“The next witness introduced was Mrs. Ragland, a very beautiful woman--a
brunette of the Guluare type. She was elegantly attired in a gown of
drab silk, with an abundant train, containing innumerable flounces
trimmed with Valenciennes lace. Diamonds flashed from her bosom, neck
and arms, and a massive gold chain encircled her neck two or three
times, at the lower end of which was fastened an exquisite lady’s watch,
half concealed in a shallow pocket at her waist. Her large dark eyes
rolled about wildly beneath very long, heavy lashes. There was a
mysterious restlessness in the expression of her great black eyes which
convinced me that she possessed a soul that was a stranger to happiness.
“‘Mrs. Ragland,’ said Mr. Quillet, ‘if you ever saw Miss Bramlett meet
Mr. Bowles, please tell the jury when and where it was.’
“‘I have very often seen them meet in our garden; can’t say exactly how
often, though I can positively assert that they met as many as three
times. The last time I saw them meet was but a very few days before Miss
Bramlett’s little brother died; don’t know the exact date, but am sure
it was less than a week before her brother’s death.’
“‘If you ever heard any conversation between Miss Bramlett and Mr.
Bowles, please tell what was said by each of them?’
“‘I distinctly remember one occasion when I heard a conversation between
them, but I think that most of the talking was done by Miss Bramlett. To
the best of my recollection, it was about the 1st of February, at night;
the weather was uncommonly warm and oppressive; I was suffering with a
severe headache, and I concluded that probably a stroll in the garden
would have the effect to ease my sufferings. After walking about in the
garden for some time, I went into the summer-house and took a seat on
one of the low wooden benches that stood near the wall, which was
covered with honeysuckle vines, under which I was partially concealed. I
had been there but a few minutes when I heard footsteps sounding on the
ground, and was very much frightened when I discovered a man coming
toward me from the extreme rear of the garden. He approached to a spot
within five paces of the summer-house, and halting, instantly gave a low
whistle which I suppose was a signal to notify Miss Bramlett of his
arrival. As soon as he halted, I discovered that it was Mr. Bowles. I
suppose he had been there somewhere about five minutes, when I saw Miss
Bramlett coming from the house. She approached the spot where Mr. Bowles
was and entered into a whispered conversation with him, all of which I
could distinctly hear. She commenced the interview by urging him to
fulfill a promise of marriage, which she alleged he had made, and which
he did not deny. He made many protestations of love to her, which she
returned in very earnest language, and after the conversation had run on
the subject of love and marriage for some time, she asked him how
strychnine was used to kill rats; then she brought the conversation
round to the effect such a poison would have on the human system. After
a while she put the question to him directly, by asking him how much of
the poison it would require to kill a man; and then she asked how much
it would take to kill a child under ten. She also asked him if a doctor
could tell when a person had died from the effects of strychnine. Mr.
Bowles endeavored to change the subject by asking questions about other
things, but she invariably whipped round and came back to the subject
and persisted in talking about it, until Mr. Bowles in an angry tone
threatened to depart and leave her unless she would hush talking about
poison.
“‘“Viola,” said Mr. Bowles, “I do not like to have you talk that way--it
makes me shiver to listen to it!”
“‘After they had conversed there about thirty minutes, he invited her to
accompany him to his apartments, which she consented to do, and passed
out through the garden and disappeared down the street.’
“‘You may take the witness, if you wish to cross-examine her,’ said Mr.
Quillet.
“‘Have you been friendly with Miss Bramlett all the time since she came
to reside in your husband’s house?’
“‘I cannot say that we were all the time friendly, for we did frequently
have little disputes about matters of a trifling nature; but I never for
a moment harbored any ill-will or malice toward Miss Bramlett. I, of
course, did not approve of her conduct, and many times have remonstrated
with her about the impropriety of it, but instead of thanking me for my
good advice, she would fly into a passion; with that exception, our
relations were undisturbed.’
“‘Mrs. Ragland, have you not often borrowed large sums of money from
Miss Bramlett?’
“‘Well, I do not know what you would consider a large sum of
money--people have different ideas on that subject, you know.’
‘“Very well, then; just tell us how much money you did borrow from her!’
“‘I remember borrowing five hundred dollars from her on one occasion.’
“‘What did you do with that five hundred dollars?’
“‘That is none of your business, Miss Wallingford; you have no right to
be prying into my private affairs.’
“‘You must answer the question, madame,’ said the judge.
“‘I could not tell now, to save my life, exactly what I did do with it.’
