AdventuresintheSecretServiceofthePost-OfficeDepartmentAnErringShepherdAnAspirantforCongressTheFortuneofSethSavageAWishUnexpectedlyGratifiedAnOldGameRevivedAFormidableWeaponANDREWLANG
Saint-GermaintheDeathlessTheManintheIronMaskTheLegendTheValet’sHistoryTheValet’sMasterOriginalPapersintheCaseofRouxDeMarsillyPART
AConjurer’sConfessionsSelf-Training“SecondSight“
TheMagicianWhoBecameanAmbassadorFacingtheArab’sPistolDAVIDP。ABBOTT
FraudulentSpiritualismUnveiledADoctoroftheOccultHowtheTricksSucceededTheNameoftheDeadMindReadinginPublicSomeFamousExposures
MoreTricksof“Spiritualism“
“MatterthroughMatter“
DeceptionExplainedbytheScienceofPsychologyANONYMOUS
HowSpiritsMaterializePARTI——DETECTIVESTORIESFROMREALLIFE
ArthurTrainAFlightintoTexasTheflightandextraditionofCharlesF。Dodgeunquestionablyinvolvedoneofthemostextraordinarybattleswithjusticeinthehistoryofthecriminallaw。Thefundsatthedisposalofthosewhowereinterestedinprocuringtheprisoner’sescapewereunlimitedinextent，andthearchconspiratorforwhosesafetyDodgewasspiritedawaywassoinfluentialinpoliticalandcriminalcirclesthathewasallbutsuccessfulindefyingtheprosecutorofNewYorkCounty，evensupportedasthelatterwasbythemilitaryandjudicialarmoftheUnitedStatesGovernment。
For，atthetimethatDodgemadehisescape，awhisperfromHummelwasenoughtomakethedrybonesofmanyapowerfulandostensiblyrespectableofficialrattleandthetonguecleavetotheroofofhismouthinterror。
TheDistrictAttorney’sofficeinNewYorkCityisundoubtedlyoneofthebestwatch-towersknownfromwhichtoobserve“RealLifeDetectiveStories。“
ArthurTrain，sometimememberofthisprosecutingstaff，hasopportunitytorecordseveralofthesecuriousandexciting“TrueStoriesofCrime“copyright，1908，byCharlesScribnersSons。
Noneyieldslesstofictionsaveinthefactthatitistrue，andnotatallinqualityofdramaticinterest，than“AFlightintoTexas，“heregiven。
ReadersofthenewspapersafewyearsagowillrememberthenamesofAbrahamHummelandCharlesF。Dodge。Thelatter，arailroadconductor，wasallegedtohavecommittedperjuryatthedictateoftheformer，knownasoneofthebrightest，leastscrupulouslawyersinthiscity。ItwasoneofDistrictAttorneyJerome’sgreatambitionstobringHummeltojustice。Herewasanopportunity。IfDodgecouldonlybeforcedtotestifytothisperjurybeforeacourt，Hummelcouldundoubtedlybeconvictedofacrimethatwouldnotonlydisbarhimfromthelegalprofession，butwouldputhiminjail。
Dodgehadrunawayanddisappearedasthestormseemedabouttoburst。Wherewashe？Whocouldfindandbringhimback——againstAbeHummel’swish？——EDITOR。
Whocouldaccomplishthatinwhichthelawwaspowerless？——Hummel。
Whocoulddrivetotheuttermostendsoftheearthpersonsagainstwhomnotashadowofsuspicionhadpreviouslyrested？——Hummel。Whodictatedtothechiefsofpoliceofforeigncitieswhattheyshouldorshouldnotdoincertaincases；andwhocould，atthebeckoningofhislittlefinger，summontohisdungeon-likeofficesintheNewYorkLifeBuilding，whitherhisfirmhadremovedfromCentreStreet，themostprominentoflawyers，themosteminentofcitizens？——SurelynonebutHummel。AndnowHummelwasfightingforhisownlife。TheonlymanthatstoodbetweenhimandtheironbarsofBlackwell’sIslandwasCharlesF。Dodge——themanwhomhehadpattedonthekneeinhisofficeandcalleda“Mascot，“whenquiteinthenatureofbusinessheneededalittleperjurytoassistawealthyclient。
