What Came Afterwards CHAPTER 17.

Nearly ten minutes elapsed after the woman's flight, before Doctor Holbrook came back with a policeman. His delay gave Dr. Hofland time for reflection.

"The bird has flown," he said, as the two men entered. He spoke so quietly that both the policeman and his son-in-law wondered at his manner; for the latter, having been enjoined to go quickly on his errand, had, on finding the officer, hurried him with all possible speed to the Doctor's office.

"Who was she?" asked Doctor Holbrook. "An Irish woman, who has a secret that I meant to penetrate; and I wanted your good offices in the matter," looking at the policeman. "But, as I said, the bird has flown. I pressed her so closely with questions that she got alarmed, and flitted away before I could stop her movement."

"Do you know her?" asked the policeman.

"Never saw her before in my life."

"Does her secret involve anything criminal?"

"I fear that it does. Not, probably, on her part but, she has knowledge of things that are wrong, and my design was to secure her person, and so get, if possible, to the bottom of certain transactions of which I gained dark hints in my brief interview. Her escape leaves me at fault. But the intimations she threw out are of so serious a character, that I deem it best to confer with the Mayor. Can I see him tonight?"

"I think so."

"Will you ascertain the fact, and then bring me word at what time he will give me an audience?"

"How long will you remain in your office, Doctor?"

"For an hour."

"Within that time you shall have the information desired." And the officer withdrew.

"Common report was nearer the truth than you or I imagined, Edward," said Doctor Hofland, as soon as they were alone. "Old Adam Guyton is not dead!"

And he related the particulars of his interview with the Irish woman.

"Whatever is done, must be done speedily," remarked Doctor Holbrook. "Tomorrow he may be taken from the city, and removed, no one can tell where."

"To be murdered," said Doctor Hofland. "That will come next. I wonder, seeing how much his wife and her accomplice have at stake, that this last act in the tragedy has been so long delayed. The fact that he was believed to be dead, would have made the crime comparatively a safe one. Yes, Edward, whatever is done, will have to be done speedily. Tonight he must be released."

"If possible to discover where he is confined."

"There will be no trouble in that," said Doctor Hofland. "A place like the one in which he is held an unwilling prisoner, can hardly be unknown to the police. Mrs. McBride let drop the keeper's name. We shall find him, Edward, I am confident of this."

The two men sat silent for a short time, each busy with his own thoughts.

"So much for money!" spoke out Doctor Hofland, breaking in, after awhile, upon this silence. "So much for money!" he repeated. "It was to fill his lap with blessing — yet has it proved only a curse. Wretched, wretched man! In all these dreary years of imprisonment as a lunatic — dead to the world — what fearful things must he have suffered? When I think of him, I shudder in the presence of vague shapes of horror. To a man like him, there was no help. No materials were laid up in his mind out of which to build a house for hissoul to dwell in, and find shelter from storms of passion. His head was naked and his body bare for sun and tempest to assail."

"The probabilities are all against him," said the younger physician. "His brief communication reads like the despairing cry of an insane man, uttered in a lucid moment. If we discover the place of his imprisonment, we shall find him, I fear, but a helpless wreck. A man such as you have described him, would hardly retain his reason through an ordeal like this."

"The worst, in that direction, is to be feared," answered Doctor Hofland. "But, no matter what his state of mind, he must be rescued from their hands, and placed under conditions the most favorable to mental and bodily health."

"The fact of his being alive — and with the knowledge of Larobe and his wife — will establish another crime."

"Bigamy!" said Doctor Hofland.

"Yes."

"These accomplices are in a desperate strait, and to save themselves, will not shrink from desperate measures. The tempter who has lured them into this appalling danger, will not hesitate about the suggestion of murder as the only way of escape. He will magnify the safety and diminish the peril of this crime; and they, bewildered and frightened, will go over to the fiend!"

"If there was sufficient evidence to procure their arrest," said the son-in-law, "so much would be done towards Adam Guyton's safety."

"That point I wish to talk over with the Mayor. It is barely possible, you know, that all may not be just as we infer. This letter, even, may not indicate the exact truth. The writer may only be a pretended Adam Guyton."

The young physician shook his head doubtingly.

"All circumstances considered," resumed Doctor Hofland, "I think with you, that the letter is genuine, and shall act on that assumption up to the limit of prudence. But, the gravest things are involved, and every step taken, should be well considered. I may get myself into serious trouble without benefit to anyone. Larobe is not the man on whom to make an assault, unless you are invulnerable at all points."

The policeman came back while they were yet talking, and said that the Mayor would see Doctor Hofland at nine o'clock. Precisely at the hour they met. The interview was a long one. At first the Mayor was wholly incredulous; but, after listening to Doctor Hofland's clearly given statement of all he knew about the insanity and confinement of Mr. Guyton, and comparing the common rumor of the town with the recent singular change in Mrs. Guyton, as noted by her friends, but particularly by Doctor Holbrook, he began to see the case differently. One duty, at least, was plain. The private mad-house — or prison — of Mr. Black, must be discovered, and that without delay.

"I will place this matter in the hands of a discreet officer," said the Mayor, "who will get speedily to the bottom of it."

"Tonight?"

"Nothing can be done tonight, Doctor."

"A few hours, and all may be lost!" replied the Doctor. "If Adam Guyton is really alive, and held in constraint by Mr. Larobe, too much is periled by leaving him in the city — too much by allowing him to live; even tomorrow may be too late, sir. Whatever is done, must be done speedily. Let me implore you to act tonight, lest another crime be added to a dark catalogue. Nothing will be made public. No good name will suffer in this prompt movement, if discreetly made. Should no wrong be discovered — no guilt can be charged upon anyone. But, if wrong is stopped, and further crime prevented — the gain will be incalculable."

The Mayor, as Doctor Hofland ceased speaking, lifted a small bell from the table, and rang it lightly. An attendant came in from the adjoining room, the door of which had been shut.

"Tell Mr. Joyce that I want him."

The attendant withdrew, and in a few moments a slender, keen-eyed man, entered. The first impression he made was that of a slightly built person; but a second glance, showed him to be compact and sinewy. His step had a spring that indicated both mental and physical confidence.

"Sit down, Mr. Joyce," said the Mayor, waving his hand towards a chair. The man sat down — yet holding his person erect, and with a prompt air, like one expectant and ready.

"Is there such a place in the city as a private hospital, or refuge for insane people, under the care of a man named Black?" inquired the Mayor,

"I have not heard of it," was the unhesitating reply.

"Do you know an Irishman named Hugh McBride?"

"A weaver by trade?"

"I am not informed as to that."

"I know two or three McBrides. One, a weaver, is Hugh McBride."

"A married man?"

"Yes."

"Where does he live?"

"In Commerce Street."

"Take an officer, Mr. Joyce, and bring McBride and his wife here with as little delay as possible. If he is not at home, bring his wife. If neither are at home, report immediately."

The man arose and went out.

"It will be desirable for you to remain, Doctor, until his return," said the Mayor. "Can you identify the woman who called at your office tonight?"

"Yes."

"If we succeed in finding her, we shall obtain a clue not likely to fail. Mr. Joyce will follow it up quickly."

In less than half an hour Mr. Joyce came back, and reported the rooms of Mr. and Mrs. McBride closed and locked. He had made no inquiries of the other families in the house in regard to them, lest suspicion concerning the nature of his business should be awakened. So far, the movement was without result.

"Did you leave a policeman in the neighborhood to watch for their return?" asked the Mayor.

"Yes, sir."

"You can depend on him?"

"O yes, sir."

"Sit down, Mr. Joyce."

The man sat down, holding himself erect, with the prompt, expectant air before mentioned.

"We have intimations, Mr. Joyce," said the Mayor, "of something wrong. We believe that a man is confined somewhere in the city under pretense of insanity. Our information goes so far as to cover the name of the individual who holds this man, with others, in confinement — it is Black. An Irishman named Hugh McBride is one of his assistants. There are features about the case that render prompt action necessary. We must discover Black tonight, if possible, and remove the person of whom I spoke."

"Are you certain the name is Black?" asked the officer.

The Mayor looked towards Doctor Hofland.

"That is the name I received. But, it may not be the true one," answered the Doctor.

"There is a Doctor Black on East Baltimore Street," said the officer. "He occupies a large house beyond Broadway, and has, I think, resident patients. This may be the man."

"Do you know anything of this individual, Doctor Hofland?" inquired the Mayor.

"Nothing," replied the Doctor. "In riding out East Baltimore Street, occasionally, I have noticed the name. But, the person of Doctor Black is unknown to me. I infer, that he has no standing with the profession."

"You had best follow out this thread, Mr. Joyce, and see where it leads," said the Mayor.

"May I suggest, the immediate despatch of one or two policemen to the vicinity of Doctor Black's house, with instructions not to let anyone be removed therefrom tonight. The fact that Mrs. McBride is away from home, gives me concern. She may have become alarmed for the consequences of her visit to my office," said Doctor Hofland.

"Did this woman call at your office?" asked Mr. Joyce, with the smallest perceptible shade of surprise in his tone.

The Doctor glanced towards the Mayor, who answered the policeman's question.

"Mrs. McBride was at the Doctor's office this evening, and during her visit, let drop certain things, which, taken in connection with things already known, make it clear that a very serious wrong exists. The suggestion of Doctor Hofland is a good one. Set a watch in the neighborhood, and do not permit the removal of any person from the house of Doctor Black."

Mr. Joyce arose, promptly.

"A moment, if you please," said Doctor Hofland, as the man was about retiring from the room. "I feel deeply interested in this business. Every minute that passes will be one of painful suspense. How soon can we expect to hear from you?"

"Within an hour," answered Mr. Joyce.

"It is now ten o'clock."

"By eleven I will report all that can be learned of Doctor Black. Will your Honor be here?" looking at the Mayor.

"I shall remain, Mr. Joyce, until your return."

The officer bowed, and withdrew.

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