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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1890-4-18, Page 7Ana, 18, 1890, TH EIR SSELS PQST RR DIMOND fffirlMli FROM THE DIARY OF A LAWYER AND THE BOOK OF A REPORTER. By E3ARCLAY NORTH. Copyrighted, 1889, by 0, M. Dunham. Published by Spe- ll els] Arrangement through the American Press Association. t, -1. eoe Le. a- e give him all the information he can an CHAPTER XII. Dronelee, bub could not be brought to the to extract as much as possible. Tho old Two VISITORS woo INCREASE VIE 227is very shrewd." TEREST. -as i apprehended, my visit is futile; "Do so at once. And now I must go but I have satisfied myself on the poi°t. after my new suit of clothes." OLBROOK had It only remains for me to beg your par- "You will come for those buttons to- morrow e "Yes. This thing is getting thick. Yesterday we panted for a single bit of daylight; today we have an entharraes- or num , - "To bo sure! To be ourel Don't you see that thee° coincidences have an im- portant bearing upon the tritirder—that you poet aa opportunity to get hold of a taring which may lead ue straight to the result?" • "Oh, I don't believe Wessing, knows anything of the affair." the old man tharply. "How long ago?" "My dear fellow, everything is guesa There was gr,nt terz.rne.is In hie man - work, but every line must bo examined, nor and tone. How could you let Weesing slip through "Within itmonth, I should imagine." Your fingers so?" "Two, you Bay? What Were their easily enough regained. 1 oan names?" thie was demanded almost get his address from the police authori- fiercely, "Mea or women'?" ties, and he will unburden himself to the "Pardon me," said Holbrook coldly, old clerk, George Dolwell. I'll tell you "you demand the names and laureate what I'll do, I'll telegraph 1/olwell to tion as if I were compelled to give them." The old man glared at hiin savagely, but Holbrook eentinued calmly: "However, as a matter of fact, 1 can not recollect the names. The inquiries made little or no impression on me, and I answered them as I have answered you, It is only now when yon come—a third — with practically the bailie in- quiries, that ray curiosity im excited. Th,•v were both men," he added. *lemon naa Been a vantea and prom - able client." "Yee, I premium rm."' "Pardon me," said Holbrook, "may I ask the reason or this inquiry? Twice before by different 'sowo I have had these inquiries elude?" "By Like differentpersons?" spoke up not been in his don for having taken so much of your office long the valuable time," next morning be/ Flo passed out Tom came from his Lore Tom made his appearance, so bright and chipper as to ex- cite Holbrook's envy, for be felt stale and nerv- ous, "1 stupidly let you go off lust night with that piece of cloth in your pocket,"said .1 Tom, "and there- by have lost it good half day," "That's so," replied Holbrook, pro - diming it "Here it is." Tom took it, and as ho did so he said: "My shadow turned up bright and early this morning with information of Fountain." "Well." "Not very much. He is a physician who doesn't practice. Member of the Union club and the Lambs, at which he spends most of his time when he is not he disappeared. practicing athletics and visiting the wo- Wessing was soon shown in. After men. Lives in apartments in Thirty- some insignificant conversation touching fourth street, I've got the number; visits the murder ana the nature to cnscover the Witherspoon frequently and other the perpetrator. Wessing opened his families in the same set. Is supposed to have enough money to support him as an elegant man of leisure, but not enough for extravagances; Is seen at the theatres and the opera in the season frequently, and has a chere ainie in Fifth street; has no horsee, drinks sparingly, • breakfasts where lie pleases, and dines at the Union club, when ho doesn't dine on invitation. Keeps a man, who has been very useful to my Shadow." "But who is he? Who's his father?" "Shadow hadn't got that. so I trotted him out again. I think that is probably a cut above him and that I will have to pursue the inquiry myself. But I must be off." Ho was about to step to the door when the messenger entered and handed a card to Holbrook. "Tho devil!" said Holbrook. "Does lie visit you frequently?" inno- cently inquired Tom. "Let me retire, if you please. before he enters." "Held on. Stop here, boy." He hand- ed the card to Tom, who read: concealment. "There is another point made," said ment,e Tom He dierippeared, and Holbrook lost "I don't see it" himself m thought. "We want to know something. as to his connections, don't wo?" CHAPTER XIII. "Yes." THE INTEREST IFI CONSIDERABLY "Well, hero is one. We can work e . ilEtellenseitll. along the Pierson lino to a result peed- OLBROOK'S bly. But I must go." reverie, however, "Not before 1 tell you of a little matter w as 8 0 0 n die - which occurred last night after I left Imbed. yam" The messenger Lie recited Inc experience of the night came in with im- previints after he had left Tom. other eard, He "It is nothing," replied Tom. "Tie read, "Mr. Geo. mistook you for some one else." Parker." "That is the conclusion I came to." "I have an un - Tom went to the door and partially usual run of call - opened it, Ile drew back quickly. 