Newspapers / The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, … / Aug. 4, 1907, edition 1 / Page 18
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I .I J HIE B2(II Liill: Hio Case of tlio Janway Silhouette, DTf seen t . t i . .J i 'vt .j I ! t ! .x. i tuny uiiiuiu ii cone. 1 A l 1 1 and rol 1 trj, CHAPTER L "Lk out for unolf always! That's hiy motot, Mr. Felix 'Boyd. Look out tor number one. Take care of voursolf and let other do tho earn e. TJMt'8 a ood enough doctrine Tor me to rollow.'and tt ought to he good enough for any man. So 'tis, too, It hut brains are ot bran. Look out for yourself always!" - .' Jwi H was a familiar figure In . and about .Wall Street in those ay. the man who thus declared (himself one morning in the pine, Street office of Mr Felix Boyd. To be familiarly re garded la not always to toe favorably regarded, however, and Mr. Benjamin IKiop, who far more generally was referred to as old Ben Hislop, was hv no means a favorite with man, wo man, or child. For no 8crooge was ,ever more tight-fisted and covetous. Hard as flint, cold, as steel, as greedy as a vulture, and not unlike one In a-tpeet manner, and methods, Hlslop had clawed his way throughnearly seventy years of life, a hanger-on in Wall Street, a piker known In every th dead-line.- a trader of the herring and aculpin class, too crawty and mean to be caught for much, und often too cautious for hla own advantage. . . , - V Such men have only left-handed friends. Whenever Hlslop was favor ed with a tip to buy the market, the "market was Invariably a good, safe sell. Many years before, some eighteen or twenty, Hlslop had been In the bot- ; tllng business In . a small way, with quarters In a damp, old cellar, where he employed half-a-dosen Ill-paid, ill Jed, spiritless boys, by whom he was heartily hated and thoroughly feared. c One dayhe conceived the Idea that a man both cautious and patient could heat the stock market, and from that day he gave up the 'bottling business probably to the ultimate benefit of his abject hirelings, if not to his own. From under his brows for several mom ents Mr. Felix Boyd gozed silent ly at this man a nervous, narrow, ca daverous little fellow, with eyes that were never stall, with hands that were always restless, with a figure some what boed and almost invariably clad In a suit of rumy-brown corduroy. Boyd knew him well enough by sight and name, yet never before hod he set foot In Boyd's office. Despite that most of the facts were widely published at the time, and that many, of them are still remembered . no chronicler of the exploits of Mr, , Felix Boyd could well pass over the shocking Collamore murder case, In the Investigation of which Boyd flour ed with even more than characteristic brilliancy. The affair occurred 1n the month of December, during a prolong ed spell of unseasonably warm and imirkv weather, and Boyd's part n 1 the case had its beginning with the "entrance of Hlslop into his office early that morning. "Tours is not a very generous doe trine, Hlslop. on my word," Felix Boyd - presently rejoined, with contemptu- mis wtare through the nmoke from his Ihrier. "One too selfishly actuated fre quently sets, bit." "Oh, I've necn bit times enough, Mr. ' Boyd." cried Hlslop bitterly, wagging his head and working Jerkily from one foot to the other. "Too many times I've been bit, sir; bit hard and deep. Yet many a time, too. I have bit back, make no mistake about that. I'm one who bites back, sr, never doubt It." "Nor do I, Hlslop, by any means," said Boyd dryly. "I don't moan to get bid again, how ever, If I can help it. I'm getting too ' old to take very long chances, and well I know It. So I kwp an open eye, Mr. Boyd, always, and look out for myself. That's my motto, sir, as, I said fn the beginning." "nAd Is It to lok out for yourself In some way, Mr. Hkdop, that oyu have called upon me thl morning?" esked Boyd. qule pointedly. "If no, old man. I think I'd bettor be guard ed." "No, no, )fs not fch-u. nothlnir of the sort," cried Hlslop haivtllv. "There's nothing Involved In It for you, nor for metdlrectly. I'm striv ing only to serve mother." ' "Humph! It strikes me that you've - suddenly taken the other side of the fence," growled Hoyd. who had no fancy for his despicable vl.-itor. "What - do you want here?" "I want your opinion of a certain jarty," saiil Hivlop, now tincturing his request wim u mingled snarl and whine, -i'ou know everybody about Wall Ptrt, or It's said yon do, and you're a .man of pood. wHind Judgment. I ws.nt to know what you know of a certain man," " Boyds brows droop, d censoriously over his keen, gray ryes. "What man?" he askei -od!v. T' "His name i Herbert aJiWy bet ter knowti an Bertie .Ian way." " Acieirk for David Collamore, t.ond broker. of Beaver Strict?'' i, "That'll the oyu ng man." cried H!s Jop promptly. "Well, before I tell what I know of young Jan-.vay. suppose you . tel) me why yon cudl here to usk euom mm," said liyi enrtly. "Only hernue I think vou can best , Inform me " , Oh. ) dori't mean Umt. Mr. Hislop, and iou know it. I Mr wtlnh to' ; ) now the o easion ,f yur in(oiit in Jar.i'n." ' "Inlerert. 