Dora's device

Contents

Chanter Page

I. THE STORM STRIKES MR. STRAIGHT 23

II. SHADOWS AND SUSPICIONS 30

Chapter I

THE STORM STRIKES MR. STRAIGHT.

J UST as the vibrations of the last ringing sound of the clock on the mantle-tree were dying, like the faint whirs of a death bell, Mr. Straight’s step was heard at the door. He had been detained later than usual that night; it was his habit to be at home with his family much earlier. The hands were over the figure 12, and the clock had stopped running. Mr. Straight, apparently wearied, glanced up at the time-piece, as he seated himself, and remarked:

“It is midnight!”

The arm of the speaker hung down carelessly over the side of the table on which it rested; his head — somewhat bowed — inclined slightly to one side, while his countenance indicated a mind wrestling with strange or troubled thoughts — thoughts refusing to be banished.

THE STORM STRIKES MR. STRAIGHT.

Mrs. Straight, who had been waiting patiently, and wondering what kept her husband out so late, now sat near, observing, with some anxiety his agitated and dejected appearance. There was a momentary suspense, finally broken by Mr. Straight turning his chair so as more directly to face his wife and to bring himself closer up to her, as. in a lowered tone of voice, he said:

“ Ellen, we are almost beggars! The storm has struck me and I cannot weather it. We are financially wrecked ! ” The monetary panic then prevailing over the country, prostrating business, sweeping away not only shells, but also engulfing in the wreck substantial houses, and bringing down the wealthy everywhere to poverty, was now

felt in the town of R . A large local inland trade

was carried on at this point, and considerable capital within a few weeks preceding the crash had been scattered in the rural districts. Mr. Straight had advanced largely to the farming interest during the season, and was caught by the suddenness of the demands of the market which closed the banks and shut off loans, and his paper had gone to protest. His announcement, however, startled his wife, who, struggling to repress the emotions aroused by the shock, replied: .

“ James, what has happened now? You expressed every confidence in your business stability from the first intimation you had of the coming crash. ”

“The blow came from an unexpected quarter/’ After pausing a moment and nervously twitching his watchguard, Mr. Straight continued: “Frank has failed.”

The tears almost unconsciously gathering on the wife’s cheeks were wiped off in silence, while a strong arm stole

THE STORM STRIKES MR. STRAIGHT.

softly around her to assure her that, if wealth and position were rapidly vanishing, affection and sympathy — ever the pillars of their househc^ji happiness — still remained to contend against the lowering storm about breaking over their home.

Frank Eldon and Grade Straight were soon to have been married. It was this fact which gave poignancy to the bitterness contained in Mr. Straight's last remark to his wife, and for the while produced a profound sadness, as the two sat there in silence, neither daring to give utterance to words that would disturb the deep feeling within. The hands of the clock on the mantle-board still pointed to midnight, and it was midnight in the crushing weight of darkness hanging over this family. The shadows had settled down on a happy household, and who could tell, at this hour of gloom, that the sunshine would ever break the folds and gild with rays of hope the portals of the heart in the clearing of the rising day within ?

The conversation of the husband and wife had been brief, but another listener had heard and comprehended it all. Gracie, the oldest daughter, had entered the room unobserved, and now advancing stood close to her parents like a statue, her cheeks suffused with an ashen paleness and her long tresses, flowing down upon either side of her neck, hanging disheveled over her shoulders. Rigid and motionless for the moment, no picture of an apparition, in the silent attitude of appeal, could have touched more keenly the tender chords in the breasts of those who dream and think of dear ones passed away than that thus presented by this loveable child to these fond parents, calling up their deepest sympathies by her

THE STORM STRIKES MR. STRAIGHT.

distress. Her eyes moistened by the waters of grief welling up from a heart full of anguish, she, at last, threw herself into a vacant chair, burning her face in her hands. After the first paroxysm of trouble within was exhausted, turning her tear-bedewed cheeks toward her father, she said :

“ I could not rest to-night ; oppressed by strange sensations of dread I was unable to comprehend, I came here to learn what kept you away from us so late, hoping to gain some relief — ”

“ Which you do not find/' interrupted her father.

