, OF CALIF. LIBRARY, LOS ANGELES THE VIDOCQ OF NEW YORK. BY CHAKDOS FULTON, AUTHOR OF "A SOCIETY STAR," "A BROWN STONE FRONT," ETC. THE AMERICAN NEWS COMPANY. 1891. T, 1890, BY THF. MINERVA PUBLISHING CO. THE VIDOCQ OF NEW YORK. PART FIRST. CHAPTER I. THE ANONYMOUS LETTER. " I DON'T believe a word you say ! " said Mrs. Larkspur to her husband, seated opposite at the center table in the family sitting room in their mansion on Park Avenue. " I don't believe a word you say ! " she reiterated with flashing eyes and an emotion that was none the less sincere because there was an effort at suppression or control. " I have told you the truth, and nothing but the truth," he retorted doggedly, with a show of humiliation rather than displeasure that he should be doubted. " I have simply stated facts, and your conclusions or surmises are unjust." " How absurd ! To think that a woman who _ould write that letter did not know you." 2129465 4 VIDOCQ. "That may be, and I may know her her familiarity with the name and address and our affairs would indicate a close personal friend but that I am carrying on any intrigue with her or know her identity I positively deny." " I don't believe you," exclaimed the wife, unable to restrain her anger. " H'm What do you propose to do?" " Go back to my father and mother ! " " I think that if you took counsel from them, you would be prepared to listen to reason." "Ah, yes! I have no doubt you would like me to leave you and go back to them leave you to carry on your intrigue with this vile woman." " But I shall stipulate to be present when the statement of the case is made to them." "You would lie to them, as to me ! " " Oh, Belle ! Don't let your temper run away with you. I swear to you, by the memory of my mother and all I hold sacred, I have told you the truth, and am innocent of your insinuations." " You had better go to her, lest she upbraid you for not being punctual," retorted the wife, tossing across the table a letter she held in her hand, and leaving the room to conceal a flood of tears. Larkspur picked up the letter that had come to him in the mail that afternoon to his home address. On a small, delicate, pink-tinted and violet- THE ANONYMOUS LETTER. 5 scented note-sheet was the following in a lady's chirography : "TUESDAY. " DEAREST I know it was your little surprise whist party that kept you from coming to me last evening, and knowing how poignant must have been your regret, I freely forgive your neglect of your promise. Don't fail to come this 'veiling. It is 'lodge' night, you know; that ought to be a good excuse any time for absence, _-h ? Yours only and forever, MlNNIE. " Andrew Larkspur, Esq." This tender little epistle was not inclosed in an envelope of the same fine grade, but in an ordi- nary business yellow one, and the superscription was in the bold, round hand of a clerk and the "Mr." had a flourish to the "r" that made it look like "Mrs.," and, consequently, the wife had opened it. " I would give a good deal to know who wrote this letter ! " muttered Larkspur, who really adored his pretty, but hot-tempered wife. " Some fiend who seeks to make trouble. Some one who knows the internecine affairs of this household, that we had an impromptu card party last night, when I had no idea of going out, and that I belong to a lodge which I usually attend this evening in the week. Who it is I have not the slightest idea ! I did not suppose I had an enemy in the world ! " 6 VIDOCQ. CHAPTER II. GONE HOME. THE violent closing of the front door down- stairs attracted his attention, and he arose to go out into the hall and look over the banister. He met a servant maid coming upstairs. " Mrs. Larkspur has gone to her father and mother's," said the maid. "Alone?" " No ; she rang for a messenger boy while she was putting on her things." "Oh!" " She told me to tell you not to sit up for her," added the maid, with a courtesy, as she de- scended to rejoin her comrades below stairs. Larkspur returned to the sitting room discon- solately. " This is too bad ! Folly ! " he muttered, as he sunk into his chair. Glancing at a portrait of his wife by Constant Mayer, on the wall opposite, he mused again, " I must rule now, or forever be dethroned." He picked up the letter and scanned it again, comparing the writing of the inside with the address. " If the letter were not addressed to me at the bottom I should be inclined to doubt that it was intended for me. The poison of the sting is in the superscription, the misleading address." GOtfE HOMB. 7 Lighting a cigar, he paced the apartment in meditation, finally exclaiming : " I must get to the bottom of this ! " A few vigorous puffs, a few seconds of meditation, a prolonged puff and the ejaculation : " Byrnes!" A strut to the chair, and dropping therein : "Yes, Byrnes is my man : he can advise me, if not help me. He will be better than a lawyer." Drawing toward him a little writing desk that stood on the table, he scrawled in pencil : " This is folly. In a few days I will convince you of my innocence. Won't you come home ? " ANDREW." He addresed an envelope to his wife at her father's round the corner on Madison Avenue, inclosed the note and summoned a district mes- senger and dispatched him with it, bidding him to " wait answer." The answer came in good time ; a verbal, laconic, " No." " I am glad she did not take the letter with her, as I shall need it to-morrow," he muttered, putting the letter back into the envelope that inclosed it, pocketing the same as he went into his chamber adjoining, to seek in vain a night's rest for though strong in his innocence, he was naturallv much disturbed. 8 CHAPTER III. THE VIDOCQ OF NEW YORK. LARKSPUR decided to visit the marble edifice on Mulberry Street, between Prince and Bleecker Streets, known as " Police Headquarters ; " and erected by the commonwealth for that purpose as far back as 1862, as stated on a monolith over the entrance. An officer in uniform, at the door, in answer to his inquiry, directed him to the second door on the left, bearing the sign " Detective Bureau." Thrusting open this door he found himself in an office, or rather two offices, there being a fold- ing door between the rooms, and he could not fail to observe that all those at the desks wore uni- forms. " Inspector Byrnes ? " he said. "Through that door!" pointed an aged offi- cial at the nearest desk. Leaving the room Larkspur found himself in a short, narrow passage way, with a door on each side and another at the end labelled " Detective Bureau," going through which he entered a large room, with tables and chairs, windows overlook- ing the court, and two doors, one bearing the sign " Office of Superintendent," while " Detec- tive Bureau " was lettered on the wall beside the other. THE riDOCQ OF NEW YORK. 9 Several well dressed and well appearing gentle- men detectives off duty, the dark and graceful Heidelberger, the gray and rotund Farley, the reflective Schmidt, being among them took no more notice of him than if he were not visible. " Inspector Byrnes? " " That way ! " pointed Heidelberger. Crossing to the door indicated Larkspur pulled it open, crossed a covered bridge or archway over the court, to an apartment that had a desk and paraphernalia suggestive of the precinct station house. A detective had just brought in a " sneak " and was searching him a youthful, demure man, whose harsh features indicated he was an old offender. The detective opened his coat and neatly folded back the face on each side or shoulder ; then he carefully examined all the pockets, run- ning his hands up and down to see that nothing was concealed in the bands or suspenders. He was looking for the skeleton key this class of criminals operate with, but so far had only found a homeopathic vial of quinine pills, a toothpick, a knife, and some small change. A smile of triumph came in the prisoner's face ; a look of disappointment and perplexity on that of the detective. " He threw something away when he started to run as soon as he saw me," observed the detective, " but I can swear it was a cigar." 10 riDOCQ. The prisoner looked defiant. The detective eyed him calculatingly. He suddenly ripped open the buttons of the prison* ers trousers, and dropped them, before the pris- oner divined his intention, and there poised in the crotch were four skeleton keys, two on each side evidence sufficient to send him below to await trial in the morning. " Well, sir," exclaimed one of the two officials at the big desk, a white-haired, pale faced man who had evidently seen years of official duty, "welk sir?" "Inspector Byrnes?" said Larkspur, handing him his card. A younger official took the card and disap- peared through one of two doors. Larkspur observed one wall of the room was decorated with frames and single photographs of the various officials in the department, those of the previous chief inspectors Walling, Young, Keely, Irving catching his eye, as well as one of the popular Presidents of the Board of Police Commissioners, Stephen B. French. Opposite tke desk was a pyramid or nest of letter boxes, with glass doors, each bearing the name of a detective. The attendant returned and motioned Lark- spur to accompany him. Larkspur followed him through a corridor, on each side of which were offices which he correctly divined were those of the detect! THE \'IJ)u<-(j ol- .Vh'ir YORK. 11 Opening the door at the end Larkspur was ushered into a large, airy room, with two win- dows at either end. overlooking the court, and beheld Chief Inspector Byrnes, seated at a large office desk, making some memoranda on a pad. Chief Inspector Byrnes, the head of the great de- tective system of the great Empire City ! the Vidocq of New York ! in that he is the most successful criminal catcher that has ever presided over the " Detective Bureau " in the marble edi- fice on Mulberry Street. Inspector Byrnes, a quiet, unostentatious, ordi- nary middle aged man, who, in a sack coat, round hat, with his hands in his side pockets, and a fragrant Havana in his mouth, is a familiar figure to many who little dream he is the famous Vidocq of New York, as he quietly meanders Broadway. Alone in his office, his thoughts seek relief from professional problems by glancing at the portrait of a child in a little ornamented frame on his desk his own little daughter, the idol of his life a reminder of a pleasant home that strict attention to business so often keeps him away from. " One moment," said Inspector Byrnes pleas- antly, motioning him to a chair, as the attendant retired. A glance about the room revealed several large black and white sketches in frames, the titles of 12 which explained the subjects : " Photographing a Rogue," showing how it required several to hold an unwilling criminal while his likeness is secured for the Rogue's Gallery; ''His First Offence," depicting the timidity and abashment of a youth brought before the Inspector for the first time ; " Mob in a Riot," a view of a riot- ous crowd. The glance also revealed several portraits. " Well, sir, Mr. Larkspur," said the Inspector, glancing at his card as he finished writing. Larkspur was proceeding by apologizing for intruding on him to allude to his business, when Inspector Byrnes laconically, with a puff of his cigar, exclaimed : " State your case ! State your case ! " Larkspur thought he gave a very succinct state- ment of his " peculiar and most extraordinary case," but he bored Inspector Byrnes by his recital, and he exclaimed: " Nothing peculiar or most extraordinary ! Anonymous letter writing common enough ! Have you got the documents?" And he held out his hand as if prepared to receive something weighty. Larkspur took from his pocket the anonymous letter and handed it to him. "This all?" "Yes!" " Oh, only just commenced," observed Inspec- THE VIDOCQ OF NEW YORK. 13 tor Byrnes, looking at the postmark. " Posted in your own district." "Oh, yes, I had not thought of that," ex- claimed Larkspur, noticing the fact. " Do you suspect any one? " " No; would not have come to you if I had." " Hum ! Any reason for any one writing such a Utter?" " None. God help me, none." " What is your theory ? " " I have none. I did not suppose I had an en- emy in the world." " Domestic arrangements always happy ? " " Yes, sir." " Hum ! Well, leave this with me; call again when you receive another one." " Do you suppose I will be bombarded regu- larly with these epistles?" " Depends on the motive if for blackmail or revenge, yes ; if for mischief, probably not." " Inspector Byrnes, this is a very serious case for me, sir." ' Yes, no doubt. Equally to me as to you." " Do you think you will be able to ferret out the writer? " "Can't say. Never can." " You say these cases are common ?" "Yes." " Can you give me some information about about others ? " 14 VIDOCQ. " Have no time. Besides each case here is a privacy." " Can you advise me ? " " Yes ; keep your own counsel. Good morn- ing !" CHAPTER IV. M O T H E R-I N-L A W. LARKSPUR only remained in his office he was the agent of a woolen house on Mercer Street long enough to open and dispose of the morning mail. He went down town to the counting house of his father-in-law, who, much to his chagrin, received him coldly, evidently influenced by his daughter's recital of her woes. " Now, where there is smoke there is fire," observed Mr. King. He softened and evinced a sympathetic interest when Larkspur told him of his visit to Byrnes and his determination to clear the mystery, con- vinced finally of his innocence. "Belle has her mother's temper and jealousy," observed Mr. King, "and she will not change un- til convinced. I told her she would create a scan- dal that could not be easily handled if she remained away from home." Larkspur hurried uptown to Mr. King's resi- MOTHER-IN-LAW. 15 dence, but his wife would not see him. She sent her mother down to receive him. The mother, of course, espoused the daughter's side. In vain Larkspur protested his innocence. Mrs. King, with a sarcastic and incredulous smile, listened, but offered neither advice nor consolation. " Well, won't you advise Belle to return to my house until convinced of my innocence or guilt? " " She will return provided you occupy a separ- ate apartment, and do not intrude yourself on her until she is convinced of your innocence or your guilt, in which latter case she will return here, and commence divorce proceedings." Larkspur observed that probably a second missive would come, and to show his careless dis- regard, he would like his wife to open it. " Oh, you expect another to-day? " inquired his mother-in-law, sarcastically. " Inspector Byrnes said I would most likely receive another." " Oh ! Inspector Byrnes ! He is a wise man ! " " Did you show him the letter? Oh, yes, you left it with him. Wasn't he surprised you only had one to show him ? " * " He made no comment beyond expressing the opinion that others would come from the same source, and I must bring them to him." " Oh, yes." 16 VIDOCQ. Not wishing to engage in any argument with his mother-in-law, who if the truth were told, had had some unpleasant experiences in early life with her husband, before he settled down into domestic felicity, and was consequently prejudiced against mankind generally, and predisposed to take sides against him on general grounds, Lark- spur left, and before going home what a hollow word that sacred name was now to him ! took a stroll in the Central Park, to clear and invigorate his faculties by healthy, open-air exercise. CHAPTER V. A SECOND LETTER. LARKSPUR found his wife returned, when he reached home. As she had retired to her chamber, ordering that her dinner should be sent up to her, he did not disturb her. He selected a chair in the window of the sit- ting-room and tried to engage his thoughts by reading George Eliot's " Gwendolen," which he had recently commenced, but the book pos- sessed no charms for him now, as his mind would dwell upon his own troubles. He was aroused from a reverie by the entrance of his wife, who, evidently unaware of his return A SECOM> LETTER. 17 turned to leave the room upon discovering his presence. " Belle !*' he ejaculated, almost involuntarily. " My mother has mapped out a course for me to pursue," she said, haughtily, "and I will re- main here, keeping to myself, until you vindi- cate yourself if you can." " Oh, don't prejudge me ! " " I should not, but now that I seem to remem- ber several such envelopes coming to this address ; but the superscription was so plain that I never opened them by mistake." " I swear to you by all I hold sacred that that was the first and only letter I have received of that kind." She darted from the room, with a haughty glance, not deigning or vouchsafing a reply. Soon after she entered the room, in percepti- ble excitement, bearing several letters in her hand, just delivered by the postman. Without a word she handed him a yellow envelope, with the suspicious superscription, with the difference this time that there was no prefix Mr., the name being followed by the more conventional Esq. He was about tearing the envelope open when the thought flashed across his mind to hand it to his wife, which, rising and advancing to her, he did, with the request : " Please open, madam." 18 VIDOCQ. -Mrs. Larkspur, with flashing eyes, tore open the envelope, revealing a pink-tinted sheet, as previously, with the following lines in the same handwriting, which she glanced over silently. " WEDNESDAY. " DEAREST Sorry beyond expression in words that I was absent when you called this afternoon. I do not understand your message, however. Can't you run around for a few minutes this evening? I expected you until past midnight last evening. As ever, " MINNIE." " Where have you been since leaving my father's?" she asked indignantly, glancing up from the letter. " Strolling in the Park to get a little fresh air after a restless night," he replied. " This is evidence to the contrary," she mused tossing him the letter. He hastily scanned the missive in a glance. " It's false. I made no such call this after- noon ! It is a lie ! " he exclaimed, picking up the envelope, which she had dropped to the floor, and enclosing the letter. He examined the postmark, and found it the same as the day before ; he placed the envelope in his pocket and arose to leave the room. " Where are you going to meet that woman ?" A SECOND LETTER. 19 " No to Inspector Byrnes," he replied. " I promised to send him more such letters if I received them " " Send it to him." " No; on second thoughts I will keep it and deliver it personally to-morrow morning," he answered, resuming his seat. " I will remain here." " Pray not on my account," she retorted, retiring to her own apartment, from which she did not emerge until the next morning, when he was leaving, when she said : " If any letter comes during the day I will send it to you at the office, that you may take it to Inspector Byrnes on your way uptown," her manner conveying as much as her words, scepticism that he was consulting the famous detective in the matter. CHAPTER VI. HEADQUARTERS AGAIN. LARKSPUR stopped at Headquarters on his way downtown in the morning. "These letters are written by no slouch," said Inspector Byrnes. " As yet, the motive inspiring the writer does not appear. It soon will de- velop." 20 VIDOCQ. "You think there is a conspiracy to ruin me ?" " O, I don't know about that," replied the Inspector, contrasting the letter and the envel- ope. " There are evidently two people in the game a man and a woman. The letter is writ- ten by a woman or a very clever penman. The envelope is addressed by a business man. It is a different hand from that of the writer of the letter." "What am I to do?" " Don't worry about the case ; don't worry about me. When I want to see you I'll send for you. Your frequent coming to Headquarters to see me might put the scoundrel to flight. See?" "Yes." " Send me the letters as fast as they come. If there is any scheme you'll receive more." " But you will devise some plan to ferret out the scoundrel or scoundrels?" " That is what I am here for," replied the In- spector imperturbably, as, under all circumstances, deeply interested in the case, yet apparently un- concerned. " Good day, sir !" Larkspur, who, in his business, would not have uttered a needless word, would have liked to question the Inspector in regard to his manage- ment of the case : but the latter's peremptory "Good day, sir!" left him no alternative but to return the salutation and leave. THE THIRD LETTER. 21 CHAPTER VII. THE THIRD LETTER. IMAGINE Larkspur's surprise when he reached his office to find in the morning's mail a letter from the mysterious aiui annoying Minnie. This letter, however, was not inclosed in an innocent and ordinary yellow business envelope, with the address in a masculine, clerical hand, like those sent to his residence, but in a cover of the same tint and delicacy of the note-sheet, and the superscription was in the same female chirography. Larkspur glanced at the postmark, to find that it was the same as the other two letters. The letter read as follows : " DEAREST I don't know what to make of you, you've acted so strangely and contrarily the past few days. Please look in on me on your way up this afternoon. I shall remain in all the afternoon, and shall not give up hope of seeing you until ten o'clock. Yours, as ever, " MINNIE." Hastily making a copy, that he might show his wife, if the occasion offered, to prove to her, that he had no confidences from her, he placed the letter in its envelope and inclosed the same to Inspector Byrnes by a district messenger. 22 V1DOCQ. CHAPTER VIII. OFFICIAL ORDERS. " H UM ! " ejaculated Inspector Byrnes when he received and read the letter inclosed him by Larkspur. "This boil will soon be ready for the lance. It must soon come to a head now or fail in the attempt. If the man is guilty of a liaison and is trying to use me to break it off he'll get himself into hot water. I think he is a true bill, however, and is innocent. The same postal mark shows that the writer is new in the business. An old hand would cover his tracks by using a different posting station every time. Per- haps, however, he thinks the ordinary envelope used will cloak him sufficiently from identification. H um ! I think I can start on the case now ! " The inspector tapped a small gong-bell on his table ; an attendant looked in. " Ralston ! " The attendant closed the door, and in a few moments a tall, slender, sleepy looking man, with amazingly scant reddish hair and beard, came in. " Ralston anonymous letter writing docu- ments pipe the station shadow box report when ready," said Inspector Byrnes, handing the other the three letters. OFFICIAL ORDERS. 23 "Yes, sir," replied Ralston, perfunctorily, tak- ing the package, and backing out to the door, which he shoved open, closing with a bang. CHAPTER IX. INVESTIGATION. RALSTON went to his desk in another apart- ment in the suite assigned to the Detective Bu- reau, and shoving his hat on to the back of his head, stretching his legs over an adjacent chair and lighting a cigarette, he proceeded to leisurely read the letters. " Forgery ?" jocularly inquired another detec- tive at an adjoining desk. " Naw a puddin nonymous letter writm," responded Ralston. " Glad the weather is pleas- ant." Having finished reading the three letters, Ralston took the Third Avenue Elevated Railway up town, alighting at the station nearest the sub- postal station he would visit. Arrived here he inquired for the officer in charge and explained his business. He interviewed the morning collectors, but none of them could identify the envelopes as hav- ing been taken up by them from the boxes on their route. The out or on squad, however, soon 24 VIDOCQ. came in and one of these identified the letters stating that he had taken them from the box on the corner of street and avenue, re- membering the fact because there were no stores in that locality, and consequently bill or collec- tion letters were seldom posted in that box. The last, or third letter had been posted after eight o'clock, but the other two had each been dropped before ten o'clock in the morning. The next morning, from a neighboring build- ing, Ralston shadowed that is, he watched this box. Any one perceiving him would, from his indif- ferent and aimless manner, have concluded he was one of those unlucky fellows who are always getting out of employment, but don't seem to mind it as long as they can get along. No one for a moment would have thought he was a detective. While they might have con- cluded he was not such a fool as he looked, none would have supposed him shrewd enough to be a detective. Without apparently doing so, and consequently not attracting attention, he carefully mentally surveyed every one who dropped a letter in the box. A close observer would have noticed that his interest ceased when he discovered that " a party " was going to drop in a white or a pink, or any but a yellow envelope. INVESTIGATION. 25 Finally a well-dressed, distingue but dissipated young man of about five-and-twenty came down the avenue, took from the inside pocket of his light top-coat an envelope a yellow envelope. The close observer would have noticed that Ralston's eyes glistened and his muscles swelled like those of a cat ready to spring on its prey, as he watched the yellow envelope come forth and go into the box. Immediately that he heard the thud of the lid-, indicating that the letter was beyond the reach of the depositor should he wish to reclaim it, he pulled himself together and started toward the corner with the action and bearing of a man who had no particular object for hurrying. Reaching the box he took from his pocket what across the street would appear to be an ordinary white en- velope of the conventional size. It was not an envelope, however, but a solid piece of pasteboard, on one side of which was a piece of shoemaker's wax, looking like a seal. Ralston dropped this tablet into the letter box with the side containing the wax downward, so that it would fall and fasten upon the letter dropped just before. Then he turned and followed the gentleman who had deposited the yellow envelope for sev- eral blocks until he had carefully mentally photo- graphed him. 26 VIDOCQ. " New one. Never been up. Don't seem fly. Amateur, I guess. Style. Seems solid," solilo- quized Ralston, mentally surveying his man. Satisfied with his mental notes, Ralston turned and retraced his steps to the postal station, and, informing the officer in charge that he had made a plant, waited for the " out " squad of collectors to come in. When the bag of that circuit was turned out for assortment, the yellow envelope and the white blank were stuck together. " There's the beauty," exclaimed the collector. " The pad hit her plumb," said Ralston, de- taching the two, and observing that the yellow envelope was addressed to Mr. Andrew Larkspur at his private residence, in the same bold, mascu- line, clerical hand as the two first. " Shove her along," he said, jocularly tossing the letter to the stamping clerk. Leaving, he went immediately to Headquar- ters, and reported to Inspector Byrnes. " Good ! " was the laconic response of the chief, as Ralston backed out after making his report. Inspector Byrnes prepared a telegraphic message to Larkspur, which he sent to his residence, as follows ; " The mail this afternoon will bring you an- other letter from party. Send it to me in the morning." THE \riFETS DOUBTS. 