THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 GIFT OF 
 
 P. Lennox Tierney
 
 COL, ROSS OF PIEDMONT. 
 
 JfcroeL 
 
 BY JOHN ESTEN COOKE, 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 
 *SURRY OF EAGLES NEST," "MOHUN." "HILT 
 TO HILT," ETC., ETC. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 
 COPYRIGHT, 1892, BT 
 
 G. W. Dillingham, Publisher^ 
 
 SUCCESSOR TO G. W. CARLETON & Co.
 
 CO NTENTS. 
 
 PART I. 
 THE STORY OF A CRIME. 
 
 I. BROUGHT TOGETHER . . . 
 
 II. MAURICEWOOD ...... 
 
 III. NEW FACES . * . . . 
 
 IV. THE CRIME. ...... 
 
 V. GARY MAURICE ..... 
 
 VI. Two HILL PEOPLE ..... 
 
 VII. AN AGREEABLE ENCOUNTER . . . . .31 
 VIII. PROF. LESNER . . . . 33 
 
 IX. COL. Ross TAKES A NIGHT RIDE . . . .37 
 
 X. DR. HAWORTH DISCOVERS A LIKENESS ... 41 
 
 XI I*ROF. LESNER'S THEORY . . . . .45 
 
 XII. JEAN BAPTISTS ...... 52 
 
 XIII. COL. Ross . . . . . . .58 
 
 XIV. DR. HAWORTH'S IDEA ..... 63 
 
 PART II. 
 
 COL. ROSS AND DR. HAWORTH. 
 I. DR. HAWORTH is AFRAID . . . . .71 
 
 II. COL. ROSS MAKES A MORNING CALL ... 75 
 
 III. IN THE LOCKED ROOM . . . . .79 
 
 IV. SOMETHING HAPPENS ..... 84 
 V. DR. HAWORTH AND CARY MAURICE . . .88 
 
 VI. THE FAMILY PHYSICIAN ..... 93 
 
 VII. AN OMEN . . . . . . .99 
 
 VIII. THE RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT .... 101 
 IX. MAY AND AUGUST . . . . . .105 
 
 X. Miss BURNS ...... 107 
 
 XI. DR. HAWORTH'S CURIOUS FANCY . . . .108 
 
 837445
 
 4 CONTENTS, 
 
 PAGE 
 
 XII. Miss BURNS' MAIL-BAG . . . . in 
 
 XIII. THE MAIL . . . . . . .117 
 
 XIV. THE REWARD FOR HOLDING A LAMPSHADE . . 119 
 XV. PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE . . . . .122 
 
 XVI. THE WARRANTS ...... 126 
 
 XVII. THE CONSTABLE'S RETURN .... 131 
 
 PART III. 
 CONVERGING. 
 
 I. DR. HAWORTH ENGAGES THE WIRE TO LIMA . 138 
 
 II. DR. SEABRIGHT ...... 141 
 
 III. THE APPOINTMENT ..... 143 
 
 IV. THE ENTRY IN THE LEDGER . . . 146 
 V. THE PSYCHOLOGY OF OPIUM .... 149 
 
 VI. JEAN RETURNS WITH GOOD NEWS . . . 153 
 
 VII. THE BOMBSHELL . . . . .156 
 
 VIII. MR. TIM MAURICE is OUTRAGED, BUT RESIGNED. . 161 
 
 IX. DR. HAWORTH HEARS FROM COL. Ross . . 164 
 
 X. COL. Ross VISITS MRS. MAURICE .... 166 
 
 PART IV. 
 THE CRIMINAL TRIAL AT ABBEYVILLE. 
 
 I. THE PAPERS FROM LIMA . . . .172 
 
 II. AN OUTRAGED COMMUNITY . . . .178 
 
 III. DR. HAWORTH'S FRIEND .... 180 
 
 IV. JEAN'S FRIEND ...... 184 
 
 V. A MAN OF BUSINESS RESTING . . . .185 
 
 VI. MR. BURDETTE WHISTLES ..... l88 
 
 VII. THE OPENING OF THE TRIAL . . . .191 
 
 VIII. THE TESTIMONY OF JEAN BAPTISTE . . .197 
 
 IX. DR. SEABRIGHT AND OTHERS ARE EXAMINED . 202 
 
 X. DR. HAWORTH'S TESTIMONY .... 209 
 
 XI. DR. HAWORTH CONCLUDES HIS TESTIMONY . . 216 
 
 XII. COL. Ross EXPLAINS ..... 223 
 
 XIII. THE MAN . . . . . .229 
 
 XIV. COL. Ross ON THE SUBJECT OF RATTLESNAKES . .231 
 XV. MR. DUNN INDULGES IN A PROFESSIONAL WITTICISM 236 
 
 XVI. MR. BURDETTE BESTOWS HIS BLESSING . . 238 
 
 XVII. THE END OF THE TRIAL . . . . .241 
 
 XVIII. AT PRESENT ...... 244
 
 COL. ROSS OF PIEDMONT. 
 
 PART I. 
 THE STORY OF A CRIME. 
 
 BROUGHT TOGETHER. 
 
 AT the end of September, 1880, the steamer Argentine Repub 
 lic, direct from Buenos Ayres, arrived at New York, and one of the 
 passengers, registered as Dr. Haworth, Lima, was driven to a hotel 
 on Fifth avenue, where he made his toilet and dined at his leisure. 
 
 Dr. Haworth was a man of about thirty-five, with a face of the 
 American type, brown hair and heavy mustache, a broad forehead 
 and remarkable eyes, which seemed to slumber, but were plainly on 
 the watch. His dress was plain and neat ; the carriage of his per 
 son erect and firm. As he walked down the avenue in the after 
 noon, people more than once turned to look at him, which is unusual 
 in so large a town as New York. 
 
 Near Madison Square he came into collision with a personage 
 hurrying in the opposite direction a gentleman of about his own 
 age, dressed in an elegant business suit, with a handsome face, 
 smiling lips, hair parted in the middle, and wearing eye-glasses. 
 
 " Why, Haworth ! What good wind has blown you to New 
 York ? " exclaimed this gentleman. 
 
 " The south wind, my dear Burdette," replied Dr. Haworth, 
 cordially shaking hands. " Come and stroll with me, and tell me 
 the news." 
 
 " In a moment." And, having called to a person whom he had 
 been in pursuit of, Mr. Burdette exchanged a few words with him, 
 returned, and he and Dr. Haworth walked down the avenue to 
 gether.
 
 6 BROUGHT TOGETHER. 
 
 They were evidently old friends, and it was obvious from their 
 conversation that smiling Mr. Burdette had visited Dr. Haworth at 
 his hacienda near Lima, and retained delightful memories of the 
 visit. To his question now what had brought his friend to New 
 York, Dr. Haworth replied quietly : 
 
 " To keep an appointment." 
 
 " Is it down town ? " asked Mr. Burdette. 
 
 " On the steps of the City Hall at seven." 
 
 " Well, I am going in that direction, and am glad to have your 
 company. I am looking up an old gentleman whose work on the 
 ' Opium-Habit ' I am publishing. I am afraid he is not practicing 
 his precepts, and I think I shall find him at one of the ' joints ' in. 
 Mott street." 
 
 Dr. Haworth made no comment, and, turning out of Broadway, 
 they were soon near Chatham Square, where, in one of the subter 
 ranean opium-dens, they found the person of whom Mr. Burdette 
 was in pursuit. He was a gray-haired man of about 60 in appearance, 
 and of mild and benignant countenance. A simple smile made his 
 old face attractive, and he quietly yielded to Mr. Burdette's guidance, 
 and left the joint. Holding his arm, Mr. Burdette turned to Dr. 
 Haworth and said, in a whisper : 
 
 " This is a melancholy business. The poor old fellow came from 
 the South to correct his proofs, and fell back into his vice. I have 
 tried to look after him, as some friends of his placed him in my 
 charge Col. Ross and Mrs. Maurice." 
 
 As these names were uttered Dr. Haworth turned his head sud 
 denly. 
 
 " Col. Ross ? " he said. 
 
 " Yes ; do you know him ? " 
 
 " I believe so." 
 
 " Well, the name of this poor old party is Prof. Lesner, and as 
 his friends are back from Canada on their way South, I will turn 
 him over to them. They will no doubt be at the opera to-night, and 
 I will see them." 
 
 Dr. Haworth had listened in silence, but it was plain that he was 
 not losing a word. 
 
 " Come and go with me," said Mr. Burdette, " and I hope it is 
 distinctly understood that my humble cottage on the avenue is to be 
 your headquarters during your stay in New York. My coupe won't 
 compare with that splendid affair of yours at Lima, but "
 
 BROUGHT TOGETHER. j 
 
 " Thank you, my dear friend ; but I leave New York by the morn 
 ing train." 
 
 " Well, we'll sup after the opera, and I'll try to talk you out of 
 that resolution." 
 
 And the friends parted, Mr. Burdette bearing off the poor old 
 Professor, and Dr. Haworth going in the direction of the City Park. 
 
 On the steps of the hall a young man of 18 or 20 was standing, 
 evidently on the look-out for some one. He was a slender and 
 graceful youth, with black curly hair and ruddy cheeks. 
 
 As Dr. Haworth approached,'and the gas-light fell upon his face, 
 the youth rushed up to him, seized his hand, and seemed about to 
 kiss it. 
 
 " Excellency ! " he exclaimed, with a French-Spanish accent ; 
 " Oh, how glad I am to see you ! " 
 
 Dr. Haworth 's face had softened, and a bright smile, made it 
 winning. 
 
 " I really believe you are," he said, looking with great affection 
 into the youth's face. " So you expected me ? " 
 
 " I knew you would be here between the 2oth and 25th, as you 
 said." 
 
 " Well, here I am. Now come with me. I have something im 
 portant to tell you, my dear Jean." 
 
 On the same night Dr. Haworth, Mr. Burdette, and Jean were 
 at the opera. Mr. Burdette was evidently in his element, and ex 
 changed nods with a hundred friends ; but Dr. Haworth was evi 
 dently waiting for something. 
 
 As the curtain rose he turned quickly and looked at one of the 
 loges. An elegantly dressed man of middle age, tall and command 
 ing in person, had just entered with a lady in black silk, and a young 
 girl with a face full of freshness and attraction. The escort was 
 relieving the young lady of her cloak when Dr. Haworth looked at 
 them, and his air was that of a lover. 
 
 " These are old Prof. Lesner's friends," said Mr. Burdette indi 
 cating the party. 
 
 "Yes," said Dr. Haworth quietly. 
 
 He touched Jean, who sat beside him, on the arm and said : 
 
 " Do you recognize anybody yonder ? " 
 
 The youth looked in the direction indicated, and his smiling face 
 suddenly overclouded. His smooth brow contracted and his eyes 
 flashed.
 
 g BRO UGHT TOGE TffER. 
 
 " Sacre ! " he muttered unconsciously. " Yes, yes, Excellency ! 
 I should be blind not to recognize that man." 
 
 " I thought perhaps you might have forgotten him." 
 
 " I remember him, as he gave me this." 
 
 And pushing back his hair the youth showed an ugly scar on his 
 forehead, apparently a cutlass stroke. 
 
 Dr. Haworth nodded. 
 
 " Very well," he said, " we may renew our acquaintance with 
 him. We are going in his direction, and as you will be my travel 
 ing companion, things might so turn out that you would have an 
 opportunity to get even with him for that cut." 
 
 " I would like to have the chance," said Jean, knitting his brows. 
 
 "Very well. Remember my instructions. See that all is in 
 order about the carbines. After the opera go to the hotel. I will 
 join you there in an hour." 
 
 " Yes, Excellency don't fear ! Oh how glad I am I am going 
 with you ! " 
 
 The performance was over, and Mr. Burdette went up to the 
 loge and joined the Ross-Maurice party, to whom he bowed with 
 great elegance. It was plain that he was informing them on the 
 subject of their new traveling companion, Prof. Lesner probably 
 urging them to take him home with them. Then they parted with 
 bows and came into the lobby, where Dr. Haworth awaited his 
 friend. 
 
 As the party passed, Col. Ross did not see Dr. Haworth. It was 
 impossible to be certain, but a sudden flash of the dark eyes and 
 flush of the cheek seemed to indicate emotion. As to the face of 
 Dr. Haworth, that indicated nothing. He simply moved his head 
 slightly as if satisfied, and accompanied his friend Burdette in his 
 coupe to his residence on the avenue. 
 
 They had an excellent supper, and when his host's charming 
 family retired, the friends remained in confidential conversation. 
 At last Dr. Haworth rose to go. 
 
 " I will come and see you again before I leave the States," he 
 said. 
 
 " You must not fail ; and good luck to you, old fellow ! " 
 
 " Thank you ! " 
 
 " You have not told me what takes you South ? " 
 
 " I should like to see the country." 
 
 "That's strictly non-committal. My own impression is that
 
 MAURICEWOOD A 
 
 you are going to exterminate somebody. Come, tell your friend 
 everything. A man like yourself doesn't travel for mere amuse 
 ment. You are either going to plunge a gory dagger in the recre 
 ant heart of somebody, or your mission observe the term is to 
 penetrate some bloody mystery." 
 
 Dr. Haworth unconsciously looked at his friend with quite a 
 piercing expression, but said nothing. 
 
 "You see I've been reveling in the seaside literature, which is 
 my delight," said Mr. Burdette laughing. 
 
 " Uo you like that ? " 
 
 " Don't dodge the question ! Are you or are you not on well, 
 say a secret mission ? " 
 
 Dr. Haworth made no reply. At last he said as he pressed his 
 friend's hand : 
 
 " Did you ever reflect upon the profound significance of one 
 word in the English language ? " 
 
 " What is that ? " 
 
 " Perhaps." 
 
 And without adding anything further Dr. Haworth returned to 
 his hotel. 
 
 Jean was waiting for him, and exhibited two carbines in their 
 cases, with a full supply of ammunition. 
 
 Dr. Haworth tried the locks, made them click, and was evidently 
 satisfied. 
 
 " They may be useful down yonder," he said. " And now to 
 get some sleep." 
 
 On the next morning he and Jean took the train for the South. 
 
 II. 
 
 MAURICEWOOD. 
 
 MRS. MAURICE, who had stopped in New York on her way 
 from Canada, was from the South, and resided at a very old coun 
 try seat in what is called the Piedmont region that is to say, the 
 eastern slope of the long range of mountains extending from Mary* 
 land to Northern Georgia. 
 
 The estate, which had been in the family for some generations, 
 was known as " Mauricewood." It was still of large extent and very
 
 10 
 
 considerable value in spite of that subdivision which seems to be the 
 fate of all landed property in America. The house stood on a hill 
 rounding off into level fields of great fertility, and a mile to the west 
 ward a low range of wooded hills shut in the prospect. In other 
 directions, however, the view was unimpeded. Several additional 
 country seats were visible in the distance, and a few miles off was 
 the Town of Abbeyville, the nearest postoffice. 
 
 Mrs. Maurice was the widow of a Mr. John Maurice who had 
 died many years before. She was tall, delicately beautiful, a person 
 of great gentleness, and managed her household with a mild good 
 sense which accomplished a great deal without producing the least 
 friction. She was very much beloved by everybody, especially her 
 old servants, who had all remained with her, their emancipation 
 having apparently produced no effect upon the relations of the mem 
 bers of the household. The footfalls were as quiet, the tones as 
 low and respectful, and it seemed to be the general conviction of 
 man and maid that their old home and mistress were the best home 
 and mistress they would be apt to find. 
 
 As to the estate, that was managed by Mr. Timothy Maurice, a 
 bachelor uncle, who had always lived at the place. He was a lively 
 little fellow, devoted to field sports and to the game of chess. He 
 was devoted to his niece, Mrs. Maurice, and a careful manager of 
 her property. What he said was acquiesced in by everybody ; he 
 was consulted by all ; and indeed what " Uncle Tim " did not know 
 was generally conceded to be not worth knowing. His personal 
 portrait may be drawn with a stroke of the pen. He was about 60, 
 florid, with gray hair, a wiry figure, smiled habitually, and was rapid 
 in all his movements. Every morning he rode over the estate carry 
 ing his fowling-piece for the chance of a shot at something. In the 
 evening he played chess with Mrs. Maurice or Miss Gary. 
 
 Miss Gary Maurice was a fresh-looking little beauty of about 19, 
 with brown hair, worn in bangs very low on her forehead, large blue 
 eyes set wide apart, a rosy complexion and an air of cheerfulness. 
 She had been thoroughly educated by an excellent governess, resid 
 ing at Mauricewood, and played and sang very sweetly. She was 
 rather domestic in her tastes, liked horseback riding, read all the 
 novels she could lay her hands upon, and had never cared for any 
 body but her immediate family, which might have been owing to 
 the fact that there were few young men in the vicinity of Maurice- 
 wood who were calculated to impress the fancies of maidens.
 
 MAVRICEWOOD. H 
 
 One suitor Miss Gary seemed to have, or to be going to have 
 a certain Col. Ross, who lived some miles from Mauricewood. He 
 was a man of from 40 to 45, but he never alluded to his age, and 
 his estate was ample. He lived in very handsome style, as his ele 
 gant drag, driven by a neat servant and drawn by a pair of superb 
 bays, indicated. In his appearance he was a mixture of the fine 
 gentleman and the military man. He was punctiliously polite, wore 
 kid gloves and a jaunty hat, and had a delicate black mustache and 
 imperial, and smiled and bowed frequently. He was said to have 
 been in the United States Navy, and then to have resigned and en 
 tered the Chilian army. He had returned to the States a year or 
 so before, on a " mission," it was said, connected with the interests 
 of a guano or nitrate company, engaged in exploiting the resources 
 of Peru. He was frequently absent in New York or Washington, 
 but resided a part of the year on his estate, and having seen Miss 
 Gary Maurice had been presented to her, and was now a tolerably 
 constant visitor. 
 
 Whether his attentions had made any impression on Miss Gary 
 was not known. It was not unreasonable to suppose that they had 
 in some degree flattered her vanity, and when people saw the young 
 lady and her mother leave Mauricewood, during this summer, under 
 Col. Ross' escort, they said succinctly in provincial phrase, that it 
 was " going to be a be." 
 
 Mrs. Maurice had been persecuted by Miss Gary for a long 
 time to take a Northern tour. The young lady was dying, she said, 
 to see Niagara and the Falls of Montmorenci, and as it was always 
 a very difficult matter for Mrs. Maurice to deny her daughter any 
 thing, she finally yielded, and it had been the intention to carry off 
 Uncle Tim with them. At this Uncle Tim had uttered outcries and 
 protests. Everything would go to wrack and ruin ; his presence at 
 Mauricewood was indispensable. The home would burn down, 
 general destruction would ensue which meant that Uncle Tim 
 abominated traveling, and thought there was nothing worth atten 
 tion beyond the Mauricewood horizon. 
 
 He groaned and consented, however, when to his immense relief 
 Col. Ross called and casually observed that he was about to visit 
 Montreal on business. When he heard of the project of the ladies 
 he promptly offered to escort them. He was entirely at their orders. 
 His business in Montreal could be attended to in two or three hours. 
 The best route the one he had in fact intended to take was by
 
 FACES. 
 
 way of New York, Albany and Niagara, then down the St. Lawrncfi 
 by the Thousand Isles, and nothing would please him more than to 
 return by the historic City ot Quebec, which he had never visited. 
 
 There was no resisting Col. Ross' cordial and urgent offer. 
 Uncle Tim nodded significantly to Mrs. Maurice, and she accepted 
 with thanks. The tour followed. Col. Ross made himself not only 
 useful, but extremely agreeable, and by the time they had returned 
 to New York on their way southward it became plain that the gal 
 lant colonel was very much interested indeed in one of his traveling 
 companions. If for any reason Dr. Haworth had been curious on 
 that subject, he might have had his doubts dispelled by the manner 
 in which Col. Ross had wrapped Miss Cary Maurice's cloak around 
 her shoulders at the theater. 
 
 When the party reached home, their escort bowed, smiled, and 
 declared that the trip had been delightful to him, pressed the hands 
 of both ladies with deferential cordiality, and, entering his equipage 
 which awaited him, drove away. 
 
 III. 
 
 NEW FACES. 
 
 ABOUT a week after the return of the ladies Mr. Tim Maurice 
 mounted his horse, fowling-piece in hand, to take his morning ride. 
 
 He did not return until late in the afternoon, which was very un 
 usual with him, and apologized for keeping dinner waiting. 
 
 " The fact is, my dear niece," he said to Mrs. Maurice, as they 
 sat down to dinner, " I have had quite an adventure." 
 
 He then turned to Miss Cary, and said in a low tone, obstructed 
 by roast mutton : 
 
 " A mysterious stranger, Cadie " which was his pet name for 
 Miss Cary. As the young lady looked at him inquiringly, he said 
 still more confidentially : 
 
 " Two mysterious strangers ! " 
 
 As this was really too tantalizing Mr. Tim Maurice was ordered 
 to explain himself at once, which he proceeded to do. 
 
 His ride had taken him toward the " hill country," as the wood 
 ed range west of Mauricewood was called, and just at the foot of 
 the hills he had noticed a hawk of great size perched up in a dead
 
 FACEZ. -^ 
 
 tree. As he had a great antipatny 10 nawks, ne sam, owing .o .115 
 fondness for spring chickens, he dismounted and crept up to get a 
 shot at the enemy. When he thought he was in range he leveled 
 his fowling-piece and fired both barrels in succession, but the hawk 
 spread his wings and soared off with silent contempt. 
 
 " And you call that an adventure, Uncle Tim ? " said Miss Gary, 
 with derision. 
 
 " Wait, my dear never interrupt. The adventure is coming." 
 
 " Did the hawk show defiance or laugh in scorn as he soared 
 away ? " 
 
 " Interrupting ! interrupting ! No, he did not even soar away." 
 
 " You said he did." 
 
 " I said he soared off, which is a different expression from away 
 a fact you are, perhaps, ignorant of, my angel, owing to your de 
 fective education." 
 
 " He only soared off, then " 
 
 " When he was suddenly arrested in his towering flight, to use 
 the style of your favorite romances. In other words, he dropped 
 with a bullet through him. It is unnecessary to say that his fall 
 was preceded by the crack of a gun, and I saw a light cloud of 
 smoke rise from some undergrowth near. A gentleman then came 
 out, followed by a youth, who seemed to be carrying a game-bag, 
 and went and picked up the hawk. I joined him and he bowed, 
 after which we indulged in mutual introductions." 
 
 " Who was he ? " 
 
 " A Dr. Haworth, who has stopped for a few days at old Hunter 
 Wilson's one of the hill people, you know. He is traveling on horse 
 back to hunt and see the country. I invited him to come and visit us." 
 
 " That proves to me that he is a gentleman, uncle," said Mrs. 
 Maurice in her gentle voice. " You are so terribly aristocratic." 
 
 " A gentleman ? Certainly he is ; and he shot that hawk with 
 a bullet from a jewel of a breech-loading carbine. I never saw a 
 prettier affair." 
 
 " Do you think he will come ? " 
 
 " He said he would." 
 
 " You have not told us about him," said Miss Gary. 
 
 " About him ? Oh. you mean his looks that's the first thing 
 you angelic beings think of. Well, he's good-looking, quiet in man 
 ner, and well dressed. His companion was a fine-looking young 
 fellow, as bright as day."
 
 14 NEW FACES. 
 
 " Well, you are evidently pleased with your new friends, uncle," 
 said Mrs. Maurice, " and I shall be glad to see Dr. Haworth." 
 
 " I invited him to drop in to-morrow. I think from the expres 
 sion of his face that he plays chess," said Mr. Tim Maurice, thought 
 fully. 
 
 " Then you and he will swear eternal friendship," exclaimed Miss 
 Gary " that is, if he doesn't beat you." 
 
 And the subject of Dr. Haworth having apparently been exhaust 
 ed, the conversation busied itself with other matters. 
 
 On the next afternoon Dr. Haworth made his appearance at 
 Mauricewood, and was presented to the ladies. His manners were 
 marked by a courteous composure, and as Mr. Tim Maurice found, 
 to his delight, that he was an excellent chess-player, it seemed prob 
 able that the eternal friendship predicted by Miss Gary would be 
 sworn. When the visitor retired, declining the invitation, usual 
 in the country, to spend the night, the general verdict was flat 
 tering. 
 
 " Dr. Haworth is a very nice gentleman," said Mrs. Maurice, with 
 her sweet smile. 
 
 " And very handsome," said Miss Gary. 
 
 " There ! I said that was the first requisite," exclaimed Mr. Tim 
 Maurice. " Yes, he is both a gentleman and a fine-looking man ; 
 but he is more than that he plays a number one game of chess ! " 
 
 The acquaintance between Dr. Haworth and the inmates of 
 Mauricewood having begun in this simple manner soon became 
 friendly and unceremonious. The guest was apparently pleased 
 with his sojourn in the upland region, and took long excursions on 
 foot or horseback to places in the vicinity ; but his evenings were 
 generally spent at Mauricewood. He played interminable games of 
 chess with Mr. Tim Maurice, and was very quiet and courteous in 
 his demeanor to the ladies. One evening after his departure Mr. 
 Tim Maurice said : 
 
 " I have invited Dr. Haworth to make us a visit, but he has 
 refused." 
 
 " We should be glad to see him," said Mrs. Maurice, " he is very 
 agreeable." 
 
 " What do you say, Cadie ? " 
 
 " It is a matter of indifference to me. He refused, you say ? " 
 
 " Yes, he is afraid of giving trouble, though I assured him he 
 would give none at all."
 
 THE CRIME. jlj 
 
 " Very well," said Miss Gary. " I suppose there is an end of it." 
 " I shall invite him again shall I, my dear niece ? " 
 " Of course, if you wish, uncle," said Mrs. Maurice. 
 " What do you say, Cadie ? " 
 
 " If you choose," said Miss Gary, with the rising inflection on the 
 word choose. 
 
 IV. 
 
 THE CRIME. 
 
 ONE day Dr. Haworth rode to Mauricewood and found Mr. Tim 
 Maurice just back from his morning ride. The ladies had driven 
 out, and the duties of host having thus devolved solely upon Mr. 
 Maurice, he received his visitor with unusual cordiality. 
 
 " Glad to see you, my dear Doctor no one could be more wel 
 come," he exclaimed ; " come in. Sorry the ladies are not at home, 
 but they will soon return." 
 
 Dr. Haworth bowed courteously, and looked up at the old man 
 sion with its stacks of chimneys, its long rows of stone-capped win 
 dows, and the nearly encircling veranda. 
 
 " These old houses have a great attraction for me," he said. " I 
 was admiring the grounds and old oaks as I rode up. There is the 
 charm of age and permanence about such places ; the interior ar 
 rangements only are sometimes defective." 
 
 " Mauricewood is a very well-planned establishment," said Mr. 
 Tim Maurice, " and if you wish I will show you through it." 
 
 " I confess I should like to look at it," said Dr. Haworth, " if it 
 would not annoy the ladies." 
 
 " With pleasure nothing would please me better." 
 
 And taking Dr. Haworth 's arm the old gentleman entered the 
 house. 
 
 " You see the general plan is an L," he said, " only the base line 
 is to the left. On the right here you have the drawing-room, and 
 behind it the dining-room. To the left are two chambers, a large 
 one in front and a small one in rear, and the winding staircase in 
 rear of the hall leads to the second and third floors, on which other 
 chambers open." 
 
 " An excellent arrangement, as the main hall is left unincum- 
 bered," said Dr. Haworth.
 
 1 6 THE CRIME. 
 
 " Excellent there is nothing I like more than a good, broad hall, 
 with a lofty ceiling, oak cornices and oak floor scrubbed until it 
 shines. We manage to keep up the scrubbing. The old people 
 there on the wall would turn pale if it was overlooked." He laughed 
 and rubbed his hands. " There is a great deal of fine wainscoting 
 and other woodwork in the various rooms," he said, " particularly in 
 that to the left of the hall." 
 
 " I should be pleased to look at it," said Dr. Haworth, walking 
 with a matter-of-fact air toward the room in question, and laying 
 his hand on the knob. The door was locked. 
 
 " I am sorry I cannot show you that room," said Mr. Tim 
 Maurice rather sadly. " It is never opened." 
 
 " Never opened ? " 
 
 " My poor brother James was murdered in that room." 
 
 " Your brother murdered ? " 
 
 " Yes, yes, my dear Doctor a melancholy family affair. The 
 room has been closed for nearly twenty years no human being has 
 entered it." 
 
 Dr. Haworth remained silent, and his companion wiped his fore 
 head with a red bandana handkerchief, as if endeavoring to remove 
 some unpleasant memory. 
 
 " I see you are surprised," he said, " and nothing is more natural. 
 But the fact is just as I state. My elder brother, James Maurice, 
 was murdered in that chamber during his sleep, and it has never 
 been occupied by any one since that time." 
 
 " You interest me deeply. I need not say that I am also a little 
 shocked," said Dr. Haworth. " Who was the murderer, and what 
 was his motive ? " 
 
 The old gentleman shook his head sorrowfully, and replied : 
 
 " The whole affair is a mystery to this day." 
 
 " Was no one suspected ? " 
 
 " Yes, unhappily. I say unhappily because I do not believe that 
 the person charged with the crime had anything to do with it." 
 
 " Who was the person ? " 
 
 " A Mr. Ducis of the neighborhood, one of the most honorable 
 men I have ever known." 
 
 " How could such a person have been accused of murder and 
 cowardly murder, since you say that Mr. Maurice was murdered in 
 his sleep ? " 
 
 " It is an old story and a very sad one, Doctor," said Mr. Tim.
 
 THE CRIME. I*f 
 
 Maurice, sighing. " None of our family ever believed that Mr. Duels 
 was guilty." 
 
 " Was he formally charged with the crime ? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 "Tried?" 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 And ? " 
 
 " Found guilty on what seemed to be very strong circumstantial 
 evidence." 
 
 "Well, that is a gloomy incident of your family history, Mr. 
 Maurice," said Dr. Haworth. " I have always felt an interest in 
 such things but it would perhaps be painful to you to dwell further 
 on the subject." 
 
 " Not at all," said Mr. Tim Maurice, " it is rather sad, but I will 
 tell you the circumstances it will not take long. The owner of 
 Mauricewood at that time was my brother James, and the household 
 consisted of himself, his wife, and daughter the present Mrs. 
 Maurice, who kept her own name by marrying her first cousin, John 
 Maurice. I was also one of the family, as I never cared to marry. 
 Well, my brother was a man of about 60 at the time, and of very 
 social temper, but, when aroused, his passions were hot. He lived 
 with great elegance and was careless in money matters ; so it hap 
 pened that when his daughter Ellen came to be married he was very 
 much troubled about her dower. Young John Maurice, her intended 
 husband, was only moderately well off, and my brother was anxious 
 under the circumstances to assist the young couple in beginning 
 life." 
 
 " A natural wish," said Dr. Haworth, who listened with attention. 
 
 " Certainly. Well, there was trouble about that. My brother 
 had no ready resources, and a mortgage on his land was not to be 
 thought of it was opposed to all the traditions of the family. He 
 therefore had recourse to a friend who had borrowed a considerable 
 sum of money from him, a Mr. Ducis." 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Mr. Ducis, it seems, resented this, or perhaps took offense at 
 some fancied slight conveyed in the tone of my brother's note to 
 him. However that may be, he had an angry interview with my 
 poor brother on the subject, and was said to have denounced him 
 as a skinflint, or in some other insulting manner. He would pay the 
 amount, he said, if he was compelled to sell every acre of his land ;
 
 !8 THE CRT ME. 
 
 and he did dispose of a considerable tract, it seems, and paid the 
 amount of his indebtedness in gold and bank-notes. An unfortunate 
 altercation occurred on this occasion. From words the old friends 
 came to blows, and then some bystanders dragged them apart." 
 
 " An unhappy affair." 
 
 " A most unhappy one, considering the characters of the two 
 men, and their long friendship. Mr. Ducis was universally respect 
 ed. He was a man of elegant culture and an enthusiastic student 
 of mineralogy and geology ; most amiable, like my brother, when 
 nothing occurred to irritate him ; and here the two old friends had 
 come to a personal struggle, calling names and striking blows at 
 each other. Well, well, Mr. Ducis went away in a rage, declaring 
 that he would have my brother's blood." 
 
 " An unfortunate expression." 
 
 " Yes ; but to end my sad story. The scene between my poor 
 brother and Mr. Ducis occurred a few days before the marriage, and 
 the day for the ceremony came. As Ellen was very popular she 
 had received many presents, a portion of which were laid out in the 
 apartment yonder, now closed, and in the evening the ceremony took 
 place. 
 
 " A great number of friends attended, and the house was full of 
 merriment to a late hour, when the guests finally departed. Well, 
 everybody had retired, and the whole establishment was silent, when, 
 just as I was going to bed, about 2 in the morning, I heard a cry 
 from the lower floor. I ran hastily down, and hearing groans from 
 the room yonder, hastened toward it. I knew they must proceed 
 from my brother. During the afternoon the bride's chamber had 
 been changed she preferred one up stairs and my brother, who 
 habitually slept in this room, returned to his own apartment." 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " I ran in and saw a fearful sight. My brother was stretched 
 groaning upon the bed, with the clothing thrown about as if in a 
 violent struggle his wife had started up, shaking with fright, and 
 well-nigh paralyzed, it seemed, by what had occurred. The glim 
 mering night-taper showed me all this." 
 
 " It must have been shocking." 
 
 " It was really frightful. I ran into the dining-room for some 
 brandy, and I was hastening back when I met a person coming out 
 of the room. This was a Mrs. Pitts a woman who performed the 
 functions of a sort of head servant, and was kept because she was
 
 THE CRIME. jg 
 
 useful, not because she was much liked. When she saw me she 
 stopped and stared at me in silence. I noticed that both her hands 
 were under her apron. 
 
 " ' What do you mean by standing there in that idiotic way ? ' I 
 said. 
 
 " She only made some muttered reply as I hurried by her into 
 the chamber. My brother was dead." 
 
 The old gentleman drew a long breath as if the memory of the 
 scene oppressed him. 
 
 "But what was the manner of his death and who was the 
 murderer ? " 
 
 Mr. Tim Maurice shook his head. 
 
 " One question is nearly as difficult as the other. But there was 
 reason to believe that my poor brother had come to his end in a 
 peculiarly barbarous manner." 
 
 " Barbarous ? " 
 
 "That he was struck heavily with an iron instrument on the 
 temple or behind the ear such an instrument was found on the 
 floor." 
 
 " What was it ? " 
 
 " A small hammer, such as amateur geologists use in their ex 
 cursions." 
 
 " Geologists ? " 
 
 " Yes, and the only one in the country was Mr. Ducis'. He 
 habitually carried such a hammer in his rides to chip off specimens 
 of rock, and the one discovered on the floor was supposed to belong 
 to him." 
 
 " That was fatal." 
 
 " It was not all. The murderer had evidently entered from the 
 veranda the window was open. On the veranda was found a buck 
 skin riding-glove such as Mr. Ducis generally wore." 
 
 Dr. Haworth shook his head. 
 
 " That ended all reasonable doubt, I suppose." 
 
 " There was even more. The amount paid in gold and bank 
 notes by Mr. Ducis to my brother, which had been placed on a table, 
 had disappeared." 
 
 " Murder and theft combined," said Dr. Haworth. 
 
 " The only question was, who had committed the murder and 
 the theft." 
 
 " Could ther$ be any doubt ? " said Dr. Haworth, in a tone show-
 
 2O THE CRIME. 
 
 ing some surprise. " You stated, sir, I remember, that your family 
 never believed Mr. Ducts to be guilty but how could they doubt it ? 
 I concede that the evidence was purely circumstantial, but then cir 
 cumstantial evidence, when it is cumulative, is of irresistible force. 
 It is a chain which grows stronger with every link which is added." 
 
 Mr. Tim Maurice sighed and said : 
 
 " That appears reasonable, but " 
 
 " Consider, sir," said Dr. Haworth, interrupting him with the air 
 of a man anxious to establish his point, " two friends have an alter 
 cation ; a violent quarrel follows ; one is heard to say that he will 
 have the other's blood ; and the murder follows, committed by 
 means of a weapon the ownership of which is traced to the man 
 who has made the threat. Then his glove, too, is found near the 
 spot, and the money paid by him in the morning has disappeared. 
 Is it possible to doubt that Mr. Ducis is the criminal, and that he 
 meant what he said when he uttered the word ' blood ' ? He no 
 doubt knew that his enemy habitually slept in that room, which was 
 accessible from the veranda, and duly committed the murder and 
 robbery." 
 
 Mr. Tim Maurice sighed again : 
 
 " What you say is very much like the reasoning of the prosecut 
 ing attorney on the trial," he replied, "but " 
 
 " The evidence justified his theory did it not ? " said Dr. Ha 
 worth with an air of conviction. 
 
 " Well, the array of circumstances, I am afraid, was very strong. 
 It was shown that poor Mr. Ducis had been obliged to sacrifice his 
 property to raise the money ; that he had spoken with violence when 
 he said that he would have my brother's blood and had even used 
 similar expressions to others after the quarrel." 
 
 " The only weak point," said Dr. Haworth, thoughtfully, " is the 
 improbability that a person of the character you attribute to Mr. 
 Ducis an honorable gentlemen would have disturbed the money." 
 
 Mr. Maurice sighed again. 
 
 It seemed that sighing was to be a stated performance of Mr. 
 Tim Maurice's during the interview. 
 
 " Unfortunately there was evidence as to that, too," he said. 
 
 " As to the theft ! the money ? " 
 
 " Mr. Ducis was heard to say that he would recover the amount." 
 
 Dr. Haworth shook his head. 
 
 " I am afraid that concludes the matter," he said. " It is true
 
 THE CRIME. 21 
 
 Mr. Ducis may have spoken hastily, and in a moment of passion or 
 may have merely intended to say that he would ' recover at law ' 
 from some one, on the plea of a forced and unfair sale of his prop 
 erty. But the conjecture is vague, and could have had little force." 
 
 '* It was urged by his counsel, who stated that such was his 
 meaning ; and further, that the threat to have my brother's blood 
 meant a personal encounter a duel." 
 
 " A natural explanation but the hammer and the glove ? " 
 
 " He denied that the glove belonged to him." 
 
 " And the hammer the murderer's weapon ? " 
 
 " He acknowledged that it was similar to one he was in the 
 habit of using he had two or three like it but was unable to ex 
 plain how his own if it was his own had got into my brother's 
 chamber." 
 
 " A fatal circumstance. Was no other defense set up but this 
 general denial of the charge ? " 
 
 " One strong plea an alibi." 
 
 " Ah ! an alibi ? That is a very strong plea, indeed, Mr. Maurice, 
 as it makes all others unnecessary. Was it established ? " 
 
 " Unhappily it was not. Mr. Ducis alleged that on the night of 
 the murder he was in an adjoining county. He had ridden to a 
 warehouse on the railway, about fifteen miles distant, to purchase 
 some fertilizers, and after doing so, as it was late in the evening, he 
 had spent the night with a friend in the neighborhood." 
 
 " If he could show that his innocence was established. Could 
 he?" 
 
 " He failed to do so I will explain. When sworn on the trial, the 
 friend with whom he had spent the night was unable to testify posi 
 tively as to the day." 
 
 " But the warehouse man the purchase of the fertilizers ? Some 
 record must have been made of the transaction." 
 
 " Yes Mr. Ducis stated that he had made the purchase on the 
 e/ening of the 7th of May, the date of my brother's murder, which 
 took place the same night. When the ledger at the warehouse was 
 examined, the date of the purchase was found to be the 8th. 
 
 " That was conclusive, unless " 
 
 Dr. Haworth stopped and seemed to be reflecting. 
 
 " What do you mean, Doctor ? " 
 
 " A curious idea occurred to me. Observe that the question is 
 the guilt of Mr. Ducis or some unknown person since the fact of
 
 22 CARY MAURICE. 
 
 the murder was established. If Mr. Duels did not commit the 
 crime, somebody else did." 
 
 " That is unanswerable." 
 
 " Well, now, adopt the theory that this some one wanted to 
 shield himself by sacrificing Mr. Ducis. He obtains possession of 
 or provides himself with the glove and hammer and places them 
 near the scene of the crime. Then discovering afterwards that Mr. 
 Ducis could prove an alibi he takes steps to defeat that. The real 
 murderer learns the object of his victim's absence from home 
 follows and ascertains the purchase of the fertilizers obtains access 
 to the warehouse books, and alters the date. Erasure is easy, and 
 when skillfully executed is difficult to detect." 
 
 Mr. Tim Maurice sighed once more. 
 
 " The ledger was produced in court, and there was no sign of 
 any erasure," he said. 
 
 " Then the plea was necessarily of no effect it was probably 
 the last resort of a desperate man. All was traced home to him 
 his motive accounted for. Who other than himself could hare had 
 any inducement to commit the crime ? Were there any other ar 
 rests ? " 
 
 "Two the woman Pitts, and my brother's manager, a man 
 named Wilkins." 
 
 " Indeed ! On what grounds ? " 
 
 " That the woman, who was noted for her avarice, had known 
 of the presence of the money in my brother's chamber, and had con 
 cealed herself with the view of robbing him. You will remember 
 that I saw her come out of the chamber apparently concealing 
 something under her apron." 
 
 " But the murder ? She could scarcely have committed that." 
 
 " It was supposed that Wilkins was her confederate, and executed 
 that part of the plan. He and my brother disliked each other, and 
 the man was about to be discharged. The supposition was that he 
 had entered into a conspiracy with the woman Pitts to murder my 
 brother and carry off the money ; that each had borne their part 
 he had entered the window and struck the blow, while she had seized 
 the money on my brother's night-table ; then that, hearing me com 
 ing, he had escaped and she had hidden behind the bed-curtains, 
 and was attempting to get away when I came back with the 
 brandy." 
 
 " The theory was plausible. What proofs were there ? "
 
 THE CRIME. 33 
 
 " None at all. The woman stated that she had heard my 
 brother cry out, and hastened to the room, which she was leaving in 
 horror when she met me ; and the man's presence was not shown. 
 Accordingly, connection in any manner with the murder was not 
 established, and the two persons were discharged." 
 
 "And Mr. Ducis?" 
 
 Mr. Tim Maurice uttered a deeper sigh than any that had pre 
 ceded it. 
 
 " He was convicted, and on the day succeeding his conviction 
 was seized with paralysis, the effect, no doubt, of mental anguish, 
 and this terminated life a few weeks later." 
 
 Dr. Haworth remained silent for some moments, evidently re 
 flecting upon this singular tissue of events. 
 
 " Well, that is a gloomy story," he said at length, " and I am not 
 surprised to find that the chamber yonder is closed. The associa 
 tions with it must be painful. The elder Mrs. Maurice, I suppose, 
 never again occupied it ? " 
 
 " Never. The murder of her husband had a fatal effect upon 
 her. She was an invalid at the time and went into a decline, from 
 which she never recovered." 
 
 " She could give no testimony in relation to the murder? " 
 
 " None when she started from sleep she saw her husband was 
 dying, and no one was in the apartment." 
 
 " A curious and tragic affair. It is not to be wondered at that 
 it profoundly shocked her." 
 
 " It even produced an unfortunate effect upon her daughter 
 Ellen I mean my niece, the present Mrs. Maurice and the death 
 of her husband was an additional blow." 
 
 " Of Mr. John Maurice ? " 
 
 " Yes, he died a year or two afterwards. An unlucky family, 
 you see," said the old gentleman mournfully. " But then, time does 
 its work, and the sun has come out again. My niece and little 
 Gary take a cheerful view of things, and my own temperament is 
 sanguine and hopeful. Perhaps it would have been better not to 
 tell you these old troubles ; but you asked me about them there is 
 the carriage coming back." 
 
 The family vehicle was seen mounting the hill, driven by its sedate 
 old coachman, and Dr Haworth went out and politely assisted the 
 ladies as they emerged from it. As Miss Gary gave him a bright 
 glance, he seemed well repaid for his trouble.
 
 24 CAR Y MA URIC&. 
 
 V. 
 GARY MAURICE. 
 
 DR. HAWORTH spent the day at Mauricewood, and his quiet 
 courtesy made an agreeable impression. In the afternoon he and 
 Miss Gary Maurice conversed on the veranda. 
 
 She was leaning back in a camp-chair, her resetted slippers 
 just emerging from the skirt of a painfully pulled-back dress, and 
 with her large blue eyes under her brown bangs she looked very 
 pretty. 
 
 " So you like our country ? " she said to Dr. Haworth smiling. 
 
 " I like it very much," he said. 
 
 " I think uncle told me you lived in South America." 
 
 " Yes, near Lima, in sight of the cordilleras of the Andes. The 
 country is peculiar, and differs from this." 
 
 " But you prefer it, I suppose, as it is home ? " 
 
 " South America can hardly be called my home. I have no ties 
 there, and am a native of the United States." 
 
 " If you have no ties I think you ought to come home then," 
 said Miss Gary, smiling. 
 
 " I shall no doubt do so sooner or later," he said. " I am not 
 specially fond of Peruvian society, and see very little of it. My chief 
 resource is reading." 
 
 " A delightful resource ! " exclaimed Miss Gary. " You prefer 
 novels, of course ? " 
 
 " I prefer criticism and biography. May I ask what you read ? " 
 
 " Chiefly trash," said Miss Gary, laughing. 
 
 " Do you like it ? " 
 
 " I am wrapped up in it ! I have piles and piles of those dear 
 ' library ' books I mean those cheap ones ! They are full of Sir 
 Edwards and Lady Evelyns, and my tastes are properly cultivated. 
 I am strictly English ! " 
 
 " Then you are not American ? Why not read American litera 
 ture?" 
 
 " There is none, or it is so stupid ! That is, it is so dreadfully 
 well, American ! Think of the delightful ruins, and the haunted 
 towers, and mysterious strangers ! My dear English novels are full 
 of that ! Of course it is all fearfully absurd, but it serves to pass the 
 time."
 
 CARY MAURICE 25 
 
 " \ see you are romantic, Miss Maurice. I am a stranger, but 
 what a pity it is I am so commonplace and unmysterious." 
 
 "It is unfortunate," said Miss Gary, smiling; "but you know 
 real life is always commonplace." 
 
 " I am not so sure of that," said Dr. Haworth ; " you make me 
 think of what your uncle told me this morning the strange story 
 of the locked-up room here." 
 
 " It is very sad," said the young lady. " So uncle told you ? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " It was before I was born, but I have often heard about it." 
 
 " What conclusion did you arrive at ? " 
 
 " What conclusion ? " 
 
 " Who was the real criminal Mr. Ducis ? " 
 
 " Oh, no ! I am sure he was not. Mamma says it is impossi 
 ble. She was acquainted with him, and very fond of him." 
 
 " But there was a criminal who was he ? " 
 
 " I do not know." 
 
 " You are certain Mr. Ducis was innocent ? " 
 
 " Perfectly certain. I never believed a word of it." 
 
 " That proves, at least, that you have a generous nature ; almost 
 all women have." 
 
 " But I am not a woman ! " protested Miss Gary. " I am an ex- 
 school-girl only ! " 
 
 " Yonder is the proof that you are not regarded in that deroga 
 tory light," said Dr. Haworth. 
 
 Miss Gary looked in the direction indicated by her companion's 
 finger and saw Col. Ross coming into the grounds. His elegant 
 drag, driven by a liveried servant and drawn by a very fine pair of 
 horses, was just passing through the gate, flanked by its lofty white 
 posts with ornamental tops. 
 
 " Col. Ross is a friend, I believe ? " said Dr. Haworth. 
 
 " Yes," returned the young lady, with the rising inflection. 
 
 " No more ? But the question, I confess, is unceremonious, and 
 I hope you will pardon it, Miss Maurice." 
 
 Miss Gary Maurice made a little salute with her bangs in return 
 for Col. Ross' bow he was nearly at the door. She then turned to 
 her companion and said innocently, " Did you ask if Col. Ross was 
 a relation ? None in the world. I have never heard of any connec 
 tion between the Rosses and the Maurices." 
 
 Dr. Haworth said no more, and as Miss Gary rose to receive
 
 26 T WO If ILL PEOPLE. 
 
 her visitor, who was now on the veranda, her companion rose 
 also. 
 
 Dr. Haworth's expression was entirely composed, Col. Ross' very 
 different. A sudden glance indicated that the two men were not 
 strangers. 
 
 " A pleasant evening," said Miss Gary, who had held out her 
 hand. 
 
 Col. Ross bowed low as he received it and said : 
 
 " Very pleasant, indeed I really enjoyed my ride." 
 
 " Dr. Haworth, Col. Ross," said Miss Gary. 
 
 The two gentlemen bowed, and as Mr. Tim Maurice made his 
 appearance at the moment, general conversation followed. Miss 
 Gary seemed to be in excellent spirits, and concentrated her atten 
 tion upon Col. Ross, having apparently forgotten Dr. Haworth's ex 
 istence. That gentleman, however, did not seem to observe the fact, 
 conversed for a while with Mr. Maurice, and finally took his leave. 
 As he rose to do so, Miss Gary turned quickly and said with a 
 charming smile : 
 
 " You are not going ? " 
 
 " I regret to be compelled to do so," said Dr. Haworth, bowing. 
 
 Miss Gary's face expressed mild regret, and the visitor then de 
 parted. As he rode away he said in a cold voice : 
 
 " I wonder if she cares for that man ? I saw that he recognized 
 me." 
 
 VI. 
 
 TWO HILL PEOPLE. 
 
 IN a gash of the hills some miles west of Mauricewood was a 
 poor and mean-looking house, in a small yard surrounded by a dis 
 mantled fence, with a pig-sty near the door, a cur in his kennel, an 
 ashbank beside it, broken utensils lying about, and some soiled 
 clothes hanging out of a window with broken panes. 
 
 In the single room of this house, which conveyed an impression 
 of utter pauperism and steady decay, sat a woman whose appear 
 ance accorded with her surroundings. She was tall and gaunt, 
 with long gray hair falling in tangled masses upon her shoulders, 
 her dress faded and slatternly, her huge feet thrust into list slippers 
 bursting open at the seams. She was seated upon a low stool,
 
 TWO HILL PEOPLE. yj 
 
 resting her bony chin upon her two long hands, and her bony 
 elbows in turn on her knees. Beside her was a wash-tub under 
 the window, in which there was scarcely a fragment of glass. She 
 was watching some bacon frying in a pan in the stone fireplace. 
 
 "You, Job Wilkins ! " she shrilled. 
 
 No reply came. 
 
 " You worthless hound ! " 
 
 Still silence. 
 
 " Now, you make out you don't hear me ! Come here, I say ! " 
 
 Steps approached ; a snarl came from the cur and a shadow ran 
 across the floor which the woman evidently observed, for she growled 
 in great ill-humor : 
 
 " You are not worth your salt ! What do you mean by slinking 
 off whenever my eye's not on you to that doggery and sponging on 
 people for liquor to drink and leaving me here to do your work ? " 
 
 She turned round to add the fire of a pair of bloodshot eyes to 
 the force of her invective, but the newcomer was not Mr. Job Wil 
 kins, but a well-dressed stranger Dr. Haworth, in fact. 
 
 " Good morning, madam," he said, bowing. 
 
 Women never cease to be women that is to say, something 
 good remains in them. The surly face relaxed, and the woman rose 
 with an expression of surprise. 
 
 " I have been hunting in the hills," said the visitor, who carried 
 a carbine under his arm ; " and am thirsty." 
 
 In response to this appeal to her hospitality the woman presented 
 him with a gourd of water taken from a bucket on the window-sill, 
 and with an attempt to suppress the natural gruffness of her voice, 
 asked him if he would not sit down and rest. 
 
 " Thank you, madam," he said, taking a chair with a broken 
 leg, which cracked as he seated himself. A commonplace colloquy 
 of a few minutes followed, the woman having resumed her stool. 
 
 " Your place here is rather lonely," said the visitor. " I suppose 
 you rarely hear any news." 
 
 " Not much," said the woman. 
 
 " There is very little stirring at present. The only topic of inter 
 est has been the great murder trial in Pennsylvania." 
 
 " A murder trial ? " 
 
 " Yes, a curious case." 
 
 The visitor put his hand into his pocket as if reaching for 
 something.
 
 28 TWO HILL PEOPLE. 
 
 " I have left my newspaper at home," he said, " but I can tell 
 you the substance of it. A Mr. , Mr. , well, the name is not im 
 portant was charged with the murder of a friend of his, who had 
 just received a large sum of money." 
 
 The woman turned her head and listened attentively. 
 
 " The owner of the money was waylaid, it seems, as he was riding 
 along a wood road and killed by a blow on the head, apparently with 
 the butt end of a riding-whip." 
 
 " You don't say ! " 
 
 Dr. Haworth, who glanced carelessly at his companion, saw her 
 turn a little pale that is to say, as pale as her dirty complexion 
 permitted. 
 
 " Yes there seemed to be no doubt that his death took place in 
 that manner, as there was a bruise on his left temple ; but an addi 
 tional circumstance supported the idea." 
 
 The woman was looking at him with eyes wide open, unwinking. 
 
 " A riding-whip with a heavy leaden handle was found not far 
 from the corpse. Whether dropped by the murderer or wrested 
 from his hand by the murdered man, in the struggle, was not known. 
 It was ascertained, however, to be the property of a neighboring 
 farmer, who was thereupon arrested." 
 
 " He was the man, was he ? " the woman said, in a low voice. 
 
 " The strange fact is that he was not," replied Dr. Haworth, in 
 a matter-of-fact tone. 
 
 " You don't tell me ! " 
 
 Listening carefully he could perceive that the woman was full of 
 suppressed excitement. 
 
 " The owner of the whip was proved to be innocent. It was 
 shown that on the day of the murder he was twenty miles off, and 
 could not have committed it." 
 
 The woman had again rested her chin on her hands and her 
 elbows on her knees, half turned away from her visitor. As she 
 made no reply he went on. 
 
 " The real murderer was discovered by the merest accident," he 
 said, " and the facts brought out on the trial proved that he was a 
 skillful fellow. He had an enemy the man first arrested and 
 meant to throw suspicion on him. He therefore bought a riding- 
 whip precisely like that always used by his enemy, and cut the first 
 letters of his enemy's name on the lead butt. He left this whip at 
 the spot after committing the murder the innocent man was ot
 
 TWO HILL PEOPLE. 2 
 
 course arrested and if he had not been able to prove the alibi, as 
 it is called, he would have died on the gallows, for he and the mur 
 dered man were known to have quarreled a short time before, and 
 he had been heard to make threats that he would have his blood." 
 
 The woman's face was now of a dead-ash color, and she was 
 shaking a little. 
 
 " Well ? " she said, in a guttural tone. 
 
 " I see you are interested," continued her visitor, " and perhaps 
 you would like me to tell you how the real murderer was discovered." 
 
 " Yes," the single word was uttered in a whisper. 
 
 " It was very simple. The murdered man had drawn the money 
 from the bank on the same day part in gold and part in notes. As 
 he intended to make a large payment to one of his creditors he took 
 one hundred dollar notes, and for safety requested the bank cashier 
 to take down the numbers. You may not have observed, madam, 
 but every bank-note has a particular number, and can be tracked if 
 it is stolen. Say that I have a bundle of such bank-notes, and you 
 or any one murder and rob me, then if the numbers are known, and 
 you try to pass the notes, an officer of the law asks : ' Where did 
 you get these notes ? ' ' 
 
 The woman got up to turn the meat without looking at her 
 visitor. 
 
 " That was just what happened in this case," he said ; " the 
 bank-notes were traced by their numbers to the real murderer, who 
 attempted to pass them ; he was arrested, and other circumstances 
 were discovered which brought home the crime to him." 
 
 As Dr. Haworth said this a man came in, looking sidewise at 
 him. This look was so sullen that the visitor unconsciously moved 
 his carbine in such a manner as to be able to use it promptly. The 
 new comer was, in fact, a most unpleasant-looking personage. He 
 was tall, strong, slouching, with a hang-dog look, a wide mouth 
 fouled with tobacco juice, and had the watchful eye of a beast of 
 prey. As he had approached in mute silence it was probable that 
 he had heard a part or the whole of the conversation. 
 
 " Sarvant, sir ! " he said, ducking his head and taking off a brown 
 rag which served for a hat. 
 
 " The gentleman came for some water to drink," said the woman, 
 in her gruff voice, but Dr. Haworth discerned a tremor in it. His 
 attention, however, seemed to be concentrated upon the man, whose 
 hooked fingers, with their dirty nails, resembled the talons of 9,
 
 30 TWO HILL PEOPLE. 
 
 hawk. He knew that this man was the former manager of Mr. 
 James Maurice, and that the woman now his wife apparently was 
 the former Mrs. Pitts, who had been seen coming out of the cham 
 ber of the murdered gentleman with her hands under her apron. 
 He had tried the self-possession of the woman he proceeded now 
 to test that of the man. 
 
 The conversation which ensued lasted for half an hour. It re 
 sulted in nothing. The man Wilkins was either innocent, or a mas 
 ter of dissimulation. In the most natural manner he alluded to his 
 poverty-stricken condition. The worst of it was that he couldn't 
 please his wife. He had been well-off once manager for a 'Squire 
 Maurice, who was the best gentleman in life, but so hot-tempered 
 and hard to please that he had to leave. Not that he had anything 
 against 'Squire Maurice he had nothing against him, and when 
 some villain murdered him, which was done, he, Wilkins, had been 
 struck all of a heap. He didn't mind telling that he himself had 
 been charged with the murder, but some low folks done it, which 
 the court discharged him immejiately. Then Mr. Wilkins looked 
 with interest at the frying meat. 
 
 There was nothing to be gained by remaining longer, and Dr. 
 Haworth got up and went away with his carbine under his arm 
 toward his horse. Something was meantime passing in the cabin. 
 The man had gone to a closet under the stairs in a corner, caught 
 out a gun, and said to the woman, as he cocked the weapon 
 
 " What do you say to givin' him a bullet ? " 
 
 " I say no ! You are a fool," growled the woman. " There's 
 been trouble enough." 
 
 " As you say," the man replied, putting the gun back. " 'Twould 
 be the shorter way. Who is he ? " 
 
 " How do I know ? " 
 
 " Well, mark what I tell you trouble'll grow out of this." 
 
 " Mind your business and turn the meat," grated the woman. 
 " I'll attend to matters." 
 
 Dr. Haworth had meanwhile gone into the thicket and mounted 
 "his horse to return to his temporary home in the hills. His face was 
 gloomy and expressed mingled hatred and disgust. Were these 
 creatures guilty of the murder ? There was nearly everything to 
 support the supposition, but it was quite clearly a supposition,
 
 AN AGREEABLE ENCOUNTER. 3! 
 
 VII. 
 AN AGREEABLE ENCOUNTER. 
 
 To reach his home in the hills, Dr. Haworth followed a road 
 through the woods, along the foot of the range, catching a glimpse 
 now and then of Mauricewood, two or three miles distant. 
 
 He was riding on slowly with head bent down, when hearing 
 hoof-strokes in front he looked up and saw Miss Gary Maurice, who 
 had come out of a by-road and was galloping in the same direction 
 which he himself was taking. He hastened to join her and bowed. 
 
 " Dr. Haworth ! " she exclaimed, with evident pleasure, " I am 
 fortunate ! I have found an escort and armed to protect me ! " she 
 added, laughing, and looking at the carbine under his arm. 
 
 " I am glad to be of any service. I was out hunting," he said. 
 
 " And I am going to see a friend who promised me some ferns. 
 Don't be shocked to find me riding without an escort. Our neigh 
 borhood is very orderly, and then everybody knows me. So you see 
 it is the pleasure of your company, not the want of a protector, which 
 inspired my friendly speech." 
 
 " It is good to be friendly," returned Dr. Haworth. " We are 
 nearly strangers, but I hope on better acquaintance you and your 
 family will find me worthy of your regard that our relations will be 
 cordial." 
 
 " Why should they not be ? You are quite a friend of the family 
 already." 
 
 Miss Gary uttered the words in a cheerful manner, and with a 
 dangerous glance. She was an attractive object in her black riding- 
 habit, defining the graceful figure with her roses, her brown curls, 
 and her little head inclined sidewise. As he glanced at her, Dr. 
 Haworth seemed to forget his harsh emotion, and his face re 
 laxed. 
 
 " Thank you," he said. " I am glad to be regarded as the friend 
 of your family, and then there is nothing I like so much as friendly 
 expressions." 
 
 " I prefer flattering ones ! " said Miss Gary. 
 
 Dr. Haworth looked at the bright face and said : 
 
 " Then I will tell you what I thought when I saw you riding in 
 front of me a moment ago." 
 
 " What you thought ? "
 
 \2 AN AGREEABLE ENCOUNTER. 
 
 " I was thinking how beautiful you were." 
 
 " What a delicious speech ! " cried Miss Gary, with the least pos 
 sible increase of color. 
 
 " I will venture to add that you recalled to me two passages in a 
 book I have been reading." 
 
 " Was it trash ? " 
 
 " No, it was a volume of Count Pontmartin's, the great French 
 critic, who is a favorite of mine." 
 
 " Well, do tell me the passages you thought of when you saw 
 me. I hope they were complimentary ? " 
 
 " You shall judge for yourself. The critic is speaking of an 
 author whom he admires, and says that his works have an attraction 
 only to be described by the word ' charm.' " 
 
 " That is well, charming ! " 
 
 " He then defines this charm. It is what the Italians mean by 
 the term sympathy the indefinable something, which charms, but 
 cannot be described." 
 
 Miss Gary made a bow, blushing a little under his glance. 
 
 " Shall I now tell you the other passage ? " 
 
 " If you please ! " 
 
 " This time it is Prosper Merimee. He writes to his ' unknown,' 
 describing a lady whom he has just met. She is beautiful, faultlessly 
 dressed, a queen of the salon, he says ; but he adds, addressing his 
 fair unknown : She has not that inexpressible something, which you 
 have, and which I cannot express except by saying that it is a 
 something which makes people love you." 
 
 " That is really exquisite," Miss Gary said, laughing a little hasti 
 ly, " but I am afraid I am taking you out of your way." 
 
 " Out of my way ! I have no business," said Dr. Haworth, com 
 posedly. 
 
 " But you were going home " 
 
 " There is nothing to attract me there." 
 
 " But you have been hunting I am sure you are hungry ! It 
 would be wrong to impose upon you ! " 
 
 It was obvious that Miss Gary Maurice considered that the con 
 versation had taken a dangerous direction. 
 
 " I am not hungry," he said. 
 
 * But really it is not to be thought of." 
 
