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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:33:01 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/9312-8.txt b/9312-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d16fa3d --- /dev/null +++ b/9312-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4101 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, From Whose Bourne, by Robert Barr + + +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: From Whose Bourne + +Author: Robert Barr + +Release Date: November 17, 2004 [eBook #9312] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FROM WHOSE BOURNE*** + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, David Widger and PG Distributed +Proofreaders from images generously made available +by the Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions + + + + +FROM WHOSE BOURNE + + +BY ROBERT BARR (LUKE SHARP) + +AUTHOR OF "IN A STEAMER CHAIR" ETC. + +[Illustration: William Brenton.] + + +_WITH FORTY-SEVEN ILLUSTRATIONS + +BY C.M.D. HAMMOND, G.D. HAMMOND, AND HAL HURST_ + + +1893 + + + +TO + +AN HONEST MAN + +AND + +A GOOD WOMAN + + + +FROM WHOSE BOURNE + + + +PRINCIPAL ILLUSTRATIONS: + +Buel placed his portmanteau on the deck + +William Brenton + +"Do you think I shall be missed?" + +He again sat in the rocking-chair + +He saw standing beside him a stranger + +A Venetian Café + +Venice + +In Venice + +The Brenton Murder + +Mrs. Brenton + +Gold + +Publicity + +The Broken Toy + +"She's pretty as a picture" + +Raising the Veil + +Jane + +The Detective + +Jane Morton + +"Oh, why did I do it?" + +"How much time do you give me?" + +In the prisoner's dock + +"I feel very grateful to you" + +"Here's the detailed report" + +"Guilty! Guilty of what?" + + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +"My dear," said William Brenton to his wife, "do you think I shall be +missed if I go upstairs for a while? I am not feeling at all well." + +[Illustration: "Do you think I shall be missed?"] + +"Oh, I'm so sorry, Will," replied Alice, looking concerned; "I will tell +them you are indisposed." + +"No, don't do that," was the answer; "they are having a very good time, +and I suppose the dancing will begin shortly; so I don't think they will +miss me. If I feel better I will be down in an hour or two; if not, I +shall go to bed. Now, dear, don't worry; but have a good time with the +rest of them." + +William Brenton went quietly upstairs to his room, and sat down in the +darkness in a rocking chair. Remaining there a few minutes, and not +feeling any better, he slowly undressed and went to bed. Faint echoes +reached him of laughter and song; finally, music began, and he felt, +rather than heard, the pulsation of dancing feet. Once, when the music +had ceased for a time, Alice tiptoed into the room, and said in a quiet +voice-- + +"How are you feeling, Will? any better?" + +"A little," he answered drowsily. "Don't worry about me; I shall drop +off to sleep presently, and shall be all right in the morning. Good +night." + +He still heard in a dreamy sort of way the music, the dancing, the +laughter; and gradually there came oblivion, which finally merged into +a dream, the most strange and vivid vision he had ever experienced. +It seemed to him that he sat again in the rocking chair near the bed. +Although he knew the room was dark, he had no difficulty in seeing +everything perfectly. He heard, now quite plainly, the music and dancing +downstairs, but what gave a ghastly significance to his dream was the +sight of his own person on the bed. The eyes were half open, and the +face was drawn and rigid. The colour of the face was the white, greyish +tint of death. + +"This is a nightmare," said Brenton to himself; "I must try and wake +myself." But he seemed powerless to do this, and he sat there looking at +his own body while the night wore on. Once he rose and went to the side +of the bed. He seemed to have reached it merely by wishing himself +there, and he passed his hand over the face, but no feeling of touch was +communicated to him. He hoped his wife would come and rouse him from +this fearful semblance of a dream, and, wishing this, he found himself +standing at her side, amidst the throng downstairs, who were now merrily +saying good-bye. Brenton tried to speak to his wife, but although he +was conscious of speaking, she did not seem to hear him, or know he was +there. + +[Illustration: He again sat in the rocking-chair.] + +The party had been one given on Christmas Eve, and as it was now two +o'clock in the morning, the departing guests were wishing Mrs. Brenton a +merry Christmas. Finally, the door closed on the last of the revellers, +and Mrs. Brenton stood for a moment giving instructions to the sleepy +servants; then, with a tired sigh, she turned and went upstairs, Brenton +walking by her side until they came to the darkened room, which she +entered on tiptoe. + +"Now," said Brenton to himself, "she will arouse me from this appalling +dream." It was not that there was anything dreadful in the dream itself, +but the clearness with which he saw everything, and the fact that his +mind was perfectly wide awake, gave him an uneasiness which he found +impossible to shake off. + +In the dim light from the hall his wife prepared to retire. The horrible +thought struck Brenton that she imagined he was sleeping soundly, +and was anxious not to awaken him--for of course she could have no +realization of the nightmare he was in--so once again he tried to +communicate with her. He spoke her name over and over again, but she +proceeded quietly with her preparations for the night. At last she crept +in at the other side of the bed, and in a few moments was asleep. Once +more Brenton struggled to awake, but with no effect. He heard the clock +strike three, and then four, and then five, but there was no apparent +change in his dream. He feared that he might be in a trance, from which, +perhaps, he would not awake until it was too late. Grey daylight began +to brighten the window, and he noticed that snow was quietly falling +outside, the flakes noiselessly beating against the window pane. Every +one slept late that morning, but at last he heard the preparations for +breakfast going on downstairs--the light clatter of china on the table, +the rattle of the grate; and, as he thought of these things, he found +himself in the dining-room, and saw the trim little maid, who still +yawned every now and then, laying the plates in their places. He went +upstairs again, and stood watching the sleeping face of his wife. Once +she raised her hand above her head, and he thought she was going to +awake; ultimately her eyes opened, and she gazed for a time at the +ceiling, seemingly trying to recollect the events of the day before. + +"Will," she said dreamily, "are you still asleep?" + +There was no answer from the rigid figure at the front of the bed. After +a few moments she placed her hand quietly over the sleeper's face. As +she did so, her startled eyes showed that she had received a shock. +Instantly she sat upright in bed, and looked for one brief second on the +face of the sleeper beside her; then, with a shriek that pierced the +stillness of the room, she sprang to the floor. + +"Will! Will!" she cried, "speak to me! What is the matter with you? Oh, +my God! my God!" she cried, staggering back from the bed. Then, with +shriek after shriek, she ran blindly through the hall to the stairway, +and there fell fainting on the floor. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +William Brenton knelt beside the fallen lady, and tried to soothe and +comfort her, but it was evident that she was insensible. + +"It is useless," said a voice by his side. + +Brenton looked up suddenly, and saw standing beside him a stranger. +Wondering for a moment how he got there, and thinking that after all it +was a dream, he said-- + +"What is useless? She is not dead." + +"No," answered the stranger, "but _you_ are." + +[Illustration: He saw standing beside him a stranger.] + +"I am what?" cried Brenton. + +"You are what the material world calls dead, although in reality you +have just begun to live." + +"And who are you?" asked Brenton. "And how did you get in here?" + +The other smiled. + +"How did _you_ get in here?" he said, repeating Brenton's words. + +"I? Why, this is my own house." + +"Was, you mean." + +"I mean that it is. I am in my own house. This lady is my wife." + +"_Was_," said the other. + +"I do not understand you," cried Brenton, very much annoyed. "But, in +any case, your presence and your remarks are out of place here." + +"My dear sir," said the other, "I merely wish to aid you and to explain +to you anything that you may desire to know about your new condition. +You are now free from the incumbrance of your body. You have already had +some experience of the additional powers which that riddance has given +you. You have also, I am afraid, had an inkling of the fact that the +spiritual condition has its limitations. If you desire to communicate +with those whom you have left, I would strongly advise you to postpone +the attempt, and to leave this place, where you will experience only +pain and anxiety. Come with me, and learn something of your changed +circumstances." + +"I am in a dream," said Brenton, "and you are part of it. I went to +sleep last night, and am still dreaming. This is a nightmare and it will +soon be over." + +"You are saying that," said the other, "merely to convince yourself. +It is now becoming apparent to you that this is not a dream. If dreams +exist, it was a dream which you left, but you have now become awake. If +you really think it is a dream, then do as I tell you--come with me and +leave it, because you must admit that this part of the dream is at least +very unpleasant." + +"It is not very pleasant," assented Brenton. As he spoke the bewildered +servants came rushing up the stairs, picked up their fallen mistress, +and laid her on a sofa. They rubbed her hands and dashed water in her +face. She opened her eyes, and then closed them again with a shudder. + +"Sarah," she cried, "have I been dreaming, or is your master dead?" + +The two girls turned pale at this, and the elder of them went boldly +into the room which her mistress had just left. She was evidently +a young woman who had herself under good control, but she came out +sobbing, with her apron to her eyes. + +"Come, come," said the man who stood beside Brenton, "haven't you had +enough of this? Come with me; you can return to this house if you wish;" +and together they passed out of the room into the crisp air of Christmas +morning. But, although Brenton knew it must be cold, he had no feeling +of either cold or warmth. + +"There are a number of us," said the stranger to Brenton, "who take +turns at watching the sick-bed when a man is about to die, and when his +spirit leaves his body, we are there to explain, or comfort, or console. +Your death was so sudden that we had no warning of it. You did not feel +ill before last night, did you?" + +"No," replied Brenton. "I felt perfectly well, until after dinner last +night." + +"Did you leave your affairs in reasonably good order?" + +"Yes," said Brenton, trying to recollect. "I think they will find +everything perfectly straight." + +"Tell me a little of your history, if you do not mind," inquired the +other; "it will help me in trying to initiate you into our new order of +things here." + +"Well," replied Brenton, and he wondered at himself for falling so +easily into the other's assumption that he was a dead man, "I was what +they call on the earth in reasonably good circumstances. My estate +should be worth $100,000. I had $75,000 insurance on my life, and if all +that is paid, it should net my widow not far from a couple of hundred +thousand." + +"How long have you been married?" said the other. + +[Illustration: A Venetian café.] + +"Only about six months. I was married last July, and we went for a trip +abroad. We were married quietly, and left almost immediately afterwards, +so we thought, on our return, it would not be a bad plan to give a +Christmas Eve dinner, and invite some of our friends. That," he said, +hesitating a moment, "was last night. Shortly after dinner, I began to +feel rather ill, and went upstairs to rest for a while; and if what you +say is true, the first thing I knew I found myself dead." + +"Alive," corrected the other. + +"Well, alive, though at present I feel I belong more to the world I have +left than I do to the world I appear to be in. I must confess, although +you are a very plausible gentleman to talk to, that I expect at any +moment to wake and find this to have been one of the most horrible +nightmares that I ever had the ill luck to encounter." + +The other smiled. + +"There is very little danger of your waking up, as you call it. Now, I +will tell you the great trouble we have with people when they first come +to the spirit-land, and that is to induce them to forget entirely +the world they have relinquished. Men whose families are in poor +circumstances, or men whose affairs are in a disordered state, find it +very difficult to keep from trying to set things right again. They have +the feeling that they can console or comfort those whom they have left +behind them, and it is often a long time before they are convinced that +their efforts are entirely futile, as well as very distressing for +themselves." + +"Is there, then," asked Brenton, "no communication between this world +and the one that I have given up?" + +The other paused for a moment before he replied. + +"I should hardly like to say," he answered, "that there is _no_ +communication between one world and the other; but the communication +that exists is so slight and unsatisfactory, that if you are sensible +you will see things with the eyes of those who have very much more +experience in this world than you have. Of course, you can go back there +as much as you like; there will be no interference and no hindrance. +But when you see things going wrong, when you see a mistake about to +be made, it is an appalling thing to stand there helpless, unable to +influence those you love, or to point out a palpable error, and convince +them that your clearer sight sees it as such. Of course, I understand +that it must be very difficult for a man who is newly married, to +entirely abandon the one who has loved him, and whom he loves. But +I assure you that if you follow the life of one who is as young and +handsome as your wife, you will find some one else supplying the +consolations you are unable to bestow. Such a mission may lead you to a +church where she is married to her second husband. I regret to say that +even the most imperturbable spirits are ruffled when such an incident +occurs. The wise men are those who appreciate and understand that they +are in an entirely new world, with new powers and new limitations, and +who govern themselves accordingly from the first, as they will certainly +do later on." + +"My dear sir," said Brenton, somewhat offended, "if what you say is +true, and I am really a dead man----" + +"Alive," corrected the other. + +"Well, alive, then. I may tell you that my wife's heart is broken. She +will never marry again." + +"Of course, that is a subject of which you know a great deal more than I +do. I all the more strongly advise you never to see her again. It is +impossible for you to offer any consolation, and the sight of her grief +and misery will only result in unhappiness for yourself. Therefore, take +my advice. I have given it very often, and I assure you those who did +not take it expressed their regret afterwards. Hold entirely aloof from +anything relating to your former life." + +Brenton was silent for some moments; finally he said-- + +"I presume your advice is well meant; but if things are as you state, +then I may as well say, first as last, that I do not intend to accept +it." + +"Very well," said the other; "it is an experience that many prefer to go +through for themselves." + +"Do you have names in this spirit-land?" asked Brenton, seemingly +desirous of changing the subject. + +"Yes," was the answer; "we are known by names that we have used in the +preparatory school below. My name is Ferris." + +"And if I wish to find you here, how do I set about it?" + +"The wish is sufficient," answered Ferris. "Merely wish to be with me, +and you _are_ with me." + +"Good gracious!" cried Brenton, "is locomotion so easy as that?" + +"Locomotion is very easy. I do not think anything could be easier +than it is, and I do not think there could be any improvement in that +matter." + +"Are there matters here, then, that you think could be improved?" + +"As to that I shall not say. Perhaps you will be able to give your own +opinion before you have lived here much longer." + +"Taking it all in all," said Brenton, "do you think the spirit-land is +to be preferred to the one we have left?" + +"I like it better," said Ferris, "although I presume there are some +who do not. There are many advantages; and then, again, there are +many--well, I would not say disadvantages, but still some people +consider them such. We are free from the pangs of hunger or cold, and +have therefore no need of money, and there is no necessity for the rush +and the worry of the world below." + +"And how about heaven and hell?" said Brenton. "Are those localities all +a myth? Is there nothing of punishment and nothing of reward in this +spirit-land?" + +There was no answer to this, and when Brenton looked around he found +that his companion had departed. + +[Illustration: Venice.] + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +William Brenton pondered long on the situation. He would have known +better how to act if he could have been perfectly certain that he was +not still the victim of a dream. However, of one thing there was no +doubt--namely, that it was particularly harrowing to see what he had +seen in his own house. If it were true that he was dead, he said to +himself, was not the plan outlined for him by Ferris very much the wiser +course to adopt? He stood now in one of the streets of the city so +familiar to him. People passed and repassed him--men and women whom +he had known in life--but nobody appeared to see him. He resolved, if +possible, to solve the problem uppermost in his mind, and learn whether +or not he could communicate with an inhabitant of the world he had left. +He paused for a moment to consider the best method of doing this. Then +he remembered one of his most confidential friends and advisers, and at +once wished himself at his office. He found the office closed, but went +in to wait for his friend. Occupying the time in thinking over his +strange situation, he waited long, and only when the bells began to ring +did he remember it was Christmas forenoon, and that his friend would +not be at the office that day. The next moment he wished himself at his +friend's house, but he was as unsuccessful as at the office; the friend +was not at home. The household, however, was in great commotion, and, +listening to what was said, he found that the subject of conversation +was his own death, and he learned that his friend had gone to the +Brenton residence as soon as he heard the startling news of Christmas +morning. + +Once more Brenton paused, and did not know what to do. He went again +into the street. Everything seemed to lead him toward his own home. +Although he had told Ferris that he did not intend to take his advice, +yet as a sensible man he saw that the admonition was well worth +considering, and if he could once become convinced that there was no +communication possible between himself and those he had left; if he +could give them no comfort and no cheer; if he could see the things +which they did not see, and yet be unable to give them warning, he +realized that he would merely be adding to his own misery, without +alleviating the troubles of others. + +He wished he knew where to find Ferris, so that he might have another +talk with him. The man impressed him as being exceedingly sensible. No +sooner, however, had he wished for the company of Mr. Ferris than he +found himself beside that gentleman. + +"By George!" he said in astonishment, "you are just the man I wanted to +see." + +"Exactly," said Ferris; "that is the reason you do see me." + +"I have been thinking over what you said," continued the other, "and it +strikes me that after all your advice is sensible." + +"Thank you," replied Ferris, with something like a smile on his face. + +"But there is one thing I want to be perfectly certain about. I want to +know whether it is not possible for me to communicate with my friends. +Nothing will settle that doubt in my mind except actual experience." + +"And have you not had experience enough?" asked Ferris. + +"Well," replied the other, hesitating, "I have had some experience, but +it seems to me that, if I encounter an old friend, I could somehow make +myself felt by him." + +"In that case," answered Ferris, "if nothing will convince you but an +actual experiment, why don't you go to some of your old friends and try +what you can do with them?" + +"I have just been to the office and to the residence of one of my old +friends. I found at his residence that he had gone to my"--Brenton +paused for a moment--"former home. Everything seems to lead me there, +and yet, if I take your advice, I must avoid that place of all others." + +"I would at present, if I were you," said Ferris. "Still, why not try it +with any of the passers-by?" + +Brenton looked around him. People were passing and repassing where the +two stood talking with each other. "Merry Christmas" was the word on all +lips. Finally Brenton said, with a look of uncertainty on his face-- + +"My dear fellow, I can't talk to any of these people. I don't know +them." + +Ferris laughed at this, and replied-- + +"I don't think you will shock them very much; just try it." + +"Ah, here's a friend of mine. You wait a moment, and I will accost him." +Approaching him, Brenton held out his hand and spoke, but the traveller +paid no attention. He passed by as one who had seen or heard nothing. + +"I assure you," said Ferris, as he noticed the look of disappointment on +the other's face, "you will meet with a similar experience, however much +you try. You know the old saying about one not being able to have his +cake and eat it too. You can't have the privileges of this world and +those of the world you left as well. I think, taking it all in all, you +should rest content, although it always hurts those who have left the +other world not to be able to communicate with their friends, and at +least assure them of their present welfare." + +"It does seem to me," replied Brenton, "that would be a great +consolation, both for those who are here and those who are left." + +"Well, I don't know about that," answered the other. "After all, what +does life in the other world amount to? It is merely a preparation for +this. It is of so short a space, as compared with the life we live here, +that it is hardly worth while to interfere with it one way or another. +By the time you are as long here as I have been, you will realize the +truth of this." + +"Perhaps I shall," said Brenton, with a sigh; "but, meanwhile, what am +I to do with myself? I feel like the man who has been all his life +in active business, and who suddenly resolves to enjoy himself doing +nothing. That sort of thing seems to kill a great number of men, +especially if they put off taking a rest until too late, as most of us +do." + +"Well," said Ferris, "there is no necessity of your being idle here, I +assure you. But before you lay out any work for yourself, let me ask you +if there is not some interesting part of the world that you would like +to visit?" + +"Certainly; I have seen very little of the world. That is one of my +regrets at leaving it." + +"Bless me," said the other, "you haven't left it." + +"Why, I thought you said I was a dead man?" + +"On the contrary," replied his companion, "I have several times insisted +that you have just begun to live. Now where shall we spend the day?" + +"How would London do?" + +"I don't think it would do; London is apt to be a little gloomy at this +time of the year. But what do you say to Naples, or Japan, or, if you +don't wish to go out of the United States, Yellowstone Park?" + +"Can we reach any of those places before the day is over?" asked +Brenton, dubiously. + +"Well, I will soon show you how we manage all that. Just wish to +accompany me, and I will take you the rest of the way." + +"How would Venice do?" said Brenton. "I didn't see half as much of that +city as I wanted to." + +"Very well," replied his companion, "Venice it is;" and the American +city in which they stood faded away from them, and before Brenton could +make up his mind exactly what was happening, he found himself walking +with his comrade in St. Mark's Square. + +"Well, for rapid transit," said Brenton, "this beats anything I've ever +had any idea of; but it increases the feeling that I am in a dream." + +"You'll soon get used to it," answered Ferris; "and, when you do, the +cumbersome methods of travel in the world itself will show themselves in +their right light. Hello!" he cried, "here's a man whom I should +like you to meet. By the way, I either don't know your name or I have +forgotten it." + +"William Brenton," answered the other. + +"Mr. Speed, I want to introduce you to Mr. Brenton." + +"Ah," said Speed, cordially, "a new-comer. One of your victims, Ferris?" + +"Say one of his pupils, rather," answered Brenton. + +[Illustration: In Venice.] + +"Well, it is pretty much the same thing," said Speed. "How long have you +been with us, and how do you like the country?" + +"You see, Mr. Brenton," interrupted Ferris, "John Speed was a newspaper +man, and he must ask strangers how they like the country. He has +inquired so often while interviewing foreigners for his paper that now +he cannot abandon his old phrase. Mr. Brenton has been with us but a +short time," continued Ferris, "and so you know, Speed, you can hardly +expect him to answer your inevitable question." + +"What part of the country are you from?" asked Speed. + +"Cincinnati," answered Brenton, feeling almost as if he were an American +tourist doing the continent of Europe. + +"Cincinnati, eh? Well, I congratulate you. I do not know any place in +America that I would sooner die in, as they call it, than Cincinnati. +You see, I am a Chicago man myself." + +Brenton did not like the jocular familiarity of the newspaper man, and +found himself rather astonished to learn that in the spirit-world there +were likes and dislikes, just as on earth. + +"Chicago is a very enterprising city," he said, in a non-committal way. + +"Chicago, my dear sir," said Speed, earnestly, "is _the_ city. You will +see that Chicago is going to be the great city of the world before you +are a hundred years older. By the way, Ferris," said the Chicago man, +suddenly recollecting something, "I have got Sommers over here with me." + +"Ah!" said Ferris; "doing him any good?" + +"Well, precious little, as far as I can see." + +"Perhaps it would interest Mr. Brenton to meet him," said Ferris. "I +think, Brenton, you asked me a while ago if there was any hell here, or +any punishment. Mr. Speed can show you a man in hell." + +"Really?" asked Brenton. + +"Yes," said Speed; "I think if ever a man was in misery, he is. The +trouble with Sommers was this. He--well, he died of delirium tremens, +and so, of course, you know what the matter was. Sommers had drunk +Chicago whisky for thirty-five years straight along, and never added to +it the additional horror of Chicago water. You see what his condition +became, both physical and mental. Many people tried to reform Sommers, +because he was really a brilliant man; but it was no use. Thirst had +become a disease with him, and from the mental part of that disease, +although his physical yearning is now gone of course, he suffers. +Sommers would give his whole future for one glass of good old Kentucky +whisky. He sees it on the counters, he sees men drink it, and he stands +beside them in agony. That's why I brought him over here. I thought that +he wouldn't see the colour of whisky as it sparkles in the glass; but +now he is in the Café Quadra watching men drink. You may see him sitting +there with all the agony of unsatisfied desire gleaming from his face." + +"And what do you do with a man like that?" asked Brenton. + +"Do? Well, to tell the truth, there is nothing _to_ do. I took him away +from Chicago, hoping to ease his trouble a little; but it has had no +effect." + +"It will come out all right by-and-by," said Ferris, who noticed the +pained look on Brenton's face. "It is the period of probation that +he has to pass through. It will wear off. He merely goes through the +agonies he would have suffered on earth if he had suddenly been deprived +of his favourite intoxicant." + +"Well," said Speed, "you won't come with me, then? All right, good-bye. +I hope to see you again, Mr. Brenton," and with that they separated. + +Brenton spent two or three days in Venice, but all the time the old home +hunger was upon him. He yearned for news of Cincinnati. He wanted to be +back, and several times the wish brought him there, but he instantly +returned. At last he said to Ferris-- + +"I am tired. I must go home. I have _got_ to see how things are going." + +"I wouldn't if I were you," replied Ferris. + +"No, I know you wouldn't. Your temperament is indifferent. I would +rather be miserable with knowledge than happy in ignorance. Good-bye." + +It was evening when he found himself in Cincinnati. The weather was +bright and clear, and apparently cold. Men's feet crisped on the frozen +pavement, and the streets had that welcome, familiar look which they +always have to the returned traveller when he reaches the city he calls +his home. The newsboys were rushing through the streets yelling their +papers at the top of their voices. He heard them, but paid little +attention. + +"All about the murder! Latest edition! All about the poison case!" + +He felt that he must have a glimpse at a paper, and, entering the office +of an hotel where a man was reading one, he glanced over his shoulder +at the page before him, and was horror-stricken to see the words in +startling headlines-- + + THE BRENTON MURDER. + _The Autopsy shows that Morphine was the Poison used. + Enough found to have killed a Dozen Men. + Mrs. Brenton arrested for Committing the Horrible + Deed_. + +[Illustration: The Brenton Murder.] + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +For a moment Brenton was so bewildered and amazed at the awful headlines +which he read, that he could hardly realize what had taken place. +The fact that he had been poisoned, although it gave him a strange +sensation, did not claim his attention as much as might have been +thought. Curiously enough he was more shocked at finding himself, as +it were, the talk of the town, the central figure of a great newspaper +sensation. But the thing that horrified him was the fact that his wife +had been arrested for his murder. His first impulse was to go to her at +once, but he next thought it better to read what the paper said about +the matter, so as to become possessed of all the facts. The headlines, +he said to himself, often exaggerated things, and there was a +possibility that the body of the article would not bear out the naming +announcement above it. But as he read on and on, the situation seemed +to become more and more appalling. He saw that his friends had been +suspicious of his sudden death, and had insisted on a post-mortem +examination. That examination had been conducted by three of the most +eminent physicians of Cincinnati, and the three doctors had practically +agreed that the deceased, in the language of the verdict, had come to +his death through morphia poisoning, and the coroner's jury had brought +in a verdict that "the said William Brenton had been poisoned by some +person unknown." Then the article went on to state how suspicion had +gradually fastened itself upon his wife, and at last her arrest had been +ordered. The arrest had taken place that day. + +[Illustration: Mrs. Brenton.] + +After reading this, Brenton was in an agony of mind. He pictured his +dainty and beautiful wife in a stone cell in the city prison. He foresaw +the horrors of the public trial, and the deep grief and pain which +the newspaper comments on the case would cause to a woman educated and +refined. Of course, Brenton had not the slightest doubt in his own mind +about the result of the trial. His wife would be triumphantly acquitted; +but, all the same, the terrible suspense which she must suffer in the +meanwhile would not be compensated for by the final verdict of the jury. + +Brenton at once went to the jail, and wandered through that gloomy +building, searching for his wife. At last he found her, but it was in +a very comfortable room in the sheriffs residence. The terror and the +trials of the last few days had aged her perceptibly, and it cut Brenton +to the heart to think that he stood there before her, and could not by +any means say a soothing word that she would understand. That she had +wept many bitter tears since the terrible Christmas morning was evident; +there were dark circles under her beautiful eyes that told of sleepless +nights. She sat in a comfortable armchair, facing the window; and looked +steadily out at the dreary winter scene with eyes that apparently saw +nothing. Her hands lay idly on her lap, and now and then she caught her +breath in a way that was half a sob and half a gasp. + +Presently the sheriff himself entered the room. + +"Mrs. Brenton," he said, "there is a gentleman here who wishes to see +you. Mr. Roland, he tells me his name is, an old friend of yours. Do you +care to see any one?" + +The lady turned her head slowly round, and looked at the sheriff for a +moment, seemingly not understanding what he said. Finally she answered, +dreamily-- + +"Roland? Oh, Stephen! Yes, I shall be very glad to see him. Ask him to +come in, please." + +The next moment Stephen Roland entered, and somehow the fact that he had +come to console Mrs. Brenton did not at all please the invisible man who +stood between them. + +"My dear Mrs. Brenton," began Roland, "I hope you are feeling better +to-day? Keep up your courage, and be brave. It is only for a very short +time. I have retained the noted criminal lawyers, Benham and Brown, for +the defence. You could not possibly have better men." + +At the word "criminal" Mrs. Brenton shuddered. + +"Alice," continued Roland, sitting down near her, and drawing his chair +closer to her, "tell me that you will not lose your courage. I want you +to be brave, for the sake of your friends." + +He took her listless hand in his own, and she did not withdraw it. + +Brenton felt passing over him the pangs of impotent rage, as he saw this +act on the part of Roland. + +Roland had been an unsuccessful suitor for the hand which he now held +in his own, and Brenton thought it the worst possible taste, to say the +least, that he should take advantage now of her terrible situation to +ingratiate himself into her favour. + +The nearest approach to a quarrel that Brenton and his wife had had +during their short six months of wedded life was on the subject of the +man who now held her hand in his own. It made Brenton impatient to think +that a woman with all her boasted insight into character, her instincts +as to what was right and what was wrong, had such little real intuition +that she did not see into the character of the man whom they were +discussing; but a woman never thinks it a crime for a man to have been +in love with her, whatever opinion of that man her husband may hold. + +"It is awful! awful! awful!" murmured the poor lady, as the tears again +rose to her eyes. + +"Of course it is," said Roland; "it is particularly awful that they +should accuse you, of all persons in the world, of this so-called crime. +For my part I do not believe that he was poisoned at all, but we will +soon straighten things out. Benham and Brown will give up everything +and devote their whole attention to this case until it is finished. +Everything will be done that money or friends can do, and all that we +ask is that you keep up your courage, and do not be downcast with the +seeming awfulness of the situation." + +Mrs. Brenton wept silently, but made no reply. It was evident, however, +that she was consoled by the words and the presence of her visitor. +Strange as it may appear, this fact enraged Brenton, although he had +gone there for the very purpose of cheering and comforting his wife. All +the bitterness he had felt before against his former rival was revived, +and his rage was the more agonizing because it was inarticulate. Then +there flashed over him Ferris's sinister advice to leave things alone in +the world that he had left. He felt that he could stand this no longer, +and the next instant he found himself again in the wintry streets of +Cincinnati. + +The name of the lawyers, Benham and Brown, kept repeating itself in his +mind, and he resolved to go to their office and hear, if he could, what +preparations were being made for the defence of a woman whom he knew to +be innocent. He found, when he got to the office of these noted lawyers, +that the two principals were locked in their private room; and going +there, he found them discussing the case with the coolness and +impersonal feeling that noted lawyers have even when speaking of issues +that involve life or death. + +"Yes," Benham was saying, "I think that, unless anything new turns up, +that is the best line of defence we can adopt." + +"What do you think might turn up?" asked Brown. + +"Well, you can never tell in these cases. They may find something +else--they may find the poison, for instance, or the package that +contained it. Perhaps a druggist will remember having sold it to this +woman, and then, of course, we shall have to change our plans. I need +not say that it is strictly necessary in this case to give out no +opinions whatever to newspaper men. The papers will be full of rumours, +and it is just as well if we can keep our line of defence hidden until +the time for action comes." + +"Still," said Brown, who was the younger partner, "it is as well to keep +in with the newspaper fellows; they'll be here as soon as they find we +have taken charge of the defence." + +"Well, I have no doubt you can deal with them in such a way as to give +them something to write up, and yet not disclose anything we do not wish +known." + +"I think you can trust me to do that," said Brown, with a self-satisfied +air. + +"I shall leave that part of the matter entirely in your hands," replied +Benham. "It is better not to duplicate or mix matters, and if any +newspaper man comes to see me I will refer him to you. I will say I know +nothing of the case whatever." + +"Very well," answered Brown. "Now, between ourselves, what do you think +of the case?" + +[Illustration] + +"Oh, it will make a great sensation. I think it will probably be one of +the most talked-of cases that we have ever been connected with." + +"Yes, but what do you think of her guilt or innocence?" + +"As to that," said Benham, calmly, "I haven't the slightest doubt. She +murdered him." + +As he said this, Brenton, forgetting himself for a moment, sprang +forward as if to strangle the lawyer. The statement Benham had made +seemed the most appalling piece of treachery. That men should take a +woman's money for defending her, and actually engage in a case when they +believed their client guilty, appeared to Brenton simply infamous. + +"I agree with you," said Brown. "Of course she was the only one to +benefit by his death. The simple fool willed everything to her, and she +knew it; and his doing so is the more astounding when you remember he +was quite well aware that she had a former lover whom she would gladly +have married if he had been as rich as Brenton. The supreme idiocy of +some men as far as their wives are concerned is something awful." + +[Illustration: Publicity.] + +"Yes," answered Benham, "it is. But I tell you, Brown, she is no +ordinary woman. The very conception of that murder had a stroke of +originality about it that I very much admire. I do not remember anything +like it in the annals of crime. It is the true way in which a murder +should be committed. The very publicity of the occasion was a safeguard. +Think of poisoning a man at a dinner that he has given himself, in the +midst of a score of friends. I tell you that there was a dash of bravery +about it that commands my admiration." + +"Do you imagine Roland had anything to do with it?" + +"Well, I had my doubts about that at first, but I think he is innocent, +although from what I know of the man he will not hesitate to share the +proceeds of the crime. You mark my words, they will be married within +a year from now if she is acquitted. I believe Roland knows her to be +guilty." + +"I thought as much," said Brown, "by his actions here, and by some +remarks he let drop. Anyhow, our credit in the affair will be all the +greater if we succeed in getting her off. Yes," he continued, rising and +pushing back his chair, "Madam Brenton is a murderess." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +Brenton found himself once more in the streets of Cincinnati, in a state +of mind that can hardly be described. Rage and grief struggled for the +mastery, and added to the tumult of these passions was the uncertainty +as to what he should do, or what he _could_ do. He could hardly ask the +advice of Ferris again, for his whole trouble arose from his neglect of +the counsel that gentleman had already given him. In his new sphere he +did not know where to turn. He found himself wondering whether in the +spirit-land there was any firm of lawyers who could advise him, and he +remembered then how singularly ignorant he was regarding the conditions +of existence in the world to which he now belonged. However, he felt +that he must consult with somebody, and Ferris was the only one to whom +he could turn. A moment later he was face to face with him. + +"Mr. Ferris," he said, "I am in the most grievous trouble, and I come to +you in the hope that, if you cannot help me, you can at least advise me +what to do." + +"If your trouble has come," answered Ferris, with a shade of irony in +his voice, "through following the advice that I have already given you, +I shall endeavour, as well as I am able, to help you out of it." + +"You know very well," cried Brenton, hotly, "that my whole trouble +has occurred through neglecting your advice, or, at least, through +deliberately not following it. I _could_ not follow it." + +"Very well, then," said Ferris, "I am not surprised that you are in a +difficulty. You must remember that such a crisis is an old story with us +here." + +"But, my dear sir," said Brenton, "look at the appalling condition of +things, the knowledge of which has just come to me. It seems I was +poisoned, but of course that doesn't matter. I feel no resentment +against the wretch who did it. But the terrible thing is that my wife +has been arrested for the crime, and I have just learned that her own +lawyers actually believe her guilty." + +"That fact," said Ferris, calmly, "will not interfere with their +eloquent pleading when the case comes to trial." + +Brenton glared at the man who was taking things so coolly, and who +proved himself so unsympathetic; but an instant after he realized the +futility of quarrelling with the only person who could give him advice, +so he continued, with what patience he could command-- + +"The situation is this: My wife has been arrested for the crime of +murdering me. She is now in the custody of the sheriff. Her trouble and +anxiety of mind are fearful to contemplate." + +"My dear sir," said Ferris, "there is no reason why you or anybody else +should contemplate it." + +"How can you talk in that cold-blooded way?" cried Brenton, indignantly. +"Could you see _your_ wife, or any one _you_ held dear, incarcerated for +a dreadful crime, and yet remain calm and collected, as you now appear +to be when you hear of another's misfortune?" + +"My dear fellow," said Ferris, "of course it is not to be expected that +one who has had so little experience with this existence should have any +sense of proportion. You appear to be speaking quite seriously. You do +not seem at all to comprehend the utter triviality of all this." + +"Good gracious!" cried Brenton, "do you call it a trivial thing that a +woman is in danger of her life for a crime which she never committed?" + +"If she is innocent," said the other, in no way moved by the indignation +of his comrade, "surely that state of things will be brought out in the +courts, and no great harm will be done, even looking at things from the +standpoint of the world you have left. But I want you to get into the +habit of looking at things from the standpoint of this world, and not +of the other. Suppose that what you would call the worst should +happen--suppose she is hanged--what then?" + +Brenton stood simply speechless with indignation at this brutal remark. + +"If you will just look at things correctly," continued Ferris, +imperturbably, "you will see that there is probably a moment of anguish, +perhaps not even that moment, and then your wife is here with you in the +land of spirits. I am sure that is a consummation devoutly to be wished. +Even a man in your state of mind must see the reasonableness of this. +Now, looking at the question in what you would call its most serious +aspect, see how little it amounts to. It isn't worth a moment's thought, +whichever way it goes." + +"You think nothing, then, of the disgrace of such a death--of the bitter +injustice of it?" + +[Illustration: The broken toy.] + +"When you were in the world did you ever see a child cry over a broken +toy? Did the sight pain you to any extent? Did you not know that a new +toy could be purchased that would quite obliterate all thoughts of the +other? Did the simple griefs of childhood carry any deep and lasting +consternation to the mind of a grown-up man? Of course it did not. You +are sensible enough to know that. Well, we here in this world look on +the pain and struggles and trials of people in the world you have left, +just as an aged man looks on the tribulations of children over a broken +doll. That is all it really amounts to. That is what I mean when I say +that you have not yet got your sense of proportion. Any grief and misery +there is in the world you have left is of such an ephemeral, transient +nature, that when we think for a moment of the free, untrammelled, +and painless life there is beyond, those petty troubles sink into +insignificance. My dear fellow, be sensible, take my advice. I have +really a strong interest in you, and I advise you, entirely for your own +welfare, to forget all about it. Very soon you will have something much +more important to do than lingering around the world you have left. If +your wife comes amongst us I am sure you will be glad to welcome her, +and to teach her the things that you will have already found out of your +new life. If she does not appear, then you will know that, even from the +old-world standpoint, things have gone what you would call 'all right.' +Let these trivial matters go, and attend to the vastly more important +concerns that will soon engage your attention here." + +Ferris talked earnestly, and it was evident, even to Brenton, that he +meant what he said. It was hard to find a pretext for a quarrel with a +man at once so calm and so perfectly sure of himself. + +"We will not talk any more about it," said Brenton. "I presume people +here agree to differ, just as they did in the world we have both left." + +"Certainly, certainly," answered Ferris. "Of course, you have just heard +my opinion; but you will find myriads of others who do not share it with +me. You will meet a great many who are interested in the subject of +communication with the world they have left. You will, of course, excuse +me when I say that I consider such endeavours not worth talking about." + +"Do you know any one who is interested in that sort of thing? and can +you give me an introduction to him?" + +"Oh! for that matter," said Ferris, "you have had an introduction to one +of the most enthusiastic investigators of the subject. I refer to Mr. +John Speed, late of Chicago." + +"Ah!" said Brenton, rather dubiously. "I must confess that I was +not very favourably impressed with Mr. Speed. Probably I did him an +injustice." + +"You certainly did," said Ferris. "You will find Speed a man well worth +knowing, even if he does waste himself on such futile projects as a +scheme for communicating with a community so evanescent as that of +Chicago. You will like Speed better the more you know him. He really is +very philanthropic, and has Sommers on his hands just now. From what he +said after you left Venice, I imagine he does not entertain the same +feeling toward you as you do toward him. I would see Speed if I were +you." + +"I will think about it," said Brenton, as they separated. + +To know that a man thinks well of a person is no detriment to further +acquaintance with that man, even if the first impressions have not been +favourable; and after Ferris told Brenton that Speed had thought well of +him, Brenton found less difficulty in seeking the Chicago enthusiast. + +"I have been in a good deal of trouble," Brenton said to Speed, "and +have been talking to Ferris about it. I regret to say that he gave me +very little encouragement, and did not seem at all to appreciate my +feelings in the matter." + +"Oh, you mustn't mind Ferris," said Speed. "He is a first-rate fellow, +but he is as cold and unsympathetic as--well, suppose we say as an +oyster. His great hobby is non-intercourse with the world we have left. +Now, in that I don't agree with him, and there are thousands who don't +agree with him. I admit that there are cases where a man is more unhappy +if he frequents the old world than he would be if he left it alone. But +then there are other cases where just the reverse is true. Take my own +experience, for example; I take a peculiar pleasure in rambling around +Chicago. I admit that it is a grievance to me, as an old newspaper man, +to see the number of scoops I could have on my esteemed contemporaries, +but--" + +"Scoop? What is that?" asked Brenton, mystified. + +"Why, a scoop is a beat, you know." + +"Yes, but I don't know. What is a beat?" + +"A beat or a scoop, my dear fellow, is the getting of a piece of news +that your contemporary does not obtain. You never were in the newspaper +business? Well, sir, you missed it. Greatest business in the world. You +know everything that is going on long before anybody else does, and the +way you can reward your friends and jump with both feet on your enemies +is one of the delights of existence down there." + +"Well, what I wanted to ask you was this," said Brenton. "You have made +a speciality of finding out whether there could be any communication +between one of us, for instance, and one who is an inhabitant of the +other world. Is such communication possible?" + +"I have certainly devoted some time to it, but I can't say that my +success has been flattering. My efforts have been mostly in the line of +news. I have come on some startling information which my facilities here +gave me access to, and I confess I have tried my best to put some of the +boys on to it. But there is a link loose somewhere. Now, what is your +trouble? Do you want to get a message to anybody?" + +"My trouble is this," said Brenton, briefly, "I am here because a few +days ago I was poisoned." + +"George Washington!" cried the other, "you don't say so! Have the +newspapers got on to the fact?" + +"I regret to say that they have." + +"What an item that would have been if one paper had got hold of it and +the others hadn't! I suppose they all got on to it at the same time?" + +"About that," said Brenton, "I don't know, and I must confess that I do +not care very much. But here is the trouble--my wife has been arrested +for my murder, and she is as innocent as I am." + +"Sure of that?" + +"_Sure_ of it?" cried the other indignantly. "Of course I am sure of +it." + +"Then who is the guilty person?" + +"Ah, that," said Brenton, "I do not yet know." + +"Then how can you be sure she is not guilty?" + +"If you talk like that," exclaimed Brenton, "I have nothing more to +say." + +"Now, don't get offended, I beg of you. I am merely looking at this from +a newspaper standpoint, you know. You must remember it is not you +who will decide the matter, but a jury of your very stupid +fellow-countrymen. Now, you can never tell what a jury _will_ do, except +that it will do something idiotic. Therefore, it seems to me that the +very first step to be taken is to find out who the guilty party is. +Don't you see the force of that?" + +"Yes, I do." + +"Very well, then. Now, what were the circumstances of this crime? who +was to profit by your death?" + +Brenton winced at this. + +"I see how it is," said the other, "and I understand why you don't +answer. Now--you'll excuse me if I am frank--your wife was the one who +benefited most by your death, was she not?" + +"No," cried the other indignantly, "she was not the one. That is what +the lawyers said. Why in the world should she want to poison me, when +she had all my wealth at her command as it was?" + +"Yes, that's a strong point," said Speed. "You were a reasonably good +husband, I suppose? Rather generous with the cash?" + +"Generous?" cried the other. "My wife always had everything she wanted." + +"Ah, well, there was no--you'll excuse me, I am sure--no former lover in +the case, was there?" + +Again Brenton winced, and he thought of Roland sitting beside his wife +with her hand in his. + +"I see," said Speed; "you needn't answer. Now what were the +circumstances, again?" + +"They were these: At a dinner which I gave, where some twenty or +twenty-five of my friends were assembled, poison, it appears, was put +into my cup of coffee. That is all I know of it." + +"Who poured out that cup of coffee?" + +"My wife did." + +"Ah! Now, I don't for a moment say she is guilty, remember; but you must +admit that, to a stupid jury, the case _might_ look rather bad against +her." + +"Well, granted that it does, there is all the more need that I should +come to her assistance if possible." + +"Certainly, certainly!" said Speed. "Now, I'll tell you what we have +to do. We must get, if possible, one of the very brightest Chicago +reporters on the track of this thing, and we have to get him on the +track of it early. Come with me to Chicago. We will try an experiment, +and I am sure you will lend your mind entirely to the effort. We must +act in conjunction in this affair, and you are just the man I've been +wanting, some one who is earnest and who has something at stake in the +matter. We may fail entirely, but I think it's worth the trying. Will +you come?" + +"Certainly," said Brenton; "and I cannot tell you how much I appreciate +your interest and sympathy." + +Arriving at a brown stone building on the corner of two of the principal +streets in Chicago, Brenton and Speed ascended quickly to one of the top +floors. It was nearly midnight, and two upper stories of the huge dark +building were brilliantly lighted, as was shown on the outside by the +long rows of glittering windows. They entered a room where a man was +seated at a table, with coat and vest thrown off, and his hat set well +back on his head. Cold as it was outside, it was warm in this man's +room, and the room was blue with smoke. A black corn-cob pipe was in his +teeth, and the man was writing away as if for dear life, on sheets of +coarse white copy paper, stopping now and then to fill up his pipe or to +relight it after it had gone out. + +"There," said Speed, waving his hand towards the writer with a certain +air of proprietory pride, "there sits one of the very cleverest men on +the Chicago press. That fellow, sir, is gifted with a nose for news +which has no equal in America. He will ferret out a case that he once +starts on with an unerringness that would charm you. Yes, sir, I got him +his present situation on this paper, and I can tell you it was a good +one." + +"He must have been a warm friend of yours?" said Brenton, indifferently, +as if he did not take much interest in the eulogy. + +"Quite the contrary," said Speed. "He was a warm enemy, made it mighty +warm for _me_ sometimes. He was on an opposition paper, but I tell you, +although I was no chicken in newspaper business, that man would scoop +the daylight out of me any time he tried. So, to get rid of opposition, +I got the managing editor to appoint him to a place on our paper; and +I tell you, he has never regretted it. Yes, sir, there sits George +Stratton, a man who knows his business. Now," he said, "let us +concentrate our attention on him. First let us see whether, by putting +our whole minds to it, we can make any impression on _his_ mind +whatever. You see how busily he is engaged. He is thoroughly absorbed in +his work. That is George all over. Whatever his assignment is, George +throws himself right into it, and thinks of nothing else until it is +finished. _Now_ then." + +In that dingy, well-lighted room George Stratton sat busily pencilling +out the lines that were to appear in next morning's paper. He was +evidently very much engrossed in his task, as Speed had said. If he +had looked about him, which he did not, he would have said that he was +entirely alone. All at once his attention seemed to waver, and he passed +his hand over his brow, while perplexity came into his face. Then he +noticed that his pipe was out, and, knocking the ashes from it by +rapping the bowl on the side of the table, he filled it with an +absent-mindedness unusual with him. Again he turned to his writing, and +again he passed his hand over his brow. Suddenly, without any apparent +cause, he looked first to the right and then to the left of him. Once +more he tried to write, but, noticing his pipe was out, he struck +another match and nervously puffed away, until clouds of blue smoke rose +around him. There was a look of annoyance and perplexity in his face as +he bent resolutely to his writing. The door opened, and a man appeared +on the threshold. + +"Anything more about the convention, George?" he said. + +"Yes; I am just finishing this. Sort of pen pictures, you know." + +"Perhaps you can let me have what you have done. I'll fix it up." + +"All right," said Stratton, bunching up the manuscript in front of him, +and handing it to the city editor. + +That functionary looked at the number of pages, and then at the writer. + +"Much more of this, George?" he said. "We'll be a little short of room +in the morning, you know." + +"Well," said the other, sitting back in his chair, "it is pretty good +stuff that. Folks always like the pen pictures of men engaged in the +skirmish better than the reports of what most of them say." + +"Yes," said the city editor, "that's so." + +"Still," said Stratton, "we could cut it off at the last page. Just let +me see the last two pages, will you?" + +These were handed to him, and, running his eye through them, he drew his +knife across one of the pages, and put at the bottom the cabalistic mark +which indicated the end of the copy. + +"There! I think I will let it go at that. Old Rickenbeck don't amount to +much, anyhow. We'll let him go." + +"All right," said the city editor. "I think we won't want anything more +to-night." + +[Illustration: "She's pretty as a picture."] + +Stratton put his hands behind his head, with his fingers interlaced, and +leaned back in his chair, placing his heels upon the table before him. +A thought-reader, looking at his face, could almost have followed the +theme that occupied his mind. Suddenly bringing his feet down with a +crash to the floor, he rose and went into the city editor's room. + +"See here," he said. "Have you looked into that Cincinnati case at all?" + +"What Cincinnati case?" asked the local editor, looking up. + +"Why, that woman who is up for poisoning her husband." + +"Oh yes; we had something of it in the despatches this morning. It's +rather out of the local line, you know." + +"Yes, I know it is. But it isn't out of the paper's line. I tell you +that case is going to make a sensation. She's pretty as a picture. Been +married only six months, and it seems to be a dead sure thing that +she poisoned her husband. That trial's going to make racy reading, +especially if they bring in a verdict of guilty." + +The city editor looked interested. + +"Want to go down there, George?" + +"Well, do you know, I think it'll pay." + +"Let me see, this is the last day of the convention, isn't it? And Clark +comes back from his vacation to-morrow. Well, if you think it's worth +it, take a trip down there, and look the ground over, and give us a +special article that we can use on the first day of the trial." + +"I'll do it," said George. + + * * * * * + +Speed looked at Brenton. + +"What would old Ferris say _now_, eh?" + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +Next morning George Stratton was on the railway train speeding towards +Cincinnati. As he handed to the conductor his mileage book, he did not +say to him, lightly transposing the old couplet-- + + "Here, railroad man, take thrice thy fee, + For spirits twain do ride with me." + +George Stratton was a practical man, and knew nothing of spirits, except +those which were in a small flask in his natty little valise. + +When he reached Cincinnati, he made straight for the residence of the +sheriff. He felt that his first duty was to become friends with such an +important official. Besides this, he wished to have an interview with +the prisoner. He had arranged in his mind, on the way there, just how he +would write a preliminary article that would whet the appetite of the +readers of the Chicago _Argus_ for any further developments that might +occur during and after the trial. He would write the whole thing in the +form of a story. + +[Illustration: "Raising the veil."] + +First, there would be a sketch of the life of Mrs. Brenton and her +husband. This would be number one, and above it would be the Roman +numeral I. Under the heading II. would be a history of the crime. Under +III. what had occurred afterwards--the incidents that had led suspicion +towards the unfortunate woman, and that sort of thing. Under the numeral +IV. would be his interview with the prisoner, if he were fortunate +enough to get one. Under V. he would give the general opinion of +Cincinnati on the crime, and on the guilt or innocence of Mrs. Brenton. +This article he already saw in his mind's eye occupying nearly half a +page of the _Argus_. All would be in leaded type, and written in a style +and manner that would attract attention, for he felt that he was +first on the ground, and would not have the usual rush in preparing +his copy which had been the bane of his life. It would give the +_Argus_ practically the lead in this case, which he was convinced +would become one of national importance. + +The sheriff received him courteously, and, looking at the card he +presented, saw the name Chicago _Argus_ in the corner. Then he stood +visibly on his guard--an attitude assumed by all wise officials when +they find themselves brought face to face with a newspaper man; for +they know, however carefully an article may be prepared, it will likely +contain some unfortunate overlooked phrase which may have a damaging +effect in a future political campaign. + +"I wanted to see you," began Stratton, coming straight to the point, "in +reference to the Brenton murder." + +"I may say at once," replied the sheriff, "that if you wish an interview +with the prisoner, it is utterly impossible, because her lawyers, Benham +and Brown, have positively forbidden her to see a newspaper man." + +"That shows," said Stratton, "they are wise men who understand their +business. Nevertheless, I wish to have an interview with Mrs. Brenton. +But what I wanted to say to you is this: I believe the case will be very +much talked about, and that before many weeks are over. Of course you +know the standing the _Argus_ has in newspaper circles. What it says +will have an influence, even over the Cincinnati press. I think you will +admit that. Now a great many newspaper men consider an official their +natural enemy. I do not; at least, I do not until I am forced to. Any +reference that I may make to you I am more than willing to submit to you +before it goes to Chicago. I will give you my word, if you want it, that +nothing will be said referring to your official position, or to yourself +personally, that you do not see before it appears in print. Of course +you will be up for re-election. I never met a sheriff who wasn't." + +The sheriff smiled at this, and did not deny it. + +"Very well. Now, I may tell you my belief is that this case is going +to have a powerful influence on your re-election. Here is a young and +pretty woman who is to be tried for a terrible crime. Whether she is +guilty or innocent, public sympathy is going to be with her. If I were +in your place, I would prefer to be known as her friend rather than as +her enemy." + +"My dear sir," said the sheriff, "my official position puts me in the +attitude of neither friend nor enemy of the unfortunate woman. I have +simply a certain duty to do, and that duty I intend to perform." + +"Oh, that's all right!" exclaimed the newspaper man, jauntily. "I, for +one, am not going to ask you to take a step outside your duties; but an +official may do his duty, and yet, at the same time, do a friendly act +for a newspaper man, or even for a prisoner. In the language of the old +chestnut, 'If you don't help me, don't help the bear.' That's all I +ask." + +"You maybe sure, Mr. Stratton, that anything I can do to help you I +shall be glad to do; and now let me give you a hint. If you want to see +Mrs. Brenton, the best thing is to get permission from her lawyers. If +I were you I would not see Benham--he's rather a hard nut, Benham is, +although you needn't tell him I said so. You get on the right side of +Brown. Brown has some political aspirations himself, and he does not +want to offend a man on so powerful a paper as the _Argus_, even if it +is not a Cincinnati paper. Now, if you make him the same offer you have +made to me, I think it will be all right. If he sees your copy before it +goes into print, and if you keep your word with him that nothing will +appear that he does _not_ see, I think you will succeed in getting an +interview with Mrs. Brenton. If you bring me a note from Brown, I shall +be very glad to allow you to see her." + +Stratton thanked the sheriff for his hint. He took down in his note-book +the address of the lawyers, and the name especially of Mr. Brown. The +two men shook hands, and Stratton felt that they understood each other. + +When Mr. Stratton was ushered into the private office of Brown, and +handed that gentleman his card, he noticed the lawyer perceptibly freeze +over. + +"Ahem," said the legal gentleman; "you will excuse me if I say that my +time is rather precious. Did you wish to see me professionally?" + +"Yes," replied Stratton, "that is, from a newspaper standpoint of the +profession." + +"Ah," said the other, "in reference to what?" + +"To the Brenton case." + +"Well, my dear sir, I have had, very reluctantly, to refuse information +that I would have been happy to give, if I could, to our own newspaper +men; and so I may say to you at once that I scarcely think it will +be possible for me to be of any service to an outside paper like the +_Argus_" + +"Local newspaper men," said Stratton, "represent local fame. That +you already possess. I represent national fame, which, if you will +excuse my saying so, you do not yet possess. The fact that I am in +Cincinnati to-day, instead of in Chicago, shows what we Chicago people +think of the Cincinnati case. I believe, and the _Argus_ believes, that +this case is going to be one of national importance. Now, let me ask you +one question. Will you state frankly what your objection is to having +a newspaper man, for instance, interview Mrs. Brenton, or get any +information relating to this case from her or others whom you have the +power of controlling?" + +"I shall answer that question," said Brown, "as frankly as you put +it. You are a man of the world, and know, of course, that we are all +selfish, and in business matters look entirely after our own interests. +My interest in this case is to defend my client. Your interest in +this case is to make a sensational article. You want to get facts if +possible, but, in any event, you want to write up a readable column or +two for your paper. Now, if I allowed you to see Mrs. Brenton, she might +say something to you, and you might publish it, that would not only +endanger her chances, but would seriously embarrass us, as her lawyers, +in our defence of the case." + +"You have stated the objection very plainly and forcibly," said +Stratton, with a look of admiration, as if the powerful arguments of +the lawyer had had a great effect on him. "Now, if I understand your +argument, it simply amounts to this, that you would have no objection to +my interviewing Mrs. Brenton if you have the privilege of editing the +copy. In other words, if nothing were printed but what you approve +of, you would not have the slightest hesitancy about allowing me that +interview." + +"No, I don't know that I would," admitted the lawyer. + +"Very well, then. Here is my proposition to you: I am here to look after +the interests of our paper in this particular case. The _Argus_ is +probably going to be the first paper outside of Cincinnati that will +devote a large amount of space to the Brenton trial, in addition to what +is received from the Associated Press dispatches. Now you can give me a +great many facilities in this matter if you care to do so, and in return +I am perfectly willing to submit to you every line of copy that concerns +you or your client before it is sent, and I give you my word of honour +that nothing shall appear but what you have seen and approved of. If +you want to cut out something that I think is vitally important, then I +shall tell you frankly that I intend to print it, but will modify it as +much as I possibly can to suit your views." + +"I see," said the lawyer. "In other words, as you have just remarked, +I am to give you special facilities in this matter, and then, when you +find out some fact which I wish kept secret, and which you have obtained +because of the facilities I have given to you, you will quite frankly +tell me that it must go in, and then, of course, I shall be helpless +except to debar you from any further facilities, as you call them. No, +sir, I do not care to make any such bargain." + +"Well, suppose I strike out that clause of agreement, and say to you +that I will send nothing but what you approve of, would you then write +me a note to the sheriff and allow me to see the prisoner?" + +"I am sorry to say"--the lawyer hesitated for a moment, and glanced at +the card, then added--"Mr. Stratton, that I do not see my way clear to +granting your request." + +"I think," said Stratton, rising, "that you are doing yourself an +injustice. You are refusing--I may as well tell you first as last--what +is a great privilege. Now, you have had some experience in your +business, and I have had some experience in mine, and I beg to inform +you that men who are much more prominent in the history of their country +than any one I can at present think of in Cincinnati, have tried to balk +me in the pursuit of my business, and have failed." + +"In that matter, of course," said Brown, "I must take my chances. I +don't see the use of prolonging this interview. As you have been so +frank as to--I won't say threaten, perhaps warn is the better word--as +you have been so good as to warn me, I may, before we part, just give +_you_ a word of caution. Of course we, in Cincinnati, are perfectly +willing to admit that Chicago people are the smartest on earth, but I +may say that if you print a word in your paper which is untrue and which +is damaging to our side of the case, or if you use any methods that +are unlawful in obtaining the information you so much desire, you will +certainly get your paper into trouble, and you will run some little +personal risk yourself." + +"Well, as you remarked a moment ago, Mr. Brown, I shall have to take the +chances of that. I am here to get the news, and if I don't succeed it +will be the first time in my life." + +"Very well, sir," said the lawyer. "I wish you good evening." + +"Just one thing more," said the newspaper man, "before I leave you." + +"My dear sir," said the lawyer, impatiently, "I am very busy. I've +already given you a liberal share of my time. I must request that this +interview end at once." + +"I thought," said Mr. Stratton, calmly, "that perhaps you might be +interested in the first article that I am going to write. I shall devote +one column in the _Argus_ of the day after to-morrow to your defence of +the case, and whether your theory of defence is a tenable one or not." + +Mr. Brown pushed back his chair and looked earnestly at the young man. +That individual was imperturbably pulling on his gloves, and at the +moment was buttoning one of them. + +"Our _defence_!" cried the lawyer. "What do you know of our defence?" + +"My dear sir," said Stratton, "I know _all_ about it." + +"Sir, that is impossible. Nobody knows what our defence is to be except +Mr. Benham and myself." + +"And Mr. Stratton, of the Chicago _Argus_," replied the young man, as he +buttoned his coat. + +"May I ask, then, what the defence is?" + +"Certainly," answered the Chicago man. "Your defence is that Mr. Brenton +was insane, and that he committed suicide." + +Even Mr. Brown's habitual self-control, acquired by long years of +training in keeping his feelings out of sight, for the moment deserted +him. He drew his breath sharply, and cast a piercing glance at the young +man before him, who was critically watching the lawyer's countenance, +although he appeared to be entirely absorbed in buttoning his overcoat. +Then Mr. Brown gave a short, dry laugh. + +"I have met a bluff before," he said carelessly; "but I should like to +know what makes you think that such is our defence?" + +"_Think_!" cried the young man. "I don't think at all; I _know_ it." + +"How do you know it?" + +"Well, for one thing, I know it by your own actions a moment ago. What +first gave me an inkling of your defence was that book which is on +your table. It is Forbes Winslow on the mind and the brain; a very +interesting book, Mr. Brown, _very_ interesting indeed. It treats of +suicide, and the causes and conditions of the brain that will lead up +to it. It is a very good book, indeed, to study in such a case. Good +evening, Mr. Brown. I am sorry that we cannot co-operate in this +matter." + +Stratton turned and walked toward the door, while the lawyer gazed after +him with a look of helpless astonishment on his face. As Stratton placed +his hand on the door knob, the lawyer seemed to wake up as from a dream. + +"Stop!" he cried; "I will give you a letter that will admit you to Mrs. +Brenton." + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +"There!" said Speed to Brenton, triumphantly, "what do you think of +_that_? Didn't I say George Stratton was the brightest newspaper man in +Chicago? I tell you, his getting that letter from old Brown was one of +the cleverest bits of diplomacy I ever saw. There you had quickness of +perception, and nerve. All the time he was talking to old Brown he was +just taking that man's measure. See how coolly he acted while he was +drawing on his gloves and buttoning his coat as if ready to leave. Flung +that at Brown all of a sudden as quiet as if he was saying nothing at +all unusual, and all the time watching Brown out of the tail of his eye. +Well, sir, I must admit, that although I have known George Stratton for +years, I thought he was dished by that Cincinnati lawyer. I thought that +George was just gracefully covering up his defeat, and there he upset +old Brown's apple-cart in the twinkling of an eye. Now, you see the +effect of all this. Brown has practically admitted to him what the line +of defence is. Stratton won't publish it, of course; he has promised not +to, but you see he can hold that over Brown's head, and get everything +he wants unless they change their defence." + +"Yes," remarked Brenton, slowly, "he seems to be a very sharp newspaper +man indeed; but I don't like the idea of his going to interview my +wife." + +"Why, what is there wrong about that?" + +"Well, there is this wrong about it--that she in her depression may say +something that will tell against her." + +"Even if she does, what of it? Isn't the lawyer going to see the letter +before it is sent to the paper?" + +"I am not so sure about that. Do you think Stratton will show the +article to Brown if he gets what you call a scoop or a beat?" + +"Why, of course he will," answered Speed, indignantly; "hasn't he given +him his word that he will?" + +"Yes, I know he has," said Brenton, dubiously; "but he is a newspaper +man." + +"Certainly he is," answered Speed, with strong emphasis; "that is the +reason he will keep his word." + +"I hope so, I hope so; but I must admit that the more I know you +newspaper men, the more I see the great temptation you are under to +preserve if possible the sensational features of an article." + +"I'll bet you a drink--no, we can't do that," corrected Speed; "but you +shall see that, if Brown acts square with Stratton, he will keep his +word to the very letter with Brown. There is no use in our talking about +the matter here. Let us follow Stratton, and see what comes of the +interview." + +"I think I prefer to go alone," said Brenton, coldly. + +"Oh, as you like, as you like," answered the other, shortly. "I thought +you wanted my help in this affair; but if you don't, I am sure I shan't +intrude." + +"That's all right," said Brenton; "come along. By the way, Speed, what +do you think of that line of defence?" + +"Well, I don't know enough of the circumstances of the case to know what +to think of it. It seems to me rather a good line." + +"It can't be a good line when it is not true. It is certain to break +down." + +"That's so," said Speed; "but I'll bet you four dollars and a half that +they'll prove you a raving maniac before they are through with you. +They'll show very likely that you tried to poison yourself two or three +times; bring on a dozen of your friends to prove that they knew all your +life you were insane." + +"Do you think they will?" asked Brenton, uneasily. + +"Think it? Why, I am sure of it. You'll go down to posterity as one of +the most complete lunatics that ever, lived in Cincinnati. Oh, there +won't be anything left of you when _they_ get through with you." + +Meanwhile, Stratton was making his way to the residence of the sheriff. + +"Ah," said that official, when they met, "you got your letter, did you? +Well, I thought you would." + +"If you had heard the conversation between my estimable friend Mr. Brown +and myself, up to the very last moment, you wouldn't have thought it." + +"Well, Brown is generally very courteous towards newspaper men, and +that's one reason you see his name in the papers a great deal." + +"If I were a Cincinnati newspaper man, I can assure you that his name +wouldn't appear very much in the columns of my paper." + +"I am sorry to hear you say that. I thought Brown was very popular with +the newspaper men. You got the letter, though, did you?" + +"Yes; I got it. Here it is. Read it." + +The sheriff scanned the brief note over, and put it in his pocket. + +"Just take a chair for a moment, will you, and I will see if Mrs. +Brenton is ready to receive you." + +[Illustration: Jane.] + +Stratton seated himself, and, pulling a paper from his pocket, was +busily reading when the sheriff again entered. + +"I am sorry to say," he began, "after you have had all this trouble, +that Mrs. Brenton positively refuses to see you. You know I cannot +_compel_ a prisoner to meet any one. You understand that, of course." + +"Perfectly," said Stratton, thinking for a moment. "See here, sheriff, +I have simply _got_ to have a talk with that woman. Now, can't you tell +her I knew her husband, or something of that sort? I'll make it all +right when I see her." + + * * * * * + +"The scoundrel!" said Brenton to Speed, as Stratton made this remark. + +"My dear sir," said Speed, "don't you see he is just the man we want? +This is not the time to be particular." + +"Yes, but think of the treachery and meanness of telling a poor +unfortunate woman that he was acquainted with her husband, who is only a +few days dead." + +"Now, see here," said Speed, "if you are going to look on matters in +this way you will be a hindrance and not a help in the affair. Don't you +appreciate the situation? Why, Mrs. Brenton's own lawyers, as you have +said, think her guilty. What, then, can they learn by talking with her, +or what good can they do her with their minds already prejudiced against +her? Don't you see that?" + +Brenton made no answer to this, but it was evident he was very ill at +ease. + + * * * * * + +"Did you know her husband?" asked the sheriff. + +"No, to tell you the truth, I never heard of him before. But I must see +this lady, both for my good and hers, and I am not going to let a little +thing like that stand between us. Won't you tell her that I have come +with a letter from her own lawyers? Just show her the letter, and say +that I will take up but very little of her time. I am sorry to ask this +much of you, but you see how I am placed." + +"Oh, that's all right," said the sheriff, good-naturedly; "I shall be +very glad to do what you wish," and with that he once more disappeared. + +The sheriff stayed away longer this time, and Stratton paced the room +impatiently. Finally, the official returned, and said-- + +"Mrs. Brenton has consented to see you. Come this way, please. You +will excuse me, I know," continued the sheriff, as they walked along +together, "but it is part of my duty to remain in the room while you +are talking with Mrs. Brenton." + +"Certainly, certainly," said Stratton; "I understand that." + +"Very well; then, if I may make a suggestion, I would say this: you +should be prepared to ask just what you want to know, and do it all as +speedily as possible, for really Mrs. Brenton is in a condition of +nervous exhaustion that renders it almost cruel to put her through any +rigid cross-examination." + +"I understand that also," said Stratton; "but you must remember +that she has a very much harder trial to undergo in the future. I am +exceedingly anxious to get at the truth of this thing, and so, if it +seems to you that I am asking a lot of very unnecessary questions, I +hope you will not interfere with me as long as Mrs. Brenton consents to +answer." + +"I shall not interfere at all," said the sheriff; "I only wanted to +caution you, for the lady may break down at any moment. If you can +marshal your questions so that the most important ones come first, I +think it will be wise. I presume you have them pretty well arranged in +your own mind?" + +"Well, I can't say that I have; you see, I am entirely in the dark. I +got no help whatever from the lawyers, and from what I know of their +defence I am thoroughly convinced that they are on the wrong track." + +"What! did Brown say anything about the defence? That is not like his +usual caution." + +"He didn't intend to," answered Stratton; "but I found out all I wanted +to know, nevertheless. You see, I shall have to ask what appears to be a +lot of rambling, inconsequential questions because you can never tell in +a case like this when you may get the key to the whole mystery." + +"Well, here we are," said the sheriff, as he knocked at a door, and then +pushed it open. + +From the moment George Stratton saw Mrs. Brenton his interest in the +case ceased to be purely journalistic. + +Mrs. Brenton was standing near the window, and she appeared to be very +calm and collected, but her fingers twitched nervously, clasping and +unclasping each other. Her modest dress of black was certainly a very +becoming one. + +George thought he had never seen a woman so beautiful. + +As she was standing up, she evidently intended the interview to be a +short one. + +"Madam," said Stratton, "I am very sorry indeed to trouble you; but I +have taken a great interest in the solution of this mystery, and I have +your lawyers' permission to visit you. I assure you, anything you say +will be submitted to them, so that there will be no danger of your case +being prejudiced by any statements made." + +"I am not afraid," said Mrs. Brenton, "that the truth will injure or +prejudice my case." + +"I am sure of that," answered the newspaper man; and then, knowing that +she would not sit down if he asked her to, he continued diplomatically, +"Madam, will you permit me to sit down? I wish to write out my notes as +carefully as possible. Accuracy is my strong point." + +"Certainly," said Mrs. Brenton; and, seeing that it was not probable the +interview would be a short one, she seated herself by the window, while +the sheriff took a chair in the corner, and drew a newspaper from his +pocket. + +"Now, madam," said the special, "a great number of the questions I ask +you may seem trivial, but as I said to the sheriff a moment ago, some +word of yours that appears to you entirely unconnected with the case may +give me a clue which will be exceedingly valuable. You will, therefore, +I am sure, pardon me if some of the questions I ask you appear +irrelevant." + +Mrs. Brenton bowed her head, but said nothing. + +"Were your husband's business affairs in good condition at the time of +his death?" + +"As far as I know they were." + +"Did you ever see anything in your husband's actions that would lead you +to think him a man who might have contemplated suicide?" + +Mrs. Brenton looked up with wide-open eyes. + +"Certainly not," she said. + +"Had he ever spoken to you on the subject of suicide?" + +"I do not remember that he ever did." + +"Was he ever queer in his actions? In short, did you ever notice +anything about him that would lead you to doubt his sanity? I am sorry +if questions I ask you seem painful, but I have reasons for wishing to +be certain on this point." + +"No," said Mrs. Brenton; "he was perfectly sane. No man could have been +more so. I am certain that he never thought of committing suicide." + +"Why are you so certain on that point?" + +"I do not know why. I only know I am positive of it." + +"Do you know if he had any enemy who might wish his death?" + +"I doubt if he had an enemy in the world. I do not know of any." + +"Have you ever heard him speak of anybody in a spirit of enmity?" + +"Never. He was not a man who bore enmity against people. Persons whom he +did not like he avoided." + +"The poison, it is said, was put into his cup of coffee. Do you happen +to know," said Stratton, turning to the sheriff, "how they came to that +conclusion?" + +"No, I do not," answered the sheriff. "In fact, I don't see any reason +why they should think so." + +"Was morphia found in the coffee cup afterwards?" + +"No; at the time of the inquest all the things had been cleared away. I +think it was merely presumed that the morphine was put into his coffee." + +"Who poured out the coffee he drank that night?" + +"I did," answered his wife. + +"You were at one end of the table and he at the other, I suppose?" + +"Yes." + +"How did the coffee cup reach him?" + +"I gave it to the servant, and she placed it before him." + +"It passed through no other hands, then?" + +"No." + +"Who was the servant?" + +Mrs. Brenton pondered for a moment. + +"I really know very little about her. She had been in our house for a +couple of weeks only." + +"What was her name?" + +"Jane Morton, I think." + +"Where is she now, do you know?" + +"I do not know." + +"She appeared at the inquest, of course?" said Stratton, turning to the +sheriff. + +"I think she did," was the answer. "I am not sure." + +He marked her name down in the note-book. + +"How many people were there at the dinner?" + +"Including my husband and myself, there were twenty-six." + +"Could you give me the name of each of them?" + +"Yes, I think so." + +She repeated the names, which he took down, with certain notes and +comments on each. + +"Who sat next your husband at the head of the table?" + +"Miss Walker was at his right hand, Mr. Roland at his left." + +"Now, forgive me if I ask you if you have ever had any trouble with your +husband?" + +"Never." + +"Never had any quarrel?" + +Mrs. Brenton hesitated for a moment. + +"No, I don't think we ever had what could be called a quarrel." + +"You had no disagreement shortly before the dinner?" + +Again Mrs. Brenton hesitated. + +"I can hardly call it a disagreement," she said. "We had a little +discussion about some of the guests who were to be invited." + +"Did he object to any that were there?" + +"There was a gentleman there whom he did not particularly like, I think, +but he made no objection to his coming; in fact, he seemed to feel that +I might imagine he had an objection from a little discussion we had +about inviting him; and afterwards, as if to make up for that, he placed +this guest at his left hand." + +Stratton quickly glanced up the page of his notebook, and marked a +little cross before the name of Stephen Roland. + +"You had another disagreement with him before, if I might term it so, +had you not?" + +Mrs. Brenton looked at him surprised. + +"What makes you think so?" she said. + +"Because you hesitated when I spoke of it." + +"Well, we had what you might call a disagreement once at Lucerne, +Switzerland." + +"Will you tell me what it was about?" + +"I would rather not." + +"Will you tell me this--was it about a gentleman?" + +"Yes," said Mrs. Brenton. + +"Was your husband of a jealous disposition?" + +"Ordinarily I do not think he was. It seemed to me at the time that he +was a little unjust--that's all." + +"Was the gentleman in Lucerne?" + +"Oh no!" + +"In Cincinnati?" + +"Yes." + +"Was his name Stephen Roland?" + +Mrs. Brenton again glanced quickly at the newspaper man, and seemed +about to say something, but, checking herself, she simply answered-- + +"Yes." + +Then she leaned back in the armchair and sighed. + +"I am very tired," she said. "If it is not absolutely necessary, I +prefer not to continue this conversation." + +Stratton immediately rose. + +"Madam," he said, "I am very much obliged to you for the trouble you +have taken to answer my questions, which I am afraid must have seemed +impertinent to you, but I assure you that I did not intend them to be +so. Now, madam, I would like very much to get a promise from you. I wish +that you would promise to see me if I call again, and I, on my part, +assure you that unless I have something particularly important to tell +you, or to ask, I shall not intrude upon you." + +"I shall be pleased to see you at any time, sir." + +When the sheriff and the newspaper man reached the other room, the +former said-- + +"Well, what do you think?" + +"I think it is an interesting case," was the answer. + +"Or, to put it in other words, you think Mrs. Brenton a very interesting +lady." + +"Officially, sir, you have exactly stated my opinion." + +"And I suppose, poor woman, she will furnish an interesting article for +the paper?" + +"Hang the paper!" said Stratton, with more than his usual vim. + +The sheriff laughed. Then he said-- + +"I confess that to me it seems a very perplexing affair all through. +Have you got any light on the subject?" + +"My dear sir, I will tell you three important things. First, Mrs. +Brenton is innocent. Second, her lawyers are taking the wrong line of +defence. Third," tapping his breast-pocket, "I have the name of the +murderer in my note-book." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +"Now," said John Speed to William Brenton, "we have got Stratton fairly +started on the track, and I believe that he will ferret out the truth +in this matter. But, meanwhile, we must not be idle. You must remember +that, with all our facilities for discovery, we really know nothing +of the murderer ourselves. I propose we set about this thing just as +systematically as Stratton will. The chances are that we shall penetrate +the mystery of the whole affair very much quicker than he. As I told +you before, I am something of a newspaper man myself; and if, with the +facilities of getting into any room in any house, in any city and in any +country, and being with a suspected criminal night and day when he never +imagines any one is near him--if with all those advantages I cannot +discover the real author of that crime before George Stratton does, then +I'll never admit that I came from Chicago, or belonged to a newspaper." + +"Whom do you think Stratton suspects of the crime? He told the sheriff," +said Brenton, "that he had the name in his pocket-book." + +"I don't know," said Speed, "but I have my suspicions. You see, he has +the names of all the guests at your banquet in that pocket-book of his; +but the name of Stephen Roland he has marked with two crosses. The name +of the servant he has marked with one cross. Now, I suspect that he +believes Stephen Roland committed the crime. You know Roland; what do +you think of him?" + +"I think he is quite capable of it," answered Brenton, with a frown. + +"Still, you are prejudiced against the man," put in Speed, "so your +evidence is hardly impartial." + +"I am not prejudiced against any one," answered Brenton; "I merely know +that man. He is a thoroughly despicable, cowardly character. The only +thing that makes me think he would not commit a murder, is that he is +too craven to stand the consequences if he were caught. He is a cool +villain, but he is a coward. I do not believe he has the courage to +commit a crime, even if he thought he would benefit by it." + +"Well, there is one thing, Brenton, you can't be accused of flattering +a man, and if it is any consolation for you to know, you may be pretty +certain that George Stratton is on his track." + +"I am sure I wish him success," answered Brenton, gloomily; "if he +brings Roland to the gallows I shall not mourn over it." + +"That's all right," said Speed; "but now we must be up and doing +ourselves. Have you anything to propose?" + +"No, I have not, except that we might play the detective on Roland." + +"Well, the trouble with that is we would merely be duplicating what +Stratton is doing himself. Now, I'll tell you my proposal. Supposing +that we consult with Lecocq." + +"Who is that? The novelist?" + +"Novelist? I don't think he has ever written any novels--not that I +remember of." + +"Ah, I didn't know. It seemed to me that I remembered his name in +connection with some novel." + +"Oh, very likely you did. He is the hero of more detective stories than +any other man I know of. He was the great French detective." + +"What, is he dead, then?" + +"Dead? Not a bit of it; he's here with us. Oh, I understand what you +mean. Yes, from your point of view, he is dead." + +"Where can we find him?" + +"Well, I presume, in Paris. He's a first-rate fellow to know, anyhow, +and he spends most of his time around his old haunts. In fact, if you +want to be certain to find Lecocq, you will generally get him during +office hours in the room he used to frequent while in Paris." + +"Let us go and see him, then." + + * * * * * + +"Monsieur Lecocq," said Speed, a moment afterwards, "I wish to introduce +to you a new-comer, Mr. Brenton, recently of Cincinnati." + +"Ah, my dear Speed," said the Frenchman, "I am very pleased indeed to +meet any friend of yours. How is the great Chicago, the second Paris, +and how is your circulation?--the greatest in the world, I suppose." + +"Well, it is in pretty good order," said Speed; "we circulated from +Chicago to Paris here in a very much shorter time than the journey +usually occupies down below. Now, can you give us a little of your time? +Are you busy just now?" + +"My dear Speed, I am always busy. I am like the people of the second +Paris. I lose no time, but I have always time to speak with my friends." + +"All right," said Speed. "I am like the people of the second Chicago, +generally more intent on pleasure than business; but, nevertheless, I +have a piece of business for you." + +"The second Chicago?" asked Lecocq. "And where is that, pray?" + +"Why, Paris, of course," said Speed. + +Lecocq laughed. + +"You are incorrigible, you Chicagoans. And what is the piece of +business?" + +"It is the old thing, monsieur. A mystery to be unravelled. Mr. Brenton +here wishes to retain you in his case." + +"And what is his case?" was the answer. + +Lecocq was evidently pleased to have a bit of real work given him. + +[Illustration: The detective.] + +Speed briefly recited the facts, Brenton correcting him now and then +on little points where he was wrong. Speed seemed to think these points +immaterial, but Lecocq said that attention to trivialities was the +whole secret of the detective business. + +"Ah," said Lecocq, sorrowfully, "there is no real trouble in elucidating +that mystery. I hoped it would be something difficult; but, you see, +with my experience of the old world, and with the privileges one enjoys +in this world, things which might be difficult to one below are very +easy for us. Now, I shall show you how simple it is." + +"Good gracious!" cried Speed, "you don't mean to say you are going to +read it right off the reel, like that, when we have been bothering +ourselves with it so long, and without success?" + +"At the moment," replied the French detective, "I am not prepared to say +who committed the deed. That is a matter of detail. Now, let us see what +we know, and arrive, from that, at what we do not know. The one fact, of +which we are assured on the statement of two physicians from Cincinnati, +is that Mr. Brenton was poisoned." + +"Well," said Speed, "there are several other facts, too. Another fact is +that Mrs. Brenton is accused of the crime." + +"Ah! my dear sir," said Lecocq, "that is not pertinent." + +"No," said Speed, "I agree with you. I call it very impertinent." + +Brenton frowned, at this, and his old dislike to the flippant Chicago +man rose to the surface again. + +The Frenchman continued marking the points on his long forefinger. + +"Now, there are two ways by which that result may have been attained. +First, Mr. Brenton may have administered to himself the poison; +secondly, the poison may have been administered by some one else." + +"Yes," said Speed; "and, thirdly, the poison may have been administered +accidentally--you do not seem to take that into account." + +"I do not take that into account," calmly replied the Frenchman, +"because of its improbability. If there were an accident; if, for +instance, the poison was in the sugar, or in some of the viands served, +then others than Mr. Brenton would have been poisoned. The fact that one +man out of twenty-six was poisoned, and the fact that several people are +to benefit by his death, point, it seems to me, to murder; but to be +sure of that, I will ask Mr. Brenton one question. My dear sir, did you +administer this poison to yourself?" + +"Certainly not," answered Brenton. + +"Then we have two facts. First, Mr. Brenton was poisoned; secondly, he +was poisoned by some person who had an interest in his death. Now we +will proceed. When Mr. Brenton sat down to that dinner he was perfectly +well. When he arose from that dinner he was feeling ill. He goes to bed. +He sees no one but his wife after he has left the dinner-table, and he +takes nothing between the time he leaves the dinner-table and the moment +he becomes unconscious. Now, that poison must have been administered to +Mr. Brenton at the dinner-table. Am I not right?" + +"Well, you seem to be," answered Speed. + +"Seem? Why, it is as plain as day. There cannot be any mistake." + +"All right," said Speed; "go ahead. What next?" + +"What next? There were twenty-six people around that table, with two +servants to wait on them, making twenty-eight in all. There were +twenty-six, I think you said, including Mr. Brenton." + +"That is correct." + +"Very well. One of those twenty-seven persons has poisoned Mr. Brenton. +Do you follow me?" + +"We do," answered Speed; "we follow you as closely as you have ever +followed a criminal! Go on." + +"Very well, so much is clear. These are all facts, not theories. Now, +what is the thing that I should do if I were in Cincinnati? I would find +out whether one or more of those guests had anything to gain by the +death of their host. That done, I would follow the suspected persons. I +would have my men find out what each of them had done for a month before +the time of the crime. Whoever committed it made some preparation. He +did something, too, as you say, in America, to cover up his tracks. Very +well. By the keen detective these actions are easily traced. I shall at +once place twenty-seven of the best men I know on the track of those +twenty-seven persons." + +"I call that shadowing with a vengeance," remarked the Chicago man. + +"It will be very easy. The one who has committed the crime is certain, +when he is alone in his own room, to say something, or to do something, +that will show my detective that he is the criminal. So, gentlemen, if +you can tell me who those twenty-seven persons are, in three days or a +week from this time I will tell you who gave the poison to Mr. Brenton." + +"You seem very sure of that," said Speed. + +"Sure of it? It is simply child's play. It is mere waiting. If, for +instance, at the trial Mrs. Brenton is found guilty, and sentenced, the +one who is the guilty party is certain to betray himself or herself +as soon as he or she is alone. If it be a man who hopes to marry Mrs. +Brenton, he will be overcome with grief at what has happened. He will +wring his hands and try to think what can be done to prevent the +sentence being carried out. He will argue with himself whether it is +better to give himself up and tell the truth, and if he is a coward he +will conclude not to do that, but will try to get a pardon, or at least +have the capital sentence commuted into life imprisonment. He will +possibly be cool and calm in public, but when he enters his own room, +when his door is locked, when he believes no one can see him, when he +thinks he is alone, then will come his trial. Then his passions and +his emotions will betray him. It is mere child's play, as I tell you, +and long before there is a verdict I will give you the name of the +murderer." + +"Very well, then," said Speed, "that is agreed; we will look you up in a +week from now." + +"I should be pained," said Lecocq, "to put you to that trouble. As soon +as I get the report from my men I will communicate with you and let +you know the result. In a few days I shall give you the name of the +assassin." + +"Good-bye, then, until I see you again," answered Speed; and with this +he and Brenton took their departure. + +"He seems to be very sure of himself," said Brenton. + +[Illustration: Jane Morton.] + +"He will do what he says, you may depend on that." + +The week was not yet up when Monsieur Lecocq met John Speed in Chicago. + +"By the look of satisfaction on your face," said Mr. Speed, "I imagine +you have succeeded in unravelling the mystery." + +"Ah," replied the Frenchman; "if I have the appearance of satisfaction, +it is indeed misplaced." + +"Then you have not made any discovery?" + +"On the contrary, it is all as plain as your big buildings here. It +is not for that reason, but because it is so simple that I should be +foolish to feel satisfaction regarding it." + +"Then who is the person?" + +"The assassin," replied the Frenchman, "is one whom no one has seemed to +think of, and yet one on whom suspicion should have been the first to +fall. The person who did Monsieur Brenton the honour to poison him is +none other than the servant girl, Jane Morton." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +"Jane Morton!" cried Speed; "who is she?" + +"She is, as you may remember, the girl who carried the coffee from Mrs. +Brenton to monsieur." + +"And are you sure she is the criminal?" + +The great detective did not answer; he merely gave an expressive little +French gesture, as though the question was not worth commenting upon. + +"Why, what was her motive?" asked Speed. + +For the first time in their acquaintance a shade of perplexity seemed to +come over the enthusiastic face of the volatile Frenchman. + +"You are what you call smart, you Chicago people," he said, "and you +have in a moment struck the only point on which we are at a loss." + +"My dear sir," returned Speed, "that is _the_ point in the case. Motive +is the first thing to look for, it seems to me. You said as much +yourself. If you haven't succeeded in finding what motive Jane Morton +had for poisoning her employer, it appears to me that very little has +been accomplished." + +"Ah, you say that before you know the particulars. I am certain we shall +find the motive. What I know now is that Jane Morton is the one who put +the poison in his cup of coffee." + +"It would take a good deal of nerve to do that with twenty-six people +around the table. You forget, my dear sir, that she had to pass the +whole length of the table, after taking the cup, before giving it to Mr. +Brenton." + +"Half of the people had their backs to her, and the other half, I can +assure you, were not looking at her. If the poison was ready, it was a +very easy thing to slip it into a cup of coffee. There was ample time to +do it, and that is how it was done." + +"May I ask how you arrived at that conclusion?" + +"Certainly, certainly, my dear sir. My detectives report that each one +of the twenty-seven people they had to follow were shadowed night and +day. But only two of them acted suspiciously. These two were Jane Morton +and Stephen Roland. Stephen Roland's anxiety is accounted for by the +fact that he is evidently in love with Mrs. Brenton. But the change +in Jane Morton has been something terrible. She is suffering from the +severest pangs of ineffectual remorse. She has not gone out again to +service, but occupies a room in one of the poorer quarters of the +city--a room that she never leaves except at night. Her whole actions +show that she is afraid of the police--afraid of being tracked for her +crime. She buys a newspaper every night, locks and bars the door on +entering her room, and, with tears streaming from her eyes, reads every +word of the criminal news. One night, when she went out to buy her +paper, and what food she needed for the next day, she came unexpectedly +upon a policeman at the corner. The man was not looking at her at all, +nor for her, but she fled, running like a deer, doubling and turning +through alleys and back streets until by a very roundabout road she +reached her own room. There she locked herself in, and remained +without food all next day rather than go out again. She flung herself +terror-stricken on the bed, after her room door was bolted, and cried, +'Oh, why did I do it? why did I do it? I shall certainly be found out. +If Mrs. Brenton is acquitted, they will be after me next day. I did it +to make up to John what he had suffered, and yet if John knew it, he +would never speak to me again.'" + +[Illustration: "Oh, why did I do it?"] + +"Who is John?" asked Speed. + +"Ah, that," said the detective, "I do not know. When we find out who +John is, then we shall find the motive for the crime." + +"In that case, if I were you, I should try to find John as quickly as +possible." + +"Yes, my dear sir, that is exactly what should be done, and my detective +is now endeavouring to discover the identity of John. He will possibly +succeed in a few days. But there is another way of finding out who John +is, and perhaps in that you can help me." + +"What other way?" + +"There is one man who undoubtedly knows who John is, and that is Mr. +Brenton. Now, I thought that perhaps you, who know Brenton better than I +do, would not mind asking him who John is." + +"My dear sir," said Speed, "Brenton is no particular friend of mine, +and I only know him well enough to feel that if there is any +cross-examination to be done, I should prefer somebody else to do it." + +"Why, you are not afraid of him, are you?" asked the detective. + +"Afraid of him? Certainly not, but I tell you that Brenton is just a +little touchy and apt to take offence. I have found him so on several +occasions. Now, as you have practically taken charge of this case, why +don't you go and see him?" + +"I suppose I shall have to do that," said the Frenchman, "if you will +not undertake it." + +"No, I will not." + +"You have no objection, have you, to going with me?" + +"It is better for you to see Brenton alone. I do not think he would care +to be cross-examined before witnesses, you know." + +"Ah, then, good-bye; I shall find out from Mr. Brenton who John is." + +"I am sure I wish you luck," replied Speed, as Lecocq took his +departure. + +Lecocq found Brenton and Ferris together. The cynical spirit seemed to +have been rather sceptical about the accounts given him of the influence +that Speed and Brenton, combined, had had upon the Chicago newspaper +man. Yet he was interested in the case, and although he still maintained +that no practical good would result, even if a channel of communication +could be opened between the two states of existence, he had listened +with his customary respect to what Brenton had to say. + +"Ah," said Brenton, when he saw the Frenchman, "have you any news for +me?" + +"Yes, I have. I have news that I will exchange, but meanwhile I want +some news from you." + +"I have none to give you," answered Brenton. + +"If you have not, will you undertake to answer any questions I shall ask +you, and not take offence if the questions seem to be personal ones?" + +"Certainly," said Brenton; "I shall be glad to answer anything as long +as it has a bearing on the case." + +"Very well, then, it has a very distinct bearing on the case. Do you +remember the girl Jane Morton?" + +"I remember her, of course, as one of the servants in our employ. I know +very little about her, though." + +"That is just what I wish to find out. Do you know _anything_ about her?" + +"No; she had been in our employ but a fortnight, I think, or perhaps it +was a month. My wife attended to these details, of course. I knew the +girl was there, that is all." + +The Frenchman looked very dubious as Brenton said this, while the latter +rather bridled up. + +"You evidently do not believe me?" he cried. + +Once more the detective gave his customary gesture, and said-- + +"Ah, pardon me, you are entirely mistaken. I have this to acquaint you +with. Jane Morton is the one who murdered you. She did it, she says, +partly for the sake of John, whoever he is, and partly out of revenge. +Now, of course, you are the only man who can give me information as to +the motive. That girl certainly had a motive, and I should like to find +out what the motive was." + +Brenton meditated for a few moments, and then suddenly brightened up. + +"I remember, now, an incident which happened a week of two before +Christmas, which may have a bearing on the case. One night I heard--or +thought I heard--a movement downstairs, when I supposed everybody had +retired. I took a revolver in my hand, and went cautiously down the +stairs. Of course I had no light, because, if there was a burglar, I did +not wish to make myself too conspicuous a mark. As I went along the hall +leading to the kitchen, I saw there was a light inside; but as soon as +they heard me coming the light was put out. When I reached the kitchen, +I noticed a man trying to escape through the door that led to the +coalshed. I fired at him twice, and he sank to the floor with a groan. I +thought I had bagged a burglar sure, but it turned out to be nothing of +the kind. He was merely a young man who had been rather late visiting +one of the girls. I suspect now the girl he came to see was Jane +Morton. As it was, the noise brought the two girls there, and I never +investigated the matter or tried to find out which one it was that he +had been visiting. They were both terror-stricken, and the young man +himself was in a state of great fear. He thought for a moment that he +had been killed. However, he was only shot in the leg, and I sent him to +the house of a physician who keeps such patients as do not wish to go to +the hospital. I did not care to have him go to the hospital, because I +was afraid the newspapers would get hold of the incident, and make +a sensation of it. The whole thing was accidental; the young fellow +realized that, and so, I thought, did the girls; at least, I never +noticed anything in their behaviour to show the contrary." + +"What sort of a looking girl is Jane Morton?" asked Ferris. + +"She is a tall brunette, with snapping black eyes." + +"Ah, then, I remember her going into the room where you lay," said +Ferris, "on Christmas morning. It struck me when she came out that she +was very cool and self-possessed, and not at all surprised." + +"All I can say," said Brenton, "is that I never noticed anything in her +conduct like resentment at what had happened. I intended to give the +young fellow a handsome compensation for his injury, but of course what +occurred on Christmas Eve prevented that: I had really forgotten all +about the circumstance, or I should have told you of it before." + +"Then," said Lecocq, "the thing now is perfectly clear. That black-eyed +vixen murdered you out of revenge." + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +It was evident to George Stratton that he would have no time before +the trial came off in which to prove Stephen Roland the guilty person. +Besides this, he was in a strange state of mind which he himself could +not understand. The moment he sat down to think out a plan by which +he could run down the man he was confident had committed the crime, a +strange wavering of mind came over him. Something seemed to say to him +that he was on the wrong track. This became so persistent that George +was bewildered, and seriously questioned his own sanity. Whenever he sat +alone in his own room, the doubts arose and a feeling that he was on the +wrong scent took possession of him. This feeling became so strong at +times that he looked up other clues, and at one time tried to find +out the whereabouts of the servant girls who had been employed by the +Brentons. Curiously enough, the moment he began this search, his mind +seemed to become clearer and easier; and when that happened, the old +belief in the guilt of Stephen Roland resumed its sway again. But the +instant he tried to follow up what clues he had in that direction, he +found himself baffled and assailed again by doubts, and so every effort +he put forth appeared to be nullified. This state of mind was so unusual +with him that he had serious thoughts of abandoning the whole case and +going back to Chicago. He said to himself, "I am in love with this woman +and I shall go crazy if I stay here any longer." Then he remembered the +trust she appeared to have in his powers of ferreting out the mystery of +the case, and this in turn encouraged him and urged him on. + +All trace of the girls appeared to be lost. He hesitated to employ a +Cincinnati detective, fearing that what he discovered would be given +away to the Cincinnati press. Then he accused himself of disloyalty to +Mrs. Brenton, in putting his newspaper duty before his duty to her. +He was so torn by his conflicting ideas and emotions that at last he +resolved to abandon the case altogether and return to Chicago. He packed +up his valise and resolved to leave that night for big city, trial or no +trial. He had described his symptoms to a prominent physician, and that +physician told him that the case was driving him mad, and the best thing +he could do was to leave at once for other scenes. He could do no good, +and would perhaps end by going insane himself. + +As George Stratton was packing his valise in his room, alone, as he +thought, the following conversation was taking place beside him. + +"It is no use," said Speed; "we are merely muddling him, and not doing +any good. The only thing is to leave him alone. If he investigates the +Roland part of the case he will soon find out for himself that he is on +the wrong track; then he will take the right one." + +"Yes," said Brenton; "but the case comes on in a few days. If anything +is to be done, it must be done now." + +"In that I do not agree with you," said Speed. "Perhaps everything will +go all right at the trial, but even if it does not, there is still +a certain amount of time. You see how we have spoiled things by +interfering. Our first success with him has misled us. We thought we +could do anything; we have really done worse than nothing, because all +this valuable time has been lost. If he had been allowed to proceed in +his own way he would have ferreted out the matter as far as Stephen +Roland is concerned, and would have found that there was no cause for +his suspicion. As it is he has done nothing. He still believes, if left +alone, that Stephen Roland is the criminal. All our efforts to lead him +to the residence of Jane Morton have been unavailing. Now, you see, he +is on the eve of going back to Chicago." + +"Well, then, let him go," said Brenton, despondently. + +"With all my heart, say I," answered Speed; "but in any case let us +leave him alone." + +Before the train started that night Stratton said to himself that he was +a new man. Richard was himself again. He was thoroughly convinced of the +guilt of Stephen Roland, and wondered why he had allowed his mind to +wander off the topic and waste time with other suspicions, for which +he now saw there was no real excuse. He had not the time, he felt, to +investigate the subject personally, but he flattered himself he knew +exactly the man to put on Roland's track, and, instead of going himself +to Chicago, he sent off the following despatch:-- + +"Meet me to-morrow morning, without fail, at the Gibson House. Answer." + +Before midnight he had his answer, and next morning he met a man in whom +he had the most implicit confidence, and who had, as he said, the rare +and valuable gift of keeping his mouth shut. + +"You see this portrait?" Stratton said, handing to the other a +photograph of Stephen Roland. "Now, I do not know how many hundred +chemist shops there are in Cincinnati, but I want you to get a list of +them, and you must not omit the most obscure shop in town. I want you to +visit every drug store there is in the city, show this photograph to the +proprietor and the clerks, and find out if that man bought any chemicals +during the week or two preceding Christmas. Find out what drugs he +bought, and where he bought them, then bring the information to me." + +"How much time do you give me on this, Mr. Stratton?" was the question. + +"Whatever time you want. I wish the thing done thoroughly and +completely, and, as you know, silence is golden in a case like this." + +[Illustration: "How much time do you give me?"] + +"Enough said," replied the other, and, buttoning the photograph in his +inside pocket, he left the room. + + * * * * * + +There is no necessity of giving an elaborate report of the trial. Any +one who has curiosity in the matter can find the full particulars from +the files of any paper in the country. Mrs. Brenton was very pale as she +sat in the prisoner's dock, but George Stratton thought he never saw any +one look so beautiful. It seemed to him that any man in that crowded +courtroom could tell in a moment that she was not guilty of the crime +with which she was charged, and he looked at the jury of twelve +supposedly good men, and wondered what they thought of it. + +[Illustration: In the prisoner's dock.] + +The defence claimed that it was not their place to show who committed +the murder. That rested with the prosecution. The prosecution, Mr. +Benham maintained, had signally failed to do this. However, in order to +aid the prosecution, he was quite willing to show how Mr. Brenton came +to his death. Then witnesses were called, who, to the astonishment of +Mrs. Brenton, testified that her husband had all along had a tendency to +insanity. It was proved conclusively that some of his ancestors had died +in a lunatic asylum, and one was stated to have committed suicide. The +defence produced certain books from Mr. Brenton's library, among them +Forbes Winslow's volume on "The Mind and the Brain," to show that +Brenton had studied the subject of suicide. + +The judge's charge was very colourless. It amounted simply to this: +If the jury thought the prosecution had shown Mrs. Brenton to have +committed the crime, they were to bring in a verdict of guilty, and if +they thought otherwise they were to acquit her; and so the jury retired. + +As they left the court-room a certain gloom fell upon all those who were +friendly to the fair prisoner. + +Despite the great reputation of Benham and Brown, it was the thought +of every one present that they had made a very poor defence. The +prosecution, on the other hand, had been most ably conducted. It had +been shown that Mrs. Brenton was chiefly to profit by her husband's +death. The insurance fund alone would add seventy-five thousand dollars +to the money she would control. A number of little points that Stratton +had given no heed to had been magnified, and appeared then to have a +great bearing on the case. For the first time, Stratton admitted +to himself that the prosecution had made out a very strong case of +circumstantial evidence. The defence, too, had been so deplorably weak +that it added really to the strength of the prosecution. A great speech +had been expected of Benham, but he did not rise to the occasion, and, +as one who knew him said, Benham evidently believed his client guilty. + +As the jury retired, every one in the court-room felt that there was +little hope for the prisoner; and this feeling was intensified when, a +few moments after, the announcement was made in court, just as the +judge was preparing to leave the bench, that the jury had agreed on the +verdict. + +Stratton, in the stillness of the court-room, heard one lawyer whisper +to another, "She's doomed." + +There was intense silence as the jury slowly filed into their places, +and the foreman stood up. + +"Gentlemen of the jury," was the question, "have you agreed upon a +verdict?" + +"We have," answered the foreman. + +"Do you find the prisoner guilty or not guilty?" + +"Not guilty," was the clear answer. + +At this there was first a moment of silence, and then a ripple of +applause, promptly checked. + +Mrs. Brenton was free. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +George Stratton sat in the court-room for a moment dazed, before he +thought of the principal figure in the trial; then he rose to go to her +side, but he found that Roland was there before him. He heard her say, +"Get me a carriage quickly, and take me away from here." + +So Stratton went back to his hotel to meet his Chicago detective. The +latter had nothing to report. He told him the number of drug stores he +had visited, but all without avail. No one had recognized the portrait. + +"All right," said Stratton; "then you will just have to go ahead until +you find somebody who does. It is, I believe, only a question of time +and perseverance." + +Next morning he arose late. He looked over the report of the trial in +the morning paper, and then, turning to the leader page, read with +rising indignation the following editorial:-- + +"THE BRENTON CASE. + +"The decision of yesterday shows the glorious uncertainty that attends +the finding of the average American jury. If such verdicts are to be +rendered, we may as well blot out from the statute-book all punishment +for all crimes in which the evidence is largely circumstantial. If ever +a strong case was made out against a human being it was the case of the +prosecution in the recent trial. If ever there was a case in which the +defence was deplorably weak, although ably conducted, it was the case +that was concluded yesterday. Should we, then, be prepared to say that +circumstantial evidence will not be taken by an American jury as ground +for the conviction of a murderer? The chances are that, if we draw this +conclusion, we shall be entirely wrong. If a man stood in the dock, in +the place of the handsome young woman who occupied it yesterday, he +would to-day have been undoubtedly convicted of murder. The conclusion, +then, to be arrived at seems to be that, unless there is the direct +proof of murder against a pretty woman, it is absolutely impossible +to get the average jury of men to convict her. It would seem that the +sooner we get women on juries, especially where a woman is on trial, the +better it will be for the cause of justice." + +Then in other parts of the paper there were little items similar to this-- + +"If Mrs. Brenton did not poison her husband, then who did?" + +That afternoon George Stratton paid a visit to Mrs. Brenton. He had +hoped she had not seen the paper in question, but he hoped in vain. He +found Mrs. Brenton far from elated with her acquittal. + +"I would give everything I possess," she said, "to bring the culprit to +justice." + +After a talk on that momentous question, and when George Stratton held +her hand and said good-bye, she asked him-- + +"When do you go to Chicago?" + +"Madam," he said, "I leave for Chicago the moment I find out who +poisoned William Brenton." + +She answered sadly-- + +"You may remain a long time in Cincinnati." + +"In some respects," said Stratton, "I like Cincinnati better than +Chicago." + +"You are the first Chicago man I ever heard say that," she replied. + +"Ah, that was because they did not know Cincinnati as I do." + +"I suppose you must have seen a great deal of the town, but I must +confess that from now on I should be very glad if I never saw Cincinnati +again. I would like to consult with you," she continued, "about the best +way of solving this mystery. I have been thinking of engaging some of +the best detectives I can get. I suppose New York would be the place." + +"No; Chicago," answered the young man. + +"Well, then, that is what I wanted to see you about. I would like to get +the very best detectives that can be had. Don't you think that, if they +were promised ample reward, and paid well during the time they were +working on the case, we might discover the key to this mystery?" + +"I do not think much of our detective system," answered Stratton, +"although I suppose there is something in it, and sometimes they manage +in spite of themselves to stumble on the solution of a crime. Still, I +shall be very glad indeed to give you what advice I can on the subject. +I may say I have constituted myself a special detective in this case, +and that I hope to have the honour of solving the problem." + +"You are very good, indeed," she answered, "and I must ask you to let me +bear the expense." + +"Oh, the paper will do that. I won't be out of pocket at all," said +Stratton. + +"Well, I hardly know how to put it; but, whether you are successful or +not, I feel very grateful to you, and I hope you will not be offended at +what I am going to say. Now, promise me that you won't!" + +"I shall not be offended," he answered. "It is a little difficult to +offend a Chicago newspaper man, you know." + +"Now, you mustn't say anything against the newspaper men, for, in spite +of the hard things that some of them have said about me, I like them." + +"Individually or collectively?" + +[Illustration: "I feel very grateful to you."] + +"I am afraid I must say individually. You said you wouldn't be offended, +so after your search is over you must let me----. The labourer is worthy +of his hire, or I should say, his reward--you know what I mean. I presume +that a young man who earns his living on the daily press is not +necessarily wealthy." + +"Why, Mrs. Brenton, what strange ideas you have of the world! We +newspaper men work at the business merely because we like it. It isn't +at all for the money that's in it." + +"Then you are not offended at what I have said?" + +"Oh, not in the least. I may say, however, that I look for a higher +reward than money if I am successful in this search." + +"Yes, I am sure you do," answered the lady, innocently. "If you +succeed in this, you will be very famous." + +"Exactly; it's fame I'm after," said Stratton, shaking her hand once +more, and taking his leave. + +When he reached his hotel, he found the Chicago detective waiting for +him. + +"Well, old man," he said, "anything new?" + +"Yes, sir. Something very new." + +"What have you found out?" + +"Everything." + +"Very well, let me have it." + +"I found out that this man bought, on December 10th, thirty grains of +morphia. He had this morphia put up in five-grain capsules. He bought +this at the drug store on the corner of Blank Street and Nemo Avenue." + +"Good gracious!" answered Stratton. "Then to get morphia he must have +had a physician's certificate. Did you find who the physician was that +signed the certificate?" + +"My dear sir," said the Chicago man, "this person is himself a +physician, unless I am very much mistaken. I was told that this was the +portrait of Stephen Roland. Am I right?" + +"That is the name." + +"Well, then, he is a doctor himself. Not doing a very large practice, it +is true, but he is a physician. Did you not know that?" + +[Illustration: "Here's the detailed report."] + +"No," said Stratton; "how stupid I am! I never thought of asking the +man's occupation." + +"Very well, if that is what you wanted to know, here's the detailed +report of my investigation." + +When the man left, Stratton rubbed his hands. + +"Now, Mr. Stephen Roland, I have you," he said. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +After receiving this information Stratton sat alone in his room and +thought deeply over his plans. He did not wish to make a false step, yet +there was hardly enough in the evidence he had secured to warrant his +giving Stephen Roland up to the police. Besides this, it would put the +suspected man at once on his guard, and there was no question but +that gentleman had taken every precaution to prevent discovery. After +deliberating for a long while, he thought that perhaps the best thing he +could do was to endeavour to take Roland by surprise. Meanwhile, before +the meditating man stood Brenton and Speed, and between them there was a +serious disagreement of opinion. + + * * * * * + +"I tell you what it is," said Speed, "there is no use in our interfering +with Stratton. He is on the wrong track, but, nevertheless, all the +influence we can use on him in his present frame of mind will merely do +what it did before--it will muddle the man up. Now, I propose that we +leave him severely alone. Let him find out his mistake. He will find it +out in some way or other, and then he will be in a condition of mind to +turn to the case of Jane Morton." + +"But don't you see," argued Brenton, "that all the time spent on his +present investigation is so much time lost? I will agree to leave him +alone, as you say, but let us get somebody else on the Morton case." + +"I don't want to do that," said Speed; "because George Stratton has +taken a great deal of interest in this search. He has done a great deal +now, and I think we should he grateful to him for it." + +"Grateful!" growled Brenton; "he has done it from the most purely +selfish motives that a man can act upon. He has done it entirely for his +paper--for newspaper fame. He has done it for money." + +"Now," said Speed, hotly, "you must not talk like that of Stratton to +me. I won't say what I think of that kind of language coming from you, +but you can see how seriously we interfered with his work before, and +how it nearly resulted in his departure for Chicago. I propose now that +we leave him alone." + +"Leave him alone, then, for any sake," replied Brenton; "I am sure I +build nothing on what he can do anyway." + +"All right, then," returned Speed, recovering his good nature. "Now, +although I am not willing to put any one else on the track of Miss Jane +Morton, yet I will tell you what I am willing to do. If you like, we +will go to her residence, and influence her to confess her crime. I +believe that can be done." + +"Very well; I want you to understand that I am perfectly reasonable +about the matter. All I want is not to lose any more time." + +"Time?" cried Speed; "why, we have got all the time there is. Mrs. +Brenton is acquitted. There is no more danger." + +"That is perfectly true, I admit; but still you can see the grief under +which she labours, because her name is not yet cleared from the odium +of the crime. You will excuse me, Speed, if I say that you seem to be +working more in the interests of Stratton's journalistic success than in +the interests of Mrs. Brenton's good name." + +"Well, we won't talk about that," said Speed; "Stratton is amply able to +take care of himself, as you will doubtless see. Now, what do you say +to our trying whether or not we can influence Jane Morton to do what she +ought to do, and confess her crime?" + +"It is not a very promising task," replied Brenton; "it is hard to get a +person to say words that may lead to the gallows." + +"I'm not so sure about that," said Speed; "you know the trouble of mind +she is in. I think it more than probable that, after the terror of the +last few weeks, it will be a relief for her to give herself up." + +"Very well; let us go." + +The two men shortly afterwards found themselves in the scantily +furnished room occupied by Jane Morton. That poor woman was rocking +herself to and fro and moaning over her trouble. Then she suddenly +stopped rocking, and looked around the room with vague apprehension +in her eyes. She rose and examined the bolts of the door, and, seeing +everything was secure, sat down again. + +"I shall never have any peace in this world again," she cried to +herself. + +She rocked back and forth silently for a few moments. + +"I wish," she said, "the police would find out all about it, and then +this agony of mind would end." + +Again she rocked back and forth, with her hands helplessly in her lap. + +"Oh, I cannot do it, _I cannot do it_!" she sobbed, still rocking to and +fro. Finally she started to her feet. + +"I _will_ do it," she cried; "I will confess to Mrs. Brenton herself. I +will tell her everything. She has gone through trouble herself, and may +have mercy on me." + +"There, you see," said Speed to Brenton, "we have overcome the +difficulty, after all." + +"It certainly looks like it," replied Brenton. "Don't you think, +however, that we had better stay with her until she _does_ confess? May +she not change her mind?" + +"Don't let us overdo the thing," suggested Speed; "if she doesn't, come +to time, we can easily have another interview with her. The woman's +mind is made up. She is in torment, and will be until she confesses her +crime. Let us go and leave her alone." + + * * * * * + +George Stratton was not slow to act when he had once made up his mind. +He pinned to the breast of his vest a little shield, on which was the +word "detective." This he had often found useful, in a way that is not +at all sanctioned by the law, in ferreting out crime in Chicago. As soon +as it was evening he paced up and down in front of Roland's house, and +on the opposite side of the road. There was a light in the doctor's +study, and he thought that perhaps the best way to proceed was to go +boldly into the house and put his scheme into operation. However, as he +meditated on this, the light was turned low, and in a few moments the +door opened. The doctor came down the steps, and out on the pavement, +walking briskly along the street. The reporter followed him on the other +side of the thoroughfare. Whether to do it in the dark or in the light, +was the question that troubled Stratton. If he did it in the dark, he +would miss the expression on the face of the surprised man. If he did it +in the light, the doctor might recognize him as the Chicago reporter, +and would know at once that he was no detective. Still, he felt that +if there was anything in his scheme at all, it was surprise; and he +remembered the quick gasp of the lawyer Brown when he told him he knew +what his defence was. He must be able to note the expression of the man +who was guilty of the terrible crime. + +Having made up his mind to this, he stepped smartly after the doctor, +and, when the latter came under a lamp-post, placed his hand suddenly on +his shoulder, and exclaimed-- + +"Doctor Stephen Roland, I arrest you for the murder of William Brenton!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +Stephen Roland turned quietly around and shook the hand from his +shoulder. It was evident that he recognized Stratton instantly. + +"Is this a Chicago joke?" asked the doctor. + +"If it is, Mr. Roland, I think you will find it a very serious one." + +"Aren't you afraid that _you_ may find it a serious one?" + +"I don't see why I should have any fears in the premises," answered the +newspaper man. + +"My dear sir, do you not realize that I could knock you down or shoot +you dead for what you have done, and be perfectly justified in doing +so?" + +"If you either knock or shoot," replied the other, "you will have to do +it very quickly, for, in the language of the wild and woolly West, I've +got the drop on you. In my coat pocket is a cocked revolver with my +forefinger on the trigger. If you make a hostile move I can let daylight +through you so quickly that you won't know what has struck you." + +"Electric light, I think you mean," answered the doctor, quietly. "Even +a Chicago man might find it difficult to let daylight through a person +at this time in the evening. Now, this sort of thing may be Chicago +manners, but I assure you it will not go down here in Cincinnati. You +have rendered yourself liable to the law if I cared to make a point of +it, but I do not. Come back with me to my study. I would like to talk +with you." + +Stratton began to feel vaguely that he had made a fool of himself. His +scheme had utterly failed. The doctor was a great deal cooler and more +collected than he was. Nevertheless, he had a deep distrust of the +gentleman, and he kept his revolver handy for fear the other would make +a dash to escape him. They walked back without saying a word to each +other until they came to the doctor's office. Into the house they +entered, and the doctor bolted the door behind them. Stratton suspected +that very likely he was walking into a trap, but he thought he would +be equal to any emergency that might arise. The doctor walked into the +study, and again locked the door of that. Pulling down the blinds, he +turned up the gas to its full force and sat down by a table, motioning +the newspaper man to a seat on the other side. + +"Now," he said calmly to Stratton, "the reason I did not resent your +unwarrantable insult is this: You are conscientiously trying to get at +the root of this mystery. So am I. Your reason is that you wish to score +a victory for your paper. My motive is entirely different, but our +object is exactly the same. Now, by some strange combination of +circumstances you have come to the conclusion that I committed the +crime. Am I right?" + +"You are perfectly correct, doctor," replied Stratton. + +"Very well, then. Now, I assure you that I am entirely innocent. Of +course, I appreciate the fact that this assurance will not in the +slightest degree affect your opinion, but I am interested in knowing why +you came to your conclusion, and perhaps by putting our heads together, +even if I dislike you and you hate me, we may see some light on this +matter that has hitherto been hidden. I presume you have no objection at +all to co-operate with me?" + +"None in the least," was the reply. + +"Very well, then. Now, don't mind my feelings at all, but tell me +exactly why you have suspected me of being a murderer." + +"Well," answered Stratton, "in the first place we must look for a +motive. It seems to me that you have a motive for the crime." + +"And might I ask what that motive is, or was?" + +"You will admit that you disliked Brenton?" + +"I will admit that, yes." + +"Very well. You will admit also that you were--well, how shall I put +it?--let us say, interested in his wife before her marriage?" + +"I will admit that; yes." + +"You, perhaps, will admit that you are interested in her now?" + +"I do not see any necessity for admitting that; but still, for the +purpose of getting along with the case, I will admit it. Go on." + +"Very good. Here is a motive for the crime, and a very strong one. +First, we will presume that you are in love with the wife of the man +who is murdered. Secondly, supposing that you are mercenary, quite +a considerable amount of money will come to you in case you marry +Brenton's widow. Next, some one at that table poisoned him. It was not +Mrs. Brenton, who poured out the cup of coffee. The cup of coffee was +placed before Brenton, and my opinion is that, until it was placed +there, there was no poison in that cup. The doomed man was entirely +unsuspicious, and therefore it was very easy for a person to slip enough +poison in that cup unseen by anybody at that table, so that when he +drank his coffee nothing could have saved him. He rose from the table +feeling badly, and he went to his room and died. Now, who could have +placed that poison in his cup of coffee? It must have been one of the +two that sat at his right and left hand. A young lady sat at his right +hand. She certainly did not commit the crime. You, Stephen Roland, sat +at his left hand. Do you deny any of the facts I have recited?" + +"That is a very ingenious chain of circumstantial evidence. Of course, +you do not think it strong enough to convict a man of such a serious +crime as murder?" + +"No; I quite realize the weakness of the case up to this point. But +there is more to follow. Fourteen days before that dinner you purchased +at the drug store on the corner of Blank Street and Nemo Avenue thirty +grains of morphia. You had the poison put up in capsules of five +grains each. What do you say to that bit of evidence added to the +circumstantial chain which you say is ingenious?" + +The doctor knit his brows and leaned back in his chair. + +"By the gods!" he said, "you are right. I did buy that morphia. I +remember it now. I don't mind telling you that I had a number of +experiments on hand, as every doctor has, and I had those capsules put +up at the drug store, but this tragedy coming on made me forget all +about the matter." + +"Did you take the morphia with you, doctor?" + +"No, I did not. And the box of capsules, I do not think, has been +opened. But that is easily ascertained." + +The doctor rose, went to his cabinet, and unlocked it. From a number of +packages he selected a small one, and brought it to the desk, placing it +before the reporter. + +"There is the package. That contains, as you say, thirty grains of +morphia in half a dozen five-grain capsules. You see that it is sealed +just as it left the drug store. Now, open it and look for yourself. Here +are scales; if you want to see whether a single grain is missing or not, +find out for yourself. + +"Perhaps," said the newspaper man, "we had better leave this +investigation for the proper authorities." + +"Then you still believe that I am the murderer of William Brenton?" + +"Yes, I still believe that." + +"Very well; you may do as you please. I think, however, in justice +to myself, you should stay right here, and see that this box is not +tampered with until the proper authorities, as you say, come." + +Then, placing his hand on the bell, he continued--"Whom shall I send +for? An ordinary policeman, or some one from the central office? But, +now that I think of it, here is a telephone. We can have any one brought +here that you wish. I prefer that neither you nor I leave this room +until that functionary has appeared. Name the authority you want brought +here," said the doctor, going to the telephone, "and I will have him +here if he is in town." + +The newspaper man was nonplussed. The Doctor's actions did not seem like +those of a guilty man. If he were guilty he certainly had more nerve +than any person Stratton had ever met. So he hesitated. Then he said-- + +"Sit down a moment, doctor, and let us talk this thing over." + +"Just as you say," remarked Roland, drawing up his chair again. + +Stratton took the package, and looked it over carefully. It was +certainly just in the condition in which it had left the drug store; but +still, that could have been easily done by the doctor himself. + +"Suppose we open this package?" he said to Roland. + +"With all my heart," said the doctor, "go ahead;" and he shoved over to +him a little penknife that was on the table. + +The reporter took the package, ran the knife around the edge, and opened +it. There lay six capsules, filled, as the doctor had said. Roland +picked up one of them, and looked at it critically. + +"I assure you," he said, "although I am quite aware you do not believe a +word I say, that I have not seen those capsules before." + +He drew towards him a piece of paper, opened the capsule, and, let the +white powder fall on the paper. He looked critically at the powder, and +a shade of astonishment came over his face. He picked up the penknife, +took a particle on the tip of it, and touched it with his tongue. + +"Don't fool with that thing!" said Stratton. + +"Oh, my dear fellow," he said, "morphia is not a poison in small +quantities." + +The moment he had tasted it, however, he suddenly picked up the paper, +put the five grains on his tongue, and swallowed them. + +Instantly the reporter sprang to his feet. He saw at once the reason for +all the assumed coolness. The doctor was merely gaining time in order to +commit suicide. + +"What have you done?" cried the reporter. + +"Done, my dear fellow? nothing very much. This is not morphia; it is +sulphate of quinine." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +In the morning Jane Morton prepared to meet Mrs. Brenton, and make her +confession. She called at the Brenton residence, but found it closed, +as it had been ever since the tragedy of Christmas morning. It took her +some time to discover the whereabouts of Mrs. Brenton, who, since the +murder, had resided with a friend except while under arrest. + +For a moment Mrs. Brenton did not recognize the thin and pale woman who +stood before her in a state of such extreme nervous agitation, that it +seemed as if at any moment she might break down and cry. + +"I don't suppose you'll remember me, ma'am," began the girl, "but I +worked for you two weeks before--before----" + +"Oh yes," said Mrs. Brenton, "I remember you now. Have you been ill? You +look quite worn and pale, and very different from what you did the last +time I saw you." + +"Yes," said the girl, "I believe I have been ill.". + +"You _believe_; aren't you sure?" + +"I have been very ill in mind, and troubled, and that is the reason I +look so badly,--Oh, Mrs. Brenton, I wanted to tell you of something that +has been weighing on my mind ever since that awful day! I know you can +never forgive me, but I must tell it to you, or I shall go crazy." + +"Sit down, sit down," said the lady, kindly; "you know what trouble I +have been in myself. I am sure that I am more able to sympathize now +with one who is in trouble than ever I was before." + +"Yes, ma'am; but you were innocent, and I am guilty. That makes all the +difference in the world." + +"Guilty!" cried Mrs. Brenton, a strange fear coming over her as she +stared at the girl; "guilty of _what_?" + +"Oh, madam, let me tell you all about it. There is, of course, no +excuse; but I'll begin at the beginning. You remember a while before +Christmas that John came to see me one night, and we sat up very late in +the kitchen, and your husband came down quietly, and when we heard him +coming we put out the light and just as John was trying to get away, +your husband shot twice at him, and hit him the second time?" + +"Oh yes," said Mrs. Brenton, "I remember that very well. I had forgotten +about it in my own trouble; but I know that my husband intended to do +something for the young man. I hope he was not seriously hurt?" + +[Illustration: "Guilty! Guilty of what?"] + +"No, ma'am; he is able to be about again now as well as ever, and is not +even lame, which we expected he would be. But at the time I thought he +was going to be lame all the rest of his life, and perhaps that is the +reason I did what I did. When everything was in confusion in the house, +and it was certain that we would all have to leave, I did a very wicked +thing. I went to your room, and I stole some of your rings, and some +money that was there, as well as a lot of other things that were in the +room. It seemed to me then, although, of course, I know now how wicked +it was, that you owed John something for what he had gone through, and +I thought that he was to be lame, and that you would never miss the +things; but, oh! madam, I have not slept a night since I took them. I +have been afraid of the police and afraid of being found out. I have +pawned nothing, and they are all just as I took them, and I have brought +them back here to you, with every penny of the money. I know you can +never forgive me, but I am willing now to be given up to the police, +and I feel better in my mind than I have done ever since I took +the things." + +"My poor child!" said Mrs. Brenton, sympathetically, "was that _all_?" + +"All?" cried the girl. "Yes, I have brought everything back." + +"Oh, I don't mean that, but I am sorry you have been worried over +anything so trivial. I can see how at such a time, and feeling that you +had been wronged, a temptation to take the things came to you. But I +hope you will not trouble any more about the matter. I will see that +John is compensated for all the injury he received, as far as it is +possible for money to compensate him. I hope you will keep the money. +The other things, of course, I shall take back, and I am glad you came +to tell me of it before telling any one else. I think, perhaps, it is +better never to say anything to anybody about this. People might not +understand just what temptation you were put to, and they would not know +the circumstances of the case, because nobody knows, I think, that John +was hurt. Now, my dear girl, do not cry. It is all right. Of course you +never will touch anything again that does not belong to you, and the +suffering you have gone through has more than made up for all the wrong +you have done. I am sure that I forgive you quite freely for it, and I +think it was very noble of you to come and tell me about it." + +Mrs. Brenton took the package from the hands of the weeping girl, and +opened it. She found everything there, as the girl had said. She took +the money and offered it to Jane Morton. The girl shook her head. + +"No," she cried, "I cannot touch it. I cannot, indeed. It has been +enough misery to me already." + +"Very well," said Mrs. Brenton. "I would like very much to see John. +Will you bring him to me?" + +The girl looked at her with startled eyes. + +"You will not tell him?" she said. + +"No indeed, I shall tell him nothing. But I want to do what I can for +him as I said. I suppose you are engaged to be married?" + +"Yes," answered the girl; "but if he knew of this he never, never would +marry me." + +"If he did not," said Mrs. Brenton, "he would not be worthy of you. But +he shall know nothing about it. You will promise to come here and see me +with him, will you not?" + +"Yes, madam," said the girl. + +"Then good-bye, until I see you again." + +Mrs. Brenton sat for a long time thinking over this confession. It took +her some time to recover her usual self-possession, because for a moment +she had thought the girl was going to confess that she committed murder. +In comparison with that awful crime, the theft seemed so trivial that +Mrs. Brenton almost smiled when she thought of the girl's distress. + + * * * * * + +"Well," said John Speed to Mr. Brenton, "if that doesn't beat the Old +Harry. Now I, for one, am very glad of it, if we come to the real truth +of the matter." + +"I am glad also," said Brenton, "that the girl is not guilty, although I +must say things looked decidedly against her." + +"I will tell you why I am glad," said Speed. "I am glad because it +will take some of the superfluous conceit out of that French detective +Lecocq. He was so awfully sure of himself. He couldn't possibly be +mistaken. Now, think of the mistakes that man must have made while he +was on earth, and had the power which was given into his hands in Paris. +After all, Stratton is on the right track, and he will yet land your +friend Roland in prison. Let us go and find Lecocq. This is too good to +keep." + +"My dear sir," said Brenton, "you seem to be more elated because of your +friend Stratton than for any other reason. Don't you want the matter +ferreted out at all?" + +"Why, certainly I do; but I don't want it ferreted out by bringing an +innocent person into trouble." + +"And may not Stephen Roland be an innocent person?" + +"Oh, I suppose so; but I do not think he is." + +"Why do you not think so?" + +"Well, if you want the real reason, simply because George Stratton +thinks he isn't. I pin my faith to Stratton." + +"I think you overrate your friend Stratton." + +"Overrate him, sir? That is impossible. I love him so well that I hope +he will solve this mystery himself, unaided and alone, and that in going +back to Chicago he will be smashed to pieces in a railway accident, so +that we can have him here to congratulate him." + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +"I suppose," said Roland, "you thought for a moment I was trying to +commit suicide. I think, Mr. Stratton, you will have a better opinion of +me by-and-by. I shouldn't be at all surprised if you imagined I induced +you to come in here to get you into a trap." + +"You are perfectly correct," said Stratton; "and I may say, although +that was my belief, I was not in the least afraid of you, for I had you +covered all the time." + +"Well," remarked Roland, carelessly, "I don't want to interfere with +your business at all, but I wish you wouldn't cover me quite so much; +that revolver of yours might go off." + +"Do you mean to say," said Stratton, "that there is nothing but quinine +in those capsules?" + +"I'll tell you in a moment," as he opened them one by one. "No, there is +nothing but quinine here. Thirty grains put up in five-grain capsules." + +George Stratton's eyes began to open. Then he slowly rose, and looked +with horrified face at the doctor. + +"My God!" he cried; "who got the thirty grains of morphia?" + +"What do you mean?" asked the doctor. + +"Mean? Why, don't you see it? It is a chemist's mistake. Thirty grains +of quinine have been sent you. Thirty grains of morphia have been sent +to somebody else. Was it to William Brenton?" + +"By Jove!" said the doctor, "there's something in that. Say, let us go +to the drug store." + +The two went out together, and walked to the drug store on the corner of +Blank Street and Nemo Avenue. + +"Do you know this writing?" said Doctor Roland to the druggist, pointing +to the label on the box. + +"Yes," answered the druggist; "that was written by one of my +assistants." + +"Can we see him for a few moments?" + +"I don't know where he is to be found. He is a worthless fellow, and has +gone to the devil this last few weeks with a rapidity that is something +startling." + +"When did he leave?" + +"Well, he got drunk and stayed drunk during the holidays, and I had to +discharge him. He was a very valuable man when he was sober; but he +began to be so erratic in his habits that I was afraid he would make a +ghastly mistake some time, so I discharged him before it was too late." + +"Are you sure you discharged him before it was too late?" + +The druggist looked at the doctor, whom he knew well, and said, "I never +heard of any mistake, if he did make it." + +"You keep a book, of course, of all the prescriptions sent out?" + +"Certainly." + +"May we look at that book?" + +"I shall be very glad to show it to you. What month or week?" + +"I want to see what time you sent this box of morphia to me." + +"You don't know about what time it was, do you? + +"Yes; it must have been about two weeks before Christmas." + +The chemist looked over the pages of the book, and finally said, "Here +it is." + +"Will you let me look at that page?" + +"Certainly." + +The doctor ran his finger down the column, and came to an entry written +in the same hand. + +"Look here," he said to Stratton, "thirty grains of quinine sent to +William Brenton, and next to it thirty grains of morphia sent to Stephen +Roland. I see how it was. Those prescriptions were mixed up. My package +went to poor Brenton." + +The druggist turned pale. + +"I hope," he said, "nothing public will come of this." + +"My dear sir," said Roland, "something public will _have_ to come of +it. You will oblige me by ringing up the central police station, as this +book must be given in charge of the authorities." + +"Look here," put in Stratton, his newspaper instinct coming uppermost, +"I want to get this thing exclusively for the _Argus_." + +"Oh, I guess there will be no trouble about that. Nothing will be made +public until to-morrow, and you can telegraph to-night if we find the +box of capsules in Brenton's residence. We must take an officer with us +for that purpose, but you can caution or bribe him to keep quiet until +to-morrow." + +When the three went to William Brenton's residence they began a search +of the room in which Brenton had died, but nothing was found. In the +closet of the room hung the clothes of Brenton, and going through them +Stratton found in the vest pocket of one of the suits a small box +containing what was described as five-grain capsules of sulphate of +quinine. The doctor tore one of these capsules apart, so as to see what +was in it. Without a moment's hesitation he said-- + +"There you are! That is the morphia. There were six capsules in this +box, and one of them is missing. William Brenton poisoned himself! +Feeling ill, he doubtless took what he thought was a dose of quinine. +Many men indulge in what we call the quinine habit. It is getting to be +a mild form of tippling. Brenton committed unconscious suicide!" + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +A group of men; who were really alive, but invisible to the searchers, +stood in the room where the discovery was made. Two of the number were +evidently angry, one in one way and one in another. The rest of the +group appeared to be very merry. One angry man was Brenton himself, who +was sullenly enraged. The other was the Frenchman, Lecocq, who was as +deeply angered as Brenton, but, instead of being sullen, was exceedingly +voluble. + +"I tell you," he cried, "it is not a mistake of mine. I went on correct +principles from the first. I was misled by one who should have known +better. You will remember, gentlemen," he continued, turning first to +one and then the other, "that what I said was that we had certain facts +to go on. One of those facts I got from Mr. Brenton. I said to him in +your presence, 'Did you poison yourself?' He answered me, as I can prove +by all of you, 'No, I did not.' I took that for a fact. I thought I was +speaking to a reasonable man who knew what he was talking about." + +"Haven't I told you time and again," answered Brenton, indignantly, +"that it was a mistake? You asked me if I poisoned myself. I answered +you that I did not. Your question related to suicide. I did _not_ commit +suicide. I was the victim of a druggist's mistake. If you had asked me +if I had taken medicine before I went to bed, I should have told you +frankly, 'Yes. I took one capsule of quinine.' It has been my habit for +years, when I feel badly. I thought nothing of that." + +"My dear sir," said Lecocq, "I warned you, and I warned these gentlemen, +that the very things that seem trivial to a thoughtless person are the +things that sometimes count. You should have told me _everything_. If +you took anything at all, you should have said so. If you had said to +me, 'Monsieur Lecocq, before I retired I took five grains of quinine,' +I should have at once said; 'Find where that quinine is, and see if it +_is_ quinine, and see if there has not been a mistake.' I was entirely +misled; I was stupidly misled." + +"Well, if there was stupidity," returned Brenton, "it was your own." + +"Come, come, gentlemen," laughed Speed, "all's well that ends well. +Everybody has been mistaken, that's all about it. The best detective +minds of Europe and America, of the world, and of the spirit-land, have +been misled. You are _all_ wrong. Admit it, and let it end." + +"My dear sir," said Lecocq, "I shall not admit anything. I was not +wrong; I was misled. It was this way----" + +"Oh, now, for goodness' sake don't go over it all again. We understand +the circumstances well enough." + +"I tell you," cried Brenton, in an angry tone, "that---- + +"Come, come," said Speed, "we have had enough of this discussion. I tell +you that you are all wrong, every one of you. Come with me, Brenton, and +we will leave this amusing crowd." + +"I shall do nothing of the kind," answered Brenton, shortly. + +"Oh, very well then, do as you please. I am glad the thing is ended, and +I am glad it is ended by my Chicago friend." + +"Your Chicago friend!" sneered Brenton, slightingly; "It was discovered +by Doctor Stephen Roland." + +"My dear fellow," said Speed, "Stephen Roland had all his time to +discover the thing, and didn't do it, and never would have done it, if +George Stratton hadn't encountered him. Well, good-bye, gentlemen; I am +sorry to say that I have had quite enough of this discussion. But one +thing looms up above it all, and that is that Chicago is ahead of the +world in everything--in detection as well as in fires." + +"My dear sir," cried Lecocq, "it is not true. I will show you in a +moment--" + +"You won't show _me_," said Speed, and he straightway disappeared. + +"Come, Ferris," said Brenton, "after all, you are the only friend I seem +to have; come with me." + +"Where are you going?" asked Ferris, as they left. + +"I want to see how my wife takes the news." + +"Don't," said Mr. Ferris--"don't do anything of the kind. Leave matters +just where they are. Everything has turned out what you would call all +right. You see that your interference, as far as it went, was perfectly +futile and useless. I want now to draw your attention to other things." + +"Very well, I will listen to you," said Brenton, "if you come with me +and see how my wife takes the news. I want to enjoy for even a moment or +two her relief and pleasure at finding that her good name is clear." + +"Very well," assented Ferris, "I will go with you." + +When they arrived they found the Chicago reporter ahead of them. He had +evidently told Mrs. Brenton all the news, and her face flushed with +eager pleasure as she listened to the recital. + +"Now," said the Chicago man, "I am going to leave Cincinnati. Are you +sorry I am going?" + +"No," said Mrs. Brenton, looking him in the face, "I am not sorry." + +Stratton flushed at this, and then said, taking his hat in his hand, +"Very well, madam, I shall bid you good day." + +"I am not sorry," said Mrs. Brenton, holding out her hand, "because I +am going to leave Cincinnati myself, and I hope never to see the city +again. So if you stayed here, you see, I should never meet you again, +Mr. Stratton." + +"Alice," cried Stratton, impulsively grasping her hand in both of his, +"don't you think you would like Chicago as a place of residence?" + +"George," she answered, "I do not know. I am going to Europe, and shall +be there for a year or two." + +Then he said eagerly-- + +"When you return, or if I go over there to see you after a year or two, +may I ask you that question again?" + +"Yes," was the whispered answer. + + * * * * * + +"Come," said Brenton to Ferris, "let us go." + + + + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FROM WHOSE BOURNE*** + + +******* This file should be named 9312-8.txt or 9312-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/9/3/1/9312 + + + +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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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: From Whose Bourne + +Author: Robert Barr + +Release Date: November 17, 2004 [eBook #9312] +Last Updated: August 3, 2018 + + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FROM WHOSE BOURNE*** + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, David Widger and PG Distributed +Proofreaders from images generously made available +by the Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions + + + + + +</pre> + + <div style="height: 8em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + FROM WHOSE BOURNE + </h1> + <h2> + By Robert Barr (Luke Sharp) + </h2> + <h4> + Author Of "In A Steamer Chair" Etc. + </h4> + <h3> + 1893 + </h3> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h3> + TO + </h3> + <h3> + AN HONEST MAN + </h3> + <h3> + AND + </h3> + <h3> + A GOOD WOMAN + </h3> + <h3> + FROM WHOSE BOURNE + </h3> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <p> + <b>CONTENTS</b> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0013"> CHAPTER XIII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XIV. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0015"> CHAPTER XV. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0016"> CHAPTER XVI. </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <p> + <b>List of Illustrations</b> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0001"> "Do You Think I Shall Be Missed?" </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0002"> He Again Sat in the Rocking-chair. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0003"> He Saw Standing Beside Him a Stranger. + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0005"> Venice. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0006"> In Venice. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0007"> The Brenton Murder. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0008"> Mrs. Brenton. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0011"> The Broken Toy. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0012"> "She's Pretty As a Picture." </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0013"> "Raising the Veil." </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0014"> Jane. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0015"> The Detective. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0016"> Jane Morton. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0017"> "Oh, Why Did I Do It?" </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0020"> In the Prisoner's Dock. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0021"> "I Feel Very Grateful to You." </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0022"> "Guilty! Guilty of What?" </a> + </p> + + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /> <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER I. + </h2> + <p> + "My dear," said William Brenton to his wife, "do you think I shall be + missed if I go upstairs for a while? I am not feeling at all well." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><a name="linkimage-0001" id="linkimage-0001"> </a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/0011.jpg" alt="0011 'do You Think I Shall Be Missed?' " + width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + "Oh, I'm so sorry, Will," replied Alice, looking concerned; "I will tell + them you are indisposed." + </p> + <p> + "No, don't do that," was the answer; "they are having a very good time, + and I suppose the dancing will begin shortly; so I don't think they will + miss me. If I feel better I will be down in an hour or two; if not, I + shall go to bed. Now, dear, don't worry; but have a good time with the + rest of them." + </p> + <p> + William Brenton went quietly upstairs to his room, and sat down in the + darkness in a rocking chair. Remaining there a few minutes, and not + feeling any better, he slowly undressed and went to bed. Faint echoes + reached him of laughter and song; finally, music began, and he felt, + rather than heard, the pulsation of dancing feet. Once, when the music had + ceased for a time, Alice tiptoed into the room, and said in a quiet voice— + </p> + <p> + "How are you feeling, Will? any better?" + </p> + <p> + "A little," he answered drowsily. "Don't worry about me; I shall drop off + to sleep presently, and shall be all right in the morning. Good night." + </p> + <p> + He still heard in a dreamy sort of way the music, the dancing, the + laughter; and gradually there came oblivion, which finally merged into a + dream, the most strange and vivid vision he had ever experienced. It + seemed to him that he sat again in the rocking chair near the bed. + Although he knew the room was dark, he had no difficulty in seeing + everything perfectly. He heard, now quite plainly, the music and dancing + downstairs, but what gave a ghastly significance to his dream was the + sight of his own person on the bed. The eyes were half open, and the face + was drawn and rigid. The colour of the face was the white, greyish tint of + death. + </p> + <p> + "This is a nightmare," said Brenton to himself; "I must try and wake + myself." But he seemed powerless to do this, and he sat there looking at + his own body while the night wore on. Once he rose and went to the side of + the bed. He seemed to have reached it merely by wishing himself there, and + he passed his hand over the face, but no feeling of touch was communicated + to him. He hoped his wife would come and rouse him from this fearful + semblance of a dream, and, wishing this, he found himself standing at her + side, amidst the throng downstairs, who were now merrily saying good-bye. + Brenton tried to speak to his wife, but although he was conscious of + speaking, she did not seem to hear him, or know he was there. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><a name="linkimage-0002" id="linkimage-0002"> </a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/0013.jpg" alt="0013 he Again Sat in the Rocking-chair. " + width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + The party had been one given on Christmas Eve, and as it was now two + o'clock in the morning, the departing guests were wishing Mrs. Brenton a + merry Christmas. Finally, the door closed on the last of the revellers, + and Mrs. Brenton stood for a moment giving instructions to the sleepy + servants; then, with a tired sigh, she turned and went upstairs, Brenton + walking by her side until they came to the darkened room, which she + entered on tiptoe. + </p> + <p> + "Now," said Brenton to himself, "she will arouse me from this appalling + dream." It was not that there was anything dreadful in the dream itself, + but the clearness with which he saw everything, and the fact that his mind + was perfectly wide awake, gave him an uneasiness which he found impossible + to shake off. + </p> + <p> + In the dim light from the hall his wife prepared to retire. The horrible + thought struck Brenton that she imagined he was sleeping soundly, and was + anxious not to awaken him—for of course she could have no + realization of the nightmare he was in—so once again he tried to + communicate with her. He spoke her name over and over again, but she + proceeded quietly with her preparations for the night. At last she crept + in at the other side of the bed, and in a few moments was asleep. Once + more Brenton struggled to awake, but with no effect. He heard the clock + strike three, and then four, and then five, but there was no apparent + change in his dream. He feared that he might be in a trance, from which, + perhaps, he would not awake until it was too late. Grey daylight began to + brighten the window, and he noticed that snow was quietly falling outside, + the flakes noiselessly beating against the window pane. Every one slept + late that morning, but at last he heard the preparations for breakfast + going on downstairs—the light clatter of china on the table, the + rattle of the grate; and, as he thought of these things, he found himself + in the dining-room, and saw the trim little maid, who still yawned every + now and then, laying the plates in their places. He went upstairs again, + and stood watching the sleeping face of his wife. Once she raised her hand + above her head, and he thought she was going to awake; ultimately her eyes + opened, and she gazed for a time at the ceiling, seemingly trying to + recollect the events of the day before. + </p> + <p> + "Will," she said dreamily, "are you still asleep?" + </p> + <p> + There was no answer from the rigid figure at the front of the bed. After a + few moments she placed her hand quietly over the sleeper's face. As she + did so, her startled eyes showed that she had received a shock. Instantly + she sat upright in bed, and looked for one brief second on the face of the + sleeper beside her; then, with a shriek that pierced the stillness of the + room, she sprang to the floor. + </p> + <p> + "Will! Will!" she cried, "speak to me! What is the matter with you? Oh, my + God! my God!" she cried, staggering back from the bed. Then, with shriek + after shriek, she ran blindly through the hall to the stairway, and there + fell fainting on the floor. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II. + </h2> + <p> + William Brenton knelt beside the fallen lady, and tried to soothe and + comfort her, but it was evident that she was insensible. + </p> + <p> + "It is useless," said a voice by his side. + </p> + <p> + Brenton looked up suddenly, and saw standing beside him a stranger. + Wondering for a moment how he got there, and thinking that after all it + was a dream, he said— + </p> + <p> + "What is useless? She is not dead." + </p> + <p> + "No," answered the stranger, "but <i>you</i> are." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><a name="linkimage-0003" id="linkimage-0003"> </a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/0016.jpg" + alt="0016 he Saw Standing Beside Him a Stranger. " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + "I am what?" cried Brenton. + </p> + <p> + "You are what the material world calls dead, although in reality you have + just begun to live." + </p> + <p> + "And who are you?" asked Brenton. "And how did you get in here?" + </p> + <p> + The other smiled. + </p> + <p> + "How did <i>you</i> get in here?" he said, repeating Brenton's words. + </p> + <p> + "I? Why, this is my own house." + </p> + <p> + "Was, you mean." + </p> + <p> + "I mean that it is. I am in my own house. This lady is my wife." + </p> + <p> + "<i>Was</i>," said the other. + </p> + <p> + "I do not understand you," cried Brenton, very much annoyed. "But, in any + case, your presence and your remarks are out of place here." + </p> + <p> + "My dear sir," said the other, "I merely wish to aid you and to explain to + you anything that you may desire to know about your new condition. You are + now free from the incumbrance of your body. You have already had some + experience of the additional powers which that riddance has given you. You + have also, I am afraid, had an inkling of the fact that the spiritual + condition has its limitations. If you desire to communicate with those + whom you have left, I would strongly advise you to postpone the attempt, + and to leave this place, where you will experience only pain and anxiety. + Come with me, and learn something of your changed circumstances." + </p> + <p> + "I am in a dream," said Brenton, "and you are part of it. I went to sleep + last night, and am still dreaming. This is a nightmare and it will soon be + over." + </p> + <p> + "You are saying that," said the other, "merely to convince yourself. It is + now becoming apparent to you that this is not a dream. If dreams exist, it + was a dream which you left, but you have now become awake. If you really + think it is a dream, then do as I tell you—come with me and leave + it, because you must admit that this part of the dream is at least very + unpleasant." + </p> + <p> + "It is not very pleasant," assented Brenton. As he spoke the bewildered + servants came rushing up the stairs, picked up their fallen mistress, and + laid her on a sofa. They rubbed her hands and dashed water in her face. + She opened her eyes, and then closed them again with a shudder. + </p> + <p> + "Sarah," she cried, "have I been dreaming, or is your master dead?" + </p> + <p> + The two girls turned pale at this, and the elder of them went boldly into + the room which her mistress had just left. She was evidently a young woman + who had herself under good control, but she came out sobbing, with her + apron to her eyes. + </p> + <p> + "Come, come," said the man who stood beside Brenton, "haven't you had + enough of this? Come with me; you can return to this house if you wish;" + and together they passed out of the room into the crisp air of Christmas + morning. But, although Brenton knew it must be cold, he had no feeling of + either cold or warmth. + </p> + <p> + "There are a number of us," said the stranger to Brenton, "who take turns + at watching the sick-bed when a man is about to die, and when his spirit + leaves his body, we are there to explain, or comfort, or console. Your + death was so sudden that we had no warning of it. You did not feel ill + before last night, did you?" + </p> + <p> + "No," replied Brenton. "I felt perfectly well, until after dinner last + night." + </p> + <p> + "Did you leave your affairs in reasonably good order?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said Brenton, trying to recollect. "I think they will find + everything perfectly straight." + </p> + <p> + "Tell me a little of your history, if you do not mind," inquired the + other; "it will help me in trying to initiate you into our new order of + things here." + </p> + <p> + "Well," replied Brenton, and he wondered at himself for falling so easily + into the other's assumption that he was a dead man, "I was what they call + on the earth in reasonably good circumstances. My estate should be worth + $100,000. I had $75,000 insurance on my life, and if all that is paid, it + should net my widow not far from a couple of hundred thousand." + </p> + <p> + "How long have you been married?" said the other. + </p> + + <p> + "Only about six months. I was married last July, and we went for a trip + abroad. We were married quietly, and left almost immediately afterwards, + so we thought, on our return, it would not be a bad plan to give a + Christmas Eve dinner, and invite some of our friends. That," he said, + hesitating a moment, "was last night. Shortly after dinner, I began to + feel rather ill, and went upstairs to rest for a while; and if what you + say is true, the first thing I knew I found myself dead." + </p> + <p> + "Alive," corrected the other. + </p> + <p> + "Well, alive, though at present I feel I belong more to the world I have + left than I do to the world I appear to be in. I must confess, although + you are a very plausible gentleman to talk to, that I expect at any moment + to wake and find this to have been one of the most horrible nightmares + that I ever had the ill luck to encounter." + </p> + <p> + The other smiled. + </p> + <p> + "There is very little danger of your waking up, as you call it. Now, I + will tell you the great trouble we have with people when they first come + to the spirit-land, and that is to induce them to forget entirely the + world they have relinquished. Men whose families are in poor + circumstances, or men whose affairs are in a disordered state, find it + very difficult to keep from trying to set things right again. They have + the feeling that they can console or comfort those whom they have left + behind them, and it is often a long time before they are convinced that + their efforts are entirely futile, as well as very distressing for + themselves." + </p> + <p> + "Is there, then," asked Brenton, "no communication between this world and + the one that I have given up?" + </p> + <p> + The other paused for a moment before he replied. + </p> + <p> + "I should hardly like to say," he answered, "that there is <i>no</i> + communication between one world and the other; but the communication that + exists is so slight and unsatisfactory, that if you are sensible you will + see things with the eyes of those who have very much more experience in + this world than you have. Of course, you can go back there as much as you + like; there will be no interference and no hindrance. But when you see + things going wrong, when you see a mistake about to be made, it is an + appalling thing to stand there helpless, unable to influence those you + love, or to point out a palpable error, and convince them that your + clearer sight sees it as such. Of course, I understand that it must be + very difficult for a man who is newly married, to entirely abandon the one + who has loved him, and whom he loves. But I assure you that if you follow + the life of one who is as young and handsome as your wife, you will find + some one else supplying the consolations you are unable to bestow. Such a + mission may lead you to a church where she is married to her second + husband. I regret to say that even the most imperturbable spirits are + ruffled when such an incident occurs. The wise men are those who + appreciate and understand that they are in an entirely new world, with new + powers and new limitations, and who govern themselves accordingly from the + first, as they will certainly do later on." + </p> + <p> + "My dear sir," said Brenton, somewhat offended, "if what you say is true, + and I am really a dead man——" + </p> + <p> + "Alive," corrected the other. + </p> + <p> + "Well, alive, then. I may tell you that my wife's heart is broken. She + will never marry again." + </p> + <p> + "Of course, that is a subject of which you know a great deal more than I + do. I all the more strongly advise you never to see her again. It is + impossible for you to offer any consolation, and the sight of her grief + and misery will only result in unhappiness for yourself. Therefore, take + my advice. I have given it very often, and I assure you those who did not + take it expressed their regret afterwards. Hold entirely aloof from + anything relating to your former life." + </p> + <p> + Brenton was silent for some moments; finally he said— + </p> + <p> + "I presume your advice is well meant; but if things are as you state, then + I may as well say, first as last, that I do not intend to accept it." + </p> + <p> + "Very well," said the other; "it is an experience that many prefer to go + through for themselves." + </p> + <p> + "Do you have names in this spirit-land?" asked Brenton, seemingly desirous + of changing the subject. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," was the answer; "we are known by names that we have used in the + preparatory school below. My name is Ferris." + </p> + <p> + "And if I wish to find you here, how do I set about it?" + </p> + <p> + "The wish is sufficient," answered Ferris. "Merely wish to be with me, and + you <i>are</i> with me." + </p> + <p> + "Good gracious!" cried Brenton, "is locomotion so easy as that?" + </p> + <p> + "Locomotion is very easy. I do not think anything could be easier than it + is, and I do not think there could be any improvement in that matter." + </p> + <p> + "Are there matters here, then, that you think could be improved?" + </p> + <p> + "As to that I shall not say. Perhaps you will be able to give your own + opinion before you have lived here much longer." + </p> + <p> + "Taking it all in all," said Brenton, "do you think the spirit-land is to + be preferred to the one we have left?" + </p> + <p> + "I like it better," said Ferris, "although I presume there are some who do + not. There are many advantages; and then, again, there are many—well, + I would not say disadvantages, but still some people consider them such. + We are free from the pangs of hunger or cold, and have therefore no need + of money, and there is no necessity for the rush and the worry of the + world below." + </p> + <p> + "And how about heaven and hell?" said Brenton. "Are those localities all a + myth? Is there nothing of punishment and nothing of reward in this + spirit-land?" + </p> + <p> + There was no answer to this, and when Brenton looked around he found that + his companion had departed. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><a name="linkimage-0005" id="linkimage-0005"> </a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/0023.jpg" alt="0023 Venice. " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III. + </h2> + <p> + William Brenton pondered long on the situation. He would have known better + how to act if he could have been perfectly certain that he was not still + the victim of a dream. However, of one thing there was no doubt—namely, + that it was particularly harrowing to see what he had seen in his own + house. If it were true that he was dead, he said to himself, was not the + plan outlined for him by Ferris very much the wiser course to adopt? He + stood now in one of the streets of the city so familiar to him. People + passed and repassed him—men and women whom he had known in life—but + nobody appeared to see him. He resolved, if possible, to solve the problem + uppermost in his mind, and learn whether or not he could communicate with + an inhabitant of the world he had left. He paused for a moment to consider + the best method of doing this. Then he remembered one of his most + confidential friends and advisers, and at once wished himself at his + office. He found the office closed, but went in to wait for his friend. + Occupying the time in thinking over his strange situation, he waited long, + and only when the bells began to ring did he remember it was Christmas + forenoon, and that his friend would not be at the office that day. The + next moment he wished himself at his friend's house, but he was as + unsuccessful as at the office; the friend was not at home. The household, + however, was in great commotion, and, listening to what was said, he found + that the subject of conversation was his own death, and he learned that + his friend had gone to the Brenton residence as soon as he heard the + startling news of Christmas morning. + </p> + <p> + Once more Brenton paused, and did not know what to do. He went again into + the street. Everything seemed to lead him toward his own home. Although he + had told Ferris that he did not intend to take his advice, yet as a + sensible man he saw that the admonition was well worth considering, and if + he could once become convinced that there was no communication possible + between himself and those he had left; if he could give them no comfort + and no cheer; if he could see the things which they did not see, and yet + be unable to give them warning, he realized that he would merely be adding + to his own misery, without alleviating the troubles of others. + </p> + <p> + He wished he knew where to find Ferris, so that he might have another talk + with him. The man impressed him as being exceedingly sensible. No sooner, + however, had he wished for the company of Mr. Ferris than he found himself + beside that gentleman. + </p> + <p> + "By George!" he said in astonishment, "you are just the man I wanted to + see." + </p> + <p> + "Exactly," said Ferris; "that is the reason you do see me." + </p> + <p> + "I have been thinking over what you said," continued the other, "and it + strikes me that after all your advice is sensible." + </p> + <p> + "Thank you," replied Ferris, with something like a smile on his face. + </p> + <p> + "But there is one thing I want to be perfectly certain about. I want to + know whether it is not possible for me to communicate with my friends. + Nothing will settle that doubt in my mind except actual experience." + </p> + <p> + "And have you not had experience enough?" asked Ferris. + </p> + <p> + "Well," replied the other, hesitating, "I have had some experience, but it + seems to me that, if I encounter an old friend, I could somehow make + myself felt by him." + </p> + <p> + "In that case," answered Ferris, "if nothing will convince you but an + actual experiment, why don't you go to some of your old friends and try + what you can do with them?" + </p> + <p> + "I have just been to the office and to the residence of one of my old + friends. I found at his residence that he had gone to my"—Brenton + paused for a moment—"former home. Everything seems to lead me there, + and yet, if I take your advice, I must avoid that place of all others." + </p> + <p> + "I would at present, if I were you," said Ferris. "Still, why not try it + with any of the passers-by?" + </p> + <p> + Brenton looked around him. People were passing and repassing where the two + stood talking with each other. "Merry Christmas" was the word on all lips. + Finally Brenton said, with a look of uncertainty on his face— + </p> + <p> + "My dear fellow, I can't talk to any of these people. I don't know them." + </p> + <p> + Ferris laughed at this, and replied— + </p> + <p> + "I don't think you will shock them very much; just try it." + </p> + <p> + "Ah, here's a friend of mine. You wait a moment, and I will accost him." + Approaching him, Brenton held out his hand and spoke, but the traveller + paid no attention. He passed by as one who had seen or heard nothing. + </p> + <p> + "I assure you," said Ferris, as he noticed the look of disappointment on + the other's face, "you will meet with a similar experience, however much + you try. You know the old saying about one not being able to have his cake + and eat it too. You can't have the privileges of this world and those of + the world you left as well. I think, taking it all in all, you should rest + content, although it always hurts those who have left the other world not + to be able to communicate with their friends, and at least assure them of + their present welfare." + </p> + <p> + "It does seem to me," replied Brenton, "that would be a great consolation, + both for those who are here and those who are left." + </p> + <p> + "Well, I don't know about that," answered the other. "After all, what does + life in the other world amount to? It is merely a preparation for this. It + is of so short a space, as compared with the life we live here, that it is + hardly worth while to interfere with it one way or another. By the time + you are as long here as I have been, you will realize the truth of this." + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps I shall," said Brenton, with a sigh; "but, meanwhile, what am I + to do with myself? I feel like the man who has been all his life in active + business, and who suddenly resolves to enjoy himself doing nothing. That + sort of thing seems to kill a great number of men, especially if they put + off taking a rest until too late, as most of us do." + </p> + <p> + "Well," said Ferris, "there is no necessity of your being idle here, I + assure you. But before you lay out any work for yourself, let me ask you + if there is not some interesting part of the world that you would like to + visit?" + </p> + <p> + "Certainly; I have seen very little of the world. That is one of my + regrets at leaving it." + </p> + <p> + "Bless me," said the other, "you haven't left it." + </p> + <p> + "Why, I thought you said I was a dead man?" + </p> + <p> + "On the contrary," replied his companion, "I have several times insisted + that you have just begun to live. Now where shall we spend the day?" + </p> + <p> + "How would London do?" + </p> + <p> + "I don't think it would do; London is apt to be a little gloomy at this + time of the year. But what do you say to Naples, or Japan, or, if you + don't wish to go out of the United States, Yellowstone Park?" + </p> + <p> + "Can we reach any of those places before the day is over?" asked Brenton, + dubiously. + </p> + <p> + "Well, I will soon show you how we manage all that. Just wish to accompany + me, and I will take you the rest of the way." + </p> + <p> + "How would Venice do?" said Brenton. "I didn't see half as much of that + city as I wanted to." + </p> + <p> + "Very well," replied his companion, "Venice it is;" and the American city + in which they stood faded away from them, and before Brenton could make up + his mind exactly what was happening, he found himself walking with his + comrade in St. Mark's Square. + </p> + <p> + "Well, for rapid transit," said Brenton, "this beats anything I've ever + had any idea of; but it increases the feeling that I am in a dream." + </p> + <p> + "You'll soon get used to it," answered Ferris; "and, when you do, the + cumbersome methods of travel in the world itself will show themselves in + their right light. Hello!" he cried, "here's a man whom I should like you + to meet. By the way, I either don't know your name or I have forgotten + it." + </p> + <p> + "William Brenton," answered the other. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Speed, I want to introduce you to Mr. Brenton." + </p> + <p> + "Ah," said Speed, cordially, "a new-comer. One of your victims, Ferris?" + </p> + <p> + "Say one of his pupils, rather," answered Brenton. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><a name="linkimage-0006" id="linkimage-0006"> </a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/0029.jpg" alt="0029 in Venice. " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + "Well, it is pretty much the same thing," said Speed. "How long have you + been with us, and how do you like the country?" + </p> + <p> + "You see, Mr. Brenton," interrupted Ferris, "John Speed was a newspaper + man, and he must ask strangers how they like the country. He has inquired + so often while interviewing foreigners for his paper that now he cannot + abandon his old phrase. Mr. Brenton has been with us but a short time," + continued Ferris, "and so you know, Speed, you can hardly expect him to + answer your inevitable question." + </p> + <p> + "What part of the country are you from?" asked Speed. + </p> + <p> + "Cincinnati," answered Brenton, feeling almost as if he were an American + tourist doing the continent of Europe. + </p> + <p> + "Cincinnati, eh? Well, I congratulate you. I do not know any place in + America that I would sooner die in, as they call it, than Cincinnati. You + see, I am a Chicago man myself." + </p> + <p> + Brenton did not like the jocular familiarity of the newspaper man, and + found himself rather astonished to learn that in the spirit-world there + were likes and dislikes, just as on earth. + </p> + <p> + "Chicago is a very enterprising city," he said, in a non-committal way. + </p> + <p> + "Chicago, my dear sir," said Speed, earnestly, "is <i>the</i> city. You + will see that Chicago is going to be the great city of the world before + you are a hundred years older. By the way, Ferris," said the Chicago man, + suddenly recollecting something, "I have got Sommers over here with me." + </p> + <p> + "Ah!" said Ferris; "doing him any good?" + </p> + <p> + "Well, precious little, as far as I can see." + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps it would interest Mr. Brenton to meet him," said Ferris. "I + think, Brenton, you asked me a while ago if there was any hell here, or + any punishment. Mr. Speed can show you a man in hell." + </p> + <p> + "Really?" asked Brenton. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said Speed; "I think if ever a man was in misery, he is. The + trouble with Sommers was this. He—well, he died of delirium tremens, + and so, of course, you know what the matter was. Sommers had drunk Chicago + whisky for thirty-five years straight along, and never added to it the + additional horror of Chicago water. You see what his condition became, + both physical and mental. Many people tried to reform Sommers, because he + was really a brilliant man; but it was no use. Thirst had become a disease + with him, and from the mental part of that disease, although his physical + yearning is now gone of course, he suffers. Sommers would give his whole + future for one glass of good old Kentucky whisky. He sees it on the + counters, he sees men drink it, and he stands beside them in agony. That's + why I brought him over here. I thought that he wouldn't see the colour of + whisky as it sparkles in the glass; but now he is in the Café Quadra + watching men drink. You may see him sitting there with all the agony of + unsatisfied desire gleaming from his face." + </p> + <p> + "And what do you do with a man like that?" asked Brenton. + </p> + <p> + "Do? Well, to tell the truth, there is nothing <i>to</i> do. I took him + away from Chicago, hoping to ease his trouble a little; but it has had no + effect." + </p> + <p> + "It will come out all right by-and-by," said Ferris, who noticed the + pained look on Brenton's face. "It is the period of probation that he has + to pass through. It will wear off. He merely goes through the agonies he + would have suffered on earth if he had suddenly been deprived of his + favourite intoxicant." + </p> + <p> + "Well," said Speed, "you won't come with me, then? All right, good-bye. I + hope to see you again, Mr. Brenton," and with that they separated. + </p> + <p> + Brenton spent two or three days in Venice, but all the time the old home + hunger was upon him. He yearned for news of Cincinnati. He wanted to be + back, and several times the wish brought him there, but he instantly + returned. At last he said to Ferris— + </p> + <p> + "I am tired. I must go home. I have <i>got</i> to see how things are + going." + </p> + <p> + "I wouldn't if I were you," replied Ferris. + </p> + <p> + "No, I know you wouldn't. Your temperament is indifferent. I would rather + be miserable with knowledge than happy in ignorance. Good-bye." + </p> + <p> + It was evening when he found himself in Cincinnati. The weather was bright + and clear, and apparently cold. Men's feet crisped on the frozen pavement, + and the streets had that welcome, familiar look which they always have to + the returned traveller when he reaches the city he calls his home. The + newsboys were rushing through the streets yelling their papers at the top + of their voices. He heard them, but paid little attention. + </p> + <p> + "All about the murder! Latest edition! All about the poison case!" + </p> + <p> + He felt that he must have a glimpse at a paper, and, entering the office + of an hotel where a man was reading one, he glanced over his shoulder at + the page before him, and was horror-stricken to see the words in startling + headlines— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + THE BRENTON MURDER. + <i>The Autopsy shows that Morphine was the Poison used. + Enough found to have killed a Dozen Men. + Mrs. Brenton arrested for Committing the Horrible + Deed</i>. +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /><a name="linkimage-0007" id="linkimage-0007"> </a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/0033.jpg" alt="0033 the Brenton Murder. " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV. + </h2> + <p> + For a moment Brenton was so bewildered and amazed at the awful headlines + which he read, that he could hardly realize what had taken place. The fact + that he had been poisoned, although it gave him a strange sensation, did + not claim his attention as much as might have been thought. Curiously + enough he was more shocked at finding himself, as it were, the talk of the + town, the central figure of a great newspaper sensation. But the thing + that horrified him was the fact that his wife had been arrested for his + murder. His first impulse was to go to her at once, but he next thought it + better to read what the paper said about the matter, so as to become + possessed of all the facts. The headlines, he said to himself, often + exaggerated things, and there was a possibility that the body of the + article would not bear out the naming announcement above it. But as he + read on and on, the situation seemed to become more and more appalling. He + saw that his friends had been suspicious of his sudden death, and had + insisted on a post-mortem examination. That examination had been conducted + by three of the most eminent physicians of Cincinnati, and the three + doctors had practically agreed that the deceased, in the language of the + verdict, had come to his death through morphia poisoning, and the + coroner's jury had brought in a verdict that "the said William Brenton had + been poisoned by some person unknown." Then the article went on to state + how suspicion had gradually fastened itself upon his wife, and at last her + arrest had been ordered. The arrest had taken place that day. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><a name="linkimage-0008" id="linkimage-0008"> </a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/0035.jpg" alt="0035 Mrs. Brenton. " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + After reading this, Brenton was in an agony of mind. He pictured his + dainty and beautiful wife in a stone cell in the city prison. He foresaw + the horrors of the public trial, and the deep grief and pain which the + newspaper comments on the case would cause to a woman educated and + refined. Of course, Brenton had not the slightest doubt in his own mind + about the result of the trial. His wife would be triumphantly acquitted; + but, all the same, the terrible suspense which she must suffer in the + meanwhile would not be compensated for by the final verdict of the jury. + </p> + <p> + Brenton at once went to the jail, and wandered through that gloomy + building, searching for his wife. At last he found her, but it was in a + very comfortable room in the sheriffs residence. The terror and the trials + of the last few days had aged her perceptibly, and it cut Brenton to the + heart to think that he stood there before her, and could not by any means + say a soothing word that she would understand. That she had wept many + bitter tears since the terrible Christmas morning was evident; there were + dark circles under her beautiful eyes that told of sleepless nights. She + sat in a comfortable armchair, facing the window; and looked steadily out + at the dreary winter scene with eyes that apparently saw nothing. Her + hands lay idly on her lap, and now and then she caught her breath in a way + that was half a sob and half a gasp. + </p> + <p> + Presently the sheriff himself entered the room. + </p> + <p> + "Mrs. Brenton," he said, "there is a gentleman here who wishes to see you. + Mr. Roland, he tells me his name is, an old friend of yours. Do you care + to see any one?" + </p> + <p> + The lady turned her head slowly round, and looked at the sheriff for a + moment, seemingly not understanding what he said. Finally she answered, + dreamily— + </p> + <p> + "Roland? Oh, Stephen! Yes, I shall be very glad to see him. Ask him to + come in, please." + </p> + <p> + The next moment Stephen Roland entered, and somehow the fact that he had + come to console Mrs. Brenton did not at all please the invisible man who + stood between them. + </p> + <p> + "My dear Mrs. Brenton," began Roland, "I hope you are feeling better + to-day? Keep up your courage, and be brave. It is only for a very short + time. I have retained the noted criminal lawyers, Benham and Brown, for + the defence. You could not possibly have better men." + </p> + <p> + At the word "criminal" Mrs. Brenton shuddered. + </p> + <p> + "Alice," continued Roland, sitting down near her, and drawing his chair + closer to her, "tell me that you will not lose your courage. I want you to + be brave, for the sake of your friends." + </p> + <p> + He took her listless hand in his own, and she did not withdraw it. + </p> + <p> + Brenton felt passing over him the pangs of impotent rage, as he saw this + act on the part of Roland. + </p> + <p> + Roland had been an unsuccessful suitor for the hand which he now held in + his own, and Brenton thought it the worst possible taste, to say the + least, that he should take advantage now of her terrible situation to + ingratiate himself into her favour. + </p> + <p> + The nearest approach to a quarrel that Brenton and his wife had had during + their short six months of wedded life was on the subject of the man who + now held her hand in his own. It made Brenton impatient to think that a + woman with all her boasted insight into character, her instincts as to + what was right and what was wrong, had such little real intuition that she + did not see into the character of the man whom they were discussing; but a + woman never thinks it a crime for a man to have been in love with her, + whatever opinion of that man her husband may hold. + </p> + <p> + "It is awful! awful! awful!" murmured the poor lady, as the tears again + rose to her eyes. + </p> + <p> + "Of course it is," said Roland; "it is particularly awful that they should + accuse you, of all persons in the world, of this so-called crime. For my + part I do not believe that he was poisoned at all, but we will soon + straighten things out. Benham and Brown will give up everything and devote + their whole attention to this case until it is finished. Everything will + be done that money or friends can do, and all that we ask is that you keep + up your courage, and do not be downcast with the seeming awfulness of the + situation." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Brenton wept silently, but made no reply. It was evident, however, + that she was consoled by the words and the presence of her visitor. + Strange as it may appear, this fact enraged Brenton, although he had gone + there for the very purpose of cheering and comforting his wife. All the + bitterness he had felt before against his former rival was revived, and + his rage was the more agonizing because it was inarticulate. Then there + flashed over him Ferris's sinister advice to leave things alone in the + world that he had left. He felt that he could stand this no longer, and + the next instant he found himself again in the wintry streets of + Cincinnati. + </p> + <p> + The name of the lawyers, Benham and Brown, kept repeating itself in his + mind, and he resolved to go to their office and hear, if he could, what + preparations were being made for the defence of a woman whom he knew to be + innocent. He found, when he got to the office of these noted lawyers, that + the two principals were locked in their private room; and going there, he + found them discussing the case with the coolness and impersonal feeling + that noted lawyers have even when speaking of issues that involve life or + death. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," Benham was saying, "I think that, unless anything new turns up, + that is the best line of defence we can adopt." + </p> + <p> + "What do you think might turn up?" asked Brown. + </p> + <p> + "Well, you can never tell in these cases. They may find something else—they + may find the poison, for instance, or the package that contained it. + Perhaps a druggist will remember having sold it to this woman, and then, + of course, we shall have to change our plans. I need not say that it is + strictly necessary in this case to give out no opinions whatever to + newspaper men. The papers will be full of rumours, and it is just as well + if we can keep our line of defence hidden until the time for action + comes." + </p> + <p> + "Still," said Brown, who was the younger partner, "it is as well to keep + in with the newspaper fellows; they'll be here as soon as they find we + have taken charge of the defence." + </p> + <p> + "Well, I have no doubt you can deal with them in such a way as to give + them something to write up, and yet not disclose anything we do not wish + known." + </p> + <p> + "I think you can trust me to do that," said Brown, with a self-satisfied + air. + </p> + <p> + "I shall leave that part of the matter entirely in your hands," replied + Benham. "It is better not to duplicate or mix matters, and if any + newspaper man comes to see me I will refer him to you. I will say I know + nothing of the case whatever." + </p> + <p> + "Very well," answered Brown. "Now, between ourselves, what do you think of + the case?" + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><a name="linkimage-0009" id="linkimage-0009"> </a> + </p> + + <p> + "Oh, it will make a great sensation. I think it will probably be one of + the most talked-of cases that we have ever been connected with." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, but what do you think of her guilt or innocence?" + </p> + <p> + "As to that," said Benham, calmly, "I haven't the slightest doubt. She + murdered him." + </p> + <p> + As he said this, Brenton, forgetting himself for a moment, sprang forward + as if to strangle the lawyer. The statement Benham had made seemed the + most appalling piece of treachery. That men should take a woman's money + for defending her, and actually engage in a case when they believed their + client guilty, appeared to Brenton simply infamous. + </p> + <p> + "I agree with you," said Brown. "Of course she was the only one to benefit + by his death. The simple fool willed everything to her, and she knew it; + and his doing so is the more astounding when you remember he was quite + well aware that she had a former lover whom she would gladly have married + if he had been as rich as Brenton. The supreme idiocy of some men as far + as their wives are concerned is something awful." + </p> + + <p> + "Yes," answered Benham, "it is. But I tell you, Brown, she is no ordinary + woman. The very conception of that murder had a stroke of originality + about it that I very much admire. I do not remember anything like it in + the annals of crime. It is the true way in which a murder should be + committed. The very publicity of the occasion was a safeguard. Think of + poisoning a man at a dinner that he has given himself, in the midst of a + score of friends. I tell you that there was a dash of bravery about it + that commands my admiration." + </p> + <p> + "Do you imagine Roland had anything to do with it?" + </p> + <p> + "Well, I had my doubts about that at first, but I think he is innocent, + although from what I know of the man he will not hesitate to share the + proceeds of the crime. You mark my words, they will be married within a + year from now if she is acquitted. I believe Roland knows her to be + guilty." + </p> + <p> + "I thought as much," said Brown, "by his actions here, and by some remarks + he let drop. Anyhow, our credit in the affair will be all the greater if + we succeed in getting her off. Yes," he continued, rising and pushing back + his chair, "Madam Brenton is a murderess." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V. + </h2> + <p> + Brenton found himself once more in the streets of Cincinnati, in a state + of mind that can hardly be described. Rage and grief struggled for the + mastery, and added to the tumult of these passions was the uncertainty as + to what he should do, or what he <i>could</i> do. He could hardly ask the + advice of Ferris again, for his whole trouble arose from his neglect of + the counsel that gentleman had already given him. In his new sphere he did + not know where to turn. He found himself wondering whether in the + spirit-land there was any firm of lawyers who could advise him, and he + remembered then how singularly ignorant he was regarding the conditions of + existence in the world to which he now belonged. However, he felt that he + must consult with somebody, and Ferris was the only one to whom he could + turn. A moment later he was face to face with him. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Ferris," he said, "I am in the most grievous trouble, and I come to + you in the hope that, if you cannot help me, you can at least advise me + what to do." + </p> + <p> + "If your trouble has come," answered Ferris, with a shade of irony in his + voice, "through following the advice that I have already given you, I + shall endeavour, as well as I am able, to help you out of it." + </p> + <p> + "You know very well," cried Brenton, hotly, "that my whole trouble has + occurred through neglecting your advice, or, at least, through + deliberately not following it. I <i>could</i> not follow it." + </p> + <p> + "Very well, then," said Ferris, "I am not surprised that you are in a + difficulty. You must remember that such a crisis is an old story with us + here." + </p> + <p> + "But, my dear sir," said Brenton, "look at the appalling condition of + things, the knowledge of which has just come to me. It seems I was + poisoned, but of course that doesn't matter. I feel no resentment against + the wretch who did it. But the terrible thing is that my wife has been + arrested for the crime, and I have just learned that her own lawyers + actually believe her guilty." + </p> + <p> + "That fact," said Ferris, calmly, "will not interfere with their eloquent + pleading when the case comes to trial." + </p> + <p> + Brenton glared at the man who was taking things so coolly, and who proved + himself so unsympathetic; but an instant after he realized the futility of + quarrelling with the only person who could give him advice, so he + continued, with what patience he could command— + </p> + <p> + "The situation is this: My wife has been arrested for the crime of + murdering me. She is now in the custody of the sheriff. Her trouble and + anxiety of mind are fearful to contemplate." + </p> + <p> + "My dear sir," said Ferris, "there is no reason why you or anybody else + should contemplate it." + </p> + <p> + "How can you talk in that cold-blooded way?" cried Brenton, indignantly. + "Could you see <i>your</i> wife, or any one <i>you</i> held dear, + incarcerated for a dreadful crime, and yet remain calm and collected, as + you now appear to be when you hear of another's misfortune?" + </p> + <p> + "My dear fellow," said Ferris, "of course it is not to be expected that + one who has had so little experience with this existence should have any + sense of proportion. You appear to be speaking quite seriously. You do not + seem at all to comprehend the utter triviality of all this." + </p> + <p> + "Good gracious!" cried Brenton, "do you call it a trivial thing that a + woman is in danger of her life for a crime which she never committed?" + </p> + <p> + "If she is innocent," said the other, in no way moved by the indignation + of his comrade, "surely that state of things will be brought out in the + courts, and no great harm will be done, even looking at things from the + standpoint of the world you have left. But I want you to get into the + habit of looking at things from the standpoint of this world, and not of + the other. Suppose that what you would call the worst should happen—suppose + she is hanged—what then?" + </p> + <p> + Brenton stood simply speechless with indignation at this brutal remark. + </p> + <p> + "If you will just look at things correctly," continued Ferris, + imperturbably, "you will see that there is probably a moment of anguish, + perhaps not even that moment, and then your wife is here with you in the + land of spirits. I am sure that is a consummation devoutly to be wished. + Even a man in your state of mind must see the reasonableness of this. Now, + looking at the question in what you would call its most serious aspect, + see how little it amounts to. It isn't worth a moment's thought, whichever + way it goes." + </p> + <p> + "You think nothing, then, of the disgrace of such a death—of the + bitter injustice of it?" + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><a name="linkimage-0011" id="linkimage-0011"> </a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/0045.jpg" alt="0045 the Broken Toy. " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + "When you were in the world did you ever see a child cry over a broken + toy? Did the sight pain you to any extent? Did you not know that a new toy + could be purchased that would quite obliterate all thoughts of the other? + Did the simple griefs of childhood carry any deep and lasting + consternation to the mind of a grown-up man? Of course it did not. You are + sensible enough to know that. Well, we here in this world look on the pain + and struggles and trials of people in the world you have left, just as an + aged man looks on the tribulations of children over a broken doll. That is + all it really amounts to. That is what I mean when I say that you have not + yet got your sense of proportion. Any grief and misery there is in the + world you have left is of such an ephemeral, transient nature, that when + we think for a moment of the free, untrammelled, and painless life there + is beyond, those petty troubles sink into insignificance. My dear fellow, + be sensible, take my advice. I have really a strong interest in you, and I + advise you, entirely for your own welfare, to forget all about it. Very + soon you will have something much more important to do than lingering + around the world you have left. If your wife comes amongst us I am sure + you will be glad to welcome her, and to teach her the things that you will + have already found out of your new life. If she does not appear, then you + will know that, even from the old-world standpoint, things have gone what + you would call 'all right.' Let these trivial matters go, and attend to + the vastly more important concerns that will soon engage your attention + here." + </p> + <p> + Ferris talked earnestly, and it was evident, even to Brenton, that he + meant what he said. It was hard to find a pretext for a quarrel with a man + at once so calm and so perfectly sure of himself. + </p> + <p> + "We will not talk any more about it," said Brenton. "I presume people here + agree to differ, just as they did in the world we have both left." + </p> + <p> + "Certainly, certainly," answered Ferris. "Of course, you have just heard + my opinion; but you will find myriads of others who do not share it with + me. You will meet a great many who are interested in the subject of + communication with the world they have left. You will, of course, excuse + me when I say that I consider such endeavours not worth talking about." + </p> + <p> + "Do you know any one who is interested in that sort of thing? and can you + give me an introduction to him?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh! for that matter," said Ferris, "you have had an introduction to one + of the most enthusiastic investigators of the subject. I refer to Mr. John + Speed, late of Chicago." + </p> + <p> + "Ah!" said Brenton, rather dubiously. "I must confess that I was not very + favourably impressed with Mr. Speed. Probably I did him an injustice." + </p> + <p> + "You certainly did," said Ferris. "You will find Speed a man well worth + knowing, even if he does waste himself on such futile projects as a scheme + for communicating with a community so evanescent as that of Chicago. You + will like Speed better the more you know him. He really is very + philanthropic, and has Sommers on his hands just now. From what he said + after you left Venice, I imagine he does not entertain the same feeling + toward you as you do toward him. I would see Speed if I were you." + </p> + <p> + "I will think about it," said Brenton, as they separated. + </p> + <p> + To know that a man thinks well of a person is no detriment to further + acquaintance with that man, even if the first impressions have not been + favourable; and after Ferris told Brenton that Speed had thought well of + him, Brenton found less difficulty in seeking the Chicago enthusiast. + </p> + <p> + "I have been in a good deal of trouble," Brenton said to Speed, "and have + been talking to Ferris about it. I regret to say that he gave me very + little encouragement, and did not seem at all to appreciate my feelings in + the matter." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, you mustn't mind Ferris," said Speed. "He is a first-rate fellow, but + he is as cold and unsympathetic as—well, suppose we say as an + oyster. His great hobby is non-intercourse with the world we have left. + Now, in that I don't agree with him, and there are thousands who don't + agree with him. I admit that there are cases where a man is more unhappy + if he frequents the old world than he would be if he left it alone. But + then there are other cases where just the reverse is true. Take my own + experience, for example; I take a peculiar pleasure in rambling around + Chicago. I admit that it is a grievance to me, as an old newspaper man, to + see the number of scoops I could have on my esteemed contemporaries, but—" + </p> + <p> + "Scoop? What is that?" asked Brenton, mystified. + </p> + <p> + "Why, a scoop is a beat, you know." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, but I don't know. What is a beat?" + </p> + <p> + "A beat or a scoop, my dear fellow, is the getting of a piece of news that + your contemporary does not obtain. You never were in the newspaper + business? Well, sir, you missed it. Greatest business in the world. You + know everything that is going on long before anybody else does, and the + way you can reward your friends and jump with both feet on your enemies is + one of the delights of existence down there." + </p> + <p> + "Well, what I wanted to ask you was this," said Brenton. "You have made a + speciality of finding out whether there could be any communication between + one of us, for instance, and one who is an inhabitant of the other world. + Is such communication possible?" + </p> + <p> + "I have certainly devoted some time to it, but I can't say that my success + has been flattering. My efforts have been mostly in the line of news. I + have come on some startling information which my facilities here gave me + access to, and I confess I have tried my best to put some of the boys on + to it. But there is a link loose somewhere. Now, what is your trouble? Do + you want to get a message to anybody?" + </p> + <p> + "My trouble is this," said Brenton, briefly, "I am here because a few days + ago I was poisoned." + </p> + <p> + "George Washington!" cried the other, "you don't say so! Have the + newspapers got on to the fact?" + </p> + <p> + "I regret to say that they have." + </p> + <p> + "What an item that would have been if one paper had got hold of it and the + others hadn't! I suppose they all got on to it at the same time?" + </p> + <p> + "About that," said Brenton, "I don't know, and I must confess that I do + not care very much. But here is the trouble—my wife has been + arrested for my murder, and she is as innocent as I am." + </p> + <p> + "Sure of that?" + </p> + <p> + "<i>Sure</i> of it?" cried the other indignantly. "Of course I am sure of + it." + </p> + <p> + "Then who is the guilty person?" + </p> + <p> + "Ah, that," said Brenton, "I do not yet know." + </p> + <p> + "Then how can you be sure she is not guilty?" + </p> + <p> + "If you talk like that," exclaimed Brenton, "I have nothing more to say." + </p> + <p> + "Now, don't get offended, I beg of you. I am merely looking at this from a + newspaper standpoint, you know. You must remember it is not you who will + decide the matter, but a jury of your very stupid fellow-countrymen. Now, + you can never tell what a jury <i>will</i> do, except that it will do + something idiotic. Therefore, it seems to me that the very first step to + be taken is to find out who the guilty party is. Don't you see the force + of that?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, I do." + </p> + <p> + "Very well, then. Now, what were the circumstances of this crime? who was + to profit by your death?" + </p> + <p> + Brenton winced at this. + </p> + <p> + "I see how it is," said the other, "and I understand why you don't answer. + Now—you'll excuse me if I am frank—your wife was the one who + benefited most by your death, was she not?" + </p> + <p> + "No," cried the other indignantly, "she was not the one. That is what the + lawyers said. Why in the world should she want to poison me, when she had + all my wealth at her command as it was?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, that's a strong point," said Speed. "You were a reasonably good + husband, I suppose? Rather generous with the cash?" + </p> + <p> + "Generous?" cried the other. "My wife always had everything she wanted." + </p> + <p> + "Ah, well, there was no—you'll excuse me, I am sure—no former + lover in the case, was there?" + </p> + <p> + Again Brenton winced, and he thought of Roland sitting beside his wife + with her hand in his. + </p> + <p> + "I see," said Speed; "you needn't answer. Now what were the circumstances, + again?" + </p> + <p> + "They were these: At a dinner which I gave, where some twenty or + twenty-five of my friends were assembled, poison, it appears, was put into + my cup of coffee. That is all I know of it." + </p> + <p> + "Who poured out that cup of coffee?" + </p> + <p> + "My wife did." + </p> + <p> + "Ah! Now, I don't for a moment say she is guilty, remember; but you must + admit that, to a stupid jury, the case <i>might</i> look rather bad + against her." + </p> + <p> + "Well, granted that it does, there is all the more need that I should come + to her assistance if possible." + </p> + <p> + "Certainly, certainly!" said Speed. "Now, I'll tell you what we have to + do. We must get, if possible, one of the very brightest Chicago reporters + on the track of this thing, and we have to get him on the track of it + early. Come with me to Chicago. We will try an experiment, and I am sure + you will lend your mind entirely to the effort. We must act in conjunction + in this affair, and you are just the man I've been wanting, some one who + is earnest and who has something at stake in the matter. We may fail + entirely, but I think it's worth the trying. Will you come?" + </p> + <p> + "Certainly," said Brenton; "and I cannot tell you how much I appreciate + your interest and sympathy." + </p> + <p> + Arriving at a brown stone building on the corner of two of the principal + streets in Chicago, Brenton and Speed ascended quickly to one of the top + floors. It was nearly midnight, and two upper stories of the huge dark + building were brilliantly lighted, as was shown on the outside by the long + rows of glittering windows. They entered a room where a man was seated at + a table, with coat and vest thrown off, and his hat set well back on his + head. Cold as it was outside, it was warm in this man's room, and the room + was blue with smoke. A black corn-cob pipe was in his teeth, and the man + was writing away as if for dear life, on sheets of coarse white copy + paper, stopping now and then to fill up his pipe or to relight it after it + had gone out. + </p> + <p> + "There," said Speed, waving his hand towards the writer with a certain air + of proprietory pride, "there sits one of the very cleverest men on the + Chicago press. That fellow, sir, is gifted with a nose for news which has + no equal in America. He will ferret out a case that he once starts on with + an unerringness that would charm you. Yes, sir, I got him his present + situation on this paper, and I can tell you it was a good one." + </p> + <p> + "He must have been a warm friend of yours?" said Brenton, indifferently, + as if he did not take much interest in the eulogy. + </p> + <p> + "Quite the contrary," said Speed. "He was a warm enemy, made it mighty + warm for <i>me</i> sometimes. He was on an opposition paper, but I tell + you, although I was no chicken in newspaper business, that man would scoop + the daylight out of me any time he tried. So, to get rid of opposition, I + got the managing editor to appoint him to a place on our paper; and I tell + you, he has never regretted it. Yes, sir, there sits George Stratton, a + man who knows his business. Now," he said, "let us concentrate our + attention on him. First let us see whether, by putting our whole minds to + it, we can make any impression on <i>his</i> mind whatever. You see how + busily he is engaged. He is thoroughly absorbed in his work. That is + George all over. Whatever his assignment is, George throws himself right + into it, and thinks of nothing else until it is finished. <i>Now</i> + then." + </p> + <p> + In that dingy, well-lighted room George Stratton sat busily pencilling out + the lines that were to appear in next morning's paper. He was evidently + very much engrossed in his task, as Speed had said. If he had looked about + him, which he did not, he would have said that he was entirely alone. All + at once his attention seemed to waver, and he passed his hand over his + brow, while perplexity came into his face. Then he noticed that his pipe + was out, and, knocking the ashes from it by rapping the bowl on the side + of the table, he filled it with an absent-mindedness unusual with him. + Again he turned to his writing, and again he passed his hand over his + brow. Suddenly, without any apparent cause, he looked first to the right + and then to the left of him. Once more he tried to write, but, noticing + his pipe was out, he struck another match and nervously puffed away, until + clouds of blue smoke rose around him. There was a look of annoyance and + perplexity in his face as he bent resolutely to his writing. The door + opened, and a man appeared on the threshold. + </p> + <p> + "Anything more about the convention, George?" he said. + </p> + <p> + "Yes; I am just finishing this. Sort of pen pictures, you know." + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps you can let me have what you have done. I'll fix it up." + </p> + <p> + "All right," said Stratton, bunching up the manuscript in front of him, + and handing it to the city editor. + </p> + <p> + That functionary looked at the number of pages, and then at the writer. + </p> + <p> + "Much more of this, George?" he said. "We'll be a little short of room in + the morning, you know." + </p> + <p> + "Well," said the other, sitting back in his chair, "it is pretty good + stuff that. Folks always like the pen pictures of men engaged in the + skirmish better than the reports of what most of them say." + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said the city editor, "that's so." + </p> + <p> + "Still," said Stratton, "we could cut it off at the last page. Just let me + see the last two pages, will you?" + </p> + <p> + These were handed to him, and, running his eye through them, he drew his + knife across one of the pages, and put at the bottom the cabalistic mark + which indicated the end of the copy. + </p> + <p> + "There! I think I will let it go at that. Old Rickenbeck don't amount to + much, anyhow. We'll let him go." + </p> + <p> + "All right," said the city editor. "I think we won't want anything more + to-night." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><a name="linkimage-0012" id="linkimage-0012"> </a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/0055.jpg" alt="0055 'she's Pretty As a Picture.' " + width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + Stratton put his hands behind his head, with his fingers interlaced, and + leaned back in his chair, placing his heels upon the table before him. A + thought-reader, looking at his face, could almost have followed the theme + that occupied his mind. Suddenly bringing his feet down with a crash to + the floor, he rose and went into the city editor's room. + </p> + <p> + "See here," he said. "Have you looked into that Cincinnati case at all?" + </p> + <p> + "What Cincinnati case?" asked the local editor, looking up. + </p> + <p> + "Why, that woman who is up for poisoning her husband." + </p> + <p> + "Oh yes; we had something of it in the despatches this morning. It's + rather out of the local line, you know." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, I know it is. But it isn't out of the paper's line. I tell you that + case is going to make a sensation. She's pretty as a picture. Been married + only six months, and it seems to be a dead sure thing that she poisoned + her husband. That trial's going to make racy reading, especially if they + bring in a verdict of guilty." + </p> + <p> + The city editor looked interested. + </p> + <p> + "Want to go down there, George?" + </p> + <p> + "Well, do you know, I think it'll pay." + </p> + <p> + "Let me see, this is the last day of the convention, isn't it? And Clark + comes back from his vacation to-morrow. Well, if you think it's worth it, + take a trip down there, and look the ground over, and give us a special + article that we can use on the first day of the trial." + </p> + <p> + "I'll do it," said George. + </p> + + <p> + Speed looked at Brenton. + </p> + <p> + "What would old Ferris say <i>now</i>, eh?" + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI. + </h2> + <p> + Next morning George Stratton was on the railway train speeding towards + Cincinnati. As he handed to the conductor his mileage book, he did not say + to him, lightly transposing the old couplet— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Here, railroad man, take thrice thy fee, + For spirits twain do ride with me." +</pre> + <p> + George Stratton was a practical man, and knew nothing of spirits, except + those which were in a small flask in his natty little valise. + </p> + <p> + When he reached Cincinnati, he made straight for the residence of the + sheriff. He felt that his first duty was to become friends with such an + important official. Besides this, he wished to have an interview with the + prisoner. He had arranged in his mind, on the way there, just how he would + write a preliminary article that would whet the appetite of the readers of + the Chicago <i>Argus</i> for any further developments that might occur + during and after the trial. He would write the whole thing in the form of + a story. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><a name="linkimage-0013" id="linkimage-0013"> </a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/0058.jpg" alt="0058 'raising the Veil.' " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + First, there would be a sketch of the life of Mrs. Brenton and her + husband. This would be number one, and above it would be the Roman numeral + I. Under the heading II. would be a history of the crime. Under III. what + had occurred afterwards—the incidents that had led suspicion towards + the unfortunate woman, and that sort of thing. Under the numeral IV. would + be his interview with the prisoner, if he were fortunate enough to get + one. Under V. he would give the general opinion of Cincinnati on the + crime, and on the guilt or innocence of Mrs. Brenton. This article he + already saw in his mind's eye occupying nearly half a page of the <i>Argus</i>. + All would be in leaded type, and written in a style and manner that would + attract attention, for he felt that he was first on the ground, and would + not have the usual rush in preparing his copy which had been the bane of + his life. It would give the <i>Argus</i> practically the lead in this + case, which he was convinced would become one of national importance. + </p> + <p> + The sheriff received him courteously, and, looking at the card he + presented, saw the name Chicago <i>Argus</i> in the corner. Then he stood + visibly on his guard—an attitude assumed by all wise officials when + they find themselves brought face to face with a newspaper man; for they + know, however carefully an article may be prepared, it will likely contain + some unfortunate overlooked phrase which may have a damaging effect in a + future political campaign. + </p> + <p> + "I wanted to see you," began Stratton, coming straight to the point, "in + reference to the Brenton murder." + </p> + <p> + "I may say at once," replied the sheriff, "that if you wish an interview + with the prisoner, it is utterly impossible, because her lawyers, Benham + and Brown, have positively forbidden her to see a newspaper man." + </p> + <p> + "That shows," said Stratton, "they are wise men who understand their + business. Nevertheless, I wish to have an interview with Mrs. Brenton. But + what I wanted to say to you is this: I believe the case will be very much + talked about, and that before many weeks are over. Of course you know the + standing the <i>Argus</i> has in newspaper circles. What it says will have + an influence, even over the Cincinnati press. I think you will admit that. + Now a great many newspaper men consider an official their natural enemy. I + do not; at least, I do not until I am forced to. Any reference that I may + make to you I am more than willing to submit to you before it goes to + Chicago. I will give you my word, if you want it, that nothing will be + said referring to your official position, or to yourself personally, that + you do not see before it appears in print. Of course you will be up for + re-election. I never met a sheriff who wasn't." + </p> + <p> + The sheriff smiled at this, and did not deny it. + </p> + <p> + "Very well. Now, I may tell you my belief is that this case is going to + have a powerful influence on your re-election. Here is a young and pretty + woman who is to be tried for a terrible crime. Whether she is guilty or + innocent, public sympathy is going to be with her. If I were in your + place, I would prefer to be known as her friend rather than as her enemy." + </p> + <p> + "My dear sir," said the sheriff, "my official position puts me in the + attitude of neither friend nor enemy of the unfortunate woman. I have + simply a certain duty to do, and that duty I intend to perform." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, that's all right!" exclaimed the newspaper man, jauntily. "I, for + one, am not going to ask you to take a step outside your duties; but an + official may do his duty, and yet, at the same time, do a friendly act for + a newspaper man, or even for a prisoner. In the language of the old + chestnut, 'If you don't help me, don't help the bear.' That's all I ask." + </p> + <p> + "You maybe sure, Mr. Stratton, that anything I can do to help you I shall + be glad to do; and now let me give you a hint. If you want to see Mrs. + Brenton, the best thing is to get permission from her lawyers. If I were + you I would not see Benham—he's rather a hard nut, Benham is, + although you needn't tell him I said so. You get on the right side of + Brown. Brown has some political aspirations himself, and he does not want + to offend a man on so powerful a paper as the <i>Argus</i>, even if it is + not a Cincinnati paper. Now, if you make him the same offer you have made + to me, I think it will be all right. If he sees your copy before it goes + into print, and if you keep your word with him that nothing will appear + that he does <i>not</i> see, I think you will succeed in getting an + interview with Mrs. Brenton. If you bring me a note from Brown, I shall be + very glad to allow you to see her." + </p> + <p> + Stratton thanked the sheriff for his hint. He took down in his note-book + the address of the lawyers, and the name especially of Mr. Brown. The two + men shook hands, and Stratton felt that they understood each other. + </p> + <p> + When Mr. Stratton was ushered into the private office of Brown, and handed + that gentleman his card, he noticed the lawyer perceptibly freeze over. + </p> + <p> + "Ahem," said the legal gentleman; "you will excuse me if I say that my + time is rather precious. Did you wish to see me professionally?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes," replied Stratton, "that is, from a newspaper standpoint of the + profession." + </p> + <p> + "Ah," said the other, "in reference to what?" + </p> + <p> + "To the Brenton case." + </p> + <p> + "Well, my dear sir, I have had, very reluctantly, to refuse information + that I would have been happy to give, if I could, to our own newspaper + men; and so I may say to you at once that I scarcely think it will be + possible for me to be of any service to an outside paper like the <i>Argus</i>" + </p> + <p> + "Local newspaper men," said Stratton, "represent local fame. That you + already possess. I represent national fame, which, if you will excuse my + saying so, you do not yet possess. The fact that I am in Cincinnati + to-day, instead of in Chicago, shows what we Chicago people think of the + Cincinnati case. I believe, and the <i>Argus</i> believes, that this case + is going to be one of national importance. Now, let me ask you one + question. Will you state frankly what your objection is to having a + newspaper man, for instance, interview Mrs. Brenton, or get any + information relating to this case from her or others whom you have the + power of controlling?" + </p> + <p> + "I shall answer that question," said Brown, "as frankly as you put it. You + are a man of the world, and know, of course, that we are all selfish, and + in business matters look entirely after our own interests. My interest in + this case is to defend my client. Your interest in this case is to make a + sensational article. You want to get facts if possible, but, in any event, + you want to write up a readable column or two for your paper. Now, if I + allowed you to see Mrs. Brenton, she might say something to you, and you + might publish it, that would not only endanger her chances, but would + seriously embarrass us, as her lawyers, in our defence of the case." + </p> + <p> + "You have stated the objection very plainly and forcibly," said Stratton, + with a look of admiration, as if the powerful arguments of the lawyer had + had a great effect on him. "Now, if I understand your argument, it simply + amounts to this, that you would have no objection to my interviewing Mrs. + Brenton if you have the privilege of editing the copy. In other words, if + nothing were printed but what you approve of, you would not have the + slightest hesitancy about allowing me that interview." + </p> + <p> + "No, I don't know that I would," admitted the lawyer. + </p> + <p> + "Very well, then. Here is my proposition to you: I am here to look after + the interests of our paper in this particular case. The <i>Argus</i> is + probably going to be the first paper outside of Cincinnati that will + devote a large amount of space to the Brenton trial, in addition to what + is received from the Associated Press dispatches. Now you can give me a + great many facilities in this matter if you care to do so, and in return I + am perfectly willing to submit to you every line of copy that concerns you + or your client before it is sent, and I give you my word of honour that + nothing shall appear but what you have seen and approved of. If you want + to cut out something that I think is vitally important, then I shall tell + you frankly that I intend to print it, but will modify it as much as I + possibly can to suit your views." + </p> + <p> + "I see," said the lawyer. "In other words, as you have just remarked, I am + to give you special facilities in this matter, and then, when you find out + some fact which I wish kept secret, and which you have obtained because of + the facilities I have given to you, you will quite frankly tell me that it + must go in, and then, of course, I shall be helpless except to debar you + from any further facilities, as you call them. No, sir, I do not care to + make any such bargain." + </p> + <p> + "Well, suppose I strike out that clause of agreement, and say to you that + I will send nothing but what you approve of, would you then write me a + note to the sheriff and allow me to see the prisoner?" + </p> + <p> + "I am sorry to say"—the lawyer hesitated for a moment, and glanced + at the card, then added—"Mr. Stratton, that I do not see my way + clear to granting your request." + </p> + <p> + "I think," said Stratton, rising, "that you are doing yourself an + injustice. You are refusing—I may as well tell you first as last—what + is a great privilege. Now, you have had some experience in your business, + and I have had some experience in mine, and I beg to inform you that men + who are much more prominent in the history of their country than any one I + can at present think of in Cincinnati, have tried to balk me in the + pursuit of my business, and have failed." + </p> + <p> + "In that matter, of course," said Brown, "I must take my chances. I don't + see the use of prolonging this interview. As you have been so frank as to—I + won't say threaten, perhaps warn is the better word—as you have been + so good as to warn me, I may, before we part, just give <i>you</i> a word + of caution. Of course we, in Cincinnati, are perfectly willing to admit + that Chicago people are the smartest on earth, but I may say that if you + print a word in your paper which is untrue and which is damaging to our + side of the case, or if you use any methods that are unlawful in obtaining + the information you so much desire, you will certainly get your paper into + trouble, and you will run some little personal risk yourself." + </p> + <p> + "Well, as you remarked a moment ago, Mr. Brown, I shall have to take the + chances of that. I am here to get the news, and if I don't succeed it will + be the first time in my life." + </p> + <p> + "Very well, sir," said the lawyer. "I wish you good evening." + </p> + <p> + "Just one thing more," said the newspaper man, "before I leave you." + </p> + <p> + "My dear sir," said the lawyer, impatiently, "I am very busy. I've already + given you a liberal share of my time. I must request that this interview + end at once." + </p> + <p> + "I thought," said Mr. Stratton, calmly, "that perhaps you might be + interested in the first article that I am going to write. I shall devote + one column in the <i>Argus</i> of the day after to-morrow to your defence + of the case, and whether your theory of defence is a tenable one or not." + </p> + <p> + Mr. Brown pushed back his chair and looked earnestly at the young man. + That individual was imperturbably pulling on his gloves, and at the moment + was buttoning one of them. + </p> + <p> + "Our <i>defence</i>!" cried the lawyer. "What do you know of our defence?" + </p> + <p> + "My dear sir," said Stratton, "I know <i>all</i> about it." + </p> + <p> + "Sir, that is impossible. Nobody knows what our defence is to be except + Mr. Benham and myself." + </p> + <p> + "And Mr. Stratton, of the Chicago <i>Argus</i>," replied the young man, as + he buttoned his coat. + </p> + <p> + "May I ask, then, what the defence is?" + </p> + <p> + "Certainly," answered the Chicago man. "Your defence is that Mr. Brenton + was insane, and that he committed suicide." + </p> + <p> + Even Mr. Brown's habitual self-control, acquired by long years of training + in keeping his feelings out of sight, for the moment deserted him. He drew + his breath sharply, and cast a piercing glance at the young man before + him, who was critically watching the lawyer's countenance, although he + appeared to be entirely absorbed in buttoning his overcoat. Then Mr. Brown + gave a short, dry laugh. + </p> + <p> + "I have met a bluff before," he said carelessly; "but I should like to + know what makes you think that such is our defence?" + </p> + <p> + "<i>Think</i>!" cried the young man. "I don't think at all; I <i>know</i> + it." + </p> + <p> + "How do you know it?" + </p> + <p> + "Well, for one thing, I know it by your own actions a moment ago. What + first gave me an inkling of your defence was that book which is on your + table. It is Forbes Winslow on the mind and the brain; a very interesting + book, Mr. Brown, <i>very</i> interesting indeed. It treats of suicide, and + the causes and conditions of the brain that will lead up to it. It is a + very good book, indeed, to study in such a case. Good evening, Mr. Brown. + I am sorry that we cannot co-operate in this matter." + </p> + <p> + Stratton turned and walked toward the door, while the lawyer gazed after + him with a look of helpless astonishment on his face. As Stratton placed + his hand on the door knob, the lawyer seemed to wake up as from a dream. + </p> + <p> + "Stop!" he cried; "I will give you a letter that will admit you to Mrs. + Brenton." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII. + </h2> + <p> + "There!" said Speed to Brenton, triumphantly, "what do you think of <i>that</i>? + Didn't I say George Stratton was the brightest newspaper man in Chicago? I + tell you, his getting that letter from old Brown was one of the cleverest + bits of diplomacy I ever saw. There you had quickness of perception, and + nerve. All the time he was talking to old Brown he was just taking that + man's measure. See how coolly he acted while he was drawing on his gloves + and buttoning his coat as if ready to leave. Flung that at Brown all of a + sudden as quiet as if he was saying nothing at all unusual, and all the + time watching Brown out of the tail of his eye. Well, sir, I must admit, + that although I have known George Stratton for years, I thought he was + dished by that Cincinnati lawyer. I thought that George was just + gracefully covering up his defeat, and there he upset old Brown's + apple-cart in the twinkling of an eye. Now, you see the effect of all + this. Brown has practically admitted to him what the line of defence is. + Stratton won't publish it, of course; he has promised not to, but you see + he can hold that over Brown's head, and get everything he wants unless + they change their defence." + </p> + <p> + "Yes," remarked Brenton, slowly, "he seems to be a very sharp newspaper + man indeed; but I don't like the idea of his going to interview my wife." + </p> + <p> + "Why, what is there wrong about that?" + </p> + <p> + "Well, there is this wrong about it—that she in her depression may + say something that will tell against her." + </p> + <p> + "Even if she does, what of it? Isn't the lawyer going to see the letter + before it is sent to the paper?" + </p> + <p> + "I am not so sure about that. Do you think Stratton will show the article + to Brown if he gets what you call a scoop or a beat?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, of course he will," answered Speed, indignantly; "hasn't he given + him his word that he will?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, I know he has," said Brenton, dubiously; "but he is a newspaper + man." + </p> + <p> + "Certainly he is," answered Speed, with strong emphasis; "that is the + reason he will keep his word." + </p> + <p> + "I hope so, I hope so; but I must admit that the more I know you newspaper + men, the more I see the great temptation you are under to preserve if + possible the sensational features of an article." + </p> + <p> + "I'll bet you a drink—no, we can't do that," corrected Speed; "but + you shall see that, if Brown acts square with Stratton, he will keep his + word to the very letter with Brown. There is no use in our talking about + the matter here. Let us follow Stratton, and see what comes of the + interview." + </p> + <p> + "I think I prefer to go alone," said Brenton, coldly. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, as you like, as you like," answered the other, shortly. "I thought + you wanted my help in this affair; but if you don't, I am sure I shan't + intrude." + </p> + <p> + "That's all right," said Brenton; "come along. By the way, Speed, what do + you think of that line of defence?" + </p> + <p> + "Well, I don't know enough of the circumstances of the case to know what + to think of it. It seems to me rather a good line." + </p> + <p> + "It can't be a good line when it is not true. It is certain to break + down." + </p> + <p> + "That's so," said Speed; "but I'll bet you four dollars and a half that + they'll prove you a raving maniac before they are through with you. + They'll show very likely that you tried to poison yourself two or three + times; bring on a dozen of your friends to prove that they knew all your + life you were insane." + </p> + <p> + "Do you think they will?" asked Brenton, uneasily. + </p> + <p> + "Think it? Why, I am sure of it. You'll go down to posterity as one of the + most complete lunatics that ever, lived in Cincinnati. Oh, there won't be + anything left of you when <i>they</i> get through with you." + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile, Stratton was making his way to the residence of the sheriff. + </p> + <p> + "Ah," said that official, when they met, "you got your letter, did you? + Well, I thought you would." + </p> + <p> + "If you had heard the conversation between my estimable friend Mr. Brown + and myself, up to the very last moment, you wouldn't have thought it." + </p> + <p> + "Well, Brown is generally very courteous towards newspaper men, and that's + one reason you see his name in the papers a great deal." + </p> + <p> + "If I were a Cincinnati newspaper man, I can assure you that his name + wouldn't appear very much in the columns of my paper." + </p> + <p> + "I am sorry to hear you say that. I thought Brown was very popular with + the newspaper men. You got the letter, though, did you?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes; I got it. Here it is. Read it." + </p> + <p> + The sheriff scanned the brief note over, and put it in his pocket. + </p> + <p> + "Just take a chair for a moment, will you, and I will see if Mrs. Brenton + is ready to receive you." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><a name="linkimage-0014" id="linkimage-0014"> </a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/0070.jpg" alt="0070 Jane. " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + Stratton seated himself, and, pulling a paper from his pocket, was busily + reading when the sheriff again entered. + </p> + <p> + "I am sorry to say," he began, "after you have had all this trouble, that + Mrs. Brenton positively refuses to see you. You know I cannot <i>compel</i> + a prisoner to meet any one. You understand that, of course." + </p> + <p> + "Perfectly," said Stratton, thinking for a moment. "See here, sheriff, I + have simply <i>got</i> to have a talk with that woman. Now, can't you tell + her I knew her husband, or something of that sort? I'll make it all right + when I see her." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <p> + "The scoundrel!" said Brenton to Speed, as Stratton made this remark. + </p> + <p> + "My dear sir," said Speed, "don't you see he is just the man we want? This + is not the time to be particular." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, but think of the treachery and meanness of telling a poor + unfortunate woman that he was acquainted with her husband, who is only a + few days dead." + </p> + <p> + "Now, see here," said Speed, "if you are going to look on matters in this + way you will be a hindrance and not a help in the affair. Don't you + appreciate the situation? Why, Mrs. Brenton's own lawyers, as you have + said, think her guilty. What, then, can they learn by talking with her, or + what good can they do her with their minds already prejudiced against her? + Don't you see that?" + </p> + <p> + Brenton made no answer to this, but it was evident he was very ill at + ease. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <p> + "Did you know her husband?" asked the sheriff. + </p> + <p> + "No, to tell you the truth, I never heard of him before. But I must see + this lady, both for my good and hers, and I am not going to let a little + thing like that stand between us. Won't you tell her that I have come with + a letter from her own lawyers? Just show her the letter, and say that I + will take up but very little of her time. I am sorry to ask this much of + you, but you see how I am placed." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, that's all right," said the sheriff, good-naturedly; "I shall be very + glad to do what you wish," and with that he once more disappeared. + </p> + <p> + The sheriff stayed away longer this time, and Stratton paced the room + impatiently. Finally, the official returned, and said— + </p> + <p> + "Mrs. Brenton has consented to see you. Come this way, please. You will + excuse me, I know," continued the sheriff, as they walked along together, + "but it is part of my duty to remain in the room while you are talking + with Mrs. Brenton." + </p> + <p> + "Certainly, certainly," said Stratton; "I understand that." + </p> + <p> + "Very well; then, if I may make a suggestion, I would say this: you should + be prepared to ask just what you want to know, and do it all as speedily + as possible, for really Mrs. Brenton is in a condition of nervous + exhaustion that renders it almost cruel to put her through any rigid + cross-examination." + </p> + <p> + "I understand that also," said Stratton; "but you must remember that she + has a very much harder trial to undergo in the future. I am exceedingly + anxious to get at the truth of this thing, and so, if it seems to you that + I am asking a lot of very unnecessary questions, I hope you will not + interfere with me as long as Mrs. Brenton consents to answer." + </p> + <p> + "I shall not interfere at all," said the sheriff; "I only wanted to + caution you, for the lady may break down at any moment. If you can marshal + your questions so that the most important ones come first, I think it will + be wise. I presume you have them pretty well arranged in your own mind?" + </p> + <p> + "Well, I can't say that I have; you see, I am entirely in the dark. I got + no help whatever from the lawyers, and from what I know of their defence I + am thoroughly convinced that they are on the wrong track." + </p> + <p> + "What! did Brown say anything about the defence? That is not like his + usual caution." + </p> + <p> + "He didn't intend to," answered Stratton; "but I found out all I wanted to + know, nevertheless. You see, I shall have to ask what appears to be a lot + of rambling, inconsequential questions because you can never tell in a + case like this when you may get the key to the whole mystery." + </p> + <p> + "Well, here we are," said the sheriff, as he knocked at a door, and then + pushed it open. + </p> + <p> + From the moment George Stratton saw Mrs. Brenton his interest in the case + ceased to be purely journalistic. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Brenton was standing near the window, and she appeared to be very + calm and collected, but her fingers twitched nervously, clasping and + unclasping each other. Her modest dress of black was certainly a very + becoming one. + </p> + <p> + George thought he had never seen a woman so beautiful. + </p> + <p> + As she was standing up, she evidently intended the interview to be a short + one. + </p> + <p> + "Madam," said Stratton, "I am very sorry indeed to trouble you; but I have + taken a great interest in the solution of this mystery, and I have your + lawyers' permission to visit you. I assure you, anything you say will be + submitted to them, so that there will be no danger of your case being + prejudiced by any statements made." + </p> + <p> + "I am not afraid," said Mrs. Brenton, "that the truth will injure or + prejudice my case." + </p> + <p> + "I am sure of that," answered the newspaper man; and then, knowing that + she would not sit down if he asked her to, he continued diplomatically, + "Madam, will you permit me to sit down? I wish to write out my notes as + carefully as possible. Accuracy is my strong point." + </p> + <p> + "Certainly," said Mrs. Brenton; and, seeing that it was not probable the + interview would be a short one, she seated herself by the window, while + the sheriff took a chair in the corner, and drew a newspaper from his + pocket. + </p> + <p> + "Now, madam," said the special, "a great number of the questions I ask you + may seem trivial, but as I said to the sheriff a moment ago, some word of + yours that appears to you entirely unconnected with the case may give me a + clue which will be exceedingly valuable. You will, therefore, I am sure, + pardon me if some of the questions I ask you appear irrelevant." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Brenton bowed her head, but said nothing. + </p> + <p> + "Were your husband's business affairs in good condition at the time of his + death?" + </p> + <p> + "As far as I know they were." + </p> + <p> + "Did you ever see anything in your husband's actions that would lead you + to think him a man who might have contemplated suicide?" + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Brenton looked up with wide-open eyes. + </p> + <p> + "Certainly not," she said. + </p> + <p> + "Had he ever spoken to you on the subject of suicide?" + </p> + <p> + "I do not remember that he ever did." + </p> + <p> + "Was he ever queer in his actions? In short, did you ever notice anything + about him that would lead you to doubt his sanity? I am sorry if questions + I ask you seem painful, but I have reasons for wishing to be certain on + this point." + </p> + <p> + "No," said Mrs. Brenton; "he was perfectly sane. No man could have been + more so. I am certain that he never thought of committing suicide." + </p> + <p> + "Why are you so certain on that point?" + </p> + <p> + "I do not know why. I only know I am positive of it." + </p> + <p> + "Do you know if he had any enemy who might wish his death?" + </p> + <p> + "I doubt if he had an enemy in the world. I do not know of any." + </p> + <p> + "Have you ever heard him speak of anybody in a spirit of enmity?" + </p> + <p> + "Never. He was not a man who bore enmity against people. Persons whom he + did not like he avoided." + </p> + <p> + "The poison, it is said, was put into his cup of coffee. Do you happen to + know," said Stratton, turning to the sheriff, "how they came to that + conclusion?" + </p> + <p> + "No, I do not," answered the sheriff. "In fact, I don't see any reason why + they should think so." + </p> + <p> + "Was morphia found in the coffee cup afterwards?" + </p> + <p> + "No; at the time of the inquest all the things had been cleared away. I + think it was merely presumed that the morphine was put into his coffee." + </p> + <p> + "Who poured out the coffee he drank that night?" + </p> + <p> + "I did," answered his wife. + </p> + <p> + "You were at one end of the table and he at the other, I suppose?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes." + </p> + <p> + "How did the coffee cup reach him?" + </p> + <p> + "I gave it to the servant, and she placed it before him." + </p> + <p> + "It passed through no other hands, then?" + </p> + <p> + "No." + </p> + <p> + "Who was the servant?" + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Brenton pondered for a moment. + </p> + <p> + "I really know very little about her. She had been in our house for a + couple of weeks only." + </p> + <p> + "What was her name?" + </p> + <p> + "Jane Morton, I think." + </p> + <p> + "Where is she now, do you know?" + </p> + <p> + "I do not know." + </p> + <p> + "She appeared at the inquest, of course?" said Stratton, turning to the + sheriff. + </p> + <p> + "I think she did," was the answer. "I am not sure." + </p> + <p> + He marked her name down in the note-book. + </p> + <p> + "How many people were there at the dinner?" + </p> + <p> + "Including my husband and myself, there were twenty-six." + </p> + <p> + "Could you give me the name of each of them?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, I think so." + </p> + <p> + She repeated the names, which he took down, with certain notes and + comments on each. + </p> + <p> + "Who sat next your husband at the head of the table?" + </p> + <p> + "Miss Walker was at his right hand, Mr. Roland at his left." + </p> + <p> + "Now, forgive me if I ask you if you have ever had any trouble with your + husband?" + </p> + <p> + "Never." + </p> + <p> + "Never had any quarrel?" + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Brenton hesitated for a moment. + </p> + <p> + "No, I don't think we ever had what could be called a quarrel." + </p> + <p> + "You had no disagreement shortly before the dinner?" + </p> + <p> + Again Mrs. Brenton hesitated. + </p> + <p> + "I can hardly call it a disagreement," she said. "We had a little + discussion about some of the guests who were to be invited." + </p> + <p> + "Did he object to any that were there?" + </p> + <p> + "There was a gentleman there whom he did not particularly like, I think, + but he made no objection to his coming; in fact, he seemed to feel that I + might imagine he had an objection from a little discussion we had about + inviting him; and afterwards, as if to make up for that, he placed this + guest at his left hand." + </p> + <p> + Stratton quickly glanced up the page of his notebook, and marked a little + cross before the name of Stephen Roland. + </p> + <p> + "You had another disagreement with him before, if I might term it so, had + you not?" + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Brenton looked at him surprised. + </p> + <p> + "What makes you think so?" she said. + </p> + <p> + "Because you hesitated when I spoke of it." + </p> + <p> + "Well, we had what you might call a disagreement once at Lucerne, + Switzerland." + </p> + <p> + "Will you tell me what it was about?" + </p> + <p> + "I would rather not." + </p> + <p> + "Will you tell me this—was it about a gentleman?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said Mrs. Brenton. + </p> + <p> + "Was your husband of a jealous disposition?" + </p> + <p> + "Ordinarily I do not think he was. It seemed to me at the time that he was + a little unjust—that's all." + </p> + <p> + "Was the gentleman in Lucerne?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh no!" + </p> + <p> + "In Cincinnati?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes." + </p> + <p> + "Was his name Stephen Roland?" + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Brenton again glanced quickly at the newspaper man, and seemed about + to say something, but, checking herself, she simply answered— + </p> + <p> + "Yes." + </p> + <p> + Then she leaned back in the armchair and sighed. + </p> + <p> + "I am very tired," she said. "If it is not absolutely necessary, I prefer + not to continue this conversation." + </p> + <p> + Stratton immediately rose. + </p> + <p> + "Madam," he said, "I am very much obliged to you for the trouble you have + taken to answer my questions, which I am afraid must have seemed + impertinent to you, but I assure you that I did not intend them to be so. + Now, madam, I would like very much to get a promise from you. I wish that + you would promise to see me if I call again, and I, on my part, assure you + that unless I have something particularly important to tell you, or to + ask, I shall not intrude upon you." + </p> + <p> + "I shall be pleased to see you at any time, sir." + </p> + <p> + When the sheriff and the newspaper man reached the other room, the former + said— + </p> + <p> + "Well, what do you think?" + </p> + <p> + "I think it is an interesting case," was the answer. + </p> + <p> + "Or, to put it in other words, you think Mrs. Brenton a very interesting + lady." + </p> + <p> + "Officially, sir, you have exactly stated my opinion." + </p> + <p> + "And I suppose, poor woman, she will furnish an interesting article for + the paper?" + </p> + <p> + "Hang the paper!" said Stratton, with more than his usual vim. + </p> + <p> + The sheriff laughed. Then he said— + </p> + <p> + "I confess that to me it seems a very perplexing affair all through. Have + you got any light on the subject?" + </p> + <p> + "My dear sir, I will tell you three important things. First, Mrs. Brenton + is innocent. Second, her lawyers are taking the wrong line of defence. + Third," tapping his breast-pocket, "I have the name of the murderer in my + note-book." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII. + </h2> + <p> + "Now," said John Speed to William Brenton, "we have got Stratton fairly + started on the track, and I believe that he will ferret out the truth in + this matter. But, meanwhile, we must not be idle. You must remember that, + with all our facilities for discovery, we really know nothing of the + murderer ourselves. I propose we set about this thing just as + systematically as Stratton will. The chances are that we shall penetrate + the mystery of the whole affair very much quicker than he. As I told you + before, I am something of a newspaper man myself; and if, with the + facilities of getting into any room in any house, in any city and in any + country, and being with a suspected criminal night and day when he never + imagines any one is near him—if with all those advantages I cannot + discover the real author of that crime before George Stratton does, then + I'll never admit that I came from Chicago, or belonged to a newspaper." + </p> + <p> + "Whom do you think Stratton suspects of the crime? He told the sheriff," + said Brenton, "that he had the name in his pocket-book." + </p> + <p> + "I don't know," said Speed, "but I have my suspicions. You see, he has the + names of all the guests at your banquet in that pocket-book of his; but + the name of Stephen Roland he has marked with two crosses. The name of the + servant he has marked with one cross. Now, I suspect that he believes + Stephen Roland committed the crime. You know Roland; what do you think of + him?" + </p> + <p> + "I think he is quite capable of it," answered Brenton, with a frown. + </p> + <p> + "Still, you are prejudiced against the man," put in Speed, "so your + evidence is hardly impartial." + </p> + <p> + "I am not prejudiced against any one," answered Brenton; "I merely know + that man. He is a thoroughly despicable, cowardly character. The only + thing that makes me think he would not commit a murder, is that he is too + craven to stand the consequences if he were caught. He is a cool villain, + but he is a coward. I do not believe he has the courage to commit a crime, + even if he thought he would benefit by it." + </p> + <p> + "Well, there is one thing, Brenton, you can't be accused of flattering a + man, and if it is any consolation for you to know, you may be pretty + certain that George Stratton is on his track." + </p> + <p> + "I am sure I wish him success," answered Brenton, gloomily; "if he brings + Roland to the gallows I shall not mourn over it." + </p> + <p> + "That's all right," said Speed; "but now we must be up and doing + ourselves. Have you anything to propose?" + </p> + <p> + "No, I have not, except that we might play the detective on Roland." + </p> + <p> + "Well, the trouble with that is we would merely be duplicating what + Stratton is doing himself. Now, I'll tell you my proposal. Supposing that + we consult with Lecocq." + </p> + <p> + "Who is that? The novelist?" + </p> + <p> + "Novelist? I don't think he has ever written any novels—not that I + remember of." + </p> + <p> + "Ah, I didn't know. It seemed to me that I remembered his name in + connection with some novel." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, very likely you did. He is the hero of more detective stories than + any other man I know of. He was the great French detective." + </p> + <p> + "What, is he dead, then?" + </p> + <p> + "Dead? Not a bit of it; he's here with us. Oh, I understand what you mean. + Yes, from your point of view, he is dead." + </p> + <p> + "Where can we find him?" + </p> + <p> + "Well, I presume, in Paris. He's a first-rate fellow to know, anyhow, and + he spends most of his time around his old haunts. In fact, if you want to + be certain to find Lecocq, you will generally get him during office hours + in the room he used to frequent while in Paris." + </p> + <p> + "Let us go and see him, then." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <p> + "Monsieur Lecocq," said Speed, a moment afterwards, "I wish to introduce + to you a new-comer, Mr. Brenton, recently of Cincinnati." + </p> + <p> + "Ah, my dear Speed," said the Frenchman, "I am very pleased indeed to meet + any friend of yours. How is the great Chicago, the second Paris, and how + is your circulation?—the greatest in the world, I suppose." + </p> + <p> + "Well, it is in pretty good order," said Speed; "we circulated from + Chicago to Paris here in a very much shorter time than the journey usually + occupies down below. Now, can you give us a little of your time? Are you + busy just now?" + </p> + <p> + "My dear Speed, I am always busy. I am like the people of the second + Paris. I lose no time, but I have always time to speak with my friends." + </p> + <p> + "All right," said Speed. "I am like the people of the second Chicago, + generally more intent on pleasure than business; but, nevertheless, I have + a piece of business for you." + </p> + <p> + "The second Chicago?" asked Lecocq. "And where is that, pray?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, Paris, of course," said Speed. + </p> + <p> + Lecocq laughed. + </p> + <p> + "You are incorrigible, you Chicagoans. And what is the piece of business?" + </p> + <p> + "It is the old thing, monsieur. A mystery to be unravelled. Mr. Brenton + here wishes to retain you in his case." + </p> + <p> + "And what is his case?" was the answer. + </p> + <p> + Lecocq was evidently pleased to have a bit of real work given him. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><a name="linkimage-0015" id="linkimage-0015"> </a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/0083.jpg" alt="0083 the Detective. " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + Speed briefly recited the facts, Brenton correcting him now and then on + little points where he was wrong. Speed seemed to think these points + immaterial, but Lecocq said that attention to trivialities was the whole + secret of the detective business. + </p> + <p> + "Ah," said Lecocq, sorrowfully, "there is no real trouble in elucidating + that mystery. I hoped it would be something difficult; but, you see, with + my experience of the old world, and with the privileges one enjoys in this + world, things which might be difficult to one below are very easy for us. + Now, I shall show you how simple it is." + </p> + <p> + "Good gracious!" cried Speed, "you don't mean to say you are going to read + it right off the reel, like that, when we have been bothering ourselves + with it so long, and without success?" + </p> + <p> + "At the moment," replied the French detective, "I am not prepared to say + who committed the deed. That is a matter of detail. Now, let us see what + we know, and arrive, from that, at what we do not know. The one fact, of + which we are assured on the statement of two physicians from Cincinnati, + is that Mr. Brenton was poisoned." + </p> + <p> + "Well," said Speed, "there are several other facts, too. Another fact is + that Mrs. Brenton is accused of the crime." + </p> + <p> + "Ah! my dear sir," said Lecocq, "that is not pertinent." + </p> + <p> + "No," said Speed, "I agree with you. I call it very impertinent." + </p> + <p> + Brenton frowned, at this, and his old dislike to the flippant Chicago man + rose to the surface again. + </p> + <p> + The Frenchman continued marking the points on his long forefinger. + </p> + <p> + "Now, there are two ways by which that result may have been attained. + First, Mr. Brenton may have administered to himself the poison; secondly, + the poison may have been administered by some one else." + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said Speed; "and, thirdly, the poison may have been administered + accidentally—you do not seem to take that into account." + </p> + <p> + "I do not take that into account," calmly replied the Frenchman, "because + of its improbability. If there were an accident; if, for instance, the + poison was in the sugar, or in some of the viands served, then others than + Mr. Brenton would have been poisoned. The fact that one man out of + twenty-six was poisoned, and the fact that several people are to benefit + by his death, point, it seems to me, to murder; but to be sure of that, I + will ask Mr. Brenton one question. My dear sir, did you administer this + poison to yourself?" + </p> + <p> + "Certainly not," answered Brenton. + </p> + <p> + "Then we have two facts. First, Mr. Brenton was poisoned; secondly, he was + poisoned by some person who had an interest in his death. Now we will + proceed. When Mr. Brenton sat down to that dinner he was perfectly well. + When he arose from that dinner he was feeling ill. He goes to bed. He sees + no one but his wife after he has left the dinner-table, and he takes + nothing between the time he leaves the dinner-table and the moment he + becomes unconscious. Now, that poison must have been administered to Mr. + Brenton at the dinner-table. Am I not right?" + </p> + <p> + "Well, you seem to be," answered Speed. + </p> + <p> + "Seem? Why, it is as plain as day. There cannot be any mistake." + </p> + <p> + "All right," said Speed; "go ahead. What next?" + </p> + <p> + "What next? There were twenty-six people around that table, with two + servants to wait on them, making twenty-eight in all. There were + twenty-six, I think you said, including Mr. Brenton." + </p> + <p> + "That is correct." + </p> + <p> + "Very well. One of those twenty-seven persons has poisoned Mr. Brenton. Do + you follow me?" + </p> + <p> + "We do," answered Speed; "we follow you as closely as you have ever + followed a criminal! Go on." + </p> + <p> + "Very well, so much is clear. These are all facts, not theories. Now, what + is the thing that I should do if I were in Cincinnati? I would find out + whether one or more of those guests had anything to gain by the death of + their host. That done, I would follow the suspected persons. I would have + my men find out what each of them had done for a month before the time of + the crime. Whoever committed it made some preparation. He did something, + too, as you say, in America, to cover up his tracks. Very well. By the + keen detective these actions are easily traced. I shall at once place + twenty-seven of the best men I know on the track of those twenty-seven + persons." + </p> + <p> + "I call that shadowing with a vengeance," remarked the Chicago man. + </p> + <p> + "It will be very easy. The one who has committed the crime is certain, + when he is alone in his own room, to say something, or to do something, + that will show my detective that he is the criminal. So, gentlemen, if you + can tell me who those twenty-seven persons are, in three days or a week + from this time I will tell you who gave the poison to Mr. Brenton." + </p> + <p> + "You seem very sure of that," said Speed. + </p> + <p> + "Sure of it? It is simply child's play. It is mere waiting. If, for + instance, at the trial Mrs. Brenton is found guilty, and sentenced, the + one who is the guilty party is certain to betray himself or herself as + soon as he or she is alone. If it be a man who hopes to marry Mrs. + Brenton, he will be overcome with grief at what has happened. He will + wring his hands and try to think what can be done to prevent the sentence + being carried out. He will argue with himself whether it is better to give + himself up and tell the truth, and if he is a coward he will conclude not + to do that, but will try to get a pardon, or at least have the capital + sentence commuted into life imprisonment. He will possibly be cool and + calm in public, but when he enters his own room, when his door is locked, + when he believes no one can see him, when he thinks he is alone, then will + come his trial. Then his passions and his emotions will betray him. It is + mere child's play, as I tell you, and long before there is a verdict I + will give you the name of the murderer." + </p> + <p> + "Very well, then," said Speed, "that is agreed; we will look you up in a + week from now." + </p> + <p> + "I should be pained," said Lecocq, "to put you to that trouble. As soon as + I get the report from my men I will communicate with you and let you know + the result. In a few days I shall give you the name of the assassin." + </p> + <p> + "Good-bye, then, until I see you again," answered Speed; and with this he + and Brenton took their departure. + </p> + <p> + "He seems to be very sure of himself," said Brenton. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><a name="linkimage-0016" id="linkimage-0016"> </a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/0088.jpg" alt="0088 Jane Morton. " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + "He will do what he says, you may depend on that." + </p> + <p> + The week was not yet up when Monsieur Lecocq met John Speed in Chicago. + </p> + <p> + "By the look of satisfaction on your face," said Mr. Speed, "I imagine you + have succeeded in unravelling the mystery." + </p> + <p> + "Ah," replied the Frenchman; "if I have the appearance of satisfaction, it + is indeed misplaced." + </p> + <p> + "Then you have not made any discovery?" + </p> + <p> + "On the contrary, it is all as plain as your big buildings here. It is not + for that reason, but because it is so simple that I should be foolish to + feel satisfaction regarding it." + </p> + <p> + "Then who is the person?" + </p> + <p> + "The assassin," replied the Frenchman, "is one whom no one has seemed to + think of, and yet one on whom suspicion should have been the first to + fall. The person who did Monsieur Brenton the honour to poison him is none + other than the servant girl, Jane Morton." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX. + </h2> + <p> + "Jane Morton!" cried Speed; "who is she?" + </p> + <p> + "She is, as you may remember, the girl who carried the coffee from Mrs. + Brenton to monsieur." + </p> + <p> + "And are you sure she is the criminal?" + </p> + <p> + The great detective did not answer; he merely gave an expressive little + French gesture, as though the question was not worth commenting upon. + </p> + <p> + "Why, what was her motive?" asked Speed. + </p> + <p> + For the first time in their acquaintance a shade of perplexity seemed to + come over the enthusiastic face of the volatile Frenchman. + </p> + <p> + "You are what you call smart, you Chicago people," he said, "and you have + in a moment struck the only point on which we are at a loss." + </p> + <p> + "My dear sir," returned Speed, "that is <i>the</i> point in the case. + Motive is the first thing to look for, it seems to me. You said as much + yourself. If you haven't succeeded in finding what motive Jane Morton had + for poisoning her employer, it appears to me that very little has been + accomplished." + </p> + <p> + "Ah, you say that before you know the particulars. I am certain we shall + find the motive. What I know now is that Jane Morton is the one who put + the poison in his cup of coffee." + </p> + <p> + "It would take a good deal of nerve to do that with twenty-six people + around the table. You forget, my dear sir, that she had to pass the whole + length of the table, after taking the cup, before giving it to Mr. + Brenton." + </p> + <p> + "Half of the people had their backs to her, and the other half, I can + assure you, were not looking at her. If the poison was ready, it was a + very easy thing to slip it into a cup of coffee. There was ample time to + do it, and that is how it was done." + </p> + <p> + "May I ask how you arrived at that conclusion?" + </p> + <p> + "Certainly, certainly, my dear sir. My detectives report that each one of + the twenty-seven people they had to follow were shadowed night and day. + But only two of them acted suspiciously. These two were Jane Morton and + Stephen Roland. Stephen Roland's anxiety is accounted for by the fact that + he is evidently in love with Mrs. Brenton. But the change in Jane Morton + has been something terrible. She is suffering from the severest pangs of + ineffectual remorse. She has not gone out again to service, but occupies a + room in one of the poorer quarters of the city—a room that she never + leaves except at night. Her whole actions show that she is afraid of the + police—afraid of being tracked for her crime. She buys a newspaper + every night, locks and bars the door on entering her room, and, with tears + streaming from her eyes, reads every word of the criminal news. One night, + when she went out to buy her paper, and what food she needed for the next + day, she came unexpectedly upon a policeman at the corner. The man was not + looking at her at all, nor for her, but she fled, running like a deer, + doubling and turning through alleys and back streets until by a very + roundabout road she reached her own room. There she locked herself in, and + remained without food all next day rather than go out again. She flung + herself terror-stricken on the bed, after her room door was bolted, and + cried, 'Oh, why did I do it? why did I do it? I shall certainly be found + out. If Mrs. Brenton is acquitted, they will be after me next day. I did + it to make up to John what he had suffered, and yet if John knew it, he + would never speak to me again.'" + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><a name="linkimage-0017" id="linkimage-0017"> </a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/0091.jpg" alt="0091 'oh, Why Did I Do It?' " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + "Who is John?" asked Speed. + </p> + <p> + "Ah, that," said the detective, "I do not know. When we find out who John + is, then we shall find the motive for the crime." + </p> + <p> + "In that case, if I were you, I should try to find John as quickly as + possible." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, my dear sir, that is exactly what should be done, and my detective + is now endeavouring to discover the identity of John. He will possibly + succeed in a few days. But there is another way of finding out who John + is, and perhaps in that you can help me." + </p> + <p> + "What other way?" + </p> + <p> + "There is one man who undoubtedly knows who John is, and that is Mr. + Brenton. Now, I thought that perhaps you, who know Brenton better than I + do, would not mind asking him who John is." + </p> + <p> + "My dear sir," said Speed, "Brenton is no particular friend of mine, and I + only know him well enough to feel that if there is any cross-examination + to be done, I should prefer somebody else to do it." + </p> + <p> + "Why, you are not afraid of him, are you?" asked the detective. + </p> + <p> + "Afraid of him? Certainly not, but I tell you that Brenton is just a + little touchy and apt to take offence. I have found him so on several + occasions. Now, as you have practically taken charge of this case, why + don't you go and see him?" + </p> + <p> + "I suppose I shall have to do that," said the Frenchman, "if you will not + undertake it." + </p> + <p> + "No, I will not." + </p> + <p> + "You have no objection, have you, to going with me?" + </p> + <p> + "It is better for you to see Brenton alone. I do not think he would care + to be cross-examined before witnesses, you know." + </p> + <p> + "Ah, then, good-bye; I shall find out from Mr. Brenton who John is." + </p> + <p> + "I am sure I wish you luck," replied Speed, as Lecocq took his departure. + </p> + <p> + Lecocq found Brenton and Ferris together. The cynical spirit seemed to + have been rather sceptical about the accounts given him of the influence + that Speed and Brenton, combined, had had upon the Chicago newspaper man. + Yet he was interested in the case, and although he still maintained that + no practical good would result, even if a channel of communication could + be opened between the two states of existence, he had listened with his + customary respect to what Brenton had to say. + </p> + <p> + "Ah," said Brenton, when he saw the Frenchman, "have you any news for me?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, I have. I have news that I will exchange, but meanwhile I want some + news from you." + </p> + <p> + "I have none to give you," answered Brenton. + </p> + <p> + "If you have not, will you undertake to answer any questions I shall ask + you, and not take offence if the questions seem to be personal ones?" + </p> + <p> + "Certainly," said Brenton; "I shall be glad to answer anything as long as + it has a bearing on the case." + </p> + <p> + "Very well, then, it has a very distinct bearing on the case. Do you + remember the girl Jane Morton?" + </p> + <p> + "I remember her, of course, as one of the servants in our employ. I know + very little about her, though." + </p> + <p> + "That is just what I wish to find out. Do you know <i>anything</i> about + her?" + </p> + <p> + "No; she had been in our employ but a fortnight, I think, or perhaps it + was a month. My wife attended to these details, of course. I knew the girl + was there, that is all." + </p> + <p> + The Frenchman looked very dubious as Brenton said this, while the latter + rather bridled up. + </p> + <p> + "You evidently do not believe me?" he cried. + </p> + <p> + Once more the detective gave his customary gesture, and said— + </p> + <p> + "Ah, pardon me, you are entirely mistaken. I have this to acquaint you + with. Jane Morton is the one who murdered you. She did it, she says, + partly for the sake of John, whoever he is, and partly out of revenge. + Now, of course, you are the only man who can give me information as to the + motive. That girl certainly had a motive, and I should like to find out + what the motive was." + </p> + <p> + Brenton meditated for a few moments, and then suddenly brightened up. + </p> + <p> + "I remember, now, an incident which happened a week of two before + Christmas, which may have a bearing on the case. One night I heard—or + thought I heard—a movement downstairs, when I supposed everybody had + retired. I took a revolver in my hand, and went cautiously down the + stairs. Of course I had no light, because, if there was a burglar, I did + not wish to make myself too conspicuous a mark. As I went along the hall + leading to the kitchen, I saw there was a light inside; but as soon as + they heard me coming the light was put out. When I reached the kitchen, I + noticed a man trying to escape through the door that led to the coalshed. + I fired at him twice, and he sank to the floor with a groan. I thought I + had bagged a burglar sure, but it turned out to be nothing of the kind. He + was merely a young man who had been rather late visiting one of the girls. + I suspect now the girl he came to see was Jane Morton. As it was, the + noise brought the two girls there, and I never investigated the matter or + tried to find out which one it was that he had been visiting. They were + both terror-stricken, and the young man himself was in a state of great + fear. He thought for a moment that he had been killed. However, he was + only shot in the leg, and I sent him to the house of a physician who keeps + such patients as do not wish to go to the hospital. I did not care to have + him go to the hospital, because I was afraid the newspapers would get hold + of the incident, and make a sensation of it. The whole thing was + accidental; the young fellow realized that, and so, I thought, did the + girls; at least, I never noticed anything in their behaviour to show the + contrary." + </p> + <p> + "What sort of a looking girl is Jane Morton?" asked Ferris. + </p> + <p> + "She is a tall brunette, with snapping black eyes." + </p> + <p> + "Ah, then, I remember her going into the room where you lay," said Ferris, + "on Christmas morning. It struck me when she came out that she was very + cool and self-possessed, and not at all surprised." + </p> + <p> + "All I can say," said Brenton, "is that I never noticed anything in her + conduct like resentment at what had happened. I intended to give the young + fellow a handsome compensation for his injury, but of course what occurred + on Christmas Eve prevented that: I had really forgotten all about the + circumstance, or I should have told you of it before." + </p> + <p> + "Then," said Lecocq, "the thing now is perfectly clear. That black-eyed + vixen murdered you out of revenge." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><a name="linkimage-0018" id="linkimage-0018"> </a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/0096.jpg" alt="0096 " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X. + </h2> + <p> + It was evident to George Stratton that he would have no time before the + trial came off in which to prove Stephen Roland the guilty person. Besides + this, he was in a strange state of mind which he himself could not + understand. The moment he sat down to think out a plan by which he could + run down the man he was confident had committed the crime, a strange + wavering of mind came over him. Something seemed to say to him that he was + on the wrong track. This became so persistent that George was bewildered, + and seriously questioned his own sanity. Whenever he sat alone in his own + room, the doubts arose and a feeling that he was on the wrong scent took + possession of him. This feeling became so strong at times that he looked + up other clues, and at one time tried to find out the whereabouts of the + servant girls who had been employed by the Brentons. Curiously enough, the + moment he began this search, his mind seemed to become clearer and easier; + and when that happened, the old belief in the guilt of Stephen Roland + resumed its sway again. But the instant he tried to follow up what clues + he had in that direction, he found himself baffled and assailed again by + doubts, and so every effort he put forth appeared to be nullified. This + state of mind was so unusual with him that he had serious thoughts of + abandoning the whole case and going back to Chicago. He said to himself, + "I am in love with this woman and I shall go crazy if I stay here any + longer." Then he remembered the trust she appeared to have in his powers + of ferreting out the mystery of the case, and this in turn encouraged him + and urged him on. + </p> + <p> + All trace of the girls appeared to be lost. He hesitated to employ a + Cincinnati detective, fearing that what he discovered would be given away + to the Cincinnati press. Then he accused himself of disloyalty to Mrs. + Brenton, in putting his newspaper duty before his duty to her. He was so + torn by his conflicting ideas and emotions that at last he resolved to + abandon the case altogether and return to Chicago. He packed up his valise + and resolved to leave that night for big city, trial or no trial. He had + described his symptoms to a prominent physician, and that physician told + him that the case was driving him mad, and the best thing he could do was + to leave at once for other scenes. He could do no good, and would perhaps + end by going insane himself. + </p> + <p> + As George Stratton was packing his valise in his room, alone, as he + thought, the following conversation was taking place beside him. + </p> + <p> + "It is no use," said Speed; "we are merely muddling him, and not doing any + good. The only thing is to leave him alone. If he investigates the Roland + part of the case he will soon find out for himself that he is on the wrong + track; then he will take the right one." + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said Brenton; "but the case comes on in a few days. If anything is + to be done, it must be done now." + </p> + <p> + "In that I do not agree with you," said Speed. "Perhaps everything will go + all right at the trial, but even if it does not, there is still a certain + amount of time. You see how we have spoiled things by interfering. Our + first success with him has misled us. We thought we could do anything; we + have really done worse than nothing, because all this valuable time has + been lost. If he had been allowed to proceed in his own way he would have + ferreted out the matter as far as Stephen Roland is concerned, and would + have found that there was no cause for his suspicion. As it is he has done + nothing. He still believes, if left alone, that Stephen Roland is the + criminal. All our efforts to lead him to the residence of Jane Morton have + been unavailing. Now, you see, he is on the eve of going back to Chicago." + </p> + <p> + "Well, then, let him go," said Brenton, despondently. + </p> + <p> + "With all my heart, say I," answered Speed; "but in any case let us leave + him alone." + </p> + <p> + Before the train started that night Stratton said to himself that he was a + new man. Richard was himself again. He was thoroughly convinced of the + guilt of Stephen Roland, and wondered why he had allowed his mind to + wander off the topic and waste time with other suspicions, for which he + now saw there was no real excuse. He had not the time, he felt, to + investigate the subject personally, but he flattered himself he knew + exactly the man to put on Roland's track, and, instead of going himself to + Chicago, he sent off the following despatch:— + </p> + <p> + "Meet me to-morrow morning, without fail, at the Gibson House. Answer." + </p> + <p> + Before midnight he had his answer, and next morning he met a man in whom + he had the most implicit confidence, and who had, as he said, the rare and + valuable gift of keeping his mouth shut. + </p> + <p> + "You see this portrait?" Stratton said, handing to the other a photograph + of Stephen Roland. "Now, I do not know how many hundred chemist shops + there are in Cincinnati, but I want you to get a list of them, and you + must not omit the most obscure shop in town. I want you to visit every + drug store there is in the city, show this photograph to the proprietor + and the clerks, and find out if that man bought any chemicals during the + week or two preceding Christmas. Find out what drugs he bought, and where + he bought them, then bring the information to me." + </p> + <p> + "How much time do you give me on this, Mr. Stratton?" was the question. + </p> + <p> + "Whatever time you want. I wish the thing done thoroughly and completely, + and, as you know, silence is golden in a case like this." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><a name="linkimage-0019" id="linkimage-0019"> </a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/0100.jpg" alt="0100 'how Much Time Do You Give Me?' " + width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + "Enough said," replied the other, and, buttoning the photograph in his + inside pocket, he left the room. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <p> + There is no necessity of giving an elaborate report of the trial. Any one + who has curiosity in the matter can find the full particulars from the + files of any paper in the country. Mrs. Brenton was very pale as she sat + in the prisoner's dock, but George Stratton thought he never saw any one + look so beautiful. It seemed to him that any man in that crowded courtroom + could tell in a moment that she was not guilty of the crime with which she + was charged, and he looked at the jury of twelve supposedly good men, and + wondered what they thought of it. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><a name="linkimage-0020" id="linkimage-0020"> </a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/0101.jpg" alt="0101 in the Prisoner's Dock. " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + The defence claimed that it was not their place to show who committed the + murder. That rested with the prosecution. The prosecution, Mr. Benham + maintained, had signally failed to do this. However, in order to aid the + prosecution, he was quite willing to show how Mr. Brenton came to his + death. Then witnesses were called, who, to the astonishment of Mrs. + Brenton, testified that her husband had all along had a tendency to + insanity. It was proved conclusively that some of his ancestors had died + in a lunatic asylum, and one was stated to have committed suicide. The + defence produced certain books from Mr. Brenton's library, among them + Forbes Winslow's volume on "The Mind and the Brain," to show that Brenton + had studied the subject of suicide. + </p> + <p> + The judge's charge was very colourless. It amounted simply to this: If the + jury thought the prosecution had shown Mrs. Brenton to have committed the + crime, they were to bring in a verdict of guilty, and if they thought + otherwise they were to acquit her; and so the jury retired. + </p> + <p> + As they left the court-room a certain gloom fell upon all those who were + friendly to the fair prisoner. + </p> + <p> + Despite the great reputation of Benham and Brown, it was the thought of + every one present that they had made a very poor defence. The prosecution, + on the other hand, had been most ably conducted. It had been shown that + Mrs. Brenton was chiefly to profit by her husband's death. The insurance + fund alone would add seventy-five thousand dollars to the money she would + control. A number of little points that Stratton had given no heed to had + been magnified, and appeared then to have a great bearing on the case. For + the first time, Stratton admitted to himself that the prosecution had made + out a very strong case of circumstantial evidence. The defence, too, had + been so deplorably weak that it added really to the strength of the + prosecution. A great speech had been expected of Benham, but he did not + rise to the occasion, and, as one who knew him said, Benham evidently + believed his client guilty. + </p> + <p> + As the jury retired, every one in the court-room felt that there was + little hope for the prisoner; and this feeling was intensified when, a few + moments after, the announcement was made in court, just as the judge was + preparing to leave the bench, that the jury had agreed on the verdict. + </p> + <p> + Stratton, in the stillness of the court-room, heard one lawyer whisper to + another, "She's doomed." + </p> + <p> + There was intense silence as the jury slowly filed into their places, and + the foreman stood up. + </p> + <p> + "Gentlemen of the jury," was the question, "have you agreed upon a + verdict?" + </p> + <p> + "We have," answered the foreman. + </p> + <p> + "Do you find the prisoner guilty or not guilty?" + </p> + <p> + "Not guilty," was the clear answer. + </p> + <p> + At this there was first a moment of silence, and then a ripple of + applause, promptly checked. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Brenton was free. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XI. + </h2> + <p> + George Stratton sat in the court-room for a moment dazed, before he + thought of the principal figure in the trial; then he rose to go to her + side, but he found that Roland was there before him. He heard her say, + "Get me a carriage quickly, and take me away from here." + </p> + <p> + So Stratton went back to his hotel to meet his Chicago detective. The + latter had nothing to report. He told him the number of drug stores he had + visited, but all without avail. No one had recognized the portrait. + </p> + <p> + "All right," said Stratton; "then you will just have to go ahead until you + find somebody who does. It is, I believe, only a question of time and + perseverance." + </p> + <p> + Next morning he arose late. He looked over the report of the trial in the + morning paper, and then, turning to the leader page, read with rising + indignation the following editorial:— + </p> + <h3> + "THE BRENTON CASE. + </h3> + <p> + "The decision of yesterday shows the glorious uncertainty that attends the + finding of the average American jury. If such verdicts are to be rendered, + we may as well blot out from the statute-book all punishment for all + crimes in which the evidence is largely circumstantial. If ever a strong + case was made out against a human being it was the case of the prosecution + in the recent trial. If ever there was a case in which the defence was + deplorably weak, although ably conducted, it was the case that was + concluded yesterday. Should we, then, be prepared to say that + circumstantial evidence will not be taken by an American jury as ground + for the conviction of a murderer? The chances are that, if we draw this + conclusion, we shall be entirely wrong. If a man stood in the dock, in the + place of the handsome young woman who occupied it yesterday, he would + to-day have been undoubtedly convicted of murder. The conclusion, then, to + be arrived at seems to be that, unless there is the direct proof of murder + against a pretty woman, it is absolutely impossible to get the average + jury of men to convict her. It would seem that the sooner we get women on + juries, especially where a woman is on trial, the better it will be for + the cause of justice." + </p> + <p> + Then in other parts of the paper there were little items similar to this— + </p> + <p> + "If Mrs. Brenton did not poison her husband, then who did?" + </p> + <p> + That afternoon George Stratton paid a visit to Mrs. Brenton. He had hoped + she had not seen the paper in question, but he hoped in vain. He found + Mrs. Brenton far from elated with her acquittal. + </p> + <p> + "I would give everything I possess," she said, "to bring the culprit to + justice." + </p> + <p> + After a talk on that momentous question, and when George Stratton held her + hand and said good-bye, she asked him— + </p> + <p> + "When do you go to Chicago?" + </p> + <p> + "Madam," he said, "I leave for Chicago the moment I find out who poisoned + William Brenton." + </p> + <p> + She answered sadly— + </p> + <p> + "You may remain a long time in Cincinnati." + </p> + <p> + "In some respects," said Stratton, "I like Cincinnati better than + Chicago." + </p> + <p> + "You are the first Chicago man I ever heard say that," she replied. + </p> + <p> + "Ah, that was because they did not know Cincinnati as I do." + </p> + <p> + "I suppose you must have seen a great deal of the town, but I must confess + that from now on I should be very glad if I never saw Cincinnati again. I + would like to consult with you," she continued, "about the best way of + solving this mystery. I have been thinking of engaging some of the best + detectives I can get. I suppose New York would be the place." + </p> + <p> + "No; Chicago," answered the young man. + </p> + <p> + "Well, then, that is what I wanted to see you about. I would like to get + the very best detectives that can be had. Don't you think that, if they + were promised ample reward, and paid well during the time they were + working on the case, we might discover the key to this mystery?" + </p> + <p> + "I do not think much of our detective system," answered Stratton, + "although I suppose there is something in it, and sometimes they manage in + spite of themselves to stumble on the solution of a crime. Still, I shall + be very glad indeed to give you what advice I can on the subject. I may + say I have constituted myself a special detective in this case, and that I + hope to have the honour of solving the problem." + </p> + <p> + "You are very good, indeed," she answered, "and I must ask you to let me + bear the expense." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, the paper will do that. I won't be out of pocket at all," said + Stratton. + </p> + <p> + "Well, I hardly know how to put it; but, whether you are successful or + not, I feel very grateful to you, and I hope you will not be offended at + what I am going to say. Now, promise me that you won't!" + </p> + <p> + "I shall not be offended," he answered. "It is a little difficult to + offend a Chicago newspaper man, you know." + </p> + <p> + "Now, you mustn't say anything against the newspaper men, for, in spite of + the hard things that some of them have said about me, I like them." + </p> + <p> + "Individually or collectively?" + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><a name="linkimage-0021" id="linkimage-0021"> </a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/0107.jpg" alt="0107 'i Feel Very Grateful to You.' " + width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + "I am afraid I must say individually. You said you wouldn't be offended, + so after your search is over you must let me——. The labourer + is worthy of his hire, or I should say, his reward—you know what I + mean. I presume that a young man who earns his living on the daily press + is not necessarily wealthy." + </p> + <p> + "Why, Mrs. Brenton, what strange ideas you have of the world! We newspaper + men work at the business merely because we like it. It isn't at all for + the money that's in it." + </p> + <p> + "Then you are not offended at what I have said?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, not in the least. I may say, however, that I look for a higher reward + than money if I am successful in this search." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, I am sure you do," answered the lady, innocently. "If you succeed in + this, you will be very famous." + </p> + <p> + "Exactly; it's fame I'm after," said Stratton, shaking her hand once more, + and taking his leave. + </p> + <p> + When he reached his hotel, he found the Chicago detective waiting for him. + </p> + <p> + "Well, old man," he said, "anything new?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, sir. Something very new." + </p> + <p> + "What have you found out?" + </p> + <p> + "Everything." + </p> + <p> + "Very well, let me have it." + </p> + <p> + "I found out that this man bought, on December 10th, thirty grains of + morphia. He had this morphia put up in five-grain capsules. He bought this + at the drug store on the corner of Blank Street and Nemo Avenue." + </p> + <p> + "Good gracious!" answered Stratton. "Then to get morphia he must have had + a physician's certificate. Did you find who the physician was that signed + the certificate?" + </p> + <p> + "My dear sir," said the Chicago man, "this person is himself a physician, + unless I am very much mistaken. I was told that this was the portrait of + Stephen Roland. Am I right?" + </p> + <p> + "That is the name." + </p> + <p> + "Well, then, he is a doctor himself. Not doing a very large practice, it + is true, but he is a physician. Did you not know that?" + </p> + <p> + "No," said Stratton; "how stupid I am! I never thought of asking the man's + occupation." + </p> + <p> + "Very well, if that is what you wanted to know, here's the detailed report + of my investigation." + </p> + <p> + When the man left, Stratton rubbed his hands. + </p> + <p> + "Now, Mr. Stephen Roland, I have you," he said. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII. + </h2> + <p> + After receiving this information Stratton sat alone in his room and + thought deeply over his plans. He did not wish to make a false step, yet + there was hardly enough in the evidence he had secured to warrant his + giving Stephen Roland up to the police. Besides this, it would put the + suspected man at once on his guard, and there was no question but that + gentleman had taken every precaution to prevent discovery. After + deliberating for a long while, he thought that perhaps the best thing he + could do was to endeavour to take Roland by surprise. Meanwhile, before + the meditating man stood Brenton and Speed, and between them there was a + serious disagreement of opinion. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <p> + "I tell you what it is," said Speed, "there is no use in our interfering + with Stratton. He is on the wrong track, but, nevertheless, all the + influence we can use on him in his present frame of mind will merely do + what it did before—it will muddle the man up. Now, I propose that we + leave him severely alone. Let him find out his mistake. He will find it + out in some way or other, and then he will be in a condition of mind to + turn to the case of Jane Morton." + </p> + <p> + "But don't you see," argued Brenton, "that all the time spent on his + present investigation is so much time lost? I will agree to leave him + alone, as you say, but let us get somebody else on the Morton case." + </p> + <p> + "I don't want to do that," said Speed; "because George Stratton has taken + a great deal of interest in this search. He has done a great deal now, and + I think we should he grateful to him for it." + </p> + <p> + "Grateful!" growled Brenton; "he has done it from the most purely selfish + motives that a man can act upon. He has done it entirely for his paper—for + newspaper fame. He has done it for money." + </p> + <p> + "Now," said Speed, hotly, "you must not talk like that of Stratton to me. + I won't say what I think of that kind of language coming from you, but you + can see how seriously we interfered with his work before, and how it + nearly resulted in his departure for Chicago. I propose now that we leave + him alone." + </p> + <p> + "Leave him alone, then, for any sake," replied Brenton; "I am sure I build + nothing on what he can do anyway." + </p> + <p> + "All right, then," returned Speed, recovering his good nature. "Now, + although I am not willing to put any one else on the track of Miss Jane + Morton, yet I will tell you what I am willing to do. If you like, we will + go to her residence, and influence her to confess her crime. I believe + that can be done." + </p> + <p> + "Very well; I want you to understand that I am perfectly reasonable about + the matter. All I want is not to lose any more time." + </p> + <p> + "Time?" cried Speed; "why, we have got all the time there is. Mrs. Brenton + is acquitted. There is no more danger." + </p> + <p> + "That is perfectly true, I admit; but still you can see the grief under + which she labours, because her name is not yet cleared from the odium of + the crime. You will excuse me, Speed, if I say that you seem to be working + more in the interests of Stratton's journalistic success than in the + interests of Mrs. Brenton's good name." + </p> + <p> + "Well, we won't talk about that," said Speed; "Stratton is amply able to + take care of himself, as you will doubtless see. Now, what do you say to + our trying whether or not we can influence Jane Morton to do what she + ought to do, and confess her crime?" + </p> + <p> + "It is not a very promising task," replied Brenton; "it is hard to get a + person to say words that may lead to the gallows." + </p> + <p> + "I'm not so sure about that," said Speed; "you know the trouble of mind + she is in. I think it more than probable that, after the terror of the + last few weeks, it will be a relief for her to give herself up." + </p> + <p> + "Very well; let us go." + </p> + <p> + The two men shortly afterwards found themselves in the scantily furnished + room occupied by Jane Morton. That poor woman was rocking herself to and + fro and moaning over her trouble. Then she suddenly stopped rocking, and + looked around the room with vague apprehension in her eyes. She rose and + examined the bolts of the door, and, seeing everything was secure, sat + down again. + </p> + <p> + "I shall never have any peace in this world again," she cried to herself. + </p> + <p> + She rocked back and forth silently for a few moments. + </p> + <p> + "I wish," she said, "the police would find out all about it, and then this + agony of mind would end." + </p> + <p> + Again she rocked back and forth, with her hands helplessly in her lap. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I cannot do it, <i>I cannot do it</i>!" she sobbed, still rocking to + and fro. Finally she started to her feet. + </p> + <p> + "I <i>will</i> do it," she cried; "I will confess to Mrs. Brenton herself. + I will tell her everything. She has gone through trouble herself, and may + have mercy on me." + </p> + <p> + "There, you see," said Speed to Brenton, "we have overcome the difficulty, + after all." + </p> + <p> + "It certainly looks like it," replied Brenton. "Don't you think, however, + that we had better stay with her until she <i>does</i> confess? May she + not change her mind?" + </p> + <p> + "Don't let us overdo the thing," suggested Speed; "if she doesn't, come to + time, we can easily have another interview with her. The woman's mind is + made up. She is in torment, and will be until she confesses her crime. Let + us go and leave her alone." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <p> + George Stratton was not slow to act when he had once made up his mind. He + pinned to the breast of his vest a little shield, on which was the word + "detective." This he had often found useful, in a way that is not at all + sanctioned by the law, in ferreting out crime in Chicago. As soon as it + was evening he paced up and down in front of Roland's house, and on the + opposite side of the road. There was a light in the doctor's study, and he + thought that perhaps the best way to proceed was to go boldly into the + house and put his scheme into operation. However, as he meditated on this, + the light was turned low, and in a few moments the door opened. The doctor + came down the steps, and out on the pavement, walking briskly along the + street. The reporter followed him on the other side of the thoroughfare. + Whether to do it in the dark or in the light, was the question that + troubled Stratton. If he did it in the dark, he would miss the expression + on the face of the surprised man. If he did it in the light, the doctor + might recognize him as the Chicago reporter, and would know at once that + he was no detective. Still, he felt that if there was anything in his + scheme at all, it was surprise; and he remembered the quick gasp of the + lawyer Brown when he told him he knew what his defence was. He must be + able to note the expression of the man who was guilty of the terrible + crime. + </p> + <p> + Having made up his mind to this, he stepped smartly after the doctor, and, + when the latter came under a lamp-post, placed his hand suddenly on his + shoulder, and exclaimed— + </p> + <p> + "Doctor Stephen Roland, I arrest you for the murder of William Brenton!" + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIII. + </h2> + <p> + Stephen Roland turned quietly around and shook the hand from his shoulder. + It was evident that he recognized Stratton instantly. + </p> + <p> + "Is this a Chicago joke?" asked the doctor. + </p> + <p> + "If it is, Mr. Roland, I think you will find it a very serious one." + </p> + <p> + "Aren't you afraid that <i>you</i> may find it a serious one?" + </p> + <p> + "I don't see why I should have any fears in the premises," answered the + newspaper man. + </p> + <p> + "My dear sir, do you not realize that I could knock you down or shoot you + dead for what you have done, and be perfectly justified in doing so?" + </p> + <p> + "If you either knock or shoot," replied the other, "you will have to do it + very quickly, for, in the language of the wild and woolly West, I've got + the drop on you. In my coat pocket is a cocked revolver with my forefinger + on the trigger. If you make a hostile move I can let daylight through you + so quickly that you won't know what has struck you." + </p> + <p> + "Electric light, I think you mean," answered the doctor, quietly. "Even a + Chicago man might find it difficult to let daylight through a person at + this time in the evening. Now, this sort of thing may be Chicago manners, + but I assure you it will not go down here in Cincinnati. You have rendered + yourself liable to the law if I cared to make a point of it, but I do not. + Come back with me to my study. I would like to talk with you." + </p> + <p> + Stratton began to feel vaguely that he had made a fool of himself. His + scheme had utterly failed. The doctor was a great deal cooler and more + collected than he was. Nevertheless, he had a deep distrust of the + gentleman, and he kept his revolver handy for fear the other would make a + dash to escape him. They walked back without saying a word to each other + until they came to the doctor's office. Into the house they entered, and + the doctor bolted the door behind them. Stratton suspected that very + likely he was walking into a trap, but he thought he would be equal to any + emergency that might arise. The doctor walked into the study, and again + locked the door of that. Pulling down the blinds, he turned up the gas to + its full force and sat down by a table, motioning the newspaper man to a + seat on the other side. + </p> + <p> + "Now," he said calmly to Stratton, "the reason I did not resent your + unwarrantable insult is this: You are conscientiously trying to get at the + root of this mystery. So am I. Your reason is that you wish to score a + victory for your paper. My motive is entirely different, but our object is + exactly the same. Now, by some strange combination of circumstances you + have come to the conclusion that I committed the crime. Am I right?" + </p> + <p> + "You are perfectly correct, doctor," replied Stratton. + </p> + <p> + "Very well, then. Now, I assure you that I am entirely innocent. Of + course, I appreciate the fact that this assurance will not in the + slightest degree affect your opinion, but I am interested in knowing why + you came to your conclusion, and perhaps by putting our heads together, + even if I dislike you and you hate me, we may see some light on this + matter that has hitherto been hidden. I presume you have no objection at + all to co-operate with me?" + </p> + <p> + "None in the least," was the reply. + </p> + <p> + "Very well, then. Now, don't mind my feelings at all, but tell me exactly + why you have suspected me of being a murderer." + </p> + <p> + "Well," answered Stratton, "in the first place we must look for a motive. + It seems to me that you have a motive for the crime." + </p> + <p> + "And might I ask what that motive is, or was?" + </p> + <p> + "You will admit that you disliked Brenton?" + </p> + <p> + "I will admit that, yes." + </p> + <p> + "Very well. You will admit also that you were—well, how shall I put + it?—let us say, interested in his wife before her marriage?" + </p> + <p> + "I will admit that; yes." + </p> + <p> + "You, perhaps, will admit that you are interested in her now?" + </p> + <p> + "I do not see any necessity for admitting that; but still, for the purpose + of getting along with the case, I will admit it. Go on." + </p> + <p> + "Very good. Here is a motive for the crime, and a very strong one. First, + we will presume that you are in love with the wife of the man who is + murdered. Secondly, supposing that you are mercenary, quite a considerable + amount of money will come to you in case you marry Brenton's widow. Next, + some one at that table poisoned him. It was not Mrs. Brenton, who poured + out the cup of coffee. The cup of coffee was placed before Brenton, and my + opinion is that, until it was placed there, there was no poison in that + cup. The doomed man was entirely unsuspicious, and therefore it was very + easy for a person to slip enough poison in that cup unseen by anybody at + that table, so that when he drank his coffee nothing could have saved him. + He rose from the table feeling badly, and he went to his room and died. + Now, who could have placed that poison in his cup of coffee? It must have + been one of the two that sat at his right and left hand. A young lady sat + at his right hand. She certainly did not commit the crime. You, Stephen + Roland, sat at his left hand. Do you deny any of the facts I have + recited?" + </p> + <p> + "That is a very ingenious chain of circumstantial evidence. Of course, you + do not think it strong enough to convict a man of such a serious crime as + murder?" + </p> + <p> + "No; I quite realize the weakness of the case up to this point. But there + is more to follow. Fourteen days before that dinner you purchased at the + drug store on the corner of Blank Street and Nemo Avenue thirty grains of + morphia. You had the poison put up in capsules of five grains each. What + do you say to that bit of evidence added to the circumstantial chain which + you say is ingenious?" + </p> + <p> + The doctor knit his brows and leaned back in his chair. + </p> + <p> + "By the gods!" he said, "you are right. I did buy that morphia. I remember + it now. I don't mind telling you that I had a number of experiments on + hand, as every doctor has, and I had those capsules put up at the drug + store, but this tragedy coming on made me forget all about the matter." + </p> + <p> + "Did you take the morphia with you, doctor?" + </p> + <p> + "No, I did not. And the box of capsules, I do not think, has been opened. + But that is easily ascertained." + </p> + <p> + The doctor rose, went to his cabinet, and unlocked it. From a number of + packages he selected a small one, and brought it to the desk, placing it + before the reporter. + </p> + <p> + "There is the package. That contains, as you say, thirty grains of morphia + in half a dozen five-grain capsules. You see that it is sealed just as it + left the drug store. Now, open it and look for yourself. Here are scales; + if you want to see whether a single grain is missing or not, find out for + yourself. + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps," said the newspaper man, "we had better leave this investigation + for the proper authorities." + </p> + <p> + "Then you still believe that I am the murderer of William Brenton?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, I still believe that." + </p> + <p> + "Very well; you may do as you please. I think, however, in justice to + myself, you should stay right here, and see that this box is not tampered + with until the proper authorities, as you say, come." + </p> + <p> + Then, placing his hand on the bell, he continued—"Whom shall I send + for? An ordinary policeman, or some one from the central office? But, now + that I think of it, here is a telephone. We can have any one brought here + that you wish. I prefer that neither you nor I leave this room until that + functionary has appeared. Name the authority you want brought here," said + the doctor, going to the telephone, "and I will have him here if he is in + town." + </p> + <p> + The newspaper man was nonplussed. The Doctor's actions did not seem like + those of a guilty man. If he were guilty he certainly had more nerve than + any person Stratton had ever met. So he hesitated. Then he said— + </p> + <p> + "Sit down a moment, doctor, and let us talk this thing over." + </p> + <p> + "Just as you say," remarked Roland, drawing up his chair again. + </p> + <p> + Stratton took the package, and looked it over carefully. It was certainly + just in the condition in which it had left the drug store; but still, that + could have been easily done by the doctor himself. + </p> + <p> + "Suppose we open this package?" he said to Roland. + </p> + <p> + "With all my heart," said the doctor, "go ahead;" and he shoved over to + him a little penknife that was on the table. + </p> + <p> + The reporter took the package, ran the knife around the edge, and opened + it. There lay six capsules, filled, as the doctor had said. Roland picked + up one of them, and looked at it critically. + </p> + <p> + "I assure you," he said, "although I am quite aware you do not believe a + word I say, that I have not seen those capsules before." + </p> + <p> + He drew towards him a piece of paper, opened the capsule, and, let the + white powder fall on the paper. He looked critically at the powder, and a + shade of astonishment came over his face. He picked up the penknife, took + a particle on the tip of it, and touched it with his tongue. + </p> + <p> + "Don't fool with that thing!" said Stratton. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, my dear fellow," he said, "morphia is not a poison in small + quantities." + </p> + <p> + The moment he had tasted it, however, he suddenly picked up the paper, put + the five grains on his tongue, and swallowed them. + </p> + <p> + Instantly the reporter sprang to his feet. He saw at once the reason for + all the assumed coolness. The doctor was merely gaining time in order to + commit suicide. + </p> + <p> + "What have you done?" cried the reporter. + </p> + <p> + "Done, my dear fellow? nothing very much. This is not morphia; it is + sulphate of quinine." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIV. + </h2> + <p> + In the morning Jane Morton prepared to meet Mrs. Brenton, and make her + confession. She called at the Brenton residence, but found it closed, as + it had been ever since the tragedy of Christmas morning. It took her some + time to discover the whereabouts of Mrs. Brenton, who, since the murder, + had resided with a friend except while under arrest. + </p> + <p> + For a moment Mrs. Brenton did not recognize the thin and pale woman who + stood before her in a state of such extreme nervous agitation, that it + seemed as if at any moment she might break down and cry. + </p> + <p> + "I don't suppose you'll remember me, ma'am," began the girl, "but I worked + for you two weeks before—before——" + </p> + <p> + "Oh yes," said Mrs. Brenton, "I remember you now. Have you been ill? You + look quite worn and pale, and very different from what you did the last + time I saw you." + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said the girl, "I believe I have been ill.". + </p> + <p> + "You <i>believe</i>; aren't you sure?" + </p> + <p> + "I have been very ill in mind, and troubled, and that is the reason I look + so badly,—Oh, Mrs. Brenton, I wanted to tell you of something that + has been weighing on my mind ever since that awful day! I know you can + never forgive me, but I must tell it to you, or I shall go crazy." + </p> + <p> + "Sit down, sit down," said the lady, kindly; "you know what trouble I have + been in myself. I am sure that I am more able to sympathize now with one + who is in trouble than ever I was before." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, ma'am; but you were innocent, and I am guilty. That makes all the + difference in the world." + </p> + <p> + "Guilty!" cried Mrs. Brenton, a strange fear coming over her as she stared + at the girl; "guilty of <i>what</i>?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, madam, let me tell you all about it. There is, of course, no excuse; + but I'll begin at the beginning. You remember a while before Christmas + that John came to see me one night, and we sat up very late in the + kitchen, and your husband came down quietly, and when we heard him coming + we put out the light and just as John was trying to get away, your husband + shot twice at him, and hit him the second time?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh yes," said Mrs. Brenton, "I remember that very well. I had forgotten + about it in my own trouble; but I know that my husband intended to do + something for the young man. I hope he was not seriously hurt?" + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><a name="linkimage-0022" id="linkimage-0022"> </a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/0123.jpg" alt="0123 'guilty! Guilty of What?' " + width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + "No, ma'am; he is able to be about again now as well as ever, and is not + even lame, which we expected he would be. But at the time I thought he was + going to be lame all the rest of his life, and perhaps that is the reason + I did what I did. When everything was in confusion in the house, and it + was certain that we would all have to leave, I did a very wicked thing. I + went to your room, and I stole some of your rings, and some money that was + there, as well as a lot of other things that were in the room. It seemed + to me then, although, of course, I know now how wicked it was, that you + owed John something for what he had gone through, and I thought that he + was to be lame, and that you would never miss the things; but, oh! madam, + I have not slept a night since I took them. I have been afraid of the + police and afraid of being found out. I have pawned nothing, and they are + all just as I took them, and I have brought them back here to you, with + every penny of the money. I know you can never forgive me, but I am + willing now to be given up to the police, and I feel better in my mind + than I have done ever since I took the things." + </p> + <p> + "My poor child!" said Mrs. Brenton, sympathetically, "was that <i>all</i>?" + </p> + <p> + "All?" cried the girl. "Yes, I have brought everything back." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I don't mean that, but I am sorry you have been worried over anything + so trivial. I can see how at such a time, and feeling that you had been + wronged, a temptation to take the things came to you. But I hope you will + not trouble any more about the matter. I will see that John is compensated + for all the injury he received, as far as it is possible for money to + compensate him. I hope you will keep the money. The other things, of + course, I shall take back, and I am glad you came to tell me of it before + telling any one else. I think, perhaps, it is better never to say anything + to anybody about this. People might not understand just what temptation + you were put to, and they would not know the circumstances of the case, + because nobody knows, I think, that John was hurt. Now, my dear girl, do + not cry. It is all right. Of course you never will touch anything again + that does not belong to you, and the suffering you have gone through has + more than made up for all the wrong you have done. I am sure that I + forgive you quite freely for it, and I think it was very noble of you to + come and tell me about it." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Brenton took the package from the hands of the weeping girl, and + opened it. She found everything there, as the girl had said. She took the + money and offered it to Jane Morton. The girl shook her head. + </p> + <p> + "No," she cried, "I cannot touch it. I cannot, indeed. It has been enough + misery to me already." + </p> + <p> + "Very well," said Mrs. Brenton. "I would like very much to see John. Will + you bring him to me?" + </p> + <p> + The girl looked at her with startled eyes. + </p> + <p> + "You will not tell him?" she said. + </p> + <p> + "No indeed, I shall tell him nothing. But I want to do what I can for him + as I said. I suppose you are engaged to be married?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes," answered the girl; "but if he knew of this he never, never would + marry me." + </p> + <p> + "If he did not," said Mrs. Brenton, "he would not be worthy of you. But he + shall know nothing about it. You will promise to come here and see me with + him, will you not?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, madam," said the girl. + </p> + <p> + "Then good-bye, until I see you again." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Brenton sat for a long time thinking over this confession. It took + her some time to recover her usual self-possession, because for a moment + she had thought the girl was going to confess that she committed murder. + In comparison with that awful crime, the theft seemed so trivial that Mrs. + Brenton almost smiled when she thought of the girl's distress. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <p> + "Well," said John Speed to Mr. Brenton, "if that doesn't beat the Old + Harry. Now I, for one, am very glad of it, if we come to the real truth of + the matter." + </p> + <p> + "I am glad also," said Brenton, "that the girl is not guilty, although I + must say things looked decidedly against her." + </p> + <p> + "I will tell you why I am glad," said Speed. "I am glad because it will + take some of the superfluous conceit out of that French detective Lecocq. + He was so awfully sure of himself. He couldn't possibly be mistaken. Now, + think of the mistakes that man must have made while he was on earth, and + had the power which was given into his hands in Paris. After all, Stratton + is on the right track, and he will yet land your friend Roland in prison. + Let us go and find Lecocq. This is too good to keep." + </p> + <p> + "My dear sir," said Brenton, "you seem to be more elated because of your + friend Stratton than for any other reason. Don't you want the matter + ferreted out at all?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, certainly I do; but I don't want it ferreted out by bringing an + innocent person into trouble." + </p> + <p> + "And may not Stephen Roland be an innocent person?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I suppose so; but I do not think he is." + </p> + <p> + "Why do you not think so?" + </p> + <p> + "Well, if you want the real reason, simply because George Stratton thinks + he isn't. I pin my faith to Stratton." + </p> + <p> + "I think you overrate your friend Stratton." + </p> + <p> + "Overrate him, sir? That is impossible. I love him so well that I hope he + will solve this mystery himself, unaided and alone, and that in going back + to Chicago he will be smashed to pieces in a railway accident, so that we + can have him here to congratulate him." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XV. + </h2> + <p> + "I suppose," said Roland, "you thought for a moment I was trying to commit + suicide. I think, Mr. Stratton, you will have a better opinion of me + by-and-by. I shouldn't be at all surprised if you imagined I induced you + to come in here to get you into a trap." + </p> + <p> + "You are perfectly correct," said Stratton; "and I may say, although that + was my belief, I was not in the least afraid of you, for I had you covered + all the time." + </p> + <p> + "Well," remarked Roland, carelessly, "I don't want to interfere with your + business at all, but I wish you wouldn't cover me quite so much; that + revolver of yours might go off." + </p> + <p> + "Do you mean to say," said Stratton, "that there is nothing but quinine in + those capsules?" + </p> + <p> + "I'll tell you in a moment," as he opened them one by one. "No, there is + nothing but quinine here. Thirty grains put up in five-grain capsules." + </p> + <p> + George Stratton's eyes began to open. Then he slowly rose, and looked with + horrified face at the doctor. + </p> + <p> + "My God!" he cried; "who got the thirty grains of morphia?" + </p> + <p> + "What do you mean?" asked the doctor. + </p> + <p> + "Mean? Why, don't you see it? It is a chemist's mistake. Thirty grains of + quinine have been sent you. Thirty grains of morphia have been sent to + somebody else. Was it to William Brenton?" + </p> + <p> + "By Jove!" said the doctor, "there's something in that. Say, let us go to + the drug store." + </p> + <p> + The two went out together, and walked to the drug store on the corner of + Blank Street and Nemo Avenue. + </p> + <p> + "Do you know this writing?" said Doctor Roland to the druggist, pointing + to the label on the box. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," answered the druggist; "that was written by one of my assistants." + </p> + <p> + "Can we see him for a few moments?" + </p> + <p> + "I don't know where he is to be found. He is a worthless fellow, and has + gone to the devil this last few weeks with a rapidity that is something + startling." + </p> + <p> + "When did he leave?" + </p> + <p> + "Well, he got drunk and stayed drunk during the holidays, and I had to + discharge him. He was a very valuable man when he was sober; but he began + to be so erratic in his habits that I was afraid he would make a ghastly + mistake some time, so I discharged him before it was too late." + </p> + <p> + "Are you sure you discharged him before it was too late?" + </p> + <p> + The druggist looked at the doctor, whom he knew well, and said, "I never + heard of any mistake, if he did make it." + </p> + <p> + "You keep a book, of course, of all the prescriptions sent out?" + </p> + <p> + "Certainly." + </p> + <p> + "May we look at that book?" + </p> + <p> + "I shall be very glad to show it to you. What month or week?" + </p> + <p> + "I want to see what time you sent this box of morphia to me." + </p> + <p> + "You don't know about what time it was, do you? + </p> + <p> + "Yes; it must have been about two weeks before Christmas." + </p> + <p> + The chemist looked over the pages of the book, and finally said, "Here it + is." + </p> + <p> + "Will you let me look at that page?" + </p> + <p> + "Certainly." + </p> + <p> + The doctor ran his finger down the column, and came to an entry written in + the same hand. + </p> + <p> + "Look here," he said to Stratton, "thirty grains of quinine sent to + William Brenton, and next to it thirty grains of morphia sent to Stephen + Roland. I see how it was. Those prescriptions were mixed up. My package + went to poor Brenton." + </p> + <p> + The druggist turned pale. + </p> + <p> + "I hope," he said, "nothing public will come of this." + </p> + <p> + "My dear sir," said Roland, "something public will <i>have</i> to come of + it. You will oblige me by ringing up the central police station, as this + book must be given in charge of the authorities." + </p> + <p> + "Look here," put in Stratton, his newspaper instinct coming uppermost, "I + want to get this thing exclusively for the <i>Argus</i>." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I guess there will be no trouble about that. Nothing will be made + public until to-morrow, and you can telegraph to-night if we find the box + of capsules in Brenton's residence. We must take an officer with us for + that purpose, but you can caution or bribe him to keep quiet until + to-morrow." + </p> + <p> + When the three went to William Brenton's residence they began a search of + the room in which Brenton had died, but nothing was found. In the closet + of the room hung the clothes of Brenton, and going through them Stratton + found in the vest pocket of one of the suits a small box containing what + was described as five-grain capsules of sulphate of quinine. The doctor + tore one of these capsules apart, so as to see what was in it. Without a + moment's hesitation he said— + </p> + <p> + "There you are! That is the morphia. There were six capsules in this box, + and one of them is missing. William Brenton poisoned himself! Feeling ill, + he doubtless took what he thought was a dose of quinine. Many men indulge + in what we call the quinine habit. It is getting to be a mild form of + tippling. Brenton committed unconscious suicide!" + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><a name="linkimage-0023" id="linkimage-0023"> </a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/0130.jpg" alt="0130 " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0016" id="link2HCH0016"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVI. + </h2> + <p> + A group of men; who were really alive, but invisible to the searchers, + stood in the room where the discovery was made. Two of the number were + evidently angry, one in one way and one in another. The rest of the group + appeared to be very merry. One angry man was Brenton himself, who was + sullenly enraged. The other was the Frenchman, Lecocq, who was as deeply + angered as Brenton, but, instead of being sullen, was exceedingly voluble. + </p> + <p> + "I tell you," he cried, "it is not a mistake of mine. I went on correct + principles from the first. I was misled by one who should have known + better. You will remember, gentlemen," he continued, turning first to one + and then the other, "that what I said was that we had certain facts to go + on. One of those facts I got from Mr. Brenton. I said to him in your + presence, 'Did you poison yourself?' He answered me, as I can prove by all + of you, 'No, I did not.' I took that for a fact. I thought I was speaking + to a reasonable man who knew what he was talking about." + </p> + <p> + "Haven't I told you time and again," answered Brenton, indignantly, "that + it was a mistake? You asked me if I poisoned myself. I answered you that I + did not. Your question related to suicide. I did <i>not</i> commit + suicide. I was the victim of a druggist's mistake. If you had asked me if + I had taken medicine before I went to bed, I should have told you frankly, + 'Yes. I took one capsule of quinine.' It has been my habit for years, when + I feel badly. I thought nothing of that." + </p> + <p> + "My dear sir," said Lecocq, "I warned you, and I warned these gentlemen, + that the very things that seem trivial to a thoughtless person are the + things that sometimes count. You should have told me <i>everything</i>. If + you took anything at all, you should have said so. If you had said to me, + 'Monsieur Lecocq, before I retired I took five grains of quinine,' I + should have at once said; 'Find where that quinine is, and see if it <i>is</i> + quinine, and see if there has not been a mistake.' I was entirely misled; + I was stupidly misled." + </p> + <p> + "Well, if there was stupidity," returned Brenton, "it was your own." + </p> + <p> + "Come, come, gentlemen," laughed Speed, "all's well that ends well. + Everybody has been mistaken, that's all about it. The best detective minds + of Europe and America, of the world, and of the spirit-land, have been + misled. You are <i>all</i> wrong. Admit it, and let it end." + </p> + <p> + "My dear sir," said Lecocq, "I shall not admit anything. I was not wrong; + I was misled. It was this way——" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, now, for goodness' sake don't go over it all again. We understand the + circumstances well enough." + </p> + <p> + "I tell you," cried Brenton, in an angry tone, "that—— + </p> + <p> + "Come, come," said Speed, "we have had enough of this discussion. I tell + you that you are all wrong, every one of you. Come with me, Brenton, and + we will leave this amusing crowd." + </p> + <p> + "I shall do nothing of the kind," answered Brenton, shortly. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, very well then, do as you please. I am glad the thing is ended, and I + am glad it is ended by my Chicago friend." + </p> + <p> + "Your Chicago friend!" sneered Brenton, slightingly; "It was discovered by + Doctor Stephen Roland." + </p> + <p> + "My dear fellow," said Speed, "Stephen Roland had all his time to discover + the thing, and didn't do it, and never would have done it, if George + Stratton hadn't encountered him. Well, good-bye, gentlemen; I am sorry to + say that I have had quite enough of this discussion. But one thing looms + up above it all, and that is that Chicago is ahead of the world in + everything—in detection as well as in fires." + </p> + <p> + "My dear sir," cried Lecocq, "it is not true. I will show you in a moment—" + </p> + <p> + "You won't show <i>me</i>," said Speed, and he straightway disappeared. + </p> + <p> + "Come, Ferris," said Brenton, "after all, you are the only friend I seem + to have; come with me." + </p> + <p> + "Where are you going?" asked Ferris, as they left. + </p> + <p> + "I want to see how my wife takes the news." + </p> + <p> + "Don't," said Mr. Ferris—"don't do anything of the kind. Leave + matters just where they are. Everything has turned out what you would call + all right. You see that your interference, as far as it went, was + perfectly futile and useless. I want now to draw your attention to other + things." + </p> + <p> + "Very well, I will listen to you," said Brenton, "if you come with me and + see how my wife takes the news. I want to enjoy for even a moment or two + her relief and pleasure at finding that her good name is clear." + </p> + <p> + "Very well," assented Ferris, "I will go with you." + </p> + <p> + When they arrived they found the Chicago reporter ahead of them. He had + evidently told Mrs. Brenton all the news, and her face flushed with eager + pleasure as she listened to the recital. + </p> + <p> + "Now," said the Chicago man, "I am going to leave Cincinnati. Are you + sorry I am going?" + </p> + <p> + "No," said Mrs. Brenton, looking him in the face, "I am not sorry." + </p> + <p> + Stratton flushed at this, and then said, taking his hat in his hand, "Very + well, madam, I shall bid you good day." + </p> + <p> + "I am not sorry," said Mrs. Brenton, holding out her hand, "because I am + going to leave Cincinnati myself, and I hope never to see the city again. + So if you stayed here, you see, I should never meet you again, Mr. + Stratton." + </p> + <p> + "Alice," cried Stratton, impulsively grasping her hand in both of his, + "don't you think you would like Chicago as a place of residence?" + </p> + <p> + "George," she answered, "I do not know. I am going to Europe, and shall be + there for a year or two." + </p> + <p> + Then he said eagerly— + </p> + <p> + "When you return, or if I go over there to see you after a year or two, + may I ask you that question again?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes," was the whispered answer. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <p> + "Come," said Brenton to Ferris, "let us go." + </p> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + +<pre> + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FROM WHOSE BOURNE*** + + +******* This file should be named 9312-h.txt or 9312-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/9/3/1/9312 + + + +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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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: From Whose Bourne + +Author: Robert Barr + +Release Date: November 17, 2004 [eBook #9312] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FROM WHOSE BOURNE*** + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, David Widger and PG Distributed +Proofreaders from images generously made available by the Canadian +Institute for Historical Microreproductions + + + + +FROM WHOSE BOURNE + + +BY ROBERT BARR (LUKE SHARP) + +AUTHOR OF "IN A STEAMER CHAIR" ETC. + +[Illustration: William Brenton.] + + +_WITH FORTY-SEVEN ILLUSTRATIONS + +BY C.M.D. HAMMOND, G.D. HAMMOND, AND HAL HURST_ + + +1893 + + + +TO + +AN HONEST MAN + +AND + +A GOOD WOMAN + + + +FROM WHOSE BOURNE + + + +PRINCIPAL ILLUSTRATIONS: + +Buel placed his portmanteau on the deck + +William Brenton + +"Do you think I shall be missed?" + +He again sat in the rocking-chair + +He saw standing beside him a stranger + +A Venetian Cafe + +Venice + +In Venice + +The Brenton Murder + +Mrs. Brenton + +Gold + +Publicity + +The Broken Toy + +"She's pretty as a picture" + +Raising the Veil + +Jane + +The Detective + +Jane Morton + +"Oh, why did I do it?" + +"How much time do you give me?" + +In the prisoner's dock + +"I feel very grateful to you" + +"Here's the detailed report" + +"Guilty! Guilty of what?" + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +"My dear," said William Brenton to his wife, "do you think I shall be +missed if I go upstairs for a while? I am not feeling at all well." + +[Illustration: "Do you think I shall be missed?"] + +"Oh, I'm so sorry, Will," replied Alice, looking concerned; "I will tell +them you are indisposed." + +"No, don't do that," was the answer; "they are having a very good time, +and I suppose the dancing will begin shortly; so I don't think they will +miss me. If I feel better I will be down in an hour or two; if not, I +shall go to bed. Now, dear, don't worry; but have a good time with the +rest of them." + +William Brenton went quietly upstairs to his room, and sat down in the +darkness in a rocking chair. Remaining there a few minutes, and not +feeling any better, he slowly undressed and went to bed. Faint echoes +reached him of laughter and song; finally, music began, and he felt, +rather than heard, the pulsation of dancing feet. Once, when the music +had ceased for a time, Alice tiptoed into the room, and said in a quiet +voice-- + +"How are you feeling, Will? any better?" + +"A little," he answered drowsily. "Don't worry about me; I shall drop +off to sleep presently, and shall be all right in the morning. Good +night." + +He still heard in a dreamy sort of way the music, the dancing, the +laughter; and gradually there came oblivion, which finally merged into +a dream, the most strange and vivid vision he had ever experienced. +It seemed to him that he sat again in the rocking chair near the bed. +Although he knew the room was dark, he had no difficulty in seeing +everything perfectly. He heard, now quite plainly, the music and dancing +downstairs, but what gave a ghastly significance to his dream was the +sight of his own person on the bed. The eyes were half open, and the +face was drawn and rigid. The colour of the face was the white, greyish +tint of death. + +"This is a nightmare," said Brenton to himself; "I must try and wake +myself." But he seemed powerless to do this, and he sat there looking at +his own body while the night wore on. Once he rose and went to the side +of the bed. He seemed to have reached it merely by wishing himself +there, and he passed his hand over the face, but no feeling of touch was +communicated to him. He hoped his wife would come and rouse him from +this fearful semblance of a dream, and, wishing this, he found himself +standing at her side, amidst the throng downstairs, who were now merrily +saying good-bye. Brenton tried to speak to his wife, but although he +was conscious of speaking, she did not seem to hear him, or know he was +there. + +[Illustration: He again sat in the rocking-chair.] + +The party had been one given on Christmas Eve, and as it was now two +o'clock in the morning, the departing guests were wishing Mrs. Brenton a +merry Christmas. Finally, the door closed on the last of the revellers, +and Mrs. Brenton stood for a moment giving instructions to the sleepy +servants; then, with a tired sigh, she turned and went upstairs, Brenton +walking by her side until they came to the darkened room, which she +entered on tiptoe. + +"Now," said Brenton to himself, "she will arouse me from this appalling +dream." It was not that there was anything dreadful in the dream itself, +but the clearness with which he saw everything, and the fact that his +mind was perfectly wide awake, gave him an uneasiness which he found +impossible to shake off. + +In the dim light from the hall his wife prepared to retire. The horrible +thought struck Brenton that she imagined he was sleeping soundly, +and was anxious not to awaken him--for of course she could have no +realization of the nightmare he was in--so once again he tried to +communicate with her. He spoke her name over and over again, but she +proceeded quietly with her preparations for the night. At last she crept +in at the other side of the bed, and in a few moments was asleep. Once +more Brenton struggled to awake, but with no effect. He heard the clock +strike three, and then four, and then five, but there was no apparent +change in his dream. He feared that he might be in a trance, from which, +perhaps, he would not awake until it was too late. Grey daylight began +to brighten the window, and he noticed that snow was quietly falling +outside, the flakes noiselessly beating against the window pane. Every +one slept late that morning, but at last he heard the preparations for +breakfast going on downstairs--the light clatter of china on the table, +the rattle of the grate; and, as he thought of these things, he found +himself in the dining-room, and saw the trim little maid, who still +yawned every now and then, laying the plates in their places. He went +upstairs again, and stood watching the sleeping face of his wife. Once +she raised her hand above her head, and he thought she was going to +awake; ultimately her eyes opened, and she gazed for a time at the +ceiling, seemingly trying to recollect the events of the day before. + +"Will," she said dreamily, "are you still asleep?" + +There was no answer from the rigid figure at the front of the bed. After +a few moments she placed her hand quietly over the sleeper's face. As +she did so, her startled eyes showed that she had received a shock. +Instantly she sat upright in bed, and looked for one brief second on the +face of the sleeper beside her; then, with a shriek that pierced the +stillness of the room, she sprang to the floor. + +"Will! Will!" she cried, "speak to me! What is the matter with you? Oh, +my God! my God!" she cried, staggering back from the bed. Then, with +shriek after shriek, she ran blindly through the hall to the stairway, +and there fell fainting on the floor. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +William Brenton knelt beside the fallen lady, and tried to soothe and +comfort her, but it was evident that she was insensible. + +"It is useless," said a voice by his side. + +Brenton looked up suddenly, and saw standing beside him a stranger. +Wondering for a moment how he got there, and thinking that after all it +was a dream, he said-- + +"What is useless? She is not dead." + +"No," answered the stranger, "but _you_ are." + +[Illustration: He saw standing beside him a stranger.] + +"I am what?" cried Brenton. + +"You are what the material world calls dead, although in reality you +have just begun to live." + +"And who are you?" asked Brenton. "And how did you get in here?" + +The other smiled. + +"How did _you_ get in here?" he said, repeating Brenton's words. + +"I? Why, this is my own house." + +"Was, you mean." + +"I mean that it is. I am in my own house. This lady is my wife." + +"_Was,_" said the other. + +"I do not understand you," cried Brenton, very much annoyed. "But, in +any case, your presence and your remarks are out of place here." + +"My dear sir," said the other, "I merely wish to aid you and to explain +to you anything that you may desire to know about your new condition. +You are now free from the incumbrance of your body. You have already had +some experience of the additional powers which that riddance has given +you. You have also, I am afraid, had an inkling of the fact that the +spiritual condition has its limitations. If you desire to communicate +with those whom you have left, I would strongly advise you to postpone +the attempt, and to leave this place, where you will experience only +pain and anxiety. Come with me, and learn something of your changed +circumstances." + +"I am in a dream," said Brenton, "and you are part of it. I went to +sleep last night, and am still dreaming. This is a nightmare and it will +soon be over." + +"You are saying that," said the other, "merely to convince yourself. +It is now becoming apparent to you that this is not a dream. If dreams +exist, it was a dream which you left, but you have now become awake. If +you really think it is a dream, then do as I tell you--come with me and +leave it, because you must admit that this part of the dream is at least +very unpleasant." + +"It is not very pleasant," assented Brenton. As he spoke the bewildered +servants came rushing up the stairs, picked up their fallen mistress, +and laid her on a sofa. They rubbed her hands and dashed water in her +face. She opened her eyes, and then closed them again with a shudder. + +"Sarah," she cried, "have I been dreaming, or is your master dead?" + +The two girls turned pale at this, and the elder of them went boldly +into the room which her mistress had just left. She was evidently +a young woman who had herself under good control, but she came out +sobbing, with her apron to her eyes. + +"Come, come," said the man who stood beside Brenton, "haven't you had +enough of this? Come with me; you can return to this house if you wish;" +and together they passed out of the room into the crisp air of Christmas +morning. But, although Brenton knew it must be cold, he had no feeling +of either cold or warmth. + +"There are a number of us," said the stranger to Brenton, "who take +turns at watching the sick-bed when a man is about to die, and when his +spirit leaves his body, we are there to explain, or comfort, or console. +Your death was so sudden that we had no warning of it. You did not feel +ill before last night, did you?" + +"No," replied Brenton. "I felt perfectly well, until after dinner last +night." + +"Did you leave your affairs in reasonably good order?" + +"Yes," said Brenton, trying to recollect. "I think they will find +everything perfectly straight." + +"Tell me a little of your history, if you do not mind," inquired the +other; "it will help me in trying to initiate you into our new order of +things here." + +"Well," replied Brenton, and he wondered at himself for falling so +easily into the other's assumption that he was a dead man, "I was what +they call on the earth in reasonably good circumstances. My estate +should be worth $100,000. I had $75,000 insurance on my life, and if all +that is paid, it should net my widow not far from a couple of hundred +thousand." + +"How long have you been married?" said the other. + +[Illustration: A Venetian cafe.] + +"Only about six months. I was married last July, and we went for a trip +abroad. We were married quietly, and left almost immediately afterwards, +so we thought, on our return, it would not be a bad plan to give a +Christmas Eve dinner, and invite some of our friends. That," he said, +hesitating a moment, "was last night. Shortly after dinner, I began to +feel rather ill, and went upstairs to rest for a while; and if what you +say is true, the first thing I knew I found myself dead." + +"Alive," corrected the other. + +"Well, alive, though at present I feel I belong more to the world I have +left than I do to the world I appear to be in. I must confess, although +you are a very plausible gentleman to talk to, that I expect at any +moment to wake and find this to have been one of the most horrible +nightmares that I ever had the ill luck to encounter." + +The other smiled. + +"There is very little danger of your waking up, as you call it. Now, I +will tell you the great trouble we have with people when they first come +to the spirit-land, and that is to induce them to forget entirely +the world they have relinquished. Men whose families are in poor +circumstances, or men whose affairs are in a disordered state, find it +very difficult to keep from trying to set things right again. They have +the feeling that they can console or comfort those whom they have left +behind them, and it is often a long time before they are convinced that +their efforts are entirely futile, as well as very distressing for +themselves." + +"Is there, then," asked Brenton, "no communication between this world +and the one that I have given up?" + +The other paused for a moment before he replied. + +"I should hardly like to say," he answered, "that there is _no_ +communication between one world and the other; but the communication +that exists is so slight and unsatisfactory, that if you are sensible +you will see things with the eyes of those who have very much more +experience in this world than you have. Of course, you can go back there +as much as you like; there will be no interference and no hindrance. +But when you see things going wrong, when you see a mistake about to +be made, it is an appalling thing to stand there helpless, unable to +influence those you love, or to point out a palpable error, and convince +them that your clearer sight sees it as such. Of course, I understand +that it must be very difficult for a man who is newly married, to +entirely abandon the one who has loved him, and whom he loves. But +I assure you that if you follow the life of one who is as young and +handsome as your wife, you will find some one else supplying the +consolations you are unable to bestow. Such a mission may lead you to a +church where she is married to her second husband. I regret to say that +even the most imperturbable spirits are ruffled when such an incident +occurs. The wise men are those who appreciate and understand that they +are in an entirely new world, with new powers and new limitations, and +who govern themselves accordingly from the first, as they will certainly +do later on." + +"My dear sir," said Brenton, somewhat offended, "if what you say is +true, and I am really a dead man----" + +"Alive," corrected the other. + +"Well, alive, then. I may tell you that my wife's heart is broken. She +will never marry again." + +"Of course, that is a subject of which you know a great deal more than I +do. I all the more strongly advise you never to see her again. It is +impossible for you to offer any consolation, and the sight of her grief +and misery will only result in unhappiness for yourself. Therefore, take +my advice. I have given it very often, and I assure you those who did +not take it expressed their regret afterwards. Hold entirely aloof from +anything relating to your former life." + +Brenton was silent for some moments; finally he said-- + +"I presume your advice is well meant; but if things are as you state, +then I may as well say, first as last, that I do not intend to accept +it." + +"Very well," said the other; "it is an experience that many prefer to go +through for themselves." + +"Do you have names in this spirit-land?" asked Brenton, seemingly +desirous of changing the subject. + +"Yes," was the answer; "we are known by names that we have used in the +preparatory school below. My name is Ferris." + +"And if I wish to find you here, how do I set about it?" + +"The wish is sufficient," answered Ferris. "Merely wish to be with me, +and you _are_ with me." + +"Good gracious!" cried Brenton, "is locomotion so easy as that?" + +"Locomotion is very easy. I do not think anything could be easier +than it is, and I do not think there could be any improvement in that +matter." + +"Are there matters here, then, that you think could be improved?" + +"As to that I shall not say. Perhaps you will be able to give your own +opinion before you have lived here much longer." + +"Taking it all in all," said Brenton, "do you think the spirit-land is +to be preferred to the one we have left?" + +"I like it better," said Ferris, "although I presume there are some +who do not. There are many advantages; and then, again, there are +many--well, I would not say disadvantages, but still some people +consider them such. We are free from the pangs of hunger or cold, and +have therefore no need of money, and there is no necessity for the rush +and the worry of the world below." + +"And how about heaven and hell?" said Brenton. "Are those localities all +a myth? Is there nothing of punishment and nothing of reward in this +spirit-land?" + +There was no answer to this, and when Brenton looked around he found +that his companion had departed. + +[Illustration: Venice.] + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +William Brenton pondered long on the situation. He would have known +better how to act if he could have been perfectly certain that he was +not still the victim of a dream. However, of one thing there was no +doubt--namely, that it was particularly harrowing to see what he had +seen in his own house. If it were true that he was dead, he said to +himself, was not the plan outlined for him by Ferris very much the wiser +course to adopt? He stood now in one of the streets of the city so +familiar to him. People passed and repassed him--men and women whom +he had known in life--but nobody appeared to see him. He resolved, if +possible, to solve the problem uppermost in his mind, and learn whether +or not he could communicate with an inhabitant of the world he had left. +He paused for a moment to consider the best method of doing this. Then +he remembered one of his most confidential friends and advisers, and at +once wished himself at his office. He found the office closed, but went +in to wait for his friend. Occupying the time in thinking over his +strange situation, he waited long, and only when the bells began to ring +did he remember it was Christmas forenoon, and that his friend would +not be at the office that day. The next moment he wished himself at his +friend's house, but he was as unsuccessful as at the office; the friend +was not at home. The household, however, was in great commotion, and, +listening to what was said, he found that the subject of conversation +was his own death, and he learned that his friend had gone to the +Brenton residence as soon as he heard the startling news of Christmas +morning. + +Once more Brenton paused, and did not know what to do. He went again +into the street. Everything seemed to lead him toward his own home. +Although he had told Ferris that he did not intend to take his advice, +yet as a sensible man he saw that the admonition was well worth +considering, and if he could once become convinced that there was no +communication possible between himself and those he had left; if he +could give them no comfort and no cheer; if he could see the things +which they did not see, and yet be unable to give them warning, he +realized that he would merely be adding to his own misery, without +alleviating the troubles of others. + +He wished he knew where to find Ferris, so that he might have another +talk with him. The man impressed him as being exceedingly sensible. No +sooner, however, had he wished for the company of Mr. Ferris than he +found himself beside that gentleman. + +"By George!" he said in astonishment, "you are just the man I wanted to +see." + +"Exactly," said Ferris; "that is the reason you do see me." + +"I have been thinking over what you said," continued the other, "and it +strikes me that after all your advice is sensible." + +"Thank you," replied Ferris, with something like a smile on his face. + +"But there is one thing I want to be perfectly certain about. I want to +know whether it is not possible for me to communicate with my friends. +Nothing will settle that doubt in my mind except actual experience." + +"And have you not had experience enough?" asked Ferris. + +"Well," replied the other, hesitating, "I have had some experience, but +it seems to me that, if I encounter an old friend, I could somehow make +myself felt by him." + +"In that case," answered Ferris, "if nothing will convince you but an +actual experiment, why don't you go to some of your old friends and try +what you can do with them?" + +"I have just been to the office and to the residence of one of my old +friends. I found at his residence that he had gone to my"--Brenton +paused for a moment--"former home. Everything seems to lead me there, +and yet, if I take your advice, I must avoid that place of all others." + +"I would at present, if I were you," said Ferris. "Still, why not try it +with any of the passers-by?" + +Brenton looked around him. People were passing and repassing where the +two stood talking with each other. "Merry Christmas" was the word on all +lips. Finally Brenton said, with a look of uncertainty on his face-- + +"My dear fellow, I can't talk to any of these people. I don't know +them." + +Ferris laughed at this, and replied-- + +"I don't think you will shock them very much; just try it." + +"Ah, here's a friend of mine. You wait a moment, and I will accost him." +Approaching him, Brenton held out his hand and spoke, but the traveller +paid no attention. He passed by as one who had seen or heard nothing. + +"I assure you," said Ferris, as he noticed the look of disappointment on +the other's face, "you will meet with a similar experience, however much +you try. You know the old saying about one not being able to have his +cake and eat it too. You can't have the privileges of this world and +those of the world you left as well. I think, taking it all in all, you +should rest content, although it always hurts those who have left the +other world not to be able to communicate with their friends, and at +least assure them of their present welfare." + +"It does seem to me," replied Brenton, "that would be a great +consolation, both for those who are here and those who are left." + +"Well, I don't know about that," answered the other. "After all, what +does life in the other world amount to? It is merely a preparation for +this. It is of so short a space, as compared with the life we live here, +that it is hardly worth while to interfere with it one way or another. +By the time you are as long here as I have been, you will realize the +truth of this." + +"Perhaps I shall," said Brenton, with a sigh; "but, meanwhile, what am +I to do with myself? I feel like the man who has been all his life +in active business, and who suddenly resolves to enjoy himself doing +nothing. That sort of thing seems to kill a great number of men, +especially if they put off taking a rest until too late, as most of us +do." + +"Well," said Ferris, "there is no necessity of your being idle here, I +assure you. But before you lay out any work for yourself, let me ask you +if there is not some interesting part of the world that you would like +to visit?" + +"Certainly; I have seen very little of the world. That is one of my +regrets at leaving it." + +"Bless me," said the other, "you haven't left it." + +"Why, I thought you said I was a dead man?" + +"On the contrary," replied his companion, "I have several times insisted +that you have just begun to live. Now where shall we spend the day?" + +"How would London do?" + +"I don't think it would do; London is apt to be a little gloomy at this +time of the year. But what do you say to Naples, or Japan, or, if you +don't wish to go out of the United States, Yellowstone Park?" + +"Can we reach any of those places before the day is over?" asked +Brenton, dubiously. + +"Well, I will soon show you how we manage all that. Just wish to +accompany me, and I will take you the rest of the way." + +"How would Venice do?" said Brenton. "I didn't see half as much of that +city as I wanted to." + +"Very well," replied his companion, "Venice it is;" and the American +city in which they stood faded away from them, and before Brenton could +make up his mind exactly what was happening, he found himself walking +with his comrade in St. Mark's Square. + +"Well, for rapid transit," said Brenton, "this beats anything I've ever +had any idea of; but it increases the feeling that I am in a dream." + +"You'll soon get used to it," answered Ferris; "and, when you do, the +cumbersome methods of travel in the world itself will show themselves in +their right light. Hello!" he cried, "here's a man whom I should +like you to meet. By the way, I either don't know your name or I have +forgotten it." + +"William Brenton," answered the other. + +"Mr. Speed, I want to introduce you to Mr. Brenton." + +"Ah," said Speed, cordially, "a new-comer. One of your victims, Ferris?" + +"Say one of his pupils, rather," answered Brenton. + +[Illustration: In Venice.] + +"Well, it is pretty much the same thing," said Speed. "How long have you +been with us, and how do you like the country?" + +"You see, Mr. Brenton," interrupted Ferris, "John Speed was a newspaper +man, and he must ask strangers how they like the country. He has +inquired so often while interviewing foreigners for his paper that now +he cannot abandon his old phrase. Mr. Brenton has been with us but a +short time," continued Ferris, "and so you know, Speed, you can hardly +expect him to answer your inevitable question." + +"What part of the country are you from?" asked Speed. + +"Cincinnati," answered Brenton, feeling almost as if he were an American +tourist doing the continent of Europe. + +"Cincinnati, eh? Well, I congratulate you. I do not know any place in +America that I would sooner die in, as they call it, than Cincinnati. +You see, I am a Chicago man myself." + +Brenton did not like the jocular familiarity of the newspaper man, and +found himself rather astonished to learn that in the spirit-world there +were likes and dislikes, just as on earth. + +"Chicago is a very enterprising city," he said, in a non-committal way. + +"Chicago, my dear sir," said Speed, earnestly, "is _the_ city. You will +see that Chicago is going to be the great city of the world before you +are a hundred years older. By the way, Ferris," said the Chicago man, +suddenly recollecting something, "I have got Sommers over here with me." + +"Ah!" said Ferris; "doing him any good?" + +"Well, precious little, as far as I can see." + +"Perhaps it would interest Mr. Brenton to meet him," said Ferris. "I +think, Brenton, you asked me a while ago if there was any hell here, or +any punishment. Mr. Speed can show you a man in hell." + +"Really?" asked Brenton. + +"Yes," said Speed; "I think if ever a man was in misery, he is. The +trouble with Sommers was this. He--well, he died of delirium tremens, +and so, of course, you know what the matter was. Sommers had drunk +Chicago whisky for thirty-five years straight along, and never added to +it the additional horror of Chicago water. You see what his condition +became, both physical and mental. Many people tried to reform Sommers, +because he was really a brilliant man; but it was no use. Thirst had +become a disease with him, and from the mental part of that disease, +although his physical yearning is now gone of course, he suffers. +Sommers would give his whole future for one glass of good old Kentucky +whisky. He sees it on the counters, he sees men drink it, and he stands +beside them in agony. That's why I brought him over here. I thought that +he wouldn't see the colour of whisky as it sparkles in the glass; but +now he is in the Cafe Quadra watching men drink. You may see him sitting +there with all the agony of unsatisfied desire gleaming from his face." + +"And what do you do with a man like that?" asked Brenton. + +"Do? Well, to tell the truth, there is nothing _to_ do. I took him away +from Chicago, hoping to ease his trouble a little; but it has had no +effect." + +"It will come out all right by-and-by," said Ferris, who noticed the +pained look on Brenton's face. "It is the period of probation that +he has to pass through. It will wear off. He merely goes through the +agonies he would have suffered on earth if he had suddenly been deprived +of his favourite intoxicant." + +"Well," said Speed, "you won't come with me, then? All right, good-bye. +I hope to see you again, Mr. Brenton," and with that they separated. + +Brenton spent two or three days in Venice, but all the time the old home +hunger was upon him. He yearned for news of Cincinnati. He wanted to be +back, and several times the wish brought him there, but he instantly +returned. At last he said to Ferris-- + +"I am tired. I must go home. I have _got_ to see how things are going." + +"I wouldn't if I were you," replied Ferris. + +"No, I know you wouldn't. Your temperament is indifferent. I would +rather be miserable with knowledge than happy in ignorance. Good-bye." + +It was evening when he found himself in Cincinnati. The weather was +bright and clear, and apparently cold. Men's feet crisped on the frozen +pavement, and the streets had that welcome, familiar look which they +always have to the returned traveller when he reaches the city he calls +his home. The newsboys were rushing through the streets yelling their +papers at the top of their voices. He heard them, but paid little +attention. + +"All about the murder! Latest edition! All about the poison case!" + +He felt that he must have a glimpse at a paper, and, entering the office +of an hotel where a man was reading one, he glanced over his shoulder +at the page before him, and was horror-stricken to see the words in +startling headlines-- + + THE BRENTON MURDER. + _The Autopsy shows that Morphine was the Poison used. + Enough found to have killed a Dozen Men. + Mrs. Brenton arrested for Committing the Horrible + Deed_. + +[Illustration: The Brenton Murder.] + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +For a moment Brenton was so bewildered and amazed at the awful headlines +which he read, that he could hardly realize what had taken place. +The fact that he had been poisoned, although it gave him a strange +sensation, did not claim his attention as much as might have been +thought. Curiously enough he was more shocked at finding himself, as +it were, the talk of the town, the central figure of a great newspaper +sensation. But the thing that horrified him was the fact that his wife +had been arrested for his murder. His first impulse was to go to her at +once, but he next thought it better to read what the paper said about +the matter, so as to become possessed of all the facts. The headlines, +he said to himself, often exaggerated things, and there was a +possibility that the body of the article would not bear out the naming +announcement above it. But as he read on and on, the situation seemed +to become more and more appalling. He saw that his friends had been +suspicious of his sudden death, and had insisted on a post-mortem +examination. That examination had been conducted by three of the most +eminent physicians of Cincinnati, and the three doctors had practically +agreed that the deceased, in the language of the verdict, had come to +his death through morphia poisoning, and the coroner's jury had brought +in a verdict that "the said William Brenton had been poisoned by some +person unknown." Then the article went on to state how suspicion had +gradually fastened itself upon his wife, and at last her arrest had been +ordered. The arrest had taken place that day. + +[Illustration: Mrs. Brenton.] + +After reading this, Brenton was in an agony of mind. He pictured his +dainty and beautiful wife in a stone cell in the city prison. He foresaw +the horrors of the public trial, and the deep grief and pain which +the newspaper comments on the case would cause to a woman educated and +refined. Of course, Brenton had not the slightest doubt in his own mind +about the result of the trial. His wife would be triumphantly acquitted; +but, all the same, the terrible suspense which she must suffer in the +meanwhile would not be compensated for by the final verdict of the jury. + +Brenton at once went to the jail, and wandered through that gloomy +building, searching for his wife. At last he found her, but it was in +a very comfortable room in the sheriffs residence. The terror and the +trials of the last few days had aged her perceptibly, and it cut Brenton +to the heart to think that he stood there before her, and could not by +any means say a soothing word that she would understand. That she had +wept many bitter tears since the terrible Christmas morning was evident; +there were dark circles under her beautiful eyes that told of sleepless +nights. She sat in a comfortable armchair, facing the window; and looked +steadily out at the dreary winter scene with eyes that apparently saw +nothing. Her hands lay idly on her lap, and now and then she caught her +breath in a way that was half a sob and half a gasp. + +Presently the sheriff himself entered the room. + +"Mrs. Brenton," he said, "there is a gentleman here who wishes to see +you. Mr. Roland, he tells me his name is, an old friend of yours. Do you +care to see any one?" + +The lady turned her head slowly round, and looked at the sheriff for a +moment, seemingly not understanding what he said. Finally she answered, +dreamily-- + +"Roland? Oh, Stephen! Yes, I shall be very glad to see him. Ask him to +come in, please." + +The next moment Stephen Roland entered, and somehow the fact that he had +come to console Mrs. Brenton did not at all please the invisible man who +stood between them. + +"My dear Mrs. Brenton," began Roland, "I hope you are feeling better +to-day? Keep up your courage, and be brave. It is only for a very short +time. I have retained the noted criminal lawyers, Benham and Brown, for +the defence. You could not possibly have better men." + +At the word "criminal" Mrs. Brenton shuddered. + +"Alice," continued Roland, sitting down near her, and drawing his chair +closer to her, "tell me that you will not lose your courage. I want you +to be brave, for the sake of your friends." + +He took her listless hand in his own, and she did not withdraw it. + +Brenton felt passing over him the pangs of impotent rage, as he saw this +act on the part of Roland. + +Roland had been an unsuccessful suitor for the hand which he now held +in his own, and Brenton thought it the worst possible taste, to say the +least, that he should take advantage now of her terrible situation to +ingratiate himself into her favour. + +The nearest approach to a quarrel that Brenton and his wife had had +during their short six months of wedded life was on the subject of the +man who now held her hand in his own. It made Brenton impatient to think +that a woman with all her boasted insight into character, her instincts +as to what was right and what was wrong, had such little real intuition +that she did not see into the character of the man whom they were +discussing; but a woman never thinks it a crime for a man to have been +in love with her, whatever opinion of that man her husband may hold. + +"It is awful! awful! awful!" murmured the poor lady, as the tears again +rose to her eyes. + +"Of course it is," said Roland; "it is particularly awful that they +should accuse you, of all persons in the world, of this so-called crime. +For my part I do not believe that he was poisoned at all, but we will +soon straighten things out. Benham and Brown will give up everything +and devote their whole attention to this case until it is finished. +Everything will be done that money or friends can do, and all that we +ask is that you keep up your courage, and do not be downcast with the +seeming awfulness of the situation." + +Mrs. Brenton wept silently, but made no reply. It was evident, however, +that she was consoled by the words and the presence of her visitor. +Strange as it may appear, this fact enraged Brenton, although he had +gone there for the very purpose of cheering and comforting his wife. All +the bitterness he had felt before against his former rival was revived, +and his rage was the more agonizing because it was inarticulate. Then +there flashed over him Ferris's sinister advice to leave things alone in +the world that he had left. He felt that he could stand this no longer, +and the next instant he found himself again in the wintry streets of +Cincinnati. + +The name of the lawyers, Benham and Brown, kept repeating itself in his +mind, and he resolved to go to their office and hear, if he could, what +preparations were being made for the defence of a woman whom he knew to +be innocent. He found, when he got to the office of these noted lawyers, +that the two principals were locked in their private room; and going +there, he found them discussing the case with the coolness and +impersonal feeling that noted lawyers have even when speaking of issues +that involve life or death. + +"Yes," Benham was saying, "I think that, unless anything new turns up, +that is the best line of defence we can adopt." + +"What do you think might turn up?" asked Brown. + +"Well, you can never tell in these cases. They may find something +else--they may find the poison, for instance, or the package that +contained it. Perhaps a druggist will remember having sold it to this +woman, and then, of course, we shall have to change our plans. I need +not say that it is strictly necessary in this case to give out no +opinions whatever to newspaper men. The papers will be full of rumours, +and it is just as well if we can keep our line of defence hidden until +the time for action comes." + +"Still," said Brown, who was the younger partner, "it is as well to keep +in with the newspaper fellows; they'll be here as soon as they find we +have taken charge of the defence." + +"Well, I have no doubt you can deal with them in such a way as to give +them something to write up, and yet not disclose anything we do not wish +known." + +"I think you can trust me to do that," said Brown, with a self-satisfied +air. + +"I shall leave that part of the matter entirely in your hands," replied +Benham. "It is better not to duplicate or mix matters, and if any +newspaper man comes to see me I will refer him to you. I will say I know +nothing of the case whatever." + +"Very well," answered Brown. "Now, between ourselves, what do you think +of the case?" + +[Illustration] + +"Oh, it will make a great sensation. I think it will probably be one of +the most talked-of cases that we have ever been connected with." + +"Yes, but what do you think of her guilt or innocence?" + +"As to that," said Benham, calmly, "I haven't the slightest doubt. She +murdered him." + +As he said this, Brenton, forgetting himself for a moment, sprang +forward as if to strangle the lawyer. The statement Benham had made +seemed the most appalling piece of treachery. That men should take a +woman's money for defending her, and actually engage in a case when they +believed their client guilty, appeared to Brenton simply infamous. + +"I agree with you," said Brown. "Of course she was the only one to +benefit by his death. The simple fool willed everything to her, and she +knew it; and his doing so is the more astounding when you remember he +was quite well aware that she had a former lover whom she would gladly +have married if he had been as rich as Brenton. The supreme idiocy of +some men as far as their wives are concerned is something awful." + +[Illustration: Publicity.] + +"Yes," answered Benham, "it is. But I tell you, Brown, she is no +ordinary woman. The very conception of that murder had a stroke of +originality about it that I very much admire. I do not remember anything +like it in the annals of crime. It is the true way in which a murder +should be committed. The very publicity of the occasion was a safeguard. +Think of poisoning a man at a dinner that he has given himself, in the +midst of a score of friends. I tell you that there was a dash of +bravery about it that commands my admiration." + +"Do you imagine Roland had anything to do with it?" + +"Well, I had my doubts about that at first, but I think he is innocent, +although from what I know of the man he will not hesitate to share the +proceeds of the crime. You mark my words, they will be married within +a year from now if she is acquitted. I believe Roland knows her to be +guilty." + +"I thought as much," said Brown, "by his actions here, and by some +remarks he let drop. Anyhow, our credit in the affair will be all the +greater if we succeed in getting her off. Yes," he continued, rising and +pushing back his chair, "Madam Brenton is a murderess." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +Brenton found himself once more in the streets of Cincinnati, in a state +of mind that can hardly be described. Rage and grief struggled for the +mastery, and added to the tumult of these passions was the uncertainty +as to what he should do, or what he _could_ do. He could hardly ask the +advice of Ferris again, for his whole trouble arose from his neglect of +the counsel that gentleman had already given him. In his new sphere he +did not know where to turn. He found himself wondering whether in the +spirit-land there was any firm of lawyers who could advise him, and he +remembered then how singularly ignorant he was regarding the conditions +of existence in the world to which he now belonged. However, he felt +that he must consult with somebody, and Ferris was the only one to whom +he could turn. A moment later he was face to face with him. + +"Mr. Ferris," he said, "I am in the most grievous trouble, and I come to +you in the hope that, if you cannot help me, you can at least advise me +what to do." + +"If your trouble has come," answered Ferris, with a shade of irony in +his voice, "through following the advice that I have already given you, +I shall endeavour, as well as I am able, to help you out of it." + +"You know very well," cried Brenton, hotly, "that my whole trouble +has occurred through neglecting your advice, or, at least, through +deliberately not following it. I _could_ not follow it." + +"Very well, then," said Ferris, "I am not surprised that you are in a +difficulty. You must remember that such a crisis is an old story with us +here." + +"But, my dear sir," said Brenton, "look at the appalling condition of +things, the knowledge of which has just come to me. It seems I was +poisoned, but of course that doesn't matter. I feel no resentment +against the wretch who did it. But the terrible thing is that my wife +has been arrested for the crime, and I have just learned that her own +lawyers actually believe her guilty." + +"That fact," said Ferris, calmly, "will not interfere with their +eloquent pleading when the case comes to trial." + +Brenton glared at the man who was taking things so coolly, and who +proved himself so unsympathetic; but an instant after he realized the +futility of quarrelling with the only person who could give him advice, +so he continued, with what patience he could command-- + +"The situation is this: My wife has been arrested for the crime of +murdering me. She is now in the custody of the sheriff. Her trouble and +anxiety of mind are fearful to contemplate." + +"My dear sir," said Ferris, "there is no reason why you or anybody else +should contemplate it." + +"How can you talk in that cold-blooded way?" cried Brenton, indignantly. +"Could you see _your_ wife, or any one _you_ held dear, incarcerated for +a dreadful crime, and yet remain calm and collected, as you now appear +to be when you hear of another's misfortune?" + +"My dear fellow," said Ferris, "of course it is not to be expected that +one who has had so little experience with this existence should have any +sense of proportion. You appear to be speaking quite seriously. You do +not seem at all to comprehend the utter triviality of all this." + +"Good gracious!" cried Brenton, "do you call it a trivial thing that a +woman is in danger of her life for a crime which she never committed?" + +"If she is innocent," said the other, in no way moved by the indignation +of his comrade, "surely that state of things will be brought out in the +courts, and no great harm will be done, even looking at things from the +standpoint of the world you have left. But I want you to get into the +habit of looking at things from the standpoint of this world, and not +of the other. Suppose that what you would call the worst should +happen--suppose she is hanged--what then?" + +Brenton stood simply speechless with indignation at this brutal remark. + +"If you will just look at things correctly," continued Ferris, +imperturbably, "you will see that there is probably a moment of anguish, +perhaps not even that moment, and then your wife is here with you in the +land of spirits. I am sure that is a consummation devoutly to be wished. +Even a man in your state of mind must see the reasonableness of this. +Now, looking at the question in what you would call its most serious +aspect, see how little it amounts to. It isn't worth a moment's thought, +whichever way it goes." + +"You think nothing, then, of the disgrace of such a death--of the bitter +injustice of it?" + +[Illustration: The broken toy.] + +"When you were in the world did you ever see a child cry over a broken +toy? Did the sight pain you to any extent? Did you not know that a new +toy could be purchased that would quite obliterate all thoughts of the +other? Did the simple griefs of childhood carry any deep and lasting +consternation to the mind of a grown-up man? Of course it did not. You +are sensible enough to know that. Well, we here in this world look on +the pain and struggles and trials of people in the world you have left, +just as an aged man looks on the tribulations of children over a broken +doll. That is all it really amounts to. That is what I mean when I say +that you have not yet got your sense of proportion. Any grief and misery +there is in the world you have left is of such an ephemeral, transient +nature, that when we think for a moment of the free, untrammelled, +and painless life there is beyond, those petty troubles sink into +insignificance. My dear fellow, be sensible, take my advice. I have +really a strong interest in you, and I advise you, entirely for your own +welfare, to forget all about it. Very soon you will have something much +more important to do than lingering around the world you have left. If +your wife comes amongst us I am sure you will be glad to welcome her, +and to teach her the things that you will have already found out of your +new life. If she does not appear, then you will know that, even from the +old-world standpoint, things have gone what you would call 'all right.' +Let these trivial matters go, and attend to the vastly more important +concerns that will soon engage your attention here." + +Ferris talked earnestly, and it was evident, even to Brenton, that he +meant what he said. It was hard to find a pretext for a quarrel with a +man at once so calm and so perfectly sure of himself. + +"We will not talk any more about it," said Brenton. "I presume people +here agree to differ, just as they did in the world we have both left." + +"Certainly, certainly," answered Ferris. "Of course, you have just heard +my opinion; but you will find myriads of others who do not share it with +me. You will meet a great many who are interested in the subject of +communication with the world they have left. You will, of course, excuse +me when I say that I consider such endeavours not worth talking about." + +"Do you know any one who is interested in that sort of thing? and can +you give me an introduction to him?" + +"Oh! for that matter," said Ferris, "you have had an introduction to one +of the most enthusiastic investigators of the subject. I refer to Mr. +John Speed, late of Chicago." + +"Ah!" said Brenton, rather dubiously. "I must confess that I was +not very favourably impressed with Mr. Speed. Probably I did him an +injustice." + +"You certainly did," said Ferris. "You will find Speed a man well worth +knowing, even if he does waste himself on such futile projects as a +scheme for communicating with a community so evanescent as that of +Chicago. You will like Speed better the more you know him. He really is +very philanthropic, and has Sommers on his hands just now. From what he +said after you left Venice, I imagine he does not entertain the same +feeling toward you as you do toward him. I would see Speed if I were +you." + +"I will think about it," said Brenton, as they separated. + +To know that a man thinks well of a person is no detriment to further +acquaintance with that man, even if the first impressions have not been +favourable; and after Ferris told Brenton that Speed had thought well of +him, Brenton found less difficulty in seeking the Chicago enthusiast. + +"I have been in a good deal of trouble," Brenton said to Speed, "and +have been talking to Ferris about it. I regret to say that he gave me +very little encouragement, and did not seem at all to appreciate my +feelings in the matter." + +"Oh, you mustn't mind Ferris," said Speed. "He is a first-rate fellow, +but he is as cold and unsympathetic as--well, suppose we say as an +oyster. His great hobby is non-intercourse with the world we have left. +Now, in that I don't agree with him, and there are thousands who don't +agree with him. I admit that there are cases where a man is more unhappy +if he frequents the old world than he would be if he left it alone. But +then there are other cases where just the reverse is true. Take my own +experience, for example; I take a peculiar pleasure in rambling around +Chicago. I admit that it is a grievance to me, as an old newspaper man, +to see the number of scoops I could have on my esteemed contemporaries, +but--" + +"Scoop? What is that?" asked Brenton, mystified. + +"Why, a scoop is a beat, you know." + +"Yes, but I don't know. What is a beat?" + +"A beat or a scoop, my dear fellow, is the getting of a piece of news +that your contemporary does not obtain. You never were in the newspaper +business? Well, sir, you missed it. Greatest business in the world. You +know everything that is going on long before anybody else does, and the +way you can reward your friends and jump with both feet on your enemies +is one of the delights of existence down there." + +"Well, what I wanted to ask you was this," said Brenton. "You have made +a speciality of finding out whether there could be any communication +between one of us, for instance, and one who is an inhabitant of the +other world. Is such communication possible?" + +"I have certainly devoted some time to it, but I can't say that my +success has been flattering. My efforts have been mostly in the line of +news. I have come on some startling information which my facilities here +gave me access to, and I confess I have tried my best to put some of the +boys on to it. But there is a link loose somewhere. Now, what is your +trouble? Do you want to get a message to anybody?" + +"My trouble is this," said Brenton, briefly, "I am here because a few +days ago I was poisoned." + +"George Washington!" cried the other, "you don't say so! Have the +newspapers got on to the fact?" + +"I regret to say that they have." + +"What an item that would have been if one paper had got hold of it and +the others hadn't! I suppose they all got on to it at the same time?" + +"About that," said Brenton, "I don't know, and I must confess that I do +not care very much. But here is the trouble--my wife has been arrested +for my murder, and she is as innocent as I am." + +"Sure of that?" + +"_Sure_ of it?" cried the other indignantly. "Of course I am sure of +it." + +"Then who is the guilty person?" + +"Ah, that," said Brenton, "I do not yet know." + +"Then how can you be sure she is not guilty?" + +"If you talk like that," exclaimed Brenton, "I have nothing more to +say." + +"Now, don't get offended, I beg of you. I am merely looking at this from +a newspaper standpoint, you know. You must remember it is not you +who will decide the matter, but a jury of your very stupid +fellow-countrymen. Now, you can never tell what a jury _will_ do, except +that it will do something idiotic. Therefore, it seems to me that the +very first step to be taken is to find out who the guilty party is. +Don't you see the force of that?" + +"Yes, I do." + +"Very well, then. Now, what were the circumstances of this crime? who +was to profit by your death?" + +Brenton winced at this. + +"I see how it is," said the other, "and I understand why you don't +answer. Now--you'll excuse me if I am frank--your wife was the one who +benefited most by your death, was she not?" + +"No," cried the other indignantly, "she was not the one. That is what +the lawyers said. Why in the world should she want to poison me, when +she had all my wealth at her command as it was?" + +"Yes, that's a strong point," said Speed. "You were a reasonably good +husband, I suppose? Rather generous with the cash?" + +"Generous?" cried the other. "My wife always had everything she wanted." + +"Ah, well, there was no--you'll excuse me, I am sure--no former lover in +the case, was there?" + +Again Brenton winced, and he thought of Roland sitting beside his wife +with her hand in his. + +"I see," said Speed; "you needn't answer. Now what were the +circumstances, again?" + +"They were these: At a dinner which I gave, where some twenty or +twenty-five of my friends were assembled, poison, it appears, was put +into my cup of coffee. That is all I know of it." + +"Who poured out that cup of coffee?" + +"My wife did." + +"Ah! Now, I don't for a moment say she is guilty, remember; but you must +admit that, to a stupid jury, the case _might_ look rather bad against +her." + +"Well, granted that it does, there is all the more need that I should +come to her assistance if possible." + +"Certainly, certainly!" said Speed. "Now, I'll tell you what we have +to do. We must get, if possible, one of the very brightest Chicago +reporters on the track of this thing, and we have to get him on the +track of it early. Come with me to Chicago. We will try an experiment, +and I am sure you will lend your mind entirely to the effort. We must +act in conjunction in this affair, and you are just the man I've been +wanting, some one who is earnest and who has something at stake in the +matter. We may fail entirely, but I think it's worth the trying. Will +you come?" + +"Certainly," said Brenton; "and I cannot tell you how much I appreciate +your interest and sympathy." + +Arriving at a brown stone building on the corner of two of the principal +streets in Chicago, Brenton and Speed ascended quickly to one of the top +floors. It was nearly midnight, and two upper stories of the huge dark +building were brilliantly lighted, as was shown on the outside by the +long rows of glittering windows. They entered a room where a man was +seated at a table, with coat and vest thrown off, and his hat set well +back on his head. Cold as it was outside, it was warm in this man's +room, and the room was blue with smoke. A black corn-cob pipe was in his +teeth, and the man was writing away as if for dear life, on sheets of +coarse white copy paper, stopping now and then to fill up his pipe or to +relight it after it had gone out. + +"There," said Speed, waving his hand towards the writer with a certain +air of proprietory pride, "there sits one of the very cleverest men on +the Chicago press. That fellow, sir, is gifted with a nose for news +which has no equal in America. He will ferret out a case that he once +starts on with an unerringness that would charm you. Yes, sir, I got him +his present situation on this paper, and I can tell you it was a good +one." + +"He must have been a warm friend of yours?" said Brenton, indifferently, +as if he did not take much interest in the eulogy. + +"Quite the contrary," said Speed. "He was a warm enemy, made it mighty +warm for _me_ sometimes. He was on an opposition paper, but I tell you, +although I was no chicken in newspaper business, that man would scoop +the daylight out of me any time he tried. So, to get rid of opposition, +I got the managing editor to appoint him to a place on our paper; and +I tell you, he has never regretted it. Yes, sir, there sits George +Stratton, a man who knows his business. Now," he said, "let us +concentrate our attention on him. First let us see whether, by putting +our whole minds to it, we can make any impression on _his_ mind +whatever. You see how busily he is engaged. He is thoroughly absorbed in +his work. That is George all over. Whatever his assignment is, George +throws himself right into it, and thinks of nothing else until it is +finished. _Now_ then." + +In that dingy, well-lighted room George Stratton sat busily pencilling +out the lines that were to appear in next morning's paper. He was +evidently very much engrossed in his task, as Speed had said. If he +had looked about him, which he did not, he would have said that he was +entirely alone. All at once his attention seemed to waver, and he passed +his hand over his brow, while perplexity came into his face. Then he +noticed that his pipe was out, and, knocking the ashes from it by +rapping the bowl on the side of the table, he filled it with an +absent-mindedness unusual with him. Again he turned to his writing, and +again he passed his hand over his brow. Suddenly, without any apparent +cause, he looked first to the right and then to the left of him. Once +more he tried to write, but, noticing his pipe was out, he struck +another match and nervously puffed away, until clouds of blue smoke rose +around him. There was a look of annoyance and perplexity in his face as +he bent resolutely to his writing. The door opened, and a man appeared +on the threshold. + +"Anything more about the convention, George?" he said. + +"Yes; I am just finishing this. Sort of pen pictures, you know." + +"Perhaps you can let me have what you have done. I'll fix it up." + +"All right," said Stratton, bunching up the manuscript in front of him, +and handing it to the city editor. + +That functionary looked at the number of pages, and then at the writer. + +"Much more of this, George?" he said. "We'll be a little short of room +in the morning, you know." + +"Well," said the other, sitting back in his chair, "it is pretty good +stuff that. Folks always like the pen pictures of men engaged in the +skirmish better than the reports of what most of them say." + +"Yes," said the city editor, "that's so." + +"Still," said Stratton, "we could cut it off at the last page. Just let +me see the last two pages, will you?" + +These were handed to him, and, running his eye through them, he drew his +knife across one of the pages, and put at the bottom the cabalistic mark +which indicated the end of the copy. + +"There! I think I will let it go at that. Old Rickenbeck don't amount to +much, anyhow. We'll let him go." + +"All right," said the city editor. "I think we won't want anything more +to-night." + +[Illustration: "She's pretty as a picture."] + +Stratton put his hands behind his head, with his fingers interlaced, and +leaned back in his chair, placing his heels upon the table before him. +A thought-reader, looking at his face, could almost have followed the +theme that occupied his mind. Suddenly bringing his feet down with a +crash to the floor, he rose and went into the city editor's room. + +"See here," he said. "Have you looked into that Cincinnati case at all?" + +"What Cincinnati case?" asked the local editor, looking up. + +"Why, that woman who is up for poisoning her husband." + +"Oh yes; we had something of it in the despatches this morning. It's +rather out of the local line, you know." + +"Yes, I know it is. But it isn't out of the paper's line. I tell you +that case is going to make a sensation. She's pretty as a picture. Been +married only six months, and it seems to be a dead sure thing that +she poisoned her husband. That trial's going to make racy reading, +especially if they bring in a verdict of guilty." + +The city editor looked interested. + +"Want to go down there, George?" + +"Well, do you know, I think it'll pay." + +"Let me see, this is the last day of the convention, isn't it? And Clark +comes back from his vacation to-morrow. Well, if you think it's worth +it, take a trip down there, and look the ground over, and give us a +special article that we can use on the first day of the trial." + +"I'll do it," said George. + + * * * * * + +Speed looked at Brenton. + +"What would old Ferris say _now_, eh?" + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +Next morning George Stratton was on the railway train speeding towards +Cincinnati. As he handed to the conductor his mileage book, he did not +say to him, lightly transposing the old couplet-- + + "Here, railroad man, take thrice thy fee, + For spirits twain do ride with me." + +George Stratton was a practical man, and knew nothing of spirits, except +those which were in a small flask in his natty little valise. + +When he reached Cincinnati, he made straight for the residence of the +sheriff. He felt that his first duty was to become friends with such an +important official. Besides this, he wished to have an interview with +the prisoner. He had arranged in his mind, on the way there, just how he +would write a preliminary article that would whet the appetite of the +readers of the Chicago _Argus_ for any further developments that might +occur during and after the trial. He would write the whole thing in the +form of a story. + +[Illustration: "Raising the veil."] + +First, there would be a sketch of the life of Mrs. Brenton and her +husband. This would be number one, and above it would be the Roman +numeral I. Under the heading II. would be a history of the crime. Under +III. what had occurred afterwards--the incidents that had led suspicion +towards the unfortunate woman, and that sort of thing. Under the numeral +IV. would be his interview with the prisoner, if he were fortunate +enough to get one. Under V. he would give the general opinion of +Cincinnati on the crime, and on the guilt or innocence of Mrs. Brenton. +This article he already saw in his mind's eye occupying nearly half a +page of the _Argus_. All would be in leaded type, and written in a style +and manner that would attract attention, for he felt that he was +first on the ground, and would not have the usual rush in preparing +his copy which had been the bane of his life. It would give the +_Argus_ practically the lead in this case, which he was convinced +would become one of national importance. + +The sheriff received him courteously, and, looking at the card he +presented, saw the name Chicago _Argus_ in the corner. Then he stood +visibly on his guard--an attitude assumed by all wise officials when +they find themselves brought face to face with a newspaper man; for +they know, however carefully an article may be prepared, it will likely +contain some unfortunate overlooked phrase which may have a damaging +effect in a future political campaign. + +"I wanted to see you," began Stratton, coming straight to the point, "in +reference to the Brenton murder." + +"I may say at once," replied the sheriff, "that if you wish an interview +with the prisoner, it is utterly impossible, because her lawyers, Benham +and Brown, have positively forbidden her to see a newspaper man." + +"That shows," said Stratton, "they are wise men who understand their +business. Nevertheless, I wish to have an interview with Mrs. Brenton. +But what I wanted to say to you is this: I believe the case will be very +much talked about, and that before many weeks are over. Of course you +know the standing the _Argus_ has in newspaper circles. What it says +will have an influence, even over the Cincinnati press. I think you will +admit that. Now a great many newspaper men consider an official their +natural enemy. I do not; at least, I do not until I am forced to. Any +reference that I may make to you I am more than willing to submit to you +before it goes to Chicago. I will give you my word, if you want it, that +nothing will be said referring to your official position, or to yourself +personally, that you do not see before it appears in print. Of course +you will be up for re-election. I never met a sheriff who wasn't." + +The sheriff smiled at this, and did not deny it. + +"Very well. Now, I may tell you my belief is that this case is going +to have a powerful influence on your re-election. Here is a young and +pretty woman who is to be tried for a terrible crime. Whether she is +guilty or innocent, public sympathy is going to be with her. If I were +in your place, I would prefer to be known as her friend rather than as +her enemy." + +"My dear sir," said the sheriff, "my official position puts me in the +attitude of neither friend nor enemy of the unfortunate woman. I have +simply a certain duty to do, and that duty I intend to perform." + +"Oh, that's all right!" exclaimed the newspaper man, jauntily. "I, for +one, am not going to ask you to take a step outside your duties; but an +official may do his duty, and yet, at the same time, do a friendly act +for a newspaper man, or even for a prisoner. In the language of the old +chestnut, 'If you don't help me, don't help the bear.' That's all I +ask." + +"You maybe sure, Mr. Stratton, that anything I can do to help you I +shall be glad to do; and now let me give you a hint. If you want to see +Mrs. Brenton, the best thing is to get permission from her lawyers. If +I were you I would not see Benham--he's rather a hard nut, Benham is, +although you needn't tell him I said so. You get on the right side of +Brown. Brown has some political aspirations himself, and he does not +want to offend a man on so powerful a paper as the _Argus_, even if it +is not a Cincinnati paper. Now, if you make him the same offer you have +made to me, I think it will be all right. If he sees your copy before it +goes into print, and if you keep your word with him that nothing will +appear that he does _not_ see, I think you will succeed in getting an +interview with Mrs. Brenton. If you bring me a note from Brown, I shall +be very glad to allow you to see her." + +Stratton thanked the sheriff for his hint. He took down in his note-book +the address of the lawyers, and the name especially of Mr. Brown. The +two men shook hands, and Stratton felt that they understood each other. + +When Mr. Stratton was ushered into the private office of Brown, and +handed that gentleman his card, he noticed the lawyer perceptibly freeze +over. + +"Ahem," said the legal gentleman; "you will excuse me if I say that my +time is rather precious. Did you wish to see me professionally?" + +"Yes," replied Stratton, "that is, from a newspaper standpoint of the +profession." + +"Ah," said the other, "in reference to what?" + +"To the Brenton case." + +"Well, my dear sir, I have had, very reluctantly, to refuse information +that I would have been happy to give, if I could, to our own newspaper +men; and so I may say to you at once that I scarcely think it will +be possible for me to be of any service to an outside paper like the +_Argus_" + +"Local newspaper men," said Stratton, "represent local fame. That +you already possess. I represent national fame, which, if you will +excuse my saying so, you do not yet possess. The fact that I am in +Cincinnati to-day, instead of in Chicago, shows what we Chicago people +think of the Cincinnati case. I believe, and the _Argus_ believes, that +this case is going to be one of national importance. Now, let me ask you +one question. Will you state frankly what your objection is to having +a newspaper man, for instance, interview Mrs. Brenton, or get any +information relating to this case from her or others whom you have the +power of controlling?" + +"I shall answer that question," said Brown, "as frankly as you put +it. You are a man of the world, and know, of course, that we are all +selfish, and in business matters look entirely after our own interests. +My interest in this case is to defend my client. Your interest in +this case is to make a sensational article. You want to get facts if +possible, but, in any event, you want to write up a readable column or +two for your paper. Now, if I allowed you to see Mrs. Brenton, she might +say something to you, and you might publish it, that would not only +endanger her chances, but would seriously embarrass us, as her lawyers, +in our defence of the case." + +"You have stated the objection very plainly and forcibly," said +Stratton, with a look of admiration, as if the powerful arguments of +the lawyer had had a great effect on him. "Now, if I understand your +argument, it simply amounts to this, that you would have no objection to +my interviewing Mrs. Brenton if you have the privilege of editing the +copy. In other words, if nothing were printed but what you approve +of, you would not have the slightest hesitancy about allowing me that +interview." + +"No, I don't know that I would," admitted the lawyer. + +"Very well, then. Here is my proposition to you: I am here to look after +the interests of our paper in this particular case. The _Argus_ is +probably going to be the first paper outside of Cincinnati that will +devote a large amount of space to the Brenton trial, in addition to what +is received from the Associated Press dispatches. Now you can give me a +great many facilities in this matter if you care to do so, and in return +I am perfectly willing to submit to you every line of copy that concerns +you or your client before it is sent, and I give you my word of honour +that nothing shall appear but what you have seen and approved of. If +you want to cut out something that I think is vitally important, then I +shall tell you frankly that I intend to print it, but will modify it as +much as I possibly can to suit your views." + +"I see," said the lawyer. "In other words, as you have just remarked, +I am to give you special facilities in this matter, and then, when you +find out some fact which I wish kept secret, and which you have obtained +because of the facilities I have given to you, you will quite frankly +tell me that it must go in, and then, of course, I shall be helpless +except to debar you from any further facilities, as you call them. No, +sir, I do not care to make any such bargain." + +"Well, suppose I strike out that clause of agreement, and say to you +that I will send nothing but what you approve of, would you then write +me a note to the sheriff and allow me to see the prisoner?" + +"I am sorry to say"--the lawyer hesitated for a moment, and glanced at +the card, then added--"Mr. Stratton, that I do not see my way clear to +granting your request." + +"I think," said Stratton, rising, "that you are doing yourself an +injustice. You are refusing--I may as well tell you first as last--what +is a great privilege. Now, you have had some experience in your +business, and I have had some experience in mine, and I beg to inform +you that men who are much more prominent in the history of their country +than any one I can at present think of in Cincinnati, have tried to balk +me in the pursuit of my business, and have failed." + +"In that matter, of course," said Brown, "I must take my chances. I +don't see the use of prolonging this interview. As you have been so +frank as to--I won't say threaten, perhaps warn is the better word--as +you have been so good as to warn me, I may, before we part, just give +_you_ a word of caution. Of course we, in Cincinnati, are perfectly +willing to admit that Chicago people are the smartest on earth, but I +may say that if you print a word in your paper which is untrue and which +is damaging to our side of the case, or if you use any methods that +are unlawful in obtaining the information you so much desire, you will +certainly get your paper into trouble, and you will run some little +personal risk yourself." + +"Well, as you remarked a moment ago, Mr. Brown, I shall have to take the +chances of that. I am here to get the news, and if I don't succeed it +will be the first