Show THE IvIAN TH A THUnlB I By W a HUDSON Barclay tforthX Copyright 1891 by Cassell Publishing Com panyand published by special arrangement with them You knew ho was a criminal but you had no proof of It continued Catbcart as if Fassott had not spoken You knew there was evidence of his crimes in the hands of thoeo poor womenhis mother and sister Dorlson was quite as much surprised at this as was the doctor who could not perceive per-ceive that the old man was doing some shrewd guesswork You wanted that proof continued Cathcart that you might be free from that slavery against which your proud arro ant spirit chafed You determined to obtain It You had information it was In the bands of the sister She was in the costumers shop in Bleecker street as you knew You sought her there and found her looking over documents docu-ments you thought were the ones you wanted You begged her to give them to you You would not believe her when she told you she had them not You threatened threat-ened her and when she insisted that those which she had in her hands were not what you wanted you attempted to take themby force She resisted and in a moment of exasperation without premeditation frantic fran-tic with rage and her resistance and mad with desire you killed her and seized them They were not what you wanted You found that out after you had escaped by the rear through the drinking saloon They were letters written by Reuben Dorison to Emma Farish Notwithstanding there was the assumption assump-tion of a sneer upon the physicians face there was in his eyes an expression of utter amazement and he muttered to himself him-self under his breath Do you deny thisP asked Cathcart sternly Give me those slips he said turning sharply to Dorison The young man was so absorbed in the vivid and graphic description de-scription the old detective was giving of the murder as to believe for the time that be must have been an eyewitness of it that Cathcart was forced to repeat the demand Mechanically raking out his poofcetbook he handed the slips to the old detective a proceeding pro-ceeding Fassett regarded > with interest not unmixed with curiosity These slips continued Cathcart holding hold-Ing them before the eyes of Fassett woro found in that room within a quarter of an hour after your departureone on the floor one in the hand of the murdered girl Taking out the package he had removed from the safe ho slipped out two letters The expression of curiosity lied from the doctors eyes in Its stead came one of alarm He quickly glanced at the safe in the corner Ho realized it all in that one glauce A frightful imprecation broke from his lipsYou You are a thief he yelled No calmly replied the old man I have only taken that which you thieved on the night you murdered You see how those slips fit into the letters from which they were torn in your struggle with the poor girl We will read the whole letter now ffl I li < e 4J wi c a1t f U < C2 r tf t4 J4 r y t z Lo 1 c of Je xrJ 1 = I ir rrC u < di L < oj a < J < c 1cz g j I4 2G ooJW e t IoU t = P r i dj 3 C 1 < 4 GM > 6tfr > tc f < + + cJ < T i L 1 w > a ct < r itJ fJ 1 J O y m J L n The detective laying the letter upon the table turned to Dorison saying There is a message from the grave of your father John Dorison Who cried Dr Fassett Who is that That Dudley No said Cathcart That is John Dorison son of Reuben who for eight years has suffered for the sins of Harry Langdon your friend his half brother He is the half brother of your victim All this was beginning to tell upon the bound man and he showed in in his face Great God he cried what a revelation revela-tion I tionCathcart Cathcart waited for him to say more but the doctor relapsed into gloomy silence The old man took up the other This slip he said fits into this letter and we will have some more testimony from the dead l ti 4CgZ ui lc < k f L J f Ck J f A iz 3 r rha4zr 1 do 5 n I 40 y = iij i 01 arr I y cr I < or r tOC1A4 G ZJ ct = = t t a I au c c Le S li HA GC4Go f L tr ku r c J I4 uu uf cc 6 eu 0 IJ AZ j cl S oto t 1 I ca oz cc r r p tr df JiHJY c e r r IACSUtILl OF THE LETTER The letters from which these slips were torn were found in your safe Do you want moro proof J Well then you hastened to Sixteenth street knowing that you had killed one person needlessly and yet must have the documents There you found the mother alone and there you demanded de-manded the documents and were refused You were desperate and reckless now The struggle this time did not precede the nurdcr Your hand was in and quickly patching her you ravished her bosom of the documents you had waded through blood to secure With them in your hands dropping your lancet as you went you hurried away and hesitating a moment Cathcart addedand with them in your pocket you hastened to the hospital where you were already overdue and with calm hand set a mans broken leg Here are the documents continued the old detective tapping the package he held In his hand forged Dotes and checks by Harold Farish and other proofs of his crimes the marriage certificates of Reuben Doribon and Emma Farish and some other tnatters The poor wretch completely overwhelmed over-whelmed by the