The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1908-05-28
CHAPTER v.
Doddridae Knapp.


ing when the remembrance OF the
mysterious note | had received the
preceding night came on me. took
the slip from my pocket, and read It's
contents once more. 1t was perpleX'
ing enough, but it furnished me with
an idea. OF course | could not take
money intended for Henry Wilton.
But here was the first chance to get
at the heart of this dreadful business.
The writer of the note, | must sup
pose, was the mysterious employer.
If could see her | could find the way
of escape from the dangerous burden
OF Henry Wiltons personality and
mission.
But which bank could be meant?
The only names | knew were the
Bank of California, whose failure in
the previous year had sent echoes
even into my New England home, and
the Anglo Californian Bank, on which
| held a draft. The former struck
me as the more likely place of ap-
pOintment, and after some skilful
navigating | found myself at the cor
ner of California and Sansome streets,
before the building through which the
wealth Of an empire had flowed
watched closely lhe crowd that
passed in and out of the treasure
house and assumed what | hoped was
an air of prosperous indifference to
my surroundings.
No one appeared to notice me.
There were eager men and cautious
men, and men who looked secure and
men who looked anxious, but neither
man nor woman was looking for me.
Plainly | had made bad guess. A
hasy walk through several other
banks that | could see in the neigh
horhCod gave no better result, and |
had to acknowledge that this chance
Of penetrating the mystery was gone.
/ speculated for the moment on what
the effects might be. To neglect an or
der OF this kind might result in the
withdrawal OF the protection that had
saved my life, and in turning me over
TO the mercies of the banditti who
AhOuyht | knew something of the
whereabouts of a boy
As I reflected thus, | came upon a
crowd massed about the steps of a
great granite building in Pine Street;
a whirlpool OF men, it seemed, with
cr0ss-currents and eddies, and from
the whole rose the murmur of excited
voices,
1t was the Stock Exchange, the
gamblers paradise, in which millions
were staked wen and lost, and ruin
and afluence walked side by side
As watched the swayiEg, shout
ing mass with wonder and amuse-
ment a thrill shot through me.
Upon the steps of the building,
amid the crowd of brokers and specu-
lators, | saw tall brOad-shouldered
man of fifty or ffty-fve, his face
keen, shrewd and hard, broad at the
temples and tapering to a strong jaw,
a yellOw-gray mustaChe and imperial
halfhiding and half-revealing the
firm lines Of the mouth, with the
mark of the wolf strong upon the
whole. 1t was a face never to be for
gotten as long as should hold mem
oTy at all 1t was the face | had seen
twelve hours before in the lantern
flash in the dreadful alley. with the
cry of murder ringing in my ears.
Then it was lighted by the fierce fires
of rage and hatred, and marked with
the chagrin of bafled plans. Now it
was COOL good-humored, alert for the
battle of the Exchange that had al
ready begun. But | knew it for the
same, and was near crying aloud that
here was a murderer.
clutched my nearest nelghbor by
the arm. and demanded to know who
it was.
"Doddridge Knapp" replied the
man civilly. Hes running the Chol.
lar deal now. and if could only guess
which side he's on, Id make a for.
tune in the next few days. He's the
King Of Pine Street"
While | was looking at the King
Of the Street and listening to my
neighbors tales of his operations
Goddridge Knapp's eyes met mine
To my amazement there was a look
OF recognition in them. Yet he made
no sign, and in moment was gone.
This. then. was the enemy l was
to- meet! This was the explanation oi
detective Coogans hint that | should
be safer in Jail than free on the
streets to face this mans hatred ol
revenge
must have stood in a daze on the
busy street, for | vas reused by some
one shaking my arm with vigor.
Come! are you asleep?" said the
man, speaking in my ear. Cant yor
hsar?" 8
"Yes. yes" said l, rousing my at
tentioM
'The chief wants you" His voice
was low, almost whisper.
"The chief? Who? Where? / asked
"At tf4 City Hall?" 1 Jumped to the