“It was on the morning of the fourth day after my return from
Philadelphia that I went to Harry’s office for the purpose of holding a
consultation with him in regard to Miss Bramlett’s case. I was anxious
to know what progress had been made by the detectives in their
investigations. I had been devoting all my time to the business, and was
more mystified at the end of four days than I was at the beginning. I
had spent some time in making a survey of the buildings and premises
where the murder had been committed; this I had been advised to do by
Mr. Rockland, who had manifested considerable interest in the case. I
had great confidence in the cool judgment of Mr. Rockland, as well as
unlimited faith in him as a skillful criminal lawyer; and he told me
that a thorough investigation of the house and its contents was a matter
that ought by no means to be neglected; therefore I had undertaken that
job as my part of the work. I had taken great pains to make a correct
diagram of the house and grounds--including the kitchen, servants’
rooms, stables, garden, with all the entrances by which persons could
get into the inclosure. I was very much gratified when I presented my
diagram to Mr. Rockland, for he examined it carefully, and then
observed, ‘that the work was satisfactory, and had been very skillfully
executed.’
“‘If I am not very much mistaken, Mr. Demar,’ he said, ‘you will find
that this map will be of invaluable service to you before this affair is
finally disposed of. If it should turn out, as you seem to think, that
the crime has been the work of some other person, you may expect to find
secret entrances to the grounds--but I regret to say that I fear you
will find no little difficulty in establishing Miss Bramlett’s
innocence. I have no hesitation, understand me, in asserting that I have
always regarded Miss Bramlett as a pure, honest young lady; but, judging
from the reports that have reached me in regard to her strange conduct,
I am led to believe that her mind has not been altogether right. If it
comes to the worst, I shall advise the plea of insanity to be filed. I
am well aware of the fact that pleas of that sort are becoming quite
common of late, and that the courts are inclined to view them with
suspicion, yet in this case I have no doubt that the evidence will be so
full as to overcome all doubt. You may depend on me, Mr. Demar, so far
as my humble ability may be concerned, because I deeply sympathize with
this unfortunate young lady; and then her father was my true friend, and
I should be an ungrateful wretch if I did not put forth all my energy
and influence in behalf of his daughter.’
“It was indeed with a sorrowful heart beating in my bosom that I
separated from Mr. Rockland at the close of the interview just related.
I had watched Miss Bramlett closely during the frequent visits I had
made to the jail, and my observations convinced me that, notwithstanding
her mind was sad and unsettled, she had complete control of her reason.
Then, in the second place, I knew that if we succeeded in proving her
insane, it would be a fatal blow to Harry’s happiness. The room in which
young Harry Bramlett died was a small square bedroom on the second
floor, in the south-west corner of Mr. Ragland’s house, and adjacent to
the one that had been occupied by Miss Bramlett. There was a partition
door in the wall that separated the two rooms. Miss Bramlett’s room was
a larger one than that occupied by her young brother, and had two
windows and one door besides the door that was in the partition wall.
One of the windows was in the front overlooking the street--the other
in the side overlooking a small flower garden that lay on the south side
of the building. The furniture of Miss Bramlett’s room, which remained
just as it was when her brother died, consisted of a marble-top bureau,
a small mahogany bedstead, with canopy hung with pink silk, a large
rosewood wardrobe, a marble-top wash-stand, a low sofa with green
cushions, an easy-chair with red plush cushions, a cane bottom
rocking-chair, three large trunks and four common cane bottom chairs. A
life-size portrait of Mr. Bramlett swung by a red twisted cord against
the south wall of the room, while Mrs. Bramlett’s picture, in a large
gold frame, hung just above the bed. A photograph of Miss Bramlett and
her little brother, both in the same frame, hung near the partition
door. As I gazed on Miss Bramlett’s picture, with one hand clasped in
that of her little brother, I was then and there convinced that she
never had murdered him. Such an expression of purity beamed forth from
the beautiful face as to prove to my mind that no secret thoughts of
murder ever had lurked in her breast. I was informed that not an article
in the rooms had been moved since the night when the little boy died--no
one had been permitted to enter either one of the rooms after the corpse
had been removed, until Mr. Dabbs had arrived. A guard had been placed
at the entrance, with positive orders not to allow any one to enter the
rooms; this had been done at Harry’s request.
