THE SILVER BLADE
Reading edition
THE TRUE CHRONICLE OF A DOUBLE MYSTERY
BY
CHARLES EDMONDS WALK
WITH FIVE ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOR BY A. B. WENZELL
CHICAGO A. C. McCLURG & CO. 1908
COPYRIGHT A. C. McCLURG & Co. 1906 Published March 18, 1908 Entered at Stationers' Hall, London, Eng. All Rights Reserved.
The Lakeside Press R. R. DONNELLY & SONS COMPANY CHICAGO
TO THE MEMORY OF MY BROTHER GEORGE EDWARD WALK WHOSE INTEREST IN THE GROWTH OF THIS STORY WAS NOT THE LEAST INCENTIVE TO ITS COMPLETION
CONTENTS
BOOK I. A DUPLEX PROBLEM
CHAPTER
I. Exit Señor de Sanchez II. The First Problem Develops III. A Search for Clues IV. Mr. Converse Appears as Chorus V. A Telegram from Mexico VI. The Inquest VII. The Verdict VIII. Cherchez la Femme IX. The Second Problem X. Footprints XI. A Burnt Fragment XII. A Door is Opened
BOOK II. CHARLOTTE FAIRCHILD
I. Miss Charlotte Waits in the Hall II. Miss Charlotte Entertains a Caller III. "Paquita—What Do You Spell?" IV. Miss Charlotte Becomes a Factor V. A Decision and a Letter VI. Faint Rays from Strange Sources VII. A Voice in the Night VIII. The Coroner's Coup IX. The Light Brightens—and Dims
BOOK III. SLADE'S BLESSING
I. Opening Ways II. Fairchild Redivivus III. "The Thunderbolt Has Fallen" IV. Some Loose Ends V. Mr. Slade Resigns VI. An Arrest VII. "Slade's Blessing"
BOOK IV. THE DANCER AND THE MOUNTEBANK
I. "That Is Paquita" II. The Serpent Strikes III. Which Is the Last
ILLUSTRATIONS
"Good God, Mobley! Did you do this?" ... Frontispiece
Captain Converse was endowed with the impassiveness of an Indian, nor could one imagine him agitated in any circumstances
Joyce was herself a mystery, an enigma, as inscrutable as "Paquita"
Mr. Mountjoy's thin, handsome features were saved from asceticism only by the lines of humor about his eyes
At times Charlotte became beautiful; a warm tide of color mounted to her cheeks; her head became regally erect
LIST OF CHARACTERS
GEN. PEYTON WESTBROOK, a gentleman of the Old South. MRS. WESTBROOK, his wife. DR. MOBLEY WESTBROOK, their son. JOYCE, Mobley's sister. MRS. ELINOR FAIRCHILD, a widow of fallen fortunes. CLAY, her son. "MISS CHARLOTTE," Clay's sister. JOHN CONVERSE, Captain of Detectives. MR. MOUNTJOY, the District Attorney. MR. MERKEL, the Coroner. J. HOWARD LYNDEN, a cotton-broker. SENOR JUAN DE VARGAS Y ESCOLADO, otherwise known as Señor Vargas, a Mexican capitalist. WILLIAM SLADE, an abstracter of titles. ABRAM FOLLETT, a dealer in worn-out utilities. ROBERT NETTLETON, a lawyer. FERDINAND HOWE, a banker. HARRY MCCALEB } SEPTIMUS ADAMS } serving under Capt. Converse. SAM } JOE } faithful servants. MELISSA } POLLY ANN } THE PLACE: A City in the South. TIME: The Present.