Two Wonderful Detectives;ORJACK AND GIL'S MARVELOUS SKILL. 

By OLD SLEUTH. 

Copyright, 1898, by Parlor Car Publishing Company. All Rights Reserved. 

NEW YORK:J. S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING COMPANY, 57 ROSE STREET. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter I

THE DETECTIVE AND THE BANKER--A REMARKABLENARRATIVE--A PECULIAR TRAIL--MILLIONS WITH NOOWNER--A GREAT TASK LOOMING UP FOR JACK--A MOMENT OFEXPECTANCY. 

Chapter II

NOT A TERRIBLE CRIME--A SERIES OF SHARP QUESTIONS--ADETECTIVE AT HIS BEST--STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS OF ALOGICAL MYSTERY SOLVER--REPRODUCING AN IMAGE AFTERFORTY YEARS--A GREAT DIALOGUE. 

Chapter III

AN EXTRAORDINARY CROSS-EXAMINATION--A THEORY ATLAST--WHITE SAND AND JERSEY MUD--WORKING ON A SLIGHTCLUE--AN INSPIRATION--THE MAN WITH THE DIARY--APROSPECT. 

Chapter IV

A MOST WONDERFUL "SHADOW"--GOING OVER A RAILROADDIARY--AN INCIDENT THAT WAS SUGGESTIVE--A MARVELOUSDISCOVERY--THE OLD TRUNK--ON THE TRACK OF A GENUINECLUE. 

Chapter V

THE SECRET OF THE OLD BOX--A GHASTLY FIND--WONDERFULCONFIRMATIONS--STILL MORE WONDERFUL DETECTIVEWORK--A NOVEL SURPRISE--THE DEAD ALIVE--AN ABSOLUTEIDENTIFICATION. 

Chapter VI

ON A NEW "LAY"--DOWN IN MONMOUTH COUNTY--AN APPARENTDEFEAT--A SINGULAR CLUE--TWO COINCIDENT DATES--OLDBERWICK--STRIKING SUGGESTIONS--ONCE AGAIN A CHANCE. 

Chapter VII

OLD BERWICK'S RECOLLECTIONS--A GOOD REASON FOR ASTRANGE DEPOSIT--A GIRL IN THE CASE--EXTRAORDINARYDETECTIVE RESULTS--A NEW "SHADOW"--GREATPOSSIBILITIES--SURE TO WIN. 

Chapter VIII

JACK'S FORESIGHT--A SECOND VISIT TO OLD BERWICK--THEPORTRAIT--OTHER SIGNIFICANT DISCOVERIES--"ALAS! THELETTER!"--A STREET CAR INCIDENT--"I WILL FIND THATLETTER. "

Chapter IX

A WONDERFUL SEARCH--JACK BECOMES THE SEARCHER--ASTARTLING DISCOVERY--THE LONG-LOST LETTER FOUND ATLAST--A MOST REMARKABLE FEAT--THE STORY OF THESEALED LETTER. 

Chapter X

CONCLUSION. 

Two Wonderful Detectives;OR, Jack and Gil's Marvelous Skill. 

BY OLD SLEUTH, _Author of All the Famous Old Sleuth Stories_. 

CHAPTER I. 

THE DETECTIVE AND THE BANKER--A REMARKABLENARRATIVE--A PECULIAR TRAIL--MILLIONS WITH NOOWNER--A GREAT TASK LOOMING UP FOR JACK--A MOMENT OFEXPECTANCY. 

"Your name is John Alvarez?"

"That is my name, sir. "

An elderly man was seated at a table and a young man stood opposite tohim. The elderly person was a well-known banker who had retired frombusiness, and he had sent for the detective who had just entered hispresence. 

"You are a detective?"

"I claim to be, sir. "

The elderly man meditated a moment and then said:

"A gentleman learning that I desired the services of a detectivementioned your name to me, and gave you a character for qualities whichI think are specially needed in the service I may have for you. "

"I am glad, sir, that some good friend has spoken well of me. "

John Alvarez was a twin brother of Gil Alvarez. They were known amongtheir few friends as Jack and Gil. They were trained athletes; theirfather had been a circus performer, and under peculiar circumstances thetwo brothers had been trained for the profession, but owing to reasonssatisfactory to themselves, and as recorded in previous records of theirexploits, they had decided become detectives, and had so acted uponthree occasions as recorded in Nos. 104, 106 and 108 of "OLD SLEUTH'SOWN. " These brothers had a history and were two very remarkable youngmen, as proved in their previous exploits as recorded, and as will beproved again in the present narrative. 

"The matter I have on hand is a singular one. I do not know that I cangive you a single clue to work upon--indeed, it is a very strangestory. "

"If you have sufficient confidence in me, sir, you may tell me the storyand I will be able to judge whether or not there is a clue to workupon. "

"I will tell you the story and tell it in perfect confidence, trustingthat in case we fail you will never mention the circumstances to aliving soul; let the subject pass from your mind forever. And again, youmust call in no confidential assistant in the matter. Your failure orsuccess must remain a secret between ourselves--yes, a secret forever. "

"Is there a crime involved?"

"I do not think there is unless I am the criminal. "

Jack Alvarez gave a start as the old banker by implication accusedhimself of being a criminal. 

"I cannot agree, sir, to hold as a secret a crime which in justiceshould be exposed. "

The banker laughed, and said:

"That is a straight remark and in full accord with the character thatwas given you as a straightforward, honorable young man. I can say thatmy crime is not a punishable one, and yet I feel that I am deserving ofcensure. You may think so also, but I will say this much: I will pay alarge sum of money to rectify. What I say as concerns myself is a caseof inexcusable negligence. "

"That is your only crime?"

"I feel so. "

"Then, sir, you can state the case to me and rely upon my maintainingyour secret. "

The banker meditated a few moments and then said:

"Forty years ago I was a comparatively poor man; I had just started inthe banking business and I was having a hard time to make both endsmeet, as I had been a clerk and was starting out on my own hook with avery small capital. The business in which I was engaged at that timeunder the old emigration laws is not possible now--I mean thetransactions in which I made the best profits. It was a legitimatebusiness, and I know several bankers who from the same beginningafterward became large financial concerns. Yes, I was successful myself, but, as stated, I was doing a small business and thankful to makefifteen or twenty dollars on a deal; and one rainy day--a dark, dismalday--I was seated in my office alone, when a man entered--a singularappearing man--and demanded if my name was Richard Townsend. I repliedthat my name was Richard Townsend; he then asked me if I was born andraised in a certain town in Massachusetts. I told him that I had beenborn in Massachusetts in the town named. He asked me about my father andmother, named them by their given names, and named them correctly. Imade an affirmative answer to all his questions, and then he said:

"'You are the right man, I have made no mistake, ' and then added:

"'Here is a certified draft on London for sixty thousand dollars; hereare securities to the amount of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars;here are other securities of a cash value of sixty-five thousanddollars; here is a draft accepted by a London firm of solicitors forfifty thousand pounds, which is to be held in trust until collected. Now, sir, my instructions are to deposit these with you. The drafts aremade payable to your order; the bonds are made over to you, and ofcourse the Bank of England notes are collectable at any time. '"

The banker rested a moment, and then resuming said:

"You may judge of my surprise and astonishment. I would have thought theman crazy, but as he named the different amounts he laid the vouchersbefore me, and at a glance I could see that they were all genuine. Thesingular statements of the man and his final proposition almost took mybreath away, and it was fully a minute--and under the circumstances aminute is a long time--before I could propound the question:

"'Why is this wealth consigned to me?'

"'I will explain. '

"'Do so. '

"'I am to give you a letter. These securities and the letter you are toput away in your safe and forget that you have this trust for twentyyears. At the expiration of twenty years you are to open the letter andyou will receive full instructions. '

"'But in case of my death?' I said. 

"'You are to leave a letter addressed to some one whom you can trust, who will open the letter and carry out the trust. Here is the letter. '

"I was thoughtful for a long time. I did not understand it all. I wasappalled, for there was a convertible fortune committed to my care, andI was to be its custodian for twenty years without knowing for whom Iheld it in trust, and there were many contingencies that might occur. The securities might fall in value, the institutions might go out ofexistence, and there were dividends to be collected or they wouldaccumulate. I spoke of this, and the stranger said:

"'The individual who consigns this wealth to you has taken all thesepossibilities into consideration. He desires the dividends toaccumulate, and will take the chances also of the winding up of theinstitutions. You will accept the trust, and I am to pay you in advanceten thousand dollars for so doing. I have the money here in good currentbills, and here is the letter of instructions to be opened in twentyyears. Now, sir, will you accept the trust?'

"'Is this honest money, and am I assured that I am not becoming thecustodian of stolen funds?'

"'I will swear that it is honest money, and I will also sign a letter toyou that if you discover at the end of twenty years when you have openedthe letter that all is not fair and square you can make such disposal ofthe money as you may see fit. '"

Again the banker meditated a few moments, and Jack sat silent, wonderingwhat the denouement to the strange story would prove. At length Mr. Richard Townsend after an interval resumed, and said:

"I thought the matter over and concluded that stolen money would not behidden away for twenty years, and after due reflection, having decidedto have him give me the letter, I consented to accept the trust. Tenthousand dollars paid in hand was a great temptation, but not even forten thousand dollars would I have accepted a criminal trust. 

"The man gave me the letter signed by a name I had never heard before. Iproposed that he make it in the form of an affidavit, but he said:

"'You will have the money; it will be a matter of conscience with youanyway; in fact, I have no witnesses. You can steal the money, no onecan call you to account; it is an even thing between us. '

"I so concluded, and the man went away after some further talk. Now, Mr. Alvarez, that is one part of this mysterious affair. "

"Did the man give you no intimation of his purpose in making such astrange contract?"

"He did not, but he did say I could change the securities and cash thedraft in London and make investments in the United States, but heimposed the conditions that I should do so at once and then place thesecurities in some safe place and let them lay collecting interest anddividends according to my judgment; 'but the letter, ' said he, 'you mustnot open until twenty years from to-day. '

"The man went away and I was in possession of the securities. I let aweek or two pass, thinking he might be crazy or that some developmentmight come, but he came not nor did any development. I waited one yearbefore I did anything with the securities, then I changed all theforeign investments into American securities. I collected the draft onthe London solicitors; I decided to invest the money all in real estate. I did so in my own name, but provided for its going to the proper personat the end of the twenty years. "

"Did the man never turn up?"

"He never did; and it is just forty years ago that I received the trust. My investments have increased so that at this moment the estate which Ihold in trust amounts to over two and a half millions, and I know notwho the real owner of this vast property is. "

"Didn't you learn when you opened the letter?"

"Aha! Mr. Alvarez, here comes in my criminality. "

Jack expected to hear a confession; on the contrary, the explanation wasstrange, weird, and extraordinary, and yet the incident could readilyoccur. It was, however, a remarkable incident. 

CHAPTER II. 

NOT A TERRIBLE CRIME--A SERIES OF SHARP QUESTIONS--ADETECTIVE AT HIS BEST--STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS OF ALOGICAL MYSTERY SOLVER--REPRODUCING AN IMAGE AFTERFORTY YEARS--A GREAT DIALOGUE. 

When Mr. Townsend said "Here comes in my criminality, " as intimated, Jack expected a weird confession and he remained silent, determined topermit the banker to declare his crime in his own way, and after alittle the latter said:

"The money and securities I held intact; the letter I put away in mysafe, and as instructed I tried to forget all about it. The yearspassed; I became very successful in business--indeed, a rich man, andstill there came no word from the party who placed the fortune in myhands under such strange conditions, and one morning, ten years later, Icame down to my office and there had been a great fire. The building inwhich my office was located was totally destroyed, and the letter was ina safe. I was very much disturbed; the safe was fireproof and I hoped tofind the letters, but, alas! the safe and all its contents weredestroyed--" The banker stopped short; he had made the last statementwith startling distinctness. 

"The letter was lost?" suggested Jack. 

"Yes. "

"But where does your criminality come in? You could not help the fire, and you had taken all due precautions. "

"Yes, I had, but there I was with this vast fortune, and as it appeared, no way of finding out the owner of it. The ten years passed followingthe fire, completing the twenty. I never heard from the individual whohad deposited the money with me, nor did any one else make a claim; andso twenty years more have passed and no claimant has appeared, and I amin possession of the fortune. "

"It is certainly all very strange, " said Jack, "but I cannot see whereyou are in any way to blame. "

"I am, though. "

"How?"

"I feel that I am to blame, however. "

"How?"

"I knew of the possibility of fire and _I should not have left theletter in my safe down at the office_. "

"There was the same chance of fire in your residence. "

"No, you see, my house is well guarded against fire. I am a bachelor, and the ordinary chances of a fire in a private residence do not equalthose in a public building where there are thousands of tenants. Yes, Ifeel that at the end of twenty years I should have made an effort tofind the real owners without the aid of a letter. "

"And did you not do so?"