time in my life." + +"Very well, sir," said the lawyer. "I wish you good evening." + +"Just one thing more," said the newspaper man, "before I leave you." + +"My dear sir," said the lawyer, impatiently, "I am very busy. I've +already given you a liberal share of my time. I must request that this +interview end at once." + +"I thought," said Mr. Stratton, calmly, "that perhaps you might be +interested in the first article that I am going to write. I shall devote +one column in the _Argus_ of the day after to-morrow to your defence of +the case, and whether your theory of defence is a tenable one or not." + +Mr. Brown pushed back his chair and looked earnestly at the young man. +That individual was imperturbably pulling on his gloves, and at the +moment was buttoning one of them. + +"Our _defence_!" cried the lawyer. "What do you know of our defence?" + +"My dear sir," said Stratton, "I know _all_ about it." + +"Sir, that is impossible. Nobody knows what our defence is to be except +Mr. Benham and myself." + +"And Mr. Stratton, of the Chicago _Argus_," replied the young man, as he +buttoned his coat. + +"May I ask, then, what the defence is?" + +"Certainly," answered the Chicago man. "Your defence is that Mr. Brenton +was insane, and that he committed suicide." + +Even Mr. Brown's habitual self-control, acquired by long years of +training in keeping his feelings out of sight, for the moment deserted +him. He drew his breath sharply, and cast a piercing glance at the young +man before him, who was critically watching the lawyer's countenance, +although he appeared to be entirely absorbed in buttoning his overcoat. +Then Mr. Brown gave a short, dry laugh. + +"I have met a bluff before," he said carelessly; "but I should like to +know what makes you think that such is our defence?" + +"_Think_!" cried the young man. "I don't think at all; I _know_ it." + +"How do you know it?" + +"Well, for one thing, I know it by your own actions a moment ago. What +first gave me an inkling of your defence was that book which is on +your table. It is Forbes Winslow on the mind and the brain; a very +interesting book, Mr. Brown, _very_ interesting indeed. It treats of +suicide, and the causes and conditions of the brain that will lead up +to it. It is a very good book, indeed, to study in such a case. Good +evening, Mr. Brown. I am sorry that we cannot co-operate in this +matter." + +Stratton turned and walked toward the door, while the lawyer gazed after +him with a look of helpless astonishment on his face. As Stratton placed +his hand on the door knob, the lawyer seemed to wake up as from a dream. + +"Stop!" he cried; "I will give you a letter that will admit you to Mrs. +Brenton." + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +"There!" said Speed to Brenton, triumphantly, "what do you think of +_that_? Didn't I say George Stratton was the brightest newspaper man in +Chicago? I tell you, his getting that letter from old Brown was one of +the cleverest bits of diplomacy I ever saw. There you had quickness of +perception, and nerve. All the time he was talking to old Brown he was +just taking that man's measure. See how coolly he acted while he was +drawing on his gloves and buttoning his coat as if ready to leave. Flung +that at Brown all of a sudden as quiet as if he was saying nothing at +all unusual, and all the time watching Brown out of the tail of his eye. +Well, sir, I must admit, that although I have known George Stratton for +years, I thought he was dished by that Cincinnati lawyer. I thought that +George was just gracefully covering up his defeat, and there he upset +old Brown's apple-cart in the twinkling of an eye. Now, you see the +effect of all this. Brown has practically admitted to him what the line +of defence is. Stratton won't publish it, of course; he has promised not +to, but you see he can hold that over Brown's head, and get everything +he wants unless they change their defence." + +"Yes," remarked Brenton, slowly, "he seems to be a very sharp newspaper +man indeed; but I don't like the idea of his going to interview my +wife." + +"Why, what is there wrong about that?" + +"Well, there is this wrong about it--that she in her depression may say +something that will tell against her." + +"Even if she does, what of it? Isn't the lawyer going to see the letter +before it is sent to the paper?" + +"I am not so sure about that. Do you think Stratton will show the +article to Brown if he gets what you call a scoop or a beat?" + +"Why, of course he will," answered Speed, indignantly; "hasn't he given +him his word that he will?" + +"Yes, I know he has," said Brenton, dubiously; "but he is a newspaper +man." + +"Certainly he is," answered Speed, with strong emphasis; "that is the +reason he will keep his word." + +"I hope so, I hope so; but I must admit that the more I know you +newspaper men, the more I see the great temptation you are under to +preserve if possible the sensational features of an article." + +"I'll bet you a drink--no, we can't do that," corrected Speed; "but you +shall see that, if Brown acts square with Stratton, he will keep his +word to the very letter with Brown. There is no use in our talking about +the matter here. Let us follow Stratton, and see what comes of the +interview." + +"I think I prefer to go alone," said Brenton, coldly. + +"Oh, as you like, as you like," answered the other, shortly. "I thought +you wanted my help in this affair; but if you don't, I am sure I shan't +intrude." + +"That's all right," said Brenton; "come along. By the way, Speed, what +do you think of that line of defence?" + +"Well, I don't know enough of the circumstances of the case to know what +to think of it. It seems to me rather a good line." + +"It can't be a good line when it is not true. It is certain to break +down." + +"That's so," said Speed; "but I'll bet you four dollars and a half that +they'll prove you a raving maniac before they are through with you. +They'll show very likely that you tried to poison yourself two or three +times; bring on a dozen of your friends to prove that they knew all your +life you were insane." + +"Do you think they will?" asked Brenton, uneasily. + +"Think it? Why, I am sure of it. You'll go down to posterity as one of +the most complete lunatics that ever, lived in Cincinnati. Oh, there +won't be anything left of you when _they_ get through with you." + +Meanwhile, Stratton was making his way to the residence of the sheriff. + +"Ah," said that official, when they met, "you got your letter, did you? +Well, I thought you would." + +"If you had heard the conversation between my estimable friend Mr. Brown +and myself, up to the very last moment, you wouldn't have thought it." + +"Well, Brown is generally very courteous towards newspaper men, and +that's one reason you see his name in the papers a great deal." + +"If I were a Cincinnati newspaper man, I can assure you that his name +wouldn't appear very much in the columns of my paper." + +"I am sorry to hear you say that. I thought Brown was very popular with +the newspaper men. You got the letter, though, did you?" + +"Yes; I got it. Here it is. Read it." + +The sheriff scanned the brief note over, and put it in his pocket. + +"Just take a chair for a moment, will you, and I will see if Mrs. +Brenton is ready to receive you." + +[Illustration: Jane.] + +Stratton seated himself, and, pulling a paper from his pocket, was +busily reading when the sheriff again entered. + +"I am sorry to say," he began, "after you have had all this trouble, +that Mrs. Brenton positively refuses to see you. You know I cannot +_compel_ a prisoner to meet any one. You understand that, of course." + +"Perfectly," said Stratton, thinking for a moment. "See here, sheriff, +I have simply _got_ to have a talk with that woman. Now, can't you tell +her I knew her husband, or something of that sort? I'll make it all +right when I see her." + + * * * * * + +"The scoundrel!" said Brenton to Speed, as Stratton made this remark. + +"My dear sir," said Speed, "don't you see he is just the man we want? +This is not the time to be particular." + +"Yes, but think of the treachery and meanness of telling a poor +unfortunate woman that he was acquainted with her husband, who is only a +few days dead." + +"Now, see here," said Speed, "if you are going to look on matters in +this way you will be a hindrance and not a help in the affair. Don't you +appreciate the situation? Why, Mrs. Brenton's own lawyers, as you have +said, think her guilty. What, then, can they learn by talking with her, +or what good can they do her with their minds already prejudiced against +her? Don't you see that?" + +Brenton made no answer to this, but it was evident he was very ill at +ease. + + * * * * * + +"Did you know her husband?" asked the sheriff. + +"No, to tell you the truth, I never heard of him before. But I must see +this lady, both for my good and hers, and I am not going to let a little +thing like that stand between us. Won't you tell her that I have come +with a letter from her own lawyers? Just show her the letter, and say +that I will take up but very little of her time. I am sorry to ask this +much of you, but you see how I am placed." + +"Oh, that's all right," said the sheriff, good-naturedly; "I shall be +very glad to do what you wish," and with that he once more disappeared. + +The sheriff stayed away longer this time, and Stratton paced the room +impatiently. Finally, the official returned, and said-- + +"Mrs. Brenton has consented to see you. Come this way, please. You +will excuse me, I know," continued the sheriff, as they walked along +together, "but it is part of my duty to remain in the room while you +are talking with Mrs. Brenton." + +"Certainly, certainly," said Stratton; "I understand that." + +"Very well; then, if I may make a suggestion, I would say this: you +should be prepared to ask just what you want to know, and do it all as +speedily as possible, for really Mrs. Brenton is in a condition of +nervous exhaustion that renders it almost cruel to put her through any +rigid cross-examination." + +"I understand that also," said Stratton; "but you must remember +that she has a very much harder trial to undergo in the future. I am +exceedingly anxious to get at the truth of this thing, and so, if it +seems to you that I am asking a lot of very unnecessary questions, I +hope you will not interfere with me as long as Mrs. Brenton consents to +answer." + +"I shall not interfere at all," said the sheriff; "I only wanted to +caution you, for the lady may break down at any moment. If you can +marshal your questions so that the most important ones come first, I +think it will be wise. I presume you have them pretty well arranged in +your own mind?" + +"Well, I can't say that I have; you see, I am entirely in the dark. I +got no help whatever from the lawyers, and from what I know of their +defence I am thoroughly convinced that they are on the wrong track." + +"What! did Brown say anything about the defence? That is not like his +usual caution." + +"He didn't intend to," answered Stratton; "but I found out all I wanted +to know, nevertheless. You see, I shall have to ask what appears to be a +lot of rambling, inconsequential questions because you can never tell in +a case like this when you may get the key to the whole mystery." + +"Well, here we are," said the sheriff, as he knocked at a door, and then +pushed it open. + +From the moment George Stratton saw Mrs. Brenton his interest in the +case ceased to be purely journalistic. + +Mrs. Brenton was standing near the window, and she appeared to be very +calm and collected, but her fingers twitched nervously, clasping and +unclasping each other. Her modest dress of black was certainly a very +becoming one. + +George thought he had never seen a woman so beautiful. + +As she was standing up, she evidently intended the interview to be a +short one. + +"Madam," said Stratton, "I am very sorry indeed to trouble you; but I +have taken a great interest in the solution of this mystery, and I have +your lawyers' permission to visit you. I assure you, anything you say +will be submitted to them, so that there will be no danger of your case +being prejudiced by any statements made." + +"I am not afraid," said Mrs. Brenton, "that the truth will injure or +prejudice my case." + +"I am sure of that," answered the newspaper man; and then, knowing that +she would not sit down if he asked her to, he continued diplomatically, +"Madam, will you permit me to sit down? I wish to write out my notes as +carefully as possible. Accuracy is my strong point." + +"Certainly," said Mrs. Brenton; and, seeing that it was not probable the +interview would be a short one, she seated herself by the window, while +the sheriff took a chair in the corner, and drew a newspaper from his +pocket. + +"Now, madam," said the special, "a great number of the questions I ask +you may seem trivial, but as I said to the sheriff a moment ago, some +word of yours that appears to you entirely unconnected with the case may +give me a clue which will be exceedingly valuable. You will, therefore, +I am sure, pardon me if some of the questions I ask you appear +irrelevant." + +Mrs. Brenton bowed her head, but said nothing. + +"Were your husband's business affairs in good condition at the time of +his death?" + +"As far as I know they were." + +"Did you ever see anything in your husband's actions that would lead you +to think him a man who might have contemplated suicide?" + +Mrs. Brenton looked up with wide-open eyes. + +"Certainly not," she said. + +"Had he ever spoken to you on the subject of suicide?" + +"I do not remember that he ever did." + +"Was he ever queer in his actions? In short, did you ever notice +anything about him that would lead you to doubt his sanity? I am sorry +if questions I ask you seem painful, but I have reasons for wishing to +be certain on this point." + +"No," said Mrs. Brenton; "he was perfectly sane. No man could have been +more so. I am certain that he never thought of committing suicide." + +"Why are you so certain on that point?" + +"I do not know why. I only know I am positive of it." + +"Do you know if he had any enemy who might wish his death?" + +"I doubt if he had an enemy in the world. I do not know of any." + +"Have you ever heard him speak of anybody in a spirit of enmity?" + +"Never. He was not a man who bore enmity against people. Persons whom he +did not like he avoided." + +"The poison, it is said, was put into his cup of coffee. Do you happen +to know," said Stratton, turning to the sheriff, "how they came to that +conclusion?" + +"No, I do not," answered the sheriff. "In fact, I don't see any reason +why they should think so." + +"Was morphia found in the coffee cup afterwards?" + +"No; at the time of the inquest all the things had been cleared away. I +think it was merely presumed that the morphine was put into his coffee." + +"Who poured out the coffee he drank that night?" + +"I did," answered his wife. + +"You were at one end of the table and he at the other, I suppose?" + +"Yes." + +"How did the coffee cup reach him?" + +"I gave it to the servant, and she placed it before him." + +"It passed through no other hands, then?" + +"No." + +"Who was the servant?" + +Mrs. Brenton pondered for a moment. + +"I really know very little about her. She had been in our house for a +couple of weeks only." + +"What was her name?" + +"Jane Morton, I think." + +"Where is she now, do you know?" + +"I do not know." + +"She appeared at the inquest, of course?" said Stratton, turning to the +sheriff. + +"I think she did," was the answer. "I am not sure." + +He marked her name down in the note-book. + +"How many people were there at the dinner?" + +"Including my husband and myself, there were twenty-six." + +"Could you give me the name of each of them?" + +"Yes, I think so." + +She repeated the names, which he took down, with certain notes and +comments on each. + +"Who sat next your husband at the head of the table?" + +"Miss Walker was at his right hand, Mr. Roland at his left." + +"Now, forgive me if I ask you if you have ever had any trouble with your +husband?" + +"Never." + +"Never had any quarrel?" + +Mrs. Brenton hesitated for a moment. + +"No, I don't think we ever had what could be called a quarrel." + +"You had no disagreement shortly before the dinner?" + +Again Mrs. Brenton hesitated. + +"I can hardly call it a disagreement," she said. "We had a little +discussion about some of the guests who were to be invited." + +"Did he object to any that were there?" + +"There was a gentleman there whom he did not particularly like, I think, +but he made no objection to his coming; in fact, he seemed to feel that +I might imagine he had an objection from a little discussion we had +about inviting him; and afterwards, as if to make up for that, he placed +this guest at his left hand." + +Stratton quickly glanced up the page of his notebook, and marked a +little cross before the name of Stephen Roland. + +"You had another disagreement with him before, if I might term it so, +had you not?" + +Mrs. Brenton looked at him surprised. + +"What makes you think so?" she said. + +"Because you hesitated when I spoke of it." + +"Well, we had what you might call a disagreement once at Lucerne, +Switzerland." + +"Will you tell me what it was about?" + +"I would rather not." + +"Will you tell me this--was it about a gentleman?" + +"Yes," said Mrs. Brenton. + +"Was your husband of a jealous disposition?" + +"Ordinarily I do not think he was. It seemed to me at the time that he +was a little unjust--that's all." + +"Was the gentleman in Lucerne?" + +"Oh no!" + +"In Cincinnati?" + +"Yes." + +"Was his name Stephen Roland?" + +Mrs. Brenton again glanced quickly at the newspaper man, and seemed +about to say something, but, checking herself, she simply answered-- + +"Yes." + +Then she leaned back in the armchair and sighed. + +"I am very tired," she said. "If it is not absolutely necessary, I +prefer not to continue this conversation." + +Stratton immediately rose. + +"Madam," he said, "I am very much obliged to you for the trouble you +have taken to answer my questions, which I am afraid must have seemed +impertinent to you, but I assure you that I did not intend them to be +so. Now, madam, I would like very much to get a promise from you. I wish +that you would promise to see me if I call again, and I, on my part, +assure you that unless I have something particularly important to tell +you, or to ask, I shall not intrude upon you." + +"I shall be pleased to see you at any time, sir." + +When the sheriff and the newspaper man reached the other room, the +former said-- + +"Well, what do you think?" + +"I think it is an interesting case," was the answer. + +"Or, to put it in other words, you think Mrs. Brenton a very interesting +lady." + +"Officially, sir, you have exactly stated my opinion." + +"And I suppose, poor woman, she will furnish an interesting article for +the paper?" + +"Hang the paper!" said Stratton, with more than his usual vim. + +The sheriff laughed. Then he said-- + +"I confess that to me it seems a very perplexing affair all through. +Have you got any light on the subject?" + +"My dear sir, I will tell you three important things. First, Mrs. +Brenton is innocent. Second, her lawyers are taking the wrong line of +defence. Third," tapping his breast-pocket, "I have the name of the +murderer in my note-book." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +"Now," said John Speed to William Brenton, "we have got Stratton fairly +started on the track, and I believe that he will ferret out the truth +in this matter. But, meanwhile, we must not be idle. You must remember +that, with all our facilities for discovery, we really know nothing +of the murderer ourselves. I propose we set about this thing just as +systematically as Stratton will. The chances are that we shall penetrate +the mystery of the whole affair very much quicker than he. As I told +you before, I am something of a newspaper man myself; and if, with the +facilities of getting into any room in any house, in any city and in any +country, and being with a suspected criminal night and day when he never +imagines any one is near him--if with all those advantages I cannot +discover the real author of that crime before George Stratton does, then +I'll never admit that I came from Chicago, or belonged to a newspaper." + +"Whom do you think Stratton suspects of the crime? He told the sheriff," +said Brenton, "that he had the name in his pocket-book." + +"I don't know," said Speed, "but I have my suspicions. You see, he has +the names of all the guests at your banquet in that pocket-book of his; +but the name of Stephen Roland he has marked with two crosses. The name +of the servant he has marked with one cross. Now, I suspect that he +believes Stephen Roland committed the crime. You know Roland; what do +you think of him?" + +"I think he is quite capable of it," answered Brenton, with a frown. + +"Still, you are prejudiced against the man," put in Speed, "so your +evidence is hardly impartial." + +"I am not prejudiced against any one," answered Brenton; "I merely know +that man. He is a thoroughly despicable, cowardly character. The only +thing that makes me think he would not commit a murder, is that he is +too craven to stand the consequences if he were caught. He is a cool +villain, but he is a coward. I do not believe he has the courage to +commit a crime, even if he thought he would benefit by it." + +"Well, there is one thing, Brenton, you can't be accused of flattering +a man, and if it is any consolation for you to know, you may be pretty +certain that George Stratton is on his track." + +"I am sure I wish him success," answered Brenton, gloomily; "if he +brings Roland to the gallows I shall not mourn over it." + +"That's all right," said Speed; "but now we must be up and doing +ourselves. Have you anything to propose?" + +"No, I have not, except that we might play the detective on Roland." + +"Well, the trouble with that is we would merely be duplicating what +Stratton is doing himself. Now, I'll tell you my proposal. Supposing +that we consult with Lecocq." + +"Who is that? The novelist?" + +"Novelist? I don't think he has ever written any novels--not that I +remember of." + +"Ah, I didn't know. It seemed to me that I remembered his name in +connection with some novel." + +"Oh, very likely you did. He is the hero of more detective stories than +any other man I know of. He was the great French detective." + +"What, is he dead, then?" + +"Dead? Not a bit of it; he's here with us. Oh, I understand what you +mean. Yes, from your point of view, he is dead." + +"Where can we find him?" + +"Well, I presume, in Paris. He's a first-rate fellow to know, anyhow, +and he spends most of his time around his old haunts. In fact, if you +want to be certain to find Lecocq, you will generally get him during +office hours in the room he used to frequent while in Paris." + +"Let us go and see him, then." + + * * * * * + +"Monsieur Lecocq," said Speed, a moment afterwards, "I wish to introduce +to you a new-comer, Mr. Brenton, recently of Cincinnati." + +"Ah, my dear Speed," said the Frenchman, "I am very pleased indeed to +meet any friend of yours. How is the great Chicago, the second Paris, +and how is your circulation?--the greatest in the world, I suppose." + +"Well, it is in pretty good order," said Speed; "we circulated from +Chicago to Paris here in a very much shorter time than the journey +usually occupies down below. Now, can you give us a little of your time? +Are you busy just now?" + +"My dear Speed, I am always busy. I am like the people of the second +Paris. I lose no time, but I have always time to speak with my friends." + +"All right," said Speed. "I am like the people of the second Chicago, +generally more intent on pleasure than business; but, nevertheless, I +have a piece of business for you." + +"The second Chicago?" asked Lecocq. "And where is that, pray?" + +"Why, Paris, of course," said Speed. + +Lecocq laughed. + +"You are incorrigible, you Chicagoans. And what is the piece of +business?" + +"It is the old thing, monsieur. A mystery to be unravelled. Mr. Brenton +here wishes to retain you in his case." + +"And what is his case?" was the answer. + +Lecocq was evidently pleased to have a bit of real work given him. + +[Illustration: The detective.] + +Speed briefly recited the facts, Brenton correcting him now and then +on little points where he was wrong. Speed seemed to think these points +immaterial, but Lecocq said that attention to trivialities was the whole +secret of the detective business. + +"Ah," said Lecocq, sorrowfully, "there is no real trouble in elucidating +that mystery. I hoped it would be something difficult; but, you see, +with my experience of the old world, and with the privileges one enjoys +in this world, things which might be difficult to one below are very +easy for us. Now, I shall show you how simple it is." + +"Good gracious!" cried Speed, "you don't mean to say you are going to +read it right off the reel, like that, when we have been bothering +ourselves with it so long, and without success?" + +"At the moment," replied the French detective, "I am not prepared to say +who committed the deed. That is a matter of detail. Now, let us see what +we know, and arrive, from that, at what we do not know. The one fact, of +which we are assured on the statement of two physicians from Cincinnati, +is that Mr. Brenton was poisoned." + +"Well," said Speed, "there are several other facts, too. Another fact is +that Mrs. Brenton is accused of the crime." + +"Ah! my dear sir," said Lecocq, "that is not pertinent." + +"No," said Speed, "I agree with you. I call it very impertinent." + +Brenton frowned, at this, and his old dislike to the flippant Chicago +man rose to the surface again. + +The Frenchman continued marking the points on his long forefinger. + +"Now, there are two ways by which that result may have been attained. +First, Mr. Brenton may have administered to himself the poison; +secondly, the poison may have been administered by some one else." + +"Yes," said Speed; "and, thirdly, the poison may have been administered +accidentally--you do not seem to take that into account." + +"I do not take that into account," calmly replied the Frenchman, +"because of its improbability. If there were an accident; if, for +instance, the poison was in the sugar, or in some of the viands served, +then others than Mr. Brenton would have been poisoned. The fact that one +man out of twenty-six was poisoned, and the fact that several people are +to benefit by his death, point, it seems to me, to murder; but to be +sure of that, I will ask Mr. Brenton one question. My dear sir, did you +administer this poison to yourself?" + +"Certainly not," answered Brenton. + +"Then we have two facts. First, Mr. Brenton was poisoned; secondly, he +was poisoned by some person who had an interest in his death. Now we +will proceed. When Mr. Brenton sat down to that dinner he was perfectly +well. When he arose from that dinner he was feeling ill. He goes to bed. +He sees no one but his wife after he has left the dinner-table, and he +takes nothing between the time he leaves the dinner-table and the moment +he becomes unconscious. Now, that poison must have been administered to +Mr. Brenton at the dinner-table. Am I not right?" + +"Well, you seem to be," answered Speed. + +"Seem? Why, it is as plain as day. There cannot be any mistake." + +"All right," said Speed; "go ahead. What next?" + +"What next? There were twenty-six people around that table, with two +servants to wait on them, making twenty-eight in all. There were +twenty-six, I think you said, including Mr. Brenton." + +"That is correct." + +"Very well. One of those twenty-seven persons has poisoned Mr. Brenton. +Do you follow me?" + +"We do," answered Speed; "we follow you as closely as you have ever +followed a criminal! Go on." + +"Very well, so much is clear. These are all facts, not theories. Now, +what is the thing that I should do if I were in Cincinnati? I would find +out whether one or more of those guests had anything to gain by the +death of their host. That done, I would follow the suspected persons. I +would have my men find out what each of them had done for a month before +the time of the crime. Whoever committed it made some preparation. He +did something, too, as you say, in America, to cover up his tracks. Very +well. By the keen detective these actions are easily traced. I shall at +once place twenty-seven of the best men I know on the track of those +twenty-seven persons." + +"I call that shadowing with a vengeance," remarked the Chicago man. + +"It will be very easy. The one who has committed the crime is certain, +when he is alone in his own room, to say something, or to do something, +that will show my detective that he is the criminal. So, gentlemen, if +you can tell me who those twenty-seven persons are, in three days or a +week from this time I will tell you who gave the poison to Mr. Brenton." + +"You seem very sure of that," said Speed. + +"Sure of it? It is simply child's play. It is mere waiting. If, for +instance, at the trial Mrs. Brenton is found guilty, and sentenced, the +one who is the guilty party is certain to betray himself or herself +as soon as he or she is alone. If it be a man who hopes to marry Mrs. +Brenton, he will be overcome with grief at what has happened. He will +wring his hands and try to think what can be done to prevent the +sentence being carried out. He will argue with himself whether it is +better to give himself up and tell the truth, and if he is a coward he +will conclude not to do that, but will try to get a pardon, or at least +have the capital sentence commuted into life imprisonment. He will +possibly be cool and calm in public, but when he enters his own room, +when his door is locked, when he believes no one can see him, when he +thinks he is alone, then will come his trial. Then his passions and +his emotions will betray him. It is mere child's play, as I tell you, +and long before there is a verdict I will give you the name of the +murderer." + +"Very well, then," said Speed, "that is agreed; we will look you up in a +week from now." + +"I should be pained," said Lecocq, "to put you to that trouble. As soon +as I get the report from my men I will communicate with you and let +you know the result. In a few days I shall give you the name of the +assassin." + +"Good-bye, then, until I see you again," answered Speed; and with this +he and Brenton took their departure. + +"He seems to be very sure of himself," said Brenton. + +[Illustration: Jane Morton.] + +"He will do what he says, you may depend on that." + +The week was not yet up when Monsieur Lecocq met John Speed in Chicago. + +"By the look of satisfaction on your face," said Mr. Speed, "I imagine +you have succeeded in unravelling the mystery." + +"Ah," replied the Frenchman; "if I have the appearance of satisfaction, +it is indeed misplaced." + +"Then you have not made any discovery?" + +"On the contrary, it is all as plain as your big buildings here. It +is not for that reason, but because it is so simple that I should be +foolish to feel satisfaction regarding it." + +"Then who is the person?" + +"The assassin," replied the Frenchman, "is one whom no one has seemed to +think of, and yet one on whom suspicion should have been the first to +fall. The person who did Monsieur Brenton the honour to poison him is +none other than the servant girl, Jane Morton." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +"Jane Morton!" cried Speed; "who is she?" + +"She is, as you may remember, the girl who carried the coffee from Mrs. +Brenton to monsieur." + +"And are you sure she is the criminal?" + +The great detective did not answer; he merely gave an expressive little +French gesture, as though the question was not worth commenting upon. + +"Why, what was her motive?" asked Speed. + +For the first time in their acquaintance a shade of perplexity seemed to +come over the enthusiastic face of the volatile Frenchman. + +"You are what you call smart, you Chicago people," he said, "and you +have in a moment struck the only point on which we are at a loss." + +"My dear sir," returned Speed, "that is _the_ point in the case. Motive +is the first thing to look for, it seems to me. You said as much +yourself. If you haven't succeeded in finding what motive Jane Morton +had for poisoning her employer, it appears to me that very little has +been accomplished." + +"Ah, you say that before you know the particulars. I am certain we shall +find the motive. What I know now is that Jane Morton is the one who put +the poison in his cup of coffee." + +"It would take a good deal of nerve to do that with twenty-six people +around the table. You forget, my dear sir, that she had to pass the +whole length of the table, after taking the cup, before giving it to Mr. +Brenton." + +"Half of the people had their backs to her, and the other half, I can +assure you, were not looking at her. If the poison was ready, it was a +very easy thing to slip it into a cup of coffee. There was ample time to +do it, and that is how it was done." + +"May I ask how you arrived at that conclusion?" + +"Certainly, certainly, my dear sir. My detectives report that each one +of the twenty-seven people they had to follow were shadowed night and +day. But only two of them acted suspiciously. These two were Jane Morton +and Stephen Roland. Stephen Roland's anxiety is accounted for by the +fact that he is evidently in love with Mrs. Brenton. But the change +in Jane Morton has been something terrible. She is suffering from the +severest pangs of ineffectual remorse. She has not gone out again to +service, but occupies a room in one of the poorer quarters of the +city--a room that she never leaves except at night. Her whole actions +show that she is afraid of the police--afraid of being tracked for her +crime. She buys a newspaper every night, locks and bars the door on +entering her room, and, with tears streaming from her eyes, reads every +word of the criminal news. One night, when she went out to buy her +paper, and what food she needed for the next day, she came unexpectedly +upon a policeman at the corner. The man was not looking at her at all, +nor for her, but she fled, running like a deer, doubling and turning +through alleys and back streets until by a very roundabout road she +reached her own room. There she locked herself in, and remained +without food all next day rather than go out again. She flung herself +terror-stricken on the bed, after her room door was bolted, and cried, +'Oh, why did I do it? why did I do it? I shall certainly be found out. +If Mrs. Brenton is acquitted, they will be after me next day. I did it +to make up to John what he had suffered, and yet if John knew it, he +would never speak to me again.'" + +[Illustration: "Oh, why did I do it?"] + +"Who is John?" asked Speed. + +"Ah, that," said the detective, "I do not know. When we find out who +John is, then we shall find the motive for the crime." + +"In that case, if I were you, I should try to find John as quickly as +possible." + +"Yes, my dear sir, that is exactly what should be done, and my detective +is now endeavouring to discover the identity of John. He will possibly +succeed in a few days. But there is another way of finding out who John +is, and perhaps in that you can help me." + +"What other way?" + +"There is one man who undoubtedly knows who John is, and that is Mr. +Brenton. Now, I thought that perhaps you, who know Brenton better than I +do, would not mind asking him who John is." + +"My dear sir," said Speed, "Brenton is no particular friend of mine, +and I only know him well enough to feel that if there is any +cross-examination to be done, I should prefer somebody else to do it." + +"Why, you are not afraid of him, are you?" asked the detective. + +"Afraid of him? Certainly not, but I tell you that Brenton is just a +little touchy and apt to take offence. I have found him so on several +occasions. Now, as you have practically taken charge of this case, why +don't you go and see him?" + +"I suppose I shall have to do that," said the Frenchman, "if you will +not undertake it." + +"No, I will not." + +"You have no objection, have you, to going with me?" + +"It is better for you to see Brenton alone. I do not think he would care +to be cross-examined before witnesses, you know." + +"Ah, then, good-bye; I shall find out from Mr. Brenton who John is." + +"I am sure I wish you luck," replied Speed, as Lecocq took his +departure. + +Lecocq found Brenton and Ferris together. The cynical spirit seemed to +have been rather sceptical about the accounts given him of the influence +that Speed and Brenton, combined, had had upon the Chicago newspaper +man. Yet he was interested in the case, and although he still maintained +that no practical good would result, even if a channel of communication +could be opened between the two states of existence, he had listened +with his customary respect to what Brenton had to say. + +"Ah," said Brenton, when he saw the Frenchman, "have you any news for +me?" + +"Yes, I have. I have news that I will exchange, but meanwhile I want +some news from you." + +"I have none to give you," answered Brenton. + +"If you have not, will you undertake to answer any questions I shall ask +you, and not take offence if the questions seem to be personal ones?" + +"Certainly," said Brenton; "I shall be glad to answer anything as long +as it has a bearing on the case." + +"Very well, then, it has a very distinct bearing on the case. Do you +remember the girl Jane Morton?" + +"I remember her, of course, as one of the servants in our employ. I know +very little about her, though." + +"That is just what I wish to find out. Do you know _anything_ about her?" + +"No; she had been in our employ but a fortnight, I think, or perhaps it +was a month. My wife attended to these details, of course. I knew the +girl was there, that is all." + +The Frenchman looked very dubious as Brenton said this, while the latter +rather bridled up. + +"You evidently do not believe me?" he cried. + +Once more the detective gave his customary gesture, and said-- + +"Ah, pardon me, you are entirely mistaken. I have this to acquaint you +with. Jane Morton is the one who murdered you. She did it, she says, +partly for the sake of John, whoever he is, and partly out of revenge. +Now, of course, you are the only man who can give me information as to +the motive. That girl certainly had a motive, and I should like to find +out what the motive was." + +Brenton meditated for a few moments, and then suddenly brightened up. + +"I remember, now, an incident which happened a week of two before +Christmas, which may have a bearing on the case. One night I heard--or +thought I heard--a movement downstairs, when I supposed everybody had +retired. I took a revolver in my hand, and went cautiously down the +stairs. Of course I had no light, because, if there was a burglar, I did +not wish to make myself too conspicuous a mark. As I went along the hall +leading to the kitchen, I saw there was a light inside; but as soon as +they heard me coming the light was put out. When I reached the kitchen, +I noticed a man trying to escape through the door that led to the +coalshed. I fired at him twice, and he sank to the floor with a groan. I +thought I had bagged a burglar sure, but it turned out to be nothing of +the kind. He was merely a young man who had been rather late visiting +one of the girls. I suspect now the girl he came to see was Jane +Morton. As it was, the noise brought the two girls there, and I never +investigated the matter or tried to find out which one it was that he +had been visiting. They were both terror-stricken, and the young man +himself was in a state of great fear. He thought for a moment that he +had been killed. However, he was only shot in the leg, and I sent him to +the house of a physician who keeps such patients as do not wish to go to +the hospital. I did not care to have him go to the hospital, because I +was afraid the newspapers would get hold of the incident, and make +a sensation of it. The whole thing was accidental; the young fellow +realized that, and so, I thought, did the girls; at least, I never +noticed anything in their behaviour to show the contrary." + +"What sort of a looking girl is Jane Morton?" asked Ferris. + +"She is a tall brunette, with snapping black eyes." + +"Ah, then, I remember her going into the room where you lay," said +Ferris, "on Christmas morning. It struck me when she came out that she +was very cool and self-possessed, and not at all surprised." + +"All I can say," said Brenton, "is that I never noticed anything in her +conduct like resentment at what had happened. I intended to give the +young fellow a handsome compensation for his injury, but of course what +occurred on Christmas Eve prevented that: I had really forgotten all +about the circumstance, or I should have told you of it before." + +"Then," said Lecocq, "the thing now is perfectly clear. That black-eyed +vixen murdered you out of revenge." + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +It was evident to George Stratton that he would have no time before +the trial came off in which to prove Stephen Roland the guilty person. +Besides this, he was in a strange state of mind which he himself could +not understand. The moment he sat down to think out a plan by which +he could run down the man he was confident had committed the crime, a +strange wavering of mind came over him. Something seemed to say to him +that he was on the wrong track. This became so persistent that George +was bewildered, and seriously questioned his own sanity. Whenever he sat +alone in his own room, the doubts arose and a feeling that he was on the +wrong scent took possession of him. This feeling became so strong at +times that he looked up other clues, and at one time tried to find +out the whereabouts of the servant girls who had been employed by the +Brentons. Curiously enough, the moment he began this search, his mind +seemed to become clearer and easier; and when that happened, the old +belief in the guilt of Stephen Roland resumed its sway again. But the +instant he tried to follow up what clues he had in that direction, he +found himself baffled and assailed again by doubts, and so every effort +he put forth appeared to be nullified. This state of mind was so unusual +with him that he had serious thoughts of abandoning the whole case and +going back to Chicago. He said to himself, "I am in love with this woman +and I shall go crazy if I stay here any longer." Then he remembered the +trust she appeared to have in his powers of ferreting out the mystery of +the case, and this in turn encouraged him and urged him on. + +All trace of the girls appeared to be lost. He hesitated to employ a +Cincinnati detective, fearing that what he discovered would be given +away to the Cincinnati press. Then he accused himself of disloyalty to +Mrs. Brenton, in putting his newspaper duty before his duty to her. +He was so torn by his conflicting ideas and emotions that at last he +resolved to abandon the case altogether and return to Chicago. He packed +up his valise and resolved to leave that night for big city, trial or no +trial. He had described his symptoms to a prominent physician, and that +physician told him that the case was driving him mad, and the best thing +he could do was to leave at once for other scenes. He could do no good, +and would perhaps end by going insane himself. + +As George Stratton was packing his valise in his room, alone, as he +thought, the following conversation was taking place beside him. + +"It is no use," said Speed; "we are merely muddling him, and not doing +any good. The only thing is to leave him alone. If he investigates the +Roland part of the case he will soon find out for himself that he is on +the wrong track; then he will take the right one." + +"Yes," said Brenton; "but the case comes on in a few days. If anything +is to be done, it must be done now." + +"In that I do not agree with you," said Speed. "Perhaps everything will +go all right at the trial, but even if it does not, there is still +a certain amount of time. You see how we have spoiled things by +interfering. Our first success with him has misled us. We thought we +could do anything; we have really done worse than nothing, because all +this valuable time has been lost. If he had been allowed to proceed in +his own way he would have ferreted out the matter as far as Stephen +Roland is concerned, and would have found that there was no cause for +his suspicion. As it is he has done nothing. He still believes, if left +alone, that Stephen Roland is the criminal. All our efforts to lead him +to the residence of Jane Morton have been unavailing. Now, you see, he +is on the eve of going back to Chicago." + +"Well, then, let him go," said Brenton, despondently. + +"With all my heart, say I," answered Speed; "but in any case let us +leave him alone." + +Before the train started that night Stratton said to himself that he was +a new man. Richard was himself again. He was thoroughly convinced of the +guilt of Stephen Roland, and wondered why he had allowed his mind to +wander off the topic and waste time with other suspicions, for which +he now saw there was no real excuse. He had not the time, he felt, to +investigate the subject personally, but he flattered himself he knew +exactly the man to put on Roland's track, and, instead of going himself +to Chicago, he sent off the following despatch:-- + +"Meet me to-morrow morning, without fail, at the Gibson House. Answer." + +Before midnight he had his answer, and next morning he met a man in whom +he had the most implicit confidence, and who had, as he said, the rare +and valuable gift of keeping his mouth shut. + +"You see this portrait?" Stratton said, handing to the other a +photograph of Stephen Roland. "Now, I do not know how many hundred +chemist shops there are in Cincinnati, but I want you to get a list of +them, and you must not omit the most obscure shop in town. I want you to +visit every drug store there is in the city, show this photograph to the +proprietor and the clerks, and find out if that man bought any chemicals +during the week or two preceding Christmas. Find out what drugs he +bought, and where he bought them, then bring the information to me." + +"How much time do you give me on this, Mr. Stratton?" was the question. + +"Whatever time you want. I wish the thing done thoroughly and +completely, and, as you know, silence is golden in a case like this." + +[Illustration: "How much time do you give me?"] + +"Enough said," replied the other, and, buttoning the photograph in his +inside pocket, he left the room. + + * * * * * + +There is no necessity of giving an elaborate report of the trial. Any +one who has curiosity in the matter can find the full particulars from +the files of any paper in the country. Mrs. Brenton was very pale as she +sat in the prisoner's dock, but George Stratton thought he never saw any +one look so beautiful. It seemed to him that any man in that crowded +courtroom could tell in a moment that she was not guilty of the crime +with which she was charged, and he looked at the jury of twelve +supposedly good men, and wondered what they thought of it. + +[Illustration: In the prisoner's dock.] + +The defence claimed that it was not their place to show who committed +the murder. That rested with the prosecution. The prosecution, Mr. +Benham maintained, had signally failed to do this. However, in order to +aid the prosecution, he was quite willing to show how Mr. Brenton came +to his death. Then witnesses were called, who, to the astonishment of +Mrs. Brenton, testified that her husband had all along had a tendency to +insanity. It was proved conclusively that some of his ancestors had died +in a lunatic asylum, and one was stated to have committed suicide. The +defence produced certain books from Mr. Brenton's library, among them +Forbes Winslow's volume on "The Mind and the Brain," to show that +Brenton had studied the subject of suicide. + +The judge's charge was very colourless. It amounted simply to this: +If the jury thought the prosecution had shown Mrs. Brenton to have +committed the crime, they were to bring in a verdict of guilty, and if +they thought otherwise they were to acquit her; and so the jury retired. + +As they left the court-room a certain gloom fell upon all those who were +friendly to the fair prisoner. + +Despite the great reputation of Benham and Brown, it was the thought +of every one present that they had made a very poor defence. The +prosecution, on the other hand, had been most ably conducted. It had +been shown that Mrs. Brenton was chiefly to profit by her husband's +death. The insurance fund alone would add seventy-five thousand dollars +to the money she would control. A number of little points that Stratton +had given no heed to had been magnified, and appeared then to have a +great bearing on the case. For the first time, Stratton admitted +to himself that the prosecution had made out a very strong case of +circumstantial evidence. The defence, too, had been so deplorably weak +that it added really to the strength of the prosecution. A great speech +had been expected of Benham, but he did not rise to the occasion, and, +as one who knew him said, Benham evidently believed his client guilty. + +As the jury retired, every one in the court-room felt that there was +little hope for the prisoner; and this feeling was intensified when, a +few moments after, the announcement was made in court, just as the +judge was preparing to leave the bench, that the jury had agreed on the +verdict. + +Stratton, in the stillness of the court-room, heard one lawyer whisper +to another, "She's doomed." + +There was intense silence as the jury slowly filed into their places, +and the foreman stood up. + +"Gentlemen of the jury," was the question, "have you agreed upon a +verdict?" + +"We have," answered the foreman. + +"Do you find the prisoner guilty or not guilty?" + +"Not guilty," was the clear answer. + +At this there was first a moment of silence, and then a ripple of +applause, promptly checked. + +Mrs. Brenton was free. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +George Stratton sat in the court-room for a moment dazed, before he +thought of the principal figure in the trial; then he rose to go to her +side, but he found that Roland was there before him. He heard her say, +"Get me a carriage quickly, and take me away from here." + +So Stratton went back to his hotel to meet his Chicago detective. The +latter had nothing to report. He told him the number of drug stores he +had visited, but all without avail. No one had recognized the portrait. + +"All right," said Stratton; "then you will just have to go ahead until +you find somebody who does. It is, I believe, only a question of time +and perseverance." + +Next morning he arose late. He looked over the report of the trial in +the morning paper, and then, turning to the leader page, read with +rising indignation the following editorial:-- + +"THE BRENTON CASE. + +"The decision of yesterday shows the glorious uncertainty that attends +the finding of the average American jury. If such verdicts are to be +rendered, we may as well blot out from the statute-book all punishment +for all crimes in which the evidence is largely circumstantial. If ever +a strong case was made out against a human being it was the case of the +prosecution in the recent trial. If ever there was a case in which the +defence was deplorably weak, although ably conducted, it was the case +that was concluded yesterday. Should we, then, be prepared to say that +circumstantial evidence will not be taken by an American jury as ground +for the conviction of a murderer? The chances are that, if we draw this +conclusion, we shall be entirely wrong. If a man stood in the dock, in +the place of the handsome young woman who occupied it yesterday, he +would to-day have been undoubtedly convicted of murder. The conclusion, +then, to be arrived at seems to be that, unless there is the direct +proof of murder against a pretty woman, it is absolutely impossible +to get the average jury of men to convict her. It would seem that the +sooner we get women on juries, especially where a woman is on trial, the +better it will be for the cause of justice." + +Then in other parts of the paper there were little items similar to this-- + +"If Mrs. Brenton did not poison her husband, then who did?" + +That afternoon George Stratton paid a visit to Mrs. Brenton. He had +hoped she had not seen the paper in question, but he hoped in vain. He +found Mrs. Brenton far from elated with her acquittal. + +"I would give everything I possess," she said, "to bring the culprit to +justice." + +After a talk on that momentous question, and when George Stratton held +her hand and said good-bye, she asked him-- + +"When do you go to Chicago?" + +"Madam," he said, "I leave for Chicago the moment I find out who +poisoned William Brenton." + +She answered sadly-- + +"You may remain a long time in Cincinnati." + +"In some respects," said Stratton, "I like Cincinnati better than +Chicago." + +"You are the first Chicago man I ever heard say that," she replied. + +"Ah, that was because they did not know Cincinnati as I do." + +"I suppose you must have seen a great deal of the town, but I must +confess that from now on I should be very glad if I never saw Cincinnati +again. I would like to consult with you," she continued, "about the best +way of solving this mystery. I have been thinking of engaging some of +the best detectives I can get. I suppose New York would be the place." + +"No; Chicago," answered the young man. + +"Well, then, that is what I wanted to see you about. I would like to get +the very best detectives that can be had. Don't you think that, if they +were promised ample reward, and paid well during the time they were +working on the case, we might discover the key to this mystery?" + +"I do not think much of our detective system," answered Stratton, +"although I suppose there is something in it, and sometimes they manage +in spite of themselves to stumble on the solution of a crime. Still, I +shall be very glad indeed to give you what advice I can on the subject. +I may say I have constituted myself a special detective in this case, +and that I hope to have the honour of solving the problem." + +"You are very good, indeed," she answered, "and I must ask you to let me +bear the expense." + +"Oh, the paper will do that. I won't be out of pocket at all," said +Stratton. + +"Well, I hardly know how to put it; but, whether you are successful or +not, I feel very grateful to you, and I hope you will not be offended at +what I am going to say. Now, promise me that you won't!" + +"I shall not be offended," he answered. "It is a little difficult to +offend a Chicago newspaper man, you know." + +"Now, you mustn't say anything against the newspaper men, for, in spite +of the hard things that some of them have said about me, I like them." + +"Individually or collectively?" + +[Illustration: "I feel very grateful to you."] + +"I am afraid I must say individually. You said you wouldn't be offended, +so after your search is over you must let me----. The labourer is worthy +of his hire, or I should say, his reward--you know what I mean. I +presume that a young man who earns his living on the daily press is +not necessarily wealthy." + +"Why, Mrs. Brenton, what strange ideas you have of the world! We +newspaper men work at the business merely because we like it. It isn't +at all for the money that's in it." + +"Then you are not offended at what I have said?" + +"Oh, not in the least. I may say, however, that I look for a higher +reward than money if I am successful in this search." + +"Yes, I am sure you do," answered the lady, innocently. "If you +succeed in this, you will be very famous." + +"Exactly; it's fame I'm after," said Stratton, shaking her hand once +more, and taking his leave. + +When he reached his hotel, he found the Chicago detective waiting for +him. + +"Well, old man," he said, "anything new?" + +"Yes, sir. Something very new." + +"What have you found out?" + +"Everything." + +"Very well, let me have it." + +"I found out that this man bought, on December 10th, thirty grains of +morphia. He had this morphia put up in five-grain capsules. He bought +this at the drug store on the corner of Blank Street and Nemo Avenue." + +"Good gracious!" answered Stratton. "Then to get morphia he must have +had a physician's certificate. Did you find who the physician was that +signed the certificate?" + +"My dear sir," said the Chicago man, "this person is himself a +physician, unless I am very much mistaken. I was told that this was the +portrait of Stephen Roland. Am I right?" + +"That is the name." + +"Well, then, he is a doctor himself. Not doing a very large practice, it +is true, but he is a physician. Did you not know that?" + +[Illustration: "Here's the detailed report."] + +"No," said Stratton; "how stupid I am! I never thought of asking the +man's occupation." + +"Very well, if that is what you wanted to know, here's the detailed +report of my investigation." + +When the man left, Stratton rubbed his hands. + +"Now, Mr. Stephen Roland, I have you," he said. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +After receiving this information Stratton sat alone in his room and +thought deeply over his plans. He did not wish to make a false step, yet +there was hardly enough in the evidence he had secured to warrant his +giving Stephen Roland up to the police. Besides this, it would put the +suspected man at once on his guard, and there was no question but +that gentleman had taken every precaution to prevent discovery. After +deliberating for a long while, he thought that perhaps the best thing he +could do was to endeavour to take Roland by surprise. Meanwhile, before +the meditating man stood Brenton and Speed, and between them there was a +serious disagreement of opinion. + + * * * * * + +"I tell you what it is," said Speed, "there is no use in our interfering +with Stratton. He is on the wrong track, but, nevertheless, all the +influence we can use on him in his present frame of mind will merely do +what it did before--it will muddle the man up. Now, I propose that we +leave him severely alone. Let him find out his mistake. He will find it +out in some way or other, and then he will be in a condition of mind to +turn to the case of Jane Morton." + +"But don't you see," argued Brenton, "that all the time spent on his +present investigation is so much time lost? I will agree to leave him +alone, as you say, but let us get somebody else on the Morton case." + +"I don't want to do that," said Speed; "because George Stratton has +taken a great deal of interest in this search. He has done a great deal +now, and I think we should he grateful to him for it." + +"Grateful!" growled Brenton; "he has done it from the most purely +selfish motives that a man can act upon. He has done it entirely for his +paper--for newspaper fame. He has done it for money." + +"Now," said Speed, hotly, "you must not talk like that of Stratton to +me. I won't say what I think of that kind of language coming from you, +but you can see how seriously we interfered with his work before, and +how it nearly resulted in his departure for Chicago. I propose now that +we leave him alone." + +"Leave him alone, then, for any sake," replied Brenton; "I am sure I +build nothing on what he can do anyway." + +"All right, then," returned Speed, recovering his good nature. "Now, +although I am not willing to put any one else on the track of Miss Jane +Morton, yet I will tell you what I am willing to do. If you like, we +will go to her residence, and influence her to confess her crime. I +believe that can be done." + +"Very well; I want you to understand that I am perfectly reasonable +about the matter. All I want is not to lose any more time." + +"Time?" cried Speed; "why, we have got all the time there is. Mrs. +Brenton is acquitted. There is no more danger." + +"That is perfectly true, I admit; but still you can see the grief under +which she labours, because her name is not yet cleared from the odium +of the crime. You will excuse me, Speed, if I say that you seem to be +working more in the interests of Stratton's journalistic success than in +the interests of Mrs. Brenton's good name." + +"Well, we won't talk about that," said Speed; "Stratton is amply able to +take care of himself, as you will doubtless see. Now, what do you say +to our trying whether or not we can influence Jane Morton to do what she +ought to do, and confess her crime?" + +"It is not a very promising task," replied Brenton; "it is hard to get a +person to say words that may lead to the gallows." + +"I'm not so sure about that," said Speed; "you know the trouble of mind +she is in. I think it more than probable that, after the terror of the +last few weeks, it will be a relief for her to give herself up." + +"Very well; let us go." + +The two men shortly afterwards found themselves in the scantily +furnished room occupied by Jane Morton. That poor woman was rocking +herself to and fro and moaning over her trouble. Then she suddenly +stopped rocking, and looked around the room with vague apprehension +in her eyes. She rose and examined the bolts of the door, and, seeing +everything was secure, sat down again. + +"I shall never have any peace in this world again," she cried to +herself. + +She rocked back and forth silently for a few moments. + +"I wish," she said, "the police would find out all about it, and then +this agony of mind would end." + +Again she rocked back and forth, with her hands helplessly in her lap. + +"Oh, I cannot do it, _I cannot do it_!" she sobbed, still rocking to and +fro. Finally she started to her feet. + +"I _will_ do it," she cried; "I will confess to Mrs. Brenton herself. I +will tell her everything. She has gone through trouble herself, and may +have mercy on me." + +"There, you see," said Speed to Brenton, "we have overcome the +difficulty, after all." + +"It certainly looks like it," replied Brenton. "Don't you think, +however, that we had better stay with her until she _does_ confess? May +she not change her mind?" + +"Don't let us overdo the thing," suggested Speed; "if she doesn't, come +to time, we can easily have another interview with her. The woman's +mind is made up. She is in torment, and will be until she confesses her +crime. Let us go and leave her alone." + + * * * * * + +George Stratton was not slow to act when he had once made up his mind. +He pinned to the breast of his vest a little shield, on which was the +word "detective." This he had often found useful, in a way that is not +at all sanctioned by the law, in ferreting out crime in Chicago. As soon +as it was evening he paced up and down in front of Roland's house, and +on the opposite side of the road. There was a light in the doctor's +study, and he thought that perhaps the best way to proceed was to go +boldly into the house and put his scheme into operation. However, as he +meditated on this, the light was turned low, and in a few moments the +door opened. The doctor came down the steps, and out on the pavement, +walking briskly along the street. The reporter followed him on the other +side of the thoroughfare. Whether to do it in the dark or in the light, +was the question that troubled Stratton. If he did it in the dark, he +would miss the expression on the face of the surprised man. If he did it +in the light, the doctor might recognize him as the Chicago reporter, +and would know at once that he was no detective. Still, he felt that +if there was anything in his scheme at all, it was surprise; and he +remembered the quick gasp of the lawyer Brown when he told him he knew +what his defence was. He must be able to note the expression of the man +who was guilty of the terrible crime. + +Having made up his mind to this, he stepped smartly after the doctor, +and, when the latter came under a lamp-post, placed his hand suddenly on +his shoulder, and exclaimed-- + +"Doctor Stephen Roland, I arrest you for the murder of William Brenton!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +Stephen Roland turned quietly around and shook the hand from his +shoulder. It was evident that he recognized Stratton instantly. + +"Is this a Chicago joke?" asked the doctor. + +"If it is, Mr. Roland, I think you will find it a very serious one." + +"Aren't you afraid that _you_ may find it a serious one?" + +"I don't see why I should have any fears in the premises," answered the +newspaper man. + +"My dear sir, do you not realize that I could knock you down or shoot +you dead for what you have done, and be perfectly justified in doing +so?" + +"If you either knock or shoot," replied the other, "you will have to do +it very quickly, for, in the language of the wild and woolly West, I've +got the drop on you. In my coat pocket is a cocked revolver with my +forefinger on the trigger. If you make a hostile move I can let daylight +through you so quickly that you won't know what has struck you." + +"Electric light, I think you mean," answered the doctor, quietly. "Even +a Chicago man might find it difficult to let daylight through a person +at this time in the evening. Now, this sort of thing may be Chicago +manners, but I assure you it will not go down here in Cincinnati. You +have rendered yourself liable to the law if I cared to make a point of +it, but I do not. Come back with me to my study. I would like to talk +with you." + +Stratton began to feel vaguely that he had made a fool of himself. His +scheme had utterly failed. The doctor was a great deal cooler and more +collected than he was. Nevertheless, he had a deep distrust of the +gentleman, and he kept his revolver handy for fear the other would make +a dash to escape him. They walked back without saying a word to each +other until they came to the doctor's office. Into the house they +entered, and the doctor bolted the door behind them. Stratton suspected +that very likely he was walking into a trap, but he thought he would +be equal to any emergency that might arise. The doctor walked into the +study, and again locked the door of that. Pulling down the blinds, he +turned up the gas to its full force and sat down by a table, motioning +the newspaper man to a seat on the other side. + +"Now," he said calmly to Stratton, "the reason I did not resent your +unwarrantable insult is this: You are conscientiously trying to get at +the root of this mystery. So am I. Your reason is that you wish to score +a victory for your paper. My motive is entirely different, but our +object is exactly the same. Now, by some strange combination of +circumstances you have come to the conclusion that I committed the +crime. Am I right?" + +"You are perfectly correct, doctor," replied Stratton. + +"Very well, then. Now, I assure you that I am entirely innocent. Of +course, I appreciate the fact that this assurance will not in the +slightest degree affect your opinion, but I am interested in knowing why +you came to your conclusion, and perhaps by putting our heads together, +even if I dislike you and you hate me, we may see some light on this +matter that has hitherto been hidden. I presume you have no objection at +all to co-operate with me?" + +"None in the least," was the reply. + +"Very well, then. Now, don't mind my feelings at all, but tell me +exactly why you have suspected me of being a murderer." + +"Well," answered Stratton, "in the first place we must look for a +motive. It seems to me that you have a motive for the crime." + +"And might I ask what that motive is, or was?" + +"You will admit that you disliked Brenton?" + +"I will admit that, yes." + +"Very well. You will admit also that you were--well, how shall I put +it?--let us say, interested in his wife before her marriage?" + +"I will admit that; yes." + +"You, perhaps, will admit that you are interested in her now?" + +"I do not see any necessity for admitting that; but still, for the +purpose of getting along with the case, I will admit it. Go on." + +"Very good. Here is a motive for the crime, and a very strong one. +First, we will presume that you are in love with the wife of the man +who is murdered. Secondly, supposing that you are mercenary, quite +a considerable amount of money will come to you in case you marry +Brenton's widow. Next, some one at that table poisoned him. It was not +Mrs. Brenton, who poured out the cup of coffee. The cup of coffee was +placed before Brenton, and my opinion is that, until it was placed +there, there was no poison in that cup. The doomed man was entirely +unsuspicious, and therefore it was very easy for a person to slip enough +poison in that cup unseen by anybody at that table, so that when he +drank his coffee nothing could have saved him. He rose from the table +feeling badly, and he went to his room and died. Now, who could have +placed that poison in his cup of coffee? It must have been one of the +two that sat at his right and left hand. A young lady sat at his right +hand. She certainly did not commit the crime. You, Stephen Roland, sat +at his left hand. Do you deny any of the facts I have recited?" + +"That is a very ingenious chain of circumstantial evidence. Of course, +you do not think it strong enough to convict a man of such a serious +crime as murder?" + +"No; I quite realize the weakness of the case up to this point. But +there is more to follow. Fourteen days before that dinner you purchased +at the drug store on the corner of Blank Street and Nemo Avenue thirty +grains of morphia. You had the poison put up in capsules of five +grains each. What do you say to that bit of evidence added to the +circumstantial chain which you say is ingenious?" + +The doctor knit his brows and leaned back in his chair. + +"By the gods!" he said, "you are right. I did buy that morphia. I +remember it now. I don't mind telling you that I had a number of +experiments on hand, as every doctor has, and I had those capsules put +up at the drug store, but this tragedy coming on made me forget all +about the matter." + +"Did you take the morphia with you, doctor?" + +"No, I did not. And the box of capsules, I do not think, has been +opened. But that is easily ascertained." + +The doctor rose, went to his cabinet, and unlocked it. From a number of +packages he selected a small one, and brought it to the desk, placing it +before the reporter. + +"There is the package. That contains, as you say, thirty grains of +morphia in half a dozen five-grain capsules. You see that it is sealed +just as it left the drug store. Now, open it and look for yourself. Here +are scales; if you want to see whether a single grain is missing or not, +find out for yourself. + +"Perhaps," said the newspaper man, "we had better leave this +investigation for the proper authorities." + +"Then you still believe that I am the murderer of William Brenton?" + +"Yes, I still believe that." + +"Very well; you may do as you please. I think, however, in justice +to myself, you should stay right here, and see that this box is not +tampered with until the proper authorities, as you say, come." + +Then, placing his hand on the bell, he continued--"Whom shall I send +for? An ordinary policeman, or some one from the central office? But, +now that I think of it, here is a telephone. We can have any one brought +here that you wish. I prefer that neither you nor I leave this room +until that functionary has appeared. Name the authority you want brought +here," said the doctor, going to the telephone, "and I will have him +here if he is in town." + +The newspaper man was nonplussed. The Doctor's actions did not seem like +those of a guilty man. If he were guilty he certainly had more nerve +than any person Stratton had ever met. So he hesitated. Then he said-- + +"Sit down a moment, doctor, and let us talk this thing over." + +"Just as you say," remarked Roland, drawing up his chair again. + +Stratton took the package, and looked it over carefully. It was +certainly just in the condition in which it had left the drug store; but +still, that could have been easily done by the doctor himself. + +"Suppose we open this package?" he said to Roland. + +"With all my heart," said the doctor, "go ahead;" and he shoved over to +him a little penknife that was on the table. + +The reporter took the package, ran the knife around the edge, and opened +it. There lay six capsules, filled, as the doctor had said. Roland +picked up one of them, and looked at it critically. + +"I assure you," he said, "although I am quite aware you do not believe a +word I say, that I have not seen those capsules before." + +He drew towards him a piece of paper, opened the capsule, and, let the +white powder fall on the paper. He looked critically at the powder, and +a shade of astonishment came over his face. He picked up the penknife, +took a particle on the tip of it, and touched it with his tongue. + +"Don't fool with that thing!" said Stratton. + +"Oh, my dear fellow," he said, "morphia is not a poison in small +quantities." + +The moment he had tasted it, however, he suddenly picked up the paper, +put the five grains on his tongue, and swallowed them. + +Instantly the reporter sprang to his feet. He saw at once the reason for +all the assumed coolness. The doctor was merely gaining time in order to +commit suicide. + +"What have you done?" cried the reporter. + +"Done, my dear fellow? nothing very much. This is not morphia; it is +sulphate of quinine." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +In the morning Jane Morton prepared to meet Mrs. Brenton, and make her +confession. She called at the Brenton residence, but found it closed, +as it had been ever since the tragedy of Christmas morning. It took her +some time to discover the whereabouts of Mrs. Brenton, who, since the +murder, had resided with a friend except while under arrest. + +For a moment Mrs. Brenton did not recognize the thin and pale woman who +stood before her in a state of such extreme nervous agitation, that it +seemed as if at any moment she might break down and cry. + +"I don't suppose you'll remember me, ma'am," began the girl, "but I +worked for you two weeks before--before----" + +"Oh yes," said Mrs. Brenton, "I remember you now. Have you been ill? You +look quite worn and pale, and very different from what you did the last +time I saw you." + +"Yes," said the girl, "I believe I have been ill.". + +"You _believe_; aren't you sure?" + +"I have been very ill in mind, and troubled, and that is the reason I +look so badly,--Oh, Mrs. Brenton, I wanted to tell you of something that +has been weighing on my mind ever since that awful day! I know you can +never forgive me, but I must tell it to you, or I shall go crazy." + +"Sit down, sit down," said the lady, kindly; "you know what trouble I +have been in myself. I am sure that I am more able to sympathize now +with one who is in trouble than ever I was before." + +"Yes, ma'am; but you were innocent, and I am guilty. That makes all the +difference in the world." + +"Guilty!" cried Mrs. Brenton, a strange fear coming over her as she +stared at the girl; "guilty of _what_?" + +"Oh, madam, let me tell you all about it. There is, of course, no +excuse; but I'll begin at the beginning. You remember a while before +Christmas that John came to see me one night, and we sat up very late in +the kitchen, and your husband came down quietly, and when we heard him +coming we put out the light and just as John was trying to get away, +your husband shot twice at him, and hit him the second time?" + +"Oh yes," said Mrs. Brenton, "I remember that very well. I had forgotten +about it in my own trouble; but I know that my husband intended to do +something for the young man. I hope he was not seriously hurt?" + +[Illustration: "Guilty! Guilty of what?"] + +"No, ma'am; he is able to be about again now as well as ever, and is not +even lame, which we expected he would be. But at the time I thought he +was going to be lame all the rest of his life, and perhaps that is the +reason I did what I did. When everything was in confusion in the house, +and it was certain that we would all have to leave, I did a very wicked +thing. I went to your room, and I stole some of your rings, and some +money that was there, as well as a lot of other things that were in the +room. It seemed to me then, although, of course, I know now how wicked +it was, that you owed John something for what he had gone through, and +I thought that he was to be lame, and that you would never miss the +things; but, oh! madam, I have not slept a night since I took them. I +have been afraid of the police and afraid of being found out. I have +pawned nothing, and they are all just as I took them, and I have brought +them back here to you, with every penny of the money. I know you can +never forgive me, but I am willing now to be given up to the police, and +I feel better in my mind than I have done ever since I took the things." + +"My poor child!" said Mrs. Brenton, sympathetically, "was that _all_?" + +"All?" cried the girl. "Yes, I have brought everything back." + +"Oh, I don't mean that, but I am sorry you have been worried over +anything so trivial. I can see how at such a time, and feeling that you +had been wronged, a temptation to take the things came to you. But I +hope you will not trouble any more about the matter. I will see that +John is compensated for all the injury he received, as far as it is +possible for money to compensate him. I hope you will keep the money. +The other things, of course, I shall take back, and I am glad you came +to tell me of it before telling any one else. I think, perhaps, it is +better never to say anything to anybody about this. People might not +understand just what temptation you were put to, and they would not know +the circumstances of the case, because nobody knows, I think, that John +was hurt. Now, my dear girl, do not cry. It is all right. Of course you +never will touch anything again that does not belong to you, and the +suffering you have gone through has more than made up for all the wrong +you have done. I am sure that I forgive you quite freely for it, and I +think it was very noble of you to come and tell me about it." + +Mrs. Brenton took the package from the hands of the weeping girl, and +opened it. She found everything there, as the girl had said. She took +the money and offered it to Jane Morton. The girl shook her head. + +"No," she cried, "I cannot touch it. I cannot, indeed. It has been +enough misery to me already." + +"Very well," said Mrs. Brenton. "I would like very much to see John. +Will you bring him to me?" + +The girl looked at her with startled eyes. + +"You will not tell him?" she said. + +"No indeed, I shall tell him nothing. But I want to do what I can for +him as I said. I suppose you are engaged to be married?" + +"Yes," answered the girl; "but if he knew of this he never, never would +marry me." + +"If he did not," said Mrs. Brenton, "he would not be worthy of you. But +he shall know nothing about it. You will promise to come here and see me +with him, will you not?" + +"Yes, madam," said the girl. + +"Then good-bye, until I see you again." + +Mrs. Brenton sat for a long time thinking over this confession. It took +her some time to recover her usual self-possession, because for a moment +she had thought the girl was going to confess that she committed murder. +In comparison with that awful crime, the theft seemed so trivial that +Mrs. Brenton almost smiled when she thought of the girl's distress. + + * * * * * + +"Well," said John Speed to Mr. Brenton, "if that doesn't beat the Old +Harry. Now I, for one, am very glad of it, if we come to the real truth +of the matter." + +"I am glad also," said Brenton, "that the girl is not guilty, although I +must say things looked decidedly against her." + +"I will tell you why I am glad," said Speed. "I am glad because it +will take some of the superfluous conceit out of that French detective +Lecocq. He was so awfully sure of himself. He couldn't possibly be +mistaken. Now, think of the mistakes that man must have made while he +was on earth, and had the power which was given into his hands in Paris. +After all, Stratton is on the right track, and he will yet land your +friend Roland in prison. Let us go and find Lecocq. This is too good to +keep." + +"My dear sir," said Brenton, "you seem to be more elated because of your +friend Stratton than for any other reason. Don't you want the matter +ferreted out at all?" + +"Why, certainly I do; but I don't want it ferreted out by bringing an +innocent person into trouble." + +"And may not Stephen Roland be an innocent person?" + +"Oh, I suppose so; but I do not think he is." + +"Why do you not think so?" + +"Well, if you want the real reason, simply because George Stratton +thinks he isn't. I pin my faith to Stratton." + +"I think you overrate your friend Stratton." + +"Overrate him, sir? That is impossible. I love him so well that I hope +he will solve this mystery himself, unaided and alone, and that in going +back to Chicago he will be smashed to pieces in a railway accident, so +that we can have him here to congratulate him." + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +"I suppose," said Roland, "you thought for a moment I was trying to +commit suicide. I think, Mr. Stratton, you will have a better opinion of +me by-and-by. I shouldn't be at all surprised if you imagined I induced +you to come in here to get you into a trap." + +"You are perfectly correct," said Stratton; "and I may say, although +that was my belief, I was not in the least afraid of you, for I had you +covered all the time." + +"Well," remarked Roland, carelessly, "I don't want to interfere with +your business at all, but I wish you wouldn't cover me quite so much; +that revolver of yours might go off." + +"Do you mean to say," said Stratton, "that there is nothing but quinine +in those capsules?" + +"I'll tell you in a moment," as he opened them one by one. "No, there is +nothing but quinine here. Thirty grains put up in five-grain capsules." + +George Stratton's eyes began to open. Then he slowly rose, and looked +with horrified face at the doctor. + +"My God!" he cried; "who got the thirty grains of morphia?" + +"What do you mean?" asked the doctor. + +"Mean? Why, don't you see it? It is a chemist's mistake. Thirty grains +of quinine have been sent you. Thirty grains of morphia have been sent +to somebody else. Was it to William Brenton?" + +"By Jove!" said the doctor, "there's something in that. Say, let us go +to the drug store." + +The two went out together, and walked to the drug store on the corner of +Blank Street and Nemo Avenue. + +"Do you know this writing?" said Doctor Roland to the druggist, pointing +to the label on the box. + +"Yes," answered the druggist; "that was written by one of my +assistants." + +"Can we see him for a few moments?" + +"I don't know where he is to be found. He is a worthless fellow, and has +gone to the devil this last few weeks with a rapidity that is something +startling." + +"When did he leave?" + +"Well, he got drunk and stayed drunk during the holidays, and I had to +discharge him. He was a very valuable man when he was sober; but he +began to be so erratic in his habits that I was afraid he would make a +ghastly mistake some time, so I discharged him before it was too late?" + +"Are you sure you discharged him before it was too late." + +The druggist looked at the doctor, whom he knew well, and said, "I never +heard of any mistake, if he did make it." + +"You keep a book, of course, of all the prescriptions sent out?" + +"Certainly." + +"May we look at that book?" + +"I shall be very glad to show it to you. What month or week?" + +"I want to see what time you sent this box of morphia to me." + +"You don't know about what time it was, do you? + +"Yes; it must have been about two weeks before Christmas." + +The chemist looked over the pages of the book, and finally said, "Here +it is." + +"Will you let me look at that page?" + +"Certainly." + +The doctor ran his finger down the column, and came to an entry written +in the same hand. + +"Look here," he said to Stratton, "thirty grains of quinine sent to +William Brenton, and next to it thirty grains of morphia sent to Stephen +Roland. I see how it was. Those prescriptions were mixed up. My package +went to poor Brenton." + +The druggist turned pale. + +"I hope," he said, "nothing public will come of this." + +"My dear sir," said Roland, "something public will _have_ to come of +it. You will oblige me by ringing up the central police station, as this +book must be given in charge of the authorities." + +"Look here," put in Stratton, his newspaper instinct coming uppermost, +"I want to get this thing exclusively for the _Argus_." + +"Oh, I guess there will be no trouble about that. Nothing will be made +public until to-morrow, and you can telegraph to-night if we find the +box of capsules in Brenton's residence. We must take an officer with us +for that purpose, but you can caution or bribe him to keep quiet until +to-morrow." + +When the three went to William Brenton's residence they began a search +of the room in which Brenton had died, but nothing was found. In the +closet of the room hung the clothes of Brenton, and going through them +Stratton found in the vest pocket of one of the suits a small box +containing what was described as five-grain capsules of sulphate of +quinine. The doctor tore one of these capsules apart, so as to see what +was in it. Without a moment's hesitation he said-- + +"There you are! That is the morphia. There were six capsules in this +box, and one of them is missing. William Brenton poisoned himself! +Feeling ill, he doubtless took what he thought was a dose of quinine. +Many men indulge in what we call the quinine habit. It is getting to be +a mild form of tippling. Brenton committed unconscious suicide!" + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +A group of men; who were really alive, but invisible to the searchers, +stood in the room where the discovery was made. Two of the number were +evidently angry, one in one way and one in another. The rest of the +group appeared to be very merry. One angry man was Brenton himself, who +was sullenly enraged. The other was the Frenchman, Lecocq, who was as +deeply angered as Brenton, but, instead of being sullen, was exceedingly +voluble. + +"I tell you," he cried, "it is not a mistake of mine. I went on correct +principles from the first. I was misled by one who should have known +better. You will remember, gentlemen," he continued, turning first to +one and then the other, "that what I said was that we had certain facts +to go on. One of those facts I got from Mr. Brenton. I said to him in +your presence, 'Did you poison yourself?' He answered me, as I can prove +by all of you, 'No, I did not.' I took that for a fact. I thought I was +speaking to a reasonable man who knew what he was talking about." + +"Haven't I told you time and again," answered Brenton, indignantly, +"that it was a mistake? You asked me if I poisoned myself. I answered +you that I did not. Your question related to suicide. I did _not_ commit +suicide. I was the victim of a druggist's mistake. If you had asked me +if I had taken medicine before I went to bed, I should have told you +frankly, 'Yes. I took one capsule of quinine.' It has been my habit for +years, when I feel badly. I thought nothing of that." + +"My dear sir," said Lecocq, "I warned you, and I warned these gentlemen, +that the very things that seem trivial to a thoughtless person are the +things that sometimes count. You should have told me _everything_. If +you took anything at all, you should have said so. If you had said to +me, 'Monsieur Lecocq, before I retired I took five grains of quinine,' +I should have at once said; 'Find where that quinine is, and see if it +_is_ quinine, and see if there has not been a mistake.' I was entirely +misled; I was stupidly misled." + +"Well, if there was stupidity," returned Brenton, "it was your own." + +"Come, come, gentlemen," laughed Speed, "all's well that ends well. +Everybody has been mistaken, that's all about it. The best detective +minds of Europe and America, of the world, and of the spirit-land, have +been misled. You are _all_ wrong. Admit it, and let it end." + +"My dear sir," said Lecocq, "I shall not admit anything. I was not +wrong; I was misled. It was this way----" + +"Oh, now, for goodness' sake don't go over it all again. We understand +the circumstances well enough." + +"I tell you," cried Brenton, in an angry tone, "that---- + +"Come, come," said Speed, "we have had enough of this discussion. I tell +you that you are all wrong, every one of you. Come with me, Brenton, and +we will leave this amusing crowd." + +"I shall do nothing of the kind," answered Brenton, shortly. + +"Oh, very well then, do as you please. I am glad the thing is ended, and +I am glad it is ended by my Chicago friend." + +"Your Chicago friend!" sneered Brenton, slightingly; "It was discovered +by Doctor Stephen Roland." + +"My dear fellow," said Speed, "Stephen Roland had all his time to +discover the thing, and didn't do it, and never would have done it, if +George Stratton hadn't encountered him. Well, good-bye, gentlemen; I am +sorry to say that I have had quite enough of this discussion. But one +thing looms up above it all, and that is that Chicago is ahead of the +world in everything--in detection as well as in fires." + +"My dear sir," cried Lecocq, "it is not true. I will show you in a +moment--" + +"You won't show _me_," said Speed, and he straightway disappeared. + +"Come, Ferris," said Brenton, "after all, you are the only friend I seem +to have; come with me." + +"Where are you going?" asked Ferris, as they left. + +"I want to see how my wife takes the news." + +"Don't," said Mr. Ferris--"don't do anything of the kind. Leave matters +just where they are. Everything has turned out what you would call all +right. You see that your interference, as far as it went, was perfectly +futile and useless. I want now to draw your attention to other things." + +"Very well, I will listen to you," said Brenton, "if you come with me +and see how my wife takes the news. I want to enjoy for even a moment or +two her relief and pleasure at finding that her good name is clear." + +"Very well," assented Ferris, "I will go with you." + +When they arrived they found the Chicago reporter ahead of them. He had +evidently told Mrs. Brenton all the news, and her face flushed with +eager pleasure as she listened to the recital. + +"Now," said the Chicago man, "I am going to leave Cincinnati. Are you +sorry I am going?" + +"No," said Mrs. Brenton, looking him in the face, "I am not sorry." + +Stratton flushed at this, and then said, taking his hat in his hand, +"Very well, madam, I shall bid you good day." + +"I am not sorry," said Mrs. Brenton, holding out her hand, "because I +am going to leave Cincinnati myself, and I hope never to see the city +again. So if you stayed here, you see, I should never meet you again, +Mr. Stratton." + +"Alice," cried Stratton, impulsively grasping her hand in both of his, +"don't you think you would like Chicago as a place of residence?" + +"George," she answered, "I do not know. I am going to Europe, and shall +be there for a year or two." + +Then he said eagerly-- + +"When you return, or if I go over there to see you after a year or two, +may I ask you that question again?" + +"Yes," was the whispered answer. + + * * * * * + +"Come," said Brenton to Ferris, "let us go." + + + + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FROM WHOSE BOURNE*** + + +******* This file should be named 9312.txt or 9312.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/9/3/1/9312 + + + +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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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: From Whose Bourne + +Author: Robert Barr + +Release Date: November, 2005 [EBook #9312] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on September 20, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FROM WHOSE BOURNE *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, David Widger and PG Distributed +Proofreaders from images generously made available by the Canadian +Institute for Historical Microreproductions + + + + +FROM WHOSE BOURNE + + +BY ROBERT BARR (LUKE SHARP) + +AUTHOR OF "IN A STEAMER CHAIR" ETC. + +[Illustration: William Brenton--] + + +_WITH FORTY-SEVEN ILLUSTRATIONS + +BY C.M.D. HAMMOND, G.D. HAMMOND, AND HAL HURST_ + + +1893 + + + +TO + +AN HONEST MAN + +AND + +A GOOD WOMAN + + + +FROM WHOSE BOURNE + + + +PRINCIPAL ILLUSTRATIONS: + +Buel placed his portmanteau on the deck + +William Brenton + +"Do you think I shall be missed?" + +He again sat in the rocking-chair + +He saw standing beside him a stranger + +A Venetian Cafe + +Venice + +In Venice + +The Brenton Murder + +Mrs. Brenton + +Gold + +Publicity + +The Broken Toy + +"She's pretty as a picture" + +Raising the Veil + +Jane + +The Detective + +Jane Morton + +"Oh, why did I do it?" + +"How much time do you give me?" + +In the prisoner's dock + +"I feel very grateful to you" + +"Here's the detailed report" + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +"My dear," said William Brenton to his wife, "do you think I shall be +missed if I go upstairs for a while? I am not feeling at all well." + +[Illustration: _"Do you think I shall be missed?"_] + +"Oh, I'm so sorry, Will," replied Alice, looking concerned; "I will tell +them you are indisposed." + +"No, don't do that," was the answer; "they are having a very good time, +and I suppose the dancing will begin shortly; so I don't think they will +miss me. If I feel better I will be down in an hour or two; if not, I +shall go to bed. Now, dear, don't worry; but have a good time with the +rest of them." + +William Brenton went quietly upstairs to his room, and sat down in the +darkness in a rocking chair. Remaining there a few minutes, and not +feeling any better, he slowly undressed and went to bed. Faint echoes +reached him of laughter and song; finally, music began, and he felt, +rather than heard, the pulsation of dancing feet. Once, when the music +had ceased for a time, Alice tiptoed into the room, and said in a quiet +voice-- + +"How are you feeling, Will? any better?" + +"A little," he answered drowsily. "Don't worry about me; I shall drop +off to sleep presently, and shall be all right in the morning. Good +night." + +He still heard in a dreamy sort of way the music, the dancing, the +laughter; and gradually there came oblivion, which finally merged into +a dream, the most strange and vivid vision he had ever experienced. +It seemed to him that he sat again in the rocking chair near the bed. +Although he knew the room was dark, he had no difficulty in seeing +everything perfectly. He heard, now quite plainly, the music and dancing +downstairs, but what gave a ghastly significance to his dream was the +sight of his own person on the bed. The eyes were half open, and the +face was drawn and rigid. The colour of the face was the white, greyish +tint of death. + +"This is a nightmare," said Brenton to himself; "I must try and wake +myself." But he seemed powerless to do this, and he sat there looking at +his own body while the night wore on. Once he rose and went to the side +of the bed. He seemed to have reached it merely by wishing himself +there, and he passed his hand over the face, but no feeling of touch was +communicated to him. He hoped his wife would come and rouse him from +this fearful semblance of a dream, and, wishing this, he found himself +standing at her side, amidst the throng downstairs, who were now merrily +saying good-bye. Brenton tried to speak to his wife, but although he +was conscious of speaking, she did not seem to hear him, or know he was +there. + +[Illustration: _He again sat in the rocking-chair._] + +The party had been one given on Christmas Eve, and as it was now two +o'clock in the morning, the departing guests were wishing Mrs. Brenton a +merry Christmas. Finally, the door closed on the last of the revellers, +and Mrs. Brenton stood for a moment giving instructions to the sleepy +servants; then, with a tired sigh, she turned and went upstairs, Brenton +walking by her side until they came to the darkened, room, which she +entered on tiptoe. + +"Now," said Brenton to himself, "she will arouse me from this appalling +dream." It was not that there was anything dreadful in the dream itself, +but the clearness with which he saw everything, and the fact that his +mind was perfectly wide awake, gave him an uneasiness which he found +impossible to shake off. + +In the dim light from the hall his wife prepared to retire. The horrible +thought struck Brenton that she imagined he was sleeping soundly, +and was anxious not to awaken him--for of course she could have no +realization of the nightmare he was in--so once again he tried to +communicate with her. He spoke her name over and over again, but she +proceeded quietly with her preparations for the night. At last she crept +in at the other side of the bed, and in a few moments was asleep. Once +more Brenton struggled to awake, but with no effect. He heard the clock +strike three, and then four, and then five, but there was no apparent +change in his dream. He feared that he might be in a trance, from which, +perhaps, he would not awake until it was too late. Grey daylight began +to brighten the window, and he noticed that snow was quietly falling +outside, the flakes noiselessly beating against the window pane. Every +one slept late that morning, but at last he heard the preparations for +breakfast going on downstairs--the light clatter of china on the table, +the rattle of the grate; and, as he thought of these things, he found +himself in the dining-room, and saw the trim little maid, who still +yawned every now and then, laying the plates in their places. He went +upstairs again, and stood watching the sleeping face of his wife. Once +she raised her hand above her head, and he thought she was going to +awake; ultimately her eyes opened, and she gazed for a time at the +ceiling, seemingly trying to recollect the events of the day before. + +"Will," she said dreamily, "are you still asleep?" + +There was no answer from the rigid figure at the front of the bed. After +a few moments she placed her hand quietly over the sleeper's face. As +she did so, her startled eyes showed that she had received a shock. +Instantly she sat upright in bed, and looked for one brief second on the +face of the sleeper beside her; then, with a shriek that pierced the +stillness of the room, she sprang to the floor. + +"Will! Will!" she cried, "speak to me! What is the matter with you? Oh, +my God! my God!" she cried, staggering back from the bed. Then, with +shriek after shriek, she ran blindly through the hall to the stairway, +and there fell fainting on the floor. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +William Brenton knelt beside the fallen lady, and tried to soothe and +comfort her, but it was evident that she was insensible. + +"It is useless," said a voice by his side. + +Brenton looked up suddenly, and saw standing beside him a stranger. +Wondering for a moment how he got there, and thinking that after all it +was a dream, he said-- + +"What is useless? She is not dead." + +"No," answered the stranger, "but _you_ are." + +[Illustration: _He saw standing beside him a stranger_.] + +"I am what?" cried Brenton. + +"You are what the material world calls dead, although in reality you +have just begun to live." + +"And who are you?" asked Brenton. "And how did you get in here?" The +other smiled. + +"How did _you_ get in here?" he said, repeating Brenton's words. + +"I? Why, this is my own house." + +"Was, you mean." + +"I mean that it is. I am in my own house. This lady is my wife." + +"_Was_" said the other. + +"I do not understand you," cried Brenton, very much annoyed. "But, in +any case, your presence and your remarks are out of place here." + +"My dear sir," said the other, "I merely wish to aid you and to explain +to you anything that you may desire to know about your new condition. +You are now free from the incumbrance of your body. You have already had +some experience of the additional powers which that riddance has given +you. You have also, I am afraid, had an inkling of the fact that the +spiritual condition has its limitations. If you desire to communicate +with those whom you have left, I would strongly advise you to postpone +the attempt, and to leave this place, where you will experience only +pain and anxiety. Come with me, and learn something of your changed +circumstances." + +"I am in a dream," said Brenton, "and you are part of it. I went to +sleep last night, and am still dreaming. This is a nightmare and it will +soon be over." + +"You are saying that," said the other, "merely to convince yourself. +It is now becoming apparent to you that this is not a dream. If dreams +exist, it was a dream which you left, but you have now become awake. If +you really think it is a dream, then do as I tell you--come with me and +leave it, because you must admit that this part of the dream is at least +very unpleasant." + +"It is not very pleasant," assented Brenton. As he spoke the bewildered +servants came rushing up the stairs, picked up their fallen mistress, +and laid her on a sofa. They rubbed her hands and dashed water in her +face. She opened her eyes, and then closed them again with a shudder. + +"Sarah," she cried, "have I been dreaming, or is your master dead?" + +The two girls turned pale at this, and the elder of them went boldly +into the room which her mistress had just left. She was evidently +a young woman who had herself under good control, but she came out +sobbing, with her apron to her eyes. + +"Come, come," said the man who stood beside Brenton, "haven't you had +enough of this? Come with me; you can return to this house if you wish;" +and together they passed out of the room into the crisp air of Christmas +morning. But, although Brenton knew it must be cold, he had no feeling +of either cold or warmth. + +"There are a number of us," said the stranger to Brenton, "who take +turns at watching the sick-bed when a man is about to die, and when his +spirit leaves his body, we are there to explain, or comfort, or console. +Your death was so sudden that we had no warning of it. You did not feel +ill before last night, did you?" + +"No," replied Brenton. "I felt perfectly well, until after dinner last +night." + +"Did you leave your affairs in reasonably good order?" + +"Yes," said Brenton, trying to recollect. "I think they will find +everything perfectly straight." + +"Tell me a little of your history, if you do not mind," inquired the +other; "it will help me in trying to initiate you into our new order of +things here." + +"Well," replied Brenton, and he wondered at himself for falling so +easily into the other's assumption that he was a dead man, "I was what +they call on the earth in reasonably good circumstances. My estate +should be worth $100,000. I had $75,000 insurance on my life, and if all +that is paid, it should net my widow not far from a couple of hundred +thousand." + +"How long have you been married?" said the other. + +[Illustration: _A Venetian cafe_] + +"Only about six months. I was married last July, and we went for a trip +abroad. We were married quietly, and left almost immediately afterwards, +so we thought, on our return, it would not be a bad plan to give a +Christmas Eve dinner, and invite some of our friends. That," he said, +hesitating a moment, "was last night. Shortly after dinner, I began to +feel rather ill, and went upstairs to rest for a while; and if what you +say is true, the first thing I knew I found myself dead." + +"Alive," corrected the other. + +"Well, alive, though at present I feel I belong more to the world I have +left than I do to the world I appear to be in. I must confess, although +you are a very plausible gentleman to talk to, that I expect at any +moment to wake and find this to have been one of the most horrible +nightmares that I ever had the ill luck to encounter." + +The other smiled. + +"There is very little danger of your waking up, as you call it. Now, I +will tell you the great trouble we have with people when they first come +to the spirit-land, and that is to induce them to forget entirely +the world they have relinquished. Men whose families are in poor +circumstances, or men whose affairs are in a disordered state, find it +very difficult to keep from trying to set things right again. They have +the feeling that they can console or comfort those whom they have left +behind them, and it is often a long time before they are convinced that +their efforts are entirely futile, as well as very distressing for +themselves." + +"Is there, then," asked Brenton, "no communication between this world +and the one that I have given up?" + +The other paused for a moment before he replied. + +"I should hardly like to say," he answered, "that there is _no_ +communication between one world and the other; but the communication +that exists is so slight and unsatisfactory, that if you are sensible +you will see things with the eyes of those who have very much more +experience in this world than you have. Of course, you can go back there +as much as you like; there will be no interference and no hindrance. +But when you see things going wrong, when you see a mistake about to +be made, it is an appalling thing to stand there helpless, unable to +influence those you love, or to point out a palpable error, and convince +them that your clearer sight sees it as such. Of course, I understand +that it must be very difficult for a man who is newly married, to +entirely abandon the one who has loved him, and whom he loves. But +I assure you that if you follow the life of one who is as young and +handsome as your wife, you will find some one else supplying the +consolations you are unable to bestow. Such a mission may lead you to a +church where she is married to her second husband. I regret to say that +even the most imperturbable spirits are ruffled when such an incident +occurs. The wise men are those who appreciate and understand that they +are in an entirely new world, with new powers and new limitations, and +who govern themselves accordingly from the first, as they will certainly +do later on." + +"My dear sir," said Brenton, somewhat offended, "if what you say is +true, and I am really a dead man----" + +"Alive," corrected the other. + +"Well, alive, then. I may tell you that my wife's heart is broken. She +will never marry again." + +"Of course, that is a subject which you know a great deal more than I +do. I all the more strongly advise you never to see her again. It is +impossible for you to offer any consolation, and the sight of her grief, +and misery will only result in unhappiness for yourself. Therefore, take +my advice. I have given it very often, and I assure you those who did +not take it expressed their regret afterwards. Hold entirely aloof from +anything relating to your former life." + +Brenton was silent for some moments; finally he said-- + +"I presume your advice is well meant; but if things are as you state, +then I may as well say, first as last, that I do not intend to accept +it." + +"Very well," said the other; "it is an experience that many prefer to go +through for themselves." + +"Do you have names in this spirit-land?" asked Brenton, seemingly +desirous of changing the subject. + +"Yes," was the answer; "we are known by names that we have used in the +preparatory school below. My name is Ferris." + +"And if I wish to find you here, how do I set about it?" + +"The wish is sufficient," answered Ferris. "Merely wish to be with me, +and you _are_ with me." + +"Good gracious!" cried Brenton, "is locomotion so easy as that?" + +"Locomotion is very easy. I do not think anything could be easier +than it is, and I do not think there could be any improvement in that +matter." + +"Are there matters here, then, that you think could be improved?" + +"As to that I shall not say. Perhaps you will be able to give your own +opinion before you have lived here much longer." + +"Taking it all in all," said Brenton, "do you think the spirit-land is +to be preferred to the one we have left?" + +"I like it better," said Ferris, "although I presume there are some +who do not. There are many advantages; and then, again, there are +many--well, I would not say disadvantages, but still some people +consider them such. We are free from the pangs of hunger or cold, and +have therefore no need of money, and there is no necessity for the rush +and the worry of the world below." + +"And how about heaven and hell?" said Brenton. "Are those localities all +a myth? Is there nothing of punishment and nothing of reward in this +spirit-land?" + +There was no answer to this, and when Brenton looked around he found +that his companion had departed. + +[Illustration: _Venice_.] + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +William Brenton pondered long on the situation. He would have known +better how to act if he could have been perfectly certain that he was +not still the victim of a dream. However, of one thing there was no +doubt--namely, that it was particularly harrowing to see what he had +seen in his own house. If it were true that he was dead, he said to +himself, was not the plan outlined for him by Ferris very much the wiser +course to adopt? He stood now in one of the streets of the city so +familiar to him. People passed and repassed him--men and women whom +he had known in life--but nobody appeared to see him. He resolved, if +possible, to solve the problem uppermost in his mind, and learn whether +or not he could communicate with an inhabitant of the world he had left. +He paused for a moment to consider the best method of doing this. Then +he remembered one of his most confidential friends and advisers, and at +once wished himself at his office. He found the office closed, but went +in to wait for his friend. Occupying the time in thinking over his +strange situation, he waited long, and only when the bells began to ring +did he remember it was Christmas forenoon, and that his friend would +not be at the office that day. The next moment he wished himself at his +friend's house, but he was as unsuccessful as at the office; the friend +was not at home. The household, however, was in great commotion, and, +listening to what was said, he found that the subject of conversation +was his own death, and he learned that his friend had gone to the +Brenton residence as soon as he heard the startling news of Christmas +morning. + +Once more Brenton paused, and did not know what to do. He went again +into the street. Everything seemed to lead him toward his own home. +Although he had told Ferris that he did not intend to take his advice, +yet as a sensible man he saw that the admonition was well worth +considering, and if he could once become convinced that there was no +communication possible between himself and those he had left; if he +could give them no comfort and no cheer; if he could see the things +which they did not see, and yet be unable to give them warning, he +realized that he would merely be adding to his own misery, without +alleviating the troubles of others. + +He wished he knew where to find Ferris, so that he might have another +talk with him. The man impressed him as being exceedingly sensible. No +sooner, however, had he wished for the company of Mr. Ferris than he +found himself beside that gentleman. + +"By George!" he said in astonishment, "you are just the man I wanted to +see." + +"Exactly," said Ferris; "that is the reason you do see me." + +"I have been thinking over what you said," continued the other, "and it +strikes me that after all your advice is sensible." + +"Thank you," replied Ferris, with something like a smile on his face. + +"But there is one thing I want to be perfectly certain about. I want to +know whether it is not possible for me to communicate with my friends. +Nothing will settle that doubt in my mind except actual experience." + +"And have you not had experience enough?" asked Ferris. + +"Well," replied the other, hesitating, "I have had some experience, but +it seems to me that, if I encounter an old friend, I could somehow make +myself felt by him." + +"In that case," answered Ferris, "if nothing will convince you but an +actual experiment, why don't you go to some of your old friends and try +what you can do with them?" + +"I have just been to the office and to the residence of one of my old +friends. I found at his residence that he had gone to my"--Brenton +paused for a moment--"former home. Everything seems to lead me there, +and yet, if I take your advice, I must avoid that place of all others." + +"I would at present, if I were you," said Ferris. "Still, why not try it +with any of the passers-by?" + +Brenton looked around him. People were passing and repassing where the +two stood talking with each other. "Merry Christmas" was the word on all +lips. Finally Brenton said, with a look of uncertainty on his face-- + +"My dear fellow, I can't talk to any of these people. I don't know +them." + +Ferris laughed at this, and replied-- + +"I don't think you will shock them very much; just try it." + +"Ah, here's a friend of mine. You wait a moment, and I will accost him." +Approaching him, Brenton held out his hand and spoke, but the traveller +paid no attention. He passed by as one who had seen or heard nothing. + +"I assure you," said Ferris, as he noticed the look of disappointment on +the other's face, "you will meet with a similar experience, however much +you try. You know the old saying about one not being able to have his +cake and eat it too. You can't have the privileges of this world and +those of the world you left as well. I think, taking it all in all, you +should rest content, although it always hurts those who have left the +other world not to be able to communicate with their friends, and at +least assure them of their present welfare." + +"It does seem to me," replied Brenton, "that would be a great +consolation, both for those who are here and those who are left." + +"Well, I don't know about that," answered the other. "After all, what +does life in the other world amount to? It is merely a preparation for +this. It is of so short a space, as compared with the life we live here, +that it is hardly worth while to interfere with it one way or another. +By the time you are as long here as I have been, you will realize the +truth of this." + +"Perhaps I shall," said Brenton, with a sigh; "but, meanwhile, what am +I to do with myself? I feel like the man who has been all his life +in active business, and who suddenly resolves to enjoy himself doing +nothing. That sort of thing seems to kill a great number of men, +especially if they put off taking a rest until too late, as most of us +do." + +"Well," said Ferris, "there is no necessity of your being idle here, I +assure you. But before you lay out any work for yourself, let me ask you +if there is not some interesting part of the world that you would like +to visit?" + +"Certainly; I have seen very little of the world. That is one of my +regrets at leaving it." + +"Bless me," said the other, "you haven't left it." + +"Why, I thought you said I was a dead man?" + +"On the contrary," replied his companion, "I have several times insisted +that you have just begun to live. Now where shall we spend the day?" + +"How would London do?" + +"I don't think it would do; London is apt to be a little gloomy at this +time of the year. But what do you say to Naples, or Japan, or, if you +don't wish to go out of the United States, Yellowstone Park?" + +"Can we reach any of those places before the day is over?" asked +Brenton, dubiously. + +"Well, I will soon show you how we manage all that. Just wish to +accompany me, and I will take you the rest of the way." + +"How would Venice do?" said Brenton. "I didn't see half as much of that +city as I wanted to." + +"Very well," replied his companion, "Venice it is;" and the American +city in which they stood faded away from them, and before Brenton could +make up his mind exactly what was happening, he found himself walking +with his comrade in St. Mark's Square. + +"Well, for rapid transit," said Brenton, "this beats anything I've ever +had any idea of; but it increases the feeling that I am in a dream." + +"You'll soon get used to it," answered Ferris; and, when you do, the +cumbersome methods of travel in the world itself will show themselves in +their right light. "Hello!" he cried, "here's a man whom I should +like you to meet. By the way, I either don't know your name or I have +forgotten it." + +"William Brenton," answered the other. + +"Mr. Speed, I want to introduce you to Mr. Brenton." + +"Ah," said Speed, cordially, "a new-comer. One of your victims, Ferris?" + +"Say one of his pupils, rather," answered Brenton. + +[Illustration: _In Venice_.] + +"Well, it is pretty much the same thing," said Speed. "How long have you +been with us, and how do you like the country?" + +"You see, Mr. Brenton," interrupted Ferris, "John Speed was a newspaper +man, and he must ask strangers how they like the country. He has +inquired so often while interviewing foreigners for his paper that now +he cannot abandon his old phrase. Mr. Brenton has been with us but a +short time," continued Ferris, "and so you know, Speed, you can, hardly +expect him to answer your inevitable question." + +"What part of the country are you from?" asked Speed. + +"Cincinnati," answered Brenton, feeling almost as if he were an American +tourist doing the continent of Europe. + +"Cincinnati, eh? Well, I congratulate you. I do not know any place in +America that I would sooner die in, as they call it, than Cincinnati. +You see, I am a Chicago man myself." + +Brenton did not like the jocular familiarity of the newspaper man, and +found himself rather astonished to learn that in the spirit-world there +were likes and dislikes, just as on earth. + +"Chicago is a very enterprising city," he said, in a non-committal way. + +"Chicago, my dear sir," said Speed, earnestly, "is _the_ city. You will +see that Chicago is going to be the great city of the world before you +are a hundred years older. By the way, Ferris," said the Chicago man, +suddenly recollecting something, "I have got Sommers over here with me." + +"Ah!" said Ferris; "doing him any good?" + +"Well, precious little, as far as I can see." + +"Perhaps it would interest Mr. Brenton to meet him," said Ferris. "I +think, Brenton, you asked me a while ago if there was any hell here, or +any punishment. Mr. Speed can show you a man in hell." + +"Really?" asked Brenton. + +"Yes," said Speed; "I think if ever a man was in misery, his is. The +trouble with Sommers was this. He--well, he died of delirium tremens, +and so, of course, you know what the matter was. Sommers had drunk +Chicago whisky for thirty-five years straight along, and never added to +it the additional horror of Chicago water. You see what his condition +became, both physical and mental. Many people tried to reform Sommers, +because he was really a brilliant man; but it was no use. Thirst had +become a disease with him, and from the mental part of that disease, +although his physical yearning is now gone of course, he suffers. +Sommers would give his whole future for one glass of good old Kentucky +whisky. He sees it on the counters, he sees men drink it, and he stands +beside them in agony. That's why I brought him over here. I thought that +he wouldn't see the colour of whisky as it sparkles in the glass; but +now he is in the Cafe Quadra watching men drink. You may see him sitting +there with all the agony of unsatisfied desire gleaming from his face." + +"And what do you do with a man like that?" asked Brenton. + +"Do? Well, to tell the truth, there is nothing _to_ do. I took him away +from Chicago, hoping to ease his trouble a little; but it has had no +effect." + +"It will come out all right by-and-by," said Ferris, who noticed the +pained look on Brenton's face. "It is the period of probation that +he has to pass through. It will wear off. He merely goes through the +agonies he would have suffered on earth if he had suddenly been deprived +of his favourite intoxicant." + +"Well," said Speed, "you won't come with me, then? All right, good-bye. +I hope to see you again, Mr. Brenton," and with that they separated. + +Brenton spent two or three days in Venice, but all the time the old home +hunger was upon him. He yearned for news of Cincinnati. He wanted to be +back, and several times the wish brought him there, but he instantly +returned. At last he said to Ferris-- + +"I am tired. I must go home. I have _got_ to see how things are going." + +"I wouldn't if I were you," replied Ferris. + +"No, I know you wouldn't. Your temperament is indifferent. I would +rather be miserable with knowledge than happy in ignorance. Good-bye." + +It was evening when he found himself in Cincinnati. The weather was +bright-and clear, and apparently cold. Men's feet crisped on the frozen +pavement, and the streets had that welcome, familiar look which they +always have to the returned traveller when he reaches the city he calls +his home. The newsboys were rushing through the streets yelling their +papers at the top of their voices. He heard them, but paid little +attention. + +"All about the murder! Latest edition! All about the poison case!" + +He felt that he must have a glimpse at a paper, and, entering the office +of an hotel where a man was reading one, he glanced over his shoulder +at the page before him, and was horror-stricken to see the words in +startling headlines-- + + + +[Illustration: THE BRENTON MURDER. _The Autopsy shows that Morphine was +the Poison used. Enough found to have killed a Dozen Men. Mrs. Brenton +arrested for Committing the Horrible Deed_.] + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +For a moment Brenton was so bewildered and amazed at the awful headlines +which he read, that he could hardly realize what had taken place. +The fact that he had been poisoned, although it gave him a strange +sensation, did not claim his attention as much as might have been +thought. Curiously enough he was more shocked at finding himself, as +it were, the talk of the town, the central figure of a great newspaper +sensation. But the thing that horrified him was the fact that his wife +had been arrested for his murder. His first impulse was to go to her at +once, but he next thought it better to read what the paper said about +the matter, so as to become possessed of all the facts. The headlines, +he said to himself, often exaggerated things, and there was a +possibility that the body of the article would not bear out the naming +announcement above it. But as he read on and on, the situation seemed +to become more and more appalling. He saw that his friends had been +suspicious of his sudden death, and had insisted on a post-mortem +examination. That examination had been conducted by three of the most +eminent physicians of Cincinnati, and the three doctors had practically +agreed that the deceased, in the language of the verdict, had come to +his death through morphia poisoning, and the coroner's jury had brought +in a verdict that "the said William Brenton had been poisoned by some +person unknown." Then the article went on to state how suspicion had +gradually fastened itself upon his wife, and at last her arrest had been +ordered. The arrest had taken place that day. + +After reading this, Brenton was in an agony of mind. He pictured his +dainty and beautiful wife in a stone cell in the city prison. He foresaw +the horrors of the public trial, and the deep grief and pain which + +[Illustration: _Mrs. Brenton_.] + +the newspaper comments on the case would cause to a woman educated and +refined. Of course, Brenton had not the slightest doubt in his own mind +about the result of the trial. His wife would be triumphantly acquitted; +but, all the same, the terrible suspense which she must suffer in the +meanwhile would not be compensated for by the final verdict of the jury. + +Brenton at once went to the jail, and wandered through that gloomy +building, searching for his wife. At last he found her, but it was in +a very comfortable room in the sheriffs residence. The terror and the +trials of the last few days had aged her perceptibly, and it cut Brenton +to the heart to think that he stood there before her, and could not by +any means say a soothing word that she would understand. That she had +wept many bitter tears since the terrible Christmas morning was evident; +there were dark circles under her beautiful eyes that told of sleepless +nights. She sat in a comfortable armchair, facing the window; and looked +steadily out at the dreary winter scene with eyes that apparently saw +nothing. Her hands lay idly on her lap, and now and then she caught her +breath in a way that was half a sob and half a gasp. + +Presently the sheriff himself entered the room. + +"Mrs. Brenton," he said, "there is a gentleman here who wishes to see +you. Mr. Roland, he tells me his name is, an old friend of yours. Do you +care to see any one?" + +The lady turned her head slowly round, and looked at the sheriff for a +moment, seemingly not understanding what he said. Finally she answered, +dreamily-- + +"Roland? Oh, Stephen! Yes, I shall be very glad to see him. Ask him to +come in, please." + +The next moment Stephen Roland entered, and somehow the fact that he had +come to console Mrs. Brenton did not at all please the invisible man who +stood between them. + +"My dear Mrs. Brenton," began Roland, "I hope you are feeling better +to-day? Keep up your courage, and be brave. It is only for a very short +time. I have retained the noted criminal lawyers, Benham and Brown, for +the defence. You could not possibly have better men." + +At the word "criminal" Mrs. Brenton shuddered. + +"Alice," continued Roland, sitting down near her, and drawing his chair +closer to her, "tell me that you will not lose your courage. I want you +to be brave, for the sake of your friends." + +He took her listless hand in his own, and she did not withdraw it. + +Brenton felt passing over him the pangs of impotent rage, as he saw this +act on the part of Roland. + +Roland had been an unsuccessful suitor for the hand which he now held +in his own, and Brenton thought it the worst possible taste, to say the +least, that he should take advantage now of her terrible situation to +ingratiate himself into her favour. + +The nearest approach to a quarrel that Brenton and his wife had had +during their short six months of wedded life was on the subject of the +man who now held her hand in his own. It made Brenton impatient to think +that a woman with all her boasted insight into character, her instincts +as to what was right and what was wrong, had such little real intuition +that she did not see into the character of the man whom they were +discussing; but a woman never thinks it a crime for a man to have been +in love with her, whatever opinion of that man her husband may hold. + +"It is awful! awful! awful!" murmured the poor lady, as the tears again +rose to her eyes. + +"Of course it is," said Roland; "it is particularly awful that they +should accuse you, of all persons in the world, of this so-called crime. +For my part I do not believe that he was poisoned at all, but we will +soon straighten things out. Benham and Brown will give up everything +and devote their whole attention to this case until it is finished. +Everything will be done that money or friends can do, and all that we +ask is that you keep up your courage, and do not be downcast with the +seeming awfulness of the situation." + +Mrs. Brenton wept silently, but made no reply. It was evident, however, +that she was consoled by the words and the presence of her visitor. +Strange as it may appear, this fact enraged Brenton, although he had +gone there for the very purpose of cheering and comforting his wife. All +the bitterness he had felt before against his former rival was revived; +and his rage was the more agonizing because it was inarticulate. Then +there flashed over him Ferris's sinister advice to leave things alone in +the world that he had left. He felt that he could stand this no longer, +and the next instant he found himself again in the wintry streets of +Cincinnati. + +The name of the lawyers, Benham and Brown, kept repeating itself in his +mind, and he resolved to go to their office and hear, if he could, what +preparations were being made for the defence of a woman whom he knew to +be innocent. He found, when he got to the office of these noted lawyers, +that the two principals were locked in their private room; and going +there, he found them discussing the case with the coolness and +impersonal feeling that noted lawyers have even when speaking of issues +that involve life or death. + +"Yes," Benham was saying, "I think that, unless anything new turns up, +that is the best line of defence we can adopt." + +"What do you think might turn up?" asked Brown. + +"Well, you can never tell in these cases. They may find something +else--they may find the poison, for instance, or the package that +contained it. Perhaps a druggist will remember having sold it to this +woman, and then, of course, we shall have to change our plans. I need +not say that it is strictly necessary in this case to give out no +opinions whatever to newspaper men. The papers will be full of rumours, +and it is just as well if we can keep our line of defence hidden until +the time for action comes." + +"Still," said Brown, who was the younger partner, "it is as well to keep +in with the newspaper fellows; they'll be here as soon as they find we +have taken charge of the defence." + +"Well, I have no doubt you can deal with them in such a way as to give +them something to write up, and yet not disclose anything we do not wish +known." + +"I think you can trust me to do that," said Brown, with a self-satisfied +air. + +"I shall leave that part of the matter entirely in your hands," replied +Benham. "It is better not to duplicate or mix matters, and if any +newspaper man comes to see me I will refer him to you. I will say I know +nothing of the case whatever." + +"Very well," answered Brown. "Now, between ourselves, what do you think +of the case?" + + +[Illustration] + +"Oh, it will make a great sensation. I think it will probably be one of +the most talked-of cases that we have ever been connected with." + +"Yes, but what do you think of her guilt or innocence?" + +"As to that," said Benham, calmly, "I haven't the slightest doubt. She +murdered him." + +As he said this, Brenton, forgetting himself for a moment, sprang +forward as if to strangle the lawyer. The statement Benham had made +seemed the most appalling piece of treachery. That men should take a +woman's money for defending her, and actually engage in a case when they +believed their client guilty, appeared to Brenton simply infamous. + +"I agree with you," said Brown. "Of course she was the only one to +benefit by his death. The simple fool willed everything to her, and she +knew it; and his doing so is the more astounding when you remember he +was quite well aware that she had a former lover whom she would gladly +have married if he had been as rich as Brenton. The supreme idiocy of +some men as far as their wives are concerned is something awful." + +"Yes," answered Benham, "it is. But I tell you, Brown, she is no +ordinary woman. The very conception of that murder had a stroke of +originality about it that I very much admire. I do not remember anything +like it in the annals of crime. It is the true way in which a murder +should be committed. The very publicity of the occasion was a safeguard. +Think of poisoning a man at a dinner that he has given himself, in the +midst of a score of + +[Illustration: _Publicity_] + +friends. I tell you that there was a dash of bravery about it that +commands my admiration." + +"Do you imagine Roland had anything to do with it?" + +"Well, I had my doubts about that at first, but I think he is innocent, +although from what I know of the man he will not hesitate to share the +proceeds of the crime. You mark my words, they will be married within +a year from now if she is acquitted. I believe Roland knows her to be +guilty." + +"I thought as much," said Brown, "by his actions here, and by some +remarks he let drop. Anyhow, our credit in the affair will be all the +greater if we succeed in getting her off. Yes," he continued, rising and +pushing back his chair, "Madam Brenton is a murderess." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +Brenton found himself once more in the streets of Cincinnati, in a state +of mind that can hardly be described. Rage and grief struggled for the +mastery, and added to the tumult of these passions was the uncertainty +as to what he should do, or what he _could_ do. He could hardly ask the +advice of Ferris again, for his whole trouble arose from his neglect of +the counsel that gentleman had already given him. In his new sphere he +did not know where to turn. He found himself wondering whether in the +spirit-land there was any firm of lawyers who could advise him, and he +remembered then how singularly ignorant he was regarding the conditions +of existence in the world to which he now belonged. However, he felt +that he must consult with somebody, and Ferris was the only one to whom +he could turn. A moment later he was face to face with him. + +"Mr. Ferris," he said, "I am in the most grievous trouble, and I come to +you in the hope that, if you cannot help me, you can at least advise me +what to do." + +"If your trouble has come," answered Ferris, with a shade of irony in +his voice, "through following the advice that I have already given you, +I shall endeavour, as well as I am able, to help you out of it." + +"You know very well," cried Brenton, hotly, "that my whole trouble +has occurred through neglecting your advice, or, at least, though +deliberately not following it. I _could_ not follow it." + +"Very well, then," said Ferris, "I am not surprised that you are in a +difficulty. You must remember that such a crisis is an old story with us +here." + +"But, my dear sir," said Brenton, "look at the appalling condition of +things, the knowledge of which has just come to me. It seems I was +poisoned, but of course that doesn't matter. I feel no resentment +against the wretch who did it. But the terrible thing is that my wife +has been arrested for the crime, and I have just learned that her own +lawyers, actually believe her guilty." + +"That fact," said Ferris, calmly, "will not interfere with their +eloquent pleading when the case comes to trial." + +Brenton glared at the man who was taking things so coolly, and who +proved himself so unsympathetic; but an instant after he realized, the +futility of quarrelling with the only person who could give him advice, +so he continued, with what patience he could command-- + +"The situation is this: My wife has been arrested for the crime of +murdering me. She is now in the custody of the sheriff. Her trouble and +anxiety of mind are fearful to contemplate." + +"My dear sir," said Ferris, "there is no reason why you or anybody else +should contemplate it." + +"How can you talk in that cold-blooded way?" cried Brenton, indignantly. +"Could you see _your_ wife, or any one _you_ held dear, incarcerated for +a dreadful crime, and yet remain calm and collected, as you now appear +to be when you hear of another's misfortune?" + +"My dear fellow," said Ferris, "of course it is not to be expected that +one who has had so little experience with this existence should have any +sense of proportion. You appear to be speaking quite seriously. You do +not seem at all to comprehend the utter triviality of all this." + +"Good gracious!" cried Brenton, "do you call it a trivial thing that a +woman is in danger of her life for a crime which she never committed?" + +"If she is innocent," said the other, in no way moved by the indignation +of his comrade, "surely that state of things will be brought out in the +courts, and no great harm will be done, even looking at things from the +standpoint of the world you have left. But I want you to get into the +habit of looking at things from the standpoint of this world, and not +of the other. Suppose that what you would call the worst should +happen--suppose she is hanged--what then?" + +Brenton stood simply speechless with indignation at this brutal remark. + +"If you will just look at things correctly," continued Ferris, +imperturbably, "you will see that there is probably a moment of anguish, +perhaps not even that moment, and then your wife is here with you in the +land of spirits. I am sure that is a consummation devoutly to be wished. +Even a man in your state of mind must see the reasonableness of this. +Now, looking at the question in what you would call its most serious +aspect, see how little it amounts to. It isn't worth a moment's thought, +whichever way it goes." + +"You think nothing, then, of the disgrace of such a death--of the bitter +injustice of it?" + +[Illustration: _The broken toy._] + +"When you were in the world did you ever see a child cry over a broken +toy? Did the sight pain you to any extent? Did you not know that a new +toy could be purchased that would quite obliterate all thoughts of the +other? Did the simple griefs of childhood carry any deep and lasting +consternation to the mind of a grown-up man? Of course, it did not. You +are sensible enough to know that. Well, we here in this world look on +the pain and struggles and trials of people in the world you have left, +just as an aged man looks on the tribulations of children over a broken +doll. That is all it really amounts to. That is what I mean when I say +that you have not yet got your sense of proportion. Any grief and misery +there is in the world you have left is of such an ephemeral, transient +nature, that when we think for a moment of the free, untrammelled, +and painless life there is beyond, those petty troubles sink into +insignificance. My dear fellow, be sensible, take my advice. I have +really a strong interest in you, and I advise you, entirely for your own +welfare, to forget all about it. Very soon you will have something much +more important to do than lingering around the world you have left. If +your wife comes amongst us I am sure you will be glad to welcome her, +and to teach her the things that you will have already found out of your +new life. If she does not appear, then you will know that, even from the +old-world standpoint, things have gone what you would call 'all right.' +Let these trivial matters go, and attend to the vastly more important +concerns that will soon engage your attention here." + +Ferris talked earnestly, and it was evident, even to Brenton, that he +meant what he said. It was hard to find a pretext for a quarrel with a +man at once so calm and so perfectly sure of himself. + +"We will not talk any more about it," said Brenton. "I presume people +here agree to differ, just as they did in the world we have both left." + +"Certainly, certainly," answered Ferris. "Of course, you have just heard +my opinion; but you will find myriads of others who do not share it with +me. You will meet a great many who are interested in the subject of +communication with the world they have left. You will, of course, excuse +me when I say that I consider such endeavours not worth talking about." + +"Do you know any one who is interested in that sort of thing? and can +you give me an introduction to him?" + +"Oh! for that matter," said Ferris, "you have had an introduction to one +of the most enthusiastic investigators of the subject. I refer to Mr. +John Speed, late of Chicago." + +"Ah!" said Brenton, rather dubiously. "I must confess that I was +not very favourably impressed with Mr. Speed. Probably I did him an +injustice." + +"You certainly did," said Ferris. "You will find Speed a man well worth +knowing, even if he does waste himself on such futile projects as a +scheme for communicating with a community so evanescent as that of +Chicago. You will like Speed better the more you know him. He really is +very philanthropic, and has Sommers on his hands just now. From what he +said after you left Venice, I imagine he does not entertain the same +feeling toward you as you do toward him. I would see Speed if I were +you." + +"I will think about it," said Brenton, as they separated. + +To know that a man thinks well of a person is no detriment to further +acquaintance with that man, even if the first impressions have not been +favourable; and after Ferris told Brenton that Speed had thought well of +him, Brenton found less difficulty in seeking the Chicago enthusiast. + +"I have been in a good deal of trouble," Brenton said to Speed, "and +have been talking to Ferris about it. I regret to say that he gave me +very little encouragement, and did not seem at all to appreciate my +feelings in the matter." + +"Oh, you mustn't mind Ferris," said Speed. "He is a first-rate fellow, +but he is as cold and unsympathetic as--well, suppose we say as an +oyster. His great hobby is non-intercourse with the world we have left. +Now, in that I don't agree with him, and there are thousands who don't +agree with him. I admit that there are cases where a man is more unhappy +if he frequents the old world than he would be if he left it alone. But +then there are other cases where just the reverse is true. Take my own +experience, for example; I take a peculiar pleasure in rambling around +Chicago. I admit that it is a grievance to me, as an old newspaper man, +to see the number of scoops I could have on my esteemed contemporaries, +but--" + +"Scoop? What is that?" asked Brenton, mystified. + +"Why, a scoop is a beat, you know." + +"Yes, but I don't know. What is a beat?" + +"A beat or a scoop, my dear fellow, is the getting of a piece of news +that your contemporary does not obtain. You never were in the newspaper +business? Well, sir, you missed it. Greatest business in the world. You +know everything that is going on long before anybody else does, and the +way you can reward your friends and jump with both feet on your enemies +is one of the delights of existence down there." + +"Well, what I wanted to ask you was this," said Brenton. "You have made +a speciality of finding out whether there could be any communication +between one of us, for instance, and one who is an inhabitant of the +other world. Is such communication possible?" + +"I have certainly devoted some time to it, but I can't say that my +success has been flattering. My efforts have been mostly in the line of +news. I have come on some startling information which my facilities here +gave me access to, and I confess I have tried my best to put some of the +boys on to it. But there is a link loose somewhere. Now, what is your +trouble? Do you want to get a message to anybody?" + +"My trouble is this," said Brenton, briefly, "I am here because a few +days ago I was poisoned." + +"George Washington!" cried the other, "you don't say so! Have the +newspapers got on to the fact?" + +"I regret to say that they have." + +"What an item that would have been if one paper had got hold of it and +the others hadn't! I suppose they all got on to it at the same time?" + +"About that," said Brenton, "I don't know, and I must confess that I do +not care very much. But here is the trouble--my wife has been arrested +for my murder, and she is as innocent as I am." + +"Sure of that?" + +"_Sure_ of it?" cried the other indignantly. "Of course I am sure of +it." + +"Then who is the guilty person?" + +"Ah, that," said Brenton, "I do not yet know." + +"Then how can you be sure she is not guilty?" + +"If you talk like that," exclaimed Brenton, "I have nothing more to +say." + +"Now, don't get offended, I beg of you. I am merely looking at this from +a newspaper standpoint, you know. You must remember it is not you +who will decide the matter, but a jury of your very stupid +fellow-countrymen. Now, you can never tell what a jury _will_ do, except +that it will do something idiotic. Therefore, it seems to me that the +very first step to be taken is to find out who the guilty party is. +Don't you see the force of that?" + +"Yes, I do." + +"Very well, then. Now, what were the circumstances of this crime? who +was to profit by your death?" + +Brenton winced at this. + +"I see how it is," said the other, "and I understand why you don't +answer. Now--you'll excuse me if I am frank--your wife was the one who +benefited most by your death, was she not?" + +"No," cried the other indignantly, "she was not the one. That is what +the lawyers said. Why in the world should she want to poison me, when +she had all my wealth at her command as it was?" + +"Yes, that's a strong point," said Speed. "You were a reasonably good +husband, I suppose? Rather generous with the cash?" + +"Generous?" cried the other. "My wife always had everything she wanted." + +"Ah, well, there was no--you'll excuse me, I am sure--no former lover in +the case, was there?" + +Again Brenton winced, and he thought of Roland sitting beside his wife +with her hand in his. + +"I see," said Speed; "you needn't answer. Now what were the +circumstances, again?" + +"They were these: At a dinner which I gave, where some twenty or +twenty-five of my friends were assembled, poison, it appears, was put +into my cup of coffee. That is all I know of it." + +"Who poured out that cup of coffee?" + +"My wife did." + +"Ah! Now, I don't for a moment say she is guilty, remember; but you must +admit that, to a stupid jury, the case _might_ look rather bad against +her." + +"Well, granted that it does, there is all the more need, that I should +come to her assistance if possible." + +"Certainly, certainly!" said Speed. "Now, I'll tell you what we have +to do. We must get, if possible, one of the very brightest Chicago +reporters on the track of this thing, and we have to get him on the +track of it early. Come with me to Chicago. We will try an experiment, +and I am sure you will lend your mind entirely to the effort. We must +act in conjunction in this affair, and you are just the man I've been +wanting, some one who is earnest and who has something at stake in the +matter. We may fail entirely, but I think it's worth the trying. Will +you come?" + +"Certainly," said Brenton; "and I cannot tell you how much I appreciate +your interest and sympathy." + +Arriving at a brown stone building on the corner of two of the principal +streets in Chicago, Brenton and Speed ascended quickly to one of the top +floors. It was nearly midnight, and two upper stories of the huge dark +building were brilliantly lighted, as was shown on the outside by the +long rows of glittering windows. They entered a room where a man was +seated at a table, with coat and vest thrown off, and his hat set well +back on his head. Cold as it was outside, it was warm in this man's +room, and the room was blue with smoke. A black corn-cob pipe was in his +teeth, and the man was writing away as if for dear life, on sheets of +coarse white copy paper, stopping now and then to fill up his pipe or to +relight it after it had gone out. + +"There," said Speed, waving his hand towards the writer with a certain +air of proprietory pride, "there sits one of the very cleverest men on +the Chicago press. That fellow, sir, is gifted with a nose for news +which has no equal in America. He will ferret out a case that he once +starts on with an unerringness that would charm you. Yes, sir, I got him +his present situation on this paper, and I can tell you it was a good +one." + +"He must have been a warm friend of yours?" said Brenton, indifferently, +as if he did not take much interest in the eulogy. + +"Quite the contrary," said Speed. "He was a warm enemy, made it mighty +warm for _me_ sometimes. He was on an opposition paper, but I tell you, +although I was no chicken in newspaper business, that man would scoop +the daylight out of me any time he tried. So, to get rid of opposition, +I got the managing editor to appoint him to a place on our paper; and +I tell you, he has never regretted it. Yes, sir, there sits George +Stratton, a man who knows his business. Now," he said, "let us +concentrate our attention on him. First let us see whether, by putting +our whole minds to it, we can make any impression on _his_ mind +whatever. You see how busily he is engaged. He is thoroughly absorbed in +his work. That is George all over. Whatever his assignment is, George +throws himself right into it, and thinks of nothing else until it is +finished. _Now_ then." + +In that dingy, well-lighted room George Stratton sat busily pencilling +out the lines that were to appear in next morning's paper. He was +evidently very much engrossed in his task, as Speed had said. If he +had looked about him, which he did not, he would have said that he was +entirely alone. All at once his attention seemed to waver, and he passed +his hand over his brow, while perplexity came into his face. Then he +noticed that his pipe was out, and, knocking the ashes from it by +rapping the bowl on the side of the table, he filled it with an +absent-mindedness unusual with him. Again he turned to his writing, and +again he passed his hand over his brow. Suddenly, without, any apparent +cause, he looked first to the right and then to the left of him. Once +more he tried to write, but, noticing his pipe was out, he struck +another match and nervously puffed away, until clouds of blue smoke rose +around him. There was a look of annoyance and perplexity in his face as +he bent resolutely to his writing. The door opened, and a man appeared +on the threshold. + +"Anything more about the convention, George?" he said. + +"Yes; I am just finishing this. Sort of pen pictures, you know." + +"Perhaps you can let me have what you have done. I'll fix it up." + +"All right," said Stratton, bunching up the manuscript in front of him, +and handing it to the city editor. + +That functionary looked at the number of pages, and then at the writer. + +"Much more of this, George?" he said. "We'll be a little short of room +in the morning, you know." + +"Well," said the other, sitting back in his chair, "it is pretty good +stuff that. Folks always like the pen pictures of men engaged in the +skirmish better than the reports of what most of them say." + +"Yes," said the city editor, "that's so." + +"Still," said Stratton, "we could cut it off at the last page. Just let +me see the last two pages, will you?" + +These were handed to him, and, running his eye through them, he drew his +knife across one of the pages, and put at the bottom the cabalistic mark +which indicated the end of the copy. + +"There! I think I will let it go at that. Old Rickenbeck don't amount to +much, anyhow. We'll let him go." + +"All right," said the city editor. "I think we won't want anything more +to-night." + +[Illustration: "_She's pretty as a picture_."] + +Stratton put his hands behind his head, with his fingers interlaced, and +leaned back in his chair, placing his heels upon the table before him. +A thought-reader, looking at his face, could almost have followed the +theme that occupied his mind. Suddenly bringing his feet down with a +crash to the floor, he rose and went into the city editor's room. + +"See here," he said. "Have you looked into that Cincinnati case at all?" + +"What Cincinnati case?" asked the local editor, looking up. + +"Why, that woman who is up for poisoning her husband." + +"Oh yes; we had something of it in the despatches this morning. It's +rather out of the local line, you know." + +"Yes, I know it is. But it isn't out of the paper's line. I tell you +that case is going to make a sensation. She's pretty as a picture. Been +married only six months, and it seems to be a dead sure thing that +she poisoned her husband. That trial's going to make racy reading, +especially if they bring in a verdict of guilty." + +The city editor looked interested. + +"Want to go down there, George?" + +"Well, do you know, I think it'll pay." + +"Let me see, this is the last day of the convention, isn't it? And Clark +comes back from his vacation to-morrow. Well, if you think it's worth +it, take a trip down there, and look the ground over, and give us a +special article that we can use on the first day of the trial." + +"I'll do it," said George. + + * * * * * + +Speed looked at Brenton. + +"What would old Ferris say _now_, eh?" + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +Next morning George Stratton was on the railway train speeding towards +Cincinnati. As he handed to the conductor his mileage book, he did not +say to him, lightly transposing the old couplet-- + + "Here, railroad man, take thrice thy fee, + For spirits twain do ride with me." + +George Stratton was a practical man, and knew nothing of spirits, except +those which were in a small flask in his natty little valise. + +When he reached Cincinnati, he made straight for the residence of the +sheriff. He felt that his first duty was to become friends with such an +important official. Besides this, he wished to have an interview with +the prisoner. He had arranged in his mind, on the way there, just how he +would write a preliminary article that would whet the appetite of the +readers of the Chicago _Argus_ for any further developments that might +occur during and after the trial. He would write the whole thing in the +form of a story. + +First, there would be a sketch of the life of Mrs. Brenton and her +husband. This would be number one, and above it would be the Roman +numeral I. Under the heading II. would be a history of the crime. Under +III. what had occurred afterwards--the incidents that had led suspicion +towards the unfortunate woman, and that sort of thing. Under the numeral +IV. would be his interview with the prisoner, if he were fortunate +enough to get one. Under V. he would give the general opinion of +Cincinnati on the crime, and on the guilt or innocence of Mrs. Brenton. +This article he already saw in his mind's eye occupying nearly half a +page of the _Argus_. All would be in leaded type, and written in a style +and manner that would attract attention, for he felt that + +[Illustration: "_Raising the veil_."] + +he was first on the ground, and would not have the usual rush in +preparing his copy which had been the bane of his life. It would give +the _Argus_ practically the lead in this case, which he was convinced +would become one of national importance. + +The sheriff received him courteously, and, looking at the card he +presented, saw the name Chicago _Argus_ in the corner. Then he stood +visibly on his guard--an attitude assumed by all wise officials when +they find themselves brought face to face with a newspaper man; for +they know, however carefully an article may be prepared, it will likely +contain some unfortunate overlooked phrase which may have a damaging +effect in a future political campaign. + +"I wanted to see you," began Stratton, coming straight to the point, "in +reference to the Brenton murder." + +"I may say at once," replied the sheriff, "that if you wish an interview +with the prisoner, it is utterly impossible, because her lawyers, Benham +and Brown, have positively forbidden her to see a newspaper man." + +"That shows," said Stratton, "they are wise men who understand their +business. Nevertheless, I wish to have an interview with Mrs. Brenton. +But what I wanted to say to you is this: I believe the case will be very +much talked about, and that before many weeks are over. Of course you +know the standing the _Argus_ has in newspaper circles. What it says +will have an influence, even over the Cincinnati press. I think you will +admit that. Now a great many newspaper men consider an official their +natural enemy. I do not; at least, I do not until I am forced to. Any +reference that I may make to you I am more than willing to submit to you +before it goes to Chicago. I will give you my word, if you want it, that +nothing will be said referring to your official position, or to yourself +personally, that you do not see before it appears in print. Of course +you will be up for re-election. I never met a sheriff who wasn't." + +The sheriff smiled at this, and did not deny it. + +"Very well. Now, I may tell you my belief is that this case is going +to have a powerful influence on your re-election. Here is a young and +pretty woman who is to be tried for a terrible crime. Whether she is +guilty or innocent, public sympathy is going to be with her. If I were +in your place, I would prefer to be known as her friend rather than as +her enemy." + +"My dear sir," said the sheriff, "my official position puts me in the +attitude of neither friend nor enemy of the unfortunate woman. I have +simply a certain duty to do, and that duty I intend to perform." + +"Oh, that's all right!" exclaimed the newspaper man, jauntily. "I, for +one, am not going to ask you to take a step outside your duties; but an +official may do his duty, and yet, at the same time, do a friendly act +for a newspaper man, or even for a prisoner. In the language of the old +chestnut, 'If you don't help me, don't help the bear.' That's all I +ask." + +"You maybe sure, Mr. Stratton, that anything I can do to help you I +shall be glad to do; and now let me give you a hint. If you want to see +Mrs. Brenton, the best thing is to get permission from her lawyers. If +I were you I would not see Benham--he's rather a hard nut, Benham is, +although you needn't tell him I said so. You get on the right side of +Brown. Brown has some political aspirations himself, and he does not +want to offend a man on so powerful a paper as the _Argus_, even if it +is not a Cincinnati paper. Now, if you make him the same offer you have +made to me, I think it will be all right. If he sees your copy before it +goes into print, and if you keep your word with him that nothing will +appear that he does _not_ see, I think you will succeed in getting an +interview with Mrs. Brenton. If you bring me a note from Brown, I shall +be very glad to allow you to see her." + +Stratton thanked the sheriff for his hint. He took down in his note-book +the address of the lawyers, and the name especially of Mr. Brown. The +two men shook hands, and Stratton felt that they understood each other. + +When Mr. Stratton was ushered into the private office of Brown, and +handed that gentleman his card, he noticed the lawyer perceptibly freeze +over. + +"Ahem," said the legal gentleman; "you will excuse me if I say that my +time is rather precious. Did you wish to see me professionally?" + +"Yes," replied Stratton, "that is, from a newspaper standpoint of the +profession." + +"Ah," said the other, "in reference to what?" + +"To the Brenton case." + +"Well, my dear sir, I have had, very reluctantly, to refuse information +that I would have been happy to give, if I could, to our own newspaper +men; and so I may say to you at once that I scarcely think it will +be possible for me to be of any service to an outside paper like the +_Argus_" + +"Local newspaper men," said Stratton, "represent local fame. That +you already possess. I represent national fame, which, if you will +excuse my saying so, you do not yet possess. The fact that I am in +Cincinnati to-day, instead of in Chicago, shows what we Chicago people +think of the Cincinnati case. I believe, and the _Argus_ believes, that +this case is going to be one of national importance. Now, let me ask you +one question. Will you state frankly what your objection is to having +a newspaper man, for instance, interview Mrs. Brenton, or get any +information relating to this case from her or others whom you have the +power of controlling?" + +"I shall answer that question," said Brown, "as frankly as you put +it. You are a man of the world, and know, of course, that we are all +selfish, and in business matters look entirely after our own interests. +My interest in this case is to defend my client. Your interest in +this case is to make a sensational article. You want to get facts if +possible, but, in any event, you want to write up a readable column or +two for your paper. Now, if I allowed you to see Mrs. Brenton, she might +say something to you, and you might publish it, that would not only +endanger her chances, but would seriously embarrass us, as her lawyers, +in our defence of the case." + +"You have stated the objection very plainly and forcibly," said +Stratton, with a look of admiration, as if the powerful arguments of +the lawyer had had a great effect on him. "Now, if I understand your +argument, it simply amounts to this, that you would have no objection to +my interviewing Mrs. Brenton if you have the privilege of editing the +copy. In other words, if nothing were printed but what you approve +of, you would not have the slightest hesitancy about allowing me that +interview." + +"No, I don't know that I would," admitted the lawyer. + +"Very well, then. Here is my proposition to you: I am here to look after +the interests of our paper in this particular case. The _Argus_ is +probably going to be the first paper outside of Cincinnati that will +devote a large amount of space to the Brenton trial, in addition to what +is received from the Associated Press dispatches. Now you can give me a +great many facilities in this matter if you care to do so, and in return +I am perfectly willing to submit to you every line of copy that concerns +you or your client before it is sent, and I give you my word of honour +that nothing shall appear but what you have seen and approved of. If +you want to cut out something that I think is vitally important, then I +shall tell you frankly that I intend to print it, but will modify it as +much as I possibly can to suit your views." + +"I see," said the lawyer. "In other words, as you have just remarked, +I am to give you special facilities in this matter, and then, when you +find out some fact which I wish kept secret, and which you have obtained +because of the facilities I have given to you, you will quite frankly +tell me that it must go in, and then, of course, I shall be helpless +except to debar you from any further facilities, as you call them. No, +sir, I do not care to make any such bargain." + +"Well, suppose I strike out that clause of agreement, and, say to you +that I will send nothing but what you approve of, would you then write +me a note to the sheriff and allow me to see the prisoner?" + +"I am sorry to say"--the lawyer hesitated for a moment, and glanced at +the card, then added--"Mr. Stratton, that I do not see my way clear to +granting your request." + +"I think," said Stratton, rising, "that you are doing yourself an +injustice. You are refusing--I may as well tell you first as last--what +is a great privilege. Now, you have had some experience in your +business, and I have had some experience in mine, and I beg to inform +you that men who are much more prominent in the history of their country +than any one I can at present think of in Cincinnati, have tried to balk +me in the pursuit of my business, and have failed." + +"In that matter, of course," said Brown, "I must take my chances. I +don't see the use of prolonging this interview. As you have been so +frank as to--I won't say threaten, perhaps warn is the better word--as +you have been so good as to warn me, I may, before we part, just give +_you_ a word of caution. Of course we, in Cincinnati, are perfectly +willing to admit that Chicago people are the smartest on earth, but I +may say that if you print a word in your paper which is untrue and which +is damaging to our side of the case, or if you use any methods that +are unlawful in obtaining the information you so much desire, you will +certainly get your paper into trouble, and you will run some little +personal risk yourself." + +"Well, as you remarked a moment ago, Mr. Brown, I shall have to take the +chances of that. I am here to get the news, and if I don't succeed it +will be the first time in my life." + +"Very well, sir," said the lawyer. "I wish you good evening." + +"Just one thing more," said the newspaper man, "before I leave you." + +"My dear sir," said the lawyer, impatiently, "I am very busy. I've +already given you a liberal share of my time. I must request that this +interview end at once." + +"I thought," said Mr. Stratton, calmly, "that perhaps you might be +interested in the first article that I am going to write. I shall devote +one column in the _Argus_ of the day after to-morrow to your defence of +the case, and whether your theory of defence is a tenable one or not." + +Mr. Brown pushed back his chair and looked earnestly at the young man. +That individual was imperturbably pulling on his gloves, and at the +moment was buttoning one of them. + +"Our _defence_!" cried the lawyer. "What do you know of our defence?" + +"My dear sir," said Stratton, "I know _all_ about it." + +"Sir, that is impossible. Nobody knows what our defence is to be except +Mr. Benham and myself." + +"And Mr. Stratton, of the Chicago _Argus_," replied the young man, as he +buttoned his coat. + +"May I ask, then, what the defence is?" + +"Certainly," answered the Chicago man. "Your defence is that Mr. Brenton +was insane, and that he committed suicide." + +Even Mr. Brown's habitual self-control, acquired by long years of +training in keeping his feelings out of sight, for the moment deserted +him. He drew his breath sharply, and cast a piercing glance at the young +man before him, who was critically watching the lawyer's countenance, +although he appeared to be entirely absorbed in buttoning his overcoat. +Then Mr. Brown gave a short, dry laugh. + +"I have met a bluff before," he said carelessly; "but I should like to +know what makes you think that such is our defence?" + +"_Think_!" cried the young man. "I don't think at all; I _know_ it." + +"How do you know it?" + +"Well, for one thing, I know it by your own actions a moment ago. What +first gave me an inkling of your defence was that book which is on +your table. It is Forbes Winslow on the mind and the brain; a very +interesting book, Mr. Brown, _very_ interesting indeed. It treats of +suicide, and the causes and conditions of the brain that will lead up +to it. It is a very good book, indeed, to study in such a case. Good +evening, Mr. Brown. I am sorry that we cannot co-operate in this +matter." + +Stratton turned and walked toward the door, while the lawyer gazed after +him with a look of helpless astonishment on his face. As Stratton placed +his hand on the door knob, the lawyer seemed to wake up as from a dream. + +"Stop!" he cried; "I will give you a letter that will admit you to Mrs. +Brenton." + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +"There!" said Speed to Brenton, triumphantly, "what do you think of +_that_? Didn't I say George Stratton was the brightest newspaper man in +Chicago? I tell you, his getting that letter from old Brown was one of +the cleverest bits of diplomacy I ever saw. There you had quickness of +perception, and nerve. All the time he was talking to old Brown he was +just taking that man's measure. See how coolly he acted while he was +drawing on his gloves and buttoning his coat as if ready to leave. Flung +that at Brown all of a sudden as quiet as if he was saying nothing at +all unusual, and all the time watching Brown out of the tail of his eye. +Well, sir, I must admit, that although I have known George Stratton for +years, I thought he was dished by that Cincinnati lawyer. I thought that +George was just gracefully covering up his defeat, and there he upset +old Brown's apple-cart in the twinkling of an eye. Now, you see the +effect of all this. Brown has practically admitted to him what the line +of defence is. Stratton won't publish it, of course; he has promised not +to, but you see he can hold that over Brown's head, and get everything +he wants unless they change their defence." + +"Yes," remarked Brenton, slowly, "he seems to be a very sharp newspaper +man indeed; but I don't like the idea of his going to interview my +wife." + +"Why, what is there wrong about that?" + +"Well, there is this wrong about it--that she in her depression may say +something that will tell against her." + +"Even if she does, what of it? Isn't the lawyer going to see the letter +before it is sent to the paper?" + +"I am not so sure about that. Do you think Stratton will show the +article to Brown if he gets what you call a scoop or a beat?" + +"Why, of course he will," answered Speed, indignantly; "hasn't he given +him his word that he will?" + +"Yes, I know he has," said Brenton, dubiously; "but he is a newspaper +man." + +"Certainly he is," answered Speed, with strong emphasis; "that is the +reason he will keep his word." + +"I hope so, I hope so; but I must admit that the more I know you +newspaper men, the more I see the great temptation you are under to +preserve if possible the sensational features of an article." + +"I'll bet you a drink--no, we can't do that," corrected Speed; "but you +shall see that, if Brown acts square with Stratton, he will keep his +word to the very letter with Brown. There is no use in our talking about +the matter here. Let us follow Stratton, and see what comes of the +interview." + +"I think I prefer to go alone," said Brenton, coldly. + +"Oh, as you like, as you like," answered the other, shortly. "I thought +you wanted my help in this affair; but if you don't, I am sure I shan't +intrude." + +"That's all right," said Brenton; "come along. By the way, Speed, what +do you think of that line of defence?" + +"Well, I don't know enough of the circumstances of the case to know what +to think of it. It seems to me rather a good line." + +"It can't be a good line when it is not true. It is certain to break +down." + +"That's so," said Speed; "but I'll bet you four dollars and a half that +they'll prove you a raving maniac before they are through with you. +They'll show very likely that you tried to poison yourself two or three +times; bring on a dozen of your friends to prove that they knew all your +life you were insane." + +"Do you think they will?" asked Brenton, uneasily. + +"Think it? Why, I am sure of it. You'll go down to posterity as one of +the most complete lunatics that ever, lived in Cincinnati. Oh, there +won't be anything left of you when _they_ get through with you." + +Meanwhile, Stratton was making his way to the residence of the sheriff. + +"Ah," said that official, when they met, "you got your letter, did you? +Well, I thought you would." + +"If you had heard the conversation between my estimable friend Mr. Brown +and myself, up to the very last moment, you wouldn't have thought it." + +"Well, Brown is generally very courteous towards newspaper men, and +that's one reason you see his name in the papers a great deal." + +"If I were a Cincinnati newspaper man, I can assure you that his name +wouldn't appear very much in the columns of my paper." + +"I am sorry to hear you say that. I thought Brown was very popular with +the newspaper men. You got the letter, though, did you?" + +"Yes; I got it. Here it is. Read it." + +The sheriff scanned the brief note over, and put it in his pocket. + +"Just take a chair for a moment, will you, and I will see if Mrs. +Brenton is ready to receive you." + +[Illustration: _Jane_.] + +Stratton seated himself, and, pulling a paper from his pocket, was +busily reading when the sheriff again entered. + +"I am sorry to say," he began, "after you have had all this trouble, +that Mrs. Brenton positively refuses to see you. You know I cannot +_compel_ a prisoner to meet any one. You understand that, of course." + +"Perfectly," said Stratton, thinking for a moment. "See here, sheriff, +I have simply _got_ to have a talk with that woman. Now, can't you tell +her I knew her husband, or something of that sort? I'll make it all +right when I see her." + + * * * * * + +"The scoundrel!" said Brenton to Speed, as Stratton made this remark. + +"My dear sir," said Speed, "don't you see he is just the man we want? +This is not the time to be particular." + +"Yes, but think of the treachery and meanness of telling a poor +unfortunate woman that he was acquainted with her husband, who is only a +few days dead.". + +"Now, see here," said Speed, "if you are going to look on matters in +this way you will be a hindrance and not a help in the affair. Don't you +appreciate the situation? Why, Mrs. Brenton's own lawyers, as you have +said, think her guilty. What, then, can they learn by talking with her, +or what good can they do her with their minds already prejudiced against +her? Don't you see that?" + +Brenton made no answer to this, but it was evident he was very ill at +ease. + + * * * * * + +"Did you know her husband?" asked the sheriff. + +"No, to tell you the truth, I never heard of him before. But I must see +this lady, both for my good and hers, and I am not going to let a little +thing like that stand between us. Won't you tell her that I have come +with a letter from her own lawyers? Just show her the letter, and say +that I will take up but very little of her time. I am sorry to ask this +much of you, but you see how I am placed." + +"Oh, that's all right," said the sheriff, good-naturedly; "I shall be +very glad to do what you wish," and with that he once more disappeared. + +The sheriff stayed away longer this time, and Stratton paced the room +impatiently. Finally, the official returned, and said-- + +"Mrs. Brenton has consented to see you. Come this way, please. You +will excuse me, I know," continued the sheriff, as they walked along +together, "but it is part of my duty to remain in the room, while you +are talking with Mrs. Brenton." + +"Certainly, certainly," said Stratton; "I under- stand that." + +"Very well; then, if I may make a suggestion, I would say this: you +should be prepared to ask just what you want to know, and do it all as +speedily as possible, for really Mrs. Brenton is in; a condition of +nervous exhaustion that renders it almost cruel to put her through any +rigid cross-examination." + +"I understand that also," said Stratton; "but you must remember +that she has a very much harder trial to undergo in the future. I am +exceedingly anxious to get at the truth of this thing, and so, if it +seems to you that I am asking a lot of very unnecessary questions, I +hope you will not interfere with me as long as Mrs. Brenton consents to +answer." + +"I shall not interfere at all," said the sheriff; "I only wanted to +caution you, for the lady may break down at any moment; If you can +marshal your questions so that the most important ones come first, I +think it will be wise. I presume you have them pretty well arranged in +your own mind?" + +"Well, I can't say that I have; you see, I am entirely in the dark. I +got no help whatever from the lawyers, and from what I know of their +defence I am thoroughly convinced that they are on the wrong track." + +"What! did Brown say anything about the defence? That is not like his +usual caution." + +"He didn't intend to," answered Stratton; "but I found out all I wanted +to know, nevertheless. You see, I shall have to ask what appears to be a +lot of rambling, inconsequential questions because you can never tell in +a case like this when you may get the key to the whole mystery." + +"Well, here we are," said the sheriff, as he knocked at a door, and then +pushed it open. + +From the moment George Stratton saw Mrs. Brenton his interest in the +case ceased to be purely journalistic. + +Mrs. Brenton was standing near the window, and she appeared to be very +calm and collected, but her fingers twitched nervously, clasping and +unclasping each other. Her modest dress of black was certainly a very +becoming one. + +George thought he had never seen a woman so beautiful. + +As she was standing up, she evidently intended the interview to be a +short one. + +"Madam," said Stratton, "I am very sorry indeed to trouble you; but I +have taken a great interest in the solution of this mystery, and I have +your lawyers' permission to visit you. I assure you, anything you say +will be submitted to them, so that there will be no danger of your case +being prejudiced by any statements made." + +"I am not afraid;" said Mrs. Brenton, "that the truth will injure or +prejudice my case." + +"I am sure of that," answered the newspaper man; and then, knowing that +she would not sit down if he asked her to, he continued diplomatically, +"Madam, will you permit me to sit down? I wish to write out my notes as +carefully as possible. Accuracy is my strong point." + +"Certainly," said Mrs. Brenton; and, seeing that it was not probable the +interview would be a short one, she seated herself by the window, while +the sheriff took a chair in the corner, and drew a newspaper from his +pocket. + +"Now, madam," said the special, "a great number of the questions I ask +you may seem trivial, but as I said to the sheriff a moment ago, some +word of yours that appears to you entirely unconnected with the case may +give me a clue which will be exceedingly valuable. You will, therefore, +I am sure, pardon me if some of the questions, I ask you appear +irrelevant." + +Mrs. Brenton bowed her head, but said nothing. + +"Were your husband's business affairs in good condition at the time of +his death?" + +"As far as I know they were." + +"Did you ever see anything in your husband's actions that would lead you +to think him a man who might have contemplated suicide?" + +Mrs. Brenton looked up with wide-open eyes. + +"Certainly not," she said. + +"Had he ever spoken to you on the subject of suicide?" + +"I do not remember that he ever did." + +"Was he ever queer in his actions? In short, did you ever notice +anything about him that would lead you to doubt his sanity? I am sorry +if questions I ask you seem painful, but I have reasons for wishing to +be certain on this point." + +"No," said Mrs. Brenton; "he was perfectly sane. No man could have been +more so. I am certain that he never thought of committing suicide." + +"Why are you so certain on that point?" + +"I do not know why. I only know I am positive of it." + +"Do you know if he had any enemy who might wish his death?" + +"I doubt if he had an enemy in the world. I do not know of any." + +"Have you ever heard him speak of anybody in a spirit of enmity?" + +"Never. He was not a man who bore enmity against people. Persons whom he +did not like he avoided." + +"The poison, it is said, was put into his cup of coffee. Do you happen +to know," said Stratton, turning to the sheriff, "how they came to that +conclusion?" + +"No, I do not," answered the sheriff. "In fact, I don't see any reason +why they should think so." + +"Was morphia found in the coffee cup afterwards?" + +"No; at the time of the inquest all the things had been cleared away. I +think it was merely presumed that the morphine was put into his coffee." + +"Who poured out the coffee he drank that night?" + +"I did," answered his wife. "You were at one end of the table and he at +the other, I suppose?" + +"Yes." + +"How did the coffee cup reach him?" + +"I gave it to the servant, and she placed it before him." + +"It passed through no other hands, then?" + +"No." + +"Who was the servant?" + +Mrs. Brenton pondered for a moment. + +"I really know very little about her. She had been in our house for a +couple of weeks only." + +"What was her name?" + +"Jane Morton, I think." + +"Where is she now, do you know?" + +"I do not know." + +"She appeared at the inquest, of course?" said Stratton, turning to the +sheriff. + +"I think she did," was the answer. "I am not sure." + +He marked her name down in the note-book. + +"How many people were there at the dinner?" + +"Including my husband and myself, there were twenty-six." + +"Could you give me the name of each of them?" + +"Yes, I think so." + +She repeated the names, which he took down, with certain notes and +comments on each. + +"Who sat next your husband at the head of the table?" + +"Miss Walker was at his right hand, Mr. Roland at his left." + +"Now, forgive me if I ask you if you have ever had any trouble with your +husband?" + +"Never." + +"Never had any quarrel?" + +Mrs. Brenton hesitated for a moment. + +"No, I don't think we ever had what could be called a quarrel." + +"You had no disagreement shortly before the dinner?" + +Again Mrs. Brenton hesitated. + +"I can hardly call it a disagreement," she said. "We had a little +discussion about some of the guests who were to be invited." + +"Did he object to any that were there?" + +"There was a gentleman there whom he did not particularly like, I think, +but he made no objection to his coming; in fact, he seemed to feel that +I might imagine he had an objection from a little discussion we had +about inviting him; and afterwards, as if to make up for that, he placed +this guest at his left hand." + +Stratton quickly glanced up the page of his notebook, and marked a +little cross before the name of Stephen Roland. + +"You had another disagreement with him before, if I might term it so, +had you not?" + +Mrs. Brenton looked at him surprised. + +"What makes you think so?" she said. + +"Because you hesitated when I spoke of it." + +"Well, we had what you might call a disagreement once at Lucerne, +Switzerland." + +"Will you tell me what it was about?" + +"I would rather not." + +"Will you tell me this--was it about a gentleman?" + +"Yes," said Mrs. Brenton. + +"Was your husband of a jealous disposition?" + +"Ordinarily I do not think he was. It seemed to me at the time that he +was a little unjust--that's all." + +"Was the gentleman in Lucerne?" + +"Oh no!" + +"In Cincinnati?" + +"Yes." + +"Was his name Stephen Roland?" + +Mrs. Brenton again glanced quickly at the newspaper man, and seemed +about to say something, but, checking herself, she simply answered-- + +"Yes." + +Then she leaned back in the armchair and sighed. + +"I am very tired," she said. "If it is not absolutely necessary, I +prefer not to continue this conversation." + +Stratton immediately rose. + +"Madam," he said, "I am very much obliged to you for the trouble you +have taken to answer my questions, which I am afraid must have seemed +impertinent to you, but I assure you that I did not intend them to be +so. Now, madam, I would like very much to get a promise from you. I wish +that you would promise to see me if I call again, and I, on my part, +assure you that unless I have something particularly important to tell +you, or to ask, I shall not intrude upon you." + +"I shall be pleased to see you at any time, sir." + +When the sheriff and the newspaper man reached the other room, the +former said-- + +"Well, what do you think?" + +"I think it is an interesting case," was the answer. + +"Or, to put it in other words, you think Mrs. Brenton a very interesting +lady." + +"Officially, sir, you have exactly stated my opinion." + +"And I suppose, poor woman, she will furnish an interesting article for +the paper?" + +"Hang the paper!" said Stratton, with more than his usual vim. + +The sheriff laughed. Then he said-- + +"I confess that to me it seems a very perplexing affair all through. +Have you got any light on the subject?" + +"My dear sir, I will tell you three important things. First, Mrs. +Brenton is innocent. Second, her lawyers are taking the wrong line of +defence. Third," tapping his breast-pocket, "I have the name of the +murderer in my note-book." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +"Now," said John Speed to William Brenton, "we have got Stratton fairly +started on the track, and I believe that he will ferret out the truth +in this matter. But, meanwhile, we must not be idle. You must remember +that, with all our facilities for discovery, we really know nothing +of the murderer ourselves. I propose we set about this thing just as +systematically as Stratton will. The chances are that we shall penetrate +the mystery of the whole affair very much quicker than he. As I told +you before, I am something of a newspaper man myself; and if, with the +facilities of getting into any room in any house, in any city and in any +country, and being with a suspected criminal night and day when he never +imagines any one is near him--if with all those advantages I cannot +discover the real author of that crime before George Stratton does, then +I'll never admit that I came from Chicago, or belonged to a newspaper." + +"Whom do you think Stratton suspects of the crime? He told the sheriff," +said Brenton, "that he had the name in his pocket-book." + +"I don't know," said Speed, "but I have my suspicions. You see, he has +the names of all the guests at your banquet in that pocket-book of his; +but the name of Stephen Roland he has marked with two crosses. The name +of the servant he has marked with one cross. Now, I suspect that he +believes Stephen Roland committed the crime. You know Roland; what do +you think of him?" + +"I think he is quite capable of it," answered Brenton, with a frown. + +"Still, you are prejudiced against the man," put in Speed, "so your +evidence is hardly impartial." + +"I am not prejudiced against any one," answered Brenton; "I merely know +that man. He is a thoroughly despicable, cowardly character. The only +thing that makes me think he would not commit a murder, is that he is +too craven to stand the consequences if he were caught. He is a cool +villain, but he is a coward. I do not believe he has the courage to +commit a crime, even if he thought he would benefit by it." + +"Well, there is one thing, Brenton, you can't be accused of flattering +a man, and if it is any consolation for you to know, you may be pretty +certain that George Stratton is on his track." + +"I am sure I wish him success," answered Brenton, gloomily; "if he +brings Roland to the gallows I shall not mourn over it." + +"That's all right," said Speed; "but now we must be up and doing +ourselves. Have you anything to propose?" + +"No, I have not, except that we might play the detective on Roland." + +"Well, the trouble with that is we would merely be duplicating what +Stratton is doing himself. Now, I'll tell you my proposal. Supposing +that we consult with Lecocq." + +"Who is that? The novelist?" + +"Novelist? I don't think he has ever written any novels--not that I +remember of." + +"Ah, I didn't know. It seemed to me that I remembered his name in +connection with some novel." + +"Oh, very likely you did. He is the hero of more detective stories than +any other man I know of. He was the great French detective." + +"What, is he dead, then?" + +"Dead? Not a bit of it; he's here with us. Oh, I understand what you +mean. Yes, from your point of view, he is dead." + +"Where can we find him?" + +"Well, I presume, in Paris. He's a first-rate fellow to know, anyhow, +and he spends most of his time around his old haunts. In fact, if you +want to be certain to find Lecocq, you will generally get him during +office hours in the room he used to frequent while in Paris." + +"Let us go and see him, then." + + * * * * * + +"Monsieur Lecocq," said Speed, a moment afterwards, "I wish to introduce +to you a new-comer, Mr. Brenton, recently of Cincinnati." + +"Ah, my dear Speed," said the Frenchman, "I am very pleased indeed to +meet any friend of yours. How is the great Chicago, the second Paris, +and how is your circulation?--the greatest in the world, I suppose." + +"Well, it is in pretty good order," said Speed; "we circulated from +Chicago to Paris here in a very much shorter time than the journey +usually occupies down below. Now, can you give us a little of your time? +Are you busy just now?" + +"My dear Speed, I am always busy. I am like the people of the second +Paris. I lose no time, but I have always time to speak with my friends." + +"All right," said Speed. "I am like the people of the second Chicago, +generally more intent on pleasure than business; but, nevertheless, I +have, a piece of business for you." + +"The second Chicago?" asked Lecocq. "And where is that, pray?" + +"Why, Paris, of course," said Speed. + +Lecocq laughed. + +"You are incorrigible, you Chicagoans. And what is the piece of +business?" + +"It is the old thing, monsieur. A mystery to be unravelled. Mr. Brenton +here wishes to retain you in his case." + +"And what is his case?" was the answer. + +Lecocq was evidently pleased to have a bit of real work given him. + +[Illustration: _The detective_] Speed briefly recited the facts, Brenton +correcting him now and then on little points where he was wrong. Speed +seemed to think these points immaterial, but Lecocq said that attention +to trivialities was the whole secret of the detective business. + +"Ah," said Lecocq, sorrowfully, "there is no real trouble in elucidating +that mystery. I hoped it would be something difficult; but, you see, +with my experience of the old world, and with the privileges one enjoys +in this world, things which might be difficult to one below are very +easy for us. Now, I shall show you how simple it is." + +"Good gracious!" cried Speed, "you don't mean to say you are going to +read it right off the reel, like that, when we have been bothering +ourselves with it so long, and without success?" + +"At the moment," replied the French detective, "I am not prepared to say +who committed the deed. That is a matter of detail. Now, let us see what +we know, and arrive, from that, at what we do not know. The one fact, of +which we are assured on the statement of two physicians from Cincinnati, +is that Mr. Brenton was poisoned." + +"Well," said Speed, "there are several other facts, too. Another fact is +that Mrs. Brenton is accused of the crime." + +"Ah! my dear sir," said Lecocq, "that is not pertinent." + +"No," said Speed, "I agree with you. I call it very impertinent." + +Brenton frowned, at this, and his old dislike to the flippant Chicago +man rose to the surface again. The Frenchman continued marking the +points on his long forefinger." + +"Now, there are two ways by which that result may have been attained. +First, Mr. Brenton may have administered to himself the poison; +secondly, the poison may have been administered by some one else." + +"Yes," said Speed; "and, thirdly, the poison may have been administered +accidentally--you do not seem to take that into account." + +"I do not take that into account," calmly replied the Frenchman, +"because of its improbability. If there were an accident; if, for +instance, the poison was in the sugar, or in some of the viands served, +then others than Mr. Brenton would have been poisoned. The fact that one +man out of twenty-six was poisoned, and the fact that several people are +to benefit by his death, point, it seems to me, to murder; but to be +sure of that, I will ask Mr. Brenton one question. My dear sir, did you +administer this poison to yourself?" + +"Certainly not," answered Brenton. + +"Then we have two facts. First, Mr. Brenton was poisoned; secondly, he +was poisoned by some person who had an interest in his death. Now we +will proceed. When Mr. Brenton sat down to that dinner he was perfectly +well. When he arose from that dinner he was feeling ill. He goes to bed. +He sees no one but his wife after he has left the dinner-table, and he +takes nothing between the time he leaves the dinner-table and the moment +he become unconscious. Now, that poison must have been administered to +Mr. Brenton at the dinner-table. Am I not right?" + +"Well, you seem to be," answered Speed. + +"Seem? Why, it is as plain as day. There cannot be any mistake." + +"All right," said Speed; "go ahead. What next?" + +"What next? There were twenty-six people around that table, with two +servants to wait on them, making twenty-eight in all. There were +twenty-six, I think you said, including Mr. Brenton." + +"That is correct." + +"Very-well. One of those twenty-seven persons has poisoned Mr. Brenton. +Do you follow me?" + +"We do," answered Speed; "we follow you as closely as you have ever +followed a criminal! Go on." + +"Very well, so much is clear. These are all facts, not theories. Now, +what is the thing that I should do if I were in Cincinnati? I would find +out whether one or more of those guests had anything to gain by the +death of their host. That done, I would follow the suspected persons. I +would have my men find out what each of them had done for a month before +the time of the crime. Whoever committed it made some preparation. He +did something, too, as you say, in America, to cover up his tracks. Very +well. By the keen detective these actions are easily traced. I shall at +once place twenty-seven of the best men I know on the track of those +twenty-seven persons." + +"I call that shadowing with a vengeance," remarked the Chicago man. + +"It will be very easy. The one who has committed the crime is pertain, +when he is alone in his own room, to say something, or to do something, +that will show my detective that he is the criminal. So, gentlemen, if +you can tell me who those twenty-seven persons are, in three days or a +week from this time I will tell you who gave the poison to Mr. Brenton." + +"You seem very sure of that," said Speed. + +"Sure of it? It is simply child's play. It is mere waiting. If, for +instance, at the trial Mrs. Brenton is found guilty, and sentenced, the +one who is the guilty party is certain to betray himself or herself +as soon as he or she is alone. If it be a man who hopes to marry Mrs. +Brenton, he will be overcome with grief at what has happened. He will +wring his hands and try to think what can be done to prevent the +sentence being carried out. He will argue with himself whether it is +better to give himself up and tell the truth, and if he is a coward he +will conclude not to do that, but will try to get a pardon, or at least +have the capital sentence commuted into life imprisonment. He will +possibly be cool and calm in public, but when he enters his own room, +when his door is locked, when he believes no one can see him, when he +thinks he is alone, then will come his trial. Then his passions and +his emotions will betray him. It is mere child's play, as I tell you, +and-long before there is a verdict I will give you the name of the +murderer." + +"Very well, then," said Speed, "that is agreed; we will look you up in a +week from now." + +"I should be pained," said Lecocq, "to put you to that trouble. As soon +as I get the report from my men I will communicate with you and let +you know the result. In a few days I shall give you the name of the +assassin." + +"Good-bye, then, until I see you again," answered Speed; and with this +he and Brenton took their departure. + +"He seems to be very sure of himself," said Brenton. + +[Illustration: _Jane Morton_.] + +"He will do what he says, you may depend on that." + +The week was not yet up when Monsieur Lecocq met John Speed in Chicago. +"By the look of satisfaction on your face," said Mr. Speed, "I imagine +you have succeeded in unravelling the mystery." + +"Ah," replied the Frenchman; "if I have the appearance of satisfaction, +it is indeed misplaced." + +"Then you have not made any discovery?" + +"On the contrary, it is all as plain as your big buildings here. It +is not for that reason, but because it is so simple that I should be +foolish to feel satisfaction regarding it." + +"Then who is the person?" + +"The assassin," replied the Frenchman, "is one whom no one has seemed to +think of, and yet one on whom suspicion should have been the first to +fall. The person who did Monsieur Brenton the honour to poison him is +none other than the servant girl, Jane Morton." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +"JANE MORTON!" cried Speed; "who is she?" + +"She is, as you may remember, the girl who carried the coffee from Mrs. +Brenton to monsieur." + +"And are you sure she is the criminal?" + +The great detective did not answer; he merely gave an expressive little +French gesture, as though the question was not worth commenting upon. + +"Why, what was her motive?" asked Speed. + +For the first time in their acquaintance a shade of perplexity seemed to +come over the enthusiastic face of the volatile Frenchman. + +"You are what you call smart, you Chicago people," he said, "and you +have in a moment struck the only point on which we are at a loss." + +"My dear sir," returned Speed, "that is _the_ point in the case. Motive +is the first thing to look for; it seems to me. You said as much +yourself. If you haven't succeeded in finding what motive Jane Morton +had for poisoning her employer, it appears to me that very little has +been accomplished." + +"Ah, you say that before you know the particulars. I am certain we shall +find the motive. What I know now is that Jane Morton is the one who put +the poison in his cup of coffee." + +"It would take a good deal of nerve to do that with twenty-six people +around the table. You forget, my dear sir, that she had to pass the +whole length of the table, after taking the cup, before giving it to Mr. +Brenton." + +"Half of the people had their backs to her, and the other half, I can +assure you, were not looking at her. If the poison was ready, it was a +very easy thing to slip it into a cup of coffee. There was ample time to +do it, and that is how it was done." + +"May I ask how you arrived at that conclusion?" + +"Certainly, certainly, my dear sir. My detectives report that each one +of the twenty-seven people they had to follow were shadowed night and +day. But only two of them acted suspiciously. These two were Jane Morton +and Stephen Roland. Stephen Roland's anxiety is accounted for by the +fact that he is evidently in love with Mrs. Brenton. But the change +in Jane Morton has been something terrible. She is suffering from the +severest pangs of ineffectual remorse. She has not gone out again to +service, but occupies a room in one of the poorer quarters of the +city--a room that she never leaves except at night. Her whole actions +show that she is afraid of the police--afraid of being tracked for her +crime. She buys a newspaper every night, locks and bars the door on +entering her room, and, with tears streaming from her eyes, reads every +word of the criminal news. One night, when she went out to buy her +paper, and what food she needed for the next day, she came unexpectedly +upon a policeman at the corner. The man was not looking at her at all, +nor for her, but she fled, running like a deer, doubling and turning +through alleys and back streets until by a very roundabout road she +reached her own room. There she locked herself in, and remained +without food all next day rather than go out again. She flung herself. +terror-stricken on the bed, after her room door was bolted, and cried, +'Oh, why did I do it? why did + +[Illustration: _"Oh, why did I do it?"_] + +I do it? I shall certainly be found out. If Mrs. Brenton is acquitted, +they will be after me next day. I did it to make up to John what he had +suffered, and yet if John knew it, he would never speak to me again.' + +"Who is John?" asked Speed. + +"Ah, that," said the detective, "I do not know. When we find out who +John is, then we shall find the motive for the crime." + +"In that case, if I were you, I should try to find John as quickly as +possible." + +"Yes, my dear sir, that is exactly what should be done, and my detective +is now endeavouring to discover the identity of John. He will possibly +succeed in a few days. But there is another way of finding out who John +is, and perhaps in that you can help me." + +"What other way?" + +"There is one man who undoubtedly knows who John is, and that is Mr. +Brenton. Now, I thought that perhaps you, who know Brenton better than I +do, would not mind asking him who John is." + +"My dear sir," said Speed, "Brenton is no particular friend of mine, +and I only know him well enough to feel that if there is any +cross-examination to be done, I should prefer somebody else to do it." + +"Why, you are not afraid of him, are you?" asked the detective. + +"Afraid of him? Certainly not, but I tell you that Brenton is just a +little touchy and apt to take offence. I have found him so on several +occasions. How, as you have practically taken charge of this case, why +don't you go and see him?" + +"I suppose I shall have to do that," said the Frenchman, "if you will +not undertake it." + +"No, I will not." + +"You have no objection, have you, to going with me?" + +"It is better for you to see Brenton alone. I do not think he would care +to be cross-examined before witnesses, you know." + +"Ah, then, good-bye; I shall find out from Mr. Brenton who John is." + +"I am sure I wish you luck," replied Speed, as Lecocq took his +departure. + +Lecocq found Brenton and Ferris together. The, cynical spirit seemed to +have been rather sceptical about the accounts given him of the influence +that Speed and Brenton, combined, had had upon the Chicago newspaper +man. Yet he was interested in the case, and although he still maintained +that no practical good would result, even if a channel of communication +could be opened between the two states of existence, he had listened +with his customary respect to what Brenton had to say. + +"Ah," said Brenton, when he saw the Frenchman, "have you any news for +me?" + +"Yes, I have. I have news that I will exchange, but meanwhile I want +some news from you." + +"I have none to give you," answered Brenton. + +"If you have not, will you undertake to answer any questions I shall ask +you, and not take offence if the questions seem to be personal ones?" + +"Certainly," said Brenton; "I shall be glad to answer anything as long +as it has a bearing on the case." + +"Very well, then, it has a very distinct bearing on the case. Do you +remember the girl Jane Morton?" + +"I remember her, of course, as one of the servants in our employ. I know +very little about her, though." + +"That is just what I wish to find out. Do you know _anything_ about her? + +"No; she had been in our employ but a fortnight, I think, or perhaps it +was a month. My wife attended to these details, of course. I knew the +girl was there, that is all." + +The Frenchman looked very dubious as Brenton said this, while the latter +rather bridled up. + +"You evidently do not believe me?" he cried. + +Once more the detective gave his customary gesture, and said-- + +"Ah, pardon me, you are entirely mistaken. I have this to acquaint you +with. Jane Morton is the one who murdered you. She did it, she says, +partly for the sake of John, whoever he is, and partly out of revenge. +Now, of course, you are the only man who can give me information as to +the motive. That girl certainly had a motive, and I should like to find +out what the motive was." + +Brenton meditated for a few moments, and then suddenly brightened up. + +"I remember, now, an incident which happened a week of two before +Christmas, which may have a bearing on the case. One night I heard--or +thought I heard--a movement downstairs, when I supposed everybody had +retired. I took a revolver in my hand, and went cautiously down the +stairs. Of course I had no light, because, if there was a burglar, I did +not wish to make myself too conspicuous a mark. As I went along the hall +leading to the kitchen, I saw there was a light inside; but as soon as +they heard me coming the light was put out. When I reached the kitchen, +I noticed a man trying to escape through the door that led to the +coalshed. I fired at him twice, and he sank to the floor with a groan. I +thought I had bagged a burglar sure, but it turned out to be nothing of +the kind. He was merely a young man who had been rather late visiting +one of the girls. I suspect now the girl he came to see was Jane +Morton. As it was, the noise brought the two girls there, and I never +investigated the matter or tried to find out which one it was that he +had been visiting. They were both terror-stricken, and the young man +himself was in a state of great fear. He thought for a moment that he +had been killed. However, he was only shot in the leg, and I sent him to +the house of a physician who keeps such patients as do not wish to go to +the hospital. I did not care to have him go to the hospital, because I +was afraid the newspapers would get hold of the incident, and make +a sensation of it. The whole thing was accidental; the young fellow +realized that, and so, I thought, did the girls; at least, I never +noticed anything in their behaviour to show the contrary." + +"What sort of a looking girl is Jane Morton?" asked Ferris. + +"She is a tall brunette, with snapping black eyes." + +"Ah, then, I remember her going into the room where you lay," said +Ferris, "on Christmas morning. It struck me when she came out that she +was very cool and self-possessed, and not at all surprised." + +"All I can say," said Brenton, "is that I never noticed anything in her +conduct like resentment at what had happened. I intended to give the +young fellow a handsome compensation for his injury, but of course what +occurred on Christmas Eve prevented that: I had really forgotten all +about the circumstance, or I should have told you of it before." + +"Then," said Lecocq, "the thing now is perfectly clear. That black-eyed +vixen murdered you out of revenge." + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +IT was evident to George Stratton that he would have no time before +the trial came off in which to prove Stephen Roland the guilty person. +Besides this, he was in a strange state of mind which he himself could +not understand. The moment he sat down to think out a plan by which +he could run down the man he was confident had committed the crime, a +strange wavering of mind came over him. Something seemed to say to him +that he was on the wrong track. This became so persistent that George +was bewildered, and seriously questioned his own sanity. Whenever he sat +alone in his own room, the doubts arose and a feeling that he was on the +wrong scent took possession of him. This feeling became so strong at +times that he looked up other clues, and at one time tried to find +out the whereabouts of the servant girls who had been employed by the +Brentons. Curiously enough, the moment he began this search, his mind +seemed to become clearer and easier; and when that happened, the old +belief in the guilt of Stephen Roland resumed its sway again. But the +instant he tried to follow up what clues he had in that direction, he +found himself baffled and assailed again by doubts, and so every effort +he put forth appeared to be nullified. This state of mind was so unusual +with him that he had serious thoughts of abandoning the whole case and +going back to Chicago. He said to himself, "I am in love with this woman +and I shall go crazy if I stay here any longer." Then he remembered the +trust she appeared to have in his powers of ferreting out the mystery of +the case, and this in turn encouraged him and urged him on. + +All trace of the girls appeared to be lost. He hesitated to employ a +Cincinnati detective, fearing that what he discovered would be given +away to the Cincinnati press. Then he accused himself of disloyalty to +Mrs. Brenton, in putting his newspaper duty before his duty to her. +He was so torn by his conflicting ideas and emotions that at last he +resolved to abandon the case altogether and return to Chicago. He packed +up his valise and resolved to leave that night for big city, trial or no +trial. He had described his symptoms to a prominent physician, and that +physician told him that the case was driving him mad, and the best thing +he could do was to leave at once for other scenes. He could do no good, +and would perhaps end by going insane himself. + +As George Stratton was packing his valise in his room, alone, as he +thought, the following conversation was taking place beside him. + +"It is no use," said Speed; "we are merely muddling him, and not doing +any good. The only thing is to leave him alone. If he investigates the +Roland part of the case he will soon find out for himself that he is on +the wrong track; then he will take the right one." + +"Yes," said Brenton; "but the case comes on in a few days. If anything +is to be done, it must be done now." + +"In that I do not agree with you," said Speed. "Perhaps everything will +go all right at the trial, but even if it does not, there is still +a certain amount of time. You see how we have spoiled things by +interfering. Our first success with him has misled us. We thought we +could do anything; we have really done worse than nothing, because all +this valuable time has been lost. If he had been allowed to proceed in +his own way he would have ferreted, out the matter as far as Stephen +Roland is concerned, and would have found that there was no cause for +his suspicion. As it is he has done nothing. He still believes, if left +alone, that Stephen Roland is the criminal. All our efforts to lead him +to the residence of Jane Morton have been unavailing. Now, you see, he +is on the eve of going back to Chicago." + +"Well, then, let him go," said Brenton, despondently. + +"With all my heart, say I," answered Speed; "but in any case let us +leave him alone." + +Before the train started that night Stratton said to himself that he was +a new man. Richard was himself again. He was thoroughly convinced of the +guilt of Stephen Roland, and wondered why he had allowed his mind to +wander off the topic and waste time with other suspicions, for which +he now saw there was no real excuse. He had not the time, he felt, to +investigate the subject personally, but he flattered himself he knew, +exactly the man to put on Roland's track, and, instead of going himself +to Chicago, he sent off the following despatch:-- + +"Meet me to-morrow morning, without fail, at the Gibson House. Answer." + +Before midnight he had his answer, and next morning he met a man in whom +he had the most implicit confidence, and who had, as he said, the rare +and valuable gift of keeping his mouth shut. + +"You see this portrait?" Stratton said, handing to the other a +photograph of Stephen Roland. "Now, I do not know how many hundred +chemist shops there are in Cincinnati, but I want you to get a list of +them, and you must not omit the most obscure shop in town. I want you to +visit every drug store there is in the city, show this photograph to the +proprietor and the clerks, and find out if that man bought any chemicals +during the week or two preceding Christmas. Find out what drags he +bought, and where he bought them, then bring the information to me." +"How much time do you give me on this, Mr. Stratton?" was the question. + +"Whatever time you want. I wish the thing done thoroughly and +completely, and, as you know, silence is golden in a case like this." + +[Illustration: "_How much time do you give me?"