A Modern Wizard

by Rodrigues Ottolengui

  CHAPTER II.

  JACK BARNES INVESTIGATES.

  Jack Barnes, at this time, had just attained his majority. He wasstudying law with Messrs. Dudley & Bliss, and acting as their officeassistant. But it was by no means his intention ever to practise theprofession, which he was acquiring with much assiduity. His oneambition was to be a detective. Gifted with a keen, logical mind, astrong disposition to study and solve problems, and possessing therare faculty of never forgetting a face, or a voice, he thoughthimself endowed by nature with exactly the faculties necessary to makea successful detective. His study of law was but a preliminary, which,he rightly deemed, would be of value to him.

  Anxious, as he was, to try his wits against some noted criminal, thechance had never been his to make the effort. He had indeed ferretedout one or two so-called "mysterious cases," but these had been in asmall country village, where a victory over the dull-wittedconstabulary had counted for little in his own estimation.

  Naturally he had read with avidity all the various newspaper accountsof the supposed murder of Mabel Sloane, and it was with considerablesatisfaction that he had read the name upon the card intrusted to himto be taken to his employers. It seemed to him that at last fortunehad placed an opportunity within his grasp. Here was a man, suspectedof a great crime, whom the great Metropolitan detective force hadentirely failed to locate. From what he had read of Dr. Medjora, hequickly decided that, though he might consult Messrs. Dudley & Bliss,he would not intrust them with his address. Jack Barnes determined tofollow the Doctor when he should leave the office. Thus it was, thathe was absent when Mr. Bliss inquired for him.

  Descending by the elevator--a contrivance oddly named, since it takesone down as well as up,--he stationed himself in a secluded corner,whence he could keep watch upon the several exits from the building.Presently, he saw Dr. Medjora step from the elevator, and leave thebuilding, after casting his eyes keenly about him, from whichcircumstance Barnes thought it best not to follow his man too closely.When, therefore, he saw the Doctor jump upon a Third Avenue horse-car,he contented himself with taking the next one following, and ridingupon the front platform.

  He saw nothing of Dr. Medjora until the Harlem terminus was reached.Here his man alighted and walked rapidly across the bridge over theriver, Barnes following by the footpath on the opposite side, keepingthe heavy timbers of the span between them as a screen. But, howevercareful Dr. Medjora had been to look behind him when leaving thelawyers' offices, he evidently felt secure now, for he cast no anxiousglances backward. Thus Barnes shadowed him with comparative ease,several blocks uptown, and then down a cross street, until at last hedisappeared in a house surrounded by many large trees.

  Barnes stopped at the tumbled-down gate, which, swinging on one hinge,offered little hindrance to one who wished to enter. He looked at thehouse with curiosity. Old Colonial in architecture, it had evidentlyonce been the summer home of wealthy folks. Now the sashless windowsand rotting eaves marked it scarcely more than a habitat for crows ornight owls. Wondering why Dr. Medjora should visit such a place, hewas suddenly astonished to hear the sound of wheels rapidlyapproaching. Peeping back, he saw a stylish turn-out coming towardshim, and it flashed across his mind that this might be the equipage inwhich the Doctor had been said to drive in the Park. Not wishing to beseen, he entered the grounds, ran quickly to the house, and admittedhimself through a broken-down doorway that led to what had been thekitchen. He had scarcely concealed himself when the carriage stopped,a woman alighted, and walking up to the house, entered by the samedoor through which the Doctor had passed. Barnes was satisfied nowthat this meeting was pre-arranged, and that it would interest himgreatly to overhear the conversation which would occur.

  Seeking a means of reaching the upper floor, he soon found a stairwayfrom which several steps were absent, but he readily ascended. At thetop, he stopped to listen, and soon heard low voices still farther up.The staircase in the main hall was in a fair state of preservation,and there was even the remains of an old carpet. Carefully stepping,so as to avoid creaking boards, he soon reached a level from which hecould peep into the room at the head of the stairs, and there he sawthe two whom he was following. But though he could hear their voices,he could not distinguish their words. To do so he concluded that hemust get into the adjoining room, but he could not go farther upstairswithout being detected, as the door was open affording the Doctor aclear view of the top of the stairway.

  Barnes formed his plan quickly. Reaching up with his hands, he tookhold of the balustrade which ran along the hallway, and then, danglingin the air, he worked his way slowly from baluster to baluster, untilhe had passed the open doorway, and finally hung opposite the roomwhich he wished to enter. Then he drew himself up, until he could resta foot upon the floor of the hall, after which he quickly andnoiselessly swung himself over and passed into the front room. That hesucceeded, astonished him, after it had been done, for he could notbut recognize that a single rotten baluster would either haveprecipitated him to the floor below, or at least by the noise of itsbreaking have attracted the attention of Dr. Medjora, who, be itremembered, was suspected of no less a crime than murder.

  Looking about the room in which he then stood, he took little note ofthe decaying furniture, but went at once to a door which he thoughtmust communicate with the adjoining room. Opening this very gently, hedisclosed a narrow passageway, from which another door evidentlyopened into the room beyond. Stealthily he passed on, and pressing hisear against a wide crack, was pleased to find that he could easilyhear what was said by the two in the next room. The conversationseemed to have reached the very point of greatest interest to him. Thewoman said:

  "I wish to know exactly your connection with this Mabel Sloane."

  "So do the police," replied the Doctor, succinctly.

  "But I am not the police," came next in petulant tones.

  "Exactly! And not being the police you are out of your province, wheninvestigating a matter supposed to be criminal." Barnes learned twothings: first that the Doctor would not lose his temper, and thereforewould not be likely to betray himself by revealing anything beyondwhat his companion might already know; and second, that she knewlittle as to his relation with Mabel Sloane. This was not verypromising, yet he still hoped that something might transpire, whichwould repay all the trouble that he had taken. The woman spoke againquickly.

  "Then you are not going to explain this thing to me?"

  "Certainly not, since you have not the right to question me."

  "I have not the right? I, whom you expect to marry? I have not theright to investigate your relations with other women?"

  "Not with one who is dead!"

  "Dead or alive, I must know what this Mabel Sloane was to you, orelse----" She hesitated.

  "Or else?" queried the Doctor, without altering his tone.

  "Or else I will not marry you."

  "Oh! Yes, you will!" replied the Doctor, with such a tone of certaintythat his companion became exasperated and stamped her feet as shereplied in anger:

  "I will not! I will not! I will not!" Then, as though her asseverationhad slightly mollified her, she added: "Or if I do----" and, thenpaused.

  "Continue!" exclaimed the Doctor, still calm. "You pause at a mostinteresting period. Or if you do----"

  "Or if I do," wrathfully rejoined the woman--"I'll make your wholelife a burden to you!"

  "No, my wife that is to be, you will not even do that. Perhaps youmight try, but I should not permit you to succeed in any such anundertaking. No, my dear friend, you and I are going to be a modelcouple, provided----"

  "Provided what?"

  "That you curb your curiosity as to things that do not concern you."

  "But this does concern me."

  "As I have intimated already, Mabel Sloane being dead, you can have nointerest whatever in knowing what relations existed between us."

  "Not even if, as the newspapers claim, she had a child?"

  "Not even in that case."

&
nbsp; "Well, is there a child?"

  "I have told you that it does not concern you."

  "Do you deny it?"

  "I neither deny it, nor affirm it. You have read the evidence, and maybelieve it or not as you please."

  "Oh! I hate you! I hate you!" She was again enraged. "I wonder why Iam such a fool as to marry you?"

  "Ah! This time you show curiosity upon a subject which does concernyou. Therefore I will enlighten you. You intend to marry me, first,because, in spite of the assertion just made, you love me. That is tosay, you love me as much as you can love any one other than yourself.Second, you are ambitious to be the wife of a celebrated man. You havebeen keen enough to recognize that I have genius, and that I will be agreat man. Do you follow me?"

  "You are the most supreme egotist that I have ever met." The words,meant as a sort of reproach, yet were spoken in tones which betokenedadmiration.

  "Thank you. I see you appreciate me for what I am. All egotists arebut men who have more than the average ego, more than ordinaryindividuality. The supreme egotist, therefore, has most of all. Now,to continue the reasons for our marriage, perhaps you would like toknow why I intend to marry you?"

  "If your august majesty would condescend so far." The Doctor took nonotice of the sneer, but said simply:

  "I too have my ambitions, but I need money with which to achievesuccess. You have money!"

  "You dare to tell me that! You are going to marry me for my money!Never, you demon! Never!"

  "I thought you had concluded to be sensible and leave off theatricals.You look very charming when you are angry, but it prolongs thisconversation to dangerous lengths. We may be interrupted at any momentby the police."

  "By the police! In heaven's name how?" In a moment she showed atransition from that emotion which spurned him, to that love for himwhich trembled for his safety. Thus wisely could this crafty physicianplay upon the feelings of those whom he wished to influence.

  "It is very simple. As much as you love me, you love your own comfortmore. I asked you to come up here quietly. You came in your carriage,with driver and footman in full livery. Is that your idea of a quiettrip?"

  "But I thought----"

  "No! You did not think." The Doctor spoke sternly, and the woman wassilent, completely awed. "If you had thought for one moment, you wouldhave readily seen that the police are probably watching you, hopingthat, through you, they might find me. Fortunately, however, I havethought of the contingency, and am prepared for it. But let us wasteno more time. No! Do not speak. Listen, and heed what I have to say. Ihave decided not to follow your suggestion. You wrote to me advisingflight. That was another indiscretion, since your messenger might havebeen followed. However, I forgave you, for you not only offered toaccompany me, but you expressed a willingness to furnish the funds, asan earnest of which I found a thousand dollars in your envelope. Atoken, you see, of a love more intense than that jealousy which amoment ago whispered to you to abandon me. From this, and othersimilar circumstances, I readily deduce that after all you will marryme. But to come to the point. I have consulted a firm of lawyers, andby their advice I shall surrender myself on the day after to-morrow."

  "You will surrender to the police?" The woman was thoroughly alarmed."They will convict you. They will----ugh!" She shuddered.

  "No," said the Doctor more kindly than he had as yet spoken. "Do notbe afraid. They will neither convict me, nor hang me. I will stand mytrial, and come out of it a freed man."

  "But if not? Even innocent men have been convicted."

  "Even innocent men! Why do you say even? Do you doubt that I aminnocent?"

  "No! No! But this is what I mean. Although innocent you might bebrought in guilty."

  "Well, even so, I must take the chance. All my hopes, all myambitions, all that I care for in life depend upon my being a freeman. I cannot ostracize myself, and reach my goal. So the die is cast.But there is another thing that I must tell you. We cannot be marriedat present."

  "Not married? Why not? Why delay? I wish to marry you now, when youare accused, to prove to you how much I love you!" Thus she showed thevacillation of her impulsive, passionate nature.

  "I appreciate your love, and your generosity. But it cannot be. Mylawyers advise against it, and I agree with them that it would behazardous. Next, I must have money with which to carry on my defence.When can you give it to me? You must procure cash. It would not bewell for me to present your check at my bankers. The circumstancesforbid it, lest the prosecution twist it into evidence against me."

  "When I received your note bidding me to meet you here, I thought thatyou contemplated flight. I have brought some money with me. Here arefive thousand dollars. If you need more I will get it."

  "This will suffice for the present. I thank you. Will you kiss me?" Asound followed which showed that this woman, eager for affection,gladly embraced the opportunity accorded to her. At the same momentthere was a loud noise heard in the hall below, from which it wasplain that several persons had entered.

  "The police!" exclaimed the Doctor. Then there was a pause as thoughhe might be listening, and then he continued, speaking rapidly: "As Iwarned you, they have followed you. Hush! Have no fear. I shall not betaken. I am prepared. But you! You must wait up here undisturbed. Whenthey find you, you must explain that you came here to look at theproperty, which you contemplate buying. And now, whatever may happen,have no fear for my safety. Keep cool and play your part like thebrave little woman that I know you to be."

  There was the sound of a hurried kiss, and then Barnes was horrifiedto see the door at which he was listening, open, and to find himselfconfronted by Dr. Medjora. But if Barnes was taken by surprise, theDoctor was even more astonished. His perturbation however passed in amoment, for he recognized Barnes quickly, and thus knew that at leasthe was not one of the police. Stepping through the door, he pulled itshut after him, and turned a key which was in the lock, and, placingthe key in his pocket, thus closed one exit. Barnes retreated into thenext room and would have darted out into the hall, had not the strongarm of the Doctor clutched him, and detained him. The Doctor thenlocked that door also, after which he dragged Barnes back into thepassage between the two rooms. Here he shook him until his teethchattered, and though Barnes was not lacking in courage, he felthimself so completely mastered, that he was thoroughly frightened.

