THE MYSTERY OF A PULLMAN CAR.

Western Star, Issue 1294, 6 March 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE MYSTERY OF A PULLMAN CAR.

I It was time for the Western express to leav 6 the Bonayeiiture Station at Montreal. It was winter the season was particularly blifttery, the travellers were few, and only one Pullman was attached to She train. The first passenger to get on to the car was an invalid gentleman, attended by his servant. He was so utterly helpless that his arrival created quite a commotion. A group of curious spectators gathered to watch him lifted on ; the negro porters and two train hands were pressed into the service. With some difficulty he was at length settled in bio berth. This Mr Rathbon, from the accounts given of him by hjs attendant, appeared to be an object worthy of commiseration. He was an English gentleman of fortune and position, who was terribly injured in a railway accident ; he was paralysed and almost* blind, his eyes being screened from the Jight by a large green silk shade, and he constantly suffered exscrutiating agonieß from bis shattered nerves. He was travelling for his health, had been some time in Montreal, and was now going West. «"•'*«,„ The otbef passengers consisted of two commercial travellers ; a young girl of sixteen going to Toronto to school; Frank Oar-ter.-a young lawyer from Montreal, who was going up to attend his sister's wedding ; and a very handsome and majestic English woman, attended by a younger lady. The older woman appeared to be about thirty and was dressed with simple elegance, her furs being superb. Her companion was an excessively pretty young English girl. .■ - Frank Carter, the lawyer, recognised the pair, having often seen them at the Windsor Hotel, where Mrs Mervyn had spent some months. Nothing was known of her except that she lived luxuriously and avoided making anv acquaintances. The lady reserved for herself an entire section, her companion, Miss Travers, sleeping in a berth above that occupied by the young girl. Mr Rathbon had the next section, his servant being looated directly opposite above one of the commercials. After the train left Cornwall the lights were turned out, and absolute quiet reigned in the Pullman. It was a tempestuous night, the wind "raved and howled, the snow drifted into massive banks and peaked drifts, the engine mored slowly. The gray winters morning had bordered into daylight when Miss Alice Travers awakened. She rather wondered that Mrs Mervyn, who suffered greatly from insomnia, had not called her. In the meanwhile one of the commercials, who was dressing, was engaged in a vigorous search for a boot, and feeling his hand come in contact with something slimy on the floor, sprang upright—his hand was covered with blood. .-■■•»*■ Miss Travers drew back the curtains. Mrs Mervvn lay quite still. She was dressed in a crimson dressing-gown, profusely trimmed with lace; a heavy fur-lined mantle was thrown over her. As Miss Travers touched her, involuntarily a sharp cry broke from her lips, which instantly aroused all the occupants of the car. ' ', 'Good God I she is dead 1" cried the girl, excitedly. , ' __ Bight through the heart of the dead wo- , man ran a sharp poniard. Apparently, she bad died without a struggle ; the expression of her face was perfectly calm. Conductor, porter, passengers, all gathered round. Horror was depicted oa the spectators faces; each one regarded the other with suspicion; a terrible crime had been committed in their midst, and who was the murderer? Ibe conductor at once telegraphed to the police at Toronto, and Mr Rathbon was so overcome by the terrible circumstances that be was seined with violent convulsions, his crys and groans adding not a little to the horror of tbe scene. -" , , 'Would you like me to telegraph to your friends V Mr Carter inquired of Miss Travers who had appeared quite stunned by the terrible shock. .;.; '., . ' «1 have no friends on this side of the Atlantic. I am an orphan and entirely alone in the world. r , Carter was a kind-hearted chivalrous fellow. He was deeply touched at the poor girls forlorn position. ' Youinust allow me for the first time to assume the place of a friend,' he said, earnestly. 'My mother and sisterlive in Toronto. " They aTe the warmest-hearted people in the world and they will be glad to show you any kindness.' Two detectives bordered the tram at Parkdale, a Buburb of Toronto. Orders were given that ho one should leave the car before it had been thoroughly searched. The negro porter, nearly beside himself "with hysterical excitement, shouted voluble protestations of innocence ; the sick man lay in a death-like legarthy of exhaustion. There was not an inch of the Pullman that was aotthoroughly examined, as well as the personal effects of the passengers, which mostly consisted of tiolet bags, shawl straps, and railway rugs, and She most diligent scrutiny failed to reveal the slightest clue to the mystery. There was no trace of a struggle ; and the bedclothes were not even disarranged. ' ■ On the arrival of the train at Toronto, the body of the murdered womm was removed to an hotel in She vicinity of the Union Station, when an inquest was immediately held, the passengers still under surveillance, being all required to attend. kiss Travers was the first witness examined. She had been Mrs Mervyn's companion for nearly a year. The orphan daughter of an English clergyman, Bhe had come to the United States in searoh of em- . ploymant, and in answer to an advertisement as travelling companion, had applied to Mrs Meivyn, at that time boarding at tbe Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York. The relations between them had always been of the most pleasant description. Mrs Mervyn appeared, to be very wealthy was extremely liberal, but her companion bad no idea from what source her employers income derived. Her habits were regular ; she made no acquaintances ; wrote few letters, and always posted them herself, scarcely ever receiving one. She was excessively reticent, never alluded to the past, and never spoke of frieu'ia or connections. She was very nervous, and suspicious; the witness fancied that she was haunted by a constant dread ; had suspected" that deceased indulged in opium, but was not positive of the fact ; was of the opinion that the murder must have been committed for robbery. There was a small leather satchel, of which Mrs Mervyn always took charge herself missing. A number of costly rings were missed from the dead woman's fingers. Under her dress the lady always wore a necklace. She herself had assured Miss Travers that the ornaments were paste, and valuable only for the associations attached to them, but from their size and lustre the witness had concluded that they were valuable jewels. Had slept soundly all night ; could have no suspicion of anyone. The conductor and porter gave testimony that they had passed through the car frequently during the night; had seen nothing to arouse suspicion. Miriam Somers had awalsened once during the night; had looked out and fauoied that the curtains of Mrs Mervyn's seetion moved; saw a tall form dressed in a cloak like the I one she had seen on that lladv ; had naturally concluded that it was the lady herself ; could not be positive that it was nod a dream had not heard Miss Travers all night. John Barnes, servant to Mr Rathbon, deposed that twice during tbe night be had risen to see whether tbe master required his services, and eaoh time finding that gentleman sleeping soundly, had returned to bis rest; had heard nothing to alarm him during the night. He'had been in his present position three months ; had been engaged by Mr Bathbon because that gentleman's former attendant was ill, and obliged to return to England ; ; his employer had made many friends in Montreal; when free from pain was very sociable ; was a kind and liberal master. There was no papers or letters in Mis Mervyn's trunks .that could furnish the

