THE DUKE OF ARCANUM.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 294, 13 December 1898, Page 6

THE DUKE OF ARCANUM.

By CAKI/ETON LONG,

f CHAPTER XXVII. (Continued.)

It was the morning of election. The papers were damp from the press with an account of the 'Duke of Arcanum's' address the night before. While reading Morton's speech, and the account of the demonstration which followed, Jarmyu again fancied that he saw the cunning hand of Stanley Ed°-eunib. 'Why does he so boldly advocate the election of Humphrey Davids?' he mused. 'Ah, I see, a pardon from the Governor, eh? It is really 'beginning- to take shape, lheu running his eye through the lines again he stopped short as it rested upon some sentence which he had overlooked. T es > yes; this great "Duke of Arcanum" tells these hornyfisted sons of toil to vote for Humphrey Davids because he knows that he has voluntarily defended people m the courts who were charged with crime and hau not the means to employ counsel. Yes, he knows all about it- "I'll be blessed if he don't. Continuing to read he saw how the masses had been stirred by Morton's appearance before them, and how they laid drawn him triumphantly through he streets; then he stood aghast at the very thought of attempting hy arrest. 'And suppose I should fail to establish his identity, what would happen to Jarmyn?' The reflection was evidently not a pleasant one. It may seem to the reader that Jarmyn had become extremely vacillating in his opinions and purposes. Such was not the. case, however. He was honest to himself and honest to the law, but he was prudent in calculating the results before taking an important sten This was a matter which he knew would involve him in utter ruin if he should fail. It was not ear nspired by the grandeur of Mortons To drag one°from the depths of povcould not. lake an action so important nntii the time came when he should be relieved of all doubt. Immediately following the elect.on Jarmyn decided to establish a closer relationship with Jasper Morton than had hitherto existed. Acting: upon a clever idea he proceeded to Morton a s able, and under pretence of being a veterinary surgeon and an excellent -judge of horseflesh he succeeded in making a profound impression upon the coachman and hostler. An immediate friendship was the result. After a sufficient acquaintance with these worthies had warranted a certain fitness to his conduct, he plied them with puestions concerning the magnificent equipage and its origin. I hen he led them skilfully into conversations regarding the 'Duke of Arcanum,' hoping to gain some secret bit Of gossip which would be of s<m-vio« in his investigations; but he found that they knew as little of tneir master- as he. d.id himself: However, their intimacy constantly increased. Finally he saw thai-it-would be necessary to obtain some foothold about the premises in order to accomplish anything. A thought occurred to him, but it was not an honourable one. Thus far he had been honourable in the pursuit of his calling; but now, alas, he seemed to be seized by a strong temptation to step aside from hi° accustomed paths for once. A 'consuming desire to capture the fugitive blinded him to even a sense of honour—that which had been the

pride of his life. He saw an opportunity where a point might be gained by such a sacrifice, and he yielded. He had observed that in driving up to the mansion the coachman had properly come to a stop with the team headed in the direction to be taken, and that upon reaching the office the opposite side of the vehicle was invariably next to the curb; or in other words, Morton entered his carriage by one door and alighted by another. A subterfuge was suggested, and he •watched for an opportunity to execute his cunning design. Finally, being in the stable one morning when the horses were being groomed, he saw that his time had come. When they were ready for the harness he adroitly assisted the hostler. The latter had always taken great pride in seeing that the animals were sleek, and without, a blemish upon their beautiful creamy coats; nor did he ever grow tired in caring for them. After they were harnessed, and while the hostler had gone for the cushions and the coachman was dusting his livery, Jarmyn seized some manure and Bmeared the belly of the off horse in such a way that it could not be obiserved by the coachman from the seat. A moment later the latter appeared, jumped upon the box and seized the reins, while Jarmyn sprang to the door and rolled it back on its wheels to prevent the hostler from discoveringl the trick, as he well knew would be the case if he stood by the door when the team pranced out of the stable.

That morning, as Morton stepped from his carriage upon the walk before his office, he turned^ as was usually his custom, to cast an admiring glance at his horses, for he was extremely proud of them. What was Iris mortification upon seeing one of them' smeared in such a filthy manner! He was indignant at such carelessness on the part of his hostler in permitting them to go out in such a state of neglect. The coachman was confused and speechless. He had never seen the 'Duke ,of Arcanum' so angry before. The result was that Morton* ordered the hostler's peremptory dismissal, directing the coachman to secure the services of another without delay. The laiter thought of Jarmyn. The detective appearing at the opportune moment, and being willing to take the place, was engaged. He gave the coachman his true name, for he had an, object in doing so.