27 CHAPTER X. THE WIFE'S DOUBTS. MRS. LARKSPUR really had doubted her hus- band's assertion that he was consulting Inspector Byrnes for her confidence in him was shaken by the doubts inspired by the anonymous letters and had worked herself into a mental condi- tion of general distrust so far as he was con- cerned. The dispatch from the detective convinced her of the truth of his statements. Her husband disturbed the sanctity of her established privacy to show her this dispatch, which he found await- ing him on his arrival home. The mail a little later brought the letter indi- cated. Same pink-tinted note sheet, identical female hand, same yellow envelope, identical superscrip- tion in bold, masculine hand. The note read : " DEAREST If you think you can abandon me, like a cast-off garment, you make the greatest mistake of your life. Remember all your decla- rations to me, of the hopes inspired, the devotion engrafted, and think of "MINNIE." Larkspur had opened and read the letter in his 28 VIDOCQ. anxiety, without thinking of handing it to his wife to open and read first, as he would in a cooler moment have done, as good policy under the circumstance. "Damnation!" he muttered. "Curse the hand that ever penned this outrageous note ! " He handed the letter to his wife to read, while he picked the envelope from the waste basket, into which he had thoughtlessly, from habit, cast it. The letter aroused the wife to great indigna- tion. She moved as if to tear it into tatters, when he caught her hand, and clutched it from her grasp. "Remember, Inspector Byrnes will want it !" he exclaimed, smoothing out the crumpled sheet. Mrs. Larkspur paced the room in growing and almost uncontrollable indignation. " Why not confess the truth at once ? " she exclaimed. " I will forgive you if you will give up this woman ! After such evidence as this, you cannot deceive me." " I tell you I am innocent of your insinuations. I do not even know who this woman or person signing herself ' Minnie ' is ! " " I cannot believe it ! The evidence is too strong against you ! " " What evidence ?" " Those letters. The confessions of that sor- rowing and wronged woman ! " THE \\~IW* DOUBTS. 29 "You consider anonymous letters evidence against my word? " " To me those letters are most convincing evi- dence." " Pshaw. I am almost inclined to use the cant phrase, ' You make me tired ! ' ' " Is she some young girl whom you have wronged ? She writes like a cruelly deceived, innocent girl." " I swear to you by all I hold sacred that there is no truth or meaning in her insinuations and im- putations ; that I have not the faintest idea of who the writer is." " I wish I could believe you," answered Mrs. Larkspur. "I don't ask you to believe me until I have ferreted out the mystery. I only ask you now to trust me, not to condemn me without hearing." " My confidence in you is entirely shaken." " Because you do not exercise your reason." " Because I do," she retorted. " My reason convinces me and condemns you. Other enve- lopes have come to the house of the same de- scription. This liaison has been going on I don't know how long under my very eyes." " The envelope is ordinary, usually used com- mercially, and the others only inclosed bills." "Not billet-doux?" sneered his wife. "I really sympathize with this poor creature." "Your wit is worthy of the modern comic 30 VIDOCQ. opera," the husband could not help saying, facetiously, while feeling as if his heart would break. " The knowledge of your affairs could only come from one who possessed your confidence. The letters are honest, and I consider the case one for private settlement, rather than detective investigation." " Having nothing to fear from the most public investigation, I shall court it," exclaimed Lark- spur, hotly and firmly. " I shall ferret out this mystery if it takes my last dollar. I cannot be injured, only vindicated, by detective investiga- tion." " You may be ; but how will it fare with the poor woman whom you have abandoned to her fate, after kindling hopes that will never be ful- filled ? " " When she is discovered you can decide her fate." "You seek to combine insult with injury. While I commiserate with her, I do not wish to become the arbiter of her destiny." Thoroughly aroused, and fearing that he might say something which he would regret, Larkspur left the room. He mailed the letter just received to Inspector Byrnes. THE CASE DEVELOPS. 31 CHAPTER XI. THE CASE DEVELOPS. INSPECTOR BYRNES, on receiving the letter the next morning, glanced hastily over it, and shoved it into the pigeonhole with the others. He tapped the bell, and the doorman bounced in. " Ralston ! " The doorman bounced out, and almost imme- diately Ralston entered. Inspector Byrnes motioned him to a seat. "You nailed your man. The case is curious. I can't find any motive. It looked like blackmail at the start. It may develop that way. The man, so far in the case, is a stall. Perhaps he is the lover of the girl. There are two of them. If Larkspur didn't protest his innocence, I should think the discarded woman was squealing for revenge ; but he declares he doesn't know the party ; has no such affair that could lead to any- thing." Inspector Byrnes puffed his ever-visible cigar meditatively. Ralston stroked his shaggy beard with an expression of expectancy, as if he thought the Chief should do all the talking. Ralston was Byrnes' pal, mate or double, who assisted him in his cases, often initiating under direction the 32 VIDOCQ. work which the other would take up later and carry to a brilliant success which would make a sensation in all the papers. He rarely ventured a suggestion except when requested. " Looked the party up ? " " Yes ; he's a new 'un, never up. On the gen- tleman lay," Ralston replied, meaning that the well-dressed gentleman whom he saw drop the letter into the box was unknown to the police ; that he had never before come under their atten- tion ; that he would pass as a gentleman. " H'm. Shadow him ; report when ready," observed the chief inspector after a few moments of reflection and several vigorous puffs of his cigar. Ralston bowed and withdrew with a contented smile, as shadowing a man that is, following him day and night until his habits and haunts are located is often the pleasantest part of a detective's work, leading to fine dinners, theatres, etc. Though New York is such a large, populous city that one would think an humble individual could soon lose his identity in the crowd or in the byways, it is easy for a detective to get on the track of and shadow a man. Ralston started his hunt by frequenting the populous and fashionable centripetal point of Broadway at Fifth Avenue and Twenty-third THE CAtiE DEVELOPS. 33 street, where one afternoon he discovered " his man " crossing the street. Though he apparently looked at nobody, yet eyed everybody, Ralston, until he found his man, had only him in his eye especially his pe- culiarities of gait and manner, which it is ten to one he would have discovered beneath any dis- guise. We can easily change our habits, but not our manners. The detective relies on his study of peculiarities to identify his man. A nervous habit of tearing off and rolling between his fin- gers bits of newspapers or letters was a character- istic of this man that Ralston soon discovered. Ralston piped or shadowed "his man" to a fashionable cafe", where they dined at neighboring tables : then to the Casino, where they witnessed an admirable performance of " Nanon," and then to the Grand Central Depot, where he took the train to Albany. Observing that he had attracted " his man's " attention, he did not follow him on board the train, but pointing him out to one of the Bureau always on duty here, he told him to watch for him and notify Headquarters of his return. 34 V1L)0(JQ. CHAPTER XII. A " HERALD " PERSONAL. JEALOUSY in a woman, like ambition in a man, feeds and fattens on itself, and Mrs. Larkspur, as we have seen, became almost a monomaniac on the subject. She readily persuaded herself that she could not believe a word her husband told her, and con- sequently did not for a moment credit his state- ment that he had not the slightest idea who was the author of the mysterious and compromising letters addressed to him. She decided that his putting the case in In- spector Byrnes' hands was simply a subterfuge, a trick to deceive her, and that he would shelter the woman from discovery. It was due herself, however, that she should give him a fair chance to vindicate himself a re- sult she did not consider possible or probable. They maintained friendly, though strained, re- lations, to prevent exciting the suspicions of the domestics. Several days elapsing without any more letters coming, she concluded that her wily husband had succeeded in placating " Minnie," and her jeal- ousy became all the more indignant, especially as Larkspur maintained he could offer no explana- tion. A "HERALD" PERSONAL. 35 She preferred taking the counsel of a friend of her childhood, a spinster, Miss Bevins, to that of her parents, who, while very indignant in their bearing toward Larkspur, were inclined to be conservative in their advice to her, urging her to patiently await the issue of events. She confided the whole story to Miss Bevins, who had never been liked by Larkspur because he thought her a mischief-maker ; and that lady found the opportunity for revenging his slights by coinciding with the wife, and so fanning the flame of jealousy. " He claims that he has not heard from her since ; has not answered any of the letters ; in- deed, does not know who she is?" "Yes, positively." " Quite a fairy tale." " Well, assume he is telling the truth ; that is, that, wishing to get rid of her, he has not an- swered her recent letters." " Well ? " " She must be very indignant." " Naturally." " Now, you can get into communication with her and learn the whole story " " How? " " By a personal in the Herald ! " "Capital." Miss Bevins drew a sheet ofnote-paper from the desk, seized the pencil and wrote. 36 VIDOCQ. " Something like this," she said, reading : " Minnie. Letters intercepted. Deuce to pay. Am watched. Cannot call. Write to this ad- dress, appointing an interview away from home. Will explain all. L. A., private letter box, Thir- teenth street and Third avenue." " L. A.," soliloquized Mrs. Larkspur. "Oh, I see his initials reversed. What is the address ? " " A private letter-box address place. I've read about it." " Will you go and get the letters and insert the advertisement?" inquired Mrs. Larkspur, who habitually never did for herself anything she could get any one to do for her. " Yes," gleefully assented Miss Bevins. "Yes, I'll attend to this part, and what fun we'll have in reading the letters together. I wonder if Mr. Larkspur is in the habit of reading the ' Personal ' column in the Herald? My brother always reads it the first thing.' " I don't know," replied Mrs. Larkspur. " I have never heard him speak of it, if he does." Larkspur, however, did not read the " Person- als 5> in the Herald, and consequently did not notice the advertisement the next morning, which, under the circumstances, might have at- tracted his attention. Mrs. Larkspur felt halt ashamed of herself the next morning when she saw it, but a call from A "HERALD" PERSONAL. 37 Miss Bevins restored her confidence that she was acting rightly. Miss Bevins said she had got her brother to register at the private letter-box place for letters addressed to L. A., the terms being that he should pay five cents for each letter received. The man in charge informed him that in order to give ample time for the reply he should not call until late in the evening. Miss Bevins promised to run up the next morn- ing immediately after breakfast, and she came with six letters in her reticule four had been sent through the mail, two by messenger. To the intense disgust of both, none of the let- ters was the one they had hoped for and ex- pected. Neither of these letters was in the handwriting of the mysterious Minnie. These letters were written by adventuresses who sought appointments with L. A., and plainly showed their ignorance of Minnie's letters. Of the two, Miss Bevins evinced the most cha- grin and disappointment at the failure of the lit- tle plot. "You may depend on it, my dear," she said snappishly, " that he has settled matters with her and consequently she was not caught by the bait." " I suppose so," sighed Mrs. Larkspur, who wondered how many more Minnies there were, in the city if such a crop came up so quickly. 38 VIDOCQ. " Why not put a detective on your husband's track?" said Miss Bevins. " My father would not hear of such a thing," responded Mrs. Larkspur. " Besides, it is expen- sive. I have no money of my own." "Well, he is either a most sinned against man or the most cunning I ever heard of," said Miss Bevins, whose long chase after a husband had imbittered her against the sterner sex on general principles. CHAPTER XIII. THE FOURTH LETTER. HAD no other letter from Minnie come to dis- turb Mrs. Larkspur, it is likely that, in time, her confidence in her husband would have been re- stored, as there were no more replies to the "per- sonal." In two days, however, the evening delivery brought to the house another letter from Minnie, identical with the others in every respect except- ing, of course, the subject matter. This one, undated, read. " DEAR ANDY [a term her husband detested, and his wife never addressed him by, always calling him Andrew] saw your personal in the Herald^ but it won't do, even for a blind to THE FOURTH LETTER. 30 madame. I understand your tricks, and can checkmate every time. " MINNIE." Mr. Larkspur had not returned home to din- ner when this letter came, and Mrs. Larkspur opened it immediately. " Well, this shows that they have not met since," she said, pleased with the idea, " or is it a preconcerted trick of theirs to deceive me ? " She handed the letter to Larkspur when he came in and explained to him about the " per- sonal." " I have all along thought these letters were the work of some adventuress seeking to ensnare me," said he, " and consequently promptly sought Byrnes' assistance in effectually stopping them." " When none came yesterday or the day before," she said, " I began to hope that she was silenced, but this is evidence to the contrary." " Let me see the ' Personal,' " he asked, and she brought him the Herald containing it, and fully explained matters. She also showed him the replies received. After reading these, Larkspur said he would take them and Minnie's last to Inspector Byrnes in the morning. 40 viDOcq. CHAPTER XIV. THE " PRIVATE LETTER BOX." INSPECTOR BYRNES had been busy on a more important case, and he sent out word to Lark- spur to call again at 9.30. Inspector Byrnes motioned to a chair, evi- dently prepared to talk to him, for before he had kept him standing, wishing to terminate the interview as soon as possible. Larkspur handed him the several letters, hastily and succinctly explaining the situation. " That private letter box business is getting to be a nuisance, and we must put a stop to it.* My pal has at last got a plant, but I shall keep my counsel for a few days. Now don't ask me any questions. In good time you shall know all. These letters do not bear on the case," and Inspector Byrnes tore up the batch of replies and tossed the fragments into his waste basket. " You say you have a plant on the case? " " Oh, that means that we have got down to work. " "Any clue?" " Can't say, replied the inspector, chewing the end of his half-lighted or smouldering cigar. * A few days afterward all these places were closed by the police. TIIE " PRIVATE LETTER BOX." 41 " Now tell me who are your social intimates, who visits your house regularly?" " Very few. My wife's health is delicate and she sees little company. I am so devoted to my business that I have no time for society. We find our social pleasure in going to the theaters." " Does your business keep you out much at night about town? " " Yes, in the season ; with the buyers and job- bers." " H um ! Minnie is not the ordinary anony- mous letter writer whose object is blackmail or conquest. She is on some other lay." " I swear to you I know no one who could have any reason to address me such letters. But for the position my wife has taken I should have been disposed to regard these letters as a practi- cal joke and thrown them into the fire with a laugh, after reading them." " Being out of the criminal line there will be more trouble in ferreting out this case than a usual one of blackmail by regulars." " Spare no expense." " Do you suspect any of your friends ? " ' Not one." " If any of the replies had been significant in connection with Minnie's case I should be inclined to suspect Miss Bevins; but unless she is a very deep one, she is only what she figures for." 42 VIDOCQ. " I see this last letter bears the postmark of a sub-station higher uptown." " Yes," replied the Inspector, " that looks more like a professional beginning to confuse the trail." The attendant rapped on the door. " Come." The attendant looked in, and backed out with- out attracting the slightest attention from Byrnes. " The case is hardly developed." The attendant rapped again, and at the word " come," entered and handed Byrnes an envel- ope, which the latter opened, glanced at the scrawl in pencil on pad paper, and nodded to the attendant to leave. The scrawl read : " Party not back. " RALSTON." ^ H um," said Inspector Byrnes, meditatively, regarding his cigar affectionately. " Send me other letters as they come ; don't mention the case to any of your friends.' I'll send for you when I want to see you ; don't come again until I do." THE FIFTH LETTElt. 43 CHAPTER XV. THE FIFTH LETTER. LARKSPUR enjoined the secrecy on his wife Inspector Byrnes had imposed on him, and she respected the injunction excepting that she con- fided in Miss Bevins ; but the request to that lady that she should keep the matter entirely private had not the slightest effect on her, and she went about telling in the strictest confidence all the details. As no other letter came for several days, and as Miss Bevins was too busy going about retail- ing in the strictest confidence the scandal to call and fan the flame of jealousy that had begun to smoulder in Mrs. Larkspur's breast as she became convinced from his actions that her husband was sincere and earnest in his determination to ferret out the mysterious Minnie, there was tranquil routine in the home, until, more than a week afterward, the following missive arrived : DEAREST I am sorry to have thrown a bombshell, as you say, into your home ; but did you not tell me to send my letters to your home, inclosed in a commercial envelope, with the superscription in a clerical hand, so that you could hear from me by a later mail than at your office ? Now, why not see me ? Let us arranT f ' our matters, and I'll stop writing. Don't waste 44 VIDOCQ. any more money in Herald Personals. Yovi know where I am, who I am, and that I always will be your own true, MINNIE. Mrs. Larkspur had opened this letter the moment it arrived, and she was in a towering rage of jealousy when her husband came, later. " It is no use lying to me any longer. If you have a spark of honor in you, you will make peace with that poor wronged woman ! " she ex- claimed, tossing him the letter, which, it is almost needless to say, annoyed him beyond ex- pression. He examined the postmark, and found it was that of the original letter. He inclosed it in an envelope addressed to Inspector Byrnes, Police Headquarters, Mulberry street, city, and mailed it, taking it himself to the box on the corner. Here, sauntering up the street, he met an old friend of his wife, and, through her, of his own, Mr. Black, who said he was going to the house to call on them. " My wife is slightly indisposed this evening," Larkspur said, " but she may see an old friend like you. Anyway, I shall be pleased to receive you." Mrs. Larkspur, however, sent down word that she was indisposed, and begged to be excused, and the two gentlemen went into the library, THE FIFTH LETTER. 45 where they could smoke and chat undisturbed by any other callers. Mr. Black was one of those well-dressed, ordi- nary, conventional, easy-going gentlemen, who would not attract attention from any one, except- ing possibly because he had a nervous habit of tearing off the corners of newspapers or notes and rolling the fragments between his fingers without ever being conscious of the fact. He was quite well off, living on an income from some manufacturing industry in one of the New England cities, and passed as a gentleman of leisure and pleasure, a confirmed bachelor, who might leave for Europe to-morrow and return on the same steamer if the fancy took him. He had been up in New England on some business, and had just returned via Albany, and said he had not been to see them for so long a time that he was beginning to feel ashamed of himself. Larkspur got very tired of him before he left, as Black's conversation of conventional gener- alities did not interest him in the least, and he was so preoccupied with his own thoughts that he frequently found that he was paying no atten- tion while listening to his tattle. Black noticed this aberration, and urged him to confide in him, but Larkspur haughtily assured him there was no trouble in his thoughts, while, however, Black knew better, as he had that 46 VIDOCQ. afternoon, on his way from the train, met Miss Bevins, who had confided to him the salacious morceaux of domestic scandal, which caused him to smile while he wondered who could be the writer of the letters. Black left quite a little mound of crumpled and rolled fragments of paper on the table, an evidence to those who knew him of his presence, so long was he in his inquisition, which so far as Larkspur was concerned, made him no wiser. CHAPTER XVI. SCANDAL. SEVERAL days afterward, in which there was no change in the strained relations between the husband and wife, they were mutually incensed by a paragraph in the original of the modern so- called "Society" papers for I am quite confi- dent that Morris & Willis neyer contemplated in their Home Journal (which so proudly maintains its own) the contemporaneous " society " paper Mr. Barksdale's Our Society, a pink-tinted little sheet, which, like all pioneers, had a hard time of it before suspending in bankruptcy. A marked copy of the sheet was sent Mrs. Larkspur by some kind friend. Of course, they wondered how the idea got SCANDAL. 47 into the editor's head, for they did not know that Miss Bevins had been so industriously cir- culating the story, in the strictest confidence. Of course, kind and probably well-meaning friends sent each of them marked copies ; but as no names were given, and only the facts hinted at, Mr. Larkspur saw that he could take no notice of the item. There was a bond of sympathy between them, a union for mutual protection, started by this article, that, but for another missive from Minnie, might have resulted in a reunion. The mail one evening brought a large, square, home-made envelope, with the superscription in the well-known hand, but this time addressed boldly and unmistakably to Mrs. Larkspur, to whom the servant consequently naturally took it. The envelope inclosed a photograph of a young woman with a fine face seated beside Mr. Larkspur. She was apparently a blonde, with large blue eyes no doubt a very pretty and at- tractive woman. Underneath the one, in the hand of the letters, was written " Minnie," and under the other " Andrew." Mrs. Larkspur could hardly retain herself un- til Mr. Larkspur came home; by which time she had worked herself into such a towering passion that she was literally beside herself. When he came in she rushed to him and thrust the photograph into his hand, exclaiming: 48 F/DOC'Q. " This settles it ! I go back to my father to- night ! I would not believe you now under oath ! Oh, don't talk to me ! " Larkspur was almost dumfounded ; he could not believe his eyes -at first. " I know no such woman,." he said firmly. " I never saw her to my knowledge. I never sat for this photograph. Yes, mine is the same as that by Sarony." There was no imprint on the photograph, and it was a clumsy bit of amateur work at best. Comparing the Sarony photograph with "this one, it was found they were identical or, rather, that this one was a copy of Sarony's. Mrs. Larkspur forbade her husband to address her again, except in writing or through a third party, and retired to her own apartments. Before he left the next morning Mrs. Larkspur sent in a note to the effect that she would return to her father's, and consult him in regard to commencing divorce proceedings. He in reply wrote on the back of her note : " If in thirty days from date hereof this mys- tery is not cleared up to your entire satisfaction, I will consent to a divorce and afford you the evi- dence to obtain it. S PHOTO. 