The Washington times., 1913-11-12
Now Read On
CHAPTER Xxx.

Win SoLhlE. All lsic
tedious trip back to New York.
~ first on the tiresome, ever-halting
way trains. then during the in
terminable wait in the dismal, drafty
station. and finally amid the roaring
rush of the fast express through the
darkness and early graying dawn of
Thursday, Yorke's brain rang with the
echo of that grimly significant name.
He could remember when, as a child.
he had heard people speak with bated
breath of the horrors connected with
II; when the whole country was stirred
by. the gruesome details of the Corte
murders. He could scarcely believe
that the woman whose exemplary and
Christian life had been so ruthIessly
and brutaIly ended, could be of the
same blood as the fiendish slayer of a
generation ago. And vet the evidence
seemed to point that way.
Yorke had gone from the home of
.apez futile TO the poor farm. inter-
viewed the present overseer, and seen
and copied the records
Ihe infant, Elvira Corte, had been
adopted twenty-nine years before by a
woman who said she was a widow
gave her name as Mary Bigger, her
fession that of a dressmaker. AS refer
ences. she gave A. Gordon. 12O Canal
street. and W. Chester. 31S West Twen-
ty-third street. If Yorke's surmise was
correct, both these addresses would
prove to have been faxed
The woman no doubt had appear
prosperous and anxious to obtain tho
child, and the county had been glad to
get nd OF II, asking no questions. None
OF It's own blood were ever likely to APP
pear ana claim II, or even desire knowl-
edge of its whereabouts, and no one in
the surrounding country would wish to
relieve the State of the care of a child
OF John Cortes, save only the parsimo-
the elder daughter. as the one who
would more quickly arrive at an age
when she could be made useful.
Ihe Doy had been taken by a man
named Robert Hollins and his wife, and
their nome was given as Broad street
Newark. n. ]. That was all that Yorke
had been able to learn of him, but
slender as this clue was after lapse
OF thirty years. It would be imperative
'or forke to follow ii up without delay
70 the best of his ability. even if 1t took
him weeks and months to locate the
son of John Corte
Some one had discovered the mystery
of Victoria Van Renssalaer's birth.
some one had systematically bIackmail-
ed the guilty foster-parents aid driven
one Of them to his death. That some
one had blackmailed Victoria ia her
turn and finally, when at last she turn
nembered John Corte, henature of his
crimes and his manner of executing
Them, and, hardened as he was to des-
perate and gruesome atrocities, he
shuddered.
Arriving in the city, he hurried to his
apartment. Williams, still resentful uf
being out of his employers calculations,
Selcomed him with dignified reserve,
but after one glance AT Yorke's face,
Ills manner changed.
Although he forebore 10 question, he
assumed a cheerful alacrity. which the
detective noticed with covert amuse-
rnent Williams scented progress, and
OWNED that at last he might be called
upon to play his part
Anything come up since rye been
sway?'' Yorke asked carelessly.
Yes. sir. Mr.. Bradfield called up
twice yesterday, and was most anxious
10 be notified the moment you re-
turned
Hang Bradfieldr' muttered Yorke.
Mr.. Van Rensselaer, telephoned,
too,' continued williams. Mr.. Robin
Van Rensselaer,, mean. He asked if
] had any news of you. sir. and ! told
seen the papers, Mr.. Yorker"
NO. Anything new?'
They aren't giving SO much space to
the Van Rensselaer, case now. That
Iniliionaire-king of Wall street they
call him-Mr.. Peter Lowndes. is re-
ported dying, and there's been some-
thing Of panic. Couple of big fail
"Ahr'
That's taken up most of the big
iype the last day or two. The police,
don't seem TO be doing much on your
case, sir. They're still loolSin' for that
servant girl" williams grinned, and