The Brussels Post, 1890-2-7, Page 3Fji llilAkl1 7t. 1890,
HC Ul1Y1'OD :BIITYO
FOM THEDIARY OI A LAWYER AND THE NOT"
BOOK .OP A REPORTER.
By BARCLAY NORTH
Copyrighted, sa6e,
cial Arrangement through the American
CHAPTER.,
A rL+lil"OUAIAnon.. 2100 DOWN on vitt BLEs.
se HE cnterteinment on
the night of the visit
of our two friends
wan cosmic (mere, for
which the house is
fanhous, Tho ono oc-
cupying he boards
was highly popular, and though it was
midsummer the.hotise was crowded.
The audience, however, was not fur -
Malted by New York.
It was clearly made up of strangers to
the city.
Tom made this remark to liis compan-
ion as soon as they seated themselves.
"Did you ever know," asked Tom,
"that I was an actor once?"
"No."
"Feet. A very bad one. 1 began lifo
that way, bull discovered iu time that I
had not the qualities requisite for suc-
cess, and so after two seasons of starva-
tion I abandoned the sock and buskin
rind ecentunlly drifted into journaliseu.
That is u1y vocation."
Ile looked at his programme.
"Yes. 1 thought so," lie continued;
"you will see on the stage to -night a girl
1 was once engaged t5,"
"You cat her when you cut the pro-
fession?"
"No. she cut me—for a pair of dia-
mond earrings. I think that fact had
quite as nmoit ns anything else to do
with the realizing sense of my dramatic
deficiencies. Ab, hilt that was in the
long ago,"
The first act then demanded their at-
tention, and at its close Tom looked about
the house.
He directed the attention of Holbrook
to ono of the boxes.
"Is flint not Flora Ashgrove?"
Holbrook leveled his opera glasses at
the box painted out.
"Yea. No doubt of it, though her back
is turned to me. Who aro the others in
the box?"
"Let me havo the glasses," said Toni,
"I can not make them out, Three men
and another woman. 'They. sit in the
shadow. Stop, there is souse one coming
from the box. Oh, it's Dick Witherspoon,
her cousin, That's all right, he'll comp
back; ho is going out for a clove;"
"Somewhat strange to see 'the baud.
some i for a'at, 'th i
a 0atre at this time of
the year," Commented Holbrook.
"Yes, one would suppose she was at
Newport."
"She has been there, and came in on
some business with her uncle. Thebusf-
nese must have detained her."
"So it seems,"
"Situ must have been in the city at the
Hine of the funeral,"
"Whose?"
-- "Templeton's
"Weil, what of it?"
. "What of it? Why, elle didn't attend
it,"
"I shouldn't suppose she would."
"You forget, I told you that she said
she was a relative—a remote relative, of
'rennpleton,"
"True, so you did. It is strange, isn't
11?"
By this tune the curtain wart up p on
the second act, and attention was again t
concentrated on the stage, At its con
elusion the lady in the box changed her
seat so that ehe could look over the Fl
house. In time, as her eyes roamed over
Lilo orchestra circle, they 'encountered
those of Holbrook. She recognized him t
and bowed—somewhat ooldly, Holbrook
thought,
"Skkallyou go, and speak to her?" •
a
w
by O. M. Dunham. Published b7 Spe-
Press Association.
people 101111 n0Y,
"To what purpoeeT
"Oh, who can tell? I haven't auy rea-
son or purpose. Instinet tells me to do
something."
"Very well; we'll go,"
They left their seats, and Holbrook
was conscious that Flora watched them
steadily as they went up the aisle. Ile
mado sure of it at the door, when he
could do so without being observed.
Once upstairs they seated themselves
so that they could watch the elevator
without being seen.
"I do not know what. you are up te,"
complained Holbrook.