_] + +"Enough said," replied the other, and, buttoning the photograph in his +inside pocket, he left the room. + + * * * * * + +There is no necessity of giving an elaborate report of the trial. Any +one who has curiosity in the matter can find the full particulars from +the files of any paper in the country. Mrs. Brenton was very pale as she +sat in the prisoner's dock, but George Stratton thought he never saw any +one look so beautiful. It seemed to him that any man in that crowded +courtroom could tell in a moment that she was not guilty of the crime +with which she was charged, and he looked at the jury of twelve +supposedly good men, and wondered what they thought of it. + +[Illustration: _In the prisoner's dock_.] + +The defence claimed that it was not their place to show who committed +the murder. That rested with the prosecution. The prosecution, Mr. +Benham maintained, had signally failed to do this. However, in order to +aid the prosecution, he was quite willing to show how Mr. Brenton came +to his death. Then witnesses were called, who, to the astonishment of +Mrs. Brenton, testified that her husband had all along had a tendency to +insanity. It was proved conclusively that some of his ancestors had died +in a lunatic asylum, and one was stated to have committed suicide. The +defence produced certain books from Mr. Brenton's library, among them +Forbes Winslow's volume on "The Mind and the Brain," to show that +Brenton had studied the subject of suicide. + +The judge's charge was very colourless. It amounted simply to this: +If the jury thought the prosecution had shown Mrs. Brenton to have +committed the crime, they were to bring in a verdict of guilty, and if +they thought otherwise they were to acquit her; and so the jury retired. + +As they left the court-room a certain gloom fell upon all those who were +friendly to the fair prisoner. + +Despite the great reputation of Benham and Brown, it was the thought +of every one present that they had made a very poor defence. The +prosecution, on the other hand, had been most ably conducted. It had +been shown that Mrs. Brenton was chiefly to profit by her husband's +death. The insurance fund alone would add seventy-five thousand dollars +to the money she would control. A number of little points that Stratton +had given no heed to had been magnified, and appeared then to have a +great bearing on the case. For the first time, Stratton admitted +to himself that the prosecution had made out a very strong case of +circumstantial evidence. The defence, too, had been so deplorably weak +that it added really to the strength of the prosecution. A great speech +had been expected of Benham, but he did not rise to the occasion, and, +as one who knew him said, Benham evidently believed his client guilty. + +As the jury retired, every one in the court-room felt that there was +little hope for the prisoner; and this feeling was intensified when, a +few moments after, the announcement was made in court, just as the +judge was preparing to leave the bench, that the jury had agreed on the +verdict. + +Stratton, in the stillness of the court-room, heard one lawyer whisper +to another, "She's doomed." + +There was intense silence as the jury slowly filed into their places, +and the foreman stood up. + +"Gentlemen of the jury," was the question, "have you agreed, upon a +verdict?" + +"We have," answered the foreman. + +"Do you find the prisoner guilty or not guilty?" + +"Not guilty," was the clear answer. + +At this there was first a moment of silence, and then a ripple of +applause, promptly checked. + +Mrs. Brenton was free. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +George Stratton sat in the court-room for a moment dazed, before he +thought of the principal figure in the trial; then he rose to go to her +side, but he found that Roland was there before him. He heard her say, +"Get me a carriage quickly, and take me away from here." + +So Stratton went back to his hotel to meet his Chicago detective. The +latter had nothing to report. He told him the number of drug stores he +had visited, but all without avail. No one had recognized the portrait. + +"All right," said Stratton; "then you will just have to go ahead until +you find somebody who does. It is, I believe, only a question of time +and perseverance." + +Next morning he arose late. He looked over the report of the trial in +the morning paper, and then, turning to the leader page, read with +rising indignation following editorial:-- + +"THE BRENTON CASE. + +"The decision of yesterday shows the glorious uncertainty that attends +the finding of the average American jury. If such verdicts are to be +rendered, we may as well blot out from the statute-book all punishment +for all crimes in which the evidence is largely circumstantial. If ever +a strong case was made out against a human being it was the case of the +prosecution in the recent trial. If ever there was a case in which the +defence was deplorably weak, although ably conducted, it was the case +that was concluded yesterday. Should we, then, be prepared to say that +circumstantial evidence will not be taken by an American jury as ground +for the conviction of a murderer? The chances are that, if we draw this +conclusion, we shall be entirely wrong. If a man stood in the dock, in +the place of the handsome young woman who occupied it yesterday, he +would to-day have been undoubtedly convicted of murder. The conclusion, +then, to be arrived at seems to be that, unless there is the direct +proof of murder against a pretty woman, if is absolutely impossible +to get the average jury of men to convict her. It would seem that the +sooner we get women on juries, especially where a woman is on trial, the +better it will be for the cause of justice." Then in other parts of the +paper there were little items similar to this-- + +"If Mrs. Brenton did not poison her husband, then who did?" + +That afternoon George Stratton paid a visit to Mrs. Brenton. He had +hoped she had not seen the paper in question, but he hoped in vain. He +found Mrs. Brenton far from elated with her acquittal. + +"I would give everything I possess," she said, "to bring the culprit to +justice." + +After a talk on that momentous question, and when George Stratton held +her hand and said good-bye, she asked him-- + +"When do you go to Chicago?" + +"Madam," he said, "I leave for Chicago the moment I find out who +poisoned William Brenton." + +She answered sadly-- + +"You may remain a long time in Cincinnati." + +"In some respects," said Stratton, "I like Cincinnati better than +Chicago." + +"You are the first Chicago man I ever heard say that," she replied. + +"Ah, that was because they did not know Cincinnati as I do." + +"I suppose you must have seen a great deal of the town, but I must +confess that from now on I should be very glad if I never saw Cincinnati +again. I would like to consult with you," she continued, "about the best +way of solving this mystery. I have been thinking of engaging some of +the best detectives I can get. I suppose New York would be the place." + +"No; Chicago," answered the young man. + +"Well, then, that is what I wanted to see you about. I would like to get +the very best detectives that can be had. Don't you think that, if they +were promised ample reward, and paid well during the time they were +working on the case, we might discover the key to this mystery?" + +"I do not think much of our detective system," answered Stratton, +"although I suppose there is something in it, and sometimes they manage +in spite of themselves to stumble on the solution of a crime. Still, I +shall be very glad indeed to give you what advice I can on the subject. +I may say I have constituted myself a special detective in this case, +and that I hope to have the honour of solving the problem." + +"You are very good, indeed," she answered, "and I must ask you to let me +bear the expense." + +"Oh, the paper will do that. I won't be out of pocket at all," said +Stratton. + +"Well, I hardly know how to put it; but, whether you are successful or +not, I feel very grateful to you, and I hope you will not be offended at +what I am going to say. Now, promise me that you won't!" + +"I shall not be offended," he answered. "It is a little difficult to +offend a Chicago newspaper man, you know." + +"Now, you mustn't say anything against the newspaper men, for, in spite +of the hard things that some of them have said about me, I like them." + +"Individually or collectively?" + +"I am afraid I must say individually. You said you wouldn't be offended, +so after your search is over you must let me--. The labourer is worthy +of his [Illustration: I feel very grateful to you."] hire, or I should +say, his reward--you know what I mean. I presume that a young man who +earns his living on the daily press is not necessarily wealthy." + +"Why, Mrs. Brenton, what strange ideas you have of the world! We +newspaper men work at the business merely because we like it. It isn't +at all for the money that's in it." + +"Then you are not offended at what I have said?" + +"Oh, not in the least. I may say, however, that I look for a higher +reward than money if I am successful in this search." + +"Yes, I am sure you do," answered the lady, innocently. "If you +succeed in this, you will be very famous." + +"Exactly; it's fame I'm after," said Stratton, shaking her hand once +more, and taking his leave. + +When he reached his hotel, he found the Chicago detective waiting for +him. + +"Well, old man," he said, "anything new?" + +"Yes, sir. Something very new." + +"What have you. found out?" + +"Everything.". + +"Very well, let me have it." + +"I found out that this man bought, on December 10th, thirty grains of +morphia. He had this morphia put up in five-grain capsules. He bought +this at the drug store on the corner of Blank Street and Nemo Avenue." + +"Good gracious!" answered Stratton. "Then to get morphia he must have +had a physician's certificate. Did you find who the physician was that +signed the certificate?" + +"My dear sir," said the Chicago man, "this person is himself a +physician, unless I am very much mistaken. I was told that this was the +portrait of Stephen Roland. Am I right?" + +"That is the name." + +"Well, then, he is a doctor himself. Not doing a very large practice, it +is true, but he is a physician. Did you not know that?" + +[Illustration: "_Here's the detailed report_."] + +"No," said Stratton; "how stupid I am! I never thought of asking the +man's occupation." + +"Very well, if that is what you wanted to know, here's the detailed +report of my investigation." + +When the man left, Stratton rubbed his, hands." + +"Now, Mr. Stephen Roland, I have you," he said. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +After receiving this information Stratton sat alone in his room and +thought deeply over his plans. He did not wish to make a false step, yet +there was hardly enough in the evidence he had secured to warrant his +giving Stephen Roland up to the police. Besides this, it would put the +suspected man at once on his guard, and there was no question but +that gentleman had taken every precaution to prevent discovery. After +deliberating for a long while, he thought that perhaps the best thing he +could do was to endeavour to take Roland by surprise. Meanwhile, before +the meditating man stood Brenton and Speed, and between them there was a +serious disagreement of opinion. + + * * * * * + +"I tell you what it is," said Speed, "there is no use in our interfering +with Stratton. He is on the wrong track, but, nevertheless, all the +influence we can use on him in his present frame of mind will merely do +what it did before--it will muddle the man up. Now, I propose that we +leave him severely alone. Let him find out his mistake. He will find it +out in some way or other, and then he will be in a condition of mind to +turn to the case of Jane Morton." + +"But don't you see," argued Brenton, "that all the time spent on his +present investigation is so much time lost? I will agree to leave him +alone, as you say, but let us get somebody else on the Morton case." + +"I don't want to do that," said Speed; "because George Stratton has +taken a great deal of interest in this search. He has done a great deal +now, and I think we should he grateful to him for it." + +"Grateful!" growled Brenton; "he has done it from the most purely +selfish motives that a man can act upon. He has done it entirely for his +paper--for newspaper fame. He has done it for money." + +"Now," said Speed, hotly, "you must not talk like that of Stratton to +me. I won't say what I think of that kind of language coming from you, +but you can see how seriously we interfered with his work before, and +how it nearly resulted in his departure for Chicago. I propose now that +we leave him alone." + +"Leave him alone, then, for any sake," replied Brenton; "I am sure I +build nothing on what he can do anyway." + +"All right, then," returned Speed, recovering his good nature. "Now, +although I am not willing to put any one else on the track of Miss Jane +Morton, yet I will tell you what I am willing to do. If you like, we +will go to her residence, and influence her to confess her crime. I +believe that can be done." + +"Very well; I want you to understand that I am perfectly reasonable +about the matter. All I want is not to lose any more time." + +"Time?" cried Speed; "why, we have got all the time there is. Mrs. +Brenton is acquitted. There is no more danger." + +"That is perfectly true, I admit; but still you can see the grief under +which she labours, because her name is not yet cleared from the odium +of the crime. You will excuse me, Speed, if I say that you seem to be +working more in the interests of Stratton's journalistic success than in +the interests of Mrs. Brenton's good name." + +"Well, we won't talk about that," said Speed; "Stratton is amply able to +take care of himself, as you will doubtless see. Now, what do you say, +to our trying whether or not we can influence Jane Morton to do what she +ought to do, and confess her crime?" + +"It is not a very promising task," replied Brenton; "it is hard to get a +person to say words that may lead to the gallows." + +"I'm not so sure about that," said Speed; "you know the trouble of mind +she is in. I think it more than probable that, after the terror of the +last few weeks, it will be a relief for her to give herself up." + +"Very well; let us go." + +The two men shortly afterwards found themselves in the scantily +furnished room occupied by Jane Morton. That poor woman was rocking +herself to and fro and moaning over her trouble. Then she suddenly +stopped rocking, and looked around the room with vague apprehension +in her eyes. She rose and examined the bolts of the door, and, seeing +everything was secure, sat down again. + +"I shall never have any peace in this world again," she cried to +herself. + +She rocked back and forth silently for a few moments. + +"I wish," she said, "the police would find out all about it, and then +this agony of mind would end." + +Again she rocked back and forth, with her hands helplessly in her lap. +"Oh, I cannot do it, _I cannot do it_!" she sobbed, still rocking to and +fro. Finally she started to her feet. + +"I _will_ do it," she cried; "I will confess to Mrs. Brenton herself. I +will tell her everything. She has gone through trouble herself, and may +have mercy on me." + +"There, you see," said Speed to Brenton, "we have overcome the +difficulty, after all." + +"It certainly looks like it," replied Brenton. "Don't you think, +however, that we had better stay with her until she _does_ confess? May +she not change her mind?" + +"Don't let us overdo the thing," suggested Speed; "if she doesn't, come +to time, we can easily have another interview with her. The woman's +mind is made up. She is in torment, and will be until she confesses her +crime. Let us go and leave her alone." + + * * * * * + +George Stratton was not slow to act when he had once made up his mind. +He pinned to the breast of his vest a little shield, on which was the +word "detective." This he had often found useful, in a way that is not +at all sanctioned by the law, in ferreting out crime in Chicago. As soon +as it was evening he paced up and down in front of Roland's house, and +on the opposite side of the road. There was a light in the doctor's +study, and he thought that perhaps the best way to proceed was to go +boldly into the house and put his scheme into operation. However, as he +meditated on this, the light was turned low, and in a few moments the +door opened. The doctor came down the steps, and out on the pavement, +walking briskly along the street. The reporter followed him on the other +side of the thoroughfare. Whether to do it in the dark or in the light, +was the question that troubled Stratton. If he did it in the dark, he +would miss the expression on the face of the surprised man. If he did it +in the light, the doctor might recognize him as the Chicago reporter, +and would know at once that he was no detective. Still, he felt that +if there was anything in his scheme at all, it was surprise; and he +remembered the quick gasp of the lawyer Brown when he told him he knew +what his defence was. He must be able to note the expression of the man +who was guilty of the terrible crime. + +Having made up his mind to this, he stepped smartly after the doctor, +and, when the latter came under a lamp-post, placed his hand suddenly on +his shoulder, and exclaimed-- + +"Doctor Stephen Roland, I arrest you for the murder of William Brenton!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +Stephen Roland turned quietly around and shook the hand from his +shoulder. It was evident that he recognized Stratton instantly. + +"Is this a Chicago joke?" asked the doctor. + +"If it is, Mr. Roland, I think you will find it a very serious one." + +"Aren't you afraid that _you_ may find it a serious one?" + +"I don't see why I should have any fears in the premises," answered the +newspaper man. + +"My dear sir, do you not realize that I could knock you down or shoot +you dead for what you have done, and be perfectly justified in doing +so?" + +"If you either knock or shoot," replied the other, "you will have to do +it very quickly, for, in the language of the wild and woolly West, I've +got the drop on you. In my coat pocket is a cocked revolver with my +forefinger on the trigger. If you make a hostile move I can let daylight +through you so quickly that you won't know what has struck you." + +"Electric light, I think you mean," answered the doctor, quietly. "Even +a Chicago man might find it difficult to let daylight through a person +at this time in the evening. Now, this sort of thing may be Chicago +manners, but I assure you it will not go down here in Cincinnati. You +have rendered yourself liable to the law if I cared to make a point of +it, but I do not. Come back with me to my study. I would like to talk +with you." + +Stratton began to feel vaguely that he had made a fool of himself. His +scheme had utterly failed. The doctor was a great deal cooler and more +collected than he was. Nevertheless, he had a deep distrust of the +gentleman, and he kept his revolver handy for fear the other would make +a dash to escape him. They walked back without saying a word to each +other until they came to the doctor's office. Into the house they +entered, and the doctor bolted the door behind them. Stratton suspected +that very likely he was walking into a trap, but he thought he would +be equal to any emergency that might arise. The doctor walked into the +study, and again locked the door of that. Pulling down the blinds, he +turned up the gas to its full force and sat down by a table, motioning +the newspaper man to a seat on the other side. + +"Now," he said calmly to Stratton, "the reason I did not resent your +unwarrantable insult is this: You are conscientiously trying to get at +the root of this mystery. So am I. Your reason is that you wish to score +a victory for your paper. My motive is entirely different, but our +object is exactly the same. Now, by some strange combination of +circumstances you have come to the conclusion that I committed the +crime. Am I right?" + +"You are perfectly correct, doctor," replied Stratton. + +"Very well, then. Now, I assure you that I am entirely innocent. Of +course, I appreciate the fact that this assurance will not in the +slightest degree affect your opinion, but I am interested in knowing why +you came to your conclusion, and perhaps by putting our heads together, +even if I dislike you and you hate me, we may see some light on this +matter that has hitherto been hidden. I presume you have no objection at +all to co-operate with me?" + +"None in the least," was the reply. + +"Very well, then. Now, don't mind my feelings at all, but tell me +exactly why you have suspected me of being a murderer." + +"Well," answered Stratton, "in the first place we must look for a +motive. It seems to me that you have a motive for the crime." + +"And might I ask what that motive is, or was?" + +"You will admit that you disliked Brenton?" + +"I will admit that, yes?" + +"Very well. You will admit also that you were--well, how shall I put +it?--let us say, interested in his wife before her marriage?" + +"I will admit that; yes." + +"You, perhaps, will admit that you are interested in her now?" + +"I do not see any necessity for admitting that; but still, for the +purpose of getting along with the case, I will admit it. Go on." + +"Very good. Here is a motive for the crime, and a very strong one. +First, we will presume that you are in love, with the wife of the man +who is murdered. Secondly, supposing that you are mercenary, quite +a considerable amount of money will come to you in case you marry +Brenton's widow. Next, some one at that table poisoned him. It was not +Mrs. Brenton, who poured out the cup of coffee. The cup of coffee was +placed before Brenton, and my opinion is that, until it was placed +there, there was no poison in that cup. The doomed man was entirely +unsuspicious, and therefore it was very easy for a person to slip enough +poison in that cup unseen by anybody at that table, so that when he +drank his coffee nothing could have saved him. He rose from the table +feeling badly, and he went to his room and died. Now, who could have +placed that poison in his cup of coffee? It must have been one of the +two that sat at his right and left hand. A young lady sat at his right +hand. She certainly did not commit the crime. You, Stephen Roland, sat +at his left hand. Do you deny any of the facts I have recited?" That is +a very ingenious chain, of circumstantial evidence. Of course, you do +not think it strong enough to convict a man of such a serious crime as +murder?" + +"No; I quite realize the weakness of the case up to this point. But +there is more to follow. Fourteen days before that dinner you purchased +at the drug store on the corner of Blank Street and Nemo Avenue thirty +grains of morphia. You had the poison put up in capsules of five +grains each. What do you say to that bit of evidence added to the +circumstantial chain which you say is ingenious?" + +The doctor knit his brows and leaned back in his chair. + +"By the gods!" he said, "you are right. I did buy that morphia. I +remember it now. I don't mind telling you that I had a number of +experiments on hand, as every doctor has, and I had those capsules put +up at the drug store, but this tragedy coming on made me forget all +about the matter." + +"Did you take the morphia with you, doctor?" + +"No, I did not. And the box of capsules, I do not think, has been +opened. But that is easily ascertained." + +The doctor rose, went to his cabinet, and unlocked it. From a number of +packages he selected a small one, and brought it to the desk, placing it +before the reporter. + +"There is the package. That contains, as you say, thirty grains of +morphia in half a dozen five-grain capsules. You see that it is sealed +just as it left the drug store. Now, open it and look for yourself. Here +are scales; if you want to see whether a single grain is missing or not, +find out for yourself. + +"Perhaps," said the newspaper man, "we had better leave this +investigation for the proper authorities." + +"Then you still believe that I am the murderer, of William Brenton?" + +"Yes, I still believe that." + +"Very well; you may do as you please. I think, however, in justice +to myself, you should stay right here, and see that this box is not +tampered with until the proper authorities, as you say, come." + +Then, placing his hand on the bell, he continued--"Whom shall I send +for? An ordinary policeman, or some one from the central office? But, +now that I think of it, here is a telephone. We can have any one brought +here that you wish. I prefer that neither you nor I leave this room +until that functionary has appeared. Name the authority you want brought +here," said the doctor, going to the telephone, "and I will have him +here if he is in town." + +The newspaper man was nonplussed. The Doctor's actions did not seem like +those of a guilty man. If he were guilty he certainly had more nerve +than any person Stratton had ever met. So he hesitated. Then he said-- + +"Sit down a moment, doctor, and let us talk this thing over." + +"Just as you say," remarked Roland, drawing up his chair again. + +Stratton took the package, and looked it over carefully. It was +certainly just in the condition in which it had left the drug store; but +still, that could have been easily done by the doctor himself. + +"Suppose we open this package?" he said to Roland. + +"With all my heart," said the doctor, "go ahead;" and he shoved over to +him a little penknife that was on the table. + +The reporter took the package, ran the knife around the edge, and opened +it. There lay six capsules, filled, as the doctor had said. Roland +picked up one of them, and looked at it critically. + +"I assure you," he said, "although I am quite aware you do not believe a +word I say, that I have not seen those capsules before." + +He drew towards him a piece of paper, opened the capsule, and, let the +white powder fall on the paper. He looked critically at the powder, and +a shade of astonishment came over his face. He picked up the penknife, +took a particle on the tip of it, and touched it with his tongue. + +"Don't fool with that thing!" said Stratton. + +"Oh, my dear fellow," he said, "morphia is not a poison in small +quantities." + +The moment he had tasted it, however, he suddenly picked up the paper, +put the five grains on his tongue, and swallowed them. + +Instantly the reporter sprang to his feet. He saw at once the reason for +all the assumed coolness. The doctor was merely gaining time in order to +commit, suicide. + +"What have you done?" cried the reporter. + +"Done, my dear fellow? nothing very much. This is not morphia; it is +sulphate of quinine." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +In the morning Jane Morton prepared to meet Mrs. Brenton, and make her +confession. She called at the Brenton residence, but found it closed, +as it had been ever since the tragedy of Christmas morning. It took her +some time to discover the whereabouts of Mrs. Brenton, who, since the +murder, had resided with a friend except while under arrest. + +For a moment Mrs. Brenton did not recognize the thin, and pale woman who +stood before her in a state of such extreme nervous agitation, that it +seemed as if at any moment she might break down and cry. + +"I don't suppose you'll remember me, ma'am," began the girl, "but I +worked for you two weeks before--before----" + +"Oh yes," said Mrs. Brenton, "I remember you now. Have you been ill? You +look quite worn and pale, and very different from what you did the last +time I saw you." + +"Yes," said the girl, "I believe I have been ill.". + +"You _believe_; aren't you sure?" + +"I have been very ill in mind, and troubled, and that is the reason I +look so badly,--Oh, Mrs. Brenton, I wanted to tell you of something that +has been weighing on my mind ever since that awful day! I know you can +never forgive me, but I must tell it to you, or I shall go crazy." + +"Sit down, sit down," said the lady, kindly; "you know what trouble I +have been in myself. I am sure that I am more able to sympathize now +with one who is in trouble than ever I was before." + +"Yes, ma'am; but you were innocent, and I am guilty. That makes all the +difference in the world." + +"Guilty!" cried Mrs. Brenton, a strange fear coming over her as she +stared at the girl; "guilty of _what?_" + +"Oh, madam, let me tell you all about it. There is, of course, no +excuse; but I'll begin at the beginning. You remember a while before +Christmas that John came to see me one night, and we sat up very late in +the kitchen, and your husband came down quietly, and when we heard him +coming we put out the light and just as John was trying to get away, +your husband shot twice at him, and hit him the second time?" + +"Oh yes," said Mrs. Brenton, "I remember that very well. I had forgotten +about it in my own trouble; but I know that my husband intended to do +something for the young man. I hope he was not seriously hurt?" + +"No, ma'am; he is able to be about again now as well as ever, and is not +even lame, which we expected he would be. But at the time I thought he +was going to be lame all the rest of his life, and perhaps that is the +reason I did what I did. When everything was in confusion in the house, +and it was certain that we would all have to leave, I did a very wicked +thing. I went to your room, and I stole some of your rings, and some +money that was there, as well as a lot of other things that were in the +room. It seemed to me then, although, of course, I know now how wicked +it was, that you owed John some + +[Illustration: "Guilty! Guilty of what?"] + +thing for what he had gone through, and I thought that he was to be +lame, and that you would never miss the things; but, oh! madam, I have +not slept a night since I took them. I have been afraid of the police +and afraid of being found out. I have pawned nothing, and they are all +just as I took them, and I have brought them back here to you, with +every penny of the money. I know you can never forgive me, but I am +willing now to be given up to the police, and I feel better in my mind +than I have done ever since I took the things." + +"My poor child!" said Mrs. Brenton, sympathetically, "was that _all_?" + +"All?" cried the girl. "Yes, I have brought everything back." + +"Oh, I don't mean that, but I am sorry you have been worried over +anything so trivial. I can see how at such a time, and feeling that you +had been wronged, a temptation to take the things came to you. But I +hope you will not trouble any more about the matter. I will see that +John is compensated for all the injury he received, as far as it is +possible for money to compensate him. I hope you will keep the money. +The other things, of course, I shall take back, and I am glad you came +to tell me of it before telling any one else. I think, perhaps, it is +better never to say anything to anybody about this. People might not +understand just what temptation you were put to, and they would not know +the circumstances of the case, because no body knows, I think, that John +was hurt. Now, my dear girl, do not cry. It is all right. Of course you +never will touch anything again that does not belong to you, and the +suffering you have gone through has more than made up for all the wrong +you have done. I am sure that I forgive you quite freely for it, and I +think it was very noble of you to come and tell me about it." + +Mrs. Brenton took the package from the hands of the weeping girl, and +opened it. She found everything there, as the girl had said. She took +the money and offered it to Jane Morton. The girl shook her head. + +"No," she cried, "I cannot touch it. I cannot, indeed. It has been +enough misery to me already." + +"Very well," said Mrs. Brenton. "I would like very much to see John. +Will you bring him to me?" + +The girl looked at her with startled eyes. + +"You will not tell him?" she said. + +"No indeed, I shall tell him nothing. But I want to do what I can for +him as I said. I suppose you are engaged to be married?" + +"Yes," answered the girl; "but if he knew of this he never, never would +marry me." + +"If he did not," said Mrs. Brenton, "he would not be worthy of you. But +he shall know nothing about it. You will promise to come here and see me +with him, will you not?" + +"Yes, madam," said the girl. + +"Then good-bye, until I see you again." + +Mrs. Brenton sat for a long time thinking over this confession. It took +her some time to recover her usual self-possession, because for a moment +she had thought the girl was going to confess that she committed murder. +In comparison with that awful crime, the theft seemed so trivial that +Mrs. Brenton almost smiled when she thought of the girl's distress. + + * * * * * + +"Well," said John Speed to Mr. Brenton, "if that doesn't beat the Old +Harry. Now I, for one, am very glad of it, if we come to the real truth +of the matter." + +"I am glad also," said Brenton, "that the girl is not guilty, although I +must say things looked decidedly against her." + +"I will tell you why I am glad," said Speed. "I am glad because it +will take some of the superfluous conceit out of that French detective +Lecocq. He was so awfully sure of himself. He couldn't possibly be +mistaken. Now, think of the mistakes that man must have made while he +was on earth, and had the power which was given into his hands in Paris. +After all, Stratton is on the right track, and he will yet land your +friend Roland in prison. Let us go and find Lecocq. This is too good to +keep." + +"My dear sir," said Brenton, "you seem to be more elated because of your +friend Stratton than for any other reason. Don't you want the matter +ferreted out at all?" + +"Why, certainly I do; but I don't want it ferreted out by bringing an +innocent person into trouble." + +"And may not Stephen Roland be an innocent person?" + +"Oh, I suppose so; but I do not think he is." + +"Why do you not think so?" + +"Well, if you want the real reason, simply because George Stratton +thinks he isn't. I pin my faith to Stratton." + +"I think you overrate your friend Stratton." + +"Overrate him, sir? That is impossible. I love him so well that I hope +he will solve this mystery himself, unaided and alone, and that in going +back to Chicago he will be smashed to pieces in a railway accident, so +that we can have him here to congratulate him." + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +"I suppose," said Roland, "you thought for a moment I was trying to +commit suicide. I think, Mr. Stratton, you will have a better opinion of +me by-and-by. I shouldn't be at all surprised if you imagined I induced +you to come in here to get you into a trap." + +"You are perfectly correct," said Stratton; "and I may say, although +that was my belief, I was not in the least afraid of you, for I had you +covered all the time." + +"Well," remarked Roland, carelessly, "I don't want to interfere with +your business at all, but I wish you wouldn't cover me quite so much; +that revolver of yours might go off." + +"Do you mean to say," said Stratton, "that there is nothing but quinine +in those capsules?" + +"I'll tell you in a moment," as he opened them one by one. "No, there is +nothing but quinine here. Thirty grains put up in five-grain capsules." + +George Stratton's eyes began to open. Then he slowly rose, and looked +with horrified face at the doctor. + +"My God!" he cried; "who got the thirty grains of morphia?" + +"What do you mean?" asked the doctor. + +"Mean? Why, don't you see it? It is a chemist's mistake. Thirty grains +of quinine have been sent you. Thirty grains of morphia have been sent +to somebody else. Was it to William Brenton?" + +"By Jove!" said the doctor, "there's something in that. Say, let us go +to the drug store." + +The two went out together, and walked to the drug store on the corner of +Blank Street and Nemo Avenue. + +"Do you know this writing?" said Doctor Roland to the druggist, pointing +to the label on the box. + +"Yes," answered the druggist; "that was written by one of my +assistants." + +"Can we see him for a few moments?" + +"I don't know where he is to be found. He is a worthless fellow, and has +gone to the devil this last few weeks with a rapidity that is something +startling." + +"When did he leave?" + +"Well, he got drunk and stayed drunk during the holidays, and I had to +discharge him. He was a very valuable man when he was sober; but he +began to be so erratic in his habits that I was afraid he would make a +ghastly mistake some time, so I discharged him before it was too late." + +"Are you sure you discharged him before it was too late." + +The druggist looked at the doctor, whom he knew well, and said, "I never +heard of any mistake, if he did make it." + +"You keep a book, of course, of all the prescriptions sent out?" +"Certainly." + +"May we look at that book?" + +"I shall be very glad to show it to you. What month or week?" + +"I want to see what time you sent this box of morphia to me." + +"You don't know about what time it was, do you? + +"Yes; it must have been about two weeks before Christmas." + +The chemist looked over the pages of the book, and finally said, "Here +it is." + +"Will you let me look at that page?" + +"Certainly." + +The doctor ran his finger down the column, and came to an entry written +in the same hand. + +"Look here," he said to Stratton, "thirty grains of quinine sent to +William Brenton, and next to it thirty grains of morphia sent to Stephen +Roland. I see how it was. Those prescriptions were mixed up. My package +went to poor Brenton." + +The druggist turned pale. + +"I hope," he said, "nothing public will come of this." + +"My dear sir," said Roland, "something public will _have_ to come of +it. You will oblige me by ringing up the central police station, as this +book must be given in charge of the authorities." + +"Look here," put in Stratton, his newspaper instinct coming uppermost, +"I want to get this thing exclusively for the _Argus_" + +"Oh, I guess there will be no trouble about that. Nothing will be made +public until to-morrow, and you can telegraph to-night if we find the +box of capsules in Brenton's residence. We must take an officer with us +for that purpose, but you can caution or bribe him to keep quiet until +to-morrow." + +When the three went to William Brenton's residence they began a search +of the room in which Brenton had died, but nothing was found. In the +closet of the room hung the clothes of Brenton, and going through them +Stratton found in the vest pocket of one of the suits a small box +containing what was described as five-grain capsules of sulphate of +quinine. The doctor tore one of these capsules apart, so as to see what +was in it. Without a moment's hesitation he said-- + +"There you are! That is the morphia. There were six capsules in this +box, and one of them is missing. William Brenton poisoned himself! +Feeling ill, he doubtless took what he thought was a dose of quinine. +Many men indulge in what we call the quinine habit. It is getting to be +a mild form of tippling. Brenton committed unconscious suicide!" + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +A group of men; who were really alive, but invisible to the searchers, +stood in the room where the discovery was made. Two of the number were +evidently angry, one in one way and one in another. The rest of the +group appeared to be very merry. One angry man was Brenton himself, who +was sullenly enraged. The other was the Frenchman, Lecocq, who was as +deeply angered as Brenton, but, instead of being sullen, was exceedingly +voluble. + +"I tell you," he cried, "it is not a mistake of mine. I went on correct +principles from the first. I was misled by one who should have known +better. You will remember, gentlemen," he continued, turning first to +one and then the other, "that what I said was that we had certain facts +to go on. One of those facts I got from Mr. Brenton. I said to him in +your presence, 'Did you poison yourself?' He answered me, as I can prove +by all of you, 'No, I did not.' I took that for a fact. I thought I was +speaking to a reasonable man who knew what he was talking about." + +"Haven't I told you time and again," answered Brenton, indignantly, +"that it was a mistake? You asked me if I poisoned myself. I answered +you that I did not. Your question related to suicide. I did _not_ commit +suicide. I was the victim of a druggist's mistake. If you had asked me +if I had taken medicine before I went to bed, I should have told you +frankly, 'Yes. I took one capsule of quinine.' It has been my habit for +years, when I feel badly. I thought nothing of that." + +"My dear sir," said Lecocq, "I warned you, and I warned these gentlemen, +that the very things that seem trivial to a thoughtless person are the +things that sometimes count. You should have told me _everything_. If +you took anything at all, you should have said so. If you had said to +me, 'Monsieur Lecocq, before I retired I took five grains of quinine,' +I should have at once said; 'Find where that quinine is, and see if it +_is_ quinine, and see if there has not been a mistake.' I was entirely +misled; I was stupidly misled." + +"Well, if there was stupidity," returned Brenton, "it was your own." + +"Come, come, gentlemen," laughed Speed, "all's well that ends well. +Everybody has been mistaken, that's all about it. The best detective +minds of Europe and America, of the world, and of the spirit-land, have +been misled. You are _all_ wrong. Admit it, and let it end." + +"My dear sir," said Lecocq, "I shall not admit anything. I was not +wrong; I was misled. It was this, way----" + +"Oh, now, for goodness' sake don't go over it all again. We understand +the circumstances well enough." + +"I tell you," cried Brenton, in an angry tone, "that---- + +"Come, come," said Speed, "we have had enough of this discussion. I tell +you that you are all wrong, every one of you. Come with me, Brenton, and +we will leave this amusing crowd." + +"I shall do nothing of the kind," answered Brenton, shortly. + +"Oh, very well then, do as you please. I am glad the thing is ended, and +I am glad it is ended by my Chicago friend." + +"Your Chicago friend!" sneered Brenton, slightingly; "It was discovered +by Doctor Stephen Roland." + +"My dear fellow," said Speed, "Stephen Roland had all his time to +discover the thing, and didn't do it, and never would have done it, if +George Stratton hadn't encountered him. Well, good-bye, gentlemen; I am +sorry to say that I have had quite enough of this discussion. But one +thing looms up above it all, and that is that Chicago is ahead of the +world in everything--in detection as well as in fires." + +"My dear sir," cried Lecocq, "it is not true. I will show you in a +moment--" + +"You won't show _me_," said Speed, and he straightway disappeared. + +"Come, Ferris," said Brenton, "after all, you are the only friend I seem +to have; come with me." + +"Where are you going?" asked Ferris, as they left. + +"I want to see how my wife takes the news." + +"Don't," said Mr. Ferris--"don't do anything of the kind. Leave matters +just where they are. Everything has turned out what you would call all +right. You see that your interference, as far as it went, was perfectly +futile and useless. I want now to draw your attention to other things." + +"Very well, I will listen to you," said Brenton, "if you come with me +and see how my wife takes the news. I want to enjoy for even a moment or +two her relief and pleasure at finding that her good name is clear." + +"Very well," assented Ferris, "I will go with you." + +When they arrived they found the Chicago reporter ahead of them. He had +evidently told Mrs. Brenton all the news, and her face flushed with +eager pleasure as she listened to the recital. + +"Now," said the Chicago man, "I am going to leave Cincinnati. Are you +sorry I am going?" + +"No," said Mrs. Brenton, looking him in the face, "I am not sorry." + +Stratton flushed at this, and then said, taking his hat in his hand, +"Very well, madam, I shall bid you good day." + +"I am not sorry," said Mrs. Brenton, holding out her hand, "because I +am going to leave Cincinnati myself, and I hope never to see the city +again. So if you stayed here, you see, I should never meet you again, +Mr. Stratton." + +"Alice," cried Stratton, impulsively grasping her hand in both of his, +"don't you think you would like Chicago as a place of residence?" + +"George," she answered, "I do not know. I am going to Europe, and shall +be there for a year or two." + +Then he said eagerly-- + +"When you return, or if I go over there to see you after a year or two, +may I ask you that question again?" + +"Yes," was the whispered answer. + + * * * * * + +"Come," said Brenton to Ferris, "let us go." + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of From Whose Bourne, by Robert Barr + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FROM WHOSE BOURNE *** + +This file should be named 7fwbr10.txt or 7fwbr10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 7fwbr11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 7fwbr10a.txt + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, David Widger and PG Distributed +Proofreaders from images generously made available by the Canadian +Institute for Historical Microreproductions + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: From Whose Bourne + +Author: Robert Barr + +Release Date: November, 2005 [EBook #9312] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on September 20, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FROM WHOSE BOURNE *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, David Widger and PG Distributed +Proofreaders from images generously made available +by the Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions + + + + +FROM WHOSE BOURNE + + +BY ROBERT BARR (LUKE SHARP) + +AUTHOR OF "IN A STEAMER CHAIR" ETC. + +[Illustration: William Brenton--] + + +_WITH FORTY-SEVEN ILLUSTRATIONS + +BY C.M.D. HAMMOND, G.D. HAMMOND, AND HAL HURST_ + + +1893 + + + +TO + +AN HONEST MAN + +AND + +A GOOD WOMAN + + + +FROM WHOSE BOURNE + + + +PRINCIPAL ILLUSTRATIONS: + +Buel placed his portmanteau on the deck + +William Brenton + +"Do you think I shall be missed?" + +He again sat in the rocking-chair + +He saw standing beside him a stranger + +A Venetian Cafe + +Venice + +In Venice + +The Brenton Murder + +Mrs. Brenton + +Gold + +Publicity + +The Broken Toy + +"She's pretty as a picture" + +Raising the Veil + +Jane + +The Detective + +Jane Morton + +"Oh, why did I do it?" + +"How much time do you give me?" + +In the prisoner's dock + +"I feel very grateful to you" + +"Here's the detailed report" + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +"My dear," said William Brenton to his wife, "do you think I shall be +missed if I go upstairs for a while? I am not feeling at all well." + +[Illustration: _"Do you think I shall be missed?"_] + +"Oh, I'm so sorry, Will," replied Alice, looking concerned; "I will tell +them you are indisposed." + +"No, don't do that," was the answer; "they are having a very good time, +and I suppose the dancing will begin shortly; so I don't think they will +miss me. If I feel better I will be down in an hour or two; if not, I +shall go to bed. Now, dear, don't worry; but have a good time with the +rest of them." + +William Brenton went quietly upstairs to his room, and sat down in the +darkness in a rocking chair. Remaining there a few minutes, and not +feeling any better, he slowly undressed and went to bed. Faint echoes +reached him of laughter and song; finally, music began, and he felt, +rather than heard, the pulsation of dancing feet. Once, when the music +had ceased for a time, Alice tiptoed into the room, and said in a quiet +voice-- + +"How are you feeling, Will? any better?" + +"A little," he answered drowsily. "Don't worry about me; I shall drop +off to sleep presently, and shall be all right in the morning. Good +night." + +He still heard in a dreamy sort of way the music, the dancing, the +laughter; and gradually there came oblivion, which finally merged into +a dream, the most strange and vivid vision he had ever experienced. +It seemed to him that he sat again in the rocking chair near the bed. +Although he knew the room was dark, he had no difficulty in seeing +everything perfectly. He heard, now quite plainly, the music and dancing +downstairs, but what gave a ghastly significance to his dream was the +sight of his own person on the bed. The eyes were half open, and the +face was drawn and rigid. The colour of the face was the white, greyish +tint of death. + +"This is a nightmare," said Brenton to himself; "I must try and wake +myself." But he seemed powerless to do this, and he sat there looking at +his own body while the night wore on. Once he rose and went to the side +of the bed. He seemed to have reached it merely by wishing himself +there, and he passed his hand over the face, but no feeling of touch was +communicated to him. He hoped his wife would come and rouse him from +this fearful semblance of a dream, and, wishing this, he found himself +standing at her side, amidst the throng downstairs, who were now merrily +saying good-bye. Brenton tried to speak to his wife, but although he +was conscious of speaking, she did not seem to hear him, or know he was +there. + +[Illustration: _He again sat in the rocking-chair._] + +The party had been one given on Christmas Eve, and as it was now two +o'clock in the morning, the departing guests were wishing Mrs. Brenton a +merry Christmas. Finally, the door closed on the last of the revellers, +and Mrs. Brenton stood for a moment giving instructions to the sleepy +servants; then, with a tired sigh, she turned and went upstairs, Brenton +walking by her side until they came to the darkened, room, which she +entered on tiptoe. + +"Now," said Brenton to himself, "she will arouse me from this appalling +dream." It was not that there was anything dreadful in the dream itself, +but the clearness with which he saw everything, and the fact that his +mind was perfectly wide awake, gave him an uneasiness which he found +impossible to shake off. + +In the dim light from the hall his wife prepared to retire. The horrible +thought struck Brenton that she imagined he was sleeping soundly, +and was anxious not to awaken him--for of course she could have no +realization of the nightmare he was in--so once again he tried to +communicate with her. He spoke her name over and over again, but she +proceeded quietly with her preparations for the night. At last she crept +in at the other side of the bed, and in a few moments was asleep. Once +more Brenton struggled to awake, but with no effect. He heard the clock +strike three, and then four, and then five, but there was no apparent +change in his dream. He feared that he might be in a trance, from which, +perhaps, he would not awake until it was too late. Grey daylight began +to brighten the window, and he noticed that snow was quietly falling +outside, the flakes noiselessly beating against the window pane. Every +one slept late that morning, but at last he heard the preparations for +breakfast going on downstairs--the light clatter of china on the table, +the rattle of the grate; and, as he thought of these things, he found +himself in the dining-room, and saw the trim little maid, who still +yawned every now and then, laying the plates in their places. He went +upstairs again, and stood watching the sleeping face of his wife. Once +she raised her hand above her head, and he thought she was going to +awake; ultimately her eyes opened, and she gazed for a time at the +ceiling, seemingly trying to recollect the events of the day before. + +"Will," she said dreamily, "are you still asleep?" + +There was no answer from the rigid figure at the front of the bed. After +a few moments she placed her hand quietly over the sleeper's face. As +she did so, her startled eyes showed that she had received a shock. +Instantly she sat upright in bed, and looked for one brief second on the +face of the sleeper beside her; then, with a shriek that pierced the +stillness of the room, she sprang to the floor. + +"Will! Will!" she cried, "speak to me! What is the matter with you? Oh, +my God! my God!" she cried, staggering back from the bed. Then, with +shriek after shriek, she ran blindly through the hall to the stairway, +and there fell fainting on the floor. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +William Brenton knelt beside the fallen lady, and tried to soothe and +comfort her, but it was evident that she was insensible. + +"It is useless," said a voice by his side. + +Brenton looked up suddenly, and saw standing beside him a stranger. +Wondering for a moment how he got there, and thinking that after all it +was a dream, he said-- + +"What is useless? She is not dead." + +"No," answered the stranger, "but _you_ are." + +[Illustration: _He saw standing beside him a stranger_.] + +"I am what?" cried Brenton. + +"You are what the material world calls dead, although in reality you +have just begun to live." + +"And who are you?" asked Brenton. "And how did you get in here?" The +other smiled. + +"How did _you_ get in here?" he said, repeating Brenton's words. + +"I? Why, this is my own house." + +"Was, you mean." + +"I mean that it is. I am in my own house. This lady is my wife." + +"_Was_" said the other. + +"I do not understand you," cried Brenton, very much annoyed. "But, in +any case, your presence and your remarks are out of place here." + +"My dear sir," said the other, "I merely wish to aid you and to explain +to you anything that you may desire to know about your new condition. +You are now free from the incumbrance of your body. You have already had +some experience of the additional powers which that riddance has given +you. You have also, I am afraid, had an inkling of the fact that the +spiritual condition has its limitations. If you desire to communicate +with those whom you have left, I would strongly advise you to postpone +the attempt, and to leave this place, where you will experience only +pain and anxiety. Come with me, and learn something of your changed +circumstances." + +"I am in a dream," said Brenton, "and you are part of it. I went to +sleep last night, and am still dreaming. This is a nightmare and it will +soon be over." + +"You are saying that," said the other, "merely to convince yourself. +It is now becoming apparent to you that this is not a dream. If dreams +exist, it was a dream which you left, but you have now become awake. If +you really think it is a dream, then do as I tell you--come with me and +leave it, because you must admit that this part of the dream is at least +very unpleasant." + +"It is not very pleasant," assented Brenton. As he spoke the bewildered +servants came rushing up the stairs, picked up their fallen mistress, +and laid her on a sofa. They rubbed her hands and dashed water in her +face. She opened her eyes, and then closed them again with a shudder. + +"Sarah," she cried, "have I been dreaming, or is your master dead?" + +The two girls turned pale at this, and the elder of them went boldly +into the room which her mistress had just left. She was evidently +a young woman who had herself under good control, but she came out +sobbing, with her apron to her eyes. + +"Come, come," said the man who stood beside Brenton, "haven't you had +enough of this? Come with me; you can return to this house if you wish;" +and together they passed out of the room into the crisp air of Christmas +morning. But, although Brenton knew it must be cold, he had no feeling +of either cold or warmth. + +"There are a number of us," said the stranger to Brenton, "who take +turns at watching the sick-bed when a man is about to die, and when his +spirit leaves his body, we are there to explain, or comfort, or console. +Your death was so sudden that we had no warning of it. You did not feel +ill before last night, did you?" + +"No," replied Brenton. "I felt perfectly well, until after dinner last +night." + +"Did you leave your affairs in reasonably good order?" + +"Yes," said Brenton, trying to recollect. "I think they will find +everything perfectly straight." + +"Tell me a little of your history, if you do not mind," inquired the +other; "it will help me in trying to initiate you into our new order of +things here." + +"Well," replied Brenton, and he wondered at himself for falling so +easily into the other's assumption that he was a dead man, "I was what +they call on the earth in reasonably good circumstances. My estate +should be worth $100,000. I had $75,000 insurance on my life, and if all +that is paid, it should net my widow not far from a couple of hundred +thousand." + +"How long have you been married?" said the other. + +[Illustration: _A Venetian café_] + +"Only about six months. I was married last July, and we went for a trip +abroad. We were married quietly, and left almost immediately afterwards, +so we thought, on our return, it would not be a bad plan to give a +Christmas Eve dinner, and invite some of our friends. That," he said, +hesitating a moment, "was last night. Shortly after dinner, I began to +feel rather ill, and went upstairs to rest for a while; and if what you +say is true, the first thing I knew I found myself dead." + +"Alive," corrected the other. + +"Well, alive, though at present I feel I belong more to the world I have +left than I do to the world I appear to be in. I must confess, although +you are a very plausible gentleman to talk to, that I expect at any +moment to wake and find this to have been one of the most horrible +nightmares that I ever had the ill luck to encounter." + +The other smiled. + +"There is very little danger of your waking up, as you call it. Now, I +will tell you the great trouble we have with people when they first come +to the spirit-land, and that is to induce them to forget entirely +the world they have relinquished. Men whose families are in poor +circumstances, or men whose affairs are in a disordered state, find it +very difficult to keep from trying to set things right again. They have +the feeling that they can console or comfort those whom they have left +behind them, and it is often a long time before they are convinced that +their efforts are entirely futile, as well as very distressing for +themselves." + +"Is there, then," asked Brenton, "no communication between this world +and the one that I have given up?" + +The other paused for a moment before he replied. + +"I should hardly like to say," he answered, "that there is _no_ +communication between one world and the other; but the communication +that exists is so slight and unsatisfactory, that if you are sensible +you will see things with the eyes of those who have very much more +experience in this world than you have. Of course, you can go back there +as much as you like; there will be no interference and no hindrance. +But when you see things going wrong, when you see a mistake about to +be made, it is an appalling thing to stand there helpless, unable to +influence those you love, or to point out a palpable error, and convince +them that your clearer sight sees it as such. Of course, I understand +that it must be very difficult for a man who is newly married, to +entirely abandon the one who has loved him, and whom he loves. But +I assure you that if you follow the life of one who is as young and +handsome as your wife, you will find some one else supplying the +consolations you are unable to bestow. Such a mission may lead you to a +church where she is married to her second husband. I regret to say that +even the most imperturbable spirits are ruffled when such an incident +occurs. The wise men are those who appreciate and understand that they +are in an entirely new world, with new powers and new limitations, and +who govern themselves accordingly from the first, as they will certainly +do later on." + +"My dear sir," said Brenton, somewhat offended, "if what you say is +true, and I am really a dead man----" + +"Alive," corrected the other. + +"Well, alive, then. I may tell you that my wife's heart is broken. She +will never marry again." + +"Of course, that is a subject which you know a great deal more than I +do. I all the more strongly advise you never to see her again. It is +impossible for you to offer any consolation, and the sight of her grief, +and misery will only result in unhappiness for yourself. Therefore, take +my advice. I have given it very often, and I assure you those who did +not take it expressed their regret afterwards. Hold entirely aloof from +anything relating to your former life." + +Brenton was silent for some moments; finally he said-- + +"I presume your advice is well meant; but if things are as you state, +then I may as well say, first as last, that I do not intend to accept +it." + +"Very well," said the other; "it is an experience that many prefer to go +through for themselves." + +"Do you have names in this spirit-land?" asked Brenton, seemingly +desirous of changing the subject. + +"Yes," was the answer; "we are known by names that we have used in the +preparatory school below. My name is Ferris." + +"And if I wish to find you here, how do I set about it?" + +"The wish is sufficient," answered Ferris. "Merely wish to be with me, +and you _are_ with me." + +"Good gracious!" cried Brenton, "is locomotion so easy as that?" + +"Locomotion is very easy. I do not think anything could be easier +than it is, and I do not think there could be any improvement in that +matter." + +"Are there matters here, then, that you think could be improved?" + +"As to that I shall not say. Perhaps you will be able to give your own +opinion before you have lived here much longer." + +"Taking it all in all," said Brenton, "do you think the spirit-land is +to be preferred to the one we have left?" + +"I like it better," said Ferris, "although I presume there are some +who do not. There are many advantages; and then, again, there are +many--well, I would not say disadvantages, but still some people +consider them such. We are free from the pangs of hunger or cold, and +have therefore no need of money, and there is no necessity for the rush +and the worry of the world below." + +"And how about heaven and hell?" said Brenton. "Are those localities all +a myth? Is there nothing of punishment and nothing of reward in this +spirit-land?" + +There was no answer to this, and when Brenton looked around he found +that his companion had departed. + +[Illustration: _Venice_.] + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +William Brenton pondered long on the situation. He would have known +better how to act if he could have been perfectly certain that he was +not still the victim of a dream. However, of one thing there was no +doubt--namely, that it was particularly harrowing to see what he had +seen in his own house. If it were true that he was dead, he said to +himself, was not the plan outlined for him by Ferris very much the wiser +course to adopt? He stood now in one of the streets of the city so +familiar to him. People passed and repassed him--men and women whom +he had known in life--but nobody appeared to see him. He resolved, if +possible, to solve the problem uppermost in his mind, and learn whether +or not he could communicate with an inhabitant of the world he had left. +He paused for a moment to consider the best method of doing this. Then +he remembered one of his most confidential friends and advisers, and at +once wished himself at his office. He found the office closed, but went +in to wait for his friend. Occupying the time in thinking over his +strange situation, he waited long, and only when the bells began to ring +did he remember it was Christmas forenoon, and that his friend would +not be at the office that day. The next moment he wished himself at his +friend's house, but he was as unsuccessful as at the office; the friend +was not at home. The household, however, was in great commotion, and, +listening to what was said, he found that the subject of conversation +was his own death, and he learned that his friend had gone to the +Brenton residence as soon as he heard the startling news of Christmas +morning. + +Once more Brenton paused, and did not know what to do. He went again +into the street. Everything seemed to lead him toward his own home. +Although he had told Ferris that he did not intend to take his advice, +yet as a sensible man he saw that the admonition was well worth +considering, and if he could once become convinced that there was no +communication possible between himself and those he had left; if he +could give them no comfort and no cheer; if he could see the things +which they did not see, and yet be unable to give them warning, he +realized that he would merely be adding to his own misery, without +alleviating the troubles of others. + +He wished he knew where to find Ferris, so that he might have another +talk with him. The man impressed him as being exceedingly sensible. No +sooner, however, had he wished for the company of Mr. Ferris than he +found himself beside that gentleman. + +"By George!" he said in astonishment, "you are just the man I wanted to +see." + +"Exactly," said Ferris; "that is the reason you do see me." + +"I have been thinking over what you said," continued the other, "and it +strikes me that after all your advice is sensible." + +"Thank you," replied Ferris, with something like a smile on his face. + +"But there is one thing I want to be perfectly certain about. I want to +know whether it is not possible for me to communicate with my friends. +Nothing will settle that doubt in my mind except actual experience." + +"And have you not had experience enough?" asked Ferris. + +"Well," replied the other, hesitating, "I have had some experience, but +it seems to me that, if I encounter an old friend, I could somehow make +myself felt by him." + +"In that case," answered Ferris, "if nothing will convince you but an +actual experiment, why don't you go to some of your old friends and try +what you can do with them?" + +"I have just been to the office and to the residence of one of my old +friends. I found at his residence that he had gone to my"--Brenton +paused for a moment--"former home. Everything seems to lead me there, +and yet, if I take your advice, I must avoid that place of all others." + +"I would at present, if I were you," said Ferris. "Still, why not try it +with any of the passers-by?" + +Brenton looked around him. People were passing and repassing where the +two stood talking with each other. "Merry Christmas" was the word on all +lips. Finally Brenton said, with a look of uncertainty on his face-- + +"My dear fellow, I can't talk to any of these people. I don't know +them." + +Ferris laughed at this, and replied-- + +"I don't think you will shock them very much; just try it." + +"Ah, here's a friend of mine. You wait a moment, and I will accost him." +Approaching him, Brenton held out his hand and spoke, but the traveller +paid no attention. He passed by as one who had seen or heard nothing. + +"I assure you," said Ferris, as he noticed the look of disappointment on +the other's face, "you will meet with a similar experience, however much +you try. You know the old saying about one not being able to have his +cake and eat it too. You can't have the privileges of this world and +those of the world you left as well. I think, taking it all in all, you +should rest content, although it always hurts those who have left the +other world not to be able to communicate with their friends, and at +least assure them of their present welfare." + +"It does seem to me," replied Brenton, "that would be a great +consolation, both for those who are here and those who are left." + +"Well, I don't know about that," answered the other. "After all, what +does life in the other world amount to? It is merely a preparation for +this. It is of so short a space, as compared with the life we live here, +that it is hardly worth while to interfere with it one way or another. +By the time you are as long here as I have been, you will realize the +truth of this." + +"Perhaps I shall," said Brenton, with a sigh; "but, meanwhile, what am +I to do with myself? I feel like the man who has been all his life +in active business, and who suddenly resolves to enjoy himself doing +nothing. That sort of thing seems to kill a great number of men, +especially if they put off taking a rest until too late, as most of us +do." + +"Well," said Ferris, "there is no necessity of your being idle here, I +assure you. But before you lay out any work for yourself, let me ask you +if there is not some interesting part of the world that you would like +to visit?" + +"Certainly; I have seen very little of the world. That is one of my +regrets at leaving it." + +"Bless me," said the other, "you haven't left it." + +"Why, I thought you said I was a dead man?" + +"On the contrary," replied his companion, "I have several times insisted +that you have just begun to live. Now where shall we spend the day?" + +"How would London do?" + +"I don't think it would do; London is apt to be a little gloomy at this +time of the year. But what do you say to Naples, or Japan, or, if you +don't wish to go out of the United States, Yellowstone Park?" + +"Can we reach any of those places before the day is over?" asked +Brenton, dubiously. + +"Well, I will soon show you how we manage all that. Just wish to +accompany me, and I will take you the rest of the way." + +"How would Venice do?" said Brenton. "I didn't see half as much of that +city as I wanted to." + +"Very well," replied his companion, "Venice it is;" and the American +city in which they stood faded away from them, and before Brenton could +make up his mind exactly what was happening, he found himself walking +with his comrade in St. Mark's Square. + +"Well, for rapid transit," said Brenton, "this beats anything I've ever +had any idea of; but it increases the feeling that I am in a dream." + +"You'll soon get used to it," answered Ferris; and, when you do, the +cumbersome methods of travel in the world itself will show themselves in +their right light. "Hello!" he cried, "here's a man whom I should +like you to meet. By the way, I either don't know your name or I have +forgotten it." + +"William Brenton," answered the other. + +"Mr. Speed, I want to introduce you to Mr. Brenton." + +"Ah," said Speed, cordially, "a new-comer. One of your victims, Ferris?" + +"Say one of his pupils, rather," answered Brenton. + +[Illustration: _In Venice_.] + +"Well, it is pretty much the same thing," said Speed. "How long have you +been with us, and how do you like the country?" + +"You see, Mr. Brenton," interrupted Ferris, "John Speed was a newspaper +man, and he must ask strangers how they like the country. He has +inquired so often while interviewing foreigners for his paper that now +he cannot abandon his old phrase. Mr. Brenton has been with us but a +short time," continued Ferris, "and so you know, Speed, you can, hardly +expect him to answer your inevitable question." + +"What part of the country are you from?" asked Speed. + +"Cincinnati," answered Brenton, feeling almost as if he were an American +tourist doing the continent of Europe. + +"Cincinnati, eh? Well, I congratulate you. I do not know any place in +America that I would sooner die in, as they call it, than Cincinnati. +You see, I am a Chicago man myself." + +Brenton did not like the jocular familiarity of the newspaper man, and +found himself rather astonished to learn that in the spirit-world there +were likes and dislikes, just as on earth. + +"Chicago is a very enterprising city," he said, in a non-committal way. + +"Chicago, my dear sir," said Speed, earnestly, "is _the_ city. You will +see that Chicago is going to be the great city of the world before you +are a hundred years older. By the way, Ferris," said the Chicago man, +suddenly recollecting something, "I have got Sommers over here with me." + +"Ah!" said Ferris; "doing him any good?" + +"Well, precious little, as far as I can see." + +"Perhaps it would interest Mr. Brenton to meet him," said Ferris. "I +think, Brenton, you asked me a while ago if there was any hell here, or +any punishment. Mr. Speed can show you a man in hell." + +"Really?" asked Brenton. + +"Yes," said Speed; "I think if ever a man was in misery, his is. The +trouble with Sommers was this. He--well, he died of delirium tremens, +and so, of course, you know what the matter was. Sommers had drunk +Chicago whisky for thirty-five years straight along, and never added to +it the additional horror of Chicago water. You see what his condition +became, both physical and mental. Many people tried to reform Sommers, +because he was really a brilliant man; but it was no use. Thirst had +become a disease with him, and from the mental part of that disease, +although his physical yearning is now gone of course, he suffers. +Sommers would give his whole future for one glass of good old Kentucky +whisky. He sees it on the counters, he sees men drink it, and he stands +beside them in agony. That's why I brought him over here. I thought that +he wouldn't see the colour of whisky as it sparkles in the glass; but +now he is in the Café Quadra watching men drink. You may see him sitting +there with all the agony of unsatisfied desire gleaming from his face." + +"And what do you do with a man like that?" asked Brenton. + +"Do? Well, to tell the truth, there is nothing _to_ do. I took him away +from Chicago, hoping to ease his trouble a little; but it has had no +effect." + +"It will come out all right by-and-by," said Ferris, who noticed the +pained look on Brenton's face. "It is the period of probation that +he has to pass through. It will wear off. He merely goes through the +agonies he would have suffered on earth if he had suddenly been deprived +of his favourite intoxicant." + +"Well," said Speed, "you won't come with me, then? All right, good-bye. +I hope to see you again, Mr. Brenton," and with that they separated. + +Brenton spent two or three days in Venice, but all the time the old home +hunger was upon him. He yearned for news of Cincinnati. He wanted to be +back, and several times the wish brought him there, but he instantly +returned. At last he said to Ferris-- + +"I am tired. I must go home. I have _got_ to see how things are going." + +"I wouldn't if I were you," replied Ferris. + +"No, I know you wouldn't. Your temperament is indifferent. I would +rather be miserable with knowledge than happy in ignorance. Good-bye." + +It was evening when he found himself in Cincinnati. The weather was +bright-and clear, and apparently cold. Men's feet crisped on the frozen +pavement, and the streets had that welcome, familiar look which they +always have to the returned traveller when he reaches the city he calls +his home. The newsboys were rushing through the streets yelling their +papers at the top of their voices. He heard them, but paid little +attention. + +"All about the murder! Latest edition! All about the poison case!" + +He felt that he must have a glimpse at a paper, and, entering the office +of an hotel where a man was reading one, he glanced over his shoulder +at the page before him, and was horror-stricken to see the words in +startling headlines-- + + + +[Illustration: THE BRENTON MURDER. _The Autopsy shows that Morphine was +the Poison used. Enough found to have killed a Dozen Men. Mrs. Brenton +arrested for Committing the Horrible Deed_.] + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +For a moment Brenton was so bewildered and amazed at the awful headlines +which he read, that he could hardly realize what had taken place. +The fact that he had been poisoned, although it gave him a strange +sensation, did not claim his attention as much as might have been +thought. Curiously enough he was more shocked at finding himself, as +it were, the talk of the town, the central figure of a great newspaper +sensation. But the thing that horrified him was the fact that his wife +had been arrested for his murder. His first impulse was to go to her at +once, but he next thought it better to read what the paper said about +the matter, so as to become possessed of all the facts. The headlines, +he said to himself, often exaggerated things, and there was a +possibility that the body of the article would not bear out the naming +announcement above it. But as he read on and on, the situation seemed +to become more and more appalling. He saw that his friends had been +suspicious of his sudden death, and had insisted on a post-mortem +examination. That examination had been conducted by three of the most +eminent physicians of Cincinnati, and the three doctors had practically +agreed that the deceased, in the language of the verdict, had come to +his death through morphia poisoning, and the coroner's jury had brought +in a verdict that "the said William Brenton had been poisoned by some +person unknown." Then the article went on to state how suspicion had +gradually fastened itself upon his wife, and at last her arrest had been +ordered. The arrest had taken place that day. + +After reading this, Brenton was in an agony of mind. He pictured his +dainty and beautiful wife in a stone cell in the city prison. He foresaw +the horrors of the public trial, and the deep grief and pain which + +[Illustration: _Mrs. Brenton_.] + +the newspaper comments on the case would cause to a woman educated and +refined. Of course, Brenton had not the slightest doubt in his own mind +about the result of the trial. His wife would be triumphantly acquitted; +but, all the same, the terrible suspense which she must suffer in the +meanwhile would not be compensated for by the final verdict of the jury. + +Brenton at once went to the jail, and wandered through that gloomy +building, searching for his wife. At last he found her, but it was in +a very comfortable room in the sheriffs residence. The terror and the +trials of the last few days had aged her perceptibly, and it cut Brenton +to the heart to think that he stood there before her, and could not by +any means say a soothing word that she would understand. That she had +wept many bitter tears since the terrible Christmas morning was evident; +there were dark circles under her beautiful eyes that told of sleepless +nights. She sat in a comfortable armchair, facing the window; and looked +steadily out at the dreary winter scene with eyes that apparently saw +nothing. Her hands lay idly on her lap, and now and then she caught her +breath in a way that was half a sob and half a gasp. + +Presently the sheriff himself entered the room. + +"Mrs. Brenton," he said, "there is a gentleman here who wishes to see +you. Mr. Roland, he tells me his name is, an old friend of yours. Do you +care to see any one?" + +The lady turned her head slowly round, and looked at the sheriff for a +moment, seemingly not understanding what he said. Finally she answered, +dreamily-- + +"Roland? Oh, Stephen! Yes, I shall be very glad to see him. Ask him to +come in, please." + +The next moment Stephen Roland entered, and somehow the fact that he had +come to console Mrs. Brenton did not at all please the invisible man who +stood between them. + +"My dear Mrs. Brenton," began Roland, "I hope you are feeling better +to-day? Keep up your courage, and be brave. It is only for a very short +time. I have retained the noted criminal lawyers, Benham and Brown, for +the defence. You could not possibly have better men." + +At the word "criminal" Mrs. Brenton shuddered. + +"Alice," continued Roland, sitting down near her, and drawing his chair +closer to her, "tell me that you will not lose your courage. I want you +to be brave, for the sake of your friends." + +He took her listless hand in his own, and she did not withdraw it. + +Brenton felt passing over him the pangs of impotent rage, as he saw this +act on the part of Roland. + +Roland had been an unsuccessful suitor for the hand which he now held +in his own, and Brenton thought it the worst possible taste, to say the +least, that he should take advantage now of her terrible situation to +ingratiate himself into her favour. + +The nearest approach to a quarrel that Brenton and his wife had had +during their short six months of wedded life was on the subject of the +man who now held her hand in his own. It made Brenton impatient to think +that a woman with all her boasted insight into character, her instincts +as to what was right and what was wrong, had such little real intuition +that she did not see into the character of the man whom they were +discussing; but a woman never thinks it a crime for a man to have been +in love with her, whatever opinion of that man her husband may hold. + +"It is awful! awful! awful!" murmured the poor lady, as the tears again +rose to her eyes. + +"Of course it is," said Roland; "it is particularly awful that they +should accuse you, of all persons in the world, of this so-called crime. +For my part I do not believe that he was poisoned at all, but we will +soon straighten things out. Benham and Brown will give up everything +and devote their whole attention to this case until it is finished. +Everything will be done that money or friends can do, and all that we +ask is that you keep up your courage, and do not be downcast with the +seeming awfulness of the situation." + +Mrs. Brenton wept silently, but made no reply. It was evident, however, +that she was consoled by the words and the presence of her visitor. +Strange as it may appear, this fact enraged Brenton, although he had +gone there for the very purpose of cheering and comforting his wife. All +the bitterness he had felt before against his former rival was revived; +and his rage was the more agonizing because it was inarticulate. Then +there flashed over him Ferris's sinister advice to leave things alone in +the world that he had left. He felt that he could stand this no longer, +and the next instant he found himself again in the wintry streets of +Cincinnati. + +The name of the lawyers, Benham and Brown, kept repeating itself in his +mind, and he resolved to go to their office and hear, if he could, what +preparations were being made for the defence of a woman whom he knew to +be innocent. He found, when he got to the office of these noted lawyers, +that the two principals were locked in their private room; and going +there, he found them discussing the case with the coolness and +impersonal feeling that noted lawyers have even when speaking of issues +that involve life or death. + +"Yes," Benham was saying, "I think that, unless anything new turns up, +that is the best line of defence we can adopt." + +"What do you think might turn up?" asked Brown. + +"Well, you can never tell in these cases. They may find something +else--they may find the poison, for instance, or the package that +contained it. Perhaps a druggist will remember having sold it to this +woman, and then, of course, we shall have to change our plans. I need +not say that it is strictly necessary in this case to give out no +opinions whatever to newspaper men. The papers will be full of rumours, +and it is just as well if we can keep our line of defence hidden until +the time for action comes." + +"Still," said Brown, who was the younger partner, "it is as well to keep +in with the newspaper fellows; they'll be here as soon as they find we +have taken charge of the defence." + +"Well, I have no doubt you can deal with them in such a way as to give +them something to write up, and yet not disclose anything we do not wish +known." + +"I think you can trust me to do that," said Brown, with a self-satisfied +air. + +"I shall leave that part of the matter entirely in your hands," replied +Benham. "It is better not to duplicate or mix matters, and if any +newspaper man comes to see me I will refer him to you. I will say I know +nothing of the case whatever." + +"Very well," answered Brown. "Now, between ourselves, what do you think +of the case?" + + +[Illustration] + +"Oh, it will make a great sensation. I think it will probably be one of +the most talked-of cases that we have ever been connected with." + +"Yes, but what do you think of her guilt or innocence?" + +"As to that," said Benham, calmly, "I haven't the slightest doubt. She +murdered him." + +As he said this, Brenton, forgetting himself for a moment, sprang +forward as if to strangle the lawyer. The statement Benham had made +seemed the most appalling piece of treachery. That men should take a +woman's money for defending her, and actually engage in a case when they +believed their client guilty, appeared to Brenton simply infamous. + +"I agree with you," said Brown. "Of course she was the only one to +benefit by his death. The simple fool willed everything to her, and she +knew it; and his doing so is the more astounding when you remember he +was quite well aware that she had a former lover whom she would gladly +have married if he had been as rich as Brenton. The supreme idiocy of +some men as far as their wives are concerned is something awful." + +"Yes," answered Benham, "it is. But I tell you, Brown, she is no +ordinary woman. The very conception of that murder had a stroke of +originality about it that I very much admire. I do not remember anything +like it in the annals of crime. It is the true way in which a murder +should be committed. The very publicity of the occasion was a safeguard. +Think of poisoning a man at a dinner that he has given himself, in the +midst of a score of + +[Illustration: _Publicity_] + +friends. I tell you that there was a dash of bravery about it that +commands my admiration." + +"Do you imagine Roland had anything to do with it?" + +"Well, I had my doubts about that at first, but I think he is innocent, +although from what I know of the man he will not hesitate to share the +proceeds of the crime. You mark my words, they will be married within +a year from now if she is acquitted. I believe Roland knows her to be +guilty." + +"I thought as much," said Brown, "by his actions here, and by some +remarks he let drop. Anyhow, our credit in the affair will be all the +greater if we succeed in getting her off. Yes," he continued, rising and +pushing back his chair, "Madam Brenton is a murderess." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +Brenton found himself once more in the streets of Cincinnati, in a state +of mind that can hardly be described. Rage and grief struggled for the +mastery, and added to the tumult of these passions was the uncertainty +as to what he should do, or what he _could_ do. He could hardly ask the +advice of Ferris again, for his whole trouble arose from his neglect of +the counsel that gentleman had already given him. In his new sphere he +did not know where to turn. He found himself wondering whether in the +spirit-land there was any firm of lawyers who could advise him, and he +remembered then how singularly ignorant he was regarding the conditions +of existence in the world to which he now belonged. However, he felt +that he must consult with somebody, and Ferris was the only one to whom +he could turn. A moment later he was face to face with him. + +"Mr. Ferris," he said, "I am in the most grievous trouble, and I come to +you in the hope that, if you cannot help me, you can at least advise me +what to do." + +"If your trouble has come," answered Ferris, with a shade of irony in +his voice, "through following the advice that I have already given you, +I shall endeavour, as well as I am able, to help you out of it." + +"You know very well," cried Brenton, hotly, "that my whole trouble +has occurred through neglecting your advice, or, at least, though +deliberately not following it. I _could_ not follow it." + +"Very well, then," said Ferris, "I am not surprised that you are in a +difficulty. You must remember that such a crisis is an old story with us +here." + +"But, my dear sir," said Brenton, "look at the appalling condition of +things, the knowledge of which has just come to me. It seems I was +poisoned, but of course that doesn't matter. I feel no resentment +against the wretch who did it. But the terrible thing is that my wife +has been arrested for the crime, and I have just learned that her own +lawyers, actually believe her guilty." + +"That fact," said Ferris, calmly, "will not interfere with their +eloquent pleading when the case comes to trial." + +Brenton glared at the man who was taking things so coolly, and who +proved himself so unsympathetic; but an instant after he realized, the +futility of quarrelling with the only person who could give him advice, +so he continued, with what patience he could command-- + +"The situation is this: My wife has been arrested for the crime of +murdering me. She is now in the custody of the sheriff. Her trouble and +anxiety of mind are fearful to contemplate." + +"My dear sir," said Ferris, "there is no reason why you or anybody else +should contemplate it." + +"How can you talk in that cold-blooded way?" cried Brenton, indignantly. +"Could you see _your_ wife, or any one _you_ held dear, incarcerated for +a dreadful crime, and yet remain calm and collected, as you now appear +to be when you hear of another's misfortune?" + +"My dear fellow," said Ferris, "of course it is not to be expected that +one who has had so little experience with this existence should have any +sense of proportion. You appear to be speaking quite seriously. You do +not seem at all to comprehend the utter triviality of all this." + +"Good gracious!" cried Brenton, "do you call it a trivial thing that a +woman is in danger of her life for a crime which she never committed?" + +"If she is innocent," said the other, in no way moved by the indignation +of his comrade, "surely that state of things will be brought out in the +courts, and no great harm will be done, even looking at things from the +standpoint of the world you have left. But I want you to get into the +habit of looking at things from the standpoint of this world, and not +of the other. Suppose that what you would call the worst should +happen--suppose she is hanged--what then?" + +Brenton stood simply speechless with indignation at this brutal remark. + +"If you will just look at things correctly," continued Ferris, +imperturbably, "you will see that there is probably a moment of anguish, +perhaps not even that moment, and then your wife is here with you in the +land of spirits. I am sure that is a consummation devoutly to be wished. +Even a man in your state of mind must see the reasonableness of this. +Now, looking at the question in what you would call its most serious +aspect, see how little it amounts to. It isn't worth a moment's thought, +whichever way it goes." + +"You think nothing, then, of the disgrace of such a death--of the bitter +injustice of it?" + +[Illustration: _The broken toy._] + +"When you were in the world did you ever see a child cry over a broken +toy? Did the sight pain you to any extent? Did you not know that a new +toy could be purchased that would quite obliterate all thoughts of the +other? Did the simple griefs of childhood carry any deep and lasting +consternation to the mind of a grown-up man? Of course, it did not. You +are sensible enough to know that. Well, we here in this world look on +the pain and struggles and trials of people in the world you have left, +just as an aged man looks on the tribulations of children over a broken +doll. That is all it really amounts to. That is what I mean when I say +that you have not yet got your sense of proportion. Any grief and misery +there is in the world you have left is of such an ephemeral, transient +nature, that when we think for a moment of the free, untrammelled, +and painless life there is beyond, those petty troubles sink into +insignificance. My dear fellow, be sensible, take my advice. I have +really a strong interest in you, and I advise you, entirely for your own +welfare, to forget all about it. Very soon you will have something much +more important to do than lingering around the world you have left. If +your wife comes amongst us I am sure you will be glad to welcome her, +and to teach her the things that you will have already found out of your +new life. If she does not appear, then you will know that, even from the +old-world standpoint, things have gone what you would call 'all right.' +Let these trivial matters go, and attend to the vastly more important +concerns that will soon engage your attention here." + +Ferris talked earnestly, and it was evident, even to Brenton, that he +meant what he said. It was hard to find a pretext for a quarrel with a +man at once so calm and so perfectly sure of himself. + +"We will not talk any more about it," said Brenton. "I presume people +here agree to differ, just as they did in the world we have both left." + +"Certainly, certainly," answered Ferris. "Of course, you have just heard +my opinion; but you will find myriads of others who do not share it with +me. You will meet a great many who are interested in the subject of +communication with the world they have left. You will, of course, excuse +me when I say that I consider such endeavours not worth talking about." + +"Do you know any one who is interested in that sort of thing? and can +you give me an introduction to him?" + +"Oh! for that matter," said Ferris, "you have had an introduction to one +of the most enthusiastic investigators of the subject. I refer to Mr. +John Speed, late of Chicago." + +"Ah!" said Brenton, rather dubiously. "I must confess that I was +not very favourably impressed with Mr. Speed. Probably I did him an +injustice." + +"You certainly did," said Ferris. "You will find Speed a man well worth +knowing, even if he does waste himself on such futile projects as a +scheme for communicating with a community so evanescent as that of +Chicago. You will like Speed better the more you know him. He really is +very philanthropic, and has Sommers on his hands just now. From what he +said after you left Venice, I imagine he does not entertain the same +feeling toward you as you do toward him. I would see Speed if I were +you." + +"I will think about it," said Brenton, as they separated. + +To know that a man thinks well of a person is no detriment to further +acquaintance with that man, even if the first impressions have not been +favourable; and after Ferris told Brenton that Speed had thought well of +him, Brenton found less difficulty in seeking the Chicago enthusiast. + +"I have been in a good deal of trouble," Brenton said to Speed, "and +have been talking to Ferris about it. I regret to say that he gave me +very little encouragement, and did not seem at all to appreciate my +feelings in the matter." + +"Oh, you mustn't mind Ferris," said Speed. "He is a first-rate fellow, +but he is as cold and unsympathetic as--well, suppose we say as an +oyster. His great hobby is non-intercourse with the world we have left. +Now, in that I don't agree with him, and there are thousands who don't +agree with him. I admit that there are cases where a man is more unhappy +if he frequents the old world than he would be if he left it alone. But +then there are other cases where just the reverse is true. Take my own +experience, for example; I take a peculiar pleasure in rambling around +Chicago. I admit that it is a grievance to me, as an old newspaper man, +to see the number of scoops I could have on my esteemed contemporaries, +but--" + +"Scoop? What is that?" asked Brenton, mystified. + +"Why, a scoop is a beat, you know." + +"Yes, but I don't know. What is a beat?" + +"A beat or a scoop, my dear fellow, is the getting of a piece of news +that your contemporary does not obtain. You never were in the newspaper +business? Well, sir, you missed it. Greatest business in the world. You +know everything that is going on long before anybody else does, and the +way you can reward your friends and jump with both feet on your enemies +is one of the delights of existence down there." + +"Well, what I wanted to ask you was this," said Brenton. "You have made +a speciality of finding out whether there could be any communication +between one of us, for instance, and one who is an inhabitant of the +other world. Is such communication possible?" + +"I have certainly devoted some time to it, but I can't say that my +success has been flattering. My efforts have been mostly in the line of +news. I have come on some startling information which my facilities here +gave me access to, and I confess I have tried my best to put some of the +boys on to it. But there is a link loose somewhere. Now, what is your +trouble? Do you want to get a message to anybody?" + +"My trouble is this," said Brenton, briefly, "I am here because a few +days ago I was poisoned." + +"George Washington!" cried the other, "you don't say so! Have the +newspapers got on to the fact?" + +"I regret to say that they have." + +"What an item that would have been if one paper had got hold of it and +the others hadn't! I suppose they all got on to it at the same time?" + +"About that," said Brenton, "I don't know, and I must confess that I do +not care very much. But here is the trouble--my wife has been arrested +for my murder, and she is as innocent as I am." + +"Sure of that?" + +"_Sure_ of it?" cried the other indignantly. "Of course I am sure of +it." + +"Then who is the guilty person?" + +"Ah, that," said Brenton, "I do not yet know." + +"Then how can you be sure she is not guilty?" + +"If you talk like that," exclaimed Brenton, "I have nothing more to +say." + +"Now, don't get offended, I beg of you. I am merely looking at this from +a newspaper standpoint, you know. You must remember it is not you +who will decide the matter, but a jury of your very stupid +fellow-countrymen. Now, you can never tell what a jury _will_ do, except +that it will do something idiotic. Therefore, it seems to me that the +very first step to be taken is to find out who the guilty party is. +Don't you see the force of that?" + +"Yes, I do." + +"Very well, then. Now, what were the circumstances of this crime? who +was to profit by your death?" + +Brenton winced at this. + +"I see how it is," said the other, "and I understand why you don't +answer. Now--you'll excuse me if I am frank--your wife was the one who +benefited most by your death, was she not?" + +"No," cried the other indignantly, "she was not the one. That is what +the lawyers said. Why in the world should she want to poison me, when +she had all my wealth at her command as it was?" + +"Yes, that's a strong point," said Speed. "You were a reasonably good +husband, I suppose? Rather generous with the cash?" + +"Generous?" cried the other. "My wife always had everything she wanted." + +"Ah, well, there was no--you'll excuse me, I am sure--no former lover in +the case, was there?" + +Again Brenton winced, and he thought of Roland sitting beside his wife +with her hand in his. + +"I see," said Speed; "you needn't answer. Now what were the +circumstances, again?" + +"They were these: At a dinner which I gave, where some twenty or +twenty-five of my friends were assembled, poison, it appears, was put +into my cup of coffee. That is all I know of it." + +"Who poured out that cup of coffee?" + +"My wife did." + +"Ah! Now, I don't for a moment say she is guilty, remember; but you must +admit that, to a stupid jury, the case _might_ look rather bad against +her." + +"Well, granted that it does, there is all the more need, that I should +come to her assistance if possible." + +"Certainly, certainly!" said Speed. "Now, I'll tell you what we have +to do. We must get, if possible, one of the very brightest Chicago +reporters on the track of this thing, and we have to get him on the +track of it early. Come with me to Chicago. We will try an experiment, +and I am sure you will lend your mind entirely to the effort. We must +act in conjunction in this affair, and you are just the man I've been +wanting, some one who is earnest and who has something at stake in the +matter. We may fail entirely, but I think it's worth the trying. Will +you come?" + +"Certainly," said Brenton; "and I cannot tell you how much I appreciate +your interest and sympathy." + +Arriving at a brown stone building on the corner of two of the principal +streets in Chicago, Brenton and Speed ascended quickly to one of the top +floors. It was nearly midnight, and two upper stories of the huge dark +building were brilliantly lighted, as was shown on the outside by the +long rows of glittering windows. They entered a room where a man was +seated at a table, with coat and vest thrown off, and his hat set well +back on his head. Cold as it was outside, it was warm in this man's +room, and the room was blue with smoke. A black corn-cob pipe was in his +teeth, and the man was writing away as if for dear life, on sheets of +coarse white copy paper, stopping now and then to fill up his pipe or to +relight it after it had gone out. + +"There," said Speed, waving his hand towards the writer with a certain +air of proprietory pride, "there sits one of the very cleverest men on +the Chicago press. That fellow, sir, is gifted with a nose for news +which has no equal in America. He will ferret out a case that he once +starts on with an unerringness that would charm you. Yes, sir, I got him +his present situation on this paper, and I can tell you it was a good +one." + +"He must have been a warm friend of yours?" said Brenton, indifferently, +as if he did not take much interest in the eulogy. + +"Quite the contrary," said Speed. "He was a warm enemy, made it mighty +warm for _me_ sometimes. He was on an opposition paper, but I tell you, +although I was no chicken in newspaper business, that man would scoop +the daylight out of me any time he tried. So, to get rid of opposition, +I got the managing editor to appoint him to a place on our paper; and +I tell you, he has never regretted it. Yes, sir, there sits George +Stratton, a man who knows his business. Now," he said, "let us +concentrate our attention on him. First let us see whether, by putting +our whole minds to it, we can make any impression on _his_ mind +whatever. You see how busily he is engaged. He is thoroughly absorbed in +his work. That is George all over. Whatever his assignment is, George +throws himself right into it, and thinks of nothing else until it is +finished. _Now_ then." + +In that dingy, well-lighted room George Stratton sat busily pencilling +out the lines that were to appear in next morning's paper. He was +evidently very much engrossed in his task, as Speed had said. If he +had looked about him, which he did not, he would have said that he was +entirely alone. All at once his attention seemed to waver, and he passed +his hand over his brow, while perplexity came into his face. Then he +noticed that his pipe was out, and, knocking the ashes from it by +rapping the bowl on the side of the table, he filled it with an +absent-mindedness unusual with him. Again he turned to his writing, and +again he passed his hand over his brow. Suddenly, without, any apparent +cause, he looked first to the right and then to the left of him. Once +more he tried to write, but, noticing his pipe was out, he struck +another match and nervously puffed away, until clouds of blue smoke rose +around him. There was a look of annoyance and perplexity in his face as +he bent resolutely to his writing. The door opened, and a man appeared +on the threshold. + +"Anything more about the convention, George?" he said. + +"Yes; I am just finishing this. Sort of pen pictures, you know." + +"Perhaps you can let me have what you have done. I'll fix it up." + +"All right," said Stratton, bunching up the manuscript in front of him, +and handing it to the city editor. + +That functionary looked at the number of pages, and then at the writer. + +"Much more of this, George?" he said. "We'll be a little short of room +in the morning, you know." + +"Well," said the other, sitting back in his chair, "it is pretty good +stuff that. Folks always like the pen pictures of men engaged in the +skirmish better than the reports of what most of them say." + +"Yes," said the city editor, "that's so." + +"Still," said Stratton, "we could cut it off at the last page. Just let +me see the last two pages, will you?" + +These were handed to him, and, running his eye through them, he drew his +knife across one of the pages, and put at the bottom the cabalistic mark +which indicated the end of the copy. + +"There! I think I will let it go at that. Old Rickenbeck don't amount to +much, anyhow. We'll let him go." + +"All right," said the city editor. "I think we won't want anything more +to-night." + +[Illustration: "_She's pretty as a picture_."] + +Stratton put his hands behind his head, with his fingers interlaced, and +leaned back in his chair, placing his heels upon the table before him. +A thought-reader, looking at his face, could almost have followed the +theme that occupied his mind. Suddenly bringing his feet down with a +crash to the floor, he rose and went into the city editor's room. + +"See here," he said. "Have you looked into that Cincinnati case at all?" + +"What Cincinnati case?" asked the local editor, looking up. + +"Why, that woman who is up for poisoning her husband." + +"Oh yes; we had something of it in the despatches this morning. It's +rather out of the local line, you know." + +"Yes, I know it is. But it isn't out of the paper's line. I tell you +that case is going to make a sensation. She's pretty as a picture. Been +married only six months, and it seems to be a dead sure thing that +she poisoned her husband. That trial's going to make racy reading, +especially if they bring in a verdict of guilty." + +The city editor looked interested. + +"Want to go down there, George?" + +"Well, do you know, I think it'll pay." + +"Let me see, this is the last day of the convention, isn't it? And Clark +comes back from his vacation to-morrow. Well, if you think it's worth +it, take a trip down there, and look the ground over, and give us a +special article that we can use on the first day of the trial." + +"I'll do it," said George. + + * * * * * + +Speed looked at Brenton. + +"What would old Ferris say _now_, eh?" + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +Next morning George Stratton was on the railway train speeding towards +Cincinnati. As he handed to the conductor his mileage book, he did not +say to him, lightly transposing the old couplet-- + + "Here, railroad man, take thrice thy fee, + For spirits twain do ride with me." + +George Stratton was a practical man, and knew nothing of spirits, except +those which were in a small flask in his natty little valise. + +When he reached Cincinnati, he made straight for the residence of the +sheriff. He felt that his first duty was to become friends with such an +important official. Besides this, he wished to have an interview with +the prisoner. He had arranged in his mind, on the way there, just how he +would write a preliminary article that would whet the appetite of the +readers of the Chicago _Argus_ for any further developments that might +occur during and after the trial. He would write the whole thing in the +form of a story. + +First, there would be a sketch of the life of Mrs. Brenton and her +husband. This would be number one, and above it would be the Roman +numeral I. Under the heading II. would be a history of the crime. Under +III. what had occurred afterwards--the incidents that had led suspicion +towards the unfortunate woman, and that sort of thing. Under the numeral +IV. would be his interview with the prisoner, if he were fortunate +enough to get one. Under V. he would give the general opinion of +Cincinnati on the crime, and on the guilt or innocence of Mrs. Brenton. +This article he already saw in his mind's eye occupying nearly half a +page of the _Argus_. All would be in leaded type, and written in a style +and manner that would attract attention, for he felt that + +[Illustration: "_Raising the veil_."] + +he was first on the ground, and would not have the usual rush in +preparing his copy which had been the bane of his life. It would give +the _Argus_ practically the lead in this case, which he was convinced +would become one of national importance. + +The sheriff received him courteously, and, looking at the card he +presented, saw the name Chicago _Argus_ in the corner. Then he stood +visibly on his guard--an attitude assumed by all wise officials when +they find themselves brought face to face with a newspaper man; for +they know, however carefully an article may be prepared, it will likely +contain some unfortunate overlooked phrase which may have a damaging +effect in a future political campaign. + +"I wanted to see you," began Stratton, coming straight to the point, "in +reference to the Brenton murder." + +"I may say at once," replied the sheriff, "that if you wish an interview +with the prisoner, it is utterly impossible, because her lawyers, Benham +and Brown, have positively forbidden her to see a newspaper man." + +"That shows," said Stratton, "they are wise men who understand their +business. Nevertheless, I wish to have an interview with Mrs. Brenton. +But what I wanted to say to you is this: I believe the case will be very +much talked about, and that before many weeks are over. Of course you +know the standing the _Argus_ has in newspaper circles. What it says +will have an influence, even over the Cincinnati press. I think you will +admit that. Now a great many newspaper men consider an official their +natural enemy. I do not; at least, I do not until I am forced to. Any +reference that I may make to you I am more than willing to submit to you +before it goes to Chicago. I will give you my word, if you want it, that +nothing will be said referring to your official position, or to yourself +personally, that you do not see before it appears in print. Of course +you will be up for re-election. I never met a sheriff who wasn't." + +The sheriff smiled at this, and did not deny it. + +"Very well. Now, I may tell you my belief is that this case is going +to have a powerful influence on your re-election. Here is a young and +pretty woman who is to be tried for a terrible crime. Whether she is +guilty or innocent, public sympathy is going to be with her. If I were +in your place, I would prefer to be known as her friend rather than as +her enemy." + +"My dear sir," said the sheriff, "my official position puts me in the +attitude of neither friend nor enemy of the unfortunate woman. I have +simply a certain duty to do, and that duty I intend to perform." + +"Oh, that's all right!" exclaimed the newspaper man, jauntily. "I, for +one, am not going to ask you to take a step outside your duties; but an +official may do his duty, and yet, at the same time, do a friendly act +for a newspaper man, or even for a prisoner. In the language of the old +chestnut, 'If you don't help me, don't help the bear.' That's all I +ask." + +"You maybe sure, Mr. Stratton, that anything I can do to help you I +shall be glad to do; and now let me give you a hint. If you want to see +Mrs. Brenton, the best thing is to get permission from her lawyers. If +I were you I would not see Benham--he's rather a hard nut, Benham is, +although you needn't tell him I said so. You get on the right side of +Brown. Brown has some political aspirations himself, and he does not +want to offend a man on so powerful a paper as the _Argus_, even if it +is not a Cincinnati paper. Now, if you make him the same offer you have +made to me, I think it will be all right. If he sees your copy before it +goes into print, and if you keep your word with him that nothing will +appear that he does _not_ see, I think you will succeed in getting an +interview with Mrs. Brenton. If you bring me a note from Brown, I shall +be very glad to allow you to see her." + +Stratton thanked the sheriff for his hint. He took down in his note-book +the address of the lawyers, and the name especially of Mr. Brown. The +two men shook hands, and Stratton felt that they understood each other. + +When Mr. Stratton was ushered into the private office of Brown, and +handed that gentleman his card, he noticed the lawyer perceptibly freeze +over. + +"Ahem," said the legal gentleman; "you will excuse me if I say that my +time is rather precious. Did you wish to see me professionally?" + +"Yes," replied Stratton, "that is, from a newspaper standpoint of the +profession." + +"Ah," said the other, "in reference to what?" + +"To the Brenton case." + +"Well, my dear sir, I have had, very reluctantly, to refuse information +that I would have been happy to give, if I could, to our own newspaper +men; and so I may say to you at once that I scarcely think it will +be possible for me to be of any service to an outside paper like the +_Argus_" + +"Local newspaper men," said Stratton, "represent local fame. That +you already possess. I represent national fame, which, if you will +excuse my saying so, you do not yet possess. The fact that I am in +Cincinnati to-day, instead of in Chicago, shows what we Chicago people +think of the Cincinnati case. I believe, and the _Argus_ believes, that +this case is going to be one of national importance. Now, let me ask you +one question. Will you state frankly what your objection is to having +a newspaper man, for instance, interview Mrs. Brenton, or get any +information relating to this case from her or others whom you have the +power of controlling?" + +"I shall answer that question," said Brown, "as frankly as you put +it. You are a man of the world, and know, of course, that we are all +selfish, and in business matters look entirely after our own interests. +My interest in this case is to defend my client. Your interest in +this case is to make a sensational article. You want to get facts if +possible, but, in any event, you want to write up a readable column or +two for your paper. Now, if I allowed you to see Mrs. Brenton, she might +say something to you, and you might publish it, that would not only +endanger her chances, but would seriously embarrass us, as her lawyers, +in our defence of the case." + +"You have stated the objection very plainly and forcibly," said +Stratton, with a look of admiration, as if the powerful arguments of +the lawyer had had a great effect on him. "Now, if I understand your +argument, it simply amounts to this, that you would have no objection to +my interviewing Mrs. Brenton if you have the privilege of editing the +copy. In other words, if nothing were printed but what you approve +of, you would not have the slightest hesitancy about allowing me that +interview." + +"No, I don't know that I would," admitted the lawyer. + +"Very well, then. Here is my proposition to you: I am here to look after +the interests of our paper in this particular case. The _Argus_ is +probably going to be the first paper outside of Cincinnati that will +devote a large amount of space to the Brenton trial, in addition to what +is received from the Associated Press dispatches. Now you can give me a +great many facilities in this matter if you care to do so, and in return +I am perfectly willing to submit to you every line of copy that concerns +you or your client before it is sent, and I give you my word of honour +that nothing shall appear but what you have seen and approved of. If +you want to cut out something that I think is vitally important, then I +shall tell you frankly that I intend to print it, but will modify it as +much as I possibly can to suit your views." + +"I see," said the lawyer. "In other words, as you have just remarked, +I am to give you special facilities in this matter, and then, when you +find out some fact which I wish kept secret, and which you have obtained +because of the facilities I have given to you, you will quite frankly +tell me that it must go in, and then, of course, I shall be helpless +except to debar you from any further facilities, as you call them. No, +sir, I do not care to make any such bargain." + +"Well, suppose I strike out that clause of agreement, and, say to you +that I will send nothing but what you approve of, would you then write +me a note to the sheriff and allow me to see the prisoner?" + +"I am sorry to say"--the lawyer hesitated for a moment, and glanced at +the card, then added--"Mr. Stratton, that I do not see my way clear to +granting your request." + +"I think," said Stratton, rising, "that you are doing yourself an +injustice. You are refusing--I may as well tell you first as last--what +is a great privilege. Now, you have had some experience in your +business, and I have had some experience in mine, and I beg to inform +you that men who are much more prominent in the history of their country +than any one I can at present think of in Cincinnati, have tried to balk +me in the pursuit of my business, and have failed." + +"In that matter, of course," said Brown, "I must take my chances. I +don't see the use of prolonging this interview. As you have been so +frank as to--I won't say threaten, perhaps warn is the better word--as +you have been so good as to warn me, I may, before we part, just give +_you_ a word of caution. Of course we, in Cincinnati, are perfectly +willing to admit that Chicago people are the smartest on earth, but I +may say that if you print a word in your paper which is untrue and which +is damaging to our side of the case, or if you use any methods that +are unlawful in obtaining the information you so much desire, you will +certainly get your paper into trouble, and you will run some little +personal risk yourself." + +"Well, as you remarked a moment ago, Mr. Brown, I shall have to take the +chances of that. I am here to get the news, and if I don't succeed it +will be the first time in my life." + +"Very well, sir," said the lawyer. "I wish you good evening." + +"Just one thing more," said the newspaper man, "before I leave you." + +"My dear sir," said the lawyer, impatiently, "I am very busy. I've +already given you a liberal share of my time. I must request that this +interview end at once." + +"I thought," said Mr. Stratton, calmly, "that perhaps you might be +interested in the first article that I am going to write. I shall devote +one column in the _Argus_ of the day after to-morrow to your defence of +the case, and whether your theory of defence is a tenable one or not." + +Mr. Brown pushed back his chair and looked earnestly at the young man. +That individual was imperturbably pulling on his gloves, and at the +moment was buttoning one of them. + +"Our _defence_!" cried the lawyer. "What do you know of our defence?" + +"My dear sir," said Stratton, "I know _all_ about it." + +"Sir, that is impossible. Nobody knows what our defence is to be except +Mr. Benham and myself." + +"And Mr. Stratton, of the Chicago _Argus_," replied the young man, as he +buttoned his coat. + +"May I ask, then, what the defence is?" + +"Certainly," answered the Chicago man. "Your defence is that Mr. Brenton +was insane, and that he committed suicide." + +Even Mr. Brown's habitual self-control, acquired by long years of +training in keeping his feelings out of sight, for the moment deserted +him. He drew his breath sharply, and cast a piercing glance at the young +man before him, who was critically watching the lawyer's countenance, +although he appeared to be entirely absorbed in buttoning his overcoat. +Then Mr. Brown gave a short, dry laugh. + +"I have met a bluff before," he said carelessly; "but I should like to +know what makes you think that such is our defence?" + +"_Think_!" cried the young man. "I don't think at all; I _know_ it." + +"How do you know it?" + +"Well, for one thing, I know it by your own actions a moment ago. What +first gave me an inkling of your defence was that book which is on +your table. It is Forbes Winslow on the mind and the brain; a very +interesting book, Mr. Brown, _very_ interesting indeed. It treats of +suicide, and the causes and conditions of the brain that will lead up +to it. It is a very good book, indeed, to study in such a case. Good +evening, Mr. Brown. I am sorry that we cannot co-operate in this +matter." + +Stratton turned and walked toward the door, while the lawyer gazed after +him with a look of helpless astonishment on his face. As Stratton placed +his hand on the door knob, the lawyer seemed to wake up as from a dream. + +"Stop!" he cried; "I will give you a letter that will admit you to Mrs. +Brenton." + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +"There!" said Speed to Brenton, triumphantly, "what do you think of +_that_? Didn't I say George Stratton was the brightest newspaper man in +Chicago? I tell you, his getting that letter from old Brown was one of +the cleverest bits of diplomacy I ever saw. There you had quickness of +perception, and nerve. All the time he was talking to old Brown he was +just taking that man's measure. See how coolly he acted while he was +drawing on his gloves and buttoning his coat as if ready to leave. Flung +that at Brown all of a sudden as quiet as if he was saying nothing at +all unusual, and all the time watching Brown out of the tail of his eye. +Well, sir, I must admit, that although I have known George Stratton for +years, I thought he was dished by that Cincinnati lawyer. I thought that +George was just gracefully covering up his defeat, and there he upset +old Brown's apple-cart in the twinkling of an eye. Now, you see the +effect of all this. Brown has practically admitted to him what the line +of defence is. Stratton won't publish it, of course; he has promised not +to, but you see he can hold that over Brown's head, and get everything +he wants unless they change their defence." + +"Yes," remarked Brenton, slowly, "he seems to be a very sharp newspaper +man indeed; but I don't like the idea of his going to interview my +wife." + +"Why, what is there wrong about that?" + +"Well, there is this wrong about it--that she in her depression may say +something that will tell against her." + +"Even if she does, what of it? Isn't the lawyer going to see the letter +before it is sent to the paper?" + +"I am not so sure about that. Do you think Stratton will show the +article to Brown if he gets what you call a scoop or a beat?" + +"Why, of course he will," answered Speed, indignantly; "hasn't he given +him his word that he will?" + +"Yes, I know he has," said Brenton, dubiously; "but he is a newspaper +man." + +"Certainly he is," answered Speed, with strong emphasis; "that is the +reason he will keep his word." + +"I hope so, I hope so; but I must admit that the more I know you +newspaper men, the more I see the great temptation you are under to +preserve if possible the sensational features of an article." + +"I'll bet you a drink--no, we can't do that," corrected Speed; "but you +shall see that, if Brown acts square with Stratton, he will keep his +word to the very letter with Brown. There is no use in our talking about +the matter here. Let us follow Stratton, and see what comes of the +interview." + +"I think I prefer to go alone," said Brenton, coldly. + +"Oh, as you like, as you like," answered the other, shortly. "I thought +you wanted my help in this affair; but if you don't, I am sure I shan't +intrude." + +"That's all right," said Brenton; "come along. By the way, Speed, what +do you think of that line of defence?" + +"Well, I don't know enough of the circumstances of the case to know what +to think of it. It seems to me rather a good line." + +"It can't be a good line when it is not true. It is certain to break +down." + +"That's so," said Speed; "but I'll bet you four dollars and a half that +they'll prove you a raving maniac before they are through with you. +They'll show very likely that you tried to poison yourself two or three +times; bring on a dozen of your friends to prove that they knew all your +life you were insane." + +"Do you think they will?" asked Brenton, uneasily. + +"Think it? Why, I am sure of it. You'll go down to posterity as one of +the most complete lunatics that ever, lived in Cincinnati. Oh, there +won't be anything left of you when _they_ get through with you." + +Meanwhile, Stratton was making his way to the residence of the sheriff. + +"Ah," said that official, when they met, "you got your letter, did you? +Well, I thought you would." + +"If you had heard the conversation between my estimable friend Mr. Brown +and myself, up to the very last moment, you wouldn't have thought it." + +"Well, Brown is generally very courteous towards newspaper men, and +that's one reason you see his name in the papers a great deal." + +"If I were a Cincinnati newspaper man, I can assure you that his name +wouldn't appear very much in the columns of my paper." + +"I am sorry to hear you say that. I thought Brown was very popular with +the newspaper men. You got the letter, though, did you?" + +"Yes; I got it. Here it is. Read it." + +The sheriff scanned the brief note over, and put it in his pocket. + +"Just take a chair for a moment, will you, and I will see if Mrs. +Brenton is ready to receive you." + +[Illustration: _Jane_.] + +Stratton seated himself, and, pulling a paper from his pocket, was +busily reading when the sheriff again entered. + +"I am sorry to say," he began, "after you have had all this trouble, +that Mrs. Brenton positively refuses to see you. You know I cannot +_compel_ a prisoner to meet any one. You understand that, of course." + +"Perfectly," said Stratton, thinking for a moment. "See here, sheriff, +I have simply _got_ to have a talk with that woman. Now, can't you tell +her I knew her husband, or something of that sort? I'll make it all +right when I see her." + + * * * * * + +"The scoundrel!" said Brenton to Speed, as Stratton made this remark. + +"My dear sir," said Speed, "don't you see he is just the man we want? +This is not the time to be particular." + +"Yes, but think of the treachery and meanness of telling a poor +unfortunate woman that he was acquainted with her husband, who is only a +few days dead.". + +"Now, see here," said Speed, "if you are going to look on matters in +this way you will be a hindrance and not a help in the affair. Don't you +appreciate the situation? Why, Mrs. Brenton's own lawyers, as you have +said, think her guilty. What, then, can they learn by talking with her, +or what good can they do her with their minds already prejudiced against +her? Don't you see that?" + +Brenton made no answer to this, but it was evident he was very ill at +ease. + + * * * * * + +"Did you know her husband?" asked the sheriff. + +"No, to tell you the truth, I never heard of him before. But I must see +this lady, both for my good and hers, and I am not going to let a little +thing like that stand between us. Won't you tell her that I have come +with a letter from her own lawyers? Just show her the letter, and say +that I will take up but very little of her time. I am sorry to ask this +much of you, but you see how I am placed." + +"Oh, that's all right," said the sheriff, good-naturedly; "I shall be +very glad to do what you wish," and with that he once more disappeared. + +The sheriff stayed away longer this time, and Stratton paced the room +impatiently. Finally, the official returned, and said-- + +"Mrs. Brenton has consented to see you. Come this way, please. You +will excuse me, I know," continued the sheriff, as they walked along +together, "but it is part of my duty to remain in the room, while you +are talking with Mrs. Brenton." + +"Certainly, certainly," said Stratton; "I under- stand that." + +"Very well; then, if I may make a suggestion, I would say this: you +should be prepared to ask just what you want to know, and do it all as +speedily as possible, for really Mrs. Brenton is in; a condition of +nervous exhaustion that renders it almost cruel to put her through any +rigid cross-examination." + +"I understand that also," said Stratton; "but you must remember +that she has a very much harder trial to undergo in the future. I am +exceedingly anxious to get at the truth of this thing, and so, if it +seems to you that I am asking a lot of very unnecessary questions, I +hope you will not interfere with me as long as Mrs. Brenton consents to +answer." + +"I shall not interfere at all," said the sheriff; "I only wanted to +caution you, for the lady may break down at any moment; If you can +marshal your questions so that the most important ones come first, I +think it will be wise. I presume you have them pretty well arranged in +your own mind?" + +"Well, I can't say that I have; you see, I am entirely in the dark. I +got no help whatever from the lawyers, and from what I know of their +defence I am thoroughly convinced that they are on the wrong track." + +"What! did Brown say anything about the defence? That is not like his +usual caution." + +"He didn't intend to," answered Stratton; "but I found out all I wanted +to know, nevertheless. You see, I shall have to ask what appears to be a +lot of rambling, inconsequential questions because you can never tell in +a case like this when you may get the key to the whole mystery." + +"Well, here we are," said the sheriff, as he knocked at a door, and then +pushed it open. + +From the moment George Stratton saw Mrs. Brenton his interest in the +case ceased to be purely journalistic. + +Mrs. Brenton was standing near the window, and she appeared to be very +calm and collected, but her fingers twitched nervously, clasping and +unclasping each other. Her modest dress of black was certainly a very +becoming one. + +George thought he had never seen a woman so beautiful. + +As she was standing up, she evidently intended the interview to be a +short one. + +"Madam," said Stratton, "I am very sorry indeed to trouble you; but I +have taken a great interest in the solution of this mystery, and I have +your lawyers' permission to visit you. I assure you, anything you say +will be submitted to them, so that there will be no danger of your case +being prejudiced by any statements made." + +"I am not afraid;" said Mrs. Brenton, "that the truth will injure or +prejudice my case." + +"I am sure of that," answered the newspaper man; and then, knowing that +she would not sit down if he asked her to, he continued diplomatically, +"Madam, will you permit me to sit down? I wish to write out my notes as +carefully as possible. Accuracy is my strong point." + +"Certainly," said Mrs. Brenton; and, seeing that it was not probable the +interview would be a short one, she seated herself by the window, while +the sheriff took a chair in the corner, and drew a newspaper from his +pocket. + +"Now, madam," said the special, "a great number of the questions I ask +you may seem trivial, but as I said to the sheriff a moment ago, some +word of yours that appears to you entirely unconnected with the case may +give me a clue which will be exceedingly valuable. You will, therefore, +I am sure, pardon me if some of the questions, I ask you appear +irrelevant." + +Mrs. Brenton bowed her head, but said nothing. + +"Were your husband's business affairs in good condition at the time of +his death?" + +"As far as I know they were." + +"Did you ever see anything in your husband's actions that would lead you +to think him a man who might have contemplated suicide?" + +Mrs. Brenton looked up with wide-open eyes. + +"Certainly not," she said. + +"Had he ever spoken to you on the subject of suicide?" + +"I do not remember that he ever did." + +"Was he ever queer in his actions? In short, did you ever notice +anything about him that would lead you to doubt his sanity? I am sorry +if questions I ask you seem painful, but I have reasons for wishing to +be certain on this point." + +"No," said Mrs. Brenton; "he was perfectly sane. No man could have been +more so. I am certain that he never thought of committing suicide." + +"Why are you so certain on that point?" + +"I do not know why. I only know I am positive of it." + +"Do you know if he had any enemy who might wish his death?" + +"I doubt if he had an enemy in the world. I do not know of any." + +"Have you ever heard him speak of anybody in a spirit of enmity?" + +"Never. He was not a man who bore enmity against people. Persons whom he +did not like he avoided." + +"The poison, it is said, was put into his cup of coffee. Do you happen +to know," said Stratton, turning to the sheriff, "how they came to that +conclusion?" + +"No, I do not," answered the sheriff. "In fact, I don't see any reason +why they should think so." + +"Was morphia found in the coffee cup afterwards?" + +"No; at the time of the inquest all the things had been cleared away. I +think it was merely presumed that the morphine was put into his coffee." + +"Who poured out the coffee he drank that night?" + +"I did," answered his wife. "You were at one end of the table and he at +the other, I suppose?" + +"Yes." + +"How did the coffee cup reach him?" + +"I gave it to the servant, and she placed it before him." + +"It passed through no other hands, then?" + +"No." + +"Who was the servant?" + +Mrs. Brenton pondered for a moment. + +"I really know very little about her. She had been in our house for a +couple of weeks only." + +"What was her name?" + +"Jane Morton, I think." + +"Where is she now, do you know?" + +"I do not know." + +"She appeared at the inquest, of course?" said Stratton, turning to the +sheriff. + +"I think she did," was the answer. "I am not sure." + +He marked her name down in the note-book. + +"How many people were there at the dinner?" + +"Including my husband and myself, there were twenty-six." + +"Could you give me the name of each of them?" + +"Yes, I think so." + +She repeated the names, which he took down, with certain notes and +comments on each. + +"Who sat next your husband at the head of the table?" + +"Miss Walker was at his right hand, Mr. Roland at his left." + +"Now, forgive me if I ask you if you have ever had any trouble with your +husband?" + +"Never." + +"Never had any quarrel?" + +Mrs. Brenton hesitated for a moment. + +"No, I don't think we ever had what could be called a quarrel." + +"You had no disagreement shortly before the dinner?" + +Again Mrs. Brenton hesitated. + +"I can hardly call it a disagreement," she said. "We had a little +discussion about some of the guests who were to be invited." + +"Did he object to any that were there?" + +"There was a gentleman there whom he did not particularly like, I think, +but he made no objection to his coming; in fact, he seemed to feel that +I might imagine he had an objection from a little discussion we had +about inviting him; and afterwards, as if to make up for that, he placed +this guest at his left hand." + +Stratton quickly glanced up the page of his notebook, and marked a +little cross before the name of Stephen Roland. + +"You had another disagreement with him before, if I might term it so, +had you not?" + +Mrs. Brenton looked at him surprised. + +"What makes you think so?" she said. + +"Because you hesitated when I spoke of it." + +"Well, we had what you might call a disagreement once at Lucerne, +Switzerland." + +"Will you tell me what it was about?" + +"I would rather not." + +"Will you tell me this--was it about a gentleman?" + +"Yes," said Mrs. Brenton. + +"Was your husband of a jealous disposition?" + +"Ordinarily I do not think he was. It seemed to me at the time that he +was a little unjust--that's all." + +"Was the gentleman in Lucerne?" + +"Oh no!" + +"In Cincinnati?" + +"Yes." + +"Was his name Stephen Roland?" + +Mrs. Brenton again glanced quickly at the newspaper man, and seemed +about to say something, but, checking herself, she simply answered-- + +"Yes." + +Then she leaned back in the armchair and sighed. + +"I am very tired," she said. "If it is not absolutely necessary, I +prefer not to continue this conversation." + +Stratton immediately rose. + +"Madam," he said, "I am very much obliged to you for the trouble you +have taken to answer my questions, which I am afraid must have seemed +impertinent to you, but I assure you that I did not intend them to be +so. Now, madam, I would like very much to get a promise from you. I wish +that you would promise to see me if I call again, and I, on my part, +assure you that unless I have something particularly important to tell +you, or to ask, I shall not intrude upon you." + +"I shall be pleased to see you at any time, sir." + +When the sheriff and the newspaper man reached the other room, the +former said-- + +"Well, what do you think?" + +"I think it is an interesting case," was the answer. + +"Or, to put it in other words, you think Mrs. Brenton a very interesting +lady." + +"Officially, sir, you have exactly stated my opinion." + +"And I suppose, poor woman, she will furnish an interesting article for +the paper?" + +"Hang the paper!" said Stratton, with more than his usual vim. + +The sheriff laughed. Then he said-- + +"I confess that to me it seems a very perplexing affair all through. +Have you got any light on the subject?" + +"My dear sir, I will tell you three important things. First, Mrs. +Brenton is innocent. Second, her lawyers are taking the wrong line of +defence. Third," tapping his breast-pocket, "I have the name of the +murderer in my note-book." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +"Now," said John Speed to William Brenton, "we have got Stratton fairly +started on the track, and I believe that he will ferret out the truth +in this matter. But, meanwhile, we must not be idle. You must remember +that, with all our facilities for discovery, we really know nothing +of the murderer ourselves. I propose we set about this thing just as +systematically as Stratton will. The chances are that we shall penetrate +the mystery of the whole affair very much quicker than he. As I told +you before, I am something of a newspaper man myself; and if, with the +facilities of getting into any room in any house, in any city and in any +country, and being with a suspected criminal night and day when he never +imagines any one is near him--if with all those advantages I cannot +discover the real author of that crime before George Stratton does, then +I'll never admit that I came from Chicago, or belonged to a newspaper." + +"Whom do you think Stratton suspects of the crime? He told the sheriff," +said Brenton, "that he had the name in his pocket-book." + +"I don't know," said Speed, "but I have my suspicions. You see, he has +the names of all the guests at your banquet in that pocket-book of his; +but the name of Stephen Roland he has marked with two crosses. The name +of the servant he has marked with one cross. Now, I suspect that he +believes Stephen Roland committed the crime. You know Roland; what do +you think of him?" + +"I think he is quite capable of it," answered Brenton, with a frown. + +"Still, you are prejudiced against the man," put in Speed, "so your +evidence is hardly impartial." + +"I am not prejudiced against any one," answered Brenton; "I merely know +that man. He is a thoroughly despicable, cowardly character. The only +thing that makes me think he would not commit a murder, is that he is +too craven to stand the consequences if he were caught. He is a cool +villain, but he is a coward. I do not believe he has the courage to +commit a crime, even if he thought he would benefit by it." + +"Well, there is one thing, Brenton, you can't be accused of flattering +a man, and if it is any consolation for you to know, you may be pretty +certain that George Stratton is on his track." + +"I am sure I wish him success," answered Brenton, gloomily; "if he +brings Roland to the gallows I shall not mourn over it." + +"That's all right," said Speed; "but now we must be up and doing +ourselves. Have you anything to propose?" + +"No, I have not, except that we might play the detective on Roland." + +"Well, the trouble with that is we would merely be duplicating what +Stratton is doing himself. Now, I'll tell you my proposal. Supposing +that we consult with Lecocq." + +"Who is that? The novelist?" + +"Novelist? I don't think he has ever written any novels--not that I +remember of." + +"Ah, I didn't know. It seemed to me that I remembered his name in +connection with some novel." + +"Oh, very likely you did. He is the hero of more detective stories than +any other man I know of. He was the great French detective." + +"What, is he dead, then?" + +"Dead? Not a bit of it; he's here with us. Oh, I understand what you +mean. Yes, from your point of view, he is dead." + +"Where can we find him?" + +"Well, I presume, in Paris. He's a first-rate fellow to know, anyhow, +and he spends most of his time around his old haunts. In fact, if you +want to be certain to find Lecocq, you will generally get him during +office hours in the room he used to frequent while in Paris." + +"Let us go and see him, then." + + * * * * * + +"Monsieur Lecocq," said Speed, a moment afterwards, "I wish to introduce +to you a new-comer, Mr. Brenton, recently of Cincinnati." + +"Ah, my dear Speed," said the Frenchman, "I am very pleased indeed to +meet any friend of yours. How is the great Chicago, the second Paris, +and how is your circulation?--the greatest in the world, I suppose." + +"Well, it is in pretty good order," said Speed; "we circulated from +Chicago to Paris here in a very much shorter time than the journey +usually occupies down below. Now, can you give us a little of your time? +Are you busy just now?" + +"My dear Speed, I am always busy. I am like the people of the second +Paris. I lose no time, but I have always time to speak with my friends." + +"All right," said Speed. "I am like the people of the second Chicago, +generally more intent on pleasure than business; but, nevertheless, I +have, a piece of business for you." + +"The second Chicago?" asked Lecocq. "And where is that, pray?" + +"Why, Paris, of course," said Speed. + +Lecocq laughed. + +"You are incorrigible, you Chicagoans. And what is the piece of +business?" + +"It is the old thing, monsieur. A mystery to be unravelled. Mr. Brenton +here wishes to retain you in his case." + +"And what is his case?" was the answer. + +Lecocq was evidently pleased to have a bit of real work given him. + +[Illustration: _The detective_] Speed briefly recited the facts, Brenton +correcting him now and then on little points where he was wrong. Speed +seemed to think these points immaterial, but Lecocq said that attention +to trivialities was the whole secret of the detective business. + +"Ah," said Lecocq, sorrowfully, "there is no real trouble in elucidating +that mystery. I hoped it would be something difficult; but, you see, +with my experience of the old world, and with the privileges one enjoys +in this world, things which might be difficult to one below are very +easy for us. Now, I shall show you how simple it is." + +"Good gracious!" cried Speed, "you don't mean to say you are going to +read it right off the reel, like that, when we have been bothering +ourselves with it so long, and without success?" + +"At the moment," replied the French detective, "I am not prepared to say +who committed the deed. That is a matter of detail. Now, let us see what +we know, and arrive, from that, at what we do not know. The one fact, of +which we are assured on the statement of two physicians from Cincinnati, +is that Mr. Brenton was poisoned." + +"Well," said Speed, "there are several other facts, too. Another fact is +that Mrs. Brenton is accused of the crime." + +"Ah! my dear sir," said Lecocq, "that is not pertinent." + +"No," said Speed, "I agree with you. I call it very impertinent." + +Brenton frowned, at this, and his old dislike to the flippant Chicago +man rose to the surface again. The Frenchman continued marking the +points on his long forefinger." + +"Now, there are two ways by which that result may have been attained. +First, Mr. Brenton may have administered to himself the poison; +secondly, the poison may have been administered by some one else." + +"Yes," said Speed; "and, thirdly, the poison may have been administered +accidentally--you do not seem to take that into account." + +"I do not take that into account," calmly replied the Frenchman, +"because of its improbability. If there were an accident; if, for +instance, the poison was in the sugar, or in some of the viands served, +then others than Mr. Brenton would have been poisoned. The fact that one +man out of twenty-six was poisoned, and the fact that several people are +to benefit by his death, point, it seems to me, to murder; but to be +sure of that, I will ask Mr. Brenton one question. My dear sir, did you +administer this poison to yourself?" + +"Certainly not," answered Brenton. + +"Then we have two facts. First, Mr. Brenton was poisoned; secondly, he +was poisoned by some person who had an interest in his death. Now we +will proceed. When Mr. Brenton sat down to that dinner he was perfectly +well. When he arose from that dinner he was feeling ill. He goes to bed. +He sees no one but his wife after he has left the dinner-table, and he +takes nothing between the time he leaves the dinner-table and the moment +he become unconscious. Now, that poison must have been administered to +Mr. Brenton at the dinner-table. Am I not right?" + +"Well, you seem to be," answered Speed. + +"Seem? Why, it is as plain as day. There cannot be any mistake." + +"All right," said Speed; "go ahead. What next?" + +"What next? There were twenty-six people around that table, with two +servants to wait on them, making twenty-eight in all. There were +twenty-six, I think you said, including Mr. Brenton." + +"That is correct." + +"Very-well. One of those twenty-seven persons has poisoned Mr. Brenton. +Do you follow me?" + +"We do," answered Speed; "we follow you as closely as you have ever +followed a criminal! Go on." + +"Very well, so much is clear. These are all facts, not theories. Now, +what is the thing that I should do if I were in Cincinnati? I would find +out whether one or more of those guests had anything to gain by the +death of their host. That done, I would follow the suspected persons. I +would have my men find out what each of them had done for a month before +the time of the crime. Whoever committed it made some preparation. He +did something, too, as you say, in America, to cover up his tracks. Very +well. By the keen detective these actions are easily traced. I shall at +once place twenty-seven of the best men I know on the track of those +twenty-seven persons." + +"I call that shadowing with a vengeance," remarked the Chicago man. + +"It will be very easy. The one who has committed the crime is pertain, +when he is alone in his own room, to say something, or to do something, +that will show my detective that he is the criminal. So, gentlemen, if +you can tell me who those twenty-seven persons are, in three days or a +week from this time I will tell you who gave the poison to Mr. Brenton." + +"You seem very sure of that," said Speed. + +"Sure of it? It is simply child's play. It is mere waiting. If, for +instance, at the trial Mrs. Brenton is found guilty, and sentenced, the +one who is the guilty party is certain to betray himself or herself +as soon as he or she is alone. If it be a man who hopes to marry Mrs. +Brenton, he will be overcome with grief at what has happened. He will +wring his hands and try to think what can be done to prevent the +sentence being carried out. He will argue with himself whether it is +better to give himself up and tell the truth, and if he is a coward he +will conclude not to do that, but will try to get a pardon, or at least +have the capital sentence commuted into life imprisonment. He will +possibly be cool and calm in public, but when he enters his own room, +when his door is locked, when he believes no one can see him, when he +thinks he is alone, then will come his trial. Then his passions and +his emotions will betray him. It is mere child's play, as I tell you, +and-long before there is a verdict I will give you the name of the +murderer." + +"Very well, then," said Speed, "that is agreed; we will look you up in a +week from now." + +"I should be pained," said Lecocq, "to put you to that trouble. As soon +as I get the report from my men I will communicate with you and let +you know the result. In a few days I shall give you the name of the +assassin." + +"Good-bye, then, until I see you again," answered Speed; and with this +he and Brenton took their departure. + +"He seems to be very sure of himself," said Brenton. + +[Illustration: _Jane Morton_.] + +"He will do what he says, you may depend on that." + +The week was not yet up when Monsieur Lecocq met John Speed in Chicago. +"By the look of satisfaction on your face," said Mr. Speed, "I imagine +you have succeeded in unravelling the mystery." + +"Ah," replied the Frenchman; "if I have the appearance of satisfaction, +it is indeed misplaced." + +"Then you have not made any discovery?" + +"On the contrary, it is all as plain as your big buildings here. It +is not for that reason, but because it is so simple that I should be +foolish to feel satisfaction regarding it." + +"Then who is the person?" + +"The assassin," replied the Frenchman, "is one whom no one has seemed to +think of, and yet one on whom suspicion should have been the first to +fall. The person who did Monsieur Brenton the honour to poison him is +none other than the servant girl, Jane Morton." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +"JANE MORTON!" cried Speed; "who is she?" + +"She is, as you may remember, the girl who carried the coffee from Mrs. +Brenton to monsieur." + +"And are you sure she is the criminal?" + +The great detective did not answer; he merely gave an expressive little +French gesture, as though the question was not worth commenting upon. + +"Why, what was her motive?" asked Speed. + +For the first time in their acquaintance a shade of perplexity seemed to +come over the enthusiastic face of the volatile Frenchman. + +"You are what you call smart, you Chicago people," he said, "and you +have in a moment struck the only point on which we are at a loss." + +"My dear sir," returned Speed, "that is _the_ point in the case. Motive +is the first thing to look for; it seems to me. You said as much +yourself. If you haven't succeeded in finding what motive Jane Morton +had for poisoning her employer, it appears to me that very little has +been accomplished." + +"Ah, you say that before you know the particulars. I am certain we shall +find the motive. What I know now is that Jane Morton is the one who put +the poison in his cup of coffee." + +"It would take a good deal of nerve to do that with twenty-six people +around the table. You forget, my dear sir, that she had to pass the +whole length of the table, after taking the cup, before giving it to Mr. +Brenton." + +"Half of the people had their backs to her, and the other half, I can +assure you, were not looking at her. If the poison was ready, it was a +very easy thing to slip it into a cup of coffee. There was ample time to +do it, and that is how it was done." + +"May I ask how you arrived at that conclusion?" + +"Certainly, certainly, my dear sir. My detectives report that each one +of the twenty-seven people they had to follow were shadowed night and +day. But only two of them acted suspiciously. These two were Jane Morton +and Stephen Roland. Stephen Roland's anxiety is accounted for by the +fact that he is evidently in love with Mrs. Brenton. But the change +in Jane Morton has been something terrible. She is suffering from the +severest pangs of ineffectual remorse. She has not gone out again to +service, but occupies a room in one of the poorer quarters of the +city--a room that she never leaves except at night. Her whole actions +show that she is afraid of the police--afraid of being tracked for her +crime. She buys a newspaper every night, locks and bars the door on +entering her room, and, with tears streaming from her eyes, reads every +word of the criminal news. One night, when she went out to buy her +paper, and what food she needed for the next day, she came unexpectedly +upon a policeman at the corner. The man was not looking at her at all, +nor for her, but she fled, running like a deer, doubling and turning +through alleys and back streets until by a very roundabout road she +reached her own room. There she locked herself in, and remained +without food all next day rather than go out again. She flung herself. +terror-stricken on the bed, after her room door was bolted, and cried, +'Oh, why did I do it? why did + +[Illustration: _"Oh, why did I do it?"_] + +I do it? I shall certainly be found out. If Mrs. Brenton is acquitted, +they will be after me next day. I did it to make up to John what he had +suffered, and yet if John knew it, he would never speak to me again.' + +"Who is John?" asked Speed. + +"Ah, that," said the detective, "I do not know. When we find out who +John is, then we shall find the motive for the crime." + +"In that case, if I were you, I should try to find John as quickly as +possible." + +"Yes, my dear sir, that is exactly what should be done, and my detective +is now endeavouring to discover the identity of John. He will possibly +succeed in a few days. But there is another way of finding out who John +is, and perhaps in that you can help me." + +"What other way?" + +"There is one man who undoubtedly knows who John is, and that is Mr. +Brenton. Now, I thought that perhaps you, who know Brenton better than I +do, would not mind asking him who John is." + +"My dear sir," said Speed, "Brenton is no particular friend of mine, +and I only know him well enough to feel that if there is any +cross-examination to be done, I should prefer somebody else to do it." + +"Why, you are not afraid of him, are you?" asked the detective. + +"Afraid of him? Certainly not, but I tell you that Brenton is just a +little touchy and apt to take offence. I have found him so on several +occasions. How, as you have practically taken charge of this case, why +don't you go and see him?" + +"I suppose I shall have to do that," said the Frenchman, "if you will +not undertake it." + +"No, I will not." + +"You have no objection, have you, to going with me?" + +"It is better for you to see Brenton alone. I do not think he would care +to be cross-examined before witnesses, you know." + +"Ah, then, good-bye; I shall find out from Mr. Brenton who John is." + +"I am sure I wish you luck," replied Speed, as Lecocq took his +departure. + +Lecocq found Brenton and Ferris together. The, cynical spirit seemed to +have been rather sceptical about the accounts given him of the influence +that Speed and Brenton, combined, had had upon the Chicago newspaper +man. Yet he was interested in the case, and although he still maintained +that no practical good would result, even if a channel of communication +could be opened between the two states of existence, he had listened +with his customary respect to what Brenton had to say. + +"Ah," said Brenton, when he saw the Frenchman, "have you any news for +me?" + +"Yes, I have. I have news that I will exchange, but meanwhile I want +some news from you." + +"I have none to give you," answered Brenton. + +"If you have not, will you undertake to answer any questions I shall ask +you, and not take offence if the questions seem to be personal ones?" + +"Certainly," said Brenton; "I shall be glad to answer anything as long +as it has a bearing on the case." + +"Very well, then, it has a very distinct bearing on the case. Do you +remember the girl Jane Morton?" + +"I remember her, of course, as one of the servants in our employ. I know +very little about her, though." + +"That is just what I wish to find out. Do you know _anything_ about her? + +"No; she had been in our employ but a fortnight, I think, or perhaps it +was a month. My wife attended to these details, of course. I knew the +girl was there, that is all." + +The Frenchman looked very dubious as Brenton said this, while the latter +rather bridled up. + +"You evidently do not believe me?" he cried. + +Once more the detective gave his customary gesture, and said-- + +"Ah, pardon me, you are entirely mistaken. I have this to acquaint you +with. Jane Morton is the one who murdered you. She did it, she says, +partly for the sake of John, whoever he is, and partly out of revenge. +Now, of course, you are the only man who can give me information as to +the motive. That girl certainly had a motive, and I should like to find +out what the motive was." + +Brenton meditated for a few moments, and then suddenly brightened up. + +"I remember, now, an incident which happened a week of two before +Christmas, which may have a bearing on the case. One night I heard--or +thought I heard--a movement downstairs, when I supposed everybody had +retired. I took a revolver in my hand, and went cautiously down the +stairs. Of course I had no light, because, if there was a burglar, I did +not wish to make myself too conspicuous a mark. As I went along the hall +leading to the kitchen, I saw there was a light inside; but as soon as +they heard me coming the light was put out. When I reached the kitchen, +I noticed a man trying to escape through the door that led to the +coalshed. I fired at him twice, and he sank to the floor with a groan. I +thought I had bagged a burglar sure, but it turned out to be nothing of +the kind. He was merely a young man who had been rather late visiting +one of the girls. I suspect now the girl he came to see was Jane +Morton. As it was, the noise brought the two girls there, and I never +investigated the matter or tried to find out which one it was that he +had been visiting. They were both terror-stricken, and the young man +himself was in a state of great fear. He thought for a moment that he +had been killed. However, he was only shot in the leg, and I sent him to +the house of a physician who keeps such patients as do not wish to go to +the hospital. I did not care to have him go to the hospital, because I +was afraid the newspapers would get hold of the incident, and make +a sensation of it. The whole thing was accidental; the young fellow +realized that, and so, I thought, did the girls; at least, I never +noticed anything in their behaviour to show the contrary." + +"What sort of a looking girl is Jane Morton?" asked Ferris. + +"She is a tall brunette, with snapping black eyes." + +"Ah, then, I remember her going into the room where you lay," said +Ferris, "on Christmas morning. It struck me when she came out that she +was very cool and self-possessed, and not at all surprised." + +"All I can say," said Brenton, "is that I never noticed anything in her +conduct like resentment at what had happened. I intended to give the +young fellow a handsome compensation for his injury, but of course what +occurred on Christmas Eve prevented that: I had really forgotten all +about the circumstance, or I should have told you of it before." + +"Then," said Lecocq, "the thing now is perfectly clear. That black-eyed +vixen murdered you out of revenge." + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +IT was evident to George Stratton that he would have no time before +the trial came off in which to prove Stephen Roland the guilty person. +Besides this, he was in a strange state of mind which he himself could +not understand. The moment he sat down to think out a plan by which +he could run down the man he was confident had committed the crime, a +strange wavering of mind came over him. Something seemed to say to him +that he was on the wrong track. This became so persistent that George +was bewildered, and seriously questioned his own sanity. Whenever he sat +alone in his own room, the doubts arose and a feeling that he was on the +wrong scent took possession of him. This feeling became so strong at +times that he looked up other clues, and at one time tried to find +out the whereabouts of the servant girls who had been employed by the +Brentons. Curiously enough, the moment he began this search, his mind +seemed to become clearer and easier; and when that happened, the old +belief in the guilt of Stephen Roland resumed its sway again. But the +instant he tried to follow up what clues he had in that direction, he +found himself baffled and assailed again by doubts, and so every effort +he put forth appeared to be nullified. This state of mind was so unusual +with him that he had serious thoughts of abandoning the whole case and +going back to Chicago. He said to himself, "I am in love with this woman +and I shall go crazy if I stay here any longer." Then he remembered the +trust she appeared to have in his powers of ferreting out the mystery of +the case, and this in turn encouraged him and urged him on. + +All trace of the girls appeared to be lost. He hesitated to employ a +Cincinnati detective, fearing that what he discovered would be given +away to the Cincinnati press. Then he accused himself of disloyalty to +Mrs. Brenton, in putting his newspaper duty before his duty to her. +He was so torn by his conflicting ideas and emotions that at last he +resolved to abandon the case altogether and return to Chicago. He packed +up his valise and resolved to leave that night for big city, trial or no +trial. He had described his symptoms to a prominent physician, and that +physician told him that the case was driving him mad, and the best thing +he could do was to leave at once for other scenes. He could do no good, +and would perhaps end by going insane himself. + +As George Stratton was packing his valise in his room, alone, as he +thought, the following conversation was taking place beside him. + +"It is no use," said Speed; "we are merely muddling him, and not doing +any good. The only thing is to leave him alone. If he investigates the +Roland part of the case he will soon find out for himself that he is on +the wrong track; then he will take the right one." + +"Yes," said Brenton; "but the case comes on in a few days. If anything +is to be done, it must be done now." + +"In that I do not agree with you," said Speed. "Perhaps everything will +go all right at the trial, but even if it does not, there is still +a certain amount of time. You see how we have spoiled things by +interfering. Our first success with him has misled us. We thought we +could do anything; we have really done worse than nothing, because all +this valuable time has been lost. If he had been allowed to proceed in +his own way he would have ferreted, out the matter as far as Stephen +Roland is concerned, and would have found that there was no cause for +his suspicion. As it is he has done nothing. He still believes, if left +alone, that Stephen Roland is the criminal. All our efforts to lead him +to the residence of Jane Morton have been unavailing. Now, you see, he +is on the eve of going back to Chicago." + +"Well, then, let him go," said Brenton, despondently. + +"With all my heart, say I," answered Speed; "but in any case let us +leave him alone." + +Before the train started that night Stratton said to himself that he was +a new man. Richard was himself again. He was thoroughly convinced of the +guilt of Stephen Roland, and wondered why he had allowed his mind to +wander off the topic and waste time with other suspicions, for which +he now saw there was no real excuse. He had not the time, he felt, to +investigate the subject personally, but he flattered himself he knew, +exactly the man to put on Roland's track, and, instead of going himself +to Chicago, he sent off the following despatch:-- + +"Meet me to-morrow morning, without fail, at the Gibson House. Answer." + +Before midnight he had his answer, and next morning he met a man in whom +he had the most implicit confidence, and who had, as he said, the rare +and valuable gift of keeping his mouth shut. + +"You see this portrait?" Stratton said, handing to the other a +photograph of Stephen Roland. "Now, I do not know how many hundred +chemist shops there are in Cincinnati, but I want you to get a list of +them, and you must not omit the most obscure shop in town. I want you to +visit every drug store there is in the city, show this photograph to the +proprietor and the clerks, and find out if that man bought any chemicals +during the week or two preceding Christmas. Find out what drags he +bought, and where he bought them, then bring the information to me." +"How much time do you give me on this, Mr. Stratton?" was the question. + +"Whatever time you want. I wish the thing done thoroughly and +completely, and, as you know, silence is golden in a case like this." + +[Illustration: "_How much time do you give me?"_] + +"Enough said," replied the other, and, buttoning the photograph in his +inside pocket, he left the room. + + * * * * * + +There is no necessity of giving an elaborate report of the trial. Any +one who has curiosity in the matter can find the full particulars from +the files of any paper in the country. Mrs. Brenton was very pale as she +sat in the prisoner's dock, but George Stratton thought he never saw any +one look so beautiful. It seemed to him that any man in that crowded +courtroom could tell in a moment that she was not guilty of the crime +with which she was charged, and he looked at the jury of twelve +supposedly good men, and wondered what they thought of it. + +[Illustration: _In the prisoner's dock_.] + +The defence claimed that it was not their place to show who committed +the murder. That rested with the prosecution. The prosecution, Mr. +Benham maintained, had signally failed to do this. However, in order to +aid the prosecution, he was quite willing to show how Mr. Brenton came +to his death. Then witnesses were called, who, to the astonishment of +Mrs. Brenton, testified that her husband had all along had a tendency to +insanity. It was proved conclusively that some of his ancestors had died +in a lunatic asylum, and one was stated to have committed suicide. The +defence produced certain books from Mr. Brenton's library, among them +Forbes Winslow's volume on "The Mind and the Brain," to show that +Brenton had studied the subject of suicide. + +The judge's charge was very colourless. It amounted simply to this: +If the jury thought the prosecution had shown Mrs. Brenton to have +committed the crime, they were to bring in a verdict of guilty, and if +they thought otherwise they were to acquit her; and so the jury retired. + +As they left the court-room a certain gloom fell upon all those who were +friendly to the fair prisoner. + +Despite the great reputation of Benham and Brown, it was the thought +of every one present that they had made a very poor defence. The +prosecution, on the other hand, had been most ably conducted. It had +been shown that Mrs. Brenton was chiefly to profit by her husband's +death. The insurance fund alone would add seventy-five thousand dollars +to the money she would control. A number of little points that Stratton +had given no heed to had been magnified, and appeared then to have a +great bearing on the case. For the first time, Stratton admitted +to himself that the prosecution had made out a very strong case of +circumstantial evidence. The defence, too, had been so deplorably weak +that it added really to the strength of the prosecution. A great speech +had been expected of Benham, but he did not rise to the occasion, and, +as one who knew him said, Benham evidently believed his client guilty. + +As the jury retired, every one in the court-room felt that there was +little hope for the prisoner; and this feeling was intensified when, a +few moments after, the announcement was made in court, just as the +judge was preparing to leave the bench, that the jury had agreed on the +verdict. + +Stratton, in the stillness of the court-room, heard one lawyer whisper +to another, "She's doomed." + +There was intense silence as the jury slowly filed into their places, +and the foreman stood up. + +"Gentlemen of the jury," was the question, "have you agreed, upon a +verdict?" + +"We have," answered the foreman. + +"Do you find the prisoner guilty or not guilty?" + +"Not guilty," was the clear answer. + +At this there was first a moment of silence, and then a ripple of +applause, promptly checked. + +Mrs. Brenton was free. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +George Stratton sat in the court-room for a moment dazed, before he +thought of the principal figure in the trial; then he rose to go to her +side, but he found that Roland was there before him. He heard her say, +"Get me a carriage quickly, and take me away from here." + +So Stratton went back to his hotel to meet his Chicago detective. The +latter had nothing to report. He told him the number of drug stores he +had visited, but all without avail. No one had recognized the portrait. + +"All right," said Stratton; "then you will just have to go ahead until +you find somebody who does. It is, I believe, only a question of time +and perseverance." + +Next morning he arose late. He looked over the report of the trial in +the morning paper, and then, turning to the leader page, read with +rising indignation following editorial:-- + +"THE BRENTON CASE. + +"The decision of yesterday shows the glorious uncertainty that attends +the finding of the average American jury. If such verdicts are to be +rendered, we may as well blot out from the statute-book all punishment +for all crimes in which the evidence is largely circumstantial. If ever +a strong case was made out against a human being it was the case of the +prosecution in the recent trial. If ever there was a case in which the +defence was deplorably weak, although ably conducted, it was the case +that was concluded yesterday. Should we, then, be prepared to say that +circumstantial evidence will not be taken by an American jury as ground +for the conviction of a murderer? The chances are that, if we draw this +conclusion, we shall be entirely wrong. If a man stood in the dock, in +the place of the handsome young woman who occupied it yesterday, he +would to-day have been undoubtedly convicted of murder. The conclusion, +then, to be arrived at seems to be that, unless there is the direct +proof of murder against a pretty woman, if is absolutely impossible +to get the average jury of men to convict her. It would seem that the +sooner we get women on juries, especially where a woman is on trial, the +better it will be for the cause of justice." Then in other parts of the +paper there were little items similar to this-- + +"If Mrs. Brenton did not poison her husband, then who did?" + +That afternoon George Stratton paid a visit to Mrs. Brenton. He had +hoped she had not seen the paper in question, but he hoped in vain. He +found Mrs. Brenton far from elated with her acquittal. + +"I would give everything I possess," she said, "to bring the culprit to +justice." + +After a talk on that momentous question, and when George Stratton held +her hand and said good-bye, she asked him-- + +"When do you go to Chicago?" + +"Madam," he said, "I leave for Chicago the moment I find out who +poisoned William Brenton." + +She answered sadly-- + +"You may remain a long time in Cincinnati." + +"In some respects," said Stratton, "I like Cincinnati better than +Chicago." + +"You are the first Chicago man I ever heard say that," she replied. + +"Ah, that was because they did not know Cincinnati as I do." + +"I suppose you must have seen a great deal of the town, but I must +confess that from now on I should be very glad if I never saw Cincinnati +again. I would like to consult with you," she continued, "about the best +way of solving this mystery. I have been thinking of engaging some of +the best detectives I can get. I suppose New York would be the place." + +"No; Chicago," answered the young man. + +"Well, then, that is what I wanted to see you about. I would like to get +the very best detectives that can be had. Don't you think that, if they +were promised ample reward, and paid well during the time they were +working on the case, we might discover the key to this mystery?" + +"I do not think much of our detective system," answered Stratton, +"although I suppose there is something in it, and sometimes they manage +in spite of themselves to stumble on the solution of a crime. Still, I +shall be very glad indeed to give you what advice I can on the subject. +I may say I have constituted myself a special detective in this case, +and that I hope to have the honour of solving the problem." + +"You are very good, indeed," she answered, "and I must ask you to let me +bear the expense." + +"Oh, the paper will do that. I won't be out of pocket at all," said +Stratton. + +"Well, I hardly know how to put it; but, whether you are successful or +not, I feel very grateful to you, and I hope you will not be offended at +what I am going to say. Now, promise me that you won't!" + +"I shall not be offended," he answered. "It is a little difficult to +offend a Chicago newspaper man, you know." + +"Now, you mustn't say anything against the newspaper men, for, in spite +of the hard things that some of them have said about me, I like them." + +"Individually or collectively?" + +"I am afraid I must say individually. You said you wouldn't be offended, +so after your search is over you must let me--. The labourer is worthy +of his [Illustration: I feel very grateful to you."] hire, or I should +say, his reward--you know what I mean. I presume that a young man who +earns his living on the daily press is not necessarily wealthy." + +"Why, Mrs. Brenton, what strange ideas you have of the world! We +newspaper men work at the business merely because we like it. It isn't +at all for the money that's in it." + +"Then you are not offended at what I have said?" + +"Oh, not in the least. I may say, however, that I look for a higher +reward than money if I am successful in this search." + +"Yes, I am sure you do," answered the lady, innocently. "If you +succeed in this, you will be very famous." + +"Exactly; it's fame I'm after," said Stratton, shaking her hand once +more, and taking his leave. + +When he reached his hotel, he found the Chicago detective waiting for +him. + +"Well, old man," he said, "anything new?" + +"Yes, sir. Something very new." + +"What have you. found out?" + +"Everything.". + +"Very well, let me have it." + +"I found out that this man bought, on December 10th, thirty grains of +morphia. He had this morphia put up in five-grain capsules. He bought +this at the drug store on the corner of Blank Street and Nemo Avenue." + +"Good gracious!" answered Stratton. "Then to get morphia he must have +had a physician's certificate. Did you find who the physician was that +signed the certificate?" + +"My dear sir," said the Chicago man, "this person is himself a +physician, unless I am very much mistaken. I was told that this was the +portrait of Stephen Roland. Am I right?" + +"That is the name." + +"Well, then, he is a doctor himself. Not doing a very large practice, it +is true, but he is a physician. Did you not know that?" + +[Illustration: "_Here's the detailed report_."] + +"No," said Stratton; "how stupid I am! I never thought of asking the +man's occupation." + +"Very well, if that is what you wanted to know, here's the detailed +report of my investigation." + +When the man left, Stratton rubbed his, hands." + +"Now, Mr. Stephen Roland, I have you," he said. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +After receiving this information Stratton sat alone in his room and +thought deeply over his plans. He did not wish to make a false step, yet +there was hardly enough in the evidence he had secured to warrant his +giving Stephen Roland up to the police. Besides this, it would put the +suspected man at once on his guard, and there was no question but +that gentleman had taken every precaution to prevent discovery. After +deliberating for a long while, he thought that perhaps the best thing he +could do was to endeavour to take Roland by surprise. Meanwhile, before +the meditating man stood Brenton and Speed, and between them there was a +serious disagreement of opinion. + + * * * * * + +"I tell you what it is," said Speed, "there is no use in our interfering +with Stratton. He is on the wrong track, but, nevertheless, all the +influence we can use on him in his present frame of mind will merely do +what it did before--it will muddle the man up. Now, I propose that we +leave him severely alone. Let him find out his mistake. He will find it +out in some way or other, and then he will be in a condition of mind to +turn to the case of Jane Morton." + +"But don't you see," argued Brenton, "that all the time spent on his +present investigation is so much time lost? I will agree to leave him +alone, as you say, but let us get somebody else on the Morton case." + +"I don't want to do that," said Speed; "because George Stratton has +taken a great deal of interest in this search. He has done a great deal +now, and I think we should he grateful to him for it." + +"Grateful!" growled Brenton; "he has done it from the most purely +selfish motives that a man can act upon. He has done it entirely for his +paper--for newspaper fame. He has done it for money." + +"Now," said Speed, hotly, "you must not talk like that of Stratton to +me. I won't say what I think of that kind of language coming from you, +but you can see how seriously we interfered with his work before, and +how it nearly resulted in his departure for Chicago. I propose now that +we leave him alone." + +"Leave him alone, then, for any sake," replied Brenton; "I am sure I +build nothing on what he can do anyway." + +"All right, then," returned Speed, recovering his good nature. "Now, +although I am not willing to put any one else on the track of Miss Jane +Morton, yet I will tell you what I am willing to do. If you like, we +will go to her residence, and influence her to confess her crime. I +believe that can be done." + +"Very well; I want you to understand that I am perfectly reasonable +about the matter. All I want is not to lose any more time." + +"Time?" cried Speed; "why, we have got all the time there is. Mrs. +Brenton is acquitted. There is no more danger." + +"That is perfectly true, I admit; but still you can see the grief under +which she labours, because her name is not yet cleared from the odium +of the crime. You will excuse me, Speed, if I say that you seem to be +working more in the interests of Stratton's journalistic success than in +the interests of Mrs. Brenton's good name." + +"Well, we won't talk about that," said Speed; "Stratton is amply able to +take care of himself, as you will doubtless see. Now, what do you say, +to our trying whether or not we can influence Jane Morton to do what she +ought to do, and confess her crime?" + +"It is not a very promising task," replied Brenton; "it is hard to get a +person to say words that may lead to the gallows." + +"I'm not so sure about that," said Speed; "you know the trouble of mind +she is in. I think it more than probable that, after the terror of the +last few weeks, it will be a relief for her to give herself up." + +"Very well; let us go." + +The two men shortly afterwards found themselves in the scantily +furnished room occupied by Jane Morton. That poor woman was rocking +herself to and fro and moaning over her trouble. Then she suddenly +stopped rocking, and looked around the room with vague apprehension +in her eyes. She rose and examined the bolts of the door, and, seeing +everything was secure, sat down again. + +"I shall never have any peace in this world again," she cried to +herself. + +She rocked back and forth silently for a few moments. + +"I wish," she said, "the police would find out all about it, and then +this agony of mind would end." + +Again she rocked back and forth, with her hands helplessly in her lap. +"Oh, I cannot do it, _I cannot do it_!" she sobbed, still rocking to and +fro. Finally she started to her feet. + +"I _will_ do it," she cried; "I will confess to Mrs. Brenton herself. I +will tell her everything. She has gone through trouble herself, and may +have mercy on me." + +"There, you see," said Speed to Brenton, "we have overcome the +difficulty, after all." + +"It certainly looks like it," replied Brenton. "Don't you think, +however, that we had better stay with her until she _does_ confess? May +she not change her mind?" + +"Don't let us overdo the thing," suggested Speed; "if she doesn't, come +to time, we can easily have another interview with her. The woman's +mind is made up. She is in torment, and will be until she confesses her +crime. Let us go and leave her alone." + + * * * * * + +George Stratton was not slow to act when he had once made up his mind. +He pinned to the breast of his vest a little shield, on which was the +word "detective." This he had often found useful, in a way that is not +at all sanctioned by the law, in ferreting out crime in Chicago. As soon +as it was evening he paced up and down in front of Roland's house, and +on the opposite side of the road. There was a light in the doctor's +study, and he thought that perhaps the best way to proceed was to go +boldly into the house and put his scheme into operation. However, as he +meditated on this, the light was turned low, and in a few moments the +door opened. The doctor came down the steps, and out on the pavement, +walking briskly along the street. The reporter followed him on the other +side of the thoroughfare. Whether to do it in the dark or in the light, +was the question that troubled Stratton. If he did it in the dark, he +would miss the expression on the face of the surprised man. If he did it +in the light, the doctor might recognize him as the Chicago reporter, +and would know at once that he was no detective. Still, he felt that +if there was anything in his scheme at all, it was surprise; and he +remembered the quick gasp of the lawyer Brown when he told him he knew +what his defence was. He must be able to note the expression of the man +who was guilty of the terrible crime. + +Having made up his mind to this, he stepped smartly after the doctor, +and, when the latter came under a lamp-post, placed his hand suddenly on +his shoulder, and exclaimed-- + +"Doctor Stephen Roland, I arrest you for the murder of William Brenton!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +Stephen Roland turned quietly around and shook the hand from his +shoulder. It was evident that he recognized Stratton instantly. + +"Is this a Chicago joke?" asked the doctor. + +"If it is, Mr. Roland, I think you will find it a very serious one." + +"Aren't you afraid that _you_ may find it a serious one?" + +"I don't see why I should have any fears in the premises," answered the +newspaper man. + +"My dear sir, do you not realize that I could knock you down or shoot +you dead for what you have done, and be perfectly justified in doing +so?" + +"If you either knock or shoot," replied the other, "you will have to do +it very quickly, for, in the language of the wild and woolly West, I've +got the drop on you. In my coat pocket is a cocked revolver with my +forefinger on the trigger. If you make a hostile move I can let daylight +through you so quickly that you won't know what has struck you." + +"Electric light, I think you mean," answered the doctor, quietly. "Even +a Chicago man might find it difficult to let daylight through a person +at this time in the evening. Now, this sort of thing may be Chicago +manners, but I assure you it will not go down here in Cincinnati. You +have rendered yourself liable to the law if I cared to make a point of +it, but I do not. Come back with me to my study. I would like to talk +with you." + +Stratton began to feel vaguely that he had made a fool of himself. His +scheme had utterly failed. The doctor was a great deal cooler and more +collected than he was. Nevertheless, he had a deep distrust of the +gentleman, and he kept his revolver handy for fear the other would make +a dash to escape him. They walked back without saying a word to each +other until they came to the doctor's office. Into the house they +entered, and the doctor bolted the door behind them. Stratton suspected +that very likely he was walking into a trap, but he thought he would +be equal to any emergency that might arise. The doctor walked into the +study, and again locked the door of that. Pulling down the blinds, he +turned up the gas to its full force and sat down by a table, motioning +the newspaper man to a seat on the other side. + +"Now," he said calmly to Stratton, "the reason I did not resent your +unwarrantable insult is this: You are conscientiously trying to get at +the root of this mystery. So am I. Your reason is that you wish to score +a victory for your paper. My motive is entirely different, but our +object is exactly the same. Now, by some strange combination of +circumstances you have come to the conclusion that I committed the +crime. Am I right?" + +"You are perfectly correct, doctor," replied Stratton. + +"Very well, then. Now, I assure you that I am entirely innocent. Of +course, I appreciate the fact that this assurance will not in the +slightest degree affect your opinion, but I am interested in knowing why +you came to your conclusion, and perhaps by putting our heads together, +even if I dislike you and you hate me, we may see some light on this +matter that has hitherto been hidden. I presume you have no objection at +all to co-operate with me?" + +"None in the least," was the reply. + +"Very well, then. Now, don't mind my feelings at all, but tell me +exactly why you have suspected me of being a murderer." + +"Well," answered Stratton, "in the first place we must look for a +motive. It seems to me that you have a motive for the crime." + +"And might I ask what that motive is, or was?" + +"You will admit that you disliked Brenton?" + +"I will admit that, yes?" + +"Very well. You will admit also that you were--well, how shall I put +it?--let us say, interested in his wife before her marriage?" + +"I will admit that; yes." + +"You, perhaps, will admit that you are interested in her now?" + +"I do not see any necessity for admitting that; but still, for the +purpose of getting along with the case, I will admit it. Go on." + +"Very good. Here is a motive for the crime, and a very strong one. +First, we will presume that you are in love, with the wife of the man +who is murdered. Secondly, supposing that you are mercenary, quite +a considerable amount of money will come to you in case you marry +Brenton's widow. Next, some one at that table poisoned him. It was not +Mrs. Brenton, who poured out the cup of coffee. The cup of coffee was +placed before Brenton, and my opinion is that, until it was placed +there, there was no poison in that cup. The doomed man was entirely +unsuspicious, and therefore it was very easy for a person to slip enough +poison in that cup unseen by anybody at that table, so that when he +drank his coffee nothing could have saved him. He rose from the table +feeling badly, and he went to his room and died. Now, who could have +placed that poison in his cup of coffee? It must have been one of the +two that sat at his right and left hand. A young lady sat at his right +hand. She certainly did not commit the crime. You, Stephen Roland, sat +at his left hand. Do you deny any of the facts I have recited?" That is +a very ingenious chain, of circumstantial evidence. Of course, you do +not think it strong enough to convict a man of such a serious crime as +murder?" + +"No; I quite realize the weakness of the case up to this point. But +there is more to follow. Fourteen days before that dinner you purchased +at the drug store on the corner of Blank Street and Nemo Avenue thirty +grains of morphia. You had the poison put up in capsules of five +grains each. What do you say to that bit of evidence added to the +circumstantial chain which you say is ingenious?" + +The doctor knit his brows and leaned back in his chair. + +"By the gods!" he said, "you are right. I did buy that morphia. I +remember it now. I don't mind telling you that I had a number of +experiments on hand, as every doctor has, and I had those capsules put +up at the drug store, but this tragedy coming on made me forget all +about the matter." + +"Did you take the morphia with you, doctor?" + +"No, I did not. And the box of capsules, I do not think, has been +opened. But that is easily ascertained." + +The doctor rose, went to his cabinet, and unlocked it. From a number of +packages he selected a small one, and brought it to the desk, placing it +before the reporter. + +"There is the package. That contains, as you say, thirty grains of +morphia in half a dozen five-grain capsules. You see that it is sealed +just as it left the drug store. Now, open it and look for yourself. Here +are scales; if you want to see whether a single grain is missing or not, +find out for yourself. + +"Perhaps," said the newspaper man, "we had better leave this +investigation for the proper authorities." + +"Then you still believe that I am the murderer, of William Brenton?" + +"Yes, I still believe that." + +"Very well; you may do as you please. I think, however, in justice +to myself, you should stay right here, and see that this box is not +tampered with until the proper authorities, as you say, come." + +Then, placing his hand on the bell, he continued--"Whom shall I send +for? An ordinary policeman, or some one from the central office? But, +now that I think of it, here is a telephone. We can have any one brought +here that you wish. I prefer that neither you nor I leave this room +until that functionary has appeared. Name the authority you want brought +here," said the doctor, going to the telephone, "and I will have him +here if he is in town." + +The newspaper man was nonplussed. The Doctor's actions did not seem like +those of a guilty man. If he were guilty he certainly had more nerve +than any person Stratton had ever met. So he hesitated. Then he said-- + +"Sit down a moment, doctor, and let us talk this thing over." + +"Just as you say," remarked Roland, drawing up his chair again. + +Stratton took the package, and looked it over carefully. It was +certainly just in the condition in which it had left the drug store; but +still, that could have been easily done by the doctor himself. + +"Suppose we open this package?" he said to Roland. + +"With all my heart," said the doctor, "go ahead;" and he shoved over to +him a little penknife that was on the table. + +The reporter took the package, ran the knife around the edge, and opened +it. There lay six capsules, filled, as the doctor had said. Roland +picked up one of them, and looked at it critically. + +"I assure you," he said, "although I am quite aware you do not believe a +word I say, that I have not seen those capsules before." + +He drew towards him a piece of paper, opened the capsule, and, let the +white powder fall on the paper. He looked critically at the powder, and +a shade of astonishment came over his face. He picked up the penknife, +took a particle on the tip of it, and touched it with his tongue. + +"Don't fool with that thing!" said Stratton. + +"Oh, my dear fellow," he said, "morphia is not a poison in small +quantities." + +The moment he had tasted it, however, he suddenly picked up the paper, +put the five grains on his tongue, and swallowed them. + +Instantly the reporter sprang to his feet. He saw at once the reason for +all the assumed coolness. The doctor was merely gaining time in order to +commit, suicide. + +"What have you done?" cried the reporter. + +"Done, my dear fellow? nothing very much. This is not morphia; it is +sulphate of quinine." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +In the morning Jane Morton prepared to meet Mrs. Brenton, and make her +confession. She called at the Brenton residence, but found it closed, +as it had been ever since the tragedy of Christmas morning. It took her +some time to discover the whereabouts of Mrs. Brenton, who, since the +murder, had resided with a friend except while under arrest. + +For a moment Mrs. Brenton did not recognize the thin, and pale woman who +stood before her in a state of such extreme nervous agitation, that it +seemed as if at any moment she might break down and cry. + +"I don't suppose you'll remember me, ma'am," began the girl, "but I +worked for you two weeks before--before----" + +"Oh yes," said Mrs. Brenton, "I remember you now. Have you been ill? You +look quite worn and pale, and very different from what you did the last +time I saw you." + +"Yes," said the girl, "I believe I have been ill.". + +"You _believe_; aren't you sure?" + +"I have been very ill in mind, and troubled, and that is the reason I +look so badly,--Oh, Mrs. Brenton, I wanted to tell you of something that +has been weighing on my mind ever since that awful day! I know you can +never forgive me, but I must tell it to you, or I shall go crazy." + +"Sit down, sit down," said the lady, kindly; "you know what trouble I +have been in myself. I am sure that I am more able to sympathize now +with one who is in trouble than ever I was before." + +"Yes, ma'am; but you were innocent, and I am guilty. That makes all the +difference in the world." + +"Guilty!" cried Mrs. Brenton, a strange fear coming over her as she +stared at the girl; "guilty of _what?_" + +"Oh, madam, let me tell you all about it. There is, of course, no +excuse; but I'll begin at the beginning. You remember a while before +Christmas that John came to see me one night, and we sat up very late in +the kitchen, and your husband came down quietly, and when we heard him +coming we put out the light and just as John was trying to get away, +your husband shot twice at him, and hit him the second time?" + +"Oh yes," said Mrs. Brenton, "I remember that very well. I had forgotten +about it in my own trouble; but I know that my husband intended to do +something for the young man. I hope he was not seriously hurt?" + +"No, ma'am; he is able to be about again now as well as ever, and is not +even lame, which we expected he would be. But at the time I thought he +was going to be lame all the rest of his life, and perhaps that is the +reason I did what I did. When everything was in confusion in the house, +and it was certain that we would all have to leave, I did a very wicked +thing. I went to your room, and I stole some of your rings, and some +money that was there, as well as a lot of other things that were in the +room. It seemed to me then, although, of course, I know now how wicked +it was, that you owed John some + +[Illustration: "Guilty! Guilty of what?"] + +thing for what he had gone through, and I thought that he was to be +lame, and that you would never miss the things; but, oh! madam, I have +not slept a night since I took them. I have been afraid of the police +and afraid of being found out. I have pawned nothing, and they are all +just as I took them, and I have brought them back here to you, with +every penny of the money. I know you can never forgive me, but I am +willing now to be given up to the police, and I feel better in my mind +than I have done ever since I took the things." + +"My poor child!" said Mrs. Brenton, sympathetically, "was that _all_?" + +"All?" cried the girl. "Yes, I have brought everything back." + +"Oh, I don't mean that, but I am sorry you have been worried over +anything so trivial. I can see how at such a time, and feeling that you +had been wronged, a temptation to take the things came to you. But I +hope you will not trouble any more about the matter. I will see that +John is compensated for all the injury he received, as far as it is +possible for money to compensate him. I hope you will keep the money. +The other things, of course, I shall take back, and I am glad you came +to tell me of it before telling any one else. I think, perhaps, it is +better never to say anything to anybody about this. People might not +understand just what temptation you were put to, and they would not know +the circumstances of the case, because no body knows, I think, that John +was hurt. Now, my dear girl, do not cry. It is all right. Of course you +never will touch anything again that does not belong to you, and the +suffering you have gone through has more than made up for all the wrong +you have done. I am sure that I forgive you quite freely for it, and I +think it was very noble of you to come and tell me about it." + +Mrs. Brenton took the package from the hands of the weeping girl, and +opened it. She found everything there, as the girl had said. She took +the money and offered it to Jane Morton. The girl shook her head. + +"No," she cried, "I cannot touch it. I cannot, indeed. It has been +enough misery to me already." + +"Very well," said Mrs. Brenton. "I would like very much to see John. +Will you bring him to me?" + +The girl looked at her with startled eyes. + +"You will not tell him?" she said. + +"No indeed, I shall tell him nothing. But I want to do what I can for +him as I said. I suppose you are engaged to be married?" + +"Yes," answered the girl; "but if he knew of this he never, never would +marry me." + +"If he did not," said Mrs. Brenton, "he would not be worthy of you. But +he shall know nothing about it. You will promise to come here and see me +with him, will you not?" + +"Yes, madam," said the girl. + +"Then good-bye, until I see you again." + +Mrs. Brenton sat for a long time thinking over this confession. It took +her some time to recover her usual self-possession, because for a moment +she had thought the girl was going to confess that she committed murder. +In comparison with that awful crime, the theft seemed so trivial that +Mrs. Brenton almost smiled when she thought of the girl's distress. + + * * * * * + +"Well," said John Speed to Mr. Brenton, "if that doesn't beat the Old +Harry. Now I, for one, am very glad of it, if we come to the real truth +of the matter." + +"I am glad also," said Brenton, "that the girl is not guilty, although I +must say things looked decidedly against her." + +"I will tell you why I am glad," said Speed. "I am glad because it +will take some of the superfluous conceit out of that French detective +Lecocq. He was so awfully sure of himself. He couldn't possibly be +mistaken. Now, think of the mistakes that man must have made while he +was on earth, and had the power which was given into his hands in Paris. +After all, Stratton is on the right track, and he will yet land your +friend Roland in prison. Let us go and find Lecocq. This is too good to +keep." + +"My dear sir," said Brenton, "you seem to be more elated because of your +friend Stratton than for any other reason. Don't you want the matter +ferreted out at all?" + +"Why, certainly I do; but I don't want it ferreted out by bringing an +innocent person into trouble." + +"And may not Stephen Roland be an innocent person?" + +"Oh, I suppose so; but I do not think he is." + +"Why do you not think so?" + +"Well, if you want the real reason, simply because George Stratton +thinks he isn't. I pin my faith to Stratton." + +"I think you overrate your friend Stratton." + +"Overrate him, sir? That is impossible. I love him so well that I hope +he will solve this mystery himself, unaided and alone, and that in going +back to Chicago he will be smashed to pieces in a railway accident, so +that we can have him here to congratulate him." + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +"I suppose," said Roland, "you thought for a moment I was trying to +commit suicide. I think, Mr. Stratton, you will have a better opinion of +me by-and-by. I shouldn't be at all surprised if you imagined I induced +you to come in here to get you into a trap." + +"You are perfectly correct," said Stratton; "and I may say, although +that was my belief, I was not in the least afraid of you, for I had you +covered all the time." + +"Well," remarked Roland, carelessly, "I don't want to interfere with +your business at all, but I wish you wouldn't cover me quite so much; +that revolver of yours might go off." + +"Do you mean to say," said Stratton, "that there is nothing but quinine +in those capsules?" + +"I'll tell you in a moment," as he opened them one by one. "No, there is +nothing but quinine here. Thirty grains put up in five-grain capsules." + +George Stratton's eyes began to open. Then he slowly rose, and looked +with horrified face at the doctor. + +"My God!" he cried; "who got the thirty grains of morphia?" + +"What do you mean?" asked the doctor. + +"Mean? Why, don't you see it? It is a chemist's mistake. Thirty grains +of quinine have been sent you. Thirty grains of morphia have been sent +to somebody else. Was it to William Brenton?" + +"By Jove!" said the doctor, "there's something in that. Say, let us go +to the drug store." + +The two went out together, and walked to the drug store on the corner of +Blank Street and Nemo Avenue. + +"Do you know this writing?" said Doctor Roland to the druggist, pointing +to the label on the box. + +"Yes," answered the druggist; "that was written by one of my +assistants." + +"Can we see him for a few moments?" + +"I don't know where he is to be found. He is a worthless fellow, and has +gone to the devil this last few weeks with a rapidity that is something +startling." + +"When did he leave?" + +"Well, he got drunk and stayed drunk during the holidays, and I had to +discharge him. He was a very valuable man when he was sober; but he +began to be so erratic in his habits that I was afraid he would make a +ghastly mistake some time, so I discharged him before it was too late." + +"Are you sure you discharged him before it was too late." + +The druggist looked at the doctor, whom he knew well, and said, "I never +heard of any mistake, if he did make it." + +"You keep a book, of course, of all the prescriptions sent out?" +"Certainly." + +"May we look at that book?" + +"I shall be very glad to show it to you. What month or week?" + +"I want to see what time you sent this box of morphia to me." + +"You don't know about what time it was, do you? + +"Yes; it must have been about two weeks before Christmas." + +The chemist looked over the pages of the book, and finally said, "Here +it is." + +"Will you let me look at that page?" + +"Certainly." + +The doctor ran his finger down the column, and came to an entry written +in the same hand. + +"Look here," he said to Stratton, "thirty grains of quinine sent to +William Brenton, and next to it thirty grains of morphia sent to Stephen +Roland. I see how it was. Those prescriptions were mixed up. My package +went to poor Brenton." + +The druggist turned pale. + +"I hope," he said, "nothing public will come of this." + +"My dear sir," said Roland, "something public will _have_ to come of +it. You will oblige me by ringing up the central police station, as this +book must be given in charge of the authorities." + +"Look here," put in Stratton, his newspaper instinct coming uppermost, +"I want to get this thing exclusively for the _Argus_" + +"Oh, I guess there will be no trouble about that. Nothing will be made +public until to-morrow, and you can telegraph to-night if we find the +box of capsules in Brenton's residence. We must take an officer with us +for that purpose, but you can caution or bribe him to keep quiet until +to-morrow." + +When the three went to William Brenton's residence they began a search +of the room in which Brenton had died, but nothing was found. In the +closet of the room hung the clothes of Brenton, and going through them +Stratton found in the vest pocket of one of the suits a small box +containing what was described as five-grain capsules of sulphate of +quinine. The doctor tore one of these capsules apart, so as to see what +was in it. Without a moment's hesitation he said-- + +"There you are! That is the morphia. There were six capsules in this +box, and one of them is missing. William Brenton poisoned himself! +Feeling ill, he doubtless took what he thought was a dose of quinine. +Many men indulge in what we call the quinine habit. It is getting to be +a mild form of tippling. Brenton committed unconscious suicide!" + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +A group of men; who were really alive, but invisible to the searchers, +stood in the room where the discovery was made. Two of the number were +evidently angry, one in one way and one in another. The rest of the +group appeared to be very merry. One angry man was Brenton himself, who +was sullenly enraged. The other was the Frenchman, Lecocq, who was as +deeply angered as Brenton, but, instead of being sullen, was exceedingly +voluble. + +"I tell you," he cried, "it is not a mistake of mine. I went on correct +principles from the first. I was misled by one who should have known +better. You will remember, gentlemen," he continued, turning first to +one and then the other, "that what I said was that we had certain facts +to go on. One of those facts I got from Mr. Brenton. I said to him in +your presence, 'Did you poison yourself?' He answered me, as I can prove +by all of you, 'No, I did not.' I took that for a fact. I thought I was +speaking to a reasonable man who knew what he was talking about." + +"Haven't I told you time and again," answered Brenton, indignantly, +"that it was a mistake? You asked me if I poisoned myself. I answered +you that I did not. Your question related to suicide. I did _not_ commit +suicide. I was the victim of a druggist's mistake. If you had asked me +if I had taken medicine before I went to bed, I should have told you +frankly, 'Yes. I took one capsule of quinine.' It has been my habit for +years, when I feel badly. I thought nothing of that." + +"My dear sir," said Lecocq, "I warned you, and I warned these gentlemen, +that the very things that seem trivial to a thoughtless person are the +things that sometimes count. You should have told me _everything_. If +you took anything at all, you should have said so. If you had said to +me, 'Monsieur Lecocq, before I retired I took five grains of quinine,' +I should have at once said; 'Find where that quinine is, and see if it +_is_ quinine, and see if there has not been a mistake.' I was entirely +misled; I was stupidly misled." + +"Well, if there was stupidity," returned Brenton, "it was your own." + +"Come, come, gentlemen," laughed Speed, "all's well that ends well. +Everybody has been mistaken, that's all about it. The best detective +minds of Europe and America, of the world, and of the spirit-land, have +been misled. You are _all_ wrong. Admit it, and let it end." + +"My dear sir," said Lecocq, "I shall not admit anything. I was not +wrong; I was misled. It was this, way----" + +"Oh, now, for goodness' sake don't go over it all again. We understand +the circumstances well enough." + +"I tell you," cried Brenton, in an angry tone, "that---- + +"Come, come," said Speed, "we have had enough of this discussion. I tell +you that you are all wrong, every one of you. Come with me, Brenton, and +we will leave this amusing crowd." + +"I shall do nothing of the kind," answered Brenton, shortly. + +"Oh, very well then, do as you please. I am glad the thing is ended, and +I am glad it is ended by my Chicago friend." + +"Your Chicago friend!" sneered Brenton, slightingly; "It was discovered +by Doctor Stephen Roland." + +"My dear fellow," said Speed, "Stephen Roland had all his time to +discover the thing, and didn't do it, and never would have done it, if +George Stratton hadn't encountered him. Well, good-bye, gentlemen; I am +sorry to say that I have had quite enough of this discussion. But one +thing looms up above it all, and that is that Chicago is ahead of the +world in everything--in detection as well as in fires." + +"My dear sir," cried Lecocq, "it is not true. I will show you in a +moment--" + +"You won't show _me_," said Speed, and he straightway disappeared. + +"Come, Ferris," said Brenton, "after all, you are the only friend I seem +to have; come with me." + +"Where are you going?" asked Ferris, as they left. + +"I want to see how my wife takes the news." + +"Don't," said Mr. Ferris--"don't do anything of the kind. Leave matters +just where they are. Everything has turned out what you would call all +right. You see that your interference, as far as it went, was perfectly +futile and useless. I want now to draw your attention to other things." + +"Very well, I will listen to you," said Brenton, "if you come with me +and see how my wife takes the news. I want to enjoy for even a moment or +two her relief and pleasure at finding that her good name is clear." + +"Very well," assented Ferris, "I will go with you." + +When they arrived they found the Chicago reporter ahead of them. He had +evidently told Mrs. Brenton all the news, and her face flushed with +eager pleasure as she listened to the recital. + +"Now," said the Chicago man, "I am going to leave Cincinnati. Are you +sorry I am going?" + +"No," said Mrs. Brenton, looking him in the face, "I am not sorry." + +Stratton flushed at this, and then said, taking his hat in his hand, +"Very well, madam, I shall bid you good day." + +"I am not sorry," said Mrs. Brenton, holding out her hand, "because I +am going to leave Cincinnati myself, and I hope never to see the city +again. So if you stayed here, you see, I should never meet you again, +Mr. Stratton." + +"Alice," cried Stratton, impulsively grasping her hand in both of his, +"don't you think you would like Chicago as a place of residence?" + +"George," she answered, "I do not know. I am going to Europe, and shall +be there for a year or two." + +Then he said eagerly-- + +"When you return, or if I go over there to see you after a year or two, +may I ask you that question again?" + +"Yes," was the whispered answer. + + * * * * * + +"Come," said Brenton to Ferris, "let us go." + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of From Whose Bourne, by Robert Barr + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FROM WHOSE BOURNE *** + +This file should be named 8fwbr10.txt or 8fwbr10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 8fwbr11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 8fwbr10a.txt + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, David Widger and PG Distributed +Proofreaders from images generously made available by the Canadian +Institute for Historical Microreproductions + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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