11(8 today," said "I say, Holbrook, there is Wessing outside inquiring for you—the fellow Holbrook, "and who saw the murder."among them un - 11 n 0 1 a c 1 i en t "We are in for surprises today!" less this is one. "I'll get behind the scenes again," and Show him in." Thisay Foam°. roaarnai, 1120 E. UM Street. "You recollect, Mr. Holbrook, that at the time I was detained as a witness 7 Lie smiled as he advanced and said: "Wo both of us seemed to have re- ceived a shook of surprise." Holbrook assented, "I confess to the shock on my side." "I hardly expected to see you so soon again, or to find in Dlr. Holbrook the gentlenum I met last night." The door open- ed. Holbrook was startled, and be- trayed his surprise. Well he might. It was his old gentle- man of the night previous, who was not less surprised than Holbrook. declined to give my business in Now York?" "Perfectly well." "Well, I did give it subsequently when I found the concealment was subjecting me to suspicion. Briefly it was this: My mother had reason to believe that "The devil!" saict Tom. "Pardou me. I remarked that myself." "This is following things up." "Tom, get behind that screen and hear what he has to say." Tom concealed himself behind the screen where Holbrook% typewriter usu- ally did her work. "Show the gentleman in." Fountain entered with an easy and polite air. "Mr. Holbrook, I assume?" "At your service, Mr, Fountain." "My call upon you, Mr, Holbrook, I apprehend is almost futile, but as I am engaged upon an enterprise somewhat clouded and intricate, I feel as if' ought leave no effort unmade, however improb- able." Holbrook bow -ed. "If I have not been misinformed," con- tinued Fountain, "you were in partner- ship with the late Judge Harkner?" "Until the day of his death," replied Holbrook, "And for several years previous?" "Yes, from the day I was admitted to practice. The partnership lasted five years. The judge has been dead nearly four." "My information was correct, then. The judge had for a client one Charles Pierson?" "Not during uly connection with him." "Indeed! I supposed the relation be- tween Mr. Pierson and Judge Harkner, ' as counsel and client; continued until the death of the judge." "No. You are misinformed. When I entered the office of Judge Harkner to read law, all relations between them'had ceased mid the affairs were being closed "The affairs of Mr. Pierson wore ex- tensive?" "I have so heard from Judge Plarkner. They bad had a difference in respect of some matter, I never heard what, and quarreled bitterly—the relations were abreptly terminated. The judge would she was closely related to a gentleman Holbrook bowed courteously for an - who had died in this city some time ewer and determined that he would hold previously, leaving a largo property and perfect control of hinaself. no heirs or will. She imagined she was an heir, if not the sole heir. I have now been closely following the matter, and while I did not take much stock in the idea at first, I have come to regard it more favorably. The man's name was c'I followed you last evening, Mr. Hol- brook." "I was aware of that," replied Hol- brook with a smile. "I did not suppose you were," said the old gentleman laughingly; "I must have Charles Pierson." done my work badly. Let me say, how - Holbrook started violently, knocking ever, right here that I was mistaken in a book from his desk and thus covering the person. You resemble the one I slip- up a noise behind the screen which posed I was following so much in build might otherwise have been heard. and manner that not until I had resorted "Bless my soul!" said Holbrook, "that le strange.' "What is strange?" Holbrook controlled himself. "Why,Mr. Pierson used to bo a client of this office." "Precisely, and that is the reason why ! them. I am here. I want to inquire if you can ' The old man mused a while and Hol - shed any light upon certain subjects, brook studied his face. The more