Out of a Labyrinth

  CHAPTER XV.

  PREPARATIONS OF WAR.

  "Bathurst," my Chief said, settling back in his chair, and eyeing mewith great good humor, "I don't see but that you are getting onswimmingly, and I don't feel inclined to dictate much. Your Grovelandaffair is looking up. You may have as many men as you need to look afterthat business. As for Trafton, I think you and Carnes have made good useof your holiday. I think you have struck something rich, and that youhad better remain there, and work it up; or, if you prefer to go toGroveland yourself, return there as soon as possible."

  "I am glad to hear you talk as I think," I replied. "I believe thatTrafton is ripe for an explosion, and I confess that, just at present, Iam more interested in Trafton than in Groveland, besides----. In myreport from Groveland, you may remember that I mentioned going to thestation to fetch Miss Amy Holmes?"

  "Yes."

  "And that this young lady was accompanied on that day by a handsomeyoung gentleman?"

  "Yes."

  "Well, I have since made the acquaintance of this young man."

  "Ah!"

  "At first I thought it only a coincidence, and dismissed the matter frommy mind. Since I have heard Mrs. Ballou's story, a queer thought hasentered my head."

  "Explain."

  "This young gallant, whom I first saw in the company of the runaway MissHolmes, is Mr. Arch, or Archibald Brookhouse, of Trafton."

  "I see," thoughtfully.

  "And the initials following that album verse are A. B."

  "A. B.! Archibald Brookhouse! There _may_ be something in it, but shouldyou feel justified in suspecting this young man as the possible authorof _your_ anonymous letter?"

  "If he is the writer of the album lines, yes."

  "What do you propose to do?"

  "First," said I, "we must call in the dummy."

  "Yes."

  "Then I want a good man to go to Groveland in search of information. Iwant him to find out all that he can concerning the character of thisJohnny La Porte, who attended school at Amora, and was a fellow-studentwith Nellie Ewing, Mamie Rutger, and Grace Ballou."

  "Good."

  "Then he must learn if any of the Groveland youths have become _lame_since last Sunday, and if any of these same gentry was missing, orabsent from home, during the night of the 17th, for, of course, Miss AmyHolmes being on his hands, the driver of the carriage which Mrs. Ballourouted that night must have been absent sometime, _if_ he belonged inthe community. He surely had to dispose of Miss Holmes in some way."

  "Do you think it probable that some Groveland Lothario was mixed up inthis elopement business?"

  "I think it not improbable. The first search was made, seemingly, uponthe supposition that all Groveland was above suspicion, and that searchfailed. I intend to hold all Groveland Lotharios upon my list ofsuspected criminals until they are individually and collectively proveninnocent."

  "Quite right."

  "On second thought we had better let the dummy remain until we have puta new man in the field; by this time he must know something about thepeople he is among. Who can you send to Groveland?"

  "Wyman, I think."

  "Capital; Wyman is good at this sort of thing. He had better presenthimself in person to our dummy, hear all that he can tell, and thendeliver your letter of recall, and see him safely on his way to the citybefore he has time to open his mouth for the benefit of any one else."

  "Very good; Wyman is at your disposal."

  I drew toward me a large portfolio containing State and county maps. Itlay at all times upon the office table, convenient for reference.

  While I was tracing the eccentric course of a certain railroad, I couldfeel my Chief's eyes searching my countenance.

  "Bathurst," he said, after some moments of silence, and leaning towardme as he spoke, "I believe you have a theory, or a suspicion, that isnot entirely based upon Mrs. Ballou's revelation."

  "You are right," I replied, "and it is a suspicion of so strange a sortthat I almost hesitate to give it utterance, and yet I think it worthyof attention. I want to shadow this cavalier, Arch Brookhouse."

  "Yes."

  "I find by this map that the town of Amora is situated twenty-five milesfrom Groveland, and thirty miles from Trafton. Sharon, the nearestrailroad communication with Groveland, is thirty miles from Amora, sothat the distance from Trafton to Sharon is sixty miles, and theseminary town is midway between."

  My Chief made a sign which meant "I comprehend; go on."

  "Now, it is possible that accident or business brought Mr. ArchBrookhouse to Sharon, and that his meeting with Miss Holmes was quiteaccidental, and his attendance upon Miss Holmes and Grace Ballou merelya chance bit of gallantry. But when you consider that he seemed equallywell known to both young ladies, that Sharon is a small town, and a dullone, and that Miss Holmes came from Amora that morning, is it not justas probable that Mr. Brookhouse traveled from Trafton to Amora for thepurpose of escorting Miss Holmes to Sharon? Now, young men of our dayare not much given to acts of courtesy extending over sixty miles ofrailroad; therefore, if Arch Brookhouse visited Sharon for the solepurpose of meeting these two young ladies, and basking in their societyfor a brief half hour, it is fair to presume that he is more thanordinarily interested in one of them."

  "You are right, Bathurst; at least it would seem so."

  "Now let me tell you all that I know concerning the Brookhouses."