"No; I was engaged in large transactions, and the fact that the twentyyears had expired escaped my memory, and five years or more elapsedbefore I recalled the fact of the letter; then I placed the matter inthe hands of a detective. He advertised and made search. He questionedas concerned the appearance of the man who deposited the fortune withme, but I could give him no more information than I have given you. "

"I think, sir, you have been faithful to your trust. "

"It is very kind of you to say so, but I cannot agree with you. I blamemyself, and if the owner of the fortune is not found, I always shallblame myself. "

"What more could you have done?"

"Had I started in immediately after the expiration of the twenty years Imight have been successful. The real owners of the fortune might haveknown something about the affair and have been on the lookout forinformation, but after five years they may have given up in despair. "

"And you want me to find the owner of the fortune?"

"Yes. "

"I certainly will perform a great detective feat if I succeed. "

"Yes, you will. "

"Accident may aid me; I owe a great deal to accident in my pastinvestigations. "

"I will tell you one thing: it is worth your while to succeed. "

"I do not doubt that. "

"You will earn more money for this one success than you could possiblyearn in many years--indeed, I can promise you twenty-five thousanddollars in case you discover the real heir and furnish absolute proofsas to identity. "

"But remember, I have not a single clue. Forty years have elapsed sincethe fortune was placed in your hands. The chances are that all the heirsare dead. "

"That is true, " said Mr. Townsend. 

"True practically, and yet there is a possibility that an heir lives, and is ignorant of a fortune which would be his or hers in case ofidentification. "

"Again, that is true. "

"How long since any one was engaged on the case?"

"It is fourteen or fifteen years. After the failure of the detective Iemployed, at the end of twenty-five years I made no further efforts;that man devoted a whole year to the case. "

"Where is he now? He must have secured some data. "

"He is dead. "

"And did he never give you any data?"

"He never did; on the contrary, he informed me that it was a hopelesscase unless accident should open up the mystery. "

Jack, as our readers know who have read of his previous exploits, possessed a wonderful faculty of discernment and a very clear andpenetrating astuteness. He was a born detective, and this natural giftin the direction of solving mysteries had led him to become one. Asstated, he became very thoughtful--indeed, he said to the banker:

"Excuse me, sir, but let me think a few moments--yes, think while theincidents of your remarkable narrative are fresh in my mind. "

"Certainly, " said the banker; "and let me tell you I have hopes that youwill succeed. "

"You have?"

"Yes. "

"What leads you to hope?"

"The gentleman who referred me to you said, 'If any man on earth cansolve the mystery, Jack Alvarez is the man. '"

"He was very kind to speak so highly of me. "

Jack fell into silence, and his active mind was performing wonders ofdetective investigation, and after a season he asked:

"How long was the man in your presence who confided this fortune toyou. "

"He was with me over an hour. "

"Do you recall his appearance?"

"As well as though it were yesterday that he stood in my presence--yes, I possess a wonderful memory. "

"How old are you, sir?"

"I am seventy. "

"How old was the man who called on you?"

"He was a man between fifty and sixty, I should say. "

"He had gray hair?"

"Yes, gray hair. "

"The color of his eyes was black. "

"No, sir. "

"Oh, yes. "

"No, sir, they were clear blue eyes; I remember that well. Why did yousay they were black?"

Jack laughed and answered:

"I was only aiding you to remember--working on the plan of a detectiveI've read about, who always worked on the negative track, when trying todevelop positive facts from witnesses. "

"By ginger! I never should have recalled the color of his eyes if youhad not positively stated that they were black. "

"Then we have verified the theory?"

"Yes, indeed. "

"He wore a high beaver hat, I am sure?"

"No, he did not; he wore a wide-brimmed slouch hat, what they used tocall a Kossuth hat. "

"Oh, I see; but he wore low shoes?"

"No, he didn't; he wore boots. I remember that; he sat opposite me andhis pants were drawn up, exposing the leg of his boots. "

"I see; and those boots were covered with black mud?"

"No, they were not, " laughingly exclaimed Mr. Townsend. "They werecovered with the _red mud of New Jersey_. "

"Nonsense, sir. "

"I'll swear to that, " cried Mr. Townsend, and there came a look ofwonderment to his face as he added:

"Young man, you'll win, you'll solve the mystery. "

"I will?"

"Yes. "'

"Why do you say so?"

"I can see that you will. "

"You can?"

"Yes. "

Jack laughed and said:

"What encourages you to think so?"

"You are going to work the right way. By ginger! you already have aclue; hang me, if you are not a mind reader! You have a clue--yes, you've established the fact that the man who deposited the fortune withme _came from New Jersey_. "

"New Jersey must be red, " said Jack, as a smile overspread his handsomeface. 

"Yes, and I'll swear that man came from Jersey. "

"The man, you mean, with heavy plow boots on. "

"Hang me! now I recall that is a fact. "

"He wore very plain clothes?"

"Yes. "

"He had a sort of twang in his pronunciation, " said Jack, leaningforward in an eager manner. 

"Young man, " cried Mr. Townsend, "you have raised up the figure of fortyyears ago. You have described the man exactly--yes, I have been blind;you are inspired. Now I recall the man must have come to me off a farm. "

Jack was delighted, and we will here state that subsequent incidentssuggested the idea that he was almost inspired, for like lightning atheory had formed in his mind, and stranger still, his theory led him toask a remarkable question which drew forth an answer astoundinglysuggestive. 

Jack had been thoughtful awhile, but at length he asked:

"Did it not enter your mind that there might be a claimant for thatfortune before the expiration of the twenty years?"

"Great Scott! young man, are you a mind reader?"

"No, I am merely a logical student of possibilities. Answer myquestion. "

"Your question has recalled a part of my conversation with that strangeman which had really escaped my memory. "

"Oh, yes, I may lead you to recall considerable. "

"How fortunate it would have been had I met and employed you fifteenyears ago. "

"Yes, it might have been better for us both, but I may work up a clueyet, and as you will admit I start out on a very slight basis. "

"You do; I called you into this case as a last resort without any ideaeven that you would attempt to solve the mystery. "

"I shall attempt to solve it; but you have not answered my question. "

"I did speak of a possibility of there appearing a claimant. His answerwas that 'If there did arise a claimant who founded his claim on a basisthat appeared reasonable to me, to _open the letter at once_. '"

"Aha! you recall that now?"

"I do. "

"And you are not mistaken?"

"I am not. "

"Then he did admit the possibility that there might arise a claimant erethe expiration of the twenty years?"

"He did practically, when he answered my question as I have stated. "

CHAPTER III. 

AN EXTRAORDINARY CROSS-EXAMINATION--A THEORY ATLAST--WHITE SAND AND JERSEY MUD--WORKING ON A SLIGHTCLUE--AN INSPIRATION--THE MAN WITH THE DIARY--APROSPECT. 

Again Jack became thoughtful. He appreciated that his questions weredeveloping strange and directing admissions. After some little time heresumed his questions. Our readers will remember that our hero hadadopted a line of interrogations in line with a theory that had beensuggested in his mind. He asked:

"Did you observe in the securities that they had been wet?"

"No. "

"Now mark well this next question, sir: Did you notice any white soil?"

"Great Moses!" ejaculated Mr. Townsend, "young man, who are you--whatare you?"

"I am a detective; you have my card; but please answer my question. "

"Yes, sir, when I opened the package of securities I observed that somewhite sand fell on my lap. I remember brushing it off--yes, it'smarvelous that you should know this. Are you the heir, or did you meetthe man, or do you know him, or did some one tell you, or am Idreaming?"

"None of your propositions, sir, are correct; I am merely shadowing downto facts, going logically to work to find a clue. "

"But you must have some basis for these questions?"

"Only such as come to me. "

"No facts?"

"None whatever; I never heard of the affair until you related thecircumstances to me within the hour, but I am reasoning on certainlines. I may project several theories and consider them all. We havemade a little advance; we have learned that the strange man whodeposited the fortune with you came from New Jersey; we have reason tobelieve that his _farm_ was somewhere near the seashore. "

"Yes, yes, I see, this is wonderful. Why, the detective business is easyenough if you only know how to go about it. "

Jack laughed and said:

"Yes, it is easy, but there is another mystery to solve. How did youcash those drafts on the London solicitors? Did you not receive someintimation from them?"

"They were drafts drawn by themselves on bankers; in fact, they wereindorsed by them to no particular individual. I sent them through theregular channel for collection; they were paid and I never received anyword from them. "

"Didn't your first detective mention them?"

"He did, but I could not remember the names of the drawers of thedrafts. Remember, twenty-five years had elapsed. "

"Did you make no record of the names?"

"If I did the record was lost. "

"And there you lost a clue. "

"That is true, I can see now. "

"But the securities--did they not contain a name?"

"Certainly, but I have forgotten those names also. Strangely enough, they were indorsed or assigned blank by the London solicitors, and all Ihad to do was fill in our name and get new certificates; I did so. "

"And you claim a great memory?"

"Yes. "

"And you do not remember any of the names on those papers?"

"No, you see, I was excited; I may have observed the names at the time, but they passed from my memory. I disposed of them immediately and thematter rested for twenty-five years. It was evident that they had beenindorsed in blank on purpose for some one to fill in the name anddispose of them at will. I admit it was a strange oversight for me notto have made a record of the names--indeed, it is possible I did, andthat I filed them away with the letter, and if I did so they weredestroyed with the letter. "

"It does appear, " said Jack, "that the fates all combined to hide theidentity of the real heirs to that property. "

"Yes, but now I recall through your aid that the strange man whodeposited this fortune with me did several times speak of possibleclaimants, and I remember that in the letter he gave me he bade me usemy own judgment should any such claimants present themselves. "

"And that letter of instructions?"

"It was destroyed along with the other memoranda. "

"Now give me a general description of the appearance of the man whodeposited the fortune with you. "

Mr. Townsend did so, and his description was minute, and as afterwardappeared very accurate, and Jack made a mental note of the description, and after some further talk, distinguished by the same singularbrightness which had enabled him to ascertain as much as he did in orderto establish some slight indices whereon to base a "shadow, " he bade Mr. Townsend adieu, promising to call upon him as soon as he had anythingdefinite to report. 

Once alone as he walked through the streets going to his lodgings, Jackmeditated deeply over the strange narrative he had listened to, and hemuttered:

"It is all straight enough save the fact that the old man who has such agood memory in one direction should forget so important a fact as thosenames, which it appears must have been written on the securities and thedrafts; and yet, " added Jack, "he appears perfectly frank and honest. "

Our hero saw his brother Gil, and the two discussed for a long time thestrange incidents, and Jack said:

"It is possible that Mr. Townsend is crazy. He is over seventy years ofage and may be laboring under a hallucination. His story does appearincredible; there are elements of romance stranger than any I ever readabout. Had the money been deposited with him for a few months, or evenyears, it would have been different, but a deposit to cover twenty yearsseems to me almost incredible; and then again, he appeared to be allright. "

"You know, " said Gil, "some people laboring under a hallucination willtell a straighter narrative than those who are relating facts. "

"Yes, I've thought of that, but there is one thing I particularlyobserved: the old man answered my questions. I revivified his memory, and every time he answered me clearly and naturally, and it is this factwhich makes me believe that there may be some truth in his extraordinarynarrative. At any rate, I shall investigate the story. "

"Have you formed a plan?"

"I have. "

Jack revealed his plan to his brother and laid out a course of work forthe latter, for which he was particularly fitted. He said:

"I shall proceed in this matter for awhile as though I had not a singledoubt as to the authenticity of the old man's tale. I have a theory, andif I am correct I believe I will be able to delve until I strike a clue, and if I do and prove the story correct and solve the mystery, we shallhave performed one of the most extraordinary detective feats everaccomplished. "

"I will tell you frankly, Jack, I believe you are being played by acrazy man. "

"All right, we shall see. "

Jack was not a man to be played very easily. He did not accept the storyas a whole, nor did he absolutely reject it, as intimated. He determinedto make a test, satisfied that he would be able to strike a clue, asufficient one to at least confirm the story. And such being the case hecould then go ahead and investigate further. 