  "You young viper," hissed the Doctor through his teeth. "You will playthe spy upon me, will you? How long have you been listening here? Butwait. There will be time enough later for your explanations. Youremain in here, or I will take your life as mercilessly as I wouldgrind a rat with my heel." As though to prove that he was nottrifling, he pressed the cold barrel of a revolver against Barnes'stemple, until the young man began to realize that tracking murdererswas not the safest employment in the world.

  Leaving Barnes in the passageway the Doctor went into the front room,and Barnes was horrified by what he saw next. Taking some matches fromhis pocket he deliberately set fire to the old hangings at thewindows, and then lighted the half rotten mattress which rested upon abedstead, doubly inflammable from age. Despite his fear Barnes dartedout, only to be stopped by Dr. Medjora, who forcibly dragged him backinto the passageway, and then stood in the doorway watching the flamesas they swiftly fed upon the dry material.

  "Dr. Medjora," cried Barnes, "you are committing a crime in settingthis house afire!"

  "You are mistaken. This house is mine, and not insured."

  "But there are people in it!"

  "They will have ample time to escape!"

  "But I? How shall I escape?"

  "I do not intend that you shall escape."

  "Do you mean to murder me?"

  "Have patience and you will see. There, I guess that fire will not beeasily extinguished." Then to the amazement of young Barnes the Doctorstepped back into the passageway, and closed and locked the door. Thusthey were in total darkness, in a small passageway having no exit savethe doors at each end, both of which were locked. Already
the firecould be heard roaring, and bright gleams of light appeared throughthe chinks in the oak door. At this moment voices were heard in thenext room. The Doctor brushed Barnes to one side and took the placenear the crevice to hear what passed.

  "Madam," said the voice of a man evidently a policeman, "where is Dr.Medjora?"

  "Dr. Medjora?" replied the woman. "Why, how should I know?"

  "You came here to meet him. It is useless to try to deceive me. Wetracked you to this house, and, what is more, the man himself was seento enter just before you did. We only waited long enough to surroundthe grounds so that there would be no chance to escape. Now that yousee how useless it is for him to hide, you may as well tell us wherehe is, and save time!"

  "I know nothing of the man for whom you are seeking. I came heremerely to look over the property, with a view to buying it."

  "What, buy this old rookery! That's a likely yarn."

  "I should not buy it for the house, but for the beautiful grounds."

  "Well, I can't stop to argue with you. If you won't help us, we'll getalong without you. He is in the house. I know that much."

  "Sarjent! Sarjent! Git outer this! The house is on fire!" Thisannouncement, made in breathless tones by another man who had run in,caused a commotion, and, coming so unexpectedly, entirely unnerved thewoman, who hysterically cried out:

  "He is in there! Open that door! Save him! Save him!"

  Dr. Medjora smothered an ejaculation of anger, as in response to theinformation thus received, the police began hammering upon the door.Old as it was, it was of heavy oak and quite thick. The lock, too, wasa good one and gave no signs of yielding.

  "Where is the fire?" exclaimed the sergeant.

  "In the front room," answered the other man.

  "Get the men up here. Bring axes, or anything that can be found tobreak in with." The man hurried off, in obedience to this order, andthe policeman said to the woman:

  "Madam, you'd better get out of this. It is going to be hot work!"

  "No! No! I'll stay here."

  Barnes wondered what was to be the outcome of the situation, and wassurprised to hear the sound of bolts being pushed through rustybearings. Dr. Medjora was further fortifying the door against thecoming attack. Barnes would have assailed the other door, but from theroar of the flames he knew that no safety lay in that direction.Presently heavy blows were rained upon the door, showing that an axehad been found. In a few moments the panel splintered, and through agap thus made could be seen the figure of the man wielding the axe. Itseemed as though he would soon batter down the barrier which separatedBarnes from safety, when at the next blow the handle of the axe brokein twain. A moment more, and a deafening crash and a rush of smokeinto the passageway indicated that a part of the roof had fallen in.The sergeant grasped the woman by the shoulders, and dragged hershrieking, from the doomed house, which was now a mass of flames. Thelittle knot of policemen stood apart and watched the destruction,waiting to see some sign of Dr. Medjora. But they saw nothing of theDoctor, nor of Barnes, of whom, indeed, they did not know.