“When I arrived at Harry’s office I found him alone; but while he and I
were engaged in examining my diagram Dabbs and Tadpoddle came into the
inner room from the back entrance, and informed us that they had
important facts to communicate. This was the first time that I ever had
laid my eyes on Mr. Tadpoddle, and if it had not been for the
seriousness of the business in which we were engaged, I should have
laughed outright as soon as I saw him. The comical expression of his
features--the peculiar shape of his nose, the fantastic style of his
dress, and the singular disproportion which the length of his legs bore
to the size of his body, all combined to produce a ridiculous object. To
undertake to describe him would be a failure. He was neither man, beast,
fowl nor fish, but in some respects resembled all. His right ear was
near the back of his beard. The place where his nose should have been
looked like a toad-stool on a sapling. His left eye was large and very
white, the other small and three-cornered; the little one seemed to be
afraid of the big one--they were continually playing hide and seek with
each other, and at no time were both on duty at the same moment. When
the big one was awake, the little one was asleep. I noticed that when
the big one would retire from duty, the little one would come to the
front cautiously and gaze over to see if the other had certainly gone;
and if any movement was made by the big one, the little one would dart
back into his hole. It was clear to my mind that nature did not intend
to make a man when Tadpoddle was commenced; but the whole concern seemed
to convey the idea that nature intended him for a huge joke.
“‘If you will close that door, Mr. Wallingford,’ said Mr. Dabbs, ‘so
that we will be free from interruption, I have an important report to
make.’
“Harry closed the door, and requested him to proceed.
“‘Have you found out who committed the murder?’ Harry inquired, as he
fixed his eyes on Mr. Dabbs’ face with a look of intense anxiety.
“‘Mr. Wallingford, you have learned the lawyer’s habit early, I
perceive--you have commenced a sort of cross-examination before the
examination in chief has been gone through with. You lawyers have a way
of setting your pumps to work on a fellow so as to draw out information
which in some instances ought not to be exposed so soon--but in this
particular case, I trust you will not consider me rude or discourteous
if I decline to be cross-examined. It is our business to examine people,
and not to suffer ourselves to be examined by them; you need not trouble
yourself to put questions to me; I’ll furnish you with such information
as I think you ought to have, and withhold such as ought to be
withheld.’
“Harry bit his lips with vexation.
“‘I suppose, Mr. Dabbs, I ought to submit to such conditions as you may
choose to propose; and I shall do it very cheerfully if it will aid in
unearthing this mystery.’
“‘So far as mystery is concerned, Mr. Wallingford, I must at once
undeceive you; I have as yet encountered no mystery at all--on the
contrary, I think the case unusually plain--don’t you, Mr. Tadpoddle?’
“‘Unquestionably, unquestionably, Mr. Dabbs; I never saw a plainer case
in my life--evidence ample to convict; never saw a better chain of
circumstantial evidence; overwhelming, overwhelming, sir--no use to
hesitate; no mistake here. My sister’s statement settles the question
beyond doubt. I presume, Mr. Wallingford, you know my sister, Miss
Jemima Tadpoddle?’
“‘No,’ said Harry, his face reddening with impatience, ‘I am sorry to
say I have not had the honor to know Miss Tadpoddle.’
“‘Indeed, sir! that’s unfortunate; I must avail myself of the pleasure
to introduce you to my sister; a most remarkable woman, sir--rather
masculine in her views, but sensible and prudent. We are indebted to her
for our success in this case. The fact is, Mr. Wallingford, I am
indebted to my remarkable sister for my success in life generally. She
would be delighted to know you, and I dare say you would be much pleased
with her. She would be able to advise you in this business, no doubt, as
her judgment may be relied on; but let that pass for the present. What
was it you were about to observe, Mr. Wallingford?’
