Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 10, Number 13, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 27 September 1879 — Page 2

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From the Novelist.

The" Shadow Detective.

By MARLINE MAN1-V

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ThU thrill. Cy lut^rvstliw slory Wat commenced in he Mail i**t opens latr idi '^ss

THE LEAGUE OK THREE, two miies beyond the house

where old Nathan Blake lay fou'ly murdered, and facing the south, was a strange tavern.

It had once been a private house, for there was a spacious garden in front, filled with shrubbery, llere and there a chair or rustic bench had been placed beneath the umbrageous shelter of a tree, as cool retreats for any who might patronize the bar.

A picket fence separated the garden from the pike, along which grew ten feet of grass, half covered with dust, and presenting a strange appearance. Beyond the tavern there stretched a wide field, extending to the dense fore?t further on.

On one side of the gate stood a post some eight or ten feet in height, with a cross-bar on the top from which was suspended a .«ign, which bore on one side, in crooked black letters, the wording:

BLACK HORSE TAVEUN. On the other, the old-time legend: LODGINGS FOR MAN AND BEAST.

Tom Jone«, Prop.

The sign had probably withstood the nun and storms of many years, for it was old, and somewhat dilapidated.

Night had closed in upon the world, an the silver moon, almost half full, looked down from her position in the western sky, grown boiler since last we saw her trembling above the horixon.

It was about eight o'clock, aud the night was still young. Lights from the front of the old tavern coula bo seen flashins through the window*.

Tom Jones had verv littlec«*tom. The signboard, creaking In the wmd, and r"oa nng .mummi-ly all the while, bore a ie upon its face{ for the stable was a tum-ble-down afftir, tn which a horse had not been lodged for intervals of month* at a time, and when a traveler stopped at the tavern he was referred to the village several miles further on, although Tom Jones was always willing that tbey should take a drink at hU bar.

There were th*e in the neighborhood who thought this very strange on Tom's part, for tnev remembered when the "Old Black Horn" was a general resort for those living within miles of it, and when Totu'a good wife had kept her rooms *1wavs aired and ready for guests, c,

Aince herd thing* had gone pretty much to wr and ruin, and finally mine boat ivelj refused to receive

Boats came up and went down the broad Willow creek that ran back of the old stable, hot this was a thoroughfare mtirb in use among the farmers when they

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bring

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grain to the distil­

ler? many miles below, near where the creek •-replied its volume of water into the riv r,

What mattered it if these boats often dar 1 if a little cove where the overhau„ 4* I What wa

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Author of ".Sold ftnlob," "Pandy Kill®, the Prairie Chief" "Dlok Sharpley, the Cincinnati O taoMve-," "Diamond Cut Diamond," "Sure Shot," etc.

week. It

to the reader an old

miser, Nit'ian Q!a «, who Is mated In

inquest

bis

library *-xnn!n!ns lmndl« of old document*. ih iii -ii' v-xamlnalion the reader is Informed th»t lhfa» ..id man has a son, Donald, with wfcnfn he quarreled eight year* before and xr\v».n ho Iir« not seen or heard oftdoot. lu hl*»tewl, old Blake ban adopted hU only uephew, John Blake, whom ho wishes to marry the heiress of Heatkcotr, velotls "manner, What was bnt who with that perversity which la in- about thai? her nt in p»r human nature, ha* fallen lu iovw with a ponnlltsw girl, for which iudla* ereiioit the old mun threatens to disinherit him timexs he couforms to his wishes. W liHe theie thoughts arn gliding through the old man's mind, a masked figure stealWiiiy enters the room through a window, and, gliding before the miser, confronts litiu. The figure Is ree gnlsed by Nathan Blake as bin nephew, John he begsforhls life, and Is answered by an attack whlet, though short and resisted with that desperates with which a man will defend bis life ends in the old man's murder. His rk-s brought the rvt nts to the scene, bnt not he'ora the mm .?Jfr had made his escape. Upon the arrival of the servants the old man had just strength enough left to accuse h's nephew of the orlrae before he died. At the

which followed, the

evld?ne» seemed so strong against John Bl lite that, without retiring :'mm the r«m, the jury returned a verdies charging him wltn ihu murder There was one person pr»»ent however who did not enter into the bell-fofihejury. and taat wa* uuke Darren, tlHHtetec Ivu, who chanced to he passIns that way on some other business, he carefully examined ail the burroucdltga aud after making note ot them for future reference he took his departure. in the third chapter the crawley family Is introduce to the reader. It consists of the old man, who has acouiuulat.d a fortune by sJHBfi sudden means uuknown to his neighbors, and which lv bee the ca h» of mueh speculation on their p\rt this, however, he has silenced by threats and prosecutions for sUmler. He dfevotts his time to alternate flisof melanoho ana drankea ex ritement, alike unbe .ranie In either ox:reme. His daughter Kdlth, the hd yss of Heatcotw, twenty two years of ag stud handsome, h? has destined to marry uer cousL», L'iaude Burton, who Is stopping at the family mansion. She has form *d a attachment for another, as has al« young Burton. So they make a compact .hat. thev shall not follow her father wishes, but .ud each other iu securing the objt-c (»of his and lier love. Strange as It »y appear, EJlth is desperately In love Willi loiiu Ulake, whil*1 Uiaude Burton is as de la love wlih the woman on whom BtKiie has hustowed his affections. While arr tiiglrig their plans for mutuil aid, they ar» summoned to the presence of rawley. wliu Is busily engaged In the destruction of a tot of olddocum -nis when they enter. Hi: is In one his drunken fits, and after thr.a enlntf them with disinheritance If they fall to cotnp'y with his wishes he dlsnaJs*jS ihem from hIs presence. This brings the reader to

CHAP TEH IV.

went awav doWn thtcreek heavily loaded, with a tarpaulin concealing the content*?

Nothing. Tom Jones was above reproach, at least among his neirhbors. A careful scrutiuy of the old stable might have revealed the fact that a stovepipe poked out from the ground close to its foundations, half covered bv a board, and that every night the smoke poured out of this funnel in a marthere wrong

Nothing. On the evening in question two men sat in a back room of the tavern. A suapi-

ciou.s black bottle and three glasses stood upon the little table between them, but the liquor had not been touched as yet. Evidently the two men were awaiting a comrade, the claimant of the third gla^s.

One ot those present we know. It was Claude Burton, the man who hated John Blake so venomously. His comrade was a middle-aged man, with a scowling face and a bristling black beard. lie too was a bitter enemy to John Blake aud all he held dear.

The story was short, but to this man it rankled in hia heart. A year or two before h.j had been employed as an overseer of his tobacco lands and barn by Nathan Blake. The old man's nephew had found him acting dishontstly, and instead of having him arrested, kicked him off the place.

Black Arnold, as he was called, had sworn vengeance. One night John had been fired upon by a concealed person, but the bullet only made a flesh wound in hia arm. Suspicion pointed toward Arnold, who was working at the Black Horse, or rather lounging about it most of the day but positive proof was wanting, so nothing was ever doue in the matter. "I tell you I feel good, Burton. That

Froud

boy will get his deserts now. When see him swinging from the gibbet,

The door opened and closed. A third man stood in the room. In spite of the summer weather, the windows were all closed, and the curtains polled down. A bracket lamp shone lull upon the new comer.

John Biake. So many wonld have said who saw him, but there was a tigerish gleam in the eyes, and a twitch of the month tnat had never been seen in the frank countenance of John Blake.

anyone, even for a night, which was rather saw crawl out from the bashes and watch the disguised detective ride down the pike.

queer, However, the honest folks living near bv took it for granted that Tom had made all the money be wanted, and de*tred to take life easy. Tbey knew nothing of what was going on at the tavern now should they?

Burelv this is the same man whom we

The man who resembles John Blake so

much, and who from his former expert eoce knows and fears the Shadow Detective, is no other that Donald the long miming son of the ma man. "How are yon, Don—w "Hush" forget, my name is Ralph Anderson. There is a farmer inside drinking with the landlord, so you must speak low," and the new-comer seated himself.

liituor from the dark bottle, BucceMl" They drank to the toast

MWe

are on the road to it. Now that

John Blake can give us no mow trouble, we can consider oilier things. He most have knovrh our de»ire, to put himaelf into a trap »o nicelv. What a brute to murder his own uncle,5' and Donald gave a heartless laugh,

Claude Burton felt bis blood run cold. "I rnu&t be careful never to this fiend, for he would no more think twice

Arnold sprana to his feet. "Great guns!" he cried, "'Duke Darrel in this neighborhood? Then we are lost!"

