A. Frank Pinkerton

“ Bordine stood staring, but when the man lifted his hat she uttered a glad cry and rushed to his arms.
It was, or seemed to be, August Bordine.
Rose waited for her turn with a wildly beating heart.
"Stand aside mother, I would speak with Rose."
The mother stepped aside then.
There was something in the man's voice that sounded unnatural. She felt chilled and rebelled. Could this be her boy, whom she loved so dearly, casting her coldly aside for another. A mother's instincts are strong, and she stared at the man with tear dimmed eyes as he took the hand of Rose and led her aside. ”

“ The deep growl of a dog was the disturbing cause.
As Hank Jones pulled the trigger, a shaggy object bounded through the bushes full at the throat of the villainous murderer.
August recognized the peddler's dog. Man and dog rolled down the bank to the water's edge. In the struggle the disguised outlaw's beard was torn off, and Andrew Barkswell stood revealed.
"Curse you, I'll knife you for this!" grated the baffled villain.
The next instant a keen blade gleamed in the air, just as a voice called:
"Tige, come off." ”

“ Jones rose and opened the door.
The two alighted.
Jones paid the driver for his services, and then the two men stood alone beside the road, with the dying rattle of swift-flying wheels in their ears.
"What now?"
This question fell from the lips of August Bordine as he gazed about him in the darkness.
"This way."
A hand fell to the shoulder of Mr. Jones. "See here," cried the engineer,
"I am not fully satisfied with these proceedings."
"Aren't you?"
"I am not."
"You can return if you like, only it will be hard on the poor man who lays on a rude cot in the shanty over yonder, dying. ”

“ While the young schemer sat there smoking and meditating, a queer team halted in front of the cottage—a team of dogs attached to a small wagon, in which sat a man, with deformed shoulders, and queer little face, framed in red hair and beard, a black patch tied over one eye, while the other was exceedingly red and inflamed.
"Hello!" called the man from the street.
A smile touched the face of Andrew Barkswell.
"A confounded notion peddler," he muttered, "yet a queer-looking specimen."
"Hello!"
At the second call Barkswell rose to his feet and walked out to the gate. ”

“ It was thus the old mother talked to the officers, and to Miss Alstine, who, in the kindness of her heart, visited her lover's mother.
Of course that lover was as nought to the young heiress now. She believed him to be a villain of the deepest dye, yet she could not tell her thoughts to that trusting old mother who seemed so wrapped up in her son.
"The idea that he could harm anybody," declared Mrs. Bordine to Rose, with both plump hands on the girl's shoulders. "Why, he never even so much as killed a chicken without shuddering." ”

“ A low laugh fell from the lips of Barkswell.
"You do not understand me yet, Mr. Keene. Truth to tell I am one of the most tender-hearted creatures in the world. I haven't the heart to strike a man when he's down. I sympathized with you, and what is more, I wished to blind your eyes to my true intentions. You had put the bracelets on me and proclaimed that you were going to lead me to prison. I wanted to prove to you that you had made a mistake."
This to the detective seemed a lame explanation. He felt certain that the villain before him had not stated the case as it actually was. ”

“ Victoria darted to the arms of the new-comer, a young man, tall, slender and of prepossessing appearance, clad in hunter's costume.
"Oh, August, save me!" screamed the girl.
"Scoundrel!" cried the young hunter, presenting a rifle at the breast of the tramp. "What do you mean by this assault on a lady?"
There was a horrible expression in the eyes of the tramp, and on the instant he slipped from concealment a large knife to his hand.
"Stand aside, Miss Vane," the hunter said to the girl. "I will learn this scoundrel a lesson." ”

“ The sight startled the young engineer, and deeming it best to seek safety in flight, he turned, dealt the reeling tramp a tremendous blow in the face that swept him from his feet, and dashed swiftly into the blackness of the night.
The man in the shanty sprang swiftly after, anxious now to prevent the escape of his intended victim.
If Bordine escaped them the country would ring with the news of the attempted tragedy. Dashing with the swiftness of a deer, Jones passed over the bulky form of Perry Jounce, and caught the outlines of the fleeing engineer moving directly toward the foaming creek. ”

“ Bordine was once more back at her cottage home, thanks to the kindly influence of Miss Rose Alstine.
Soon after the widow's return, Rose called at the cottage to condole with her over the death of her demented daughter, and the still absent son.
"We all have our cross to bear, Mrs. Bordine. I believe, however, that the worst is past. I believe that August will return and vindicate his innocence in the courts."
"Ah, bless you for that, Miss Rose," uttered the old lady, with tears in her old eyes. "You are an angel if there ever was one." ”

“ The peddler, while expatiating on the good qualities of his goods, managed to steal to the side of Rose.
"Keep up your grit, Miss, they won't capture August. He is innocent, and the guilty one will ere long be brought to justice."
Thus whispered the peddler in the ear of the young girl.
Rose manifested her surprise with a short and half-smothered exclamation.
"Get down, Tige. Go away, you bad dog," cried out the peddler suddenly, to hide the emotion expressed by Miss Alstine. His ruse was a success, the maid and Miss Williams failing to notice the agitation of Rose. ”

“ The slender frame of Ransom Vane trembled, and his white hands were clinched fiercely. He well understood the vicious nature of the man before him, however, and realized that a movement of aggression on his part would lead to his own doom.
Now, more than ever, was he convinced that Perry Jounce was the one guilty of the death of poor Victoria. Vane was placed in a terrible position just then. The tramp had him completely in his power, and it might be that he meditated another murder. ”

“ In the evening paper she read the account, and now she was debating whether or not it would be unmaidenly for her to call on her lover. In the main Rose was a sensible girl, yet she was seldom known to fly in the face of the proprieties.
August might die!
It was this thought that brought a moisture to the eyes of the heiress, just as Miss Williams, her cousin of uncertain age, entered the room.
"It would certainly never do, Rose, never."
"What is that, Janet?"
"It would never do for you to visit a man. Just think what the gossips would say. ”

“ Seating herself near Miss Williams, read in slow, even tones, the announcement of he arrest of Mrs. Bordine and the flight of her son.
Miss Williams regarded her fair cousin furtively the moment she finished reading. Rose's face was deadly pale, and her white hands became clinched until the blood seemed ready to burst through the pink nails.
"August was no better than the rest of the men, Rose. You can't trust one of them out of your sight." ”

“ The eyes of the tramp still fixed themselves in an ugly glow on the countenance of Keene.
"Well, so long as the hounds are on the scent there's danger to Andrew, that to you must be plain enough; and danger to yourself as well. Now, why not fix the crime on some one, and thus make it safe for Andrew and you beyond peradventure? That is the plan, and until that is carried out my friend Barkswell doesn't propose to pay out any money." ”

“ Just then Ransom Vane appeared on the porch. The moment his gaze rested on the face of the new-comer he uttered a glad cry and extended his hand.
"Of all men in the world you are the one I most desire to see," exclaimed
Vane. Then he turned to Bordine. "Mr. Bordine, this is my old friend from
Newport, Silas Keene. You may have heard me mention his name."
"Yes. I have read of him as well. I am happy to clasp the hand of the most noted detective of Gotham." ”

“ A little later dog and peddler left the house, he having disposed of a few simple articles to the maid and Miss Williams.
"What a queer looking man," remarked the maid, as she stood at the window watching the movements of the one-eyed peddler and his dog team.
"Queer indeed," murmured Rose.
That evening Rose Alstine received a caller whom she little expected—the woman she had seen in the summer-house in the arms of August Bordine. ”

“ Rose never once thought of her lover in connection with such a crime.
It was Miss Williamson who first called her attention to her visitor.
"There's no telling what men will do, cousin Rose."
"What do you mean by that?" demanded the heiress quickly.
"I mean that it is easy enough accounting for the loss of your jewels."
"Well?"
"Your friend, Mr. Bordine borrowed them, doubtless to tide over a financial difficulty."
"Janet!"
"Well, you can't trust these men."
"But you shall not insult August with such insinuations," cried Rose, reddening indignantly. ”

“ Other pedestrians paused, attracted as Bordine had been by the flaming poster.
"By gosh! that ought to fetch 'im," uttered a queer-looking Yankee, who had been studying the poster for some minutes.
Bordine regarded the speaker now for the first time.
He was lean and thin, with swallow-tailed coat, tall hat, battered and worn, a huge necktie and heavy boots—a veritable Yankee from way back the young engineer thought.
"They consider the girl pretty valuable," said another.
"That reward ought to fetch the villain," uttered Bordine. "I have a notion to try for it myself." ”

