Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 June 1898 — PAYING THE PENALTY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PAYING THE PENALTY

CHAPTER XII.—-(Continued.) “What do yon think of our new friend, Earl?” asked the casjiier. ‘T hardly know what to think,” replied the teller, who had returned to his station and who seemed yet more nervous than before. “He seems a queer genius.” “The idea of his asking if it was not possible for a wildcat bill to be in that package, and thinking if there was it would be returned to ns when he knew that the package never reached the Central bank.” * “Something strange about that, very strange,” Earl said thoughtfully, “He was lost in contemplating your features, Earl. I hardly believe he knew what he was saying.” “He may be some crank whom that reward offer has brought forward,” said ‘Earl. “That man is no fool,” remarked Terry. “I imagine he has seen no small part of thia globe. He must be all of forty. What piercing black eyes he has —as black as yours.” “Were his eyes black?” “Very certainly. He might be over here from Europe on this case. He is a shrewd man, notwithstanding his blunder, and probably an old detective. Did you notice his accent? I hardly think he is a native of this country/* “Did you ascertain his name, Mr. Terry?” “No, he did not inform me and I did not care to inquire. But in my opinion we shall see that man again. If the iqatter of that robbery is ever ferreted out, I believe he will prove an important factor in the case.” “He may. It is four o’clock.” “True. We will close the bank.” Once on the street, Earl remarked: “Do you take tea with your intended to-night? If so, I shall have company going north.” “I am going home to tea,” replied Terry; “but shall call later and inquire about Janette. Poor girl. She does not rally very fast. I trust we shall not lose her.” “Qh, the doctor says her case is by no means critical. I will report to Laura that you will call.” “Thanks.” And each young man went his way. Many times ere Earl reached the banker’s residence, he asked himself this question: “What did that man mean by asking Terry if he was certain that none of the bills making up that package were the bills of defunct banks? “What did he mean? Who is he? What is he? A detective certainly; but I fail to see ” The young man entered the house and made his way to his room to resume his speculations regarding the man in navy blue.

CHAPTER XIII. If Earl Kellogg had not been so deeply engrossed speculating as to the man in blue, as he walked homeward on the evening of July ninth, he possibly might have glanced behind him. Had he done so he would have seen, not a block in his rear, the gentleman of mystery following in his wake. Possibly, could he caught occasional words that fell, in a low tone, from the lips of the man of whom he was thinking, his nervous condition might have been heightened. The countenance of the man in blue bore an entirely different expression from the inquiring one that had pervaded it when he was questioning the cashier in the bank. Satisfaction and determination were seated there now,-and anon a peculiar smile would illumine the visage. The eyes would almost seem to speak and utter words expressive of the thoughts that filled the brain." At times the lips were closely pressed together, at others that smile—that enigmatical smile—would part them, revealing slightly the white and firm-set teeth. Again a low laugh, not exactly an exultant chuckle, but a laugh indicative of a sense of conviction, would pervade the atmosphere immediately around him, and ofttimes words would' folld’w it. ’ Once the mysterious stranger halted for a moment and gazed at the buildings on the opposite side of the street. “I am walking too fast,” he said. “But I must not lose sight of Earl Kellogg. I am on the right trail, and now for a decisive stroke. If it is as I suspect, ten thousand dollars is mine, at least—what is to prevent? But no; even I could not do that. I may be altogether wrong in my surmises. I can but follow the clue I have. Strange! I wonder what has become of—l shall soon learn.” And the gentleman in blue hastened forward again.