“‘Did you not borrow the money expressly for Benjamin Bowles?’
“‘No, I did not. Why should I be borrowing money for him?’
“‘That is the very thing we are endeavoring to find out. Did you not
borrow as much as five hundred dollars from Miss Bramlett on two
different occasions.’
“‘Perhaps I did.’
“‘Don’t you know you did?’
“‘Well, yes, I believe I did.’
“‘Have you ever paid any of that money back?’
“‘No; I have not.’
“‘About one week before the death of Miss Bramlett’s little brother, did
you not borrow from her one thousand dollars?’
“‘I think I did.’
“‘Don’t you know you did?’
“‘Yes.’
“‘What did you want with it?’
“‘I do not now remember exactly what I did want it for.’
“‘Did you not borrow it for Benjamin Bowles?’
“‘No, I did not; but I dare say I got it to pay for a set of diamonds,
or something of the sort.’
“‘Were you acquainted with Mr. Bowles before you were married to Mr.
Ragland?’
“‘No.’
“‘What was your maiden name?’
“‘Helen Herndon.’
“‘Are your parents living now?’
“‘No, they are both dead.’
“‘Where and when did they die?’
“‘In the State of Louisiana, ten years ago.’
“‘Were you ever acquainted with a woman named Victoria Totten?’
“At the mention of that name, Mrs. Ragland’s face turned ghastly pale,
and she gave a sudden start, as a person would when stung by a wasp, but
she promptly answered:
“‘No.’
“‘Did you ever reside in the city of New Orleans?’
“‘No.’
“‘Have you ever been in that city?’
“‘Yes.’
“‘Now, Mrs. Ragland, will you state on your oath that you never did
reside in New Orleans as the reputed wife of Benjamin Bowles?’
“‘Yes, I will; and I do not thank you for asking me any such a
question!’
“‘I do not wish or expect any thanks from you, madame, but I merely want
to get at the truth. Mrs. Ragland, did you ever see a copy of Bolivar
Bramlett’s will?’
“‘Perhaps I have.’
“‘Don’t you know you have?’
“‘Suppose I have: what does that signify?’
“‘Just answer the question, if you please.’
“‘Very well, then--I have seen a copy of the will.’
“‘Did you not send to New York for a copy of the will, and pay ten
dollars for it?’
“‘Oh, yes, I declare, I had forgotten all about it!’
“‘Yes, I dare say you had forgotten all about such a trivial little
circumstance; but I want you to tell the jury what object you had in
view when you paid ten dollars for a copy of Mr. Bramlett’s will.’
“‘I cannot remember precisely what I did want with the copy, but I
suppose I was prompted by sheer curiosity.’
“‘Is this the copy of the will that you received from New York?’
“Lottie handed her a large bundle of papers, containing at least a dozen
sheets of paper covered with writing, the last one being sealed with red
wax, to which was attached a blue ribbon, just below the notary’s
signature.
“‘This looks very much like the copy I received, though I could not
swear positively that it was the identical document. If it is the same
paper, some thief has stolen it from my bureau drawer; and I should like
very much to know how you got possession of it.’
“‘I dare say you would, and I promise that you shall know all about it
very soon. Who, under Bolivar Bramlett, would inherit his immense
wealth, if Miss Bramlett and her brother had both died childless?’
“‘I believe it would have come to my husband.’
“‘Don’t you know it would?’
“‘Yes, I suppose I do.’
“‘Then your husband would have been the possessor of a very large
fortune, if those two children had died childless?’
“‘Yes, I suppose that is the way of it.’
“‘But you did not want those two children to die, and leave your husband
to be bothered with the management of such a large fortune?’
“‘I do not know that I ever gave a thought to that subject.’
“‘Well, were you not frequently in need of money?’
“‘I don’t know that I was frequently in need of money, though I did
sometimes borrow a little from my niece.’
“‘Why did you not get money from your husband when you stood in need of
it, instead of borrowing it from Miss Bramlett?’
“‘My husband was not in a condition to let me have money.’
“‘Then how did you expect to pay the money back that you borrowed of
Miss Bramlett?’
“‘I do not know that I ever gave a thought to that subject.’
“‘Were you ever in a gambling house on Canal street, New Orleans?’
“‘No, I was not; and I should like to know why you ask such absurd
questions of me?’
“Be patient, madame, and it will all be very plain to you in a short
time. What number shoe do you wear?’
“‘Number four.’