  Once more I gave a minute description of my first meeting with ArchBrookhouse, and of the second, when I recognized him at Trafton. Then Itold him of my interview with the telegraph operator, of the telegramsent by Fred Brookhouse from New Orleans, and of the reply sent by Arch,and last I told him how Louis Brookhouse had come home, accompanied byanother young man, _on the day after the attempted flight of GraceBallou_, and how Dr. Bethel had been called upon to attend him, hehaving met with an accident.

  My Chief stroked his chin thoughtfully.

  "I see," he said, slowly, "you have some nice points of circumstantialevidence against these young gentlemen. How do you propose to use them?"

  "First, I must know what motive took Arch Brookhouse to Sharon, and findout if either of the Brookhouse brothers have been students at Amora. Iwant therefore to send a second man to Amora."

  "Very good."

  "If I find that either, or both, of the younger brothers have beenfellow-students with Grace Ballou, and the missing girls, then I shallwish to extend my search."

  "To New Orleans?"

  "To New Orleans."

  "Is there anything more?"

  "Yes; one thing. If Carnes goes to New Orleans I shall want a telegraphoperator in Trafton."

  "Then you wish to remain in Trafton?"

  "Yes, and this takes me back to the other matter. I quite expected thata man like 'Squire Brookhouse would have called upon you for help. If hehas employed men from either of the other offices, we can easily findout who they are."

  "Easily."

  "I shall wish to inform myself on this point, and if possible, return toTrafton to-morrow night. I am to see Mrs. Ballou again to-night; now Ithink I will have some supper."

  I arose, but stood, for a moment, waiting for any word of command orsuggestion my Chief might have to offer.

  He sat for many seconds, seemingly oblivious of my presence. Then helooked up.

  "I shall make no suggestions," he said, waving his hand as if to dismissboth the subject and myself. "I will instruct Wyman and Earle at once.When you come in after seeing Mrs. Ballou, you will find them at yourdisposal, and give yourself no trouble about those other detectives. Iwill attend to that."

  I thanked him and withdrew. This curt sentence from the lips of my Chiefwas worth more to me than volumes of praise from any other source, forit convinced me that he not only trusted me, but that he approved mycourse and could see none better.

  I saw Mrs. Ballou again that evening, and put to her some questions thatnot only amazed her, but seemed to her most irrelevant, but while sheanswered withou
t fully comprehending my meaning or purpose, some of herreplies were, to me, most satisfactory.

  After I had heard all that she could tell me concerning Mr. Johnny LaPorte, I gave her a minute description of Arch Brookhouse, and ended byasking if she had ever seen any one who answered to that description.

  I was puzzled, but scarcely surprised, at her answer, which came slowlyand after considerable reflection.

  Yes, she had seen such a young man; I had described him exactly. Shehad seen him twice. He came to her house in company with Ed. Dwight.Dwight was an agent for various sewing machines; he was a jolly,good-natured fellow, very much liked by all the young Grovelanders; hehad traveled the Groveland route for two years, perhaps three. He wasquite at home at Mrs. Ballou's, and, in fact, anywhere where he had madeone or two visits. The young man I had described had been over theGroveland route twice with Ed. Dwight, each time stopping for dinner atMrs. Ballou's. His name, she believed, was _Brooks_, and he had talkedof setting up as an agent on his own responsibility.

  Did she know Mr. Dwight's place of residence?

  He lived on the C. & L. road, somewhere between Sharon and Amora. Mrs.Ballou could not recall the name of the town.

  I did not need that she should; a sewing machine agent whose name Iknew, and who lived somewhere between Amora and Sharon, would not bedifficult to find.

  "How did Mr. Dwight travel?"

  "In a very nice covered wagon, and with a splendid team."

  "How long since Mr. Brooks and Mr. Dwight paid a visit to Groveland?"

  Mrs. Ballou thought it was fully six months since their last visit.

  "That would be nearly two months before Mamie Rutger and Nellie Ewingdisappeared?"

  "Yes."

  "Have you seen Dwight since?"

  "Oh, yes; he comes at stated times, as usual."

  It was growing late, and I was more than satisfied with my interviewwith Mrs. Ballou. I advised her to keep Grace for the present under herown eye and, promising that she should see or hear from me soon, took myleave.

  Mrs. Ballou had announced her intention to return by the morning train.

  We could not be traveling companions, as I was not to leave the cityuntil afternoon.

  Reaching my room I sat into the small hours looking over my notes,jotting down new ones, smoking and thinking.

  The next morning I saw Wyman and Earle, gave them full instructions, andarranged to receive their reports at the earliest possible moment, byexpress, at Trafton.

  At noon I was in possession of all that could be learned concerning theidentity of the detectives employed by 'Squire Brookhouse. No officer ofany of the regular forces had been employed. Mr. Brookhouse had probablyobtained the services of private detectives.

  Private detectives, of more or less ability, are numerous in the city,and I was personally known to but few of these independent experts. Mostof those could be satisfactorily accounted for, and I turned my facetoward Trafton, feeling that there was little danger of being "spotted"by a too knowing brother officer.