“‘I was about to ask a question; but then I remembered that you and Mr.
Dabbs had intimated a wish not to be questioned.’
“‘Oh, not at all, sir; you misunderstand us entirely. We don’t prohibit
questions--we only decline to be examined like an ordinary witness in
court. Ask as many questions as you please--we’ll only answer such as we
choose.’
“Then Mr. Tadpoddle threw himself back in his chair, put the small eye
on duty, and waited for the question.
“‘If you have any communication to make in regard to the discoveries you
have made, I should like to hear them now!’
“‘Just so, Mr. Wallingford, no doubt you would; and that is what brought
us here to-day. I am well aware of the interest you feel in Miss
Bramlett’s case, and so told my remarkable sister, and she also
appreciated the situation very much. By the by, Dabbs, don’t you think
we had better tell Mr. Wallingford what my remarkable sister knows about
the case?’
“‘I think we had, Mr. Tadpoddle; but let them be told after the other
facts have been related--nothing like beginning at the right end, you
know. There are two ways to tell anything--one right way, and one wrong
way; always commence a story at the right end, you see. What your sister
knows comes last, in order to make the chain of evidence complete.’
“‘Ah, yes, Dabbs, I perceive now that you are right. Well, you tell Mr.
Wallingford about the other things, and when it comes to my sister’s
part, then let me in.’
“I was losing my self-possession, and felt as if I must do something
rash very soon; I think I should have hurled a lump of coal at Mr.
Tadpoddle’s little gourd head, but my attention was diverted to Mr.
Dabbs, who began to take something from his pocket-book.
“‘This little parcel, Mr. Wallingford, is a dose of strychnine similar
to the one that killed Miss Bramlett’s little brother. Well, what of
that? is the question that naturally would come up in your mind. You’ll
observe, Mr. Wallingford, that I am only drawing an inference as to
ideas, etc., which would be likely to present themselves. Well, what if
that is strychnine? you say. Very good! I reply, The deceased was
murdered with strychnine. Some one administered the poison. Who? ah!
that’s the question. I answer without hesitation: Miss Bramlett.’
“‘Tis false!’ exclaimed Harry, as he made at the detective with eyes
flashing with rage. ‘I’ll choke the breath from the villain’s lungs who
dares to accuse Miss Bramlett.’
“I quickly placed myself before Harry, and prevented him from choking
Mr. Dabbs, and endeavored to keep him quiet, though I thought a little
pressure on Dabbs’ wind-pipe would have been justifiable. I succeeded in
getting Harry to resume his seat, then requested Mr. Dabbs to proceed.
“‘If Mr. Wallingford is unwilling to hear facts,’ said Dabbs, ‘we had
better let the interview terminate here. It is our duty, as officers of
the law, to close our eyes to consequences, and bring facts to light. We
can’t consider the feelings and wishes of individuals, in our searches
after truth; if we did, we should accomplish nothing. We do not make
evidence, we only bring to light that which is made by circumstances and
concealed by fraud. If the evidence that we have discovered does not
please Mr. Wallingford, we will not thrust it on his hearing, but will
deliver it to the officers of the law, whose duty it is to use it in
punishing the guilty, and protecting the innocent.’
“‘You are right, Mr. Dabbs, and I was wrong,’ said Harry, as he leaned
his head down on the window-sill and sighed sadly. ‘Tell us the worst at
once.’
“‘Well this dose of strychnine was found in Miss Bramlett’s room,
concealed in the pocket of a blue silk dress which belonged to her.’