overpowering circumstan tiality of the proof piled up against him gave up resistance He laughed a bitter reckless despairing laugh Yes ho said you knowalL The devil himself must have been your informant for you could not have guessed so correctly You have other proof behind It Is not likely you have exhausted everything yet J confess it It is fate Fate has conquered me I have tried to live down the first error but It has followed me to the end and run me down Lift me into a chair I have nothing now to conceal The officer and Cathcart lifted the man from the floor and placed him In a chair Dorison wrought up to thehighest pitch found himself full of pity for the despair I Ing wretch who had given up all hope and ceased to struggle againsthis fate ll might have lived a better life said the doctor after he was seated I had the ability and I have already achieved eminence in my profession But I beean wrong There is a taint in my blood The wrong was begun before was born Tho truth is 1 come from a long line of criminals crimi-nals Some men are born to tendency to this that and the other I was to crime Heredity I Yqu know so much know all Who I was a boy at a time my parents were cast into prison I was taken from my family as bad a one as Indiana ever saw by a charitable man of Chicago who preceivlng mental qualities in me superior to tho ordinary run of boys educated me I went to college and then to a medical school I repaid his kindness by ruining his daughter That was the first beginning begin-ning To escape the consequences of that error I killed her not intentionally but the result was the same a fact discovered by a fellow medical student Harry Farish Then I employed him to assist me in covering cov-ering my tracks He was already bad and shortly afterward for some petty offense had to run away In Indianapolis he was was detected In another and larger crime and under tile name of Fortesquo was Imprisoned Released five years ago he went to Chicago under the name of Harry Langdon where he associated himself with a band of thieves robbing a bank with tho connivance conni-vance of a clerk After this the gang came to New York Langdon hunted me up and began his persecutions of me I weakly submitted to the first threat and they made me one of the gang in spite of myself compelling com-pelling me to use my knowledge of the interior in-terior of the houses I visited as a physician so that they could rob them IIAb the mysterious robberies 1 said Cathcart Growing as I was into fame reaching the highest places in my profession I became be-came wild frantic over this slavery and L made this desperate effort to free mysolf There was a rap at the door From the force of habit the doctor cried outWell Well The voice of the attendant was heard in replyDoctor Dootor Mr Langdon says he must see you on a matter that cannot be delyed a moment CHAPTER XXIL I A SIGN IT IS OF EVIL LIFE Cathcarc imposed silence with uplifted hand handAsk Ask the gentleman to step here he called out Dorison who had been a silent and awed witness of the rapid events looked inquir quirlngly at the detective for some indication Indica-tion of his purpose The old man was inscrutable While listening to Fassett he bad again l leaned against the center table in his favorite favor-ite attitudehis hands in his vest pockets As he heard steps advancing through the hall he went to the door and while admit ing Langdon prevented the attendant from seeing into the room As the door closed upon the newcomer Langdon perceived Dorison and started back in surprise and alarm Gathcart laid his hand upon Langdons shoulder saying You are my man Harold Parish Who the devil are you 1 cried Langdon angrily The old detective pulled off his wig and beard Simon Cathcart You known me As he declared himself he had shifted his position so that Langdon for the first time saw Fassett bound in his chair Oh 1 he cried In a rage You have given me away have you This is what your independence meant is it1 Well Simon Cathcart do you know what this man is1 He is a I know what he is well enough interrupted inter-rupted the old man I know too that I have the leader of the new gang of burg lars when I have you He is a fine one to peach growled Lac don viciously Send me up I Send me up I Ill be out some time to make hell for him You will never be out in time to do that said the physician with a bitter and contemptuous laugh Something In the tone and manner of the physician disconcerted Lan don yet he strove to maintain his air of bravado You cant make a long term of it he said to the detective Youve first got to prove I was ia any of the jobs The charges against you are plenty so are the proofs remarked the old man For instance you can be charged with inciting in-citing the attempt to murder my friend hereJohn Dorison I Who almost screamed Langdon That John Dorison 1 He Yes calmly replied Cathcart John Dorson son of Reuben My G he exclaimed overwhelmed Yes quietly repeated the old man lilt Is not a pleasant thing to think that you endeavored to have your half brother killed is it1 itWhat What can this mean Dudley Dori sonBut J then continued Cathcart that is not so bad as assisting