The Heiress in Kent

by Gregory Kopp

  Richard was surprised at his tone and placed the note back into his pocket. He begged leave of the British Consul who only waved his hand for the valet to bring him another drink. Richard hurried out of the drawing room, told Anna and Frederick goodnight and that he would be returning alone back to his hotel.

  Edward Clarke noticed Richard’s abrupt exit. He had become suspicious of him and decided to check out his background after he left the dinner party. Making a few discreet inquiries among his legal acquaintances he discovered that Frederick and his wife were still living in the Delancey Street tenement apartment building and no one had heard of Richard Cordwell or his London law firm. He suspected Richard was a Scotland Yard detective based on Clarke’s earlier altercations with the London Metropolitan Police Inspectors as a young man. Clarke arranged a meeting later with a large, burly man in his office. It was the same man who attacked Frederick in his apartment and Richard frightened off with his revolver.

  Clarke was bitterly angry and speaking to the man in a menacing tone. “I told you to get rid of him. What happened? Or do I have to do it myself?”

  The man replied, “The English detective surprised us and shot me,” as he lifted up his injured arm currently suspended in a sling.

  “Very well,” Clarke said. “But you are to follow him and report anything back to me! I do not want this policeman to interfere with our plans. Did you have any luck finding the woman?”

  The large, burly man shook his head “No.”

  “Keep looking for her!” Clarke ordered. “She is crucial to the success of our efforts. Now get out of here. I need to think!” and he slammed the office door behind the man while he was leaving.

  Chapter Eight

  The next morning, Richard Cordwell hailed a coach and traveled down Fifth Avenue to a large house in the toniest section of the city, little knowing the large, burly man was following him. He knocked on the doorway, a servant answered the door and directed him towards the front living room. He gave the servant his coat and hat and looked around. Richard noticed that there was a dark, musty smell permeating the hallway. He observed the rugs and draperies had not been cleaned recently while he followed the servant into the living room.

  A few minutes later, an elegant woman entered the room wearing a flowing gown made of the best silk. She was very attractive with brown hair tied back with a pink ribbon. “Mr. Cordwell?” she asked with a slight smile. Richard rose quickly and bowed, noticing her beautiful eyes and neckline. “My name is Frances Josephine Ramsdell,” and she held out her hand. Richard took her hand and kissed it gently. She blushed at this chivalry and asked him to sit down next to her on the settee. She looked at him earnestly and asked, “Charles Moran said you could help me?” Richard nodded at her not once taking his eyes away from her. “My father is so proud and won't ask for help,” she continued. Richard assured her again that he was at her disposal. She relaxed and patted him on the hand. Her perfume radiated from her while she smiled at him. “My father has been framed,” Josephine stated firmly. “He was fired for the railroad’s financial difficulties, and now he is in disgrace. But I know it wasn’t his fault. He trusted his bankers and they betrayed him by embezzling the railroad’s money. I want to clear his name, our name.” When she finished she wiped away a small tear running down her cheek. Richard asked her if she had any proof, and the woman pulled out a small satchel hidden under the settee. “Here are the bank statements, I smuggled out of my father's old office while his replacement was gone.”

  Cordwell looked surprised. “How did you do that?”

  She smiled seductively at him and blinked her eyes. “The current chairman of the board has a man as an assistant and, and well you know.” And then she laughed seductively. Richard thought to himself, he was becoming increasingly attracted to this clever and pretty young woman. “Can you help me?” she asked again.

  Richard regained his focus, began reading the bank documents and started to grasp the depth of the railroad financial scandal that engulfed this family. “These bank statements are from the Ohio Life Insurance and Trust Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. Isn’t that the bank that failed and almost brought down the entire American economy?” he asked Josephine.

  “Yes, the head cashier at the New York City branch was accused of stealing but never charged by the authorities. He has now disappeared. Instead, my father was blamed for gross financial mismanagement!” she said as she began to cry again.

