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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. 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