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THE MANSION OF MYSTERY
THE MANSION OF MYSTERY
Being a Certain Case of Importance, Taken from the Note-book of Adam Adams, Investigator and Detective by Author of "The Disappearance of John Darr" International Fiction Library Cleveland New York Press of the Commercial Bookbinding Co., Cleveland 1911 The young man was evidently in a tremendous hurry, and as soon as the ferryboat bumped into the slip he was at the gate and was the first one ashore. He beckoned to one of the alert taxicabmen, and without waiting to have the vehicle brought to h
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CHAPTER II
CHAPTER II
Raymond Case dropped back into his chair and buried his face in his hands. Adam Adams eyed him curiously and with something of a fatherly glance. "It is plain to see what his trouble is," thought the detective. "He is in love." He was right, Raymond Case was furiously, desperately, hopelessly in love. He had met Margaret Langmore at Bar Harbor but a few short weeks before, and it had been a case of love at first sight upon both sides. A few automobile rides and a few dances, and he had proposed
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CHAPTER III
CHAPTER III
As Raymond Case had said, the Langmore mansion was a large one, setting in the midst of an extensive lawn, sprinkled here and there with maples and oaks and fine flowering bushes. The hedge in front was well kept and the side fences were also in good repair. In the rear was a stable and also an automobile shed, for the late master of this estate had been fond of a dash in his runabout when time permitted. Down by the brook, back of the stable, was a tiny wharf, where a boat was tied up, a craft
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CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER IV
As already intimated, Adam Adams, in his career as an investigator and detective, had solved many difficult criminal problems, yet this somewhat remarkable individual realized that the mystery before him was as difficult of solution as any he had yet encountered. The most tantalizing thing about the whole affair was its simplicity. Two people had been murdered in their own home in broad daylight. No one had been seen around the place, and even the manner in which the foul deed had been committed
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CHAPTER V
CHAPTER V
Beside the brook stood a shabbily-dressed man, apparently fifty-five or sixty years old. He wore an old rusty black coat and a soft hat with a hole in it. His face was tanned and partly covered with a beard. The man was acting in a manner to excite anybody's curiosity. He carried a stick in his hand, and was poking around in the water with it. Every once in a while he looked around, to see if anybody was observing him. Straining his eyes, Adam Adams saw a strip of white floating on the water. On
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CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VI
From the Langmore mansion Adam Adams went to town, and at the morgue made a careful inspection of the pair who had been the victims of the tragedy. This critical examination brought nothing new to light, and he turned away from the place with something of disappointment. "I'll take a look around that brook again, and see if that strange man is anywhere in sight," he told himself, and got back to the vicinity without delay. Fortune favored him for once, for scarcely had he reached the back of the
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CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VII
"Counterfeit bank bills!" gasped the young man. "And in Mr. Langmore's possession! Taken from his safe! What does it mean?" "That remains to be found out." "This is—is astounding! You don't suspect that he was in the habit—I mean that he—" Raymond Case did not know how to go on. "It's too early to form a conclusion. But one thing is certain, the counterfeits were in his private safe, and from all accounts that safe had not been opened since his death. Consequently he must have placed them there.
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CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER VIII
There was a brief pause after the man from Bryport made his announcement. Adam Adams tried hard to see his face clearly, but in the gloom this was impossible. "Perhaps you do not believe me," said John Watkins. "I can easily prove what I say." "Why shouldn't I believe you?" "Because you were on the point of arresting me, which proves that you took me to be—something else." "How long have you been connected with the secret service?" "About three years. That is why I know you so well." "Did your w
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CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER IX
"This is clearing itself by growing more complicated." Such was the deduction of the detective after he had reviewed the situation carefully. Was it possible that the son of the woman who had been murdered was guilty of the double tragedy? He remembered what he had been told about Tom Ostrello and his wayward brother Dick, and how mother and son had had an exciting meeting on the day previous to the tragedy. "I rather think it will pay to investigate a little further along this line," thought Ad
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CHAPTER X
CHAPTER X
There was a moment of silence. "Briefly put, doctor, the case is this," said Adam Adams. "I want to know if there is anything known to the medical world, a powder or something of that sort, strong enough to kill a person if he should breathe of it." "A powder strong enough to kill a person?" The brow of the old physician contracted. "It would have to be very powerful to do that. You mean if a person was boxed up with it—like one killed by gas?" "No, not at all. I mean a powder that could be held