“Lottie then opened a little portmanteau which the coachman had brought
in that morning, and placing it on the floor near her, took out a pretty
little number three lady’s boot, and handed it to Mrs. Ragland.
“‘Please examine that boot and tell me whether or not you ever saw it
before?’
“‘La, yes, indeed, I have seen it before! it is mine--it was stolen from
my boudoir, and I should like very much to know the thief.’
“‘You shall see the thief before you leave the stand; but tell us what
is the number of that boot?’
“‘It is a number three, I believe; I know it is too small for me--I
could not wear it, for that very reason.’
“‘Have you not very often worn this boot, along with its mate?’
“‘No, I don’t think I have, because they hurt my feet so that I could
not wear them.’
“‘Then will you be so good as to explain how this heel came to be so
much whetted off?’
“‘I cannot tell, unless it was done by Miss Bramlett, as she very
frequently wore them, because her foot is smaller than mine, and a
number three exactly fits it.’
“‘Are you not wearing a number three shoe now?’
“‘Perhaps I am; in fact, I know I am, because I was pressed for time
this morning, and during the confusion my maid put on a pair of number
threes, which I did not notice until I got out of the carriage to come
into the court-room, and then I found it out, because my feet were being
pinched.’
“‘How does it happen that you have so many number three shoes about your
house, when you say that you only wear number fours?’
“‘You know how foolish we ladies are about the looks of our feet, and
you also know that we very often thrust them into shoes that are too
small.’
“‘You admit, then, that you are now wearing number three shoes?’
“‘Yes.’
“‘I see that you have lost the set out of that beautiful ring on the
third finger of your left hand; will you be so good as to let me examine
it?’
“‘Now I should like to know what you want with one of my rings?’
“‘You must let Miss Wallingford examine the ring, madame,’ said the
judge as he leaned over his desk and watched Lottie with eager looks.
“Mrs. Ragland took the ring from her finger and handed it to Lottie, at
the same time casting on her a gaze of intense hate.
“‘Where and when did you lose the set out of this ring, Mrs. Ragland?’
“‘I lost it somewhere about the 1st of last February, but I do not know
where I lost it.’
“‘Would you recognize the set if you were to see it again?’
“‘I would, if I were to find it in an African desert, for it is a
genuine diamond, for which I paid three hundred dollars.’
“‘Did you ever pass through a secret opening at the back part of your
garden, and enter the street that leads near it?’
“‘Why should I pass through that way to get into the street, when we
have two gates that open into the front street?’
“‘I did not ask you _why_ you did it, but I asked you if you ever did do
it?’
“‘Very well, miss, then I answer, No!’
“‘Did you not frequently visit Mr. Bowles at his apartments?’
“‘No, I did not; and I do not thank you for propounding such questions
to me!’
“‘I am not seeking for thanks, but merely wish to get at the facts. Did
you ever have an interview with Mr. Bowles in the summer-house in your
garden?’
“‘No, I did not; what business could I have with Mr. Bowles?’
“‘That is the very thing we are trying to find out. Is this the set that
belongs to your ring?’
“Lottie handed Mrs. Ragland a large diamond set, the same that had been
found by the detectives.
“‘La, yes, that is the very identical set that I lost; but I dare say
that the same thief who stole my shoes took the set out of my ring!’
“‘Look at this picture, madame, and tell me if you recognize it?’
“‘Oh, yes; that is a picture of Mr. Bowles.’
“‘Will you be so good as to tell the jury how it happened to be hidden
away in your bedroom bureau?’
“‘I do not know why you should choose to employ the word _hidden_ unless
you take pleasure in making insulting insinuations. I dare say the thief
who stole that picture might have taken many others from the same place
if she had tried, for I am sure there were many others there!’
“‘Did not Mr. Bowles give you this picture in exchange for yours, which
was found in his possession?’
“‘In the first place, I did not know he had my picture in his
possession, for I am sure I never gave it to him.’
“‘Now, Mrs. Ragland, don’t you remember that you had your picture put in
a costly gold locket for the express purpose of presenting it to Mr.
Bowles?’
“‘I do not remember anything of the sort: Mr. Bowles may have purchased
a gold locket, and he may have bought one of my pictures, but I know he
never received one from me.’
“‘Please examine this locket, Mrs. Ragland, and then tell me whether or
not you gave it to Benjamin Bowles.’
“‘I never saw it until this moment.’
“‘You see that the words, “From Victoria to Benjamin” are engraved on
the back of this locket; now, can you explain why the name of Victoria
should appear on this locket, when you swear that your name is Helen?’