“ Yes, perhaps, to that feeling — ”

“ However, at the expense of having your premonitions realized. ”

“ Your coming, my dear child, finds no solace, no comfort, to reward it in the words you have heard, ” remarked the mother, sadly, but in a tone of deep sympathy.

“ It is as well to have heard the disclosure in this way and at this time. ” After a brief pause Gracie continued : “ I comprehend it all, and you are spared the task,

sorely distressing to your minds, of further disclosing the sad news of our financial downfall through Franks misfortune, and the consequences which must result in our relation to society here. ”

“ Your reference to Frank reminds me that a note was handed me from him just before I left the store. I had forgotten it. ”

With this remark Mr. Straight drew from a side pocket, where he had deposited it, the paper referred to. Gracie looked up as if encouraged by a faint hope that the missive might be intended for her ; but if she enter-

THE STORM STRIKES MR, STRAIGHT.

tained it, the hope, as slight as it may have been, was dispelled by a sadder disappointment in the contents, which read briefly as follows :

“ I have made some arrangements. See Mr. Mullins without delay in the morning. I leave to-night. Mr. Mullins will explain all. “Frank Eldon. ”

Who can copy heart emotions — reveal the silent meaning of tears, or give expression to their deep significance in words ? This note held out a promise, but it contained no word of comfort to Gracie Straight. That night in whispered accents she related the story of the family misfortune to her sister Flora ; but after the mystic messenger of nightly repose brought its soothings to Flora, Gracie thought over Franks departure without leave-taking and her mind was sorely afflicted at the disappointment she experienced. To her he was dearer than a brother, for the day of their wedding had been determined upon. How could he then abruptly leave town after the trouble came without first coming to her with some word of cheer or hope ? Her mind dwelt painfully upon this one idea. But suddenly a reaction came, and her sensibility, so touched by her first disappointment, was relieved by the suggestion of an apology for his abrupt leaving in the fact that the disaster he had met, in a reverse of fortune, had brought bankruptcy also upon her father. However innocent he might be, he could not remain there and look upon the ruin. He must escape or instantly find means to avert the pending evil. Such were the solacing reflections into which her mind drifted, and her

THE STORM STRIKES MR. STRAIGHT.

heart ached to think of Frank thus alone, when, if ever, he now might have found her a comforting force, with whom to contend against the first wave of adversity that had rolled up in threatening aspect over their happiness.

There are strange coincidences often occurring in life. Here is an illustration of one of remarkable consequences, the exact effect of which will not be traced out until we reach the last word of the final chapter of this most singular narrative. The purport of Mr. Eldon’s note was not fully comprehended and its contents were not discussed. It was, however, evident that the missive had been hurriedly written. Mr. Straight would shortly visit Mr. Mullins’ home, but how different would be the conditions of his going and the explanation he would receive from those suggested in the brief lines from Frank Eldon; and what an odd chain of circumstances would be linked together out of the event urging him there.

As the gray dawn announced the coming morn, and ere Mr. Straight had fallen asleep, for he could not sleep that night, a loud rap at his door and a call alarmed him. Without hearing further particulars, he prepared at once for the street. As he went out, the excitement of the gathering throng and the murmur of voices down the avenue convinced him that something quite unusual had disturbed the quiet of the town in no common way.

The sun was above the horizon when he returned to find his family anxiously awaiting his coming. One glance into his face was enough, and each alike shrank from a disclosure that was foreseen to contain unwelcome news.

Mr. Straight’s first words were low and indistinct, but his tone was louder and his emphasis clearer — solemnly so — at the end :

“ He is dead ! ”

The sentence was uttered slowly, and with that peculiar stress which always clothes such announcements, when the event indicated is in some way or other allied to our sympathies.

