The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-01-20
FROM THE DIARY OF
INSPECTOR ByRNEs.
JULIAN HAWTHORNE.


rconvriehted, 1888, by O. Nj. Dunham.]
Winter is the best time for stealing; prop
erty is then heaped together in greater mass
es than at other seasons, and Its owners sleep
more soundly. Besides thief can manage
TO pull through the summer somehow, but IN
winter he must life in the city, and to do that
money is Indispensable.
But the police are as active as the crlmi-
nails. and the battle between the two is fought
uninterruptedly from November till March,
The courts are kept busy, and the jails are
well stocked crime is scotched, butnot killed
That old serpent dies hard. and is always
thrusting up its ugly head in new place
On Fifth avenue the sidewalks had been
cleaned and the snow piled up in the road
way, affording fair sleighing for the graceful
cutters hatspeeded up and down the stately
thoroughfare. The people on the sidewalks
were we'll and warmly clad and altogether
the spectacle had certain brightness and
cheerful yiyacity. As night came on and the
street lamps were lighted, the sleighs, with
their jingling bells, disappeared, and only
few belated pedestrians hurried along the
pavements.
Our present business utuldhus Vh"e w ~
company one of the latter.
When we first see him, he has just passed
the Brunswick Hotel, and, hurrying on the
east side of the avenue, Is Waiklng hoisn-
wards. His gait is swift and vigorous. pc
tokening powerful ana nealtny payslcai t pl,
ganization, and concentrated and capable
mind He is evidently bound on some affair
Of Importance indeed, when we contemplate
the expression of his strong, ruddy, we'll
moulded face, we are inclined to hazard the
opinion that only affairs OF Importance ever
engage his attention.
BE leaves behind him as he goes the fra
GRANGE of an excellent cigar. A thick over
coat is butt0ned across his broad chest, a
round-crowned hat is on his head, and his
hands are encased in warm gloves. His eyes
without being restless, are at once penetrat-
ing and comprehensive in their glance, and
take in quietly and easily everything that
lies within their range. He is a man whose
wits are always about him. He has the air
of good society, and yet there is something
about him that distinguishes him from the
must have raised himself in some way above
the common level that his name, if we knew
1t is one with which we should be familiar.
Who Is he?
On street corner few blocks above the
hotel was standing tall gentleman, some
what past the prime of life, but of upright
and military bearing, and wearing a long,
sweeping mOustache, slightly tinged with
gray. His dark eyes and aquiline nose gave
his cOuntenance an aristocratic look. He
seemed TO be exploring his pockets Tor some
thing, but as the pedestrian approached, he
stepped up to him and said c0urteouSly:
MAY / trouble you, sir, for light for my
cigar?
The other halted, took his cigar from his
mouth and handed it to the speaker with
bow. When the latter handed it back with
"Thank you" he remarked, Its cold
evening"" and passed on Little did either
imagine how soon and how strangely tate was
to bring them together again.,
The image of the military looking gentle
man passed into the others memory and re-
manned there, never, so far as he knew, to be
recalled. Continuing his brisk walk, he drew
near one of the large club houses that decor
ate the avenue, just as couple OF men de-
scended the steps arm-ln-arm. one OF them
"a portly parsonage with broad RED beard
he recognized and exchanged silent sa-
Lutte with him; the other, a younger and
slenderly built man, with small side-w hiskers
and handsomely cut mouth was stranger
to him. That's a clever fellow. he said to
himself, as he strobe onward. Il wouldn't
like to have any woman l had respect Tor
get in his way~
In few minutes more, he turned down
side street. ran up the steps of handsome
house a short distance from the corner. and
pulled the bell. The door was opened, he
tossed away his cigar and entered.
''Mr. Owens is at homer,
ale is, sir. VIII you walk into the library?
The visitor followed the girl down the wide
and handsome hall. and passing through
door on the left found himself in large
room, the walls OF which were lined with
to a height of five feet from the
floor Nothing in the room could have been
exactly duplicated. 1t was the whim of the
owner to render his library and its contents
Incompatible, and he had the means and re-
sources to carry out his within.
. ha xric 81 inf
empty. The fire of cedar logs burned bright
ly on the hearth, whose polished surface re-
fected its light The visitor advanced to the
ire place, and stood there, drawing OIL his
gloves and examining the curious workman
Ship of bronze work that rested on the man
tlepiece, when the sound OF step on the
polished floor made him turn, and he saw the
master Of the house advancing 10 meet MN.
"Glad to see you, Inspector Byrnes."
"How do you do, Mr.. Owens? z"
well. BE was at this period man OF about
80 years Of age, with a handsome. intellec-
tual countenauce, clean-shaven mouth and
chin, light brown hair, thinning, out on his
high temples, and figure and bearing that
indicated clean living and high breeding:
CORTLAND Owens was the defendant of
several generations Of American gentlemen;
he and his forefathers had been brought up
to wealth, and had taught themselves how
to make graceful and lifting use oft. But,
with the instinct of all genuine Americans,
none of them had been idle men. they had
some one ay0cation, some another;
they had been merchants, statesmen, dlpi0-
mats, bankers, directors OF great Industrial
all the higher officers OF citizen
ship had been filled by them with credit and
As for the present inheritor OF
the name, he was first of all, by training and
a student and connolsSeur;
but he had also entered into the active life.of
his day and had been for nearly 10years past
the partner and personal friend OF one OF the
greatest financiers of the epoch Never were
two men more unlike than the two members
of this famous firm in every external appear
ance and characteristic, and yet the bond be-
tween them was much closer and more cor
dial than exists between many men far more
at one in general sympathles.
~ have something need your advice up
on, inspector" Mr.. Owens remarked. Take
off your 0yercoat and sit down: shan't let
you 90 in five minutes, nor perhaps IN nali as
many hours. SO you might as wei make
yourself at home.
with the cheerful composure that belonged
10 him, removed his thick top-coat and seat
ed himself near the hearth. CORTLAND Ow-
ems drew up chair in proximity to his, and
also within reach of small inlaid table, con-
tanning drawer fitted with polished brass
ock.
we are in trouble" began Mr.. Owens;
'at least am, on Golding's account"
"Golding-your partnerl Why, what can
be the matter with him?" The inspector
spoke with a certain sense of amazement;
Tor Maxwell Golding, the man of mines, rail
roads and telegrapbs, whose riches were in
calcuabe and whose work in all enterprises
was proyerbial. seemed to the popular appre-
lension inaccessible to all troubles, save |
such as might fall within the domain of the |
physician or, perhaps, the clergyman. But
As the inspector glanced at his hosts face, |
its serious EXPRESSION appriZed him that the |
matter could not be light one, and be set |
tied himself to listen TO its unfolding with be- |
coming gravity. This thrilling detective
story, which is founded on facts, furnished |
by Inspector Byrnes, the most famous de- |
tective in the world, will be continued in the |
Boston Daily Globe next Monday, JAN %,
and every weekday until completed. As |
there will be tremendous demand for THE
GLOBE while the story runs, you should be
sure and order IT in advance of your news