49 CHAPTER XVII. MINNIE'S PHOTO. LARKSPUR thought he could not intrust the photograph to the mail, and decided to take it to Headquarters on his way down town, notwithstanding Inspector Byrnes' injunction that he should not call again until sent for. He found Ralston in charge of the great de- tective's desk, and that his envelope, in- closing Minnie's last letter, had not been opened. Ralston vouchsafed the reply that the Inspec- tor had been absent from the city on a big forgery case, but that his return might be hourly expected. Larkspur showed Ralston the photograph, which he hastily examined, exclaiming: " This is a bulldozer, that is, two photographs have been cut out and pasted together and then photographed. The artist is a blooming amateur and his work is very clumsy. You can see yours is better taken originally than hers. How the chap who takes the crooks for the rogues' gallery will laugh when I show him this. We've got Central Pete down-stairs and I'm going to take him to have his photograph taken this afternoon 50 VIDOCQ. to go into the collection with his friend, Hungry Joe." * The door opened and in walked Inspector Byrnes, imperturbable and serene, with the per- ennial cigar in his mouth ; showing not the slight- est fatigue after an arduous night, or the racking thoughts filling his mind. Larkspur hastily explained matters to him, telling him about his wife's decision in regard to a divorce. " I have been very busy with an important case, which is just finished," said the Inspector. " I will get down to work on this case in earnest now. I am satisfied the party is not a profes- sional, but some friend of the family who knows all the particulars." " I can suspect no one," said Larkspur, fi- nally. " We can run down a crook easily, because we understand the way they work. It takes time to get a plant on a new man. However, there must always be a beginning, and we'll soon get onto the lay of this new one." " I sometimes fear he will prove too smart for us." " Never fear that. While it is true that suck- ers are born every minute and flymen only about * Central Pete and Hungry Joe were two prominent confidence men, the latter achieving celebrity by buncoing Oscar Wilde. MINNIE'S PHOTO. 61 once in twenty-four hours, one flyman is equal to the twenty-five suckers of the total number born who become crooks. Facts show that as soon as a crook devises a new scheme a smart detective turns up to outwit him.* So it goes; one day it is the crook who triumphs, the next the detec- tive a trite exemplification of the adage that every dog has his day. This case of yours has peculiar features, and I am satisfied that revenge and not blackmail is the motive. I have many such cases of the -kind where parties have been annoyed for months by anonymous letters. I have never yet failed in running down these cases." "Spare no expense," said Larkspur. " Send me anything else that comes, and re- spond at once, no matter if it is at midnight when I send for you. Good morning." Larkspur retired with a bow. Byrnes tapped his bell for Ralston, and that personage immediately entered. " I want you to get right down to this case," said he, handing him- the letter he had just opened, and showing him the photograph. "You see, both these are posted where you piped your man. Lay for him. He's returned * The afternoon and next morning's papers contained lengthy accounts of his discovery and rapturing one of the most formid- able gangs of forgers ever organized in this country. 52 VIDOCQ. some other way. Show our artist this for points," he said, handing Ralston the photo- graph. Ralston repaired to the studio of the photo- grapher who had the contract for taking all the photographs for the collection of criminals kept at each station house and at Headquarters, and known as the " Rogues' Gallery," and submitted to him for criticism the photograph handed him. "A blooming amateur's work!" exclaimed the artist. " The original of the man is much better than that of the woman. Cut out, pasted on a back, then took see the shadows. This is a stall parties never took together any photo- grapher can tell that ! " Ralston went uptown and shadowed the letter- box, and again the next morning without any discovery of his party, and as no letters had been received by Larkspur, it was concluded he had left the city again after mailing the last two. He determined, however, to shadow the box until he piped his man or had his attention attracted elsewhere by the selection of a new mailing point by the writer under the signature of " Minnie." EALSTON'S DIAEY. 53 CHAPTER XVIII. RALSTON'S DIARY. A WEEK sped by ; no more letters were re- ceived from Minnie ; Ralston could find no clue , Mrs. Larkspur had accepted Larkspur's proposi- tion to remain quiet for thirty days, and seven had already elapsed. The cessation of the letters convinced the wife that her husband had made his peace with Minnie, and she began to wonder if she could obtain a divorce with such evidence if it were controverted by her husband. The photograph was a parting shot, and no more letters were received from " Minnie," who was evidently satisfied- with the havoc she had played in the Larkspur household. Ralston decided that he would be more likely to pipe his man in a promenade when least expected than at the usual letter box, and he took to strolling the populous uptown thorough- fares. He came across his man again the second morning, and shadowed him from that time. I cannot do better than copy a few entries from his diary of the case : Tuesday Piped party going up Broadway, near Eleventh Street. Liquored at Union Square, 54 VIDOCQ. also Fifth Avenue. Lunched at Brown's chop house. Saw pictures at Academy of Design. Dinner at Del's. Saw Fanny Davenport in ''Charity" at Fifth Avenue. Left party in his flat on Madison avenue, near th Street. Wednesday Piped party coming out flat, quarter to ten. Downtown to a broker's in cars ; uptown afoot. Stopped at Gimbread's and pur- chased some pink tinted note paper, same as used by party. To flat, remained in. Thursday Party sick. Piped elevator boy ; party income man : amateur photographer ; good fellow. Has girls to come to dine in his flat. He took photograph of elevator boy. Friday Party out. Uptown to see girl in flat corner Lexington Avenue and th street. Walked down Lexington past letter-box but did not post any letter. Routine day shadow. Mem. Does the girl write the letters on paper he takes to her ; does he mail 'em in nearest letter- box ? Solid with the elevator boy. Saturday Party in until noontime. Blonde girl called and lunched with him. They attended matinee of " Hazel Kirke," Madison Square. Party ordinary and conventional, but nervous, with habit of tearing off and crumpling fragments of paper. Tore off all the corners of his pro- gramme. Dinner at Delmonico's. The two went to girl's flat. Sunday Party leaves for Stamford, early SOME CLUES. 55 train. Got into flat by elevator boy to see his photo. Find lots photos of girls which party would not like seen. Mem. See Comstock. Party not expected back till Tuesday. CHAPTER XIX. SOME CLUES. RALSTON succeeded in ingratiating himself in the confidence and friendship of the elevator boy to the extent that he succeeded in getting into the flat again, under pretence of wishing to inspect the photos of feminine beauty. He rummaged the little room used as a photo- graphic studio so thoroughly that in the dark room he unearthed a plate which he discovered \vas the one which printed the photograph of Minnie and Larkspur. Overhauling some scraps in a waste bin in the corner, he discovered the fragments of the origi- nal picture, and found that two photographs had been cut and pasted side by side on a background ; proving, as the expert had said, the two had never been taken in a group. He also discovered that the gentleman did not use pink tinted paper for his private use, but that he had a stock of such on hand. He found a note from the girl uptown and 56 VIDOCQ. identified her chirography with that of Minnie ; all so quietly and dexterously that the suspicions of the elevator boy, who took charge of the flat when off duty, were not excited, nor any of the things rummaged so as to attract the attention of the owner when he returned. Ralston reported to Inspector Byrnes. "You've planted him," said the Inspector. " Now I don't want any mention of any name, but go and see Larkspur and pipe him if he has a friend who is in the habit of tearing off bits of paper from newspapers or letters when any hap- pen to be around and rolling the fragments in his fingers. That will be as good a clue as we want." Ralston visited Larkspur in his office, alleging that he was in the neighborhood and thought he would look in to say that no more letters had been received at Headquarters. " None have come," replied Larkspur, " and but for that photograph the trouble between my wife and myself might be healed. By Jove, if you do not unravel this case before the thirty days are over I really believe my wife will carry out her threat of suing for a divorce. She is a very peculiar person in her way." Ralston laughed, observing : " Speaking of peculiar people, I came down in the cars with a man who, evidently unconsciously, in nervous abstraction tore off the corners of his CLOSE WORK. f)7 newspaper and rolled the fragments in his fin- gers, until it actually made me nervous to watch him." " Oh, yes, I have seen that. I have a friend who always leaves a litter of pellets rolled this way wherever he sits, if there is any paper in his reach." "To a detective, that would be a clue in shad- owing a man," said Ralston, " though not, of course, in the case of your friend." " Mr. Black oh, no ! " laughed Larkspur in response: " His friends call his little pellets his cards!" Ralston left pretty well satisfied with his inves- tigation. CHAPTER XX. CLOSE WORK. RALSTON decided that his next move was to get into the confidence of the blonde young lady in the flat up Lexington avenue. He addressed her a note from an uptown hotel, to the effect that " If you remember having met Captain Amory of the English Army, Captain Amory would do himself the honor of calling. The bearer will await answer." 58 VIDOCQ. The bearer brought in reply the following at the bottom of the above : " I do not remember having met Captain Amory leastways the name but shall be happy to have you call all the same. Better let me know when you are coming." This was in the identical hand of the notes signed by Minnie, but plain white stationery, and not the pink-tinted, was used. CHAPTER XXI. STILL ANOTHER LETTER. MATTERS were unexpectedly complicated one morning by the receipt by Mrs. Larkspur of the following letter: " DEAR MADAM If you will meet me on the corner of Fifty-ninth street and Seventh avenue Monday morning, between half-past ten and eleven o'clock, if it is clear, and the next clear day if it is not, I will tell you who Minnie is and her story on the receipt from you of $50. Wear a corsage of red roses and I will introduce myself to you. Yours truly, MRS. WALTON. Of course Mrs. Larkspur immediately sent for Miss Bevins, and requested that lady to see Mrs. STILL A NOT in: i; LETTER. 59 Walton for her, which that busybody was only too happy to do. She appeared at the appointed place at the time indicated, wearing a corsage of red roses and after a cautious and curious glance a faded and mysterious looking woman of an uncertain age and the flashy attire of a certain disreputable class of women accosted her, after a cautious and assuring glance of recognition. "Mrs. Larkspur, I presume?" she inquired in a harsh, unsympathetic voice. "Yes," assented Miss Bevins. " Have you $50 with you?" asked the other moving away from the range of a window in one of the Navarro flats. "Yes." " Give it to me ! " " Here it is ! " replied Miss Bevins, handing her a roll consisting of two XX and one X bills which the other clutched and quickly pock- eted. " Minnie is Minnie Staples, who lives in the - apartments on Sixth Avenue, under the name of Mrs. Strange. Minnie and the gent have been acquainted for some years, and he used to be great spoons on her, but now wants to break with her. I think she intends to make trouble, but she can be bought easily. You might go and see her; but you must use some other name, as she is very jealous of you." 60 VIDOCQ. " How do you come to know about this mat- ter?. " asked Miss Bevins. " Oh, yes. Why from her," quickly responded the other, the blush of a lie showing beneath and spreading beyond the rouge on her puffy cheeks. ' Do you know Mr. Larkspur? " "Yes that is by sight. I have seen him with her; but she is so jealous of him she would never introduce him to anyone." " When did you last see them together ? " " Yesterday yesterday afternoon." " Is she going to stop writing the letters?" " He is trying to get her to stop," quickly responded Mrs. Walton, taking her cue from the drift of the question. '' Could you get me a photograph of her? " " Yes, for fifty dollars more." " Where can I address you ? " " H umph ! In the Herald personal column." " I may be able to spare the money. I should rather see her photograph than call on her. Well, I'll let you know through a personal when I want to see you again." "Just make the meeting here," said Mrs. Wal- ton. "Very well," replied Miss Bevins, turning to retrace her steps. " Now it will not do for us to separate this way," said the wily and experienced Mrs. Wai- 61 ton, lest we might attract the attention of passers-by. No\v, you continue across and I'll keep on easterly. Just as if we had accidentally met each other," and with sublime assurance Mrs. Walton leaned over and kissed her on the check and moved away with the cordial famil- iarity of an old friend. CHAPTER XXII. " MINNIE." MlSS BEVINS naturally conceived a repug- nance to Mrs. Walton, but she was not shrewd enough to see that she was deceived grossly by her, and she believed implicitly the story that that personage had spun for her. After leaving her she decided that she should complete her mission, and call on Minnie Staples before returning to Mrs. Larkspur. She walked across Sixth Avenue and down that thoroughfare to the apartment house indi- cated. There, sure enough and plain enough, was Minnie Strange's name on a card in the letter box under an electric bell, indicating an apart- ment on the third floor. She boldly touched the button. In a minute or so there was a click and the door opened. 62 VIDOCQ. Miss Bevins not without some hesitation but inspired by what she considered the sanctity of her mission, walked there was no elevator to the third floor, and there in an open door near the landing she encountered a woman, in a morning wrapper, who inquired : " Who do you wish to see ? " " Miss Mrs. Staples." " I am the person," replied the other, throwing open the door and standing aside for her to enter. Miss Bevins walked into a reception room, a cheaply furnished apartment, in which the most conspicuous objects were several highly colored chromos of Autumnal American scenery. Portieres hid the adjoining rooms, from a remote one of which floated the voices of a man and woman evidently on very good terms with each other. Mrs. Staples motioned her to an easy chair in the center, and inquired. " Do you come to meet any one ? " " I want to see you." " Oh ! " " I am Mrs. Larkspur," said Miss Bevins, for- getting Mrs. Walton's admonition. " Oh ! " exclaimed Mrs. Staples, sinking into a chair near her. " He has treated me shamefully, I love him still, though. Mrs. Staples affected to be moved to tears, "MINNTK." 63 and she mopped her face with a crumpled and soiled handkerchief which she took from the folds of her gown. Miss Bevins had a better opportunity to scan the face of the woman than in the dim light of the hallway, and found her face, if anything colder, craftier and more brazen than Mrs. Walton's, especially as the rouge seemed to have remained on over night, and she evidently wore a wig of blonde ringlets. " He has treated me very badly," sobbed Mrs. Staples, " and such promises he made to me ! One time there was nothing too good for me. But I suppose he has fallen in love with some other woman." " But why do you not let him go ? Why do you write those annoying letters?" "Them letters?" exclaimed Mrs. Staples, a little surprised, but quickly recovering herself. " Oh, heaven ! I could not restrain my feel- ings." *' That photograph was not yours ? " " What photograph ? " inquired the other, again perplexed. " Why, the one you sent." "Oh, yes, now I remember. Yes, that was me before he marred my life and robbed me of my youth." " How long have you know Mr. Larkspur? " " Oh, for several years let's see seven years 64 viDocq. and a perfect gent he was until recently. I can- not understand why he broke with me. Some other girl, I suppose." " What do you propose to do?" inquired Miss Bevins, after a pause. "Make him pay handsomely; or I will make him trouble," responded the other, who was interrupted by the sound of the door bell. Excusing herself to Miss Bevins, she pulled the latch and went out into the hall, closing the door behind her. Miss Bevins could hear a brief conversation between Mrs. Staples and a man, who on being requested to call later, departed, after receiving what sounded to Miss Bevins like a kiss ; and Mrs. Staples returned, observing: " I have so many callers that sometimes I can- not accommodate all ; " when observing that the remark rather mystified her visitor, she added : " He is my lawyer, come to see me about my case, but I told him you were here, and we should probably settle it between us. Won't you join me in a bottle ? " " No no, thanks ! " quickly replied Miss Bevins, beginning to regret her folly in making the visit. " Fizz not beer," continued Mrs. Staples. " Good fizz, too. Now won't you have a glass ? " A loud laugh in an adjoining room induced her "MINNIE. 19 65 to go to the portiere leading into the hall and exclaim : "Less noise, please: don't think you own this place ! " Miss Bevins thought she heard a male voice reply, " Oh, dry up ! " but she was not sure, as she was beginning to be perplexed how she should terminate the interview. Mrs. Staples sank into a chair, and gazed meditately and maliciously a few minutes on the floor, mentally deciding that she must be cau- tious in dealing with her visitor, whom she characterized as " a back number." " I want money, and if I don't get it, I'll make trouble ; that's all," finally said Mrs. Staples. "How much do you want?" inquired Miss Bevins, considering the question the natural response to the remark. "How much have you got with you?" asked the other brightening. " Oh, only a trifle. I did not come with the idea of making a settlement." " Oh, you just came to pry about, I suppose ? " " I came to discuss matters with you." " Well, money talks, and that's the only kind of talk that I understand," responded Mrs. Staples, sullenly. " If I don't get money I'll make trouble, and no end of it. I've got influen- tial friends among the politicians, and a strong pull to carry my own way. I'm all right with 66 the police, too ; you see I know my business. But for cash you can buy this husband of yours cheap." " Won't you name a sum ? " " Well, I'll tell you what I'll do. If you'll give Walton fifty dollars for her trouble, I'll settle for one hundred dollars. I'll never let him come near here again, and you'll never hear of me again for that amount, cash in hand," added Mrs. Staples, with an ill-concealed chuckle at her own cleverness. " I shall be here to see you again," said Miss Bevins, rising. "When will you call again?" asked Mrs. Staples, peremptorily. " Probably to-morrow," said Miss Bevins, advancing toward the door. "Well, I shall expect you." " Good morning," and Miss Bevins darted into the hall-way and down the stairs, not breathing freely until she reached the street and had joined in the throng. CHAPTER XXIII. ANOTHER "PERSONAL." MlSS BEVINS gave a detailed account of her interview with Mrs. Walton and Mrs. Staples to ANOTHER "PERSONAL." 67 Mrs. Larkspur, who in her excitement, was ready to condemn her husband and believe the state- ments of those two wretches. "To think that he should have preferred such a creature to me ! " exclaimed the wife indig- nantly. To be just to Miss Bevins, however, she did not believe in either of the women, especially as now, again scanning the photograph of Minnie, she could not discover the slightest resemblance between the two, and she urged Mrs. Larkspur to confide in her husband and seek his advice. The story was told to Mr. Larkspur when he came home to dinner, Miss Bevins remaining to add her testimony. Much to the delight of Miss Bevins, Mr. Lark- spur complimented her on her courage and sagacity, adding that he should never forget her kindness. She gave him Mrs. Walton's letter. " I shall not bother about this one any more than about the other," said Larkspur, carefully folding Mrs. Walton's letter and placing it in his pocket. " I shall call Byrnes' attention to this one also." And after dinner, he went to Headquarters, again ignoring the Inspector's injunction not to call on him so frequently, and laid the matter before him. Inspector Byrnes smiled as he glanced over the letter. 68 VIDOCQ. " These are professionals who have somehow got onto the case through the personal. This is blackmail, pure and simple, and I don't believe there is any connection between the parties. Still there may be," he added, looking at his watch. " It's not too late to put a personal in the Herald, appointing a meeting with Mrs. Walton to-morrow. Go and do so. Just say : 1 Mrs. W a dash n. Meet me to-day as yester- day. Mrs. L.' Have the lady there. Now leave the rest to me, and don't ask any questions. Good evening." "But" "Now, don't ask me to tell you what I am going to do. I never tell my plans to any one. I remember as a boy reading of George Washing- ton the immortal George being once asked by an aid to tell him his plans. Washington re- plied : 'Now, I know my plans, that's I. Now, you want me to tell you my plans, that's another i. Now two ones together form the numeral ii; that's too many to be intrusted safely with any secret.' I keep my plans to myself, and that is one of the secrets of my success. Good even- ing." " Good evening." " Be sure to have the appointment kept to- morrow if it is clear, and the next day if it is not," said Inspector Byrnes, turning to a pile of papers, on his desk, as he left. CLOSING IN. 69 " Shall I put in the personal again to-morrow if it rains? " " No ; they'll keep the appointment the next day." Mr. Larkspur handed the personal in at one of the uptown offices of the Herald, wondering why the Inspector wasted time on these people, when he had pronounced them frauds, and whether he really had a clew to the real culprits or not. CHAPTER XXIV. CLOSING IN. THE next morning Miss Bevins repaired to the meeting place of the previous day at the same hour, but she had nearly traversed the block before Mrs. Walton made her appearance, coming out of the Seventh Avenue entrance of the Park. Mrs. Walton had been watching Miss Bevins' movements from the paved walk in the Park, where the trees completely sheltered her from view. Mrs. Walton felicitated herself that she had made an impression on the lady and she would require her diplomatic services, but aware that the Penal Code passed by the last Legislature had an article relating to her business, she exer- cised a natural and advisable discretion to assure herself that the lady was not accompanied or followed. She stepped briskly up to Miss Bevins, and proposed they should stroll into an arbor she indicated in the Park, and thither they went. Mrs. Walton told her that her friend Minnie had sent for her last evening, and she had finally induced her to promise to let up on Larkspur for $100, to be paid to the speaker. " Now, if you have the money about you, it's all right ; if you haven't, you'd better run home and get it. I'll meet you here at one o'clock, and " Mrs. Walton's voice failed her ; her features blanched ; she clutched Miss Bevins' arm for support, and would have fallen prone from the rustic bench to the earth if that lady had not put her arm around her. She quickly controlled herself, however, and assuming a serious tone, she said, volubly and loudly : " What you say may be true, but I cannot help you." Her eyes never wandered from a man who was discovered approaching around the bend in the walk a man whose recognition almost paralyzed her. He was Inspector Byrnes. He sauntered along, hat down over his brow, CLOSING IN. 71 unlit cigar in his mouth, hands in his pockets, eyes on the ground. He was sitting in a coupe on the corner when Mrs. Walton and Miss Bevins met, but she had not noticed him, or she would never have recog^ nized Miss Bevins. No one could have thought he was on business intent, so leisurely and indifferent was he, until he arrived immediately in front of them. A lit- tle back strolled one of his detectives. " I want you," he said, abruptly turning upon them. " You know who I am," he added, ad- dressing Mrs. Walton. "Oh! Mr. Byrnes, what for?" she exclaimed piteously. " I have only been showing this lady the way in the Park," she said appealingly to Miss Bevins. " I know what you are here for," said Byrnes. " Now go on ahead to Jefferson Market on a Sixth avenue car you understand ? " "Yes, sir," replied Mrs. Walton meekly sup- pressing a whimper, walking in the direction indicated, followed, or " piped," by the associate. " You go to Mr. Larkspur and have him bring you to the Police Court on th street at half- past one P. M.," said Byrnes to Miss Bevins, who until then did not breathe freely, lest she might be called upon to accompany Mrs. Walton. " Yes, sir," replied Miss Bevins, taking a short cut to the Sixth Avenue Elevated. 72 VIDOCO. CHAPTER XXV. CAPTURED. ALMOST simultaneously with Inspector Byrnes' appearance before Mrs. Walton, Ralston pre- sented himself at Mrs. Staples' door, and receiv- ing the usual salutation to strangers : " What do you want ? " Had answered suavely : " I want you ; " and showing his authority, he, in a few words, convinced her that it was wise for her to accompany him to the Police Court to answer a charge of " Conspiring to obtain money under false pretences." Mrs. Staples, who had had similar expe- riences before, was not as completely upset as Mrs. Walton, who was terrorized by the sight of the great detective, but she was perceptibly dis- turbed, nevertheless. "Can't this be fixed?'' she faltered, leading the way into the room, closely followed by Ralston, who was determined to be alert for any attempt to escape. " No, nothing can be fixed. Come, be quick, or you may be to late too see your pal, Mrs. Walton, sent down-stairs " " What ! " exclaimed Mrs. Staples. and these shone out strongly. She went into her bed-chamber adjoining, and woke her maid, who had fallen asleep in a chair while awaiting her orders. " Delia ! Delia ! wake up ! O you log, you ! " and she forced the girl awake by a terrible (to the girl) shaking. " Yes : I am awake. What is it? "yawned the girl, rubbing her eyes. "Is your brother at home?" asked Estelle breathlessly. "Yes, he is," was the reply. " You asked to be allowed to sleep at home to-night. Now if you will get him to take a ESTELLSTfi WARNING. 