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BY HAROLD PAYNE.

RIVEHSlllE llfllVE flEflTH-IHYSTEH ;

Or, DETECTIVE BURR’S LUNATIC WITNESS.

 

 

 

 

 I ,, 

“JL’KT IN THE Nll'K UF 'I‘IML~ I .JUMI’EI) ()U’l‘, GRASI’ED ONE OF THE HORSES BY THE I’nRIlblli AND SHOT HIM ”

 

 

 

 

  

\

 

Tile Riverside Drive Dilath-Mystaryfi

Detective Burr’s Lunatic Witness.
The Story of the Tragedy of the Rocks.

 

BY HAROLD PAYNE,
AU'ruon on "inc'rncrivn noun" xoans,
E'l‘(‘. n'rc. *

V

 

('ll.\l”l‘l£li l
A s'rAlchNo Discovnuv.

iv was a few minutes after dark. and the
promenade along the Riverside Drive had
nearly become deserted.

’i-‘his \\ as due to a chilliness in the autumnal
air that swept up from the broad lludson,
which spreads out a hundred feet below the
drive.

At, one point along this famous drive, be
tween the promenadc and the river-bank,
arises a wall of rugged rocks, which are as
grand in their primitiVe roughness as any to
be found in the Alps. This extends for half
a mile or more along the river front, and is a
favorite resort for the people of the neigh-
borhood, who delight to sit. on the rocks and
‘4'an at the magnificent pal oralna across the
river, or look down into th bluc depths of
‘the Hudson.

At the time at which this story begins, as
1 say, the place wasdcsertcd; save for an oc
ctsional pedestrian wcnding his way home-
ward. as the shadows of evening thickened
into gloom.

Among the few who chanced that way
was a gentleman on the sunny side of middle-
8ge, with a well-knit, athletic. frame, and a
firm but kindly face.

He appeared to be in no hurry and walked
with the even, leisurely stride of a num who
had time to spare and with nothing to do but
en'oy his stroll

ile had reached a point just above Eighty-
third street, and turned out of the path and

‘climbed one of the ruggedest bits of rock to
take a last look down at the dark waters be-
fore they had become obscured by the gather—
in darkness.

it was very quiet and he stood there gun
ing alternately across at the ,dark, towering

,Palisndes and off at the silent waters, when
suddenly he was attracted by the sound of
what appeared to be a moaning voice.

11c listened, but all had become quiet

.again. Still he listened, and presently he
heard it again.

This time it was more distinct, and he
could no longer have any doubt that it was
the voice of a human being. and that, too, of

" a woman.

She appeared to be somewhere just be-

m  heath him, and he strained his vision in the
', vain endeavor to penetrate the gloom.

At length as his eyes became accustomed
to the darkness, he saw. or fancied he saw,
something white fluttering from the face of

the steep Crag, and at the same moment. he'

heard the moan repeated.
, He no longer entertained an doubt that

. some one was in imminent pe l, and he de-

,  termincd to rescue

r if it lay in his power.
But how was he to 0 it?
How was he to reach the spot, which was

« so far below him, and the descent impossi-

hie? ..
After several futile attempts and the west-
ing of some time in trying to devise some
ion to get down, he did what it: should
ve done in the first place~wcnt or assist-
once.
’Hc had gone but a little way, however,

J'an he was fortunate enough to- meeta

w .v.’

than driving a we on. Heat. once appealed

‘ .to‘fthls man for ass stance, to which the team-

, 
 ‘m

' vane: assented, and the two returned to the

 brin ng with them a rope which the
tilted to on from the wagon.

, 'The gentleman made this cord fast to a
0mg, but lest it should slip o‘tf,'he charged
the teamster to hold it on, after which he

3 grasped the rope and slid down.

T The distance was not, rest, and the res-
‘cyor was soon down to t a point where he

soon the white object, and there a. pith.

 til ht‘met his vision. - .
.03 unit had grown'ébgethic times,

it 

Mt mew . to

 

 

    

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Thewlitiverside Drive Death-Mystery. ‘ I 

 

sharp points of jutting rocks, and he could

also see that the face was stained with
blood.

lle touched the hand and found it cold and
limp.

Without \\':lsting time in useless investiga
lion, he lifted the apparently lifeless form
from the cruel crug with his disengaged
arm and called to the man to draw him up.

The tcamstcr. though a giant in strength,
found this no easy task, for, addcd to the
weight of the gentleman, was that of the
woman; besides, the rope did not glide easily
over the rough edge of the rock.

Ni-Vci'tlu-lcss by tugging. added to the as
sislnnce the rescuer was able to give by
bracing his feet against the side of the cliil',
the sturdy tcalnstcr linnlly succeeded in
bringing his burden to the top of the rock.

The gentleman laid his fair lllll‘iltll down 1
upon the rocks and proccedcd to cxamine‘
l which did not result in either establishing

her.

She was cold and limp, and there appeared
to be no pulsation or other sign of life.

“ l‘m afraid We have arrived too late,"
remarked.

he

victim chr the cliil" at the same time: or,
the trinket may have had some historical
value, been a l‘nn‘lily heir-loom or something
of that kind, end out of revenge or for the
purpose of establishing a false identity in
order to get possession of other properly,‘
the u'carcr might have bccn lured to this
loncly spot 'whcrc her escort snatched it off
and then had shchd hcr ovcr the cliff.
This would account for her being alone.

Again—~which was as reasonable a theory
as any—the locket might have been torn oil'
by catching on a point of rock as the young
woman fell.

indeed, in the absence of any other marks
of violence, this appeared to be the most
reasonable theory, but if it was the correct
one, the locket would doubtless be found in
the vicinity of where the woman was dis-
(-chl‘ctl.

So, after completing his investigations,

the Victim‘sidentity or how she met her
i'alc, the gcntlcnnn rcturned to the spot
where belt-id found the woman an hour or

. SH before, but, instead of going to the top

“ Is she dead?" asked the other, anxiously. ‘

“ She seems to be. You had better go in
search of a policeman and have him call an
ambulance. 1 will remain here and watch
her.”

“ Why not put her in my wagon and let
me take her to the hospital? There won't be
so much delay about ii.”

“ You are right. That is what we will do.

But first, i, will see what i can do toward re~ .

viving,r her."

“ I don't think there's much chance of

that," returned the tcnmstcr who had been 2 . '
; havmg been the property of the Injured wo-
‘ man, for it was lying directly beneath where

stooping down examining her pulse.
Nevertheless the rescuer drew a small flask
of liquor from his pocket and. pouring a few

drops down the prostrate woman’s throat:

and wetting her face with it. he proceeded
to chafe her hands.
In a little while he was gratified toobserve

indications of returning consciousness, and '

linally she opened her eyes, butappcarcd loo
wcak to speak, and soon closed them,
again.

"‘(fomc, let us get her to the hospital as
quickly as possible,” urged the gentleman.

And, lifting the slender form, which was ‘

little heavier than that of a child, between
them, they carried her and placed her in the
wagon, after which the gentlennm got in and
took her in his arms. Thus she was con
vcyed to the Bellevuc Hospital.

As soon as the patient was brought into
the light it was seen that she was very youn
—probably not more than eighteen—ant
rarely beautifulvand her clothing indicated
that she was a person of wealth and refine-
ment.

The gentleman who had discovered her
appeared to how: some authority, for when
the hospital people had dressed the oung
woman’s Wounds and had done al they
could toward making her comfortable, he
proceeded to make investigations With a
view to discovering some clue to her identity
and how she came by her injuries.

There were no marks of violence be 0nd
two or three cuts on the head which he un-
dOubtcdly been received in falling against
the rough trucks, and might have been in~
flicted by an accidental fall as Well as any

- other we

A u'elifllled purse and the presence of
several pieces of valuable {ewclry on her per-
son, precluded the osslbi ity of the outrage
having been committed for the purpose of
robbery. With one exception, there appear-
ed to be nothing missin from her person,
and the rescuer was at a pas to know exactly
what that oncthing was, although it was
presumably a locket, for a portion of a thin
gold chain still clung to her neck, or rather
it was tangled in the ruching about her neck
and thus prevented from fal ing 011’.

The chain had evidentlyl been broken, and
the pendant, whatever it ad been, had been
torn away.‘ ‘ I

But, so far from furnishing any definite,
or, as a detective would say, “workable”
clue. this discoverybnly served to confuse
and m stiiy the investigator.

'l‘hcj octets—supposing it. to have been such
3—might hairc'bcen every valuable one, and
Mn" ' j ,  obtainéd of any of the

la! had rude one

‘ ll

of the rock, he took one of the paths leading
down under the blulT until he came to the
cliil' on whose side he had found the woman
suspended.

llcre, with the aid of a dark lantern which
he always carried, he began his search for
the missing the locket.

Scarcely had he flashed the light of his
lantern over the ground, when he made one
discovery. Not the one he sought, but still
an important one.

it was a lady’s umbrella.

There could be but little doubt about it

she had been suspended, and doubtless had
dropped from her relaxed grasp with the
approach of inscnsibility.

'l‘hcarticle also shed some light upon the
mystery, for there was a name stencilcd on
the inside of the cover. ,The name was
“ Kale Sherwood.” ‘ ,

Of course this did not reveal much.

. ’l‘here was nothing to Show who Kate Sher-

wood was or where she lived. Still, the

jscarcher congratulated himself on having

   
  

 

V have it.

Something to work upon, and went on with
his search for the missing locket.

In this he was not so fortunate. howcvu',
for, although every inch of grouhd was gone
oven-not a vestige of either the trinket or
the broken chain could be found. He even
flashed his light over, the face of the cliff.

About twenur feet from where he stood a
hit of white stuff still fluttered in the breeze,
which indicated the point at which the wo-
man caught, but no glistening object,

'which would ‘indicatc the presence of a
/

jewel, caught his keen eye.

After an hour spent in this fruitless search,
the man abandoned it and rctulned to the
hospital to ascertain the condition of the un-
fortunate woman.

She had already passed away!

“It’s too bad, ’ observed the kind-hearted
nurse, “ that a putty gnrrel loike hur sh’u’d
doie without aven knowin’ who she was.
She probably knowed ‘enough 0’ the wur-
reld, though.”

“ What do you mean?” asked the gentle-
man. ‘ I .

“I m’ane that she was wan of the class
that’s betther out av the wurreld than in it.”

,“ What makes you think so?"

" She was too well dressed for a poor
gurrcl, and a rich decent wan wouldn’t ’3’
been at such a place alone at that toime in
the avcnin', d’ e moind?”

"You ma V 'right, but I am lothto be-
S e hasnft the appearance of ,a
woman of the kind on mean. ’

“Och, sure, an’ its moighty haird to tell
thim from the decent gurrels nowadays.”

“ Did you find nothing about her to reveal ‘
her name or where she lived ‘3" asked the
gentleman, anxious to switch the old woman
off her favorite topic. ,I

“ Yis, here's a handkercher wid the name
‘ Mrs. O. Stern’ on it, but there’s, no ad-
dress.” ’ ' .
“ Mrs. 0. Stem ?”. mused the man. ‘ “ That
does not correspond with my discovery. ‘
Either the name on the handkerchief or the
one .in the umbrella is not her, ow~ " 
{but is still worse for my ‘ ‘

LS

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Then another thought occurred to him.

and this was her umbrella?

The suggestion thrilled him, for in case

there was anythng in the theory, this would
[.rove a most valuable clue. >
V. lilll the advice to the hospital people that

they had better lose no time in notifyingr the .

police, the gentleman left the place, and,
ingaging a cab, had himself driVen with all

cut Byrnes.

llalf an hour later he was closeted with
the great detective.

“Well, 'l'had llurr!" exclaimed the su-

perinteinlent, as the noted detective entered ,
the room, “what brings you here at this ,

time of night? 1 k‘how it cannot be a friend-
ly visit.”
“N3,” returned Thad—for the great spe-

cial it was—“and yet I trust there will be .

The fact is,

nothing unfriendly about it.
find to

superintemlent, 1 have made a
night."

“ A find?” repeated Byrnes, growing in
terested; “ what was it '? a diamond pin, or a
purse with a cool million in it?"

“ Neither. A. 2001/1111), f“

“It is not dillicult to tindlhem, and not
go far either," laughed the superintemlent.

“ lint, this was adead woman, or so nearly
dead that she expired a little whil > after
reaching the hospital. " ‘4.

“ Any indications of Violence?"

“ Yes, and no.”

Thad then went on to relate in detail the
circumstances of the discovery of the unt'or-
tunate woman, and concluded by saying

“ What do you think of it?”

“ \Vcll, as you say, she may have come to
her death through violence, and it may have
been merely an accident,” replied the super-
intendent, thoughtfully.

"0r suicide," suggested Thad.

, “ 0r suicide," assented Byrnes. “ The
 fact of her being alone would seem to sag,r
gest that theory, ”

\

“ ilut the absence of the locket upsets it ‘

again." .

“ b‘o it does; and that of an accident.
also. Still, it is possible that some one else
may have found the locket. before your re
turn to the spot."

“ That. is hardly likely, for, if you know
the location of the place you must know that
there is not one chance in time hundred that

any one would pass that. way at that hour of i

the night, and if they did, it is not likely that
they would discover the locket in the dark-
ness.”

“ You are right, Tnad, as you usually are.
Then the theory must stand for murder.
Have you made any other discoveries, such

, as would suggest a clue?"

“ I have made a couple of discoVerics, but
I do not know whether they will lead to any-
thine,r or no."

“ What are they ‘3”

“ One is an umbrella with the name
‘ Kate Sherwood,’ and the other lsahandker'
chief with the name ‘ Mrs. O. Stern.’ The
umbrella was under the rocks and the hand-
kerchief was on the girl‘s person." '

“ Ahl That looks like a clue, my boy!
\Vhat is your theory in connection with it? '

' "That the girl’s name was Mrs. 0. Stern,
and that Kate Sherwood was her murder~
css.” ,

“ A good theory in the premises. Go on

.and work it," said Byrnes.

I

CHAPTER 11.
run FATAL CHARM.

AFTER leaving the superintendent’s house
' Thad called at the Police Headquarters to see
if the case had been reported, and also
whether any lnquirmed been sent in from
the missing woman’s friends.
The report had been sent in from the hos.
pital, llut 'no in uiry had been received.
he latter show that, supposing the wo-
man to have any friends in the city. they
had not yet missed her, or at least if they
. had they had taken no steps thus far toward
 finding her.
‘ ‘ The detective's next move Was to examine

Perhaps the girl‘s assassin was a Hyman, l
- the other a midwife, he, was satisfied that '
neither of them was the woman he wanted. ;

   

 

1.4,. 4. W.

   
 

Drive ' De

3%,,u.’

     
 

7 i is i i The Fivéruside

at

l which were two Katherine Sherwoods, but
as one was a laundress, and colored, and

lie. next looked for the name Stern, and

found two whole pages of them, andone of ‘
1 the remains of your wife.

them was ()liver (‘. Stern.
“That is my man," mused the detective.

' “Ten chances to one he is the husband of §
_ t the young woman. and il‘ he is, l iiaVe made 1
haste toward the residence ot Superintend' '

some progress, anyway."

According to the Directory the person in
question resided on Columbus avenue, and,
as it was but; a little past eleven, Thad con-
cluded to call upon him that night. A Sixth
avenue Elevated ear took him to Eighty-first
street, it om which it was but a few steps to
the house.

In response to his inquiry, be was told

into the parlor, where he was soon after

more

'l‘had’s first impression was that he had
failed to strike the right. man after all.

“ Surely this (llll graybeard cannot he the
’husband of that beautiful youngr girl." he
mused.

Then he thought that possibl v this mi
be the father of thcgirl's husband.

Thad decided that V frankness would be the
better course in this ease, so, after introduc-
ing him, he began at once:

“ You will be surprised, Mr Stern, possi
bly grievml—when you learn my business ”

The old man looked startled. .

“ Why, what on earth?" hecxelaimed.

“ Pardon me,” interposed the detective.
“ iefore we become alarmed, let us see who
tin-r there is any cause. for it. You will
excuse me for appearing inquisitive orim-
periinent; we detectives are apt to appear
so."

“(in on, sir,’ implored the old man.
“ Please do not keep me in suspense.”

“ Well‘, then, let me ask you whether you
i have. a wife or not?"

“ Why, what a strange question,” ejacu-
lated Mr. Stern, staring at the detective.
"‘ Certainly I have.”

“Young?” ‘

“ Why, good gracious!
trying,r to come at? Yes.” i

“ How young?" continued Thaddna quiet,
mattenof-fact tone. —.

“ Let me. see. Why, just nineteen to-da ,
I gave her—'

“ Was she pretty‘." interrupted the detec-
tive. ~
The old man was more astonished than
ever. " .

“ Wax she pretty?“ he echoed. -

“I mean, is she pretty?" said Thad. cor.
rec-ting himself.

'it

(r
at

7

What are you

“Very pretty. In fact, she was con-
sidered—” '~‘ . r
" Is she at home at present?"

“ No, sir. She went up to Newburg this
afternoon, and will not. return before to-
morrow. Why do you ask all these ques-‘
tions, sir, may I inquire?" demanded the old
man. atritly testily.

“ Ylou arqsure that she went to Newburg.
are you, sir?" puiSucd Thad, disregarding
the other's question. __

' “ Why. yes; at least, that is where she
told me she was going."

Thad was'silent. '

He was now satisfied of taro things. One
was that the dead woman had been the wit
of the old man, and the other was that ll
knew nothing thus far of the tragedy.

He was at a lass .how to proceed. How
should he break the news to the venerable
husband? It was necessary in order to learn
what he desired to. and he isteeled his heart
against sentimentality, and said:

“It pains me to tell you-.sir, butIsee
1‘ that you have heard nothing of the terrible
calamity which has befallen your young
wife,‘ r. Stern.”

The old man sprung to his feet and his
' face became livid .with‘ anticipation. ‘

“ Chlamity?" he gasped. “ What—”

“ Be on , sir, Ibeg'." implored the detecr
tive. “8 down, and I will tell you all
nboutit.” ' 

The old entleman sunk mechanically back
into his c air. and still continued to stare
wnlggynt'l‘hnd; *: v _'  »

 , e ,.

  

latter

 

PMYSt-erva j

that Mr. Stern was at home and was ushered ~

joined by a portly gentleman of sixty or'
, havingr his pretty young; wife brought trom

i the hospital to his home.

' in several hours after rtaehing‘ there in flour

' asked Thad. .

 

    
   
   
    
   
   
  
    
  
  
 
  
  
   
   
  
     
  
  
  
  
   
   
  
   
   
   
 
   
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
 
   
  
  
    
   
  
   
   
  
    
   
   

 

 

of the your);r lady to the hospital, where the
had subsequently died.

Mr. Stern was stricken with grief.

“I will not. trouble you 1.; answer any .,
more'questions at present," said 'lnad in ‘.
conclusion, “ \ou will want to h i k :tl‘tr
12m. as it v ill be
necessary to investigate tl i» n'atti-r, and _\( 11,
above anybody else. (an gixe n.e tl e facts I
require, I would like to ark you to grant me
another interview, my tomorrow afternoon.” 

“Very well, sir," replied the #0110“ng 35‘;

man, the tears striaming from his eyes.
“(,‘all tomorrow afternoon at about tour,

and I will see you," . i

" That. will do, thank you. I shall he here.
Good-night.”

“ Good-night, sir, and a tliousmul tlanks
for bringing: me this news. sad as it is l! is
far better that I should know it tonighttl an
to have it. come upon nre through tl.e >l.otk-.
in}.' medium of the newspaper in the morn-
ing. (lend-night,"sir, and (led bless you!"

Thad then took his leave and left the old
man to his grief and the grievous duty of

 

i
Asthere \\'::S no more he could doihat-
night, the detective returned home, but put.

in: out his course in the case he was about
to begin upon.

The followingr at'trrncon. in accordance
with his :quointnunt, he again called at the
I‘t'sltlt'llt't} of .‘lr. Stern.

The house was in n ournine, l’nt tic old
gentleman snon pet in an appearance and
took the (ltl(‘('ll‘.(' to lis }ii\ate library
where they \v'ou‘d ren no mk- ot' icing dis—
turbed, and the old penthn an in k the ad-
ditional preeautivn ( t" locking: the door.

“Now, Mr. Don, l;e leenn. as sun as
they were seated, it will prolial'ly le as
Well to begin with nyy telling you a little
about ourselVi-s.” '

“ It will be the proI-cr thing. indeed, Mr.
Stern," assured Thad “ it will give no it _
chance to draw my (it-(llit'llt-DS with more 
certainty and greater use."  '

“ Well, in the first place, I want to t( ll ,
you that my family consists of two sons and A,"
one daughter at present. My wife died ten ’_
years ago, and 1 bad icnuiintd a widower 
ever since until three months ago, what I
concluded to marry my smond wife." ,

“ Were any of your family opposed to the ‘ '- I »
marriage ‘1” v

“ Yes, they all were.”

“But they finally became reconciled,
presume A

“ Yes, all except Leonard, my eldest E011.”

“ And he did not?”

“ Apparently not. You see, Leonard was ‘2; -
already betrothed to Kate—3’ ’ V
“ Ah?" v
“ Her name was Katherine Sherwood be»
fore she was married," explained the old.
gentleman. '

Thad's heart sunk.‘ -

One of his theories was knocked in 
head already—the one that the girl’s murder-i"
er had been a woman, and that her name ‘
was Kate Sherwood. a %

“How did it happen that she married
you, when she was betrothed to your son?” : .-

It"

9’:

, "Well. there were several causes for it. L.
in the first place, Kate always thought a»
good deal of mes-as a father until recently
(you see I raised her as one of my own
children,) and in the second place, she
jealous of Leonard on account of some!  _
she had heard about him (he had heendoin
businhss in Cbica o for a year or relax: '
they had quarrele ; and lastly, she was in- ,
flueneed b an aunt who had an eye to
money, an thought that Kate would‘xdo bet. ‘
ter in a financial way by marrying the rather?
than the son.” , .
“Has Leonard been in the city lately?” 3 .
“ He was here yesterdn .” I x p.
“ Do you know whet er he and your '
late wife had any words or not during
am ‘2” "
“ Not that I know of.” j
“ When did he leave the city?" '  ’*
“ Some time during the afternoon.”
" You are sure of this?" . . 
“ Perfectly. for I saw him to the depot.” - 2
“That precludes the idea that hemlgh
haveheen instalmean in killing her". up
“~""dutdod'l‘hnd~ ‘ ~ -.

   
  
 
  
  

    
  
 
 

  
   
    
 

    
   

   

   

 
 

. , t- y
, ,
y ,

hi  ..r

The RiverSide Drive DeathéMystery. I

 

   

“ Yes, even if it were possible to suspect
such a thing, which it is not. Leonard is too
kindly and noble-hearted for that."

That appeared to put a quietus toall of
the detectives theories and he was for the
moment at a standstill.

Finally, however, he thought he saw a

I way out,

“You told me last night," he resumed,
“that your wife left here with the alleged

. purpose of going to Newburg. Did anybody

R accompany her?"

“No, sir. My daughter accompanied her
to the“Elevated station, and would have

   
    
   
   
  
   
  
   
  
  
   
    
    
   
   
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
 
  
   
 
  
   
   
    
  
 
  
 
 
 
   
  
  
   
  
   
  
   
     
   
   
  
  
  
  
 
 

to the house."

“ What time did your daughter get back
to the house?”

“ About a quarter after four. ”

“ You are sure of this?"

“ Oh,
ability o Kate reachingr the depot in time
and i remember consulting my watch am
saying that it was then just a quarter past

four.”

" And she did not leave the house after-
ward?”

“No. We were going, to the theater,

but some friends came in, and she remained
at home.”

“Of course you have no idea why your
wife changed her mind and did not go to
Newburg, Mr. Stern?”

‘ “ None in the least.”

“The fact that she was found so near here
would seem to indicate that she had gone,
by appointment, to the place where she
was found, and the fact of her refusing
company to the depot appears to point to
the fact or theory that she desired to deceive
you and prevent you from knowing where
she Was going.”

' The old man was silent for some moments,
 but finally said:
‘ “ So it would.”
And then, after another pause:
I “ What would you infer from it all, sir?”
‘_‘ Either that she was lured to the spot by
some designing person who had succeeded in
, inducing her to deceive you in order to get
away, or else that she had made up her mind
' to’ take her own life."
' ‘ The old man shook his head. ,
7 “ I cannot entertain either theory, sir.” he
replied. “ Kate was a. perfectly‘ pure-mind-

. theory, and her surroundings were too cheer-
' fill and she herself was too well contented to
i admit of the theory of suicide.”
“ You mo be right in your last hypothe-
"Iimbut the act of her being lured away by
- some designing person does not necessarily
imply that the person in question was a man.
 Women, are often as designing as men, and
are as fiendish in carrying out their schemes
god revenge.”
 . Mr. Stern's countenancecleared.
 l ' “0h,” he said, with a sigh of relief. "I
' didnot know but you mi ht have thought
that she was mixed up wit aome-~“
, ' t ‘5 But here be checked himself, and after a
*‘ ,4 "linden concluded: ,
 ‘ ' I'No.‘ Kate was too pure 9.
' plies.th in nnythirttig 'unworthy.
j  “Again the detec ve appeared to have come
’* .to the end of his tether, but almost immedi'

girl to be im«

some moment.
. ” You say
‘ children, Mr.
‘- and a daughter.
home?" - v t
‘ “No, sir," replied the 'old gentleman,
f.” lilorman is away at school. "

vour family consists of three
Stern." he resumed, “ two sons
Is your youngest son at

  .ed'lgiri, which would preclude the first,

'fiately after two points occurred to him at the

 one to the depot with her, but Kate pre« j
e erred to go alone, and my daughter returned j

cs, bhcause We discussed the prob~ :
i would chcr consmt to it, for, although I

' tm: famil

v the most dainty and sumptuous style.

i
Stern,” he went on, “ I discoerred the frag l
ment of a slender gold chain about her neck, 
which appeared to have supported a locket 
or some other similar trinket, yet which had ‘
evidently been snatched- away or broken off
in some other manner. What was the
trinket?"
The old man shuddcrcd and turned pale at
the mention of the article in question.
“That,” he linally explained, " was what
has been known in our family for generations
as the “ fatal charm.” it is an old~fashioncd
locket, and belonged to and contained the
portrait of a {whale ancestor it has rarely
been worn by any of her descendants, but in
each and every case where it has been worn,
some dreadful calamity has lwl’allcn the
wearer. it “as kept hlllonu‘ lllc l‘ul‘(‘ old i
family relics and had not, lH'i‘il worn by any-
one for several generations, but the moment
Kate saw it and heard its lli>t()1‘_\',slle u as
mixed with a burning" desire Iowcar it. Il

am not given to supcl‘siiti()n,‘so many mis-
fortunes had followed thewcaring of this
particular piece of jewelry, that l dreaded to ,
risk allowing any one near and dear to me
wearing it. But, yesterday was her birth—
day, and nothingr \rould satisfy her but I
should give her this locket as a birthday
present. She made so lightly of my appre-
hensions and laughed so much at my super-
stition, that I finally (-onscntml to her wear-
ing it, and you we the consequences.”

'i‘had could hafilly suppressa smile at the
old man's superstitious awe of the simple
bauble, but 'he contriVed to preserve his
gravity, and continued:

“ But you remark that the jewel is now
missing, 'Can it be that any person who
knew of its fatal character could have de-
sired to possess it enough to take your wife’s
life in order to get it?” ' '

“I cannot tell. I should not think that
any one. knowing its history, would care to
possess it at all."

“ And yet, unless it possessed consider-
able intrinsic value, I can hardly imagine a
common thief committing murder to pos
scss it, and at the Same time leaving his
victim's purse and other more valuable
jewels untouched.“

“ It had no intrinsic value to speak of. It
wasaplain gold locket with the arms of
engraved on one side and the
words ‘ atal Charm ’ on the other. The
latter was put on after its fatal nature had
been tested." . , " V . ' "

“ Have you any obiection“ to’ my looking
through yohr into M e’s effects, Mr. Stern?
I mean her trin ts, letters, and the'iike.”

“ None whatever,” he replied after some
hesitation.

CHAPTER III:
run was: once.

AFTER a little reflection as to how he
should proceed, Mr. Stern arose. and mo-
tioning the detective to follow him, passed
out of the door and tiptoed along the hall to
another door. which. being unlocked, he
opened and stepped in. ,

As the old entlcrnan closed the door and
locked it T took occasion to look about
the apartment.) , _

He found himself in n fair-sized room of!
of which an alcove opened and contained a
bed, sndboth apartments-Were furnished in

In one Corner stood a rosowood cabinet
riehl inlaid with ivory: and, without a:
we , the old gentleman walked over and
opened this,.displayin a number of small
drawers and pigeon-ho es. and then turning

Finally—and it had taken him nearly an
hour+thc detective completed his task of
going through the contents of the first cabir
net, and arose. ;

“Well, sir, I \find nothing here,” be. ob"
served. “ it begins to look as though this.
case was destined to remain CDSIII'Ul.l(l(‘(l in
eternal mystery.”

The old gentleman shook his head elm rm
ily, but made no reply, and arose wnuily.
and opened the other cabinet. l

“See what you can find there.” he oh~
served, and returned to his stat again.

’l‘hnd began the examination of this second
cabimt's Contents with less hope than ill"
had the other, for he did not expect to find:
any more here than he had in the other
place. i '

llowever, he was agreeably disappointed.

The very first draWCr he hilcmpitd to

i .
open he found locked, although all the,
others were unlocked.

’l'his nl‘ollscd his hopes, for the fact of its:
being l()(‘l{('(l led him to bclicVe that it told.
Some secret which the owncr of the (mind.
(lid not wish any one to know.

He comnumicated the fact to the u iii! wt r,
who appeared to be greatly surpriwd .21 it.

lie arose and approaclnrd the cabuM. and
after looking at ihc drawer steadily for some
seconds, gave a little pull at the knob.

Finding that it would not come 01 on, he—
said’: ‘

“ It is locked, and must remain so.” _

“Why?” demanded the detective, 1mpa~
tiently.

“ Because there is but one way of unlock~
ing it."

" How is tbat?",

_ “ By means of the Fatal Charm.”

Thad could hardly suppress his merriment
at what be imagined another exhibition of
superstition, in spite of the annoyance he.
experienced thereat, when the old ge'ntkk
man checked him by continuing:

“ You see, lhis cabinet was made by the
same person that made the locket, and the-
latter can be used asakepV to unlock this;
drawer.” ' .

The detectiye was as much in the dark as
ever, and still more out of patience.

“I don't see how this drawer can be un‘~
fastened by a locket,” he muttered.

“ It cannot be unfastcned by it,” explained
the other. “but it can be uscd asa key to
the problem of openin it. ‘I will explain:
This drawer is locked yturning this little.
knob a certain number of times. It may be:
locked by turning the’knob three times, ten'
times or fifty, times. Whatever the number-

‘ is, it must be turned backward exactly the-

same number of times. Now, one is aptto.
forget the number with which be locked it
unless he makes a memorandum of it, and it'\'
he makes a‘ memorandum it is liable to be- "
lost, and here is where the charm’s useful-
ness came in. As many times as you turned
the knob of the drawer you turned the stem
of the locket, which caused a hand to move,
around and register the. number. ” , _

” But as the locket is missing, and'the key
to the mystery of Our “ife’s death may be»
locked up in this, rower. why not try some
other means ‘of openingrit?”

The old man shuddered and turned pale.

If the detective had suggeSted oing
down-stairs and cutting out the den wo-
man’s heart with a View of discovaring some ,
hidden mystery there, he could not have ap-
peared more shocked.

“ IiOrrorsl" he cried. "I wouldn‘t have

you do that for the world!"

, Thad lost his patience.
“You do not want'the secret of
wife’s death solved then?” he exclaimed.
” You prefer to have the to story remain a.

your" ‘

   

 

 

 

 

“1 is all the famil on ever had, is , ,
 ' y y r mystery, and the probable v aim of a horri- V t
his murder rost under the stigma of a sui- '
cider, ratherthan fly in the face of a foolish
su erstition ?" ,
be old glentleman was greatly affected:
r

to the detective. said: _

“You will find most of her trinkets in
here. sir. She has a few more over there in
that other cabinet, which you may .go
throu h if you like after getting through

     
  

,sir', Ihnd another 5011,; Harper, but

. 9

Thej‘oid‘ than paused and an expression of

 deepest pun overspread his face.

  
    

    

     
 

  
   

       

 

 
 

 

It ‘wifl m.ummewM«,-<owom..owte reiv‘nép its: 1 Yr»

, “'Dendr’ suggested Thad, , xiiith is one."  . He 010“ y 38" the Wifidom of Thad‘s
flux“.  dead}, I  I, V “Thanks,” returned Thad, and atonce words, but there was evidently somethings'
I. By which the detective" inferred that he set to examining the contents of the csbinet.~ so sacred or awe—inspiring about, the drawer».

 
    
 

which had been locked b a number-And?  
that number recorded byt e Fatal Charm,.‘  "
that the thought of tamperin withthe :
was absolutely shocking to h in."  5 a  , .

He remained silent for some momentsmnd ‘ '
he appeared to be under his]; 

3 He found no end of odds on ends, such

as wheldinteresth youn gir. but there

Wuhan-entire absence! tie very thing be
' Milieu!!! . Mew

lie“ common ndsentedrhimselt.

‘ d at smoothed out

nine our:

‘wa’a nothing of the kind; 11115; “the subject
was chug very [painful touthe oldtrgentle-v
he (i not, pursue it, and merely said:

   
  

             

       
  
   

  

   
  
  
  

  
 
   

 

 

on .mthei [line can 

    
  

 
 

  

 

 

 

 M? 1:4

 

- Qfi*"v*i-~m»mma€“ :

 

 

. drawer in the cabinet,

rr‘ , Thad was about to on her to give it to

that the mystery should remain unsolved
than that rawer should be forced open.
Understand, I have no superstitious dread
in the matter, but the fact that she locked
the drawer at all, and especiall with the
Fatal Charm, convinces me that In contains
some secret which she considered sacred,
and it would be sacrilcge for me to tear it
(‘pl'll and exposcit, now that she lies cold
and helpless in death.”

The detective arose in disgust.

“In that case, there is but one thing for
me to do, Mr. Stern,” he observed, coldly,
"and that is to abandon the case where it
153"

" So be it, then!" rejoined the old man,
iua sorrowing tone. “I should like you
to proceed with the case, but I cannot help
my feelings.”

“ 1t wil not be necessary to discuss the
matter further,” rctorted the detective. some-
what indignantly. “You have made up
your mind, and so have I, and there’s an end
of it. I might mention this fact, however,"
he pursued, after a pause, “that if I relin!
quish the case, the superintendent will put
somebod else upon it. or the re ular police
force wil take it in hand, and can assure
that they will have very little regard for
your feelings.”

“They will not dare to break open that
drawer, will they ‘2” demanded the old man,
in alarm.

“They will dare to do anything, sir.
There is nothing sacred to them, when a
great mystery like this is involved.”

The old gentleman hesitated and seemed
on the point of weakening, but his firmness
finally prevailed, and he started for the door
:as an indication that he considered the inter-
view at an end.

Thad now saw that he had blundered; he
should have used stratagem with the old
man, instead of frankness.

He was thoroughly interested in the case
.and (lil not want to give it up.

As he passed from the room and down the
stairs he racked his/brain for an excuse to

get back and examine the con’yznts of the ~

cabinet he had just left.

But they reached the lower hall without
his havin arrived-at anything, and he was
about-inkling his leave, when a door opened
had a tall, handsome young lady entered the
hall and approached the old gentleman with
a smile.

“ Papa,” she said, “ this is the detective
you spoke to me about, is it not?"

“ Yes, dear," replied her father with a
puzzled expression.

“ Has he made any discoveries?” she asked
quickly.

“ N—no. That is—”

“ Might I have a word with him?” she in-
terrupted. , ‘ ‘

The old man looked more puzzled than
ever, but after glancing from her to the dc
tective and bac again, he finally answered:

“ I can see no objection, although Mr.
Burr has abandoned the case. Mr. Burr,
this is my daughter, Josephine."

Thad bowed politely and the girl-extended
her hand.

“ I am glad to meet you, Miss Stern.” he
said. .
" If you will walk this way," she observed

' disregarding his politeness, “I will tell you

,what i have to say. Excuse us, papa."
And before either Thad or thee d man had

, time to think, she opened the door from

which she‘ had just emerged and motioned

v the detective to enter.

As soon as he was inside she closed the
finer, and then turning abruptly upon him,
egau: '
“ Papa objected to our 0 coin the
H Yb ed didyn’t he??? g
,g“, -e( ject to my forcing it o u,” re-
{gated Thad, surprised that she Sho‘lfid have
. am what had transpired in the room up-
stairs. ‘ ‘ g ' _ -
“ There is no need of forcing it,” pursued

- . the girl. , r

“ You have the number with which ' was
lockeId, then 7" ’ it
It cs.” '

  

‘him-at once that he might , up and 'open
. drawer, but thinking 0 his withdrawal
’the‘ease, he said: ‘ ' » '

31 a knewnyou been been a“

  

secret an

 

I t."

“ But you are not going to abandon the
case?” she pleaded. v

“I do not see how I am to do otherwise
new. I told your father that, inasmuch as
he refused to let me open that drawer which
I believed to hold, if not the secret, at least
a clue to the secret of your step-mother’s
death, there was nothing left for me but to
withdraw from the case. He expressed his
regret at having me take such a step, but
rather than ield the point. he was willing
that I shoul do so. So you see I am com-
mittet 

” Never mind about that. Papa entertains
asort of superstitious regard for that old
cabinet, as well as the locket they call the
Fatal Charm—fatal nonSensel“ she cried with
a little laugh.

" You evidently do not take much stock in
the Fatal Charm business, then?” smiled the
detective.

“ No more than Ido in the pin you Wear
in your scarf. The chances are that you
may receive a bullet while wearing that pin,
am in that event. you would be as much
justified in calling it the Fatal Charm as
papa. has in callingr that ridiculous old locket
a fatal charm. But, never mind. You go
on with the case, and I will tell papa that it
was at my urgent request you altered your
mind and continued on." ‘

“ Very well; I shall do so, as I am greatly
interested in the case, and I know that if
some one else is detailed to work it, he will
cause you a good deal more trouble and ac—
complish no more than I will.”

“ Oh, I am so glad!” cried the girl, “ be-
cause I know you will discover the secret of
this thing. I just know it by your looks.
Here is the number that the drawer was
locked with,” she went on, handing him a
slip of paper on which was written in Roman
numerals, “XIX.”

Thad took the slip and, Wondering how'
she came in possession of it, asked;

“You are: sure this is the right number,
are you?”

“ Yes, I am positive.”'

“ How do you know so positive] '1'"

The girl stamped her foot impatiently and
made a ivry face.

“Oh, you detectives are so inquisitive!"
she cried. "However, I'll tell you: I had
promised to go to the station with Kate, and
as she hadn't come down when I was all
ready to go. I ran upstairs to see if she was
ready. I opened the door without knock-
ing, as I often did, and she was just closin
the cabinet, and then, picking up a pencil:
she hastil scribbled this on the paper and
attemptc to put it into her poc ct, and I
guess she thought she bod done so, but she-
hadnft, for it dropped upon the floor where
I found it afterward. I cannot be mistaken
for‘I know that she always put the number
in Roman numerals like that.”

“ Very well. Even if you should ha pen
to be mistaken, there will be no harm one,
so if you will accompany me, we will go up
and make the experiment.”

Then the girl turned and left the room,"

and was followed by the detective. ,

Thad was gratified at not finding Mr.
Stern in thehall when he emerged from the
room, and, following his fair guide, he softly
are t up-stairs. ,

hen Josephine, who was in the lead,
reached the cabinet, which still stood open,
she turned and waited forthe detective to
conic up,

“Tdrn the knohto the left," she said.
when he had reached the cabinet. "It
would seem the most naturd to turn the
other way, and that is probably the reason it
was made that we ." I

Thad examinch the knob and noticed that
there was a nick in one side and that imme-
diately above it a thin strip of brass was in-
laid, by which it was possible to calculate
when on had turned the knob clear round.

“ on have been used to operating this,",
’remarked he, " suppose you do it?” a
“ Not for’ worlds!” ejaculated the girl.

" I want nothing to do with _it. I gave you

the number, and if you cannot openthe

drawer, it will remain closed.” .. - .
“All right,” laughed Thad. f‘bnt it is
surprising how you, could have had , j
. not ppenthhat‘ drama, Y
en's the» i curios: I

   

D 

» sister will both he at home a ’ -
no danger of discovery. Make some—any . .
exeuse to get away from the house; say that ' ‘t, , "
you are going out of town or somewhere,‘ "

a

  

"tokens 

thir becamealittie confused. But ishe quickly 

oer" regained her composure and reigned: .  _ 
 'Iconld - v has

 

a The Riverside Drive Death-Mystery. ’ i V. 5

and had a peep into it, but I believe that
drawer to contain things that I want some-
body else to find instead of myself.”

“ Iwonder how she came to use the num-
ber nineteen,” mused Thad as he prepared to
turn the knob.

“Yesterday was her birthday, and she
was just nineteen," explained the girl.

“ Ah, I see! Then you had additional
cause for thinking that this was the -key to
open the drawer?"

“ Yes; as soon as I recalled the fact
that it was her birthday and that she was
just nineteen, Iknew this was the open se-
same. "

Thad began to turn the knob, and each
time it came round to the strip of brass he
would count.

The girl watched him intently and also
kept tally.

At length he reached nineteen and he heard
a soft click.