“‘Why should you expect me to be able to explain it any more than you
could, when you have just heard me say that I never saw that locket
until this moment? Mr. Bowles could very easily put my picture in any
sort of a case he pleased, and if he chooses to put it into a locket
containing another person’s name, it does not in any manner disturb me.’
“‘Mrs. Ragland, do you not know that you had that locket made to order,
about two years ago, at the house of F. H. Clark?’
“‘If I ever ordered such a job, I do not now remember it.’
“‘Mrs. Ragland, don’t you know that your maiden name was Victoria
Totten, and that you lived in New Orleans as the reputed wife of
Benjamin Bowles?’
“‘No, I do not know any such thing! It is my opinion that no lady would
ask a witness any such insulting question; but I suppose you are anxious
to play smart.’
“A sweet smile played for a moment over Lottie’s beautiful face, and
then resuming her usual calm, composed demeanor, she proceeded with the
examination, without evincing any signs of annoyance at the ill-natured
remarks.
“‘Mrs. Ragland, were you ever acquainted with a widow lady residing a
few miles east of the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi?’
“‘No.’
“‘Please examine this letter, and tell the jury whether you ever saw it
before or not.’
“The letter which Lottie handed to the witness was the one that Mr.
Dabbs said he had found in the pocket of Miss Bramlett’s silk dress, in
which the loan of five hundred dollars was mentioned, and the same that
was signed with the letter ‘B.’ and directed to ‘Dear V.’ As Mrs.
Ragland gazed at the mysterious letter, her hands trembled violently,
while a deathly pallor spread over her face.
“‘This is the first time I ever laid my eyes on this letter. I suppose
it was intended for Miss Bramlett, as I see that it was directed to her,
and I understand that it was found in her dress pocket.’
“‘Do you recognize the handwriting?’
“‘No.’
“‘Don’t you know that it is the handwriting of Mr. Bowles?’
“‘I don’t think it is, though it somewhat resembles his writing.’
“‘Here is another letter which I want you to examine, and then tell me
if you ever saw it before.’
“Mrs. Ragland’s agitation now increased until her body was shaking like
one in an ague fit, while her face lost all signs of blood, and the
letter fairly rattled in her hand as she attempted to read it.
“‘I never saw that paper until this very minute.’
“‘Now, Mrs. Ragland, if you never saw that letter before to-day, will
you be so good as to explain how it came to be concealed in the pocket
of one of your silk dresses?’
“‘How should I be expected to explain how it came there, when I did not
know it was there, and when I did not have anything to do with it? I
dare say Miss Bramlett could give you the information you seek, for if
it was found in the pocket of my dress, you may be sure she placed it
there, in order to avert suspicion from herself, and to fix it on me.
You see that the letter was directed to her, and as she was in the habit
of wearing my dresses very frequently, it may be possible that she left
it there by mistake.’
“Lottie then, in a low whisper, requested Mr. Rockland to read the
letter to the jury.
“‘If the court please’ said the iron lawyer, as he rose from his seat,
‘we now offer the letter as evidence in this case, and ask permission to
read it to the jury.’
“‘Let me examine it first, if you please,’ said Mr. Quillet, as he began
to exhibit signs of agitation.
“The letter was handed to him, and after reading it carefully, he said:
“‘We object to the reading of this letter as evidence, unless it can be
clearly shown who wrote it, and wherein it can in any manner be made to
apply to the case now on trial.’
“‘We promise the court,’ replied Mr. Rockland, ‘that we will, at the
proper time, show who wrote it, and also make it clear that it applies
most forcibly to this case.’
“‘You may read the letter,’ said the judge, ‘and if you can make the
proof which you mentioned, it may be considered as competent evidence;
if you fail, then the court will direct it to be excluded.’
“Mr. Rockland then read the letter in his deep, solemn tone of voice,
which caused a shudder to shake my body from head to foot. Here is the
mysterious letter:
“‘DEAR V.--Strychnine, as I have often told you, is the best
medicine to rid you of rats. You may depend on me to settle the
hash with the old rat, and I shall expect you to do the job for the
two young ones. Exercise caution, and success is certain; be sure
to remember that the stakes for which we play are of immense value.
Love and fortune will be ours when the task is finished. You will
be the richest lady in the land, and shall reign as the queen of
fashion, as well as queen of hearts. A gilded palace in the sunny
land of Italy shall be the dwelling place of my beauteous wife.