133 letter in the morning to a gentleman for me you may go," said Estelle. " Why, of course, he will be glad to serve you, Miss 'Stelle," responded the girl, now fully awake. " Very well ; prepare to go while I write," said Estelle, seizing a scrap of paper and writing in pencil. But composition under the circumstances writing to Mr. Ray to warn him of the contem- plated attack on the bank, without implicating any one by mentioning names was not as easy as she supposed ; words and ideas flowed fast enough, but they were not the right ones. She tore up several letters before she wrote one that suited her. " Now mind no one besides yourself and brother must know of this," she said as she handed the letter to the girl and dismissed her. Then she threw herself on her knees and clasped her hands, and exclaimed feverently : " Thank God ! I have done it. After what I have heard to-night I can never think of becom- ing his wife. But he protected me in an hour of danger, and I will help him now, though it brings ruin and disgrace on me and mine ! " The night had passed and it was dawn ere she closed her eyes in sleep. 134 VIDOCQ. CHAPTER XI. FOREWARNED. | MR. RAY had been at his desk a few minutes the next morning when a youth entered, asked for him, and handed him a letter, and left with as little ceremony. " Some bill or notification," he thought, glanc- ing at it. The handwriting was not familiar to him and he threw the letter on a pile to be opened in order. At length its turn came, and he opened it mechanically ; but- if his associates had been watching him they would have perceived he was much moved by its perusal. On a pink-tinted obverse sheet of ladies' note paper were the following words written evidently with much agitation : " MR. RAY. " Sir : An attempt will be made how soon I do not know to rob your bank, the vault, I mean. Be warned. "A FRIEND." " Great heavens ! What does this mean ? " he mentally ejaculated ; but controlling himself, and collecting his thoughts, he determined to reflect on the subject before he laid the mys- FOREWARNED. 13:> terious communication before the President for his advice. Since his adventure on Fourteenth Street he had been in receipt of several sportive epistles from fun-loving friends, in which " A Lady in Distress" appealed to him to protect her from a savage dog or a drunken policeman. Reflection convinced him that this letter was one of these practical jokes, and he tore the missive into bits. The vault was considered by all bank detec- tives to be invulnerable, and since the recent scare, a double force of watchmen had been on duty nightly ; and there was really no occasion for alarm. Reflection, however, is a perturbed spirit, and he changed his mind, concluding that the warn- ing was worth heeding. He was kept very busy that day and it was not till closing hour that he came to this conclusion. By this time there was no one left in the bank besides himself but the subordinate clerks and these he allowed to leave as the time came. He had determined to remain that night in the bank, and if need be personally protect the vault. He now bitterly regretted having shown Sen- orita Verrua and her father into the vault the previous day; for if anything happened he should be censured. 136 VILOCQ. Not that he for a moment supposed that they could be implicated in any way in an attack on the bank ; but he should have observed the rules and then there would be nothing' to i egret. It was necessary to acquaint one of the watch- men who had charge of the keys of his determi- nation to return and remain in the bank all night ; and while this man swept and cleaned the bank after business hours he went out and dined and provided himself with some crackers and cheese and a couple of bottles of beer, for mid- night consumption. He also procured reading matter in the shape of a yellow covered romance warranted to keep any one awake all night. . The revolver in his desk he had loaded several days before ; this was O. K. He fixed the lights and everything as usual, and seated himself behind the desks in a position in which he could not be seen from the streets. Hour after hour" passed, morning dawned and opening time arrived, without anything unusual occurring, and Ray made up his mind he had been tricked, and was glad he had not shown the letter to his associates. While he kept his vigil by keeping himself awake by one of Sylvanus Cobb's sensational romances, Mead with his men had worked in the tunnel, which before daylight had been carried down the side of the vault and under- neath to the point indicated on the diagram by THEY MEET AGAIN. 137 Verrua; and Hans made arrangements to pass the day in the tunnel underneath to listen to the footsteps above that he might nicely calculate the thickness of the plates of the floor. The men were still at work in the morning when Ray stopped in Hans' place to purchase a boutoiiniere. CHAPTER XII. THEY MEET AGAIN. ESTELLE, accompanied by her maid, went shopping the next morning in Broadway, when she met Mr. Ray, up-town on business of the bank. A friendly smile encouraged him to stop and speak, and he told of his night's adventure. If he had regarded her with other than admir- ing eyes he could not have failed to have per- ceived that she was much embarrassed by the information ; this he attributed naturally enough to their unexpected meeting. "Are you going to watch again tonight," she inquired. " No ; I think not. I am beginning to think I am the dupe of a joke," he replied. " O I should watch for a few nights at all events," she said. " Then if nothing occurs it \\-oiild be foolish to persevere." 138 MDOCQ. She spoke so earnestly that she impressed him. " I will take your advice," he replied, and after a few unimportant remarks they separated. She shortly after returned home and learned from the servant that Mead had not called. She had determined to watch his coming, and if possible overhear the conversation between him and her father. She passed a restless day ; for Mead did not call till after tea. She watched from over the banisters, and the moment Mead was seated she was at the cur- tain listening. " You received my dispatch ? " she heard her father say. " Yes, and I have arranged everything ; and before daylight the matter will be settled," replied Mead, in a manner that chilled the blood in her veins. "If Ray is there again ?" observed her father. " He will never be there again, " responded Mead significantly, " that's all ! " She was seized with such a violent tremor that she mjust have shook the curtains ; but they were too much engrossed to notice it. She tottered to a chair and thence upstairs to her own room. " Merciful heavens ! " she exclaimed. " I have probably led him to his death by urging ]:;. him to watch again to-night ! He must be saved, and I will save him ! " She heard a movement in the lower room and went to the door to listen. Mead and her father came out together. " Good-night, daughter," he called up. " Good-night," she responded huskily. In a moment she had put on her bonnet, descended to the street, and was on her way to the bank. CHAPTER XIII. BYRNES. RAY on returning to the bank had an interview with the president, the result of which was that he was instructed to go to Police Headquarters on Mulberry Street, and confer with the chief t of the Detective Bureau. Chief James Irving, with the glance, bearing, mustache and imperial of a soldier, listened patiently to his statement, interrupting him with such ejaculations as, "Yes, that's what they would do ! " " That's the way they would work that ! " When Ray had finished Irving observ- ed : " I'll send you a man in the course of the day before the bank closes." It happened that the regular Wall Street force, 140 V1DOCQ. Radford, Elder, Duzenberry, were on active detail, and looking over his blotter or assignments Irving found that the best available man was young Tom Byrnes, who though he had not yet distinguished himself by any coup, was recog- nized as a safe, slow and sure man. Byrnes had not been long in the detective department of the big marble building on Mul- berry Street ; though he had been on the force in the Fifteenth Precinct for several years, since returning from the war, after a full period of service in Ellsworth's Fire Zouaves, under the brave and unfortunate organizer, then Farnham, and latterly Col. Charles Mck. Loeser, who testi- fies to his manly, unobtrusive bravery as a sol- dier. When a few hours later, Byrnes presented himself at the bank, Ray was surprised to find such a boyish looking man entrusted with such important work ; a man whose clear and healthy face, slight black mustache, and trim, active figure were those of youth, while his imperturb- able manner and meditative features indicated character and experience, though his appearance as he walked slowly up to the desk with his hands in the pockets of his jacket and a smoulder- ing cigar between his lips, did not impress any such idea, or that he by his achievements would eventually become the Vidocq of New York, the terror of evildoers. BYRNES. 141 Ray, at Byrnes's request, gave him all the par- ticulars, but to Ray's disgust the detective did not evince the slightest surprise or interest, never once taking his hands out of his pockets, or the cigar from his mouth. " I'll present myself at the bank to-night to go on duty as a watchman," said Byrnes as he finished; " arrange that for me, meet me here leave the rest to me," and he turned and saun- tered away as if there was nothing more impor- tant on his mind than an effort to kill time with- out too much exertion. Byrnes in these early days of his experience on the force was formulating his philosophy and while apparently walking aimlessly and list- lessly about was studying characters and places. It is his favorite theory that he has been suc- cessful by going about his work in the exactly different way the orthodox detective pursues, lie believes in the ounce of prevention. For instance, before the Centennial celebration in Xew York he caused the arrest and detention until after the fete, of all the suspicious "crooks" found in the city instead of waiting for them to be detected in the act. One day I was riding in a Broadway car with him, and tapping me on the knee he whispered, "Don't look at me. Do you notice anything strange or different in that man opposite?" While he looked out of the window, evidently 142 Viuocq. to see that he was not carried past the street he was to alight at, I glanced at a midde aged, moderately dressed man opposite, who but for a certain peculiar expression of the eye, a lack- lustre, furtive eye, I should have considered an " ordinary, everyday sort of a man." " No his eyes look weak and worn," I whispered in reply. "See how different he uses them from the rest." I glanced opposite again ; the man's eyes, intent as a panther's prepared to spring on its victim, wandered from one person to another, or, more properly speaking one stomach to the next, gloating over the display of watch-chains. It was a revelation, the motive of stealing the watch the glance of those eyes betrayed, the mental calculation of the possibility or feasibility of securing one of them. So engrossed was the pickpocket in his thoughts that he did not notice he was observed. The eyes of all the others on the row, I observed, were animated by the changeful thoughts of conversation or reflection or attracted by passing objects ; but those two eyes seemed to be fascinated by the display of watch-chains and a second glance revealed a certain nervous, involun- tary movement of the fingers as if "clutching" the coveted booty. " Be careful he does not notice you," whis- 143 pered Byrnes, taking out of his pocket a morn- ino- paper and carelessly glancing over the same. A gentleman sitting next to the party opposite under surveillance, resumes reading his paper, and the pickpocket next him also takes out a paper and apparently reads it, but I, observing him, find that he has it upside down, and that he holds it merely as a cover while with his other hand he endeavors to lift his neighbor's watch from his pocket the sight of those two fingers pushed out from underneath the paper in an effort to catch the watch, still remains in my memory as the first work of the kind I had ever seen. He had almost succeeded in catching the chain when the owner jumped up and rushed out of the car having passed his place in his reading until he happened to glance up from the paper. I was so excited that had not Byrnes admon- ished silence by touching me with his elbow I think I should have exclaimed, " That man has been trying to steal your watch, sir!" Byrnes rose, leaned over and touching the pickpocket on the shoulder, said significantly: ' " I want you ! " Byrnes passed down the car to the door. The man arose immediately and followed him ; so did I of course. Byrnes handed the man over to a policeman who took him in charge. 144 " Now," said Byrnes, " did not that fellow's actions at once give him away ? " . "Yes." " Now if he had been an innocent man, would he have arose so meekly and followed me, but wouldn't he have asked, 'What do you want sir ?' ' I afterwards found the man was a well-known western criminal, on his first visit to the city, and that a search of the records showed he was wanted by the chief of police in Cincinnati, O., to whom Byrnes remanded him. To resume my story. After a stroll in the neighborhood of the bank, which resulted in his coming to the conclusion that the only question- able or suspicious place or " plant " in the neigh- borhood was Hans' flower store, Byrnes went in and gave an order for a handsome basket of floral beauties to be sent to a well-known danseuse in a spectacle that succeeded the famous " Black Crook" at Niblo's Garden, giving a card bearing the name of Thomas de Conway, under quite a showy crest. I need not say that the sending of the basket to the danseuse was a " blind," that is, that Byrnes did not know her or care a jot about honoring her, and that he had used a card which was a fiction prepared for such occasions ; but he wanted an excuse to enter the place, and the moment he saw that Hans seemed alarmed at BYBA'ES. 145 such an order, and then fell to whistling to con- ceal his momentary trepidation, he decided there was something wrong about him and his place. Had Hans acted in a natural manner, like an innocent man, with nothing to fear, he would have escaped Byrnes' suspicions; but even so small an act as whistling is sometimes a clue to such a close student of human nature as Byrnes, because the effort to conceal is visible to him in that it is clearly not natural to the man. " Shadowing " Hans, Byrnes followed him from his place to an up-town florist, where he gave his order, as Hans did not propose to personally attend to the same. Byrnes returned to headquarters and had aeon- ference with the chief regarding the movement of the local " crooks," the result of which was that both decided that "new men "were on the work at the bank, as the " locals " were all satis- factorily accounted for. Byrnes then summoned Ralston, who like himself was a youngster, but already proving himself a "double" or " shadow," that is a good man to work with. Ralston was detailed to " pipe " the outside of the bank during the night, and at a signal to make a descent into Hans' cellar, calling the "beat," that is the policeman on the post, to his assistance. These details arranged, Byrnes took a nap in a 146 VIDOCQ. chair tilted back against the wall of his office, until he instinctively (from force of habit) awoke at the desired time ; and then arraying himself in a coarse woollen suit, such as a night watch- man might wear, still further effectually dis- guising himself by a bushy, reddish beard and shock of hair he presented himself at the bank. Ray did not recognize him at first, so thorough was this metamorphosis. He decided at once that Byrnes was a much smarter man than his appearance had indicated. The regular watchman, who at first was dis- posed to be very chary towards his rival, was instructed to occupy his usual chair, in his usual way he might indulge in a nap if he felt so disposed. Ray took his seat of the night before while Byrnes sat at the foot of the steps, before the open door of the vault, evidently contented with his thoughts ; for he never uttered a word, scarcely breathed, after he took his place. Suddenly he heard the tap of a chisel on the floor ; then he noiselessly moved into the vault, closed the door behind him, and stood, like a tiger awaiting his prey, for the opening in the floor to grab his man. The plate reached by the excavation it was simple and easy work for the skilled Hans to cut and remove a section, sufficient for him to crawl into the vault and the others to follow him, BYBNE8. 147 as all the force would be needed on the several locks of the safe. Mead's plan was that each man would carry all the gold he could, that is, as many bags from the vault to the cellar, from which they could make their escape with the booty in the excitement and confusion of a fire breaking out in the store on the other side of the bank, which he would kindle by reaching the roof by the same way that Hans did when he entered the bank through the skylight. Mead proposed to superintend the work in the tunnel and vault until the supreme moment of cracking the locks ; then he would rush to the roof, cross that of the bank, and opening the scuttle of the store on the other side, descend to the upper floor and ignite the inflammable stuff stored there. Mead mapped out the plan with a view of self-preservation, as if they should be disturbed in the bank there would be a good chance for him to escape on the roof. He was crouching in the tunnel, holding the bull's-eye lantern when Hans cut through the plate, removed it and had crawled half way up when he uttered an oath and attempted to free himself from the clutches of some one or some- thing in the vault above. Byrnes ! The moment that Hans ejaculated Mead " douced " the lantern and retreated to the safety 148 V1DOCQ. of the cellar, closely followed by the others who soon decided they could not help Hans. Divining that; the outside would be watched, Mead ordered the men to follow him to the roof, where he started the fire as intended, and work- ing their way quickly down-stairs they secreted themselves until the doors were opened by the firemen when ftiey escaped in the crowd, never giving a thought to Hans. Hans, as soon as he had got his head, shoulders and arms into the vault, and was preparing to raise himself into the same, was seized by brawny hands and before he could divine what had happened he was handcuffed, gagged and held in the clutches of a strong embrace, so that he could not squirm or sink away back into the tunnel. In the vault there was the total black of dark- ness; Hans could not see who had him; but Byrnes could for the moment see Hans by the light of the lantern in the tunnel until it was turned off by the fleeing Mead. In the gloom he recognized him as the florist. Kicking back or open the unfastened vault rioor with his foot, Byrnes, still holding Hans, called to Ray, and he and the watchman rushed down the stairs to him, the latter having a bull's- eye lantern. With their assistance Byrnes drew Hans up into the vault. THE ATTACK. 149 " Now you watch him," he said to Ray. " Shoot any one that attempts to come up," he said to the watchman, who had drawn his revol- ver. Byrnes rushed upstairs, opened a window and blew a whistle which called Ralston from the other side of the street. "Close in on them in the cellar! " While Ralston and his men made a raid on the cellar, Byrnes returned to the assistance of Ray and just then a fire broke out in the adjoining store. Ralston, breaking into the cellar found it deserted, and followed by his men he crawled into the tunnel and thence into the vault. Mead in escaping had closed the trap-door in the floor or rather ceiling of the cellar, and thus completely thrown Ralston off the scent, and even now amid the clanging of the fire-bells and the hurly-burly he and his men were leaving the next building. CHAPTER XIV. THE ATTACK. IT is often said that we never know what we can do or endure until we try ; and if any one had told Estelle that she could clandestinely leave her home in the silent hours of the night 150 VIDOCQ. unattended, and go to the unfrequented region of the bank down-town, as she had done, she would have considered the speaker as crazy as she would herself to contemplate, much less, undertake such a wild idea. She paused within a .block of the bank, to decide what course she should pursue. Perhaps after all Mr. Ray had not followed her advice, and consequently was not at the bank. Various scenes in which he was the central figure came up in her mind ; but not one it is safe to say presented him in the company of his betrothed ; for, it must be remembered, she? was not aware of his engagement. Although she had given up all hope of ever becoming his wife she had no idea of a rival. As she stood watching the bank, undecided what to do next, Ralston passed, eyed her sharply, and seemed inclined to speak, but she returned his look with such dignity that he did not. Suddenly there was a glow of light on the roof adjoining the bank ; then a mass of flames, and while bells tolled, engines dashed around corners, men rushed frantically past her, and in a few minutes the neighborhood was full of life and bustle. If she had remained longer at the curtain she would have learned that this fire was a part of THE ATTACK. 151 the programme in the assault on the bank, and which we have seen had been so faithfully ex- ecuted. She was borne by the crowd down the street a block or two, but as soon as she could escape by going into a cross street she returned to the bank, which she reached in time to see Ray emerge from the door with two other men (Byrnes and Hans), while Ralston and his men remained in charge with the watchmen while they took the prisoner to the station house. She could not resist the inspiration to push through the crowd and speak to Ray. " Are you hurt ? " she gasped. "No." "Thank God!" Byrnes with Hans was slightly in advance, and consequently they did not see her, or his sus- picions might have been aroused. Before Ray could reply she sank back in the group, and instantly men took her place and she gradually made her way out and returned home home ! what a mockery the word seemed to her ! And losing her in the crowd, Ray, recalled to himself by Byrnes's admonition to move quick began to doubt his senses that he had really seen her. 152 CHAPTER XV. ESTELLE LEAVES HOME. ESTELLE after leaving the scene of disaster re- turned home, and was fortunate in reaching there before her father, and also in getting in without alarming any o*f the household. In the privacy of her own room she succumbed to her emotions, which she had so bravely resisted. All that she had done seemed like the phantasy of a dream ; if she had known what she would have had to do when she went out, it is doubtful if she in her inexperience could have been equal to the emergency. She finally slept from sheer physical exhaustion, and arose the next morning much refreshed and invigorated by her peaceful slumber. She breakfasted as usual in her own room, as her father was rather irregular in his hours ; and after the meal set herself to thinking over her position. She could not think of her father's position without feeling the blister of shame on her cheeks, and decided that communion with him could never again be as in the past, and while she still dearly loved him, she did not doubt but that it would be best that in the future their paths in life should be separate. She resolved to leave home clandestinely, and seek to make her own living out in the world ; and thus sever ESTELLE LEAVES HOME. lf)lJ associations which could not fail to end in dis- grace and ruin. Though by temperament im- pulsive and impetuous she was not hasty in coming to this purpose, but deliberate and cau- tious. She did not conceal from herself the fact that she was woefully inexperienced in matters of the world, but she had confidence in herself in her common sense, judgment and courage ; and also that confidence in the future which generally animates youth which has not leatned the pain- ful lesson that there is such a word as fat/ m the lexicon. Anyway, she had rather trust to the ordeal of fate then remain in her present position. She called Delia, and naively asked her : " Delia, suppose that you were in want of a situation, how should you set about getting one ? " " Why, I'd look over the advertisements in the papers, miss ! " " Bring me the papers." The morning papers were brought her, and after reading very sensational accounts of the attempt to rob the bank and the incendiary fire next door, she carefully scanned the advertise- ments without finding anything that suited her. Aye, but what did she want ? To admit the fact, she really did not know herself. She argued that she wa.3 thoroughly educated and highly accom- plished, and there must be something that she could do ; but exactly what she had not decided. Hrr eye fell upon a caption of "Instruction " in 154 V1DOCQ. the Herald. A governess for a young lady was wanted. Apply so and so. This would suit her, and she made a memorandum. Under the cap- tion of " Specials" she read an advertisement for a companion to a middle-aged invalid lady. This would suit her better, probably; but she an- swered both. The next question was where to have the replies sent. "Delia!" "Yes, miss." " Suppose you wanted to have a letter written to you and did not wish to have it sent to the house, what should you do?" " Have it sent to the general post office." " True, true ! But where is that ? " " Oh, I can go and get it for you." " Very well. The letters were written and entrusted to Delia to mail. Delia, here let it be observed, had been told by Mme. Costelli when she was engaged that her sole duty would be to attend Senorita Estelle, whom she must obey implicitly; and, consequently, now she did as that lady ordered, however much in her own mind she questioned the wisdom or propriety of the proceeding. A dislike which Mme. Costelli inspired in all by her haughtiness prevented Delia seeking counsel with her whenever she would have liked to have had the senorita's orders approved. After Delia had gone with the letters the ESTELLE LEAVES HOME. 155 thought occurred to Estelle, should she leave her father without making an effort to bring about a reform in his life ? Deprived of her love, and left to himself, he might sink lower yet. The thought inspired her to a great deed. She descended to the rear parlor where she knew her father was sitting. He looked pale and haggard from the fatigue and excitement and disappointment of the previous night, and he was not, as may be surmised, in a good humor, either. "Father!" "Well, daughter?" And he placed a chair for her near his own. A certain severity of manner prevented any demonstration of affection. " Well, how is my pet this evening ? " "Father!" but she was unable to proceed. " O God, that I had never lived till this mo- ment ! " and she rose and paced the room in great mental agitation. "Why, daughter, what means this? "he ex- claimed, rising and following her. She turned upon him, but did not speak till she fully recovered control of herself. "Father, I chanced night before last and also last night to overhear the conversation between you and Mead " "You did, eh?" he answered, little imagining what she would reply, but supposing she would allude to the marriage discussion. 