His eyes were on Earl’s form when the latter entered the gate leading to the banker’s residence. He crossed the street, walked up on the opposite side and saw him enter the door. Seeing no one at the windows, he crossed over and read on the door plate the name —“Stephen Z. Kellogg.” “By Jove!” he exclaimed. “That young man has entered the banker’s residence. What does that mean? Oh, as his nephew he probably resides with him. I had not counted on that “His nephew! There is but one way he could have becomjj his nephew, unless I am completely at sea. It will not do to stand here. I will ponder this matter over and to-morrow I will learn how Earl Kellogg became the banker’s nephew.” His soliloquy ended, the man of mystery retraced his steps to the business center of the city. The following morning a man of apparently middle life, dressed in a drab business suit, was sauntering along the walk on the opposite side of the street and in front of the Kellogg residence, when Robert Kellogg and Earl left the house. This man was yet in the vicinity when the banker, accompanied by Elinor Kellogg and Laura, stepped out on the piazza and his eyes rested quickly on the three forms before him. “More, much more than I expected!” he muttered; Laura was dressed for the street, while it was evident that the widow, whose head was uncovered, and whose black hair glistened beneath the rays of the morning sun, had but accompanied them to the door. “You appear unusually worried this morning, dear Elinor,” said Mr. Kellogg. “You must positively have Thomas drive you through the parks to-day. Your confinement to the house since Janette’s illness has been too constant. Let us hope for the best. I dislike to see clouds on that fair brow. Good-bye.” . And imprinting a kiss on his intended’s lips, Mr. Kel.logg and his daughter descended from the piazza. “I will surely be back within an hour, aunt,” Laura called back as they entered the carriage. The madam watched the vehicle until it had disappeared in the distance, after which, with the words, “If that man only knew what is worrying me he would be slightly she re-entered the house. Not five minutes later there was a jingling of the doorbell. Julia answered its summons. “Is the lady of the house at home?” asked the gentleman in drab. “Yes, sir, she done just go upstairs.” “Will you inform her that a gentleman li below who desires to speak to her fgr • moment?’ <

“If you will step in de parlor, Marsr,.. I ’form her right away ” The gentleman was soon seated in the room designated. /X *1 do wonder,” thought the widow as •he descended the stairs, “who this man can be—why he has called for me. I hope it is nothing relating to—Lord! I feel so nervous. Everything startles me now. But, pshaw! I will venture it is .nothing.” ZThe madam entered the parlor. The door was insta.ntly closed, but not by her hand. ' „ The only inmates of that room were Elinor Kellogg and the gentleman in drab—he whom, the day previous, the cashier had designated as the man in blue. At the expiration of thirty minutes the parlor door opened, and the man who had called to speak to the madam for a moment, crossed the threshold. “At two at the north entrance, at the head of this street,” he said, glancing back at a form seated on the sofa. “Yes, at two o’clock.” The mysterious individual hastened •way, and somehow there was now an exultant expression on his features. The widow, for five minutes, remained motionless; then, passed otft of the room. Her features were twitching convulsively and ber face was colorless as she ascended the stairs to her room, which she entered, closing the door carefully behind her. A half-hour later the madam was again seated by Janette’s side. She had seemingly regained" her usual composure, but a strange light eminated from her dark eyes. “How do you feel now, my love?” she had asked Janette as she resumed her seat. “So weak, allot; so languid! And this distressed feeling in my stomach. I can hardly describe It.” “Drink this, dear.” And the madam* handed her a small glass filled with a reddish fluid resembling wine. Laura soon after returned with new remedies that the doctor had prescribed, and the two ladles strove to dispel all gloom from the mind of the patient sufferer on the couch. After lunch, the madam again repaired to her apartments, remaining there until near two o’clock, when she appeared at the door of Janette’s room. “I am going for a little walk, my dear girls,” she said. “Why, aunt," said Laura, “the carriage Is at your command!” “I know, dear, but walking is much more healthful. I shall not make an extended trip, and when I tire will return.” Ten minutes later she entered the park at the head of Dearborn avenue. A gentleman who had been seated beneath an elm a short distance away arose from his seat, joined her,- and the madam and her companion were soon hidden from view by the foliage of the park.

CHAPTER XIV. The evening of the fifteenth of July, we again find Arnos Kellogg of North Carolina seated in the library of his Wilmington residence. He seems in a thoughtful mood, and an open letter lies on the desk before him. “I really hardly know if I should have summoned Dr. Strong on this matter,” he presently remarked. “And yet, it would be terrible if the girl should die, and from the effects of the gentle nursing of the one who will become my brother’s second wife. Strange what ill fortune has followed Stephen since the advent of Elinor in his hjme. First -his poor wife dies. Next an express collector is robbed of twenty thousand dollars going from his bank. Now he writes me that the attending physician regards Janette, who has been ailing for weeks, in a critical condition. Gastric inflammation of the stomach and of a chronic character, he states, the doctor pronounces her malady. At times she seems to be on the way .to recovery, then unexpectedly a relapse takes place and she is a greater sufferer than before.’ “My brother notices that each relapse is bringing her nearer to the grave. The very symptoms—the very condition Andrew was in. If Dr. Strong was right in his conjectures—if Andrew died an unnatural death, and Janette was to fall a second victim, I could never forgive myself. It is my duty to consult Dr. Strong. Why, on the first of September the woman will become Stephen’s wife. The girl is in a critical condition now. Surely there is no time to lose. If there has been no wrong doing, all is well. If there has been foul play, my brother must know it ere the first of September.” “Good evening, Amos.” “Why, I failed to hear your summons at the door, doctor. But come in and be seated. And you, too, Sellars. You are welcome, I assure you. There are the pipes on the mantel. Take seats; this is to be a conference.” “As you stated in your note that you desired to cqpfer with me in relation to a case in Stephen’s family very similar to that which carried off poor Andrew, I deemed it best that Mr. Sellars be present. He was here, you know, on the other occasion.” “Yom were perfectly right. We might have had to send for him. Much depends on the result of this conference.” “There is a case of gastric inflammation in your brother’s family?” “Exactly.” “I had expected to hear of one before to-day. What member of his family, and how long has the patient been ailing?” “Understand me, doctor," said Amos, “I am as firmly convinced as ever that Andrew died from natural causes.” “And I am as firmly convinced that he did not,” the doctor said. “You remember how worked up we were when I first learned of the death of my brother’s wife, and of my writing a letter that much surprised him, requestirfg all the details of the illness and death?”

