Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 580 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

. - « ba ’ ' } ~~ BM. a4 “ | Shadowing a Shadow. died, and what became of his widow and chil- dren.” ‘Then you know that he is dead?” ‘* Well, such is the supposition,” the detective qualified, ‘‘ If I can find his relatives I can soon get at the truth of that point.” ‘‘T am sorry to say that I cannot give you any information about him,” Griffit responded to the question. ‘‘l was never intimate with him, though we were both in the same office.” *“‘Can you direct me to any one who will be like ly to know something about the matter?” ‘“‘T can not.” ‘Can you tell me where I can find other persons who were employed in Mr, Whitford’s office?” ‘*T have lost sight of them all, sir.” ‘Well, surely you know of some one with whom Mr. Whitford himself was on intimate terms. Some person who, perbaps, may—” There was a light knock at the door at that moment, followed immediately by its being opened, and, much to the surprise of the detec- tive, the person who entered was the young lady who had appealed to him for protection on the previous night. It was Essylt Parmilye. CHAPTER VIII. CLERK GRIFFIT GAINS POINTS. DETECTIVE KINWORTH was surprised indeed, Here was a person whom he had never ex- pected to see again. The lady spoke to Mr. Griffit, with just a glance at his companion, and was about to ad- dress him further, when she paused to take a more scrutinizing look at Kinworth. The glance, the pause, the glance again—all occupied only a second. At the second look she recognized her friend of the evening before, and with a slight ac- knowledging bow, said: ‘“* We meet again. This is very unexpected,” As soon as he had received her recognition Kinwortb was upon his feet, and bowing po- asf he responded: t is an unexpected pleasure tome, I had no hope that I should ever see you again,” In order, then, to avoid what he felt might we an awkward pause, the detective turned diately to Mr. Griffit and added: “Mr. Griffit, I will withdraw until this lady has transacted her business—” ‘yo nothing of the kind, sir,” Miss Parmilye interrupted, ‘‘ Resume your seat, please, If you will pardon me for having intruded, and will allow me to engage Mr. Griffit’s attention for a moment, I will make haste with my er- rand here and ’ shorten as jmuch as possible the interruption I have made,” ‘Make no mention of that, and do not hurry yourself,” Kinworth responded, and he sat down again, Griffit having meantime provided a chair for Miss Parmilye. The detective noticed that the lady’s manner was very sad, and that she showed signs of recent weeping g ‘Mr. Griffit,” she addressed the head clerk ‘‘T have come "down to draw some money, i there is any plan by which I can do so.” ‘‘Have you @ personal account here?’ the clerk asked, “No,” was fhe answer, “but of course my father had. Very unfortunately he had no money in the house when he died, and but very little.in his pocket, and I must bave some for immediate use ’ “There is no wa ay that you can draw any, I am sorry to say,” the head clerk informed, **but I can advance re some as a personal loan until Mr. Blackwall returns and affairs are straightened out. How much do you require?” ‘‘T will accept your kind offer, Mr. Griffit,” the lady promptly agreed. ‘‘ Can you let me have five hundred dollars?” “Certainly. I will fill out a check for the amount,” Mr. Griffit took up a blank check and filled it, and when he had “done, handed it to the lady, sa ‘ing: ‘Just indorse this, if you please, Miss Par- milye, and I will get thecash for you immedi- ately. nworth noted the name, and drew rapid conclusions. This must be a daughter of the Parmilye of the firm, and he must have recently di ed, Miss Parmilye took the pen and was about to sign her name to the back of the check, when the door opened and Dr. Gonsalvo entered, “ Pardon this intrusion,” he observed, with a slight bow; ‘‘ I have followed you here, Miss Parmilye,” addressing the lady as he advanced into the office. ‘‘ Thinking that I could be of service to you at this time, I called at the house just now, and learning that you bad come here, ollowed. Mrs, Swann told me what your errand here is, and you will confer a favor on me if yon will allow me to come to your assist- ance “1 thank you for your thoughtful kindness, Doctor Gonsalvo,” nded the lady, “ but I am not in need of assistance now. Mr. Griffit has kindly advanced all the money I require.” ** But,” the doctor Brae, **you have not in- a if, t ee ee ee ri ee ee ee ee aire eel on ees ee ee ee