'NOW DOWN!'
Miss Jenrys went faithfully to the post-office in the Government
Building the day after our visit to Midway, and the next, and the
next. On the fourth day she was rewarded, and when I appeared at her
door, as I did every day now, by appointment, and at a fixed hour, she
put a square envelope into my hand. It was addressed to 'J. J.,
World's Fair P.O.,' and the seal was unbroken.
I looked at the initials in surprise. 'Is it possible,' I asked, 'that
you two have not exchanged names? Has it always been J. J. and H. A.?'
'Quite so,' she laughed. 'It was her proposal. It would keep up the
romance of the acquaintance, she said,' and as I held out the envelope
toward her, 'No, that is your letter; I have no interest in it, and
little curiosity concerning it.'
'Then,' said I, as I broke the seal, 'I shall read it to you because
of that little.'
But when I had unfolded the sheet, I sat so long staring at it that
she asked lightly: 'Does it contain a scent, after all?' I put the
letter in her hand. 'Read for yourself,' I said, trying to speak
carelessly; and she read aloud:
'"MY KIND FRIEND,
'"I much regret that, because of my mamma's illness, I cannot
leave her for the present. But at the first moment of leisure
I shall let you know that I am at your service. How much I
regret the loss of your charming company, and long for a
sight of your charming face, is only known to yours,
'"H. A.'
'Bah!' She tossed the letter back to me with a little disdainful
laugh. 'It reads like a love-letter, and is anything but filial.' As I
folded the letter and put it carefully away, she watched me keenly.
'Mr. Masters,' she said, 'you have been in some unaccountable manner
startled, or shocked, by that letter.'
I could neither deny nor explain, and I frankly admitted it, assuring
her that she would not remain long in the dark.
'Oh, I can wait,' she smiled. 'Do not fancy me so unreasonable as to
expect the full confidence of a detective. Only, don't fear for my
"nerves," and let me help in any way that I can. I think,' laughing,
'that I have said this before.'
I was anxious to go now, and, rising, I took her at her word. 'You can
help me in two ways,' I said, 'but I must ask you not to demand
reasons just yet.'
'Go on,' she said promptly.
'First, should this brunette, this "H. A.," write you again, will you
inform me at once, and--I don't think it likely to occur, but if she
should call here, will you refuse to receive her?'
'Yes to both. But she does not know my address.'
'You forget; she has been seen to pass this house. Don't be too sure.'
'I will be on my guard. Is that all?'
'There is another point--a delicate one. I could not but see that
Monsieur Voisin's company that day in Midway was not entirely welcome
to your aunt and yourself; and--bear with me, please, I am speaking in
the interest of another. Promise me that you will not close your doors
against Monsieur Voisin, or treat him too coldly, for a little while.
Believe me, my reason is one that you will be first to endorse when it
is known to you.'
She hesitated, and I hurried on:
'The man is of a fiery disposition, and he recognises a rival in the
field--pardon my intrusion upon delicate ground. He comes from the
land of duellists.' She started. 'A little patience and diplomacy upon
your part, and I think I can promise that he will not annoy you much
longer.'
'Very well,' she assented, 'I agree. Auntie, strange to say, has urged
the same thing--concerning Monsieur Voisin, that is. At the worst we
can go home. It is now the last of June, and we go, in any case, in
July. Never fear, I shall not forget your admonitions, any of them.'
And she gave me her hand at the door with a reassuring smile.
Half-way over the threshold I turned back to say: 'By the way, Miss
Jenrys, if I chance to appear here at the same time as Monsieur
Voisin, please be kind to me.'
* * * * *
Late that same night Dave Brainerd and I held one of our long, and, in
the past, ofttimes useless and mistaken, symposiums. But this time we
were in perfect accord. We had spread upon the table before us our old
memoranda from the very beginning of our campaign, and also some few
letters and other documents. It had been a long 'session,' according
to Dave, but the conclusion was so satisfactory that, at the last, we
had each lighted a cigar, and celebrated thus what we considered a
fully mapped out campaign at last.
'Well,' pronounced Dave, with a sigh of content, as he tipped back his
chair, and elevated his feet to the top of the table between us. 'This
looks like business! Let us see! First,' checking off on his fingers,
'we're to keep away from Midway--all but Billy--so that they may not
make another flitting, eh?'
