropped down
+to a point about a mile above Lester's, leaving Levi on the Missouri
+shore, where we started from. We landed on the Tennessee shore, and
+walked down the river road a short distance, when Taylor left us,
+remaining in the woods. Hillary and I met Lester on the road soon
+afterward, and told him that we had come down on a steamboat which was
+then tied up, on account of the heavy fog. Levi arrived next day, having
+come across the river with a fisherman.
+
+"The following Sunday, October 29, Hillary left on a steamboat, taking
+with him a woman named Slaughter, with whom he said he was going to
+Davidson's wood-yard, nine miles above Cape Girardeau. He expected to
+return in a few days.
+
+"The next thing of any importance which occurred was on the Tuesday
+night following, when Messrs. Pinkerton and Connell rode up to Lester's
+house. At the first glance, I thought they were officers, and Levi told
+me that he thought the same. I saw him pull his pistol out of his
+pocket before getting out of his chair."
+
+[The moment Connell opened the door, Levi knew that he was a detective,
+having seen him acting in that capacity in Memphis, when Hillary was
+arrested for horse-stealing the previous spring.]
+
+"When I made my escape from Lester's house," continued Barton, "I ran
+right back through the cornfield; I heard all the shooting, but did not
+see it. In a short time Levi joined me in the cane-brake back of the
+cornfield. Levi told me that he had had a shooting match with the two
+officers, but he did not know whether he had hit either of them or not;
+they had not hit him, but he had had a very narrow escape.
+
+"After awhile we slipped up to the house, and saw that the officers were
+gone; so we went in, got our supper, and took our pistols, besides a
+shawl and blanket. We then got an old skiff, crossed the river, and
+slept in the woods on the Missouri shore. The next day we remained under
+cover until nightfall, when we recrossed the river, and went through the
+woods to Union City, spending Wednesday night and Thursday in the woods
+on the way. On Thursday night we took the train from Union City to
+Gillem Station. The conductor of the train was Conductor Roberts, on
+whose run I had formerly been brakeman; and, being afraid he might
+recognize me, I laid down in my seat and covered up my face, while Levi
+paid both fares. We arrived at Gillem Station about three o'clock in
+the morning, and reached Mrs. Farrington's house about daylight.
+
+"I gave Mrs. Farrington five hundred and fifty dollars in money to keep
+for me, this amount being the proceeds of both express robberies, and
+she still has it in her possession. Before leaving Lester's, Hillary had
+given most of his money to Levi to take to their mother to keep for him,
+and Levi left with her nearly the whole of his share of the plunder
+also.
+
+"We had been at Mrs. Farrington's a week when Hillary arrived. Before
+this, we all thought that the officers had captured him, and we were
+quite surprised to see him safe. He said that Detective Connell had
+arrested him at Mrs. Gully's, and that he had made his escape by jumping
+out of Connell's wagon into a thicket near Allenville; he had then gone
+right back to the house where he had left Mrs. Slaughter, where he got a
+pistol and some money, and had his irons removed.
+
+"At the time Hillary arrived at Mrs. Farrington's, the old lady had been
+gone a day and a night on her way to Texas or Missouri. It was
+understood that Levi and I were to meet her somewhere on the road, or at
+Holton's farm, near the line between Lawrence and Dade Counties,
+Missouri. The day after Hillary arrived, we started for Missouri; I was
+riding a sorrel horse; Hillary, a chestnut-sorrel horse; and Levi, a
+large brown mule. We spent two days at the house of Mr. Douglas, near
+Mrs. Farrington's, and then crossed the Tennessee River at Cuba. We
+crossed the Mississippi River by the last ferryboat on Friday evening,
+November 10, at Hall's Ferry, opposite Point Pleasant, Missouri. We saw
+no men on guard at the ferries. We struck right out through Nigger-Wool
+Swamp to Bloomfield, where Levi left us. He said he was going to
+Farmington, Illinois, as that was a good place to keep under cover.
+After he left us, nothing important occurred until our arrest. We knew
+where Mrs. Farrington was every night, and also knew all about the two
+men who were following her; we did not mind letting them follow her, as
+they could not have captured us, and we could have shaken them off at
+any time if we had wanted to do so.
+
+"Levi and Hillary frequently spoke of making other raids upon the
+express company, and said what a soft thing it was. It was my intention
+to separate from them as soon as I could get my money from the old lady,
+as I wished to return to my friends below Columbus, Mississippi.
+
+"The foregoing is all I know of the Farringtons or the express
+robberies.
+
+                (Signed),       "WILLIAM BARTON."
+
+It will be observed how completely this confession corroborated our
+investigations, there being few new points learned. The information that
+Mrs. Farrington had possession of nearly all the stolen money was
+valuable, and I sent instructions to Cottrell, at once, to attach all of
+her property in the name of the Southern Express Company, if it could
+be done. But the most important feature brought out was the hiding-place
+of Levi Farrington, which was given as Farmington, Illinois. It will be
+remembered that William found, at the store at Lester's Landing, some
+pieces of paper, upon which was scribbled, "Kate Graham, Farmington,
+Illinois;" that I sent a detective to that place to see Mrs. Graham;
+that the latter answered, with every evidence of truthfulness, that she
+did not know Russell, Clark, or Barton; and that the clue was dropped
+immediately. From Barton, however, William learned that Mrs. Kate Graham
+was a cousin of the Farringtons, and that, being a highly respectable
+and conscientious woman, she knew nothing of their _aliases_, nor of
+their crimes. It was there that Levi Farrington had gone to hide.
+Barton's confession was made on the fourteenth, and William instantly
+sent me a cipher dispatch containing the important features of it. By
+the evening train of that day, my other son, Robert A. Pinkerton, took
+passage for Farmington, accompanied by Detective W. T. Brown, of my
+force. They arrived there about noon the next day, and soon learned that
+Levi Farrington was staying with his relatives. Having presented letters
+of introduction to one or two influential men, Robert obtained an
+introduction to the city marshal, who promised to give all the aid in
+his power to arrest Farrington.
+
+About two o'clock they saw the latter coming down the street, and, by
+previous arrangement, Robert allowed Levi to pass him, both walking
+toward Brown and the marshal. Levi Farrington was a very powerful man,
+standing six feet in his stockings, with a frame and muscles in
+proportion to his size. Remembering the desperate character of the man,
+Robert did not deem it advisable to give him any chance to draw a weapon
+or show fight; he therefore followed Farrington closely until he was
+about ten feet from the marshal, and then, springing at him, he pinioned
+the desperado's arms by clasping him tightly around the body just at the
+elbows. Farrington did not stop to question the cause of this
+proceeding--he knew the reason of his seizure well enough--but,
+gathering his whole strength, he made one jump away from the two
+officers who were approaching in front, and landed nearly in the middle
+of the street, taking Robert along with him. Robert clung to him like a
+vise, however, and before he could make another such an effort, the
+other two were upon him. A terrible struggle now ensued in the street,
+during which both Robert and Brown were badly bruised by being rolled
+upon and kicked by their powerful prisoner. Robert knew that Farrington
+was desperate enough to fight to the bitter end, and that he would kill
+as many as he could before being killed himself; to release his arms,
+therefore, would enable him to draw a weapon, as he was undoubtedly well
+armed, hence Robert never relaxed his hold. Having a professional pride
+in securing his prisoner alive, moreover, he did not wish to resort to
+extreme measures except to save the lives of other persons, and, as a
+large crowd had gathered around the moment the struggle began, there
+would have been evident danger in allowing him an instant's freedom.
+Over and over they rolled together, therefore, Farrington striving with
+all his strength to break Robert's clasp upon his arms, while the other
+two officers were doing their best to pinion his legs. After a ten
+minutes' struggle, they succeeded at length in holding him down and
+sitting upon his legs until he could be tied with ropes. By this time,
+the whole party were pretty thoroughly exhausted, but, after resting a
+few minutes to recover their breath, the officers got handcuffs on their
+prisoner's wrists, and took him to the railroad station, where he was
+searched. Little money was found on his person, but he had a large
+revolver, two Derringer pistols, and a large dirk concealed about him.
+He was then placed in the freight office, while Brown and Mr. Graham,
+Mrs. Kate Graham's husband, went to the latter's house to get Levi's
+baggage. On their return, the whole party took passage for Chicago,
+where they did not arrive until next day, owing to the failure to make
+connections. In Levi's valise were found two revolvers, some jewelry,
+and a very large sum of money.
+
+They arrived so late on Saturday that there was no train for Cairo
+before the following evening, and meantime the prisoner required the
+most careful watching, as none of our handcuffs were large enough to
+fit his wrists without cutting into the flesh. Robert and Brown were
+completely prostrated by the strain upon their muscles and the injuries
+they had received, so that they felt the effects of the struggle for
+several days.
+
+The moment that Robert arrived in Chicago with his prisoner, the latter
+was taken to the First Precinct police station, where he was placed in a
+cell for safe keeping. During the afternoon it was learned that he had
+sent for a lawyer to obtain a writ of _habeas corpus_. The arrest had
+been made without any warrant, and no requisition had been obtained for
+use in Illinois, as I had expected to capture all three of the men in
+Missouri. Should Farrington succeed in getting the desired writ, I
+should be forced to give up my hold upon him, and, before the
+requisition of the Governor of Tennessee upon the Governor of Illinois
+could be received, he would be probably beyond the reach of pursuit.
+
+I therefore procured a closed vehicle and took the prisoner out for a
+drive, carefully bound, with two reliable men as guards. The afternoon
+was thus spent, and, after dark, there being no longer any object in
+driving around the suburbs of the city, Farrington was taken to my
+office and kept all night. He behaved very well, and did not seem
+anxious to get away by force. He tried, however, to induce Robert to let
+him go, telling him that it would be worth a very large amount of money
+to him to do so. Finding his offers disregarded, he appeared to take his
+arrest very coolly, saying that he guessed he had money enough to see
+him through.
+
+On Sunday evening, Robert and Brown took him to the railroad station,
+and the party embarked for Cairo.
+
+
+
+
+                          CHAPTER X.
+
+    _A terrible Struggle for Life or Death upon the Transfer-boat
+          "Illinois."--"Overboard!"--One less Desperado.--The Fourth and
+          Last Robber taken._
+
+
+After Barton had made his confession to William in St. Louis, the
+prisoners, Hillary Farrington and Barton, were kept separate, as the
+latter was afraid that Hillary would find some means of killing him.
+About midnight of Thursday, December fourteenth, they all took passage
+by railroad for Cairo, and there they immediately went on board the
+large transfer-boat to Columbus, Kentucky. All the detectives were
+thoroughly worn out from excitement and loss of sleep, but they did not
+for an instant relax their vigilant watch upon their prisoners. William
+had been talking for some time with Hillary, trying to obtain a
+confession and to learn what had been done with the money secured at the
+two robberies. From the questions that William asked, Hillary soon
+learned, or surmised, that Barton had confessed. He was terribly
+enraged at this, and without doubt he would have killed Barton if he
+could have got at him; but being unable to do so, his fury was all
+turned upon his captors.
+
+My son hoped by threatening to have Mrs. Farrington arrested and
+imprisoned, to induce Hillary to give up his share of the plunder rather
+than have his mother punished. This threat seemed to infuriate him
+beyond anything, and he swore that he would have his revenge on William
+if he had to wait twenty years for it. After sitting sullenly thinking
+on the subject for a time, he said he was cold, and wanted to get a
+drink. William therefore offered to go with him into the bar-room, and
+they walked toward the forward end of the saloon, leaving Galway and
+Barton seated together. Connell had gone into the water-closet a few
+moments before, but, as there was a detective with each of the
+prisoners, no attempt at escape was anticipated.
+
+The steamer was the powerfully-built transfer-boat "Illinois," and she
+was running with great speed, her ponderous wheels revolving at an
+unusually rapid rate. The bar-room was situated just forward of the
+saloon, after passing through the barber shop, and it could be entered
+from the saloon or through a door leading upon the guards, just forward
+of the paddle-box.
+
+As they were about to enter the barber shop from the saloon, Hillary
+drew back, saying that he did not want to go that way, as there were
+some men in that room whom he knew. They therefore went out upon the
+guards to walk along to the outer door of the bar-room. The space was
+narrow, and the rail quite low, so that it would not have been at all
+difficult for a man to spring overboard, even though he were in irons.
+This idea occurred to William, but he did not trouble himself about it,
+since he knew that the heavy strokes of the paddle-wheel would instantly
+kill any one who might attempt such a thing. William wore a
+loose-fitting sack coat with large pockets, in one of which he carried a
+heavy army revolver, which he had taken from Hillary, his own revolver
+being in his belt. In walking it was his habit to put his hand on the
+butt of this army revolver, which protruded somewhat from the pocket. On
+reaching the door, however, he took his right hand from the pistol to
+turn the knob. This was a careless action, of which he never would have
+been guilty, had he been less fatigued, mentally and physically, but,
+being so used up as to act almost mechanically, his habitual
+thoughtfulness was momentarily absent, and he was caught off his guard
+for an instant in a manner which nearly cost him his life. It should be
+understood that the scene which ensued occurred so rapidly as to occupy
+less time in its passage than is required to read about it, and that
+during those few seconds a struggle of life and death was going on.
+
+Hardly had William's hand touched the doorknob ere he felt the pistol
+drawn out of his coat pocket. He knew there was but one person who
+could have done it, and that person was a perfect devil thirsting for
+his blood. Turning like a flash, he seized Farrington by both wrists,
+just as the latter was trying to cock the pistol; then there was a
+terrible contest. The pistol was in Farrington's hands, which were held
+so close together by the irons as to make it impossible to wrench one
+away from the other; it was pointed directly at William's head, and
+should Farrington succeed in cocking it, William's death would be
+instantaneous. All his energies, therefore, were directed toward keeping
+Farrington's hands far enough apart to prevent him from drawing back the
+hammer. The space was too narrow to permit of such a struggle without
+one party or the other being forced back upon the rail, and, in a
+moment, William had lifted his lighter antagonist from the deck,
+pressing him against the railing, and at the same time shouting for
+assistance. In response to his call, Connell came running out in
+_dishabille_, with his pistol in one hand and his pantaloons in the
+other. At this moment the cold muzzle of the pistol was pressed against
+William's temple, and he heard the click of the hammer as his desperate
+prisoner succeeded in drawing it back. He made a violent plunge forward,
+ducking his head as he did so, and simultaneously the pistol exploded
+close to his ear, the ball ploughing a little furrow in the scalp, while
+the powder scorched his neck and hair. Staggering back stunned and dizzy
+for a moment, he was caught by Connell, who asked whether he was much
+hurt. He soon gathered his senses, and, finding his wound to be only
+trifling, he asked what had become of Farrington. Connell pointed
+overboard, and no further answer was necessary; no man dropping in front
+of those wheels could have lived for an instant, and, even had he not
+been struck, he could not have kept himself up in the rapid current then
+running filled with fine ice.
+
+By this time the bar-room, barber shop, and saloon had been emptied of
+their occupants, and the boat had been stopped to see whether the man
+could be picked up; but, as this was clearly hopeless, the trip was soon
+resumed. Connell's arrival had been most opportune for William, since he
+had caught the weapon the moment it was discharged, and succeeded in
+changing the course of the bullet sufficiently to save William's life.
+Thinking, however, that William had been killed, Connell had struck
+Farrington on the head with his pistol almost simultaneously with the
+explosion, and the blow, aided by the plunge which William made forward
+in endeavoring to dodge the pistol-shot, had sent Farrington over the
+rail into the water, where he was undoubtedly killed the next instant by
+the paddle-wheels.
+
+The fact of the man's death was so absolutely certain that no person
+could doubt it, if acquainted with the circumstances; yet there were not
+wanting people who insinuated that he had been allowed to escape by
+jumping overboard and swimming ashore. The absurdity of such a story is
+manifest, for, even supposing that his irons had been removed, and that
+he had escaped injury from the paddle-wheels, he never could have swam
+ashore at the spot where the affair occurred. The nearest point of the
+river bank was more than three hundred yards away, and the current at
+that place was running off the shore; besides, the night was very cold,
+and the water was covered with a film of ice, so that after five
+minutes' immersion in it, a man would have become wholly numbed and
+insensible.
+
+Barton was not at all surprised when he heard of Hillary Farrington's
+death, for he said that he knew Hillary so well that he had expected
+nothing else from the time he was taken; he was so desperate that his
+intention undoubtedly had been to have seized William and dragged him
+overboard; but, seeing the pistol, another idea had probably occurred to
+him. Barton said that had Hillary succeeded in killing William, he would
+have gone up to the pilot-house with the revolver, and forced the pilot
+to land him immediately; once on shore, his knowledge of the country
+would have enabled him to escape again. Whatever had been his plans,
+however, he had failed in his attempt at murder, and had paid the
+penalty of his rashness with his life.
+
+The rest of the party went on to Columbus, where they took passage for
+Union City, arriving there Friday morning.
+
+About this time, Mr. Ball, who had been sent to follow the wagon train
+of Mrs. Farrington, reported, after a silence of several days, that he
+had traced her into the Indian Territory. In point of fact, she was
+settled at Ash Grove, near Mount Vernon, in Greene County, Missouri, and
+had been there ever since Hillary and Barton had left her before their
+arrest at Durham's. It will thus be seen how fortunate it was that I had
+not trusted to Ball and Bledsoe to keep track of Mrs. Farrington, since
+they had utterly lost the trail, and had followed another set of wagons
+for several days as far as the Indian Territory; when, probably
+suspecting that he had made a mistake, Ball telegraphed to the express
+company's officers for instructions. He was then ordered to return at
+once with Bledsoe, the whole party having been captured by that time.
+
+While speaking of Mrs. Farrington, I may as well give an account of all
+our dealings with her, irrespective of the chronological order of the
+story:
+
+Having received Barton's order upon her for all of the wagons and stock,
+and for five hundred and fifty dollars in money, Cottrell endeavored to
+attach her property in a civil suit. She insisted that she had none of
+Barton's money--indeed, that she had no money at all--and she refused to
+give up anything. At last, finding that he could not legally attach her
+property, Cottrell took the bold step of arresting her for receiving
+stolen goods. She was taken to Mount Vernon, where she engaged a lawyer
+to defend her, and then, of course, Cottrell was also obliged to employ
+a legal adviser. At length, a compromise was effected, by which Mrs.
+Farrington was allowed to retain a small portion of the property;
+Cottrell then took possession of the remainder as agent of the express
+company, and Mrs. Farrington was discharged from custody. After selling
+some of the animals, Cottrell shipped all the remaining chattels to St.
+Louis, where the agent of the express company took charge of them. The
+two detectives then returned to Chicago, and no further attention was
+paid to Mrs. Farrington.
+
+On Saturday, after the arrival of William's party, with Barton, in Union
+City, Detectives Galway and Connell started out to arrest Bill Taylor,
+the fourth one of the party of robbers.
+
+This man was a long, lank, round-shouldered fellow, with putty face,
+long, straggling hair and beard, and a vacant expression of countenance,
+who lived by hunting and chopping wood, below Lester's Landing, in the
+vicinity of Reel's Foot Lake. William had been satisfied of his
+complicity in the robbery for some time previous to the arrest of the
+others, but he had not arrested him for the reason that he was sure of
+picking him up whenever he wished to do so; and, knowing Taylor to have
+been merely a weak accomplice, he was anxious to secure the leaders in
+the crime first. Barton's confession made the suspicion of Taylor's
+guilt a certainty, and so Galway and Connell were sent to arrest him.
+
+At Mr. Merrick's they obtained a good guide, and four other citizens
+joined them, so that they had quite a formidable party. After visiting
+several houses in the cane-brake, they learned where Taylor was
+staying, and, on going there, they saw him looking at them from a front
+window. Galway asked Taylor to come down a few minutes to give them some
+information, and Taylor unsuspectingly complied. He had been allowed to
+go free so long, and had so often talked with William and others about
+the robbery, that he did not imagine their object on this occasion. On
+coming into the yard, therefore, he greeted the men cordially, supposing
+them to be a party scouting for the other robbers, of whose arrest he
+had not heard. When he saw a couple of navy revolvers close to his head,
+and heard an order to throw up his hands, he surrendered without a word.
+He was evidently badly frightened, but he would not confess having had
+any part in the robbery, and he refused to tell where his share of the
+money was concealed. He was placed on Connell's horse and taken to
+Merrick's, where another horse was obtained, and the party went on to
+Hickman; thence he was taken by wagon to Union City, arriving there
+about midnight of Saturday. Both Barton and Taylor were placed in rooms
+in the hotel, where they were carefully watched night and day by my
+detectives, the county jail being almost useless as a place for keeping
+prisoners.
+
+On learning that the whole party had been arrested, Taylor made a very
+full confession of all the circumstances connected with the robbery, and
+the movements of the robbers after it had occurred. He confirmed
+Barton's account in every particular, but revealed nothing new of any
+importance. His share of the stolen money had been only about one
+hundred and fifty dollars, as Levi had made him believe that they had
+obtained only six hundred dollars in all. About fifty dollars were found
+on Taylor's person; the rest he had spent. He said that Levi Farrington
+had hidden all the checks, drafts, and unnegotiable paper underneath an
+old log in the woods, but that he could not tell where the log was, nor
+find it, since it was not marked in any way, nor had they taken any
+bearings by which to remember it. He gave an account of the evening when
+Hicks, the tipsy planter, came to their camp-fire, which agreed exactly
+with the previous statements of Hicks and Barton; but one slight remark
+in his confession seemed to account for the fifth man mentioned by
+Hicks. Taylor said that during most of the time Hicks was at their camp,
+one or two of the party were lying on the ground with their feet toward
+the fire, and that there was a log of wood lying beside them. Now, it is
+probable that Hicks was just drunk enough to be unable to tell the
+difference between a man and a log, especially as, in his description of
+the men, he gave the appearance of Hillary Farrington twice as belonging
+to different persons. Hicks's vision was somewhat uncertain that night,
+evidently.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER XI.
+
+    _The last Scene in the Drama approaching.--A new Character
+          appears.--The Citizens of Union City suddenly seem to have
+          important business on hand.--The Vigilantes and their
+          Work.--Their Bullets and Judge Lynch administer a quietus to
+          Levi Farrington and David Towler.--The End._
+
+
+The last scene in this drama seemed about to end in the complete defeat
+of the whole gang of villains and the triumph of law and justice, when a
+new character came upon the stage, and the curtain fell upon a bloody
+tragedy. That substantial justice was done cannot be denied, though the
+manner of its execution was beyond and outside all forms of law. It was
+a striking instance of the manner in which an outraged community,
+particularly in the West and South, will arrive at a satisfactory
+settlement of important questions without the intervention of courts,
+juries, or lawyers. The court of Judge Lynch makes mistakes
+occasionally, but it rarely admits of an appeal from its decision.
+
+Robert arrived in Union City with Levi Farrington on Monday, December
+eighteenth, and he took his prisoner to the hotel for safe keeping, with
+the others. They were kept in separate rooms, and a detective remained
+with each of them constantly. William spent several hours with Levi
+Farrington, trying to induce him to tell where he had hidden the stolen
+papers, and also what he had done with his share of the money, of which
+he had undoubtedly retained the greater part. Finally he agreed to
+return all the papers, and about twenty-five hundred dollars besides, on
+condition that he should receive a sentence of only five years in the
+penitentiary on entering a plea of guilty. Having agreed to this
+arrangement, William went to his room, which was a large one, with
+several beds, occupied by Robert, Brown, and Connell. As the men of my
+force were all pretty well used up, Taylor and Barton were placed in the
+same room, with Galway guarding them, while Farrington, being such a
+desperate fellow, was put in another room, with three of the Union City
+policemen as guards.
+
+Soon after the arrival of Robert with Levi Farrington, a man, named
+David Towler, tried to get admission to Farrington's room. On being
+denied, he was very insolent, and he insisted on seeing Farrington
+alone. Finding that this would not be permitted, he went away cursing
+the officers and swearing to be revenged. His actions naturally
+attracted the attention of the police, and caused him to be regarded
+with a great deal of suspicion, as a probable member of the Farrington
+party of robbers. About eleven o'clock that night, a policeman, named
+Benjamin Kline, discovered this man Towler with a drawn revolver,
+skulking behind a car standing on the side track near the depot. He
+immediately called for the railroad company's night watchman, and the
+two approached the thief to arrest him. The man instantly shot Kline
+through the lungs, and then shot Moran, the watchman. Kline's wound was
+mortal, and he died in a few minutes, while Moran was supposed to be
+fatally hurt also. The pistol-shots quickly drew a crowd, and a few
+determined men gave chase to the murderer. After quite a long pursuit he
+was captured, and brought back to the station where Kline had just died.
+A justice of the peace held a preliminary examination at once, and the
+prisoner, David Towler, was held for murder, without bail. He was known
+to be a low, desperate fellow, who had been imprisoned for
+horse-stealing and other kindred crimes, until he was regarded almost as
+an outlaw. He had long lived near Reel's Foot Lake, and while there he
+had become acquainted with the Farringtons. That their friendship was
+more than that of two casual acquaintances was shown by an important
+circumstance discovered by William. It will be remembered that when Levi
+Farrington stopped in Cairo to send eight hundred dollars to his mother,
+he purchased two of the largest-sized Smith & Wesson revolvers. They
+were exact fac-similes of each other, and were numbered 1,278 and 1,279
+respectively. At the time of Levi's arrest, only one of these revolvers
+was found, and he said that he had given away the other to a friend,
+retaining number 1,279 himself. When Towler was captured, William
+happened to notice that his revolver was similar to the one Levi had
+carried. This would have been nothing to be remarked under ordinary
+circumstances, since there were, undoubtedly, many of these revolvers in
+use, all exactly alike except in number; but William connected this man
+Towler's appearance in Union City with the arrival of the express
+robbers, and the new revolver caught his eye at once. On closely
+examining it, his suspicions were fully confirmed: _it was numbered_
+1,278, and was, without question, the mate to Levi's, bought by him in
+Cairo and given to Towler.
+
+When this news became known to the throng of citizens whom the shooting
+of Kline and Moran had drawn together, the feeling against all the
+prisoners became intense, and when Towler was committed by the justice
+to the guard of the men who were watching Levi, the citizens began to
+depart very suddenly, as if they either had important business
+elsewhere, or were in a hurry to get home. By midnight the town was
+quiet, and after a visit to the guards, to caution them to be extra
+vigilant, William and Robert retired to their room, together with Brown
+and Connell.
+
+Young Kline, whom Towler had murdered, was very highly esteemed in Union
+City, and his death at the hands of an outlaw would have aroused deep
+indignation at any time; but just now there were additional reasons why
+the affair should excite a desire for summary vengeance upon his
+assassin. It had been shown that Towler must have formerly been on
+intimate terms with the Farringtons, and these latter were well known
+as desperadoes, whose hand was turned against every man; hence, the
+crimes of the whole party were considered as a sort of partnership
+affair, for which each member of the firm was individually liable. But,
+besides the natural indignation of the law-abiding citizens for the
+crimes committed by these men, there was a widespread sense of
+insecurity so long as they were in that vicinity. Towler had remarked,
+when captured, that he would soon be out again, and all the prisoners
+bore themselves with an air of bravado, as if they had no fear nor
+expectation of punishment. It was believed that a number of friends of
+the gang among the desperadoes living in Nigger-Wool Swamp and near
+Reel's Foot Lake intended to attempt the rescue of the whole party of
+express robbers, before they could be consigned to a secure place of
+confinement. The citizens who had risked their lives to capture Towler
+and the others, who had turned out in time to see poor Kline die in
+agony, were determined that nothing should occur to prevent justice from
+reaching the criminals, and exacting the fullest penalty for their
+numerous crimes; hence the sudden departure of the throng who had
+attended Towler's preliminary examination before the justice. They did
+not go to their homes, but gathered in a secluded place, and formed a
+Committee of Safety. The question as to what course would best protect
+the lives and property of the community was then discussed, and a
+conclusion was soon reached, without a dissenting voice.
+
+Throughout the town all was hushed in the usual stillness of a winter's
+night; no lights were burning anywhere, save in an occasional
+sick-chamber, and sleep seemed to have fallen alike upon the just and
+unjust. In one room of the hotel were Barton and Taylor, guarded by
+Galway and an employe of the express company, while near by was the room
+where Levi Farrington and David Towler were watched by three of the city
+policemen. A dim light burned in each room, and, while the guards paced
+the floor in their stocking feet, the prisoners lay on their beds in
+deep slumber. Not a memory of the past, full as it was of scenes of
+crime and blood, came to break their repose; not a thought of the
+future, with its possibilities of punishment, caused them to lose one
+moment of their customary rest. Fear they had never known; remorse was
+long since forgotten; unconscious or careless of their impending doom,
+they slept the night away.
+
+About two o'clock there was a stealthy gathering of masked men at the
+door of the hotel, and, at a given signal from the leader, a certain
+number slipped upstairs with little noise, and filled the corridor from
+which the prisoners' rooms opened. So sudden was their appearance and so
+quiet their approach that even the wakeful guards scarce heard them
+until the doors were forced open. Then the policy of silence was
+dropped, and a rush upon the guards was made. A battery of pistols
+suddenly confronted them, and, as resistance was clearly impossible, an
+unconditional surrender was at once made. The bursting in of the doors
+awakened William and Robert, who hastily sprang up, and, without
+stopping to put on any clothing, opened their door, pistol in hand. This
+move, however, had been anticipated by the vigilantes, and a dozen or
+more pistols were thrust in their faces as they appeared in the doorway.
+
+"Go back, Pinkerton, we don't want to hurt you," said one of the men
+outside, and they were pushed back into the room, while the door was
+hastily closed in their faces.
+
+To resist such a body with the few men at his command, William knew,
+would be suicidal, and he did not especially care to sacrifice himself
+in the interest of such a villainous band as those whom the vigilantes
+were seeking. The four detectives, therefore, dressed themselves and
+remained in their room awaiting further developments.
+
+Having overpowered the guards, the leader of the vigilantes ordered the
+removal of Towler, and, as the latter was hustled out of the door, Levi
+Farrington knew that his hour had come. Standing up and facing the
+remainder of the crowd, who had withdrawn to the further side of the
+room, he defied them all, and told them to fire away. A volley of
+pistol-shots was the reply to his words, and a rattling fire continued
+for two or three minutes; when it ceased, Levi Farrington was no more,
+his body having been struck by more than thirty balls, almost any one of
+which would have been instantaneously fatal. His body was left where
+it fell, and the room was soon deserted as the party hastened after the
+detachment which had Towler in charge. The whole affair was over in ten
+minutes, and when the detectives again left their room none of the
+masked party were to be seen. Levi Farrington's body was found in his
+room, but no trace of Towler could be discovered. Finding that the
+excitement was over, the detectives returned to bed, leaving Barton and
+Taylor still carefully guarded. The former had slept through the
+confusion and noise without even a start or restless movement, but
+Taylor was terribly frightened, and he fully expected to be lynched
+also.
+
+[Illustration: "_The work of the Vigilante's._"--_Page_--]
+
+The next morning at breakfast, William was informed that the body of
+Towler had been found hanging to a tree near the graveyard, and, on
+going to the spot, they found him as represented. At the coroner's
+inquest little testimony could be obtained further than that one man had
+been shot to death and the other hung by parties unknown, and the
+verdict was rendered accordingly. There was naturally considerable
+excitement over the affair for two or three days, but the general
+verdict was, "Served 'em right." However violent had been their taking
+off, there were few who did not feel that society demanded their death,
+not only as a punishment for their past crimes, but as a means of
+security in the future. Believing that a sentence to the penitentiary
+was wholly inadequate, and that their escape therefrom was not only
+possible, but probable, the citizens preferred to take no risks of
+future robberies and murders by these desperadoes, and they therefore
+took the most effectual method of preventing their occurrence. Their
+action was illegal, it is true, but then it was just--which is a more
+important consideration sometimes.
+
+On the following Friday, Barton and Taylor had their preliminary hearing
+before a justice, when they waived examination, and were committed for
+trial in default of bail in the sum of ten thousand dollars each. Upon
+the representation to the justice that the county jail was an unsafe
+place to confine the prisoners, permission was obtained to remove them
+to the jail in Memphis; the proper papers were made out, and the
+transfer was made under William's management.
+
+The death of Levi Farrington made the recovery of the missing checks,
+papers, and money an impossibility, since neither Barton nor Taylor were
+able to conduct the officers to the place where they were hidden. Barton
+gave the company a bill of sale of the goods in the store at Lester's
+Landing, however, and an assignment of all debts due the firm, from
+which about five or six hundred dollars were eventually realized. Robert
+and Brown attended to this matter and returned to Chicago. William was
+on duty until the two remaining prisoners were safely lodged in jail in
+Memphis, and then, having settled up all the business of which he had
+had charge, he also returned home.
+
+At the next term of court in Obion County, Tennessee, Barton and Taylor
+pleaded guilty of grand larceny, and were each sentenced to five years'
+confinement at hard labor in the penitentiary. Thus, out of a party of
+four engaged in this robbery, two were finally brought to trial and
+appropriately punished, while the other two would have been so punished
+also, had not a higher penalty been demanded by the circumstances of
+their cases, aggravated by their own brutal and revengeful dispositions.
+No reminiscence in my experience shows a more striking illustration of
+the certainty of retribution for crime than does the career and fate of
+these outlaws of the Southwest.
+
+                           THE END.
+
+
+
+
+                DON PEDRO AND THE DETECTIVES.
+
+
+
+
+                          CHAPTER I.
+
+    _A Fraudulent Scheme contemplated.--A Dashing Peruvian Don and
+          Donna.--A Regal Forger.--Mr. Pinkerton engaged by Senator
+          Muirhead to unveil the Mystery of his Life.--The Don and Donna
+          Morito arrive at Gloster.--"Personnel" of Gloster's "First
+          Families."_
+
+
+The history of crimes against prosperity is of vital interest to the
+public. The ingenuity of thieves, burglars, forgers, and confidence men
+is active and incessant, so that their plans are often successful even
+against the experience and precautions of men of the most wary and
+cautious character. This seems to be especially true when the amounts at
+stake are large, for petty attempts to defraud are so frequent, that
+when a criminal plays for a large sum, the suspicion of the capitalist
+is wholly allayed by the improbability that a mere swindler should
+undertake an operation of such magnitude. Indeed, in many cases the
+cupidity of the victim is so great that the sharper hardly offers the
+bait ere it is swallowed by some confiding simpleton. Hence, as a
+warning for the future, the lessons of past frauds possess no small
+degree of interest and value to the world; and as there is no portion
+of society free from the depredations of these schemers, their various
+wiles and snares cannot be exposed too often.
+
+More than twenty years ago, the city of Gloster was one of the most
+thriving cities of the West. Controlling the interior trade to a large
+extent, its interests were of the most varied character, and its
+inhabitants were already distinguished as being more cosmopolitan than
+those of any other city in the Union, except New York. They had imbibed,
+perhaps, some of the genius of the prairies, and their scorn of petty
+methods of doing business, their breadth of charity and hearty
+hospitality, were as boundless as the great plains of which the city was
+the business center at that time. Among such a people, a plausible
+adventurer had a fine field of operation, and I was not surprised when I
+was asked to go to Gloster in the latter part of the winter to
+investigate the character of some persons who were living there.
+
+The application came from Senator Muirhead, a man whom I had long known,
+both in his public and private life. His suspicions were of the vaguest
+possible character, and a hasty examination of the case failed to
+convince me that they were well founded; yet he was convinced in his own
+mind that there was a fraudulent scheme in contemplation, and his
+positive conviction had great weight with me. The Senator's interest in
+the case had led him to make extensive inquiries into the antecedents of
+these parties, but he was unable to trace them further back than their
+arrival in New York, several months before. There they had suddenly
+appeared in society with a great display of wealth, stating that they
+had been traveling in Europe for some time, and were gradually making
+their way back to Peru, where they lived. Don Pedro P. L. de Morito and
+his wife, having enjoyed life in New York for several months, now
+proposed to spend at least a year in Gloster, and it was this couple
+whose character was suspected by the Senator. Indeed, he felt sure that,
+at least, they were traveling under assumed names, and certain
+coincidences led him to believe that they were adroit swindlers of the
+most capable, dangerous type. He had discovered a chain of
+circumstantial evidence which needed only one link to make a clear
+connection between certain crimes and these fascinating Peruvians, and
+it was for the purpose of discovering this link that he had requested my
+aid. In brief, his suspicions were, that after innumerable frauds in
+other countries, this plausible pair had settled in Gloster to add to
+their ill-gotten wealth by some new scheme of villainy. His theoretic
+history of the man, derived from various sources, mainly newspapers in
+which crimes had been described bearing the same style of workmanship,
+was as follows.
+
+Jose Gomez, a cadet of the ancient Brazilian family of that name, began
+life with a fine physique, ample mental endowments, and a high social
+position. He was the heir-expectant of a valuable estate, and no pains
+were spared upon his education. As he grew to manhood, however, his
+habits became such as to excite the gravest apprehensions as to his
+future, and by the time he was thirty years of age he was a reckless
+libertine, gambler, and spendthrift. Finding that his source of supplies
+was about to be cut off by his family, he obtained large sums of money
+by means of forged paper, with which he fled from Rio Janeiro to Lima,
+Peru. His whereabouts were not discovered for a long time, but when the
+information was received, the Brazilian Government made an effort to
+obtain his extradition. He was living in fine style in Lima, under the
+assumed name of Juan Sanchez, and, in some way, he was warned of his
+danger. Before any steps had been taken to expose or arrest him, he
+perpetrated another series of forgeries, by which he obtained a large
+amount of money, and then wholly disappeared. The aggregate of his
+forgeries was so great that a considerable notoriety attached to the
+case, and the facts were published in full in the leading newspapers of
+this country.
+
+About the time of the great rush to California, after the gold
+discoveries there, a gentleman known as Don Jose Michel appeared in San
+Francisco, where he lived in regal splendor; indeed, his extravagance
+was so great as to make him conspicuous even among the reckless throng
+who filled the Golden City. After wasting a fortune with a prodigal
+hand, however, he suddenly vanished, and, although little was known
+positively on the subject, it was commonly understood that he had
+swindled a number of bankers and capitalists by worthless notes, drafts,
+and checks, many of which were wholly or partly forged. The men thus
+defrauded kept the matter quiet, both because they were ashamed to
+acknowledge how easily they had been imposed upon, and because they
+hoped to facilitate the capture of the criminal by working in secret.
+The incidents were related to Senator Muirhead in a casual conversation
+with a friend who had recently returned from the Pacific coast, and the
+description given of Don Jose Michel tallied exactly with that of Juan
+Sanchez and Jose Gomez.
+
+By an odd coincidence, the month after the departure of Don Jose Michel
+from San Francisco, a brilliant gentleman of nearly the same name
+appeared in Quito, Ecuador, where he pursued a course so exactly similar
+in character to that of Gomez, Sanchez, and Michel, that it was not
+difficult to imagine that that ubiquitous person was identical with the
+elegant Don Pedro Michel who created such a brief excitement in Quito,
+terminating with forgery and a hasty flight.
+
+About two years previous to the time of which I write, a wealthy
+Brazilian arrived in London, and became a great favorite in society. His
+wife was a beautiful Spaniard, and her exquisite taste, courtesy, and
+knowledge of the world were highly appreciated by the select circle of
+aristocracy into which she and her husband were soon admitted. Don Jose
+Arias was the name of this gentleman, and he was soon known in nearly
+every drawing-room in Belgravia. He was introduced by the Brazilian
+_charge d'affaires_, in the absence of the Minister Resident, and this
+semi-official guarantee of his position in Brazil gave him a passport
+everywhere. It was not strange, therefore, that such a handsome,
+refined, and agreeable couple should be cordially and hospitably
+received, especially as their wealth was undoubtedly enormous, while
+their manners showed that they had been born in the purple of
+aristocracy. It was a sad shock to society when it was learned that Don
+Jose and Donna Maria had absconded suddenly, taking with them about
+fifty thousand pounds sterling, obtained by forgery. It was then learned
+that the Brazilian legation had been the victim of forged documents
+also, though the intimate acquaintance of Don Jose with the policy and
+statecraft of Brazil in many important affairs had contributed largely
+to his success in deceiving the young diplomat who was temporarily in
+charge of the legation.
+
+It was not until more than a year after this occurrence that Don Pedro
+P. L. de Morito arrived in New York, with his beautiful wife, Donna
+Lucia. They did not stop long in New York after their arrival, but spent
+the latter part of the summer in the White Mountains in a very retired
+manner, although they lived in the best style that the place afforded.
+In August, they made a hasty trip to Washington and back to New York
+again, where they began a more pretentious mode of life than they had
+chosen theretofore. Don Pedro kept a yacht elegantly fitted up, and his
+horses were the best that money could obtain. His bachelor suppers were
+models of epicurean perfection, and when his wife gave a reception,
+everything was in the best taste and style. While visiting Washington,
+Don Pedro had met Senator Muirhead, who had gone there for a few days on
+public business, and the acquaintance was renewed in New York, where the
+Senator had some private interests demanding his attention. Something
+had led the Senator to connect Don Pedro with Gomez, Sanchez, Michel,
+and Arias, and though the idea was a vague one in his mind, it was
+sufficiently fixed to cause him to institute inquiries into Senor
+Morito's antecedents. As previously stated, nothing could be learned of
+him previous to his arrival in New York, and the only circumstance which
+could possibly be regarded as suspicious was, that both in Washington
+and New York he had avoided meeting the Peruvian Minister and other
+fellow-countrymen.
+
+The peculiarity of the case interested me, and, after a long
+conversation with the Senator, I agreed to unravel the slight mystery
+surrounding the parties, and to make a complete review of their past
+history so far as it might be possible to obtain it. No harm could
+result from such a course, whether they were honest or the reverse; and
+so, having decided upon a simple plan, I returned to Chicago to select
+the persons to represent me in Gloster.
+
+My preliminary survey of the field had brought me into contact with many
+of the most fashionable people in Gloster; and, as I foresaw that my
+operatives would be called upon to move in the best society while
+engaged in this investigation, I obtained as extended information about
+the members of the _creme de la creme_ as possible. Since many of them
+will figure conspicuously in the incidents of this story, a brief
+description of the leaders will be necessary.
+
+One of the wealthiest men of Gloster was a bachelor, named Henry O.
+Mather. He was about fifty years old, but he still retained much of the
+fire of youth, and he was one of the most popular members of society. At
+an early day in the history of the Great West he had settled at Gloster,
+where he had invested largely in unimproved lands; and, by forethought
+and good judgment in his speculations, he had rapidly increased his
+property in extent and value, until, at this time, he was one of the few
+millionaires west of the Alleghanies. About three years previous to the
+time of which I write, he had invested largely in the new railroad
+schemes then organized, and his importance as a railway magnate
+was recognized throughout the whole country. His reputation as a
+shrewd business man made him a species of authority among his
+fellow-townspeople, and few persons would have ventured to distrust the
+safety of any enterprise in which he was actively interested. Indeed,
+so complete was the confidence of most men in him, that it was not
+considered necessary in buying real estate to trace the title further
+back than to Henry O. Mather, a deed from him being considered as secure
+as a patent from the government. Personally he was a very agreeable man,
+being gallant without affectation, and brilliant without priggishness.