1m it ?" snarled Hlslop cap- nouiy i ve no i,.iorc.nt In horn, the .devil tiiKe hltr.. If .he'd koe lfrom n and mine, i d never trouhln tie AVi i.tv to marry my d "Worse, If anything," snapped His lop sharply. "If he paid his debts, he'd not have a dollar. He "has more of an eye for my money than for" "Well, well, break off," Boyd curtly Interrupted. I have no Interest in this. Posting Irate fathers Is ot In my line. Go to Mr. Collamwe, Jan way's employer, and he probably wUl Inform you of ' - "I have been to him, and ho " "nAswer that bell, .Terry." f cried Boyd ' abruptly, turning to his office boy, who had been an amused listener to the foregoing. The telephone bell had rung, and before Hlslop could renew his appeal for Boyd now Ignored him he lad turned quickly to the latter and vrled: "It's from Mr, Coleman, sir. "From Jlmmle Coleman?" . "You're wanted down In Beaver street right away, sir. He says there's something wrong In Collamore's of-J rice, ana nes wamnjr cor you to .. "What's f that?" ' snarled Hlslop, swinging sharply around. "Something wrong there? Janway, then, for a thousand! He's always going wrong. must learn what he's been up to thla time." . . - ':, ' With which, and white Boyd hur riedly donned his street coat, the rfd man turned and hastened from the office and downNhe corridor stairs. much as if his Immediate presence in Beaver Street was of paramount Im portance. . Boyd beat him out by takln a cab. however, and was first to arrive at the had an office. U was an inferior old building of brick end stone, -located In a section where the Improvements of later years obliterated most of the structures of those days, and wrougtht such changes that but few -will recall the scenes hero described, Upon leaving the cab, Boyd was met by Jlmmle Coleman, the central office man, at the door of a narrow, poorly lighted corridor making to ward (me rear of the building, with a flight of stairs at one side leading- to the floors above. In the corridor was a group of men, among them a po liceman, and Coleman qmickly and quietly plained the situation, to Boyd. "There's something amiss tn Colla more's office," eald he. "I happened along just as Janway, his clerk, was appealing to Officer Burke. Knowing Col la more to be a client of yours, Fe lix, I at once telephoned to you, and have kept maters hanging by the eye lids till you arrived." "Have you been Into the office?" "Not yeit. Cannot get In without forcing an entrance' v . "Why do you suspect anything wrong?" "Because the dwor of the front of fice Is secured with a guard-chain In side, yet the door Is not locked. We can open tt a few Inches " "Ah, I see," nrutterefr Boyd, glanc ing "Sharply toward the door mention ed. 'How long since the situation was discovered, Jlmmle?" "Barely ten minutes. I at once sent for you. Janway came down here as usun to open the office, and found N "Wait a bit, Jlmmle, I'll question him. Have Burke keep those men out a far as the foot of the stalra." Coleman nodded and proceeded t comply, while Boyd strode farther in to the corridor and accosted, the bond broker's clerk. "Good morning, Janway," said he, wlh a sharp glance at the young man's face. "Do you generally open this office In the morning?" Junway was a tall, well-built man of twenty-five, with an attractive face and an abundance of fluffy, ourly hair. He obviously was much disturbed, as appeared in his ashy paleness and II )ated blue eyes; yet Bojd noticed that he .clutched hard a ring of keys In his hand, and thus unconsciously betrayed the mental effort with which he was maintaining his outward composure. "Surely some ill ha 'befallen Mr. Collamore." he hurriedly replied. "Yes, Mr. Boyd, I always open mornings. Here Is the key, sor, but It's useless now. The guard-chain Is on, as you may see, which plainly Shows that ftir. t'niiamore still Is In the office," Boyd turned and opened the door a fe w Inches, at which point It was checked with an ordinary brass guard chain, running to a socket secured to the side casing. Peering through the narrow opening, however, Boyd could e thnt psrt of the office nearest the front windows, and noted that the curtain were drawn. Collamore occupies the two rooms on this floor, do he not?" he bluwt lyacked , reverting to Janway. "Ye, sir. The front one is a gener al office, with desks for myself and the office boy, The back room ls Mr Collamore's private office." "Is there any way out except hr this door?" v 7 "None m use, air. There h an old flown through the cellar, but that la never used. It lhas not opened for years," "There's somebody within, or that chain could not have been left Hd Justed. How manv clerks - -'t.,-j- chalrs 1n orderly arrangement nearby, and at the various otiher objects which went to furnish the rather inferior of fice. The only Indication of anything wrong, however, wa the closed door of the rear room, and this Boyd hast ened toopen, with the central office man close at his heels. On the thresh fold he quickly recoiled, however, and gripped Cdleman hard by the arm. "Walt a bit tltt I have a look." he muttered brokenly with eyes sudden ly glowing brighter. "This ls murder, jlmmle, murder most fouill'V -i f WUh half -an-eye one might have read the dreadful truth in the shock ing picture 4he room presented. The curUn at the one rear window was drawn down, lending to the scene subdued yellowish light which served greatly to augment ts ghaettlneaa ; ;. A large safe in '' one corner stood open, the small steel drawers of which lay scattered upon the floor,, rifled ot their content On an open roll-top desk nearby stood a large, o4H amp, which evidently had burned out, for the wick showed charred and black t, f ot I ; t:..s j,a plainly!" 'Sui-r'y. The cafe has been rifled." "I a '..y t ne Bi'Ler that," cried Boyd, starting so hiu feet with a wave of his hand toward the lifeless body. "Brains t . 1 t ' 1 (srevv 1 ,n I sibly .with 1 1 HI, a lid 1 1 11' t n . i t. 0 tx'X secured ll 1.'." 'Ah. I eee." nodded Coleman. It could have been done, ail r!;ht." 