E
TIIK OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: APRIL 23. 1911.
Am
C'H A PTER XXX Contlnaed.
Just then the boy tapped on th door;
put hit head in and said: "Not downtown
yet, ir." McBrlde nodded that he under
stood. The Idea that was uppermost In McBride's
mind Wa to discover, if possible, how MIk
Ktewart had been mistaken for Miss Ohl
atrom; but at the aiitne time he realized
the Importance of avoiding any mention
of Miss Ohlstrom. That would Immediately
put the detective on her track; perhaps
with unpleasant consequences. He had not
the allghtest Idea what the letter promised
by Mr. Hartley should have referred to.
o he could not begin on that clue. The
only thing upon which he was at all sure
of his ground, was the slip of paper that
Hartley had aent over to Groscup, bearing
Miss Stewart name and address. Why
not begin on that?
' Mr. Hartley told me that you had fol
lowed a young lady from this office one
mointng last week," he began, "and had
traced her to a certain a'ldret8, which you
gave him. 1 suppose you have established
the fart that she in a Mr. Maxwell?"
The detective wai evidently taken aback.
He did not know exactly what to say, and
not being is ready with aiibterf uses as Mr.
Hartley, he could not fmtl wnrrla to con
real his thoughts, so he kept silent, lie
could not imagine how to account for Mr.
Hartley's extraordinary statement thai he
had followed Mini Stewart from that office.
Seeing that ha Wan expected to aay some
thing, he twisted his slouch hat a little nnd
looked at the floor for fully a minute be
fore he spoke.
"Well, it's not Quite clear to me yet, sir,"
and then ha stopped, not knowing what
more to say, and not being very clear In
his own mind as to what he waa talking
about. He still wanted to gain time.
"I suppose you have no Idea where Mr.
Maxwell is now," the young man went on,
sparring for an opening.
"Wall, I know where part of him Is, sir.
But I don't know where his head la. sir.
I wish I did."
"What do you mean?" Inquired McBrlde
la evident astonishment.
"Excuse me, sir," the detective said hur
riedly, "but 1 supposed that Mr. Hartley
had told, you my theory of It."
"He did. But you see he didn't agree with
It." This waa a shot at a venture. McBrlde
had not the slightest Idea to what theory
the detective was referring to.
"X thought he didn't, air. But It's pretty
clear to me, sir. I'art of Mr. Maxwell's is
In chemicals at the morgue, and the rest
of him Is still In the river somewhere.''
"But you don't mean to say", gasped the
young man.
"Sura J do, air. I'm as certain of It as
I'm sitting here. It was Maynard murdered
him, In that cab. Both of 'em disappeared
the same night. I traced the cab to May
nard." '
"What! Tou mean that cab they found
by the river two or three week ago?"
"That's the one. sir. Maynard hired that
oab. or stole It, and had his- pal on the
box. Ha called for Stewart, or Walton, or
Fletcher, or whatever -you call him, at .his
hotel and took him away In that cab. Cut
him up. Threw him In the river." Johnson
made Appropriate motions with his hands
to Illustrate the tragedy.
'Tou must be craay. Why haven't the
polio arrested Maynard long ago? I
thought there waa no clue whatever to the
viotlm; much less to the murderer."
"Well, sir. It's hard to prove It, you
know; but that's my theory. Mr. Hartley,
be engaged me on this Job to follow Mr.
Fletcher two weeks ago Monday, aa you
know, sir. We shadowed him for three
days; but the only person we could find
him connecting with was Miss Stewart It's
her address I gave Mr. Hartley, sir. I got
it following Fletcher. I never knew she
was at thla office till Mr. Hartley told
me, sir."
It waa on the tip of McBride's tongue to
tell Johnson that Mies Btewart was never
In that office; but he caught himself Just
In time.
"Mr. ' Hartlav Diobablv told you. sir."
VTDklng at him Inquiringly, "that we was to
watch for Mr. Fletcher at the Earls wood
' hotel that Thursday night."
"Yea, I know all about that,' said Mo.
Bride quickly, seeing that the detective
was evidently feeling his way.
"But he never showed up. No one hasn't
seen him since. Nor Maynard neither."
These statements were each accompanied
by emphatlo nods. "I followed up a clue
I had at the Realton. where Fletcher was
tnnnlni. ind I tnlllA 11 n Ml v mind bv nut
ting this and that together that this here
Cab No. 44, which was at the hotel that
night pretty late, was brought there by
Maynard, And lie went away In it," with
another nod. "And no one ain't seen him
since." with a still more emphatlo nod,
'.But what haa that got to do with Max
well or Fletcher? Where does he come In?"
"Maynard sent up his card to him at the
hotel, and waited around for him half an
hour." l
"Did thay drive off together?" I
"Now you've got me. air. That's' the
place whera my trail is lost. I'm only sur
mising the rest of it; but it's a good work
ing theory. Don't you think so, sir?"
"Then you think that Maxwell la mur
dered? hy don't you explain your theory
to tie polio and Wt them help your
"Tea. sir. I think he s the fellow that's
in the five. But I'm not giving my theory
away to the polio. They would claim all
the credit for it themselves, sir, and throw
ni out. They're kind of down on private
detectives, you know, air. They bate to
have any one smarter than they, Is, air,
tua police do. There's more money In giv
ing the steer to the papers, sir, than to the
polio. That's my game when I'm through
with Mr. Hartley."
"What was his motive for murdering
blw?" McBrlde asked, not noticing the last
part of the detective's remarks.
