The Third Man.

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 1, 7 April 1894, Page 13

The Third Man.

Storyteller.

(By J Gr. Betimne, author of “ The Eye of Hercules,” “ The Cypher F,” etc.)

(Ah Eights Ilea erred.) CHAPTER XIV. DOCTOR AND I'ATINNT. Dr. Gardiner did not abandon his purpose of appealing’ to Judge Hollywood to yield his full confidence because he was summoned away at the very moment of starting on his merciful errand. The demands of his profession, however, interfered, and it was not until several nights after Detective Walmsley’s experience as a tramp in difficulties, that the doctor found himself sitting one evening with the judge in his library as they had sat many times before that fatal night, some two or three weeks previous. A less trained eye than that of the physician would have seen that the jurist was carrying a load that threatened to break him down altogether. The pale countenance, the hollow eyes, surrounded by dark ring s, the sad, worn, and weary manner—sill these Avere signs that told unerringly of the brave and almost hopeless struggle the man was making against fate itself _ I’m glad you dropped in, doctor,” said the judge after they had shaken hands and exchanged inquiries as to each other’s health. “ I have not been able to sleep to any extent since my great blow.” 41 It is inevitable tbat it should trouble you. At our time of life the system has lost much of the elasticity of earlier years; but the best medicine you can take is no at all. Plenty of outdoor air, long walks, exercise, light diet, little smoking, and above all a determined battle against brooding over your affliction, and nature will do the rest.” “ Ordinarily such a sensible prescription will suffice, but it does not answer in my case.” “ Have you fairly tested it P” “ I think so, except perhaps I have smoked more than was well.” “And thereby defeated all the good secured by following the other parts of the prescription. Excessive smoking will make you nervous and cause insomnia.’'

« I’ll begin at once,” observed the judge with a smile, as he flung his newly-lighted cigar into the grate. “ Anyway, I don’t enjoy smoking as I used to. The tobacco is as tasteless as the food I force myself to eat. I liave examined all the cases left in my charge, and the next session of court is nearly a month away, so I have an abundance of idle time on my hands.” Why not take a short trip —say to the Bahamas or the West Indies P A brief sea voyage may prove the very tonic you need.” . “I have been thinking of it, but shrink from venturing away from home, lonely as it is here, even for so short a time. I wonder how Walmsley is making out in his effort to find who the one is that robbed me of my wife.” This was an abrupt break in the thread of the conversation, but the physician was glad it was made. It helped him on. “I have not seen him for nearly a week. 1 called on him last Tuesday night,” said the doctor, taking pains to be specific, to ward off any suspicion that he was in collusion with the detective, “ and we discussed the question. He told me he had made no progress at all, and I doubt very much whether he will get any further.”

Did he tell you,” asked the judge with a sigh, and a vain attempt to

conceal his eagerness, “that I discouraged any effort on his part to trace the criminal ?”

“ Now that you speak of it, I recall that he did say that you gave him that impression, fearing that it would only bring additional sorrow to the living.” “ Yes ; I am convinced it willy I know he can never succeed, and |no matter how skilfully' he may' work, it will become known that there- is a suspicion of crime connected with Mrs. Hollvwood’s death.” j

“We considered that phase of the sad business, but Walmsley was confident he could keep ail his movements covered until he advanced so far that truth was in sight.” “What no y r on think, doctor, of his prosper; of success ?” “I know not what to think ; it does not seem to me that he has one chance in a thousand, but he possesses wonderful patience, skill and perseverance, and he may stumble on something that will give him the necessary clue.” j “My experience .on the bench l|as taught me i hat the longer a criine goes undetected, the less likelihoodHs there of ue\ cr being detected. The traces left on. the roof, the tree, and the ground have about vanished.” “ But having examined them immediately a I - ter . the crime, they served all the purpose they can, if they' had remained, fresh ever since. They are of no further’ account.” “ Has he made no-attempt to track the footsteps from the base of the tree P”

“If he has, he never told me. Of course, it is tod late now for anything like that.'