'Very clever, tio, JimiiniOk end like ly to have Winded many. Half the beaten .out with a bludgeon. Killed by force would doubt that the scoundrel a cur ' and coward. Half-a-minute, Jlmmiei. We'll see how he rot In here." , ' . ' ' "He cannot have entered by the corridor door, providing Janway has told the truth," declared Coleman, "That guard-chain would htove pre vented him, and also enable Collamore tohave seen him before admitting could thus have departed and cover ed his tracks, even admitting: this to have been the way he entered." "That's right, too." "Now look this way, - Jlmmle, I think we shall find additional evi dence that I am rifffrt" . And Boyd led the way over a heap of rubbish and around a- rusty old him voluntarily. He -surely would not furnace, then climbed a flight of stairs have let a stranger m here, being lono In the office In the evening." ''Not likely not likely. Jlmmle.' Boyd already" was at the window. terminating at the door In Coillamore's rear office. Striking a match, Boyd carefully examined the knob. " "Just as I thought, eaiid he grtmty. making a rapid examination of the There's not a particle of dust on.it. sashes and lock, as well as a study of the view presented outside. It was not an attractive view. Some (thirty feet away rose the faded brick wan of a similar building, the rear el evation, with offices above and old junk cellars and basements below. Be tween the two buildings, and separat ed by a foul and muddy alley, were several low sheds, one of which was directly-under the window of Colla- Jlmmle- Had thlsdoor not ibeen op ened for years, as Janway asserted, the knot would have been covered with dust 'Sure thlnss.it would. growled the central office man. "There's no get ting around that" ' "The knob Is as clean aa if Just; wiped by a house maid," added Boyd. "This door was opened last night," Jimimle. take my word for that. It more's office, and evidently attached to was opened by the hand that kMled above the burner, and a stuffy, smoky f the buiidtngV Its faded shingle roof Collamore, too; the hand, of- Well. wiii.K.,,..r.r pervKum ny wn. -. snowed no slam or recent footprints, prostrate upon the. noor near tne j,oweVer, and Boyd presently remark-i cnairtii ma open ae..wii wio um- igj, with unabated energy: contracted and his gray head lying in a pool of congealed blood, was stretch ed the body of the bond-broker, slain by as foul a blow as ever mortal man delivered. The central office man caught his breath, "Used though he was to start- "This -window 'was not forced, that's i plain. Try yonder door, Jlmmle. See if It's locked." - 'Tight as a drum, Felix. It must be the door eald to lead to the cellar, : the way not opened .for years." instead of replying, Boyd darted ling scenes and repulslv 'Picture.. No vinAovvnd fell to studying whose curiosity also was aroused, the well, that's the question Jo be an swered." - - " 1 Janway, do you think?" -', 1 I suspect him no more than anoth er," replied Boyd, as they descended the stairs and paused brieHyin the damp, dimly lighted cellar." "I'm not Influenced by Hlslap's ugly innuendo, the two." . "Yet Janway had every opportuni crowd had pressed Into the front of the carpet near Che door, which wasjty to prepare the , way or such a in one corner or tne room. ? present- crime." 1 ly he started up 'from his knee and ; "That's true enough," thoughtfully flee, and with voices ihuehed and eyes ', ."L1"' kJTit. -n,A hl awea were peering into tne inner ox-lv n.JMvw-. flee' at the murdered man. Not a, sound had come from Jan way, whe was the first to follow Cole man and Boyd Into the .room: and while the latter still stood sbudylng the scene of the crime, with his frown ing eyes seeking even the slightest clue to its perpetrators, the brief silence was broken by another. desk. "I have it, Jlmmle. way he hurriedly muttered. "CoHa' more was seated with, his back to this door. The assassin quickly entered- he had prevlotoly .prepared the way, leaving this door unlecked.t Not like ly that tftie fact would be dr sewered, the door seldom being touched, xes, liBUw.T?BoBbly-iir- may; yet diis This was the over some due by which to Identify I -VI. ' rW.. MmA T'U qu.V. breaThlesily "upon I ihTi Vnd SJ W-S x' quickly wormed his way Into the brok- f'n'evnd ;!LV eJ?; JL,!32i er's office. The moment his eager ga?e fell upon the gory figure of Collamore, at the eight of whloh he did not so much as shrink or shudder, he gaze unrestrained expression to his senti ments. ' ..-:' "Aha! aha!" he , cried shrilly, al most at Boyd's elbow. "What did I tell you? Something wrong here. eh?, t should say so! I should say so. in deed! This is what comes of employ ing ft man whose character Is none of the best, and who - Bud he got no further with his nowy thread before we're interrupted Raisin the mindow, Boyd led tne ay to the roof of tne shed, where he made a closer examination shingles,. the criminal, howevetf. and In that case the dastardly remarks- by Hlslop may Harks that's Burke knocking on the office door. We'll return at once by the way we came. . No, no, Jitwmie. don't bother o. readjust things after me." - " - Becoming impatient alter repeated - ly knocking on the door. between the tto rooms, Officer, Burke Anally,' ven tured to open it, wnicivtne am just as Boyd and -Coleman clambered over the roof of the shed and through the of the I -window of the rear office. What') ' the ' trouble, Burke?" was ;i i "1 Ml 1 . ii-.ion. ' y, or . t you hi: v. ;y tt-rrible ) ifar' froim a lie, arrest Is now im-. "Veil lu . -n hat you s.o' i 1 "before a Jury," 1'. interrupted, wil: sternness. "It's - s Janway, that ywur perative. Not a word, I say, if you're, wise. Just let me slip these bang-led on your " "Steady, steady,, Jlmmle, dear fel low, and stop a bit," said Felix Boyd, with impressive yet strangely curious quietude. ; - Ha had reached out and laid his fingers on Coleman's 'arm, in whose hand a pair of gleaming steel ma nacles was clinking ominously. With out a "moment's pause, yet with never a change In his odd, deliberate utter ance, Boyd added: V "Not too fast, Jlmmlft If young Mr. ; Janway ha4 any Inclination to bolt, he could have done so long ago. Better le the matter rest, Jlmmle, dear fellow, until a Inspector Byrnes arrives on the scene. From his own conduct It certainly appears,1 Jlmmle, that the arrest of young Mr. Janway megr. safely be-r-deferred!":; 5 It would be Impossible to describe the way all this was said, or Its effect upon the throng of startled hearers, scarce one of whom, could deny the damnatory character of Brisbane's tes timony. V ' .k-Ki,; p 'V ; v "r''riy r Yet Jlmmle Coleman quickly drop ped the clinking, manacles back in his pocket i In theeyes and voice of Fe lix Bovd he had read what none ether had 1 the discernment to-p-that Boyd now knew that a mistake had been made in the man. "' ' A3 for Janway, he had not stirred from hU position near thewall. . Yet a strangely hard expression had set tled on his hueless sface, and he glanc ed sharply at Boyd and muttered sul lenly: i ' , i- - "You may do what you like, you fel lows! , ira cursed u 1 care!" your he a .1, : 1 t n, pens. Tl-.U i-y te c caller, however. Ther-; acitin. Go answer it CHAPTER III. "I dont find any indication that the Bovd'a curt lnauiry. ' as he entered, knave first climbed up here to make I "Do you want me?" sure Collamore was alone." said he. : Not I, sir, the offljber said. ' "But Possibly, he knew hl habits, and Dhe there's a gentleman here who wishes lighted curtain wouki nave snoweoi to speak to you." i . "To me?" "I am the man. Mr, Boyd. - , "Ah, Brisbane, is it you?" remark ed Boyd, as jhe man entered the rear rodm. "What have you to eay? Any thing relating to this affair?", Brisbane, who was an elderly law yer, and very weH known to . Boyd, halted with a Bhudder upon beiholding the gory figure of the stricken broker. that the office was occupied. . ' "Janiway iiwould have known mm to be alone! suggested Coleman, rath er pointedly. "Also that the safe con- InsinuaMon. for Janway had turned tained valuable tonos. V ' upon him as if suddenly lashed with "iTue," aartvmea uoya inaunerenuaf. a whip. - "rm biessea if njij. repuiaaoa may noi 'What's that?" he fairly roared. Hv- lena 10 r sray: .wen arop aowunw m tn th tin. rvv vou dare intimate, tne yard. I want, a joox at me auey. vn,i hftii-wrffo t,ai t know mishit of AvalllmT themselves of a fence abut- thls? Recali those words, or 'I'll ting the f hed.' the two men descend- Br40Cklng sight seemed to briefly throttle them down your throat, old ea to in smaw, rear yarn, pavcu who render him speeoMoss, ana in tne ma- man though vou are!" pncua rne aujonnnS wuey mentary eiience mat preceaea nis re- r a. ,mn..i t inriupd an tr tn ue, jiowr, im wt mmu 6n,u., , niv n. nsn cniin nave j)een neira nrcnij, room would be the scene of a second revealed , no definite footprints, and J ms grave conmtenance seeaned to har- murder. for Jatvwav had leaDed UDon noyu ; t once lurnea oaca mio u binger some new and startling ais yaro. , 1 closures, moreover, ana several 00- . To the right of the shed was a cea- geirvers. whoser interest had been 1 In ter door, but this as if In corrobora- tensifind bv Bovd't secret lnvestiea tlon' of Janway'e. asertlon, was stout-(tions,: among "thorn both- Hisloip and ly boarded up. ana eviaenuy naa noi been ODened for years. Boyd'a searcrmg eyes rnmssea nom ing, httwever,'vand 'they nest fell upon a low window to the left of the shea and apparently in the foundation wall. It was protected .with a strong iron lattice, or grating, screwed to the etout casing wlthli. H ' What have we here?" he impati Hlslop as a terrier springs upon a rat. and appeared bent upon shaking his very life out. With a violence that brooked no opposition, however, Boyd quickly tore the two men apart,, hurl- j Ing Janway back against the iwall, and crying sternly: "Silence, both of you! Are you mad, Hlslop, thait you venture thus? And you, Janway- ' . "Pardon! pardon! I was wrong," Janway hoarsely cried, with impuls ive gestures of appeal. "I knew not i what I did. I forgot his .years, and that nis Ms- ently growled, dropping to his knee at Janway, seized the . opportunity- to edge their way Into the rear room. The contrast; between the -two men last mentioned - was decidedly vivid. Hlslop's every nervelseemed to be fiuivertng with - irrepressible "excite ment. Janway,' however, though as deathly pale as the mute victim of the dreadful crime, otherwise appear ed as firm -and cold as a man of stone. "Yea, Mr". Boyd, I came to speak of He would have referred to His- the lattice?" "There are no glass this affair," Brisbane finally rejoined. lop's daughter, and to his own love for her, but the words seemed to choke In his throat, and again Boyd inter rupted. "No more of that. Let the matter drop. This is no time or place for such a brawl. Another word from panes back of this iron Ha! .I have it. It is an alrbox, formerly used j "I eaw you and Detective Coleman in the rear ard, and feared that a crime in connection with a furnace in this had ibeen committed here. It is even cellar." "80 it aoDears. Felix." "But there now are radiators in Col lamore's