Hummelinterrorcalledintoplayeveryresourceuponwhich，duringfortyyearsofpractice，histinytentacleshadfastened。WhoshallsaythatwhilehemadeashowofenjoyinghimselfnightlywithhisaccustomedlightheartednessintheTenderloin，hedidnotfeelconfidentthatintheendthisperilwoulddisappearliketheotherswhichhadfromtimetotimethreatenedhimduringhiscriminalcareer？ButHummelwasfullyawareofthetenacityofthemanwhohadresolvedtoridNewYorkofhismaligninfluence。HisNemesiswasfollowinghim。Inhisdreams，ifheeverdreamed，itprobablytooktheshapeofthesquare-shoulderedDistrictAttorneyintheshadowofwhoseofficebuildingthelittleshysterpracticedhisprofession。HadhebeentoldthatthisNemesiswasinrealityajoviallittlemanwitharound，ruddyfaceandtwinklingblueeyeshewouldhavelaughedasheartilyasitwasinhispowertolaugh。Yetsuchwasthefact。AlittlemanwholookedlesslikeadetectivethanacommercialtravelersellingSt。Peter’sOilorsomeothercheerfulconcoction，withmannersasgentleandavoiceassoftasaspringzephyr，whoalwaystookoffhishatwhenhecameintoabusinessoffice，seeminglybashfultothepointofself-effacement，wastheonewhosnatchedCharlesF。DodgefromthebordersofMexicoandheldhiminanirongripwheneveryinfluenceuponwhichHummelcouldcallforaid，fromcrookedpoliceofficials，corruptjudges，andagangofcutthroatsundertheguiseofasheriff’sposse，werefightingforhisrelease。
JesseBlocherisnotemployedinNewYorkCounty，andforbusinessreasonshedoesnotwishhispresentaddressknown。WhenhecomestoNewYorkheoccasionallydropsintothewriter’sofficeforacigarandafriendlychataboutoldtimes。AndashesitsthereandtalkssomodestlyandwithsuchquiethumorabouthisadventureswiththeTexasRangersamongthecactus-studdedplainsoftheLoneStarState，itishard，evenforonewhoknowsthetruth，torealizethatthismanisoneofthegreatestofdetectives，orratheroneofthemostcapable，resourceful，adroit，andquick-wittedknightsofadventurewhoeversetforthuponaseeminglyimpossibleerrand。
ItisunnecessarytostatejusthowtheDistrictAttorneydiscoveredtheexistenceof“Jesse，“asweknewhim。ItisenoughtosaythatonSaturdaymorning，July23，1904，hewasfurnishedwiththepropercredentialsandgiveninstructionstoproceedatoncetoNewOrleans，Louisiana，and“locate，“ifitwerehumanlypossibletodoso，CharlesF。Dodge，underindictmentforperjury，andpotentiallythechiefwitnessagainstAbrahamH。Hummel，onachargeofconspiracy。Hewastoldbrieflyandtothepointthat，inspiteoftheofficialreportsfromthepoliceheadquartersofbothNewYorkCityandNewOrleanstothecontrary，therewasreasontobelievethatDodgewasliving，althoughnotregistered，asaguestattheSt。CharlesHotelinthelattercity。ApartialandinaccuratedescriptionofDodgewasgivenhimandhewaswarnedtouseextremecautiontopreventanyknowledgeofhismissionfrombeingmadeknown。OnceDodgehadbeendiscovered，hewastokeephimundersurveillanceandwireNewYorkimmediately。
Accordingly，Jesseleftthecityuponthesamedayat4。45P。M。
andarrivedtwodayslater，at9。15onMondaymorning，atNewOrleans，wherehewentdirectlytotheSt。CharlesHotel，registered，andwasassignedtoroomNumber547onthefifthfloor。