His face showed alarm, if not terror, and it was evident that he knew the de-

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Blaka irdetea

His eyes were terrible ones, and they to have a kind of greenish glare

glare

in them that made the person upon whom

made tbe darkness intense?' they rested squirm about uneasily in his titere wrong in the fart that seat often these boats came there empty, and The three glasses were filled with the

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Take it easy now. There is no need of being alarmed. If it comes to the worst I have a dagger for his heart but for your sake, Arnold, and perhaps for my own also, I do not want to draw the eyes of the revenue officials more closely upon this locality than has already been done."

Then they spoke of other things, but it was noticed that Donald Blake avoided all mention of his lather's murder. He showed no feeling in the matter, but thsre was some deeper motive in it that male him keep clear of it.

When the man who so closely resembled John Blake entered the bask room, a

Soor,

air of keen eyes glanced through the and noted the two men seated by the table. "Ha!" muttered the white-haired old farmer, "what have we here? That devil whom I knew in New York as the Scorpion has an appointment with two men. They are shut in a back room. It is a summer night. What does this mean? Mischief, and it needs aifting. Landlord, my hoss is restless," he continued, raising his voice as Tom Jones approached, "I will step out and look to him. In the meantime you can be making change out of that dollar. I reckon that I won't be

then, and onlv then, will the indignity he long. put upon me be washed out That com- The old farmer slipped from the tavern radeof ours is a brick. Lucky that we door. His horse was standing like a statue chanced to meet. But then I shouldn't upon the grass plot near the swinging like to be in his shoes if the truth should sign. com? out Murder is a heavy step now*-, Having reached his steed the detective drew out a whistle and blew a sharp note days." "Hush!" said Claude, lookiog nervously ar und him. "What do you and I, and our colleague know about murder? It was John Blake who murdered his ancle of course it was, and he'll hang for it, too." "You may be sure that he will bat hark! I thought I heard our friend's voice in the other room. Ah! here he is, now."

upon it that cut the air with the sudden piercing quality of a knife. Two dark forms came quickly to his side. To these he whispered a few words, and they immediately vanished in thedtrk shadows.

Then die detective once more entered the ysrd, but made his wsy around tbe tavern instead of going in at the door. Reachiog the stable he heard the murmur of voices, and cautiously creeping around the structure, he saw two men rolling a whiskey barrel toward the creek, when a boat lay ready to receive it.

The sight was most gratifying to the detective, for he realized that his prey had been hunted down. When all was quiet he once more returned to the front cf the house, and took np his station beside his qaiet steed.

CHAPTER V. HUJSTED DOWN.

"Confusion!" This exclamation fell from the Hps of Black Arnold. He had left the others in th bur room, and walked oat to the gate. Something—lie conld not have defined the feeling had his life depended on it—seem ed troubling him.

Ever since the mention of the Shadow Detective's name he had been uneasy, and learning that the old farmer was sull oat on the road looking to his horse, Arnold had sauntered from tbe door.

A« he neared tbe gate he saw *he gray horse, with Its owner seemingly engaged in extracting a stone that had beoome fastened in hia shoe. "Stranger, can I have your assistance for a minute or two? My boss has picked tip a stone on the the road," said the old fanner.

Black Arnold was obliging. Besides he wss a great admirer of hones, and al­

TET?"RE HAUTE SATURDAY EVENING MAIL

anger hink

about ntickinjr a knife into me than if I was so much plaster. He makes me ahiver from head to foot whenever I touch hia cold land," he murmured under his breath.

The person in question, having drained his glass the second time, looked into the faces of hia oomrades with a. villainous smile, "Gentlemen, everything seems lovely. All circumstances point to John Blake a» the man who committed that deed and I defy them to prove him innocent. There is only one man whom I fear, and I am afraid he is on the track. If it is so, then we must be on the watch. Most of all, Black Arnold, you have to tremble, for it is your secret distillery that bringd to this part of Kentucky the Shadow Detective."

