["walks.\t And\t when\t he\t sings\t them\t songs\t of\t his\t about\t home,\t and\t mother,\t and childhood,\t and\t old\t memories,\t and\t things\t that's\t vanished,\t and\t old\t friends\t dead and\t gone,\t it\t fetches\t everything\t before\t your\t face\t that\t you've\t ever\t loved\t and\t lost in\t all\t your\t life--and\t it's\t just\t beautiful,\t it's\t just\t divine\t to\t listen\t to,\t sir--but,\t Lord, Lord,\t the\t heartbreak\t of\t it!\t The\t band--well,\t they\t all\t cry--every\t rascal\t of\t them blubbers,\tand\tdon't\ttry\tto\thide\tit,\teither;\tand\tfirst\tyou\tknow,\tthat\tvery\tgang\tthat's been\tslammin'\tboots\tat\tthat\tboy\twill\tskip\tout\tof\ttheir\tbunks\tall\tof\ta\tsudden,\tand rush\t over\t in\t the\t dark\t and\t hug\t him!\t Yes,\t they\t do--and\t slobber\t all\t over\t him,\t and call\t him\t pet\t names,\t and\t beg\t him\t to\t forgive\t them.\t And\t just\t at\t that\t time,\t if\t a regiment\t was\t to\t offer\t to\t hurt\t a\t hair\t of\t that\t cub's\t head,\t they'd\t go\t for\t that regiment,\tif\tit\twas\ta\twhole\tarmy\tcorps!\\\" Another\tpause. \\\"Is\tthat\tall?\\\"\tsaid\tI. \\\"Yes,\tsir.\\\" \\\"Well,\tdear\tme,\twhat\tis\tthe\tcomplaint?\tWhat\tdo\tthey\twant\tdone?\\\" \\\"Done?\tWhy,\tbless\tyou,\tsir,\tthey\twant\tyou\tto\tstop\thim\tfrom\tsingin'.\\\" \\\"What\tan\tidea!\tYou\tsaid\this\tmusic\twas\tdivine.\\\" \\\"That's\tjust\tit.\tIt's\ttoo\tdivine.\tMortal\tman\tcan't\tstand\tit.\tIt\tstirs\ta\tbody\tup\tso; it\t turns\t a\t body\t inside\t out;\t it\t racks\t his\t feelin's\t all\t to\t rags;\t it\t makes\t him\t feel\t bad and\t wicked,\t and\t not\t fit\t for\t any\t place\t but\t perdition.\t It\t keeps\t a\t body\t in\t such\t an everlastin'\t state\t of\t repentin',\t that\t nothin'\t don't\t taste\t good\t and\t there\t ain't\t no comfort\tin\tlife.\tAnd\tthen\tthe\tcryin',\tyou\tsee--every\tmornin'\tthey\tare\tashamed\tto look\tone\tanother\tin\tthe\tface.\\\" \\\"Well,\tthis\tis\tan\todd\tcase,\tand\ta\tsingular\tcomplaint.\tSo\tthey\treally\twant\tthe singing\tstopped?\\\" \\\"Yes,\t sir,\t that\t is\t the\t idea.\t They\t don't\t wish\t to\t ask\t too\t much;\t they\t would\t like powerful\twell\tto\thave\tthe\tprayin'\tshut\tdown\ton,\tor\tleastways\ttrimmed\toff\taround the\tedges;\tbut\tthe\tmain\tthing's\tthe\tsingin'.\tIf\tthey\tcan\tonly\tget\tthe\tsingin'\tchoked off,\t they\t think\t they\t can\t stand\t the\t prayin',\t rough\t as\t it\t is\t to\t be\t bullyragged\t so much\tthat\tway.\\\" I\ttold\tthe\tsergeant\tI\twould\ttake\tthe\tmatter\tunder\tconsideration.\tThat\tnight\tI crept\t into\t the\t musicians'\t quarters\t and\t listened.\t The\t sergeant\t had\t not\t overstated the\tcase.\tI\theard\tthe\tpraying\tvoice\tpleading\tin\tthe\tdark;\tI\theard\tthe\texecrations of\tthe\tharassed\tmen;\tI\theard\tthe\train\tof\tboots\twhiz\tthrough\tthe\tair,\tand\tbang\tand thump\t around\t the\t big\t drum.\t The\t thing\t touched\t me,\t but\t it\t amused\t me,\t too.\t By and\tby,\tafter\tan\timpressive\tsilence,\tcame\tthe\tsinging.\tLord,\tthe\tpathos\tof\tit,\tthe enchantment\t of\t it!\t Nothing\t in\t the\t world\t was\t ever\t so\t sweet,\t so\t gracious,\t so","tender,\t so\t holy,\t so\t moving.\t I\t made\t my\t stay\t very\t brief;\t I\t was\t beginning\t to experience\temotions\tof\ta\tsort\tnot\tproper\tto\tthe\tcommandant\tof\ta\tfortress. Next\t day\t I\t issued\t orders\t which\t stopped\t the\t praying\t and\t singing.\t Then followed\t three\t or\t four\t days\t which\t were\t so\t full\t of\t bounty-jumping\t excitements and\t irritations\t that\t I\t never\t once\t thought\t of\t my\t drummer-boy.\t But\t now\t comes Sergeant\tRayburn,\tone\tmorning,\tand\tsays: \\\"That\tnew\tboy\tacts\tmighty\tstrange,\tsir.\\\" \\\"How?\\\" \\\"Well,\tsir,\the's\tall\tthe\ttime\twritin'.\\\" \\\"Writing?\tWhat\tdoes\the\twrite--letters?\\\" \\\"I\tdon't\tknow,\tsir;\tbut\twhenever\the's\toff\tduty,\the\tis\talways\tpokin'\tand\tnosin' around\t the\t fort,\t all\t by\t himself--blest\t if\t I\t think\t there's\t a\t hole\t or\t corner\t in\t it\t he hasn't\t been\t into--and\t every\t little\t while\t he\t outs\t with\t pencil\t and\t paper\t and scribbles\tsomethin'\tdown.\\\" This\tgave\tme\ta\tmost\tunpleasant\tsensation.\tI\twanted\tto\tscoff\tat\tit,\tbut\tit\twas not\ta\ttime\tto\tscoff\tat\tanything\tthat\thad\tthe\tleast\tsuspicious\ttinge\tabout\tit.\tThings were\t happening\t all\t around\t us\t in\t the\t North\t then\t that\t warned\t us\t to\t be\t always\t on the\t alert,\t and\t always\t suspecting.\t I\t recalled\t to\t mind\t the\t suggestive\t fact\t that\t this boy\twas\tfrom\tthe\tSouth--the\textreme\tSouth,\tLouisiana--and\tthe\tthought\twas\tnot of\ta\treassuring\tnature,\tunder\tthe\tcircumstances.\tNevertheless,\tit\tcost\tme\ta\tpang to\tgive\tthe\torders\twhich\tI\tnow\tgave\tto\tRayburn.\tI\tfelt\tlike\ta\tfather\twho\tplots\tto expose\this\town\tchild\tto\tshame\tand\tinjury.\tI\ttold\tRayburn\tto\tkeep\tquiet,\tbide\this time,\t and\t get\t me\t some\t of\t those\t writings\t whenever\t he\t could\t manage\t it\t without the\t boy's\t finding\t it\t out.\t And\t I\t charged\t him\t not\t to\t do\t anything\t which\t might\t let the\tboy\tdiscover\tthat\the\twas\tbeing\twatched.\tI\talso\tordered\tthat\the\tallow\tthe\tlad his\t usual\t liberties,\t but\t that\t he\t be\t followed\t at\t a\t distance\t when\t he\t went\t out\t into the\ttown. During\tthe\tnext\ttwo\tdays\tRayburn\treported\tto\tme\tseveral\ttimes.\tNo\tsuccess. The\t boy\t was\t still\t writing,\t but\t he\t always\t pocketed\t his\t paper\t with\t a\t careless\t air whenever\tRayburn\tappeared\tin\tthe\tvicinity.\tHe\thad\tgone\ttwice\tto\tan\told\tdeserted stable\tin\tthe\ttown,\tremained\ta\tminute\tor\ttwo,\tand\tcome\tout\tagain.\tOne\tcould\tnot pooh-pooh\t these\t things--they\t had\t an\t evil\t look.\t I\t was\t obliged\t to\t confess\t to myself\tthat\tI\twas\tgetting\tuneasy.\tI\twent\tinto\tmy\tprivate\tquarters\tand\tsent\tfor\tmy second\t in\t command--an\t officer\t of\t intelligence\t and\t judgment,\t son\t of\t General James\tWatson\tWebb.\tHe\twas\tsurprised\tand\ttroubled.\tWe\thad\ta\tlong\ttalk\tover\tthe matter,\t and\t came\t to\t the\t conclusion\t that\t it\t would\t be\t worth\t while\t to\t institute\t a secret\tsearch.\tI\tdetermined\tto\ttake\tcharge\tof\tthat\tmyself.\tSo\tI\thad\tmyself\tcalled","at\t two\t in\t the\t morning;\t and\t pretty\t soon\t after\t I\t was\t in\t the\t musicians'\t quarters, crawling\t along\t the\t floor\t on\t my\t stomach\t among\t the\t snorers.\t I\t reached\t my slumbering\twaif's\tbunk\tat\tlast,\twithout\tdisturbing\tanybody,\tcaptured\this\tclothes and\t kit,\t and\t crawled\t stealthily\t back\t again.\t When\t I\t got\t to\t my\t own\t quarters,\t I found\t Webb\t there,\t waiting\t and\t eager\t to\t know\t the\t result.\t We\t made\t search immediately.\tThe\tclothes\twere\ta\tdisappointment.\tIn\tthe\tpockets\twe\tfound\tblank paper\t and\t a\t pencil;\t nothing\t else,\t except\t a\t jack-knife\t and\t such\t queer\t odds\t and ends\tand\tuseless\ttrifles\tas\tboys\thoard\tand\tvalue.\tWe\tturned\tto\tthe\tkit\thopefully. Nothing\tthere\tbut\ta\trebuke\tfor\tus!--a\tlittle\tBible\twith\tthis\twritten\ton\tthe\tfly-leaf: \\\"Stranger,\tbe\tkind\tto\tmy\tboy,\tfor\this\tmother's\tsake.\\\" I\t looked\t at\t Webb--he\t dropped\t his\t eyes;\t he\t looked\t at\t me--I\t dropped\t mine. Neither\tspoke.\tI\tput\tthe\tbook\treverently\tback\tin\tits\tplace.\tPresently\tWebb\tgot\tup and\t went\t away,\t without\t remark.\t After\t a\t little\t I\t nerved\t myself\t up\t to\t my unpalatable\tjob,\tand\ttook\tthe\tplunder\tback\tto\twhere\tit\tbelonged,\tcrawling\ton\tmy stomach\tas\tbefore.\tIt\tseemed\tthe\tpeculiarly\tappropriate\tattitude\tfor\tthe\tbusiness\tI was\tin. I\twas\tmost\thonestly\tglad\twhen\tit\twas\tover\tand\tdone\twith. About\t noon\t next\t day\t Rayburn\t came,\t as\t usual,\t to\t report.\t I\t cut\t him\t short.\t I said: \\\"Let\tthis\tnonsense\tbe\tdropped.\tWe\tare\tmaking\ta\tbugaboo\tout\tof\ta\tpoor\tlittle cub\twho\thas\tgot\tno\tmore\tharm\tin\thim\tthan\ta\thymn-book.\\\" The\tsergeant\tlooked\tsurprised,\tand\tsaid: \\\"Well,\tyou\tknow\tit\twas\tyour\torders,\tsir,\tand\tI've\tgot\tsome\tof\tthe\twritin'.\\\" \\\"And\twhat\tdoes\tit\tamount\tto?\tHow\tdid\tyou\tget\tit?\\\" \\\"I\tpeeped\tthrough\tthe\tkeyhole,\tand\tsee\thim\twritin'.\tSo,\twhen\tI\tjudged\the\twas about\tdone,\tI\tmade\ta\tsort\tof\ta\tlittle\tcough,\tand\tI\tsee\thim\tcrumple\tit\tup\tand\tthrow it\tin\tthe\tfire,\tand\tlook\tall\taround\tto\tsee\tif\tanybody\twas\tcomin'.\tThen\the\tsettled back\t as\t comfortable\t and\t careless\t as\t anything.\t Then\t I\t comes\t in,\t and\t passes\t the time\tof\tday\tpleasantly,\tand\tsends\thim\ton\tan\terrand.\tHe\tnever\tlooked\tuneasy,\tbut went\t right\t along.\t It\t was\t a\t coal\t fire\t and\t new\t built;\t the\t writin'\t had\t gone\t over behind\ta\tchunk,\tout\tof\tsight;\tbut\tI\tgot\tit\tout;\tthere\tit\tis;\tit\tain't\thardly\tscorched, you\tsee.\\\" I\t glanced\t at\t the\t paper\t and\t took\t in\t a\t sentence\t or\t two.\t Then\t I\t dismissed\t the sergeant\tand\ttold\thim\tto\tsend\tWebb\tto\tme.\tHere\tis\tthe\tpaper\tin\tfull: FORT\tTRUMBULL,\tthe\t8th. COLONEL\tI\twas\tmistaken\tas\tto\tthe\tcaliber\tof\tthe\tthree\tguns\tI\tended\tmy","list\twith.\tThey\tare\t18-pounders;\tall\tthe\trest\tof\tthe\tarmament\tis\tas\tI\tstated. The\tgarrison\tremains\tas\tbefore\treported,\texcept\tthat\tthe\ttwo\tlight\tinfantry companies\tthat\twere\tto\tbe\tdetached\tfor\tservice\tat\tthe\tfront\tare\tto\tstay\there for\tthe\tpresent--can't\tfind\tout\tfor\thow\tlong,\tjust\tnow,\tbut\twill\tsoon.\tWe\tare satisfied\tthat,\tall\tthings\tconsidered,\tmatters\thad\tbetter\tbe\tpostponed\tun-- There\t it\t broke\t off--there\t is\t where\t Rayburn\t coughed\t and\t interrupted\t the writer.\t All\t my\t affection\t for\t the\t boy,\t all\t my\t respect\t for\t him\t and\t charity\t for\t his forlorn\t condition,\t withered\t in\t a\t moment\t under\t the\t blight\t of\t this\t revelation\t of cold-blooded\tbaseness. But\t never\t mind\t about\t that.\t Here\t was\t business--business\t that\t required profound\t and\t immediate\t attention,\t too.\t Webb\t and\t I\t turned\t the\t subject\t over\t and over,\tand\texamined\tit\tall\taround.\tWebb\tsaid: \\\"What\ta\tpity\the\twas\tinterrupted!\tSomething\tis\tgoing\tto\tbe\tpostponed\tuntil-- when?\t And\t what\t is\t the\t something?\t Possibly\t he\t would\t have\t mentioned\t it,\t the pious\tlittle\treptile!\\\" \\\"Yes,\\\"\t I\t said,\t \\\"we\t have\t missed\t a\t trick.\t And\t who\t is\t 'we'\t in\t the\t letter?\t Is\t it conspirators\tinside\tthe\tfort\tor\toutside?\\\" That\t \\\"we\\\"\t was\t uncomfortably\t suggestive.\t However,\t it\t was\t not\t worth\t while to\t be\t guessing\t around\t that,\t so\t we\t proceeded\t to\t matters\t more\t practical.\t In\t the first\t place,\t we\t decided\t to\t double\t the\t sentries\t and\t keep\t the\t strictest\t possible watch.\t Next,\t we\t thought\t of\t calling\t Wicklow\t in\t and\t making\t him\t divulge everything;\tbut\tthat\tdid\tnot\tseem\twisest\tuntil\tother\tmethods\tshould\tfail.\tWe\tmust have\t some\t more\t of\t the\t writings;\t so\t we\t began\t to\t plan\t to\t that\t end.\t And\t now\t we had\tan\tidea:\tWicklow\tnever\twent\tto\tthe\tpost-office--perhaps\tthe\tdeserted\tstable was\t his\t post-office.\t We\t sent\t for\t my\t confidential\t clerk--a\t young\t German\t named Sterne,\twho\twas\ta\tsort\tof\tnatural\tdetective--and\ttold\thim\tall\tabout\tthe\tcase,\tand ordered\thim\tto\tgo\tto\twork\ton\tit.\tWithin\tthe\thour\twe\tgot\tword\tthat\tWicklow\twas writing\t again.\t Shortly\t afterward\t word\t came\t that\t he\t had\t asked\t leave\t to\t go\t out into\t the\t town.\t He\t was\t detained\t awhile\t and\t meantime\t Sterne\t hurried\t off\t and concealed\t himself\t in\t the\t stable.\t By\t and\t by\t he\t saw\t Wicklow\t saunter\t in,\t look about\t him,\t then\t hide\t something\t under\t some\t rubbish\t in\t a\t corner,\t and\t take leisurely\t leave\t again.\t Sterne\t pounced\t upon\t the\t hidden\t article--a\t letter--and brought\t it\t to\t us.\t It\t had\t no\t superscription\t and\t no\t signature.\t It\t repeated\t what\t we had\talready\tread,\tand\tthen\twent\ton\tto\tsay:","We\tthink\tit\tbest\tto\tpostpone\ttill\tthe\ttwo\tcompanies\tare\tgone.\tI\tmean\tthe four\t inside\t think\t so;\t have\t not\t communicated\t with\t the\t others--afraid\t of attracting\t attention.\t I\t say\t four\t because\t we\t have\t lost\t two;\t they\t had\t hardly enlisted\t and\t got\t inside\t when\t they\t were\t shipped\t off\t to\t the\t front.\t It\t will\t be absolutely\tnecessary\tto\thave\ttwo\tin\ttheir\tplaces.\tThe\ttwo\tthat\twent\twere\tthe brothers\t from\t Thirty-mile\t Point.\t I\t have\t something\t of\t the\t greatest importance\tto\treveal,\tbut\tmust\tnot\ttrust\tit\tto\tthis\tmethod\tof\tcommunication; will\ttry\tthe\tother. \\\"The\tlittle\tscoundrel!\\\"\tsaid\tWebb;\t\\\"who\tcould\thave\tsupposed\the\twas\ta\tspy? However,\tnever\tmind\tabout\tthat;\tlet\tus\tadd\tup\tour\tparticulars,\tsuch\tas\tthey\tare, and\t see\t how\t the\t case\t stands\t to\t date.\t First,\t we've\t got\t a\t rebel\t spy\t in\t our\t midst, whom\t we\t know;\t secondly,\t we've\t got\t three\t more\t in\t our\t midst\t whom\t we\t don't know;\t thirdly,\t these\t spies\t have\t been\t introduced\t among\t us\t through\t the\t simple and\teasy\tprocess\tof\tenlisting\tas\tsoldiers\tin\tthe\tUnion\tarmy--and\tevidently\ttwo\tof them\t have\t got\t sold\t at\t it,\t and\t been\t shipped\t off\t to\t the\t front;\t fourthly,\t there\t are assistant\t spies\t 'outside'--number\t indefinite;\t fifthly,\t Wicklow\t has\t very\t important matter\t which\t he\tis\tafraid\tto\tcommunicate\tby\tthe\t'present\tmethod'--will\t'try\tthe other.'\tThat\tis\tthe\tcase,\tas\tit\tnow\tstands.\tShall\twe\tcollar\tWicklow\tand\tmake\thim confess?\t Or\t shall\t we\t catch\t the\t person\t who\t removes\t the\t letters\t from\t the\t stable and\tmake\thim\ttell?\tOr\tshall\twe\tkeep\tstill\tand\tfind\tout\tmore?\\\" We\tdecided\tupon\tthe\tlast\tcourse.\tWe\tjudged\tthat\twe\tdid\tnot\tneed\tto\tproceed to\tsummary\tmeasures\tnow,\tsince\tit\twas\tevident\tthat\tthe\tconspirators\twere\tlikely to\twait\ttill\tthose\ttwo\tlight\tinfantry\tcompanies\twere\tout\tof\tthe\tway.\tWe\tfortified Sterne\twith\tpretty\tample\tpowers,\tand\ttold\thim\tto\tuse\this\tbest\tendeavors\tto\tfind out\t Wicklow's\t \\\"other\t method\\\"\t of\t communication.\t We\t meant\t to\t play\t a\t bold game;\tand\tto\tthis\tend\twe\tproposed\tto\tkeep\tthe\tspies\tin\tan\tunsuspecting\tstate\tas long\tas\tpossible.\tSo\twe\tordered\tSterne\tto\treturn\tto\tthe\tstable\timmediately,\tand,\tif he\t found\t the\t coast\t clear,\t to\t conceal\t Wicklow's\t letter\t where\t it\t was\t before,\t and leave\tit\tthere\tfor\tthe\tconspirators\tto\tget. The\tnight\tclosed\tdown\twithout\tfurther\tevent.\tIt\twas\tcold\tand\tdark\tand\tsleety, with\ta\traw\twind\tblowing;\tstill\tI\tturned\tout\tof\tmy\twarm\tbed\tseveral\ttimes\tduring the\tnight,\tand\twent\tthe\trounds\tin\tperson,\tto\tsee\tthat\tall\twas\tright\tand\tthat\tevery sentry\twas\ton\tthe\talert.\tI\talways\tfound\tthem\twide\tawake\tand\twatchful;\tevidently whispers\tof\tmysterious\tdangers\thad\tbeen\tfloating\tabout,\tand\tthe\tdoubling\tof\tthe guards\thad\tbeen\ta\tkind\tof\tindorsement\tof\tthose\trumors.\tOnce,\ttoward\tmorning,\tI encountered\t Webb,\t breasting\t his\t way\t against\t the\t bitter\t wind,\t and\t learned\t then","that\the,\talso,\thad\tbeen\tthe\trounds\tseveral\ttimes\tto\tsee\tthat\tall\twas\tgoing\tright. Next\tday's\tevents\thurried\tthings\tup\tsomewhat.\tWicklow\twrote\tanother\tletter; Sterne\tpreceded\thim\tto\tthe\tstable\tand\tsaw\thim\tdeposit\tit;\tcaptured\tit\tas\tsoon\tas Wicklow\t was\t out\t of\t the\t way,\t then\t slipped\t out\t and\t followed\t the\t little\t spy\t at\t a distance,\t with\t a\t detective\t in\t plain\t clothes\t at\t his\t own\t heels,\t for\t we\t thought\t it judicious\t to\t have\t the\t law's\t assistance\t handy\t in\t case\t of\t need.\t Wicklow\t went\t to the\trailway\tstation,\tand\twaited\taround\ttill\tthe\ttrain\tfrom\tNew\tYork\tcame\tin,\tthen stood\tscanning\tthe\tfaces\tof\tthe\tcrowd\tas\tthey\tpoured\tout\tof\tthe\tcars.\tPresently\tan aged\tgentleman,\twith\tgreen\tgoggles\tand\ta\tcane,\tcame\tlimping\talong,\tstopped\tin Wicklow's\tneighborhood,\tand\tbegan\tto\tlook\tabout\thim\texpectantly.\tIn\tan\tinstant Wicklow\tdarted\tforward,\tthrust\tan\tenvelope\tinto\this\thand,\tthen\tglided\taway\tand disappeared\tin\tthe\tthrong.\tThe\tnext\tinstant\tSterne\thad\tsnatched\tthe\tletter;\tand\tas he\thurried\tpast\tthe\tdetective,\the\tsaid:\t\\\"Follow\tthe\told\tgentleman--don't\tlose\tsight of\thim.\\\"\tThen\tSterne\tskurried\tout\twith\tthe\tcrowd,\tand\tcame\tstraight\tto\tthe\tfort. We\t sat\t with\t closed\t doors,\t and\t instructed\t the\t guard\t outside\t to\t allow\t no interruption. First\twe\topened\tthe\tletter\tcaptured\tat\tthe\tstable.\tIt\tread\tas\tfollows: HOLY\tALLIANCE\tFound,\tin\tthe\tusual\tgun,\tcommands\tfrom\tthe\tMaster,\tleft there\t last\t night,\t which\t set\t aside\t the\t instructions\t heretofore\t received\t from the\t subordinate\t quarter.\t Have\t left\t in\t the\t gun\t the\t usual\t indication\t that\t the commands\treached\tthe\tproper\thand-- Webb,\tinterrupting:\t\\\"Isn't\tthe\tboy\tunder\tconstant\tsurveillance\tnow?\\\" I\t said\t yes;\t he\t had\t been\t under\t strict\t surveillance\t ever\t since\t the\t capturing\t of his\tformer\tletter. \\\"Then\thow\tcould\the\tput\tanything\tinto\ta\tgun,\tor\ttake\tanything\tout\tof\tit,\tand not\tget\tcaught?\\\" \\\"Well,\\\"\tI\tsaid,\t\\\"I\tdon't\tlike\tthe\tlook\tof\tthat\tvery\twell.