SomewhereinthehotelDodgewassecreted。Thequestionwashowtofindhim。ForanhourJessesatinthehotelfoyerandmeditativelywatchedthevisitorscomeandgo，butsawnosignofhisquarry。Thenhearose，putonhishat，andhuntedoutastationerystorewherefortwocentsheboughtabright-redenvelope。Hethenvisitedaticket-scalper’soffice，securedtheowner’sbusinesscard，andwroteanoteonitsbacktoDodge，offeringhimcheaptransportationtoanypointthathemightdesire。Armedwiththishereturnedtothehotel，walkedtothedesk，glancedcasuallyoveranumberoftelegramsexposedinarackand，whentheclerkturnedhisback，placedthenote，addressedtoCharlesF。Dodge，unobserved，uponthecounter。Theofficewasabusyone，guestswereconstantlydepositingtheirkeysandreceivingtheirmail，and，evenasJessestoodtherewatchingdevelopments，theclerkturnedround，foundthenote，andpromptlyplaceditinboxNumber420。Theverysimpleschemehadworked，andquiteunconsciouslytheclerkhadindicatedthenumberoftheroomoccupiedbyDodge。
Jesselostnotimeinascendingtothefourthfloor，viewedroomNumber420，returnedtothedesk，toldtheclerkthathewasdissatisfiedwiththeroomassignedhim，andrequestedthathebegiveneitherroomNumber421，423，or425，oneofwhichhestatedthathehadoccupiedonapreviousvisit。AftersomediscussiontheclerkallottedhimroomNumber423，whichwasalmostdirectlyoppositethatoccupiedbyDodge，andthedetectiveatoncetookuphistaskofwatchingforthefugitivetoappear。
WithinthehourthedooropenedandDodgeandacompanion，whosubsequentlyprovedtobeE。M。Bracken，alias“Bradley，“anagentemployedbyHoweandHummel，lefttheroom，wenttotheelevator，anddescendedtothedining-roomuponthesecondfloor。Jessewatcheduntiltheyweresafelyensconcedatbreakfastandthenreturnedtothefourthfloorwherehetippedthechambermaid，toldherthathehadlefthiskeyattheoffice，andinducedhertounlockthedoorofroomNumber420，whichshedidunderthesuppositionthatJessewasthepersonwhohadleftthechamberinDodge’scompany。ThecontentsoftheroomconvincedJessethathehadfoundDodge，forhediscoveredtheretwogripsbearingDodge’snameaswellasseverallettersonthetableaddressedtohim。Thedetectivereturnedtothehallandhadalittletalkwiththemaid。
“Theoldgentlemanwithyouhasbeenquitesick，“shesaid。“Howisheto-day？“
“Heissomebetter，“answeredJesse。
“Yes，hedoeslookbetterto-day，“sheadded，“buthesho’lywaspowerfulsickyesterday。Why，hehasn’tbeenoutofhisroombefo’
fo’fiveorsixdays。“
ThisstatementwascorroboratedbyDodge’sphysicalappearance，forhelookedhaggardandworn。
JessewasnowconfidentthathehadfoundDodge，inspiteofthereportsoftheNewOrleanspolicetothecontrary，andhewasalsoreasonablysurethatthefugitivewastoosicktoleavethehotelimmediately。HethereforetelegraphedhissuperiorsthathehaddiscoveredDodgeandthatthelatterwasillattheSt。CharlesHotel。
Atthreeo’clockintheafternoonJessereceivedawirefromNewYorkasfollows：
“NewOrleanspolicedepartmentclaimspartynotthere。LeftforMexicothreeweeksago。Ascertaincorrectdestinationandwireatonce。“
Jesseatoncereplied：
“Noquestionastoidentityandpresencehereatthistime。“
Henowtookupthetaskofkeepinghisquarryunderabsolutesurveillancedayandnight，whichdutyfromthatmomenthecontinuedforaperiodofnearlytenmonths。
DuringtheremainderoftheafternoonandthroughoutthenightDodgeandBrackenremainedinroomNumber420，andduringtheeveningwerevisitedbyseveralstrangers，includingaplain-