"Now you've got me again, sir. I can't
find out much about this Maynard, except
that he shot and killed a man once be
fore. Wasn't never tried for It, seemingly.
These fellow that are In society are pretty
bard to trace when it comes to their pri
vate Uvea, sir. What the papers print
.'aiiout them la mostly guess work. The
motive, as you say, sir; that's what stumps
1 me."
"Then the whole police force of New
York are looking for a dead man." Mr. Mc
Brlde remarked musingly, aa if talking to
himself.
"There no one looking for him, sir. The
polk-e don't know nothing about lu Mr.
Hartley's paying me' to keep quiet about
my views, air. But it's hard, air. It very
hard, with the papers ready to pay big
money for tip like what I could give 'cm."
"But I sent out a general alarm for Mil
ton Fletcher last night. I gave the police
a complete description of him."
Mr. Johnson gave a violent start. "For
mercy's sake, sir! And what did you say
he waa wanted for? Did you tell them ha
was oue of the Ardmore gang?"
"Not at ail. 1 Jual dcautucd, the man. and.
asked them to find him. What proof have
you that he was one of that gang?''
"Well, sir," said the detective, shaking
his head, "that's too long a story to go
oxer nlt now. But If you'd have told
the police to find Maynard. sir, you'd have
some fun. To have the whole force looking
for a dead man. and they having parts of
him In chemicals at the morgue. Why,
that's positively funny, sir; that Is."
McHrlde turned over several things In his
mind and started on a new tack. "You will
excuse me, Mr. Johnson; but I cannot
quite reconcile your statement that It was
In following Mr. Fletcher, or Maxwell,
nearly three weeks ago, that you rami
across Miss Btewart; and Mr. Hartley's
statement .that the first time you ever
saw Miss Stewart was when you followed
her from this office, only last week."
Mr. Johnson shrugged his shoulders.
"Thnt's his business, sir. It's my private
opinion, sir, that Mr. Hartley knows a good
deal more about Mr. Fletcher than he cares
to tell. I'm thinking he knows considerable
about Miss Stewart, too, dir. It was a let
ter of introduction to her I was to get
here this morning, sir. She's the only
chance we have to find out anything more
about Fletcher, who he was and where
he come from. In the meantime, I'm doing
all I can on my own account to locate
Mr; Paul Maynard."
"I can Introduce you to Miss Stewart any
time.'"
"The deuce you can, sir!"
"Yen. What Mr. Hartley wants more
than anything else at present, he tells me.
Is to establish beyond question the fact
thit this Mrs. Btewart, as she calls her
self Is really Mrs. Maxwell, or Mrs.
Fletcher, whichever you please." Mr. Mc
Brlde gasped at his own temerity in mak
ing this statement. But why should he not
seise this oportunltv to obtain the proots
which would aet all doubts on Miss Ohl
strom a part at rest? No matter whether
Maxwell were dead or alive; it he were a
married man, that would be more than
enough.
"Well, It wouldn't do for me to tackle
her myself, sir. We have a man that's
been trying to get acquainted with her for
two weeks. If you would Introduce him, it
would be what Mr. Hartley's been after
for some time, sir."
McBrlde made some remark about the
man's not having been very wide awake
if It took him two weeks to make that
acquaintance, when he knew of some one
that had done It in a few hours. Had he
known that the handsome Mr. Frank Dore
mua, who was supposed to have that matter
in hand, bad no existence outside Mr.
Johnson's Imagination, and that Mr. John
son himself was not wasting any time on
Miss Ktewart, he might have spared John
cm the necessity of blushing slightly, and
laughing In his sleeve at the same time-.
McBrlde wrote the name of the Second
avenue cafe on a slip of paper, and handed
it to the detective. "Bring your man there
tomorrow night at six, and I win introduce
him."
"All right, sir. In the meantime, sir, I
hope you won't say anything about my
theory of the cab business to any one, sir;
especially to the police. They wouldn't
give me no credit for nothing, air. If there
is anything in that Job when Mr. Hartley's
through with me. sir; I'd llke.to make a
bit out of it for myself through the pa
pers." "You can trust me. In fact, Mr. Hartley
told me that anything you might tell me
waa to go no further. And," he added
slowly, glancing at his desk; "If you want
any money, you are to have whatever you
call for for yourself and Doremus. It might
be worth a little extra If you could get
the proffs of that marriage In my hands
quickly."
"Thank you, sir. Of course, sir, a little
cash always comes in handy. Expenses has
to be met In thla line, you know, sir?"
"How about a couple of hundred?"
"Thank you very much, sir."
McBrlde excused himself for a minute
and then returned with the bills. Johnson
stuffed them into his pooket, and promised
there should be no mistake about the meet,
lng next night at the cafe. He would soen
get the proofs of that marriage tor him.
Johnson himself appeared at the ap
pointed time. Mr. Doremus was sick, he
said, but Johnson would pasa the intro
duction along. He was dressed for the oc
casion, and McBrlde could not help smiling
at the change In his appearance, although
he waa evidently very 111 at ease in a
dinner coat, and looked for all the world
like a waiter.
The shead-walter approached them and
bowed -ery low to McBrlde, who whispered
a question to him. The waiter was very
sorry; but madam would not be there
again. She had dined there last night,
and had said goodby to him. She was sail
ing for Europe today, and was already on
the high seas.
CHAPTER XXXI.
The next morning. Modi da lay .baok In
hi easy chair and thought things ever,
Helen Ohlstroro being the oentral figure
round which bis reflections revolved. The
departure of Mrs. Btewart bad been quit
a blow. She had undoubtedly gone to Join
Mr. Maxwell. The hoped tor proofs of that
marriage seemed a long way off new.