Mrs. Straight by an effort forced out, rather than voluntarily uttered, the interrogation :

u Who is dead? ”

Then the explanation came of an event which added a deeper fold to the shadows of that night, which already hung over this family.

80 '

SHADOWS AND SUSPICIONS.

Chapter II. Shadows And Suspicions

“ ‘They say’ — Ah ! well, suppose they do ;

But can they prove the story true? ”

I T was a singular event, that tale of horror ; to some it was sad. Mr. Bailey Mullins had been found dead in his humble home that morning, some time before the sun reddened the east at its rising. It was this event which

had excited the inhabitants of the town so early. R

had its good and its bad elements of society, but nothing of this kind had marked the history of the place before ; therefore, the community was all the more sensible of the shock produced when the fact of a dark crime was made known for the first time in its experience.

But to be brief here, where the only design in the recital of the incidents of these first pages is to make sensible the sequel of a strange narrative growing out of this, in our day, commonplace beginning, it will be unnecessary to follow up the circumstances immediately attending the announcement of Bailey Mullins’ death, so far as the public was affected thereby, more than to say that the verdict of the coroner’s jury was: “The deceased came to his death by a blow inflicted on the right temple.”

Notwithstanding the ambiguity of this conclusion of twelve selected citizens, it added force to the almost universal belief that murder had been committed.

Who did the deed ? This was a problem that it might

SHADOWS AND SUSPICIONS.

be said, with little of tbe figurative element of expression about it, everyone began to wrestle with. But right at this point a new feature was presented, complicating and distracting public affairs in that community ; and it is not

far from the truth to say that if society in R was

shocked at the singular death of one of its citizens, it was no less surprised at the news of the financial downfall of another, who stood in the first rank of the enterprise and business of the town. The news of Mr. Straight’s failure fell like a pall upon the activities and industries of the place, and for awhile they staggered under the effect produced by the suddenness of the blow. Several firms showed signs of suspension, but gradually recovered as the excitement ceased. Perhaps an unseen hand aided in this result, though it is well known that the operations of trade cannot so easily be disrupted in small centres as in the larger marts of traffic.

Whatever the causes at work for the restoration of an equilibrium of the forces disturbed by the bankruptcy of Mr. Straight, time was required to bring about confidence and to calm the troubled waters ; this usually follows, after awhile, in the order of things, with a rising wave of promise and more hopeful prospects. There is a striking analogy between the law regulating human affairs and the law of nature harmonizing its processes in the scale of upward tendency. The opposers of evolution should closely study this analogy. Man is blind, if he cannot see that the law of change is the law of life — that there is a natural tendency in all things to a higher grade of existence. This is the fundamental teaching of religion itself, although the formulated doctrine is very imperfectly constructed as

SHADOWS AND SUSPICIONS.

yet. This seeming diversion has its point of application as well as of interest in what is to follow, and no apology is needed for the hint thrown out.

Among the most conspicuous representatives of society in R was Mrs. Banks, of Vaiden Hall, a palatial struc-

ture in that day, situated in the suburbs of the town. This lady had always been an aspirant for social honors, but one obstacle had existed to thwart her ambition in this respect — Mrs. Straight, with her beautiful and accomplished daughters, had been in her way.

Mrs. Straight was not endued with a passion for reigning, but wit and beauty will have their votaries, and from her natural endowments, with the means for position, she was inter pares facile regina without the seeking. In all her association, however, with the dlite of her circle, she had never made herself a conspicuous figure. She stood behind her daughters, as it were, and put them forward, with gentle reins holding them under the influence of her own affection.

In the social history of this family things had changed, misfortunes had overtaken this household and put it out of existence in the atmosphere in which it had lived and breathed formerly. Mrs. Banks’ star was now in the ascendant. Mrs. Toll was a special friend of the latter and a constant visitor at Yaiden Hall. The news of the tragedy and of Mr. Straight’s failure had hurried her out, and she went over to discuss the subjects with the mistress of Yaiden Hall very early on the same morning. Mrs. Banks had heard a great deal before Mrs. Toll called, but was anxious to learn mare. On this occasion, speaking of Frank Eldon’s relation to the bankruptcy of Mr.

