Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-02-23


others, but had said nothing beyond a
few words Of greeting. Nevertheless
there had been in her eyes, which were
remarkably beautiful ones. a strange
look each time she met me. had tried
again and again to read her expression.
1t seemed to me that could see fer
and defiance both. and yet could not
be certain.
Naturally had thought this all over
many times before, and had tried often
to imagine what it was that had inspired
her to make such strange speeches to me
the first time she saw me, and to treat
me afterward as though she desired both
to propitiate me and to keep me at a dis
tance.
1t would have been perfectly natural
for me to euppose that she mistook me
for some other person but for two things.
First was her positive declaration that
she did not. was inclined to give more
weight to this than l might otherwise
have done because of the very strange
circumstances which accompanied the
loss of my fortune. Those circumstances
constituted the second reason WHY |
thought that she might not have been
mistaken, and that had really seen her
before without knowing it.
1t sounds mysterious, but all the cir
cumstances were mysterious. Inspector
Wilson had declared that was a good
amateur detective, but he little knew
how hard l had worked to unrayel the
story Of my own life-or perhaps he
knew good deal about it. He certain
ly knew that had been rich, and per-
haps he knew more about me than |
knew myself. In any case had grave
reason to study it all over again before
going out, fer l was suspected if not of
actual murder, at least of being accessory
to it. Not knowing why was suspected.
| could not tell how my most natural and
innocent act might serve to strengthen
the case against me.
l remembered how Pesach Rubensteiu
had been convicted of the murder of
Sara Alexander on purely circumstan-
tial evidence in one of the most famous
murder trials in New York, and also
remembered how, long after he starved
himself to death in his cell and so cheat
ed the gallo>'s, another man had made n
voluntary cclfession of the murder, ex-
planning every one of the circumstances
that had helped to convict Rubenstein
and explaining them in perfectly ra-
tional way, although his story was one
that no lawyer would have dared to
submit to jury as an imaginary one.
1t had led me to fear and distrust any
chain of c;rcumstantial evidence. no
matter how ctrong it might seem.
1t is now five years since lost nv
money so strangely. My name is really
Arthur Levinson. had been left an
orphan when lad only fourteen years
of age, and had been allowed by nv
guardian to do pretty nearly as chose
after that. he was strict ON one point
only. That was that must apply my
self to study until | should reach nv
majority. He allowed me to choose my
own schools, and had attended an ex-
cellent private school in Boston until at
seventeen | lad qualified for a college
course. When he asked me what college
preferred going to chose a university
course in Germany. He approved of the
choice, and went abroad. So it hap
pened that, although Iwas born in New
York and had spent my childhood there,
| had not seen the city more than two or
three days at time for ten years, for
after finishing my studies had chosen
to travel for some three years before
coming home.
Before returned my guardian died,
so that when landed there was not a
single person in the city whom could
claim as personal friend, and as it
happened there was none of the ac-
qaintances of my boyhood whom cared
to look up. My fortune had been invest
ed in United States bonds, and these rad
been placed for safe keeping with the
old banking firm of Fotheringay &
Witherwax. My guardian had opened
an account there for me when came of
age, and the bankers had honored the
drafts | made on them from time to time
On my arrival at home had naturally
gone almost Immediately to the bank.
On producing my papers Ireadily proved
my identity, and had very pleasant in
terview with the two partners in the
house. remember that they scrutinized
the papers very closely, as was proper
and natural, and compared my signature
carefully with several specimens of my
writing which they had. Moreover, they
looked at me again and again, both OF
them, and could see that they were
studying my appearance so as to be posi-
tive in their personal knowledge of me.
This pleased me greatly, for had one
hundred thousand dollars in bonds in
their keeping and something like a
thousand dollars on deposit, and their
caution was really as much in my inter
est as in their own. My guardian had
nursed my property carefully until it
reached the exact sum of one hundred
thousand and had put it in the safest in
vestment he knew, and had lived up
to my income without touching the prin-
cipal.
"Are you thinking Of embarking in
any business, Mr.. Levinson" asked old
Mr.. Fotheringay as we sat in the old
fashioned business Office the day first |
called at the bank.
"No," ! answered, II have made no
plans whatever for the future. have
come to New York to see whether |
shall prefer to live here, but think it as
likely as not that may go abroad again.
There is nothing to keep me here ex-
cepting an abstract feeling of patriot
ism, and, on the other hand, have some
very pleasant associations in France and
Germany both"
"That is natural enough" said Mr..
Fotheringay, land only asked because
l hope you will take no rash steps. Of
i