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：