Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-11-18
The Man With Thumb.
BY w. C. HUDSON.
Barclay Norlh.)


barclay North.)
sons in each case have such strange re-
lations to each other without bringing
the critical point of each case together.
Here is an instance. We have young
Eustace under suspicion of being in
some way connected with that murder.
believe your father, dead as he is, is in
some way connected with it. l have
reason to believe that the older Eustace
was at one period of his life intimately
connected with your fathers affairs; /
am certain the elder Eustace in no way
touches the Parrish murder You per-
ceive how necessary it is to maintain
clear head and move slowly in this al
most inextricable tangle of the two
cases. Here are my instructions for your
movements: | want you to engage the
elder Eustace in conversation as to
your father. The way is open. You
told me he had discovered a great resem-
blance between your father and your
self"
"A GOODNESS has sprung up between
the elder Eustace and myself" said
Dorison.
"Indeed-howY
over tIlaJ very resemblance.
The old man evinced increased inter
est, and demanded to- know everything,
the very smallest point. Thus urged,
Dorison gave him minute and careful
history of the incident.
When the recital WAS finished the old
detective thrust his hands into his vest
pockets, and dropping his chin upon his
breast closed his eyes in thought for
long time. When he spoke it was rather
us if he were thinking aloud than ad-
dressing Dorison
when Eustace was comparatively a
young man." he said, "he endangered
his fortune by extravaganza and bad
management Your father came to his
aid, took charge of his estate, gave him
financial aid, lent him the great power
of his credit, and having Strengthened
out his affairs obtained a diplomatic ap-
pointment abroad for him, so that the
ravages in his fortune might be repaired;
in other words, saved him from ruin. In
return, Eustace did some great service
for Dorison. What its nature was can
not determine. Nor will Eustace tell as
intimate friend as he has. Perhaps he
may think idle curiosity prompted the
question-that he would tell if sufficient
reasons were given him. AT all events
the career Dorison set him on has re-
suited in his living abroad many more
years than here since that time. Can it
be--can that be the line to follow? If it
should be that, that-but no, he was
abroad when Dorison died-had been for
several years. But would that have
been any reason why it should not be SOP"
| He relapsed again into brown study,
from which Dorison waited for him to
emerge, confused and perplexed by the
maze in which he found himself, and
unable to perceive even a glimmcr of
light.
II regret" said Cathcart, rousing up,
that this misunderstanding has arisen.
| 1t would have been avoided if you had
| followed my instructions obediently.
You did not play the part you yourself
deliberately chose, before you came into
contact. If your assume a role you must
! play the whole of it, or necessarily fail.
You choose to pretend to be some one
| else, yet the first time you are seriously
| questioned you refuse to carry out youl
assumption. That was foolish. Your
lie would not have been any greater in
denying your paternity in words than il
was when you permitted yourself to be
introduced under name intended to de-
ny that paternity. How can you repair
the blunder? Have you quarreled with
young Eustace?'
NO" replied Dorison. He asked me
this afternoon to a theater party next
Monday and to escort his sister"
"Um. This is Thursday. Well, seel
an interview with the elder Eustace al
soon us you can to repair the bluuder."