Harry Blount, The Detective; Or, The Martin Mystery Solved

Harry Blount, the Detective; OR,THE MARTIN MYSTERY SOLVED.

BY T. J. FLANAGAN. Copyright, 1891, by J. S. Ogilvie. New York: J. S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING COMPANY, 57 Rose Street....

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CHAPTER I.

It was a beautiful May morning—the more especially in that part of Lancashire, immediately surrounding Hanley Hall, the magnificent residence of Mr. St. George Stafford. Yet Mr. Stafford—though an ardent lover of nature, sat down to breakfast, on this particular morning, with a frown on his brow. He was expecting an important letter, and the mail had been delayed—hence the frown. Just as the coffee was brought in, the mail arrived, and with the receipt of the expected letter the frown vanished;

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CHAPTER II.

Despite the fact that her "betrothed" was liable to arrive at any minute, Kate started immediately after breakfast to visit a friend—one Jennie Fleming, living about ten miles from Hanley Hall—and did not return until evening. Passing the parlor door, she saw her mother in conversation with a strange gentleman, and at once surmised it was the expected visitor from America. As her pony was in good condition and anxious to go, she had given him his head on the way home, and the road being rather m

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CHAPTER III.

When Mr. Stafford retired from business in New York, and came back to England, he was very wealthy. He purchased quite an estate with the greater part of the money, and was living on it at the time our story opens. Few men can retire from active business life and settle down to a quiet, humdrum existence; and, although such had been Mr. Stafford's ideal life during his business career, he soon began to speculate—at first successfully, but later disastrously. In his efforts to regain what he had

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CHAPTER IV.

When Mr. Stafford left the solicitor's office he did not go directly home. His mind was too disturbed—he despaired of being able to raise immediately the money to pay even the interest, for his rents would not be due for some time, and then other interest would be due. He had one or two friends in the city, and with the hope of obtaining some relief through them, he spent the afternoon in trying to find them, and finally left London only a short time after Hall. Mr. Stafford was thankful that ne

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CHAPTER V.

Kate did not make her appearance next day until breakfast was over. Just as she came down, Hall entered the library with a paper—Kate followed. She was very pale, but looked very determined. "Mr. Hall," she said, toying nervously with a paper-cutter, "I have reconsidered the offer which you made me yesterday, and, if you still wish it, I am willing to—to—" (the paper-cutter snapped in two) "to become your wife." Hall looked at her curiously for a moment. He felt certain her father had not spoken

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CHAPTER VI.

It was nearly noon on the second day following his visit to London, when Hall arrived home. He looked worn and haggard, and Mr. Stafford, who happened to meet him, made some remark about his looking badly. Yes, Mr. Hall supposed he did look pretty bad; he had been bothered most infernally with business affairs for the past two days, and now, to make matters worse, he was compelled to go to Dublin to close another important transaction. Mr. Stafford would oblige him by kindly explaining this to t

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CHAPTER VII.

"Now for Harley Street," muttered Blount, as he alighted from the train in London, and though it was 9 o'clock, he did not despair of finding either his man or something about him. The motherly old lady who answered his summons at the door, was very much like the house—old-fashioned, but eminently respectable. In the most innocent manner in the world she invited Blount into the sitting-room, but he did not accept the invitation until he had asked if Mr. Hall was at home, and she had answered tha

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CHAPTER VIII.

It was with great reluctance Martin left Hanley Hall on the morning after his visit with Blount, and equally reluctant were the Staffords to part with him. On arriving in London he found Blount awaiting him at the station. "What's up?" he asked. "Nothing. Everything's down, including your friend Carden, who is lying sick at the Bridge Hotel. He arrived last night. Better go to him." "Carden here! By George! I must be off!" and hailing a cab Martin hurried away and was soon at his destination. He

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CHAPTER IX.

While riding back to Hanley Hall, Mr. Stafford imparted to Martin some information which changed the aspect of the trip for the latter, from dismal recklessness to hopeful anxiety—his anxiety being to get to Hanley Hall as soon as possible. They had the compartment to themselves, and Mr. Stafford remarked the dismal, down-hearted expression of Martin's countenance. "I'm afraid, my boy," he said, quizzically, "you need some of the same tonic as is helping Fred." "What is that?" "A good, jolly, pr

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CHAPTER X.