“ Bending to the man's ear, Keene whispered the name of Barkswell.
"Loud o' liberty!" exclaimed Jounce, "I was expectin' him, too."
"When did you meet him last?"
"'Bout this time last night."
"Exactly; on a vacant lot—?"
"Eh?"
The tramp started and evinced alarm.
"Don't worry, old fellow," uttered the detective in a low voice. "I know all about it, my friend. You were to meet a gentleman here by appointment?"
"Yes."
"I am the man."
"You?" incredulously.
"Yes. Mr. Barkswell couldn't come, and so he sent me to take his place. I would like mighty well to see you in private for a few minutes." ”

“ The eyes of Perry Jounce pierced the guilty villain to the quick. If there was one being in the wide world whom the miserable tramp loved, that person was his sister, the wife of Andrew Barkswell, and the only kin he had in the wide world. ”

“ While the young engineer stood in an attitude of shocked irresolution, a step sounded on the gravel behind him.
He turned to look into the face of a young man whose countenance showed resemblance to the dead girl.
"My God! what is this?"
The new-comer darted forward, gazed for a moment into the dead face of poor Victoria, then staggered back, clutching the arm of August Bordine to save himself from falling.
"Suicide, I fear," answered Bordine for lack of words.
"Suicide! My soul, is Victoria dead?" ”

“ Rose was petrified with horror as she gazed.
The policeman sank in a heap to the walk, while a voice outside shouted:
"Murder!"
Then the man who had encountered the police officer darted swiftly from the vicinity.
A timid man bent over the fallen officer.
The Sheriff heard the startling cry from without and rushed into the front room, passing Rose, who crowded in the shadows, without noticing her. He gained the walk and soon stood over the fallen officer.
"I heard a shot," cried the sheriff, in an excited tone. "Who did it? Is the man dead?" ”

“ The detective was deeply puzzled with regard to August Bordine. He could not remove from his mind the idea that the young engineer was the same man who visited that woman, his wife, apparently, in another part of the city. It seemed that the young man was playing a double game.
"He has befriended me, and I will not move against him until I make sure, hereafter," thought Keene. "He has an estimable mother, and it seems a shame that he should be such a villain. It will break her heart, I believe, when she comes to know what a scoundrel she has for a son. ”

“ Ransom Vane went to see her on the subject, but gained no satisfaction. Rose solemnly assured him that she had no more knowledge of her lover's whereabouts than he.
"I do not care to talk on a subject so painful," concluded the girl.
"However painful, you may be compelled to talk," retorted the young man in a tone of exceeding vexation. "I cannot consider it just for a woman to screen her lover, when he has several murdered victims to answer for." ”

“ It was at a farm-house that the sick engineer had found shelter, and in order to effectually disguise him the indefatigable Shanks had shaved his beard, and cut his hair close, over which he fitted a wig of wool, and stained his face and arms.
Thus young Bordine represented a sick mulatto to perfection. The farmer and his wife were in the secret, but being feed heavily by Shanks, they refused to betray the young man. ”

“ Although Miss Williams was not the brightest female in the world, she was far removed from a fool, and soon she learned enough to convince her that the outlaw, August Bordine, was in the parlor.
This discovery was one which agitated the old maid not a little.
She remembered the immensity of the reward offered for this man, and realized that if she could win a portion of it, it would be of wonderful help to her as a matter of pin-money, and it might influence some man to take pity on her single state and propose. ”

“ In the meantime where was August Bordine?
Safe under the care of the eccentric Hiram Shanks, and not once had he ventured into Grandon. He followed implicitly the instructions of the peddler, who evinced intelligence beyond his appearance.
When the young man learned that his mother was under arrest, he insisted on visiting her at once, although he was yet ill in bed, for the fever clung to him for many days, and weakened his strong frame so that he had scarcely more strength than a child. ”

“ Then the last comer knelt down beside the prostrate girl, and lifted her golden head to his knee.
His cries and moans were heartrending.
In vain Bordine tried to soothe the young man, but he found that a brother's grief was beyond assuagement.
For many minutes Ransom Vane sat and moaned and wept beside his dead sister.
Then he became calm suddenly, and sprang to his feet, glancing about him in a way that caused Bordine to fear for his reason.
"Suicide you said?" turning fiercely upon August Bordine.
"I said it might be."
"It is not. Vic was happy; why should she take her own life?" ”

“ It was his frequent visits to Eastman's woods with gun and game-bag that brought him in frequent contact with the Vanes, and especially Victoria, who, during the short space of a few months, had become violently smitten with the handsome face and gentlemanly bearing of the young engineer.
It was this fact that determined Bordine to shorten his stay at the cottage on the day in question.
"There isn't the least danger," assured August, as he lifted his gun to the hollow of his arm and prepared to depart from the Vane cottage. ”