Beadle's Dime Library No. 146 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

18 person explained to him that, having been in- vited to a private masquerade, he was desirous of going in such a disguise that his most inti- mate friend would not know him, and yet the disguise to be apparently no disguise at all. he wig-maker, who was a Frenchman, charmed with the idea, which he pronounced to be novel, immediately declared that he could furnish such a disguise that the most careful observer would not be able to detect that it was a disguise at all, and it should be so perfect thet the wearer might be introduced to his own mo- ther and he would pledge his professional repu- tation that the cheat would not be detected. The disguise was an extremely simple one, merely a wig of long light bair, curling at the ends after the German student fashion, and a small beard of the same hue as the hair. The “ artist” fitted the articles on and then with a stack of pomatum colored Diamond’s tote to match the hue of the wig and a The transformation was in truth a marvelous one and the doctor upon surveying himself in the glass was astonished at the complete change which the disguise made in his appearance. The wig and beard imparted a sort of dreamy expression to his features, and he looked exactly like a German professor of thirty-five or forty, but not the slightest trace of his old self appeared. ‘*There, is it not magnificent?” the artist de- manded. Diamond admitted that it was, but expressed some doubt in regard te the deception not being e detected. “Try it! walk down Broadway and see if any one will pay you any particular attention. That is a severe test.” Diamond paid the bill, which was no trifle, for the wig and beard were really master- pieces of the hair-worker’s art, and departed. “lf any one detects the disguise, without your revealing the secret, even your nearest and dearest friend, bring them back and I will return the money the mercurial Frenchman cried, as Diamond left the shop. And to a pretty severe test indeed the doctor proceeded to put the disguise. He went straight to the police head-quarters on Mulberry street and asked to see the chief, and after the usual amount of red-tapism with which all public officials are hedged about, he was admitted to the presence of the superintendent. t gentleman was engaged with one of the morning journals when the disguised man was ushe to the apartment, and having been informed that the visitor desired to see him on important business, cast a searching glance at him in order to see if it was any one whom he had ever met before. The doctor bore the look unflinchingly, and #e perfect was the disgui that even the argus-eyed superintendent of po- lice was deceived and took the visitor to be a stranger whom he had never seen. A more satisfactory test could not have been devised. And when Diamond ived from the ex- pression upon the face of the official that he was not recognized, a sudden idea came into his head. Since the chief looked upon him as a stranger why not keep up the delusion? The mystcrious manner in which the nature of his business with the police official had been re- vealed to the White Band still perplexed him. That the great head of the New York Police Department could be in league with the rascals, who so openly and unblushingly defied the law, seemed almost incredible, but, assuming that he was not, the only rational solution of the mystery was that to some of his subordinates the chief had related the particulars of the in- terview. Diamond’s new idea was to introduce him- self as the friend of the first caller, and relate the iculars of what had occurred to him, which he proceeded to do, much to the aston- ishment of the superintendent, who listened with the utmost attention. “U my word, sir, this sounds like a ro- mance,” the official averred. “It is truth itself.” ** T cannot understand how the leak occurred,” the superintendent assured, extremely puzzled, ‘*Tf Lremember rightly there was no one pres- ent at the interview but your friend and my- self. ‘“‘No one, but possibly you mentioned the natter to some one.” ‘*Not to a single soul!” the chief declared, emphatically. ‘‘l intended to iook into the af- fair myself and so I had no occasion to k about the matter. No one could have told the fellow, excepting your friend or myself. Of course he did not, so the blame rests on my shoulders, and, by Jove, sir, I shall not rest satisfied until I probe the matter to the bottom. ‘You say that you saw the face of the man?’ ‘Yes, sir.” The doctor had told the story as though he had been called in to help secure the interloper. ‘ ‘‘ And do you think you could recognize the man if vou saw his picture?” ‘*Devond a doubt; for his is no common face.” ‘Tet us teice’a Iouk at the sagve = Gallery 4454 toon.’ /£.°:d 1 .e chief conducted his visitor to The Doctor Detective. | the apartment where this notorious collection of pictures was kept. be Rogues’ Gallery is a vastly overrated means of identifying rascals. The moment a | 3 is caught in some wrong-doing, he is | en to a photographic gallery and bis pic- ‘ture taken. Some submit to the operation as _ quietly as lambs, so that a really good likeness | is obtained; others, on the contrary, resist with all their might, and are compelled to face the camera by main force, so they distort their faces jg every conceivable manner and the result is that the picture is perfectly frightful. The portraits used to be kept in acouple of albums, and on the back of each picture was the name of the pets with a description of the | particular line of crime favored by the original of the picture. Therefore when one called at Police Head- quarters with a complaint, straightway they were invited to inspect the Rogue’s Gallery and pick out, if possible, the party to blame. Naturally in nine cases out of ten the attempt was a most decided failure, for, out of a couple of hundred of ill-looking scoundrels—as nearly all of them were—and al yer Ha a ghd family likeness, to pick out one individual rogue was a good deal like the traditional search for a needle in a bundle of hay. But lately a reform has been instituted in the nip pee Gallery; the pictures are much larger and ure contained in a couple of frames, so that if a citizen is robbed by any of the well-known rascals and succeeds in getting a good glimpse of the man it is not an impossible task to pick him out by his portrait. Diamond did not succeed, though, for, as he declared to the chief, not a single picture in the gallery at all resembled the leader of the White an CHAPTER XXV. THE TRUTH AT LAST, THE two returned again to the office; the su- intendent was somewhat annoyed at the ailure, and unbosomed himself to the doctor. “itis very plain to me that such a man as you describe this fellow to be is no common criminal—no new hand at the business, but a wary old bird. It is possible, though, that he is, com tively, a stranger. He may be one of the eading lights from across the water, and has been lucky enough so far to keep out of the hands of the police. ‘*The man does look like a foreigner.” ‘*By Jove! I'll have him in time, smart as he is!” protested the chief, bringing his heavy hand down with force upon the desk before which he sat. The jar tumbled over some photographs which were carelessly piled up on one corner of the desk, and one of them, falling face upward, was exposed to the doctor’s gaze. With a cry of amazement he seized the pic- ture, while the official looked on in astonish- ment. “Do you know this man?’ Diamond ex- claimed. ‘*Oh, yes, very well indeed.” ** Who and what is he?” ‘‘ A mighty fine man, about as nice a one as I have ever met; just rolling in money, too, I should judge.” ae nger?” ‘* Well, yes; he hasn’t lived here long.” ** This is the man !” ‘* What?” and the superintendent stared in es- tonishment. He could hardly believe that he had heard aright. ‘This is the man, I tell you—the captain of the White Band!” “*Oh, no! impossible! The idea isabsurd! I assure you, ay dear sir, you are laboring under a mistake. is man is as high-toned a gentle- man as can be found in the city.” ‘* He is the captain of the ite Band,” Dia- mond repeated, in the most decided manner. “* And I am not rised to learn that he occu- pies a position which assures him of being be- yond the reach of suspicion. What do you really know of this man? Have you been long acquainted with him?’ ‘* Well, no, I have not,” the chief admitted. “But his social position is very high. I was in- troduced to him by one of the most prominent politicians in the city—one of our judges.” ‘* Kither a confederate or a dupe of this arch- plotter. I tell you, chief, he is no common man. He must be arrested at once, before he has an opportunity to place himself beyond the reach of detection. If the blow is dealt quackty we may be able to secure some evi- ence which will prove his guilt and lead at once to the destruction and conviction of the rest of the band.” ‘But hold on a bit, my good man! What ounds have I got to proceed upon? I confess don’t see my way clear in the matter, at all. _If this idea should turn out to be an error on our part, there would be a deuce of a row. ou can’t haul up a gentleman of this kind as you can some poor devil of a workingman. This customer has got pony of money and a host of influential friends. I should get myself into a peck of trouble if you couldn’t prove ' your aliegation.” “But I can prove it beyond the shadow of a doubt!” Diamond replied, earnestly. ‘‘I know that I cannot be mistaken