The Argosy, Volume XLIV — page 152: what you’re looking at

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

148 As agent for a steam-heating con- cern whose cards, among others, I happened to have in my pocket, I made the acquaintance of the janitor. In a roundabout way I learned from him that the Hoff woman had sent her name up to a suite of apartments occu- pied by one Ludwig Spurzheim. It was not often that the gentleman was to be found there, but it happened that he had just returned from the South. He received the visitor. I did not learn, of course, what took place at the interview between the two, but I lingered until Amelia Hoff came down, looking worried. Now it was a question in my mind whether to keep on following her or to turn my attention to Spurzheim, whose name had so frequently been mentioned in the interview at the office of the Daily Telegraph touching the disap- pearance of Mr. Fielding. - I decided in favor of Spurzheim, as- suming him to be the principal. Therefore I telephoned to head- quarters from the apartment house and had a man detailed to watch the Oak- land dwelling whence I had shadowed Amelia Hoff. In the event of her al- most certain return, he had orders to keep her in sight. I counted upon her going back there thus confidently because’a woman is a woman, whether she is an Anarchist or a society leader. And she does not make a long journey without her ward- robe and gewgaws. Spurzheim himself appeared soon after the departure of the other. He is a short, burly man, past sixty, with a thick neck and a sensual face. He ordered a cab, and I managed to overhear his directions to the driver. It was some time before [ could procure another vehicle, but there is little traffic in that quarter of the town, and by fast driving I overtook, and kept him in sight. In the city, of course, it was easier, since I could keep close to him without being suspected. | He went to the Pan-American Bank and bought three drafts on Valparaiso for ten thousand dollars each. This purchase looked like flight, and convinced me that I had made my —-- gD, C. OUgle THE ARGOSY. choice advisedly when I elected to fol- low him instead of Amelia Hoff. From the bank Spurzheim went to a hotel, whence he sent a telegraphic de- spatch. I made it my- business to overhear the message—it is not the first time that a working knowledge of the Morse alpha- bet has stood me well in hand. The despatch directed the party to whom it was u2¢icsved to learn and re- port the whereabouts of a Miss Ethel Fanshaw. Lhis inquiry, through the identity of names, set me to thinking. It might be a mere coincidence, of course, but that was not likely. Here were the facts as I then knew them: Professor Fanshaw is killed by bur- glares. One of the burglars escapes. Professor Fanshaw was killed upon the eve of his departure for a certain island. Mr. Fielding plans to explore the same island. He is spied upon and warned to aban- don the enterprise. A man, presumably a spy, overhears a conversation between Mr. Fielding and his cousin concerning the Fanshaw case. He is detected, and in trying to get away loses his life. He is identified as the missing Fan- shaw burglar, Gashleigh. A few hours later Mr. Fielding dis- appears under circumstances pointing to foul play. The last person seen with him is Amelia Hoff, an Anarchist, who, when taxed with having talked with the miss- ing man, is evidently alarmed and seeks an immediate conference with a rather mysterious capitalist named Spurzheim. Now Spurzheim is the man who threw the police off the track of the missing Fanshaw burglar by pretending to identify his body in British Colum- bia. Spurzheim again suggests the Fan- shaw case by*telegraphing for informa- tion concerning a lady of that name. He has, moreover, prepared for flight by the purchase of drafts. Now what does all this lead to? I should say it led to a confirmation COMRRIC LOO COL