Quintus Oakes: A Detective Story
Page 22
_CHAPTER XXII_
"_The Insane Root_"
During the next few days Elliott called frequently and apologetically.Although he had suffered considerably at the hands of Hallen, heappreciated how much attention he had given me on the plains of Monawhere was my Waterloo, and he kept me informed of the doings of ourparty in the search for the murderer. But it was several days before hebrought me the information that both O'Brien and Maloney had beenfound--O'Brien in a farm-house, nursing his leg; Maloney walking abouttown, cool and collected, apparently with nothing to conceal. I was toldthat he was not yet under arrest, but had been coaxed back to theMansion to give evidence against O'Brien, as he was led to believe.
"But why doesn't he suspect? He must realize that suspicion is againsthim."
"Well, Dr. Moore told me recently that the criminal, if insane as wesurmise, may be oblivious during his lucid intervals of what he hasbeen through during his periods of aberration."
"I see," I answered, remembering that such had been often recorded; "andas his attacks of mania may be unwitnessed, he escapes detection becausehe carries but little ordinary evidence of these during the interval ofquiescence."
Before my companion could frame an answer there was a sudden commotionbelow--a hurrying of feet, and the quiet, commanding voice of Oakesheard now and then above all. We knew the time had at last arrived forthe closing scene; we both felt that the hour had come when the finalsettlement was to take place.
Next moment Oakes appeared. I had not seen him for many hours. He waschanged, haggard, worn. His handsome face showed worry and loss ofsleep, but his carriage and voice were as usual--vigorous, independent.
Grasping my hand firmly and turning a pleased glance of recognition atElliott, he said, "Come, Stone, you're strong enough"; and next momenthe had thrown a coat over my shoulders and was helping me down thestairs to the dining-room. He seemed to me to have grown more serious,more quiet than was his wont; but his actions were, as ever, strong,quick, easy of execution, and I knew that it was the steadying of themind and body for the final strain. Oakes's reputation was at stake, andhe was fully cognizant that an error of judgment, a flaw in hisreasonings, a mishap in the execution of his well-formulated plans,might readily result disastrously, not only to his reputation but to thecause of justice.
Then I stepped across the threshold of the dining-room, and beheld ascene that will always linger in my mind. At the head of the table satHallen, and to his right was Dr. Moore, whose dress contrasted strangelywith the Chief's blue uniform and brass buttons. Across the table fromMoore was Dowd, and here and there about the room were some of Oakes'smen, and some of Hallen's as well, lounging, looking out of the windowscarelessly, but comprehensively.
As we entered, a deep guttural of welcome greeted me; and Oakes seatedme by Moore's side, and Elliott went over and sat with Dowd. Then thedetective took the chair at the foot of the table, near which was anempty one.
It was evident at a glance that Oakes was to be the chief actor, whileto Hallen had been given the chief position.
There was a moment's silence, then Hallen turned to Dr. Moore: "Are youpositive," he said, "that Maloney is insane? I see no evidence."
"I am not positive as yet," was the reply. "Some signs indicate that hemay be in the so-called interval between outbreaks of mental disease;but he is clever, as are almost all the insane, and he covers hiscondition well. Still, we can, and will put him to the test; we willsoon determine if we are dealing with the 'insane root that takes thereason prisoner.'"
"But how can it be? He is not violent. I do not comprehend."
Moore glanced at the Chief. "Let Mr. Oakes explain--I should be tootechnical, I fear; he has an easier flow of words."
Hallen looked surprised. "Well, how is it, Oakes? How can you suspectsuch a man? Nobody ever saw him violent. What reason have you?"
Then Oakes turned. He was somewhat nettled, I thought, at Hallen'smanner, but his voice did not betray him. His words came clearly, evencurtly; but as he revealed his comprehensive knowledge of the matter inplain, every-day language, Hallen's manner changed wonderfully. Neverbefore had he had such an opportunity to see the education of the manbefore him. Now it came as an overwhelming surprise.
"A lunatic does not necessarily rave or carry the ordinary signs ofrending passion," began Oakes as he turned a quiet face ofacknowledgment toward Dr. Moore. "The one who hears voices, real to him,but really arising in the diseased mechanism of his own brain--orderinghim to be a martyr, a saviour of his country, or to spend the millionshe imagines he possesses, is usually melancholy, reserved, cautious,ever on the watch, deceptive, but doubtful sometimes as to his ownbrain-workings.
"Likewise, the man who possesses the homicidal mania may be cautiousand quiet--to the ordinary observer a normal citizen. But the aura ofinsanity is around him; he lives and moves and deceives, and hides fromthe outside world the words that come to him day or night--the wordsthat arise not in the voice of a living man, but in his own diseasedmind. The sufferer says nothing of the voices that tell him he ispersecuted--that the world's hands are against him. By accident, in amoment of unwariness, he may reveal that he hears such voices; but it isan even chance that he will be laughed at and the warning fall on earsthat fail to understand. He is considered a 'crank.'
"Then the unfortunate shrinks more into himself, becomes absolutelydominated by the ideas and commands generated in his own false mind. Hemay become violent by degrees, may scare and haunt the places where hebelieves himself abused; and all the while the voices tell him he isfoolish, being put upon, and finally he becomes controlled by thedelusion that he is being persecuted. Then perhaps suddenly comes theincentive, usually a command of false origin within his own brain, thatmakes the worm turn that reveals to the world that he is a maniac--a'killer.' He hears the word 'kill,' and his mind, no longer evensuspicions of its own disease as it was at first, becomes frenzied. Hesometimes attacks openly, but usually does so secretively, with thecunning of the tiger, and kills and slaughters. Then he returns to hisdreams--quiet, satisfied, spent."
Oakes paused. "You understand, Hallen," he said, "I am no expert; butsuch cases have come to my notice--it is not easy for me to explain morefully."
"Go on," was Hallen's answer; "go on, sir. I am deeply interested--itamazes me."
The Chief showed his words were those of genuine interest and surprise.
"The insane man leads a dual life," continued Oakes, "perhaps for a longtime. Such a man is not yet an inmate of an asylum. His case isunrecognized--he is a soul battling with madness until some awfultragedy occurs, like that of Mona, to reveal his greatest of allmisfortunes--the loss of reason."
We were all silent when Oakes finished speaking. Not a man there butnow recognized and realized more fully what we had been fightingagainst. Then Hallen rose and looked at Oakes, then at all of us.
"Boys," he said, "according to custom, being Chief of Police of Mona, Iam to make the arrest. That I will do, but let me tell you right here itis Mr. Oakes who will point out the culprit. I have been unable to get aclue, and I am damned if I'll take credit from a man like that." As hespoke he thumped the table with his hamlike fist. Hallen was not aclever man. He was about the average, perhaps a little above; but he wasas honest as the day was long--a staunch, vigorous man--and we alladmired him.
"Sit down," commanded Oakes harshly. "Don't give us any more suchnonsense," and the Chief sat down, while we all half smiled at thediscomfiture of both.
"Now, gentlemen," said Oakes, "let us keep our wits about us. First letme identify O'Brien, if possible, and let us study Maloney afterward.Remember, if O'Brien is not Larkin the detective, my case is _not_ready; if he _is_ the man we suspect, then we must turn to Maloneyregardless of any presence of insanity now, as he maybe in the quiescentperiod, so called, and may succeed in baffling us. Having once excludedO'Brien from suspicion, we will be justified in action against Maloney.We must prove his knowledge of the heavy revolver, if possible. Then ifwe s
ucceed in forging that link to our chain, we will move quickly; uponhis arm should be the cross seen by the dying Mr. Mark."