HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1890-5-2, Page 7MAY , 2, 1890,
J H•E..
Gid USS.K La' POST
He UIMONU BIIYTON
FROM THE DIARY OF A LAWYER AND THE NOV.!'
ROOK OF A REPORTER.
By BARCLAY NORTH.
Copyrighted, x889,
Dial Arrangement through the American
"Oh, do skip the details, for heaven's
sake!" cried Holbrook,
'You seem to. be nervous this morn-
ing," rejoined Tom, who, between a do -
sire to tease Holbrook and an intense
relish in his own tale, was Indulging his
vein of graphio recital. "Well, 1 saw
the Ashgrove girl waiting for him, saw
her greet hint, and then. sit down and
wait for hila while ho entered the house,
Shortly he came out again, and 1 had an
opportunity to get close up to the veran-
da out of sight, on the pretext or trim-
ming some vines, Then there began the
most extraordinary conversation,'
,'Poul dere detmled that sere a upon the
veranda, of which the reader is fully in -
informed. Daring its recital Tom was
not interrupted; Ilelbrook was too anx-
ious and ineerested to lose a word.
When he had finished ilolbrook said;
'That settles it. Fountain untain is the man."
"I thing: there is no doubt of it," re-
plied Tom.
"None in the lease What power of
self possession' Of course he realized
thoroughly what she was driving at."
"Of course," said Toni, "hut he is sure
of her love, and does nut propose to ad-
mit it even to her,"
"It is only snob a firm, determined,
Gold blooded kind of a person who could
commit oo deliberate and cold blooded a
murder."
,Prue, but I think his exhibition of
firmness and self possession at the club
was even greater than on the veranda."
"How?"
"Why, on the veranda ho was surd of
the girl, ho could depend on her love for
him; but in the club ah intimation that
he was the murderer, backed by proof or
strong suspicion, would have wade each
man there an enemy."
"True," commented ilolbrook. "But
Flora! Ilow that girl does level Itis a
wild, unreasoning, an all pervading love
—a love sacrificing everything. I could
not have believed it of her. •
"Coni., tell me," said Tom. "of your
duingo since I've been gum."
CHAPTER XX.
TAS LAWYL'a CONSTRUCTS A THEORY.
ROM IIolbrook's
recital it appeared
little had been
done in the way
of shedding light
on the dark
places, He bad
Wiled for letters
of administration ;
for Mrs. Temple-
ton, and had re-
ceived thein. Ile
had tato' posses-
sion of the prop-
erty and papers
in her name. and
I ' with her permis-
he personal ea
had examined all t
P
feet,: of the deceased. He had found let-
tere in plenty, both at the office of Tem-
pleton and his boarding place, but none
that threw any light upon the motive of
the deer' or which even demanded in-
quiry.
The books and business papers were in
excellent and methodical shape. He
was curtain after closing everything up
and paying all outstanding obligations
he could turn over something above
thirty thousand dollars to be added to
the fortune of Mrs. Templeton. The
greater part of this money was tdready
iu government bonds deposited in a
safety vault.
The ladies were comfortably situated
in Lexington avenue, and he saw them
nearly nightly.
He had been over to see old George
Daiwa on Long Island, and had
with him as to Wessing's visit.
Little had come of that visit. Wessing.
had not been' by any moans communica-
tive, had adroitly, avoided direct answers
to direct questions, and had tried to draw
upon Dolwell for recollection of the pa-
pers of Pierson when in the office.
As these principally related to litiga-
tion over the collecting of business debts,
and the settling of partnership enterprises
and speculations, wholly commercial and
financial affairs. Dolw+ell's recollection
had interested Min little.
Ho had asked how much Pierson had
left, and Dolwell thought over two mil-
lions, His only significn.nt question was
thist
"':lad Mr, .bolweli reason to suppose
that Pierson had ever borne any other
115 me?"
"Ahl" cried Tom, "that is getting
warm. What was Doi well's reply?"
"No, upon tho contrary he had every
reason to believe he had not; the had first
known of Mr. Pierson twenty-five years
ago, and he then bore: Hutt uame, and
was ]known as a weldable merdlaet."
