35 chapters
6 hour read
Selected Chapters
35 chapters
THE GIRL ACROSS THE HALL
THE GIRL ACROSS THE HALL
I do hate changes, but when my sister Laura, who keeps house for me, determined to move further uptown, I really had no choice in the matter but to acquiesce. I am a bachelor of long standing, and it's my opinion that the way to manage women is simply to humor their whims, and since Laura's husband died I've been rather more indulgent to her than before. Any way, the chief thing to have in one's household is peace, and I found I secured that easily enough by letting Laura do just as she liked; a
11 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE TRAGEDY
THE TRAGEDY
It was perhaps half an hour later when I again opened my front door, to start for my downtown office. Laura accompanied me into the hall, as she often does and chattered a few parting inanities as we stood by the elevator. The car was rising, and as we are only on the third floor I had a half-formed intention of walking down the stairs, when the door of the other apartment flew open and Miss Pembroke ran out to meet the elevator. She was greatly excited, but not with anger, for her face was whit
11 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
JANET PEMBROKE
JANET PEMBROKE
Leaving the two doctors to their consultation I went back into the drawing-room. Although this room was the duplicate of our own living-room in the apartment across the hall, it presented quite a different appearance because of its richer furnishings. The simple tastes of my sister and myself did not incline us to velvet hangings and heavily upholstered furniture. Our whole room was lighter in effect, but the Pembroke drawing-room, while harmonious in coloring and design, was almost oppressive i
10 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
DOCTOR POST'S DISCOVERY
DOCTOR POST'S DISCOVERY
A few moments after this, Mr. George Lawrence arrived. He let himself in at the front door with a latch-key, and walked into the room with the air of one familiar with the place. "Well, Janet, what's up?" he began, and then, seeing strangers, paused expectantly. "Mrs. Mulford," said Janet, "this is my cousin, Mr. Lawrence. Mr. Landon, Mr. Lawrence." The new-comer bowed politely and with the graceful courtesy of a well-bred city man, then turned again to his cousin. "I sent for you, George," bega
10 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
SEVERAL CLUES
SEVERAL CLUES
I had often told Laura that if I ever did fall in love it would be at first sight, and now it had come. Not only Janet Pembroke's beauty and the pathetic appeal of her sorrowful face attracted me, but I was fascinated by the mystery of the girl. The astounding news that had just been told her was so much worse than the mere fact of her uncle's death, that I fully expected her to show her emotion in desperate hysterics. But instead, it seemed to rouse in her a spirit of courage and self-reliance,
10 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE INQUEST BEGINS
THE INQUEST BEGINS
When I returned to the drawing-room, I found the coroner had already arrived, accompanied by Inspector Crawford. Mr. Ross, the coroner, looked like a capable, active man, while Mr. Crawford's face wore the blank and inscrutable expression which is supposed to be part of the detective's stock in trade. I have often wondered whether this imperturbability is not used quite as often to cloak utter ignorance as to hide secret knowledge. They had been in the house but a few moments, and Doctor Masters
11 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
I GIVE EVIDENCE
I GIVE EVIDENCE
"Your name," said the Coroner to me. "Otis Landon." "You live in this house?" "Yes, I live in the apartment across the hall, on this same floor. It is a duplicate of this apartment." "Please tell in your own words," said Mr. Ross, "exactly what you know of this matter." And so I told my story. "I am a lawyer, and a bachelor," I said. "My widowed sister, Mrs. Mulford, keeps house for me. As we sat at breakfast this morning the door-bell rang. Knowing from the hour—just about eight o'clock—that it
11 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
AN AWFUL IMPLICATION
AN AWFUL IMPLICATION
"Never mind your opinions of your employers," commanded the coroner sternly. "Simply answer my questions. What did you do with the letters?" "I took 'em to Miss Janet." "Is that your custom?" "Yes, sah. She looks 'em ober, an' if dey's bills she doesn't gib 'em to Mr. Pembroke till after breakfast, sah." "Where was Miss Pembroke when you gave her the mail?" "In her own room, sah, jes' finishin' dressin'." "What did you do next?" "Den Miss Janet she tole me to knock on Mr. Pembroke's door, so he'
12 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