Burn this letter as soon as you read it; be brave, act promptly,
and we will reap a rich reward. I am dying with impatience to clasp
your dear form to my heart. Yours, and yours only,
B.’
“If Mrs. Ragland had been chained in a lake of liquid fire the evidence
of torture could not have been greater than that which she exhibited
while Mr. Rockland was reading that letter. Her eyeballs seemed to have
grown much larger, while a wild, frightened expression shot forth from
them, and every little jostle made by the spectators caused her to start
suddenly as if she were badly frightened. She insisted that the letter
had been placed in her dress pocket by Miss Bramlett, in order to divert
suspicion from herself.
“‘If,’ said she, ‘Miss Bramlett could have the heart to murder her poor
little brother, it is not at all strange that she should try to fix the
crime on some one else, in order to save her own neck.’
“‘Mrs. Ragland,’ said Lottie, in a tone full of gentleness, ‘did you
ever know a young man named Charles Everson?’
“‘No.’
“‘Why, then, did you give such a sudden start when I mentioned his
name?’
“‘I don’t know that I did any such thing; but what if I did: is it
strange that I should be nervous and restless under the circumstances by
which I am surrounded?”
“‘Mrs. Ragland, did you at any time wear a blue silk dress that belonged
to Miss Bramlett?’
“‘No, I did not; why should I borrow any of her silk dresses when I had
plenty of my own?’
“‘That, madame, is the very strange mystery which we are endeavoring to
solve. Are you willing to state on your oath that you never at any time
wore a blue silk gown of Miss Bramlett’s?’
“‘Have I not just now stated it under oath? How many times do you wish
me to say it?’
“‘Mrs. Ragland, where did you first make the acquaintance of Mr.
Bowles?’
“‘In Memphis!’
“‘Did you ever live in Mississippi?’
“‘No!’
“‘Did you ever meet Mr. Bowles at Vicksburg, Mississippi?’
“‘No!’
“‘Did you ever meet him in New Orleans?’
“‘No!’
“‘Have you ever met Mr. Bowles outside of Memphis?’
“‘No!’
“‘Were you ever engaged to be married to any other man than your present
husband?’
“‘No!’
“‘Were you ever in love with any other man than Mr. Ragland?’
“‘No!’
“Lottie then whispered to me, and requested me to hurry to the library
room and call Mr. Everson, who had been waiting there until he should be
wanted. I met with no little difficulty in forcing my way back to where
Lottie was, but by dint of vigorous pushing and squeezing among the
densely packed masses of humanity, I at length shoved my man suddenly in
front of Mrs. Ragland.
“As soon as she saw Mr. Everson, she sprang up from her seat, stared
wildly at him for a moment, then throwing both hands up above her head,
uttered a loud, piercing scream, fell back on her seat, and buried her
face in her hands. After holding her hands over her face a moment, she
let them drop on her lap, and I noticed that her lower jaw had dropped
down, as do those of dead persons.
‘“Catch that lady there, quick!’ exclaimed the judge, ‘she is going to
faint!’
“Mr. Quillet hastened forward, but he was too late, for the helpless
body of Mrs. Ragland fell on the floor before he got to her. The
excitement among the members of the bar, as well as the spectators,
continued to increase, until the limp body of Mrs. Ragland was removed
to an adjoining room.
“I never had seen Mr. Rockland lose his self-possession until that
moment, but he managed to let his heart have its way then. He seized
Lottie and pressed her to his breast:
“‘God bless you, my daughter! No lawyer ever displayed such skill and
shrewdness as you have, and no lawyer ever received such a fee as you
shall have in this case. My entire fortune shall be your fee!’
“Then he seized Miss Bramlett and pressed a kiss on her brow.
“‘Poor child, how deeply you have been wronged! how you have suffered
for the sins of another person!’
“‘Sit down, papa,’ said Lottie, as she caught him by the arm; ‘don’t you
see how all the lawyers are laughing at you?’
“‘Let them laugh, Lottie--I hope it will do them good; I wish it could
make them as happy as you have made me.’
“I thought while the excitement was up to fever heat that I would slip
through the crowd and drop a kiss on my darling’s brow, in order to show
the high appreciation I had for her great talent; but she evidently
divined my object, for she pushed me back abruptly and exclaimed:
“‘Do, pray, Edward, take a seat--don’t you see papa has gone crazy? and
I do believe you are trying to follow his example!’