+His figure was of medium height, compactly built, and he carried himself
+with an erect bearing and springy gait, which greatly aided in deceiving
+strangers as to his age. His hair was brown, turning gradually to gray,
+and he wore full gray side-whiskers. His features were quite pleasing
+except the mouth, which was rather large and sensual. On the whole, he
+was a man with uncommon ability to please when he felt disposed to exert
+himself, and his great wealth was an additional charm which society was
+not slow to recognize. He owned a large house, occupying the whole of a
+square in the most fashionable part of the city, and his sister-in-law
+was installed as its mistress.
+
+Richard Perkins was an Englishman who had long lived in Gloster, where
+he owned the largest brewery in the West. He was of middle height, but
+being quite fleshy, his gait was a kind of waddle--the reverse of
+elegant or dignified. His smooth, round, jovial face was strongly
+expressive of an appreciation of the good things of this world, and he
+rarely denied himself any indulgence that passion craved and that money
+could procure.
+
+It was while Mather and Perkins were on their annual visit to New York
+that they met Senor Morito and his beautiful wife, Donna Lucia. The
+distinguished foreigners soon made a complete conquest of both the
+western gentlemen, who invited them in the most cordial manner to visit
+Gloster at their earliest convenience.
+
+The delights of New York society were enjoyed for several months by
+these wealthy and aristocratic foreigners before they were able to keep
+the promise made to Mather and Perkins; for they were entertained by the
+old Knickerbocker families of Manhattan in a princely style. They were
+the guests of the most exclusive circles of the city, and everywhere
+they displayed such perfect courtesy, good breeding, and _savoir faire_,
+that it was evident they were accustomed to wealth and high social
+position. They had elegant apartments in the leading hotel of the city,
+and their cash expenditures showed the possession of an unlimited
+fortune. They finally tore themselves away from New York, arriving in
+Gloster during the comparatively dull season of Lent. Here their fame
+had become known in society through the incessant praises of Mather and
+Perkins, and their reception into the highest circles was coincident
+with their arrival. The unanimous verdict of those who made their
+acquaintance was, that Gloster had never entertained two more thoroughly
+pleasing guests than the Don and Donna Morito.
+
+Don Pedro was about forty years of age, but he had all the brilliancy
+and ease of a man of thirty. His figure was very fine, being slightly
+above the medium height, erect, compact, and muscular. His hands and
+feet were small and elegantly shaped, but were not effeminate. His rich
+olive complexion was in admirable harmony with his soft black eyes and
+deep red lips. His face was a good oval, without being unmanly, and his
+black, glossy hair was beautifully curly and wavy. He wore side-whiskers
+and a long moustache, beneath which his smile, the ladies said, was
+faultless. Like most South Americans, he seemed too lazy to be
+unamiable, and his general style was that of a man who, having possessed
+wealth always, would be perfectly lost without it.
+
+Donna Lucia was a fine specimen of Spanish beauty, education, and
+refinement. It was easy to see that she possessed more force of
+character than her husband, and that her passionate nature was like a
+volcano, which might burst forth at any time, driving her to the most
+dangerous courses if it took possession of her. A detailed description
+of such a woman is an impossibility. In general, she was a beauty of the
+Andalusian type, as nearly perfect in form and feature as can be
+conceived; but her expression was of an infinite variety of characters,
+each one giving the precise shade of meaning most applicable to the
+time, place, person, and sentiment. In short, she was so near perfection
+that nearly all the men she met were in love with her, and nine-tenths
+of them more than half believed that she regretted her marriage for
+their sake. Nevertheless, she kept all admirers at a certain distance,
+which only bewitched them the more.
+
+At the time of which I write, Don Pedro was so much pleased with
+Gloster, that he had rented a large residence in a very fashionable
+locality, and was making preparations to spend a year there. The
+charming manner in which they had entertained their friends at the hotel
+was ample guarantee that when the Don and Donna were established in
+their new home, they would surpass anything in the way of festivities
+ever seen in Gloster; hence, all the best society of the place rejoiced
+greatly at the arrival of this new constellation in the social
+firmament.
+
+Among the bachelors most noted in _salons_ and parlors of the city were
+Daniel McCarthy and Charles Sylvanus, the former a lawyer, and the
+latter a journalist. McCarthy was an Irishman, of brilliant talents and
+ready wit. Although still comparatively a young man, he was the county
+prosecuting attorney, and was considered one of the foremost lawyers of
+the city. He was very good-looking and good-hearted, and his natural
+drollery made him a most entertaining companion. While speaking in
+court, and often in society, he had a habit of running his fingers
+through his long, thick hair, which he would also, at times, throw back
+with a peculiar jerk of his head. This habit was especially frequent
+when he became deeply interested in his subject, and the spectators
+could always tell whether Dan was doing his best, even when they could
+not hear his words.
+
+Sylvanus was editor and part proprietor of an evening newspaper. As a
+journalist he was not above mediocrity, but he was well received in
+society, where even a moderate allowance of brains will suffice for
+success.
+
+A conspicuous member of society and a pillar of the Swedenborgian church
+was Mr. John Preston, a banker and capitalist. With a book of
+Swedenborgian revelations in one hand and a bundle of tax titles in the
+other, he would frequently orate to a crowd of unbelievers, from a text
+drawn from his book, in a manner calculated to quite convert them, were
+it not that they knew he was only working up a fresh head of steam to
+enable him to grind the faces of the poor upon whose property he held
+tax titles. In fact, many people were of the opinion that this man was a
+dangerous character, in spite of his pretense of piety, his ostentatious
+charity, and his assumption of the _role_ of a professional
+philanthropist. They insinuated that a man could afford to give largely
+to an astronomical society, a college, an academy of sciences, and other
+objects of education, when he had appropriated many thousands of dollars
+belonging to the school fund to his own use; that he could easily
+contribute freely to his church, when he used the church property in his
+own interests and managed the society to suit himself; and that there
+was no great amount of philanthropy in giving a few hundred dollars to
+miscellaneous charities, when he made ten times the amount in shaving
+notes at usurious interest and acquiring land by means only one remove
+from actual theft; these things were becoming so notorious that a man of
+less indomitable brass than John Preston would have long since been sent
+to Coventry, if not to jail; but he revolved on his own center,
+sublimely indifferent to the attacks of his enemies, for whom, by the
+way, he used to pray with most fervent unction. His wife was a pleasant,
+motherly woman, who gave liberally to charitable objects, and who
+regarded her husband as one of the saints of the earth.
+
+There were three children--a young man and two girls. The former gave no
+promise of either ability, probity, or ambition, and there was about him
+a noticeable air of deficiency in both mental and moral worth. The girls
+were commonplace nonentities, with no pretensions to beauty or grace.
+
+One of the most prominent citizens of Gloster was a wealthy tanner,
+named Charles H. Sanders. Having foreseen at an early day the great
+progress which the city would make in population and importance, he had
+invested largely in tracts of unimproved land, which he held against all
+offers to purchase until his real estate was more extended and valuable
+than that of any other property-owner in the city. Personally he was
+very thin and angular, with such a sickly look that his death seemed
+possible any day, though his constitution was of that character which
+might hold out much longer than that of a more robust type. His wife was
+a very charming woman, and they had two young daughters, who gave
+promise of considerable beauty when they should arrive at maturity.
+
+Mr. Thomas Burke and his wife were, perhaps, the most general favorites
+in Gloster society. Mr. Burke was tall and well built, and his large
+head and commanding appearance made him conspicuous in any group. He had
+a broad, high forehead, heavy eyebrows, deep-set black eyes, a Roman
+nose, and a heavy black moustache, which completely covered his mouth.
+His straight, black hair, high cheek-bones, and swarthy complexion, gave
+him slightly the look of having Indian blood in his veins; but the rest
+of his features were unmistakably Celtic, and the moment he spoke, the
+Irishman stood confessed. He was a man of such extensive reading and
+general information that few persons excelled him in conversation. His
+wife was also cultivated and intelligent, so that either as guest or
+hostess she was equally agreeable and popular. They had a large family
+of bright and interesting children.
+
+One of the social curiosities of the city was known as Deacon Humphrey.
+He was a striking instance of the importance which self-complacent
+mediocrity can obtain in a newly-settled community, in spite of
+ponderous stupidity. His large head gave him his only excuse for
+professing to have brains, and his air of preoccupation made him in
+appearance the personification of wisdom; indeed, a witty journalist,
+who had sounded the depths of Humphrey's ignorance, once said that "no
+man _could_ be as wise as Humphrey _looked_." No better condensation of
+this character in a few words could be made. He was part proprietor of a
+morning newspaper, and at times, to the dismay of the other
+stockholders, he aspired to the editorial tripod. The mighty
+lucubrations of his intellect were generally assigned to the
+waste-basket, and in the city it was well known that his influence in
+the columns of the paper was absolutely nothing, though in the country
+he was still regarded with awe by the bucolic mind. He was generally
+known as "Deacon" from his honorary occupancy of that office in a
+Presbyterian church. Mrs. Humphrey was seldom seen, being in poor health
+almost constantly, but their only daughter, Jennie, was one of the
+foremost of the fashionable of the _dilettanti_ of the city. Indeed, it
+was confidently anticipated that, some day, Miss Jennie would burst
+forth as a full-blown authoress, and overpower an expectant public with
+the radiance of her intellect and the elegance of her style.
+
+No description of Gloster celebrities would be complete without that of
+Ethan Allen Benson, Esq., formerly Member of Congress, and late Minister
+Plenipotentiary at an important European court. The suggestion having
+once been made to him by some waggish diplomat that he resembled the
+first Napoleon, he was ever afterward desirous of drawing attention to
+this fancied resemblance. He was a vain, fussy, consequential
+politician, whose principal strength was in the ward caucus and the
+saloon.
+
+Judge Peter B. Taylor was another old settler, and he was frequently
+seen in social circles in spite of his age. His forehead was very broad
+indeed, but his face tapered so rapidly to a pointed chin as to make his
+head wedge-shaped. He had coarse, faded hair, but no whiskers nor beard,
+and only a scrubby, gray moustache. He had a singular habit of working
+his eyes independently of each other, and the effect upon a stranger who
+was not aware of this peculiarity was sometimes startling. His mouth was
+quite large, one side appearing larger than the other, and his lower lip
+slightly protruded, giving him a very harsh and forbidding appearance.
+He had at one time occupied a seat on the judicial bench, but few
+persons could understand on what grounds he deserved the office, unless
+it were that people believed the adage about a poor lawyer making a good
+judge. He was quite wealthy, and his business was that of a money loaner
+and real estate speculator. He was considered to be very pious and
+charitable--on Sunday; during the rest of the week no Shylock ever
+demanded his pound of flesh more relentlessly than he his three per cent.
+a month.
+
+It was among a society of which the foregoing were shining lights, that
+I was to operate at the request of Senator Muirhead. On returning to
+Chicago from Gloster, I gave a great deal of thought to the case, for
+there was so little to act upon that none of the ordinary plans could be
+depended upon. During his stay in this country, Don Pedro had apparently
+acted in a perfectly honorable manner toward every one, and it would be
+impossible to proceed against him legally in the United States for
+crimes committed elsewhere, until the aggrieved parties should take the
+necessary steps for his extradition; with several of the countries in
+which he was supposed to have committed his crimes we had no extradition
+treaty, and nothing could be done here to arrest or punish him; hence,
+the task of exposing his previous career might be fruitless, even though
+the Senator's suspicions should be confirmed in every particular.
+Nothing whatever could be adduced against his character since his
+arrival in the United States, and I was, therefore, confined to the
+prevention of future frauds rather than the detection of old ones. The
+primary object of my efforts was thus made to be the discovery of the
+Don's intentions, as, without some slight forecast of his plans, I might
+be unable to circumvent them. Accordingly, I decided that I must furnish
+him with a friend who would be sufficiently intimate with him to become
+his trusted companion and adviser. At the same time, it would be
+essential to learn as much as possible relative to the previous career
+of both the Don and Donna, for it might be desirable to use a little
+moral suasion with them by showing that their history was known. This
+plan would involve no injustice to them, for, if innocent of
+wrong-doing, they would never know that they had been under
+surveillance; while, if guilty, they deserved no consideration.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER II.
+
+    _Madame Sevier, Widow, of Chicago, and Monsieur Lesparre, of
+          Bordeaux, also arrive at Gloster.--Mr. Pinkerton, as a
+          Laborer, anxious for a Job, inspects the Morito Mansion.--A
+          Tender Scene, resulting in Profit to the fascinating
+          Senora.--Madame Sevier is installed as a Guest at Don
+          Pedro's._
+
+
+My first action in this affair was to detail a man to "shadow" Don Pedro
+and the Donna until the detectives chosen for the more difficult
+portions of the work should be in a position to take notice of all their
+movements. As three detectives would require some little preparation to
+gain the position I desired them to fill, I hastened to select them and
+give them their instructions. For this mission I detailed a married
+couple, who had been several years in my employ. Mr. and Mrs. Rosel were
+natives of France, and as they had been constantly in my service almost
+from the time of their arrival in this country, I felt sure they would
+not be recognized as detectives by any one in the city of Gloster. They
+were people of more than average intelligence and education, with a
+natural refinement which would be especially desirable in the
+prosecution of this case. In a few days all their preparations were
+completed, and they went to Gloster by different routes.
+
+Mrs. Rosel was not handsome, but she had a good figure, and she was very
+attractive, on account of her dashing, spirited ways, and because she
+could assume a deep interest in every one whom she met. She spoke
+English with so slight an accent that it was only noticed as an added
+charm to her winning conversation. I instructed her to represent herself
+in Gloster as Madame Sevier, the widow of a lace merchant, lately of
+Chicago, where he had carried on a moderate business. His death had
+thrown his affairs into some confusion, but the estate would be settled
+up soon, leaving a comfortable fortune to his widow. Madame Sevier did
+not like the climate of Chicago, and therefore she had decided to remain
+in Gloster until her business affairs were settled, when she would
+probably return to her relatives in France. I intended that she should
+mix in society as much as would be consistent with her character as a
+widow, and that she should endeavor to become intimate with Donna Lucia.
+
+Mr. Rosel was to make a slight detour, arriving in Gloster from the
+east. He would be known as Monsieur Girard Lesparre, and his ostensible
+character was to be that of a man of moderate capital from Bordeaux,
+looking for a favorable opportunity to invest some of his means in a
+profitable business.
+
+I followed the Rosels in a day or two, and found that Monsieur Lesparre
+was pleasantly located at a fashionable family hotel, while Madame
+Sevier had taken apartments in a stylish boarding-house only a few doors
+from the handsome residence which the Moritos were to occupy. This was
+quite satisfactory, and I turned my attention to the examination of the
+reports made by my "shadow." The reports were very monotonous in
+character, except as evidences of the popularity of the Don and Donna.
+The dull days of Lent had just passed, and the close of the season was
+now more crowded with parties and balls than the earlier portion had
+been. The presence of two such distinguished guests as Don Pedro and
+Donna Lucia contributed largely to the reasons for this rush of gayety,
+and they were overwhelmed with visitors and invitations. Mr. Mather had
+set the example by giving a large dinner-party in their honor, followed
+in the evening by a grand ball; and they had so charmed the other
+leaders of society that no entertainment was considered complete without
+the presence of Don Pedro P. L. de Morito and his beautiful wife.
+
+On leaving my hotel to visit the house which Don Pedro was fitting up
+for his residence, I met Charlie Morton, the United States Commissioner
+of Gloster. Morton was a capable lawyer and a shrewd politician. He was
+equally attentive to ladies as to gentlemen, and it was well known that
+Charlie would never slight any one who could cast or influence a vote.
+His acquaintance extended through all classes, from the lowest to the
+highest, and few men were more generally popular. His powers of
+observation were only equaled by his tact, so that, while he saw all
+that went on about him, he never talked indiscreetly. He and I were
+quite intimate, and we chatted for some time about various people before
+I succeeded in bringing up the names of those in Gloster in whom I was
+just then most interested.
+
+"I suppose you are quite glad that the gay season is over, Charlie," I
+said, interrogatively. "As usual, you will not have many social events
+of any consequence after Lent, I presume?"
+
+"Oh! yes, indeed," he replied; "we shall be more active in society for
+the next month or two than ever before. You see, we have two wealthy and
+aristocratic Peruvians visiting Gloster, and they are so fascinating
+that they have quite taken our people by storm. They have been
+accustomed to the finest society of Europe and South America, so that we
+are put upon our mettle to show how well Gloster can compare in wealth,
+luxury, and refinement with older cities at home and abroad."
+
+"Are they then such remarkable lions?" I asked, "or do people run after
+them simply because they are rich foreigners?"
+
+"Of course their wealth and foreign birth would cause many people to
+pay them attention," said Morton; "but their popularity is something
+exceptional, and is undoubtedly due to their perfect knowledge of all
+the courtesies and customs of modern society, to their charming manners,
+and largely to their personal good looks. Senor Morito has fascinated
+all the ladies, while nearly every man in society is in love with the
+Senora."
+
+"Well, take care of yourself, my boy," I said, jokingly. "If the lovely
+Donna causes Charlie Morton to strike his colors, she must be dangerous
+indeed."
+
+After leaving Morton, I sauntered along to the house which Don Pedro had
+rented, and which was now nearly ready for occupancy. It was a large
+residence, with ample grounds fronting on the principal avenue, and its
+imposing front of heavy columns gave it a striking appearance as
+compared with the more commonplace stone fronts around it. While I was
+glancing curiously about, a truck arrived laden with costly furniture. I
+was rather roughly dressed, and the driver asked me if I wanted a job of
+work. I accepted his offer to aid in carrying the furniture into the
+house, as I was anxious to examine the interior. After finishing the
+job, the furniture salesman took me over the house to show off the
+elegance with which it was decorated and furnished. It was certainly a
+model of good taste, while the paintings, statuary, frescoing, and
+articles of _bijouterie_ were evidences of enormous expenditures. Having
+obtained a thorough knowledge of the plan of the house, I withdrew,
+receiving fifty cents for my labor.
+
+The time when Don Pedro was to occupy his residence was to be signalized
+by a grand reception held therein, and the invitations were already out.
+Meantime entertainments were given by John Preston, Alexander McIntyre,
+and Charles H. Sanders. The latter's reception was especially brilliant,
+and those who knew Mr. Sanders's parsimonious character were much
+surprised at his profuse expenditure for the occasion. I soon afterwards
+obtained an explanation of this unusual liberality, by hearing another
+banker casually remark that Don Pedro had withdrawn a part of his funds
+from New York, and had deposited them in Mr. Sanders's bank. This gave
+me a hint, and I immediately acted upon it. Being well acquainted with a
+number of bankers, I visited several of them, and talked about various
+business men of Gloster, as if I were desirous of getting information
+about their commercial standing and credit. In each case I succeeded in
+learning the extent to which Don Pedro had deposited money in bank. The
+total amount then due him by the three houses with whom he had made
+deposits was about $17,000, although his original deposits had amounted
+to more than double that sum. Heavy drafts to pay his current expenses
+and to furnish his house had largely reduced his available cash, though
+he still had an ample sum on hand. Knowing how enormous his expenses
+were, I felt sure that he would reach the end of his bank account in a
+short time, unless he should have other funds, of whose existence I was
+unaware. If this sum of seventeen thousand dollars represented his total
+capital, however, he would soon show whether he was what he claimed to
+be, or an adventurer; for, in the former case, he would draw money from
+his Peruvian estates, and, in the latter, he would accomplish some great
+swindle. I was, therefore, anxious to put my detectives at work as
+quickly as possible to enable me to learn something definite of his
+intentions.
+
+Madame Sevier was making quite rapid progress in her new quarters. Mrs.
+Courtney, the lady who kept the house, was a widow of some means, who
+took boarders to enable her to educate her children in the best manner.
+She was highly regarded by every one, and her visiting-list included all
+the most fashionable people in the city. She soon became greatly
+interested in Madame Sevier, and through her assistance the Madame made
+the acquaintance of a number of the families living in the neighborhood.
+As the rage for foreigners was at its height just then, Madame Sevier
+soon became highly popular, and she was invited to several
+entertainments, where she met Don Pedro and Donna Lucia. The latter,
+finding that Madame Sevier was to be her near neighbor in her new
+residence, became very intimate with her, especially as Donna Lucia was
+desirous of reviving her knowledge and practice of the French language.
+Consequently, when Don Pedro's arrangements were all completed and the
+new house occupied, Madame Sevier used to drop in for a few minutes'
+chat every day. As she was a very capable manager, she was frequently
+able to give Donna Lucia valuable hints about her household affairs,
+especially with reference to the approaching reception.
+
+Ever since the arrival of the Moritos, Mr. Henry O. Mather had been a
+constant attendant upon the Donna. His attentions had not been so
+publicly marked as to have created scandal; but he had been so assiduous
+in paying his regards, that he was much more intimate than Mrs. Grundy
+would have thought strictly proper. He was in the habit of calling very
+frequently, and he often took the Don and Donna out for a drive.
+Sometimes the party would consist wholly of ladies, and occasionally the
+Donna accompanied him alone. In short, he became a sort of intimate
+friend of the family, welcome at all times, without the necessity of
+invitation or ceremony.
+
+One day, Madame Sevier went in to see Donna Lucia in the afternoon, and
+was told by the servant that she would find the Donna in the library.
+Without permitting the servant to announce her, she passed on toward the
+room mentioned; but, as she approached the door, hearing voices within,
+she paused a moment to see who was with Donna Lucia. The room was in a
+very retired part of the house, and she was able to take a position
+close to the partly open door without the probability of being noticed
+by any one. She was thus enabled to overhear a highly interesting
+conversation between the Donna and Henry O. Mather, who had evidently
+arrived only a moment or two before her.
+
+"You are not in good spirits to-day, Donna Lucia?" questioned Mather,
+sympathetically.
+
+"No, Mr. Mather; I have my troubles at times, like other people, but I
+try not to let others see them."
+
+"Then you do not care for sympathy, Senora," said Mather, with a tender
+sigh; "I see that you have been in tears, and it grieves me to think
+that I cannot save you from the painful things which cause you to cry."
+
+"Oh! Mr. Mather, I do appreciate your kindness, I assure you," said the
+Donna, also sighing deeply; "I am almost tempted to ask your advice, for
+I feel that you are truly my friend; but I am afraid you will think I
+have been naughty in having exposed myself to such annoyances."
+
+"No, indeed, my dear Donna," replied the millionaire, quite enraptured
+at this evident token of her confidence in him; "I know that you are too
+lovely to be anything but an angel, and I shall be only too happy to
+give you advice upon any subject that you confide to me."
+
+As the conversation was becoming highly interesting, the tones of the
+parties being of a really lover-like tenderness, Madame Sevier took a
+hasty glimpse through the door, and saw that she could watch as well as
+listen, unperceived. Mather was standing beside the Donna, bending over
+her and looking into her face, while she had her head half turned away,
+as if in coy indecision.
+
+"Well, Mr. Mather----"
+
+"Why do you address me always so formally? Can you not call me Henry?"
+asked Mather, boldly.
+
+"How would it sound if any one should hear me?" said the Donna, casting
+down her eyes and playing with her watch-chain.
+
+"But when we are alone no one can hear you," replied Mather. "Won't you
+call me Henry when we have an occasional _tete-a-tete_?"
+
+"Well, then you must be very discreet, Henry," answered she, looking up,
+blushing and hesitating as she spoke.
+
+"I will be discretion itself," said the now wholly infatuated Mather,
+with a look of triumph; and to show that he accepted the conditions of
+the agreement, he sealed it by raising her hand to his lips.
+
+"Oh! fie! fie!" she exclaimed; "is it thus that you show your
+discretion? I shall be obliged to retract my promise if you become so
+rash. Now, sit down beside me, and be more polite in future."
+
+"I will not be so hasty again, my dear Donna; but my pleasure was so
+great that I was somewhat beside myself. Now tell me what it was that
+caused your troubles."
+
+"Well, Mr. Math----"
+
+"No, no; not 'Mr. Mather;' recollect your promise," interrupted Mather,
+as he saw she hesitated to call him by his first name.
+
+"Well, then, Henry, I have been very thoughtless and extravagant, and I
+do not know what to do. You see, I have always spent money for
+everything I needed without regard to cost; for my own fortune was ample
+for everything, and Pedro would give me any amount that I might desire.
+But last month a draft for six thousand pounds, which was sent me by my
+trustees, was lost on the way, and so I have used up all my own funds.
+Having run up several large bills in New York, I asked Pedro to pay
+them, and he did so; but he said that, having ordered his factors to
+send him no more money until his arrival in Callao, he should be
+somewhat embarrassed until he heard from them again. His sudden
+determination to fit up and occupy a residence here has exhausted all
+his available funds except a few thousand dollars for current expenses,
+and he requested me not to make any large purchases until one of us
+should receive a remittance from our estates. Well, you see, I expected
+surely to have received a large sum before now, and so I made purchases
+without regard to consequences; the result is, that I am deeply in debt,
+my money has not arrived, and I am afraid to tell Pedro, because he will
+not forgive me for running in debt and disobeying him. Unfortunately, I
+have done both these things, and I am momentarily in fear that some of
+the bills will be sent to him. Now, my dear Henry, you see that I have
+good cause to look sad and cry."
+
+As she finished, the Donna began to whimper and put her handkerchief to
+her eyes in so touching a manner that Mather was quite overpowered. The
+artistic expression with which she hastily called him her "dear Henry"
+was the finishing touch to an already powerful attack, and he
+surrendered completely.
+
+"My dear Donna," he exclaimed, seizing her hand in both of his, "how
+glad I am that you confided in me. I will see that you are not troubled
+by another anxious thought in this matter. Tell me how much you need to
+settle all your indebtedness."
+
+"Indeed, Henry, I cannot let you do anything of the kind," she
+protested, feebly. "Why, it is a very large sum in all, and it may be
+several months before I can repay you."
+
+"Now don't talk about payment, but just tell me how much you need,"
+replied Mather.
+
+"The large bills amount to over four thousand dollars, and there are a
+number of small ones which I have not figured up," she said,
+thoughtfully.
+
+"Well, then, I will bring you around five thousand dollars to-morrow,
+and you can pay the bills without any one knowing where the money comes
+from," said Mather, again kissing her hand.
+
+"Oh! you dear, good fellow!" exclaimed the Donna; and, overcome by his
+generous response to her request, she threw her arms about his neck and
+kissed him several times.
+
+"There, there," she continued, releasing herself and coquettishly
+tapping his lips with her hand, "I don't know how I came to do such a
+thing, but you were so kind that I couldn't help it."
+
+"If that is the case," said the overjoyed Mather, "I will add five
+thousand more to have a similar expression of your gratitude."
+
+"Will you, really? I believe I am half in love with you," she murmured,
+as she allowed him to embrace her a second time, and press burning
+kisses on her lips.
+
+The ringing of the door-bell interrupted their happiness, and Madame
+Sevier hastily retired to the drawing-room, into which other visitors
+were shown by the servant. Donna Lucia soon entered, perfectly
+self-possessed, and greeted all her friends with her usual ease and
+cordiality. Mr. Mather probably passed out by the library entrance, for
+he did not appear in the parlor. The ladies conversed together for some
+time, one of the important subjects of their talk being the troubles of
+household management. Donna Lucia complained bitterly that her servants
+robbed her, and that they were careless, dirty, and impudent. She knew
+very little about housekeeping, and every domestic in her employ took
+advantage of her. She added that, as soon as her housewarming was over,
+she intended to get, if possible, a lady who would be a member of the
+family, and who would relieve her of the management of the house.
+
+"Now," said she, in her most winning manner, "here is Madame Sevier, who
+has nothing to occupy her time, who is a natural manager of other
+people, and who is so agreeable that she would be a positive charm to
+any household; and I have been thinking, positively, of asking her to
+take charge of my whole establishment, and help me entertain my guests.
+What should you think, Madame Sevier, of such a request?"
+
+The opportunity of becoming domesticated in the Morito mansion was thus
+afforded to one of my detectives, but she knew better than to accept at
+once. She therefore professed to treat it as a pleasantry, and said that
+she had no doubt that she should succeed as a housekeeper, but whether
+she could add anything of attraction to such a charming home was greatly
+to be doubted. The other ladies, however, thought the idea an admirable
+one, and they all urged Madame Sevier to adopt it. Having once broached
+the subject, Donna Lucia again spoke of it with the greatest interest,
+showing, by her arguments and determination to coax Madame Sevier to
+decide favorably, that she had thought about such a plan before, and
+that she was really in earnest in her request. Finally, Madame Sevier
+said that she saw no objection to accepting the offer, as she really
+enjoyed taking care of a large establishment, but she was not prepared
+to accept it at once, and she would wait a few days to reflect upon it.
+It was then agreed that she should give her decision at the grand
+reception to be given as a housewarming.
+
+This part of my plan had worked admirably, and I felt confident of my
+eventual success in learning all about the affairs of the Morito family.
+The method by which Donna Lucia had obtained ten thousand dollars from
+Mr. Mather was a decided confirmation of Senator Muirhead's suspicions;
+though there was nothing in the transaction which could make her liable
+to punishment by law, and as there was no danger that her victim would
+ever appear against her, I paid no further attention to this episode.
+
+I ordered Madame Sevier to accept Donna Lucia's offer on the following
+terms: she should have full authority over all the female servants in
+the house; she should have charge of the ordering of all articles for
+household use; she should be considered in the same light as a guest, so
+far as social intercourse went; she should go and come as she chose,
+without regard to the duties of the _menage_; and she should receive no
+salary. This last point she was to insist upon, as necessary to preserve
+her feeling of independence, and enable her to occupy her time as she
+might see fit.
+
+As the day approached for the Moritos' reception, all Gloster's best
+society were filled with pleasurable excitement and anticipation, as the
+preparations were known to be far more magnificent than those for any
+similar entertainment since Gloster was settled. As Monsieur Lesparre
+had already made Don Pedro's acquaintance, and had received an
+invitation, I felt sure that I should be thoroughly informed as to all
+the occurrences of the evening, and so I awaited developments.
+
+The employment of detectives to penetrate into the social life and
+domestic surroundings of any family is strongly repugnant to my sense of
+propriety, and I rarely countenance the practice, if I can possibly
+attain my object in any other way. I dislike to feel that I am
+trespassing upon the privacy of any man's home, even though that man may
+be a criminal. The idea of introducing a spy into a household is opposed
+to the spirit of our free American institutions, violating, as it does,
+the unwritten law that "a man's house is his castle;" hence, I never
+resort to such a measure, except in extreme cases. I saw, however, that
+there was no other means of protecting the interests of my client,
+Senator Muirhead; he was acting disinterestedly in the case, to save his
+constituents from being defrauded, and I could only prevent the
+threatened swindle by learning in advance the exact plan of operation
+proposed by the suspected person.
+
+I was careful, however, to employ my most discreet and cautious agents,
+in order that I should quickly learn whether the Senator's suspicions
+were based on fact; in case I should find that the suspected parties
+were innocent, I was determined to withdraw instantly. They would not
+then suffer any injustice, for my employes would keep their discoveries
+secret from every one except myself, and no one would ever know that
+they had been the objects of suspicion.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER III.
+
+    _Monsieur Lesparre, having a retentive memory, becomes serviceable
+          to Don Pedro.--Diamond Fields and droll Americans.--A pompous
+          Judge in an unfortunate Predicament.--The grand Reception
+          closes with the happy Arrangement that the gay Senor and
+          Senora shall dine with Mr. Pinkerton's Detectives on the next
+          evening._
+
+
+The day of the reception was unusually pleasant, and at nightfall the
+full moon rose to add her splendor to the attractiveness of the evening.
+The Morito mansion was ablaze with wax candles, gaslight being
+considered too common for use on such an occasion. From the street to
+the door was a passageway of double canvas, with an opening at the
+sidewalk to prevent interference with passers. This opening was
+brilliantly lighted, and was hung with flags, pennants, and flowers,
+artistically arranged so as to give the guests a charming prospect when
+alighting from their carriages. The rooms of the house needed no
+decoration beyond that already given by the frescoes and paintings
+adorning the walls and ceilings. Nevertheless, flowers were abundantly
+distributed about the spacious apartments. The beautiful conservatory
+contained a superb fountain, whose jets and sprays gave forth exquisite
+odor and rippling music. Everywhere throughout the house the most
+artistic grouping of furniture, pictures, and statuary could be seen,
+and the variety of taste displayed was only equaled by the unity of
+arrangements as a whole. At ten o'clock the guests began to arrive, and
+as the throng of carriages became thicker, it seemed as if the house
+would be over-crowded. This did not happen to any noticeable degree,
+however, as the whole of two floors were thrown open to accommodate the
+guests. The music was furnished by the best musicians of the city, and
+the supper was a miracle of epicurean excellence, Delmonico having sent
+one of his chief assistants from New York to superintend its
+preparation. Never had Gloster seen an affair where such elegance and
+good taste had been displayed; even the smallest details were perfect,
+and the Don and Donna received innumerable congratulations and good
+wishes from their guests.
+
+During his brief stay in Gloster, Monsieur Lesparre had been very active
+in forming acquaintances, and he was already well known in society. He
+had a very retentive memory, and, when once introduced to any gentleman,
+he immediately took pains to learn everything possible about him. By
+careful observation and perseverance, he had learned the general history
+of a very large number of the leading people in society, and his droll
+comments and half-sarcastic criticism of them, expressed _sotto voce_ to
+the Don on various occasions, had caught the latter's attention. The Don
+therefore frequently singled out Lesparre for a companion in society, in
+order to obtain information about the social and business standing of
+various people.
+
+"You see, my dear Lesparre," said the Don, "I am such a poor judge of
+character that I am liable to be imposed upon unless I know something
+about the previous history of people who seek my friendship. And, as I
+have a miserable memory for faces, names, places, and everything else,
+it is a great pleasure to find some one who can keep me posted as to the
+status of the people I meet. You must let me see as much of you as
+possible, for, being both foreigners, we ought to have a common bond of
+sympathy."
+
+"It will give me great pleasure," replied Lesparre. "Of course our
+friends here are very attentive; but then, you know, they lack the
+polish one meets in European _salons_, and they are too apt to obtrude
+their business into their social relations."
+
+"Exactly; I agree with you perfectly, and it is for that reason that I
+enjoy a conversation with a gentleman of Continental education and
+tastes. It is wonderful how keen these Americans are in their pursuit of
+the 'Almighty Dollar.' Why, only a week or two ago, I happened to
+mention to Mr. Mather and a few others, that some of my estates in the
+Peruvian Andes contained extensive diamond fields, when they began to
+upbraid me for not working them and adding to my already ample revenue.
+They seemed positively shocked when I told them, that I saw no reason
+for increasing my income, as I had as much money as I could use now.
+They insisted that I was doing a positive wrong to my fellow mortals in
+refusing to burden myself with a new enterprise, and I assure you they
+were quite in earnest in their remonstrances. Ah! how droll they are,
+Monsieur Lesparre!"
+
+"Yes, indeed, I have found the same spirit even with reference to my
+humble means," replied Lesparre. "They want me to invest in something
+right away, and I have very many disinterested offers of advice; but
+they cannot understand my delay, and they think I am throwing away so
+many good chances by waiting. Now, I should be content to settle down
+for a year, before investing, just to examine at length all the openings
+offered me; but I doubt whether I could afford to do that, unless I
+could obtain a satisfactory salaried position, and I feel that that is
+impossible. There are very few such positions as I would be willing to
+accept, as I do not care to be tied down to regular duties."
+
+The gentlemen had stepped into the supper-room while this conversation
+was going on, and were about to take a glass of wine together.
+Lesparre's last remark seemed to give a sudden idea to Don Pedro, and he
+sipped his wine in silence for a moment or two. Then he said,
+inquiringly:
+
+"I suppose you would like a position of a responsible character, where
+your knowledge of commercial and financial affairs would be available,
+but where your whole time would not be absorbed?"
+
+"Yes, that was my wish," answered Lesparre; "but, of course, I do not
+expect to realize my hopes."
+
+"Possibly you may, Monsieur Lesparre," said Don Pedro; "but let us leave
+the subject of business until to-morrow, when I should like to talk with
+you more fully about this matter. Now, let us return to the
+drawing-room, and when you see any of my guests approaching, please,
+tell me briefly who and what they are. For instance, tell me about that
+stiff and military-looking person crossing the room."
+
+"That is Captain Adrian L. Kerr, a retired army officer, who has lived
+here a long time. He has been unsuccessful in business, and it would be
+difficult to account for his means of livelihood were it not that his
+wife, the brilliant brunette near the mantel-piece, is supposed to have
+an income of her own. Some people are so ill-natured as to suggest that
+Alexander McIntyre, the wealthy Scotch banker now talking to her, is the
+source of her revenue, but that may be pure gossip. At any rate, she is
+always elegantly dressed, and she moves in the best society."
+
+"If people suspect her of improper intimacy with McIntyre, why do they
+admit her to their houses?" asked Don Pedro.
+
+"Well, you see, many of the merchants and business men have financial
+dealings with McIntyre, and they do not dare to offend him. As an
+illustration of his power, I will relate an incident that occurred
+recently. The wife of a well-known merchant was about to give a large
+party, and, in making out her list of invitations, she purposely left
+out the name of Mrs. Kerr. Her husband, on going to the bank to obtain
+the renewal of a note, found McIntyre as surly and savage as a bear, and
+the renewal was refused. As he had never before had any difficulty in
+obtaining such an accommodation when hard pressed for money, he could
+not account for the change in McIntyre's conduct; but when his wife
+informed him of her action the day previous in withholding an invitation
+from Mrs. Kerr, he understood it all. His affairs were in such a
+condition that he could not afford to quarrel with McIntyre, and so he
+insisted that an invitation be sent to Mrs. Kerr, in spite of his wife's
+assertion that Mrs. Kerr was an improper character. He was willing to
+admit that fact, but he preferred to submit to her presence rather than
+to be seriously crippled in business. An invitation was therefore sent
+in such a way as to make the delay in its delivery appear accidental,
+and in a few days Mr. McIntyre was willing to renew the merchant's
+note."
+
+"Well, she certainly does carry things with a high hand," replied Don
+Pedro, smiling. "I wonder how she would have retaliated upon me if I
+had struck her name off my list to-night? However, it is not my business
+to question her character, and if my wife is satisfied to receive her, I
+shall not interfere."
+
+As the Don finished speaking, the music sounded the preliminary notes of
+a quadrille, and he hastened to find a partner. Among the guests were
+Mr. and Mrs. Arlington, whose minds were of such opposite characters as
+to keep them continually quarreling. He was a wealthy banker of austere
+manners and Puritanic tastes, while she was a butterfly of fashion, fit
+only to be petted, kissed, and caressed. She was all gayety and life;
+he, all piety and gloom. Her pleasures he considered sinful, while his
+recreations were to her the most painfully melancholy observances that
+could be devised. While he believed that she was a child of wrath, a
+creature of the world, the flesh, and the devil, she was equally
+satisfied that he was on the highway to fanaticism and hypocrisy. Under
+these circumstances, it was not unnatural that she should seek her
+friends among those who mingled in fashionable society, nor that her
+husband should consider it necessary to follow her into the gay world in
+order to keep a watch upon her. Her most attentive cavalier was a young
+bachelor named Harry Bertram, who seemed infatuated with her. Indeed,
+their preference for each other's society was so marked that the tongue
+of scandal had already begun to wag, although no overt act could be
+cited against them. The Don, on leaving Lesparre, chanced to meet Mrs.
+Arlington, and she readily accorded him the pleasure of dancing with
+her. In the same set were Daniel McCarthy and Donna Lucia, Charles
+Sylvanus and Madame Sevier, and Mr. Mather and Mrs. Simon. In the
+adjoining set were Mr. Benson and Miss Jennie Humphrey, Alexander
+McIntyre and Mrs. Kerr, Harry Bertram and Mrs. Sanders, and Judge Robert
+Morgan and Mrs. Middleton.
+
+Judge Morgan was a remarkable-looking person at any time, but his
+appearance was especially noticeable in a dancing-set, the incongruity
+of his presence in such a scene being irresistibly comical. He was about
+fifty years of age, but his face was smooth and unwrinkled; though he
+was of the medium height, his great size gave him the look of a short
+man, which effect was partly increased by his long arms. He was very
+broad and fat, his stomach projecting to an absurd degree. At the same
+time he stood very erect, so that a profile view gave him a general
+resemblance to a loggerhead turtle set on end. His eyes were small and
+treacherous, his cheeks were puffy and flabby, his mouth was large and
+sensual. His hair and whiskers were brown and fine, but they always
+seemed unkempt. He wore closely-fitting black clothes, and he was fond
+of displaying an unusual amount of jewelry. He had obtained the office
+of judge of the criminal court by currying favor with the very classes
+most likely to be brought before him for trial, and his judicial
+ermine was not considered free from the foulest stains. His private life
+was, in many respects, a counterpart of his official conduct; though
+married to an agreeable woman, he was a notorious libertine and
+profligate. Still, he held his position in society, and was admitted to
+the acquaintance of the most reputable people in the city; hence, he
+frequently appeared at balls and dancing-parties, where he always tried
+to act like a light and graceful youth.
+
+[Illustration: _The Judge's downfall._]
+
+On this occasion he was especially anxious to display his manly form in
+the same set with the Donna, but being disappointed in this, he chose
+the set next to hers, and acted like a playful hippopotamus. While
+backing rapidly, in an attempt to balance to his partner, he came in
+contact with Mrs. Simon of the next set, and, tripping on her dress, he
+fell violently upon her. Her partner, Mr. Mather, tried to catch her as
+she also fell, but the ponderous form of the Judge came upon them both
+with crushing effect, and all three were brought to the floor at once.
+Mr. Mather and Mrs. Simon were quickly on their feet again, flushed with
+mortification but unhurt. But it was no such easy matter for the
+corpulent Judge to raise himself erect; he lay on his back a moment
+groaning, and it was thought that he might be seriously injured, as his
+fall had jarred the whole house. Several gentlemen carefully lifted him
+upright, and the ladies gathered about to condole with him, when it was
+suddenly discovered that, if the Judge's person had not suffered, his
+clothing had. His tight dress coat was split several inches down the
+back, while a hasty glimpse behind his coat-tails satisfied the
+spectators that his pants were in an even worse condition than his coat.
