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The Darrow Enigma
The new advertisement duly appeared and on the next day； which was
Wednesday … I remember it because it was my hospital day … I received
several written answers； and among them； one in which I felt confident I
recognised the peculiar z*'s and r*'s of Weltz and Rizzi。
I took it at once to Maitland。 He glanced at it a moment and then
impulsively grasped my hand。 〃By Jove； Doc！〃 he exclaimed； 〃if this
crafty fox doesn't scent the hound； we shall soon run him to earth。 You see
he has given no address and signs a new name。 We are to write to Carl
Cazenove； General Delivery； Boston。 Good！ we will do so at once； and
I will then arrange with the postal authorities to notify me when they
deliver the letter。 Of course this will necessitate a continuous watch；
perhaps for several days； of the general delivery window。 It is hardly
likely our crafty friend will himself call for the letter； so it will be
imperative that someone be constantly on hand to shadow whomsoever he
may send as a substitute。 May I depend on your assistance in this
matter？〃
〃I will stand by you till we see the thing through；〃 I said； 〃though I
have to live in the Post Office a month。〃
Well； I wrote and mailed the decoy letter and Maitland explained the
situation to the postal authorities； who furnished us a comfortable place
inside and near the general delivery window。 They promised to notify us
when anyone called for our letter。 Our vigil was not a very long one。
On Thursday afternoon the postal clerk signalled to us that Carl
Cazenove's mail had been asked for； and； while he was consuming as
much time as possible in finding our letter； Maitland and I quietly stepped
out into the corridor。 The sight that met our gaze was one for which we
had not been at all prepared。 There at the window stood a beautiful
young girl just on the verge of womanhood。 Her frank blue eyes met mine
with the utmost candour as I passed by her so that she should be between
Maitland and me； and thus unable to elude us； whichever way she turned
upon leaving the window。 We had previously planned how we should
shadow our quarry； one on each side of the street in order not to attract
attention； but these tactics seemed to be entirely unnecessary； for the
young lady did not have the slightest suspicion that anyone could be in the
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The Darrow Enigma
least interested in her movements。 She walked leisurely along； stopping
now occasionally to gaze at the shop windows and never once turning to
look back。 She did not even conceal the letter； but held it in her hand
with her porte…monnaie； and I could see that the address was uppermost。
A strange sensation came over me as I dogged her steps。 I felt as an
assassin must feel who tracks his victim into some lonely spot where he
may dare to strike him。 It was useless for me to tell myself that I was
on the side of justice and engaged in an honourable errand。 A single
glance at the girl's delicate face； as frank and open as the morning light；
brought the hot blush of shame to my cheek。 In following her I dimly
felt that； in some way； I was seeking to associate her with evil； which
seemed little less than sacrilege。 I could do nothing； however； but keep
on； so I followed her through Devonshire Street； to New Washington and
thence down Hanover Street almost to the ferry。 Here she turned into an
alleyway and； waiting for Maitland to come up； we both saw her enter a
house at its farther end。
George glanced hastily up at the house and then said； as he seized me
impatiently by the arm： 〃It's a tenement house； come on； the chase is not
up yet； we； too； must go in！〃
So in we went。 The young lady had disappeared； but as we entered
we heard a door close on the floor above； and felt sure we knew where she
had gone。 We mounted the stairs as noiselessly as possible and listened
in the hall。 We could distinguish a woman's voice and occasionally that
of a man； but we could not hear what passed between them。 On our
right there was a door partly ajar。 Maitland pushed it open； and looked in。
The room was empty and unfurnished； with the exception of a dilapidated
stove which stood against the partition separating this room from the one
the young lady had entered。 Maitland beckoned to me and I followed
him into the room。 There was a key on the inside of the door which he
noiselessly turned in the lock。 He then began to investigate the premises。
Three other rooms communicated with the one of which we had taken
possession； forming； evidently； a suite which had been let for
housekeeping。 Everything was in ill…repair； as is the case with most of
the cheap tenements in this locality。 The previous tenant had not thought
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The Darrow Enigma
it necessary to clean the apartments when quitting them； … for altruism
does not flourish at the North End； … but had been content to leave all the
dirt for the next occupant。
When we had finished reconnoitering we returned to the room we first
entered； which apparently was the kitchen。 We could still hear the voices；
but not distinctly。 〃Do you stay here； Doc；〃 whispered Maitland； 〃while I
get into some old clothes and hunt up the landlord of this place。 I'm
going to rent these rooms long enough to acquaint myself with my
neighbours on the other side of the wall。 I'll be back soon。 Don't let any
man leave that room without your knowing where he goes。〃 With this he
left me and I soon found a way to busy myself in his absence。 In the wall
above the stove； where the pipe passed through the partition into our
neighbour's apartment； there was a chink large enough to permit me； when
mounted upon the stove； to overlook the greater