Our readers will remember that our hero was working for a clue on anevent which had occurred forty years previously, and the difficulty isapparent. He could not trace by the memories of people who could aidhim, and on the following day when he crossed to Jersey he became moreand more impressed as to the difficulties of the "shadow, " and heremarked:

"Accident has favored me several times, but I cannot see how accidentcan favor me now. "

It is strange, but the very word accident suggested a most extraordinaryand novel plan. He went to the railroad office, and gaining admission tothe presence of the superintendent made several inquiries as to a recordof accidents that had occurred on the road. At first the superintendentshowed little interest, but when Jack disclosed the fact that he was adetective, the superintendent became communicative and inquisitive, andJack was compelled to practice great adroitness in evading questions. Finally the superintendent said:

"There is an old man employed in the freight office who has been on theroad fifty years. He is a queer old fellow, and has kept a diary ofevery incident of importance as connected with the road for fifty years. His name is Douglas; he lives in Newark, I think. See him and you willget all the information you require. "

Jack left the office and there was a smile of satisfaction on his face, as he remarked:

"By ginger! it does appear as though my thoughts were an inspiration. Why, probably I wouldn't have run across anything like this diarybusiness anywhere else in all the world. "

We ask our readers to observe the extraordinary foresight of thedetective in developing his theory, in view of the extraordinarydenouement that was to follow. 

He made inquiries around about this man Douglas, and learned that he wasa very peculiar man and possessed of a wonderful memory. 

Jack lay around until he managed to see Douglas, and in his own way hemade the old man's acquaintance, and finally invited the old gentlemanto go to lunch with him. He encouraged Douglas to talk about the road, and as the old man was fond of talking he was pleased to have alistener, especially a man who appeared deeply interested in the historyof the road, and Jack professed great interest and finally said:

"I believe I could write up a first-class article on this subject. "

"Oh, I see, you are a newspaper man?"

"That is what I am. "

"Well, if you will come to my house some evening I'd look over my diary, and I can furnish you some strange narratives. Why, you can make a greatarticle out of it. "

"I think I can, " said Jack, "and indeed I have such an opinion of itthat I am willing to pay you for your time. "

"Pay me?"

"Yes. "

"Well, now, I ain't looking for any pay. "

"Ten dollars would come in handy all the same, I reckon. "

"Well, yes; you see, although I've been on this road for fifty years Ididn't save much. My daughter didn't marry well, and I've had two orthree families to take care of--yes, ten dollars will go a long way withme. "

"All right; I've got ten dollars' worth of information out of youalready. "

Jack handed the old man a ten-dollar bill. 

"What!" ejaculated Douglas, his eyes dilating, "do you mean that youwill pay me ten dollars for just the little I've said to you?"

"Certainly I will; our papers pay big prices for interesting stories. "

"Well, I can tell you some interesting stories--yes, I can do that. "

"I'd like to get the article as soon as I can, Mr. Douglas, and I'd bewilling to pay you for loss of time if you can get 'laid off' for aday. "

"Oh, I can do that any time--yes, I've been on the road so long theyfavor me. "

"Well, I'll tell you, I will be at your house to-morrow morning at teno'clock. You will have your memoranda all ready, and we will go over it. You see, I want to write about the road forty or fifty years ago. "

"I see--yes, I see--and I've got the data. "

Jack had perceived that the old man was quite intelligent for hisstation in life, and having arranged to meet him at his home in Newark, Jack bade him good-day and returned to his lodgings. 

CHAPTER IV. 

A MOST WONDERFUL "SHADOW"--GOING OVER A RAILROADDIARY--AN INCIDENT THAT WAS SUGGESTIVE--A MARVELOUSDISCOVERY--THE OLD TRUNK--ON THE TRACK OF A GENUINECLUE. 

Our readers may think it strange that the detective should go out of hisway to listen to an old man's tales of a railroad, but Jack had becomepossessed of an idea. His idea may have been "far-fetched, " as theysay, but he believed he was building on a good logical basis; at anyrate he was sufficiently prepossessed in favor of his theory todetermine to make a fair test, and little did he dream how straight tothe mark he was going. He resolved, however, to go ahead withoutknowing. 

On the day following, at the time named, Jack appeared at the old man'shouse, and found Mr. Douglas glad to welcome him. The ten dollars and aprospect of more money made the man with the diary quite solicitous tofurnish all the information he could. 

"Let me see, " said Jack, "when did you start the diary?"

"The very day I was first employed on the road. "

"And you have kept it faithfully?"

"Yes, I have recorded every incident of importance as it occurred, evento the names of every conductor and official of the road. "

We will not relate in detail Jack's patient following up of all theincidents in the diary, but he spent three hours in studying everyincident until he came to the record of an accident where a man hadstepped out upon the platform, had lost his balance, and had been hurledto the ground and killed, and in this incident there appeared a notestating as follows:

 "This was a very sad affair. The man lived fifteen minutes after having fallen from the train. He made an effort to say something, but could only speak the word _mon_, and he was probably a Frenchman, as he evidently desired to say in French my wife or daughter or something. "

When Jack read the account of this accident there came a strange glitterin his eyes, and also a look of gratification to his face. It was but atrifling incident, and there were hundreds of accidents on record, buthere was a milepost for our hero--yes, a clue, as he really believed. 

"That was a strange accident, " he said. 

"Yes, a very sad accident. Nothing strange about it, but very sad. Theold man's body was never claimed; I remember the incident well. "

"But tell me, when did it happen?"

"October 19, 18--; yes, I remember well, it was early in the afternoon. The man fell from my car; I was first at his side. I heard him utter theword _mon_, and that is all he did say. He attempted to speak, and therewas a wild, eager look upon his face, but he soon became unconscious anddied without uttering another word except the French word _mon_. "

"Possibly he meant to exclaim '_Mon Dieu_', " suggested Jack. 

"Yes, I guess that was it. Let me see, that means 'My God. ' I did notthink of that--yes, 'My God' is what he attempted to say in French. "

"And you remember all about the incident clearly?"

"Yes, I do. "

"The man probably came from New York, " suggested Jack. 

"Why do you ask that?"

"Because he had black mud on his boots. "

"Well, he didn't; the man was a Jersey man. "

"How do you know?"

"He had Jersey red mud on his shoes. "

"Oh, he wore shoes?"

"No, he did not, he wore boots. Let me see, yes, he wore boots. He wasprobably a farm hand, a friendless fellow. That is the reason his bodywas never claimed. "

"He wore a high beaver hat. A farm hand would not be apt to wear a highbeaver hat. "

"What do you know about it?" demanded Mr. Douglas. 

"Nothing; I am only guessing. "

"Well, you are guessing wrong. He wore a wide-brimmed slouch hat. "

"He did?"

"Yes. "

"You are sure?"

"I can see him as plainly as though my eyes were fixed on his dying faceat this moment. "

"And he had clear black eyes--regular French eyes. "

"Well, it's strange how you talk, Mr. Newspaper Man; you're not good atguessing. His eyes were not black; I will never forget the color of hiseyes; they were fixed on me with a look of agony while he tried tospeak. They were a clear blue--yes, sir, as blue as the midday sky. "

Our readers can imagine the exultation of the detective as he elicitedthe description we have recorded, and indeed he had reason to exult, forhe had secured a clue in the most remarkable manner. His keenness hadbeen marvelous; his success was equally wonderful; but he had after allonly secured a starter. But there was a revelation to come that causedhim to stop and consider whether or not any credit really was due him, and whether it was not a strange Providence which had after forty yearsguided him to the startling starting point for the following up of agreat clue. 

The old man's suspicions had at last been aroused. He glanced at thedetective in a suspicious manner, and said:

"See here, young man, I am not a fool; no, sir, neither am I blind--Imean intellectually blind. "

"You are a very bright and remarkable old gentleman. "

"I am?"

"Yes. "

"You mean it?"

"I do. "

"Then please tell me what you are driving at. You appear particularlyinterested in the death of this old Frenchman, that occurred over fortyyears ago. "

"What makes you think I am interested?"

"Oh, I can see; you have asked me very strange questions. You have donemore; you have questioned me in such a manner as to quicken mymemory--yes, you have brought vividly before my mind all that occurredon that day when that Frenchman was killed. "

"Mr. Douglas, you are easily misled. "

"Am I?"

"Yes. "

"No, I am not. "

"Oh, yes. "

"You are seeking to mislead me now, but you can't. You are not anewspaper man, no, sir. "

"I am not?"

"No. "

"What am I?"

"Shall I tell you?"

There came an amused smile to our hero's face, and he appreciated morekeenly what a bright old gentleman he was dealing with, and this factmade the man's testimony the more valuable. Our hero said in answer toMr. Douglas' question:

"Yes. "

"You are a detective; you are not interested in my diary beyond thefacts connected with that poor old Frenchman, I can see. "

"Possibly you only imagine it. "

"No, sir; and let me tell you, if you are a detective, and if you areinterested in the identity of that old Frenchman, tell me the truth, andI may give you a great surprise. "

Jack meditated a moment and concluded that there really was no goodreason against his letting the old man know that he was a detective, asat the same time he could ward off all inquiries as to his purpose. 

"You think I am a detective?"

"Yes, I do. "

Jack laughed; he did not intend to surrender his secret too fast. 

"Maybe you are mistaken. "

"It may be I am, but mark my words: I will withhold my surprise unless Ilearn the actual truth. "

"Suppose I were to confess that I am a detective. "

"So much the better for you. "

"But you might give me away. "

"Never; I am not a woman. "

"You are a very shrewd old gentleman. "

"I am no fool. "

"I am a detective. "

"So I thought, and now one word more: why are you seeking facts about aman who died forty years ago?"

"I desire to establish the fact of his death. "

"Is that all?"

"Yes, at present. "

"I see, it is a will case?"

"No, on my honor, no. "

"There is money in it somehow. "

"What makes you think so?"

"The fact that a detective is taking the matter up after the lapse offorty years. "

"Suppose there is money in it?"

"That's all right; I am not seeking a money reward, but I want to knowwhat I am about. I am a pretty old man, and sometimes there is greatdevilment going on in will cases. I do not want to aid the wrong side;I'll do all I can to aid the right side. "

"There is no will case. "

"On your honor?"

"Yes. "

"Then, why do you seek to establish the facts of the accident?"

"In order to confirm certain other facts, that's all. "

"Have you made up your mind that the man who was killed is theindividual you seek?"

"Not positively. "

"I told you I had a great surprise for you. "

"Yes. "

"Well, I have. "

"I like to be surprised. "

"No doubt, but you can't guess what I've got for you. "

"Oh, yes, I can. "

"You can?"

"Yes. "

There had come to our hero a most strange, weird and startlingsuggestion. 

"You can guess?"

"Yes. "

"Then you must be a Yankee. "

"No, I am not. "

"And you can guess?"

"Yes. "

"Will you bet on it?"

"Yes, and give odds. "

"You will?"

"I will. "

"We won't bet, but you would lose; tell me the surprise. "

As stated, there had come a very startling suggestion to the detective'smind. He looked very wise, and said:

"If I were to anticipate you, then I'd spoil the surprise. "

"No, you would not; but it would be me who would receive the surprise. "

"Very well, I'll tell you, Mr. Douglas, you have the clothes the old manwore on the day he was killed. "

"I'll swear I have not told you so. "

"No, you did not tell me so, but you admit it now. "

"Yes, I admit that I have the clothes; that was the surprise I intendedfor you, and it is wonderful that you should suspect. "

"I am pretty good at suspecting. "

"I see you are. But hold on; it was forty years ago. I think I have theclothes; I cannot be positive, but since you have been talking to me Iremember I received the clothes from the coroner a long time after theold Frenchman's death. I secured them to hold for identification. "

"And it was a very wise precaution. "

"It was beyond doubt, as matters have turned out; but remember, I am notpositive that I have them. I believe I have, but sometimes my good oldwife has a general cleaning out and may have disposed of them; but Iwill find out. "

"When can you ascertain?"

"Oh, in a little while; come, we will go up in the attic. I rememberputting them in an old trunk, and if I have them they are in that trunkstill. "

"Your wife may remember. "

"No, her memory is failing; she would not remember anything about it, but we can very soon learn. "

The detective had made the last suggestion in his eagerness to make surethat the clothes were not lost. 

The old man led the way up to his attic, and our athletic hero lifted anumber of old boxes, and finally came to a trunk, old and green withmold, and the old man said:

"That's it--yes, that is the box. Haul it down and we will soon learn, but I will swear that they are there, for that box has not beendisturbed, as you can see, for many years. "

The detective stood a moment wiping the perspiration from his face, forit was hot up in that attic, and he was excited. After a moment, however, he hauled down the box and watched the old man as the latterproceeded to open it. 

CHAPTER V. 

THE SECRET OF THE OLD BOX--A GHASTLY FIND--WONDERFULCONFIRMATIONS--STILL MORE WONDERFUL DETECTIVEWORK--A NOVEL SURPRISE--THE DEAD ALIVE--AN ABSOLUTEIDENTIFICATION. 

"Great Scott!" cried the old man, as the lid of the box flew off anddisclosed a package of old clothes--yes, old apparel including hat andboots. 

"Here they are, " he said; "I don't swear, but darn it, if this isn'twonderful--yes, it's a surprise after all. "

"It is the hand of fate, " said the detective, in a solemn tone. 