The following- day the coachman told Jarmyn that he would go-m and present (he new hostler's name to his master, to be entered in his book, as he kept n regular account with each of his employes. Upon Ills return Jnrniyn asked': 'What did the 'Duke of Arcanum' .say when you told him my name?' 'He bit his lip and acted mighty queer for a minute. He looked straight out of the window without blinking his eye or shaking a word for several niinut.es. .Finally he turned to me and said, rather sternly: lell this man you have hired—Jarmyn you call him—that I wish to see him a few moments in ray library here.' So 1 suppose you must go in and seelnm. Jarmyn was nonplussed at this announcement. He rea'liskl that a critical moment had arrived. He had expected that when the coachman should mention his nameMorton would manifest .some uneasiness and find some objection to his employment. This would have been evidence of a satisfactory nature; but to be sent for so abruptly was something he had not calculated upon. He had experienced the'keenest satisfaction as he heard the nrst sentence of the coachman's response, but when he had finished he lowered his eyes to the floor with evident hesitation in his manner. 'AVell, ain't you goin'?' asked the coachman. 'You ain't afraid to meet the "Duke," arc you? lie's a lion, thoijgh, I tell you. I've got a good deal of respect, for him.' This remark seemed to decide Jarmyn at once, lie knew there was no use of evading the matter. He would go in and see Jasper Morton, and if he felt certain that he was Edgeumb he would show him his star and place him under arrest. He replied: 'Certainly 1 am going in. I am not at all afraid of the "Duke of Arcanum." If he don't want me he isn't obliged to hire me.' 'Biit I have already hired you,' returned the coachman, with a somewhat pompous air. 'The "Duke" only wants to talk to you about his nags.'

'Very well, I will go in and see what he wants, 1 said Jarmyn, smiling at the coachman's self-importance.

Upon entering the house Jarmyn was shown to the door of Morton's library. It stood partly open. Removing his hat and stepping inside he saw a man sitting by a table at the farther end of the room, who seemed to be intently occupied with the examination of some papers which lay in well-arranged piles before him. He

advanced to a point near the table but Morton took no notice of him. He had such a cold, austere expression, that Jarmyn's first impression of him was that he was a veritable icicle.

Morton did not look up, but. coolly

continued with the examination of his papers. Jarmyn was quite sure that he was aware of his presence, and he felt not a little embarrass. ment at being compelled to await his pleasure; but he improved his opportunity by studying his features. It was now over four years since his confinement with Rdgeumb in the

hospital. At that time his companion's face was disfigured with ugly pustules. He had no beard then, save the stubble which had grown during his illness, but through which the

ravages of the disease were plainly \isible. The man was then lean, emaciated, dirty and poorly clad. His

manner was nervous, and lie was appr.rently in a constant state of apprehension. Since then lie had curried

such an image of the. fugitive in his mind, and that image did not correspond with the man before him, upon whom his suspicions had recently rested. This one was well attired, his figure inclined to stoutness; he had a full beard, and there was no manifestation of nervousness in his demeanor, for he seemed to proceed with his

work with as little concern as if such a person as Jarmyn had never existed. Jarmyn began to feel disconcerted. He questioned: 'If this man is Edgcurnb, how can he be so calm and undisturbed in the presence of one whom he has just reason to fear?' But the question seemed to be unanswerable, lie thought, perhaps, when Morion spoke to him, that he might recognise his voice or manner. Several minutes passed but still Morton ignored his presence. Then he coughed slightly once or twice, but that failed to attract, his attention. It was evident that Morton was not in the habit of permitting himself to be

disturbed. Growing impatient Jar^ myn spoke, saying: 'Mr Morton, I suppose? 1 but the austere millionaire would brook no interference; he would neither deign to look up nor speak which caused Jarmyn to have a very humble opinion of himself.