“Mr. Dabbs paused, and looked at Tadpoddle. Tadpoddle put the big eye on
duty, while the little one made a precipitate retreat. Harry groaned
like one whose heart was crushed. I wanted to commit some kind of
mischief, but did not exactly know what it was. At length Dabbs spoke
again, after he had sufficiently enjoyed the misery inflicted on us by
the first revelation:
“‘The mere naked fact that Miss Bramlett had a dose of strychnine in one
of her dress pockets does not signify much, but when viewed in
connection with other circumstances, the case is different. To sum up
the ideas, we must be very cautious to sift things so as to separate the
wheat from the chaff; however, we don’t always find it prudent even to
throw away the chaff; because it will sometimes show us which way the
wind blows. Now in this case I think we can see which way the wind is
blowing without the use of the chaff. The fact is, the breeze seems to
be all the time blowing in the same direction. We found three small
scraps of blue paper; two upon chemical examination were found to
contain small quantities of quinine, while the other one contained
unmistakable evidence of having been filled with strychnine. We found a
little package of quinine in the fire-place; now it is very plain that
this was emptied out of one of the papers left by Doctor Dodson, and
that the strychnine was put in the same paper instead of the quinine.
That goes to show beyond doubt that the poison was administered
intentionally; but by whom? you would of course be inclined to ask.
Very good; let us proceed to make the inquiry further.’
“‘Now,’ said Tadpoddle, ‘I think is the time to tell Mr. Wallingford
what valuable evidence has been discovered by my remarkable sister.’
“Mr. Tadpoddle’s little eye then went back to its hole, and the big one
came to the front.
“‘No, not yet, Mr. Tadpoddle,’ said Dabbs, as he bit the corner off of a
plug of tobacco and began to chew it with great energy; ‘there are other
matters to be mentioned before we disclose your sister’s evidence. There
is the secret gate, you must remember; that will furnish a very strong
link in our chain--a link which I consider of great importance. So far,
so good. Now, Mr. Tadpoddle, allow me to call your attention to a
certain letter or note--some people, I believe, would call it a
billet-doux; no matter what they call it--nothing in a name, you know;
at least, Mr. Shakespeare so testified in favor of that idea. Be so kind
as to hand me that billet-doux, Mr. Tadpoddle. I believe I gave it to
you?’
“Tadpoddle’s big eye retired slowly, and the little one came out and
then darted back; then came out again--a game of hide and seek being
commenced between them. The big eye seemed to be hesitating, as if
undecided about the propriety of giving the field to the little one. But
the little one appeared to have scraped up courage, and made a bold
charge to the front, when the large eye gave up the contest at last, and
hid in its den. Tadpoddle seemed to be waiting to know which eye he
would have to depend on, while looking for the note, but as soon as the
matter was settled, he drew from his breast pocket an old pocket-book,
and began to take out a great number of old dirty papers, carefully
scrutinizing each one as he took it out.
“‘Ah, here it is, Mr. Dabbs; by Jove, it’s a clincher, ain’t it?’
“Dabbs did not reply to Tadpoddle’s question, but turning his attention
to Harry, said:
“‘Mr. Wallingford, you will pardon me, sir, but duty, is duty, you know,
and at the risk of incurring your displeasure, I must perform my duty.
You will doubtless be surprised to learn that Miss Bramlett has been
holding clandestine meetings with a low-down gambler for many months.’
“Harry would have knocked him down, but I anticipated the movement, and
held him in his seat.
“‘Edward,’ said he, ‘must I sit here and listen to this? Am I a
contemptible coward? Shall I let them kill that poor girl, and then
blacken her fair name? Is this Harry Wallingford who sits here, quietly
listening to such a foul slander on the name of his affianced bride!
Would you have me to whine and smile and fawn on the base wretch who
utters such language?’
“‘If ever there was a time when it was necessary for you to control your
temper, that time is now. The awful situation in which Miss Bramlett is
placed should convince you that nothing can be done for her unless cool
judgment and common sense shall take the place of passion and rashness.
Mr. Dabbs may be mistaken in his conclusions, and I think he is, yet he
believes he is performing his duty, therefore, I beseech you to hear all
he has to say. Then, after we have heard it all, we will advise with Mr.
Rockland on the subject--I have great confidence in his sound judgment,
and I know his sympathies are with us. Give us a promise, now, Harry,
that you will endeavor to control yourself--you have committed some
great errors, and it behooves you to repair them. You can command your
passion if you will determine to do it.’
