davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1895-06-11
STATE OF OHIO IITY Of .oLEDo,
LUGAs COUNTY, S,

Lucas COUNTY, So
FRANZ j. CHENEY makes cath
hat he is he senior partner of tho
firm OF F. ]. CAExEY & Co., d"
ing business in CITY OF fei d.,
County aud S "te afotesai'', and
thst said firm vii pay tho sum al
ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS for
zach aud every caee Of CATARRAu
'hrt cannot be cured by lie use ni
Halls CArARRhH Cure.
FRANK j. CHENEY
Sworn to hrfnre me ~ 4 snhecrIh
I'd in my presence. this 9Th day
nf December a. ID. 1889.
Evening star., 1895-07-20

and, from what he had heard of Ralph's
exploits, that young man would have been
the last to overcome mis- seifshness. There
were too many and too plausible grounds
for rational objection. If l tell you also
that my brother had a violent temper,
you can perhaps imagine what occurred
There was much strong language on one
side and finally some fippant impudence
on the other. Nothing but my appearance
prevented q personal encounter. l finally
got Ralph safely out of the house; but the
situation was awkward enough. He was
obliged to remain in the village until re-
called by his family or college, and our
prospects for peace and comfort during
the balance of his stay seemed poor
enough.
Mary was. naturally, highly indignant.
and. drawing within herself, as was her
habit, refused utterly to hold any but the
most necessary intercourse with us or to
make any promise as to not seeing her
lover. Then there were more scenes
threats of personal confinement on my
brothers part, and moody, stubborn resist
ance on my niece's. even began to Won
der whether we weren't all bit ''of'' by
Inheritance from. great-grandmother of
Roberts and mine. who was known to have
been mentally unsound.
Four days passed. and then terrible
event happened. My brother was found
lying dead in the railway cut at the foot
Of the lawn. with a ragged. confused
wound in his right temple and a very ex
tensive fracture of the skull. The whole
village was, of course, intensely excited.
Nothing so interesting had happened there
within the memory of the oldest inhabitant,
and the theorists of the country store
argued the matter over among themselves
and with the reporters that came up from
the city. There were two very decided
opinions that found adherents in not un-
equal force. A small majority held that
my brother had gone out fer the walk
which he always took before breakfast, had
fallen into the cut, and been killed. Quite
a large majority, which included, however
most of the foreign and reportorial talent.
looked mysterious and intimated that the
dead man had been in a great deal of hot
water. and that it was more than likely he
had been knocked on the head and then
thrown down the embankment. The cor
oner convened his jury of local wiseacres,
and the usual intelligent verdict was pro
pounded, to wit: That Robert" (Smith,
let us call him) came to his death from a
fracture of the skull caused by sudden
contact with some dull instrument or ma
teriaL"
During the twenty-four hours when all
this was transpiring had been thinking
hard, and 1 could not get rid of the idea
that there was something wrong in the
affair-something more than mere accident
At the same time / was disposed to admit
to myself that my notion was based rather
on intuition than on any really good rea-
sons. To be sure, had been a witness Of
Evening star., 1895-07-20

between your master and Mr.. Ralph?'
''In de hall, sah."
What were you doing there-I mean
what did you go there for?"
Muffin at all. JUS went dah t see 4
What time of day was it?'
Il doan rahtly recollec dat, sah."
Your present master tells ME that the
dispute took place in the afternoon very
shortly before dinner"
"Das raht; das raht, sab. I recollec
now"
.'You are the only servant, I believe"
''Yessah."
well, aren't you pretty apt to be con-
fined to the kitchen just before dinner!
It's a rather bad time to go looking around
the house for nothing in particular, isn't
it?"
Andersons face began to grow ashy and
his legs trembled perceptibly.
Fob de Lawd, Massa Phillips" he STAN
mered. ''Yo doan spec me KILN Massa
Smith,"
Certainly I don't, Anderson" said Phil
lips, reassuringly; but do know that you
have committed perjury. You didn't see OF
hear the quarrel, as you said you did
That's all. You can go now"
Anderson tried to reply, but seemed un-
able to articulate. Then he almost reeled
from the room, while looked on in utter
surprise. Phillips turned to me.
You and your brother probably talked
the matter over at table?" he said.
That's hardly likely. in the presence o1
my niece. 1t would not have been an
agreeable subject"
Neither is it likely that your niece was
present at the meal Immediately following
the summary dismissal of her lover
That's so. She remained in her room,
said quickly; land, although can't rec
ollect definitely, don't doubt that we did
talk some on that occasion-but do you
believe Anderson can be implicated in any
way? He had worshiped my brother for
twenty years with dogs devotion, and
How has your niece conducted herself
stree her fathers death?" interrupted the
detective.
1 stopped short and looked at him. A
curious sinking sensation came over me.
Really" I began; you don't-you can't
suspect for a moment that-that-my niece
could-could have-been in any way in.
volved," concluded, desperately.
His manner was extremely gentle as he
replied:
'My dear Mr.. Smith, in all my career as
a detective I have never suspected any one
of crime. 1 don't allow myself to be mis-
led by the bias which suspicion would
Evening star., 1895-07-20