GEORGE LAWRENCE
GEORGE LAWRENCE
The implication was awful, monstrous, and yet—there it was. Since, as Janet said, she put the chain on, and since it had been found still on by Charlotte in the morning, certainly no one could have entered the apartment during the night by that door. And as the apartment was the duplicate of our own, I knew there was no other door. There was no rear entrance, and the dumb-waiter closed with a snap lock on the kitchen side. The inspector stated that the windows had evidently been securely fastene
13 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
PERSON OR PERSONS UNKNOWN
PERSON OR PERSONS UNKNOWN
I am usually cool-headed and clear-sighted, but as I realized the significance of the trend of the coroner's investigation my brain began to whirl. While I couldn't for a moment imagine Janet guilty of crime, or assistance or connivance thereat, there was much about the girl that I could not understand. Her sudden fainting spells and her spasms of convulsive weeping contrasted strangely with her calm, cold demeanor as she talked about her uncle. She had shown no grief at his death, but, remember
11 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE CHAINED DOOR
THE CHAINED DOOR
Janet herself sat as one turned to stone. I think it was the first time she had realized that even a slight suspicion had definitely been attached to her name, and, had she been guilty, she could not have looked more stunned by shame and ignominy. I remembered that she had said: "Perhaps I did do it"; I remembered that I knew nothing of her character save that it was a complex one, and—I wondered. But it was no time for wondering; it was an occasion for action. Rising to my feet, I announced tha
13 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
JANET IS OUR GUEST
JANET IS OUR GUEST
Ah, so the blow had fallen! He definitely suspected Janet, and, besides the point of evidence, opportunity, he condemned her in his own mind because a hat-pin pointed to a woman's work. He didn't tell me this in so many words—he didn't have to. I read from his face, and from his air of finality, that he was convinced of Janet's guilt, either with or without Charlotte's assistance. And I must admit, that in all my thought and theory, in all my imagination and visioning, in all my conclusions and
15 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
JANET IS MYSTERIOUS
JANET IS MYSTERIOUS
"How clearly you put it!" exclaimed Janet in response to my last statement. "That is exactly what we have to do. Find some other person who had a motive, and who must have found an opportunity." "I will," I vowed, earnestly, "but it will help me so much if you can only bring yourself to trust me more fully. You know, you must know, that I have only your good at heart." I should have stopped right here, but it chanced that just at that moment Laura was called away on some household affair and lef
13 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
MRS. ALTONSTALL
MRS. ALTONSTALL
The Sterling Safe Deposit Company! Well, at last I had some definite information! At last I had something to work upon! I went at once to the deposit company, and asked for an interview with the manager. I had difficulty in persuading him to grant my request, but after realizing the gravity of the situation and the significance of the clue, he told me that that key belonged to a safe deposit box rented by a Mrs. Altonstall, who lived on West Fifty-eighth Street. I looked at my watch. It was almo
12 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
WHO IS J. S.?
WHO IS J. S.?
Whatever the cause, Janet's spirits were undeniably lightened. "I wish I could help," she said. "Here is our problem: to find somebody who wanted to kill Uncle Robert, and who was able to get into the apartment and do so." "That's the case in a nutshell," declared George; "but I confess I don't know which way to start." Although I had made up my mind not to refer to the letter from Jonathan Scudder, which Crawford had shown me, yet I thought I would introduce the subject of J. S. and see if Jane
14 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
LEROY ARRIVES ON THE SCENE
LEROY ARRIVES ON THE SCENE
When I reached home Lawrence had left, Miss Pembroke had retired, and Laura was in the library, waiting for me. "It doesn't seem possible," she said, as I flung off my coat and threw myself into an easy chair, "that so much could have happened in one day. Only think, Otis, when we arose this morning we didn't know Miss Pembroke to speak to, and now she is asleep in our guest room!" "Where is Charlotte?" I said. "She wanted to go to spend the night with some friends, so I let her go. We are respo
11 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CAN LEROY BE GUILTY?
CAN LEROY BE GUILTY?
