Mississippi Outlaws and the Detectives: Don Pedro and the Detectives; Poisoner and the DetectivesPinkerton, Allan
History
Mississippi Outlaws and the Detectives: Don Pedro and the Detectives; Poisoner and the Detectives
Pinkerton, Allan
Detective and mystery stories; Detectives
Her object, evidently, was to make Morton believe that it would not do
for him to attempt to steal the bonds; for, though she trusted him to
the extent of showing him her money and valuables, she was eternally
suspicious and careful.
Of course, on receiving Morton's report, I felt quite confident that the
two bonds he had seen were a part of those taken from young Trafton.
Still, I had no positive proof of their identity, and, in accordance
with my invariable custom, I took no hasty step, being confident that my
detective would soon elicit all the facts. I wrote to Mr. Richard S.
Trafton, however, suggesting that he have himself appointed
administrator of his son's estate, so that he could begin proceedings
instantly, the moment I was ready.
Several days passed, during which Morton gained Mrs. Sanford's
confidence more and more. She was anxious one evening that he should rob
Mr. Bruce, who came in half drunk; but Morton told her that he never
worked that way.
"Why, Jack Ingham would have killed a man to get money out of him," said
Mrs. Sanford. "Jack wasn't afraid to do anything for money."
"Well, that isn't my style," said Morton, contemptuously. "Do you
suppose I am going to have a scuffle and struggle, ending perhaps in
murder, when I can make ten times as much by a little skillful work
with my pen? I don't want the police to be snuffing 'round my heels on
account of highway robbery and such small game; when _I_ do anything to
set them after me, it will be for a big stake, and even if they catch
me, they will be mighty glad to compromise. Oh! no; not any little jobs
for me; it is only the big rascals who can work safely."
Morton succeeded in inducing her to leave Bruce alone, though she had
evidently meant to drug him, for she took a glass of beer, which she had
poured out for him, and threw it into the sink. They all drank
considerable beer, however, during the evening, and Mrs. Sanford, having
taken also a large dose of morphine, became nearly insensible. On seeing
her condition, Morton and another lodger thought they had better put her
to bed; but as Bruce was in a drunken stupor in her room, Morton
determined to try the effect of putting her into the room where young
Trafton had died. No sooner had they laid her on the bed, however,
before she sprang up, gazed around an instant, and then rushed shrieking
from the room, saying that she dare not lie there, and that she had seen
"him" lying beside her. She was then placed on the lounge in the
sitting-room, where she became quite hysterical. Morton sat beside her,
and soothed her until she became quiet, and about midnight she fell
asleep.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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