Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-05-22

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@SHs from Holbrook he
~@ had little idea of
hAN IA going to Foun-
Al ~ ICY tain-that is, lit
IhHf INV tie definite idea !
tShR V@i of what he could
~ accom- pIish by
and talking with him.
The truth is, he was much disturbed |
The bitter disappointment in finding that |
he had not detected the murderer had
unsettled him. BEGINNING in doubt, =. |
had gradually gone on to q full convic- |
ton, and had discounted his triumph
Now everything was astray. He had
never failed so before: he had never be- |
fore been enticed so far upon a false
scent.
He began to fear he was losing his
cunning.
If the story were to become known,
how they would laugh at him at police
headquarters; what glcefui stories of his
defeat would his competitors have to
tell; he would be compelled to leave
town because of their jokes and laugh
ter; his prestige would be gone in the
In w fC ocAb bS "JS Iio" SotiSCittlS,
with a feeling of self contempt, that he
had of late been assuming airs of supe-
riority among his fellows.
Then he consoled himself with the
thought that after all no one else had
made the progress in the affair that HoI-
brook and himself had made. Then he
recollected, with another wave of self
contempt, that when he thought triumph
was theirs he had attributed all to his
OWE efforts and shrewdness, and now in
failure he was quite willing to take Hol-
brook into partnership. After all, say
what might be said, the affair was deep,
intricate and mysterious, back of which
lay a mass of facts which must be ascer-
tanned, arranged and digested.
Finally he said. with an inspiration of
hope:
"AH is not lost yet, and my commits
sion has not been recalled"
By that time he had reached the City
Hall park, with a view of hunting up
the Shadow and relieving him from duty
for a time at least. or until he was want
ed again.
As he passed the city hall he saw the
old attorney, George Parker, descend
ing the steps.
"There's the Shadows friend" he
commented. "That old fellow is slosh-
ing around with a claim against Pier
sons estate, not knowing against what
momentous affairs he may be knocking.
IF there is anything crooked In his pro-
ceedings on behalf Of that driveling old
I-.-Ha-1 in E,ricL utraat bop- H. 1-sIl
take to cover when we light the fuse-if
we ever do"
Tom chuckled; presently an idea struck
him.
'tTl give him an interview. Perhaps
I'll elicit something"
As the old man was about to pass,
Tom checked him.
"Good afternoon, Mr.. Parker. I've
heard that notice Of a claim to Persons
estate on behalf of James Preston has
been made before the surrogate. What
is there In it?T'
The old man looked at him sharply
and not with a pleasant expression.
"Who are youT"
"Bryan, Of The SOL"
"Ob, a reporter, hey" replied the old
man, with a grin and an expression of
relief. "You reporters are very sharp.
The notice was only filed within the
hour"
"Oh, yes, we lay pretty close for the
news. But what is there In it,"
swell, I think there is a good deal in
u, or the notice wouldn't have been
filed. A lawyer would naturally say
that after he had taken Up clients case.
wouldn't hea However. the matter is
not in such form yet that I can talk about
It, especially without conference with
the counsel who bears the leading part.
I can say this, hat the notice was filed
merely as a precautionary step. don't
cart to say anything about it or have
anything said now If you will promise
to say nothing now, when the matter
comes Uphill give you the inside of it ex-
clusively. That's what you young men
want-a beat-isn't it?"
Eyes, that's what we are always look
ing for" replied Tom. 'I1l keep my
promise, IL you will. / know there will
be q great story. The old man Pierson
lived a double life"
"What do you know about it," in
quired the old man fiercely.
"Not very much, to be sure. l know
he used to pass under another name at
INC time"
"You do? What name?"
fountain" coolly replied Tom. This
was a reckless and audacious assump-
ton upon the part of Tom. He knew
nothing Of the kind.
fountain, did you say?" queried the
old man, knitting his brows, deeply in
terested. when, and how long agoT'
"Oh, that is my secret"
"What else do you know about Pier
sonY'
"That's about all. l learned 1t by &C.
cident. / know why he assumed tit
was because he wanted. to marry a wo-
man under that name"
Tho face Of the old man took on
an expression of serious alarm Tom
watched him narrowly.
"Ah, had he any children asked the
old man.
Eyes, I think SO. Ason and a daugh-
ter"
"a daughter" repeated the old man,
and now he seemed puzzled. II think,
Mr.. Bryan, you have information OF
great value to us-more value than you
know. Cannot we go to some quiet
place where we can exchange conf
dences? / should not be surprised II
your information were worth paying for
handsomely"
Tom felt that he was getting into shall
low water, for he had been drawing upon
his imagination for his facts, led to &c
on from the evident alarm he was cans
ing the old man.
1t was not his purpose to so further.
90 he said:
al am always on the make, If / can do
It squarely, Mr.. Parker. ! have no OBJ
lection to giving you all the information
possess on the subject. But / cannot
20 now; I have an important engage
ment al which I am already overdue
.Can we not meet this evening"
Encouragement again"
Tomorrow, then. No, not tomorrow.
Ihare engagements out Of town. Thi.
l. Thursday; inakeit Monday next, at II
at this spot
AIi right. This place is convenient
So n,a -