Old Sleuth

“ If Amalie, your child, is the victim of villains she still lives and we can find and rescue her, and mark my words: if any harm has come to her the perpetrators will have reason to wish that they had never been born; but on my honor, I assure you I can discern where there could have been another motive, and up to this time, if I am correct, your daughter lives scatheless of any real harm save the sorrow and anxiety she must feel in considering your sufferings because of her strange absence. ”

“ We will not attempt to analyze the feelings of our hero, Jack, the detective. He was young, well educated, well-to-do, and talented, besides he possessed one of the grandest physical structures that every held a human heart, and again, strangely enough, under all the circumstances, he was not only an honorable man but a young man animated with the kindliest feelings. ”

“ The detective gave a start, and we will here explain the cause. Amalie was the name of the heiress to the fortune which he at that moment held in trust. Ordinarily there would not be much significance in two persons having the same given name, but our hero was a man subject to wonderful discernments—a man who builded on the slightest incident—and from that instant he had more than an ordinary interest in the missing Amalie Speir, and that interest within a few hours was to grow into a thrilling intensity under later very singular coincident discoveries. ”

“ There came a strange glitter in our hero's eyes, and a suspicion that almost caused his heart to stand still. He had reckoned himself a very shrewd, sharp man, but suddenly, and on evidence that would not have aroused a passing comment on the part of most men, he became convinced that he had been magnificently played. ”

“ To tell the truth, I do not believe her first husband is dead. She is leading a double life. She may not be so much to blame, for I have heard that her first husband was, or is, a contemptible fellow. She once had money in her own right, but the baron squandered it all. Her son has lived most of his time in Germany, and fortunately there is no family resemblance to betray the relationship. The son resembles the father; is essentially German in appearance, but he inherits from his mother a pretty bright intellect. He is a shrewd fellow ”

“ I had been told that you were a wonderful and very kind man, and a hero whom any one could trust. I need the services of a brave, discerning man."
"And if I can serve you, madam, I will; continue your narrative."
"After the death of my husband I removed with my infant daughter to New York City, as it was necessary that I should earn a living for my child. I was ambitious to give my daughter a good education—yes, give her opportunities that were never vouchsafed her mother. ”

“ I have received information that the baron has quite a number of notes out with your name on them and the name of your husband."
The detective had struck the fatal blow; the woman wilted.
"You must have mercy on the young man," she exclaimed.
"It is not in my way, madam, to show mercy. What I need is money—my own money." ”

“ The detective parted from the prospective young baron and returned to his own lodgings, and once in his own room he became a very thoughtful man. The detective muttered aloud, and there was much of suggestion in his mutterings. He said:
"There is a mystery here within a mystery. There is something I have not gotten on to yet. Why should this man secrete the girl Amalie Speir? Every move of this Richards family means something. Why should they become so deeply interested in this penniless girl? ”

“ Jack spoke in broken English, and was gotten up as the Spaniard.
"Your name is Jones, I believe?"
"No, madam, my name is Tavares. I did not send you my own card for reasons which you will understand."
At the mention of the name Tavares Mrs. Richards winced, and there came a pallor to her face. She was a fine-looking woman, commanding in face and figure, but she was a woman of wonderful shrewdness and self-control, and she asked:
"What may be your business with me?"
"You are acquainted, madam, with a young man named August Wagner? I believe he claims to be a baron." ”

“ It is the expressiveness of a face after all that constitutes its beauty, and among our girls who are compelled to earn their livelihood in factories and offices, one will behold faces delicate and features classically beautiful. ”

“ The baron proceeded and told the whole story, all the facts known to our readers, together with his recent meal with the detective who was his informant.
The woman listened attentively with a glitter in her eyes, and when the narrative had been concluded, she said:
"All is lost unless you can force matters, then we can legitimately raise all the money we need. Your wife can get all the money she desires, and at once." ”

“ But I am amazed at what you tell me; there must be some mistake."
"No, there is no mistake."
"The Spaniard cannot speak a word of English."
"What?" ejaculated the detective.
"He cannot speak a word of English."
"Bah! he can speak English, French, and German. He is a splendid linguist; he plays ignorance, that is all; it is a part of his design."
The baron recalled the scene in the hotel café, and said:
"I know he can't speak English." ”

“ No, your life has been so comparatively obscure no one will pay any attention to it. I only desire that the Richards family and this baron become aware of the fact that you have fallen heir to a great fortune. All inquiries as to the source of your wealth will remain a [Pg 49] secret—yes, a secret forever. No one can dispute your ownership. Should there be any comment Mr. Townsend can offer the explanation, and his high reputation as a former banker and citizen will silence all comment. ”

“ I am not, although the second son of a baron who was descended from a long line of barons. I have known poverty all my life. My brother, the present baron, is twice my age, and he had involved the estates as prospective heir before I was born, and when he came into possession he finished them up. No, I am not proud in one way, and I will tell the truth. I know that the Richards [Pg 38] family, who appear to have a great deal of money, desired to have me marry their daughter. ”

“ I am very busy; in fact, I will tell you that evidence has been furnished that leads the friends of Amalie Speir to believe that she did not commit suicide, but was murdered. I am investigating the facts. If it is proved that she was murdered it will go hard with her murderers, that's all."
The changing expressions upon the face of the baron were many, and every change of expression was a telltale look to our hero, and as he was doing so well he proceeded and said:
"In fact, the incidents of that death are very conflicting and complicated. ”

“ Here was a second surprise for our hero. The baron had called the woman mother, and the woman, as our hero knew, was Mrs. Richards.
"Something must be done at once, Mrs. Richards."
"What can we do but wait? The girl is buried; they can never secure any evidence, and in case they do finally it will be too late."
"You know this detective?" ”

“ It is indeed one of the most frequently adopted methods of the profession, and it is a common event also to place a detective as a pretended criminal in the same cell or the adjacent cell to a criminal, with a view to catch his mutterings awake or [Pg 73] asleep, or to listen to conversations between the wretched man and his visitors.
Jack was all right; he wanted to learn facts and it was delightful to feel that he had run these schemers down to a point where he could listen to their mutual explanations.
The baron was in his room. ”

“ In the first place the woman had at times shown excellent feeling toward the baron, and then again she had apparently maligned him. Jack could see now the occasion—it was done to blind Mr. Richards. The woman was playing a double game.
"What have you to say concerning Mrs. Richards? Come, be open and frank with me."
"She is a very ambitious woman; her husband is a man of comparatively moderate means. She has spent a great deal of time in Europe. She was living too fast for her husband, and he made her return to New York, and she is now leading him beyond his means. ”

“ The baron spoke as a reserved gentleman would speak under the circumstances.
"Excuse me," said Jack, "I did not put the question in a specific manner, but only in a general way."
"You appear to be a good fellow. I will answer you frankly. I gamble because I want the money."
"It's a poor way to get money." ”

“ You must not think that I knew you were the baron when we accidentally became acquainted, but now that I know you are I can tell you a great deal. [Pg 40] Amalie Speir's mother suspects that you had something to do with the girl's disappearance."
Wagner was thoughtful for a long time before he answered, and then he said:
"It's not strange that the girl's mother should suspect me."
"It is not strange?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"You appear to be an honorable man; let me ask you one question: Did you ever meet Miss Amalie Speir?" ”

“ The detective followed the man, saw him put up a few chips, and start in to gamble. His face betrayed great anxiety, although he had only a few dollars at stake, and he was a loser. Our hero got into the game and bet recklessly. Jack could afford to lose when set to accomplish a given purpose, for [Pg 28] he had plenty of money to spare. He was very reckless and had taken a seat beside the baron, with whom he engaged in conversation, and soon he learned that the pretended nobleman was "broke."
"Luck went against you," said our hero.
"Yes, it always does." ”

“ Our hero proceeded to carry out the business of the transfer. He had settled the matter as to the heirship, and in the meantime Mrs. Speir very reluctantly took possession of an elegant residence, and when Mr. Townsend and our hero called upon her the latter said:
"You will have a grand home to welcome your daughter to when she returns, and this home is your own."
When everything was arranged Jack went under a disguise and through Mr. Townsend he had himself introduced as a young Spanish millionaire of excellent family. ”

“ As intimated, Jack had carried out a very cunning scheme, and on the day following his securing of the note he met the young man August Wagner. He met him under the rôle of the detective, invited him to dine with him, and together the two young man entered a well-known café. They were seated at a table, when lo, the Spaniard entered. Here again our hero had utilized his double, his twin brother Gil, and so well was Gil gotten up as the Spaniard that the most intimate friend of the disguised men would have failed to discover the "transform." ”

“ One cannot walk the streets or even enter a public conveyance without being able to pass the time watching a beautiful face, and the types of beauty to be met with are varied, but not as varied as the expressions. ”

“ One year ago my daughter became appointed as governess in a well-known family and they treated her in the kindest manner, and [Pg 12] became very much attached to her—indeed they treated her more as an equal than as an employee. As I have said, my daughter is not only very beautiful, but splendidly educated, and during her residence with the family I have named she met among their guests a young German, who claims to be a baron. ”

“ I spent weeks in prosecuting my search, and at length found a little grave in an out-of-the-way cemetery, and on the tombstone was engraved: 'Amalie Canfield, died December 20, 18—, aged four years.' This age about accorded with the age of Amalie Stevens, and we were forced to conclude that Amalie Stevens was known as Amalie Canfield. I gave up the search, concluding that there was no heir unless Harold Stevens had left other heirs than his own child. ”

“ When I left the asylum in which I had been placed I went to live with a very kind family, and at the age of twenty I married a poor but very worthy man. My little daughter was five years old when one night our little family was aroused by the barking of [Pg 10] our dog. We lived up in the country in New York State. My husband was an invalid and slept in a room adjoining the one I occupied with my child. ”

“ There were proofs that she was young and beautiful, and acting under the detective's advice Mrs. Speir permitted it to be assumed that she recognized the dead girl. The remains were brought to New York, taken to an undertaker's, and after the usual preparation and ceremony, were buried from there, and our hero was the only attendant who accompanied the unfortunate girl to the grave, and that same night he held a long talk with Mrs. Speir. He said:
"They have played their last card now, but I cannot discern what their motive could have been in making it appear that your daughter is dead." ”

“ One would not surmise from the title that such was the fact; but the closing chapter of the book gives the clue to its meaning: "I swore to my father on his death-bed that The World's Finger should never point to a Davanant as amongst the list of known convicts, and that oath I will keep."
T. W. Hanshew is the author, and a writer of more exciting and sensational detective stories cannot be found at the present day.
One reader writes: "I thought I would read a chapter or two of The World's Finger, to see what it was all about. ”