Out of a Labyrinth
Page 16
CHAPTER XVI.
FLY CROOKS IN TRAFTON.
My train, which left the city early in the afternoon, would arrive inTrafton at midnight. Foreseeing a long and, in my then state of mind,tedious ride, I had armed myself with a well-filled cigar case, andseveral copies of the latest editions of the city papers, and we had notbeen long on the wing before I turned my steps toward the smoking car,biting off the end of a weed as I went.
A group of four, evidently countrymen, were just beginning a game ofcards. I took a seat opposite them and idly watched their progress,while I enjoyed my cigar.
Presently a gentleman from the front, seemingly attracted by theirhilarity, arose and sauntered down the aisle, taking up his stationbehind the players, and quietly overlooking the game.
He did not glance at me, as he passed, but, from my lounging position,I could watch his face and study it at my leisure. At the first glanceit struck me as being familiar; I had seen the man before, but where?Slowly, as I looked, the familiarity resolved itself into identity, andthen I watched him with growing interest, and some wonder.
Seven months ago, while working upon a criminal case, I had made theacquaintance of this gentleman at a thieves' tavern, down in the slums.I was, of course, safely disguised at the time, and in an assumedcharacter; hence I had no fear of being recognized now.
"Dimber[A] Joe" had been doing Government service, in consequence of hisconnection with a garroting escapade, and had but just been releasedfrom "durance vile." His hair was then somewhat shorter than wasbecoming; his face was unshaven, and his general appearance that of aseedy, hard-up rascal. The person before me wore his hair a littlelonger than the ordinary cut; his face was clean shaven, his linenimmaculate, and his dress a well-made business suit, such as a merchantor banker abroad might wear. But it was Dimber Joe.
[A] Handsome.
Evidently fortune had dropped a few, at least, of her favors at DimberJoe's feet, but it was quite safe to conjecture that some one was somuch the worse off for his present prosperity.
What new mischief was on foot? for it was hardly likely that Dimber Joe,late the associate of river thieves, was now undertaking an honestjourney.
I resolved to watch him closely while our way was the same, and to givemy Chief an account of our meeting, together with a description of Joe's"get up," at the first opportunity.
Accordingly, I remained in the smoking car during the entire journey,but no suspicious or peculiar movement, on the part of Dimber Joe,rewarded my vigilance, until the brakeman called Trafton, and we pulledinto that station.
Then Dimber Joe arose, stretched himself, flung a linen duster acrosshis arm, and, swinging in his hand a small valise, quitted the car,stepped down upon the shadowy platform just ahead of me; and, while Iwas looking about for Carnes, vanished in the darkness.
"Then Dimber Joe arose, stretched himself, flung a linenduster across his arm, and, swinging in his hand a small valise, quittedthe car."--page 196.]
"Well, Carnes," I said, when we were once more alone in our room at thehotel, "what has happened? Have you seen anything that looks like adetective?"
"Niver a wan," he replied. "I've kept an open eye on every train fromboth ways, but the only arrival in this city, worth making mintion of,has been--who d'ye think?"
"Myself, I suppose."
"No, sir! Not a bit of it. It's a cove that means no good to Trafton,you may depend. It's Blake Simpson, and he's rooming in this veryhouse."
"Blake Simpson! are you _sure_?"
"Av coorse I'm sure! Did ye ever know me to miss a face? I never sawthe fellow before he came here, but I've made the acquaintance of hisphiz in the rogue's gallery. He came yesterday; he wears good togs, andis playing the gentleman; you know he is not half a bad looking fellow,and his manner is above suspicion. He is figuring as a patent-right man,but he'll figure as something else before we see the last of him inTrafton, depend upon it."
Blake Simpson was known, at least by name, to every man on the force. Hewas a mixture of burglar, street robber, and panel-worker; and was amost dangerous character.
"Carnes," I said, slowly, "I am afraid some new misfortune menacesTrafton, if, as you say, Blake Simpson is already here, for Dimber Joecame down on the train to-night, and is in Trafton."
Carnes uttered a long, low whistle.
"Blake and Dimber Joe!" he said. "A fine pair, sure enough; and in whatshape does the Dimber come?"
"He comes well-dressed, and looking like a respectable member ofsociety."
"Well," with a prodigious yawn, "we got here first, and we will try andsleep with one eye open while they stay in Trafton. What did you learnabout the Brookhouse investigation, Bathurst?"
I told him the result of our search among the city detectives, andfinished by saying:
"Probably the new debutants will be strangers, and will not interferewith our movements. I wish I knew whether Bethel will eventually decideto employ a detective. I don't think he is the man to let such a matterdrop."
"He won't take it up for the present, I fancy. Dr. Barnard isdangerously ill; was taken yesterday, very suddenly. They dependentirely upon Bethel; he is in constant attendance. I heard Porter saythat the old gentleman's case was a desperate one, and that a change forthe worse might be expected at any moment."
I was sorry to hear such news of the jovial old doctor. His was a lifeworth something to the community; but I was not sorry to learn that animmediate interview with Dr. Bethel could be staved off, withoutexciting wonder or suspicion in his mind; for, since my visit to thecity, I had reconsidered my intention to confide in the doctor, andresolved to keep my own counsel, at least for the present.
Previous to my visit to the city, we had decided that it was time toexplore the south road, and also that it was desirable to "get themeasure" of Jim Long at the earliest opportunity.
We settled upon the best method by which to accomplish the former, andundertake the latter, object. And then Carnes, who had been very alertand active during my absence, and who was now very sleepy, flung himselfupon his bed to pass the few hours that remained of darkness in slumber.
I had not yet opened up to him the subject of the Groveland operations,thinking it as well to defer the telling until I had received reportsfrom Wyman and Earle.
We had now upon our hands a superabundance of raw material from whichto work out some star cases. But, just now, the Groveland affair seemedcrowding itself to the front, while the Trafton scourges, and thevillainous grave-robbers, seemed to grow more and more mysterious,intangible, and past finding out.
The presence of Blake Simpson and Dimber Joe gave me some uneasiness;but, guessing that their stay in Trafton would be short, I resolved notto bring myself into prominence by notifying the authorities of thepresence of two such dangerous characters, but rather to trust them toCarnes' watchfulness while I passed a day, or more if need be, inexploring the south road.
As I settled my head upon my pillow after a long meditation, Iremembered that to-morrow would be Sunday, and that Tuesday was the dayfixed for Miss Manvers' garden party.