directly instrumental in dragging sick
man into what bade fair to be a very ar
to do. however. but to relate, as briefly
and yet as exhaustively as possible, all
that / knew.
Phillips during the recital sat with his
head resting upon his hand, while his eyes
wandered necessarily about the apartment.
He did not interrupt me once. but. when I
had finished, proceeded to put his ques-
tiers. Then 1t was that every vestige Of
languor vanished. His face became
strangely animated, while his eyes fairly
glittered.
you have been very full in everything
that bears upon Mr.. Ralph's connection
with the matter" he began. ''and con-
graduate you. A professional could not
have stated 1t more clearly. Can you tell
me. though, with a little more exactness,
just what you know about your brothers
disputes or alterations with the Italians
who were at work on the railroad cut?"
ITO tell the truth" I replied, Il know
very little about it. My brother always
imagined tnat the company was trying
to retaliate, by petty annoyances and de-
lays In the work, for his legal opposition
to their schemes. About a month ago he
came in one morning in a towering pas
sion, cursing the whole Italian race and
the foreman Of this gang in particular. 1t
appeared that he had gone down to re-
monstrate with them-a proceeding which
very gently. that the foreman had been
impudent and said. in effect, that the court
had given them permission and they d
do the work they pleased and build
the bridge when they got ready. Then
my brother lost his temper completely,
said taat the New Orleans people were the
only ones who understood how to deal
with the italian question, and that he pro-
posed to get the damned cowardly Malta
off his place, If it took a shotgun to do 1t.
From what I gathered, very little was
said IN reply. Two or three of the laborers
were rather threatening. but the foreman
quieted them with few words In Italian,
and my brother rushed back to the house.
will not deny that the incident troubled
me considerably for time. though Robert
laughed at my fears. Nevertheless, 1 took
occasion to go down to the cut once or
twice and talk pleasantly to the foreman.
was surprised to find him disposed to be
remarkably polite, and shortly after, when
the company drew the workmen off to
another part of the road, he expressed his
regret to me that they had not been able
parture. For the last two weeks none of
them have been seen In the neighborhood
and my fears had entirely subsided when
this terrible event happened"
ask you to summon your colored man?
believe you stated that he made the affi-
davit duplicating Ralph?"
TO my surprise, I found some difficulty
In persuadng the negro to tell Phillips his
story. "Wha's de good, Massa Henry?" he
kept repeating; and nothing but my abso-
lutte orders availed to bring him into the
library. Once there he showed much agf-
tation at first. Then he braced himself and
launched out into a voluble relation of the
quarrel between Ralph and my brother,
ending up with:
AN 1 jes knowed dat young fellah
warn't no good from de day he done walk
ed over nah phortchallakah he'd an larfed
noah cahful."
Where were you, Anderson" asked Phil
Evening star., 1895-07-20
sions were tending in