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CHAPTER XI
CHAPTER XI
Sidham was in a state of keen excitement. No such mystery as the double tragedy had occurred in that neighborhood before, and all of the inhabitants were anxious to hear the latest news and learn what the coroner and the police were going to do. A hundred theories were afloat, all centering on the one object—to find the murderer. "Find him or her, and swing him or her to the nearest tree," was the verdict of many. "The law is all well enough, but this dastardly crime demands an object lesson." C
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CHAPTER XII
CHAPTER XII
There was a moment of intense silence throughout the courtroom. Every eye was turned on Mary Billings, who pursed up her lips more closely than ever. "You'll not answer?" thundered Coroner Busby. "Mr. Coroner," began Raymond, rising, "is it legally necessary that she answer? Remember, she is here without proper legal council." "Silence! I—ahem—yes, she must answer, or I shall have to commit her, as a witness if for nothing else. Girl, are you going to answer or not?" "Sure, an' Oi—" "Chief, will
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CHAPTER XIII
CHAPTER XIII
The next witness called was Mrs. Morse, who told briefly how she had been placed in charge of the upper part of the Langmore mansion shortly after the tragedy, and how she had been watching Margaret. She said the girl had had only a few visitors, mentioning Raymond Case and a stranger from New York. "Who was the stranger?" asked Coroner Busby. "A Mr. Adams. He's either a lawyer or a detective." "Oh!" "I brought Mr. Adams to see Miss Langmore," put in Raymond. "Wasn't that all right?" "Certainly—
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CHAPTER XIV
CHAPTER XIV
Instantly there was wild confusion, and half a dozen persons sprang forward to assist Raymond with his burden. But he waved them back. "Let her have air," he said. "Don't crowd so close. She must have air," and he moved towards a window. The crowd separated to let him pass and allowed him the use of an entire bench, while more water was brought and the bottle of smelling salts was again produced. In the meantime the coroner whispered to the chief of police, who in turn whispered to a policeman,
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CHAPTER XV
CHAPTER XV
"Uncle Adam, you must tell me everything. Do you hear?—everything!" "But my dear Letty, I am not sure of these things. I only want you to wait. That's easy enough, isn't it?" "It will be, if you tell me everything. But I can't wait if I am kept in the dark." The girl raised her tear-stained face to that of the detective. "Oh, I am sure you will do the best you can and all that—you have always been so kind to me. But—but I must know the details." A half hour had passed since he had discovered tha
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CHAPTER XVI
CHAPTER XVI
On the following morning the newspapers brought to Adam Adams the full particulars of the Langmore inquest, with the finding of the coroner's jury. The papers also described how Margaret Langmore had fainted and been placed at a nurse's residence, under the care of a physician and guarded by the police. By a few it was supposed that the girl's illness was genuine, but the general opinion was that it was assumed, in order to draw public sympathy. Raymond Case was pictured as a loyal, but misguide
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CHAPTER XVII
CHAPTER XVII
Adam Adams had watched the appearance and disappearance of the two men with interest. He remembered that Matlock Styles, the man who owed the Langmore estate $16,000 on three mortgages, was an Englishman, with mutton-chop whiskers. Evidently the man who had arrived with the secret service employee was the same individual. This being so, the question at once arose, what had brought the pair together? Matlock Styles lived in an old colonial mansion, so Raymond Case had said, a mile and a half from
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CHAPTER XVIII
CHAPTER XVIII
Raymond Case passed a sleepless night watching over Margaret. The doctor called once more, as he had agreed, and left another soothing powder, which the nurse administered with difficulty. She shook her head when she came out of the sick room. "What do you think?" questioned the young man pleadingly. "To tell the truth, it looks like a bad case to me, Mr. Case," was the reply. "I may be mistaken, but I've had a pretty large hospital experience. She doesn't seem to respond to treatment as she sho
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CHAPTER XIX
CHAPTER XIX
It was not until an hour later that Adam Adams left Martha Sampson's cottage. He had gained from Raymond all the information he could and also the names and addresses of half a dozen people he thought to interview. He spent what was left of the forenoon in the town, calling at the bank, and on a lawyer and one of the merchants, and about three o'clock in the afternoon made his way once more to the vicinity of the Langmore mansion. Here, to his surprise, he ran into Charles Vapp. "Is your man aro
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CHAPTER XX
CHAPTER XX
The detective felt that he was on delicate as well as dangerous ground. Nothing had been said to arouse his suspicions but he could feel by instinct that the Englishman was growing distrustful of him. "Take off your coat, it's bloomin' warm in here," said Matlock Styles, as he proceeded to shed his outer garment. "Thanks, but I'd just as soon keep my coat on," was the answer. "I am used to it. Fine farm you have here." "Pretty fair." "Raise much grain?" "Only for the stock. I deal mostly in hors