Ae ee ae eas ce ee ee dorsed the checked yet; destroy it and accept the favor from me instead.” **Oh, no, [could not think of it, after having troubled Mr, Griffit. I thank you just the same, however,” With that the lady affixed her signature to the check and returned it to the clerk, who immedi- ately left the room. Dr, Gonsalvo was looking at Kinworth in an inquiring manner. “A gentleman who rendered me a real ser- vice last night, and whom I have just met again by chance,” Miss Parmilye observed, in a half- apologetical introductory manner; “T have not the honor of knowing your name, sir,” to Kin- worth. ‘*My name is Kinworthb,” the detective in- formed, ‘*Permit me to make you acquainted with Doctor Gonsalvo.” It was, after all, a mere casual introduction, into which the lady had been in a measure forced by circumstances, It had, however, opened the way for her to find out Kinworth’s name. Nothing further was said, after the doctor and Kinworth had greeted each other stiffly , for Mr, Griffit returned with the money he had gone to bring. “* Here is the amount, Miss Parmilye,” he said, as he put it into the lady’s hand, ‘‘I have eorian it in tens, fifties and hundreds.” The lady accepted it, thanked him, and with a pleasant pad to him and Kinworth, went out, Dr. Gonsalvo going with her. Mr. Griffit resumed his seat. ‘* From what I have heard said,” observed the detective, ‘‘I take it that that lady is a daugh- ter of the Mr. Parmilye of this firm, and that he has recently died,”’ “You are right,” Mr, Griffit confirmed, ‘‘ she is his only child. He died last night, But, to re- turn to our conversation, is there anything more that I can answer? If so, let me hear your questions.” ‘*T just asked youif you could name some person with whom Mr. Whitford had been in- timate during his last years, or something to that effect,” Kinworth reminded, —/ cannot,” was the answer, “* Very well, I will not trouble you with any more questions, sir. I presume you have given me all the intormation you are able to give, along the line of the questions I have already asked.” ‘*T think IT bave, sir.” ‘*' Then I will take my leave,” and the detec- tive rose. ‘I aia very thankful to you for the information poe have given ine,” Kinworth had reason to feel proud of the suc- cess he had met with. Things had turned out much better than he had hoped for, Now his clews tothe case were reliable, and he had a solid foundation to build upon, There was one point more, however, upon which he wanted to sound Mr. Griffit, and that was regarding the name Mancred, ‘By the way,” be observed, as he was mov- ing. toward the door, ** where is Mancred?” his was asked in the most matter-of-fact way tbat can be imagined. The answer surprised him not a little. ‘* He is in New Orleans, but he has been tele- aphed for and— But, do you refer to Mr. Blackwall?” The head clerk came to a sudden stop and put the question. Mancred happened to be Mr. Black wall’s first name, ‘* Ts that his name?” Kinworth asked, “Yes, that’s his name; did you mean him?” the head clerk affirmed and gag 2 ** No, I did not mean him,” the detective con- fessed. ‘*l am under the impression that there used to be a Mancred employed by Mr. Whit- ford. Do you remember any one of that name there?! ‘** No, I do not,” The detective had noted that Mr. Griffit was becoming more reserved in the latter part of the interview, so he ended it by saying: “Well, I will trouble you no more, Mr. Grif- fit. Iam very much obliged indeed.” “Hold on, one word, sir,” the head clerk re- quested, just as the detective was going out; * you have asked me a great many questions, all of which | have tried to answer. May I inquire who you are, and what interest you take in this matter?” ‘* Personally,” the detective answered, “I have no interest in the matter. I am acting for an- other person, as I do not mind telling you. That person desired to learn what became of Henry on and Celeste Whitford, and their chil- ren, Mr. Griffit looked as though he wanted to question further, but he did not do so, and with a few remarks of a more commonplace nature the two men parted. Mr. Griffit turned back, as the detective start- ed away, motioned one of the under-clerks to him, and quickly said: “You saw that man who just went out. Fol- low him carefully, do not let him suspect you, and learn where he goes to; also learn who he is if you can.” * Yes, sir.” = So the clerk responded, and catching up his hat he darted out of the office and followed his man, lt was his first work in the detective line, and as Kinworth had no suspicion of anything