Beadle's Dime Library No. 628 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

- “& i X Fi} i ¥ ' made an examination. Lo men, and then just after the money-king was pointed out to me by the detective—he was standing cn the steps of the building wherein he had his office—a gentleman came up and ad- dressed him by name—1l was so near that I dis- tinctly overheard the salutations—then the two went into the office together,” ‘*Tt really seems conclusive that there could not be any mistake about the matter,” the snp- posed lawyer remarked, ‘‘ And the detective’s evidence in regard to this point will be valuable too. Can you recall his name?” ‘* Yes, I can, for I have an excellent memory for names and faces,” the Englishman replied, ey aa ‘* His name was Barry—Detective alrry,. ‘*T think [ have heard of the gentleman,” the supposed lawyer remarked, in his mild way. ‘* And as [ said a moment ago, his testimony will be valuable.” **T should imagine so, although I have very little knowledge in regard to such matters,” Mr, Rochester remarked, evidently very well satis- fied with the way matters, were going, The disguised detective did not think it was necessary at this stage of the game to tell the Englishman that he knew that Mctechive Barry had been dead and buried for over four months, so it would not be possible to produce bim as a witness, ‘*A sharp trick,” thought the acute man- hunter, ‘‘to give the name of the man who would not be able to deny that he had acted as the guide to this stranger in his Wall street trip,” And this fact made the bloodhound more cer- tain than ba had been before that he was on the track of a gigantic conspiracy. But no one would ever have been able to guess from the expression on his face that he was not satisfied with the Englishman’s statement, Then the disguised detective produced the photographs, ‘* Will you kindly tell me if you recognize the face of Mr, Engleburt in any of these portraits?” he asked, ** Certainly!” And it hardly took Mr, Rochester a second to pick ont the right card, ‘* This is his likeness!” he declared, as he held up the phetograph. “That iscorrect! It is evident that you know the right man,” “Oh, itisas I told you,” the Englishman re- marked, ‘I felt satisfied from the beginning that there could not be any mistake about the matter, and thatis why linterested myself on bebalf of this poor woman! ‘* It seemed to me that it was a great shame for her to suffer—to be put to her trumps, you know, to get bread to put into her mouth while she really was entitled to a deal of monev.” ‘* Well, sir, if she succeeds in establishing her claim she may thank you for it!” the supposed lawyer declared. ‘““Ybat is all right!” Mr. Rochester replied, in an off-hand way. ‘‘I do not pretend to be any better than I ought to be, but in a case of this kind I should not consider a fellow to be rmouch of a man if he was not willing to do what he‘could to help a poor creature along, situated as this lady is, It is really no trouble, you know; that is, not any to speak of, and virtue is its own reward, as [ used to write in my copy- book when I went to school,” ‘¢ Very true—very true, indeed!” and the dis- guised detective rubbed his hands together and beamed on the Englis!iman in the most friendly way. ‘lam really glad that this case is com- ing on so well,” he continued, ‘It is so much more pleasant to be able to make a favorable repor} than one to the contrary.” ‘Have you found everything satisfactory s9° far?’ the Englishman inquired. ‘* Oh, yes, there does not seem to be any gap in the chain of evidence,” “That is the way it looked to me when I After I heard the lady’s story, you know, [became interested, but before I advised her to make a move I took pains to see what evidence could be procured to show that she was the wife of the millionaire, and I willsay to you frankly that the more I examin- ed into the matter the firmer became my belief that she had the strongest kind of a case, Of course, as I said before, lamnota lawyer, and so am only judging the matter froma layman’s stand-point, yet, still it seems tome that the ense is so clear that she will not have any dif- ficulty in proving that she was the wife of millionaire Abrabam Engleburt.” * The evidence is strong: no doubt of it!” the disguised detective remarked with a knowing shake of the head, ‘That is the opinion of Counselor Have and he is a man not likely to make a niistake ina matter of this kind.” * True—very true.” **He examined into the merits of the case thoroughly before be would consent to take charge of it,” the Englishman explained. ‘‘ You see his first impression was that it would turn out to be a kind of a blackmailing scheme, and he was reluctant to have anything todo with it.” ** Yes, lam aware that the counselor is a cool and cautious man; one of the kind who likes to | Combine. J oe Phenix’s be sure of his ground before he makes an ad- vance,” ‘Well, from what little I know of him I should judge that he was a man of that kind.” ‘* He is an extremely able lawyer—none better in his line in the city, and as he has taken the case it is evident that he has faith in it.” ‘*Oh, yes, he has! After making a careful examination he told me he calculated that Mrs. Kngleburt’s chances of winning were fully one bundred to one,” ‘‘His judgment is good and therefore his opiniou valuable,” the supposed lawyer remark- ed with a very wise look. **Tt is one of those cases though where old and experienced men are apt to jump to the conclusion that there is something wrong about the matter,” he continued, The Englishman elevated his eyebrows in sur- prise, ‘** Do you think so?” he asked, ** Oh, yes, and I will give you an illustration. Mr. Maurice Engleburt consulted a detective in regard to this matter before he put the af- fair into the hands of Archibald, Douglass and Dou ' lass.” ** It seems to me that that was rather strange on his part,” the Englishman remarked, evi- dently a little disturbed by the intelligence, ‘* Well, Lsuppose some friend of his advised him to take the step.” ‘Yes, but it seems to me that this is a case for jawyers, not for detectives.” | ‘* He was acting on the idea that the claim was a fraudulent one,” * Ab, yes, I see; but don’t you think he was rather quick in coming to that conclusion?” Mr, Rochester asked. ‘* Would it not have been wiser to have examined into the matter a little before forming an opinion?” ‘*‘T am not sure that I have all the facts in the case correctly, but I believe the detective was not consulted until after the party whom Mr. Engleburt deputed to see Lawyer Have made his report,” “Then, of course, he did know something about the case,” ‘** Yes, and when the matter was laid before the detective he immediately declared it was his opinion that there wasn’t any merit in the claim,” ‘* (Quite a bold declaration!” the Englishman remarked with a sneer. ‘*{ do not know much about detectives,” he added, ‘* But from what little I have seen of the fraternity I am satisfied that the great majority of them are regular humbugs.” ‘No doubt that there are a large number of them who do not amount to anything,” the other assented. ‘‘ In this case I have no means of knowing the character of the man whom Mr, Engleburt con- sulted,” the disguised detective continued, ‘* But whether he isva first-class man, or otherwise, he certainly did not hesitate to speak in the freest manner.” ‘To my mind that fact would indicate that he did not-amount to much,” Mr. Rochester declared. ‘‘A good man—one who thoroughly understood his business—would not be apt to speak hastily. It is only the charlatan—the man whose knowledge is limited—that attempts to decide weighty mattcrs in an off-hand way. The man of experience hesitates to speak until after he has thoroughly examined the subject upon which his advice is desired.” ‘* Well, I suppose that this party thought he thoroughly understood the matter, for after hearing Mr. Engleburt describe the case, he at once declared that it was a carefully plotted conspiracy, and the woman was no more the widow of Abraham Engileburt than he was!” ‘‘That was a bold assertion, truly.” *¢-Yes, the man spoke in the frankest manner, and his theory was a strange one. ‘Are you aware that there is a mystery in regard to the death of Mr, Abrabam Engle- burt?” . ‘Yes, I read all about it in the newspapers.” ‘Well, this detective asserts that it is his opinion the millionaire was murdered so this scheme to plunder his estate might be worked.” An expression indicative of vast astonishment appeared on the face of the Englishman, and it was evident, too, that he was seriously disturbed by the statement. ‘Upon my word! I must say that this isa most remarkable announcement,” he declared. ‘“*The man was fully in earnest, and believed he had hit upon the truth,” the supposed lawyer explained. *“*He pronounced the affair to be one of the most elaborate and gigantic conspiracies that he had ever heard of.” ** Yes, I should say so!” ‘The first move was to get a man who re- sembled the millionaire to play the part of his double and be married to the woman. That would not bea difficult feat to accomplish, for Englebart was an ordinary-looking man, and as the detective bade young Engleburt take notice, all the witnesses to his identity only saw him by night, so that any man abcut the size of the