An Artist in Crime.

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 15, 14 July 1894, Page 13

An Artist in Crime.

(By Roderigues Ottolengui.)

[COPYRIGHT.]

Synopsis of Previous Chapters : Two friends Arthur Randolph and Robert Leroy Mitchel, while travelling from Boston to New York, have a discussion as to the usefulness of the detective force. Mitchel wagers that he will commit a crizar and escape detection for a given period. Barnesa famous detective, overhears the conver, sation. At a later stage in the journey a lady is robbed of her jewels, and all the passengers except Mitchel -allow themselves to k Mitchel ultimately allows himself to be searched, but without result. The woman who claimed to have lost the jewels was soon after found murdered in her bedroom during the night. Two men were seen leaving the place during the evening—Mitchel being one of them. Mr Barnes discovers a clue. A trap is laid for Mr Mitchel, who comes through the ordeal successfully, leaving Mr Barnes very much where he was before. Mr Barnes follows up the button clue, but without success. Mr Thauret re-appears on the scene, and Mr Barnes is. introduced to Mi Mitehel’s sweetheart. The female detective proves to be no match for Mr Mitchel. The diaries of his other assistants lead Mr Barnes to make another move. . . Mr Barnes attends an entertainment given by Mr Yan Eawlston. Miss Reinsert is robbed of her ruby pin, but Mr Barnes is unable to detect the thief. Mr Mitchel “ Shows his hand ” a little, but Mr Barnes is still off the track. With the assistance of Mr Randolph he lays another trap for Mr Mitchel, who relates the history of the ruby. CHAPTER XIII (Continued). Mr Barnes at once prepared for a trip to Algiers, determined not to lose anymore time. He reached the shop just after the men had knocked off for luncheon. The foreman, however, told him that Leroy Mitchel had been at work in the morning, so he waited patiently. When the men came back to resume work the foreman pointed out a man who he said was Leroy Mitchel. The fellow had a bad face, and if ever he was a gentleman he had sunk so low through drink that no evidence of it remained in his appearance. Mr Barnes went up to him and asked when he could have a talk with him. ‘ Now, if you pay me for it,’ replied the man insolently. ‘ What do you mean ?’ asked the detective. ‘Just what I say,’ said the other. ‘ We get our pay here by the hour, and if you want my time, why you’ll hav« to pay for it at union rates, and he laughed as though a good joke had been propounded. ‘ Then,’ said Mr Barnes, taking in the kind of man with whom he had to deal, ‘ I’ll engage you on a job that I have for you, and pay you double wages as long - as I use you. ‘How you are talking,’ said the fellow. ‘ Where’ll we go ?’ ‘ I think I’ll take you to my hotel.’ And thither they proceeded. Up in his own room again, Mr Barnes felt at ease, whilst his companion certainly made himself comfortable, selecting a rocking-chair, and putting his feet up ou the window-sill. ‘ How, then,’ began Mr Barnes, ‘ I want to ask you a few questions. Are you prepared to answer them ?’ ‘ That will depend on what they are. If you don’t ask impertinent questions, or ones that I think I ought to get more than double wage for answering, why, I am with you. ‘ In the first place, then, are you willing to say-whether you knew a woman who called herself Rose Mitchel ?’ ‘ Well, rather. I lived with her till she broke me.’ ' * Ho you know where she is now ?’ ‘ I don’t, and I don’t care to.’ ‘ Suppose I tell you that she is dead, and that she had left a hundred thousand dollars which are unclaimed ?’ The man jumped tc his feet as though shot, and stood staring at the detective. He gave a long, low whistle, and a tricky gleam came

into his eye, which Mr Barnes noted. At length he spoke : ‘ Are you giving me this straight ?’ ‘I am telling you the truth. The woman is dead, and that amount of property is where I can get it for the man who can prove that he is entitled to it.’ ‘ And who would that be ?’ He waited eagerly for the reply, and Mr Barnes saw that he was playing trump cards. ‘ Why, Mr Mitchel, that is what I am down here for. You see, I thought the party would be willing to pay me a good commission for proving him the heir, and that is why I am hunting him up. I started out with the idea that I might find her husband. He would have a claim.’ ‘ I see.’ Saying which he seemed lost in thought: The detective deemed it well to wait for him to speak again, which he did. ‘ See here,’ he exclaimed ; ‘ how much do you want for getting this money for me ?’ ‘ I cannot get it at all unless you are the woman’s husband,’ replied the detective. ‘ Well, lam her husband. Didn’t I tell you I lived with her till she broke me ?’ ‘ Yes, but are you legally married to her?’ ‘ Why, to be sure. Don’t I tell you I am her husband ?’ , ‘ Then, in the name of the law, I arrest you,’ said Mr Barnes, suddenly rising, and standing over the man. ‘ Arrest me,’ said the fellow, jumping up, pale with fright. ‘What for P’ ‘ Rose Mitchel has been murdered, and the man who killed her has confessed that he was hired to do it by you.’ ‘ He is a liar.’

4 I hope so for your sake. But as you adroit that you are her husband, you are the man we are looking 1 for. I’ll have to take you to New York. ‘ But, I say,’ said the fellow, now thoroughly alarmed, there is a mistake here. I’ve been lying to you; I’m not the woman’s husband, and my name is not Mitchel. ‘ That won’t do, my man. I had you pointed out to me by feefton,|the detective here.’ ‘ But he is the very man that hired me to pass oh as Mitchel to you.’ Mr Barnes chuckled as he found his ruse successful. He had suspected all along that the New Orleans detective was trying to lead him off on a wrong scent, and thought he saw a chance to turn the tables on him and get some valuable information. ‘ That is a very thin story,’ said he, 4 but if you will tell me all you know, perhaps I may believe you.’ 4 Yon bet I’ll give you the whole straight, to get out of this scrape. In the first place, my name is Arthur Chambers. I was up in the world once, had money, and was 'respectable, but drink changed all that. Now anybody can buy me for a few dollars, and that is what Sefton did. He came to me about a week ago, and told me that a detective was down here from up north nosing around for this Mitchel. He said it wasj important to an employer of his up in New York to have this detective balked; that he was hired to do it, and to make him lose time ; that time, in some way was an important item. 4 You say,’ interrupted Mr Barnes, 4 that Sefton told you he was hired by some one in New York to throw me off the scent ?■’ • That’s what he said,’ replied Chambers. Mr Barnes easily guessed who was employing Sefton, and once more he paid the tribute of admiration for the caution and ingenious scheming of Mr Mitchel. 4 Go on,’ said the detective. 4 There an’t much more to tell. Sefton hired me to play off that I was Mitchel, and he gave me a cock-and-bull yarn to feed you with about a woman named Rose Mitchel.’ 4 What was that story ?’ 4 Say, look here,’ said Chambers, his confidence and cunning returning as he felt himself out of danger of arrest, ‘ you don’t want that fairy tale. You would rather have the true story, wouldn’t you.’

‘Certainly.’ ‘Well, I’m an old-timer, I am. There ain’t much that’s happened in the Crescent that I couldn’t remember, if I was paid for it.’ ; ‘ See here, ray man, you are not dealing 1 with Sefton now. You tell what I want to know, and if I find it is true, I’ll pay you for it. But if you play any tricks, I’ll make . it warm foryou.’

‘ That’s all right. Suppose I begin by telling you that this Rose Mitchel, that you say was murdered, was known down here chiefly as Rose Montalbon. “La Montalbon,” she was generally called.’ ‘La Montalbon F’ repeated Mr Barnes. ‘ Then, was she an actress P’ “ Actress ? .Well, I guess she was, considerable. But not on the stage. Ho, she kept a gamblingrden on Royal Street. Fitted up like a palace too, and many a young fool has lost his last penny in that house.’ ‘ But what about Mitchel ? Do you know whether he was connected with her in any way ?’ I can’t give you that dead straight. There was some mystery. I used to go the Royal Street place, and I knew Mitchel in a sort of a way. He was always hanging around there. Then there was a while that he didn’t show up, and then he turned up again and was introduced as La Montalbon’s husband. There was a story that he had married another girl and deserted her. A young Creole, I think, though I never heard her name.’ ‘ Did you know anything about a child, a girl ?’ ‘ That was another queer part of it. There was a girl, little Rosy. Some said it was the Creole’s, but La Montalbon always claimed it as hers.’ ‘ What became of Mitchel ?’ ‘ About a year after he had passed as La Montalbon’s husband he skipped out vanished. Several years after that there was another sensation. The child was kidnapped. La Montalbon offered big rewards to recover her, but she never did. Then about three years ago her place began to run down; she lost money, and finally she too disappeared.’ ‘lf this stoiy is true it may be quite important. Do you think you think you could identify this man Mitchel ?’

‘Well, I don’t know for certain. But see here, come to think of, there were two Mitchels, and both named Leroy too.’ ‘ Are you sure of that ?’ ‘ Pretty sure. They were cousins. The other fellow was younger. I didn’t know him myself. He was a Young - Men’s - Christian-Association sort of a boy, and not quite in my line. But I sort of remember hearing* that he was in lore with the Creole girl. But say, I’ll tell you who can give it to you straight as 8? shingle.’ ‘ Ah, who is that ?’ ‘ An old man named Neuilly. He knew all about the Creole, and so must know about the Mitchels. I think he was in La Montalbon’s power. She knew something about him and blackmailed him, as she did lots of others. How that she is dead, you might make him open his mouth.’ ‘ Very good. Give me his address, and see what you can find out about the other Leroy Mitchel, the good boy. Discover what became of him and I’ll pay you well. Meanwhile don’t let Sefton know that you are not carrying out his scheme.’ ‘ Say, pard, I tumble to you now. You suspected Sefton and you played your cards to draw me out. Well, you did it neat, and now I’m with you. Good-day. When I see you again I’ll have some news for you.’ The following day Mr Barnes called at the bachelor home of Mr Heuilly. The handsome old gentleman received him in a stately fashion and courteously asked the detective to explain his mission. For a moment Mr Barnes did not know how to proceed; he at last said : “ Mr Neuilly, I have come to ask your aid in the cause of justice. I have hesitated to do this not wishing to disturb you. That I do so now is

due to the fsct that every, other resource has been tried and has failed me.’ 1 Proceed, sir,’ said the host with a. courteous bow. ‘ I am seeking certain information, about a woman who was known asLa Montalbon, and ’ An instant taneous change came over the face of Mr Neuilly. His hospitable smile of welcome vanished. He rose erect and stiffly said; ‘ I know nothing of that woman,, and must wish you a very good morning,’ with which he began towalk deliberately from the room. Mr Barnes was for a moment nonplussed, but he saw that he must act quickly or lose all chance of gaining information from this man. ‘ One moment, Mr Neuilly,’ he said);. ‘ you certainly would not refuse to help me convict her murderer.’ As he expected, the last word broughthim back. ‘ Murderer ? Do you mean to intimate that she has been murdered ?’ Sayiug this he stopped fora second, and then slowly returned and sat down again. ‘ hose Montalbon was murdered in Hew York some months ago. I believe I- am on the track of the guilty man. Will you aid me p’ ‘ That depends upon cicumstances,. You say the woman is dead. That alters my position in this matter very much. I had reasons, good ones to me, for refusing- to converse with you on this subject. But if the woman is dead the objections vanish.’ MrBarnes -thought he understood. Here was one of those who had been ruled, by fear, as Chambers had said. ‘ What I want from you, Mr Neuilly,. is very simple. You either can or you cannot give me the information that I wish. Did you know a man named Leroy Mitcbel, who was at one time this woman’s husband ?’

‘ I knew him very well. He was a scoundrel of the deepest dye, for all that he had the manners of a polished gentleman.’ ‘ Do you know what became of him ?’ ‘ Ho ; he left this city suddenly and has never returned.’ ‘ Did you know little Rose Mitchel ?’ ‘ Many a time has she sat on my knee. This man was her father. He wronged on of the sweetest little girls that ever lived.’ ‘You knew this girl P Knew her name ? ‘ I did.’ ‘ What was it ? ‘ That is a secret that I have guarded for too many years to be willing to yield it now to a stranger. You must show me good reasons for giving it to you before I tell you it’ ‘ I will explain. This man Mitchel is now in Hew York. He is about to marry a sweet, good woman. Yet I think that he murdered Rose Montalbon, or Mitchel, to get her out of his way. I think that she was blackmailing him. Besides he has his child with him.’ ‘ Mr Neuilly started up and paced the room for some time, much agitated.. Finally he stopped and said : ‘ You say he has the child with, him P’ ‘Yes. Here is her likeness.’ H© handed Mr Heuilly the photograph obtained by Lucette. Mr Heuilly looked at it, muttered ‘ very like ! very like !’ then remained silent for some moments; finally h© said : ‘ And you think he murdered this woman, Montalbon ?’ ‘ I do.’ ‘ It would be terrible to hang that child’s father. What dishonour! What dishonour! But justice is justice!’ He seemed to be talking rather to himself than to Mr Barnes. Suddenly he turned and said : ‘ I cannot tell you the name for which you ask. But I will go with you to Hew York, and if this story of , yours is true, I will move heaven and earth to see justice done. The villain must not ruin another young life.’ ‘ Good,’ exclaimed the detective* delighted with the result of his visit* ‘One more point, Mr Heuilly.

What do yon know of the existence of another Mr Leroy Mitcliel ?’ ‘ I never met him, though I knew of him. There was a mystery about that which I never could unravel. I think that he loved this same girl. At any rate, shortly after she died, he lost his reason, and is now in an insane asylum. Of course he cannot help us.’ Mr Barnes, after arranging where to meet Mr Neuilly, returned to the St. Charles to make his own preparations for going north. Up in his room he found Chambers awaiting him.

‘ Well,’ said the detective, ‘what have you learned ?’ ‘ Nothing that will please you, I am sorry to say. Only I have found the other Mitch el. H* is a lunatic, out in the suburbs. But the fellow up north is your man sure. This one, they say, went crazy because his sweetheart gave him the mitten.’ ‘Did you find out the woman’s name ?'

‘ I could not do that. It seems as carefully hidden as though it were a State secret. That gives you an insight into what the t reole pride is.’ ‘ Very well. I think you have worked for me faithfully. Here is a hundred dollar hill. Will that satisfy you ?’ ‘ Perfectly. I wish you luck.’ An hour later a telegram was handed to Mr Barnes, which read : ‘ Have found the child. (Signed) Lucette.’

In the afternoon Mr Barnes started for Hew York, accompanied by Mr Heuilly. That same night Mr Robert Leroy Mitch el received a telegram, which read: ‘ Barnes off for Hew York. Has old Heuilly with him. If the lastnamed knows anything, you must be careful. (Signed) Sefton.’ After reading this, Mr Mitchel completed his toilet, used the despatch to light a cigarette, and then took his fiancee to the opera.

CHAPTER XIY

AX INTERRUPTED WEDDING. During the time spent by Mr Barnes in the (South, his spies in Hew York discovered little, or nothing, against the persons v.diom they had been charged to watch. Indeed, from the standpoint of a detective, the actions of all had been most uninteresting. The usual round ot social affairs, the customary number of theatre or opera parties, the regular afternoon teas, in fact the ordinary routine life of the man or woman of fashion, was all that could be observed. Yet of course these weeks did not pass without any occurrence of note. The chief one perhaps, was the naming of the day upon which the wedding of Mr Mitchel and Miss Remsen was to occur. This was May hth, the very day Mr Barnes would reach Hew York with Mr Heuilly. Thus, fate seemed hurrying on a climax which was to occur on hiie wedding day. In Hew Orleans a detective was seeking evidence upon which he hoped to convict a man of the heinous crime of murder, whilst in Hew York a beautiful woman was bestowing her faith upon this same man, and with the assistance of in any fingers, preparing to bedeck herself in bridal finery for his delectation. Meanwhile the man himself acted unconcernedly. He seemed to consider himself beyond the risk of danger, and he accepted his happiness as does one who had honorably earned it.

Of much interest to us, in the light of fast approaching events, was the curious conduct of Dora Rem sen during this period. It will be remembered that Mr Randolph had lost an opportunity ol declaring himself, and that he had warned the young lady against Mr Thauret as one not to be trusted. This kind of advice, it is to be presumed, is offered by the one giving- it, with some idea, however distant, that it may be accepted. Yet the histories of many lives would show that only a small percentage of similar advice has ever been

received with acquiescence. Indeed, it might also be said that many persons have been hurried into each other’s arms by the interference of wiseacres, when perhaps, if left to themselves, they would have drifted apart. At least se it seemed in this case. Mr Thauret had become not only a constant visitor at the house of the Kemsens’, but he seemed a welcome one. He certainly was a most entertaining man, and his manners utterly unapproachable. He had travelled, and not only had seen the world, but had observed it, which is another thing. The result of this was that he had a fund of narrative always at his disposal, and his conversation was so attractive that he monopolized the attention of a coterie at any social gathering. Mr Randolph noted with growing uneasiness that Dora was always one of the group who listened to these tales. What disturbed him most, was that after the greatest amount of time spent and wasted, in seeking some flagrant defect in the man’s character, he was at last compelled to acknowledge to himself, that he had nothing against Mr Thauret except a prejudice. But that prejudice was as great, if not greater, than ever. He determined at length to speak to Mr Mitchel about it, and did so one afternoon when the rooms were crowded, his rival being as usual the centre of an attentive group.

‘ Mitchel,’ he began, ‘ how the deuce did that fellow Thauret get into this family ?’ ‘ Dora met him somewhere, I believe. Why ?’ ‘ Why ? Can you ask that ?’ ‘ Can I ? Why certainly I can. I did ask you, —Why ?’ ‘ I declare, Mitchel, you are either as blind as a bat, or else you have eyes only for Miss Emily. Don’t you see the danger that the younger is in, associating with that man ?’ ‘ Well, now. Randolph, to be candid, I must admit I do not see the danger. What is it P’ ‘ Why, suppose —suppose she fell in love with him P Suppose she married him !’ ‘ Well, what then ?’ ‘ What then ? Yon would provoke a saint. You talk as coolly about that child’s throwing herself away on a —a nobody —as though we were discussing a shot at billiards.’ ‘ Randolph, my friend, let me give you a bit of advice. When a man wishes to marry a girl, there are two important rules which he must observe, and both of them, I believe yon have neglected.’ ‘ What do you mean ? ’ ‘ Before I explain, let me ask you a question. Am I right in supposing that you wish to marry Dora yourself ? ’ ‘ Well, that is rather pointed. However, I will admit the truth. I would be happy to have her love.’ ‘Very well. I will tell you those two rules. The first is, “ Hever speak ill of your rival.” The second is, 11 Don’t be too late askingforthe young lady.” ’ Randolph looked at Mr Mitchel a moment intently, then offered his hand, which was grasped warmly. He said simply ‘ I thank you,’ and walked over to the group where Dora was. After awhile, taking advantage of an opportune lull, he leaned over her and said in an undertone : ‘ May I have a few words of conversation with you P ’ She looked up at him, evidently surprised at his tone, and asked : ‘ Is it important ? ’ ‘ Very,’ he replied succinctly, and excusing herself to the company she permitted him to lead her into the next room, whei*e she sat beside him on the sofa, to which he invited her with a motion. After a brief silence, during which each thought intently, he began: ‘ Miss Dora, I wish jmu to listen to me, if yon please, to the end. I think you know that I love yon.’ He paused just a moment, whilst she trembled slightly, blushed, and drooped her head. He continued : £ I have never told you this before in words, I know, but you are a woman, and

must have read my heart long ago. You are so clever at that sort of thing. lam only a man, and I have not been able to read yours at all. I really do not know whether you care for me or not. Once I thought that you did, but of late but no matter, I will not go into that. In brief, then, I have only to say that it would make me supremely happy to know that you would some day be my wife. In exchange, I offer you lifelong devotion. And now —I think that is all I have to say. Dora little sweetheart do you, could you trust yourself to me ? ’ He had gently taken her hand whilst he spoke, and the fact that she had neither resisted nor withdrawn it had encouraged him to the more affectionate terms which he used at the end of his love speech. ' She hesitated awhile, then gently disengaged her hand, and looking at him with just a suspicion of a tear in her eye, she said almost in a whisper : ‘ Do you care very much ? ’ ‘ Yery much ! I cannot tell you how much.’ He tried to recapture her hand, but she eluded him. Again she asked a question : ‘ Money is not an object to you, in this P ’ ‘Miss Bemsen, you insult me.’ ‘ Ho, no ! ’ she said quickly, ‘ you misunderstand. Ido not mean my money. I con’t explain, yet you must answer n*y question. Would you mind if—oh, how shall I say it ? {Suppose I did something that cost you a lot of money ‘ Oh ! I see,” exclaimed Mr Randolph brightening up. ‘ You mean you are extravagant. Don’t let that bother you a minute. You may cost me as much money as you can possibly spend. I will never complain.’

She seemed much relieved, but she did not speak at once. Her eyes wandered away from him, and following her gaze he saw them reach and rest upon Mr Thauret. A jealous pang darted through his heart. He was about to speak when she turned to him and said with suppressed emotion :

‘ I hope you will not be angry with me, and that you will not think evil of me. There is something I cannot explain, yet which, if I could, you would not object to. But until I can tell you about it—l cannot—l cannot give you an answer. Would you would you be willing to wait ?’ ‘How long?’ asked Mr Randolph, still irritated, and -wondering if the something was in any way connected with Mr Thauret. ‘ Would you mind—if I asked you to wait till—well say the Hew Year ?’ 4 That is a long time, but if you will, I must.’ ‘ Oh, thank you ! ’ That was all she said ; but there was a hint of rapture in her speech, there were tears in her eyes, and for one brief ecstatic moment he thought that there was love in her heart, and that love was for him. With an impulse that he could not control, and which she did not check, he drew her to him, and softly touched her lips with his own. Hefelt satisfied,though she left him immediately and went at once to Mr Thauret, who greeted her with evident warmth. There is something, magnetism if you please, but a something that binds two true lovers’ hearts so that an impulse in the one excites an answering sensation in the other. The oddest fact in this connection is, that though one may fancy himself deeply in love, he is not, till he has received one of these instantaneous messages which Cupid ticks over Love’s telegraph. After that he is enslaved. His better judgment is gone. He will argue in the lonely hours of the night that he has made a mistake, that the woman is not destined to made him happy, that she has this, that, or the other fault, but it counts for nothing, save that he suffers. That one stab has slain his manhood, and he cannot control his actions. As soon as he meets the woman again, act as she may, his love is aflame once more. She may ill-treat him, it matters not; she attracts him. Thus it was with poor Mr Randolph.

Throughout the many weeks that followed he suffered much. He called his love all the unpleasant things that jealousy could suggest. But invar* iably the recollection of that one moment, when she had seemed in that indistinct, indescxibable way to have yielded her whole self, her whole soul to him, would flash across his mind, and at once his reason was silenced, and he would say : ‘ She could not have done that if she were false. She loves me, but there is something that I do not understand which makes her treat me so. She told me so, and said that when she could tell it to me, I should not mind. Well, 1 must be patient and wait. I must trust her; she must be, she is true ! ’ And then gradually all the old doubts would creep over him. again, and the suffering would be as poignant as before. (To be continued.)