Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 580 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

aS ‘y! at im 2) ( | = ys * : ¢. city,” the detective went on. 14 Shadowing a Shadow. ” o eS eee « r Ste er ees 2 wr - - A aL aT eS Pes ot Nd ee ee ' ay al the -, Or eee sd . Wear ae ay * *“* After the birth of your second child you were an invalid, and your husband was none too kind to you. In about a yearor less after your father’s death your busband and you disappear- ed, with your children, and there the trail abruptly ends.” ‘** And that is all you have learned?” ‘* That is all, so far as the thread of narrative would run. But I have clews to more, and with your help I hope soon to unravel the whole mys- tery.” ‘*Have you learned anything about any per- son named Mancred?” , ‘*There is a Mancred Blackwall in this city against whom I have suspicion. Now, is your memory any clearer on any points, from what you have heard?” ‘** Only that the name Reuben certainly belongs to the name Whitford, as it comes fresh to mind now.” ‘It is my intention to take you to places which were once familiar to you, and then trust to those familiar scenes to bring back to your wandered memory other items of value to the search, such as names, etc,” ‘*A very good plan. I will co-operate with you most heartily.” ‘* 1f agreeable to you we will go out this after- | noon, and [ will conduct you to places which cannot fail to bring your mind to events of the ast,” “it will be perfectly agreeable to me, In truth, [am very anxious to push the work for- tive observed, ‘‘and I am that one, I am Prentiss Kinworth.” ) ‘“You? Impossible!” | He smiled at the incredulity. ‘“‘T am your detective, madam, For reasons, L thought it best to meet you in disguise. But, I will explain this later. Allow me to carry your gachels, ladies, and if you will give me your checks I will see that your trunks are forwarded speedily to the hotel.” ‘You must first satisfy me that you are the person you claim to be,” Mrs. Milburn said, de- cisively. The detective now laughed outright, “*T expected that,” he observed. ‘*‘Do you recognize this ring?’ and he held out his left hand, displaying the ring the lady had given him at their first interview. ‘*T do,” she answered, ‘I see it is all right, Now that I know you I can recognize your fea- tures, Allow me to present you to my friend Mrs, Ekyngs, Mr. Kinworth,” The detective acknowledged the introduction, the ladies gave him their handbags and checks, and he con:!ucted them to the ferry- boat. Arriving on the New York side, he left them for a moment while he delivered the checks to the Dodd agent at the ferry, and then he re- joined them and all entered a hotel stage. On entering the hotel he engaged their roonis, waited and saw that their trunks were properly | delivered, and then, saying that he would call on the morrow, went to bis own room, | He had a room in this hotel now, still retain- | ward as fast as possible.” ing the one where he had first stopped. Play- | Their interview was nota short one, and all ing now a ‘louble role, this was necessary. When | the points of the case were gone over, so far as in his own proper person, he would stop atthe | the detective cared to make them fully known — Hotel; but in this new character, with | to his client at this stage of the work; and when which be had adopted the name of Mr. Arm- | they parted it was with the understanding that strong, he would stop at the hotel where the | he should call for her at two o’clock, ladies were. At that hour he was again on hand, and they [t was about half-past ten next morning when | set out for the hotel; Mrs. Ekyngs, Mrs, Mil- ‘“Mr. Armstrong” sent his card up to Mrs, Mil- | burn’s companion, accompanying them, burn, and the boy brought back word that he They were 1n a car iage, should come right up. The carriage rolled away toward the lower The detective was soon in the lady’s presence. | part of the city, turned from Broadway into Mrs. Milburn had a suite of four rooms, and , Fulton street, proceeded along Fulton to Wil- she conducted the detective into one of them | liam street, and down William to Wall street, where they could hold their interview in pri- | where it stopped, as the detective had previously vacy. directed, When they were alone, and the doors closed, ‘* Here we will get out, ladies,” the detective Mrs. Milburn asked: announced. ‘*‘We will walk a little distance, _“ Well, Mr. Kin—” and then will take the carriage again.” ‘* Armstrong, madam, pray do not forget,” They alighted, and the carriage