Produced by Al Haines
A HUSBAND BY PROXY
By
JACK STEELE
NEW YORK
GROSSET & DUNLAP
PUBLISHERS
Copyright, 1909, by
Desmond FitzGerald, Inc.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I. THE PROPOSITION II. A SECOND EMPLOYMENT III. TWO ENCOUNTERS IV. UNSPOKEN ANTAGONISM V. THE "SHADOW" VI. THE CORONER VII. A STARTLING DISCOVERY VIII. WHERE CLEWS MAY POINT IX. A SUMMONS X. A COMPLICATION XI. THE SHOCK OF TRUTH XII. A DISTURBING LOSS XIII. A TRYST IN THE PARK XIV. A PACKAGE OF DEATH XV. SIGNIFICANT DISCOVERIES XVI. IN QUEST OF DOROTHY XVII. A RESCUE BY FORCE XVIII. THE RACE XIX. FRIGHT AND A DISAPPEARANCE XX. NEW HAPPENINGS XXI. REVELATIONS XXII. A MAN IN THE CASE XXIII. THE ENEMY'S TRACKS XXIV. A NEW ALARM XXV. A DEARTH OF CLEWS XXVI. STARTLING DISCLOSURES XXVII. LIKE A BOLT FROM THE BLUE XXVIII. A HELPLESS SITUATION XXIX. NIGHT-WALKERS XXX. OVERTURES FROM THE ENEMY XXXI. THE FRET OF WAITING XXXII. A TRAGIC CULMINATION XXXIII. FOSTER DURGIN XXXIV. THE RICHES OF THE WORLD XXXV. JOHN HARDY'S WILL XXXVI. GARRISON'S VALUED FRIEND XXXVII. A HONEYMOON
A Husband by Proxy
CHAPTER I
THE PROPOSITION
With the hum of New York above, below, and all about him, stirring his pulses and prodding his mental activities, Jerold Garrison, expert criminologist, stood at the window of his recently opened office, looking out upon the roofs and streets of the city with a new sense of pride and power in his being.
New York at last!
He was here--unknown and alone, it was true--but charged with an energy that he promised Manhattan should feel.
He was almost penniless, with his office rent, his licenses, and other expenses paid, but he shook his fist at the city, in sheer good nature and confidence in his strength, despite the fact he had waited a week for expected employment, and nothing at present loomed upon the horizon.
His past, in a small Ohio town, was behind him. He blotted it out without regret--or so at least he said to himself--even as to all the gilded hopes which had once seemed his all upon earth. If his heart was not whole, no New York eye should see its wounds--and the healing process had begun.
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: A Husband by Proxy by Jack Steele
- 2: Garrison candidly admiring in his gaze
- 3: Garrison looked at her steadily
- 4: Garrison leaned forward on the table
- 5: Fairfax accepted this ungallant observation calmly
- 6: The name I'd assume is Jerold Fairfax
- 7: Garrison slightly elevated his brows
- 8: Garrison stood absolutely motionless beside the door
- 9: A wave of gratitude toward Lochlan
- 10: Place of death Village of Branchville near Hickwood
- 11: You will start this evening for Hickwood and begin your work
- 12: And Garrison beheld a squint eyed
- 13: Garrison had lost no space behind her
- 14: Dorothy shot Garrison a look of gratitude
- 15: Garrison felt this in his manner
- 16: Garrison recognized her perfect acting
- 17: Garrison rose and approached Mr
- 18: Dorothy was pale when he turned
- 19: You and your Jerold weren't trying to run away
- 20: Looked Garrison over with anger
- 21: Dorothy looked at him strangely
- 22: Garrison said good night to the Robinsons
- 23: And now here were the necklaces
- 24: But also to some fond belief that Ailsa loved him still
- 25: Garrison opened his suit case on the bureau
- 26: Webber went with Garrison to the place
- 27: Garrison took a proffered chair
- 28: And a box almost full of cigars
- 29: You'll never be able to steer a balloon
- 30: He turned up the raggedly bitten end
- 31: Garrison was watching excitedly
- 32: Whose death occurred last week in Branchville
- 33: Centering about the personality of Dorothy Booth Fairfax
- 34: His name had been given as Durgin
- 35: The very diabolism of the device acquitted Dorothy
- 36: Garrison took it and tore it open
- 37: The two end cigars had been loaded
