_CHAPTER III_
_Oakes's Experience_
Oakes began:
"Mandel & Sturgeon gave me a letter to the chief care-taker, Cook, and Iwent to Mona as Clark, their agent, giving as an excuse for my presencethere that Mr. Odell Mark contemplated making radical alterations in theMansion before returning to it. Cook and his wife opened that portion ofthe Mansion which I thought best adapted for my temporaryresidence--about half of the place, I should say. I spent a few quietdays looking around the estate and the house. I was always on guard,however, lest I appear too inquisitive and thereby betray my truemission.
"There was an old maid-servant, Annie by name, and several gardenersabout. These latter, I found, were never admitted to the Mansion. Mymeals were served in the dining-room, and this room was the one in whichI spent most of my time. The servants gave me but little informationregarding the mysterious doings that had so frightened their employers.I could tell by their action that they were genuinely afraid to be alonein the place, and they all cautioned me repeatedly. They seemed anxiousthat the affair should be investigated, and said that Mr. Odell shouldhave had detectives at work on the mystery. It was evident they wereafraid that they would lose their positions if no one returned to liveat the Mansion soon.
"I noticed a strong under-current of contempt for Mr. Odell; they seemedto think he was a cowardly fellow, none too anxious to remain, or hewould have investigated the affair. In fact, they behaved sometimes asthough they thought that he might have been at the bottom of themystery. Occasionally, Cook and his wife and Annie had stayed in theMansion, cleaning up, and had never seen anything unusual. Nothing hadoccurred since Mr. Odell Mark had left--which certainly was peculiar.
"I could see that my true identity was not suspected. My presence seemedto have inspired confidence in them all. I called Cook and his wife, orAnnie, into my rooms for a talk quite frequently. Nothing happened, andI began to feel that there was exaggeration somewhere; but,nevertheless, I moved with caution and slept in the back room over thedining-room with the doors carefully locked. I insisted that Mr. andMrs. Cook sleep in the front room. The servants at first demurred, butfinally consented when I told them that if they did not do so I wouldnot remain, and would report unfavorably as regards the remodeling ofthe Mansion. I noticed that they bolted their doors carefully everynight and kept a light burning in their room. This I knew, as its raysshone through under their door into the hall.
"This satisfied me that they were on guard and afraid, and consequentlyunaware of the real nature of the mystery.
"Late one night, after about a week, I was looking out of one of thewindows in the dining-room, watching a boat passing. The lights upon herand the throbbing of her engines, half a mile away, were plunging meinto a reverie, when suddenly I felt a peculiar sensation of uneasiness.I glanced along the porch, and at the windows; everything seemed allright. I turned, and saw Annie some distance up the hall attending to alamp at the foot of the stairs. The afternoon paper lay on the table. Iwalked over to it and picked it up, stationing myself a few feet awayfrom the hall door, where I commanded a view of the entire room, thewindows and the balcony. I heard, or fancied I heard, a step or shuffle,and then instantly something closed around my throat and I was pulledbackward and downward. I heard a rush in the hall and saw Annie'sterrified face looking into the room, but she did not see me. I tried tocry out for help, but was unable to raise my voice. Realizing that I wasbeing killed without aid, I struggled with all my power. I have anindistinct recollection of a shriek in the hall, then a rustling sound,as of garments, near me. The next I knew, Annie, Cook and his wife, withtwo gardeners, were working over me. One of the gardeners had opened myshirt and thrown water upon my throat. I was unconscious for someminutes, they said; but when I recovered my senses I ordered all handsto keep their mouths closed, under pain of instant dismissal. Inquiriesinstituted by me revealed that Annie had first heard my struggles, andthe shriek that had been given was hers. Response had been quick, butwhen Cook first entered the room, backed up by the wife and old Annie, Iwas lying limp and unconscious, face downward on the floor, as though Ihad been thrown violently forward."
* * * * *
The recital of this narrative had been given in a quiet, dignifiedmanner--one of absolute conviction. It was an impartial statement offact, and we were profoundly impressed.
Dr. Moore turned to me and said: "Well, do you feel like joining us?"
"Ah! Then you are in this too?" I exclaimed.
"Yes, Mr. Oakes is going to let me have my vacation in his company."