SHADOWS AND SUSPICIONS.

Straight, and Eldon’s sudden departure, she incidentally remarked :

“ These circumstances do not look any more suspicious than they appear to be suggestive.”

Probably she meant to say that, in view of all the facts, it would hardly be amiss to institute inquiry as to the whereabouts of Mr. Eldon, if for no other purpose than to throw additional light on an event so grave and important to the good name of the town whose history had, heretofore, been unspotted by such a horror.

Mrs. Toll understood this to be the meaning of the remark; and whether such a casual expression exercised any influence or not, before the day closed a combination of rumors or surmises was floating about, vague, at first, it is true, but assuming definite shape — at least, sufficiently definite to locate suspicions upon one person as the probable actor in the tragedy of the previous night.

Frank Eldon’s business was complicated. Some said : u He is a financial wreck. He was seen at Mr. Mullins’ late the preceding evening, and now is gone, whether to escape his creditors or not no one can tell.” There were those, no matter how slight the fragments of evidence might be, who could put this and that together and arrive at the clearest conclusions to their own minds, on the gravest subjects pertaining to human weal or woe ; the pieces of disclosed facts were made to fit, and their exaggerations supplied the edges, as if mitred for each other, until few only could be found ready in their charity toward one, who did not appear in his own defense, to oppose the declaration : “ Frank Eldon did the deed.” There was a degree of plausibility given to this assertion

SHADOWS AND SUSPICIONS.

by some in the fact that Bailey Mullins was reputed rich, and Eldon was intimate with his affairs.

The old gentleman had lived by himself for years, lately having for a companion and to do odd jobs about his place a boy known among the other boys as Dunny- Deaf, the deaf mute. This youth was the only child of a j5oor widow, and was too well known to be of a good character and harmless disposition to direct the faintest suspicion toward him as either actor or aider in the crime. He had made the horror known before daybreak, but, beyond this, his pantomimic efforts were a dead letter to every one.

The natures of persons, like Mrs. Banks, are more than apt to be perverted by their ambition. Selfishness is a prominent feature in all such aspirations as she indulged in. If such individuals are not always morally depraved in their schemes, they are never without a disposition to supplant others, and to build up self, almost akin to the vicious or basest element of human character. But the mistress of Vaiden Hall, whatever her qualities otherwise, was not altogether devoid of some discernment ; and, for this reason, if for no other, it is not unlikely if she had observed a circumstance which occurred on one of the most frequented avenues of the town that morning, she might have adopted other words than ' 4 suspicious ” and “ suggestive ” in her conversation with her friend, Mrs. Toll, to have conveyed her thoughts on the subject they discussed with so much interest to themselves. Perhaps Mr. Mullins would have been characterized as a mysterious old pauper, who tired of a miserable life had summarily ended it for the sake of respectability, and she would have pooh — poohed all intimation of his having been murdered. However, it did seem reasonable and natural that the old gentleman had fallen asleep, and, losing his balance, might have tumbled from his chair, hitting his temple against the corner of the table, thus inflicting the death-blow. How easy it would have been to have reached this conclusion, at least, in an emergency.

Mrs. Banks 7 daughter, Dora, in company with Captain Jacques Burdotte, had left Vaiden Hall about the time Mrs. Toll called that morning for a stroll, and when they had come up to one of the most popular variety stores in

R , where quite a number of persons were collected

looking at the magnificent display in the show-windows, the young lady also paused a moment to gaze on and to admire the beautiful exhibition, while her companion stepped to one side near the curb to keep out of the throng concentrating there. Burdotte, however, immediately became conscious of a pair of eyes intently fastened upon his countenance ; he quickly averted his face in an opposite direction, but seemed to feel that stare as if it were a thing of substance penetrating through him. A little vexed at the boy’s rudeness, for it was a lad who was staring at him, he suddenly turned upon him, and, with a dark frown, muttered, rather sotto voce :

“ Y ou impudent urchin ! what do you mean ? Get away from here ! ”

The youth stood and stared, paying not the slightest heed to the speaker, who, perhaps, would have remained quiet if he had supposed this little scene would have attracted notice. Miss Banks came up just in time to catch the last part of the exclamation.