“I felt quite sheepish, because I considered the rebuke well deserved;
but I took my seat, and with great difficulty managed to regain my
equanimity. Colonel Buff, who was near enough to hear what Lottie said
to me, gave me a punch under the arm with his thumb, at the same time
making a noise as a frog does when he jumps into his pond.
“‘Eh! Demar, your boat struck a snag, I see; well, never mind, old
fellow, I saw from her looks that she was not offended.’
“‘Do you wish to introduce any more witnesses, Rockland?’ inquired the
judge.
“‘My daughter informs me that she wishes to introduce her brother, Harry
Wallingford, as a witness, who is now waiting in the clerk’s office.’
“‘Go after brother Harry, Edward,’ Lottie whispered as she caught hold
of my arm, ‘and be sure to caution him about the control of his temper.
Much depends upon the manner in which he shall conduct himself on the
stand.’
“When I entered the clerk’s office, I found Wallingford seated near a
table, with his face buried in his hands; and when I spoke to him, he
started up suddenly and endeavored to conceal the tears that he had been
shedding.
“‘She is saved, Ed,’ he said in tone husky with emotion, ‘but she is
lost to me forever! I have played such a contemptible part in this
affair as to justify her in despising me, and to make me hate myself. I
have deeply wronged her, and I must make up my mind to lose her.’
“‘Nonsense, Harry,’ said I; ‘she loves you as well as ever, and will be
yours if you will only ask her; but come, Lottie sent me to bring you
in, and she told me to caution you in regard to that unfortunate temper
of yours.’
“‘I shall get along all right, unless Quillet offers me an insult;
that, you know, I will not submit to, either in or out of court.’
“‘You and your case are both gone up the spout, Quillet,’ whispered
Hogjaw as I entered the room, accompanied by Wallingford. ‘You are
defeated, vanquished, quashed, conquered, overthrown, trampled under,
ground up, and chopped into hash, all by a woman.’
“‘If that girl would agree to marry me,’ replied Quillet, ‘I think I
could forgive her, and bear my defeat with becoming fortitude; but I
tell you what it is, I mean to fight till the death, and die bravely in
the last ditch, if die I must; and
“‘“Though I hope not hence unscathed to go,
Who conquers me shall find a stubborn foe.”’
“‘Proceed with the case, Mr. Rockland,’ said the judge, who began to
show signs of impatience.
“‘Let Mr. Wallingford be sworn and placed under the rule until we
examine Mr. Everson,’ said Mr. Rockland.
“That young man then took the stand. He was a sad-faced young man, whose
features contained unmistakable evidence of untold sufferings endured.
“‘Mr. Everson,’ said Lottie, ‘were you ever acquainted with a young lady
by the name of Victoria Totten?’
‘“Yes.’
“‘Where did you know her?’
“‘At Vicksburg, Mississippi.’
“‘Were you acquainted with Benjamin Bowles at Vicksburg?’
‘“Yes.’
“‘When did you last see Victoria Totten?’
“‘I saw her a few minutes ago--she is the woman who fainted when I came
in.’
“‘Was she ever married to Mr. Bowles?’
“‘No.’
“‘If Miss Victoria Totten left Vicksburg in company with any one, please
tell who it was, and under what circumstances she left.’
“‘She eloped with Benjamin Bowles, and they went to New Orleans, where
they lived as husband and wife, though they never were married.’
“‘Were you acquainted with Victoria Totten’s mother?’
“‘Yes.’
“‘Where did she reside?’
“‘Near Vicksburg; and she is now living there.’
“‘Can it be possible that you are mistaken when you say that the woman
who fainted on the stand is the same person you knew as Victoria
Totten?’
“‘No, for I have been well acquainted with her for twenty years.’
“Mr. Quillet suffered Mr. Everson to stand aside without
cross-examination.
“Harry Wallingford was then ordered to take the stand, which he did with
a dignified and rather haughty mien, while his eyes glanced over the
crowd with a careless look of indifference; I noticed that he was
careful to avoid the gaze of Miss Bramlett, who had her eyes eagerly
fixed on him. After gazing intently at him for a moment, her head sank
down on the table that stood in front of her, and I saw tears begin to
drop from her chin.
“‘Brother Harry,’ said Lottie, ‘if you are in possession of facts that
would tend to throw any light on the case now on trial, please tell them
in your own way.’
