The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-08-31
CHAPTER XIII.
THE LOST TRAIL,

~ HhN AhEs Gun go HNAAlNN lliAlaoNiA III
his chair and began his narrative.
"After leaving you this morning, my
first step was to gain admission to the
Tombs--"
40 the Tombs?" interrupted Dun
lap.
"Yeu; the cabman has been remanded
TO the Tombs to await trial for compile
ity in the murder of the unknown man
whose body was found in his cab"
"Arbogast'sr'
"Yes, Arbogast's. But of course the
police do not know that"
"Were you allowed to see the cab
mani"
"Yes. As reporter of the Tempest,
] was able to obtain all interview with
him. When first arrested, the man,
whose name, by the way, is Reilly. was
incapable of making a connected state
ment: the lawyer assigned TO defend
him laughed in his face when he heard
his story, and advised him TO leave
the romancing TO a trained lawyer as
his only chance of escaping the electric
chair. Naturally, under the circum-
stances. the poor fellow hesitated to
unDDoOil blAiiSNll w q SNi hiitN As Afbh
] finally managed to gain his confidence
by showing him that / believed his
story, and that l was trying to find
the men whose scapegoat he now is. 1t
seems that yesterday afternoon, at
about three o'clock, he was stationed
at the cab-stand in front of Madison
square, where he was accosted by n
man, answering Chatham's description,
who engaged him 20 drive him to the
Tulton street ferry. On reaching the
ferry tine man rdered Reilly to pro-
coed to low grogshop on South street
Here he entered, returning III few
minutes to invite the cabman 10 take
a drink with him. The men seated
themselves at a table upon which a
bottle and two flied glasses were al
ready placed. Chatham handed one of
these glasses to Reilly. who drank it
and probably many more. At any
events. he remembers nothing further
until he was rudely shaken by Chat
ham, who led him out into the street.
Here the cold air revived him, and he
remembers noticing several things to
which he did not pay much attention
now as he recalls them:
''Firstly-It was now quite dark.
''Secondly-The cab, which had been
facing south when he entered the bar
room, was now facing north.
1hirdly-Chatham persistently car
ried his left had IN the bcsocl Of his
coat: he was very pale and seemed weak
and i'll.
ale with difficulty climbed upon the
box beside Reilly and ordered him to
drive uptown. Presently the cahman
became drowsy again. The next thing
he remembers is coming to himself
after the overturning of the cab by
the cable car. That the man was
drugged there can he no doubt. 1t is
probable that while he sat apparently
drunk in the barroom, Chatham took
the cab to the Knickerboclier bank, eX'
pecting to smuggle Arbogast into il
without Reilly's knowledge - deeI
move, since it would effectually cover
up the trail, if they wanted to make
away with the bookkeeper, as they
evidently did. Seymour may have me-
him at the bank by appointments; but
am more inclined to believe that he
was there unknown TO Chatham. anC
possibly for the purpose of spying
upon the latter, to see if his instruc
tons were carried out. He lent his &C
complete a hand in the nick Of time
and then. like prudent general. he re
tired to a safe position, thence to di
rect further operations. What | can
not yet understand is, why Chatham
should have taken The enormous riSl
he did in conveying Arbogast's bod.
from the bank stree Seymour's inten
ton was plainly TO make away with
the boollkceper in any event. | can
explain this only on the supposition
that Seymour thought he could con
ceal the body in some way and prevent
it from falling into the-hands of the
police. On the part of any ordinary
criminal this would have been rank
folly; but the resources of such a mar
as Seymour are such that do not fee
disposed TO criticise his generalship il
this particular without first under
standing his ultimate object. From
what | have seen of his work thus far
have derived a profound admiration
for the mans genius and cunning dew
iltry. Fortunately fate was against
him this time. Its instrument was the
cable car which overturned the cab
thus delivering Arbogast's body into
the hands of the police and furnishing
the key without which, it is quite like
ly. Seymour might have remained for
ever undiscovered"
"You think, then, you will succeed il
unearthing this villuin?" asked Dun
lap. eagerly.
"Whiie there's life, there's hope,
said Sturgis. with grim determination
"but must confess that the outlook a
present is not eNactly brilliant, How
ever. let me finish my report. During
the excitement that followed the over
turning of the cab. Chatham managed
l. Il bs D. b,,i