"This thing is very perplexing," re-
melted Tont thoughtfully, "I menet
make one the connectr`Ou. Wessing is
hero making inquiries with regard to
Marion's papers; Fountain makes the
same inquiry, mixt yet so far as 1 1! are
enabled to 5seerinin there ie no relation
between he hyo
Holbrook was Vaal ng 115 5011 down his
nnvrow 100111 10 profound thought, Leh
nu'Tly"be aa;iii:
"Tom, the cnsostands like this. Now,
follow mk:closely: Templeton is murdered
in the open streets and there is 110 110.
by 0. M. Dunhim, Published by Spe-
Press Association,
^--- .3 .3'e l.'1• 0(10 UL''ell ,.1,ewe-
5ta1ces, wholly arising from Flora Ash -
grove's manner and words, point the way
to suspicion of Fountain."
"Good, I follow yon,"
"As soon as we sot inquiry on foot we
rah against tits dead Pierson. Wessing
inquires for his papers, so does Fountnin."
"Yes, and so does Parker."
that is nothing; he is an attorney,
probably noting for one orother of them.
Don't interrupt me, you destroy the con-
tinuity of my thought. To get batik—so
does Veuntain. Now, in the talk be-
tween Flom and Fouutnin, overheard by
you, Otero are Gime peilits made—first.,
Fountain be an illegitiumate sen; second,
he 1, peptising. to eugaage upon an enter-
prise in the renewal; of width is in-
volved the expose: •e of, his illcgititnacy;
third, Providence has removed Temple-
ton from his path."
"Oh, Ila, I begin to see your drift."
"Now to weave these facts. Let us
make some suppositions. Suppose Pier-
son was ono of those leen who, having a
fair and reputable business exterior,
lived a double or.even triple private life.
This is not a wild supposition—there are
plenty of such instances; the records of
the courts aro frill of them. Now to pro-
ceed; Note that Wessing is making in-
quiries because—now mark—because his
mother—his mother, mark you, thinks
that Pierson is a relative, and if he is
then she is an heir."
"Good. I follow; I follow."
"Now, suppose Wessing should be a
son of Pierson's under another name,
that would account for los inquiries af-
ter Pierson's property in so guarded a
manner, wouldn't it?"
"Yes."
"And suppose, since Fountain ac-
knowledges that he is au illegitimate
son, he was another son of Pierson's by
another mother, that would account for
his inquiries,"
"Yes. but 1 don't follow you closely
now."
"And suppose that Pierson was an as-
sumed name in middle life to escape the
consequences of a devious way of living,
and that, Having had two illegitimate
sons, he had a third, a legitimate son,
whose mother he had abandoned, and
that son was Templeton—Templeton,
whom Providence had removed from
Fountain's path—that is to say, Provi-
denceknife'n
in the shape ofa shay 1
dente PP
the hands of harry Fountain."
"You take my breath away And
what 11ten?"
"Why, you have the motive for the
murder,"
"But how do you bring Wessing in?"
•'I don't bring 'him in; he is there only
from the fact that he inquires for Pier -
son's papers.'
"And that be was present at the mur-
der; don't forget that in your theoriz-
ing,"
g•
"I don't; it is nothing, a mere coinci- '
dente, but one of those curious joining
of lines and crossing of paths, which if
not carefully avoided confuse the judg-
ment and mislead you—which makes
truth always s0 much stranger than fic-
tion."
"Wessing would have the same mo-
tive for getting Templeton out of the
way?"
"But he didn't do the deed; and be-
sides, Wessing is not a man who would
pursue any point to death and who could
coo deliberate murder; a glance is suffi-
cient to determine that—he is weak. On
the contrary, Fountain would. We have
both agreed to that."
"But" said Toni, "is not your theory
fanciful? There is a great deal to sup-
pose. 1 admit that, so far as Fountain ,
is concerned. it is plausible." ,
"Only plausible above the rest because
you have certain ascertained fasts or.
statements of himself; and. Flora to rea-
son ulou Fountain is proposing to seek
a fortune; Pierson's fortune lies waiting
to be euughtl Fountain inquires hero
about Pierson's papers, and • admits to
Flora that 110 called upon nee in refer-
ened to that enterpriso. Flora is horror
stricken at the idea of his coming to nee,
who saw the murderer at d distance, and
who pretended to see more than 1 did,
These :re the connecting links which
make the reasoning seem plausible as to
Fountain. You seem to stumble over
the flee that there must have been some
knowledge of Wessing by Fountain, and
of Fountain by Wessing."