“Yes, but; he may have made it serve him his purpose long ago.”

There was a tension of interest: in the manner of the judge which disturbed the doctor; to him it seemed that his friend was haunted by a strange dread, and was now striding to leai n how much cause it had dor existing. “If he had done so, he hardly w'ould have told me that all his efforts had resulted in nothing.” “He may have sought to mislead you.” “ I am sin e he would have failed if he tried,” said the doctor, parrying the suggestion, for it has been shown that he held the same suspicion as that of the judge. “ You have not seen him since last Tuesday night ?” “ Ho; I expected him to call before this, but I suppose he is away.” “ I have nmt him once or twice, but w'e exchanged only a few words.” The doctor felt that this kind of talk -would never eventuate in anything. He had set out to make an appeal to badge Hollywood for his confidence, and he was determined that nothing should avert his purpose. I “ Judge. 5 ' said he, speaking wdth all Hie kindness he could command, "it seems to me you are in want of counsel yourself. You have often given it to others —why not accept it From me ?” i The jurist lixed his dark eyes on his guest, wdth a scrutinising intensity that made him restless. “ I do not understand you, Doctor” “ You are carrying a heavy burden; let me help you.” “I still fail to catch you meaning, Doctor ; please he more implict.” “ How can I ? Do you believe you have a more loyal friend in the world than I ?” “ I can truthfully say I do not. I would place Walmsley alongside you, but for the feeling that this affair seems to have interposed just the faintest shadow between him and me.” “ Ignoring that for the present, let me ask you how far you believe my devotion to®you extends.” “ To death.” “It would, and beyond that,” exclaimed the physician, extending his hand to. the judge, who warmly grasped it.” ' ■ “ I don’t doubt it.” “ Then prove it by your actions] or rather by your words.” !

“In the name of Heaven, Abijah, explain what you mean.” It required profound emotion to induce the judge "to address his friend by his given name. The latter felt that .he was treading upon ground that was growing more delicate every second.

“ II mean this,” resumed the doctor, carefully weighing his words, and speaking with the utmost deliberation, “ there is something connected with the death of Mrs Hollywood which you are keeping from me.” The speaker now looked unflinchingly but kindly into the troubled eyes that seemed as if they would pierce him through and read his very soul.* For a full half minute this visual duel continued. Then the judge said in a husky whisper :

“ There is.” “ Why do you not tell me ?” “I:can tell no living person ; it is known already to too many.” The doctor was astounded ; what could this mean P

“It is known to pthers, and yet you refuse to trust me. -Is this a fair return for ray confidence ?” “ You do not put it right, doctor; you should not feel wounded because it looks amiss to you/ That it is known to others is through no fault of mine. Would to heaven I might tell you the awful truth, but I cannot.” Wbrds cannot describe the impressive solemnity of Judge Hollywood’s manner when he uttered this declaration, the full meaning of which was unsuspected by his friend. The speaker was suffering ten-fold more than anyone supposed. “ Well,” said the doctor with a sigh, w I wish to force no man to give his confidence to me ; I am sorry that I have forfeited yours.” He regretted the words while they were' passing his lips. He saw they had pierced his friend like the thrust of a stilleto. The Judge looked into the grate, as if musing, and then, in a voice of indescribable sadness, said, as though speaking to himself: “If the full truth ever" becomes known, you will learn how cruel you have been to me. Even at the expense of your friendship, my lips must remain mute.”

The doctor wanted to beg his friend’s forgiveness, but hopeful that the pressure might induce him to speak further, he maintained the deportment of one who feels himself mortally slighted. He changed the conversation and soon after took his departure. “ What am I to think ?” he mused while walking homeward ; “I didn’t dare hint what I believed. Had I done so, would he have broken down and confessed to me ? I doubt it, but how in creation can this secret be known to others besides us three ? Is it that fact which is killing him P” CHAPTER XV. THK DBSER.TEX) HOUSE. Dr Gai’diner needed no one to tell him a certain fact : Detective Walmsley was purposely keeping out of his way. “Neither of us is sure of the other ; he is determined to pursue his investigation without caring where it leads, or what it unearths, or what woe it inflicts. I draw the line at Judge Hollywood. If it is going to disgrace him,'l call a halt; for conscience will punish, and is punishing him, more mercilessly than can human law. That, I know, isn’t the human way of looking at such things, but it is just, nevertheless.'’ “ It was on the tip of ray tongue to tell Walnisley about that miserable picture I managed to get from the retina of the poor woman’s eye, but 1 am thankful I did not. When the Judge touched my hand, after coming downstairs, while passing me a light for my cigar. I caught a faint perfume from the contact. It was the same perfume that came to my hand when examining the finger-marks on the fair throat of the unfortunate woman. Ex-gq, the judge xnust have acquired the odour by contact with the neck, just as inevitably was the case when he strangled her. It was that per-

fume which raised the first suspicion of the truth on my mind. But no other man knows or shall know of it.’

“ Bah !” added the doctor, “ let Walmsley go on ;Jno one, not knowing the truth, can be made to believe it ■without unquestionable proof, and that is buried for ever in the grave.” The medical man was right respecting the explanation of the absence of Ashton Walmsey. It was rarely that two or three days passed without their spending several hours together 1 in familiar chat and intercourse. Nearly a week had gone by, and they had not once met. tinder the circumstances it was natural that the doctor resolved that the first advance should come from the detective.

The latter did not wholly escape the results of his exposure on that eventful day and evening, which ended with his securing entrance into the lonely house in the woods. The spirits, the fire, the food, and his own rugged nature stood him well, especially as he took all precaution against illness, immediately on stealing back into his own home. Nevertheless, he was so seriously threatened that he took to his bed, and kept it for several days. This was the time to send for his friend to attend him professionally, and had actual illness resulted he would have done so. But he knew that Dr Glardiner would enquire how he came to be so exposed, and no matter what skilful fiction might be formulated, he would be quite likely to divine the real cause.

Fortfunately, this extra care was the wise course for the detective tofollow to avert his threatened danger. At the end of a few days he felt fully prepared to resume; active duty, and. he did so.

The most manifest step was to learn more about the lonely house and its inmates, in the woods back of the hamlet of M’Yeyville. It was there that the siren dwelt who had ruined Judge Hollywood, and he meant toknow her history.

“ I suppose she is the daughter of Mrs Langton, and it is another evidence of what a perfect contrast in. character the child often is to the parent.” Accordingly, Detective Walmsley’s first proceeding after fully recovering,, was to saunter down to the railway station and buy a ticket to Hartville. He was in neat, natty dress, for he was quite fond of fine attire, and there was no attempt at disguise. That might be attended to later. The small hand'satchel which he carried contained materials with which he could have readily effected some wondrous changes in his personal appearance, but he did not expect it would be necessary. He spoke to several acquaintances and chatted with the agent, who would have found it hard to believe that this individual was the tousled tramp with whom he had exchanged banterings some days before. It happened that Walmsey was the only person that boarded the train, and few passengers were in the cars. He took the seat he had occupied on that rainy morning, lit a cigar, and stared out of the window in deep thought. “ It would be handier if I got off at he reflected, “ but it is not prudent. I ought to find out who that was that drove away from the house in the storm and darkness, leaving the judge behind with his charmer and her mother, but if I should push any enquiries at McYeyville the judge would hear of it. That officious country merchant would be the first to tell him. Ho: I shall have to let that question rest until some others are answered : it will keep.” Walrnsley was only ordinarily careful in leaving the train at Hartvilleinstead of McYeyville. The former was much the larger, and he had visited it occasionally during the past few years. His call' there would not arouse curiosity, while at McYeyville it was certain to do so. The only disadvantage was that his plan compelled him to travel several miles

further than if he followed directly in the footsteps of Judge Hollywood. That, however, caused him no concern.

It was between ten and eleven o’clock, of a bright crisp day in autumn, that he left the train at Hartville, just as several others hoarded it. His sharp glance at their faces showed none in whom he felt a passing interest, and he proceeded to business without delay. Hartville was important enough to support tw r o livery stables, at each of which Walmsley was well known. He went tot he least important, and engaged a good riding horse for the day. The steed was quickly saddled, and, vaulting upon his back, he struck Off at a moderate pace, sitting his animal with the ease and grace shown by those who have served in the cavalry.

He returned back on his own trail as may he said : that is he headed towards McYeyville, more than fifteen miles away. This was to reach the bouse that had become an object of such interest to him. The ride was a long one; and, since he expected to return that evening, he did not press his steed. There was no urgent call for haste, and he could hardy mistake his way. It has been shown that the road he was following was substantially parallel to the railway, which fact gave him all the guidance lie wanted. If he kept to it long enough, he would not only pass through McYeyville, hut would arrive sit his own home in Clayton. The afternoon was fairly started when he struck the branch road, which he recognised at first glance. He turned his horse towards the mountains, and kept him at a gallop until the ascent grew marked, when be allowed him to drop to a walk. Arriving opposite the shanty from which he had seen the smoke issuing on the former excursion, he observed an elderly man chopping wood in front of the primitive dwelling. Checking his horse, Walmsley cried out: — “ Good morning, sir ! Can you tell me where this road leads ?” He was in the stranger’s field of vision at the moment of stopping, and the latter suspended operations long enough to eject some tobacco spittle and to look wonderingly at him. The rider repeated his question, but the man continued to stare and hold his peace. “ I asked 30a wher e this road leads,” shouted the horseman, pointing ahead of him. “ Can 3-011 tell me P” The fellow spat again and then resumed his chojrping. Determined to make him speak, Walmsley for ced his horse close beside him, and raising his voice si ill higher repeated his request with some impatience. The man looked at him, but never stopped swinging bis axe. “You must be an old idiot!” exclaimed Walmsley, “ or else 3-0 u are ■unable to talk.” At this moment a ragged urchin, of seven or eight years, hurriedly- debouched from the house and came grinningly- towards him. “Well, what is it, sonnyy” inquired Walmsloy T , tossing him a penny. “ Nothin’, onl\ r grandpop is so deef lie can’t hear nothin’.” “ Thank you ; I am sorry to hear bear it; can yon tell me where this road leads P” “ Duiino nothin’ ’bout it.” “ Who is in the house P” “ Grandma, but she can’t bear so well as grandpop.” “ Thank 3 r ou again. I’m afraid I’m losing time trying to get information here.”

The detective did not think it well to vide directly to the dwelling- lie proposed to visit. Instead of turning olf into the waggon path, ho passed a short way beyond, forcing his horse solar among the trees that lie would escape the eye of anyone in the main highway, and tying him, proceeded on foot.

The distance was not far, when he caught the outlines of the old building, and he moved with as much caution as on his former visit. He could not forget that terrible Tiger, who wouldbe likely to make for him the mo-

merit he came in sight. Stationing himself at a safe point in front of the structure, he remained several minutes waiting for someone to show himself.

Disappointed in this respect he walked entirely’ around it, holding it under- the same close scrutiny, but without getting sight of man Or creature.

This kind of work could bring no results, and he now decided on a more straightforward course, convinced that the dog would not molest him so long as his approach was open and aboveboard, He therefore stepped upon the piazza and sounded the heavy brass knocker. He did it repeatedly, but without bringing any answer. Further investigation revealed that he was the only* living person in the neighbourhood. The lonely house in the woods was deserted. CHAPTER XYL” T .THE LETTER THAT iS'EVKR CA-ME. Detective Walmsley was in a quandary. Inasmuch as the house was deserted by its usual occupants, nothing could be learned 113’ standing on the outside and sounding the huge knocker. The question that confronted him was whether or not he should enter the dwelling in his quest for knowledge. To do so w-as such a clear infraction of law that he might well hesitate. He would be committing an act for which, if detected, he was liable to go to State prison. He had no search warrant, nor indeed any legal paper that would justify this course, nor could he plead any pretext that was likely to be accepted by a court of jurisdiction. Nevertheless, after more knocking and meditation, he decided to do that from which almost any' other man would have recoiled, his plea being that the detective who takes no chances has little prospect of succeeding in his profession.

His wish, however, was to avoid if possible a forcible entiy ; for, if discovered after breaking a window or forcing - a door, his plight would be far worse than if he had claimed that he had found the door unfastened, and went in to learn whether any harm had befallen the inmates.

He was fortunate in this respect, for the largest key on the bunch he carried with him moved the rusty lock, and the bolt having 1 been left drawn, he had only to turn the knob and shove the door, when the day was opened, and he entered the broad hall of the lonely house. AValmsley’s first act was to close the door as before, so as to leave no evidence of his entrance. If any authorised 'jfariy followed in his footsteps, he would be unsuspicious of the truth, unless there should be a meeting between them.

The Rubicon crossed, the visitor did not hesitate. He strode through the hall and turned to the door opening into the kitchen, -where he spent the memorable night when he appealed as a tramp for food and lodging. He paused with his hand on the door, and the thought — j “ Suppose Tiger has been left ob guard!” . '

But the ferocious canine was not there. Had he been present he would have made it known on the first summons at the door 1 . The man was the only living creature in the house. Pushing open the door, he entered the well-remembered room. The shutters being closed, the light was dim, and objects indistinct; but when his eyes had become accustomed to the gloom, everything was seen clearly. There were the blankets, neatly folded, on the chair, as they were when the kind-hearted Mrs Langdon pointed them out to him and made him welcome. The other chairs and plain furniture were carefully set in order, and the ashes on the hearth had been swept out, and the wood piled ready for ignition. But nothing here was of interest to the intruder, and with a grim smile he opened the door at the-foot of the s tail’s.

‘•l’m now doing that which I'was warned against, and which would have

cost me my life, had I attempted it when here before. The presence or absence of Tiger makes a mighty difference in the situation.”

t At the top of the stairs he hesitated, for he found himself in a short, broad hall, upon which several doors opened. Through which should he first pass ? ' “I think the one yonder leads into the large room, which I vainly sought to penetrate with my eyes ; £’ll first take a peep in there—halloo!” ; He stood within the apartment,that possessed such an attraction to him. The old-fashioned parlour of the house had evidently been unused for years, while this large upper apartment served its purpose as well as that of a sitting and living room. It was large and comfortable. The floor was neatly carpeted, a good stove stood at one side, several chairs, a lounge, a table, and a large writing desk w r ere among the noticeable objects ■ which the gaze of the detective rested, as he paused at the open door and looked around.

> All these articles, though neat and clean, bore the unmistakable imprint of age. Not one was of modern make ; they must have been in use for many years. They were in keeping with the house itself, wdrose foundations were laid as long ago as the birthday of the Republic. ; The first objects on which the intruder’s eyes rested with more than ordinary interest were the pictures on the walls. There were three of these, and they rivetted his attention at once. All were photographs, and, beyond denial, excellent ones.

; The first presented a lady beyond middle life, and it needed only a glance to recognise Mrs Langdon, of whom he held such pleasant remembrance. ' “ She was a beauty in her 3'outh and middle life,” murmured Walmsley, stepping in front of the picture ; “;if I could see her as she was twenty 3 T bars ago I would fall in love with her nij'self, though not to the extent of playingthe fool,” he added. “Goodness, thoughtful tenderness, charity fqr unfortunate humanity-—indeed, all that make her sex so loveable are stamped on that countenance. Ah, if the rest were like you, my task would be ended before it began.” 'lt was with strange emotions he shifted his gaze on the next and corresponding likeness : it was that of Judge Hollywood, just as he had seen the jurist so often in life. There were the handsome, face the slightly Roman nose, the high noble forehead, with the thin white hair, of scanty growth on the crown, the fringe of white whiskers in front of the ears, the otherwise smooth-shaven countenance, the fine mouth, the mild eyes, the high choker and collar, the ministerial coat, the solitary diamond in the upper part of the shirt, with a glimpse of the end of the watch chain, belov which the view terminate I.

A pang shot through the heart of Walrasley when he met the gaze of those eyes, as he had met them hundreds of times. They seemed to to look upon him with a reproving expression, for the suspicion that filled and impelled him to this merciless pursuit.

I’m sorry, my old friend, but pity : must wait on justice, and it is not to me you must apply for pardon.” He turned quickly from the presentment, and gazed upon the remaining’ picture, it was that of the siren, whom he had seen for a few minutes before a window in the adjoining room, and he could have stood for hours and studied, and admired, and wondered how it was that any female should be favoured by Heaven with such marvellous loveliness, for it had never been given to him to gaze upon any woman that could be compared with her. Jlven tins photograph in black and white, without the added touch of the limner, revealed a beauty that must have fired.admiration anywhere. The wealth of silken black hair, the lustrous eyes tremulous with expression, the perfection cf nose, mouth, and contour of face, the matchless neck and shoulders, and over all and through all., permeating it like the radiance oh the rising sun, was an

indefinite splendour and glory that made this woman irresistible when she looked upon man.

“ I might have pardoned anyone except Judge Hollywood,” mused Walmsley, ‘‘for 1 acknowledge that even I, who have come thus far through life unscathed, would have gone down before such a Gatling battery of beauty as that.” It was a striking tribute to the magic of this young woman’s spell that Detective Walmsley, with his more than half century of yeats and his hitherto invulnerability against female loveliness, and with the one absorbing motive that had brought him thither, stood far longer than he expected in front of the likeness, Avhile his imagination ran riot ’ l -e that of a schoolboy. “Ah me, this will never do,” h; finally added with a sigh ; “ if I yield thus to the enchantressy what shall I do when brought face to face ' with, the actuality ?”

Housing himself, he resolutely turned his back on the ravishing picture, and gave his attention to the large writing desk at the front of the room, just beyond the furthestwindow. The lid was thrown back, and the inkstand, sand-box, loose papers, scattered about it; and the disorder prevailing made it appear as if the last person who sat in front of it had done so only a brief while before, with the intention of quickly returning. So strong was this impression, indeed, that Walmsley felt a thrill of misgiving lest the writer should appear at any moment. But, having spurred himself to theeffort, he was not yet ready to turn back.

He took several steps forward, and had not yet reached the chair that had been used by him who last used the desk when he stopped with the following exclamation—- “ Good Heavens ! can it be possible P”

Among the scattered papers, his e_yes rested on a large envelope, on which .he .saw. his. own name written, in the unmistakable handwriting of Judge Hollywood; “ To Ashton Walmsley : “ To he opened by him only after the death of- ”

Something must have broken in upon the judge at this point, for the important sentence was uncompleted, and he had departed without filling in the name, his intention undoubtedly being- to do so on the first opportunity.

With a singular misgiving Walmsley reached down aud took up the envelope. Its plumpness and weight showed that it contained considerable writing, and it had been fastened,, not only with the ordinary gum on the flap, but with sealing wax, on which was stamped the image and superscription the judge was wont to use in closing important documents.

u That letter is meant for my eye alone,” mused Walmsley, as he laid it down, “ but I cannot take it. jl may do things which a strict code of honour would condemn, but this is too sacred to be disregarded. The lacking name must first be written there,-" and the missive must come direct from the judge to me before I can take it. Until then it is to me as though it did not exist. I know that within that envelope lies the explanation of this awful mystery, and yet if that is the only means by which it can be solved it shall remain for ever unsolved —sh /” Could he be mistaken? J\o; distinctly heard the door downstairs open, and the sound of a man’s hurrying footsteps as he came along the hall as he made for the room in which Detective Walmsley was standing. (To bo continued.)