went up Wall the detective corrected. ‘‘To cal] me by my | street toward Broadway, they following on foot right name might, under certain circumstances, | in the same direction, prove very disastrous to my plans.” _ Kinworth had not informed Mrs. Milburn ‘* Very well, I will keep the point™in mind. | where she was going. ow before we proceed further will you oblige Presently she exclaimed: me by removing fora moment your false hair ‘*Oh! This is the street that I remembered and beard?” so well! See, it is just as I described it! It ‘* With pleasure, madam!” and he complied | runs slightly up-hill; there are offices on both with the request. | sides; yonder is the big church— Yes, yes, it is It was a wonderful transformation from age | the same as it used to be!” ' to youth, .“* We are approaching the bank, madam,” the “*Thank you; that will do,” the lady said, | detective notified. ‘‘If you have the inclina- now thoroughly satisfied. ‘‘It gives me re-_ tion toenter, and think your nerves will stand newed assurance to see > aad fave as it wasat the strain, doso, Say nothing, however.” our first meeting. May linquire why you are | ‘ Yes, yes,” the lady excitedly ejaculated, in disguise?” ‘**yonder it is; 1 remember it well! is is my ‘*It is in order that you may not become vision, sir, exactly, only now it is the reality. known to those who may yet prove themselves Yes, 1 will go in, for I am sure I will be in- “sch enemies,” was the explanation given. ‘‘I clined to do su, Now I am living my old life, ave made acquaintances since I came bere, | sir, and the present is like a dream,” and my business bas been made known. It | She was ren in a low but eager tone, and could not be otherwise, as I had to push my in- Kinworth felt much concern for what might quiries openly. Everything is not going as | a in the next few moments, smoothly as I could wish, and for that reason I | hey went on, came to the building that had do not want your identity known to those who formerly been occupied by Mr. Whitford, and know me.” Mrs. Milburn turned and mounted the steps. ‘“*T understand you, sir. Well, what have | Her companion had hold of her arm, and Kin- you learned? That is the all-important ques- | worth was close behind them. They entered, tion now, to me,” aud, a moment later, Mrs, Milburn uttered a ‘*{ will inform you as clearly and briefly as [piercing scream and fell into the detective’s can, madam. What 1} shall state are not sup- | arms in a deathlike faint, tions, but facts. Your maiden name was leste Whitford. Your father’s name was le CHAPTER XVIII. - Reuben Whitford. He—” “That is the name!” the lady excitedly ex- MYSTERIOUS MENTAL PHENOMENA. claimed. IT was a moment of excitement; but Kin- “He was a banker on Wall street, in this worth was perfectly calm. ‘*He had in his, Those who were in the room quickly gathered - employ a young man named Henry Abington. ‘| around, and one of the officers of the bank “You married him, and had two children, one a | hastened out. boy and the othera girl. I have searched the | ‘“Carry the lady right into the office,” he -__- records, and have found the date of your mar- | directed, riage and the datesof birth of your children, §_Kinworth would not allow that. For her to but have not been cble vet to ascertain their recover inaroom that had undoubtedly once names. When you had been married about one | been familiar to her, might prove too severe for _-year your first child, the boy, was born, and her nerves. three years later the second child was born, ** No, it is not necessary,” he quietly observed. Shortly after that your father died.” Our carriage is right at ban:'!. This is noth- _ ** Wonderful!” rs, Milburn exclaimed, , ing. Accustomed to like spells,” “How have you been able to get at all these _ “Shall I belp vou with her to the carriage, facts in so short a time?” | then, sir?’ the bank officer asked, ee “Simply by following up the clews you were ‘** Yes, if you will,” the detective answered. able to furnish, madam,” was the respectful re- They took her carefully in their arms and _ ply. | carried ber out, and it was but a little distance __ ** You say you have learned the dates of the to Broadway where the carriage was waiting. events mentioned?” Reaching the carriage, Mrs. Ekyngs got in Yes, madam. Henry Abington and Celeste | first, as the detective directed, and then the in- _ Whitford were married Julv 30, 1854. Their animate form of Mrs, Milburn was lifted in, first child was born June 5, 1855, The second , Kinworth following. was born May 20, 1858. Your father died | Mrs. Ekyngs had some smelling-salts with her, August 10, 1858,” | and she applied the bottle to the fainted wo- : ** Wonderful, indeed, But, go on.” man’s n Is, Kinworth at the same time rub- me, 5 \ - sa bing her hands briskly. The carriage, mean- time, started on its return to the hotel. Before they had gone far Mrs, Milburn show- ed signs of recovery, and ere long she was able to sit up. ‘* Where have I been? and what has happen- ed?” she presently asked, looking around her in a bewildered manner, ** You bad better remain quiet until we reach the hotel,” the detective advised. ‘I will tell you all about it then, madam.” ‘*The hotel?’ she repeated; ‘‘ what hotel do nl Ob, yes, now I remember. I am in ew York,” ‘*'You remember where you have been?” Kin- worth asked, ‘* Yes, I recall itnow. Wecameup the street and entered the bank, and then the vision broke and I could grasp no more of it— But, it was no vision this time; it was the reality. W hat bappened, sir?” ‘““When you entered the bank you screamed and fainted, madam,”’ “Then I “have just come out of the faint; is that it?” ‘* Yes, you have just recovered,” ‘*What was it that caused me to scream? Whar did I see?” ‘IT do not know, madam, I was in hope that you could tell me that when you came to, Do you not recall it?” ‘*No, Itseems the same as the vision I told you about. I got just so far, and then it broke and I recall nothing more.” ‘“It is too bad. But, it must be tried again, To-morrow, when you have fully recovered from this shock, I will take you to other familiar scenes,” ‘Tt is not necessary to wait, sir. I shall be myself in a few minutes, We may as well go now as at another time.” “i If you are willing, madam, It is for you to ‘*Let us go, by all means, I am feverish to push the matter to an end,” ‘* Very well, it shall be as you say.” Kiuworth stopped the carriage and gave new directions to the driver, and they proceeded. ‘‘We will go first to the house where Mr. W hitford used to reside,” the detective informed. ‘*Tt is there that your childhood was no doubt spent, Mrs. Milburn, and if the house is un- changed, it cannot fail to arouse old-time memo- ries in your mind,” hey talked the matter openly in the presence of Mrs. Ekyngs now, Mrs. Milburn having sig- nified her willingness to do so, ‘‘T hope that it is unchanged, then,” Mrs, Milburn earnestly declared, ‘for I want to meet with some scene that will rend asunder this vail of mystery and let in the light upon my darkened memory.” After a drive of considerable length the car- riage finally oeppes in a quiet street, and Kin- worth called Mrs, Milburn’s attention to a cer- tain house, 1 ‘* Do you recognize it?” he asked. sey wean know,” was the response, “ It seems fawiliar, and yet I cannot bring it to memory fully. You say this was my home?” ‘So Linfer. This was the residence of Reu- ben Whitford.” “If I could look around at the neighborhood from the windows of the house, it might prove 1g satisfactory than looking at the house it- self, ‘That is true,” the detective coincided. ‘If it 1s necessary, you shall have the opportunity of doing so, We will get out and let you take a view of your surroundings from the sidewalk, if you desire,” ‘Let us do so.” . They alighted; the detective told the driver to go to the next corner and wait, and they fol- owed on in the same direction slowly. Mrs, Milburn looked about her with strong interest. Presently she exclaimed: ‘Yes, this is familiar to me, Mr. Armstrong! I bring that quaint old church to mind ckarly. Why, that is whé@re Dorinda used to attend so faithfully !” : ; ‘‘ And who was Dorinda?” Kinworth quickly- asked, ‘That is a new name, Mrs, Milburn.” ‘‘ Dorinda?” the lady repeated, “Did I say Dorinda ‘* You certainly did, madam.” Looking at her quickly, Kinworth noticed that she bad just expericnced one of her mem- ory-flashes, as they had both come to call the peculiar mental trance-like visions to which she was subject. ~ ‘*T certainly do not know now,” she declared. “Tt is goneagain, The nameis familiar enough, now that you have spoken it, but I cannot place it. Oh! will this cloud ever pass away?” She sighed wearily as she uttered the words, They had all come to a stop on the sidewalk, and the detective ventured to remind: “Tt was the old church over the way there that brought the name to your memory,” he said. ‘‘ You observed that that iswhere Dorinda used to attend so faithfully.” Mrs, Milburn looked again, and Kinworth watched her narrowly. ‘** You are Miss Celeste Whitfo ‘com sy ,” he sa , im ebooks.c