+It may be imagined that the situation caused some merriment, in spite of
+the efforts of the more well-bred guests to preserve their gravity; but
+when the Judge, having regained his feet, vociferated in great wrath:
+"You are a pack of monkeys. I don't see anything to laugh at," there was
+a universal burst of laughter which could not be repressed. This so
+enraged him that it was difficult to make him understand his absurd
+position, but at length Don Pedro and Monsieur Lesparre induced him to
+go to the dressing-room for repairs. As there was no coat in the house
+large enough for him, the Don was at his wits' end to make him
+sufficiently presentable to enable him to return to the drawing-room;
+but at length the Judge was arrayed in one of the Don's gorgeous
+dressing-gowns, which was large enough to hide most of the effects of
+the fall. He soon returned to the lower rooms dressed in the most
+remarkable costume ever worn at a full-dress party in Gloster.
+
+With the exception of this accident, the evening passed off with the
+most perfect success, and the unanimous verdict was that there had never
+been a more thoroughly enjoyable entertainment given in the city. During
+the evening, Madame Sevier informed Donna Lucia of her willingness to
+take charge of the Morito establishment, and agreed to begin her reign
+the next day. Donna Lucia was delighted at this news, and willingly
+accepted all the conditions, though she insisted for some time on giving
+Madame Sevier a liberal salary. Finding that Madame Sevier was resolute
+in her refusal to receive pay, the Donna informed her friends that she
+had invited Madame Sevier to live with her, and that the Madame had
+kindly agreed to assist her in entertaining her numerous guests.
+
+It was not until nearly daybreak that the more indefatigable revelers
+became weary of dancing and flirting, so that the Donna was quite
+exhausted when the last guest had departed. Madame Sevier remained to
+the end, as she intended occupying her room in the Morito mansion at
+once, instead of returning to her boarding-place. Donna Lucia left
+orders that she was not to be disturbed until five o'clock in the
+afternoon, but Madame Sevier decided to get up at twelve o'clock, in
+order to superintend the work of clearing away the decorations and
+_debris_ of the ball. The Don had invited Monsieur Lesparre to dine with
+him at six o'clock, and so it was arranged that they should all meet at
+that hour.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER IV.
+
+    _Madame Sevier and Her Work.--Unaccountable Coquettishness between
+          Man and Wife.--A Startling Scheme, illustrating the Rashness
+          and Gullibility of American Business Men and the Supreme
+          Assurance of Don Pedro.--Disaster approaching the Gloster
+          Capitalists.--Other Suspicions Aroused.--The Story of Mr.
+          Warne, English Diplomatic Agent.--A New Move._
+
+
+Madame Sevier began her work of reform in the household as soon as she
+was dressed that afternoon. Finding that they now had a mistress
+competent to control them, the servants showed a greater willingness to
+be useful, though some of them were inclined to be lazy and impudent as
+before. The Madame made mental notes of everything, took charge of the
+keys to all storerooms and closets, and clearly demonstrated that she
+was able to manage the house according to her own ideas. The cook,
+thinking she was indispensable, and that she could act independent of
+control, was very impertinent to Madame, and she evinced an
+insubordinate spirit that created a good deal of trouble. Seeing that
+prompt and severe measures were necessary, Madame Sevier paid this woman
+her wages and discharged her without a moment's warning. The effect upon
+the other servants was most satisfactory, and although the Madame was
+obliged to make some minor changes afterward, she was never again
+annoyed by impertinence or presumption. The dinner for that day was
+prepared by the assistant cook, under Madame Sevier's direction, and
+when the Don and Donna came down from their chamber, they were delighted
+to find that the house was in perfect order, showing no signs of having
+been the scene of revelry and dissipation the night before.
+
+[Illustration: Madame Sevier discharging the servants.]
+
+During dinner, at which Monsieur Lesparre was the only guest, Don Pedro,
+after complimenting Madame Sevier very highly upon her success in
+bringing order out of chaos, turned to his wife and said:
+
+"Lucia, your selection of a companion and advisor has been so fortunate
+that I am more than ever disposed to follow your example. What do you
+think, Monsieur Lesparre, cannot you serve me as confidential secretary
+and financial agent as satisfactorily as Madame Sevier assists my wife?"
+
+"Indeed, Don Pedro," replied Lesparre, gallantly, "if you impose upon me
+the task of equalling so accomplished and charming a lady as Madame
+Sevier, you will probably be disappointed in everything I do."
+
+"Bravo, bravo, Monsieur Lesparre!" cried the Donna; "you will certainly
+be successful in paying delicate compliments, at least. Yes, Pedro, I
+think you ought to secure Monsieur Lesparre's services at once; when you
+have nothing for him to do, he will be an agreeable companion for us.
+What say you, Madame Sevier?"
+
+"I quite agree with you," replied the Madame, casting down her eyes
+coquettishly; "but I prophesy that Monsieur Lesparre would find his
+position an onerous one if he should be under obligations to pay me
+compliments."
+
+"Ah! the obligation would be unnecessary," said Lesparre; "the
+difficulty would be to avoid doing so constantly."
+
+The Don and Donna smiled at each other significantly, thinking that they
+saw the incipient signs of a mutual attachment between these two, and
+that it was not unreasonable to imagine that a wedding might result
+therefrom. How little they imagined that these apparently distant
+acquaintances were, in fact, already man and wife!
+
+After dinner, the Don and Lesparre repaired to the billiard-room to
+smoke, while the ladies entered the drawing-room to receive visitors.
+
+"Monsieur Lesparre," said the Don, as they lounged back in luxuriant
+easy-chairs, "what do you think of my suggestion at dinner? I should
+really like to obtain your services as private secretary, and I will
+gladly give you such a salary as will make you independent of other
+labor. While you are attending to my affairs you will naturally become
+well acquainted with many business men, and will be able to investigate
+a number of enterprises, so that you will be better able a year hence to
+invest your capital to advantage."
+
+"Your offer is truly liberal," replied Lesparre, puffing his cigar
+thoughtfully, "and I feel disposed to accept it. What would be my
+duties?"
+
+"Well, I will explain what I wish fully, and then you can judge how the
+position would suit you," answered Don Pedro. "In the first place, I
+wish a financial agent, a man whom I can trust, who will attend to all
+my affairs. You see, I detest the details of business. I desire to live
+free from the vexing annoyances consequent upon the providing and
+disbursing of money. My estates produce as much as I can use, and I do
+not trouble myself to inquire whether they might not yield more. I am
+accustomed to buy whatever I wish, but I hate to bother my head to know
+whether I have enough on hand to pay for my purchases; hence I want my
+secretary to attend to such matters for me. There is another thing in
+which you could be of the greatest service to me; for, while it is an
+affair of great importance, involving large interests, I am positively
+too fond of my own ease to give it the attention which it deserves. I
+know I can trust you not to repeat the slightest portion of what I am
+about to tell you, for it is not desirable that it should be talked
+about, unless the enterprise is successfully carried out."
+
+"Indeed, you can rest assured that I shall never mention a hint of it to
+any one," replied Lesparre.
+
+"Well, you recollect I told you last night that Mather, Perkins, and
+some others were anxious to have me explore and open up the diamond
+fields which, I have reason to believe, constitute a large part of one
+of my estates in Peru? Some time after I spoke to you, toward the end
+of the party, I missed Mather, Perkins, McIntyre, Sanders, and several
+others from the rooms, and while I was wondering what had become of
+them, Mather came up and asked me to go up to my dressing-room, which,
+you recollect, adjoined the room used for the gentlemen's dressing-room
+last night. On arriving there, I found about a dozen of the wealthiest
+men of Gloster sitting around the room, with Dan McCarthy at the table
+acting as secretary. Will you believe it? They had actually formed a
+business meeting in my own house, and had made speeches, passed
+resolutions, and voted upon two propositions, which they wished to
+submit to me; they had then sent the chairman, Mr. Mather, to bring me
+in, and I was expected to stand and deliver my decision at a moment's
+notice. The idea was perfectly ludicrous to me, yet it did not strike
+any of them that they were doing anything unusual. I believe that if a
+party of these Gloster business men were to be landed suddenly in hell,
+they would organize a stock exchange to deal in brimstone and ashes!"
+
+"They certainly carry their business instincts everywhere," said
+Lesparre, laughing heartily. "I suppose they had fully arranged
+everything before you were sent for?"
+
+"Yes, indeed; the very minor details were provided for, and I could not
+raise an objection which had not already been discussed and removed.
+Both propositions provided for the formation of a stock company for the
+mining, cutting, and sale of diamonds. According to the first plan, I
+was to fix a price upon my diamond fields, which the company would then
+purchase, paying me three-fourths in cash, and one-fourth in stock. In
+case, however, that I should be unwilling to part with my controlling
+interest, the second plan provided that I should receive one-fourth the
+estimated value of the land in money, giving to the company therefor the
+privilege of mining for a certain length of time, and receiving also
+one-half of the value of the diamonds found. The idea of disposing of
+this property had never before occurred to me, and naturally I was not
+prepared to give any answer on such short notice; but if I had done so
+then, I should have positively rejected both propositions. In fact, I
+said as much to Mather, and he then suggested to the meeting that 'Senor
+Morito be given a week to decide upon the propositions submitted to
+him.' The cool impudence of thus graciously giving me a week did not
+seem to strike them, and the meeting broke up with great satisfaction,
+every man feeling certain that I _must_ accept one proposition or the
+other. It was further decided to appoint a committee to draw up a
+charter and by-laws, 'so as to save time,' as one gentleman remarked.
+After the gentlemen had left the room, Mather urged the matter upon me
+very strongly. He apologized for having acted with such precipitation,
+but, he said, the others were so eager, as soon as they heard that I
+owned a vast tract of unworked diamond fields, that he could not
+restrain them. He begged me to make some arrangement with the proposed
+company, as the men who had become interested in it were wealthy and
+enterprising, and they would surely push it to a profitable conclusion.
+In answer to my remark that I was rich enough already, he said that I
+ought to give others a chance to make some money who needed it, perhaps,
+more than I. Finally, as he urged it as a personal favor to himself, I
+agreed to give the most favorable answer that I could, and so the matter
+stands."
+
+"When are you to give your answer?" asked Lesparre.
+
+"The committee adjourned until a week from last night," replied the Don,
+"and I shall then again be summoned before them, I presume. Now,
+although the first proposition would not probably pay me so well in the
+end as the second, I much prefer it. You see I do not wish to keep a
+controlling interest because I should have the continual annoyance of
+supervising the business; and, as I have said before, I wish to be
+perfectly free from cares and responsibilities. My object is to enjoy
+life, and I can't be happy if I am obliged to work. Nevertheless, I do
+not wish to turn over this property to a body of men who will squeeze it
+like a sponge, leaving it a mere waste. There are a large body of
+tenants occupying portions of it, whose rights must be respected. They
+will make willing and honest laborers if properly treated, and I wish
+to protect them as far as possible from cruelty and extortion. Hence, I
+desire to learn all I can about the men who will create and manage the
+company before I agree to put the property into their hands, no matter
+what price they may be willing to pay for it; it is here, my dear
+Lesparre, that you can be of great service to me. You are well
+acquainted among all classes of business men in Gloster, and you can
+readily learn all about the people who purpose buying stock. This will
+be considered very natural and proper if you become my private
+secretary, and your duties will not be severe. What do you say?"
+
+"I think I can do what you wish," said Lesparre, "but I should like a
+day for reflection. I never like to act hastily in an important matter,
+even where my mind is already made up."
+
+"You are quite right," said the Don; "but I hope your mind will remain
+unchanged in regard to this matter. I will give you whatever salary you
+wish, and shall expect you, of course, to live here on equal terms with
+myself and wife. Now, let us join the ladies."
+
+On receiving Lesparre's report, I saw the whole scheme at a glance, and
+I was now convinced that Senator Muirhead's suspicions with regard to
+Don Pedro were correct. I immediately visited the Senator, and laid the
+latest developments before him. We could not help admiring the
+consummate knowledge of human nature which the Don displayed; he had
+baited his hook so skillfully that the gudgeons were actually fearful
+lest something should prevent them from swallowing it; but there seemed
+to be no probability of defeating his schemes unless we could obtain
+positive proofs of his dishonesty elsewhere, or detect him in some
+criminal offense in this country. We therefore decided to keep a close
+watch upon all his movements, and await further developments. It was
+evident that the sufferers by Don Jose Michel's forgeries in California
+would not take any active steps against him unless they were sure of the
+identity of the man, and so we had no ground of accusation against him
+which we could rely upon. Both Senator Muirhead and myself were
+indignant at the audacity displayed in his swindling projects, but we
+did not dare to attempt his exposure without absolute proof of our
+charges. The waiting game is never a pleasant one to play, but I could
+not do otherwise under the circumstances.
+
+About this time I was called back to Chicago on important business, but
+I immediately sent my superintendent, Mr. Bangs, to Gloster, to take
+charge of the case there. During my absence little of note occurred,
+except the meeting to hear the Don's answer to the propositions to
+purchase the diamond fields. At this meeting the Don was apparently
+anxious to decline all offers, saying that the property had been in the
+possession of his family for about two hundred years, and that he
+considered himself in honor bound to retain an interest in it. Also, he
+tried to cool the ardor of the would-be purchasers by telling them that
+he had no positive certainty that there were valuable diamond fields on
+the property, though such was probably the case. His reluctance to sell
+the land only made them more determined to buy, for they argued that he
+was so well satisfied with it as a means of revenue that he wished to
+retain possession of it all himself. At length he found that they would
+give him no peace until he yielded, and so he graciously agreed to
+accept the first proposition. The question of price then remained to be
+discussed, but, on this point, there was little opportunity for
+disagreement. Having had so much difficulty in inducing the Don to sell
+at all, they were not disposed to endanger the sale by haggling about
+the price; and when the latter was fixed at one million five hundred
+thousand dollars, they made no demur, although the sum rather staggered
+their enthusiasm at first. This effect was only momentary, however, for
+the vivid anticipations of dividends in proportion to this price quickly
+banished their fears, and they hastened to subscribe the amounts
+required. These facts were all reported to me immediately after my
+return to Gloster, which occurred a day or two after the meeting, and I
+saw that the day of disaster to the trusting capitalists of that city
+was fast approaching.
+
+Neither Monsieur Lesparre nor Madame Sevier had learned much about the
+private affairs of the Moritos, for, whenever the latter had anything
+important to say to each other, they usually spoke Spanish. The Don's
+remaining funds amounted to only about eight thousand dollars, and at
+the rate with which he had hitherto spent money, this sum would not last
+much more than five or six weeks. The time might be extended to two
+months by running the establishment on credit; but the Don was averse to
+such a course, and all bills were paid promptly at the end of each
+month. He showed no uneasiness as his cash began to run low, but merely
+said that if the first installment on the mine should be paid in soon,
+it would obviate the necessity of drawing upon his agents in Lima,
+otherwise he should call upon them for fifty thousand dollars to carry
+him through the year. There was nothing in his manner or actions to
+excite suspicion, and certainly, if he intended to defraud the Diamond
+Company, he had too much nerve to betray himself, even to so close an
+observer as Monsieur Lesparre.
+
+Having heard the reports, I strolled out in the evening for a walk with
+Mr. Bangs, and while passing one of the leading hotels, I met a very
+intimate friend, named Judge Key. The Judge was an old resident of
+Gloster, and his character was highly esteemed by all who knew him. He
+was a man of great ability and force; but, possessing little ambition,
+he was not nearly so well known as many of those who were his inferiors
+in point of intellect and morals. We had a great deal of business
+between us at one time, and our relations to each other were of the
+most cordial character, partaking more of the nature of personal
+friendship than mere business acquaintance. I had not visited him
+previously during my stay in Gloster, for the reason that, even to my
+intimate friends, I never make my presence known when engaged in an
+operation, if I can avoid doing so. On this occasion, the Judge
+recognized me instantly, and greeted me with great warmth, at the same
+time adding that I was just the man above all others whom he wished to
+see. He then introduced his companion to Mr. Bangs and myself as Mr.
+Edward Ashley Warne, of London, England.
+
+"Now, Mr. Pinkerton," said the Judge, "let us step into the club close
+by, and over a social glass of wine, Mr. Warne will tell you about a
+peculiar case of mistaken identity, or of consummate rascality--it is
+hard to know which. Possibly you may be able to understand some things
+which puzzle us, and to frustrate a fraudulent scheme, if our suspicions
+are correct. You both know each other by reputation, I guess, and I
+presume, Mr. Warne, that you will not object to tell Mr. Pinkerton what
+you have told me."
+
+"Oh! yes, I have often heard of Mr. Pinkerton," said Mr. Warne, "and I
+think, as you say, that he can clear up the mystery, if any one can. I
+shall be pleased to tell him all that I know with regard to it."
+
+Mr. Edward Ashley Warne was an _attache_ of the British diplomatic
+service, and having been entrusted with the settlement of some
+questions relative to commerce between the United States and Great
+Britain, he had executed his mission with such fairness, good sense, and
+courtesy that he was regarded with great kindness and respect by our
+people as well as by his own government. He was on a rapid tour through
+the United States, previous to his return to London, and he had spent a
+week in Gloster with Judge Key at the time when we met in front of the
+hotel. We were soon comfortably seated in one of the private
+dining-rooms of the club, and, after a few sips of wine, Mr. Warne began
+his story.
+
+"I don't know whether I am the victim of imagination, or the gentlemen
+of Gloster are likely to be the victims of an impostor; but one thing is
+certain, that a gentleman here known as Don Pedro P. L. de Morito is the
+exact image of a man who was known in London as Don Jose Arias."
+
+This information came so unawares that I almost betrayed my interest in
+the case by uttering a hasty exclamation. I restrained my feelings,
+however, and asked Mr. Warne to tell me all he knew about this man.
+
+"Well, I first met him in Paris, when I was a member of the French
+Legation," replied Mr. Warne. "He was then moving in the most
+aristocratic society, and his wealth was reputed enormous. I saw a great
+deal of him at times, and, indeed, I was better acquainted with him than
+I was with many of my countrymen; but I was recalled to London about
+that time, and I soon forgot all about Don Jose Arias."
+
+"Pardon me," I interrupted; "was the Don married?"
+
+"Oh! yes; he had a beautiful wife, I have been told, but I never
+happened to see her. I think she was Spanish, if I recollect rightly.
+One day, after my return to England, as I was entering the Foreign
+Office, I met Don Jose coming out, and he seemed delighted to see me. He
+said that he had come to spend some months in London, and he hoped to
+enjoy my society frequently. I was then engaged in studying a very
+difficult diplomatic question, and I was unable to give any time
+whatever to society; I therefore expressed my regrets that I should be
+obliged to decline all invitations, and, after some further
+conversation, we separated. I often heard of him in connection with
+social events in the best circles, and, on one or two occasions, I met
+him in the street; but I did not renew our former degree of intimacy,
+for the simple reason that I did not have the time to do so. Just before
+I left London on the mission for which I had been preparing myself, I
+was astonished to learn that Don Jose Arias had proved to be a scoundrel
+of the most dangerous character. He had not hunted small game, it is
+true, but this was probably a part of his whole scheme. So far as I
+could learn, he had left no unpaid bills in the hands of tradesmen, but
+he had taken enough out of bankers and capitalists to pay his
+tradesmen's bills for half a century. The aggregate fraudulently
+obtained by him was never known, for many of his victims refused to
+state their loss; but it was surmised that he obtained as much as forty
+or fifty thousand pounds sterling in London alone, while several Paris
+bankers also suffered heavily. I was not specially interested in the
+affair, and it had wholly passed from my mind, when suddenly, while
+walking in the streets of this city last week, I came upon Don Jose
+Arias again. He wore his hair differently from his old way in London and
+Paris, having now full side-whiskers, whereas then he wore only
+moustache and goatee; but I could not be mistaken, and I said to Judge
+Key: 'There is a man who forged paper to an immense amount in London
+less than two years ago.' 'Impossible!' replied the Judge; 'he is a very
+wealthy man, moving in the best society in the city.' The Judge then
+vouched for him with such earnestness that I began to believe that I was
+mistaken; but I determined to meet him face to face, to see whether
+there could be two persons so nearly resembling each other.
+Unfortunately he had an opportunity to see me before I saw him when I
+next met him, so that I lost the chance of surprising him into betraying
+himself. He appeared to glance at me casually, as any stranger would do,
+and then went on with his conversation without hesitation or
+embarrassment. I have met him several times since then, and he always
+acts with the same natural ease of manner, as if we had always been
+perfect strangers to each other; but, Mr. Pinkerton, the more I see of
+him, the more fully am I convinced that Don Jose Arias, of London, and
+Don Pedro P. L. de Morito, of Gloster, are identical; and, believing
+this, I consider it my duty to tell you these facts in order that your
+citizens may be protected against him, if possible."
+
+"Well, Mr. Pinkerton," said Judge Key, "what do you think of this
+affair? Mr. Warne does not admit that he can be mistaken, and there are
+some corroboratory evidences that he may be right; yet, it seems
+incredible. It is a pity that Mr. Warne should have never seen Don
+Jose's wife, because he could then compare her with Senora Morito, and
+if they, too, were exact resemblances, there would be no longer any room
+for doubt."
+
+"That would certainly be a strong proof," I remarked; "but I think it is
+unnecessary. The suspicion you have spoken of, Mr. Warne, has already
+been raised by another gentleman in this city, and I have been requested
+to discover whether or not it is correct."
+
+"Why, you astonish me!" exclaimed Judge Key, "for Mr. Warne has not
+mentioned the subject to any one but me, and I have never even hinted
+anything about it except to you gentlemen."
+
+"Nevertheless, I have suspected for some time that this Don Pedro was an
+impostor, and have been trying to obtain positive proof of my opinion,
+in order to save many persons here from being swindled by him. You are
+acquainted with Senator Muirhead, Judge?"
+
+"Oh! yes, quite well."
+
+"He has taken enough interest in the affairs of his constituents to
+place in my hands the task of exposing this man, Don Pedro, in his true
+light."
+
+"That seems very kind and disinterested on the part of our Senator,"
+said Judge Key, with a quizzical smile; "but I will venture to say that
+his interest has been excited more by the Don's marked attentions to
+Mrs. Muirhead, than by the fear that some of his constituents would be
+defrauded."
+
+Of course I took no notice of this remark, although I was quite
+convinced that such was the fact; but as the Senator was my client, it
+would have been eminently improper for me to discuss his motives, and so
+I turned to Mr. Warne.
+
+"As you have already met this man under another name, Mr. Warne," I
+said, "can you not go with me to meet Senator Muirhead, and tell him
+what you know about him?"
+
+"I must beg you to excuse me, Mr. Pinkerton," he replied. "You see, I am
+in this country in an official capacity, and, while I am personally
+perfectly satisfied of the truth of the statements I have made to you, I
+cannot prove them; hence, I must be careful not to involve myself in a
+difficulty which would compromise my position as a diplomatic agent of
+Great Britain. I shall immediately give to the police, on my arrival in
+London, a description of this man, and I presume that prompt action will
+be taken to insure his arrest and extradition, in case his offenses
+should come under the extradition treaty. But as this is a question upon
+which the decision of both governments may be required, the delay may
+enable this man to escape. I will use all my influence with the London
+authorities; you will readily see, however, that personally I cannot
+appear here as an accuser against him."
+
+I recognized the force of Mr. Warne's objection, and did not press him
+further, but Judge Key agreed to visit the Senator as soon as the latter
+should return to the city. When I left Mr. Warne we had agreed that any
+British official who might be sent to identify and arrest Don Pedro,
+should communicate with me the moment he arrived in this country, so
+that we could work together for the same object, though my whole duty in
+the case would be to protect the interests of my client, Senator
+Muirhead. I then returned to my room with Mr. Bangs, and made a new
+move. I saw that more than two months would elapse before any news could
+be expected from London, as Mr. Warne would be somewhat delayed in his
+return home, and meantime, the Don would probably obtain a large advance
+payment for his fictitious mines. If anything should occur to prevent us
+from sending him to England, he might succeed in getting away with his
+plunder before we could find any new grounds upon which to hold him. I
+therefore instructed Mr. Bangs to write to the proper authorities in
+Peru, Brazil, and Ecuador, describing Don Pedro and his numerous
+suspected _aliases_ accurately, and asking that some steps be taken by
+his victims to bring him to justice. It was true that we had no
+extradition treaties with those countries, but nevertheless he might be
+arrested and frightened into surrendering himself voluntarily. The
+letters were dispatched at once, and duplicates were also forwarded by
+the next steamer. There remained nothing further for me to do except to
+keep a strict watch upon the Moritos to see that they should not slip
+off suddenly with a large sum of money. The Diamond Company were in such
+haste to bind the bargain with Don Pedro, by making him a large payment,
+that there could be no hope of preventing the partial success of his
+scheme. Whether I might not be able to force him to disgorge afterward
+was uncertain, but I determined to use every means in my power to
+accomplish such a result.
+
+
+
+
+                          CHAPTER V.
+
+    _The third Detective is made welcome at Don Pedro's.--The Senor is
+          paid the first half-million dollars from the great Diamond
+          Company.--How Don Pedro is "working" his Diamond Mines.--Very
+          suspicious preparations.--The Don describes his proposed Fete
+          Champetre._
+
+
+One evening, as the members of the Morito family were about to retire,
+Monsieur Lesparre noticed a nervousness and abstraction in Don Pedro
+such as he had never shown before. Thinking that something new might be
+learned by overhearing the conversation between the Don and Donna when
+they should be alone, Lesparre, instead of going to his own room,
+slipped into an unused closet adjoining the Don's dressing-room, and
+communicating therewith by a door, which was kept locked. There was a
+transom over this door, and, by climbing to one of the shelves, Lesparre
+could hear all that was said in either room of the Don's bedroom
+_suite_. He had hardly taken this position when the two entered their
+apartments.
+
+"See what a handsome necklace that old fool Mather sent me to-day," said
+the Donna.
+
+"Yes, it is very elegant and valuable," said Don Pedro, with a yawn;
+"but what we most need is money. However, I do not imagine we shall have
+any difficulty, for I expect a large sum in a few days from the
+stockholders in this Diamond Company. Still, you may as well get all you
+can out of Mather and the others, for we must keep up our present style
+of living to the end."
+
+Just at this moment the shelf upon which Lesparre was sitting gave a
+loud creak, and he had only just time to slip down and regain his own
+room before the Don came out to see what was the matter. Fortunately,
+there was a large pet cat in the hall, and she received the credit of
+having made the noise.
+
+The next day, on hearing Lesparre's report, I decided to place still
+another detective in the Morito mansion, and so I instructed Lesparre to
+recommend the employment of a young man to assist the butler and to do
+general work about the house. As I expected, Don Pedro acquiesced in the
+suggestion, and told Lesparre to engage such men-servants as he
+considered necessary. Accordingly, I at once telegraphed to Chicago to
+have a young fellow named George Salter sent to Gloster at once. He was
+a very intelligent French Canadian, and I chose him because of his slim
+build, his ingenuity, and his capacity as an eavesdropper. He could
+listen to a conversation with such a stolid expression that no one would
+imagine he had an idea in his head beyond the performance of his regular
+tasks, and even when caught in a place where he had no right to be, he
+could invent a plausible reason on the instant, which would divert all
+suspicion from him. On his arrival in Gloster, he was sent to ask
+employment of Monsieur Lesparre, and, of course, the latter was so
+pleased with him as to engage him at once. He made himself very useful
+in the house, and soon became popular with every inmate.
+
+A few days later a meeting of the stockholders of the Diamond Company
+was held, and it was agreed to make a payment of five hundred thousand
+dollars at once, another like sum when the title-deeds should be
+delivered, and the balance within one year from that time. This
+arrangement was satisfactory to the Don, and the sum of half a million
+dollars was paid over that day in the checks of the different original
+subscribers. The meeting then appointed a committee of two to visit Peru
+and examine the property. There was some difficulty in selecting two
+gentlemen who would be willing to go, and yet who would be satisfactory
+to the others; but Deacon Humphrey and John Preston were finally chosen.
+Either of these gentlemen was willing to go anywhere at others' expense,
+and it was believed that John Preston was too well versed in fraudulent
+practices to let any one else do any cheating; hence, he was sent to
+investigate the mines, and Deacon Humphrey was sent to see that John
+Preston should not steal them. They were not to depart on their mission,
+however, until the title-deeds were received from Peru and delivered to
+the directors.
+
+Don Pedro passed the checks over to Lesparre, and informed the meeting
+that he had already sent to Peru for the deeds, and that the directors
+should be informed the moment they should arrive; thereafter, all
+business matters relative to his interest in the mines would be attended
+to by Robert Harrington, Esq., who would be his attorney in fact. The
+deeds would be directed to Mr. Harrington, and that gentleman would
+deliver them to the directors, receive the second payment, and give his
+receipt therefor.
+
+This arrangement was satisfactory to all, and the meeting adjourned in
+good spirits, every man feeling that the Don had done him a personal
+favor in accepting his check in part payment for such a valuable
+property.
+
+The Don, having indorsed the checks, instructed Lesparre to present them
+at once for payment, each at its own bank, and to bring the money to the
+house; he was to obtain as much as possible in gold, as the Don
+professed to have little confidence in the bills of private banks.
+
+"They may be perfectly sound, Lesparre," he said, in an off-hand way,
+"but then, you know, we foreigners are accustomed to government bills,
+or gold, and so I prefer to have the latter."
+
+Taking Don Pedro's carriage, Lesparre visited each bank, and by the time
+he had cashed the last check, he had a considerable weight of gold and a
+large amount of bills, about two-thirds having been paid in coin.
+Lesparre and Salter carried all the money up to the Don's dressing-room,
+where the Don and Donna were sitting.
+
+"There, my dear," said Don Pedro to his wife, "this is the first
+installment of the purchase money of the diamond fields, so that now it
+will not be long before they will be thoroughly worked. The directors
+have promised me that you shall have the finest diamond set that the
+mines can produce within a year from this time, as a present from the
+company, and you need no longer plague me for not having tried to work
+them before."
+
+"Oh! Pedro, how lovely!" exclaimed the Donna; "you know I have always
+wanted you to open those mines, and I am so glad that you have
+consented. Now I shall have a set that I shall be proud of."
+
+"Well, I did not like to give up the old estate to strangers, I
+confess," replied the Don; "but now that it is done, I do not regret it.
+If you wish any money, help yourself; you can write to your agents in
+Rio that they need not send any more for the present, for we shall have
+as much as we can use for a year or two. George," he continued,
+addressing Salter, "you will find a stout iron box in the attic, and I
+think it will serve as a safe for the present. Bring it down here and
+put it in this room."
+
+The box was soon brought, and the Don checked off the packages of gold
+and bills as Lesparre packed them away, the gold at the bottom.
+
+"Now, you can check against my bank accounts for our current expenses,
+Lesparre," said Don Pedro, with a complacent smile; "and when the funds
+on deposit are exhausted, I will give you cash monthly to pay all bills
+as heretofore. I intend to give a grand _fete champetre_ soon, as a
+lesson to these Gloster people how to enjoy life. I propose to engage
+one of the islands in the river at once, and begin the necessary work of
+preparing it artistically for the scene of our revelry. I shall choose
+one of the large wooded islands with ridges and ravines running through
+it, and it will take about two weeks to clear away the underbrush, to
+clean up the grass and prepare the landing-places. Then, by the end of
+another week, the weather will be delightful, and our arrangements will
+be completed. I will make the place a fairy spectacle, such as the
+unimaginative inhabitants of Gloster never dreamed of, and then we will
+prepare for our summer trip to Newport and Saratoga. What do you think
+of the plan, Monsieur Lesparre?"
+
+"It is an admirable one, and I feel sure that the people of Gloster will
+enjoy such an entertainment far more than any that has ever been given
+here."
+
+"Well, I shall rely largely upon your assistance," continued the Don,
+carefully locking his safe as he spoke, "and we must divide the duties
+between us, though of course my time will be somewhat taken up by
+society. Suppose we issue invitations for three weeks from to-day?"
+
+"Better say five weeks, if not six," replied Lesparre, anxious to delay
+Don Pedro's departure as much as possible in order to obtain an answer
+to our letters to Peru and Brazil. "You see, the people here are not
+accustomed to such gayeties, and it will take some time to prepare their
+minds to appreciate it."
+
+"Yes, that is true," said the Don, reflectively; "but I do not like to
+defer it so long. However, let us compromise by fixing one month hence
+as the time, and we will make it a masquerade as well as an outdoor
+_fete_. The guests will then have ample time to prepare their costumes,
+and we can give that as a reason for issuing the invitations so long in
+advance."
+
+The Don was in no special hurry to escape with his plunder, but neither
+was he desirous of remaining too long in the vicinity of his victims;
+hence, although he had no suspicion that his schemes had been discovered
+by any one, he fixed an earlier date than that suggested by Lesparre in
+order to prevent the probability of any accident occurring to mar his
+plans.
+
+Lesparre immediately ordered the cards of invitation, and in a few days
+all Gloster was in a state of pleasurable excitement over the news of
+the coming event. Never had such a commotion been created in the placid
+waters of society as was raised by the delicate cards of invitation to
+Senora Morito's _fete champetre_ and _bal masque_. The number who
+received invitations was enormous, including every individual having any
+claims to be regarded as a member of good society. From that time
+forward, Lesparre was so busy with the preparations for the _fete_ that
+he was able to see very little of the rest of the family except in the
+evening. The Don and Donna and Madame Sevier continued their usual round
+of dissipation and gayety, however, and "all went merry as a marriage
+bell."
+
+Still there were some curious features of their conduct which I regarded
+with suspicion. Every day the Don gave Lesparre a large sum in
+bank-bills to be exchanged for gold, and the coin was then locked up in
+the iron safe. Then the Don and Donna held frequent conversations in
+Spanish, during which it was easy to see by their manner that they were
+discussing an affair of great importance. Madame Sevier found a
+newly-purchased traveler's guide-book in the Donna's bureau, and from
+various marks and turned pages it was evident that it had been carefully
+consulted with reference to an ocean voyage. These things led me to the
+conclusion that the Don was preparing for a journey, and the fact that
+he made no mention of it, even to Lesparre, showed that he intended to
+go secretly. To all his acquaintances he spoke freely of his
+contemplated tour of the watering-places during the summer, but he
+always promised to spend the following winter in Gloster, without fail;
+hence it was clear that he was playing a double game, to deceive some
+one. I could only wait further developments, and heartily wish for
+advices from Peru or England.
+
+In company with Judge Key I called upon Senator Muirhead, on the return
+of that gentleman from the session of Congress, and we discussed
+together the best plan to pursue, to foil the schemes of Don Pedro. The
+Senator was very anxious to proceed against him immediately, with the
+intention of showing him up in his true character, and thus saving his
+victims from any further loss.
+
+"Indeed, Senator Muirhead," I replied, "I am as desirous to arrest his
+fraudulent operations as yourself, but I want to be sure of success
+before I do anything, and I do not see my way clear to act just now. At
+present we can prove nothing whatever against him; in fact, the only
+charge we could make would be that of obtaining money under false
+pretenses. Now, what evidence could we bring to substantiate the
+accusation? There is no judge living that would hold him on my or your
+individual opinion that he has sold mines which do not exist, and we
+should have nothing else to offer."
+
+"Yes, but you forget his forgeries in other countries," interrupted the
+Senator.
+
+"In the first place," I replied, "you could not charge him in this
+country with crimes committed elsewhere, even though you had the
+positive proof of those crimes. If you charged him here with obtaining
+money under false pretenses, you could produce no testimony except such
+as bore upon the specific act alleged in your complaint; all other
+testimony would be ruled out. But, even suppose that such testimony were
+admissible, can you produce any witness to his crimes in other
+countries? Indeed, admitting again that these crimes were proven, can
+we establish the identity of Don Pedro P. L. de Morito as the
+perpetrator of those crimes? No, sir; we have not a single witness; I
+ask you as a lawyer, Judge Key, am I not right?"
+
+"You are correct in every particular, Mr. Pinkerton," replied the Judge.
+"I confess that you present the difficulties of the case more forcibly
+than I could have done myself."
+
+"Yes, you are right, Mr. Pinkerton," said Senator Muirhead; "I do not
+see that we can do anything; yet it seems shameful to sit idly doing
+nothing, when we know that this scoundrel is obtaining such immense sums
+from our people. What do you propose to do in the future, Mr.
+Pinkerton?"
+
+"I can hardly tell what may be possible as yet," I answered; "but I feel
+sure that I shall not only prevent him from securing any more plunder,
+but also wrest from him that which has already fallen into his hands. He
+feels secure in the possession of this large sum, and he is in no great
+hurry to get away; he will undoubtedly remain until after his _fete
+champetre_ at least. Before that time, I hope to hear something definite
+from either England or Peru, and then I can act with a power in reserve
+in case our own means should be insufficient to enforce our demands for
+restitution. Any action against him now would only result in hastening
+his departure with all the money he has gained, for I am certain that we
+could not hold him."
+
+"Well, I see that nothing can be done now," said the Senator,
+despondently; "but do not lose sight of this man for a moment, Mr.
+Pinkerton, for he seems an adept in all the tricks of crime."
+
+"Never fear, Senator Muirhead," I replied, cheerfully; "I feel sure that
+we shall eventually not only bring his career here to a hasty close, but
+also recover the money which he has fraudulently obtained."
+
+When we parted, the Senator was a little more hopeful, though he said
+that he should not be at all surprised if Don Pedro outwitted us after
+all. The loss to the Senator's friends would, of course, be very large;
+but, perhaps, the lesson would not be a bad thing for them; they would
+know better thereafter than to part with their money so foolishly.
+
+That same evening the Don and Donna, Monsieur Lesparre, and Madame
+Sevier, were engaged for the evening at a dancing party given by Judge
+Peter B. Taylor. Knowing of their intentions to attend this party, I saw
+an excellent opportunity for Salter to examine the private apartments of
+the Don and Donna. Accordingly, after the family had gone away in the
+carriage, Salter began to talk to the other servants about the
+advantages of belonging to a family where the domestics were allowed to
+do as they pleased, instead of being so carefully watched. The laundress
+then related how much less pleasure they had, now that Madame Sevier was
+in charge of the household.
+
+"Why," said she, "before this French woman came, the servants here had
+as good a time as any one could ask. Many a fine ribbon, or
+handkerchief, or bit of a collar, they picked up unbeknownst to the
+Donna; and, as for aitin', why there was niver a lock on any storeroom
+in the house, so that there was lashins of good livin' in the kitchen as
+well as in the dinin'-room. But when this Madame Sevyay came, she put
+everything under lock and key, and she snapped off the old cook's head
+in no time for sassin' her. Jist so with the men; this Lesparre, the
+Don's private secretary, is as close with the men as the Madame is with
+the women. The butler used to often bring a nice bottle of wine into the
+kitchen for us to be merry over, but he can't do it now."
+
+"Well, I believe I can find something to drink by a little search," said
+Salter, with a knowing wink at the laundress and chambermaid. "You wait
+here, and I'll see what I can do to provide a glass of wine all 'round.
+
+"Oh! would you dare?" asked the handsome chambermaid, looking at Salter
+admiringly. "Ain't you 'fraid you'll be caught?"
+
+"No, indeed; I believe I can get a bottle of port out of one of the
+rooms upstairs, without any one ever discovering its loss. Anyhow, I'm
+going to try, so you all stay here while I make search."
+
+Accordingly, Salter went straight to the Don's room, to which he had a
+key. Having received from Lesparre an impression of the locks of the
+house several days before, I had had a skeleton key made, which would
+open almost any door about the place. While apparently engaged in
+cleaning the door-knobs, it had been a very easy matter for him to take,
+in wax, a complete impression of the wards of all the door-locks, with
+out attracting suspicion. He now had no difficulty, therefore, in
+entering the Don's room, where he found that the Don had removed his
+iron chest from his dressing-room to his chamber, it being placed at the
+head of the bedstead. On trying to lift the box, he found that it was
+very heavy indeed, requiring all his strength to stir it. This was due,
+of course, to the coin which had been put into it, and Salter's
+testimony, therefore, corroborated Lesparre's. Salter then, in
+accordance with my instructions, carefully bored holes through the door
+leading into the closet in which Lesparre had once listened to a short
+conversation between the Don and Donna. He arranged these holes so that
+they would not be detected by the eye, and having thus prepared an
+excellent place for listening to the occupants of the chamber suite,
+Salter returned to the kitchen. On the way, he opened the dining-room
+sideboard and captured a bottle of port wine, with which he entertained
+the other servants in fine style.
+
+Meanwhile, the Don and his party had been received with the utmost
+cordiality by Judge Taylor and his wife, who felt quite proud to be the
+first to entertain such distinguished guests after the sale of the
+diamond mines, and the issue of the invitations to the Don's grand
+_fete_.
+
+Every one had talked about the affair, but no one felt exactly sure what
+a _fete champetre_ was, and so United States Commissioner Charlie Morton
+determined to ask the Don himself what his entertainment would be.
+Accordingly, as Don Pedro approached with Mrs. Arlington on his arm,
+Morton greeted him pleasantly, and said:
+
+"Don Pedro, every one who has received an invitation to your _fete
+champetre_ is dying of curiosity to know what it means, and so I am
+going to take the liberty of asking you to explain it. I freely confess
+my own ignorance, and I know that there are a great many others no
+better informed than I am, who would be ashamed to admit that fact; but
+I cheerfully acknowledge that I have never attended one, and I don't
+know how I shall be expected to dress nor to act. So please tell me all
+about it, and I will promise to spread the news among my acquaintances."
+
+"My dear sir," replied Don Pedro, politely, "I admire your frankness,
+and I shall take pleasure in explaining the principal features of our
+_fete champetre_. It was the Donna Lucia's desire and mine to devote one
+day to enjoyment, and we therefore decided upon giving an entertainment
+in the open air which should combine every species of gayety and social
+recreation. It is our intention to embark in the forenoon and proceed by
+steamer to one of the large islands in the river. There everything will
+be prepared for outdoor enjoyment; there will be boats and
+bathing-houses; swings and archery-grounds; billiard-tables and
+bowling-alleys; in short, opportunities will be provided for the
+gratification of every one's tastes. About five o'clock a dinner will be
+served, the _menu_ for which will include every procurable luxury of the
+table, and after dinner, the evening will be spent in dancing on the
+open platforms or in enclosed ballrooms, according to the preferences of
+the guests, while magnesium lights and colored lanterns will give all
+possible brilliancy to the scene. Dazzling displays of fireworks will be
+given at intervals during the evening, and when we finally leave the
+island on our return to the city, a grand illumination of the whole
+island will take place as we steam off into the darkness."
+
+[Illustration: _Don Pedro explaining the Fete Champetre._]
+
+Quite a group had gathered around while the Don was speaking, and as he
+closed, there was a general murmur of admiration. The whole affair was
+planned on a scale of such magnificence as to appear almost too
+wonderful to be believed, but the Don had shown such fertility of
+invention previously, that there was no doubt he was quite equal to
+creating a scene of oriental splendor such as had never before been
+witnessed in this country.
+
+"Well, I admit frankly," said Charlie Morton, "that we Americans must
+learn the art of enjoying life from foreigners, and I think there is no
+doubt that Don Pedro is a most adept master of its mysteries. Is there
+not something said in the invitations about appearing in masks, Don
+Pedro?"