'Yes,' I assented.
'And we're to patrol Stony Island Avenue and the surrounding country
by day and by night, with a full force. Ain't that it?'
'Perfectly. Dave, you are as full of repetitions as an old woman!'
'Or a young one,' he retorted; 'and you think it is proved that the
brunette's a man, do you?'
'It was proved, for me, long ago.'
'And that letter? I can't see why it should not be launched at once.'
I had written to Mr. Trent, telling him of certain facts and theories,
and among them was the suggestion that we should cause a copy of the
'Roe' letter, with its proposed barter, to be published in the morning
papers, giving him my reasons at length, and requesting his opinion
before taking what might prove a very decisive if not aggressive step.
Dave was delighted with this idea, and, wearied with our 'masterly
inactivity,' he would, as he put it, 'launch the thing at once.' My
reasons, as explained to both Dave and Mr. Trent, were:
The letter signed 'Roe,' and offering to liberate young Trent, and at
the same time to defraud the comrades of the 'clique,' if genuine,
would, when published, expose the writer, who would then be obliged to
'leave the clique,' as he had expressed it, and with an additional
'reason' for so doing; this would at least lessen their numbers, and
perhaps force them to take into their confidence some new colleague.
Or, possibly, it would result in a quarrel among themselves, which
also might result in some way in our favour.
On the other hand, if it were a scheme of the clique, it would seem
that at least they were tired of the game and in need of money; and
the advertised letter, if followed up by another advertisement--in
which a correspondence might be proposed or some proffer made--might
draw them out; and in some way this must be done. In the meantime a
warrant must be issued, or rather two, one descriptive of the brunette
as a woman, the other as a man; and since the Lausch people had not
done so, we would, if we could, arrest her or him on the charge of
robbery.
I had to go over the ground once more to quiet Dave, or to tire him
out; and we ended at last, as usual, in mutual agreement.
Several days must pass, I knew, before Mr. Trent would arrive. I had
written him daily, and he had replied by telegraph. He would be with
me soon, and would wire me the date of his arrival. In the meanwhile I
was to 'act upon my best judgment' in the matter of delaying the
advertisement. I decided to wait and watch, and so a few more days
passed in routine and quiet.
On one of these quiet days Lossing and I, in a moment of leisure, went
down to that interesting, and by many neglected, portion of the
Exposition grounds where are situated the cliff-dwellers; the Krupp
gun, giant of its kind; the Department of Ethnology, and the great
Stock Pavilion, where the English military tournaments were held
afternoons and evenings. It seemed to be by mutual consent that we
turned away from the little point of land where La Rabida sat
isolated, as a convent should; and, crossing the bridge that spanned
the inlet between the convent and the stately Agricultural Building,
we passed through its spacious central promenade and, passing by the
Obelisk and under the Colonnade, paused at the military encampment.
There was no performance at that hour, but men and horses were being
led into the monster pavilion, 'for exercise,' a big trooper explained
to us, 'and a bit of drill for the 'orses.' At which Lossing slipped
his hand through my arm. 'Come on,' he said, and, a little to my
surprise, he led me to a side door, and taking a card from his pocket,
held it an instant before the eyes of the soldier on guard, saying a
word as he passed him, which I did not catch.
As we entered the great inclosure, a group of officers were standing
near the centre of the arena, in busy converse, and a heavy artillery
team was being put through its paces, while nearer our place of
observation several cavalrymen were leading their horses up and down.
The officers evidently were discussing and arranging some matter of
importance. But while I noted this, I also noted that one of them who
stood facing toward us lifted his hand in salute, and then moved it
toward us in a less formal gesture, and, again to my surprise, my
companion lifted his hand and returned the salute in kind. Before he
could look at me I had turned my eyes away and was watching with
evident interest the manoeuvres of the cavalrymen.
They had mounted their animals and were beginning to put them through
their paces, and presently they began the drill known as throwing
their horses.
Galloping the animals to a certain point, they were brought to a short
and sudden stand, and then by a quick tug upon the bit, the animal, if
well trained, allowed itself to fall upon one side, the rider
instantly slipping from the saddle to a position half concealed by the
body of the horse from an imaginary enemy in front, and gun in hand,
ready to take aim across the saddle.