He had bean particularly annoyed by ob
serving that in all his meetings with Miss
Ohlstrom, she had regarded him chiefly aa
seme on who eould talk about Hary Max
well; or who would bring ber news about
Maxwell; or who would help her to find
Maxwell. He was especially hurt when he
thought of the eagerness with which she
had described Mr. Maxwell for the benefit
of the police, snd how she had enlarged
upon his being so tall and handsome.
He had found the task of cutting out his
rival much mora difficult than he had ex
pected. If any on had asked his opinion
a week before, he would unhesitatingly
have aald any girl would throw a man
over It she feund he had run away from
ber without a word of farewell or explana
tion. If that was not enough, the knowl
edge that be was a well known criminal
would have decided her. If there were any
doubt about that, she certainly could not
withstand the blow of finding that be had
been paying attention to another woman
waa probably married even all the time
he had been making love to her.
These little things did, not seem to affect
Helen Ohlstrom. The man on whom she
had wasted her afectlona waa clearly a liar,
traveling under a number of false names.
He waa undoubtedly a forger, tie bad un
questionably been seen with another wo
man; he had dined with her often In a pub
lic cafe. There seemed litis doubt that he
waa a married man. McBrlde could not see
why Miss Ohlstrom should not cease to
speak of him even. She should hate the
very memory of him, and do her beat to
forget that auch a creature had ever
crossed her path. But Helen Ohlstrom waa
obstinate to exasperation. Now he eould
go to her and tell her that Mr. Maxwell
was dead. That would be a sum equltur,
W44
and she would probably come to her senses.
That any Toman could be proof against
such an accumulation of accusations
and proofs against her faithless lover
seemed incredible; but that she would hold
on to him after he was dead was Impossi
ble. Once this rascal Maxwell was out of
her mind, McBrlde felt that he would
have a clear field. The sooner that
state of afalrs could be brought about, the
better.
Ha called on her that evening, and ap
proached the explanation as gently as he
could; because he did not want a repetition
of the scene Bt the Athletic club. He did
not tell her that Maxwell was murdered.
That rould come later. It would be enough
to say that he had fallen Into the river,
and that his body had only Just been
Identified.
She did not cry. She listened as If he
were talking aboutv something that had
hnppened to some one else, with which she
had nothing to do.' She arrived at the
source of his Information with a very few
sharp questions, and then remarked dryly:
"Another story that Mr. Hartley Is mixed
up In." She shook her head and said she
did not believe a word of it.
McBrlde went over all his arguments
ngain. It was perfectly useless. He hoped
the would ask him how Mr. Maxwell came
to be in the river, and he tried to lead her
to that question by suggesting that his
death was the simple and only explanation
of her not hearing from him. But she did
not seem to care what explanation might
be offered to account for his being drowned.
She didn't care It he had run away, she
said, and she did not believe he was dead.
She didn't care anything about bis change
of name; and she didn't believe he was a
forger. She did not care If he did dine
with another woman every night; but she
didn't believe he was married to her. Fi
nally she said she didn't care If he was mar
ried; she didn't care If he was dead. She
said she was going to stick to Hardy Max
well until he told her those things him
self, even If she had to watt until the
next world for the explanation.
McBrlde frankly expressed his amaze
ment at such mad infatuation, especially
when wasted on such a worthless object. It
seemed to him to be a sin.
"No, It Is not a sin," she said slowly,
playing with the tassel on the arm of her
easy chair, and gazing into the fire. "We
cannot all be good, Mr. McBrlde, any more
than we can be great or clever. Our natures
do not admit It. But there Is one virtue we
may all possess If we will only cultivate It.
We can at least be loyal to our friends."
"But you surely do not call one a friend
who has grossly deceived you; who haa
given you a false name; who has flirted
with another woman; who has shown him
self a coward and a cad by running away
without even saying goodby, even If he
is not a forger and rascal that he seems
to be? Why, I should think you would
loathe the very thought that auch a person
had ever held a place in your affections
for a moment,"
"I don't care what you aay against him,
Mr. McBrlde," she said, quietly but sadly,
as the tears rose In her eyes, "some women
go through life without ever meeting t"he
man they really love the one man In the
whole world that has that subtle fascina
tion for them that no woman can feel more
than once. Those that do meet the right
man go one of two ways; to heaven with
him; to the other place without him. If
the first path Is not open to me, I will
take the second." ,
CHAPTER XXXII.
Three weeks had passed since the bloody
cab had ben discovered on the dock, and
the fourth week began. On Saturday the
thirty days would expire; but so far from
there being any sign of the solution of the
mystery, both the publlo and the police
seemed to have forgotten all about it. All
Johnson's efforts to locate the fugitive Paul
Maynard had failed, and1 he had to be
content to nurse his pet-theory of the cab
murder in his own bosom. In spite of such
additional information aa McBrlde cared
to give, the police professed to be unable
to find any trace of Milton Fletcher. Mo
Brlde had not thought It advisable to fol
low out Johnson's suggestion by asking
them to find Mr. Paul Maynard.
Helen Ohlstrom still refused to believe
that Hardy Maxwell was either dead or.
married, or had ever been In love with anv
other woman while ahe knew him, or had
ever committed aay forgeries, or belonged
to any gangs. He had met with some acci
dent, probably in another town, and when
h was able to write to her he would. No
matter how unreasonable that theory might
be, it was hopeful, and on that hope ahe
Uved.
