Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 580 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

A The detective had beard and seen all, though seeminglY absorbed with interest in the game he was watching. He turned around, and at sight of him Dugald Cambeth gave a start. Kinworth showed not the least sign of recognition, ‘Mr. Kinworth,” the doctor said, ‘‘ let me in- troduce you to Mr, Waldemar Blackwall. Also to Mr. Cambeth. Gentlemen, this is Mr, Pren- tiss Kinworth, of San Francisco.” Young Blackwall gave his hand, but Cambethb simply bowed slightly, and the four fell into conversation, As that conversation would be of little inter- est to the reader, it may be passed over. Kin- worth learned that young Blackwail was the son of Blackwall the banker, and was secretly glad that he had met him. A pleasant hour was passed, which might have been extended into bours, had Kinworth accepted the invita- tions of his friends to play. But that he did not do. He politely buat firmly declined, saying that he had no money to lose, and no desire to win another’s. Finally they parted company, and the detective returned to liis hotel. He had scored a big point in having met young Blackwall. CHAPTER XVI. A CARD PLAYED TOO LATE MANCRED BLACKWALL wanted to have an in- terview with the California detective; but, how to bring it about he did not know, He consulted with Dr. Gonsalvo, who, on the morning after the events recorded in the pre- ceding chapter, called at the bank. ‘* Gonsalvo,” be confided, “ [ want to see that detective and have a talk with him. How am I to bring it about? Of course I do not want him ‘to suspect that I am anxious to see him.” ‘* Suppose I invite bim to my house, and you happen in?” “That might do, but that would not afford me a private interview with him. I want to see him alone,” ‘‘I might have a convenient urgent call out, and leave you together until my return.” ee Yes, that might do, Will you fix it for m 7 ‘*-T will, sir.” ‘* All right. You can let me know when to call, and at what hour.” ‘*] will attend to it, and you can depend on it. By the way, perhaps you would like to know what I think of the man, after what I have told you about my making his acquain- tance further last night.’ ‘* Yes, so I would, him?” ‘My opinion is that he is not nearly so deep as you have been giving him credit for.” * You think not?” ‘*T am sure of it. Here is an incident to illus- trate. Wewerein the Danae last night, when our son and a friend came up and spoke to me, inworth was looking at the players, and al- though 1 stood right at bis side he did not notice that any one had spoken tome, and I had to ac- tually pull him around to introduce him, Not by any means an Argus, though a detective.” ‘‘ So 1% would seem,”. ‘** And he is not either deep or shrewd, so far as I have been able to judge. He is good com- pany, and bright enough, but not by any means my ideal of a detective. You need have no dread of an interview with him, that I can as- sure you.” ‘‘Tam glad to hear that, but the Kinworth Agency has a great reputation on the Pacific What is your opinion of Slope.’ ‘*Tt was never earned by this y ung man.” Just at that moment the head clerk came in to*announce a caller, ‘*Tt is Mr. Kinworth, the young man who was here the other day,” he explained. The banker and tbe doctor exchanged glances, ‘‘Have you told him that there is any one in here with me?” the banker asked, mo, Gr.” ““Do not do so, then. Doctor, you step into that closet there and shut tha, door and remain out of sight. Griffit, let him come in,” The doctor hastened to the place of hiding in- ‘dicated, and in a few minutes the detective en- tered the room, ““Do I address Mr, Mancred Blackwall?” he inquired. “You do, sir,” the banker informed. ‘ Will you sit down, sir?” Kinworth did so, ‘*T have called,” he observed, “‘ toseeif you are able to 33 me any informatiou on a certain matter. I washere the other day and had an interview with your bead clerk, which was sat- isfactory as faras it went, but not satisfactory enough. He may have spoken of it to you.” ‘*T do not think he has, sir,” the banker care- lessly observed, | , nworth made bis business known in about the same words he had aoplies in stating it to Griffit, Besides, he stated what he had learned from the head clerk. “And what additional information do you rei I can give you?” the banker very quietly as ““T'do not know that you can give me any,” | Shadowing a Shadow. TTT EL LL | -—-- ——_ — ‘*] have come in to ascertain that. Did you know Mr. Whitford, and any- thing about his family and business?” “I did not, sir. When I came to New York it was after he was dead and his business all closed up.” ‘It is as | feared, then,” Kinworth observed. ‘*] was in hopes that you had known him, and was the answer. | would be able to give me some points,” As he said this the detective placed his left hand on the edge of the table, as though about to rise. On the little finger of that hand was the ring that had been given into his keeping by Mrs. Milburn. 