\\\" \\\"I\t don't\t either,\\\"\t said\t Webb.\t \\\"It\t simply\t means\t that\t there\t are\t conspirators among\t the\t very\t sentinels.\t Without\t their\t connivance\t in\t some\t way\t or\t other,\t the thing\tcouldn't\thave\tbeen\tdone.\\\" I\tsent\tfor\tRayburn,\tand\tordered\thim\tto\texamine\tthe\tbatteries\tand\tsee\twhat\the could\tfind.\tThe\treading\tof\tthe\tletter\twas\tthen\tresumed: The\tnew\tcommands\tare\tperemptory,\tand\trequire\tthat\tthe\tMMMM\tshall","be\t FFFFF\t at\t 3\t o'clock\t to-morrow\t morning.\t Two\t hundred\t will\t arrive,\t in small\tparties,\tby\ttrain\tand\totherwise,\tfrom\tvarious\tdirections,\tand\twill\tbe\tat appointed\t place\t at\t right\t time.\t I\t will\t distribute\t the\t sign\t to-day.\t Success\t is apparently\tsure,\tthough\tsomething\tmust\thave\tgot\tout,\tfor\tthe\tsentries\thave been\tdoubled,\tand\tthe\tchiefs\twent\tthe\trounds\tlast\tnight\tseveral\ttimes.\tW.\tW. comes\t from\t southerly\t to-day\t and\t will\t receive\t secret\t orders--by\t the\t other method.\t All\t six\t of\t you\t must\t be\t in\t 166\t at\t sharp\t 2\t A.M.\t You\t will\t find\t B.\t B. there,\twho\twill\tgive\tyou\tdetailed\tinstructions.\tPassword\tsame\tas\tlast\ttime, only\t reversed--put\t first\t syllable\t last\t and\t last\t syllable\t first.\t REMEMBER XXXX.\tDo\tnot\tforget.\tBe\tof\tgood\theart;\tbefore\tthe\tnext\tsun\trises\tyou\twill\tbe heroes;\tyour\tfame\twill\tbe\tpermanent;\tyou\twill\thave\tadded\ta\tdeathless\tpage to\thistory.\tAMEN. \\\"Thunder\t and\t Mars,\\\"\t said\t Webb,\t \\\"but\t we\t are\t getting\t into\t mighty\t hot quarters,\tas\tI\tlook\tat\tit!\\\" I\t said\t there\t was\t no\t question\t but\t that\t things\t were\t beginning\t to\t wear\t a\t most serious\taspect.\tSaid\tI: \\\"A\t desperate\t enterprise\t is\t on\t foot,\t that\t is\t plain\t enough.\t To-night\t is\t the\t time set\t for\t it--that,\t also,\t is\t plain.\t The\t exact\t nature\t of\t the\t enterprise--I\t mean\t the manner\t of\t it--is\t hidden\t away\t under\t those\t blind\t bunches\t of\t M's\t and\t F's,\t but\t the end\t and\t aim,\t I\t judge,\t is\t the\t surprise\t and\t capture\t of\t the\t post.\t We\t must\t move quick\t and\t sharp\t now.\t I\t think\t nothing\t can\t be\t gained\t by\t continuing\t our clandestine\tpolicy\tas\tregards\tWicklow.\tWe\tmust\tknow,\tand\tas\tsoon\tas\tpossible, too,\twhere\t'166'\tis\tlocated,\tso\tthat\twe\tcan\tmake\ta\tdescent\tupon\tthe\tgang\tthere\tat 2\tA.M.\tand\tdoubtless\tthe\tquickest\tway\tto\tget\tthat\tinformation\twill\tbe\tto\tforce\tit out\tof\tthat\tboy.\tBut\tfirst\tof\tall,\tand\tbefore\twe\tmake\tany\timportant\tmove,\tI\tmust lay\tthe\tfacts\tbefore\tthe\tWar\tDepartment,\tand\task\tfor\tplenary\tpowers.\\\" The\tdespatch\twas\tprepared\tin\tcipher\tto\tgo\tover\tthe\twires;\tI\tread\tit,\tapproved it,\tand\tsent\tit\talong. We\t presently\t finished\t discussing\t the\t letter\t which\t was\t under\t consideration, and\t then\t opened\t the\t one\t which\t had\t been\t snatched\t from\t the\t lame\t gentleman.\t It contained\tnothing\tbut\ta\tcouple\tof\tperfectly\tblank\tsheets\tof\tnote-paper!\tIt\twas\ta chilly\tcheck\tto\tour\thot\teagerness\tand\texpectancy.\tWe\tfelt\tas\tblank\tas\tthe\tpaper, for\ta\tmoment,\tand\ttwice\tas\tfoolish.\tBut\tit\twas\tfor\ta\tmoment\tonly;\tfor,\tof\tcourse, we\timmediately\tafterward\tthought\tof\t\\\"sympathetic\tink.\\\"\tWe\theld\tthe\tpaper\tclose to\tthe\tfire\tand\twatched\tfor\tthe\tcharacters\tto\tcome\tout,\tunder\tthe\tinfluence\tof\tthe heat;\t but\t nothing\t appeared\t but\t some\t faint\t tracings,\t which\t we\t could\t make","nothing\tof.\tWe\tthen\tcalled\tin\tthe\tsurgeon,\tand\tsent\thim\toff\twith\torders\tto\tapply every\ttest\the\twas\tacquainted\twith\ttill\the\tgot\tthe\tright\tone,\tand\treport\tthe\tcontents of\t the\t letter\t to\t me\t the\t instant\t he\t brought\t them\t to\t the\t surface.\t This\t check\t was\t a confounded\t annoyance,\t and\t we\t naturally\t chafed\t under\t the\t delay;\t for\t we\t had fully\texpected\tto\tget\tout\tof\tthat\tletter\tsome\tof\tthe\tmost\timportant\tsecrets\tof\tthe plot. Now\tappeared\tSergeant\tRayburn,\tand\tdrew\tfrom\this\tpocket\ta\tpiece\tof\ttwine string\tabout\ta\tfoot\tlong,\twith\tthree\tknots\ttied\tin\tit,\tand\theld\tit\tup. \\\"I\tgot\tit\tout\tof\ta\tgun\ton\tthe\twaterfront,\\\"\tsaid\the.\t\\\"I\ttook\tthe\ttompions\tout\tof all\t the\t guns\t and\t examined\t close;\t this\t string\t was\t the\t only\t thing\t that\t was\t in\t any gun.\\\" So\t this\t bit\t of\t string\t was\t Wicklow's\t \\\"sign\\\"\t to\t signify\t that\t the\t \\\"Master's\\\" commands\thad\tnot\tmiscarried.\tI\tordered\tthat\tevery\tsentinel\twho\thad\tserved\tnear that\t gun\t during\t the\t past\t twenty-four\t hours\t be\t put\t in\t confinement\t at\t once\t and separately,\tand\tnot\tallowed\tto\tcommunicate\twith\tany\tone\twithout\tmy\tprivity\tand consent. A\ttelegram\tnow\tcame\tfrom\tthe\tSecretary\tof\tWar.\tIt\tread\tas\tfollows: Suspend\thabeas\tcorpus.\tput\ttown\tunder\tmartial\tlaw.\tMake\tnecessary arrests.\tAct\twith\tvigor\tand\tpromptness.\tKeep\tthe\tdepartment\tinformed. We\twere\tnow\tin\tshape\tto\tgo\tto\twork.\tI\tsent\tout\tand\thad\tthe\tlame\tgentleman quietly\t arrested\t and\t as\t quietly\t brought\t into\t the\t fort;\t I\t placed\t him\t under\t guard, and\tforbade\tspeech\tto\thim\tor\tfrom\thim.\tHe\twas\tinclined\tto\tbluster\tat\tfirst,\tbut\the soon\tdropped\tthat. Next\tcame\tword\tthat\tWicklow\thad\tbeen\tseen\tto\tgive\tsomething\tto\ta\tcouple of\t our\t new\t recruits;\t and\t that,\t as\t soon\t as\t his\t back\t was\t turned,\t these\t had\t been seized\t and\t confined.\t Upon\t each\t was\t found\t a\t small\t bit\t of\t paper,\t bearing\t these words\tand\tsigns\tin\tpencil:","In\t accordance\t with\t instructions,\t I\t telegraphed\t to\t the\t Department,\t in\t cipher, the\t progress\t made,\t and\t also\t described\t the\t above\t ticket.\t We\t seemed\t to\t be\t in\t a strong\t enough\t position\t now\t to\t venture\t to\t throw\t off\t the\t mask\t as\t regarded Wicklow;\tso\tI\tsent\tfor\thim.\tI\talso\tsent\tfor\tand\treceived\tback\tthe\tletter\twritten\tin sympathetic\tink,\tthe\tsurgeon\taccompanying\tit\twith\tthe\tinformation\tthat\tthus\tfar it\thad\tresisted\this\ttests,\tbut\tthat\tthere\twere\tothers\the\tcould\tapply\twhen\tI\tshould be\tready\tfor\thim\tto\tdo\tso. Presently\tWicklow\tentered.\tHe\thad\ta\tsomewhat\tworn\tand\tanxious\tlook,\tbut he\twas\tcomposed\tand\teasy,\tand\tif\the\tsuspected\tanything\tit\tdid\tnot\tappear\tin\this face\t or\t manner.\t I\t allowed\t him\t to\t stand\t there\t a\t moment\t or\t two;\t then\t I\t said, pleasantly: \\\"My\tboy,\twhy\tdo\tyou\tgo\tto\tthat\told\tstable\tso\tmuch?\\\" He\tanswered,\twith\tsimple\tdemeanor\tand\twithout\tembarrassment: \\\"Well,\t I\t hardly\t know,\t sir;\t there\t isn't\t any\t particular\t reason,\t except\t that\t I\t like to\tbe\talone,\tand\tI\tamuse\tmyself\tthere.\\\" \\\"You\tamuse\tyourself\tthere,\tdo\tyou?\\\" \\\"Yes,\tsir,\\\"\the\treplied,\tas\tinnocently\tand\tsimply\tas\tbefore. \\\"Is\tthat\tall\tyou\tdo\tthere?\\\" \\\"Yes,\t sir,\\\"\t he\t said,\t looking\t up\t with\t childlike\t wonderment\t in\t his\t big,\t soft eyes. \\\"You\tare\tsure?\\\" \\\"Yes,\tsir,\tsure.\\\" After\ta\tpause\tI\tsaid: \\\"Wicklow,\twhy\tdo\tyou\twrite\tso\tmuch?\\\" \\\"I?\tI\tdo\tnot\twrite\tmuch,\tsir.\\\" \\\"You\tdon't?\\\" \\\"No,\tsir.\tOh,\tif\tyou\tmean\tscribbling,\tI\tdo\tscribble\tsome,\tfor\tamusement.\\\" \\\"What\tdo\tyou\tdo\twith\tyour\tscribblings?\\\" \\\"Nothing,\tsir--throw\tthem\taway.\\\" \\\"Never\tsend\tthem\tto\tanybody?\\\" \\\"No,\tsir.\\\" I\t suddenly\t thrust\t before\t him\t the\t letter\t to\t the\t \\\"Colonel.\\\"\t He\t started\t slightly, but\timmediately\tcomposed\thimself.\tA\tslight\ttinge\tspread\titself\tover\this\tcheek. \\\"How\tcame\tyou\tto\tsend\tthis\tpiece\tof\tscribbling,\tthen?\\\" \\\"I\tnev--never\tmeant\tany\tharm,\tsir!\\\" \\\"Never\tmeant\tany\tharm!\tYou\tbetray\tthe\tarmament\tand\tcondition\tof\tthe\tpost, and\tmean\tno\tharm\tby\tit?\\\"","He\thung\this\thead\tand\twas\tsilent. \\\"Come,\tspeak\tup,\tand\tstop\tlying.\tWhom\twas\tthis\tletter\tintended\tfor?\\\" He\tshowed\tsigns\tof\tdistress\tnow;\tbut\tquickly\tcollected\thimself,\tand\treplied, in\ta\ttone\tof\tdeep\tearnestness: \\\"I\t will\t tell\t you\t the\t truth,\t sir--the\t whole\t truth.\t The\t letter\t was\t never\t intended for\t anybody\t at\t all.\t I\t wrote\t it\t only\t to\t amuse\t myself.\t I\t see\t the\t error\t and foolishness\tof\tit\tnow;\tbut\tit\tis\tthe\tonly\toffense,\tsir,\tupon\tmy\thonor.\\\" \\\"Ah,\tI\tam\tglad\tof\tthat.\tIt\tis\tdangerous\tto\tbe\twriting\tsuch\tletters.\tI\thope\tyou are\tsure\tthis\tis\tthe\tonly\tone\tyou\twrote?\\\" \\\"Yes,\tsir,\tperfectly\tsure.\\\" His\thardihood\twas\tstupefying.\tHe\ttold\tthat\tlie\twith\tas\tsincere\ta\tcountenance as\tany\tcreature\tever\twore.\tI\twaited\ta\tmoment\tto\tsoothe\tdown\tmy\trising\ttemper, and\tthen\tsaid: \\\"Wicklow,\t jog\t your\t memory\t now,\t and\t see\t if\t you\t can\t help\t me\t with\t two\t or three\tlittle\tmatters\twhich\tI\twish\tto\tinquire\tabout.\\\" \\\"I\twill\tdo\tmy\tvery\tbest,\tsir.\\\" \\\"Then,\tto\tbegin\twith--who\tis\t'the\tMaster'?\\\" It\tbetrayed\thim\tinto\tdarting\ta\tstartled\tglance\tat\tour\tfaces,\tbut\tthat\twas\tall.\tHe was\tserene\tagain\tin\ta\tmoment,\tand\ttranquilly\tanswered: \\\"I\tdo\tnot\tknow,\tsir.\\\" \\\"You\tdo\tnot\tknow?\\\" \\\"I\tdo\tnot\tknow.\\\" \\\"You\tare\tsure\tyou\tdo\tnot\tknow?\\\" He\ttried\thard\tto\tkeep\this\teyes\ton\tmine,\tbut\tthe\tstrain\twas\ttoo\tgreat;\this\tchin sunk\t slowly\t toward\t his\t breast\t and\t he\t was\t silent;\t he\t stood\t there\t nervously fumbling\t with\t a\t button,\t an\t object\t to\t command\t one's\t pity,\t in\t spite\t of\t his\t base acts.\tPresently\tI\tbroke\tthe\tstillness\twith\tthe\tquestion: \\\"Who\tare\tthe\t'Holy\tAlliance'?\\\" His\tbody\tshook\tvisibly,\tand\the\tmade\ta\tslight\trandom\tgesture\twith\this\thands, which\tto\tme\twas\tlike\tthe\tappeal\tof\ta\tdespairing\tcreature\tfor\tcompassion.\tBut\the made\tno\tsound.\tHe\tcontinued\tto\tstand\twith\this\tface\tbent\ttoward\tthe\tground.\tAs we\tsat\tgazing\tat\thim,\twaiting\tfor\thim\tto\tspeak,\twe\tsaw\tthe\tbig\ttears\tbegin\tto\troll down\this\tcheeks.\tBut\the\tremained\tsilent.\tAfter\ta\tlittle,\tI\tsaid: \\\"You\tmust\tanswer\tme,\tmy\tboy,\tand\tyou\tmust\ttell\tme\tthe\ttruth.\tWho\tare\tthe Holy\tAlliance?\\\" He\twept\ton\tin\tsilence.\tPresently\tI\tsaid,\tsomewhat\tsharply: \\\"Answer\tthe\tquestion!\\\"","He\tstruggled\tto\tget\tcommand\tof\this\tvoice;\tand\tthen,\tlooking\tup\tappealingly, forced\tthe\twords\tout\tbetween\this\tsobs: \\\"Oh,\thave\tpity\ton\tme,\tsir!\tI\tcannot\tanswer\tit,\tfor\tI\tdo\tnot\tknow.\\\" \\\"What!\\\" \\\"Indeed,\t sir,\t I\t am\t telling\t the\t truth.\t I\t never\t have\t heard\t of\t the\t Holy\t Alliance till\tthis\tmoment.\tOn\tmy\thonor,\tsir,\tthis\tis\tso.\\\" \\\"Good\t heavens!\t Look\t at\t this\t second\t letter\t of\t yours;\t there,\t do\t you\t see\t those words,\t'Holy\tAlliance'?\tWhat\tdo\tyou\tsay\tnow?\\\" He\t gazed\t up\t into\t my\t face\t with\t the\t hurt\t look\t of\t one\t upon\t whom\t a\t great wrong\thad\tbeen\twrought,\tthen\tsaid,\tfeelingly: \\\"This\tis\tsome\tcruel\tjoke,\tsir;\tand\thow\tcould\tthey\tplay\tit\tupon\tme,\twho\thave tried\t all\t I\t could\t to\t do\t right,\t and\t have\t never\t done\t harm\t to\t anybody?\t Some\t one has\t counterfeited\t my\t hand;\t I\t never\t wrote\t a\t line\t of\t this;\t I\t have\t never\t seen\t this letter\tbefore!\\\" \\\"Oh,\t you\t unspeakable\t liar!\t Here,\t what\t do\t you\t say\t to\t this?\\\"--and\t I\t snatched the\tsympathetic-ink\tletter\tfrom\tmy\tpocket\tand\tthrust\tit\tbefore\this\teyes. His\tface\tturned\twhite--as\twhite\tas\ta\tdead\tperson's.\tHe\twavered\tslightly\tin\this tracks,\tand\tput\this\thand\tagainst\tthe\twall\tto\tsteady\t himself.\tAfter\ta\tmoment\the asked,\tin\tso\tfaint\ta\tvoice\tthat\tit\twas\thardly\taudible: \\\"Have\tyou--read\tit?\\\" Our\tfaces\tmust\thave\tanswered\tthe\ttruth\tbefore\tmy\tlips\tcould\tget\tout\ta\tfalse \\\"yes,\\\"\t for\t I\t distinctly\t saw\t the\t courage\t come\t back\t into\t that\t boy's\t eyes.\t I\t waited for\thim\tto\tsay\tsomething,\tbut\the\tkept\tsilent.\tSo\tat\tlast\tI\tsaid: \\\"Well,\twhat\thave\tyou\tto\tsay\tas\tto\tthe\trevelations\tin\tthis\tletter?\\\" He\tanswered,\twith\tperfect\tcomposure: \\\"Nothing,\texcept\tthat\tthey\tare\tentirely\tharmless\tand\tinnocent;\tthey\tcan\thurt nobody.\\\" I\twas\tin\tsomething\tof\ta\tcorner\tnow,\tas\tI\tcouldn't\tdisprove\this\tassertion.\tI\tdid not\t know\t exactly\t how\t to\t proceed.\t However,\t an\t idea\t came\t to\t my\t relief,\t and\t I said: \\\"You\tare\tsure\tyou\tknow\tnothing\tabout\tthe\tMaster\tand\tthe\tHoly\tAlliance,\tand did\tnot\twrite\tthe\tletter\twhich\tyou\tsay\tis\ta\tforgery?\\\" \\\"Yes,\tsir--sure.\\\" I\t slowly\t drew\t out\t the\t knotted\t twine\t string\t and\t held\t it\t up\t without\t speaking. He\t gazed\t at\t it\t indifferently,\t then\t looked\t at\t me\t inquiringly.\t My\t patience\t was sorely\ttaxed.\tHowever,\tI\tkept\tmy\ttemper\tdown,\tand\tsaid,\tin\tmy\tusual\tvoice: \\\"Wicklow,\tdo\tyou\tsee\tthis?\\\"","\\\"Yes,\tsir.\\\" \\\"What\tis\tit?\\\" \\\"It\tseems\tto\tbe\ta\tpiece\tof\tstring.\\\" \\\"Seems?\tIt\tis\ta\tpiece\tof\tstring.\tDo\tyou\trecognize\tit?\\\" \\\"No,\tsir,\\\"\the\treplied,\tas\tcalmly\tas\tthe\twords\tcould\tbe\tuttered. His\t coolness\t was\t perfectly\t wonderful!\t I\t paused\t now\t for\t several\t seconds,\t in order\tthat\tthe\tsilence\tmight\tadd\timpressiveness\tto\twhat\tI\twas\tabout\tto\tsay;\tthen\tI rose\tand\tlaid\tmy\thand\ton\this\tshoulder,\tand\tsaid,\tgravely: \\\"It\t will\t do\t you\t no\t good,\t poor\t boy,\t none\t in\t the\t world.\t This\t sign\t to\t the 'Master,'\tthis\tknotted\tstring,\tfound\tin\tone\tof\tthe\tguns\ton\tthe\twaterfront--\\\" \\\"Found\tin\tthe\tgun!\tOh,\tno,\tno,\tno!\tdo\tnot\tsay\tin\tthe\tgun,\tbut\tin\ta\tcrack\tin\tthe tompion!--it\t must\t have\t been\t in\t the\t crack!\\\"\t and\t down\t he\t went\t on\t his\t knees\t and clasped\this\thands\tand\tlifted\tup\ta\tface\tthat\twas\tpitiful\tto\tsee,\tso\tashy\tit\twas,\tand wild\twith\tterror. \\\"No,\tit\twas\tin\tthe\tgun.\\\" \\\"Oh,\tsomething\thas\tgone\twrong!\tMy\tGod,\tI\tam\tlost!\\\"\tand\the\tsprang\tup\tand darted\tthis\tway\tand\tthat,\tdodging\tthe\thands\tthat\twere\tput\tout\tto\tcatch\thim,\tand doing\t his\t best\t to\t escape\t from\t the\t place.\t But\t of\t course\t escape\t was\t impossible. Then\the\tflung\thimself\ton\this\tknees\tagain,\tcrying\twith\tall\this\tmight,\tand\tclasped me\taround\tthe\tlegs;\tand\tso\the\tclung\tto\tme\tand\tbegged\tand\tpleaded,\tsaying,\t\\\"Oh, have\tpity\ton\tme!\tOh,\tbe\tmerciful\tto\tme!\tDo\tnot\tbetray\tme;\tthey\twould\tnot\tspare my\tlife\ta\tmoment!\tProtect\tme,\tsave\tme.\tI\twill\tconfess\teverything!\\\" It\t took\t us\t some\t time\t to\t quiet\t him\t down\t and\t modify\t his\t fright,\t and\t get\t him into\t something\t like\t a\t rational\t frame\t of\t mind.\t Then\t I\t began\t to\t question\t him,\t he answering\t humbly,\t with\t downcast\t eyes,\t and\t from\t time\t to\t time\t swabbing\t away his\tconstantly\tflowing\ttears: \\\"So\tyou\tare\tat\theart\ta\trebel?\\\" \\\"Yes,\tsir.\\\" \\\"And\ta\tspy?\\\" \\\"Yes,\tsir.\\\" \\\"And\thave\tbeen\tacting\tunder\tdistinct\torders\tfrom\toutside?\\\" \\\"Yes,\tsir.\\\" \\\"Willingly?\\\" \\\"Yes,\tsir.\\\" \\\"Gladly,\tperhaps?\\\" \\\"Yes,\tsir;\tit\twould\tdo\tno\tgood\tto\tdeny\tit.\tThe\tSouth\tis\tmy\tcountry;\tmy\theart is\tSouthern,\tand\tit\tis\tall\tin\ther\tcause.\\\"","\\\"Then\t the\t tale\t you\t told\t me\t of\t your\t wrongs\t and\t the\t persecution\t of\t your family\twas\tmade\tup\tfor\tthe\toccasion?\\\" \\\"They--they\ttold\tme\tto\tsay\tit,\tsir.\\\" \\\"And\t you\t would\t betray\t and\t destroy\t those\t who\t pitied\t and\t sheltered\t you.\t Do you\tcomprehend\thow\tbase\tyou\tare,\tyou\tpoor\tmisguided\tthing?\\\" He\treplied\twith\tsobs\tonly. \\\"Well,\tlet\tthat\tpass.\tTo\tbusiness.\tWho\tis\tthe\t'Colonel,'\tand\twhere\tis\the?\\\" He\tbegan\tto\tcry\thard,\tand\ttried\tto\tbeg\toff\tfrom\tanswering.\tHe\tsaid\the\twould be\tkilled\tif\the\ttold.\tI\tthreatened\tto\tput\thim\tin\tthe\tdark\tcell\tand\tlock\thim\tup\tif\the did\t not\t come\t out\t with\t the\t information.\t At\t the\t same\t time\t I\t promised\t to\t protect him\tfrom\tall\tharm\tif\the\tmade\ta\tclean\tbreast.\tFor\tall\tanswer,\the\tclosed\this\tmouth firmly\t and\t put\t on\t a\t stubborn\t air\t which\t I\t could\t not\t bring\t him\t out\t of.\t At\t last\t I started\twith\thim;\tbut\ta\tsingle\tglance\tinto\tthe\tdark\tcell\tconverted\thim.\tHe\tbroke into\t a\t passion\t of\t weeping\t and\t supplicating,\t and\t declared\t he\t would\t tell everything. So\t I\t brought\t him\t back,\t and\t he\t named\t the\t \\\"Colonel,\\\"\t and\t described\t him particularly.\t Said\t he\t would\t be\t found\t at\t the\t principal\t hotel\t in\t the\t town,\t in citizen's\t dress.\t I\t had\t to\t threaten\t him\t again,\t before\t he\t would\t describe\t and\t name the\t\\\"Master.\\\"\tSaid\tthe\tMaster\twould\tbe\tfound\tat\tNo.\t15\tBond\tStreet,\tNew\tYork, passing\tunder\tthe\tname\tof\tR.\tF.\tGaylord.\tI\ttelegraphed\tname\tand\tdescription\tto the\tchief\tof\tpolice\tof\tthe\tmetropolis,\tand\tasked\tthat\tGaylord\tbe\tarrested\tand\theld till\tI\tcould\tsend\tfor\thim. \\\"Now,\\\"\t said\t I,\t \\\"it\t seems\t that\t there\t are\t several\t of\t the\t conspirators\t 'outside,' presumably\tin\tNew\tLondon.\tName\tand\tdescribe\tthem.\\\" He\t named\t and\t described\t three\t men\t and\t two\t women--all\t stopping\t at\t the principal\t hotel.