156 "Yes, I did, and and I know all the infa- mous scheme to rob the bank." Signer Verrura gazed at her in bewilderment, utterly unable to speak. "Father, give up these vile associations; leave this city, take me back to Spain I had rather die there of starvation (if indeed we are poor as we seem to be) than live here in luxury on the gains of dishonesty ! " "You are mad ! " faltered the senor. " No, I am not. But you are if you refuse to listen to me." " Why do you allude to these matters is it to torment me? " " No : to reclaim you ere it is too late ! " she replied firmly. The words angered him ; he replied fiercely : " Foolish girl ! do not speak more or else you will make me forget that you are my daughter!" and he rushed into the hall, seized his hat, and left the house. " I will try again," she said. She sought him again the next morning. " Father," she began, " knowing all that I do, I cannot live with any peace of mind while you are engaged in your present dishonest schemes. O father, you do not know what heart pains it causes me to speak this way to you. O listen to me ! Sever these vile associations, which can only end in your ruin and disgrace, and take me away ESTELLE LEA VES HOME. 157 if not home to Spain, away anywhere from here ! " and she knelt imploringly at his feet. For several moments he was unable to reply, and then he blurted out : " Impossible ! You know not what you have asked. O daughter, spare me ! " " Spare you ? I wish to save you." " Too late, too late ! " He buried his head in his hands in agony. "Why?" " Because I am so involved in debt and compli- cated with associations that I cannot ! " " Father, your whole life has been a studied, persistent lie ! " " I know it, but I could not help it. O spare me, daughter!" Before that slender girl the strong man quailed like a culprit for he was one. There was a pause ; and he gained courage, while in the conflict between duty and love, she partially relented. ' You should not have attempted to interfere in my business," he said. " It was dishonorable of you to play eavesdropper. Go to your room and never refer to this matter again." He pushed her away and strode across to the buffet, and took some brandy. She arose, glanced at him as if she would speak once more, but hesitated, and then all that was bright and hopeful in her face disappeared, and 158 VIDOCQ. there came a determined, desperate, imperturba- ble expression. Later in the day Delia brought her two letters. These were replies to her answers to the adver- tisements. Both requested her to call on the re- spective parties. She went out the next morning for the pur- pose. She called first on the lady who wished a governess for her daughter. The number was a brown-stone in a fashionable neighborhood. When she gave her card to the servant, that per- sonage glancing at it said contemptuously, " O yes, you are a governess," and ushered her into a sumptuous front parlor. In a few moments after some one a previous applicant Estelle correctly surmised had passed out, the folding doors were opened, revealing a stout, coarse lady seated on a sofa. " Come here," said this one. Estelle passed into a rear room, and sat on the chair the lady motioned her to take. You are rather young to apply for a position of this kind." I am young ; but I believe I possess all the requirements." " Where were you last engaged? " " I have no experience as a governess," said Estelle. 14 Have you references? " ' Xo," replied Estelle wonderingly. ESTELLE LEA VES HOME. 159 " It is no use our talking any longer," and the consequential lady arose and haughtily sailed from the room, evidently very indignant. Estelle, however, had made up her mind not to be discouraged, and though she felt this rude treatment keenly, she attributed it to the ill- breeding of the lady rather than to any wanton intention to insult her, and so was not worried. She followed the lady into the hall, and there the servant was waiting to open the door for her. She breathed freer when she was out of the house. She went to the Brevoort House to see the lady who wanted a companion. She was taken to a private parlor, where she found a middle- aged lady, reclining on a sofa which she was evi- dently unable to leave. She received Estelle with a courtesy and kindness which at once placed her at ease, beginning by telling her that she had been bed-ridden by rheumatism for fif- teen years. She asked Estelle to play for her on the piano, and was charmed by her rendering of one of Auber's plaintive symphonies. Estelle's reading also pleased her. She was satisfied with Estelle's assertion that she possessed some skill in drawing and painting. " I should like to see your references," she said. " I have none." 4< No references ! Why how is that ? " 160 VIDOCQ. " Because I have never been engaged anywhere before ! " " Ah, yes. Do you live at home ? " "Yes." " Why do you leave home ? Father finds it impossible to support so large a family I suppose. Why did you not bring your mother with you ? " "She is dead." " Your father, too ? " "No." " Where do you live ? I thought it was queer you did not give your address in your card." ' Don't ask me," said Estelle desperately. " What ? " " You must ask me nothing, but take me as I am, with the assurance that all is right. Troub- les at home cause me to take this step, but I will never reveal those troubles. If I was not satis- fied that under the circumstances I ought to leave home, I should not." " I thought you were rather young to have seen much service ! " " Until I saw your advertisement I never dreamed of applying for a place of the kind." " You are sure you are not acting rashly? " "Quite." " You will not want a suitor to come and see you?" " No ; I shall want to see no one and shall ex- pect to see no one." EBTELLE LEAVES HOME. 161 "Ah, then, you do not leave- home for some love affair? " " No." " I am interested in you ; I wish you would confide in me ! " " I have already told you more than I in- tended," responded Estelle. " I wish you would tell me your secret." '* I would as soon think of cutting my hand off." " It must be very painful then." " It is. If you cannot engage me without knowing it, or wishing to know more of me than I have told, we had better close this interview." " Don't be hasty. I like you, and believe I can trust you. But there is another to be suited besides myself." "Your husband?" " No my daughter-in-law. My son and his wife are going to Europe ; while they are gone I shall occupy their residence on the Hudson. I am afraid you'll find it very lonely up there ; there will be none besides ourselves and the servants." " I shall like it all the better!" " Oh, my poor girl, what a sorrow yours must be to desire such seclusion ! " The daughter-in-law, Mrs. Styles, entered. She was a pleasant-faced, amiable lady. My daughter-in-law," said the elder Mrs. Styles. 102 VIDOCQ. Both bowed formally. " Miss Verrua has applied to be my compan- ion," she continued. " I am quite satisfied the place will not suit you," said young Mrs. Styles, looking at Estelle. " It is the dullest place in the world. You would die before the month is over of ennui." "Your description charms me," said Estelle. " I seek retirement and solitude." "OhJ I see; you are a widow!" said young Mrs. Styles, glancing- at Estelle's black silk. Before Estelle could reply, the old lady ex- claimed : " Never mind your secret ! Never mind your secret ! Mary, you should not have spoken that way to her ; you should have whispered it to me ! " " I am sorry if I have hurt your feelings. I did not intend to." " Thank you." " Are you satisfied with her," asked the elderly Mrs. Styles of the younger, in an undertone. " Yes, I am, if you are," replied the other. "You have been talking to her?" "Yes; I am entirely satisfied." "Then you had better engage her at once. John won't object." "What are your ideas regarding compensa- tion?" began the old lady. Estelle hesitated before confessing she had no ideas on the subject. ESTELLE LEAVES HOME. 163 " We gave Mrs. Black twelve hundred a year and the home," said the younger Mrs. Styles. " Would that suit you ? " "Yes; that would be satisfactory," said Estelle. " Can you start with us to-morrow ? " "Yes." " Where shall we send for your baggage you will start from here with us?" Again Estelle was confused. "Or you can have it sent to the boat, and meet us there, but you must be sure and be there." " I will be there," said Estelle. " I am sure you will ! " exclaimed the elder lady. The younger Mrs. Styles then handed her a card, giving the name of the steamboat and the pier. " Now, my dear, my advice to you is that you had better send your baggage there, to the care of Mr. Styles, everybody about the pier knows my husband, and that you come here and go to the boat with us." " I will do that," said Estelle. After an interchange of a few common-place remarks, which made them better acquainted, Estelle left, and returned home. Not until she was in the privacy of her own home did she fully realize what she had done ; and probably at the 164 VIDOCQ. moment if she could unsay all that she had said she would gladly do so ; but she soon satisfied herself she could not have done better, and was pleased that affairs had taken the turn. She proposed to take a very few things with her, but how to get these out of the house puz- zled her for some time. " Delia," she called. "Yes, miss," said the girl, coming in from the next room. " You have a trunk here ? " "Yes, miss." "Would it hold these things?" " Yes, miss, and more, too." "And these?" "Yes, miss." " It is large." " It is about the size of yours there ; the same cover would fit both." Estelle reflected for a moment. "Has your cover your name on it?" she asked. "No." " Bring it here." " Very well," and Delia passed upstairs to her own room. While she was gone Estelle removed as much of the covering from her trunk as she could with- out assistance ; then when Delia returned she got it off entirely, and put the one that the girl had ESTELLE LEAVES HOME. 165 brought in its place. It is needless to say this completely disguised the trunk, so that if any one saw it leaving the house they would not know it was hers. " Delia, you have never deceived me. Can I rely on you now ? " " Why, Miss 'Stelle, what a question ! " " I want you to go and order an expressman to call for this early in the morning while she is at mass. You'll be watching and let him in, so that there is every probability that no questions will be asked." " But, miss oh, I see, you are going to run away to be married ! " exclaimed the girl, evi- dently pleased with the idea. " You'll attend to this for me to-night, and not a word about it to a soul ? " " Yes, miss. I know who he is ; the young gentleman at the bank, to whom my brother took the letter! " " Never mind about that ! " The intervening hours were the most tedious that Estelle ever passed. The hours till evening dragged ; Delia's errand to the express office and return constituted an era, and it seemed an age before dawn when the man called ; for Estelle could not sleep, try as she would. She heard Mme. Costelli leave for mass ; she did not anticipate interference from her father, uho slept soundly in his room. Presently the 166 V1DOCQ. wagon drove up. Delia opened the door, the man entered and came up and got the trunk and left with it, Estelle giving him directions where to take it. This off her mind she managed to fall asleep, and she slept till nearly midday. Delia in order not to excite suspicion had brought her breakfast up at the usual hour, and it was await- ing her on the table. After breakfasting she wrote a few lines for her father, whom she had heard shortly before leave the house. She simply told him that she would not remain under the same roof with him as long as he continued his present life; that she had procured honorable employment for herself, and would make known her where- abouts when the proper time arrived. This note she placed on her father's dressing case. It may appear singular that she never now has a thought of Ray. She was trying to forget him ; she had resolved to do so. She left the house early in the afternoon and joined her new found friends at the Brevoort House. She was now presented to Mr. Styles, a courteous and affable gentleman. After a few hours pleasant conversation they all left for the boat, where her trunk had arrived all right ; and in an hour more she was steaming up the Hudson, on her way to her new home on the banks of that noble river. HEX JEW LIFE. to? CHAPTER XVI. HER NEW LIFE. THE home of the Styles' was delightfully situated on the Hudson, a few miles below Tarrytown. The house had been built by the elder Mrs. Styles' father, and consequently had been in the family for many years. Each suc- cessive occupant had done something towards improving the house and grounds ; and now it was one of the most charming estates in the vicinity. The house, a massive stone edifice, none the less comfortable for being old fash- ioned, stood on a bluff, affording a clear and expansive view of the river ; the overflow of which, at certain seasons, formed a little bayou, at the foot of the declivity. From the main road the mansion was approached through a copse of noble trees. Estelle was delighted with the place and its surroundings; she had read of such charming localities in novels, and for the first few days of her sojourn could hardly trust her senses, that she really was so pleasantly situated. She was of course much worried by sad thoughts, regarding her father ; at times the still, small voice of conscience would whisper she had done a great wrong in leaving him when she should have remained and tried to rescue him; 168 VIDOCQ. and then she would become despondent and miser- able, and often in the night, while kept awake by these bitter reflections, she would resolve that she would leave in the morning and return to him. In this mood she severely condemned herself, as a heartless, cruel girl and regarded her rascally father as an injured man. But have you never noticed that the thoughts and plans of the dark hours after we have retired to the rest a busy mind or uncomfortable con- science prevents us taking, seldom amount to anything ? Reflect a moment and see if this is not your experience. Mind, I am not including the thoughts and plans of dreams ; for they often come true. Somehow the phantasies of the night are always dissipated by the glorious light of morning; the first ray of sunlight that shoots through the window sends them adrift. So with Estelle, when she arose in the morn- ing ; she was satisfied she had done right in saving herself from misery and disgrace by sever- ing the disgraceful affiliation ; for she knew that nothing short of a miracle could turn her father whenever he had made up his mind. When he lent a deaf ear to her second entreaty, what could she hope for ? True, there was the biblical injunction of duty to parents ; but it is not always easy to define our duties. There was hope that remorse caused by her desertion for the reason he so well knew micrht SUICIDE. 169 lead to his reformation, and now again, she was satisfied what she had done was for the best, and was once more happy. She had been engaged as a companion to the elder Mrs. Styles ; but through the kindness of that estimable lady, who deeply sympathized with her in her sorrow, albeit she did not know what that sorrow was, she was free to follow her own inclinations, and for the first few weeks of her sojourn at " the Retreat," she passed most of her time out of doors. It was the beautiful spring time, and her enjoyment was that of a child. Happy days pass quickly like bright scenes. In a little over a month Mr. and Mrs. Styles departed on their trip to Europe ; and then Estelle was kept a good deal in the house, in the company of the old lady ; but this was not at all wearisome ; for as we know she loved to read and to play and to draw, and this was all that she was asked to do. In this way day after day was passed pleasantly shall I not add? CHAPTER XVII. SUICIDE. I HAVE become so much interested in the career of that noble girl, Estelle, as indeed I hope 170 V1DOCQ. you have, dear reader, that I am loth to leave her. The course of my narrative, however, calls me away from her to her father. Senor Verrua would hardly believe his eyes when he read Estelle's note informing him of her intention to leave and seek her fortune out in the world. He went up to her room and looked for her, and tried to persuade himself that she was hiding from him, in order to try him ; and would reveal herself in a few days. Mme. Costelli, of course, could give no infor- mation, and Delia was prudently evasive when questioned on the subject. Secretly she con- demned herself for her course in the affair, but the strong personal motive of shielding herself from blame prevailed and prevented a disclosure. She could not, however, have given any clue to her whereabouts. For several days the matter was kept from Mead ; when he was enlightened he expressed the opinion she was hiding some- where in the city and would return when her money was gone. This gave some hope and encouragement to the bereaved father. His mental sufferings in his anxiety concerning the welfare of his daugh- ter were intense and wore upon him ; for he was by no means a strong man physically. Now for the first time he experienced the pangs of re- morse and bitterly regretted his life of crime and SUICIDE. 171 degradation. Was the light from above breaking in upon him ? Did he think of his daughter's parting words ? Days passed and still nothing was heard of Es- tclle ; and the senor, who was not of so san- guine a temperament as Mead, settled in the conviction that he should never see his darling again. O what would he not give to be able to even recall his last words with her! It maddened him to think that she should have left him with such cruel words ringing in her ears ! He felt that he had lost her esteem and that she must scorn him ! That, indeed, this was the reason she had forsaken him. The poor man was really to be pitied. He soon became an object of commiseration ; for con- stantly harassed by his sad thoughts he was able to obtain little sleep, and lost his appetite, so that he faded away and shrank up to a miserable looking, pale man, so nervous that the sudden opening of a door would startle him. He would remain for days in the house constantly brooding over his sorrow. The only solace he found was that afforded by the cigar, and he smoked in- cessantly, in fact too much for his disordered nervous system. " If you don't go out and get a little fresh air, and stop that smoking you will never get through this ! " Mead said to him frequently. " The bright light of day and clear air distresses 172 VIDOCQ. me," said the miserable man. " I should die in an hour's time if it was not for my cigar ! I want to die ; there is nothing to live for now ! " In vain Mead and Mme. Costelli tried to cheer him up. He would not permit them to call in medical advice. To both of them it was evident he could not last long unless there was soon a change, and they both exerted themselves re- peatedly in vain to bring about one. Mead resorted to the deception of telling him that he had obtained a clue to his daughter's whereabouts and this buoyed him up for a time ; but when days passed without her returning his remorse assumed the form of desperation, and at length he became so violent that he was kept confined in his room, and watched closely. Mead having the opportunity to examine Verrua's papers, found that he had always lived up to his gains, and that he was on the verge of bankruptcy. Both of them had relied on the bank scheme to an extent that its failure had equally embarrassed them. Indeed if the senor had not given that $10,000 to his daughter he would not have a cent left, and that was, unfor- tunately, beyond reach in Estelle's absence. One evening, as Mead was partaking of some refreshment in the dining-room, Mme. Costelli ran down and requested him to come upstairs and hear the senor, as he was talking very strangely. SUICIDE. 173 " It is as I had expected he has lost his mind," said Mead sorrowfully, accompanying Costelli upstairs. Lying on the sofa was the senor, his collar torn open and his throat bare, his eyes glaring around wildly, while he muttered something about the glories of his family, the inheritance that awaited Estelle and much that was incom- prehensible. " He is talking about his early life," said Cos- telli ; and then perceiving their presence rather annoyed the sufferer they withdrew to the next room, and she went on to tell Mead for the first time all about Verrua's antecedents in Spain, especially dwelling on the inheritance that would fall to Estelle from her grand- father. " Do you know she is engaged to me?" asked Mead. " No ! " " Singular ! But she would not be likely to speak on the subject. Does she know of the probable inheritance ?" " Slightly." "Humph! You know more ?" "Yes; I know all." A movement in the next room attracted their attention and they looked in. Senor Verrua held a letter in his hand and was evidently trying to read the same when he 174 VIDOCQ. perceived them. He instantly crumpled it and put it in his pocket, exclaiming : " Go away ! Go away ! I don't want you near me ! Stop your whispering ! You are plot- ting for my death ! You are not my true friends. If my darling Estelle does not come back you'll murder and rob me ! " Although they withdrew he continued in this strain for some minutes, growing very violent. Lest they should alarm him again they refrained from looking in shortly after when they heard him get up and totter across the room, believing he was returning to his bed. " Oh ! " he exclaimed, and then fell, and they rushed in and oh ! what a horrible sight met their gaze. He had seized a knife from a plate on the mantel-piece containing some fruit and cut a tre- mendous gash across his throat ; from which his life-blood leaped with a desperation indicating the great struggle waging in his physical frame. They hastened to him, and Mead placed a pillow under his head. "The doctor! the doctor!" he exclaimed, and Costelli was about leaving to summon a servant to fetch a doctor, when she noticed an elongation of the limbs of the sufferer, with other indications of death, and, watching him a moment, she said, placing her hand on Mead's shoulder : THE OLD LOVE OFF. 175 " He is dead ! " " Yes," said Mead sorrowfully ; but his eye brightened as he took from his dead comrade's inner vest pocket the letter he was evidently so anxious a few moments before should not be seen, but a look of disappointment settled on his features, as with Costelli looking over his shoulder, he discovered it to be a rambling and egotistical account of the dead man's family in Spain. CHAPTER XVIII. THE OLD LOVE OFF. WE left Ray accompanying Byrnes and Hans to the precinct station house, to place the latter in custody. Hans was easily convicted on the evidence and was sentenced by Judge Gunning S. Bed- ford to five years' hard labor in Sing Sing. An effort was made to induce him to turn State's evidence, as Byrnes was satisfied there were others stronger than he, behind him ; but the stolid German remained true blue. While, however, Hans declined to turn State's evidence against his associates, even to escape punishment, he was drawn into a confes- sion by Byrnes going into his cell as a fellow culprit, in the disguise of a Cuban sailor. 