touched anyone it was Miss Travers, but nothing could be proved against her. A verdict of murder against some person or persons unknown was returned. Later it was found that the sum of ten tßousand dollars was lodged to Mis Mervyn's credit in the Bank of Montreal, but the most searching enquiries failed to obtain any information regarding her antecedants or connections. Miss Travers found herself a strange; ui a strange land, utterly desolate under most trying circumstances. During the terrible oideal she behaved with great courage, but when it was over she began really to feel the effects of the shock. Her bewilderment was illuminated by flashesof consternation. She found herself without power to anticipate, much less decide, what was to come next. In this emergency young Carter showed himself a true friend. He brought this desolate girl, and the old lady invited Miss Travers to make her own house her home as long as it suited her to do so.

It bad been Alice Traverß intention at once to seek a new situation. When stie announced her intention, Mrs Carter, a kind, motherly soul, made her a proposal. Since her daughter's marriage the old lady had decided in making a home with her son in Montreal. She was in delicate health and required a good deal of attention—would Miss Travers remain as her companion ? She would be treated in all respects like a daughter. For two years Aljce lived in the Carters pleasant home, an<| in the Gerenity of a tranquil existence somewhat recovered from the tragic occurrences of the past. Frank Carter who had been greatly attracted from the first by the gentle girl, had decided upon asking her to become his wife, when a new character appeared upon the scene, abruptly shattering the young man's hopes of happiness, and moulding the fate pi Aljc'e in a fashion directly opposed to anything she had ever imagined. A French capitilist, who had come to Canada for the purpose of finding profitable investments, had business relations with Frank Carter, and in that way established a sort of intimacy with the family. This Leon de Lery was said to have made an enormous fortune in Sonth America. He brought excellent letters of introduction and being an accomplished man of the world clever, brilliant, fascinating, was much courted by both English and French society in Montreal. The surprise of his friends was very great when it was announced that the French millionaire was about to marry Mrs Carter's companion. The engagement was a Bhort one and the turn of Fortune's wheel, which suddenly elevated the pennilesß English girl to a lofty pinnacle of worldly success, seemed very extraordinary. Monsieur de Lery was the most ardent of lovers, the most indulgent and considerate of hushahds. Alice's new existence appeared like a fairy tale; Bhe had only to form a wish, instantly to have it realised; •lam a genuine Cinderella. Shall I awaken some day to find myself in the ashes ?' Bhe once exclaimed, merrily. The firat frown which she had yet seen darkened her husband's brow. The tree philosophy is to accept the good ,of the moment,' he replied, coldly. A few days after, hunting in a cabinet belonging to her husband for an account she wished to settle, Madame de Lery found a ring. She oarried it to the light and examined it curiously, She turned white as ashes It was a ruby or" great size, and exactly like one worn constantly by Mrs Mervyn. She sought her husband, crying impulsively I—- • Leon, the sight of this ring has quite upset me. Is it yours V Monsieur de Leary stretched his handout for the jewel. • Certainly.' Then, as he listened to her explanation he smiled indulgently. ' Your imagination has played you a trick little wife.' It would require keener eyes than youra to detect the difference in stoneß of equal size and "weight. Alice was silent. An unpleasant impression had lingered on her mind. Madame deLery's grand ball was decidedly the social event of the season ; indeed it was said that so splendid an entertainment had never before been given in Montreal. The blonde English beauty of the hostess was heightened by her exquisite Parisian toilet. Her husband regarded her with an air of satisfied pride. ' My queen, you only require the glimmer of jewels to render you perfect.' He • opened a jewel-case and clasped a neoklace of sparkling diamonds round her slender throat. ' Many an aristocratic dame in Europe would sell her soul for such diamonds as thSse 1' he exclaimed proudly. Alice grew white to the lips ; a convulsive shudder shook her from head to foot; it was on her lips to say that she hated diamonds, the recollections connected with them were so unpleasant; but it seemed such an ungracious manner in which to receive the princely gift that she retained sufficient selfcontrol to keep silent In the pre-occupation which her duties as hostess entailed upon her Madame de Lery, failed to notice the absence of her husband from the room. Later, when the guests had departed, looking around the deserted rooms still odorous with flowers and brilliant with lights, she remembered that she had not seen him since early in the evening. None of the servants could give any information of him.