There was one man who did not at first go through this evolution with
the others, but set his horse near the rest looking on. When the
others had gone through the exercise, this man rode forward, put his
horse at a gallop, stopped him splendidly, and attempted the fall; but
the animal was obstinate or only half broken, and began to show signs
of both fright and fight.
As his rider turned the excited creature about, and sent him at a mad
gallop across the arena, one of the troopers came at an easy trot
directly toward us, and drawing rein beside us, with a lift of his
hat, said respectfully:
'Good-morning, sir. I hope you are well, sir.'
'Good-morning, George,' replied Lossing easily. 'What is the matter
with that horse?'
''E's a new one, sir, and not quite broke; though I do think, sir, as
he 'asn't the best and kindest of riders, sir, and that makes 'im
worse.'
'Yes,' said Lossing absently, with his eyes following the horse, which
was a really fine animal, one to attract a horse-lover.
'Hit's too bad,' went on the trooper. 'Diggs will 'ave to ride 'im
this hafternoon, and it'll bait the cap'n horful; for one of our
'orses come a fluke last hevenin'. I be sorry for Diggs!'
'I'm sorry for the horse! George, go and ask the captain to send Diggs
and his horse to me.'
No doubt my face showed my surprise as the trooper rode obediently off
to do his bidding; but Lossing only smiled and moved a step or two
away from the rail where we had been standing.
'Diggs,' he said, as the man rode up and saluted. 'Will you let me try
your horse?'
The soldier saluted again, and dismounted without a word; and Lossing
took the bridle from his hand, and for a few moments stood beside the
horse, stroking him, smoothing his mane, and all the time speaking
some low, soothing syllables that seemed to quiet the still quivering
animal.
After a little of this he examined the saddle, adjusted the stirrups
and bridle, and then, after leading the horse away from us a short
distance, he stepped easily and quietly into the saddle. Instantly the
creature's head was erected, and his ears put back, but Lossing, with
a caressing hand upon his neck, continued his low, soothing syllables,
and let the animal walk the length of the long inclosure.
Turning then, he sent him back at a gentle trot, which he increased
gradually, until he was careering around the arena in circles, which
became shorter and shorter, until he came to a halt in the centre of
the vast place. Then after a few more gentle words and light pats upon
the sleek neck, he bent over and suddenly drew the rein. Once, twice,
three times he gave that sharp pull, but the horse stood steadfast.
Turning in his saddle, he said something to the troopers who had drawn
near him, and then sat erect in his place, while three of the troopers
turned their horses and went careering around the motionless horse and
rider. Soon, at another word from Lossing, one of the men rode
alongside, while the others drew back.
When the trooper had ranged himself at the side of Lossing's horse and
only a few feet away, Lossing nodded; and at the first tug at the rein
the trooper's well-trained animal went down and lay supine and
moveless.
Then Lossing beckoned a second time, and as the fallen horse got up he
was caressed by Lossing, who leaned from his saddle to reach him, and
then led away, as the second trooper came up leading his horse.
As the animals stood side by side Lossing dismounted, stood a moment
beside his refractory steed, and then, with a gentle pat and a low
word as if of reproof, he turned and, after patting the other animal a
moment, sprang to its back and sent it galloping around the place;
then bringing him back to place, and with a pat or two and a quick
'Now down!' threw him, sprang to his feet, and before the animal could
rise had again mounted the wayward horse.
Once more he trotted slowly away, caressing and talking to the horse;
and then, suddenly wheeling him, he gave a cheery command and sent the
creature flying back, past his old place, and across the pavilion;
then turning and halting the horse before the group of officers, he
gave him a brisk pat, and said cheerily, 'Now down!' and, almost with
the word, the creature threw up its head and, with scarcely an
instant's hesitation, went over and lay quivering upon the ground.
A cheer went up from the onlookers. But without loss of time Lossing
had the horse up, turned him about, and, seeing him quite fit and not
too nervous, remounted; and now the horse was obedient to his every
move or word. Twice more he threw him, and then, returning him to
Diggs, he said:
'Diggs, a horse can be as jealous as a woman, and more easily shamed
than a boy. And if you are skilful, and love your horse, you can
master him; but beware of the first angry word. Anger makes brutes; it
never made an intelligent animal yet.'
He took my arm, and with a bow and a shake of the head to the
officers, who were moving toward him, and a nod to the troopers, he
hurried me out of the pavilion.