\t I\t sent\t out\t quietly,\t and\t had\t them\t and\t the\t \\\"Colonel\\\"\t arrested\t and confined\tin\tthe\tfort. \\\"Next,\tI\twant\tto\tknow\tall\tabout\tyour\tthree\tfellow-conspirators\twho\tare\there in\tthe\tfort.\\\" He\t was\t about\t to\t dodge\t me\t with\t a\t falsehood,\t I\t thought;\t but\t I\t produced\t the mysterious\tbits\tof\tpaper\twhich\thad\tbeen\tfound\tupon\ttwo\tof\tthem,\tand\tthis\thad\ta salutary\t effect\t upon\t him.\t I\t said\t we\t had\t possession\t of\t two\t of\t the\t men,\t and\t he must\tpoint\tout\tthe\tthird.\tThis\tfrightened\thim\tbadly,\tand\the\tcried\tout: \\\"Oh,\tplease\tdon't\tmake\tme;\the\twould\tkill\tme\ton\tthe\tspot!\\\" I\tsaid\tthat\tthat\twas\tall\tnonsense;\tI\twould\thave\tsomebody\tnear\tby\tto\tprotect him,\t and,\t besides,\t the\t men\t should\t be\t assembled\t without\t arms.\t I\t ordered\t all\t the raw\t recruits\t to\t be\t mustered,\t and\t then\t the\t poor,\t trembling\t little\t wretch\t went\t out","and\tstepped\talong\tdown\tthe\tline,\ttrying\tto\tlook\tas\tindifferent\tas\tpossible.\tFinally he\tspoke\ta\tsingle\tword\tto\tone\tof\tthe\tmen,\tand\tbefore\the\thad\tgone\tfive\tsteps\tthe man\twas\tunder\tarrest. As\t soon\t as\t Wicklow\t was\t with\t us\t again,\t I\t had\t those\t three\t men\t brought\t in.\t I made\tone\tof\tthem\tstand\tforward,\tand\tsaid: \\\"Now,\tWicklow,\tmind,\tnot\ta\tshade's\tdivergence\tfrom\tthe\texact\ttruth.\tWho\tis this\tman,\tand\twhat\tdo\tyou\tknow\tabout\thim?\\\" Being\t\\\"in\tfor\tit,\\\"\the\tcast\tconsequences\taside,\tfastened\this\teyes\ton\tthe\tman's face,\tand\tspoke\tstraight\talong\twithout\thesitation--to\tthe\tfollowing\teffect: \\\"His\treal\tname\tis\tGeorge\tBristow.\tHe\tis\tfrom\tNew\tOrleans;\twas\tsecond\tmate of\t the\t coast-packet\t Capitol\t two\t years\t ago;\t is\t a\t desperate\t character,\t and\t has served\t two\t terms\t for\t manslaughter--one\t for\t killing\t a\t deck-hand\t named\t Hyde with\t a\t capstan-bar,\t and\t one\t for\t killing\t a\t roustabout\t for\t refusing\t to\t heave\t the lead,\twhich\tis\tno\tpart\tof\ta\troustabout's\tbusiness.\tHe\tis\ta\tspy,\tand\twas\tsent\there by\tthe\tColonel\tto\tact\tin\tthat\tcapacity.\tHe\twas\tthird\tmate\tof\tthe\tSt.\tNicholas\twhen she\t blew\t up\t in\t the\t neighborhood\t of\t Memphis,\t in\t '58,\t and\t came\t near\t being lynched\t for\t robbing\t the\t dead\t and\t wounded\t while\t they\t were\t being\t taken\t ashore in\tan\tempty\twood-boat.\\\" And\t so\t forth\t and\t so\t on--he\t gave\t the\t man's\t biography\t in\t full.\t When\t he\t had finished,\tI\tsaid\tto\tthe\tman: \\\"What\thave\tyou\tto\tsay\tto\tthis?\\\" \\\"Barring\tyour\tpresence,\tsir,\tit\tis\tthe\tinfernalist\tlie\tthat\tever\twas\tspoke!\\\" I\tsent\thim\tback\tinto\tconfinement,\tand\tcalled\tthe\tothers\tforward\tin\tturn.\tSame result.\t The\t boy\t gave\t a\t detailed\t history\t of\t each,\t without\t ever\t hesitating\t for\t a word\tor\ta\tfact;\tbut\tall\tI\tcould\tget\tout\tof\teither\trascal\twas\tthe\tindignant\tassertion that\tit\twas\tall\ta\tlie.\tThey\twould\tconfess\tnothing.\tI\treturned\tthem\tto\tcaptivity,\tand brought\tout\tthe\trest\tof\tmy\tprisoners,\tone\tby\tone.\tWicklow\ttold\tall\tabout\tthem-- what\t towns\t in\t the\t South\t they\t were\t from,\t and\t every\t detail\t of\t their\t connection with\tthe\tconspiracy. But\tthey\tall\tdenied\this\tfacts,\tand\tnot\tone\tof\tthem\tconfessed\ta\tthing.\tThe\tmen raged,\tthe\twomen\tcried.\tAccording\tto\ttheir\tstories,\tthey\twere\tall\tinnocent\tpeople from\t out\t West,\t and\t loved\t the\t Union\t above\t all\t things\t in\t this\t world.\t I\t locked\t the gang\tup,\tin\tdisgust,\tand\tfell\tto\tcatechizing\tWicklow\tonce\tmore. \\\"Where\tis\tNo.\t166,\tand\twho\tis\tB.\tB.?\\\" But\t there\t he\t was\t determined\t to\t draw\t the\t line.\t Neither\t coaxing\t nor\t threats had\t any\t effect\t upon\t him.\t Time\t was\t flying--it\t was\t necessary\t to\t institute\t sharp measures.\t So\t I\t tied\t him\t up\t a-tiptoe\t by\t the\t thumbs.\t As\t the\t pain\t increased,\t it","wrung\tscreams\tfrom\thim\twhich\twere\talmost\tmore\tthan\tI\tcould\tbear.\tBut\tI\theld my\tground,\tand\tpretty\tsoon\the\tshrieked\tout: \\\"Oh,\tplease\tlet\tme\tdown,\tand\tI\twill\ttell!\\\" \\\"No--you'll\ttell\tbefore\tI\tlet\tyou\tdown.\\\" Every\tinstant\twas\tagony\tto\thim\tnow,\tso\tout\tit\tcame: \\\"No.\t 166,\t Eagle\t Hotel!\\\"--naming\t a\t wretched\t tavern\t down\t by\t the\t water,\t a resort\tof\tcommon\tlaborers,\t'longshoremen,\tand\tless\treputable\tfolk. So\tI\treleased\thim,\tand\tthen\tdemanded\tto\tknow\tthe\tobject\tof\tthe\tconspiracy. \\\"To\ttake\tthe\tfort\tto-night,\\\"\tsaid\the,\tdoggedly\tand\tsobbing. \\\"Have\tI\tgot\tall\tthe\tchiefs\tof\tthe\tconspiracy?\\\" \\\"No.\tYou've\tgot\tall\texcept\tthose\tthat\tare\tto\tmeet\tat\t166.\\\" \\\"What\tdoes\t'Remember\tXXXX'\tmean?\\\" No\treply. \\\"What\tis\tthe\tpassword\tto\tNo.\t166?\\\" No\treply. \\\"What\tdo\tthose\tbunches\tof\tletters\tmean--'FFFFF'\tand\t'MMMM'?\tAnswer!\tor you\twill\tcatch\tit\tagain.\\\" \\\"I\tnever\twill\tanswer!\tI\twill\tdie\tfirst.\tNow\tdo\twhat\tyou\tplease.\\\" \\\"Think\twhat\tyou\tare\tsaying,\tWicklow.\tIs\tit\tfinal?\\\" He\tanswered\tsteadily,\tand\twithout\ta\tquiver\tin\this\tvoice: \\\"It\t is\t final.\t As\t sure\t as\tI\t love\tmy\t wronged\tcountry\t and\t hate\t everything\t this Northern\tsun\tshines\ton,\tI\twill\tdie\tbefore\tI\twill\treveal\tthose\tthings.\\\" I\ttied\thim\tup\tby\tthe\tthumbs\tagain.\tWhen\tthe\tagony\twas\tfull\tupon\thim\tit\twas heartbreaking\tto\thear\tthe\tpoor\tthing's\tshrieks,\tbut\twe\tgot\tnothing\telse\tout\tof\thim. To\t every\t question\t he\t screamed\t the\t same\t reply:\t \\\"I\t can\t die,\t and\t I\t will\t die;\t but\t I will\tnever\ttell.\\\" Well,\t we\t had\t to\t give\t it\t up.\t We\t were\t convinced\t that\t he\t certainly\t would\t die rather\t than\t confess.\t So\t we\t took\t him\t down,\t and\t imprisoned\t him\t under\t strict guard. Then\tfor\tsome\thours\twe\tbusied\tourselves\twith\tsending\ttelegrams\tto\tthe\tWar Department,\tand\twith\tmaking\tpreparations\tfor\ta\tdescent\tupon\tNo.\t166. It\t was\t stirring\t times,\t that\t black\t and\t bitter\t night.\t Things\t had\t leaked\t out,\t and the\t whole\t garrison\t was\t on\t the\t alert.\t The\t sentinels\t were\t trebled,\t and\t nobody could\t move,\t outside\t or\t in,\t without\t being\t brought\t to\t a\t stand\t with\t a\t musket leveled\tat\this\thead.\tHowever,\tWebb\tand\tI\twere\tless\tconcerned\tnow\tthan\twe\thad previously\tbeen,\tbecause\tof\tthe\tfact\tthat\tthe\tconspiracy\tmust\tnecessarily\tbe\tin\ta pretty\tcrippled\tcondition,\tsince\tso\tmany\tof\tits\tprincipals\twere\tin\tour\tclutches.","I\tdetermined\tto\tbe\tat\tNo.\t166\tin\tgood\tseason,\tcapture\tand\tgag\tB.\tB.,\tand\tbe on\t hand\t for\t the\t rest\t when\t they\t arrived.\t At\t about\t a\t quarter\t past\t one\t in\t the morning\t I\t crept\t out\t of\t the\t fortress\t with\t half\t a\t dozen\t stalwart\t and\t gamy\t U.\t S. regulars\tat\tmy\theels,\tand\tthe\tboy\tWicklow,\twith\this\thands\ttied\tbehind\thim.\tI\ttold him\t we\t were\t going\t to\t No.\t 166,\t and\t that\t if\t I\t found\t he\t had\t lied\t again\t and\t was misleading\t us,\t he\t would\t have\t to\t show\t us\t the\t right\t place\t or\t suffer\t the consequences. We\t approached\t the\t tavern\t stealthily\t and\t reconnoitered.\t A\t light\t was\t burning in\t the\t small\t barroom,\t the\t rest\t of\t the\t house\t was\t dark.\t I\t tried\t the\t front\t door;\t it yielded,\tand\twe\tsoftly\tentered,\tclosing\tthe\tdoor\tbehind\tus.\tThen\twe\tremoved\tour shoes,\tand\tI\tled\tthe\tway\tto\tthe\tbarroom.\tThe\tGerman\tlandlord\tsat\tthere,\tasleep\tin his\t chair.\t I\t woke\t him\t gently,\t and\t told\t him\t to\t take\t off\t his\t boots\t and\t precede\t us, warning\t him\t at\t the\t same\t time\t to\t utter\t no\t sound.\t He\t obeyed\t without\t a\t murmur, but\tevidently\the\twas\tbadly\tfrightened.\tI\tordered\thim\tto\tlead\tthe\tway\tto\t166.\tWe ascended\ttwo\tor\tthree\tflights\tof\tstairs\tas\tsoftly\tas\ta\tfile\tof\tcats;\tand\tthen,\thaving arrived\tnear\tthe\tfarther\tend\tof\ta\tlong\thall,\twe\tcame\tto\ta\tdoor\tthrough\tthe\tglazed transom\t of\t which\t we\t could\t discern\t the\t glow\t of\t a\t dim\t light\t from\t within.\t The landlord\tfelt\tfor\tme\tin\tthe\tdark\tand\twhispered\tto\tme\tthat\tthat\twas\t166.\tI\ttried\tthe door--it\t was\t locked\t on\t the\t inside.\t I\t whispered\t an\t order\t to\t one\t of\t my\t biggest soldiers;\twe\tset\tour\tample\tshoulders\tto\tthe\tdoor,\tand\twith\tone\theave\twe\tburst\tit from\t its\t hinges.\t I\t caught\t a\t half-glimpse\t of\t a\t figure\t in\t a\t bed--saw\t its\t head\t dart toward\t the\t candle;\t out\t went\t the\t light\t and\t we\t were\t in\t pitch\t darkness.\t With\t one big\t bound\t I\t lit\t on\t that\t bed\t and\t pinned\t its\t occupant\t down\t with\t my\t knees.\t My prisoner\t struggled\t fiercely,\t but\t I\t got\t a\t grip\t on\t his\t throat\t with\t my\t left\t hand,\t and that\twas\ta\tgood\tassistance\tto\tmy\tknees\tin\tholding\thim\tdown.\tThen\tstraightway\tI snatched\t out\t my\t revolver,\t cocked\t it,\t and\t laid\t the\t cold\t barrel\t warningly\t against his\tcheek. \\\"Now\tsomebody\tstrike\ta\tlight!\\\"\tsaid\tI.\t\\\"I've\tgot\thim\tsafe.\\\" It\twas\tdone.\tThe\tflame\tof\tthe\tmatch\tburst\tup.\tI\tlooked\tat\tmy\tcaptive,\tand,\tby George,\tit\twas\ta\tyoung\twoman! I\t let\t go\t and\t got\t off\t the\t bed,\t feeling\t pretty\t sheepish.\t Everybody\t stared stupidly\t at\t his\t neighbor.\t Nobody\t had\t any\t wit\t or\t sense\t left,\t so\t sudden\t and overwhelming\t had\t been\t the\t surprise.\t The\t young\t woman\t began\t to\t cry,\t and covered\ther\tface\twith\tthe\tsheet.\tThe\tlandlord\tsaid,\tmeekly: \\\"My\tdaughter,\tshe\thas\tbeen\tdoing\tsomething\tthat\tis\tnot\tright,\tnicht\twahr?\\\" \\\"Your\tdaughter?\tIs\tshe\tyour\tdaughter?\\\" \\\"Oh,\tyes,\tshe\tis\tmy\tdaughter.\tShe\tis\tjust\tto-night\tcome\thome\tfrom\tCincinnati","a\tlittle\tbit\tsick.\\\" \\\"Confound\tit,\tthat\tboy\thas\tlied\tagain.\tThis\tis\tnot\tthe\tright\t166;\tthis\tis\tnot\tB. B.\t Now,\t Wicklow,\t you\t will\t find\t the\t correct\t 166\t for\t us,\t or--hello!\t where\t is\t that boy?\\\" Gone,\t as\t sure\t as\t guns!\t And,\t what\t is\t more,\t we\t failed\t to\t find\t a\t trace\t of\t him. Here\twas\tan\tawful\tpredicament.\tI\tcursed\tmy\tstupidity\tin\tnot\ttying\thim\tto\tone\tof the\tmen;\tbut\tit\twas\tof\tno\tuse\tto\tbother\tabout\tthat\tnow.\tWhat\tshould\tI\tdo\tin\tthe present\tcircumstances?--that\twas\tthe\tquestion.\tThat\tgirl\tmight\tbe\tB.\tB.,\tafter\tall. I\tdid\tnot\tbelieve\tit,\tbut\tstill\tit\twould\tnot\tanswer\tto\ttake\tunbelief\tfor\tproof.\tSo\tI finally\tput\tmy\tmen\tin\ta\tvacant\troom\tacross\tthe\thall\tfrom\t166,\tand\ttold\tthem\tto capture\tanybody\tand\teverybody\tthat\tapproached\tthe\tgirl's\troom,\tand\tto\tkeep\tthe landlord\t with\t them,\t and\t under\t strict\twatch,\t until\t further\t orders.\t Then\tI\thurried back\tto\tthe\tfort\tto\tsee\tif\tall\twas\tright\tthere\tyet. Yes,\tall\twas\tright.\tAnd\tall\tremained\tright.\tI\tstayed\tup\tall\tnight\tto\tmake\tsure of\tthat.\tNothing\thappened.\tI\twas\tunspeakably\tglad\tto\tsee\tthe\tdawn\tcome\tagain, and\t be\t able\t to\t telegraph\t The\t Department\t that\t the\t Stars\t and\t Stripes\t still\t floated over\tFort\tTrumbull. An\t immense\t pressure\t was\t lifted\t from\t my\t breast.\t Still\t I\t did\t not\t relax vigilance,\t of\t course,\t nor\t effort,\t either;\t the\t case\t was\t too\t grave\t for\t that.\t I\t had\t up my\t prisoners,\t one\t by\t one,\t and\t harried\t them\t by\t the\t hour,\t trying\t to\t get\t them\t to confess,\t but\t it\t was\t a\t failure.\t They\t only\t gnashed\t their\t teeth\t and\t tore\t their\t hair, and\trevealed\tnothing. About\tnoon\tcame\ttidings\tof\tmy\tmissing\tboy.\tHe\thad\tbeen\tseen\ton\tthe\troad, tramping\t westward,\t some\t eight\t miles\t out,\t at\t six\t in\t the\t morning.\t I\t started\t a cavalry\tlieutenant\tand\ta\tprivate\ton\this\ttrack\tat\tonce.\tThey\tcame\tin\tsight\tof\thim twenty\t miles\t out.\t He\t had\t climbed\t a\t fence\t and\t was\t wearily\t dragging\t himself across\t a\t slushy\t field\t toward\t a\t large\t old-fashioned\t mansion\t in\t the\t edge\t of\t a village.\t They\t rode\t through\t a\t bit\t of\t woods,\t made\t a\t detour,\t and\t closed\t upon\t the house\t from\t the\t opposite\t side;\t then\t dismounted\t and\t skurried\t into\t the\t kitchen. Nobody\tthere.\tThey\tslipped\tinto\tthe\tnext\troom,\twhich\twas\talso\tunoccupied;\tthe door\tfrom\tthat\troom\tinto\tthe\tfront\tor\tsitting\troom\twas\topen.\tThey\twere\tabout\tto step\tthrough\tit\twhen\tthey\theard\ta\tlow\tvoice;\tit\twas\tsomebody\tpraying.\tSo\tthey halted\treverently,\tand\tthe\tlieutenant\tput\this\thead\tin\tand\tsaw\tan\told\tman\tand\tan old\twoman\tkneeling\tin\ta\tcorner\tof\tthat\tsitting\troom.\tIt\twas\tthe\told\tman\tthat\twas praying,\t and\t just\t as\t he\t was\t finishing\t his\t prayer,\t the\t Wicklow\t boy\t opened\t the front\tdoor\tand\tstepped\tin.\tBoth\tof\tthose\told\tpeople\tsprang\tat\thim\tand\tsmothered him\twith\tembraces,\tshouting:","\\\"Our\tboy!\tOur\tdarling!\tGod\tbe\tpraised.\tThe\tlost\tis\tfound!\tHe\tthat\twas\tdead is\talive\tagain!\\\" Well,\t sir,\t what\t do\t you\t think?\t That\t young\t imp\t was\t born\t and\t reared\t on\t that homestead,\t and\t had\t never\t been\t five\t miles\t away\t from\t it\t in\t all\t his\t life\t till\t the fortnight\tbefore\the\tloafed\tinto\tmy\tquarters\tand\tgulled\tme\twith\tthat\tmaudlin\tyarn of\t his!\t It's\t as\t true\t as\t gospel.\t That\t old\t man\t was\t his\t father--a\t learned\t old\t retired clergyman;\tand\tthat\told\tlady\twas\this\tmother. Let\t me\t throw\t in\t a\t word\t or\t two\t of\t explanation\t concerning\t that\t boy\t and\t his performances.\tIt\tturned\tout\tthat\the\twas\ta\travenous\tdevourer\tof\tdime\tnovels\tand sensation-story\tpapers--therefore,\t dark\tmysteries\tand\tgaudy\t heroisms\t were\t just in\t his\t line.\t Then\t he\t had\t read\t newspaper\t reports\t of\t the\t stealthy\t goings\t and comings\tof\trebel\tspies\tin\tour\tmidst,\tand\tof\ttheir\tlurid\tpurposes\tand\ttheir\ttwo\tor three\t startling\t achievements,\t till\t his\t imagination\t was\t all\t aflame\t on\t that\t subject. His\tconstant\tcomrade\tfor\tsome\tmonths\thad\tbeen\ta\tYankee\tyouth\tof\tmuch\ttongue and\t lively\t fancy,\t who\t had\t served\t for\t a\t couple\t of\t years\t as\t \\\"Mud\t clerk\\\"\t (that\t is, subordinate\t purser)\t on\t certain\t of\t the\t packet-boats\t plying\t between\t New\t Orleans and\tpoints\ttwo\tor\tthree\thundred\tmiles\tup\tthe\tMississippi--hence\this\teasy\tfacility in\t handling\t the\t names\t and\t other\t details\t pertaining\t to\t that\t region.\t Now\t I\t had spent\ttwo\tor\tthree\tmonths\tin\tthat\tpart\tof\tthe\tcountry\tbefore\tthe\twar;\tand\tI\tknew just\tenough\tabout\tit\tto\tbe\teasily\ttaken\tin\tby\tthat\tboy,\twhereas\ta\tborn\tLouisianian would\t probably\t have\t caught\t him\t tripping\t before\t he\t had\t talked\t fifteen\t minutes. Do\tyou\tknow\tthe\treason\the\tsaid\the\twould\trather\tdie\tthan\texplain\tcertain\tof\this treasonable\t enigmas?\t Simply\t because\t he\t couldn't\t explain\t them!--they\t had\t no meaning;\t he\t had\t fired\t them\t out\t of\t his\t imagination\t without\t forethought\t or afterthought;\tand\tso,\tupon\tsudden\tcall,\the\twasn't\table\tto\tinvent\tan\texplanation\tof them.\tFor\tinstance,\the\tcouldn't\treveal\twhat\twas\thidden\tin\tthe\t\\\"sympathetic\tink\\\" letter,\t for\t the\t ample\t reason\t that\t there\t wasn't\t anything\t hidden\t in\t it;\t it\t was\t blank paper\tonly.\tHe\thadn't\tput\tanything\tinto\ta\tgun,\tand\thad\tnever\tintended\tto--for\this letters\t were\t all\t written\t to\t imaginary\t persons,\t and\t when\t he\t hid\t one\t in\t the\t stable he\t always\t removed\t the\t one\t he\t had\t put\t there\t the\t day\t before;\t so\t he\t was\t not acquainted\twith\tthat\tknotted\tstring,\tsince\the\twas\tseeing\tit\tfor\tthe\tfirst\ttime\twhen I\tshowed\tit\tto\thim;\tbut\tas\tsoon\tas\tI\thad\tlet\thim\tfind\tout\twhere\tit\tcame\tfrom,\the straightway\tadopted\tit,\tin\this\tromantic\tfashion,\tand\tgot\tsome\tfine\teffects\tout\tof it.\tHe\tinvented\tMr.\t\\\"Gaylord\\\";\tthere\twasn't\tany\t15\tBond\tStreet,\tjust\tthen--it\thad been\t pulled\t down\t three\t months\t before.\t He\t invented\t the\t \\\"Colonel\\\";\t he\t invented the\t glib\t histories\t of\t those\t unfortunates\t whom\t I\t captured\t and\t confronted\t him with;\the\tinvented\t\\\"B.\tB.\\\";\the\teven\tinvented\tNo.\t166,\tone\tmay\tsay,\tfor\the\tdidn't","know\tthere\twas\tsuch\ta\tnumber\tin\tthe\tEagle\tHotel\tuntil\twe\twent\tthere.\tHe\tstood ready\t to\t invent\t anybody\t or\t anything\t whenever\t it\t was\t wanted.\t If\t I\t called\t for \\\"outside\\\"\tspies,\the\tpromptly\tdescribed\tstrangers\twhom\the\thad\tseen\tat\tthe\thotel, and\t whose\t names\t he\t had\t happened\t to\t hear.\t Ah,\t he\t lived\t in\t a\t gorgeous, mysterious,\tromantic\tworld\tduring\tthose\tfew\tstirring\tdays,\tand\tI\tthink\tit\twas\treal to\thim,\tand\tthat\the\tenjoyed\tit\tclear\tdown\tto\tthe\tbottom\tof\this\theart. But\the\tmade\ttrouble\tenough\tfor\tus,\tand\tjust\tno\tend\tof\thumiliation.\tYou\tsee, on\taccount\tof\thim\twe\thad\tfifteen\tor\ttwenty\tpeople\tunder\tarrest\tand\tconfinement in\t the\t fort,\t with\t sentinels\t before\t their\t doors.\t A\t lot\t of\t the\t captives\t were\t soldiers and\t such,\t and\t to\t them\t I\t didn't\t have\t to\t apologize;\t but\t the\t rest\t were\t first-class citizens,\tfrom\tall\tover\tthe\tcountry,\tand\tno\tamount\tof\tapologies\twas\tsufficient\tto satisfy\tthem.