  Richard offered Josephine his handkerchief when he saw tears begin to well up in her eyes. “In order to help you, I must go to Ohio to find the president of the failed bank and bring the culprit to justice,” he said as he gathered up the financial documents and stood up to go.

  “I am going with you,” Josephine said firmly as she also rose from the settee. “My father is the one under suspicion and I need to be there when you capture the head cashier.”

  “Are you sure? It may be dangerous. These men will be doing whatever they can to avoid being captured including committing acts of violence,” Richard cautioned Josephine.

  She only stared at him with her determined eyes and asked, “When do we go?”

  Richard looked at his watch. “I have to attend to another matter this afternoon. But we can catch the first train leaving tomorrow morning for Ohio.” Josephine agreed and arranged to meet him at the train station the following morning.

  Meanwhile, Richard Cordwell still had to find some information about the other task he was commissioned to complete for the Queen. As he left Josephine’s mansion, Richard unfolded the scrap of paper with the name Mary Morter on it he had received from the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. He studied it again for clues and noticed the drawing of the object with a royal crest on the bottom of the paper. Richard realized it was identical to the brooch worn by Anna! He decided to go back to Delancey Street where Anna had purchased the brooch, hoping to gain some knowledge of Mary Morter’s whereabouts.

  Richard asked several street vendors but they had never heard of Mary Morter. The street vendors were all young men, recently immigrated to New York City. He realized instead he should be questioning the older vendors that may know about her. He spotted an older vendor at the end of the street and asked him if he had ever heard of Mary Morter or her husband. The man rubbed his stubble chin and thought for several moments. His eyes lit up when he recalled her name.

  “Absolutely, I knew both of them. The man was young and strong but his wife, Mary was a thin frail woman.” The old vendor related to Richard how he would buy silk embroideries from Mary after he saw how starved her and the children appeared to be. But one day, Mary proudly introduced him to her husband and they would be leaving for their new home in Ohio. She thanked him for his kindness and then left New York City with her husband and children on the morning train. He never saw her again.

  Richard Cordwell thanked him and gave him several silver dollar coins in gratitude. The man tested them with his teeth to ensure they were real silver and then turned to assist another customer. Richard hurriedly returned to his hotel to purchase train tickets for himself and Josephine to Ohio.

  Meantime, the large, burly man following Richard observed him talking to the old street vendor. He sidled up to the vendor after Richard had left and asked the man what they were talking about. The old street vendor looked at him warily and said, “None of your business, Mac!” and he began to walk away. The burly man drew his revolver and pressed it against the old man’s back.

  “I asked you a question. Now tell me!” he whispered to the man while trying to keep his revolver hidden from any passersby.

  “I told him, he could find the woman he is looking for in Ohio,” the man hissed. “Now leave me alone!” The large, burly man put the revolver back in his pocket and sauntered down the street towards the railroad station.

  Chapter Nine

  Delphos, Ohio

  Stanislaus kissed Karolina goodbye and began walking into town. He arranged to take his harvested crops
down the Miami and Erie Canal in a boat to Cincinnati. He would have taken them to the local mill, but he needed more money this year. He heard the Cincinnati market brokers were offering premium prices for corn and other field crops. The local Delphos economy had been terrible this year. The financial panic of last year had caused many of the local banks in Allen County to fail.

  Work on the docks of the Miami and Erie Canal had also been slow after the introduction of the new railroad line in town. Stanislaus was late in paying his property taxes. Already, several of his neighbor’s farms were sold from under them in sheriff’s sales in addition to the Bauer’s.

  Meantime, his wife, Karolina, recovering more quickly from the birth of their fourth child, had a renewed outlook on life. She was more active in the community and helping with the church school in Delphos. Karolina welcomed many of the new settlers when they arrived in town. She would bring them food and other luxuries they sorely missed including hair brushes and toiletries for their wives and daughters. Karolina would show them around and introduce them to the two doctors in town.