13 to. There will be something like thirty thou- sand dollars for her out of her father’s share of the business and his private property.” ‘*T am glad to hear that,” “‘And about your coming into partnership here, that had better rest very quietly for a long time. Of course you cannot hope to marry the girl within a year, and I would suggest that you wait a year after that. No suspicion must be aroused,” re ‘‘T agree with you fully, sir.” Further conversation was had, and Dr. Gon- salvo went away. W hen he was gone, the banker called Griffit The banker’s eyes caught sight of the ring, | into the office. and turned to it, naturally,and as they rested upon it the detective noticed that there appear- ed in them a sudden start of recognition. He had gained the point he wasafter! He knew that Mancred Blackwall recognized the ring! Blackwall said no word and made no sign, further, that was suggestive, and in a second had recovered himself compietely. It bad been in fact, a mere mental start, with no outward sign other than the detective had caught in the man’s eyes. ‘* No,” the banker averred,‘‘I cannot help you any. I would gladly do so if I could.” The detective rose, ‘Then I will trouble you no further,” he re- marked. ‘I am greatly obliged to you for the interview you have granted me.” ‘** Do not mention it,” the banker waived. ‘ If there is any wav in which I can be of service to you, call again.” ‘** Thank you, sir.” With that Kinworth took his leave, and Gon- salvo came out of his hiding-place. ** Why didn’t you question him a little?” he asked, ‘* Because [ did not want to show too much interest in the matter,” was thereply. ‘‘ We will arrange the meeting at your house, and ae the opportunity will be much more favor- able. ‘* Yes, you are right. him?’ “About the same as you do, Iam of the opinion that be was never cut out for a detec- tive; he is decidedly too simple for a New York crowd,” ‘*Right you are,” the doctor agreed, “and I am of the opinion that he can easily be turned off on a false trail, as they say out West.” ** You think so?” ‘*l am sure of it. ‘* What is it?” ** Why not have Griffit give him a wild story? He can say that he kas been reflecting upon the matter, and his memory on various points has refreshed itself. He can say that he remembers Abington went to Chicago, for instance, with his wife and little ones, and that there he killed himself; or something of that sort,” ** Doctor, you have hit it exactly!” the banker exclaimed, ‘‘Chicago having been mentioned in the case already, it is just the place to turn his attention to. When Parmilye put that wo- man in the San Francisco asylum he said that she was a widow, native of Chicago.” ‘*Good! It could not have been better!” “It might have been better,” the banker as- serted, ‘if Parmilye had been a little more fore- sighted in bis work, If he had given the woman a false name, for instance, and had not been fool enough to leave her engagement-ring on ber finger—” ‘He did that?” “He did, and what is worse now, that very ring was on the finger of that detective when he What do you think of I have an idea, anyhow.” was in here. I recognized it. Of course JI) took care not to let him see that I did, thougb.” **It is too bad that Parmilye did not exercise more care.” “Of course it is, but it is gratifying to know that Parmilye is out of the way forever, and should this detective get onto his track the trail will lead him simply to a grave in Greenwood.” ‘“‘Ha, ba, ha! That is the case in a nutshell. By the way, I have seen a man who tells me that the grave is all right, and nothing can be suspected,” ‘ ‘““Good enough. Oh, I guess we can defy all et a that have a mind to come against ‘““And how about the insurance companies? Have you presented the claims?” I sent them in this morning. Thought I would not be in any burry about it, you know. We will take it very easy and let matters run along in their own course. It will not do to seem anxious,” ‘That is the proper way. And now, about Miss