\tThey\tjust\tfumed\tand\traged\tand\tmade\tno\tend\tof\ttrouble!\tAnd\tthose two\t ladies--one\t was\t an\t Ohio\t Congressman's\t wife,\t the\t other\t a\t Western\t bishop's sister--well,\tthe\tscorn\tand\tridicule\tand\tangry\ttears\tthey\tpoured\tout\ton\tme\tmade up\t a\t keepsake\t that\t was\t likely\t to\t make\t me\t remember\t them\t for\t a\t considerable time--and\t I\t shall.\t That\t old\t lame\t gentleman\t with\t the\t goggles\t was\t a\t college president\tfrom\tPhiladelphia,\twho\thad\tcome\tup\tto\tattend\this\tnephew's\tfuneral.\tHe had\t never\t seen\t young\t Wicklow\t before,\t of\t course.\t Well,\t he\t not\t only\t missed\t the funeral,\t and\t got\t jailed\t as\t a\t rebel\t spy,\t but\t Wicklow\t had\t stood\t up\t there\t in\t my quarters\t and\t coldly\t described\t him\t as\t a\t counterfeiter,\t nigger-trader,\t horse-thief, and\t firebug\t from\t the\t most\t notorious\t rascal-nest\t in\t Galveston;\t and\t this\t was\t a thing\twhich\tthat\tpoor\told\tgentleman\tcouldn't\tseem\tto\tget\tover\tat\tall. And\t the\t War\t Department!\t But,\t oh,\t my\t soul,\t let's\t draw\t the\t curtain\t over\t that part! 1881 NOTE\tI\tshowed\tmy\tmanuscript\tto\tthe\tMajor,\tand\the\tsaid:\t\\\"Your\tunfamiliarity\twith\tmilitary\tmatters\thas betrayed\tyou\tinto\tsome\tlittle\tmistakes.\tStill,\tthey\tare\tpicturesque\tones--let\tthem\tgo;\tmilitary\tmen\twill\tsmile at\tthem,\tthe\trest\twon't\tdetect\tthem.\tYou\thave\tgot\tthe\tmain\tfacts\tof\tthe\thistory\tright,\tand\thave\tset\tthem\tdown just\tabout\tas\tthey\toccurred.\\\"\tM.T.","THE\tINVALID'S\tSTORY I\tSEEM\tSIXTY\tand\tmarried,\tbut\tthese\teffects\tare\tdue\tto\tmy\tcondition\tand sufferings,\t for\t I\t am\t a\t bachelor,\t and\t only\t forty-one.\t It\t will\t be\t hard\t for\t you\t to believe\tthat\tI,\twho\tam\tnow\tbut\ta\tshadow,\twas\ta\thale,\thearty\tman\ttwo\tshort\tyears ago--a\tman\tof\tiron,\ta\tvery\tathlete!--yet\tsuch\tis\tthe\tsimple\ttruth.\tBut\tstranger\tstill than\t this\t fact\t is\t the\t way\t in\t which\t I\t lost\t my\t health.\t I\t lost\t it\t through\t helping\t to take\t care\t of\t a\t box\t of\t guns\t on\t a\t two-hundred-mile\t railway\t journey\t one\t winter's night.\tIt\tis\tthe\tactual\ttruth,\tand\tI\twill\ttell\tyou\tabout\tit. I\t belong\t in\t Cleveland,\t Ohio.\t One\t winter's\t night,\t two\t years\t ago,\t I\t reached home\tjust\tafter\tdark,\tin\ta\tdriving\tsnow-storm,\tand\tthe\tfirst\tthing\tI\theard\twhen\tI entered\t the\t house\t was\t that\t my\t dearest\t boyhood\t friend\t and\t schoolmate,\t John\t B. Hackett,\t had\t died\t the\t day\t before,\t and\t that\t his\t last\t utterance\t had\t been\t a\t desire that\t I\t would\t take\t his\t remains\t home\t to\t his\t poor\t old\t father\t and\t mother\t in Wisconsin.\tI\twas\tgreatly\tshocked\tand\tgrieved,\tbut\tthere\twas\tno\ttime\tto\twaste\tin emotions;\t I\t must\t start\t at\t once.\t I\t took\t the\t card,\t marked\t \\\"Deacon\t Levi\t Hackett, Bethlehem,\t Wisconsin,\\\"\t and\t hurried\t off\t through\t the\t whistling\t storm\t to\t the railway-station.\t Arrived\t there\t I\t found\t the\t long\t white-pine\t box\t which\t had\t been described\t to\t me;\t I\t fastened\t the\t card\t to\t it\t with\t some\t tacks,\t saw\t it\t put\t safely aboard\tthe\texpress-car,\tand\tthen\tran\tinto\tthe\teating-room\tto\tprovide\tmyself\twith a\t sandwich\t and\t some\t cigars.\t When\t I\t returned,\t presently,\t there\t was\t my\t coffin- box\tback\tagain,\tapparently,\tand\ta\tyoung\tfellow\texamining\taround\tit,\twith\ta\tcard in\t his\t hands,\t and\t some\t tacks\t and\t a\t hammer!\t I\t was\t astonished\t and\t puzzled.\t He began\tto\tnail\ton\this\tcard,\tand\tI\trushed\tout\tto\tthe\texpress-car,\tin\ta\tgood\tdeal\tof\ta state\tof\tmind,\tto\task\tfor\tan\texplanation.\tBut\tno--there\twas\tmy\tbox,\tall\tright,\tin the\texpress-car;\tit\thadn't\tbeen\tdisturbed.\t[The\tfact\tis\tthat\twithout\tmy\tsuspecting it\t a\t prodigious\t mistake\t had\t been\t made.\t I\t was\t carrying\t off\t a\t box\t of\t guns\t which that\t young\t fellow\t had\t come\t to\t the\t station\t to\t ship\t to\t a\t rifle\t company\t in\t Peoria, Illinois,\t and\t he\t had\t got\t my\t corpse!]\t Just\t then\t the\t conductor\t sang\t out\t \\\"All aboard,\\\"\tand\tI\tjumped\tinto\tthe\texpress-car\tand\tgot\ta\tcomfortable\tseat\ton\ta\tbale of\tbuckets.\tThe\texpressman\twas\tthere,\thard\tat\twork--a\tplain\tman\tof\tfifty,\twith\ta simple,\t honest,\t good-natured\t face,\t and\t a\t breezy,\t practical\t heartiness\t in\t his general\t style.\t As\t the\t train\t moved\t off\t a\t stranger\t skipped\t into\t the\t car\t and\t set\t a package\t of\t peculiarly\t mature\tand\tcapable\tLimburger\tcheese\ton\tone\tend\tof\tmy coffin-box--I\t mean\t my\t box\t of\t guns.\t That\t is\t to\t say,\t I\t know\t now\t that\t it\t was Limburger\tcheese,\tbut\tat\tthat\ttime\tI\tnever\thad\theard\tof\tthe\tarticle\tin\tmy\tlife,\tand of\t course\t was\t wholly\t ignorant\t of\t its\t character.\t Well,\t we\t sped\t through\t the\t wild","night,\tthe\tbitter\tstorm\traged\ton,\ta\tcheerless\tmisery\tstole\tover\tme,\tmy\theart\twent down,\t down,\t down!\t The\t old\t expressman\t made\t a\t brisk\t remark\t or\t two\t about\t the tempest\t and\t the\t arctic\t weather,\t slammed\t his\t sliding\t doors\t to,\t and\t bolted\t them, closed\this\twindow\tdown\ttight,\tand\tthen\twent\tbustling\taround,\there\tand\tthere\tand yonder,\tsetting\tthings\tto\trights,\tand\tall\tthe\ttime\tcontentedly\thumming\t\\\"Sweet\tBy and\t By,\\\"\t in\t a\t low\t tone,\t and\t flatting\t a\t good\t deal.\t Presently\t I\t began\t to\t detect\t a most\tevil\tand\tsearching\todor\tstealing\tabout\ton\tthe\tfrozen\tair.\tThis\tdepressed\tmy spirits\t still\t more,\t because\t of\t course\t I\t attributed\t it\t to\t my\t poor\t departed\t friend. There\t was\t something\t infinitely\t saddening\t about\t his\t calling\t himself\t to\t my remembrance\t in\t this\t dumb,\t pathetic\t way,\t so\t it\t was\t hard\t to\t keep\t the\t tears\t back. Moreover,\tit\tdistressed\tme\ton\taccount\tof\tthe\told\texpressman,\twho,\tI\twas\tafraid, might\tnotice\tit.\tHowever,\the\twent\thumming\ttranquilly\ton,\tand\tgave\tno\tsign;\tand for\t this\t I\t was\t grateful.\t Grateful,\t yes,\t but\t still\t uneasy;\t and\t soon\t I\t began\t to\t feel more\t and\t more\t uneasy\t every\t minute,\t for\t every\t minute\t that\t went\t by\t that\t odor thickened\t up\t the\t more,\t and\t got\t to\t be\t more\t and\t more\t gamy\t and\t hard\t to\t stand. Presently,\t having\t got\t things\t arranged\t to\t his\t satisfaction,\t the\t expressman\t got some\twood\tand\tmade\tup\ta\ttremendous\tfire\tin\this\tstove.\tThis\tdistressed\tme\tmore than\tI\tcan\ttell,\tfor\tI\tcould\tnot\tbut\tfeel\tthat\tit\twas\ta\tmistake.\tI\twas\tsure\tthat\tthe effect\t would\t be\t deleterious\t upon\t my\t poor\t departed\t friend.\t Thompson--the expressman's\t name\t was\t Thompson,\t as\t I\t found\t out\t in\t the\t course\t of\t the\t night-- now\t went\t poking\t around\t his\t car,\t stopping\t up\t whatever\t stray\t cracks\t he\t could find,\t remarking\t that\t it\t didn't\t make\t any\t difference\t what\t kind\t of\t a\t night\t it\t was outside,\t he\t calculated\t to\t make\t us\t comfortable,\t anyway.\t I\t said\t nothing,\t but\t I believed\t he\t was\t not\t choosing\t the\t right\t way.\t Meantime\t he\t was\t humming\t to himself\tjust\tas\tbefore;\tand\tmeantime,\ttoo,\tthe\tstove\twas\tgetting\thotter\tand\thotter, and\t the\t place\t closer\t and\t closer.\t I\t felt\t myself\t growing\t pale\t and\t qualmish,\t but grieved\t in\t silence\t and\t said\t nothing.\t Soon\t I\t noticed\t that\t the\t \\\"Sweet\t By\t and\t By\\\" was\t gradually\t fading\t out;\t next\t it\t ceased\t altogether,\t and\t there\t was\t an\t ominous stillness.\tAfter\ta\tfew\tmoments\tThompson\tsaid-- \\\"Pfew!\tI\treckon\tit\tain't\tno\tcinnamon\t't\tI've\tloaded\tup\tthish-yer\tstove\twith!\\\" He\t gasped\t once\t or\t twice,\t then\t moved\t toward\t the\t cof--gun-box,\t stood\t over that\tLimburger\tcheese\tpart\tof\ta\tmoment,\tthen\tcame\tback\tand\tsat\tdown\tnear\tme, looking\ta\tgood\tdeal\timpressed.\tAfter\ta\tcontemplative\tpause,\the\tsaid,\tindicating the\tbox\twith\ta\tgesture-- \\\"Friend\tof\tyourn?\\\" \\\"Yes,\\\"\tI\tsaid\twith\ta\tsigh. \\\"He's\tpretty\tripe,\tain't\the!\\\"","Nothing\t further\t was\t said\t for\t perhaps\t a\t couple\t of\t minutes,\t each\t being\t busy with\this\town\tthoughts;\tthen\tThompson\tsaid,\tin\ta\tlow,\tawed\tvoice-- \\\"Sometimes\tit's\tuncertain\twhether\tthey're\treally\tgone\tor\tnot--seem\tgone,\tyou know--body\t warm,\t joints\t limber--and\t so,\t although\t you\t think\t they're\t gone,\t you don't\treally\tknow.\tI've\thad\tcases\tin\tmy\tcar.\tIt's\tperfectly\tawful,\tbecuz\tyou\tdon't know\t what\t minute\t they'll\t rise\t up\t and\t look\t at\t you!\\\"\t Then,\t after\t a\t pause,\t and slightly\tlifting\this\telbow\ttoward\tthe\tbox,--\\\"But\the\tain't\tin\tno\ttrance!\tNo,\tsir,\tI\tgo bail\tfor\thim!\\\" We\tsat\tsome\ttime,\tin\tmeditative\tsilence,\tlistening\tto\tthe\twind\tand\tthe\troar\tof the\ttrain;\tthen\tThompson\tsaid,\twith\ta\tgood\tdeal\tof\tfeeling: \\\"Well-a-well,\twe've\tall\tgot\tto\tgo,\tthey\tain't\tno\tgetting\taround\tit.\tMan\tthat\tis born\tof\twoman\tis\tof\tfew\tdays\tand\tfar\tbetween,\tas\tScriptur'\tsays.\tYes,\tyou\tlook\tat it\tany\tway\tyou\twant\tto,\tit's\tawful\tsolemn\tand\tcur'us:\tthey\tain't\tnobody\t can\t get around\tit;\tall's\tgot\tto\tgo--just\teverybody,\tas\tyou\tmay\tsay.\tOne\tday\tyou're\thearty and\t strong\\\"--here\t he\t scrambled\t to\t his\t feet\t and\t broke\t a\t pane\t and\t stretched\t his nose\t out\t at\t it\t a\t moment\t or\t two,\t then\t sat\t down\t again\t while\t I\t struggled\t up\t and thrust\tmy\tnose\tout\tat\tthe\tsame\tplace,\tand\tthis\twe\tkept\ton\tdoing\tevery\tnow\tand then--\\\"and\t next\t day\t he's\t cut\t down\t like\t the\t grass,\t and\t the\t places\t which\t knowed him\t then\t knows\t him\t no\t more\t forever,\t as\t Scriptur'\t says.\t Yes'ndeedy,\t it's\t awful solemn\t and\t cur'us;\t but\t we've\t all\t got\t to\t go,\t one\t time\t or\t another;\t they\t ain't\t no getting\taround\tit.\\\" There\twas\tanother\tlong\tpause;\tthen-- \\\"What\tdid\the\tdie\tof?\\\" I\tsaid\tI\tdidn't\tknow. \\\"How\tlong\thas\the\tbeen\tdead?\\\" It\tseemed\tjudicious\tto\tenlarge\tthe\tfacts\tto\tfit\tthe\tprobabilities;\tso\tI\tsaid: \\\"Two\tor\tthree\tdays.\\\" But\t it\t did\t no\t good;\t for\t Thompson\t received\t it\t with\t an\t injured\t look\t which plainly\tsaid,\t\\\"Two\tor\tthree\tyears,\tyou\tmean.\\\"\tThen\the\twent\tright\talong,\tplacidly ignoring\t my\t statement,\t and\t gave\t his\t views\t at\t considerable\t length\t upon\t the\t un- wisdom\t of\t putting\t off\t burials\t too\t long.\t Then\t he\t lounged\t off\t toward\t the\t box, stood\t a\t moment,\t then\t came\t back\t on\t a\t sharp\t trot\t and\t visited\t the\t broken\t pane, observing: \\\"'Twould\t'a'\tben\ta\tdum\tsight\tbetter,\tall\taround,\tif\tthey'd\tstarted\thim\talong\tlast summer.\\\" Thompson\t sat\t down\t and\t buried\t his\t face\t in\t his\t red\t silk\t handkerchief,\t and began\tto\tslowly\tsway\tand\trock\this\tbody\tlike\tone\twho\tis\tdoing\this\tbest\tto\tendure","the\talmost\tunendurable.\tBy\tthis\ttime\tthe\tfragrance--if\tyou\tmay\tcall\tit\tfragrance-- was\t just\t about\t suffocating,\t as\t near\t as\t you\t can\t come\t at\t it.\t Thompson's\t face\t was turning\tgray;\tI\tknew\tmine\thadn't\tany\tcolor\tleft\tin\tit.\tBy\tand\tby\tThompson\trested his\tforehead\tin\this\tleft\thand,\twith\this\telbow\ton\this\tknee,\tand\tsort\tof\twaved\this red\thandkerchief\ttoward\tthe\tbox\twith\this\tother\thand,\tand\tsaid: \\\"I've\t carried\t a\t many\t a\t one\t of\t 'em--some\t of\t 'em\t considerable\t overdue,\t too-- but,\t lordy,\t he\t just\t lays\t over\t 'em\t all!--and\t does\t it\t easy.\t Cap,\t they\t was\t heliotrope to\thim!\\\" This\t recognition\t of\t my\t poor\t friend\t gratified\t me,\t in\t spite\t of\t the\t sad circumstances,\tbecause\tit\thad\tso\tmuch\tthe\tsound\tof\ta\tcompliment. Pretty\t soon\t it\t was\t plain\t that\t something\t had\t got\t to\t be\t done.\t I\t suggested cigars.\tThompson\tthought\tit\twas\ta\tgood\tidea.\tHe\tsaid: \\\"Likely\tit'll\tmodify\thim\tsome.\\\" We\t puffed\t gingerly\t along\t for\t a\t while,\t and\t tried\t hard\t to\t imagine\t that\t things were\t improved.\t But\t it\t wasn't\t any\t use.\t Before\t very\t long,\t and\t without\t any consultation,\tboth\tcigars\twere\tquietly\tdropped\tfrom\tour\tnerveless\tfingers\tat\tthe same\tmoment.\tThompson\tsaid,\twith\ta\tsigh: \\\"No,\t Cap,\t it\t don't\t modify\t him\t worth\t a\t cent.\t Fact\t is,\t it\t makes\t him\t worse, becuz\tit\tappears\tto\tstir\tup\this\tambition.\tWhat\tdo\tyou\treckon\twe\tbetter\tdo,\tnow?\\\" I\t was\t not\t able\t to\t suggest\t anything;\t indeed,\t I\t had\t to\t be\t swallowing\t and swallowing\tall\tthe\ttime,\tand\tdid\tnot\tlike\tto\ttrust\tmyself\tto\tspeak.\tThompson\tfell to\t maundering,\t in\t a\t desultory\t and\t low-spirited\t way,\t about\t the\t miserable experiences\t of\t this\t night;\t and\t he\t got\t to\t referring\t to\t my\t poor\t friend\t by\t various titles--sometimes\t military\t ones,\t sometimes\t civil\t ones;\t and\t I\t noticed\t that\t as\t fast as\t my\tpoor\tfriend's\teffectiveness\tgrew,\tThompson\tpromoted\t him\t accordingly-- gave\thim\ta\tbigger\ttitle.\tFinally\the\tsaid: \\\"I've\tgot\tan\tidea.\tSuppos'n'\twe\tbuckle\tdown\tto\tit\tand\tgive\tthe\tColonel\ta\tbit of\ta\tshove\ttoward\tt'other\tend\tof\tthe\tcar?--about\tten\tfoot,\tsay.\tHe\twouldn't\thave so\tmuch\tinfluence,\tthen,\tdon't\tyou\treckon?\\\" I\tsaid\tit\twas\ta\tgood\tscheme.\tSo\twe\ttook\tin\ta\tgood\tfresh\tbreath\tat\tthe\tbroken pane,\tcalculating\tto\thold\tit\ttill\twe\tgot\tthrough;\tthen\twe\twent\tthere\tand\tbent\tover that\t deadly\t cheese\t and\t took\t a\t grip\t on\t the\t box.\t Thompson\t nodded\t \\\"All\t ready,\\\" and\tthen\twe\tthrew\tourselves\tforward\twith\tall\tour\tmight;\tbut\tThompson\tslipped, and\t slumped\t down\t with\t his\t nose\t on\t the\t cheese,\t and\t his\t breath\t got\t loose.\t He gagged\tand\tgasped,\tand\tfloundered\tup\tand\tmade\ta\tbreak\tfor\tthe\tdoor,\tpawing\tthe air\tand\tsaying\thoarsely,\t\\\"Don't\thender\tme!--gimme\tthe\troad!\tI'm\ta-dying;\tgimme the\troad!\\\"\tOut\ton\tthe\tcold\tplatform\tI\tsat\tdown\tand\theld\this\thead\tawhile,\tand\the","revived.\tPresently\the\tsaid: \\\"Do\tyou\treckon\twe\tstarted\tthe\tGen'rul\tany?\\\" I\tsaid\tno;\twe\thadn't\tbudged\thim. \\\"Well,\tthen,\tthat\tidea's\tup\tthe\tflume.\tWe\tgot\tto\tthink\tup\tsomething\telse.\tHe's suited\twher'\the\tis,\tI\treckon;\tand\tif\tthat's\tthe\tway\the\tfeels\tabout\tit,\tand\thas\tmade up\t his\t mind\t that\t he\t don't\t wish\t to\t be\t disturbed,\t you\t bet\t he's\t a-going\t to\t have\t his own\tway\tin\tthe\tbusiness.\tYes,\tbetter\tleave\thim\tright\twher'\the\tis,\tlong\tas\the\twants it\t so;\t becuz\t he\t holds\t all\t the\t trumps,\t don't\t you\t know,\t and\t so\t it\t stands\t to\t reason that\tthe\tman\tthat\tlays\tout\tto\talter\this\tplans\tfor\thim\tis\tgoing\tto\tget\tleft.\\\" But\t we\t couldn't\t stay\t out\t there\t in\t that\t mad\t storm;\t we\t should\t have\t frozen\t to death.\tSo\twe\twent\tin\tagain\tand\tshut\tthe\tdoor,\tand\tbegan\tto\tsuffer\tonce\tmore\tand take\tturns\tat\tthe\tbreak\tin\tthe\twindow.\tBy\tand\tby,\tas\twe\twere\tstarting\taway\tfrom a\t station\t where\t we\t had\t stopped\t a\t moment\t Thompson\t pranced\t in\t cheerily,\t and exclaimed: \\\"We're\t all\t right,\t now!\t I\t reckon\t we've\t got\t the\t Commodore\t this\t time.\t I\t judge I've\tgot\tthe\tstuff\there\tthat'll\ttake\tthe\ttuck\tout\tof\thim.\\\" It\t was\t carbolic\t acid.\t He\t had\t a\t carboy\t of\t it.\t He\t sprinkled\t it\t all\t around everywhere;\t in\t fact\t he\t drenched\t everything\t with\t it,\t rifle-box,\t cheese\t and\t all. Then\twe\tsat\tdown,\tfeeling\tpretty\thopeful.\tBut\tit\twasn't\tfor\tlong.\tYou\tsee\tthe\ttwo perfumes\t began\t to\t mix,\t and\t then--well,\t pretty\t soon\t we\t made\t a\t break\t for\t the door;\tand\tout\tthere\tThompson\tswabbed\this\tface\twith\this\tbandanna\tand\tsaid\tin\ta kind\tof\tdisheartened\tway: \\\"It\tain't\tno\tuse.\tWe\tcan't\tbuck\tagin\thim.\tHe\tjust\tutilizes\teverything\twe\tput\tup to\t modify\thim\twith,\tand\tgives\tit\this\town\tflavor\tand\tplays\tit\tback\ton\tus.\tWhy, Cap,\tdon't\tyou\tknow,\tit's\tas\tmuch\tas\ta\thundred\ttimes\tworse\tin\tthere\tnow\tthan\tit was\t when\t he\t first\t got\t a-going.\t I\t never\t did\t see\t one\t of\t 'em\t warm\t up\t to\t his\t work so,\t and\t take\t such\t a\t dumnation\t interest\t in\t it.\t No,\t sir,\t I\t never\t did,\t as\t long\t as\t I've ben\ton\tthe\troad;\tand\tI've\tcarried\ta\tmany\ta\tone\tof\t'em,\tas\tI\twas\ttelling\tyou.\\\" We\twent\tin\tagain\tafter\twe\twere\tfrozen\tpretty\tstiff;\tbut\tmy,\twe\tcouldn't\tstay in,\t now.\t So\t we\t just\t waltzed\t back\t and\t forth,\t freezing,\t and\t thawing,\t and\t stifling, by\t turns.\t In\t about\t an\t hour\t we\t stopped\t at\t another\t station;\t and\t as\t we\t left\t it Thompson\tcame\tin\twith\ta\tbag,\tand\tsaid-- \\\"Cap,\t I'm\t a-going\t to\t chance\t him\t once\t more--just\t this\t once;\t and\t if\t we\t don't fetch\t him\t this\t time,\t the\t thing\t for\t us\t to\t do,\t is\t to\t just\t throw\t up\t the\t sponge\t and withdraw\tfrom\tthe\tcanvass.\tThat's\tthe\tway\tI\tput\tit\tup.