office, and, presumably. you, Hislop. and I'll Place you under throughout the building. Evidently arrest. You, Burke, see that I am the furnace has ibeen discarded and not interrupted. Step In yonder with steajm-heatlng introduced, possibly me. Jimmle, and we ll see what may supplied from some adjoining plant be learned "of this appalling crime. Knock on the door. Burke, if 1 am wanted. Coleman already had entered the Inner office, but Mr. Felix Boyd halt- ed for a moment on the threshold to glance sharply at the men address ed. Fuming and snarling under his breath, Hlslop was engaged In replac Ing his disordered garments. M.h nearly every eye In the room fixed upon him. many of which now ed here?" "Only the office boy and myself." "Who closed the office last him. daugh- ing?' even. l Mil I arrived this morning fend found the door tihu.i. I supposed Mr Odlumnre to have closed 11." "Vn ., 1..,1 1. 1 "" mi mm nere wnen vou ter and che him, the headirtronr n1e arid it s only wUh tooth and nuU that '. J car, in vein .it." hi-l married after turning flrtv, , this man Hlslop, and his wife lived but a near gome wondered that she. last- td as long as that, and openly declnr- fd that a woman wtio could live with ' WHnp could live with a , wolf. One daughter was the fruit of the mar- riage, howew, and she had grown to as !ov!y and lovable a girl at ever carrier; a fan. People said he took sf-,-.,ter her mother, and the there was none of ( Hislop, in (her, and it's odds they -were, right;. . Though somewhat am used by . the . old man's asperity; and the cause of it, - Boyd kept: s. grave face. He knew tnat young Janway was said to be a rakl4i sort of chap . and an arrant , spendthrift, yet he was a popular club Sr" iti ft, ot OP-Pta. That Mr. David Collamore by whom Jan way wa employed, was on Boyd's list of Olents. also had weight with the ' "Why do you wish to prevent their - marriage?" ie bluntly demanded !t your daughter loves him. f what are your objections to ajaway?" "Because he's an infernal rake, a libertine, that's, what he Is," snarlod Hislop ferociously. "H' no At ian for my ej"ie. He's a spendUirift, a sambjer.-the devil only knows what" 'Oh, net m bad haf, I thlfik."-' home ?" "Yes, sir, at half-past six," replied Janway, molHtcnlnsr his drv . ai bert, the office boy, had gone an hour earlier I waited to help Mr. Col lamore bakinca aome bond trannac Uons made in the market vt.,i-.. then left him at .work 011 his private book. He act; us trustee for w-veral perrons, and, It being ncariy the first of the yeur, he was engaged In piepar- ... maiwiivuui w incur accounts. He cme with nie as far as this door when I departed, and renmrkod that he would not lock It, but would adjust the guard-ehafci against the pomkiwi- ij- m ony unwelcome intrunors," jitimpn; grouped Boyd, with - - " " - " m ins Biieniive, btuV , nr cx.eui any visuora?" "I m quite sure "he did not," de ciarea Janway mtdlly. "I think his rrwiwrK was only a casual one. Yet nw that he had a good many bonds in the safe, and posslWy that fact may have led him to seoure the "Bonds, eh?" - ihjtu wneei mam ahmit .uw brows knitting ckjsvr, and leckoned Coleman nearer. "I'm afraid Collamore's done for Jlmmle," said he grimly. "We'll forca' this door, (Jive it your shoulder with inu. oihoo awsv. mv iai.-F "But I'm the office boy, sir 'fJood for you, ny lad, but stand away just the same. Now, Jimmie.- Under the combined efforts of the two men, the guard-chain parted1, and the door opened violently against the Inner wall , Boyd glanced sharply about th evinced quickened -suspicion Janway sassin?' Got a stout knife, Jlmmle?" "Yes, a regular toad-sticker." "I wish to try4 these screws," ex- plained Boyd, with intense Interest "If recently removed they should start easily. Otherwise tney will resist Ah, by Jove, but they dontt This lat tice has lately been taken out. and It's a safe guess by whom. He design ed to cover his tracks, however, by screwing It in agann. Now we have It out, Jlmmle. the way is open.' "The way taken by uollamore s as- irtood motionless at one side, with his tani figure., reared against the wall. and his drawn features aa colorless as the linen at his throat. In his burning blue eyes, however, and the rla-ld line of his regular Hds. one mlaht have read that some great resolution, ob viously grim and inflexible, had tak- Evidently." "What now?" "Man mnay go where man has be?n, cried Boyd, as he placed the lattice and screws aside. '"I'm going into this toox and see where It leads. You may follow if you wish, and can." "Where you go. Felix, I go," de en the place of his momentary pas- clared r Coleman promptly, slon you.' "In with CHAPTER IL "What do you think of that. Pellx?" ask Ml Coleman, as Boyd joined htm in the Inner office and closed the door. "Of what, Jlmmle?" "Of that crack from old Hlslop. Does he know something of this at fair, or of Janway?" Three sides of the box, which was rather .more than two feet wide, were of faded pruce boards, soiled and dusty. The fourth side consisted 01 the foundation wall Just within the window. Boyd wormed himself In feet first and dropped down till he could find a footing. Then he turned more horrible than I apprehended. A sense of duty compelled 'me to hasten over here to give you what in formation I can." Mr. Felix Boyd's countenance did not change by so much as a shadow. "very good of you, rm sure. What do you nappen to- x now 01 -roe case, Brisbane?" said he, with deliberation approaching a drawl. The lawyer pointed out through the open window,' and both his hand and his voice trembled observably ably, r . , . "In the building directly opposite Is the window of my office," said he ,was engaged there last evening till after 7 o'clock' - After extinguishing my v lamp.. Mr, Boyd, ; I turned to the window to be sure It was locked. Then, sir, I happened to see -r" "Stop a hit," " Boyd quietly inter posed. "Are you quite sure, of the time,' Mr, Brisbanex ' - "Absoruteiy truei I go moime by train, and I looked at my watch just before puttln g out my lamp. : It was precisely after 7." i i. 