Natalie Sumner Lincoln

“ In the light thrown out by the open fire on the hearth he could see Ethel fairly distinctly, and he frowned as he detected the effect of her sleepless night. The light and shadow of the room, the high-backed brocaded chair in which she sat, her perfectly fitted, simple evening gown, made a quaint picture, and Norcross’ bottled-up indignation found vent in a muttered curse. It seemed criminal that a man of Julian Barclay’s caliber should have it within his power to cause her suffering. ”

“ Professor Norcross picked up some papers from the table, and casting a curious glance at Patterson, who presented his back to him, retreated to the waiting automobile.
Safe in her bedroom Ethel flung herself on the bed and strove to regain her lost composure. She was furiously angry with James Patterson, more angry than she had been in years with anyone. It was horrid of him to have kissed her, she passed her handkerchief across her lips; it was outrageous of him to have tried to prejudice her against Julian Barclay. ”

“ On reaching the back hall Barclay moved down toward the servants’ staircase. “I stood here,” he said. “Norcross, just crouch down under the light and balance yourself as if you were going to topple forward on your face; yes, that’s about right, now, hold the position—steady”—Barclay raised his right arm, hand closed as if he grasped a revolver butt. “See, the window at the curve of the hall is just in line—the bullet passed directly through it.” ”

“ Ethel met him at the door, a finger on her lip.
“Cousin Jane has just fallen asleep,” she whispered, stepping into the hall and drawing to the door. “Dr. McLane says it was only a nervous breakdown, and that she will be all right tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” echoed Ogden. “Good. Go to bed, child; you look as if you need a night’s rest,” then he added as Ethel hesitated, “I’ll sit up with Cousin Jane and be on hand if she requires anything.” ”

“ Yesterday a high government official declared: ‘If Calhoun had half the brains he thinks he has, he’d be half-witted.’ The fools!” added Calhoun bitterly. “It’s cheap to ridicule me, cheaper even than burying dead Americans in trenches. Japan is crouching for the spring; racial hatred is fanning the flame, and her emissaries are everywhere. I’d willingly give $10,000 to the man who will unearth and expose the Japanese cabal which, I believe, as I believe in God, is being conducted in Washington City today right under the nose of our government officials.” ”

“ THE INQUEST At the sound of advancing footsteps Mrs. Ogden dropped her newspaper with a faint scream. Her nervous system had not recovered from the shock of the night before—fire and death had robbed her of her customary air of repose.
“Oh, it’s you, my dear,” she exclaimed in a relieved tone, as Lois McLane took the chair opposite her. “And how did you leave Ethel?”
“Much more composed; she will be down directly.”
“Getting up? Mrs. McLane, how could you permit it?” and Mrs. Ogden sat bolt upright and gazed in disapproval at her guest. ”

“ Ethel, suddenly conscious of the silence, dropped her hand from before her eyes, and glanced at Norcross. She found his pleasant face set in grim lines.
“Go on,” she begged. “You were saying——”
“Idleness, money, no home ties, and the Far East are a bad combination,” he responded gravely. “Barclay seldom speaks of the years he has spent in the Orient; in fact, he leads one to infer that he knows little about it. ”

“ Patterson turned and regarded Barclay attentively from head to foot, and suddenly he smiled, a smile of such satisfaction that Barclay, his fingers clenched about his program, had difficulty in controlling his rising anger.
“Is it to be war with Japan?” asked Ogden, smiling ironically. “Sorry, Patterson, I don’t scare worth a cent.”
“I cannot see, Patterson,” Norcross joined in the conversation, “that we have so very much to fear in a war with Japan. I think that you overrate their fighting qualities, and undervalue ours.” ”

“ Norcross hesitated, and she added proudly, “I desire the truth.”
“Very well,” Norcross looked at her compassionately. “On first meeting Julian Barclay I thought him a pleasant, agreeable companion,”—he was picking his words with care. “A man who might have achieved considerable success in whatever he undertook, had not a comfortable income deprived him of the necessity and spur to apply himself to work.”
“And you think now—?” suggested Ethel, as he paused.
“Too much idleness is the curse of many American men,” he said. ”