he and whether any papers relating to kfx, studied it the less he liked iL There Pierson or his business are in your was blended weakness and strength in it hands." and the want of those strong, rugged "I shall have to disappoint you," re- lines which gave character to!! old plied Holbrook. "Mr. Pierson's rela- age. The lines began strong)) but time with this office as a client ceased seemed to run into nothing, leaving an before I became connected with it. impression of shiftiness. The eyes were Judge Harkner and he quarreled very cunning, not frank, though there was bitterly; over what I never knew, He unquestionably an assumption of frank' was careful to send everything to Pier- ness in his manner. son, arid I don't know who was his law. At length he spoke. yer subsequently. The great amount of "In passing the Casino theatre I saw business ho brought into the office was a you turn a corner with agentleman, and tradition when 1 came in. However, I leaped to the conclusion that you were there is an old man who was a clerk in a person for whom 1 have been looking this office for many years—confidential these two years—a man from Chicago— clerk, and who is now retired because of 1 to find whotu I would give half .of all I age. He lives on Long Island, a short am worth or expect, to be worth." distance back of Brooklyn. I advise • An angry look leaped into his eyes, you to call upon him: I will give you a 'while vindictiveness '.vas plainly ap- lme to him. doting upon the impulse of the mo- ment he wrote an introduction. Wessing took the note and went away, after promising to call upon Holbrook again. olcl story of deep wrong and injury, and As soon as he was out of' the door Tone is not what I came to sbe you about. I came forth. believe, Mr. Holbrook, you were a part - "You infernal assl" cried Tom, "what me ef the bate under the heavens did you shove him i Holbrook could' hardly repress a start, out in that way for?" He wondered if this was also an inquiry Holbrook's face fell. . after Pitmen's papers. "See here, Bryan, there is a limit to "Yes," ho replied simply; firmly de - the things you may say to me." ! terniined that he would show no emo- "I beg your pardon, Holbrook; I Id tion whatever questions might be asked my feelings master me. But what pos- him. sensed you to shut him off that way, He "May 7 ask when that partnership be- eves disposed to talk." , gan?" "Well, principally because you were 1 "Yes, it was eight years ago the first behind the screen." Of last January," "'What of that?"' , "All, nearly nine years ago." The old "Web, the same circumstances do not man pondered a short; time. surround Wessing as do surround nun- "Was Mr. Charles Pierson a client of tain—the same stispicions—ancl I didn't the judge's at that time?" want him to become confidential when Holbrook was prepared. for this gum - he thought he was talking to a reputable Hon, yet it was with difficulty ho could ounsolor alone." repress his surprise. "But doesn't this queer state of things He replied promptly: the con» never speak of the reason.. strike you? See here. Wo suspect nection ceased through a quarrel before "Alt, then there is no hope that any Fountain of Tompleton's inurdere- I came as a student to the judge three papers belonging to Mr. Pierson may slightly, to be sure—but suspect hinee years previous." have remained in the hands of the judge He comes to see you inquiring for Pier- I "Hum." Thooldmau pondered. again. Or his auccessor."son's papers. Wessing sees that muecler.I "What lawyer succeeded the Judge 1;11`'J1°110lae.0 wa„ '' and he comes inquiring about Pierson's With Mr. Pierson?" scrupulous in returnhig every scrap of papers. What conneetion is there?" I "1 don't know, The judge would ser paper and oven Memoranda to Mr, Pie 27 "I saw all that and recollect what yon 1 little about the matter. 1 know of it to a little ruse to got a fair look at your face was I aware of my mistake. I hope you will accept ray apologies for any an- noyance I may have given you." "None are needed. I became aware of your mistake. We are ell liable to • MI7 011 never went out tielywhere, Drought the I boy up well, 'edditialea' and then I died, just after bo was of age. Bver since he bas lived as WB 1.10W WM, all left him a mu., property. OttesS fruit' all era; hear 1;e bus about lived it up." "lima- did he get into tide well eet?" "Don't know, but guess through his sehoulniates." "Probably. Well, it isn't much, and what there makes him all the wore mysterious." At thio moment hie friend came. "Ileac., old boy," cried Tom, have a beer? No? In a hurry, hey? How soen will you be off?" "In about three holm," was the reply. "See here, old fellow, 1 want you to do me a favor, 1 waut the picture of a man taken on the sly," Hie friend was delighted to do it; would do it that very day if he could find the persou. Tom called the Shadow up and told him to take the gentleman to the most likely place where Fount:11a could ho found and taken unobserved. 