"I confess it."
"It is not necessary to the truth of my„
theory that they should not have knowl-
edge or that they should See hero;
Suppose Fountain did know of Wessing,
which 1 wholly doubt, and that lie was
an illegitimate son also, 1t would make
no difference in his enteeprise of killing
Templeton. 11 would b0 the legitimate
heir he would has a to be rid of before
be or any other Illegitimate heir coked
pretend to have a claim on the tiuclaimed
fort nae."
"There to as true rcasoufng in that.
But you have no basis for supposing
there wars any :ih11ndunMent of Temple -
ton's 'nether."
Holbrook 11.11 been pacing up and
down as he w•as thus t easoui11g. Upoe
Tool's r0111arlk he turned quickly around
and le inging hishands together with a
resound111g whnt.k he exclaimed!
"'ten. 'he That 0u,'11t.uo1 111:3. Te111-
pletol3 tote rue tkat her father bad lett
het 0xle Iles mother's death to the pal's of
on aunt. 1113(1 wee to Philadelphia.that
Subsequeuely to rumor of ids marriage
had rottehed titell, but was never veri-
fied. That was alter they had heard of
his death abroad,"
"The facts in title case come out slow-
ly," said Tom. "Tho litre of inquiry to
follow Is the Pierson line. Why not
push your inquiries with Aire. Temple-
ton? See if it is not possible to connect
the Templeton with Pier5oo,"
"I'll do it, and at once. You'll go
with me too, won't you?"
"Yes, I'll go with yen, and would be
glad to."
"But haveia't we already ground
enough to begin a ,judicial iltgulry?"
"No: wait until I have established the
identilleatio11 of Fountain with the man
who purchased the clothes, "I'll go
about it now and then meet you."
"But 1 say, Tom, if Fountain don't
own the gold button, who does?"
1 111 be hanged it I can tell—that is
ono of the 1111801ee 111 this most puzzling
of all cases."
Tom hurried Mr to his friend, the
leader writer, w'iho had undertaken to
obtain as surreptitious portrait of Foun-
tain.
"Well, holy slid you make out?" asked
Torr.
"Pint rate. 1 got two views of him—
profile and l'ulI face." Ile took them
front his desk.
Tom inspected them closely. "Capi-
tal," he said, "perfect pictures."
"What aro you going to do with
them?" asked the leader writer. •
"Pardon me," said Tom, "I am in a
desperate flurry, and if I do not wait to
explain and thank you for them you will
exouse me, 1 know."
Then he went to the clothing store and
found the clerk.
"What kind of . time did you have on
your clambake?"
"Bang up," said Tom. "See here, you
recollect my asking you if you could
Identify the man who bought that suit—
the man outside of 0. S. T.'s?"
"Yes."
"Well, here's the man I suspect. Do
you recognize hila?'
The clerk took the"photographs and
oxalniued them carefully.
Tom waited in an agony of impa-
tience, his heart beating with such
throbs that he thought the clerk must
surely hear it.
Finally tho clerk said:
"I am certain—positive, that is the
man."
"Good," said Tom, "He'll find his
little joke turned upon tum, Thank you.
I'll tell you all about it shortly. Pll come
hero to tell you for your kindness,"
He hurried out of the store.
"The coil is finally wound about him.
Fountain, my boy, there is a surprise in
store for you. In two days' time, my
gentle lad, your name will he the best
known in New York town."
IIe hurried off to Meet Holbrook.
CHAPTER FSI,
Tom .miners WITH A CRUSHER.
RE satisfaction
'with which Tom
reviewed his
work was mixed
with wonder
that Fountain
should have been
so easily and rap-
idly trapped.
El e marveled
that theP olice
authorities had
not'neen that the
.obvious thing to
do was to discover at once where the
clothes worn by the murderer were pur-
chased.