"It's fate or some other darn mysterious thing; but here are theclothes--the very clothes the old man wore the day he was killed. "

The clothes were taken from the case and thoroughly examined, but thevigilant detective made a discovery which led him to say:

"They are not blood-stained. "

"No. "

"Is there a mistake?"

"No, sir, no mistake. See, there are the big boots, the broad-brimmedslouch hat; I'll swear to the clothes. "

"But how is it they are not blood-stained?"

"Oh, that is easily explained. The old man struck on his head; it wasconcussion of the brain that killed him. The exterior wound was only ascalp wound. There was no blood on his clothes, as the wound was on thehead only. No, sir, there is no mistake; those are the clothes the oldman wore on the day he was killed, October 19, 18--. "

It was a ghastly exhibition under all the circumstances, and theexplanation concerning the blood-stains was very satisfactory andreasonable, and besides, the clothes answered the description of both ofthe old men who had seen their living owner over forty years previouslyon the very day he died, for our hero concluded that the man had beenkilled on the very day he had deposited the great fortune with thebanker. It was a strange and remarkable find after so many years, and itmade the detective very thoughtful. 

"Can I examine the clothes?" he asked. 

"Certainly; and prove that you are an honest man and you can have themto solve any mystery that you may be investigating. "

"I am investigating a mystery. "

"Will you tell me what it is?"

"I am seeking to solve the dead man's identity. "

"You will not find anything in his clothes to aid you. "

"I will not?"

"No. "

"How is that?"

"Oh, a dozen men went through those clothes, and lastly I did. There wasnot a paper or sign of identification of any kind. "

"Did he not have any money?"

"No; but let me see, there was an old pocketbook, I remember--I do notknow what became of it--but nothing else. He must have paid his lastdime for his car fare. "

"But his railroad ticket? What became of that? Surely that would haveindicated his destination?"

"That was the strange part of it; he must have been stealing a ride. Norailroad ticket was found on his person. We searched for that. Possiblyhe was a tramp, or he might have been 'busted' and had determined tosteal a ride, and was seeking to dodge the conductor when he fell offthe train and was killed. At any rate no ticket was found. We searchedfor it, I remember. "

Our hero knew that the old man must have had some money; there was alittle side mystery in none being found on his person, but a clue hadbeen obtained--a very startling one--and Jack was delighted with hissuccess thus far, but he little dreamed of the many strange andconflicting incidents he was destined to be called upon to unravel. 

Jack held a long talk with Mr. Douglas, only partially explaining hispurpose, and finally succeeded in getting the old man to consent to loanhim the clothes. Our hero had formed a very novel and startling plan tomake his identification complete. 

During the course of the day Jack had the clothes transferred to his ownapartments, and there he gave them a thorough cleaning, and later held along talk with his brother Gil. He determined to call upon the latter toperform a part in one of the most dramatic scenes that could beconceived. 

During the afternoon Jack sent word to Mr. Townsend that he would callupon him that same evening at about eleven o'clock, adding that he hadsome very important facts to impart. 

Exactly at the hour named the detective was on hand. The banker wasexpecting him, and greeted him with the complimentary salutation:

"Well, Mr. Wonderful, what have you discovered?"

"I have some very important questions to ask. "

"Proceed; I will answer all your questions to the best of my ability. "

"One word as a matter of precaution: sir, your heart is perfectlysound?"

"I believe so. "

"You are a man of nerve?"

"I have always been so credited. "

"You would not be overcome by a sudden surprise?"

"I think not. "

"You are not superstitious?"

"I am not. "

"And generally a man of courage?"

"I believe so, but I cannot discern what these singular questions mean. "

"You will understand later on, for I have some startling disclosures tomake. "

"Then you have really made a discovery?"

"It is possible that I have, but I have not yet had a chance to fullytest my discoveries in order to learn if they amount to anything. Withyour aid I hope to do so. "

"All right; you need not fear for me. I am prepared for anything thatwill tend to a solution of the mystery, and which will also promise anopportunity for me to make atonement. "

"That is all right, sir; but tell me, was it on the 19th day of October, 18--, that the strange man visited you and deposited the wealth with youunder such remarkable circumstances?"

Mr. Townsend turned very pale, but said:

"I cannot answer you immediately. "

"Is there any way that will enable you to give me a certain answer?"

"Yes, sir, I can answer the question. "

"To a dead certainty?"

"Yes. "

"Then, sir, let me tell you that a great deal depends upon the accuracyand coincidence of dates. "

"Then you really have made a discovery?"

"That is to be learned; I will be able to tell you later on. First learnif you can concerning the date when the strange man visited you. "

Mr. Townsend went to a desk, drew forth a little leather-bound book, turned over its pages, and finally, with a look expressive of wonder andsurprise, said:

"Yes, the deposit was made with me on the date October 19, 18--. "

"There is no mistake?"

"There certainly is no mistake; but let me see, I do not remember havingmentioned that date to you. "

"No, sir, you did not. "

"Then how did you learn? You certainly must have discovered something?"

The detective suddenly started and bent forward in a listening attitude. 

"What is the matter, sir?" demanded Mr. Townsend. 

"You have not kept faith with me, I fear, " said Jack, in a tone ofwell-assumed sternness. 

"I have not?"

"So it would appear. "

"What do you mean?"

"There is some one in the adjoining room. "

"Not to my knowledge. "

"I heard a footstep. "

"You only imagine so; no one would dare enter that room without mypermission. "

"You are sure?"

"I am. "

"Just ask anyone to step forth who may be in that room. "

Mr. Townsend had become very nervous; the detective's manner was sostrange and peculiar. 

"What do you mean, sir? I tell you there is no one in that room. "

"I tell you, sir, I heard a footstep in that room. "

"You only imagine so. "

"I know I did. "

"Very well, we will see, " and Mr. Townsend called out:

"If there is any one in the next room let him come forth. "

Immediately a man stepped forth--a strange, weird-looking man--in oldclothes, high boots with red Jersey mud on them, and a broad-brimmedslouch hat. As the figure stepped forth Mr. Townsend leaped from hischair with a wild cry and glared with bulging eyes--glared like onefearing a figure from the grave--and indeed, to all appearances it wasveritably a figure from the grave; and during this almost tragic andreally dramatic and startling scene Jack Alvarez, the detective, satcool and unperturbed, and finally remarked:

"I knew there was some one in that room, Mr. Townsend. Who is this man?"

Mr. Townsend was indeed a strong-nerved man, and after a moment herecovered from the first shock of surprise and said:

"It is the dead come to accuse me for my negligence. "

"The dead come to accuse you for negligence?"

"Yes. "

"I do not understand. "

"Mr. Alvarez, there stands the man who can name the owner of the fortunewhich I have held in trust for forty years--yes, there stands the manwho confided the great fortune to my keeping. "

"You recognize the man?"

"I do. "

"Then question him. "

Mr. Townsend, in a singularly firm voice, considering the circumstances, said:

"My good friend, you must forgive me. I lost your letter, but I haveheld the trust sacred, and I am prepared to surrender it to you withaccumulated interest; but tell me why did you wait all these years andnot come and claim the money?"

In a perfectly natural voice the strange "appearance" said:

"I left a letter with you. "

"It is true; I tell you I lost the letter, but now I will gladlysurrender the fortune. "

"Then you recognize me?"

"I do. "

"Beyond all question?"

"Yes, beyond all question. "

"I will not have to prove my identity?"

"You will not. "

"Remember, forty years have elapsed. "

"I would recognize you if a thousand years had elapsed. You appear to meto-day just as you looked forty years ago. I was a young man then; Ihave grown old, but you do not appear to have aged at all. "

"And you are prepared to surrender the fortune?"

"I am. "

"I only have to say, sir, that I can prove how easy it is for a man tobe deceived. "

With the above words, Gil Alvarez cast aside his disguise and stoodrevealed, presenting his wonderful resemblance to his twin brother. 

Mr. Townsend recoiled in greater amazement than he did while under thefirst belief that he had been confronted by a visitant from the grave. Afew seconds he gazed and then said:

"Wait. "

He stepped to a sideboard, drank a glass of brandy, and then resuminghis former seat, said in a perfectly cool tone:

"This is a very remarkable piece of acting, Mr. Alvarez. Who is thisperson?"

"My twin brother and my aid. "

"And what does this all mean?"

"It is a test of identification. "

"You are a wonderful man. "

"I am?"

"Yes. "

"How?"

"In being able from memory and imagination to create such a wonderfulresemblance. You have the clothes and appearance of the man who visitedme counterfeited to perfection. How you could have had those clothesmade is a mystery to me; I am dumfounded. No wonder you asked me if Iwas sound of heart; otherwise you would have killed me. "

"And the counterfeit was perfect?"

"Yes. "

"The identification would have been perfect?"

"Yes. "

"Well, sir, I have a remarkable disclosure to make. "

"I cannot be more surprised than I have been. I tell you your dummy isperfect. "

"Then permit me to inform you that the apparition was not all acting. Those are the clothes worn by the man on the day he visited you anddeposited the fortune with you--yes, sir, the very clothes the strangeman wore on that occasion. "

"Then, sir, I will admit that you have a wonderful disclosure to make. "

"Yes, sir, I have. "

CHAPTER VI. 

ON A NEW "LAY"--DOWN IN MONMOUTH COUNTY--AN APPARENTDEFEAT--A SINGULAR CLUE--TWO COINCIDENT DATES--OLDBERWICK--STRIKING SUGGESTIONS--ONCE AGAIN A CHANCE. 

After what had occurred Mr. Townsend was prepared for anything. He hadregained his self-possession. He was a brave, nervy old gentleman; hisbravery was like that which always attends honesty. 

"Please do not keep me in suspense. "

"I have said those are the clothes worn by the strange man who visitedyou forty years ago?"

"Yes. "

"And you have not seen or heard from him since?"

"I have not. "

"It is not strange. "

"You can explain why?"

"I can. "

"Within three hours after his visit to you he was a dead man. "

"A dead man?"

"Yes. "

"Did he commit suicide?"

"It is possible he did, not probable. "

"Explain. "

Our hero proceeded and told all the thrilling incidents of hisphenomenal "shadow, " and proceeding said:

"I have proved the identity of the man now beyond all question. "

"You have; but what was his name?"

"That I have not learned; I will in time; but I have learned one fact:he came from Monmouth County, New Jersey. That is what he was trying tosay when his heart ceased its throbbings. It is not strange that Mr. Douglas thought he was striving to say _Mon Dieu_; I know he wasstriving to tell where he resided, and death stealing rapidly over himwould not permit the completion of the sentence. "

"I see I employed the right man. "

"I trust so. "

"I am confident the mystery will be solved. "

"Yes, the mystery will certainly be solved. It may take a long time, butnow I have something to work on. "

"Yes, and you started without a single clue. "

"I did. "

Mr. Townsend meditated a few moments and then said:

"It is evident to me that you will succeed in solving this mystery; andnow let me tell you, your reward shall be the largest a detective everreceived. I will pay the reward out of my own pocket as an atonement formy negligence. "

The detective held a long consultation with Mr. Townsend and thenreturned to his home, and there after his brother had removed the deadman's clothes Jack commenced a thorough search of the clothing, despitethe fact that several people had done so before him. He went to work ina scientific manner and spent hours over the investigation, and when hehad finished he said:

"I am not altogether satisfied, and yet it does appear as though the oldman had nothing on his person at the time he was killed, or some onewent through his clothing and secured whatever might have been in them, and if that is so those papers are in existence somewhere. The thiefmust have them, and some day I will find that man or his heirs. I havesucceeded thus far, I will succeed to the end. "

Jack had made up his mind that the old man had visited New York fromMonmouth County, and he adopted a very cunningly devised scheme. On theday following the incidents we have related Jack made his brother up inthe dead man's clothes and took a photograph. He constructed his dummyaccording to the various descriptions he had received, and having theman's clothes, and by other ingenious arrangements, he secured a veryremarkable reproduction, and remarked:

"I believe if I can meet any living man who knew the depositor of thefortune, I shall gain a living clue. "

Taking his photograph with him our hero went down to Monmouth County, New Jersey. Jack spent six days and made about as thorough a "shadow" asman could make, but met with no success whatever; he failed in securingthe slightest clue. He showed the portrait he had to many old men, butnone of them could recall ever having seen the original, and one nightthe detective sat in his room at a little tavern where he was lodging, and he felt quite depressed. He had made such a good start, he hadcalculated to go right ahead and secure all the facts, and here he hadspent five days, working away into the night--indeed, he had devotedeighteen hours out of the twenty-four--and had been completely baffled. It was still comparatively early in the evening when he went down intothe barroom, and he was sitting there watching a game of high, low, jackbeing played by some old fishermen. It was a pretty rough sort of night. The wind howled without and made the shutters and casements of the oldbuilding rattle, and finally an old man who was sitting there remarked:

"It's a pretty rough sort of night; I hope all the boys who were on thewater got in safe before this southeaster came sweeping over thewaters. "

"Oh, yes, I reckon all the fishermen got in all right. "

The place where our hero was located at the time was a little fishingvillage on the coast, and another man remarked:

"It ain't often the boys are caught in a gale like this; they knowwhat's coming pretty well. "

"Yes, yes, as a rule, but sometimes a mishap will overtake a man whenthere is neither wind nor high seas. I often cogitate over what accidentmust have befallen Jacob Canfield. He left the shore one morning when itwas as mild and fair as the brightest June day that ever dawned, and itwas pleasant and calm all day. The sun went down as serenely as it rose, and not a ripple was on the sea--yes, it was a mild, lovely October day, from sunrise to sunset. Jake was seen to go out in his boat, but neitherJake nor the boat was ever seen afterward. I tell you I've never made upmy mind as to what happened him. "

"I've heard about that, " said one of the men; "it happened a long timeago. "

"Yes, it happened forty years ago. I don't just remember the date whenhe disappeared, but it was somewhere in the middle of October, and as Isaid, as fair and mild a day as though it were the middle of June, butJake was never seen alive afterward. "

Jack was all ears and attention. Here were two suggestive incidents: aman named Jake Canfield had disappeared forty years previously on abeautiful October day and had never been seen since, and it was inOctober when an unknown man from Monmouth County was killed on therailroad. Jack made no demonstration; he was perfectly cool, but when anopportunity presented he made some inquiries about the old man who hadtold of the mysterious disappearance of Jake Canfield. He learned thatthe old man's name was Berwick, that he had been born a few miles awayon a farm in the interior. He had been a fisherman all his life and knewabout every one that lived in the vicinity, or who had lived aroundthere during fifty years. 

