The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 1 — page 157: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE MAJOR’S PLOT. 157 followed him to Harrisburg, foolishly make known his identity one dark night on the iron bridge over the Susquehanna, and was at once thrown over into the water. He saved himself by swimming, and made his way to Lewisberry. You all know how Dick so bravely rescued him from the burning building, and I may add here that this noble deed saved Dick’s life on more than one occasion. ‘By this time Maillard recognized the need of a confederate. He made proposals to Ford, threatening, in case he did not accept, to hang him for some terrible crime committed years ago in New York. What this was, Ford refuses to tell. It was committed before he knew either Maillard or Dawson, and Maillard only discovered it by accident. Ford was compelled to agree, and Maillard made known the whole plot, which, to state it briefly, was as follows ; “Dick and my father were both to be put out of the way, and then Maillard and Ford were to convert as much of the property as possible into cash, and flee to Europe, where they hoped to live in luxury and plenty for the remainder of their lives. ‘his tremendous crime seems incredible on the face of it, but you have all seen how very nearly they succeeded. To go into details now would require more time than I can spare. It was Ford who committed the first robbery when the squire’s will was stolen, and it was Maillard who shot Dick in the head. How determined he was to get Dick out of the road is shown by the upsetting of the boat on the Yellow Breeches Creek when Dick and Miss Maynard made such a wonderful escape. ‘“ Hord declares that this was done on purpose, and I don’t doubt it. He says, moreover, that Maillard had a confederate in some banking house who informed him of the contents of the second will—which was drawn up in your office, Mr. Grimwood—and also gave him statements of the squire’s account from time to time. ‘This is a matter that must be speedily looked into. Ford declares that this party is not known to him. _ ‘When Dawson here appeared on the scene, threatening to upset the whole plot, and was speedily put out of the way—forever, as they fondly hoped. ‘The remainder of the story is too revolting to tell. Maillard actually began to poison my father, and was discovered at his deadly work by Dick. She rest you know—how Dick was attacked while running to inform Dr. Galen of his discovery, drugged with chloroform, and taken to a private asylum up the Hudson. It was Maillard who broke open the secretary that night and stole the money. He had intended to kill Dick and throw the body into the millpond, but Ford held out against this, and proposed the other plan, by which Dick was removed from the scene, and in a manner which allowed no suspicions to fall upon the perpetrators of the deed. ‘‘T have one more thing to say. The keeper of this asylum, Dr. Clinch, is himself connected indirectly with the Bannister robbery, which explains how he was induced to receive Dick, ostensibly as a patient, but really as a prisoner. He shall pay dearly for his share in the crime. I shudder to think how nearly this awful villainy succeeded. I made a mistake in not bringing officers of the law with me from Harrisburg. Had I done so, Kugene Maillard would probably be now in custody. As it is, I fear greatly that he CONnNIGloOoOKSse@ }