It was true, ho admitted. that he had
had an advantage in determining who
the purchaser was, through Holbrook's
acquaintance with Flora Ashgrove, but
why had not the detectives of the regu-
lar Force round out, as he had done,
where the clothes had been bought?
Be was in high glee over his discovery,
and much pleased with himself. The
facts were indisputable, and were to bo
recognized at a glance,
There was the conversation between
Fiera and Fountain on the veranda at
Newport, and there Was the idsntifloor
tion of Fountain with the man who had
purchased the one suit whish had not
been bought by the 0. S. T's, While
these were not conclusive, still they were
•sttilicient to justify the immediate arrest
of Fouf1Ld13, when the facts 11aue55ary
for proofs beforetlae jury could be easily
brought out by judicious inquiry,
To construct the chain of evtdence
which would oonviet Fountain in court
was work for the authorities, not for
him, IIe had detected the criminal, and
that was all that could be demanded of
him, and all that ho had set out to do,
ft was thus filled with triumph that
be sought Holbrook to consult with him
as to rho nest step—Che' placing of all
the facts before the district attorney, To
Ids surprise no less than to his indigna-
tion, the found the lawyer loath to go
further in the matter.
So 1011g 105 there was a question of
doubt involved in the investigation, Hob
brook 113.3 been earnest and. energetic,
but now, when all question of doubt had
vanished—when tlhe identification was
complete, he hesitated, "baulked," as
Toon said. "right; at the finish."
Tho fact that Flora Ashgrove would be
inevitably drawn into the matter dis-
turbed Holbrook greatly, While nil the
tenderness with which he had f0rlue•ly
regarded her was wholly disstpnt01, still
it seemed ca horrible thing to him, that
alio should be drugged to the witness
standand compelled to give the evidence
which woniteeend to the gallon's the mutt
she lhn(1 shown she so deeply, end even
wildly, loved. Ile shrank from tho Idea
Hutt lee should be i nal rutnentdal in putt hig
her in such a position.
With these send:me , Tom 11011111 not..
Or' 138 10083 W0138U urn,.gjl:Sn0.00488. ,
'night be hard for her, but it seas hard
elsofor Annie Templeton that her brother
should bs struck down and killed, end It
was one of elle inevitable coneoquenoeA
of grime that the ineoce01 mitered no
lest) than the guilty, and while It wee um,
fortunate that hiss Ashgrove was in 0110
position In which she wee, yet justice
must be done.
To all of this argument Ilolbrook had
no reply, and he realized 110 Could snake
none. in the end, however, he gave a
reluctant consent that everything should
be laid before the district attorney, but
he positively refused to go with Tom to
that °Medal. If !so appeared at all in the
matter, it should only bo as an unwilling
10110088, to tell how his suspicions of
Fountain had been aroused, and he sin-
cerely hoped that even that much would
not .be required of him. So Tom was
compelled to go alone. On his way he
dismissed Holbrook's scruples:18 fanciful
to the last degree, and busied himself
with the order of the narrative winch ho
was to submit to the prosecuting officer.
On entering the office he saw the door
of the private room was closed, and he
1005 about to send in his card, when a
voice called out from an adjoining room;
"Hallo, Tom Come in. Where have
you been this month 'of Sundays?"
Tung passed into the room and saw an
assistant of the district attorney, In the
center of a, group or his fellow deputies."
els the chief engaged," asked Tom
after salutations.
"Yes," was the reply, "but only for a
short time. Come in; I was just telling
the boys some of my ndventuree while
yachting We were out in Teddy Bra-
hsin's yacht—only a small party, Jack
Renshaw, Fred Cox, Harry Fountain
and myself,"
"Who? Fountain?"
"Yes, Harry Fountain. Do you know
him? A line fellow."
"What Fountain?" asked Tom, Bothe-
what interested; "Fountain of the Union
and the Lambs—athlete?"
1 "The same. Why?"
I "011; nothing particular. When was
1 this?"
"Oil, let ale see. We were out the
1 15th, 18th, lith and 18tH of last month.
We went on board the 14th at night, and
1 sailed early the next morning."
3 "Of August," said Tom, with sudden
alarm. "Hold on; where were you on
the 17th?"