Jack betrayed no outward excitement, but inwardly he was greatlyexcited. The incidents did not agree altogether, but the detective hadonly heard the outlines of the tragedy. He believed he might mold thefacts down so as to fit the proofs he was seeking. He learned that oldBerwick lived only a few hundred yards away from the tavern, and was apretty smart old man, also well-to-do, and also that he spent most ofhis time at the tavern, being too old to perform any sort of labor. 

It did appear to our hero that at last his patient and carefulinvestigation was about to be rewarded. He did not speak to the old manthat night concerning the tragedy or the mystery of Jake Canfield'sdisappearance, but he made the old man's acquaintance and engaged him inconversation on several subjects, treated him to several glasses of hotpunch, and indeed became quite well acquainted with the old fisherman. Jack did not wish in any way to convey the idea that he had any interestin Jake Canfield, but when he returned to his little room and lay downthat night he lay awake a long time, his brain busy in turning over themany possibilities. Two facts were assured, and these two facts werevery suggestive. Old Canfield had disappeared forty years previously; hehad gone away one bright October day; he had lived in Monmouth County, and had never been seen since the day he went away on the waters offshore--that is, so the statements of Berwick indicated. 

On the following morning our hero was out bright and early. He knew thehabits of country people pretty well, and in the case in point hisconclusions were justified. He saw old Berwick going down toward thebeach. Jack followed the old man and joined him on the great spread ofsand. 

"Good-morning, " said Jack. 

"Good-morning, " came the response, and then as the old man glanced upthere came a smile to his face, and he said:

"Why, let me see, ain't you the chap I met up at the tavern last night?"

"I'm the man. "

"Well, you must excuse me; you see, my sight is not as good as it wasforty years ago. I'm right glad to see you, but I say, you are outearly. I reckon you're a city chap, and city people, as a rule, don'toften see the sun rise. "

"I am an early riser. "

"Is that so? Well, I am out a little earlier than usual myself thismorning, for I love to come down to the beach and catch the earlymorning breeze off the ocean; and to tell the truth, I felt a littlerusty after that hot punch I drank last night. I ain't much of adrinker, but once in awhile I like a little hot stuff on a chilly night. No, I ain't much of a drinker; when I was a young man I did not touch itat all, and maybe that's how I've lived to such a great age--yes, I ameighty-two years old, and I feel pretty brisk considering that I've leda hard-working life. "

"You are a wonderfully well-preserved old man. I should not have takenyou to be over seventy. "

"Well, I am--yes, I am eighty-two just, and I feel pretty hearty yet. "

"You've lived around here all your life?"

"Yes, I have. "

"You remember a great many wrecks on this coast?"

"Do I? well, sir, my memory is just stored with sad scenes that I'vewitnessed. "

"You were speaking last night about a man named Jake Canfield. "

"Yes, I was; Jake was a fine man, but he had hard luck--yes, he did. "

"I was quite interested in that story you told about him. "

"I didn't tell no great story; I merely told how he had gone out in hisboat, and how neither he nor his boat was ever seen again. "

"You said you did not believe he was dead. "

"Well, I never did believe he was drowned. Of course he is dead now, forhe was twenty years older than me, but he had hard luck. "

"Things went against him?"

"Not in one way; Jake was a very successful man as a fisherman, and hehad money in the bank when he died, but he was very unlucky for allthat. "

"Will you tell me how he was unlucky?"

"You appear to be interested. "

"I am. "

"You are?"

"Yes. "

"How so?"

"Well, I've nothing else to do, and it's very monotonous down here, andI am interested in old sea stories. "

"Is that all?"

"Yes. "

"I could tell you hundreds of them. "

"I am going to get you to do so, but first tell me all about old JakeCanfield. "

CHAPTER VII. 

OLD BERWICK'S RECOLLECTIONS--A GOOD REASON FOR ASTRANGE DEPOSIT--A GIRL IN THE CASE--EXTRAORDINARYDETECTIVE RESULTS--A NEW "SHADOW"--GREATPOSSIBILITIES--SURE TO WIN. 

"Well, there ain't much to tell. Jake went off in his boat one morningbefore daylight; he was seen to go off, and that was the last ever seenof him around here, but I've my idea. They say he was drowned, that hewas run over by a steamer and went to the bottom, boat and all, but Itell you Jake was too good a sailor to be run down by a big steamer on aclear day. No, no, I never took any stock in that theory, but I neversaid anything because I rather honored Jake for letting it appear thathe was drowned, and thus he saved all the trouble. "

"You have alluded several times to some trouble that Jake had. "

"Yes, he had a heap of trouble--yes, sir, a heap of trouble. "

"How?"

"Jake was a quiet, inoffensive man, neither a fool nor a coward. No, sir, he saved many a man's life in his time at the risk of his own, buthe was a man who did not like strife--a very quiet, inoffensive man, buthe was no fool, and he knew just what he was about all the time, anddon't you forget it. No, sir, he was only averse to war. "

"But you do not tell me what his troubles really were. "

"Oh, lots of men have the same troubles the world over, and it servesthem right--yes, it does; but Jake was no fool, he knew what he wasabout, and don't you forget it. "

The old man managed to avoid telling exactly what old Jake's troublesreally were until Jack said:

"I reckon I know now what you mean. "

"About what?"

"About Jake Canfield's troubles. "

"What do you mean?"

"He had trouble with his family. "

"You'll have to guess again. "

"I will?"

"Yes. "

"Then I give it up. "

"You were only part right. "

"Oh, I was partly right?"

"Yes. "

"Then set me fully right. "

"Why should I, sir?"

"Because you have aroused my curiosity. "

The old man appeared to enjoy the situation, and at length he said:

"See here, stranger, maybe you know as much about those troubles as Ido. "

"I don't. "

"You don't?"

"I do not. "

"And you are not down here _picking up facts for Jake's granddaughter_?"

Jack had hard work to keep himself from leaping backward in hisexcitement, for here in a most unexpected manner he had gained a link ofevidence that was the most startling and suggestive of any he had yetunearthed. 

"I swear I am not trying to gain information for any evil purpose; I amjust gratifying my curiosity. Why, man, don't you know I could go andfind out all I wanted to about Jake Canfield if I had any deep purpose?"

"That is so, but you see, I've been expecting that some day there wouldbe inquiries down here, for no one ever found out what Jake did with hisgranddaughter. Her disappearance was about as mysterious as that of Jakehimself, and between you and me, Jake put his granddaughter away andthen joined her, that's all, and gave out that he was dead, or rathermade it appear that he was drowned; but I never took any stock in thedrowning story. I believe Jake lived a good many years, for he was avery strong, healthy man. He may even be alive yet--yes, I've known ofpeople living to be a hundred, and really Jake was not as old as helooked. Trouble made him look older than he was, and he had led ahard-working life. I don't believe he was much over fifty but he lookedlike a man over sixty; but he wasn't drowned on that October day fortyyears ago, I'll swear to that. "

Jack adopted new tactics. He saw that the old man Berwick was a peculiarcharacter, and he concluded not to show any more interest in theCanfield mystery, and commenced to talk about something else; butBerwick's mind had got started on the Canfield mystery, and it was asubject he often brought up, as Jack later learned. The old man, seeingthat our hero did not ask any more questions, said:

"I'll tell you about Jake's troubles. "

Jack made no reply, and old Berwick continued:

"You see, Jake in early life married a very nice girl, the daughter of aclergyman. She died, leaving one child, a son, and this son lived andmarried and had a daughter, Jake's granddaughter, and this granddaughterwas only about five years old when her father, Jake's son, was drowned. In the meantime, Jake married a woman, a widow with several children. This second Mrs. Canfield was a she-devil, one of the worst women I evermet in all my life, and her children were imps. You see, Jake had alittle money, and they were down on his little granddaughter from thestart, and here was where Jake's real troubles first commenced. He wastrue to his little granddaughter, and it was said that his will was inher favor. Well, this just made Jake's life a living misery, and one daythe granddaughter disappeared. Every one knew Jake had taken her awaybecause he feared his wife and her sons; the latter were rowdies, borncriminals, that's true. Jake would never tell what he had done with hisgranddaughter, as I said, and the war commenced. His family justtortured him almost into his grave, and so one morning Jake went out inhis boat and he, too, disappeared, and then the family set up a claimagainst his money and property, and as the granddaughter could not befound, by ginger! they got it--yes, they produced some sort of will--aforgery I'll swear--but according to the will Mrs. Canfield number twowas to have the money, and was to take care of the granddaughter. Yes, they got the money after a few years in the courts, and they alldisappeared. I always wondered Jake did not come forward and claim hismoney and beat them, but I reckon he was glad to get rid of them even atthe sacrifice of his fortune, and between you and me, it was whisperedsometimes that Jake had _money deposited in New York, that no one buthimself_ knew anything about. At any rate, he never showed up and hiswidow, so-called, got the money. She sold the house and land, got themoney from the bank, and disappeared, and that was the last we ever sawor heard of them around here. Of course there were all sorts ofstories. "

"About what?"

"Jake. "

"What was the character of the stories?"

"Well, they do say that the stepsons murdered him. Yes, one story wasthat Jake never went out in the boat, but a dummy went out in hisclothes, one of the sons. Another story was that the son went out overnight, laid for Jake on the sea, knowing his habits, and murdered himout on the water and sunk his boat and body, but I never took any stockin those wild tales. No, sir, Jake was not murdered, he just 'sloped'to get away from his devilish second-hand relatives. I never blamed him;no, sir, I never did. "

Jack was the most delighted man that ever started out to "shadow" amystery. He had indeed started without a single clue, and he had madeout a most wonderful case. He had traced and traced step by step, andwas satisfied that Jake Canfield was the strange man who had depositedthe money with Mr. Townsend, and what was far more important, he hadestablished a _motive_ for the singular deposit, and this, as intimated, was the most important of all his discoveries. The adventure of Mr. Townsend had been a very remarkable one; it was an incident that onlythe facts could explain, for no one could ever have imagined a series ofincidents to account for so remarkable a proceeding. Jack felt that hecould claim without dispute that his success thus far had been aremarkable detective feat--one of the most remarkable on record--but hewas not through. He had several important links to supply, severalincidents to explain. Of one fact our hero was assured: Jake Canfieldhad not been murdered, but he had indeed taken steps to guard againsthis second-hand family, as old Berwick called them, securing an estatewhich in some mysterious manner had come into Jake Canfield'spossession. The detective had made great progress, but he had further togo. There was more light, however, shining on his way; he had somethingtangible and clear to work upon. 

Jack held a prolonged talk with Berwick, drawing out many little factsand incidents which it is not material to our narrative to record, andin good time he returned to the city of New York, and one night appearedat the elegant home of Mr. Townsend. He had given the old banker warningof his visit, and Mr. Townsend was prepared to receive him, and againsaluted him with the appellation:

"Well, wonderful man, what have you to record now?"

"I have an announcement to make. "

"Of that I am sure. "

"Yes, sir, I can safely say now the chances are that you will becompelled to surrender the fortune. "

"Great Scott! young man, what is that you say?"