• Neither do I,' replied Torn with a
laugh. "Bat the story of your interview
1vi1h 'the handsome Flora' has made a
sleep impression. I went to become
returner with those about her, 'That's
all"
They lit cigars, stnoked and listened to
the music until the curtail finally fell,
"Now, tile{," said Tom, "in a few
minutes we'll know whether we have
deprived ours.lves of comfortable seats
during the third act for nothing,
Holbrook, who was in a bail limner,
replied:
"I'm sttro we diel, She won't go up
there; she would think it bad form."
"Bahl it's bad form, so her set would
say, to be seen at a theatre at this time
of year, especially in rho city."
"Hush," lie continued, "there shogoes
now," as the ,brightly lighted elevator
glided up, "Come, let uus go up. to,
wait until they have had time to be
seated."
They waited a moment or two, and
then ascended the atairs to the roof. At
fist they did not see the party, b0tecar0-
fully proceeding they came upon them
partially hid behind a large fir tree
planted in a tub. They came upon them
in such a manner that they were plainly
observed.
Tom dropped down into a chair at a
vacant table a short distance off, saying
as he did so, quite loudly, "Here, dol -
brook, here is a place."
Then, in a lower towel
"Holbrook, you inust go uver and pay
your respects, if nothing else. Let us
give our order to the waiter first; don't
look up yet. The party is a family party;
Old Witherspoon, his daughter and son,
tle'handsome Flora' and an old filo—
probably another relative,"
Holbrook nodded. and after having
given his older arose and crossed to the
party on the other side.
Saluting them, headcb•eee d himself to
Flora.
"I am surprised to find you in the city,
Miss Ashgrove."
"You find me disgusted," she replied.
"Unole is a tyrant about this business;
but we return to -morrow."
Her ]narmer "vas cold, even repellant,
and did not offer encouragement. Ile
was somhwhat embarrassed, and would
have felt awkward, if 1111, Witherspoon
had not asked him to' join them in thea
refreshments.
In declining on the scorn of having a
friend from whom ho had parted only to
pay Itis respects to them, he was enabled
not only to regain self possession, but to
recognize in the gentleman Tom had de-
scribed as "au old file," one of Now York's
first lawyers.
100.
y
Dyne means pleased r •f
y , p ens d r t1s Flora's m-
ention of hint, hecleternlinecltogive her
rap before parting from her.
Lowering his tone he said:
I:d1d not see yeti :at the' 'funeral of
yotlr relative.,", •• • - •
'Who?" the said, with lazy stu'prise.
"Templetoht—your remote relative,"
"01, slid I say he ly 15 .a reinote xeia-
lye?" This was said. vvttli ;lyhaughtineee
not 12nmixe'd with contempt, as she lab-,
mildly fanned herself. She did not deign
0 explain wheasho was absent.
Holbrook:. found himself growing rod
and angry, when to his surprise h0. saw
ora straighten up quickly, while an
aixfous, even frightened, expression
swept over hor face. She looked in•
entry behind him. '
Ino turned and saw a gentleman fash-
onably clad. Ile did not know ]lire.
He turned to Flora. ,Sbo was gazing
t him(I3olbrook). fixedly; there was a
orriod, inquiring expression in her
eyes; her color wile coming and going
tied her chest heaving, her mouth slight.
y open;
Apparently she paid little or 110 atten-
tion to the new, comer, ivho was greeting
the others of the group,
•1Tolbrook noticed the change in hor de•
meatier and was eurprieecl; so much so
that ho said bluntly 0,0ti. awkwardly: "I
bid you good night,, Miss Ashgrove," and
bowing to the o1hemr0turned to:Tom.,
"What passed between you?" asked
Tom,
"Nothing of any moment. She treated
the outrageously."
c
. a
,t
"No," said Holbrook. "I don't know
what people I may meet there." The
fact was, while hardly consclette of it,
ever since his interview fie had regarded
her with a sort of tepugnanco,
"I think you make a mistake."
"Perhaps, but I sha'n't go, all the
same"
"You mu8111'tdrop her acquaintance,"
"That may be, but L don't think hor
recognition was particularly encourag-
ing. Have you noticed that she has not
lookedour way Once since?"
Toon was not satisfied. Just' what
IIolbrook was to do when ho did see her,
ho could not have suggested: When
Holbrook added that in a small box,
with several about in dose proximity,
sine Was not likely to engage in a Don- 0
l dendei oOnvet;sation, ho was compelled m
toacquieace, Still he thought Holbrook
should 01111.010 her.
Finally he said,
"See' here,. Holbrook, You've seen
.this opera before, and only 0400 for tho
niesie; 'FVell, let ars go upstaiirs;, I7n-
cloubtedly that panty will go on the roof
atter the perfo.mantd, Wo can gocrp ti
there rind hear the musk: vis well lbs hero.
T would like to get tt nearer, view of the
Ho then gave Tom a literal statement
1 What hod passed, stave hor 0uri008
ann0r toward him at tho end.
He was abstracted, and did not hear
:hat Tom was saying, but stealthily
watched the group. .Ho could not fail
to notice the extreme nervousness iu
Flor'a's manner, and that she was urging
their doptn'tur*. It was quite evident
the rest w'10 comfortallly enjoying
mussel %sus and int disp0nrd to 10000.
3'innlh' flora said sonn•thing to the
THE 13.R,L1 SSE,LS POST
neweelner Jinn ne arose, $teppoo to iter
side and offered hie erne. BIM took
i and they walked toward the (rent on
the Broadway side and sat down out of
view.
• Holbrook followed thein with his eyes.
Suddenly ie slapped his hand on his
knee.
"By Jov0, mora, I've an idea,"
"Jot it down, my boy," said ills hm-
porturhable Tom; "sometimes they Ore
• valuable,"
„It's tL sttsp'leion,"
"Ah, diet is valuable, especially in the
euterprise we have entered upon,"
"Yes, beeJove—tall—slim—dark hair—
complexion—handsome profile—strnlght
nose, By Jove!"
"What the deuce 9011 you muttering
about?'
"Did you see that man lvho joined the
Witherspoon group while I was tallying
with Flora?"
"Yes, handsan1 fellow, V7ho Is he?
"I have a suspicion ho is the utter.
dererh. "
'"To devil!"
"No, the murderer."
"What makes you think sof"
"I dont drink; I suspect."
":111, a nice distinction. What ,names
you suspect?"
"Fon recollect that In my interview
with Motu she inquired particularly
about the than I San' running away, ask-
ing me whether lie was tall, slim and
dark eentp sinned.•'
"Very well."
"Well, this fellow answers to rho de-
SOriptiou."
"So he sloes. How slid they address
111111 when he came up?"
"I only beard them call him 'Harry.'"
"On intimate terms with the family,
then."
"That accounts for her curious manner
when he joined them," said Holbrook
musingly.
"What is that?"
Holbrook tlescribod how Flora con-
ducted herself.
"Thunder, the suspicion takes roan.
It is something to work upon,"
"Wo must learn who he is."
"That is easy; wait for me a minute."
Tom hastily disappeared in the direc-
tion of the elevator. Holbrook leaned
back, smoked his cigar, and pondered
on the situation. Tom joined him in a
short time, and said: "Coate with me to
the elevator."
They went off together. and then a
man stepped up to thein.
• Ile was a medituu sized, thin mass,
cheaply clavi. with sharp features and
small eye:;, •
'"This 15 my friend lir, Holbrook. Ho
will point out a man to you. We want
to know who he is, !tie name, residence,
haunts, bu8iness—all that you can find
out,"
"Very well," said the. man,
"Follow Ilolbrook."
The two entered and seated themselves
It. th point where they could observe the
Witherspoon group without being seen,
They Iia.t hardly seated themselves
when Flora and the man in Whom they
were so much interested joined her
friends aghtlil.
"That is the marc," said ilolbrook.
"The 0211' W110 has that handsome lady
int his n 1:t."