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CHAPTER XXI
CHAPTER XXI
For several seconds after being forced into the darkness beyond the iron door Adam Adams stood perfectly still. He heard Matlock Styles go upstairs and was fairly well satisfied that the Englishman had left the old mill. "That man has something up his sleeve as sure as fate," murmured the detective to himself. "He is playing a game, and a deep one, too." The darkness was absolute, and although he strained his eyes to the utmost he could not see a single thing surrounding him. To all appearances
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CHAPTER XXII
CHAPTER XXII
Late that afternoon a burly negro, plainly dressed and wearing a slouch hat, made his way along the river road in the direction of the old mill. He kept as much as possible in the shade of the bushes and trees and when close to the mill sank low in the tall grass, that he might not be seen by anyone who was passing. The negro was Adam Adams and his disguise was perfection itself. The detective was heavily armed and carried in his pockets several things which were unusual to him. He waited around
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CHAPTER XXIII
CHAPTER XXIII
"Tom, I tell you the best you can do is to make a clean breast of it and get Uncle Adam to help you." It was Letty Bernard who spoke and she addressed Tom Ostrello. The two were seated on a bench in the park, where they had gone to talk matters over without fear of interruption or of being overheard. The conversation had lasted over two hours, and in that time the girl had learned many of the young man's secrets, and in return had told him a few things which had astonished and disturbed him. He
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CHAPTER XXIV
CHAPTER XXIV
Surrounded by his enemies, Adam Adams stood in the center of the stone room under the old mill, speculating upon what was to happen next. He saw that the men were thoroughly aroused and ready for any crime. Although all were masked by the hoods over their heads, each showed his rage and temper by his movements and his tone of voice. "Well, now you are in our power, what have you to say for yourself?" came from Matlock Styles, after a pause. "What do you want me to say?" returned the detective. "
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CHAPTER XXV
CHAPTER XXV
"If I can't get away now I am doomed!" It was Adam Adams who uttered the words in a low but firm voice. He sat on a small bench, in the stone chamber. His feet were bound with a rope and his hands were chained to a ring in the wall behind him. The counterfeiters had started to draw lots, to see who should be the one to do the detective to death. Then had come an interruption, in the shape of an important message, and the detective had been bundled off by himself, while the communication was unde
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CHAPTER XXVI
CHAPTER XXVI
"Wait a minute!" came from the other man, as Matlock Styles was on the point of coming out of the vault. "What do you want?" "I want to get some of that new paper." "Oh, you can get there after we have caught our man." "I'll take it now—it won't take a minute." The man pushed his way into the vault. He took hold of a box. Then he suddenly backed away. "He's in there!" he gasped. "In there? Where?" "There—on the shelf! Look out!" "Ha! So he is!" ejaculated Matlock Styles. He, too, leaped back. "I
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CHAPTER XXVII
CHAPTER XXVII
On the following evening, at exactly seven o'clock, an old man came to the depot at Sidham and met the incoming train. He was rather feeble in his movements and hobbled rather than walked to meet a man who came in with a portfolio under his arm. "Excuse me, but is this Mr. Granby?" he asked in a quavering voice. "That's my name," said the new arrival, with a slight start. "How are the sketches getting along? I hope you are making a good picture of my daughter." "Very good, I think, sir. If you w
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CHAPTER XXVIII
CHAPTER XXVIII
It is said by specialists that the human brain can stand just so much, and no more. The tension becomes so great—something snaps—and then? The question is one, hard, if not impossible, to answer. So it was with poor Margaret, hounded by the well-meaning but ignorant officers of the law of the community in which the double crime had been committed. So searching had been the questions put, so strong the accusations, that the reasoning powers of the girl were completely shattered. She imagined hers
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CHAPTER XXIX
CHAPTER XXIX
Margaret could do nothing but stare at the man before her. He was heavy-set and powerful, and wont to having his own way. "Mr. Styles—" she began, but he put his hand over her mouth. "You are sick—out of your head," he interrupted. "I know what is best, and you must do as I say. Come on." And he pulled her forward by the hand. "Where to?" "Not very far." "I—I do not wish to go to your home." "I'll not take you there, don't fear." "You are going to hand me over to the—the authorities." "Never! Co
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CHAPTER XXX
CHAPTER XXX
As soon as his interview with Tom Ostrello was at an end, Adam Adams asked the young man to leave him. "I am going to follow up this clew," he said. "And the quicker the better." He looked over a valise he carried and selected a number of things he wanted. Midnight found him at the depot, boarding a train for Fairfield. At the latter place he changed and took another train for Bryport. Arriving at that city, he located at a hotel, and went to bed. He was up at sunrise and procured an early break
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