'And precisely five minutes after this crime was committed!" wa the thought .that .flashed through Jlmmle Coleman s mind. Boyd's moderate, monotonous voice underwent, no change. ; y "Ah. yes. very good," said he. "Hav Ing extinguished the light, Mr. Bris bane, you approached the .window of your omce ana saw now go on, If you please." "I observed tnat htewinaow or this In this narrow quarters to feel down office was' lighted and the ' curtain the Inner side of the face of the box, (drawn down?! continued the lawyer, and mresentlv discovered a consider-! "While 1 etllr'aazed. wonderlmr whv very uuie or euner, Jimmie, is my jtble crack between two or tno boards collamore was engaged so late, t sud present belief," Boyd hurriedly an swered. "We'll consider it later, hawever.' Just now time la of value. Bynes may show up at any moment, fov ill news travels quickly, and I want the first whack at the evidence here. Collamore was my client, and I'll at least hound hts assassin to the scaffold,; since that now 1 the limit and signs of a pair of hinges some foot Innsr, . "I have It, Jlmmile.T' aald he, turn ing back, "This part of the-box Jeads ! do wn . to - the cement floor,;,., under which the rest of the conduit runs until it reaches the , air-chamber of the furnace." "That plain, " nodded Coleman, denly noticed on the; drawn curtain the shadow of & man's head, the curi ous movements of which led me to briefly linger to -watch It. As wed! as X oould judge from the shadow, the man was at wrk over something Jylng upon the floor; -for I could see only the shadow of his head above the win dow-slil, and It moved frequently from 01 service j can un Up that crouohmg outside and peering Unto the side to side, and now and tfven bobbed curiam ana let aaynKm in nere.- window 1 una II Boyd' voice had become brusk even to harshness. Hts dilated eyas 'had taken on a feverish, unnatural glitter, seen in them only when the hound in the man was let loose and his brain stimulated to Intense activity. At sfloh times he was rude even to ugi! ness, and his every move -was made with decision and dispatch that seem ed to preclude thoroughness, and lent to his Investigations a superficial as pect that appeared to render , thetm fruitless. - , . , t , i Coleman knew better than that, however, and that Boyd was at' his best under such mental . excitement. and he knew well how to handle him to the best advantage. As he hasten ed to comply, raising the cirtain to the top of the broad single window. Boyd went to Coiiamoree. vest pock et, and drew out his watch, Upon opening It, the i, rystfli, broken to small pieces, felt Into Boyd's palm "Hal" he ejaculated through W teem. "There was a struggle here In which the watch was broken. The case l badly bent re e! He was seised A square section of this woodwork appears to be hinged at the bottom, and may be lowered, possibly with a view to getting at the interior of the box," contsnued Hoyd. "It, eewns to be secured In place with a wooden button, I think I can throw it with your, knife, Jimmie, Try k. Here you are. Ah, yea, easily," cried Boyd, aa he little, if I may so express It." "Quite as If the man was kneeling here on the floor and possibly exam ining the botjy, or rifling yonder draw- era or their securities?". "Exactly, sir!" . . ., For a moment Boyd's inscrutable eyes left the grave face of the speak er, going to the lamp on the bond broker's desk, and then they swiftly swept the entire roonv - Yet not two dcsksV'tha table "tyul several thrust the knife-blade' through the change showed In his calm, clean-cut crack and located the "wooden but-1 face. ' , 1 ton. "There she goes, Jlramle, and "Very valuable testimony. Mr. Bris the section with It." . , . . bane,", said he, with curious compla The -hinged portion hud dropped cency.' "It wotuld be doubly valuable. noisily, and Boyd quickly, worked sir. tt you had seen a shadow of the himself through the opening and Into I man's profile on the curtain, and by It vim - i-i-unr, wnero vuiRmaa nuuiuea touiq iuciiiiit niiii, to join him. 'Do you think, inquired the 'latter. nnat the assaesln came and went this Way?"Vi':V.;:;.:t;i, "So it eppeera." '"But how could he have replaced that setftton when departing, and have turned the button to secure It? "With a little time and patience ha from behind before ha could rise, and leould have done it."