+
+"Oh, yes; I forgot to say at first that there will be much amusement in
+requiring every guest to be dressed in fancy costume and to wear a mask.
+The masks will not be removed until the dinner is served, and then, at a
+given signal, the guests will expose themselves in their own
+characters."
+
+The Don's description of the intended programme for the _fete_ was soon
+repeated through all the fashionable circles of Gloster, and the
+expectation of the whole city was raised to a high pitch. No other
+social event had ever created a like excitement, and it was the theme of
+conversation at all times and in all places.
+
+The day following the Taylor's party Don Pedro seemed to have determined
+to get rid of as much paper money in exchange for gold as possible, and
+during the day he sent more than twenty thousand dollars to be
+exchanged; of this amount Lesparre and Madame Sevier handled the greater
+portion, but even the young man, Salter, was entrusted with three
+thousand dollars in paper, for which he obtained gold at a trifling
+discount. This method of exchanging money was repeated several times, it
+being evidently the Don's intention to retain nothing but gold in his
+possession, and as he had already obtained the greater portion of his
+plunder in coin, it was not long before he had accomplished his object.
+
+Meantime, the preparations for the _fete_ went on apace, and the time
+of the Don and Lesparre was quite fully occupied in planning and
+arranging the details. The Senator called to see me daily, and his
+constant urging somewhat excited me, so that I became nervous and
+apprehensive myself. Still, no news came from abroad, and I could do
+nothing.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER VI.
+
+    _A Mysterious Stranger.--An unexpected Meeting and a startling
+          Recognition.--An old Friend somewhat disturbs the Equanimity
+          of Don Pedro.--The Detectives fix their Attention upon Pietro
+          Bernardi.--Pietro and his unpalatable Reminiscences.--The
+          Donna shows Spirit._
+
+
+"Early one forenoon Salter was called to the front door by a violent
+pull at the bell, and on arriving there he confronted a rather
+disreputable-looking character, who eyed him with an extremely
+distrustful look. The man appeared to be about thirty years old, and he
+was evidently a foreigner. He was tall, well-formed, and muscular, and
+his general bearing was quite at variance with his ragged, dirty
+clothing. He had black hair and moustache, a swarthy complexion, small
+feet and hands, the latter soft and well-shaped, and his dark eyes were
+piercing and brilliant.
+
+"Good morning," he said to Salter, with a haughty nod; "is Don Juan at
+home?"
+
+"No such person lives here," replied Salter, partially closing the door
+upon the wolfish-appearing stranger.
+
+"I have good reasons for believing that Don Juan _is_ here," replied the
+man, "and is doubtless the guest of the gentleman who resides here. At
+any rate, I know that he is now in this house, and I want to see him
+very much. He would be equally glad to see me if he knew I were here;"
+and so saying, he pushed Salter aside and entered the hall.
+
+This action still further prejudiced Salter against him, and he said:
+
+"Perhaps you mean Monsieur Lesparre, who is a guest of my employer?"
+
+"That may be," replied the man; "please say that I wish to see him
+immediately."
+
+Salter did not care to leave the stranger alone, and so he told one of
+the female servants, who was dusting the parlor furniture, to call
+Monsieur Lesparre. That gentleman was in Don Pedro's room, discussing
+some plans for the _fete_, and, when informed that a stranger wished to
+see him, he told the servant to show him to the room where he usually
+transacted business. As the man passed before Don Pedro's door, however,
+Lesparre stepped out to learn who it was.
+
+"This man wishes to see you, Monsieur Lesparre," said Salter, who was
+following the stranger.
+
+"That is not the gentleman I asked for," the latter replied.
+
+At this instant Don Pedro came into the hall, and, as his eyes fell upon
+the stranger, he gave a sudden start, and became very pale. The
+recognition was mutual, for the newcomer rushed forward and said:
+
+"Ah! Don Juan, I am delighted to meet you again. I knew I was not
+mistaken when I saw you yesterday and recognized----"
+
+"There, there!" interrupted the Don, giving the speaker a warning look,
+"I am glad to meet you again, Pietro; walk into my room, and sit down."
+
+Lesparre was about to follow, but Don Pedro stopped, and whispered to
+him:
+
+"Excuse me a short time, my dear Lesparre; this is an old acquaintance
+whom I knew in better circumstances years ago. He seems quite reduced
+now, and he may be sensitive enough to object to telling the story of
+his loss of fortune before a stranger;" and, so saying, the Don retired
+to his room, leaving Lesparre and Salter outside.
+
+The latter immediately hurried into the closet, where he could hear the
+whole conversation within the room.
+
+"Well, Pietro," began the Don, "where are you from? You have not been
+fortunate, it is evident; but how did it happen?"
+
+"You are right; I have had bad luck," replied Pietro. "It is the old
+story; I have had thousands of dollars at times, and have lived like a
+prince; and again I have been badly treated by Dame Fortune, and have
+lived as I could; but I have never before been so very miserable and
+poor as now. Positively, it is most providential that I have met you,
+for I have eaten nothing for twenty-four hours."
+
+"Indeed, Pietro, you shock me," replied the Don, sympathetically; "shall
+I order some breakfast for you?"
+
+"No; I can wait awhile, and I do not care to be seen by your servants
+until I get better clothing. But tell me where you have been since we
+parted in Peru. You have certainly been as fortunate as I have been the
+reverse; do you make much by gambling?"
+
+"No, Pietro; I gamble very little, except in an occasional game of cards
+with gentlemen of my acquaintance; but I made a good sum--that is,"
+continued the Don, checking himself a moment, "I made a wealthy
+marriage, and my wife's fortune is ample for us both. By the way, how
+did you happen to find me?"
+
+"Well, I have been enjoying life in New Orleans for some time, and,
+having won quite a large amount there, I decided to come North as the
+mild weather began. So I started a month ago on one of those enormous
+Mississippi steamboats, and, of course, I gambled whenever I could. My
+luck was bad from the start, and, on arriving here, I had nothing except
+my clothing and jewelry; these I pawned gradually, and soon I was
+reduced to my present condition. Yesterday I met you as you were
+entering the Globe Hotel with a party of gentlemen, but I did not want
+to mortify you by speaking to you in company; so I waited until you came
+to this house, intending then to call upon you late in the evening, when
+no one would see me; but you went out in your carriage, and remained so
+late, that I put off my visit until this morning. I thought that,
+considering our former relations to each other, you would be willing to
+set me on my feet again."
+
+"I shall be very glad indeed to do so," replied the Don, eagerly, "and
+you must tell me what you wish to do, and where you wish to go."
+
+"Well, just now I should like to go to breakfast, Don Juan," said
+Pietro, with a gaunt smile; "but I have no money to pay for my meal."
+
+"Don't call me 'Don Juan,' my dear friend," said the Don. "I have
+adopted another name for use in this country, and of course no one knows
+me except as Don Pedro P. L. de Morito."
+
+"Oh, ho! is that all there is of it?" asked Pietro, with a laugh. "Well,
+I shall remember in future to call you 'Don Pedro'; but what can you do
+for me in the way of money and clothes?"
+
+"I will give you fifty dollars at once, and you can get a new outfit
+yourself; then, when you call again to-morrow morning, we will talk over
+your future plans. I have a very important engagement to keep in about
+fifteen minutes, so I must ask you to excuse me now."
+
+"But I can't get any respectable suit of clothes and underclothing for
+fifty dollars," replied Pietro.
+
+"Well, here are fifty dollars," said the Don handing a roll of bills to
+Pietro, "and my secretary, Monsieur Lesparre, will give you an equal
+amount. You will then have enough to satisfy your immediate wants, and
+we will arrange the rest to-morrow."
+
+So saying, the Don called Monsieur Lesparre and introduced the stranger
+as Pietro Bernardi, a fellow-countryman in distress. The Don was quite
+pale and nervous, and though he did not show any marked signs of
+agitation, a close observer, like Lesparre, could readily see that his
+new visitor was anything but a welcome one.
+
+"I wish you to give Senor Bernardi fifty dollars, Monsieur Lesparre,"
+said the Don, "and order breakfast for him here, if he wishes it. I am
+going out immediately, as I see the carriage is waiting for me, but I
+shall return at lunch-time. _Au revoir_, gentlemen; call about nine
+o'clock to-morrow, Pietro."
+
+The Don then went to his carriage, and Pietro followed Lesparre to his
+business-room, where he received an additional fifty dollars. Pietro
+quickly stowed the money away in his pocket, and walked abruptly out of
+the house, saying:
+
+"I'll not trouble you to prepare breakfast for me, as I can get it down
+town just as well."
+
+The moment Pietro was gone, Lesparre called Salter out of the closet,
+and sent him out on an errand ostensibly; of course, his real duty was
+to "shadow" Mr. Pietro Bernardi, and report the occurrences of the
+morning to me. Salter kept his man in view until he was seated at a
+popular restaurant table, and then, knowing that some time would be
+required before the Peruvian's appetite would be satisfied, my detective
+hurried to my office, and made his report. As it would not be safe to
+detain Salter long away from his duties at the Morito residence, I
+decided to keep a watch upon Bernardi myself until Mr. Bangs could send
+me a man from Chicago. Having sent a telegram to Mr. Bangs, I went to
+the restaurant at once, being joined by Judge Key on the way. Together
+we entered the restaurant, and I quickly discovered Bernardi still
+lingering over his breakfast. We each ordered a cup of coffee, and I
+informed the Judge of the new developments in the case as brought out in
+the conversation between the Don and Bernardi.
+
+"My opinion is," I said, in a tone audible only to the Judge, "that this
+man, Bernardi, knows some important facts relative to the past life of
+Don Pedro, and if we can pump this information out of him, we may
+thereby obtain valuable assistance in our endeavors to outwit the Don.
+Now it shall be my aim to learn all that this man knows, for it may give
+us the means of proceeding against Senor Morito immediately; but even if
+it should not, we may need such information very much. You see, it is
+not impossible that we may be forced to use threats to make him
+disgorge, for I shall not let him escape with his plunder without a
+struggle, even though no news whatever should come from Peru or England.
+At present, however, we will devote some time to this Pietro Bernardi,
+and see what he can tell us."
+
+The Judge fully concurred with me, and said that, as I might be too busy
+to see Senator Muirhead, he would call upon that gentleman and tell him
+the latest news. We accordingly sipped our coffee slowly until Bernardi
+was ready to go, and then I followed him at a little distance, while the
+Judge went to call upon Senator Muirhead.
+
+Bernardi slowly sauntered down the street, smoking a cigar, and soon
+reached a large retail clothing store. I remained in the street watching
+the entrance of the store about an hour, when, as I expected, Bernardi
+came out in a neat business suit complete, but wearing the same old
+boots and hat. These articles were soon replaced by new ones, and after
+a bath and shave, Senor Bernardi was a very different-looking person
+from the rough customer who had visited Don Pedro in the morning. In
+addition to his underclothing, linen, hat, boots, and suit of clothes,
+he purchased at a pawnbroker's shop some very decent jewelry and he now
+appeared like a gentlemanly gambler, or a member of the Board of Trade.
+He did not conclude his business arrangements until he had engaged a
+boarding-place and bought a trunk, which was sent to his lodgings. He
+then appeared to have relieved his mind of all care, and he spent the
+afternoon playing pool and billiards in a fashionable saloon. After
+dining at a restaurant, he went to a minstrel entertainment, after
+which he returned to his lodgings to retire for the night. When I went
+to bed at eleven o'clock, after having followed Bernardi most of the
+day, I realized that the duties of a faithful "shadow" were sometimes
+excessively wearying.
+
+The next morning, however, I found that a Mr. Newton had arrived from
+Chicago in response to my telegram, and I was thus relieved from any
+further anxiety. He was a cool, shrewd fellow, of attractive appearance
+and pleasing manners, so that he was peculiarly fitted to obtain the
+confidence of a man like Bernardi, and it was on that account that I had
+selected him for the work. He had no difficulty in tracking Bernardi to
+Don Pedro's residence, and having seen him admitted there, Newton
+hurried back to report to me. I then instructed him to follow Bernardi
+until he should have an opportunity to make his acquaintance; this could
+be done without difficulty in a drinking or billiard saloon, and he was
+then to cultivate an intimacy with him.
+
+On asking to see Senor Morito, Bernardi was at once admitted, and as
+soon as the Don closed his door, Salter slipped into the closet to
+listen.
+
+"Ah! you are looking much better this morning," said the Don, as he
+scratched a match and handed it to Bernardi to light his cigar.
+
+"Yes, I am feeling much better too. This seems quite like old times,
+doesn't it? As I sit here and puff your fragrant Havanas, I could almost
+imagine you were again in the real estate business in Peru. Ha! ha! that
+was a speculation that paid well, eh?"
+
+"Pietro, you must be careful not to drop a hint of those times to any
+one, or I should be ruined," replied the Don; "I am in good society
+here, and I hope to make a little money out of a scheme I have on hand;
+but it is still quite uncertain whether I shall succeed, and my expenses
+in engineering the affair are fast eating up all my capital. Now, I
+shall be happy to assist you as far as I can, but it will be on
+condition that you leave town; for if you should get tipsy and begin to
+talk about me, I should lose everything. Next month, I may realize my
+hopes, but I am playing a risky game, and I cannot afford to jeopardize
+it. What do you want? Tell me how I can serve you, and how much money
+you need, and if I can help you, I will gladly do so."
+
+"That is fair enough, Don Juan--Pedro, I mean--I only want a start, and
+I shall get along without any difficulty; but to tell the truth, I don't
+know where to go. I could not return to Peru--neither could you, for
+that matter--and I know of only one place where I could succeed and be
+satisfied to stay. I have been thinking of going to Buenos Ayres, if I
+could have a fair sum to start me in good style on arriving there; but
+it is a long journey, and I am in no haste to start. By the way, where
+is your present senorita? or are you really married as you said? Is she
+as handsome as the other was?"
+
+"Yes, she is very handsome," replied the Don, curtly; "but she knows
+nothing about my history previous to our meeting, and I do not wish
+that she should; so let us leave her out of our discussion. I have some
+money left, though it is decreasing rapidly, and I will assist you as
+far as possible, if you will leave Gloster at once; for I am afraid that
+you will begin drinking to excess again, and you know that when you are
+half drunk there is nothing in the world you will not tell. How much do
+you want?"
+
+"Oh! Don Pedro, you need not fear that I shall betray you; but I can't
+start off on a long journey so soon after the fatigue and hardship I
+have undergone during the last month. Just let me have three or four
+hundred dollars to enable me to live in good style for a week or two,
+and to get some better jewelry than this cheap stuff, and I will be
+ready to start for Buenos Ayres as soon as you wish."
+
+"Well, I will give you three hundred dollars now, and as soon as you
+have spent that, you must be ready to leave Gloster on your way out of
+the United States."
+
+So saying, the Don stepped to his dressing-case, opened and then closed
+a drawer, and said:
+
+"There are three rouleaux of gold pieces, each containing one hundred
+dollars. When that is gone, I will buy your ticket to Buenos Ayres or
+Montevideo, as you prefer, and will give you as much money as I can
+possibly spare; you must be prepared to go then."
+
+"All right, my dear Pedro," replied Bernardi, rising to go; "I shall be
+ready at that time. You can trust my discretion, however, as long as I
+stay here, and no one shall ever hear a word from me to your discredit.
+I may call to see you occasionally?"
+
+"Oh! certainly; come in the forenoon. By the way, Pietro, let me caution
+you against gambling while you are here, for I have found that we are no
+match for these Northern gamblers. They will take every dollar from you
+if you venture to stake against them. You will surely lose, and then you
+will want me to supply you again; but I tell you frankly I will not do
+it. I have hardly money enough to carry through my scheme, and if you
+choose to betray me, you can do so, but it won't do you any good
+whatever; whereas, if you are faithful to me, I can spare you a
+reasonable sum to start you afresh in Buenos Ayres."
+
+"Never fear, Don Pedro, I shall be mute as an oyster," and so saying,
+Bernardi took his leave.
+
+The foregoing conversation had taken place in the Don's dressing-room,
+so that Salter had no difficulty in hearing every word, even when the
+speakers dropped their voices to mere whispers; but there was another
+listener in the Don's bed-chamber who was equally successful in
+overhearing all that had been said. The Donna, having heard of the
+arrival of this mysterious Pietro Bernardi the day before, was anxious
+to know who he was and what he came for. Accordingly, she placed herself
+at the keyhole of their chamber door leading into the Don's
+dressing-room, and when Pietro had gone, she entered the Don's
+presence.
+
+"Who was that person, Don Pedro?" she asked, with a sharp tone to her
+voice, foreboding no good to her already nervous and irritated spouse.
+
+"Oh! his name is Pietro Bernardi, and I formerly knew him in Peru. He
+was quite a fine young fellow then, but he has taken to gambling,
+drinking, and general dissipation, so that it is very unpleasant to have
+him turn up here as an acquaintance."
+
+"Is that the only reason why you dislike to see him, Senor Morito?"
+asked the Donna, her manner becoming more clearly inquisitive and
+hostile. "You are too anxious to get rid of him for that to be the sole
+cause of your annoyance at his presence."
+
+"Well, my dear Lucia, the fact is, that he knows enough about me in the
+past to be a very dangerous person to have around just now, for he might
+expose me to the people here, and ruin our schemes upon the Diamond
+Company."
+
+"Why did you not tell me about this? There must be no secrets which I do
+not share, for I do not intend to be deserted by you as you have
+deserted others before. No, no, Don Pedro," she continued, passionately,
+"I heard every word of your conversation with this man, and you must
+understand that you cannot treat me like a doll, to be thrown away when
+you are tired of me. I am able and anxious to help you in all your
+plans, but I must have your full confidence. You know that I love you,
+and you say that you return my love, but sometimes I distrust you. You
+deserted a senorita in Lima, and some day you may try to desert me; but
+I warn you that I would follow you to the ends of the earth, and I could
+easily find it in my heart to kill you if you played me false."
+
+As the Donna uttered these words, her determined tones clearly showed
+that she would have no hesitation in executing her threat. The Don had
+no reply to offer, and finally the Donna closed the conversation by
+saying:
+
+"This is our first approach to a quarrel, and I hope it will be the
+last. You know that I am fearfully excited by any suggestion of the
+possibility of losing you, and this man's words and sneers have made me
+almost beside myself. But recollect, I am not without friends, for there
+are plenty of rich men here who would be delighted to obey my lightest
+whims if I would permit them, and if you should ever desert me, I would
+tell all I know of you, and invoke their aid to bring you to punishment.
+Now let us go along together, without any secrets apart from each other
+in the future, and we shall have no occasion to quarrel again."
+
+The Donna then left the room, and went out to drive with Madame Sevier,
+leaving the Don alone. Salter quickly slipped downstairs, but was
+summoned back by the ringing of the Don's bell. On entering the
+dressing-room, Salter found his employer seated in a large easy-chair,
+looking quite pale and agitated.
+
+"I wish you would bring me a decanter of brandy and a glass, George,"
+said the Don; "I don't feel very well, and I think a sip of cognac will
+do me good."
+
+Salter obeyed orders, and then went to Lesparre's room to report the
+conversations which he had overheard while concealed in the closet.
+Lesparre soon went into the Don's room to talk over the plans for the
+_fete_, but Don Pedro was in low spirits, and did not care to converse.
+He ordered his horse to be brought to the door, and was soon galloping
+down the avenue as a relief to his depressed nerves. Lesparre
+immediately came to my office, reported what Salter had told him, and
+then went about his duty of preparing the island to receive the guests
+on the day of the _fete_.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER VII.
+
+    _Pietro Bernardi and the Detective become Warm Friends.--A
+          "Tete-a-Tete" worth One Thousand Dollars._
+
+
+When Pietro Bernardi left the Morito residence, he sauntered downtown in
+a leisurely manner, with Newton carefully following at a safe distance.
+Bernardi was evidently vain of his personal appearance, for he was
+dissatisfied with his ready-made outfit, and, entering a fashionable
+tailoring establishment, he was measured for a complete suit of clothes.
+The rest of the forenoon was spent in buying shirts, underclothing,
+trinkets, and toilet articles of quite an expensive character. After a
+hasty lunch at a restaurant, Bernardi walked to the post-office, where
+he met a man whose appearance indicated unmistakably the professional
+gambler. They seemed to be old acquaintances, and, after taking a drink
+together, they conversed for some time in low tones. Finally they
+separated, and Bernardi went to his lodgings. About six o'clock he
+reappeared, and Newton followed him to the post-office again, where the
+gambler, who was waiting in the morning, was met apparently by
+appointment. The two men walked a short distance together, and then
+disappeared up a stairway, which, Newton was certain, led to gambling
+rooms. He waited outside nearly an hour undecided what to do, but at
+length he went upstairs among a crowd of young sports, who seemed to
+know the ways of the place, and he was allowed to pass in with them
+unquestioned. He found Bernardi just rising from the dinner-table, which
+the proprietors of the gambling house were in the habit of setting for
+their regular patrons. The faro-table was in full blast, and Bernardi
+was soon seated at it with the air of an old _habitue_. He was
+thenceforward so deeply interested in the game as to pay no attention to
+anything else, and, as he was unusually lucky, his pile of gold pieces
+rapidly increased. Newton took a position at his elbow and watched the
+game in silence for some minutes. At length, seeing Bernardi win a large
+stake, he said in a familiar tone:
+
+"You are unusually lucky to-night, and I see you play for all the game
+is worth."
+
+Keeping his eyes intently fastened upon the dealer's box, Bernardi
+replied carelessly:
+
+"Yes, this is a game where a man must put down his money freely if he
+wants to win."
+
+The next turn of the cards was doubly lucky for Bernardi, and, as he
+raked in his winnings, he glanced up at Newton, scanned his face a
+moment, and said:
+
+"I think I have met you in New Orleans, have I not?"
+
+"Very likely, for I have often been there; but I do not recall your
+name, though your face is quite familiar to me."
+
+"Why, certainly," continued Bernardi, apparently quite pleased at the
+idea of meeting an old New Orleans acquaintance; "my name is Pietro
+Bernardi, and I have often seen you in the rooms of French Joe on
+Magazine street."
+
+"Oh! yes, I used to go there a good deal, and we must have met
+frequently. Let us take something for old acquaintance' sake."
+
+This was taking a short cut to Bernardi's friendship, and as the two
+stood before the sideboard clicking glasses together, a stranger would
+have supposed them to be old cronies, as indeed Bernardi actually
+believed to be the case. Newton instantly saw that Bernardi's frequent
+drinks during the day and his later potations in the evening had
+rendered him somewhat intoxicated; he was not drunk, for he had a
+perfect comprehension of his actions, but he had drunk enough to be very
+happy, and he probably saw in Newton's face a hazy resemblance to some
+one he had known in New Orleans. He soon returned to the faro-table,
+and, taking his seat, asked Newton whether he intended to do any
+betting.
+
+"No, not to-night," Newton replied, yawning. "I am very tired and
+restless, and I make it a rule never to bet when my nerves are shaky."
+
+"Well, that is a mighty good rule," said Bernardi, as he put out a pile
+of gold pieces. "If you will only stick to that plan, you will be sure
+to win. I can always feel when luck is with me, and if I could only make
+up my mind to stop when I know that I cannot win, I should be as
+successful as could be wished; but sometimes I get obstinate when the
+cards begin to run against me, and then I buck against fate until I lose
+all."
+
+Having an absorbing interest in the game, Bernardi talked very little
+after this, but about eleven o'clock he counted his winnings, and,
+finding that they amounted to more than two hundred dollars, he decided
+to withdraw. In company with Newton, therefore, he left the room, and
+entered a bar-room below. They drank and chatted together a short time,
+and then separated, Bernardi going to a well-known house of ill-repute,
+while Newton carefully dogged his footsteps unseen. Knowing that
+Bernardi intended to spend the night where he was, Newton returned to
+his own lodgings. They had agreed to meet at the post-office about
+eleven o'clock next day, and Newton knew that his services would not be
+required before that hour.
+
+About eleven o'clock in the forenoon, Newton and Bernardi met at the
+post-office, as agreed, and, after a morning dram together, they went to
+a restaurant for breakfast.
+
+"How did you enjoy yourself yesterday evening?" asked Newton, as they
+were finishing their meal.
+
+"Oh! very well indeed. I met a young lady whom I used to know in New
+Orleans, and she was very lovely; but I shall never meet one like my
+senorita. She was the most beautiful woman living;" and, as he spoke,
+Bernardi sighed deeply, and became moody, silent, and abstracted.
+
+"Yes; I recollect having seen her with you once in New Orleans," replied
+Newton, on a venture; "is she dead?"
+
+"No, ---- ---- her! I wish she was," replied Bernardi, savagely. "She
+started to come North with me, and I gave her everything she could ask;
+but when I had won a large sum of money at Natchez, she stole several
+thousand dollars from me, and disappeared with a Mississippi gambler,
+whom she had never seen but twice. I didn't care for the money, but I
+loved her passionately, and I cannot think of her without becoming
+enraged. Come, let us go get some brandy; I always have to drink when I
+think of her."
+
+While they were drinking together, Newton asked Bernardi if he was
+always fortunate in gaming.
+
+"Oh! no, indeed; why, less than a week ago I had not a cent to buy my
+breakfast, and I did not know whether to enlist in the army or commit
+suicide."
+
+"Then your present success is marvelous, for you must have won, in all,
+four or five hundred dollars," said Newton, inquiringly.
+
+"No, I did not win it all; in fact, I could not have done so, for I did
+not have a dime to start with; but I met an old friend here who gave me
+a few hundreds, and who will give me more when I want it."
+
+"That's the kind of a friend to have," said Newton, warmly; "come, let
+us drink again to his health. I wish I had met you before, for I would
+have been glad to divide with you. We ought always to stand by each
+other, especially we Southerners, among these Yankee gamblers."
+
+"Yes, that is true," replied Bernardi, taking an immense drink of
+brandy; "they are not so generous to each other as we are down South.
+Now, my friend, whom I spoke of, is one of the right sort. He gave me
+enough for a new outfit, and has promised to give me a good sum when I
+am ready to go South again."
+
+"Is he a Southerner too?" asked Newton.
+
+"Oh! yes," Bernardi replied, "he is from Peru, where I first met him,
+and we have had many a gay time together. I used to keep a fine suite of
+gambling rooms, which he frequented, and he used to play with the utmost
+indifference to the results; he always seemed equally unmoved whether he
+won or lost."
+
+"I suppose you must have been very warm friends," said Newton, "or he
+would not now be so ready to assist you?"
+
+"Well, Don Juan is a very liberal fellow, I admit," answered Bernardi;
+"but he might not be so generous were it not to his interest to be so,"
+he continued, with a knowing wink.
+
+"Oh! ho! I see," replied Newton, nodding his head expressively. "Your
+friend would not care to have you talk about his past history, I
+suppose?"
+
+"Exactly; he knows that I could tell some things about him which might
+spoil his pleasure here, and so he is anxious to keep on good terms with
+me. However, he needn't fear me as long as he treats me decently, for I
+do not wish to injure him, and when I am ready to go I shall get a good
+sum from him to start me in business elsewhere."
+
+"Suppose he should refuse to give you anything more, or have you
+arrested for blackmailing him," suggested Newton.
+
+"I'd like to see him try it," Bernardi exclaimed, with a volley of
+oaths. "I guess two could play at the game of swearing out warrants, and
+when the account was balanced, his imprisonment would be twenty times
+as long as mine. No, no; I have no fear that he will attempt such a
+thing."
+
+"I merely spoke of it as a possibility," said Newton, "in order that you
+should be on your guard. A man with wealth and position might succeed in
+crushing a friendless poor man in spite of the latter's protestations.
+However, if any such thing should happen, you can depend upon it that I
+will work for you until you are released."
+
+"That's right, my friend," replied Bernardi, as he called for another
+drink of brandy. "If I should suddenly disappear without warning to you,
+don't fail to search for me everywhere, and I will see that you are
+handsomely rewarded. If Don Juan should attempt any treachery, I should
+have him at my mercy as soon as I should get free, and, together, we
+could squeeze a large sum out of him."
+
+Newton spent the day with Bernardi, and they became quite inseparable.
+After driving about the city for an hour or two, they attended a matinee
+performance at one of the theatres, and then had a long and sumptuous
+dinner at a fashionable restaurant. In the evening they went to the
+gambling-rooms where they had met the night before, and Bernardi was
+soon absorbed in the game of faro. His luck still clung to him, and, on
+leaving the place at midnight, he had won three hundred dollars more. As
+before, Bernardi went to enjoy the society of his New Orleans charmer,
+and Newton went to his own lodgings.
+
+After Newton had made his report to me, early the next morning, I told
+him to continue his intimacy with Bernardi, and to pump him as
+thoroughly as possible relative to Don Pedro's past history. Soon after
+his departure to meet Bernardi, Senator Muirhead and Judge Key entered,
+and we discussed the possibility of doing anything with this new
+witness, Pietro Bernardi.
+
+"Would it not be possible to frighten him into telling all he knows of
+Don Pedro?" asked the Senator.
+
+"I hardly think we could," I replied. "In the first place, you have no
+charge whatever against Bernardi, nor any reason to suppose that he has
+ever been a criminal anywhere; hence, how could we frighten him?
+Moreover, he is a man of considerable nerve, and he would see that, as
+against third parties, his interests would be best served by supporting,
+instead of attacking, Don Pedro. No, I don't see anything to be gained
+as yet by showing our hands. Our object is to recover possession of the
+money paid to the Don for those bogus diamond fields, and to do that, we
+must wait until we have a sure case against him for his crimes committed
+elsewhere."
+
+"I agree with you wholly," added Judge Key. "Besides, this fellow,
+Bernardi, knows nothing of the Don's forgeries and frauds except those
+committed in Peru, and as we have before shown, we could make no use of
+those accusations until we hear from Peru. Indeed, it is questionable
+how far we can proceed even then, for we have no extradition treaty with
+that country."
+
+"Well, I do not mind that very much," I replied, "for my chief
+dependence is upon the moral effect upon Don Pedro. I think that we can
+so work upon him as to obtain his consent to go to Peru voluntarily,
+rather than to be detained here until a requisition arrives from
+England. He knows that if he be sent to England, he will be transported
+for a long term of years; whereas, in Peru, he may avoid conviction
+altogether, or purchase his escape after conviction."
+
+"But can we make him give up his plunder?" asked the Senator, anxiously.
+
+"I think we can," said I. "You see that he is liable to be held here for
+obtaining money under false pretenses, and during the trial the money
+could be taken by attachment. Then, even though he should not be
+convicted, the delay would enable us to make sure of sending him back to
+London, where a heavy sentence would undoubtedly be given him. Now, by
+representing these things to him, we shall induce him to hand over the
+money voluntarily, and after that we shall not care whether he is taken
+to Great Britain or Peru."
+
+"If that be the case, why not arrest him now and get the advices from
+London afterward?" asked the Senator, who was very anxious to hasten
+matters.
+
+"Because we could not present a sufficient case to hold him under the
+preliminary examination," replied Judge Key. "When we get official news
+of the fellow's character from Peru, we shall have a sure thing against
+him, and then I shall feel ready to act; but I agree with Mr. Pinkerton
+that there would be danger in overhaste. You see, we have him carefully
+watched, and there is no probability that he intends to make off until
+after this _fete champetre_; therefore, let us wait for our foreign
+advices as long as we can, and in case he prepares to go before they
+arrive, it will be time enough to arrest him then."
+
+"How about the Donna?" asked Muirhead. "Do you propose to take any steps
+against her?"
+
+"I don't see how we can," I replied. "With the exception of the sums she
+has received from Mather, she has obtained nothing fraudulently; and, as
+you may well suppose, we could never get Mather to testify against her;
+so I guess we need not trouble ourselves to interfere with the lovely
+Donna at all."
+
+Our conference then broke up with the understanding that we should
+assemble again the moment any new facts in the case should be developed.
+Just after the gentlemen had left, Madame Sevier came in and reported a
+scene between Mather and the Donna which had taken place the previous
+evening.
+
+The Don had remained at home entertaining various guests until nine
+o'clock. He had then gone out with Lesparre and several other gentlemen,
+to attend a banquet and ball given by a semi-political club at one of
+the hotels. The affair was attended by many highly respectable ladies,
+particularly by those whose husbands had any political aspirations, but
+it was not sufficiently exclusive to satisfy the Donna, and she remained
+at home. The visitors gradually dropped out until only Mr. Mather
+remained, and then Madame Sevier excused herself, on the plea of
+fatigue, in order to retire. Instead of going to her room, however, she
+hastened to the library and hid herself behind a statue standing in a
+deep bay window, which was heavily shrouded with drapery and curtains.
+Thus placed, she was completely hidden from the sight of any one in the
+library, though she had a perfect view herself, and she could hear every
+word spoken in the room.
+
+As she expected, the Donna soon entered, followed by Mr. Mather. The
+latter seemed to consider that the Donna could refuse him nothing, for
+he put his arms around her, and was about to kiss her, when he found her
+fan quickly interposed between their faces.
+
+"You are too free with your caresses, Senor Mather," she said, coldly,
+slipping out of his embrace, and pointing out a chair to him at some
+distance from the sofa, upon which she seated herself.
+
+Poor Mather was quite astonished, for, having kissed her several times
+before, he supposed that he could continue doing so whenever he wished;
+but the Donna was an expert fisher of men, and she recognized the force
+of that old proverb, "Familiarity breeds contempt;" besides, she wanted
+some more money, and she knew that her elderly lover would gladly
+purchase her kisses at a round price. The folly of giving them away
+gratis could not be indulged in, therefore, and she kept her sighing
+swain at a distance for a little time. She was too politic to give even
+the slightest hint of her object in the conversation which ensued, but
+she used every possible allurement to fascinate her victim, while she
+would allow him no liberties nor caresses. Mather could not fail to
+recollect the affectionate manner in which she had received his previous
+gifts, and he therefore decided to try the same policy again.
+
+"I saw a beautiful camel's hair shawl to-day," he said, "and I was going
+to get it for you, my dear Lucia, but I did not know whether it would
+suit you, and so I determined to let you select your own gift. The shawl
+was worth one thousand dollars, and I made up my mind to give you the
+amount that I should have paid for it, and you could then exercise your
+own taste."
+
+"Oh! my dear Henry," she exclaimed, "how thoughtful you are! How can I
+sufficiently thank you?" and she made room for him on the sofa, as he
+advanced holding out a roll of bills.
+
+"You know how you can please me best," he answered, tenderly, bending
+over her.
+
+"Oh! really, Henry, you mustn't," she protested, feebly, as he showered
+kisses on her cheeks and lips; "suppose any one should come in!"
+
+As she spoke, a carriage stopped in front of the house, and their
+affectionate _tete-a-tete_ was interrupted by the unexpected return of
+Lesparre, who, having left his watch at home, had returned to get it. He
+did not enter the parlor nor the library, but the Donna seemed very much
+agitated at the mere possibility of being detected in a compromising
+situation, and so Mather took his departure. The coolness with which she
+counted the money, after he had gone, was in striking contrast with her
+simulated embarrassment while he was present, and it was plain that,
+having obtained the gift, she was quite glad to get rid of the giver.
+She went immediately to her room, and Madame Sevier then retired also.
+
+
+
+
+                        CHAPTER VIII.
+
+    _Don Pedro anxious for Pietro Bernardi's Absence.--"Coppering the
+          Jack and Playing the Ace and Queen open."--A Gambler that
+          could not be Bought.--Splendid Winnings.--Diamond cutting
+          Diamond.--Bernardi quieted, and he subsequently departs richer
+          by five thousand dollars._
+
+
+At eleven o'clock, Newton and Bernardi again met at the post-office, and
+the latter remarked that he intended making a short call upon his
+wealthy friend.
+
+"Come along with me," he said, "and you will see what a fine place he
+has. I shall not remain very long, and if you will wait for me outside,
+we can pass the day together. I hate to go around alone in a strange
+city."
+
+Accordingly they strolled along until they reached Don Pedro's house,
+and Newton agreed to remain near at hand until Bernardi should finish
+his call. Salter was on the lookout, and when Bernardi was admitted, he
+led the way to Don Pedro's room. The moment the door closed on Bernardi,
+Salter took his place at the auger-holes in the adjoining closet, and
+overheard the entire conversation, as before.
+
+"Well, Pietro, have you decided how soon you will be ready to leave
+town?" asked the Don. "From your clothes, jewelry, and other purchases
+you have made, you must have used up most of the money I gave you, and,
+if so, your departure must take place soon; for I warn you again, I
+shall give you nothing more until you depart for some distant city!"
+
+"Well, to tell the truth," replied Bernardi, in an independent,
+indifferent manner, "I am in no hurry to go away just yet. You see, I
+have been very lucky since I've been here, and if I keep on, I guess I
+can repay you the amount you kindly loaned me."
+
+"Do you mean that you have been gambling again?" asked the Don, in a
+vexed tone.
+
+"Yes, and I have won constantly, so that I don't like to change my luck
+by making a move right away. You know gamblers are superstitious, and I
+have a strong feeling that it will be for my interest to remain here for
+some time yet."
+
+"But you promised to go as soon as you felt able to travel," said the
+Don.
+
+"Well, there is no hurry. I haven't done you any harm yet, and I don't
+mean to. Why are you so anxious to get rid of me?"
+
+Of course, Don Pedro's principal fear was that Bernardi would learn how
+large a sum the former had received for his bogus mines, and that he
+would not be satisfied to go unless he got a large slice of the plunder.
+It would not do, however, to excite his suspicions by appearing too
+desirous of sending him away, so the Don changed his tone, and said:
+
+"Oh! I'm sure I don't want to get rid of you as long as you keep sober
+and don't talk about me; but you know how it is, Pietro; if you should
+get drunk and talk about me, you would tell everything you know, and the
+result would be that I should have to flee the town without
+accomplishing my object. In that case, I should lose not only all that I
+hoped to make, but also all the immense outlay I have made in preparing
+my scheme. If you want to go to New Orleans again, I will start you in a
+faro-bank there, and will come down there next winter to play with you;
+but I confess I should feel easier if you were out of Gloster for the
+present."
+
+"Well, I will be ready to go in a few days, if you insist upon it, but I
+don't see the necessity of such haste. However, I will come in again
+and talk about it before the end of the week. I want to win a little
+more before I go."
+
+"How have you been betting?" asked Morito, in a conciliatory manner.
+
+"I have been 'coppering' the jack and playing the ace and queen
+'open,'[A] and I have won constantly. I left them a few times and played
+other cards, but I always lost when I did so. Now I am going to stick to
+that scheme right along."
+
+   [A] These are technical terms in playing faro. The player meant
+   that he was in the habit of making one bet that the jack would be a
+   losing card all the time, and another that the ace and queen would be
+   winning cards.
+
+"Where are you playing?" asked the Don, carelessly.
+
+"I generally go to Dave Carter's, in Mahogany Block, for I think he
+deals a 'square' game."
+
+"Yes, I suppose so," said Morito; "as much so as any of them; but they
+are all sharpers here, and they may have been letting you win on
+purpose, thinking that you had a large sum in reserve which they hope to
+catch hereafter. If you will take my advice, you will stop while you are
+ahead. You know, from your own experience as a banker, that the 'bank'
+always wins in the end."
+
+"Well, I shall try a few more games, and then I shall be ready to talk
+with you about going South. I want to run my luck while it is good," and
+so saying, Bernardi rose to go.
+
+"All right, Pietro," said Don Pedro, "be careful not to get swindled,
+and to keep silent about me."
+
+The moment Bernardi was gone, the Don rang his bell violently, and sent
+for Monsieur Lesparre. When the latter entered the Don's room, he found
+his employer in a more disturbed and excited condition than he had ever
+before indulged in, and evidently he meant mischief to some one.
+
+"Lesparre, that fellow Bernardi, of whom I spoke to you the other day,
+has been here again," burst out the Don. "I gave him a considerable sum
+of money to set him on his feet again, for old acquaintance' sake,
+expecting that he would return to his friends in the South, or, at
+least, behave like a decent gentleman; but he has returned to his old
+habits of gambling and drinking, so that, at any moment, he may come
+here and mortify me before a party of my guests, or, worse still, claim
+me as his friend when arraigned in a police court for drunkenness,
+_etcetera_. He promised to leave town as soon as the money I gave him
+was gone, and I was to give him then a respectable sum to start him in
+business elsewhere; but he has won considerably at the faro-table, and
+he is now independent of me, and therefore declines to keep his promise
+until he is ready."
+
+"Would he go, do you think, if he should lose all he has?" asked
+Lesparre.
+
+"Oh! yes, indeed; he would be forced to yield to my terms then, and I
+should give him nothing until he started."
+
+"How would it do to suggest to the proprietor of the gambling rooms that
+it would be doubly for his interest to fleece this man? I think it could
+easily be done, if the 'bank' were so disposed."
+
+"I have no doubt of it, especially as I know the way he intends to bet
+all the time," replied the Don, eagerly; "he 'coppers' the jack and
+plays the ace and queen 'open.' It must be a pretty poor dealer who
+cannot 'stack' those cards, with such a stake in view. Suppose you drop
+a hint to Dave Carter, or to the dealer to-night, before Bernardi goes
+there."
+
+"I will go down at once," replied Lesparre, "and I will promise him
+three hundred dollars additional if he wins all that Bernardi has; that
+is not too much, is it?"
+
+"No, indeed!" exclaimed the Don; "I would gladly give five hundred, if
+necessary."
+
+Lesparre arrived at the gambling rooms about noon, and at that early
+hour no one was present except the proprietor and one of the dealers.
+Lesparre obtained an interview with the proprietor alone, and then asked
+him if he would like to make a thousand dollars.
+
+"Oh! yes," he replied, in an indifferent way, "I should have no
+objection, although it would not be such a novelty that I need take a
+great deal of trouble about it. The 'bank' often wins more than that in
+a single evening."
+
+"Well, there is a South American who has been playing here recently,
+against whom I have a bitter grudge. He has about six hundred dollars
+now, most of which he has won here. He has one regular system of
+playing--'coppering' the jack and playing the ace and queen to win--and
+you can easily fix those cards so as to clean him out in one evening.
+The moment you have done that, I will give you five hundred dollars
+more."
+
+The gambler fixed a keen look upon Lesparre for a moment, and then
+replied that he was no gudgeon to bite such a stale bait as that. He
+added that they played a "square" game, and if a man won, he was welcome
+to his winnings; but that no trickery would be resorted to against any
+patron of the house. Lesparre was obliged to withdraw, feeling that he
+had made a mistake in proposing the plan so openly.