It was as if a bomb had burst. We all sat appalled, for at the first thought it seemed as if this admission proclaimed Graham Leroy a guilty man. The picture flashed into my mind. This strong man, capable I felt sure, of the whole range of elemental passions, killing, for some reason unknown to me, his client, who was equally capable of rage and angry passion. I seemed to see him bending over his victim, and inadvertently dropping the tell-tale key from his pocket. But I think it was an effect o
12 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE ROOMS IN WASHINGTON SQUARE
THE ROOMS IN WASHINGTON SQUARE
In sheer desperation, I resolved upon an interview with Inspector Crawford. I hadn't a very high opinion of him as a detective, but I had reached the pitch where I must do something. I telephoned to him, but it was only after some persistence that I could persuade him to give me even a little of his valuable time. Finally he agreed to a fifteen-minute interview at his own home. It was not far to his house, and as I walked over there I wondered why he seemed so averse to a discussion of the Pembr
11 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
A TALK WITH JANET
A TALK WITH JANET
I went home decidedly disheartened. As usual, the Inspector's positiveness and incontrovertible reasoning depressed my spirits, because I felt convinced, although against my will, that he might be right. But when I entered our apartment, and found Laura and Janet waiting for me, I forgot my troubles in the happiness of seeing Janet in my home. The girl must have been of an adaptable temperament, for surely our household was totally unlike the one she had been accustomed to, and yet she seemed pe
12 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE INITIALED HANDKERCHIEF
THE INITIALED HANDKERCHIEF
The funeral of Robert Pembroke was to be held Saturday afternoon. The man had so few friends that elaborate services were not arranged for. Indeed it was to take place from the mortuary chapel, and would doubtless be attended by a very small assembly. Of course Laura and I would go, out of respect for our friends, although we had never known Mr. Pembroke himself. I did not see Janet before I went downtown Saturday morning, as Laura was taking great care of the girl, and never allowed her to appe
12 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
FLEMING STONE
FLEMING STONE
At dinner and during Saturday evening, Janet seemed so sad and depressed in spirits, that I seconded Laura's efforts to divert her mind from all thoughts of the tragedy. It was not so difficult as it might seem, for the girl's strange temperament was volatile, and her thoughts were easily led to any subject we suggested. We talked of books and music, and finally of personal acquaintances, discovering that we had a few in common. Although I did not know the Warings personally they were acquaintan
17 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
A CALL ON MISS WARING
A CALL ON MISS WARING
When I arose next morning I assured myself that I was in all probability the happiest man in the city. With Fleming Stone's assurance that that very night should see the Pembroke mystery cleared up, and with the knowledge in my heart that Janet loved me, I felt that my future outlook was little less than glorious. I had given up all ambition to be a detective; I even had little care as to the outcome of Fleming Stone's investigation—granting, of course, that Janet and George were in no way impli
11 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
LAWRENCE'S STATEMENT
LAWRENCE'S STATEMENT
To my surprise, instead of seeming baffled by my statement, Fleming Stone gave me a quizzical glance. "A perfect alibi?" he repeated. "How do you know?" "He told me so," I said confidently. "Why did he tell you that? Did he expect to be accused?" "No," I replied; "I do not think he did. You know, Mr. Stone, I never met young Lawrence till since this affair; but, unless I am no judge of human nature, he is a frank, honest sort of chap, with a whole lot of common sense, and he said to his cousin,
10 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE CHAIN OF EVIDENCE
THE CHAIN OF EVIDENCE
Laura greeted us cordially; and Miss Pembroke, with a politeness which, though slightly constrained, was quiet and non-committal. But, as I had hoped, Fleming Stone's winning manner and charming conversational ability seemed to make Janet forget her aversion to detectives. At the luncheon table various subjects were touched upon, but it was not long before we drifted into a discussion of the theme uppermost in all our minds. I could see that although Fleming Stone was apparently talking in a cas
19 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Frontispiece in color by Gayle P. Hoskins. 12mo. Ornamental cloth, $1.50.
Frontispiece in color by Gayle P. Hoskins. 12mo. Ornamental cloth, $1.50.
We have no hesitancy in pronouncing this powerful story one of the most impressive studies of our highly nervous American life that has been published in a long while. It is written with enormous vitality and emotional energy. The grip it takes on one intensifies as the story proceeds....
18 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Illustrated in color by Martin Justice. 12mo. Ornamental cloth, $1.25 net.
Illustrated in color by Martin Justice. 12mo. Ornamental cloth, $1.25 net.
Here is a romance, strong and appealing, one which will please all classes of readers. From the opening of the story until the last word of the last chapter Mrs. Dejeans' great novel of modern American life will hold the reader's unflagging interest. Living, breathing people move before us, and the author touches on some phases of society of momentous interest to women—and to men....
