News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1891-09-17


orator, had revised the record of an
important criminal case upon which
we had been working all day, had put
the papers on my desk IN ordG, and
lighting mypipe, lay baelS in my chair
- - Ia the
CRATE and listening dreamily to the
bowling of the wintery storm without
and the misunderstanding of the
sleet against the windows.
| was at that time the official stem
ographer of the criminal court of a
large western town, and my duties
naturally brought me into contact
with many strange characters and
gave me large experience of much of
what is known as " the seamy side y
of human nature.
Wearied with debating my notes
and glad that had completed a te-
diOus record | sat and smoked in
languid and satisfied mood and did
not note the swift passage of the
brief wintry twilight from dusk to
darkness.
Hello, herel Why'n thunder don't
you light up?''
Isprang to my feet and beheld a
huge figure of man looming vague
ly through the gloom. | had heard
no door open; had noted no footsteps
on the stairs or passageway.
Zone moment, please" | quietly
replied and lighting the gas, turned
to gaze at my visitor. / had two cal
lcrs. l knew neither of them.
closed the door, motioned them
to seats, and studied their appear
ance as | refilled and lighted my pipe
The elder of the two was a giant in
size, but divested of his overcoat he
displayed figure really superb in its
graceful and sinewy proportions and
lines. The man had not an ounce of
superfuous flesh on him; indeed, his
features were rather too thin, and he
| looked like a athlete overtrained q
little. He was well clad, simply but
neatly, and beyond his massive jaw
there was nothing remarkable about
him save his statue and his eyes.
These latter were steel gray, piercing
and steadfast, and he had an odd
way of keeping them half-veiled at
times and then suddenly opening them
wide and fixing opon one a look so
keen, so sharp that one felt as if the
man were trying to force the most
sacred confidence against the will.
The younger man was simply a well
dressed, handsome young fellow, with
kindly brown eye, and whose fea-
lures bore, even tG,pay casual inspec-
ton, an aspect of settled gloom. His
face was flushed as though from drink
and again and again he would spring
from his chair and nervously pace
the floor as he gnawed nervously al
the ends of his long moustache.
AS threw away my match the big
man handed me a card:
WILLIAM WRIGHT,
WRIGHT's DETECTIVE BUREAU.
| gazed at him in silence.
"This is my client-and friend-Mr
Herbert, Edward Herbert, late chic
of Lord, Phelps & Auer's large estab
lishment," began the detective anC
as Mr.. Herbert and | shook hands h,
added, 'your name and business, o
course, | know"
"William Penstaff," | remarked
''official stenographer-''
"Just so, just so; Mr.. William Pen
staff, official stenographer-and it il
on professional business we call upor
you. | have heard that you were al
expert in your line"
"Oh, canfollow most men, | saiC
with touch of vanity in my we'll es
tablished reputation for fast and ac
curate work.
Well, the matter in which we wisl
to employ you is one in which yol
will need all your skill. Are you
nerves good ?" he finished suddenl,
with that sudden opening of the keel
bright eyes, which at first disconcert
ed me-
= "Well-I think so-that is, prett,
we'll" | managed to make answer
"Good You will need that, too
! I'm thinking, as well as your pencil
and paper"
: "What is the case ?" / ventured
my gaze following Mr.. Herbert's nel