To say Mr. Stafford was surprised by Martin's story would scarcely be doing justice to his feelings. At first he felt inclined to tell Martin the balance of the story of the betrothal, but hesitated on Kate's account—supposing, of course, that Hall was a person of more than ordinary interest in her eyes. The supposition was a natural one in view of the relations existing between Kate and Hall, as we must still call him, and he was therefore surprised to hear her join heartily in the general comm

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CHAPTER XI.

Among the letters received at Hanley Hall the morning after Martin's receipt of Blount's telegram, were two from Mr. Hall—one for Mr. Stafford and the other for Kate. As he tossed the letter to her Mr. Stafford remarked: "From our friend Hall!" After glancing over his letter he continued: "He seems to be buying considerable stock in Kildare." Martin and Carden exchanged glances. It seemed odd that each time Martin received news of Hall so also did Mr. Stafford. Kate's letter caused her to change

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CHAPTER XII.

Martin was a little disappointed regarding the value of his discovery. He had expected to learn from Miss Fleming something about Hall. Still, he had found an important link in the chain, and on his arrival in London sought the inspector from whom he had secured Blount's services. It was late at night—or rather early morning—and everything being quiet, Inspector Prime was rather glad than otherwise to see Martin. The latter related the finding of the locket, and the subsequent finding of the ori

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CHAPTER XIII.

The arrangements for the duel progressed rapidly. Once it was understood that there should be a meeting, no more accommodating gentleman than Captain Carroll could be wished. He left everything to O'Brien, the weapons, the ground, the time. He would leave the choice of all these to the other side, dealing as knew he was with such an honorable gentlemen; but notwithstanding this, managed to have the arrangement of everything, even to the position of the men on the field, as he won the toss for th

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CHAPTER XIV.

When Hall arrived in Liverpool he proceeded at once to London. His valet was careful to see that he did not come unannounced—at least in Bow Street—and from thence the information reached the new servant in Harley Street. Hall, however, remained only a day in London. After spending one night in Harley Street, he informed his landlady he was going away again for a day or two and that he expected some letters. Any arriving the day of his departure were to be forwarded to Hanley Hall. Those arrivin

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CHAPTER XV.

The trip to Naas was made quickly and without any incident worthy of note, except that the rough passage across the channel caused Mr. Stafford to become sea-sick as they neared Dublin, and having escaped it up to that time and become boastful of it, he now blamed his sickness on the Irish air which they must by this time be breathing—which air he declared never agreed with an Englishman's stomach. Arriving at the Blessert Arms, Mr. Stafford inquired about Martin and was told he was still very i

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CHAPTER XVI.

Doctor Fox called to see his patient early next morning, so early that he met Mr. Stafford and Carden coming down to breakfast. "Well, how is the patient this morning?" he asked. "I'm afraid you will have to go up-stairs to ascertain that," replied Mr. Stafford. "Oh yes! We inquired—" he added, noticing the curious glance of the physician. "We inquired just now, but were told you were coming early, and we could learn his condition from you." "Sensible girl," said the doctor. "I will not keep you

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CHAPTER XVII.

The main cause of the letter received by Mrs. Stafford was a scheming little attorney named Jacobs, who just managed to keep within the pale of the law, and over whom Hall held powerful influence. At the end of the second week's advertising Hall consulted Jacobs pretty freely in regard to his affairs, telling him that important papers, including a will bequeathing considerable property to the lady to whom he was engaged to be married, had been stolen from him; that he had offered every inducemen

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CHAPTER XVIII.

A brilliant idea had occurred to Blount as he was on his way to Dover. He had really nothing, as he had told Carden, in the matter he was prosecuting, on which to prevent Hall from leaving England, and on the way down he worried considerably as to how he could keep his man from getting on foreign soil. Suddenly the duel flashed across his brain, and before Hall arose in the morning he had by means of messengers obtained a warrant from a Dover magistrate. He waited, however, until Hall was about

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CHAPTER XIX.

