The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-06
CHAPTER XIX.

| Putney accepted Suzstte's authorization OF
! Matt with apparent unconsciousness OF any
| thing but its immediate meaning and they
talked Pinney's scheme intimately over to-
gether. In the end. 1t still remained ques-
tion whether the energies Of such an investi-
cation could be confined to the discovery OF
Northwick's whereabouts: whether his news
paper instincts would not be too strong for any
sense OF personal advantage that could be ap-
| pealed to in him. They both believed that it
would not BIO long before Sorthwick followed
up tho publication Of this letter by some COM
muncation with his family.
But time began to go by ugain. md North
wick made no further sign: tho furry Of activ-
! ity which his letter had called out in the de-
tectives camo to nothing. Their search was
not very strenuous: Northwick's creditors
were OF various minds as to tho amount Of
money he had carried away with him. Every
one knew that II he chose to stay in Canada he
could not be molested there: and it seemed
very improbable that lie could be persuaded to
put himself within reach Of the law. The law
had no terms to offer him. and there was really
nothing to DO done.
Putney forecast all this In his talk with Matt,
when he held that they must wait Northwick's
motion. He professed himself willing to wait
as long rs Northw!ck chose though he though
thoy would not havo TO wait long, and he con-
tended fora theory Of the mans whole per-
Torrance. which he said he would like to have
tested before jury.
Mutt could not make out how much he real
ly meant by saying that Northwick could DO
defended very fairly on the ground Of insan-
ity. and that no would enjoy managing such q
defence. 1t was common thing to show that
murderer was insane; why not a defaulter2
Tilted back In his chair. with leg over the
--N1, IL k.t.I 4 IL
IN his mouth from one cheek to tho other as no
talked. the lawyer outlined the argument
which he said could be made very effective
There was the fact to begin with that North
wick wns very wealthy man. and had no n0ed
OF moro money when le began to speculate:
Putney held that this want OF motivs could be
mado strong point: and that the reckless. al
most open. way in which Northwick used the
company's money when no began to borrow,
was proof in itself OF unsound mind apparent
ly he had no sense whatever OF nle,tnl and
fu'ai. especially tttn,. Then. the total col
lapse OF the man when he was found out: his
flight withought an effort to retrieve himself,
although his shortage was by no means hope
lessly vast. and could have been almost made
up by skiliul use OF tho credit that Northwick
could command. was another evidence Of
shaken reason. But besides oil this there
was his behavior since he left home. He had
boon absent nearly Ave months. and In TINT
timo he had made no attempt whatever to
communicate with his family. although he
must have known that 1t was perfectly safe for
him to do SO. He was father who was almost
dotingly fond OF his children. and singularly at
tached to his homo: yet he had remained all that
time In voluntary exile. and he had left them in
entire uncertainty as to his iato except SO far
as they could accept the probability OF his |
death bya horrible casualty This inversion
OF the natural character OF man was one OF |
the most striking phenomena OF insanity. and |
Putney. for the purpose o: argument. main
tained that It could be made TO tell tremen-
donsly With Jury. ), 7. n 4 81. 4.