 " Allow me at least to accompany you as far as your friends," 
 
 This proposition seemed to relieve Miss Gary.
 
 PROF. LESNER. 
 
 33 
 
 "Thank you, I will accept your escort so far with pleasure. 
 Yonder is the house," she said. 
 
 They were opposite a small lodge in an opening of the woods 
 a cheerful establishment, nearly overgrown with creeping vines, and 
 surrounded by nicely-trimmed sward, scattered through which were 
 borders of autumn flowers in full bloom. The place indeed was a 
 bower of verdure, flowers, and bees, which were humming merrily 
 in the sunshine 
 
 " I won't detain you," said Miss Gary to her companion, as he 
 assisted her to the ground. 
 
 " I should like to know your friend." 
 
 As it was impossible to refuse, Miss Gary said : 
 
 " I will introduce you with pleasure." 
 
 " What is his name ? " 
 
 " Professor Lesner." 
 
 VIII. 
 
 PROF. LESNER. 
 
 AT the name of Prof. Lesner Dr. Haworth turned his head 
 quickly. Miss Gary, however, was arranging the skirts of her 
 riding-habit at the moment, and did not observe his surprise. 
 
 He was very much surprised, indeed. Nothing could have been 
 more unexpected than the singular chance which was then about to 
 throw him again with the friend of Mr. Burdette, the opium-smoker 
 of the " joint " in Mott street. He was aware of the fact that on 
 Mrs. Maurice's Northern tour she had been accompanied by Prof. 
 Lesner, but it had never occurred to him that the Professor resided 
 in the Mauricewood neighborhood he had, in fact, forgotten his ex 
 istence. Now it seemed they were about to meet again, and Dr. 
 Haworth asked himself if the old scholar would recognize him. It 
 was improbable. When they met in Mott street he was in no con 
 dition to remember anything. It was much the most probable sup 
 position that he would not connect Dr. Haworth, the friend of Miss 
 Maurice, with the unknown stranger of New York and so it 
 proved. 
 
 Prof. Lesner came out of his house in a dressing-gown and slip 
 pers, with his gray hair upon his shoulders, and smiling kindly. The 
 visit of Miss Gary evidently delighted him*
 
 34 
 
 PROF. LESNER. 
 
 " It does my old heart good to see you, my dear little rosebud," 
 he said, squeezing her hand. 
 
 "Thank you, dear Prof. Lesner you always make charming 
 speeches," returned the young lady. " This is my friend, Dr. Ha- 
 worth Prof. Lesner, Dr. Haworth." 
 
 " I am glad to know any friend of Miss Gary's," said the Profess 
 or, bowing courteously. 
 
 It was plain that he had not recognized him. There were no in 
 dications of opium about the old scholar, and Dr. Haworth hoped 
 he had discontinued the evil habit when once beyond temptation. 
 
 " But come in," he said hospitably ; " I was reading, but not 
 much interested." 
 
 " I generally find you among your flowers and bees when you are 
 not with your birds," said Miss Gary. 
 
 The Professor sighed, looking around him sadly. " My poor 
 flowers have nearly all left me," he said, " and my bees, too. I have 
 lost twenty swarms and have now scarcely a hundred. Then my 
 pets, my canaries, are dying in some mysterious manner. I have 
 only two hundred left. Come, little one ! " 
 
 He held out his finger and a beautiful canary darted from a win 
 dow and perched upon it, turning his bright head from side to side. 
 
 " That is my aviary. I thought I would give them a little sun* 
 shine to-day. They are too good to fly away," said the Professor, 
 smiling and caressing the canary. 
 
 Miss Gary Maurice laughed. 
 
 " Scarcely a hundred swarms of bees, and two hundred canary 
 birds left just listen, Dr. Haworth ! We shall next be told that the 
 mice have devoured all your folio volumes but one hundred thou 
 sand." 
 
 " I have not so many, Miss Gary you know I am a poor scholar, 
 only. But I have many things to cheer me in my lonely life your 
 bright face is one of them." 
 
 " Well, I told you before that you were charming, Prof. Lesner ! 
 Have you the ferns you promised me weeks ago ? " 
 
 " Oh, yes. I would have brought them, but my health has been 
 so bad. " 
 
 He went into a little sitting-room on the right of the entrance, 
 the walls of which were nearly covered by books, and brought to 
 the porch a large portfolio filled with delicate ferns. 
 l_ " These are all arranged with both their scientific and common
 
 PROF. LESNER. 35 
 
 I will not say vulgar names beneath them. 1 fear you will find 
 the portfolio cumbersome." 
 
 " Oh, no. I can easily take it." 
 
 " You are very welcome. Always try to find something that I 
 can do to please you." 
 
 And Prof. Lesner beamed on the young lady, who renewed her 
 thanks, and then rose to go. 
 
 " You will not leave me so soon ! " he protested. 
 
 " Thank you, but I am afraid I shall have to go now. You are 
 very good come and see us soon." 
 
 And the amiable Professor, having declared that as soon as he 
 could stir out, his very first visit should be to Mauricewood, Miss 
 Gary shook hands and was assisted to her saddle by Dr. Haworth. 
 He had brought out the portfolio of ferns and Miss Gary now ex 
 tended her hand to take it, but Dr. Haworth responded by mount 
 ing, with the portfolio still beneath his arm. 
 
 " It would be impossible for you to carry such a load," he said, 
 " and it is too late for you to return without an escort." 
 
 Dr. Haworth then touched his horse, whose head was turned in 
 the direction of Mauricewood, and Miss Gary was obliged to follow. 
 If she expected the conversation to take a romantic turn, she was 
 mistaken. 
 
 " A curious person," said Dr. Haworth. " I mean Prof. Lesner. 
 Is he a friend of yours ? " 
 
 " Oh, yes ; we have known him all our lives." 
 
 " Then he has always lived here ? " 
 
 " Ever since I can remember. He was once professor in some 
 college, I believe, but retired, and spends his life in studying and 
 writing. I think he has written some work which is to be published 
 in New York, but I do not know upon what subject." 
 
 Dr. Haworth knew, but respected the Professor's secret. 
 
 " You describe a scholar and recluse," he said. " Your friend is 
 evidently devoted to country life and innocent pleasures." 
 
 " You mean his birds and bees. He is devoted to them ; and it 
 is the most rational life, is it not ? I mean, to live quietly and hap 
 pily?" 
 
 " I can hardly say. My own life has passed mainly in action of 
 some description, and not always happily," said Dr. Haworth. 
 
 " I am sorry in action ? " 
 
 " In laboring for my livelihood and otherwise. I was poor."
 
 36 PROF. LESNER. 
 
 " That is said to be the test of character and the preface to dis 
 tinction, Dr. Haworth," said the young lady earnestly. 
 
 " It has tested mine if not given me any distinction. But per 
 haps Prof. Lesner's is the truest philosophy repose is best where 
 one can enjoy it." 
 
 " I hope you are able to do so." 
 
 "No, I have an object in life still unaccomplished." 
 
 His grave, almost cold, tone indicated that he was not uttering a 
 gallant speech, and Gary Maurice said earnestly : 
 
 " If I were a man I would offer to assist you if I could." 
 
 " You cannot but you can do one thing." 
 
 " What is that ? " 
 
 " You can hope for my success. It is a worthy object I have in 
 view." 
 
 " I am sure it is, and I do hope you will succeed in it." 
 
 He went on for some moments in silence, and then said in a low 
 voice : 
 
 " I am glad you have given me that assurance. My life has been 
 rather sad I have not had many persons to sympathize with me 
 thus I value your regard and would like to have an opportunity to 
 prove my own that I am your very faithful friend." 
 
 " I am sure you are," said Miss Gary Maurice in an earnest tone. 
 
 " Then we understand each other, we are friends ? " 
 
 He held out his ungloved hand. 
 
 " Yes, with all my heart." 
 
 She drew off her own glove and gave him her hand ; he felt its 
 soft and warm pressure. At the same moment the horses stopped. 
 They were at the Mauricewood gate. 
 
 Dr. Haworth looked up on the veranda of the Mauricewood 
 house stood Col. Ross, and his superb riding-horse was at the rack 
 near. 
 
 " Shall I go further, or do you wish me to leave you now ? " said 
 Dr. Haworth. 
 
 " How coldly you say that ! What is the matter ? " exclaimed 
 the young lady, looking up at him impulsively. 
 
 " You have a visitor. One of the greatest blunders a man can 
 commit is to be de trop." 
 
 " You will not be de trop ! The idea ! " 
 
 " Do you wish me to come ? " 
 
 " Certainly ! You know how very glad we all are to see you,"
 
 COL. ROS3 TAKES A NIGHT RIDE. 
 
 37 
 
 " Col. Ross may remain all night." 
 
 " Why should not Dr. Haworth remain also, then ? " said Miss 
 Gary, smiling. 
 
 " Because one is a stranger myself I mean ; and the other an 
 old friend. He is more than a friend, perhaps." 
 
 " More ? " she said quickly. " I assure you you are mistaken, 
 sir ! " 
 
 " No more ? " he persisted, looking steadily at her. 
 
 " Not the least bit ! " said Miss Gary, laughing. 
 
 " Well, to be frank, I am glad to know that," said Dr. Haworth 
 coolly, " but I find, after all, that I shall be obliged to return home." 
 
 And as they had reached the house now, he assisted the young 
 lady to dismount, bowed and departed. 
 
 IX. 
 
 COL. ROSS TAKES A NIGHT RIDE. 
 
 COL. Ross didn't remain at Mauricewood later than about 8 
 in the evening. At that hour he rose, bowed deferentially, and al 
 leging business in Abbeyville on his way home, took his departure. 
 
 The moon was shining, and he rode on slowly with an expression 
 of decided discomposure. He had not been able to exchange more 
 than a few commonplaces with Miss Gary Maurice in the midst of 
 the family circle ; but that hardly accounted for his expression of 
 moody displeasure. In fact, Col. Ross was thinking of something 
 very different, as some muttered words now and then indicated. 
 
 What had occurred was this : On his arrival at Mauricewood he 
 had found Mrs. Maurice confined to her room by a headache, and 
 Miss Gary absent, but Mr. Tim Maurice received and entertained 
 him. They had entered into a conversation, and a chance allusion 
 by the old gentleman to Dr. Haworth had naturally led Col. Ross to 
 say: 
 
 " He is a visitor in the neighborhood, I believe ? " 
 
 " A gentleman traveling for his pleasure, and a very agreeable 
 man, I assure you," replied Uncle Tim. 
 
 Col. Ross inclined his head politely, but said : 
 
 " My experience, Mr. Maurice, is a little opposed to putting too 
 much confidence in strangers unaccredited people. I do not
 
 38 COL. ROSS TAKES A NIGHT RIDE. 
 
 mean, of course, to say anything to the prejudice of your friend Dr., 
 Haworth, for he seems to have become a friend of the family." 
 
 " Why, yes ; he is very intelligent, and plays the best game of 
 chess I ever saw ! " 
 
 " I know that you consider that an admirable trait in anybody," 
 said Col. Ross ; " but it is not a guarantee of character." 
 
 " I believe Dr. Haworth to be perfectly open and honorable." 
 
 " No doubt, and you say he is intelligent ? " 
 
 " Extremely so. I was much struck by his acuteness the other 
 day, when I was telling him of our unfortunate family tragedy my 
 brother's death, you know." 
 
 " Ah ! you told him about that old affair ? " 
 
 " Yes, he seemed curious to hear the details, and, I observed, 
 listened with the closest attention. Afterwards in discussing the 
 question of Mr. Ducis' connection with the murder he indicated 
 great acuteness of intellect. He suggested as Mr. Ducis' probable 
 defense the one actually set us by his counsel even to the possible 
 erasure in the warehouse ledger by the real criminal. You will re 
 member the case.' 1 
 
 " Yes," said Col. Ross, speaking slowly with his eyes fixed upon 
 the opposite wall, " I believe I remember." 
 
 " I have some reason, you see, for speaking of Dr. Haworth as a 
 man of intelligence," added Mr. Tim Maurice. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " I should call him a man of great penetration. All his com 
 ments on the case proved that." 
 
 " He had a theory, of course, as to the real murderer ? " said 
 Col. Ross. 
 
 " Yes. He was clearly of opinion that Mr. Ducis was guilty 
 if not, then Wilkins and the woman Pitts ; that one struck the blow 
 and the other carried off the money." 
 
 Col. Ross made no reply to this for a moment ; he then said : 
 
 " So strange a story must have interested Dr. Haworth." 
 
 " He seemed very much interested. Such puzzles, he said, had 
 always had a great attraction for him." 
 
 " They have for most people and your friend inquired into 
 every detail ? " 
 
 " Minutely. If he had been a detective he could scarcely have 
 been more curious," said Mr. Maurice, smiling. 
 
 " He is not probably a detective," replied Col. Ross coolly, " but
 
 COL. ROSS TAKES A NIGHT RIDE. 39 
 
 then you will not think me intrusive, I hope, Mr. Maurice, if I add 
 that he is a stranger." 
 
 " Well, stranger or not, he is a delightful fellow ! " cried Uncle 
 Tim, with friendly warmth ; " quiet in his manners, thoroughly well- 
 bred, and plays a superb game of chess." 
 
 As Miss Gary had made her appearance at this moment the dis 
 cussion of Dr. Haworth's merits and demerits proceeded no further, 
 and Col. Ross had concentrated his attention on the young lady. 
 She had not received him with much warmth. His quick eye de 
 tected an almost imperceptible alteration in her manner. It was 
 perfectly courteous, but the riante ease which habitually character 
 ized it was absent, and Col. Ross, moodily reflecting, attributed the 
 change to Miss Gary's riding companion. 
 
 Hence the impression of displeasure on his face as he rode back 
 toward Abbeyville through the moonlight. As he reflected, his eye 
 brows steadily contracted and a sullen fire kindled beneath them. 
 
 " What is this man's errand here ? " he muttered. " Who is he ? 
 I know his name and heard of his visit to the United States, but 
 what brings him here ? What is he trying to find out ? " 
 
 He reflected for a moment and added in the same tone : 
 
 " He may only be interested in a puzzle a ' mysterious crime,' 
 as the newspapers head their reports. But there is the chance it 
 is possible whatever his motive is he may make trouble." 
 
 Col. Ross drew rein as he said this, and his horse stopped. 
 Looking toward the hill country west of Mauricewood, he hesitated, 
 reflected and said at length : 
 
 " I will put them on their guard. That old chatterbox yonder 
 has given him the names, and he will be sure to hunt them up he 
 may have already done so." 
 
 Col. Ross then turned into a side road winding through woods, 
 went on at full gallop and in about three-quarters of an hour was in 
 front of the cabin occupied by the man and woman visited by Dr. 
 Haworth. The presence of the horseman was announced by a vio 
 lent barking from the cur. At this the slatternly woman came to 
 the door and peered out. Col. Ross had dismounted, and as he 
 was within a few feet of her, she had no difficulty in recognizing him. 
 
 "Has a stranger been here? " he said, in a brief and abrupt tone. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " Heavy brown mustache, sunburnt, middle height, and looks 
 straight through you ? "
 
 40 
 
 COL. ROSS TAKES A NIGHT RIDE. 
 
 " That's him." 
 
 " What did he want ? " 
 
 " A gourd of water he was out hunting." 
 
 " It was a mistake. He was hunting lor you." 
 
 The woman changed color, but made no reply. 
 
 " What did he say to you ! " continued Col. Ross, in the same 
 abrupt tone. 
 
 " He talked about a murder trial somewhere and tracking up 
 some bank-notes." 
 
 " Well ? " 
 
 " The man that murdered the other one was found out by the 
 figures on the notes." 
 
 "Well?" 
 
 " And he was hung," said the woman, with a slight shiver. 
 
 "Well?" 
 
 At each repetition of the word " well " the voice of the speaker 
 seemed to grow colder and more threatening. 
 
 " Then he left," added the woman, " and Job wanted to put a 
 bullet in him." 
 
 " The best thing he could have done," said Col. Ross, coldly. 
 " Is he in there ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " Call him here. I have something to say to him and you." 
 
 " Better come in and say it quiet. There's never any certainty 
 that nobody's near by." 
 
 She looked around her as if suspecting the presence of some 
 eavesdropper, but there was only the mangy cur in his kennel, the 
 pig-sty, the ash heap, the broken fence and the scraggy thicket. 
 
 "You are right," Col. Ross said. "What I have to say had 
 better be said without listeners." 
 
 He then went into the house and the door closed. After about 
 half an hour he came out again and mounted his horse. The man 
 Wilkins had followed him to the fence. 
 
 " Remember what I told you," Col. Ross said in a low tone. 
 " Be on your guard. This man is cool, strong, rich, and it will not 
 do to try to frighten him. That means he is dangerous. If he 
 comes back here take care what you say." 
 
 " If he comes back I'll put an ounce of lead into him." 
 
 " Well that's your affair." 
 
 He touched his horse, set forward, and reaching the main road
 
 DR. HA WORTH DISCOVERS A UKENESS. 41 
 
 was heard galloping toward Abbeyville. The man Wilkins had 
 gone back into the house and shut the door. 
 
 It seemed that the woman with the dishevelled hair had given 
 Col. Ross some very good advice. As soon as the cabin door 
 closed, something which resembled a moving shadow detached it 
 self from the rear of the cabin which was opposite the moon and 
 gained the thicket in which it disappeared. This shadow was Jean 
 Baptiste, and his presence can be accounted for in a very simple 
 manner. He had grown a little uneasy about Dr. Haworth, who 
 had not returned at nightfall, and fearing that some accident had 
 happened to him in hunting, Jean, who had nothing else to do, fol 
 lowed the hoof-prints of his horse. This was not difficult, as a 
 slight rain had fallen the night before, and there was little travel on 
 the mountain roads. He traced the hoof-prints to the cabin of the 
 two hill people, and was about to approach and inquire if any one had 
 seen Dr. Haworth when Col. Ross made his appearance. As Jean 
 was quite concealed from view in the thicket he remained quiet, 
 listened to the colloquy between the woman and her visitor ; and 
 when they went into the house gained the rear where there was a 
 small window. Through this he had cautiously looked, but could 
 only see that the three persons were in earnest conversation. As 
 they spoke in a low tone it was impossible to hear them. 
 
 After the departure of Col. Ross, Jean, knowing that his further 
 stay was useless, stole away and went back rapidly to the home in 
 the hills, where he found Dr. Haworth, who had just returned from 
 Mauricewood. 
 
 X. 
 
 DR. HAWORTH DISCOVERS A LIKENESS. 
 
 WHEN Dr. Haworth rode to Mauricewood some days after these 
 incidents and was told that the ladies had again driven out, his ex 
 pression of disappointment might have revealed a great deal to Mr. 
 Tim Maurice if he had been a person of curious disposition. In 
 truth, with Cary Maurice absent there was no longer any sunshine 
 at Mauricewood, and even Mr. Tim Maurice's cheerful talk did not 
 seem to entertain his guest. It was only when the old gentleman 
 said : " We had a visit from Col. Ross last night," that Dr. Ha 
 worth seemed to arouse himself.
 
 42 1>R. HAVfORTH DISCOVERS A LIKENESS. 
 
 " He is a tolerably frequent visitor, I believe, Mr. Maurice ? " he 
 said, speaking in his habitually composed tone. 
 
 " Yes, he has become quite regular in his attentions to my 
 niece Ellen and myself," replied Uncle Tim, jocosely. 
 
 "You mean, I suppose, to Miss Maurice?" 
 
 " Yes, I mean that." 
 
 " He is paying her his addresses ? " 
 
 " I think there can be no doubt of it." 
 
 " Is she going to marry him ? " 
 
 " Well," that is rather a puzzling question. Women are won 
 drous in their way, and wondrous uncertain also, unfathomable. 
 Books say so. I don't know much about them myself." 
 
 " Will you permit me to ask you a question, Mr. Maurice ? It 
 may appear a little unceremonious." 
 
 " Certainly. Do so without ceremony." 
 
 " Do you and Mrs. Maurice approve of Col. Ross' attentions ? " 
 
 " Well," said Uncle Tim, dubiously, " I never meddle in such 
 matters myself, and Ellen Mrs. Maurice has great confidence in 
 Gary. I suppose I may say that what Gary thinks will probably de 
 cide the matter." 
 
 " Pardon me for saying that you have not answered my question." 
 
 " Your question ? " 
 
 " If Miss Maurice's family approve of an alliance with Col. Ross. 
 Frankly, I do not particularly admire him." 
 
 Mr. Tim Maurice laughed heartily. 
 
 " Well, do you know that it is pretty much my own senti.nent," 
 he said. " It is curious, but there is something about our friend the 
 Colonel which rather jars on one at times. It is hard to say what 
 it is but there it is." 
 
 Dr. Haworth reflected for a moment then he said : 
 
 " I have no doubt Col. Ross has made me the subject of con 
 versation, and asked what brought me to the neighborhood." 
 
 " Yes, he asked me the question." 
 
 " Well, then, I am fairly entitled to ask you who he is, in my 
 turn." 
 
 " He is the son of a gentleman of this county who died about 
 twenty years ago. Young Ross was educated for the navy, and 
 spent some years cruising, I believe, but afterwards resigned and 
 entered the Chilian army or navy, I think. He is now a guano or 
 nitrate contractor or agent, I hear."
 
 DR. PI A WORTH DISCOVERS A LIKENESS. 
 
 43 
 
 " He is rich, I believe ? " 
 
 " He is said to be very rich." 
 
 " Well, I presume he acquired his wealth in South America, and 
 where I understand you to say he has always lived when not on his 
 cruises, until recently." 
 
 " He has not always lived there. When he was a young man of 
 from 20 to 25 he succeeded to his father's estate, and was frequently 
 at home." 
 
 " You were no doubt acquainted with him at that time." 
 
 " Yes, but the acquaintance was slight. He was rather well, 
 what is called wild." 
 
 You mean dissipated." 
 
 " That is the polite word. But it is rather too polite to express 
 the exact idea. Young Ross was what is vulgarly called a ' hard 
 case.' I remember an unlucky affair of his in which my poor 
 brother was concerned." 
 
 " Your brother, Mr. James Maurice ? " 
 
 " Yes, he was a magistrate, and young Ross was brought before 
 him in Abbeyville for some drunken misconduct. My brother was 
 anxious to let him off with an admonition, but he openly insulted 
 the court, told my brother in fact that he was an ' old fool ' and 
 was committed to jail for contempt." 
 
 " Ah ! Then your brother and the present Col. Ross were possi 
 bly not very good friends ? " 
 
 " Very naturally they were not. My brother felt that he had been 
 unwarrantably insulted, and young Ross professed to regard his 
 commitment to jail as a gross outrage ; he went so far, it is said, as 
 to swear that my brother should smart for it." 
 
 " Ah ! " Dr. Haworth said once more. His companion's reminis 
 cences seemed to interest him very much. 
 
 " If that incident occurred about twenty years ago," he said, " it 
 must have been about the time of Mr. James Maurice's death." 
 
 " I think it just preceded it." 
 
 " I suppose there was little intimacy between young Ross and 
 your family ? " 
 
 " None at all." 
 
 " He was not acquainted with the present Mrs. Maurice ? " 
 
 " It is possible yes ; I remember seeing him at Mauricewood, 
 but not more than once or twice, I think." 
 
 " And Mr. John Maurice was also a stranger to him ? "
 
 44 DR. HA WORTH DISCOVERS A LIKENESS. 
 
 " Yes no. Really, I am remembering a number of things. It 
 was said that the two young men had not only known each other, 
 but had a quarrel about a woman in South America. John was 
 attache there, and I remember there was some vague talk of a duel, 
 or quarrel at least, between him and our friend the Colonel, who was 
 then a naval officer." 
 
 " Ah ! a quarrel ? " 
 
 " About some woman, as I said. Y^u s^e, they make all the 
 trouble which makes me keep clear of the dear creatures, Doctor. 
 Yes, there was certainly a quarrel of some sort between young Ross 
 and John Maurice, and that may have explained his absence from 
 the wedding." 
 
 " Mr. John Maurice's wedding ? " 
 
 " Yes. I remember he was not present." 
 
 Dr. Haworth nodded. 
 
 " After all, you are better acquainted with Col. Ross than you 
 think, Mr. Maurice," he said ; " and as he is received at Maurice- 
 wood now in so friendly a manner, it is a proof that he has reformed 
 the objectionable traits in his character if there were such." 
 
 " I have no doubt that he has done so." 
 
 " Then you will not oppose his matrimonial views ? " 
 
 Mr. Tim Maurice made a dubious movement with his lips and 
 said : 
 
 " Well, I should be sorry to see Cary marry him, with all his 
 wealth, as he and poor John were enemies. It is natural to take up 
 the family dislike, you see." 
 
 " You were no doubt attached to young Mr. Maurice ? " 
 
 "Attached to him ! I was devoted to him. He was a splendid 
 youngster ; as brave as steel, as firm as a rock, and you had only to 
 look at him to see that he was a noble fellow." 
 
 " You speak with enthusiasm." 
 
 "Well, not extravagantly. We have his portrait." 
 
 "Ah!" 
 
 " Would you like to see it ? It is in my niece's chamber, but she 
 will not mind my taking you up." 
 
 " I should be very glad to see it." 
 
 " Then you need only follow, Doctor." 
 
 Mr. Tim Maurice led the way up the winding staircase with the 
 elastic step of a boy, followed by Dr. Haworth, and they reached 
 the second floor, where a neatly-matted hall, corresponding to that
 
 PROF. LESNER'S THEORY. 
 
 45 
 
 down stairs, gave access to the numerous apartments. Mr. Maurice 
 opened a door on the right and entered a chamber of lofty pitch, 
 with lace curtains, an old-fashioned bedstead, with tall posts and a 
 tester, and many easy-chairs disposed in front of a wide fireplace, 
 where a wood fire was burning on ancient brass andirons. Over 
 the narrow, carved mantelpiece was a fine oil painting representing 
 a very handsome young man of about 25, with blue eyes, short, 
 black curls, and a frank and open smile. 
 
 " There is poor John's picture," said Uncle Tim. 
 
 Dr. Haworth looked up at it. It was the most remarkable 
 likeness of Jean Baptiste. 
 
 At the same moment the voice of Miss Gary was heard calling 
 from the hall below : 
 
 " Where are you, Uncle ? " 
 
 XL 
 
 PROF. LESNER'S THEORY. 
 
 DR. HAWORTH rode away from Mauricewood a little before 
 sunset. Gary's hand had remained in his own a moment as he 
 bowed and took leave. She was charming as she leaned back in 
 her arm-chair, looking up at him out of her great blue eyes, with a 
 little color in her cheeks and a happy smile. His own fixed look 
 made the roses redder, and then the following dialogue ensued : 
 
 " You have forgotten the portfolio, Miss Maurice." 
 
 " Oh, you must not trouble yourself to take it." 
 
 " It is no trouble." 
 
 " I can return it to Prof. Lesner by a servant." 
 
 " He may wish it it is scarcely a quarter of a mile out of my 
 way." 
 
 " You are very kind then." 
 
 And Miss Gary delivered the portfolio, after which Dr. Haworth 
 rode away. He went on in profound thought and reached Prof. Les- 
 ner's just at sunset. That gentleman was seated on a rustic bench 
 with a canary singing beside him, a bunch of autumn blooms in his 
 button-hole, and reading a folio volume which rested on his knees. 
 
 " Dr. Haworth, if my poor eyes do not deceive me," he said, ris 
 ing courteously.
 
 46 PROF. LESKER'S THEORY. 
 
 His visitor bowed. 
 
 " Miss Maurice requested me to return your portfolio, sir that 
 which contained the ferns." 
 
 " It was unnecessary ; I had quite lost sight of it. Sit down, 
 Doctor, sit down." 
 
 And the benignant old Professor pointed to the rustic bench, 
 which was large enough for two or three persons. 
 
 " I was reading it is nearly my only amusement," he said. " I 
 am a little lonely now and then, as I have never married a gieat 
 mistake but I manage to pass the time." 
 
 " Reading is occupation," Dr. Haworth said. He had taken his 
 seat resolving to remain a few moments. 
 
 " A great resource," returned the smiling old Professor. 
 
 " But a more effectual means still of killing time is writing I 
 mean literary composition." 
 
 " I have found that true, Doctor." 
 
 " You write, then ? " 
 
 " Yes, a little on scientific subjects." 
 
 " On physical science, perhaps ? " 
 
 " Yes ; I know of no other." 
 
 " There is the psychological." 
 
 Prof. Lesner looked at his visitor. The title of his work about 
 to be published by Mr. Burdette was the " Psychology of Opium." 
 
 Prof. Lesner, seeing only a composed face opposite to him, which 
 indicated nothing, shook his head and replied : 
 
 " I am afraid the term psychological, as applied to science, is 
 misleading. The soul if there is one is a mystery, and we know 
 nothing of it." 
 
 " Do you doubt the existence of a soul in man ? " 
 
 Prof. Lesner did not reply for a moment. He then said mildly : 
 
 " Is it proved to exist ? The body exists." 
 
 " Are you certain ? " 
 
 " I think I am," said Prof. Lesner smiling. " My senses prove 
 its existence." 
 
 " The senses are not trustworthy. You are no doubt aware of 
 the phenomena accompanying hallucination ? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " That certain excellent people distinctly see the dead come into 
 the room where they sit ? " 
 
 " Yes, Doctor ; but these excellent people have diseased senses.
 
 PROF. LESNER' S THEORY. 47 
 
 In a normal state these same senses are reliable, and the only re 
 liance." 
 
 " You attach no faith, then, to the inborn sentiment of the exist 
 ence of a soul and a future life ? " 
 
 " I am obliged to repeat, Doctor, that nothing is proved. Evo 
 lution development that is demonstrated." 
 
 " That man descends or ascends from the monkeys ? " 
 
 The Professor laughed. 
 
 " That is one of the popular phrases which obscure scientific 
 discussion." 
 
 " Phrases often have a rude truth in them," said Dr. Haworth, 
 " as where Mr. Carlyle calls the development theory the ' Gospel of 
 dirt.' " 
 
 " A hardy adversary, my dear Doctor ! But Mr. Carlyle was not 
 a sound thinker. He was all his life tormented by dyspepsia. That 
 clouds the mind." 
 
 " No doubt he was a sufferer like Heine, though, unlike Heine, 
 he never resorted to anodynes." 
 
 " Heine was a very great genius," said Prof. Lesner. 
 
 " And believed in nothing but the agony in his spine. It is not 
 surprising that he lived on opium." 
 
 " It is not surprising," said Prof. Lesner, sighing ; " and he was 
 much more excusable than Coleridge." 
 
 " You blame Coleridge ? " 
 
 " Of course, Doctor. Poor Heine was incessantly wracked with 
 pain, but it is not said that Coleridge was. He fell a victim to the 
 drug from weakness of will and the force of circumstances." 
 
 " I have forgotten the details. Did he smoke or use the drug in 
 the form of laudanum ? " 
 
 "The latter, I believe." 
 
 " Smoking seems to be the method preferred by the Chinese at 
 least, the papers say so of the Chinese population of New York." 
 
 " I think so," said Prof. Lesner sadly. 
 
 Dr. Haworth, who had directed the conversation to the opium 
 subject more from inadvertence than design, felt a sentiment of com 
 punction as he looked at the sad face and gray hair of his companion. 
 He had no desire whatever to make the application of his views per 
 sonal, or reveal his knowledge of the scene in Mott street. Here 
 was an old scholar, who had, no doubt, accidentally contracted the 
 habit of using opium, probably like De Quincey, to relieve physical
 
 48 PROF. LESNER' S THEORY. 
 
 pain at first, and finally as a source of mental enjoyment in his 
 lonely condition. It was unfortunate there all ended. 
 
 " Well, I believe it is conceded, sir," he said, " that the opium 
 habit, under whatever form, is unfortunate. It is said to subjugate 
 the will and destroy a man's energy. But let us change the topic. 
 I am returning from an agreeable visit to Mauricewood." 
 
 " A delightful place ! " said old Prof. Lesner, brightening up. 
 
 " You know the family the rest as well a Miss Maurice ? " 
 
 " Oh, yes ! They are all my attached friends." 
 
 " I congratulate you upon having such attractive neighbors." 
 
 " Yes, I always feel as if the sunshine were coming out when 1 
 am in sight of the house," said Prof. Lesner cheerfully, " though I 
 seldom leave home." 
 
 "That is very poetical and very just your description. The 
 family deserve some credit, too, for their cheerfulness under the cir 
 cumstances." 
 
 " The circumstances ? " said the Professor, with a puzzled look. 
 
 " I referred to the unfortunate affair which took place, you know, 
 at Mauricewood the murder of Mr. Maurice." 
 
 The Professor sighed and said : 
 
 " I suppose Mr. Tim Maurice mentioned it. Yes, it was a touch 
 ing affair. But time wears away the memory of almost everything, 
 Doctor. Miss Gary was not born and her mother has, I think, 
 nearly forgotten it. It occurred, I think yes fully twenty years 
 ago." 
 
 " A very singular affair. I confess it has puzzled me completely 
 to arrive at any satisfactory conclusion in reference to it." 
 
 " You mean as to the real person who committed the crime 
 yes, that is still a mystery." 
 
 " Have you ever framed an hypothesis ? " said Dr. Haworth. 
 yielding to the temptation to discuss what had become his possess 
 ing idea. Prof. Lesner shook his head. 
 
 " None that satisfies me," he replied. 
 
 " I understood that you doubt whether Mr. Ducis was the crimi 
 nal ? " 
 
 " I could never believe it. His character contradicted the very 
 idea. In spite of the terribly circumstantial evidence, I could never 
 convince myself that Mr. Ducis was in any manner connected with 
 the crime." 
 
 " Was the woman the servant or housekeeper? "
 
 PROF. LESNER'S THEORY. 
 
 49 
 
 " That also seems improbable. Women are not apt to commit 
 murder by means of deadly weapons." 
 
 " There was a man, a manager, I believe, with whom Mr. Mau 
 rice had quarreled. I think he was arrested and charged with the 
 murder." 
 
 " Yes, but both he and the woman were discharged, as there 
 was no proof against them." 
 
 " Still, the crime was actually committed. Mr. Maurice died by 
 violence, and some one must have been concerned in the event." 
 
 Prof. Lesner nodded and seemed to reflect. He then said : 
 
 " This is the first time in many years that the subject has been 
 recalled to my mind. I remember, however, the drift of my specu 
 lations at the time. You will probably differ with me in my conclu 
 sion, however; it has not much, I confess, to support it." 
 
 " You came to a conclusion, then ? " said Dr. Haworth, turning 
 his head quickly. 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " I should be very much interested if you would state it." 
 
 " I will do so with pleasure, though it will probably appear ab 
 surd. After reflecting upon the whole matter, I concluded in my 
 own mind that Mr. Maurice was not murdered at all." 
 
 " Not murdered ? " 
 
 " That he himself was the author of the accident which resulted 
 in his death." 
 
 " He himself ? the accident ? " 
 
 " Yes an accident so simple that from its very simplicity it 
 never occurred to anybody. If you have observed the floors at 
 Mauricewood you must have admired their high polish which is the 
 result of continuous scrubbing. There was formerly, and I believe 
 is still, in the South, a great preference for bare floors, which are 
 much cooler in the summer than those covered with carpeting or 
 matting. The only objection to them is the defacement produced 
 by grease or other stains ; and this has always been counteracted 
 by laborious scrubbing with a heavy block of wood to the face of 
 which is affixed a stiff brush or a mat of com ' shucks,' as we call 
 them. A long handle is inserted into the block, and by dragging it 
 to and fro a very smooth surface and high polish is produced by 
 the friction." 
 
 " Yes, yes, I understand, sir. But your theory " 
 
 " I will proceed to state it, my dear Doctor. If it seems fanci- 
 3
 
 5O PROF. I.ES.YER'S THEORY. 
 
 ful it will do no harm. My theory, then, is that the chamber occu 
 pied by Mr. Maurice on the night of the marriage was thus scrubbed 
 to a degree which rendered it slippery. He probably rose during 
 the night, possibly to close the window, which may have been left 
 open, and putting on his slippers attempted to do so." 
 
 " And" 
 
 " You understand me, I see. He slipped and lost his balance, 
 and in falling struck his temple against an angle of the carved bed 
 stead, uttered a cry of pain, and staggering to the bed groaned so 
 that he waked his wife the whole resulting in his death from syn 
 cope." 
 
 Dr. Haworth, who had listened attentively, shook his head and 
 said: 
 
 " I fear that theory is what you call it fanciful. How are we 
 to account for the disappearance of the money, and the hammer 
 and glove ? " 
 
 " I have never been able to do so. Everything is pure conjec 
 ture. As to the first the sum in gold and bank-notes which Mr. 
 Maurice was supposed to have placed on his night-table when he 
 undressed the evidence, I think, was rather vague. It was shown, 
 if I remember aright, that he did place it there. If so, it was, of 
 course, stolen possibly by the housekeeper or it may have been 
 knocked from the table by Mr. Maurice in regaining the bed after his 
 fall, and afterwards found by some dishonest servant under the bed." 
 
 " That is possible, but not probable." 
 
 " But we are driven to conjecture, and I grant you all this is 
 pure supposition. It seems tolerably certain that some one must 
 have stolen the sum, unless Mr. Maurice used it, of which there is 
 no proof." 
 
 " And the gloves and hammer ? " 
 
 " As I said, I could never account for either. The hammer was 
 apparently of the sort only used for chipping rock specimens. I 
 examined it, I remember. But it was utterly unreasonable to con 
 vict Mr. Ducis merely on the strength of so trifling a circumstance." 
 
 " But the buckskin riding-glove ? " 
 
 " That was more absurd still. The hammer was a hammer and 
 the glove was a glove, and they were both found near the scene of 
 the crime, that was all. To prove that they were the property of 
 Mr. Ducis or some other murderer was essential, if that was all the 
 evidence."
 
 PROF. LESNER'S THEORY. tjj 
 
 "Your view is singular," said Dr. Haworth thoughtfully. "I 
 can scarcely say that it convinces me." 
 
 " It is merely suggested in reply to your question what I thought 
 of the affair, Doctor." 
 
 Dr. Haworth bowed. 
 
 " I am much interested in this enigma," he said, " a common 
 weakness in the case of idle people. I see you regard Mr. Ducis as 
 an innocent man what is your opinion of the question of the alibi 
 set up by the defense ? " 
 
 " I have always thought that Mr. Ducis was really absent at the 
 time of the murder, and that the register on the warehouse books 
 was simply a clerical error." 
 
 " A clerical error? " 
 
 " Yes, Doctor. Mr. Ducis, I remember, stated that he had 
 made some purchases on a certain day the day of the murder 
 and not returned home until the next day. The warehouse ledger 
 contradicted him, but it is probable that the clerk or proprietor had 
 neglected to make the entry of the purchase on the day before, and 
 possibly seeing Mr. Ducis pass on his way home was reminded of 
 his forgetfulness, and from oversight made the entry as of that date. 
 This, you see, would allow for the fact that the warehouse ledger 
 did not establish the alibi." 
 
 " A trifle involving a man's life ! " 
 
 " Yes, unhappily, what are called trifles very often do. I am 
 only trying to establish an hypothesis, you see, consistent with Mr. 
 Ducis' innocence. The ledger seemed to show that he had not 
 made the purchases on the day of Mr. Maurice's death, but on the 
 day succeeding. There was another hypothesis that you may re 
 gard as the most fanciful of all, but it really occurred to me." 
 
 " What was that ? " 
 
 " That Mr. Maurice's death was the result of a deep design con 
 ceived by some secret enemy of Mr. Ducis, who entered the ware 
 house and changed the date." 
 
 " As we are wandering on the ocean of conjecture," said Dr. 
 Haworth, " that, also, was possible." 
 
 " It was shown, I think, to be a mistake. There was no erasure 
 such as would have been necessary, in altering the date in the 
 ledger. I am, therefore, forced to adopt the clerical error theory." 
 
 Prof. Lesner then sighed, and said : 
 
 " These old neighborhood matters occurred a long time sine?, 
 
 i
 
 52 JEAN- BAPTISTE. 
 
 I seldom recall them, as they are rather saddening, and only puzzle 
 my poor brains. As I said, I never believed that Mr. Ducis was 
 guilty, but human nature is a strange mixture. He was a man of 
 the highest character, but it must be confessed appearances were 
 terribly against him. Now, let us converse of something more 
 cheerful, Doctor. Do you make any stay in the neighborhood ? If 
 I were as young and good looking as yourself I should find it diffi 
 cult to leave the vicinity of Mauricewood." 
 
 The Professor smiled rather slyly, and as Dr. Haworth rose to 
 go, said : 
 
 " Come and see me whenever you have leisure, though there is 
 not much to attract you in the society of a poor old scholar like 
 myself. I have been quite interested in our talk." 
 
 " And I also, sir." 
 
 " I am glad we touched on the subject. I never omit an oppor 
 tunity to say that I believe Mr. Ducis was innocent ; he was one of 
 my kindest friends. True, all the Maurice family were the same, 
 but I shrink from injustice. I am sure Mr. Ducis was innocent." 
 
 " I am not certain I do not have your view," said Dr. Haworth, 
 " and am much obliged by your invitation. I will be glad to avail 
 myself of it." 
 
 " He then bowed and rode away in deep reflection. He was no 
 doubt revolving in his mind the simple hypothesis suggested by 
 Prof. Lesner that Mr. Maurice's death was the result of accident. 
 Could that have been true ? It was possible but Dr. Haworth 
 shook his head. 
 
 " I do not believe it ! " he muttered. 
 
 XII. 
 
 JEAN BAPTISTE. 
 
 ON this evening, about dusk, Jean Baptiste was seated on a 
 bench in front of the modest house of " Hunter Wilson," in the 
 hills, amusing his noisy children who had gathered around him, by 
 telling them wonderful stories. They were listening m open-eyed 
 astonishment, and a little girl who was perched on his knee looked 
 at him with open mouth and the profoundest admiration. 
 
 At the approach of Dr. Haworth, however, the wonders came to
 
 BAPTISTS. 53 
 
 a sudden end. Jean let down the little girl, and ran to meet the 
 Doctor with a smile of pleasure. 
 
 " Your Excellency is just in time for supper broiled venison," 
 he exclaimed, taking the horse. 
 
 " And you are hungry, no doubt, Jean ! " he said, looking kindly 
 at the boy. 
 
 " Not so hungry," laughed Jean. 
 
 " Will you throw my bridle over that bough, then, and come and 
 talk with me a few minutes ? " 
 
 Dr. Haworth went to a knoll about fifty yards distant where a 
 ledge of rock jutted from the sward, and sat down, pointing to the 
 place beside him. Jean took the seat and looked at his master in 
 quiringly. 
 
 " I have never told you how much you have interested me, 
 Jean," said Dr. Haworth. " At your age young fellows are gener 
 ally mere boys. You are a prudent and acute man, as when you 
 repeated to me every word uttered by Col. Ross to those people." 
 
 Jean colored slightly and said : 
 
 " Do you know what makes me cool ? " 
 
 "What?" 
 
 " Devotion to your Excellency." 
 
 " Very well. Devotion is a trait which is apt to be repaid in the 
 same coin. Now, to come to another matter. I want you to tell 
 me all you know about yourself your history." 
 
 " My history ? " 
 
 " The story of your life in South America, before I became ac 
 quainted with you." 
 
 " When I was a boy ? " 
 
 " From your childhood ; you have told me something, but it was 
 not much. I found you roaming about Lima ; a young fellow with 
 a bright face, ready to turn an honest penny, and a penny of no 
 other sort. So I took you into my service. I liked your face." 
 
 " You were so kind ! You were always so good to me ! " 
 
 " Leave that aside, and tell me your story." 
 
 " There is none to tell. My first recollection of myself is travel 
 ing on the high road to Callao, slung behind old Mother Pinza's 
 shoulders in a sort of pouch. She was not my mother she was an 
 old half-breed, and lived a lonely life, so I ran off one day when I 
 was about 10 years old and went to Lima." 
 
 " Who were your father and mother? "
 
 54 JEAN BAPTISTS. 
 
 At this question Jean Baptiste shook his head. 
 
 "I really do not know," he said. "I often tried to find out 
 something about myself, but old Mother Pinza couldn't tell me. 
 She was very ignorant. All I could get from her amounted to very 
 little." 
 
 " What was it ? " 
 
 ' Well, I could only make out that I had been left with her when 
 I was a baby by some one or other." 
 
 " She could not tell you the names of your parents, then ? " 
 
 " She either could not or would not. I think she could not." 
 
 " And you never discovered any traces of them ? " 
 
 " No, Excellency. I only remember hearing vaguely in some 
 way that my father was an American." 
 
 " A South American ? " 
 
 " No, a native of the United States." 
 
 " And your mother ? " 
 
 " I do not know who my mother was, but I think she was a 
 French woman. You know my name is Jean Baptiste." 
 
 " Possibly ; so this is all you can tell me ? " 
 
 " All, Excellency you see it is almost nothing." 
 
 " Are your father and mother living ? " 
 
 " I think they are dead." 
 
 " When did they die ? " 
 
 Jean again shook his head and said : 
 
 " I know nothing at all about it, Excellency. I know it was very 
 foolish in me to be so indifferent on the subject. I was not really 
 indifferent, but I am sure I might have found out more if I had 
 been more persevering. But you know how it is in South America. 
 People live a careless life under the blazing sun. They eat and 
 sleep and don't think much. I was too ignorant to take the right 
 steps, and have always been too thoughtless and light hearted." 
 
 " Your heart may have been light, but it has always been in the 
 right place," said Dr. Haworth. " So you have told me all you 
 know ? " 
 
 Jean reflected before replying. 
 
 " There was a ring," he said suddenly. " I remember playing 
 with it when I was a child." 
 
 " A ring ? " 
 
 " A gold ring I am sure it was my mother's." 
 
 "Where is it?"
 
 JEAN BAPTISTE. 55 
 
 " Mother Pinza must have sold it. I don't know. She was very 
 poor and loved money better than everything else on earth. I re 
 member the ring perfectly well, but she denied all about it when I 
 asked for it just before I left South America." 
 
 " She, no doubt, sold it at Lima or Callao, which are not far, 
 you know, from her cabin." 
 
 " Your Excellency knows where Mother Pinza lived ! " Jean said. 
 
 " Yes," said Dr. Haworth. 
 
 " You have seen her ? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 Jean said nothing more, but he was evidently puzzled. 
 
 "I know Mother Pinza," said Dr. Haworth, "and possibly more 
 about yourself than you have told me. To be plain, the object of 
 this talk was to find whether you had discovered anything after our 
 last conversation at Lima. You don't know when your mother 
 died?" 
 
 " I do not, Excellency." 
 
 "Well, that is all I have to say now, Jean. Supper is waiting." 
 
 They went back and supped with the hunter and his family, 
 after which Dr. Haworth went to his small chamber, in one corner 
 of which was stretched a pallet for the boy. There were writing 
 materials on a table, and he sat down and wrote a letter. This he 
 folded and directed to Senor Espartero, Notary, Calle Plateros, 
 South America, and then leaning back in his chair reflected for a 
 long time. At last he muttered : " Espartero is not a man who 
 fails in anything or loses time where bank notes are concerned. I 
 shall soon have his reply." 
 
 Jean came in and sat down beside the fire. His master looked 
 at him thoughtfully and said : 
 
 " I wish to caution you more than ever, Jean, to be on your 
 guard during our stay in this country. I have said, and repeat, that 
 you are one of the most discreet young men I have ever known, but 
 I caution you again in spite of the fact." 
 
 " You need not," said Jean simply. 
 
 "Well open and close that door." 
 
 Jean reached the door with noiseless feet, opened it, looked out 
 and again closed it. 
 
 " There is no one your Excellency can say what you wish to 
 say." 
 
 " It is only a few words," said Dr. Haworth, speaking in a low
 
 jjg JEAN BAPTISTS. 
 
 tone. " I am here to discover something which I mean to know at 
 whatever risk. There is risk from three people. You have seen 
 them all ; or at least two of them. They are the man you know, 
 the woman you heard him talking with at that house, and the 
 woman's husband." 
 
 Jean, looking intently at his watch, made a quiet movement with 
 his head and said : 
 
 " Yes, Excellency, but Col. Ross is a long way the most danger 
 ous of the three." 
 
 " You really seem to have a great prejudice against our poor 
 friend, the Colonel," said Dr. Haworth, grimly. 
 
 " A prejudice, Excellency ? The man is a snake ! Carrajo ! 
 How I hate him ! He sent that torpedo boat to blow us up in Cal- 
 lao Harbor, and he gave me this cut on my head ! I was off my 
 guard. He was about to cut at me again. Your Excellency saved 
 me by cutting at him ! " 
 
 " Well, I see you don't like him, and your instinct in the matter 
 is a true instinct. To be plain I told you that I meant to trust 
 you implicitly this man has done much worse than cut down an 
 enemy in fair fight. If he has not committed a murder in which I 
 am interested, he has been concerned in it. I have come here to 
 discover all about it, for the gratification of my personal curiosity. 
 He knows my object without knowing what motive I have ; and I 
 need not tell you that a struggle with such a man is a matter of life 
 and death." 
 
 " To both of us yes, Excellency." 
 
 " No not to you." 
 
 " Does your Excellency think I care for my life ? It belongs to 
 you." 
 
 Dr. Haworth looked at the boy and smiled, which made his 
 grave face an attractive spectacle. 
 
 " Gratitude ! " he murmured ; " then the definition of the term is 
 not only ' a word found in the dictionary ! ' " 
 
 Jean looked at him with an expression of the deepest affection, 
 and as if inquiring what he had said. 
 
 " I was muttering to myself, you can see, Jean a bad habit, the 
 result of living in solitude. What I said was that the sentiment 
 called gratitude is a conventional illusion rather than an actual trait 
 of human nature. People talk of it, but rarely meet with it in real 
 life you have it."
 
 BAPTISTS. 
 
 57 
 
 " Have it ? Why should I not have it ? " cried Jean, impulsively. 
 v< Your Excellency took me when I was a poor child in the streets 
 and gave me a home ! You not only gave me a home, but educated 
 me and made me your companion. I was proud to be your servant, 
 to wait on you and do all that I could to please you. But that did 
 not satisfy you you are such an exacting Excellency ! You must 
 make me your secretary and almost a gentleman ! " 
 
 " I did not make you that. You became such of your own mo 
 tion, and not ' almost,' either wholly." 
 
 " Your Excellency is so good ! Well, you saved me not my 
 life only, when that man's cutlass was going to cut me down you 
 saved me from becoming a mere vagabond. Thanks to you, I am 
 educated, well dressed ; I hope I am what is called respectable ! " 
 
 " In every sense, and more." 
 
 " Well, I owe all to you." 
 
 "And you left me," said Dr. Haworth, smiling. 
 
 Jean Baptiste exclaimed : 
 
 " I had to, Excellency ! There was some one who I thought I 
 would go away for a year or two and try to forget her." 
 
 "Well," said Dr. Haworth, smiling, "what is the result? Have 
 you gotten over the effect of your sweet honey-poison ? " 
 
 Jean's color deepened. 
 
 "I can't say I have," he replied with a rueful laugh; "but I 
 keep up my good spirits. Some day I may meet her again." 
 
 " I see you are not cured. When a young lover talks in that 
 way he has not given up all hope. Well patience and shuffle the 
 cards. We are going back to Lima soon ; for you will return, will 
 you not ? " 
 
 " I was thinking of it when you came to New York." 
 
 "Very well ; that is assured, then. Keep up your spirits." 
 
 " They keep up of themselves," said Jean, with a light laugh. 
 
 " Very well ; then we will return together, and you will see her 
 again." 
 
 On the next day Dr. Haworth rode to the Town of Abbeyville 
 and mailed his letter to Senor Espartero. He then returned home 
 ward, and either designedly or unconsciously followed the road 
 leading by Mauricewood. About a mile from the town he heard 
 hoof-strokes behind him rapidly approaching, and turned his head. 
 
 The person following him was Col. Ross.
 
 jg COL. ROSS. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 COL. ROSS. 
 
 COL. Ross rode as usual a very fine animal and was elegantly 
 dressed. His light brown ulster of the finest cloth half covered his 
 superb riding boots, on which he wore silver spurs. His black rid 
 ing cap was trimmed with fur, which also decorated the cuff j of his 
 kid gauntlets. With his tall person, his erect seat in the English 
 saddle, his delicately curled mustache and his ready smile, Col. Ross 
 was the model of a " gallant cavalier." 
 
 " Good morning, Gen. Haworth," he said as he rode up. " We 
 seem to be riding in the same direction. A charming day." 
 
 Dr. Haworth, as we may as well continue to call him, in spite 
 of the title of general thus applied to him, bowed and said : " A 
 delightful morning," after which the two men rode on side by side. 
 
 " In the very first place," said Col. Ross, with a courteous smile, 
 "let me make you an apology, General." 
 
 " An apology ? You owe me none," replied Dr. Haworth, in his 
 composed voice. 
 
 " For meeting you so formally at Mr. Maurice's. I had not an 
 ticipated the pleasure of seeing you, and supposed that I was de 
 ceived by a resemblance. This must be my excuse for so ungra 
 cious a reception of an old friend." 
 
 When Col. Ross said " old friend," he showed a row of very 
 fine white teeth under his black mustache. 
 
 " It was unpardonable ! " he added. 
 
 " Nothing was more natural," said Dr. Haworth. 
 
 " I am glad you are so charitable. I was annoyed by the idea 
 that you might suppose our little differences down yonder had made 
 me unfriendly." This time Col. Ross laughed. " The little affair 
 in Callao harbor, you know ! " he said. 
 
 " A trifle," replied Dr. Haworth. " A difference of flags does 
 not necessarily make men enemies." 
 
 " Surely not. I was in the Chilian service, and you in that of 
 Peru. As a consequence, when we chanced to meet sword in hand, 
 we fought as a matter of course." 
 
 " As a matter of course," said Dr. Haworth, who seemed willing 
 that his companion should bear the burden of the conversation. 
 
 " It has always struck me as somewhat singular that two officers
 
 COL. ROSS. 
 
 59 
 
 of the land forces should have been engaged in that affair," said Col. 
 Ross. " A soldier ought to be contented with the amount of fight 
 ing which falls to his lot in his proper place to avoid volunteering." 
 
 " You are right. I had myself gone on board the Peruvian 
 steamer on a mere matter of business when that ingenious attempt 
 was made to blow up the vessel. Were you aware of it ? " 
 
 " Well, I was not the author of it. Like yourself I was on board 
 ship by mere accident." 
 
 " The device was not your own, then ? " 
 
 " Mine ? No, indeed. I confess I should never have imagined 
 such a thing ! " The Colonel laughed and added : " It was worthy 
 of those Chilian people, who, between you and me, are a bad lot. 
 Our American people would never have thought of fitting a market- 
 boat with a submerged torpedo, filling it with bananas and clusters 
 of white grapes, and turning it adrift in the direction of your war 
 vessel." 
 
 " As you say, the invention was original." 
 
 " It was only explained to me after its execution by the com 
 mander of the Conquestador, with whom I was conversing on the 
 deck of that ship. He pointed to the boat as it drifted toward your 
 steamer and said : ' There is a prize our Peruvian friends are going 
 to haul in with a boat hook.' And then he explained that the sub 
 merged torpedo at the prow of the boat would blow you sky-high ! " 
 
 " He was nearly right." 
 
 " Unfortunately. I say unfortunately because such things are 
 repugnant to my instincts as a North American. I protested, but, 
 of course, had no right to give orders on the ship. I had no choice 
 but to return to shore, or take part in the fight which followed." 
 
 " That is plain." 
 
 " So, when the Conquestador bore down on you, I thought I 
 would stay and see the affair. One of your sailors, you will remem 
 ber, threw a rope and boat hook to catch the boat, with its load of 
 fresh fruits and vegetables. It sheered off as it exploded, which was 
 all that saved you, and then we came to close quarters." 
 
 " In which I can testify that you bore your share." 
 
 Col. Ross bowed politely. 
 
 " I am able to bear the same testimony in regard to yourself, 
 General. You were a thunderbolt ! Excuse my grand language. 
 You know it is the fashion with our dear South Americans, who in 
 variably cry ' God and liberty ! ' when they are about to thrust their
 
 60 COL. ROSS. 
 
 hands into anybody's pockets. I had the honor, I remember, of 
 meeting you sword in hand." 
 
 " After cutting down some of my best men, including a favorite 
 young body servant." 
 
 " I had forgotten that. In fact, the result of things was so un 
 pleasant as to obscure my recollection of particular incidents. You 
 captured your assailant, the Conquestador, and I had the pleasure of 
 a brief residence as a prisoner at Lima, when I was exchanged. I 
 had nearly forgotten all this, but seeing you again has reminded me 
 of it." 
 
 " Naturally. Do you make any stay in the United States ? " 
 
 " Well, I really do not know. I have a little business." 
 
 "Take care! I shall understand what it is without being 
 told." 
 
 " Ah ! " said Col. Ross quietly. 
 
 " Every North American who has business with South America 
 at this time is either a railway contractor or an agent of the guano 
 or nitrate claimants." 
 
 Col. Ross laughed and said : 
 
 " I have heard much of these latter." 
 
 " Landreau and Cochet are the French claimants, I believe." 
 
 " I think so or rather their representatives ; the men them 
 selves are dead." 
 
 " Will the United States interpose ? " 
 
 " I really do not know but see that vista through the oaks ! 
 Decidedly, there is no comparison between North and South 
 America." 
 
 Dr. Haworth evidently acquiesced in the change of topic. 
 
 " I prefer this country," he said, " but shall probably return to 
 Lima at the end of autumn. I find the climate here too agreeable 
 to leave it before I am obliged to do so." 
 
 " It is charming, like the society. I see you have made the ac 
 quaintance of my friends at Mauricewood." 
 
 " I have had that pleasure," said Dr. Haworth. 
 
 " You could not have been more fortunate. I had the honor of 
 escorting the ladies this summer on a tour to Canada, and greatly 
 enjoyed their society ; in addition to which I had the conviction that 
 I was performing a good action." 
 
 " A good action ? " 
 
 " By relieving Mr. Timothy Maurice of the necessity of escorting
 
 COL. ROSS. 6 r 
 
 the ladies. He wished to remain at home ; and nothing pleased me 
 more than to be able to do something to oblige him." 
 
 " I see you are a friend of his. He is an interesting gentleman. 
 I have seen him frequently, and have been much interested in his 
 reminiscences especially by his account of the singular death of 
 his brother, Mr. James Maurice." 
 
 " Yes, that was a sad affair, and surrounded, as you say, by very 
 singular incidents," replied Col. Ross. 
 
 " It strangely impressed me, even the narration of it. It must 
 have terribly shocked Mr. Maurice's friends and family ? " 
 
 " Terribly." 
 
 " As you are a resident of this neighborhood it is possible that 
 you were acquainted with the murdered man." 
 
 "Yes, I had seen him frequently." 
 
 " I think I remember," said Dr. Haworth, " that Mr. Timothy 
 Maurice spoke of your intimacy with his nephew, John Maurice in 
 South America, was it not ? " 
 
 Col. Ross looked sidewise at his companion, just sufficient to 
 bring his face within the range of vision. 
 
 " Yes, I was acquainted with Mr. John Maurice in South 
 America," he said. Dr. Haworth listening, keenly discerned in the 
 tone of his companion the caution of a swordsman standing on 
 guard. 
 
 " So you were not intimate with him ? " 
 
 " I was not." 
 
 " I only asked," said Dr. Haworth indifferently. " The degree 
 of our intimacy with people naturally measures our sympathy when 
 any misfortune befalls them. Mr. Maurice, the younger, must have 
 been shocked by the mysterious death of his uncle and father-in- 
 law." 
 
 "Very naturally." 
 
 " I say mysterious," continued Dr. Haworth, " because, so far as 
 I have ascertained, there has never been any satisfactory demon 
 stration that the affair took place as it was supposed to have done." 
 
 " I think some doubt still exists," said Col. Ross. 
 
 " I mean that the question who really committed the murder has 
 never been answered." 
 
 " It was answered in one sense by the verdict of the jury," said 
 Col. Ross. 
 
 " But you think there is still doubt ? "
 
 62 COL. KOSS. 
 
 " I think the affair has never been wholly cleared up." 
 
 " To what view did you incline that Mr. Ducis, the person con 
 victed of the crime, was the really guilty person ? " 
 
 Col. Ross did not look sidewise this time his eyes were fixed 
 upon the mane of his horse. He mused apparently for a moment, 
 and then said : 
 
 " Well, I really have never been able to come to any distinct con 
 clusion on the subject. The case is altogether a labyrinth. If I re 
 member there were three or four persons charged with the crime, 
 but the fact remains that Mr. Ducis was convicted while the rest 
 were discharged." 
 
 " Do you think he was guilty ? " 
 
 " It is hard to believe it. He was a most honorable gentleman." 
 
 " Why, then, did the jury convict him ? " 
 
 " Well, my impression is that they were forced, as they supposed, 
 to bring in a verdict in accordance with the evidence." 
 
 " Which traced the murder to Mr. Ducis ? " 
 
 " They seem to have taken that view at least, but I think I have 
 heard that it was meant as a form only." 
 
 " A form ? " 
 
 " I think it was the general impression that the Executive would 
 pardon Mr. Ducis, and the jury were reported to be ready to sign a 
 petition to that effect." 
 
 " Did they do so ? " 
 
 " I believe not. The death of Mr. Ducis from paralysis, the re 
 sult of mental excitement, is said to have forestalled it." 
 
 Dr. Haworth rode on in silence. After a while he said : 
 
 " As Mr. Ducis was convicted, the other persons accused of the 
 crime were discharged, I suppose." 
 
 "No doubt." 
 
 " Well, I fear I weary you with the prolonged discussion of this 
 curious old affair. I can only say that it has presented itself to me 
 in the light of an interesting puzzle. There is a great attraction in 
 such incidents when we meet with them in real life, instead of in fic 
 tion. And yet the writers of fiction are sometimes valuable detect 
 ives. If we could resuscitate Edgar Poe and put him on the scent 
 of this affair, I think he would unravel it." 
 
 " Do you think so ? " 
 
 " Yes ; his powers of analysis were wonderful, and I think he 
 would reach the conclusion that I myself have reached."
 
 DR. HA WORTH'S IDEA. 63 
 
 Col. Ross turned his head slightly. 
 
 " Then you have formed a theory on the subject ? " he said. 
 
 "A distinct one." 
 
 " May I ask what it is ? " 
 
 " It might weary you." 
 
