Great Porter Square: A Mystery. v. 1

  CHAPTER XI.

  THE "EVENING MOON" FOR A TIME TAKES LEAVE OF THE CASE OF ANTONYCOWLRICK.

  We have but little to add to the graphic statement of our SpecialReporter. He paid altogether three visits to the house in which AntonyCowlrick's female friend, Blanche, rented a room; the last visit waspaid at noon of this day. His desire was to obtain some informationrelating to the young woman's history; he has been unsuccessful.Nothing is known of her history; she made her first appearance in theneighbourhood about three months ago, took a furnished room, lived aquiet life, and did not mix with the neighbours. She was never seen inpublic-houses, and had no visitors. All that is known of her relatesto the little match girl, Fanny, her kindness to whom is the theme ofadmiration and praise. Her name was Blanche--simply Blanche; she gaveand was asked for no other. The police have nothing to say againsther. There are few single young women living alone in the locality inwhich Blanche resided against whom the tongue of scandal is not busy,generally, it must be admitted, with sufficient reason; but nothing hasbeen elicited to the discredit of Blanche. Thus far, her record is agood one.

  Nothing has been seen of Antony Cowlrick; he has vanished utterly fromthe sight of the police, who, although he was acquitted of the chargethey brought against him, had determined to keep their eye on him. Hehas proved himself more than their match. The description given of himby our Special Reporter is that of a man of medium height, probablyfive feet eight inches, with spare frame, lithe and sinewy. His hairis auburn, and appeared to grow freely. This free growth, and thecircumstance of his having been unshaved for weeks, render it difficultto describe his features; all that can be said on this point is thathis face was haggard and distressed, and that there dwelt upon it anexpression which denoted deep trouble and perplexity. Every person whohas followed this case in our columns, and who has carefully read theaccounts we have presented to our readers, must feel a deep interest inthe man. The impression he made upon our Special Reporter--the promptrepayment of the sovereign he borrowed--his language and manners--eventhe collateral evidence supplied by what is known of his friendBlanche--all tell in his favour. And stronger than every circumstancecombined are the concluding words of his letter to our Special Reporter."If you do not know what else to do with the money received by yourpaper in response to its appeal for subscriptions on my behalf, I cantell you--give it to the poor." There spoke a man in whose bosom beatsthe true pulse of a lofty humanity. Antony Cowlrick, who, withoutdoubt, since his release, has read all that has appeared in our columnsconcerning him, is aware that our last edition of yesterday contained afull list of subscriptions sent to our office for him, the total amountbeing L68 17s. It is a sum worth having, and might be supposed to beespecially acceptable to a man in Antony Cowlrick's apparently destitutecondition--a man upon whose person, when he was arrested, was found somestale bread and cheese, and not a penny of money. In the face of thisevidence of poverty, Antony Cowlrick has not called for the handsome sumwe hold in trust for him, and has instructed us to give it to the poor.We shall do so in a week from this date, unless Antony Cowlrick presentshimself at our office to receive it; or unless those who have subscribedobject. We trust they will not withdraw their subscriptions, which wepromise shall be faithfully and worthily applied in charity's cause.

  Here, then, for the present, we leave the subject which has occupied solarge a portion of our space. The man murdered in the house, No. 119Great Porter Square, lies in his grave, and his murderer is still atlarge. Any of our readers may have come in contact with him this veryday; we ourselves may have walked elbow to elbow with him in the crowdedthoroughfares; and he will, of a certainty, if he be in England, readto-night the words we are now writing. Tremble, thou unspeakablemonster! Though thou escape thy doom at the bar of earthly justice,God's hand lies heavy upon thee, and shall weigh thee down until theJudgment Day, when thou and thy victim shall stand face to face beforethe eternal throne!

  [Decoration]