Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 580 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

Shadowing a Shadow. i1 “‘T Jearned that this Prentiss Kinworth isa member of the detective firm of Howard Kin- worth & Co,” Mancred Blackwall sunk down upon his chair, pale and trembling. “What can be tke meaning of this?’ he epee ‘‘ But, go on, Griffit, and tell me all, ou did not finish your story.” **T will give you thesum and substance of it, or I will give-it to you in detail, just as you want it. I remember it- well enough, curse him!” ‘* Let me hear it all.” ‘* Well, [asked him what he wanted to know about Whitford, and he answered tbat he wanted to know everythifg I could tell. I could tell nothing, and then he commenced his worming questions, You see I was between two fires, as it were. I wanted to appear to be free to tell him all I could, and yet I did not want to tell anything. He asked, as I have said, about Mr. Whitford, Celeste and Abing- ton. I guessI bad better sum it all up and give Pig just the information he got.” ** Well, do that.” *“T informed him that Mr. Whitford is dead, That I did not know what became of Celeste, ** Not much of anything out of the regular or- der has been going on, sir, in the line of busi- ness,” the bead clerk answered, ‘‘ but there is something a little out of the business order which you will no doubt want to hear about.” ‘‘Ha!l What do you mean? But, let’s settle the business matters first, and have the field all clear for other things afterward.” Some conversation took place then relative to the business of the bank, the head clerk giving a ruport of nearly everything that had béen done during the banker’s absence, ‘*That will do,” Mr. Blackwall finally said; **] see that things have gone on all right. Par- milye was level-headed in all he did. I could trust him as I would myself. Now about that other matter, Griffit.” ‘* Well, sir, it was on the day after Mr. Par- milye died,” the head clerk began. ‘‘A young mon came in here and asked to see me. I asked | bim into the office, of course, and you could never guess what his business was,” ‘* Perhaps not, Griffit,” answered the banker, showing interest; ‘* what was it?” ‘‘ He wanted to find out something about Reu- ben Whitford and bis family, and having lJearn- ed that [had been employed by Whitford, had conle to me for information.” | He asked if I remembered her, as she used to Mr. Blackwall was sitting bolt uprightin his come to the bank. I said yes, I remembered chair now, his eyes wide open, and his face the | her. You will see the course his worming ques- picture of astonishment. tions took, from the points he got. He knows ‘* Good heavens!” he exclaimed. these things: That Celeste came to the bank Send were now talking in a very much lower | after she was married; that Abington was em- tone than they had previously employed. ployed at the bank; that they had two children, ‘¢ Tt rather surprises you, eh?” a boy and a girl; and some minor facts.” ‘* That is no name for it,” declared the banker. ** And vou say you do not think he knew any- ‘‘Who was he, and what did he want to find | thing of all this when he came to see you?” out?” ‘*That is what I think, 1 have been running ‘Well, he wanted to know, first, what bad | it over in my mind, and I have summed it up become of Mr. Whitford. Then he inquired | thus: He bad a clew to Mr. Whitford, that he about his daughter, Celeste, and about Henry | used to have a bank on Wall street, that he had Abington.” a daugbter Celeste, and that she married Henry Blackwall was upon his feet, and pacing the | Abington; and thatis all be did know. With floor. these points, he made the impression with every “This is news witha vengeance,” he declared. | question that he knew it all and a little more, ** But of course you knew nothing, Griffit—you but wanted me to confirm his ideas, Curse knew nothing.” him! be could not worm me agajn!” ~ “On the contrary, sir, I knew a great deal.” | ‘*‘T am not so sure of that,’ remarked the ‘What! What is that you say?’ ' banker, thoughtfully. ‘‘I have heard of these ‘*T say that I knew a great deal.” | Kinworths, and I tell you the truth in saying ‘*Confound you! what do you mean, anybow? , that I would rather bave the Pinkertons after Out with it, so that I will understand it all.” | me, if I happened to be guilty of anything.” ‘Very well, sir. I will tell youeverytbing: ‘* As bad asthat?’ about it, I said that I knew a great deal, be- ‘*That is the reputation they hold on the cause he got a great déal out of me.” Pacific Slope. 