"You will be compelled to surrender the fortune. "

"Never, " came the declaration. 

"Aha! then all your zeal was a 'fake?'"

"No. "

"What then?"

"It will never be necessary to compel me to surrender the fortune; Iwill be only too glad to do so--yes, delighted to do so in case the realheir can be found; but what have you discovered?"

"I have discovered that the man who visited you was Jake Canfield. "

"You have learned the name of the man?"

"I have. "

"Is he living?"

"We know that he is dead, killed on the railroad, but it is believeddown where he was raised that he was drowned from his boat while outfishing. "

"Then that accounts for his body not being identified. "

"That in one way, and in another there were interested parties who didnot desire that his body should be identified. "

"And you have learned all this?"

"I have. "

"You are a wonder indeed. "

Jack proceeded and told his remarkable story, and Mr. Townsend said:

"You have identified the man and you have located him?"

"I have, beyond all question, but it is very unfortunate that you lostthe letter. "

"It is, I admit. "

"In that letter he has directed what should be done with the fortune. Ican now plainly see why he made this deposit with you--yes, it is asplain as noonday. "

"I'd like to hear your explanation. "

"As old Berwick said, his second-hand family was a bad lot. "

"Yes. "

"He wanted to put the money away until his granddaughter came of age. Ifwe had that letter you would learn that was the reason of his strangetrust in you. He was preparing against all contingencies. He wasevidently a very shrewd man; he desired to cover all trace for twentyyears. "

"He succeeded, and so well that by the loss of that letter I havedeprived his granddaughter of her fortune. "

"It is even so--yes, this accounts for his strange deposit, and it was acunning one. His only risk was your honesty, and it is evident from yourinterview with him that he knew what he was about when he made you thedepository. "

"He certainly had great confidence in my honor. "

"And your care and prudence. "

"Yes, and in the latter I have failed. "

"We can yet rectify your mistake. "

"Do so and you will earn a fortune for yourself. "

CHAPTER VIII. 

JACK'S FORESIGHT--A SECOND VISIT TO OLD BERWICK--THEPORTRAIT--OTHER SIGNIFICANT DISCOVERIES--"ALAS! THELETTER!"--A STREET CAR INCIDENT--"I WILL FIND THATLETTER. "

"I will succeed; I have not made this remarkable progress and come uponthese strange discoveries all for nothing. "

"Jacob Canfield is dead?"

"Yes. "

"The granddaughter if living would now be forty-five years of age. "

"Yes, but still a comparatively young woman. "

"She may be a humble woman with a family. "

"Yes, but if I had a photograph I'd soon find her if living. It is nowmy duty to find this granddaughter. She was once a Miss Canfield; my'shadow' is diverted to a solution of the whereabouts of the living. Themystery of the dead is solved. "

"Yes, but here again you start without a clue. "

"Not exactly; I know the name of the one I seek; and now, sir, you willnot see me again until late to-morrow night, and by that time I may havesomething to impart. "

"One more question, Mr. Wonderful Man: Where did Jacob Canfield get thisfortune?"

"That is a mystery; the letter no doubt would have made that plain. Onefact we can assume: he came by it honestly, for his record is that of anhonest man, and again, all the drafts were paid without question. Hetold you to sell them; he did not attempt to hide his ownership of them. Yes, the money was his honestly to bestow, or he may have held it intrust for some one else. It may be that the letter would have revealedthe latter fact, and it is here we may be at fault at the last. It maynot have been his granddaughter, but some other person's child for whomhe held the money. There is a great deal of mystery surrounding the caseyet, but I doubt not that in time we will solve it. I will havesomething important to relate, no doubt, when I see you to-morrow nightor the night following. "

"No doubt, for you have come back with marvels to relate every time. "

On the morning following his interview with Mr. Townsend, the detectiveagain appeared at the tavern where he had met old Berwick, and he againmet the voluble old gentleman. Berwick recognized our hero and said:

"Hello, you here again?"

"Yes, I am here again. "

"I suppose you have some more questions to ask concerning JakeCanfield. "

"Mr. Berwick, can I trust you?"

"You can as sure as my name is Berwick. "

"You asked me if I had any special interest in Jake Canfield. "

"I did, and you tried to throw me off, but you did not. I knew all thetime that you did have an interest in him. "

"Well, I have, in his history and also in his granddaughter, if she isalive. "

"Well, now, see here; after you went away I got to thinking. I made upmy mind there was something up in this case, and I remembered that I hada photograph of the little girl--not a photo, but one of thoseold-fashioned pictures they used to take before photos were invented. "

"And have you that picture now?"

"I have, as sure as guns. "

"Where?"

"Up at my house; I was looking at it this very day. "

"Can I see it?"

"Yes, come along over to my house; you shall see it, sure. But tell me, is the girl living?"

"On my honor, I do not know; I want to find out and discover her ifpossible. "

"I see, you are a detective. "

"Possibly I am, but don't mention the fact. "

"You can just bet I won't; but tell me all about it. "

"You said it was rumored that Jake had a deposit in New York which heconcealed from his second-hand family?"

"It was so said; I don't know if it was true or not. "

"It was true. "

"Is that so?"

"Yes, and the granddaughter is the heiress. You see this money has beenat interest and it is quite a sum now--yes, quite a good sum. We want tofind her or her heirs in case she is dead. "

"I'll lend a hand--yes, I will, for all I am worth. "

Old Berwick led the way to his home and produced an old-fashioneddaguerreotype, the picture of a little girl not over five or six yearsof age. The picture was well preserved, and the features were welldefined. 

The detective examined it closely, and finally asked:

"Is this really and beyond doubt a picture of the grandchild?"

"Yes. "

"Her name would be Canfield?"

"Yes. "

"She was a child of old Canfield's son?"

"So they said. "

"So they said?"

"Yes. "

"But wasn't she?"

"Well, I can't say she was or she was not. Old Jake always said it washis granddaughter, but he was the only one who knew anything about it. No one else knew that his son left a child; possibly they didn't inquireinto it. I wouldn't have thought of it now myself only I was talking itover with my old woman, and she said that young Jake Canfield never hada child. I remembered then that the old woman had always said so. "

As stated, the detective had been studying the picture, and on the casein very small letters he saw printed with a pen and in ink the nameAmalie Stevens. He required his powerful magnifying glass to read it, but under the glass he made it out. He trembled at the marvelous newlights that were flashing in on the dark mystery. Here was a chance fora new theory; a door was opened to account for the possession of thegreat fortune in possession of a humble fisherman, and here again was apartial suggestion as to the secrecy and the twenty-year clause in thetrust, and Jack muttered:

"Oh, that the banker had not lost that letter--how plain everythingwould be now! Still we are on the right road, and no doubt after allthat has been revealed I will eventually arrive at a full solution andclearing up of the whole matter. "

Jack made some very close inquiries and learned particulars thatconvinced him that he was on the true road, but it was a difficult paththat lay before him, and only a man of his wonderful energy andhopefulness would have dared to anticipate absolute success. 

The detective returned to the city, and at the hour named once againmet Mr. Townsend, and as usual the banker asked:

"Well, Mr. Wonderful, what now?"

"It is wonderful, Mr. Townsend, the strange facts I have secured; butfirst see here. "

The detective passed the picture over to the banker. 

"What is this?"

"A portrait of the heiress at the age of five or six. "

"Well, well, you are closing down on facts. "

"I am, but to me it is 'yet so near and still so far. ' Here is thepicture, but the original was but five or six when that was taken andshe is now a woman of over forty. She cannot be shadowed on aresemblance. "

"But you have a clue. "

"Yes, I have a clue, but a very thin and unsatisfactory one. "

"You are not getting discouraged?"

"I never get discouraged, but I do wish we had that letter. "

"You cannot possibly wish it more than I do. "

"You are absolutely certain that it is lost? You do not hold back asurprise for me?"

"I do not; I sincerely wish that I did. "

"I will tell you something: that girl was not the granddaughter of theold fisherman Canfield. I do not believe she was a relative at all, anddo you observe the suggestion?"

"I do not. "

"It is plain. "

"It is?"

"Yes. "

"How?"

"If the girl was not his granddaughter Canfield only held the money intrust--yes, held it for a helpless orphan--and being a peculiar old manhe was making sure that the fortune confided to him was properlyinvested and held until such time as the heiress was capable of takingcare of it herself. "

"Then this explains the mystery?"

"It does. "

"And the letter would open up everything?"

"It would. "

"And fire has consumed the letter; but matters are simplified. "

"They are?"

"Yes. "

"How?"

"All we have to do is find the reputed granddaughter of old Canfield. "

"Easier said than done. "

"But we have a clue now. "

"We have?"

"Certainly. "

"You are becoming quite a detective. "

"I am. "

"What is your clue?"

"The girl is probably living under the name of Canfield. "

"That is possible. "

"You say the name is Amalie Stevens?"

"I believe that to be the real name of the heiress to the fortune youhold. "

"Then you are doubly armed. "

"In that particular, yes. "

"Remember what I have told you. "

"Repeat, please. "

"A fortune awaits you as well as the girl. "

"I would solve this mystery if I could, without the prospect ofreceiving one cent. "

"I believe that, but it is as well to know that you will be well paid. "

"All right, sir, to-morrow I commence the search for the missing child, now a woman between forty and fifty. "

The detective went forth, and we can here state that he with his brotherspent three whole weeks searching for the missing woman, and in all thattime, as Jack afterward stated, he believed he had looked on the face ofalmost every woman in New York, and during this strange "shadow" heencountered many very strange and remarkable experiences. He metnothing, however, that he could call a reward. He did meet many womenwho in a certain way possessed characteristics of feature that mighthave distinguished the heiress developed from a child into a woman. Hevisited the theaters, variety shows; he advertised for relatives ofJacob Canfield, and expected to receive answers from descendants of theold fisherman's second-hand family, if from no one else. He did receivemany bogus replies, but nothing was really worth a second thought. Atthe end of the three weeks he did feel a little discouraged, but showedno disposition to surrender the search. He, however, became verythoughtful, and kept repeating:

"Hang it! if I only had that letter. "

At last there came to him one day a singular suggestion. He was ridingin a street car, and two old men met, and during the course ofconversation one of them made a remark, saying:

"Well, I tell you it's sad how one will lose their memory in directions. My memory is as strong as ever it was, and then again it plays verystrange pranks--yes, very strange pranks. Do you know I will do thingsand then forget that I did? For instance, I will deposit a letter in aU. S. Box and ten minutes afterward forget all about it. "

"I have the same weakness, " said the other old man; "indeed, in thatdirection I am bothered very frequently. "

These remarks started a line of thought in our hero's mind. Heremembered asking Mr. Townsend if he had ever removed the letter thathad been intrusted to him from his office. Mr. Townsend had replied thathe was certain he never had. Our hero recalled that he had accepted thebanker's word but had never tested it, and he exclaimed:

"By ginger! here is where I have been remiss. "

Our hero proceeded to Mr. Townsend's home, and after a little talk said:

"You once told me you were certain you never removed that letter fromyour office. "

"I am certain that I never did--yes, I repeat the declaration. "

"You are mistaken. "

The old banker started and exclaimed in a tone of surprise:

"I am mistaken?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Then you have found the letter?"

"No, but I will find it. "

"You will?"

"Yes. "

"Where?"

"Here in your house. "

"Never. "

"You are positive?"

"I cannot think it possible that I removed the letter. I once thought itpossible and made a search. "

"Oh, you once thought it possible?"

"Yes. "

"And made a search?"

"Yes. "

"And you failed to find it?"

"I did not find it. '"

"Where did you look?"

"In my private safe. "

"You wish to find the letter?"

"I do. "

"Then you will not object to my making a search?"

"Certainly not; I will oppose no effort to find the letter. "

"Then I will make the search, " said our hero. 

CHAPTER IX. 

A WONDERFUL SEARCH--JACK BECOMES THE SEARCHER--ASTARTLING DISCOVERY--THE LONG-LOST LETTER FOUND ATLAST--A MOST REMARKABLE FEAT--THE STORY OF THESEALED LETTER. 

There came a perplexed look to the face of the banker, as he said:

"It cannot be possible that I removed that letter. "

"It is not only possible, but it is probable. "

"But I searched for it. "

"No doubt; but, sir, while searching were you as _positive then_ as youare now that you had not removed the letter?"

"I may have been. "

"You will permit me to make the search?"

"Certainly. "

"All right, sir; leave me the keys of your private safe, then leave mealone in the room where your safe is located, and we will settle thequestion once and forever. "

"You will not find the letter. "

"You think so?"

"I am sure. "

"Why are you so sure?"

"If I put it anywhere I put it in my private safe, and I have lookedthrough the safe several times. "

"Looked through?" repeated the detective. 

"Yes. "

"But never made a search?"

