第章

AdventuresintheSecretServiceofthePost-OfficeDepartmentAnErringShepherdAnAspirantforCongressTheFortuneofSethSavageAWishUnexpectedlyGratifiedAnOldGameRevivedAFormidableWeaponANDREWLANG

Saint-GermaintheDeathlessTheManintheIronMaskTheLegendTheValet’sHistoryTheValet’sMasterOriginalPapersintheCaseofRouxDeMarsillyPART

AConjurer’sConfessionsSelf-Training“SecondSight“

TheMagicianWhoBecameanAmbassadorFacingtheArab’sPistolDAVIDP。ABBOTT

FraudulentSpiritualismUnveiledADoctoroftheOccultHowtheTricksSucceededTheNameoftheDeadMindReadinginPublicSomeFamousExposures

MoreTricksof“Spiritualism“

“MatterthroughMatter“

DeceptionExplainedbytheScienceofPsychologyANONYMOUS

HowSpiritsMaterializePARTI——DETECTIVESTORIESFROMREALLIFE

ArthurTrainAFlightintoTexasTheflightandextraditionofCharlesF。Dodgeunquestionablyinvolvedoneofthemostextraordinarybattleswithjusticeinthehistoryofthecriminallaw。Thefundsatthedisposalofthosewhowereinterestedinprocuringtheprisoner’sescapewereunlimitedinextent，andthearchconspiratorforwhosesafetyDodgewasspiritedawaywassoinfluentialinpoliticalandcriminalcirclesthathewasallbutsuccessfulindefyingtheprosecutorofNewYorkCounty，evensupportedasthelatterwasbythemilitaryandjudicialarmoftheUnitedStatesGovernment。

For，atthetimethatDodgemadehisescape，awhisperfromHummelwasenoughtomakethedrybonesofmanyapowerfulandostensiblyrespectableofficialrattleandthetonguecleavetotheroofofhismouthinterror。

(TheDistrictAttorney’sofficeinNewYorkCityisundoubtedlyoneofthebestwatch-towersknownfromwhichtoobserve“RealLifeDetectiveStories。“

ArthurTrain，sometimememberofthisprosecutingstaff，hasopportunitytorecordseveralofthesecuriousandexciting“TrueStoriesofCrime“(copyright，1908，byCharlesScribnersSons)。

Noneyieldslesstofictionsaveinthefactthatitistrue，andnotatallinqualityofdramaticinterest，than“AFlightintoTexas，“heregiven。

ReadersofthenewspapersafewyearsagowillrememberthenamesofAbrahamHummelandCharlesF。Dodge。Thelatter，arailroadconductor，wasallegedtohavecommittedperjuryatthedictateoftheformer，knownasoneofthebrightest，leastscrupulouslawyersinthiscity。ItwasoneofDistrictAttorneyJerome’sgreatambitionstobringHummeltojustice。Herewasanopportunity。IfDodgecouldonlybeforcedtotestifytothisperjurybeforeacourt，Hummelcouldundoubtedlybeconvictedofacrimethatwouldnotonlydisbarhimfromthelegalprofession，butwouldputhiminjail。

Dodgehadrunawayanddisappearedasthestormseemedabouttoburst。Wherewashe？Whocouldfindandbringhimback——againstAbeHummel’swish？——EDITOR。)

Whocouldaccomplishthatinwhichthelawwaspowerless？——Hummel。

Whocoulddrivetotheuttermostendsoftheearthpersonsagainstwhomnotashadowofsuspicionhadpreviouslyrested？——Hummel。Whodictatedtothechiefsofpoliceofforeigncitieswhattheyshouldorshouldnotdoincertaincases；andwhocould，atthebeckoningofhislittlefinger，summontohisdungeon-likeofficesintheNewYorkLifeBuilding，whitherhisfirmhadremovedfromCentreStreet，themostprominentoflawyers，themosteminentofcitizens？——SurelynonebutHummel。AndnowHummelwasfightingforhisownlife。TheonlymanthatstoodbetweenhimandtheironbarsofBlackwell’sIslandwasCharlesF。Dodge——themanwhomhehadpattedonthekneeinhisofficeandcalleda“Mascot，“whenquiteinthenatureofbusinessheneededalittleperjurytoassistawealthyclient。

