The Man Who Fell Through the Earth

“I don’t know exactly, but not far from the morgue, I believe. It was the same day as the Gately murder, that’s why I remember the date. It was a dreadfully cold snap, the river was full of ice and it’s a wonder he wasn’t killed, as well as knocked senseless.”

“Was he knocked senseless?”

“I’m not sure, but he was unconscious from cold and exposure and very nearly frozen to death.”

“And his memory now?”

“Is perfect in all respects, except he doesn’t know who he is.”

“A fishy tale!”

“No; you won’t say so after you’ve seen him. When I say his memory is perfect, I mean regarding what he has read or has studied. But it is his personal recollections that have gone from him. He has no remembrance of his home or his friends or his own identity.”

“Can’t you deduce his previous occupation?”

“I can’t. Perhaps you can. He can draw, and he is well-read, that’s all I know.”

We were at my rooms by that time, and going up, we found Case Rivers already there awaiting us. I lamented my lack of promptness, but he gracefully waived my apology.

“It’s all right,” he smiled in his good-humored way, “I’ve been browsing among your books and having the time of my life.”

I introduced the two men, and told Rivers that Wise was the famous detective I had mentioned to him.

“I’m downright glad to know you,” Rivers said, earnestly; “if you can do a bit of deduction as to who I am, I’ll be under deepest obligation. I give you myself as a clew.”

“Got a picture of Amory Manning?” asked Wise, abruptly.

I handed him a folded newspaper, whose front page bore a cut of Manning, and the story of his mysterious disappearance.

Wise studied the picture and compared it with the man before him.

“Totally unlike,” he said, disappointedly.

“Not a chance,” laughed Rivers; “I wish I could step into that chap’s shoes; but you see, I came from far away.”

“Tell me about that trip of yours,” asked Wise.

“Don’t know much to tell,” returned Rivers; “but what I do know, I know positively, so I’ll warn you beforehand not to chuckle at me, for I won’t stand it!”

Rivers showed a determination that I liked. It proved that I was right in ascribing a strong character to him. He would stand chaffing as well as anyone I knew, but not on the subject of his fall through the earth.

“I don’t know when or where I started on my memorable journey, but I distinctly remember my long, dark fall straight down through the earth. Now it would seem impossible, but I can aver that I entered in some very cold, arctic sort of country, and I came on down feet first, till I made exit in New York. I was found, but how I got into the river, I don’t know.”

“You were clothed when you started?”

“I can only say that I assume I was. I’m a normal, decent sort of man, and I can’t think I’d consciously set out on a trip of any sort undressed! But I’ve no doubt my swashing around in the ice-filled river did for my clothes. Probably, as related by the Ancient Mariner, ‘the ice was here, the ice was there, the ice was all around: it cracked and growled and – something or other – and howled, like noises in a swound.’ You see, I still know my ‘Familiar Quotations’ by heart.”

“That’s a queer phase,” and Wise shook his head. “It may be you are a poet – ”

“Well, I haven’t poetized any since my recrudescence.”

“And that’s another queer thing,” pursued the detective. “Most victims of aphasia can’t remember words. You are exceptionally fluent and seem to have a wide vocabulary.”

“I admit it all,” and Rivers looked a little weary, as if he were tired of speculating on his own case.

“Now, to change the subject, how are you progressing, Mr. Wise, with your present work? How goes the stalking of the murderer?”

“Haven’t got him yet, Mr. Rivers, but we’ve made a good start. You know the details?”

“Only the newspaper accounts, and such additional information as Mr. Brice has given me. I’m greatly interested, – for, – tell it not to Gath detectives, – I fancy I’ve a bent toward sleuthing myself.”

Pennington Wise smiled. “You’re not alone in that,” he said, chaffingly, but so good-naturedly that Rivers took no offense.

“I suppose it’s your reflected light that makes everybody who talks with you feel that way,” he came back. “Well, if you get up a stump, lean on me, Grandpa, – I’m ’most seven.”

And then we all three discussed the case, in all its phases, and though Rivers said nothing of great importance, he showed such an intellectual grasp of it all, and responded so intelligently to Wise’s theories and opinions that the two soon became most friendly.

The announcement of the rewards stirred Rivers to enthusiasm.

“I’m going to get ’em!” he cried; “both of ’em! With all due respect to you, Mr. Wise, I’m going to cut under and win out! Don’t say I didn’t warn you, and hereafter all you say will be used against you! If there’s one thing I need more than another it’s ten thousand dollars, – I could even do with twenty! So, here goes for Rivers, the swiftsure detective!”

Not a bit offended, Penny Wise laughed outright.

“Go ahead, my boy,” he cried; “here’s a bargain; you work with me, and I’ll work with you. If we get either Manning or the murderer or both, then either or both rewards shall be yours. I’ll be content with what else I can get out of it.”

“Done!” and Case Rivers was jubilant. “Perhaps Manning is the murderer,” he said, thoughtfully.

“No,” I put in. “That won’t do. Manning is in love with Miss Raynor, and he wouldn’t queer his cause by killing her guardian.”

“But Guardy didn’t approve of Suitor Manning,” Rivers said.

“No; but I know Manning and you don’t, – well, that is, I know him only slightly. But I’m sure he’s not the man to shoot a financial magnate and a first-class citizen just because he frowned on his suit. Try again, Rivers.”

“All right: what you say goes. But I’m just starting in, you know. And, by the way, I’m to get a job of some sort today – yes?”

He looked at me inquiringly, but Wise answered. “Wait a bit, Rivers, as to that. If you’ll agree, I’ll grubstake you for a fortnight or so, and you can help me. Really, I mean it, for as a stranger you can go to places, and see people, where I can’t show my familiar face. Then, when you get the two rewards you can repay me my investment in you. And if you fail to nail the ten thousand, I’ll take your note.”

“I’ll go you!” said Rivers, after a moment’s thought. “You’re a brick, Penny Wise!”

A tap at the door announced Norah, and with her came Jenny Boyd. Nor was Jenny dragged unwillingly, – she seemed eager to enter, – but her absurd little painted face wore a look of stubbornness and her red lips were shut in a determined pout.

“Jenny knows who ‘The Link’ is, and she won’t tell,” Norah declared, as a first bit of information.

“Oh, yes, she will,” and Penny Wise winked at the girl. He really gave a very knowing wink, as who should say: “We understand each other.”

As they had never met before, I watched to see just how Jenny would take it, and to my surprise she looked decidedly frightened.

Wise saw this too, – doubtless he brought about the effect purposely, – but in a moment Jenny regained her poise and was her saucy self again.