'If you don't late him teday take him ' Buth 10011," repeated the old man, to -morrow, evidently puzzled and alarmed. "They Ile then. hurried, ta. As lie turned were not the Fame person eallingtwice?" into (lett hum -;tr."t he thought that he "Upon my word it would be hard for would net. b,se thee by trying the stores me to ree)llecti were it not for the fact in that thoreughfare, for it would be that they called the same day," and he quite unlikely that his man would come added under 1163 breath, "May I lip for- so far down town 118 Chatham street, given fur that lie. 1 recollect it," he "The Bowery, mid the upper part of it. continued, "because I was preparing a is Inv field," he said aloud, tuidwitlithese brief fur an important cause mud I was words he turned, crossed the street, and annoyed g the interruptions. I presume climbed up to the elevated railroad sta- they had reference—as I presume yours tion does—to some action before the courts in relation to his unclaimed property.' "I presume so," said the old man, (is- ing. "I am employed by a client to es- tablish a claim against the property. I am an attorney, I And it difficult to con- struct a chain of evidence. There is a missing link, which must be among the late Mr. Pierson's papers. am annoyed to find the possibility of a second can- to/is:7 t, when 1 supposed there was but "May I tisk who that one is?" "You will pardon me if I maintain that as a secret." Holbrook could only assent gracefully. The old man bade him good day and passed out. "Your story may be true, or it may not be; I am inclined to believe the lat- ter," said Holbrook aloud when he was alone. 110 119 the card again and read the name. He touched the bell which summoned his managing clerk, When that person entered he said: "Clark, do you know a lawyer by the name of George Parker?" "Yes, that was the man who just passed„lvii uout.”t you know about him?" "Not much, and what I do, not to his advantage. A rather shady character. Said to have been disbarred many years ago. But I imagine he has been restored. I'd fight very shy of him." ."He came for information which I couldn't, and therefore didn't, give him." "It was for no good, rn bet," replied the clerk as he left Holbrook, parent. "Do you not know his name?" asked Holbrook. "I know what it was two years ago. Not what'll is now. However, it is an son." "You are aware that Mr. Pierson died Without leaving a will?" "Yes, end was not surprised to heer it. I had heard Judge Harkner say mere then once that that wee what Sir Pier- son would do tte he had an tmeonmtera, have forgotten.' tulle 1 nom, 1 . • '. e "What?" "Wore all the papere of Mr. Pierson "That CO hose our suepicions of nun- retitl-eel to him?" Lain the -eh Flora A sligrove'e strange 1 "Every one, religiously, serupilloasly 1)0.0..1 ..1 that sho manifest's great . ---80 serupelouely as 1(1 rettutht, 08 1 said, mune ..st Wessing, threatening to 1 ft tradition in the (dame It was much I • while citinyirm knowledge ' talked ef when 1 eame in, beceese Mr, ble evereion to making one, althongh • , CHAPTER XIV. TOM PURSUES A CLEW WITH SUCCESS. HEN Tom Bry- ant 1021 Hol - brook's office ho sauntered up Broadway plan- ning his day's work, "By George r, he cried, slapping his thigh an d stopping short, much to the amusement o f passersby; "that is an idea, to be sure; rn be hanged if I don't try it." Now the idea which had struck Tom with so much force grew out of the fact that he had been bothered to 'mow how he could identify his man, after he had found where a suit Of clothes of the kind of cloth a sample of which he had in his pocket 'bad been purchased. While re- volving many' schemes in. his mind, he had seen in the windows of a store a number of photographic cameras for the use of amateurs. The thought flashed over his mind that he could have a picture taken • of Foun- tain, unknown to that gentleman. Toni had a friend engaged as a leader writhe on the paper 011 which ho was employed, who had been greatly taken by the amateur photographic craze, and who had become quito prolleientin mak- ing instantaneous nietawes Fired With this idea Toni pushed his way rapidly to Printing House square, and, dropping into a place which was at