"I would call it a search. "

"I might not. "

"Very well, sir, you shall satisfy yourself. Here are my keys, and thesafe is in that room built into the wall, and guarded as no otherprivate safe is guarded in this city. "

Jack pulled out his watch and said:

"It is after eleven o'clock; I may be hours. Will you trust me alonehere until morning?"

"I will. "

"Then you will retire?"

"I will, but if you do find the letter arouse me. But nonsense, you willnever find it. "

"I will never be satisfied until I have at least made a search for it. The document is too important to be passed over as lost by one who only_looked_ for it. I will make a search, and, sir, I have a strange, weirdpremonition that I will find it. "

"Then, sir, you would only be doing your duty if you hung me by the neckuntil I should die. "

"We will not punish you as severely as that. "

The detective was left alone with the safe and the keys in hispossession, and as he opened the safe a feeling came over him as thoughhe were really opening the doors of a tomb. Jack removed every articlefrom the safe; removed every drawer and piled them on a table which hehad placed for the purpose. It was evident that indeed he intended tomake a _search_. 

Having taken everything from the safe he commenced to return them one ata time. First the drawers, and he closely examined and soundedthem--indeed his examination was as precise as though he had an objectunder a magnifying glass, and so he returned article after article andhad spent three full hours. All was returned to the safe but one book, asort of ledger. The detective took it in his hands, and as he did so hemuttered:

"Well, I have one satisfaction--I have at least made a _search_. "

He took the ledger, sat down on a chair, and placing the book on hisknees commenced turning over leaf after leaf, and his method was but anindication of the thoroughness with which he had conducted the wholeexamination. We will admit that he had lost all hope of finding theletter, but he was determined that he should never reproach himself forany carelessness in carrying on the investigation. 

Patiently and carefully he turned leaf after leaf until he had passedthrough nearly three-quarters of the heavily-bound volume, and thensuddenly it fell from his lap, and he sat rigid like one suddenlychilled to the heart. His eye had fallen on a letter, and on it waswritten:

"_To be opened after twenty years by Mr. Townsend. _"

The detective had not been expecting anything of the sort. He wasturning the leaves mechanically, and we can add without hope, when, asstated, his eye fell upon a letter, and at a glance he read thesuperscription, and it was then that his heart gave a great bound andthe heavy volume slid off his knees to the floor. It had come sosuddenly, so unexpectedly that literally it took his breath away, butafter a moment--yes, a full minute--he was able to exclaim:

"I have found it--found the letter at last. It has indeed been aremarkable feat. I deserve to have found it. "

Jack was a young man of iron nerve. Of course the discovery had caused ashock, but quickly he recovered his self-possession. He stooped down, picked up the book, and calmly returned it to the safe, and then pickedup the precious letter, for in the fall it had slid from the book. Itwas an exciting moment. He again read the writing on the letter, andthere it was plain and bold: "To be opened after twenty years. " He didnot open the letter, for it was written to Mr. Townsend--yes, the bankerwas the only man who had the right to open the letter. 

As stated, the detective had regained his self-possession. He wasperfectly cool; he stepped into the adjoining room and drank a glass ofwater from a pitcher which had been left for him. Then he lit acigar--did this equally as coolly. He stepped from the room and startedup the stairs. At the door of the rear room on the second floor stoodMr. Townsend, pale and excited. 

"I heard something heavy fall, " said the banker. 

"Yes, I dropped one of the books. "

"Have you found it?" came the question in a husky voice. 

"I _have found something_. "

"What is it?"

"I will not attempt to decide. You will please come downstairs anddecide for me. "

"I will be down in one minute. "

The detective returned to the library, and after a few minutes Mr. Townsend joined him. The detective was sitting in an easy-chair drawn upto the table, smoking as coolly and calmly as though taking a last whiffjust before going to bed. 

"Oh, dear me!" exclaimed the banker, when he beheld the detectivesitting there so cool and apparently unconcerned, "I thought you hadfound something. "

"So I have. "

"It cannot be the letter; I did have hopes. "

"What has dampened your hopes?"

"You are too cool for a man who has found the letter. "

"I am?"

"Yes. "

There came a smile to the detective's face, a smile that was thrillingin its suggestiveness, as he laid the letter on the table and said:

"Well, I have found something; you can tell what it is; look at it. Noneed to search now; I think the search is over. "

Mr. Townsend advanced, seized the letter, and his face was ashen as heexclaimed, while trembling like one with ague:

"That is it. "

"I thought so, " said the detective. 

"Yes, that is the letter. "

"I thought so, and did not open it because it is written on it 'To beopened by Mr. Townsend only. '"

"Where did you find it?"

"Never mind where I found it; what have I found?"

"You have found the letter which was left with me by Jacob Canfield. "

"You are certain?"

"I am. No doubt as to its identity. I must have removed it from the safein my office. "

"No doubt. "

"Yes, it's one of the most remarkable lapses of memory. "

"It is not so remarkable. "

"Where did you find it?"

Jack told where he had found the long missing letter, and then said:

"Now, sir, all you have to do is to open that letter and we will learnwhat you are directed to do. "

"We would have been wise to have searched for the letter at first. "

"Oh, no, we have prepared the way now to act on what the letter maydisclose. But read it. "

"I will open it; you read it. I am so overcome I have not the strengthto do so. "

"All right. "

Mr. Townsend did open the letter. We will not attempt to produce itscontents in detail, but relate the main facts wherein the strangemystery of the extraordinary deposit was fully cleared up, and also howthe remarkable cleverness of Detective Jack Alvarez was fully and mostamazingly verified. 

Jack had traced down to the real character. Jacob Canfield was the manwho had made the deposit, and as Jack had discerned he held the money intrust. One morning the fishermen along the Jersey coast discovered abark in distress off the shore. It was in the midst of one of thefiercest northeast storms in the remembrance of any man. No boat couldgo to the aid of the crew, and all efforts to send a line proved futile, and through the day the vessel was seen beating and thumping, and whennight fell it was decided that ere morning she would have gone topieces. Among those who were on the beach was Jacob Canfield, and atnight he walked along the beach, when from the breakers he heard a cry. Jake was a powerful swimmer, and he ran down into the water, and it didseem as though in fitness of time and place his rush was providential. He saw a figure, brought in on a wave, and he plunged forward, seizedthe form of a man who had lost his strength and was being carried back, never to be plunged forward again alive. Jake dragged the half-drownedman ashore and carried him to his own little home. At that time he livedalone, a widower. After hours of work he managed to restore the man tolife, and at the rescued passenger's request he let no one know of therescue. In the meantime, during the night the storm went down, and lo, the stanch bark withstood the mad assaults of the waves, and life saversin good time were able to go aboard. They did so and later saved everyman of the crew. There was one passenger, however, missing, named HaroldStevens. He was the only passenger, and he was washed overboard anddrowned--that is, so every one believed. Luck favored the crew, as lateron the baggage of the sailors was saved, and also the baggage of themissing passenger. 

Meantime, as the rescued man revealed to Jake Canfield, he was HaroldStevens, and Jake was sent to bring the captain of the bark to hiscottage, and the rescued passenger and the captain of the bark had along conference. Later Harold Stevens went to New York, and beingidentified his baggage was delivered to him, and no one on the beachever knew that Jake Canfield had been the saver of the life of thepassenger reported as drowned. Six months passed, and Jake married andentered into the misery of his second-hand family, and as he stated inhis letter in confirmation of old Berwick, his misery began at once. Helearned that he had married an evil woman with an evil lot of children. Jake, however, was not a man to complain, and one day after theexpiration of two years following the loss of the bark he received asummons to New York, and there met the man whose life he had saved. 

CHAPTER X. 

CONCLUSION. 

The narrative in the letter went on to recite that the man HaroldStevens had taken a cold, owing to his experience when washed overboard, and the fatal disease consumption had ensued. He sent for Jake Canfieldas a man whom he believed to be honest and faithful, and to him heconfided his only child, stating that the mother had died in SouthAmerica and the child had been in the hands of friends whom he feared. He stated that he had secured possession of his child, and desired toconsign her to Jake. He gave many directions concerning the child, butenjoined that she should not know she was an heiress until she wastwenty-five years of age. The letter did not state why thisdetermination had been reached by the father. Jack took possession ofthe child and the fortune, and for reasons never explained the fatherdesired that her real name and identity and parentage should beconcealed until her twenty-fifth birthday. Jake took charge of the childand the fortune, and two weeks later the father died, and strange tosay, about the same time Jake's son died, and when he took the littlechild to his home he represented her as the daughter of his son, hopingthereby to conceal her real parentage more effectively. Then came thetime when he took the child and placed her in charge of perfectstrangers, giving reasons that do not concern the interests of ourstory, but based on the idea of his second-hand family and their evilfeeling toward his supposed granddaughter. In the meantime Jake had beenworried about the fortune deposited with him. He was an old man, led aperilous life going to sea, and he finally determined to deposit themoney with some one whom he knew would be honest. He had gone to schoolwith Mr. Townsend's parents, as he originally hailed from New England. He made inquiries about the young banker and concluded that he would bea safe man with whom to deposit the money as trustee for the child, andhe did go out in his boat as a "blind" and sailed in her to New York, where he disposed of her, having determined to let it be thought that hewas dead and thus escape his second-hand family--we use the termsecond-hand family. The above is the gist of the narrative. What elsemay concern our narrative will be recorded incidentally as Jack haddeveloped. As our readers know, Mr. Canfield was killed on the railroadand never spoke a word, and owing to the fact that he was supposed tohave been drowned no inquiry was made concerning him, and thus for fortyyears all memory of him had been lost until revived by our hero throughthe incidents as we have narrated them. 

Having finished the reading of the letter, Jack said:

"Well, sir, all is clear now. "

"Yes, and it is wonderful how the facts have been developed. "

"I have plain sailing now, " said Jack. 

"You will find this girl, Amalie Stevens?"

"I will, or her heir. "

"There is some satisfaction, Mr. Wonderful, in starting out with aperfect clue. "

Jack laughed and said:

"My clue is not as clear as you may think, still I have something towork on. I know the woman's name. "

"The girl, you mean?"

"No, the woman; you forget that forty years have passed. "

"You are right, I did forget. Well, how time flies! Now that the mysteryis solved, it seems to me as though the incident had occurred only a fewmonths ago. "

On the day following the incidents recorded Jack visited New Jersey, theland which had been so fruitful in furnishing him incidents tending to asolution of the mystery. While on the train he meditated over his greatsuccess and felt proud over his wonderful "shadow"--for indeed it hadproved a wonderful "shadow. " He appreciated, however, that almost asdifficult a task lay before him. The letter had said the child had beenplaced with strangers, and singularly the old man had failed to statewith whom or where he left the child. He had evidently intended to doso, but through some oversight had omitted giving the information. Jackdid have one advantage--he knew the real name and possibly the assumedname of the woman he was searching for, but he did not know what herpresent name might be in case she was living. He was working entirely onconjecture. He concluded that Jake had placed the child somewhere nearhis home, where he might find her at any time if he desired tocommunicate with her. 

Jack left the train on the Central Railroad of New Jersey and startedout by visiting from house to house. He determined to visit every townfrom Jersey City to Lakewood, and he started in at one of the oldesttowns and then commenced his search again. He started in by looking inthe face of every woman he met, and he also went from house to house, pretending to be acting as agent for a monthly publication. He had thepicture of Amalie, and believed that with his marvelous keenness hecould detect a resemblance even though forty years had passed since thepicture had been taken. He in this way spent one whole week, andbelieved he had seen the face of every woman in the town, but not oneface presented any suggestion of a resemblance. With the different womenhe started in with a little line of conversation; he introduced the nameof Stevens and Canfield, and he would say: "Why, let me see, isn't thisthe town where the little girl was brought up from the beach and leftwith strangers to secure a fortune to her?"

The above was only one of the many ingenious questions the detectiveasked in order to quicken some one's memory, or start a line of thoughtthat would recall the circumstance of a little orphan child having beenleft in charge of some one. He had one disadvantage to contend with--thelength of time that had elapsed; but he was hopeful that he might inthis way run upon Amalie Stevens in person. He recognized that thechances were the girl had continued to live in the town where Jake hadplaced her, and it was equally possible that she might have married someone in the town and have settled down and lived there for life. We wishspace would permit the recital of the many odd and novel littleinventions of the detective to gain a clue, but all his devices failed. He did not become discouraged; he kept muttering: "I'll get there intime. "

There was one chance against him, and that chance he most feared. It waspossible Amalie Stevens had died while a child; if so there remainedlittle hope of his ever solving the mystery, at least little hope ofever seeing an heir to the great fortune, for failing to find Amaliethere was no other heir. The great fortune under the terms of the letterwould lapse to Mr. Townsend. Jake Canfield had calculated thepossibilities of the child's death, and had said that the father hadnamed no other heir, and had directed that in case of Jake's death hewas to have the money---one-half for himself and one-half to bedistributed in charity. Jake, calculating upon his own death, had madethe same provision, and in case the child Amalie died, and Jake also, Mr. Townsend was to carry out the original terms of thetrust--distribute one-half in charity and keep one-half for himself. 

