Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-09-06
TheAlySteryOfaHaBOnCab
CHAPTER XIII.
MADGE MAKES A DISCOVERY.
By FERGUS ". HUME

Madge stepped into the caD, ana cation
paused q moment TO tell the cabmnn TO drive
to the railway station, when she stopped
him.
"Tell him to drive to Brian's lodgings in
Powlett street, shc said, laying her hand on
Cations arm.
"What forF' asked the lawyer, in astonish-
ment.
"AHd also to go past the Melbourne club,
as want to stop there"
''What the deuce does she meanf muttered
Calton, as he gave the necessary orders and
stepped into the cab.
"And now," he aske,l, looking at his COM
panion, who had let down her veil, while the
cab ratified quickly down the street, "what
do you intend to dor
She threw back her veil, and he was aston
ished to see the sudden change which had
come over her. There were no tears now,
and her eyes were lard and glittering, while
her mouth was firmly closed. She looked
like a woman who had determined to do
certain thing, and would carry out her inten-
hons at whatever cost.
II am going to save Brian in spite of him
self" she said very distinctly.
"But how7"
"Simply this" she answered. ''In the first
place, may tell you that do not under
stand Brian's statement that he keeps silence
for my sake, as there are no secrets in my
life that can justify him saying so, but the
facts of the case are simply these: Brian, on
the night in question, left our place, at st.
Kilda, at II O'Clock. He told me he would
call at the club to see if there were any let
ters for him, and then 60 straight home"
"But he might have said that merely as a
blind"
Madge shook her head.
"No, don't think so. never asked him
where he was going, and he told me quito
spontaneously. l know Brian's character,
and he would not go and tell a deliberate lie,
especially when there was no necessity for it,
am quite certain that he intended to do as
he said, and go straight home. When he got
to the club he found letter there, which
caused him to alter his mind"
"But who did he receive the letter fromg"
"Can't you guess?" she said, impatiently
"From the person, man or woman, who
wanted to sec him and reveal this secret
about me, whatever it is. He got the letter
at his club and went down Collins street to
meet the writer. At the corner of the Scotch
church he found Mr.. Whyte, and on recog-
nizing him left i'll disgust and walked down
Russell street to keep his appointment"
"Then you don't think he came backP'
~ am certain he did not, for, as Brian
told you, there are plenty of young men who
wear the same kind of coat and hat as he
does. Who the second man who got into the
cab was 1 do not know, but will swear that
it was not Brian"
"And you are going to look for that letterF
'Yes, in Brfan's lodgings"
"He might have burnt it,
"He might have done thousand things,
but he did not" she answered. "Brian is the
most careless man in the world; he would put
the letter into his pocket, or throw it into the
waste paper basket and never think of it
again"
"In this case he did, however."s
eyes, he thought Of the conversation he
had with the writer, but not of the letter it
self. Depend upon it, we will find it in his
desk, or in one of the pockets of the clothes
he wore that night"
"Then there's another thing" said Calton,
thoughtfully "The letter might have been
delivered to him between the Elizabeth street
railway station and the club"
ave can soon find out about that" ans
swered Madge; "for Mr. Rolleston was with
him at that time"
$50 he was" answered Calton; land here
is Rolleston coming down the street. Wen
ask him now."
The cab was just passing the Burke and
Wills monument, and Cations quick eye had
caught glimpse of Rolleston coming down
the street on tho left hand side. The cab
I,nx 10 ktn
stopped short, as Calton sprang out directly
in front of him. MadGe lay back in the cab
and pulled :gn her veil, not wishing to lie
recognized ly Felix, as she knew that if he
did it would soon be all over town.
"Hallo! old chap" said Rolleston, in con-
siderable astonishment. "Where did you
spring from"
"From the cab, of course" answered Cal
ton, with laugh.
IA kind of Deus ex machina," replied Rol-
lesion, attempting bad pun.
EXACTLY" said Calton. "Look here,
Rolleston, do you remember the night of
Whyte's murder-you met Fitzgerald at the
railway stationF
''In the train," corrected Felix.
"Well, we'll; no matter, you came up with
him to the club"
eyes, and left him there"
"Did you notice il he received any message
while he was with your
"Any messager repeated Felix. "No, he
did not; we were talking together the whole
time, and he spo;" to no ole but me-"
"Was he III good spiritss"
Excellent; made me laugh awfully-but
why all this thusness" .''
ooh, nothing" answered Cation, getting
back into the cab II wanted little infor-
nation from you; I'll explain next time l
see you. Good-by"
"But say" began Felix, but the cab had
already ratified away, SO Mr.. Rolleston turned
angrily away.
II never saw anything like these lawyers, :"
he said to himself. "Calton's perfect whirl-
wind, by Jove:"
Meanwhile Cation was talking to Madge.
''Y0l were right" he said, "there must
have been a message for him at the club, for
he got none from the time he left your
place"
Sand what shall we do nowq'. asked
Madge, who, having heard all the converse
tion, did not trouble about questioning the
lawyer about it.
Find out at the club if any letter was
waiting for him on that night" said Calton,
as the cab stopped at the door of the Mel
bourne club. Here we are," and with a
hasty word to Madge, he ran up the steps.
He went to-the Office of the club to find
out If any letters had been waiting for Fitz-
gerald, and he found there a waiter with
whomabe, was pretty well acquainted
"Look here, Brown" said the lawyer, 'do