“ The bishop was enjoying himself. “Why not try your hand at writing a tract which would be a ‘best seller’? That would be a greater achievement than writing a popular novel.”
“And require greater genius,” laughed Ethel. Her old buoyant spirit had returned since the scene in the drawing room. Her faith in Julian Barclay was not misplaced; his behavior in the face of James Patterson’s charges had proved that. And Patterson’s attack upon his character had not been backed up by Leonard McLane, as he had evidently expected and counted upon. ”

“ Madame Takasaki raised her hands as if measuring her meaning. “American people so nice,” she smiled and nodded at her questioner. “But it so strange they have so large noses, the noses give me terror.” Ethel, following Madame Takasaki’s glance, laughed outright; truly her compatriots’ noses did appear large when compared to the small features of the Japanese. ”

“ She had twice refused Jim Patterson, but he had declined to accept dismissal, pleading that his great love for her must eventually bring in return a like affection. His dogged persistence had won her respect and liking, and she had, with a determination almost fierce, nearly convinced herself that her liking was becoming something warmer, stronger; but tonight—Ethel closed her eyes as if in pain. ”

“ AT THE JAPANESE EMBASSY Midnight was fast approaching, but the reception at the Japanese Embassy showed no signs of diminished attendance or lack of enjoyment among the guests. Diplomatic and official Washington was present to do honor to the Mikado’s birthday.
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Ogden and their guests were among the late arrivals, and Ethel Ogden received a warm welcome from Maru Takasaki, who hastened to greet her, and, with an air of great pride, presented her to his wife. Madame Takasaki’s pretty face broke into a friendly smile and she shook Ethel’s hand with marked cordiality. ”

“ Ogden’s contact with the world had taught him not only the value of money, but when to spend it with the best results. He practiced his creed, “dollar diplomacy,” at home as well as abroad. His wife’s success deserved reward, he mentally decided, and picked out a diamond-studded wrist watch at which Mrs. Ogden had cast longing eyes when in the jeweler’s two days before.
Mrs. Ogden, seated between a South American ambassador and a high dignitary of the church who had recently come to Washington, helped herself to the salad with a distinct feeling of elation. ”

“ There was a faint tinkle of broken glass and ivory as Calhoun ground his heel into the miniature, and gathering up the gold frame and its broken contents, he withdrew from behind the ivory many sheets of folded rice paper on which were fine writing and cabalistic signs.
“The Secretary of War will sleep easier in his bed than he has for many nights,” he said. “God!” He swung on Norcross, one hand lifted menacingly. “Murder I can understand, but treachery and treason—you!”—in gathering fury—“What shall I call you——”
“The nameless man,” was the bitter retort. ”

“ Ethel:
I must go at once to Detective Headquarters. I go with a greater courage, a newer, happier faith in human nature, inspired by you—the most loyal friend a man ever had. My life—my love are yours. I pray God that soon I can stand before you cleared of all suspicion, and ask the question which honor forbids while I am under a cloud.
Julian.
Barclay folded the note and addressed it, then catching up with Norcross and Ogden, and with Mitchell at his heels, hastened into the lower hall. ”

“ Takasaki smiled broadly. “There live deceivers in every land; but it not possible for the antiques to be made again; the design of which is a lost art.”
“How about silver ornaments—flasks?” Barclay’s eyes never left the Japanese. “I bought one, curiously shaped, with a chrysanthemum pattern traced upon it, and believed it to be the only one of its kind. And yet, I have seen two of these flasks within two weeks.”
“We no have silver flasks in Nippon,” replied Takasaki quietly. “We have saki bottles—you mean those? No? Then you no buy silver flask in Nippon.” ”

“ Barclay last night,” Lois remarked. “I am sorry to learn he is eccentric.”
“Eccentric is hardly the word,” Mrs. Ogden’s conscience somewhat reproached her for so openly [Pg 194] criticizing a relative and a guest in her house, but Julian Barclay was becoming an obsession, and she could not stop talking about him altogether. “He is a bit queer—morbid—and he is most decidedly not the man to make Ethel happy. Their—their temperaments are too much alike for perfect harmony.”
What comment, if any, Lois would have made, remained unspoken, as Walter Ogden and Professor Norcross joined them. ”

