The Third Man.

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 2, 14 April 1894, Page 13

The Third Man.

Storyteller.

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

(All Eights Reserved.) CHAPTER Xyil. WHITHER ? Not a moment was to be lost. The steps sounded on the stairs as the man hastily ascended, and in a few seconds he would be within the room where’ Walrasley listened with a rapidly beating heart. A partly open door on either side of the apartment indicated the way for temporary escape, and he glided through the one on his right, like a professional burglar accustomed to that sort of thing. He saw that he had entered a sleeping room, where everything was ready for the occupant ; but he merely glanced around, his interest just then lying wholly in another direction. The old-fashioned houses of our grandfathers were plentifully supplied with roomy closets, and the detective slipped into the one on which his eye first rested. He found himself amid a big lot of hanging garments, and drawing the door shut was immediately in black, misty

darkness. It was the last place in the world in which he would care to be discovered ; and drawing forth his bunch of keys he inserted a small one in the well-worn lock and moved the little iron bar that fastened him inside. « There, he will have some trouble in unlocking that,” thought Walmsley, leaving the key half-turned, so as to prevent the use of the right one. By the time this was done the stranger had entered the living room, and was heard striding heavily along. Then he suddenly stopped, as if in front of the desk. He was silent for a minute or two, during which the rustle of papers was plainly heard. Footfalls sounded again, and the listener knew the man had entered the room where he was hiding. Walking about for a moment or two, he abruptly approached the closet. A small key rattled in the lock, and was vigorously wriggled about several times.

“ Confound it, wliat’s the matter with the thing ?” It was the voice of Judge Hollywood that uttered the impatient expression . If he but knew or suspected the reason why the. key lefused to work ! He persevered, hut was obliged to o-ive it up, convinced that the lock was hopelessly out of order. While he was engaged in the fruitless task Walmsley held his own key immoveably in place, not meaning that the manipulations of his friend should push it out. “ Suppose he gets some instrument and forces it,”" was the terrifying ■ thought of the detective; “if he does I shall have to make the best of an exceedingly awkward situation. But if Judge Hollywood had any such intention he abandoned it, his errand in the closet not being very important. He walked back into the larger room, busied himself for a minute or two there, and then his tramp was heard as he passed along the hall, descended the staiis and again opened the front door. It was at this junctue that Walmsley emerged from his hi ling place, tip-toed across the room, and stealthily peeped from the front window. He was in time to see Judge Hollywood walking toward the shed, where the familiar. gray horse and carriage stood. The animal was quickly untied, the man entered the vehicle and disappeared among the trees, following the main track to the main highway.

The detective turned toward the desk where he had seen the envelope containing his name. It was gone. Thinking the judge might have shoved it into one of the pigeon holes or drawers, he made diligent search, but it was not found.

His principal errand was to obtain that. He left some garment in the closet that was of less account, or he would not have gone away without it.”

There were plenty of other papers containing writing that would have been interesting to him, but , a singular repugnance checked him when about to examine them. He had not shrunk from similar work before, but the task of prying into the household secrets of his friends impressed him as little short of sacrilegious. Had any other party been concerned he would have felt no such hesitation, > “ I cannot do it, ” he muttered, with a shake of his head, “if I live long enough I shall know all. That letter contains his confession, and he means to entrust it to my keeping. He can do so with safety, for I’ll never break the seal until authorised so to do by the Judge himself.” ' This decision, howover, did hot mean that the detective intended to abandon all efforts to learn the truth as to the taking off of Mrs Hollywood. The mystery possessed a strange fascination to him, and he was more eager than ever to pursue it along what may be called professional lines.

There was no cause for longer remaining in the lonely house, and he descended the stairs, let himsell out of the front door, and locked it behind ■him. He breathed more freely, for a great weight was removed when once more he stood in the clear; air outside. ' ; He had broken the law and ran great risk, but the danger was passed. He did not bring away the slightest article from the building, and no one need ever know that he had placed his foot in an unauthorised manner within it. He had learned somethine 1 , too, that he was not likely to forget for a long time.

While walking along the waggon track, after the gray horse and carriage, he speculated as to where, and why, the inmates had gone. The last question could be answered only after the first, and his immediate task, therefore, was to learn whither the two ladies had betaken themselves.

They must have entered the cars either at McVeyville or Hartville. The former being considerably nearer their home, it was more than likel they left by that station. He was now galloping at a leisurely pace along the branch road toward the main highway. He believed himself so far behind the gray horse and carriage that he had no fear of running upon them ; but he was startled into a shiver of affright, on rounding a bend in the woods, to thrust the nose of his animal almost against the vehicle. He checked his horse with such suddenness as to throw him on his haunches ; and with the same old instinct of caution, snatched his handkerchief from his pocket and held it to his nose to ■ prevent the judge recognising him, if he chanced to hear the sound of hoofs, and peep through the small bit of glass at the rear of his carriage.

AValmsley felt like whirling his steed about and galloping back for some way, but that would have been transparently suspicious, and he therefore held him stationary until the vehicle was shut from sight by another turn and the intervening' trees. “It is hardly likely he looked around, but I ought to have been more careful.”

No danger of his repeating the oversight. The horse was held down to a walk, and brought almost to a standstill before making- any turn in the road. When the shanty where he halted loomed in sight, the deaf old man was seen chopping away , with the lazy persistence of one that is toiling by the day. He did not look up, and the horseman gave him no attention. ;

Debouching into the main highway, Walnasley was in time to catch a ■vanishing view of the judge’s carriage. He now headed toward Hartville, and, as the afternoon was well gone, struck his animal into a sweeping gallop, which was maintained almost unbroken until he drew rein at the livery stable of the owner. It was too late catch any train for home, and - the detective devoted most of the evening to guarded inquiries about the departure of Judge Hollywood, or more particularly of an old lady and young one of striking beauty, during the past week or so. The work of pressing this investigation, without revealing his motive, was delicate and difficult. But he was accustomed to that sort of thing, and, when he retired late at night, it was with the certainty that none of the parties in whom he was interested had left the neighbourhood by way of Hartyille. “ I hardly supposed they would do so; McVeyville is the point from which they naturally would start.” Walrnsley took the first morning train to that point, and resumed his inquiries. Here he was obliged to use the utmost care, and adopted the precaution of first effecting some changes in his personal appearance before asking any questions. “ If the countryman gives me away to the judge, he'will not be sure whether it is I or some other acquaintance who is so interested in him and his friends.”

He learned of Judge Hollywood’s visit the day before, but to bis amazement became assured that neither of the ladies hacrever boarded the train at McVeyville station. By what means and whither had they gone ? CHAPTER XVIII. . A STROKE OP LUCK. The elder and young lady not having left the neighbourhood by the way of McVeyville or Hartville, it followed that they had not made use of the railway at all. They must have taken a carriage and driven either to some other dwelling, not far removed from the one lately occupied, or they had gone to Tanboro by this tiresome course, most likely on the way to some place further removed. Detective Walmsley returned to his own home, deep in a brown study. The difficulties of trying to strike the trail from any other point than Clayton were so manifest that he did not consider the plan for a minute. The one thing to do was to shadow Judge Hollywood, for he was certain to hold communication with the ones in whom he was interested.

“ I’ll call on him,” was the conclusion formed that evening-; “I know he does not feel specially pleasant towards me,, and, by so persistently avoiding him, I am likely to strengthen that feeling.” The decision made, Walmsley donned his hat and light overcoat, and set out at a brisk walk in the direction of the Judge’s fine residence, just beyond the outskirts of the town, it was growing dark, the street lamps and the lights in the houses being lit, and the weather was crisp, dear, and delightful, as it had been fob the entire week.

As he was passing Dr. Gardiner’s honse, he naturally looked up. He saw his old friend standing at the front window and looking at him. The two nodded and waved their hands at one another, but the physician did not signal for him to enter, and Walmsley took no step to do so. Walmsley was walking along the winding gravelled walk, leading to the broad porch of the fine structure, when a huge dark form rose from where it was resting on the door mat, and stood erect as if awaiting his approach. The lamp suspended overhead showed the formidable creature plainly, and the visitor almost came to a standstill, with the muttered exclamation : “ That’s Tiger, as sure as I’m alive!” The dog acted as if he also recognised him, for he advanced to the edge of the porch, and, without growl or bark, confronted him. Walmsley stood a minute in doubt whether to advance or retreat.

Those silent dogs are .the ones to be feared, and he had already learned something about this frightful brute; but he reflected that Judge Hollywood, who was accustomed to receive more or less visitors every day, would not endanger the .lives, of any hy placing this black terror to lie in wait for them.

Uttering a few soothing words, the officer advanced with an assumption of courage he was far from feeling* He slid his had back so as to rest on the butt of his revolver, determined to let fly with every chamber on the first hostile move of Tiger. But the latter only looked up at him, with a slight wag of his beam-

like tail. His manner seemed to sayr “ 1 remember you, old fellow ; and as long as you behave yourself as well as you did when we last met, I’ll let you alone, but understand there is to be no fooling, or I’ll begin chewing I’* Tiger swung his bulky form around, so as to keep his head toward the visitor, and did not ,remove his eyes, from him, when he reached out his hand to pull the bell knob. The answer was slow, and was made by the aged housekeeper, who bad-been with the judge for a dozen years, and who mourned the loss of her young mistress with sincerest sorrow

She knew the caller well, and, before he could explain his wishes, said —

“ Judge Hollywood is not at home/'' “ I’m sorry to hear that: will he be in this evening ?” - “ No, sir; 1 don’t expect him back for several days.” “ When did he go ?”

“ This morning; he told me to say to all callers that he wasn’t likely te be home before Saturday, and maybe not till Monday. I- believe he went to Tanboro,” added the housekeeper.

Nothing was to be gained by further questioning, and, thanking 1 the old lady for her information, and expressing his regrets that he was not able to see his friend for some time, Detective Walmsley took his departure. “ While I’m about it,” he added, as he approached the home of Dr. Gardiner, “ I may as well do full penance.” But short as was the time since he greeted his old friend at the window, it was long enough for him to receive a call, which had taken him out in the country, with no certainty whether he would be back before tlv morrow.

“ I don’t know that I am not glad of that,” thought Walmsley; “for there must be a constraint on both sides when we meet, as there always will be when two friends thoroughly distrust each other.”

The detective had just time to catch the down train for Tanboro. He paused at his home only long enough to snatch up the satchel, with its valuable contents, that had accompanied him on his visit to the lonely house, when he appeared at the station and took a ticket for the country seat.

“ I don’t know what I can do there,” he reflected, after taking a. seat in, the smoker and lighting- a cigar, “but there’s no use staying in Clayton, when the judge won’t be there before Saturday. I mustn’t forget, too, the fact that a detective must, from the very nature of things, depend to a large degree on luck, and it often happens that when he least expects it he stumbles upon the very clue for which he has been groping in vain.”

Tanboro was a city of fifteen thousand inhabitants. It was too small to afford a secure hiding place for any fugitive, and too large for a. visitor like Ashton Walmsley te attract particular attention. Tanboro,. too, being the city where Judge Hollywood presided on the bench, where his face was familiar to almost every man and-woman, was the plane of all others where he would be careful not to do anything that would excite remark.

When, therefore, Walmsley had made the round of the three leading hotels without finding the .judge’s name on the register, he was' certain

f lie was not in the city. He did not • Torget, while making this tour, to • look for the name of Mrs Langdoxi and her companion, but he was as ;imsuccessful in the one case as in the other.

Tanboro being on the main line, hardly an hour passed, day or night, when one or more trains did draw up 'at the large station. There was a good deal of travel both ways ; and • the detective, yielding to his repugnance against remaining idle when every day must lessen ( his chances of success, bought a ticket for New TToik, and left at quite a late hour of - the night. Before doing so he managed to effect some changes in his Countenance that would have misled anyone, provided the scrutin}’ was not too close.

Never did the truth that the most brilliant successes in which the detective line are often dependent upon pure luck receive a more forceful illustration than on this trip of Ashton Walmsley in the direction of New; York.

He soon grew sick of the smoke and heat in the car, and walked back to the next one. As he shoved open the door he glanced scorchingly around as was his custom, and there, about midway down the car, he saw the siren.

He had studied that photograph in the lonely house too closely to be mistaken, to say nothing of the glimpse that he caught of her when she repealed. herself for a moment at the window. She glanced up at him as lie passed along the aisle, but the look was one ,of simple curiosity, and was instantly withdrawn. Walmsley refrained from returning the look, though, had the circumstances been different, he could not have denied himself a prolonged gaze of admiration, for he felt that no lady had a right to be so beautiful without permitting a respectful feast of the eyes on the part of those less favoured.

He was relieved to know from her action that she felt not the remotest suspicion of his identity. True, he hore little resemblance to that illfavoured tramp whose face she strove to see, and which he concealed from her; true, too, the same countenance had undergone more than one important change ; but, all the same, he felt as though those midnight eyes could penetrate his very soul if they but made the effort.

There were not many passengers in the car, and the seat directly behind the lady was vacant. The detective naturally dropped into this, counting himself lucky beyond his deserts in heing thus favoured. It would have been far preferable, of course, could he

have been placed so as to secure a good view of the entrancing counten- • ance, but that was not practicable, and he had to content himself wdth looking at the matchless shoulders as revealed through the close - fitting ulster, the coil of magnificent black hair, surmounted by the graceful hat, the peerless head, and an occasional flitting glimpse of the contour of the the cheek.

Once of twice, too, she looked out on the darkness as the train thundered through it, and then the detective caught sight of her profile. It was hard to repress a burst of admiration, for until then he had never seen such & perfect countenance.

There was one occasion when he was sure his heart stopped beating, for what did the lady do but turn ber head and look straight into his face ! ‘Walmsley felt his countenance flush and flame to his ears, and he actually grew giddy, and he asked himself whether he was going to faint dead away or give up the ghost altogether. CHAPTER XIX. THE AMERICAN. GENTLEMAN. But no such awful consequences followed, though there is no saying what might have happened had that disturbing gaze been more than a second’s duration. The detective smiled to himself when the marvellous face was turned away, and began to feel a deeper appreciation

of the story of Antony and Cleopatra than ever before.

. At this juncture the conductor came through the cars and paused to punch the tickets of the passengers. Walmsley was on nettles; to gain sight of the young lady’s and he iucceeded. To his surprise, instead of being for New York, it was for Wareton, a small station at which only the accommodation trains stopped for passengers. He recalled that it was not far ahead, being the next halting place: The course of the main line and that of the feeder leading through Clayton, McVeyville, Hartville, and other points was such that the distance between Clayton and Wareton was jess than twenty miles as the crow fliejs. The conductor took up the ticket of the young lady and returned Walmsley’s to him. The latter was that the siren did not look around during the. little proceeding, since he had resolved that, he, too, would leave the train at Wareton. He believed he had struck the trail, arid ho would be foolish to throw away the opportunity thus unexpectedly offered. He had not been seated long when he received a convincing proof that such a wonderfully beautiful lady as the stranger in front cannot travel unattended without attracting attention, often of the most obnoxious character.

Directly across the aisle from her sat a commercial traveller, doubtless a married man, hut one of those nuisances who, conceited because of looks and fine attire, believe they are irresistible to the other sex. Nothing can more graphically describe the fellow than the word “ masher.”

He possessed a big nose, an incipient moustache, waxed at the ends, a laige mouth and protruding teeth, but he was dudish in dress, and seated in his travelling cap, with his valise and bundles occupying the seat, turned over in front, and, with several cheap novels and newspapers strewn around him, was the type of the young man who considers himself licensed to make love to every .pretty woman he meets, and who is always boasting of his conquests among the other sex.

Walmsley had hardly seated himself, when he noticed the efforts of the fellow to attract the attention of the young lady opposite. He flirted his perfumed handkerchief, stared across at her fixedly, and once when she happened to glance in that direction, broke into a smile of such proportions that it threatened his ears. Then he leaned back, turning so as to face her, and with his newspaper held in front, as though reading, looked grinningly over the top, ready to catch her eye if she ventured another glance toward him. She could not fail to be aware of his grimaces and attempts to draw her notice, but she did not respond. She studiously gazed at the window at her side, and when he “ahemmed” and smirked, and smiled, no action on her part showed that she was aware of it.

“ The young jackanapes,” muttered Walmsley, glaring at him ; “ I would like an excuse for pulling his nose.” “ Once the fellow looked back at the indignant detective with such a supercilious expression that the man’s blood boiled. His manner clearly said—“ Old fellow, don ’t you envy me ? But you’re not in it.”

But even such an addle-pated zany as the masher could not shut his eyes to the fact that he was far from making the progress in the flirtation that he coveted. At this rate they would reach Jersey City (whither he doubtless supposed she w r as going) without his hearing a single word from those sweet lips. Strange that she should be so coy ; it must be she hadn’t taken a good look at his charming face and figure. The lady, aware that she was nearing ‘her destination, leaned forward, with her face close to the window; and, holding one tiny gloved hand- so as to exclude the glare of the lamps, pesred out in the gloom, as if in quest of some landmark by which to locate herself. In 'doing so, she moved close to the window, leaving vacant the rest

of the seat between her and the aisle., ' The drummer was aflutter on the instant. He knew that she did this, not to look out in the darkness, but to invite him to a seat by her side. He popped up, and removing his cap, bowed low, with the same broad smile as before.

“Is this seat occupied p” She was not aware of what he was doing until she heard his voice. ,She turned her head like a flash, and those black eyes shot, lightning at him, as she slid back to her former place. Now, I m sure you won’t deny me the pleasure ■” “ Sit dozen in your seat, or I’ll throw you out of the car !”

Detective W almsley had grapped his arm like a vice, and his face was aflame, as he flung the fellow back in his own seat with a violence that sent his bundles flying, and forced a piglike grunt from the amazed victim. °

j “ What is the matter with you ?" demanded the druimner, bounding again to his feet, his countenance ablaze ; “ do you know who lam?” “ You are the best specimen of the American hog I ever looked upon.” “I don’t allow any man to talk to me in that way,” bellowed the follow; “ I won’t stand it!”

He was making suck a palpable effort to bluster, that be could not have frightened a person with half the resolution and physical prowess of the detective.

“You won’t stand it, eh? Then what are you going to do about it p” srjeered Ti almsley, shoving his defiant fape forward, so that his nose almost touched that of the fellow.

“ 111 settle with you for this insult.”

“There’s no better time to do it than now ; I am at your service.” The officer yearned to , twist the proboscis of the flustered scamp, but lacked the full excuse he wanted. He tried hard to provoke him to the necessary point, but the drummer was thoroughly scared. He saw in the towering figure and glowing face one who was his master. If the fellow had only been backed up-by. half-a-dozen of his friends, he might have assailed his conqueror, but the situation was not encouz’aging. He collapsed in his seat, muttering threats which no one understood beside himself.

Walmsley remained standing- for a minute in the aisle until, seeing that the drummer was fully cowed, he resumed his seat, mad at himself because he hadn’t tweaked the other’s nose without waiting for more provocation. “ Thank you, sir.”

During this short but excited colloquy the young lady had remained quietly in her seat, hearing the words, but not glancing at either of the angry parties. She now turned about, and, looking straight in the face of Walmsley, repeated her acknowledgments in a voice of inexpressible sweetness.

The detective was old enough to be her father, and he was old enough, too, to possess discretion. He knew that the little act o£ his had won her respect and gratitude, and knowing all this he knew bettei’, too, than to spoil it all by presuming upon those feelings, as many a younger man in his situation would have done.

Had lie requested the privilege of sitting beside her she would cheerfully acquiesced. Had he leaned forward and engaged her in conversation she would have been quick to respond; but he did neither, and by thus delicately refraining deepened the regard she: had formed for him.

As she uttered her witching acknowledgment he bowed and replied : “ I am sure you are welcome. I hope that no daughter of mine will ever be subjected to such gross insult.”

How admirably chosen were the words ! Had he held any purpose of trying for the place of the discomfited drummer he would have referred to his mother or sister; but when he spoke so affectionately of a daughter (and, alas, it was all a fiction), the lady felt that he w r as a man whom she could trust. He remained leaning against the back of his chair as though not, ex-

pecting any further -words from 1 and he did not receive them. I But the little flurry caused strai emotions on the part of Detec Walmsley. He was inexpressl sorry that this young woman wai involved in the mystery he ! seeking to unravel. He wanted think of her as one who was as gi and pure, and true, as' she was I passingly lovely, and how could with that fearful shadow hove over her P Had she not taken the place of stricken, loyal wife who was crural in the dust ? Was she not, hardly half the years of the venei jurist, living a shameful life J him ? Aye, was she not eqj guilty with Judge Hollywood, foj spread her wiles of enchant; around him until he was left! neither the power nor the wi resist her witcheries P

He felt that he must, stea heart against her, else he wouh himself yielding to the same I and becoming parficeps crim-vd the shocking crime that he hsj himself to expose, aud whose ail he meant to bring to punishmei] The detective was on the | and, when he felt the train begi to slow up for Wareton, he rose his seat, took the satchel down the rack, and inclining his unc( head in front of the lady, said :i “ I am sorry that I shall hj leave you, but if that loafei there annoys you further, app the brakeman or conductor ai will be protected.” I . “ Why, do you get off* here 1 asked in astonishment. “I am sorry to say that Wj is where I must leave the train “ Why, that is where I get oi (To be continued), j