about the matter. This man’s face is no common one; you can see that for yourself,” and he held up the pictare. “It isnot a face liable to be forgotten when once seen; nor is it of a kind to be easily con- founded with another. Iam not surprised at the station and standing of the man. It is ex- actly as lexpected. I thought, when I hunted him down, I would find him intrenched within the walls of society, allied with the great ones of the city, the men who make and execute the laws. This man is a genius, no common rascal, and that is the reason why he and his band have so long defied the power of the law, and so cunningly has he contrived to screen himself from all suspicion that, bet for the accident of this picture, it is doubtful if 1 could have suc- ceeded in hunting him down, for now that he knows a foe is on his track, the chances are a: hundred to one that he will take himself out of the way for ashort time. I am willing, under oath, to swear that this man”—and he held up the picture—‘“‘is the captain of the White Band; what more do you want? Is not that sufficient to induce you to take a decided step?’ he superintendent was irresolute, and hesi- tated to reply. The visitor seemed positive enough, but he was a stranger, and pertiaps not. quite right in the upper story; the official had a serious doubt in his mind in regard to this, for the accusation seemed so very improbable that he could not bring himself to believe there was any truth in it. “You see, my dear sir,” he said, at last, ‘‘there is not the slightest particle of evidence to support this accusation—there isn’t anything but your belief to go upon, and that rests, not upor the man himself, but upon his picture. e are all liable to be mistaken, you know; no man is infallible; you will admit that, of course, as a sensible man; now, supposing age are mis- taken, and this man turns out to perfectly innocent—another party altogether and not the game you want, just see what a terrible mess you will get meinto. I should be the laughing- stock of the whole city, and in all probability have to stand a law-suit for damages in the bar- gain. “Then you do not care to make the arrest on my evidence alone?” ‘My dear sir, Ido not dare to risk it!” the official responded, ‘‘ but, give me the least testi- mony to support your assertion—the merest sh of corroborating evidence—and J] will jump at the chance to put my clutches on the captain of the White Band as eagerly as a chicken after a grasshopper! Just try me and see Apparently the game was blocked, but For- tune was smilin at day on the bloodhound so relentlessly following the scent. ‘* Just a bit of evidence?’ Diamond asked. ‘Only a scrap is all I seek, and 1’ll nab the bird in a pitty, and the chief drew out his handkerchiet to wipe his forehead. The peculiar perfume with which it was im- pregnated floated on the air; it came plainly to he nostrils of the doctor, and, remembrance mah him well, he seized instantly upon the chance. “I have just a little bit of evidence to offer, which I think will support my declaration. The captain of the White Band uses a peculiar kind of scent, something entirely different from any- thing I ever smelt before, and, did I not know to the contrary, I should suspect that you were the chief of the band, att breed bandkerchief is scented with the same perfume.” The official laid back in his chair and stared at the doctor for a moment, an expression of the most profound astonishment upon his face. The doctor surveyed the chief, and saw at once that the shot had struck home. “ ir my word, this is a most remarkable thing!” the superintendent exclaimed, as soon as he could recover from bis astonishment. ‘* Is it evidence?” ‘Yes, slight enough, it is true, but, a thread has been known to hanga man, The party you k of gave me the perfume.” ** And that fact was not known to me!” ** No, nor to any one else, for there wasn t any one present when he gave it to me, and I never mentioned it to any one. It was a perfume which he said he brought with him from Mexico,” “Strange that so clever a scoundrel should be so careless in this one particular!” ‘* Not at all, and you are not well acquainted with criminal matters, or you would not say so. It isn’t the detectives who catch criminals, but the se pe carelessness of the parties in ques- tion which leads to detection. Great rogues are always careless about some minor matter, and that is the way they are tripped up.” ‘*'You will issue the warrant, then?” ‘*'Yes: it will be a fishing excursion, anyway. We will try the net, and perhaps we may be _ able to catch something in the cast.” ‘At once?” **No, that wonld not be wise: we want the shadows of the night for such work. I begin te believe that you are right about this thing, JOO com SS € (E@)