WITS liked to have anything to do with affairs, and gave a signal that brought mi

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the animals. The atone was not firmly imbedded, and by a few manipulations it was extracted "Easy as falling off a log, stranger," said Black Arnold, as he patted the horse,

The-man turned. Ah he did so, something cold touched hu furehe »d. It was the mutzle of the detective's revolver, and the hand that held it was of iron. "Silence, or you area dead man!" hissed a voire in his ear. "Who are you?" gasped the wretch. "Duki Darrel," was the reply. "I am lost!" groaned Black Arnold.

Tne detective gave a low whistle, and a form came out of the shadows of the garden.

A cold shiver ran through the fr3me of the moonshiner as he felt the handcuffs placed securely over his wrists, and the sharp snap told him t'aat he was no longer free. "Now, my man," said the seeming old farmer to him, "remember that the game is tip with you. We know all about the crooked work under the old stable. Jeffries, watch him like a hound, while I go on with the work. Npf call ODe of your comrades."

Black Arnold was

"JUST A8 HE 0*.ME OUT OF THE GATE THE SHADOW DETECTIVE WHEELED. SOMETHING FLASHED IN THE MOONLIGHT, AND CLAUDE BURTON FOUND HIMSELF STARING INTO THE BLACK CHAMBERS OF A REVOLVER." -r

teclive either" throlfgh imputation of experience.

too much alarmed

to think of disobeying. In calmer moments he might have refused to betray his comrades, but j'ust then he was demoralized. """Claude answered his call, and came leisurely out to the gate, without suspecting any danger. The moonlight was somewhat vague and uncertain. He saw Black Donald standing motionless beside two men, and evidently in conversation with theiu.

Jmt as he came out of the gate, the Shadow Detective wheeled. Something (lathed in the moonlight, and Claude Burtou founi himself staring into the black chambers of a revolver. At the same instant Donald Blake appeared in the doorway "Surrendei!" said Duke Darrel.

The distance was too great for Donald to see distinctly what was going on, but he heard the words and easily recognized the voice.

Turning, he quickly vanished within the tavern. The keen eves of the Shadow Detective had witnessed his flight, and he gave ja loud whistle that was a warning to his men. A few stern orders to young Burton caused him to hold out his hands,over which the bracelets were immediately clasped.

Then, leaving Jeffries to watch both of the prisoners, Duke Darrel quickly bounded toward the open door.

Tom Jtsnes was leaning over his bar, gazing into the back room as if amazed at the sudden ll.ght of the man in that direction. 1 he sound of several pistol shots from the rear of the tavern announced that the excitement had been transferred to that part of the tavern. Duke Darrel lost no time.

Up with your arms. Quick, or I'll bore a hole through you," he cried fiercely and the tavern keeper hastened to obey, although nearly struck dumb with amazement

After slipping the handcuff*, that he bad provided, over the wrists ot Tom Jones, the detective rushed him oat to the gate where he left him in charge of Jeffries, and then hastened around the tavern to see ^rhj&t had become of the third man.

When Donald Blake rushed into the back room of the tavern be had no definite idea as to how he was to make his escape, but he had heard that dread voice in lront, and knew that danger was lurking nigh.

Throwing open the window, he leaped boldly ont into tbe night. A pair of stout arms encircled his form as he alighted upon the ground. "Yon area prisonei!" said a harsh voice in his ear.

The man spoke before he wss sure. With a strength born of desperation, Donald Blake broke away and bounded into the bashes.

Although staggered at the rough push given him, the detective whipped out a revolver and sent several shots after the fugitive. Whether tbey were wasted or not he could not tell, bat at any rate Donald Blake vanished from view, bounding like a tiger.

Duke Darrel found his man crouching under the window, as if expecting others to make their appearance in the same wav.

He hastily explained the situation of

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the rest of his men, four in number, to the spot. They made a quick raid upon the atable.

The moonshiners were caught in the very act, for the distillery under the eld barn was in fall blast. Three men fell

Yon are an expert, my friend. I like into the power of the detectives, together your skill so well that it would please me to aatume charge of it for some years to come, only instead of taking stones from horses' feet you will be breaking them on the highway."

with the illicit distillery, Tbey were well up in the business, and after handcuffing their captives they proceeded to destroy what nighwines they found into the creek.