- 38: Where the Robinsons were waiting
- 39: Garrison remained where he was
- 40: Dorothy felt something in the air
- 41: Furthermore Garrison interrupted
- 42: Old Robinson was more than chagrined
- 43: The man up at Branchville was murdered
- 44: With Dorothy in this present condition
- 45: Garrison detailed the dead man's possessions
- 46: She had known of his visit to Branchville
- 47: That Dorothy must be innocent and good
- 48: Having notified the Robinsons by telephone
- 49: Carried it quickly to the shrubbery
- 50: Arousing him further to his senses
- 51: Since fuse is supposedly water proof
- 52: Fairfax has went out for the night
- 53: The vase was there on the table
- 54: The closet came next for inspection
- 55: Garrison made up his mind to go to Woodsite
- 56: His presence was noted by Garrison
- 57: The will of Benjamin Butler the famous Benjamin Butler
- 58: Garrison issued another order to Theodore
- 59: Watching the Robinsons alertly
- 60: With a whir and a mighty lurch as the clutch went in
- 61: Once more Garrison peered out behind
- 62: One hand on the buzzer of his coil
- 63: Garrison had felt himself transported literally
- 64: Moreover he was merely hired to enact a role that
- 65: Isn't it possible that Theodore borrowed them
- 66: I shall be obliged to do considerable probing
- 67: Garrison failed to find his driver
- 68: The traffic was congested with surface cars
- 69: She had alighted from the hansom
- 70: Despite the expression of worry on her face
- 71: Pulled away the false mustache
- 72: In addition to your burglary at Branchville
- 73: Tuttle was a picture of abject fear and defeat
- 74: Said Tuttle with commendable candor
- 75: Dorothy must have slept lightly
- 76: Garrison reminded her a little sternly
- 77: Uncle John spoiled Foster at first
- 78: Dorothy changed color once again
- 79: Garrison learned every fact concerning John Hardy
- 80: Garrison pondered the matter carefully
- 81: Once more Tuttle stated he would do his best
- 82: And with all his suspicions concerning our relationship
- 83: At the mention of the Fairfax name
- 84: Dorothy blushed as she tried to meet his gaze
- 85: Or perhaps because there was a Fairfax somewhere
- 86: The train connection for Rockdale was wretchedly timed
- 87: Said Durgin in his heavy manner
- 88: Durgin answered with a query Which one
- 89: Durgin studied his distant ducks for a moment
- 90: Had once had a photograph of Cleave
- 91: Garrison lost no time in speeding down Fifth Avenue
- 92: Garrison still looked at Dorothy
- 93: Dorothy sank once more in the chair
- 94: That light in his eyes is insanity
- 95: Trowbridge had your uncle's testament in his keeping
- 96: Tuttle snatched off his hat and looked about him helplessly
- 97: She was the wife of Jerold Fairfax
- 98: He's gone to a small resort named Rockbeach
- 99: A little after eight o'clock he arrived in Branchville
- 100: Garrison looked him over quickly
- 101: Spikeman had declared it perfect
- 102: The Hiram Cleave was an unknown quantity
- 103: Garrison went out upon the street
- 104: You are positive he bought a ticket for Branchville
- 105: The moment for young Durgin to arrive was at hand
- 106: Garrison inquired in apparent innocence
- 107: Cried Wicks in apparent exasperation
- 108: Shall you need any help in arresting Durgin
- 109: Having instantly recognized Foster Durgin
- 110: Wicks glanced down at it furtively
- 111: In addition to that of himself and Foster Durgin
- 112: Was a thing that Garrison felt
- 113: Fairfax and Theodore chance to meet
- 114: Fairfax left for Branchville he said to spring a surprise
- 115: Where his knuckles picked up a coating of moldy
- 116: On the road he was treading to Branchville
- 117: Said young Robinson self confidently
- 118: When I turn over all my affidavits
- 119: Dorothy and Jerold watched the sun go down