\\\" He\thad\tbrought\ta\tlot\tof\tchicken\tfeathers,\tand\tdried\tapples,\tand\tleaf\ttobacco, and\trags,\tand\told\tshoes,\tand\tsulphur,\tand\tasafetida,\tand\tone\tthing\tor\tanother;\tand","he\tpiled\tthem\ton\ta\tbreadth\tof\tsheet\tiron\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tthe\tfloor,\tand\tset\tfire\tto them. When\tthey\tgot\twell\tstarted,\tI\tcouldn't\tsee,\tmyself,\thow\teven\tthe\tcorpse\tcould stand\tit.\tAll\tthat\twent\tbefore\twas\tjust\tsimply\tpoetry\tto\tthat\tsmell--but\tmind\tyou, the\t original\t smell\t stood\t up\t out\t of\t it\t just\t as\t sublime\t as\t ever--fact\t is,\t these\t other smells\tjust\tseemed\tto\tgive\tit\ta\tbetter\thold;\tand\tmy,\thow\trich\tit\twas!\tI\tdidn't\tmake these\t reflections\t there--there\t wasn't\t time--made\t them\t on\t the\t platform.\t And breaking\t for\t the\t platform,\t Thompson\t got\t suffocated\t and\t fell;\t and\t before\t I\t got him\t dragged\t out,\t which\t I\t did\t by\t the\t collar,\t I\t was\t mighty\t near\t gone\t myself. When\twe\trevived,\tThompson\tsaid\tdejectedly: \\\"We\tgot\tto\tstay\tout\there,\tCap.\tWe\tgot\tto\tdo\tit.\tThey\tain't\tno\tother\tway.\tThe Governor\twants\tto\ttravel\talone,\tand\the's\tfixed\tso\the\tcan\tout-vote\tus.\\\" And\tpresently\the\tadded: \\\"And\tdon't\tyou\tknow,\twe're\tpisoned.\tIt's\tour\tlast\ttrip,\tyou\tcan\tmake\tup\tyour mind\tto\tit.\tTyphoid\tfever\tis\twhat's\tgoing\tto\tcome\tof\tthis.\tI\tfeel\tit\ta-coming\tright now.\tYes,\tsir,\twe're\telected,\tjust\tas\tsure\tas\tyou're\tborn.\\\" We\twere\ttaken\tfrom\tthe\tplatform\tan\thour\tlater,\tfrozen\tand\tinsensible,\tat\tthe next\t station,\t and\t I\t went\t straight\t off\t into\t a\t virulent\t fever,\t and\t never\t knew anything\t again\t for\t three\t weeks.\t I\t found\t out,\t then,\t that\t I\t had\t spent\t that\t awful night\twith\ta\tharmless\tbox\tof\trifles\tand\ta\tlot\tof\tinnocent\tcheese;\tbut\tthe\tnews\twas too\t late\t to\t save\t me;\t imagination\t had\t done\t its\t work,\t and\t my\t health\t was permanently\t shattered;\t neither\t Bermuda\t nor\t any\t other\t land\t can\t ever\t bring\t it back\tto\tme.\tThis\tis\tmy\tlast\ttrip;\tI\tam\ton\tmy\tway\thome\tto\tdie. 1882","THE\tMCWILLIAMSES\tAND\tTHE\tBURGLAR ALARM THE\t CONVERSATION\t drifted\t smoothly\t and\t pleasantly\t along\t from weather\t to\t crops,\t from\t crops\t to\t literature,\t from\t literature\t to\t scandal,\t from scandal\t to\t religion;\t then\t took\t a\t random\t jump,\t and\t landed\t on\t the\t subject\t of burglar\t alarms.\t And\t now\t for\t the\t first\t time\t Mr.\t McWilliams\t showed\t feeling. Whenever\tI\tperceive\tthis\tsign\ton\tthis\tman's\tdial,\tI\tcomprehend\tit,\tand\tlapse\tinto silence,\t and\t give\t him\t opportunity\t to\t unload\t his\t heart.\t Said\t he,\t with\t but\t ill- controlled\temotion: \t I\tdo\tnot\tgo\tone\tsingle\tcent\ton\tburglar\talarms,\tMr.\tTwain--not\ta\tsingle\tcent-- and\tI\twill\ttell\tyou\twhy.\tWhen\twe\twere\tfinishing\tour\thouse,\twe\tfound\twe\thad\ta little\t cash\t left\t over,\t on\t account\t of\t the\t plumber\t not\t knowing\t it.\t I\t was\t for enlightening\t the\t heathen\t with\t it,\t for\t I\t was\t always\t unaccountably\t down\t on\t the heathen\t somehow;\t but\t Mrs.\t McWilliams\t said\t no,\t let's\t have\t a\t burglar\t alarm.\t I agreed\tto\tthis\tcompromise.\tI\twill\texplain\tthat\twhenever\tI\twant\ta\tthing,\tand\tMrs. McWilliams\t wants\t another\t thing,\t and\t we\t decide\t upon\t the\t thing\t that\t Mrs. McWilliams\t wants--as\t we\t always\t do--she\t calls\t that\t a\t compromise.\t Very\t well: the\t man\t came\t up\t from\t New\t York\t and\t put\t in\t the\t alarm,\t and\t charged\t three hundred\t and\t twenty-five\t dollars\t for\t it,\t and\t said\t we\t could\t sleep\t without uneasiness\tnow.\tSo\twe\tdid\tfor\ta\twhile--say\ta\tmonth.\tThen\tone\tnight\twe\tsmelled smoke,\t and\t I\t was\t advised\t to\t get\t up\t and\t see\t what\t the\t matter\t was.\t I\t lit\t a\t candle, and\t started\t toward\t the\t stairs,\t and\t met\t a\t burglar\t coming\t out\t of\t a\t room\t with\t a basket\t of\t tinware,\t which\t he\t had\t mistaken\t for\t solid\t silver\t in\t the\t dark.\t He\t was smoking\ta\tpipe.\tI\tsaid,\t\\\"My\tfriend,\twe\tdo\tnot\tallow\tsmoking\tin\tthis\troom.\\\"\tHe said\the\twas\ta\tstranger,\tand\tcould\tnot\tbe\texpected\tto\tknow\tthe\trules\tof\tthe\thouse: said\the\thad\tbeen\tin\tmany\thouses\tjust\tas\tgood\tas\tthis\tone,\tand\tit\thad\tnever\tbeen objected\t to\t before.\t He\t added\t that\t as\t far\t as\t his\t experience\t went,\t such\t rules\t had never\tbeen\tconsidered\tto\tapply\tto\tburglars,\tanyway. I\t said:\t \\\"Smoke\t along,\t then,\t if\t it\t is\t the\t custom,\t though\t I\t think\t that\t the conceding\tof\ta\tprivilege\tto\ta\tburglar\twhich\tis\tdenied\tto\ta\tbishop\tis\ta\tconspicuous sign\tof\tthe\tlooseness\tof\tthe\ttimes.\tBut\twaiving\tall\tthat,\twhat\tbusiness\thave\tyou to\tbe\tentering\tthis\thouse\tin\tthis\tfurtive\tand\tclandestine\tway,\twithout\tringing\tthe","burglar\talarm?\\\" He\t looked\t confused\t and\t ashamed,\t and\t said,\t with\t embarrassment:\t \\\"I\t beg\t a thousand\t pardons.\t I\t did\t not\t know\t you\t had\t a\t burglar\t alarm,\t else\t I\t would\t have rung\tit.\tI\tbeg\tyou\twill\tnot\tmention\tit\twhere\tmy\tparents\tmay\thear\tof\tit,\tfor\tthey are\t old\t and\t feeble,\t and\t such\t a\t seemingly\t wanton\t breach\t of\t the\t hallowed conventionalities\t of\t our\t Christian\t civilization\t might\t all\t too\t rudely\t sunder\t the frail\t bridge\t which\t hangs\t darkling\t between\t the\t pale\t and\t evanescent\t present\t and the\tsolemn\tgreat\tdeeps\tof\tthe\teternities.\tMay\tI\ttrouble\tyou\tfor\ta\tmatch?\\\" I\t said:\t \\\"Your\t sentiments\t do\t you\t honor,\t but\t if\t you\t will\t allow\t me\t to\t say\t it, metaphor\tis\tnot\tyour\tbest\thold.\tSpare\tyour\tthigh;\tthis\tkind\tlight\tonly\ton\tthe\tbox, and\t seldom\t there,\t in\t fact,\t if\t my\t experience\t may\t be\t trusted.\t But\t to\t return\t to business:\thow\tdid\tyou\tget\tin\there?\\\" \\\"Through\ta\tsecond-story\twindow.\\\" It\t was\t even\t so.\t I\t redeemed\t the\t tinware\t at\t pawnbroker's\t rates,\t less\t cost\t of advertising,\t bade\t the\t burglar\t good-night,\t closed\t the\t window\t after\t him,\t and retired\t to\t headquarters\t to\t report.\t Next\t morning\t we\t sent\t for\t the\t burglar-alarm man,\t and\t he\t came\t up\t and\t explained\t that\t the\t reason\t the\t alarm\t did\t not\t \\\"go\t off\\\" was\t that\t no\t part\t of\t the\t house\t but\t the\t first\t floor\t was\t attached\t to\t the\t alarm.\t This was\tsimply\tidiotic;\tone\tmight\tas\twell\thave\tno\tarmor\ton\tat\tall\tin\tbattle\tas\tto\thave it\t only\t on\t his\t legs.\t The\t expert\t now\t put\t the\t whole\t second\t story\t on\t the\t alarm, charged\t three\t hundred\t dollars\t for\t it,\t and\t went\t his\t way.\t By\t and\t by,\t one\t night,\t I found\t a\t burglar\t in\t the\t third\t story,\t about\t to\t start\t down\t a\t ladder\t with\t a\t lot\t of miscellaneous\t property.\t My\t first\t impulse\t was\t to\t crack\t his\t head\t with\t a\t billiard cue;\t but\t my\t second\t was\t to\t refrain\t from\t this\t attention,\t because\t he\t was\t between me\t and\t the\t cue\t rack.\t The\t second\t impulse\t was\t plainly\t the\t soundest,\t so\t I refrained,\t and\t proceeded\t to\t compromise.\t I\t redeemed\t the\t property\t at\t former rates,\tafter\tdeducting\tten\tper\tcent.\tfor\tuse\tof\tladder,\tit\tbeing\tmy\tladder,\tand\tnext day\t we\t sent\t down\t for\t the\t expert\t once\t more,\t and\t had\t the\t third\t story\t attached\t to the\talarm,\tfor\tthree\thundred\tdollars. By\t this\t time\t the\t \\\"annunciator\\\"\t had\t grown\t to\t formidable\t dimensions.\t It\t had forty-seven\t tags\t on\t it,\t marked\t with\t the\t names\t of\t the\t various\t rooms\t and chimneys,\tand\tit\toccupied\tthe\tspace\tof\tan\tordinary\twardrobe.\tThe\tgong\twas\tthe size\t of\t a\t wash-bowl,\t and\t was\t placed\t above\t the\t head\t of\t our\t bed.\t There\t was\t a wire\t from\t the\t house\t to\t the\t coachman's\t quarters\t in\t the\t stable,\t and\t a\t noble\t gong alongside\this\tpillow. We\tshould\thave\tbeen\tcomfortable\tnow\tbut\tfor\tone\tdefect.\tEvery\tmorning\tat five\tthe\tcook\topened\tthe\tkitchen\tdoor,\tin\tthe\tway\tof\tbusiness,\tand\trip\twent\tthat","gong!\tThe\tfirst\ttime\tthis\thappened\tI\tthought\tthe\tlast\tday\twas\tcome\tsure.\tI\tdidn't think\t it\t in\t bed--no,\t but\t out\t of\t it--for\t the\t first\t effect\t of\t that\t frightful\t gong\t is\t to hurl\tyou\tacross\tthe\thouse,\tand\tslam\tyou\tagainst\tthe\twall,\tand\tthen\tcurl\tyou\tup, and\tsquirm\tyou\tlike\ta\tspider\ton\ta\tstove\tlid,\ttill\tsomebody\tshuts\tthe\tkitchen\tdoor. In\t solid\t fact,\t there\t is\t no\t clamor\t that\t is\t even\t remotely\t comparable\t to\t the\t dire clamor\t which\t that\t gong\t makes.\t Well,\t this\t catastrophe\t happened\t every\t morning regularly\tat\tfive\to'clock,\tand\tlost\tus\tthree\thours'\tsleep;\tfor,\tmind\tyou,\twhen\tthat thing\t wakes\t you,\t it\t doesn't\t merely\t wake\t you\t in\t spots;\t it\t wakes\t you\t all\t over, conscience\t and\t all,\t and\t you\t are\t good\t for\t eighteen\t hours\t of\t wide-awakeness subsequently--eighteen\t hours\t of\t the\t very\t most\t inconceivable\t wide-awakeness that\t you\t ever\t experienced\t in\t your\t life.\t A\t stranger\t died\t on\t our\t hands\t one\t time, and\twe\tvacated\tand\tleft\thim\tin\tour\troom\tovernight.\tDid\tthat\tstranger\twait\tfor\tthe general\tjudgment?\tNo,\tsir;\the\tgot\tup\tat\tfive\tthe\tnext\tmorning\tin\tthe\tmost\tprompt and\t unostentatious\t way.\tI\tknew\the\twould;\tI\tknew\tit\tmighty\twell.\tHe\tcollected his\tlife-insurance,\tand\tlived\thappy\tever\tafter,\tfor\tthere\twas\tplenty\tof\tproof\tas\tto the\tperfect\tsquareness\tof\this\tdeath. Well,\twe\twere\tgradually\tfading\ttoward\ta\tbetter\tland,\ton\taccount\tof\tthe\tdaily loss\t of\t sleep;\t so\t we\t finally\t had\t the\t expert\t up\t again,\t and\t he\t ran\t a\t wire\t to\t the outside\t of\t the\t door,\t and\t placed\t a\t switch\t there,\t whereby\t Thomas,\t the\t butler, always\tmade\tone\tlittle\tmistake--he\tswitched\tthe\talarm\toff\tat\tnight\twhen\the\twent to\tbed,\tand\tswitched\tit\ton\tagain\tat\tdaybreak\tin\tthe\tmorning,\tjust\tin\ttime\tfor\tthe cook\tto\topen\tthe\tkitchen\tdoor,\tand\tenable\tthat\tgong\tto\tslam\tus\tacross\tthe\thouse, sometimes\tbreaking\ta\twindow\twith\tone\tor\tthe\tother\tof\tus.\tAt\tthe\tend\tof\ta\tweek we\t recognized\t that\t this\t switch\t business\t was\t a\t delusion\t and\t a\t snare.\t We\t also discovered\tthat\ta\tband\tof\tburglars\thad\tbeen\tlodging\tin\tthe\thouse\tthe\twhole\ttime- -not\texactly\tto\tsteal,\tfor\tthere\twasn't\tmuch\tleft\tnow,\tbut\tto\thide\tfrom\tthe\tpolice, for\t they\t were\t hot\t pressed,\t and\t they\t shrewdly\t judged\t that\t the\t detectives\t would never\t think\t of\t a\t tribe\t of\t burglars\t taking\t sanctuary\t in\t a\t house\t notoriously protected\tby\tthe\tmost\timposing\tand\telaborate\tburglar\talarm\tin\tAmerica. Sent\tdown\tfor\tthe\texpert\tagain,\tand\tthis\ttime\the\tstruck\ta\tmost\tdazzling\tidea-- he\t fixed\t the\t thing\t so\t that\t opening\t the\t kitchen\t door\t would\t take\t off\t the\t alarm.\t It was\ta\tnoble\tidea,\tand\the\tcharged\taccordingly.\tBut\tyou\talready\tforesee\tthe\tresult. I\tswitched\ton\tthe\talarm\tevery\tnight\tat\tbed-time,\tno\tlonger\ttrusting\ton\tThomas's frail\t memory;\t and\t as\t soon\t as\t the\t lights\t were\t out\t the\t burglars\t walked\t in\t at\t the kitchen\t door,\t thus\t taking\t the\t alarm\t off\t without\t waiting\t for\t the\t cook\t to\t do\t it\t in the\t morning.\t You\t see\t how\t aggravatingly\t we\t were\t situated.\t For\t months\t we couldn't\t have\t any\t company.\t Not\t a\t spare\t bed\t in\t the\t house;\t all\t occupied\t by","burglars. Finally,\t I\t got\t up\t a\t cure\t of\t my\t own.\t The\t expert\t answered\t the\t call,\t and\t ran another\t ground\t wire\t to\t the\t stable,\t and\t established\t a\t switch\t there,\t so\t that\t the coachman\t could\t put\t on\t and\t take\t off\t the\t alarm.\t That\t worked\t first\t rate,\t and\t a season\tof\tpeace\tensued,\tduring\twhich\twe\tgot\tto\tinviting\tcompany\tonce\tmore\tand enjoying\tlife. But\tby\tand\tby\tthe\tirrepressible\talarm\tinvented\ta\tnew\tkink.\tOne\twinter's\tnight we\twere\tflung\tout\tof\tbed\tby\tthe\tsudden\tmusic\tof\tthat\tawful\tgong,\tand\twhen\twe hobbled\t to\t the\t annunciator,\t turned\t up\t the\t gas,\t and\t saw\t the\t word\t \\\"Nursery\\\" exposed,\t Mrs.\t McWilliams\t fainted\t dead\t away,\t and\t I\t came\t precious\t near\t doing the\t same\t thing\t myself.\t I\t seized\t my\t shotgun,\t and\t stood\t timing\t the\t coachman whilst\t that\t appalling\t buzzing\t went\t on.\t I\t knew\t that\t his\t gong\t had\t flung\t him\t out, too,\t and\t that\t he\t would\t be\t along\t with\t his\t gun\t as\t soon\t as\t he\t could\t jump\t into\t his clothes.\t When\t I\t judged\t that\t the\t time\t was\t ripe,\t I\t crept\t to\t the\t room\t next\t the nursery,\tglanced\tthrough\tthe\twindow,\tand\tsaw\tthe\tdim\toutline\tof\tthe\tcoachman in\t the\t yard\t below,\t standing\t at\t present-arms\t and\t waiting\t for\t a\t chance.\t Then\t I hopped\tinto\tthe\tnursery\tand\tfired,\tand\tin\tthe\tsame\tinstant\tthe\tcoachman\tfired\tat the\t red\t flash\t of\t my\t gun.\t Both\t of\t us\t were\t successful;\t I\t crippled\t a\t nurse,\t and\t he shot\toff\tall\tmy\tback\thair.\tWe\t turned\tup\tthe\tgas,\tand\t telephoned\t for\ta\tsurgeon. There\twas\tnot\ta\tsign\tof\ta\tburglar,\tand\tno\twindow\thad\tbeen\traised.\tOne\tglass\twas absent,\tbut\tthat\twas\twhere\tthe\tcoachman's\tcharge\thad\tcome\tthrough.\tHere\twas\ta fine\tmystery--a\tburglar\talarm\t\\\"going\toff\\\"\tat\tmidnight\tof\tits\town\taccord,\tand\tnot a\tburglar\tin\tthe\tneighborhood! The\texpert\tanswered\tthe\tusual\tcall,\tand\texplained\tthat\tit\twas\ta\t\\\"False\talarm.\\\" Said\t it\t was\t easily\t fixed.\t So\t he\t overhauled\t the\t nursery\t window,\t charged\t a remunerative\tfigure\tfor\tit,\tand\tdeparted. What\twe\tsuffered\tfrom\tfalse\talarms\tfor\tthe\tnext\tthree\tyears\tno\tstylographic pen\tcan\tdescribe.\tDuring\tthe\tnext\tthree\tmonths\tI\talways\tflew\twith\tmy\tgun\tto\tthe room\t indicated,\t and\t the\t coachman\t always\t sallied\t forth\t with\t his\t battery\t to support\t me.\t But\t there\t was\t never\t anything\t to\t shoot\t at--windows\t all\t tight\t and secure.\t We\t always\t sent\t down\t for\t the\t expert\t next\t day,\t and\t he\t fixed\t those particular\t windows\t so\t they\t would\t keep\t quiet\t a\t week\t or\t so,\t and\t always remembered\tto\tsend\tus\ta\tbill\tabout\tlike\tthis:","At\tlength\ta\tperfectly\tnatural\tthing\tcame\tabout--after\twe\thad\tanswered\tthree or\tfour\thundred\tfalse\talarms--to\twit,\twe\tstopped\tanswering\tthem.\tYes,\tI\tsimply rose\t up\t calmly,\t when\t slammed\t across\t the\t house\t by\t the\t alarm,\t calmly\t inspected the\t annunciator,\t took\t note\t of\t the\t room\t indicated,\t and\t then\t calmly\t disconnected that\t room\t from\t the\t alarm,\t and\t went\t back\t to\t bed\t as\t if\t nothing\t had\t happened. Moreover,\tI\tleft\tthat\troom\toff\tpermanently,\tand\tdid\tnot\tsend\tfor\tthe\texpert.\tWell, it\tgoes\twithout\tsaying\tthat\tin\tthe\tcourse\tof\ttime\tall\tthe\trooms\twere\ttaken\toff,\tand the\tentire\tmachine\twas\tout\tof\tservice. It\twas\tat\tthis\tunprotected\ttime\tthat\tthe\theaviest\tcalamity\tof\tall\thappened.\tThe burglars\t walked\t in\t one\t night\t and\t carried\t off\t the\t burglar\t alarm!\t yes,\t sir,\t every hide\tand\thair\tof\tit:\tripped\tit\tout,\ttooth\tand\tnail;\tsprings,\tbells,\tgongs,\tbattery,\tand all;\tthey\ttook\ta\thundred\tand\tfifty\tmiles\tof\tcopper\twire;\tthey\tjust\tcleaned\ther\tout, bag\tand\tbaggage,\tand\tnever\tleft\tus\ta\tvestige\tof\ther\tto\tswear\tat--swear\tby,\tI\tmean. We\t had\t a\t time\t of\t it\t to\t get\t her\t back;\t but\t we\t accomplished\t it\t finally,\t for money.\t The\t alarm\t firm\t said\t that\t what\t we\t needed\t now\t was\t to\t have\t her\t put\t in right--with\t their\t new\t patent\t springs\t in\t the\t windows\t to\t make\t false\t alarms impossible,\tand\ttheir\tnew\tpatent\tclock\tattached\tto\ttake\toff\tand\tput\ton\tthe\talarm morning\tand\tnight\twithout\thuman\tassistance.\tThat\tseemed\ta\tgood\tscheme.\tThey promised\tto\thave\tthe\twhole\tthing\tfinished\tin\tten\tdays.\tThey\tbegan\twork,\tand\twe left\t for\t the\t summer.\t They\t worked\t a\t couple\t of\t days;\t then\t they\t left\t for\t the summer.\t After\t which\t the\t burglars\t moved\t in,\t and\t began\t their\t summer\t vacation. When\t we\t returned\t in\t the\t fall,\t the\t house\t was\t as\t empty\t as\t a\t beer\t closet\t in premises\twhere\tpainters\thave\tbeen\tat\twork.\tWe\trefurnished,\tand\tthen\tsent\tdown to\t hurry\t up\t the\t expert.\t He\t came\t up\t and\t finished\t the\t job,\t and\t said:\t \\\"Now\t this clock\tis\tset\tto\tput\ton\tthe\talarm\tevery\tnight\tat\t10,\tand\ttake\tit\toff\tevery\tmorning\tat","5:45.\t All\t you've\t got\t to\t do\t is\t to\t wind\t her\t up\t every\t week,\t and\t then\t leave\t her alone--she\twill\ttake\tcare\tof\tthe\talarm\therself.\\\" After\t that\t we\t had\t a\t most\t tranquil\t season\t during\t three\t months.\t The\t bill\t was prodigious,\tof\tcourse,\tand\tI\thad\tsaid\tI\twould\tnot\tpay\tit\tuntil\tthe\tnew\tmachinery had\tproved\titself\tto\tbe\tflawless.\tThe\ttime\tstipulated\twas\tthree\tmonths.\tSo\tI\tpaid the\t bill,\t and\t the\t very\t next\t day\t the\t alarm\t went\t to\t buzzing\t like\t ten\t thousand\t bee swarms\t at\t ten\t o'clock\t in\t the\t morning.