“ In an instant the passengers were on their feet, some intent on reaching the struggling men and others only desirous of obtaining a closer view. But the intervention of the more venturesome was not required, and a second later Barclay was bending over Tilghman, who measured his length in the aisle, while the conductor and several passengers collared his small opponent. A pull at Barclay’s hastily offered flask, and Tilghman somewhat shakily regained his feet, as the Japanese passenger strove to explain the situation to the indignant conductor. ”

“ Instead of smiling, Mrs. Ogden sighed. “Some people attract trouble,” she said gloomily. “Julian is one of them.”
Ethel selected a silk waist from the bureau drawer with care. “Has Julian spent many years in the Far East?”
“I don’t know how long he was out there,” answered Mrs. Ogden. “We haven’t met for years until this winter. Julian has traveled ever since the death of Cousin Julian Barclay, senior—he adopted him, you know.” ”

“ There is something I must get out of the top drawer of my typewriting desk; it stands by the door leading into Walter Ogden’s bedroom. The fire is in the other part of the room—I can reach my desk.”
“I’ll go for you,” noting her agonized expression. “What is it you want out of your desk?”
“My miniature and a ring”—she blurted out, and would have followed Patterson, but a strong hand pushed her back from the staircase.
“Please leave, lady,” exclaimed one of the firemen, and Ethel turning reluctantly, protestingly away, saw Patterson bounding up the staircase. ”

“ As the morning wore on her attention wandered, [Pg 150] and throwing down her pen in despair, she took from the top drawer of her typewriting desk a small object, and removing the chamois, looked at her miniature.
All through the sleepless night, when her tired brain refused to refute or accept the evidence of Julian Barclay’s complicity in the poisoning of Dwight Tilghman, and agonizing sobs shook her, the touch of the miniature under her pillow had brought a ray of comfort. ”

“ Mrs. Ogden sighed again; Barclay was undeniably handsome, but so was James Patterson in a big, fine way, and she infinitely preferred the dogged will power and driving force indicated in his rugged features, to Barclay’s sensitive, high-strung temperament.
Mrs. Ogden liked to have good-looking people [Pg 128] about her, and her gaze rested on her husband and Professor Norcross with satisfaction; in their way each was a credit to her box party. Ethel, seated in the farther corner of the box, was unaware of her cousin’s scrutiny as she kept up an animated conversation with Professor Norcross. ”

“ Ogden hardly seemed aware of the others, his gaze being focused on Barclay and the handcuffs. Great beads of perspiration appeared on his forehead.
“What’s the meaning of this?” he demanded. “What deviltry are you up to?” and he glared at them all.
Mitchell took the question to himself, and an angry sparkle lit his eyes. “Don’t interfere with the administration of the law,” he snapped. “I’ve just [Pg 281] arrested your cousin, Mr. Julian Barclay, for the murder of James Patterson.” ”

“ Barclay turned cold. Brandy containing poison? Where in the world was his flask? What had become of it? His thoughts running riot, he listened dazedly to the conductor’s excited questions.
“What’s oxalic acid?” asked the latter.
“A vegetable poison, better known under the name of ‘salts of lemon’; a powder which, if dissolved in alcohol, kills almost instantly,” was the reply. “Also, the symptoms it produces are identical [Pg 21] with heart failure, the acid producing manifestation of great weakness, small pulse, and failure of the heart’s power.” ”

“ He would not marry Henrietta Patterson until he could support her in comfort, having a horror of being thought a fortune hunter. They had planned a spring wedding—and six weeks before it Fate and I stepped in”—Barclay closed his eyes. “I had one interview with Henrietta Patterson, and it will live in my memory always.”
“These are morbid fancies,” protested Ethel warmly. “You are not fair to yourself, Julian. You are too young a man to have your whole life blasted by an accident, no matter how tragic, which was the direct result of overstudy and ill-health. ”