“‘Edward,’ said he, ‘you are right. I have been very indiscreet, and to
some extent inexcusable; I promise to do as you wish. Let Mr. Dabbs
proceed. I’ll hear all he has to say.’
“I then requested Mr. Dabbs to proceed.
“‘I am exceedingly sorry,’ said he, ‘that Mr. Wallingford should be
disposed to censure me for stating facts, when he must know that the
discovery of these facts did not afford any pleasure to me; I may say I
was pained to find that circumstances were continually pointing to Miss
Bramlett as the guilty one. I had hoped to find evidence of her
innocence, and such a result would have given me ten-fold more pleasure
than anything we could find against her. It is clear to my mind that the
poor young lady has been the victim of some heartless villain--or that
she has been laboring under temporary insanity. Whether or not I am
correct in that opinion it is not my business just now to inquire. That
is a question for the courts and lawyers to settle when she is put on
trial; my business is to show what has been done, and nothing shall
cause me to shrink from the performance of that duty. There is a young
man keeping a gambling hell in this city; a young man of handsome face
and fascinating manners, though a shrewd, sly scoundrel, who had
something to do with this business; and I flatter myself that I shall be
able to expose him before I get through with this affair. I have been
shadowing him--he often gets drunk, and I never failed to manage his
sort. He talks freely when drinking, and I will pump the secret out of
him before I quit. I played poker with him the other night; he beat me
out of forty dollars--the rascal! but I shall let him win, and give him
rope to hang himself with. I’ll catch up with the villain yet. His
apartments are furnished like the palace of a king. Where did the money
come from to pay for it? I dare say he wheedled Miss Bramlett out of it.
That unfortunate young girl has been so imprudent as to make frequent
visits to these apartments during the dark hours of night.’
“‘Oh, Heavens! Eddie,’ exclaimed Harry, as he seized me by the arm,
‘have I got to hear such as this, and say nothing? It’s more than
humanity can bear; it will kill me; for Heaven’s sake let this interview
terminate--else I shall lose my reason!’
“‘Be quiet, I pray you, Harry,’ I said, though I felt the demon rising
in my own breast, and needed all the prudence I could command in order
to keep me from knocking the man down myself.
“My attempt to soothe and quiet Harry, however, served to aid me in
keeping cool, and after the lapse of a few moments, I directed Mr. Dabbs
to proceed.
“‘I was about to observe, a moment ago, that Miss Bramlett has been
exceedingly imprudent, if not criminal, in her intrigue with Ben
Bowles.’
“‘With whom did you say?’ groaned Harry.
“‘Why, with Ben Bowles, that unprincipled gambler.’
“‘He must be the same fellow you knocked on the head at our camp,’ I
said to Harry.
“‘I should not be surprised,’ he replied. Then turning to Dabbs, I
requested him to give me a description of Bowles.
“‘He is very handsome; has dark-brown hair, very black eyes, is about
five and twenty years old, very tall--I should say not less than six
feet--dresses magnificently, drinks to excess, has a deep bass voice,
and a slight scar on his left temple, close to the eyebrow.’
“‘That is the very man!’ said I, as I again requested Mr. Dabbs to go on
with his history.
“‘Well,’ he began, ‘as I was saying just now, I cannot account for the
strange conduct of Miss Bramlett, except upon the theory that she has
become fascinated with that good-looking scoundrel, and was
contemplating a secret marriage with him; at all events, she has been
frequently seen to enter his apartments through a private door that
opens on an alley in the rear of the house.’
“‘I shall go mad!’ said Harry, as his head fell on my shoulder. I could
hear his heart throb and jump against his breast, as if in great
commotion. ‘Can this horrible story be true? Can the devil take the
shape of an angel, in order to drag the soul down to hell?’
“‘Hush, hush! Harry, there is some strange mistake connected with the
affair, and I’ll risk my life on Viola’s honor.’