176 VIDOCQ. Hans had never met Verrua, but he told all he knew about Mead, and consequently Byrnes, after several interviews, got all the points on him that he needed to run him to earth or rather jail. Detectives know by experience that criminals rarely reform, and once engaged in a crime the human repeats the story of the moth and the candle ; and the true detective like Pinkerton, Byrnes or Jourdon pursue a man through years until they " get " him, their zeal increasing with each'- defeat until it almost becomes a personal matter between the criminal and the detective. With Byrnes on his track, like a sleuth hound, Mead's days are numbered ; but he had so often before eluded Pinkerton in the West as well as Young here that probably the knowledge he was " wanted " would not have disturbed his equa- nimity while exciting his resources to escape the iron grasp of the quiet man. Ray was the hero of the hour for several days until some other sensation engrossed the popu- lar mind. His heroism secured him his photo- graph in Frank Leslie s Illustrated News, and he was delighted when the affair become a thing of the past, so that he was not questioned for the details by every one he met, many making his acquaintance especially for the purpose. Fortunately for her, Ray did not mention to Byrnes anything about Estelle's visiting the TJIK <>IJ> Ln\'K OFF. Ill bank with her father, who had always deposited there ; nor of her mysterious appearance in the crowd that night, like a vision, or the detective would have rapidly constructed a chain of evi- dence that would have involved the young lady. But though he did not mention her there was not a waking moment that she was not in his thoughts. Often he dreamed of her, especially of her coming to him in the crowd and so suddenly disappearing. Estelle haunted his thoughts, like the memory of one dead ; for he was satisfied that he should never see her again. He did not^ even confide his secret to Lillian, who no longer teased him about the beautiful unknown whom he had so gallantly defended and consequently they had no more spats or fallings-out. Lillian really loved Ray ; as for him, latterly he did not know whether he loved her still as devotedly as he should, or or not. He endeav- ored to pursuade himself he did, because he thought it was his duty, but his heart rebelled against the decision of the head, and his thoughts were often filled with images of Estelle. Ray and Miss Phillips had been engaged for some months, but the wedding-day had never been named. The ladies of the Phillips' family always passed the three summer months at their country residence, on the river, near Farming- ton, Conn. ; and the time for their departure was approaching. Miss Phillips frequently regretted the separa- tion that would ensue her departure, and intimated how pleasant it would be for Ray to also pass the heated term at the farm. But, a^s the ladies say, he did not "take the hint," He was soon pushed to the wall, however. One morning Mr. Phillips, calling him into his private office, startled him by the proposition that he should be married to his daughter at an early day, before, indeed, she went into the. country. He also suggested that-if he did not incline to a trip across the ocean, they should pass the summer on his place at Farmington. Much to Mr. Phillips' surprise Ray was embar- rassed by the proposition, instead of being overjoyed, as he naturally supposed he would be. Ray stammered out in reply something about his great kindness and asked for time for reflec- tion. " Oh certainly! Quite right ! " responded Mr. Phillips ; and the two went about their respec- tive engagements. In the evening Ray talked over the matter with his mother, whose counsel he was always in the habit of seeking. He frankly confessed to her that since he had met Estelle Verrua his love for Miss Phillips THE OLD LOVE OFF. 179 had experienced a change in other words he no longer loved her. His mother ridiculed his attachment for the mysterious beauty whom he might never meet again. Who was she, that they knew nothing about her in society ? She advised him to cure himself of the attachment by marrying Lillian Phillips, whom he knew to be a good, worthy girl. The good lady concluded, however, by urging him to follow the dictates of his own heart ; as his future happiness would depend on his selection of a wife. That same evening, in a conference with his wife, Mr. Phillips learned of Ray's adventure with the mysterious beauty, and coincided with her that she was the cause of Ray's change of manner towards his daughter. The next morning, again calling Ray into his office, Mr. Phillips said : " Well, have you thought over that mat- ter ? " " I have, but I am not prepared to give an answer ! " " You are trifling with me, sir ! " exclaimed Mr. Phillips indignantly. Ray made no response. "Now or never!" roared Mr. Phillips in a towering rage. " Xever," said Ray resolutely ; with a bow he left the apartment and returned to his desk, 180 viDocq. In the evening when he detailed the interview to his mother, that good lady exclaimed : " Oh my son, you know not what you have done ; you have ruined your prospects in life ! " CHAPTER XIX. ALONE IN THE WORLD. THE funeral had been over several days when Estelle happened to read the announcement of her father's death in the regular notices in the metropolitan daily that was taken at " The Retreat." It was quite by chance that in reading a description of an horticultural exhibition, her eyes wandered over to the death notices in the next column. The announcement was of course a great shock to her, and as soon as she could, she retired to her own room and gave vent to her emotions. If she had discovered the notice in time to have attended the funeral she would have gone, but it was too late now, and she decided she would not open communications with Mine. Costelli to learn the particulars. She would bury the past in the newly made grave, and alone in the world begin or rather live out the new life she had begun for herself. " GREEN GOODS." 181 It need not be said that for many reasons she never wished to renew the acquaintance of Mead or Costelli ; indeed, a constant dread was that she might unexpectedly encounter one or the other some day and the explanations that would be required might compromise her or necessi- tate explanations that might compel her to leave Mrs. Styles. CHAPTER XX. "GREEN GOODS." BYRNES decided that Mead must be getting very desperate to have planned such a desperate scheme as the assault on the F bank, and that it was now merely a question of time when he should fall into his hands for some criminal trans- action. He determined to keep on the outlook for him ; but being engaged in a well-known forgery case, Byrnes did not devote any personal attention to the matter for a month or more, when Mead reappeared in the street, with the white locks, clean shaven face, gold spectacles, and broad- cloth suit, with white necktie, of a retired Metho- dist preacher. If he had kept quiet or "shady," Mead might have passed unnoticed, but his limited means compelled him to be active in starting some money producing enterprise. 182 VIDOCQ. Their late association at Verrua's had brought Mead and Costelli closer together than they had ever been in all the years of their acquaintance ; and in his retreat, while he was metamorphosing himself he received a call daily from her, as she recognized the value of his counsel. Costelli, after selling out the Verrua furniture, etc., at Mead's advice took a floor on Sixth Avenue, which she furnished elegantly, and set up as a Spanish fortune-teller, he passing as her husband. Costelli did a good business as she always told a pleasing tale to her patrons seeking a revela- tion of the future, and he and she might have passed their days very comfortably, as she had conceived a great affection for him, after Verrua's death, but for the fact that his fertile brain evolved a new " green goods " scheme which has since become very common. The " green goods," business is the advertising to sell to the avaricious and not over-scrupulous countrymen counterfeit notes at a discount by which they can make a handsome profit if success- ful in passing them off ; this is what the vendor advertises to do, but he never sends the counter- feit, but a package of blank paper, or a box of sawdust knowing that the countryman will never dare to expose the swindle as he would criminate himself. Mead one day accidentally encountered an old "GREEN GOOU^. 183 Associate who had a limited assortment of coun- terfeit notes which he lacked the nerve, after a spell of sickness, which depleted his pocket-book as well as his courage, to " shove," that is, pass off, for fear of detection. Mead discovered the notes to be the best piece of counterfeiting he had ever seen ; only an expert by examination with a glass could discover such imperfections as one line in the face here, a button too many on this coat, one star too many here, a blur in the eye of the eagle; and he evolved a new scheme for the disposal of the notes to the fortune hunting and gullible coun- trymen. This was to advertise the sale of a five dollar picture for twenty-five cents, and a ten dollar picture for fifty cents; to send one of these counterfeit bills of the denomination paid for on receipt of the money with a circular stating that the order could be duplicated by the ten and so on up to a hundred at the rate of fifty per cent. of the face value. Now the countryman who " plays " the lottery or green goods game is never discouraged by failure or trickery but is caught by each new announcement as glibly as the fish in the stream ; and Mead's first announcement brought a pile of letters enclosing the necessary amount in postage stamps, to a private letter box which he engaged for the purpose. 184 VIDOCQ. The man had comparatively few of these notes, only three hundred thousand, and Mead proposed a way by which he could gather in fifty or sixty thousand and close the game before the authorities would be " onto him ; " that is he proposed to deal honestly with his customers, i. e. send them what they paid for, counterfeit bills and not slips of blank paper of the shape of bank- notes, arguing rightly that the samples he sent would prove so satisfactory. Usually the announcements of the green goods merchants had been very bungling : but Mead evinced positive genius in his advertisements which -would be readily understood by the initiated and culpable, and at the same time might attract the unsuspicious but curious who could be tempted. Observe he advertised a picture worth five dollars; and in his circular he dilated on the fact that a good counterfeit of a five dollar bill was a picture worth that sum. To use his own words in a few weeks he was doing a "land office business," and had his plans well matured to sell out and get out before he would be wanted, when he met his Nemesis in a popular Turkish bath. It was well known to Byrnes that Mead had a coiled snake dotted in blue India ink on his right arm, and one day when he chanced to be enjoying a bath, to relieve the rheumatism which thus AND LAST. 185 early had seized his vigorous frame, he discovered " his man " similarly engaged. Byrnes did not imagine for a moment that the clerical looking gentleman was the " high-roller " Mead, but he nevertheless " shadowed " him when he left the bath, until his suspicions were aroused and he ran him down, and secured his conviction in General Sessions. I may add that he served his term but died of consumption in this city a year after his release. CHAPTER XXI. AND LAST. OF course thoughts of one another continually haunted Estelle and Ray the latter in his despondent loneliness since he had broken off his engagement to Miss Phillips (who eventually married Mr. Stone, whose persistency finally won her) ; while Estelle's remembrance of him was a day-dream. Neither under the peculiar circumstances ever expected to meet again. Ray soon after his interview with the President sent in his resignation as the assistant cashier of the bank, having found a similar position in another financial institution ; and consequently he did not know whether Estelle had ever drawn 186 VIDOCQ. on her deposit or not. He looked for her on the promenade and everywhere he went, but never seeing her concluded she had left the city perhaps she had gone to Europe and the deposit was made for this purpose. He happened to be out of town visiting an aunt at Islip, L. I., the day the papers contained the item about Mr. Verrua's suicide and conse- quently he knew nothing about this melancholy event. In passing the house some little while after he noticed a different name on the door- plate he was aware of the address because she had given it in making the deposit and this discovery satisfied him she was absent from the country. Imagine his joy and surprise one spring morn- ing to see her in Mrs. Styles' carriage in one of the pretty surburban streets of Tarrytown, where he and his mother had gone to board for the summer. There was the instant mutual recognition of a bow before the second thought decided whether it was proper or not, and thus they came to- gether again. The adage to the contrary, the course of true love does often run smoothly, and before the November winds began to be suggestive of the approaching winter, they were united in the holy bond of wedlock. Estelle told her story to Ray's mother all but AND LAST. 187 about her father's connection with Mead and thoroughly enlisted the sympathy and love of that lady, who was delighted that her son should wed such a pretty and worthy girl. Ray somehow had a delicacy about alluding to her mysterious appearance in the crowd that night, and as she did not mention it he never knew and probably never will know the truth ; although he had a very good chance to make the inquiry when after her marriage she transferred the deposit to his name. I think I have now accounted for all excepting Hans, who after serving his time at Sing Sing, engaged in the historic case of the robbery of the Manhattan Savings Institution, on the corner of Broadway and Bleecker Street, which made Byrnes famous and eventually secured him the appointment which has caused him to be known the world over as the VIDOCQ OF NEW YORK. PART THIRD. CHAPTER I. THE SEA GIRT SHORE. IN a certain old and populous neighborhood or settlement on the New England coast near a thriving town on the Shore Line, a little colony of fishermen a mile or more down the road by the inlet, was known as Smith's, from the fact that the most important personage there, the storekeeper, bore that historic name. I speak in the past tense, because since the time I write of, quite a magnificent summer hotel has been erected just below Smith's, and gives the neigh- borhood its romantic name. Smith's was the favorite resort for miles around of those who wished to hire boats and bait for fishing and sailing quite a common custom in the season of parties from the interior towns on a lark, and, consequently, there was nothing unusual in the application, one morning, late in the summer of a bygone year, of three young men to John Allen for his sloop, the THE SEA (! JUT SHORE. 189 Saucy Sal, riding at anchor in sight, for a cruise of three days down the coast. Having given evidence by sailing her about the inle^t that they were fully competent to handle the stout little craft (quite noted as an outside blue-fisher) they obtained control of the Saucy Sal on the pay- ment of twenty-four dollars. These young men were pleasant-appearing, muscular, jovial, with a flow of animal spirits that led them to be very boisterous and roguish, and inspired them to perpetrate the joke of a mock-quarrel regarding the captaincy of the cruise, which was finally decided by the toss of a copper, in favor of Thomas Jones, who succes- sively defeated his comrades, Richard Bagley and John Moore. They obtained provisions at Smith's store (an item of which was two stout jugs of New Eng- land rum) and were soon under way and out of sight, little thinking that their joke had im- pressed Allen unfavorably, or that they had led him by their replies to believe they were stopping in the " town," whereas they merely dined there on arriving in the train at noon ; which fact the simple minded fisherman ascertained by casual inquiry in the evening, when he went up or in to get his mail, or more strictly speaking the county weekly paper ; and coupling this discov- ery of deception with the fact of the alter- cation he conceived a prejudice against them 190 VIDOCQ. which they would bitterly feel in the near future. CHAPTER II. SHIP AHOY. ON the second morning after sailing the Saucy Sal was spoken by a boat that had subsequently left Smith's, at anchor on the lee shore of a small and uninhabited peninsula of sand and stunted growth, on the coast, several miles to the east- ward, almost within range of Montauk's famous light. This boat, which was nameless or I should give the name, had anchored over night astern of the Saucy Sal, but the fog had been so dense that not even her lights had been noticed. No one was stirring aboard the Saucy Sal, and no answer was made to the fisherman's stentorian "Ship Ahoy! " and but for the fact that a small boat was afloat astern, it would have been con- cluded that all hands had gone ashore though no one was visible on the island. Prompted by a spirit of sociability rather than curiosity, the fish- erman who had a party of gentlemen bound for Block Island for shark-fishing, boarded the Saucy Sal in his yawl, taking along with him a lawyer from Boston, who, chagrined at his ill-luck trolling for blue-fish the day before, wished to learn how the strangers had fared. SHIP AHOY. 191 Peeping into the little cabin througfo the dead light, on reaching the side of the sloop, the fisherman saw Bagley and Moore sound asleep, one in a bunk improvised on the bench and the other on a pallet on the floor, beside the centre- board. A bump of their boat against the sloop aroused the sleepers, and they were requested to come aboard by Bagley. Descending to the cabin, where Bagley and Moore made their toilets by putting on their shoes, they found the other or corresponding bunk unoccupied, but bearing evidence of having been recently vacated. Bagley and Moore expressed surprise that it was so late a glorious, radiant sun, dispelling the mist and tempering the fresh morning air, was almost two hours old and, rubbing their eyes and foreheads, in an endeavor to brace up without too precipitate a recourse to the invigo- rating cocktail stated they had drunk a good deal over night ; of which there was evidence in the uncorked jug on the shelf, and the unwashed glasses standing around. "Where is your fren'?" inquired the fisher- man, who had noted their number when they sailed from Smith's. "Oh! Tom! Where is he?" said Bagley, glancing at the deserted bunk opposite his own, and then placing his mouth to the dead light >vi rhead and calling; 192 VIDOCQ. " Tom ! Tom ! I guess he is forward ; haven't you seen him? " "There's no one for'rard, unless he's in the hold," said the fisherman, glancing at the hatch- way. " The cover is down," observed the lawyer, who had returned to the cockpit and glanced over the deck. " No ! " exclaimed Bagley, passing him. " He's gone ashore then ! " " No, your boat is here," responded the lawyer, significantly pointing to the yawl astern. " He's hiding somewhere for a joke," said Moore, also coming up from the little cabin, fol- lowed by the fisherman, who exchanged glances with the lawyer. " He was as drunk as a boiled owl last night," continued Moore. "Tom! I say Tom ! Come, Tom, no fooling now ; we've got visitors ! " But there was no response, nor did the expect- ant Tom appear. " He's shut himself in the forecastle," said Bagley, going forward and raising the cover of the hold, looking down. " He's not here. Why, I wonder what's become of him ? " The others came forward, and joined Bagley. "I don't know what to make of this," said Bagley, sitting on the gunwale. Several red stains and spots on the other side of the deck here attracted the attention of SHIP AHOY. 193 the lawyer. He stooped and examined the same. " Blood?" he inquired of Bagley. "Yes," Bagley replied, "Tom's nose bled terribly last night ; it always does when he drinks too much. We held him over here ; " and, look- ing down the side, there was discovered several red stains. "There are blood-stains on your cuffs," said the lawyer, suddenly, eyeing Bagley closely, " and yours, too," he added, clutching and holding up Moore's hand. "Yes," replied Bagley, unconcernedly; "he was drunk when his nose commenced bleeding, and we had a great deal of trouble holding him." "I guess we were drunk ourselves, as for that matter," said Moore, laughingly, " and held him bunglingly." The lawyer and the fisherman glanced inquir- ingly at each other ; the former moved a step or two forward, looked down into the waters rippling around the stem of the graceful craft, then round about and out upon the sea, while the lawyer went back into the cabin with Bagley and Moore. " Why, here are blood-spots, too ! " exclaimed the lawyer, observing several on the floor. "Yes," replied Bagley; " he commenced bleed- ing here, and bled a good deal before we got him on deck. See ! " and he took from a locker above 194 VIDOCQ. the closet a handkerchief incarnadined and still moist. " H'm ! " ejaculated the lawyer, uneasily glanc- ing around. "I say !" exclaimed the fisherman, forward " I say, what has become of that other anker?" " Lost," answered Bagley, standing in the hatchway ; " lost yesterday. I threw it over- board by mistake, and, cable not being fastened, down she went." The fisherman came aft and joined the lawyer on the after-deck. Bagley and Moore went into the cabin, and hastily " stowed" their bunks, and put things to rights generally. " What do you suspicion ! " whispered the fisherman to the lawyer. "What do you think?" asked the lawyer, quietly. " Foul play," replied the fisherman firmly. " Can't say ! " exclaimed the lawyer, evasively. "What's to be done?" inquired the fisherman, anxiously. " Depends," said the lawyer musingly. " We can't let 'em escape," said the fisherman. " No ! " " No ! " " But it's ticklish bisiness," continued the fisherman, slowly, "You're a lawyer; you'd ought to know what to do." >7//P AHOY. 195 " I don't want to excite them or to wound their feelings," responded the lawyer. "Them there blood-stains ain't been there more'n eight or ten hours at most," said the fisherman, nervously gesticulating forward. " No; they're evidently fresh," said the lawyer. " Their explanation of them is ingenious, but not plausible. I'm afraid they have had a drunken quarrel, whether in anger or exhilaration I am not prepared to say ; and that the struggle has resulted in their friend's death at all events, disappearance." " Jus' so," said the fisherman "jus* so; that's what I think. Now I suspicions they warn't sich good frens as they mought be, 'cause they quarrelled afore starting so Allen told me ; an' I suspicions they murdered him last night in the cabin, stopped the bleeding with that hank- chief, hauled him for'ard, fastened that missin' anker, and chucked the two overboard." "You form the theory that the prosecution'll doubtless adopt," said the lawyer complacently. " I was about forming some such theory my- self." " I hope they'll swing for this," said the fisher- man. "Eh!" said the lawyer, deprecatingly. "I must believe them innocent till they are con- victed." " I s'pose so." 196 VIDOCQ. Bagley and Moore came from the cabin to the cockpit. The lawyer and fisherman separated, and the former joined them, the other going to the side, where his yawl was fastened. " This is a most singular affair," said Bagley ; " I cannot admit of any other thought than that he is playing us some joke, and will reappear in good time." " I do not know what*to think," said Mooje. " I can scarcely credit my senses ! " "Cud your fren' swim?" inquired the fisher- man. " Like a fish under water like a duck on top, if he chose?" replied Bagley. " Oh, he isn't drowned ! " exclaimed Moore. "You think so?" observed the fisherman, meaningly but not exciting their attention. There was a pause. "Ahem! what do you propose to do?" asked the lawyer, gravely. " Why, to make every effort to find him, if he doesn't return soon ! " exclaimed Bagley. "You'll remain and help us? " said Moore " We'll remain," responded the fisherman "Yes, we'll remain," said the lawyer. The fisherman toyed with his painter, while the lawyer musingly tapped on the gunwale with his fingers. Moore and Bagley communed with their SHIP AHOY. 197 thoughts, wondering what had become of their friend. " Hem ! " began the lawyer, finally. " What was the last seen of your friend ? " " He was asleep in his bunk," both replied, in- stantly. Bagley continued : " I did not go to sleep till I saw him safe and and sound in dreamland, as I felt uneasy about him." " I can scarcely realize that I am not sleeping now, and dreaming a horrible dream," said Moore. " Singular ! " ejaculated the lawyer. He asked, after a pause, " Was your friend subject to ver- tigo or epileptic fits, or moods of despondency ?" " Nothing of the kind," replied Bagley. " Why I never saw him more cheerful than last night." " When did yer come to anker here ? " asked the fisherman, jumping into his yawl, which he had pulled up by the painter. " Last night at sundown," replied Moore. The fisherman loosened the painter and steadied the yawl alongside for the lawyer to get in. " Will you come over and breakfast with us? " inquired the lawyer, stepping into the small-boat. " No, thanks ; we have provisions," replied Bagley. " But I, for one, have no appetite." " I don't want anything," said Moore. 198 VIDOCQ. "Adieu, then, till after breakfast," said the lawyer, as the fisherman shoved the yawl into the stream and took up his oars. Bagley and Moore, who, though naturally alarmed at their friend's absence, did not for a moment doubt but that he would reappear in good time, proceeded to put the ship to rights, jokingly execrating their absent comrade for shirking his duties. They ate a sparing break- fast. CHAPTER III. SUSPECTED. IN a little while the lawyer and fisherman returned. In the boat they brought a pair of oyster-tongs. "Going to dig for oysters?" inquired Bagley. " No," replied the fisherman, laconically. " It occurs to us," said the lawyer, gravely, "that your friend may have accidentally fallen overboard and drowned "An" I'm goin' to grapple for the body," said the fisherman. "Oh God!" exclaimed Bagley, "you don't think that?" " Oh, I wish I had sat up all night with him !" exclaimed Moore. " We must hope for the best, " said the lawyer. SUSPECTEl). ]',)'.) The fisherman put his tongs down into the water, and eagerly watched by the other three and followed all around the boat by them, he as eagerly dredged, or, rather, grappled, for the body that he was confident he should reclaim with the missing anchor lashed to it. He was disappointed, however ; although he thoroughly dredged the water in a circumference of thirty feet or more, he did not find the body. As he said, the currents were so diverse here- abouts, and the tides equally strong, no hope could be entertained of the body going ashore ; it would be washed out to sea, and, before being brought back, mutilated by the rough treatment of the waters beyond recognition ; then stranded on some point or reef till dismembered, the dissevered portions going shoreward in various directions, so that they could be taken, when found, only for what they were, fragments of a human body, exciting curiosity, but not service- able in elucidating the crime. The fisherman was satisfied that the body had been consigned to the waters, and concluded that it had been carried away by the tide, since he could not find it. " I'll bet he is hiding somewhere on the shore watching us! " exclaimed Bagley, hauling in the dingy. " He swam ashore! " "Oh, he must be somewhere about," said M' ore, uiua-ily. 200 VIDOCQ. . " We'll search the shore, eh, Mister Lawyer?" said the fisherman knowingly. "Yes; we'll assist," replied the lawyer, indi- cating to him by his facial expression to be cau- tious, and not to say too much. They all got into the dingy, and Bagley pulled them ashore. The peninsula, which covered an area of about twenty acres, rose from the water in a gentle undulation running into several hills. It was covered with a stunted growth of meadow grass, with here and there patches of dwarfed cedar- tree, or, more properly speaking, bushes. They first made a tour of the shore, all the way round, and then separating and branching off, they faithfully searched the bushes and grass, Bagley and Moore every now and then calling out : " Tom ! Tom ! " When they returned to the sloop after their fruitless search their hopes began to fail them, but each inwardly resolved to bear up till the last. The lawyer, who furtively watched them closely, was very favorably impressed by their bearing, which was simply unaffected. He argued to himself that if they had committed an atrocious crime, they .would seek to divert sus- picion by an assumption of innocence ; at all events, if they were the hardened villains that the deed and their arrangements for the same would SUSPECTED. 