Hummelinterrorcalledintoplayeveryresourceuponwhich，duringfortyyearsofpractice，histinytentacleshadfastened。WhoshallsaythatwhilehemadeashowofenjoyinghimselfnightlywithhisaccustomedlightheartednessintheTenderloin，hedidnotfeelconfidentthatintheendthisperilwoulddisappearliketheotherswhichhadfromtimetotimethreatenedhimduringhiscriminalcareer？ButHummelwasfullyawareofthetenacityofthemanwhohadresolvedtoridNewYorkofhismaligninfluence。HisNemesiswasfollowinghim。Inhisdreams，ifheeverdreamed，itprobablytooktheshapeofthesquare-shoulderedDistrictAttorneyintheshadowofwhoseofficebuildingthelittleshysterpracticedhisprofession。HadhebeentoldthatthisNemesiswasinrealityajoviallittlemanwitharound，ruddyfaceandtwinklingblueeyeshewouldhavelaughedasheartilyasitwasinhispowertolaugh。Yetsuchwasthefact。AlittlemanwholookedlesslikeadetectivethanacommercialtravelersellingSt。Peter’sOilorsomeothercheerfulconcoction，withmannersasgentleandavoiceassoftasaspringzephyr，whoalwaystookoffhishatwhenhecameintoabusinessoffice，seeminglybashfultothepointofself-effacement，wastheonewhosnatchedCharlesF。DodgefromthebordersofMexicoandheldhiminanirongripwheneveryinfluenceuponwhichHummelcouldcallforaid，fromcrookedpoliceofficials，corruptjudges，andagangofcutthroatsundertheguiseofasheriff’sposse，werefightingforhisrelease。

JesseBlocherisnotemployedinNewYorkCounty，andforbusinessreasonshedoesnotwishhispresentaddressknown。WhenhecomestoNewYorkheoccasionallydropsintothewriter’sofficeforacigarandafriendlychataboutoldtimes。AndashesitsthereandtalkssomodestlyandwithsuchquiethumorabouthisadventureswiththeTexasRangersamongthecactus-studdedplainsoftheLoneStarState，itishard，evenforonewhoknowsthetruth，torealizethatthismanisoneofthegreatestofdetectives，orratheroneofthemostcapable，resourceful，adroit，andquick-wittedknightsofadventurewhoeversetforthuponaseeminglyimpossibleerrand。

ItisunnecessarytostatejusthowtheDistrictAttorneydiscoveredtheexistenceof“Jesse，“asweknewhim。ItisenoughtosaythatonSaturdaymorning，July23，1904，hewasfurnishedwiththepropercredentialsandgiveninstructionstoproceedatoncetoNewOrleans，Louisiana，and“locate，“ifitwerehumanlypossibletodoso，CharlesF。Dodge，underindictmentforperjury，andpotentiallythechiefwitnessagainstAbrahamH。Hummel，onachargeofconspiracy。Hewastoldbrieflyandtothepointthat，inspiteoftheofficialreportsfromthepoliceheadquartersofbothNewYorkCityandNewOrleanstothecontrary，therewasreasontobelievethatDodgewasliving，althoughnotregistered，asaguestattheSt。CharlesHotelinthelattercity。ApartialandinaccuratedescriptionofDodgewasgivenhimandhewaswarnedtouseextremecautiontopreventanyknowledgeofhismissionfrombeingmadeknown。OnceDodgehadbeendiscovered，hewastokeephimundersurveillanceandwireNewYorkimmediately。

Accordingly，Jesseleftthecityuponthesamedayat4。45P。M。

andarrivedtwodayslater，at9。15onMondaymorning，atNewOrleans，wherehewentdirectlytotheSt。CharlesHotel，registered，andwasassignedtoroomNumber547onthefifthfloor。