Pulling gently on the knob, he was grati-
fled to find the door came open.

He glanced at the girl, and saw that
she was very pale and her eyes were staring
wildly. ‘ ’

Another moment he lifted a package of
letters from the drawer, and he took ofi the
very topmost one, and prepared to open it.

“I knew it!” cried Josephine. “ That is it!
I knew it was there! My Godl”

And the girl placed her hand over her
heart, staggered back and sunk into a chair.

Thad glanced at her, and in the waning
light he could see that, although she had not
lost consciousness. she was as white as
death and appeared to be brmthing with
difficulty.

“What is the matter?” asked the detec-
tive, approaching her. ,

“ Nothing, nothing!” she gasped. “ Read
the letter. That wil explain a l.”

 

CHAPTER 1v.
THAT TELL-TALE LETTER.

Tarmac the young lady’s advice, Burr
extracted the letter from the envelope and
carrying it tothe window in order to get.
better light, read its contents as follows:

“ DEAR Kara:—

” Met-t
Eightv'third street and North 'Riveratfivo
o’cloc this afternoon. If on still entertain
the love for me that you c aim you do, you
will not refuse this last interview—foritis
the last I shall ever ask of you. What I
wish to say to you, as on
said at the house, and choose this time and
place for the reason that I kn w father and

and do not il me. I cannot write more

now. Hoping and raying that I ma meet: 7 1
place mentione ,Im.  4

you at the time an
main, as ever.

“ Your devoted but discarded, . ‘

“ Lacuna“, '

When he had finished reading the letter, (if:
Thad raised his eyes to l.lIosephine and found" _I
' “Now you see, is r," she observed in',‘ a.
scarcely audible voice, “ why I did not want"-
«too enlthat drawer?” ' " ' 'V

her intently regardin

’,“ ou knew it was in them. then?”  I
“ I had good reason to believe’it Was”, a»
i “’You must have seen your brother- 111%-
ng t.” ‘ I" > J I   
“ No, but I saw Kate receive it}!
"' Did it come bymaili”  .

 

"Yes, and must-haVé'been mm and -‘
posted very soon after my brother left the,
o . . .

use.”

 

contgrts. . .

“ ota syllable" .. .' .
“ Pardon me, but what caused your agits

tion a moment ago when yen mpght sight

of lg); letter?" . ‘ ‘-’

   

k at this unexpected question,

pm 1: what
In" ’9  .,

vi 1. .
M, a TM. if;

the on the rocks at the foot or i

know, cannot be .

there will be *' ‘ 

 

' “Bet ’you appeared to hare known

rl, who had grown calm “swig”:

 

 

 

 

    
  

 

   

...,....,.~,.m...a .\ , ., ............ L ,.. ....-,v-

.m v?

 Riverside. Drive Death-Mystery: . ‘ 

 

 

“ You saw her reading it?"

“ Yes."

“ \V'ere you in the room with her?”
. “ Not exactly, hut—I saw her,"
faltcred, reddening considerably.

“ llow did she act 2’"

” She became Very nervous grew red and !

l letter on the spot. “’0 have nothing like it
1 about the house. I am positive."

 

“ No, because I did not telegraph till this
1 afternoon, and he may not have been at his

When the detective got downstairs again i hotel at the time the telegram arrival."

she I the old gentleman was waiting for him in the

hall.
He looked at 'l‘had curiously, and asked:
“ Well, sir, has my daughter been able to

pale, by turns. kissed the. letter, and finally ‘ shed any light on the mystery?”
y “ Not much." was the reply.

burst out in tears. .\ little while afterward

she came to my room and told the she was 1

going to Newhurg and would not return
before the next, day. i did not believe her.

and that was the reason I wanted to go to g

the depot with her. I was satisfied the
letter had Something to do with her going
out, and was anxious to see where she went.
And when l insisted upon going she got

. angry with me, and I knew then that there
was something wrong. "

“Did you know that the letter was from
your brother?”

“ Yes, I knew the lnmdwriting. ”

“ llut your father says that your brother
Went to Chicago early in the afternoon.”

“ That .is what father supposed, hut
Leonard did nothing of the kind. It was
all a concocted scheme between them to meet
,without our knowing anything about it.”

“ What could your step-mother‘s object,

have been in pretending that she would not
return until the following da ? She could
have met your brother and ha her talk with
him, and then returned home the same even--
m r."

“Certainly she could, but that is one of
the mysteries you will have to clear up. - I
can never do it.”

“ You knew something of the relations of
your brother and your late step-mother?”

“ Something, yes.”

"He was very fond of her, I presume?"

“ Yes; I think he loved her. " '

“ And she ‘2”

“I know she was
him.”

“ Of course our brother was greatly
grieved at your other marrying her?”

” Yes, sir; he took it very hard.”

“ Is your brother of a revengeful spirit?"

“I have never seen any exhibition of it.

passionately fond of

 ‘On the contrary, he was always rather too

forgiving for his own goad."
“There are cases, Miss Stern. where the
sudden shock caused by blighted affection

‘ I '. like that unsettlcs the reason and changes

 

«N

I

5 ‘ ‘melanchol

the mildest-mannered person to avengeful
fiend. Now, did you notice anything un-
usual about your brother’s actions during his

1 ‘ xntay ‘1”

-'~ ” Nothing, except that he appeared a little
. down-hearted. ”
“. Which was not characteristic of ’ him,

 v eh ?"

M “No, sir; his dis sition was the most
Sunny and cheerful c any one I eVer met.”
"You could not imagine, then, that the
over his disappointment could
_ have led h m to commit an act of violence?"
, "No, sir; I could not think of such a
thing."
. "And yet you do not doubt that your
brother met the woman at the appointed time
 place, do you?" ,
,, ‘fI do. My theory is that, while my
.brother, fired with the recollection of old
F love, or stung with the wrong whiCh had
'«been done him," planned the meetin , he
tai’tmward thought better of it-and di not
' meet her, and that she either became the

i , ’victim of some footpad, or, becoming piqued,
. _ perhaps des crate, at her disappointment,
’;.' ,threw hersel over the rocks. ”

y,“ But you said awhile ago that you did
at believe your brother went to Chicago at
the time he claimed to have gone.”
“I do not." ’ '
.9'Why?” .
' ‘ ,"Because the letter to Kate was mailed at
three, and he was supposed to have taken
the train at two-thirty.”
 “'Btill he might have posted the letter as
he went to the depot."
, ;“ Impossi le. Papa was with him and

rsys that h did not mail any letter on his

1! :

j y“ You spoke to your father about it, eh i"
, '1‘ Yes. Besides, if you will notice, the
fictional-y is such as he would have got in
panof those stationers' where you can pur-

anheet of paper and an envelope and ~

(i

' matched with pen and ink to wri

teyour‘

 

'l‘inul hesitated about telling him that he

| “No.
i would.”

: “What time (lid he leuVe New

“ Did you request him to come on to New
York 1’”
I took it for granted that he

“ What time did you send the nit-smlgt 
“ About two o’clock this at'ternoon.’
York yrs

had succeeded in getting into the secret t terday‘.”
drawer; but the old man saved him that

trouble, by asking:

“ You did not get into that drawer, did
you?"

“ I did,"answered Thad firmly.

Mr. Stern's i'aee took on an expression of
horror.

“What, against my injunction?" he de-
manded angrily.

daughter. ’

“ Oh. yes, she has, papa!" came the voice
of the girl directly behind them.

standing on the lower step of the stairs.

“It was no fault of Mr. Barr's, papa,” she
went on. “It was I that ordered him to
open the drawer, so if there is anybody to
be scolded. scold me.”

“But my dear, you know that I would
not have had that draWer broken open for
any amount of money,” protested the father.

“ Nor would I, and that is the reason we
did not break it open.”

“But you said just now that you had
opened it.”

' “ So we did. papa.”

“ Then how—‘2"

" Let me explain,” she interrupted. “, You
see, papa, I had the nnmbcrthat the drawer
was locked with and knowing that it con-
tained the ke' to the myster of Kate’s
death, I was (etcrmined that t e detective
should open it and discover the mystery.”

“And you have discovered it?” he almost
gasped, turning to Thad.

“ Not exactly, but what I have discovered
may lead to it.” replied Burr.

“ What is the discovery?"asked the old
man, growing greatly agitated.

Thad glanced inquirineg at Josephine.

She nodded assent.

“He may as well know it now as any
time," she said. “He will know it some
time.” ' _

Turning to the old man. he asked:

“ Do you think you are equal to a great
shock, sir? 'If not, Iliad better not show
you this.” '

“Do not keep me in suspense, sir," in-
sisted Mr. Stern. “ I am ready for the
worst. What is it?”

“Mind, there may not be anything in
this,” pursued Thad, as he handed him the
letter. “I myself believe it to be a false
clue. At least I hope it may turn out such.”

The old gentleman perused the letter, and
to the dctective's surprise. he did not exhibit
as much agitation as he had at the announce-
ment that the drawer had been opened.

. After reading the missive, he coolly folded
i: and handed it back with the calm observa-
t on: _

“As you remark, it is a false clue. My
boy has never been guilty of either luring
Kate away or—”

Be hesitated, and then continued:

“Itis false, sir. You ma depend upon
gt. ’ My son never had anyth ng to do With
t ,

“ You do not deny that he wrote the’ letter,
do on Y”

“ If he. did not, it is a veg]7 clever forgery;
uetrertheless. there is some in behind this
all. I do not pretend to be ab 8 to explain
what it is, but, when the mystery is sifted to
the bottom, I am convinced that you will
find that Leonard had nothing todo with it.”

“ I hope so. But I would like to have you
do something for me.” returned Thad. ’

“ What is that, air?"

“ Tole mph to your son at Chicago. See
whether he 9 there or not, and if so, when
he arflVed. He will not suspect anything,
and most likely tell you the truth. " .

“‘I'hnve already telegraphed the news of
Kate’s death. "

 

, ‘f Have you received any reply i” ’
"Net‘yctsf g, . ‘  .

H

Both men looked up and saw Josephine ‘

i “ At two-thirty."

“ Then he ought. to have reached Chicago,
everything favorable, at about three this
afternoon. It is now within ten minutes of
seven,” pursued the detective, consulting
his watch. “lie ought to have ban in
Chicago three hours ago and, it is natural to
suppose that he would go to his hctel by this
time, so that we ought to have a reply to

“ Yes, and at the earnest request of your . your message pretty soon."

i Thad had hardly ceased speaking \\ hen

" But my daughter, sir has nothing to—”  thedoor-bell rung, and the next minute the

lservant brought the old gentleman a tele-

I
l
l
l
t
I
l
l
l

  

,otth

'am
a .

“ Here it is now,” he observed, as he tore
the envelope open with a nervous hand.

He merely glanced over the message. and

4 then covering his face with his hand, handed

the paper to the detective.
It read as follows:

“DEAR FATHER:—

“I have just this instant arrived, and re-
ceived your dispatch, with sad news of‘
Kate’sdcath. ‘Will leave at once for New
York. LEONARD. "

Thad reflected a moment, and then said.-
' “"This is extremely favorable for your son,.

“Favorable?” groaned the old man.
“ What do you mean i”

“I mean that he must have left New
York not later than five o’clock."

“ You mean seven o'clock. It only t: kes
twenty-four hours to go to Chicago."

“ True enough. But you n ust remcnd er
there is a difference of over an hour in the
time between. here and Chicago. Allouing'
that he reached there in just twenty-four
hours after leaving here at five, it “chill be
five o’clock here and six o’clock there.

sa ' fifteen minutes—to reach his hotel, and
al owing that he might have. been detained
on the way. it might have taken him thirty
minutes. That would make it half past
six. Then there was the reading of your
message and writing his, the transmission
from there here, and finally the time it.
took the messenger to bring it from the
telegraph oilice, which, supposing every-
thing to have been done with the greatest
expedition, would make up the other half
hour. So you see that your son could not
have left New York later than five o‘clock,
and could not, therefore. have had time to~
meet your wife at Riverside Drive oftenyou
left him.” I

The old man’s face lighted u as though:
he had received a heavenly rcve ation.

ile looked as though he could have hugged.
the detective. ‘

‘5 Oh, thank you. sir!” he cried, grasping
Thad by the hand. y“ You have lifted a
great burden 01! my mind! I know now
that m son is innocent of any complicity in.
this a air, notwithstanding thisletter, which
seems on its face to condemn him.”

suspicion. Let me see: he ought to be here--
sometime tomorrow afternoon. Iwill call‘
and see him with your permission, Mr.
Stern.”

“ I shall be most pleased to have you meet:
him, Mr. Burr, rejoined the old man.

Thad then took his leave, and after doing
so. made his way once more to the some of
the late tragedy, Riverside Park. He did
not hope to make any new discoveries, but
siomchaw his puriosity led him in that direc-
t on.

agiiin climbed the rocks, on the face. of
w ich he had discovered the unfortunate
woman.

He stood there meditating u n how the-
poor girl could have met her ate, and “was:
mpressed with the loneliness and stillness.
of the place, when, all (thence,-
aware thlthttthcre was Some one at;

e c . . .. -

 

 

Then it would have taken him some iin:c-—— ,

“Yes,t.this appears to clear him of all‘ \

He had reached the identical spot, and"

‘3 129.331”? :3

   

 

 

v

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

~7§~flu-Jamfli““vt  c ..  .

 

 

t».‘ Nita-mesa

I “The “RiVerSIde Drive iv  W '  "  ’ 

 

 

 

 

It was intensely dark. but he could, never
theless, discern the outlines of a human be
ing moving about below.

He watched for some time, and the person
appeared to be walking about in a circle as
if he were searching for something.

At length, as much out of curiosity as sus-
picion, the .ietective decided to tind out
about the mysterious person, and to that cnzl
walked along the reeks to a place, where
there was a path descending to the foot of
the cliff, and there climbed down.

A few moments’ rapid walk brought him
to the spot where he had seen the person,
but he had disamwared

Thad approached a little nearer, aml then,
all atonce, the person came out from behind
a jutting rock.

It was too dark for the detective to dis-
cern him accurately, but he could see that
it was a man. that he was bare-headed and
that his clothes were in ribbons, as though
he had been running through a thicket of
thornbushes.

The moment he can, hta glimpse of Thad,
he turned and ran at he top of his speed.
Indeed, so sudden and unexpected was his
action, that he succeeded in makingr his cs-
cape before 'l‘hz‘ thought of pursuing him.

 

CHAPTER V.
THE DARKENED LIFE.

IT was a minute or so before Thad recov-
ered from his surprise at the strange appear-
ance’ and conduct of the mysterious man,
and when he had, he was convinced that the
fellow had something to do with the tragedy
of the previous evening.

He therefore determined to follow him,
with a view to learning what he could about
him.

The man had taken a down town course,
and apparently kept the path leading along
the foot of the clifl".

Thad knew that if he kept that course he
would be compelled to go the distance of ,a
block or more before reaching a point where
it was possible to climb to the roadway
above; so he took the same course, and hur-
ried on as fast as the rough, uneven state of
the path would permit. a

After stumbling along forthe disla cc of
nearly a block, it occurred to him to light
his lantern, and, taking it from his pocket,
he put. a match to the wick.

Having done so, he shot the slide ant?
threw the light upon- the narrow, rugged
path.

He had no more than done so when he was
astonished at a discovery he had made.

There was a trail of blood along the white
pebbles of the path, and, what was still
more astonishing, the blood was f reshl

What could it mean?

Had, the fellow, finding that he had been
discovered, attempted to take his own life to
escape prosecution.

If he had, the detective argued, he had
not been very successful, for there was no
great amount of blood, only a drop here and
there, and had more the appearance of hav-
in come from an accidental woundasuch as
might have been received from running over
the rough rocks with the bare feet.

This theory was soon afterward confirmed,
or nearly so, when he be an to see clearly-
deflned footprints traced n blood, and they
were that of bare feet!

Burr was more than m stifled; but, as he
recalled the wild look 0 the man, and the
tattered state of his clothing, and saw b the
bloody tracks that he was barefoot , the
detective was satisfied that the fellow was a
lunatic. ‘

Then the light of a new theory dawned
upon him: this lunatic had probably been
the perpetrator of the outrage which had re-
sulted in the death of Mrs. Stern!

But, allowing that such was the truth,
what had been the circumstances—the im-
pellin motive! .

H it been a mere mad freak, or was
there a star behind'it?

Perha )8 6 had’ been an admirer of Kate,
and she ad rejected him. which had driven
him mad. l’crhnps.‘in times gone by, they
had strolled along the rocks. and. escaping

m confinement, he had naturally wan-
and back to the old rendezvous. By the!
whence he had come along while she;

 

 

was there. awaiting the arrival of Leonard
Stern, and the sight of her rendering him
violent, he had sprung at and hurled her
OVer the cliff.

01', possibly, at sight of the locket, which
recalled something he had seen inhisdays of
sanity, he attempted to obtain ll-us’ntfclh'll)“ of
it, and had accidentally forced 1:: 1‘ over the
precipice, in the act.

As these various theories flashed through
his mind, the detective was probing on in
the course which the bloody footprints indi
cated the seeming lunatic had gone.

Finally he came to the first cut in the. cliff,
where a natural stairway ascended to the
upper level, and for a moment. the track had
disappeared, but when he had climbed part
of the way up the steep ascent, the traces of
blood again appeared, and he knew that the
fugitive had gone that way.

A few moments’ toilsomc climb brought
him to the top of the clltf, and again the
track had disappeared.

He threw the halo of his bull's-eye over
the ground and searched diligently, but to
no purpose; there was not the least trace, of
'blood in any dlrection, and he was finally
compelled to give it up.

On the opposite sizlc of the road from the
river are still some of the primitive rocks,
rough, rugged and wild as they were when
the Dutch first settled on the island.

Perched away up on these rocks a few of
the squatters cabins still remain, inhabited
by the poorer classes.

For some reason it occurred to Thad that
the lunatic might have sought shelter in one
of these; so he at once climbed the rude
stairway which the squatters have cou~
structed to get up to their humble abodes.

There was a light in the first shanty he
came to, and the detective knocked at the
doon

’l‘ho knock Was promptly answered by a
robust Irish woman, who demanded in a
surly voice what he wanted.

“ I want to know whether you have seen
anything of a crazy man about here," replied
Thad.

“ A man wid his clothes all tore and bare-
headed ‘2" inquired the woman.

“ That’s the man.”

“ Yis, he’s been about here these two
days back. He come here lasht noight all
covered wid blood, and said some wan had
throid to kill him."

“ What did you do with him?"

“ Sure, phu'at could ()i do but take him in
an’ let him wash himself an’ give him a boite
to ate an’ a place to shlape?”

“ So lie—remained all night, did he Y”

“ He did that.”

“Then where did he go?” .

“ lie wint nowhere all day till this aven-
in’, whin he shlippcd out an’ Oi haven’t seen
him since.”

"‘ Was he barcheaded and barefooted when
he came here last night?”

“ He was not. He had on his bat an’
shoes, but his clothes was all tore. lle
slipped out this avenin’ afther we’d made
him go to bed, an’ 0i s’poso he hadn’t toime
to' put. an his shoes or anything but his
trowsers." ‘ .

“You knew he was a lunatic when he
first came to you, didn’t you?”

“Sure, anny wan would have knowd he
\was as crazy as a bedboog, by the looks av
his eyes, which was that pond they’d freight.
en the loife out av yez.’ . _ '

“Why did you not‘ notify
then?”

The woman looked at him in horror.

“ Whoy‘should Oi do that?” she snapped.

“ So that they might have , taken‘him into
custody." '

“Faix, an’ whoy should they take the
poor divvil into cushtody? Phwat had he
done Y” .

“ You cannot tell what he had done. He
might have murdered some one for ought
you know. 7 Besides, he is probably an es-
caped inmate of some of the lunatic asylum,
in which case it. was your duty to see that he
was taken back there.”

‘fOch, sure, an’ if l was the inmate av
anin o’ thim places it’s mesilf that’d nivver
do nnnything to git him back,” she rctorted,
with a toss of the head. i

H Ti ‘ L it

“Been g: “they’re  lace. f or a denim;

the police,

person. to

of persons at the side of the read, and t]
.. appeared

 

 

    
   
  
     
   
   
    
     
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
    
  
  
   
 
   
   
   
  
   
 
  
     
  
 
   

“Well, if he comes back here to-night,
will you be good enough to send word to
this address?” asde the detective, handing
her his card. ’

The woman took the card, and after
glancing at it, threw it back at him, with the
reply:

“ Sure. an' ()i will ’Imf.’ It‘s a detective or
wan av thim asoylum chaps ye air, an‘ (li’d
see yez dead bel'oor Oi’d give )ez any infor—
mation about a poor divvil that yez want to
conl'oimr‘.”

Thad saw that it was but a waste of time
talkingr to her and bidding her good-evening.
walked away.

lle inquired at the other two shanties which
stood upon tl:e rocks, but the inmates had
seen nothing of the lunatic.

He then pursued the only course open to
him. which \\ as taking up his station within
View of the first cabin with the purpose of
watching.r for the approach of his man.

He took position near the foot of the
stairs leading to the top of the rock, so
that no one could ascend without- his seeing
him.

It was about nine o‘clock when he took
this station, and many wtary hours passed
without anything worth mentioning occur- -
ring.

One or two belated residents of the _
shanties came along and climbed the stairs,
whom the detective could see between him-
self apd the rky, but they Were unable to
discern him in his dark hiding-place, and that
was all. ’

Midnight finally passed, and still no sign
of the lunatic.

Thad was about ready to abandon the
vigil, when he was attracted by the sound
of a stealthy footstep, which was so light
that if the night had not been unusually still ' - '
and he had not been listening intent , he. _
would not have noticed it. , .

At first he could see no one, as the a
preaching person, whoever it was, kept n'
the shadow of the rock.

He waited and listened.

At length, after a. long time he cspied a
figure glide out of the shadow, approach the' _ _
foot of the stops and start to mount. » '

It had takm but a few steps upward
when it came out in bold relief avainst the
sky. and the detective saw that it was its,
fugitive by, the tattered mimcnt that blew
about him. I. . _

For an instant Thad was at a loss what to
do. ‘ - ‘-
Ilis first impulse was to rush upon the ,,
man and capture him, but on SCCtd‘ld thought-
he deemed it the better plan to wait until 1?? -
had got into the shanty toward which he—  ‘
was (:Vlfhl’llly tending. \But the detective 'f
had no more than considered this plan when  i
he thought of the Litter denunciation of the ‘
police and asylum authorities by the old wo— '
man, and he ‘knew that it would be next!» ' f
impossible to capture his man if he once goir j
inside her shanty, so he finally decided to 
steal upon the lunatic quietly and take him ‘ _'
before he was aware that he was being pure; "
sued. '

With this aim in viewlie stole out of the ~
shadow and started up the steps,.but had’
scarcely taken three steps, although they
had been as light as those of a eat, when the
lunatic’s acute «inmost have can hi: the
sound of his approach, for hi? turne , espied;
the detective, hesitated an instant and than;
bounded back down the stairs past Thad
a flash of lightning. and was gone 
shadowcr knew what had happened! '

It did not take Thad an instant mites)
the situation, however, and le ‘ made c
after the fugitive at the top of his Speed. _

The madman was a'swift runner, though,
and, spurred on by some superhuman one
erg , flew along like the wind. ‘, 

'Rhad also was 3 SW)“. runner, but 5i:
spite of his utmost exertions the f w",
steadily gained on him. . t g

The madman had taken the middle
the driveway, up'town. and beforuvery ion
had so distanced the detective that 
out of his s' rht. . = _

After an ile Thad felt himself  ng" .
exhausted and slackencd his pace, but kept.
on in the same direction. - V" '
‘ He had run perhaps two blocks after i v ,
ingvsight 07 his man when he noticed a group

in!

to be struggling with escapism

  

 

  

n-‘.n’~vlvps>4. -‘uw .—
"‘ i‘ - I . v . ,

he Riversid

eDrive Death-Mystery. ’ I it

 

 

 

   

. A few moments’ run brought him up with
the struggling group, and he then discover-
ed that it consisted of two policemen and the

 madman, whom they were trying to over-
 power and he was giving them all they
a}, wanted to do.

Without a word the detective lent his assist—
ance and the lunatic was soon overpowered
and handcuffed.

It was not until then the officers appear-

ed to notice that any one had come to their
assistance, and they stared at Thad in aston‘
. ishment.
t: , “ You appear not to know who I am,” ob-
served the detective. “ Well, as you have
rendered me an important piece of service, 1
don’t mind tellin you. 1011 have heard of
Detective Burr, presume?"

“ Detective Burr?" echoed both officers in

 

 

   
    
  
   
   
  
 
   
   
  
  
  
   
 
   
 
    
  
  
  
   
    
  
   
     
   
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
    
  
   
 
   
  
  
    
  
 
  
     
  
   
  
 
   
  
  
 
 
    
     
     
   
  
  
      
     

achorus. “Not the rent—”
“Detective Thad urr,” interposed the
man-taker.

“ Mr. Burr, I am glad to know you," ex-
claimed one of the policemen, as soon as he
had sufficiently recovered from his astonish-
ment. ,

“ And I too.” added the other officer.

“Iam always glad to meet one of the
boys," said Thad calmly. “ But, let us get
this oor fellow to some place.”

“ es, We will call a patrol wagon,” rc-
joined one. “ But, who is he, anyway?”

"That is more than I can tell, though I

suspect that he had something, if, indeed,
not everything to do with the killing of the
woman found hanging on the‘ rocks last
night."

“ No, no, no! It was not I!" cried the

or lunatic, who had become calm and had

on listening attentively to the conversa-
tion since the irons were put on him. “ It
was not 1. 1t was—was the—the—vmau
I with the black mustachel"
I “By Jove! there is something back of his
ravin s," remarked one of the policemen.
 ,_“ Loo i” he went on. “ See this cut on his
‘ head. That has not been made long.”
,. “That is where he struck me,” murmur-
 ed the lunatic. “ He tried to kill me—tried
. ' to murder me, but I fought. fought. fought!
.. ,. -Halha! ha! But—but he killed her! He
 * threw her over the cliff, and the horses went
_0ver too." ‘ ,
" ' “‘ Who did this?” asked Thad hi it kindly

. tone.
' ' man—the man with a black
 mustache. ” ,
" Who is he?"
“The man with the black mustache." re-
‘ posted the madman. "Oh. my head!” he
' mailed, putting his manaclcd hands to his
"  cad. " He tried to kill me! But I fought,
 fought, fought! Hrfl ha! ha!"
. And the poor fellow broke out in a wild,
hilarious laugh.

’ “ There is no use of questiOning him now.”
fbbserved Thad, turning to one of the cf
 “Let us get the ambulance as soon
 ; bleand take him to the hospital.”

. neof the. men hurried away, leaving
Thad and the other one to look after the
lunatic, and in the course of twenty minutes
an ambulance came lumbering up.

‘ The poor fellow was induced to enter the

A “vehicle, which he did without much persua-
’ was driven away to Bellcvue
pital.

? Itxwas found upon examination that.
fwhile‘his skull was not fractured, there was
Sgt‘éepi‘GSSlfln caused by the blow be had re-
ceived, which. the docthr thought. was
attic-tent t) produce the symptoms of in-
ity be exhibited.- ‘ l '

He was in a sorry plight when they got
kimto the hospital.

_ ,addition to his tattered clothing.» his
factfiwhich were 'bare, were cut nnddacer-
 fromrunning over the rough stones,

drowns in a high state of fever.

V The few remnants of clothing remaining on
 Hm were of fine texture and appeared to be
0W. » Beehies. there was a diamond stud in

(1- {two or three valuable rings on his
gets. "  , g _
But, to the consternation offline detective
hos ital authorities.~there ‘Was nothing
' 7 a rate establish his identity,

’ ‘Thad's theory abOut his their: an
ed‘lunatic was knock in the"
set-titties of jewelry ound u‘ "

   

     
 

   

sons iviil shut the

ramsng f agment of a shirt he had on

em!

 

Thad was compelled to formulate a new
theory, and he was not long in doing it.

It was in part that there was some signifi-
cance if not truth in the words uttered by
the poor fellow, when he said that some
one had tried to kill him, and he believed
thalt this somebody was the murderer of the
g1: .

CHAPTER VI.
ouormo IN THE DARK.

ON the following day Thad again called
upon Mr. Stern, and found that his son
Leonard had returned.

It was late in the afternoon, and the
family had just returned from the funeral of
Kate.

The old gentleman met the detective and,
taking him aside, said:

“ I want you to have a talk with my son.
Iliad thought of doing so, but could not
make up my mind to speak to him under
the (-irmunstances. 1 do not believe him
guilty, but i do believe that he knows more

about the affair than he cares to tell. You
are the one to get it out of him.”
“ All right, sir," rejoined Thad. “ It was

with a view to having a talk with the young
man that I called this afternoon. I presume
it will be best to be frank with him."

“ What do you mean?"

“ I had better let him know who I am."

“ Certainly. There can be nothing gained
by disguising matters. lie is a sensible
fellow and, if he has taken the trouble to
think about it, he must know that there is
room for suspecting him. Shall I call him
down?"

“If you please.”

Summoning a servitnt, the old gentleman
dispatched him to ask his son to come down,
which he soon did.

After introducing Leonard to the detective,
Mr. Stern made some excuse to leave the
room, and the two men were left alone.

Leonard Stern was a tall, handsome young
man of possibly twenty-four, with a frank,
manly face, and Thad could not help wonder-
ing what the inducement had been that im-
pelled Kate Sherwood to sacrifice him for his
father.

The father had introduced Burr as a de-
tectiVe, and the young man appeared a trifle
nervous when left alone with the detective,
and the latter, noting this, was somewhat at
a loss as to how to begin with him.

But the great detective was not long in
making a start. - .

Coming to the point at once, he began:

“I presume it. has occurred to you, Mr.
Stern. that, under the ' circumstances. you
might be suipectcd of having something to
do with the ate tragedy?"

The young man became greatly confused,
and it was a minute or two before he could
repl . '

“it has occurred to me, ' he finally falter-
ed, ” that unthinking people might connect

me with the aila‘r, but I do not apprehend“

that any sensible person will harbor the
thou ht for a moment.”

Th s, the detective could not but recognize
as a master-stroke. If the young man was
guilty, and studied out the answer he was
to make to such a question, he could not do
better. ‘ , r -

While he could notiielp but think that the
remark was that of an innocent man, Thad
realized that it might possibly be a subter-
fuge and determined to act his part regard-
less of appearances. . ‘

“ Don't be too sure of that. my friend,”bc
interposed. “ Of course every thinking
person hopes that you are innocent of ‘any
complicity or even knowledge in the matter,
but that is not saying that those same per—

r eyes to appearances."

“ What do you meant", ,

' “ Simplythat, innoCent though you may
be and us hope you are, so far the evidence
is against you and» noone else, and it may

be necessary for you_to make some explaua- *

tious." 7 l . V .
Leonard turned paid and grew very ner-
vous. : . . r. r v
"‘21 don’t understand you,” he said. “I
cannot imaginoihow there can bejany'evi-
dance ' 'l't” “"3   « U -

   
  
 
   
   

     
   
  

 
 

,mind in thinking of recalling this circum-

 

' “ You doubtless remember writing that?”
he observed.

The young man colored at sight of the
letter and his hand shook so that he could
scarcely hold the paper.

“Where did you get that?” he finally
gasped.

“ It matters not where I got it.
whether you wrote it or not.”

“ Ye— cs, I wrote it, but—”

He hesxtated, and the detective interposed:

to Well?”

“ It had no reference to the late tragedy,"
Leonard answered, in an almost inaudible
voice.

“ How am I to know that?"

“Kate refused to comply with the re-
quest.”

“ You mean that she did not meet you at
the intended rendezvous?”

” I mean that she refused to do so, and I
did not go to the rendezvous to see whether
she would come or not.”

“§he told you she would not comply?”

H Veg.”

“How could that be, when you wrote
that note on the very day on which the
tragedy occurred. and that go after you left
the house on your way to t depot?"

“ ’l he ii‘ilul‘ was not written on that day,
but the day, or rather night before I went
away,"

“ It is dated the same day.”

“ I know it is, but it was written the night
before.”

“How did you come to date it a day
ahead?"

“ it is a habit of-minc when writing late _ . i
at night to date my letters the following 
da .”

“ That is plausible enough, but there is an—
other matter which I belicvc you will have
more difficulty in explaining.”

“ What is that?”

“The letter was not received by Kate un—
til a few minutes before she left the house.
and at least two and a half hours after you
hail gone and were supposed to be on your
way to Chicago. Did you see her after
that?”

“I did not, and she did not receive this
letter after I left. but during the forcnoon,
for she came to me as soon as she received
it and told me that she could not comply
with my request, as it might compromise
her." ‘

s “ But our sister says she saw her receive
it after tgrée o’clock in' the afternoon of the
day you left." "

,The youn man a peared perplexed for a
moment, an then b s face lighted up as he
exclaimed:

“ I understand it now. After my father
left me at the depot I found that I had a
few minutes to wait for the train, and i
took advantage of the opportunity to write
a note to Kate, in which I reproached her ‘ l
for refusing to meet me at Riverside Park.
That is the letter she received. and not'this
one. That I did not meet her :ought to be
clear enough, when my father knows that
I was in Chicago in' time to receive and
answer his telegram yesterday afternmm- ' «.i

This was a poter,,and the detective was "
unable to answer it, at the same time ho
wondered “at the young man‘s presence of

I ask you

w

1'?

i;


 

4:»

stance. r
Burr could not refrain from asking himself
whether an innocont man would have thought

of it. '

And then his mind reverted to the alleged ,
letter again. ' a.

“Your sister saw Kate receive a letter. ‘
he resumed, “and when she mme into the t;
room and surprised 'her, Kate was reading ‘33
and weeping over it. As soon' as she saw
that y0ur sister had discovered her. she put
the letter in a drawer of the cabinet and .3
locked it; She then hastily made a note ('1 ' ,g

 

the number with which she locked the d in wer ,;
and attempted to put it into her pocket, but t' :
failed and the scrap of paper fell to the floor _.
where your sister subsequently found it. it
was b that means that Lwas enabled to
open t 0 drawer.”

 

 

        
     
  
 
   
  

“You found this letter in the drawer,
then?” -  9‘

“Yes.”

.f‘ And not the other?"

“ No. However,  ignited a ft
um  ‘ ‘4. I ’37:

 

 

 

 

 

The 'Riverside Drive Death-Mystery.

9

 

 

look at once. I am glad you reminded me of
it."

“Yes, let us find the ether letter, if pos-
sible,” returned Leonard enthusiastically,
rising. “Although I have no doubt thatl
can easily prove an alibi, .it ma serve to
remove any present suspicion iom your
mind to find the scoond letter, and the one
which my sister evidently saw her reading.
Come.”

And he made for the door.

Thad followed, and the two were soon as-
cendinrr the stairs.

The drawer still stood partially open as
Thad had left it on the previous day, and the
young man drew it out and took out the
package of letters from which the detective
had taken the missive which had appeared to
implicate Leonard in the crime.

'l‘had received them from his hand with
some doubt, for as he had found the other
letter, which was supposed to have been
written first, on top, he had little hope of
finding the other one in the package at all.

However, he proceeded to con the envel-
opes over mechanically, in which perform-
ance he was closely watched by the young
man.

He had not gone far down into the package
when Leonard exclaimed:

“ There it is!”

At the same moment Thad recognized the
handwriting on the envelope as the same as
that on the first one he had found.

lie drew it out of the pack and saw that it
bore the card of the New York Central Rail-
road in one corner.

This appeared to clinch Leonard’s story
about having written the letter in the depot.

“ I got it from the agent, who is a friend
of mine," explained Leonard, as he noticed
the other looking at the stamp.

Thad nodded atiirmatively, and drew the
~letter from the envelope.

It did not take him long torun through

‘ the contents, and he saw that they corre-

sponded with the description the young man
had given of them.

Replacing the letter, the detective said:

“I am satisfied that what on have told
me is correct. and I no longer ve any rea-
an.:to believe that on had any connection
with the aflair at R verside Drive. Never.
thcless, you may be able to assist me in the
solution of a tough problem."

“ What is it?"

“ What reason can you assign for Kate
going to Riverside Park at the time of day
she did. instead of going to Newburg, as
she pretended she was going to do?"

“I know no more than yourself, sir.” a

“ Did she say nothing about itto you?"

“ Nothing." ‘

“ Did she intimate that she intended going
to Newbnr when she spoke to you?”

“ She di not.”

“ gm- anywhere else?6

‘.  H ‘

“Did she appear despondent or down-
hearted ‘3’;

“ Yes, she seemed a little downbearted.”

“Did she appear to regret the step she
had taken in marrying your father instead of
yourself?"

“I could not say as to that. She was
downhearted and cried a good deal, but I
could only surmise the cause."

H She did not tell you?"
’1: N0. 9'

" Did you ask her?" I

“Yes. I asked her the cause of her sad.
uses. but she only said ‘Nothing.’ and
changed the subject." I
‘ " Has she ever appeared, at any time since
the wedding-to regret her step?"

“I do not know. You see, I have not
seen her since until three days ago, when I
prime on for a visit. "’

. 5,“ Had you much talk with her on the sub-
ject this time ‘3'?

“ The subject was never broached be-
tween us. in all our conversation the sub-
]ect of our late engagement and her mar-

A

rifle to my lather was never once men“

tioned.”
“ Was it not brought up when'she told
yen she had received your letter and could

I not comply with your request?"
‘ No "

7“ What did she say ?" ‘
f‘ She." received the lgtfr in the mornitif,

t» noon wen: ntheparlor.

 

father was present, but was absorbed in his
paper. I was standing near the piano, and
she came over and made some remark about

a piece of music lying there. and then in an ;
undertone she said: ‘1 got it, you naughty

fellow. but you don’t expect me to comply
with your request?‘

away quickly. as if afraid that I would insist
upon m request.” ‘

“ lIa you no more conversation with her
before you left ?”

 Not another word, except to bid her
good -by.”

“ And you never saw her afterward?”

“ Never, until I saw her in her coflin.”

“ Had she any enemies, that you are aware
of ?"

“ None that I know of. Let me see." he
hesitated. “ However. that'was a long time
ago,” he went on, “and he is either dead or
far away, which is the same thing, so far as
this matter is concerned.” ‘

“ \Vhat do you refer to?”

" It was nothing,” returned the other, eva-
sively. ‘

“But you alluded to him," persisted the
detective. “ Whom do you mean?"

“My bldest brother,” faltered Leonard,
after some hesitation. “He and Kate were
never very good friends. ” ‘

“ What was the canse‘of their dislike for
each other?"

“ I do not know. They never liked each
other, and finally when she discovered—
However, I do not see that that circumstance
can interest you."

“ Yes, I should like to know what it was,"
cried the detective, eagerly. “In ferreting
out a thing of this kind it is first of all im-
portant, if not necessary, to discover a mo—
tive somewhere. Please tell me the story to
which you allude." -

“ Well. it was simply that m father had
discovered that he was be ng robbed.
Harper, my eldest brother, Was assistant
bookkeeper, and father was unable to tell
whether it was he or the head bookkeeper
who was robbing him. He rought the
books home and had Kate, wh was an ex.
Bert accountant, help him with them. They

ad worked 0n them retty late one night,
and when they had flna ly quit for the night,
and Kate had . just one to her room, she
heard some one we] stealthin past her
door. Hanper’s room was next to hers, and
she knew that no one exec the would be
likely to come along the hall rom that direc-
tion at that time of night, and she suspected
something wrong. Of course she could not
even imagine what it was, but she‘decided
towatch his movements, so she slipped out
of her door and watched the retreatin figure,
which she had no difficulty in recogliliziug as
that of my brother. She saw him go tothe
room where the had left the books, which
was on the next oor above, and she followed
him. As soon as he closed the door and
ii hted the gas, she got a chair and watched
h in over the transom. She saw him 0 n
the books and proceed to write some ng.
She hurried away tomy father's more and
told him what she had seen, and he followed
her up-stairs. and, mounting the chair, saw
what was going on. My father, in a white
beat of rage. knockal on the door andlde-
mended admittance, and when my brother
finally reluctantly admitted him, my father
accused him of his crime. Her entail-1y
caught, confessed, and father rove him
from the house."~. ' ,

” What has become of our brother?”

"I do not know. T 8 last we heard'of
him, he was in California. We think he
must be dead.” -

“ How long ago did this thing happen?”-

“ About four years ago.”
CHAPTER vn.
" nEcoesrrrox.
Arms a few moments’ reflection. Thad

came to the conclusion that this wayward '

brother was the most likely onetd haveoom-

mitted the horrible crime of Riverside Drive.

After wandering about for four years he had
returned to his old home. butdarsd not enter
his father‘s .house while his young step-
mother lived. and decided to put-her out of
thaws“; a»  -. .

‘Why not?’ I asked. ;
‘It would never do,‘ she replied, and walked -

' that of the hunted ndividua

? to Riverside Park, and why had she deceived
f her family in the matter?

5 Perhaps after refusing Leonard, she had
relented and had gone there with the hope
that he would come after all. Perhaps this
erring brother had watched her movements
and followed her as she had him on the night
of the discovery of his dishonesty, and, once
finding her alone in the quiet place, he had
, carried out his infamous scheme and pushed
her over the cliff. -

The detective then reverted to the lunatic.
‘ Could it be possible that he was no other
than Harper Stern?

He then recalled what the poor fellow had.
said during his ravings about somebody try-
ing to kill him, and remembered that he
v said the person \\ as a tall man With a dark
mustache. ‘

Thus far ‘the description suited Levnard,
but might it not also suit iiarper‘r

Turning to his young companion. he asked:

“ What is the description of yourdirothcrf
\Vas he tall like yourself, and had he a dark
mustache like'you ‘2”

Leonard started as though he had felt an
electric shock. .