201 show them to be, they would have trumped up some plausible tale to account for their friend's disappearance. The fisherman, predisposed to believe in their guilt, was highly incensed at what he considered the devilish courage of the young men in main- taining their self-possession and so firmly refusing to believe their friend dead, when in their own mind they knew he was ; and he chafed under the restraint of silence regarding his own theory which the lawyer imposed on him. If the fisherman had his own way, he would have boldly charged them with the crime of murdering their late friend, in the expectation that they would cower in alarm before him, and confess all. "They'd ought to confess," he mentally ex- claimed, "and set us on the right track. Onct down to Marbilhead, I seen a man caught a-stealin' fish from a smack ; at fust he denied that he wuz a-stealin' on 'em, sayin' he ment for to.buy 'em; but we told him if he'd confess he he wuz a-stealin', he cud hev the fish ; an' he sed he wuz; an' we give him the fish ; and he went on his way rejoicin'. He sed it did him good to confess ; an' it made us feel so good, too, that we gave him the fish. No man likes to think him- self in the wrong, an' we were glad to find that we were not in the wrong regardin' him ilinV 202 The blood-spots on the deck fascinated him.; and he watched them with unfeigned anxiety, as if he was afraid the young men might remove them unperceived ; he sheltered them from the effacing effects of the sun, by apiece of tarpaulin. He found, under a coil of rope near the telltale blood-spots, an old jacknife, whose rusty blade was incrusted with dull, brown-red stains the rust of blood. Pie held the knife up triumphantly. . 2(V, y > a vague hope that he would reappear in good time, though they dared not calmly consider the facts, lest such should banish this delusion. That, in consequence of a recurrence of the flux at the nose, their friend might have arisen from his bunk while they slept, and gone forward and leaned over the gunwale to let his olfactory organ bleed, lost his balance, had fallen overboard, and drowned in a useless struggle in the water, did not occur to them; no, they could not, the discovery came upon them so suddenly and strangely, regard him as dead. It was an outrageous trick to play them, but they hoped they should find him at Smith's, having slipped them during the night and re- turned in a passing boat. Bagley made an observation to the lawyer to this effect, on which that personage shook his head doubtfully. " I'll bet yer five dullers you don't," the fish- erman could not refrain from responding. No notice, however, was taken of this coarse sally ; the young men from the first instinctively experienced a dislike to the fisherman ; while he, as we know, was prejudiced against them. " Having searched for and failed to find the body," the lawyer said, gravely, after a pause, " we had better return to Smith's." " We ?" said Bagley. "Shall you accompany us ?" 204 VIDOCQ. "Me, too?" interposed the fisherman, before the lawyer could reply. "Yes," said the lawyer; "you will have to place this matter before the authorities, and we shall be needed as witnesses." "Yes, I suppose so," said Bagley, musingly. " It is a very embarrassing affair," continued the lawyer, " and I wish I was not in it." " I would give ten years of my future life to be able to go back into the past to yesterday after- noon, when Tom sat just where you are, as jolly as a lark ! " said Bagley. " I hope you will come out all right," said the lawyer. " What ! " exclaimed Bagley, breathlessly, "You don't mean you don't mean to insinuate, " That you two must show you had nothing to do with the disappearance of your friend, unless you can satisfactorily account for his absence," replied the lawyer, firmly, eying him sharply with the self-possession of one accustomed to such trying scenes. " My God ! " exclaimed Bagley, in tones of anguish. "Moore! Moore! Do you hear this?" and he sank back in his seat as if bewildered and unable to comprehend matters. Moore came up from the cabin. "We loved one another like brothers," he said, .huskily, and clinging to the triested SUSPECTED. 205 boom for support, he sank into a seat beside Bagley. " Of course, the affair must be investigated by the authorities," said the lawyer; "and I should think you would seek such investigation." " We will ! " they simultaneously ejaculated. < The lawyer, after some further conversation in which he was very careful not to wound their feelings by any insinuation or imputation, advised them to compose themselves in fact, to go below and rest while he and the fisherman navigated the craft back to Smith's, but they preferred to remain on deck and assist, and were permitted to do so ; at all events, the lawyer allowed them to assist him in obeying the orders of the fisherman, who, from this time forth, would have nothing to do with them. " Murderers ! " he mentally ejaculated, whenever he glanced at them. Neither their assistance, nor that of the lawyer was needed, however, after the anchor had been weighed, except in working the centre-board, for the fisherman at the helm easily managed the sheets. The breeze was in their favor, and, dexterously kept close to the wind, the little sloop fairly flew through the wavelets. They came to anchor in the harbor at Smith's, towards the close of the afternoon. Inasmuch as there would have to be an exami- nation of the blood-stains on the deck (he did 206 VIDOCQ. not say this much to them), the lawyer advised Moore and Bagley to remain on board till he brought the authorities, rather than they should go and surrender themselves. He left for the village immediately on arriving ; Moore and Bagley shutting themselves up in the cabin to avoid the cold, suspicious glances of the fisherman. The fisherman remained on board to keep watch. He sat on the gunwale forward, with his face resting on his hands, supported by his knees, and guarded the fatal blood-spots as if he were apprehensive they would rub out in his sight, his wish being the antithesis of Lady Macbeth's. The lawyer said nothing about the affair in the settlement, and so the arrival did not excite the sensation which it would have done had the facts been noised around, Allen came on board, of course, and shook his head dubiously on meeting Moore and Bagley. He coincided with the fisherman in believing them guilty of a terrible crime, and, to their great relief, kept aloof from them, in keeping with his friend, with whom he conversed in an undertone, and concurred in his theory of a drunken murder. 207 CHAPTER IV. ARRESTED. THE lawyer made his statement to the Justice of the Peace, and he issued the requisite orders to the constable, who returned with him. Moore and Bagley voluntarily surrendered themselves to the constable, on his approach, and he took charge of them. He placed a deputy in charge of the craft which by this time was surrounded by a fleet of small boats from the settlement, with the occupants clamorous to see the " murderers " and the blood-stains and returned to town with his prisoners. That night Moore and Bagley passed in jail, and for the first time painfully realized the fact that they were suspected of murdering their missing friend; until now they had supposed they had the sympathy and confidence of all, excepting, indeed, that of the fisherman, and that the investigation hinted at by the lawyer would be a mere formality. It is in the dark hours of adversity when the adage that " Misfor- tunes never come singly," is painfully realized by actual experience. Their thoughts kept them awake until a late hour, when they sank into sleep from sheer physical exhaustion. The lawyer telegraphed in their names for their parents, as well as for the father of Jones. 208 viuocq. Moore and Bagley resided with their parents in New York, within a few hoars' ride of the town ; and their parents were with them in the evening, terribly distressed by the position they found them in. Jones was a resident of Brooklyn, and his father would not arrive till the next morning. He telegraphed he should come on. Moore and Bagley were taken before the Justice of the Peace the next morning, a tall, slender, cadaverous man, with a sullen, discon- tented expression of countenance, to whom the case offered the opportunity to distinguish himself, it being the first of the kind that had ever come before him. The lawyer made a simple statement of the facts and circumstances ; the fisherman was prevented from expressing his " suspicions," but his gestures and leers were very prejudicial to Moore and Bagley, who made a straightforward statement, which the Justice could not shake by an ingenious cross-examination. Allen's testimony regarding the quarrel be- tween the young men before starting, was very damaging to them, creating the impression that a feud existed between the friends. He was careful to state they had deceived him when hiring the boat, by conveying the impression that they were stopping at the hotel in the village. The evidence was all against them. ARRESTED. 209 The fact that every one seemed to be against them, and fierce in their determination to brand them " murderers," impressed the young men even more painfully than previously, and consid- erably lessened their confidence and self-p5sses- sion ; and the change in their demeanor which the change in their minds caused, was construed into being the workings of stricken consciences. It was admitted by the prisoners, and demon- strated by the coroner's testimony, that the stains on the deck were those of human blood. The gory handkerchief was exhibited. The knife, with the incarnadined blade, was identified by Allen as one belonging to the sloop, and used for cutting bait ; and merriment was excited in the auditory by Bagley's avowal that, though they had industriously fished the whole day, they had caught nothing. The Justice declared that the prisoners' expla- nation of the blood-stains on the deck was not plausible ; that the knife being found hidden near by was significant ; that the blood-stains on their cuffs were significant, and that all the testimony conduced to excite the suspicion that a terrible crime had been committed. He decided to send the case to the higher court and consequently the prisoners were committed to await their trial. 210 VIDOCQ. CHAPTER V. THE PRISONERS. MOORE and Bagley had made the acquaintance of Jones at school, at Norwalk, Conn., some three years previously. Although Jones had twice, the present summer and the previous one, stayed with them several days at their respective homes, they had never been to see him in Brook- lyn (which Gothamites have from time imme- morial regarded as a terrible journey) and were not acquainted with the father, his only surviving parent. Mr. Jones did not seek an interview with them as they hoped he would. Immediately on his arrival, after learning the result of the investiga- tion by the Justice of the Peace, he sought the fisherman, and received from him the impression, which soon amounted to a conviction, that his son had been murdered by the prisoners. He declined to see the fathers of the young men when they called that evening to make his acquaintance, intending thereby to intimate to them very plainly that it was to be war to the knife between them. He was a cold, reserved, calculating, very successful business man, totally different from his warm-hearted, free, impulsive son. He had been all along prejudiced against these young THE PRISONERS. 211 men for the reason that he thought they were lead- ing his son astray ; whereas, the fact was, that if any one did the leading, it was Tom himself, who was by far the wildest and most dissipated of the three. Parents constantly make a mistake by thus refusing to admit or failing to perceive the shortcomings of their children, who are no nearer perfection than those they associate with a fact which is immediately recognized by disinterested or critical observers, but which we ourselves are the last to discover. So Jones naturally threw all the blame on the friends, Bagley and Moore, for leading his son astray, when, if there was any one to blame, it was his own hopeful. He loved Tom passionately, in his undemon- strative, latent way indeed he was completely wrapped up in him, and the telegram announcing his disappearance momentarily deprived him of his reason. He was a man who had himself under thorough control, and he controlled himself now. No one, to look at his stern, hard-set, impassive features, could imagine how great was his grief for his son ; they might conclude, because there was no outward display of sorrow, that he, man of business as he was, had experienced none. The loss of his son had turned the honey of the love that he bore for him into the gall of revenge, and he became at once the foremost and bitterest 212 VIDOCQ. accuser of the young men. He was implacable, refused to see their parents, to go to see them, to listen to any theory that did not evolve murder. He entered on the prosecution with the energy of purpose characteristic of his nature. He caused the authorities to offer a reward for the / recovery of the body, and offered an additional and larger one himself. He started several expeditions in search of the body; he went in one himself, and the search was so thorough, that if the body had been any- where in the territory searched, it would have been discovered. The coast for miles was searched by the authorities as well as volunteer parties prompted by curiosity as well as sympathy. The conclu- sion was that the body had been carried to sea, and would probably never come to light. Mr. Bagley, who was better off than Mr. Moore, applied to Headquarters in New York and secured the services of a young detective, whose youthful appearance and reserved manner was so different from the popular idea of such a person that he would not have found any confidence in his competeny but for the fact that he impressed all with his ability by his never asking unnecessary or trifling questions and never making any prom- ises or predictions tending to excite false hopes, but carefully gathering all the data he went about his work earnestly and unostentatiously, THE PK18ONERS. 213 The young detective was " Tom Byrnes," then quite unknown to fame but already recognized in the department as a "good man." Byrnes went over the facts and the locale without volunteering a theory Tom's disappear- ance might have been premeditated, might have been accidental ; a crime might have been com- mitted but there was no clue beyond the bold fact that he was missing. Byrnes declared the case belonged to the lawyers now rather than the detective. A phase and an important one to be developed by Byrnes was that Tom was engaged to be married to a young cousin, who accompanied .the father, and who was stricken with grief. To her, at the hotel, after breakfasting, just before leaving for Smith's, Tom had scribbled a few lines, as follows : " DARLING NELLY : In an awful hurry ; no time to write more than a few lines ; am going off on a sailing cruise for three days. You may never hear from me again, but my last thoughts will be of you. " Your devoted, "TOM." The father argued that the last clause in the letter intimated that there was trouble between Tom and his friends, and that he had a foreboding of his end when he wrote ; and he succeeded in inspiring all with whom he conversed on the 214 VIDOCQ. subject with his own theory that the murder had been committed in the cabin with the knife ; that the blood had been sopped up in the handker- chief, the body conveyed forward, lashed to the missing anchor, and thrown overboard, but not before some blood had dripped to the deck, which, if they had not been surprised, Bagley and Moore would have removed in the morning when over their delirium of drink. He created an intense popular prejudice against the young men which was even manifested toward their parents, who had taken up their abode in town, so as to be able to visit their sons in prison daily. Byrnes did not consider the letter as important as the others ; that is that it had any bearing on the case, the intimation in the last sentence he considered a joke. The consciousness of their innocence gave the youthful prisoners strength of heart and mind to endure calmly their imprisonment, and confi- dently anticipate an acquittal. CHAPTER VI. THE TRIAL. THE trial attracted much attention. A New York paper had it reported by a special corre- THE TRIAL. 215 spondent. It consumed several days. It was an epoch in the history of the town. Messrs. Bagley and Moore engaged eminent counsel from their own city to defend their sons. Mr. Jones was satisfied to let the prosecution be made by the district-attorney, an able lawyer by the way, who has since achieved political distinc- tion in Congress. The chain of evidence woven by the astute district-attorney was very complete, and intended to be supplemented by an equally conclusive noose of hemp-rope for each of the prisoners. The witnessess called by the prosecution were : Allen, who (i) showed that the young men were capable of practising deceit by their imposing on him in regard to their stopping at the hotel ; and (2) that they were evidently not good friends before they started on the cruise. The lawyer, who recounted his going on board of the Saucy Sal, and subsequent discoveries, the young men by their conduct impressing him they were innocent of any crime. The fisherman, who gave his account, which only differed from the lawyer's in that the de- meanor of the young men satisfied him they were guilty of murdering their friend. The constable testified to arresting the young men and examining the boat. The letter was offered, but ruled out. Mr. Jones testified that his son was sober, 216 VIDOCQ. amiable and confiding, and did not mention to him in a letter written two days before from New York anything about the trip. Here the prosecution rested. The counsel for the defence opened their side by calling several townsmen of the prisoners to testify to their good characters. One of these witnesses was with the prisoners and Jones the night before they left the city, and there was nothing evident of any feud existing between them then. The parents of the prisoners testified to the same effect. Moore was placed on the stand, and told a plain, straightforward story, evincing emotion when he alluded to his missing friend. He denied that any imposition was intended by the remarks which conveyed to Allen that they were stopping at the hotel ; and, as regards the quarrel, it was agreed upon among themselves as a joke on Allen, who was asked who began it and who figured most actively in it. Allen, recalled, remembered that Jones was the one who misled him in regard to the hotel, and and also was the author of the quarrel. Bagley was called and corroborated Moore's testimony, adding that he was the last that saw Jones, as he remained awake till his friend had fallen asleep, as he knew he would need his assistance if his nose bled, again. THE TRIAL. 217 The -defence had no more witnesses, and the case was adjourned till next day. In the summing up, the defence admitted that it was a strong case of circumstantial evidence, and expatiated on the theory of suicide, holding that the allusion in the letter pointed as much to this as anything else. A pretty picture of the social relations of the parties was drawn, and a feeling tribute paid to the memory of Jones. The summing up of the prosecuting officer was a very able effort. He made a theatrical use of the handkerchief, knife and' blood-spots, dwelling especially upon the stains on the cuffs of the prisoners, and drew a dramatic picture of the young men murdering their friend (even as Caesar was assassinated by stabs from those, he believed to be his friends) because of animosity inspired by the chagrin that he had won by the toss of a penny the captaincy of the cruise. He cited authorities to prove that the tides and currents were so strong and diverse in the locality that the body must have been carried to sea, and probably would never be recovered. He placed no faith in the prisoners' testimony that they all had been drunk. He ridiculed the theory of the defence that Jones had committed suicide. He had found it impossible to entertain but one theory; that \vas, that Jones had been cruelly murdered by his friends, and then thrown overboard. 218 VIDOCQ. The judge in his charge said the prisoners must either be acquitted or convicted ; their friend had disappeared from their midst in a manner leaving no doubt of his death. The young men at the bar were either guilty of causing his death or innocent. The testimony presented by the prosecution certainly excited the suspicion that a horrible murder had been committed ; yet the theory of suicide of the defence was plausible, the testimony and explanations of the prisoners plausi- ble and consistent. It was evident, however, that the judge inclined toward the theory that the friends had quarrelled and fought. The jury retired in charge of 'an officer, and remained out six hours. The judge and counsel went out for refresh- ments. The officer having the prisoners in charge offered to take them out for refreshments also, but, of course, they had no appetite for anything and preferred to remain in their seats, in conver- sation with their male relatives, their respective mothers having been persuaded by the counsel to keep away this final day. The prisoners were both much excited, pale and worn, but hopeful in the consciousness of their innocence. Mr. Jones, the bereaved father, who had sat on the other side of the inclosure semi-circling the seat of justice with the prosecuting officer, paced the small space with bowed head. " An eye for an eye ; a tooth for a tooth," saith the Scriptures. T3E TRIAL. 219 Was he hungry for the lives of these two in atonement for his son's death ? The crowd that rilled the space alloted it waited patiently for the verdict, evidently more interested than the prisoners themselves, to judge by the earnest discussion that was going on among them. The hours wore on ; terrible hours of suspense to the prisoners and those immediately con- cerned ; dreary hours of curiosity to the spec- tators, with no other thought on the subject probably than to get away to their dinners. The sunbeams that had glorified the windows disappeared ; daylight faded away, and the oil- lamps, with large tin reflectors, that were lighted, filled the room with shadows and obscure corners, imparting a mystery to the solemnity of the occasion. The gloom awes all into silence or whispers. The only evidence of animation, so quiet do all remain, is the ticking of the clock on the wall facing the throne of the judge. At length the door by which the jury left is opened, and they file in, and gravely take their scats, looking solemn and determined. This action of life infuses those in the chamber and dispels the silence, and there is a hum of voices, clearing of throats and changing of posi- tions. The judge, counsel, and prosecuting officer, 220 V1DOCQ. having been sent for, return and take their places. The clerk proceeds with the formula of calling the roll, and says : "Prisoners, arise! Jurors, look upon the prisoners ! Prisoners, look upon the jury ! Gen- tlemen of the jury, have you agreed upon your verdict ? " There is a breathless silence ; greater now is the suspense ; the secret will be known in a moment. The foreman of the jury gravely answers: "We have." The clerk says : " Gentlemen of the jury, how find you : are the prisoners at the bar guilty or not guilty? " Foreman of the jury " Guilty ! " Moore sinks into his chair like a man stricken with the palsy. Bagley leans on his father's arm and sobs. A breath of relief is audible throughout the audience, and there is a general stir among them. Some pay their bets on the spot. The clerk gravely says : " Gentlemen of the jury, listen to your verdict ! You find the prisoners at the bar guilty, and so say you all ? " The jurors answer affirmatively " We do." The district-attorney glances at his watch, and moves for sentence. THE TRIAL. 221 The judge says : " Prisoners at the bar, have you anything to say why the sentence of the court should not be passed upon you ? " Bagley, at the instigation of his counsel, an- swers : " We are innocent ! " Moore, controlling himself, repeats: " We are innocent ! " The judge then pronounces the sentence : " You have each of you had a fair and impar- tial trial, you have been ably and devotedly defended by your counsel, but the jury, sworn to give deliberate, true and impartial consideration to the evidence, have found you guilty of the ter- rible crime of murder. It now becomes my pain- ful duty, under the law, and as presiding judge of this court, to pass the sentence of the law upon you. And, before doing so, I would desire to direct your minds to the just consideration of your guilt, and to use your utmost endeavors to prepare yourselves to meet your fate manfully and religiously. " Your victim was hurried unprepared before his God, while you are given ample time to pre- pare ; and I earnestly hope you will devote the rest of your time to the preparation necessary to secure your admission to the abode of bliss through the means opened unto us by our Sav- iour, the Lord Jesus Christ. Wise and religious men will, doubtless, attend you henceforth ) teaching you the errors of your former life, 222 and devotedly guide you through the remain- der. " Give yourselves no hopes of executive clem- ency, but pay heed to the teachings which will be given you. Now the sentence of this court is, that you both be taken hence to the common jail of this county, there to remain till the day of , 187-, on which day, between the hours of nine and twelve in the morning, you will be taken to the jail-yard, and there be hanged by the neck till you are dead ; and may God, in His infinite wisdom, have mercy on your souls ! " The prisoners were removed to the jail in a limp, insensible condition, able to walk while supported by strong arms, but mentally dazed. CHAPTER VII. ADJUDGED GUILTY. ADJUDGED guilty ! Convicted on the evi- dence ! Waste of words to protest their inno- cence ; who ever believes the declarations of a criminal, unless it is a confession of guilt ? " They all say they're innocent," the keeper declares unfeelingly. Bagley and Moore found that no one believed in their innocence excepting their parents ; on the contrary, it was evidently the thought of all, even ADJ I tx.Eh GUILTY. 223^ of the clergymen who attended them ; but now that they were convicted, and would certainly expiate their crime on the gallows, they should make a confession. The consciousness of their innocence that had sustained them through the trial tranquillized their minds, and enabled them to bear with forti- tude the present ordeal. They were truly brave, were these young men ; and brave men are accustomed to consider facts calmly and courageously they, as soon as they recovered themselves, brought their minds to a realization, or, rather, a contemplation, of their position ; they resolved to conduct themselves like men. If it was to be their fate to die on the gallows, innocent of the crime imputed to them, they would meet their doom like true men, strong in the consciousness of their innocence. It was not, it is true, until after, or, rather, through, severe mental travail that they brought themselves to this frame of mind. The thought was horrible, maddening, that they should so soon have to yield up their young lives their lives now dear to them ; but they were brave men, and brave men quietly obtain control of themselves, and maintain it. That they should die innocent inspired them with the spirit that animates the martyr. The guilty murderer is haunlcd day and night, through the long hours of his imprisonment, by 24 viuocq. the spectre of his victim, which stalks to the scaf- fold with him, and stands before him the last thing on earth. Recollections of many happy hours with Jones filled the minds of Bagley and Moore, and they experienced a happiness in the contemplation of their innocence that is not the lot of the guilty, even after the mind has been relieved by a con- fession, and the terrible secret is no longer a secret. The clergyman found them ready and willing disciples. CHAPTER VIII. BYRNES'S ADVICE. MR. BAGLEY somehow had faith that Byrnes could yet be of service to him in his distress, and after the trial and sentence he again visited him. " Petition the Governor," advised Byrnes. " Delay matters as long as possible. Time often works wonders in elucidating mysteries. Obtain as much delay as possible." " Yes but is there is there any hope in your opinion, Mr. Byrnes?" " Hum I have a theory a theory but don't consider me now see the Governor." " Your manner rather than your words gives a BYRNES' 8 ADVICE. 225 strange hope and strength. I will not ask you any questions but remember me eventually and give me the benefit, the blessings of your thoughts." The fathers set about circulating a petition to the Governor for a reprieve, which was signed generally by friends of the several parties in New York and Brooklyn, but not much anywhere else, the belief in their guilt, despite their protesta- tions, being popular. The clergyman had made the acquaintance of Jones's betrothed, and he bethought himself of strengthening the array of names on the petition with hers. He knew it was useless to endeavor to obtain Mr. Jones's ; he, in his bitter anguish, would never be satisfied till the prisoners had expiated their crime. Mr. Jones returned to New York after the trial ; the young lady, Miss Depew, had gone to Boston to visit some relatives, seeking to obtain relief from her afflictions by a change of air and scene. To her the clergyman went ; his account of the prisoners excited her desire to see them personally, and, in an interview with them, they succeeded in so strongly impressing her with their innocence, that she not only signed the petition, but also accompanied the two fathers when they presented it to the Governor. The Governor was an old lawyer, and, after carefully reviewing the testimony, he sustained 226 viuocq. the sentence of the court, declaring that they had been convicted on the evidence. He granted a respite of four weeks, which deferred the execu- tion three months from date of sentence. The slender hope of reprieve banished, the prisoners prepared themselves to manfully meet their approaching doom, happy in the conscious- ness of their innocence. The fatal day drew near. CHAPTER IX. HOME AGAIN. A NOBLE steamer ploughs her way to a pier on the North River belonging to the South Amer- ican line. As soon as she touches the pier a young man looking like a seafaring man, hops ashore on the string piece and is hastening off the dock when he is stopped stopped by Byrnes, but not know- ing who he is he is not as much taken aback as he would naturally otherwise have been. On seeing him, Byrnes, who was as nonchalant as if asking for a light for his cigar, touched his arm and inquired : " Is not your name Tom Jones ? " "Yes." HOME AGAIN. 227 " And you disappeared from a sloop " "Yes, sir, in Long Island Sound." " Where are you going? " " To my father." " He will be glad to see you," replied Byrnes, turning away. Let us follow the young sailor. To a bee-hive of business offices on Beaver Street he goes, and into an office. He looks around him wildly. " Do you know any one here, sir?" inquires a clerk. " No, sir, I think not," slowly replies the sailor. "Is Mr. Jones in?" " No, sir." replies the other, " He went out two months ago." " Can you tell where to? " " No, sir, he's gone out of business, I believe," responded the clerk. Then, glancing over his memorandum book, he scribbled an address on a card. " Here's his address," he said, handing it to the other, "There's where he wanted his letters sent. H'm ! got any smuggled goods to sell?" " Thank you," said the young sailor, glancing at the address, and then crumpling the card jn his hand. " No, sir: I'm not a peddler." He withdrew with a bow, and is off to Broad- way and in an up-going stage as quick as his legs can carry him. 228 VIDOC'Q. He alights, and hastens to a stately dwelling on a fashionable side-street and rings the bell. His summons is answered by a liveried attend- ant, whose appearance surprises him. " Mr. Jones in?" he inquires. "Mr. Jones?" "Yes," he falters. " Oh ! ah ! yes. He does not live here now. I did not know whom you meant ; we took the house from him going on six weeks ago. H'm, Mr. Jones's gone to Europe, I believe," and the flunky almost closed the door in his face. The young sailor presses his hand to his fore- head as if to collect or control his thoughts ; he gathers himself up with an effort, and then hastens away to the stage-route, and goes up- town. He proceeds to an elegant mansion, and rings the bell. " Mrs. Lyons in? " he asks of the attendant. "Yes, sir." " Say to her that her nephew wishes to see her," and he strode past the attendant into a parlor. A voice upstairs is heard to say, " It must be some mistake ; but I will see him." In a few moments a familiar step is heard on the hall-stairs. An elderly lady enters. He rushes toward her, exclaiming, "Aunt! dear aunt ! " TOM'S ADVENTURES. 229 The lady totters, glances wildly at him stag- gers to a chair. " Who are you ? " she gasps. "Don't you know me, aunt?" the young sailor inquires, anxiously. She looks at him as if distrustful of her senses ; there is a tremor of the lips; she nervously passes her hands over her forehead, as if to clear her thoughts, and exclaims, " Tom ! dear Tom ! " and embraces him. Yes, it was Tom ; the missing, mourned-for dead Tom Jones. Hasty explanations ensue. His father, overburdened with grief, had retired from business, and gone to Europe for a change <>f air and scene, a fact of which Byrnes was igno- rant, as he was not working that side of the case. CHAPTER X. TOM'S ADVENTURES. TOM, after falling asleep on the memorable night of his disappearance from the cabin of the " Saucy Sal," had been awakened towards day- break, by a recurrence of the bleeding at the nose, and not wishing to arouse his friends, had arisen from his bunk and 'staggered to the deck, 230 V1DOCQ. to the place where the blood spots had been noted. Losing his balance, while leaning over the taffrail in an effort to keep the flowing blood from staining the deck and side, he fell overboard ; and being an expert swimmer, and not wishing to occasion alarm, he allowed himself to drop into the water when he found he was falling, without causing a " splash," by offering no resistance to the impetus a trick he had learned in the gymnasium. When he rose from the water he struck out for a short swim, aware that the invigoration of the bath would be good for him in his condition. Enjoying the water and heedless under the influence of the liquor still controlling him, he swam further away from the craft than he thought, and got into the strong seaward current before he was aware of the fact ; a rip rap on the other side of the peninsula caused a variety of currents here, which was as strong and steady as diverse. The current that caught the struggling swimmer, bore directly seaward, and was and still is the dread of the navigators of the coast, as it seems to be a combination or succession of whirlpools that pass their victim from one to another until they hurl him out upon the bosom of the Atlantic Ocean. Tom's strength was not adequate in the TOM'S ADVENTURES. 231 battle with the swift rushing waters that really seemed to leap in their joy at securing him. He was hauled or tossed along, struggling to free himself from the intangible embrace of the whirlpool, as he did in his efforts to get back towards the craft, when he would summon his strength and call to his friends for assistance. He knew now that he would only waste his energies if he exerted his voice in calling for help, and he wisely conserved his strength for the demands to be made yet upon him by the angry but gleeful waters. The " Saucy Sal " receded rapidly from his vision though the day grew clearer every moment ; and the shore line fast faded into obscurity until finally lost in the horizon of the blue sky. Finally, quite exhausted and satisfied that further resistance was useless, he abandoned him- self to his fate. He hastily removed his coat, which had become cumbersome, and turned on his back and floated with the current which now again became steady in its outward rush. Fortunately the sea was quiet or rather placid for the waves are never quiet in their ceaseless activity, like a caged monster chafing under restraint and bidding defiance and he rode the water like a chip afloat. His experience as a swimmer served him now, and hf 1 reposed on the water refraining from 232 VIDOCQ. exertion, as he was beginning to feel quite exhausted. Suddenly his hand clutched a floating timber a light rafter, that had probably been lost at sea by some coaster-lumberman. He seized the timber, and taking his handker- chief from his neck he managed by " treading " to tie it like a flag at one end ; then again float- ing he placed the other end under his head, his weight bringing the white signal up several feet above the surface of the waves. He clutched the submerged end with one hand while his other was wound round the timber above his head, which was thus comfortably pillowed, while the signal was kept overhead. You may think that a pole cannot be held this way by a man floating ; but Tom's skill and courage demonstrated it is possible. He floated ; he rode the waves. His signal was sighted by a merchantman bound from Boston for Buenos Ayres. He was within hailing distance but the gurgle of the swift rushing waters prevented his hearing the mate's stentorian " Ship ahoy ! " Fortunately for him he shifted the position of his head on the timber or the mate might have concluded he was a corpse sent adrift, anchored to a signal, and have proceeded on his way without further inquiry, with a sailor's well- TOM'S ADVENTURES. 233 known disinclination to have anything to do with a corpse. The long boat was lowered without any dis- turbance of the ship's tack, and rowed towards him, the mate in charge. " It's alive a man," Tom heard a voice say, and then : " Steady now ! You're all right ! " And a pair of strong arms grasped him, set adrift the timber, and hauled him into the boat, which was immediately pointed to the bark. Tom was so much exhausted when lifted to the deck that he could not speak, but a glass of brandy restored him sufficiently to tell his story. Had it now been night the light of Montauk Point could have been seen with the naked eye far astern on a port tack to leeward, while the two flashing orbs of the Neversink Highlands would have been discovered on the starboard quarter, and possibly, too, the Barnegat Light off the starboard bow ; but now in the early morning light, with the rising sun just beginning to illumine the eastern horizon, these were not discernible except through the captain's glass ; nothing was to be seen but waves all around, so far out at sea were they ; all else was sky. Of course communication with the shore was out of the question, the ship could not turn from her course. The captain told Tom than he would send him 294 VIDOCQ. ashore in the long boat at Montevideo, as he did not suppose he would care to remain on board the trip up the river to port Buenos Ayres, and that as he had only some small change in his pocket he must work his passage by assisting the cook as a waiter, as he did not think that he would be equal to deck work. The captain agreed to signal and if possible, put him aboard the first homebound steamer or vessel they should meet. The captain took a fancy to Tom and made him as comfortable as he could, while insisting as a matter of justice to the underwriters that he should work his passage. Tom, while fully realizing his position and the anguish and sorrow of those he left behind in consequence of his mysterious and unaccountable disappearance, could not prevent his happy-go- lucky temperament from reasserting itself and deciding him that no good could come from worrying over what could not be helped, and he consequently made the best of circumstances to the degree that he really enjoyed the voyage. Of course lie never for a moment imagined the predicament his mysterious disappearance had entailed on his friends, but supposed they could account for his absence by the fact that he had fallen overboard and been carried to sea, and rescued as he had been. Having been rescued the thought that he TOM'S ADVENTURES. 2\ft might be mourned for as one dead never occurred to him, under the circumstances. The idea that his comrades had been charged with his murder, arrested and tried would have driven him almost crazy. For several days he hoped to sight some home- bound steamer or ship, but none came along on the expanse of sea in the captain s glass, which Tom always had to his eye in the daylight hours when that worthy was not using it. One of the line of steamers at this time plying between Buenos Ayres and New York, passed in the night time off the Florida reef, and so was not signalled. Favored by a smooth sea and propitious winds the good ship bowled along, day after day under a cloud of canvas. Finally one morning they arrived at the mouth of the Platte River, off the town of Montevideo, which the captain told Tom was touched by Commodore Garrison's line of steamers to New York (since discontinued in consequence of the non-progressive policy of our government con- cerning commerce and shipping). Tom decided he should like to be put ashore, and he was sent in the long boat. During the voyage he had grown a beard an inch or more, and his hair, usually kept close trimmed, was now sufficiently long to be a curly mass all over his head, and he was as swarthy a. 236 VIDOCQ. an Indian ; and the regular hours, healthy air and nourishing diet had increased his weight by twenty odd pounds. No one but an intimate acquaintance, to whom the voice would have been familiar would have recognized him, as he stepped ashore on the quay, with his worldly effects in the traditional handker- chief bundle of the sailor; and as the thought came to him'that he was a stranger in a strange land he was for the moment loth to leave his comrades, who had however, put back for the ship as soon as he jumped from the boat. The quaint old town, at the mouth of one of the noblest rivers of the world, would ordinarily have promised many attractions for him ; but his only thought now was the hope to get away as soon as possible. The first inquiry he made on landing was if there was telegraphic communication with New York, as he wished to inform his father and friends of his arrival as soon as possible ; but there was not, and he could consequently reach home as soon as a letter. His joy was boundless when he learned that the steamer, at the wharf near by, just down from Buenos Ayres, would leave that very day for New York. He secured passage on the steamer on telling his story and giving a draft on his father for the amount. mars ADVENTURE*. 237 The agent directed his attention to the follow- ing placard conspicuously posted on the bulletin in the office : INFORMATION WANTED. THOMAS JONES, of Brooklyn, L. I., N. Y., missing from the cat-boat " Saucy Sal," off Smith's Point, Connecticut, U. S. A., on the night of July loth, 187-. Age, 22 ; five feet in height, slender and athletic ; black hair, black eyes, black moustache. Beard of quick growth, show- ing blue on skin after shaving. Has a scar on scalp above right ear ; large vaccination scar one inch long on left arm ; little finger, left hand crooked from an injury. Disappeared from boat during night. Supposed to have fallen over- board. If remains discovered by some vessel communicate particulars to establish identity. THOMAS BYRNES, Detective Bureau, Police Headquarters, N. Y. City. MANQUE! RENSEIGNEMENTS DESEREE. ON demande des renseignements sive Thomas Jones, domicili a Brooklyn, L. I., N. Y, 238 VIDOCQ. dispooiu du voilier " Suney Sal," au large de "Smith's Point," Connecticut, Etats Unis d'Amerique, pendat la unit du 10 Juillet, 187-. Age 22 ans, hauteur 5 pieds, stature elancee et solide ; cheveux noirs, yeux noirs, moustache noire. Barbe poussant rapidement laissant une ternte ble- uatre a la peau quand rasee de frais. A unec icat- rice a la tete audessus de 1'oreille gauche, grande marque de vaccin d'un ponce de long au bras gauche ; le petit doigt de la main gauche est crochu a la suite d'une blessure. Disparu du bateau pendant la unit, suppose etre tombe a la mer. Si le corps est trouve" par quelque Cateau communiquez details pour etablir identite a THOMAS BYRNES, Bureau de la police secrete, Depot central de la Police ou a la Prefecture de Police, New York. VERSCHWUNDEtf. AUSKUNFT WIRD ERBETEN UBER THOMAS JONE3 aus Brooklyn und Long Island im Staate New York, wird vom Katschiff " Saucy Sal " aus Smith's Point im Staate Connecticut, Vereinigte Staaten von Nord Amerika, seit der Nacht von loten Juli, 187-, vermist. Alter zwei und zwanzig Jahre, Hohe fiinf Fuss schlank und kraftig, Haar schwarz, Augen schwarz, Schnurrbart schwarz. Bart schnell TOM '8 ADVENTUHES. 239 wachsend, leuchtet blau auf der Haut nach dem Rasiren. Er hat eine Narbe am Kopfe iiber dem rechten Ohr, eine. grose Schrammc, un- gefahr ein Zoll lang, auf dem linken Arm von der Impfung, und der kleine Finger der linken Hand ist verkriippelt von einer Verletzung. Er verschwand von dem Schiff wahrend der Nacht, und nimmt man an dass er iiber Bord gefallen ist. Wenn der Korper oder Kleidungsstucke, etc., von irgend einem Schiffe aufgefunden werden sollten, so bitte dies gefalligst sofort behufs Feststellung der Thatsachen hierher mitzutheilen. THOMAS BYRNES, Detective Bureau. Polizei Hauptquartier, New York City. The clerk, a native, in the office did not furnish him any further information, but the purser of the steamer, a New Yorker, told him all about reading in the papers the sensation his dis- appearance had caused, and swift as the steamer was, she was all too slow for him. He counted the hours as they brought him nearer home, confident that the Providence which had favored him so far, would land him in time to rescue his friends from their peril, now more imminent than ever his own had been when he was at the mercy of the merciless and unsympa- thetic waves. 240 VIUOCQ. CHAPTER XI. BYRNES' WORK. BYRNES, after his investigations about the locale of the tragedy, advised the lawyers to prolong the trial as far as possible, as he was satisfied that time only would fathom the mystery attending the disappearance of the unfortunate young man, under such peculiar circumstances. He returned to headquarters in New York City, to continue his part of the work, from the cen- tripetal of the great web of the detective system. His plan, if he can be said to have a plan when he facilely adapts himself to all circumstances or cases by applying his experience his plan is to ascertain all the facts in a case and then formu- late his theory, not to theorize (as so many do) on supposition or hypothesis or former experience ; to change his views if new facts come up to upset his ideas: but in no event ever to give up a prosecution until it is finished, however vexatious the delays or disappointing the clues ; although, because he is silent on the subject often his aids and clients think he has abandoned a case until he surprises them by action that unravels the mystery or brings to the bar of Justice the culprits. He has been known to work in silence and secrecy for years on a case. Napoleon did not evince more tenacity of purpose than he. BYKNES'S WORK. 241 He did not believe that Moore and Bagley had murdered their friend, as all the facts indicated and as the majority of people believed, because in that event the body surely after a few days would have been found somewhere on the neigh- boring coast washed ashore by the tides even if carried seaward by the current, or by the sound- ings taken in all directions if strapped to the missing anchor. It is needless to say that the innocent and courageous bearing of the young men made no impression on him, for in his experience many of the most horrible tragedies had been committed by inexperienced persons who evinced the cool- ness and courage of injured innocence, while often the innocent person exhibits the signs of guilt in their alarm. The hardened criminal, with the knowledge v and experience of the penalty of crime, is apt to be more demoralized on discovery than the novice yet to serve sentence. Byrnes made diligent inquiries to ascertain if any debts or a liason might cause Tom to wish to disappear the only significance the allusion to his disappearance in Tom's letter to his sweet- heart had to him was the suggestion that the writer might be complicated some way with some other woman. No facts were elicited to establish this theory and it was abandoned. Byrnes became convinced that no crime had been committed. His theory, which all the facts 243 VIDOCQ. bore out, was that Tom had fallen overboard and been carried out to sea by the current. Whether he had been picked up by some passing craft or succumbed to the fury of the waves, time could only tell. He issued the placard which Tom had read at Montevideo, and had it sent to various ports, in all parts of the world. He had subordinates located at the Quarantine Stations on Staten Island and Hell Gate, and every incoming craft was inspected ; but when days and weeks passed without any information of the missing man he was almost ready to con- clude that he had died on the sea from exhaus- tion. The case, under the circumstances, seemed to him almost hopeless, and it was inevitable that the young prisoners should be adjudged guilty, convicted by circumstantial evidence. Suppose that we now follow Byrnes from the dock after letting Tom go on his way re- joicing. He went immediately to Mr. Bagley's office and communicated the joyful intelligence to that gentleman of Tom's return. " My theory was correct," he said to Mr. Bagley, "that the missing man would reap- pear." Together they went to Mr. Jones's residence, reaching there soon after Tom himself. As speedily as the electric wires can convey the BYliNES>8 WORK. words the intelligence of Tom's return is sent to the prisoners ; and the next train bears him and Bagley, senior, (who got Byrnes to communicate- the joyful news to Moore), to the town ; and Tom's appearance in propria persona late that night caused their release the next day. Already the outlines of the gallows had loomed up in the prison-yard, and in twenty-eight hours the sen- tence of the court would have been executed. One morning, however, he was surprised and delighted if one so characteristically imperturb- able ever evinces any emotion by receiving a telegram from his pal at the Quarantine Station and Staten Island that the "party" was aboard the steamer. As we know he met him. The story of Tom's return and the almost miraculous rescue of the condemned men from the gallows was as attractive to the reporters as that of his disappearance and their trial, and the papers for several days contained sensational accounts. But one event, which now soon occurred, the parties contrived with Byrnes' assistance, to keep from the gossiping public. That need I tell you ? was the marriage of Miss Depew and Tom, which was solemnized as soon as Tom's father could be brought back from Europe. And two of the stanchest and most devoted friends of the Inspector are Tom and his wife, who, living 244 VIDOCQ. in the interior of the state, never visit this city without paying their respects to the VlDOCQ OF NEW YORK in the marble edifice on Mulberry Street THE END. BOOKS OF HIGH MERIT AND THAT EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT. THE ORIGINAL MR. JACOBS; paper, 50 cents. THE AMERICAN JEW; paper, 50 cents. JUDAS ISCARIOT; paper, 50 cents. A FAIR CALIFORNIAN; paper, 50 cents. A MODERN DON JUAN; paper, 50 cent*. RYLLIS DARKE; paper, 25 cents. DR. PHILLIPS i paper, 25 cents. MINON; paper, 25 cents. HER SACRIFICE ; paper, 25 cents. A FALSE CONCEPTION; paper, 50 cents. HIS DOUBLE LIFE; paper, 50 cents. MISLED; paper, 25 cents. BASIL MORTON'S TRANSGRESSION; paper, 50 cents. MIKE FLETCHER; paper, 50 cents. UNSATISFIED; paper, 50 cents. ANGEL OR DEVIL; paper, 50 cents. MY STRANGE PATIENT; paper, 25 cents. NEW STORIES, by De Maupassant ; paper, 50 cents. MARRIED BY PROXY; paper, 25 cents. THE PREACHERS; paper, 50 cents. APPLES OF EDEN; paper, 25 cents. TEMPTED; paper, 25 cents. SOCIAL LEPERS; paper, 50 cents. A PHENOMENAL IDENTITY; paper, 25 cents. THE VIDOCQ OF NEW YORK; paper, 50 cents. THE WAY TO THE HEART; paper, 25 cents. FAMOUS NOVELS BY GREAT MEN; paper, 50 cents. THE BANKER'S SECRETARY; paper, 25 cents. A BALL NIGHT; paper, 25 cents. HIS LAST PASSION ; paper, 25 cents. THE DEMON ENGINE ; paper, 25 cents. THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE ; paper, 50 cents. ESCAPED; paper, 25 cents. IN SEARCH OF OPPORTUNITIES ; paper, 25 cents. ALMOST PERSUADED; paper, 50 cents. JUSTIFIED ; paper, 50 cents. Jfcr ml* wvywhw, or will be sent, prepaid, on receipt of prict. THE MINERVA PUBLISHING COMPANY, Ploe. A 000 145 841 3