Madge waa no longer so anxious, ap
parently, to Impress upon her friend the
desirability of forgetting Hardy Maxwell.
Perhaps the reason tor his change In her
attitude was that she had met McBrlde.
"These lovers are really very' tiresome,"
she remarked to a girl friend one day. "The
last time I waa at Helen's, I could hardly
kep from yawning. Mr. MoBrld was ther,
and the on Absorbing topic of conversa
tion seemed to be speculations aa to what
might have happened to that scamp Max
well." -What Is Mr. McBrid interest In Mr.
Maxwell? I should not think he would car
to discuss the Englishman so much It he
waa aa fond of Helen himself aa you Im
agine he la."
"Ooodness knows! I used to try to bring
Helen to her senses by telling her that It
was ridiculous to believe that a man could
not find some means of writing a note or
sending a message If he waa alive. But
the only effect was to make Helen go
over all the absurd possibilities again. When
I asked him why he humored Helen eo
much Mr. MoBrlde told me that the only
way he could make himself agreeable to
her was to talk about Hardy Maxwell. As
long as he kept to that subject, ho said,
she would listen forever."
"Very good of him to make a martyr
of himself that way. Just to please her,
don't you think?"
"Well. I told hlra I did not care to hear
anything further about Mr. Maxwell and
that he eould talk to me about anything he
liked. And, would you believe it, all he
could talk about was Helen! I really think
he is Just aa much in lov wtth her as she
Is with Mr. Maxwell."
in reaching this conclusion Madge was
perfectly correct. Mr. Hartley s wish had
been fulfilled, and the mortgage he hoped
for on his confidential clerk's atentlon was
ready for foreclosure. Mr. McBrlde had
met Miss Right
Th hopelessness of his passion waa be
coming more apparent every day; but he
could not tear himself from it Every time
he saw her he became more madly In love
with her. Sometimes aa he sat looking at
her he would long for the good old days of
th middle ages, when he could have
anatcbed her from her home and carried
her off to some ancient fortress In sums
lonely forest, bidding defiance to her fam
ily and her feeling at U saju Urn.
WB&EffOSinER
Crnntmm, Hi. t ft
nttOCRICK A. STOKtJI COUTANT
STREET 4 f MtTH 7
V )1
Mr. Groscup was quite satisfied thst the
storm had blown over, and he had cabled
to Mr. Frank Douglas to come home. Mc
Brlde had advised Mr. Hartley that unless
he had any further use for Johnson, It
would be Just as well to stop that drain on
his finances; because the said Johnson wss
not at all bashful about drawing money
for the "expenses" of himself and the
handsome Mr. Frank Doremus, who seemed
to be still engaged on the case., although
the person for whose benefit he was em
ployed had disappeared from the scene.
Mr. Frank Douglas arrived at quarantine
on Friday night, too late to land; but he
found letters for him, telling him that Mr.
Groscup and Dr. Ramie would be at the
dock to meet him In the morning, and ad
ding that everything was quiet . on the
Potomac He knew what that meant, and
he was glad to hear it. He had eagerly
searched all the newspapers that came on
board, to see If there were any ttem about
the mystery of Cab No. 44. Apparently that
incident was entirely forgotten, so many
and much more interesting events had
happened since.
The doctor was very glad to see the re
turning capitalist, and congratulated him
on his fine apearance. Of course Douglas'
first question was about the cab, and he
could not help expreslng his astonishment
that no one had recognized Maynard a ring.
The fact that two known men and an un
known cab driver, could completely disap
pear at the same time that the tragedy hap
pened, and no one even notice the coinci
dence, was beyond him. The lawyer told
him that it was nothing bul his guilty
knowledge that supplied the connection
which no one else had even dreamed of.
Even If they knew that two men and a
cab driver had disappeared, which they
didn't he said. New York was a large place,
and many people drop out of sight every
day without exciting as much comment aa
a stickful In the papers.
"And that fellow Fletcher," Douglas went
on, a they strolled up and down the dock,
watting for the baggage to come ashore,
"pity he turned out to be a wrong-un, you
know. I could have used him in my busi
ness; and put him In the way of making
a gread deal more every year than that
paltry $i,O0O he killed Maynard for. No
sign of him?''
"No. Not even a suspicion," said the
doctor with a laugh. "Eh, Uroscup?''
The lawyer did not quite agree. He called
the doctor's attention to the tact that Mr.
Douglas was not aware of the later devel
opments with regard to Mr, Fletcher's past,
and then he proceeded to explain briefly
to Mr. Douglas that Mr. Fletcher could
never have availed himself of Mr. Douglas'
good intention to make use of him in a
businesa way, as the police were after him
for crimes only a little less serious than
the one of which they knew.
Douglas did not seem Inclined to believe it.
"I liked that fellow," he said frankly. "H
seemed to ma to be the real stuff. I make
my money sizing up the men I meet with
and the yarns they spin on me. Any man
may commit murder. We can't judge him
until w know what drove him to it But
if that fellow Fletcher waa a thief or a
forger, I'll own up I never was so badly
fooled in my life."
The doctor smiled. "You're not fooled on
on thing, Mr. Douglas," he said, "Fletcher
was smart enough not to be caught. At
least he haa only about ten hours more to
stay hid, and you tret your money all right.
Your Judgment was good enough to pick
the winner in that little bet. Come up to
Green's tonight at 8 o'clock and I'll hand
over the stakes. This la the day, you
know."