“‘I employed what I thought was an experienced detective, and set him to
work on this case; he either would not, or could not, see or believe
anything that pointed to any one else as the guilty party but Miss
Bramlett. It is with feelings of the deepest shame and mortification
that I am compelled to confess that he at one time managed to shake my
confidence in the innocence of Miss Bramlett. After becoming convinced
that it was folly to depend any longer on Mr. Dabbs, I concluded to take
the matter into my own hands. In order to enable me to accomplish my
purpose, I secured the services of a first-class locksmith, who
undertook to manufacture for me such keys as I might require. About ten
days ago I managed to enter the premises of Benjamin Bowles, disguised
as a farmer, and after letting him win a small sum of money from me, I
feigned intoxication, and was permitted by him to take a nap on a sofa
in an adjoining room; but while he thought I was sound asleep, I was
busy taking wax impressions of all the locks and keys of the apartments,
as well as all trunks, bureaus, wardrobes, etc. Having accomplished the
object of my visit, I hurried to my locksmith, and ordered him to make
the keys necessary to enable me to open the locks, which he proceeded to
do immediately. The next day I paid a visit to the residence of Mrs.
Ragland, disguised as a gardener, and was so fortunate as to secure a
job of work in her flower garden, which I managed to accomplish to her
satisfaction. She went down town shopping, taking her maid with her,
leaving no one on the premises except the cook and myself; I managed to
enter the house through a back door, which was left unlocked. I
proceeded to take wax impressions of every lock and key I could find on
the premises, and gave them to my locksmith, and soon I was prepared
with keys to fit them. Being armed with my false keys, I managed to
enter the apartments of Mr. Bowles at a time when I knew he was away
from home. I succeeded in making a thorough search of all his rooms,
trunks, bureaus, dressing cases, wardrobes, etc., and carefully examined
all of his papers. I spent three consecutive days and nights in Mr.
Bowles’ establishment. In a bureau drawer that stood in his sleeping
room I found a large gold locket containing the picture of Mrs. Ragland;
on the back of the locket the words, “From Victoria to Benjamin” were
plainly engraved. After I had finished my inspection of the apartments
of Mr. Bowles, I turned my attention to the residence of Mrs. Ragland,
where I found many curious things, among which were several letters from
Benjamin Bowles. One of these letters mentioned strychnine as a good
poison for rats.’
“‘Is this the letter to which you refer?’ said Lottie as she handed a
paper to her brother.
“‘Yes, I found that letter in the pocket of a silk dress which belonged
to Mrs. Ragland.’
“‘If you ever saw this boot before,’ said Lottie, as she handed it to
him, ‘please tell when and where you saw it!’
“About five days ago I brought that boot from Mrs. Ragland’s sleeping
room. While searching a trunk in Mrs. Ragland’s bedroom, I found several
pictures of Benjamin Bowles, one of which was incased in a golden shell
handsomely inlaid with pearls. I brought the picture away, and have it
here now. This picture was wrapped up in a letter, which I have here.’
“‘Read it,’ said Mr. Rockland.
“‘DEAR V.--I herewith send you my picture, according to promise,
which I had taken when you were so good as to give me the pretty
image of your dear self. I tried to make the present more
acceptable by putting it in a costly case, and if you knew how
highly I prize the dear image of your sweet self which you
condescended to give me, you would no doubt value my ugly picture
more than you do. I am sorry indeed to be compelled to tell you
that I am just now in a terrible strait for the want of funds. Luck
has been giving me the cold shoulder for the last fortnight, and
you must by all means try to wheedle Miss Bramlett out of another
thousand for me, and I shall soon be able to make a rise with it.
The little scheme that I have so often mentioned to you is a
feasible one, which will insure us a great fortune, and richly
reward us for any risk; though there can be no risk, if we exercise
caution. When rats annoy us, why not destroy them?’
“‘Have you any other facts to communicate’ said Lottie; ‘if you have,
please proceed.’
“‘One night, while I was concealed in a bathroom in the apartments of
Mr. Bowles, he was visited by a woman whose face I did not see, but
whose voice I readily recognized as that of Mrs. Ragland. She arrived
there about nine o’clock, and remained until after the clock struck
twelve, when she went away accompanied by Bowles. While they remained in
the room adjacent to the one in which I was concealed, I could
distinctly hear everything they said. When Mrs. Ragland first entered
the house, she threw herself into the arms of Bowles, exclaiming:
“‘“Oh, Ben, let us fly before it is too late; for Suspicion has already
begun to point her finger at me! What a fortunate thing it was that I
happened to wear Miss Bramlett’s blue silk dress that night when Miss
Tadpoddle was watching me! She thinks it was Miss Bramlett, and will
swear in open court that it was she.”