  Dr. Reul continued to practice medicine but a new medical doctor recently arrived in town to help care for the citizens of Delphos and the surrounding communities. He was eager to partner with Dr. Reul and study under him due to his professional reputation gained in his successful fight against the Cholera outbreak. The medical best practices Dr. Reul utilized during the height of the epidemic were becoming well known throughout the state of Ohio.

  John Bauer had not left town as Lincoln suggested but instead began drinking excessively. Mrs. Bauer confided to Karolina one day how her husband would be at the saloon in town for all hours. They were now tenants on the farm they used to own but the fields were not taken care of and the crops not harvested. Karolina would listen with a sympathetic ear.

  Karolina told her husband one day how John Bauer was no longer taking care of the farm and he should talk to him. Stanislaus promised to speak to him when he was in town.

  Before he left for Cincinnati, Stanislaus had instructed his children to mind their mother while he was gone. Charles his firstborn, had grown and was almost as tall as his mother, while his other son Albert had grown chunkier over the years. Both boys were doing well in the parish school and spoke English with nary a trace of a German accent. They were both hardy and would help their father with his chores around the farm. His infant son Francis named after Franz Sigel, Stanislaus’ former revolutionary army commander, was healthy and growing big and strong. Charles puffed out his chest and said proudly, “Papa, I will take care of the family while you are away!” Stanislaus slapped him on the back and told him how proud he was of him. Albert barely looked up from the book he was reading to only nod at his father as he was leaving.

  Albert’s school teacher had given him a book about the Greek classics, and the stories of the gods and their adventures fascinated him. He couldn't wait until he finished it and then could borrow another book from the small library in the classroom at the church. Albert wanted to be a lawyer someday, but his mother and father had scoffed when he mentioned such lofty plans. They told him to help his father and brother on their farm and one day he would have a farm of his own. Albert would be discouraged after hearing them and then turn back to read his books.

  Stanislaus hitched up his wagon loaded with his recent harvest and headed towards town. The canal boat captain said he would allocate a small space on the boat for Stanislaus’s crops. He needed to hurry as the captain said they would be leaving at dusk in order to arrive in Cincinnati by morning.

  As he was on his way to the canal, Stanislaus saw John Bauer coming out of the saloon to relieve himself at the privy. When he emerged, Stanislaus stopped him and inquired as to how he was doing. Bauer just growled at him and told him to leave him alone and went back into the saloon. Stanislaus shrugged his shoulders and continued on his way to the waiting canal boat.

  Chapter Ten

  While Stanislaus was slowly traveling down the Miami and Erie Canal in a boat, Richard Cordwell and Josephine Ramsdell were traveling to Columbus, Ohio by train. They left New York City early in the morning and only planned to stay overnight in Columbus before catching another train to Cincinnati the following day. When they arrived in Columbus, Richard spotted a small crowd following a tall, gangly man wearing an odd stovepipe hat. “Who is he?” Richard asked the stationmaster.

  “Why that is Mr. Lincoln, from Illinois,” he said. “He will save the Union someday,” declared the man proudly.

  Richard was curious and determined to inquire at his hotel about this man. He went with Josephine directly to the Neil House Hotel, one of the finest in the city of Columbus. He asked at the front desk where he could find the former president of the Ohio Life Insurance and Trust Company. The clerk did not know him but noted Mr. Lincoln would be speaking that evening and suggested he ask him for help after his speech.

  Richard became even more curious about such a man that had a railroad stationmaster, and a hotel clerk speak so favorably of him. He told Josephine he would go and listen to Lincoln that evening and asked her if she would like to accompany him. She begged off and told him she was exhausted from traveling on the noisy trains.

  That evening, Richard Cordwell went to the Columbus City Hall where Lincoln was speaking and pushed through the sparse crowd to stand close to the speaker's platform. He strained to hear Lincoln and was suddenly pushed away by a mustachioed Scotsman. “Sorry,” Richard apologized to the man and went farther back into the crowd. The man grunted but continued to watch Richard in case he might harm the well-known orator. The Scotsmen’s name was Allan Pinkerton, and Lincoln had hired him to accompany him on this speaking trip. Pinkerton was a railroad detective from Chicago and had gained a reputation as a no-nonsense character. Lincoln was impressed with him after they had been introduced by a railroad client during a business trip to Chicago. Lincoln finished speaking and turned to go.

  Richard approached him and said, “Mr. Lincoln, I was sent by the Queen.” Lincoln stopped and turned to look at Richard Cordwell. He gestured to Allan Pinkerton to bring Richard with him as they walked to the home of Ohio Governor Salmon Chase after the speech.

  At Governor Chase’s home, Lincoln sat next to the governor at the kitchen table and gestured to Pinkerton and Richard to do the same. He picked up a turkey leg and began gnawing on it. “Now, what does the Queen want with me?” Lincoln asked Richard Cordwell.

  “She wants to apprehend the culprits that bankrupted the railroads and lost all of her investments,” Richard stated.

  “Is that all she wants?” Lincoln laughed. “That is a tall order,” he said as he swallowed another bite of turkey. Lincoln wiped his fingers with a napkin and then turned to stare at Richard saying, “The culprit you are looking for is Charles Stetson in Cincinnati, and he is living off of the profits from his nefarious scheme.” Governor Chase took a swig of whiskey and chuckled. “Once you find him you will be able to tell the Queen what happened to her money,” Lincoln stated and began gnawing on the turkey leg again. Richard stood up to go, and at that moment both Lincoln and Pinkerton spotted the revolver in his belt. Pinkerton jumped up from his chair and rushed to Lincoln’s side. “Don’t worry, Pinkerton. If he wanted to kill me, he would have done so already,” Lincoln cautioned the wily Scotsman.

  Richard Cordwell looked down at his belt and quickly covered the shiny revolver with his jacket. He bowed and said goodbye to the tall, gangly orator and the men surrounding him. Lincoln waved him away and turned back to devouring his turkey leg while Pinkerton escorted Richard out the door.

  When Richard returned to the hotel, he informed Josephine what he discovered, and he secured passage for the both of them on the next train leaving for Cincinnati. Unbeknownst to him, Lincoln and his entourage were also scheduled to be on the same train.

  On the railroad station platform the next day, Lincoln recognized the daughter of Homer Ramsdell when he was introduced to her by Richard Cordwell. Lincoln
took hold of her hand to kiss it as he described to Josephine how he had met her once at a dinner party of one of his legal clients. She blushed at his chivalrous gesture. Lincoln then insisted she sit next to him in the train car. As they boarded the train, he instructed Pinkerton to grab an extra blanket for her from the next car. Josephine sat down and told Lincoln how her father was blamed for the financial troubles of the New York and Erie Railroad Company. She was traveling with Richard Cordwell and determined to find the real criminals. Lincoln said nothing but looked at Richard sitting across from him with raised eyebrows and then patted the young woman’s hand. He assured her he would do what he could to help her. He then sat back and resumed editing the speech he planned to give when they arrived in Cincinnati.

  Chapter Eleven

  Lincoln, Richard, Josephine and the rest of their party arrived at the Cincinnati Railroad Depot after a brief stop in Dayton. Republican Party officials entered the railroad car to greet Lincoln and to escort him to the Burnet House Hotel.

  A large crowd followed their carriage to the hotel. Pinkerton kept shouting to the crowd to watch out and was quickly overwhelmed by the mass of people. Richard recognized what was happening and whispered in Josephine's ear to check into the hotel without him. He rushed to Pinkerton's side to help him with the security for the Illinois lawyer. Pinkerton nodded at him and gestured for him to go to the other side of the street, and they escorted Lincoln through the teeming crowd to the Market House Square. Pinkerton asked Cordwell to stay with him to protect Mr. Lincoln during his speech.