“ Why, have you seen him ?" he. asked
nervously."

“ Not that I know of.” -

“ Well. you have described him exactly. "
He was about my size and resembled me so
; closely that we were frequently mistaken for
‘ each other.”

i So far Thad’s theory held good.

But the answer also settled the point about
the crazy man being Harper Stern. ?

The description did not suit him’at all.

‘,“I should not wonder if I had hit 11 on a
l theory, possibly a clue,“ observed had,
Imusin l . , ‘

“ How is that?" demanded the other, look- i ‘
ing up suddenly. ‘ * ,

Burr did not answer immediately, but
after a moment’s reflection, he went on:

_“ I have learned enough to know that the
man who committed the murder fills that"
description. He was tall and had a dark
mustache.”

Loonard smiled a little ironically.
‘ “You might find a good many men in
this town of that description."

“True enough. But when we find what
lspoke of awhile ago—a motive for the
crime, and then discover that the individual
who entertained that motive fits the descrip.‘
tion of the man who cqmmitted the crime,
we are coming pretty close to a clue." ,

“How do you know that the man who
I committed the murder suited that descrip-

tion?” ' ' 

“I do not know it positively, butI have»
received an intimation to that eflect, and in
this connection, I would like to ask you to
take a drive with me some time during the
foreman 'to-morrow.” ,

The 'oung man looked surprised. 

“ W erb to?" he asked, suspiciously. at 
though he feared that Thad had some evil
desgn upon him. , - ‘

” ust across town to Bellevue Hespital.
I want you toseeif you can identifys patient
there." ~ , -

“Alpatient?” said Leonard, with a poi-6
zled countenance. ‘ *

“Yes, a person who appears to 
something about the case.” . . 

- He appeared more puzzled than ever. . . 
"What is he doing in the hospital?“
asked. - . . . .

*‘He is sic ” ‘ 7

“ 0h.” V .7. ,l. .

As the eyes of the two men met B '
thought be detected something loathe erh~
pit 1310 young man that was not altogether

s was impossible” io mm a. , 
it was not exacti sinister nor was it quite

  
  
  
    
    
  
   
  
 
   
    
  
    
    
    
 
  
   
 
  
   
    
   
   
   
   
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
  
 
 
  

l

 

-. s
\

r .
i .

It was more like that of an innocer t
’who feels that a naivork of circumgtnn'
evidence is closing about him in spite. o bk
innocence or his‘ ghting against it. P

But after a bust struggle, unsecured
the strange expression passed away‘and __
said cheerfully: .’ - - -

“Very well, I will go with you. 
time ALVigill he sgtalzl'eg; be ble‘ ' r

“ time at agrees tor '
We hadV better go early, however; say e,
ten o’clock.” _, _ 

That will suit,

 

me.”

 

paw—adv-» my.“ m

.vm~‘., .... 0.0-0.
5. .l.’ . .--\ 4

 

de' :Drive DeathéMy'stery.  ~ '

 

 

 

'a
As Burr was about passing out of the hall
the old gentleman came out of the parlor
and accosted him.
“ Well?" he said,

  
  
    
 
   
   
      
    
     
 
    
  
  
   
   
     
   
    
  
  
  
   
   
   
    
  
   
   
 
  
  
    
 
 
   
  
   
    
  
    
 
   
    
   
  
  

“ \Vhat do you find?”

 

‘32:  Nothing of importance," replied Thad.
4:3”, The old man's face brightened. ;
 “ You do not think there is any chance of ;
life, his being guilty?"

“ l o." i

The defective had a double motive in an- i
swering thus. :

lie was desirous of relieving the old gen- ,
tleniau's mind, and be deemed it best to
keep any suspicions that he might entertain f
to himself, for he was satisfied that if the 1
young man was guilty he was a clever cus-
tomer and'too much caution could not be!
e.\er.~is.:d in trapping him.

Mr. Stern‘s face glowed with happiness,
so much so that he appeared to have forgot .
Inn his late grief. ‘ I

“()h, thank you, sir!" he cried, raptur- I
only. clasping ’l‘had’s hand, “ In spite of 5
appearances, l have believed my son inno- i

eent all along, and now you confirm my be- !
lief. You place me under great obligations
to you, and when you have discovered the
real culprit, you shall name your own re~
ward."

“ I am glad to know that you appreciate
my humble efforts, Mr. Stern, but it will be
time to tiilk of reward when I have earned i
one; So far Ihave done nothing.” .

"Yes, 'ou have. You have made great
progress in discovering that my boy is inno—
cent.” ' . '

Thad felt that he would have'been better
satisfied himself if he knew positively that.
the young man was innocent, but he did
not.

However, he kept this to himself, and
after a little more talk or. common topics,
took his leave.

' Punctual at ten o’clock the following day
I he drove to the house in a cab and called
for Leonard. '

That young gentleman soon joined him
and they drove away to Bellevuc Hospital.

 

‘.

-_ nurse, as soon as he was admitted to the
- ‘,ward. ,
, “ Och, sor, .an‘ he’s coming on foine,” rc-
' , plied the nurse. “He’scoming to his sinses,
an' the doctor do be sayin’ that he’ll be all
filig’l‘ll} in a few days."

“ hat's good,” replied Thad in his accus-
tomed kindly voice. ' “ Can we see him
now?”

‘. “ Wal. ,hc’s shlapin’ now, sor, but he'll ‘
~ soon be waikin’, Oi'm thinkin’." '

 "It don’t matter about him being asleep.
" ‘I do not care about speaking to him. 1 onl

wish to have a glimpse of his face, to see f
 this entlcmnn can identif him.”

 f “a h, thin, an’ yez kin o‘ok at his face all
; lyez' want,” rejoined the old woman, turning
 and leading the way toward the other end of
' ."=thc Ward. ‘ .

, 'an she had stated, the lunatic was peacev
Ifnlly slce ing when they reached the bed-
1' side, but in face was turned up in cache
, .n‘tlnn‘er as to render it easily recognizable by
«any one who knew him. .

 ‘Tnke {a 300d look at him; Mr. Stern."
e  gBu'rr, "and tell mcif you ever saw him

i.‘ ore.‘ ' . \ i

 gazed at the upturned face a. long

time, and finally turning to the detective,
{whack his ‘head With the remark; ,

.. *Nevdr saw him before.” fl

“ You are sure?” , . r
 .331 am quite positive. There is nothing

, about the face at all familiar.”
Thnd‘s.face showed his disappointment,
shut he made no response. .

The young man took another look at the
and then asked in a rousing tone:
, ‘f‘imiy did you wish me to deadly him,

ier Burr-l” . ,
 ” had thought a moment before replying,‘
,tdtheilnqhiry. .. '

lie was not quite sure whether he should t

l

 

 
 

“ nigger the question or not...
_ innlty, however, he concluded that it.

     

 

oonld do no harm. and rejoinedz‘
“1'51 hand this fellow. who Was as crazy“

:bédbng. near the rock where the bod ,of':
th'q’giri was disco erod. and in a. wild. nco‘

  
  
 
 

  
  
  
  
 

    

,' _ ‘ieiurnedaialopngi 
“V 3‘ it I  :-

i

V l The Riversi

“How is our patient?"hc asked of the I

'l,

M grit way, desc bed the scene‘of‘the mar-i ’ ‘

 

" Did—«did he describe the murderer?’ he
f al tered .

“ Yes "

And the detective watched the effect of
his answer upon the young man, and was
surprised to see that
fused.

He turned away from Burr and again
fixed his eyes upon the sleeping man.

As he gazed ’l‘had saw that the queer ex-
pression he had noted on the previous day
again came into his eyes.

The eyes seemed riveted on the face as
though he was unable to remove them.

The sleeping man soon began to move
and writhe under the gaze, and before long
opened ins eyes.

As he did so, the first object that met his
vision was Leonard’s face and staring eyes.

The lunatic sprung suddenly to a sitting i

posture and stared at the young man with
an intensity and wildness that caused even
the detective to shudder.

liis black eyes appeared to flash tire.

And yet Leonard Seemed unable to remove

- his gaze from him.

For more than a minute the two men
stared at each other thus, and then the
lunatic broke into a wild, incoherent fit of
raving, which soon became intelliwible.

“That is he!” he cried. “That is the
man that tried to kill me when I tried to
save her! 1 know him! I would know
that face—those eyes, anywhere! it is he!
Let me get at him! 1’“ tear him to pieces!”

And he acted as though he would put the
threat into execution, and'probably would
have done so, had not Thad caught him and
threw him back upon the couch.

Still Leonard did not move from his
position or remove his gaze from the luna-
tic's face.

' It seemed to be held there by some unholy
s ell. .

pThe lunatic struggled desperately to free
himself and get at the young man. but he
was completely helpless to the hands of the
gigantic detective. and so appeared to realize
the fact and ceased to struggle.

He never ceased yelling,though, and raised
such a rumpus that the detective was com-
pelled to ask Leonard to leave the ward, or
at least, get out of the crazy man’s sight.

As soon as he was gone, the patient quiet
ed down and had nothing more to say]

He appeared so rational. in fact, that
Burr concluded to question him and see
whether something tangible could not. be ob
tained from him. I ' , -

After coaxing and talking to the patient
in a kindly way for some time, he asked:

“Yousecmcdtto know that fellow who
was just here., Where did you ever see
him?‘

The lunatic stared blankly at him and.

made no reply.

“ Don’t you remember the man with the
black eyes?" pursued Thad “ The man who
looked at on so hard, and whom on said
tried to kit you and did kill the gir .”

But it was no use. The mind appeared to
have becomeablank again. and could not
grasp even this simple question.

Thad repeated the .question‘ in various
forms several times, that the poor fellow
only‘ stored with a uzzlnd expression and
did not answer, and ' io iinall gave it u .

“That is a strange case. ' observe
doctor, who had arrived while the detective
was nttem ting! to! catechiu the gatient.
“,‘Nothing, at vision seems to recal any-

thing to his membry. He appears to know

‘every one by si ht. but the moment they

are out of his sig it no amount of describing
will recall them to his recollection."

.“ Yes. I have just had occasion to note
the fact." rejoined Thad. t‘ The gentleman
who came in with me seems“) have recalled
some one wheahas at: some time done him an
loyal-Land the sight of him drove the poor
i‘e low :to raving.” . '

‘! Indeed? Suppose you fetch yOur friend
here again and let. us-see What the effect. will

‘ Burr recalled Leonard and the young mdn
came alongside of theoouch, and the lunatic’s
eyes, in inaccurate or. their wanderings, fell
npnnhisince flgfiiiln . I .

The effect was, like that of an electric

4.

he grew greatly eon-l

the

 
  



; tcctive cared to expend to prevent him from
! getting at Leonard.

! “Let me at him!" he shouted. “lie
I tried to kill me, and did kill her! I know
:him! I know those devilish eyes! They

‘ looked at me that night when he tried to kill
j Inc, when I was trying to stop the horses and
1 save her."
I Meanwhile Leonard’s eyes had become
l fixed upon the face of the lunatic again,
i and he appeared to be oblivious to everything
‘ else.
: “ Never mind now, my poor friend," cooed
I 'l‘had in a gentle tone. “ You are too weak
. to light him now. Wait till you get stronger
and you shall get at him.”

“No, no! 1 am strong now. A thousand
1 times stronger than he. I would have
whipped him that night if he had not struck
medown with a club like a dog, but he didn’t
' kill me. 1 i'ought— fought! Ila! ha! ha! i
fought like a tiger!”

As soon as he came to a pause in his
ravings Thad took advantage of the oppor
tunity to ask:

" Who is this man?”

The lunatic‘s eyes became fixed on the face
of Leonard again and he stared at him for a
long time, but he appeared unable to make
out who he was, for after a long while he
shook his head and became silent.

The doctor then requested Leonard to
walk away again, and the lunatic became as
quiet as a lamb. ’

"There is something strange about this
case,” observed Thad when the young man
was beyond earshot. "I do not understand
it. He seems to recognize the' young man‘s
face, and yet he cannot recall his name.”

“Perhaps he never knew his name,” sug
gested the doctor. " It is my opinion that
he neVerdid, and it. is also my belief that he
has seen his face and sustained some wrong
at his hands.”

“It certainly has that appearance,’ ad-
mitted Burr. “ However, it may be a crazy
illusion of his. My young friend has a
brother who bears a striking resemblance to
him. It may have been the brother who
committed the outrage.”

“ Possibly,” replied the doctor in u skep‘
tical tone. ” But how do you account for
your friend’s fascination when he comes near
this om fellow?" .

“ hat is a thing which has been puzzling
me. Still, we shall be able to make more out
of it when i this fellow recovers his reason, if
he eyer doesfi’ v ‘

CHAPTER VIII.‘
so an unsxmc'rsn TURN.

LEONARD was nervous and silent when
they left the hospital, and Thad became
more than ever convinced that there was
something wrong somewhere.

He was still unable to fix an clue hr
theory upon the youn .mun, at from
several little things whic had ssed~suoh
as his readiness torcbut every t of evidence
brought against. himgns thou )1 he had
studied the whole matter out, an finally his
unaccountable actions in the presence of the
lunatic. ' ' ‘

After pondering over the sub ect for some
time after entering the cab, he nally said:

“It Was rather strange that that fellow
imagined he knew you, Mr. Stern, ‘wnsn't

“ Eh t” he cried.

" I say it was rather stran e that the fel-
low in the hospital should love imagined
that he knew you." '

 

in a scarcely audible voice. , -
“And yet you are sure you never saw

him before?" ‘
"Not—not that I remember of," faltered

the young man. .> 1 _

“Still, he may have mistaken
our brother,” pursued Thad. “
nave . done that. for you never attempted to
kill him. of course". . .

“Of course not," echoed the young min.”
mechanically. ' ‘, .
“But the strange art of it was the man-
ner in which'the lunat c appeared to fascinate
you." i - . ' g ’
" Fascinate me?” , '
And Leonard stared as blank!
though he  never compartch
thownyhe w .‘ f ‘

on for

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“ Yes, it was strange," muttered the other ,

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. l , "Yes," replied the detective. “ you ap-
 i peared unable to take your eyes off him.”
i
l

and became so eonfused that he was unable
to u ter a word for some moments.

“l was almost sure that you must have.
seen lriru somewhere, from the way you
:~t:it‘e(l at him," continued Thad. “ You
' ~ seemed to forget that there was anybody or
anything else about.”

“ No, I never saw him before, stamrncred
Leonard at length. “ I kept looking at him
to ascertain whether I had or not, but I was
finally convinced that I never had."

“ You were still unconvinced when I
called you back the second time, appa-
t ‘ rently.”

“ Yes, I was, until I had taken a second
look at him."

 I wonder what he could have meant by

 ‘ his repeated allusion to horses?"

“ Oh, that was in keeping with the rest of
his raving," growled the young man, im-
patiently. “ If I were you 1 should take no
note of what a crazy man says.”

If he Irad been desirous of increasing the
detectives suspicion of him, he could not
have uttered a more favorable phrase.

Still he held his peaCe, and determined to
study the young man's actions more closely
than ever, belieVingr that he would Sooner or
later trip himself if left alone.

After parting with Leonard at the house of
the latter‘s father, the detective drove down—
town to look after some matters of business,
and later returned to the spot in Riverside
Park where he had found the parasol.

Tire place had a fascination for him; be-
sides he had not visited it in daylight since
the murder, and he was still sanguine of
making some discovery that would put him
onto a clue. .

As he strolled along the foot of the cliff,
his keen eyes searched every inch of ground
they came in contact with.

He had not gone ver ' far when he caught
sight of something glistening in the grass
close to the foot of the cliff. ‘

. IIc stooped down and picked it up, and
found it be a revolver.

Glancing up at the rock above, he saw
that .the pistol had been lyingdirectly be-
neath the place where he had found the girl
hanging. i

This was a
3 had committed the murder had used no
weapon, as the girl's body attested, and he
Was about concluding that the weapon had
belonged to some one else. when it occurred
to him to examine it.

Tire pistol had become somewhat rusty
from exposure to the weather, but it was of
fine workmanship and for the most part
shiver-mounted. -

It was, loaded. “with the exception of one
chamber. which was em I: .

He turnedit over in h s and to examine it
further, when he' met with a genuine sur-

rise.

p It was three initials engravedon the sil-
ver-nrounting of the stock.

The initials were *‘L. E. S." ' t

In spite of his late suspicions and half-
»developed theory, the discovery gave the
{detective a shock.

He had not ex ted to run upon anything
quite so tangib , and indeed he felt as
l though he were arriving at the solution of
" the rnystegy too quickly.

 " L. E. ." ho mused: “ LeonardE. Stern.
 ‘There can be no doubt of it. But wiry did
. he not. use the pistol? Perhaps he did,
3 "J thou h, as one chamber is! empty, but he

»~ ‘ ‘ “fairer to hit his mark. and then there must
5 4 have been a struggle and the pistol had

.1 7 . slipped out of the asmssin's hand and fallen
r- ; over the clifl." ' t

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 3-: . - He then thought it possible that he might
' ‘ ' ~ find the missing locket. and accordingly in-
“lstitarted a search for it, but in this he was
not so fortunate. although he made a discov-
ery which revived bishope just at the time
w on he was on the verge of despair. -
The discovery was a small section of the

fougd still clinging to the murdered girl’s
nee . = ’
1“133m. having found that, he went no fur.-
.t r. '
, Although be hunted till nearly dark, not
that. trainers discovered,
“ 7» protect...

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surprise  him, for whoever.

gold chain, a portion of which had been,

and be finally

When Thad again reached the top of the
cliff he meta policeman, and asked him if he

The. fellow grew red and white by turns, , had been on duty on the night of the mur-

7 der (naming the date).

The oflleer answered in the affirmative,
. but said that he was at the other end of his
I beat when the thing,r occurred.
‘ “ Where is the other end of your beat 1'”
demanded the detective

“ Two blocks up,” replied the policeman.

“ Perhaps you saw a runaway team, then 2/”

“ ' ‘hat same evening?"

“ es.” .

“ Sod did. It was just as I reached the
other end of my boat, and stopped a moment
to speak with the officer on the other heat."

“ Did you succeed in stopping them?"

“ No, but they were headed off further
up-town." '

” By whom?”

" Some of the policemen up there."

“Did you find out where they belonged ‘3"

“ Yes, they belonged to a stable in Forty-
second street.”

“ You made inquiry about who had taken
the team out, I suppose?”

“ No, that was none of our business. It
was enough for us to do to return the team
where it belonged.”

“ I suppose so," observed Thad sarcas-
tically. “ Did you notice what kind of a
team it was?”

“ Yes, they Were a light chestnut, and
were hitched to an open barouche. One of
the horses had been shot anti was still bleed-
lug.”

“ Shot?”

“ Yes.
jaw."

“ That was very strange, wasn’t it?”

“ Rather."

“ Have they made no inquiry about the
matter?”

“ The matter was reported to Headquarters,
but I don‘t know whether they have ever
done anything about it or not.”

“ They probably have not, as Ihave heard
nothing about it. Was the horse seriously
injured?"

“ I don't know as to that. He. was able
lilo do‘some pretty good running when I saw
_ rm." ,

Burr’s next move was to visit the stable in
Fortysecond street, and make inquiries re-
garding the matter. '

They extracted a bullet from his

said about the horse being shot was true,
but the shot was, fortunately, not fatal.
This circumstance only served to increase
the mystery. ‘ ,

What could have been the motive in shoot-
ing the horse? Or perhaps it was an ac-
cident-that the shot, was intended for a
human. ‘ .

The detective also learned that the team
had been hired by stall man with adark
mustache, at about five o'clock on the’ after-
noon of the day of the tragedy.‘-and in
every detail the man's ‘ description cor-
res coded with that of Leonard Stern. ‘.

gain was Thad forced to the conclusion
that this man. who appeared so innocent
and who also appeared capable of proving
an alibi, must be the guilt ‘nrnn.

0n quitting-tho livery stable; he again
drove rip-town, witha‘view to visiting the
Stems. and, if possible, inducing Leonard to
accompany him back to Mason’s sta le. If
the Ilveryman could identify him as t eman
who had hired the equipage on that after.
noon. then the detecti‘ve's work- would be
nearly at an end. would onlygbe necessary
after that to prove that the youn ’
not. gone to Chicago at nll~whic he now
believed possible—to complete the chain of
evidence against him. _ '

Alighting from the cab at the opposite
Ic'orner, he made his way on foot toward the

once. v . ‘

When within 'a few yards of the house
the door opened and three man came out. ‘

Thadstepped back into-the shadow just
in time to avoid being seen by. the trio, and
watched. , l '

The men stopped on the stoop and corn"
versed for some momentabut in so subdued
a tone as to be inaudible to the detective. but».
he could see. their times very plainly. and
sawtth oneof thein'was nerd Stern. . '

' The other two were stratify all-ll
an: of their) resembled  h to

I ‘ if
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He found that what the policeman had narrate. when eVerything depends upon you. _‘ 

man had ’

  
  
    
  
  
  
  
   
  
   
  
  
     
  
   
   
   
   
   
    
    
  
  
   
   
   
  
  
    
    
    
   
  
  
   
        
   
   
    
     
     
   
    
      
        

Thad was more mystified than ever.

Could it be that this was the renegade
brother of whom he had heard so much?
And if so. what was he (it in; it re in con:
puny with Leonard, and in the house of his
father who had east him oil"!

While these it llections were passing
through his mind the two strangt r'stook their ,
leave of Leonard and walked away, while the ’ +3
young man himself re-entered the house. “

The detective abandoned his idea of inter-
viewing Leonard for that night and followed
the strangers.

They did not go far, merely crossing the
street and walking about a block to a hotel
on the corner of Eighty-first street, and en-
tered the bar.

Thad was close enough behind lllt'n‘. to see
that they entered one of two small private
rooms forming a part of the cafe.

As the corresponding room was only'
separated fron. it by a thin partition, the de-
tective entered this one and called for a glass
of wine.

The men in the other room had already
ordered drinks, and as soorras the waiter i
withdrew, they began to talk.

One man, whom the other addressed as
“ Doctor," appeared to be urging the other,
whom he called “ Paul," to do something,
and the latter seemed to be wanting in cour-
age to perform his part, for the doctor began
the conversation with: 

“I hope you aren‘t going to weaken at the
last moment. my boy.”

" I do not see how I am going through
with it, doctor," rejoined the other. “I am
no coward. and yet in this matter I feel that ,
I cannot trust myself." .'

“ What are you afraid of?’ sneercd the
other.

“ I do not know—myself. I think.”

“ You are a tool, Paul. The troubleis,
you are afraid.” «

“ To tell you the truth. I am afraid I am
not cursed with your ferocious nature and
iron will. I am the truest miserable dog liv-

in r."

[This admission appeared to either touch 
the other with a sense ot commiseration, or.
else be deemed it politic to change his atti~  .
Judie toward his fellow-conspirator, for he; ‘
sar : s

“ Come, cheer up. my boy. You are not ~ 
yourself to-night. Don’t failme at the last  r

1 st think that we have almost finished; nne=~x
more stroke of our ears, and we are in port: 1".
Take another drink, and you will, feel, ~
stronger.” . I, .

"It is no use. The more I drink. the V
Weaker my courage grows. All Ican think " ‘
of is, supposewc should fail-that I should '.
3 9discovered before the thingisaccompiish- 
“There is not the least danger, if on will
only keep ' your courage up. es, sup: .

ose you are discovered?”

“I would be ruined."

‘ “ Ruined? Ha! ha! ha!" Inn bed the‘
doctor.; “You amuse me. The on of an:
outcast like yourself talking of ruin!" 

"I admit that I am all you say, neverthei-A
less I entertain hopes of some day reclaiming
myself. of proving my innocence and 
gaining my lost position.” , 

“That is all nonsense! The only
who had the power of removing thestn
from your name is dead, and it must’reml
forever. So your only salvation is 33%
Get that, and you are the master; 1mm
defy them all." f s. , ,4  j 
ian Perhaps/you are right. butthink'ldfj, ,
not i” V t“ f   v

“Injustice, nonsense! Have you not:
the victim of in nation for a long time}
And are you not kcly to remain a victim to.-
all time it {go do outtake up the end Mn 
your own half and fight injustice ’w th in w
own weapons?” - y  ‘
L "This!!! all ve Well in its way,'but
cannot forget than one who will-be wines?
ed by this transaction are not only innocent“
of any evil toward me, but anthems; "*
dear to me, in spite of the fact that they
mood." " , ‘ .

“ But you have already committed your
self. How are you going to back out ,
. " i have not gone so far but that I‘m 

        
   
    

 

   
       
     
    
     
    
  
   
  
  

 

 

 
 

 

    

 

  
   

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"‘ Don’t be too sure about that!”
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“ I mean that I will not permit it.”

“How will you prevent it?”

“That will be easy enough. I will only
have to report certain little matters to cer-
tain parties and identify you with certain
others, and your chances of reinstatement in
society would be rather slim, I imagine."

/ This was followed by a silence which
continued for some time, and then the doc-
tor said;

“ It is ten o'clock. The, time has arrived.

52 Whatare you going to do?"

This was uttered in a cold, unsympathetic

3 voice. and Thad could tell from the changed

‘, position of the voice that the man had risen

l and was pacing,r the floor.

The only response to the question was a

can from the other, and the doctor cleared

is throat. impatiently.

“ Come!" he cried, presently, “let us
have an end of this, Either you go or not,
and whatever you intend doing you must
make up your mind now. Will you go or
not?”

“ My God!” groaned Paul.

“Yes or no?" persisted the other.

Another silencc, and then:

“ Yes, I will go. Come on."

“ ow you talk like a man," observed the
doctor, cheerfully. -“I thought you would
come to your senses when you came to think
the matter over."

I, And the two men left the saloon.

    
      

 

? ' CHAPTER IX.
A HORRIBLE CRIME.

‘ BELIEVING that the men were bent upon
some sort of mischief, the nature of which
' he could not imagine, ’I‘had followed them
into the street and reached it just in time to
see them ascending the Elevated Railway
steps. ,

/ He followed close at their heels, and was
011 the platform as soon as they were.

It was on the downtown side, and it Was
not long before a train came along and the
two men entered a car and took a seat.

Thad was fortunate enough to get a seat
directly behind them.

, As seen as they were seated the doctor,
who the detective now saw was a man of
flat? or more, with gray hair and heard. and
't h the air of swell-to-do gentleman, took

.out his watch and, after consulting it, 
* served: ' l
' ~ .. “ I’m afraid we are going to be late. and

if we are, it will be all our fault, on ac-

count of your dallying so ong. "
r The ounger man hit his lip and made no
immed ate reply, but after a silence of some
moments, said: a
' “I do not know but it would have been
' better for me if I had dallied still longer."
' ’u  ?H
I I ’ “ Then perhaps I would have been spared
_' the o'rdea through which I will have to

I If The doctor shrugged his shoulders signifi-

. .ganother.” he remarked in a scornfui tone.
” That would be/impossible,” groaned the
yonn man. , ,
, " on may not think ,so, but perhapsa
taste of what would be in store for you
would serve to change our mind. . But let
harlot discuss that. on haveidecided to
 dothe most sensible thing, and that is an
i end of it. Have you thou ht how‘ you are
t in this business, mygoy?”
, “No, I’left that to on." rejoined the
j young man in an apathet e voice.
 _, , -“It was probablyas well. as your“ head is
‘ .too full of other matter to admit of a clear
fidot. well, if we are in time—if the news
‘ "of our scheme has not been brou ht to the
, V' d .womanyou will have no difficulty in
, ca . lug: out your part of it. Tellher what
tod‘youtand she acquiesces. your work
will belea‘sy- Once we get the girl away,
 we are date: But she must be. got away to
night. Another thing. don’t forget to get
. possession of the locket.” ‘
;_ “'I'he'FatalChafln?”
*’ "Yes." . ' _
{somehow the fmention of this appeared to
fro v the young man’s spirits, for he"
are! hnd replied:
"' Trust mo for that. I don’t
, titha’tshall get me into any in
” , vt , ‘ ' ~ '

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eantl . .
‘ “damped one ordeal only to pass through "
thing to stand in his way. and jumped.

' I he heard the lady say, “and I cannot per-‘

 

When the train reached Fourteenth street
the two men got off and walked at a brisk
pace toward the North River. 'l‘had had no
difficulty in following them, as they took no
precaution to conceal their course, and
evidently did not suspect that they were
being shadowed.

They continued as far west as Ninth
avenue and then turned down-town and
walked one block.

Here they turned west again along Thir-
teenth street and stopped before a shabby, '
old-fashioned two‘story house. ,

The house was in total darkness, and the
doctor looked up at it with a good deal of
apprehension.

" I’m afraid we’re too late," he observed. ‘
“Still, you might go in, and I will wait out
here.” _

The young man hesitated, and finally .
said:

"What is the use, if you think they are .
gone?" .

“ But they may not be," rctorted the doc-
tor sicrnly. “ Go in and ascertain.” _

Paul looked appealineg at the stern face :
before him, which stood out boldly in the
light of a street lamp, but saw no sign of
mercy there.
dllc then glanced at the house and shudder-
c .

At length he Opened the gate and walked
toward the house with a faltering gait. ‘

When he reached the door he. knocked—.
there being no bell—~and the door was soon ;
opened to him and he stepped in.

The doctor Waited outside the gate, and;
Thad was in a dilemma what to do.

He would have given any sum to have
been able to have approached the bones and 1‘
seen what was going on, but so long as the ‘
doctor kept his post this was out of the
question.

But he was not long in finding a way out
of his difficulty.

Being pretty well acquainted with the i
neighborhood, he knew that there was an:
alley running through the block. and he hur- l
ried back to the avenue, entered the alley
and was soon at the rear of the house. But
there was still a difficulty to surmount.

A high fence inclo‘scd the lot and the gate
lpgding into the alley was locked on the in-
s e.

What was to be done?

It was impossible to scale the wall with-
out a ladder, and he , gropcd about the dark
alley in search of a board or something
that would take the place of one.

At length he stumbled a ainst a cart
which was standing there, an the problem
was solved. r

With a good deal of labor he succeeded in
{oiling the cart up to the wall, and mounted
t. ‘

This raised him high enough to allow him
to catch the top of the wall by springing up.
and he was soon on top of it. There was a
good deal of ’a chance of meeting With a seri~
ous accidentin jumping downinto a dark
lot, but he was too intent upon the accom-
plisliment of his object then to permit any

I

Fortunately he met with no obstacle and
landed on a smooth, even surface.

The yard extended around one side of the
house to the front, and about midway there
was it window covered with vines through
whiph' a light was streaming out into the
yar . ’ "

the Voices of people thlkin g inside, and he
drew as closely to the window as possible
for the vines. , ' I. ‘ ~

The window was artially open, and the
voices from the interior were very distinct“,
but the curtain was down and he could see
no (i e. t g . / r

The detective at ’once recognized the voice
of one of the speakers as that of the young
man whom he had followed, and the other
one was that of 'a Woman, apparently an old
one. , ,
“ It is too late for her to go out tonight,"

mit such a thing.” .

“But this is an urgent case.” interposed
the. young inan. “ ”

“ How urgent?"

“ Her sister is sicko-not eXpected to live,
In  I). ~ , ‘ ,1 . .

 

 

Upon nearing the window he could hear *

to me about having a sister, and I know she
would have done so if she had one, for she.
has told me everything about herself.”

“Everything?” sneered the young man.

“Yes, everything," snapped the old “'0‘
man.

“ Has she told you that she has been mar -
ricd?"

" Yes."

The young man indulged in a derisivc-

‘ laugh.

“ To whom did she say she was married ‘3"
he asked.

“ She told me his name—Stems, I think."
replied the woman. “ Yes, tha. was the
name,”

“ Has she told you why she left him?"

” Only that they couldn’t agree.”

I’aul laughed again.

“ Ah, I see that she has not told you every»
thin .”

“ TVhat do you mean?"

“ That was not the reason she left him at.
all.”

“ What. was it then  p

“ That is for me to know. But that is;
not the point. She has got to go with me
to-night. Do you hem?”

“l hear. and heed as much as if it was
the wind blowing.”

“ Then I tell you again that she has got to
go with me tonight. If you consent; to this.
and make me no trouble, your reward will
be big, but if you deny me—well, there is a
way of compelling people to do things some—
times.”

“What, do you threaten me, Paul Ber!

wick ‘2” she cried in a vehement voice.

“ I say nothing. Only, if you do not con‘
sent to what I ask you. it Will be the worse
for you, while,’ if you go tip-stairs and keep
out of the way until the thing is over, it wilt
be big money in your pocket.”

.Thad heard the sound of some one rising
and walking across the floor, and as soon as
the woman spoke again he knew that she
had risen and approached more closely to
the young man.

“Look here, Paul Berwickl am a lone-
woman, with no one to protect me, but do:
not imagine that you can frighten me with
your threats. Nor need you think you can.
bribe me to do that young woman a wrong,
or permit you to do it. All the money you
have, and that of Doctor Hulsted, would
not be enough inducement."

The young man again broke out in one of
his pools of laughter, only this time there

was more of good nature and less of the

sneer about it. .

“ Nonsense!” he criedin a coaxing ton...
“ Who is going to harm the girl 7"

“You will, if I allow her to go out with-

ou.” ’ ,

y “Nothing of the kind. Didn’t I tell you
that her sister was sick and that I Wanted to
simply take her there?" '

“ And didn’t I tell you it wasalie; that.

she has no sister?" 

, " In ‘ which you were mistaken, Mrs.
Bhelb .” . ' . ,
“N’bvertheless, I do not believe it,,.n.nd
shall act accordingly. If I had no other
reason to doubt our statement, the fact of
your offering to ribc me to allow her to go,
and then when I would not be bribed,
threatening me. proves it. But you for re];
that I know you of old, Paul Bcrwiek. on
have de ivcd and lied to me too often for
me to be ieVe you now."

Bcrwick appeared to he at the end of his
rope for some moments, but he finally arose,
and said;

“This is your final decisiongis it, Mrs
Shelby '2" . ' r

“ It is,” she replied.

v “ So be it, then.
are not to be balked in our plans!"

“ We? You lnean that infamous Dr. Hul-
sted, I suppose?

“ Well, suppose I do?” 2

“ I have as little fear of him as I have of
you. You are both a pair of cowards, as
well as blacklegs, and would not attacks.
cat unless you could do so from behind.
When that poor girl came to me and asked
me to protect her, I promised to do it with
my life, and I shall keep, my Word.” "

“It’s a great business you’ve gone into,
Mrs. Shelby!" snccrcd Berwick.
would have sup need that you would ever
have got into 3 business.‘ - I .

But remember that we

“Nobody . .

.3 (1
do,
, ?

   

 

< -u~m“‘M-.1Mm
11‘ _ _

 

»g._* ‘g . .

 

 

   

 

. ....,.m.w_.._.. 'v

 

 

r2? — ~
.W .

 

 

  

' i “done something. Well, there is but one

5M 4.2.

I I The ,RiVerside Drive De'ath-Mysterv. .

 

 

 

 

” it matters little what people would have
thought or what they wouldn‘t. That is my
business. Whatever I have been in the past
I have never wronged anybody, especially
one of my own sex, and you know that as
well as I do. When you came the other day
and claimed to be the girl's friend. I was
foolish enough to believe you and tell you
that she was here. I might have known
then that your motive was for no good. But
1 do know it now, beyond adoubt, and I
sh!!! make up for my folly then by protect-
ing her now."

"Look here, my good woman, I do not
want to threaten you, but suppose I should
report to her people where she is, what do
you suppose the consequence would be?"

“ I do not fear the consequences. I have
done nothing wrong. She came here of her
own accord, and is at liberty to leave when
she chooses, provided she does not go in
your company.”

“But you are mistaken in thinking that
nothing would come of my reporting this
matter to her friends. Listen: They imagine
.she is being held by some evil-minded per-
son, and the moment they discover where
she is, they will not stop to inq uirc whether
.she is here of her own accord or is kept by
force. In the mean time, they will have
learned the character of your house and
yourself, and everything will be against

on."
y It was now her time to laugh.

“You make me smile,” she said. “Do
you not suppose she would say that I had

,not held her against her will?”

“ Hardly.”

“ Why not?" .

“Because she would not like to make
herself out a liar, as she Would if she did

\ that.”

“ What do you mean?”
“I mean that she has already informed
them that she is being held against her

‘ will.” 

“Nonsense!” snapped the old woman.
“‘How could she inform them?”

“ Iiv letter.”

“ Why then, did she not tell them where

“she was?"

"Because she did not want them to
know.” '

The old woman seemed to be nonplused
and was silent; meanwhile the young man
gave vent to another of his laughs.

“ Come, what do you say?" he demanded,
peremptorily.

‘.‘ That my mind is made up, and I shall
not break my resolution,” she retorted, firm-

y.

“And .you will run the risk?”

“ Yes.’ ‘

'1‘ Very well. I have given you timely
warning. You will hear from me again
soon. ”

“ As soon as you like,” she returned,
coldly.

He walked toward the door and pretty
soon the door was heard to close.

Thad moved round to the front of the
house, still keeping in the shadow, and saw
him join the doctor outside the gate.

Leaving the corner of the house and creep-
ing along the side fence, the detective got
up to within earshot of the men.

They were already engaged in an animated
discussion, and edoctor appeared to be an-
ragcd at Berwick's failure.

“ You are a fool, Paul Berwicki" he was
heard to say. “ The idea of allowing a wo-
man to get the best of on! You seem to
how: the courage of a c icken! From the
length of time you were in there I expected
you were accomplishing spinething."

“It was impossible,” pleaded the young
man, in a crushed voice. I“She could not
be induced by an oflcr of money nor intimi-

, “dated by-th rents.”

“ Did you mention the letter?"

" Yes. '

” What did she say to that?”

“ It seemed to dampen her a little, but in
the end she would not yield, and said she
would protect the girl with her life.”

“And you allowed her to hint! you 01!
like that?"

“ What could Idof”

“ Nothing. I suppose. But I would have

left us. and that is the extremity I
liars you got your piston"

 

“ Yes,” replied Paul, timidly.

“ Come on, then.”

“ You aren’t going to—"

“ Certainly. Come on i"

And they moved toward the house again.

CHAPTER X.
'rmu) TO THE mesons.

THAD realized that some desperate deed
was about to be committed, and determined
to prevent it if possible.

The men approached the front door and
one of them knocked,but the detective did not
wait to see whether they would be admitted
or not. He knew that he would be no match
for the two, armed as they undoubtedly
were, else he would have attacked them be
fore they entered the house. '

Therefore, realizing the situation, he made
at once for the rear of the house and knocked
luslily on the back door.

There was no response, and he repeated
the knock.

Still there was no response, and he deter-
mined to try to break the door in.

He threw his Weight against it, but to no
purpose.

He then looked about the yard for a stone
or something with which to break the lock,
but in this he was equally disappointed.

Finally he thought of the vines at the side
fit the house and made his way there in all

aste.

window of the second floor.

“ I wonder if it will bear my weight?” he
mused, and putting his foot into one of the
openings of the lattice, grasped the frame-
work and drew himself up. _

The structure bent frightfully under his
weight, but did not break, and he began to
climb. '

. lie was too ea or to accomplish his object
now to think 0 danger, and mounted the
frail lattice-work as rapidly as though it. had
been constructed for that purpose.

In a few more seconds he was even with
the window, and grasped the ledge.

Fortunatel the window was open, and he
had no troube in drawing himself up and
stepping inside.

He found himself in a large room, cor-
responding to the one down-stairs, which he
afterward found occupied the greater part
of the lower floor, and he could see that the
door on one side was open.

Stepping lightly to the door, he could hear
voices driwn-stairs.

One was that of the old woman and the
other was that of the doctor, and there Was
a wrangle going on between them.

“ I Will have no more nonsense, madam !"

he heard the doctor say. “Do not ima inc
that on are dealing with Paul now. on
will nd thati am made of difl'erent stuff.
‘Where is the girl?"
“ That is for you to find out!" snapped the
(old woman bravely. “ You will never take
her from this house while I live, Dr. Hulsted,
if I am a,woman! You boast of being made
of different stuff from Paul. In my ’opinion‘
you are both made of about the same material,
and the coward and sneak predominates,
otherwise you would not try tointimidate an
old 32mm."

“ , don’ attempt to enlist m s m ath
by reminding me that you are a whm’thYoz
ought to know by this time that I am no re-
specter of persons when I have an object to
aceom lish.” .

“I on't remind you that I am a woman
for the purpose of enlisting your sympathy,
sir, for I, know that you have none—not even
for your own wife. whom you—”

“Stop!” cried the enraged doctor. “ Re-
fer to that matter here. and I shall not be
responsible for what I do. But we are
losing time. Tell me where the girl is at
once!”

” That I shall not do," replied the old woo
man. firmly. .

" You will not?" '

" Never!" , ' ‘
” Then take that!" . u '
And Thad heard a 5blow, which was fol-

lowed by a woman’s scream.
He waited hear no more.

 

With a fe ,rapid strides he was down-
stairs, and the next‘instant , was standing

:Mnsqgom

There was a trellis-work extending to the ,

in a broken voice.

 

 

lived '

The woman had reeled and fallen into a
chair, and was bleeding profusel’y from a
wound she had receiVed in the hen .

The doctor was too much astonished by
the sudden and unexpected appearance of
Thad to speak or even move for some see-
onds, and in the mean time the detective had
drawn his revolver and covered the culprit.

"What does all :this mean, sir?’: be de-
manded.