Soon, however, Morion leaned back

in his chair, raised his eyes deliberately and turned them coldly upon Jarmyn in an inquiring way. Jarmyn met the gaze without flinching", and for an instant the two men looked steadily into each other's eyes. The look on Morton's part was such as he would have given to an utter stranger, and to a man far beneath him in social position. There was not the faintest trace in his features of any recognition of the man before him, uor of nervousness or agitation, but lie had a stern and dignified bearing which conveyed unmistakably to Jarmyn the idea, as if he had expressed it in so many words, 'I am Jasper Morton, rich, powerful and influential; and you are Jarmyn, simply my hostler.' The detective was the first to speak. Giving a slight nod of his head, lie said: 'I am Jarmyn, sir.' Morton, without taking his eyes from him, or returning the nod, and without moving a muscle of his countenance at the mention of the name, asked frigidly: 'Are you the man I just sent for, who wished to take the hostler's place in the stable?'

Jannyn acknowledged that he was. 'Well, sir,' Morton continued, '1 wish to give you a word of advice about the care of my horses before you enter upon 'your duties. My hostler has

been very negligent of late. Yesterday I was mortified beyond endurance to see one of them driven upon the •streets in a most filthy condition. There is nothing I have in the world sir that I am as proud of as that pair of creams, and I wish them to be

spotless when they appear upon the street. I cannot overlook any negligence in caring for them. Do you understand?'

Morton had become from practice an adept in disguisingl his voice. He spoke to Jarmyn in a deep tone somewhat varied from ils usual intonation, but not sufficiently to make it obvious that he was endeavouring" to practise deception. His manner was severe and earnest. Jarmyn was completely bewildered. Morton's sselJ"composure and hauteur, the tone of his voice, and his manner of speaking-, wero so different fi'oin what lie remembered of Edgcumb that he really began to think he had made a mistake. He did not deem it possible that the man he bad so intimately known in

the hospital was capable of displaying such sang froid in his presence. Moreover, he was unable to discover any resemblance in voice or manner to his quondam companion, but he'did not take into consideration that there was a vast; difference in the circumstances swronnding one and the other; and circumstances mould or change the characters of men. To the question -which Morton put at the end of his remarks, Jarmyn responded by bowing- his head and saying: 'I do.' M am informed that you have an excellent knowledge of horses; that you are a veterinary surgeon, in fact, if such is the case, and you give proper care to my animals, 1 am willing to pay you well for it -double or treble what* my late hostler received.'

'L am pretty well acquainted with the animal, f know nil of its instincts, too. It has a wonderful attachment for the place where it is well cared for,' replied Jarmyn. 'Do you think so?' asked Morton. '[ know it. sir,' and then critically surveying .Morton, he continued: 'If 1 should see, for instance, a horse drawing a load of potatoes, wandering along the street without an owner, and I' should unhitch him and turn him louse, the animal's instinct would tell him to go home. It would be an easy matter to follow and ascertain its owner. Ft is a valuable thing', to know these traits, or instincts of the boast.' Although Jarmyn searched his face for a trace of uneasiness he was not rewarded, for Morton regarded him steadily without betraying in the least a suspicion of what he had reference to. 'Then i hope that yon will apply your knowledge and skill to your best advantage in caring for my horses. The man who serves me well, sir, will | never be forgotten. What did I understand your name to be?' 'JarmynV the detective answered. 'Jarmyn,' Morton repeated; then ! turning" to the table he dipped his pen j in the ink and asked: 'How do you | .spell it?' 'J-a-r-m-y-n.' 'What are your initials, sir?' '12. —R. Jarmyn,' was the reply. Morton entered it upon his book, whereupon Jarmyn observed that he wrote with his left hand, and apparently with perfect case. This was not at all assuring, as he remembered that Edgcumb was not ambidexterous. 'Very well,' said Morton, coolly dismissing the hostler with a wave of his hand, 'that will do: nothing further, sir,' and he turned to the papers upon which he had been engaged on Jarmyn's entrance. The Utter stood for a moment with his eyes fixed upon Morton, sorely perplexed and .struggling how to decide; then turning upon his heel, he left the room and returned to the stable.

it would be ditlicult tn describe all the thoughts which crowded into Jarmyn's brain during that day. To say the least, he was disappointed. Ik* could not reconcile Kdgcumb with the person of the proud and aristocratic 'Duke of Arcanum,' yet when he came to think of all the incidents which pointed so strongly toward him, he did not feel like giving up the case. He determined to remain awhile in Morton's employ, hoping for further opportunities to study the man. or, perhaps, to pry through the. house and set- if he could not discover something there which would help to decide the matter. He performed his duties in the stable faithfully, and every morning the creams pranced through the streets with coats of spotless beauty. The new hostler gave entire satisfaction.

(To be Continued.)