clothesofficerfromtheNewOrleansPoliceHeadquarters。LittleHummel，dininginLongAcreSquareintheglareofBroadway，waspressingsomeinvisiblebuttonthattransmittedthepowerofhisinfluenceeventothepolicegovernmentofacitytwothousandmilesaway。
Thefollowingday，January26th，atabout8。40inthemorning，DodgeandBrackendescendedtothelobby。Brackendepartedfromthehotel，leavingDodgetopaythebillatthecashier’swindowandJesseheardhimorderacabforthe11。30A。M。SunsetLimitedontheSouthernPacificRailroadanddirectthathisbaggageberemovedfromhisroom。Jessedidthesame。
InthemeantimeBrackenreturnedandpromptlyat11A。M。leftfortherailroadstationinacabwithDodge。Jessefollowedinanother。AsthetwopassedthroughthegatesthedetectivecaughtaglimpseofDodge’sticketandsawthatithadbeenissuedbytheMexicanNationalRailway。RetiringtothetelegraphofficeinthestationhewiredNewYorkasfollows：
“Birdflying——SunsetLimited。Destinationnotknown。Iamwithhim。“
HethenhastilypurchasedatickettoHouston，Texas，andboardedthetrain。Dodge’scompanionhadbiddenhimgood-byastheenginestarted，andJesse’stasknowbecamethatofferretingoutDodge’sdestination。Aftersomedifficultyhemanagedtogetaglimpseofthewholeofthefugitive’sticketandthusdiscoveredthathewasonhiswaytotheCityofMexico，viaEaglePass，Texas，whilefromthePullmanconductorhelearnedthatDodgehadsecuredsleeping-
caraccommodationasfarasSanAntonio，Texas，only。
Sofarallwaswell。HeknewDodgebutDodgedidnotknowhim，andlateronintheafternoonhehadthesatisfactionofalongtalkwithhisquarryintheobservationcarwheretheyamiablydiscussedtogethercurrenteventsandarguedpoliticswiththesamevehemenceasiftheyhadbeencommercialtravellersthrownfortuitouslyintoeachother’scompany。Dodge，however，cleverlyevadedanyreferencetohisdestination。
WhenthetrainreachedMorganCity，Louisiana，at3P。M。，whichwasthefirststop，JessewiredNewYorkasfollows：
“OnSunsetLimitedwithfriend。HehastransportationtotheCityofMexico，viaEaglePass，whereIamnowjourneyingwithhim。
AnswertoBeaumont，Texas。“
LaterintheafternoonhesentanadditionalmessagefromLafayette，Louisiana：
“Haveseentransportationoffriendandampositiveofdestination。“
DodgewasoccupyingSection3ofthesleepingcar“Capitola，“and，asbecameaninvalid，retiredearly。
AtBeaumontJessefailedtoreceiveanyreplytohisvariousmessages，andwhenthetrainarrivedatHoustonnowordcamefromNewYorkuntilitwasalmostthetimeofdeparture。WaitinguntilpracticallythelastmomentJessehurriedthroughthegatesoftheUnionStationatHoustonandboughtatickettoSanAntonio。AshewasleavingtheticketwindowNightChiefofPoliceJohnHowardandtwoofficerscamehurryingupinquiringanxiouslyfor“Mr。Jesse。“
Thereenforcementshadarrived。
Outsideonthetrack“TheSunsetLimited“wasjustgettingunderway。Thefirstfranticpuffswerebeingvomitedfromthefunnel。
InsideDodgewassleepingpeacefullyinhisberth。Jesse，accompaniedbyChiefHoward，hurrieduptotheconductorwhowasabouttoswingontothestepsofthesleeper，andorderedhimtoholdthetraintillthefugitivecouldberemoved。AftersomeargumenttheconductorgrumblinglycompliedandDodgewasarousedfrompleasantdreamsofthe“CreoleQuarter“tothecoldrealityofbeingdraggedoutofbedbyapoliceman。HewasunceremoniouslyhustledoutofthesleepingcarintoacarriageandtakentoHeadquarterswhereheadmittedhisidentityandremarked：