“Geftatnjy?’ “Well, when we received the requested details, it was perfectly apparent that Thalia Kellogg had been in the hands of a skilled physician and had died from natural causes.” “Even after having been nursed by Andrew’s widow,” observed the doctor. “I have all faith in the purity of Elinor Kellogg’s character; but I am not infallible in my judgment. Stephen’s younger daughter, Janette, is suffering from gastric inflammation of the stomach. Her physician pronounces her in a critical condition. My brother and Elinor will, on the first of September, become man and wife.” “Heavens!” exclaimed the physician. “I would carry a heavy heart through life if this daughter should die and it afterwards was demonstrated that the one who is apparently nursing her as tenderly as she did Andrew and Thalia Kellogg had been instrumental in her death. It would be horrible for Stephen to wed a—a ” “Speak it out. A murderess!” “I felt it a duty to lay this matter before you.” "How long has Janette been ill?” “Ailing for two months, I believe. Here is the letter. Read it.” “For two months,” said the doctor, as he took the missive. “And apparent gastric inflammation of a chronic character There is where I made the mistake in my diagnosis of Andrew’s case. All the symptoms of an ordinary case of chronic gastric inflammation were there—continually there. But ordinary remedies were impotent to combat the deadly poison that in minute doses was daily finding its way into his system. I will read Stephen’s letter.” "Do so. Well, Mr. Sellars, you have not taken hold of the Union Express Company’s case? You are not after that ten thousand dollars?” “Hardly,” replied Sellars, with a quiet smile, “Chicago is almost too distant, And jret, were there, I ibould prob’

aWy take bold ot the case. It is of the class that I get interested in.” “Chloe! Oh, Chloe!” called Amos, “Here 1 is, Marae Ainos!” “Bring the decanter and the rest of ♦he fixings.” “Yes, Marse Amos.” A moment later Mr. Kellogg was mixing the toddies. “Downright murder!” suddenly exclaimed the doctor, leaping to his feet. “If you fall to act in this case, Amos, and to do it at once, I shall act without you.” “Then you are more than ever impressed with the belief that Elinor Kellogg is a poisoner?” “She is after Stephen’s fortune. She had ruined Andrew and helped him out of the world in order to be freed from her fetters. In regard to the causes of Thalia Kellogg’s death, I am not prepared to express an opinion.” “Surely her physician’s statement and my brother’s letter stating all the circumstances of her years of iuvalidism, should set at rest all doubts of foul play there.” "It would seem so. And yet, it was only after Andrew’s death that I became fully convinced that he died from the effects of poison. But now, as I was about to remark, one of Stephen’s daughters is critically ill; supposedly from a malady that seldom attacks people in the bloom of youth. Something is decidedly wrong. In my opinion Elinor Kellogg is taking steps to diminish the size of your brother’s family.” “What would you have me do? Write my brother of all our suspicions?’ “By no means. Why, man, Elinor has won your brother’s heart—is his intended bride. Seemingly she is devoted to every member of his family. He would laugh at our suspicions and cast your letter into the fire. Love blinds people, particularly so, men of Stephen’s age.” “What then?” “If you .would save the life of your niece, she must be immediately removed from the residence of her father—taken entirely from the tender care of Andrew’s widow. But even now it may be too late.” ” • (To be continued.?