Parmilye. You understand that I want to marry her, if I can win her hand, Parmilye told you» of course,” “Yes, 1 know all aboutit. I shall ask her and her old housekeeper to come to my house, and then I will use my influence in your behalf. I uuderstand Parmilye’s wishes in the matter perfectly well. ** Do you think she will accept your offer?” ‘‘T feel pretty confident that sbe will, She has said to my wife that she wil! not come into our house as a dependent, and she will not have . A A a ee a mmeeeeenaneeene A _ me off on a false scent. ‘* Griffit,” he said to him, ‘*I do not fully agree with you in regard to that detective’s great shrewdness. I think he can be over- reached without much trouble.” ‘* Yes, sir?” passively but interrogatively. **T do. More than that, I want you to be the one to mislead him,” ** Yes, sir.” **T want you to drop him a little note, saying that your memory serves you better now that you have been thinking over the matter upon which he made inquiries. You have just got his address, by chance, from Doctor Gonsalvoe, and hasten to drop him a line.” The banker went on and laid the outline of the plan before him, and when their conference ended, Griffit carried out the instructions. Kinworth, on leaving the bank, had returned to the hotel. He had nothing further to do now, until the arrival of Mrs, Milburn. He was seated in the reading-room, thinking that it was about time for dinner, when one of the call-boys came up and handed bim a letter, Opening it, he read: ‘Mr. KinwortH:— ‘“‘DeaR Sir:—Since you were here making in- uiries about Reuben Whitford, etc., I have had the matter in mind, and some other points have come to memory. Thinkin they may be of service, I drop this note to you. You inquired about one Mancred. I rememberthat Abington had a friend of that name in Chicago with whom he used to cor- respond, Further, I now think that when Abington ana his wife left New York they went to Chicago.” ‘Yours truly, JASON GRIFFIT.”’ The detective smiled as he read, and put the note into his pocket. CHAPTER XVII. A CRITICAL MOMENT. DETECTIVE KINWORTH was not deceived; quite the contrary! He saw through the little ame as*readily as though some one had laid the facts bare befure him. ‘ ‘This is good, very good indeed!” he mypsed, ““It is good for me, but good for nothing so far as its design is concerned. A school-boy ought to see through it. It is clear that Blackwall and his man Pak have held a consultation, and this is the result of it. They desire to put That goes to indicate that it is getting too warm for them,” ** Blackwall knows something about this mat- ter, and that is clearly proved by the fact that he recognized this ring. is Abington? Itis not by any means impossi- ble. I shall find out. Whatever it may there fs something in the wind to make him want to throw me off the track. Perbaps the dead Parmilye was Abington! We shall see.” The next day passed without any incident wortby of record, In the évening Detective Kinworth went down to the ferry and crossed over to Jersey City, He was in disguise, and looked to be about fifty years old) He bad white hair and side- whiskers, wore a high beaver hat and carried a heavy silver-headed cane, His coat was a long frock, and being open it displayed a white vest. No one would have recognized bit, ~ On reaching the Jersey side he went into the Pennsylvania Railroad station, and there made inquiries concerning the arrival of a train from the West. He was informed that the train was about on time, and when the time of its arrival drew near be went out under the sheds to watch for some one whom he expected. The train rolled into the shed, the passengers poured out of the cars, and in a short time the detective espied the person for whom he was looking. This was a lady, none other than Mrs, Milburn, of San Francisco, She bad a companion with ber, a woman about her own age, or perha they left the ear Mrs, Milburn looked around as though searching for some one whom sbe had would meet her. ted if When they came down near the entrance to the ferry-house the detective advanced, lifted his hat as he approached, and saic: Is it possible that he a little younger, aud as | ‘‘Mrs, Milburn, allow me to welcome you, and ae you that your long journey is at an end, »+ ‘* The two ladies had stopped, and Mrs. Milburn. looked at the detective in surprise. **T do not know you, sir,” she said. ~c% “‘There was cnly one person whom you ex- pected to meet you on your arrival,” the detec- ICO com (S sS) wll uae’ —sS