 " You need have no such fear, General. I am really anxious to 
 hear your view." 
 
 " I will state it then," said Dr. Haworth. 
 
 There was a moment's silence ; the footfalls of the horses going 
 at a steady walk were heard keeping time to each other. Dr. 
 Haworth seemed to be reflecting ; Col. Ross was looking sharply 
 ahead apparently, but with the corner of his eye watched his com 
 panion's face. It was, however, a perfectly calm face and expressed 
 nothing. 
 
 x 
 
 XIV. 
 DR. HAWORTH'S IDEA. 
 
 IT was in the midst of this silence that Dr. Haworth said in a 
 composed voice : 
 
 " The simple question is who entered the Mauricewood house on 
 the night of May 7, 1860, and put to death Mr. James Maurice is 
 it not?" 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " That is the precise date of the crime, I believe." 
 
 " You are no doubt correct. It had escaped my memory." 
 
 " My information is derived from Mr. Timothy Maurice." 
 
 Col. Ross inclined his head, but made no reply. 
 
 " The crime of murder having thus been committed," continued 
 Dr. Haworth, " the interesting point to be ascertained is the author 
 of the crime. Such an author was supposed to be found. He was 
 a neighbor who had had an altercation with the murdered man a 
 few days before had threatened to have his blood and the weapon 
 with which the blow was struck was apparently shown to belong to 
 him." 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " One of his riding-gloves was also found near the spot." 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " And he failed to prove an alleged alibi,"
 
 64 * HA WORTH'S IDEA. 
 
 " That is correct, I believe." 
 
 " Thus the murder seemed to be brought home to him, but there 
 was a serious objection to the theory of his guilt. He was a gentle 
 man of the highest character, and the very family of the murdered 
 man refused to believe that he could have committed the crime. 
 He protested his innocence, but was convicted, when the tragedy 
 ended in a manner not usual in the case of hardened criminals the 
 accused died of paralysis produced by despair at having been thought 
 capable of the commission of so cowardly a crime." 
 
 " In other words," said Colonel Ross coolly, "Mr. Ducis was not 
 guilty, you think. Concede the fact. Who was? The woman- 
 servant or the manager ? " 
 
 " There was little or nothing to support such a view. Women 
 rarely commit murder, and the man was afraid of his employer." 
 
 " Well, that clears the way for your own theory, no doubt ? " 
 
 " Yes ; the way, as you express it, is clear. Mr. Ducis did not 
 kill James Maurice ; the criminals were neither the woman Pitts nor 
 the man Wilkins. Who, then, you ask, was the murderer ? I reply 
 that I cannot tell you who he was, but I think I can tell you what 
 he was." 
 
 " Ah ! " said Col. Ross, with an air of interest. 
 
 " He was a personal enemy a cowardly assassin who, fearing 
 to attack in open day, resolved to steal on his victim unawares and 
 put him to death under the shadow of darkness without risk." 
 
 " The affair was then what is called a secret vengeance ? " 
 
 " Yes ! You employ the exact phrase to describe it a secret 
 vengeance. Secret since it was committed at midnight; a ven 
 geance, not a mere burglary and robbery complicated with murder." 
 
 " Well," said Col. Ross quietly, " who was this man in pursuit of 
 blood, not money ? " 
 
 " 1 have said that I do not know." 
 
 " What was he that is to say, what was his character ? You 
 have your theory, you say." 
 
 " A fully developed one. It was neither a vulgar robber, nor a 
 bungling manslayer blinded by passion or fear. He was a man of 
 brains and precaution. He had resolved to attain his object, the 
 death of his enemy, without personal risk, without chance of dis 
 covery, and he matured and executed his plan in the most skillful 
 manner." 
 
 " I am not sure I understand.."
 
 DR. HA WORTH'S IDEA. 65 
 
 " I will endeavor to explain my meaning clearly ; and as nothing 
 is better to convey one's idea than a resort to illustration, I will 
 adopt a simple one to define my hypothesis. Say that I or you I 
 bring the matter home to ourselves, you see resolve to put an 
 enemy out of the way. But we are men of intelligence, of fore 
 thought, and perfectly aware that murder is a dangerous proceed 
 ing ; that a vengeance which draws down vengeance in turn on the 
 head of the avenger is a very poor business badly arranged, in a 
 word." 
 
 "Well." 
 
 " You are then a man of intelligence, I say, for you will allow me 
 for the sake of argument to suppose that you were the real mur 
 derer of Mr. James Maurice." 
 
 " It is rather an unflattering hypothesis," said Col. Ross, with 
 a slightly grating laugh, " but you may assume it if you fancy doing 
 so." 
 
 " Well, then I assume it. You have your motive, which may be 
 this or that. Your personal cause for hatred is known only to your 
 self and is not a necessary part of my theory such hatred exists, 
 let us say." 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " You hate your enemy then, and resolve to destroy him as se 
 cretly, as silently as possible, in such a manner that no suspicion 
 should point to you ; so that afterwards you might walk openly before 
 all men with head erect, enter the court room where an innocent 
 man was arraigned for committing the crime committed by your 
 self, listen calmly to all the testimony, see the innocent man con 
 victed, and go home laughing in your sleeve at the farce called jus 
 tice." 
 
 " That is rather fanciful," said Col. Ross, attempting to laugh. 
 
 " You are aware that it is only a fancy employed for the purpose 
 of illustration ? " 
 
 " True." 
 
 " Well, to proceed, say that such was your plan the path you 
 had traced out for yourself the path beginning with a secret mur 
 der and ending in profound security." 
 
 " I conceive your idea," said Col. Ross in a satirical tone, " but 
 it seems to me rather forced. Why not waylay your enemy in 
 stead of entering his house and striking him in the midst of his 
 household ? "
 
 66 />*. HA WORTH'S IDEA. 
 
 " Waylay him ? " 
 
 " In some hollow of the woods, let us say fire on him and gallop 
 away ? " 
 
 " Nothing would be more absurd. The body is found and an 
 inquest is summoned ; there are one, two, three persons who are 
 anxious to testify." 
 
 " They are unable to testify to anything, since they witnessed 
 nothing." 
 
 " They are able to testify to more than you suppose. One re 
 members that your enemy, whose body is lying yonder with a hole 
 through it, rode in the direction of the spot where the murder took 
 place, about 5 o'clock in the evening. Another remembers you 
 about the same hour going in the same direction. A third heard a 
 pistol shot, and a few moments afterwards observed you riding at 
 full speed past the field in which he was at work. Under the pain 
 ful circumstances the coroner or magistrate would regret the neces 
 sity of arresting you on suspicion." 
 
 Col. Ross laughed in the same grating manner. 
 
 "Your fancy is vivid," he said, "but I call your attention to the 
 fact that your highly intelligent criminal would have his explanation 
 ready. He would know nothing about the pistol shot for I sup 
 pose the murder would be committed by means of a revolver. He 
 would acknowledge that he had been in the vicinity he had been 
 going to visit a friend, say ; but, remembering that he had forgotten 
 to mail an important letter, had hurried back to do so. Any simple 
 explanation would serve to explain everything." 
 
 " And any simple circumstance would serve to contradict every 
 thing. The wisest man overlooks something. The least trifle 
 would convict you. The prints of hoofs are found in the road, stop 
 ping at a certain spot, and then returning. They are measured, and 
 found to be those of your riding-horse so you turned back to mail 
 your letter at the very spot where the body was found." 
 
 " And you would hang me on the strength of that ! " said Col. 
 Ross. 
 
 " There would be more there is at least the possibility. You 
 employ a derringer, not a revolver, and in loading use a wad of 
 paper. The wad is carried into the wound inflicted, extracted, un 
 rolled it is the envelope of a letter with your name upon it." 
 
 " Well, then I see I am done for. I would be wrong, I acknowl 
 edge, to waylay my enemy ! "
 
 DR. HA WORTH'S IDEA. 67 
 
 " It would be dangerous, and you would reject the idea. You 
 would resort to something safer and more skillful to reach your 
 end." 
 
 " To burglary and homicide ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " That seems to me much more desperate the risk of discovery 
 a thousand times greater." 
 
 " If unskillfully executed but remember that you are a skillful 
 man a man of brains, as I have said. You would so arrange mat 
 ters that no one would ever suspect you." 
 
 " We are coming, now, I think, to the details of your theory." 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " I confess I do not understand precisely." 
 
 " I will explain. You will resolve to throw suspicion upon an 
 other person." 
 
 " Ah, I I begin to see." 
 
 "You would reconnoitre the house and ascertain where your 
 enemy slept discover that his bedchamber was on the ground floor 
 and could be easily entered. Then you would endeavor to secure 
 some weapon belonging to some one to be afterwards identified. 
 Fortune might favor you ; you might get possession of a hammer 
 of peculiar shape known to be the property of a particular person. 
 You might secrete this weapon ; steal into the house at midnight, 
 commit the crime. Drop a glove similar to that worn by the owner 
 of the hammer, and erase the figures in a warehouse ledger estab 
 lishing an alibi in favor of the innocent man." 
 
 " There was no erasure ! " exclaimed Col. Ross. " That is to 
 say pardon my interruption there seemed to be none, if I was 
 rightly informed." 
 
 " I am merely supposing a case," said Dr. Haworth. 
 
 " And such is your theory of the murder, sir ? You think that 
 Mr. Ducis was innocent ? " 
 
 " Yes," answered Dr. Haworth. 
 
 " That some mysterious unknown, as the romance writers say, 
 was guilty ? " 
 
 " Yes that he planned the crime, gained possession of the deadly 
 weapon, stole to the sleeping mansion, raised the window-sash of his 
 victim's bedchamber, approached the bed without noise, and struck 
 the blow on his temple, under which he started up, struggling and 
 groaning in the death agony ! "
 
 68 -DR. HA WORTH'S IDEA* 
 
 Col. Ross made no reply. 
 
 " Then the rest duly followed. The murderer dropped his mur 
 derous weapon beside the bed, where it was to be found the glove 
 outside as he escaped through the window you could defy the 
 keenest detective then to show that you had any connection with 
 the transaction." 
 
 " Really, that is a flattering supposition that I could be so skill 
 ful ! " said Col. Ross with the same harsh laugh. 
 
 " If you were like some human beings I have known you would 
 be proud of your skill. You would feel that you had outwitted 
 everybody. Your enemy would be dead ; an honest man, innocent 
 of the offense, would be convicted in your stead ; his name would 
 be dishonored, his family overwhelmed with disgrace, while you 
 you who committed the crime you, the real murderer, moved about 
 unsuspected, attended the funeral of your victim, the trial of the ac 
 cused, saluted the court, talked with the constables, heard the ver 
 dict and went home in triumph ! No one would dare to utter a 
 whisper against so respectable a person. You would remain an or 
 nament of society, people would take off their hats to you, women 
 would smile upon you, you would appear in your pew at church, 
 you would drink your wine, utter your jest, laughing in your sleeve 
 as I have said you, the bloody assassin, the murderer of two human 
 beings, the hypocrite and whited sepulchre, who ought to feel around 
 your neck in place of your silk cravat the hangman's rope." 
 
 Col. Ross rode on, sitting erect in his saddle, but a slight shud 
 der passed through his vigorous frame. They went on for some 
 moments in silence. Then he said in a perfectly cool voice : 
 
 " Very well ; that is rather a curious theory. You will allow me 
 to compliment you on your acuteness at least, Gen. Haworth." 
 
 Dr. Haworth had turned his head and was looking at him. 
 
 " You regard it as a mere theory, then ? " he said. 
 
 " I venture to regard it in that light. It is scarcely necessary to 
 point out the objections which suggest themselves to such an hy 
 pothesis. There was no such enemy of the Maurices in the coun 
 try that I have ever heard of ; and then the theory, you will allow 
 me to repeat, resembles rather what we find in romances than in 
 real life." 
 
 " Real life is quite as curious as any romance I have ever met 
 with." 
 
 " Well, that may be true, possibly, and I have at least been much
 
 DR. HA WORTH'S IDEA. 69 
 
 interested in your discussion of this strange affair. I am not suffi 
 ciently familiar with criminal matters to form an opinion, and I was 
 absent from the country when this affair took place. At least, there 
 is no longer any feeling of distress at Mauricewood in regard to this 
 tragic occurrence. It is happily forgotten, and the real criminal, 
 whoever he may have been, is no doubt dead. I am going to visit 
 our friends to-day. I see we are in sight of the house. Do you 
 come in ? " 
 
 " I shall be obliged to return." 
 
 They were soon at the white gate by which the country road 
 passed. Col. Ross bowed and entered, while Dr. Haworth rode on 
 in the direction of the hill country. 
 
 He had no sooner turned his back on Col. Ross than his face, 
 which had remained perfectly composed during their conversation, 
 assumed an expression indicative of great disgust. 
 
 " That man makes me sick," he muttered. " Is he the real 
 criminal I never was so tempted ! When he said : ' There was no 
 such enemy of Mr. Maurice in the country,' it was on my very lips 
 to say, ' Which Mr. Maurice do you mean ? Mr. James Maurice, 
 the uncle, or Mr. John Maurice, the nephew ? ' It was not the elder 
 Maurice who was struck at, but Maurice the younger. He was to 
 have slept in that chamber ; for days the bride's presents were ex 
 hibited in it upon the bridal couch. The change was only made on 
 the night of the marriage. Who then struck at John Maurice there ? 
 Was it or was it not the man who had fought with him about a 
 woman, and who hated his successful rival? He may not have 
 struck the blow himself may have been really absent. Did he 
 not suborn others to do so the woman Pitts or the man Wilkins 
 and was not this the meaning of his night visit to their house in 
 the hills, the suborner of murder going to caution the tools of his 
 crime?" 
 
 Dr. Haworth rode on in deep thought. His acute and pene 
 trating mind saw here and there a flaw in this apparently flawless 
 theory. It was improbable that a man so intelligent as Ross would 
 have put himself in the power of those degraded creatures con 
 ceived a project so hazardous that he would not have preferred to 
 quarrel with his enemy on some pretext and shoot him. But there 
 was the obstinate fact that he had ridden by night to warn the mur 
 derers if they were the murderers. 
 
 A last subject of reflection to Dr. Haworth was the singular fact
 
 70 J>R. HA WORTH'S IDEA. 
 
 that if Col. Ross had procured the death of John Maurice, he was 
 now paying his addresses to John Maurice's daughter ! 
 
 " Men are vile enough for anything when they listen only to their 
 passions," he muttered. " This one is of that sort, and I have only 
 to keep my hands off of him to let him succeed. Am I apt to do 
 that ? " 
 
 A grim smile came to Dr. Haworth's lips, and a latent fire in his 
 eyes showed a powerful organization moved and strung for action. 
 
 " It is not probable," he muttered harshly. " If I had no other 
 motive for bringing everything connected with this black business 
 to light, I would do almost anything to prevent that ! "
 
 PART II. 
 COL. ROSS AND DR. HAWORTH. 
 
 DR. HAWORTH IS AFRAID. 
 
 IT was about the middle of autumn, and Dr. Haworth and Jean 
 Baptiste had been, for some time, inmates of Mauricewood. 
 
 Having been urged anew by Mr. Tim Maurice to make them a 
 visit ostensibly for the pleasure of his society, but quite as much to 
 secure an adversary at chess Dr. Haworth had ended by accept 
 ing the invitation, and had come with Jean to take up his residence 
 for a short time at the old manorhouse. 
 
 For this he had his reasons. Among them was an incident of a 
 rather curious character, which had taken place soon after his inter 
 view with Col. Ross. 
 
 He had gone out hunting one day or rather to wander in the 
 solitude of the hill country, and reflect when his meditations sud 
 denly ended. 
 
 A bullet whistled by his head, and looking up quickly for he 
 had been seated upon a ledge of granite with his carbine resting 
 easily upon his knee he saw a puff of smoke rise from the woods 
 about 200 yards in front of him. 
 
 Dr. Haworth was a man of great promptness and had an ardent 
 curiosity to ascertain why he had been fired at. That was difficult, 
 but seemed practicable. The spot where he had seated himself was 
 nearly encircled by laurels, and entering them, he made a circuit, 
 and reached the point from which he had observed the puff of 
 smoke rise. No one was to be seen there, and nodding his head as 
 if the fact did not surprise him, Dr. Haworth went straight toward 
 the cabin of the man and woman Wilkins, about a mile distant.
 
 72 DR. tl A WORTH IS AFRAID. 
 
 The woman, looking as slatternly and as disheveled as ever, was 
 washing soiled clothes in an old discolored tub near the door of the 
 house, and at the sound of the cur in the kennel turned around and 
 saw the visitor. 
 
 " Is your husband at home to-day, madam ? " asked Dr. Ha- 
 worth. 
 
 " He's away somewhere," she replied with a side look. 
 
 " Hunting, perhaps." 
 
 " I don't know." 
 
 Steps were heard approaching some twigs cracked under them 
 in the thicket. 
 
 " He is coming back," said Dr. Haworth, quietly. 
 
 The man Wilkins make his appearance at the moment, in the 
 edge of the thicket, rifle in hand, and seeing Dr. Haworth, made a 
 movement to conceal himself. As he saw that this was impossible, 
 he came forward and coolly ducked his head by way of greeting to 
 the visitor. 
 
 " I see you have been hunting," said Dr. Haworth, looking at 
 the rifle. 
 
 " After a deer seen in these parts lately." 
 
 " Did you get sight of him ! " 
 
 " I thought I seen him in the bushes, and fired at him, but it 
 were nothing." 
 
 " Nothing ? " 
 
 " I went there and there was no hoofprints. I spect it was a 
 trick of the light. That ofting happens." 
 
 The explanation seemed perfectly satisfactory to Dr. Haworth. 
 Nothing was more natural than that a huntsman should fire upon 
 what he supposed to be the game he was hunting. There was only 
 one flaw in Mr. Wilkins' statement. He had not been near the spot 
 where he, Dr. Haworth, had been seated. On the contrary it was 
 plain that he had rapidly retired in the opposite direction. 
 
 Any discussion on the subject did not seem necessary, apparent 
 ly, to the visitor. He remained a few moments longer conversing in 
 a commonplace way, and then took his departure, with the air of a 
 man who has no special object beyond a ramble with the view of 
 getting a shot at something. Having gained the woods, however, 
 he went straight home. Jean Baptiste saw him approaching and 
 came to meet him. when Dr. Haworth stopped and made a sign. 
 The boy hastened toward him and Dr. Haworth said:
 
 DR. HA WORTH IS AFRAID, 
 
 73 
 
 " I am afraid you find this place rather lonely, Jean." 
 
 " The home in the hills here, Excellency ? I like it of all 
 things." 
 
 " It strikes me as rather a solitary retreat the fact is, I want 
 society. On the whole, I think I will accept an invitation I have 
 received to Mauricewood Mrs. Maurice's, you know, where I visit 
 frequently." 
 
 " Would you like that better, Excellency ? " 
 
 " I think so." 
 
 " Then I like it better," said Jean, smiling. " Am I to go, too ? 
 I hope so." 
 
 " Certainly, the invitation includes you. The family are aware 
 that you and I are inseparable. I have informed them that you are 
 my friend and traveling companion." 
 
 " Your Excellency is so good ! " 
 
 " I see no proof of goodness in that. Then the matter is ar 
 ranged. Pack the valise I will go to-morrow." 
 
 " The horses ? " 
 
 " We will take them, of course." 
 
 Jean nodded and walked back with Dr. Haworth, who retired to 
 his chamber. 
 
 " Well, all that is plain enough," he said. " War is declared, it 
 seems, and the first gun has been fired. These people are playing 
 a bold game it is a proof that they are awake to their danger. Did 
 my friend, the Colonel, suggest that deer hunt to his friend, Job 
 Wilkins ? It is possible, but not probable. I think it was a brilliant 
 conception of Mr. Wilkins himself. Does he mean to shoot me to 
 prevent my hanging him ? If so he has been concerned in one 
 hanging affair, at least ! " 
 
 After saying this Dr. Haworth reflected for about half an hour 
 without moving in his chair. He then muttered : 
 
 " Yes, I will go away from this lonely place it is too conven 
 ient and I am afraid. A bullet better aimed than the last would 
 leave my friend, the Colonel, free to carry out his programme of 
 matrimony. I am an obstacle. I think he would like to remove 
 me he or his friend, Mr. Wilkins. There is no guarding against 
 such skillful people as long as I am in this hill country if they hold 
 the trumps they will play them. As I am afraid, therefore, I will 
 move my quarters." 
 
 On the same afternoon Dr. Haworth rode to Mauricewood and 
 4
 
 74 
 
 DR. HA WORTH IS AFRAID. 
 
 said to Mr. Tim Maurice, who met him with a hospitable smile, on 
 the veranda : 
 
 " I have resolved to accept your obliging invitation, sir, and make 
 you a short visit with my young friend Jean." 
 
 At these words Mr. Tim Maurice beamed with satisfaction. He 
 saw before him unending games of chess. 
 
 " Nothing could give us more pleasure, Doctor ! " he exclaimed 
 with a cordial pressure of his guest's hand. 
 
 " Are you sure it will not inconvenience you ? " 
 
 " Inconvenience us in this large house ? There are countless 
 spare chambers." 
 
 " I accept one, then, with many thanks, for myself and Jean, my 
 young traveling companion. At home he is my private secretary, 
 with his seat at my table and his pallet in my sleeping-room." 
 
 " He will be as welcome as yourself at Mauricewood, Doctor. 
 You will come to-night I hope." 
 
 " I shall not be able to do so until to-morrow." 
 
 " I am sorry. To-morrow, then, without fail, remember." 
 
 And as Miss Gary Maurice floated down the staircase at that 
 moment Mr. Tim Maurice exclaimed : 
 
 " Dr. Haworth has promised to make us a visit, Gary." 
 
 Miss Gary received this announcement with polite smiles. 
 
 " I am very glad." 
 
 " And I am delighted," exclaimed Mr. Tim Maurice. " I am 
 certain that if I only get a fair pull at you I can checkmate you, 
 Doctor ! " 
 
 " I will try to prevent you from doing so," said Dr. Haworth, 
 bowing. 
 
 After which, friendly conversation ensued and he took his de 
 parture. 
 
 On the next day Dr. Haworth and Jean bade good-by to honest 
 Hunter Wilson, who promised to send their traveling valises after 
 them, rode to Mauricewood, and were installed in an up-stairs cham 
 ber affording a view of the lawn in front. The chamber was a model 
 of comfort and neatness. Miss Gary Maurice had seen to it in 
 person.
 
 COL. ROSS MAKES A MORNING CALL. 75 
 
 II. 
 COL. ROSS MAKES A MORNING CALL. 
 
 THE days at Mauricewood succeeded and resembled each 
 other. 
 
 The autumn was slowly fading ; the yellow leaves floating to the 
 green carpet beneath, and the red turning, hour by hour, to a richer 
 russet. Often not a sound disturbed the silence but the lazy caw of 
 a passing crow. The year was going, wrapped in balmy airs and 
 golden mist. 
 
 The outer world is unimportant, however, when the inner is full 
 of attractions. Dr. Haworth found Mauricewood a pleasant place 
 after his lonely sojourn in the hills. The family, consisting of Mr. 
 Tim Maurice, his niece Mrs. Maurice, and Miss Gary, had received 
 an addition to it in the person of a young seamstress, Miss Burns, 
 from the neighboring town of Abbeyville but as Miss Burns only 
 appeared at meals, with the rest of the family, Dr. Haworth saw 
 very little of her, and had not advanced beyond a bow. 
 
 He was apparently quite satisfied with the society of the two 
 ladies and Mr. Tim Maurice. He and Mrs. Maurice conversed a 
 great deal upon South America and other topics, and the pleased 
 smile on the gentle face indicated that the lady had conceived a sin 
 cere regard for her visitor. Mr. Tim Maurice was chiefly solicitous 
 about his darling hobby. " Well, Doctor, a delightful day," was 
 almost always followed by, " Shall we try a game ? " and the game 
 almost always took place. 
 
 As to Miss Gary, that was different. She and Dr. Haworth did 
 not have many interviews private interviews, that is to say. In 
 some manner these seemed to be prevented. When they were in 
 danger of being left alone together, Miss Gary always discovered 
 that she was obliged to run up stairs for a moment that household 
 matters required her attention that she had forgotten something 
 she would soon be back. But her engagements had a mysterious 
 fashion of prolonging themselves, and preventing her from returning 
 to enjoy Dr. Haworth's society until some other member of the 
 family appeared, when she returned at once. 
 
 What was the meaning of all this ? Dr. Haworth asked himself 
 the question, but gave it up in despair. 
 
 Then, after a while, he asked himself another question Was he
 
 76 COL. ROSS MAKES A MORNING CALL. 
 
 going to fall in love with Miss Gary Maurice ? Had he not done so 
 in a measure already ? 
 
 When he faced this problem his face clouded over, and a cold 
 light settled in his eyes. One day he muttered : 
 
 " That would be idiotic. I am a mere acquaintance, a passing 
 stranger, with a glum face and nearly twice her age. And that's 
 not all. I have not come here to make love to a girl. Something 
 very different brings me I have no time for fooling." 
 
 This something occupied his mind at all hours of the day. He 
 was far from social. He took solitary walks in the grounds under 
 the oaks, so old now that they were dying at the top ; and whoever 
 chanced to pass him could see that his brows were knit together, 
 his thoughts busy with some problem. If Miss Gary Maurice had 
 made an impression on him he was not pursuing a judicious method 
 of agreeably impressing her. 
 
 He was thinking eternally of Col. Ross and his probable connec 
 tion as principal or accessory with the crime at Mauricewood. Up to 
 a certain point everything seemed clear, beyond that point all was 
 vague. Was this smiling gentleman the real criminal ? It was im 
 possible! Human nature could not be unfathomably vile. The 
 man would never have been able to discuss the affair so coolly ; 
 would have shunned coming near Mauricewood ; would have shrunk 
 from the very idea of paying his addresses to John Maurice's daugh 
 ter. But there were the undeniable facts. He had warned these 
 people to be on their guard. He had quarreled and fought with 
 John Maurice ; doubtless hating him for supplanting him with the 
 woman both had loved. There was sufficient motive, and once or 
 twice in their conversation Dr. Haworth had heard the voice of Col. 
 Ross indicate a secret apprehension. 
 
 " I will know all sooner or later," he said one day as he was tak 
 ing one of his lonely walks. " I wonder if that bullet that grazed 
 my head was fired by his order ? I doubt it but nothing is certain 
 in dealing with such a man. That is a trifle ; the main point is to 
 take him unawares ; to force him into a corner where his crime, if 
 he committed the crime, will confront him ; to watch him and de 
 cide the question, in my own mind at least. How am I to do that ? " 
 
 He reflected for a quarter of an hour, walking slowly and looking 
 at the ground. Then he exclaimed : 
 
 " If I could! Well, that might be done with a little skill ! I 
 think it might be arranged. I'll try, at least ! "
 
 COL. ROSS MAKES A MORNING CALL. 
 
 77 
 
 One day Col. Ross drove to Mauricewood. If he came to see 
 Miss Gary Maurice, which was probable, the fates were against him. 
 The young lady was suffering from a severe headache, and, after 
 hospitably receiving Col. Ross, Mrs. Maurice smiled and returned to 
 her daughter. 
 
 Col. Ross was evidently very much disappointed the headache 
 was apparently bona fide, and might confine Miss Cary for the rest 
 of the day. Courtesy required, however, that he should not go away 
 abruptly, so he sat conversing in a friendly manner with Mr. Tim 
 Maurice and Dr. Haworth. 
 
 " I congratulate you," he said to the latter, " on your pleasant 
 quarters here. You must find them more cheerful than the hills." 
 
 " A great deal more cheerful," replied Dr. Haworth. " I am 
 fond of hunting, but found there were some drawbacks. There was 
 very little society and some risk." 
 
 " Risk ? " 
 
 " The danger of being shot." 
 
 Col. Ross looked a little puzzled. 
 
 " Shot by accident, I mean," said Dr. Haworth. " That is not 
 unusual in wooded districts where separate parties or individuals 
 are out hunting." 
 
 " I think I understand your meaning." 
 
 " There is danger of being taken for game. You push aside the 
 bushes in passing through some thicket, and a hunter at his stand 
 takes you for a deer or a wild turkey. He therefore puts a bullet 
 through you, and when he rushes forward to secure his prize, is 
 much shocked and deeply regrets having shot you, and hopes you 
 will pardon his awkwardness." 
 
 Col. Ross laughed and said : 
 
 " That's rather a poor consolation." 
 
 " Very poor. You accept his apology, of course, with your last 
 breath ; but a more agreeable state of things would be not to be 
 shot." 
 
 " Yes ; I think I have heard of such accidents." 
 
 Col. Ross uttered the words so naturally that Dr. Haworth's 
 doubts were dispelled, or nearly. It was improbable that he had 
 had anything to do with the affair. When Wilkins had suggested 
 it, on the night of the ride, Col. Ross had not dissuaded him, but it 
 was more than probable that Wilkins had acted from his own im 
 pulse to get rid of a dangerous adversary.
 
 J7g COL. ROSS MAKES A MORNING CALL. 
 
 " Well, your change of quarters to Mauricewood," said Col. Ross, 
 " is defensible on every ground. It is safer and far more agreeable." 
 
 " Much more so. All is cheerful and attractive with one excep 
 tion." 
 
 " One exception ? " 
 
 " Perhaps I ought not to have referred to it, as the subject is, no 
 doubt, painful to Mr. Maurice." 
 
 " Oh ! you mean the locked-up room," said Mr. Tim Maurice. 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " It is a somewhat sorrowful feature of the house, I agree." 
 
 " I fear I was indiscreet." 
 
 ' Not at all, Doctor." 
 
 " But the subject has a morbid attraction for me. Perhaps the 
 fact that this room has been closed for twenty years has made me 
 curious to see it." 
 
 " To see it ? Would you care to see it ? " said Mr. Maurice. 
 
 " I confess I should like to." 
 
 " There is no objection, whatever, to showing it to you, and per 
 haps Col. Ross might also be interested." 
 
 Dr. Haworth did not look at Col. Ross, but he listened acutely 
 to the tones of his voice as he replied : 
 
 " I cannot say that my curiosity is quite as keen as our friend's, 
 but I should be glad to see the place." 
 
 " Then I will go and get the key. I can do so without the knowl 
 edge of my niece, who is in her chamber. It might sadden her to be 
 reminded of it. I shall not mind it myself. I will be back in a mo 
 ment, gentlemen." 
 
 Mr. Tim Maurice then went up the staircase with his rapid step 
 and disappeared in search of the key. Dr. Haworth looked in a 
 casual and unconcerned manner at Col. Ross, who was standing 
 within a few feet of him. Their glances met. 
 
 " So you are really interested in this old affair, General or Doc 
 tor, as you appear to prefer that title," said Col. Ross. 
 
 " It is simpler and attracts less attention," said Dr. Haworth, 
 replying to the last portion of the sentence. 
 
 " Then, you do not wish to attract attention ? It is a somewhat 
 uncommon virtue." 
 
 " I do not. I have always preferred passing through life quietly 
 the degito moustrari has no charms for me." 
 
 " Well, everything is a matter of taste. Most persons prefer as
 
 IN THE LOCKED ROOM. 
 
 79 
 
 Sounding a title as possible, especially when traveling. The hotel 
 keepers bow lower, and put you in better quarters." 
 
 It was obvious that both men were best pleased to converse on 
 other subjects than the locked room. As Mr. Maurice returned at 
 this moment that subject was resumed. 
 
 " I found the key, after a short search," he said, " and have said 
 nothing to the ladies of our intention. It is quite unnecessary." 
 
 He then inserted the heavy key into the brass lock and pushed 
 open the door. It creaked on its hinges, and a cloud of dust fell 
 from the upper edge. 
 
 " This is the room," said the old gentleman, entering. 
 
 Dr. Haworth followed him, not looking towards Col. Ross, but 
 listening to be certain that he was behind him. His firm tread was 
 heard striking the hard floor in a measured manner, and when the 
 rest stopped he stopped also. 
 
 It was a chamber of lofty pitch, with a shining bare floor, two 
 large windows opening on the veranda ; a wide fireplace, in which 
 some blackened embers were leaning against the brass andirons ; a 
 tall mantelpiece of blue-veined marble surmounted by two vases, in 
 which were some withered flowers ; and scattered about were easy- 
 chairs, a lounge, and other accessories looking to comfort. Between 
 the windows was a toilet-table crowned with a handsome mirror, in 
 front of which stood a pair of silver branches with half burned wax- 
 lights. The bedstead was old-fashioned, with heavy curtains, tall 
 carved posts and a tester. Beside it was a night-table. The cloth 
 ing on the bed was in disorder as if it had been tossed about by a 
 sick man laboring under fever. Nothing had been set to rights. 
 The occupants of the apartment seemed to have just left it only 
 every object was covered with dust, the dust of twenty years. 
 
 III. 
 
 IN THE LOCKED ROOM. 
 
 " THIS is the scene of the unhappy affair, gentlemen," said Mr. 
 Tim Maurice. " It is rather dark. I will open one of the win 
 dows." 
 
 " Will you wait a moment, Mr. Maurice ! " said Dr. Haworth, 
 who was looking around with an expression of deep interest,
 
 go IN THE LOCKED ROOM:. 
 
 Mr. Tim Maurice turned his head as if these words puzzled him. 
 
 " I really think this dim light suits the place and the tragedy," 
 said Dr. Haworth. " It aids the fancy for one of my objects in 
 requesting you to show me this room was to attempt to reconstruct 
 the scene, if I may so say, and understand the details." 
 
 " I think I see your meaning, Doctor." 
 
 " The crime was committed, no doubt, in darkness, or semi- 
 obscurity. If we mean to follow the movements of the assassin, 
 and understand how he went to work, we ought to subject ourselves 
 to the same conditions. Am I wrong ? " asked Dr. Haworth turn 
 ing to Col. Ross. 
 
 " I think you are perfectly right," said Col. Ross quietly. 
 
 " Then we may as well leave the window closed, at least for the 
 present, Mr. Maurice." 
 
 " Certainly." 
 
 " Here are all the objects then connected with the murder ? " 
 
 " Yes ; just as they were. Nothing has been touched. There 
 is the night-table upon which my brother placed the money, and the 
 disordered bed clothes. You may see the mark of his head on that 
 pillow." 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " The lights in the branches yonder on the toilet-table are half 
 burned, you see, just as they were put out when he retired ; and 
 there are the charred twigs in the fireplace a slight blaze had been 
 made, as I remember it was rather chilly." 
 
 " Yes ; spring evenings often are." 
 
 " Yonder is the window through which the murderer entered. 
 It was either open by accident or he raised it." 
 
 " He probably raised it. It is singular that he was not heard." 
 
 " No doubt it was done quietly by a skillful person." 
 
 " You don't mean Mr. Ducis ? " 
 
 " No, indeed ; I have already said that I have never thought for 
 a moment that Mr. Ducis was really guilty." 
 
 " By simply a skillful person let us say then ; but, however cau 
 tious he may have been, there is another singular fact that his 
 steps on the bare floor did not wake the sleepers." 
 
 " He probably walked with precaution." 
 
 " That is supposable, but then there was an additional dan 
 ger." 
 
 " What was that ? "
 
 IN THE LOCKED ROOM. g x 
 
 " The danger of falling. Look at the floor. It is as slippery as 
 glass." 
 
 " The result of the old-fashioned habit of scrubbing yes." 
 
 " The assassin then was in danger of slipping, unless he was on 
 his guard. That accident, indeed, might have befallen Mr. Maurice 
 himself." 
 
 " My brother ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 Dr. Haworth took a step forward, and suddenly slipped, nearly 
 falling against the carved edge of the tall bed-post. 
 
 " You see, sir ! " he said, regaining his erect attitude. " An ac 
 cident has nearly happened to me. I came near striking my tem 
 ple against that carving there." 
 
 " That might have been dangerous." 
 
 " It might even have been fatal. A sudden blow on certain 
 parts of the head often results in death, you know." 
 
 " My poor brother was an instance." 
 
 " Your brother ? " Well, a curious idea occurs to me, Mr, Mau 
 rice. Is it not possible after all that no murder was committed in 
 this room ? " 
 
 " No murder ? " 
 
 " That the death of James Maurice was simply the result of acci 
 dent ? Why not conclude that he rose in the night, placed his feet 
 in his slippers, slipped on this smooth surface and fell against that 
 post ? A fatal contusion might have been the result." 
 
 Mr. Tim Maurice shook his head. 
 
 " I believe that theory was broached at the time," he said, " but 
 I have never had any faith in it." 
 
 " It is possible." 
 
 " Yes ; it is possible. A little thing will sometimes kill a man ; 
 but there are difficulties in the way of that explanation which I have 
 never been able to get over." 
 
 "What are they?" 
 
 " My brother was found in his bed." 
 
 " He may have staggered back to it." 
 
 " His slippers, I am sure, were not on his feet." 
 
 " They may have fallen off." 
 
 " But the money that was gone." 
 
 " True, but you yourself have told me that you suspected the 
 housekeeper of stealing it."
 
 82 /-V THE LOCKED ROOM. 
 
 " I certainly did." 
 
 " But not of committing the murder ? " 
 
 " I don't think she did." 
 
 " Very well, then, consider for a moment. Your brother rises 
 during the night, slips on this smooth floor, strikes his temple 
 against the post, cries out so that you are startled up-stairs and 
 staggers back to bed, where you find him dying in a fainting fit 
 that happens to people." 
 
 Mr. Tim Maurice shook his head again. 
 
 " I do not think your idea has any real foundation, Doctor," he 
 said. 
 
 "And what is your opinion, sir ? " said Dr. Haworth, turning to 
 Col. Ross, who had been standing with his left arm across his 
 breast, the hand supporting his right elbow and his chin resting in 
 his right hand. 
 
 " My opinion ? " he said. " Well, I think your idea is very in 
 genious." 
 
 " And that is all ? " 
 
 " I am unable to say how the affair really took place," said Col. 
 Ross. 
 
 " Naturally, sir, but we are at liberty to indulge in conjecture. 
 To revert then to the theory that Mr. James Maurice was murdered. 
 How did it take place ? " 
 
 " I really cannot inform you," said Col. Ross coolly. 
 
 " We are here on the spot the actual scene is under our eyes ; 
 there is the window, the bed. Let us fancy, if possible, the move 
 ments of the assassin. Let us even do more you might assist 
 me?" 
 
 " Assist you ? " said Col. Ross, looking fixedly at Dr. Haworth. 
 
 " Yes, we have nothing better to do this fine morning. As our 
 aim in entering this room is to form as accurate an Idea as possible 
 of the real occurrence, why should not you or I personate the mur 
 derer, and go through all his probable movements ? " 
 
 Col. Ross made no reply. 
 
 " You would possibly succeed better than myself," said Dr. Ha 
 worth. " I am a bad actor." 
 
 " I have no more ability in that particular than yourself," said 
 Col. Ross stiffly. 
 
 "Your modesty probably deceives you. I think Mr. Mauric* 
 will join in my request."
 
 IN THE LOCKED ROOM. $3 
 
 " I see nothing unreasonable in it, Doctor, and think I take your 
 idea." 
 
 " I decline, sir," said Col. Ross coldly, with a flash of the eye 
 which he seemed unable to hide. 
 
 " Then," said Dr. Haworth, " I will take your place. Is that the 
 window, Mr. Maurice ? " 
 
 " Yes it is bolted inside." 
 
 " Will you be good enough to unbolt it ? " 
 
 With which words Dr. Haworth went out of the room and was 
 heard walking along the veranda. Mr. Tim Maurice had mean 
 while unbolted the sash and Venetians and returned to the side of 
 Col. Ross. They stood waiting. 
 
 For a moment there was a dead silence in the room. Then the 
 Venetians opened quietly, the sash was raised, and Dr. Haworth en 
 tered through the opening. He stood for a moment looking around 
 him, fixed his eyes upon the curtained bed, advanced and leaned 
 across it, half hidden by the curtains. 
 
 Any one glancing at Col. Ross would have seen him shudder 
 slightly. 
 
 Mr. Tim Maurice was looking on with sorrowful attention the 
 curious pantomime seemed to bring back vividly all his gloomy recol 
 lections. 
 
 In the midst of the dead silence Dr. Haworth uttered a slight 
 exclamation. Was he personating in turn the victim to give more 
 reality to the scene ? It did not seem so. The exclamation was 
 low and indicated surprise. Neither of the other occupants of the 
 room was aware of the fact, as his back was turned to them, but he 
 had thrust something, apparently discovered in the bed, into his 
 breast between his waistcoat and shirt. He then turned round 
 quietly. 
 
 " You see, gentlemen," he said, " the assassin must have entered 
 in that way and reached the bed without discovery. The curtains 
 were sufficient to hide him from Mr. Maurice even if he had been 
 awake." 
 
 He looked from Mr. Tim Maurice to Col. Ross. 
 
 " Yes," the latter said without lowering his eyes. 
 
 " I will not take trouble to make my exit in the character I have 
 assumed," said Dr. Haworth, " and you may as well close the win 
 dow, Mr. Maurice. I would make a request of Col. Ross if I was 
 not afraid he would object,"
 
 84 SOMETHING HAPPENS. 
 
 " A request, sir? " said Col. Ross. 
 
 "I have done my part in the first act of the drama. Is it too 
 much to ask that Col. Ross will now permit me to become one of 
 the audience?" 
 
 " One of the audience ? " 
 
 " That you will take the part of the chief actor in the denoue 
 ment," said Dr. Haworth quietly. " That is to say, that you will 
 advance, strike the fatal blow, and make your escape. I have done 
 my part let us assume now that you are the assassin !" 
 
 Col. Ross turned away muttering : " It is unpleasant I must 
 decline, sir," and as Mr. Tim Maurice had now closed the sash and 
 Venetian they left the room, which was again securely locked. The 
 bright day without was like a cordial after their confinement in the 
 gloomy chamber, and Mr. Tim Maurice said : 
 
 " Really, Doctor, if I had known what a melancholy place that 
 was I think I would have sent you gentlemen in by yourselves. 
 Well, well you have seen the place, at least. Let us forget it and " 
 
 Mr. Tim Maurice looked fondly toward his chess-board on the 
 center-table of the drawing-room. To play chess with Dr. Haworth 
 was, however, to treat Col. Ross with scant courtesy, and nothing 
 followed the word "and." 
 
 The ladies not reappearing, Col. Ross finally bowed and went 
 away. His face indicated no emotion of any description. 
 
 IV. 
 
 SOMETHING HAPPENS. 
 
 WHEN Col. Ross reappeared at Mauricewood, which he did two 
 or three days afterwards, he was in a perfectly cheerful mood, and 
 inquired with an air of interest if Miss Gary had recovered from her 
 headache. 
 
 As she had not wholly recovered, but still felt a little badly, she 
 said, her visitor suggested a horseback ride, and she smiled and 
 assented. 
 
 They were away the whole afternoon, and when Col. Ross as 
 sisted the young lady to dismount on her return he did so with an 
 air of devotion, which seemed to indicate a great deal. It was 
 plain, he said, with deferential courtesy, as they were all seated on
 
 SOMETHING HAPPENS. g$ 
 
 the veranda, that horseback exercise was an absolute cordial for 
 Miss Gary. And as Miss Gary agreed, and said that she really felt 
 like another person, Col. Ross suggested that she should attend 
 church next Sunday in that manner he would be glad to escort 
 her. Miss Gary replied that she would accept his escort with pleas 
 ure. And then, after tarrying an hour longer, Col. Ross rode away 
 in the highest spirits. 
 
 On Sunday they rode to church together, and afterwards it was 
 noticed that they did not take the direct road home. Doubtless this 
 arose from the fact that a slight detour brought them to a hill which 
 commanded a very fine view of the surrounding country of the 
 beautiful champaign, the wooded hill country and the faint blue 
 mountains beyond. 
 
 People smiled and nodded when they rode away from the church 
 together. The matter was plain, and it really did seem to be. 
 
 When he went away that evening Col. Ross said that he would 
 not forget Miss Gary's request. As a matter of fact the request was 
 his own that she should amuse herself with an excellent novel he 
 had just read but the discrepancy was unimportant. He brought 
 the volume two days afterwards, and when Mr. Tim Maurice hos 
 pitably invited him to remain to dinner faintly objected, acquiesced 
 and remained. 
 
 After dinner Miss Gary Maurice and Col. Ross took a walk on 
 the lawn. Dr. Haworth, who was seated on the veranda engaged 
 in conversation with Mr. Tim Maurice, saw them stroll away slowly 
 in the evening sunshine the erect form of the gentleman bending 
 graciously toward his companion, and that companion looking up 
 with her head inclining a little sidewise, her cheeks rosy, her brown 
 curls fluttering and her exquisite figure assuming new attitudes full 
 of grace at every step. Light laughter indicated, it seemed, that the 
 Colonel was making himself agreeable. After a while they disap 
 peared behind the oak foliage. 
 
 " As I was saying, Doctor, the practice of plowing in the winter 
 has a thousand advantages. The clods freeze, and when the thaw 
 comes the frost in them reduces them to powder, and but, really, 
 you are not listening." 
 
 " Pardon my bad habit of abstraction," said Dr. Haworth. " I 
 follow your theory and am convinced it is sound, sir." 
 
 " I am certain of it." 
 
 And Mr. Maurice flowed on, after which he proposed chess, His
 
 86 SOMETHING HAPPENS. 
 
 companion promptly acquiesced, and they were thus engaged when 
 Miss Gary Maurice and Col. Ross returned. All his smiles had 
 disappeared and his figure was as rigid as a ramrod. As to the 
 young lady, she paused a moment to glance at the chess-board as 
 she passed, and then quietly left the room and tripped up-stairs. 
 Col. Ross, whose face was harsh and gloomy, bowed stiffly, re 
 gretted that he was compelled to return home, and despite Mr. Tim 
 Maurice's polite remonstrance, rode away. 
 
 " Our friend, the Colonel, seems out of sorts," said Mr. Maurice. 
 " Checkmate, Doctor ! " 
 
 The checkmate had evidently driven Col. Ross and his expres 
 sion of countenance quite out of Mr. Tim Maurice's head. 
 
 Dr. Haworth rose and said : 
 
 " I am a mere tyro. I ought not to play." 
 
 " You are not a tyro, by any means. You play a superb game ! 
 But why on earth did you check with your knight ? The obvious 
 move for you " 
 
 But the obvious move was never indicated. Miss Cary came 
 down stairs with a celestial smile upon her lips, and entered the 
 drawing-room. 
 
 " At chess yet, uncle ? " she said. " You gentlemen are really 
 incorrigible." 
 
 " Well, we thought you were amusing yourself with our friend, 
 the Colonel. Why did he rush away so ? " 
 
 Miss Cary quietly declined to meet Mr. Tim Maurice's look. 
 
 " I think he mentioned that he had an engagement. He will 
 have a pleasant ride this delightful evening. Come to the parlor 
 and see the sunset, uncle." 
 
 " After I look at the position of these men on the board." 
 
 * Oh, no, come now, you dear old uncle ! " 
 
 And linking her arm affectionately in that of Mr. Tim Maurice, 
 Miss Cary said, with a smile, looking over her shoulder at Dr. Ha 
 worth, 
 
 " You'll come too ? " 
 
 "With pleasure." 
 
 As Dr. Haworth said this he looked at the young lady. Was 
 she resolved, by dragging out her uncle, to avoid a private interview 
 with himself ? It seemed so. 
 
 Col. Ross had become so frequent a visitor that his non-appear 
 ance now suggested comment.
 
 SOMETHING HAPPENS. 87 
 
 " What's the matter with our friend, the Colonel ? " said Mr. 
 Tim Maurice one day when Dr. Haworth was present. 
 
 " The matter ? " said Miss Gary, with dove-like innocence. 
 
 " We never see him now. Why does he stay away ? perhaps 
 you can tell us." 
 
 "Indeed, I don't know," said Miss Gary without flinching. 
 
 " Are you certain ? " retorted her uncle with a slight movement 
 of his eyebrows. 
 
 " How should I know ? " 
 
 " I thought something might have happened to him," said Mr. 
 Tim Maurice " perhaps during that walk that you and he indulged 
 in on the lawn." 
 
 " What can you mean ? Dr. Haworth, do you know what Uncle 
 Tim is talking about? He is the absurdest person." 
 
 " Oh, yes, I am absurd ! " exclaimed Mr. Tim Maurice, with 
 scorching irony. ' 
 
 " You are dreaming, sir." 
 
 " Like other people ! Behold, the dreamer cometh or formerly 
 came previously to going away after his afternoon promenade." 
 
 Miss Gary pouted and looked outraged. 
 
 " Dare to tell me you have not refused our friend, the Colonel ! " 
 exclaimed Mr. Tim Maurice. 
 
 "Refused! How could I refuse a person who never asked 
 me." 
 
 " Dare to say he didn't ask you ! His face told the story ! " 
 
 " Pshaw, uncle ! you are too absurd." 
 
 "You and our friend, then, have not well, had a misunder 
 standing ? " 
 
 " Of course not ! " cried Miss Gary. 
 
 " Then, I suppose we may indulge the hope of seeing him back 
 very soon ? " 
 
 Miss Gary for reasons best known to herself could not repress a 
 covert smile. 
 
 " Why not," she said, with an air of heavenly innocence ; " you 
 know he is in the habit of calling now and then." 
 
 " Yes, I believe I have discovered the fact, my child," said Mr. 
 Tim Maurice, with a paternal air. " Now go and dress your doll 
 most innocent young thing ! Dr. Haworth and myself propose to 
 try a game." 
 
 Having uttered these words with deep seriousness, Uncle Tim
 
 8 D#- HAVfOKTIt AND CARY MAURICE. 
 
 slowly closed one of his eyelids, and bursting suddenly into hearty 
 laughter turned his back on Miss Gary. 
 
 As Col. Ross did not reappear at Mauricewood again, Miss Gary 
 Maurice's character for truth seemed to have suffered shipwreck. 
 
 V. 
 
 DR. HA WORTH AND CARY MAURICE. 
 
 Miss GARY MAURICE seemed to be pursuing a somewhat sin 
 gular course toward Dr. Haworth. She would never be left alone 
 with him if she could prevent it. What was the meaning of that ? 
 
 Men rarely understand women, who understand men very well. 
 The maxim is sound, though some superior beings may dispute it. 
 
 Dr. Haworth did not understand Miss Gary Maurice in the least. 
 His brain was a vigorous one, but he was puzzled. 
 
 The young lady was no longer so frank and unreserved as at 
 first. The change had begun on the ride to Prof. Lesner's that day 
 from the moment when he had in effect told her that there was a 
 " charm " about her which made people love her. Was that simply 
 the idle compliment of a gentleman to a young lady ? The mere 
 words were little, but Dr. Haworth's look was a great deal or Miss 
 Gary seemed to think so. 
 
 What followed was a little reserve. If that was the sudden be 
 ginning, the ending might be as sudden and more emphatic. So the 
 young lady had discovered that it would be unreasonable to take Dr. 
 Haworth out of his way, or to trouble him to escort her home when 
 he came to visit them at Mauricewood ; a system was inaugurated 
 it has been mentioned. There were to be no private interviews. 
 If there was danger of that, the peril was to b,e evaded. Miss Gary 
 had forgotten her thimble. " Was that mamma calling ? " So the 
 private interview didn't take place. 
 
 There was absolutely nothing to complain of. Miss Gary's de 
 meanor toward Dr. Haworth before others was the perfection of cor 
 diality. It was plain that she liked him, if smiles and tones of voice 
 mean anything. What did it all signify ? Dr. Haworth saw it, and 
 had not the least idea. 
 
 There really seemed to be no grounds for Miss Gary's apprehen 
 sions, if she indulged any. Was she fearful that the utterance of
 
 DR. HA WORTH AND GARY MAURICE. 89 
 
 certain words by Dr. Haworth would terminate or unpleasantly 
 modify their friendly relations ; that to have a certain question asked, 
 and to be compelled to reply to it in a certain manner, would raise a 
 barrier of constraint between them, and dispel the charm of the little 
 romance ? If that was the explanation of Miss Gary's tactics it 
 might be that she was putting herself to a great deal of unnecessary 
 trouble. Why resort to all that strategy of dragging Mr. Tim 
 Maurice out to the portico after Col. Ross' last visit ? Dr. Ha 
 worth, it seemed, was capable of exchanging intelligent observations 
 on the weather without directing the conversation to the subject of 
 his private feelings. 
 
 Two or three times Miss Gary had found herself beaten the 
 victim of circumstance. She and Dr. Haworth had been left alone 
 together. On these occasions nothing had occurred, The conver 
 sation had been friendly, and Dr. Haworth had not indulged in 
 rapturous remarks. He was quite as grave as ever, and spoke easily 
 and simply. This had reassured Miss Gary, and it was plain that 
 she had lost sight at such times of her " system." He had been 
 speaking on one of these occasions of the charm of home and home 
 faces, which so many human beings lacked. 
 
 " You say that very feelingly," said Miss Gary, crossing her hands 
 in her lap with an air of reflection, and looking down. 
 
 " Yes, I feel it. I have never had what people call a home." 
 
 " I am so sorry but gentlemen have friends you have one in 
 your young Jean." 
 
 " Yes, but they are a poor substitute. Do your friends take the 
 place of your home circle, Miss Maurice ? " 
 
 " Oh, no ! What you say is very true it must be very sad to be 
 without a home. Have you always been ? But that is impossible." 
 
 " Nearly always ; I am a native of this country, and lost my 
 mother and father when very young. I went to South America, and 
 since that time have been roving and rovers, you know, are not 
 domestic people." 
 
 " But you liked it." 
 
 " A little when I was young. I am now weary of it." 
 
 The grave voice seemed to excite Miss Gary's sympathy. 
 
 " But you have not always been roving about have you lived in 
 South America all the time ? " 
 
 " No, I spent some years in Europe, and have visited the United 
 States."
 
 QO DR. HA VtOK Tit A.VD CARY MAURICE. 
 
 " Were none of your family living ? but you must forgive me 
 for asking you so many questions." 
 
 " I am nattered by your doing so ; it is an evidence of friendly 
 interest." 
 
 " I take a very sincere interest in you," said Miss Gary, raising 
 her eyes and looking into his. 
 
 " Thank you we make each other friendly speeches," he said, 
 " as I did that day when I met you riding to Prof. Lesner's." 
 
 " Did you ? " said Miss Gary, innocently. 
 
 " I think I told you that you were beautiful, and that everybody 
 must love you," he said. " It was a little unceremonious, but then 
 it was sincere. You have the charm of friendliness and vivacity." 
 
 Miss Gary looked at her slippers, with her eyelashes resting 
 nearly upon her cheeks, and twisted a lace cuff between her fingers. 
 Dr. Haworth, however, seemed the farthest possible from designing 
 to add anything more enthusiastic. 
 
 " If I spoke a little too plainly," he said, in a perfectly grave tone, 
 " I hope you will pardon it, and attribute it to my fashion of speak 
 ing frankly on all subjects." 
 
 " There is nothing to pardon," said Miss Gary, still looking down. 
 
 " I have seen little of women, and scarcely know how to address 
 them." 
 
 " What you apologize for is said to be a very acceptable way," 
 said Miss Gary, forcing a laugh. 
 
 " It is honest, at least, and you know honesty is a great deal." 
 
 " Indeed, it is/" 
 
 She raised her eyes and looked at him. She had forgotten all 
 about systems, and spoke like the good country girl that she was. 
 
 " I can't bear affectation, and pretense, and stopping to consider 
 before every word ! " she exclaimed. " Why -won't people be natu 
 ral!" 
 
 " Perhaps the explanation is that they are afraid to appear what 
 they really are." 
 
 " You are not ! " 
 
 " I am not ; you know very little about me, my life, I mean but 
 you shall know. As to myself my character you know that, if 
 you have taken the trouble to interest yourself in it. I am honest in 
 my instincts, and my life if not gay has been respectable, which is a 
 good word." 
 
 " A very good one."
 
 DR. HA WORTH AND CARY MAURICE. 91 
 
 " Not a gay life ; just the reverse, and that has perhaps made me 
 a little hard." 
 
 " You are not at all hard. It is a very unfair term to apply to 
 yourself." 
 
 " It is just. I am not soft or romantic. You may not believe 
 me, but I have never loved any woman. If I had children I should 
 be different, I am sure, and I wish I had them. I am rather a lonely 
 person, and a lonely man generally becomes hard, but I do not com 
 plain ; repining is weakness. It is better to make the best of things." 
 
 " Yes, indeed," said the young lady, thoughtfully and a little 
 sadly. I see now what you meant when you spoke of home, and 
 your longing for one." 
 
 " I should be happier," he said. " There is nothing so dreary as 
 to sit on a South American veranda toward evening to hear no 
 sound but the cries of the night-birds from the mangroves, and have 
 no desire even to go in and look at the new books and journals lying 
 on the table. The glimmer of the lamps is funereal the portraits 
 stare at you in a word, you are alone or rather I am and it is 
 not gay." 
 
 " It is very sad. You live near Lima, however ? " 
 
 " A few miles from it, but I have never had any great fancy for 
 the society there." 
 
 " But your books ? " 
 
 "They are my only companions, nearly. I receive the new 
 works from London and Paris. When I am tired, I hunt and sleep. 
 It may be a philosopher's life it is not a cheerful one." 
 
 Miss Gary mused. She was plainly figuring to herself this lonely 
 existence of the pampas, and it seemed to touch her. Her head 
 drooped, and she gazed sadly at the floor. She looked up at last 
 and said, laughing, 
 
 " I think you ought to marry." 
 
 Dr. Haworth shook his head. 
 
 " It is not probable that I shall ever marry," he said. 
 
 This matter-of-fact response seemed to embolden Miss Gary. 
 
 " Why not ? " 
 
 " I should not marry without love, and I have never loved any 
 woman." 
 
 Miss Gary was aware of a sudden sentiment of pique. 
 
 " You may ! " she said. 
 
 M It is impossible,"
 
 M DR. HAVtOPTir AND CARY MAURICE. 
 
 y<z 
 
 A little laugh greeted the words. 
 
 " Pride goes before a fall ! " 
 
 " It is not pride with me it is the result of another trait" 
 
 " What is that ? " 
 
 " I am not impressible." 
 
 Miss Gary was thus openly defied. 
 
 " I see you are a woman-hater," she said, with a laugh, " and I 
 suppose there is nothing more to say." 
 
 " I have a very great regard and respect for women good ones." 
 
 " Then I hope I may inspire you with regard and respect, sir ! " 
 laughed the young lady. 
 
 As she spoke, a servant was seen leading out two riding-horses, 
 followed by Jean. 
 
 " Are you going to ride ? " said Miss Gary. 
 
 " I thought of doing so with Jean." 
 
 " He is very handsome," she said, looking at the youth. 
 
 " And a very good boy." 
 
 " Is he from South America ? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " He is very refined in his manners, and we are all struck by his 
 curious resemblance to the portrait of papa." 
 
 " Mr. Maurice showed it to me one day during your absence." 
 
 " You must have observed the resemblance. I notice it at every 
 meal." 
 
 " There is certainly a resemblance, but you know that is not un 
 common." 
 
 Soon after which Dr. Haworth rode away with Jean. 
 
 Miss Gary remained on the veranda looking after them and mus 
 ing. Having no means of reading the minds of young ladies by the 
 expressions of their face, the present writer is unable to state what 
 this lady was thinking about. But after a while she rose and saun 
 tered slowly into the house. As she did so she said in a low voice : 
 
 " Poor, dear fellow ! How sorry I am for him. He says I have 
 the charm of friendliness and vivacity. He has the charm of re 
 pose."
 
 THE FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 93 
 
 VI. 
 
 THE FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 
 
 WHAT Dr. Haworth had discovered in the bed in the locked 
 room and thrust into his bosom, was a twisted cord, with a stick 
 thrust through it in other words, a.garrote. 
 
 He was perfectly familiar with this primitive Spanish instrument 
 for the infliction of capital punishment ; and had instantly, at the 
 very first sight of it, connected it with the murder. An end of the 
 cord had protruded from between the bed-clothing, the rest being 
 concealed. Dr. Haworth had drawn it out, and by an instinctive 
 movement had hidden it in his breast under his waistcoat. 
 
 As soon as he was alone in his chamber, where Jean Baptiste 
 was seated upon a cricket at a corner of the cheerful blaze for the 
 nights were growing chill now Dr. Haworth took the twisted cord 
 from his breast and said to the boy : 
 
 " Do you know what this is, Jean ? " 
 
 " Certainly, Excellency ; it is a garrote," was the reply. 
 
 " I thought you would recognize it." 
 
 " There is nothing strange in that. I have seen them often, and 
 that is a good tough one." 
 
 Dr. Haworth looked at him quietly and said : 
 
 " Do you know you have not asked me a single question ? " 
 
 " A question ? " 
 
 " Of a hundred youths of your age ninety-nine would have asked 
 me where I found this. You have not." 
 
 " Your Excellency's business is your own, not mine," said Jean. 
 
 " In other words, you are a person of discretion, Jean. Well, I 
 give you a proof of my confidence now. I have told you about the 
 murder that took place in this house. Here is the instrument with 
 which it was committed." 
 
 " With that ! Mr. Maurice was then garroted ! " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 Jean said nothing, but his eyes were fixed upon Dr. Haworth 
 with the deepest attention. 
 
 " I will explain to you another time how I came to find this," he 
 said ; " take it and lock it up in the valise." 
 
 Jean rose quietly, took a key from his pocket and locked up the 
 twisted cord in the valise.
 
 94 THE FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 
 
 " Now, I have something to say to you, Jean," said Dr. Ha- 
 worth. " From this moment real war begins between the man you 
 know and myself, and you are a valuable ally." 
 
 They talked in a low tone for about an hour, and then retired 
 Jean Baptiste to his pallet in the corner and his master to his bed. 
 
 On the next morning Dr. Haworth made himself agreeable gen 
 erally, turned over Miss Gary's music, conversed with Mrs. Maurice, 
 and at length joined Mr. Tim Maurice on the portico as he was 
 about to take his morning ride. 
 
 " A pleasant day," he said. 
 
 " Really glorious ! " exclaimed Mr. Tim Maurice, " and I feel as 
 lively as a boy." 
 
 " Your health is excellent. I am happy to see." 
 
 " Excellent owing to my scorn for people of your profession, 
 Doctor ! " 
 
 " You never take medical advice, then, since you never need it." 
 
 "Never! Dr. Seabright often denounces me and predicts I'll 
 come to a bad end, but I laugh at him." 
 
