The Argosy, June 1904 — page 57: what you’re looking at

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

BY THE ENEMY’S WILL. quiry would naturally result: how came you possessed of them? For all that, I was very anxious to have the interview over. To get back from the detective’s chambers, enter my own rooms, and finish what I had only started to read. That little had outlined a big pros- pect. And that, too, when I had really begun to doubt the springing eternal quality of ope. The cab stopped; we entered Watson Ward’s office. Were lucky in finding the great detective within, and were shown into his presence within a very few minutes after our arrival. Watson Ward was as much unlike the story-book detective as it would be pos- sible to picture him. Perhaps his face was trained to serve as a mask. Any way, there was on it a blank look; the eyes in it were appar- ently of the unseeing kind. Tt is as well to say, though, that but litile escaped them. I had proof of that later. Wane set the conversation going: told his story. The detective lstened to it, almost without a word of inter- ruption, certainly without a word of econment. The recital at an end, he said: * You have told me very little more, Mr. Kane, than I had gathered from perusal of the accounts in the news- papers.” This was not very encouraging. It had the effect of bringing an unusually sober look into Jxane’s face. He an- swered: * Well, apart from the cat, there is very little more to tell you. I think that was about the only thing the police missed.” “ And now,” said the detective, turn- ing to me, “ your story. That is likely to prove more interesting, if you tell the whole of it.” There was such significance in his last words that I started—a movement not unobserved by my questioner. He con- timied: * What do you mean to tell? Or do you propose to continue with me on the line vou adopted at your trial?” Again I started. This time the move- ment made the lower half of the mask PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG comicboo 043 wreathe into smile shape as the detec- tive observed: “ Of course I know there was some- thing behind that defense—if one can term it so—of yours. And I suppose my natural curiosity, a thing with which | seem to overrun, was what made me take such an interest in your particular case. Surprised beyond measure to hear him speak so, [ inquired: “You—I hardly know whether I should thank you for your interest— you read, I suppose, all about my case in the papers?” “No. I can’t say I did.” ce No! 2? “J was present in court. I heard the whole of the trial for myself.” “* ‘You—were—in—court ? ” “Precisely. I heard, too, that very able speech of yours. It is rather late in the day to congratulate you on it. I have attended a few murder trials in my time, but I don’t think I ever heard a man speak so well.” | “What did you mean then P “By asking you if you were deter- mined to continue on the same lines? Well, I meant that perhaps I was the only man in court who detected the false ring in that speech of yours.” “ False ring!” “Yes. The something behind! Re- member, coming to a private detective is not like going to the regular police. It is not part of my business to bring malefactors to justice. “You come to me, and I tell you plainly whatever you tell me I receive in the same way that a priest receives a confession: no soul ever hears from my lips what my ears take in. I don’t want to force you for one moment; I don’t want even to suggest that you should tell me the truth, if you don’t want to. But if I am to undertake this case, it will be solely on condition that I am in possession of the whole facets. Tell them to me a “And then,” interrupted Kane—he who had been an attentive listener— bending forward eagerly, “you will undertake it?” “J don’t even say that; I don’t like association with failures. There may be something in the case which may baffle ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED CO