"Miss Ashgrove," said the man.
"Yes,,ycu know her, I see."
"Yes, and the man tan,?'
"Oh, let us go to 11r. i3ryan, thea,"
They wept out without being observed,
for Flora:; back was turned to thein.
They found Tofu at the elevator and event
down stairs.
"He knows him." saki 1lolbronk to
Tum when they were on the pavement.
"Who is he?" asked Tom.
"Mr, Fountain—Harry Fountain," .
"What is he?".
"Fashionable young man—member of
Union club." • '
"Where does he live?"
"That I don't know. I've told you all
I do know."
"Then Sind out ever thin - can
y gyou
about him. I sha'n't want to see you
until you bring mo the information,"
"It will be a short job."
"So much the better'," said Tom.
"Good -night,"
"Good -night, gentlemen."
"Come, Holbrook, let's go," said Torn,
"Who is that man?" asked Holbrook.
"Dry shadow,
• "'What do you mean by thatf'
"llxactly what I say. 1 employ ]elm
as a shadow, To finch out things—to f01-
low men --a spy, if you will."
"What do you do that for?"
"You aro not up to the nosy sledges, of
Modern journalism, He is always in
my employ."
The deuce! that's pleasant to hear,
How diel you happen to find him so
quickly when you wanted hien?"
"I whistled for him."
"PsllaOiI
"That's what I dill, When we dined
at Del's,he was somewhere outside; when
WO Were in tho theatre he was somewhere
outside, andhad I not sent him off now
he would have been somewhere outside
whatever I was until I ?vent to bed.' At
any time I had only to give the whistle
understood between us, and he would
have appeared,"
"So that's modern journalism, 10 id"
"011 110, only one of the recent up -
growths; I invented it."
"Well, Come down to the hotel and
lako a nightcap,"
"No, l'nt for bed, and my room is not
tar from here. I've a big day before me
to -morrow. I,nay tail upotl you in the
morning, flood -night."
"1)o; good -night,"
•
UHAPTEii XL
A ri1ORT 1:X'1%11141CM 00 nn0A.AwAY,
1)1,1314001
walked down
Broadway to
wear off the ex
citeulent tinder
which he telt be
0011:) laboring,
"Asan- hunting
Is as fascinating
•a sport as tiger -
Mintiest," bo said
t0 himself. "loot
that I :mow any.
thing of tiger.
hunting, but as 1
anppase it is. 1
wonder if we
have struck the
? > right track: At
all events it is n
beginn 1g 5.11,1 something definite to
work a Jan, How grateful :1.111110• Tem.
pleton mufti bei' wo ,vers to be success-
ful: W tat as netts Hight her face would
I !,
present tui ine.eutn 0 for any matt to
wotk.'
Thus musing he strode elf ngat a rapid
gait, fooling positive pl ?sure in the ex-
ercise. By and b3 he became conscious
that some one 100.8 Tullowmg 1um. Ile
crossed the street to determine this; the
per:.ou 110 suspected crossed also. Ile
slackened his pace; a 11.11, slim figure
passed him, and he thuU1311t he wile.
mistaken rs he saw IL disappear in the
darkness.
So be forged ahead, Shortly he found
the person was behind him again.
He was now approaching a fashionable
drinking saloon, and he determined to
stop there and see what his follower
would do.
Ile diel so, and met an acquaintance
with whom he went to the bar.
Inunediately the door opened and a
tall, slim man entered. It was the per-
son who had followed hin1.
IIolbroolc observed him slowly through
the glass behind the bar, while chatting
with his acquaintance.
The tail, slim man was by no means
young—evidently 60 or 63 years of age;
his hair was white, itis face well seamed
with wrinkles. He was clad in respect-
able black, and was upright in carriage.
Holbrook thought he might have been
the man Fountain disguised to follow
him, and t hen dismissed the idea as en
absurdity and attributed it to his heated
imagination.