"You don't catch me going near Green's,"
said Douglas, rather emphatically. "I
should have a bide funk If I went in there
again. 1 have never been able to forget
that bloody pocketbook, and that fellow
Fletcher, pale aa a ghost, backing out of
the door with his watch in his hand, tell
ing us not to move for twenty minutes.
My! It gives me the shivers yet I know
I'll be like Maynard. Remember that yarn
of his? Yes. I'll fall Into the arms of the
first cop that looks at ma."
"But you must come to Green tonight
at 8, aa agreed. Hartley will be ther'i, and
Mr. Grose up haa promised to come up, aa
he is interested in the case. I have re
served the room."
"Not the same room, I hope?"
"Yes, the same room. Why not?"
"Can't stand it, my dear doctor. I should
say or do something that would give the
whole thing away, I know. . I believe if I
saw a spot on the tablecloth I'd shriek. Too
much of Banquo'a ghost about that place
for me. Come up to my club, or some other
restaurant. Anywhere but that room of
Green's."
But th doctor insisted on Green's. That
was th agreement, and even it he stayed
only long enough to hear tb clock strike
eight and get Mr. Hartley's acknowledg
ment that Fletcher had not been found
within the time specified, he must coma
Finally, after both men had argued hi in
into it. he agreed to b at Green on Um
that evening.
CUAPTKB XXXIII.
Upon Hartley' return, which waa on
Friday, he had been In no hurry, appar
ently, to dispense with Johnson' service.
He eemd rather anxious, however, to dis
cover how much hi confidential clerk had
learned about the mission upon which
Johnson had been originally engaged, and
bow much they hud exchanged confidences.
The manner in which the ground seemed
to have opened and swallowed Milton
Fletcher was a never-ending source of won
der and comment with Hartley, How the
police could have completely dropped that
murder mystery, when It seemed to him
that it should have been such a simple
affair. If they had only exercised a little
common sense, was another thing he never
ceased talking about. At the same time, he
was very glad that there was apparently
ao danger of his being drawn Into th cas
now.
"Mr. Groscup says you will never hear
anything more about it," MuBride told
him, "unless Maynard comes back, or
makes a deathbed confession somewhere."
"Maynard com back! How can a dead
man come bauk? You mean Fletcher. Oh!
Of courae! Yes! I understand. You have
got that theory from Johnson. Yes, yes!"
and he laughed It off, adlng quickly, ao as
tu change the subject, "and how la Miss
Ohlstrom?"
McBride's color changed instantly. "She
is very well, thank you. Doesn t believe a
word of It though."
"Doesn't believe a word of what?"
"Doean't believe he s a forger, or a mar
ried man, or a dead man, or anything."
"Sticks to him, eh? Fine girl that. But
you say he never wrote her a line? Never
tried to aee her, or anything?"
"I don't see how a dead man can do any
thing like that very wel, sir."
That's so! Of course not! Of course not!
Bo has dead. Is be? What am I talking
about? Jouason s theory, of course. Well,
forget It." He got up and cut the end off a
cigar. After a pause be asked:
"By the way. How comes H that you
know so much about what Miss Ohlstrom
believes, and how she Is? Been heie again,,
has she?'"
McBrlde blushed. He might as well con
fess that he had met her addentally at the
Athletic club reception and had been Intro,
duced to her; had called on her once or
twice and found her very agreeable.
"Why, then she must be a respectable
girl!" exclaimed Hartley In evident aston
ishment. "I wish you to understand, sir," replied
McBrlde with some warmth, "that Miss
Ohlstrom belongs to one of the best fam
ilies in the city, and that I esteem It an
honor to consider her a personal friend
of mine."
"Then what on earth was she doing
running with a profeslonal forger?" Hart
ley answered testily.
"He presented forged letters of Introduc
tion to her father I believe."
"Then I advise you to tell her that the
sooner she looks them up the better."
"She haa done so, sir. She expects u letter
by the mall that Is due from England to
morrow. I see the boat Is reported at
Nantucket Shoals, and should be at Sandy
Hook some time tonight. I am going to
call on Miss Ohlstrom tomorow afternoon,
to leatn the result of her letter of In
quiry. "
"Indeed! Well, Just let me know how It
comes out. I shan't come down tomorrow;
but I have a dinner engagement at Green's
at eight with Douglas and Kamle. If you
learn anything of importance, you might
drop In there and let us know. Weil be
there for an hour or two. If It turns out
that he has presented forged letters of In
troduction, there should be no doubt about
the rest of hi record."
CHAPTER XXXIV.
McBrlde called upon Helen about four
o'clock; but tio letter had arrived from
England. Her father had received some
foreign mall by that boat earlier in the
day. downtown, and she felt that there
was no chance now. She was evidently
very much depressed about It, and stood
at the window looking at the gathering
darkness, wiping off the window pane oc
casionally with that peculiar nervous move,
ment which forebodes a fit of tears.
McBrlde had seen enough of that sort
of thing, so he thought It best to take his
leave and to promise to call later In the
evening, as the last mall would not be de
livered until after o'clock. He waa disap
pointed himself that the letter had not
come, and he hoped It would arrive soon.
He felt sure that when one prop fell, and
Mr. Hardy Maxwell's heartless deception
was exposed by the discovery of his forged
letters, the whole fabric of the girl's In
fatuation would fall; and then, at last,' hi
patience would be rewarded. He' had not
been able to keep hi promise to find Max
well for her. But he could keep his vow to
expose, the Englishman.
