Part 52 (1/2)

I decided on the former course, and they accordingly embarked from Brashear immediately after the receipt of my telegram of instructions, on the handsome steamer ”Josephine,” the only boat whose books they had had no opportunity of examining; and, having received my telegram but a few minutes before the steamer left, were obliged to do some lively running to reach it; for, in antic.i.p.ation of a message from me to take that route, my son had directed Keating to settle the hotel bill, and with both valises in hand wait at a convenient corner, where, should William receive a dispatch from me of the character expected, within a certain time, they might yet make the boat. Everything transpiring as my son had hoped, they were just in time, after a lively run, to be hauled up the gang-plank by two stalwart negroes, and were soon steaming down the bay and thence out to sea.

IV.

As the two ascended to the cabin they were congratulated by the officers of the boat and many of the pa.s.sengers on their graceful and expeditious boarding of the steamer; and being something of objects of interest on account of the little incident, they concluded not to lose the opportunity to blend the good feeling evoked into a thoroughly pleasant impression, and consequently took the shortest way to accomplish that desired end by at once walking up to the bar where the a.s.sembled gentlemen, to a man, apparently in compliance to general custom, seemed to understand that they had been invited before a word had been uttered by either of the detectives, so that when my son asked, ”Gentlemen, won't you join us?” it was an entirely superfluous request; for on either side, behind, and extending a solid phalanx beyond, the ”gentlemen” had already joined and were describing the particular liquor that in their minds would do honor to the occasion in the most lively and familiar manner possible, and interspersing their demands upon the leisurely bar-keeper with such remarks as ”Gen'lemen had narrow 'scape;”

”Gen'lemen made a right smart run of it;” ”Gen'lemen not down from Norlens (New Orleans), reckon come down Opelousas route,” and other similar comments; but invariably prefacing each and every remark with the stereotyped word ”Gen'lemen,” which men were, without exception, a.s.sumed to be in that country at that time, at least in conversation; as any neglect to preface a remark with the word laid one liable to become immediately engaged in a discussion regarding the propriety of the use of the term, behind navy revolvers, rifles, double-barreled shot-guns, or any other available pointed or forcible means of argument.

After the thirst of the crowd, which upon a Gulf-coasting steamer is something terrible to contemplate, had been in a measure a.s.suaged, my son excused himself, and with Keating repaired to the office, remarking to the clerk:

”I presume you would like to transact a little business with us now?”

”Any time to suit your convenience,” returned the clerk, but getting at his books with an alacrity which showed that he would be a little more willing to attend to the matter of fares then than at any other time.

William handed him an amount of money large enough to pay for both the fares of himself and Keating from Brashear to Galveston; and, while the clerk was making change, said, by way of getting into conversation with him, ”I'm afraid we're on a fool's errand out here.”

The clerk counted out the change, inked his pen to take the names, and then elevating his eyebrows, although not speaking a word, plainly asked, ”Ah, how's that?”

”Well, you see,” replied the detective, ”we're hunting a man that's had right good luck.”

”He can't be in these parts,” replied the clerk, with a slightly satirical smile. ”Names?” he then asked.

”James A. Hicks and Patrick Mallory.”

”Where from?”

”Pittsburg.”

”Which is which?” asked the clerk, in a business tone of voice.

”I am Hicks, and that pretty smart-looking Irishman by the baggage-room is Mallory,” was the reply.

”Your age and weight?” asked the clerk mechanically, at the same time looking at my son keenly, and getting the rest of his description at a glance.

These questions were properly answered, and as the clerk was noting them he asked, ”Might I ask what was the gentleman's good luck?”

”Certainly; he has fallen heir to a coal mine in Pennsylvania, and we are endeavoring to hunt him up for the executors of the estate.”

”Ah?” said the clerk, driving away with his pen; ”will you be so good as to ask Mr. Mallory to step this way?”

My son stepped up to Keating and remarked aloud, ”Mr. Mallory, Mr.

Mallory, the clerk would like to see you;” and then as Keating stepped to his side, remarked as if for his better information, ”He knows your name is Patrick Mallory and that we are from Pittsburg, hunting Taylor, so he can come home and enjoy the property the old man left him; but he wants your entire description.”

”Quite so,” said the quick-witted Irishman, dryly.

”You've got me, now,” said Keating, winking familiarly at the clerk, ”when we came over we went under; and so many of us was lost that those saved wasn't worth mendin' as to age, ye see; but concerning heft, why I'd not fear to say I'd turn an honest scale at a hundred an' sixty.”

The clerk smiled, but concluded not to ask Mr. Mallory from Pittsburg any more questions.

As soon as he had made his notes, however, William told him that he had examined the lists of all other boats plying between Brashear and Galveston save those of the ”Josephine,” and requested him to look through them, concluding by describing Taylor, and stating that he might register either as H. G. Taylor and clerk, or under an a.s.sumed name, as he was somewhat erratic, and through family troubles, not necessary to explain, he had got into a habit of occasionally traveling _incognito_.

The clerk readily complied with his request, scanning the pages closely, and repeating the name musingly as if endeavoring to recall where he had heard it. By the time he had got on with the examination of a few pages, William had selected a photograph of Taylor, and on showing it to the clerk the latter seemed to have a certain recollection of having seen him, but a very uncertain recollection as to where, or under what circ.u.mstances. He went on repeating the name, however, turning back the pages with his right hand and tracing the names back and forth with the index finger of his left hand, occasionally looking at the photograph as if to a.s.sist in forcing a definite recollection, but without any result for so long a time that Messrs. Hill and Mallory of Pittsburg became satisfied that their last hope before arriving at Galveston was gone, when suddenly the clerk carelessly placed the picture beside a certain name and in a manner very similar to a dry-goods clerk on securing a successful ”match,” in two pieces of cloth, quietly remarked: