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.





2 _Y. V. Z.
ble result, when, one day, notice was received
at Washington that a number of suspicious-
looking letters, addressed to the simple initials,
X. Y. Z., Brandon, Mass., were being daily
forwarded through the mails of that region;
and it being deemed possible that a clue had at
last been offered to the mystery in hand, I was
sent northward to investigate.
It was in the middle of June, 1881, and the
weather was simply delightful. As I stepped
from the cars at Brandon and looked up the
long straight street with its double row of
maple trees sparkling fresh and beautiful in the
noonday sun, I thought I had never seen a
prettier village or entered upon any enterprise
with a lighter or more hopeful heart.
Intent on my task, I went straight to the
post-office, and after coming to an understand-
ing with the postmaster, proceeded at once to
look over the mail addressed to the mysterious
X. Y. Z.
I found it to consist entirely of letters. They
were about a dozen in number, and were, with
one exception, similar in general appearance
and manner of direction, though inscribed in


THE MYSTERIOUS RENDEZVO U.S. 5
-
yond the bounds of endurance. I saw him lean
forward and gasp out a hurried word to the
postmaster, and was idly wondering over his
anxiety and its probable causes, when I heard
a hasty exclamation near me, and looking
around, saw the postmaster himself beckoning
to me from the door of the enclosure. I imme-
diately hastened forward.
“I don't know what it means,” he whispered ;
“but here is a young man, different from any
who have been here before, asking for a letter
addressed to X. Y. Z.”
“A letter?” I repeated.
“Yes, a letter.”
“Give him the whole batch and see what he
does,” I returned, drawing back where I could
myself watch the result of my instructions. The
postmaster did as I requested. In another
moment I saw the young man start with amaze-
ment as a dozen letters were put in his hand.
“These are not all for me !” he cried, but even
as he made the exclamation, drew to one side,
and with a look of mingled perplexity and
concern, began opening them one after another,
his expression deepening to amazement as he


THE MYSTERIOUS RENDEZVOU.S. 7
“Well,” cried I, in secret exultation, “our
plan has worked admirably. Let me see the
letters. As they have been opened, and through
no fault of ours, a peep at them now in the cause
of justice will harm none but the guilty.”
The postmaster demurred, but I soon over-
came his scruples ; and taking down the letters
once more, hastily investigated their contents.
I own that I was considerably disappointed at
the result. In fact, I found nothing that pointed
toward the counterfeiters; only in each letter
a written address, together with fifty cents'
worth of stamps.
“Some common fraud,” I exclaimed. “One
of those cheap affairs where, for fifty cents en-
closed, a piece of information calculated to insure
fortune to the recipient is promised by return
of mail.”
And disgusted with the whole affair I bundled
up the letters, and was about to replace them in
the box for the third time when I discovered
that it still held a folded paper. Drawing this
out, I opened it and started in fresh amaze-
ment. If I was not very much mistaken in the
appearance of the letter in the blue envelope


THE MYS ZTERIO US REAVIDEZVO US 9
to insure you the accomplishment of the end you
have in view. He cannot hold out against a
surprise. The word, by which you will know
your friends, is CountERFEIT.”
“Ah, ha!” thought I, “this is more like it.”
And moved by a sudden impulse, I hastily
copied the letter into my memorandum-book,
and then returning to the original, scratched out
with my penknife the word northeast and care-
fully substituting that of southwest put the letter
back into the box, in the hope that when he
came to consult the envelope in his pocket (as
he would be sure to do sooner or later) he
would miss its contents and return to the post-
office in search of it.
Nor was I mistaken. I had scarcely accom-
plished my task, when he reëntered the store,
asked to see the letters he had returned, and
finding amongst them the one he had lost,
disappeared with it back to the tavern. “If he
is surprised to read southwest this time instead
of northeast, he will think his memory played
him false in the first instance,” cried I, in inward
comment over my last doubtful stroke of policy;
and turning to the postmaster, I asked him


I 2 X. Y. Z.
“And the girl?”
“Twenty-five, perhaps.”
“A mother living 2"
“No ; there were some strange stories of her
having died a year or so before they came here,
under circumstances of a somewhat distress-
ing nature, but they themselves say nothing
about it.”
“It seems to me they don't say much about
any thing.” -
“That's just it; they are the most reserved
people you ever saw. It is n't from them we
have heard there is another son floating some-
where about the world. They never speak of
him, and what's more, they never write to him;
as who should know better than myself?”
An interruption here occurred, and I took the
opportunity to saunter out into the crowd of
idlers always to be found hanging around a
country store at mail-time. My purpose was,
as you may conceive, to pick up any stray bits
of information that might be floating about con-
cerning these Bensons. Not that I had as yet
discovered anything definite connecting this re-
spectable family with the gang of counterfeiters


2O X, Y, Z.
post-office, I jumped from my horse and threw
the bridle to the boy nearest me. Instantly and
before I could take a step, a servant issued from
the open door, and with an expression of anxiety
somewhat surprising under the circumstances,
took his stand before me in a way to hinder my
advance.
“Mr. Benson does not receive visitors to-
day,” said he.
“I am not a visitor,” replied I; “I have busi-
ness with Mr. Benson,” and I handed him my
card, which he looked at with a doubtful expres-
sion.
“Mr. Benson's commands are not to be dis-
obeyed,” persisted the man. “My master sees
no one to-day.”
“But this is an exceptional case,” I urged, my
curiosity rising at this unexpected opposition.
“My business is important and concerns him.
He cannot refuse to see me.”
The servant shook his head with what
appeared to me to be an unnecessary expres-
sion of alarm, but nevertheless retreated a step,
allowing me to enter. “I will call Mr. Hartley,”
cried he.


THE MYSTERIOUS REAVIDEZVOUS. 2I
But that was just what I did not wish. It was
Benson the father I had come to see, and I was
not to be baffled in this way.
“Mr. Hartley won't do,” said I, in my lowest
but most determined accents. “If Mr. Benson
is not ill, I must beg to be admitted to his
presence.” And stepping inside the small re-
ception room at my right, I sat down on the
first chair I came to.
The man stood for a moment confounded at
my pertinacity, then with a last scrutinizing look,
that took in every detail of my person, and ap-
parel, drew slowly off, shaking his head and
murmuring to himself.
Meanwhile the mingled splendor and elegance
of my surroundings were slowly making their
impression upon me. The hall by which I had
entered was spacious and imposing; the room
in which I sat, a model of beauty in design and
finish. I was allowing myself the luxury of
studying its pictures and numerous works of
art, when the sound of voices reached my ear
from the next room. A man and woman were
conversing there in smothered tones, but my
senses are very acute, and I had no difficulty in
overhearing what was said.


22 A. Y. Z.
“Oh, whatan exciting day this has been!” cried
the female voice. “I have wanted to ask you
a dozen times what you think of it all. Will
he succeed this time 2 Has he the nerve to
embrace his opportunity, or what is more, the
tact to make one? Failure now would be fatal.
Father—”
“Hush!” broke in the other voice, in a mas-
culine tone of repressed intensity. “Do not
forget that success depends upon your prudence.
One whisper of what you are about, and the
whole scheme is destroyed.” -
“I will be careful; only do you think that all
is going well and as we planned it 2"
“It will not be my fault if it does not,” was the
reply, uttered with an accent so sinister I was
conscious of a violent surprise when, in the next
instant, the other, with a burst of affectionate
fervor, cried in an ardent tone :
“Oh, how good you are, and what a comfort
you are to me!”
I was just pondering over the incongruity
thus presented, when the servant returned with
my card.
“Mr. Benson wishes to know the nature of


THE MYSTERIOUS RENDEZVOUS. 25
It was a moment to be remembered : first,
because the picture presented to my eyes was
of a marked and impressive character; and
secondly, because something in the expression
of the gentleman before me showed that he had
received a shock at my introduction which was
not to be expected after the pains which had
been taken to prepare his mind for my visit.
He was a tall, remarkable-looking man, with a
head already whitened, and a form which, if not
bowed, had only retained its upright carriage by
means of the indomitable will that betrayed
itself in his eyes. Seen against the rich back-
ground of the stained-glass window that
adorned one end of the apartment, his stern,
furrowed face and eagerly repellant aspect im-
printed itself upon me like a silhouette, while
the strong emotion I could not but detect in his
bearing, lent to the whole a poetic finish that
made it a living picture which, as I have said, I
have never been able to forget.
“You have come from the constable of the
town,” said he, in a firm, hard tone, impressive
as his look. “May I ask for what purpose 2"
Looking around, I saw the servant had dis-


26 . A. Y. Z.
appeared. “Sir," said I, gathering up my
courage, as I became convinced that in this
case I had a thoroughly honest man to deal
with, “you are going to give a fancy ball to-
night. Such an event is a novelty in these
parts, and arouses much curiosity. Some of
the men about town have even been heard to
threaten to leap the fences and steal a look at
your company, whether you will or not. Mr.
White wants to know whether you need any
assistance in keeping the grounds clear of all
but your legitimate guests ; if so, he is ready
to supply whatever force you may need.”
“Mr. White is very kind,” returned Mr. Ben-
son, in a voice which, despite his will-power,
showed that his agitation had in some unac-
countable way been increased by my communi-
cation. “I had not thought of any such contin-
gency,” he murmured, moving over to a window
and looking out. “An invasion of rowdies would
not be agreeable. They might even find their
way into the house.” He paused and cast a
sudden look at me. “Who are you?” he
abruptly asked.
The question took me by surprise, but I


28 ..Y. Y. Z.
is a ticket that will insure you entrance into the
grounds; the rest you will manage without
scandal. I do not want any disturbance, but if
you see any one hanging about the house or
peering into the windows or attempting to enter
in any way except through the front door, you
are to arrest them, no matter who they are. I
have an especial reason for desiring my wishes
attended to in this regard,” he went on, not
noticing the preoccupation that had seized me,
“and will pay well if on the morrow I find that
every thing has gone off according to my
desires.”
“Money is a powerful incentive to duty,” I
rejoined, with marked emphasis, directing a sly
glance at the mirror opposite, in whose depths I
had but a moment before been startled by the
sudden apparition of the pale and strongly
agitated face of young Mr. Benson, who was
peering from a door-way half hidden by a screen
at our back. “I will be on hand to-night.”
And with what I meant to be a cynical look, I
made my bow and disappeared from the room.
As I expected, I was met at the front door by
Mr. Hartley. “A word with you,” said he.


34 X. P. Z.
For a moment she faltered, with a distressed
look I found it difficult to understand. Then,
with a sudden glance over my person, exclaimed:
“Look in the glass when you get home and
you will see the ſac-simile of his form, though
not of his face. He is fair, whereas you are
dark.” And with a haughty lift of her head cal- .
culated to rob me of any satisfaction I might
have taken in her words, she stepped slowly
back.
I stopped her with a gesture. “Miss,” said
I, “take your purse before you go. Payment
of any service I may render your father will
come in time. This affair is between you and
me, and I hope I am too much of a gentleman
to accept money for accommodating a lady in
so small a matter as this.”
But she shook her head. “Take it,” said
she, “and assure me that I may rely on you.”
“You may rely on me without the money,”
I replied, forcing the purse back into her hand.
“Then I shall rest easy,” she returned, and
retreated with a lightsome air toward the house.
The next moment I was on the highway with
my thoughts. What did it all mean 2 Was it,


II.
THE BLACK DOMINO.
T half past eight I was at my post. The
mysterious stranger, still under my direct
surveillance, had already entered the grounds
and taken his stand in the southwest corner of
the shrubbery, thereby leaving me free to exer-
cise my zeal in keeping the fences and gates
free of intruders. At nine the guests were
nearly if not all assembled; and promptly at the
hour mentioned in the note so often referred to,
I stole away from my post and hid myself amid
the bushes that obscured the real place of ren-
dezvous.
It was a retired spot, eminently fitted for a
secret meeting. The lamps, which had been
hung in profusion through the grounds, had
been studiously excluded from this quarter.
Even the broad blaze of light that poured from
the open doors and windows of the brilliantly
37


7"HE BLACK DOM/AVO. 43
“Oh, Joel” she whispered, “is it you? How
glad I am to have you here, and how I hope we
are going to be happy at last!” -
Fearing to address a person seemingly so
well acquainted with the young man whose
place I had usurped, I merely pressed, with most
perfidious duplicity, the little hand that was so
confidingly clasped in mine. It seemed to
satisfy her, for she launched at once into ardent
speech.
“Oh, Joe, I have been so anxious to have
you with us once again Hartley is a good
brother, but he is not my old playmate. Then
father will be so much happier if you only
succeed in making him forget the past.”
Seeing by this that it was Miss Carrie Benson
with whom I had to deal, I pressed the little
hand again, and tenderly drew her closer to my
side. That I felt all the time like a villain of the
blackest dye, it is quite unnecessary for me to
State.
“Has Hartley told you just what you are to
do?” was her next remark. “Father is very
determined not to relent and has kept himself
locked in his library all day, for fear you should


THE BLACKT DOM/AVO. 45
&
º
---
“And is Hartley,” I ventured again, not with-
out a secret fear of the consequences, “really
anxious for reconciliation ?”
“Oh, Joel can you doubt it? Has he not
striven from the first to make father forget?
Would he encourage you to come here to-night,
furnish you with a disguise, and consent to act
both as your champion and adviser, if he did not
want to see you and father friends again? You
don't understand Hartley; you never have.
You would not have repelled his advances so
long, if you had realized how truly he had forgiven
every thing and forgotten it. Hartley has the
pride of a person who has never done wrong
himself. But even pride gives way before
brotherly affection ; and you have suffered so
much and so long, poor Joel ”
“So, so,” thought I, “Joe is then the aggres-
sor!” And for a moment, I longed to be the man
I represented, if only to clasp this dear little sister
in my arms and thank her for her goodness.
“You are a darling,” I faintly articulated, inward-
ly determined to rush forthwith into the garden,
hand over my domino to the person for whom
it was intended, and make my escape from a


THE BLACK DOM/AWO. 47
“about your having done what they said,” he
somewhat lamely concluded. “It was so un-
like you. But now I begin to see the presence
of a possibility that might perhaps explain much
we never understood. Joe, my boy, you never
said you were innocent, but y y
“Who are you?” I asked boldly, peering into
the twinkling eyes that shone upon me from his
sedate mask. “In the discussion of such mat-
ters as these, it would be dreadful to make a
mistake.”
“And don't you recognize your Uncle Joe?”
he asked, with a certain plaintive reproach some-
what out of keeping with his costume of “potent,
grave, and reverend signior.” “I came over
from Hollowell on purpose, because Carrie inti-
mated that you were going to make one final
effort to see your father. Edith is here too,” he
murmured, thrusting his face alarmingly near
mine. “She would not stay away, though we
were all afraid she might betray herself; her
emotions are so quick. Poor child! she never
doubted you ; and if my suspicions are cor-
rect x *
“Edith?” I interrupted,—“Edith ?” An Edith


62 X. V. Z.
For an instant or two of horror he stood oscil-
lating from side to side, then his frame suc-
cumbed, and the terrified eyes of his children
beheld his white head lying low, all movement
and appearance of life gone from the form that
but a moment before towered so proudly before
them.
With a shriek, the daughter flung herself down
at his side, and even the cheek of Hartley
Benson grew white as he leaned over his father's
already inanimate body.
“He is dead!” came in a wild cry from her
lips. “See he does not breathe. Oh! Hart-
ley, what could have happened? Do you think
that Joe—”
“Hush!” he exclaimed, with a furtive glance
around him. “He may be here; let me look.
If Joe has done this—" He did not continue,
but rose, and with a rapid tread began to cross
the floor in my direction.
In a flash I realized my situation. To be
found by him now, without a domino, and in the
position of listener, would be any thing but
desirable. But I knew of no way of escape, or
so for the moment it seemed. But great emer-


68 X. V. Z.
not surprised to observe Hartley draw back.
“Why,” said he, “do you think—”
“I think nothing,” broke in the doctor;
“only"—and here he brought down his hand
vigorously upon the table—“there has been
prussic acid in the glass from which Mr. Benson
drank this evening. The smell of bitter almonds
is not to be mistaken.”
An interval of silent horror followed this an-
nouncement, then a vehement “Great Heaven!”
broke from the lips of Uncle Joe, while Hartley
Benson, growing more and more rigid in his
bearing, fixed his eyes on the doctor's face and
barely ejaculated :
“Poison 2 ”
“I say this,” continued the doctor, too intent
upon his own theory to notice either the growth
of a terrible fear on the face of Uncle Joe,
or the equally remarkable expression of sub-
dued expectation on that of the son, “because
long experience has taught me the uselessness
of trying to hide such a fact as suicide, and also
because, being the coroner of the county, it is
my duty to warn you that an investigation will
have to take place which will require certain


AV ZAZE LIBFAA’ Y 71
“Not much, I am sure,” cried Hartley, to
whom the appearance at that moment of his
father's. old servant was evidently most unwel-
COrne.
“That is for you to judge, gentlemen. I can
only tell you what I've seen, and that not ten
minutes ago. Mr. Hartley, do you mind the
man in the yellow dress that was flitting about
the parlors all the evening 2"
“Good heavens !” burst in uncontrollable
agitation from Uncle Joe ; and he caught his
nephew by the arm with a look that called
back the old rigid expression to the latter's
face.
“Yes,” was the quiet reply; “I remember
seeing such a person.”
“Well, sirs, I don't know as you will think
any thing of it, but a little while ago I was
walking up and down the balcony outside
there, when I happened to look into this room,
and I saw that man in the yellow dress leaning
over this very table, looking into the wine-
glass Miss Carrie had put there for master.
He had it in his hand, and his head was down
very close to it, but what he did to it or to the


IAW THE LIBRAR P. 77
actuated by no keener emotion than horror at a
father's suicide?”
“I do not know, I cannot say; but that he
himself put the poison in the decanter I will not
believe. A thief is not necessarily a parricide.
Even if he were in great straits and needed
the money my father's will undoubtedly leaves
him, he would think twice before he ran the
risk of making Carrie and myself his natural
enemies. No, no, if my father has died from
poison, it was through a mistake, or by the
administration of his own hand, never by that
of Joe Benson's.”
“Ah, and has anybody here present dared to
charge him with such a deed!”
With a start both gentlemen turned; an
accusing spirit stood before them.
“Edith !” broke from Hartley's lips. “This
is no place for you! Go back! go back!”
“My place is where the name of Joseph Ben-
son is uttered,” she proudly answered, “wheth-
er the words be for good or evil. I am his
betrothed wife as you know, and again I ask,
who has dared to utter an insinuation, however
light, that he, the tender son and generous


78 - A. Y. Z.
brother, has had a criminal hand in his father's
awful death?’”
“No one! no one!” essayed Hartley, taking
her hand with a weak attempt at soothing. “I
was but saying -
But she turned from him with a gesture of
repugnance, and taking a step toward the doc-
tor, looked him entreatingly in the face. “You
have not been expressing doubts of Mr. Ben-
son's youngest son, because he happened to
wear a disguise and be present when Mr. Ben-
son fell ? You do not know Joe, sir; nobody
in this town knows him. His own father was
ignorant of his worth ; but we know him,
Uncle Joe and I, and we know he could never
do a deed that could stamp him either as a
dishonorable or a criminal man. If Mr. Benson
has died from poison, I should as soon think
this man had a hand in it as his poor exiled
brother.” And in a burst of uncontrollable
wrath and indignation, she pointed, with a sud-
den gesture, at the startled Hartley.
But that worthy, though evidently taken
aback, was not to be caught so easily.
“Edith, you forget yourself,” said he, with


AV 7THE LABA'AA' P. 79
studied self-possession. “The horrors of this
dreadful occurrence have upset you. I do not
wonder at it myself, but the doctor will not so
readily understand you. Miss Underhill has
been strangely attached to my brother,” he
went on, turning to the latter with an apologetic
smile that made Uncle Joe grind his teeth in
silent wrath. “They were engaged previous to
the affair of which I have just made mention,
and naturally she could never bring herself to
consider him guilty of a crime which, once
acknowledged, must necessarily act as a bar of
separation between them. She calls him a
martyr, a victim, an exile, any thing but what
he actually is. Indeed, she seems really to
believe in his innocence, while we,”—he
paused and looked up at his sister Carrie who
had entered the room, “while we,” he went on
slowly and sadly, taking this new ally softly by
the hand, “know only too well that the unhappy
boy was in every respect guilty of the crime for
which his father exiled him. But that is neither
here nor there; the dreadful subject before us
is not what he once did, but whether his being
here to-night has had any thing to do with my


IW THE ZIBA’AR Y. 8 I
A.
“But he shall come back,” Edith vehemently
declared.
“If he does, I shall need no further proof of
his innocence,” said Uncle Joe.
“Nor I, so that he comes to-night,” returned
the doctor.
“Then be satisfied, for here he is,” I exclaimed
from my retreat; and drawing the mask over
my face, and hastily enveloping myself in the
yellow domino, I stepped forth into full view
of the crowd around the table.


84 X. Y. Z.
burden of the consequences, for I alone have
worn the disguise of this mask from the
moment we met under the evergreens till
now, as I think may be proved by this gen-
tleman you call Uncle Joe, and this lady you
address as Edith.”
This mode of attack had the desired effect.
“Who are you?” burst from Hartley's lips,
now blanched to the color of clay. “Unmask
him, doctor; let us see the man who dares to
play us tricks on such a night as this!”
“Wait!” cried I, motioning back not only the
doctor, but Uncle Joe and the ladies—the whole
group havingstarted forward at Hartley's words.
“Let us first make sure I am the Yellow
Domino who has been paraded through the
parlors this evening. Miss Benson, will you
pardon me if I presume to ask you what were
the words of salutation with which you greeted
me to-night?”
“Oh ' " she cried, in a tremble of doubt and
dismay, “I do not know as I can remember;
something about being glad to see you, I
believe, and my hope that your plans for the
evening might succeed.”


92 X. Y. Z.
“Sir," said I, taking a step toward Uncle
Joe, who, between his eagerness to embrace the
new-comer and his dread of the consequences
of this unexpected meeting, stood oscillating
from one side to the other in a manner ridicu-
lous enough to see, “what do you think of
the propriety of uttering aloud and here, the
suspicions which you were good enough to
whisper into my ears an hour ago? Do you see
any reason for altering your opinion as to which
of the two sons of Mr. Benson invaded his desk
and appropriated the bonds afterward found in
their common apartment, when you survey the
downfallen crest of the one and compare it with
the unfaltering look of the other ?”
“No,” he returned, roused into sudden ener-
gy by the start given by Hartley. And ad-
vancing between the brothers, he looked first at
one and then at the other with a long, solemn
gaze that called out the color on Hartley's pale
cheek and made the crest of Joe rise still high-
er in manly pride and assertion. “Joe,” said
he, “for three years now your life has lain
under a shadow. Accused by your father of a
dreadful crime, you have resolutely refused to








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