” That is my affair!" growled the discom-
fiied doctor. “ Who are you, anyway 7"

"That is nothing to you. However, I
may as well tell you that I am an officer of
the law, and you are my prisoner for at-
temptin to murder that woman!" ‘

The octor turned pale, but he soon re-
cowsred his self-assurance, and assuming an
air of injured innocence, began:

“ You do not understand this case, air.
This woman is detaining a young lady here"
against her will, and I, as her friend, have
come to rescue her. This woman is a noto-
rious character, and the young lady is in
great danger in her house. If you will not
allow me to do my duty, however, I will go,
and procure legal means to rescue her. ”_ i

“ Your story is a very good one, and
might sound very well tome, if I didn't hap-
]pen to know all about the case. This young
ady came here of, her own accord, and this:
woman, no matte? what she is or has been,
is befriending and protecting her, while you
and your pal are trying to carry her away
for some villainous purpose."

“ You have been misinformed, sir, I—"

At this point an exclamation from the
old woman caused the detective to turn his
head, and he was surprised to see that Ber.
wick, whom he had lost sight of during his
engagement with the doctor, was just van-
ishing through the back door, hearing what
appeared to be an unconscious woman in his
arms.

Relinquishing all thought of the man with
whom he had been contending, he turned
and started in pursuit of the villain.

This action was the mistake of his life.

He had no more than reached the door - ‘

leading into the back room, and through

.13 

which Berwick had vanished, when he was ‘
stunned by a blow on the head from behind, v : 

grew dizzy and blind, and the next instant
he reeled and fell to the floor.

Everything grew dark before him, but
with a desperate effort and a tremendous ex-

ertion of will power, he raised himself to a 

sitting posture, and ‘ the next instant was
upon his feet again; but he had no more than

done so, when a second blow from the same "

direction felled him senseless to the floor.

What happened after that was a complete ,

blank to the detective. ,. .. ,,
~ When he recovered consciousness, he found
the old woman bending over him in the act
ofsploukr’in some brandy down his throat.

e
bound ug the wound, besides bathing his face
in camp ‘or and applying such other simple »

put a pillow under his head had ’ 

remedies as a woman knows so well how tb _

appl .
“ ow do {0 feel now?” came the oooin
Voice of the o d woman as soon as he open
his es.
" ery well,” was his careless reply.
“ Where are those scoundrels that were am
here?” ,. , , .
-“ They are gone.”
“ And the id?” ' 
“ They too her'along.” ‘
“The fiends!
tend to take her." - _ ' _
" God knows,” murmured the old woman
“They are mpableof
any viliainy, and there is no telling

her. . v

E‘Whatsi's their motive in carrying her

0 2" ._4
“ I haven’t the remotest idea.” ‘ f, ‘a.’

“ Who is she, anyway ?” - 1
“That I doubt know. She said net 
was Smith when who came to me, but - of 
course that is not her right name. Aitcr’she
had been here aWhile she said she had been
married to a man b the name of Stern. and
hat he wanted to k 1 her, and wanted me to ‘1
rotect her, and I did so. That’s all I know‘

about her." -

“She did not tell you when: she 

u D

I wander where Min ,x, ,

they will take her or what they will do with .

 

 

 

. 

   

  
 
 

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. ab, mm matunm a... my... .--., .0- 0.... WM...)
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' iii

 

 

I The Riverside Drive Death-1‘4.

 

“ Nor who her husband was?”

“ No. except that his name was Stern."

“ What is she like?"

 _ ~ “ She is a very pretty young woman, with
i  ' dark brown curly hair and lovely hazel
' eyes.”

’l‘had was thunderstruck.

This was exactly the description of the
girl whom he had found suspended from the
rocks at Riverside Drive, and who had (lied
at the hospital.

“Hint tt'rrib

“ What was her
asked eagerly.

” Kate, she told me to call her. although I
an pose her right name was Katherine."

ow he was astonished.
Was it possible that the woman found on
the rocks was not the real Katherine Stern,
, but some one masquerading as her? But if
'such was the case, why had the real Kather-
ine left home and taken refuge with this dis-
reputable woman?

After asking himself these questions which
could not be answered, the detective turned
to the old woman again and asked:

“ How did she happen to come to you?
Did she know you before?"

“ I have as little idea of how she came to
select my house as the man in the moon.
The first I saw of her was late on last Friday
night. I was all alone, and some one.knock~
ed at the. door, and when I opened it. there
she stood. She asked me if she might come
in. I told her she might, and she sat down

’ and didn't open her mouth for a long time.
At length she asked me if I lived there all
alone, and I told her I did, most of the time,

' and’then she asked me if I would let .her
stay with me. She said she had mone and
would pay me. I told her that 1 ha very
poor accommodations for one of her kind—
' she was well dressed and I could see that
she belonged to a good famil . She said she
~didn't care, that she wen (i be contented

_ with what I could give her. that she wanted

-2 ‘ to be where it was quiet. , So I told her that

if she was willing to put up with what I had,
,she was welcome, and she has been here
,~ ever since." ‘
' ‘ “Did you find her agreeable?”
i ' "‘The sweetest creature I ever now. She
' hadn’t been in the house a day before I was
- .. fairly in love with her."
,- f Thad reflectedra moment. and then asked:
4?; “Had she an ,jewclry on her person by
2 which one coul identify hcrragnin?”
v "~‘Let me see," mused the old woman.
‘.‘ Nothing unusual, I believe. Oh. yes, she
,_ had too. She wore a locket around her
I wk. n ’
.v “A locket?”
._ “Yes—a ueer sort of thing. On one side

{was a sort 0 coat-of-arms like the big-bu s

   
   
   
  
   
   
   
  
   
   
  
  
  
   
   
   
  
  
  
  
 
   
  
  
  
  
   
   
  
  
  
    
    
    
    
   
    
   
   
  
   
  
  
    
    
    
    
   
    
  
 
   
   
  
  
   
   
  
   
  
  
  
   
   
  

mystery was there here?

Christian name?" he

'The Fatal Cherm.‘ "
*’ ,Did’y'ou ever ask her about this strange

gr.
3
'O

t. , 1‘ Yes, but she put me of! by saying she
go notodtgpk n fancy to the thing on account of
; ty.” ‘

"i "ribs did not explain the significance of
 end, did she?" ,

' '1‘ 0, she would say normore about it."
43": After drinking a flaw sips of the brandy
‘ felt strong enough to use. and in spite
itho old women’s protests, got upon his

"'He found that. with the exception of s
blight headache, he was not particularly
hurt, either: it his head felt a trifle sore
hem tlfi fel ow had struck him with what
“supposed to have been nvpistol, and then
remembered that the old woman had also
ived a blow from the villainous doctor.
f Pardon me," he said. “ You. were also.

>‘ 'v hit by that rascal. weren't on, madam?"

,.. "ffiot much,” she repli'e . “He struck
it "  the butt of his pistol and staggered
A main“ he not hurt me much.”
; "'1 anti, that you were bleeding consid-
, bly whonicnme down. Are you sure
on are not hurt?" -. . -
"-“None to signify. He did cut my head a
me, butrnot enough to bother me. My old
I is too hard for that.” “ . .

, ,j‘ftWell, I am under many obligations Uh
I ffion for what you have‘ done-for me,"ob-,
i” an» detective in nkin‘dly voice. . ‘ ‘
Bis nothing at all," she rejoined.- “
Lhmhat you did ‘
 little I

   
   

 
 

 
   

   
  
 

for mo'."

    
  

have, and on the other was carved the wor s: -

Noth'v

v had, those fellows would not have got away
with the girl.“

“ You did all you could under the circum-
stances. By the way, how (lid you get into
the house?”

Thad related his experience, with the trel
lis, and the old woman laughed heartily.

“ lint how (-auie you to think of coming
in?” she asked “ Did you hear the row?"

He told her how he had followed the two
men from the house on Columbus avenue, of
his listening at the window and finally of his
overhearin‘.r the eonvrrsation at the gate.

“ Then you must be a detective, aren't
you?“ she said.

i “ My secret is out, I am,” he laughed.
i “ And now i must go.”

“What is the use of going?‘ Ican give
you a cool bed, and you will be better 011'
than going out into the night air with that
head of yours.” .

But he thanked her for the kind offer, and
took his leave, promising to call back and
tell her in case he found the girl.

She also promised to resort to him, (he
gave her his name and address), in the event
of the girl coming back there, as she was
likely to do in case she made her escape from
her captors.

Early the following forenoon he called up-
on Leonard Stern.

The young man received him with his
usual cordia it , and to look at him, one
could not imagine a more innocent person.

After some general conversation, Thad
came to the point and said:

“Mr. Stern, you may. deem it impertinent,
but I must ask you to tell me who the two
gentlemen who called upon you last night
were?"

“Two gentlemen?" ejaculated the other
with a surprised look.

“Yes. They left here about half~past
nine or so, and you stood on the steps talk.
ing for some time after they left the house.”

“ Oh, I remember. now. That was a
couple of friends of mine, Paul Berwick and
Dr. Hulsted.”

“ Friends, eh i" the detective could not re-
frain from cxcloiming. " If this is the kind
of friends the young man has,” he said to
himself, “ I need have no more hesitancy
about believing him guilty of murder.”

“ What sort or men are they 2” he demand-
ed aloud,

"Gentlemen, I should say,” was the re-

)“: Can you vouch for that?"

“ Well, to tell you'the truth. Icannot, any
further than my observations ha’Ve gone, and
I do not know but I Was wrongln calling
them friends. “The fact is, I haVe only
known them about a month." ’

“ Where did yen meet them?”

“ In Chicago.
them and introduced them to me, for the
purpose of havin me identify them at a
ban where one o them—the doctor, I think
-- wished to have acbcck cashed." ’

“Have you had any dealings with them
since?" i

‘.‘I have never had any dealings with
them. They bothI belonged to a. club of
which I sin a member, and 1 met them fre-
quently there- and. as they appeared to be

entlemen and were extremely agreeable. We
came uite intimate.”

" Won d “on mind telling me the nature
of their bu ness here last night?“ . v

“ Merely a social call, that is all.”

“Did they say nothing about a woman
they were ' olng to see—and ‘ rescue ?’ "
asked Thad, usinustin  . i 

The oung man colog and became great-
ly con and.

 

 

‘ ' CHARTER XL. ’
’ IDENirrrrnD. :

As Leonard appeared to have no intention
of answering the detective'a last question,
iafter waiting a reasonable time, he repented

t

“Did these friendsof yours say nothigg
about n'yonngwamgnowhom they intend
to rgscue from some person in the city?” be

it . 7 , W ‘ r '
‘ .1'.It,seemsrto me they did my somethin
ofthc kind.‘.now that you mention it, but
don‘tjopt  what it was.” ' ‘

i  " ’ ': h

t iii-had himiri a dart phtce

i

 

   

   

ystery.

A friend of mine brought-

‘

t

 

 

“ Did not they tell you, or were not you
aware, that they were going to forcibly ab-
duct a young woman, and one with whom
you are acquainted?"

The young man had become cool by this
time.

After a slight struggle with his emotions,
he appeared to have regained his self posses-
Sion and got the better ofhis confusion.

"'l‘heydid not tell me anythng ol' the
kind, nor did i know anything of the kind,”
he replied eoollyg “ 1 Hill at a loss to kifow
what you mean by such a question, sir."

“Possibly,” rejoined thedetectiVe in icy
tones. “But when I know that such was
the intent of these men, an intent whieh they
were successful in carrying out in spite of'
my best efl'orts to prevent them, and then
you tell me that they are your friends, and I

now that they were in conversation with
you last night, itis only natural that I should
surmise that you know something about the
affair.”

“I know nothing," he retorted glumly.

Thad saw that there was nothing to be got
out of him in that way, and concluded to
change his tactics.

“Iias either of your brothers been «nar»
ried, that you are aware of, Mr. Stern?" he
asked.

“ Norman has‘ never been married,” he re-
plied, “ for he is still at college and is only
eighteen fyears old, but I cannot answer for
Harper, or, as I think I told you before, I
have not heard from him for four years or
more." '

“And of course you have never been mar--
ried ?" ~ '

“ Certainly not.”

"Have you any relatives by the name of'
Stem who have been recently married?”

“ I have no relatives of that name in the-
co‘gntry except an old aunt. Why do you
as ‘2'

Thad hesitated, and then said: ’

“ I will tell you. The young woman whom
these friends of yours.—” ~ '

" Acquaintances, not friends, if you

please," interrupted the young man. " If'
they are the sort of men you c iim they are,
they are no friends of mine."

“ Very well, acquaintances. then. The

young woman whom the abducted goes by
the name of Kate. and c aims to have been
married to a man by the name of Stern."
libelonard seemed puzzled, but presently re~
p et ; . i ,

“ Thqre are plenty of people in the city
of that name, who are no relation to us."

“That is undoubtedly true, but the coin-
cidence—if coincidence itis—is the fact of'
the young woman having the same name as
your late step-mother.”

“ I see nothing strange about that,” re-
foincd the young man indifferently. “ Kate

5 a very common name. You will find it in.
about every second family.” '

.“ Thatis also true. But there is another“
stran c thing in connection with the affair.”

“ hatis that?" ,,

“ This woman bears a, striking resent-
blance to yourdead step-mother."

, Thisinformationstartlcd the young men a.
little, but he soon recovered his coolness,
and replied as calmly “before:

“ Even that is not strange. I can pick you
out twenty young women of her age who, if '
dressed tiresome would be mistaken forcin-
ters, or even twin sisters ”

“‘ Admitting even this possibility, there is
evenfihsft’yonger coincidence in this case."

' “ This young lady wore a lace of e‘wel
which is exactly similar to I picon knjown 
have been Worn by your fa. er's late wife,
and I can hardly believe that two such
of ewelry are in existence." ’
‘Omu‘d sled a little and dropped his»

eyes to the cor, buta ain pulled himself to-,

other and inquired w th a half sneer on his.

ps.

“What was the nature of this remarkable».
piece of jewelry?" ‘ ’4-
“It is a. locket."
tiThe young man stn‘rted in earnest 
me. ,
“ A locket!" he exclaimed. ii
your family and on the rcycrse fidem‘lg-
good. 'The Fatathm-m." trauma? 1 '
cqrdof ch f

 

   

pieces . '

"Yes. ,And on one side was m‘g “953‘ 0;.  
 1"

  

n. . gm M-~

.

s -— Amwm—

 

 

 

 
    
       
       
  
  
    
    
 
   
   
  

 

eh

 

 

   

‘ * an

 :£.~x.=»:~ 1" I a; u; ~
.,._I,, sing.) I; _ .2 H

I Riverside” Drive Death-Mystery.

 

 

But the young man had regained his cool-
ness. smiled and responded lightly:

“ Oh, yes. There was a locket in the fam-
ily—has been for a long time—and was worn
by Kate. I think she had it on when she
went away.”

“ You know of no other one like it, do
you?"

M NO. n .

“ Ilow do you account for this young
woman having it in her possession, then?"

“ That is easily accounted for," rejoined
Leonard llippantly. “ If you remember, the
locket was missing when Kate was found.
In fact, you made the discovery yourself.
and only a portion of the chain remained on
her neck. Would it not be perfectly natur-
al that someone would have it? And would
it not be as natural for this woman to have
it as any other?"

“ Possibly."

“ Let us imagine that the murder was com-
mitted by some scoundrcl who took a fancy
to the locket. and having got possession of
it, gave it to his mistress. "

" And this woman was the mistress?”

“ Possibly. And the fact of her calling
herself Stern, or claiming that she had been
married to a man of that name, may indicate
that she and her paramour are working a
scheme of some kind.”

There appeared so much reason about this
theory that, in spite of his preposscssion
against young Stern, Thad could not but
give it some credence.

At the same time he could not help but
think there was something behind this prone-
ness of his for formulating theories that
were Calculated to acquit himself of suspi-
cion. -

" Well,” resumed the detective, after some
reflection, “there is but one thing for me,
and that is to clear up this mystery as well
1131 can, alone. I see that Iran not likely to

receive any light from your family.“

“ We are willing to furnish you all the in-
formation that lies within our power,” re-
torted Leonard warmly. “What more can
you ask? I have neVer hesitatedto tell you
all thatI knew in the matter."

“ I ask pardon, Mr. Stern.” Thad cried in
a conciliatoryvoic'e. ” Idid not mean to in-
sinuate that you were not willing to give me
all the information in your posseswion. but I
am sorry that you have no more to give.
There is one request,I haVe to make of you."

“ What is that?"

” I should like to have you go with me and
see ifyou are able to identify another party.”

Leonard flushed.

“ This woman ?" he almost gasped.

“No. I do not know where she is.
another party. " ,

.“ Who is it?" he inquired with some appre-
hension.

“ I do notknow. , That is why I wish you
to identify him.”

“it is a man, then?”

“ Yes. ”

“I will go with you."

‘ The two men left the house, took the Ele-
vated train down-town and got off at Fort -
second street. Here they walked a coup e
of blocks to Seventh avenue, and came to
the livery stable. ,

As they approached the stable Thad an.
ticipated some show of neryousness on be
part of the young man, but was disappoi t-
ed. He walked right along without so much
as a tremor, and conversing cheerfully, until
they were. directly in front of the stable.
Then the detective stopped and asked his
campanion to remain where he was while he
went inside to speak to some one.

Leonard complied and the detective went
inside. Here he ascertained which one of
the attendants had let the equipage of that
memorable Friday afternoon.

There was no trouble about this, as the
circumstance was deeply impressed on the
minds of all the attaches of the stable on
account of one of the horses coming back
severely wounded. 4

When he had found the right man, he
asked him:

“ Do you think you could identify the
to whom you let the team on that occa-
sion?" : -
“W’u’d Oi know me mother?" said the at-
nda'nt, by way of an answer. ‘: 0i w'u‘d

It is

t

ioutside and see if you‘ see him anywhere
1 about ”
! When they reached the sidewalk some-
l thing had occurred in the street to attract

l

; people‘s attention, and there was a crowd in
w front of the stable, and among them was
‘ Leonard Stern, who had also turned to look
A at the spectacle.
“Which wan is it?" inquired the ostler,
looking about.
I “That is what I want you to find out." re—
‘ plied the detective. “See. if you can pick
him out of that crowd.”
The man pushed his way through the
' crowd, and scrutinized each face critically as

I he went.

At the end of ten minutes he returned to
where he had left That.

“ Well‘! ‘ asked the latter.

“ That's the men oVer there," observed the,
Irishman. pointing.

“ Which one?"

“That wan wid a hoigh hat an’ loight
overcoat .”

“ You are sure ?"

“ Sure as Oi am that I ivver ate potaties,

Thanks.

, sor. ”

“That is sufficient. What is

H
I your name?

“ Michael Dolun. "

“And a good old Irish name it is,” re-
marked Thad, good~naturcdly, entering. the
name in his memorandum-book. “Where
do you live, Michael?"

“’yoine hundhred an’ siven Nointh avynoo,
801‘.

“Thanks. Good-day.”

The man whom the attendant referred to
was Leonard Stern, and the detective re-
corded another bit of evidence against him.

As he rejoined his companion and they
started along the street, the latter inquired:

“ Where is that man whom you want me
to identify, Mr. Burr?"

Thad started.

In his abstraction over the discovery that
Leonard was the person who had hired the
team on that fatal afternoon, and was there-
fore most likely the murderer of Kate Stern,he
had forgotten that he had asked the mm
mm to come down for the urpose of identi-
fying another person. An I, now that’it was
recalled to" his mind he was ina quandary
for a moment how to answer the question.

He was not long in seeing his way out of
his difficulty, however, and be determined
upon a bold stroke.

He would take the young man back and
have him face Dolan, and see how he would
deport himself. Perhaps he would break
down and confess ever thing. _ ,

“Why, yes,” he as d. "We have gone
past the place. I was so absorbed with what
that fellow Was telling me awhile ago that I
forgot all about it." . '
to retrace his steps. , _

As they a ain neared, the livery, stable
'I‘had watch Leonard’s countenance for
any sighn of agitation, but was again disap-
pointed, ~
There was not the least indication of ner-
vousness or weaknesd ' ‘

“ Is this the place?" he asked as’l‘had
again paused in front of the stable.

“ Yes. Come in," was the detectives re-
plm he made his we inside. ,

nurd followed im with a uzzled
asked for Dolnn. ; . -

As the liveryman :(pproached them. the de-
tective again watch the youn man‘s face.
but only to see that he regard the ,stable-
man with the utmost indifference, ‘-

“ This is the man I was telling you slant."
observed Thad. when Dolan . camer'befOre
them, turning to Leonard, “ no you re.

: member hiripg a team of this man on Friday,
afternoon last, Mr. Stern?" '

kind." replied the young man with , ent-
most coolness. “0f him or any else.
The {acting I hired no team on that ay at

a team from this establishment in my life."

mouth wide open, too much. astonished to

 

15‘1"“.   :

'ma mutton
0! ’ 5‘-

is r . h
‘ . ' w.

told
h:

And he turned upon his heel and started.

expression, and when they were laid e Thad-

“I remember that I did‘nothing of the.

all, and I am quite sure that I never hired

, 'l‘had looked at the Irishman for, an answer.
to this denial, and found him standing with his.

speak " 4 . , ,. , y , t
* Iiow a that. stateroom. '9. if? 

j vestigations he was compelled to make. ‘

,wiih Leonard Stern. and as a-co‘ueq‘

the deteccivehi last remark.

 

    
  
 
  
 
  
    
  
    
  
    
 
   
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
  
  
   
  
  
   
   
  
    
  
    
  
 
  
   
   
 
 
   
  
  
  

“ So Oi am, sor,” rejoined Mike, earn-
estly.
The detective now glanced at Leonard,
and saw that his face was aglow with indig-
nililnll.
" Do you say that I hired a team here on
last Friday?" he demanded angrily.
“ ()i do, sor,” replied Mike, firmly. “ An'
it's a purty state yez left thim in! Wan of
the horses shot t‘rough the jaw. an’ both 0'
thim that blowed that they could hairdly
sthand an their foor legs. An’ it‘s not the
furrcst toime ycz hov hoired horses here, but
it's the lasht toime, Oi'm thinkin .”
While the hostler was speaking Leonard
was grinding his teeth with suppressed rage,
and when he concluded the young man
glared at him and said:
“ Well. all I‘ve got to say is that you are
the Coolest liar for an ignorant man I ever,
met!” ‘
“Ignorant. isit?” roared the irate Irish-
man, spitting on his hands and jumping up
and cracking his heels together. “ Ignorant,
is it? An’ a loiar'! llurloo! Let me at
him! Nivver was the mon that could tell me
that to me own face widout havin' the .mug
av him smashed! Let me at him !” ‘
“ Never mind, Mike.” interposed Thad,
holding the indignant fellow back with diffi~
culty. “ You may be mistaken, and whether
you are or not, you will have an opportunity .
of proving it in court before long.” _
“ Faix. an' Oi'l] shwacr it an all the cruci- ’
fixes yez kin bring befoor me, Me eyes was
nivver mistaken yit, sor! 0i know that’s the
mon." ‘
Indignant as he was. Leonard made no re-
sponse to this, but hit his lip and turned

away.

hen they were upon the street again.
Stern turned upon the detective with more
indignation than he imagined him capable of.
and asked:

“What does this mean, sir? You request
me to come down here to identify a party. 
and I find that you simply want the party to '
identify me!” T ~

Thad saw that there was no need of dis—
guising matters any longer, and replied: '

“That is about it, Mr. Stern. It was a 
painful duty, and we detectives are com- .
pelled to do a great many painful things." '

“Then you suspect me of being gu ity of
the crime?” _ I 

“I am sorry to say that thereis a good ' 
deal to make me suspect you, although ,I
still hope that you are innocent. ' ' _

 

CHAPTER 5m. ’ .«

anrnnmuno cums. , g . 
Bonn was extremely anxious aboutthd'i
fate of the, girl who had been ‘abducted '
from the house on Thirteenth street. but as
there was not the slightest clue to starts
upon to find her, he was compelled inlet
her case rest for the present, hopingfthat
some light might come out of the ethnic ,

.8 His first care was for the case of Leonard"

Every step he had taken thus for bad add
ed one more link to the chain of ' (argum-
stantial evidence which he was (‘lgmduhlli
twining about the oung man, on he firm 3.
ly believed that: ew more strokes would,
weld it so iime that there would be u;

mew. - 

a reality there was but one‘ 
prove to make the evidence, comp ‘, M
that Was to provo‘ that he“,de  t, 1
Chicago on that Friday afternoon, no this
could only be ascertained beyond the pore.
ability of a doubt by going in person‘to:
. Hay arrived at this-conclusion, he 1!-
terrain to‘ make the trip without delay ,

Allthis had passed through his mi
he was on his way up-town in 

will men were silent for a nod part9
wa’ , «and it was Stern who mite the‘si
at st by way of a rather tardy anew: ,

  

‘ h

‘ 16‘-

4M.'.~.ata ‘ér'lmi'nf‘ wm~wo~kcn “nun-“gum cu... .upum.u..m.m.m.»pwu~-. -m~M~".A
>... - . ;  1 t M», _ .. r,.r, .. . .. v -

m “giantess. monastery. L’

 

 

pression of satisfaction. “ All your circum-
stantial evidence will be swept away by
that.”

“ That is true enough, my young friend-—
if you can establish it, and nobody hopes any
more sincerely than I that you may be able
to do it."

” There is no question about it,” rejoined
the young man lightly. “ No less than a
dozen friends met me on my arrival in
Chicago and then there is the record of my
sleeping-car berth. There will be no trouble
about it.”

“ I hope not, but you cannot blame me
for investigating the matter thoroughly ?"

“ Certainly not, andif you need any help
in the matter, I will be only too glad to give

I?

 
  
 
 
 
 
  
   
 
  
 
    
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
   
  
   
   
  
    
   
  
  
  
  
   
    
  
  
    
    
  
  
  
  
    
    
  
  
   
  
   
  
  
    
   
    
  
     
 

“ Thank you. You can be of a good deal
of aid to me.”

“In what way?"

"First, tell me what road you went
over.’

“The Central."

“ Very well," said the detective, making
a note in his book. “Now ive me the
names of some of the friends in hicago who
you say met you upon your arrival there."

Leonard called off the names of six or
sevenpcople, with their addresses, and they
were as rapidly recorded in the detective s
note-book.

An ho‘ur later he arrived at the Grand
Central Depot and went at once to the sleep.
ing-car agent’s oflice. Here he inquired
Whether a berth had been secured by a man
by the name of Leonard Stern on Friday,
the 15th of October, and was informed that

. there bad.

This was one point for Leonard, but the
detective was far from satisfied, and secured
a berth for himself.

. The next afternoon he arrived in Chicago,
and went to the Auditorium Hotel, where
Leonard boarded when at home.

He asked the clerk if Leonard Stern was
at home, by way of beginning operations,
and was informed, of course, that he was
not.

“He is in New York," said the clerk.

“Ah,” returned Thad. “When did he

6?”
3 “Let me see. _0h, yes, I can tell you,”
 and he referred to his ledger. “He left
hereon the night of October 15th, just a
week ago today."
“I am surprised at that," observed the
detective, with fei ned astonishment, “for
I saw him in New ork on the 14th."

“That is likely, for he got back here on
‘ the 15th from New York, and, finding a tele-
gram from his father that his step mother
was dead. he took the next train back.“

“ Of course there is no use for me to ask
- ‘you if there is any chance of there being a
* mistak about this?" 1

“Ce ainly not. However, if » you doubt

my word, here is his name in his own hand-
 writing onthe re ister," pursued the clerk,
 turning over the eaves of the book till he
came to the date. “Regular boarders do
not always register, but he is particular
about that and always does. He says it of-
 ten fixes a date in his mind which would
' erwise escape his memory. "

, ~‘ .had examined the signature and saw
j. that it was the handwrit ng he had seen in
 the two letters written by Leonard. '
‘ H , This appeared to settle the uestion of. an
,  but he was still unsatis ed, and called
yupo'n several of the friends of-the young
*- :than, and in each case he was told th Loon-
}:51'3‘ had arrived ongthe afternoon of the.

' At the conclusion of it all he was forced
tobelieve that he had actually been there on
that date, and conse uently could not have
 at Riverside Irlve,..New York. and

craters must be innocent, and the detec-
vtiv'o toninihe next train back to the city,”
‘ where he arrived late the next evening

So at the end of a week's hard Work he
was no a era solution of the mystery than

' at the beginning. ' l

 gHaving found he only man at whom the
suspicion pointed innocent. he must begin all
our again. which was far, from a cheerful
“inspect. to say the least.
' During the following day hs‘vlsited‘the
ital to ascertain what progress the
at Was making. and was informed that

g
to
m

  

  
  
 
  

had sane lapses in Which he conversed ra-
tionally.

Fortunately he was in one of these condi-
tions when '1 had visited the hospital, and by
permission of the head nurse, he had a tal
with the injured man.

Although he talked rationally upon most
subjects, he either could not or would not
reveal his name.

“ It is the strangest case I ever saw,” re-
marked the doctor, who came in while the
detective was there. " He seemed to re-
member everything else, but he has either
forgotten his own name or has some motive
for keeping it a secret."

“The latter is the case, most likely,” re
turned Thad. “In my opinion he had more
to do with the tragedy than having his head
punched. “

“ Ishouldn't wonder,” rejoined the doctor.

As soon as the detective approached the

atient’s bedside he looked up and stared
on r and earnestly at Thad's face, and finally
sax :

“ I know you. You are the man that
came here with the man with the black
eyes."

“ That is correct,” replied Burr. “ So you
remember the man with the black eyes, do

on?" '
y “Remember him? How can I ever forget
him? Did he not try to kill me?”

“ So he did. Do you know his name?"

“ His name?" and the patient appeared to
be searching his memory for something that
was lost.

At length his face brightened, and be con-
tinned:

“ His name? His name?
know it! It is Stern!"

“ You are sure ?"

. “ Yes, yes, I am sure. Stern is his name. ”

“What is his first name?" .

"Let me see. Yes, Leonard. That is it.
Leonard Stern."

“ Where did you first meet him?"

” Meet him?"

And he appeared to be ruminating again.

“ Yes, yes, I know now. I met im in a
city," he exclaimed.

“ What city?"

“ Chica o."

“How id he come to strike you?”

“ He struck me on the head,” muttered
the patient scowling darkly.

” I knew he struck you on the head. But
how came he td do it?”

 He wanted to kill me, and he did kill the
gir 

“ What girl?"

“ The girl that was in the carriage. and
the horses went over the rocks, and he threw
the girl over the rocks! Oh, it was awful:
The poor girl beg ed for her life, but he
would not listen to er, and threw her over
the rocks."

' “But what was the girl’s name?”

“The girl?”

5 l n

“ Her name?’ '

“ Yes. What was her name?”

“The girl's name! That‘s good! The
‘girl’s name! Hill 1121' hal Why, she had no
name. \ Who ever heard of a girl having
name?” *

” What is your name, then?"

“M name?” "

An he knitted his brows and appeared to
be trying to think.

“ You say the girl ‘has no name, what is
yours?" ' .

" Hal hal ha!” he laughed.
Why, man. I am like the irl, I have no
name. Who ever heard 0 me having a
name. Call me Mister if you like, or Colonel.
That's a good name. Call me Colonel. Hal
hal'ha! I’m the Colonel from this out."

The poor lunatic went off into one of his
insane fits'ngain. and the detective left him.

Thad. next called upOn Mrs. Shelby in
Thirtee th street.

“ Wl re have you been all this time?"
were her first words. " You should have
come here the next day after you were here."

' “Why. have you seen any ;;norc of our
fine entlemen?” he asked. ,

“ ndeed, I have; they were here the very
'next day.” ,

'1‘ What did they want?” '

“ They wanted some letters that belgrii‘ge’d
n t

Yes, yes. I

“ My "name?

 

‘1 was rapidly recovering, that, indeed. he...
»  . . . iz- 

      
 

to mywhich she left here, but they

Icy! tall you/f . '

    
  

    
 
     

.\
,"

 

“ Have you the letters ?”

" Yes, I kept them, as I didn’t know but
you might make something of them, although
they seemed to be nothing but love-letters."

“ Let me see them, please."

The old woman hobbled off into another
room, and soon returned with a bundle of
letters, and handed them to the detective.

The moment his eyes fell upon the direc-
tion of the first enve ipe, he was startled.

It was addressed to Katherine Sherwood
and was in the well-known handwriting of
Leonard Stern.

A perusal of several of the letters proved
the old woman's surmise that they were noth-
ing but love-letters to be correct. They threw
no light upon the myster surrounding this
unknown woman, but rat er deepened it.

That she was not the real Kate Stern, there
was not the shadow of doubt in the detec-
tive’s mind, and the question with him was
who was she, how came she in possession of
all these things which had once been the
property of the murdered woman, and what
obf'cct had she in keeping them?

f she was an ad venturcss and an impostor,
how was it that she had been forcibly ab-
ducted by these villains?

In glancing over the letters casually he had
not thought of lookin at. the dates, taking it
for granted that they Iiad all been written a
long lime before, and he probably would not
have thought of it had not his attention been
called to it.

“ What do you think of them ?” asked Mrs.
Shelby, smiling. "

” I see nothing interestin or valuable
about them.” he replied. “ hey were evi~
dently written by a man by the name of
Leonard Stern, whom I know very well. toa
young woman by the name of Katherine
Sherwood, who is now dead, and who, at the
time of her death, was *the wife of this same
Leonard Stern’s father. The young man
was betrothed to her for some time before his
father married her, and these letters were
evidently written during their engagement.
The only thing that puzzles me, is how they
came in the possession of this young wo-
man.” ‘ '

The old woman got up and came over to
where Thad was Sitting, took the package
and, after running them over, selected one
and handed it to him.

“Read that,” she said.

The detective unfolded it, and was startled
to note that it was of Quite recent date-—
Fritten the day the girl was abducted, in
net. ‘ ‘ .

It was as follows: v

” DEAR KATE:—

" Keep out of sight for the present and all
will be well. Our plot thus far has worked
like a charm. Let nobody knew where you
are, and above all, avoid P. dz Q. 'l‘lu-y
meanl no good: to either of us. If they can
only entice you away so that you will be be-

end my reach there is no telling what may
appen. Remain where you are for the pres
out. You are safe there, but if, you wish to
see me, slip away and come to Lil 8, any
night after ten o’clock.
“ ’Aflectionately,
II LEn."

The detective was puzzled.

" What do you think of it?" asked the old

woman. ‘ l . ‘
“ I do not know what to think of‘ it,’ he
replied. “ It seems that this letter was writ-
ten eince she has been here. "Do you know
or her receiving any letters?"

“ No, and that’s what puzzles me. it is
addressed to this number, as you see, hm I
never knew of her getting a letter. She
must, have watched the postman and got it
without my knowledge. ”

" Do you know anything about this ‘Len,’

‘ Mrs. Sher ?"

“ Never card of him.”

“Has nobody been here to see her since
she came?" '

“ Nobody but the two men you saw llQl‘u
the other night.”

“ Did she ever appear to expect any one,
or as that she expected any one?"

“ 0, she never spoke about expecting
any one at all, and the sub'ect never passed
between us but once, an that was when
Paul Berwick called the first time and‘nSke'd‘
for her. I went up to her room and told bet:

that there was a gentleman to see bar'qu ‘

 

“sun”. ~M

 
  
      
   
  
  
  

., Jfi. -,  ,.  (n 1. ..‘
, _. it,» t.   1M ~

 

' ' " The Riverside "Drive‘ Death-MyStery.

 

she told me to tell him that she was not in.
-‘ And then when I started to tell her, she
called me back and said: ‘Tell everybody

I that calls the same thing. I am never at

, home. I don‘t want to see anybody.’ "

“ You told Berwick that she wasn’t in,
did on?"

“ did."

" What did he say 7” _

“That he didn’t believe it, that he knew
she was here. Iaslted him how he knew,
and he said that a particular friend of hers
had received a letter from her saying that
she was here."

“ He did not mention who this friend
/ was?”

’ “ No."

“Did you ask him?"

“ Yes, but he put me off by saying that it
was a very particular friend.”

" Have you any idea who this ‘ Lil'
alluded to in the letter, is, or where he or she
lives or is to be found?”

“ I do not know ositively, but I have an
idea. There is a .il Dare who lives in
Fifteenth street, and this fellow Paul Berwick
used to go there.”

, “ Who do you imagine the writer refers to
as ‘ P. & Q.’ in this letter?"

“ I think it is the two men you saw here
the other night."

“ But the writer warns her against them.
if this Lil's is a place frequented by Ber-
wick, it is not likely that he would advise her
to go there."

. ‘ “ It’sa mixed up affair all round," si bed
the old woman in dire perplexity. “ I on't
pretend to understand it.”

” Nor I, but I shall endeavor to untangle
the knot. I shall make a call at Lil’s at
once.”

 

CHAPTER XIII.
A sunset: on THE GAME.

BEFORE proceeding to the house in Four-

‘ teenth street, Thad deemed it best to disguise

himself, as he mi ht meet Berwick or the

doctor, and he id not desire that they
should know him.

Ile therefore went home and made himself

up to resemble a successful sporting man,

‘ with a heavy dark mustache and pointed

beard, and attired himself in a nattysuit.

He then made his way to the house,
which he found, to his surprise, to be an
ordinary boarding-house, kept by an old
woman.

The inmates of the house were mostly
gamblers and actresses, and the house as a
consequence did not bear a very good name.

Ills first move was to inquire for Lillian
Dam, and when that lady entered the parlor.

~ ' he found her to be a ponderous
' as face that showed unmistakab e signs of
dissi ation. -
In eed, as he afterward learned, she had
been a variety actress in times gone by. ’
After introducing himself under a ficti-
tious name, the detective informed the lady
_ that he was looking for a lady friend, whom
he had heard was stopping at her house.
“ What is the lad y's name ?" asked Lillian.
” Her maiden name was Kate Sherwood,"
‘ :replied Thad. “But I believe she has been
married since I last saw her, and her present
t name is Stern."
” There is no such person stopping here,”
answered the woman promptly.
Thad was disappoihted.’

~ However, he thought that there was a

possibility of the young woman going under

anaesu name, if, indeed. the name that
t he had asked for was not assumed one.

“ That may not be her right name.” he
resumed at len th. “ The youn lady I
‘want is about n netcen, with dar brown
curly hair and large brown eyes and is rather
pretty. ”

The old woman shook her hand.

“Idon’t know her by that description,”
she observed. “Do you know any of her
friends?”

A happy thought occurred to the detective,
and a way out of his dilemma seemed to open
before him.

“ Yes," he said. “If she is here. she

robably came with Paul Berwick or Doctor
. ulsted, or both."

“ Oh, that girl?" interposed the old we-
man. " Yes, she came here a few nights
ago with them, and a still here, but she is

V I

_mJ-r-_, .

.. {‘1‘

 
  
 
 

   

rson with v

 

  

not very well, and I don’t think she will
see any one." '

“You say she has been here for a few
days. About how many days has she been i
here?"

“Let me see. She came here three days
ago, or rather three nights ago."

“ Has she had any other visitors besides

, Berwick and the doctor?”

“She has had one caller, but she refused
to see him.”

“ Who was he?"

“ I don’t know his name."

“ What did he look like?"

“ Tall and good-looking."

” l\)ark eyes and mustache?”

H '08. H

“ Iiesemble Berwick somewhat?"

“Yes, very much."

“ Whom did he inquire for?”

“ He asked for Kate Berwick."

“ And she refused to see him, eh?”

“ Yes."

“ Didn’t he give his name?"

“ Yes, but I have forgotten what it was.”

“Would you remember it if you were to
hear it?"

“ Perhaps."

“ Was it Stern?"

“ No, that wasn’t it."

The young man was evidently masquerad-
ing under a false name, thought the detec-
tive. -

“Has the oung lady iven you positive
orders not ti: admit anygbody to her?” he
asked after a moment’s silence.

“ Yes, she says she won't see an body."

“ She sees Berwick and the octor, of
course?" a

“ No. she won't see even them.”

“ Has she never seen them since she came
here ‘2”

“ Only once, the next day after she came,
and they had a row in the room, and after
they went away she told me that if they
called again to tell them she wasn’t here any
longer.’

“Did they call again soon after that ?"

" Yes; the same afternoon."

” And you told them that she was out ?"

" I told them that she had gone. They
asked me where, and I told them I did not
know." '

“ What did the say to that?"

" They growlet 3. 00d deal, didn't want
to believe me. and fins ly had a good deal of
talk between themselves, during which they
speculated as to where she had probably
gone.”

" Now, tell me, Miss Dare, do you know
anything about this young woman ?”.

“ I never saw her before she came here
that night.” :

“ N or the tall young man who called for
her, either?” I

“ No, sir; I never saw him before.”

“ That seems strange, for he wrote  her
that if she wanted to see him to meet him
here. How do you account for that?"

" I cannot account for it."

“ Well, look here, Miss Dare. I wish you
would see if y u cannot secure me an inter-
view with th s young woman. ‘ I have an
important message to deliver to her, and if
you can induce her to see me for a few sec-
onds I will pay you well for your trouble.”

“ Why don’t on write your message and
letme take it to er?" in uired the woman,
with a suspicious express on.

“That Won‘t do. It must be delivered to
her verbally. or not at all.” -

The old woman reflected a few moments,
and finally asked: -

“ What name shall I give ‘2” _ ‘2

Thad was exuberant at the prospect of his
success, and hastened to reply: I

“ Don't give any name. Say it is the gen-
tleman who tried to protect her the other
night at Mrs. Shelby's. I think that will be
sufficient?"