A glance at the hand tho person laid
on the bar, which Holbrook could regard
at short range without turning, such was
his position, confirmed his idea of its ab-
surdity. IL w:ts unmistakably the hand
of an aged person; there could be no
"make up" in that.
Proseutly 1.110 old man dropped a piece
of money un the floor, As the stooped to
pick it up he struck Holbrook in the
back.
Convinced as he was that he had been
touched purposely, from an impulse be
could not restrain he turned.
The old man apologized 111 most emu,
teous
ur-
teous terms. hlis voice was pleasant, but
Holbrook felt ?tat the dark eyes of the
old man most keenly and rapidly sere -
ed his features.
However, he courteously responded to
his apologies and the old titan passed out
into the street.
"That was donut on purpose." said the
acquaintattee.
"I thought so too," replied Holbrook.
Toe barkeeper, who had overheard this
O=Mange, said;
"Ile rimed 1111' 10110 you were, sir."
• "W hat did you tell him?"
"Tinct I didn't know, ('hill) was 4110
tr11
Ilalth.blook went out. The old man
stood in the shadow of an uchjoiuiugd0or.
Holbrook leaped into a cab and told
thedrive 4o1rie t o the Hoffman house,
told then wntbhed from the window to
see if he wee followed.
Tho ldala n remained r:
o a a unci h telTulbtOol
had last Ston hint.
"I've spent ,t dollar mitt a half for
nothing," he said, "Tho probability is
that he mistook me for some ono else, •
and discovered his error in the drinking
place:" so the went on to his own hotel.
When he :teemed utero he went to the
desk for lett0re and cards that might
have been left him; he was told ,by the
clerk that a gentleman had called upon,
him during tho evening,but had refused
.to tell.either his name or leave a card.
saying .thae he was unknown to Mr. Hol,
brook, and would visit him et bis office
some time during the following day.
Inquiring what the man looked like,
110 W00 given a description which tallied
with that of the old man whom he had
eueouuteeed on Btoadway but an hour
previously.
To say he was alarmed would be to
say what Was not true, but them is no
question but that it Made hint uneasy.
He began to doubt the advisability of
the campaign upon which ho had enter-
ed, and into which be had been irresist-
ibly drawn.
.Now that ho bad taken a decisive step
in the direction of endeavoring to fasten
the responsibility of the murdor upon
one so near to Flora Ashgrove as the man
Fountain evidently was, he began to
wish he hadn't gone so far as to excite
Tom's suspicions in that direction. It
seemed a horrible tbingto do,
And so, disgusted with himself and
more disturbed than ho was willing to
ndmit, ho sought his cltembe'.
CHAPTER XiI,
TWO 018100115. wi10 A1101113,4SC
OLBItAQIC had
not heed in ,tie '
ernes long the
next ln0rning be-
fore Tom made
his 11i111earence,
sl) bright and
chipper us to ex.
cite liulbtook's
envy, for he 10l1 •
stale and nervi
one.
"I stupidly let
you go off last
night with that
pieoo of e10t13 in
your pocket,"said
Tom. "and there.
by have lost a good half day,"
"That's so," replied Holbrook. !1r'o•
clueing it. • "Here it is,"
'fom took it, and as he did so he said:
"3•Iy 141111110W turned o1 bright and
early this morning with information of
Fotmtain,"
"Well "
"Not very 113111.11. 1.1 ' 1:7 11 physician
lvhn ch.isn't pta^'tice. Member of the
Union club 0113 rho Lambs, at which Ile
spends most of his time when he is not
practicing athk'tics and visiting the we -
men, Lives in aita'tlnetlts in Thirty-
fourth street, I''o got the number; visits
the Witherepoons frequently and other l
families in the same set. Is supposed to
f
have enough looney tasupport hill) as tut
elegant 111:311 of leisure, but not enough
for extravagances; is seen at the theatres
n11d the opera in the season frequently,
and 1108 n there 110310 in fifth street; has
00 hnrse,s, drinks sparingly, breakfasts 1
where he pleeses, and dines at the Union
club, when he doesn't dine on invitation.
Keeps a man, who Inas been very useful
to my Shadow,"
"But who is 110? Who's his father?'
"Shadow hadn't gat that. so 1 trotted
him out again. 1 think that is probably
a cut above him and that I well hare to
pursue the inquiry myself, But I must
be ail."
Ile was about to step to the door when
the messenger entered and handed a ecu01
to Holbrook.
"Tlhedevil!" wilt Holbrook.
"Does he visit you frequently?" inno-
cently inquired Torn, "Let me retire, if
you please, before 110' enters."
"Held on, Stop here, boy." lie hand-
ed the card to Tom, who read:
0
1tr,. nese,: Nslonvc:: 1000110A117,
1100 13 :11111 01 1,00
"1,10 doP11!" sale '1am,
"Pardon me. I remarked that uiyself."
"This is following things up."
"Tom, get behind that screen and hear
what he has to say."
Tom concealed hituself behind tho
screen whore Ilolbrook's typewriter usu-
ally did her work.
"Show the gentleman In." �+`'�
Fountain entered with an easy andI GO
polite air.
"Mr. Holbrook, 1 assume?" go
"At your service, lir. Fountain." i y,
enl1 upon you, lir. Holbrook, 1 N�
apprehend is almost futile, but as I am
engaged union an enterprise somewhat
clouded 10(11 intricate. 1 fool as if I ought 1--1
iean'o no effort unmade, however improb-
able.'
Holbrook bowed.
"If I have not heal misinformed,"con-
tinued Fountain, "you were in partner-
ship with tholato Judge 13arkner?"
c' "5
0
"Until the day of his death," replied Iri
ilolbrook,
"And fur several years previous?"
"Yes, from tho day I was admitted to
practice, The partnership lasted five
cars, The 'alhas been dead nearly
y 1 .,ien
four.'
"My iltfor111ittiait was (0010001,' then.
1110'Theill,hye had for t client one Charles
Pierson
Not during m) connection with 1elm."
"Indeed! I supposed the relation be-
tween 11Ir. Pierson and Judge Hakner,
as couusel aud client, continued until the
death of the judge,"
"No. You are misinformed. When 1
entered the office of Judge Harkner to
regal law, all relations between them had
ceased end the affairs were being closed
up."
"Tho affairs of Air. Pierson were ex-
tensive?"
"I have so head from Judge Harknor.
They had had a difference in respect of
801110 matter, I clever Beard what, and
quarreled bitterly—trio relations wore
abruptly terminated. Tho judge would
never speak of the reason."
"Ali, then there is no hope that any
papers belonging to Mr. Platen • may
have'remained in the' hauds'of fho'judge
or his successor."
vi.4-V y, UMW tltl ,tUl%a1.' Wa
scrupulous In returning every scrap of
paper and oven memoranda to Mr. Pier.
son,"
"You are aware that Mr. Pierson died
without leaving a will?"
"Yes, and was not surprised tie hear it.
I had heard Judge Hurkner say more
than ones that that tves'what lir, Pier-
son would da, as he had, an tincongtiera-
hie aversion to malting one, although
frogently urged to do so, IIo -would
m•omise, but could net be brought to the
(afrii.7
(ro' 111 00(00 0081.)
Mr. Norqutty, the (Jo, 0000011;'l 00,
Was olooted for .Iiildonau Ulf iilttnr•
, ?lay for the )1,twtoba IL+gislatorm,
and his opponent, )[r. l'nylor, will
jlmct lei:, deposit.
'the 8(1, 1'nttl, \finueapuils 111 illani "
i robs l(ailwey caked to exist turder
that. name (11111 the eloro of Saler,
day's business, and hereafter will be
hnnwe. aside flreat Nnrtht011 Rail.
way'
(11
0
Q
14.6.14