Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-01-06
CHAPTER ~.

occasionally clogs the wheels OF JUS
tice in the effort TO supply the public
with the latest news in great criminal
affairs Gin little ones. where the in
terest is not great. there is little fault
to be found, il must none the less be
said that in most cases the extreme
publicity given o the details becomes
In itself a mighty engine Of detection.
Possessed of all the facts, the entire
public is resolved into a detective
force. The salient points OF the case.
which in other countries are kept pro-
foundly secret among few men, are
In everybOdy's mouth. The people are
made familiar with the appearance.
the histories, the peculiar facts IN the
lives OF the victim. and Of those sus-
pected Of completely in the crime. The
result is that a few hours after the
publication Of the important details OF
a mysterious crime people begin TO
flock 10 the Offices Of the great news
papers. eager TO contribute the mite
OF Information which they possess. AS
time goes on. and the facts gain
wider and wider circulation. even that
ever lessening circle which poverty,
ignorance or stupidity isOlates from
the fountain-head Of general informa-
ton. the newspaper. is reached. and If
there is any suspicious fact known to
any disinterested person in the com
munity It is more than likely 70 be
brought 20 light through the same pc
culiar channel.
The North case was certainly not an
anomaly in this respect North &
Stackhouse were too well known
through their dealings with the public
not to have left all sorts OF "clews"
and suspicious circumstances in the
past. which were sure 90 come out as
soon as the dreadful crime set every
body talking about them. To Thomas
were referred daily several people who
came 70 the Globe Office for the pur-
pose OF affording. through that Jour
nal. some assistance in carrying on the
important investigation. which though
as vet so little successful. had set
everybody agog with wonder. From
these people the reporter learned that
North and Stackhouse had many enc
mics. more or less bitter and personal.
rising from their questionable business
transactions. but there was nothing
which impressed MIN as sufficiently
promising to be important until the
morning Of SaturSay June 25. gem
tleman called who related little cir
cumstanCe which seemed 10 him preE-
nant with possible Significance. II
certainly lacked no element OF roman
tic and mysterious interest
ker's Office in which very pretty
woman figured The man could not
recall all the details. but he recollected
that this woman had preceded him I'm
the occupancy OF an inner office. and
that while he was waiting FOR her TO
come out he heard scraps OF a very
animated conversation OF which North
4 Stackhouse were The subject In the
partition hctwcen~the outer and inner
Office We're q series Of larce windows.
which were generally I'm various de-
Erees OF openusss. AS ne stood with
his back against the partition. the mar
ratc- could not well avoid hearing the
/ conversation between the broker and
his fair client. aud after the glimpse
he had caught OF the latter his curios-
ity was considerably aroused. The
broker seemed 20 have been defending
the reputation OF North & Stackhouse.
on the ground that ~ was necessary TO
expect just such phenomena i'm the
stock market. but the woman. who
seemed to have been a heavy loser in
the Nicaragua Midland. was unsparing
I'm her denunciations OF the firn. which
she delivered In not especially choice
English with a slight foreign accent.
but IN the bitterest and most vindic-
tive tone imaginable.
"Hush," said the broker. suddenly:
there is MT Stackhouse now" And
sure enough. the junior partner OF the
aforesaid firm was crossing the Office
at that minute Immediately there
was suppressed scream. followed by
a rustic Of silk. and the door between
the inner and outer offices closed with
a violence that caused the listener 20
rebound from the partition The
| clerks looked up from their writing.
Stackhouse himself appeared slightly
! startled. hut DE seemed to be in a
hurry and transacted his business and
FASTENED out in short space OF time
| Meanwhile in the inner Office the bro
ker was addressing his client in tones
OF soIicitous alarm. What was the
matter?
"And do you mean to tell me that
] that man was this Mr.. Stackhouse. of
4, North g. Stackhouse?" the woman said
! hurriedly.
ITO e sure he IS" answered the
broker.
"And It is TO that man that was
| intrusting my money!"
There was such a dangerous infiec-
ton in the woman's voice that the
broker was apparently surprised into
| silence. and Immediately she broke out
in the most violen: imprecations and
| epithets which the listener had ever
heard pass a woman's lips.
why" said the narrator to the re-
| porter. II felt as If / were standing
outside a cage watching mad tigress
| expanding her strength on the iron
\ hars I didn't know what she couId