"We ran into Greenport bay, about 9
o'clock at night, under the brightest
0100n"—
You are sure of that date?" queried
Tom earnestly.
"Why, yes. Certainly. What's the
matter with you?"
"This is important. You've made no
mistake?"
"Mistake, no. Here's my diary with
the entry. See," and he held it up for
Tom to read.
"For heaven's sake!" cried Tom, "let
us get this straight. When did that
murder in Union square occur?"
"Ask Jim there; it'e his case."
"You mean Templeton's?" asked the
one referred to. "On the morning of the
eighteenth, an flour after midnight."
"Great heavy a! cried Tom.
They n11 stared at him.
He took the photographs out of his
pocket 101(1 handed diem to the first
3 speaker.
I "Was this the man—t110Foulitaiu who
Iwas with you?"
"The very same. These are good pial-
, tiros of him?"
' Was he never away from you during
the trip?"
"Never, from the time be joined its on
the fourteenth."
Toga stood like one rooted to the spot.
In the meantime the others looked
upon him amazed. Finally Tom said:
"I do not think I want to see the dis-
trict attorney after all."
Ele turned on his Heel without a word
and walked out, leaving them wonder-
; ing at his strange manner and questions.
"Hos been drinking," he heard one
say,,
i "One would suppose he thought Foun-
tain had committed that murder," from
another.
I fie pard no heed, but passed on and
descended the stairs like ono %elm had
met with a distreesfue blow of misfor-
tune.
11e,v'alked along the street dazed, un-
heedful of all about him.. Without
knowing just how he had gotten there
he found himself in Broadway, opposite
the postollice.
His emotions were difficult to analyze.
Heartfelt gratitude and thankfulness
that the story had been told him before
I he hnd gone in to the district attorney
possessed 'lite, but dominating every
other sentiment was his feeling of keen
and hitter disappointment. His quest
I had ended in failure, his triumph had
turned to ashes.
Hu made his way hurriedly to Hol-
brook. The lawyer was engaged with a
client, and Toni paced the outer office fu
a fever of disappointment, thankfulness,
humiliation and even anger. clow could
he have been such an idiot as to have
supposed Fountain mild Have been
guilty oe such at crime? he 'hiked binisele,
rand then fn tho most illogical w'ny lie
found himself growing peeve, with Foun-
tain for going; off 00 that ynehthlg trip,
111111 tills making' it hypossible for 11it11
to lint'(' 1'011ll31itted the deed.
Unu.b11 10 13111130(1). I1imeelf longer, 11e
sent 018 ease, on Watch was 8101111110e1
"important. .\Il the fat's in the lire," to
Holbrook.
11.1111n•onik ea1031 out immediaately.
Ile tooled wonderingly at Tom, who
lore the 5 knee (reeve or 1:Iscr,lsiring d0-
(eni.
"lVluat's 1110 mei ter, man?" asked 11x,1 -
brook.
"thirry Fountain didn't eonliiait lin
mirth '
Holbrook 00161 11 d h;; ,' 011pp00see0
1115 811'11018' if 110 11;1;1 l ;.iredl, nor lite
evident leli"d' at the inlnrnlalbln.
'teat 10010x500 ` eem'8 usrteraess,
"Wily?" asked Holbrook. "Do they
know who did it?"
• exec),"
"Mow do yoia klubw, then, that he
didn't?"
"Ho wee not within a hundred miles
of Union square when the deed was
done."
Iioibrook. told hint to wait a moment
and he would dismiss his client at once,
Thisbe did speedily, and Halling Torn in
made him tell all that had occurred.
There was silence at the conclusion,
After a moalelit Tota said;
"We are just where we were ten days
ago. We've been on a false scent,"
"No," said Holbrook, "not quite.
There is the motive we reasoned out 11118'
morning. We meet now follow up the
Pierson inquiry,"
"Until we get near the finish, when 1
suppose you'll baulk again," replied Tom
bitterly.
Holbrook laughed.
"130 reasonable, Torn. You know it
was a hard thing to thing Flora Ash-
grove into the me.tte ., told 1 me sincerely
glad she is out of it."