We here desire to call attention to the fact that at this time therewere at least two honest men on earth, Mr. Townsend and Jack, and bothwere making every effort to find the real owner of the estate, whileboth would benefit in case of failure, for Mr. Townsend had told ourhero that in case the heiress was not found, or any other legalclaimant, he would transfer the interest in the estate to Jack, remarking: "I have enough of my own, and you deserve it in case there isno other heir discovered. "

With this possibility staring him the face, Jack was bending everyenergy to find the original heir, and was prosecuting his search with askill and acuteness that well warranted success, and in hisinvestigation he ran up against a very singular experience. Severalrobberies had taken place in the section of the country where Jack wasconducting his investigation, and when he had been about three weeksthus engaged his adventure occurred. The detective was stopping at alittle country hotel, and he had worked several disguises. He was cuteenough to know that his work would in time attract attention, and thathe was liable to considerable annoyance, so as stated, he changed hisattire, his general appearance, and his pretended business. One day hewas a book agent; the next day, under a different disguise, he was asewing machine canvasser, and so he floated from one business toanother; but despite his care and shrewdness, as it appeared, he didattract attention, and one night while in his room in the hotelindicated a country-looking chap knocked at his door and was admitted. The visitor was a green-looking fellow, and upon entering said:

"Mister, you will excuse me, but I jest thought I'd call in on youbecause I also thought I might be of some service to you. "

"Hello, " thought Jack, "here I am at last; my usual luck has set in; Iam going to get some information. "

"I am very happy to have you call, " said Jack. 

As our hero spoke, however, there came a change in the tones of hisvoice; ere he had completed his sentence he had made a discovery. Whenthe man had first entered the detective had not paid much attention, butwhile speaking in answer to the visitor's statement, our hero discoveredthat the supposed countryman was under a disguise, and his disguise wasa good one. Only a man like our hero would have pierced the "cover. "Jack did, however, hence the sudden change in the tones of his voice;but he recovered himself in an instant and prepared for the game whichhe concluded was on the tapis. 

"You've been making some inquiries around town here to-day. "

"I've been making some inquiries?"

"Yes. "

"Oh, no, my friend, I've been seeking subscriptions. "

"Oh, that's all?"

"Yes. "

"You've only been seeking subscriptions?"

"Yes. "

"Then I reckon I've made a mistake; I've been told you are makinginquiries about a girl named Canfield or Stevens, or some such name. "

Jack had not only pierced the man's disguise, but his purpose, andpossibly his identity, and when his visitor made the statement recordedJack laughed and asked:

"Have you come to give me the desired information, my friend?"

"Well, yes. "

"I'm sorry. "

"You are?"

"Yes. "

"Why?"

"Simply because my little narrative was all a fiction. You see, I workup this story in order to catch the women's attention; I get themengaged in conversation and then start in to sell my goods, or ratherget my subscriptions. I am sorry my little business trick has put you tothe trouble of coming here to see me. "

The disguised man looked sort of blank when he received the aboveexplanation. 

"Golly!" he exclaimed, "you're cute. "

The expression of the visitor was two ended--sharp at both ends. Itmight mean "You are cute because you are lying, " or it might mean "Youare cute working that little game to gain customers. " Jack was compelledto diplomize a little further in order to learn just what the man didmean. 

"Yes, you are awful cute, " said the man. "I learn you've been goingalong the road in different towns telling different tales, and telling'em good, too. "

"Yes, I've done that. "

"And you've changed your business about as often as you have yourstories. "

Jack saw that his visitor was not as cute as he might be, even though hewere a regular detective, and our hero had determined that the man was aprofessional. 

"Who has been giving you that story?" queried Jack. 

"Well, I've been told so. "

"Oh, you have?"

"Yes. "

"And are you going to explain all my little fictions?"

"Hardly; I thought I might solve one of your little mysteries. "

"Oh, you did?"

"Yes. "

"I'll be obliged. "

"I have been told that you change your appearance about as often as youchange your business and your stories. "

"You were told all this?"

"Yes. "

"You appear to have taken a deep interest in my business. "

"Well, yes, I have. "

"Am I obliged to you?"

"I have not decided yet. "

The visitor had dropped his simple manner and was talking in a short anddirect way. 

"So you haven't decided whether I am under obligations to you or not?"

"No, I have not yet, but I've a question to ask you: What is your name?"

"I will direct you to the registry; look downstairs. "

"I've looked at that. "

"You have?"

"Yes. "

"Well, you have been interested in my affairs. "

"I have, yes. Is that your real name?"

"My friend, you have called on me. "

"Yes, I am here. "

"I did not invite you to come here, you came uninvited. "

"I did. "

"Who are you?"

"I may tell you or I may not. "

"Are you well acquainted with Jersey law, sir?"

"Pretty well. "

"That's lucky, for when I tell you that you must get out of this roomyou will understand that in the law I have a right to make the request. "

"Yes, you have a right to make the request. "

"And enforce it, my friend. "

"Ah! that's different. "

"Then you dare intimate that you won't leave this room?"

The pretended countryman quietly drew a pistol, cocked it with equaldeliberation, and said:

"Yes, sir, I dare intimate that I won't leave this room until I getready. "

"You are an intruder. "

"Am I?"

"Yes. "

"What are you?"

"A gentleman. "

"Oh, you are?"

"Yes, I am. "

"Do you see this?"

"I do; and do you see this?"

Both men displayed pistols, and the visitor's tone fell off a little. 

"My friend, " said Jack, "I am not afraid of pistols, I am used to them. Why, my dear fellow, I always sleep with them under my pillow, eat withthem under my napkin, hide one under my Bible when I go to church; inother words, I am never without a barker. "

The visitor listened with a look of surprise on his face. 

"Why do you always go thus armed?"

"So as to be ready to shoot at a moment's notice; so as to be ready whensome impertinent bully draws a weapon as you have done--yes, I always goready for impertinent fellows wherever I may meet them. "

There followed a moment's silence, and then the visitor said:

"My friend, you had better not attempt to draw a weapon on me; in plainlanguage I am an officer. I have reason to know that you are a fraud; donot attempt any 'bluff' on me, for I've been on your track for twoweeks; but I'll give you a chance. "

Jack, as our readers know, was perfectly cool. He enjoyed thescene--enjoyed it hugely--and he said:

"You will give me a chance?"

"I will, a good chance. "

"Thank you. "

"But you must earn the chance. "

"Oh, I must earn it?"

"Yes. "

"How?"

"'Squeak;' I am on to your whole game; you are playing the peddler andlocating, and the gang, on your information, work the houses afterward. "

"A nice game, ain't it?"

"Yes, a very nice game. "

"Why do you wish to interfere with such a nice game?"

"It's my duty to do so. "

"Oh, that's it?"

"Yes. "

"You have another duty to perform. "

"I am not taking instructions. "

"But I am giving you instructions, all the same. Now get out of here anddon't stand on the order of your going, but just 'git. ' Do youunderstand that?"

The visitor rose, when Jack suddenly seized a pillow from his bed anddealt the man a tremendous rap over the head. The pillow burst and thebran poured down over the man's face and eyes, and in the meantime Jackseized the man's weapon, and then seizing a second pillow gave him asecond succession of raps until the man was blinded, and finally ceasingthe detective sat down and watched his man clean his eyes and ears, andafter a little coolly said:

"Go to the wash basin there, old man, and wash out the horse feed. "

The man managed to find the basin and obeyed, and when his eyes werecleaned he looked and beheld our hero sitting there with a broad smileon his face. 

"Do you know what you have done?" demanded the man. 

"What have I done?"

"If you have committed no other crime, you have assailed an officer ofthe law in the performance of his duty. "

"I am not sorry I've taught an officer of the law a lesson; I supposeyou claim to be a detective?"

"I do. "

"You so claim?"

"Yes. "

"Well, old man, I _am_ a detective, and even you know how a realdetective goes about it. Where are you from?"

"Newark. "

"Better get back to Newark as quick as you can or I will give this wholebusiness away. "

"Who are you?"

"I've told you _I am_ a detective, and I don't do my business bysplurges. "

"Then you were on detective work when you went around from house tohouse?"

"I am not giving my business away. "

"What are you after? I may aid you. "

The detective laughed and said:

"When I need aid I will secure a woman. "

Here was as pretty a double answer as was ever uttered, but the man fromNewark only got on to one end of it. After a little time Jack let downeasy on the man, thinking he might be of some service some day, andlater the visitor departed, carrying his mortification and defeat in hismemory. But he had learned a lesson, we hope, in the difficult trade hepretended to follow. 

On the day following the incidents we have recorded Jack started out towalk to the adjoining town. On the way he came to an old graveyard; hestopped a moment and then said, talking to himself:

"Great Scott! I have missed a point all along. I will just take a walkaround this old burying ground. I have not been able to learn anythingfrom the living, I may pick up a point from a tombstone. "

It was a bright, clear day; the sun shone with magnificent splendor asthe shrewd officer entered the burying ground. He walked around lookingfor little graves, and he had been fully an hour in the place whensuddenly he uttered a cry. He beheld letters almost illegible whichstruck him as startling in view of his quest. He dropped down, brushedaway the grass, and lo, his search was ended--indeed his eyes had notdeceived him. There before his eyes was the humble epitaph: "AmalieCanfield, aged four years; died December 20, 18--. "

The detective's search was over and he was sadly disappointed, althoughthe disappointment meant a large fortune to himself, under thedeclaration of Mr. Townsend. There was no need for the detective tosearch further. He had solved the mystery, he had found Amalie Stevens, and _she left no heirs_. The child had died, according to the tombstone, some two months following the death of her adopted grandfather. Therewas the indisputable testimony. 

On the day following Jack appeared in New York and at the home of Mr. Townsend, and he said:

"Well, sir, the mystery is all solved. "

"It is?"

"Yes. "

"You have found Amalie Stevens?"

"I have found the grave of Amalie Canfield, aged four years. "

Our hero proceeded and told all that had occurred, and Mr. Townsendremarked:

"How sad, how fatal!"

"Yes, sir, but you have a consolation. Your oversight has not cost anyone any trouble. Old Mr. Canfield died the day he made the deposit withyou, and the heiress died two months and one day later, so it makes nodifference. No one would have gained by an earlier finding of theletter; the fortune belongs to charity and you. "

"No, not to me, " said Mr. Townsend, "but to you. "

"To me?"

"Yes. "

"You mean it?"

"I do. "

"Then I accept it as a trust. "

"Accept it as a trust?"

"Yes, as a trust only, and I shall leave it in your possession. "

"What is your reason?"

"Harold Stevens may have had other heirs; if so I will find them. Itrust my next quest will prove a more _successful shadow_. "

Mr. Townsend meditated awhile and then said:

"Your conclusion does you honor, but remember, I am an old man, I havelegal heirs. If this fortune were found in my possession it might leadto trouble. I will transfer it all over to you; I can trust you; I _knowyou are_ an honest man. If you should ever find a legal heir you canbestow the fortune, if not you can carry out the bequest at yourleisure. Give half to charity and keep the other half; in the meantime, from my own fortune I propose to pay you twenty-five thousand dollarswhich is to be yours absolutely; the money you have earned. "

Jack Alvarez determined to set out and find the true heirs if any wereliving, and under the title of "A Successful Shadow, " a story to bewritten by us and issued very shortly, our readers will learn theincidents attending Jack Alvarez's most wonderful quest, and we promiseour readers one of the most intense narratives, and the most thrillingand startling denouement that can be conceived, despite the testimony ofthe little gravestone. Do not fail to read "A Successful Shadow, " to beissued in this series in a few weeks. 

THE END. 

[Transcriber's Note: The original edition did not contain a Table ofContents. A Table of Contents has been prepared for this electronicedition. In addition, the following typographical errors present in theoriginal book have been corrected. 

In Chapter I, a comma has been added after "Now, Mr. Alvarez". 

In Chapter II, "a hopeles case" was changed to "a hopeless case". 

In Chapter V, a missing quote has been added after 'strange"appearance'. 

In Chapter VII, "Benwick's mind" has been changed to "Berwick's mind", and "It it, I admit" has been changed to "It is, I admit". 

In Chapter VIII, "TACK'S FORESIGHT" has been changed to "JACK'SFORESIGHT", "Old Benwick" has been changed to "Old Berwick", and amissing quotation mark has been added before "indeed, in thatdirection". 

In Chapter X, "the orginal heir" has been changed to "the originalheir", and "as as cute as" has been changed to "as cute as". ]