As he uttered the last words. .he took the
womrkn’s hand and slipped a ten-dollar bill
into i

She became extremely gracious as she felt
the crisp paper in her hand, and smiling
sweetly, said: ' , ' , ‘

“ Really. I have very little hope that she
will see you. but I will do my best, you can
de end u n that.”  ,

be h scarcely left the room when, to the

' mth their eyes fell upon Thad, they hastily

.aware of the presence of afigure standing

‘he looked the oung lady over.

 

detectives surprise, Berwiek and the doctor
walked, in. v .. I.  ~

      

    
    
  
   
   
   
 
  
  
   
  
 
   
  
   
   
    
   
  
   
  
   
   
   
  
    
   
  
   
  
  
  
  
    
  
   
   
   
  
    
    
 
   
  
  
   
   
    
    
    
    
  
   
   
    
    
   
  
     
   
  
  
  
       
     
     

They glanced about the room, and the mo-

retreated.

He would have liked to have followed
them, but the prospect of seeing the pretty
unknown, which he believed would go a
long way toward clearing up the m stery,
superseded the other desire. Bcsi es, he
argued, he could find the men here at this
house when they were wanted. and'there was
no need of wasting time running after them
now.

A few moments later the landlad returned
with a beaming countenance an informed
Thad that the young woman would be
pleased to see him.

“ What did she say ?" he asked eagerly.

“ She asked me who you were, and I told
her I didn’t know, except that you said you
were the gentleman who tried to protect her
the other night at Mrs. Shelby’s, and she
seemed delighted, and told me to tell you to
come right u .”

“ Good! hat is the number of the
room?" “

“ My rooms are not numbered, but it is the
first room to the right after youreachthe
top of the stairs.” * ’ »

Thad waited to hear no more explanation, ’
but arose and went upstairs at once.

It was ahead quite dark, and yet the
lights had not en lit in the halls, and the
detective had to grope his way along the

as e.
Asgbe approached the door, he became

 

before it.

It was too dark to discern whether it was
the figure of a man or awoman, but as the
person did not speak or seem inclined to
move away, he realized a sense of uneasi-
ness.

Still he walked boldly up to the door, and
was about to knock. when the person de—.
mended in a gruff voice:

"What do on want here?"

Thad felt li e telling the questioner that
it was none of his business, but he changed
his mind and replied:

“ i am goin to call upon the occupant of
this room, by invitation, sir. ”

“By invitation?" roared the other in an
angr voice. "I guess not!”

“ should like to know‘what‘ you have to - i
say about it!" retorted Thad hot y.

“ Well, sir, I have a good deal to say about ,
it, for I know you have had no invitation .
from the occupant of that room." ,

“‘ How do ’01: know that?”

“ How do know i?” cried the man indig-
nantly. “I think I ought to know. as I
occupy that room myself! ’ -

Thad was about to retort, when thedoor
opened, evidently in response to a former
knock by the man, and he stepped in. 

As the light from the room streamed out 
into the hall the detective made two 
coveries; \

One was that he had gone. to ‘the second, . .
instead of the first door, and that the man
to whom he had been talkin was none '
other than Dr. Bulsted. Be a saw that .
the person who had opened the doorwas 
Berwick. ' " ’ _,

This was a surprise, for the landlady had 
spoken about the men calling to see the
young woman, and now he saw that they .
were ither boarders or roomers in the house, 
and therefore her story must be untrue. ‘

However, he did not pause to con'sider‘g
matter long, but stepped back and _, ‘
at the other door. -' -‘

The doc; was promptly opened by a v
pretty young woman, whom he ,recogniz V
as the one be had seen carried“ from Mrs.
Shelby's house in estate of unconscious»
ness. .

"Sit down,” saidXsh'e, after shaking his
harm. “ I‘amso glad to see you! lt was so
kind of you .to' try to rescue. me from these
villains the other ni ht!” r i
had was at a oss howto begin,
while reflecting upon what course to 

At the en usion of his survey he conch,
dad that if she was not tl so!th
whom he had found suspng from‘lho'
rocks, she was her twin sistef
never n two persons so near y alike. '

"Ii-h ve been wanting to see you so
much.” she pursued, seeing that be remitted!
silent. , “I was anxious to knowth

  

     
  
 
 
   

 

    

   

'2‘ '4‘. aurzzsnaa; run  2 : 2; z. ;.4.. ;» .. v.: u

' The Riverside Drive DeathLMyStery.

 

~—

 
    
  
  
   
 
   
    
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
  
   
  
    
   
  
 
  
  
    
  
  
   
  
  
 
   
    
 
  
  
   
   
 
  
  
   
  
  
  
 
  
  
    
  
 

got into the house that night, and how you
came to go in."
Thad related the account of his following
the two men from the hotel in Eighty-first
street, of overbearing the interview be-
tween them and Mrs. Shelby, and finally of
his climbing up the lattice and getting in at
the window,
“ And all that to save me from those hor-
rid men?"
“I do not know of a nobler cause in
which I could have labored." be inter-
posed, by way of putting himself upon good
terms with her. " A lady in distress is
enough to enlist the sympathy of any man
’ who is a man."
“ But to think that you should have done
that for me, whom you knew nothing
about!"
“ That made no difl'erencc to me.
The detective saw that she was inclined to
gossip interminably. and it would be neces-
sary to switch her oif.
“ You will excuse my impertinence, Miss
Berwick, if I ask you how you came in that
house?" he began. “ You did not belong
there, of course?" '
“ No, I did not belong there,” she replied.
“Ijust went there to get away from some
persons whom I dislike.”
“ Who are these people?”
“ That I do not care to tell."
"Mrs. Shelby told me that you informed
V her that you had been married. Is that
‘ true?”
The young woman blushed.
“Did the old gossip tell you that?” she
said. laughing.
«i r "f She did. She said that you claimed to
have been married to a man named Stern. "
I,  “ I believe I did tell her something of the
‘ kind." she returned. still laughing. '
A “' It isn’t true, then?"
 f’I Would rather not answer that." she
v itered, growing confused.

‘ “,Doryou know a man by the name of
’Stern?” - ,
“ Yeah—at least I used to know a young
‘ man by that name.”
 ' “Leonard Stern ?"

1., u Yes.»

i, v " Have you seen him lately i’
‘ i‘ No, not for a long time.‘

i , ‘,“ You have had some communication with
2 'him. though. haven’t you?"

“ He has written to me, but I have not an-

,“awere'd his‘lettcrs." _ ~

 9‘ In one of his latest letters he advised you

 come here?"

I r 1‘ Yes. I think he did. But how did you

f-know about this letter?"

-' f‘Mrs. Shelby showed it to me."

.- 2 What business had

flieshowing my letters?" poutcd the young

omau- .

1 “.1 waskanxious to know what had become

no? you. and asked her for the letters in the

 that,they,would'throw some light on

'8 sub ect.” ' ‘
- , it was
“place that on came hem,,eh?‘
f'Yes. ut tell me. who are these men,
2 “ ,mhat'istheir object in persecuting you?"
‘;-,..“_Iain unable to answer either question.
.. wife not know them. and have no idea why

‘ want to persecute me.
Q anything to them." . -
’§r¢ .yon stillin their power?” -

o not‘now. I am sale here. They do
. .dare to approach me here." .
‘nfiava you no home: to whichyou one
'Not now. lonce had." i. . . r
"What is youn right name?”

«,{YOE called it a moment ago," she laugh-

n

I

through the mention of this

I

 

' '  “ CHAPTER XIV. .
 a :sunrnn woman. v
 began to realize that the young
W Wasrmt tellingf him the truth. i,
6 Could see that she was very subtle, and
. could be no doubt that s rowan conceal-
big the real fucisabo t hersel and those con~
.. "with her. am be determined toact a
. ‘ orestcrrm with her.
"if? uiell or unit on'are safe in this
“flow me that, .. when those men
,oursay are persecutlng you use stop

 

  hm“: a". “he echoed,  “ l
_ il"'.’;  i I

I have never '

“ Yes. Were on not aware of it?"

“ Iwas not. n fact. I can hardly credit
it, as the landlady told me this morning that
they had called to see me.
she should have told me that if they were
stopping in the house."

“They are, nevertheless."

“Have you seen them?"

“ Yes. I eanrc very nearly getting into
their room. "

“ Where is their room?"

“The next one to your own.”

“ You don't tell me?"

“ It is true."

“They must have come in today, then,
for a young lady occupied that room yester-
day."

There was such a show of sincerity about
her conversation and manner now that he
was inclined to believe her.

“I-Iovvever, these men occupy the room
now,” he went on, “and this beingthe case,

i lady

go somewhere else—say hack to the o
where you were stopping before."

she assented. “ And I shall think about it.”

“There is another thing I would like to
ask ’ou about, Miss Berwick."

“ Vhat is that?" .

“ You hear the same name as one of your
persecutors. Are you any relation to him?"

“ None whatever,” she replied almost in-
dignantl . '

" Par on me. but the coincidence impress.
ed me, and I thought there was no harm in
s aking of it. Perhaps you have no objee
ton in tellin r me why you told Mrs. Shelby
that you ha been married to a man by the
name of Stern?"

“A mere freak, I suppose,“ replied the
girl with a supercilious toss of her head.
“ The old ossip Was asking me all kinds of
silly questions, and I told her that to get rid
of her and give her something to talk about.”

“ But in reality you were never married to
any such person i" ,

" Certainly not, or to anybody else for that
matter. ” ‘ . .

“ One more thing, Miss Berwick."

“ Well?"

“ You have in our possession a locket of
peculiar dcsi n, believe?"
She star and colored, but did not an-

SWBI'.

detective continued;

. “ The locket I speak of, if I am not mis-
taken, has the arms of the Stern family on
one side. and the legend. 'The Fatal Charm'
on the other.” , ‘

She opened her eyes very wide at this doc
laration, stared at the detective inquiringly
for. a moment and then asked; ,

“How did you come to know so much

for askingme all these questions?"

" 0h, having made an effort to save your
life, I thought I had some claim upon your
friendship. and presumed , to ask you these
things because I am very curious about
them." ‘1

“ Is that our only reason?"

"Certain y. What other could I have?"

“That is what I would like to know."

“ By the way, if I am not mistaken, that
locket was once the property and an heir:
loom ot'thaStern family." '

“ Poasibly.'.’ " , r .

“ How came it in your possession?"

“I haven’t admitted that ‘it is in my pos-
session yet." she retorted dryly. '
“That was unnecessary, as I knew it al.
ready." , v i

“‘Mrs.‘Shelby told you, I sup ose?”

“ She did. but she is not the on y one".

“ThenI want to tell you that you have
been misinformed. sir. I, have no such lock-
et in my possession. It is one of that old
gossip’s lies. You shouldn’t put so much
faith In what she tells you." . , ’ ', '

"I am not usually unduly c dulous of
what people tell me." rejoined had coolly,
” but .I am bound, to believe the ol woman
for. the reason that sheoould ha a known
nothing of that locket if she had not seen it
i on you. It is an'hcir-lmm of the torn fam-
; by and nobody outside of the fam y and in,-

 

 

    

_~it3 accurately. as, she
fli 1.1 {VIM

I do not see why ;

Ishould think it would be better ioryou to E
(

“It would be better, i have no doubt,“

Aflecting not to notice her confusion, the ‘

about my afiairs. and what motive have you I

. information produce

 

sorts of colors and expressions while he was

delivering thisspceeh, and at the conclusion

she burst out laughing.

“ I have made a discovery,"she declared.

i “ A discovery?”

; “Yes. You are a detective, and all this
catecbiziug has been for the purpose of find
ing out something about me Am I not
right?"

It “ You Were never more mistaken in your

i life. _ At the same time I have an object in

i wanting io'know where you obtained that

i loeket, and it may he to your advantage to-

, tell me. instead of havinga detective to get

i hold of you and wring the information from

‘ you?"

 “ But suppose I still adhere to ryiy asser—
tion that] have no such locket in my posses-
sion?“

, “ That will avail you nothing. They will
find out the truth, i they have to search you

in order to do it.”

“ I would like to see any of themtryii,”
she cried bridling up and her dark eyes flash-
ingr angrily.

“ They would have no hesitant-y in doing-
it. But we are getting away from the sub
jcct. Will you, or will you not tell me
where you got that locket ‘I”

“ 1 will not, and for the simple I'CilSUlk
that I have no locket.” she replied, firmly.

“Then there is but one thing for me to
do, and that is to put the matter into the
hands of the police," said Thad. rising.

The girl hesitated, turned pale and red :11-
tcrnately, and finally faltered:

” Please don‘t do that. sir, and I will not
only tell you all I know about it, but will
show you the locket.”

j. “.Very well," said the detective, turning
back eagerly. ’

l “ But not now,” she interjected.

“ Not now ‘2”

“ No, but if you will come see me tomor-

Erow I will tell you all, and show you the

‘ locket.”

i “ Why not ow ?"

” For two reasons.

' pledged not-to say anything about the flair

} while I remain in this house, and the ot eris
that the locket is not in my possession now.

, To-morrowi will leave here, and also get

the locket, and then when you cal; upon me

I will give it to you, and you can return it

to the owners, and i will give you all the in-

formation in my possi'ssion." _r

“ Information about what?" ,

“ About an 'thing {Eu want to know.”

" Where will on tomorrow?"

“At Mamma helby’s." ' '

“ Sure?" ‘

“' Can’t you trust me?”

i‘ Thad looked her squarely in the eyes, and

as she did not quaver under his scrutiny, he

decided that he could trust her. ‘

"hes, 1 will trust on,” he said; “but if

on deceive me, it wil be the worst for you.
ut before I go there is one piece of infor-
mation you can give me. You hear a atrlkw

ing resemblance to a lady who was killed a

i
I

One is that I aim,

 

little over a week ago, Mrs Katherine Stern, . '

{ lflormcrly Miss Sherwood. Did 'you know
er?" ' “ r '
“ I did not." she replied, and there was an
expression of such pericct innocence on her
‘ face that be was constrained to believe her,
“ Did Leonard never say anything about.
her to you?” “ '
“Never.”

‘heart at one time, and they were engaged to.
l e married.” .
‘ ‘ Thad Watched her countenance, but if this
any emotion in her,
she did not exhibit «it outwardl .

He then inok his leave. an half an hour
later called upon Leonard Stern. '

\“Wcll, what is new?" asked the young
man; as soon as they were seated.

“I have made a many discoveries,”
, rejoined the detective, “ but none of them of

'i much value to me."

" Did you go to Chicago?"
. " Yes. ' I l
' 1“ Everything straight in that direction ‘2"
“ It scems to be._" V ,
“ You found that my claim to being able,

 

. to establish an alibi was well founded, didn't; , , ""
gamete friends cook} know anything. about "y ‘ ‘
i s  i ‘

some discoveries since my return  do a

“ That is strange, as she was his sweet-i

Oil?" 1 . ‘ ,4. ‘ I
, “ Yes, that, is all right; but I have made

i
i
l

.... .m.-mW—a;~«m ‘rm.«..s.

3., ,A.Nu_“‘:"' ’

nun—M .ywkus ' ..f~ .

 

 

l
“i
i
' i
1
.5

 

mm “my-do.

.1AA‘~AK.".("‘“~U:U ...:  2

n r‘eatclr‘t'm nae--

.:!—.~m1..wz arv- .s «be» at." u.» ans

 

. There is some trickery about this. This date

v this letter was written?” .

’plot was working like a c arin?"

. 

9a», r: ,~ u  ~»-;y;l..r

The Riverside Driye Death:_Mystery.

 

  

'19

 

 

“ What are they ?”

“ You remember my speaking of a young ;
woman who was abducted by the two men, I
dont you?”

“ Yes."

“Well, Ihave found her and had a talk 1
with her."

“ Indeed ?" ,

“ Yes. and she tells tne that she knows.’
you.”

“Knows me?”

“ Yes.” ,

“ She is mistaken,” rejoined the young 1‘
man, imiignamly. "I never heard of the
person until you told me about her.”

" That is strange. She has quite a uunr
ber of letters which she claims were written
by you to her."

“Then her claim in that direction is as
false as the other one, for [have never writ-
ten to a young lady in my life, except
Kate."

'i‘had drew out the last letter she had re-
ceived from him and handed it to him.

“Do you know anything about that let-
let?" be asked. “ You remark that her name
is Kate also.

Leonard took the letter and coolly glanced
over it .without the sign of a tremor.

“Yes, I have seen the letter,” he replied.
“‘In fact I wrote it—to Kate Sherwood.

I wonder how this woman got possession of
it.”

Instead of replying to the inquiry, Thad
asked;

“ How long ,since you wrote that letter,
Mr. Stern?"

“ I don't remember——six months, I guess.
The date will show. It was—”

He hesitated and turned pale.

” By Jove! what is this?” he exclaimed.

"Accordingto the date it has not been
written six. months," interposed Burr.

"No, nor six days. according to the date.

has been altered!"

Thad took the letter and examined the
date carefully, and discovered something
that had escaped him before.

There was no doubt that the original date
had been erased and the present one inter-

lated. It Was perfectly plain, asthe thing

ad been done in a clumsy manner. ‘

“You are right." he admitted. “That
acquits you, but only deepens the m stery.
Who could have done this. what con d have
been his object and how did he get hold of
the letter?”

“That is a puzzle, for Kate always kept
her letters from me in the cabinet."

"Still, there is one mystery which you
may be able to explain for me. Mr. Stern."

“ What is that?“

“ Where was Miss Sherwood at the time

“ At her aunt's."

“Where did her aunt live?"

“ In Thirteenth htreet."

“ At the number given on this envelope?"

l‘ Yes." '

“What was she doing there. and what
danger was she in. that you should have said
thatwshc was safe where she was?” 1

"She was being persecuted by a female
cousin. who used to follow and insult her-
whenever she went out. I advised her to go
to her aunt‘s, because the cousin did not
know where the hunt lived and could not
persecute her while there."

" What do you mean b saying that your

" I had reference"to the plot of sending her
to her aunt's. and letting it be understood
that she was out of the city,"

“ Another thing. What doj you mean by
telling her that if she wished to see you, she
might go to Lil’s?“ I

“ That is a cousin of mine on m mother's
side. Her name is Wood—Lily ood, She
lived in Fourteenth street, not a great way
from Kate's aunt.” »

“Does this aunt still live in Thirteenth
street?" ;

“No, she is dead, and her little house was
sold to some one, I do not know whom.”

“ Who do you mean'by ‘P. & Q.’ in this

v "That refers to her cousin and herhus-
build. That was a nickname she and I 

 

“than” , _ 

“ They left here some months ago and
went to California, I think.”

“ How old a woman was this cousin?"

“ About Kate’s own age, 1 should say.”

“ Pretty ?”

“I believe she was, although I never saw

; her."

“ Did you ever hear Kate say that she re~
sembled her?”

“It seems to me that she did say some-
thing about it."

“What was this cousin’s name?"

” Kate Berwick.”

“ Ah!" ejaculated Burr. thrilled by the in-
formation. “ Some relation to Paul Berwick,
perhaps?”

“ That I cannot say.
at that time.” I

“ Do you know of any one who could iden-
tify this woman?”

“Kate Bel-wick?”

sl 3'08. 9’

d I presume my sister could do it. I think
she has seen her, although I am not positive
as to that?"

“ Will you ask her, please?”

“ With pleasure.”

I did not know him

Leonard left the room, and soon returned "

with the information that his sister believed
she would know Kate Berwick anywhere,
and would scoom any the detective at any
time which won] be suitable to him and
identify the woman.

“Very well, tell your sister that we will
go lto-morrow afternoon." said Burr, rising
to take his departure.

 

CHAPTER XV.
A THRILLING EXPERIENCE.

I'r still wanted a uarter of an hour to
midnight when Burr eft Leonard Stern, and
concluded to pay another visit'to the board,
lug-house of ll iss Lily Dare.

A light was still streaming from the parlor
window as he approached tne house. and he
knew that he was all right.

The doc; was: romptly opened in response
to his ring, and t e attendant vouchsafed the
information that the landlady was still in
the parlor where the detective had left her
several hours before. -

She was entertaining some theatrical
friends who had just returned from their
duties on the stage, but was too anxious to
know the result of the detectives interview
with Miss Berwick 'to keep him waiting
long, and soon came over and sat down he-
side him.

She dld not know that he had been out of
the house since the interview. and began'to
rally him good-naturedly‘ on the length of
his visit. ‘

“ You must have found the younglody
extremely entertainin ,” she laughed. ’ /

“Fairly so," was h s response, \‘but you
must not suppose that I have been with her
all this time. "

, “ No?" she exclaimed in great surprise.

- ” No, I have been awn for some time. I
aid. 9. visit to her frien ,‘ the tall man you
ld me about. " .

“ Yen know him, then?"

“Very well. His name is Stern, but.I am
inelined to think you were either‘mlstaken
i ,the name, or ese the party who called
W hat the same.” ' ' -* -

I’ve known of stranger things than that."
“ True enough. But what I want-to tell

you is that the young woman is going to”

eave the house in the’ morning. and I would
like to have
she goes." . a , v .

“ All" right. I’ll find out before you go
to-nlght, if she hasn’t gone to bed.”

“ Thanks. Another thing.” '

“What’s that?" -' 

‘ “\You told me this evening that Berwick
and 11.111st had called on the young we.
man~ ’ . . ‘ - ‘-

" I said that they had called tosee her. but
that she would not see them. "

you find em, if you can, where

“Year! know: And I understood from'

that that they, lived somewhere Outside of
your house. w teas Ihavediseovered that

they lite in your house.”

“Not ' manentiy.‘ The  the to
let them'i' v'e a roosti'itors'tgmlptit “they '
 com I l. 

.  t  I‘M

, g, which we ' they went?"
“What was the matter with the young '

man changing his name for the meatloaf-anyway.”

young fellfer."

 

 

    
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
   
     
 
   
   
   
  
  
   
 
   
   
  
    
    
  
   
  
 
   
 
    
   
  
   
 
  
  
   
  
  
  

You see these gentlemen live somewhere in
New Jersey when at home.”

“That was what they claimed as their
reason for wanting to stay all night, but let
me tell you, they had some other object in
View.”

" Why do you think so .‘”

“ Are you not aware that when they
brought that girl here, thsy brought-her by
force?"

 Impossible!"

“ It is true."

“ It is funny she said nothing to me about~
it.”

“Perhaps she did not want you to, know
that, but she told you she would not see
them, did she not?"

“ Yes."

“ Did not that cause you to suspect that
something was wrong?" .

“ No, 1 never bother my head about these
affairs. Girls have so many freaks that I
never know what to expect of them. How-
ever, I promised her thnt these men should
not be admitted to her room without her"
orders, and they have been told ever since.-
tbat she was not in.” -

“Neverthchss, they know that she is in
the horse, and that is their business here to,
night—to make another attempt to carry her.
off, and my opinion is that they will take her A
to some place this time where she will not be: "
able to exclude them from her room.”

“ Good raciousl Do you think so?”

“1 am a most sure of it.”

" Well, I’ll go up at once and put her on.
her guard," declared the stout landlady. find
flounced out of the room without taking"
time to excuse herself. I.

Burr waited patiently for the space of. ‘ "
fifteen minutes, the time necessary for the “‘
lady to ascend and descend the stairway, and
then she returned puffing for breath and.
great] excited.

“ e are too latei"she exclaimed. dropping:
into a chair. '

" Too late?"

" Yes, the whole party is gone t"

“Are yousure?" ‘ ‘ - ‘

" Am sure? Wasn’t I just up thematic!
didn’t] find both doors wide 0 en and lbw
“hold pang gone? In my opin on that we; 
man didn’t require much forcing, either. for .
if she wanted to, she could have made noise. .
enough to have aroused the house before.“ -
they got out." 5 ' , -. 7 .

” They may have given her somethin to
render her insensible, as they did when they;
brought her here." , 

“Do you mean to say that she was‘xius
sensible when they brought her here?" ‘ '

" She appeared to be when I saw her.”  ._

“ Well. when she reached here themes it; '
sensible as you or me, and walked tip-.mlrk}
‘of her own accor .” ‘  

" Why did she refuse to see them after».-
ward. then?" ,‘ :  ‘

"Oh, that was only a blind, or else she:
may have got a crank spell on her. -.
you may rest assured t at there wasno fm

ng about it this time.” p . 

‘I fear you are right, but atgtheium.
time it is my duty to go after her and and;
out the truth about it." . " ' J.

" I shouldn’t bother my head about it if I;
was you. .Any way, how do you w ‘

'3

“ That can only surmise, 'but' I am‘
And the next moment the detectix‘om,
the street. ' v . V  f“ "
He stood looking up and ~11me t ‘
fora moment, wondering which in ’ '
when a small boy camenp'to him  ,
“Dat’s de way day "went, Mister." 
ingenst. ' ' ' . _ , 
“ Whoi'f he asked, thinking the lad me
some one else.  ‘ . ;
“De‘ lady ari’ do two gents,” replied I
boy. “,De *lady'was purty. nn' one ‘
gents was er old man an’ de udder

 

-'-‘ Did the "come out of this some,
“ Yep. way 1 know'd' dei‘n, do}i
dc same ones w at corned here ’ do at "
night, an’de lady didn‘t wanter go: in

de gents had ter make her.” . «.
“Did they have .to make her gm

night?” '  .
 Party near it, she. didn't. saunter \

meant." . _, . " s"

'4 ’  _W ‘

.m w» mu . -._.........-.t a...“ .

 

.W- mum ‘,

f!

the merges m...

» m. , .mr.‘ n.......~~.._m H ~....--_ --..~.. ......_ .v. .. 7.1....«7, q.

feet

was. ,. "

  

' «r.— ..._.-; r... ......r a.-. “was... a... “M-~.—m.m

r 7” _. pew? . ' “:9  
4‘ ' .

 

   

“N ope, dey got inter a carriage here at de
curb.”

. Thad’s heart sunk.

 There was little or no chance of overtaking
' ‘ them now, if they had gone oil? in a carriage.

[3; even if he had known the route they had
 taken.

 Neverthless he put off on foot in the direc-
Z. tion they had gone, and walked rapidly for

, .several blocks.

I, He had no definite object in view, but

 felt that he must be moving, and the first

 thing he realized, he was below Avenue A,
~‘?-.. ‘ and in one of the worst neighborhoods in the

. t .

(in!
 r 'woul
 , standing in front of a dingy-looking tene-
 ment, but the vehicle looked too respectable
 for the locality and his suSpicions were
.aroused at ’once.

Crossing over to the same side of the
'street, he soon came up to the carriage, and
.saw the driver sitting on the box ,apparently
waiting for some one.

Burr stole alongside the vehicle and was
about to question the driver, when a slender
hand came out of the window and dropped
a scrap of paper. s

It was too dark inside the carriage for
~him to see any one, but he picked up the
‘scrap and strolled on in an indifferent way
till he came. to a saloon where there was a
brilliant light in the window, and here he
unfolded the paper and examined it.

There were a few lines scrawled in pencil,
an must have been written in the dark
fr the manner in which the lines ran on
' top of each other.

With some difficulty he finally made out
.to read it, and it was as follows:

~ “ DEAR Mn. BAKER. (that was the name
Thad had introduced himself by at the board-
ing house):-—I am a prisoner in the hands of
those hen-id men again. You tried to rescue
‘me once, and I hope you will try it again.
If you do not, I do not know what will become
.of me, The men have gone into this tene-
ment to make arrangements for the people
to keep me, and I hope you will follcw me
:and rescue me, if possible. I will then tell
, on ,all, erenthe secret of the murder in
iverside Park. KATE.”

When he had finished the note he turned
tolook back at the carriage, and saw that
L four men had come out of the house, two
' ’of thema peared to be the doctor and Ber-

 

 
    
 
  
   
 
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
   
 
   
  
  
    
       
  
  
     
    
  
   
  
   
  
  
   
   
   
   
   
    
    
    
   
 
      
    

. I

"'wi'ck an the other two were about the
’ toughest two citizens you would care to
look at. ~-

, They lost no time in opening the carriage
.door and hustling the woman out, and be-
" fore the detective was half way back to the
 ‘vehicle they had her inside the door.
v Realizing his disadvantage in a contest
“with these four powerful men, he looked
 :about for a policeman to assist him, but, as
’ ,usual when they are wanted,.np policeman
(was in si ht. '
.. .His on y chance, therefore, would be in
{*‘strateg , and he knew that never failed him,
.zso' he entered the hall door after the men,
"who had already gone in with the young
woman in their midst.
a It was a chea tenement, and the smell
 “thatmet h‘is nostr is as he entered the door
 well-nigh took him off his feet; but he was
lxzaecustomed .to encountering that sort of
filing, and did not hesitate on sthat ac-
~l-eonnt.
V The party were alread ascending the
jar-stairs at a rapid gait, an from all appear-
".snces, the woman was going along as will-
‘r‘fn as any of them.
is" evertheless, she might havo thought it
".the best policy to do that, as resistance was
useless. , »
. Again the detective looked about for as-
,.’>-.sistance. and at that moment an honest-look
 ing man came‘out of one of the flats and
started to go out of the front door, hen
Thad accosted him. '
v ‘f I say, my good man,” he said, “ I want
you to help me rescue that woman going up-
stairs in the clutches of those ruflians.
.ii’l pay you well for your help. Come
on. ‘-
.- The man shook his head.
 f‘Bnre, an' it’s not meself that'd 'be med-
, n’ in other pa ple’s business,”\he said.
I have all I kin o to attend to me own." ,

  

 
    
  
   
  
    
    
       
        
    
       
   

   

  

  
 

 
 

   

 

I
l

for this fact it is not likely that he 1
have noticed a neat closed carriage '

 

    
 

,they were unoccupied. ‘

And before Burrcould offer a
fellow had shuflied out of the bui ding.

There was nothing for it, then. but to do
whatever there was to be done single-handed,
and he determined to lose no time in par—

ey.

Meanwhile the party had climbed three
flights of stairs and appeared to be waiting
for a door to be open .

Thad walked rapidly up the stairs, until
he was on the landing below them, but they
appeared to pa no attention to him, and he
started up the ast flight.

When he was about half-way up ’the door
opened and the party entered, and the door
0 osed upon them.

Burr soon reached the floor above, but he
was no better off than when he 'was on the
ground floor.

How was he to get into the flat to rescue
the girl? was the question.

It would not do to knock and demand ad-
mittance, for either of the principals in the
outrage would recognize h m, and he woflld
either he refused admittance or attacked on
the spot. . '

There was still another flat above the one
in which the people had gone, and while
trying to formulate some plan of rescue for
the girl, the detective climbed the remaining
flight of stairs.

it was very dark up there, which led him
to believe that the inmates were all in bed,
but upon approaching one of the doors he
found it partly open, and by pushing it fur-
ther open he could see through the front
window, and as nothing seemed to intervene
between him and the window, he understood
that the apartments were vacant.

Stepping inside and lighting a match and
holding it up, he ascertained that this was
true. i

Taking out his dark-lantern and lighting
it, he walked quietly through the flat, which
consisted of some five rooms, all very dirty,
and made a study of the arrangqment of the
rooms. '

This he did so that in case he got into the
flat below he would not be at a loss as to how
to move.

But the question was, how was he to get
into the place below?

He walked to the back window, raised it
and looked out. There was a fire- escape,
and his plan 'of operation was soon formu-
lated. ,

Closing up his lantern and putting it into
his pocket, he climbed out upon the fire-
escape, and descended to the next balcony
below. The room facing the balcon (whic
was probably the kitchen) was in arkncss,
but be con d see a small ribbon of light
streamin through the crack of the door
opening finto the front room, and he could
hear loud talking coming from that direc-
tion. .

He had nothing to fear, therefore, and at
tempted to raise the window, but found it
locked.

This did not deter him long, however,
for taking the blade of a long, thin knife
he always carried for such emer encies, he
drove it in between the sashes an unlatched
the window.

In another moment he had raised the sash
and stepped in. Then he paused to listen.
The ta
mingled with the clinking of glasses. and he
concluded they were .having a jollification
over the recovery of the girl.

king continued in the front room,’

He was anxious to find out where they‘

had put the young woman, and at the
risk of being discovered, took out his lan-
tern and shooting the slide, surveyed the
surroundings.

As he had supposed, the roomhe had en
tered was a kitchen, and he tip-toed softly
into the next room in front .of it. , This was
a bedroom, with two dirt looking beds, but
here was also an-
other bedroom in front of this, which he
entered and investigated.

There was but one room remaining, besides
the hall-room, and that:g was the sitting-er
where the men were d nlting.

There was onl the one partition now be-
tweenhim and t c revelers, and. as the door
was partially open, he could hear everything
that "was said.

He listened for some moments to the con-
versation, and soon became convinced that
that w

. J .
I ,4 3 .p

 

no women praent, except the

r

  

 

rotest, the , girl they had just abducted, and she was i
3 silent (supposing her to be in there).

Burr now cudgeled his brains for a means
to convey the knowledge of his presence to
the girl, and in the midst of his ruminations,
luck favored him.

One of the men, who appeared to be the
doctor, varied the somewhat ribald convmsa-
tion by remarking:

“ Young woman, I guess you are sleepy.
If you are, on can go in that next room
and go to ed. You needn’t be afraid.
Nobody will harm you as long as you behave
yourself.”

Without a word the young woman arose
and approached the door, and Thad had just
time to shut off his light and jump into a
closet when she opened the door and came
into the room where he had been.

As she closed the door and approached the
bed, Thad called out in a whisper, telling
her he was there.

“rm—W“- -ar     _

CHAPTER XVI.
IN A TRAP.

FORTUNATELY the girl was not in the least
nervous, and did not become frightened at
the sound of his voice. '

In fact, she appeared to have expected
that he would attempt to rescue her. She
must have had this in mind when she wrote
the note, for she could not have had time to
write it after the detective came alongside
of the carriage. She therefore signified that
she knew him and was ready to act upon
any suggestion he had to offer.

As soon as he learned this, Thad stepped
out of the closet and came close to the girl.

“It was so good of you to follow those
horriid men and try to rescue me,” she whis-
pere .

“Never mind about that now,” he replied,
impatiently. “What we want to do now is
to devise some means of getting out of
here. There appears to be but the one door
leading out into the hall, and we cannot go
out that way without being discovered. I
came in through the back window from the
fire-escape. Do you think you can go out
that way?"

“ Yes, yes, any way,” she responded, anx-
iously. r

“Very well, come this way. There is no
time to lose. If~ those fellows take it into
their heads to come out and watch you our
chances are slim."

“Lead on, sir.
where."

This was uttered in a dramatic way that
was decidedl unpleasant to the detective,
who detestet cant, but be affected not to
notice it, and started for the kitchen.

The girl followed close upon his heels, and ' 1
they werc soon at the back window, where ’
he paused to instruct her how to proceed.

“' When you get out on the balcon of the .
fire-escape," he said, “you will ve to 3
climb up to the next balcony above. The 3

l

.. - . sen. dMaM..—__—... ‘

I will follow you'any-

 

upper flat is vacant, and when we reach that
we are safe.” ‘ .

“ All right,” she answered. " Shall‘I go
first?”

“Yes, but be careful how you step as it
is very dark, and one false step means ;
death.” ‘

The girl ve vent toalow rippling laugh, 
and step boldly out upon the balcony. a.

Thad ollowed her, and to prevent sus-
picion as well as retard the progress of their _, ‘
pursuers should they come out, [he put down ‘1 ‘,
the window. '  .

By the timethis was done the girl was 5:,
climbing nimbly up the ladder to the next ' lg
balcony. it '

so far fortune favored them. The sounds 
of the revelry in the front room contiiiued,
showin /that there was no suspicion thus- ‘
far of t e escape, and our friends were soon i
on the upper balcony.

Thad then raised the sash of the window 1 3
and the girl climbed into-the back room of i ii
the vacant tenement. * l

“ Now we are safe,” he observed. “ All .
We need fear now is alarming our epemics
as we go down the stairs, and there is no
need of that. Come this way, Miss Ber-t
wick.”

And he led toward the door leading into
the front of the flat. .» g I
A moment later they were in the front;

.. \ . 4 -,,u as. r

i 4
‘ ~. 1 n, ‘J,’ .
I in 1‘...

 

 

3-,

y

 

. .  ‘
. ........ may...“ .4.» .0  ,1... Macaw”..-
_ t“ .s - -, mat

 

 

The RiVerside Drive Death-Mystery.

 
 

2I

 

 

 

room, the door of which had been open
when Thad came in before, but he was now
surpriSed to find it closed.

He thought nothing of that, however. as
he (lid not know but he had closed it him»
self and forgotten it, but when he attempted
to open it, he was still more astonished to
find it locked.

“ This is strange,” he muttered. “ I won-
der who could have locked that door."

“ I think I know," observed the girl.
“ \Ve had just got inside down below when
one of the men said he heard walking up
here, and somebody ventured the sugges-
tion that they were being watehed. sothe
doctor ordered one of those rough fellows to
come up and see. He came up, and when
he returned he remarked that he saw no one,
but that if there was anybody up here he
would stay. I did not understand it then,
but I know now that he must have locked
the door.”

“That is what‘he has done," rejoined the
detective, “and We have got to break the
lock."

He was about to throw his weight against
the door, when he thought of a set of tools
he carried in his pocket for such emergen-
cies, and drew them out.

With a small screw-driver he was about to
remove the lock, when without warning, the
key, which was on the outside of the lock,
was suddenly turned and the door thrust
open

There in the darkness stood the four men,
each 'with a revolver leveled at the detective.

Thad was at a decided disadvantage, for,
in addition to having no weapon in his hand,
thelight of the lantern which he had given
the girl to hold rendered him an easy target
for those in the dark.

How the men had gdt up-stairs so quickly
was a puzzle, but they must have had their
suspicions amused by hearing the footsteps
of the detective and his companion.

, At all events, here they were, and they
shtawied unmistakable indications of a desire
‘to it.

“ Veil!” cried the doctor in a hoarse
voice, “this is a pretty little game, I must
say; but we will checkmate it in short order.
Surrender, air!"

This pcnempto
his mettle, and
stroke.

Instead of complying with the demand, he
stepped quickly back, and snatchin the lan-
tern from the girl, closed the all e in the
twinkling of an eVe. Then giving her a

cutie push toward the rear of the flat as a
gint of what he desired her to do started in
that direction as rapidly as possible, closely
followed by the girl. ~

The action was so unexpected that the
men were nonplused, and our friends were
at the back w ndow before they recovered
their resence of mind.

" ow for your life!” he whispered: “If
they are fools enough to follow us, we will
have the drop on them. Get down the fire-
escapc as quickly as possible. and climb into
the other flat. If we are lively enough we
can make our escape through their door be.
fore they can get down. "

The young woman needed no further hint,
and was soon 11 m the balcony again. and a
moment later t ey were descending the lad-
dcr.

As they expected and hoped, the men,

‘ who appeared to be too full of liquor to ma
. son 'clearl , followed them into the back
room. an when they saw the fugitives on
the tire-escape. began torclimb out on it, too.

Thad and his fair companion had sufficient
start of them to- at inside the room before
any of them got own, and then Thad added
the climax to his master-stroke by closing the
window and‘locking it on the inside.

“Now if we don‘t make our escape," he
remarked, taking the girl's arm and urging
her along, "‘ it is our own fault."

“ Yes, if the haven't looked the front
door.” returned ate.’ ~

“ It is hardly likely that they would have
thought of that in their haste.”

By this time the men had come down the

, fire escape and were trying to open the win-
dow. ,.. .
“That’s one on them. anyway,” laughed

command put Thad on
e resolved upon a bold

, Burr, “and now—by Jove! you were right.

The have locked the door on us. Never-the,
 ll make short work of that lockfl.

4‘

 

 

,   t. n, ‘ of

With that he whipped out his screw-driver
and began removig,r the screws from the
lock.

Meanwhile the men at the window, who

had been making a gooddeal of noise in at-
tempting to open it, had become suspiciously
( uiet.
1 It was an ominous quiet that the detective
did not like, for it meant mischief, and he re-
doubled his efforts and increased his speed
to remove the lock and open the door as soon
as possible, as he knew that it was only a
matter of time when the villains would
abandon the window and come round to the
door.

He worked away with a will, and was
just removing the last screw, when the
sound of hurrying footsteps was heard in the
hall.

The girl clutched his arm convulsivcly,
and whispered:

“For God's sake hurry or we are lost!"

“ Don’t lose hope yet,” he replied encour-
agingly. “ One moment more and we will
be free, and—~if the worst comes to worst,
we can fight.”

“ Yes, yes," cried Kate.
tol. Let me have one!"

And without waiting for the detective to
give her the weapon, she helped herself to a
revolver from his pocket

“ Now let them come!” she cried defiantly.

A second later the men were heard de-
seending the stairs from the hall above.

At that moment the last screw was re-
anoved from the lock and the lock fell to the

001'.

With the rapidity’ of lightning Thad threw
the door open. an beckoned the girl to fol~
low as he prepared to fly, but he was too

ate.

At the very instant they were to rush out
of the door, the four men sprung in front of
them with drawn revolvers.

They did not find our friends unprepared
this time. though, and before either of them
could utter a word the sharp report of a re
volver run out on the stillness of the night.
and Paul erwick threw up his hands and
reeled to the floor.

The shot was as much a surprise to Thad
as‘it was to the men, for the pistol was in
the hand of ‘Kate, who was directly behind
him, and he had no idea that she would fire
so promptly.

It threw the other three men into a tem~
porar panic. and realizing the state the
Were n, the detective rasped the arm of ins
fair charge and was a at to hurry her past
the panicked ruflians, when one of them, (a
worthy who rejoicad in the name of “ Bare-
Bones Barry,”) suddenly recovered his pres.
ence of mind, and, stepping in front of the
retreatingpair, leveled his revolVer at Thad's
breast. and growled: .

“Not so fast, me beauties! Youse don’t
go‘jist yit, w‘ile Old Bare-Bones is a-kick-
ll] ”

“I can use apis-

A glance at the man showed him to be a
cold- looded villain, who would a little
rather kill a man than eata meal. He ap~
peared to be a man of fifty-odd, and such
portions of his face as were not covered

b a
, dirty‘ grizzled beard. bore testimony to flir-

mcr conflicts in u e form of numerous scars.
and to add still f rther to his beauty, one eye
was missiu ‘

_“Youse on’t go w’ile Old Bare-Bones is
kickin’," be repeated. ‘

Burr saw that there was but one thing to
do in the emergency, and that was put in!
execution at once. -

_Without a word of warning, he struck out

With. his clinched fist, and knocked the re--

volver out of the old rufilan’s hand, and fol-
lowed it ‘up with a sledge-hammer blow be-
tween the eyes.

Giant, as the fellow was, between his
liquor and the force of the blow, he stag-
gered back. stumbled over the prostrate
 of Ber-wick, and fell headlong to the

Taking advantage of the additional panic
of‘the two remaining men. Thad again
started to lnsten by. and succeeded so well
that they were at the head of the stairs be-
fore the doctor and the other rufflan were
aware of it. and a moment more they would
image bfien free. . ‘ r ' ‘

at ere th ‘met with another obstacle. ,
e reportqdfthe' -~. My ' ' '

 

' arousedthe

  
   
   
    
    
   
   
   
  
  
    
 
  
  
    
 
  
  
    
 
 
 
    
  
 
  
   
   
    
    
 
   
  
   
 
 
 
  
  
    
  
 
   
    
   

long since retired, and they were pouring
forth into the hall by dozens to see the fun.

They all belonged to the same class as
Bare-Bones Barry and his pal—namely,
thieves, murderers and women of the town.

They Were crowded into these tenements
like herrings in a box, for the double pur-
pose of economy and mutual protection, and
it was a code of ethics among them that one
man's quarrel was everybody’s quarrel, and
they were never so happy as when engaged
in a rmrgh-aud-tumblc fight.

When they crowded into the hall on this
occasion, and locking up, (Fried a couple of
well-dreSScd people, they knew that there
was something up in which they ought to
take a hand. '

They were a motley let, some of them only’
half-dressed, and all of them reeking with.
dirt and odorous with whisky and tobacco.

As the ringleader, a man of about Bare-A
Boncs’s own age, looked up, the latter entle-
man Was just regaining his legs after had's:
blow, and realizing that his ancient crony
was in trouble, he was ready fora fight im
an instant.

“ W'at‘s de row, Bare Bones?” demanded
the fellow on the lower landing. '

Barry’s reply was couched in a shake of
the head and a jerk of his thumb in the di-
rection of Thad and Kate, who were about
descending the stairs.

But it was enough. Bummer Burns un-
derstood it all, and growled:

“Wal, we’ll soon fix dem, see?”

And spitting on his hands, he started up
stairs, and was followed by a good part of
the rest of the crowd.

Burr saw that there was no chance of es-
cape in that direction, and turned back. But
when he glanced behind him, he saw tin-t re~
treat in the other direction was equally out
of the question.

The three men had regained their courage '
and were arrayed ready to meet the detecr
tive.’

And then, to make matters worse, old Bum»,
mer Burns called up to his pal, Bare-Bones,
again: . I

“ W'at air dey, anyway, Bare-Bones?” :
" W’y de chap’s a beak an’ de gal’s a bit 0"  ,
game w’at de beak’s tryin' ter beat us omen,
see?" ' .

“ Any sugar behind dc game?”

“ Sure. ”

Old Bummer turned and gave a‘signifi'cant .
wink at his followers and growled:

“Er beak, men; w’at's de lay?” ,

“ Kill 'im! kill ’imi” shouted the crowd in:
a chorus. “Down wid de beak! Kill dc
smeller! We. don’t want no sleuths nosin”-“.
roun’ hiar. See?" -

And pell-mell. the mob began climbing the,
stairs at the heels of their wcrthy leader.

Thad realized that he was in for it. and his
only way out was either bard fightingvor g
stmtagem. . , , 

Fortunate] the three men 'on his floor"-
were at the rout of the hall, which left the».
way clear to the stairway leading to the flat.
above, which was at the rear. , ' .. ‘

Again grasping the girl’s arm, he hurries!
her along the hall toward the rear of the ‘
house. ' -

Here the hall was in darkness, whereas
the front was somewhat lighter from the
lamp inside of the room, the door of whic ‘
was still open, and the lights brought in
the ball by the pen le below. . .

This gave him a ecided radvan .1 as '
could pick them off with his pic {ii .
chose, while their only chance offidiitiiag‘
him was by the merest guesswork. ; .  

He now took occasion to notice the girl for '
the first time since she asked him for the ra- <1
volver. and was 5r: tied to see that she was:
perfectly cool an co lected. .

, "Sha n’t I we stop here and give them-
flght?” she asked. 7

"We might ve them a few shots, and
then retreat while they areina panics: , j
replied. " But fire cautiously. Wendi-uni:
noammunition to waste". ‘ ' '

Scamer were the words out of his
when she raised her self-cocking re: re:
and fired three shots in nick succes ’
and at the last shot old umm‘er Bu
reeled back and rolled down-stairs.  ‘

What other damage she did could not 

V n [or the confusion and smoke of the pf ,
tol,.and That! did not waitto see. Nor ' ’

In any mm but-m3 .K‘

 

n..- _...._.... ............ .... .. A . _ .  .. hm... --
e‘ . g. .' . . “r ‘ .

 

     
 
  
    
  
   
   
    
   
  
   
  
   
   
 
   
  
   
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
   
  
   
 
    
   
    
  
  
    
  
    
 
  
  
  
  
  
    
   
  
  
 
 
     
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
     
   
  
 
  
     
    
  
  

 

they bounded up the stairs in half a dozen
strides.

“Now for the flat," said he. “Once in
there and the door locked, we are safe for
the resent. They cannot get in without
brea ing the door down, and that will not
be healthy work for them.”

A moment later the were in the vacant
flat, and the door locke .

..

 

CHAPTER XVII.
A cnnvnn sunrnaruon.

IT took but a few seconds for the mob to
recover from their panic. The redoubtable
Bummer Burns was only stunned and slight-
ly wounded, and after rolling down-stairs,

. soon pulled himself together and was as fresh
and ready for battle as ever, and the slight

' disturbance only increased their wrath and

I . 0' thirst for blood.

' In half the time it takes to tell it the whole

a gang was reorganized and, with a wild yell
be an mounting the stairs to the fourth story
wi h the ferocit of wild beasts.

Burr heard t rem coming and knew that
their safety, as before, depended upon sharp
practice.

“It will not take those fellows long to
batter down this door,” he remarked to the
girl, “ and we have got to devise some other
means of escape.” j

“ What shall we do?” she asked, still cool

V r and rational. “ We can’t get down past that
 crowd now.”
. 7 “Certainly not. while the mob are on the
. stairs, but they will not remain there long.
‘They are coming up here as fast as they
.know how, and it will not be long till they
will all be on this floor. In the mean time we
. have at to be at work.”
' "‘ ell i”
“ We will go down to the next flat while
" they are comin up here, and make our
- escape as we tri to do before. This. time,
, fortunately, there will be no lock on the
", _'door to hinder our progress, but there is
" another thing we have got to guard against.”
“ What is that?"
,7 1‘ They must not be able to recognize as,
fif they should happen to’see us going out."
“ I don’t understand you."
“ Did you ever see anybody in disguise i”
“ Yes, but how are we to do such a thing

‘0‘

here .
i , - ‘.‘ We will go down-stairs. You will doubt-
less .ilnd some clothing belonging to some of'
‘jthe‘ radians.” .

 ,1 “ It may be an embarrassing thing for you
‘to, do, but you must array yourself in a suit

(of those clothes, put on an old slouch bat,

. .and then we are ready for action."

 ' ‘1‘“Amd you?”

' l" 1‘ Never mind me. The matter of chang-

ihgmyself from one man to another .is the
3111329103 thing in the world.” .
 ,  this time the mob was at the door, and
' '{ nrryl”, cried the detective. “There is
 a moment to lose.”
inflow.
As she descended the fire-escape ladder,
her thought occurred to Thad. '
m“ , d comin down the same way.
., Belinda? sad a heavy box lathe tint

tingle force an entrance.
And he pushed the girl toward the
3 would prevent the: possibility oi the

t he could. tumble it down the ladder after
in: mud then started to make the descent of

‘ 81'. ’ u 2 i
'f Then he pulled the box down after him so
that,  fcr;mpletely filled the passe, go, and
. ’e t t. I. .
Jamey will have good tithe oi‘ etting
thatoirtflihe laugh , as he rejoined to on

lavishlqu- ‘ . . 0
It was necessary to again resort to the
hitch: order-rte open the window, but that
 thework of no more than a minute,
“and the window was raised and they

inside. .v . .
mg; for the old clothes,".observed the
, tive, "and you cannot be sooquick
. flaunt."  I
g‘ ‘ It won’t take meiosg, if I can, find
“rejoined  girl, as she began look-
0 ts.

  
 
  
  

 
 

5’
g
G
o

The River's1

thurrv, Mose." shouted the radian. “ Couldn’t

not break the silence tillfthey Were-well out

Thad hailed a

    

de
f and as quickly removed her dress and donned

l the male attire
‘ Mennwhlie Thad was

 

ot idle.

turned it wrong-side out. ;

It was made double for just such an ‘
emergency, and from the black his garments
were suddenly changed to a light drab.

The next thing was to alter the appear-
ance of his facv, and this was but a simple
matter. The black wig and pointed beard
were removed, and their place supplied by ,
a tangled red wig and an equally tangled '
and disreputablelooking beard that covered
half his bosom.

Asloueh hat which he found in one of
the closets supplied the place of the neat
derby he had worn before, and all was ready i
except his boots and the upper part of his l
face. \ ’

A dash of water from the hydrant rc- i
moved the gloss from his boots, and render- 
ed them extremely shabby-looking, and by ‘
runnngr his hands over tliem transferring]
the grime to his face, gave him the appear-
ance of a very tough customer, such as the 3
mob on the stairs might have been proud of.

He then turned his attention to the girl.

She was attired properly enough, but her ;
face would not do. l

“ I will have to help you in the matter of l
your face, Miss Berwick,” he said.

With a Crayon he always carried about
him he put in a number of wrinkles on her ‘
face, and then with a handful of flour .
which be procured in the kitchen, he rcnder- ,
ed her hair extremely gray and Venerable 1
looking“ l

l
i

*Hurrying to the front door, he was T
g;atifled to find it still open, and he listen-
0( . ~

The mob was still upstairs, and from .
the walking overhead, it was evident that:
they had succeeded in breaking the door .
open and were just making their way toward v
the back window. ‘ l

The detective looked out, and saw that.
none of them were on the same iloor with 1
him, and the coast was clear. ll
. “ Now is our time,” he exclaimed. “ We .
have completely outwitted them thistime. '
Come." - '

The two hurried into the hall and were
soon hastening down the stairs.

But they had not gone far when they
noticed by the dim light'that two figures
stood at the bottom of the first stairway,
and seemed to be standing guard! . .

This was something that our friends had
not calculated. on, and they were a little
nonplused. '

Kate grasped the detective’s arm nervous-
ly and whispered: '

“ We are gone now!"

“ Don’t despair yet, 111 girl,” replied Thad.
“ The won’t know us rom Adam.”

An they walked boldly down the stairs.

As soon asthcéy mme opposite the sentinel,
one of them sai :

“ W’at’s‘de matter, Mose? Got do beak
an’ do gal?"

in excellent Hebrew dialect, taking the hint

from the name yplied tobim by the guard.
“Dey've got em up dere, and viii pring

dem town ve soon." ‘ .

“How is ityonse didn’t stay ter see de fun

out, Mose?” '

“Oh, I got peesn ' outsite," returned

Thad, hurrying past 11 s questioner lest he

should be recognized. ’

, "It seems ter me .1 youse is in an awful

stop long enough ter tell er teller about it,
could or?" . ‘ , ' ,
But urr did not stop to answer him. He
was by this time at the street door, and he
lost no time in getting out of the den. i .
He and his com ion hurried along in
silence for some stance, and, indeed. did

of reach of the. enemy. - .

When they had made a couple of blocks

passing cab.

The driver loo ed at the, uncouth looking

paiiigegith a~ _ deal pi disdain, and in-
“ o 4 l

“ Where d'ye want» to go, Sheeney ?"

'r' T’ree slatygilfe T’irteenth street.” replied
the detectiye, still

' “‘ ll ri ht. Got

    
      

 

     

 

the money i"

  

 

   

 found agrough suit of 

 

 

keeping up the character.
es-  ' '

  
 
 

  

“Yes, mine frient,” rejoined the detective ,

 

" Well, let’s have it,” growled the driver

2 “ I don’t drive the like of you without money
1 in advance."
In a twinkling he pul ed off his coat and

“0h, mine cracious!” ericd 'l‘had, raising
his hands in true sheeney style. “Ilow
mooch vas it?”

“ Five dollars for you.”

“Merciful Meshes! .Do you vant to rep

rt)

me!

“lVal, that’s me price," growled the
driver. “Pay it, or get out, just as you
like!" '

“ Vol], I sphose I’ll have to, but it’s an
awful brice."

And Burr handed him a five-dollar bill.

“‘Git in," cried the driver, and whipped
up his team.

“Now I'll give that driver a surprise,"
laughed the detective as the hack rolled
along. ..

“ [low is that?” asked Kate.

“ You’ll see ”

And he proceeded to remove his disguise,
and in a few minutes he had resumed his
natural personality.

It was light enough by this time forthc

 girl to see his face, and she was as much sur-
, prised as'ihe driver could possibly be.

She stared in dismay at the detective’s
beardless face, and finally stammered:

“ Why—why, Mr. Baker! You are not
the same man that I saw yesterday at all!”

“ Oh, yes, I guess I am,” he laughed. “ I
have a way of changing my appearance,
though, when it suits me, as you remarked
tonight.”

“ But you had a full beard then.”

“ True enough, and Iliave it yet, but it is
in my pocket at present, for future use."

She was silent for some moments, and ap-
peared to be disturbed.

At length she looked up with an arch
smile and observed. '

“ You haven’t told me anything about
yourself, but I have been wondering why
you took so much interest in me. Tell me,
aren’t you a dcteeiiVe?”

Thad laughed. ’

“ Why do you ask?” he inquired.

“ Partly for the reason that I have stated,

a and partly on account of something those
(1

people sa there to—night. When we were
about to go down-stairs, the old fellow be.-
low asked who we were, and the other old
fellow said you were a ‘ beak.’ Now, what
did they mean by that?"

“ That I was a detective, I presume. ”

“ Then I
you ‘2" , -

“Well, suppose I am, then what?“ he
laughed.

“ Nothing, only if you are, I can guess
why on have been following me.”

“ ell, why?"

“Because you think I had something to
do with that murder."

This was a surprise. Indeed, Burr could
not have been much more surprised if she
had confessed outright.

“Wh should I think you had anything
to do With that?” he finally asked. .

“ I don't know, unless it was on account
of those letters from Mr. Stern. But all
though they may look snspicious,.I had noth~
in to do with it.”.,

Ilere he! thou ht- he w0uld catch her, in
the event of her‘ eing guilty, as he began to
half believe she was.

"You had nothing to do with what?” he I

demanded. ‘
“ The murder.” - ,
" What murder have you reference to?"
"Mrs. Stern’s,". she re lied, and he imag-
ined she was getting con used.
“ Oh. I was not aware that it had been

settled definitely that it was murder in her .' ‘

arse. How do on know it was murder?"
« Here she in ulged in oneof her flippant
little laughs. , ' r
“Why. of course I don’t really know it
was murder,” she replied at length. “ But
the gs rs spoke o ,it as that, and then I
hear fir. Stern talking about it. By the
way, aren’t-you the Mr. Burr he told me so
much about?"
Here was another and a greater surprise.

It also proved that Leonard's story about .
not seeing the girl for six months to beam,‘ i .

tr e. 1 ,
nstead ' of answering her question, there:
fore, he said: '

 

was right. you are one, aren't I

. ‘_‘ In the course of our talk other day?! I ‘

 

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‘Miss Berwiek, I asked you if you knew
Leonard Stern, and your answer was that
you used to know him, leaving me to be-
lieve that your acquaintance had ceased. I
then asked you if you had seen him lately,
and you said ‘No, not for a long time.’ s
not that what you said?" i

“1 may have said that,” she faltercd,
growing very red.

' “ it wasn’t true, then?”

“ Perhaps—I would rather not say,” she
stammered. .

“ But you tell me now that Leonard told
you about one Detective Burr. Now, as a
matter of fact, he has not known Detective
llurr more than a week at the outside. So,
if he told you about that person, he must
have done so within the time I mention.”

The girl was silent, and after a short pause
Thad pursued: '

“Another thing. One of those letters is
dated October 17th, tWo days after the mur-
der occurred. I showed the letter to Leon-
ard, after he had told me that he had not
seen you for more than six months, and he
declared the letter was written more than a
half a year ago, and not to you at all. but
to Katherine Sherwood. How do yousex-
plain that?"

“ Simply that he didn’t tell the truth,” she
cried, pettishly. 4

“You insist, then, that the letter was
written to you, do you?"

“ Yes, sir. If it had not been, what would
I be doing with it?"

“That is what I should like to know.
But if it was written to you, it was written
at the time indicated bythe date, wasn’t
it?" ‘

“I presume so, sir. Gentlemen usually
date their letters at the time they write them,
don‘t they?"

“ Usually. But that is not answering my
question. Was the letter written at the time
the date indicates, that is, October 17th?"

“About that time, I guess. I can only
tell by the date on the letter. My memory

, for dates is not good."

“ Then what you told me about it havin
been along time since you had seen 'Leona
was not true ‘2” -

” Yes, it was true,” she sna pod. “ I am
riot in the habit of lying, I he love, sir. He’
could have Written to me without seeing me,
couldn’t he i” '

“ 0h, certainly. But from the tone of the‘
letter one would infer that it had not been
long since you had seen him. Another
thing, he advises you to keep‘ out of sight
fer the present. What does he mean by
that?" I

“ He didn't want these men to get hold of

“ Why should they want to get hold of

on?"
' ~“ I do not'lrnow." ~ -

“ What does Leonard mean when he says
that ‘our plot is working like a, charm?’ "

“Idon’t know what he meant by that.
Some nonsense, I suppose. He was always
talking’nonsense."

" Had you any falling out with him at
any time t”

“ Yes, we had a quarrel once."

“But made it up, eh?"

“ Yes.”

” Why was it you would not receive him
at the boarding-house?"

At that moment the driver pulled up at
the number Thad had given him, and the
two passengers got out. i
When the driver saw Thad be nearly fell
oi! the box.

CHAPTER xvm.
A SLIPPERY CUSTOMER.

THE cab-driver stared at the detective in
blank amazement for a minute or two, un-

r

- able tos ak. 

Thad Il’rtiughed at the fellow's consterna.

' tion.

“ I don’t look much like thb Sheeney who

, got in the cab in First avenue awhile ago. do

c'abby 7" he laughed,
charged three fares?"
The driver turned white.
The face of the great detective Was familiar

‘ ‘ and whom you

to him, but he was not » uite certain that it.

was be until he spoke, t on he saw that he
had made a bad blunder. ‘
’1" 9h  Burr, I didn't know it was you,”

.gr

 

 

the fellow stammered, half frightened out of
his wits.

“ Otherwise you wouldn’t have over
charged me, eh?"

“ No, sir. The fact is, I thought-J

“ That you had a defenseless old Jew with
money and you would squeeze him, ch?” in-
terrupted Thad.

“ Net that exactly,” whined the driver,
“but on know there are so many crooks
down In that neighborhood. and‘wc drivers
think it only right that we should get all we
can out of them. llere’s your money, sir,"
he went on. returning the five-dollar hill.
“I won’t charge you anything for that
drive.”

' Of course he expected the detective to
hand him back, if not all. at least a portion
of it. but in this he was disappointed. Thad
concluded to take him at his word, by way
of punishment. ‘

“Very well ” he said, putting the bill into
his pocket. “I am not in the habit of allow-
ing myself to be driven for nothing, but un
der the circumstances I shall accept this, as
it may serve to teach you a lesson. The
next time you overcharge a man, find out
first who our man is."

The fel ow made no response, and tipping
his hat, drove off.

Meanwhile Kate had made her way to the
house, and was having some difficulty to
convince Mrs. Shelby that she was not a
tramp instead of the young woman who had
been carried off a few days before.

As soon as the detective made his appear-
ance, however, everything was explained,
and the two were admitted.

They were both nearly furnished, as well
as worn out for want of sleep. and the ter-
rible ordeal through which they had passed,
but the old woman soon had them a good
breakfast ready, which they i‘sat d)wn to
with a good deal of relish.

After thclgirl had resumed her feminine
apparel, and they had related the account of
,their strange adventures to the old woman,
plans for the future were discussed.

“1 do not know that on will be safe
here," observed Thad. ” hose fellows hav-
ing found you here once, will be most likely
to come here again for you.” '

“ Leave that to me,” interposed Mrs. Shel-
by. “They will never get into this house
again as long as I am a le to use a pistol,
and I think I can use one pretty well yet."

"‘ Do you think you. will feel satisfied to
remain here?” he asked of the girl.

“ Oh, yes," she replied. “There is no
place where I would feel as secure as here.
And when it comes to usin a pistol, I guess
I can do something in that dine myself. ” ,

“ Yes, as this night's adventure proved,”
supplemented Thad. '

“ We did do some pretty good work, didn’t
we?" she laughed. , , “ ‘ .

“ First class. ‘ I‘co‘uld have done no better
myself. So be it, then, you remain here for
the present, and I will go. But before go-
ing, I wish to have a word with you in pri-
vate, Miss Berwick."

Wit out a word, she arena and led the way
into t e next room. which was the one from.
which Thad had seen the man carrying her
on that night of the abduction. '

' She looked a little alarmed when hcelosed
the door and locked it, but was soon reassur—
ed by the kindly smile he gave herss he took
his seat. ‘

“ See here. Mr. Burr." she commenced,
“forI know now that that is your name,
and that yellow 8. detective—won’t v on tell
me whether you suspect me of camp icity, in
the murder or not? \For I believe _ on do,
and are going to ask me awhoie lot‘o horrid
questions about it.” . I

“ Why‘should I suspect you?" heasked by
way of reply. ‘ ' '

“I don
do", . : ,
“I would be“ less likely to if you did not
continue to accuse yourself, Miss Borwick,”
hercjolned coldly. (

"I don’t accuse myself, Mr. Burr. I have.
told you that I had nothin. to do with it."

- “So you have. but thatgignifles notbin .
y'htyrdo you continue to allude to the mg
30 ' . .  ,
_ “Beesuseyou set as if’you suspected me

n

t know, but it seems to me you '

 

of sometgisng, and I do not know  else

itcould
“1‘?”  

acquit you entirely if you will tell me all
you know about the affair."

“ I do not know anything about it, except
what—"

She paused, and the detective helped her
out. ‘

“ Except what Leonard told you, eh?"

“Yes, and what I read in the papers "

“But you told me a little while ago that
you had not seen Leonard for a long time.

low could he have told you abont'it, if you
had not seen him?”

“ Well. he has written me about it. "

“ IIaVe you those letters?”

“ No. sir, I destroyed them,” she returned,
blushing, and grow in;r a little confused. '

“ Why did you destroy them ‘2"

“ i did net \\ ant any one to see them, for
fear they would think I had something to do
with the murder.”

“The letters were of a compromising na-
ture, then?" ‘

“I do not understand 'ou.”

“ They showed a familiarity with the sub-
ject of the murder on the art of the writer,
and contained matter winch might have led
the reader to suspect that you also possessed
a guilty knowledge, did they?” ,

"I don‘t know that they did, although
something might have been made out of
them.”

" Can you recall the contents or the pur-
port of the contents of any of the letters?”

“ I don‘t believe I can.” r V

“ Try." .

%he reflected for some time, and finally
sat 1

“ It is useless. I have such a poor man
cry. I can't recall a single sentence.” '

“ But you must remember the substance
of some of them.” '

“'No, I cannot even do that. " ‘

“ Well, did you infer from the tone of the
letters that Leonard had anything todo with
the murder?” ' :

“ No, I do not think so."

“ Did it appear that he knew who did it?

"I thought he hinted that he did." i .

“ How did he express himself? Did he ‘
appear to be nor? that the young woman 
was dead, or did cappear to be glad or re- ‘ ‘
lievcd that it was over?” .

” He alwa '3 said that it was too bad, but 3
I did not in er that he was very much ‘grief-
stricken over the hflair.” . _

“ You remember my speaking to you
about a letter which was dated the 17th,”
we came along?" -

H y'es. n ‘

"You remember I told you that Leonard
denied having intended that letter for you,
and claimed that the date had been char: ’7’ :

 remember you Speaking aha t 

c ~  '~

  
  
     
    
  
    
   
   
   
   
   
  
  
  
 
   
  
   
   
 
   
  
   
  
  
  
   
   
     
   
   
   
 
 

 

 

n
‘5
i

our memory, . 

"iNow, charge y
rece ve ithot letter—on whet

When did you
date?"
. “ I don‘t remember.” '  ;~
“ Was it on the day it was written, or the
next day i"  '
" I cannot remember.” - , 7 '
“Well, Was it in the morning or in 
evening?" ’ i,
“I don’t even recall that. " , , .
“Now listen. , he letter was directed
this number, and he old lad saysrrboiit
no knowledge of your reee ving n ' '
while you stopped here, therefore you: ’ ' ~
have met the postman at the  an
the letter without her knowledge? i ' ' ( '
“ Possibly I did." ,  , ' ,
“ Well, would not that  , a
suflicient to inrprcss the date. all! 
time of day at which you receiveditt‘f ,,

“Itmightifw-‘F  ,  <  ~ .

“ Your memory was not so bad, chitin:
tempted the detective. "Did you 
any other letterslin‘thiot way?” »  ”

“ Yes;'l henna I‘dld." . .  ,

‘r‘Then you did not want the oldia‘d 
:rnrow rm you were receiving letters. F 
“No, I would rather she would 
is such a gossi ‘, she wouldsskmon
sand Questions a ut them, if she had 
I was getting letters.” _, .. _ l , V

“ That is reasonable enough, but 
another thing I-would like you to expiar

“What isthst?” '  ~*  ‘

f‘The murder of Katherine Stern ,
err-the 15th. and'Loonsr-d Stern lean

to have  to  9n,  . I
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The Riverside  heath-Mystery.» A I ‘ I V ..

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of the 16th

“ Yes, sir.”

“On the evening of the 16th his father

telegraphed him the neWs of the murder and

requested him to come home._ Remember,

this was the evening of the 16th. He tele-

graphed back immediately——showing that he

had reached Chicago—that he. would come

, on immediately. He appears to have done

so, for he reached home on the next after-

noon—late. This was the 17th, the date on

which that letter is supposed to have been

written. It is not im possible that he may have

written you that very night, and if he did,

you, would have received it the following

morning. Now how Ion had you been here

before you received that otter?”

“ Two or three days; I don’t remember ex-

sctly."

“And you can't remember whether it was in

the morning or in the afternoon ‘2"

“I think it must have been in the morn-

ing. )’

“ You are not sure?”

“ Yes, come to think of it, I am pretty

sure it was in the morning."

“And you are quite sure that you did not

see Leonard during this time?”

” Yes, I am sure of that.”

“ Did you receive a package from him any

time after the murder?”

“ No—nothing except letters."

“ He sent you the locket in a letter, then,

did he ‘2” r

V This was a home thrust.

The girl rew pale and red by turns, and

Was so con used that she was unable to re-

, ly, and kept her eyes on the floor. while her
, ps twitcheduervously.

“ You must have received the locket some
time durin that period," pursued the detec-
tive. relent essly. “ How did you get it?"

She male a desperate effort to make some
 sort of reply, but failed. Her lips continued
: . to twitch painfully and her bosom to heave,
' sag finally she broke down and began‘ to

Do you follow me?”

“ Don’t ask me that.” she pleaded piteous-
“Please don’t. I cannot tell you—I
must not!”

“Where isthe locket at prese‘nt?” He
1 d mercilessly.

" I do not know, sir."
“ Bnt you romised to get it for me, if I
‘ Would wait t ll to-day."
.' “Yes, I know, and I will. You should
have had it by this time if they hadn't car-
ried me 03. You shall have it this after-

noon.”
“Very well. I will give you till then,
' but dont disappoint me, or I won't be re-
 ponsible for my sctlo .”
. " You shall have it then, without fail."
; ,4 "At an rate, there is no reason why you
cannot tel me now where and how you came
in possession of the locket."
_ ’ "No. no, I cannot!“ she sobbed. "Don't
ask me now, please.” ,
 :‘ Will you tell me when I come again?”
‘f'I‘he‘re must be no maybe about it,” he
,xetort'ed sternly. “ I must know, or I shall
five to take measures to make you tell.

' must do my duty."

f‘Then you believe I had something to do
lth‘the murder?" sli'c cried, sobbing afresh.
 You will drive me to believe it pretty
 soon,“ you continue to allude to the sub-
A  and refuse to tell me what I want to

owl}, ' I

 Ei‘But, sir, I am innocent," ' she cried,
’ Weeping piteously. . “Indeed, I am. I had
motive for killing the woman, and
didn’t have done it if; I had. 'It seems
 wants to rsccutc me! I haven't
{friend n theywor d. and now ybu,, who
thought enough of me to rescue me from
those radians, have nothin for me but
torture. I wish to God that were dead 1”
.“It is the last thing that I would think of
age—torturin an innocent and defenseless
rhruy poor mil ,", said the kind-hearted
t tive, inn soothing voice. “You have
 tter friend than I am. But I have a
, ‘to perform». ' Godknows that I would
lather believe yOu innocent. and will do
everything in mv power to prove you so.
mgyou, must help meJ’ '

g

 

d. to and be con sued:

If he did, he reached there on the afternoon .

is would be _.very pilnful to me, but I '

for a reply. .but she made M395

“ You blame me. for believing you guilty.
lAsa matter of fact, I do not belieVe you
guilty, but you have continued to refer to
the subject of the murder in such a manner
as to lead me to believe. in spite of myself,

affair."
I “I do not, sir,"she interrupted, hysterical

“ Another thing," he pursued, disregard-
ing her remark, “ you persistently refuse to
tell me about yourself. I am anxious to
know who you are and where you belong.
lfyou have any friends, tell me who they
are and where they are, and I will soon settle
the question of your innocence or guilt.
These letters are all addressed to Katherine
Sherwood. IIow came you to adopt that
name?‘

“I have no friends-no home!" she wail-
cd. " Everybody hates me and wants to
persecute me.”

“But you can at least tell me who you
are ?"

“ I have already told you that.”

“You have told me that your name is
Katherine Berwick, but you told the old
lady here that your name was Stern. You
also told her that you had been married to a
man by the name of Stem. What am I to
think ‘2” ‘

She only sobbed and made no response.

“ Another circumstance that makes it
bad for you is your strong resemblance to the
murdered woman, and the fact that. she had
a cousin who was in the habit of persecuting
her. For aught I know to the contrary,
you are the cousin.”

“ No, no, I am not 1” she cried firmly,
raising her eyes to his for the first time since
she began to weep. “I am not she, and I
can rove it, sir.”

“ ery well, I shall be happy to, have on,
do so, and to tell me who you really are."

“I will.”

“ Well?"

.“ When you come this afternoon." '

l“ Very well," he said, rising. “I will
give you till then. Good-by.”

hen he got out into the other room he
took the old woman to one side and said:

” Keep an eye on that girl, and do not let
her leave here!”

CHAPTER XIX.
DISAPPEARRD.

Bonn went home, and after a little rest,
made his toilet and called upon Leonard
Stern again. ‘

While his visit was ostensibly to call upon
him, it was partly for the purpose of hav-
ing his sister accdmpany him to identify
Miss Bcrwick, whom be suspected of being
the late Kate Stern's cousin.

However, while he was here, he concluded
to be in his visit with a talk with Leonard.

“ ell. what pmgress?" he asked, as soon
as the detective entered the room.

"Not much progress,” was the rep] ,
“but a good deal of adventure. y t 0
way, I have seen and had another tal with
that r13: ' ' ,_

“Yes. And she still persists in sayinr
that she knows you, that she has receiv
letters from you within the past week, and
that you have intimated to her in some of
your letters that you knew a and deal about
the murder of your stepmot er.”

Leonard’s eyes flashedangrily as he re-
torted:

“ She is an infamous liar, then, whoever
she is!” -

Thad laughed. .

“ That is substantially what she says of
you. ,Mr. Stern," he observed. “ She
alleges most firmly that the date of the letter
I showed you has ,not been changed, and
that it was written at the time the date in-
dicates it was. ”

4‘ Well, this heats all the mysteries I ever
heard oft" he exclaimed. “I pledge my
word ass entlcman thatI never saw the
girl to my nowledge in my life, and cer-
tainly never had any correspondence with
her. Does she claim that she has seen me
late] 7"  .

; " 0, she says that she has not seen you
for a long timea-she does “not say how long

 

received, th formation she

that you possess some knowledge of the

What astonisbes me, is the fact of her in-
timate knowledge of matters that would

seem inaccessible to any except members.

of your own family, and her possession of
the locket, which is known to have been
in possession of your step-mother when she
left home.”

“ Does she claim that I gave her that?”

1 “No, she won’t say where she obtained
t lat."

“ Why did you not take it from her?”

“ She claimed that she did not have it,
but promises to give it to me, as well as tell
me where she obtained it, when I call this
afternoon."

“Did she show you any of the letters
alleged to haVe been written by me in which
I intimate that I knowa good deal about
Kate's murder?" I ‘

“No, she claims to have destroyed them.”

“ Ah, I expected as much! if she had re—
ceived them she would have kept them, you
may be guru”

“ Iler excuse for destroying them is that
there were things in them that might be in—
terpretcd'lo mean that she possessed a guilty
knowledge of the murder. She also led me
to flifer that you and she had been or: ex-
tremely affectionate terms at one time. She
says that you once quurreled, but afterward
made it up.”

“You astonish me more and more, sir!"
the young man exclaimed with an expres-
sion of consternation. “I should like to know
who the woman is. What did she say her
name is?” '

“ Katherine Berwiek.”

“ The same name as the young man whom
you saw here the other night. I wonder if
she is any relation to him.” 1

“ She claims not. However, that is prob-
ably not her right name, for she told the bid
woman where she is stopping that she had
been married to a man by the name of Stern,
and all the letters in her possession are di-
rected to Katherine Sherwood.”

“ So far as they are concerned,” interposed
the young man, “ they are all Kate’s letters.
I know no one you showed me was. And
when the truth is known, I guess you will
find that she has stolen these letters, and
‘probablv the locket also, from Kate’s cabi-
net.”

“ For what purpose, do you imagine?"

“I have no idea, but shedoubtless has
some scheme on foot” Possibl the two men
-Berwick and Hulsted—cou (i tell some-
thin about it, if they were so inclined.”

“_ was inclined to think the same thing
attirst, but that theory is knocked in the
heag by a circumstance that happened last
ni t.’

5‘ What was that?”

“She was stopping at a place in Four-
teeth street, near Third avenue, whither
these same men had carried her after ab-
ducting her from the house in which I first.
found her, and when these men called upon
her, she refused to see them.”

“ All for a blind, maybe.” , .r. .

“ That is what I thought at first, but lis-
ten. Later in the evening—about midnight,
in fact—they again carried her off—"

“ By. force, of course?">sneered the young
man. ~ .

“ As to that, I cannot say, but at any rate,
they took her away from t rerc, and took her
to a flat amon a lot of ruilians, in Avenue

A. I followe. , not knowing exactly where '

I was going, and by the merest chanc’e hap-
pened to pass the carriage in which she was
sittin while her captors were in the flat, and
she t
her. ”

I’Icretho young man broke forth in a hearty
laugh.

“She wrote the note while you waited, I ‘

suppose?” he sneered.‘ .

, “ No, she appeared tdhave had it already
written, for she would not have had time to
write it while I was standing there, which
was not to exceed half a minute.”

“Does not that show you that the whole
thing was a sham to throw you off your

nard?” '
“ I did think so at the. time. But wait till

I tell you what happened next.” , .

Thad then went onto relate the account of

the exciting incidents which took place after. -
he {got inside the tenement-house, and result- .
td

n the ultimate rescue of the girl.

 

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said the young man at the conclusion, in a
skeptical tone.

" Yes, I know it was my pistol,” retorted
Thad sharply.

“ Because,” pursued the other, “I did not
know but she might have fired blank cart—
ridges.”

“No, sir, there was no sham about it.
The men whom she shot were really wound-
ed."

“ Did you see any blood?"

“N—no, I cannot say that Idid, but it
was not it time for pla ing at shooting, be-
sides, my pistols were oaded with balls. and
'whoever stood in front of them when they
were fired, got hurt, you may depend upon
it."

“However, when you came out of the flat
the second time, as you say you did, and
came over the same ground, you did not see

.anyldead bodies lrying round, did you?"

tad was a tri * put out.

He was partly angered by the young man's
ilippancy, and astonished that he should
have thought of a matter which he had com-
pletely overlooked in his excltement.

Now that he thought of it. there was no
dead body in the hall when he. emerged the
second time from the flat, and he could not
remember of noticing any blond.

lie was more than half anr'ry with himself
that he should have allowed-330 important a
thing to escape him, and more than angry
with the astute young man for calling his at-
tention to it now when it was all over, and
he was compelled to resort to something he
had never done before, a subterfuge, to cover
up his own dereliction.

"It does not follow,” he said, ” that be-
cause the girl shot him, she killed him or

even mortally wounded him, and his friends

had ample time in which to remove him
while we were up-stairs. As for blood, it
was too dark in the hall to have seen it if
“there had been ever so much, and in our
haste to get out of the place we had no time
to think of such a thin anyway.”

Leonard affected to elieve that the skiro
miin had been a sincere atfair,but Thad could
not fail to see that he did not, and he finally
left him with a sense of defeat and a feeling
-of resentment such as he had neVer enter-
tained for the man before, [and he registered
1; mental resolution that if there was the
least show of tracing the murder to him he
wtpuld do it, if it took the remainder of his
li c.

He took his leave politely, however, and
Leonard was extremely polite throughout.

lie then asked for Josephine, and found

that she was expecting him, and ready to go

with him.

A carriage was called, and, as they rode
.alon Burr asked:

“ ow long has it been since you saw this
,youn woman, Miss Stern?” .

“ h, it has been six months, I guess," she
replied. “ It was just before papa and
Kate were marrie .”

“ There will be no question about your re-
cognizing her, I presume, though?”

“ None, unless she has greatly changed."

“ Did she resemble your‘ late step-mo-
ther?” ’

“ Very much.” .

“Then, I have no doubt that this is the
woman, although she denies any relationship
with MrsLStern."

“ What name does this woman go by?"

“ Katherine Berwick.”

“What!” ejaculated Josephine in aston-
ishment. ' , ‘

” That is the name she gavc‘me, although
she told the old lady with whom she is stop-
ping that her name was Stern. At least she
.said that she had been married to a man
named Stern." . -

" Just like her impudencel Well. I guess
there is no doubt about it being Kate Ber-

, y wick. Everything corresponds so well, even
to her impudence."

“ Was this young woman given to fabri-
cating?" ‘ I

“ Gracious! Ishould think she was! You
'couldn’t believe a word she told you!"

“ Another point‘of resemblance,” laughed

-' . » the detective. “ Now. there is another ques-
.’_;tion I would like to ask you, Miss Stern?"

“ What is that?" .
_ a“ You remember the day we looked
titre 311 the drawer in the secret cabinet We

‘ /

 

,Shelby’s house in

 



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” I know this, for your brother and I went
to it and found it open two days afterward.
Now. do you suppose there is anybod about
the houSe who would have been 1 kely to

g have gone in there and taken anything out of
' the drawer?"

" I do not believe so. Why?"

“ The reason I ask, is because this young
woman was in possession of a lot of letters
which I have reason to believe Once belong-
ed to “ Miss Sherwood. Indeed, they are all
directed to her, but at the house in Thir-
teenth street'where we are going.”

“ Then she has stolen them, but how she
managed to do it, is more than I can tell.”

“ Might not she have bribed some of the
servants to steal the letters out for her?”

“ That is very likely. Servants are rare]
above accepting bribes. But brother tel 8
me that she has the locket papa gave Kate
'on her last birthday. I wonder how she got
that?”

" That is another thing I want to speak to
you about. The letters might have been
stolen any time since the drawer was open-

ed, but, as I understand it, the locket was on

your step~mother‘s neck at the time she left
home, and must have been stolen from her
person.”

“ That is true."

“ You are sure that she had the locket on
when she went away, are you, Miss Stern?"

“Oh, yes, for I remember asking her if
she was going to wear it, and she said she
was. I asked her if she wasn‘t afraid of
having some bad luck, and she only laughed,
and said she was lookin for just such bad
luck as that thing woul bring her.”

“ She did not believe in its fatal propensi-
ties, then?” '

“ Certainly not.‘ Neither did I. It was a
foolish superstition held by some of the
family, but the younger portion only laugh-
ed at the notion. ”

By this time the carriage had arrived at
the number and ulled up in front of Mrs.
hirteenth street.

It was late in the afternoon and nobody
was in sightLWhich gave Jose hine the im-
pression that the lace was eserted, but
when Burr knock a moment later the door
was opened b 7 Mrs. Shelby herself.

The detective could see at a glance that
something had gone wrong. and it was with
an ominous wag of the head that the old
woman led the way into the little sitting—
room and closed the- door after her.

And that was the reason that Thad hast-
ened to ask:

“What news, Mrs. Shelby?”1 _

“ Bad enough, Mr. Burr," she replied

with a doleful shake of the head. “ The
,gal‘s gone.”
"Gone?" he exclaimed in horror. “ How

did that happen?"

'f Bless my soul! I’ll never tell you. She
remained in the room after you went fora
long time-«till I got lunch ready, in fact,
and t en I went to tell her to come in, and I
fouu her sitting there crying as if her heart
would break. I felt sorry for the poor

'critter, and tried to soothe her, but she

persisted in myiu g that nobody cared for her,
that she hadn‘t a friend in the werld and
everybody, wanted to persecute her, and she
wished she was dead. FinallyI got her to
come out, though, and drink a cup of tea
although she wouldn‘t eat anything, a

after. while she sort of cheered upalittle,.

and when she went back to her room I

heard her singing. SO. I thinks she is all right

now. A little whileafter I had to go to the
corner to order‘somc groceries andtoid'her
that. I was going out, and that if anybody
knocked'at the door not to answer. Because
I didn’t know but those ‘men might come
back, youknow. Well, Ithought ever thing
would be all right till I-came back, an went
out. '

and whentl get back the houSe was 'so still
like that I thought there might be somethin
wrong, so I went to her, room, when lo an
behold! therewas nobody there! I thought
she might have gone tip-stairs for something,
and went up there, but she was nowhere to
be found. At length ’I name downs sin
this note‘on her. tablag'.”
 She hand awed.

    
  
 
   

and went into her'rootn,»and then’l unload r V _
.  1. . :.. C  when

 

‘.'I wasn’t gone more than half an hour, .

Upon opening it be found that it con-
tained only a few words, written in pencil,
and were as follows;

“MY DEAR Mas. SHELBY:—

" When you come back you will find me 
gone. I hated-to leave you, for you have ’ 7.:
been very kind to me, but I could not stay. N"
That detective will be here this afternoon.
and I cannot, will not see him again. Tell
him for me that he need not look for me, as
I am 52% where no mortal will ever find
me. G -by You will never see me

    
  
  
  
   
   
   
   
  
 
    
   
 
   
  
   
  
   
   
   
  
  
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
 
  
 
      
  
  
    
    
   
   
     
  
    
  
  
  
    
   
  
    
  
     
  
   
  
  
     
  
   
     
   
   
     
  
   
   
 
 
    
     
      
 
  
  
 

again.
" Your persecuted friend,
“ KATE."

“What do you think of that?" inquired
the old woman as soon as the detective
raised his e 'es from the paper.

"Well, i think she has gone, for one
thing, and that she had an urgent reason for
goin , for another. What is your opinion?"

“ iy opinion is, that she has one and
done away with herself,” responde the old
woman, earnestly. “She acted just like
lots of girls I have seen in my time, when
the ' were about to commit suicide.”

ll eanwbile Thad had handed the letter to
Jose hine.

“ 'hat do you think of it, Miss Stern?”
he asked. -

“If the woman is Kate Berwick,” she re-
plied, looking up with a scornful expression,
“she has done nothing of the kind. And,
what is more, I believe all her actions have
been for the sole purpose of gaining noto-
riety. I never saw such a creature for note»
riety. She would do anything to gain it,
and it made no difference to her howun- '
savory it was, so she got her‘ name in the
papers.” ‘, = i
“There mitvy be a good deal of truth in
your theory, iss Stern.” ~ , r

’ CHAPTER XX.
A NEEDLE IN A IIAYSTACK. v  -

BURR left the house in company with '
Stern, a little more discouraged than he h '
ever been after following a case for the same
length of time, and he was compelled to con- , ’
fess to himself that he did not know where to ‘
be u again. 

here was little conversation between hini" ‘
and Josephine on the way to her llome;f ‘
whither he conducted her in the carriage. I

“ I am sorr ' to have brought you down 
here for nothing, Miss Stern,”he apolo 'zed. 
“ But as you saw, it was no fault of mine." " .‘,

“ Certainly not. You could not help it“
and I have no doubt you will so..n find 
woman, and then I shall accompany, you '
anywhere and identify her. " 

“ I hope I may, but as it looks now, the
case is rather doubtful. So long as I 
where to look for her there was no diflicult- -
but in her desire to get away from mes .
will probably go somewhere where I will
never be able find her. It is like looking};
for a needle in haystack, hunting for any ‘
body in this city, unless you have some cl
to his whereabouts.” a

“ True enough. but I do not imagine that
she will try to keep out of your way, unless
she is really guilty of the murder and. fears;
arrest. However, I do not believe she

uilty. She would like to have pa,
t ink so, for awhile, till she gets a good I:
of notoriety over it, and then she will t '
prove herself innocent. Ana,‘ unless
thinks she has tempted fate asifal‘: as ,,
safe, she will in all probability 
you do not find her.” ‘ ‘ l =  a, ‘

" I hope so, but I have very little 

our theory, Miss Stern, I am scrry to

1ythe way, when you ’go home, will y
p "use question the servants and see if yo,
can learn anything concerning the stolen ,
letters?" , ‘ : ' l ‘ y

, “With pleasure; . Indeed, I was thinkin'
of doing thAt anmy,”

As see: as he put Josephine do
herhomc, Burr drove directly to Lin , _, r .
boarding-house in Fifteenth street, and w ‘
obliged tointroduce himselfto the, " 
and thenshe was a little skeptical 0 his,
sonality in his present guise. She had; "
seen him in his disguise, and did not, ‘
Luise him in his natural condition. ,'  .1 *
“ New I know you are .a detective,"*‘
he had finally convinced

 

  

  

   

 

    

       
 

  

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fore, but now that I see you can make your-
self up to represent any one youlike, I know
you area detective.”

“ Mightu‘t I be an actor?" he laughed.
“ Actors are capable of doing some. wonder-
ful things with their faces.”

" Yes, I know; but only for the stage.
You would know they were made up if you
saw them on the street. lint you can make
up so that your own mother wouldn’t know
you.”

“ That is a compliment, I must say. lot
I came to talk about something else." .

“ To inquire about, that giddy woman, eh?
Well, she hasn't been back since.”

“ I am sorry for that."

“Didn’t you succeed in finding her last
night?”

“Yes, I found her, risking my life in
rescuing her, from a mob of ruilians, and
now she has given me the slip again."

“ Abducted this time?"

" No; she went off on. her own account,
this time.”

“ Just as she did before.”

“ You don’t believe she was abducted be-
fore. then?” '

“No more than 1 was! Let me tell you,
that woman is as bad as they make them.
She is either playing some (eep game, or
working for notoriety. I have seen so many
of them have themselves abducted for the
purpose of getting their names in the papers,
and she is one of them, mark my words."

Thad could not help but think of the
similarity of her opinion and that of Joseph-
ine Stern, but said nothing.

“Have you seen anything of the two men
, who went 03 with her, Miss Dare ‘2” he
"asked.
' i“ Not a sign. Still, they are liable to
-. come round any time. What they did, even
i I if they had carried off the girl, would not
’ , deter them from comin round. They

_ Would laugh at. the very glen of abducting
that baggage. Or, if they thought the thing
worth while, would consider it a good oke.”
Burr reflected some moments, an then
resumed:

, ,“Miss Dare do vou. want to do me a
favor?"
 , “ I am just dying to," she answered.

“Especially if dyou make it worth while, as
-.you did yester y.”

"‘ I’ll dinake it worth more than that to you
, if- you owhat I am going to ask you."
/ “ What is that?”
Thad handed her a card with his name
- and address on it. .-
'  “If those fellows come here again, man-
gage to entertain them for awhile-don"t spare
,the expense—and let me know at that ad-
' "dress. If we catch them, I will reward you
. handsomely." ‘.
‘ ‘fThat’s all right.” she said lightly.
 The detective then went home and'madc
himself up as a very tough-looking tramp.
_ , é; Itf was now about e ght o’clock in the
 eye‘nin , dark and dreary, and a cold, misty
"1min fa ling—just the kind of an evening for
the genus crook to be abroad. I
' So he sauntered down in the direction of
venue A, in the neighborhood of the tone
1 ent'house where he had been the night be-
01'6. ' .
 r lace was as darkand dismal as usual,
and; 1 ttle more repellent from the fact that
 crowd of villainous-looking.characters
fiat- swarmed on the stoop and about. the
m1) in this weather, were compelled to con-
gm to in the hallways.
‘ a front door was open and he shufl‘led
in past the repulsive crowd without moles-
.- utiOn Or so much as attracting their atten- 4
flea and climbed the dirty stairs. '
When he reached the third landing be
(linear loud talking in old Bare~Bones's
 , ,gand guessed that he and his cronies
 ' “,havingmanother jollification. And this
 to lieve that they had got the girl

, f course, he knew that if they had, she
had, gone there of her own accord, and he
did not contemplate any attempt at rescue.
Engraver, he was anxious to know whether
magmas there or not, and also to know
whether Berwick and Hulated were there.

Ascending to the upper floor. where the
 flat was. he found the door broken,
.  the hinges just as the mob had left it

5 night before, but by patient effort, coupled E‘
with almost superhuman tugging, he finally ‘ mit some outrage upon Mr. Stern—prolmbly
Ilc , robbery; but,

had thrown down the fire-escape steps Was i say!”
still in its place, blocking all passage by way
of the ladder.

by the mob in their efforts to get it out the 

Ills first eoneern, therefore, was to remove ; easily be seen
the box, which was no trifling task, as it had ? master, and that these rullians, reckless as
become wedged in between the iron railings ; they Were, were under his control.
liut what was their plot for the night?

It appeared that they were about to com

Here he discovered that the box which be  want any part in this affair, you will do as I

That appeared to end the controversy,
land everybody became
r01

silent, lt eould
u this that the (l()(,‘i()l' Was

what did they mean by saying

 

'from one o’ the servants that she wa’n’t at

, snorted Berwick.

_ as well without her.’

succeeded in getting it out of its place.
left it on the balcony, though, so that it
would be convenient in case he might re-
quire it to bloek the way again.

He then climbed down the ladder, and
tried the window. To his surprise, the ten-
ants had not taken the trouble to lock it

and he raised the sash and stepped inside.

The door leading into the front room was
not ajar this time, and the rear rooms were
Consequently as dark as a collar, and he'
glided cautiously and noiselessly into the
front bedroom and put his ear to the door.

He was not long in distinguishing the
voices, and ascertained that both the doctor
and Berwiek were present. If the girl was
there, she was maintaining the utmost
silence, but from the tone of the conversa-
tion, be inferred that she was not there.

at the conclusion of a long harangue by one
of the others, “ we can get along now with-
out the wench. We've got the screws on
Leonard and we can Work the old man
through him as well as through her.
her go.”

“ Where do you suppose she went?” ask-
ed Berwick.

“ God only knows,” rejoined the doctor,
"and I don’t care. She evidently went ofl‘
with that detective, and is either back at old
Mrs. Shelby’s or at Lil's.”

“ No, she ain't at neither place,” growled
old Bare-Bones. “Me an‘ Jim found out

Lil's, an' nen we went to Shelby’s an’ seen
her leavin’ tbar, an’ we watched the house
till dark an’ she never come back no more.”

“ You saw her leave the house?” exclaim-
thc doctor.

“ Yas.”

“And didn’t follow her to see where she
went?" ,

",Nor stop her?" added Berwick.

“ Neither one was possible."

“Wh ?’f

“ ’y,‘ yo see, that wasacopper in the
wayto kee us from nailin’ her, an' shel
only walke tothe first corner an’ tuck al
hack."

“ And I suppose you could not have
taken. another back or some other convey-
ance, and followed her?” said Berwick
sava cly.

“ o. I looked about fer one, but thar
wasn’t none in sight, and atom I could find
one she was gone. ”

" Well, you are a pretty set, I must say!"

"However, as I said," interposed the
doctor, “it makes little difference now.
We have got Leonard Stern where he can’t
wiggle, and the thing can be accomplished

“ W’en’s it tot he done?” inquired old
Bare-Bones meekly. -
“ To-night," replied Hulsted sternly.
" Everythin is in readiness, and there is no
need of do errin matters an longer. In
fact, the longer t is put oi! t e worse are
our chances of success. The old man is not
there to-ni lit, and so will not ive us
trouble, an we can soon convince eonard
that he had better not stand in our way.
What we have done for him is worth a good
deal more than what we will get, anyway,
as we can soon rsuade him.”
“ You two to lers’ll o in for the svvag, I
reckon,” observed old litre-Bones.
tm“ Yes," replied the doctor, “ just that very
n . ’ v
“ ’at d'ye want me an' Jimmy to do?"
“ I don’t know yet. You go along. and we
will find somethin for you to do. You will
{filing my instruct one, or not go, you under-
8 n ’1

since he had unlatehed it the previous night, I

“\Never mind,” he heard the doctor say, =

 

So let i

“ Wasn't possible?’ growled the doctor. ,

 

. ‘4‘ Yep," acquiesced Bare-Bones. ~ “ I only

 

   

'l an m mevious, and, entering. Walked to

     

, n4-
“:1,

 

  d what you
' ’ ' ~' ‘an

if you

that they had Leonard in their power? Ilud
they committed some crime for him, and
now they Were about to demand their re
ward by compelling him to allow them to
rob his father?

That was the only inference 'l'had could
draw from their late remarks, and if that
was their intention, it was his duty to inter-
fere. But. in order to do so. he must get
there ahead of them, and he could lrear that
the were already making preparationsto go,
so 1e had no time to lose.

“ Are We all ready?” he heard the doctor
ask.

“ Yes,” replied Bcrwiek.

“ It seems mighty early for this kind of a
robbery,” objected Barellones.

“This is not going to he the usual kind
of a robbery,” exclaimed Ilulsted. “ ()r-
dinarily when a thing of this kind is to be
done we go at two or three o’clock in the
morning and make our entrance with skele-
ton keys or a jimmy, but we are going.r to do
a gentlemanly act to-ni ht. We will enter
the house as guests of t e host, and do our
work right before his eyes, and he will efler
no protest.” ‘

“ Ob, thunder!’ growled Bare Bones.
" That's no way 0’ workin’. No skeleton-
keys, no jimmys? Kalil I wouldn’t given
cent for such a lark!"

“ Well, you needn’t 0.”. rejoined the doc-
tor, dryly. “ As I sai before, if you want
to have a hand in this thing, you have got to
obey orders."

The other was silent, and, concluding that:
the controversy was at an end and they were-
about to leave the place, Thad was about to-
slip out the back way, when the door sud-

denly opened and old Bare-Bones stepped.'

into the room.

He had left the door wide open, and the
detective stood disclosed in the glare of
the light that streamed in from the front
room. ’

The rufilan stopped and surveyed him in
astonishment for a full minute before he.
could regain his breath. which appeared to
have been taken away by the uneXpected

si ht.
' gMeanwhile Thad was thinking fast, and

by the time the old.man had found his tongue
he had formulated a plan of action.

Beginning to reel about and look hazy out
of his eyes, he muttered, in a thick vorce:

“I zay, ole top, got anysing to’drink in
z’ouse. Y l’m dry‘rn powzer ’ouse.”

This had the eifect of completely disarm-
ing the old man of any suspicion, and he
commenced laughin . '

“Dry, air ye ” he aughed. “Wal, Irec-
kon we kin find a drop 0' suthin’ fer ye.
Ye look ez if ye'd been havin’ a good deal
latel .”

“ hasso, but y' see ,I’ve jes gos out, an"
had make up for loss time.”

“Just ot out? W’ere they hev ye? On
the Islan ‘2"

“ Ncpe, Zin-Zin.”

“ Sing-Sing, eh? W'at was yer charge?”

“ Murzer."

“ Murder? Wal, come in hiar an' git er
nip. But how did ye git in blur, ‘ any~
wa ?”

“Found door unlocked, ’nd jes walked in
an’ went sleep.”

This was a hazardous assertion, but lurki-
l it went all right, for it happened that he.
ore Berwick and the doctor came Bare-
Bones had gone out togct Some whisky. and,
left the door unlocked so that they could
get in in case they came before he re
turned.

When he got into the other room, however,
the doctor and Berwick did not view him so
favorably. ‘

Looking at him suspiciously, the doctor,

said:
“ Where did that tramp come {mm 7.
" -n erslcep in t’othcr room,

Bones replied. A - ,  .e. ,

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“. Are you sure he hasn’t been listening to
What we were saying?”

“ Him? He Couldn't listen to nothin‘.”

“ Don’t be too sure of that.
dollars he‘s a detective. and I‘ll find out be-
fore he leaves this room 3"

lVith that he whipped out a revolver and
stuck it into 'l‘had's face and ordered him to
throw up his hands.

(lllAl’l‘lfllt XXI.
Nll’l’lil) iN 'l‘lli-l lll'l).

 

It wanted huta few minutes often, but he

4 was soon joined by Leonard.

I'll bet fifty 

“ i am a frequent visitor, Mr. Stern,” re-
marked the detective as the young man eu-

. tered the drawing—room.

Tamas looked a trifle dark for Thad for a 2.
i that had been weighing upon him. and felt

moment
With a eoeked revolver under his nose and
a pair of vicious eyes glaring into his and

thirsting for blood, it was not. a cheerful.
: Stern,” began Burr, choking down a desire
Most men would have weakened on the

prospect.

spot.

But the detective had been through too
many such episodes to lose his presence of
mind or become in the least nervous.

lle knew that open resistance was useless,
and he must resort to stratagem.

Leerin g at the furious doctor with a mand-
lin grin. he muttered:

“ Was masser‘i Goin’shoot er feller ’causs
’e (hie )wan‘s drink? Allright, shoot’wa’y

With that he staggered up to the table and
picked up a bottle that was standing there
and raised it half-way to his lips. Then he
turned unsteadily toward the irate doctor
again. and hiccupped:

“ ’Ere’s fun, ole top!
Shoot, an' don't wait!”

And he raiSed the bottle to his lips and
pretended to drink, meanwhile watclnn the
doctor’s movements out of the corner 0 his
e e.
yHulsted was somewhat disarmed of suspi.
cion, butwas not quite satisfied ct, and
made a movement toward the detective.

The latter affected not to notice- him, but
kept his eye upon him. and when the doc-
tor came very near and attempted to grasp
him by the throat, he suddenly let fly with
the bottle, striking the .doctor between the
eyes, and sending him reeling to the floor.

Then quickly pulling both his revolvers,
he sprung into the door and covered thetoth-
or three men.

They were taken completely by surprise
and panic-stricken. Ha he been so dispos-
ed, he could have taken them all in as easily
as if there had been but one, but he was not
ready for that yet.

He believed the pro osed robbery wasa
Sequel of the murder of ate Stern, and that
b allowing it to proceed there was a chance
of solving that terrible mystery.-

The men stood staring at t e late tramp
with bewildered countenances, and the doc-
tor, partially recovered from the blow he
had received on the head, scrambled slowly
and ainfully to his feet. _

“ ’ve a great mind to bore the lot of you,”
said the detective with a contem tuous
sneer. “ If you were worth it, I wou d, but
I don’t like to fight children, and so I’ll let
you go this time. Good-evening!"

And putting his pistols into, his pockets,
he sauntered down the stairs and into the

Lesser go Gala gher!

' street.

“I wonder if they will havx‘tne auda-
city to attempt this thing to-night~ after
this?” he mused as he walked along " I’m
afraid not, and a great deal depends on their
carrying out the plot or attempting to do it.-
But I am afraid that, knowing in reason that
I overheard their conversation, they will post-
pone it. At all eyents, I will call upon Leon-
ard and have a talk with him.“ Perhaps he
will not be so flippant this time.”

A little further alon he saw the same
cab he had eznploved t 8 night before,,and
hailed it The driver was about to ignore
him, thinking he was a tramp, when Thad
reminded him of his former experience and
he pulled up very quickly.

' I wonder how many dis utses that de-
tective has,’ growled t eca mm, as Burr
climbed in. .

Thad had lmnself'driven home and, while

the cab waited for him, made a complete ,

change in his make-up, or rather assumed

his natural personality again, and dressed in a

natty suit of clmhes, stepped forth and took
his seat in the vehicle.

Twenty minutes later he rung the Sterna'

was

,, hthfdpwing room. ~ , ,,

 

  

“ No more frequent than welcome," rc~
joined the other with mock politeness.

indeed, the irony in the tone of his voice
and the sneer that curled his lip, Thad
eould not fail to notice, were even more pro-
nounced than when he had seen him earlier
in the evening.

ltappeare’d as if he had got rid of a load

like sneering at everything of a sincere na-
ture.
“l have important news for you, Mr.

to throttle him on the spot.
“ Yes?” drawled the other languidly, his

lip curling a degree more contemptuously.

 

 

!

r

admitted to the house and . with he '

“ What, pray?"

And the young man threw himself back
languidly and lit a cigar. "

Again the detective had some diiliculty in
swallowing his passion, but he maintained
his coolness with an effort, and responded:

“ There is a plot on foot to rob you, or
rather your father, this very night!"

“Indeed?”

And Leonard blew out a long whiff of
smoke as a mark of disdain. '

“The robbery is not oing to be of the
ordinary kind, ’ pursu the detective, af-
fecting not to notice the other‘s conduct.
“ The burglars intend to break no locks or
shed any blood.”

“How remarkable.
ate!”

“ Yes, they are considerate,” rejoined Burr,
replying to him directly for the first time.
“ And why shouldn't they be? They are
your friends.”

“ My friends?"

The tyoung man was awake now, and a
tinge 0 color had mounted to his check.

“I have Your word for it, sir,and they
recognize you as a stanch friend. ”

“ Who are they, sir?"

“ Hulsted and Berwickl"

“They are no friends of mine, sir,” re-
tortcd Leonard hotly, rising from his chair
and standing over the detective. “I ex-
plaincd to you that the had been introduced
to me as gentlemen, an that I had unwitting-
ly mistaken them for such, but that as soon
as you informed me that they were not
honorable men, I was done with them.”

“Nevertheless, on have had some deal-
ings with them, 0 a nature that you are not
particularly proud of, and they hold on in
their power at this moment. They will come
into your house, or rather the house of your
father, claim your friendship, and you will
not dare to treat them discourteously. Am I
not right?" A

They

Also, how consider-

“It is a lie. sir! An infamous lie!
will not dare to come here and claim my
friendship, nor come here at all!”

“Not so fast. my young friend,”~said
Thad coolly. “Don't be too sure of 'our
premises, nor ima inc that you are tal ‘ng
to a novice. I ave been a detective too
lon 1’ and a student of human nature too ion
to he deceived in appearances. Besidest
have probed this case to the core, and am
about ready to not. Do you imagine that I
did not understand our flip )ancy when
speaking of the episo e last nig it? Do you
suppose that I did not understand your mo-
tive in making light of the shooting and the
genuinencss of the girl’s heroism? You
saw that that I was dangerously close to
the truth, and thought to dampen my ardor
by throwing cold water on the whole trans-
action." ’

“I tell you,‘sir, that you are mistaken!"
cried the youn
former dramat c fire, but it was a failure.
'I‘had's coolness had already begun to‘ have
its effect and his courage was failing. "

“And I tell you I am not mistaken,"
retorted Burr‘ calmly. “I have. learned
a good deal within the last twenty-four
hours. I admitted the plausibility of the
date in the letter havin been altered, but
a good deal of what to girl has told we
must be true. Shecould have learned it.
from no one but yourswlf. Again, in spite
of your persistent denialot‘an acquaintance

ca m that ‘ ed 2th

  

     
 

boar

  

man, wrth an effort at his

, has acted honorably for the most part. She

v

 

  
 
  
  
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
  
  
  
   
   
   
  
   
 
   
    
  
   
   
    
  
 
 
   
  
   
   
  
  
   
  
  
 
   
   
  
    
 
  
     
  
  
   
  
        
   
   
  
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
 
   

was stopping, to see her. but she refused to
see you. The giri herself, although a ter-
rible liar as I have had reason to believe,

confessed, unintentionally. that you had 
imparted knowledge to her regarding the
murder which no innocent person could ‘
have possessed, and yet she would openly ‘ ,
Confess nothing. indeed, in r “hole atti- "
tude was that of a person trying to shield 
another. She admitted having the locket, ,.
but refused to tell, where she got it. and 
ran away rather than fulfill her promise of 
telling me. She destroyed letters from you ’ =
for the ostensible purpose of warding sus-
picion from herself, but as a matter of fact,
to shield you.”

The young man had resumed his chair"
and fallen into a state of dogged indiffer—
encc.

“ ‘It is all a lie!" he growled snllenly.
“A trumped up tissue of lies, manufac—
tured for the purpose of ruining me. I
cannot imagine how you, as a detective,
can entertain these foolish stories for an in-
stant after having proven to your own
satisfaction that l was on my way to Chicago-
at the time this thing occurred. When the}
test ‘comes, Ihavc no fear but that] will
come out ahead. The alibi will do the busi-
ness!” he cried triumphantly, in conclusion. '

“I hope it may. But what about these: ‘3‘;
men?”

" I know and care nothing about them."

“But they have some hold upon you.
What is it?" v . v

“ I deny that they have any hold upon-.-
me.” ,

“This night will prove it. However, I
may as well tell you that I have just heard
them in secret counsel, and they appeared .
to be well satisfied that you would not dare.- 4
to resist them when they came to rob your
father, and they also mentioned the fact:w
that they had performed certain work for
you which was a great deal more valuable.
to you than all they would get by the rob.
bery. What have you to say to that?”

“I have nothing to say, sir," repli '
Leonard sullenl . “I do not. hold mysel
responsible for t e vaporings and swagger of"
radians» and thieves. If you choose to go»
among such cattle and listen to their cant
and then at any store by it, that is no» ‘
affair of mine. . But when you attempt‘to in-,, 5
duce me to confess that it has any signifl-fi
cance so far as I am concerned you are wast- _ '
ing your time. I denounce the whole story“
asa lie, an infamous lie! I never—" ,‘

At this juncture the door-bell rung and..
the young man paused, turnedapale, and.
finally sprung to his feet. 

He was greatly confused, and appeared at
a loss what to do. ‘

And then, he turned peremptorin upon:
the detective and said: ,

“I do not care to discuss this matter any"
further, sir. You are at liberty to take your”:
leave as soon as you like!”

And, without another word, started, to
walk out of the room. . __

But ‘ust as he reached the door, and before
he h put his hand upon the knob, the‘
door flew open, and Berwick and ,Hulsted.’
stood before him! _' _ »

Leonard was speechless and stood starian '
at them like a statue. -  j,

The doctor, who was in the lead. and ' I3}
scrupulously attired as if he was .maldn “
formal call upon a lady, smiled bland
put out his hand. ‘ ‘ ‘- 

“Good-evenin , Leonard.”  said 5
bland voice. 3‘ lgho I see you well". _

Leonard glanced t. midly backto who 
had left the detective, but to his surprise, 
was no longer there. ' . ~ " ‘

The moment the door had opened Thndfi
took “the opportunity of the confusion u,” ‘
followed to conceal himself behind 
yn-tz'em cutting of! the drawing room I
the next apartment, and was ready to wa
what Was to follow. > ' ‘

Imam-d, with a face as white as that if
ghost, turned again to his visitor and .

pered: ,  

" Not here! For God's sake, not beret
you do, I am mined! Let us go up-staiui I
my study!” » F

“Oh, that is not necessar ," replied 
doctor, smiling sweetly. “ ’hat little ' '
noun haunt to.th gun as Tread

          
   
 
   
  
  
  
   
    
    
  

  

   
  
  
 
 

  
  

 
  
     
  

    

 

 

 
   
 

O

- ones.

do?” he gasped.
,your senses?"

28‘"

mw-r urn-u. < ~ ~

 

The Riverside Drive Death-Mystery. "

 

So saying, he strodeinto the drawing-room
rand calmly threw himself into an armchair.

Berwick stole in after him, also wearin a
:smile, and Thad could see that he Was a so
attired in the latest fashion, so that the call to
a casual observer might easily have been mis-
taken for one of the most formal character.

“ We are happy to find you alone, Leonard,

dear boy,” observed the doctor, still in his
.suavest tone. “It might have been awk-
ward otherwise. Our business, as you may
imagine, is such that it might not be pleasant
for on to have your friends—I beg your
part on. we are your friends—I mean, your
(other friends, to hear the nature of it. "

Leonard strode toward him nickly and
hung over him nervously and ooking im-
plormgly down at him, cried:

“ Not here. doctor! For God's sake, do
not speak of it here! We are not alone!”

“Not alone?” and the doctor sprung to
his feet. “ What do you mean?"

Leonard pointed toward the curtain.

i “There!” he cried. “ Behind that curtain
, 8—”

“Who?” interrupted the doctor, with a
:scared face.

“ A detective!" gasped Leonard.

“ The devil! Then he has heard too much
already! What is he doing there, anyway?"

“He has just been in conversation with
me here,” explained the young man in a
trembling voice.

" In conVersation with you? What about?”

“ He is the detective employed by father
'to ferret out the mystery oftbe murder of—”'

“I know,” interposed the doctor, im-
patiently. “ Has he referred to us in any
way?”

Leonard was silent for a moment, and then
:summoning all the courage he possessed, he
replied:

” Yes, he has overheard you in conversa—
tion about the affair and knows all.”

This was a master-stroke on the young
man’s part. The old villain grew ghastly
with terror and began to tremble violently.

Berwick was the only one who appeared
to retain his self-possession, and still smiled.

“ Well, suppose he does know all, Doe?"

:said Beerick, rising and approaching the
other two in a calm manner.
:serve to expedite our affairs.

“ It will only
The fact is,
Leonard, we have come for our reward, and

‘the quicker you give it to us, the better it

will be for you. The diamonds were to be
the reward, Weren‘t they, Doc?”

The doctor turned upon him with a black
scowl, at the same time putting his hand in
the neighborhood of his hip-pocket in a
menacing manner.

But Berwiek, treating the matter as light-
ly as if the gentleman had been in the act

of taking out his handkerchief, still smiled,

and remarked:

"No, Doe, I wouldn’t do that if I were
you. It might cause a disturbance. Re-
member we arc in a private house and have

come onasocial call, and the use of fire-

arms might disturb the serenity of things.”
At the same time, as he concluded his

.speech, he drew his own revolver and push-

red it under the already terrified doctor’s'
nose. V
, There was a painful silence for several
seconds; then Berwick resumed:

“I say, Leonard. my boy, will trouble

_ 011 to fetch out the diamonds, and ,don’t be

ong about it, as time presses. You needn‘t
be particular about selecting any special
We will take them all. Your sister’s,
your mamma’s and those of your poor out-
cast brother, all 0.”

As he uttered t e words ‘ outcast brother,’
Thad was struck with two things! First,
the remarkable resemblance in face, expres-
sion and tone of voice he bore to Leonard
Stern; and second, to the tone of pathos he
threw in the words, as if he bore great sym
pathy for the poor outcast brother.

“Well, what are you standing there for?"
demanded Berwick in a sterner voice than
he had yet employed. “ “’0 are waiting on
your'actions. Hurry!”

With head bent, Leonard left the room.

It was not until then that the doctor re-
covered from the stupor into which the
young man’s strange and unaccountable con-

uct had thrown him.

“My God, man! what are you about to
“ Have you suddenly lost

‘ r H v . v -  .J v
- "Wu; 'L-"L—hif‘. ..~ ,4 m. 

.3-.. “ —

 

“Oh, no,” rejoined Berwick calmly. “I
was never more sane in my life.

You 2 on the pain of

just claimed as our brother, compelled me'

eath, to bring the casket to

planned a novel robbery, and was about to [ him that he and his pal there might carry

weaken. 1, on the other hand, was deter- l
mined not only to carry it out in all its de- l

them off.” ‘
“ If that is true,” she demanded, “how is

tails, but to add a little novelty and spice i it that yours are not here, Leonard ?”

to it That’s all.”

“ But did not Leonard tell you that there
was a detective watching us?" "

" That is nothing. I am sorry for the de-
tective, but he has got to get used to such
sights, although it will be tough on his
morals.”

At that moment the door opened and
Jose hine burst into the room.

“ by, Harper! my brother!” she cried,
and threw herself into Berwick’s arms.

 

CHAPTER XXII.
A srrunoa REVELATION.

So far from evincing any surprise at the
youn g lady's action, or at being addressed as
Iarper and “ brother,” Berwick took it all,
as he had everything, with perfect coolness
and as a matter of course.

 

He returned the young lady's caresses,

and appeared to enjoy the novclty of being .

mistaken for a long-lost brother; all of
which was the occasion of a good deal of
astonishment on the part of the doctor, who
stood with staring eyes and open mouth,
watching the unexpected scene.

\Vhat assed between the two as they
stood fol ed in each rttllcr’s arms. no one but
themselves knew, for they spoke in whis-
pers, but there appeared to be a good deal of
mutual enjoyment in it.

And then, when this thing had been going
on for the space of afull minute, the door
opened again, and in came Leonard. bearin g
a casket containing all the household jewels.

At the sight of his sister in the burglar‘s

z
i

 

arms, the young man stopped, turned death-
ly pale, and allowed the casket to drop from
his nerveless fingers to the floor.

“ Wh~what does this mean?” he gasped
at last.

“ It means that I have found my brother!”
replied Josephine, “the only one who has
always been good and kind to me.”

Leonard’s eyes flashed fire.

He was unable to speak for a few seconds,
and appeared to be trying to swallow some-
thing that was coming up in his throat.

At length he found his tongue, and spoke
in a hoarse, unnatural voice, as if something
were choking him.

“You are making a mistake, sister," he
said. “ That man is not your brother. He
is an outlaw, a thief, and a murderer! lie
is in this house at this very moment for the
purpose of robbing us.”

For some reason Josephine did not spring
away from the thief, nor did he lose his
calmness.

On the contrary. she clung to him more
closely than before, and he smiled more be-
nignantly. .

Then came his calm, unimpassioned vorce:

" Yes, I am an outlaw—at least in your
eyes, although I never stole anything in my
life; I am a thief by the same judgment. A‘
murderer I might have been if I had fol-
lowed your advice and done your bidding;
and we are in this house, as you say, for the
purpose of robbery. But, let me ask you by
whose invitation We are here?"

Thadwatchcd Leonard's countenance, and
expected to see him weaken and confess all,
but, to his surprise, the youngmau suddenly

)ullcd himself together, assumed the sneer-

lng smile be had worn while talking with
the detective earlier in the evening, and re-
plied:

“ This is a pretty story, or insinuation,
Mr. Paul Berwick. You wijl get a good
many people to believe that I invited you
here to rob me; and as for your character—”

“ It will stand the test with yours, any
do ,” interrupted Berwiek, hotly. “If you
di not invite us here, why did you bring
the casket of jewels down?”

And he pointed to the casket on the floor.

Josephine, who espicd it for the first time,
ran and picked it up and opened it quickly.

“ Yes,” she cried, “ here are all the family
jewels. Mine, mamma‘s, yours, Norman’s—

ut not Leonard’s !” she suddenly ejaculated,
lopking up at him. “ What does this mean?”
she demanded.

 

“ It means that this man whom you have

“I don’t know,” he replied doggedly. “I
suppose they happened to be out of the eas-
ket when I picked it up. I was greatly agi-
tated at the time.”

But his attempt at bravado failed and his
countenance fell under the searching gaze of
his sister’s honest eyes.

“ I understand it all,” interposed Jose-
phine. “ You were driven to act by the fear
of having your crime exposed, but thought

on would only sacrifice the rest of the fami-
y’s jewels and save your own. It is in part
with your conduct when you robbed papa
and turned it upon poor Harper and had him
driven from home."

“ I never did!” he cried vehemently, sud-
denly regaining his courage. “ And I am
astonished to hear you uphold that thief and
renegade, sister!"

“ Hold on!” cried Berwick. “ That is the

v second time I have been called a thief by you,

sir! Do not dare to repeat it, or I shall not
be responsible for what I do!"

“ Do you mtan to deny that you robbed
father four years ago—‘2 ’

“Hold on!” again cried Berwick. “You
said just now that I was not the renegade
brother, that my name was Paul Berwiek.”

“ That is the name you have been known
by among your outlaw pals,” growled Leon-
ard.

“ Oh, then you admit that I once was your
brother?”

“ Yes, I suppose so "

“ I did not know but you would want to
deny that I ever had been, after all my career
of crime.”

“ I should do so, by rights.
my brother no longer.”

“ How about your own crimes?”

“1am guilty of none. ”

“ Be careful. There was a witness, re-
member.”

Leonard laughed.

“ A poor lunatic.
taken for?”

“ He is a lunatic no longer.
were saying that I robbed father?”

“ You cannot deny that.”

“I do deny it!”

“ Why were you driven away from home,
then?"

“ Through such false witnesses as
self, who made my father believe that
guilty of what you had done yourself."

“ But there was another witness. "

“ Intimidated and misled into swearing
falsely.”

” You cannot prove that.”

“ I can and will readily prove it.”

Leonard laughed again.

“ Then you will bring her from the grave.”

“ That is not necessary. The witness is
here to testify!"

The voice came from the direction of the
door, and everybody looked in that direc-
tion, when, to their astonishment, as well as
to Thad's, there stood Kate Berwick!

“ I am here,” she. laughed, ” and I did not
have to come from the grave, either. Now,
Mr. Leonard, what have you to say?”

110 cast a sneering glance at her and mut-
tercd:

“ I have nothing to say to you, except to
ask what you are doing here.”

” I am here by the right of the mistress of
the house, sir. Is that satisfactory ?"

“ It is not, because you are not the mistress
of the house or anythmg else. You are the
woman who has been claiming to the detec-
tive that I was in correspondence with you.”

“True enough. And every letter he has
of mine were written by you to me, and you
cannot deny it!"

Leonard turned and looked fully at her for
the first time.

Then there was a radical change in his
countenance; from the sneering smile, it sud-
denly changed to one of terror.

“For God’s sake, who are you?” be de-
mandcd, in tremnlous tones, while his knees
began to smite together and his face became
the color of chalk.

” My name was once Kate Sherwood !" she
answered; “but, for some time )ast it has
been Mrs. Katherine Stern.  have the

But you are

What will his word be

But, you

our-
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The Rivers

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i‘ honor of being your respected step-mother,  of hatred and malignance, and be ground his

whom you thong
at me! Do I look natural to you, or do I
look like a ghost?”

After another long stare, his face, assumed
the sneering expression again, and he re-
plied:

“ Neither.
adventuress.”

“ What say you. Josephine?’ she asked,
a proaelling the girl and puttingr her arm
aliout her waist.

“I say that what you have said is true,"
rejoimrd Josephine, emhru-in': her. “ You
are our own Kate—our little stepmother.”

“\Vh»—-who was the other one. then?"
gaSpell Leonard, becoming terrified again.

“ The one you murdered? ‘ :iske'l Kate.

“I did not kill her," he declared in at
pleading tone. “ As God is my Witness, I
did not! Bringr all your witnesses, bring
your luuatie, who you say is no longer a
lunatic, and they will swear that it was not
I. [was in Chicago at the time, as the de-
tective, will testify!" .

“I don't know so Well ‘about that," ob—
served 'l‘had, stepping out from behind the
curtains. “ I know you were in Chicago on
the day after the murder, and that you lef;
here some time during the afternoon of the
day of the murder, but there are so many
complications about this affair. and the evi-
dence points so directly to you from so many
different standpoints, that I will be compelled
to act in' the same manner as if I knew you
to be guilty. ”

“In other words, arrest him, eh, Mr.
Baker?" laughed Kate.

“Yes. Painful as it is to me, Iain com-
pelled to do my duty.”

‘ And without another word he put the
handcuffs ou Leonard‘s wrists.

He had no more than completed the ope-
ration. when. glancing toward the door, he
saw Hulsted tryin to Sneak out. '

t “ One moment, octor,”he called. “Don't
be in a hurry. Wait a minute, and you shall
have company.” .

“What do you want with me?” he de-
manded, sullenly.

“ We'll explain that later on. In the
mean time, suffice it to say that I want

’1

And before the doctor was aware of it,
Thad had the irons on him, also. '

It was not until that moment that Jose-
phine a pcared to realize the situation; then
she bro 6 down and began to weep piteous-

You are Kate Berwick, the

l .

y“It is awful!” she cried. “Guilty as he
is. it isa terrible thing to see him dragged
off to jail." -

“ And yet it wouldn't have happened if
it hadn't been for his devilish scheming,”
growled Leonard, who had become oom-
pletely changed within the last few minutes.

The look of bravado was all gone now, and
he was the most completely eowed criminal
the detective had ever looked upon.

” Hurr them away!” admonished Harper
(the late rwick) “ before father comes. It
will break his heart to see his favorite son in
chains.” .

"Yes, I will go at once," replied Thad.
“ Come, my worthies. let us be moving.”

He stepped to the door and opened it pre-
paratory to taking his prisoners out, when,
to the surprise and consternation of all, the
old gentleman stood before them.

He had just entered the house and was
aboutto o n the drawing-room door, when
the detect ve anticipated him. .~

Mr. Stern stared at the unusual assem.
binge in his parlor, but he did not realize the
situation for a few seconds.

His eyes Wandered from face to face, and
at length lighted on that of Leonard, his
favorite son; then. somehow, they dropped
from the face to the hands, and e saw the
handcuffs. I

His face grew ashen; he tattered and came
very near falling. V

"Leonard. my boy! What does this
mean?” he cried, in a voice of mingled eon-
' sternation and grief.

. Leonard assumed his old expression which ful sou. " How could you suspectth of
the father had mistaken for innocence all his such’a thing'for an instantt" . L.
, life, and shrugging his shoulders," nodded i " I cannot; my 1103;; cannot; ,I will:
i the direction of Harper. 1 w \. ‘ not! {adjunct to! ' erectile  ,  curlife,
‘ gold man’s countenance sadness-fog, up! “:2; on; ' “in to
I I n . iv II , [a a,»

 

they are determined to crush me!

 

“Whitehead ranging“, . _, 1

t you had murdered! Look ' teeth as he muttered. ,

11““ What! That scoundrel in my house?

drive. brother forth again. You have falsely
accused him long enough. He never was
guilty of the crime laid to him; it was the
man who now stands in chains who did it
all, and screened himself behind an innocent
man.

- l
“ Who says so?" almost shriekcd the old ;

man, in a towering rage.
“I. for one, father,” replied Josephine,
braVely.

" You know nothing about it, child. It ‘

all happened while you \vere asleep. If
Kale were here, she would tell a different
story "

“ No, she wouldn‘t," replied Kate, herself,
Stepping forward.

“ What, you—‘2 My God l”

The old man staggered back and would
have fallen if the detective had not support-
cd him.

His face was white. his eyes almost burst
from their srlekets, and 'his lips twitched like
one in terrible agony.

“ No, no, it cannot be!" he cried.
tainly not. It is an imposition!
imposition! Ah, I know now.
Borwiek! Get out of my house. you hussy!
How dare you accuse my boy?”

“ Cer-
A base

“Be calm. Mr. Stern," entreated Thad,g

whispering in his ear. “What they have
told you is every word true. I have in
vestigated the thing to the fullest extent;

there is not the shadow of a doubt of the;
guilt of Leonard. while your other son is ‘~'

positively innocent of the crime for which
you eXpelted him from your house and
heart.”

“It isa lie!” shouted the old man, wax.
ing more furious instead of calming down.
“ ltis all a trumped up lie to ruin my son.
I will believe none of you!"

"Oh, thank you, father!" cried Leonard,

comingi forward and grasping his bands
5

with own shackled ones. “It is all a
conspi to ruin you and me. They
know that you love me. and for that realsgon,

ut,

they cannot do it, father. You know I’am

innocent—that Ican prove that I was out of l
the city at the time of the lmurder, and I 

will come out triumphant in the end.”

, “I know it, I know it, my b0 9” avowed l

the old man, wringing his ham , while the
tears rolled down his wrinkled cheeks.
“They arealot of base conspirators, and

long.

pennlt l” _

He (id not state what the penalty was,
and the detective onl smiled. '

{‘1 am sorry. sir, ' replied Burr,;"but I
am compelled to. refuse to do your bidding.
This man is a murderer, and would have been

a robber, as well, if Ihad not intercepted his:

plot." .
"A robber. sir?" roared the 'oldnmn.
“ What do you mean?” ‘ ' ‘

Josephine raised the jewelvcase, which she ‘ your face, and remembered that you. go '

true a great many questions, but I could I

He was about to deliver ,Iimagine why you should have debit“

; first. Then it occurred to me that you ,

Burr: having' overheard. the plot of the gtrying to discover how {receivedmm'

would-be robbers, came here and'prevcnted
' i Z 0 l'

had set upon the table, and explained: ‘
“This, father.
this over to his confederate, there, but Mr.

the robbery.” '

This was not quite accurate, but it was as '

she understood it. ,
Mr. iszem lookeda little bewildered.

The mass of evidence against is favorite
to
at in his despair he etc o a lance
him
with such a look of injured innocence, that
his doubt fled like frost under the sun’s

is, it, my boy? It not
“ Of course not,-,fatbcr,””replied the duti?

was so great. that he Was he lining
weaken,
at that favorite. and Leonard reward

rays, and he said:
“ It isnot true,
true. is it?”_ r

, you believe.

' - felon: I have a warrant for his arrest, and,
“ Father!” interposed Josephine. “ wait i
until you have heard the truth before you 1

I y . , .' . .1’:
‘ My pittious ho}.

, I want to go with him. \Ve will occupy‘ the.—

It is Knie‘

 

= occupying chambers in an aristocratic lod
! in g-house. which accounted for the'fnct the
‘ he was left in the hospital so long withoin
we shall have the pack of them in jail before ; ‘ '
And as for you, sir!" he went on. 5
turning upon Thad savagely, "I commaan !
you to remove those handcuffs, under .

L

a...

 

teetive, impatiently, “I cannot help what.
I have my duty to perform,
and must do it. I know your son to be a-

   
   
    
   
  
     
   
   
  
    
    
  
   
   
    
    
 
  
   
    
  
   
  
 
   
 
     
    
    
 
  
 
   
    
 
   
  
  
 
  

what is better, the irons on him; so come
along my young friend,” he went on, turn-
ing to the prisoner. “We have wasted too/
much time already.”

The detective began pushing lllS‘pTlSOliCl‘S
toward the door, but the old man sprung bc~
tween them and the door like a tiger.

“ You shall not take my son to prison "' he
screamed. “I will die first! I know that
he isinnoceni. and you shall not take him!

“My dear sir," interposed the detective-
stcrnly, “ you must get out of the way, or i
shall have to take you along to. You are in-
terferin;r with an ofiicer in the discharge of'
his duty.”

“Arrest me! Arrest me then!" yelled
the man frantically. “if my boy is to go,

same. cell.” .

“Excuse me; you won’t occupy the same
cell, if I take you down. Your son will go
into one cell and you into another." ‘

That appeared to dampen his ardor a little, *
and he drew back, but a moment later he re- ‘
entered the parlor and began to berate the:
rest of the family.

“You, Josephine, and you, Harper!" he
cried, “ get out of my house this instanti‘ \
And as for you. Miss Kate Bcrwick, get to
the dogs! and never enter my house again! i .1
Do you hear?” . »

Meanwhile Thad had managed to get his;
prisoners out to the street, called a hack and 
had them driven to the central station where. 
be locked them up. , 9

CHAPTER XXIII.

A TERRIBLE STORY. _' 

TAKING the hint from what he had heard
Harper Stern say about the lunatic being:
no longer a lunatic, Burr called at the hos:
pital early the following forenoon, and was;
astonished to find that the poor fellow had '
recovered so complete] as to be consideréd__
cured, and had left the ospital.  
He had remembered the detective. howl"
leyer, and left his name and address for,
1m. . .
His name was Wood, and he lived in Wests/fl
Park avenue, and from the location Thad?
judged him to be a man of means.  - 
He lost no time in calling upon th
gentleman, whom he found to be a bacheic

 

recognition. . , _ .
As soon as the detective sent 
he was told to come right up. and t :gent ”
man received him with great warmth . ,
cordiality. ' ~ . i  ,
“I was just thinking of you today,”  '
observed, “and wondering if you would
memlllier me." m I f 
“ ow cou « or et on?" re ’
Thad. ' g \ y e 
“ True, it was part of vour business 
member me, I suppose,” laughed Wood. 5% , ~
did not know that you were a detective ‘  y
the day I left the hospital. Iveould‘ recs

cries, aids tlhougért yep must  ,
on t not a o mystic .-,n _

doctor if you wereynot a ’dctgtiye
said you were. Then maid it weaver-{k
of you to try to discover how :I  y,-

injuries, and he took me down a pegbby
ing me that it was noton my «coo at '
were making the inquiries at all, butfcr
purpose of discovering the ‘murdere
ycun women who was killed on the
You'd)»  " n ‘ was; 

" es, warm 9 maps '0 .

tionin you. but I’slSo-desi‘refiif ‘ ,
to u out how you received“ year in. ’ "
"Then ‘I was not vain for nothing

 

all.” ' . , i - “ 
“Not at all, You sayyoui'ecnil‘lity., , ._

M" W00?!” one he kl   '
u . , w r, j Ve~ news f-

  ) l 1  ‘ ’ 7" 
‘r‘Dorgeurmes’il myth

Sf . .  . ,. .

  

 

“ Yes, a few things, but it is all very
vague. My memory appeared to retain only
what I saw. What I heard passed away like
the things we see and hearin a dream."

“ You must remember the man who came
with me on one occasion?"

“ The man with the black eyes?”

“ Yes."

“ I remember his face distinctly, especially 5
the eyes; but it was not the tirst time 1 had
Seen him, as in your own case. Let me See,
he was there twice, wasn't he?"

“No. That is, he was at the hospital but
once, but he approached your cot-side and
went away and then came back the second

(s

time.” ..
“I knew there was something of that
kind.”

“ Where did you see this man before?”

“ At Riverside Drive.” '

“ Was it he who struck you over the head
.and caused your temporary dementia?”

“ Yes, he was the man.”

” W'hat were the eirctnnstanm's?”

“ It was a little before fire o’clock in
the afternoon. I, was taking a drive with a
female aetpiaintance. \Ve had both been
indulging in a good deal of wine and come
fluently felt pretty lively. As we approach-
ed the lOWcr end of the Park, or to be more
explicit, about Eighty-third street, my com-
panion saw some one she knew standing by
the roadside and hailed him in rather a bois-
terous manner.

“ I. was about to reprove her for it, when
the man called out to her to stop, as he
wished to speak to her, and she asked me to
stop the carriage. '

“I did as requested, as she said it was a
cousin of hers. The man approached the

' side of the carriage, and called her by name,
or rather by a name, for it was not liers,,and,

' at the sound of it, she burst out in a boister-
ous fit of laughter.

“It then occurred to me that the man had

v, . made a mistake, which. would have been

messy, as she had kept her Vail down, but the
_ fellow appeared to grow very angry and be-
' gun to upbraid her.

“ One thing I heard him say was, ‘ This is
a nice way to treat me, after refusing to
'come out to meet me. and then come with

‘ .another man. What do you suppose father
Will say when I tell him?"
’ “ At this the girl laughed more boisterous—
ly than before, and told me to drive on, and
, ' leave the fool,’ as she put it. I touched the
3.horscs with the whip and they started. That
appeared to render the man furious. lie
sprung at the horse's bits, uttered an oath
"and said: ‘ No you don‘t! You shall not
leave me like that. I must have a talk with
, on before I go, for this will be the last time
i shall ever see you!’
,. - " The girl screamed Willi laughter at this,
and declared that the fellow was as crazy as
. 'a'bedbug, and for me to drive on and leave

  

 
  

im.

"‘.~“Accordingly I again touched the team,
when he again jumped and grasped the leader
 , "by the bits. I yelled at him to get out of the
' 3 way, or I should'drive over him, but he still
clung on, and I gave the horses a sharp cut
, with the Whip. ‘

“ It was a spirited team. and between the
"Whipping and the fellow hanging on at the
{ , t, they became unruly and started to run.
'ICOntrollcd them for awhile and they were
.ltepti’n the road, but we had not gone far
when. we met another team and I was com-
pelled to turn out for it. Then I lost control
of my span. They whirled abruptly around
 started up over the rocks in the direc-
 _ of the. precipice there.

“‘The had caught the bits in their teeth
to that could not hold them in check, and
imil dashed on toward the precipice. It all
ship. and in a moment. .

it‘.‘ saw that in another second we would
 over the rocks and he dashed to pieces;
grid, just in the nick of time, I jumped out,

' pod one of the horses by the ‘bridle and

. what I had often heard would stop a’
guise ‘when everything else failed; I shot

Stile desired cfl'ect,
Juddenly as if they had been paralyzed, and
were thrown back on their haunohes.
 ‘Meunwhilc I had paid no attention to
Wither girl or the man with whom, she
 this words, so now that. ,thadange "

  

  

  
   

  

  

 

 

 
 

  

  

   
  
 

 

 

 

i   heath-Mystery. V V

was over, I glanced back at the carriage,
when, what was my astonishm‘ent, to see the
man stepping out of the carriage.

“ I did not know what to make of it, and =

before I had time to recover from my sur~

prise, with the girl in his arms he sprungout ‘

of the vehicle.
‘ The girl
sprung to hcrrcscue.

screamed.
The man was a powcr—

ful fellow, and we had a lchly tussle forI

some, moments, but I finally got in one with
my list that laid him out for an instant, but
he was upon his feet in a moment, and rush-
ed upon me. like a mad bull,

“ The girl, thinkingr to prevent another
collision, run between him and me, when he
caught her and hurled her overthe clill'; then
he rushed upon me with a club he had pick-
ed up and gaVe me the blow over the head
that laid me out.

“ That is all i. know about it. The next
thing i remember is beingr in the hospital,
and l do not know how long I had been
there."

“ You do not know what became of the
girl?"

“ l have heard since that she was found
huntingr on the point of one of the rocks, was
taken to the hospital, and there died. But
the name given was not correct."

“What was the girl's name?"

“ Kale llerwick."

“ And the name of the woman found ?"

“ Mrs. Katherine Stern, I believe.”

“ Yes, that was the name. Do you know
how the mistake occurred?”

“ I cannot explain that."

“ You were not acquainted with Mrs.
Stern, then?"

“ No, sir; never knew her."

“ Wcll, Mrs. Stern was acousin of the we:
man you were with, Kate Berwiek. 'Were
you on intimate terms with this woman, Mr.

Vood?"

“ Yes.”

“Then you knew something of her af-
fairs?"

“ Something, I guess."

“Did you notice that she had an umbrella
marked ‘ Kate Sherwood’ and a handker-
chief marked ‘Mrs. D. Stern’?"

“I remember the umbrella, but I do not
the handkerchief. Though she might have
had a dozen marked that way and I would
not‘have noticed it.”

“Did she ever tell you where she got the
umbrella?"

" Yes; she said it was given to her by some
relatiVe, who was married and very rich.
As a matter of fact, I did not credit the
story, as Kate was an awful story-teller, so I
supposed she had stolen it, somewhere.”

“ Which is as likely as anything else.
But, there is one thing else I want to ask
you. You say you shot the horse. Were
you going armed at the time?”

“ No, not particularly.”

“But you had that pistol?”

“ Yes, of course.”

“How was it you did not use it in. self-
defense when the fellow came at you with
the club?"

“ I didn’t have it then.”

“ What had become of it?”

“ When I shot the horse the pistol slipped
out of my hand and dropped over the bluff.”

“ Would you know the pistol if you saw
it again?" ‘

“ I think I would,"

Thad drew out the pistol he had found
under the cliff.

” Is that it?" he asked.\

Wood took the weapon and looked it over
carefully, and finally the detective saw him
examine the stock; then he looked up with a
smile of confidence. and replied:

“ “ Yes, this is it.”

“You notice the initials on the stock,
‘ L. E. S.’, don't you?”

1‘ Yes.”

“What do they stand for?”

“I’m blast it I know. The fact is. the

pistol belonged to Kate, and I suppose the'

nitials were those of some of her former
sweethearts, or they might have stood for a
name she had formerly gone by. "

“ Well, I guess I can enlighten you upon
that subject. Those initials are those of a
man whom I arrested, last night for the mur~
der of the girl. ”, . a
“ -Whnt is h-is‘nalpeil’

M td‘Btern. ;

  
   
  

 
   
   

and I naturallyt

 

 

      
   
    
   
  
         
      
     

t “Leonard? By Jove, Iremember that .-
iname! That's what she called the man we
isaw at the side of the road, the man who
, threw her over the cliff and struck me over
i the head."
“Well, that is the chap I have in jail.
you think you would recognize him?"
"Recognize him? Yes, anywhere, espe-
)

llo

’ eially the eyes.’
, “ What was there about the eyes that im—
; pressed you so?" ‘

" I don‘t know, except that that was the
last thing I remember after he hit 1110,01“
rather before he struck me. Ile came at me
with those eyes staring like those of a tiger,
and the first thing that appeared to me after
I began to recowr my senses was those
eyes.”

“ Another thing did this woman woara
locket on her neck ‘2" ,

“ It seems to me she did.”

‘ Do you recall what it was like

 Yes; it uas just a plain little locket of
no particular design, ’

“ Do you know
locket?"

“ i do not.”

“ it. was gone when the body was found.”

“ indeed?”

“Yes, and I was trying to trace up the
clue to the murder by another let-kct, one of
a peculiar design."

“ What. was it like?” ‘

“ It had a coat of arms on one side, and on
the other the words, ‘ The Fatal Charm.’ "

“By (ieorge! since you speak of it, I re-
member shc (Ml have that same kind of a
locket. She had been downtown and said
she met a cousin, 1 think,and this consin
gave it to her. She told me that everybody
‘who had ever worn the locket had come to
some terrible end. I told her she had lit ttcr
not Wcar it, then, and she said she would-—
that she wanted to ‘c1-oak,‘ and that she
would wear it that afternoon, and see what
the result would be.”

“ Well, she found out, or rather she helped
you to find out?” ,

“ Yes.”

“ ' lat you have no idea what became of
it?" .

“ No.”

“ That is a great mystery. The chain was
found about her neck, but the locket was
gone. it cannot be that Leonard snatched
it off?" ‘,

“ I did not see him do it. But, I was too
much excited then to notice anything.”

“Now, I have got a pretty strong case
against this, fellow, but there is one point in
his favor.” '

“What is that?"

“ lie was in Chicago the next afternoon at
seven o'clock l”

“Indeed? Well, he could have left here
after this thing occurred, and reached Cill‘ ‘
cago by seven the next day. The Through
Express makes it in twenty-four hours, and
if he left here at five, that would just make
it.”

“But,

    
     
   
    
       
      
   
    
     
   
     
     
    
     
     
      
     
   
    
    
      

r!)
I

what became of the

     
        
     
     
      
    
   
     
     
   
    
     
    
    
   
    
     
    
      
      
     
    
       
     
   
     
      
     
     
    
     
   
    
      
      
       
      
    
   

you must make an allowance of
over an. war for the difference in time be-
tween here and Chicago. 80 he would have
to leave here at four to reach there at seven,
Chicago time. You sa it was about five
when this thing occurre ‘2”

“ Yes, about that time.”

“By Jove! the fellow has a fighting
chance for his life 'cti. It is one of the
greatest mysteries I ave ever run across.
By the Way. I would like to have you go
down to, the Tombs with me and see if you
can identify this fellow.”

“ With pleasure."

A few moments later they took acarrlage
and drove down-town to the Tombs.

Thad requested the warden—Mr. Fallon—
to show him to young Stern’s cell, and
after passing through a labyrinth or corri-
dors, finally arrived in a long corridor in
the New Prison, lined with cells on both
sides and three stories highl .

In the center of this corridor was a desk
which served to divide the corridor in two
sections. The south end is known ,as
“Murderers’ Row.” because the cells at
that end are reserved for prisoners who
have been condemned to die. The nmth
end of the corridor is appropriated for,

risoners awaiting trial for murder, and

     
 
  
 
   
 
      
    
 
   
 
      
     
      
      
       
   
 
   
    
    
 
    
   

  
    
  
  

 

ere is when the callers found . Leonard
8m»   .  "-l.

 

i‘.

huh: my“ ~_ fwwfi,

~74“ r...» . -~

w‘P‘z-"v-w'

"ca—«s ne-
I

K.”*

   

.-

° and described him, Mike remembered him,‘

 
 

fixer .

 

.14; V

iverSide * Drive  i

no... a

 

 

 

. ta
lie was sitting on the side of his co
reading a newspaper when they approached
the grated door, and it was not till Thad ‘
spoke to him that. he looked up. ,

lle scowled darkly and muttered some
unteliigible imprecation, and was about. to
devote himself to his paper again, when
his eye caught the face of Wood.

Instantly a change came over the mur-
ilt‘l't'l', .

llis Eyes were opened staringly, his cheeks
grew ashen, and he arose and approached the
grating as though he had been impelled
Elie-1'1! by some powerful charm.

" Do you know this gentleman,
ritern?" asked the detective.

Leonard made no reply, but continued to
stare, as it' fascinated

" Is this the man, Mr.
addressing the other.

“Yes, there can be no doubt of it," re- .
plied Wood. “I would know him any place
under the sun, especially those eyes. Uh!"
he shuddered, “ they make tny skin creep to
look at them. Let us go."

"Pretty soon. I want to ask him a few
questions. Don't you remember this man,
Stern ?" he repeated.

Still the prisoner made no response.

“ Don't you recall the afternoon when you
saw him driving with Kate along Riverside ‘
Drive, and you hailed them and'wanted to
speak to her? And then, when tlle_' attemp-
ted to drive on you tried to stop the. team? -
And don‘t you recollect of having a tight
with this man, of his knockingr you down, of ?
your regaining your feet and starting for
him, when Kate ran betw'een you anti you
caught. her and hurled her over the blull’, ‘
and then struck this man down with a
club?”

‘Ilhl" he groaued. and covered his face
with his hands. “ No, no, I never saw him
hel‘ore!"lie cried desperately. “It was a
dream, a horrid nightmare! I never saw
him in my waking moments l”

Antitttrning away, he threw himself on
his cot and covered his face.

*‘ You are stire this is the man, are you,
Mr. Wood ‘f" repeated Thad, as they left the
prison. .

“ Oh, yes; Iam sure of it. It is impossi-
hle that I should be mistaken. Besides,
don’t. his own actions Show you that he is
guilty?”

“ llis actions are certainly very strange,
and your story has been very straight for.
ward, and tallies pretty Well with the other
evidence I have gleaned, but there are two
points which still puzzle me.‘

“ What are they?" '

“ One is the fact of his being in Chicago,
which Ispoke to you about, and the other
is in regard tothe team Did you go to the
liver legible and get the team yourself?’

v ‘ (i .

“ And it came from a stable on Forty-sec-
ond street, didn’t it?” .

“ Yes.”

“ Well, the man who claims that he let the
team identified Stern as the man who hired
the team. [took Stern down there, and the
fellow was so sure of it that he told Stern to
his face that he was the man."

" What did Stern say?”

“He told him that he was the most rc-
markable liar he had ever met."

“ And so he might, for I hired that team
myself."

l

)lr.

‘t'ood 1‘“ asked Thad,

" Well, as we are down this way, suppose
we stop on our way back and see 1’ the fel-

Iow will recognize you."

“ Very well."

When they reached Forty-second street,
the detective had the cahman drive past the
livery stable and he and Wood got out and
went in. I

Michael Dolan was called for, and who
he came forward Thad said:

“ Mike, do you remember this gentleman?”

Mike looked at him for some moments and
finally replied: ‘

“ Yis, scr; that's the gintlemnn that hoired
the team that come back wid wan of ‘the
horses shot in the jaw. "

“ But you told me the other day that the
gentleman who was with me then was the '
man.’

As soon as Burr mentioned‘the other man, .

 

and: thought, after all, that he was the man.
 Whon'ho came to look at Wood again,

A;

he was equally as sure that it was he who
had taken the team out. And then, when
he came to he. cross-(prestioned, he became
confused and could not for the life of him
recall which one it was, but he remember-
ed that they had both been there.

Under the circumstances, as he knew
them, ’l‘hatl ditl not believe that Leonard
had been there at all, anti attributed the
stableman's assertion to that effect to a lapse
of memory, or worse.

 

(‘lIAl’TEli XXIV.
'1‘ ll t: 'r it U 'r n A 'r I. A s 'r .
Ul'tiN taking leave of Wood. the detec-
tive made one more call upon the Stt-rns
It was with some trepidation that he
awaited the answer to the bell after the
manner in which he had quilted the house

, on the previous evening, and when the at.

tendant came he gave him his card and

‘ asked for Miss .losepbine Stern.

Instead of showing him into the drawing—
room, the attendant. asked him to Step into
the young lady's private parlor

“ I had you come in here, Mr. Burr,” she
eXplaincd, “because papa has not yet be-
come reconciled to the facts, and in the
t-Vent of his coming in anti finding you in
the drawing room, he might makeit‘unpleas-
ant for you.”

“I appreciate your precaution," he re-
sponded, “ bttt I hope ‘re shall soon be able
to convince him that we are in the right."

“I fear it will taken long time and an
overwhelming mass of evidence to do it.
l’apa is so terribly set in his opinions: and
besides, Leonard was such a favorite, that it
will take something like a miracle to con-
vince him that he is incapable of doing any-
thingr wrong."

“ Did he make much of a scene last night
after i left?"

“Oh, yes, he fumed about a good deal,
but finally left us to ourselves."

‘ ‘ Did your step-mother and Harper remain
in the house?” ,

“Yes. After he went to his room we
knew that he would not trouble us again
that night, and I persuaded them to re-
main.”

“ Are they still here?”

“Yes, sir. Shall I call them?”

“ If you please. There are some things
to be cleared up yet, which nobody but they
can explain."

“Excuse me a moment and I will call
them down."

She left the room, and, a few minutes af
ter, returned. accompanied by Mrs. Stern
and Harper Stern.

After shaking hands with the detective,
they were all seated, and Thad began the
conversation with the remark addressed to
Kate:

“ When I saw you at Mrs. Sher ’8 yes-

terday‘r I did not expect to see you ere to-
day, Irs. Stern.’
“I presume not," she re lied. “And I

should not ave been had t not been for
brother, her. "I met him after leaving
Mrs. Shelby’s, and he advised me to come
home and put myself under the rotection
of Josephine. He then told me o the con-

templated robbery, which he had concocted

for the purpose of entrapping Leonard."
“Wil you please explain to me what
your motive for leaving home was. Mrs.
Stern, and why you remained in hiding all
this time, allowing it to be believed that you
were dead?" . - v
“Yes, certainly. You see, I‘ had been
engaged to Leonard and we had a. quarrel.
In fact, I never did love him very much.
He was so deceitful. So atterI married Mr.
Stern, Leonard went West, but after a. while
he got to writing to me, and became Idid
not answer his letters. he began writing
threatenz'n letters. This was very anno -~
ing, but bore it patiently, but when e

\came on here he annoyed [he almost to

death."
“ In what way ?" interposed the detective.
.“Oh. in various ways. One was com
tinually upbraiding me for jilting him, and
another was trying to periauade me to elope
with him. At length Ireceived the letter
asking me to meet him at,Riverside Drive.
I told him I would not, and in order to be
rid of him for the remainder. of his stay in
New York, I. wensth Newbu “.f'; w', ,v ‘
' You mt it new 43;wa ‘

 

 

   
   
  
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
    
    
   
  
    
  
  
   
  
  
   
    
 
 
 
   
   
 
   
  
 
 
     
  
  
   
 
  
  
  
   
   
  
   
 
 
   
   
    
  
   
 
  
 

“ Certainly. The next morning I read in
the papers that I had been found dead on
the rocks. anti my first impression was that
the report had been created by Leonard cut
of pure malice,becaust- I refused to meet him,
so I remained out of sight for a few days."

“ At Newburg all the titneif'

“No. As soon asl heard the rt-1ort of
my own dcathl can.e to tie city. my first
intention being to come hon e, but I changed
my mind and decided to keep out of sight.
fora few days to see what the result would
be, and w. m to )lrs. Slicllty's."

‘ Yen did rot go thtre till the next day
after the llllll‘tlt‘i‘. then?"

"I did not. The next day—the sevcn~
tecnth, llarper arriv; d from (‘hicago, learned
where l “as, and wrote to me, but still
lal oring under the delusion that l was pre-
judiced against bin: anti loved Leonard,
thought to surprise me by writing the letter
which you found at Mrs. Shelby's, signed
‘ l.en,’ imitating his hand so perfectly. that,
as you told me, Leonard ackntm‘ledged .it as
his own, but claimed that the date had been
chan gcd . " ‘

“Did you believe the letter was from
Leonard ?"

” Yes. at first; but I soon received another
fmm llarpcr explaining all."

“ What was the idea. of the sham abduc-
tion

“That was only half sham. Dr. llulsted,
who had known Leonard in Chicago, and
whom Leonard knew to be a blacklcg, was
employed by hint to watch me. under the
impression that I was Kate Bcrwick. my
cousin, and whom he hattd with all the
venom of his nature, lest ltliatc Berwick.)
knowing a good deal about. hisreal character.
should betray him. Ilulstcd discovered my
hiding-place through Leonard, and determ-
ined to carry me away where the detectives
would not get at me, but before the design ‘
was put into execution, Harper accidentally
met him, and through the mercst chance,
learned that he was in the employ of Leon.
ard to do some sort of dirty worlfi So, prc-,
tending to he a rascal himself, Iarper in-
duced him to divulge the plot to hitn and .
take him in as partner. The abduction ‘
took place, and at Harper‘s suggestion I
was taken to Miss Darc’s, where he knciv I "
would be 'afe. As soon as I was safely"
lodged there I rid mySelf of Iiulsted’s society
by refusing to see anybody, Harper among
the rest.”

“Leonard called to see you while
were there, I believe?” , 

“Yes. Ilustcd kept him osted as to my“
whereabouts. and he call once, but, as’
you know. I refused to see him. Then, it . ‘
seems, IIulsted was instructed to take me
some other place, where Leonard could see  »_
me, and he insisted upon taking me to the '
placo where you found. me. Harper was
over-ruled in this matter, but believing that "
you would follow us, advised me to write 
the note which I handed you out of the car;
riage window. Leonard was by this time‘-
pretty well frightened. He Knew he had
committed murder and believed it: was I ,
whom he. had killed, and Hulsted .had‘him 57-"
completely in his, power. Then- it was that
Harper concocted the scheme of robbing thé
house of the family jewels, in which 
would implicate Leonard. Leonard  5
consulted, and agreed to the proposition;
and you know the result. Hulsted 
Leonard were the only ones that 
privy to the real intent of the scheme.
When the whole arrangements were,“
plated, Josephine had me come tip tonnes;
house, where she concealed me till ‘ . ,
proper time, and she was ready to walk in
upon the culprit in the nick of time to catch
h m in his rascality. You came very‘near.
spoiling our plans by arriving at the house
at the time on did, and 'telling Leonard .33!
about it—w ich of course, he knew before—
but Harper managed to engineer the. thi "
through all right.” ' 3

“ How did you get possession of the
locket. Mrs. Stern? As I understandhitm
in Miss Berwick’s possession at the time 2
her death, and was torn from horned; “H
did she get it?” ' "

“ There is something funny nbOnt than).

ursued Kate) smiling. “I gave Katot
ocket in tfiae afternoon, after leaving the
house. W en Leonard wont to than
over the bluff the locket mug.

 

 

you V

1

The Riverside, Drive Death-Mystery.

(v -. ‘4}, .X. .

n

 

 

 

of his coat and was jerked off. When
Leonard met I'Iulsted, an hour later, the
locket was still hanging to his button, and
he asked him what he was doing with it.
Leonard was nearly frightened out of his
wits for fear some one else had seen it and
he would be identified as the murderer by it.
So he took the trinket oil' and gave it to
Hulsted, tellingr him to take it own ' and
throw it into the river. Instead of doing
that. however, he showed it to llarpcr, who

  
 

   

Ilnlstcd gave him the locket and he in turn
gave it to me. I did not want to show it to
you that (lay for fear you would trace this
matter out before we were. ready. You See,
our'idea was to bring the thing about in such
a way as to convince Mr. Stern of Leonard’s
rascality, which we thought we could do by
having him caught in the act. of delivering
the family jewels to burglars." 7

“But in that you were disappointed."

“ So it seems. lint he will be brought
around in time. 1 hope."

“ I hope so. But Leonard has a chancc~—

I ran axe-client chance of proving himself in—
noccnt.”

“ What?" they all exclaimed in chorus.

“ He was in Chica ro at Schll o'clock “on
the afternoon of (.)Cto )er 16th, the day after
the murder. In order to h:ch reached there
by that time, he would have had to leave here
not later than four o‘clock on the after—
noon of the 15th. Now, as the murder, by
all accounts, could not have occurred earlier
than ,five o’clock, it would hitve been im«

ossible for him to have reached Chicago be-
_ ore eight." I

“ How do on know he was in Chicago by
seven .9” asked Harper, smiling.

“I have positive proof of it,” replied the

 detective, bridling at the young man’s skep-
; " ticism.
" “Ham you?” asked the other, more sarcas-
g .5 ‘tically than before. _
' ." I have, sir.”
” What is it, pray ‘2"
“ This,” replied Thad, handing him Leon-
ard’s telegram in answer to his father‘s, dated
' list seven-fifteen, “ Does that prove noth-
" n ‘l'
  It proves nothing,” replied the young

   
  
   
  
   
  
   
   
  
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
   
  
  
  
     
 

E
v
r:
G
o
o
:

 

“How do you make that out?"

1  The young man coolly handed him another
7 telegram, or rather a filled-out blank, in Leon-
 ard s own handwriting. It read as follows:

 * “.NEW’YORK, October 15th, 1892.

 9“ To M . Hummer: P. HIGGINSON,,

’ ‘ ‘ ' "118 Monroe street, Chicago.

- “ DEAR Hm:-

4' . " Telegram will arrive for me .from my
[otheroome time tomorrow, tellin of death, '

etc. 1 cannot get there before eig t, maybe

.hine. Get telegram and answer about seven

'1 or seven-fifteen, as that is about time Iwonld

Cal-rive if I had gone at the time I left father,

(four o‘clock. hammer) E. STERN."

, The detective wus'dumfounded.

 He was half angry with himself that be

u should have been taken in by so simple a

Thick, but when he came to consider that

[Ronald's conduct throughout had been so

:' straightforward, he did not blame himself so
mac

   
  
  
   
 
   
    
  
 
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
 

 

:

- "‘What do I» you think of that?” cried the
your) man trlum hantlg'. ~ ‘
: “ ell, he’s an that t anl imagined,~ that
.is‘ all,” rejoined Thad. a little dryly. "‘ But,
 how came you to think of such a thing?"
$~' Why he boasted so loudly to me of his
ability to establish an alibi, that I thought I
oul see what Icould do in the way of
knocking his little scheme in the hen . I
went to Chicago the some day lyou did, and
_, in in the Auditorium Hotel in]! an hour
after. on Were. .I found, the some as you
did,‘ athe had been there, but of course
may could, not tell exactly the time, but
thought he had come in on the six-forty-flve
. ,gsin. But, I was not satisfied, and went to
stain mph office? The 0 rotor is: par.
*ticular ,riend of mine. "on lashed him to
ow me the blank of :the tale ram sent to
sw York (the one you have t ere) and be
ad it to me. Here'it is. You see it is
' eonsrd’s handwriting." ' "

 

   
   
   
  
  
  
  
   
   
  
    
  
   
  
   
      
   
   
 
  
  
   
 
  
  
 

“cadmium the blank.
then come on .to' New York,"

' y

  
 
  
 

  

ragged,

recognized it at once, and asked him for it. .

Ve’Th'st is ntrac,” assented lthe' detective,

W'estcrn Union office and asked for this blank.
The operator there is also a friend of mine,
and he gave nie the one I showed you before.
So you see I am something of a detective
myself."

“ So you are, and I feel ashamed of myself
that I did not think of that same thing."

“ Oh, well, you had a thousand other
things to think of, while my whole mind was
on this one thing.
ence in the world.”

“ Yes, there is some excuse for me there.
liut, there is one more question I wish toask
you, Mrs. Stern." he went on. turning again
to the lady. “ This does not pertain particu-
larly to the (.‘ttSc in hand, but if is indirectly
so."

“ What is that?” ‘
5 “ Iir. Stern told me that you had discover-

ed some dishonest dealings on the part of
; Harper here, and l‘t‘pol'tcd the matter to him;

and while you were at work upon them you
saw llarper go to the room where the books
were and alter them in such a way as to cover
up his embezzlement. Is that true?"

All three laughed.

“That was another of Leonard‘s sharp
tricks,” answered Kate. “There. was a
! shortage, but. we could not discm'er whether
it was Harper‘s or the head bookkeeper‘s,
and he brought the books here for me to ex-
amine, as lwas a pretty good accountant.
While we were at Work upon them, Leonard
told Harper that we were purposely altering
them so as to make out a case against him,
and advised him' to slip in and take a look at
the books after we were gone. When he
found that he had persuaded liar ier to do so,
he came to me and told me that liarpcr was
going to alter the books while we were
away, and for me to watch him. i did so,
and found him looking over the books. He
did not alter a figure or,intend to, but the
case looked bad for him, and as you saw last
night, Mr. Stern is set in his ways and ideas,
and there was no convincing him that Har-

er was not the thief, and so he was ban-
shed. We have all known differently a
long time, but it waS’not until we could
convict Leonard that he would be able to
come back.”

At that moment the front door was heard
to open, and'Josephine turned a little pale
as she said:

“ That is papa now!”

The next moment the old gentleman was
heard calling his daughter, and she left the
robin to join him! A moment later the
occupants of the room heard loud and
angry talking in the hall, and finally the old
man burst into the room in a towering rage,
demanding in a sava 0 voice:

“ Where is it? I on’t believe it! Where
is it, Isay? Let me see it!"

" Here it is, father,” said Josephine. in a
conciliating tone, coming forward and tak-
ing the telegram blank from the detective
and handing it to her father. "You see,

apa, it is in his own handwriting, and here

posed to have been sent by him, which is
not in his ham." 1 '

The old to n examined the two documents
which he he d in his nervous fingers, and
final] stormed: ' ,

" till I do not believe it. It is a for-
gory. andrthe ,whole business is a conspiracy
to ruin my soul” . V,
“ There is a way'of proving that, sir; '
su ‘ted Burr. ‘

' ow, sir?" demanded the old rnan, hot-
xy“Two wa s, in fact. First. we might
take the blsn supposed to have been writ~
ten by your son and ask him if he wrote it.
If he confessed, all well and 0d. That
settles it. But. if he denies it, 1 on we can
summon the‘ operator from Chicago, and
have him testify..‘and also the very man
who wrote this? dispatch. 110 Would hardly
.perjnre himself.” I
- “Vet "well, sir,” snorted the old man,
"we will go to the prison and see if my son
will ackn wledge writing that blank. I
know he, on’t in advance. but I want to,
convince you. Come!" , , , ' .
 Five minutes'iater the whole crowd ,took
3' cuttings and. Wm: driven to the Tombs
 , ' Fives had .bofore'they

    

 

 

l

t

s the one from Chicago, which was sup- l

J him, “ look at that!
That makes all the differ—

 

 

 but they

Leonard was sitting, as on the previous
occasron of Thad’s visit, on the side of his

. cot reading, and barely glanced up w hen his

name was-called, but as he did so, he caught
sight of his father‘s face and arose slowly
and approached the grated door.

“ llere, my boy!” shouted the old man,
thrusting the dispatch through the grating to
They say you wrote it.
I know you did not! What have you to
say?” ‘

The instant the young man‘s eyes fell upon
the paper, his face told the story withoutany
word on his part.

His face grew ghastly white, his hand
trembled so that he could scarcely hold the
sheet, and it finally slipped from his nervous
fingers and fluttered to the ground, as he
covered his face with his hands and groaned.

“What!” roared the old man, “do you

. mean to acknowledge having written it,
that you and he went over the books together ‘

Sir?"

“ Yes, yes, father." groaucd Leonard.
“There is no use of denying it. That was
the last ray of hope I had, and now that is
shut out. There is no longer any use of
trying to deny my guilt. It was I who
murdered Kate!"

And reeling back to his cot, he fell head~
long across it.

The poor old father had been spared the
latter part of his confession, hon ever, for as
he pronounced the words ‘ch, yes,’ the old
man, the doting and long-deluded father,
sunk back in a fit, and never recovered cou-
seiousnessj—a blessed relief to the terribly-
dcceived parent.

THE END.
i

 

NEXT DIME LIBRARY. No. 799.

The New York Shitailung Branch;

BLOCKING was BURLESQUE
ACTRESS’S GAME.

BY ALBERT W. AIKEN.

That there isafatalit in Certain gems. this do»
cidedly exciting sto emonstrates. A blue dia-
mond—a very beauti ul and costly gem—is almost
certain death to every possessor—the deaths that;
fello ~ the ownership are so mysterious as to heme
every investigator. until the

Invincible Joe Phonlx

takes hold of the case, and briu ng to his aid his
almost invincible female cow utor, the actress
these two follow ,

The Mndow Trail,’

through all its mazes and phases; and when the
tragic mystery is seemingl most impenetrable, a,
solution comes bringing wit it a climax of startling
accompaniments. The story is one of

Joe Pinon): “ Star Engagement-l”

and all admirers of this great charactvrin American
annals will follow the performance With infinite en-
Joymeut.

 

 

Baadle’s [little library.

BY HAROLD PAYNE.
793 The Wall Street Sharoor's'Snap.
784 Thad Barr's Death Drop. '
742 DetectlvoBurr Among be New York Thugs.
784 Detective Burt‘s Foil: or A Woman's Strategy.
728 Detective Burr. the Headquarters Special.
713 Detective Burt‘s Spirit Chase. ’
706 Date ctive Barr's Seven Clues. '
698 Thad Burr. the Invincible: or. The “ L " Clue.
690 The Matchless Decective. ,
68) XX. the Fatal Clew: or. Bun-'- Msstor Om.

tuner mm nsw 188018.

796 Old Night-Hawk, the Crook Shadows!" or, The
Tangled-up Kyle-Writer. Wm. G. atton.

796 The Frisco tectlve‘s Thu Tangle; or The

Junk-Dealer's Death-Deal. y . E. er.
Pistol Tomr‘ny. the met Sharp; or, Tue Bob.

= tall Bonanza. Bv Leon Lewis. .

7‘98 The Riverside Dnve Death-NEE; or, Deter;

‘tlve Barr's Luna ic Wrness. rold Payne.

The New York Sport at Long Branch; or. Block-

» in: the Burlesque Actress’s Game. By Albert.

.W. Alkom .
800 Wild Bill. the Deodflonter Shot: or. Bio anode.
. Belg-h, the Cowboy Chief. By Buffalo 8111,1001).
W. . Cody.) K

!

    

. as for mam X