\t I\t turned\t the\t hands\t around\t twelve\t hours, according\tto\tinstructions,\tand\tthis\ttook\toff\tthe\talarm;\tbut\tthere\twas\tanother\thitch at\tnight,\tand\tI\thad\tto\tset\ther\tahead\ttwelve\thours\tonce\tmore\tto\tget\ther\tto\tput\tthe alarm\t on\t again.\t That\t sort\t of\t nonsense\t went\t on\t a\t week\t or\t two,\t then\t the\t expert came\tup\tand\tput\tin\ta\tnew\tclock.\tHe\tcame\tup\tevery\tthree\tmonths\tduring\tthe\tnext three\t years,\t and\t put\t in\t a\t new\t clock.\t But\t it\t was\t always\t a\t failure.\t His\t clocks\t all had\t the\t same\t perverse\t defect:\t they\t would\t put\t the\t alarm\t on\t in\t the\t daytime,\t and they\t would\tnot\t put\t it\t on\t at\t night;\t and\t if\t you\t forced\t it\t on\t yourself,\t they\t would take\tit\toff\tagain\tthe\tminute\tyour\tback\twas\tturned. Now\tthere\tis\tthe\thistory\tof\tthat\tburglar\talarm--everything\tjust\tas\tit\thappened; nothing\t extenuated,\t and\t naught\t set\t down\t in\t malice.\t Yes,\t sir,--and\t when\t I\t had slept\t nine\t years\t with\t burglars,\t and\t maintained\t an\t expensive\t burglar\t alarm\t the whole\t time,\t for\t their\t protection,\t not\t mine,\t and\t at\t my\t sole\t cost--for\t not\t a\t d----d cent\t could\t I\t ever\t get\t them\t to\t contribute--I\t just\t said\t to\t Mrs.\t McWilliams\t that\t I had\t had\t enough\t of\t that\t kind\t of\t pie;\t so\t with\t her\t full\t consent\t I\t took\t the\t whole thing\t out\t and\t traded\t it\t off\t for\t a\t dog,\t and\t shot\t the\t dog.\t I\t don't\t know\t what\t you think\tabout\tit,\tMr.\tTwain;\tbut\tI\tthink\tthose\tthings\tare\tmade\tsolely\tin\tthe\tinterest of\t the\t burglars.\t Yes,\t sir,\t a\t burglar\t alarm\t combines\t in\t its\t person\t all\t that\t is objectionable\tabout\ta\tfire,\ta\triot,\tand\ta\tharem,\tand\tat\tthe\tsame\ttime\thad\tnone\tof the\t compensating\t advantages,\t of\t one\t sort\t or\t another,\t that\t customarily\t belong with\tthat\tcombination.\tGood-by:\tI\tget\toff\there. 1882","THE\tSTOLEN\tWHITE\tELEPHANT4 1 THE\tFOLLOWING\tcurious\thistory\twas\trelated\tto\tme\tby\ta\tchance\trailway acquaintance.\t He\t was\t a\t gentleman\t more\t than\t seventy\t years\t of\t age,\t and\t his thoroughly\t good\t and\t gentle\t face\t and\t earnest\t and\t sincere\t manner\t imprinted\t the unmistakable\t stamp\t of\t truth\t upon\t every\t statement\t which\t fell\t from\t his\t lips.\t He said: You\tknow\tin\twhat\treverence\tthe\troyal\twhite\telephant\tof\tSiam\tis\theld\tby\tthe people\tof\tthat\tcountry.\tYou\tknow\tit\tis\tsacred\tto\tkings,\tonly\tkings\tmay\tpossess\tit, and\t that\t it\t is,\t indeed,\t in\t a\t measure\t even\t superior\t to\t kings,\t since\t it\t receives\t not merely\t honor\t but\t worship.\t Very\t well;\t five\t years\t ago,\t when\t the\t troubles concerning\t the\t frontier\t line\t arose\t between\t Great\t Britain\t and\t Siam,\t it\t was presently\tmanifest\tthat\tSiam\thad\tbeen\tin\tthe\twrong.\tTherefore\tevery\treparation was\tquickly\tmade,\tand\tthe\tBritish\trepresentative\tstated\tthat\the\twas\tsatisfied\tand the\t past\t should\t be\t forgotten.\t This\t greatly\t relieved\t the\t King\t of\t Siam,\t and\t partly as\ta\ttoken\tof\tgratitude,\tbut\tpartly\talso,\tperhaps,\tto\twipe\tout\tany\tlittle\tremaining vestige\t of\t unpleasantness\t which\t England\t might\t feel\t toward\t him,\t he\t wished\t to send\tthe\tQueen\ta\tpresent--the\tsole\tsure\tway\tof\tpropitiating\tan\tenemy,\taccording to\t Oriental\t ideas.\t This\t present\t ought\t not\t only\t to\t be\t a\t royal\t one,\t but transcendently\t royal.\t Wherefore,\t what\t offering\t could\t be\t so\t meet\t as\t that\t of\t a white\t elephant?\t My\t position\t in\t the\t Indian\t civil\t service\t was\t such\t that\t I\t was deemed\tpeculiarly\tworthy\tof\tthe\thonor\tof\tconveying\tthe\tpresent\tto\ther\tMajesty. A\t ship\t was\t fitted\t out\t for\t me\t and\t my\t servants\t and\t the\t officers\t and\t attendants\t of the\telephant,\tand\tin\tdue\ttime\tI\tarrived\tin\tNew\tYork\tharbor\tand\tplaced\tmy\troyal charge\tin\tadmirable\tquarters\tin\tJersey\tCity.\tIt\twas\tnecessary\tto\tremain\tawhile\tin order\tto\trecruit\tthe\tanimal's\thealth\tbefore\tresuming\tthe\tvoyage. All\t went\t well\t during\t a\t fortnight--then\t my\t calamities\t began.\t The\t white elephant\twas\tstolen!\tI\twas\tcalled\tup\tat\tdead\tof\tnight\tand\tinformed\tof\tthis\tfearful misfortune.\t For\t some\t moments\t I\t was\t beside\t myself\t with\t terror\t and\t anxiety;\t I was\t helpless.\t Then\t I\t grew\t calmer\t and\t collected\t my\t faculties.\t I\t soon\t saw\t my course--for,\tindeed,\tthere\twas\tbut\tthe\tone\tcourse\tfor\tan\tintelligent\tman\tto\tpursue. Late\t as\t it\t was,\t I\t flew\t to\t New\t York\t and\t got\t a\t policeman\t to\t conduct\t me\t to\t the","headquarters\t of\t the\t detective\t force.\t Fortunately\t I\t arrived\t in\t time,\t though\t the chief\tof\tthe\tforce,\tthe\tcelebrated\tInspector\tBlunt,\twas\tjust\ton\tthe\tpoint\tof\tleaving for\this\thome.\tHe\twas\ta\tman\tof\tmiddle\tsize\tand\tcompact\tframe,\tand\twhen\the\twas thinking\t deeply\t he\t had\t a\t way\t of\t knitting\t his\t brows\t and\t tapping\t his\t forehead reflectively\twith\this\tfinger,\twhich\timpressed\tyou\tat\tonce\twith\tthe\tconviction\tthat you\tstood\tin\tthe\tpresence\tof\ta\tperson\tof\tno\tcommon\torder.\tThe\tvery\tsight\tof\thim gave\t me\t confidence\t and\t made\t me\t hopeful.\t I\t stated\t my\t errand.\t It\t did\t not\t flurry him\tin\tthe\tleast;\tit\thad\tno\tmore\tvisible\teffect\tupon\this\tiron\tself-possession\tthan if\t I\t had\t told\t him\t somebody\t had\t stolen\t my\t dog.\t He\t motioned\t me\t to\t a\t seat,\t and said,\tcalmly: \\\"Allow\tme\tto\tthink\ta\tmoment,\tplease.\\\" So\tsaying,\the\tsat\tdown\tat\this\toffice\ttable\tand\tleaned\this\thead\tupon\this\thand. Several\tclerks\twere\tat\twork\tat\tthe\tother\tend\tof\tthe\troom;\tthe\tscratching\tof\ttheir pens\t was\t all\t the\t sound\t I\t heard\t during\t the\t next\t six\t or\t seven\t minutes.\t Meantime the\t inspector\t sat\t there,\t buried\t in\t thought.\t Finally\t he\t raised\t his\t head,\t and\t there was\tthat\tin\tthe\tfirm\tlines\tof\this\tface\twhich\tshowed\tme\tthat\this\tbrain\thad\tdone\tits work\tand\this\tplan\twas\tmade.\tSaid\the--and\this\tvoice\twas\tlow\tand\timpressive: \\\"This\tis\tno\tordinary\tcase.\tEvery\tstep\tmust\tbe\twarily\ttaken;\teach\tstep\tmust\tbe made\t sure\t before\tthe\tnext\tis\tventured.\tAnd\t secrecy\tmust\t be\t observed--secrecy profound\tand\tabsolute.\tSpeak\tto\tno\tone\tabout\tthe\tmatter,\tnot\teven\tthe\treporters. I\twill\ttake\tcare\tof\tthem;\tI\twill\tsee\tthat\tthey\tget\tonly\twhat\tit\tmay\tsuit\tmy\tends\tto let\tthem\tknow.\\\"\tHe\ttouched\ta\tbell;\ta\tyouth\tappeared.\t\\\"Alaric,\ttell\tthe\treporters\tto remain\tfor\tthe\tpresent.\\\"\t The\tboy\tretired.\t\\\"Now\tlet\tus\tproceed\tto\t business--and systematically.\tNothing\tcan\tbe\taccomplished\tin\tthis\ttrade\tof\tmine\twithout\tstrict and\tminute\tmethod.\\\" He\ttook\ta\tpen\tand\tsome\tpaper.\t\\\"Now--name\tof\tthe\telephant?\\\" \\\"Hassan\t Ben\t Ali\t Ben\t Selim\t Abdallah\t Mohammed\t Moise\t Al\t hammal Jamsetjejeebhoy\tDhuleep\tSultan\tEbu\tBhudpoor.\\\" \\\"Very\twell.\tGiven\tname?\\\" \\\"Jumbo.\\\" \\\"Very\twell.\tPlace\tof\tbirth?\\\" \\\"The\tcapital\tcity\tof\tSiam.\\\" \\\"Parents\tliving?\\\" \\\"No--dead.\\\" \\\"Had\tthey\tany\tother\tissue\tbesides\tthis\tone?\\\" \\\"None.\tHe\twas\tan\tonly\tchild.\\\" \\\"Very\t well.\t These\t matters\t are\t sufficient\t under\t that\t head.\t Now\t please","describe\tthe\telephant,\tand\tleave\tout\tno\tparticular,\thowever\tinsignificant--that\tis, insignificant\t from\t your\t point\t of\t view.\t To\t men\t in\t my\t profession\t there\t are\t no insignificant\tparticulars;\tthey\tdo\tnot\texist.\\\" I\tdescribed--he\twrote.\tWhen\tI\twas\tdone,\the\tsaid: \\\"Now\tlisten.\tIf\tI\thave\tmade\tany\tmistakes,\tcorrect\tme.\\\" He\tread\tas\tfollows: \\\"Height,\t 19\t feet;\t length\t from\t apex\t of\t forehead\t to\t insertion\t of\t tail,\t 26\t feet; length\t of\t trunk,\t 16\t feet;\t length\t of\t tail,\t 6\t feet;\t total\t length,\t including\t trunk\t and tail,\t 48\t feet;\t length\t of\t tusks,\t 91\/2\t feet;\t ears\t in\t keeping\t with\t these\t dimensions; footprint\tresembles\tthe\tmark\tleft\twhen\tone\tupends\ta\tbarrel\tin\tthe\tsnow;\tcolor\tof the\t elephant,\t a\t dull\t white;\t has\t a\t hole\t the\t size\t of\t a\t plate\t in\t each\t ear\t for\t the insertion\tof\tjewelry,\tand\tpossesses\tthe\thabit\tin\ta\tremarkable\tdegree\tof\tsquirting water\tupon\tspectators\tand\tof\tmaltreating\twith\this\ttrunk\tnot\tonly\tsuch\tpersons\tas he\tis\tacquainted\twith,\tbut\teven\tentire\tstrangers;\tlimps\tslightly\twith\this\tright\thind leg,\tand\thas\ta\tsmall\tscar\tin\this\tleft\tarmpit\tcaused\tby\ta\tformer\tboil;\thad\ton,\twhen stolen,\t a\t castle\t containing\t seats\t for\t fifteen\t persons,\t and\t a\t gold-cloth\t saddle- blanket\tthe\tsize\tof\tan\tordinary\tcarpet.\\\" There\t were\t no\t mistakes.\t The\t inspector\t touched\t the\t bell,\t handed\t the description\tto\tAlaric,\tand\tsaid: \\\"Have\t fifty\t thousand\t copies\t of\t this\t printed\t at\t once\t and\t mailed\t to\t every detective\toffice\tand\tpawnbroker's\tshop\ton\tthe\tcontinent.\\\"\tAlaric\tretired.\t\\\"There-- so\tfar,\tso\tgood.\tNext,\tI\tmust\thave\ta\tphotograph\tof\tthe\tproperty.\\\" I\tgave\thim\tone.\tHe\texamined\tit\tcritically,\tand\tsaid: \\\"It\t must\t do,\t since\t we\t can\t do\t no\t better;\t but\t he\t has\t his\t trunk\t curled\t up\t and tucked\t into\t his\t mouth.\t That\t is\t unfortunate,\t and\t is\t calculated\t to\t mislead,\t for\t of course\the\tdoes\tnot\tusually\thave\tit\tin\tthat\tposition.\\\"\tHe\ttouched\this\tbell. \\\"Alaric,\thave\tfifty\tthousand\tcopies\tof\tthis\tphotograph\tmade\tthe\tfirst\tthing\tin the\tmorning,\tand\tmail\tthem\twith\tthe\tdescriptive\tcirculars.\\\" Alaric\tretired\tto\texecute\this\torders.\tThe\tinspector\tsaid: \\\"It\twill\tbe\tnecessary\tto\toffer\ta\treward,\tof\tcourse.\tNow\tas\tto\tthe\tamount?\\\" \\\"What\tsum\twould\tyou\tsuggest?\\\" \\\"To\t begin\t with,\t I\t should\t say--well,\t twenty-five\t thousand\t dollars.\t It\t is\t an intricate\t and\t difficult\t business;\t there\t are\t a\t thousand\t avenues\t of\t escape\t and opportunities\tof\tconcealment.\tThese\tthieves\thave\tfriends\tand\tpals\teverywhere--\\\" \\\"Bless\tme,\tdo\tyou\tknow\twho\tthey\tare?\\\" The\twary\tface,\tpractised\tin\tconcealing\tthe\tthoughts\tand\tfeelings\twithin,\tgave me\tno\ttoken,\tnor\tyet\tthe\treplying\twords,\tso\tquietly\tuttered:","\\\"Never\t mind\t about\t that.\t I\t may,\t and\t I\t may\t not.\t We\t generally\t gather\t a\t pretty shrewd\tinkling\tof\twho\tour\tman\tis\tby\tthe\tmanner\tof\this\twork\tand\tthe\tsize\tof\tthe game\t he\t goes\t after.\t We\t are\t not\t dealing\t with\t a\t pickpocket\t or\t a\t hall\t thief\t now, make\t up\t your\t mind\t to\t that.\t This\t property\t was\t not\t 'lifted'\t by\t a\t novice.\t But,\t as\t I was\tsaying,\tconsidering\tthe\tamount\tof\ttravel\twhich\twill\thave\tto\tbe\tdone,\tand\tthe diligence\t with\t which\t the\t thieves\t will\t cover\t up\t their\t traces\t as\t they\t move\t along, twenty-five\tthousand\tmay\tbe\ttoo\tsmall\ta\tsum\tto\toffer,\tyet\tI\tthink\tit\tworth\twhile to\tstart\twith\tthat.\\\" So\t we\t determined\t upon\t that\t figure\t as\t a\t beginning.\t Then\t this\t man,\t whom nothing\tescaped\twhich\tcould\tby\tany\tpossibility\tbe\tmade\tto\tserve\tas\ta\tclue,\tsaid: \\\"There\t are\t cases\t in\t detective\t history\t to\t show\t that\t criminals\t have\t been detected\t through\t peculiarities\t in\t their\t appetites.\t Now,\t what\t does\t this\t elephant eat,\tand\thow\tmuch?\\\" \\\"Well,\tas\tto\twhat\the\teats--he\twill\teat\tanything.\tHe\twill\teat\ta\tman,\the\twill\teat a\tBible--he\twill\teat\tanything\tbetween\ta\tman\tand\ta\tBible.\\\" \\\"Good--very\tgood,\tindeed,\tbut\ttoo\tgeneral.\tDetails\tare\tnecessary--details\tare the\t only\t valuable\t things\t in\t our\t trade.\t Very\t well--as\t to\t men.\t At\t one\t meal--or,\t if you\tprefer,\tduring\tone\tday--how\tmany\tmen\twill\the\teat,\tif\tfresh?\\\" \\\"He\twould\tnot\tcare\twhether\tthey\twere\tfresh\tor\tnot;\tat\ta\tsingle\tmeal\the\twould eat\tfive\tordinary\tmen.\\\" \\\"Very\t good;\t five\t men;\t we\t will\t put\t that\t down.\t What\t nationalities\t would\t he prefer?\\\" \\\"He\t is\t indifferent\t about\t nationalities.\t He\t prefers\t acquaintances,\t but\t is\t not prejudiced\tagainst\tstrangers.\\\" \\\"Very\tgood.\tNow,\tas\tto\tBibles.\tHow\tmany\tBibles\twould\the\teat\tat\ta\tmeal?\\\" \\\"He\twould\teat\tan\tentire\tedition.\\\" \\\"It\t is\t hardly\t succinct\t enough.\t Do\t you\t mean\t the\t ordinary\t octavo,\t or\t the family\tillustrated?\\\" \\\"I\tthink\the\twould\tbe\tindifferent\tto\tillustrations;\tthat\tis,\tI\tthink\the\twould\tnot value\tillustrations\tabove\tsimple\tletter-press.\\\" \\\"No,\t you\t do\t not\t get\t my\t idea.\t I\t refer\t to\t bulk.\t The\t ordinary\t octavo\t Bible weighs\tabout\ttwo\tpounds\tand\ta\thalf,\twhile\tthe\tgreat\tquarto\twith\tthe\tillustrations weighs\tten\tor\ttwelve.\tHow\tmany\tDore\tBibles\twould\the\teat\tat\ta\tmeal?\\\" \\\"If\tyou\tknew\tthis\telephant,\tyou\tcould\tnot\task.\tHe\twould\ttake\twhat\tthey\thad.\\\" \\\"Well,\tput\tit\tin\tdollars\tand\tcents,\tthen.\tWe\tmust\tget\tat\tit\tsomehow.\tThe\tDore costs\ta\thundred\tdollars\ta\tcopy,\tRussia\tleather,\tbeveled.\\\" \\\"He\twould\trequire\tabout\tfifty\tthousand\tdollars'\tworth--say\tan\tedition\tof\tfive","hundred\tcopies.\\\" \\\"Now\t that\t is\t more\t exact.\t I\t will\t put\t that\t down.\t Very\t well;\t he\t likes\t men\t and Bibles;\tso\tfar,\tso\tgood.\tWhat\telse\twill\the\teat?\tI\twant\tparticulars.\\\" \\\"He\twill\tleave\tBibles\tto\teat\tbricks,\the\twill\tleave\tbricks\tto\teat\tbottles,\the\twill leave\tbottles\tto\teat\tclothing,\the\twill\tleave\tclothing\tto\teat\tcats,\the\twill\tleave\tcats to\teat\toysters,\the\twill\tleave\toysters\tto\teat\tham,\the\twill\tleave\tham\tto\teat\tsugar,\the will\t leave\t sugar\t to\t eat\t pie,\t he\t will\t leave\t pie\t to\t eat\t potatoes,\t he\t will\t leave potatoes\tto\teat\tbran,\the\twill\tleave\tbran\tto\teat\thay,\the\twill\tleave\thay\tto\teat\toats, he\t will\t leave\t oats\t to\t eat\t rice,\t for\t he\t was\t mainly\t raised\t on\t it.\t There\t is\t nothing whatever\t that\t he\t will\t not\t eat\t but\t European\t butter,\t and\t he\t would\t eat\t that\t if\t he could\ttaste\tit.\\\" \\\"Very\tgood.\tGeneral\tquantity\tat\ta\tmeal--say\tabout--\\\" \\\"Well,\tanywhere\tfrom\ta\tquarter\tto\thalf\ta\tton.\\\" \\\"And\the\tdrinks--\\\" \\\"Everything\t that\t is\t fluid.\t Milk,\t water,\t whisky,\t molasses,\t castor\t oil, camphene,\tcarbolic\tacid--it\tis\tno\tuse\tto\tgo\tinto\tparticulars;\twhatever\tfluid\toccurs to\tyou\tset\tit\tdown.\tHe\twill\tdrink\tanything\tthat\tis\tfluid,\texcept\tEuropean\tcoffee.\\\" \\\"Very\tgood.\tAs\tto\tquantity?\\\" \\\"Put\t it\t down\t five\t to\t fifteen\t barrels--his\t thirst\t varies;\t his\t other\t appetites\t do not.\\\" \\\"These\t things\t are\t unusual.\t They\t ought\t to\t furnish\t quite\t good\t clues\t toward tracing\thim.\\\" He\ttouched\tthe\tbell. \\\"Alaric,\tsummon\tCaptain\tBurns.\\\" Burns\tappeared.\tInspector\tBlunt\tunfolded\tthe\twhole\tmatter\tto\thim,\tdetail\tby detail.\tThen\the\tsaid\tin\tthe\tclear,\tdecisive\ttones\tof\ta\tman\twhose\tplans\tare\tclearly defined\tin\this\thead\tand\twho\tis\taccustomed\tto\tcommand: \\\"Captain\tBurns,\tdetail\tDetectives\tJones,\tDavis,\tHalsey,\tBates,\tand\tHackett\tto shadow\tthe\telephant.\\\" \\\"Yes,\tsir.\\\" \\\"Detail\t Detectives\t Moses,\t Dakin,\t Murphy,\t Rogers,\t Tupper,\t Higgins,\t and Bartholomew\tto\tshadow\tthe\tthieves.\\\" \\\"Yes,\tsir.\\\" \\\"Place\ta\tstrong\tguard--a\tguard\tof\tthirty\tpicked\tmen,\twith\ta\trelief\tof\tthirty-- over\tthe\tplace\t from\twhence\tthe\telephant\t was\tstolen,\tto\tkeep\tstrict\twatch\tthere night\t and\t day,\t and\t allow\t none\t to\t approach--except\t reporters--without\t written authority\tfrom\tme.\\\"","\\\"Yes,\tsir.\\\" \\\"Place\tdetectives\tin\tplain\tclothes\tin\tthe\trailway,\tsteamship,\tand\tferry\tdepots, and\t upon\t all\t roadways\t leading\t out\t of\t Jersey\t City,\t with\t orders\t to\t search\t all suspicious\tpersons.\\\" \\\"Yes,\tsir.\\\" \\\"Furnish\tall\tthese\tmen\twith\tphotograph\tand\taccompanying\tdescription\tof\tthe elephant,\tand\tinstruct\tthem\tto\tsearch\tall\ttrains\tand\toutgoing\tferryboats\tand\tother vessels.\\\" \\\"Yes,\tsir.\\\" \\\"If\t the\t elephant\t should\t be\t found,\t let\t him\t be\t seized,\t and\t the\t information forwarded\tto\tme\tby\ttelegraph.\\\" \\\"Yes,\tsir.\\\" \\\"Let\tme\tbe\tinformed\tat\tonce\tif\tany\tclues\tshould\tbe\tfound--footprints\tof\tthe animal,\tor\tanything\tof\tthat\tkind.\\\" \\\"Yes,\tsir.\\\" \\\"Get\t an\t order\t commanding\t the\t harbor\t police\t to\t patrol\t the\t frontages vigilantly.\\\" \\\"Yes,\tsir.\\\" \\\"Despatch\t detectives\t in\t plain\t clothes\t over\t all\t the\t railways,\t north\t as\t far\t as Canada,\twest\tas\tfar\tas\tOhio,\tsouth\tas\tfar\tas\tWashington.\\\" \\\"Yes,\tsir.\\\" \\\"Place\t experts\t in\t all\t the\t telegraph\t offices\t to\t listen\t to\t all\t messages;\t and\t let them\trequire\tthat\tall\tcipher\tdespatches\tbe\tinterpreted\tto\tthem.\\\" \\\"Yes,\tsir.\\\" \\\"Let\t all\t these\t things\t be\t done\t with\t the\t utmost\t secrecy--mind,\t the\t most impenetrable\tsecrecy.\\\" \\\"Yes,\tsir.\\\" \\\"Report\tto\tme\tpromptly\tat\tthe\tusual\thour.\\\" \\\"Yes,\tsir.\\\" \\\"Go!\\\" \\\"Yes,\tsir.\\\" He\twas\tgone. Inspector\tBlunt\twas\tsilent\tand\tthoughtful\ta\tmoment,\twhile\tthe\tfire\tin\this\teye cooled\tdown\tand\tfaded\tout.\tThen\the\tturned\tto\tme\tand\tsaid\tin\ta\tplacid\tvoice: \\\"I\t am\t not\t given\t to\t boasting,\t it\t is\t not\t my\t habit;\t but--we\t shall\t find\t the elephant.\\\" I\tshook\thim\twarmly\tby\tthe\thand\tand\tthanked\thim;\tand\tI\tfelt\tmy\tthanks,\ttoo.","The\tmore\tI\thad\tseen\tof\tthe\tman\tthe\tmore\tI\tliked\thim\tand\tthe\tmore\tI\tadmired\thim and\tmarveled\tover\tthe\tmysterious\twonders\tof\this\tprofession.\tThen\twe\tparted\tfor the\tnight,\tand\tI\twent\thome\twith\ta\tfar\thappier\theart\tthan\tI\thad\tcarried\twith\tme\tto his\toffice. 2 Next\tmorning\tit\twas\tall\tin\tthe\tnewspapers,\tin\tthe\tminutest\tdetail.\tIt\teven\thad additions--consisting\t of\t Detective\t This,\t Detective\t That,\t and\t Detective\t The Other's\t \\\"Theory\\\"\t as\t to\t how\t the\t robbery\t was\t done,\t who\t the\t robbers\t were,\t and whither\tthey\thad\tflown\twith\ttheir\tbooty.\tThere\twere\televen\tof\tthese\ttheories,\tand they\t covered\t all\t the\t possibilities;\t and\t this\t single\t fact\t shows\t what\t independent thinkers\t detectives\t are.\t No\t two\t theories\t were\t alike,\t or\t even\t much\t resembled each\t other,\t save\t in\t one\t striking\t particular,\t and\t in\t that\t one\t all\t the\t other\t eleven theories\twere\tabsolutely\tagreed.\tThat\twas,\tthat\talthough\tthe\trear\tof\tmy\tbuilding was\t torn\t out\t and\t the\t only\t door\t remained\t locked,\t the\t elephant\t had\t not\t been removed\t through\t the\t rent,\t but\t by\t some\t other\t (undiscovered)\t outlet.\t All\t agreed that\t the\t robbers\t had\t made\t that\t rent\t only\t to\t mislead\t the\t detectives.\t That\t never would\t have\t occurred\t to\t me\t or\t to\t any\t other\t layman,\t perhaps,\t but\t it\t had\t not deceived\t the\t detectives\t for\t a\t moment.\t Thus,\t what\t I\t had\t supposed\t was\t the\t only thing\tthat\thad\tno\tmystery\tabout\tit\twas\tin\tfact\tthe\tvery\tthing\tI\thad\tgone\tfurthest astray\tin.\tThe\televen\ttheories\tall\tnamed\tthe\tsupposed\trobbers,\tbut\tno\ttwo\tnamed the\t same\t robbers;\t the\t total\t number\t of\t suspected\t persons\t was\t thirty-seven.\t The various\t newspaper\t accounts\t all\t closed\t with\t the\t most\t important\t opinion\t of\t all-- that\tof\tChief\tInspector\tBlunt.\tA\tportion\tof\tthis\tstatement\tread\tas\tfollows: The\tchief\tknows\twho\tthe\ttwo\tprincipals\tare,\tnamely,\t\\\"Brick\\\"\tDuffy\tand \\\"Red\\\"\tMcFadden.\tTen\tdays\tbefore\tthe\trobbery\twas\tachieved\the\twas\talready aware\t that\t it\t was\t to\t be\t attempted,\t and\t had\t quietly\t proceeded\t to\t shadow these\t two\t noted\t villains;\t but\t unfortunately\t on\t the\t night\t in\t question\t their track\twas\tlost,\tand\tbefore\tit\tcould\tbe\tfound\tagain\tthe\tbird\twas\tflown--that is,\tthe\telephant. Duffy\t and\t McFadden\t are\t the\t boldest\t scoundrels\t in\t the\t profession;\t the chief\thas\treasons\tfor\tbelieving\tthat\tthey\tare\tthe\tmen\twho\tstole\tthe\tstove\tout of\t the\t detective\t headquarters\t on\t a\t bitter\t night\t last\t winter--in\t consequence","of\t which\t the\t chief\t and\t every\t detective\t present\t were\t in\t the\t hands\t of\t the physicians\t before\t morning,\t some\t with\t frozen\t feet,\t others\t with\t frozen fingers,\tears,\tand\tother\tmembers. When\t I\t read\t the\t first\t half\t of\t that\t I\t was\t more\t astonished\t than\t ever\t at\t the wonderful\t sagacity\t of\t this\t strange\t man.\t He\t not\t only\t saw\t everything\t in\t the present\twith\ta\tclear\teye,\tbut\teven\tthe\tfuture\tcould\tnot\tbe\thidden\tfrom\thim.\tI\twas soon\t at\t his\t office,\t and\t said\t I\t could\t not\t help\t wishing\t he\t had\t had\t those\t men arrested,\t and\t so\t prevented\t the\t trouble\t and\t loss;\t but\t his\t reply\t was\t simple\t and unanswerable: \\\"It\tis\tnot\tour\tprovince\tto\tprevent\tcrime,\tbut\tto\tpunish\tit.\tWe\tcannot\tpunish\tit until\tit\tis\tcommitted.\\\" I\tremarked\tthat\tthe\tsecrecy\twith\twhich\the\thad\tbegun\thad\tbeen\tmarred\tby\tthe newspapers;\t not\t only\t all\t our\t facts\t but\t all\t our\t plans\t and\t purposes\t had\t been revealed;\teven\tall\tthe\tsuspected\tpersons\thad\tbeen\tnamed;\tthese\twould\tdoubtless disguise\tthemselves\tnow,\tor\tgo\tinto\thiding. \\\"Let\t them.\t They\t will\t find\t that\t when\t I\t am\t ready\t for\t them\t my\t hand\t will descend\tupon\tthem,\tin\ttheir\tsecret\tplaces,\tas\tunerringly\tas\tthe\thand\tof\tfate.\tAs\tto the\tnewspapers,\twe\t must\t keep\t in\t with\t them.\t Fame,\t reputation,\t constant\t public mention--these\t are\t the\t detective's\t bread\t and\t butter.\t He\t must\t publish\t his\t facts, else\the\twill\tbe\tsupposed\tto\thave\tnone;\the\tmust\tpublish\this\ttheory,\tfor\tnothing\tis so\t strange\t or\t striking\t as\t a\t detective's\t theory,\t or\t brings\t him\t so\t much\t wonderful respect;\twe\tmust\tpublish\tour\tplans,\tfor\tthese\tthe\tjournals\tinsist\tupon\thaving,\tand we\tcould\tnot\tdeny\tthem\twithout\toffending.\tWe\tmust\tconstantly\tshow\tthe\tpublic what\t we\t are\t doing,\t or\t they\t will\t believe\t we\t are\t doing\t nothing.\t It\t is\t much pleasanter\t to\t have\t a\t newspaper\t say,\t 'Inspector\t Blunt's\t ingenious\t and extraordinary\t theory\t is\t as\t follows,'\t than\t to\t have\t it\t say\t some\t harsh\t thing,\t or, worse\tstill,\tsome\tsarcastic\tone.\\\" \\\"I\t see\t the\t force\t of\t what\t you\t say.\t But\t I\t noticed\t that\t in\t one\t part\t of\t your remarks\t in\t the\t papers\t this\t morning\t you\t refused\t to\t reveal\t your\t opinion\t upon\t a certain\tminor\tpoint.\\\" \\\"Yes,\twe\talways\tdo\tthat;\tit\thas\ta\tgood\teffect.\tBesides,\tI\thad\tnot\tformed\tany opinion\ton\tthat\tpoint,\tanyway.\\\" I\tdeposited\ta\tconsiderable\tsum\tof\tmoney\twith\tthe\tinspector,\tto\tmeet\tcurrent expenses,\t and\t sat\t down\t to\t wait\t for\t news.\t We\t were\t expecting\t the\t telegrams\t to begin\tto\tarrive\tat\tany\tmoment\tnow.\tMeantime\tI\treread\tthe\tnewspapers\tand\talso our\t descriptive\t circular,\t and\t observed\t that\t our\t twenty-five\t thousand\t dollars'","reward\t seemed\t to\t be\t offered\t only\t to\t detectives.\t I\t said\t I\t thought\t it\t ought\t to\t be offered\tto\tanybody\twho\twould\tcatch\tthe\telephant.\tThe\tinspector\tsaid: \\\"It\t is\t the\t detectives\t who\t will\t find\t the\t elephant,\t hence\t the\t reward\t will\t go\t to the\t right\t place.\t If\t other\t people\t found\t the\t animal,\t it\t would\t only\t be\t by\t watching the\t detectives\t and\t taking\t advantage\t of\t clues\t and\t indications\t stolen\t from\t them, and\tthat\twould\tentitle\tthe\tdetectives\tto\tthe\treward,\tafter\tall.\tThe\tproper\toffice\tof a\t reward\t is\t to\t stimulate\t the\t men\t who\t deliver\t up\t their\t time\t and\t their\t trained sagacities\t to\t this\t sort\t of\t work,\t and\t not\t to\t confer\t benefits,\t upon\t chance\t citizens who\t stumble\t upon\t a\t capture\t without\t having\t earned\t the\t benefits\t by\t their\t own merits\tand\tlabors.\\\" This\twas\treasonable\t enough,\tcertainly.\tNow\tthe\ttelegraphic\tmachine\tin\tthe corner\tbegan\tto\tclick,\tand\tthe\tfollowing\tdespatch\twas\tthe\tresult: Flower\tStation,\tN.\tY.,\t7.30\tA.M. Have\tgot\ta\tclue.\tFound\ta\tsuccession\tof\tdeep\ttracks\tacross\ta\tfarm\tnear here.\tFollowed\tthem\ttwo\tmiles\teast\twithout\tresult;\tthink\telephant\twent west.\tShall\tnow\tshadow\thim\tin\tthat\tdirection..\t.\t.\t.\t.\t.\t.\t.\t.\t.\t.\t.\t. Darley,\tdetective \\\"Darley's\tone\tof\tthe\tbest\tmen\ton\tthe\tforce,\\\"\tsaid\tthe\tinspector.\t\\\"We\tshall\thear from\thim\tagain\tbefore\tlong.\\\" Telegram\tNo.\t2\tcame: Barker's,\tN.\tJ.,\t7.40\tA.M. Just\tarrived.\tGlass\tfactory\tbroken\topen\there\tduring\tnight,\tand\teight hundred\tbottles\ttaken.\tOnly\twater\tin\tlarge\tquantity\tnear\there\tis\tfive\tmiles distant.\tShall\tstrike\tfor\tthere.\tElephant\twill\tbe\tthirsty.\tBottles\twere\tempty. Baker,\tdetective \\\"That\t promises\t well,\t too,\\\"\t said\t the\t inspector.\t \\\"I\t told\t you\t the\t creature's appetites\twould\tnot\tbe\tbad\tclues.\\\" Telegram\tNo.\t3: Taylorville,\tL.\tI.,\t8.15\tA.M. A\thaystack\tnear\there\tdisappeared\tduring\tnight.\tProbably\teaten.\tHave","got\ta\tclue,\tand\tam\toff. Hubbard,\tdetective \\\"How\t he\t does\t move\t around!\\\"\t said\t the\t inspector.\t \\\"I\t knew\t we\t had\t a\t difficult job\ton\thand,\tbut\twe\tshall\tcatch\thim\tyet.\\\" Flower\tStation,\tN.Y.,\t9\tA.M. Shadowed\tthe\ttracks\tthree\tmiles\twestward.\tLarge,\tdeep\tand\tragged. Have\tjust\tmet\ta\tfarmer\twho\tsays\tthey\tare\tnot\telephant\ttracks.\tSays\tthey\tare holes\twhere\the\tdug\tup\tsaplings\tfor\tshadetrees\twhen\tground\twas\tfrozen\tlast winter.\tGive\tme\torders\thow\tto\tproceed. Darley,\tdetective \\\"Aha!\t a\t confederate\t of\t the\t thieves!\t The\t thing\t grows\t warm,\\\"\t said\t the inspector. He\tdictated\tthe\tfollowing\ttelegram\tto\tDarley: Arrest\tthe\tman\tand\tforce\thim\tto\tname\this\tpals.\tContinue\tto\tfollow\tthe tracks--to\tthe\tPacific\tif\tnecessary. Chief\tBlunt Next\ttelegram: Coney\tPoint,\tPA.,\t8.45\tA.M. Gas\toffice\tbroken\topen\there\tduring\tnight\tand\tthree\tmonths'\tunpaid\tgas bills\ttaken.\tHave\tgot\ta\tclue\tand\tam\taway. Murphy,\tdetective \\\"Heavens!\\\"\tsaid\tthe\tinspector;\t\\\"would\the\teat\tgas\tbills?\\\" \\\"Through\tignorance--yes;\tbut\tthey\tcannot\tsupport\tlife.\tAt\tleast,\tunassisted.\\\" Now\tcame\tthis\texciting\ttelegram: Ironville,\tN.\tY.,\t9.30\tA.M. Just\tarrived.\tThis\tvillage\tin\tconsternation.\tElephant\tpassed\tthrough here\tat\tfive\tthis\tmorning.\tSome\tsay\the\twent\teast,\tsome\tsay\twest,\tsome","north,\tsome\tsouth--but\tall\tsay\tthey\tdid\tnot\twait\tto\tnotice\tparticularly.\tHe killed\ta\thorse;\thave\tsecured\ta\tpiece\tof\tit\tfor\ta\tclue.\tKilled\tit\twith\this\ttrunk; from\tstyle\tof\tblow,\tthink\the\tstruck\tit\tleft-handed.\tFrom\tposition\tin\twhich horse\tlies,\tthink\telephant\ttraveled\tnorthward\talong\tline\tof\tBerkley\tRailway. Has\tfour\tand\ta\thalf\thours'\tstart,\tbut\tI\tmove\ton\this\ttrack\tat\tonce. Hawes,\tdetective I\tuttered\texclamations\tof\tjoy.\tThe\tinspector\twas\tas\tself-contained\tas\ta\tgraven image.\tHe\tcalmly\ttouched\this\tbell. \\\"Alaric,\tsend\tCaptain\tBurns\there.\\\" Burns\tappeared. \\\"How\tmany\tmen\tare\tready\tfor\tinstant\torders?\\\" \\\"Ninety-six,\tsir.\\\" \\\"Send\tthem\tnorth\tat\tonce.\tLet\tthem\tconcentrate\talong\tthe\tline\tof\tthe\tBerkley road\tnorth\tof\tIronville.\\\" \\\"Yes,\tsir.\\\" \\\"Let\t them\t conduct\t their\t movements\t with\t the\t utmost\t secrecy.\t As\t fast\t as others\tare\tat\tliberty,\thold\tthem\tfor\torders.\\\" \\\"Yes,\tsir.\\\" \\\"Go!\\\" \\\"Yes,\tsir.\\\" Presently\tcame\tanother\ttelegram: Sage\tCorners,\tN.\tY.,\t10.30. Just\tarrived,\telephant\tpassed\tthrough\there\tat\t8.15.\tAll\tescaped\tfrom\tthe town\tbut\ta\tpoliceman.\tApparently\telephant\tdid\tnot\tstrike\tat\tpoliceman,\tbut at\tthe\tlamppost.\tGot\tboth.\tI\thave\tsecured\ta\tportion\tof\tthe\tpoliceman\tas clue. Stumm,\tdetective \\\"So\tthe\telephant\thas\tturned\twestward,\\\"\tsaid\tthe\tinspector.\t\\\"However,\the\twill not\tescape,\tfor\tmy\tmen\tare\tscattered\tall\tover\tthat\tregion.\\\" The\tnext\ttelegram\tsaid: Glover's,\t11.15. Just\tarrived.\tVillage\tdeserted,\texcept\tsick\tand\taged.\tElephant\tpassed","through\tthree-quarters\tof\tan\thour\tago.\tThe\tantitemperance\tmass-meeting was\tin\tsession;\the\tput\this\ttrunk\tin\tat\ta\twindow\tand\twashed\tit\tout\twith water\tfrom\tcistern.\tSome\tswallowed\tit--since\tdead;\tseveral\tdrowned. Detectives\tCross\tand\tO'Shaughnessy\twere\tpassing\tthrough\ttown,\tbut\tgoing south--so\tmissed\telephant.\tWhole\tregion\tfor\tmany\tmiles\taround\tin\tterror-- people\tflying\tfrom\ttheir\thomes.\tWherever\tthey\tturn\tmeet\telephant,\tand many\tare\tkilled. Brant,\tdetective I\t could\t have\t shed\t tears,\t this\t havoc\t so\t distressed\t me.\t But\t the\t inspector\t only said: \\\"You\t see--we\t are\t closing\t in\t on\t him.\t He\t feels\t our\t presence;\t he\t has\t turned eastward\tagain.\\\" Yet\tfurther\ttroublous\tnews\twas\tin\tstore\tfor\tus.\tThe\ttelegraph\tbrought\tthis: Hogansport,\t12.19. Just\tarrived.\tElephant\tpassed\tthrough\thalf\tan\thour\tago,\tcreating wildest\tfright\tand\texcitement.\tElephant\traged\taround\tstreets:\tTwo\tplumbers going\tby,\tkilled\tone.--other\tescaped.\tRegret\tgeneral. O'Flaherty,\tdetective \\\"Now\t he\t is\t right\t in\t the\t midst\t of\t my\t men,\\\"\t said\t the\t inspector.\t \\\"Nothing\t can save\thim.\\\" A\tsuccession\tof\ttelegrams\tcame\tfrom\tdetectives\twho\twere\tscattered\tthrough New\t Jersey\t and\t Pennsylvania,\t and\t who\t were\t following\t clues\t consisting\t of ravaged\t barns,\t factories,\t and\t Sunday-school\t libraries,\t with\t high\t hopes--hopes amounting\tto\tcertainties,\tindeed.\tThe\tinspector\tsaid: \\\"I\t wish\t I\t could\t communicate\t with\t them\t and\t order\t them\t north,\t but\t that\t is impossible.\tA\tdetective\tonly\tvisits\ta\ttelegraph\toffice\tto\tsend\this\treport;\tthen\the\tis off\tagain,\tand\tyou\tdon't\tknow\twhere\tto\tput\tyour\thand\ton\thim.\\\" Now\tcame\tthis\tdespatch: Bridgeport,\tCT.,\t12.15. Barnum\toffers\trate\tof\t$4,000\ta\tyear\tfor\texclusive\tprivilege\tof\tusing elephant\tas\ttraveling\tadvertising\tmedium\tfrom\tnow\ttill\tdetectives\tfind\thim. Wants\tto\tpaste\tcircus-posters\ton\thim.\tDesires\timmediate\tanswer. Boggs,\tdetective","\\\"That\tis\tperfectly\tabsurd!\\\"\tI\texclaimed. \\\"Of\tcourse\tit\tis,\\\"\tsaid\tthe\tinspector.\t\\\"Evidently\tMr.\tBarnum,\twho\tthinks\the\tis so\tsharp,\tdoes\tnot\tknow\tme--but\tI\tknow\thim.\\\" Then\the\tdictated\tthis\tanswer\tto\tthe\tdespatch: Mr.\tBarnum's\toffer\tdeclined.\tMake\tit\t$7,000\tor\tnothing. Chief\tBlunt \\\"There.\t We\t shall\t not\t have\t to\t wait\t long\t for\t an\t answer.\t Mr.\t Barnum\t is\t not\t at home;\the\tis\tin\tthe\ttelegraph\toffice--it\tis\this\tway\twhen\the\thas\tbusiness\ton\thand. Inside\tof\tthree--\\\" Done.--P.T.\tBarnum So\t interrupted\t the\t clicking\t telegraphic\t instrument.\t Before\t I\t could\t make\t a comment\t upon\t this\t extraordinary\t episode,\t the\t following\t despatch\t carried\t my thoughts\tinto\tanother\tvery\tdistressing\tchannel: Bolivia,\tN.Y.,\t12.50. Elephant\tarrived\there\tfrom\tthe\tsouth\tand\tpassed\tthrough\ttoward\tthe forest\tat\t11.50,\tdispersing\ta\tfuneral\ton\tthe\tway,\tand\tdiminishing\tthe mourners\tby\ttwo.\tCitizens\tfired\tsome\tsmall\tcannon-balls\tinto\thim,\tand\tthen fled.\tDetective\tBurke\tand\tI\tarrived\tten\tminutes\tlater,\tfrom\tthe\tnorth,\tbut mistook\tsome\texcavations\tfor\tfootprints,\tand\tso\tlost\ta\tgood\tdeal\tof\ttime; but\tat\tlast\twe\tstruck\tthe\tright\ttrail\tand\tfollowed\tit\tto\tthe\twoods.\tWe\tthen\tgot down\ton\tour\thands\tand\tknees\tand\tcontinued\tto\tkeep\ta\tsharp\teye\ton\tthe track,\tand\tso\tshadowed\tit\tinto\tthe\tbrush.\tBurke\twas\tin\tadvance. Unfortunately\tthe\tanimal\thad\tstopped\tto\trest;\ttherefore,\tBurke\thaving\this head\tdown,\tintent\tupon\tthe\ttrack,\tbutted\tup\tagainst\tthe\telephant's\thind\tlegs before\the\twas\taware\tof\this\tvicinity.\tBurke\tinstantly\tarose\tto\this\tfeet,\tseized the\ttail,\tand\texclaimed\tjoyfully,\t\\\"I\tclaim\tthe\tre--\\\"\tbut\tgot\tno\tfurther,\tfor\ta single\tblow\tof\tthe\thuge\ttrunk\tlaid\tthe\tbrave\tfellow's\tfragments\tlow\tin\tdeath. I\tfled\trearward,\tand\tthe\telephant\tturned\tand\tshadowed\tme\tto\tthe\tedge\tof the\twood,\tmaking\ttremendous\tspeed,\tand\tI\tshould\tinevitably\thave\tbeen\tlost,","but\tthat\tthe\tremains\tof\tthe\tfuneral\tprovidentially\tintervened\tagain\tand diverted\this\tattention.\tI\thave\tjust\tlearned\tthat\tnothing\tof\tthat\tfuneral\tis\tnow left;\tbut\tthis\tis\tno\tloss,\tfor\tthere\tis\tabundance\tof\tmaterial\tfor\tanother. Meantime,\tthe\telephant\thas\tdisappeared\tagain. Mulrooney,\tdetective We\theard\tno\tnews\texcept\tfrom\tthe\tdiligent\tand\tconfident\tdetectives\tscattered about\t New\t Jersey,\t Pennsylvania,\t Delaware,\t and\t Virginia--who\t were\t all following\t fresh\t and\t encouraging\t clues--until\t shortly\t after\t 2\t P.M.,\t when\t this telegram\tcame: Baxter\tCenter,\t2.15. Elephant\tbeen\there,\tplastered\tover\twith\tcircus-bills,\tand\tbroke\tup\ta revival,\tstriking\tdown\tand\tdamaging\tmany\twho\twere\ton\tthe\tpoint\tof entering\tupon\ta\tbetter\tlife.\tCitizens\tpenned\tup\tand\testablished\ta\tguard. When\tDetective\tBrown\tand\tI\tarrived,\tsome\ttime\tafter,\twe\tentered\tinclosure and\tproceeded\tto\tidentify\telephant\tby\tphotographs\tand\tdescription.\tAll marks\ttallied\texactly\texcept\tone,\twhich\twe\tcould\tnot\tsee--the\tboil-scar under\tarmpit.\tTo\tmake\tsure,\tBrown\tcrept\tunder\tto\tlook,\tand\twas immediately\tbrained--that\tis,\thead\tcrushed\tand\tdestroyed,\tthough\tnothing issued\tfrom\tdebris.\tAll\tfled;\tso\tdid\telephant,\tstriking\tright\tand\tleft\twith much\teffect.\tHas\tescaped,\tbut\tleft\tbold\tblood-track\tfrom\tcannon-wounds. Rediscovery\tcertain.\tHe\tbroke\tsouthward,\tthrough\ta\tdense\tforest. Brent,\tdetective That\twas\tthe\tlast\ttelegram.\tAt\tnightfall\ta\tfog\tshut\tdown\twhich\twas\tso\tdense that\tobjects\tbut\tthree\tfeet\taway\tcould\tnot\tbe\tdiscerned.\tThis\tlasted\tall\tnight.\tThe ferryboats\tand\teven\tthe\tomnibuses\thad\tto\tstop\trunning. 3 Next\t morning\t the\t papers\t were\t as\t full\t of\t detective\t theories\t as\t before;\t they had\t all\t our\t tragic\t facts\t in\t detail\t also,\t and\t a\t great\t many\t more\t which\t they\t had received\t from\t their\t telegraphic\t correspondents.\t Column\t after\t column\t was","occupied,\t a\t third\t of\t its\t way\t down,\t with\t glaring\t head-lines,\t which\t it\t made\t my heart\tsick\tto\tread.