The Burglar's Fate, and The DetectivesPinkerton, Allan
General
The Burglar's Fate, and The Detectives
Pinkerton, Allan
Detective and mystery stories; Detectives -- United States; Robbery -- United States -- Case studies
"I don't think they do," answered the girl, "and they are very much
worried about him. There was a letter came from some one the other day,
and ever since that time Mrs. Andrews has been in great trouble. She
does not tell me anything about it, but I think it is about her
brother."
"That's very strange, isn't it?"
"Yes, and what is more so," answered the girl, "for several days past
there have been several men about the neighborhood who are strangers,
and Mrs. Andrews is very much frightened about it. She is afraid to go
out of the house, and seems almost afraid to move."
"Does she think they have anything to do with her?" asked Vinton,
surprisedly.
"Oh, I don't know about that; but it is a very unusual thing to have
strange men loitering about our neighborhood, and she feels very nervous
about it."
Vinton expressed his profound sympathy for the unfortunate family, and
without hinting any suspicion that anything of a criminal nature had
occurred, he parted from the young lady and returned to his home.
A few evenings after this, Vinton again called upon Mary Crilly, and
while he was conversing with her, Mrs. Andrews came into the room.
"Mr. Vinton," said she, "before you go, I want to give you a couple of
letters to post for me, if it is not too much trouble."
"Certainly not," he replied, "anything I can do for you, Mrs. Andrews,
will be cheerfully done by me, I assure you."
"Thanks," said the lady, "I will have them ready before you leave, and
would like to have them posted this evening."
"I will attend to it, madam," said Vinton respectfully.
After passing a pleasant hour with Mary, Mrs. Andrews returned, and
handed Vinton two letters which he placed in his pocket without looking
at the addresses, a proceeding which he noticed gave Mrs. Andrews some
degree of pleasure. After a few moments' further talk he took his leave,
and hastened to the agency. Here he was fortunate enough to find my son
William, and he immediately produced the two letters and laid them upon
the desk.
"I don't know whether there is anything in these or not," said he, "but
I thought I had better let you see them."
William took up the two envelopes, and looked at their addresses. With a
start of surprise, he read the superscriptions. One of them was
addressed to "William Amos, McDonald, New York," and the other to
"Newton Edwards, Denver, Colorado, care Windsor Hotel."
Here was a dilemma! Could it be possible that Newton Edwards, knowing
that the detectives were upon his track, would continue to use his own
proper name, and have letters addressed to him in that open manner? This
was certainly a most foolhardy thing for a sensible man to do, who was
seeking to evade the officers of justice. Was it not more reasonable to
think that Mrs. Andrews, taking alarm at the possibility of the actions
of herself and family being watched, and being fully aware of the crime
her brother had committed, would be advised to direct her letter to him
under an assumed name?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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