s able to
respond when a man was called up to investigate this matter. Thinking
that I saw a connection between it and the various mysterious deaths
of which I have previously spoken, I entered into the affair with much
spirit. But, wishing to be sure that my possibly unwarranted conclusions
were correct, I took pains to inquire, before proceeding upon my errand,
into the character of the heirs who had inherited the property of Elwood
Henderson and Christopher Bigelow, and found that in each case there was
one among the rest who was well known for his profligacy and reckless
expenditure. It was a significant discovery, and increased, if possible,
my interest in running down this nefarious trafficker in the lives of
wealthy men.

"Knowing that I could hope for no success in my character of detective,
I made an arrangement with the father of the young gentleman before
alluded to, by which I was to enter the pawn-shop as an emissary of the
latter. I accordingly appeared there, one dull November afternoon, in
the garb of a certain western sporting man, who, for a consideration,
allowed me the temporary use of his name and credentials.

"Entering beneath the three golden balls, with, the swagger and general
air of ownership I thought most likely to impose upon the self-satisfied
female who presided over the desk, I asked to see her boss.

"'On your own business?' she queried, glancing with suspicion at my
short coat, which was rather more showy than elegant.

"'No,' I returned, 'not on my own business, but on that of a young
gent----'

"'Anyone whose name is written here?' she interposed, reaching towards
me the famous book, over the top of which, however, she was careful to
lay her arm.

"I glanced down the page she had opened and instantly detected that
of the young gentleman on whose behalf I was supposed to be there, and
nodded 'Yes,' with all the assurance of which I was capable.

"'Very well, then,' said she, 'come!' and she ushered me without much
ado into a den of discomfort where sat a man, with a great beard and
such heavy overhanging eyebrows that I could hardly detect the twinkle
of his eyes, keen and incisive as they were.

"Smiling upon him, but not in the same way I had upon the girl, I
glanced behind me at the open door, and above me at the partitions,
which failed to reach the ceiling. Then I shook my head and drew a step
nearer.

"'I have come,' I insinuatingly whispered, 'on behalf of a certain