that Phillips conclusions were tending in
that direction, do not know. Still,
could not deny that this last bit of testi-
mony was very material as cfrcumstantial
evidence. To be sure. Billy Cough was
hardly ha'f-witted, but, as the constable
said. he knew Ralph n ell enough not to be
mistaken on a question of his Identity
I have forgotten to state that, immedi-
ately upon my discovery of Phillips DEATH
l had naturally telegraphed Superintend-
ent Sanford, and that, by his directions,
Inspector Ransom had come up to attend
the inquest and to maze ARRANGEMENTS for
the removal of the body to New York He
had had little or nothing to say during the
proceedings, and had left him in the room
occupied by Phillips, while saw the con-
stable to the door.
AS turned back into the hall Mary was
descending the stairs. Her face was agi-
tated. and l surmised at once that she
must have overheard Skidmore's parting
remarks, surmise which proved to be
correct.
What did that man say tc your" she
asked. coming close.
told her in a few words intimating as
did so, hardly felt doubt as to the re-
liability Of Billy Coughs statements.
HE was perfectly correct, nevertheless" >"
he said, after short hesitation. II went
out about O'Clock to meet Jack by ap-
pointment Snd to arrange to go away with
him. I met him on the road. and he walked
as tar as the gate with me. It was almost
9 o'clock, and Jack went back to the vii
Evening star., 1895-07-20

"F'Oh de laWu, you dORn spec me-"
the bitter quarrel between my brother and
Jack Ralph. but it seemed impossible to
suspect the young collegian of such an act
Then, too, his attitude was the last to be
adopted by guilty man who was not also
a lunatic. He went around the village an
nouncing more or less openly that he
guessed the old man had been killed by
some one he had insulted, and that, from
his own experience, he wasn't disposed to
be very hard on the party who did 1t. To
all questions as to what his own expert
ence had been, he utterly refused to vouch-
safe an answer. This was pretty nearly
enough, but when our servant. Pompey
Augustus Anderson, who had been since
GUS excitement bordering on hysteria, went
before the justice of the peace and deposed
that he had overheard the quarrel between
his master and Ralph, and gave its details
with very reasonable accuracy. the latter
was promptly arrested and confined in JUS
tice Benefits house, pending his removal
to the county Jail. Then 1 felt that it was
time to have some detective talent superior
to that of the village constable set to work
on the case. I was well acquainted with
the superintendent of the New York police
department; in fact l had had some in
duence in getting him his appointment
Therefore, a telegram from me asking that
he send us his best man at once was
promptly honored and, within thirty-six
hours Of the finding Of my brothers body,
John Phillips walked into the library,
where / was sitting.
l can remember Phillips as well as II 1
saw him before me nova dark man, with
straight black hair and rather beady eyes.
His features were as delicate as woman's
and his figure was small and slight-almost
dapper Only the cords that stood out In
his neck and wrists went to show that he
was made of tempered steel.
His expression was very grave and serious
as he bowed and handed me an unSealed
letter from the superintendent. 1t read as
follows:
Dear Sir: This will introduce Mr.. John
Phillips, whose name Is perhaps familiar
to you. You are very fortunate in obtain
ing his services, as both his health and a
combination of engagements and .circum-
stances conspired against his taking up
this case. l have, however, felt under
obligations to do my very best for you
and, at my most urgent solicitation, he has
consented to waive everything and devote
himself to your matter Yours, truly,
EDWARD L. SANFORD"
Having finished reading the above note,
shook hands with the great detective
and began to express my thanks. These
however, he very quickly cut short.
You have nothing to thank me for" he
said coldly. Il am here under orders, and
now, sir, pardon me If I ask you to tell
me all you know of the circumstances con-
nected with your brothers death. Time
Is always precious, and this must excuse
any apparent brusQueness on my part"
His manner was indeed almost repellant,
but, as looked more closely at his face,
1t seemed 80 drawn that was conscious
Of q guilty panG at having been even In
Evening star., 1895-07-20

lage. He did not come even as far as the
house, and know he could not have killed
father. As for your New York friend. who
was trying to fix 1t on him
with you at once?' came a voice from the
stairs My niece started at the sound and
darted into the library.
Certainly. inspector" I answered.
Can trouble you to come up here"
1 mounted the stairs hastily, and Ran
sem drew me into the room, closing the
door behind us. His face was more than
serious.
Here is sealed letter addressed to
you." he said. TT Is Phillips' handvrit-
ing. found 1t in the escretoire."
Utterly astonished at this new develop
ment, took the envelope from him and
mechanically opened it.
lows:
Dear Sir: Realizing that my life must
terminate very shortly, take occasion to
commit to writing brief summary of the
discovered facts as to your brothers
murder.
He was killed by knife thrust inflicted
from behind over the right shoulder, This
happened In his own room, or, at least, in
the house, and the murderer was a man
admitted by appointment. The charred
letter in the CRATE was doubtless the COM
naunicatfon asking for the appointment,
and must have advanced strong reasons to
OBTAIN one at such an hour. Let us sup
pose that 1t came ostensibly from one of
the railroad gang, and offered to disclose.
for a consideration and under conditions in.
suring secrecy. the directions given by some
oincer OF the company to his subordnates
to delay the work and to harass Mr. Smith
as much as possible in retaliation for his
AS he did. would have been only too glad
10 get such information on any terms, 50
he destroyed the letter. as was doubtIe.t
stipulated Tor. rose, dressed, admitted his
Evening star., 1895-07-20
Copyright. 1895. by Irving Bacheller.)