In less than half an hour everything was a total wreck, except a few articles saved to be used as evidence against the prisoners. Then they set off with their prisoners for the nearest town, fearful lest the news should reach the distillery further down Willow creek, and an attempt be made at rescue by the employe*, and what men they could pick op in the naighborhood, hostile to the revenue collectors.

They lost no time in paying a visit to the larger distillery down the crtek, Duke Darrel and one of his men going there.

The books were found all square, and as usual the principal parties escaped, while their dupes were made to suffer.

Before the revenue officials got out of the country they came very near being mobbed by the indignant Kentuckinns, who did not enjoy the idea of having their countrymen imprisoned for such an offense as was common among the^mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina.

The Shadow Detective did not accom-

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pany his men. He had other work to do, which interested him because of tbe seeming difficulties in the way, and which he would take the greatest delight in surmounting.

When Donald Blake broke away from the officer who had seized hold of him, he sprang madly away, running as only a man can run who sees the gallows looming up before him.

As ne ran he leaped from side to side, for he knew well enough that he would be fired upon, and the quick reports that awoke the silence of the night In rapid succession, told him that hiB surmise was right. Uv

The bullets ^dangerously close, one of them touching his arm as it went whistling past, but he very luckily escaped being hit, and by a few more great leaps succeeded in passing from the detective's sight.

He was too seriously alarmed to Btop there, however, and vaulting the fence, he ran along its shadow until the creek was reached.

A line of timber here gave him shelter, and by keeping up the stream he finally reached the forest, into which he plunged with no little satisfaction, feeling confident that for tbe time being he had baffled pursuit "Probably they are onlv after Arnold and his gang. Claude and myself have nothing to do with them. But I hate that Duke Darrel. If there is any man in tbe world who will reach pay-dirt in the matter of tbe murder, he will. Curses rest on him! Poor Claude he will have a tough time of it being hauled off in that way. What is my best plan of action now? I think I will accept the invitation given me by my old friend Miles Nickson, and pay him a visit. I can stay there until the affair blows over a little, then return and claim what property my father left, for his graceless nephew can't inherit it, now that he is on his trial for murder. Things will work around all right yet, I reckon. Hark! was that a human voice I beard? Heavens! if that fiend should have tracked me. Then we mast have it out here. I am almost 4 mile above the tavern. How can he have followed me so closely this far? There he comes. Silence now."

A human form did come into view, but it was not the detectivfe. On the contrary, this personage was a tall, muscular fellow, armed with a gun, and having a couple of dogs at bis heels. "Miles Nickson himself," said the concealed man, replacing his dagger with a sigh of relief, for he had dreaded an encounter with the detect!ve.^

The other recognized him, and showed great delight over the meeting. Tbey hsd been cronies in the East, and engaged in several sharp confidence games that brought them heaps of money. Donald had squandered his share of the ill gotten gains, bat Nickeon hai gone to Kentucky, and baying himself a stock farm settled down to a life of ease.

His house was a large stone building, and was said to be haunted before Nick son took possession of it, but the ghosts did not seem to disturb him any. He lived a riotous life at The Elms, as the old place was called, and was often seen galloping madly over the couutry in company with strange men.

On the night in question he was oat coon hunting, and hsd bagged several of

them, when his old comrade turned up in nti unexpected way. They walked toward Tue Elm«, and the owner of the farm expressed himself as highly pleased to have D.mald stay with him. "The latter related hi* experience with the detective, and also a great deal more that he wjb concerned

CHAPTER VI.

A KAI.L THROUGH THE OrEN TRAP. The Elms was surrounded by quite a erove of beautiful trees, which had probacy been the causa of its name.

Tuese were now clad in emerald mautalts, and with the sunlight playing upon them, shaping alternate patches of brightness and shadow upon tne ground, and a much prettier night could not well be imagined.

Up the carriage road, now overgrown with grass and weeds, as it was seldom used by the owner of the place, a man was making his way on this sunny afternoon.

He was a black bearded fellow, bro shouldered, and with a slouching gaitHe walked in a lazy way, but now and then a quick, active step would betray the fact that his body was nervous and muscular beyond all conception.