SomewhereinthehotelDodgewassecreted。Thequestionwashowtofindhim。ForanhourJessesatinthehotelfoyerandmeditativelywatchedthevisitorscomeandgo，butsawnosignofhisquarry。Thenhearose，putonhishat，andhuntedoutastationerystorewherefortwocentsheboughtabright-redenvelope。Hethenvisitedaticket-scalper’soffice，securedtheowner’sbusinesscard，andwroteanoteonitsbacktoDodge，offeringhimcheaptransportationtoanypointthathemightdesire。Armedwiththishereturnedtothehotel，walkedtothedesk，glancedcasuallyoveranumberoftelegramsexposedinarackand，whentheclerkturnedhisback，placedthenote，addressedtoCharlesF。Dodge，unobserved，uponthecounter。Theofficewasabusyone，guestswereconstantlydepositingtheirkeysandreceivingtheirmail，and，evenasJessestoodtherewatchingdevelopments，theclerkturnedround，foundthenote，andpromptlyplaceditinboxNumber420。Theverysimpleschemehadworked，andquiteunconsciouslytheclerkhadindicatedthenumberoftheroomoccupiedbyDodge。

Jesselostnotimeinascendingtothefourthfloor，viewedroomNumber420，returnedtothedesk，toldtheclerkthathewasdissatisfiedwiththeroomassignedhim，andrequestedthathebegiveneitherroomNumber421，423，or425，oneofwhichhestatedthathehadoccupiedonapreviousvisit。AftersomediscussiontheclerkallottedhimroomNumber423，whichwasalmostdirectlyoppositethatoccupiedbyDodge，andthedetectiveatoncetookuphistaskofwatchingforthefugitivetoappear。

WithinthehourthedooropenedandDodgeandacompanion，whosubsequentlyprovedtobeE。M。Bracken，alias“Bradley，“anagentemployedbyHoweandHummel，lefttheroom，wenttotheelevator，anddescendedtothedining-roomuponthesecondfloor。Jessewatcheduntiltheyweresafelyensconcedatbreakfastandthenreturnedtothefourthfloorwherehetippedthechambermaid，toldherthathehadlefthiskeyattheoffice，andinducedhertounlockthedoorofroomNumber420，whichshedidunderthesuppositionthatJessewasthepersonwhohadleftthechamberinDodge’scompany。ThecontentsoftheroomconvincedJessethathehadfoundDodge，forhediscoveredtheretwogripsbearingDodge’snameaswellasseverallettersonthetableaddressedtohim。Thedetectivereturnedtothehallandhadalittletalkwiththemaid。

“Theoldgentlemanwithyouhasbeenquitesick，“shesaid。“Howisheto-day？“

“Heissomebetter，“answeredJesse。

“Yes，hedoeslookbetterto-day，“sheadded，“buthesho’lywaspowerfulsickyesterday。Why，hehasn’tbeenoutofhisroombefo’

fo’fiveorsixdays。“

ThisstatementwascorroboratedbyDodge’sphysicalappearance，forhelookedhaggardandworn。

JessewasnowconfidentthathehadfoundDodge，inspiteofthereportsoftheNewOrleanspolicetothecontrary，andhewasalsoreasonablysurethatthefugitivewastoosicktoleavethehotelimmediately。HethereforetelegraphedhissuperiorsthathehaddiscoveredDodgeandthatthelatterwasillattheSt。CharlesHotel。

Atthreeo’clockintheafternoonJessereceivedawirefromNewYorkasfollows：

“NewOrleanspolicedepartmentclaimspartynotthere。LeftforMexicothreeweeksago。Ascertaincorrectdestinationandwireatonce。“

Jesseatoncereplied：

“Noquestionastoidentityandpresencehereatthistime。“

Henowtookupthetaskofkeepinghisquarryunderabsolutesurveillancedayandnight，whichdutyfromthatmomenthecontinuedforaperiodofnearlytenmonths。