- replied Boyd, In strursiltnsr to turn on his mjant I ralslnv the hlnred niece to examlna it Ifront office, at tha drs wn enrtalns, thai be jHfnrned th,va.tcb agalnat the arm 1 c!oser;'The incentive., aiaa-great. of the chair." mind you, He wished to cover his 'Indeed. Mr. Boyd, that Is just what I did see!" cried the lawyer, with a nervous vehemence. , "Ah, Is that so? , queried Boyd. "And were you quite positive of the profile. Mr. Brisbane; so positive that you could - not be mistaken in the mart?? . . ; ,:,' '"Indeed. t ami I was near enough to ee the shadow plainly, and the pro. file was so clearly outlined as to pre cud a. my .being . inlstaJtsih Tina-man had removed his hat, moreover, and Few persons, not excepting Jimmie Colemanven, coilld have discerned either the motive actuating Mr. Felix Bovd. or the occasion ol it. That he was very definitely, moved,' however; and Wd sufficient influence in Mulber ry street .to. pave the way for his own designs, appeared j during ithe eamo day, , For the police made no move to arrest Janwav. nor o ' much aS sub jected him to an examination; and the Investigation of the-icase as a fwnoie seemed as one of the evening newspa pers declared to hanr fire, mi a mosi inexplicable way. This lasted only un til evtming. however. and the next edi tion-of the same papert reversed its declaration. ' ". Shortly after 8 o'clock that evening five men separately approached an or dinary Harlem residence, one of a long brick block-Two of the men cautious ly eought an alley back of one of the dwellings, while two .feecreted them selves within easy reach of the front door. .,. The last two were DetecttveB Coleman and Akerman, and ail were (from the central -office.. " The fifth man; iWho arrived a little latere .was Mr. Felix Boyd; and. he at once mounted the steps ot tne nouse and rang the bell. , The front of the dwelling; was n darkness, w'lth the exception of a dim light In the main hall. A side library oetween tne panon -ana me ainwis room was lighted,: however, and at a table in this room two men were seat One of the men was Mr.. Benjamin Hlslop. , , x Hla companion -was a Utrte, smooth ly shaven young man, with the thin lips And firm chin' of one endowed with unusual nerve and rcourage-, yet whose steel-gray eyea wore the sinls- er expression of the habitual crimi nal. He was known to Hlslop by the name of Dillon. To the police of sev eral Western States, , however, by wihom he was seriously wanted, he was known by another name, and as crafty and -desperate a scamp as waa then at large. On the table between the two men lay an accumulation of bonds and se curities, of which a partial division had been made; but there had come a pause in that agreeable occupation about the time . Boyd and the central office men were - approaching the house,-- a' pause" octrstoned by tertain less agreeable declarations on the part of Dillon. You're a fool, Hislop, If you cannot see the situation aa I. present it," he was saying, with an ugly gleam in his narrow, gray.eyes. "If what you aay is true, and you got it with your own eyes and ears, "Ihere is no alternative. The only step for you, -Hlslop, is to tight out at once. Buy tickets to Eu rope within twenty-four1 hours, and take your' daughter abroad." ' "But why? why?" snarled Hislop, with resentful asperity. .''He . cannot suspect me. I may Invite distrust by thus hurrying abroad. " There Is -no evidence incriminating me. I eay again, Boyd c?nnot possibly sucpect "Perhaps not, 'yet ther's no know ing," forcibly rejoined the other.The man docst.'t Jlvo who can tell what Felix Boyd suspects, or where to find him;:: He's as . -sUKty as '"quicksilver. He's a veritable ; fiend id ' his line of work, I reckon I know! ' I've heard enough about him." . ' , . . But there 13 no cluo polntlrg to me," peraiEted Hislop, !; wltn nervous vehemence;' "Why should t light out thU3? He cannot have discovered any thing' Incriminating me, .. and - If I now- ' , ' - i-' . "He has discovered something, you wam us to bo guarCed," . interrupted 1 union, with augmented feeling., vwe know that Janway has nat been ar rested, - despite what you . saw knd heard. Yet the statement oif that Mr. Brisbalne ehould have landed the clerk in the Tombs. He ' mint have seen the shadow of ydXxr infernally ugly head; that's what he saw, and took it for Janway s." , , ' , "But he d?clared- - ; Na matter what he declared. The fact that Jnnwutr la not nnit arrest rplainly snows that Boyd ' is wise to something. It may not involve you, Hislop; I don't say that It does. If I really thought It d!dK you can wager your share of this plunder that I'd not be here to-night. But' whatever Boyd has learned, your safest move Is to eet out of his way for a spell. An ab sent man cannot be questioned, nor nounaea and snaaowcu and powiibiv driven to corners from which It Is dlf flcuit to escape. Take your shnre' of this stuff and go abroad rthat's' my aavice to you, hwiop." , And what will you do?" Dillon laughed scornfully. i n take care or myself, never doubt that." he declared oolntedlv. I've made sure that I cannot be In. criminated, nor can you even disclose my real name. When we part to night, r Hislop, we part forever, .This little scheme with which you ap proached me, and . to which , I have given my valuable aid- Etopl wiere's the ten; mop, I.sayi" Hlslop, who. had leaped affrighted ly to hla feet, (halted beside the tabe. -aUh" rapid -movements,-" hls rom panion seised the several paekagis of s r.e 1 - .1 Etay! Ia- fore you return I phall 'have 1 i In tbu cellar stairway. For your life mark me, for your life, IIUlop don't ed- mlt that you had a companion here. Go answer the bell." . . Before he had concluded these warning remarks, DWlon's evil eyes were aglow like coals of fire. Hlslop steadied hw quaking nerves, snarled back a word, of assurance, " then-shuffled out in his carpet-slippers f to open the front door. , Dillon quickly buttoned- his coat closer arouqd him, shifted a revolver to his side pocket, then -slipped out to the hall, and vanished in the gloom under the main stairway. Let this man alone to make ready, under suoh circumstances, for any kind of trou ble; and to anticipate, if danger real ly existed, that every ordinary avenue of escape from the house was already effectively guarded. . Upon opening the front door, Hlsiop beheld on the steps the last man he would have wished to see, yet foe did not betray it, for his nerves were steadier now. f - "Ah, good evening, Mr. Hlslop," said Boyd affably; "Glad to And you at home. Can you spare me five short minutes in your library?" - For what?" demanded Hlslop, with a distrustful stare.