millionaire, by assuming a wig and beard similar to his bair and beard, would be able’ to pass for the money-king.” 4 ** Ah, yes, a very fine and ingenious theory!” the Englishman exclaimed, in a tone full of sarcasm, ‘' But I amsure I could not be de- ceived even by such a cunning trick,” ‘*Then in regard to the lady, this detective said she would turn out to be some adventuress, a woman whose past career it would be difficult to trace, and about whom but little information could be gained. And he made the same state- ment in regard to yourself,/for he had the opin- ion that you were the principal conspirator.” The Englishman burst out ina loud laugh, yet there was not much merriment in his tones. ‘* By Jove! this fellow is putting it on ex- tremely thick, you know!” heexclaimed, ‘* And I suppose that all of us wko are concerned in this affair ought to be very much obliged that we are not promptly clapped in jail, since he ig so well-satisfied that we are a band of miserable conspirators!” ‘* Ah, my dear sir, but all this is only theory, he lacks proof!” the other replied. ** Yes, I should say he did, and I fancy he will not beable to prove that what he says is the truth if he lives to be a hundred years old!” the Englishman asserted, ‘* He was confident, of course, that his theory was correct.” ** All such men always are!” Mr, Rochester declared with a sneer. ‘* When the matter was submitted to me for an opinion, I, naturally, was astounded by the bold statement; it seemed incredible!” ‘‘ Yes, I should say so!” the Englishman ex- claimed with another sneer. ‘‘ But if this de- tective is so sure that he is right why did he not take the case—why were you employed?” ‘‘f presume that Mr. Engleburt was coun- seled by Archibald, Douglass and Douglass, that the theory was too far-fetched to be taken into consideration,” ‘‘'The detective who got the thing up has evi- dently mistaken his vocation.. He ought to turn his attention to writing romances. With such a fertile imagination he ought to make a first- class author!” the Englishman declared, in a tone full of contempt. ‘*T presume he is working on this theory now, and I, as one of the principal conspirators, am duly shadowed—that is the correct word, 4 be- lieve? whenever I walk the streets!” The phe lawyer laughed as though he considered that this was a good joke. “Oh, Ido not think that anything of that kind will be attempted, unless the detective goes into the business on his own account,” he replied. ‘‘One thing you may be sure of, and that is, the firm of Archibald, Douglass and Douglass will not have anything to do with the matter, ‘*Tn fact, you can judge how little reliance we place upon the story by my being willing to tell you all about it.” ‘Yes, of course, I understand. [f you be- lieved there was any truth in the theory you would not be apt to allow me to know anything of the matter.” ’ “Certainly not! That would be the height of folly!” the otherdeclared, ‘It would be like a gamester showing his hand to his opponent.” ‘Most undoubtedly !” ‘‘ Then, as [ said before, the firm I represent would not have anything to do with such an affair. They do not touch criminal cases, — ‘* Well, I believe [ have learned all that is possible for me to know about the case,” the disguised detective continued pin. * And so will take my departure. Much o liged for our kindness, sir!” “Not at all!” the Englishman responded, and then he saw the other to the street. CHAPTER XIX. THE ENGLISHMAN'S IDEA, WHEN the Englishman returned to his apart- ment he fouu:!] Mrs. Engleburt there, She was standing by the window, hiding be- hind one of the heavy curtains, which were drap- ed by the sides of the window in the old style. It was evident she was watching the depart- ure of the supposed lawyer. She had come into the room through the slid- ing doors, for one of them was half open. er face was pale and there wasan anxious expression in her eyes, , : The men closed the door carefully behind him. He too appeared troubled. ‘¢ Where is Miss Jones?” he asked. ‘¢ Sho has gone out and will not be back for a eouple of hours,” ‘‘’You are sure about that?” “Yes, for she asked me to answer the bell if any one rung.” : : he man sunk into a chair and rested his head on his hand, evidently perplexed. The woman also seated herself and gazed upon the Englishman with an anxious face. i ‘Did you hear the conversation between this party and myself?” he asked after a long pause, ‘* Yes, not a word escaped me!” ‘¢ Well, what do you think of it?” “T dort know,” and the woman shook her head 1n a bewildered way. ; pita ‘‘ Never in all my life was Imore astonished!” the Englishman declared, cS Gomilchboo