When Carden returned to Ireland he found Martin, although still very weak, progressing rapidly. As predicted by Mrs. Moran, he had improved steadily since his nurses were changed—not that Julia was not a kind and attentive one, but then, she was not Kate to Martin. He was now able to sit up and no particular restraint was placed on his talking provided the subject was not too exciting. Immediately on his arrival Carden communicated to his uncle the contents of the letters received by Mrs. Staffo

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CHAPTER XX.

When Mr. Jacobs threatened to obtain that all-powerful friend of the prisoner, a writ of habeas corpus , Detective Blount, although then without the evidence necessary to hold Hall for trial, did not feel very much concerned. He felt certain his telegrams would procure enough evidence to warrant the prisoner's commitment for trial, but he had a very close shave for it, and the immediate evidence came through an unexpected and almost unknown party—Miss Fleming. His reply came from Dublin—nothing

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CHAPTER XXI.

Chance favored Blount again next day. He was walking along toward Newgate, undecided whether to call on Sanders or try "down Blackwall way," when he met a brother detective. "Hello Morgan!" he said, "through with your job already?" "Yes—and so is everyone else on that job for the present," replied Morgan, ruefully. "Why—what's the trouble?" asked Blount, sympathetically. "Let's go somewhere and I'll tell you all about it." They adjourned to a nearby public-house and Morgan related his trouble. H

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CHAPTER XXII.

Things having begun to progress favorably over in England we will take a trip across the Channel. Martin was recovering rapidly, to the great satisfaction of Dr. Fox, and the doctor was not alone in declaring that to the nurse, or nursing, or both, belonged the credit of the cure. And many were the sly remarks and glances bestowed on the patient and nurse when they indulged in the now daily stroll, always accompanied by Carden, or the doctor, or Mr. Stafford—sometimes all three. News spreads rap

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CHAPTER XXIII.

Morgan's efforts to find Jaggers were untiring and equally unavailing, and at the end of the first week he was certain Jaggers was not to be found in Blackwall, so certain that he ventured to express this belief to Blount. The latter, however, was equally certain Jaggers was in Blackwall. "Keep at it," he said; "you'll run across his trail yet, although I was a little ahead when I said a week," and Morgan accordingly continued the hunt. Blount was now in a particularly hopeful mood, and felt con

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CHAPTER XXIV.

On the morning of the trial for duelling Hall entered the court room, looking defiantly at Blount, and took his place full of apparent confidence—and with reason. Jacobs had learned of Martin's return to England, and had also managed to learn two other facts of importance to his client: first, that Martin was now in fairly good health; and second, that he would not appear at the trial. When the case was called Jacobs answered "ready" with great promptness and the trial commenced. The prosecution

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CHAPTER XXV.

Carden had barely finished his story regarding Hall when a telegram came for Blount. It was a duplicate of one which had been delivered at the police office in Bow Street, as the double address proved, and had been sent to both places to prevent any possible delay in reaching the person for whom it was intended. This precaution to ensure promptness showed the importance of the contents, and Blount being engaged in the hunt for "The Knifer," whom he believed to be somewhere on the other side of t

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CHAPTER XXVI.

The second floor of the inn where Martin and Hall lodged had once been used as a ball-room, but this either did not pay or suit the present proprietor who had partitioned it off into three good-sized rooms. One of these Martin occupied and Hall the others. It was about nine o'clock when Blount entered Martin's room. Sitting in front of the fire in the next apartment was Hall, musing over the past and planning for the future—a future that looked exceedingly bright and promising. There was no ligh

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CHAPTER XXVII.

When Martin and Carden reached the office of the London representatives of the New York house, in or by which the former's entire fortune was invested, they found quite a gathering about the doors, and inside an excited crowd of investors clamoring for information. Martin was well known to the clerks as being heavily interested, and his coolness commanded sufficient admiration to procure him an interview with a member of the firm. "Better go to the hotel and wait for me, Fred," he said, as he pa

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