SHADOWS AND SUSPICIONS.

“Why, Jacques,” exclaimed the young lady, “he is a deaf mute ! ” and, smilingly, she added : “You are trying to make him hear and talk ! ”

With this remark, she held out her hand to the boy, who kept up his imperturbable, inquisitive stare at her companion without the least notice of her proffered friendship. Presently Dora again spoke :

“ This is the mute who made known the death of Mr. Mullins this morning.”

Captain Jacques appeared momentarily stunned by the announcement. Several persons were now looking on. Their curiosity had been aroused by the last statement of Miss Banks, and, for an instant, their attention had been diverted from the display in the bow-windows. Her companion recovered his equipoise in a second and, pressing his way through the increasing crowd, said :

“ Come, Dora, let us hasten back. I have an engagement this morning that I had almost forgotten.”

As the couple moved off, Dunny-Deaf stared after them, and, lifting his right hand, pointed toward the Captain, while the crowd looked wonderingly on. With a backward glance Dora Banks witnessed this scene.

“ What does the boy mean ? ” she asked, as she looked up into her companion’s face.

Burdotte’s cap was pulled forward, almost covering his eyes, and as he forced, as it were, his questioner quickly around the corner, he replied, with set teeth :

“ A very rude, wicked lad ! It is a pity nature had not closed his eyes also ! ”

Dora saw that Jacques was angry at the mute’s conduct and did not press tlie matter further, so the scene passed temporarily out of her mind.

Mr. Mullins had marked an anteriox social period in the history of this town. The transition from what was to what is had not, in any degree, been illustrated in him or in his method of living. He had completely represented in his person the primitive order of the society of R . A rigid economy, severely tested, had character-

ized his life in all its phases. Although he was generally reputed well-to-do, an examination of his premises after death disclosed nothing inconsistent with his humble style of living. In his homespun, however, he had always occupied a position in the very best circles, not more because he was a relative of Mrs. Straight than because he personated the primeval order of the town and preserved, in his person as well as in his possessions, the negative of its growth and prosperity. He had been the living, moving and acting picture of its historical contrast; and it had been with pride that society there could point to itself and then to Mr. Mullins and his possessions as indicative of the two eras in the history of the place.

He was dead now, and with his expiring breath passed out the remnant of the one epoch — the contrast died with him — and society had no further use for old Bailey Mullins. His thirty acres just out of town, with the little dilapidated home in the suburbs, were not then considered very valuable ; therefore, no tribute was paid to his memory, save that respect which was shown his remains by his relatives, the Straights, who had him retired out of sight the best they could. Rev. Mr. Lent

SHADOWS AND SUSPICIONS.

contributed a brief service at bis grave ; nothing more was expected, as his death had disclosed the scantiness of his worldly goods, and his people had lost their influence in society.

Gracie, Flora and their mother were the three conspicuous mourners who wept over his dead form before the clods covered it forever. The emblem of eternity, wreathed from the gathered flowers as a token of their love and remembrance, their hands placed in the casket with his body.

It is due his memory to add the fact as a counterpoise to his rigid economy, already stated, that as he lived an honest man, he died one ; and as all his acts in life were characterized by a spirit of charity to others, he must have died a Christian. His rigid economy only had a self- application. His bounty had frequently made others happy, and his contributions in aid of the gospel were never behind. This was one reason why Rev. Mr. Lent was among the first to visit the. scene of the tragedy and why he conducted the burial service ; he emphasized the virtues of the deceased over his grave.