Helen waa standing at the window when
he returned, and she flew to the door to
let him In. What a change two hour had
made! She was radiant. She was a picture.
He had never seen her so beautiful be
fore, a she rushed Into the parlor and
then turned and faced him, waving a let
ter In her hand. ,
"There!" she said,', "I knew' It! I knew
It! Read that! No; I'll read it to you. No.
You can read it yourself," forcing It Into
hi hand. "Oh, I'm ao glad that I never be
lieved any of those horrid things," ahe
aid, aa she stood faqlng him while he read,
her hands clasped and trembling with ex
citement; her face half smiles and half
tear.
It was a simple letter, which Just filled
four sides of the sheet, closely but neatly
written In a girl's hand. It was from MIbs
Ohlstrora's cousin and read;
"Dear Helen: Mamma asks me to an
swer your letter, as she Is not very well.
We are so glad you like Hardy Maxwell.
We got a long letter from him about a
week before yours came. He said some aw
fully nice things about you; in fact
mamma think he must have Intentions.
But I suppose you know all about that. I
think be would be a perfectly splendid lover
so tall and handsome.
"Papa was a little worried because Hardy
wrote that be had resigned his position In
England; but he said he had something
more promising on hand in America, and
that he wanted to stay ther for other
reaaons. We could almost guess what the
other reasons were, after what he said
about you. You know he was chief of the
foreign service at Scotland Yard, and th
Inspector told papa he was the most prom
ising man they had, and would be made an
Inspector when be got back. He went to
America after some bank robbers or some
thing, and he was very lucky. I think
papa said the chief of th robbers hap
pened to be on the same ship, and Hardy
got put In the same cabin with him, and
the captain waa very kind, and took th
robber' bag Into th captain room on
the last day, so that Hardy could get it
afterwards, and he found all the robber's
papers and things In it A Mr. Stewart
that papa say Is th cleverest woman de
tective in the world, waa with Hardy, and
ah got the robber to make love to her, or
something. Papa aay she and Hardy man
aged thing ao cleverly that they can ar
rest all th robbers any minute, and a
man la going over this week to bring them
back; but I suppose Hardy has told you
all about It himself.
Give Hardy much lov and tell him to
writ often.
Your affectionate cousin,
AGNES."
McBrlde waa speechless. Ilia first thought
was of Johnson and his theory of the dis
appearance. Could It be possible that some
of the gang had waylaid Hardy Maxwell
and finding Maynard with him and In th
way, had killed them both? That would ac
count for the disappearance of the two
men. He had not the heart to throw a
cloud over the happy face before him Just
then. If that were the solution of the
tragedy In the cab, It would come to light
In time. But after reading the letter he
could see no earthly reason why Hardy
Maxwell should not have written at
least a line, unless It were true that he
was lying at the bottom of the river.
"Now what have you got to say?" de
manded Helen, smiling radiantly, taking
the letter from him and holding It tightly
la both hands aa If to be sure that it waa
real.
"I am sure I do not know what to say,"
MoBrlde faltered, beginning to 'feel sick
st heart and discouraged at the turn things
had taken, "unless It. is to go and tell the
police to look for a detective named Max
well. I suppose you still hold me to my
promise to find him for you, no matter
what hi name la?"
"Now don't be disagreeable," she admon
ished, "but tell me what you think best
to be done. Some one must know where he
is. Perhaps detectives do not glv their
real name to tb police. Suppose you ask
them if there Is an English detective In
town, and where he Is?"
McBrlde could not help smlllnk at the
simplicity of th suggestion, but at the
same time he was turning over In his mind
several possibilities that night be clues.
Prominent among them was the fact that
Mr. Hartley was to be at Green that night
with Douglas and Dr. Ramie, and the busi
ness of that little wager with Mr. Douglas.
Mr. Maxwell was the object of that wager.
A soon a he explained the situation to
Helen she felt Intuitively that In some
way or other they would have news of
Hardy Maxwell, and she was seised with
a feverish anxiety to learn what took place
at tbat dinner. She could not wait until
next day. Something within her, one of
those curious presentiments that we all
have sometimes, seemed to urge her, some
voice seemed to tell her. to be; aa near that
d.nner as she could get. She could feel
herself drawn towards it like a magnet.
She asked McBrlde where the dinner st
which he was to see Mr. Hartley was to
be, and when he told her, It flashed across
her mind that there was a theater Just
round the corner and a play that she
wished to see. What If Mr. McBrlde could
be persuaded to take her to that theater,
and bring her the news from the dinner?
It would be dreadfully unconventional for
her to go to a theater with him without a
chaperon, bui she had done ao many un
conventional things lately In her anxiety
to get some news of Hardy-going to men's
business offices, meeting young men she
did not know at athletic clubs, nnd all that
soit of thing, that one more did not mat
ter. "Do jou know what I should like to do?"
she began, looking at McBrlde archly. "I
should like to go somewhere." As she
stopped and looked up at him hesitatingly,
he felt that he would be willing to take
her anywhere on earth. If only to be with
her during her Journey.
"Well! I should like to go somewhere
where it Is all life and gaily, and where
I could laugh and cry and no one would
notice me. 1 should like to go to the theater
and see a play. Some play where the lov
ers have a dreadful time, you know, but
everything comes out right In the end.
Only I'm afraid I should shout out to the
heroins not to be discouraged, and not
to pay any attention to what people told
her. I'm sure I should do something silly,
and I know I should cry when It turned
out all right."
"I am sorry to tny I do not know of
any such play," he remarked, without any
particular show of enthusiasm.
"But I do," she said, enthusiastically,
naming the theater.
"Why, that Is right round the corner
from Green's!'" he exclaimed. "I promised
to take Mr. Hartley a message at Green's,
some time between S and 10 o'clock. Would
you really go with me? Shall I see If I
can get tickets?" he Inquired eagerly.
"Oh please do! I will be very nice to
you tonight, you know; you have been so
kind to me. Oh, won't It be Jolly!" and
she fairly skipped along the floor to the
piano. "I will be ready in halt an hour.
Don't mind dressing tor the evening, and
I won't either. You look very nice In that
black suit." A handshake, a smile, another
glance at her letter, and she ran upstairs.
CHAPTER XXXV.
Three men assembled at Green's about
a quarter to eight, and went into the pri
vate .room In which two of them had dined
together more than a month before. The
three were Dr. Ramie. Frank Douglas and
Mr. Groscup. Hartley had not apeared yet
The table was already set, with pretty red
shades over the randies and button-hole
boquet at each plate.
"Good old New York!" exclaimed Doug
las, as his eye caught sight of th cock
tali's standing by the plates, for one of
which he promptly reached. "Nothing like
thla abroad, you know. Nothing but beastly
cold rooms, with shocking draughts every
where, and all the people yapping about
fresh air and coughing their heads oft at
the same time. Nothing like this outside
little old New York," holding the cocktail
up to the light and then draining It at
a gulp. "Tell the waiter to fill that up
again. The temptation was too much for
my manners, boys."
A moment later Hartley burst into the
room, trembling with excitement. He did
not even say good evening; and although
Douglas greeted cordially and extended his
hand, he took It as If he did not see it He
did not even take off his hat.
"What's the matter now?", demanded
the doctor, astonished at his manner.
"Read that, will you?" Hartley ex
claimed, pulling out the latest edition of
the afternoon paper, and slamming the
door behind him. "Caught him; on my
word! At the eleventh hour. Caught the
whole gang. Here it is in the extra, Just
out."
Groscup took the paper and found that
the scare headline announced the capture
of th whole Ardmore gang, and all their
paraphernalia, There waa no particulars,
except tbat the leader was arreated in
New York, and three others In Philadelphia
and Boston. All the arrest had been made
almost simultaneously wth the arrival of
officers from England with extradition
warrants.
"What's that got to do with us?" asked
Douglas bluntly.
"Do with us? Why your man Fletcher
Is Ardmore. Didn't you know that?"
The other men laughed.
"Say, you're getting nutty. Hartley," re
marked Douglas. "Sit down and compose
yourself." Groscup approached Hartley and
gave him a nudge, whispering In his ear,
"You forget that these gentlemen did not
employ Johnson."
The hint had an Immediate and subdu
ing affect on Hartley, who cast about for
something to distract their attention from
htm. aa be aaw they were evidently as
tonished at his conduct.
"What are all these places set for?" he
demanded. "Only four of us, and a table
set for six." i
"We took the room as It was," explained
the doctor, "and as the table Is large, I
suppose they thought It would look better
to dress It aa usual."
"Here, waiter," shouted Douglas to a
waiter who had Just entered with some
plates, which he was placing on the side
table. "Bring In two more cocktails. I
drank two of these already."
"That fellow' no waiter," remarked
Hartley. "He's only an omnlbu. Walt un
til George comes." Nevertheless, the man
disappeared and brought In two more
cocktails, and then stood with his nap
kin over his arm, as If waiting to recelv
any further orders.
"Are you going to wait on us?" demanded
Hartley, rather sharply. The waiter bowed.
"Then you are a full-fledged waiter now,
eh?" The waiter smiled.
"I think te gentlemen will be pleased
with me," he said, showing his teeth and
bowing again.
"Well, we're all here," observed Douglas.
"Let's start In. Five minutes to eight now.
Got that check with you, doc?" The doc
tor said he guessed he had everything
with him, and the four men sat down.
"Let's clear soms of these things off."
said Hartley. "What th use of having all
this stuff on the table?"
"it looks nice. I think," said Dr. Rami
quietly, "but th waiter can remove them
if you like." Then, tunning round, he said,
"You can bring up tb aoup now, John,"
upon which the waiter disappeared, closing
the door softly behind him.
Hartley sat facing this door, snd as
soon as he saw it shut he observed: "That
fellow was bo good a coupl of, weeks ago
when we wet In her. Surprising haw
quick they learn, tlreat country for Holy
moke! What's that?"
Hartley had started from his seat with
his eyes fixed on the slowly opening door.
A look of absolute terror was on his face.
The others instantly followed his gaae and
belrtld a tall man with a grey muta lie,
who stood Just within the door and greeted
them with a nervous little laugh. Douglas
gave a Jump that shook everything on tha
table, while the doctor simply gripped the
back of his chair. Groscup alone remained
unmoved until Douglas found his voice.
"Paul Maynard! By all that good and
holy!"
The new arrival advanced Into the room
with his hand extended, ".li st In time 1
see," he said. "How do, Douglas? Hello,
Hartley." As the two men stood there,
their mouths open, their hands trembling
with fright. Maynard turned to Dr. Kami.
"A friend of votirs doctor"" he said, nod
ding toward the lawyer. "May I have the
pleasure?"
After the Introduction, which Groscup
seemed to look upon as some unexplained
Joke, Maynard sat down at one of the
vacant places at the table and tried to
appear at case, although it was evident
that he was very nervous. The silence for
a minute was painful.
"Nothing wrong, I hope?" he asked,
looking around at them all and tossing off
a cocktail. ,
Hartley and Douglas finally summoned
courage enonght to sit down again, still
stating at the unexpected guest. Hartley
was th first to recover himself.
"So you re alive, eh? l.ot your money
but saved your life."
"How about that ring?" blurted Doug
las, assured that he was not talking to a
ghost.
"You will have to ssk some one else
about that, my dear fellow," said May
nard, with the same nervous little laugh.
He had evidently not quite recovered hi
equanimity. In spile of his efforts to con
ti oil himself.
"But where on earth have y ou been, and
what happened to you?"
"Why, my dear fellow, l'e been down In
the West Indies. Had to take a boat home
that got here on Thursday, so as to be In
time for tonight, you know. So I ran down
to Atlantic City until this afternoon. New
York Is Just the same old place. I see."
And then he gave another nervous little
laugh.
"But what about Fletcher, and the cab.
and the" Hartley stopped suddenly, and
winked at the others as the waller en
tered tho room. When the waiter had dis
appeared again, Hartley repeated his ques
tlon, adding, "And the stolen pocketbook?"
"Why. you see, the fact Is, there was
some delay In getting started. And then
Fletcher had some explanations to make
In the cab , before proceeding. As these
were perfectly satisfactory, I gave him the
pocketbook, and we went on to the dock
where the cab was found. I supposed he
would bring the pocketbood here aa
agreed."
"So he did," remarked the doctor. "I
have It in my pocket now."
"But the body in the river, and the blood
In the cab, and all that?" demanded Doug
las, almost below his breath.
"That was all a put-up Job, my dear fel
low. Y'ou see Fletcher had an Idea that
perhaps some one might give the thing
away to the police." Hartley turned a
ahade paler, and toyed nervously with hi
fork. "But he said that If It looked Ilk
a murder, no matter what financial Inter
est any one might have In the result,
he would probably keep his mouth shut
after he had consulted a lawyer."
"Egad! Th't fits me!" remarked Doug
las, "Eh, olu man?" slapping Groscup on
the back. Hartley wa gradually becom
ing livid, and wa conscious that the doc
tor' eye wa upon him. He could not trust
himself to speak.
"Most Interesting." remarked Groscup.
"But may I ask, Mr. Maynard, how the
cab came to be all bloody and how the
body cam to be found In the river at that
precise spot?"
"We had the blood wtth u In a demi
john, and as for the body, I believe ther .
were only parts of a body. We threw them
In the river after we had soaked the cab."
"Yes, egad!" exclaimed Douglas, Inter
rupting. "And that reminds me of some
thing that I have lain awake nights think
ing about. Who drove that cab? Why could
not th police find him, even If they didn't
catch any one else?"
Maynard gave another little laugh. "The
driver supplied the demijohn and the limbs.
I,' believe." and he looked hard at Dr.
Ramie, who was turning very red in the
face as he found every one at the table
gaslng at him.
"I may as well own up, gentlemen,"
said the doctor, smiling, "I drove the .cab."
Groscup relieved the situation by bursting
Into a loud laugh, and before any on
could say another word the waiter entered
the room with the fish. When he disap
peared again, the doctor resumed:
"Ye, I stole the cab from in front of
my own door, after a confederate had
coaxed the driver Inside to have a drink.
It cost me fifty to fix that up with th
stable; but when I collect that hundred
from Hartley, I shall still be fifty ahead.
I changed the number on the lamps, a
directed by my confederate, and Just ther
I made a big slip, which I thought at on
time would spoil the whole thing. The de
tectives said the numbers were changed
with a mixture of liquid glue and Ink. If
they had examined It carefully they would
have found It was collodion and ink, and
they would have known that It waa a doc
tor that had done It. By tracing the cab
to the house In front of which It was stolen,
they would have had me dead to rights,
especially as I still had some of the mixture
on the mantel. But the smartest detectives
sometimes overlook Important clues."
"Of course they do," Interrupted Doug
las. "That's what I was betting on."
"By. a fortunate chance," continued th
doctor, "we had an amputation that after
noon at the hospital. Arm and leg run
over close to the hip and shoulder. After
taking off the limbs, I had an Idea, and I
Just hacked of the injured parts and put
the reel In a bag. These went Into the
cab with the demijohn. That waa human
blood in the cab, all right."
"But I can't understand why no on
recognized that ring." persisted Douglas.
"No one had seen It for twenty year
but you and Maynard. It was knocking
around In a drawer In my office ever aim:
I can remember. Fletcher saw It. and It
wa Fletcher's suggestion that Maynard
should put It on and call your attention
to It that night at dinner. Then he gave
it to me, and- I put It on the arm we
threw in the river, lie did that to be sure
that you would think It was Maynard that
was murdered, and keep mum about It."
"We kept mum, all right. Eh, Groscup?"
laughed Douglas, slapping the lawyer on
the back again.
Groscup smiled, and looked at Hartley,
who was very quiet. "This is very Inter
esting, gentlemen," he remarked, "but aa
a lawyer it seems to me that the kernel
of the matter has not yet been touched
upon. Where Is Fletcher himself?"
"That Is a question I am unable to an
swer," said llayn.it d, with another ner
vous little laugh. "He did not make a con
fidant of me. Perhaps the doctor knowa
He waa with Fletcher most of the time we
were hatching up our little scheme."
"Give you my word of honor, gentlemen;
I haven't seen him nor heard of him since
the moment he went out of tl.ls room
after handing me that pockctbouk."
(To Be Continued.)