He was roughly dresped, and wore a heavy hat that concealed his features in part As he walked he had a peculiar way of looking over his shoulder every few steps, as if he expected to feel the hand of the law upon his arm. A guilty conscience seldom needs an accuser.

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Coming to a point where a good view of the stone house could be obtained, the man halted and took a critical survey of it. "Quite a romantic affair looks more like an ancient caatle partly in ruins than auything else I can imagine. Twould be just like Nickson to emigrate to such a "place, always supposing that this is my old friend, as I have reason to believe from the evidenee I run acrossso accidentally. I wonder how he will receive hia comrade of the davsgoueby. Ah! many a time did Miles and my?elf conduct little expeditions in company. How will he welcome me? We shall see, we shall see," and the black bearded man chuckled audibly.

His resounding thump upon the arched door of this strange stone house brought a man in surprise to the door, for visitors who waited on ceremony and knocked at the portals were very rare indeed at The Elms,

The servitor was a hunchback, a dwaifed and misshapen specimen of humanity. He had a pair of red eyes that glared like the orba of a tiger from under his shaggy brows.

Upon learning that his master was at home, but engaged, the visitor wrote a name on a card, and told the hunchback to hand that to him.

Jn a few moments be came back and said that Miles Nickson would be delighted to see his old friend. So the black bearded man was ushered into the house.

As he walked through the rooms he looked about him with interest, for whether llie ex-thief had bought the furniture and articles that lay around, with the house, or picked them up afterward, they showed a taste in selection that was cultivated. "The boy has stumbled into a mighty good thing, I should say," mutteied the visitor.

He was at length ushered into the back room, evidently the proprietor's smoking den, to judge from the hazy state of the atmosphere. "Glad to see you, old boy. Shake hands and take a seat," said a voiee.

A figure advanced through the smoke, and Miles Nickson's hand grasped that of the new comer. As he did go an electric shock seemed to pass through his frame, but he immediately recovered his s°lfpossession.

The start was noticed by the new arrival. "What has he sien? Have I been fool enough to leave a craek open for him to look through and discover the truth?" ran through his mind. "Welcome to The Elms, CenterbitCharlie. You see I am snugly fixed here. Everything handy horses to ride in plenty, good hunting, the best of liquor, and the prettiest girls you ever saw. We Kentuckians boast of our pretty women, you know." "Notice the emphasis on 'we.' Ah, you're as fall of conceit as ever, old boy. Remember tbe scrape we got into up at Yonker's, where it took all we knew to save our bacon? Ha! ha!" "I ha/e laughed over it many a time. That d* tective, Duke Darrel, was as keen as a razor. Do you know I always feared that man more than any other. Don't keep standing take a chair and make yourself at home. Have a cigar there, now you look like yourself. About that fellow what would you think if I was to tell you that he is in this very neighborhood?"

The black bearded New York burglar half sprang from his chair. "No you don't mean it?" he eaid. "Hang me," muttered Nickson to himself, "bat don't he carry it out fine." "I wonder if he suspects," went through tbe other's brain like a flash. "Yes, sir," resumed the former aloud, "he has been getting bis work in out btre. Only last night he carted off a gang of moonshiners over at the tavern on the road." "I heard some men talking about it, bnt did not gather the particulars. Well, these fellows are a clumsy set at best, and leave an open trail for anyone to climb up. It takes such men as you and I to get around Duka Darrel. I shall never forgive him for several little tricks he played on me. Do you know, Miles, it is through his agency I am forced to this heathen country just now?" "Indeed!" fell from the other's lips, and there was a very slight rustling of the curtains near the window, as if a breeze had disturbed th«m, but this did not seem to catch the eves of the visitor, how is that Charlie?' "I'll tell yoa some other time. By the way, I beard that tbe man yoa used to do business with had skipped New York. Yon know who I meao, don't you? —Donald Blake."

Again the curtain in thereoels trembled slightly. It was a very strange breese, that "Ah, yes," replied the other, carelessly twirling his cigar, "he has been to see me. His father was murdered here the other night Circumstances point to hia ooosin as tbe assassin, and I suppose hell he strung up. They have quick trials out here. A short shrift end a hemnett rope is what they believe in,'' "I suppose Donald will come In for considerable property then?" remarked the other. "Yee, there will be a handsome sua, [Omifimerf on TMnt

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