+
+That evening, after a day spent in playing billiards and driving about,
+Bernardi and Newton again entered the gambling saloon. Bernardi did not
+make any bets for some time, but stood watching the game in silence,
+apparently guessing as to the winning and losing cards to determine
+whether he was in luck. Finally he bet fifty dollars on the ace and
+lost; this was followed by one hundred dollars on the same card, which
+again lost. He waited a few deals and then placed two hundred dollars on
+the queen to win, and one hundred dollars on the jack to lose. The cards
+fell as he had hoped, and gathering in his stakes and winnings, he
+began betting in earnest. His luck was wonderful, and as all his bets
+were for fifty dollars or more, he soon had quite a large sum. Presently
+he stopped betting, and went to the bar with Newton. They talked and
+drank together for some minutes, but Bernardi was not ready to leave
+just then. His winnings were already quite sufficient to cause the
+proprietor to regard him with a considerable degree of interest, and
+when he returned to the faro-table, a seat was given him at once. He
+made no bets for some minutes, but at length he asked:
+
+[Illustration: _This was taking a short cut to Bernardi's friendship._]
+
+"What is your limit to-night?"
+
+"Five hundred dollars," was the reply.
+
+Bernardi then placed four hundred dollars on the nine spot, and, a
+moment later, he was again a winner. He now seemed satisfied, for he
+presented his "chips" for payment, and received cash therefor. The
+proprietor then invited Bernardi and Newton to drink with him, and,
+while standing at the sideboard, the proprietor asked Bernardi whether
+he had many acquaintances in the city.
+
+"No," replied Bernardi, "I have very few; why do you ask?"
+
+"Because one of them is your enemy, or else he was trying to play a
+trick on the 'bank' this morning," continued the proprietor, watching
+Bernardi narrowly. "He came in about noon, and wanted the cards put up
+so that you should be cleaned out of all your money."
+
+"The devil you say!" ejaculated Bernardi; "why did he want to clean me
+out?"
+
+"That I can't say; but he told me that he had a bitter grudge against
+you, and that he would give a great deal to injure you."
+
+"I do not know any one here who could say that of me," replied Bernardi,
+thoughtfully. "There is only one man in the city who knows me
+intimately, and I do not see why he should wish me to lose, even if he
+did hate me. Was he a South American, like myself?"
+
+"No; he might have been a foreigner, but he was not dark-complexioned."
+
+"Well, I cannot imagine who it could have been," mused Bernardi; "and I
+guess I need not be afraid of him, if he goes to work in that roundabout
+way. However, I am obliged to you for the information, and I will take
+care that he does not drop on me unexpectedly. So-long."
+
+As Bernardi walked down the street with Newton, he was evidently deeply
+abstracted, for he muttered to himself in Spanish, and swore at
+intervals in quite an excited manner. Finally, he said aloud:
+
+"I don't know what to think about this story. It may be that this
+gambler made it up to shake my nerves, or to cover some plot against me;
+but I have a sort of feeling that Don Juan is at the bottom of it. I
+don't fear him one bit, but I want to solve the mystery, and if he has
+been plotting against me, I will have my revenge upon him. But, no; I
+can't see what he could gain by it, and I think, perhaps, this gang
+despair of breaking my luck, and are planning to rob me by force."
+
+"That seems reasonable," replied Newton, "for then you would attribute
+the act to this unknown enemy, and they would escape suspicion. Still,"
+he continued, anxious to lead the conversation back to Don Pedro as a
+subject, "your first supposition may be the correct one, and your
+pretended friend may be scheming to ruin you."
+
+"But why should he want me to lose money?" persisted Bernardi. "He knows
+that I should come to him for more, and that he would be obliged to give
+it to me."
+
+"Perhaps he would like to get rid of your presence," cautiously
+suggested Newton; "and if you were penniless, he could insist upon your
+departure as a condition upon which alone he would give you money."
+
+"Caramba! I believe you are right, my friend," Bernardi exclaimed,
+furiously; "and if I find that it is so, I will make Don Juan, or Don
+Pedro, as he calls himself now, regret the day he played me false."
+
+"Don't be over-hasty," counseled Newton, "for the whole story may be a
+gambler's lie after all."
+
+"Oh! I will investigate it carefully," answered Bernardi, "and, when I
+am satisfied about the truth of the matter, I will consult with you as
+to the best course to pursue. It is a good thing to have a friend to
+advise with, especially among such a gang of thieves as seem to hang
+'round these rooms. Meet me to-morrow, as usual, and I will go see my
+friend again."
+
+The men then separated, and went to their respective lodgings for the
+night.
+
+In the morning they met, took breakfast together, and afterwards
+sauntered down to visit Don Pedro. As before, Bernardi was conducted
+straight to the Don's room, and Salter again stationed himself in the
+closet to listen.
+
+"So you are still successful?" was the first remark he heard.
+
+"Yes, moderately so," replied Bernardi; "but it is strange how cards run
+sometimes."
+
+"Well, you ought not to be astonished at anything after your long
+experience in gambling."
+
+"Oh! I'm never astonished," said Bernardi, who had drunk a good deal of
+brandy before and after breakfast; "but I was thinking how lucky it was
+that I changed my mind last night about playing those three cards--the
+jack, ace, and queen."
+
+"How so?" asked Morito.
+
+"Well, if I had played the jack 'coppered,' and the ace and queen
+'open,' last night, all the evening, I should have been entirely cleaned
+out; what do you think of that?"
+
+"I think you were very lucky in having played elsewhere," replied the
+Don; "but what's the matter with you? What makes you look at me so
+strangely?"
+
+"I want to find out whether it was you who sent a man to tell Dave
+Carter, the gambler, how I was playing, and to ask him to fix the cards
+so that I should lose all I had."
+
+Bernardi's voice was husky with liquor and anger, and he had evidently
+worked himself up into a great rage; but, in spite of his partial
+intoxication, he was very determined, and his tones foreboded no
+good-will to the Don. In a contest of words, however, he was no match
+for his opponent, and Don Pedro instantly took the most effectual method
+for quieting his visitor's suspicions.
+
+"My dear Pietro," he began, contemptuously, "I gave you credit for more
+common-sense than you seem disposed to claim for yourself. Why should I
+want you to lose? On the contrary, I would like to see you win enough to
+start in business for yourself, and repay me what I have loaned you, for
+I assure you that I much prefer to have you spend your money than mine.
+I have none too much for my own wants, and if you could repay me, I
+should be delighted. What is the reason for your question?"
+
+Bernardi did not reply for two or three minutes; he was evidently keenly
+scrutinizing Don Pedro's face; but at length he said:
+
+"Well, it's all right now, and I suppose I was wrong to suspect you; but
+the proprietor of the place where I gamble told me that some one had
+been trying to get him to play a trick on me, and I determined to find
+out who it was."
+
+"Well, Pietro, I don't think you would have thought of suspecting me if
+your head had not been fuddled with liquor. Why can't you stop drinking
+for a month or two?"
+
+"What do you care about my drinking?" asked Bernardi, in a half-cowed
+manner.
+
+"Because Pietro drunk is a very different fellow from Pietro sober; and
+some day you will let out some damaging reports about me, and then all
+hope of making anything here will be destroyed. If I could feel sure
+that you would remain sober, I would gladly start you in a good 'bank'
+here."
+
+Of course, Don Pedro had no intention of doing anything of the kind, but
+he saw that Bernardi was in a dangerous mood, and that he must handle
+him very skillfully if he wished to get him to leave the city. The Don
+knew that to urge him to leave would be the surest way to make him stay,
+but that, if left to follow his own inclinations, he would be anxious to
+go South, where the climate and people were more congenial to him.
+Hence, Don Pedro boldly took the ground that he was quite willing for
+Bernardi to stay if he would only keep sober, and Bernardi quickly fell
+into the trap.
+
+"I don't want to start a 'bank' in this place," he said, "and I can't
+get along in this climate without drinking. I have been moderately
+successful here, and I am in no hurry to leave, but I should like to go
+back to New Orleans, if I could fit up a good place there, and deal a
+first-class game."
+
+"How much would you need for that purpose?" asked the Don. "If I can
+let you have it, I will do so, and you can stay here or go back to New
+Orleans, as you may prefer; only I shall make one condition: that you
+promise faithfully to drink nothing but wine while you are in this city,
+until I get ready to leave. Will three thousand dollars be enough?"
+
+"Hardly; I have won some money here, to be sure, but it will cost a good
+deal to spread a handsome layout in New Orleans--as for this place,
+there are not enough gentlemen gamesters here; the gamblers are all
+trying to live on each other. If you will make it five thousand, I will
+start for New Orleans day after to-morrow."
+
+"That is more than I ought to pay out in my present circumstances," said
+the Don, thoughtfully; "but I guess I can run the establishment on
+credit for about a month, and that will help me out; so if you will go
+to-morrow, I will give you five thousand when you start."
+
+"Done!" replied Bernardi, much gratified at having obtained so large a
+sum. "I have nothing to do except to get a young lady friend to go with
+me, and she won't need a great while to make her preparations. So you
+can have the money ready to-morrow?"
+
+"It shall be awaiting you any time that you call for it," answered
+Morito, and Bernardi then took his departure.
+
+On joining Newton, Bernardi was in high spirits, and he talked very
+freely of his intended plans.
+
+"My friend convinced me that he had nothing to do with the trick which
+the gambler said some one tried to play upon me, and as a proof of his
+regard, he is going to give me a start in New Orleans. I shall leave
+here to-morrow, and if you would like to go in with me, we can make a
+pile of money there."
+
+"I can't very well leave here for some time yet," said Newton, "for I
+have a large sum staked in bets on the races next month, and I shall
+have no money until they take place. I have a sure thing on a new horse,
+and I have got such large odds that I have put up every dollar I could
+reach. I shall clear about ten thousand dollars sure, and then if you
+are so disposed, I will join you in New Orleans."
+
+"All right, we'll do it; but then, you may lose everything instead of
+winning. I don't care to bet on races, myself; there are too many
+chances to deal from the bottom."
+
+"There is no danger in this case, so you must let me know where I can
+find you, and within a month I will join you in the Crescent City."
+
+Bernardi then went to see his fair and frail charmer, to obtain her
+company on his Southern trip, and Newton came to my room to report. I
+instructed him to stay with Bernardi as much as possible while the
+latter remained in the city, and to be sure to obtain his address in New
+Orleans. I then called upon Senator Muirhead and informed him of the
+proposed departure of Bernardi. The Senator was very anxious to detain
+him in some way, in order to get his testimony, in case we should fail
+to hear from England or Peru in time; but I was unable to suggest any
+plan for holding this man without exposing our whole connection with the
+case. Bernardi was evidently ready to act in good faith with Don Pedro,
+and any endeavor to retard his departure would be regarded by him as
+coming from the gang of gamblers from whom he had won money. There was
+no doubt but that he would keep up a correspondence with Newton, and we
+should thus know where to find him in case his presence should be
+needed. We decided, therefore, to let him go as he intended.
+
+Early in the evening, Bernardi and Newton went as usual to the
+gaming-rooms. There they met a stranger, who seemed to be a Spaniard or
+Cuban. Bernardi addressed him in Spanish, and after some conversation,
+they sat down to play. By some freak of luck, Bernardi continually won
+his small bets, but whenever he put out a large amount, he lost. The
+Cuban stranger had the same experience, and at length Bernardi rose in
+disgust and left the rooms with Newton, having lost about two hundred
+dollars.
+
+"Those fellows have got some kind of a 'skin-game' at work," he said,
+"and they tried to beat me and that Cuban out of all our cash. I gave
+him a hint in Spanish before I came away, and I hope he will stop before
+they fleece him. Now let us go to the theatre."
+
+They attended one of the theatres, and then had a glorious supper at
+Bernardi's expense after the performance was over. About midnight, they
+parted with mutual good wishes, and Bernardi promised to write to Newton
+as soon as he should reach New Orleans.
+
+The next morning Bernardi called upon Don Pedro and received the
+promised amount of five thousand dollars, assuring him that he should
+leave the city that afternoon. As soon as he left the house, the Don
+asked Lesparre to keep a watch upon Bernardi to make sure of his leaving
+according to promise. When Lesparre returned about three o'clock, and
+reported that Bernardi was then actually on his way to Cairo,
+accompanied by a young lady, the Don was overjoyed, and he expressed
+himself greatly relieved thereby.
+
+"Now we can take more interest in our _fete champetre_, and we will make
+it the most delightful affair ever known in this country," he said,
+exultantly. "When it is over, my dear Lesparre, we will make a tour of
+the fashionable watering-places, and enjoy life to the full."
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER IX.
+
+    _Important Information from the Peruvian Government.--Arrival in
+          Gloster of the Peruvian Minister and Consul.--In
+          Consultation.--"Robbing Peter to pay Paul."--Mr. Pinkerton's
+          card is presented.--Juan Sanchez, I arrest you, and you are my
+          Prisoner.--Mr. Pinkerton not "For Sale."--A Dramatic
+          Scene.--The Bubble burst._
+
+
+Several days now sped by with no fresh developments, and Don Pedro was
+almost constantly engaged in his preparations for the _fete champetre_.
+As the day approached, society was stirred to its very center, and
+nothing was spoken of save this grand event of the season.
+
+But four days remained before the _fete_, when I was delighted by
+receiving a letter from the Secretary of State for Peru, giving full
+particulars of the forgeries and frauds committed by Don Juan Sanchez in
+that country, and enclosing a fine portrait of the man. One glance at
+the picture was sufficient to assure me of the identity of Don Pedro P.
+L. de Morito with Don Juan Sanchez, and I now felt ready to act. The
+letter informed me that a Peruvian official would be dispatched to
+Gloster at once, to obtain the arrest of Don Pedro, though there were a
+great many difficulties in the way, owing to the lack of an extradition
+treaty. Every effort would be made, however, to bring him to justice,
+and the Peruvian Minister at Washington would be instructed to confer
+with me.
+
+I informed Senator Muirhead and Judge Key of this news, and they were
+both much encouraged at the prospect, especially as we learned that a
+Peruvian man-of-war had arrived in New York from Aspinwall, it being
+doubtless intended that this vessel should take the prisoner to Peru, in
+case he could be frightened into surrendering himself.
+
+The _fete_ was to take place on Wednesday, if the weather should be
+favorable, or on the first pleasant day thereafter, and everything was
+already in complete order for the grand occasion. A large and elegant
+steamer had been chartered to convey the guests to the island, and she
+was to make several trips during the day for the convenience of business
+men who could not go early. There remained nothing further to be done,
+except to pray for fine weather on the important day.
+
+On Monday morning I was told that two gentlemen were waiting to see me,
+on very important business, at one of the leading hotels. I accompanied
+the messenger, and was at once shown to the room of the Peruvian
+Minister, who was accompanied by the Peruvian Consul at New York. Before
+proceeding to business, I informed the Minister that I was acting under
+the instructions of Senator Muirhead, and that I should like to send for
+that gentleman, and for my legal adviser, Judge Key. The Peruvian
+officials made no objection, and both Judge Key and the Senator were
+soon with us, ready for consultation. As the new arrivals were tired and
+dusty after their long journey, we merely exchanged information relative
+to Don Pedro, and agreed to meet at ten o'clock next morning, to make
+plans for his arrest.
+
+At the appointed hour, we were all prompt in arriving at the parlor of
+the Minister. The latter and the Consul, in accordance with a suggestion
+I had made the day previous, had not mentioned their official rank to
+any one, and had remained as secluded as possible, in order to prevent
+Morito from knowing of their arrival in the city.
+
+The Minister stated that the forgeries of Don Juan Sanchez in Peru had
+been so enormous, amounting to more than seven hundred thousand dollars,
+that the government had taken up the pursuit of the criminal with
+unusual zeal, and no effort nor expense would be spared to bring him to
+justice. Unfortunately, however, in the absence of any extradition
+treaty between Peru and the United States, the chances of securing Don
+Juan, even now that he had been discovered, were not bright; indeed, the
+Minister acknowledged that he saw no way of accomplishing it.
+
+"By an appeal to law," said Judge Key, "nothing _can_ be gained; but it
+is possible that my friend, Mr. Pinkerton, may have a plan which will
+induce Don Pedro, as he now calls himself, to surrender voluntarily
+rather than stand trial here or in Great Britain. Let us hear your
+opinion, then, Mr. Pinkerton."
+
+"Well, gentlemen," I replied, "this is a case where the greatest care
+must be exercised, for the criminal is a bold, skillful man, of good
+education and address, with, probably, a fair knowledge of his legal
+rights. We cannot afford to make any mistakes, for he would surely take
+advantage of them. We must, therefore, present the case to him in such a
+way that he will believe it to be to his interest to give himself up.
+The presence of the Peruvian man-of-war in New York is very fortunate,
+for, once under her flag, he cannot escape; but he must be induced to go
+on board voluntarily, or else we shall be liable to the charge of
+kidnapping."
+
+I then explained the method by which he had had swindled the citizens of
+Gloster, and showed how difficult it would be to convict him of
+anything, owing to the probability that his victims would refuse to
+testify against him; besides, for obtaining money under false pretenses,
+a short imprisonment only could be inflicted, and then he would be free
+to go where he pleased.
+
+"However," I continued, "I think I can present to him his position in
+such a light that he will regard a surrender to the Peruvian authorities
+as preferable to a long trial and detention here, with the possibility
+of being sent to California or Great Britain for trial on a more serious
+charge. When he knows that we are fully acquainted with his past
+career, he may be willing to accept our terms rather than to defy us."
+
+"Suppose, however," said the Minister, "that he should refuse all terms,
+and determine to fight it out?"
+
+"In that case," I replied, "we should be obliged to arrest him here for
+obtaining money under false pretenses, and be prepared to arrest him
+again the moment he should be set free, repeating the operation as often
+as we could get different victims to enter complaint against him. The
+number of stockholders in this bogus company is quite large, so that we
+could easily hold him until a requisition could be obtained from
+California or England."
+
+"How large a sum has he in his possession now?" asked the Consul.
+
+"About half a million dollars," replied the Senator.
+
+"Well," said the Consul, "that sum will go far toward reimbursing the
+people whom he swindled in Peru, so I think that Mr. Pinkerton's plan is
+the best that can be adopted. We might induce him to go aboard our
+vessel by promising to use our influence to lighten his sentence, in
+case he makes restitution to his victims in Peru."
+
+The Consul made these remarks with a wise expression, as if he thought
+he had hit upon a very easy way of solving the problem. The Senator,
+Judge Key, and I exchanged looks of astonishment and amusement at this
+cool proposal to take our citizens' money to reimburse the Peruvians;
+it was a case of "robbing Peter to pay Paul" which we could not
+appreciate. Finally, I said:
+
+"I presume that there can be no question as to the way to dispose of
+this money which Don Pedro has in his possession. Not one penny of it
+came from Peru, and we cannot permit any of it to be taken there. On
+arriving here Don Pedro had only a few thousand dollars, which he
+obtained in England by forgery. This sum he has already used up, and the
+only money in his possession has been obtained by the sale of his
+fictitious diamond fields in Peru. It would be manifestly unjust to
+allow this money to be taken away, and it is our intention to obtain it
+at all hazards, whatever may become of the Don."
+
+"Oh! I shall make no such claim, Mr. Pinkerton," said the Minister;
+"that was only a suggestion of the Consul, who did not understand
+exactly how the money referred to came into this man's hands. All that I
+care for is to get Don Pedro on board our vessel, and I shall be pleased
+to pay for your services in the matter. We must be careful, however,
+that there shall be no opportunity to charge us with kidnapping, for we
+wish to avoid any possibility of complications with the United States;
+the fellow has made us trouble enough already."
+
+"I will arrange that matter satisfactorily," I replied; "as for the
+question of payment, I am acting wholly in the interest of Senator
+Muirhead, and under his instructions, so that I can accept nothing
+except from him."
+
+We spent an hour or two more in preparing papers and arranging the
+details of our plans, the conclusion being that we should make the
+arrest that evening, about seven o'clock, when there would be few or no
+visitors at Don Pedro's house. As I had supposed, there was no charge
+whatever against the Donna, and my only intentions with regard to her
+were to see that she did not carry off any of the money belonging to the
+Diamond Company stockholders, nor assist the Don to escape. It was
+decided to send Don Pedro to New York immediately, in case he yielded to
+our terms, and the Donna would be at liberty to go or stay, as she might
+see fit.
+
+On returning to my office, I found Bangs and Lesparre awaiting me, and
+the latter said that he believed the Don and Donna intended to take
+flight immediately after the _fete_. They probably desired to finish
+their career in Gloster in a blaze of glory, and, as they would not be
+expected to receive visitors for two or three days after the _fete_,
+they would have a good start before their departure would become known.
+I told Lesparre to see that Madame Sevier and Salter kept a close watch
+for the remainder of the day, and in case any attempt should be made to
+remove the box containing Don Pedro's coin, he must send Salter to me
+instantly with the news. I also suggested that the servants be kept out
+of the way that evening, so that no one should know of our visit.
+Lesparre departed to attend to his duties, and I remained to complete
+the details of my plans with Mr. Bangs, who had arrived from Chicago
+with two detectives, in obedience to my summons.
+
+About six o'clock, Senator Muirhead and Judge Key arrived, and a more
+nervous man than the former I never saw. In a few minutes the Peruvian
+Minister and Consul arrived, and we proceeded in carriages to Don
+Pedro's house, the Senator remaining at the hotel, however. We left the
+carriages a short distance away, so as not to attract attention, and,
+while Mr. Bangs's two men stationed themselves to watch the house, the
+rest of my party ascended the steps and were admitted by Salter.
+
+"The family are still at dinner," said Salter, "but they are finishing
+the dessert, and I presume Don Pedro will go to the billiard-room after
+dinner to smoke, as usual."
+
+"Give him my card as he leaves the dining-room," I said, "and tell him
+that I am waiting to see him in the drawing-room."
+
+In a few minutes, Don Pedro and Lesparre rose from the table, and Salter
+gave my card to the former.
+
+"Pinkerton! Pinkerton! I don't know any one of that name; do I,
+Lesparre?"
+
+"Possibly it may be some gentleman having business with you in
+connection with the _fete_," suggested Lesparre.
+
+"Ah! very true; where is he, George? I will see him at once," said the
+Don, unsuspectingly.
+
+Salter led the way to the drawing-room, where I alone was waiting, the
+rest of the party having waited in the vestibule. As he entered,
+followed by Lesparre, I rose and said:
+
+"Juan Sanchez, I arrest you, and you are now my prisoner!" and, so
+saying, I put my hand on his shoulder.
+
+He turned very pale, and sat down in the nearest chair, while Lesparre
+quickly brought him a glass of water. I then continued:
+
+"Juan Sanchez, or Jose Gomez more properly, we will retire to the
+library if you wish, as we may be interrupted here by the arrival of
+some of your friends, and I do not wish to expose you at present."
+
+"What do you mean by addressing me in this manner?" he replied, trying
+to regain his composure. "My name is neither Sanchez nor Gomez."
+
+"It is a long time since you have been so called," I answered, "but your
+victims in Brazil and Peru still retain the names in their memories
+without difficulty. I will now present to you the Minister of Peru and
+the Peruvian Consul at New York, both of whom have taken a lively
+interest in your past life and actions."
+
+Just as I spoke, the Donna and Madame Sevier entered, and the former,
+seeing the abject appearance of her husband, asked what was the matter.
+
+"Your husband is a prisoner, madam," I replied; "and as our interview
+would be painful to you, I must ask you to withdraw for the present at
+least."
+
+She immediately gave an hysterical scream, and sank upon a divan sobbing
+frantically. Madame Sevier succeeded in quieting her somewhat, and she
+remained on the scene with her face buried in the Madame's lap. I felt
+confident that much of her emotion was feigned, and that she was an
+attentive listener to all that took place about her; however, I made no
+objection, but requested Mr. Bangs, who was watching in the hall, to
+admit the Minister and the rest of the party. As Mr. Bangs withdrew, the
+Don stepped up to me and said:
+
+"Mr. Pinkerton, I will give you five thousand dollars if you will leave
+me alone for half an hour."
+
+I smiled, and looking at my watch, said:
+
+"It is now seven o'clock; at ten o'clock you will be on your way to New
+York."
+
+"You can have ten thousand, if you will let me go; I will pay you the
+cash in coin immediately."
+
+"Your offers are useless," I replied; "I will let no guilty man escape
+if it can be avoided."
+
+As I spoke, the Peruvian Minister, the Consul, and Judge Key entered,
+and we proceeded in a body to the library, leaving the Donna in the care
+of Madame Sevier. On the way thither, the Don made one more effort to
+appear in the _role_ of an injured innocent.
+
+"I don't understand this proceeding at all," he said, "and I claim my
+liberty. What authority have you for arresting me in my own house?"
+
+"I _have_ the authority, and that is sufficient," I replied, coolly. "If
+you desire to be taken at once to jail, I have no objection to granting
+your request; but I thought, perhaps, you might first prefer to hear
+what these gentlemen have to say."
+
+I have arrested and have watched a great many criminals, but I have
+never seen one who, having carried out such an extensive scheme of
+villainy, was so utterly broken down as this man was. I had feared that
+his nerve might be firm enough to answer my threats with defiance, and
+force me to bring him to trial in Gloster; but I saw that there was no
+danger of such a misfortune, and so I stood aside while the Peruvian
+Minister addressed him.
+
+"Juan Sanchez," said the Minister, "I have come here to obtain your
+removal to Peru, that you may be tried there for your numberless
+forgeries in that country. A Peruvian war-ship is now in New York
+harbor, and you will be placed on board of her for transportation to
+Peru. Mr. Pinkerton's superintendent will proceed with you to-night."
+
+The Don was speechless for a moment, and then, glancing up, he said, in
+a sullen voice:
+
+"I want to know what I am charged with, and by what right you send me to
+Peru. I am entitled to a hearing, and a lawyer to defend me."
+
+"My friend, Judge Key, who is present, is a most able lawyer," I
+replied, "and you can consult with him if you wish advice; but first let
+me show you your true position. Your real name, Don Jose Gomez, was
+given you in Brazil, where it is remembered only to be cursed; Don Juan
+Sanchez was your name in Peru, and your crimes there are also well
+known; as Don Jose Michel, there are serious charges against you in San
+Francisco; Don Pedro Michel is badly wanted in Quito, where he would
+probably be shot, as they treat criminals there rather unceremoniously;
+and Don Jose Arias would undoubtedly be transported for life if the
+London detectives should discover his present hiding place, to say
+nothing of a lively interest which the French _gens d'armes_ take in the
+same person. All of these people are now informed that the person whom
+they wish to find is living in Gloster as Don Pedro P. L. de Morito, and
+they are at this moment hastening agents here to arrest him. By chance,
+the Peruvian authorities are the first to arrive, and they have,
+therefore, the happy privilege of making the arrest. Now, as you are
+probably aware, the Minister will have some difficulty in obtaining an
+order from Washington authorizing me to send you to Peru, for want of an
+extradition treaty; but while you are under arrest here, we can easily
+get warrants from either California, England, or France, and then you
+can take your choice between being shot by vigilantes in California,
+transported to Van Dieman's Land by England, or sent to work in the
+galleys by France. This is your present situation, and I am perfectly
+indifferent which course you prefer. If you decide to go with the
+Peruvian Minister, you must agree to do so voluntarily, until you are
+placed on board the Peruvian vessel, and you must make an assignment of
+all your money and property here to reimburse the people whom you have
+swindled by the sale of fictitious diamond-fields. If you are willing to
+comply with these conditions, you will sign all the necessary papers at
+once, and you will leave for New York to-night, before the English
+extradition writ arrives; if you refuse these conditions, I shall hold
+you until that writ, or one from California, arrives."
+
+The Don was evidently in no mood for defiance: the knowledge of his past
+history which I displayed had wholly cowed him, and my allusions to the
+vigilantes of California, and the galleys of France, made him tremble
+like a leaf. He knew perfectly well the extent of his crimes in those
+places, and, also, that my hints of his probable punishment were not
+fancy sketches. Finally, he asked to see me alone, but I refused to
+grant his request, knowing his object. Then he wished to see the
+Minister alone, and I again objected, but I accompanied the two to
+another room, where they conversed in Spanish for some time. The
+Minister told me that the Don offered the whole of his money and
+property to allow him to escape; but, finding his offers useless, he
+agreed to go to Peru for trial. No pledges were made to him to
+influence his decision, though he begged so hard that the Minister would
+intercede for him with the authorities in Peru, that his Excellency
+finally promised, in view of the Don's consent to go willingly, to
+recommend that his punishment be the lightest that the law could allow.
+The Don having fully yielded to the arguments of the Minister and
+myself, nothing remained to be done except to obtain his signature to
+the papers which had been already prepared, and to pack his trunk for
+his journey. Lesparre and Salter performed the latter task while the Don
+was signing the papers, and writing out his voluntary agreement to
+deliver himself up to the Peruvian authorities. The most important
+document was a deed assigning his furniture, horses, carriages,
+paintings, statuary, books, and, in short, all his personal property, to
+Judge Key, to be disposed of at the latter's discretion, and the
+proceeds, with the large amount of cash on hand, to be applied to repay
+the subscribers to the Diamond Company stock. In case there should not
+be sufficient to pay them in full, the payments should be made _pro
+rata_; but should there be an excess, such excess should be applied to
+the payment of the Don's private debts, contracted prior to that date.
+This provision was, of course, necessary to shut out the bills for
+supplies and services at the _fete_ on the following day. Evidently it
+was too late to interfere with that interesting entertainment without
+throwing a heavy loss on many persons who could not afford to be the
+sufferers, and I saw only one way to prevent this, namely; to let the
+_fete_ go on, and make those who danced pay the piper.
+
+When the documents had all been signed, I said:
+
+"Jose Gomez, you fully understand the meaning of this paper?" holding up
+his surrender to the Peruvian authorities; "it gives me power to convey
+you to New York and place you on board of a Peruvian vessel, using
+force, if necessary."
+
+The Don bowed his head submissively, and said that he so understood it.
+The acknowledgment of the deeds was then made by Judge Key, who was a
+notary public, and our success was complete. The Donna was then informed
+that her husband would be taken East that night, and she professed to be
+much affected. I told her that there was no charge against her, and that
+she could go with her husband, or stay in Gloster, according to her own
+wishes. She said that she would go with him if Madame Sevier could
+accompany them. I had no objection to this, and the two ladies retired
+to pack their trunks. There was some uncertainty in my mind whether some
+of the Don's cash might not be in the Donna's possession; but I felt
+rather confident that she kept her money entirely separate from his, and
+that I could trust to Madame Sevier's acuteness to discover how much the
+Donna had on hand. I was not disappointed, for, while packing, the Donna
+told the Madame that she had about nine thousand dollars, the remains
+of her gifts from Mather, but that she could secure an immense sum out
+of the iron box if she could get it open. I had already made the Don
+confess where he had hidden his money, and one of my detectives was
+placed to guard the box; hence, the Donna was disappointed in her
+attempts to make a raid on the treasury. While the packing was going on,
+I sent to the railroad depot and bought eight railroad tickets for the
+party, which was to consist of the Minister, the Consul, the Don and
+Donna, Mr. Bangs, Madame Sevier, and two of my men. At half-past nine
+o'clock the party was ready and the trunks were sent off. I had kept a
+close watch upon the Don until now, and I saw that he hoped to escape
+while traveling. When the carriages were announced, I stepped up to him
+and told him that my invariable custom in such cases would require me to
+put him in irons to prevent any attempt at escape.
+
+"Shall you permit me to be treated in this manner?" he said to the
+Peruvian Minister.
+
+"You are not yet in the custody of the Peruvian authorities," I replied,
+"and I am responsible for your safe delivery in New York; hence I must
+take such precautions as I consider necessary. When you are on board the
+Peruvian vessel, the Minister can give such orders concerning you as he
+may think proper; but, until then, I alone have the right to determine
+what shall be done with you."
+
+In a moment, I had placed a light set of shackles on his feet, and
+handcuffs on his wrists; he was quite submissive now, and only seemed
+anxious to avoid observation.
+
+As we passed out to the carriages, the Donna handed me a note, addressed
+to Henry O. Mather, and asked me to have it delivered immediately. I
+agreed to send it at once, though I sent it in such a manner that he
+should not receive it until the morning after the _fete_. The party
+arrived at the depot in time to secure seats together, and at ten
+o'clock the train bore them from the city.
+
+
+
+
+                          CHAPTER X.
+
+    _The Fete Champetre.--A Grand Carnival.--The Disappointed Married
+          Lover.--A Vain Request.--Unmasked!--A Shrewd Caterer and his
+          Humiliating Demands.--An Indignant Deacon.--Don Pedro taken to
+          Peru in a Man-of-War, where he is Convicted and Sentenced to
+          Fifteen Years' Imprisonment.--But the Donna manages to Satisfy
+          her Affections in a quiet way in New York._
+
+
+To the great delight of hundreds of people in Gloster, Wednesday morning
+revealed all the indications of a pleasant day, and by noon the weather
+was so lovely that nothing could have been more auspicious for the grand
+occasion. As the hour approached for the departure of the steamer,
+carriage after carriage drew up at the dock to discharge its load of
+brilliantly-dressed and masked ladies and gentlemen. The only person
+who was not completely protected from recognition was Monsieur Lesparre,
+who stood at the gangway to receive the guests, and wore a plain evening
+dress, with no mask.
+
+In order to prevent the attendance of persons who had not been invited,
+each guest was required to present his or her invitation, and, as there
+were, as usual, many who had forgotten to bring their cards, Lesparre
+remained at hand to pass them on board, on leaving their names. When the
+hour of departure arrived, the boat swung out into the stream, amid the
+laughter and merry shouts of the gay revelers that crowded her decks, as
+the band flooded the air with music.
+
+At first there was some embarrassment and reserve in the intercourse
+between the masqueraders, owing to the novelty of their situation, and
+the fact that the ladies at first clung closely to their own little
+parties, with whom they had come and to whom they were known; but soon
+this feeling wore off. They began to enter into the merry spirit of
+revelry which characterizes such entertainments in the cities of the Old
+World. The idea of personal identity began to be lost in the gayety of
+the moment, and in its place was substituted an identification of each
+person with the character which that person represented. The balmy airs
+of a perfect spring day wafted to them the sounds of country life along
+the shores of the river, and gave sensations both novel and pleasing
+to the gay denizens of the city, who rarely experienced any change from
+their routine of fashionable entertainments. During the trip by steamer
+there was much speculation as to the disguises worn by the Don and
+Donna, and though several persons were suspected of being the host and
+hostess, there was no sufficient way of identifying them.
+
+[Illustration: _The Fete Champetre.--Page--_]
+
+At length the island was reached, and the party disembarked. The scene,
+as they took possession of the tents, booths, and pleasure-grounds, was
+brilliant and attractive beyond anything which the guests had ever
+witnessed. The island was covered with large trees, whose branches and
+foliage afforded a delightful shade. The close underbrush had been
+removed everywhere, except in certain ravines and other picturesque
+spots, so that the island presented a fine example of the beauties of
+landscape gardening. The foreground, at the place of landing, was a
+level expanse of green turf, which had been laid there weeks before.
+This was partly arranged for archery grounds, while rustic seats and
+swings were to be found under every tree. A large platform for open-air
+dancing, was placed at the foot of the first ridge from the landing,
+while near by was an enclosed dancing-hall, to be used in the evening.
+Two bands were in attendance to play dance music constantly, one resting
+while the other played. It was understood that dinner would be served,
+at four o'clock exactly, in a long dining-room near the dancing-hall,
+and at that time every one was to unmask.
+
+As the party spread over the grounds and began to enjoy all the
+opportunities for pleasure afforded them, they presented a most novel
+appearance. There were representatives, both male and female, of nearly
+every known nationality, and all the leading characters of historical
+and fictional literature were admirably delineated. Of course, among
+such members there were many accidental repetitions of the same
+character, but there were also instances of _fac similes_, which were
+intentional. This was a frequent cause of mistakes and embarrassing
+adventures, and often, when a gay cavalier was talking in tender tones
+to some lovely senorita whom he believed he knew, he would be astonished
+to see a second senorita, exactly like the first, passing unconcernedly
+by.
+
+The afternoon was spent in rowing, sailing, shooting, dancing, and
+flirting, and all agreed that they had never known a more truly
+delightful day. An elegant lunch was kept ready at all times in a large
+_buffet_, adjoining the dining-room, and all kinds of wines and liquors
+were served freely. The hour for dinner was fast approaching, and, of
+course, by that time, many recognitions had been made, though large
+numbers still carefully and successfully preserved their own secrets;
+some, however, had already abandoned their masks, still retaining the
+fancy costumes. Among these was Mr. Mather, who wandered over the
+island half distraught. He had vainly searched for the Donna all day,
+and had been unable to enjoy anything because he could not distinguish
+her. Often he had believed he had found her, but again and again he had
+discovered that he was mistaken; so he continued his search without his
+mask, hoping that she would make herself known to him. At last he
+approached Lesparre, just before four o'clock.
+
+"My dear Lesparre," he asked, in imploring tones, "I beg that you will
+tell me how to recognize Donna Lucia. I have talked with every person
+who could possibly be taken for her, and I acknowledge that she is so
+perfectly disguised that I cannot discover her. Won't you please tell me
+how she is dressed?"
+
+"That I do not know myself," replied Lesparre. "She was very careful to
+keep the knowledge from me, for fear I might be teased into telling some
+one."
+
+"Well, how is the Don dressed, then?" asked Mather. "Perhaps he will
+tell me about the Donna."
+
+"I do not know how he is dressed, either," answered Lesparre. "He was as
+secret in his preparations as his wife."
+
+"What! haven't you seen him to speak to since the _fete_ commenced?"
+inquired Mather, in astonishment.
+
+"No, I have not seen him since last night," said Lesparre. "You see, the
+Don and I made all arrangements yesterday afternoon, and I came down to
+the island to superintend the placing of the fireworks in the evening. I
+spent the night down here, and have not gone back to the house since I
+left it after dinner yesterday evening. The Don has not spoken to me
+to-day, and, for all that I know about him, he may not have come to his
+own _fete_."
+
+Lesparre said this in a jocular manner, as though he had made quite an
+impossible supposition; but Mather seemed to catch an idea from it.
+
+"By Jove! I begin to think so myself," he exclaimed, as if confirming a
+thought which had already occurred to him.
+
+Just then Judge Morgan, dressed to represent the Fat Boy of the Pickwick
+Papers, rang a large bell, which could be heard all over the island, and
+the guests began flocking into the dancing-hall, preparatory to
+unmasking and having a grand march into the dining-room. When all were
+present, the bustle and talk quieted down, and all looked expectantly
+for the Don to give the signal for unmasking. Several of the intimate
+friends of the host had assembled on the _dais_ at the head of the hall;
+and each of these looked at the others to see which among them was the
+Don. At last, Mather stepped forward and addressed the whole company:
+
+"Ladies and gentlemen, somewhere among us are the host and hostess of
+this, the most elegant entertainment ever given in Gloster; they have
+been successful not only in producing here a fairy spectacle of
+unequaled beauty, but also in effectually hiding themselves from
+discovery in their assumed characters. So far as I know, not any person
+present can state positively the disguise of either Don Pedro or Donna
+Lucia. Am I right? If any one has discovered either of them, I ask him
+to let us all know it before the signal for unmasking is given."
+
+Mr. Mather waited a moment amid profound stillness, but no one replied
+to his request.
+
+"Well, now," he continued, "I respectfully call upon the Don and Donna
+to come forward to the _dais_, assume their rightful positions as host
+and hostess, and give the order to unmask."
+
+Alas! he was calling upon a pair of unfortunate travelers, who were then
+far on their way to New York, one in irons, and the other in tears.
+There was no answer nor movement among the gay masqueraders, and
+whispers of wonder began to run through the throng.
+
+"Oh! come, Don Pedro," said Judge Morgan, whose appetite called loudly
+to be satisfied, "you have shown that your disguise defies discovery;
+now come forward and take your place. You can laugh at our dullness all
+you please, but don't keep us in suspense any longer."
+
+Still there was no reply, and the astonishment of all the guests began
+to assume a form of vague suspicion. At length, Mather again spoke up,
+in a husky voice:
+
+"As our host is so retiring, I will take the liberty of asking those
+present to unmask, and we shall then discover his disguise. Tap the
+bell, Morgan."
+
+Judge Morgan immediately pulled the bell-rope three times, and, as this
+was the concerted signal, a gun was fired on board the steamer, and the
+band struck up a spirited march. The confusion of unmasking was quickly
+over, and the guests formed a long procession around two sides of the
+hall, preparatory to marching to dinner; but on the _dais_ the confusion
+only increased, as face after face was revealed, and neither host nor
+hostess was to be found. Robert Harrington, Charlie Morton, Captain and
+Mrs. Kerr, Alexander McIntyre, Judge Taylor, Mr. and Mrs. Benson, Mr.
+and Mrs. Simon, Charles H. Sanders, wife and daughter, Deacon Humphrey
+and daughter, John Preston and family, and several others, were there,
+but not a trace could be seen of Don Pedro P. L. de Morito and Donna
+Lucia.
+
+"Where in the devil is the Don?" was the forcible manner in which
+Charlie Morton expressed the sentiments of all present.
+
+The absence of the host and hostess could not fail to cause great
+confusion at any time, but, in this instance, there seemed to be a host
+of suspicions flying about in a few minutes. Madame Sevier's absence was
+also noted, and a sort of panic seized every one. No movement toward the
+dining-room was made, but all stood irresolute, anxiously waiting for
+some one to determine what to do, and set them an example. Lesparre was
+sought for and questioned closely as to the reason for his employer's
+absence, but he could give no satisfactory answer. He told all inquirers
+that he had not seen the Don since the evening previous, and that he was
+as ignorant of the cause of his absence as any one. Then several
+questions relative to the Don's pecuniary affairs were asked, and
+Lesparre told all that he knew. The fact that the Don had exhausted his
+bank account, and had kept all his money in his own possession, set a
+good many people to thinking about the circumstances of his arrival
+there. Then the stockholders in the Diamond Company began to grow
+suspicious, and it took but a few minutes to put them in such a state of
+vague uneasiness, that they hardly knew what to believe of the man whom
+they so lately admired and honored. At length, a consultation was held
+among some of the more intimate friends of the Morito family, and it was
+decided to go in to dinner as if nothing had happened. If there had been
+any accidental detention of the Don and Donna, they would, of course, be
+desirous that the _fete_ should proceed without them the same as if they
+had been present; while if there was any trickery connected with their
+absence, there would be no use of waiting for them to come Accordingly,
+the procession was again formed, the band struck up another march, and
+the party proceeded toward the dining-room, headed by Henry O. Mather
+with Mrs. Simon, and Richard Perkins with Miss Benson.
+
+But now occurred the most humiliating part of the changed programme:
+Mr. George P. Westerfield, the caterer, refused to admit the guests to
+the dining-room unless the payment of his bill was guaranteed. Mr.
+Westerfield was a man of uncommon shrewdness. He had been accustomed to
+furnishing the suppers at the grand entertainments of the city for
+several years, and he was well acquainted with the circumstances of
+every person in the social world; hence, he had seen a great deal of the
+Don and Donna during their stay in the city. He had no more reason to
+suspect them of having taken flight than the others, but his native
+keenness and good judgment led him to protect himself, and he resolutely
+declined to open the dining-room doors unless his bill was guaranteed.