21 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
MYSTERY AND ACTION A'PLENTY
MYSTERY AND ACTION A'PLENTY
Author of "The Impostor," "The Colonel of the Red Huzzars," "The Woman in Question," "The Princess Dehra," etc....
9 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CRITICAL OPINIONS
CRITICAL OPINIONS
"A brisk and cleanly tale."— Smart Set. "A sparkling, appealing novel of today."— Portland Oregonian. "Enjoys the exceptional merit of being a stirring treasure tale kept within the bounds of likelihood."— San Francisco Chronicle. "A charming and captivating romance filled with action from the opening to the close, so fascinating is the story wrought."— Pittsburg Post. "Just such a dashing tale of love and adventure as habitual fiction readers have learned to expect from Mr. Scott. A well told t
29 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
A SEQUEL.
A SEQUEL.
The extraordinary sensation caused, at the time of publication, of these two books (they are one story) marked a new thing in literature. "The younger Set" who did not then read them will be surprised at their freshness and power of interest, and those who did and are now wise enough to renew their acquaintance may be surprised at the change in their own personal point of view in the comparatively few years since these books were written....
23 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Romances by DAVID POTTER
Romances by DAVID POTTER
The scenes of this delightful romance are set in the southwestern part of New Jersey, during the years 1820-30. An unusual situation develops when Tom Bell, a quondam gentleman highwayman, returns to take up the offices of the long-lost heir, Henry Morvan. Troubles thicken about him and along with them the romance develops. Through it all rides "The Lady of the Spur" with a briskness, charm, and mystery about her that give an unusual zest to the book from its very first page....
25 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Third edition. Colored frontispiece by Clarence F. Underwood. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50.
Third edition. Colored frontispiece by Clarence F. Underwood. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50.
Why should a young well-bred girl be under a vow of obedience to a man after she had broken her engagement to him? This is the mysterious situation that is presented in this big breezy out-of-doors romance. When Craig Schuyler, after several years' absence, returns home, and without any apparent reason fastens on Nell Sutphen an iron bracelet. A sequence of thrilling events is started which grip the imagination powerfully, and seems to "get under the skin." There is a vein of humor throughout, w
29 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Frontispiece in color by Martin Justice. 12mo. Decorated cloth, $1.25 net.
Frontispiece in color by Martin Justice. 12mo. Decorated cloth, $1.25 net.
A sparkling and breezy romance of modern times, the scenes laid in Maryland. The plot is refreshingly novel and delightfully handled. The heroine is one of the "fetchingest" little persons in the realms of fiction. The other characters are also excellently drawn, each standing out clear and distinct, even the minor ones. The dialogue of the story is remarkably good, and through it all runs a vein of delightful humor....
23 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
She Buildeth Her House
She Buildeth Her House
"The Strongest American Novel"— Chicago Journal. Seldom has the author of a first great novel so brilliantly transcended his initial success. A man and a woman inspiringly fitted for each other sweep into the zone of mutual attraction at the opening of the story. Destiny demands that each overcomes certain formidable destructible forces before either is tempered and refined for the glorious Union of Two to form One. "A gripping story. The terrible intensity of the writer holds one chained to the
48 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
With a frontispiece by FRANK DESCH 12mo. Decorated cloth, $1.25 net
With a frontispiece by FRANK DESCH 12mo. Decorated cloth, $1.25 net
Phrynette is seventeen, extremely clever and naive, and attractive in every way. The death of her French father in Paris leaves her an orphan, and she goes to London to live with an aunt of Scotch descent. Her impressions of the people, the happenings and the places she becomes familiar with, peculiarities of customs and every little thing of interest are all touched upon in a charming and original manner, while in places there is irresistible humor. Throughout there is a good solid love story,
40 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Second edition. With a colored frontispiece, 12mo. Decorated cloth, $1.20 net.
Second edition. With a colored frontispiece, 12mo. Decorated cloth, $1.20 net.
This is a detective story, and no better or more absorbing one has appeared in a long time. The book opens with the violent death of a young heiress—apparently a suicide. But a shrewd young physician waxes suspicious, and finally convinces the wooden-headed coroner that the girl has been murdered. The finger of suspicion points at various people in turn, but each of them proves his innocence. Finally Fleming Stone, the detective who figured in a previous detective story by this author, is called
33 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter