CHAPTER XXVI
JAMES GILMORE
In the morning I returned to the office, for I could hardly expect mypartner to carry on the business alone very much longer. He wasextremely interested in the mystery because of my connection with it andalso because he knew Ruth personally, and asked me what progress we hadmade so far. I told him all the various facts that McKelvie had dug upand he looked very grave when he learned the truth about Dick'spretended suicide. We were still discussing the matter when McKelviecalled me on the phone to say that he had word from Chicago and wouldlike me to hear what Dick's friend had to say.
"What is it, a new clue?" asked my partner curiously.
I repeated McKelvie's communication, saying that I was sorry to have toabandon him again, but that I would be back as soon as I could get away.
My partner clapped me on the shoulder. "That's all right, old man, youneed not feel obliged to get back. I'll worry along somehow withoutyou," he said kindly, adding with a laugh, "besides, you're worse thanuseless any way with this business uppermost in your mind. You'd be aptto make a bear out of a bull market," and his eyes twinkled.
So I drove to McKelvie's house and found him in his living-room talkingto an old-young man of some thirty odd years, whose hair was quite grayand whose skin had a peculiar dead look, as though he had spent a partof his life shut away from the sunlight.
"Mr. Davies," said McKelvie when he had introduced me, "James Gilmore isa friend of Dick Trenton, and he has come from Chicago in answer to myrequest to relate to us what he knows of young Trenton's movements."
James Gilmore nodded. "If you have no objections I'm going to beginfurther back a bit so that you will understand how I came to be mixed upin this affair. Ten years ago I was a teller in the Darwin Bank. I wastwenty-one, ambitious, and eager to make as much money as my pals. Mysalary was small, but the son of one of the directors, Philip Darwin,who was just a few years older than myself, took a fancy to me and toldme that he could help me to make all the money that I wanted. I wasyoung and foolish and I trusted him. I took money from the bank and gaveit to him to speculate with, money that he feared to take himself,though I blame only myself for my folly. I did not have to steal, for,in a measure, I knew the risk I ran. But he was such a smooth fellow,and being the son of a director he declared that he could prevent anychance inspections, and I would have the money to replace long before anaccounting was made. I believed him, and two days after I had given himthe money we had an unexpected visit from the inspectors, and I wascaught short. I went to Darwin for the money, but he shrugged hisshoulders and said that the market had gone against him and that thatwas a risk that I had to stand. There was nothing to do but face themusic, for, of course, his part in the affair never came to light atall."
James Gilmore broke off to add with bitter emphasis, "He was the son ofa rich man, and I was poor, and so I paid for what he gained, for Ihave since learned that he made money on that deal and kept it all, damnhim!
"Well, I got ten years, since it was my first offense," he continuedpresently in a quieter tone, "and when I got out last March I vowedvengeance upon him. I found out what he was doing and where he spent hisevenings, and one night in the beginning of April I ran across a chapwhom I had met in Sing Sing. He told me that he had been hired by a manto quarrel at cards with some boy whom this man was trying to ruin. Theplace was one of the resorts that Darwin attended and the scheme soundedlike the sort of thing he would be capable of, so I asked this fellow,Coombs, if I could sit in at the game, and he answered. 'Yes, just dropin and I'll say you're a pal of mine.'
"That night I repaired to a private room in the rear of the gambling denand took a seat in a corner until Darwin and the boy had come in. Theywere disguised, but Coombs gave me the wink, and instinct, a feeling ofantipathy, told me that the older man was Darwin, although I did notreally see his face, for the light was bad. When I joined them, Darwinfrowned, not because he recognized me (there was no danger of that--tenyears in jail make a difference in a man), but because he wanted no oneinterfering with his plans. We began to play, and then Coombs, as perorders, cheated, cheated so openly it was a farce. But the boy had beendrinking and he hadn't the wit to see that he was being made a fool of.He accused Coombs of double dealing, and Coombs jumped up and made forhim with his chair, whereupon Darwin pulled out a gun and fired twoshots in rapid succession. The first one bowled Coombs over, but Isensed what was coming and the second shot went over my head as Iducked. However, I dropped to the floor, deeming discretion the betterpart of valor. Then I saw Darwin press the pistol into the boy's hand,firing another shot as he did so and exclaiming, 'You've done for him,Dick, but don't worry, I'll get you away, never fear.'
"A terrific pounding ensued on the door at this moment and calls andyells came from the main room. Darwin sprang for the light andextinguished it, and seeing my chance I, too, sneaked away by the rearentrance just as the inner door gave way. I didn't want to be accused ofhaving killed Coombs, and I knew that I could not implicate Darwin,since at no time had I seen his face. I was an ex-convict, and he aprominent and wealthy man. It was my word against his. What chance had Iof using my knowledge to account?
"The murder of Coombs came out in the paper, and there was quite a to-doover it, and fearing that someone might recall that I had been therelately, and that I also knew Coombs, I lit out for the West. InSeptember I drifted to Chicago, and having found a job, looked for aboarding-place. I found a very respectable home and there made theacquaintance of a handsome young fellow who called himself RichardTrenton. I wondered about him, since he seemed above his surroundings,but never was really intimate until I happened into his room to borrow abook that he had offered to lend me and found him at his desk writingthe name Philip Darwin over and over on a sheet of paper.
"I was stunned for the moment, and then I found voice to say, 'You knowhim, too?'
"'Yes,' he said bitterly. 'Do you?'
"I nodded. 'Yes, I ought to know him. I served ten years in jail on hisaccount,' I said.
"'Tell me about it,' he demanded.
"When I was through he sat for a while in silence and then he said, 'Hehas harmed me, too, but only in taking advantage of my own folly,' andthen he told me the story that Philip Darwin had concocted for hisbenefit, a story which he, Dick Trenton, was too drunk to have been ableto contradict. He had quarreled with a man and had pulled out a gun andkilled the fellow and Darwin, like an angel of mercy, had got him awayand saved him from the chair.
"When I heard that I let out a yell and told him the truth. He was madthen, mad enough to kill, and he swore he would go back to New York tohave it out with Darwin. Then suddenly he seemed to recall something andjust collapsed, and when I urged him to go and revenge himself, all hedid was to shake his head.
"'He forced my sister to marry him to save my life.' he said hoarsely,clenching his hands. 'I must free her first and then--he shall pay.'
"Under those circumstances things were different, so we concocted aletter and sent it to Darwin, telling him we had proofs of his perfidy,and he must promise to let his wife divorce him at once or face theconsequences. As soon as he got the letter there came a telegram fromhim, saying that his lawyer, who was in his confidence, was on his wayto Chicago to confer with us. Well, we awaited the lawyer's arrival, andhe came to the house and asked for Trenton. He was a red-whiskered,red-haired fellow called Cunningham, and he asked us for proofs of whatwe knew.
"Trenton did the talking, and he said that he could prove that it wasDarwin who had fired the pistol, that he could produce several witnessesto that effect, that he had been investigating the thing for months. Allthis was pure bluff, of course, but the old chap came off his high horseand said that his client had deceived him and that under thecircumstances he had nothing more to say. He would return to New Yorkand advise that Mrs. Darwin be allowed her divorce and after that why hehad no objections if we saw fit to punish Darwin.
"Seeing that we had won over the lawyer, we waited eagerly for
news ofthe divorce proceedings, but in the beginning of October there came along letter from Darwin. He explained that his lawyer had called on himand that in view of the fact that we had the proofs he was willing togrant Mrs. Darwin the chance to divorce him, but there was onedifficulty in the way of that. Mrs. Darwin did not want a divorce, andhe thought it was best for Dick to come to New York to see himpersonally before any actions were taken. Then Dick could talk to hissister and matters could be arranged to the satisfaction of all parties.If this was agreeable Dick would find him home at eleven-thirty on thenight of October seventh.
"Well, we talked it over, and as Mrs. Darwin's letters had always beenvery cheerful and never held any complaint about her married life, why,we were in a quandary, for, of course, we couldn't expect Darwin todenounce himself to her. So the upshot was that Dick telegraphed that hewould confer with Darwin. I told him to go armed, as I didn't trustDarwin around the corner, and Dick promised, though he said with a laughthat he knew where Darwin kept his pistol, and it would be easier toborrow that than to try to buy a new one.
"I saw him off, and then on the evening of the eighth I read about themurder in the papers. Right away I jumped to the conclusion that Dickhad fired the shot, but when I read further I was amazed to see that themurder was the result of a quarrel between husband and wife and thatDick hadn't been there at all. I wondered why he didn't send me word,and then two days later I saw an account of his suicide in the papers. Icouldn't quite figure it out, and finally decided that he had arrivedtoo late to prevent the tragedy and drowned himself in a fit of grief."
James Gilmore shook his head in a perplexed way. "And now this gentlemantells me that Dick didn't commit suicide, and I understand it less thanever. There is one thing sure. He's not in Chicago. The police got yourmessage, and after combing the city went to his boarding-place forinformation, and that's how I caught on that someone was looking fornews of Dick. I said to myself, 'You're the boy to give it,' and here Iam."
"And I am much obliged to you, I am sure," said McKelvie. "You havehelped me immensely. And now that we may be absolutely sure that nomistake has been made, take a look at this picture and tell me whetheryou recognize it."
He handed Gilmore a photograph of Dick, an old one, not the one which hehad blackened for Mrs. Blake, and Gilmore nodded quickly.
"Sure that's Dick Trenton, all right, except that he was wearing a veryfull beard when I met him. He told me he grew it as a disguise, but thathe intended to shave it off the moment he reached New York. He said hissister would disown him if he looked like Daniel Boone."
McKelvie nodded, and I added, "He evidently kept his word, since he hadonly a stubble when he pretended suicide, poor boy."
"When you discover where he is, let me know," said Gilmore, rising."Take my word for it, he is somewhere in this burg. Well, I must begoing. There are some of my pals I want to look up before I go back toChi. I'll keep my top eye open, and if I get a hint I'll let you know."
"I wish you would. Thank you again," said McKelvie, escorting Gilmore tothe door.
When he returned his eyes were shining. "Well, that was worth-whilenews," he said smiling.
"It certainly was, providing he hasn't--" I said with a gesture.
"We won't spoil it by dwelling on that fact. Remember what I said lastnight. Stay for luncheon and then give me the benefit of your servicesas chauffeur. I know you will want to go with me, for I am going to askMr. Cunningham what advice he gave his client about this mostinteresting affair."
The Mystery of the Hidden Room Page 26