Tired and perplexed, the lady retired to her own room. As she was replacing her jewels in their case she found, pinned to the satin lining, a tiny scrap of paper containing the following lines :■—' • Dearest Alice, — Fate, which no man can control, obliges me to leave you. If I should not return within a week never waste a thought on me. I do not blame myself for having sought your love ; I have made you happy and have endeavoured to secure your future. For your own sake as well as mine 1 earnestly conjure you to make no efibrt to penetrate the mystery of my disappearance. Trust nobody but the Carters ; who will be good friends to you. Believe me, dear, I have loved you truly since the first moment my eyes rested upon your sweet face, — Yours, L. deL.

At first Alice utterly failed to realise the situation. Her first idea was that a practical joke was intended ; but that was so entirely at variance with her husbands character that she instantly dismissed the suspicion. The strangeness of it all smote her heart with a deeper pang than tbe hours horror had yet given her. She had suddenly come to a dead pause. Past and future were dissociated by this dreadful event. Had her husband suddenly been stricken with madness ? Was it a cruel hoax ? An instinctive longing for some one to stand by her in this emergency came over the forlorn and desolate creature.

Early next luorningsho sought Mrs Carter Days freighted with pain and anxiety passed on but time brought no solution to the mystery. Monsieur de Lery's conduct was inexplicable. His pecuniary affairs were in perfect order. Should he never return, his wife would be handsomely provided for. Perhaps a month later Frank Carter visited New York on business. While there he was thrown in contact with a clever American detective, who was at the time much elated by the capture he had lately made of a gang of ' crooks,' the most skilful crimio3,ls,,be declared, who had ever entered the United States.

• Old countrymen, all of them,' he insisted ' We don't produce that kind here, If it bad not been for a wonian'e jealousy we should never have caught them at ail. We missed the leader, the sharpest crook it has ever been my fortune to hear of. When he found he was trapped, he just disappeared as though he had sunk into tbe earth. He belonged to a good English family, and had had a good university education. He trained a band of criminals, forgers, counterfeiters, burglars, and reigned over them like a king. Devii Dick he was called, because he possessed the devil's He had a

positive genius for what actors term making up,' and the cool audacity of the fellow was marvellous. Once, dressed as a workman with a basket of tools on his arm, he walked into the Capitalists 1 Bank in New York, and throwing the basket upon the floor stood on it, coolly sweeping off 5000 dollars before the tellers eyes, and disappeared before the bank official had recovered from his consternation. You must have heard of the Pullman-car murder, committed between Montreal and Toronto ? It made a great sensation.'

• I happened to be on the very car.' • Then you will be interested In hearing that wo have at last found a clue to the mystery. Mrs Mervyn had for years been a member of this very gang. I believe myself that she was Davil Dick's lawful wiful wife; she certainly was the only one who ventured to defy his authority. He was a handsome fellow, irrestible with women, and with a deoided weakness for a pretty face, and his wife was furiously jealous. A very clever robbery had been carried out at the Hotel de Calliere, in Paris. . Tbe Duchess de Calliere was robbed of diamonds worth eighty thousand dollars. The jawels were given into this woman's keeping, and after a violent quarrel with her husband she disappeared with them. He tracked her all over the world. You remember the invalid Mr Bathbon ? That was no less than Devil Dick himself. His presence in Montreal was signalled by a series of the most daring and successful burglaries. Devil Dick punished bis wife's treachery and recovered possession of the jewels. The cDnductor and one of the train hands were members of the fang. The jewels once seeured they pass°.d hem to a confederate outside, at one of the way-stations. We caught five of these fellowb ; they all deserve hanging, but I don't know if they will get it; I have a conviction that we will take Devil Dick alive, handsome fellow, isn't he V As Carter looked down upon the photograph, he turned pale and sick ; in the delicate almost effeminate features, the languid, supercilious smile he instantly recognised Leon de Lery. He never told Alice of the discovery h e had made ; he knew he would only add to her pain. Tbe following spring, when the ice on the St. Lawrence broke up; a body, recognised by tfie watch and the clothes as being that of Leon de Lery, was brought to the surface by the spring, freshets ;.«p Davil Dick was reverently buried, wept and mourned for as though he had been the best of men. Even after Alice became Frank Carter's happy wife, she still cherished a tender memory of her first love.