1 am glad that you got the in- ‘* What did you let him do that for?” formation you did. Forewarned is forearmed, ‘That is what I want to know, I have been | you know. But, see bere, I have always given thirking over it since, and I have been wanting you credit for sound sense and good judgment, for some one to come along and kick me hard. | and of course you did not let him get away from When that young man came in here I believe you without pumping bim in turn, did you?” that be did not knowathing about what he| ‘I pumped, or tried to, but the water didn’t wanted to know, but his questions were put so come to any great extent,” was the answer. devilishly cute that he wormed confessions out ‘ But let me tell you something more before I of me before I knew it. He was a terror.” come to that, While he was here Miss Parmilye ‘* Curse you for an idiot!” came in to draw some money—and, by the way, “That is all very well, sir, but you would | I let her bave five hundred on my own account; have been in the same fix yourself.” and she and the young man recognized each ‘*Do you mean to call me a blockhead?” other,” ‘‘ Have you ever had reason to call me one?” ‘* The deuce you say!” ‘Well, no, but this business looks migtty ‘Just asI tell you. It seems they had met weak on your part,” and the banker glared at on the train or boat, on the previous night, and his clerk in a furious manner. he had rendered her some sort of service, At ‘*} could not help it, nor could you have any rate soshe told Doctor Gorsalvo, who also helped it,” Griffit declared. ‘‘ What he got was | came in while he was here.” by his infernal worreing, sir. I could not see it! ‘* Worse and worse!” then, but I can see it plain enough now, It all! ‘When he was about to go, then I went for comes back to me, and [can see just what he | information out of him, Who are you? I asked, knew and what he did not know. But,I played | and why are you after all this information? one move on bim that he did not get the best of , Personally, he said, he had no interest in the the game in.” / matter, but he was working in the interest of ‘* And what was that?” another person who desired to Jearn what had ‘‘Why, I had bim followed when he went’ become of Henry and Celeste Abington and away, and I learned who heis and where hejs_ their children.” from. He is at the —— Hotel.” | ‘ Anything more? . Couldn’t the human blooi- ‘‘Hal That is something, anyhow. Who is’ hound think of something more to ask about?” he?” | ** Yes, he asked more, too,” Griffit declared, | aS = +e ee | | —— —— ‘‘His name is Prentiss Kinworth, and he | “ He asked one other question that threw me off registers as from San Francisco,” my feet, and Ido not understand it yet. He ** San Francisco!” floored me completely. I felt like a fool; but, it Yes,” | was natural enough, too, at first blush,” ‘‘Have you looked inthe Directory of that ‘‘ Well, what was it? Let me hear the worst city?” | and all of it, and then we will see what action ‘No; had not thought of that.” our side wil] take in the game.” ‘Do so immediately, then. Go to Brad- | street’s, 1 guess you will find it there, and see | TiO A s what is to be learned of the person.” CHAPTER XIV / * Yes, sir.” The head clerk left the office and set out upon FOREWARNED, FOREARMED. his mission. WHATEVER Mr, Blackwal]’s secret might be, ‘What can bein the wind now, I wonder?’ it was clear that he was alarmed. Blackwall asked himself, as he paced to and fro There was a look of determination upon his across the office. ‘There is something rotten | face and a gleam in his eyes that boded no good in Denmark, that issure. It may be serious | for the detective, : and itmay not be. I must take steps to find As for Griffit, he was more talkative than out.” usual, and showed interest in the subject of their His face wore a troubled look, and it was conversation, clear to be seen that be was in no easy state of | Both men were seated now, Mr. Blackwall in mind, | his office-chair at the side of the table, and Griffit was not gonea great while, and the Griffit in another chair at the corner. Their moment he entered the banker demanded: heads "came close together as they grew more ** Well?” and more in earnest. “T foreid the name in the Directory,” hean-| ‘Just as the man was going out,” Griffit went nounced, ‘and what I learned is uot likely to ' on with his narration, ‘t he stopped suddenly and cause you any uneasifiess,” ' asked, ‘ Where is Mancred? He put the ques- ‘* What did you learn? that is what I want to | tion in the most matter-of-fact way that you know!” can imagine, and he caught me. My mind in- OO) ae ee eee ll — stantly turned to you, that being your first name. The thought came that be must know you. *‘ Heisin New Orleans,’ I answered; and then I caught