The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-02
CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER I.
Ever since my fortunate-or shall
Bay unfortunate, connection with that
famous case of murder in Gramercy
park l have had 1t intimated to me by
many of my friends-and by innumera-
bic acquaintances-that no woman
who had met with such success in de-
tective work would ever be satisfied
with a single display of her powers,
and that sooner or later L would find
myself again at work upon some other
case Of striking peculiarities.
AS vanity has never been my foible,
and as, moreover, I never have and
never would be likely to forsake the
plain path marked out for my sex at
any other call than that of duty, 1 in
variably responded to these insinua-
lions by an affable but incredulous
smile, striving to excuse their pre-
sumption by remembering their ignor-
ance of my nature and the very excel
lent reasons 1 had for my one notable
interference in the police affairs of
New York city.
Besides, though I appeared to be
resting quietly, If not in entire con-
tentment, on my laurels, I was not so
utterly removed from the old atmos-
phere Of crime and It's detection as the
world in general considered me. Mr..
Gryce still visited me; not on bust
ness, Of course, but as a friend. as a.
man for whom I had some regard. and
naturally our conversation was not al
ways confined to the weather or even
TO city politics, provocative as the lat
ter subject is of controversy between
all right thinking men and women lust
now.
Not that he ever betrayed any Of the
secrets of the office or even anv of his
oWn-oh, no; that would have been too
much to expect-but he did sometimes
mention some of the outward aspects
of some celebrated case, and though T
never ventured upon advice-I know
100 much for that, l hope-I found nv
Wits more or less exercised by a. con-
Versatfon from which he expected to
gain something without acknowledging
It, and 1 to give something without
appearing to be conscious of the fact.
was therefore satisfied in nv mind
and was finding life pleasant and full
Oh interest when suddenly 1 had M
right to expect it, and I do not blame
myself for not expecting it or for hold
Ing my head SO high at the proenosti-
cations of my friends) an opportunity
came for direct exercise of NV de-
CectlVe powers in q line seemingly SO
Ialo out for me by Providence that I
feit / would be sighting the powers
above II refused to enter II. though
now l see that the line was laid ou.
Tor me by Mr. Gryce and that I was
ooeying anything but the call OF dutv
In embracing 1t.
But this Is not explicit. Let ma fell
the whole from the beginning. One
night Mr.. Gryce came to INV house
looking older and feebler than usual
ne was engaged in a perplexing case.
ne said, and missed his early vigor and
perslstency. Would like to hear about
1t? 1t was not in the line of his ,sus1
work, yet 1t had points-and welI-,+
would do him good to talk about It to
non-professional who was capable of
sYmpathizfng with its battling and wor-
risome features and yet would never
have to be told to hold her peace
ought to have been on my guard. I
ought to have known the old fox well
enough to feel certain that when he
went so manifestly out Of his wav to
lake me into his confidence he did II
Tor a purpose 1t would be well enough
for me to understand before placing
zoo great stress on his disabilities. but
JoVe mods now and then-or SO have
been assured by what should be consid
cred as unimpeachable authoritv-snd
JoVe has ever been caught mapping
surely Amelia Butterworth may be par
doned for one such inconsistency.
1t Is not city crime" Mr.. Gryce
went on to explain, and here he was
base enough to sigh ''At my time of
n1c that is an important and a far from
desirable consideration. 1t is no longer
simple matter for me to pack IN q
Valise and so off to some distant villa ee
way up in the mountains perhans
Where comforts are few and secrecy an
lmpossioility. Comforts have become
indispensable to my three-score years
and ten, and secrecy-well. If ever there
was case where one needs to 20 soft
iy' 1t is this one, as you will see If YOU
VIII allow me to give you the facts of
the case as known at headquarters to-
day"
l bowed, trying not to show my sur
prise or my extreme satisfaction. Mr..
Gryce assumed his most benignant as
pect. always dangerous one with him
and began his story.