“‘Thank you, a thousand times, from the very bottom of my heart! but
where is the cowardly villain who originated this damnable falsehood?
Oh, if I could only get my hand on his accursed throat!’
“‘Let us first find out who is working these secret wires,’ said I, ‘and
then we may be able to contend with the enemy with hopes of success. If
Miss Bramlett ever has visited that place, she has been inveigled into
it by foul and fraudulent means. She was continually searching for
worthy objects of charity, and some false, sneaking scoundrel may have
entrapped her into that house. How easily might she have been induced to
believe that some unfortunate creature was dying in that house for want
of food. I know that she would have gone there, or anywhere else, to
render assistance where suffering humanity needed help. No, if this is
the worst that can be said of Viola, you have reason to rejoice; for you
may rest assured she will be able to explain it satisfactorily.’
“‘I believe you, and shall hear all that can be said.’
“‘No, indeed, Mr. Wallingford,’ said Dabbs, ‘far be it from me to report
anything in this case except the naked truth. I have no bias for or
against any one, I assure you. It is the duty of one in my position to
be careful to keep his mind clear of prejudice, and to look only to the
detection of crime; and if Miss Bramlett shall be able to offer a
satisfactory explanation of her conduct in this instance, it will be a
source of gratification to me. My mind tells me that this man Bowles had
something to do with the death of young Bramlett; and if he had, I shall
not stop until I can prove it. The fact that Miss Bramlett has
frequently met Bowles under suspicious circumstances has been
ascertained to a certainty; but after all it may, as you have suggested,
be easily explained by her. A lady of Miss Bramlett’s tender age, having
but little experience in the wicked ways of the world, would be a lamb
in the power of such a wolf as Bowles. He is frequently out of money;
and when such unprincipled scamps want funds, they would commit murder;
or any other crime to get it. He is extravagant beyond measure, loves
wine and women, keeps four fast trotters at Burton’s, bets high at the
gaming table, and occasionally dines his friends extravagantly. Now all
this costs money; and it is my opinion that Miss Bramlett’s money has
largely contributed to that establishment. You know that she has within
the last twelve months squandered over ten thousand dollars in cash,
besides incurring debts equal to the cash spent. By her father’s will
she had the right to spend the income of her inheritance--but could not
touch the principal. She went through with the income, and, from all
accounts, would have speedily wasted the principal, but the trustees
positively refused to allow it. Her little brother did not draw any of
his income at all; and when he died, his sister, of course, became the
owner of his share, not only of the income, but of the entire estate.
People do not commit murder without a motive. Did Miss Bramlett have a
motive to murder her brother? Of course we answer unhesitatingly, Yes.
What motive? what did she gain by the death of her brother? Answer--Ten
thousand dollars ready cash in hand, and two hundred thousand dollars
added to her inheritance. If that did not constitute a motive, I would
like some one to inform me what would. Bowles was in great stress for
want of money at that time, as I happen to know. The wolf may have used
the lamb as his agent to get the funds he wanted. He wrote a note to
Miss Bramlett in which he implored her to let him have five hundred
dollars. That note was found in her dress pocket. It is the document we
mentioned a moment ago, and here it is:
“‘DEAR V.--Don’t fail me to-night. Come at eight o’clock. I will be
alone. I am dying to see you. For Heaven’s sake let me have the
five hundred dollars, as I am in a tight place just now. I found
your note under the seat in the summer house. I knew where to look
for it. Of course I pressed it to my lips before I read it. When I
see you we will discuss our plans more fully. If you can accomplish
the business with a brave heart we shall yet be happy. I know that
you have the courage to do it, if you set your mind on it.
Detection would be impossible if you adopt my plan--though we will
talk the matter over when I have you in my arms.
“‘Yours and yours only,
“‘B. B.’
“‘Catch Mr. Wallingford there--he has fainted!’ exclaimed Dabbs, as he
sprang forward and attempted to prevent Harry from falling; but he was
too late--for Harry was lying on the floor before Dabbs got to him. I
was unable to render any assistance, being completely overcome with
horror at hearing the contents of the letter. Most of my hopes of
Viola’s innocence vanished when the note was read; Mr. Dabbs lifted
Harry up and laid him on a sofa, while Tadpoddle sprinkled his face with
water and took off his cravat, unbuttoning his collar--then Harry began
to breathe faintly; but such a look of despair as settled on his face I
never beheld there before. I was unable to offer consolation, for I was
in need of it myself--the blood seemed to be freezing in my veins. It
was plain that Bowles’ letter referred to the plan which had for its
object the murder of Viola’s brother. The bare thought that such was the
fact made my heart stand still.
“‘Have we all been deceived by this beautiful girl? Is she, after all, a
cruel, calculating murderess, and the mistress of a villain? Could it be
possible that one so beautiful possessed the heart of a murderess? Could
it be that she who looked like the very embodiment of purity was the
horrible thing that I blush to think of? Questions of that nature came
pouring in on my mind; and if I had been compelled to answer, I should
have been forced to admit that the evidence was overwhelming against
Viola. It was plain to my mind that it would not do to depend on Harry
any longer--he was more like a raving maniac than anything else. I began
to fear that he would seek a quarrel with Bowles--a thing which above
all others I thought should be avoided, as it would prevent the
detectives from getting at the bottom of the case. If Harry should
attack Bowles I knew that one or the other would be killed; and how to
prevent it was the question uppermost in my mind just then. I knew all
about Harry’s ungovernable temper and his lack of fear, and imagined
from his looks that he had resolved on something rash--his face was pale
as death. I at once divined the thoughts that were passing through his
mind, and was endeavoring to invent some plan to prevent a meeting
between him and Bowles, when he addressed me in a tone so low that it
was not much above a whisper:
“‘Eddie, it is all over with me--I am a ruined man; there is but one
course left for me to pursue--Bowles must answer for the ruin he has
wrought. Poor girl! I pity her, and before Heaven I swear to be her
avenger. She is a helpless orphan, and it is my duty to defend her,
notwithstanding she has forfeited all right to my love.’
“I grew impatient. I was becoming tired of Harry’s imprudence, and could
not forget the fact that his selfish pride has caused all this trouble.
“‘I think,’ said I, endeavoring to keep down my rising temper, ‘that I
heard you say if every man, woman and child in Memphis were to swear
Viola was guilty, you would believe they were mistaken; and now, at the
first intimation of her guilt, without any proof whatever, you are the
very one to condemn her. Is this the confidence you have in your
affianced bride? Indeed, I congratulate Miss Bramlett in the possession
of such a true lover!’
“‘Stop, Edward,’ he said, as he rose from his seat and began to walk the
floor, ‘I know I have said many foolish things, and committed numerous
blunders in this business, but it can’t mend matters for you to be
throwing it up to me. I admit that in some instances my conduct was
inexcusable; but I was trying to repair the damage caused by it--it is
too late now. Nothing that any one could say would have any effect on
me, after what I have heard to-day. My heart has turned to stone, and I
don’t think it could feel anything at all. Perhaps it is best that it
should be so. I have a duty to perform now that will require coolness,
and I feel that I could see blood run from the heart of Viola’s betrayer
without compunction. I have a double account to settle with him; and it
shall be settled in a manner that will be final.’
“‘If you would listen to the advice of your friends, you never would let
Bowles know that you have obtained a clew to his villainy until you have
secured enough proof to convict him in open court. It is very clear that
if he is the author of that letter, he has been the prime mover in the
murder of Miss Bramlett’s brother; and it is also very plain that other
letters have been written--for he mentions the place where letters were
deposited and received. Now, if you make a row you put him on his guard,
and thereby give him a chance to escape; but if you keep quiet and let
Dabbs work on him, I think it would enable us to trap him. Above all
things let us give Dabbs an opportunity to work up the case, so far as
Bowles is concerned. A man must learn to control himself before he can
expect to control other people; and when you make up your mind to act
with your friends, and not against them, I am prepared to proceed
further in this business. If, on the other hand, you mean to seek a
quarrel with Bowles, and destroy all hopes of securing proof of his
guilt, I beg to say that I wash my hands of the whole affair.’