+An animated discussion immediately arose between Mr. Westerfield and the
+hungry guests; but nothing would induce him to change his resolve. He
+said that he was already out of pocket largely by the lunch he had
+served during the afternoon, and he could not afford to lose his dinner
+too.
+
+"But Don Pedro will pay for everything," said Mr. Mather. "He is
+immensely wealthy, and he always pays cash promptly for all he buys."
+
+"Yes, that may have been true heretofore, but how do I know where Don
+Pedro is?" queried the caterer.
+
+"Why, he is probably accidentally detained in Gloster," replied Mather.
+"I have every confidence in him, and when he explains his unfortunate
+absence to-day, those who have suspected him will regret their hasty
+remarks derogatory to his character."
+
+"Well, then, Mr. Mather," said the shrewd caterer, "if you have every
+confidence in Don Pedro, you can give me your guarantee that I shall be
+paid in full, and then I shall be happy to serve the guests the same as
+if the Don were here."
+
+Mr. Mather hesitated a moment, and then refused to do anything of the
+kind. He was, undoubtedly, so disturbed in mind that he hardly knew what
+he was doing. If he had kept his wits about him, he would not have
+hesitated an instant to take the whole expense of the _fete_ on his own
+shoulders rather than have such a scene occur as seemed imminent, for
+the sum would have been a mere bagatelle to him; but he knew not what to
+think, and his suspicions ran far ahead of those of any other person
+present. He had on his shoulders the whole responsibility of this man,
+Don Pedro, for he had invited him to Gloster, and had largely vouched
+for his character; hence, if Don Pedro should prove to be a swindler, a
+great deal of blame would fall upon Mather. This feeling contributed
+largely to confuse and annoy him, while his passion for the Donna was
+another cause of embarrassment. He therefore acted in a most nervous,
+uncertain way, and seemed quite unable to decide what to do. Mr.
+Westerfield's proposition was reasonable enough, and he was willing to
+accept the guarantee of any other gentleman of known responsibility; but
+singularly, there was not one among all who had been intimate with the
+Don who would make himself liable for the cost of the dinner;
+consequently the caterer refused to admit the throng into the
+dining-room. By this time every one was worked up into a state of
+righteous indignation. The apprehensions of the owners of Diamond
+Company stock were the first causes of the feeling against the Don, and
+the disappointing termination of the long-anticipated _fete_ was another
+fruitful source of bitterness. As people's appetites began to call
+loudly for dinner, it became evident that the caterer's demands must be
+satisfied in some way, and finally it was agreed that the dinner should
+be paid for by those who partook of it at the rate of ten dollars a
+plate. This amount was to include the lunch and wine already furnished,
+and also all the provisions for dinner with the remainder of the wine
+provided under the contract with Don Pedro. Under this agreement, the
+dinner was served in the best possible style to the long array of
+famished and irritated masqueraders. It was not a very cheerful meal,
+for too many of the participants were preoccupied with thoughts of their
+possibly lost investments in the stock of the Diamond Company; but,
+under the influence of excellent viands and good wine, there was a
+slight reaction in the feelings of the younger members of the party, and
+when the last course had been served, they proposed to go on with the
+entertainment the same as though nothing had happened.
+
+On entering the dancing-hall, therefore, the greater portion of the
+young people prepared to enjoy the evening in dancing; but here again an
+obstacle presented itself: the bandsmen had taken alarm from the action
+of the caterer, and they refused to play unless their account was
+settled. Not a note would they sound until their demands were satisfied,
+and so the gentlemen contributed, jointly, enough to pay them in full
+also. The troubles and annoyances of the later portion of the _fete_
+were soon forgotten by the greater number of the butterflies who formed
+the assembly, and as they floated off to the strains of a beautiful
+waltz, they unanimously decided to spend the evening in a delightful
+dance.
+
+Meantime, however, many of the more staid and elderly guests, having
+decided to go home immediately after dinner, had gone down to the
+steamboat landing to embark. To their astonishment they saw the steamer
+tied up on the opposite shore, her lights being just visible across the
+water. After various attempts to hail her, a reply was heard from a
+small boat, which contained the captain. He pulled in near the shore,
+and Judge Morgan, in an important tone, ordered him to bring his steamer
+across the river and convey a party back to Gloster.
+
+"But who is going to pay me for the use of my steamer all day?" asked
+the captain, resting on his oars, within easy talking distance of the
+shore. Alas! he, also, had determined to follow the example of the
+caterer, and demand payment for his services before admitting the
+excursionists on board his steamer.
+
+"Pay you" exclaimed the horrified Ethan Allen Benson, who had paid so
+much for his dinner that his miserly soul was already repenting having
+come; "why, Don Pedro will pay you, of course."
+
+"Well, I'd like to see him, then," said the captain.
+
+An exciting conversation then ensued between the indignant would-be
+passengers and the captain of the steamer. The latter, however, had all
+the advantage, for he knew the masqueraders must eventually come to his
+terms.
+
+"What do you mean by refusing to take us on board?" demanded Deacon
+Humphrey, furiously. "Don't you know that we can't stay here all night?"
+
+"I presume not," said the captain, "and I don't suppose you will do so;
+but I must have payment for the use of my steamer. You can pay me in one
+sum by a check, or you can pay me at the rate of three dollars a head: I
+don't care which you choose, only I must be paid."
+
+The altercation continued at some length, and eventually the captain
+said that he could not afford to waste coal in keeping steam up, and if
+they did not agree to his terms, he would haul fires and let his steamer
+stay where she was all night. This threat brought the party to his
+terms, and he was ordered to bring his steamer over. He refused to make
+more than one trip, however, and so the dancers were called away from
+the ballroom at the end of the first waltz, thus spoiling their
+gayety almost ere it had begun. As the motley groups gathered on shore
+awaiting the steamer's approach, a more deeply disgusted and indignant
+assemblage was never known in the annals of good society, and curses,
+both openly and inwardly expressed against the Don, were numerous and
+bitter. As they passed over the gangway, the captain and clerk were at
+hand to collect fares, and no one was allowed to pass without paying
+cash or giving a check for the amount, indorsed by some well-known man
+of wealth and position. Finally, the whole sorrowful party was embarked,
+and the steamer turned her head toward Gloster. The excitement and
+continuous dancing, which most of those on board had indulged in during
+the day, had left them in a state of nervous and physical fatigue little
+calculated to improve their spirits, while the financial losses of many
+were matters of an intensely depressing influence upon them. A more
+ill-tempered, disappointed, and irritable cargo cannot be imagined.
+Their troubles were not ended even on their arrival at the wharf in
+Gloster, for, being so much earlier in returning than they had expected,
+no carriages were in attendance, and the ladies were obliged to wait on
+board while their escorts went to the livery stables to order carriages
+to take them home.
+
+[Illustration: _"What do you mean by refusing to take us on board?"
+demanded Deacon Humphrey furiously.--Page--_]
+
+Thus ended the _fete champetre_ which had been anticipated so fondly as
+a new departure in the social world of Gloster. In this, however, it was
+a success; for, certainly, its like had never been seen before, and the
+guests were profoundly hopeful that they never should see its like
+again.
+
+The following morning the whole city was talking of the flight of the
+Peruvian adventurers. Their late residence was besieged by the holders
+of Diamond Company stock, and the fact of their absence was then clearly
+established. The servants had been paid off by Madame Sevier a day or
+two before, and no one remained in the house except Lesparre. To all
+inquirers he gave the same answer as he had given at the _fete_: he was
+entirely ignorant of the whereabouts of the Don, and was as anxious as
+any one else to find him, in order to obtain his last quarter's salary,
+which was unpaid. The affair was a nine-days' wonder, and the mystery
+was still further increased in the minds of the stockholders on
+receiving a note from Judge Key requesting their attendance at a meeting
+to settle their accounts with Don Pedro. The meeting was strictly
+confidential, only the actual purchasers of stock being admitted. Judge
+Key explained to them that Don Pedro P. L. de Morito had been arrested
+and carried away for forgery and other crimes, but that, before going,
+he had assigned all his property to Judge Key to satisfy the claims of
+the Diamond Company stockholders.
+
+"But how did you induce him to surrender this money and property?" was
+the question which was asked in various forms nearly a score of times.
+
+"I cannot give you any particulars," replied the Judge; "you must be
+satisfied to know that he made this assignment in due legal form, and
+that the amount which I shall realize will pay your claims nearly in
+full. The slight loss which you will sustain will be serviceable as a
+warning against throwing away your money so recklessly hereafter."
+
+The letter of Donna Lucia to Mr. Henry O. Mather was delivered to that
+gentleman early the day after the _fete_. Immediately on reading it he
+packed his trunk and took the next train for New York. Meantime the
+party under the charge of Mr. Bangs arrived in New York without accident
+Thursday afternoon. In accordance with telegrams sent by the Peruvian
+Minister, the captain of the Peruvian man-of-war had taken his vessel
+down into the lower harbor, and was ready to sail at a moment's notice.
+A steam-tug was in readiness at Pier 1 to take the party out to the
+vessel, and Don Pedro was transferred by carriage directly from the
+Hudson River Railroad depot to the steam-tug. The party accompanied him
+on board the man-of-war, and the tug towed the war-ship through the
+Narrows.
+
+The Don and Donna had an affectionate and sorrowful parting in the
+cabin, and as the ship made sail outside the bar, the tug dropped
+alongside; the Minister, Consul, Donna Lucia, Madame Sevier, and the
+detectives, leaving the Don in charge of the captain, then returned to
+New York in the tug.
+
+Two days later, Mr. Mather also arrived in that city, and quickly found
+his way to the Donna's presence. What they said to each other may never
+be known, but it is probable that the interview was satisfactory to both
+parties. Thenceforward the Donna lived in New York in the best style,
+though for some reason she failed to enter the same social circle that
+she had known before. As long, however, as she and Mr. Mather were
+contented, they considered that no one else need be troubled about their
+arrangements. How long Mr. Mather's infatuation lasted, I have no means
+of knowing, as I soon recalled Madame Sevier, and lost all interest in
+the affair.
+
+Jose Gomez was tried immediately on his arrival in Peru, and was
+sentenced to fifteen years' imprisonment, but he made his escape within
+two years from the time of his trial. His future career I never learned,
+but it is altogether probable that he pursued, during the remainder of
+his life, the same style of money-making (though perhaps on a smaller
+scale) as that which rendered notorious the name of Don Pedro P. L. de
+Morito.
+
+
+
+
+                           THE END.
+
+
+
+
+                 THE POISONER AND DETECTIVES.
+
+
+
+
+                          CHAPTER I.
+
+    _Mr. Pinkerton, at a Water-Cure, becomes interested in a Couple, one
+          of whom subsequently causes the Detective Operation from which
+          this Story is written.--A wealthy Ship-Owner and his Son.--The
+          Son "found dead."--A Woman that knows too much and too little
+          by turns.--Mr. Pinkerton secured to solve the
+          Mystery.--Chicago after the Great Fire._
+
+
+During the summer of 1870, I was spending a few weeks at a water-cure
+for the benefit of my health. The place was one not widely advertised
+nor generally known, and the number of frequenters was not large; hence,
+I became somewhat acquainted with most of the visitors, and, as a matter
+of habit, noticed their traits and peculiarities with more attentiveness
+than a casual meeting would naturally warrant. Of course I had no idea
+that I ever should make any use of my observations, but I simply kept up
+a customary oversight upon everything about me. Among those whom I thus
+noticed was a lady, about forty-five years of age, and her son, who was
+about twenty-six years old. The mother, Mrs. R. S. Trafton, was a
+pleasant woman, well preserved, and comparatively youthful in
+appearance. She was afflicted by a rheumatic affection, which caused
+her to visit these springs for relief; and her son accompanied her
+partly to look after her comfort, and partly to obtain a vacation from
+work. He was a tall, robust young man, with fine physique and strong
+constitution, but he showed the effects of overwork. I always make a
+point of observing the character and habits of those around me, and long
+experience has given me considerable accuracy of judgment with regard to
+my acquaintances, even where I am not an intimate associate with them.
+The more I saw of Stanley D. Trafton, the more I was interested in him.
+His mother was devoted to him, and he to her, so that they were rarely
+seen apart.
+
+Springville was a very quiet, dull place, and, aside from the invalid
+visitors, there was nothing about the society to relieve the usual
+monotony of an uninteresting country town; hence, I was thrown largely
+upon my own resources for amusement, and I had little else to do except
+to observe the different strangers and speculate about them. Among them
+all there were none who afforded me a more interesting study than young
+Trafton, and, although I never formed his acquaintance, I began to feel
+that I understood his character quite thoroughly.
+
+He was about five feet ten inches in height, of compact, muscular build,
+full chest, stout limbs, and erect carriage. His complexion was clear
+and healthy, his features regular, his expression intelligent and open,
+and his manners were very frank and attractive to most people. His
+general appearance was that of an intelligent, handsome man, of more
+than ordinary ability and steady character.
+
+I learned that his father, Mr. Richard S. Trafton, of Cleveland, was a
+wealthy ship-owner and merchant, and that his son attended largely to
+the purchase of grain in the West for shipment in his father's vessels.
+I judged that young Trafton was a good business man, with an eye to
+details as well as general results, and while he had no appearance of
+being small-minded, he did not despise economy in his business affairs.
+He did not seem like a person who would spend money for mere display or
+effect; yet, neither would he deny himself the comforts and luxuries
+belonging to a man of his wealth and position in society. There was
+nothing of the profligate about him, and his devotion to his mother
+showed that he must have a genuine and hearty respect for the whole sex.
+
+In the course of a few weeks I left Springville, much improved in
+health, and I soon forgot all about Mrs. Trafton and her son, until the
+latter was brought under my notice again amid very tragical and
+sorrowful circumstances.
+
+Early in the winter of the following year, I was deeply engrossed in
+business, having an accumulation of cases on hand which taxed my
+ingenuity and energies to the utmost. I therefore placed almost all of
+the less important operations in the hands of my superintendent, Mr.
+Francis Warner, though I kept a general supervisory control over every
+case on the books of the Agency. One morning, as I was conversing with
+Mr. Warner, two gentlemen were admitted to my office by my confidential
+clerk, who informed me that they had suspicions of foul play as the
+cause of the death of one of their friends, and they wished the
+circumstances fully investigated by the Agency. The gentlemen were Mr.
+John Updike, of Cleveland, and Captain Edward R. Dalton, a ship captain,
+of Buffalo. They introduced themselves, produced credentials and
+references, and then told me the following story:
+
+In November previous, Mr. Stanley D. Trafton, of Cleveland, left that
+city to go to Chicago. He was the son of Mr. Richard S. Trafton, a
+wealthy shipper of Cleveland, and the father was anxious to keep his
+vessels employed. Captain Dalton commanded one of Mr. Trafton's
+schooners, and he expected to arrive in Chicago harbor about November
+20. Accordingly, young Trafton was to meet the vessel there, and, in
+case she did not obtain a charter at a paying rate, he was to purchase a
+cargo of oats on his own account. He brought, therefore, a considerable
+amount of money and negotiable paper. He had about eight hundred dollars
+in currency, two thousand five hundred dollars in United States
+five-twenty bonds, and a letter from his father authorizing him to draw
+upon him for a large amount. The bonds were the usual coupon bonds of
+the denomination of five hundred dollars each, and fortunately Mr.
+Trafton, senior, had the numbers of these securities.
+
+Stanley Trafton arrived in Chicago November 22, and found the schooner
+awaiting him. He tried to obtain a room in one of the hotels, but he
+soon gave this up as a hopeless task, for the reason that there was no
+hotel in the city which was not already crowded almost to an unsafe
+degree. He then took up his quarters on board the schooner, getting his
+meals at a restaurant. This was not at all pleasant, and he finally
+discovered a place where furnished rooms were to let near one of the
+hotels. He therefore announced to Captain Dalton that he had taken a
+room at 92 West Madison street. They met each other every day, however,
+and at last, seeing no profit to be made by purchasing grain in the then
+condition of the market, Mr. Trafton informed the captain that he might
+sail for Cleveland on Friday, December 1. On Thursday he visited the
+captain and promised to return on board again that evening; he failed to
+do so, however, and the schooner sailed next morning.
+
+Five days afterward, Captain Dalton received a dispatch, sent by a firm
+of commission merchants in Chicago, announcing that Stanley D. Trafton
+had been found dead in his bed. Mr. Updike, who was a warm friend of the
+family, and Captain Dalton, then visited Chicago, arriving December 8.
+They found the body of Mr. Trafton at the Morgue awaiting claimants,
+together with a quantity of valuables which had been in his possession
+when he died. There were two five-twenty bonds, one being torn in two
+pieces, a set of diamond studs, a small amount of loose change, and
+three one-hundred-dollar bills. A coroner's inquest had been held, and a
+verdict of death by congestion of the lungs had been rendered.
+
+The circumstances of young Trafton's death, as related by the officials
+in charge of the body, created considerable suspicion in the minds of
+Messrs. Updike and Dalton, who, therefore, proceeded to investigate the
+affair. In the first place, they were well aware that fifteen hundred
+dollars in bonds, and nearly five hundred dollars in currency, were
+missing; secondly, they learned that Trafton had been found dead in bed
+Friday morning, December 1, only about eighteen hours after he had left
+Captain Dalton in perfect health.
+
+Accordingly, Mr. Updike and Captain Dalton visited his late
+lodging-place, which was kept by a woman named May Sanford.
+
+The building was a two-story frame residence, which, like thousands of
+others after the Great Fire, had been rearranged for business purposes.
+The lower floor was occupied as a furniture store, while the second
+floor was also partly occupied by business offices. A covered stairway
+on the side led to the upper story, and, while the front hall bedroom,
+the front parlor and the next room back, were used as offices, the rear
+portion was occupied by Mrs. Sanford, who rented most of her rooms as
+sleeping apartments.
+
+[Illustration: _"He was lying in bed with froth about his mouth and a
+ghastly look on his face."--Page--_]
+
+On stating their object in calling, the two gentlemen were admitted to
+Mrs. Sanford's sitting-room, and she then gave her account of the
+circumstances connected with young Trafton's death. She stated that she
+met him first on the street and recognized him as an old acquaintance
+who had been intimate with her husband and herself when they lived in
+Buffalo; that he stopped and talked with her for a time, and, learning
+that she had furnished rooms to let, he said he would rent one. He
+stayed there five days, and, on the sixth, which was Thursday, November
+30, he came to his room in the evening and complained of feeling unwell.
+He had been drinking very hard all the week, and she said that this
+evening he was quite drunk. He complained that he could not keep
+anything on his stomach, and asked Mrs. Sanford to cook something nice
+for him. Accordingly she boiled a chicken, but he could not eat it, and
+he then went to bed. During the evening, she heard him snoring very
+loudly as she passed his door, but she thought nothing of it, and went
+to bed at eleven o'clock. About seven o'clock next morning, she knocked
+at his door, but he made no answer, and she pushed the door open, the
+bolt being a very slight one. She then found Mr. Trafton lying
+diagonally across the bed, with his head hanging down and froth on his
+lips. Becoming alarmed at his appearance, she called in a gentleman
+named Taylor G. Pratt, who occupied her back parlor as a real estate
+office and sleeping-room. Mr. Pratt examined the body of Mr. Trafton and
+told her that he was dead, advising her to inform the police authorities
+of the fact. She immediately closed the room and went to the nearest
+police station, where she reported the circumstances relative to the
+death of Mr. Trafton so far as she knew them, and asked what she should
+do with the body. The police sergeant promised to send the coroner as
+soon as possible to make an investigation, and she was instructed to
+leave the body and room untouched until the coroner should arrive. That
+evening an inquest was held by the County Physician, and a verdict of
+death by congestion of the lungs was rendered. Mrs. Sanford gave an
+account of the finding of the money and bonds, which exactly agreed with
+that given by the County Physician, whom she assisted in making search
+for Trafton's valuables. In one boot, lying under his head, they found a
+five-twenty bond for five hundred dollars and half of another one, the
+remainder of this torn bond being found in the right-hand pocket of his
+pantaloons. In his vest pocket were found three United States notes for
+one hundred dollars each, and a small quantity of loose change. A set of
+diamond studs still remained in his shirt, and, as the story was related
+by her, there was nothing suspicious about the affair except the
+suddenness of his death.
+
+Having heard all that Mrs. Sanford and the County Physician had to say
+on the subject, Mr. Updike and Captain Dalton took charge of the body,
+and shipped it to Cleveland, where they placed it in the hands of four
+experienced surgeons, with instructions to make a thorough and careful
+examination as to the cause of death. The first thing noticed by them
+was an evidence of considerable external violence on the right side,
+over the liver, there being a large bruise, about the size of a saucer,
+apparently caused by a blow. The coagulation of blood beneath the skin
+showed that this injury must have been caused during Trafton's lifetime,
+but very shortly before his death. A similar, though smaller bruise, was
+found on his thigh, while several bruises on the base of the neck and
+throat showed that the windpipe must have been severely compressed just
+previous to death. None of these marks had been noticed by the County
+Physician in making the post-mortem examination, and it seemed probable
+that he had first guessed at the cause of death, and then made only a
+sufficient examination to find some corroboration of his theory. The
+Cleveland surgeons had great difficulty in accounting for Trafton's
+death, but they were unanimous in scouting the theory of death by
+congestion of the lungs. They found the body to be healthy in every
+part, except the external bruises; and, while these were not of a
+sufficiently serious character to account for the death of so robust a
+man, they could find no other cause whatever. These facts, together
+with the disappearance of fifteen hundred dollars in bonds, and about
+five hundred dollars in currency, which Trafton was known to have had in
+his possession, caused his relatives and friends to believe that he had
+been murdered for his money, and that the murderer had been shrewd
+enough to leave a large portion of the plunder to allay suspicion. The
+trick had proven to be a most excellent one, for, as the County
+Physician afterward acknowledged, the idea of foul play never occurred
+to him, owing to the apparent lack of incentive thereto; had there been
+no money, or only a small amount, found on the body, he would have made
+a much more rigid examination; but no suspicion even crossed his mind,
+and he acted with the haste which characterized almost all operations in
+Chicago at that time.
+
+In order, therefore, to discover all the facts in the case, and to
+recover, if possible, the missing money and bonds, Mr. Trafton, senior,
+had decided to put the affair in my hands for a thorough investigation,
+and Mr. Opdike and Captain Dalton had called upon me for that purpose.
+
+Having heard their statement, I asked a number of questions, which
+elicited the following additional information:
+
+On returning to Chicago the second time, they had again visited Mrs.
+Sanford, and found that she had taken every particle of furniture out of
+the room where Trafton had died. At the time of their call, they saw a
+policeman whom she called Charlie, with whom she seemed to be very
+intimate. She said that Charlie was the first person to see Trafton
+after she found he was dead that morning, he having been sent over by
+the sergeant as soon as she reported the fact. This story contradicted
+her former statement, that she first called Mr. Pratt into the room;
+moreover, the sergeant of police had told them that the policeman did
+not go to the room at all, but merely took the number of the house and
+went away.
+
+At this interview, Mrs. Sanford gave them the blank power to draw upon
+Mr. Trafton, senior, saying that she had found it at the foot of the bed
+since their former visit. She also showed them a gold coin which she
+said young Trafton had given her as a keepsake. Both gentlemen
+recognized this coin as one which Trafton prized very highly for some
+reason, he having refused to part with it even to his mother; it seemed
+hardly possible that he should have given it to a chance acquaintance
+like Mrs. Sanford.
+
+During this conversation she claimed to have lent Mr. Trafton three
+hundred and twenty-five dollars, though she did not seem greatly
+disappointed when they refused to repay her that amount. Mr. Updike gave
+her twenty-five dollars, however, to pay for Mr. Trafton's board and
+lodging, and to recompense her for her trouble. The story that Trafton
+had borrowed money of her was absurd on its face, and she acted as if
+she hardly expected to be believed.
+
+Before coming to Chicago this time, Mr. Updike had written to Mr. T. B.
+Vernon, of Buffalo, asking for information relative to the antecedents
+of this Mrs. Sanford. Mr. Vernon had replied that she had a very bad
+reputation in Buffalo, having been divorced from her husband for
+adultery, and having been arrested in March previous for being drunk and
+disorderly. She had a paramour at that time, named James McSandy, a
+police-station keeper, and it was supposed that he had gone West with
+her.
+
+Another circumstance had been noticed by Captain Dalton, which led him
+to believe that Trafton had been murdered with his clothes on, and
+afterward undressed and put to bed: the sole of one of his boots was
+covered with whitewash, as if it had been violently pressed and scraped
+along a wall. Now, the room where he was found had been newly
+whitewashed when they arrived there, so that any marks on the wall made
+by him in his struggles would be wholly obliterated.
+
+Having learned all the facts bearing upon the case known by my visitors,
+I informed them of my terms for conducting an investigation of this
+character, and sketched a hasty outline of my plan of operation. As they
+had already hinted their suspicions to a member of the city detective
+force, who was inclined to make light of them, I suggested that they
+inform him that they had changed their minds in the matter, having
+learned from the Cleveland physicians that death was surely caused by
+congestion of the lungs. They then took their departure, saying that
+they would lay my plan before Mr. Richard S. Trafton, and he would
+telegraph to me whether I should proceed with the operation. On
+Christmas day, I received a telegram from Mr. Trafton, briefly
+instructing me to proceed, and my plan was put in operation at once.
+
+Before proceeding further with the history of my connection with this
+case, it will be necessary to remind the reader of the anomalous
+condition of social and business affairs in Chicago at the time of which
+I write; for, without any explanation, he might have difficulty in
+understanding many things in connection with the story.
+
+It will be remembered that the Great Fire of Chicago occurred October 8
+and 9, 1871, and this case was placed in my hands only about nine weeks
+afterward. At the time of Mr. Trafton's death, a pall of smoke hung over
+the city, and, at night, the still-smouldering heaps of coal throughout
+the "burned district" glowed like volcanic fissures, casting a weird
+fantastic light about the ruins, and illumining the clouds of smoke
+overhead with a ruddy glow which was visible for miles away. The streets
+were filled with dust and ashes, while the fumes of carbonic acid gas
+were sometimes almost stifling. To venture, at any time, into the waste
+of ruins, which stretched more than three miles in one direction,
+through the formerly richest portion of the city, was not a pleasant
+undertaking; but to make such an excursion at night was attended with
+more hazard than most peaceably-disposed men would care to run. There
+were no gaslights, no sidewalks, no street indicators; in many places,
+piles of stone and brick were heaped in almost impassable barricades
+from one side of the street to the other; all landmarks were gone, and
+the old resident was as liable to lose his way as the stranger.
+
+The city, moreover, was crowded with what is sometimes called "a
+floating population," a species of driftwood, or scum, gathered from
+every quarter of the globe; indeed, a large percentage seemed to have
+come straight from the infernal regions, with all the passions and
+habits incidental to a prolonged residence there. Hence, the labors of
+the police force were increased to an extent which taxed their abilities
+to the utmost, and made the task of protecting the respectable portion
+of the community about all that could be required of them; that they
+should be apt to suspect foul play, in a case where the coroner had no
+suspicions, was hardly to be expected. Besides this, there was nothing
+settled on any permanent foundation; business men flitted hither and
+thither wherever they could best obtain accommodations for the time
+being, and whence people came or whither they went was a matter which no
+one had time to inquire into, much less to investigate.
+
+The destruction of thousands of business blocks and dwellings left the
+city without adequate accommodations for offices and residences, even
+for its own regular population; but when the rush of strangers swelled
+the aggregate nearly twenty per cent., there seemed hardly
+sleeping-rooms for them all. Dwelling-houses by thousands were converted
+into stores, manufactories, and offices, until fabulous prices were
+offered for the merest closets in the vicinity of the new temporary
+business centers. Every hotel was thronged from the basement to the
+Mansard roof, and late arrivals were oftentimes happy if they could get
+a straw mattress on a billiard-table, or an army cot in a hall.
+
+I call especial attention to these things to account for certain
+apparent anomalies in the action of different persons connected with
+this tragedy. For instance: a young gentleman of Mr. Trafton's wealth
+and respectability would never have rented a mean little room in a petty
+lodging-house, if he could have found any other place equally convenient
+to business; the County Physician would not have taken things so much
+for granted, if he had not been so hard at work and so pressed for time,
+owing to the immense army of gratuitous patients who thronged the
+offices of the County Agent and the Relief and Aid Society; the police
+would not have been so remiss in failing to examine into the death of
+Mr. Trafton, if they had not had their hands full of other business to
+an unprecedented extent; and, lastly, when I came to work up the case, I
+should not have had so much difficulty in finding witnesses, if it had
+not been that people came and went through Chicago like the waves of
+the sea in mid-ocean, leaving no trace by which they could be followed
+or identified.
+
+These circumstances, combined with certain facts which will appear in
+the course of this narrative, made the task assigned me one of unusual
+difficulty. Mr. Warner was intrusted with the general management of the
+case, though he frequently consulted me in relation to it; and, though
+we were continually working in the dark, we never despaired of our
+eventual success.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER II.
+
+_The Detectives at Work.--Mrs. Sanford Described.--Charlie, the
+Policeman.--Mrs. Sanford develops Interest in Government Bonds.--Chicago
+Relief and Aid Benefits.--Mrs. Sanford's Story of Trafton's Death.--A
+nice little Arrangement.--Mrs. Sanford explains to the Detective her
+method of "Quieting People."--Ingham "Makes a Raise."--Mrs. Sanford
+fears being Haunted, but is not easily Frightened._
+
+
+The day after Christmas a tall, well-built man called at No. 92 Madison
+street, and asked for the lady of the house. Mrs. Sanford soon entered
+the sitting-room, and the stranger said that, having seen the sign,
+"Furnished Rooms to Rent," he had called to engage lodgings. He
+introduced himself as John Ingham, and said that he was a bookkeeper,
+temporarily out of employment. Mrs. Sanford received him with great
+cordiality, and seemed much pleased to have him as a lodger. She said
+that she had no suitable room just then, but that a married couple were
+about to leave, and then Mr. Ingham could have their room. She then
+showed him through the house. The two front rooms were occupied by an
+insurance company, and the back parlor was used as a real estate office
+and sleeping-room by two brothers, named Pratt. At the head of the
+stairs was a small bedroom, through which it was necessary to pass to
+obtain admission to the rear part of the house. The passageway from this
+bedroom to the sitting-room was made by partitioning off a small entry
+from the back parlor. There were four doors in this sitting-room: one
+opened from the entry; at the opposite side was one which opened into
+another entry; the third was adjoining this second door, and it opened
+into the large bedroom occupied by the married couple; the fourth door
+led into Mrs. Sanford's own room. At the end of the back entry was an
+unfurnished room and a kitchen. The front bedroom was occupied by two
+young women who worked in a bindery, and their accommodations could
+hardly have been very agreeable, as every one was obliged to pass
+through their room on the way to the other rooms in the rear.
+
+Mrs. Sanford was a good-looking woman, about thirty-two years old. Her
+features were quite pretty, and her expression was pleasing. She was
+very plump, and her skin was smooth and soft. She had brown hair, a nose
+slightly _retrousse_, and a pleasant smile. Her eyes, however, were a
+bluish gray, cold and watchful as those of a hawk. She might have been
+called handsome but for the effects of dissipation, which were plainly
+visible in her face. She had a pleasant voice, and she was naturally
+easy in her manners. If she was in a good humor, she could be quite
+fascinating; and almost any stranger, after talking with her for a few
+minutes, would feel satisfied that she had once occupied a social
+station far above that in which she was now placed. She had a good
+education, and very frequently she would give evidences of having had a
+wide range of really good reading. At times, her recitations and
+declamations, wholly from memory, were exceptionally fine, and, but for
+her two ruling passions, she might have been an actress of a high rank.
+
+She had two controlling vices, one natural, the other acquired: her
+greed for money was inborn, and it seemed to absorb at times every other
+faculty; while the habit of using morphine had become so fastened upon
+her, that she could not shake it off. She was a most contradictory
+medley of compounds, however, and while her thirst for money seemed to
+overpower all other considerations with her as a general rule, on some
+occasions she would be as wasteful and careless of expense as the most
+prodigal woman in the world. But when she had set her mind on the
+acquisition of any particular money or piece of personal property, there
+was no length to which she would not go to attain her object. The mere
+sight of money seemed to act upon her with an effect almost of insanity,
+and she would then have no regard for consequences until after she had
+secured the coveted prize.
+
+It will be readily understood, of course, that Mr. John Ingham, usually
+known as Jack, was one of my detectives, sent to obtain lodging with
+Mrs. Sanford, to win her confidence and learn all that he could.
+
+Ingham agreed to take the large room in the rear, but he wanted to come
+immediately. Mrs. Sanford agreed, therefore, to make up a bed for him on
+the sofa in the sitting-room until the departure of Mr. and Mrs. Graves,
+who were then occupying the back room. Having agreed upon the terms,
+Ingham went away, promising to return that night. Accordingly, he came
+in again about nine o'clock in the evening, and found that Mrs. Sanford
+was entertaining a policeman. He was a rather good-looking fellow, and
+was in full uniform, except his star. He remained until nearly twelve
+o'clock, and when he went out, Mrs. Sanford followed him to the door,
+with many affectionate caresses and tender remarks. After he had gone,
+she began to converse very confidentially with Ingham, telling him that
+she was engaged to be married to Charlie, the policeman.
+
+"Don't you think a policeman is good enough to marry?" she asked.
+
+"Oh, yes!" replied Ingham, "and your Charlie seems to be a fine fellow."
+
+"Well, he is awfully fond of me," she continued, "and he spends all his
+time off duty with me; but I don't know whether I care to marry him.
+What do you think about it, Mr. Ingham?"
+
+"You ought not to be in any hurry about it," he replied, "for you might
+see some one whom you would like better."
+
+"Oh! I have had a number of offers lately," she said, laughing. "I have
+had to work hard for a living, and have saved up quite a good sum; and,
+besides that, my father sent me two thousand dollars a short time ago,
+so that I have a snug little fortune. But Charlie doesn't know anything
+about it, and I shan't tell him until after we are married."
+
+After some further conversation, she said that she was hungry, and
+wished she had someone to go to the nearest restaurant with. Ingham
+volunteered to act as her escort, and they went out together. While
+eating supper, she suddenly asked whether government bonds were good
+property to invest in. Ingham replied that they were very good indeed,
+since the interest was payable in gold, and there were no taxes to pay
+upon them.
+
+"Well, suppose you should lose them," she queried; "could any one who
+found them make use of them without being discovered?"
+
+"Yes, I think so," said Ingham. "There is no means of learning how they
+came into the bearer's possession."
+
+"Did you ever own any?" she inquired.
+
+"No, but I used to cash the coupons for my employer in Louisville, and I
+know a good deal about them."
+
+"What business were you in there?" she asked, with a considerable show
+of interest.
+
+"I was bookkeeper for a wholesale liquor firm, and the senior partner
+used to put all his money into government bonds."
+
+"Why did you leave Louisville?" she continued, seemingly desirous of
+learning as much as possible of his history.
+
+"Oh! well, I got hard up," he replied, evasively, "and there was some
+mistake in my accounts which I couldn't explain satisfactorily, so I
+thought best to go out of town for awhile. You know we are all liable to
+mistakes when we are hard up."
+
+"Yes, indeed, I understand," she replied, in a satisfied tone of voice.
+"What are you going to do here?"
+
+"Well, I can't tell yet. I have a small job of closing up a set of books
+for the year, and when that is done I shall look around for something
+else. I'm not particular what I do, if it pays well."
+
+"Perhaps you could get employment from the Relief and Aid Society," she
+said, "and then you could get lots of nice things for me. This man,
+Graves, whose room you are to have, is employed there, and he steals
+enough to keep the woman who is with him in good style."
+
+"Why, aren't they married?" asked Ingham.
+
+"No, I don't believe they are married," she replied, "and I've given
+them notice to leave. Mr. Graves gets hardly any pay, but he brings her
+all kinds of presents, and she sells them to the pawnbrokers."
+
+On their return to the house, Mrs. Sanford made up a bed on the sofa for
+Ingham, and then went to her room.
+
+The day following, Ingham went down to his work on the South Side, and
+did not return until eight o'clock in the evening. He said that he knew
+of a chance to buy a cigar stand in one of the leading hotels, and that
+he would like to do it if he could raise the money. Mrs. Sanford seemed
+to have taken a great fancy to her new lodger, for she told him that she
+would assist him, if it did not cost too much.
+
+"By the way, I was sorry you were not here this afternoon," she said.
+"There was a very pretty young lady friend of mine here, and I would
+like to have you meet her."
+
+"What was her name?"
+
+"Ida Musgrove."
+
+"Have you known her long?"
+
+"Oh! no, I have only lived in Chicago a few months. I used to live in
+Cleveland before I separated from my husband, and we had a fine
+stone-front house there."
+
+"How did you happen to leave your husband?" asked Ingham.
+
+"Well, he began running after other women, and, though I forgave him
+several times, when he brought his mistress to live in the same house
+with me, I left him."
+
+"He must have been a very hard case to do such a thing as that," said
+Ingham, sympathizingly.
+
+"Yes; and then he sold the house, promising to give me half if I would
+sign the deed; but he never gave me a cent, so that I have had to work
+hard to support myself and my little girl, who is boarding at Riverside.
+However, I am all right now, for my father sent me three thousand
+dollars the other day, and I shall have plenty of money hereafter."
+
+"Hadn't you any friends here who would have helped you?" asked Ingham.
+
+"No, I hardly knew any one; but I met an old friend from Cleveland about
+a month ago, and he died here in my house. Haven't I told you about
+that?"
+
+"No, indeed; how was it?"
+
+"Well, you see, this Mr. Trafton was a former lover of mine in
+Cleveland, and he was very rich and handsome. He came here last month
+and took the back room in my house. He was very kind to me, and wanted
+to marry me; but he drank hard for a week and began to show the effects
+of his dissipation. Finally, he came home one evening quite drunk, and
+he complained of feeling sick. I boiled a chicken for him, but he could
+not eat it, and he went to bed. Next morning he did not call me as
+usual, and I went to his door and knocked; there was no answer, and so I
+pushed open his door. He was lying in bed with froth about his mouth and
+a ghastly look on his face which frightened me terribly. Then I called
+in Mr. Pratt, who roomed in the back parlor, and he said that Mr.
+Trafton was dead. When the coroner came, we found twenty-five thousand
+dollars in Mr. Trafton's pockets, besides his diamond studs and other
+property. Oh! it was a dreadful thing for me to think that such a
+handsome fellow as my Stanley should die in my house."
+
+"What was the matter with him?" asked Ingham.
+
+"The coroner held an inquest, and a post-mortem examination showed that
+he died of congestion of the lungs."
+
+"Did you know that he had all that money with him?" asked Ingham,
+significantly lowering his voice.
+
+"No, I did not know it until afterward," she replied; "why do you ask?"
+
+"Oh! for no special reason; but," he added, in a determined way, "you
+might have helped yourself to some of that money and no one would have
+been the wiser. I tell you, I wouldn't have let such a chance as that
+slip."
+
+"Well, I know I might have taken some of it," she answered,
+thoughtfully, "but I couldn't steal from him. Oh! I have mighty good
+credit among people here now, for every one knows about that money, and
+that I could have taken it all if I had wished. A reporter came here,
+and afterward stated in the paper that there was only a small amount,
+about fifteen hundred dollars, found; but I had it corrected."
+
+She prattled on for some time about her intimacy with Mr. Trafton, until
+she was interrupted by a noise in the hall bedroom. On going to see what
+was the matter, she found the two bindery girls in great excitement, as
+they had been awakened by a strange man in their room. Ingham also went
+to the door, when Mrs. Sanford told him to get his revolver, as she
+wanted to shoot any man who should try to break into her rooms. No one
+was found, but the lower hall door was open, and Ingham went down to
+lock it. On his return, Mrs. Sanford said that she had a revolver, and
+that she knew how to use it too. It was about midnight before they
+retired, but Mrs. Sanford seemed to consider it quite an early hour.
+
+The next day Ingham was again absent until evening, and Mrs. Sanford
+scolded him a little for not staying more time with her. He replied that
+he had been out looking for a chance to make a raise.
+
+"What kind of a raise?" she asked.
+
+"Oh! any kind," he replied; "I'm not particular, provided I can get
+enough to pay for the trouble. If I knew of any good hiding place, I
+could get a lot of valuable goods some night without much work, and with
+no danger."
+
+"You can bring them here, and I will hide them so that they will never
+be found," she replied, in a whisper.
+
+"That will be a pretty hard thing to do, for these policemen and
+detectives can find almost anything if they want to. I shouldn't like to
+bring any plunder here and then have it found in your house, for you
+would then be punished for receiving stolen goods.
+
+"Never you fear about me; I know some sharp tricks if I _am_ a woman. I
+can hide anything you bring, and if they get after you, I can hide you
+too."
+
+Ingham then told her about various criminal devices for obtaining money,
+which he had practiced in New York several years before, and called her
+attention to the ease with which they might rob strangers by the "panel"
+game. She was very much interested, and said that she could easily get
+hold of some fellow with plenty of money, make him drunk, and then rob
+him.
+
+"How I wish you had been here when Mr. Trafton died, for you could have
+got away with ten or fifteen thousand dollars without any difficulty
+whatever."
+
+"Yes, it would have been a good chance," he replied; "but I guess we can
+do nearly as well, if you will be true to me and help me."
+
+"You can depend upon me for anything," she answered, with great
+determination, but adding suddenly, in a cautious tone, "that is,
+anything except murder, you know. I shouldn't like to do that. But I
+would protect you even if you should kill a man--not willfully--not
+willfully, you understand; but if you should be obliged to do it to save
+yourself, I should not blame you very much."
+
+"I am determined to 'make a raise,' soon," said Ingham; "but I don't
+know whether I can trust you."
+
+"How so?" she asked, as if greatly surprised.
+
+"I am afraid you will 'give me away' to that policeman whom you think so
+much of."
+
+"You need not fear anything of the kind," she said, leaning forward, and
+speaking slowly and emphatically. "I can help you a great deal, and I
+would never betray you to any one. I don't think so much of Charlie as I
+pretend to."
+
+Soon afterward she had to go into the unfurnished room to get something,
+and she asked Ingham to hold the light for her.
+
+"Why can't you hold it yourself?" he asked.
+
+"Well, to tell the truth, I don't like to go into that room alone," she
+replied, trying to laugh in an unconcerned way.
+
+"Why not? You aren't afraid of anything, are you?"
+
+"No, not afraid; but I have never felt like going in there since Mr.
+Trafton died there. I cannot help recollecting the way he looked when I
+first saw him hanging over the bedside, with the froth on his lips. I
+took out all the furniture on that account, but I am going to furnish
+it again next week, as I can get a good rent for it."
+
+Ingham went with her as she requested, and he noticed that all the time
+she was in the room overhauling a trunk containing the things she
+wanted, she was very restless and nervous. Several times when she heard
+a sudden noise she would start and turn pale, as if much frightened.
+
+Presently the two girls occupying the front room came in and said that
+they should leave next day, as they were afraid of a man coming into
+their room as one had done the night before. Mrs. Sanford was evidently
+not sorry to have them go, and they soon went to bed.
+
+Ingham and Mrs. Sanford then talked together about their plans for
+getting money for some time. Her whole mind seemed bent upon one
+object,--to obtain money; and she seemed to have no scruples whatever as
+to the means employed.
+
+"Don't you know of any wealthy fellow who carries considerable money
+about with him?" asked Ingham.
+
+"Oh! yes; I know two or three who come here to do business, and I expect
+one from Canada next week. He always has plenty of money with him, so
+that I have no doubt we could get a big sum out of him."
+
+"Does he ever drink?" he asked; "I don't want to tackle a sober man, if
+I can help it."
+
+"That needn't trouble you," she replied, in a whisper; "I can give him
+something to keep him quiet."
+
+"How can you do that?" he inquired, with apparent astonishment.
+
+She then showed him a bottle of morphine, and said that she always kept
+it for her own use, and that she knew how to give just enough to produce
+a deep sleep. They finally agreed to lay their plans together, and to
+make a big haul at the first opportunity.
+
+Ingham went out again on his prospecting tour next day, but when he
+returned, in the evening, he had not discovered any good place for a
+robbery. He told Mrs. Sanford, however, that he thought he could get a
+quantity of counterfeit money at a very low price, and that they could
+pass a great deal of it, if they were skillful. She liked the idea, and
+said that she could pass it on a great many people who would never
+recollect where they received it. She also said that she had a good
+place to hide it, and that some time she would show him where she had
+hidden some property, when the police were looking for it.
+
+"Oh! how I wish you had been here when that man died with eighteen
+thousand dollars in bonds in his pockets!" she exclaimed. "You could
+have helped yourself to all you wanted."
+
+"Yes, indeed," he replied, "I should have made myself rich for life."
+
+"But could you have disposed of the bonds without being suspected?" she
+asked. "Wouldn't his friends catch you if they had the numbers of the
+bonds?"
+
+"Oh! that wouldn't make any difference. There are millions of dollars
+afloat of these bonds, and they cannot be traced any more than money."
+
+"His bonds were all for five hundred dollars each, and they had little
+tickets on the end, which could be cut off for the interest," she said.
+"I saw them when the coroner was examining them."
+
+"Yes, they were undoubtedly five-twenty bonds, and were worth their face
+in gold."
+
+"Well, another time, if we get such a chance," she said, "we will take
+enough to make ourselves comfortable, and leave the rest to remove
+suspicion."
+
+On the following day, Ingham returned to his room at Mrs. Sanford's
+about three o'clock in the afternoon, and she told him that the two
+girls and Mr. and Mrs. Graves had left. She said that she had a great
+fuss with the latter, and that they went away in a state of high wrath
+against her; besides this, she had had a quarrel with Charlie, the
+policeman, who had sided with Mrs. Graves during their quarrel. Mrs.
+Sanford said, further, that Charlie had acted very meanly in not making
+her any Christmas or New Year's present, and she didn't care whether he
+came there again or not. She said that Mrs. Graves had left her trunk to
+be called for, and that there was no doubt she had stolen some of Mrs.
+Sanford's towels and other things. She then went to the trunk, opened
+it, and took out a number of articles, which she said belonged to her.
+She took the articles into the kitchen, and secreted them in a hole in
+the floor, where she was able to take up a board. Ingham thought it
+rather strange that she should hide these things, if they were her own
+property, but he said nothing on the subject to Mrs. Sanford.
+
+About five o'clock a young lady called to see Mrs. Sanford, and they
+seemed very intimate with each other. When they entered the
+sitting-room, Mrs. Sanford said:
+
+"Ida, let me introduce to you Mr. Ingham; this is Miss Ida Musgrove, Mr.
+Ingham."
+
+"Mrs. Sanford has spoken of you in such complimentary terms, Miss Ida,"
+said Ingham, "that I have been very anxious to meet you."
+
+"Now, how can you be so foolish, May," said Miss Ida, addressing Mrs.
+Sanford; "you always talk about me so extravagantly that people are very
+much disappointed when they meet me."
+
+"Oh! that is quite impossible," chimed in Ingham. "I am sure that Mrs.
+Sanford hardly did you justice."
+
+"I see, Mr. Ingham, that you are, like all the rest of your sex, a great
+flatterer," simpered Miss Ida, who was evidently greatly pleased with
+his compliments, but who wished to appear too modest to believe him to
+be in earnest.
+
+Miss Ida was a brilliant brunette of fine features and figure. She was
+stylish and graceful in her appearance, and her dress showed remarkably
+good taste. She was very vivacious and merry, but a close observer would
+have noticed that she was not endowed with much sentiment, and a
+physiognomist would have said that she was more interested in the size
+of a man's fortune than in his looks or powers to please. The three
+chatted together very pleasantly for some time, and when Miss Ida rose
+to go, she said that she hoped to have the pleasure of seeing Mr. Ingham
+again; but she did not inform him where she lived, and was apparently
+rather indifferent with regard to him.
+
+The next day Mrs. Sanford refurnished the back room where Mr. Trafton
+had died, and Ingham took the room vacated by the Graveses. On the same
+day, Mrs. Sanford missed her watch, and, after searching for it
+everywhere, she came to the conclusion that it had been stolen. She was
+greatly distressed about it, but she could not imagine who could have
+taken it.
+
+A few days after this, Ingham came hurriedly into the sitting-room
+looking as if he had been running hard. He found Mrs. Sanford and Miss
+Ida in the kitchen, but when the former came into the sitting-room, he
+gave her a significant look, and said that he had "made a raise." Mrs.
+Sanford was highly pleased, but she had no time to make inquiries, as
+Miss Ida came in from the kitchen a moment later. They took supper
+together, and had a very gay time, as both Ingham and Mrs. Sanford were
+quite excited over the former's adventure. After Miss Ida had gone home,
+Ingham gave Mrs. Sanford ten dollars, and told her that he and another
+man had followed a stranger into the "Burnt District" just at dusk, and
+while the other man choked the stranger, Ingham had "gone through" his
+pockets. Owing to the fact that there were very few persons and no
+gas-lamps in their vicinity, they had not been observed in their work of
+robbery until they let the man go, when his shouts had attracted
+attention. He said that some men had chased them, and that he had
+escaped by running into a lumber-yard, where he had hidden the greater
+part of the plunder. He said that he had obtained a roll of bills, but
+that he could not tell how much money there was in all, as he had not
+had time to count it. He said that he did not expect to get much out of
+it, as he would be obliged to divide with his partner. The day
+following, Ingham, on his return to the house in the evening, found Mrs.
+Sanford standing in her room fixing her hair, while a man stood beside
+her with his arm around her waist. The door of her room was open, so
+that Ingham could not help seeing them, and he did not stop, but went
+straight to his own room. Mrs. Sanford soon afterward came to his door
+and told him that the man he had seen was Mr. Taylor G. Pratt, the real
+estate agent, who occupied the back parlor; that he was one of her best
+friends, and that he wanted to marry her. He had been away for the
+holidays, and had only just returned. She had told him that Ingham was
+her brother from Detroit, and that he was going to remain with her for
+some time. Ingham was then introduced to Mr Pratt, and they talked with
+each other until supper-time. Pratt was a middle-aged man, with a
+mean-looking face and suspicious manner. They went to a restaurant for
+supper, and the gentlemen paid the bill equally. Pratt seemed to expect
+Mrs. Sanford to pay her share, and this made her angry, though she said
+nothing about the matter at the time. When alone with Ingham, however,
+she said that Pratt was a miserly cub, with no generosity whatever. She
+borrowed five dollars from him, nevertheless, and then invented a story
+about having lost the money to escape paying it back.
+
+The next evening, when Ingham returned to his lodgings, he found Mrs.
+Sanford in a sad plight; one eye was wholly closed and discolored, while
+her whole face was bruised and inflamed to such an extent as to make her
+an unpleasant object to look at. Charlie Stokes, the policeman, was
+sitting by the stove, and Mrs. Sanford, with her head done up in wet
+towels, was moaning on the sofa. She explained that Mrs. Graves had been
+there, and had seized her by the throat, beaten, scratched, and kicked
+her until she was perfectly helpless from her injuries. Charlie, the
+policeman, was trying to condole with her, but he was evidently out of
+favor, for she finally told him to go out and not bother her any longer.
+
+Ingham told her that she certainly ought to have Mrs. Graves arrested
+and punished severely, and he petted her so nicely that she said he was
+her best friend, and that she would do anything for him. He prepared a
+dressing for her black eye, and got some supper for her, telling her
+that on Monday--that day being Saturday--she ought to get out a warrant
+for the arrest of Mrs. Graves.
+
+"Why didn't you hit her with the poker?" he asked.
+
+"I did pick it up," she replied, "but I was afraid to hit her for fear I
+should kill her."
+
+"Well, it would have served her just right, for she had no business to
+attack you first."
+
+"I know that; but if I had killed her, just think how awful it would be!
+Why, her ghost would haunt me forever after. I don't want to be haunted.
+I'm afraid now to go into the room where Trafton died, and I wouldn't go
+in there alone after dark for fifty dollars."
+
+Ingham comforted her all he could, but finally he said that he must go
+out for a time, and he did not return until about ten o'clock. He then
+went upstairs quietly, and went to bed. Two or three hours later, a
+heavy, groaning sound was heard in the house. It was difficult to tell
+exactly whence it came, but Ingham heard Mrs. Sanford spring up and open
+her door. He did the same, and saw her listening at the half-open door.
+The groans were not exactly like those of a person in distress, but they
+resembled the efforts of some stage ghost in a blood-and-thunder drama.
+Suddenly Mrs. Sanford stepped out, with her revolver in her hand, and
+began to walk toward the hall. He instantly overtook her and asked her,
+in a whisper, what she was going to do. She made a significant motion
+with her revolver, and again stopped to listen. He then took the pistol
+away from her, saying that the noise was probably due to some drunken
+man who had got into the hall. He told her to go back to bed, and he
+would investigate. Accordingly, he went into the hall, and soon Mrs.
+Sanford heard him dragging a maudlin drunken fellow downstairs. This
+affair had been arranged by me, in the hope of frightening Mrs. Sanford
+into making some kind of a confession, but she was not so easily alarmed
+as I had hoped. The door had been left open by Ingham on his return to
+the house, and another detective had been sent to the top of the stairs
+to make the groans. From the determined way in which she walked out,
+with her pistol in readiness, it was evident that she would not have
+hesitated to shoot the unfortunate ghost on sight.
+
+The next day Ingham showed her a fine gold watch, which he said he had
+snatched out of a man's pocket in a crowd. She wanted him to steal one
+for her, and he promised to do so, if possible, though it was more
+difficult to get a lady's watch. She then advised him to be careful to
+see that there was no private mark on the watch, lest he should be
+detected thereby. Then she asked whether the numbers on government bonds
+were all different. He said that there were different series, which were
+exactly alike except the letter, and he tried to explain the matter to
+her, but she could not understand it. She also wanted to know whether
+the bonds could be sold in a foreign country, and he told her yes; that
+that was the best way to sell them, if there was anything wrong about
+them. After some further conversation, she said she thought of going to
+Canada soon, and perhaps she would like him to take charge of her rooms
+while she was away.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER III.
+
+    _The Dangerous Side of the Woman's Character.--Mr. Pinkerton makes a
+          new Move.--Robert A. Pinkerton as Adamson, the drunken, but
+          wealthy, Stranger.--A "funny" Game of Cards.--The drunken
+          Stranger has a violent Struggle to escape from Mrs. Sanford,
+          and is afterwards robbed--according to the Papers.--Detective
+          Ingham arrested, but very shortly liberated._
+
+
+It has already been observed by the reader that, while Ingham had
+learned nothing new about the fate of poor Trafton, he had obtained a
+very excellent understanding of Mrs. Sanford's character. Her most
+prominent characteristic was the love of money, and this passion seemed
+to overpower all others. Her language and manners at times showed that
+she had once been a member of good society, while her reading and
+declamations from Shakespeare and other poets gave evidence of great
+natural talents. Combined with her greed for money was a strong element
+of sensuality, and though she usually granted her favors only where she
+expected a large pecuniary reward, still, at times, she was apparently
+as prodigal in that regard as if she had no care whatever for money.
+
+Her mind was naturally powerful, and I had little hope of breaking down
+her will; she would evidently show fight to the last, and all that I
+could hope would be to learn enough secretly to insure her conviction
+without her confession. She was as shrewd as if all her life had been
+passed in evading the toils of the law; even in her sleep, or when
+pretending to sleep, she would talk with great freedom; but, as she
+never gave any intelligence of importance on such occasions, I put
+little faith in the soundness of her sleep. In her readiness to assist
+Ingham to hide his plunder, I saw the dangerous side of this woman's
+nature strongly revealed. If she were so willing to act as an accomplice
+in one crime, why not in another? As she had been so successful in her
+encounter with Trafton, might she not be glad to carry out the same
+scheme again? At least, there would be no harm in putting an opportunity
+before her, and her actions in one case might give some clue to those by
+which she had succeeded in the former affair.
+
+"Yes, that will be a good plan," I soliloquized; "I will send a young
+fellow there with a large sum of money, and he will get drunk. Then, if
+she tries to rob him, I shall be certain that she did the same with
+young Trafton."
+
+I therefore arranged that Ingham should pretend that he had made the
+acquaintance of a stranger from the East, who had a large sum of money;
+he was to tell Mrs. Sanford that he would bring the stranger to her
+rooms to spend the evening; the stranger would be rather drunk when he
+arrived there, and they would give him more liquor, until he should be
+quite drunk; if she should then try to rob him, he would get away as
+well as possible, and Ingham would go after him. In a little while,
+Ingham would return and show her a package of bonds, stolen from the
+stranger, and tell her that he had knocked the man down with a brick,
+before robbing him. The next morning a notice would appear in the papers
+to the effect that a stranger had been found in the burnt district,
+lying on the ground in an insensible condition, having been knocked down
+and robbed.
+
+Ingham was instructed as to his part in the affair, and next day he told
+Mrs. Sanford that there was a young fellow down town whose acquaintance
+he had made, who had a large amount of money with him. Ingham said that
+the man's name was Adamson, and that he was a gambler in good luck. He
+wanted to bring Adamson to the house that evening, and she was very
+anxious that he should come.
+
+I intrusted the stranger's part to my son, Robert A. Pinkerton, who
+assumed the name of Adamson for the occasion.
+
+Accordingly, the two detectives met at my office, and Adamson was given
+five hundred dollars in fifty dollar bonds. They then went to Mrs.
+Sanford's house, and, on arriving there, Mr. Adamson was quite unsteady
+on his legs. Mrs. Sanford was nicely dressed to receive the stranger,
+and she made herself very agreeable to him, in spite of his apparent
+drunkenness. They played cards together for a time, and then Adamson
+proposed to play euchre with Ingham seven points for five dollars a
+game. While they were playing, Adamson became quite reckless, and he
+threw down his cards with such a look of drunken gravity as to be quite
+amusing. He lost almost every game, and, at length, he wanted to go out
+for a drink. Mrs. Sanford told him to go on with his game, and she would
+get what he wished.
+
+"What do you want to drink?" she asked.
+
+"Anything excep' warrer," he replied.
+
+"What do you know about water?" asked Ingham; "I don't believe you can
+tell how it looks."
+
+"Tha's a lie. I know how to tell warrer's well's you. I (hic) can allus
+tell warrer--it looks jus' like gin. Get us some gin."
+
+While Mrs. Sanford was gone, Ingham and Adamson arranged that the latter
+should pretend to have lost all his money to the former, and that he
+should insist upon playing one game for fifty dollars. This he was to
+lose, and he was to become angry and go away. Adamson then gave Ingham
+about fifty dollars to show as his winnings, and presently Mrs. Sanford
+came in. She had been introduced to Adamson under the assumed name of
+Mrs. Robertson, and he therefore addressed her by that name.
+
+[Illustration: "_I'll play you a (hic) game f'r fiffy doll's!_"]
+
+"Mrs. Rob'son, 'f you'd come sooner (hic), you'd ha' seen th' funniest
+game 't ever was played. Never 'ad such bad luck 'n m' life, an' now
+I've los' all m' money. Gimme big (hic) drink of gin."
+
+Mrs. Sanford poured him a glass half full, and also poured a little into
+two other glasses. When she turned her head, Ingham emptied the contents
+of his glass into the coal-scuttle, exchanged glasses with Adamson, and
+emptied his drink into the same place. When they stood up to drink, Mrs.
+Sanford was the only one who really did so, the two men merely going
+through the motions, with great apparent satisfaction. Adamson then
+became more and more excited.
+
+"Tell you, Miss'r Hang'em, or whatever y'r name is, I'll play you a
+(hic) game f'r fiffy dolls; can beat you 't euchre any day th' week.
+Wha' you say? Wan' to play?"
+
+"No, I don't want to play for so much, but I'll play you for twenty-five
+dollars."
+
+"Fiffy or nothin'. Come, now; 'f you're 'fraid to play, say so. I c'n
+play like a steam-whissle, I can."
+
+"I'll play you for twenty-five," replied Ingham, irresolutely.
+
+"No, sir; I won't (hic) play'ny more small games. You've won more'n
+fiffy doll'rs fr'm me now, 'n I wan' m' revenge. You goin' ter gimme a
+(hic) chance t'win it back?"
+
+"All right," said Ingham; "I'll play you just one game for fifty
+dollars, and then we'll stop, no matter who wins. Just wait a minute,
+until I go to my room for a handkerchief."
+
+While he was gone, Adamson pulled out a package of ten United States
+bonds, of the denomination of fifty dollars each, and said that he would
+put up one of them against Ingham's fifty dollars, and that he should
+send the rest to his mother. When Ingham returned, he counted out fifty
+dollars, and Adamson laid down one of his bonds.
+
+"What's that?" asked Ingham. "Is that worth fifty dollars?" and picking
+it up, he examined it carefully.
+
+"Yes'r; tha's worth more'n fiffy doll'rs; tha's worth fiffy doll'rs in
+gold."
+
+"Will you guarantee that it is good and all right?" asked Ingham.
+
+"Course I will; didn't you ever see a (hic) bond b'fore?"
+
+"Oh! I know that's all right," said Mrs. Sanford, who was beginning to
+show the effect of the gin very strongly; "I've had bon's like that,
+too. Th' young man who died here had eighteen thousan' bonds like this."
+
+"Well, all right," said Ingham; "let us cut for deal."
+
+As the game progressed, Mrs. Sanford felt the strength of the gin more
+and more, and she soon became quite sick. Ingham got her some warm
+water, and she went into her own room to vomit. She soon returned,
+feeling much better, and the game went on, Ingham winning by one point.
+Adamson then became very angry, and said he was going out; and, although
+the others begged him to stay, he put on his overcoat and insisted on
+going away. Ingham finally said that he didn't care whether Adamson went
+or stayed, and, so saying, he walked off to his own room. Mrs. Sanford
+used every argument to induce Adamson to stay all night, but, with a
+drunken man's obstinacy, he refused to remain any longer. He walked
+downstairs, with Mrs. Sanford clinging to him and coaxing him all the
+way, until they reached the lower landing, when she put her back against
+the door and refused to let him out. They then had a violent struggle,
+in the course of which she tore open his coat and vest in the endeavor
+to get at the bonds in his breast pocket. Finally, he was obliged to use
+all his force to get away, as she was like a tigress in her anger, and
+was evidently determined to rob him. Indeed, had he not been an active,
+muscular young man, she would, undoubtedly, have finished him then and
+there; as it was, he barely succeeded in making his escape, by forcing
+her back upon the stairs, and then springing out of the door before she
+could seize him again.
+
+Meantime, Ingham was a silent spectator of this scene from the top of
+the stairs, where he stood holding the lamp. As soon as Adamson was out,
+Ingham rushed down and told Mrs. Sanford that he intended to have those
+bonds anyhow. He told her to sit up for him, and then ran out after
+Adamson. In less than an hour, he returned and saw Mrs. Sanford watching
+for him from a front window. When he went upstairs, she was still
+somewhat under the influence of the liquor she had drank, but she asked
+him where he had been.
+
+"That's all right," he replied, flipping over the ends of the package of
+bonds; "I guess I've made a good enough haul this time."
+
+"Oh! you are a splendid fellow," she said, leaning on his shoulder. "I
+didn't think you would dare to do it."
+
+"I dare to do anything where there is any money to be made. You won't go
+back on me, will you?"
+
+"What do you mean?" she asked.
+
+"I mean, that you won't give me away to the police?" he asked,
+anxiously.
+
+"Why, of course I won't," she replied. "I never yet went back on any one
+who did the fair thing by me; and I know you will do that, won't you?"
+
+"Oh! certainly I will; I will make you a nice present to-morrow."
+
+"I don't want a present to-morrow," she said, sullenly; "I want my share
+now."
+
+"But I shall have to cash these bonds first," he said. "They would be of
+no use to you in their present shape."
+
+"I can get them cashed as well as you can," she replied. "Come, hand
+over; I don't want half, but I want my share now."
+
+"What is your hurry?" he demanded. "Can't you wait until to-morrow?"
+
+"No, I can't; I want my share, and if you are going to be mean, I will
+be mean too. You can't keep those bonds unless I say so, and if I choose
+to report you, I can have them all taken from you, besides sending you
+to Joliet."
+
+"Oh! if that's the way you talk," replied Ingham, "I shall know what to
+do. If you can't trust me until to-morrow, I can't trust you at all. You
+can't scare me by threats, and if you want to get any of this money, you
+must deal fairly with me; I'm not afraid of being arrested."
+
+"All right, then," she answered, with a wicked look in her eye; "we'll
+see whether you will 'come down' or not. If you want to keep it all, I
+shall take care that you don't keep any of it. I'm going to the police
+station at once."
+
+She was, evidently, just ugly enough to do as she said; and, as Ingham
+had the bonds in his possession, he did not fancy the idea of letting
+her go for the officers just then; so he replied:
+
+"You can go right along, if you want to, but, in that case, I shall go
+somewhere else."
+
+He then quickly brought his hat and overcoat into the sitting-room; and,
+seeing that she was still making preparations to go out, he took a
+hurried departure, taking a room at a small hotel for the night.
+
+In the Chicago _Tribune_ of January 14, 1872, the following item
+appeared:
+
+"HIGHWAY ROBBERY.
+
+     "At about twelve o'clock last night, an officer of Pinkerton's
+     Preventive Police stumbled over the body of a man near the corner
+     of State and Washington streets. Stooping down, he discovered that
+     the man was half drunk, half insensible, bruised and bleeding. On
+     being restored to his senses, he gave his name as Robert Adamson,
+     stating that he had come from Troy, New York, having with him
+     several hundred dollars in currency and bonds. The time between
+     drinks was very short yesterday afternoon, and he has no clear idea
+     of what happened after dark, up to the time the officer found him
+     minus his money and valuables. He remembers drinking frequently
+     with a stranger, who made himself very agreeable, but cannot state
+     the time when they parted company. He describes the stranger as a
+     tall slender man, with black side-whiskers, giving a sufficiently
+     minute description of him to afford the police a valuable clue, and
+     it is likely that the highwayman will soon be overhauled."
+
+About noon of the day that the above was published, Ingham went to call
+upon Mrs. Sanford, and she received him very coolly.
+
+"How do you feel this morning?" he asked. "Does your head ache?"
+
+"No, I feel all right," she replied. "Have you seen that fellow that was
+here last night?"
+
+"No, I have not seen him," he replied. "Why do you ask? Has he been here
+looking for me?"
+
+"Yes, he came here this morning, and asked me all kinds of questions
+about you; and now, if you are arrested, it will be your own fault. I
+would have shielded you, if you had done the fair thing by me; but now
+you must look out for yourself."
+
+"You are very unreasonable, Mrs. Sanford," he replied; "it would have
+been very dangerous to have left any of those bonds with you, for if the
+man had brought the police here, they would have searched the house, and
+would have found the bonds. Then you would have been arrested, and you
+would have been obliged to tell where you got the bonds. Now, as soon as
+I get the bonds cashed, I will treat you handsomely, but I do not intend
+to run any risks."
+
+"There would have been no danger of their finding the bonds, if you had
+left them with me; and, even if they had found them, I never would have
+told where I got them. You might have been fair enough to give me one
+hundred dollars at least."
+
+"He did not have any money besides what I won from him, except the
+bonds; and, as I said before, I did not dare to leave those in the
+house."
+
+"I am sorry I ever let you into my house," she said, presently. "I
+thought a great deal of you, and I expected to assist you when I
+received my money; but now I have lost confidence in you. I suppose, if
+you got a chance at my money, you would take that too. I begin to think
+I know where my watch went; the detective wanted to search you for it
+two or three times, but I wouldn't let him, and this is the way you
+reward my confidence."
+
+"Mrs. Sanford, you are talking wild," he answered, angrily. "I have
+always treated you well, and when I made a raise the other day, I gave
+you a part of it. I intended to do the same this time, but you acted so
+suspiciously that I thought best to wait awhile. Now, as soon as I get
+these bonds cashed, I will give you some more money, but not till then."
+
+"You can keep your old money," she retorted; "I don't want any of it.
+You think you were very smart, yesterday, but you don't know what danger
+you are in. I could have you arrested this very day if I chose."
+
+"I know you could; but what good would it do you? I should be punished,
+to be sure, but you would not get a cent; while, if you keep quiet, I
+will make you a fine present."
+
+"I don't want your present, nor you either," she replied. "I don't want
+you in my house any longer." Then, as Ingham started toward his room,
+she said: "Keep out of there; you can't go into that room, for I've let
+it to a young couple, who are in there now."
+
+"All right, then," replied Ingham; "I will call again to-morrow."
+
+"You needn't take things so mighty cool," she replied, perfectly white
+with anger. "You may find yourself in jail before you know it."
+
+"I know it," he answered, carelessly; "but it's my nature to take things
+cool, and so, if you want to put me in jail, you can; but you can't
+scare me a bit, and you may as well understand it first as last."
+
+The following morning, I received from Mr. Trafton, who was then in
+Philadelphia, the numbers of the bonds which were missing. They were
+five-twenty bonds of the issue of 1865, numbers 57,109 and 87,656,
+series A, and number 37,515, series B. Information of the robbery had
+been sent to the Treasury Department at Washington, and to all the
+sub-treasurers in the United States, in order that, in case any of the
+interest coupons should be presented for payment, they might be traced
+back, possibly, to the hands of the thief.
+
+In _The Tribune_ of Monday appeared the following item:
+
+                     "BEATEN AND ROBBED.
+
+    "A MAN TAKES A WALK WITH A COMPARATIVE STRANGER, AND IS KNOCKED DOWN
+          AND ROBBED OF NEARLY $1,000 IN GREENBACKS.
+
+     "Mention was made in yesterday's TRIBUNE of the finding of a man,
+     named Robert Adamson, on the corner of State and Washington
+     streets, he having been beaten and robbed of several hundred
+     dollars in greenbacks. The police were looking for him yesterday,
+     but failed to find him. It was ascertained that he had been
+     boarding at No. 92 West Madison street, and that, on Saturday
+     night, he indulged in several games of euchre with a man who also
+     boarded at the place. While the game was in progress, and Adamson
+     was under the influence of liquor, he displayed an express
+     company's envelope full of money. At the conclusion of the game,
+     the two men went out to 'take a walk.' Yesterday morning, Adamson's
+     companion returned to the house, and, it is said, offered the
+     landlady $500 if she would say nothing about his having played
+     cards with Adamson. She refused, and would not allow the fellow to
+     take his trunk away, which he wanted to do very badly. The landlady
+     sent her little daughter to police headquarters for an officer, and
+     one was sent over to arrest the man; but he had left previous to
+     the officer's arrival. It is not known how much money Adamson had,
+     but it must have been in the neighborhood of $1,000, or the man who
+     took it would not have made such a munificent offer to have the
+     fact of the theft kept secret."
+
+In accordance with my instructions, Ingham went to Mrs. Sanford's house
+about noon on Monday. He told her that he had read in the paper that she
+had reported him to the police as being the assailant of Robert Adamson.
+She denied ever having done so, and offered to swear that she had never
+betrayed him. He replied that he felt sure there must be a mistake, as
+he could not believe it possible that she would betray him. He felt
+perfect confidence in her, and had no fears that she would try to have
+him arrested.
+
+"Besides," he continued, "I don't care now whether they arrest me or
+not. I'm not afraid of being held, for I am generally shrewd enough to
+cover my tracks pretty thoroughly, if I have a start of two or three
+days."
+
+"You can't prove that you didn't rob that man," she replied.
+
+"I don't need to; all the proof must come from the other side, and they
+haven't any witnesses who can swear that I did the robbery."
+
+"I could prove it, if I choose to go against you," she said.
+
+"No, you couldn't," he replied. "You didn't see me; and, while your
+testimony would, perhaps, be circumstantial evidence, your oath would be
+no better than mine, as you have no one to swear to the same thing."
+
+"Oh! I have great credit up at the station," she said, in a boasting
+manner. "They recollect the finding of eighteen thousand dollars under
+the pillow of the young man who died here, and they have all confidence
+in me, for they know I might have easily stolen all he had. But I think
+it is best never to do anything wrong, and then there is no fear of
+getting into trouble."
+
+"That's all right, if you can do it," he replied; "but I must have a
+living, and if I can't get it one way, I will another."
+
+Just then some one knocked at the door, and presently Charlie Stokes,
+the policeman, walked in. They talked together a few minutes, and then
+Stokes said:
+
+"Step this way a moment, Mr. Ingham, I wish to speak to you alone."
+
+They walked to the head of the stairs, and Ingham then asked what he
+wished to talk about.
+
+"Well, there seems to be some kind of a misunderstanding at the police
+station," said Stokes, keeping his eyes on the ground, "and they have
+sent me to ask you to walk around to the office."
+
+"A misunderstanding about what?" asked Ingham. "What do you mean?"
+
+"Well, you know all about it," continued Stokes, in the same mysterious
+way.
+
+"I beg your pardon; I don't know what you have reference to; please
+explain."
+
+"Oh! you know well enough. You are wanted on account of that man you
+robbed last Saturday night."
+
+"I did not rob any man Saturday night, and I am surprised that you
+should make such a charge against me, knowing me as well as you do,"
+said Ingham, in an injured tone.
+
+"I have nothing to do with it," replied Stokes. "I am simply obeying the
+captain's order, and I have no personal feeling against you whatever;
+but I have been sent to take you down to the station, and I must obey
+orders."
+
+"Then you arrest me?" inquired Ingham.
+
+"Well, you must go to the station with me to see the captain."
+
+"Not unless you arrest me," replied Ingham. "I want to know whether I am
+to consider myself under arrest."
+
+"Yes, you can consider yourself arrested, if you want to," replied
+Stokes, who did not seem to like to take the responsibility of making
+the arrest under the circumstances.
+
+"I don't want to, and I shan't, unless you say so," persisted Ingham.
+
+"Well, then, I _do_ say so, and we will go now. We can walk along
+together like two friends, however, and no one need know that you are my
+prisoner."
+
+"I don't care who knows it," said Ingham; "but I think there is
+something strange in the way of arresting me."
+
+"Well, I hope you will come out all right," Stokes replied, adding
+significantly, "and perhaps you will, if certain folks don't appear
+against you."
+
+"I'm not afraid," replied Ingham; "there is no one who can say anything
+against me."
+
+On arriving at the station, the same consideration was shown to him, and
+the station-keeper asked him to make himself comfortable in the main
+sitting-room.
+
+"Am I under arrest?" he asked again.
+
+"No, not exactly; you can take it easy for a time, and you will have an
+examination soon."
+
+"If I am not under arrest," Ingham replied, "I shall not stay here."
+
+"Why not?" asked the station-keeper.
+
+"Because I have no business here unless I am a prisoner," was Ingham's
+reply.
+
+"We can lock you up in a cell, if we want to," said the station-keeper;
+"but we thought you would prefer to be comfortable up here."
+
+"Then I _am_ a prisoner?" again inquired Ingham, who seemed anxious to
+have his status satisfactorily explained.
+
+"Yes, confound it; if you are determined to have it so, you are."
+
+About five o'clock the sergeant of police came in, and asked Ingham his
+name.
+
+"Ingham," was the reply.
+
+"Jack Ingham?"
+
+"No; John Ingham."
+
+"What is your business?" asked the sergeant.
+
+"I'm not employed at all, just now."
+
+"Have you ever had any work to do in this city?" again queried the
+sergeant.
+
+"No; not yet."
+
+"Who was that man you were playing cards with the other night?"
+
+"What night?" asked Ingham.
+
+"Well, Saturday night."
+
+"Whereabouts?"
+
+"At your boarding place."
+
+"Oh! I play cards with a great many fellows," Ingham replied. "I don't
+know which one you mean."
+
+"Well, we know who he was," said the sergeant.
+
+"Then what are you asking me for?" said Ingham. "Am I under arrest?"
+
+"I guess you will have to stay here awhile," was the sergeant's reply.
+
+Presently a number of persons came into the room, and Ingham thought he
+saw among them one of the bindery girls who had formerly lodged with
+Mrs. Sanford. She looked at him very hard, and then went out into the
+hall, where he could hear her talking with the station-keeper and
+Stokes. He also heard the sergeant call a policeman and give him some
+instructions, in which Ingham caught the words, "Pinkerton's office."
+The man then put on his coat and went out. Presently the sergeant
+approached him again, and, looking at him significantly, said:
+
+"Now we know all about your playing cards with that man, and afterward
+robbing him."
+
+"I don't know what you mean," Ingham replied; "I don't know what man you
+are talking about."
+
+"Didn't you see that piece in the paper yesterday?" asked the sergeant.
+
+"I saw a number of pieces in the paper yesterday, but I can't tell which
+one you are referring to."
+
+The sergeant then showed him the item headed "Highway Robbery," and
+said:
+
+"Now, we can prove that you came back to your landlady with a large
+package of money, and offered her five hundred dollars to keep quiet
+about the fact of your having played cards with this young fellow, and
+then having followed him out."
+
+"Well, if you can prove that, you had better do it," said Ingham; then,
+changing his tone, and looking straight in the sergeant's face, he
+added: "Now, look here, sergeant, if you have any charges against me,
+just state them."
+
+The sergeant muttered something about locking him up, and started to go
+out.
+
+"If you lock me up," replied Ingham, coolly, "I hope you are prepared to
+take the consequences."
+
+"Who the devil are you, anyhow?" asked the sergeant.
+
+"No relation of yours, I assure you," was the reply, and the sergeant
+went away.
+
+At this time, a tall, dignified man came in and asked the station-keeper
+a question. The policeman replied that there was no such man there.
+
+"I know better than that," said the stranger, "and I must see him."
+
+The station-keeper declared positively that they had no such man, and
+the stranger then went upstairs. In a few minutes the sergeant came in
+and told Ingham to follow him. As they were going upstairs, they met the
+tall stranger coming down. Ingham felt confident that this man was
+looking for him, and, in passing, he pinched the stranger's leg. The
+pinch was returned, and the tall man stopped; but Ingham and the
+sergeant went up to the captain's room. After asking Ingham his name,
+the captain said:
+
+"Where were you last Saturday night?"
+
+"That is none of your business," said Ingham.
+
+"Come, now, you needn't put on any airs," said the captain; "I want to
+know all about this."
+
+"Captain," Ingham replied, "if you have any charges against me, I should
+like to hear them. I don't put on any airs, but I want to know what I am
+under arrest for."
+
+Turning to the sergeant, the captain said:
+
+"How long would it take you to bring that man on here, sergeant?"
+
+"Three or four days, at least," was the answer.
+
+Just then the tall stranger entered, and the captain took him into a
+private room, where they remained some time. When they came out, the
+sergeant joined the captain for a few minutes, while the tall gentleman
+introduced himself to Ingham as Judge B----, and said that the captain
+would let him go. This proved true, for the captain very soon came out,
+and told Ingham that he was at liberty.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER IV.
+
+    _Connecting Links.--Mrs. Sanford's Ability as an Imitator of
+          Actors.--One Detective tears himself away from her, and
+          another takes his Place.--Mrs. Sanford's mind frequently
+          burdened with the Subject of Murder.--New Evidence
+          appearing.--A Peep at the stolen Bonds.--The Shrewdness of the
+          Murderess._
+
+
+Ingham did not return to Mrs. Sanford's until late in the evening of the
+day of his arrest. On arriving there, he was admitted by Charlie Stokes,
+the policeman, who seemed very much surprised to see him. Mrs. Sanford
+was also quite astonished, and turned very pale on seeing him. However,
+they soon began talking in a very friendly way, expressing their regret
+at his arrest and their pleasure at his release. Charlie did not remain
+long, and after he was gone Mrs. Sanford made all kinds of inquiries as
+to the manner of his escape.
+
+"Why, Mrs. Sanford," he replied, "I told you they couldn't hold me.
+There was absolutely no evidence against me, and they were afraid to
+even lock me up. I have been ten years in this business, in New Orleans
+and elsewhere, and I have never been caught yet. The only thing which
+puzzles me, is to account for my being arrested at all!"
+
+"You don't suspect that I had any hand in it, I hope?" asked Mrs.
+Sanford.
+
+"Oh, no indeed! I trust you perfectly; but I think that one of those
+bindery girls may have seen me with Adamson on the street. One of them
+came into the station while I was there, and looked at me very hard, as
+if trying to identify me. Still, I don't see how she could have
+suspected anything, unless some one put her up to it."
+
+"Perhaps some bartender may have seen you drinking with him during the
+afternoon," she suggested, "and he may have described you to the
+police."
+
+"Well, I should like to know who it was," he said, savagely, "for I
+would shoot him like a dog."
+
+As Mrs. Sanford had rented Ingham's room, there was no place for him to
+stay, and he went away about midnight, telling her that he would return
+next day. He did not go there, however, until after dark, as he felt
+confident that the police would try to "shadow" him. He found Mrs.
+Sanford quite uneasy about him, as she thought he had been arrested
+again. He invited her to go to the theatre, and, on their way home, they
+stopped at a restaurant to get a late supper. As there were no
+accommodations for him, he was obliged to go to a hotel for the night,
+but Mrs. Sanford promised to have a bed put into the unfurnished room
+for him the next day. The next afternoon he called again, and Mrs.
+Sanford said that Charlie had been there, and had told her all about
+their visit to the theatre the night before. She said that he knew
+exactly where they had been, what they had had for supper, and what
+they had paid. Ingham was thus made aware that he was being watched, and
+his position, therefore, became very embarrassing.
+
+"Oh! by the way," she exclaimed, suddenly, "did I tell you that I got
+back my watch?"
+
+"No; how did you recover it?" he asked.
+
+"Well, that man Graves had it, and I had to pay one hundred dollars to
+get it back."
+
+"That was a great shame," said Ingham, sympathetically, as if he fully
+believed her.
+
+"Yes, I got my watch and several other trinkets, which I had all
+together in one box. See, here they are," she said, producing a box.
+
+Ingham looked at them with great interest, and, among the old
+sleeve-buttons, odd earrings, and other broken pieces of jewelry, he saw
+two gold shirt studs, one diamond-shaped, and the other star-shaped.
+This was a small matter, but it was one of the connecting links,
+nevertheless, in the chain of evidence against her; for, from the
+description, I felt sure that these were young Trafton's missing studs.
+
+Ingham spent the evening with her, and she was very friendly indeed,
+seeming anxious to remove any suspicion he might have that she was
+responsible for his arrest. She had made no arrangements for him to
+sleep there, however, and so he went to a small hotel for the night.
+When he reported at my office the following day, I gave him four hundred
+dollars in money, and told him to show it to Mrs. Sanford as the
+proceeds of the sale of the stolen bonds. Accordingly, when he went
+there in the afternoon, he counted over a large pile of bills before her
+astonished eyes, and asked her if he didn't know how to make things pay
+well.
+
+"Why, where did you get all that money?" she asked.
+
+"I sold those bonds which I showed you the other night," he replied. "I
+tell you, it isn't every man who knows how to dispose of property when
+it falls into his hands."
+
+"Now you will be flush for a long time, won't you?" she said, in her
+most amiable manner. "What are you going to do with all that?"
+
+"Oh! I shall have to divide with my partner first," he replied.
+
+"Did you have a partner in this affair?" she asked. "You did not tell me
+about him."
+
+"Oh! yes; I had the same partner as in the other case," Ingham replied.
+"He held Adamson, and I struck him with a brick. However, here is a
+present before I go, May," he continued, tossing two ten-dollar notes
+into her lap. "I will give you some more in a day or two."
+
+Mrs. Sanford was very much gratified, and said that she cared more for
+him than for any one else, and he could depend upon her for anything.
+Ingham then left her, and came to my office to return the money. In the
+evening he took Mrs. Sanford and Miss Ida Musgrove to the theatre, and
+the latter, evidently having heard of his improved fortunes, treated him
+with great cordiality. They returned to the rooms of Miss Ida after the
+theatre was out, and Mrs. Sanford gave some fine imitations of different
+actors and actresses, in a way which showed great powers of mimicry, as
+well as considerable dramatic force. It was very late when Ingham and
+Mrs. Sanford got home, and they immediately went to bed.
+
+The next day, Ingham went away as usual, and stayed until nearly dark.
+When he saw Mrs. Sanford, he professed to be in a very sulky mood, and
+said that he had been gambling all day.
+
+"At first I won right along, and I was nearly two thousand dollars ahead
+at one time; but the cursed luck changed, and I began to lose every bet;
+so that, when I left, I had only ten dollars in my pocket out of all
+that money I got for the bonds."
+
+Ingham could not control his feelings as he thought of his loss, and he
+swore and raved like a crazy man. Mrs. Sanford was very much
+disappointed, also, but she did not say much, except that he ought to
+have known better than to gamble. There were two or three new lodgers
+coming in and out while he was there, so that he did not have much time
+to talk to her, and he went away early in the evening.
+
+Owing to the arrest of Ingham, and his quarrel with Mrs. Sanford, I had
+decided to relieve him from this operation, and to put another man in
+his place. His story about gambling was a part of my plan; and the next
+day, when he called upon her, he was under instructions to announce his
+intended departure from the city. Accordingly, he did so, giving as a
+reason the fact that he had lost all his money, and that the police were
+watching him so closely that he was afraid to attempt another robbery in
+Chicago. He told her that he was going to St. Louis, and that he should
+come to see her immediately, if he ever should return.
+
+She appeared very much distressed at the thought of losing him, and told
+him that when she got her money, she would let him have as much as he
+wanted. She made him promise to write to her, and when he went away, she
+cried with seemingly genuine sorrow.
+
+Three days later Mrs. Sanford received a visit from a gentleman who said
+he wished to rent a furnished room. Mrs. Sanford seemed to like his
+appearance, and she offered him the small back room at a low rent.