in the murder of your mother and sister No no no I cried Langdon frightened I fright-ened and horrified No not that 1 am bad enough but not that Oh heavens nol I Not so bad as that I The old detective watchine Fassett rather than Langdon as he made the accusation accu-sation saw surprise steal over the face of the physician quickly succeeded by malicious mali-cious satisfaction as if he had divined its purpose W I YOU Ann MT MAX HxnoLD rjiRisn You rascal cried Cathcart turning viciously on Langdon what do you mean by denying complicity Do you want me to think that being innocent you kept away from tho house when you heard your nearest relatives had been imur dared 1 daredHow How could I go thore whined Lang don To do so was to give myself away 1ou mean sternly continued Cathcart you mean your mother had evidences of your forgeries in her possession which you feared had fallen into the hands of the police Taken by surprise Langdon confessed by his manner that the detective had spoken the truth Well said Cathcart you were right They did fall into the hands of the police Here they are he continued as he took from his pocket the package he had taken from Fassetts safe Hero are the forged checks and notes of hand against Reuben Dorison the payment of which through your good mother and of further sums to prevent your prosecution ruined Reuben Dorison your father Those will send you up for another term You can be kept out of harms way for many years Suddenly with increased violence of voice and manner Cathcart demanded If you did not kill your mother and sister who did t I dont know answered JLangdon wit such anxious earnestness as would have carried belief with his words if the old man had not already known dont know I did not dare to show myself I was afraid 1 would be charged if those papers were round I didnt even dare talk about it though I have tried to find out Urn growled Cathcart as if he did not believe him QThere was silence as tho old detective fixedly gazed upon the soamp It was Fassett who broke it Look at me Harold Farish 1 he cried his strong face convulsed with hatred malice and despair fairly devilish in its aspect II Look at me he repeated I did it I killed your mother and sister You I gasped Langdon Yoo I You I Yes I And you were the cause Take that to your false black heart Of all human devils I have known you have been the most cruel and heartless Since have waded through so much blood I wish I had killed you Ever since we wore students together you have been my evil genius When In my trouble I took you for my I friend and udvIser you it was who put the evil thought into my head When itresulted II so unexpectedly fatal you it was who suggested I sug-gested concealment When I was climbing to fame and prosnerity here you it was j j who pounced upon me with this secret and made me a reputable physician ono of I your band of burglars and assassins It was to be free from youto be your master mas-ter to be in possession of the proofs of j your crimes you had told me of in ypur cupsthat led me into murder But as usual you lied You said your sister held them and not believing her I killed her to find you were the liar Yes I killed thorn And by all thats foul if my hands were free Id kill you where you stand now Langdon was overwhelmed was stupefied stu-pefied oy the revelation hurled at him with a malice that was fiendish The eyes of the physician gleaming with foul hatred and murderous desire held him fascinated This is awful gasped Langdon Criminal as ho was stained with almost every crime as his hands were he had a perception of depravity from which even he recoiled Dorison staggered to his feet in protest against the horror of the scene Even the officer was moved and lifted his hands imploringly to Cathcart as if appealing to him to end it It seemed as if Fassett had been stripped of all human qaualities save that of speech as if he had become a wild beast The old detectives purpose had been accomplished he had obtained confessions from both he had gotten all there was to be known and so be brought the awful scene to a close Pointing to Langdon he said to the officer Take that man at once to police headquarters head-quarters to Captain Lawton and tell him that you have brought him tho leader of the gang of burglars who have bothered him so long Tell him to lock the man up until I can como to him Dazed and stunned Langdon obediently turned to follow the officer Stop cried Cathcart let us have no mistakes Taking from his pocket a leathern strap 10 buckled it on the wrists of the physician physi-cian Then and not till then he removed he handcuffs and placed them on Langdon his hands croised behind his back Now you can go said he and arrivIng arriv-Ing there send two men at once Hurry you and let them hurry As the officer left the apartment with Langdon Cathcart sat down at the writ I ng table Taking out a memorandum book he began making entries as coolly as if nothing out o f common had occurred So calm so composed so inscrutable was IB thatDprison wound up to a pitch of intense ense excitement and nervousness felt he ould willingly horsewhip him for his Imperturbability im-perturbability