myself and asked him if he re- ferred to you.” ‘* And what did he say to that?” ‘* He askedif that were your name, Of course I had to say it is. Again I] asked if he meant you. ‘No,’ be answered; ‘I was under the im- pression that there used to be a Mancred em- ployed by Mr. Whitford. Do you remember the name? ‘No,’ I answered, ‘I do not,’” ** And you say that you do not understand it yet, eh?’ queried Mr. Blackwall. ‘* No, I do not understand it yet. You know as well asI do that there was no one of that name in Me Whitford’s employ.” ‘* How should I know anything about it,” the banker demanded, ‘‘ when I did not come here until after bis death, when his business was all wound up and closed?” ‘* Well, take my word for it then, There was no one of that name in that bank. It is next to impossible that this man could mean you—and in fact he owned that he did not. What then? AsI have told you, I felc flat. Dast him! he wound me up as easily asa ball of yarn.” ~ ‘‘ Well, as you bave said, you could not help it. If he isone of the Kinworths it is a wonder that he did not wind you up worse. But, you did notlet him get away scot free altogether, and there is some satisfaction in that. I wilb take care of him. I bope be will come and le me have an interview with him.” ‘*T hope he will,” Griffit echoed. ‘‘ You think he would get the better of it, eh?” “T do not say that, bnt you will be able to appreciate what I have told you of my experi- ence with bim. I would not mind seeing him again myself, for | would be prepares for him; but, curse bim! he has got all he wanted out of me already.” ‘‘ Undoubtedly.” ‘* But, do you understand what he was after by inquiring about one Mancred, when he did not mean you?” ‘*T think I understand it,” Mr. Blackwall an- swered. ‘* Yes, Ican safely say that Ido under- stand it. He shall find his man Mancred, too, But, enough of thisnow, Griffit. What you do not know need not worry you. You know enough asitis. We will let our conversation come to an end now,” ‘6 Yes, sir,” ‘‘ In a moment Griffit became the humble head clerk again, and had little to say beyond his monosyllabic ‘* Yes, sir.” He soon left the office, and Mr. Blackwall settled down in his chair to think. ‘“‘Twenty-seven years ago,” his thoughts ran, “* that fool Abington began his run of evil, and for twenty-seven years he bas prospered, I call him a fool because he has been a fool. And now [ must stand and defend what he bas laid up in the way of evil, or fall in the crash this accursed detective will bring down vpon me,” His face grew dark and clouded, ‘* He shall die!” he she e'g hissed between his teeth. ‘I will not have the mask torn away at this late day, Abington, alias Parmilye, is out of the way for all time, and I thought, m skirts were clear of the whole business, but tt seems not. Curse him! I know well enough where the name Mancred was used. It was at the asylum in San Francisco, There is but one conclusion to draw, and that is that that woman is still alive, and is in herright mind. She is now looking 7. the past. But, where does she get her means?” No longer could he sit still. . whirl, and he rose and began to pace the oor. ‘* What can be at the bottom of it all?’ he de- manded of hisown thoughts. ‘‘ Who has set the never learned what became of her, because he dared not ask, He rested with the conviction that she must be dead, But dead she is not, No of Henry Abington and Celeste Whitford, and the fate of their children.” To and fro in silence he paced for some time, | ‘*T must see Doctor Gonsalvo!” he finally ex- claimed, ‘‘If there is any one who can help me With clincbed fists» he brushed an ima presence away from before him, his face up, and he sat down at his desk and dived into business, That night found him at the residence of the dark-visaged doctor nary im, ‘* Ab! Mr. Blackwall,” he exclaimed, “‘ glad to see you! When did you return home?” ** Last ni shook hands with the doctor. ‘ about Parmilye, isn’t it,” he added. ‘* Tt is indeed,” the doctor agreed, Something like a smile suggested both men’s faces, “T have called to have a private interview ‘comicboo y His mind was in ball rolling, and given her the clews? Parmilye . other person would have any interest in the past — clear up this disagreeable mess, it is be.” ‘ hted © The colored man-servant opened the door to_ him, be inquired for the doctor, was showninto the parlor, and in a little time the doctor joined te t,” Mr. Blackwall rae as he itself on « with you,” Mr, Blackwall announced, presently, — 3 a < 7/4 Oa * i « at ae a" * _ -- Pt - "s ‘ a? ) ; if ] s é ‘ az) ~F eh yy a 1 - / i >. , Pt N ee ’ ~* “ ‘+ a J ae ita oe + , at - a . ll 4 ” as -! A ss