“‘I will promise to wait until Mr. Dabbs shall have a chance to do what
he can; but, remember, I only promise to postpone his punishment.’
“‘Very well; I accept the promise, and we can discuss his punishment at
another time. We must see Lottie at once, and prevail on her to tell
what she knows. I am sure she could furnish us some important
information, if she would. While I am ready to admit that my confidence
in Viola’s honor has been somewhat shaken, I must be permitted to say
that I have not lost all hopes; hence my anxiety to know the truth has
been increased very much by what I have just heard.’
“‘Have you anything further to communicate?’ said I, addressing Mr.
Dabbs; ‘if you have, we beg you to proceed.’
“‘Ah, hem! yes, Mr. Demar,’ replied the detective, as he took the last
corner from his plug of tobacco, ‘I have something more to say; and, in
the first place, allow me to mention the fact that I heartily indorse
your idea as to Bowles. We must by all means keep him in the dark as to
what we have resurrected against him. He is a sly, shrewd rascal; but
I’ll capture him if you don’t thwart me. In Mr. Ragland’s flower garden
there is a large summer-house made of lattice-work, and all covered over
with vines. It is constructed in an octagonal shape, with wooden
benches, arranged round inside. This house has been the meeting place of
Miss Bramlett and Bowles. Miss Jemima Tadpoddle saw them there one night
at a very late hour. She had called to see Mrs. Ragland one evening, and
was informed by the house-maid that her mistress had gone out to attend
a meeting of some benevolent society, of which she was an active member;
but the maid told Miss Tadpoddle that Mrs. Ragland would be in soon, and
while waiting in the drawing-room for Mrs. Ragland’s return, she saw
Miss Bramlett go into the summer-house. Soon after Miss Bramlett went
into the place Bowles came in through a secret entrance at the back of
the garden, and went into the summer-house where Miss Bramlett was
watching for him. After waiting a long time to see Mrs. Ragland, Miss
Tadpoddle left without seeing her; and when she went away Bowles and
Miss Bramlett were still in the summer-house. How long they remained
there she of course did not know. When Miss Tadpoddle gave us this
information we made a thorough examination of the premises, in order to
find the place where Bowles got into the garden. We searched for some
time without any result, but at last we found his entering place; and I
must give him credit for great skill, for the manner in which he had
managed it. The garden was inclosed with a common paling fence of pine
timber, painted white, the palings being about four feet high, sharpened
to a point at the top, and nailed to a horizontal railing. Three of
those palings had been so arranged that they could be taken off and
replaced, so as to leave no signs of having been removed. The nails that
had originally been driven in to hold the palings in their places had
been drawn out, small wooden pins put in their stead--so that when
anyone wished to enter the garden he had nothing to do but to draw out
the wooden pins, take off the palings and walk in; then replace them,
and no one could see that the palings had ever been interfered with. I
don’t think we should have made the discovery had it not been for the
signs left on the grass by the feet of the party, who had evidently
entered very often. We found that the ground near the place had been
hardened by continuous tramping on it; and this led us to examine the
palings very closely; the result was we found what I have just
mentioned. We made a very extensive search among the blades of tall
grass that grew in the vicinity of the entrance, and we found an article
which we believe to be a set that has fallen from a finger ring. I
should say that it was of considerable value--as it looks like a genuine
diamond. This little article may enable us to get our grabbers on Mr.
Bowles; because, if it is his, he of course has the ring from which it
has been detached. One thing is certain--Mr. Bowles has not only
received Miss Bramlett at his apartments very often, but he has been
meeting her in the summer-house many a time. I believe this ends what I
had to report to-day. Permit me to take my leave now, and you shall hear
from us again soon.’”
Queen Mary now expressed a wish that the further hearing of the story
should be postponed, in order that the maskers might have a recess.