f Cathcart turned to Ftssett abruptly You know i am gijing to lock you ups up-s there anything you want to do hero The question started the physician but he collected his thoughts Not here he replied after a moment There is something I do want to do Write Cathcart did not comprehend him Write at my dictation ordered tho physician sternly The old detective wrote the the names of a number of people with their addressesas dictated by Fassett When he had finished the physician said Those are the names of patients whore who-re dangerously ill They are likely to die if they do not receive proper medical attendance at-tendance Send that list to Dr Alling homo Let him attend them he is compe tent entDorison Dorison looked upon the man with open mouthel astonishment Great heavens 1 he said to himself Here is a man who by his own confession has killed three people and wishes to kill a fourth yet at such a time takes the precaution pre-caution to save the lives of others Is that all asked Cathcart No I want to write a letter to that obstinate ob-stinate old fool Dr Roy with whom I have had a controversy on heredity I could have overcome him if I could have cited my own case in proof of my contention I that the impulse to crime is an hereditary tendency I want to do it now Then I J want to make my wilLIs will-Is this bravado asked Dorison in bought Or a phase of human nature of r which I have had no conception II Loosen my hands until 1 can do these things and 1 will thank you I will attempt no harm to you I am not afraid you will said Cathcart as he helped the physician to hobble to his desk with the roller top Having seated his prisoner he loosened his hands Throwing up the top the doctor began to write hastily From time to time he suspended sus-pended his work leaned back in his chair with his eyes on the ceiling as if thinking profoundly l playing with the locket dangling dangl-ing from his watch chain There was no agitation no nervousness no trepidation He could not have written more composedly nor with greater concentration concen-tration of mind had his hands been free from blood and his soul unstained by crime u M 1 Ug tvtuLa a IUUK uiuu uuu wuuu us Uu ished he inclosed the sheets he had filled in an envelope which he addressed and handed to Cathcart You will do me the favor to hand that to Dr Roy He cant answer that argument argu-ment Now for tho will He thought a moment Now it was he betrayed an agitation he had not previously previ-ously shown In his nervousness he wrenched the lockat he played with from his watch chain Apparently unconscious of his act he placed it in his mouth turning turn-ing it over and over and biting it Finally he spat it out on the desk ruined Oh this will never do he cried and addressed himself to the work of drafting his will It was the work only of a moment mo-ment When he had finished ho said You two must witness thismy will It is brief Let me read it 11 Arthur Fassett physician aud surgeon sur-geon being of sound mind and health but in tho lace of death for crime committed do will and bequeath all the property whether IL is money stocks bonds chattels chat-tels houses or real estate of whatever kind of which I am possessed at my death to the Homo hospital I have no relatives he added bitterly My family have all died either in prison or on the gallows So no one will contest the will The two signed as ho desiredCathoart as a matter of course Dorison with strange emotions Having appended his own name he handed this also to Cathcart At this moment there was a stir at the front door Cathcart told Dorison to admit the officers An they entered the room the old detective said Handcuff this man It is useless said the physician I do not intend to resist Perhaps replied Cathcart dryly and cynically Do as 1 tell you officers II The physician said appealingly Let me sit here a momentonly a moment mo-ment it will not be for long I shall not detain you long long it isnotIor Cathcart sprang to him The physicians chin had fallen on his breast and his eyes were glazed and rolling He roused up with an effort It is near tha end ho said chokingly I have taken poison Death grips me In forty seconds I will be dead 1 bad it all ready for this emergoncy He sank immediately into a stupor and within the time he had predicted his heart I bad ceased to beat I Overcome by this culmination of the past hours excitement weakened as he was by the injury ho had received Dorison fainted An unconsciousness closed upon him he I dimly heard Cathcart say He has cheated the gallows When Dorison was restored the old detective de-tective was bathing his head Looking about him he saw the physician stretched I upon the floor calm In death CHAPTER XXIII CATHCAUT CLOSES HIS BOOK Dorison had sustained another shockand he was carried Into the consulting room The attendant still sitting at the door and unconscious of the tragedy enacted In the inner room was dispatched for brandy which being administered to Dorison restored re-stored him a second time Cathoart went back to give instructions to the officers Reappearing he said to Dorison Come We will go Dorison followed him out into the street streetl feeling as if he had escaped from a charnel house They walked to Fourth avenue indeed to the Bowery before either spoke Then Dorison asked Where did he get tho poison 1 It was concealed in that locket He opened it in his mouth ought to have my head cuffed for not takingprecautions It is better as it is said Dorison They walked some distance before Cath cart replied Perhaps he said The lesson is the same Crime cannot bo committed without deteotion Well the whole search is over You can assume your own name It is cleared I have done all I set out to do i can do no more I close the books More cried Dorison Youve done all Youve done all that could be done Youvedone everything It is wonderful Yes replied the old man complacently lilt is pretty fair I will show these New York people that the old man hasnt lost his cunning that he can work in New York as well as in the west When did you first suspect the doctor This morning when I went into his room with you What cried Dorison wholly surprised sur-prised This morning lYe l-Ye replied the old man Until then I suspected Langdon I saw that letter from Langdon and partially written reply and the case of Instruments to which the lancet belonged But that did not arouse my suspicions I thought perhaps Lang don had taken the lancet But when I got that package from the safe the whole thing burst upon me in a moment The letters and the lancet took their place at once in the story and I acted upon inspiration Doriaon was so astonished that he was silent for a moment Then he asked Was Langdons coming an accident too rr t J iJ M7if dlkiIt IT IS YOUR FATHEHS ORDER FOR 150000 Purely an accident so far as I was con corned Probably he had come to know that after the attack upon you last night you were brought to Dr Fassott and his visit of this morning had some reference to that attack What I cannot determine They walked along again in silence What about Pittston He is shadowed and will be arrested during the day They will all be sent up As they turned into Bleecker street from the Bowery Cathcart said What is to be furthor done to set you right must bo done by Mr Eustace He can do it by patronage of you Go to him without delay Give him that letter I gave you yesterday Tell him all that has occurred oc-curred today One thing more They had stopped at the corner of Mulberry Mul-berry street and he took from his pocket the package from which he drew a paper on which there was writing in red ink Take thio he said It is better with you than in the report I must muko since it has not entered into the murder case Lang don could not have known of its existence or he would have had it Fassett could not have known its meaning or if he did did not care But why those women whose fortunes had gotten pretty low didnt uso it I cannot tell No one will now know Perhaps they were I afraid to get the money It belongs to you now by every right It is your fathers order for one hundred ana fifty thousand dollars The amount now swollen to nearly a quarter of a million has been held intrust by Mr Eustace subject sub-ject to that order for many years You are rich Give that paper to Mr Eustace He will tell you all about It I am going to police headquarters to write my report Our relations are ended but I hope our acquaintance ac-quaintance is not Ishould hope not indeed replied Dor ison warmly Well go to Eustaco now Come to my room tomorrow and tell me about your interview in-terview with him CHAPTER XXIV CONCLUSION Early in tho summer of eighteen hundred hun-dred and eightynino the Gallla arrived at tho port of New York after a prosperous voya eOn e-On its passenger list was the entry Mr and Mrs John Dorison two children child-ren and maid An old gentleman tall and distinguished accompanied by a younger man middle sized plump and goldenhaired stood on tho wharf impatiently awaiting throwing throw-ing up of the gang plank When the plank was placed in position with an agility his years scarcely warranted war-ranted the old gentleman rushed up and embraced a lady who smiling through glad tears stood awaiting him beside John Dor son by whoso hand that of the old gentleman gentle-man was warmly shaken The lady presenting a lad of five years and a baby girl of two to the old geatlo man bade them know him as Grandpapa and also tho younger gentleman who she said was Uncle Charley Ah1said the old gentleman as he gazed proudly on the lady my dear you wore beautilul as Evelyn Eustaco but as Evelyn Dorison you are lovely Li 4 YOU WERE BEAUTIFUL AS EVELTN EUSTACE BUT AS EVELYN DORISON YOU ABE LOVELY And young Eustace said And father I think John is to be complimented com-plimented on his beauty too1t Happiness and sweet content of mind are great beautifiers Charley my bOy replied Dorison laughingly He advanced to greet an old man with white hair keen bright and restless eyes who presented himself with a contorted face which Dorison knew if onlookers did not was Intended for a smile of gladness and whoso hands he grasped warmly say Ing that his homecoming would not have been complete if he could not have grasped the hand of him to whom he owed the possibility pos-sibility of his happiness and prosperity THE END |