"I certainly shall go," I said; "it appears to me that this matter is aserious one."
"It is very serious," Oakes repeated. "There is a deep mystery at theMansion, and its solution may be a dangerous one. There is murder inthat method of attack, and terrible strength behind it."
"What is it? A man?" asked Moore.
"That is conjecture as yet," said Oakes. "I certainly beard the soundmade by a woman's skirts, or something of that sort, but the strengthwas too great for most women hereabouts."
"Yes, if you were overcome by it," I remarked.
"The servants are firmly convinced that the whole business issupernatural. That is hardly worth discussing. I have no doubt that youtwo gentlemen, as possible purchasers of the Mansion, will haveopportunities to settle the question for yourselves."
There was just the shadow of a smile on Oakes's face as he spoke.
"Did you notice anything peculiar about the people at the Mansion--thecare-takers?" I asked.
"No, I thought their actions were natural, especially when I wasassaulted. One of the gardeners, who did not do very much to help me,seemed preoccupied and made advances for a better acquaintance before Ileft. I think he will bear watching closely; he knows something."
"How long did you remain at the Mansion after the assault?"
"Only a few days," said Oakes. "I could learn nothing alone. It was toodangerous. When we return, it will be in greater numbers. If our missionis suspected we will be obliged to work through other channels, but Ithink we can fool the care-takers; they will say nothing to you aboutthe mystery, and they will think that I am more anxious than ever todispose of the place. Should our work be suspected, however," continuedthe detective, "we will be face to face with complications. We may haveto be reenforced by men from my agency, but they will probably not beknown even to you."
"The reward for the solution of this mystery is a large one, and theprosperity of the town depends upon it. This matter at the Mansion hasnot only affected its own value, as I said, but has helped greatly todepreciate the worth of the surrounding properties."
Then, turning to Moore:
"I think your professional knowledge may come in handy in several ways,so you may consider that your time will be well paid for, and yourvacation a profitable one--that is, of course, if you return alive."
This was so seriously said as to cause me a momentary feeling ofdiscomfort.
We now discussed details and arrangements for our start, for we haddecided to go. Oakes and I were to leave first, while Doctor Moore wasto come a few days later, owing to his inability to get away at once.
Having finished with his story and the necessary details of instruction,Oakes changed his manner and offered us cigars. The Jap brought in a fewglasses and a bottle, which opened up the social side of our interview.
Noticing that our host had not lighted a cigar, I ventured the remarkthat he was not a heavy smoker.
"No," said he. "I very rarely use tobacco during business; it is apeculiarity of mine, I am told."
His face was quite smiling now.
He continued: "With some it acts as a concentrator of ideas--at least,so claim its devotees. With me, it dissipates them; I use it simply as apleasure when work is done."
While he spoke, I was again impressed with that peculiar celerity ofmovement in small actions which I had noticed before.
He passed the cigars
in an ordinary, deliberate manner, conversing thewhile; but when he reached for a match, I was amazed at thelightning-like rapidity of the movement. His hand shot out, selected itfrom the stand on the table, lighted it and the cigar, and returned theburned stick to the tray with a rapidity and evenness which made of italmost a continuous act.
It reminded me forcibly of the movement with the telephone receiver. Ifelt that, given the necessity and the occasion, his general actionwould be roused to quickness of the same kind--sure and instantaneous.He impressed me as a man with a tremendous reserve of strength andvitality.
When we left for the evening, Oakes shook my hand with a stout, firmgrasp, the kind that means friendliness and inspires confidence. Whenoutside, I asked of my companion what he privately thought of the affairat the Mark Mansion.
"There is something extraordinary there, surely," answered thephysician. "Knowing Oakes as I do, Stone, I am fully convinced that heis deeply worried over the matter. He would never think of having us insuch an affair unless he desired our company. He is as brave as anyman--his record shows that; but he is also noted for caution. He sees,or thinks he sees, a dangerous game here--a plot, perhaps--where ourpresence will be a support. He has often told me in conversation, thathe regards the legal and medical minds as particularly adapted to passjudgment on certain problems of a peculiar nature. He has an idea thatour training will perhaps help him in the matter, I think."
With this remark, we parted at Broadway and Forty-second Street, andwent to our respective homes.