+Having decided to take it, he told her that his name was Henry C.
+Morton, recently from England.
+
+"Oh! I am so glad you are from the old country," said Mrs. Sanford, "as
+I am from Edinboro' myself, and my father is Lord Chief Justice of the
+courts there. He is very rich, and has treated me very liberally since I
+left my husband; why, only last week, he sent me three thousand
+dollars."
+
+Just then a Mr. Bruce, the owner of the furniture store below, came in,
+looking rather tipsy. Mrs. Sanford introduced the two men, and Mr. Bruce
+said something about being an Irishman.
+
+"Why, what a strange coincidence," said Mr. Morton. "Here are three
+persons, each representing one of the three kingdoms of Great Britain.
+If I had some one to send for some ale, we would drink a toast to
+Britannia, God bless her!"
+
+After talking together for some time, Mrs. Sanford and Mr. Morton went
+into the sitting-room, and Mr. Bruce went down to his store. Then Morton
+said that he had left his valise at the Stock Yards, and that he would
+go for it at once. On his return, he found two rough-looking men at the
+door trying to get in, but the bell would not ring, and so Morton went
+away for half an hour, leaving the men knocking and kicking on the door.
+About eight o'clock, he came back and found the door open. He went
+upstairs and entered the sitting-room. Mrs. Sanford was full of
+apologies for having locked him out, but she said that she had had
+trouble with one of her boarders, and she had resolved to keep him out
+of the house. While they were talking, the two men whom Morton had seen
+at the door came in, and a quarrel immediately sprang up between Mrs.
+Sanford and the younger of the two. In a short time, they both became
+furiously angry, and they used the most bitterly opprobrious language
+toward each other. Finally, Mrs. Sanford, who was ironing, rushed at the
+young man with a flatiron in her hand, and she would undoubtedly have
+seriously injured him if he had not escaped into his own room at the
+head of the stairs. She then laid a heavy poker on the table beside her,
+and said that she would mash his skull if he came near her again. In a
+short time, he again reentered the room, when, seizing the poker, she
+rushed at him like a fury. He succeeded in avoiding her until Morton and
+the other man induced her to give up the poker; and both the strangers
+then went away, saying that they should be back at eleven o'clock.
+
+After their departure, Mrs. Sanford dropped into a chair and cried for a
+time, saying that she never had acted so before in her life, as no one
+had ever treated her so shamefully. Then she became loquacious and
+confidential, telling Morton the old story of her father being Lord
+Chief Justice of Scotland, and her husband a wealthy man in Buffalo. She
+recited the reasons she had for leaving her husband, and said that her
+father first sent her one hundred and fifty dollars after the
+separation, but that she thought so small a sum was an insult, and so
+she sent it back. She added that he had promised her three thousand
+dollars very soon, and that she expected to receive it in a week or two.
+From this subject, she drifted to the story of young Trafton's death,
+which she told with great minuteness. She said that when she found he
+was dead, she fainted away, and did not recover for nearly two hours.
+
+While she was running on in her story, a loud noise was heard, and she
+explained to Morton that Mr. Bruce had been drinking all day, until he
+was afraid to go home, and that now he was quite drunk in her room. She
+said that he had been very kind to her in letting her have furniture on
+credit, and so she wanted to make him comfortable until he was sobered
+off. During the evening she recited a number of selections from Byron,
+Scott, and Longfellow, and even gave several parts from Shakespeare's
+plays with great force and beauty of elocution. She also talked a great
+deal about Jack Ingham, a former lodger in her rooms, and she seemed to
+have a very high opinion of him. She said that he was obliged to leave
+town because the police were after him about something he had done,
+adding, that she didn't care for that, however, and she would never go
+back on a friend, but would shield him for anything except murder. It
+was after two o'clock in the morning before they retired, and as she had
+not fitted up Morton's room properly, she made a bed for him on the
+lounge in the sitting-room. As Mr. Bruce was lying dead-drunk on her
+bed, she was obliged to sleep on the floor of her room.
+
+About four o'clock Morton was awakened by Mrs. Sanford, who said that
+she could not sleep in her room, as Bruce snored so loudly, just as
+Stanley Trafton did the night he died.
+
+"Oh! it is horrible to think of," she said, shuddering. "I shall go
+crazy if I stay in there any longer."
+
+She then lay down on the table and covered herself with a bedspread she
+had brought from her own room. About six o'clock they were awakened by
+a loud noise at the outer door, and Mrs. Sanford said that those drunken
+loafers had come back again. She immediately got up, took a revolver
+from her room, and went down to the door, where she told the men to go
+away, as she would not admit them at that time of night. While she was
+talking Bruce began moving around, and he found his way into the hall.
+Then Morton heard a great crash, as if some one had fallen downstairs,
+followed by a call from Mrs. Sanford, in tragic tones, for him to come
+and help her. Morton went out and found that Bruce had fallen from the
+top to the foot of the stairs, and on going down he discovered the
+unfortunate representative of the Emerald Isle lying in a heap against
+the front door. The two men outside had evidently been scared away by
+the noise, and they did not return until eight o'clock. Bruce was not
+hurt, except a cut on his hand, which Morton bound up, and then quiet
+reigned again until after daylight. About nine o'clock Morton went in to
+see Bruce, whom he found sitting up in bed. Bruce said that his money
+was gone, and that Mrs. Sanford had drugged him the night before to
+enable her to steal it. Morton called Mrs. Sanford, and asked where
+Bruce's money was. She said she had put it away for safe keeping, and,
+lifting the mattress, she took out two pocket-books and a box containing
+her watch, trinkets, etc. Having given Bruce his pocket-book, she went
+out, and he then counted his money. He said he ought to have eighty-one
+dollars, but that she had helped herself to ten dollars; it was not
+worth while making a fuss about it, but he said that he knew she had
+drugged him.
+
+After awhile, Mr. Graves came in, and had a private interview with Mrs.
+Sanford. She seemed afraid of him, while he acted as if he had some hold
+upon her. When they came into the sitting-room, where Bruce and Morton
+were talking together, Mrs. Sanford asked Graves to lend her a dollar,
+but he refused.
+
+"Pshaw! I don't want it," she replied. "I only asked to see whether
+you'd lend it, as I have quite enough of my own;" and, so saying, she
+took out her pocket-book.
+
+Morton saw her count out nine ten-dollar bills and nine one-dollar
+bills. From the fact that she showed just ninety-nine dollars,
+it was probable that she had only recently changed one of the
+one-hundred-dollar bills taken from young Trafton. She then opened
+another compartment, and took out two pieces of folded paper, of a
+creamy tint, apparently about the size of two sheets of foolscap. They
+were folded several times, and were crammed in pretty tight.
+
+"Do you know what those are?" she asked.
+
+"No, I do not," he replied; "what are they?"
+
+She merely laughed, and closed the pocket-book, whispering that she
+didn't want Graves and Bruce to see her money. She said she did not wish
+to be left alone with Graves, for fear he should rob her; so Morton
+asked him to go out and play a game of billiards. Bruce was in a great
+state of anxiety, lest his wife should have come down to the store to
+see where he had spent the night, and he remained with Mrs. Sanford.
+
+Morton did not return to Mrs. Sanford's until late in the evening, and
+he found her dressing to go to a ball. She insisted that he should go,
+offering to pay all the expenses. He pretended to be very much hurt at
+her suggestion, saying that he never would permit any lady to pay
+anything when he took her out. She was dressed very tastefully, and
+presented a very stylish appearance, so that she attracted a good deal
+of attention at the ball. Before going, she sent Morton to a drug store
+for a drachm of morphine, saying that she must have it, as she used it
+constantly.
+
+The next morning, they did not get up until a late hour, and Mrs.
+Sanford said that she did not feel very well. While talking together,
+they drifted into a discussion about money. Morton, like a genuine John
+Bull, maintaining there was no safety except in gold, or Bank of England
+notes.
+
+"But we don't have either in this country," said Mrs. Sanford; "and now,
+suppose you had a large sum of money, what would you do with it?"
+
+"That's just what I would like to know," he replied. "I expect to
+receive one hundred pounds from England very soon, and I don't know
+where to keep it."
+
+"Well, I shall put my three thousand dollars into bonds," she said.
+"They can be registered, so that no one can use them except the rightful
+owner, and the interest is payable in gold."
+
+"I don't know anything about bonds," said Morton, "especially these
+American bonds, which sometimes depreciate very fast."
+
+"Oh! the bonds of the United States are good anywhere," she replied,
+"and they will sell for their face in England or Canada just as well as
+here. They are the best securities there are. I have some now, and I
+intend to get some more."
+
+While talking, Morton picked up a card which was in her work-basket, and
+saw that it was an advertisement of a gift concert or lottery. She
+noticed it, and said that it had been left there by a man named Druen,
+who used to come to see her. She said that he had stolen a
+five-hundred-dollar bond from her, however, and he had never been there
+since. Soon afterward she went to sleep again, and did not awake until
+evening, as she was very tired from the effects of the ball. Morton
+remained in the house all day; and, when she woke up, he got supper for
+her. She seemed very much pleased at his thoughtfulness, and said that
+she never had had any one so kind to her since she left her husband.
+
+"I want you to go to the bank with me some day," she said, "as I want to
+draw the interest on some of my coupons, and then you will see what good
+securities American bonds are."
+
+"I shall be very glad to go with you," said Morton; "for, if they are
+really good securities, I will invest some money in them."
+
+"Oh! there is nothing better," she replied, "and I will show you mine."
+
+She then took out the pocket-book she had shown him before, and unfolded
+one of the pieces of paper. Morton saw that it was a five-hundred-dollar
+bond, of the issue of 1865, payable in 1885, with about twenty or thirty
+coupons attached. He was so surprised and excited at seeing the bond,
+that he could hardly tell what to do, and so he failed to notice the
+most important point--the number. By the time she had opened the other
+bond, however, he had his wits a little more under command, and he was
+able to remember that the figures of the number were five, seven, one,
+zero, and some other figure; but he could not recollect positively the
+order in which they came.
+
+"You can go to the bank to-morrow and get the coupons cashed for me,
+can't you?" she asked, after putting away the bonds.
+
+"Oh! certainly, if you wish me to do so," he replied.
+
+Then she laughed, and said:
+
+"You would be arrested if you should take these bonds to the bank."
+
+"How so?" he asked, apparently in great surprise. "Why should I be
+arrested?"
+
+"Because the bonds belong to me, and you would have to give an account
+of the way in which you obtained them."
+
+"Oh! well," he replied, "you could give me an order, and that would make
+it all right."
+
+"Yes, I suppose so," she said, carelessly.
+
+Her object, evidently, was to make Morton believe that it would not do
+for him to attempt to steal the bonds; for, though she trusted him to
+the extent of showing him her money and valuables, she was eternally
+suspicious and careful.
+
+Of course, on receiving Morton's report, I felt quite confident that the
+two bonds he had seen were a part of those taken from young Trafton.
+Still, I had no positive proof of their identity, and, in accordance
+with my invariable custom, I took no hasty step, being confident that my
+detective would soon elicit all the facts. I wrote to Mr. Richard S.
+Trafton, however, suggesting that he have himself appointed
+administrator of his son's estate, so that he could begin proceedings
+instantly, the moment I was ready.
+
+Several days passed, during which Morton gained Mrs. Sanford's
+confidence more and more. She was anxious one evening that he should rob
+Mr. Bruce, who came in half drunk; but Morton told her that he never
+worked that way.
+
+"Why, Jack Ingham would have killed a man to get money out of him," said
+Mrs. Sanford. "Jack wasn't afraid to do anything for money."
+
+"Well, that isn't my style," said Morton, contemptuously. "Do you
+suppose I am going to have a scuffle and struggle, ending perhaps in
+murder, when I can make ten times as much by a little skillful work
+with my pen? I don't want the police to be snuffing 'round my heels on
+account of highway robbery and such small game; when _I_ do anything to
+set them after me, it will be for a big stake, and even if they catch
+me, they will be mighty glad to compromise. Oh! no; not any little jobs
+for me; it is only the big rascals who can work safely."
+
+Morton succeeded in inducing her to leave Bruce alone, though she had
+evidently meant to drug him, for she took a glass of beer, which she had
+poured out for him, and threw it into the sink. They all drank
+considerable beer, however, during the evening, and Mrs. Sanford, having
+taken also a large dose of morphine, became nearly insensible. On seeing
+her condition, Morton and another lodger thought they had better put her
+to bed; but as Bruce was in a drunken stupor in her room, Morton
+determined to try the effect of putting her into the room where young
+Trafton had died. No sooner had they laid her on the bed, however,
+before she sprang up, gazed around an instant, and then rushed shrieking
+from the room, saying that she dare not lie there, and that she had seen
+"him" lying beside her. She was then placed on the lounge in the
+sitting-room, where she became quite hysterical. Morton sat beside her,
+and soothed her until she became quiet, and about midnight she fell
+asleep.
+
+Morton said to me, on making one of his reports, that she would often
+determine to give up morphine and liquor, and live more respectably.
+Then she would become excited from the craving for the drug, and would
+take a dose, which would soothe her, make her amiable, and give her
+energy enough to do anything; gradually she would become wild again, and
+would be almost unbearable, while the maddening effect lasted,
+especially if she took any liquor to add to her temper; finally, the
+influence would pass off, leaving her weak, despondent, and stupidly
+affectionate. I saw that she was not likely to confess anything to any
+one, and I therefore decided to bring the affair to a crisis without
+delay.
+
+
+
+
+                          CHAPTER V.
+
+    _A moneyed young Texan becomes one of Mrs. Sanford's Lodgers.--The
+          Bonds are seen, and their Numbers taken by the
+          Detectives.--Mrs. Sanford Arrested.--Sudden and Shrewd Defense
+          by the Prisoner.--She is found guilty of "Involuntary
+          Manslaughter" and sentenced to the Illinois Penitentiary for
+          five years.--Misdirected Philanthropy, and its Reward.--Mr.
+          Pinkerton's Theory of the Manner in which Trafton was
+          Murdered._
+
+
+Having discussed my plan with my superintendent, Mr. F. Warner, I sent
+for one of my youngest men, named Thomas Barlow, and gave him explicit
+instructions as to the course which he was to pursue in connection with
+Mrs. Sanford.
+
+On the first day of February, therefore, a young fellow called at Mrs.
+Sanford's about five o'clock in the afternoon, and asked if she had any
+rooms to rent. She was very civil to him, and offered him the room at
+the head of the stairs, for three dollars a week. While she was showing
+him the rooms, she asked him a number of questions about himself; and as
+he was a smooth-faced, innocent-looking young man, he told her all about
+his affairs. He said that his name was Thomas Barlow, from Texas, where
+his father was a great cattle-raiser; he had brought several hundred
+head of cattle to the city, and had sold them at a high price; he
+intended staying in Chicago for a short time, and then he should go up
+the Red River of the North, in the early spring, to do some fur trading,
+as he believed there was a good deal of money to be made up there, by
+any one with sufficient capital; he intended to have a good time in
+Chicago first, however.
+
+As soon as Mrs. Sanford learned that he had money with him, she became
+very affectionate indeed, telling him that she would make him more
+comfortable than he could be anywhere else, and that she would treat him
+like a prince. She introduced Morton as her brother, and said that they
+would all go to the theatre together. At first, Barlow refused, but she
+insisted so urgently, that he finally consented to go. He went away for
+an hour to get his valise, and when he returned, Mrs. Sanford was
+dressed in her most stylish clothes, as if determined to make the best
+possible impression upon him. He was very good-natured and boyish,
+apparently believing all she told him, and laughing at all her attempts
+to be funny. After leaving the theatre, she learned that one of her old
+acquaintances was to have a "grand opening" in a new saloon, and she was
+obstinately determined to find the place. After walking about for an
+hour, she called a hackman, and offered him five dollars to find this
+new saloon, where she was anxious to take a drink, as she said, "for
+good luck and old acquaintance' sake." After driving about until
+midnight, she learned that the opening was postponed, and they then went
+to a restaurant near her house to get supper. It was two o'clock before
+they went to bed, but before going, Mrs. Sanford learned that Barlow was
+to receive his pay for the cattle in a check for over four thousand
+dollars. She talked with him about the risk of carrying money around on
+the person, and told him that he ought to buy bonds, as then they would
+not be lost even if they should be stolen. He agreed with her, and said
+that he would try to buy some bonds when he got his check cashed.
+
+The next morning they took breakfast with Mrs. Sanford, as she seemed
+anxious to keep Barlow with her as much as possible. It was noticeable
+that she did not, as she had usually done in all previous instances,
+tell him anything about young Trafton, who had died in her house, "with
+eighteen thousand dollars in bonds in his boots." She told Barlow that
+she had some bonds, and he would do well to get the same kind.
+
+"I don't know much about them," he replied, "but if _you_ think they are
+good, I guess they are good enough for me. What are they like? I never
+saw any."
+
+"I will show you mine," said Mrs. Sanford. "I am going to sell one of
+them soon, as my lease is up at the end of the month, and I want to buy
+a house."
+
+She then went into her bedroom, closed the door, and remained several
+minutes. When she came out, she had a fat pocket-book in her hand, and
+she took from it the two pieces of folded paper which she had shown to
+Morton. On opening them, she spread them out, and both Barlow and Morton
+saw the numbers plainly, as they looked over her shoulder.
+
+"There, these little tickets are coupons," she explained to Barlow; "and
+every six months I can get fifteen dollars in gold by cutting off one
+from each bond."
+
+"Did you say you wanted to sell one?" asked Morton. "If you do, perhaps
+you might sell it to Mr. Barlow, as a sample of the kind he wants to
+get."
+
+"Yes, that would be a good idea," said Barlow; "then they can't fool me
+with any other kind, when I go to buy."
+
+"Well, I guess I will do it," said Mrs. Sanford; "at any rate, you can
+see me about it before you go to buy yours."
+
+She then put the bonds into the pocket-book again and went into her
+bedroom. On her return, Barlow told her that he must go down town to
+get paid for his cattle, and he asked Morton to go with him.
+Accordingly, the two men went out about noon, but Mrs. Sanford called
+Morton back a moment to tell him to stay with Barlow all day.
+
+"Don't you lose sight of him for a minute," she said; "and bring him
+back here with all his money."
+
+They did not return until after four o'clock, and Barlow told her that
+he had been obliged to go to the stockyards to get paid. He then went to
+his room for a few minutes, and Mrs. Sanford asked Morton whether Barlow
+had his money with him.
+
+"Yes, they gave him a check for the amount, but it was too late to get
+it cashed, and he will have to wait until to-morrow."
+
+"Couldn't we get it away from him and forge his name to it?" she asked.
+"We could get it cashed the first thing in the morning."
+
+"It would be too risky," he replied, "as they probably know him at the
+bank, and we should be arrested at once. But you can offer to go with
+him to the bank in the morning, and he is so soft that you will not have
+much trouble in getting a large sum out of him."
+
+During the evening, Mrs. Sanford was very affectionate toward Barlow,
+and she learned all about him. He told his story in such a way, that she
+believed him to be an innocent country boy from Texas, whose most
+dangerous experiences had hitherto consisted of hairbreath 'scapes from
+steer and bull. He showed her a check on the First National Bank for
+about four thousand dollars, and told her that when he got it cashed in
+the morning, he would give her a nice present. It was then agreed that
+she should go to the bank with him next day. The evening was spent in
+reading aloud and singing, and they all retired much earlier than usual.
+
+When Morton and Barlow left Mrs. Sanford at noon, they had, of course,
+come to my office to report their discovery of the stolen bonds. There
+was now no possibility of a mistake, as they had seen the two bonds of
+the series A, numbered 57,109 and 87,656. I therefore instructed Mr.
+Warner to obtain a warrant for her arrest, and a search warrant for her
+house, both to be served the next morning before the hour appointed for
+going to the bank with Barlow. Everything was prepared in advance, a
+trustworthy constable was obtained to make the arrest, and a telegram
+was sent to Mr. R. S. Trafton in Cleveland, asking him to come to
+Chicago immediately. A reply was received the next morning, stating that
+he had left by the evening train.
+
+About eleven o'clock on Saturday, February 3, Mr. Warner and the
+constable arrived at Mrs. Sanford's rooms. On knocking at the door of
+the sitting-room, they were admitted by Morton, who asked what they
+wanted.
+
+"I would like to engage rooms, if there are any to rent," said Mr.
+Warner.
+
+"I will speak to the landlady," said Morton, going to the door of her
+room.
+
+"Tell the gentleman to call again," said Mrs. Sanford; "I am not
+dressed, and can't see him."
+
+"I only wish to see her a few minutes," Mr. Warner replied, addressing
+Morton in a tone loud enough to be heard by Mrs. Sanford, whose door was
+slightly ajar.
+
+"Well, I can't see the gentleman until this afternoon," she replied.
+
+"I have some important business, and I must attend to it now," answered
+Mr. Warner, putting his foot in the opening and pushing the door in with
+his shoulder; then he continued, addressing the constable, "This is Mrs.
+Sanford, and you can arrest her now."
+
+The constable immediately took charge of her, and she was allowed to
+complete her toilet, though Mr. Warner first searched her dress, before
+letting her put it on. He then made a careful search of the bedroom,
+during the progress of which Mrs. Sanford was very noisy and
+troublesome, crying, and pretending to go into hysterics several times.
+Once, when Mr. Warner was looking very carefully through her trunk, she
+said to him, in very tragic tones:
+
+"By the way you act, one would think you were looking for a murdered
+man."
+
+"Well, perhaps if we had come a little sooner, we might have found one,"
+he replied, quickly, giving her a sharp glance.
+
+As nothing had been said to her or to any one else about any charge
+except that of larceny, this remark was highly significant; and, on her
+trial, it undoubtedly had great weight with the jury.
+
+Mr. Warner soon found the pocket-book containing the bonds under the
+mattress of her bed, and after examining them sufficiently to identify
+them, he gave them to the constable. Mrs. Sanford was then taken to my
+office, and, as Mr. Trafton had arrived from Cleveland, we tried to have
+an interview with her relative to young Trafton's death. She was too
+crafty, however, and she pretended to go into hysterics whenever we
+began to question her.
+
+Meantime, Morton and Barlow had accompanied her, and Morton offered to
+get her a lawyer to advise her. She was very grateful to him, and said
+he was her only friend. He soon brought in a lawyer well versed in
+defending criminals, and the whole party then went to the justice's
+courtroom. At the close of the examination, she was held to await the
+action of the Grand Jury, and, in default of two thousand dollars bail,
+she was sent to the county jail. She told Morton that her lawyer could
+not half lie, and that she should not pay him a cent. She stood up, when
+the justice's decision was announced, and made quite a speech; and the
+native cunning of the woman was never more clearly shown than in this
+plea, which was undoubtedly invented on the spur of the moment. She
+claimed that young Trafton had given her the bonds to support her child,
+whose father he was, and she spoke with so much vigor and cunning that
+many persons believed her statement to be true. Thus, without
+consultation or legal advice, she invented in a moment the strongest
+possible defense against the charge of larceny,--the charge of murder
+had not then been brought.
+
+When she was removed to the jail, she gave Morton the keys to her rooms,
+telling him to take charge of everything there, and to find a purchaser
+for her furniture. He therefore informed two young men who were lodging
+there that Mrs. Sanford had been arrested, and that they must find other
+rooms, as he intended to sell out the furniture. After they had gone he
+cleaned up the house, packed Mrs. Sanford's trunks, and made everything
+look as well as possible. While she was awaiting trial, he visited her
+every day and gave her various delicacies to improve the prison fare.
+One day he pretended to have pawned his overcoat for five dollars, in
+order to get her some lemons, tea, and sugar. She was very much touched,
+and she gave him five dollars to get back his coat; but this action was
+due to a momentary impulse. She had plenty of money, and was able to get
+anything she wanted; but her desire to hold fast to her money was
+greater than her wish for good food. Indeed, she came near jeopardizing
+her cause by refusing to pay the lawyer she had engaged, but finally she
+gave him a retaining fee of fifty dollars.
+
+She was very anxious to learn who were the detectives employed in
+working up the case, and she said that she believed Barlow had had
+something to do with her arrest. Morton agreed with her, and, as the
+papers had said that there were three engaged in the case, he suggested
+that perhaps the two men whom she had turned out of doors were also
+detectives. She never suspected either Ingham or Morton for a moment;
+and when Ingham called upon her in jail, she was delighted to see him.
+She tried to get bail from the two brothers, named Pratt, who had
+occupied one of her rooms, as one of them had been very intimate with
+her; but they were afraid of getting mixed up in her difficulties, and
+so refused to help her obtain bail. She also asked Ingham to swear to a
+number of falsehoods about her intimacy with Trafton, and when he
+refused to do so, for fear of being tried for perjury, she said that she
+could get "her Billy" to swear to anything. This "Billy" proved to be
+one William Simpson, a barkeeper, and her former paramour. He was
+tracked for some time by my detectives, but he suddenly disappeared, and
+was not seen again until her trial for larceny, when, just as she said,
+he was willing to swear to anything. He then disappeared again, but I
+did not take much interest in following him up, as I knew that he would
+not dare to repeat his perjury when the murder trial should take place.
+His testimony was to the effect that he had overheard a conversation
+between Mrs. Sanford and young Trafton, in which the latter acknowledged
+that he was the father of Mrs. Sanford's child, having been intimate
+with her in Buffalo about eighteen months before. The question of a
+support for the child was discussed between them, and Trafton said that
+he would give her fifteen hundred or two thousand dollars in bonds, to
+enable her to bring up his child in comfort. The witness also testified
+that Trafton and Mrs. Sanford were very intimate with each other, often
+occupying the same room together; that Mrs. Sanford often spoke of her
+former intimacy with him; and that he inferred from their conversation
+that Trafton had been the cause of her separation from her husband. This
+testimony was very skillfully manufactured and artistically developed,
+so as to make Trafton appear in the light of a libertine and profligate,
+and Mrs. Sanford as a confiding wife, led astray by the wiles of a
+treacherous man. In spite of the bad character and appearance of this
+fellow Simpson, his testimony had enough weight with some of the jury to
+cause a disagreement, and Mrs. Sanford was remanded to jail.
+
+Mr. Robert S. Trafton was anxious to bring her to punishment, as he felt
+confident that she had caused the death of his son. The circumstances of
+the case caused considerable delay, and it was not until January 27,
+1873, nearly a year after her arrest, that the trial on the charge of
+murder took place.
+
+The testimony in this trial was highly interesting on many accounts. The
+County Physician, who had made the first post-mortem examination of the
+remains, and who had given congestion of the lungs as the cause of
+death, stated that he found the deceased lying dead in Mrs. Sanford's
+rooms, and that he took charge of the property found in his possession.
+He stated that he should have made a closer examination if he had not
+found the bonds and money; but he did not suspect foul play, and
+therefore made only a hasty investigation.
+
+By the testimony of two or three witnesses it was shown that on the
+night of Trafton's death Mrs. Sanford went into two saloons about
+midnight, asking for "her Billy," meaning the man Simpson, by whose
+testimony she escaped conviction on the larceny charge, he being then
+living on her bounty. While looking for him she was very wild and
+excited, her clothes being disordered, and her watch-chain broken. To
+one witness she said that she wished Billy to come to her house to look
+at the "prettiest corpse she ever saw." One witness testified that she
+returned to his saloon about five or six o'clock in the morning, and
+induced him to go up to her rooms to look at the body; he did so, and
+found the body of a man lying in bed, partly covered up. She had a large
+roll of money and papers in her pocket-book.
+
+A surgeon of the highest reputation in Cleveland was called, and gave
+his testimony in the most direct and convincing manner, like a man who
+knew perfectly well what he was talking about, and who was not guessing
+at any of the facts as stated by him. He declared that death resulted
+from the blow on the right side, aided by the violence on the throat and
+neck. There was very slight congestion of the brain and of the lungs,
+but he was positive that death was not the result of either of these;
+indeed, leaving out of consideration the marks of external violence, he
+said that he should not have been able to account for Mr. Trafton's
+death. At the conclusion of his re-direct examination he said that death
+could be caused by a heavy blow of the fist, followed by choking, and he
+would swear positively that Trafton's death was produced by violence.
+The testimony of this witness was corroborated by that of several other
+surgeons of high reputation, and then a sensation was created by the
+calling of John Ingham for the prosecution.
+
+As Mrs. Sanford saw her well-beloved friend, Jack, take the stand and
+acknowledge himself to be one of Pinkerton's dreaded detectives, she
+broke down and cried bitterly. Ingham related the history of his
+connection with the affair, stating the different stories which Mrs.
+Sanford had told about Trafton's death, and also her fear of going in
+the room where he died. He then gave the inside history of his arrest
+for the alleged robbery of Adamson, showing that it had been planned in
+advance by me to induce Mrs. Sanford to give him her confidence. After
+her arrest for larceny, he had visited her in jail, and she had tried to
+get him to swear that he had heard Trafton promise to give her the bonds
+to support her child. When he objected, on the ground that he might be
+arrested for perjury, she had told him that "her Billy," meaning William
+Simpson, would swear to it anyhow.
+
+The testimony of Mr. Warner relative to finding the bonds in Mrs.
+Sanford's possession was corroborated by that of the constable; they
+also repeated Mrs. Sanford's remark made during the search, before any
+charge of murder had even been suggested: "By the way you act, I should
+think you were looking for a murdered man."
+
+When the testimony for the prosecution was all in, the defense had a
+turn, and they produced as many medical experts to prove that Trafton
+did not die of violence, as the other side had to prove that he did not
+die a natural death; indeed, from the medical testimony given, there
+might have been grave doubts raised as to whether he had any business to
+die at all, for, according to both sides, no adequate cause of death had
+been discovered. Several witnesses testified that they believed him to
+have been on a long spree just before his death, but these were soon
+rebutted by equally trustworthy witnesses for the prosecution.
+
+In summing up, the counsel for the people presented a highly plausible
+theory of the manner in which the murder was committed, and asked a
+verdict on the following grounds:
+
+Young Trafton, as shown by the testimony of his father and others,
+visited Chicago to buy grain, and he was, therefore, under the necessity
+of carrying with him a large amount of money. Being unable to get a
+room at any hotel convenient to business, he probably entered the first
+place where he saw the sign, "Rooms to Rent," and engaged a
+sleeping-room, taking his meals at a hotel near by. While lodging with
+Mrs. Sanford, he was trying to buy grain at a paying figure, and he was
+daily in consultation with Captain Dalton, who commanded one of his
+father's schooners. Finding that he could not buy to any advantage in
+the existing condition of the grain market, he sent the schooner back to
+Cleveland on the last day of November, in order that she should not be
+caught in the ice in the straits at the close of navigation. He was then
+ready to return himself, and, doubtless, on going to his lodgings, he so
+informed Mrs. Sanford. As he had made no secret of his reason for
+visiting Chicago, she was, probably, well aware of his object, and also
+of the fact that he had a large amount of money with him. Seeing his
+careless ways, the idea occurred to her to rob him, and, having his
+expected departure in view, she knew that she would have only one more
+opportunity to carry out her scheme.
+
+On his return that evening, therefore, having just parted from Captain
+Dalton in perfect health and sobriety, he was invited to eat supper with
+her. Suspecting no harm, he sat down and ate a hearty supper. In some
+way, either in his food or drink, a dose of morphine was given to him,
+and he soon fell fast asleep. The woman's opportunity was before her,
+and all the natural thirst for money which characterized her came upon
+her with full force, urging her on and inciting her to any lengths
+necessary to accomplish her object. Having laid him on his bed, she
+began to search his pockets with the stealthy touch of a practiced hand.
+Finding nothing at first to reward her search, she pulled off one of his
+boots and discovered the United States bonds, which he had concealed
+there. But the violence necessary to remove the boot caused him to
+partly waken from his drugged sleep, and he became vaguely aware that
+some one was trying to rob him. Still in a drowsy, confused state,
+however, he was unable to do more than to sit up and clutch wildly at
+his assailant; having caught one of the bonds, he clung to it until it
+was torn in two pieces, the fragments plainly showing how they had been
+wrenched asunder in the clasp of two determined hands--those of the
+murderess and her victim. But she soon found that he was gaining his
+senses too rapidly, and that she would be foiled in her attempted
+robbery; hence, with every blinding passion aroused, her greed and her
+fear equally inciting her to action, she struck him a heavy blow on the
+thigh and another more powerful one on the side. Partly stunned by the
+concussion, he fell back, and she then seized him by the throat. Her
+round, plump hands, though powerful enough to strangle him, left only
+slight marks of abrasion on the skin, and in a few minutes all was over.
+His property was at her mercy, and she gave no thought to the body of
+her victim until she had seized every piece of valuable paper in his
+possession.
+
+But her position was a dangerous one, and, on cooling off somewhat, she
+saw that something must be done to remove any appearance of foul play.
+How could it be done most effectually? Manifestly by giving no apparent
+ground for suspecting that she had any object in his death; and no
+course would be more effectual than to leave such an amount of property
+in his possession as to make strangers believe that none of it had been
+taken. It may well be imagined that this was her hardest task; for to
+give up money was probably a greater hardship for her than for some
+people to give up life. Still, it would never do to run the risk of
+being accused of murder; so, reluctantly, she placed one bond in his
+pocket, and, by accident, included with it one-half of the torn bond,
+the other half being placed under his head, in the boot from which it
+was taken. She then undressed the body, placed it naturally in bed, and
+went out to look for "her Billy," her paramour and panderer in vice.
+
+This was the history of the crime, as pictured by the prosecution; and
+all her actions since that fatal night had been in harmony with such a
+theory. Her allegations of intimacy with young Trafton were unsupported,
+save by the testimony of this William Simpson, her paramour. It was
+noticeable that, while this man had testified in the trial for larceny
+that he had overheard Mr. Trafton's acknowledgment of being the father
+of Mrs. Sanford's child, in the murder trial he was not asked to give
+any such testimony, nor was the existence of such a child even hinted at
+by the defense. The counsel for Mrs. Sanford were well aware that she
+had never had a child, and that this fact could be proven if necessary.
+On discovering, too, that Jack Ingham was a Pinkerton detective, instead
+of Mrs. Sanford's best friend, they saw other reasons why it would not
+be advisable to cause Mr. William Simpson to perjure himself again.
+
+The defense contented themselves with claiming that there was no
+sufficient evidence to prove that Mr. Trafton had died a violent death
+at all, and that there was no evidence whatever to show that, even if
+foul play had occurred, Mrs. Sanford had been the guilty person. This
+plea was ably presented by the counsel, and the judge then briefly
+charged the jury as to the law, and the form of their verdict. During
+the early part of the trial, Mrs. Sanford behaved very badly, often
+contradicting witnesses aloud, and making many audible remarks to the
+jury and the Court; after the testimony for the defense began, however,
+she paid very little attention to the proceedings, often dozing and
+sleeping in her chair. This habit was, undoubtedly, due to the use of
+morphine, of which she consumed large quantities.
+
+The jury retired at three o'clock, and, on the first ballot, they stood
+nine for conviction and three for acquittal. After discussing the
+testimony for more than four hours, a compromise was reached, and the
+judge having been informed that the jury had agreed upon a verdict, the
+prisoner was brought in to hear the finding.
+
+All being in readiness, the clerk read the verdict as follows:
+
+"We, the jury, find the defendant guilty of involuntary manslaughter,
+and fix her time of imprisonment at five years in the penitentiary."
+
+At the word "guilty," Mrs. Sanford gave a violent start; but, as the
+remainder of the finding was read, she seemed to feel agreeably
+surprised. She asked for a glass of water in a low tone, turned very
+white, and then fainted away before the water could be handed to her.
+
+She was then removed to the jail to await the argument on a motion for a
+new trial. While there, she gave one of the most effectual evidences of
+her ruling passion--greed. She was the object of considerable sympathy
+among a certain class of sentimentalists, and the amount of compassion
+wasted upon her was remarkable to those who knew her real character and
+habits; but there is no accounting for tastes, and so Mrs. Sanford was
+treated with great consideration by a number of well-meaning but
+unsophisticated people. Among the Good Samaritans who took the most
+interest in her was a lady named Mrs. Jones, and this lady visited her
+quite frequently in her cell, bringing her books and papers.
+
+One morning, Mrs. Jones complained of feeling unwell, and Mrs. Sanford
+immediately gave her a glass of water. Soon after drinking it, Mrs.
+Jones became very sleepy, and in a few minutes, she was in a sound
+slumber. This effect had been produced, of course, by a dose of morphine
+in the water, and Mrs. Sanford then proceeded to rob Mrs. Jones of all
+her valuables. Mrs. Jones was in moderate circumstances, and her purse
+was not sufficiently well filled to satisfy Mrs. Sanford's avaricious
+demon; hence, she made a thorough search for other plunder. It happened
+that Mrs. Jones, having lost all of her upper teeth, had supplied their
+place by an artificial set, mounted on a plate of solid gold. Not
+content, therefore, with plundering her benefactress in other respects,
+Mrs. Sanford actually took the set of teeth from Mrs. Jones's mouth, and
+hid them in her own trunk.
+
+Of course, on awakening, Mrs. Jones missed her teeth and charged Mrs.
+Sanford with having taken them. The latter denied having done so, railed
+and swore at Mrs. Jones, and tried to prevent the officers from
+searching the cell. The teeth and other articles stolen from Mrs. Jones
+were found at the bottom of Mrs. Sanford's trunk, and Mrs. Jones retired
+from the jail strongly impressed with the conviction that philanthropy
+had its hardships as well as rewards.
+
+The motion for a new trial being overruled, sentence was pronounced in
+accordance with the verdict of the jury, and Mrs. Sanford was consigned
+to the Illinois State Penitentiary at Joliet.
+
+In regard to the manner in which young Trafton was murdered, I have
+always had a theory of my own; and, while of course I do not pretend to
+any surgical learning, I give it for what it is worth, prefacing it,
+however, with the remark that several eminent physicians concur in my
+opinion, or, at least, admit its strong probability.
+
+It will be remembered that Mrs. Sanford used morphine continually, and
+that she boasted of her ability to administer it in just the proper
+proportion to cause her victims to fall into a heavy sleep. In all
+probability, as suggested by the State's Attorney, she gave young
+Trafton a dose at supper; but it is also possible the effect was not
+sufficient, and that when she tried to rob him, he slightly revived,
+struggled, and, seizing one of the bonds in a convulsive grasp, tore it
+in two.
+
+So far, the theories are identical, but I failed to see a sufficient
+cause of death in the slight blow and mild choking, especially as the
+lungs did not present the conditions which would have appeared had death
+resulted from strangulation or asphyxia. On searching Mrs. Sanford's
+rooms, Mr. Warner found two or three small syringes, intended for making
+hypodermic injections, and these led me to believe she caused Trafton's
+death by morphine alone. My idea was as follows:
+
+When she found that Trafton was not sufficiently drugged to enable her
+to rob him in safety, she probably let him alone, and the drug again
+took effect to the extent of putting him to sleep. She then resorted to
+a subcutaneous injection of morphine, knowing that the soporific
+influence of the drug would thus be made more rapid and powerful. This
+operation was performed on the side, and then near the large veins of
+the leg, and thus were caused the apparent bruises filled with
+extravasated blood. Now, the effect of morphine varies largely,
+according to the constitution, temperament, and habits of the persons to
+whom it is given; but the combined result of internal and external doses
+almost invariably is death.
+
+It seems altogether probable to me, therefore, that Trafton came to his
+death in that manner, and that the traces of morphine in the wounds, as
+in the stomach, had wholly evaporated before the Cleveland surgeons made
+their examination, twelve days after death.
+
+Whatever may have been the means, however, there can be no doubt that
+murder most foul was committed, and that Mrs. Sanford richly deserved a
+greater punishment than was awarded to her. Whether she had any
+accomplice will never be known, but it is probable that she had some one
+in the house who was aware of the murder after it had been committed, if
+not before. This would account for the absence of the fifth bond, which
+was never recovered, but which was afterward traced back from the
+Treasury Department, when it was presented there, to some unknown woman,
+who had sold it in Milwaukee. This woman was evidently not Mrs. Sanford,
+but her identity could not be discovered, and, therefore, all trace was
+lost.
+
+                           THE END.
+
+Transcriber's Notes:
+
+Missing hyphenation at line breaks has been assumed, e.g. "necessary"
+not "neces sary" on page 81. Hyphenation has been standardized, e.g.,
+"bookkeeper", "cornfield", and "housewarming". Nonstandard spellings
+have been maintained, e.g. "intrusted", "dryest", "smouldering",
+"patroled", "tragical", "unnegotiable", "quartette", "gayety",
+"indorsed", "reentered". Missing periods have been added at ends of
+sentences. Other printers errors have been corrected as follows:
+
+Page v - "unvail" replaced with "unveil" for internal consistency
+
+Page 80 - "cousins" replaced with "Cousins"
+
+Page 92 - "Harrington" replaced with "Farrington"
+
+Page 104 - "insant" replaced with "instant"
+
+Page 156 - "pleasantly" replaced with "pleasantry"
+
+Page 160 - "to k" replaced with "took"
+
+Page 202 - "out door" replaced with "outdoor"
+
+Figure caption after page 166 - "Judges'" replaced with "Judge's"
+
+Figure caption after page 203 - "Fete Champetre" replaced with "Fete
+Champetre" for consistency
+
+Page 212 - "Don Pedo" replaced with "Don Pedro"
+
+Page 321 - "bfore" replaced with "before"
+
+Page 361 - "hairbreath" replaced with "hairbreadth"
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Mississippi Outlaws and the Detectives, by
+Allan Pinkerton
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUTLAWS ***
+
+***** This file should be named 35686.txt or 35686.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/6/8/35686/
+
+Produced by Hunter Monroe, Suzanne Shell 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.  Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark.  Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research.  They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+http://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B.  "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark.  It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.  See
+paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.  See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States.  If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed.  Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work.  You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work.  Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change.  If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E.  Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+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
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges.  If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form.  Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+     the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+     you already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  The fee is
+     owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+     has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+     Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.  Royalty payments
+     must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+     prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+     returns.  Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+     sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+     address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+     the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+     you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+     does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+     License.  You must require such a user to return or
+     destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+     and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+     Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+     money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+     electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+     of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+     distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark.  Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection.  Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3.  YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from.  If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation.  The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund.  If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5.  Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.  Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.  It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service.  The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541.  Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+http://pglaf.org/fundraising.  Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations.  Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org.  Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at http://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+     Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+     Chief Executive and Director
+     gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment.  Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States.  Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements.  We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance.  To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit http://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses.  Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations.
+To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5.  General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone.  For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+     http://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
diff --git a/35686.zip b/35686.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b7732ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/35686.zip
diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6312041
--- /dev/null
+++ b/LICENSE.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements,
+metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be
+in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES.
+
+Procedures for determining public domain status are described in
+the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org.
+
+No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in
+jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize
+this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright
+status under the laws that apply to them.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bac5ce0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for
+eBook #35686 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/35686)