ono an eating house and a beer saloon, and where ho was in the habit of meet- ing his Shadow, summoned a messenger whom ho sent to his friend requesting to see him immediately. He looked about for his Shadow. He was there, deeply interested ia the study of the various advertisements of the rail- road lines hanging on the wane, with a. sandwich iti ouo hand, as mug of beer in the other, and olio eye on Tom, Seeing Tom nod to him, he walked C'711'oll," Hata Tom, "what news?" "Our num"—it was one of the peen- lhuities oC the Shadow that he never mentioned a mime unless directly Med for it—"Our inan had a father once, but holes been deed almost; ne many emirs ati our man has lived." "In other Words," said Tom, "the father died when the son wei young." 01.a..Nnylaet was to baby not; two )o01; "Who brought him up?" stifle mother: She livotl with hill, up Piltuton eountr. vontintr tut, Anteing at the Houston Street station he descended to the street. Standing a moment, he said: work up to Cooper Institute on this side and then down on the other." He put his project into effect at once. It is no purpose of our story to tell in detail his search. Suffice it to say, his experiences were commonplace, consist- ing of entering a store, producing the slip of cloth and asking if they had a suit of clothes of that material. When urged to buy others equally as good axid of the same quality—as he invariably wae—his answer was that he wanted the suit as a sort of uniform. Wearily he traversed both sides of the thoroughfare between Houston street and the Cooper institute, aud, indeed all that part of the Bowery on the east side as far down as Chatham spare. About half way up on the west side lie entered a store and preferred his re- quest as usual. The clerk waiting on him extunined the piece carefully. "No," he said, "we have no cloth of that kind, but," and ho hesitated, much to Tom's impatience. "I think if you will go down into Fulton street you will find it. A dealer bought all there was in the market of this kind. I have a brother employed there, arid if I am not mis- taken this is the kind of cloth." Tom took the address and the name of the man's brother. Arriving at this store he inquired for the clerk whose name he had obtained; he produced his piece of cloth and asked to look at the suits. The clerk smiled and said: "Another of the U. S. T.'s, hey?" Tom did not know whatthe U. S. T.'s were, but be assented. The clerk was very chatty. As he laid out the suits he said: "We laughed when the 'boss' bought all there was of this cloth in the market, and thought he would make a mess of it; but he knew what he was about, after all." "Evidently," said Tom, encouragingly. "Let me get your waist measure. Yes, these pants will fit you. The very first day we got them on the counter your committee came in, looked over the stock and lit on this lot. 'They'll be just the thing for our clam bake,' said they." "01.1, it's a clam hake I am going on, is it?" thought Tom. "Let me take your cheat measure. Here's the coat. Yon will have a fine day to -morrow from the looks of today." Tom assented. "They gave an order for a hundred suits right down. Since then twenty-eight have come in. Yon make the twenty- ninth. I suppose there'll be more in before we close to-night—that is, if you have got more than one hundred and twenty-nine members. We will work the stock off pretty well." Tom now had a basis for proceeding and tried to stop the flow of talk. "Have you sold the same clothes to any one else?" "Just one suit that I know didn't be- long to the U. S. T.'s." Tom. brightened MI "Wo ought to get on to him and make him go with us." "That's what you ought to do." "Can you recollect the sorb of fellow he was?" "Well, sir, that's pretty hard to do," "By thunder! 711 bot I know who it is, Tall fellow, elim, dark haired, dark eyes, handsome, swellish—kind o' a dud- ish fellow." "Well, that does kind oanswer to "Yes, by thunder! That's just like Itis pranks. Mon here, did he get a 51111 11 also too largo for bin), and didn'tbuy the vest?" "Well. no, 7 can't recollect that, and don't think—I know wo sold a vest with every suit. Yon see it would cost the same whether they took tiro vest or not." "If he was up to the game I think he WaS, it wouldn't make any clitTerence about the price. I my, Would yon rec- olleet his face if you saw a pluang;rapl; of hind" "T think it likely, sir." 'Whet. tilty,ditl you Hell it to him. van yen reconvene' "I no tell by 10011 ing at the Wee sliest 1 ,ls'.'a'.s kerb the elle " (1;0 811 00;110:12,811.) I 0-1 cp ei aoj q.-[ • '069T JO eouBIBEI 0 2 lip ni