Copyright, 1895. by Irving Bacheller)
Our train had been snowbound for near
ly two days. A. first most CT US were very
naturally restless and impatient; but as
the hours drifted by we grew philosophi-
cally resigned. Two of the trainmen, to-
gether with several passengers, had yolun-
teered to fight their way to the nearest
station and bring relief; so there was moth
,ng to do hut occupy orr minds with cards,
conversation and smoke and Try to forget
shat our stomachs had been put on short
allowance.
With this aim several men gathered at
one end of the smoker and took to spin
ming yarns first humorous, then Of adven-
ture. and finally drifting into what are
known as detective stories" There were
five of us .esides myself: two drummers,
one from New York ami one from Chica-
go; Frenchman. who had been doing
the country; frssy cid gentleman on his
way east to attend his daughters wedding,
which he was pretty reasonably sure to
mss and a gaurt, powerfully built man,
with a somber, nervous face and gray hair,
who suggested a cross tetween a New
York stock broker and a Kentucky colonel.
The FreEchman, one of the best COM
panions, by the by, l ever met, had just
concluded. amid an avalanche of weirdly
accentuated English and a cyclone of ges-
tfculation, true story of the most pro-
nounced Gaboriau type, when our somber
Lcndescript cleared his throat. He had
shown no interest whatever in the humor-
Gus tales Of the drummers, and had paid
but little more attention when the theme
shifted to travel and adventure. The de-
tective vein seemed, however, to rouse
him somewhat, though hitherto he had
evinced no disposition to bear his share of
the telling. Therefore. when he did speak.
We all tuned to him with the greater
alacrity.
"T suppose some of you will recall the
name Of John Phillips?' he said, looking
around,
THE big detective who died few years
ago? Surei' put in one of the drurnmers.
''Yes," continued the first speaker. 1.-The
greatest. perhaps the only really great de-
tective this country has ever produced
let me see-but was he an American?
asked 1T seens to me 1 heard once
that he was an Italian"
mo. His father was a Neapolitan. Sc
bastInI Phirjps-tae name was originally
Phillippi," went en- the other Sebastian
came to New York when quite young, mar
ried a southern woman and went into the
business of importing fruit from Sicily.
His son was born here, and when old
enough made several voyages on his faith
er's ships. They tell how he had a quarrel
with one of the captains once. deserted at
Messina. and wasn't heard of for over a
year-iivcd amorg the peasants in the in
terror. 50, you see, he was an adventur-
Evening star., 1895-07-20

"She siut the door In my lace"
had already arrived at-that my brother
| had walked out before breakfast"
"And as we may feel sure that he did
| not walk OUT said Phillips, I'VE simply
alter your supposition to assuming thai
the murderer opened it in order to carry
his victim out How the murderer got in
! shall be better able to tell when I have
| looked about q bit"
He now went over the house very care
| fully, with the exception of my own. my
niece's and Anderson's rooms; but though
the lens was frequently brought into use
there vas no trace whatever of any house
| breaking.
Don't you want to look everywhere?" ]
suggested ,, ,,,
| would-be murderer would break into a
| house through the occupied room of a
| third party. It world only serve to double
gard it as established that our man. if he
! entered at all, catered by collusion with
one of the inmates
Gould he not have sneaked in on the
preceding day and concealed himselfT
| faltered.
"He could have" said Phillips, provided
| he wanted to take big charces; but he did
| rot"
"How do you know that?" blurted out
desperately. Surely you cannot believe
| that any of us three let MIN in"
81 don't" said he.
But you said one of the inllates,' I
of his deductions.
II did," he assented. "but was not your
brother one of the inmates? I'm afraid
| you would not do for my profession. What
| do you suppose Mr.. Robert Smith got up
| and dressed himself for at such an hour?
some time before daylight, remember.
saw by short glance through his medicine
bottles that he was not troubled with in
Somnfa-"
Never in his life,' broke in.
well, then" pursued Phillips, 'it is
quite clear that h. got up quietly, dressed
himself. admitted some one who came ty
appointment (probably asked for in that
letter in the fireplaoe). and was killed by
the man whom he admitted. That history
seems to me to give a perfect explanation
of everything, and no other chain of events
begins to do so. If your niece, your SER
want or yourself had admitted this person,
or il he had broken in or been concealed
in the house, surely your brother would
not have been fully dressed before daylight
to receive him."
And If someone inside had killed him.
I added, "tney could have locked the door
again..
"Yes.' said Phillips. grimly; 'if they
were fools, they might have pursued that
method of fastening the crime upon them
selves. Your remark shows you just how
stupid even the Intelligent criminal can be
and usually is.''
1 felt myself flush at his words and tone;
but it would have been worse than foolish
to take offense.
"Tnen it only remains" said, "to iden-
tify the person who made the appointment
to meet my brother
That is all" he replied rather irritably;
Evening star., 1895-07-20

"but meanwhile. imagine 1t is nearly your
dinner hour. and, with your permission, 1
will go to my room and wash up Bit
To tell the truth, 1 was not altogether
sorry to be rid of my ally for a few mo-
ments. until I could recover my compos-
ure. showed him to his room in silence.
I'VE shall dine In about fifteen minutes" 4"
/ said. as he closed the door, Then I went
to my nieces room and knocked. At first
there was no response, and l knocked
again more decidedly. heard her NOV
ing and a moment later the door was open
ed few inches. Her face was set in grim
lines.
"I came to see whether you were not
coming down to dinner. There is a gen.
tleman here" began.
II should think you would know better
than to invite anyone at such time" she
said bitterly. II certainly shall not come
down."
But. Mary" I pleaded. ut is detec-
tive from the city. Mr.. Phillips, and the
best man in his profession"
$50 much the worse" and she shut the
door in my face.
I went down stairs again, filled with new
fears and anxieties. What would Phillips
think of such actions? They could hardly
Even in me they rearoused vague suspfc-
ions which I had practically laid aside
Still. II she was going to act SO strangely
perhaps, after all. 1t was as well that he
should not see her.
In this state of mind sat down to din
ner with my guest, pleading the excuse of
a bad headache to account for my niece's
absence.
"Very natural" he replied. as I went on
to elaborate my apologies; STILL I hope
to be able to see Miss Smith before my de-
parture."
II don't know" I began. ITO tell the
truth, Mr.. Phillips. my niece Is, as be-
lieve I intimated to you, in very peculiar
frame of mind. Perhaps We should be sur
prised by nothing, considering the shock
she has received; but feel that I ought
to tell you that she resents your presence
here and absolutely refuses to see you"
"Ah!" he replied. and then added. after a
few secords Of thought: That is rather
unfortunate, for 1t is absolutely necessary
that l should talk with her, before coming
to definite conclusion"
Are you as near success as that?" I
exclaimed, fairly startled by the assurance
of his answer.
II do not know how near am" he an
swered testify, but surely you can see
how absurd it would be to go away without
examining every inmate of the house.
II don't know how you can accomplish
it. Mary is e very obstinate woman"
Let me suggest" he replied. more bland
1y, that you frankly state the case to her.
Say that I am an officer of the law and
am compelled to do my duty, and that, If
she will submit to the inevitable, my stay
| and the consequent annoyance to her win
be cut short"
I acquiesced in the sound sense Of this
advice; and little more was said during
Evening star., 1895-07-20

bridging this cut. which they had agreed
to do, but which they delayed SO persist
entity that there seemed to be considerable
malice in 1t. In fact, l may say all the
work had been prosecuted in most dila-
tory way, and for several months we had
been subjected to the annoyance of hay
ing gangs of Italians tramping around our
lawns and making US feel that it was un-
safe for Mary. to 60 out unattended.
Amid such far from soothing contem-
plations, my brother was dumfounded by
point-blank request from young Ralph
that he might become engaged to Mary.
Then there was scene. Robert was. /
am bound to say, selfish father, and /
doubt whether any suitor would have been
received with much favor; but he was also
inclined to be puritanical in his notions,