of the kind the young man had no trouble in keep- ing him in sigut. Kinworth went direct to his hotel, and soon to his room there, and the young man® from the bank had no difficulty in learning what the hotel register had to say about him. In the register the detective had entered his | true name and address, and the head clerk of Blackwall, Parmilye & Co.’s establishment was soon in the possession of the items, Kinworth, on going to his room, sat down and ran the case over in mind, ** My ideas about the affair,” he mused, “‘ have. roved correct in the main, I bave been in uck, too. Now I will telegraph for Mrs, Mil- burn to come on here, as we arranged. When she is here her memory may, in a greater de- gree, return to her, when she is brought in con- tact with once familiar scenes, ‘* Well, wnat have I learned? How does the case stand now? Let me sum . the a: briefly, and get hold of them. In the place, Whitford was Mrs. Muilburn’s teri name, Reuben Whitford was her father. She married Henry Abington, who was a clerk in her father’s bank. They had two children, The eldest was a boy, and I infer that the other was irl, * So much for the facts, Now what about theories? Itisa peculiar coincidence that Mr. Blackwalls name is Mancred. I want to see him when he gets home, It may signify noth- ing, however. But what am I to think about that man Griffit? I am inclined to think that he knows more than he has told me. I did not have this suspicion till toward the last of our inter- view. Then it seemed to grow uponme, Il must give more attention to bim. ‘* Well, the case must rest easy now until Mrs, Milburn’s arrival, I will get the date of mar- riage of Henry Abington and Celeste Whitford, and the dates of birth of their children, if the city has them on record. I will bunt up some of Mr. Whitford’s old neighbors, and perhaps may find some of his personal friends, and may learn something in that way. Once jet me get on the trail of that man Abington, and I[ think I sball soon be able to clear up the mystery of Mrs. Milburn’s past,” Little did he dream of what was before him, CHAPTER IX, DORINDA SNIPES AND PERICLES WOGGS. ‘‘ GOOD-MORNING to you, Missus Snipes,” “* Good-njorning to you, Mister W oggs.” ‘*T hopdé thst you are well this morning, Missus Suipes. You certainly look well. You are as fresh and rosy as a girl of fifty, upon my word you are, ‘*T am quite well, I thank you, Mister W and [ hope that you are the same yourself. I can see that you are. You areas cheery as a schoolboy.” “Thank you, Missus Snipes. Yes, I am quite well, [ thank you,” Pericles Woggs, the first person above quoted, was a man about eighty years of age. He wasa curbstone merchant by occupation. His stand was on a corner, and he enjoyed a fair patron- age and an income that was sufficient for his humble needs, In fact he was able to lay by a little now and then in anticipation of tbe pro- verbial rainy day. He dealt in tobacco and cigars, notions, Jew’s-harps and harmonicas, Dorinda Sripes was in the same occupation, but with a differeit line of goods for sale, She dealt in apples, oranges, bananas, candy, pea- nuts, ete. Her stand vas on another corner, diagonally opposite to the one occupied by Mr. Woggs. She was about seventy-five years of age. Like Mr. Woges, she was doing a fairly good business, and was able to save a little as she went along, in foresight against old age, which, in the natural order of things, must sooner or later overtake her. Mr. Woggs was a little man, now very much dried up and wrinkled. He could not boast of a single tooth in bis head, but he wore a wig and a pair of old-fashioned epectecles, He was ve attentive to business, and was very fond of his daily newspaper, which he usually read through and through from beginning to end, Mrs, Snipes was sbort and fat, and almost as ruddy as some of ber finest apples. She carried her age well, and no one would have called her over sixty-five if asked toguess it. She was fond of knitting, and added a little to her income in that way. These two old Pg einay were quite fond of each other. They bad been on their respective cor- ners fora number of years, had the field all to themselves, and were happy, as their different lines of goods afforded no ground for a spirit of rivalry. To be strictly truthful, they were a little more than fond of each other. It may safely be said that they loved each other. Such was, in fact, the case. Mr. Woggs had Jong since asked Mrs. Snipes to become the sharer of bis joys and— Had asked Sat Eom ‘S But, be had no sorrows, her, in | ebook ¥ hock ee, ad es