“‘“Yes,” replied Bowles; “and that makes it necessary for us to swear
the same thing.”
“‘“For Heaven’s sake, Ben,” replied Mrs. Ragland, “do not, I beseech
you, ask me to add the awful sin of perjury to the long list of crimes
that I have committed!”
“‘“Pshaw! Vick, we have crossed the dead line long ago, and it is too
late to talk about retreating now; never will I move an inch toward the
rear; I will win by boldness and audacity. If we were to attempt to fly
now, it would insure our destruction, for we could not escape. Do as I
tell you, dear Vick, and I will vouch for a favorable termination.”
“‘“Ah, Ben, you know too well how I love you; and you also know how much
I would suffer and endure to serve and please you; but there is a
mysterious influence, which I cannot describe, that constantly whispers
strange words into my mind, telling me that my days are numbered, and
that I shall soon be called to render an account of my sinful deeds.”
“‘“Come, Vick, don’t be so silly! I declare, you are continually talking
about retribution and repentance!”
“‘“If all the wealth of the world belonged to me, I would willingly give
it for a clear conscience! Oh, Ben, let us quit our wicked ways, ere it
is forever too late, for I believe that I shall not live much longer--a
sort of presentiment whispers of death to me continually!”
“‘“Stop, stop! Vick, I swear I will not listen another moment to this
sentimental nonsense. Come, let us go in and take some champagne, and
then you will feel better.”
“‘They then went into another room and remained until midnight, when
Mrs. Ragland went home, accompanied by Bowles.’
“Wallingford was then turned over to Mr. Quillet for cross-examination.
“The usual smooth temper of the attorney-general had been considerably
ruffled by the taunts and jeers that had been thrown at him by the other
members of the bar, and notwithstanding he had lost all hopes of
sustaining the prosecution, he had resolved to have his revenge, which
he thought he could best secure by handling Harry Wallingford with
gloveless hands. As soon as he commenced the cross-examination I could
tell from his manner and the tone of his voice that he meant to cut
deep; and I also knew that he was treading on very dangerous ground when
he undertook the job.
“‘Mr. Wallingford,’ he said, in an imperative tone, ‘I should like you
to tell us by what authority you ventured to enter the apartments of
Mrs. Ragland, and, without her knowledge or consent, carry off private
property belonging to her?’
“‘I did it, sir, by the authority which God gives to all men in order to
enable them to protect innocence and expose guilt.’
“‘Are we to understand, sir, that you had a commission direct from God,
empowering you to enter a lady’s private chamber by false keys, and,
without her consent, carry off her private property?’
“‘The shape of your question, sir, carries with it an insult, and I
think it would be advisable for you to modify it.’
“‘I ask your pardon,’ said Quillet, smiling sarcastically. ‘I assure
you, sir, I did not think of insulting you; but really, I had a
curiosity to know what prompted you to take the law into your own hands
in such a presumptuous manner. As the shape of the question seems to
displease you, and as I should dislike very much to incur your
displeasure, I will take your advice, and change the shape of the
question: What induced you to interest yourself in Miss Bramlett’s
affairs, and why did you choose to spend so much money for her?’
“‘Because I loved her, sir, and because I believed she was innocent!’
“As Wallingford uttered those words his voice trembled slightly, while
his proud soul seemed to be standing in his eyes.
“‘Was not Miss Bramlett at one time betrothed to you?’
“‘Yes!’
“‘Is she now betrothed to you?’
“‘No!’
“‘Did you cancel the engagement?’
“‘No!’
“‘Did she do it?’
“‘Yes!’
“‘Why did she do it?’
“‘Because she found me to be unworthy of her love and respect.’
“Miss Bramlett started as if she were going to rise from her seat, then
dropped her head back on the table.
“‘Did you concur with her views in that respect?’
“‘Yes!’
“‘Why did you continue to work in her interest after she had discarded
you?’
“‘To gratify my sister and win the approval of my conscience.’
“‘Is your conscience easy now?’
“‘No!’
“‘Why not?’
“‘Because I wronged an innocent lady by my unjust suspicions.’
“The excitement by this time had been wrought up to fever heat, and I
could plainly see that an explosion was imminent, unless something was
done to prevent it.
“‘Stand aside, Mr. Wallingford!’ exclaimed Flipout in a tone that
convinced Quillet that no further trifling would be allowed.