"Unless," said '1'41113. leettutairl faired
sante one to do ire'
"Oil, cite ties that ilea" replied !IA -
brook, "Our au adeiuns of Fountain
were caused d1 wh. 11,• fr".331 our belief that
11'alt thought F"ltntnill had himself
done the dead, If her manner and words
die not mean this, they meant nothing.
No, the 'handsome Flora' 15015elf has
been on a wrung scent." ,
"But she didn't think so without there
was a reason for it."
"Yoe're right there, Tom. Now what
was that reason?" '
"To find that out would haat us an the
right track again. By Jove, ilolhrouk,
I've an idea."
"Let us have it, then."
"See. The Ashgrove girl thinks Foun-
tain did the murder. She hasn't told him
of her belnf, nor won't—you remember
., nr i, 1.1.5afi,m
New, she 'till 1'' 1.,
under that belief. You can go to her
and earn her undying gratitude by dis-
abusing her mind of that error."
"Well, what then?"
"In her joy at finding that the object
of her love is not a guilty man, she will
tell you herreason for supposing Ile was."
"You have an, idea, Tom."
"Yes, and besides, she'll toll you who
waa the owner of tho diamond button."
"Surely. But she is still in Newport."
"No," said Tom, "1 saw in this morn-
ing's papers that the Witherspoons have
returned to the city."
"Then I'll go to her this very day."
"Do. And while you are on that line
I'll seek out Fountain, tell him my
former suspicions, and ask his assistance
in our effort."
"He won't talk to you."
"Well, I oan try all the same."
Having agreed to this plan, and ap-
pointed a place of meeting, they parted.
CHAPTER XXIL
0,330T11E10 C1211 TO TAIL ""HANDSOME
01 013.0,."
ROM the manner
in which Flora
had received him
on the night he
had stet her at
the Casino, Hol-
brook hnd no rea-
e o n to suppose
his visit would be
met with much
cordiality.
Therefore when
t b e servant re-
turned after he
had presented his
card, with the information that the lady
was not at home, the was not surprised
or disconcerted.
"If that means," he said to. the ser-
vant, "that bliss Ash>'grove is denying
herself to visitors this afternoon, please
say to the lady that Mr. Holbrook calls
upon business of the utmostimportance
and of unusual 'interest to her."
The servant went away a second time,
leaving him seated in the reception room,
and returned to say that the lady would
see him in a few moments.
He did not wait long, for Flora, still
in morning toilet, followed the servant
closely. She was cold and haughty in
l the extreme, but none the lass wearied
and anxious.
1 She saluted Mr, Holbrook, road with-
out,w•aiting fol" a return, she said to the
servant:
I am not at holne to any other callert,
130 Matte' who they may be."
She closed the door after her, and sat
down in emelt a position that the light
Was upon Holbrook's face, while her
Own was fn the shadow. She waited for
ITolbrook to speak, turning prion him
with a polite look of inquiry.
Tier mahtner conveyed tIie1 t1* call was
to bo regarded as ono purely of business.
Holbrook felt it, and 151138 stung by her
manner. Upon her part she felt that etas
blow she dreaded so much was about to
fall.
Holbrook accepted the situation, reel-
ing that in the end hu must win.
"I beg you will excuse my urgency,"
he began, "but necessity leuows,no. law
of coquette or custom. Tho last tinie'I
l had the honor of ralliug upon you, the
cahn1'etsation W{01 wholly, if hay 110m00y
50rves me, ripen the then recent mur-
derer lir, 'Completer'. I desire to renew
it."
Flora visibly paled 01311,31' this 00110-
dii101, She replied:
"The subject is lee 011 agfeeald1 one,
but 1 31ppo8e ye11 111511 n 11110130..0 111 00..
130win„
"1 have, 111131 010" 0 "❑tlfIssioh lit
11ada'.''
';\ c:niil'es.;iun:'. 111• replvued 111 1111,
1311:40."
'Yes, 31 VlnifesSion. drum y'nnl• men-
ller11114 from your words ;It that t1111e,
and euhsegnen1h 11'x1111 '.11111' 11'n1"'l' at.
11'"Ix^t:.li t, n\ h•.l"a
I. i.1
Try it for the Balance of 1890.
1
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