\tTheir\tgeneral\ttone\twas\tlike\tthis: The\twhite\telephant\tat\tlarge!\tHe\tmoves\tupon\this\tfatal\tmarch!\tWhole villages\tdeserted\tby\ttheir\tfright-stricken\toccupants!\tPale\tterror\tgoes\tbefore him,\tdeath\tand\tdevastation\tfollow\tafter!\tAfter\tthese,\tthe\tdetectives!\tBarns destroyed,\tfactories\tgutted,\tharvests\tdevoured,\tpublic\tassemblages dispersed,\taccompanied\tby\tscenes\tof\tcarnage\timpossible\tto\tdescribe! Theories\tof\tthirty-four\tof\tthe\tmost\tdistinguished\tdetectives\ton\tthe\tforce! Theory\tof\tChief\tBlunt! \\\"There!\\\"\t said\t Inspector\t Blunt,\t almost\t betrayed\t into\t excitement,\t \\\"this\t is magnificent!\t This\t is\t the\t greatest\t windfall\t that\t any\t detective\t organization\t ever had.\tThe\tfame\tof\tit\twill\ttravel\tto\tthe\tends\tof\tthe\tearth,\tand\tendure\tto\tthe\tend\tof time,\tand\tmy\tname\twith\tit.\\\" But\tthere\twas\tno\tjoy\tfor\tme.\tI\tfelt\tas\tif\tI\thad\tcommitted\tall\tthose\tred\tcrimes, and\t that\t the\t elephant\t was\t only\t my\t irresponsible\t agent.\t And\t how\t the\t list\t had grown!\t In\t one\t place\t he\t had\t \\\"interfered\t with\t an\t election\t and\t killed\t five repeaters.\\\"\t He\t had\t followed\t this\t act\t with\t the\t destruction\t of\t two\t poor\t fellows, named\t O'Donohue\t and\t McFlannigan,\t who\t had\t \\\"found\t a\t refuge\t in\t the\t home\t of the\toppressed\tof\tall\tlands\tonly\tthe\tday\tbefore,\tand\twere\tin\tthe\tact\tof\texercising for\tthe\tfirst\ttime\tthe\tnoble\tright\tof\tAmerican\tcitizens\tat\tthe\tpolls,\twhen\tstricken down\tby\tthe\trelentless\thand\tof\tthe\tScourge\tof\tSiam.\\\"\tIn\tanother,\the\thad\t\\\"found\ta crazy\tsensation-preacher\tpreparing\this\tnext\tseason's\theroic\tattacks\ton\tthe\tdance, the\t theater,\t and\t other\t things\t which\t can't\t strike\t back,\t and\t had\t stepped\t on\t him.\\\" And\t in\t still\t another\t place\t he\t had\t \\\"killed\t a\t lightning-rod\t agent.\\\"\t And\t so\t the\t list went\t on,\t growing\t redder\t and\t redder,\t and\t more\t and\t more\t heartbreaking.\t Sixty persons\t had\t been\t killed,\t and\t two\t hundred\t and\t forty\t wounded.\t All\t the\t accounts bore\tjust\ttestimony\tto\tthe\tactivity\tand\tdevotion\tof\tthe\tdetectives,\tand\tall\tclosed with\t the\t remark\t that\t \\\"three\t hundred\t thousand\t citizens\t and\t four\t detectives\t saw the\tdread\tcreature,\tand\ttwo\tof\tthe\tlatter\the\tdestroyed.\\\" I\tdreaded\tto\thear\tthe\ttelegraphic\tinstrument\tbegin\tto\tclick\tagain.\tBy\tand\tby the\tmessages\tbegan\tto\tpour\tin,\tbut\tI\twas\thappily\tdisappointed\tin\ttheir\tnature.\tIt was\t soon\t apparent\t that\t all\t trace\t of\t the\t elephant\t was\t lost.\t The\t fog\t had\t enabled him\t to\t search\t out\t a\t good\t hiding-place\t unobserved.\t Telegrams\t from\t the\t most absurdly\t distant\t points\t reported\t that\t a\t dim\t vast\t mass\t had\t been\t glimpsed\t there","through\t the\t fog\t at\t such\t and\t such\t an\t hour,\t and\t was\t \\\"undoubtedly\t the\t elephant.\\\" This\t dim\t vast\t mass\t had\t been\t glimpsed\t in\t New\t Haven,\t in\t New\t Jersey,\t in Pennsylvania,\t in\t interior\t New\t York,\t in\t Brooklyn,\t and\t even\t in\t the\t city\t of\t New York\titself!\tBut\tin\tall\tcases\tthe\tdim\tvast\tmass\thad\tvanished\tquickly\tand\tleft\tno trace.\t Every\t detective\t of\t the\t large\t force\t scattered\t over\t this\t huge\t extent\t of country\t sent\t his\t hourly\t report,\t and\t each\t and\t every\t one\t of\t them\t had\t a\t clue,\t and was\tshadowing\tsomething,\tand\twas\thot\tupon\tthe\theels\tof\tit. But\tthe\tday\tpassed\twithout\tother\tresult. The\tnext\tday\tthe\tsame. The\tnext\tjust\tthe\tsame. The\tnewspaper\treports\tbegan\tto\tgrow\tmonotonous\twith\tfacts\tthat\tamounted to\tnothing,\tclues\twhich\tled\tto\tnothing,\tand\ttheories\twhich\thad\tnearly\texhausted the\telements\twhich\tsurprise\tand\tdelight\tand\tdazzle. By\tadvice\tof\tthe\tinspector\tI\tdoubled\tthe\treward. Four\t more\t dull\t days\t followed.\t Then\t came\t a\t bitter\t blow\t to\t the\t poor,\t hard- working\t detectives--the\t journalists\t declined\t to\t print\t their\t theories,\t and\t coldly said,\t\\\"Give\tus\ta\trest.\\\" Two\tweeks\tafter\tthe\telephant's\tdisappearance\tI\traised\tthe\treward\tto\tseventy- five\tthousand\tdollars\tby\tthe\tinspector's\tadvice.\tIt\twas\ta\tgreat\tsum,\tbut\tI\tfelt\tthat\tI would\t rather\t sacrifice\t my\t whole\t private\t fortune\t than\t lose\t my\t credit\t with\t my government.\t Now\t that\t the\t detectives\t were\t in\t adversity,\t the\t newspapers\t turned upon\tthem,\tand\tbegan\tto\tfling\tthe\tmost\tstinging\tsarcasms\tat\tthem.\tThis\tgave\tthe minstrels\t an\t idea,\t and\t they\t dressed\t themselves\t as\t detectives\t and\t hunted\t the elephant\t on\t the\t stage\t in\t the\t most\t extravagant\t way.\t The\t caricaturists\t made pictures\t of\t detectives\t scanning\t the\t country\t with\t spyglasses,\t while\t the\t elephant, at\t their\t backs,\t stole\t apples\t out\t of\t their\t pockets.\t And\t they\t made\t all\t sorts\t of ridiculous\t pictures\t of\t the\t detective\t badge--you\t have\t seen\t that\t badge\t printed\t in gold\ton\tthe\tback\tof\tdetective\tnovels,\tno\tdoubt--it\tis\ta\twide-staring\teye,\twith\tthe legend,\t \\\"WE\t NEVER\t SLEEP.\\\"\t When\t detectives\t called\t for\t a\t drink,\t the\t would-be facetious\t barkeeper\t resurrected\t an\t obsolete\t form\t of\t expression\t and\t said,\t \\\"Will you\thave\tan\teye-opener?\\\"\tAll\tthe\tair\twas\tthick\twith\tsarcasms. But\t there\t was\t one\t man\t who\t moved\t calm,\t untouched,\t unaffected,\t through\t it all.\tIt\twas\tthat\theart\tof\toak,\tthe\tchief\tinspector.\tHis\tbrave\teye\tnever\tdropped,\this serene\tconfidence\tnever\twavered.\tHe\talways\tsaid: \\\"Let\tthem\trail\ton;\the\tlaughs\tbest\twho\tlaughs\tlast.\\\" My\tadmiration\tfor\tthe\tman\tgrew\tinto\ta\tspecies\tof\tworship.\tI\twas\tat\this\tside always.\tHis\toffice\thad\tbecome\tan\tunpleasant\tplace\tto\tme,\tand\tnow\tbecame\tdaily","more\t and\t more\t so.\t Yet\t if\t he\t could\t endure\t it\t I\t meant\t to\t do\t so\t also--at\t least,\t as long\tas\tI\tcould.\tSo\tI\tcame\tregularly,\tand\tstayed--the\tonly\toutsider\twho\tseemed to\tbe\tcapable\tof\tit.\tEverybody\twondered\thow\tI\tcould;\tand\toften\tit\tseemed\tto\tme that\t I\t must\t desert,\t but\t at\t such\t times\t I\t looked\t into\t that\t calm\t and\t apparently unconscious\tface,\tand\theld\tmy\tground. About\tthree\tweeks\tafter\tthe\telephant's\tdisappearance\tI\twas\tabout\tto\tsay,\tone morning,\t that\t I\t should\t have\t to\t strike\t my\t colors\t and\t retire,\t when\t the\t great detective\tarrested\tthe\tthought\tby\tproposing\tone\tmore\tsuperb\tand\tmasterly\tmove. This\t was\t to\t compromise\t with\t the\t robbers.\t The\t fertility\t of\t this\t man's invention\texceeded\tanything\tI\thave\tever\tseen,\tand\tI\thave\thad\ta\twide\tintercourse with\tthe\tworld's\tfinest\tminds.\tHe\tsaid\the\twas\tconfident\the\tcould\tcompromise\tfor one\thundred\tthousand\tdollars\tand\trecover\tthe\telephant.\tI\tsaid\tI\tbelieved\tI\tcould scrape\tthe\tamount\ttogether,\tbut\twhat\twould\tbecome\tof\tthe\tpoor\tdetectives\twho had\tworked\tso\tfaithfully?\tHe\tsaid: \\\"In\tcompromises\tthey\talways\tget\thalf.\\\" This\t removed\t my\t only\t objection.\t So\t the\t inspector\t wrote\t two\t notes,\t in\t this form: Dear\tMadame--your\thusband\tcan\tmake\ta\tlarge\tsum\tof\tmoney\t(and\tbe entirely\tprotected\tfrom\tthe\tlaw)\tby\tmaking\tan\timmediate\tappointment\twith me. Chief\tBlunt He\t sent\t one\t of\t these\t by\t his\t confidential\t messenger\t to\t the\t \\\"reputed\t wife\\\"\t of Brick\tDuffy,\tand\tthe\tother\tto\tthe\treputed\twife\tof\tRed\tMcFadden. Within\tthe\thour\tthese\toffensive\tanswers\tcame: Ye\towld\tfool:\tBrick\tDuffys\tbin\tded\t2\tyere. Bridget\tMahoney Chief\tBat--Red\tMcFadden\tis\thung\tand\tin\theving\t18\tmonth.\tAny\tass\tbut a\tdetective\tknose\tthat. Mary\tO'Hooligan \\\"I\thad\tlong\tsuspected\tthese\tfacts,\\\"\tsaid\tthe\tinspector;\t\\\"this\ttestimony\tproves the\tunerring\taccuracy\tof\tmy\tinstinct.\\\" The\t moment\t one\t resource\t failed\t him\t he\t was\t ready\t with\t another.\t He","immediately\twrote\tan\tadvertisement\tfor\tthe\tmorning\tpapers,\tand\tI\tkept\ta\tcopy\tof it: A.--xwblv.\t242\tN.\tTjnd--fz328wmlg.\tOzpo,--;\t2\tm!\togw.\tMum. He\t said\t that\t if\t the\t thief\t was\t alive\t this\t would\t bring\t him\t to\t the\t usual rendezvous.\t He\t further\t explained\t that\t the\t usual\t rendezvous\t was\t a\t place\t where all\t business\t affairs\t between\t detectives\t and\t criminals\t were\t conducted.\t This meeting\twould\ttake\tplace\tat\ttwelve\tthe\tnext\tnight. We\tcould\tdo\tnothing\ttill\tthen,\tand\tI\tlost\tno\ttime\tin\tgetting\tout\tof\tthe\toffice, and\twas\tgrateful\tindeed\tfor\tthe\tprivilege. At\t eleven\t the\t next\t night\t I\t brought\t one\t hundred\t thousand\t dollars\t in\t bank- notes\t and\t put\t them\t into\t the\t chief's\t hands,\t and\t shortly\t afterward\t he\t took\t his leave,\twith\tthe\tbrave\told\tundimmed\tconfidence\tin\this\teye.\tAn\talmost\tintolerable hour\tdragged\tto\ta\tclose;\tthen\tI\theard\this\twelcome\t tread,\t and\t rose\tgasping\tand tottered\tto\tmeet\thim.\tHow\this\tfine\teyes\tflamed\twith\ttriumph!\tHe\tsaid: \\\"We've\t compromised!\t The\t jokers\t will\t sing\t a\t different\t tune\t to-morrow! Follow\tme!\\\" He\t took\t a\t lighted\t candle\t and\t strode\t down\t into\t the\t vast\t vaulted\t basement where\t sixty\t detectives\t always\t slept,\t and\t where\t a\t score\t were\t now\t playing\t cards to\twhile\tthe\ttime.\tI\tfollowed\tclose\tafter\thim.\tHe\twalked\tswiftly\tdown\tto\tthe\tdim and\tremote\tend\tof\tthe\tplace,\tand\tjust\tas\tI\tsuccumbed\tto\tthe\tpangs\tof\tsuffocation and\t was\t swooning\t away\t he\t stumbled\t and\t fell\t over\t the\t outlying\t members\t of\t a mighty\tobject,\tand\tI\theard\thim\texclaim\tas\the\twent\tdown: \\\"Our\tnoble\tprofession\tis\tvindicated.\tHere\tis\tyour\telephant!\\\" I\twas\tcarried\tto\tthe\toffice\tabove\tand\trestored\twith\tcarbolic\tacid.\tThe\twhole detective\t force\t swarmed\t in,\t and\t such\t another\t season\t of\t triumphant\t rejoicing ensued\t as\t I\t had\t never\t witnessed\t before.\t The\t reporters\t were\t called,\t baskets\t of champagne\t were\t opened,\t toasts\t were\t drunk,\t the\t handshakings\t and congratulations\t were\t continuous\t and\t enthusiastic.\t Naturally\t the\t chief\t was\t the hero\t of\t the\t hour,\t and\t his\t happiness\t was\t so\t complete\t and\t had\t been\t so\t patiently and\t worthily\t and\t bravely\t won\t that\t it\t made\t me\t happy\t to\t see\t it,\t though\t I\t stood there\t a\t homeless\t beggar,\t my\t priceless\t charge\t dead,\t and\t my\t position\t in\t my country's\tservice\tlost\tto\tme\tthrough\twhat\twould\talways\tseem\tmy\tfatally\tcareless execution\tof\ta\tgreat\ttrust.\tMany\tan\teloquent\teye\ttestified\tits\tdeep\tadmiration\tfor the\tchief,\tand\tmany\ta\tdetective's\tvoice\tmurmured,\t\\\"Look\tat\thim--just\tthe\tking\tof","the\tprofession;\tonly\tgive\thim\ta\tclue,\tit's\tall\the\twants,\tand\tthere\tain't\tanything\thid that\t he\t can't\t find.\\\"\t The\t dividing\t of\t the\t fifty\t thousand\t dollars\t made\t great pleasure;\t when\t it\t was\t finished\t the\t chief\t made\t a\t little\t speech\t while\t he\t put\t his share\tin\this\tpocket,\tin\twhich\the\tsaid,\t\\\"Enjoy\tit,\tboys,\tfor\tyou've\tearned\tit;\tand, more\tthan\tthat,\tyou've\tearned\tfor\tthe\tdetective\tprofession\tundying\tfame.\\\" A\ttelegram\tarrived,\twhich\tread: Monroe,\tMich.,\t10\tP.M. First\ttime\tI've\tstruck\ta\ttelegraph\toffice\tin\tover\tthree\tweeks.\tHave followed\tthose\tfootprints,\thorseback,\tthrough\tthe\twoods,\ta\tthousand\tmiles to\there,\tand\tthey\tget\tstronger\tand\tbigger\tand\tfresher\tevery\tday.\tDon't worry--inside\tof\tanother\tweek\tI'll\thave\tthe\telephant.\tThis\tis\tdead\tsure. Darley,\tdetective The\t chief\t ordered\t three\t cheers\t for\t \\\"Darley,\t one\t of\t the\t finest\t minds\t on\t the force,\\\"\t and\t then\t commanded\t that\t he\t be\t telegraphed\t to\t come\t home\t and\t receive his\tshare\tof\tthe\treward. So\t ended\t that\t marvelous\t episode\t of\t the\t stolen\t elephant.\t The\t newspapers were\t pleasant\t with\t praises\t once\t more,\t the\t next\t day,\t with\t one\t contemptible exception.\t This\t sheet\t said,\t \\\"Great\t is\t the\t detective!\t He\t may\t be\t a\t little\t slow\t in finding\ta\tlittle\tthing\tlike\ta\tmislaid\telephant--he\tmay\thunt\thim\tall\tday\tand\tsleep with\this\trotting\tcarcass\tall\tnight\tfor\tthree\tweeks,\tbut\the\twill\tfind\thim\tat\tlast--if he\tcan\tget\tthe\tman\twho\tmislaid\thim\tto\tshow\thim\tthe\tplace!\\\" Poor\t Hassan\t was\t lost\t to\t me\t forever.\t The\t cannon-shots\t had\t wounded\t him fatally,\the\thad\tcrept\tto\tthat\tunfriendly\tplace\tin\tthe\tfog,\tand\tthere,\tsurrounded\tby his\t enemies\t and\t in\t constant\t danger\t of\t detection,\t he\t had\t wasted\t away\t with hunger\tand\tsuffering\ttill\tdeath\tgave\thim\tpeace. The\t compromise\t cost\t me\t one\t hundred\t thousand\t dollars;\t my\t detective expenses\twere\tforty-two\tthousand\tdollars\tmore;\tI\tnever\tapplied\tfor\ta\tplace\tagain under\t my\t government;\t I\t am\t a\t ruined\t man\t and\t a\t wanderer\t on\t the\t earth--but\t my admiration\t for\t that\t man,\t whom\t I\t believe\t to\t be\t the\t greatest\t detective\t the\t world has\t ever\t produced,\t remains\t undimmed\t to\t this\t day,\t and\t will\t so\t remain\t unto\t the end. 1882"]
Search
Read the Text Version
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32
- 33
- 34
- 35
- 36
- 37
- 38
- 39
- 40
- 41
- 42
- 43
- 44
- 45
- 46
- 47
- 48
- 49
- 50
- 51
- 52
- 53
- 54
- 55
- 56
- 57
- 58
- 59
- 60
- 61
- 62
- 63
- 64
- 65
- 66
- 67
- 68
- 69
- 70
- 71
- 72
- 73
- 74
- 75
- 76
- 77
- 78
- 79
- 80
- 81
- 82
- 83
- 84
- 85
- 86
- 87
- 88
- 89
- 90
- 91
- 92
- 93
- 94
- 95
- 96
- 97
- 98
- 99
- 100
- 101
- 102
- 103
- 104
- 105
- 106
- 107
- 108
- 109
- 110
- 111
- 112
- 113
- 114
- 115
- 116
- 117
- 118
- 119
- 120
- 121
- 122
- 123
- 124
- 125
- 126
- 127
- 128
- 129
- 130
- 131
- 132
- 133
- 134
- 135
- 136
- 137
- 138
- 139
- 140
- 141
- 142
- 143
- 144
- 145
- 146
- 147
- 148
- 149
- 150
- 151
- 152
- 153
- 154
- 155
- 156
- 157
- 158
- 159
- 160
- 161
- 162
- 163
- 164
- 165
- 166
- 167
- 168
- 169
- 170
- 171
- 172
- 173
- 174
- 175
- 176
- 177
- 178
- 179
- 180
- 181
- 182
- 183
- 184
- 185
- 186
- 187
- 188
- 189
- 190
- 191
- 192
- 193
- 194
- 195
- 196
- 197
- 198
- 199
- 200
- 201
- 202
- 203
- 204
- 205
- 206
- 207
- 208
- 209
- 210
- 211
- 212
- 213
- 214
- 215
- 216
- 217
- 218
- 219
- 220
- 221
- 222
- 223
- 224
- 225
- 226
- 227
- 228
- 229
- 230
- 231
- 232
- 233
- 234
- 235
- 236
- 237
- 238
- 239
- 240
- 241
- 242
- 243
- 244
- 245
- 246
- 247
- 248
- 249
- 250
- 251
- 252
- 253
- 254
- 255
- 256
- 257
- 258
- 259
- 260
- 261
- 262
- 263
- 264
- 265
- 266
- 267
- 268
- 269
- 270
- 271
- 272
- 273
- 274
- 275
- 276
- 277
- 278
- 279
- 280
- 281
- 282
- 283
- 284
- 285
- 286
- 287
- 288
- 289
- 290
- 291
- 292
- 293
- 294
- 295
- 296
- 297
- 298
- 299
- 300
- 301
- 302
- 303
- 304
- 305
- 306
- 307
- 308
- 309
- 310
- 311
- 312
- 313
- 314
- 315
- 316
- 317
- 318
- 319
- 320
- 321
- 322
- 323
- 324
- 325
- 326
- 327
- 328
- 329
- 330
- 331
- 332
- 333
- 334
- 335
- 336
- 337
- 338
- 339
- 340
- 341
- 342
- 343
- 344
- 345
- 346
- 347
- 348
- 349
- 350
- 351
- 352
- 353
- 354
- 355
- 356
- 357
- 358
- 359
- 360
- 361
- 362
- 363
- 364
- 365
- 366
- 367
- 368
- 369
- 370
- 371
- 372
- 373
- 374
- 375
- 376
- 377
- 378
- 379
- 380
- 381
- 382
- 383
- 384
- 385
- 386
- 387
- 388
- 389
- 390
- 391
- 392
- 393
- 394
- 395
- 396
- 397
- 398
- 399
- 400
- 401
- 402
- 403
- 404
- 405
- 406
- 407
- 408
- 409
- 410
- 411
- 412
- 413
- 414
- 415
- 416
- 417
- 418
- 419
- 420
- 421
- 422
- 423
- 424
- 425
- 426
- 427
- 428
- 429
- 430
- 431
- 432
- 433
- 434
- 435
- 436
- 437
- 438
- 439
- 440
- 441
- 442
- 443
- 444
- 445
- 446
- 447
- 448
- 449
- 450
- 451
- 452
- 453
- 454
- 455
- 456
- 457
- 458
- 459
- 460
- 461
- 462
- 463
- 464
- 465
- 466
- 467
- 468
- 469
- 470
- 471
- 472
- 473
- 474
- 475
- 476
- 477
- 478
- 479
- 480
- 481
- 482
- 483
- 484
- 485
- 486
- 487
- 488
- 489
- 490
- 491
- 492
- 493
- 494
- 495
- 496
- 497
- 498
- 499
- 500
- 501
- 502
- 503
- 504
- 505
- 506
- 507
- 508
- 509
- 510
- 511
- 512
- 513
- 514
- 515
- 516
- 517
- 518
- 519
- 520
- 521
- 522
- 523
- 524
- 525
- 526
- 527
- 528
- 529
- 530
- 531
- 532
- 533
- 534
- 535
- 536
- 537
- 538
- 539
- 540
- 541
- 542
- 543
- 544
- 545
- 546
- 547
- 548
- 549
- 550
- 551
- 552
- 553
- 554
- 555
- 556
- 557
- 558
- 559
- 560
- 561
- 562
- 563
- 564
- 565
- 566
- 567
- 568
- 569
- 570
- 571
- 572
- 573
- 574
- 575
- 576
- 577
- 578
- 579
- 580
- 581
- 582
- 583
- 584
- 585
- 586
- 587
- 588
- 589
- 590
- 591
- 592
- 593
- 594
- 595
- 596
- 597
- 598
- 599
- 600
- 601
- 602
- 603
- 604
- 605
- 606
- 607
- 608
- 609
- 610
- 611
- 612
- 613
- 614
- 615
- 616
- 617
- 618
- 619
- 620
- 621
- 622
- 623
- 624
- 625
- 626
- 627
- 628
- 629
- 630
- 631
- 632
- 633
- 634
- 635
- 636
- 637
- 638
- 639
- 640
- 641
- 642
- 643
- 644
- 645
- 646
- 647
- 648
- 649
- 650
- 651
- 652
- 653
- 654
- 655
- 656
- 657
- 658
- 659
- 660
- 661
- 662
- 663
- 664
- 665
- 666
- 667
- 668
- 669
- 670
- 671
- 672
- 673
- 674
- 675
- 676
- 677
- 678
- 679
- 680
- 681
- 682
- 683
- 684
- 685
- 686
- 687
- 688
- 689
- 690
- 691
- 692
- 693
- 694
- 695
- 696
- 697
- 698
- 699
- 700
- 701
- 702
- 703
- 704
- 705
- 706
- 707
- 708
- 709
- 710
- 711
- 712
- 713
- 714
- 715
- 716
- 717
- 718
- 719
- 720
- 721
- 722
- 723
- 724
- 725
- 726
- 727
- 728
- 729
- 730
- 731
- 732
- 733
- 734
- 735
- 736
- 737