 " Dr. Seabright ? " 
 
 "He is our old family physician and has been for thirty 
 years." 
 
 Dr. Haworth mused for a moment. 
 
 " Thirty years ? " he said. " Then I suppose he was your broth 
 er's physician ? " 
 
 "Certainly we sent for him immediately when that terrible 
 affair occurred." 
 
 " He came, of course ? " 
 
 " In half an hour, as he only resides a little beyond Abbeyville ; 
 but it was useless, of course, to send for him." 
 
 " As Mr. Maurice was dead, I understand. But I am detaining 
 you a pleasant ride." 
 
 " Thank you amuse yourself with the ladies. I'll be back for 
 a game before dinner." 
 
 But Haworth did not seem to have made his morning arrange 
 ments with a view to chess or the society of the ladies. As soon as 
 Mr. Tim Maurice disappeared, he informed them of his intention to 
 ride to the postoffice at Abbeyville, and his horse having been 
 brought, he mounted and went in that direction. He soon reached 
 Abbeyville, received the Mauricewood mail, and then, instead of re 
 turning, inquired of a person passing where Dr. Seabright lived
 
 THE FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 
 
 95 
 
 The reply was a pointed finger. The house of the Doctor was visi 
 ble about a mile distant crowning a hill. 
 
 Dr. Haworth rode on, and soon reached it. It was a small and 
 very comfortable establishment surrounded by a plank fence and 
 hedge. On the porch was seated a gray-haired man in leather leg- 
 gins reading a newspaper. His overcoat indicated that he had just 
 returned from riding. 
 
 " Dr. Seabright, I believe," said the visitor, approaching him. 
 
 " At your service, sir," said Dr. Seabright in brief tones, rising 
 and pointing to a split-bottomed chair opposite his own. He had a 
 ruddy face, penetrating eyes, a large nose and a wide mouth. Be 
 hind this composed mask were probably many family secrets. 
 
 " My name is Haworth," said the visitor, sitting down. " A 
 member of your profession, sir." 
 
 " Glad to see you, Dr. Haworth," said Dr. Seabright, in an un 
 impressed manner. 
 
 " I am visiting your friends at Mauricewood, and thought I 
 would call and pay my respects to a brother physician. Mr. Mau 
 rice spoke of you." 
 
 Dr. Seabright looked at the speaker with a keen glance from be 
 neath his bushy gray eyebrows. 
 
 " Happy to know you. You are the friend from South America 
 I have heard mentioned, I suppose ? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " You visit our country at a pleasant season, and the Maurice 
 family belong to our best people." 
 
 " They are most agreeable. You have known them a long time, 
 no doubt." 
 
 " Well, for forty years or thereabouts, and that is quite a long 
 time." 
 
 " You were the family physician all this time ? " 
 
 " For thirty years or more." 
 
 " That establishes a very close relation in our profession, Doc 
 tor. A family physician is necessarily thrown in contact, you know, 
 with the joys and sorrows of each and all unhappily it is the sor 
 row he sees most of." 
 
 " Yes ; he that is whole needs not a physician," said Dr. Sea- 
 bright with a grim smile. " I like to quote the Scriptures now and 
 then to show my contempt for these modern physical scientists, as 
 they call themselves, though all their science is tomfoolery."
 
 96 THE FA MIL Y PHYSJCIAtf. 
 
 " I agree with you. Yes, the distress in a family is what the family 
 physician sees, and I suppose the Mauricewood household has not 
 been exempt ? " 
 
 " They are not often sick, and there has been no death there for 
 a long time since John Maurice's." 
 
 " The husband of Mrs. Maurice, I believe ? " 
 
 " Yes. He died nearly twenty years ago a curious case." 
 
 " Curious ? " 
 
 " I have always thought but these are private matters." 
 
 Dr. Haworth had turned his head slightly, but made no effort to 
 induce Dr. Seabright to explain himself. 
 
 " You are very right, Doctor," he said, " the first duty of a mem 
 ber of our profession is to keep sacred what passes in the sick 
 chamber. In delirium a man reveals what he would not reveal in 
 his right senses. If his physician repeats it he is no longer a trusted 
 friend he is a spy." 
 
 " Right," said Dr. Seabright ; " Mr. Maurice, however, did not 
 rave." 
 
 " You were present I understand you to say when he died. You 
 may also have been present at the death of his uncle, Mr. James 
 Maurice. I have been told of that sad affair." 
 
 " No, I was not present," said Dr. Seabright. 
 
 "His death, you mean, followed the blow of the assassin too 
 promptly ? " 
 
 " Yes I see Mr. Tim has told you all about that strange business." 
 
 " Everything, and one detail of the murder struck me as remark 
 able." 
 
 " What was that ? " 
 
 " The cause of Mr. Maurice's death. I need not say to a gen 
 tleman with your knowledge of physiology that a blow in the tem 
 poral or parietal region is often fatal ; but it is strange that it should 
 have proved fatal almost instantly, as it seems to have done in Mr. 
 Maurice's case." 
 
 " Mr. Maurice was not killed by a blow on his head," said Dr. 
 Seabright. 
 
 " Indeed ? not by the hammer which was supposed to be the 
 weapon used ? " 
 
 " A hammer had nothing to do with it ! " 
 
 Dr. Seabright uttered the words with the abruptness which 
 marked all that he said.
 
 THE FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 
 
 97 
 
 " You surprise me," said Dr. Haworth. 
 
 " I surprised the court also, and all who heard me. I made the 
 post-mortem examination of the body. There was no contusion 
 but the asses the court summoned as experts said that external in 
 dications were not always present. The weapon might have struck 
 the hair. The consequence ? I was voted an ignoramus and my 
 whole theory a mere fancy." 
 
 " Your theory ? " 
 
 " It was no theory. It was the fact." 
 
 "The fact?" 
 
 " James Maurice was strangled probably by a cord, possibly by 
 the hands of the murderer clutching his throat." 
 
 " Strangled ! What were your grounds for so singular a supposi 
 tion ? " 
 
 " The marks on his throat," said Dr. Seabright coolly, " and they 
 were not marks of hands. I know it as well as I know that I am 
 sitting here that James Maurice met his fate in that way." 
 
 " By the garrote ? " 
 
 " What is that ? Oh, I understand." 
 
 " The cord used to strangle criminals in Cuba and South Amer 
 ica. I am quite familiar with it. I will show you its operation." 
 
 He looked around him as though in search of something. 
 
 " I have a cord in my pocket," he said. 
 
 Dr. Haworth then drew from one pocket the cord which he 
 had found in the locked room, and thrusting his hand into another 
 pocket, produced the stick in which it had been inserted. 
 
 " This will serve to show you the operation of the Spanish gar- 
 rote," he said, placing the cord around a knob of the railing beside 
 him and twisting it by means of the stick. 
 
 " Yes," said Dr. Seabright. 
 
 " If the cord is sufficiently tough not to break, the man is soon 
 dead, you see." 
 
 " I see. Well, that's the way James Maurice came to his death. 
 That cord in your hand was plenty strong enough." 
 
 Dr. Haworth restored the cord and stick to his pocket and said : 
 
 " Your idea is curious it appears remarkable that an American 
 should have committed murder in that manner. A Spaniard might 
 have done so." 
 
 " It is curious, but it's so," said Dr. Seabright concisely. 
 
 " You saw the traces of the garrote ? " 
 5
 
 9 8 
 
 THE FAMILY PHYSIC* A ft. 
 
 " As plainly as I see you." 
 
 " How were they explained by the friends of the hammer the 
 ory? " 
 
 " They were not explained. As the hammer was there and the 
 expert asses had their bosh ready about external indications, the 
 marks on the neck went for nothing." 
 
 " The difficulty of removing a preconceived impression, I see. 
 But who was the garroter ? " 
 
 Dr. Seabright shook his head and said : 
 
 " I have never had the least idea " 
 
 " Mr. Ducis ? " said Dr. Haworth. 
 
 " Mr. Ducis ? " said Dr. Seabright, " the idea is wild ! No sane 
 person believes that." 
 
 " Who was, then ? '' 
 
 " Dr. Haworth," said Dr. Seabright, solemnly, " you might as 
 well ask that jackass yonder. I am not an expert, and don't know 
 everything. I know Mr. Ducis had nothing to do with it he was 
 one of the noblest of gentlemen and the best friend I had. The 
 matter has puzzled me for twenty years. If you will clear it up I 
 will present you with the best case of instruments to be bought in 
 the City of London. Come in and join me in a glass of grog. I 
 have been riding and feel a little chilled." 
 
 Dr. Haworth joined his professional brother in the glass of grog, 
 and after a little more conversation rose to go. 
 
 " I am surprised at your theory of that murder," he said as he 
 shook hands. " Garroted ? Was there an enemy of Mr. Maurice 
 who had been to Mexico or South America who was familiar, I 
 mean, with the process of garroting ? " 
 
 " I never knew of any." 
 
 " No person in the neighborhood had resided in either of those 
 countries ? " 
 
 " No one but Col. Ross, and the idea that he knew anything 
 about it never entered anybody's head." 
 
 " Naturally, as Col. Ross is a gentleman of position and charac 
 ter." 
 
 " He was strangled, though ! " said Dr. Seabright, warmed up by 
 his grog. " If I was on my death bed and past talking, and any 
 body said, ' What was the cause of James Maurice's death ? ' I 
 would try for a last mouthful of air to say, ' He was strangled. the 
 expert asses to the contrary notwithstanding.' "
 
 AN OMEN. 
 
 99 
 
 Dr. Seabright then shook hands, invited his professional brother 
 to repeat his call, and that gentleman, having stated that it would 
 give him pleasure to do so, rode away. 
 
 VII. 
 
 AN OMEN. 
 
 WHEN Miss Gary Maurice went up-stairs, after her interview 
 with Dr. Haworth, she sat down by an open window and looked out 
 at the yellow trees. 
 
 Her expression was pensive and a little sad. She was probably 
 thinking of a lonely personage living in a lonely hacienda, and pity 
 ing his lot. 
 
 " Poor, dear fellow ! " she murmured again in a tone of celestial 
 pity. And then Miss Maurice went through a curious performance. 
 She smiled, sighed, got up, and standing in front of the mirror, 
 which was a handsome oval, surmounting a white marble toilet 
 table, looked at herself. The mirror reflected a pretty face just 
 tinted with faint blushes, brown bangs nearly covering the forehead, 
 big blue eyes and lips with a charming smile just indicated. As 
 she looked the smile became fully developed, and Miss Gary uttered 
 a faint laugh. Was she laughing at herself ? Her reflections did not 
 seem to concern themselves with the face in the mirror. She said 
 half aloud : 
 
 " He must think it strange that I avoid him and certainly it is 
 not very polite." 
 
 This reasoning seemed to have convinced Miss Gary, since, on 
 Dr. Haworth's return, she was sitting upon the veranda and smiled 
 in a friendly manner as he approached. She even glanced in a casual 
 way at a second camp-chair not far from her, and Dr. Haworth sat 
 down. 
 
 He was a little surprised. Miss Gary had evidently forgotten 
 nothing up-stairs ; had no engagement requiring her presence else 
 where ; and was ready to indulge in a friendly t$te-a-tete. 
 
 They conversed for about an hour without interruption Miss 
 Gary in a happy and riant mood which drove away her companion's 
 gloom ; smiles and bright glances are like sunshine and light up all 
 they touch upon. Miss Gary Maurice seemed to have resolved that
 
 IOO AX OMEN. 
 
 nothing grave or gloomy should live in her presence ; and when a 
 girl as beautiful as herself ever resolves she is apt to succeed. 
 
 Every trace of melancholy disappeared from Dr. Haworth's 
 countenance. He had forgotten all but the fair face at his side ; 
 and the eyes fixed upon her own might have told her a great deal if 
 she had needed to be told it. 
 
 It is nearly certain that Miss Gary did not need to be told any 
 thing about it. A man's face is never full of " strange matters " to 
 a woman the matters are quite familiar and are read with the ut 
 most ease. Therefore seeing that Miss Gary understood, and real 
 ized that this man loved her whether he realized it or not her 
 happy smiles and caressing tones were an omen. 
 
 If the only use of language is to convey ideas, and the business 
 of a writer is to employ the words best suited to express his mean 
 ing, it would be better, perhaps, to say that Gary Maurice saw that 
 she had inspired love and meant to say, when the moment came, 
 " You may love me as much as you choose ! " 
 
 It was a very long step from that careful avoidance of all private 
 interviews but Miss Gary had taken the step. 
 
 When they went into the house after this conversation in the 
 autumn twilight, something happened in the most natural man 
 ner. 
 
 Miss Gary's companion offered his hand to assist her in rising 
 from her low seat. She at once accepted this polite attention, and 
 the two hands met which would have been nothing if they had not 
 remained in each other. They did so apparently they were both 
 unconscious of the fact. Suddenly Dr. Haworth made Miss Gary 
 aware of the state of things, They were at the door, and he im 
 pulsively raised the small hand to his lips. 
 
 " I think more than ever now," he said, " that you have about 
 you the something I spoke of on our ride that evening." 
 
 Miss Gary turned and looked up at him. Her eyes were full of 
 light. 
 
 " I am very glad," she said in a whisper almost, smiling and 
 blushing faintly. After which she went up-stairs. 
 
 When she came down to tea, Miss Gary was perfectly easy and 
 self-possessed the model of a charming young person in the bosom 
 of her family. She had never been so gay. Any one looking at her 
 and listening to her would have said that this young lady had heard 
 $ome good news.
 
 THE RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT. ioi 
 
 When she retired for the night she made a low courtesy to Dr. 
 Haworth, holding her tight skirts at the side and laughing. 
 
 He bowed and said ; " I hope you will remember your engage 
 ment, Miss Maurice." 
 
 " Y es," said Miss Gary. 
 
 " What engagement ? " asked Uncle Tim. 
 
 " Dr. Haworth was good enough to promise to escort me to see 
 Prof. Lesner. I wish to borrow a book," said Miss Gary. 
 
 " Well, take good care of the young thing, Doctor, and come 
 back in time for our game," said Uncle Tim. 
 
 Dr. Haworth scarcely heard the words. He was looking at 
 Gary Maurice, whose exquisite figure was just disappearing from 
 the apartment. 
 
 As she left the room she turned her head over her shoulder and 
 their eyes met. 
 
 The look was another omen a word signifying, according to 
 Dr. Johnson, " a prognostic." 
 
 VIII. 
 
 THE RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT. 
 
 THE morning was superb a dying flash of the imperial au 
 tumn. The leaves were red-russet or as yellow as gold, the sky of 
 gold-blue, and the woods swam in a rosy mist. It was a day for 
 the youth and maiden of Mr. Browning's poem to take their " last 
 ride together." 
 
 Miss Gary Maurice was in the highest spirits and looked charm 
 ing in her riding-habit. Her brown hair was in a coil on her neck 
 and a small hat was perched like a bird on the summit of her head. 
 If Dr. Haworth's heart did not beat at sight of her, and at the touch 
 of her ungloved hand as he assisted her to mount, he must have 
 been what he called himself, unimpressible. 
 
 They rode at a gallop through the woods, and Miss Gary retained 
 her extravagant spirits. Her jests effervesced like sparkling wine 
 bursting into bubbles. In a word, something had evidently pleased 
 her. 
 
 They reached Prof. Lesner's in half an hour, and he came out in 
 his dressing-gown, as usual, to receive them.
 
 1 02 THE RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT. 
 
 His smile was as cordial, and he displayed unmistakable pleasure 
 at seeing the young girl, but Dr. Haworth at once discerned the 
 odor of opium smoke in his clothes. The dreamy eyes of the poor 
 Professor were another indication that he had not abandoned his 
 evil habit it was very sad. 
 
 " So you have come to see your old friend before he has returned 
 your last visit, Miss Gary," he said, smiling. " Good day, Doctor, 
 am happy to see you." 
 
 Dr. Haworth bowed and shook hands, and Miss Gary cried : 
 
 " Returned my visit ? I wish you would come, dear Prof. Lesner, 
 but I shall not think anything of it if you do not. Your time is 
 valuable and mine is worth nothing. I came to beg you to lend me 
 a book." 
 
 "A book? Yes, indeed anything I have, my dear Miss 
 Gary." 
 
 " I thought I would like to read ' Luria ' again he is so grand 
 and kind." 
 
 " A great poem as you say, he is of heroic mold, and so pro 
 foundly true." 
 
 Prof. Lesner then went into his library and brought out the 
 volume, a canary bird having embraced the opportunity to perch 
 upon his shoulder. 
 
 "You see my birds still pet me poor recluse that I am," he 
 said, with his dreamy smile. 
 
 " I think they show their sense you are their very best friend," 
 said Miss Gary. 
 
 " Well, we all need friends and I have just had a proof that I 
 have some myself. "Would you believe it these poor Hill people 
 have insisted on electing me a magistrate ? " 
 
 " A magistrate ? " 
 
 " A justice of the peace ! " 
 
 And Prof. Lesner uttered a slight laugh. 
 
 "It was actually without my knowledge," he said, "and I am 
 not at all fit for it. True, I was a law student in early life, but I 
 never practiced. I think the idea of these humble people is to have 
 a good natured old magistrate who will let them off easily." 
 
 " Why, of course ! " Miss Gary exclaimed. " I am sure that was 
 why you were elected. So you are a justice ? " 
 
 " Yes, I have been to qualify and have received my certificate. 
 It is absurd, but the poor folk seem to think I am capable. I hesi-
 
 THE RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT. 
 
 103 
 
 rated to accept, but thought I would not reject what I suppose was 
 meant as a mark of friendly feeling." 
 
 " I think you were perfectly right, sir," said Dr. Haworth. 
 
 " I am glad you approve, Doctor. But sit down, Miss Gary." 
 
 " Thank you ; we were only out riding. I think mamma will 
 expect me back." 
 
 And after a lively conversation, rather dreamy and fantastic on 
 the part of the poor Professor, they shook hands with him and 
 again mounted. 
 
 " It is sad to see such a person so lonely," said Miss Gary, as 
 they rode on slowly. 
 
 "Yes we spoke the other day of lonely lives, I remember. 
 They are not very gay." 
 
 " Of yours, you mean." 
 
 Miss Gary rode on at a walk her good spirits seemed to have 
 all effervesced. 
 
 "What the Preacher says is true," said Dr. Haworth. "'Two 
 are better than one ' that is to say, sympathy is a necessity to hu 
 man beings. You will remember the text, ' woe to him that is alone 
 when he falleth.' " 
 
 Miss Gary smiled rather faintly. 
 
 " That is said of friends only is it not ? " she asked. 
 
 "Yes, but the truth is stronger if we apply it to a man and 
 woman who love each other." 
 
 "I suppose so," said Miss Gary, in a tone of deep thought. 
 
 " I am only sorry that I can not follow the advice of Ecclesiastes, 
 in that sense, and love some one who would comfort me in my 
 hours of depression." 
 
 " That would make you happier," said Miss Gary, in the same 
 tone, without looking at him. 
 
 " Unfortunately I do not hope to find any such person. I am 
 not very lovable, and then " 
 
 If Dr. Haworth was on the point of adding that his own ob 
 durate indifference would be an additional obstacle, he did not do 
 so. His sentence remained unfinished. Miss Gary Maurice's horse 
 started violently and began running at full speed. 
 
 The cause of this was simple. The woods through which they 
 were riding were the resort of " wild hogs," as they were generally 
 called that is, of hogs which had escaped from their owners and 
 returned nearly to a state of nature. In passing a copse Miss Gary's
 
 TlfE RESULT Of AX ACCIDENT. 
 
 IO4 
 
 horse was suddenly startled by a hoarse growl, and one of these 
 animals rushed out. The consequence was that the animal shied 
 violently, ran, and as Miss Gary had dropped the bridle on his neck 
 she had no control over him. 
 
 The result was a painful accident. Before Dr. Haworth, riding 
 at his utmost speed, could catch up with her, she was thrown. Her 
 saddle girth had turned and she fell at full length in the road about 
 ten feet in front of him. 
 
 He threw himself from the saddle an<i ran to her She was 
 lying on her side, quite unconscious. Lifting her in his arms and 
 clasping her close to him, he cried : 
 
 " Gary ! my own Gary ! Good God ! she is not dead ? " 
 
 Her head fell upon his shoulders, and she was a limp weight in 
 his arms. Every trace of color had disappeared from her face and 
 her eyes were closed. 
 
 With a passionate sob Dr. Haworth placed his hand upon her 
 heart. It was beating feebly, and he knew then that she had only 
 fainted from her heavy fall. Had she broken any of her limbs? 
 Neither arm was bleeding, and with the physician's instinct he 
 glanced toward her limbs. 
 
 " She will tell me if she revives ! " he said in a trembling voice ; 
 and again he called " Gary." 
 
 She opened her eyes and looked up at him. Her face was lying 
 upon his breast, and she drew closer to him. 
 
 " You are hurt badly hurt, Gary ! " 
 
 Whereupon Dr. Haworth, scarce aware of what he was doing, 
 and forgetting his professional character, stooped and kissed her 
 forehead, exclaiming : 
 
 " I never knew how much I loved you ! " 
 
 It was plain that Miss Gary's faint was at an end. Her face 
 filled with blushes, and he could feel her bosom resting against his 
 own rise and fall. 
 
 " I am not much hurt ! " she murmured. 
 
 " God be thanked," he said. " If you had been killed I should 
 not have cared to live. I have been a fool ! I did not know ! I 
 love you dearly so dearly! Remember what we said woe to 
 those who are alone when they fall ! " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 That was all Miss Gary's reply. As she clasped her hands 
 behind his neck, however, no more seemed necessary.
 
 MAY AND AUGUST. 105 
 
 Dr. Haworth assisted her to a fallen tree near the road, caught 
 the horses after a little trouble, and lifted her to the saddle, after 
 which they rode home, nearly in silence. The accident had taken 
 place not far from Mauricewood, and they soon arrived. 
 
 As Miss Gary dismounted, and walked rather painfully into the 
 house, she said to Dr. Haworth : 
 
 ." I will tell mamma." 
 
 She was standing in the door and looking at him out of a pair 
 of moist blue eyes. 
 
 " Will you tell her all ? " he said. 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " That I love you and can not live without you ? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 He bent down and kissed her, and she returned the kiss ; after 
 which she went up stairs. 
 
 IX. 
 
 MAY AND AUGUST. 
 
 t THE love of a mature man differs very much from the love of a 
 youth. 
 
 The youth loves because it is a necessity with him because the 
 time has come to love. In the spring the sap pushes, and the ardor 
 of youth requires an outlet or say the inner impulse is like the 
 subtile gas in new wine and produces an overflow. It is charming, 
 but evanescent, as all momentary impulses are. To the young lover 
 the character of the object of his love is not of great importance. 
 Red lips, rosy cheeks, bright eyes and curls he is satisfied if he 
 finds these. 
 
 It is not to laugh at him to say that he is satisfied, since he sees 
 much more. What is wanting his fancy supplies. The possessor 
 of the curls and roses is necessarily an angel. 
 
 Then the natural result follows. When he has forced upon hfm 
 the conviction after a while that his angel is a doll and not at all 
 angelic, he suddenly cools. There are other angels or dolls he sees. 
 Other roses are fresher, other eyes brighter. The stronger magnet 
 draws him and then the first love is quickly replaced by another, 
 to yield in due time to numberless numbers.
 
 106 MAY AND AUGUST. 
 
 The world calls the youth fickle. He is not fickle, he is natural. 
 What comes quickly, goes quickly. The youth's heart is in his 
 hand ; he gives it and snatches it back. When he gives it again, it 
 is to snatch it again, and transfer it to a new angel. Or his beloved 
 does the same, and the young lover has the heart-ache. No mat 
 ter, that will not last. The sap gushes, and the cut heals over. 
 The sun is shining, the days are long ; there are so many other curls 
 and roses ! 
 
 When a man passes 30, April is over, and the summer has 
 come. From that time forward he no longer carries his heart in 
 his hand, begging every little beauty to accept it. He is pleased 
 with them, but loves none of them, and they naturally find him far 
 less attractive than the rosy youths who burst into raptures. Ad 
 miration, friendly regard, even affection yes, but no more. May 
 and August differ nearly as much as May and December. 
 
 But August is settled weather. The spring showers and sun 
 shine rapidly chasing each other have given way to blue skies and 
 calm. When a storm rises, however, it is a thunder storm. To 
 drop figures, the love of middle age is a very profound senti 
 ment. It is not given easily nor recalled easily, and when a man 
 has reached this period of life without really loving any one be 
 fore, his passion for the person he comes to love at last is ab 
 sorbing. 
 
 Dr. Haworth loved Gary Maurice in this manner now with all 
 the strength of a strong nature. He had met his fate. In the brief 
 space of time between their first meeting and her fall from horse 
 back he had lost sight of his past life and thought only of the face 
 and voice, the eyes and lips, of this " simple girl " whom he had 
 never seen before. 
 
 It is the old story which the story-tellens find their pens relating 
 all these years a man loving a woman, and counting all else worth 
 less unless she loves him in return. 
 
 After the ride to Prof. Lesner's he had no longer any doubt. 
 Gary Maurice loved him ! It was the wonder of wonders, but she 
 actually did love him ! Incredible as it might appear, she had not 
 preferred some ruddy youth, full of rapture and romance ; she had 
 chosen him, with his furrowed brow, sunburnt cheeks and gravity 
 unliked of woman. 
 
 What was to be the result ? Would his whole life change, and 
 pass henceforth in tranquil happiness beside this angel? It was
 
 MISS BURNS. 107 
 
 too beautiful a dream to be more than a dream, perhaps. Life had 
 its stern work, demanding the service of every faculty and his own 
 work was before him. 
 
 X. 
 
 MISS BURNS. 
 
 ON the morning after the ride, which had been followed by such 
 unexpected results, Ur. Haworth and Mrs. Maurice remained for 
 some time in private conversation in the drawing-room. 
 
 As Mr. Tim Maurice was absent on his daily tour of inspection, 
 and Miss Gary did not make her appearance, they were not inter 
 rupted, and conversed at their leisure. 
 
 An interruption at one time did seem to threaten them. Miss 
 Burns, the young seamstress from Abbeyville, who had been for 
 some time employed to assist in the household sewing, came down 
 stairs looking around her, perhaps for Mrs. Maurice to ask some 
 directions. 
 
 Miss Burns was a handsome young person, of about 20, 
 neatly dressed, with a fine suit of black hair and a rosy complexion. 
 Her face was smiling and her eyes sparkled. She was, in fact, a 
 very flattering specimen of a class which, wanting the grace spring 
 ing from culture and refinement, often possess physical attractions. 
 Beyond this there was nothing remarkable in Miss Burns' appear 
 ance except that she was retiring and giggled occasionally. 
 
 As she came quietly down the staircase now, her feet made no 
 noise. Having reached the hall she stopped and listened. The 
 voices of Dr. Haworth and Mrs. Maurice were heard in the draw 
 ing-room, and Miss Burns went to the closed door and listened. 
 
 This was a little discreditable, but then curiosity is said to be a 
 feminine failing. She listened with her ear at the keyhole for some 
 moments, but seemed to be disappointed. Either the inmates of 
 the apartments were seated on the other side of the room and 
 spoke in low tones, or the keyhole was filled with dust certainly 
 Miss Burns rose erect with an expression of dissatisfaction. 
 
 She then went out and strolled to and fro on the veranda, look 
 ing at the landscape. The Venetians were open and she did not 
 approach the windows, on the contrary she re-entered quietly and 
 returned up-stairs.
 
 I g DR. HAVtORTffS CURIOUS FANCY. 
 
 She had not seen Jean Baptiste, who was lying under one of the 
 oaks smoking a cigarette, but Jean had followed all her movements, 
 and uttered a low laugh as she disappeared. 
 
 After a while Mrs. Maurice left the drawing-room and Miss 
 Gary came down. As she did not close the door of the room after 
 her, anybody who had been in the hall at the time might have seen 
 her go up to Dr. Haworth and place her hand in his. 
 
 Some one nearly observed it. Miss Burns once more camv; 
 quietly down the staircase and stole on tiptoe toward the door. It 
 really was discreditable ; Miss Burns was about to eavesdrop ! 
 
 Unfortunately, if she were watching others, some one was 
 watching her. 
 
 As the maiden gracefully inclined toward the door, a low laugh 
 attracted her attention, and suddenly turning she saw Jean in the 
 veranda looking at her. 
 
 Thereupon Miss Burns colored, tossed her head, and abruptly 
 ran up-stairs again. Jean remained standing on the veranda, 
 quietly laughing. 
 
 XL 
 
 DR. HAWORTH'S CURIOUS FANCY. 
 
 SOME days passed. Affairs at Mauricewood followed the ordi 
 nary routine. Mr. Tim Maurice regularly took his morning rides ; 
 Mrs. Maurice superintended her household matters, going about 
 quietly with her soft step and sweet smile ; and Miss Gary, when 
 not assisting her, was apt to be conversing with Dr. Haworth in the 
 drawing-room, or occasionally with Jean. 
 
 A great alteration had taken place in Dr. Haworth. His grave 
 face grew, at times, brilliant with a smile which quite transformed 
 it ; and whenever his eyes fell upon Gary Maurice their natural 
 sternness melted into the soft splendor which comes to a man's 
 face when he loves a woman. 
 
 His whole life had, in fact, changed his very being seemed to 
 have undergone a sudden transformation. The collected and some 
 what weary air which had characterized him in moments of repose 
 had disappeared he was eager and hopeful. One could see that 
 the man had a future now that the past had dropped from him 
 like a worn-out garment.
 
 DR. HAWORTH'S CURIOUS FANCY. 
 
 109 
 
 The object of his visit to the Mauricewood neighborhood was per 
 haps not forgotten, but he had thrust it aside for the moment. It was 
 tolerably certain that a man of his character would not thrust it 
 aside long, but the blue eyes of a girl had dazzled him for the time. 
 He seemed to ask nothing better than to bask in that light to which 
 he was not accustomed, and for some days after his ride with Gary 
 he seemed to have lost sight of all else. 
 
 All at once he was brought back to his work. Something was 
 evidently going on at Mauricewood. It was obvious that Miss 
 Burns was -watching him. 
 
 Dr. Haworth was a quiet observer and not apt to take up fan 
 cies. There was no doubt at all about it. For some inexplicable 
 reason Miss Burns followed all his movements with the closest at 
 tention, looking and listening. 
 
 She did not look at him, or appear to be listening, and yet he 
 saw that she was doing both. At table she ate her meals modestly 
 with her eyes fixed upon her plate. When she had finished she 
 rose quietly, smiled, and went up-stairs to her sewing. In the even 
 ing when her work was done she took a walk for exercise, or re- 
 turned to her chamber. Her retiring disposition seemed to dictate 
 to her the propriety of not intruding on the family circle, though 
 when she did so she was treated with the utmost kindness and 
 courtesy. Mrs. Maurice and Miss Gary were much too well-bred to 
 make distinctions in their treatment of people, but Miss Burns mod 
 estly insisted upon keeping her place. 
 
 She did not speak to Dr. Haworth often. Sometimes it was 
 necessary, as when he would ask if he might help her to a dish be 
 fore him. She then said : " Thank you," or " no ; I thank you sir," 
 i'n a modest voice, giggling slightly and scarcely raising her eyes. 
 When she did raise them he observed that they were black and 
 laughing, and said to himself that Mrs. Maurice had a very hand 
 some seamstress. 
 
 This had been the state of things up to within a few days. Now 
 Miss Burns seemed to be growing somewhat less shy. Living in 
 the home with people naturally banishes ceremony, and human be 
 ings become familiarly acquainted. Miss Burns spoke with Dr. 
 Haworth more frequently, and even seemed to seek for occasions to 
 do so. She often met him accidentally on the staircase and giggled 
 in a friendly manner, looking at him out of the corners of her eyes. 
 At such times she flushed, casting down her eyelashes. Once she.
 
 110 DR. HAWORTirS CURIOUS FANCY. 
 
 met him as he was coming out of the drawing-room, and the two 
 faces nearly struck against each other, when Miss Burns blushed 
 violently and exclaimed : 
 
 " Oh, do excuse me, I am so awkward ! " 
 
 " I am sure the awkwardness is mine, madam," Dr. Haworth 
 said, bowing. But Miss Burns protested that the accident was the 
 result of her own awkwardness, and, looking bashfully at him, glided 
 away. 
 
 This was romantic but unfortunately there was something 
 mingled with the romance. As the hours passed on Dr. Haworth 
 was more and more convinced that Miss Burns was watching him. 
 Then he began to concentrate his attention upon her. He had 
 seen a great deal of human nature, and knew that the first question 
 was always the motive. Why should Miss Bums take so much in 
 terest in him ? Having propounded this interrogatory to himself he 
 began to watch her. 
 
 She became an interesting study. He was himself the least se 
 cretive of human beings, as proud people always are, and a pro 
 foundly secretive person was a curiosity to him. The generous and 
 open-handed man marvels at the avarice of the miser, and Dr. 
 Haworth, who was straightforward and virile, studied the secretive- 
 ness of this feminine diplomat with interest. 
 
 The trait seemed ingrained in her being ; she moved about en 
 veloped in a cloud. To speak more intelligibly, she was evidently 
 observing with close attention all that took place at Mauricewood ; 
 was especially interested in Dr. Haworth, and a fact which came 
 to be noticed was even curious to know what was going on in the 
 vicinity, unless her long evening walks were constitutionals. 
 
 One morning Miss Burns met Dr. Haworth as he was passing 
 through the hall. He had just returned from riding, and was going 
 to his room to make his toilet. 
 
 Miss Burns had just indulged in a walk, it seemed, for she had 
 gathered some superb dogwood leaves of a dazzling crimson. She 
 held them up as Dr. Haworth passed her, and said with a smile : 
 
 " Ain't they just lovely ! " 
 
 " They are really beautiful," said Dr. Haworth, bowing. 
 
 " Just too lovely for anything," said Miss Burns, who may have 
 found the phrase in a paper novel. " You have been riding, I sup 
 pose, sir ? " 
 
 Dr. Haworth bowed.
 
 MISS BURNS' MAIL-BAG. HI 
 
 " How I wish I had an escort I am so fond of riding ? " And 
 Miss Burns giggled. 
 
 Dr. Haworth looked at her. Was she proposing that he should 
 become her escort ? It seemed so, since she added : 
 
 " I only ride once a week to town ; and then it is just too 
 lonely." 
 
 When Miss Burns said this she looked at Dr. Haworth in a 
 languishing manner. 
 
 " I am going to-morrow," she said, casting down her eyes, pick 
 ing at the red leaves. Then she suddenly looked up at him. 
 
 Dr. Haworth understood now, and expressed himself in a 
 straightforward manner. 
 
 " I regret that it is out of my power to offer you my escort, Miss 
 Burns," he said. " I have an engagement to-morrow." 
 
 " An engagement ? " sighed Miss Burns. 
 
 " To ride with Miss Maurice." 
 
 .Miss Burns looked sudden daggers, but before she could reply 
 Miss Gary Maurice came down stairs, and Miss Burns went up, 
 passing her. Gary's face was full of smiles and happiness ; that of 
 Miss Burns had suddenly become overcast. At the landing she 
 stopped and listened, looking through the railing. 
 
 " I came down to get a book," said Miss Gary. " I suppose your 
 lordship is too tired to help me to look for it." 
 
 Dr. Haworth did not reply, but his action was expressive. He 
 took both Miss Gary's hands in his own, drew her to him, and 
 pressed his lips to her forehead. 
 
 It was not much, but Miss Burns, witnessing the performance, 
 shut her lips tightly together and looked furious. When Miss Gary 
 and her companion disappeared, hand in hand, in the drawing-room, 
 Miss Burns knit her handsome brows and went to her chamber. 
 
 XII. 
 MISS BURNS' MAIL-BAG. 
 
 THE ride with Miss Gary was not a thing invented by the enemy 
 if Dr. Haworth were Miss Burns' enemy but an actual engage 
 ment. 
 
 Miss Gary Maurice was very popular, and liked to visit het
 
 112 MISS BURNS' MAIL- BAG. 
 
 friends. Her mother could not always go, and it was stupid to go 
 alone in the family carriage. She was much fonder of horseback 
 riding, but to ride alone was not precisely regular ; so she hailed the 
 possession of an escort. As he was the escort whom she preferred 
 to all others that was all the better. So they rode away together. 
 
 They returned in the afternoon, and toward sunset Dr. Haworth 
 lit a cigar he smoked sometimes and walked down the hill toward 
 the gate opening into the grounds. 
 
 He was about a hundred yards from the house when Jean Bap- 
 tiste joined him, and they walked on together until the foliage con 
 cealed them from view. 
 
 " We are out of sight now," said Jean, " and I should like to have 
 a few words with your excellency." 
 
 "Out of sight?" said Dr. Haworth quietly. "Then you think 
 that some one is watching us ? " 
 
 " I think it not improbable as they can't listen at this distance." 
 
 " Listen ? a few words with me do you say, Jean ? Why not 
 say what you wish to say in our chamber? " 
 
 " There are too many ears about." 
 
 " Ears ? " 
 
 "There are more ears in the Mauricewood house than you 
 think." 
 
 Dr. Haworth shook his head and replied : 
 
 " I am afraid association with me has had an evil effect upon 
 your character, Jean. You are growing suspicious of everybody and 
 everything." 
 
 " That would be bad," said Jean laughing, " but if one has eyes 
 and ears, he can't help seeing and hearing." 
 
 " What have you seen and heard ? " 
 
 " I will tell you if you will go a little way that is, I will show 
 you." 
 
 " A little way ? " 
 
 " As far as the big ash tree at the corner of the grounds, toward 
 the town yonder it is." 
 
 They had passed through the carriage gate and were in the 
 woods, following a path which led in the direction of Abbeyville. 
 About three hundred yards in front rose the bushy summit of a tall 
 ash it was a landmark. 
 
 " We will be there in a minute, and I will then tell you what I 
 mean," said Jean.
 
 MISS BURNS' MAIL-BAG. 1 13 
 
 " Very well ; take your time, my dear Jean. Would you like to 
 smoke ? " 
 
 " Oh ! I was dying for it," exclaimed Jean with a boyish laugh. 
 " Your excellency knows I am half-Spaniard." 
 
 " I don't know anything of the sort ! " said Dr. Haworth looking 
 at him with a curious smile. " Why, smoke, of course ! Here is a 
 cigar." 
 
 But Jean had already fashioned his husk cigarette with the ra 
 pidity of a Spaniard. Dr. Haworth presented his cigar tip, and Jean 
 began smoking with evident delight. 
 
 " Here is the tree, excellency," he said. 
 
 It was a very large one growing from a rude pile of rock, and 
 the huge roots twisting to and fro had thrust themselves between 
 the crevices and burst the ledges. Under these were dusky hollows 
 the probable resort of rabbits and such game. 
 
 " What is there so very interesting about this tree, Jean ? " said 
 Dr. Haworth. 
 
 " It is Miss Burns' postoffice," said Jean, laughing quietly. 
 
 " Miss Burns' postoffice ! What do you mean ? " 
 
 "It is more convenient than the town. She puts her letters 
 under that big root." 
 
 " Miss Burns her letters ? " 
 
 " For your friend Col. Ross, or somebody who takes them to 
 him." 
 
 " Col. Ross ! " 
 
 " I am very much mistaken if Miss Bunas is not a friend of the 
 Colonel's, Excellency. It is the only way I can explain her watching 
 you and leaving well, her reports here." 
 
 Dr. Haworth seemed greatly impressed and said : 
 
 " Are you sure this is not a mere fancy ? " 
 
 " Well, it may be you will judge. I can only say what I think 
 is the fact. My idea is this, that your friend the Colonel has a great 
 deal of curiosity, and wanted to know what was going on at the 
 house yonder ; so he persuaded this pretty Miss Burns to keep him 
 informed." 
 
 " What reason have you to think so ? " 
 
 " Well, several reasons. Miss Burns came into your room last 
 night." 
 
 " Into my chamber ? " 
 
 Jean nodded,
 
 H4 AfISS BURNS' MAIL- BAG. 
 
 " I happened to be awake, which is very seldom, as a youngster 
 is apt to sleep sound, and I saw her." 
 
 " Saw her ? " 
 
 " With my eyes. She opened the door it may have been nearly 
 2 in the morning and came in as quietly as a ghost, or rather a girl 
 in her stocking feet. She walked without the least sound, and 
 looked all about her, particularly toward your traveling valise. " 
 
 " My valise ? " 
 
 " She did better than look ; she tried to open it, but it was locked. 
 You see I always carry the key in my waistcoat pocket and sleep 
 with it under my head." 
 
 " Tried to open my valise, did you say ? " 
 
 " Yes, but she found it would not open. She then searched your 
 clothes and mine, too, for the key and any papers. I suppose she 
 was looking for papers." 
 
 " Papers ? " 
 
 " Your Excellency seems to forget that a certain gentleman is 
 anxious to know all about you. You are here for something, he 
 thinks something that interests him. If he has not found out 
 what brings you, and would like to know, I suppose he would like 
 to see your letters or other papers." 
 
 " You are no doubt right," said Dr. Haworth thoughtfully, " and 
 I was not wrong in saying that you would be an intelligent ally, 
 Jean." 
 
 " I mean to do what I can to pay you what I owe you." 
 
 "You owe me nothing." 
 
 " I owe you my life ! Your Excellency knows that. To come 
 to business, what I tell you is certain. This girl has an understand 
 ing with Cdl. Ross I am sure of it." 
 
 " Did he place her here for the purpose ? " 
 
 " I don't think he did. She was here before he thought of it, I 
 think. Up to the time when Miss Gary sent him off he could see 
 for himself, now he uses this girl's eyes to find out what is going 
 on between you and Miss Gary and what you are after, too." 
 
 Dr. Haworth reflected for a moment and then said : 
 
 " Well, that is really ingenious. If you are right, our friend is a 
 dangerous man." 
 
 " He learned to work in the dark down yonder," said Jean, suc 
 cinctly, pointing in the direction of South America. " He sent that 
 torpedo boat to blow you up."
 
 MISS BURNS' MAIL-BAG. 115 
 
 'Well that is probable. So he has his confidential agent here, 
 aas he ? How could he arrange that ? " 
 
 " Nothing was easier. Miss Burns rides on horseback once a 
 iveek to the town to see her people. Our friend the Colonel could 
 nanage the rest it is only a question of so much money." 
 
 " Yes but does she really communicate with him ? " 
 
 "This is her postoffice, as I told you," said Jean laughing, "and 
 hat hollow under the root there is the mail-bag. I saw her come 
 icre and pull out a paper." 
 
 " But her own information ? " 
 
 " She had forwarded it, I suppose, already. There is some one 
 who comes at night, I think, and gets the girl's letters. If he has 
 my directions for her he leaves them and she comes and gets them. 
 That is the way. I saw her." 
 
 " Well, that seems to end all doubt. Col. Ross is playing a deep 
 jame." 
 
 " Deep ? " said Jean, " well that just describes the Colonel. There 
 is no danger of his being known in the affair, and what his agent 
 writes to Miss Burns, or she to him, is not apt to entangle Aim. 
 There is no doubt that this girl is employed to watch you and now, 
 as some one might pass and notice us, I suppose your Excellency 
 had better go back. I will follow afterward." 
 
 "That is a wise precaution, Jean," said Dr. Haworth without 
 moving, " but before I go I might as well say that I knew all this 
 before." 
 
 " Your Excellency knew ? " 
 
 " I didn't know of this postoffice as you call it the rest is no 
 news to me." 
 
 " You have noticed her watching you ? " 
 
 " Certainly." 
 
 " Listening, and tripping about and putting her ear to the key 
 holes ? " 
 
 " I have not seen her do so, but have no doubt that she does 
 that." 
 
 " And you knew ! " 
 
 "That she came into the room last night? Yes, I was not 
 asleep." 
 
 Jean drew a long breath. 
 
 " Really, your Excellency does not need my help," he said with 
 an air of disappointment.
 
 MISS BURNS' MAIL-BAG. 
 
 " On the contrary it is of the very greatest service to me I re 
 quire it. Listen a moment." 
 
 Dr. Haworth had remained composed during the whole conversa 
 tion. His face now filled with blood and he said in the brief, abrupt 
 voice which always betrayed a great deal with him : 
 
 " It is useless to try to hide anything. It is open war between 
 this man and myself. He either assassinated James Maurice or pro 
 cured his assassination. I have come to this country to ferret out 
 all that, and mean to do so if I am not murdered in my turn. That 
 attempt has been made. It will probably be made again. Some 
 day when I am riding through the woods a bullet may put an end 
 to me or when I am leaning from my chamber window at night. I 
 may drink a glass of water, or wine, flavored with a peculiar powder. 
 Who knows ? This handsome Miss Burns may have the powder 
 in her pocket at the present moment. She is placed here to watch 
 me you are right about that therefore I am dangerous. When 
 men are dangerous to certain people they try to suppress them ; and 
 I think Col. Ross would like to suppress me. Well, I come back to 
 what I began with. It is open war or rather secret. As he pre 
 fers that, it suits me too, War is not rose water it is a question 
 of blood. Ruse is fair against ruse. As this girl is put here to 
 watch me, I will watch her. As she crept into my room to carry 
 away my papers, I will carry away her own, or you will for me." 
 
 "I won't fail to do that, Excellency!" exclaimed Jean, with 
 ardor. 
 
 " It is of little importance a small feature of the real struggle. 
 Since yesterday I have made up my mind." 
 
 " Made up your mind ? " 
 
 " To strike ! " said Dr. Haworth briefly. " Up to this time I 
 have been collecting information. The whole affair I came to in 
 vestigate was a mystery. That was natural, since it occurred twenty 
 years ago what remained unknown then is necessarily ten times 
 harder to discover now. I will tell you more at another time. I 
 have now what amounts to a conviction I will act upon it." 
 
 Dr. Haworth then went back to the house by the path which he 
 had taken in coming, and half an hour afterward Jean Baptiste ap 
 peared from the direction of the stables. 
 
 It was not probable that Miss Burns, if she had seen them walk 
 jway together, suspected anything.
 
 XIII. 
 
 THE MAIL. 
 
 Miss BURNS did not take her weekly ride to Abbeyville, having 
 a bad headache, which confined her to her chamber. 
 
 Having then no sewing to do she had recourse to her pen, and 
 seemed to be much interested in the letter she was writing. She 
 wrote quite a good hand, and appeared to express herself without 
 difficulty ; in fact, she had received a fair public school education, 
 and had a cultivated taste for reading dime novels. 
 
 Toward sunset she announced with pathetic sweetness to sym 
 pathizing Mrs. Maurice that her headache was nearly gone ; took a 
 stroll in the grounds, ana returned about twilight. 
 
 It was just growing dark when Dr. Haworth, who had been 
 riding out, came back and found Jean awaiting him. 
 
 " I have something for your excellency," said the boy. 
 
 " Very well," said Dr. Haworth, " bring it to my room. I am 
 going to make my toilet." 
 
 He went up to his chamber, and ten minutes afterwards Jean 
 entered and closed the door. 
 
 " Here is a letter I found in the mail-bag," he said, with quiet 
 enjoyment. " I thought it would interest your excellency." 
 
 Dr. Haworth took the letter, which was unsealed, and opened it, 
 muttering, " War is war." 
 
 It was not very long. Miss Burns had written in a large hand 
 what follows : 
 
 " There is very little use in my staying here any longer. I am 
 suspected and they are watching me. The boy suspects me I 
 can see him looking sideways at me at all times of the day ; and he 
 has begun to look at me, too, in the same way. 
 
 " I can't find any papers. I couldn't look in the day time, as all 
 the doors are kept open, and I went at night. I was afraid at first, 
 but I went while they were both asleep. There was nothing there, 
 and his trunk was locked, and I could not find the key. . 
 
 " I hate that boy ; he is a hateful little wretch. And he is a 
 cruel man. I as much as asked him to escort me to town, and he 
 excused himself on account of an engagement with that girl, and I 
 believe made one afterward with her. Somebody wants to know 
 whether she cares anything for him. I rather think she does. She
 
 Il8 THE MAIL 
 
 is so lovesick about him that it makes me sick at my stomach. \ 
 never knew it till lately and he is just as bad about her. How I 
 hate her and him. I do believe they are engaged. 
 
 " I am going back home, as I am no use here. Why don't some 
 body write an anonymous letter telling them that he is an escaped 
 convict, or something ? That would be nice. If they don't, he will 
 marry that simpering doll and laugh at everybody. 
 
 " P. S. Somebody had better write that anonymous letter. 
 
 " P. S. again. I wish Somebody would have that money ready 
 for me, as I did not come here to sew for a trifle. You know why 
 I came here. Tell Somebody I want that money." 
 
 This was not signed, but Miss Burns had the characteristics of 
 great writers her productions reflected her individuality. 
 
 " What do you think of that, Excellency ? " said Jean in high 
 good humor, " I took the liberty to read it." 
 
 " I think it very well written," said Dr. Haworth. " Take it. 
 back." 
 
 "Back?" 
 
 " To your mail-bag of course ; that is the proper proc ceding. 
 Let us not try to surpass his French majesty. He always honestly 
 forwarded letters after discovering what they contained." 
 
 " You mean then " 
 
 " To invite the anonymous letter ? Yes. That will arrive in a 
 day or two. There is another point. Let us reap the reward, at 
 least, if we are to resort to underhand warfare. I prefer to have 
 Miss Burns remain here for two or three days." 
 
 " Your Excellency is right," said Jean in a low voice. " The 
 letter will be back there in fifteen minutes." 
 
 " Go at once ; the mail-carrier may come." 
 
 Jean sauntered from the chamber, went down-stairs and out 
 through a side door. Once outside he began running, as it was now 
 dark and no one could see him. In ten minutes he was at the ash 
 tree and, depositing the letter, returned quietly to the house. 
 
 He had seen no indications that any one had visited the spot in 
 his absence.
 
 THE REWARD FOR HOLDING A LAMPSHADE. 
 
 XIV. 
 THE REWARD FOR HOLDING A LAMPSHADE. 
 
 DR. HAWORTH was quite correct in his surmise. Two days 
 afterward the anonymous letter arrived. 
 
 It was a very mild evening, and the whole family had gone out 
 to the veranda, when a servant, who had been sent to Abbeyville 
 for the mail, returned with the bag. 
 
 Mr. Tim Maurice opened it and distributed two or three letters 
 to the ladies. Then he extracted his newspaper and a letter ad 
 dressed to himself, which he proceeded to open. 
 
 Dr. Haworth was conversing with Mrs. Maurice, but his eyes, 
 passing beyond her, fixed themselves with interest on . Mr. Tim 
 Maurice's face. Suddenly that gentleman looked up with a singu 
 lar expression and caught Dr. Haworth's eye. 
 
 " Here is something that will interest you, Doctor," he said. " I 
 wonder who could have written it ? " 
 
 " Interest me f " said Dr. Haworth, composedly. 
 
 " Read it." 
 
 Dr. Haworth took the letter and read this written in a bold hand : 
 
 " Sir : A friend takes the liberty of informing you that the Dr. 
 Haworth now at your house is an impostor. He is not the person 
 he pretends to be. He escaped from jail in Texas, and is traveling 
 under a false name. You may not believe the writer of an anony 
 mous letter, but there are reasons why this one is not signed. The 
 only intention of the writer is to warn you against a crank and 
 fraud." 
 
 Having read this letter Dr. Haworth handed it back to Mr. Tim 
 Maurice, and said with a smile : 
 
 " Do you believe that ? " 
 
 "Well," said Mr. Tim Maurice in a grave tone, "the writer 
 seems to believe what he says." 
 
 " So he does." 
 
 " I am afraid appearances are against you, Doctor. Don't you 
 think so, ladies ? Just read this." 
 
 He bent over and gave it to Mrs. Maurice, who read it and said 
 in a tone of surprise : 
 
 " That is really too outrageous ! Who could have presumed to 
 write it, and what was the object of it ? "
 
 120 'THE REWARD FOR HOLDING A LAMPSHADE. 
 
 Miss Gary had meanwhile snatched it and was reading it with 
 flushed cheeks. 
 
 " Who dared to send this ! " she exclaimed, raising her head 
 with the air of a queen. 
 
 " I really don't know," said Uncle Tim. " There is no name to 
 it, which I agree is a little suspicious ; but then, there is the charge, 
 my dear, and I need not say, even at the risk of hurting Dr. Ha- 
 worth's feelings, that it is extremely serious." 
 
 Miss Gary Maurice looked into her uncle's face with the expres 
 sion of a person who doubts if they have heard certain words aright. 
 
 " Serious ! " she cried. 
 
 ' Well, my dear little Cadie," said Uncle Tim sadly, " I would 
 not wound you for the world. Dr. Haworth is your friend, and you 
 know how much I esteemed him. I say esteemed in the past 
 tense, you observe for really such charges demand refutation." 
 
 " Uncle ! are you in earnest ? " 
 
 " Of course I am in earnest, my dear. As the only gentleman 
 of the family, I am under the painful necessity of requesting our 
 guest, Dr. Haworth, to meet and refute these allegations. I have 
 no doubt that he will be able to do so." 
 
 " Uncle," cried Miss Gary, with blazing eyes. 
 
 " An honest man should invite investigation not endeavor to 
 avoid it. If our friend, the doctor, is the person he professes to be, 
 of course he will have no difficulty in establishing the fact. I do not 
 say that he is an impostor, or has escaped from jail in Texas or any 
 where else ; but then mere sentiment will not answer." 
 
 Miss Gary gazed at the speaker as if she really believed that he 
 was out of his mind. Her lips moved, but uttered no sound ; the 
 great blue eyes seemed to be the only living part of the white face. 
 
 " I will, therefore, take the liberty of addressing a few questions 
 to Dr. Haworth," said Uncle Tim, who had not observed the girl's 
 expression of anguish. 
 
 " I will answer them with pleasure, sir," said Dr. Haworth com 
 posedly. 
 
 " Be good enough then, Doctor," said Uncle Tim, " to state for 
 my information and the information of the ladies of my family 
 whether you did or did not escape from jail in Texas or elsewhere, 
 and whether you are or are not an impostor ? " 
 
 Miss Gary rose to her feet suddenly. 
 
 " You shall not even ask," she cried.
 
 THE REGARD FOR HOLDING A LAMPSHADE. \t\ 
 
 Uncle Tim started and looked at her. 
 
 " How can you " 
 
 She burst into tears, and a moment afterward Uncle Tim had 
 her in his arms, crying : 
 
 " Cadie ! Did you think I was in earnest ? Did you imagine I 
 meant what I said ? I thought you would understand the joke ! I 
 must be a wretched bungler to hurt my dear Cadie's feelings but 
 no ! " exclaimed Uncle Tim with pride, laughing and kissing the 
 sobbing girl. " I must be a great histrionic genius ! an actor of 
 the first order for you thought I was in earnest ! " 
 
 " You were not in earnest, then ? " sobbed Miss Cadie. 
 
 " The very idea, my child, to suppose that my opinion of any 
 body, much less of Dr. Haworth, could be affected by the coward 
 ly sneak who wrote that thing. None but sneaks write anonymous 
 letters, and I was only amusing myself at my little girl's expense." 
 
 " You ridiculous old thing ! " said Miss Gary, with candor ; after 
 which she laughed and returned to her seat. 
 
 " I believe I have not replied to your question, my dear Mr. 
 Maurice," said Dr. Haworth. 
 
 " My question ? Did I ask a question ? " 
 
 " You asked me if I had escaped from jail, or was an impostor 
 neither is the fact." 
 
 " I accept your apology that is to say, your very satisfactory 
 explanation, Doctor," said Mr. Tim Maurice laughing. " And now 
 as this little family matter is settled, would you like to see the even 
 ing papers ? Light the lamps, Cadie they are your charge." 
 
 Miss Cary rose and went into the drawing-room where the globe 
 lamp was waiting on the center table, 
 
 " Will you hold this shade for me while I light the lamp, Dr. 
 Haworth ? " she called. 
 
 He went in and held the shade, when Miss Cary scraped a match 
 and lighted a wisp of paper. As it was flaming she held it up be 
 fore him it was the anonymous letter. 
 
 A moment afterward the lamp was lit, and Dr. Haworth as he 
 placed the shade upon it felt two warm lips touch his cheek. 
 
 " The lamps are ready, now," cried Miss Cary.
 
 122 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 XV. 
 
 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 THE result of Miss Burns' advice had thus been very unfortu 
 nate. The anonymous letter had produced no effect. The Maurice- 
 wood family had simply laughed at it. 
 
 When they came in from the veranda to tea, every face was 
 smiling, and Miss Burns, seated at the table with eyes modestly cast 
 down, as usual, had the pleasure of hearing a number of jests ut 
 tered by Mr. Tim Maurice, to the effect that the newspapers were 
 unutterably stupid now ; there were no reports even of hair-breadth 
 escapes from jail, and not a single clerical, medical or other impos 
 tor had been recently unmasked ! 
 
 Miss Burns listened in modest silence. She was a very quick 
 witted young lady and had probably found the means of overhear 
 ing the conversation on the veranda. Something had certainly put 
 her in a very bad humor that was plain as she went up-stairs ; and 
 when she began the composition of a document late that night her 
 handsome forehead was contracted into a frown. 
 
 As she slept in a small room by herself there was no chance of 
 interruption. At about 1 1 130 o'clock she had finished her letter, 
 which' filled only a page or two of note paper, and having folded it 
 and put it in the pocket of her apron, she went to her door and lis 
 tened. The establishment was perfectly quiet, as the habit of the 
 family was to retire about 10 ; and emerging from her room she saw 
 no signs of light anywhere. She then arranged her shawl so as to 
 protect her head, and went quietly down-stairs to the side door in 
 rear of the hall, which she unbolted without noise and opened. She 
 then listened again and satisfied herself that not a creature was stir 
 ring. There was no danger from the bark of a dog, as none were 
 kept at Mauricewood, in deference to Mrs. Maurice's delicate nerves 
 she was easily awakened, and the barking disturbed her. Miss 
 Burns therefore left the house without causing any stir whatever, 
 and walked rapidly through the grounds in the direction of the ash 
 tree. It was a superb moonlight night, and a little chill, which 
 made her wrapping very comfortable. The lateness of the hour evi 
 dently did not disturb her. Mauricewood was a quiet place, where 
 tramps or other intruders never came; and Miss Burns therefore 
 on confidently, and soon reached her ash tree.
 
 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 123 
 
 It was a picturesque object in the moonlight which flooded the few 
 remaining leaves, the gnarled boughs twisted into fantastic shapes, 
 the huge roots, and the straight trunk with its fine bark. As the 
 moon was sinking, the hollow under the root which she used as a 
 postoffice was plain in the light the trunk throwing a deep shadow 
 on the rocky mass behind it. 
 
 Miss Burns stooped down and looked carefully in the crevice 
 under the root where she evidently expected to find something. In 
 this she seemed to be disappointed, as she rose up with empty hands. 
 
 She then drew from her pocket the letter which she had written, 
 placed it carefully in the crevice and went back rapidly toward the 
 house. 
 
 As soon as she was out of sight Jean Baptiste, who had been 
 hidden in the black shadow behind the ash tree, came out, took the 
 letter from its place, and going back to the shadow patiently waited. 
 
 He had not to wait more than half an hour. At the end of that 
 time a man got over the inclosure of the grounds about fifty yards 
 from the tree and walked quietly to it. 
 
 Jean had no difficulty in recognizing him it was Mr. Job Wil- 
 kins. 
 
 Mr. Wilkins made a careful search in the hollow under the root, 
 and having satisfied himself that there was nothing in the post- 
 office, drew a paper from his pocket and concealed it where Miss 
 Burns had concealed her own note. He looked carefully around, 
 listened for a moment, and, walking away, leaped over the inclosure 
 and disappeared. 
 
 Jean then emerged from his friendly shadow, possessed himself 
 of the second letter, and returned to the house. To effect an en 
 trance he was obliged to use precaution. Miss Burns might be lis 
 tening. Miss Burns was fast asleep by this time, however, and rais 
 ing a window, which was not secured, Jean gained Dr. Haworth's 
 room without attracting attention. 
 
 As he came in he drew a long breadth and said to Dr. Haworth, 
 who was waiting for him : 
 
 " I hope this is my last night's work, Excellency ! I don't like it ; 
 I might be taken for a burglar ! " 
 
 " I like it no better than you, Jean," said Dr. Haworth. " It is 
 wretched business. Every instinct of my character is opposed to it. 
 I have made up my mind to fight this man openly hereafter, and 
 not meet trick with trick,"
 
 124 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 " You have a right to fight him with his own weapons, Excel 
 lency ! As you said to me, I remember : ' War is war.' " 
 
 " Yes. That is to say, a dirty and brutal business. I mean to 
 have no more of this. What has happened ? " 
 
 " She was there, and the other, too." 
 
 " Not? " 
 
 " The Colonel ? No, indeed ! " said Jean, laughing. " He is 
 much too prudent for that. He sent his go-between or one of 
 them your friend, Mr. Wilkins." 
 
 " Ah ! " said Dr. Haworth, in a tone which proved how much 
 interest he took in Jean's statement. 
 
 " There was no mistaking him the moon was too bright. He 
 brought a letter and looked for hers. As I had found it before him, 
 he left the one he had brought and went away. Here are both, Ex 
 cellency." 
 
 Dr. Haworth took the letters with evident repugnance. Then 
 as if he were disgusted with the whole affair, he threw them dis 
 dainfully on the table and said to Jean : 
 
 "Read them to me." 
 
 Jean who seemed to regard the whole affair as a pleasant come 
 dy, opened the letter brought by "Wilkins first and read it in a low 
 tone. It contained only the lines : 
 
 " You may as well stop the watching, as it does no good. Get 
 the papers and then come away. That anonymous letter was sent 
 was it received and what effect did it have ? Somebody wants to 
 know all about it at once. 
 
 " P. S. Get the papers." 
 
 This was not signed in any manner and was in the handwriting 
 of a woman. Jean laid it on the table and said : 
 
 " Some woman in the town wrote that, I suppose ? " 
 
 " It seems so." 
 
 " Now for the communication from Miss B.," said Jean, laugh 
 ing: 
 
 Miss Burns had written what follows : 
 
 " The anonymous letter came, and they only laughed aj it. I 
 was at the folding-doors in the parlor and heard what they said. 
 Mr. Tim he pretended he believed it, and she was ready to bite his 
 head off, and began to cry. Then he laughed at her and said he 
 .was fooling, and then she came in with him and she kissed him. 
 
 " That's all about that. I am coming home to-morrow, as \
 
 PRIVA TE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 125 
 
 don't mean to stay here any longer. If somebody wants his papers 
 somebody will have to look himself. I am not going to try again. 
 It is too risky, and it is no use, and I am not going out at night any 
 more. I've caught cold. What is worse, I can see they suspect 
 me, and I am sorry I ever had anything to do with this business. I 
 wish you would tell somebody I must have that money. 
 
 " P. S. I thought I would write this note, which will be the last, 
 as I am not certain I can get off to-morrow. I believe that boy is 
 trying to find what takes me out walking about dark. I am going 
 away from here. Tell somebody I must have that money." 
 
 " Well," said Dr. Haworth, drily, " everything is tolerably plain 
 now. This comedy has reached the last act, and I wash my hands 
 of the wretched business." 
 
 There was a small fire burning in the fire-place. He took the 
 letters and threw them into it. 
 
 " Another person might have kept these papers to use against 
 her," he muttered. " I will not! I am weary of tricks. I prefer 
 real war. I will open it and try which is the strongest ! " 
 
 He got up and stood before the fire, reflecting. At last he said, 
 turning to the boy : 
 
 "Jean, have the horses ready after breakfast. I wish you to 
 ride with me. As it is getting late and you are probably sleepy, we 
 had better retire." 
 
 He went to the door and bolted it. 
 
 " It is not probable that our young friend will repeat her visit," 
 he said, " but it is as well to make sure of it." 
 
 He had not observed that as soon as his back was turned Jean 
 had snatched the notes from the fire and put them in his pocket. 
 
 About an hour after breakfast on the following morning Dr. 
 Haworth came down stairs booted and spurred for a ride. The 
 horses were ready at the rack and Jean was seated on a root of 
 the oak overshadowing it. 
 
 As Dr. Haworth came out the family carriage drove to the door ; 
 and in reply to his question, who was going to ride, the dignified old 
 coachman informed him that Miss Burns was going home. 
 
 Miss Burns came down a few moments afterward, followed by a 
 servant carrying her small trunk, which was strapped behind the 
 vehicle. Then Mrs. Maurice and Miss Gary appeared and shook 
 hands in a friendly manner ; and Miss Burns got into the carriage 
 and drove away,
 
 126 THE WARRANTS. 
 
 She had not looked once at Dr. Haworth, but as the carriage 
 passed by Jean, seated on his root, she shot a furious glance at him 
 Thereupon Jean rose suddenly, rushed to the vehicle and cried : 
 
 " You are not going, Miss Burns ! " 
 
 In the ardor of his feelings he seized the young lady's hand which 
 was hanging out of the window when the youth found more than 
 his match. 
 
 In a paroxysm of wrath Miss Burns administered a tingling slap 
 on Jean's cheek. 
 
 " How dare you squeeze my hand, you hateful wretch ! " cried 
 indignant Miss Burns. 
 
 " Did I squeeze it ? " said Jean, laughing and rubbing his cheek. 
 
 Miss Burns only replied with an exterminating frown, and the 
 carriage then disappeared in the direction of Abbeyville. 
 
 As this scene occurred on the side of the vehicle opposite to 
 the veranda it was not noticed. The group there were discussing 
 Miss Burns. 
 
 "It sounds very inhospitable," said gentle Mrs. Maurice, "but I 
 am glad Miss Burns is gone. There is something about her which 
 I do not altogether like." 
 
 As nobody was more charitable than this kind woman, Miss 
 Burns seemed to have made an unfortunate impression. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 THE WARRANTS. 
 
 AN hour afterward Dr. Haworth and Jean were at Prof. Les- 
 ner's. The morning was pleasant and the whole surroundings were 
 as bright and homelike as ever ; but the Professor seemed not to 
 have been tempted out. He was not in the grounds, and leaving 
 Jean with the horses Dr. Haworth went and knocked at the front 
 door, half enveloped in creeping vines. 
 
 A feeble voice from the library on the right said, " Come in," 
 and Dr. Haworth entered the room. Prof. Lesner was half-reclin 
 ing in a large arm-chair with a book upon his knees. His eyes were 
 dreamy, and there was an unmistakable odor of laudanum in the 
 apartment. 
 
 "Good morning, sir," said Dr. Haworth in a tone of pity. \H
 
 THE WARRANTS. 
 
 127 
 
 was evident that the poor professor had been indulging in his fatal 
 habit But the indulgence did not seem to have been extreme. The 
 pallor of his face and a slight trembling of his hands were the only 
 indications that he had returned to his vice. 
 
 " Dr. Haworth," he said, rising politely, " I am truly happy to see 
 you. I was by myself and moping. Sit down, Doctor, sit down." 
 
 He shook hands cordially, and pointed to a seat. 
 
 " Our friends at Mauricewood are well, I hope ? " 
 
 " Quite well," replied Dr. Haworth. 
 
 " They are charming people, charming. I really envy you your 
 good fortune as an inmate of the family. They are my old and 
 cherished friends." 
 
 " Then you are even more fortunate than myself, Professor. I 
 have only recently had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with 
 them. You have known them a long time, you say ? ' 
 
 "Oh, yes," said Prof. Lesner, with a bright smile on his pale 
 face ; " all my life or rather, all theirs, Doctor, for I am getting to 
 be an old man, now." 
 
 " Yes, I recall our former conversation, which referred, you re 
 member, to that unhappy affair at Mauricewood." 
 
 " I remember very well ; we discussed, I think, the question of the 
 real criminal," said Prof. Lesner. 
 
 " Yes ; well, I think I have discovered something at last about 
 the murder." 
 
 " Ah ! " said Prof. Lesner, with an air of great interest 
 
 " Your theory did not satisfy me that Mr. Maurice had met his 
 death by accidentally slipping and striking his head on a projection 
 of his bedstead." 
 
 " It was only a conjecture, Doctor ; it could scarcely be anything 
 more." 
 
 " It is improbable, as I believe I said when we discussed it be 
 fore. There was a bona fide murder, I am certain." 
 
 " It is, perhaps, more probable." 
 
 "And it was not committed with the hammer found on tbt 
 floor." 
 
 " Not with the hammer? " 
 
 " You seem surprised, which is very natural ! " 
 
 "You interest me deeply, Doctor. Then you have discovered 
 something some weapon which was employed, you think ? " 
 
 "Yes, sir; I will explain," said Dr. Haworth. "Before going
 
 128 THE WARRANTS. 
 
 any further, however, it is necessary to inform you that I have not 
 called this morning on a merely friendly visit. My business is quite 
 serious, and I beg you will regard what I say as addressed to you 
 in your official capacity." 
 
 " My official capacity, Doctor ? " 
 
 " As a magistrate. You informed me recently that you had been 
 commissioned a Justice." 
 
 " That is true a very poor one, I fear, but I was a sort of ama 
 teur lawyer once, and shall manage to stumble along, I hope." 
 
 " I have every confidence in your capacity, sir, and believe your 
 friends have made an excellent selection. It is in your character of 
 magistrate, therefore, that I shall say to you what I have to say." 
 
 "Certainly it shall be strictly confidential. Do I understand 
 you to say that it relates to the murder of Mr. Maurice ? " 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " To the manner of his death, I think you said." 
 
 " Precisely. He was not struck on the head with the hammer 
 or any other weapon at first at least. He was garroted." 
 
 " Garroted ! what is that ? Oh, yes I believe I understand you. 
 Do you really think so ? What induces you to believe it ? Gar 
 roted ! " 
 
 " The discovery of this cord in his bed," said Dr. Haworth, tak 
 ing the garrote from his pocket. 
 
 " That very cord ! " exclaimed Prof. Lesner, looking at the fatal 
 object with an air of repugnance. 
 
 " This very cord. It had been dropped by the murderer or was 
 broken in the struggle ; here are marks of a fracture. Mr. Maurice 
 was first strangled, and possibly finished by a blow." 
 
 "And that has lain there for twenty years ? It is really horrible, 
 Doctor ! " 
 
 "The failure to discover it was very simple," said Dr. Haworth. 
 " The hammer explained everything, and no one thought of search 
 ing the bed where the clothing was tossed about so that this cord 
 was concealed. The room was then locked, and I only found this 
 on a recent visit to it." 
 
 "Well, well ! " said poor Prof. Lesner, looking with horror at the 
 garrote ; " who would have believed it ? Why, Mr. Maurice must 
 have been strangled, Doctor ! " 
 
 " Unquestionably." 
 
 " Who could have been guilty of such a thing? "
 
 THE WARRANTS. 
 
 129 
 
 " I think I have discovered who was guilty, or at least an accom 
 plice in the crime." 
 
 " Who can you mean ? " 
 
 " Col. Ross, of this neighborhood." 
 
 Prof. Lesner looked at the speaker with an expression of the pro- 
 foundest astonishment. 
 
 " Col. Ross ! " he exclaimed, " can you believe that ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " It is impossible. Why, Col. Ross is one of the most respecta 
 ble citizens of the county, Doctor ! " 
 
 " That is his standing, I know. Men of wealth are almost al 
 ways respected. The fact remains that Col. Ross is connected with 
 the affair by circumstances which it will be necessary for him to ex 
 plain." 
 
 " Col. Ross ! " repeated the poor Professor, unable apparently to 
 take in the idea ; " could that be possible ? " 
 
 " Yes. I understand your surprise. It is quite natural to doubt 
 charges brought against rich and respectable people. I need not 
 say that I would never have suspected such a thing of Col. Ross 
 without grave grounds for doing so." 
 
 " You have grounds, then ? " 
 
 " Certainly. I have come to state them, after which I shall re 
 quest you to issue a warrant for his arrest on the charge of murder." 
 
 " A warrant ! " 
 
 " Your magistrate's warrant. Having resolved to prosecute Col. 
 Ross, and bring home to him if I can the guilt of that murder, I do 
 so regularly by applying for a warrant to arrest him." 
 
 " Yes, certainly," said Prof. Lesner, sighing ; " what you say is 
 perfectly correct. It is my business to grant the warrant if I think 
 your statement affords ground for it, Doctor. You must pardon me 
 for being prudent in this very serious affair." 
 
 " It is proper that you should, Professor, or your Worship, as I 
 ought now to call you." 
 
 " I prefer Professor, my dear Doctor ! I fear I am a very inef 
 ficient worship. I will not hesitate to grant you the warrant for Col. 
 Ross' arrest if you show me reasonable grounds for it. I am only 
 a poor recluse and he is rich and powerful, but that will not deter 
 me." 
 
 " I am sure it will not, I will therefore proceed to state the cir 
 cumstances."
 
 130 THE WARRANTS. 
 
 Dr. Haworth's statement consumed more than an hour. His 
 theory of the murder of James Maurice was briefly this : 
 
 1. Mr. Ducis was entirely innocent and had been the victim of a 
 plot. 
 
 2. The person who had conceived the plot was Col. Ross, who 
 had quarreled and fought with Maurice the younger in South America 
 about a woman. Maurice was the successful lover, and Ross had 
 resolved to revenge himself. 
 
 3. They both returned to the United States, and John Maurice's 
 marriage to his second wife, Miss Ellen Maurice, was the moment 
 selected for his murder. This was arranged by Col. Ross then 
 Lieut. Ross, of the navy his design being to put an end to his 
 enemy on the very night of his wedding. 
 
 4. Col. Ross did not execute the design himself in all probability. 
 The actual criminal was no doubt the man Wilkins who had been 
 suborned by Ross to commit the murder. He had quarreled with 
 the Maurice family and was known to have hated them. 
 
 5. The woman Pitts was an accomplice, and entered into the 
 plot to secure the money paid by Mr. Ducis to Mr. James Maurice. 
 
 6. Ross supposed that the chamber of Mr. James Maurice was 
 that of the bride and bridegroom, since the young lady's presents 
 were displayed there. His accomplice entered through the window, 
 strangled the person occupying the bed in the dim light of the night 
 taper, and probably struck him afterward with the hammer ; the 
 woman Pitts carrying off the money. 
 
 7. The hammer and glove were or were not intended to crimi 
 nate Mr. Ducis. If they were, the weapon was purchased for the 
 purpose. 
 
 8. The whole affair was inspired by Ross, who had lived in 
 South America and was familiar with the operation of the garrote. 
 The aim in employing it was to insure the silence of the victim, who 
 had, however, cried out and alarmed the house. 
 
 9. The proofs that Col. Ross had a thorough understanding with 
 the persons engaged in the actual commission of the crime were his 
 night visit to the man and woman in the hills ; the words uttered by 
 him on that occasion and overheard by Jean Baptiste ; the visit of 
 his paid agent, Miss Burns, to Mauricewood to watch Dr. Haworth ; 
 the employment of Wilkins to carry the letters ; but above all the 
 use of the Spanish garrote, which would never have entered the 
 mind of a citizen of the United States as a weapon of murder.
 
 THE CONSTABLE'S RETURN. 131 
 
 "I have stated the case, sir," said Dr. Haworth. " Do you see 
 fit to grant warrants for the arrest of all these people ? " 
 
 " Yes ! " said Prof. Lesner, with animation. " You have con 
 vinced me almost against my will, Doctor. What a black affair ! 
 Yes, I will make them out at once, returnable, shall I say, to-mor 
 row at 10 o'clock in the morning? " 
 
 To this Dr. Haworth assented, declaring that he would take 
 them in person to Abbeyville and place them in the hands of the 
 constable. The blank warrants were then executed and handed to 
 Dr. Haworth, and he and Prof. Lesner entered into a brief conver 
 sation on other topics. Dr. Haworth was struck by his host's 
 power of mind and extensive information. The poor recluse had 
 evidently cultivated his intellect to a very high degree. Unfortu 
 nately he had not trained his will to resist the insidious enemy, 
 opium. 
 
 When Dr. Haworth went away they exchanged a cordial grasp 
 of the hand, and Prof. Lesner said, shaking his head : 
 
 " This is a terrible affair, Doctor charging so respectable a man 
 as Colonel Ross with such a crime ! But the law makes no distinc 
 tions. I am only a poor man and he is wealthy and influential, 
 but you will not find me wanting. I will examine all of these peo 
 ple to-morrow, and unless they explain the suspicious circumstances, 
 I will commit them to jail without bail." 
 
 " I see plainly that you will perform your official duty under all 
 circumstances, sir," said Dr. Haworth. 
 
 He then bowed and rode away with Jean. An hour afterward 
 he was at Abbeyville and the warrants were in the hands of a 
 constable. Dr. Haworth then returned to Mauricewood. 
 
 XVII. 
 THE CONSTABLE'S RETURN. 
 
 ABOUT 9 o'clock on the following morning Dr. Haworth, ac 
 companied by Jean Baptiste, set out on horseback for Prof. Les- 
 ner's. 
 
 His expression was animated, the look of the hunter who is on 
 the track of his game. Now that the moment for action had come, 
 his moody absorption had all disappeared. The soldier had re-
 
 132 
 
 THE CONSTABLE'S RETURtf. 
 
 placed the dreamer, and he rode on rapidly with an air of almost 
 joyous anticipation. 
 
 " I begin to think I have missed my vocation in life, Jean ! " he said. 
 
 " Your vocation, Excellency ? What pleases you so much ? " 
 
 " I was born for a thief taker a policemen to say ' I arrest you,' 
 to people." 
 
 " I see. You are happy now at the idea of putting your hand, 
 as you call it, on our friend the Colonel ! " 
 
 " Yes. ' Happy ' is not the word. Doing nothing in this busi 
 ness has rankled in me for years. I have been to the United States 
 before on this errand, but could never see what was to be done. 
 Now I see ! In half an hour the game will open." 
 
 Having said this, Dr. Haworth spurred on and reached Prof. 
 Lesner's, where he threw himself from his horse. 
 
 " Wait here until I call you," he said to Jean ; " your testimony 
 will be taken." 
 
 Jean sat down on the horse-block just outside the small gate 
 smoking a cigarette, and Dr. Haworth went to the door and knocked. 
 
 " Come in," said the voice of Prof. Lesner, and Dr. Haworth en 
 tered the library. 
 
 The Professor had discarded his dressing-gown and was clad in 
 a neat black coat in honor of the occasion. The table had been 
 cleared of its litter of books and papers, an official-looking register 
 was lying open upon it with pen and ink near, and a package of 
 blank warrants, together with a Bible, lay beside them. 
 
 At Dr. Haworth 's entrance Prof. Lesner rose courteously and 
 shook hands. His face was friendly but grave. A night's reflec 
 tion had no doubt shown him the full nature of the step he was 
 about to take. Indeed, to issue a warrant for the arrest of so 
 prominent a person in the county as Col. Ross was a very serious 
 matter. 
 
 " I was expecting you, Doctor," he said. " Take a seat. It is 
 past 10, 1 believe." 
 
 Dr. Haworth looked at his watch. 
 
 " We have still five minutes," he said, sitting down in one of 
 two or three chairs which seemed to have been drawn forward for 
 the occasion. 
 
 " My clock is a little fast, I am afraid," said Prof. Lesner, glanc 
 ing at an old affair in the corner. " I was wondering why you had 
 aot arrived and the constable with the prisoners."
 
 THE CONSTABLE'S RETURN. 133 
 
 ** They will arrive soon now, I have no doubt, sir. They are 
 not due for four minutes yet, as your warrant was made returnable 
 at the hour of 10, I believe." 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 Prof. Lesner uttered the word after drawing a long breath. Dr. 
 Haworth glanced at him, and he met the look. 
 
 " I see you think I regret having issued the warrants, Doctor," 
 said Prof. Lesner. " I do not it was my sworn duty ; but you 
 must make allowances for an old man who has lived so long in re 
 tirement. I almost wish now I had not been commissioned a mag 
 istrate I am not born for these agitating affairs. Col. Ross is a 
 man of good standing I have never heard anything against him 
 since he was a young man, and then he was only a little wild. Are 
 you certain there is just ground for arresting him on this fearful 
 charge ? " 
 
 " Yes ! " said Dr. Haworth briefly. " His good character has 
 nothing to do with the matter, sir. It is a legal investigation. 
 When there is a question of that no man's apparent good character 
 should exempt him from inquiry from arrest, if necessary." 
 
 Prof. Lesner sighed and said : 
 
 " You are no doubt right. I agree that the circumstances you 
 mentioned are very suspicious." 
 
 " They are much more than suspicious, sir ! " 
 
 " And if the question had only been the arrest of the man Wil- 
 kins and that woman " 
 
 " I understand your distinction, but the law applies to all, high 
 and low alike. An honest man ought to invite investigation if any 
 one brings a charge against him. If Col. Ross is innocent you are 
 acting as his friend." 
 
 " Do you really think so ? " said Prof. Lesner, brightening up a 
 little. 
 
 " Certainly." 
 
 " I am glad you mentioned it. I will tell him that such was my 
 view it will at least smooth matters a little I think." 
 
 " There is no objection to your doing so of course. You are 
 about to have the opportunity. I hear the sound of hoofs. Our 
 friends are coming." 
 
 Prof. Lesner listened, and hearing the sound from the road ar 
 ranged his papers with a rather tremulous hand due to agitation at 
 the approaching ceremony or his unfortunate habit.
 
 THE CONSTABLE'S RETURN. 
 
 "Here is some one," said Dr. Haworth, hearing a footstep on 
 the porch. " Where are the rest ? " 
 
 A man came in, and took off his hat. He was a rough looking 
 personage, in a suit of soiled brown and horseman's boots. 
 
 " Well ? " said Prof. Lesner, with a rather ludicrous assumption 
 of official dignity. 
 
 " The return on the warrants, your Worship," said the man, 
 ducking his head and coming forward with some papers in his 
 hand. 
 
 " Where are the persons I desired to be arrested ? " said Prof. 
 Lesner. 
 
 " Non est inwentus, sir ? " returned the man in a gruff voice. 
 
 " Not found ! " 
 
 " That's jest it, your Worship. Mr. Briggs he was took sick and 
 give me the warrants to serve. Well, Wilkins and his wife ain't at 
 home and Col. Ross is gone to Washington." 
 
 Dr. Haworth sat still, looking fixedly at the man. 
 
 " Is that true ? " he said, in a hard voice. 
 
 The constable turned round and looked at him rather insolently. 
 He said nothing, but his look said : " Who are you ? " 
 
 Dr. Haworth was about to reply to the look, but Prof. Lesner 
 forestalled him. The poor Professor was evidently not ill pleased. 
 Indeed he seemed scarcely able to suppress his satisfaction. He 
 made an effort, however, and said, with grave dignity : 
 
 " Do I understand you to say that Mr. Briggs intrusted the war 
 rants to you ? " 
 
 " I'm his deputy yes, he give 'em to me to serve, your Wor 
 ship." 
 
 " And Wilkins and his wife, you say, were not to be found ? " 
 
 " House locked up and not a livin' soul on the premises," said 
 the deputy. 
 
 " You went to Col. Ross' of course ? " 
 
 " In course, your Worship. He had left by the morning train 
 6:30." 
 
 Prof. Lesner looked at Dr. Haworth, whose brows were con 
 tracted until his eyebrows nearly met. 
 
 " With your Worship's permission I will ask the constable a 
 question," he said. 
 
 " Certainly, Doctor, certainly." 
 
 Dr. Haworth turned to the man and said :
 
 THE CONSTABLE'S RETURN. 135 
 
 " Are you acquainted with Wilkins or Mrs. Wilkins ? " 
 
 "Well, I've seen 'em," said the deputy shortly. 
 
 " Are they related to you ? " 
 
 " You mean kin ? No, they are not." 
 
 " Are they friends or relatives of Mr. Briggs ? " 
 
 The man hesitated. 
 
 " Answer," said Dr. Haworth. 
 
 " I've heard tell that Wilkins' wife was a Briggs afore she mar 
 ried her first husband." 
 
 " Well," said Dr. Haworth, in the same hard voice, " I have no 
 further questions to ask you." 
 
 The response was a rather sullen look, and the deputy then said 
 to Prof. Lesner : 
 
 " Done with me, sir ? " 
 
 " I I really am in a maze," said Prof. Lesner feebly. " What 
 would you advise, Doctor ? But I ought to decide for myself, I 
 suppose. These warrants are returned indorsed ' not found.' I had 
 better issue new ones and direct a search to be made for the parties. 
 Those people must be found, and Col. Ross must have a new war 
 rant served on him. Would you advise me to issue it now ? " 
 
 " No, sir," said Dr. Haworth, after a moment spent in gloomy 
 reflection ; " it is useless. Some accident might happen. Mr. 
 Briggs might be taken ill again. I will apply to you when I think 
 it is necessary." 
 
 " But the other parties ? " 
 
 " They will not be found unless I find them. The whole mat 
 ter is perfectly plain. You may issue the warrant I requested 
 against them, however, if you think best." 
 
 " I think it would be better," Prof. Lesner said, in some agita 
 tion. " I really feel quite unwell, but I will make out the new war 
 rants." 
 
 With a shaking hand he then took a blank warrant and made it 
 out for the arrest of Wilkins and his wife. 
 
 " Use every exertion to find these people," he said to the dep 
 uty constable. " It is unnecessary to trouble Mr. Briggs. As soon 
 as you arrest them bring them here at once, and I will send for the 
 Doctor to be present at the examination." 
 
 The deputy took the papers and said : 
 
 " That's all, your Worship ? " 
 
 " Yes use due diligence, my friend."
 
 136 THE CONSTABLE'S RETURN. 
 
 And much relieved either by this legal phrase, or the result of 
 the whole affair, Prof. Lesner bowed formally to the deputy, who 
 ducked his head in response and went away. 
 
 As he left the room Dr. Haworth rose. 
 
 "You are not going so soon, my dear Doctor? " said Prof. Les 
 ner. 
 
 " It is quite useless for me to remain longer, sir," was Dr. Ha' 
 worth's reply in his hard, calm voice ; " the farce is over and I have 
 business to attend to." 
 
 " The farce ? " 
 
 " The matter is perfectly plain. This man Briggs is a relative 
 of that woman, and notified her last night that she was about to be 
 arrested. To prevent suspicion he is taken sick, and the warrant 
 served by his deputy or not served. The reason why the parties 
 were not found is easy to understand. The woman having been 
 warned, warned her husband, and he warned a friend of his Col. 
 Ross. Hence the sudden necessity of Col. Ross' presence in 
 Washington." 
 
 Prof. Lesner looked at Dr. Haworth with a helpless expression. 
 He then said a little indignantly : 
 
 " Is that possible ? But you must be right. It is an insult to 
 \ny authority ! I will have this man Briggs removed." 
 
 " You have no proof against him it is a mere surmise. I will 
 take the necessary steps. On Col. Ross' return I will call again on 
 your Worship. If Wilkins and the woman are arrested, I shall 
 be glad to hear from you." 
 
 " Promptly you will be notified promptly, Doctor ! And I will 
 issue a new warrant for the arrest of Col. Ross whenever you re 
 quest me to do so. I shall then be better prepared to conduct the 
 examination. I am a little unwell to-day, and cannot say that I re 
 gret the delay. But I will not be wanting, Doctor I will not be 
 wanting ! " 
 
 It was unnecessary for poor Prof. Lesner to say that he was not 
 as much disappointed as his guest. Nothing was plainer than his 
 air of relief. Like most persons who have spent their lives in seclu 
 sion he evidently shrunk from resolute action ; and his nerves were 
 doubtless unstrung from other causes. 
 
 He accompanied Dr. Haworth to the door, and shook hands 
 with a friendly smile. 
 
 " Come again and see me unofficially," he said. " Your vis"
 
 TffE CONSTABLE'S RETURtf. 
 
 its are a great luxury, as I have no company but my birds and 
 bees ! " 
 
 Dr. Haworth bowed and then rode away with Jean. The boy 
 had asked no questions, but his look did so. 
 
 " You are anxious to know what has happened, I suppose, 
 Jean ? " said Dr. Haworth. 
 
 " Yes, Excellency." 
 
 " Well, Col. Ross was notified last night that he would be ar 
 rested this morning and took the train at daylight for Washington." 
 
 " What effect will that have on your Excellency's plans ? " 
 
 " It will have none."
 
 PART III. 
 CONVERGING. 
 
 DR. HAWORTH ENGAGES THE WIRE TO LIMA. 
 
 THE journals which came to Mauricewood and afforded enter 
 tainment if not instruction to Mr. Tim Maurice and the ladies, all 
 at once began to be filled with the details of a scandal. 
 
 Col. Ross was the hero of it, and loomed up suddenly as the great 
 South American Colossus who managed affairs social, political, in 
 dustrial and international in that quarter of the globe. 
 
 He was alternately exalted as the flower and climax of modern 
 civilization, and denounced as the incarnation of all that was corrupt. 
 His enemies laughed at him, styling him Col. Sellers Ross, and said 
 that he bribed people. His friends defended him and declared that 
 he was a model of a good citizen. Having been summoned before 
 a committee he was badgered unmercifully ; and as his Russian 
 Majesty had not been shot at for a fortnight, and there was noth 
 ing new from the East, the newspapers in the dearth of news filled 
 their columns with Col. Sellers Ross and his private affairs. 
 
 As Mr. Tim Maurice was a great reader of the newspapers, and 
 took a number, he became familiar with the proceedings, and 
 seemed to derive great pleasure from the daily reports of the bad 
 gering to which Col. Ross was subjected. He made pleasant com 
 ments in the bosom of his family, and one morning said to Dr. 
 Haworth, rubbing his hands with evident enjoyment : 
 
 " Our friend, the Colonel, seems to have gotten into difficulties ! " 
 
 " It seems so," said Dr. Haworth. 
 
 " The fate of public men ! Now I have always considered my-
 
 DR. HA WORTH ENGAGES THE WIRE TO LIMA. 
 
 139 
 
 self lucky in occupying a ' private station.' Let a man once get out 
 of it and all is over with him." 
 
 " That is very true." 
 
 " It really is a debasing business ! " said Uncle Tim in a dis 
 gusted tone. " What makes people ambitious ? Take the case of 
 a human being who has health, competence, and lives happily well, 
 one day he is suddenly bit by a morbid longing to be somebody 
 a Senator or President. What good will it do him ? As soon as 
 he becomes a candidate everybody opposed to him swears he is a 
 scoundrel. The morning papers take away his appetite. The 
 evening edition keeps him from sleeping. Gall and wormwood are 
 his bill of fare for breakfast, dinner and supper. Is it worth it ? " 
 
 " It is far from being worth it." 
 
 " Why do they play the losing game, then losing whether they 
 win or not ? They are apt to be gray, for ambition generally attacks 
 that sort of people. They have twenty years to live say why do 
 they prefer living it in hot water ? " 
 
 " They seem to like it," said Dr. Haworth philosophically. 
 
 " Well, every man to his taste. I would rather eat and sleep and 
 laugh and enjoy my life a little than be Senator or President if my 
 liver is to be out of order and I am to breakfast on the opposition 
 newspapers ! " 
 
 Uncle Tim thereupon laughed heartily, and refolding his paper 
 said : 
 
 " Friend Ross is having a hard time of it. They are charging 
 him with all sorts of rascalities. I suppose it is the penalty for be 
 coming a rich man." 
 
 " The committee, I believe, is still engaged in examining him, and 
 he will no doubt be detained in Washington," said Dr. Haworth. 
 
 " I don't know. I have not seen him since his last visit, and he 
 has not mentioned the subject." 
 
 Uncle Tim smiled when he said " since his last visit." The 
 Colonel's mishap was now no secret. 
 
 Dr. Haworth made no further allusion to him, and an hour 
 afterward rode in the direction of Abbeyville. As he went along 
 he said : 
 
 " There will be time enough. He will be obliged to return, and 
 then war ! The main point is to be ready." 
 
 He rode on, and soon reached Abbeyville, where he dismounted 
 in front of the telegraph office. This was attached to the railway
 
 140 DR. HA WORTH ENGAGES THE WIRE fO LIMA. 
 
 recently built through the town, and the operator was a polite young 
 man, who bowed with an utter absence of " official dignity." 
 
 " Do yu connect by telegraph at Lima, sir ? " said Dr. Ha- 
 worth. 
 
 The agent looked at his book and said : 
 
 " Yes, sir ; by cable or the City of Mexico and Panama." 
 
 " I wished to ascertain. I shall probably have a dispatch to 
 send to-day or to-morrow. Is it possible to control the wires for an 
 hour, say I mean, to monopolize them ? " 
 
 The agent looked a little dubious. 
 
 " It might be done, sir except public dispatches on govern 
 ment business but it would be costly." 
 
 " I should expect it to be. My object is to send and receive a 
 number of messages to a person stationed in the office at Lima." 
 
 " I understand to have a talk," said the young man, smiling. 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " It might be easy or the opposite to keep the wires clear." 
 
 " I will probably call then and try. My business is private." 
 
 " It will be so regarded under all circumstances, sir as far as 
 this office is concerned." 
 
 " You mean that messages not in cipher are not private in the 
 fullest sense, since they are repeated by the instruments in every 
 office ? " 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " It is of no importance, since your rules of privacy apply, I sup 
 pose, to all." 
 
 Dr. Haworth then bowed, remounted his horse, and instead of 
 returning to Mauricewood, rode in the direction of Dr. Seabright's. 
 As he reached the outer gate he saw the gray-haired physician ap 
 proaching from the opposite direction and waited for him. 
 
 " Good morning, Dr. Seabright," he said ; " have you a mo 
 ment's leisure ? " 
 
 " No," said Dr. Seabright, shaking hands with what he meant 
 for cordiality. " Never have any don't know what the word 
 means. But that's no matter, I take it ! Come in glad to see 
 you."
 
 DR. SEABRIGHT. \^i 
 
 II. 
 DR. SEABRIGHT. 
 
 THEY rode in and dismounted, Dr. Seabright leading- the way 
 into his small home, where, being a widower and childless, he led a 
 life which must have been a dreary one if it had not been so busy. 
 
 " Sit down, Brother Sawbones," he said, with grim jocularity. 
 " You know that's a pet name with the vulgar crowd who don't 
 appreciate the dignity of intellect." 
 
 He drew forward a split-bottomed chair for Dr. Haworth and 
 added : 
 
 " I have not smoked to-day." 
 
 He then lit a long-stemmed clay pipe, offering another to Dr. 
 Haworth, who, however, declined. 
 
 " Tim Maurice and the ladies are well to-day ? " he said. 
 
 " Perfectly well." 
 
 " He is a friend of mine a genuine man. I have known him 
 since he was a boy." 
 
 " You are no doubt acquainted with every one in the neighbor 
 hood ? " 
 
 " Every living soul, and a number of people who are dead." 
 
 " You remind me," said Dr. Haworth, " that we were speaking 
 the other day of that unfortunate affair at Mauricewood. You 
 knew Mr. James Maurice and Mr. Ducis, who was charged with 
 that murder ? " 
 
 " Certainly." 
 
 " I think you said Mr. Ducis was a friend of yours ? " 
 
 " The best friend I ever had one of nature's noblemen ! " said 
 Dr. Seabright, smoking like a steamboat funnel. 
 
 Dr. Haworth made no reply. He fixed his eyes upon Dr. Sea- 
 bright, and for about a minute continued to look straight at him. 
 This fixed gaze evidently attracted his companion's attention, for he 
 returned it with one from beneath his bushy gray brows which 
 seemed keen enough to bore a hole. 
 
 " Dr. Seabright," said Dr. Haworth, " I have come to this coun 
 try to find who murdered Mr. James Maurice of Mauricewood, on 
 the night of the yth of May, 1860, and require your assistance." 
 
 At these words Dr. Seabright rose slowly in his chair, knocked 
 the ashes from his pipe, and said :
 
 142 DR. SEABRTGHT. 
 
 " Who are you, and what is your object ? " 
 
 " It is unnecessary to reply to either question. I will reply to 
 both when the time comes, and that will be very soon. I repeat 
 what I said. I mean to discover who murdered James Maurice 
 and the first step is to discover who did not." 
 
 Dr. Seabright had never taken his eyes from the face of his com 
 panion. 
 
 "Explain what you mean by the words 'who did not,' " he said. 
 
 " It is not necessary, since you already understand. Mr. Duels, 
 you say, was innocent ? " 
 
 " Yes I'll swear to that." 
 
 "It has never been proved." 
 
 " No, it has not been proved in a court of justice." 
 
 " Do you wish to have the fact established there ? " 
 
 " The innocence of my friend Henry Ducis ? Dr. Haworth, if 
 you will furnish me with evidence to wipe off the stain on his name 
 I will sit down there at that table and make you a deed for this home, 
 my farm, and all outstanding accounts due me for ten years back." 
 
 " I will furnish the evidence or make the attempt without the 
 deed ; but I require your help. Do you mean to give it ? " 
 
 " Yes ! " said Dr. Seabright with a flush in his wintry cheeks. 
 " And now talk plainly. I don't care to know why you are inter 
 ested in this matter, or anything about it. If you think you can 
 clear the memory of Henry Ducis from this charge, you can count 
 on Robert Seabright." 
 
 Dr. Haworth extended his hand and said : 
 
 "It is agreed then that from this time we will act together, 
 is it ? " 
 
 " It is agreed ! " said Dr. Seabright, grasping the hand with the 
 wrench of a vice. 
 
 " Well, now that this is understood I will ask you some ques 
 tions." 
 
 " I will answer any and all I can." 
 
 " Are we alone ? " 
 
 Dr. Seabright went and shut the doors. 
 
 " There is not a soul in the house but my old house-keeper, who 
 is as deaf as a post," he said. 
 
 He then sat down again.
 
 THE APPOINTMENT. 143 
 
 III. 
 THE APPOINTMENT. 
 
 DURING this conversation Dr. Haworth's expression had grad 
 ually grown animated. It is possible that he had anticipated diffi 
 culties which had not presented themselves. 
 
 " What I shall now say, Dr. Seabright," he began, " is said to 
 you with absolute confidence to the friend of Henry Ducis." 
 
 " Understood ! I am not a gossip ; what you say to me is said 
 to no one else." 
 
 " I am sure of you I am not sure of many people. I will now 
 come to the point." 
 
 " Nothing I like better ! " 
 
 " Who was the keeper of the warehouse where Mr. Ducis pur 
 chased the fertilizers on the 7th or the 8th of May, 1860? " 
 
 " His name was Thomas Williams." 
 
 " Is he living ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " You are, perhaps, acquainted with him ? " 
 
 " I ought to be. I have practiced in his family for twenty-five 
 years." 
 
 " Is he still in business ? " 
 
 " No ; his nephew is, however." 
 
 " At Sinclair Station ? " 
 
 " They call it Sinkler's yes." 
 
 " Do you ever ride in that direction ? " 
 
 " Frequently. " 
 
 " Will it be agreeable to you to do so to-morrow ? " 
 
 " Yes. I think I understand what your ride is for, but " 
 
 " I will come back to this point in a moment. On the trial of 
 Mr. Ducis the hammer and glove found at Mauricewood were pro 
 duced I suppose." 
 
 "Of course." 
 
 " Where are they now ? " 
 
 " Don't know. The Sheriff or jailer may have them." 
 
 "Are the same people living? " 
 
 "They are both dead." 
 
 " You are acquainted with those serving at present ? " 
 
 " I know them both."
 
 144 
 
 THE 
 
 " It is possible that the hammer and glove may be found. These 
 pieces of evidence are sometimes kept or they are thrust into some 
 closet when they are not given away to curiosity-hunters." 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " It is desirable to secure them both if they can be secured." 
 
 Dr. Seabright had re-filled his pipe, and was smoking and re 
 flecting. 
 
 "Well, I think I understand what you are after," he said at 
 length. " You are curious to have a look at the hammer which was 
 said to be the weapon that murdered James Maurice though it 
 never did ; the glove that was found outside the window ; and the 
 leaf of the ledger with the entry of the purchase of the fertilizers by 
 Henry Ducis." 
 
 " Precisely." 
 
 " It is doubtful whether the glove and hammer can be found," 
 said Dr. Seabright, " but there will be no trouble about the ledger. 
 Old Tom Williams was a methodical man and never destroyed 
 papers. His ledgers for thirty years are piled up somewhere but 
 it will be useless to look at the entry." 
 
 " Why ? " 
 
 " I examined it myself at the time of the trial. The date was 
 May 8, which was the day after the murder, and the alibi fell to the 
 ground." 
 
 " Was Mr. Williams sworn ? " 
 
 "Certainly. He testified that he had no means of fixing the 
 exact day besides the entry ; he only remembered that Mr. Ducis 
 had been at the warehouse about sunset, and after finishing his busi 
 ness rode further on to spend the night at his friend's, Mr. Russell's, 
 he said." 
 
 " Mr. Russell, I understand, could not swear positively whether 
 this was the night of the ;th or 8th ? " 
 
 " He said he could not swear he believed it was the 7th." 
 
 " So the entry in the ledger was corroborated ? " 
 
 " To that extent that Russell could not positively contradict it." 
 
 " The entry has been tampered with," said Dr. Haworth, " to 
 destroy Mr. Ducis." 
 
 "Well," said Dr. Seabright, coolly, "that theory was set up, 
 but there was no erasure." 
 
 " That is the question." 
 
 " I examined it myself."
 
 THE APPOINTMENT. 145 
 
 " I wish to examine it in my turn." 
 
 Dr. Seabright shook his head. 
 
 " Can you arrange with Mr. Williams to afford the opportuni- 
 ty?" 
 
 " Easily there will be no trouble. The ledgers are apt to be at 
 Williams' house but it is time lost." 
 
 " I will lose the time. Are you willing to lose yours, too ? " 
 
 Yes." 
 
 " To-morrow ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " Well, I will be here at 9 in the morning if that is not too early." 
 
 " At 7 if you like better." 
 
 " Nine will answer. Meanwhile, there is the hammer and glove. 
 It might be better for me not to appear too prominently in this busi 
 ness." 
 
 " You are right. I will go this very evening and see whether 
 they are about the jail or the sheriff's. I can make up a pretext 
 without lying, which I don't like." 
 
 " Then all is understood, Doctor ? " 
 
 " Yes understood as thoroughly as if you told me that you had 
 your own reasons, outside of mere curiosity, to clear up this affair. 
 I don't care a baubee what they are, Dr. Haworth. I don't mean 
 to ask you a single question. I don't like strangers, as a general 
 thing, and I have never had any very extraordinary confidence in 
 human nature, which, according to my thinking, is rather a slippery 
 affair. Some men are genuine, but the majority are sneaks. I like 
 your face and I will trust you. I never saw a man with your look 
 out of the eyes who was a rascal ! That's the way I caught the 
 expert asses on the trial every eye was the eye of a sneak ! The 
 trash knew nothing of what they were talking about, and they knew 
 they knew ! I'll help you up to the handle in this affair, Dr. Ha 
 worth ! You are not going to make anything of that ledger entry, 
 but I'll see that you have a look at it all the same. Are you going? 
 Grog? No? Well, good day. I'll be ready."
 
 146 THE ENTRY IN THE LEDGER. 
 
 IV. 
 THE ENTRY IN THE LEDGER. 
 
 WHEN Dr. Haworth made his appearance at Dr. Seabright's on 
 the following morning he found him seated smoking a pipe in the 
 sunshine of his small porch. 
 
 " You are punctual," he said, taking out a huge silver watch ; 
 " it is one minute before 9." 
 
 As he was speaking an ancient clock within slowly struck the 
 hour. 
 
 " Confound this watch ! It is never right ! " exclaimed Dr. Sea- 
 bright. " That clock keeps perfect time and this watch never will 
 run with it two days in succession ! " 
 
 " The difference is slight your horse is ready, Doctor ? " 
 
 " I was indulging in a smoke. I could not find the hammer and 
 glove." 
 
 " Then you searched for them ? " 
 
 " Everywhere. I have no doubt they were taken by curiosity- 
 lovers. That is a queer phase of human nature." 
 
 " Strange, indeed." 
 
 " It is a perfect passion with some people. They will pay dear 
 for a piece of the rope that hangs a murderer. I suppose a chip of 
 the nitro-glycerine shell that blew up Czar Alexander would bring 
 $1,000." 
 
 "Yes" 
 
 " To come to business. I went to the jail and the Sheriff's and 
 talked of this and that and found they knew nothing about the ham 
 mer and glove. They are non est inventus, if that's Latin." 
 
 " I attached no importance to them." 
 
 " I understand you agree with me that the murder was committed 
 with that cord you showed me or garrote, as you call it." 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " There's your real curiosity ! Why don't you put it up for sale 
 it would bring its weight in gold ! But here I am getting away 
 again. As the cord was the cause of all, the hammer amounted to 
 little and it never was identified as Henry Ducis' property ; nor the 
 glove, which was a common riding gauntlet. I examined it, and 
 there were no marks upon it. There was nothing to show that it 
 belonged or didn't belong to Mr. Ducis."
 
 THE ENTRY IN THE LEDGER. 
 
 " It is of little importance. It is the entry in the ledger that I am 
 curious about." 
 
 Dr. Seabright shook his head, and said in a discouraged 
 tone: 
 
 " That amounts to no more than the rest." 
 
 " I have not satisfied myself that you are right." 
 
 " You think there is " 
 
 "Time to talk on our side," said Dr. Haworth, quietly. "We 
 can be certain of nothing without a sight of the entry." 
 
 " You will be no more certain after seeing it." 
 
 " Let me judge." 
 
 "You can," said Dr. Seabright, drawing a folded sheet of paper 
 from his breast pocket ; " here it is." 
 
 " The entry ! " 
 
 " The leaf from my friend Williams' ledger which you wanted to 
 look at," said Dr. Seabright, unfolding the paper in a deliberate 
 manner. " After you left J thought it would be better for you not 
 to appear in the business, as you said it might create remark. So 
 I rode to Sinkler's yesterday evening and found old Tom Williams 
 on his porch. He was glad to see me and showed me the ledger 
 at the first word without asking why I wanted to see it even. It 
 was waste paper only now, he said, and to make a long story short, 
 I cut out the leaf before his eyes. He neither knew nor cared why 
 I did and here it is." 
 
 Dr. Haworth had been looking fixedly at the paper which Dr. 
 Seabright had handed him. 
 
 " This is the actual entry, then ! " he said, with a glow on his 
 face. " May 8, 1860 the day after the murder! The alibi was 
 disproved, unless this date was falsified ! " 
 
 Dr. Haworth drew from his pocket a small but very powerful 
 microscope, which he applied to the spot on the paper. For some 
 minutes he examined it closely. 
 
 " Well ? " said Dr. Seabright. 
 
 " There has been no erasure," he said, with a gloomy expression. 
 " There is a difference in the strokes of this figure and the same 
 figure elsewhere but that may have arisen from the fact that differ 
 ent persons made the entries." 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " And the same persons form letters and figures differently in 
 writing at different times."
 
 148 THE ENTRV IN THE LEDGER. 
 
 Dr. Haworth was looking at the paper, moodily, his brows knit 
 together. 
 
 " There is absolutely no erasure," he muttered ; " the surface of 
 the paper is not frayed in the least degree, but " 
 
 " That proves it was a clerical error." 
 
 Dr. Seabright stopped, looking with some curiosity at the move 
 ments of his companion. In fact, Dr. Haworth had raised the leaf 
 to his mouth and touched the date of the entry with the tip of his 
 tongue. 
 
 " What do you mean by that ? " said Dr. Seabright. 
 
 " I mean that I was right, after all," was the reply in a low voice, 
 accompanied by a threatening flash of the eye, " the entry has been 
 changed." 
 
 " How was that possible ? " 
 
 " By a very simple means oxalic acid or the oxolate of potash 
 are cheap and accessible chemicals. The real date has been oblit 
 erated from this paper by a solution of one or the other and the false 
 date substituted." 
 
 " Are you sure of that ! " exclaimed Dr. Seabright. 
 
 "Judge for yourself. Touch this spot upon the paper with your 
 tongue." 
 
 Dr. Seabright did so. 
 
 " Sour ! " he said. 
 
 " Salt of sorrel is sour enough ! A salt of potassium and the 
 oxide resulted from the application of the solution the real date dis 
 appeared, and the false date was written above it." 
 
 " Is it possible ? " said Dr. Seabright gruffly. " Yes, it is ! 
 Who was the scoundrel ? " 
 
 " You use a plain word. Do you wish me to speak as plainly ? " 
 
 "Yes!" 
 
 " Is Col. Ross, of this neighborhood, a friend of yours ? " 
 
 " Col. Ross ! a friend of mine ? no, he is only an acquaint 
 ance." 
 
 " Well, Col. Ross can inform you who falsified this date and de 
 stroyed Mr. Ducis ! " 
 
 At this announcement Dr. Seabright rose erect in his seat, look 
 ing at his companion with unmistakable astonishment. 
 
 " Col. Ross ! " he exclaimed. 
 
 " We agreed to speak to each other plainly I keep the agree 
 ment,"
 
 THE PSYCHOLOGY OF OPIUM. 
 
 149 
 
 "You are right. But do you really believe that Col. Ross could ? " 
 " I counted on your surprise. I don't believe in half-confidences 
 with men like yourself. You have been frank with me I am frank 
 with you. You were the friend of Mr. Ducis, who died in jail, con 
 victed of a crime which he never committed. I tell you the name 
 of the man who either committed the murder or was the prime 
 mover in the whole black affair. If you wish to know why I bring 
 this charge against Col. Ross I will tell you." 
 
 " Tell me leave out nothing," said the old physician in his gruff 
 and resolute voice. " If that man was the real murderer he shall be 
 brought to justice, or my name's not Robert Seabright I " 
 
 V. 
 
 THE PSYCHOLOGY OF OPIUM. 
 
 ONE morning, a few days after the interview with Dr. Seabright, 
 Mr. Tim Maurice locked his arm in the arm of his guest, Dr. Ha- 
 worth, as they rose from breakfast, and said, as they went into the 
 drawing-room : 
 
 " Do you know, my dear fellow, I think you have something on 
 your mind ? That locked-up chamber must have made you gloomy. 
 Even Cadie can't make you smile, sometimes ! " 
 
 Mr. Tim Maurice laughed. The engagement was, of course, no 
 secret from him. 
 
 " It is only your fancy that I am gloomy, my dear Mr. Maurice," 
 said Dr. Haworth ; " I am not. I am naturally quiet." 
 
 " You ought to be happy." 
 
 " I am." 
 
 " Well, you seem I say again to have something on your mind ! 
 or you are too idle here a man of action rusts when he has nothing 
 to do. The great mistake you have made in life was not becoming 
 a guano and nitrate agent." 
 
 " Like Col. Ross ? " 
 
 " Precisely, and then you would pass time in a lively manner." 
 
 " His examination still continues, I see, there before the House 
 Committee." 
 
 " Yes, and I fancy our friend is bothering the worthy people I 
 doubt if they are a match for him."
 
 I5O THE PSYCHOLOGY OF OPIUM. 
 
 " I have not seen the morning papers. Is there a prospect of 
 Col. Ross' return ? " 
 
 " He is not apt to be detained much longer, I fancy ; but you 
 know we never see him now, and it makes no difference as far as 
 the people at Mauricewood are concerned." 
 
 Whether Dr. Haworth acquiesced in this view or not did not 
 appear. He said no more, and, sitting down, took up a book which 
 was lying on the center-table in the drawing-room with the air of 
 a man who does something merely to employ his hands. 
 
 The title of the volume was the "Psychology of Opium," and 
 Dr. Haworth knew at once that it was Prof. Lesner's work, which 
 had just appeared. 
 
 " A new book," he said to Mr. Tim Maurice. 
 
 "Yes, I picked it up in the book store at Abbeyville yesterday." 
 
 " The name of the author is not on the title-page, I see." 
 
 "Well, the work is rather peculiar and very personal, and so I 
 suppose he suppresses his name." 
 
 " Personal ? " 
 
 " The author gives his experience, as the Salvation Army people 
 say. I have been looking into the book, and see he describes his 
 own sensations." 
 
 " Under the influence of opium ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " What is his conclusion ? That the sensations are pleasant or 
 otherwise ? " 
 
 " Paradisical, I think he says it is all mere rhapsody." 
 
 " And he says nothing of the Inferno under the Paradise ? " 
 
 " Not a word. The fact is, I rather suppose Mr. what's his name 
 don't believe in any Inferno. As far as I can make out he believes 
 in nothing but opium." 
 
 " He believes, I suppose, in a soul, since he employs the term 
 psychology." 
 
 " Not at all in nothing of the sort. He incidentally mentions 
 as a fact accepted by all intelligent minds that death is the end of 
 life in every sense and that there is no hereafter. I don't trouble 
 myself much about these materialist people and their cranky ideas 
 I'm much too busy seeing the wheat seeded and straightening up 
 the fences. But now and then I amuse myself with these whim- 
 whams when they are amusing." 
 
 " I understand you ; they are frequently dull ? "
 
 THE PSYCHOLOGY OF OPIUM. 151 
 
 "Well, yes awfully dull. This writer on opium psychology 
 puts me to sleep. I had a delightful snooze with his book on my 
 knees. But some passages are rather striking had a good supply 
 of opium on board when they were written, I suppose." 
 
 He took the volume and read a paragraph aloud to Dr. Haworth. 
 It was a rapturous eulogy of the effects of the drug. Existence was 
 sublimated the real horizon of the world disappeared then two 
 pages of rhapsody set off with exclamation points. 
 
 "You are right," said Dr. Haworth ; " that smells of opium at a 
 league's distance. The man is a slave, and is bent on making others 
 slaves, too. I prefer being a free man." 
 
 " Well, so do I," said Uncle Tim cheerfully. " As you say, the 
 author of this book says nothing of the hell under his opium heaven. 
 I am willing to bet that he is a miserable creature after his spells 
 with his poison, and don't enjoy his breakfast, dinner, or supper." 
 
 With which decisive commentary on the opium habit, Uncle 
 Tim put on his gloves, mounted his horse and went to look after 
 farm matters. 
 
 Dr. Haworth took up the " Psychology of Opium," and read here 
 and there in it for about half an hour. It was a curious perform 
 ance. There were rapturous descriptions, evidently inspired by 
 those of De Quincey, and the author plainly aimed to show only the 
 bright side. But the miseries of opium here and there came out in 
 somber flashes chance phrases which reveal gulfs unfathomable 
 and full of darkness. 
 
 "It is really pitiful," said Dr. Haworth, laying down the book. 
 " This man was fitted to be a useful and even admirable member 
 of society. His intellect is clear and vigorous. He is a person of 
 extended information. His nature seems to be amiable to the last 
 degree and his instincts all excellent, but this cursed drug has ruined 
 him ! He believes in nothing but opium. He cares for nothing 
 but opium. He juggles with words, and speaks of psychologies, and 
 has no faith whatever in any psyche! It is the most curious demon 
 stration that a human being may be morally irreproachable, and in 
 tellectually a monstrosity." 
 
 He had been sitting with his back to the folding doors between 
 the drawing- and dining-rooms. All at once a soft touch came to 
 his shoulder, and looking up he saw Gary. 
 
 She was rather an attractive figure, though not romantic-looking 
 in a very high degree at the moment. She had on a calico work-
 
 I 2 JEAN RETURNS WITH GOOD NEWS. 
 
 apron extending from her chin to her boots, confined at the waist 
 by a belt, and she was busily wiping a saucer. 
 
 In fact, Miss Gary Maurice was washing up the " breakfast 
 things " like a dutiful young woman who would not have her mamma 
 do it, or allow careless servants to smash the best china. As her 
 sleeves were rolled up, one could see a very white pair of arms, and 
 Miss Gary was laughing quietly, both with her red lips and her blue 
 eyes, which were bewildering under the brown bangs. 
 
 She had heard Mr. Tim Maurice depart, and then Dr. Haworth's 
 muttered words. Curiosity compelling, she softly opened a fold in 
 the door, without attracting attention, stole behind the occupant or 
 the arm-chair, touched his shoulder, and when he looked up into her 
 eyes looked down into his. 
 
 Then Miss Gary went through a ceremony which is always 
 charming in her sex in case one is fond of them. She pushed the 
 hair back with a caressing movement from his forehead after 
 which she laughed. 
 
 What followed this agreeable pantomime ought perhaps to be 
 regarded as confidential, but then there is perhaps no impropriety 
 in briefly alluding to the circumstance. 
 
 Dr. Haworth took the hand smoothing his hair and kissed it 
 with almost passionate tenderness. Then he pressed his lips to the 
 white arm also in the vicinity of the elbow and drew it toward him, 
 looking up at her. 
 
 Miss Gary's person naturally followed the arm, and then some 
 thing took place. 
 
 She hesitated, resisted a little, looked behind her and blushed. 
 
 Then she stooped and touched his forehead quickly with her 
 lips and disappeared with a low laugh. 
 
 The rattle of cups and saucers a moment afterward, from the 
 dining-room, clearly indicated that business had supplanted romance. 
 
 VI. 
 
 JEAN RETURNS WITH GOOD NEWS. 
 
 DURING the whole day Dr. Haworth seemed to be absorbed in 
 thought and anxiously expecting something or the appearance of 
 some one.
 
 JEAN RETURNS WITH cdo> NEWS. 153 
 
 He walked to and fro on the veranda, turned his head from mo 
 ment to moment and even during an afternoon interview with Gary 
 in the drawing-room exhibited every indication that something oc 
 cupied his thoughts. Gary's smiles drove away his moody spell for 
 a time, but when she went to her household duties he got up and 
 began to pace to and fro again. 
 
 As the sun was sinking he put on his hat and walked out in the 
 grounds, taking the path toward the oak-tree which had served as 
 Miss Burns' post-office. He looked absently at it he was evidently 
 not thinking of it. All at once he heard the foot-falls of a horse 
 from the country road beyond the inclosure. 
 
 He went and leaned on the fence, which was of substantial 
 plank set in locust posts. A line of shubbery followed the line of 
 the inclosure, and through an opening in it he caught sight of the 
 horseman Jean Baptiste. 
 
 A word stopped him. He turned his head, saw Dr. Haworth 
 and pushing through the opening in the shrubbery, dismounted 
 quietly and threw his bridle over one of the posts. 
 
 " Good news, Excellency ! " he said. " I have found them ! " 
 
 " Found them ? " 
 
 Dr. Haworth's face indicated the profoundest satisfaction, and he 
 exclaimed : 
 
 " I knew you would never stop if you were once on their track, 
 Jean ! " 
 
 " Well, the trouble was to get on the track," said the young man 
 with his bright smile. " There's no great merit in running down a 
 fox if you can only start him it is a mere question of speed and 
 bottom. I have found our two foxes male and female at last ! " 
 
 " Tell me everything ! How did you find them ? " 
 
 " Well, your Excellency gave me an old hound to lead. After 
 you told me everything I went straight to Dr. Seabright. He is the 
 hound ! " 
 
 " Dr. Seabright ? " 
 
 " You have set him on fire in this business. He thinks of noth 
 ing else. I can't explain it." 
 
 " Mr. Ducis was his dearest friend ! " 
 
 " Well, now I understand everything. I did not understand be 
 fore. I knew enough though, from what you told me of your talk 
 with him, that he was with us heart and soul." 
 
 " You went straight to him, you say ? "
 
 XETUKrfS WlTfJ GOOD NEWS. 
 
 " As soon as I left you. You know I had worked by myselt 
 without finding out anything. I suppose I have been at that house 
 in the hills twenty times if I have been once. Nothing there. 
 Every door and window shut, not even that cur dog in the kennel. 
 There were no foot-prints, no wheel tracks, and I could see through 
 a chink in the shutter that everything was just as it always was 
 the tub and stool, and even the frying-pan. They had got off be 
 tween sundown and sunrise, as the country people say, and had not 
 had time to take the least thing with them." 
 
 " They were warned during the night probably. But Dr. Sea- 
 bright? " 
 
 " I am coming to the Doctor, Excellency. He's a curious old 
 fellow. When I walked in he growled out, ' Who are you f ' I 
 said, ' I am Jean Baptiste.' He growled again, ' Don't know you ! 
 Who are you, I say, and what do you want ? ' I looked at him and 
 took his measure mangrove fruit with sharp prickles but sweet 
 and full of juice that makes good wine ! So I said, ' I am Dr. Ha- 
 worth's secretary, though he is so good to me that I am more like 
 his son, and I have come to ask you to help me to find Job Wilkins 
 and his wife.' " 
 
 " To the point ! " 
 
 " Yes it is the best way I think with men like the Doctor." 
 
 " You are right. Well ? " 
 
 " The words made him look around quickly, for he was about to 
 turn his back on me. Then he bored me through with his eyes. 
 ' Come in here,' he said, and then he went and shut the door and 
 put me through a course of questions. I could see that he meant 
 to satisfy himself that I was what I said I was and in ten minutes 
 he had no doubt about it. Then he leaned back in his arm-chair, 
 knit his brows and said nothing. At last he got up and said : ' I 
 am going to ride you might be going in the same direction.' You 
 see he had made up his mind to hunt in the pack, Excellency." 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " Well, we rode to the hill country south of this, and Dr. Sea- 
 bright stopped at about a dozen houses. I held his horse, and he 
 did not stay long. Nothing . I could see that by the expression 
 of his face when he came out. At last we came to a cabin, about 
 twenty miles from here, and Dr. Seabright staid there longer. All 
 the people he had met knew him, I could see, and you know doctors 
 |we always welcome with that sort they bring the news, may be,"
 
 RETURNS WITH GOOD NEWS. 
 
 155 
 
 " Yes ! well ? " 
 
 " I saw as soon as he had come out of the cabin that he had 
 heard something. I was right. What he heard was that Job Wil- 
 kins and that woman were at a house ten miles west of the hills 
 hired there to do farm work and cook. There was no doubt about 
 it." 
 
 " You went on ? " 
 
 " Without a word, Excellency, and came at last in sight of the 
 house. I then went into the woods and the Doctor rode on. I 
 could see him stop at a field and talk with a man who was working. 
 They then rode up to the house, and after half an hour Dr. Sea- 
 bright came back. ' Are you thirsty ? ' he said to me, looking at 
 me from under his gray eyebrows. ' No, sir,' I said. ' Well, if you 
 are you can get a drink of water yonder I did.' I looked at him 
 he was like a bear who has heard good news. ' I saw the woman 
 cooking,' he said, ' and Wilkins is not far off. Come on home.' I 
 understood without another word. The Doctor was coming back 
 for the warrants of arrest." 
 
 " Yes, yes ! " said Dr. Haworth with a flush on his face. 
 
 " There was no trouble at all about it. We went straight to the 
 Sheriff at Abbeyville, who summoned Briggs and directed him to 
 produce the warrants you got from Prof. Lesner. He could not 
 find them they had been intrusted to his deputy who was absent, 
 he said ; but new warrants were at once made out by another mag 
 istrate, and Briggs was obliged to go and serve them, whether he 
 liked the business or not." 
 
 " And! " 
 
 " We all rode together Dr. Seabright, the constable and my 
 self and took Wilkins and his wife by surprise. There was noth 
 ing for them to do but to come with us, and they are now in jail, 
 Excellency." 
 
 Dr. Haworth listened with an expression of the deepest satisfac 
 tion. 
 
 " You are an invaluable ally, Jean ! " he exclaimed, " and worth 
 more than all of us. The arrest of these people was a vital neces 
 sity. They were either the murderers or the murderer's accom 
 plices. A thorough examination of them must result in a discovery 
 of the real criminal, whoever he is. If one turns State's evidence 
 the case is ended." 
 
 " I knew that so I meant to find them,"
 
 156 THE 6M8SffLL. 
 
 Dr. Haworth grasped the boy's hand and said : 
 
 " If you had been my son you could not have done more for me." 
 
 " You know that all I can do to serve your Excellency seems 
 little to me," Jean said, simply. 
 
 " I know your devotion to me I swear I will prove mine to 
 you," said Dr. Haworth. 
 
 " So the man and woman are in the Abbeyville Jail ? " 
 
 " I never left them till I heard the bolts shut on them." 
 
 Dr. Haworth drew a long breath, and muttered : 
 
 " Something tangible at last ! " 
 
 He then looked intently at Jean. 
 
 " You are tired," he said. " Go home and rest now. You have 
 rendered me an invaluable service, Jean. I repeat that I will not 
 forget it." 
 
 He then walked back to the house, and Jean returning on horse 
 back by the front entrance rode to the stables in rear. He had been 
 absent for three days, but as he frequently rode on business for his 
 master his absence had attracted no attention. 
 
 VII. 
 
 THE BOMBSHELL. 
 
 THE arrest of Job Wilkins and his wife created a great sensa 
 tion in Abbeyville. The little town was in commotion, and a thou 
 sand surmises were indulged in. The details were not yet known, 
 but it was said that they had been arrested on the charge of com 
 plicity in the murder of Mr. James Maurice of Mauricewood, 
 twenty years before. When the magistrate of the town, who had 
 issued the warrants, examined and committed them, this rumor 
 took definite shape. 
 
 Then animated discussion ensued. There are always people to 
 advocate both sides of a question, for the sake of argument. If 
 there is no difference of opinion talk loses its savor. What is 
 wanted is controversy, which affords an opportunity for intellectual 
 gymnastics. 
 
 Had not Mr. James Maurice been murdered by Mr. Henry 
 Ducis ? A jury, after hearing all the evidence, had so declared. 
 Mr. Ducis had been a gentleman of the highest character and
 
 THE BOMBSHELL. i$j 
 
 could never have murdered anybody ? Well, men of high charac 
 ter had been known to kill their fellow-creatures, and the jury had 
 said that Mr. Ducis killed Mr. Maurice. 
 
 Then there was the question whether the arrest of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Wilkins was not illegal. Had they not been tried once for the 
 same offense and discharged? They had not been tried? Well, 
 they had been examined and committed for trial, at least, and that 
 was the next thing to being indicted. And, moreover, the present 
 arrest was a hardship. There was a thing called the statute of limi 
 tations which barred the recovery of money after the lapse of a cer 
 tain time. The theory was that the claim could not be disproved 
 in all cases. Why not apply that to so serious a question as a 
 man's life ? 
 
 There was a great deal of excitement and discussion in the bor 
 ough, and then another vague report began to creep about how, 
 no one could tell. Another person, much higher in the social scale 
 than Wilkins and his wife, was said to be mixed up with this mys 
 terious affair. It was not known who he was but he was a citizen 
 of the county. Beyond this there was not even a rumor but the 
 nameless person was the topic of conversation everywhere under the 
 convenient designation of Mr. Whoever He Is. 
 
 The County Court was to meet in about ten days, when Wilkins 
 and his wife were to be indicted and tried for complicity in the 
 Mauricewood murder. Dr. Haworth had formally identified himself 
 with the case as the informant. Having been closeted for three 
 hours with the attorney for the Commonwealth, he came out, 
 mounted his horse, and rode back to Mauricewood, where he re 
 mained quietly waiting. 
 
 What Dr. Haworth was probably waiting for was the next move 
 of his real adversary. It was impossible that Col. Ross had re 
 mained ignorant of the arrest of Wilkins and the woman, since it 
 had been announced in the " Abbeyville Gazette." At the end of 
 the paragraph recording the arrest the editor had added : 
 
 " There was a report yesterday that other persons will be ar 
 rested as accomplices in the murder of Mr. James Maurice. Among 
 them there is said to be a prominent citizen of this county, though 
 no person to whom we have applied for information can even sug 
 gest his name. The matter is mentioned only as a rumor, and for 
 no more than it is worth." 
 
 o mysterious an intimation necessarily excited curiosity, and
 
 158 THE BOMBSHELL. 
 
 when the curiosity of a community is aroused it is apt to be soon 
 gratified. If not legitimately, then illegitimately. The name of 
 some one will be found to fill the hiatus in the record the aching 
 void which tortures. It was therefore probable that the name of 
 Col. Ross would sooner or later be uttered by somebody that he 
 would be driven to bay. Then he would strike and strike heavily, if 
 he could perhaps he would strike in advance. Dr. Haworth said 
 this to himself, and the event proved that he had accurately esti 
 mated his dangerous adversary. 
 
 Suddenly a bombshell exploded at Mauricewood. 
 
 One evening the family were assembled in the drawing-room, 
 and Dr. Haworth and Mr. Tim Maurice were engaged in a game 
 of chess. Miss Gary and her mother were seated in front of a cheer 
 ful blaze, as the nights were growing a little cool the young lady 
 crocheting and Mrs. Maurice tranquilly knitting and smiling sweet 
 ly, as was her habit. It was difficult to say which of these two 
 charming persons was the more attractive the girl just budding 
 into womanhood with her rosy cheeks and artless lips, or the still 
 beautiful mother, a little pale, but smiling with her air of exquisite 
 sweetness and tranquillity. 
 
 All were thus engaged when a servant brought in the mail-bag. 
 The trains had become tardy of late, and Mr. Tim Maurice often 
 maligned the railroad and threatened to denounce it in the " Abbey- 
 ville Gazette." 
 
 " Well, here is the mail at last," he exclaimed, " and we can 
 finish our game, Doctor, after looking at it." 
 
 He took the bag and emptied it on the table. It contained a 
 magazine, two or three newspapers and a single letter for Mrs. 
 Maurice. 
 
 " For you, my dear," said Uncle Tim, looking at it. " I think I 
 recognize Col. Ross* hand." 
 
 He gave her the letter, and she took it, saying as she opened it : 
 
 " A letter from Col. Ross to me ? " 
 
 " It certainly is not to me, as my name is Timothy and not 
 Ellen," said Uncle Tim, " and now, Doctor, as the papers can wait, 
 suppose we finish our game I am going to check-mate you." 
 
 Mrs Maurice had in the meanwhile opened the letter and was 
 reading it. 
 
 " What on earth has he to say, mamma ? " said Miss Cary, laugh 
 ing quietly.
 
 THE BOMBSHELL. 
 
 159 
 
 Mrs. Maurice did not reply. Her face had suddenly changed 
 color. 
 
 " Mamma ! you are not well ! What is the matter ? " 
 
 "I I a slight giddiness," said Mrs. Maurice, rising. "I will 
 soon recover from it. A glass of water " 
 
 " Let me get it, mamma ! " Gary said, rising quickly. 
 
 " It is not necessary," said Mrs. Maurice quietly. " Keep your 
 seat, my dear. My giddiness is over already. This note is on a 
 matter of business which I will tell you of I will go up-stairs and 
 lie down for a few minutes." 
 
 " Let me come with you, mamma ! " 
 
 " No, dear I will be back in a few moments." 
 
 Gary and the gentlemen looked at the speaker inquiringly, but 
 her face was quite tranquil now and the smile had returned to it. 
 
 " Keep your seat, dear," she said to Gary. " I will soon return." 
 
 She then went up-stairs to her chamber. A cheerful fire was 
 burning on the brass andirons, sending flashes through the lace 
 window curtains and lighting up the portrait of Mr. John Maurice. 
 Gary's bed was near her mother's, and as it was lower than her own 
 Mrs. Maurice lay down upon it, covering her face and trembling 
 slightly. 
 
 She then rose, lit the candle in the silver candlestick on the 
 small center-table, and seating herself in an arm-chair, finished the 
 perusal of her letter. 
 
 The letter was from Col. Ross, and in the following words : 
 
 "WASHINGTON, November 20, 1880. 
 " My dear Mrs. Maurice : 
 
 " There are some duties so painful that we are apt to wonder 
 why an evil fate should impose them upon us. Something has re 
 cently come to my knowledge which has occasioned me the utmost 
 concern, and I find myself under the distressing necessity of com 
 municating it to you. Believe me I do so with the very greatest 
 reluctance. I shrink from writing what I am about to write, but I 
 am very sincerely your friend under all circumstances, and it is ab 
 solutely necessary that you should be notified of a matter of painful 
 personal interest to yourself and your family. 
 
 " You will perceive that I approach the subject with reluctance. 
 I am aware how much pain you will feel. I wish some one else 
 had the duty imposed upon him of informing you. It is imposed 
 on me by the circumstances, and I am obliged to tell you with th$
 
 160 THE BOMBSHELL. 
 
 sincerest regret that your marriage to your late husband, Mr. John 
 Maurice, took place before the death of his first wife in South 
 America, 
 
 " This distressing fact only recently came to my knowledge, and 
 I at once resolved to return home and communicate everything to 
 you in a private interview. I am, however, detained here for a few 
 days longer as a witness before the Foreign Committee, and am 
 compelled to write. The circumstance alluded to was discovered 
 by a commissioner at Lima who has been engaged in auditing the 
 accounts of the Peruvian Guano and Nitrate Association. It ap 
 pears that Mr. John Maurice during his residence at Lima pur 
 chased an interest in the nitrate stock, and upon his marriage with 
 a French lady settled the stock upon her as her separate property. 
 As no claimant for the stock or dividends had appeared for many 
 years, the commissioner, it seems, investigated the matter, and found 
 that Mrs. Maurice had died a few months after her marriage. The 
 date of her death was ascertained from the mortuary register in the 
 Desemparados Church and Parish, and is given in the report as 
 October 10, 1860. As your own marriage, I believe, took place in 
 May of the same year, the painful question arises whether or not it 
 was valid. 
 
 " Do not, I beg, understand me to intimate for a single moment 
 that Mr. John Maurice was aware that his first wife was living at 
 the date of his second marriage. I am satisfied that he was not. 
 There had been a misunderstanding between them, I believe, and 
 they had separated. He returned to the United States, and must 
 have been convinced of her death, on what grounds I am unable to 
 state, but I am sure that he was convinced of it. 
 
 " I have to add, my dear Mrs. Maurice, the disheartening cir 
 cumstance that the fact I have stated is included in the commission 
 er's public report now before the Foreign Committee. I can only 
 say, as a personal friend, that I am by no means certain that the 
 date is correctly stated. I sincerely trust that it is an error that 
 the first Mrs. Maurice died in October preceding not following your 
 own marriage. The question is very painful, since if the commis 
 sioner is correct you were never married to Mr. Maurice. 
 
 " I terminate this long letter by saying that on seeing the com 
 missioner's report I promptly telegraphed to Lima to test the accu 
 racy of the date by an examination of the mortuary register. As 
 my telegram was sent two or three weeks since I expect to receive
 
 MR. TIM MAURICE IS OUTRAGED, BUT RESIGNED. 161 
 
 the necessary documents at any moment by mail. The reply to my 
 cable telegram was undecipherable. 
 
 " I shall return home in a few days, and as soon as I arrive shall 
 do myself the honor of calling upon you, and trust it will then be 
 in my power to furnish you with conclusive documentary proof that 
 the first Mrs. Maurice died before your marriage. 
 " With high respect, 
 
 " Your faithful servant, 
 
 "FERDINAND ROSS." 
 
 Mrs. Maurice read this letter carefully through with a heaving 
 bosom. 
 
 When she had finished reading it she rested her forehead on her 
 hand, and a tear rolled down her cheek. 
 
 " It is a falsehood ! " she said, in a stifled voice. " That man 
 has invented it ! " 
 
 She looked at the letter once more. The italicised line caught 
 her eye " before the death of his first wife in South Amer 
 ica." 
 
 " It is false ! false ! " she exclaimed, raising her head with a 
 quick flash of the eye. 
 
 Then she looked up at the portrait of her husband, which was 
 smiling at her, and said, sobbing : 
 
 " I know it is false, John ! " 
 
 VIII. 
 
 MR. TIM MAURICE IS OUTRAGED, BUT RESIGNED. 
 
 MR. TIMOTHY MAURICE was walking up and down the ve 
 randa on the morning after the reception of Col. Ross' letter the 
 victim of curiosity and apparently, also, of jealousy. 
 
 For the first time his niece, Mrs. Maurice, was concealing some 
 thing from him, and what made the fact more aggravating was at 
 that very moment in private conversation with another person. 
 
 This person was Dr. Haworth. Mrs. Maurice had made her 
 appearance at breakfast with a composed if not serene expression 
 of countenance, and had not referred to the letter. Nothing, there 
 fore, was said in regard to it by any member of the little circle, since
 
 MR. TIM MAURICE IS OUTRAGED, 
 
 all understood that the gentle and dignified lady had her own rea 
 sons for not discussing it at the time. 
 
 Uncle Tim had waited and deferred his ride to be informed on 
 the subject. Mrs. Maurice had not, however, signified any desire 
 to have a private interview with him on the contrary she had 
 quietly requested Dr. Haworth to come into the drawing-room for 
 a moment. 
 
 He had followed her thither and the door had closed on them in 
 the very face of Mr. Tim Maurice. What did it mean ? 
 
 The worthy Mr. Maurice was very far from being a jealous or 
 suspicious individual, but then some things will mortify the best of 
 us. He was extremely fond of Dr. Haworth and adored his niece 
 but why had not he been consulted instead of the Doctor, who 
 was nearly a stranger ! 
 
 He could catch glimpses of them through the window in earnest 
 conversation. The matter was evidently important. What could 
 it be? 
 
 It had been quite plain to Mr. Tim Maurice for some time that 
 his niece and Dr. Haworth " understood each other." Something 
 had probably passed between them on the day following Gary's fall 
 from horseback, involving more than the simple demand of the young 
 lady's hand in marriage. This something was unknown to the male 
 head of the household, but it had plainly established confidential re 
 lations between the lady and their guest. 
 
 Was the present business connected with that, and was Mrs. 
 Maurice consulting Dr. Haworth in reference to the letter from Col. 
 Ross? 
 
 Having scowled with the air of a conspirator at this unheard of 
 preference of a stranger's advice. Uncle Tim burst out laughing, 
 mounted his horse, and went to take his morning ride. 
 
 When he came back he found Dr. Haworth seated on the ve 
 randa, as the day was pleasant, reading the " Psychology of Opium." 
 He sat down opposite with a cheery smile on his face and said : 
 
 " Well, what were you and the madam consulting about, Doc 
 tor?" 
 
 " About the letter received last night. Mrs. Maurice will inform 
 you of its contents herself," said Dr. Haworth. 
 
 " Hum ! She tells you about it first, and I have been bitterly 
 jealous all the morning. Nothing disagreeable, I hope. " 
 
 " J hope not," said Dr. Haworth, in a matter-of-fact manner.
 
 MR. TIM MAURICE IS OUTRAGED, BUT RESIGNED. 163 
 
 " Something about Gary, I suppose. He had better give up that 
 matter, don't you think so, Doctor ? " 
 
 And Uncle Tim laughed in a significant manner. 
 
 " He is distanced in the race ! " he added, " and I don't mind 
 saying I am glad of it. The Colonel is a gentleman, of course, as 
 his father was before him, but his manners are well, too var 
 nished" 
 
 " He is a man of the world, no doubt." 
 
 " I have known many, and the best company is not varnished, as 
 I call it ; it is simple and natural. I know a gentleman when I see 
 him. His origin is not so important. To be a gentleman is the 
 main thing. The stupid pretense of this age is that the sneak and 
 the hero are alike one as good as the other, and, faith ! a great deal 
 better ! " 
 
 Having thus unburdened his mind, Uncle Tim said : 
 
 " You were reading that curious book, I see." 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " Do you like it ? " 
 
 " I cannot say that I fancy it much. The author is a gross ma 
 terialist, and yet he professes to have a religion." 
 
 " What is it ? I have only read a few pages." 
 
 " He calls it The Religion of Humanity." 
 
 " A handsome phrase, at least. What does it mean ? " 
 
 " It means anything you choose. What it does not mean is 
 faith, as you and I understand the term. Hatred of Christianity 
 is about the sum of it, but as the writer thinks by the aid of opium, 
 his ideas are a little mystified. It is rather an unpleasant book, but 
 may convey an unjust impression of the real character of the writer." 
 
 Dr. Haworth laid the " Psychology of Opium " on the seat beside 
 him and rose. 
 
 " I am going to Abbeyville for an hour," he said. " I see my 
 horse is ready. I will return before dinner." 
 
 " Something more to be done in that affair ? " 
 
 " Nothing." 
 
 " No new developments ? " 
 
 " I believe not." 
 
 " And you still think you will be able to fix the guilt of my poor 
 brother's murder upon the man or woman ? " 
 
 " I think so." 
 
 Uncle Tim sighed.
 
 1 64 
 
 DR. HA WORTH HEARS FROM COL. XOSS. 
 
 " We have said so much on the subject, Doctor, that it is useless 
 to say more. These people may or may not be guilty. But I sup 
 pose you have heard the rumor. It is said now that some other per 
 son was concerned in the affair a man of prominence. Who on 
 earth can be meant ? " 
 
 " I will answer that question, my dear Mr. Maurice, on my return 
 from Abbeyville, where I think I will find a letter," said Dr. Ha- 
 worth. 
 
 IX. 
 
 DR. HAWORTH HEARS FROM COL. ROSS. 
 
 WHEN Dr. Haworth said that he expected to find a letter await 
 ing him at Abbeyville, he meant a letter from Col. Ross. 
 
 He had no difficulty whatever in reading between the lines of 
 Col. Ross' letter to Mrs. Maurice. What it meant was simply this : 
 
 " I am about to be prosecuted as principal or accomplice in the 
 murder of James Maurice. If the prosecution is not arrested, I will 
 proclaim to the world that you were never married to John Maurice, 
 since he had a wife at the time in South America. You were not, 
 therefore, his wife, and your daughter is not his lawful offspring. If 
 the prosecution is promptly stopped evidence will be produced to 
 show that John Maurice's first wife died before your marriage. If 
 it is not stopped the evidence will show that she died after your 
 marriage. Choose ! " 
 
 This had been quite plain to Dr. Haworth when he had read 
 the letter. Mrs. Maurice had laid it before him in the drawing-room 
 and said : " What shall I do ? It is a falsehood and a gross out 
 rage." And Dr. Haworth had simply said at the end of the inter 
 view, " Let us wait." 
 
 Whether Col. Ross had or had not ulterior views involving a 
 more daring scheme would soon be known. Meanwhile, as it must 
 now be obvious that he, Dr. Haworth, was the mainspring of all, it 
 was nearly certain that Col. Ross would open a correspondence also 
 with him. 
 
 He was not at all mistaken. There was a letter for him at the 
 Abbeyville office. He put it in his pocket without opening it; 
 stopped at the telegraph office and conversed in a friendly manner 
 With the young operator, inquiring if there was a dispatch from
 
 DR. HA WORTH HEARS FROM COL. ROSS. ^5 
 
 Lima ; ascertained that there was none, and returned in the direc 
 tion of Mauricewood. 
 
 On the way he opened the letter. It was from Col. Ross, as he 
 had seen from the direction, and contained these words, written in 
 the same bold hand as the letter to Mrs. Maurice : 
 
 WASHINGTON, November 21, 1880. 
 
 GEN. HAWORTH SIR : I am informed that an outrageous im 
 putation has been made upon my character, namely, that I was cog 
 nizant of the intent to murder Mr. James Maurice, of Mauricewood, 
 and that you are the author of this gross charge. The object of this 
 communication is to notify you that I shall hold you personally re 
 sponsible. I shall return immediately to meet this secret attempt of 
 a personal enemy to destroy my character. I confess myself igno 
 rant what object you have in view, and what motive prompts you. 
 That is your affair, sir. You have presumed to circulate or author 
 ize the circulation of these monstrous imputations on my good name, 
 and I know in what manner to seek for redress. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 FERDINAND Ross. 
 
 Having read this letter, Dr. Haworth folded it up, put it in his 
 pocket and rode on slowly, with a grim smile on his lips. 
 
 " A cool hand," he muttered, " and the master of a flowing style. 
 The only trouble is he is a knave ; he may have been a gentleman 
 once, but that was some time ago. Well, I am glad he is going to 
 make fight. It suits me a great deal better than to have him ab 
 scond, which would be unfortunate." 
 
 For more than a quarter of an hour Dr. Haworth rode on slowly 
 in deep reflection. Then he said : 
 
 " I wonder if he is really daring enough for that ? to demand 
 Cary as the price of his silence, as well as the suppression of the 
 prosecution. If he tries that well, I should lose my patience, I 
 think ! I wonder if he has the nerve ? " 
 
 Three days afterward this question was answered. The " Abbey- 
 ville Gazette " of that morning contained the following item of per 
 sonal intelligence : 
 
 " Our popular countyman, Col. Ross, returned last night from 
 Washington. He has been absent some time as a witness before 
 a committee to examine Peruvian claims."
 
 1 66 COL. ROSS VTS7TS MRS. M 'A UR ICE. 
 
 Mr. Tim Maurice had noticed this item, and looked around for 
 some member of the family to communicate it to but none were to 
 be seen. Mrs. Maurice and Gary were up-stairs, and Dr. Haworth 
 had ridden out. Therefore Mr. Tim Maurice put the paper in his 
 pocket, mounted his horse, and went to make his tour of inspection 
 on the estate. 
 
 X. 
 
 COL. ROSS VISITS MRS. MAURICE. 
 
 MRS. MAURICE was in her chamber with Gary, who was read 
 ing to her, when a maid servant came and informed her that Col. 
 Ross was in the drawing-room. 
 
 At this information Mrs. Maurice betrayed a little agitation, and 
 said to the maid : 
 
 " Say that I will be down in a moment." 
 
 " What does he want, mamma ? " said Gary, looking at her 
 mother and feeling vaguely that something more than a morning call 
 was meant by Col. Ross' visit. 
 
 " He wishes to see me on business," replied Mrs. Maurice, with 
 a slight tremor in her voice. " It will not take very long, my dear." 
 
 " Let me go down with you, mamma ? " 
 
 But Mrs. Maurice shook her head. 
 
 "That would not be proper," she said. "Col. Ross has not 
 asked for you. I had rather you would remain here," 
 
 .Mrs. Maurice was an exceedingly gentle person, but when she 
 spoke in a certain tone the members of her family never replied 
 Gary resumed her seat, wondering what Col. Ross' letter and visit 
 meant ; and Mrs. Maurice, glancing in the mirror to assure herself 
 that her toilet was proper for the reception of a visitor, went down 
 stairs. 
 
 Col. Ross was seated in the drawing-room. At her entrance he 
 rose and bowed with an air of the deepest respect his face was a 
 little flushed. Mrs. Maurice, slightly inclining her head, sat down 
 opposite to him. She was somewhat pale, but otherwise exhibited 
 no emotion. 
 
 " You received my letter, I trust, madam ? " said Col. Ross, re 
 suming his seat and speaking with some emotion. 
 
 " Yes, sir," was the reply of Mrs. Maurice in a low voice.
 
 COL. ROSS VISITS MRS. MAURICE. 167 
 
 " It was exceedingly painful to me to be obliged to write it. The 
 intelligence conveyed in it was a complete surprise to me. I had 
 never imagined such a thing before looking at the commissioner's 
 report." 
 
 Mrs. Maurice made no reply. She was leaning back in her arm 
 chair, with her head bent forward a little and looking at him. 
 
 " I knew Mr. John Maurice in South America, as you are proba 
 bly aware, madam," continued Col. Ross in the same tone of re 
 spect. 
 
 " I was aware of it, sir," said Mrs. Maurice. 
 
 " I also knew, of course, that he had married in Lima, but under 
 stood that his wife had died soon after his return to the United 
 States. It was only the other day that the painful fact came to my 
 knowledge that this was altogether a mistake ; that the lady was 
 still living when it is really too painful for me to finish my sentence, 
 madam." 
 
 " When we were married, you mean, sir ? " Mrs. Maurice spoke 
 in a very low tone. 
 
 " Unfortunately, the commissioner's report seems to establish 
 that fact, madam. I am afraid there is no ground to discredit it. 
 The official who prepared it had, of course, no object in falsifying 
 the statement. His authority was the mortuary register of the 
 church parish in which Mrs. Maurice died." 
 
 " At Lima, sir ? " murmured Mrs. Maurice. 
 
 " Yes, madam. Mr. Maurice met his wife there, and they con 
 tinued to live in the city after his marriage. I can state this of my 
 personal knowledge, though I am sorry to say I had but a limited 
 intercourse with him. I was an officer of the navy, and my ship 
 was stationed at Callao ; and another circumstance was an obstacle 
 to our familiar intercourse." 
 
 " Another circumstance, sir ? " 
 
 " I am sorry to say that Mr. Maurice and myself had become un 
 friendly. A very few words will explain the origin of this interrup 
 tion of our friendly relations. Mrs. Maurice was a young lady of 
 the opera a troupe had visited Lima and was much admired. 
 After her marriage with Mr. Maurice he objected to the attentions 
 still paid to her by some of her old friends, myself among the rest 
 attentions perfectly respectful on my part and I regret to say I 
 had a personal rencounter with him. He may have mentioned it to 
 you."
 
 X 68 COL. ROSS VISITS MRS. MAURICE. 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " I trust his statement and my own on the subject do not con 
 flict. I have endeavored to make my own strictly accurate. As my 
 ship was sent on a cruise I remained ignorant of his subsequent 
 movements. When I came back I heard that he had returned to 
 the United States." 
 
 Col. Ross looked respectfully and with some feeling at Mrs. 
 Maurice. 
 
 " This is absolutely all I knew, madam, until the other day," he 
 continued. " I was at home, you may probably remember, just 
 before his marriage to yourself I was absent, however, at the pre 
 cise time, as I was forced to join my ship and it certainly never 
 entered my head that the first Mrs. Maurice was living. She could 
 not be divorced, with her own consent, at least, as she was a Ro 
 man Catholic ; and I of course adopted the natural supposition that 
 she was dead." 
 
 " Yes, sir," said Mrs. Maurice in a very low voice. 
 
 " As soon as I made the painful discovery mentioned in my let 
 ter, madam, I telegraphed to Lima. I was utterly incredulous. I 
 was quite certain that it was a mere clerical error the mistake of a 
 copyist. Mr. John Maurice I knew was a man of honor ; if he paid 
 you his addresses it was because he had proof, I said to myself, that 
 his first wife was dead. Unhappily he was mistaken, madam fa 
 tally deceived in some manner. She was living." 
 
 " Living ! " repeated Mrs. Maurice, not asking the question by 
 the tone of her voice, but uttering the fearful word as if uncon 
 sciously. 
 
 " Unhappily I have proof that the first Mrs. Maurice was living 
 at Lima after the month of May, 1860, when your marriage to Mr. 
 John Maurice took place in this house." 
 
 Mrs. Maurice drew a long breath, and her bosom heaved. 
 
 " Proof ? " she said. 
 
 " I will explain everything, my dear Mrs. Maurice," said Col. 
 Ross, bending forward and speaking in a tone of some emotion. 
 " The statement in the commissioner's report amounts to nothing 
 it will pass as a clerical error. The important, the fatal proof, is 
 the mortuary register." 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " I see you are somewhat agitated. I beg you will dismiss any 
 apprehension," said Col. Ross. " I alone know of this, for I repeat
 
 COL. ROSS VISITS MRS. MAURICE. 169 
 
 that the official report is nothing. A stroke of the pen will correct 
 it as a clerical error in the printed copies it will pass as a mere 
 misprint. That is absolutely the only means ; it is a little irregular, 
 but I promise you that I will see that it is done." 
 
 Mrs. Maurice betrayed slight agitation, but made no reply. 
 
 " The report of the commissioner is not the important point 
 the official record at Lima from which it was taken was the vital 
 matter. Right or wrong, I directed my agent there to obtain pos 
 session of the paper at any risk or expense, and to promptly trans 
 mit it to me. He obeyed my order, and on the pretext of examining 
 the church register cut out the leaf containing the record of the first 
 Mrs. Maurice's death. I deeply regret to say that the record sup 
 ports the commissioner's statement. Mrs. Antoinette Maurice died 
 at Lima in the month of October succeeding your marriage with 
 her husband. The entry was the proof of the fact. Here is the 
 leaf." 
 
 Col. Ross then took from the breast pocket of his coat a faded 
 sheet of paper, yellow at the edges except upon the left side, where 
 an uneven edge proved that it had been hastily cut. 
 
 " This is the proof," he said ; " the only proof in existence that 
 you were not the lawful wife of John Maurice and your daughter 
 his lawful daughter." 
 
 Mrs. Maurice extended her hand to take the paper and examine 
 it. But Col. Ross did not seem to observe the gesture. She looked 
 at him and withdrew her hand, but said nothing. 
 
 " I am a very unhappy man, madam ! " exclaimed Col. Ross in 
 his deep voice. " I loved a young lady who was beginning to have 
 some regard for me in her turn. I was dreaming of a long life of 
 happiness with her, when an unknown stranger, a person she does 
 not know, put a sudden end to all my hopes ! The young lady re 
 jected my suit, and is reported to encourage his ; and not content 
 with his triumph over me, this same unknown stranger has set on 
 foot a criminal prosecution to destroy me. You are aware whom I 
 refer to, madam, to this General or Dr. Haworth a man of doubt 
 ful antecedents, of whom no one knows anything with certainty 
 and you may have been informed of his last outrage. He has not 
 only supplanted me with Miss Maurice he has circulated the vile 
 slander that I was cognizant of the design to murder your fa 
 ther!" 
 
 Col. Ross spoke in a deep, even hoarse, tone. He seemed to 
 8
 
 ROSS VISITS MRS. MA&RIC&. 
 
 become aware of the fact and made an effort to soften his voice, 
 but without effect. 
 
 " I am to be crushed, you see, madam I who have wronged no 
 one ! Well, I will not be crushed ! I am innocent as the babe un 
 born of this vile charge, and repel it with indignation. I have come 
 this morning to say this, among other things, though I hope it is 
 unnecessary. The real object of my visit, I need not say, was to 
 bring you the leaf from the mortuary register." 
 
 His eyes were fixed upon the lady with an intense expression 
 now. 
 
 " Need I say that I came to deliver into your hands this sole 
 proof that you were not the wife of your husband ? " he said. 
 " That was my object." 
 
 Mrs. Maurice looked up. 
 
 " It is yours at the moment when it is destroyed there will no 
 longer be the least proof that you were not the lawful wife of John 
 Maurice." 
 
 Mrs. Maurice made the least possible movement with her head. 
 
 " There is the fire. You have only to reach out your hand and 
 you will still be Mrs. John Maurice, of Mauricewood, your daughter 
 the heiress of the Maurice estate." 
 
 Mrs. Maurice raised her hand as if she were about to take the 
 paper. 
 
 " I attach only one condition it is not so much since I save the 
 honor of your family." 
 
 " One condition ? " 
 
 " That the outrageous imputations upon my character will be 
 publicly disclaimed by the Maurice family that the person calling 
 himself Dr. Haworth shall be requested to terminate his visit to this 
 house, and that shall I end, madam ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "That Miss Maurice will permit me to resume my visits to 
 Mauricewood." 
 
 Mrs. Maurice shrunk back in her chair. 
 
 " The price of your silence then is Gary's hand ? " 
 
 Col. Ross leaned forward with a glow on his face. 
 
 " Pardon my presumption," he exclaimed. " I knew that a per 
 son of your exquisite refinement would shrink from my proposition. 
 But I have made it in spite of myself, madam ! I love Miss Maurice 
 with all the strength of my being. You may say I am bargaining
 
 COL. ROSS VISITS MRS. MAURICE. 171 
 
 for her hand I am not. I am simply begging the poor boon of 
 not seeing it wrested away from me ! I might have come to you 
 like a highwayman, if I had been a person of that character, and 
 said to you : ' You were never the lawful wife of your husband 
 your daughter was not born in wedlock give me her hand here 
 is the only proof of your misfortune if you consent, take it and de 
 stroy it ! ' I have not meant to say that, madam. I am not bar 
 gaining with you I am only pleading ! What I say is, ' Give me 
 the simple hope that I may some day obtain your daughter's hand.' 
 As to this paper there is the fire burn it ! " 
 
 He placed the paper on the table. 
 
 " Only a word, madam ! It is not even a condition ! There is 
 the paper it is yours ! " 
 
 Mrs. Maurice made no reply, and did not offer to take the paper. 
 
 " Only a word one word that this prosecution shall be stopped, 
 and the author of it informed that his presence in your house is no 
 longer agreeable to you." 
 
 Col. Ross spoke in a voice full of emotion, which probably ac 
 counted for the fact that the sound of footsteps on the veranda did 
 not attract his attention. 
 
 Mrs. Maurice turned her head. He followed the direction of her 
 eyes and at last distinguished the steps. The door of the drawing- 
 room then opened, and Dr. Haworth came in.
 
 PART IV. 
 THE CRIMINAL TRIAL AT ABBEYVILLE. 
 
 I. 
 
 THE PAPERS FROM LIMA. 
 
 AT the appearance of Dr. Haworth, Col. Ross wheeled and con 
 fronted him. His expression was what is called black and his eyes 
 flashed. 
 
 " I have the pleasure of meeting you, sir, at last ! " he exclaimed. 
 
 "Yes," said Dr. Haworth, looking grimly at the speaker. " You 
 will judge for yourself whether it is a pleasure or not." 
 
 " I returned from Washington with that object ! " 
 
 " Well, you have accomplished it." 
 
 Dr. Haworth had been looking around him. He was appar 
 ently searching for something. He saw the paper upon the table. 
 
 " Col. Ross has no doubt called on business, madam," he said to 
 Mrs. Maurice. " In the absence of your uncle, may I ask as a 
 friend what the business is ? Is it connected with this paper ? " 
 
 He went to the table and took up the sheet from the register. 
 
 Col. Ross made a movement to prevent him, but he had the pa 
 per in his hand. 
 
 " That is a matter of private business between Mrs. Maurice and 
 myself ! You have no concern with it whatever, sir ! " he cried. 
 
 " I venture to concern myself with it, unless Mrs. Maurice objects 
 to my doing so," replied Dr. Haworth. 
 
 " I do not object at all," said Mrs. Maurice. 
 
 Col. Ross measured his adversary from head to foot, and seemed 
 about to attempt to tear the paper from his hand. The prospect of 
 success did not seem encouraging, and turning suddenly to Mrs. 
 Maurice, he said :
 
 THE PAPERS FROM LIMA. 
 
 '73 
 
 " Is it possible, madam, that you will permit a stranger, a per 
 son unknown to you, to meddle with your family affairs ? " 
 
 " Dr. Haworth is a friend he is not a stranger," said Mrs. 
 Maurice. 
 
 " He is my personal enemy an intruder on this interview ! I 
 demand possession of that paper, sir ! " 
 
 " And I refuse to put you in possession of it ! " said Dr. Ha 
 worth, placing the hand holding the paper behind his back and con 
 fronting Col. Ross. 
 
 For a moment the two men stood facing each other, one flush 
 ing with suppressed rage, the other cold and collected. Col. Ross 
 then said : 
 
 " So be it, sir ! Since I am to choose between a disgraceful 
 scene in the presence of a lady, or submission to your insolence, I 
 make my choice. Read the paper ! You may then understand 
 why I objected to your doing so without Mrs. Maurice's permis 
 sion." 
 
 " It is not necessary to read it I know its contents," said Dr. 
 Haworth. " It is the leaf of the register at Lima containing the 
 entry of the death of Mrs. John Maurice." 
 
 " Yes ! " 
 
 " My agent reported to me that it had been abstracted from 
 the register. That circumstance is now accounted for." 
 
 " Well ! Say that it was abstracted ! Say that I am responsi 
 ble for that trifling offense. If you are aware of the contents of 
 that paper without reading it, as you say you are, you are probably 
 aware also of my object in securing possession of it." 
 
 " I think I am," said Dr. Haworth. 
 
 " The honor of the Maurice family was involved of this lady 
 and her daughter ! As long as that paper was in existence you 
 know the consequence, sir. You profess to be a friend of this fam 
 ily a friend of somewhat recent date ! If you are really such, you 
 will understand why, as a real friend and an old one not one of 
 yesterday I ventured on a step for which I am liable to a heavy 
 penalty, to save the honor of the Mauricewood household ! " 
 
 Dr. Haworth had not paid much attention to these passionate 
 words. He was looking at the paper. 
 
 " Let us leave this general discussion, sir," he said, " and come 
 to business. This is the leaf from the Desemparados death regis 
 ter, I see. Here is the record of the death of Marie Antoinette
 
 174 THE PAPERS FROM LIMA. 
 
 Maurice, wife of Senor John Maurice, citizen of the United States, 
 and attache of the North American Legation, formerly residing at 
 Lima. The date is October 10, 1860." 
 
 Dr. Haworth held up the paper between himself and the window. 
 
 " Mrs. Maurice did not die in the year 1860," he said. 
 
 " Do you mean, sir ? " 
 
 " That the date has been altered ? Yes , and in a hungling 
 manner. You may see for yourself, madam," he said, turning to 
 Mrs. Maurice and holding the paper up before her. " An erasure 
 is always dangerous. It produces unevenness in the thickness of 
 the paper, and the result is greater transparency. It is easy to see 
 that this document has been improved, let us say. The actual 
 date of Mrs. Maurice's death was October, 1859, and not 1860. As 
 you were married in May, 1860, I need not call your attention to 
 the importance of the difference." 
 
 Mrs. Maurice had taken the paper and was looking at it against 
 the light. 
 
 " The date has certainly been changed ! " she said. 
 
 " Beyond any doubt." 
 
 Col. Ross had been standing still. As he spoke now the into 
 nation of his voice indicated that his teeth were set together. 
 
 " Am I to understand," he said to Dr. Haworth, " that you 
 charge me with forger) 1 with falsifying that register ? " 
 
 " It is falsified, and in your possession." 
 
 " Sir ! this outrage ! There are limits ! " 
 
 "Registers have been falsified in other instances the cir 
 cumstance occurs. The entry in another caused the conviction of 
 Mr. Henry Ducis for the murder of Mr. James Maurice." 
 
 Col. Ross had blushed with rage ; at these words his face grew 
 a little white. 
 
 "The fate of Mr. Ducis hinged upon the proof of an alibi," 
 said Dr. Haworth, " and that depended upon the entry in a ledger. 
 Well, the entry was improved, as this one has been ; that is no se 
 cret to you, sir. Remember, we spoke of it one day. The ques 
 tion then was a man's life ; at present it is the honor of a lady." 
 
 It was plain that Col. Ross required all his powers of self-con 
 trol to reply. 
 
 " Yes, we spoke of that," he said with a suppressed fire in his 
 eyes, " but it has nothing to do with this question. You are more 
 familiar, no doubt, with forgeries than I am. Say that this paper
 
 THE PAPERS FROM LIMA. 175 
 
 fias been falsified. Do you charge me with that ? It is a gross 
 calumny, for which I will compel you to give me personal satisfac 
 tion. I have explained to Mrs. Maurice the manner in which this 
 paper came into my possession, and precisely as she now sees it. I 
 was actuated by friendship, the desire to protect her family herself 
 personally from a great misfortune. She had no knowledge when 
 she married her husband that he was already married. She was in 
 nocent she had a daughter it was to guard the good name of 
 mother and daughter that I sent to Lima for this record subjected 
 myself to prosecution. If the record is falsified, it was falsified by 
 others." 
 
 " That is your explanation, then your entire explanation, sir." 
 
 " It is. I indignantly repel your gross insult you shall answer 
 for it ! " 
 
 " Well, one business at a time," said Dr. Haworth ; " we can 
 talk of that afterward. The question at present is more serious. 
 You have said so yourself it is the good name of a mother and her 
 daughter. Let us come, then, to the vital question. Mr. John 
 Maurice marries in South America, his wife dies, and he marries a 
 second time. The natural supposition is that a man of honor like 
 Mr. Maurice would not have committed bigamy but twenty years 
 afterward, when he has been dead a long time, the question arises 
 whether he was not guilty of that. The decision depends upon a 
 burial register recording the date of the first wife's death. The 
 register is produced by a third person, and it establishes the charge 
 of bigamy. There is only one flaw, and that is serious the regis 
 ter has been falsified. The obvious question is who falsified it ? 
 and the first step in the inquiry is to ascertain the motive of the 
 forgery." 
 
 " Do you mean, sir ! " exclaimed Col. Ross with his head low 
 ered and looking at the speaker sidewise. 
 
 " I will tell you what I mean if you will allow me to do so with 
 out interruption. We have come to the production of the paper by 
 the third person, but there was also a fourth person. This fourth 
 person had his own reasons for ascertaining the real facts connected 
 with the first Mrs. Maurice. He accordingly wrote to Lima and as 
 certained what he wished to know." 
 
 " You ascertained ! " 
 
 " I see you identify me with person number 4," said Dr. Ha 
 worth ; " well, you are not wrong : I not only wrote, but growing a,
 
 Irt5 THE PAPERS FROM LIMA. 
 
 little impatient communicated with Lima by cable. The reply of 
 my agent was that the papers had been sent." 
 
 " The papers, sir ! " 
 
 " Not by mail. The mails are unsafe. By private hand. A 
 friend visiting South America was about to return to the United 
 States. He was acquainted with my agent at Lima, and hearing 
 my name pronounced informed him that L was a friend of his. 
 The result was that the papers were entrusted to him for delivery 
 to me on his return. He has delivered them." 
 
 " The papers, sir ! " repeated Col. Ross. 
 
 " Here they are," said Dr. Haworth, taking some folded sheets 
 from his pocket. " This is the certificate of Fray Antonio Guarrez, 
 canon of the church of Desemparados, that Marie Antoinette Mau 
 rice, wife of Senor John Maurice, was interred in his parish on Oc 
 tober ro, 1859, as appeared from the mortuary register not then 
 abstracted. That may be called the ecclesiastical proof, here is the 
 civil the certificate of Alguazil Perez that the death of Marie 
 Antoinette Maurice was reported to him officially at the same date, 
 as appeared by the civil record." 
 
 Dr. Haworth presented the papers to Mrs. Maurice. 
 
 " These facts were known to me before the arrival of the papers," 
 he said. " My agent telegraphed them in cipher. Accidents hap 
 pen." 
 
 Col. Ross said nothing. His expression was that of an animal 
 driven to bay and dangerous. 
 
 " The whole matter is now perfectly plain, I suppose," said Dr. 
 Haworth. " That leaf from the register is of no importance what 
 ever. It is not worth destroying. It was not abstracted in time, 
 and the change made in it was deferred too long. It is therefore 
 waste paper." 
 
 Col. Ross advanced a step and said in a cold and resolute 
 voice : 
 
 " Am I to understand, sir, that you formally charge me with the 
 forgery of that date ? " 
 
 " You acknowledge that you obtained it you or your agent 
 from the register." 
 
 " Answer my question, sir ? " 
 
 " Well, I think your agent was the actual forger in obedience 
 to an order or an intimation of your wishes in the matter. Sincp 
 you question me I reply."
 
 THE PAPERS FROM LIMA. 
 
 177 
 
 " That is enough, sir," said Col. Ross, white with anger. " Will 
 a friend of mine find you here to-morrow ? " 
 
 " Here or at Abbeyville. But these personal matters must wait." 
 
 " They shall not wait ! I will send you a message here, or force 
 you to send me one at my house, where it will find me." 
 
 " A message will find you to-morrow at the jail in Abbeyville," 
 said Dr. Haworth in his cold voice. 
 
 He went to the door and called a person standing on the veranda, 
 who came in. 
 
 " You will serve the warrant of arrest on Col. Ross for complic 
 ity in the murder of Mr. James Maurice," he said to the constable. 
 
 "My arrest for murder!" exclaimed Col. Ross with an out 
 burst. 
 
 " You did not expect it so soon then," said Dr. Haworth. " You 
 must have heard from your confidential friends that I once before 
 procured a warrant for the same purpose from another magistrate." 
 
 The constable produced the warrant and said : 
 
 " Sorry, Colonel, but needs must." 
 
 Col. Ross, shaking with wrath, turned and fixed his eyes upon 
 Dr. Haworth. 
 
 " Well, sir, the matter is in shape now," he said. " This is war 
 to the knife and the knife to the hilt. I accept it look to your 
 self ! " 
 
 Dr. Haworth inclined his head and said : 
 
 " I will do so." 
 
 And this was the end of the interview. 
 
 Col. Ross rode back to Abbeyville with the constable, and was 
 supplied with a comfortable apartment in the town jail to await his 
 examination the next morning. 
 
 The examination was prolonged and attracted a great crowd, 
 who evidently sympathized with the prisoner. But the testimony of 
 Jean Baptiste and others was serious. Col. Ross was refused bail 
 and committed for trial at the County Court, which would sit in a 
 few days. 
 
 He therefore returned to his apartment in jail, where he was 
 surrounded with every comfort, and was reported to view his ap 
 proaching trial with disdainful composure.
 
 178 AN 1 OUTRAGED COMMUNITY. 
 
 II. 
 
 AN OUTRAGED COMMUNITY. 
 
 IF the arrest of the two obscure " hill people " surprised the in 
 habitants of Abbeyville and the vicinity, the arrest of Col. Ross as 
 tounded them. 
 
 He was one of the richest and most prominent gentlemen of the 
 county. His good name was unstained, and his friendly manners 
 had made him popular. If old people recalled that he had been a 
 wild youth, too fond of the tavern bar, the young generation knew 
 nothing of that and no one was disposed to regard it as the unpar 
 donable sin. It was wrong to get tipsy, of course, but there were 
 some things that were even worse. There was hating your neigh 
 bor or backbiting him being self-righteous and loving " filthy 
 lucre." Some people who went regularly to church and held up 
 their heads were often guilty of that ; and nothing pleased them 
 better than to point at the victim of drink and say : " I thank thee, 
 O Lord, I am not as that man." 
 
 But that was in the Colonel's youth ; people who disliked him 
 had no longer the satisfaction of shaking their heads. His life was 
 irreproachable and who was this unknown man, this Dr. Haworth, 
 who had charged him with the worst offense known to the law ? 
 
 It was an outrage, and the magistrate who had refused him bail 
 and committed him to jail would probably be sent into retirement at 
 the next election. 
 
 Thus Abbeyville was outraged also the county of which it was 
 the county seat. Crowds flocked to offer the expressions of their 
 sympathy. The fair sex manifested a desire to storm the prison 
 bounds and clasp the interesting accused to their bosoms. It was 
 said that a party had visited him, and that two of their number who 
 were young and pretty, had cheered his solitude with a kiss. His 
 photograph was in demand, and an enterprising artist having secured 
 one, made his profit from the circumstance. If he had chosen, Col. 
 Ross might have affixed his autograph to them and driven a brisk 
 trade with them. But that was unnecessary. He was a man of 
 wealth. What was better, he was eminently respectable. To charge 
 so rich and respectable a man with murder was an absurdity even 
 an outrage ! 
 
 Meanwhile the unknown stranger, Dr. Haworth, who had aroused
 
 AN OUTRAGED COMMUNITY. 179 
 
 all this storm, remained portentously quiet. He was even more 
 cheerful than he had been for a long time. Somebody with blue 
 eyes, who had remonstrated with him now and then in a low voice 
 for his moody silence, no longer had any occasion to do so. He 
 looked into the blue eyes under the brown bangs with a new expres 
 sion of happiness ; and the eyes filled with happy light in response 
 to the light in his own. 
 
 An acute observer in fact, subjecting Dr. Haworth's face to 
 thoughtful inspection, would have said : " This man has succeeded 
 or is about to succeed in some darling object." 
 
 One morning Dr. Haworth said to Miss Gary Maurice : 
 
 "Would you like to take a ride on horseback to-day? The 
 weather is really too superb to remain in the house." 
 
 " I should like it very much," said Gary, with a glance which 
 meant, " since I am to ride with you." 
 
 " I will order the horses, then," said Dr. Haworth. 
 
 And half an hour afterward they were riding through the splen 
 did woods, in the direction of Prof. Lesner's. The road leading by 
 his house was winding and picturesque, and Miss Gary Maurice pre 
 ferred it. 
 
 " We might call and inquire if the poor Professor is well," she 
 said, with a happy laugh. 
 
 And Dr. Haworth replied, looking at her with great tender 
 ness : 
 
 " I meant to propose that. A friend is visiting the Professor 
 whom I promised to call and see." 
 
 " A friend of yours ? " 
 
 " Yes, and a very fine fellow, as you say in the South. He 
 brought some papers for me from Lima but that is not very in 
 teresting." 
 
 " Who is he ? " 
 
 " You shall know him soon, as I am going to give him the pleas 
 ure of making your acquaintance." 
 
 " Is he fond of you ? " 
 
 " It is possible I am fond of him." 
 
 " Then I shall like him," said Miss Gary, with a side glance and 
 a charming smile. 
 
 She raised a small ungloved hand as she spoke to push back her 
 brown hair ; and as the hand was not far from him her riding com 
 panion took it and pressed it tP his lips,
 
 l8 DR. II A WORTHS FRIEND. 
 
 " I never thought I could love a woman as I love you," he said. 
 And Miss Gary, casting down her eyes, replied in a whisper : 
 " That makes me very happy." 
 
 III. 
 DR. HA WORTH'S FRIEND. 
 
 THEY had soon passed over the distance betwsen Mauricewood 
 and Prof. Lesner's, and found themselves in front of the small home 
 stead. 
 
 The place was much changed. The end of autumn had come 
 and the flowers had disappeared. The birds, also, which had made 
 the vicinity vocal with their gay carollings, were silent ; and there 
 was a general air of sadness and solitude about the attractive little 
 establishment. 
 
 Prof. Lesner was not visible in the grounds ; he was probably 
 afraid of the rheumatism. They would undoubtedly find him, how 
 ever, in his study, and having assisted Miss Gary to dismount and 
 tethered the horses, Dr. Haworth walked up to the house. 
 
 He knocked, but no one replied, though voices were distinguished 
 in the library on the right. 
 
 " I am afraid the poor Professor is unwell, he is always so 
 prompt," said Gary, " but I think I hear some one. He is the friend 
 you spoke of, no doubt." 
 
 " No doubt, and he is probably conversing with his traveling 
 companion, a young lady." 
 
 " A young lady ? " 
 
 " From South America." 
 
 You have not told me who they are ? " 
 
 " Well, you will know now. Here is my friend." 
 
 Steps were heard, the door opened, and Mr. Burdette, of New 
 York, made his appearance. He was the same jovial and attractive 
 personage, with his ruddy cheeks, his bright smile, his hair parted in 
 the middle and curling, and his eye-glasses secured by a guard to 
 his button-hole. 
 
 " Why, Haworth, old fellow," he cried, " I thought a good wind 
 Would blow you in this direction to-day ! " 
 
 " Well, you see it has blown me "
 
 DR. HA WORTHS FRIEND. jgi 
 
 " For fear /would blow you up for not coming, mio amigo." 
 
 Mr. Burdette saw his friend's companion and made her a bow full 
 of grace and high breeding. 
 
 " Miss Maurice," said Dr. Haworth, " permit me to present my 
 friend Mr. Burdette." 
 
 Mr. Burdette and Miss Maurice exchanged friendly bows, and 
 then the former exclaimed, laughing : 
 
 " This is delightful ! I thought I was to sustain the infliction of 
 your society solus and lo ! you lift the weight from my mind." 
 
 " I am glad you are relieved," said Dr. Haworth the very sight 
 of his laughing friend seemed to put him in good humor. 
 
 " I am ! immensely ! And then my little friend, Miss Giorgione, 
 will be delighted. She's rather tired of me, I suppose, by this time." 
 
 " Miss Giorgione ? " 
 
 " Otherwise, Miss Carrie Fenton. She is a little lady from the 
 North who has been living with an aunt of hers in Lima. As I was 
 going down that way her friends asked me to escort her home. I 
 call her Giorgione from her splendid hair like the painter Gior- 
 gione's pictures, you know the real bronze gold Titianesque and 
 that sort of thing." 
 
 The gay voice of Mr. Burdette made the lonely house a different 
 place. 
 
 " I shall be very glad, indeed, to become acquainted with Miss 
 Giorgione," said Gary, smiling, " but where is Prof. Lesner ? " 
 
 Mr. Burdette shook his head. 
 
 " He is quite unwell. I called by to see him, as he invited me 
 to spend a few days we have had some business relations. But I 
 find him confined to his chamber." 
 
 " Poor dear Prof. Lesner ! " said Gary. " I am so sorry." 
 
 " It quite changes my plans. My arrangements are all made to 
 spend a week here but I am detaining you, Miss Maurice. Allow 
 me the pleasure of presenting Miss Giorgione." 
 
 They went into the library, and were met by a very pretty young 
 girl of 1 8, with a bright face and superb hair of a rich-shaded gold. 
 She wore a fawn-colored traveling dress, which defined a slight and 
 graceful figure. 
 
 When Mr. Burdette presented his friend she came forward 
 quietly and held out her hand smiling. All were friends in a mo 
 ment, and while Miss Gary and Miss Giorgione chatted in one cor 
 ner Mr. Burdette and Dr. Haworth strolled out to the porch,
 
 jg2 &R HA WORTHS FRIEND. 
 
 " What is the matter with the Professor ? " said Dr. Ha- 
 worth. 
 
 Mr. Burdette shook his head as before. " The old business," he 
 said in a low voice. " The Mott street complaint." 
 
 " You have seen him ? " 
 
 " Yes, but he scarcely recognized me. He is in a sort of stupor. 
 I thought he had made up his mind to let that poison alone." 
 
 " I am afraid he is too much under its control. So you are dis 
 appointed in your visit ? " 
 
 " It seems so. It won't do to stay nobody but an old negro 
 woman to do the honors of the establishment ! " laughed M" . Bur 
 dette. 
 
 Dr. Haworth was evidently disappointed at the idea of having his 
 friend depart so quickly. 
 
 " We will see about this," he said, " and I will send up my name 
 to the poor old fellow ; he may see me. Let me first thank you for 
 bringing these papers and delivering them as you got out of the 
 train. You are not aware what a service you have done me." 
 
 " Glad to hear it. Espartero said they were important, and he 
 didn't like to trust them to the mail. I made his acquaintance in 
 Lima, and incidentally mentioned that I knew you so he sent them 
 along by me." 
 
 " They came just in time. I will tell you about it when we have 
 more leisure." 
 
 Animated voices were heard in the library, and the voice of Miss 
 Gary cried : 
 
 " But I insist upon it." 
 
 " I should like it so much but you must ask Mr. Burdette ! " 
 replied the voice of Miss Giorgione. 
 
 " It is not necessary to ask him. The masculine sex were made 
 to submit to the weaker vessels," said Miss Gary. " You and he 
 positively shall come ! Dr. Haworth is a very dear friend ; and 
 his friends are ours." 
 
 " But" 
 
 " Poor Prof. Lesner is too unwell to make your visit agreeable 
 so you see now do ! " 
 
 Mr. Burdette, overhearing this colloquy, laughed. 
 
 " Your friend Miss Maurice is trying to persuade Miss Giorgione 
 to make her a visit," he said. 
 
 " Why not ? I thought of that. You would come ! "
 
 DR. U A WORTH '3 FRIEND. jg^ 
 
 " Come ? Why, certainly I would come. I am on the wing, and 
 ready to light anywhere." 
 
 " Light at Mauricewood, then Miss Maurice's mother's. It is a 
 pleasant perch." 
 
 " With pleasure. Do you think they will take care of us for four 
 or five days ? " 
 
 " Not for any specified term that is not the fashion in the South. 
 The people are precise ; they insist upon their visitors remaining 
 indefinitely. The longer the better." 
 
 " Well, I believe that's the fact," said Mr. Burdette, in a jovial 
 manner. " I'll come but I positively must be in New York in one 
 week." 
 
 They went in. Miss Gary urged her invitation ; it was at length 
 cordially accepted, and the carriage was to be sent for them on the 
 same evening. 
 
 Dr. Haworth then summoned the old black servant woman and 
 sent her up to ask Prof. Lesner if he was able to see him. 
 
 In a few moments the old woman hobbled down stairs and 
 brought the reply that Prof. Lesner was so unwell that he could not 
 see his friends. He had the asthma, but would soon be better. 
 Company excited him, but he hoped Dr. Haworth would call again. 
 
 From this it was plain at least that his asthma had not wholly 
 deprived him of his faculties, and musing sadly for a moment at the 
 melancholy weakness of the good old scholar, Dr. Haworth looked 
 at Miss Gary, who thereupon rose. 
 
 " You will come this evening ! " she said, holding out her hand 
 and beaming on Miss Giorgione. 
 
 "But you have not told your mamma." 
 
 " Mamma is my subordinate I rule her with a rod of iron," said 
 Miss Gary. 
 
 " Then you are spoiled," laughed Miss Giorgione. 
 
 " I believe I am ! Everybody does spoil me." 
 
 She glanced sidewise at Dr. Haworth. 
 
 " But don't be afraid ! We'll all be delighted. You must cer 
 tainly come, Mr. Burdette, and bring Giorgione ! " 
 
 Thereupon Miss Gary Maurice went through the formula which 
 is the feminine indication of mild regard she kissed Miss Giorgione. 
 
 Once in the saddle again and going at full speed through the 
 beautiful woods, Dr. Haworth said to his companion ; 
 
 " Do you like my friends ? "
 
 1 84 JEAN'S FKTEtfD. 
 
 " They are charming." 
 
 "Burdette is a fine fellow." 
 
 " And so is Giorgione ! What hair ! How I envy her." 
 
 " You need not," said Dr. Haworth. 
 
 And as Miss Gary's brown curls had fallen on her shoulders he 
 took one of them and touched it with his lips. It was the second 
 time on the ride that he had performed a romantic ceremony. 
 
 On the same afternoon the Mauricewood carriage was sent to 
 Prof. Lesner's, and returned with Mr. Burdette and Miss Giorgione. 
 
 IV. 
 
 JEAN'S FRIEND. 
 
 DR. HAWORTH had gone up-stairs to make his toilet for tea 
 when Jean came into the chamber with his face full of blushes. 
 Chancing to glance at him Dr. Haworth noticed the deep color in 
 his cheeks and said : 
 
 " What is the matter, Jean ? " 
 
 " The matter is, Excellency," stammered the boy, " that that " 
 
 He stopped, attempting to laugh, but exhibiting the greatest con 
 fusion. 
 
 " Tell me what you mean. Has anything disturbed you, Jean ? " 
 
 "Yes, Excellency." 
 
 " Speak plainly; tell me what it is." 
 
 "I never expected what could have brought her here the 
 young lady Miss Carrie Fenton ! " 
 
 " Do you know her ? " 
 
 " Know her ! She is the one the one I knew so well in Lima ! " 
 
 Dr. Haworth looked at Jean with surprise and then smiled. 
 
 " Well, that is curious indeed that you and she should be thrown 
 together in this manner ! I understand she is inamorata I Well, 
 you have an excellent opportunity to renew your suit." 
 
 Jean colored more than ever and then began to laugh. 
 
 "I'm afraid there's no hope, Excellency. She is prettier and 
 more mischievous than ever ! When she got out of the carriage I 
 could scarcely believe my eyes, I was up here looking out of the 
 window. How did she come to be here ? " 
 
 Dr. Haworth explained and then proceeded in a direct manner
 
 A MAtf df SUSitfESS NESTING. 185 
 
 to catechise Jean. He had known that the boy had suffered a love 
 disappointment at Lima. Now he asked all about it, and Jean with 
 some confusion and a good deal of laughter confessed everything. 
 He had made Miss Fenton's acquaintance at Lima, and became a 
 regular visitor at her aunt's, where she had lived for some years, 
 as her mother and father were both dead. The result had been the 
 common one when two impulsive young people of different sexes 
 meet as familiar friends. Miss Fenton and Mr. Baptiste, Gen. Ha- 
 worth's private secretary, had become more than friends the youth 
 had " told his love," and she had replied with a laugh that she was 
 too young, had insisted upon the same reply, and the youth finally 
 construing this into a polite form of the phrase, " No, I thank you," 
 had gone off in despair to travel and forget his woes. 
 
 " Well, that is very simple," said Dr. Haworth, much interested 
 and amused. " It is a good omen that you should meet again in this 
 odd manner ; and I shall assist your suit in every manner possible, 
 as you have it so much at heart. Am I wrong ? " 
 
 " Very far from it, but " Jean stopped, blushing. 
 
 " You think Miss Fenton has finally made up her mind ? One is 
 never certain of that as to women, the philosophers say. You can 
 satisfy yourself at least, and I am glad a friend has arrived to induce 
 you to emerge from your room and mingle more with the household. 
 Your modesty is intense, Jean, but remember you owe it to Miss 
 Fenton to show your pleasure at seeing her again. After tea, there 
 fore, you must not go up-stairs, but come into the drawing-room, 
 and do your part to make this pretty little South American at home. 
 Common courtesy requires that." 
 
 The boy laughed and blushed ; at the same moment the tea-bell 
 rang and Dr. Haworth said : 
 
 " Come, Jean ! " 
 
 V. 
 
 A MAN OF BUSINESS RESTING. 
 
 PRETTY Miss Giorgione and jovial Mr. Burdette were thus 
 domiciled for the time at Mauricewood. 
 
 It was a very great pleasure to two persons Dr. Haworth and 
 Jean. The first had many things to talk about with Mr. Burdette, 
 and Jean had even more to say to Miss Giorgione,
 
 lg6 A MAN- OF BUSINESS RESTING. 
 
 She had met him, when he appeared at tea, with a stare ot 
 astonishment. Then her face filled with laughter, and she held out 
 her hand, which Jean hastened to take. The broken intimacy of 
 Lima seemed to have been cemented in a moment ; and any one 
 glancing at the face of Miss Giorgione during her interview with 
 Jean would have said, " There is a little beauty who is shut up in a 
 quiet country house, and hails with delight the opportunity of teas 
 ing an old lover for her amusement." 
 
 Every member of the Mauricewood family was charmed with the 
 gay traveler, Mr. Burdette. He was full of fun, and had the tact of 
 becoming quickly acquainted with people also that of making friends 
 of them. He adapted himself to his surroundings with the ease of 
 an old voyager, acting up to his favorite maxim " When you are in 
 Turkey do as the turkeys do, and if you are in Caracas do as the 
 Crackers do ! " 
 
 Mr. Tim Maurice was delighted and found only one fault with 
 him he was too easy to beat at chess. Otherwise he was an im 
 mense acquisition, and host and guest had long and animated talks. 
 
 " You have a fine old place here," said Mr. Burdette, smoking 
 his mild cigar on the veranda with the assistance of a newspaper. 
 " This is the way to live." 
 
 " You like it because it is quiet, I suppose ? " said Uncle Tim. 
 
 " Precisely. We are driven to death in New York one way or 
 another. I went off for a little rest." 
 
 " Did you find it ? " 
 
 " Oh, yes. I forgot all about business, and lounged along, laugh 
 ing and enjoying everything." 
 
 "You went to South America Lima by Panama, I suppose ? " 
 
 " No, by Buenos Ayres, stopping at Cuba and Rio Janeiro. I 
 had something to attend to there and, by-the-by, I ran over to 
 Florida." 
 
 " To see some friends in the country ? " 
 
 "Well, a little business." 
 
 " I thought you said you left business behind you when you 
 turned your back on New York ? " 
 
 " What took me to Florida did not amount to much. I merely 
 went there to buy a villa and an orange plantation for Mrs. B. and 
 my brunettes. I then went back to Havana, where I had a little 
 matter to arrange, since I have come to think of it." 
 
 " Business again ? "
 
 A MAX OF BUSINESS RESTING. 187 
 
 " Well, not much. I had an interest in a sugar manufactory, and 
 one of those Spanish dons you meet in New York had persuaded me 
 to invest in a cigar fabrico. I thought I would straighten things, as 
 I was on the spot. So I sold out my sugar interest, pocketed half 
 the amount of the insurance on the cigar factory, which had just 
 burned down, and went on to Rio Janeiro." 
 
 " Where I do trust you had no business ! " 
 
 " Well," said Mr. Burdette, laughing at his companion's tone, 
 " it amounted to nothing at all a mere share in a coffee plantation. 
 I was compelled to go there, however, to look after some stock I 
 hold in Dom Pedro's street rail-car company. My idea was to talk 
 the senors into adopting the compressed air motor but that's a long 
 way ahead of South American progress ; so I went on to Buenos 
 Ayres and crossed over to Lima." 
 
 " Don't tell me, I beg, that you had business there ! You left 
 home to rest ! " exclaimed Uncle Tim, in a state of outrage. 
 
 " I am sorry to say I had a trifle, both in Buenos Ayres and 
 Lima. Don't be uneasy ; it was not connected with guano or ni 
 trates. To tell you a secret, I have invented a new electric brake for 
 railway cars to get ahead of my friend Edison and as I am one of 
 the directors of the Lima & Quito Trunk line " 
 
 " Good, Heavens ! Not more business ! " 
 
 Mr. Burdette laughed with an air of enjoyment. 
 
 "I didn't mind it," he said. "In fact, I am used to it. But I 
 see I am boring you. I soon picked up little Miss Giorgione and 
 set out for home." 
 
 " You didn't stop, I hope ? " 
 
 " For a day or two only, on the Isthmus and at New Orleans." 
 
 " Not" 
 
 " Well, it did not signify. De Lesseps is a friend of mine, and 
 the ship canal, you know I had to audit some claim as a mem 
 ber of the board ; but I was soon in New Orleans. A charming place." 
 
 " You enjoyed it, I hope, without " 
 
 " Well, my business there was really a mere bagatelle. As Vice- 
 President of the Ashtabula Line of steamboats but I see I am 
 growing tedious. I never enjoyed a trip more it was such a com 
 plete rest ! I am growing positively idle, and will find it a hard 
 struggle to get back to business ! " 
 
 With which foreboding Mr. Burdette sighed, and then laughed 
 jn response to the laughter of his delighted companion, Uncle Tim*
 
 1 88 -ATff. BVRDETTE WHISTLES. 
 
 VI. 
 
 MR. BURDETTE WHISTLES. 
 
 DR. HAWORTH had not ceased to manifest from the first mo 
 ment of his friend's arrival the real pleasure he experienced from 
 that event. It is a great satisfaction sometimes to have one call one 
 " old fellow " which, wanting in distinguished consideration, has a 
 much greater charm. 
 
 So they rode and walked together, and had long talks. Dr. Ha- 
 worth, without reserve, told his friend everything connected with 
 the approaching trial at Abbeyville ; and having listened in deep 
 astonishment, Mr. Burdette uttered a prolonged whistle. 
 
 He then turned around and said, fixing his eyes upon Dr. Ha- 
 worth : 
 
 " Are you literary ? " 
 
 " Literary ? I am not sure I understand." 
 
 " Are you engaged on a romance ? " 
 
 " Writing one ? Certainly not." 
 
 " Well, I thought you were, and that you were giving me an out 
 line of your plot ! " 
 
 Thereupon Mr. Burdette whistled again and exclaimed : 
 
 "Write it up! There's millions in it! fifty thousand copies 
 ordered in advance ! presses working night and day and un 
 able to supply the demand ! Write it up, Haworth, write it 
 up!" 
 
 "You forget there is no denouement, my dear Burdette," said Dr. 
 Haworth grimly, " but that is not far off now. You have come just 
 in time to be present." 
 
 " I must get back business calls me. I have rested too long, 
 When does it come off ? " 
 
 " Next week." 
 
 Mr. Burdette inspected his note-book, muttering : 
 
 " Meeting of the board Tuesday the appointment with Billin 
 to well, I may be able to stay, perhaps." 
 
 "You will see something worth seeing," said Dr. Haworth in his 
 grave voice. " This man is going to show fight it is a matter of 
 life and death with him." 
 
 " Do you think you can bring that horrible affair home to him ? " 
 asked Mr. Burdette in an earnest tone.
 
 MR. BURDETTE WHISTLES. 189 
 
 " I mean to make the attempt, at least. You can judge for your 
 self, as I have told you everything." 
 
 " And I never was more flattered, Haworth. A man like your 
 self rarely talks as plainly as you have talked to me." 
 
 " Take the fact, if you choose, as an evidence of my estimate of 
 your character. Yes, the issue is now joined between myself and 
 Col. Ross. Whether he strangled James Maurice with his own 
 hands or not, he was concerned in it ! " 
 
 " A man of his high position ! and I think I heard some one say 
 that the whole country sympathized with him and thought the charge 
 an outrage ? " 
 
 " You heard the truth," said Dr. Haworth coolly. " Col. Ross is 
 a man of position, and what is more serious, of wealth and influence. 
 He has engaged the ablest counsel and insists upon a prompt trial. 
 His friends are manufacturing public sentiment here and in the 
 prominent journals. At this moment I am an object of positive de 
 testation to the good people of this country. I, an unknown stranger, 
 am presssing a gross and fatal charge the charge of secret murder 
 against one of the first gentlemen of this community ! " 
 
 " Well," said Mr. Burdette, with the same earnestness, " I know 
 you too well not to be sure that you know what you are doing." 
 
 " I know perfectly well ! I have him in my hand, Burdette ! If 
 he is guilty I swear he shall not escape as long as I am alive I will 
 not let him rest ! " 
 
 " There is no possibility of mistake then ? His character " 
 
 " Of mistake ? His character ? " exclaimed Dr. Haworth ; " what 
 would you say of a man who forged a paper reflecting dishonor on 
 a lady to force her to give him the hand of her daughter ? " 
 
 " I should say he was a scoundrel ! " 
 
 " Then you have the proof that this man is such since he did 
 so." 
 
 They had walked out in the grounds and were coming back 
 toward the house now. 
 
 "Well, I'll stay whether I can or not," said Mr. Burdette sud 
 denly. " One doesn't meet with such a drama every day. Yes, I'll 
 stay over to the trial." 
 
 " I am glad to hear it ; and now let us come to something more 
 agreeable. I see your young friend, Miss Giorgione, as you call her, 
 yonder walking out with Jean." 
 
 " Jt looks like a case," said Mr. Burdette, resuming his cheerful-
 
 190 
 
 MR. BVRDETTE WHISTLES. 
 
 ness, " and I am glad I brought the young thing away from Prof. 
 Lesner's. Poor old fellow how sorry I am for him." 
 
 " It is really melancholy. I have seen his book the ' Psychology 
 of Opium.' It is a strange performance." 
 
 " Yes I hesitated about publishing it ; but he was so pressing 
 that I sent it to press!" 
 
 "Then publishers are accessible to human feeling?" said Dr. 
 Haworth, evidently striving to throw off his gloomy mood. 
 
 " Publishers ? " said Mr. Burdette, " accessible to feeling ? My 
 dear fellow, they are babes babes! No author ever appeals to 
 them in vain, and they live up to their lofty ideal and grand mis 
 sion." 
 
 " What is that ? " 
 
 " To lend a hand to struggling genius and make money ! " 
 
 Mr. Burdette had evidently regained his good spirits, and said 
 kindly : 
 
 " Poor old Lesner ! He is a scholar and a gentleman and he 
 has become the slave of opium. I sympathize with him deeply, and 
 would do anything in my power to assist him as I know you would, 
 Haworth." 
 
 "Anything whatever but these slaveries are discouraging. 
 There is but one course for a man of feeling to treat them gently 
 and endeavor to touch the morale. That is the only hope ; and this 
 poor old gentleman, I fear, has weakened his will too much." 
 
 " It looks like it. Well, I'll hope for the best. What a jolly old 
 place," said Mr. Burdette, looking up at the Mauricewood house as 
 they drew near. 
 
 " A good example of a Southern country home." 
 
 " Yes, cheerful with the door wide open. But just think of that 
 terrible business ! Which is the room ? " 
 
 " That to the left yonder." 
 
 " With the closed blinds ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Well, I've often stopped to look at the house where the Nathan 
 murder took place on Twenty-third street but this seems stranger. 
 It is hard to connect the idea of murder with a place like this. 
 Which window did the murderer enter at ? " 
 
 " That one," said Dr. Haworth, pointing. 
 
 "You think he was really Ross ? " 
 
 "We will know next week," said Pr. Hawprth.
 
 THE OPENING OF THE TRIAL. igi 
 
 VII. 
 THE OPENING OF THE TRIAL. 
 
 THE day for the trial came, and a great crowd filled the court 
 house at Abbeyville. 
 
 It was an old brick building, discolored by age, standing in the 
 middle of a grassy yard, and the court-room was spacious, with a 
 raised platform for the Judge, seats for the jury to the left, and a 
 long desk for the bar in front. 
 
 The Prosecuting Attorney occupied an arm-chair near the Clerk, 
 who sat just beneath the Judge. In one coiner was a small elevated 
 dais surrounded by a railing the dock. But this was rarely used. 
 
 By 9 o'clock in the morning all the avenues to the court-house 
 had been thronged, so great was the public curiosity; and by n, 
 when court opened, a dense mass packed the court-room. It was 
 difficult to move an inch, and when the Sheriff was compelled in the 
 exercise of his official functions to make his way through the crowd 
 he did so at the imminent risk of his apparel. 
 
 The accused, Col. Ross, Job. Wilkins, and Mrs. Wilkins, were 
 seated behind the long desk facing the Judge and near their coun 
 sel, two in number, one of them the most eminent criminal lawyer 
 in a circuit of fifty miles, and the other a rising young advocate who 
 had already developed an original knack for working upon juries. 
 
 The jury was chosen with difficulty, and only after long and hot 
 discussion. There had been, apparently, very few persons who had 
 not formed an opinion, namely, that the charge against Col. Ross, 
 at least, was an outrage, and securing a panel consumed nearly two 
 hours. At last that was effected, however, and the trial began. 
 
 At this moment the large apartment presented a striking specta 
 cle. The autumn sunshine streaming through the lofty windows, 
 covered with dust and cobwebs, lit up the contrasted figures of the 
 dense crowd the well-dressed gentlemen, the roughly-clad, and at 
 the door some dusky Africans, who, like their white fellow-citizens, 
 recently their masters, had caught the general contagion. A stray 
 beam fell on the ancient clerk seated behind his table, upon the si- 
 lent jury, and the face of Col. Ross, with its expression of unaltera 
 ble composure. He was. scrupulously neat in his toilet, and wore 
 fawn-colored kid gloves, according to his habit. His black coat and 
 spotless bosom gave him the air of a person attending a fte f and
 
 J02 THE OPENING OF THE TRIAL. 
 
 Mr. Burdette, who was standing in the crowd immediately behind 
 him, looked at him with philosophic interest. 
 
 The Wilkins people were a great contrast they were dirty and 
 sullen. On the man's face there was seen a sort of ferocity as of an 
 animal driven to bay ; on the woman's a stolid and cunning look, 
 which defied the penetration of the crowd staring intently at her. 
 
 His Honor the Judge and the counsel have not received their 
 due amount of attention, in this rapid coup d'ail of the court-room. 
 Judge Gideon Bootlack was a little man with a red nose, and a pair 
 of watery eyes, who had supplanted his gray haired predecessor, a 
 Judge of the old regime the result of his ardent support of the 
 powers that were. He had enemies every great man has and 
 these foes went so far as to declare that the orthography of his name 
 was defective, that in reality it was " Bootlick," and derived from 
 " bootlicking the boss," whatever that might mean. This was proba 
 bly a mere slander, however, as the Judge, according to his own 
 statement, was a man of expanded views. He aspired to Congress, 
 the Cabinet, and the Presidency, on the ground that in this great 
 country the humblest, etc., etc. Meanwhile, and previous to being 
 obliged to give dinners at the White House with bouquets at the 
 plates, he was little Gideon Bootlack, with smirking lips stained with 
 tobacco, a weazen face like a winter apple, small red eyes, an ob 
 sequious manner, a complete ignorance of law, and a pleasing habit 
 when appealed to for his judicial decision of clearing his throat, say 
 ing, " Ah, well," and proceeding to flounder in mud and incompre 
 hensibility. 
 
 Mr. Dunn, Prosecuting Attorney, was a gentleman of about 40 
 tall, thoroughbred, good-looking, with a lazy smile, quiet manners, 
 very friendly, but a rough wrestler and fond of philippic. He was 
 an excellent lawyer, an admirable public speaker, and universally 
 popular, though he took no pains to wheedle anybody. The Judge 
 was rather afraid of him, and also of Mr. Shirley, the senior counsel 
 for the defense, a man of imposing manners, piercing eyes under 
 bushy brows, and a way of taking snuff which awed people. As to 
 Mr. Sparrow, the junior counsel, he hopped and chirped, and while 
 speaking shook his fist, appealed to the bystanders, executed gym 
 nastics, and seemed to have taken a contract to remove the roof of 
 the court-house with his circular-saw voice, whose terrible rasping 
 had been known to make women in the audience faint. 
 
 The trial began. The three accused persons had been joined in
 
 THE OPENING OF THE TRIAL. 
 
 193 
 
 one indictment Wilkins and his wife as principals, and Col. Ross 
 as accessory before the fact. 
 
 The familiar preliminary proceedings of a criminal trial having 
 come to an end, the Commonwealth introduced its witnesses. 
 
 The first witness called was Jean Baptiste. 
 
 The young man at once went and was sworn. He then took 
 his stand facing the Commonwealth's Attorney, with the jury on 
 the left, and the prisoners and their counsel on his right behind the 
 long desk. 
 
 " Turn so as to address the jury in giving your evidence," said 
 Mr. Dunn. " What is your name ? " 
 
 "Jean Baptiste Maurice," said the young man in a respectful 
 voice. 
 
 " Maurice ? Then the name Jean Baptiste is not your full 
 name ? " 
 
 " It is not. My full name is Jean Baptiste Maurice, as I have 
 said." 
 
 A movement had passed through the dense crowd at the utter 
 ance of the name Maurice. It plainly produced a sensation. 
 
 " Where were you born ? " said Mr. Dunn. 
 
 " In the City of Lima." 
 
 " How old are you ? " 
 
 " I am just 21 years of age, as I was born in the month of Oc 
 tober, 1859 the precise day I do not know." 
 
 " You call yourself Maurice. The name has an intimate con 
 nection with this trial. Who were your father and your moth 
 er?" 
 
 " My mother was Marie Antoinette Lascelles Maurice and my 
 father was John Maurice, attache to the American Legation at . 
 Lima." 
 
 At the name of John Maurice the sensation in the crowd was 
 greater than before. Every eye was fixed upon the witness, and 
 Col. Ross was seen to lean forward and look at him with an aston 
 ishment which he made no effort to conceal. Dr. Haworth, who 
 was not far from him, had never ceased to watch his adversary, and 
 understood his expression without difficulty. That expression meant 
 " The son of John Maurice and Antoinette Lascelles / " 
 
 " Do you mean to state," the attorney continued, " that your 
 father was John Maurice of Mauricewood ? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 9
 
 THE OPENING OF THE TRIAL. 
 
 " What evidence have you to offer in support of your state 
 ment ? " 
 
 " The certificates from the civil and church records at Lima of 
 the marriage of my parents, and my mother's wedding-ring." 
 
 Jean drew from his breast a folded paper. 
 
 " There are the certificates and the ring," he said, holding them 
 out. 
 
 Mr. Dunn, the attorney, took them and examined the ring. It 
 was a plain gold band, on the inner surface of which were engraved 
 the letters J. M. and M. A. L., in the form of a monogram. 
 
 " These are the initials of the names you mention John Mau 
 rice and Marie Antoinette Lascelles ? " he said. 
 
 " Cost of engraving ten cents a letter ? " interpolated Mr. Spar 
 row, junior counsel for the defense, with a gay chirp. 
 
 Jean turned his head. 
 
 "The genuineness of the ring is another question," said Mr. 
 Sparrow, hopping about. 
 
 " It is my mother's wedding-ring ! " said Jean haughtily ; " what 
 right have you to question my character ? " 
 
 " Or to interrupt the witness it must be stopped," said Mr. 
 Dunn curtly. 
 
 " I am not a forger ! " exclaimed Jean, looking over Mr. Spar 
 row's head straight at Col. Ross. 
 
 At this apostrophe Col. Ross' color changed, but he said noth 
 ing and continued to look intently at the witness. 
 
 " Well, now," said Mr. Dunn, leaning back with his arms behind 
 his head, " as this little matter is settled to the satisfaction of the 
 learned counsel, I will come to the certificates." 
 
 He unfolded the papers and said to Jean : 
 
 "These are the certificates, you say, of the marriage of your 
 parents. They are in Spanish, I see. Is there any one in the court 
 room who understands Spanish ? " 
 
 He looked around in the midst of a deep silence. 
 
 Jean raised his finger and pointed straight at Col. Ross. 
 
 "He understands Spanish," he said. 
 
 " That might have occurred to me, as Col. Ross has resided in 
 South America." 
 
 Mr. Sparrow laughed gleefully, and hopped about, rubbing his 
 hands. 
 
 "Not a bad. joke to apply to the Colonel," he said. "He is
 
 THE OPENING OF THE TRIAL. 
 
 195 
 
 slightly interested in this cause, or I would propose to you to put 
 him on the witness stand." 
 
 " I don't want him on the stand : I want him where he is," said 
 Mr. Dunn, with his lazy smile. 
 
 At Mr. Sparrow's joke the crowd had laughed aloud. It was 
 plain that scarcely a person in the whole assembly believed in Col. 
 Ross' guilt. 
 
 " Will Col. Ross," said Mr. Dunn, " be good enough to tell the 
 court, in the character of expert, if these papers certify to what the 
 witness has testified, and whether they are in form ? " 
 
 " With pleasure, sir," said Col. Ross, and the papers were handed 
 across to him. As he took them a close observer might have 
 noticed a slight tremor in his habitually firm hand, but this at once 
 disappeared. 
 
 " These papers are in Spanish, as you say," he said coolly, after 
 examining them, " and are civil and ecclesiastical certificates of the 
 lawful marriage of the parties." 
 
 " Of John Maurice and Marie Antoinette Lascelles ? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Have they marks of being genuine ? " 
 
 " My client is not on the stand ! " shouted Mr. Sparrow in over 
 powering wrath. " I object ! I object ! I " 
 
 " Well, the matter is of no material importance," said Mr. Dunn. 
 " As the papers are stamped with the official seals I suppose they 
 are all right. It is not material. I am not going to ask the court 
 for a commission to South America. They manage that sort of 
 business better in Washington ! " 
 
 He resumed the direct examination and said : 
 
 " Your father married your mother then in South America I 
 have heard something of that and she died, I suppose ? " 
 
 " She died soon after my birth, in October, 1859." 
 
 " But your father was left to you ? " 
 
 " He was absent from the country at the time." 
 
 " Poor fellow ! " said Mr. Dunn, " you must have had a hard 
 time of it. But your friends cared for you ? " 
 
 " I had none my mother was a stranger. I was taken care of 
 by an old half-breed woman named Juanna Panza, who lives near 
 Lima, and had waited on my mother, I believe. She was very igno 
 rant and could scarcely speak intelligibly. I never knew my father's 
 name until recently."
 
 THE OPENING OF THE TRIAL. 
 
 " Very well that is a straightforward story, and I for one be 
 lieve it." 
 
 " Your belief," cried the irrepressible Sparrow, " is not " 
 
 "Well, as I was saying," continued Mr. Dunn negligently, " you 
 are then closely related, it seems, to the estimable family so painfully 
 connected with the prosecution. You no doubt came from South 
 America to visit your relatives ? " 
 
 " No, sir, I knew nothing of the relationship until a few days 
 since. The old woman had told me nothing, and left me to run 
 wild, and I afterward became a street boy. I was taken and edu 
 cated by a kind friend, who made me his private secretary, and I 
 came to this neighborhood as his traveling companion." 
 
 " A kind friend, you say ? " 
 
 " Dr. Haworth." 
 
 " Who is Dr. Haworth ? " 
 
 " He is a gentleman who lives near Lima. He was a general in 
 the Peruvian army, but resigned after the war, and travels under the 
 title of doctor, which he received from a foreign university." 
 
 " He is very much interested in the trial of this cause, I believe ? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 Mr. Dunn nodded. He then said : 
 
 " I will now ask a question which will probably save my friends 
 on the other side some trouble." 
 
 Mr. Shirley raised his head quietly Mr. Sparrow hopped up 
 and sat down. 
 
 " Has there been any previous acquaintance between Dr. Ha 
 worth and Col. Ross ? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " State anything you know on the subject." 
 
 " Yes, state the circumstances," cried Mr. Sparrow. 
 
 " Col. Ross and Dr. Haworth, who was at that time Gen. Ha 
 worth, had a personal encounter with cutlasses in Callao harbor," 
 said he. " A market boat armed with a torpedo was turned adrift 
 and hauled in by a Peruvian steamer. The Chilian ship then came 
 to close quarters and a fight followed, in which, I think, Col. Ross 
 and Gen. Haworth slightly wounded each other." 
 
 " They are not friends, then ? " 
 
 " They are not." 
 
 " Why ? I was a soldier once and never felt any spite. Why 
 did Gen. Haworth ? "
 
 THE TESTIMONY OF JEAN BAPTISTS. \gf 
 
 " He probably had other causes for disliking Col. Ross." 
 
 " What were they ? " 
 
 " I suppose he will tell you." 
 
 " Well, they may come out in the progress of the trial. I will 
 come now to another point. Was your father, John Maurice, ac 
 quainted with Col. Ross ? " 
 
 Mr. Sparrow bounded to his feet and shook his fist at the ceil 
 ing. His excitement was overpowering. 
 
 " I object ! " he shrilled. " Are we to go into the history of the 
 world and all its inhabitants ! Are we to have lugged into this 
 cause every ! " 
 
 " Well, let's go to dinner," said Mr. Dunn, laughing and looking 
 at his watch. " I'm hungry." 
 
 This was a cruel extinguisher on Mr. Sparrow's eloquence, but 
 as Judge Gideon Bootlack had been kept from his dear tavern bar 
 for many hours, he also consulted his watch, said " Hum ! ah ! 
 later than I supposed. I will adjourn court until to-morrow, gentle- 
 men ; " and the court accordingly adjourned. 
 
 The crowd then dispersed, and the accused were reconducted 
 to jail. Col. Ross received on his route many evidences of popular 
 sympathy, and bowed with his habitual courtesy; but it was after 
 ward remembered that he looked a little pale. This was singular, 
 as he had preserved his composure up to the last question asked by 
 Mr. Dunn. The long exercise had probably fatigued him. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 THE TESTIMONY OF JEAN BAPTISTE. 
 
 THE court-room on the next morning presented nearly the same 
 spectacle. The crowd was as dense, the curiosity as absorbing, and 
 Judge Bootlack, fortified by a stiff constitutional, was ready to ex 
 pound the law and, if necessary, the Constitution. 
 
 As soon as court was opened Mr. Sparrow hopped to his feet. 
 He had before him a pile of law books and a quire of foolscap con 
 taining the heads of his intended discourse he had, in fact, re 
 mained up all night preparing a few impromptu remarks. 
 
 " May it please your Honor," said Mr. Sparrow, drawing down 
 his waistcoat and clearing his throat
 
 ! 9 g THE TESTIMONY OF JEAN BAPTISTS. 
 
 " 1 withdraw the question," said Mr. Dunn, yawning ; " it is ol 
 no importance." 
 
 Mr. Sparrow looked thunderstruck. 
 
 " My friend ought to be obliged to me it saves him trouble," 
 said Mr. Dunn, laughing lazily. 
 
 Mr. Sparrow looked daggers, which Mr. Dunn responded to by 
 an amiable smile. He then said : 
 
 " I suppose documentary evidence is admissible in a court of law, 
 your Honor ? " 
 
 " Documentary evidence, sir ? " said Judge Bootlack. " Certainly, 
 sir it is, of course, the best of all evidence, sir." 
 
 " To save time, then, and before resuming the direct examina 
 tion, I will read a deposition concerning the point referred to in my 
 question asked yesterday." 
 
 " A deposition ? Certainly, sir." 
 
 Then, fortified by the approval of the court, Mr. Dunn unfolded 
 a document and said : 
 
 " I am obliged to apply to some one in the audience again to 
 read this. It is Spanish or some foreign lingo. I am only acquainted 
 with English, Greek, Latin, and Hebrew my education was neg 
 lected." 
 
 This was appreciated by the crowd, who laughed, and Mr. Dunn 
 added : 
 
 " It is really giving Col. Ross too much trouble ; perhaps the 
 witness Baptiste, or rather Maurice, who has lived in South Amer 
 ica, might interpret for us, and Col. Ross might say if he translates 
 correctly. Call Jean Baptiste Maurice." 
 
 Jean came forward. 
 
 " You understand Spanish ? " 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " Well, translate this paper into English for the court." 
 
 Jean took the paper and said : 
 
 " It is headed, ' Deposition of Pedro Nunez, formerly master-of- 
 arms, now retired." 
 
 At the name of Pedro Nunez, Col. Ross visibly changed color, 
 but said nothing. 
 
 "Proceed," said Mr. Dunn; "the object is to show that Col. 
 Ross and John Maurice were personal enemies in South America." 
 
 " That has nothing to do with this case ! " cried Mr. Sparrow. 
 " Nobody murdered John Maurice ! "
 
 THE TESTIMONY OF JEAN BAPTISTE. 109 
 
 " What I mean to show is that a man supposed to be John Mau 
 rice was murdered at Mauricewood on the night of May 7, 1860," 
 said Mr. Dunn, coolly. " Translate the deposition." 
 
 Jean did so. What Pedro Nunez deposed to was that some 
 time in the year 1858 or 1859 Senor John Maurice and Senor Fer 
 dinand Ross had fought with swords obtained from his fencing gal 
 lery. From an altercation between the parties, which took place in 
 his presence, he became aware that the cause of the quarrel was the 
 marked attention paid to Mrs. Maurice by Senor Ross, who had 
 been acquainted with her before her marriage. Mr. Maurice had 
 ended by slapping Senor Ross' face, and in the encounter which fol 
 lowed ran him through the shoulder, which put an end to the affair 
 soon after which Senor Maurice left the country. 
 
 " Is that all ? " said Mr. Dunn. 
 
 " There is the signature of the notary Espartero before whom 
 the deposition was taken, and a certificate of the authorities to the 
 official character of Espartero and the credibility of the deponent." 
 
 " Very well," said Mr. Dunn. " I will now resume the direct 
 examination of the witness, Jean Baptiste Maurice." 
 
 He looked as he spoke at Col. Ross, whose face was as black as 
 night. 
 
 " We will proceed to the testimony connecting the principals and 
 accessory in the guilt of the murder of James Maurice," said Mr. 
 Dunn. 
 
 He turned to Jean and said : 
 
 " Have you been present on any occasion when the accused in 
 this case, principal and accessory, had any conversation together ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " State the occasion and the circumstances according to the best 
 of your recollection." 
 
 Jean thereupon described the night interview between Col. Ross 
 and the woman in the hills. The subject of their conversation, he 
 said, was Dr. Haworth's visit to the house a short time before, and 
 Col. Ross had warned the woman that he was tracking her, and to 
 take care. They then went into the house where Wilkins himself 
 then was, and whispered together, after which Col. Ross came out 
 and rode away. 
 
 At this direct testimony to a private understanding between the 
 Wilkins people and Col. Ross the crowd moved to and fro, and a 
 buzz rose from it. Mr. Dunn reflected for a moment and then said :
 
 2oo THE TESTIMONY OF JEAV BAPTISTE. 
 
 " I understand you to say that there was a direct reference made 
 by Col. Ross in this night interview to the presence of Dr. Haworth 
 in the neighborhood ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " With the view of tracking some one ? " 
 
 " Yes ; tracking the woman." 
 
 " Was Dr. Haworth's name mentioned ? " 
 
 " It was not, but the person was described by Col. Ross in his 
 first question to the woman." 
 
 " Well, it seems that there is no love lost between the parties. 
 Has any other fact come to your knowledge going to show that Col. 
 Ross was well, let us say tracking Dr. Haworth ? " 
 
 " A spy was employed to watch his movements." 
 
 " A spy ? " 
 
 " A young woman of this town Miss Burns." 
 
 "Ah ! State what you know about that." 
 
 " Miss Burns was engaged as a seamstress at Mauricewood, and 
 watched Dr. Haworth, writing regular reports to some one here and 
 receiving replies. She also came into Dr. Haworth's room one night 
 and tried to open his traveling valise." 
 
 " Well, that is interesting. Do I understand that you saw her ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " You must have taken her for a ghost ; an attractive feminine 
 article as she must have appeared in her well, her night raiment ? " 
 
 The crowd, holding its breath, had the immense relief of a laugh. 
 
 " She was dressed. I saw her, as I was wide awake." 
 
 " What was she looking for ? " 
 
 " Papers, I suppose." 
 
 " To show the object of Dr. Haworth's presence here ? " 
 
 " I suppose that was her object." 
 
 " Well you spoke of letters written by Miss Burns, and of her 
 replies ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " How did you ascertain the facts you state ? " 
 
 " I found the correspondence." 
 
 "Where?" 
 
 " In a spot in the Mauricewood grounds. The messenger who 
 came for them and brought answers was the man Wilkins." 
 
 "Ah! Well, that is an interesting fact. You say you found 
 the correspondence. Did you destroy it ? "
 
 THE TESTIMONY OP JEAN BAPTlSTE. 2 0l 
 
 " Dr. Haworth meant to burn it and threw it in the fire, but I 
 snatched it out. Here it is." 
 
 Jean produced the letter written by Miss Burns and the re 
 sponse. 
 
 " I see mention of an anonymous letter," said Mr. Dunn, coolly. 
 " Was that sent ? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " What was the result ? " 
 
 " Everybody laughed at it, and Dr. Haworth seemed to despise 
 it." 
 
 " I suppose he did. I have not heard of many respectable anony 
 mous correspondents in my time. I will read this interesting litera 
 ture aloud now for the benefit of all the world and his wife." 
 
 " This gentleman seems fond of his joke and his forged letters ! " 
 said Mr. Sparrow furiously. 
 
 "Well," said Mr. Dunn, lazily, "I don't enjoy these forensic 
 struggles as much as I used to do when I was young. They bore 
 me, generally speaking, and I like to get in a laugh whenever it is 
 possible." 
 
 He then read the letters, and laying them on the table, said : 
 
 " One thing seems plain that somebody, whoever he or she was, 
 was deeply interested in Dr. Haworth. Perhaps it was some fair 
 admirer, but I think the letters show that he was of the male sex. 
 Job Wilkins at all events seems to have been a mutual friend." 
 
 Col. Ross was leaning back in his chair with an expression of 
 scorn and defiance. He said nothing, but his face seemed to indi 
 cate that he regarded the whole affair with contempt. 
 
 "Well," said Mr. Dunn, "let this point pass for the moment. 
 We will have Miss Burns in court, and perhaps her town friend. 
 You can take the witness, gentlemen." 
 
 For three hours Jean was subjected to an exhausting cross-ex 
 amination, and all the points brought out in the examination-in-chief 
 were touched upon by the unerring acumen of Mr. Shirley. Mr. 
 Sparrow seemed to have vanished for the time from the case was 
 actually silenced. 
 
 The cross-examination resulted in nothing. Jean repeated his 
 testimony and the attempt to shake it in any manner entirely failed. 
 If he was perjuring himself he was doing so too skillfully to be de 
 tected. As to the effect of his evidence on the jury, nothing was 
 known ; and the audience made no demonstrations. Col. Ross pre-
 
 202 DK. SEA BRIGHT AttD OTHERS ARE EXAMINED. 
 
 served a grim silence ; and when the proceedings ended for the day, 
 and the court adjourned to the next, it was impossible to say what 
 people thought, or what was coming next. 
 
 IX. 
 
 DR. SEABRIGHT AND OTHERS ARE EXAMINED. 
 
 WHEN court opened on the next day the crowd was if possible 
 greater than on the days preceding. The room was a sea of heads, 
 and at the doors and windows swarming black faces served as a 
 background. 
 
 Looking at these friends of his unjustly banished from their 
 proper sphere the front Judge Bootlack sighed. It was a viola 
 tion of civil rights. Did not the American Constitution recognize 
 the equality of all citizens ? One prominent gentleman of color was 
 so well dressed and looked so influential that the Judge meditated 
 the propriety of inviting him to come up and take a seat beside him 
 on the bench. It would tell, in a political point of view, and make 
 him popular with the dusky " allies," but Mr. Dunn was there to 
 laugh in his terrible way, and perhaps say something sarcastic, so 
 the Judge refrained. 
 
 Mr. Dunn seemed in high spirits, and spent a few minutes jok 
 ing with his friend Sparrow. With Mr. Shirley he was quiet and 
 courteous looking at and addressing him with the respect felt by a 
 swordsman for an adversary worthy of his steel. 
 
 Then the court was opened and there was a profound silence. 
 
 Mr. Dunn looked over his memorandum lying on the table, rub 
 bing his hands negligently. 
 
 " Miss Burns is next on my list the handsome young mail car- 
 rieress, or postmistress," he said ; "shall we call her? I don't want 
 her, but we may as well ask her what she knows about the private 
 postal service. Call Miss Burns." 
 
 Miss Burns was called and came forward. She was in gorgeous 
 array and giggled behind her handkerchief as she was sworn. 
 
 A farce followed, to the great delight of the crowd. Miss Burns 
 represented her performances at Mauricewood as a mere jest. Her 
 friend, Miss Larkins, of the town, had a friend who here Miss 
 Burns giggled well, who took an interest in Dr. Haworth. This
 
 DR. SEABR1GHT AND OTHERS ARE EXAMINED. 203 
 
 friend was a Miss Somebody that was all she knew about her. 
 She was jealous, it seemed, as there was a nice young lady at Mau- 
 ricewood of whom the Doctor was fond ; and when Miss Larkins, 
 acting for Miss Somebody, proposed to her, Miss Burns, to discover 
 what was going on, she agreed it was a good joke and put her 
 letters under a tree. Had she gone into Dr. Haworth's room at 
 night ? What an idea ? She did walk in her sleep sometimes it 
 was a bad habit she wished she could get over it. But go into 
 a gentleman's room ? She would cheerfully expire before commit 
 ting such an impropriety ! and Miss Burns giggled. 
 
 Mr. Dunn laughed in response that jocose Mr. Dunn. 
 
 " Well, that's rather interesting," he said, " and sounds like a 
 dime-novel. Jealousy mystery nocturnal somnambulists and 
 unknown ' somebodies.' Perhaps Miss Larkins might tell us some 
 thing." 
 
 Miss Burns regretted that Miss Larkins had been called away 
 to a distant part of the country by the illness of one of her sis 
 ters. 
 
 " I thought her sister would be unwell, or some other member 
 of her family," said Mr. Dunn, nodding his head. " I have no fur 
 ther questions to ask Miss Burns." 
 
 And as the defense had none, Miss Burns retired, with a last 
 giggle. 
 
 " Call Mr. Timothy Maurice," said Mr. Dunn. 
 
 And Mr. Tim Maurice came forward, was sworn, and took the 
 stand. 
 
 " Mr. Maurice," said Mr. Dunn, resuming his seriousness, " will 
 you state all that you know of the circumstances attending the mur 
 der of your brother, Mr. James Maurice ? " 
 
 Uncle Tim did so in a clear and succinct manner. The murder 
 cry in the night, his alarm, the scene in the apartment, his hastening 
 to procure the brandy, and his meeting with the woman Pitts, with 
 her hands under her apron. The whole scene was painted in the 
 simplest but most effective manner ; and Uncle Tim's pain at the 
 recital evidently affected the crowd. 
 
 " Mr. James Maurice, you say, was dead when you returned ? " 
 said Mr. Dunn. "What theory did you form the question is 
 proper of the cause of his death ? " 
 
 Mr. Sparrow was about to hop up, but Mr. Shirley restrained 
 him.
 
 204 DR - SEARRIGHT AND OTHERS ARE EXAMINED. 
 
 " I naturally concluded that some one had murdered him," said 
 Uncle Tim. 
 
 " Did you see any weapon ? " 
 
 " Yes, a hammer, lying beside the bed. A glove was also found 
 which belonged to no one in the establishment." 
 
 " Which hammer and glove, I understand, were supposed to be 
 the property of Mr. Henry Ducis, who was convicted of the mur 
 der." 
 
 " I never supposed so ; I don't believe Mr. Ducis was guilty." 
 
 " It is important about the woman. I think you said her name 
 was Pitts, and that she was a servant or housekeeper." 
 
 " Something of both." 
 
 " She had her hands under her apron, and the sum of money you 
 mentioned had disappeared ? " 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " When you reached the apartment was the window open ? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 v " It is natural to suppose, as you believed Mr. Maurice had been 
 murdered, that you connected the open window with the murderer." 
 
 " I certainly did." 
 
 " With any person in particular ? With ? " 
 
 Mr. Dunn caught the fixed eye of Mr. Shirley. 
 
 " I am not going to ask the witness if he suspected Col. Ross 
 or any person, by name," said Mr. Dunn. " I have the right to ask 
 the witness what impression was made upon him at the time." 
 
 " Yes," said Mr. Shirley. 
 
 " I suspected Wilkins, who had been my brother's manager and 
 had quarreled with him, and also the woman Pitts, now his wife. I 
 believe that he murdered my brother and that the woman was his 
 accomplice." 
 
 " Well," said Mr. Dunn, " there is no statute, I believe, against 
 putting two and two together. The friends of Wilkins are known. 
 They pay him visits at night and Wilkins himself carries letters for 
 ' somebody ' to put in trees. Now a word on one or two other 
 points. Mr. Maurice, will you describe the chamber in which your 
 brother was murdered ? " 
 
 " It was on the first floor, opening on the veranda." 
 
 " Was it his habit to sleep there ? " 
 
 " Yes, but as it was the best chamber in the house it had been 
 arranged as the bridal chamber of my niece, Mrs. John Maurice.
 
 . DR. SEABRIGHT AND OTHERS ARE EXAMINED. 205 
 
 The change was made on the night of the wedding, and my niece's 
 bridal presents which had been exposed on the bed were taken up 
 stairs." 
 
 " For some days, then, before the night of Mrs. Maurice's mar 
 riage this room was supposed to be designed for her bridal apart' 
 ment ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " Is it not possible, therefore, that the murderer supposed he was 
 striking at Mr. John Maurice!" 
 
 " At my nephew ? He had not an enemy in the world." 
 
 " Was the room well lit ? " 
 
 " There was only a taper swimming on oil the candle had been 
 put out." 
 
 " The result of which was half darkness ? " 
 
 "More than half darkness." 
 
 " More than half darkness," repeated Mr. Dunn. "You say that 
 all this occurred late on the night of the wedding. Do you remem 
 ber what guests were present ? " 
 
 " Nearly all the neighborhood." 
 
 " Were there exceptions ? " 
 
 " I remember none of our friends except Col. Ross, who was 
 then a young man. I think I heard that he was absent from the 
 country. 
 
 " He was at the time an officer in the navy, I believe ? " 
 
 " Yes, but was frequently at home." 
 
 " Were he and your brother James Maurice friendly toward each 
 other ? " 
 
 " Well, they had at one time a misunderstanding, but I do not 
 believe it amounted to anything." 
 
 " They were not what you would call enemies ? " 
 
 " I should not call them enemies." 
 
 " Your nephew, Mr. John Maurice, had no enemies either, you 
 say ? " 
 
 " I never heard that he had one in the world. He was most 
 amiable, though a high-tempered man when he was aroused ; an 
 affair in South America with Col. Ross, which has been deposed to, 
 is the only quarrel of his I have ever heard of." 
 
 " I understand you to say that you never thought that Mr. Ducis 
 was guilty?" 
 
 " I have never thought so for a moment."
 
 DR. SEA BRIGHT AND OTHERS ARE EXAMINED. 
 
 " Take the witness, gentlemen," said Mr. Dunn. 
 
 The cross-examination brought out no new facts, and Mr. Tim 
 Maurice retired, when the Prosecuting Attorney called Dr. Seabright. 
 
 " You were the family physician of the Maurices at the time of 
 the murder of Mr. Maurice, I believe, Doctor ? " said Mr. Dunn. 
 
 "Yes," growled Dr. Seabright. 
 
 " Were you sent for on the occasion of the murder ? " 
 
 " Of course people say we doctors kill, so we are expected to 
 bring the dead to life." 
 
 " Mr. Maurice was dead when you arrived ? " 
 
 " Stone dead." 
 
 " What was the cause of his death a blow with a hammer or 
 other weapon ? " 
 
 " No." 
 
 " What then ? " 
 
 " He was strangled." 
 
 A murmur rose from the crowd. 
 
 " Strangled ! " said Mr. Dunn, quietly. " What grounds have 
 you for such an opinion ? " 
 
 " I saw the marks on his neck. He was strangled, I say -gar- 
 roted, as the Spanish people call it." 
 
 " The experts on the former trial declared, I am told, that he died 
 from a blow." 
 
 Dr. Seabright flamed out : 
 
 " The expert asses may have said so ! I am not responsible for 
 what that cattle say ! " 
 
 " Well the deceased came to his death, then, by strangling, or 
 the garrote, to use your expression. That is a curious idea. Ameri 
 can murderers generally resort to a knife or revolver." 
 
 " I did not say the murderer was an American I know nothing 
 about it." 
 
 " Not an American ? Oh ! I understand. You mean that he 
 was a foreigner or a person who had lived abroad in Spain or 
 Spanish countries." 
 
 " I know nothing about it ! I only know that James Maurice 
 was strangled ! garroted ! There was no knife or revolver about it." 
 
 " And yet no better weapons could be found for putting a man 
 out of the way." 
 
 " They make noise if you want my idea." 
 
 " Noise ? "
 
 DR. SEA BRIGHT AND OTHERS ARE EXAMINED. 
 
 2O7 
 
 " Certainly ! People hear a pistol shot, and a man who is stabbed 
 cries out if he is not dumb." 
 
 " I understand, then, that your opinion is that the murder was 
 committed by a skillful person one who meant to do his work 
 quietly, without noise, and go away as he came." 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " There were no indications of a blow with a hammer or other 
 heavy instrument?" 
 
 " There were none to account for his death. A slight abrasure 
 was visible under the hair, but it amounted to nothing. He may 
 have been struck afterward. The real cause of his death was the 
 gar rote." 
 
 Mr. Dunn arranged his papers and reflected. 
 
 " I am curious about this garrote business," he said. " It is the 
 Spanish method of execution, I am told, and breaks a man's neck 
 better than a rope. How does it work ? Can anybody tell me 
 any one familiar with the operation ? " 
 
 He looked round and incidentally glanced at Col. Ross, who had 
 grown rather pale. He was seated behind Mr. Shirley, paring the 
 nails of one of his white hands. The hand shook a little ; then, as 
 Mr. Dunn resumed his examination of the witness, the tremor dis 
 appeared. 
 
 " Well, Doctor," said Mr. Dunn, " I believe I have no further 
 questions to ask you. Mr. Maurice was strangled, you say you 
 saw the marks of the garrote on his neck. But he was not dead 
 when his brother came in ? " 
 
 " He died from syncope he was a man of feeble health." 
 
 " The hammer found was not the death weapon, then the one 
 said to have been the property of Mr. Ducis ? " 
 
 " Mr. Ducis had nothing to do with the affair. He was as inno 
 cent as the babe unborn ! The expert asses and the donkeys that 
 tried him were the cause of his conviction ! " 
 
 " You seem to have been a friend of Mr. Ducis ? " 
 
 " I was ; he was the noblest man on earth, and as innocent as 
 you are." 
 
 Mr. Dunn nodded. 
 
 " I understand, then, your agency in arresting two of the accused 
 parties." 
 
 " That was it. As soon as I had information I never rested until 
 I had them in jail."
 
 2O8 DR. HA WORTH'S C 'UR 10 US FANCY. 
 
 " Who gave you the information ? " 
 
 "Dr. Haworth." 
 
 " Who is Dr. Haworth ? " 
 
 " He is Dr. Haworth, of South America." 
 
 " How is he interested in this affair ? " 
 
 " You can ask him." 
 
 " That's true. You have met him frequently, I suppose ? " 
 
 " A number of times I was at Mauricewood and saw him yes 
 terday." 
 
 " He is on a visit to the family ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " And a suitor, I understand, of Miss Maurice ? " 
 
 " I understand so." 
 
 Mr. Shirley listened with profound astonishment, looking at Mr. 
 Dunn. 
 
 " Can you inform the jury whether Col. Ross has been a frequent 
 visitor to Mauricewood this autumn ? " 
 
 " I believe he has." 
 
 " He is also a suitor for the hand of Miss Maurice, I think ? " 
 said Mr. Dunn carelessly. 
 
 Mr. Shirley elevated his eyebrows and looked fixedly at Mr. 
 Dunn. 
 
 " I think I have heard so." 
 
 " So that it is reasonable to conclude that Dr. Haworth is not 
 friendly to Col. Ross ? " 
 
 Mr. Shirley looked inexpressibly puzzled. 
 
 " Probably he is not," said Dr. Seabright. 
 
 " Well, that perhaps explains Dr. Haworth's interest in this trial, 
 so far as one person is concerned," said Mr. Dunn, picking his teeth. 
 " You can take the witness, gentlemen." 
 
 But the counsel for the defense were in consultation. Mr. Shir 
 ley had become composed, but Mr. Sparrow with difficulty sup 
 pressed his agitation. He gesticulated, whispered hoarsely, and 
 then, rising, said : 
 
 " We have no questions to ask the witness." 
 
 " Well, I'm glad of it," said Mr. Dunn, with his lazy smile. " I 
 attended a Readjuster gathering last night, and feel rather exhausted. 
 I should like to procure a toddy or julep and a little dinner. I move 
 an adjournment to this evening say at 6." 
 
 The court promptly acquiesced. The mention of toddy proba
 
 DR. HAWORTH' S TESTIMONY. 
 
 2O9 
 
 bly acted on its nerves. Proclamation was therefore ordered by 
 Judge Bootlack that the court would adjourn to meet in the evening 
 at 6 o'clock. 
 
 " Is Dr. Haworth here ? " said Mr. Dunn. 
 
 " Yes, sir," said Dr. Haworth, coming out of the crowd. 
 
 " I will call you next, Doctor," said Mr. Dunn ; " and now I'll 
 go and look up that toddy. Are you going my way, Judge ? " 
 
 X. 
 
 DR. HAWORTH'S TESTIMONY. 
 
 IF the court-room was a striking spectacle during the morning 
 session it was much more striking at night. 
 
 When Judge Bootlack, in a thoroughly comfortable state of mind 
 and body, took his seat on the bench it was already dark, and can 
 dles had been lit. One had been placed in front of his Honor, light 
 ing up his ruby nose ; another beside the clerk, and two or three on 
 the desk in front of the counsel for the accused. In the great room 
 they made only a feeble glimmer, however, and outside the circle of 
 light there was half darkness. 
 
 In this half darkness moved to and fro the densely packed crowd. 
 From time to time a murmur rose from it. The dusky faces were 
 full of expectation. The officers of the court could scarcely make 
 their way. From this mass, undulating to and fro, no one could 
 have been dragged out it seemed if he or she had fainted and was 
 in danger of suffocation. 
 
 The court was opened, and Mr. Dunn with a cheerful counte 
 nance called Dr. Haworth. 
 
 Dr. Haworth at once came forward and was sworn, after which 
 he took up a position facing the jury. His expression was composed, 
 and he was clad as usual in a neat and unassuming manner. He 
 glanced around him naturally and was observed to fix his eyes for 
 a moment intently upon Col. Ross, who, seated behind his counsel, 
 returned the look with the same intentness. 
 
 " Your name is Dr. Haworth ? " said Mr. Dunn, leaning back in 
 his arm-chair. 
 
 " It is the name I call myself by," was the reply. 
 
 " What is your real name ? "
 
 2IQ DR. If A WORTH'S TESTIMONY. 
 
 "Henry Haworth Duels," said Dr. Haworth in his composed 
 voice. 
 
 " Ah ! Ducis ! Henry Haworth Ducisf " 
 
 "Yes ; I am the only son of Henry Ducis, who was convicted of 
 the murder of James Maurice and died of misery and despair in con 
 sequence of that conviction." 
 
 The crowd moved to and fro, and a vague sound rose from it 
 then there was silence again. 
 
 As Dr. Haworth replied to the question he turned his head 
 slowly, fixed his eyes upon Col. Ross, who had grown suddenly pale, 
 and said : 
 
 " My name will probably explain the interest I take in this case, 
 and why I have used every exertion to bring the real murderers of 
 James Maurice to trial and punishment." 
 
 " Yes," said Mr. Dunn quietly, " but your statement is an extra 
 ordinary one, to say the least of it." 
 
 " I was aware that it would surprise the jury." 
 
 " If your name is really Ducis, why do you call yourself Ha 
 worth ? " 
 
 " It was the family name of my mother." 
 
 " Well, that partially explains the fact of its adoption ; but why 
 not bear your own name, Ducis ? It is an honorable name there 
 are very few people who believe that it is not." 
 
 " I have a good reason." 
 
 " What is it ? " 
 
 "My father's command as he was dying." 
 
 A profound silence followed the words. The vast audience did 
 not move a muscle. 
 
 " As he was dying your father, Mr. Henry Ducis ? " 
 
 " Yes : it was his last injunction to me." 
 
 Mr. Dunn seemed to reflect for a moment on this singular re 
 sponse of the witness. He then said : 
 
 " This is all rather strange, Doctor tell us about it. It would 
 be better, I suppose, to leave you to tell your story in your own way, 
 and not to worry you with questions. My learned brother or 
 brethren, as there are two on the other side will take care of that 
 part of the business. I will ask you, therefore, to tell the jury all 
 the circumstances, as I need not say they will affect the value of 
 your testimony." 
 
 " I will do so if the jury wish."
 
 DR. HA WORTH'S TESTIMONY. 211 
 
 It was not doubtful what the jury wished. They were looking 
 at him with the deepest interest and curiosity, like the whole audi 
 ence. Even the counsel for the defense exhibited unmistakable sur 
 prise. Col. Ross was behind them in the deep shadow and his face 
 was thus hidden. 
 
 " I think the jury will like to hear all about it," said Mr. Dunn, 
 in a matter-of-fact manner. " So go ahead, Doctor. You are the 
 son, you say, of Henry Ducis, convicted twenty years ago of the 
 murder of Mr. Maurice ? " 
 
 "Yes, sir. He had no other children," said Dr. Haworth, "and 
 as my mother was dead I was his only companion. I was at the 
 time about fourteen years of age, and the natural result of intimate 
 association with a person of my father's character was a very great 
 devotion to him." 
 
 " Everybody will understand that," said Mr. Dunn. "I was not 
 acquainted with Mr. Ducis, but I have heard the highest opinion of 
 him expressed by all who knew him." 
 
 " Including the Maurice family," said Uncle Tim in a distinct 
 tone from his place in the crowd. 
 
 Mr. Sparrow hopped to his feet. 
 
 " I protest against these interruptions ! " he cried, looking indig 
 nant. 
 
 "Well," said Mr. Dunn lazily, "they are rather irregular, but I, 
 for one, in my character of a citizen of this county am glad to hear 
 that the family of the murdered man scout the idea that he was put 
 to death by a man like Henry Ducis." 
 
 " Hem ! " said Judge Bootlack, with dignity ; " the witness will 
 continue his testimony." 
 
 " Unless my friend over the way would prefer to have him muz 
 zled," said Mr. Dunn with a sarcastic smile. " You can go on, Doc 
 tor." 
 
 Dr. Haworth had quietly waited and now resumed his testimony. 
 
 " I have been asked to explain," he said, " the grounds for my 
 adoption of the name of Haworth instead of my proper name, and 
 I understand the jury to wish information on that subject, as the 
 fact affects my testimony." 
 
 The jurymen nodded, and Mr. Sparrow subsided in great dis 
 gust. 
 
 " I will continue then," said Dr. Haworth composedly. " I was 
 fourteen years old and living with my father on his estate in the
 
 212- />* HA WORTH'S TESTIMONY. 
 
 lower end of this county when the murder of Mr. Maurice took place, 
 I first heard of it from the servants if there is any startling news 
 they discover it quickly. What I heard was that, on the night be 
 fore, Mr. Maurice had been murdered in his bed by some unknown 
 person, with the design of robbing him it was supposed." 
 
 " What you heard is not testimony," cried the irrepressible Spar 
 row. 
 
 " Good heavens ! " said Mr. Dunn, " are we in a court of law or 
 a Readjuster meeting ? I have heard of a debating society in which 
 the rule was that only four people should talk at once, but " 
 
 Thus extinguished, Mr. Sparrow subsided, with muttered pro 
 tests, and Dr. Haworth continued : 
 
 " As I informed the jury, the intelligence of the murder reached 
 me through the servants on the following morning. My father was 
 absent. On the day before he had ridden to Sinclair Station to pur 
 chase some fertilizers, and, as the place was distant, had remained 
 all night the night of the murder at the house of a friend. He 
 only returned on the following evening, too late to ride to Maurice- 
 wood, which he expressed a strong desire to do. And I remember 
 his expressions of horror. He was deeply depressed at having quar 
 reled with Mr. Maurice a few days before. They had been friends, 
 and his old friend's death moved him deeply. On the next day he 
 ordered his horse to go to Mauricewood, but gave up the design ; 
 his presence there might not be welcome ; and he shut himself up 
 in his library. In the evening he was arrested for the murder. 
 
 " A constable came and showed him the warrant, issued by a 
 magistrate who had always been unfriendly to him. At sight of 
 the paper my father exclaimed : ' Good God ! to charge me with the 
 murder of James Maurice ! It is monstrous ! ' But there was noth 
 ing to say there was the warrant of arrest and the constable was 
 waiting. From horror my father passed to composure he was a 
 man of great gentleness and sweetness of temper, but of the utmost 
 resolution of character. He therefore said no more, and was driven 
 to Abbeyville, where he was examined the quarrel between him 
 self and Mr. James Maurice, together with the expressions used by 
 himself were testified to and he was committed for trial at the 
 next court by the magistrate who had issued the warrant. Of the 
 trial it is unnecessary for me to speak. He was convicted upon evi 
 dence purely circumstantial, and though the jury were unanimous, 
 ft was said, in the opinion that he ought to be pardoned were even
 
 bR. HA WORTH'S TESTIMONY. 
 
 ready to sign a petition to that effect he was not pardoned he 
 died of shame at the stain on his good name." 
 
 Dr. Haworth stopped. His voice had not faltered for a moment 
 in telling his painful story, or his eyes lost their expression of som 
 ber composure. 
 
 " And that stain on your father's name accounts for your drop 
 ping it ? " said Mr. Dunn. 
 
 " No ; I should never have called myself by any other name 
 than his own if he had not laid his command upon me. I saw him 
 every day in jail, and he discussed without reserve every feature of 
 the case. He cared nothing for the Governor's pardon, he said ; 
 his name would remain dishonored. He had been the victim of 
 some unknown enemy who hated him and meant to destroy him 
 who was skillful, daring, unrelenting and probably rich, since he had 
 not struck, himself, it seemed, but by the hands of others. This con 
 viction became rooted in my father's mind, and he never lost sight 
 of it. He had the presentiment of his own death, and said to me 
 one day in a low tone : ' You are my only hope. The name of 
 Ducis will remain dishonored unless you remove the stain from it.' 
 He then explained his wishes. The real murderer or murderers of 
 Mr. Maurice would never be discovered if the search for them was 
 pursued publicly. It was necessary to do so privately. His in 
 junction, therefore, was that I should dispose of the family estate, 
 leave the neighborhood, assume the name of my mother and ac 
 quire a complete education as a preparation for the work before me. 
 Thus trained I was to return and quietly pursue the investigation. 
 The name Haworth was unfamiliar here, since my mother's family 
 was from a distant state it was, therefore, probable that no one 
 would suspect the object of my coming. I promised my father 
 that I would obey his command he gave me his blessing and 
 three days afterward he was dead." 
 
 Dr. Haworth looked composedly at Col. Ross, but behind the 
 pupils of his eyes, so to say, there was a latent fire which contra 
 dicted his calm tones. 
 
 " I have explained why I call myself Haworth and not Ducis," 
 he added coldly. " It will remove the impression that I am a name 
 less impostor. I was denounced as one in an anonymous letter 
 sent by the person who corresponds through hollow trees." 
 
 All eyes were turned toward Col. Ross, but he bore the ordeal 
 Without changing color he even looked a little defiant.
 
 1>R- HAWORTH*S TESTIMONY. 
 
 " Well, to end this explanation," said Dr. Haworth, coolly, " 1 
 went away and grew up, and became an engineer in South America. 
 Some years afterward I returned to this place, and endeavored to 
 discover who had really murdered James Maurice. I completely 
 failed there were no traces whatever and the name of Ducis re 
 mained dishonored. Then I went back to South America, where I 
 had succeeded in amassing some money, risked it in speculation 
 and found myself rich. That was what I wanted. I had satisfied 
 myself that the man I was looking for was rich and powerful. And 
 at last I had discovered what I thought a clew shall I explain that 
 to the jury, sir ? " 
 
 " Certainly. Let all the facts come out," said Mr. Dunn. " I 
 defy my friends over the way to stop you. If they attempt to do so 
 I am ready to meet them." 
 
 Mr. Sparrow gesticulated defiance and was about to bound up, 
 but Mr. Shirley stopped him." 
 
 " It is always a sign of a bad case," said Mr. Dunn in a philo 
 sophic tone, " when there is an objection to have all the facts stated. 
 The Commonwealth does not object on this or any other occasion. 
 I am myself much interested in Dr. Haworth's testimony, and 
 would like to know about that clew. What do you mean, Doctor ? " 
 
 " I mean," said Dr. Haworth, " that I found a boy running 
 about in the streets of Lima and discovered that he was the son of 
 John Maurice of Mauricewood." 
 
 " The youth Baptiste or Maurice ? " 
 
 " Yes ; I was falling into a sort of apathy, and had nearly de 
 spaired of ever discovering anything. I had thrown myself into af 
 fairs fought, speculated and then retired, in disgust with all things, 
 to a hacienda near Lima. The discovery of John Maurice's son 
 again put me on the scent of the murder. I will explain why. I 
 had taken him into my service because I was struck by his face 
 it was the face of a gentleman, not a vagabond ; and hearing him 
 mention, one day, the name of a half-breed woman, who had been 
 his nurse, I went and visited her near Callao. She told me every 
 thing he was the son of John Maurice and a Mademoiselle Las- 
 celles, whom he had married. There had been trouble between 
 husband and wife and Mr. Maurice left the country and some 
 months afterward the boy was born. Soon afterward his mother 
 died, directing that he should be called Jean after his father. The 
 priest who baptized him had added Baptiste, and the woman, whose
 
 DR. HAWORTH' S TESTIMONY. 21$ 
 
 name was Panza, had taken charge of him and brought him up, 
 concealing his name from him for fear he would be taken away from 
 her, as she had grown fond of him. As an evidence of his birth 
 she had his mother's wedding-ring, which I secured by appealing to 
 her avarice it has been produced." 
 
 " Yes," said Mr. Dunn. 
 
 " To finish. I thus found that I had taken into my service the 
 son of John Maurice, who was married a second time at Maurice- 
 wood on the very night of James Maurice's murder. Why had his 
 father quarreled with his mother ? I discovered. A fencing master 
 named Pedro Nunez, whom I knew informed me Mr. Maurice was 
 jealous. Col. Ross had been an admirer of Mrs. Maurice before 
 her marriage, and continued his attentions. Mr. Maurice thereupon 
 insulted him, wounded him in a duel with swords, and subsequently 
 left the country. His wife had died soon afterward the fact had, 
 no doubt, been reported to him and he had remarried." 
 
 Dr. Haworth paused and said : 
 
 " I am compelled to enter into these details to make myself un 
 derstood." 
 
 " Continue," said Mr. Dunn. 
 
 " I wished to show how I came to connect Col. Ross with the 
 affairs of the Maurice family." 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " The fact was established that he and John Maurice had been 
 enemies. He had been in this neighborhood just before the murder, 
 as I afterward discovered there was the material to work upon. 
 The difficulty was to reconcile the apparently honorable character 
 of Col. Ross with secret murder. An incident occurred which 
 changed my views. He invented or connived at a discreditable 
 trick to blow up a Peruvian steamer a ruse scarcely defensible 
 and we met personally in a fight which followed. After that I be 
 gan to think that probably Col. Ross knew something about other 
 ruses among them that which ended in the conviction and death 
 of my father. Am I to go on ? " 
 
 " Yes let the whole come out. The jury wants to know the 
 facts." 
 
 "Very well," said Dr. Haworth, coolly. "I came to the United 
 States this autumn to resume my search for the murderer or mur 
 derers of James Maurice." 
 
 The jury and audience had listened with profound attention to
 
 DR. HA WORTH CONCLUDES HIS TESTIMONY. 
 
 this long statement, looking now and then curiously toward Col. 
 Ross scarcely at the other accused persons. The testimony of 
 Dr. Haworth seemed to have no effect upon him. He neither low 
 ered his eyes now, nor exhibited any emotion. And yet the testi 
 mony going to convict him seemed to be approaching its climax. 
 
 In the midst of a deep silence Dr. Haworth resumed his testi 
 mony. 
 
 XL 
 
 DR. HAWORTH CONCLUDES HIS TESTIMONY. 
 
 " I ARRIVED in New York this autumn," continued Dr. Haworth, 
 "and chanced to observe Col. Ross in a theater with the ladies 
 from Mauricewood. I was then sure of his presence in the United 
 States, of which I had been informed. Jean Baptiste Maurice, who 
 had preceded me to New York, also recognized him, and a few days 
 afterward I left the city with the youth and came to this neighbor 
 hood under the name I had always borne, of Dr. Haworth." 
 
 " You did not go to Mauricewood ? " 
 
 " No to a house in the hills, ostensibly for the purpose of hunt 
 ing. My real object, of course, was to make inquiries without ex 
 citing suspicion, and to ascertain as much as possible about Col. 
 Ross and the Wilkins people, who I was now nearly certain, were 
 connected with the murder." 
 
 " A natural idea," said Mr. Dunn, " as they had been arrested 
 on the charge once before." 
 
 " I accordingly visited the house in the hills where these people 
 resided, and was satisfied of their guilt. The woman became agi 
 tated when I spoke of a case in which a murderer had been con 
 victed by the numbers on some stolen bank notes and the look on 
 the face of the man was the hunted look. The evidence of Jean 
 Baptiste Maurice in reference to Col Ross' visit, and the allusions to 
 my object in coming to the neighborhood, is before the jury." 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " I soon had a proof," continued Dr. Haworth, " that I was re 
 garded as a suspicious character. I think I can state that I was fired 
 upon." 
 
 And he related the incident in the hills, with his visit to the 
 cabin afterwards.
 
 b&. HA WORTH CONCLUDES HIS TESTIMONY. 21 J 
 
 " That was a little hazardous," he continued, " and I moved my 
 quarters. I had become acquainted with Mr. Timothy Maurice, and 
 accepted his invitation to visit Mauricewood, where it seems I was 
 made the object of special attention on the part of Miss Burns. I 
 do not wish to detain the jury with that comedy with the " some 
 bodies," the anonymous letters, and night searches for papers let 
 that pass. I had a much more important subject to occupy my 
 thoughts the question who had murdered Mr. Maurice and suf 
 fered my father to die dishonored, as the author of the crime. For 
 some time before I had convinced myself that I had made the dis 
 covery." 
 
 Dr. Haworth paused for a moment. In the midst of a profound 
 silence he resumed his testimony. 
 
 "One day I requested Mr. Timothy Maurice to show me the 
 room at Mauricewood in which his brother had been murdered. 
 Col. Ross was present and entered the room with me. As he ex 
 hibited little emotion I was fortified in my previous opinion that he 
 had not committed the murder." 
 
 At these words a buzz of astonishment ran through the crowd. 
 As Dr. Haworth's testimony had seemed to lead straight to the 
 theory that Col. Ross was the guilty person the words he had just 
 uttered were a profound surprise. 
 
 " My inspection of the apartment had an important result, how 
 ever," said Dr. Haworth. " I found concealed in the bed this gar- 
 rote, with which, I have no doubt, the murder was committed." 
 
 He drew from his pocket the cord and placed it upon the table 
 before Mr. Dunn, who looked at it with interest. 
 
 " The next step," Dr. Haworth continued, " was to ascertain 
 whether there were marks on Mr. Maurice's neck which supported 
 my theory. I paid a visit to Dr. Seabright, the family physician, 
 and nearly the first words he uttered were that James Maurice had 
 been strangled there were marks on his neck which could not 
 otherwise be accounted for." 
 
 " Dr. Seabright's testimony is to the same effect," said Mr. Dunn. 
 
 " He rendered me important assistance in other ways," said Dr. 
 Haworth, " since he enabled me to secure possession of the leaf of 
 the ledger at Sinclair's, recording my father's purchase of fertilizers. 
 Here it is." 
 
 He drew it from his breast and unfolded it. 
 
 " The apparent date of the purchase is May 8, the day after th$ 
 10
 
 2 1 8 DR. HAWORTH DISCOVERS A LIKENESS. 
 
 murder. The original entry has been falsified the ink discharged 
 from the paper by an infusion of oxalic acid. That may be tested 
 by the tongue, as oxalic acid is extremely sour." 
 
 One of the jury took the paper and touched it with his tongue. 
 
 " It's sour enough," he said, " but I don't believe there was 
 anything else written there." 
 
 " So be it," said Dr. Haworth. " Unfortunately the question 
 was not raised on the trial of Mr. Ducis. This sheet of paper de 
 stroyed him." 
 
 " You think that date is forged," said Mr. Dunn. " Well, who 
 is the forger ? If you know, tell the jury." 
 
 " I do not know the name of the forger, but I am certain I know 
 who he was." 
 
 "Who was he?" 
 
 " He was the man who murdered James Maurice, whether he 
 was present on the night of the 7th of May or not ; who conceived 
 the design, brought about the result, and took the steps that brought 
 the crime home to an innocent person." 
 
 " A curious affair altogether," said Mr. Dunn. " Then you 
 think that the alteration in this entry the hammer and glove found 
 near the spot of the murder all was a conspiracy to destroy an in 
 nocent man, as you say ? " 
 
 " Yes ; to my own mind, at least, the circumstances exclude 
 every other hypothesis, as you say in your profession, sir." 
 
 Mr. Dunn reflected. 
 
 " I should like to get at your precise idea," he said, " and I think 
 the jury would like to hear it. As the late Mr. Seward said to Mr. 
 Stephens, it seems to have a philosophic basis." 
 
 Mr. Shirley rose and objected. His point was that the private 
 opinions of a witness had nothing to do with a legal investigation, 
 and he urged the view with great force. 
 
 Mr. Dunn's reply was equally forcible. The impressions pro 
 duced on the mind of a witness by the facts coming to his knowl 
 edge are a legitimate subject of inquiry. What the jury wanted 
 was all the facts and circumstances connected with this case. The 
 rules of evidence were intended to guard the accused to afford him 
 a fair trial not to cover up the facts. The witness was intimately 
 acquainted with the details of the case now before the jury, and 
 might legitimately be asked his convictions resulting from that in 
 timate knowledge. The jury were at liberty to agree with them
 
 DR. HA WORTH CONCLUDES HIS TESTIMONY. 
 
 or to disagree with them to accept them, or to laugh at them as 
 absurd. 
 
 Judge Bootlack thought the question was improper but was 
 not certain that it was not entirely proper. In his opinion it ought 
 not to be asked but on the whole, and as the result of reflection, 
 he would permit the inquiry to be propounded. 
 
 Whereupon Mr. Shirley, much disgusted, said he would except, 
 and sat down. 
 
 " Well, now," said Mr. Dunn, " give the jury your idea of the 
 murder, Doctor. It will not take long, I suppose ? " 
 
 " I can do so, briefly. Here is my conviction. The person in 
 tended to be murdered was not James Maurice, but his nephew, 
 John Maurice, the supposed occupant of the room on the night of 
 the murder. The actual murderer was the tool of a person more 
 skillful who had a private vengeance to gratify. This tool was 
 bought, and under orders, probably from his employer, arranged 
 everything to throw the guilt upon an innocent man Henry Ducis. 
 The plot fully succeeded, and the real, unknown author of all was 
 never even suspected. It is for the jury to say who they think he 
 is as to his tools, they defied conviction ; the whole had been too 
 well planned. Arrested on suspicion, they were discharged for want 
 of evidence. There was absolutely no proof of their guilt. One 
 only was shown to have been present at or about the time of the 
 murder, but that person was a woman, and women rarely murder 
 men they may rob, but shrink from bloodshed." 
 
 " Well, that is tolerably plain. An unknown person planned the 
 crime, but this particular unknown did not personally commit it. 
 Who did ? " 
 
 " I can only recall to your mind the testimony of the witness 
 Jean Baptiste Maurice as to what he overheard at the house in the 
 hills my own as to the bullet fired at me and the identification 
 of the messenger who carried the letters written to and by Miss 
 Burns." 
 
 " Well, that does look rather ugly," said Mr. Dunn, " and all 
 the parties are equally responsible. Of course, if two persons were 
 actually present at the time of the murder both are guilty as prin 
 cipals whether the crime was committed by one or both. That's 
 law, I believe ? " said Mr. Dunn to Mr. Shirley. 
 
 " Yes, sir," said that gentleman. 
 
 " In the absence of evidence," added Mr. Dunn, " there is only
 
 220 DJf. HA WORTH CONCLUDES HIS TESTIMONY. 
 
 one course to pursue to procure a pardon for one of them and 
 summon him or her to testify to the facts." 
 
 Mr. Dunn looked at Wilkins and the woman. On their stolid 
 countenances it was impossible to observe the least traces of emo 
 tion. 
 
 " But all that can wait. We are in no hurry and have the whole 
 term before us," said Mr. Dunn. " I have only a few more ques 
 tions to ask the witness. You say that you had then made up your 
 mind on the subject of the murder, Doccor ? " 
 
 " To a certain point yes." 
 
 " That Mr. Ducis was absolutely innocent, and certain other per 
 sons were guilty ? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Well, it seems to me that under these circumstances the time 
 to act had come. You had been shot at you had information of 
 that night visit in the hills you had been denounced in anonymous 
 letters you found that garrote in the bed, a peculiar instrument for 
 the commission of murder, which necessarily pointed to some per 
 son familiar with the methods of death employed in Spanish coun 
 tries you had all this to go upon, and as you have explained had 
 an ardent desire to bring the real offenders to justice. Why, then, 
 I say, did you not take steps leading to a judicial investigation ? " 
 
 " The steps were taken." 
 
 " To connect specific people with the murder of Mr. James Mau 
 rice ? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " What steps ? " 
 
 " I procured warrants for the arrest of three persons Col. Ross, 
 Wilkins and his wife, the former servant or housekeeper at Maurice- 
 wood, who was seen coming out of the room on the night of the 
 murder." 
 
 " That was during my absence from home attending the Circuit 
 Court, I suppose. The warrants were issued, you say ? " 
 
 " Yes, sir; by Prof. Lesner, a magistrate of the neighborhood." 
 
 " Prof. Lesner that fine old fellow ? I thought he was a re 
 tired scholar. Yes, I remember now that he was elected a justice 
 recently. Well, I am glad party politics still allow us a few honor 
 able magistrates. So the old Professor did issue the warrants ? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Why was no action taken ? "
 
 DR. HA WORTH CONCLUDES HIS TESTIMONY. 221 
 
 " The parties were warned and escaped." 
 
 " Warned ? Escaped ? " 
 
 " Yes," said Dr. Haworth, " the officer to whom the warrants 
 were addressed was either suborned by some one having an interest 
 to avoid the inquiry, or had private reasons of his own. The fact 
 remains that the return ' not found ' was made by the officer, or his 
 deputy. The three persons had disappeared." 
 
 " Well, that is rather a serious charge, Doctor, against an officer 
 of the law." 
 
 " The charge is just. I was present when the return was made 
 to Prof. Lesner and can testify that he was extremely indignant." 
 
 " A serious matter. If constables are to warn people there is 
 an end of justice. Are you sure of your statement ? " 
 
 " Prof. Lesner will corroborate it. I am aware that it is serious 
 to the accused as well as to the constable. Innocent people do 
 not fly from justice." 
 
 " I shall ask for a subpena for Prof. Lesner, your Honor," said 
 Mr. Dunn ; and, as I wish to avoid delay, I want it served to-night, 
 so that we may go on in the morning. If a constable warned the 
 accused, and they avoided arrest, it will be an ugly thing for all 
 parties." 
 
 The subpena was then made out, and placed in the hands of an 
 officer, who was directed to deliver it at once to Prof. Lesner. He 
 would be examined the first thing when the court met in the morn 
 ing. 
 
 Mr. Dunn then said to the witness : 
 
 " I understand you to state that you procured these warrants for 
 the arrest of the parties, and they fled from justice ? Col. Ross did 
 not fly or if he did he flew back." 
 
 " Yes," said Dr. Haworth, looking fixedly at Col. Ross, " after 
 the arrest of his confederates." 
 
 " I heard he was called to Washington to testify before a com 
 mittee, and returned at once after getting through I throw out the 
 remark for the benefit of the defense, and hope they will not object 
 to it as hearsay evidence ! " 
 
 " He was in Washington for that purpose," said Dr. Haworth, 
 * and returned for a purpose." 
 
 " What purpose ? " 
 
 " Ask him. An accused can testify under certain circumstances." 
 
 " !ot in this Commonwealth certainly not in this case,"
 
 222 DR. HA IVOR Til CONCLUDES HIS TESTIMONY. 
 
 " Then I decline to testify for him others may do so if they 
 wish Mr. Maurice or his family." 
 
 Col. Ross suddenly flushed. His instinct of gentleman doubtless 
 revolted from a public exposure of the incident of the death register 
 and the scene at Mauricewood. 
 
 " Very well," said Mr. Dunn. " Prof. Lesner, I have no doubt, 
 will tell us whether there was or was not an evasion of justice. Such 
 a thing is prima facie evidence of guilt, of course. As you say that 
 Mr. Timothy Maurice or his family can throw some light on Col. 
 Ross' return to meet this charge, I will summon them all to testify 
 to-morrow. I have no further questions for the witness, gentlemen." 
 
 Dr. Haworth was subjected to a cross-examination which lasted 
 until nearly midnight. Every link in his statement was subjected by 
 Mr. Shirley to the most determined attack, and Mr. Dunn, who was 
 generally so careless, was observed to lean forward and listen with 
 absorbing attention. 
 
 He was studying his profession. A master of criminal law was 
 teaching him viva voce more than he had ever learned in books, and 
 when Mr. Sparrow chirped and hopped, interrupting the master, Mr. 
 Dunn scowled at him. 
 
 At last the cross-examination ended Dr. Haworth's testimony 
 had not been shaken in the remotest degree. If the jury were to 
 decide the case upon it, they at least knew what weight to attach 
 to it. 
 
 Mr. Dunn then rose and moved an adjournment, which seemed 
 to be a welcome proposition to everybody ; and the court was ac 
 cordingly adjourned to meet at 1 1 next morning. 
 
 As Mr. Dunn was putting on his hat with a yawn Judge Boot- 
 lack descended from the bench. 
 
 "It's too late to-night for that game of poker, Judge," said Mr. 
 Dunn, " but I have a question to submit for your Honor's decision." 
 
 Judge Bootlack looked puzzled and smiled uneasily Mr. Dunn 
 was always quizzing. 
 
 " Is it ever too late at night to indulge in a nightcap ? " 
 
 Judge Bootlack looked radiant. 
 
 "Never!" he exclaimed; "the court is with you there, sir!"
 
 COL. ROSS EXPLAINS. 223 
 
 XII. 
 COL. ROSS EXPLAINS. 
 
 WHEN the court adjourned it was nearly midnight. That por 
 tion of the audience residing outside of Abbeyville prepared to re 
 turn home, and among them were Dr. Haworth, Mr. Tim Maurice 
 and Jean. 
 
 As Dr. Haworth was about to mount his horse a servant came 
 up to him and handed him a note, written in pencil. It contained 
 only these lines : 
 
 " I should be glad to have a few moments' private conversation 
 with Gen. Ducis on matters of some importance. He will find me 
 awaiting him at the town jail. FERDINAND Ross." 
 
 The messenger was waiting for a reply, and going into the tavern 
 in front of which the note had been handed him, Dr. Haworth wrote : 
 
 " I will visit Col. Ross at once as he requests. 
 
 "HENRY HAWORTH Ducis." 
 
 The servant took back the reply, and Dr. Haworth then informed 
 his friends of Col. Ross' request. 
 
 " We will wait until you return, Doctor," said Mr. Tim Maurice. 
 
 " It will be unnecessary. I may be detained." 
 
 " Don't send me away. Excellency ! " said Jean. 
 
 " It is useless for you to remain. I wish you to return with Mr. 
 Maurice." 
 
 And as Jean Baptiste never argued with his master when he 
 spoke in that tone, he set out for Mauricewood in company with 
 Mr. Maurice. 
 
 Dr. Haworth then went straight to the jail, which was not far 
 from the court-house, and knocking at the door, which was heavily 
 studded with iron, found it open immediately. 
 
 " Col. Ross wishes to see me," he said. 
 
 " Dr. Haworth ? " asked the man. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "All right, sir. I'll take you to the Colonel's room the very 
 best room in the house."
 
 224 
 
 COL. ROSS EXPLAINS. 
 
 The jail was a house, it seems, and the prisoner occupied a room 
 which was an indication of the fact that Col. Ross was not regarded 
 as a common criminal to be confined in a vulgar cell. 
 
 The room was really a room not a cell at all. In fact it was 
 the jailer's own. He and his wife had promptly vacated it on the 
 appearance of their distinguished lodger ; had done far more indeed 
 for, prompted by feminine sympathizers, they had draped the grimy 
 windows with white curtains. Easy-chairs had been provided. There 
 was a handsome table, covered with books and newspapers, and in 
 the fireplace shone a cheerful blaze. The floor was carpeted, and 
 everything was neat down to the snow-white bed, looking very in 
 viting with its fringed pillows in the light of the argand burner. 
 
 Col. Ross was seated in an easy-chair, smoking a cigar. His 
 appearance was elegant, and he was perfectly composed. At the 
 entrance of Dr. Haworth he rose and bowed : 
 
 " I am pleased to see you, Gen. Ducis," he said. " You will find 
 the seat opposite an agreeable one." 
 
 Dr. Haworth bowed and sat down, Col. Ross also resuming his 
 seat. 
 
 " I regret to put you to inconvenience by requesting an interview 
 at so late an hour, as you must be fatigued," said Col. Ross. 
 
 " I am not at all fatigued, sir," replied Dr. Haworth formally, 
 " and the hour is of no importance." 
 
 " You were probably surprised at receiving my note ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "The surprise was natural." 
 
 " It had not occurred to me that you would take pleasure in a 
 personal interview with myself," said Dr. Haworth in the same cold 
 and formal tone. 
 
 " To be frank," said Col. Ross, " up to a certain moment I should 
 have desired nothing less than such a personal interview." 
 
 " Up to a certain moment, sir ? " 
 
 " Up to the moment when you informed the court that your real 
 name was not Dr. Haworth, but Henry Haworth Ducis the son of 
 an innocent gentleman convicted through my agency, as you sup 
 pose, of a cowardly murder." 
 
 Dr. Haworth looked at the speaker with an air of cold surprise. 
 Was this effrontery or trick ? 
 
 " I do not understand you, sir," he said. 
 
 Cpl- Ross had thrown his cigar in the fire, and was leaning back
 
 COL, ROSS EXPLAINS. 
 
 22$ 
 
 thoughtfully in his chair. After a moment he said, looking coolly 
 at his visitor: 
 
 " I see you regard me as a wretch and the real murderer of your 
 father. Well, you are mistaken. I had nothing to do with the 
 murder of James Maurice, nor the miserable plot of fixing the crime 
 on Mr. Ducis." 
 
 Dr. Haworth said nothing ; his fixed look was the only indication 
 that he had heard the words. 
 
 " I understand perfectly," said Col. Ross, preserving his deliber 
 ate tone ; " you do not believe me. Very well ; before you go away 
 to-night you will be satisfied. The object of this interview is to 
 satisfy you. As long as I regarded you as an unknown stranger 
 an enemy pursuing me in order to destroy me I owed you nothing. 
 From the moment when I discovered who you really are, I owed 
 you everything. Your answer in court to-day, ' I am the son of 
 Henry Ducis,' struck me like a blow. I was not aware that Mr. 
 Ducis had a son, and I trust you now begin to understand. I am 
 not altogether the wretch that you think me, and even venture to 
 call myself a gentleman, in spite of appearances. I give you the 
 proof. I will tell you everything connected with the murder of 
 James Maurice, if you think it will interest you." 
 
 " I shall be glad to hear your statement, sir," said Dr. Haworth, 
 unable to conceal his emotion. 
 
 Col. Ross leaned back in his chair and said in a composed voice : 
 
 " Suppose I say a word first of myself. The subject may not in 
 terest you or excite your sympathy to any very great extent, but it is 
 necessary to inflict a sort of preface upon you to make myself under 
 stood. We are not in a court of justice now, and I can say what 
 ever I care to say. I see you are interested you will find that my 
 brief narrative, egotistical as it may appear, will elucidate this whole 
 affair. I will therefore speak of some events of my life, and hope to 
 remove a few impressions from your mind which are not flattering 
 to me." 
 
 Dr. Haworth bowed, gravely fixing his eyes as before upon those 
 of the speaker. 
 
 " I was born in this country and went to South America as a 
 midshipman, and afterward became a lieutenant," said Col. Ross. 
 " My ship was detained at Callao, which is not far from Lima, as 
 you are aware, and after the habit of young naval officers I visited 
 the place for amusement. A traveling opera company was perform-
 
 22 6 COL. JfOSS EXPLAINS. 
 
 ing at the time in the City of Lima, and the prima donna was a 
 beautiful French girl, Marie Antoinette Lascelles. To be brief, I 
 fell very much in love with her and had reason to believe the sentiment 
 returned when she made the acquaintance of Mr. John Maurice and 
 began to cool. He was a young man from my own neighborhood 
 here and at the time was attach^ or secretary of the American lega 
 tion. He was extremely handsome and had a certain glance and 
 tone of the voice which women cannot resist ; and, not to make a 
 long story of it, he supplanted me with poor Antoinette. I say poor 
 because she is dead, and I never had the remotest ill-feeling toward 
 her. I cannot say as much of my sentiment in the direction of Mr. 
 John Maurice. To be frank, I hated him as a man will hate an 
 other who robs him of the love of a woman. I said nothing, how 
 ever, at the time. Things took their course. I went on a cruise, 
 and when I got back to Lima they were married. 
 
 "Well," contiriued Col. Ross, "I had, of course, nothing to say 
 to that, and said nothing. I did not regard it as absolutely neces 
 sary, however, that I should completely drop the acquaintance of 
 Mrs. Antoinette Maurice, as we had formerly been friends. She 
 herself indicated no desire that her old friends should give her up. 
 She was fond of admiration, though one of the best and purest per 
 sons in the world, and accepted an amount of attention from gentle 
 men more customary in France, perhaps, than in America. As I 
 was among these gentlemen, our former relations, unfortunately, 
 made people talk, and Mr. John Maurice, still more unfortunately, 
 had one great fault he was jealous and suspicious to the echo. In 
 a word, he grew angry, offered me a gross insult, or to be more pre 
 cise, slapped my face and in a duel which followed nearly put an 
 end to me. I had a long and dangerous illness, and some time 
 afterward heard curious intelligence. Mr. Maurice had grown 
 more and more jealous of everybody, and at last convinced himself 
 that his wife was unfaithful to him in consequence of which he 
 had deserted her and South America together. She also had dis 
 appeared none of her old friends ever saw her and it was only 
 long afterward that I heard that she had died at Lima in some ob 
 scure part of the town where she had lived unknown after her deser 
 tion by her husband. 
 
 " That is all of that part of my story, sir," said Col. Ross. " It 
 was necessary to state the facts, since a great deal hinges upon 
 them. Right or wrong, the result with me was a good wholesome
 
 COL. ROSS EXPLAINS. 227 
 
 hatred for Mr. John Maurice who had supplanted me, outraged me, 
 painfully wounded me, and left a good girl, whom I loved, to die in 
 poverty and misery. Whether natural or not, I had the sentiment 
 a genuine hatred of the man, and a very strong desire to be even 
 with him. Is that intelligible ? " 
 
 " Yes, sir," said Dr. Haworth. 
 
 " Very well ; that was the state of affairs when I found myself 
 back in this country and neighborhood. Mr. John Maurice had re 
 turned some time before and was paying his addresses to Miss Ellen 
 Maurice his first wife being presumably dead. I say presumably, 
 as to myself, for I did not know the fact at the time. I met him 
 now and then, and had half determined to select the opportunity to 
 insult him and force him to fight me it would be an excellent time, 
 just as he was going to be married for that fact was soon an 
 nounced. I did not do so it really looked too scandalous ! Or say, 
 if you prefer, that I was afraid that he had taught me a lesson at 
 Lima. It is not true, as I have never been afraid of anybody, but 
 you may adopt the theory if you fancy as an explanation of the fact 
 that I did not interfere with his marriage or himself in any manner. 
 
 " What I did do, however, was injudicious and had unfortunate 
 results. I will state the whole case against myself in the plainest 
 and fairest manner, leaving you to believe me or not as you choose, 
 and to form your own opinion. 
 
 " At the time when Mr. John Maurice paid his addresses to his 
 cousin, Miss Maurice, she had another suitor who was crazily in love 
 with her. It is unnecessary to tell you his name at present call 
 him Brown or Jones if you fancy it will save trouble. It was said 
 that Miss Maurice had been engaged to him he said so and had 
 jilted him for the handsome John Maurice. I do not believe that, 
 but it is unimportant. He so stated, and as I knew Mr. Brown in 
 timately and had a sympathy for jilted people, we exchanged views 
 on the subject of Mr. Maurice, whom I liked no better than he did, 
 and often talked about the approaching marriage and festivities at 
 Mauricewood. These conversations took place generally at my 
 house, which I had inherited on the death of my father and Mr. 
 Brown would walk up and down the floor raging and grinding his 
 teeth. He was a cowardly cur, but, like that sort of animal, very 
 dangerous if it was made plain to him that he could use his teeth 
 without personal risk. Another of his traits was that drink embold 
 ened him, and I often amused myself by urging it upon him in order
 
 228 COL - * oss EXPLAINS* 
 
 to listen to his oaths and threats of vengeance. One day I remen> 
 her saying : ' If you hate him so, why don't you fight him ? He is 
 a brave man and will not refuse you an opportunity to right your 
 wrongs.' ' Because he would kill me ! ' was the reply. ' Then go 
 and murder him,' I said.'laughing, ' on the very day of his marriage 
 stab him to death put arsenic in his porridge, or steal on him in 
 slumber and garrote him it is a pleasant death, they say.' He said 
 nothing and went away, and on the next day had occasion to write 
 to me on some matter of business. The note found me dining \v ; th 
 some friends we were all a little elevated with champagne and, 
 begging my friends to excuse me for a moment, I went into my 
 library and scribbled off a hasty reply to the note. Having answered 
 the business portion I wrote these words. I remembered them 
 afterward, and have never ceased to remember them since : 
 
 " ' How comes on our affair ? Are we going to submit to every 
 thing ? Never we will do for him with knife, bludgeon, hammer, 
 or poison. But, on the whole, I think we had better garrote him in 
 his sleep. That will put a quietus to our dear friend at Maurice- 
 wood ! ' 
 
 " I signed the note with my name," continued Col. Ross, " and 
 a day or two afterward rejoined my ship. You know what followed. 
 On the night of Miss Maurice's marriage some one entered the 
 chamber supposed to be that of the bride and groom and committed 
 the murder there. In the darkness Mr. James Maurice was taken 
 for his nephew, and first garroted and then finished with the ham 
 mer. The hammer was really the property of Mr. Ducis, and had 
 been accidentally left by him at Mauricewood on a recent visit, and 
 secreted by the assassin. Finding that it had been identified, and 
 that his own glove, which dropped, was also supposed to belong to 
 Mr. Ducis, the wretch hastened to destroy the proof of the alibi at 
 Sinclair's, which he effected without discovery while the back of the 
 merchant was turned. Then all duly followed as I afterward ascer 
 tained. Mr. Ducis was arrested, tried, and convicted on the circum 
 stantial evidence, and the real criminal has never been discovered." 
 
 Dr. Haworth had listened without uttering a word his eyes still 
 fixed upon the face of Col. Ross. He now said coolly : 
 
 " You have not told me the name of this real criminal, sir." 
 
 " I wish to reserve it for the end, as a pleasant finale," said Col. 
 Ross. " I have nearly done now, and will proceed to explain a few 
 matters of more recent date which must have puzzled you."
 
 THE MAN. 229 
 
 XIII. 
 
 THE MAN. 
 
 COL. Ross carefully removed a speck of dust from his coat sleeve 
 with the point of his white finger and said : 
 
 " So much for the events which occurred in this neighborhood 
 twenty years ago. I was not present at the time of the murder and 
 knew nothing of it or of the trial of Mr. Ducis until some months 
 afterward. I had been ordered on a cruise and my ship sailed for 
 the Pacific before the catastrophe took place. Upon this question 
 of dates you are not obliged to accept my statement, as the records 
 of the Naval Department will satisfy any doubt you may have on 
 the subject. 
 
 " Well, to come to latter times now and what has recently taken 
 place in this neighborhood. I will stop a moment, however, to say 
 that I really had nothing whatever to do with that torpedo-boat affair 
 'v Callao harbor. I was only informed of it at the moment when 
 the boat drifted toward your steamer, and remonstrated against it 
 as utterly indefensible, but without avail. Of course you can believe 
 me or not, as you please. I am speaking the truth. I can under 
 stand why you thought it my own device with your theory of my 
 character, and thai you placed to my credit that shot fired at you 
 in the hills by Wilkins. I was not the author of the torpedo project, 
 of the shot, or even the anonymous letter sent to Mauricewood, de 
 spised as it ought to have been. 
 
 " I did employ that girl to watch you and ascertain your move 
 ments that is to say, I commissioned a rascally valet brought with 
 me from South America to keep me advised of all your proceedings. 
 He engaged the girl Burns through her friend, Miss Larkins, and I 
 made no objection, so I say I employed her. The object was to 
 ascertain who you were and why you were so curious about the old 
 affair of the murder. The anonymous letter, I repeat, was the in 
 genious device of Miss Larkins in response, it seems, to Miss Burns' 
 suggestion. I declare upon my honor you are at liberty to believe 
 me or not that I knew nothing about it." 
 
 Col. Ross paused. A slight depression of the corners of Dr. 
 Haworth's mouth made him flush. 
 
 " You doubt my statement ! " he exclaimed. " You are dis 
 posed to laugh when I speak of honor! You are thinking of that
 
 23O THE MAN. 
 
 leaf from the death register containing the date of Antoinette Man* 
 rices death. Well, sir, I have nothing to reply to that. I bow my 
 head with shame, but not as low as you think I should, perhaps 
 for I did not falsify that record. I did not lay a plan to deceive and 
 carry it out. The date was printed incorrectly in the commissioner's 
 report, which I found at Washington you may go and look at it. 
 I telegraphed at once to Lima to ascertain the truth, and my agent, 
 the subtlest of Spaniards, must have conceived that I wished to have 
 the mortuary register support the public document. He made the 
 erasure and substitution, beyond a doubt, as he abstracted the leaf 
 after you had obtained your certificate." 
 
 " Well," said Dr. Haworth briefly. 
 
 Col. Ross looked at him and said gloomily : 
 
 " After all, you are right ! It was a low business to offer that 
 paper as the price of Miss Maurice's hand ! I believed it to be genu 
 ine that Antoinette Maurice died in October, 1 860, after her hus 
 band's second marriage that Miss Maurice was not born in wed 
 lock ! I meant to burn the record in Mrs. Maurice's presence ! And 
 if I attempted to make my profit of it before doing so, you, at least, 
 sir, ought to have some charity for my weakness ! " 
 
 Col. Ross looked down with contracted brows ; then he resumed 
 moodily : 
 
 " I regret that if it were to do over again I would rather cut 
 off my hand ! To return to the main affair. You came to this 
 country to unearth these old matters, and I saw from the first that 
 you were a dangerous adversary. I was in the real murderer's 
 power and he was in the power of the Pitts-Wilkins woman, who 
 had reached Mr. Maurice's room in time to see him as he escaped, 
 and to steal the money. She had it beneath her apron when she 
 came out into the hall. I say that the murderer he was not Wil- 
 kins had me in his power, or at least my good name. He had 
 kept the note in which I had spoken of the murder of ' our friend at 
 Mauricewood ' with a hammer or by garroting and that note, meant 
 as a jest, was signed with my name. It might not hang me as an 
 accomplice it would fix an ineffaceable stain upon my name. Do 
 you wonder then that I was interested in shielding all these parties 
 who could point their fingers at me as their confederate? The 
 murderer denied having kept the note I knew that he lied. He 
 had not only kept it, but informed the woman Wilkins of it, and the 
 price of her silence was the enjoyment of the stolen money. Thus
 
 COL. ROSS ON THE SUBJECT OF RATTLESNAKES. 231 
 
 I was tangled in the detestable net took night rides was watched 
 in my turn, until one day, weary of all this, you did what the son of 
 Henry Ducis had the right to do you obtained warrants for the 
 arrest of the whole crew, myself included ! 
 
 " I was notified that the warrants had been made out and that 
 they would be served on me in the morning ; and yielding to cow 
 ardly apprehension found that I had business in Washington ! The 
 other wretches were also warned and disappeared. I only differed 
 from them in one thing, that shame and my pride of gentleman 
 made me come back here to face the charge ! I was innocent, in 
 intent at least, of the death of James Maurice and Henry Ducis. As 
 I had never meant to advise anybody to commit murder, I had at 
 least the luxury of a good conscience ! I intended to fight it out to 
 the end, and keep back that foolish note if possible ; but I never in 
 tended to hang in place of my worthy friend, the real murderer, who 
 evidently means to sacrifice me ! " 
 
 " Is he living ? " said Dr. Haworth, looking at Col. Ross intently. 
 
 " Living ? Certainly. You are acquainted I believe intimately 
 acquainted with him." 
 
 "/ acquainted with the murderer of James Maurice and my 
 father ! " 
 
 " Necessarily, since you have applied to him to assist you in your 
 laudable object of relieving your father's name from the stain upon 
 it." 
 
 " / appealed to him ? " 
 
 " And he promptly aided you, and issued the warrant for my 
 arrest only he privately informed me an hour afterwards that I had 
 better have business elsewhere. In other words," said Col. Ross 
 coolly, "the wretch who murdered James Maurice and your father, 
 Henry Ducis, was the excellent Prof. Lesner." 
 
 XIV. 
 
 COL. ROSS ON THE SUBJECT OF RATTLESNAKES. 
 
 DR. HAWORTH looked at Col. Ross with the profoundest aston 
 ishment. 
 
 " Prof. Lesner ! " he exclaimed. 
 
 " Certainly Prof. Lesner. I did not tell you his name before, as
 
 JfOSS ON THE SUBJECT OF RATTLESNAKES 
 
 I thought it would interfere with my narrative," said Col. Ross com 
 posedly. " The real murderer, I repeat, of James Maurice and Henry 
 Ducis is the respectable, the amiable, the excellent Prof. Lesner, 
 who finds in birds and bees the tranquil enjoyment experienced by 
 men of simple tastes in their home surroundings. You know the 
 Professor? He is a model man. He would not hurt a fly. He is 
 wrapped up in his books and bees smiles sweetly on everybody 
 and holds the commission of justice of the Peace ! In other 
 words, he is a living lie a whited sepulchre, as the Good Book says 
 a cowardly murderer, gray before his time, for he is scarcely more 
 than 50 and feeds on opium to drug his conscience ! " 
 
 Dr. Haworth said nothing. It was doubtful from the expression 
 of his face whether he believed Col. Ross. 
 
 '' That is a strange statement," he said at length. 
 
 " Which I see you do not attach any importance to," replied 
 Col. Ross. " In other words, my dear sir, you think my whole nar 
 rative is a tissue of lies that I was the real author of that murder 
 and that I am simply adding a crowning lie in charging another 
 person with the offense." 
 
 Dr. Haworth made no reply. 
 
 " It is rather unpleasant to feel that one's word is doubted," said 
 Col. Ross, coolly, " but I suppose it is natural. I allow that after 
 that death-register business you have the right to think ill of me. 
 So be it. And yet you will soon find that I am telling you the 
 truth. I shall denounce Prof. Lesner to-morrow in open court as 
 the murderer and the woman Wilkins will be offered a pardon and 
 put on the witness stand. There will be no trouble about that, as 
 she is, in reality, only a thief. She only saw the murderer as he 
 was escaping and will testify as to his identity. Is that plain ? " 
 
 " Yes," said Dr. Haworth. 
 
 " There will be no trouble whatever," repeated Col. Ross, " and 
 I rather enjoy the new phase of things, since my dear friend Lesner 
 forces my hand. To be plain, I did not know the extent of the 
 evidence you had collected against me, and thought a simple denial 
 of any connection with the murder would suffice. You have been 
 more skillful than I thought and in fact since yesterday I have 
 been meditating this coupe de main. Lesner will, of course, produce 
 my jesting note to him, and that will be unpleasant but it will not 
 be so unpleasant as hanging, or spending the rest of my life in the 
 State Prison."
 
 COL. ROSS ON THE SUBJECT OF RA TTLESNAKES. 333 
 
 "Prof. Lesner the murderer!" said Dr. Haworth with a last 
 remnant of doubt. 
 
 " Yes, he was the real and actual murderer of James Maurice," 
 said CoL Ross in a matter of fact tone. " I see you find it rather 
 difficult to believe, but it is nevertheless the fact. Human nature is 
 a curious affair, and this man is a curious specimen of it. I have 
 known him a long time, and have often made him the subject of re 
 flection. He is a cowardly cur, as I have said, and as full of venom 
 as a rattlesnake. He had strong passions, and was not held back 
 by any sentiment from gratifying them, for he never had any relig 
 ious belief of any sort, or the least trace of what gentlemen call 
 honor. He was quite poor at the time when he paid his addresses 
 to Miss Maurice, who was an heiress. As to his love, it was no 
 doubt only the love of an animal. Hate was his mainspring, how 
 ever, and I think the gratification of that weighed more with him 
 than success in his suit. But the subject is not particularly pleas 
 ant. It has been your luck to see only one of these traits his 
 hypocrisy." 
 
 " Such hypocrisy is incredible ! " 
 
 " Well," said Col. Ross, " it is curious how many things are in 
 credible to us until they are plain to our eyes. This man I say has 
 been a real study to me. He seems to have enjoyed life since the 
 murder. He is a scholar, fond of books appears to derive real 
 happiness from his birds and bees is the model of a kindly host, 
 smiles on everybody and seems to love the whole human race. 
 Perhaps he lives in an atmosphere of opium." 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " That may explain things. I have never tried the drug, but it 
 is said to make a man oblivious of the real world, to produce forget- 
 fulness. I suppose a cobra or rattlesnake under its effect would 
 forget how many victims he had bitten ! I have not seen our friend 
 much of late years in fact, since his friend John Maurice died so 
 suddenly." 
 
 " John Maurice ? You mean James Maurice." 
 
 " I mean John Maurice. His death took place a year or two 
 after his marriage, and under very peculiar circumstances. He was 
 a little unwell and sent for Dr. Seabright, who was absent from 
 home. Luckily, or unluckily rather, Prof. Lesner happened to be at 
 Mauricewood, and prescribed for him he had been a professor of 
 medicine once."
 
 2$ACOL. ROSS ON THE SUBJECT OF RATTLESNAKES 
 
 Dr. Haworth looked at Col. Ross, recalling the words uttered by 
 Dr. Seabright during his first visit to him. 
 
 " All this is rather scandalous," added Col. Ross negligently, 
 " since there was no proof. Something was said of a mistake hav 
 ing been made in the medicine by Prof. Lesner one preparation of 
 antimony was administered instead of another. One was harmless, 
 the other an active poison unfortunately, Mr. Maurice swallowed 
 the poison." 
 
 " It is impossible ! " 
 
 " Well, I see that you do not like to listen to these scandalous 
 imputations on the character of so estimable a gentleman as your 
 friend the Professor," said Col. Ross, " and it is rather unfair, per 
 haps, to allude to them. Ask Dr. Seabright. Mr. John Maurice 
 certainly died very suddenly from one cause or another from what 
 he swallowed, Dr. Seabright said. Let that pass." 
 
 Dr. Haworth listened to this appalling charge without comment, 
 and a long silence followed. 
 
 " Well, sir," he said at length, " it is only necessary for me to 
 say now that I believe what you have stated. To-morrow will 
 show whether I am right or wrong." 
 
 Col. Ross bowed, and said coolly : 
 
 " I am pleased to hear that you believe my word, sir. You are 
 not effusive in your assurances, but I suppose I ought not to expect 
 you to say more. Whether you believe or disbelieve my statement, 
 it is the truth. That jesting note to the wretch Lesner was a fearful 
 imprudence it was no more. If I had dreamed that it would have 
 led to murder I would certainly never have written it. You will 
 say that I should have spoken out and cleared the memory of your 
 father on my return. Yes I should have done so, but I was told 
 that no human being believed that he was really guilty. I ought to 
 have exposed the murderer yes, but the result would have been a 
 stain on my name. I have often resolved to do so, but I had not the 
 courage. You see I am frank. I say as frankly that the threat to 
 proclaim the fact that the present Mrs. Maurice was never lawfully 
 married to her husband was disgraceful, but a threat only in ap 
 pearance. I swear to you that I meant to burn that paper before 
 her eyes, under any circumstances, and return to Washington and 
 take steps to declare the date in the commissioner's report an error. 
 If I was guilty of an offense which no gentleman should have been 
 guilty of if I believed the record was true, and said to Mrs. Mau-
 
 COL. ROSS ON THE SUBJECT OF RATTLESNAKES. 235 
 
 rice : ' There is the proof that you were never married, and that 
 Miss Maurice is not legally your daughter give me her hand as 
 my wife,' I am sorry for it and ashamed of it. I shall only repeat, 
 sir, that you, my successful rival, ought to weigh my temptation 
 and be a little charitable." 
 
 Col. Ross did not utter these words in any tone of feeling, much 
 less of humility. He spoke coolly and with a certain pride. 
 
 " Men honorable men commit these offenses sometimes," he 
 added, " and if the ladies come into court to-morrow and testify to 
 everything I shall instruct my counsel to admit their statements 
 without a word and permit them to go to the jury undisputed and 
 unmodified." 
 
 Dr. Haworth bowed gravely. 
 
 " It was unnecessary to introduce that testimony," he said, " but 
 it may be unavoidable now. The point of most interest is the 
 probable evidence of Prof. Lesner, who has also been summoned." 
 
 " Yes," said Col. Ross. " Well, if he does not abscond the 
 scene will be interesting. He will fight like a cat in the corner and 
 deny everything, of course. When the woman is pardoned and the 
 murder is brought home to him, he will, of course, produce my 
 note and attempt to drag me down with him, but I shall anticipate 
 all this and formally denounce him as the real murderer of James 
 Maurice, on the opening of the court to-morrow." 
 
 Col. Ross rose and said : 
 
 " I believe that is all I wished to say. I am detaining you, sir. 
 The hour is late and you have a ride before you. I need not again 
 call your attention to the fact that if you had not stated that you 
 were the son of Mr. Ducis I should not have troubled you with this 
 long explanation. Your announcement of that fact produced a very 
 painful impression upon me. Allow me to say once more that I re 
 gard myself as a gentleman, in spite of appearances, so I thought I 
 owed you this statement. My silence when a word might have re 
 instated Mr. Ducis has been a lasting source of self-reproach to me. 
 I can only repeat that everybody, including the very family of the mur 
 dered man, scouted the idea of his guilt and attributed the murder 
 to some unknown person. That is all I have to say at present, sir." 
 
 Dr. Haworth had risen and the two men bowed to each other. 
 
 " To-morrow will probably convince you whether I have spoken 
 the truth or not," said Col. Ross. 
 
 And so the interview ended.
 
 236 
 
 MR. DUNN INDULGES IN A WITTICISM. 
 
 XV. 
 
 MR. DUNN INDULGES IN A PROFESSIONAL WITTICISM. 
 
 PROF. LESNER had not absconded, but the summons to appear 
 and testify found him so unwell that he was unable to attend court. 
 He would be sufficiently strong, however, he said, to be present on 
 the next day ; in the meanwhile other witnesses might be examined, 
 and perhaps the issue of the warrants, the return, etc., might be 
 shown by other testimony. 
 
 When court opened on the following morning, this message was 
 communicated to Mr. Dunn, and he said : 
 
 " Well, there's no real necessity for pulling the old gentleman 
 out of his sick-bed for a small matter of that sort. If he is able to 
 attend to-morrow we can examine him ; if not, we'll swear the con 
 stable and get at the facts." 
 
 Mr. Dunn examined his notes and said t 
 
 " The next point is the return of Col. Ross, which was said yes 
 terday to be for a purpose, other than his trial. Mr. Timothy 
 Maurice and the ladies of his family, it seems, can testify upon this 
 subject. Are they present ? " 
 
 " Mr. Tim Maurice came forward alone, and any one looking at 
 Col. Ross, seated as usual behind Mr. Shirley, might have seen on 
 his face an expression of immense relief. Mr. Tim Maurice had 
 not been present at the interview between himself and Mrs. Mau 
 rice, and the ladies were not going to appear. 
 
 He was quite right. Mr. Tim Maurice's testimony was unim 
 portant. Col. Ross, he said, had visited Mauricewood on his return 
 from Washington. His former relations with the family had been 
 intimate, and the visit had been connected with family affairs. 
 These did not concern the case before the court in any manner, and 
 his niece and her daughter would prefer not to be compelled to make 
 them public. He was authorized by them to say that the interview 
 had no bearing whatever on the investigation. 
 
 Mr. Dunn bowed politely, and said that under the circumstances 
 it would be unnecessary to insist on the presence of the ladies. But 
 Mr. Sparrow suspected a ruse. This ready acquiescence was sus- 
 p\cious ; and before Mr. Shirley could stop him he rose and insisted 
 that the witnesses should be brought into court. 
 
 He did not like the look of the thing, he said, fighting imaginary
 
 MR. DUNN INDULGES IN A WITTICISM. 237 
 
 windmills. The attorney for the Commonwealth had issued his 
 summons ; a summons was a summons ; he meant himself to con 
 duct this case in a straightforward manner ; and Mr. Sparrow 
 seemed about to hop over the desk before him, to the huge disgust 
 of Col. Ross and Mr. Shirley, who endeavored in vain to restrain 
 him. 
 
 Then he sat down and Mr. Dunn got up. His face was bland, 
 and he smiled but the expression of his eye was sanguinary. He 
 proceeded to flay Mr. Sparrow, to rub vitriol figuratively into the 
 wounds, and to cruelly demolish what was left of him. He then 
 laughed and took his seat, leaving the Judge to decide the point. 
 
 Judge Bootlack endeavored to do so, but the judicial luminary 
 was under the weather. He had partaken of so many nightcaps on 
 the preceding night that his great intellect was clouded ; he had a 
 headache, he said, and would reserve his decision until the after 
 noon ; and as the dinner hour was near he would adjourn court. 
 
 This was accordingly done in the midst of general hilarity, and 
 the Judge, having descended unsteadily from the platform, disap 
 peared in the direction of the tavern. 
 
 After dinner the court did not resume its session. Judge Boot- 
 lack was unwell. It was said that he had made every effort to re 
 gain strength to resume his official duties ; that he had partaken of 
 alcoholic beverages at the bar and retired to his chamber to lie down, 
 and finding himself still indisposed had sent for additional tonics of 
 the same description, about a dozen times in succession. This still 
 having failed to revive him, there was no afternoon session of the 
 court, and the witnesses in the case were bound over to be present 
 on the next day. 
 
 Mr. Dunn then put on his hat and linked his arm in that of his 
 friend Sparrow. They fought savagely in public, but were bosom 
 companions. 
 
 " It's sad, very sad," said Mr. Dunn in a pathetic voice, " that 
 our friend, the Judge, is stronger mentally than physically." 
 
 " It is, indeed," said Mr. Sparrow, laughing. 
 
 " One hope, however, consoles me," said Mr. Dunn, " I think he 
 will meander into court to-morrow on the strength of old Coke's 
 maxim." 
 
 " What maxim ? " 
 
 " Id cerium est quod cerium reddt potest. Free translation ; 
 ' It is certain what a certain red-eye can do ! ' '
 
 338 MR. BURDETTE BESTOWS HIS BLESSING. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 MR. BURDETTE BESTOWS HIS BLESSING. 
 
 " I SAY, Haworth no, Ducis ! " exclaimed Mr. Burdette, walk 
 ing in the Mauricewood grounds on the same evening, " is this the 
 way you do things in the South ? " 
 
 " What things, my dear friend ? " 
 
 " Murder trials and murder generally, secret assassination and 
 that sort of thing ! What do you mean ? Don't you know that you 
 are calling down on your heads the denunciation of the civilized 
 world ? This thing is going to get into the papers, Haworth no, 
 Ducis. You can't fool the press. Why not cover it up somehow 
 and prevent the horror from being exposed as an evidence of the 
 barbarism of the South? Such things never take place else 
 where." 
 
 " Well, elsewhere is lucky." 
 
 " In fact, I don't believe the thing took place at all ! Prof. Les- 
 ner concerned in it ? Good heavens ! that splendid old boy ? " 
 
 " You have Col. Ross' statement. I have repeated it, as it was 
 not made in confidence." 
 
 " Well, well," sighed Mr. Burdette, " if anybody had told me 
 that I was publishing for a murderer I should have laughed in 
 scorn ! How lucky I got away from his hospitable establishment, 
 and how unlucky his name is not on the title page of ' Psychology 
 of Opium ! ' The whole edition would go off like hot cakes, though 
 I should feel like putting the proceeds in the fire instead of into my 
 pocket." 
 
 Having thus unburdened his mind, Mr. Burdette asked : 
 
 " Do you think he will appear to-morrow as a witness ? " 
 
 " I think so." 
 
 " It will be a remarkable scene ! And do you really think Col. 
 Ross will publicly denounce him ? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " I'll be present without fail. And now let me repeat a question 
 I asked the other day." 
 
 " What is that ? " 
 
 " Are you literary ? If so, I want you to write up this affair, 
 It's a stunner, and would curdle the blood." 
 
 " I thought you said tragedy was out of fashion ? "
 
 MR. BURDETTE BESTOWS HIS BLESSING. 339 
 
 " You might make it comic, you see ; and get in a lily and a sun 
 flower ! " 
 
 "I'm not literary, and there is not much of the lily about Prof. 
 Lesner. Yes, you were fortunate in getting away from that den with 
 your nice little Miss Giorgione. There she is yonder on the veran 
 da, and I think she has a companion Mr. Jean Baptiste Maurice. 
 Is she going to marry him ? " 
 
 " I asked her yesterday," said Mr. Burdette, laughing, " and she 
 proposed to box me, but as she blushed tremendously I suppose 
 she is." 
 
 " Jean could not be more lucky. I thought he had made an im 
 pression upon her in Lima." 
 
 " They might be married at once. I never saw a boy so much 
 in love ! I said to him yesterday : ' I can't get a word with you ! 
 You are always poking about, looking for Giorgione ! ' He blushed 
 worse than she did. Send for a parson and marry the young ones ! 
 I'll stand godfather and it may be a double wedding." 
 
 " A double wedding ? " 
 
 " You and the fair Miss Gary might embrace the occasion ; em 
 brace is not a bad word ! " 
 
 As Dr. Haworth simply smiled and made no reply, it is possible 
 that he did not regard Mr. Burdette's suggestion as altogether absurd. 
 
 " I have no time to think of such matters," he said quietly. " I 
 have been quite busy this morning." 
 
 " Holding Miss Gary's fan or worsted ? " 
 
 "No, purchasing an estate. I have bought back my family 
 property the Ducis estate in this county. I found no difficulty in 
 doing so by offering more than its value. The deeds are executed 
 and the place is again my property." 
 
 " You are not going to return to South America, then ? " 
 
 " I am not." 
 
 " Well, well, I might have understood that ! What a world, and 
 how would it get along without woman ? It would certainly get 
 along differently. They pick a fellow up and set him down when 
 and where they fancy ! " 
 
 " A profound truth." 
 
 " And you are set down twisted around a girl's finger ! Poor 
 old boy, or young man, whichever you prefer ! No more haciendas, 
 and mangrove trees, and delightful bananas ! No more opportuni 
 ties of entertaining your friend Burdette I"
 
 240 MR - BURDETTE HE STOWS HIS BLESSING. 
 
 " Why not ? Come to ' Brierland,' the name of our home ; there 
 are no briers to scratch you. You know the door will always be 
 open." 
 
 " I'll come ! " said Mr. Burdette, " and divide my time between 
 Giorgione and her husband at Mauricewood, and Gen. Henry Ha- 
 worth Ducis and bride at the brierless Brierland." 
 
 On the same evening that wicked Mr. Burdette said to his 
 charge : 
 
 " Giorgione, I think I will leave you here for a week or two, when 
 I return day after to-morrow." 
 
 " Leave me here ? " exclaimed the young lady, greatly outraged. 
 
 " With this young Apollo, Mr. Jean Baptiste Maurice hadn't I 
 better ? " 
 
 " No, sir ! ! ! " cried Miss Giorgione blushing crimson. 
 
 " He is not coming North, you know he's going back to Lima." 
 
 " Miss Giorgione could not blush more deeply, but she looked 
 down and played with the cuff of her dress, smiling. 
 
 " Well, I see it's all arranged, and he's not going back in the 
 least." 
 
 And as Jean came up at the moment, and approached Miss 
 Giorgione, Mr. Burdette yielded to a sudden inspiration, cleared his 
 throat, extended his arms above the pair in the attitude of the stage 
 father, and exclaimed in a faltering voice : 
 
 " Bless you, my children ! " 
 
 Jean laughed and blushed, and Miss Giorgione was overwhelmed 
 with confusion. 
 
 " I will now add a few words of exhortation, my young friends," 
 said Mr. Burdette, solemnly; "a brief lecture on the interest 
 ing subject of matrimony, its drawbacks and attractions. Matri 
 mony " 
 
 But a stifled laugh behind him interrupted Mr. Burdette. He 
 turned around and found himself face to face with Miss Gary Mau 
 rice and Dr. Haworth, who had come in from their twilight walk. 
 
 " You are just in time, Excellency ! " exclaimed Jean, " Mr. Bur 
 dette is going to lecture. You and sister Gary can join the audience ! " 
 
 "What is the lecture about, Jean?" said Gary to her new 
 brother, laying her hand affectionately on his shoulder. 
 
 " About matrimony ! " said Jean, looking at Miss Giorgione with 
 all his soul in his eyes. " What do you think of that, Excellency ? " 
 
 " I think he is entitled to lecture on that subject," said Dr,
 
 THE END OF THE TRIAL. 
 
 2 4 I 
 
 Havvorth. " His own experience has been charming if I may 
 judge from personal observation." 
 
 " Gracias, Senor ! " said Mr. Burdette saluting, " and now as I 
 am going to say adios to this amiable household I will not neglect 
 the occasion to finish my good work. As my young friend, Mr. 
 Jean Baptiste Maurice, has perspicuously observed, you have ar 
 rived just in time if not to be present when I bestowed my bless 
 ing upon himself and this fair damsel, at least to hear their engage 
 ment announced. They are about to be united in the holy bonds 
 of matrimony, and I have pronounced my paternal benediction. I 
 think others will be gratified by that same, also." 
 
 Dr. Haworth was standing by the side of Miss Gary, and Mr. 
 Burdette suddenly extended his arms above them. 
 
 " Bless you also, my children ! " he exclaimed in a broken voice ; 
 after which, as the scene overcame him, the noble stage parent 
 bent double with laughter. 
 
 Miss Gary escaped from -the room, carrying Miss Giorgione with 
 her in a state of immense confusion, and Mr. Burdette winked at his 
 friend Haworth. 
 
 " Really, this thing is getting too strong ! " he exclaimed. " Are 
 the couples coming to the ark ? Is all the world and his wife going 
 to be married over again ? I never saw such a love-sick establish 
 ment ! Let me fly to Mrs. B. ! If I don't I'll catch the contagion 
 and make love to the widow ! " 
 
 XVII. 
 
 THE END OF THE TRIAL. 
 
 DR. HAWORTH had not echoed the laughter of his friend. His 
 thoughts were too much absorbed in the gloomy drama whose last 
 scenes were now about to be played. The next day would doubt 
 less witness the end of the trial at Abbeyville, and the curious spec 
 tacle would be presented of Col. Ross and Prof. Lesner confronting 
 each other in open court and each charging the other with murder. 
 
 Would Prof. Lesner have the nerve to defy his old associate ? It 
 was probable. If Col. Ross had accurately described his character 
 he would fight desperately when driven into a corner, taking the 
 chances. There was little probability that he would attempt to ab-
 
 242 THE END OF THE TRIAL. 
 
 scond, and under any circumstances that would be impossible. He 
 was watched by an agent of Dr. Haworth, whose whole soul was 
 now bent on definitely relieving the name of his father from the im 
 putations resting upon it. 
 
 The next day came and the party from Mauricewood reached 
 Abbeyville before the opening of court. The streets were already 
 thronged, and the crowd had already begun to flock to the court 
 house. At 1 1 o'clock the room was packed, and by order of Judge 
 Bootlack, who looked solemn and said little, the crier opened court. 
 
 Mr. Dunn was observed to be uncommonly grave, and uttered 
 not a single jest. From time to time he looked at Col. Ross, who 
 was seated behind Mr. Shirley, and with even more attention at Mr. 
 Shirley himself, as if he were studying the demeanor of that master 
 under peculiar circumstances. 
 
 Dr. Haworth had in fact communicated to Mr. Dunn Col. Ross" 
 statement after an interview with the latter at the jail, and Mr. Shir 
 ley had received a similar confidence from his client, Col. Ross. 
 
 Thus it was known to the counsel on both sides that the whole 
 case henceforward hinged upon Prof. Lesner that from the char 
 acter of a simple witness to an immaterial point, the return on the 
 warrants, he had passed to the character of the real criminal, the 
 murderer of James Maurice. 
 
 As soon as court was opened Mr. Dunn said in the midst of a 
 profound silence : 
 
 " Is Prof. Lesner in court ? " 
 
 " He was sent for this morning, sir," said the officer addressed, 
 " and it is time for him to be here." 
 
 Something in the tones of Mr. Dunn seemed to produce a vague 
 impression upon the crowd. The silence was like death. In the 
 midst of it the sound of hoofs was heard on the cobblestones of the 
 street, and a constable pushed his way in a moment afterward 
 through the dense crowd. 
 
 " Well, where is Prof. Lesner?" said Mr. Dunn; "you served 
 the new summons ? " 
 
 " Yes, sir," said the constable in a low voice. 
 
 "Where is he?" 
 
 "He was found dead." 
 
 Mr. Dunn looked the man in the face for a moment without 
 speaking. He then said : 
 
 " Dead ? You say that you found Prof. Lesner dead ? "
 
 THE END OF THE TRIAL. 
 
 243 
 
 " Yes, sir ; in his chair, with a book on his knees." 
 
 A profound silence followed the words not a soul in the vast 
 audience moved. 
 
 " Tell the court everything," said Mr. Dunn, calmly. 
 
 There was not much more to tell. The constable had gone to 
 Prof. Lesner's with a peremptory summons two hours before and 
 knocked at the door. No one replying to his knock, he had gone in, 
 opened the door of the library on the right and seen the Professor 
 leaning back with a smile on his lips in a large arm-chair. Some 
 pet birds were singing, everything looked peaceful, and he supposed 
 the Professor was taking a nap. When he called, the Professor did 
 not open his eyes, however, and after shaking him the officer touched 
 his face. It was cold. Prof. Lesner was dead. 
 
 For the first time, the great audience stirred and murmured, mov 
 ing to and fro as if overcome by the tragic report of the constable. 
 
 " That is all, then ? " said Mr. Dunn. 
 
 " I found this paper in his hand, sir." 
 
 "A paper? Give it to me." 
 
 The constable handed Mr. Dunn the paper, which was an ordi 
 nary leaf of note-paper, upon which were written these lines in a 
 bold and firm hand : 
 
 " I murdered James Maurice, taking him, in the darkness, for 
 John Maurice a man I hated. I also altered a date throwing the 
 guilt on Henry Ducis. His son has discovered everything, and a 
 woman who recognized me at the time of the murder will probably 
 be called to testify. All is over, therefore, and an easy death by 
 opium is better than a death on the gallows. 
 
 " It is not much, as there is no hereafter. Life is a dream, and I 
 only wake from it, to fall asleep not to wake. All my trouble came 
 from a woman. I was a fool to murder two men for such a nothing, 
 when I had my birds and bees. LESNER." 
 
 Mr. Dunn read this note slowly, and then passed it across to 
 Mr. Shirley. That gentleman perused it with similar calmness, and 
 simply said : 
 
 " I presume you will direct a nolle prosequi to be entered, sir, 
 under the circumstances ? " 
 
 "As to Col. Ross, of course. I will indict the other accused 
 persons for grand larceny, and misprision of felony."
 
 244 
 
 AT PRESENT. 
 
 Mr. Shirley bowed and rose. He and Mr. Dunn exchanged 
 looks. It was probable that they regretted not having crossed 
 weapons as adversaries worthy of each other. 
 
 An hour afterward the court-house was deserted, and Col. Ross, 
 cheered by sympathizing friends, was driven home. 
 
 On the next day it was announced in the " Abbeyville Gazette " 
 that our respected fellow-citizen, Col. Ferdinand Ross, who had 
 been subjected to great inconvenience by a groundless charge 
 brought against* him, had returned to Washington on public busi 
 ness. Every respectable citizen rejoiced at his success in repelling 
 the calumnies circulated against him, and he was followed by the 
 good wishes of the entire community. 
 
 A month afterward the same paper announced that its favorite 
 had left the United States for South America, where important in 
 terests demanded his presence. 
 
 As to the sole written document which might have cast a shadow 
 on the fair fame of Col. Ross that had either been destroyed by 
 Prof. Lesner as amounting to nothing ; or if carried in his pocket 
 was buried with him. 
 
 XVIII. 
 AT PRESENT. 
 
 As the event here related occurred in the year 1880, they do not 
 mount to a very remote antiquity, even in an age which lives as fast 
 as our own. 
 
 They nevertheless seem very far away already from the actors 
 in them. 
 
 After the storm comes the calm; after struggle, peace; and 
 whatever any one may say, peace is better than war. 
 
 General Henry Haworth Ducis is married to Miss Cary Mau 
 rice ; and Mr. Jean Baptiste Maurice has discovered that Miss Carry 
 Fenton, otherwise Miss Giorgione, had never meant to send him 
 away from Lima in that heartless manner. They have just been 
 united and reside at Mauricewood, which it is reasonable to sup 
 pose will become their property at Mrs. Maurice's death. As to 
 General and Mrs. Ducis, they live at the old Ducis estate, and, as 
 far as any one can perceive, the young lady with the blue eyes and 
 banged hair has never regretted the result of her horseback accident.
 
 AT PRESENT. 
 
 245 
 
 Mr. Burdette has been back twice. He says he is fond of the 
 South, because the people there laugh out in a natural manner when 
 anything amuses them, and take life easy, which he thinks is the 
 best way to take it. He himself always does he is never in a 
 hurry, as he never rejects a manuscript under any circumstances. 
 He also never allows business to annoy him in any manner and 
 especially avoids all connection with it when he is traveling. 
 
 Gen. Ducis is always extremely glad to see him, and he always 
 stops, on his flying trips. When he goes over to Mauricewood to 
 interview the young couple there, he invariably recalls the scene 
 when he bestowed his benediction, and says to Jean : 
 
 " Are you as fond as ever of poking around Giorgione ? " 
 
 Judge Bootlack is still an ornament to the bench, and has but 
 one thorn in the flesh Mr. Dunn. As to the Wilkins people, they 
 were convicted of larceny, and are in the State prison. 
 
 Of the person who has passed in this history under the name of 
 Dr. Haworth, it may be said that he is quite a different person now. 
 The result of the trial lifted a great weight from him, and he is ten 
 years younger and altogether happier. He has disposed of his 
 property at Lima and become a citizen of the United States, which 
 he thinks is a better country than South America. 
 
 THE END.