DuringtheremainderoftheafternoonandthroughoutthenightDodgeandBrackenremainedinroomNumber420，andduringtheeveningwerevisitedbyseveralstrangers，includingaplain-

clothesofficerfromtheNewOrleansPoliceHeadquarters。LittleHummel，dininginLongAcreSquareintheglareofBroadway，waspressingsomeinvisiblebuttonthattransmittedthepowerofhisinfluenceeventothepolicegovernmentofacitytwothousandmilesaway。

Thefollowingday，January26th，atabout8。40inthemorning，DodgeandBrackendescendedtothelobby。Brackendepartedfromthehotel，leavingDodgetopaythebillatthecashier’swindowandJesseheardhimorderacabforthe11。30A。M。SunsetLimitedontheSouthernPacificRailroadanddirectthathisbaggageberemovedfromhisroom。Jessedidthesame。

InthemeantimeBrackenreturnedandpromptlyat11A。M。leftfortherailroadstationinacabwithDodge。Jessefollowedinanother。AsthetwopassedthroughthegatesthedetectivecaughtaglimpseofDodge’sticketandsawthatithadbeenissuedbytheMexicanNationalRailway。RetiringtothetelegraphofficeinthestationhewiredNewYorkasfollows：

“Birdflying——SunsetLimited。Destinationnotknown。Iamwithhim。“

HethenhastilypurchasedatickettoHouston，Texas，andboardedthetrain。Dodge’scompanionhadbiddenhimgood-byastheenginestarted，andJesse’stasknowbecamethatofferretingoutDodge’sdestination。Aftersomedifficultyhemanagedtogetaglimpseofthewholeofthefugitive’sticketandthusdiscoveredthathewasonhiswaytotheCityofMexico，viaEaglePass，Texas，whilefromthePullmanconductorhelearnedthatDodgehadsecuredsleeping-

caraccommodationasfarasSanAntonio，Texas，only。

Sofarallwaswell。HeknewDodgebutDodgedidnotknowhim，andlateronintheafternoonhehadthesatisfactionofalongtalkwithhisquarryintheobservationcarwheretheyamiablydiscussedtogethercurrenteventsandarguedpoliticswiththesamevehemenceasiftheyhadbeencommercialtravellersthrownfortuitouslyintoeachother’scompany。Dodge，however，cleverlyevadedanyreferencetohisdestination。

WhenthetrainreachedMorganCity，Louisiana，at3P。M。，whichwasthefirststop，JessewiredNewYorkasfollows：

“OnSunsetLimitedwithfriend。HehastransportationtotheCityofMexico，viaEaglePass，whereIamnowjourneyingwithhim。

AnswertoBeaumont，Texas。“

LaterintheafternoonhesentanadditionalmessagefromLafayette，Louisiana：

“Haveseentransportationoffriendandampositiveofdestination。“

DodgewasoccupyingSection3ofthesleepingcar“Capitola，“and，asbecameaninvalid，retiredearly。

AtBeaumontJessefailedtoreceiveanyreplytohisvariousmessages，andwhenthetrainarrivedatHoustonnowordcamefromNewYorkuntilitwasalmostthetimeofdeparture。WaitinguntilpracticallythelastmomentJessehurriedthroughthegatesoftheUnionStationatHoustonandboughtatickettoSanAntonio。AshewasleavingtheticketwindowNightChiefofPoliceJohnHowardandtwoofficerscamehurryingupinquiringanxiouslyfor“Mr。Jesse。“

Thereenforcementshadarrived。

Outsideonthetrack“TheSunsetLimited“wasjustgettingunderway。Thefirstfranticpuffswerebeingvomitedfromthefunnel。

InsideDodgewassleepingpeacefullyinhisberth。Jesse，accompaniedbyChiefHoward，hurrieduptotheconductorwhowasabouttoswingontothestepsofthesleeper，andorderedhimtoholdthetraintillthefugitivecouldberemoved。AftersomeargumenttheconductorgrumblinglycompliedandDodgewasarousedfrompleasantdreamsofthe“CreoleQuarter“tothecoldrealityofbeingdraggedoutofbedbyapoliceman。HewasunceremoniouslyhustledoutofthesleepingcarintoacarriageandtakentoHeadquarterswhereheadmittedhisidentityandremarked：