- . - , 'You 'might easily guess," smBed Boyd. "I return your'call of thia morning,1 t have come to tell you , what I think of young Janway. Hlslop stepped aside for him to en ter, then closed and locked the door. "Oh. you have, eh ?' said he, as he led the way Into .the library. "You might just as well have told ma this morning. It would have saved you a night trip to Harlem." 1 - "Don't fiattor rourself that I panie up here eoopressly to enlighten y iu." laughed Boyd, 5 "I had. other b jf.jicss in this locality, and my call upon you m entirely Inrtdemtal.-.i'v'C-' s& vhile speaking Boyd closed the li brary door, equally observing that it Secured Itself - with a catch-l.. re quiring a kev to open It, xnuch ns if Hiwop ha'Dituauy kept his library -dosed from, irqulsltlve eye. - ' t b, it's only Incidental, f-ien." re joined the latter, with secret satisfac tkMt:raW a;.ohalr," , . Boyd dropped Into the n- lately vacated by -; Hlslop'e visitor, which placed hhn with hla back, directly op posite the closed .door. Hislop re sumed his seat at the opposite ride- if! the table. , v . "Well, what of Janway, Mr. Boyd?! he bluntly demanded. ' - "Before j coming, to th., Hislop. wheje la your daughter?" asked B6yd. 'What has she ta!d' with It?" "It may be weli if she does not over hear wJia.t I have to say of Janway ?" "Oh, ;well, she's away with one of the neighbor! the gadfly? Ah,- veryvfrin)d." amll--L Boyd, "i nil her. feared that you .tlsa were i'j- .r a.i,- you wre so lonar In anavvrlng the bfU . s "1 was,at!eep here, or heaily so--sivirled Hlslo Susnicictmr. DJfl vmi r r map th-i Ant . "Twice." i -1 , "What mattrrs It so !onj ns y.u . flr.i,lly got in?" - ' , V.ry ums, truly." . vCome, come, what's your Informa tion about Janway? Ha he been ar-.. iesiea or mi oeaver street crime : If not, he should have been. HI think your Interference- " "Stop a bit, now that you ppeak of that ; affair," Boyd quietly interposed, , with a subtle gleam of his searching,. gray eyes; "It is to discuss that crime also that I, am here'. Hlslop, be up and up with ma nowr. I'm going to ask you a straight question. Who was your -confederate?" ' . Hlslop grew 'as gray as the ashes In J the grate behind him. at the table-cover. y k "Yes, that was the word I used," nodded Felix Boyd. "Plain enough ' English, isn't it? I -want to .'know, ... Hlslo d. who had a hand with vou in the kllllns of David Collamore?'! HV.. J...tlf T. ... . - "Oh, atop right there, Hislop, There's nothing in getting excited. ; Janway saw. you do the job all right. . Fm' well aware of that. - Your con--' federate, if you had one ' Walt a bit, old man!" - "4 ' Casually placing his hand on the arm of his chair-1 while sneaklnr where the hand of Dillon had rested - scarceTthree minutes Before, Boyd had found the chair arm to be warm. With " suspicion leaping up In his eyes,- with no further consideration forthe ghast ly miscreant; opposite, Bpyd - rose quickly to his feet, and stepped around tna table, cavlnir shnrniv 'I've taken your chair, Hislop." - "No. no. vou have not! i iwiv sit here f' . "Then you were not asleep when s.f rang." cried Boyd, with threatening soveniy. -iou naa a visitor nere. Tell , me whotell me at once! Was it the ' anave. wno 'MSrcyl", - xeat , me : iwno. And where he now i . ' t -u ' - Boyd's threatening whispers were . Interrupted by the sudden turning of the door-knob, yet the door did not open." As he wheeled sharp about, however, three rapid reports of a f' volver thundered through tho house. ' and the panel of the door was shiver- ' ' ed to splinters, , - - unaDie to open , me aoor. LWiion nad fired thrice through the -panel, so di recting his aim as to shoot the man he thought ocupied the chair he himself vacated a fatality which only Boyd's ' curious discovery and Immediate move' had preventeq.:.,..-i;, A ; . ,The ringing reports of tha weanon.'.-.. however, were mingled with a shriek of agony from-the man jn the oppo site chair, and Boyd eaw Hislop leap convulsively Into the air, then pitch " twice through the throat. Te confed- erato sought by Felix Boyd had spared ' me prison warden a disagreeable job. " With an Irrepressible 'oath. Boyd leaped to the. library door, and, strove to force It open. At the same mo- ment he heard the glass panes of the front door shivered in fragments. "Coleman!" he muttered, instantly guessing the truth. , As the central office man beat In the glass with his revolver, he caught one glimpse; of the man fleeing up the hall stairs. "By all the rods, it's HIslon'a eon-' federate, and BoydMs done for!" he' rosred to Akerman, close behind him. . "Run your arm Jn and unlock tho ' door.". ycHed Akerman furiously. Coleman already had it nearly open, and the two men dashed up the front " stairs In pursuit of the fleeing crlml nal. It was dark In the upper rooms, however, and uncertainty and dolav were unavoidable. ; Pi esently a rear window In one of the upper rooms was foud open, Just below which ran a sheet-lion gutter alrm tvia .nr. ' length, of the block. With hts toes in this gutter and his hands resting on " tho lower , incline ofMhe French roof, ' (Continued on Page Seven )", . I
The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Aug. 4, 1907, edition 1
18
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