MR. straight’s proposition.

CHAPTER III. MR. straight’s proposition

F RANK ELDON’S sudden departure and the public comment upon the affair annoyed the Straights very much. To Grade it was a subject of serious trouble and anxiety. Silent grief, not manifested in outward deportment in the presence of the family, was effectively working deep down in her bosom, slight traces of which only could be detected about her countenence and in her movements.

Mr. Straight had learned that Frank had hired a horse at the office of the stage company, late on the night of the tragedy, and had gone northward. Mr. Skaggs, who was engaged by him as the attorney to manage his afairs, was quite reticent in regard to the matter. He did not hesitate, however, to say that Mr. Mullins had been murdered and that the object of the crime was robbery. Beyond this he did not feel at liberty to speak. He expressed the hope that in a few days the mystery would be cleared up.

One evening, shortly after the funeral of Mr. Mullins, Mr. Straight was with his family. His financial complications had broken up his habits in this respect to a considerable extent, as he was compelled to spend a great deal of his time in the efforts to arrange and simplify his business in order to aid the trustee of his creditors, and the hour of returning to the family circle at night, frequently

MR. straight’s proposition.

for the time being, had been later than common. Affairs were getting along easier now. On this occasion his mood was pensive. There was evidentally something on his mind he wished to get relieved of and was looking for an opportunity to do so. Presently he made some reference to the brief lines written by Frank on the evening he left R and the mystery connected with Mr. Mullins’ af-

fairs. His wife immediately replied :

il Uncle was very miserly and always speculating. He may have lost heavily of late, or his money may have been invested, but it seems to me as if papers would have been found somewhere accounting for his funds. Frank could tell us a great deal, if he were here, and it is singular, indeed, we have heard nothing from him.”

“ Your uncle was robbed ; everybody believes it. Mr. Skaggs is well posted by some means thus far, and he says that robbery was the object of the assassin. About this he is positive. Perhaps it is as well as it is. Frank might be annoyed, if he were here, owing to the peculiar incidents connected with the affair.”

Mr. Straight emphasized the word “ annoyed ” a little, probably unconsciously, for evidently he did not think his friend guilty.

“ Annoyed ! ” exclaimed his wife, who had an undefined idea that the word might imply more than was intended by its use in this connection. “ You forget that his leaving so suddenly is all that gave rise to a suspicion against him. It seems to me that this is very unfortunate, for, innocent as he must be, his absence diverts public attention from the guilty.”

“ You overlook Frank’s visit so late that evening and

MR. straight’s proposition.

the knowledge the public has of his intimacy with uncle’s affairs,” interrupted Flora, who appeared to drift into her father’s idea. She in turn was cut short in her remarks by her sister Gracie, who had been silently listening to the conversation, but now spoke in a sad tone :

“ It is true Frank may be suspected of this great crime, but I cannot bear to hear it. His guilt is not a question with us. We know that he is innocent.”

“Gracie,” quickly replied Flora, who observed that her sister was much affected by these comments, “ we might as well admit the fact that Frank could not meet you after the disaster befell him that was so unfortunate for us all.”

“ 1 always thought him brave to a fault, and as noble as courageous.”

This reply of Gracie was broken in upon by Mrs. Straight’s answer to Flora :

“You are too personal, daughter. Frank’s pride was wounded, and he could not remain here idly contemplating a result he had not the present means to avert.”

“ And yet he was not any too proud,” intimated Gracie, more sadly affected. “ I must think the inducement was urgent to hurry him away so, and the motive which enforces silence at this time must be very strong.”

“We will hear from him shortly,” added Flora, trying to say something hopeful for her sister’s benefit.

“ My Gracie is right,” said the father, patting his daughter on the head, as in an encouraging tone he continued : “ I am inclined to think Skaggs is at the bottom of it all. He probably sent Frank off post-haste, and now has a reason for keeping him away and silent. But I must take another crumb of comfort from our already nearly